cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proteomic Analysis of Purified Dog Cardiac Sacroplasmic Reticulum Membrane Subcompartments

Ca2+ homeostasis primarily involves two major morphological subdivisions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR): junctional (jSR) cisterna that appose sarcolemma, and free (fSR) tubules surrounding myofilaments. Biochemical isolation of jSR and fSR membranes involves selective increases in density of SR membrane vesicles using the SR Ca2+ pump (SERCA2a) (Jones and Cala, J. Biol. Chem. 1981). The purpose of the current study was to comprehensively characterize cardiac SR subproteomes. Purified SR membranes were solubilized, trypsinized and analyzed by LC-MS/MS on a LTQ-XL mass spectrometer. Abundant species were fragmented with collision-induced dissociation (CID). Data analysis was performed using Proteome Discoverer 1.1 (Thermo) which incorporated the Mascot algorithm (Matrix Science). In replicate experiments, a total of 199 junctional SR and 191 free SR proteins were identified from 16,344 MSMS spectra with protein false discovery rate (FDR) at 0.8% and peptide FDR at 0.0%. SERCA2a was the most abundant protein in both fractions, as expected, and virtually all of the known cardiac SR proteins were also identified. In jSR, the major 4 components of the Ca2+-release complex were found exclusively, including calsequestrin-2, ryanodine receptor 2 and 3, triadin, and junctin. Another 57 proteins were also identified as specific to this subcompartment. In fSR, 53 proteins were exclusively identified. Relative enrichments in one of the SR subcompartments were found for an additional 86 proteins, and 52 additional proteins were identified in the cardiac SR, without obvious subcompartment origin. SR proteins that showed less specificity were mitochondrial proteins (more enriched in the lower-density jSR), ER chaperones (roughly evenly distributed), lipid-metabolizing enzymes, and filamentous proteins. Proteomic analyses of classical cardiac SR subfractions extends our understanding of the cardiac secretory compartments, and serves as foundation for future exploration and understanding of cardiac cell biology.
Review of "Artificial Intelligence: An MIT Perspective, vol. 2 by P. H. Winston and R. H. Brown"; MIT Press 1982.

This is a paperback edition of the original version published in 1979. Vol. 2 is divided in three sections dealing with vision, manipulation and machine design. (Vol. 1 deals with expert problem solving, natural language, and representation and learning.) Each section contains chapters written by various MIT researchers. In general, each chapter describes recent (as of the original date of publication) MIT research in the particular areas. Each section also provides a nice overview and summary by the editors.
The relationship between viral infections and onset of allergic diseases and asthma.

Summary The pathogenesis of both allergic diseases and asthma remains an unsolved mystery. Of considerable interest, and perhaps insight, into this problem are clinical observations that viral illnesses play an important role in the allergic diathesis. Conclusive evidence to establish a relationship linking viral illnesses to clinical allergy has yet to be established. Nonetheless, recent observations in this arena are intriguing to scientist and clinician alike. The following discussion reviews recent investigations that evaluate the relationship between viral illnesses and development of allergic disease and asthma.
Contracture induction by snake venom cardiotoxin in skeletal muscle from humans and rats

Abstract J. E. Fletcher and F. H. Lizzo . Contracture induction by snake venom cardiotoxin in skeletal muscle from humans and rats. Toxicon25, 1003 – 1010, 1987. — Contracture responses to cardiotoxin (CTX) from Naja naja kaouthia venom were investigated in rat and human skeletal muscle of similar fiber type distribution to determine species differences in mechanism of action. Rat diaphragm strips and human vastus lateralis preparations were directly stimulated in a tissue bath. The calcium dependence of toxin action, synergism between CTX and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity and roles of Na+ + K+-ATPase activity and the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores in contracture induction were examined. The threshold of contracture to CTX was decreased in human and rat muscle when Sr2+ was substituted for Ca2+ in the bathing medium. In rat, but not in human muscle the threshold of contracture to CTX was decreased in a medium in which Ca2+ had been omitted. The decrease in contracture threshold may relate to toxin binding. The maximum height of contracture for preparations from humans, but not for those from rats was considerably depressed in a medium in which Ca2+ had been omitted. Exogenously added bee venom PLA2 acts synergistically with CTX in skeletal muscle in a manner similar to that in erythrocytes. Ouabain (100 μM) did not elicit contractures in any of the media tested nor affect CTX-induced contractures in Sr2+-containing medium. Dantrolene antagonized CTX-induced contractures, suggesting a role for Ca2+ derived from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in CTX action. The species difference in CTX action may reflect differences in the relative contribution of Ca2+ from the sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum to the contracture.
Optimization of a new mathematical model for bacterial growth

Abstract The objective of this work was to optimize a mathematical equation for use as a primary kinetic model that employed a new approach to describe the three-phase growth of bacteria under constant temperature conditions. This research adopted an optimization algorithm in combination with the Runge–Kutta method to solve the differential form of the new growth model in search of an optimized lag phase transition coefficient (LPTC), which is used to define the adaption and duration of lag phases of bacteria prior to exponential growth. Growth curves of Listeria monocytogenes , Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Clostridium perfringens , selected from previously published data, were analyzed to obtain an optimized LPTC for each growth curve and a global LPTC for all growth curves. With the new optimized LPTC, the new growth model could be used to accurately describe the bacterial growth curves with three distinctive phases (lag, exponential, and stationary). The new optimized LPTC significantly improved the performance and applicability of the new model. The results of statistical analysis (ANOVA) suggested that the new growth model performed equally well with the Baranyi model. It can be used as an alternative primary model for bacterial growth if the bacterial adaption is more significant in controlling the lag phase development.
77Se NMR on an XL-100 spectrometer. An investigation of isotope effects and spin-lattice relaxation in H2Se

Abstract The design of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), phase-locked to the 1-MHz output of a commercial frequency synthesizer (General Radio 1061), is described. The output frequency of the VCO, capable of producing either 15.400000 or 15.300000 MHz, has been injected into the lock channel of a Varian XL-100 spectrometer as the deuterium field/frequency lock transmitter frequency. This modification allows “normal” proton-decoupled 77Se FT NMR spectra to be obtained on this spectrometer. Secondary deuterium-induced isotope shifts of more than 7 ppm have been observed in the 77Se NMR spectrum of a solution of H2−nDnSe (n = 0, 1, and 2) in deuteriochloroform. Primary and secondary isotope effects on the 77Se-1H coupling constants are also observed. Also, it is shown that 77Se spin-lattice relaxation in hydrogen selenide is dominated completely by the spin-rotation mechanism.
Communicating with decision tables, flowcharts, and prose

Prose, flowcharts, and decision tables are three techniques which can be used to describe process flows. Since they can be used to communicate actions and alternatives to people, one should be able to measure their effectiveness as communication aids. This study compared the ability of unsophisticated users to solve simple problems stated in each of the three forms.
Characterization of particle pinning potential

Abstract Five methods for characterizing second-phase particle pinning potential in twin roll cast AA 3105 have been evaluated experimentally and analytically. A stereological expression, SV/4, has been demonstrated as a robust means for characterizing the degree of particle pinning in real material systems with neither the assumption of particle shape nor size distribution and without the experimental difficulty of unfolding the size distribution.
Cigarette smoke impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation in rabbit superficial femoral veins.

Background. The use of autogenous vein for arterial reconstruction provides the optimal conduit for limb salvage. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for vascular disease and may adversely affect graft patency and limb preservation rates of extremities reconstructed with autogenous vein. This study was performed in order to determine the effects of cigarette smoke on venous endothelium-dependent relaxation which is mediated by nitric oxide. Materials and methods. New Zealand white rabbits were exposed to cigarette smoke in a 240-ft 3 air-flow chamber for 3 h per day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks. A control group was treated similarly without infusion of smoke into the chamber. Elevated serum cotinine and carboxyhemoglobin levels comparable to those of chronic smokers were observed in the experimental group. After 8 weeks, the superficial femoral veins were explanted, cut into 3-mm segments, and studied in organ chambers. Results. No difference in contractile response to KCl (80 mM) (control, 0.10 ± 0.06; smoke, 0.17 ± 0.04) or norepinephrine (EC50) (control, 0.78 ± 0.18; smoke, 0.87 ± 0.11) was seen. A significant decrease in relaxation was noted with all doses of acetylcholine (M) (control, 10 -8 -50.35 ± 8.37, 3 × 10 -8 - 71.20 ± 9.05, 10 -7 - 88.32 ± 13.72, 3 × 10 -9 - 92.86 ± 13.69; and smoke, 10-8 - 8.25 ± 1.83*, 3 × 10 -8 - 19.11 ± 5.11*, 10 -7 - 31.84 ± 7.90*, 3 × 10 -7 -39.74 ± 8.65*; *P < 0.05). Both control and smoke veins relaxed completely with sodium nitroprusside. Conclusions. Superficial femoral veins, when exposed to cigarette smoke, demonstrated a significant decrease in endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine without smooth muscle injury. This loss of vasomotor tone could be detrimental over time in veins which have been placed as arterial conduits.
Identification of a Distal STAT5-binding DNA Region That May Mediate Growth Hormone Regulation of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Gene Expression

Growth hormone (GH) regulates insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene expression through signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) and STAT5a. The objective of this study was to identify the cis-regulatory DNA region involved in this process. By cotransfection analyses of shotgun DNA fragments of a bacterial artificial chromosome sequence containing the entire human IGF-I gene and a large 5′-flanking region, a ∼700-bp DNA region ∼75 kb 5′ to the IGF-I gene was found to have the ability to enhance gene expression from both heterologous and homologous promoters in the presence of constitutively active STAT5a or STAT5b. This 700-bp DNA region contains two closely located consensus STAT5-binding sites, and its sequence appears to be evolutionarily conserved. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays verified the ability of the two putative STAT5-binding sites to bind to STAT5a and STAT5b. Cotransfection analyses confirmed that both STAT5-binding sites were necessary for the 700-bp DNA region to mediate STAT5a or STAT5b activation of gene transcription. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that the chromosomal region containing these two STAT5-binding sites was bound by constitutively active STAT5b protein in HepG2 cells and that the binding was accompanied by increased expression of IGF-I mRNA. In reconstituted GH-responsive cells, this 700-bp DNA region was able to mediate GH-induced STAT5a or STAT5b activation of gene expression. These results together suggest that this STAT5-binding site-containing distal 5′-flanking region of IGF-I gene may be an enhancer mediating GH-induced STAT5 activation of IGF-I gene transcription.
Screening for toxin-producing fungi.

A practical method of screening fungi for toxin-producing potential uses day-old cockerels dosed via crop intubation with chloroform extracts of mold cultures and extracted culture residues mixed with ration fedad libitum. Advantages of the method are worker safety, simplicity, and economy. The method detected mycotoxin-producing fungi from several genera commonly found contaminating peanuts.
Multi-user, 10 Gb/s spectrally phase coded O-CDMA system: two implementations

We have experimentally demonstrated 4-user, 10 Gbit/s spectrally phase coded O-CDMA using low power nonlinear processing in two implementations, with emphasis on different coding schemes and requirements of timing coordination.
Improved efficiency and stability of multiple cloned gene insertions at the δ sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Two δ-integration vectors were evaluated for the insertion of an inducible expression cassette (the yeast CUP1 promoter fused to the Escherichia coli lacZ structural gene, CUP1p-lacZ) and a bacterial neomycin-resistance gene (neo) into the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae via homologous recombination. Cells containing integrations were selected by resistance to the aminoglycoside G418. The first vector was a traditional construct containing only one δ sequence; with this vector, the transformation efficiency and the number of integrations per cell were quite low. The second carried two δ sequences flanking the desired insert, and the unneeded bacterial sequences were removed by restriction-enzyme digestion immediately before transformation. When this double δ vector was employed, the integrated copy number was more than doubled relative to the single δ system and final β-galactosidase levels exceeded those obtained with the 2μ-based plasmid. Furthermore, the integrations appeared more stable in long-term sequential culture (both with and without induction of the lacZ gene) than those obtained via the single δ vector.
Conservation laws in nonlinear optics

Basic properties of propagation of electromagnetic waves in nonlinear media are a direct consequence of classical conservation laws for energy, and for components of momentum and angular momentum.
A Dynamic Loop at the Active Center of the Escherichia coli Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex E1 Component Modulates Substrate Utilization and Chemical Communication with the E2 Component

Our crystallographic studies have shown that two active center loops (an inner loop formed by residues 401-413 and outer loop formed by residues 541-557) of the E1 component of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex become organized only on binding a substrate analog that is capable of forming a stable thiamin diphosphate-bound covalent intermediate. We showed that residue His-407 on the inner loop has a key role in the mechanism, especially in the reductive acetylation of the E. coli dihydrolipoamide transacetylase component, whereas crystallographic results showed a role of this residue in a disorder-order transformation of these two loops, and the ordered conformation gives rise to numerous new contacts between the inner loop and the active center. We present mapping of the conserved residues on the inner loop. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and crystallographic studies on some inner loop variants led us to conclude that charged residues flanking His-407 are important for stabilization/ordering of the inner loop thereby facilitating completion of the active site. The results further suggest that a disorder to order transition of the dynamic inner loop is essential for substrate entry to the active site, for sequestering active site chemistry from undesirable side reactions, as well as for communication between the E1 and E2 components of the E. coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex.
Electroshock raises pentylenetetrazol threshold: Possible role of inosine

A series of 15 single electroshocks administered through electrodes applied to the scalp of mice raised the threshold to pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures as determined by a tail vein infusion method. The same stimulus increased brain inosine and hypoxanthine. Phenytoin, which blocks the increase in inosine produced by this stimulus, reversed the elevation in threshold may be electroshock. The effect of electroshock on threshold may be mediated by inosine.
Cellular and population plasticity of helper CD4(+) T cell responses.

Vertebrates are constantly exposed to pathogens, and the adaptive immunity has most likely evolved to control and clear such infectious agents. CD4 T cells are the major players in the adaptive immune response to pathogens. Following recognition of pathogen-derived antigens naive CD4 T cells differentiate into effectors which then control pathogen replication either directly by killing pathogen-infected cells or by assisting with generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes or pathogen-specific antibodies. Pathogen-specific effector CD4 T cells are highly heterogeneous in terms of cytokines they produce. Three major subtypes of effector CD4 T cells have been identified: T-helper 1 (Th1) cells producing IFN-g and TNF-α, Th2 cells producing IL-4 and IL-10, and Th17 cells producing IL-17. How this heterogeneity is maintained and what regulates changes in effector T cell composition during chronic infections remains poorly understood. In this review we discuss recent advances in our understanding of CD4 T cell differentiation in response to microbial infections. We propose that a change in the phenotype of pathogen-specific effector CD4 T cells during chronic infections, for example, from Th1 to Th2 response as observed in Mycobacteriumavium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection of ruminants, can be achieved by conversion of T cells from one effector subset to another (cellular plasticity) or due to differences in kinetics (differentiation, proliferation, death) of different effector T cell subsets (population plasticity). We also shortly review mathematical models aimed at describing CD4 T cell differentiation and outline areas for future experimental and theoretical research.
The same-source parallel MM5

Beginning with the March 1998 release of the Penn State University/NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5), and continuing through eight subsequent releases up to the present, the official version has run on distributed -memory (DM) parallel computers. Source translation and runtime library support minimize the impact of parallelization on the original model source code, with the result that the majority of code is line-for-line identical with the original version. Parallel performance and scaling are equivalent to earlier, hand-parallelized versions; the modifications have no effect when the code is compiled and run without the DM option. Supported computers include the IBM SP, Cray T3E, Fujitsu VPP, Compaq Alpha clusters, and clusters of PCs (so-called Beowulf clusters). The approach also is compatible with shared-memory parallel directives, allowing distributed-memory/shared-memory hybrid parallelization on distributed-memory clusters of symmetric multiprocessors.
VANADIUM CONTENT OF SOME TUNICATES.

Abstract 1. 1. Twenty-nine species of tunicates were examined for vanadium. 2. 2. High concentrations of vanadium were observed only in ascidians of the order Phlebobranchia. 3. 3. Centrifuged blood cells of Ascidia nigra (Savigny) were found to contain 1.45 per cent vanadium. 4. 4. Eggs of Phallusia mamillata Cuvier yielded 0·017 per cent vanadium, dry weight. The ash contained 0·19 per cent vanadium. 5. 5. No vanadium was detected in the four species of salps examined.
Adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate onto clathrate hydrates in the presence of salt

Abstract This work presents the effect of NaCl on the adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at the cyclopentane (CP) hydrate–water interface. The adsorption isotherms and the SDS solubility in NaCl solutions are obtained using liquid–liquid titrations. The solubility data are determined at typical hydrate forming temperatures (274–287 K) to ensure that the adsorption isotherms are obtained within SDS solubility limits in NaCl solutions. The isotherms show L–S (Langmuir–Step) type behaviors with 1 mM and 10 mM NaCl solutions while L type isotherm is determined for 25 mM NaCl solutions due to the low SDS solubility in this salt concentration. Zeta potentials of CP hydrate particles in the aqueous solutions support the shape of the adsorption isotherm with the 1 mM NaCl solution. The 1 mM NaCl case shows the highest SDS adsorption amount among the cases with 0 mM, 10 mM, and 25 mM NaCl solutions. In this case, the competition for adsorption between Cl− and DS− is not as strong compared to the 10 and 25 mM NaCl cases and the presence of Na+ ions may reduce the repulsion between DS− ions, which results in a higher adsorption of DS− ions and enhanced enclathration.
Energy levels of Re187

The gamma rays of Re 187 following beta decay of the 24-hr \V Is7 have been studied using prompt and delayed coincidence techniques A total of 25 gamma raw ~as found Relative lntensitxes are given tor the gamma transltmns The dlrectmnal correlatmn of the 552-keV- 134-keVcascade has been measured A decay ~eheme is proposed on the ba~ls of the coinci- dence measurements Spins and parmes of the prmcq~al levels are dlscus~ed
A relaxation correction to core-level binding-energy shifts in small molecules☆

Abstract A theoretical method for correcting core-level binding-energy shifts for final-state relaxation effects in the framework of the CNDO model is derived a binding energies in gaseous molecules.
The stabilization of chiloroplast function

Abstract Preparations of chloroplasts as described in the literature have very limited stability. This study is concerned with factors which affect the stability of chloroplast function. 1. 1. Storage of suspensions of chloroplast fragments (2 mg chlorophyll per ml) for several days at 0° can be achieved simply by supplementation with bovine serum albumin (9 mg/ml). Hill reaction activity, non-cyclic photophosphorylation and ADP control of the Hill reaction are all largely retained. Dilution of the chloroplast fragment concentration leads to instability; supplementation with bovine serum albumin enhances stability. 2. 2. Chloroplast function can be preserved in the frozen state for extended periods (at least 6 weeks) by the simple and convenient procedure of freezing the preparations at ordinary freezer temperature (−20°) in the presence of bovine serum albumin (1%) and glycerol (10%). Glycerol is required to prevent clumping, to enable refreezing and to retain photophosphorylation.
Transradial intervention of iliac and superficial femoral artery disease is feasible.

Background: Percutaneous intervention of iliac artery (IA) and superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease is often performed via ipsilateral or contralateral femoral access. However, this approach may be difficult in patients with severe iliac or common femoral artery atherosclerosis, morbid obesity, or conditions prohibiting prolonged bed rest. Percutaneous transradial coronary intervention has gained popularity due to the low frequency of access site complications, early ambulation, and perhaps cost savings with early discharge. Transradial intervention (TRI) of IA and SFA disease has been previously described only in anecdotal case reports. Methods: Out of 159 patients who underwent IA and SFA intervention, 15 had their intervention attempted via the radial artery. TRI was attempted at the operator's discretion for one of the following reasons: absent femoral pulses, severe bilateral IA disease, obesity, or conditions prohibiting prolonged supine rest. Clinical and procedural characteristics were collected retrospectively. Results: Fourteen patients (93%) had successful intervention completed through the transradial approach. One patient needing an intervention of the distal SFA was converted to contralateral femoral approach because of the inadequate stent shaft length. Eighteen IA lesions and six SFA lesions were treated successfully with a good final angiographic result via a 6 FR radial access system. The ankle brachial index improved from a mean of 0.66 to 0.93. None of the patients had any procedural or access site–related complications. Conclusions: TRI is a feasible and safe alternative for percutaneous treatment of IA and SFA disease in carefully selected patients.
Metamorphosed melange terrane in the eastern Piedmont of North Carolina

The Falls Lake melange crops out in the eastern Piedmont of North Carolina between the Carolina slate belt and the Raleigh belt. The melange is composed of mafic and ultramafic blocks and pods of diverse shapes and sizes, dispersed without apparent stratigraphic continuity, in a matrix of pelitic schist and biotite-muscovite-plagioclase-quartz gneiss. Textures and structural relationships suggest formation by a combination of sedimentary and tectonic processes, perhaps in the accretionary wedge of a convergent plate margin. The Falls Lake melange and the overlying late Proterozoic to Early Cambrian volcanic-arc terrane of the Carolina slate belt were thrust upon a probable continental terrane of the Raleigh belt before overprinting by late Paleozoic folding and metamorphism.
Gangliosides Enhance Apoptosis of Thymocytes

Abstract Monosialogangliosides, normal components of cell membranes, regulate cell development and differentiation in several organs. Our previous observation of dramatic premature thymic involution in cats with feline GM1 gangliosidosis, whose thymocytes have abnormally high cell surface gangliosides, suggested that excess GM1 ganglioside (GM1) could modulate thymocyte apoptosis in this disease (Cox et al., “Thymic Alterations in Feline GM1 Gangliosidosis,” submitted). In these studies, we added exogenous GM1 to murine primary thymocyte cultures and demonstrated enhanced apoptosis in treated cells by DNA fragmentation, apoptotic body, and electrophoretic analyses. GM1-enhanced apoptosis was blocked by common apoptotic pathway inhibitors including aurintricarboxylic acid (inhibitor of endonuclease activity), actinomycin D (inhibitor of RNA transcription), and cycloheximide (inhibitor of protein synthesis). GM1 treatment primarily affected the immature CD4 + CD8 + subset, as shown by flow cytometric evaluation of fetal thymic organ culture and primary thymocyte cultures. Apoptosis also could be induced by GM2, GM3, and GT1b, whereas asialo-GM1 failed to do so, suggesting that the sialic acid moiety may play an important role in the induction of thymocyte apoptosis.
Lookup Table Based Discrete Gate Sizing for Delay Minimization with Modified Elmore Delay Model

Gate sizing is one of the most important techniques for circuit optimization. Over the years, Elmore delay model (EDM) has been the predominant timing model used in gate sizing due to its simplicity. However, EDM is no longer effective in meeting the increasing demand of timing accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new gate delay model, which characterizes the timing information of lookup tables and creates a model which is mathematically similar to EDM, and can be easily incorporated into well-known EDM based gate sizing techniques using Lagrangian Relaxation (LR) with minor modifications. Experimental data show that it can produce even better results than those directly based on lookup tables, while keeping the benefit of the simplicity of EDM.
Online inspection of poultry carcasses using a visible/near-infrared spectrophotometer

The Instrumentation and Sensing Laboratory (ISL) has developed an industrial prototype diode-array visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectrophotometer system for inspecting poultry for diseased and defective carcasses on-line. The ISL design is based on the principle that wholesome and diseased and defective birds have different chemical compositions of tissues and may have different skin color. This visible/near- infrared spectrophotometer system has been tested off-line at 60 and 90 birds per minute. On-line trials of the visible/near-infrared chicken carcass inspection system were conducted during an 8-day period in a slaughter plant in New Holland, Pennsylvania, where spectra (470 - 960 nm) of 1174 normal and 576 abnormal (diseased and/or defective) chicken carcasses were measured. The instrument measured the spectra of veterinarian-selected carcasses as they passed on a processing line at a speed of 70 birds per minute. Classification models using principal component analysis as a data pretreatment for input into neural networks were able to classify the carcasses from the spectral data with a success rate of 95%. Data from 3 days can predict the subsequent two days' chickens with high accuracy. This accuracy was consistent with the results obtained previously on off-line studies. Thus, the method shows promise for separation of diseased and defective carcasses from wholesome carcasses in a partially automated inspection system. Details of the models using various training regimens are discussed.
Novel heterocyclic scaffolds of GW4064 as farnesoid X receptor agonists

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) may play a crucial role in a number of metabolic diseases and, as such, could potentially serve as a target for the development of therapeutics as a treatment for those diseases. Previous work has described GW4064 as an FXR agonist with an interesting activity profile. This manuscript will describe the synthesis of novel analogs of GW4064 and the activity profile of those analogs.
Temperature Dependences of Metal-Clad Subwavelength Semiconductor Lasers (MCSELs): Geometric Invariance and the Spontaneous Emission Factor

We perform two analyses on temperature effects in Metal-Clad Subwavelength Semiconductor Lasers (MCSELs). Firstly, we analyze the temperature dependence of the threshold gain in the infinite waveguide approximation. We show that the dielectric layer of the semiconductor-dielectric-metal composite waveguide (CWG) becomes increasingly important as temperature increases. However, we further show that the optimal geometry of the CWG is nearly invariant with the temperature. Secondly, we relax the infinite waveguide assumption with the fully 3D finite element method, and analyze the temperature dependence of the spontaneous emission factor, β. We identify a cavity geometry that mitigates detuning between the dominant cavity mode and emission spectra. Ignoring coupling to freespace modes, we explain that the modified cavity may lead to a MCSEL with large β (~0.5) for all temperatures.
Barnacle settlement versus recruitment as indicators of larval delivery. I. Effects of post-settlement mortality and recruit density

Larval delivery to benthic habitats strongly influences populations and communities. Daily larval settlement and weekly to monthly recruitment have been used to infer larval delivery mechanisms. Daily studies find that delivery varies with wind direction and the spring to neap tidal cycle while recruitment studies find variations related only to upwelling and downwelling. To resolve this dichotomy, the 2 types of observations were replicated simultaneously. 'Safety Walk' settlement plates were divided into quarters, placed in the intertidal zone, and censused daily, weekly, biweekly (i.e. every 2 wk) and monthly. Mortality of settlers on plates was very high; on average <10% of cyprids survived to recruit as juveniles. To investigate the high mortality, I sampled ceramic floor tile settlement plates, censused living and dead cyprids daily, and related mortality to weather and sur- face temperature of settlement plates. In the sun, surface temperature of plates reach 40 to 50°C within minutes, resulting in rapid desiccation of cyprids. Surface temperatures of floor tiles and nat- ural rock were significantly lower and mortality on tiles was significantly lower. Settlement rate var- ied with recruit density; at densities <10 ind. cm -2 settlement was enhanced, but above this density settlement was inversely related to recruit density. Due to high cyprid mortality and the effect of recruit density on settlement, barnacle recruitment could not be used to infer mechanisms of larval delivery to the shore.
Calibration Modeling of Nonmonolithic Wind-Tunnel Force Balances

Experimental designs and regression models for calibrating nonmonolithic (multiple piece) internal wind-tunnel force balances were investigated through a case study that demonstrated fundamental deficiencies with a typical test schedule. Itwas found that the current calibration point selectionmethod,which swept thedesign space two factors at a time, introduced a degree of correlation among model terms, depending on the model form. While using the statistical design of experiment performancemetrics to analyze the deficiencies in the experimental design, it was also found that there were problems inherent to the model form itself that were independent of the design. An analysis of the calibrationmodel, endorsed by the AIAA recommended practices document for nonmonolithic balances, lead to correlated response model terms due to overparameterization. Four new modeling strategies are proposed to overcome these challenges for nonmonolithic force balances.
Practical considerations for the design of two-element duct liner noise suppressors

The results of analytical and experimental design studies for two-segment treatment configurations in rectangular ducts with mean flow are presented. The practical significance of the design optimization method, executed at a single frequency for measured modal input, is considered in the light of sensitivity to variations in wall impedance components and source modal content. The results of analytical parametric studies of the effects of frequency and segment length ratio are presented. The importance of designing for a measured modal content and the importance of the order of the liners in providing the multi-element suppression enhancement effects are demonstrated.
Noninvasive approaches to measuring respiratory patterns using a PtTFPP based phase-lifetime self-referencing oxygen optrode

ABSTRACT Optically transduced sensors (optrodes, or optodes) offer significant advantages over polarographic techniques for measuring oxygen. In biology and medicine, how we make measur ements is very important, and this is especially true in terms of physiological exchange. Cellular and tissue oxygenation is a function of background concentration and respiratory demand, and in pure physical terms this is best expressed in terms of molecular flux based on Ficks law. Measuring dynamic flux from biological systems requires sensing technology that can measure activity in multiple dimensions. Here we report the development of a self-referencing oxygen optrode (SRO) for reliably making non-invasive measurements of oxygen flux from a variety of biological systems. The self-referencing microsensor technique was adapted to operate optrodic oxygen sensors through the integration of optical sensing instrumentation with software-controlled data acquisition and micro-stepping motion control. This allows the sensor to scan biologically active gradients of oxygen flux directly, as it relates to cellular and tissue respiratory activity. The technique was validated first using artificially generated oxygen gradients, which are theoretically modelled and compare with measured signals. Subsequently, the SRO was applied in basic research applications to non-invasively measure molecular oxygen flux from a variety of animal and plant systems. Keywords: oxygen, optrode, optode, self-referencing
Arachidonic and other tissue fatty acids of Culex pipiens reared with various concentrations of dietary arachidonic acid

Abstract Chloroform/methanol extracts were prepared from groups of Culex pipiens reared in synthetic dietary media provided with various concentrations of arachidonic acid. Extracts were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography to determine the fatty acid composition of whole extracts and also of phospholipid and triacylglycerol fractions separated by thin-layer chromatography from the whole extracts. The same extracts were also tested for their ability to support flight of adult C. pipiens reared in basal synthetic diet containing various concentrations of the extracts: this provided a bioassay for the presence of arachidonic acid or related polyunsaturates in the extracted lipid, since adults can fly only if provided, as larvae, with dietary arachidonic or related fatty acids. For comparison, chromatographic and bioassay data obtained from normal stock mosquitoes, reared in crude septic medium, are also presented. All extracts were shown by gas-liquid chromatography to contain some arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids. The proportions of arachidonic acid in extracts from mosquitoes reared in synthetic media were greater the greater the concentration of dietary arachidonic acid provided; and in the bioassay, extracts induced more flight activity in test mosquitoes the higher the dietary arachidonic acid provided for extracted mosquitoes. Extracts from stock-reared mosquitoes were more active in the bioassay than synthetic dietreared extracts, even though gas-liquid chromatography indicated lower proportions of arachidonic acid in stock-reared extract. However, stock-reared extract contained a substantial proportion of gammalinolenic acid, which is flight active for C. pipiens , as well as more linolenic acid and a large amount of linoleic acid, both of which are semi-active for flight; thus, stock-reared extract contained a higher overall proportion of flight-inducing fatty acids. Proportions of polyunsaturates in the phospholipid fractions of extracts from synthetic diet-reared mosquitoes were much greater than in the unfractionated extracts, whereas polyunsaturates were virtually absent from the triacylglycerol fractions, indicating a sequestering of polyunsaturates into phospholipids.
Optical path of infrared neural stimulation in the guinea pig and cat cochlea

It has been demonstrated previously that infrared neural stimulation (INS) can be used to stimulate spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea. With INS, neural stimulation can be achieved without direct contact of the radiation source and the tissue and is spatially well resolved. The presence of fluids or bone between the target structure and the radiation source may lead to absorption or scattering of the radiation and limit the efficacy of INS. To develop INS based cochlear implants, it is critical to determine the beam path of the radiation in the cochlea. In the present study, we utilized noninvasive X-ray microtomography (microCT) to visualize the orientation and location of the optical fiber within the guinea pig and cat cochlea. Overall, the results indicated that the optical fiber was directed towards the spiral ganglion cells in the cochlea and not the nerve fibers in the center of the modiolus. The fiber was approximately 300 μm away from the target structures. In future studies, results from the microCT will be correlated with physiology obtained from recordings in the midbrain.
The Tonya Harding controversy: An analysis of image restoration strategies

This essay critically analyzes Tonya Harding's defense of her image in Eye‐to‐Eye with Connie Chung, applying the theory of image restoration discourse (Benoit, 1994). The principle strategies employed on her behalf are bolstering, denial, and attacking her accuser (defeasibility plays a relatively minor role). While these strategies are generally appropriate, they were not developed very effectively in this instance. The discourse portrayed Harding in a fashion that was inconsistent with the audience's probable impression of her. Her lie about when she first learned of the attack severely undermined her credibility, and the discourse did not remedy this obstacle. Several others contradicted her assertions, and she did not challenge apparently incriminating evidence. Accordingly, we evaluate this as ineffective, and public opinion polls confirm our judgment. Finally, we discuss implications of our analysis.
Evaluation of a commercial kit for measuring vitellogenin in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas).

Vitellogenin (vtg) concentrations in oviparous animals such as fish represent an integrated indicator of the status of the reproductive endocrine system. As such, vtg is a common measurement endpoint in tests designed to detect certain classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The most common approach to measuring vtg is via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). However, because labs testing EDCs in fish often use slightly different ELISAs (e.g., in terms of antibodies, binding antigens, standards), results among studies are not always comparable. One approach to obviating this would be for researchers to use standardized ELISA kits from a common source(s). The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a small fish model commonly used for EDC testing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a recently developed commercial ELISA kit for measuring vtg in the fathead minnow. The commercial ELISA, based on a monoclonal antibody to fathead minnow vtg, was compared to an ELISA that utilizes a fathead minnow polyclonal antibody, which has been used extensively in our lab and others for several years. Plasma samples for this comparison came from three studies in which fathead minnows had been exposed to different model EDCs, including an androgen (17β-trenbolone), an anti-androgen (flutamide), and two CYP19 (aromatase) inhibitors (prochloraz, fadrozole). Results obtained using the two different ELISA methods were consistently similar.
Comparison between single-marker analysis using Merlin and multi-marker analysis using LASSO for Framingham simulated data

We compared family-based single-marker association analysis using Merlin and multi-marker analysis using LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) for the low-density lipoprotein phenotype at the first visit for all 200 replicates of the Genetic Analysis Workshop 16 Framingham simulated data sets. Using "answers," we selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 22 for comparison of results between single-marker and multi-marker analyses. For the major causal SNP rs2294207 on chromosome 22, both single-marker and multi-marker analyses provided similar results, indicating the importance of this SNP. For the 12 polygenic SNPs on the same chromosome, both single-marker and multi-marker analyses failed to provide statistically significant associations, indicating that their effects were too weak to be detected by either method. The main difference between the two methods was that for the 14 SNPs near the causal SNPs, p-values from Merlin were the next smallest, whereas LASSO often excluded these non-causal neighboring SNPs entirely from the first 10,000 models.
Steroid sulfatase activity in human fetal membranes

The human fetal membranes appear to play an important role in transport and metabolism of steroids, in the maintenance of pregnancy and perhaps in the metabolic processes leading to the initiation of parturition. Therefore, steroid sulfatase activity of human fetal membranes was studied and found to reside in the chorion laeve, with the amnion totally devoid of this activity. Within the chorion laeve, the highest specific activity of sulfatase was found in a subcellular fraction rich in microsomes. Dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate and pregnenolone sulfate had similar affinities for the sulfatase enzyme with a Km of 6 μM and 4 μM, respectively. Using [3H]dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate as the substrate and chorion laeve microsomes, the pH optimum was 7.0 and the apparent temperature optimum was 53 C. Sulfatase activity on [3H]dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate was inhibited by a variety of steroid sulfates, and the enzymatic activity was unchanged by freezing and thawing. After incubation of minces of chorion lae...
Autism genome-wide copy number variation reveals ubiquitin and neuronal genes

Several lines of evidence point to genetic involvement in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by impaired verbal communication and social interaction. The clinical and genetic complexities of the condition make it difficult to identify susceptibility factors, but two related studies now present robust evidence for a genetic involvement. The first, a genome-wide association study, identifies six single-nucleotide polymorphisms strongly associated with autism. These variants lie between two genes encoding neuronal cell-adhesion molecules (cadherins 9 and 10), suggesting possible involvement in ASD pathogenesis. The second study used copy number variation screens to identify genetic variants in two major gene pathways in children with ASDs. The changes are in the ubiquitin pathway, which has previously been associated with neurological disease, and in genes for neuronal cell-adhesion molecules.
Spatial and temporal analyses of water quality and phytoplankton biomass in an urbanized versus a relatively pristine salt marsh estuary

The robust growth of coastal communities in the southeastern United States is putting unique pressures on estuarine resources. Urbanization of estuarine systems may alter ecosystem function and thus affect the spatial scale and magnitude of nutrient concentrations and primary production temporally and spatially. We examined the spatial and temporal patterns of nutrient and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations in two shallow well-mixed estuaries, (1) a developed estuary, Murrells Inlet (MI), South Carolina, and (2) a relatively pristine estuary, North Inlet (NI), South Carolina. The summer chlorophyll a maximum in MI was characteristically higher than in NI, which may be indicative of eutrophication. Correlations between salinity and inorganic nutrients (N and P) suggest that nutrient import from upland sources may be more pronounced in MI during stochastic precipitation events. Although inorganic nutrient concentrations between the estuaries were similar overall, during a wet period, inorganic N concentration in MI was increased to a greater extent than in NI, while only minimal increases in inorganic P were observed in both estuaries. Chlorophyll a concentrations decreased from the dry to wet period. Geographic Information System (GIS) plots of intensive spatial sampling in MI indicated spatial gradients of nutrient concentrations within this estuary that appeared to be consistent over time. These observations were investigated in more detail using regression analyses to examine the influences of coastal dilution and nutrient sources on relationships between water quality constituents. Results indicate the importance of stochastic rain events in affecting the linkages of estuarine processes to upland runoff in the urbanized estuary, MI.
Twin-Screw Extrusion as a Continuous Pretreatment Process for the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cassava

Twin-screw extrusion was evaluated as a pretreatment for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cassava starch to glucose. Extrusion temperature and pH affected the key parameters associated with the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch such as the water solubility index, the water absorption index, the apparent viscosity, and the susceptibility of the extruded starch to glucoamylase. The glucose concentration of extruded and enzyme-hydrolyzed cassava starch was approximately 5% greater than that of acid-liquefied and enzyme-hydrolyzed cassava starch.