cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel major groove binding site in B-form DNA for ethidium cation.

Abstract A stably-bound external binding site for ethidium cation in the major groove of B-form DNA is proposed. This complex is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between this ligand and the nu- cleophilic centers O6 and N7 of guanine, both of which are accessible via the major groove. This binding site is not the same as the well-characterized electrostatically-stabilized external binding site, but rather is seen to be a covalently bound complex which is stabilized by two hydrogen bonds between the ethidium ligand and guanine in the double stranded (ds) B-form DNA. This site [(1), R. Monaco, F. Hasheer. J Biomol Struct Dyn 10, 675 (1993)] can only exist at very low occupancy ratios. The existence of this binding site leads directly to the expectation that there will exist particular mechanistic steps along the pathway of interaction between ethidium and ds B-DNA at low and high ligand concentrations that involve this binding mode. This would not only explain observations published recently [for example, see...
The switching of rotaxane-based motors

Linear molecular motors have recently attracted considerable interest. In this paper we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structural and energetic properties of neutral and oxidized [2]rotaxane motors. We first consider a neutral structure to identify the stable configuration of a bistable [2]rotaxane whose ring component is on the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) recognition site, followed by a study of the dynamic switching process of an oxidized [2]rotaxane. The study shows that for a neutral structure the ring component stays at the TTF station in both free and constrained situations. When the station is oxidized, the ring is pushed to the other station and the dynamic switching process finishes in about 10 ns. By comparing the results for the cases of free and fixed ends, the simulations show that structural deformation plays an important role during the switching process and can significantly affect the displacement output of molecular motors.
Weber fraction analogues in social perception: further investigation--reply to a comment.

The following points are in reply to Levy's comment (1962) on our recent note (Braun 8r Haven, 1962 ). First, we wish to make it clear thac we regard [he Levy work as a mosc ingenious and provocative atcernpt to apply the model of psychophysics to the field of social psychology. We hope thac ochers will be stimulated to make further atcelnpts along this line. Second, our disagreement with Levy is not with regard to empirical findings but rather in interpretation of findings. Although not indicated in our original note, we found, as did Levy, evidence of high self-consiscency for Ss in our three groups, with odd-even correlations of 33, 91, and 91. This affords satisfaction of the second of Levy's two criteria for the existence of a Weber Fraction Analogue in sc~cial percepcion. Still unsatisfied however, is the first of the criceria. Our own data and the findings of Levy have shown that IM/M was not invariant over different values of M. Levy (1960, p. 238) stated that a nonsignificant Friedman analysis of variance ". . . would be taken as evidence of constancy." A nonsignificant Friedman value was found in only one of Levy's three groups and in none of our three groups. We feel it reasonable that these five out of six significant Friedman values be taken as evidence of lack of constancy. Levy has appealed to curve inspection to still argue that A M/M is fairly invariant. In doing so we feel he takes a seep in the wrong direction. Application of the model of psychophysics to social psychology represents an attempt to move away from subjectivity to objectivity and quantification. The ignoring of the results of statistical tests and the appeal co inspection of trends in curves seems to take us back co subjectivity.
p53 status in spontaneous and dimethylnitrosamine-induced renal cell tumors from rats.

Rats carrying the Eker tumor–susceptibility mutation (Eker rats) are predisposed to developing renal cell carcinoma. Rats heterozygous for the Eker mutation develop spontaneous multiple bilateral renal cell tumors by the age of 1 yr. In a previous study, Eker-mutation carrier and noncarrier rats were exposed to the renal carcinogen dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), and male rats carrying the Eker mutation exhibited a 70-fold increase in the induction of renal adenomas and carcinomas when compared with noncarrier rats. In this study, spontaneous and DMN-induced rat renal cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) were analyzed for mutations of the p53 gene by direct sequencing of cDNA polymerase chain reaction products. There were no mutations in p53 cDNA derived from renal tumors from six untreated rats. Mutations were found in one of 15 of the DMN-induced tumors: a transition at codon 140, CCT CTT, in a renal adenoma. Additionally, seven cell lines derived from spontaneous renal cell tumors did not contain mutations in p53. The low frequency of p53 mutations (one of 21 renal cell tumors and none of seven cell lines derived from renal cell tumors) indicates that the development of both spontaneous and carcinogen-induced renal tumors involved a non–p53-dependent pathway. As p53 is infrequently mutated in human renal cell carcinomas and in rat renal mesenchymal tumors, it is likely that a tumor suppressor gene or genes other than p53 are involved in the development of renal cancer. © 1995 Wiley-Liss Inc.
A Model for Gas Microporosity in Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys

A quantitative prediction of the amount of gas microporosity in aluminum and magnesium-alloy castings is performed with a continuum model of dendritic solidification. The distribution of the pore volume fraction and pore size is calculated from a set of conservation equations that solves the transport phenomena during solidification at the macroscale and the hydrogen diffusion into the pores at the microscale. A technique based on a pseudo-alloy solute that is transported by the melt is used to determine the potential sites of pore growth, subject to considerations of mechanical and thermodynamic equilibrium. The modeling results for aluminum alloy A356 are found to agree well with published studies. In view of the limited availability of experimental data for Mg-alloy gravity-poured castings, the formation of porosity in AZ91 is studied qualitatively, assuming that casting conditions are similar to A356. In particular, the minimum initial hydrogen content that leads to the formation of gas porosity was compared for both alloys. It is found that the initial hydrogen content necessary for forming porosity is much higher in AZ91 than in A356. This is attributed to significant differences in the solubility of the hydrogen in both alloys.
Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error

The statistical tests used in the analysis of structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error are examined. A drawback of the commonly applied chi square test, in addit...
Radioguided Thoracoscopic Mediastinal Parathyroidectomy With Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Testing

Background Primary hyperparathyroidism is the leading cause of hypercalcemia in the United States. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of radioguided thoracoscopic mediastinal parathyroidectomy and intraoperative immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level testing to guide completeness of resection. Methods Mediastinal parathyroidectomy was performed thoracoscopically with intraoperative radioguidance using a hand-held gamma probe after injection of 10 mci of TC-99m sestamibi. Parathyroid excision was confirmed by ex vivo measurement of specimen radioactivity greater than 20% of background. Complete resection was confirmed by a greater than 50% decrease in serum iPTH level at 5 minutes postresection. Results Four patients had mediastinal parathyroid glands successfully localized and resected thoracoscopically. Mean weight of the excised parathyroid adenoma was 1,714 mg (range, 425 to 4,400 mg). Baseline iPTH levels decreased from a mean of 202 to 39 pg/dL 5 minutes postresection. One patient underwent radioguided resection of a second enlarged cervical parathyroid adenoma at the same setting when his intraoperative iPTH levels failed to fall below 50% of baseline, despite resection of a 440 mg mediastinal parathyroid gland. Median hospital stay was one day. All mediastinal parathyroid glands resected were confirmed adenomas on final histologic examination. All patients were normocalcemic at follow-up (mean, 25 months), indicating cure. Conclusions Thoracoscopic mediastinal parathyroidectomy with intraoperative iPTH level monitoring is safe and effective. Radioguidance facilitates parathyroid localization. Ex vivo specimen radioactivity of greater than 20% of background confirms parathyroid resection and obviates the need for costly, time-consuming frozen section analysis. A 50% decrease in baseline iPTH level 5 minutes postresection confirms complete resection of parathyroid adenomas.
Education Of Holography

Holography is a Nobel Prize winning invention. It incorporates many basic scientific principles as well as artistic and technical applications. As such, it needs to be brought to the attention, understanding, and appreciation of the general public in a coordinated manner. In particular, we believe that one of the greatest contributions made by holography to date have been its educational values in promoting and motivating interest in science. Herein we describe a nationwide effort over the last decade to bring holography to the public in general, and to the classrooms in particular.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Acute hexachlorophene encephalopathy: clinico-neuropathological correlation.

This is the first report of neuropathologic findings following oral ingestion of hexachlorophene in the human. The patient was a 7 year old boy who accidentally ingested 45 ml (approx.) of pHisoHex (hexachlorophene).Toxic reactions included nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, decrease in visual acuity, blurred vision blindness, somnolence and disorientation. He developed cardiac arrhythmia, fever, isoelectric EEG and finally respiratory and cardiac arrest 61 h after admission.
Variable Stoichiometry and Homeostatic Regulation of Bacterial Biomass Elemental Composition

Heterotrophic bacteria represent a large proportion of global biomass, and therefore bacterial biomass stoichiometry likely exerts control on global phosphorus (P), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling and primary productivity. In this study we grew recently-isolated freshwater heterotrophic bacteria across an ecologically relevant range of resource C:P ratios (ratio of organic C to available P) to quantify the P requirements of these organisms and examine the degree to which they regulated their P content under P-sufficient and P-deficient conditions. Bacterial biomass was only limited by P when resource C:P was greater than 250 (by atoms). Bacterial C:P ranged from 71 – 174 under P sufficiency and from 252 – 548 under P deficiency. Bacteria exhibited very little C:P homeostasis under P-sufficient growth conditions, greater C:P homeostasis under P-deficient conditions, and the ability of bacteria to outcompete one another in short-term experiments depended on a tradeoff between storing excess P for later use under P deficient conditions or immediately using P to produce more biomass. These results indicate that freshwater heterotrophic bacteria are not as P-rich as previously thought and that homeostatic regulation of C:P stoichiometry depends on the individual taxa and what resource (organic C or available P) is limiting bacterial growth. The prevalence of homeostatic and non-homeostatic strategies and nutrient limitation in a community should have important implications for nutrient regeneration and carbon cycling.
Effect of a Degenerated C5-C6 Disc on the Biomechanics of Adjacent Levels: A Poroelastic Finite Element Investigation

Degenerative changes in the cervical spine due to aging are very common causes of neck pain in general population. Although many investigators have quantified the gross morphological changes in the disc with progressive degeneration, the biomechanical changes due to degenerative pathologies of the disc and its effect on the adjacent levels are not well understood. Despite many in vivo and in vitro techniques used to study such complex phenomena, the finite element (FE) method is still a powerful tool to investigate the internal mechanics and complex clinical situations under various physiological loadings particularly when large numbers of parameters are involved. The objective of the present study was to develop and validate a poroelastic FE model of a healthy C3-T1 segment of the cervical spine under physiologic moment loads. The model included the regional effect of change in the fixed charged density of proteoglycan concentration and change in the permeability and porosity due to change in the axial strain of disc tissues. The model was further modified to include various degrees of disc degeneration at the C5-C6 level. Outcomes of this study provided a better understanding on the progression of degeneration along the cervical spine by investigating the biomechanical response of the adjacent segments with an intermediate degenerated C5-C6 level.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Coherent layer peeling for transparent high-depth-complexity scenes

We present two new image space techniques for efficient rendering of transparent surfaces that exploit partial ordering in the scene geometry. The first technique, called hybrid layer peeling, combines unordered meshes with ordered meshes in an efficient way, and is ideal for scenes such as volumes with embedded transparent meshes. The second technique, called coherent layer peeling, efficiently detects and renders correctly sorted fragment sequences for a given pixel in one iteration, allowing for a smaller number of passes than traditional layer peeling for typical scenes. Although more expensive than hybrid layer peeling by a constant factor, coherent layer peeling applies to a broader class of scenes, including single meshes or collections of meshes. Coherent layer peeling does not require costly clipping or perfect sorting. However, the performance of the algorithm depends on the degree to which the data is sorted. At best, when the data is perfectly sorted, the algorithm renders a correct result in a single iteration. At worst, when the data is sorted in reverse order, the algorithm mimics the performance of layer peeling but with a higher cost per iteration. We conclude with a discussion of a modified form of coherent layer peeling designed for an idealized rasterization architecture that would match layer-peeling in the worst case, while still exploiting correctly sorted sequences when they are present.
AMERICAN RACISM: THE NULL CURRICULUM IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Abstract Religious educators, in neglecting to account for race in their theories, have ignored the historical legacy of institutional racism. In fact, religious education has demonstrated an inadequate response to race and racism throughout its history. As evidenced by slavery and immigration history in the United States, race must be seen as a sociohistorical and legal construction. Its influence goes beyond the assimilationist ideology taught in early Methodist curricula. The article suggests that the Bible can be a rich multicultural curriculum resource because of its positive treatment of Africans.
Ultrafiltration of macromolecular solutions at high polarization in laminar channel flow

Abstract The limiting flux for the ultrafiltration of a macromolecular solute is obtained by a boundary layer integral method for a laminar channel flow with a concentration dependent diffusivity. A simple analytic expression is obtained for this flux which closely parallels the widely used formula of Michaels but with the diffusivity evaluated at the gelling concentration rather than the bulk concentration. Comparison of values given by the analytic result with numerical solutions and experiments show excellent agreement. Flux augmentation experiments carried out with strip type promoters show that at the same flow rate limiting fluxes can be increased to about 3 times the empty channel values.
Psychoanalysis ruled (much of) the 20th century — Behavior therapy the 21st century?

This article comments on the conceptual, professional, and geographical odyssey of one of the pioneers of behavior therapy, Arnold Lazarus (1997) . His odyssey is a fascinating reminder of the extraordinary professional battles our forebears had to fight. Lazarus also describes how these battles have not only been restricted to psychoanalysis and psychiatry but at times scarred relationships between pioneers themselves. From the perspective of a second-generation behavior therapist, I comment on some of the personal exceptional qualities of first-generation behavior therapists and highlight the international roots and proliferation of behavior therapy. I conclude that the decline of the Freudian empire may extend well into the next century, but behavior therapy has a good chance of becoming the dominant player in the psychotherapy arena in the new century.
Optical Properties Of Nitrided Nd2O3 - SiO2 Glasses And Thin Films

Glasses in Nd203 - Si02 system were prepared. The maximum neodymia incorporated into the glasses, without inducing phase separation, was 5 wt%. The glasses were also nitrided and the resulting optical properties / structure examined. It was found that increasing neodymia and nitrogen contents increase refractive index.
Sequence and expression of the MnP4 gene encoding basic proline-rich protein in macaque salivary glands.

Abstract We report here the macaque MnP4 cDNA and genomic sequences which encode a basic proline-rich protein (PRP), which is synthesized in macaque parotid gland and submandibular gland. The locations of intron positions and the prototype of the tandem 20-amino-acid repeat motif with the sequence, PPPPGKPQGPPQQGGNKPQG, in MnP4 were compared to those in related genes encoding PRP and glutamic/glutamine-rich proteins (GRP) in humans and rodents. Exceedingly high homology of the first exon and 40-bp region immediately upstream of exon I is observed with other PRP genes of all species studied. In order to identify the regulatory elements involved in control of MnP4 gene expression, a rat submandibular gland-derived cell line (RSMT-A5) was transfected with MnP4-cat constructs that contained the promoter and 5'-flanking regions of the macaque MnP4 gene fused to the bacterial cat gene. Deletion analysis revealed that putative positive and negative regulatory elements reside between nucleotides (nt)-107 and + 5, and nt −586 and −108, respectively. As part of this study, the promoter of the macaque MnP4 gene appears to be salivary gland specific. This salivary gland-specific gene expression attests to the complexity of transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes.
Bilirubin production and hour-specific bilirubin levels

We assessed the relative contributions of increased bilirubin production (indexed by end-tidal carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations, corrected for ambient CO (ETCOc)) to hour-specific total bilirubin (TB) levels in healthy late preterm and term newborns. Post hoc analyses of concurrent ETCOc and TB (at 30±6 h of age) and follow-up TB levels at age 96±12 h and up to 168 h after birth were performed in a cohort of 641 term and late preterm infants. Increased bilirubin production (hour-specific ETCOc ⩾1.7 p.p.m. at age 30±6 h) was noted in ~80%, 42% and 32% of infants in the high-, intermediate- and low-risk TB zones, respectively. One infant with TB <40th percentile and ETCOc <1.7 p.p.m. developed TB ⩾95th percentile at age 168 h, probably due to decreased bilirubin elimination. Infants in the high-risk quartile of the hour-specific bilirubin nomogram have a higher mean bilirubin production. Infants with TB levels ⩾95th percentile without increased bilirubin production have impaired bilirubin elimination.
Altering Hydrophobic Sequence Lengths Shows That Hydrophobic Mismatch Controls Affinity for Ordered Lipid Domains (Rafts) in the Multitransmembrane Strand Protein Perfringolysin O

The hypothesis that mismatch between transmembrane (TM) length and bilayer width controls TM protein affinity for ordered lipid domains (rafts) was tested using perfringolysin O (PFO), a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin. PFO forms a multimeric barrel with many TM segments. The properties of PFO mutants with lengthened or shortened TM segments were compared with that of PFO with wild type TM sequences. Both mutant and wild type length PFO exhibited cholesterol-dependent membrane insertion. Maximal PFO-induced pore formation occurred in vesicles with wider bilayers for lengthened TM segments and in thinner bilayers for shortened TM segments. In diC(18:0) phosphatidylcholine (PC)/diC(14:1) PC/cholesterol vesicles, which form ordered domains with a relatively thick bilayer and disordered domains with a relatively thin bilayer, affinity for ordered domains was greatest with lengthened TM segments and least with shortened TM segments as judged by FRET. Similar results were observed by microscopy in giant vesicles containing sphingomyelin in place of diC(18:0) PC. In contrast, in diC(16:0) PC/diC(14:0) PC/diC(20:1) PC/cholesterol vesicles, which should form ordered domains with a relatively thin bilayer and disordered domains with a relatively thick bilayer, relative affinity for ordered domains was greatest with shortened TM segments and least with lengthened TM segments. The inability of multi-TM segment proteins (unlike single TM segment proteins) to adapt to mismatch by tilting may explain the sensitivity of raft affinity to mismatch. The difference in width sensitivity for single and multi-TM helix proteins may link raft affinity to multimeric state and thus control the assembly of multimeric TM complexes in rafts.
PINning down the c-Myc oncoprotein.

The proto-oncogenic transcription factor c-Myc is a central regulator of the cell cycle and cell growth. Amino-terminal phosphorylation of c-Myc results in its proteasomal degradation. A new study shows that its dephosphorylation is regulated by the Pin1 prolyl isomerase and PP2A phosphatase, and that stabilized c-Myc can replace SV40 small T antigen in the oncogenic transformation of human cells.
Partitioning of the Golgi apparatus in rat primary and secondary spermatocytes during meiosis.

We examined the disassembly and reformation of the Golgi apparatus as a function of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in adult rats during stages XIII and XIV, i. e., just prior to and during meiosis I and II. Serial section analysis of primary spermatocytes at metaphase I demonstrated the presence of two Golgi complexes. At the ultrastructural level, these Golgi complexes were shown to be composed of stacks of cisternae and vesicles, with each stack having a varying number of saccules. Although Golgi complex intermediates resulting from the process of organelle disassembly were not clearly identified in diplotene spermatocytes immediately prior to nuclear envelope vesiculation, we did observe clusters of vesicles resembling the “nuage,” with each cluster varying in size and number of vesicles. Meoisis I results in the formation of secondary spermatocytes that exhibit a well-formed spherical Golgi complex approximately half the size of the diplotene spermatocyte Golgi. Next, secondary spermatocytes enter meiosis II. In contrast to metaphase I, during metaphase II reformation of the Golgi apparatus into stacks was not observed and only small clusters of vesicles at two poles of dividing cells were detected. In addition, “nuage”-like structures were not identified during meiosis II. Our results begin to characterize the process by which Golgi apparatus partitioning is accomplished during meiosis, presumably resulting in the delivery of equal complements of this organelle to four round spermatids. We suggest that partitioning of the Golgi apparatus takes place prior to metaphase I and that the two steps of meiosis may exhibit subtle differences with respect to Golgi partitioning. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bilateral internal jugular venous thrombosis complicating severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after prophylactic albumin administration.

Objective: To report a case of bilateral thrombosis of the internal jugular veins in a patient after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF. Design: Case report Setting: University-based IVF program. Intervention(s): Ovulation induction with gonadotropins, IVF-ET, albumin administration, and therapeutic heparinization. Main Outcome Measure(s): Doppler ultrasound of neck veins. Result(s): Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and bilateral thrombosis of the internal jugular veins occurred despite prophylactic administration of albumin. This was treated successfully with therapeutic heparinization. Conclusion(s): Internal jugular venous thrombosis, a rare complication of ovulation induction with gonadotropins, should be considered in patients with neck pain and swelling.
Catheptic Activity of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Liver, Spleen and Kidney of the Rat

As reviewed by Fruton1, cathepsins are intracellular proteinases with acid pH optima, ubiquitously found in animal tissues. In the mammal, highest concentrations of cathepsins are found in liver, kidney and spleen2–4. However, perfused rat liver was found to catabolize only 13–15 per cent of the total albumin broken down in the whole animal5.
Applied behavior analysis in education

(1982). Applied behavior analysis in education. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 21, Exceptional Children in the Schools, pp. 114-118.
Are the arginine vasopressin V1a receptor microsatellites related to hypersexuality in children with a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype

Objective: To examine family-based transmission of the number of 5′ flanking arginine vasopressin V1a receptor (AVPR1A) microsatellites, which include [(GATA)14] and complex [(CT)4-TT-(CT)8-(GT)24] repeats, in probands with a prepubertal and early adolescent bipolar disorder phenotype (PEA-BP). Preferential transmission of the number of AVPR1A microsatellite repeats to hypersexual and uninhibited people-seeking probands was hypothesized, based on reports from preclinical work in the literature. Methods: Probands were 83 participants in an ongoing controlled study of PEA-BP. The PEA-BP phenotype was defined by DSM-IV mania with at least one of the cardinal symptoms of mania (elation and/or grandiosity) to avoid diagnosing mania only by symptoms that overlapped with those for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Comprehensive assessment of the probands included separate Washington University in St. Louis Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (WASH-U-KSADS) interviews of parents about their children and of children about themselves. Hypersexuality and uninhibited people-seeking were assessed from the corresponding WASH-U-KSADS items. Microsatellite genotyping of the AVPR1A repeats was conducted using fluorescently labeled primers and detected by laser-induced fluorescence. Alleles were determined with the assistance of semi-automated allele-calling software. There were 32 complete, biological trios (28 informative families) for the GATA repeat and 34 complete, biological trios (30 informative families) for the complex repeat. Data were analyzed using case–control and family-based association methods. Results: Preferential transmission of AVPR1A GATA or complex repeats was not significant for hypersexuality or uninhibited people-seeking, using the transmission disequilibrium test. Similarly, case–control analyses found no significant associations between hypersexuality or uninhibited people-seeking and the number of AVPR1A GATA or complex repeats. For p < 0.05, there was about 80% power to detect odds ratios of 5.0 and 4.0 (in the family-based analyses) and 3.5 and 2.6 (in the case–control analyses), for allele frequencies of 0.1 and 0.5, respectively. Conclusion: Preferential transmission of AVPR1A to hypersexual or uninhibited people-seeking probands was not supported.
A ‘Brutalizing’ War? The USA after the First World War:

Were US citizens brutalized by the First World War? Mobilization unified the nation, forcing both the willing and unwilling to take a stand in regards to the war and war-induced changes within Amer...
Hemodynamic and metabolic response of human hypertensive kidney to sodium p-sulfamyl benzoate.

Summary and ConclusionsIntravenous administration of 2 g of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, sodium1 p-sulfamyl benzoate, produced no significant changes in renal hemodynamics or metabolism, mean arterial blood pressure or cardiac output. The negativity of these results despite large changes in urinary pH and electrolyte excretion (12) provide additional support to the concept that the kidney utilizes oxygen for the maintenance of cellular integrity rather than for the performance of external work.
In Vivo Identification of Changes in Metabolic State as Stem Cells Differentiate, by Phasor Analysis of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

In stem cell research there is a high demand of techniques to investigate self-renewal and differentiation mechanisms and to develop stem-cell-based therapies for regenerative medicine. Here we develop a label-free method to identify and classify stem cells and differentiating cells according to their metabolic state. We use the phasor approach to fluorescence lifetime imaging and intrinsic biochemical fluorescence biomarkers such as NADH, flavins, retinoids and porphyrin. The organ studied is the C. elegans germ line, expressing a histone-GFP fusion protein that allows us to identify the differentiation state of the germ cells. We calculate the average phasor value of the intrinsic fluorescence of germ cells and we plot the cell phasor fingerprints in a scatter diagram. Cell phasor fingerprints cluster according to their differentiation state. Different metabolic fingerprint of cells reflect changes in binding sites of NADH with different coenzymes during differentiation. The phasor approach to lifetime imaging provides a label-free, fit-free and sensitive method to identify different metabolic state of cells during differentiation, to sense small changes in the redox state of cells and may identify symmetric and asymmetric divisions and predict cell fate. This method is also a promising non-invasive optical tool for monitoring metabolic pathways during differentiation or disease progression, and for cell sorting.Work supported in part by NIH-P41 P41-RRO3155 ,P50-GM076516, NIH RO1 HD49488, NIH PO1 HD47675, and CIRM RC1-00110 to PD.
A class of monotone decreasing rearrangements

Abstract We consider monotone decreasing rearrangement with respect to the finite measure dμ ( x ) = ϑ ( x ) dx on R , where ϑ is a strictly positive, symmetric decreasing, log-concave function.
Nontriviality of the scattering matrix for weakly coupled Φ34 models

Abstract It is shown that the weakly coupled, three space-time dimensions, boson quantumfield-theory model with Φ4 self-interaction has a scattering matrix which is different from 1 .
Automatic scan test for detection of functional connectivity between cortex and muscles

Postspike effects (PSEs) in averages of spike-triggered EMG snippets provide physiological evidence of connectivity between CMN cells and spinal motoneurons innervating skeletal muscles. They are typically detected by visual inspection of spike-triggered averages (SpTAs) or by multiple-fragment/single-snippet analyses [MFA (Poliakov AV, Schieber MH. J Neurosci Methods 79: 143–150, 1998) and SSA (Perel S, Schwartz AB, Ventura V. Neural Comput 26: 40–56, 2014)]; the latter are automatic tests that yield P values. However, MFA/SSA are only effective to detect PSEs that occur at about 6–16 ms posttrigger. Our first contribution is the scan test, an automatic test that has the same utility as SpTA, i.e., it can detect a wide range of PSEs at any latency, but it also yields a P value. Our second contribution is a thorough investigation of the statistical properties of PSE detection tests. We show that when the PSE is weak or the sample size is small, visual inspections of SpTAs have low power, because it is difficult to distinguish PSEs from background EMG variations. We also show that the scan test has better power and that its rate of spurious detections matches the chosen significance level α. This is especially important for investigators because, when a PSE is detected, this guarantees that the probability of a spurious PSE is less than α. Finally, we illustrate the operational characteristics of the PSE detection tests on 2,059 datasets from 5 experiments. The scan test is particularly useful to identify candidate PSEs, which can then be subject to further evaluation by SpTA inspection, and when PSEs are small and visual detection is ambiguous.
Single-flux-quantum logic

ABSTRACT This paper reviews the several families of single-flux-quantum logic that haveappeared in the literature as well as a new one designed in our Laboratory. Some ofthese have been evaluated in full-adder circuits and found to have approximately the same latency (time between input and output) as a voltage-state circuit. It is pointed out that the throughput of single-flux-quantum circuits can be much higherthan with voltage-state circuits because of a much shorter reset time. The applica-tions for these circuits are greatest in data-independent computation such as signalprocessing. The prospects and problems for these kinds of circuits are discussed bothfor low- and high-temperature superconductors. 1. LOGIC FAMILIES The several families of single-flux-quantum logic that have been reported can be divided into two groups. One type transfers clock current from one branch of acircuit to another and typically has a three-phase clock. The other type of flux quantum logic employs single-flux-quantum pulses that propagate between gates to rep-resent logic signals. The clock also consists of pulses, and they can be generatedon-chip.
SOCIAL AND SPATIAL PATTERNS UNDER FORDISM AND FLEXIBLE ACCUMULATION

Current debate surrounding Fordism and flexible accumulation centers on explaining their transition and the implications for capital and labor. This article disagrees with the argument that technology and capital competition are the basis for transition and focuses instead on the labor process. Using a case study of the French automobile industry since the Second World War, the analysis examines the transition in production and the link between spatial organization and the labor process. Contradictions in the current phase of capitalist production are apparent in the divergent trends towards international dispersal and regional integration of automobile production, and the deepening social divisions of labor.
Acoustic radiation generated by local excitation of submerged beams and strings

Abstract Free and forced motions of submerged one-dimensional waveguides have been investigated. Both the submerged beam and the submerged string can support a wave system which includes a pure surface wave in the fluid adjoining the waveguide, provided that certain conditions on the frequency (for the beam) or the physical parameters of the system (for the string) are satisfied. Dispersion curves are presented for steel beams and steel strings in water. Steady-state solutions have been derived for excitation by a concentrated time-harmonic load. The displacement responses at the point of application of the load and in the far field have been examined. Polar plots display and radiated far field in the fluid. At low frequencies the polar plots are circular in planes containing the waveguide, but the radiation pattern develops lobes as the frequency increases. Reflection, transmission and scattering into the fluid of an incident wave system by an elastic support of stiffness κ and mass m have also been examined, and the possibility of resonance phenomena has been investigated.
The authenticity of the Demosthenic Funeral Oration

The sixtieth speech in the Demosthenic corpus should be regarded as an authentic text of the funeral oration for the Athenian dead from the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. Its authenticity was denied by Dionysius of Halicarnassus and other ancient critics on stylistic grounds, but the stylistic differences between the Funeral Oration and other Demosthenic speeches can be explained by the difference in genre. The funeral orations of Lysias and Hyperides are similarly different from other material by those authors, and the content of the Demosthenic speech well suits its historical and literary context.
Atomic models for the polypeptide backbones of myohemerythrin and hemerythrin

Abstract A tentative atomic model, including the polypeptide backbone and side chains of residues in the active center, has been constructed for myohemerythrin. The model was built to fit a low resolution electron density map for this molecule while meeting several conditions for stereochemical reasonableness. An adaptation of this model serves also to explain an electron density map of octameric hemerythrin.
Medical Optics - Is It A Discipline?

The title for this luncheon address was thought up rather hastily during a telephone conversation between our Executive Director (Joe Yaver) and myself. Joe made it quite clear to me that as Executive Vice-President of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers it was my unavoidable duty to be here today and present this luncheon address. I am honored to be fulfilling that duty. The title is in many ways superfluous, but it allows me to make a number of remarks that relate to the general subject matter of this program - "Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine".
Optical oversampled analog-to-digital conversion

A new approach to optical analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion based on oversampling and interpolative coding techniques is described, and both interferometric and noninterferometric architectures based on this method are presented. This new approach combines the high resolution of classical oversampled A/D conversion with the high speed of optical processing technology to extend the resolution and conversion rates beyond that currently possible with other electronic or optical converters. The proposed optical converters are simple, consisting of multiple quantum well self-electro-optic effect devices, photodetectors, and common optical components that are capable of operating at sampling rates of up to 15 Gbits/s and that can provide scalable resolutions of 16 and 8 bits at a conversion rate of 117 and 938 MHz, respectively.
An Optimum Manpower Utilization Model for Health Maintenance Organizations

This paper describes the development and validation of a set of mathematical programming models directed at optimal manpower utilization in Health Maintenance Organization HMO's. An application of the models in a planning context for an emerging HMO is presented and the results compared to those of actual staffing patterns. Two basic models are discussed in detail: an overall planning model and a subscriber maximization model. Each model treats the interaction between effective manpower utilization, facility requirements, and available capital. The objectives used in the models pertain to either minimum cost or minimum feasible use of physicians through the substitution of physician extenders. Field trials indicate that the models accurately represent the actual system and can be used effectively as planning aids.
Cave development within a paleosol breccia in the dolomitized Seroe Domi Formation, Aruba, Lesser Antilles

Payoff Cave, found within dolomitized sections of the Seroe Domi Formation on Aruba, provides a set of diagenetic observations unique to island karst. Paleosol breccia found as wall and ceiling rock and as bedrock pillars within Payoff Cave was determined to be low-Mg calcite in mineralogy with clasts of dolomitized host limestone. Payoff Cave is interpreted to be a flank margin (FM) cave based on morphologic features. The relevant diagenetic history of this section of the Seroe Domi is: (1) dolomitization and initial cave formation, (2) collapse and paleosol breccia formation within the initial cave, (3) reoccupation of the mixing zone to form a new FM cave within the more soluble calcitic paleosol breccia, and (4) cliff retreat and exposure of Payoff Cave as found today. Dolomitization, karstification, and the presence of a paleosol breccia combine in a complex diagenetic history on Aruba.
Photosynthetic responses to salinity stress of halophytic seashore paspalum ecotypes

Abstract Changes in photosynthetic capacity in variable salinity ranges were applied to explore mechanisms of salinity tolerance in seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) ecotypes. Nine ecotypes exhibiting a wide range of salinity tolerance were grown in a greenhouse using nutrient/sand culture, with six salinity levels of 1.1–49.7 dS m−1 (denoted as ECw0 to ECw50; electrical conductivity of water). With increasing salinity, chlorophyll concentrations decreased significantly only at ECw50 in comparison with nonsaline control. As salinity increased, initial chlorophyll fluorescence (F0) increased, while maximum fluorescence (Fm) and the variable to maximum fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm) tended to decrease. As salinity increased, reflectance at visible wavelengths (507–706 nm) was enhanced, whereas it decreased at wavelength ≥760 nm. Compared to Adalayd, more tolerant SI 93-2 and HI 101 exhibited significantly lower reflectance in the photosynthetically active range (PAR), and higher reflectance beyond the PAR. All seashore paspalums maintained active photosynthetic capacity, as indicated by minor reductions in pigments, high light-harvesting capacity, and high maximum photochemical efficiency (high Fv/Fm values of 0.75–0.81) at high salt levels. SI 93-2 and HI 101 were characterized by high Fm and high Fv/Fm at ECw50 with minimal changes with increasing salinity. Also, SI 93-2 and HI 101 exhibited higher density and canopy cover. This resulted in low reflectance, as indicated by significantly higher IR/R (ratio of infrared to red wavelength) and NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) indexes, and lower stress indexes (Stresses 1 and 2) compared to the least salt-tolerant Adalayd. IR/R and Stress 1 indexes were found to be useful tools for salinity tolerance evaluation, accounting for 85% of shoot and 51% of root growth variations, respectively.
Multiple labelling technique used for kinetic studies of activated human B lymphocytes.

IDENTIFICATION of distinct cell surface receptors which could be viewed in the scanning electron microscope would allow unambiguous identification of subpopulations of cells and quantitation of receptors on individual cells as well as permitting kinetic studies of the membrane changes following the binding of a ligand with its receptor. Labelling techniques using one or two markers have been developed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM)1,2. But scanning electron microscopy (SEM) offers several advantages over TEM for analysing membrane receptors in that it does not require serial sectioning of material3 and therefore allows rapid viewing of the surfaces of large numbers of intact cells with a minimum of preparation. Here I describe new labelling techniques for SEM using three distinct markers conjugated to antibodies specific for the immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM.
Estimating greater paleodepths with ostracodes, especially in past thermospheric oceans

Abstract Modern ostracodes show significant morphologic and taxonomic changes with increasing depth. Deep psychrospheric faunas are less diverse and more cosmopolitan than shallow faunas. Individuals are larger, rarer, and blind. Their carapaces seem better designed relative to the mass of construction material used. Speciation is slower. Taxa are older, longer ranging and for the most part now confined to abyssal and bathyal environments. Deep thermospheric ostracodes found in pre-psychrospheric oceans or isolated basins are different. Their deep origin seems related to the ability of shelf species to submerge past what is a formidable thermal barrier. To test morphologic changes that reflect faunal submergence in thermospheric oceans such as existed in the Atlantic before about 40 m.y. B.P., the basis for an adaptive structural theory is explored. This leads to a search for limits expressive of rapid change both in the structure of morphology and in water-mass structure. Examination of the ostracodes from core samples of Cretaceous age from nine D.S.D.P. Sites in the South Atlantic suggests that the Rio Grande Rise-Walvis Ridge aseismic system has both been a water-mass barrier and yet remained deep (at least mid-bathyal) over the last 100 m.y. No evidence of either shallow ostracodes from the shelves of Africa, South America or those of islands were found indicating that models proposed previously that there would have been an archipelago or shallow submerged causeway across the Rio Grande Rise-Walvis Ridge during the Late Cretaceous are probably in error.
Digital multi-channel stabilization of four-mode phase-sensitive parametric multicasting

Stable four-mode phase-sensitive (4MPS) process was investigated as a means to enhance two-pump driven parametric multicasting conversion efficiency (CE) and signal to noise ratio (SNR). Instability of multi-beam, phase sensitive (PS) device that inherently behaves as an interferometer, with output subject to ambient induced fluctuations, was addressed theoretically and experimentally. A new stabilization technique that controls phases of three input waves of the 4MPS multicaster and maximizes CE was developed and described. Stabilization relies on digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) specifically was developed to control pump phases to guarantee stable 4MPS operation that is independent of environmental fluctuations. The technique also controls a single (signal) input phase to optimize the PS-induced improvement of the CE and SNR. The new, continuous-operation DPLL has allowed for fully stabilized PS parametric broadband multicasting, demonstrating CE improvement over 20 signal copies in excess of 10 dB.
Vibration localization in mono- and bi-coupled bladed disks - A transfer matrix approach

A transfer matrix approach to the analysis of the dynamics of mistuned bladed disks is presented. The study focuses on mono-coupled systems, in which each blade is coupled to its two neighboring blades, and bi-coupled systems, where each blade is coupled to its four nearest neighbors. Transfer matrices yield the free dynamics, both the characteristic free wave and the normal modes - in closed form for the tuned assemblies. Mistuned assemblies are represented by random transfer matrices and an examination of the effect of mistuning on harmonic wave propagation yields the localization factor - the average rate of spatial wave amplitude decay per blade - in the mono-coupled assembly. Based on a comparison of the wave propagation characteristics of the mono- and bi-coupled assemblies, important conclusions are drawn about the effect of the additional coupling coordinate on the sensitivity to mistuning and the strength of mode localization predicted by a mono-coupled analysis.