cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Genes Encoding Formamidopyrimidine and MutY DNA Glycosylases in Escherichia coli Are Transcribed as Part of Complex Operons

Escherichia coli formamidopyrimidine (Fpg) DNA glycosylase and MutY DNA glycosylase are base excision repair proteins that work together to protect cells from the mutagenic effects of the commonly oxidized guanine product 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine. The genes encoding these proteins, fpg and mutY, are both cotranscribed as part of complex operons. fpg is the terminal gene in an operon with the gene order radC, rpmB, rpmG, and fpg. This operon has transcription initiation sites upstream of radC, in the radC coding region, and immediately upstream of fpg. There is a strong attenuator in the rpmG-fpg intergenic region and three transcription termination sites downstream of fpg. There is an additional site, in the radC-rpmB intergenic region, that corresponds either to a transcription initiation site or to an RNase E or RNase III cleavage site. mutY is the first gene in an operon with the gene order mutY, yggX, mltC, and nupG. This operon has transcription initiation sites upstream of mutY, in the mutY coding region, and immediately upstream of nupG. There also appear to be attenuators in the yggX-mltC and mltC-nupG intergenic regions. The order of genes in these operons has been conserved or partially conserved only in other closely related gram-negative bacteria, although it is not known whether the genes are cotranscribed in these other organisms.
Air-to-air heat exchanger performance

Abstract The performancesof air-to-air heat exchanger (AAHX) systems in 38 residences are evaluated using data collected as part of Bonneville Power Administration's Residential Standards Demonstration program. The primary goal of this analysis is to characterize the AAHX system use patterns and to determine the thermal performance of the installations. The results of the study showed that on average AAHX systems were operated approximately seven hours per day over the 1985/1986 heating season with a mean thermal efficiency of 52%. The lower-than-expected AAHX system utilization suggests that design ventilation rates are not being supplied and the combination of low utilization and thermal efficiency results in low annual energy recovery attributable to the AAHX system. Until the issue of low utilization is addressed, conservation planners must view the benefits of including AAHX systems with caution.
Crystallization of recombinant human heme oxygenase‐1

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the NADPH, O2, and cytochrome P450 reductase dependent oxidation of heme to biliverdin and carbon monoxide. One of two primary isozymes, HO-1, is anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane via a stretch of hydrophobic residues at the C-terminus. While full-length human HO-1 consists of 288 residues, a truncated version with residues 1-265 has been expressed as a soluble active enzyme in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme crystallized from ammonium sulfate solutions but the crystals were not of sufficient quality for diffraction studies. SDS gel analysis indicated that the protein had undergone proteolytic degradation. An increase in the use of protease inhibitors during purification eliminated proteolysis, but the intact protein did not crystallize. N-terminal sequencing and mass spectral analysis of dissolved crystals indicated that the protein had degraded to two major species consisting of residues 1-226 and 1-237. Expression of the 1-226 and 1-233 versions of human HO-1 provided active enzyme that crystallizes in a form suitable for diffraction studies. These crystals belong to space group P2(1), with unit cell dimensions a = 79.3 A, b = 56.3 A, c = 112.8 A, and beta = 101.5 degrees.
Interaction of spin-labeled local anesthetics with the sodium channel of squid axon membranes

The effects of spin-labeled local anesthetics on sodium currents of internally perfused squid axons were studied using the voltage-clamp technique. Internal application (10 μm) of the most potent spin-labeled local anesthetic used in this study produced a small initial block of sodium currents. However, after sixty repetitive pulses (to +80 mV) given at 1 Hz, the sodium currents were drastically reduced. In addition to this frequency-dependent phenomenon, the anesthetic effect on the sodium currents was also sensitive to the voltage of the pulses. Both the frequency- and voltage-dependent properties remained intact after removal of sodium inactivation with pronase. The recovery of sodium currents from this frequency-dependent anesthetic effect followed a single exponential curve with a surprisingly long time constant of about 10 min. Such a long recovery time, which is longer than any known sodium inactivation process, led us to suggest that the recovery process represents the dissociation of drug molecules from their binding sites. We have also found that increasing hydrophobic character of the homologues series of spin-labeled local anesthetics enhances the frequency- and voltage-dependent block of sodium currents. This effect strongly suggests that hydrophobic interaction is an integral component of the binding site. These probes with their selective effects on the sodium currents, are expected to be highly useful in studying the molecular structure of the sodium channels.
Stability of oxidative phosphorylation and structural changes of mitochondria in ischemic rat liver.

Abstract Mitochondria isolated from rat livers ischemic at 24 ° for up to 13 hr exhibited nearly normal capacity to phosphorylate added ADP ( ADP 0 ratios) in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Respiratory control ratios (rate with ADP/rate without ADP) remained nearly normal for the first 3 hr, then declined somewhat. However, even at 13 hr the ratios were still 2 to 3 compared to normal values of 4 to 6. The decline of respiratory control was due primarily to a decline in the State 3 respiratory rate (i.e., with ADP and substrate). The demonstration of relatively normal oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria isolated from livers after prolonged periods of ischemia at 24 ° is dependent on the use of BSA in the isolation medium and/or in the test medium. In the complete absence of BSA, or at 37 ° in the presence of BSA, the respiratory control is lost rapidly. These data are compatible with release of fatty acids in the ischemic cell being responsible for the apparent damage to mitochondria. Electron microscopic studies show very slow changes with time in mitochondria in ischemic liver cells, greater changes in the isolated mitochondria. During the isolation procedures and in the test medium, binding by BSA can remove the fatty acids and their uncoupling and inhibitory effects, revealing relatively intact enzymes of oxidative phosphorylation.
Repetitive decision making and the value of forecasts in the cost-loss ratio situation: a dynamic model

Abstract The purposes of this paper are to describe a dynamic model for repetitive decision‐making in the cost–loss ratio situation and to present some theoretical and numerical results related to the optimal use and economic value of weather forecasts within the framework of the model. This model involves the same actions and events as the standard (i.e., static) cost–loss ratio situation, but the former (unlike the latter) is dynamic in the sense that it possesses characteristics (e.g., decisions, events) that are related over time. We assume that the decision maker wants to choose the sequence of actions over an n‐occasion time period that minimizes the total expected expense. A computational technique known as stochastic dynamic programming is employed to determine this optimal policy and the total expected expense. Three types of weather information are considered in studying the value of forecasts in this context: 1) climatological information; 2) perfect information; and 3) imperfect forecasts. Cli...
Simultaneous measurement of atrial and ventricular pacemaker activity.

Abstract The isolated perfused rat heart with surgically-induced heart block was used to determine the effect of drugs on the activity of the atrial and ventricular pacemaker simultaneously. Complete atrio-ventricular dissociation was produced by tying a ligature around the Bundle of His under direct vision. Pacemaker rates remained stable for at least 2 hours. Perfusion of the hearts with quinidine produced a decrease in the rate of both the atrial and ventricular pacemaker. The ventricular pacemaker was more susceptible to the depressant action of quinidine than the atrial pacemaker.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Intramuscular Ziprasidone in Healthy Volunteers

Little has been published regarding the pharmacokinetics of the intramuscular (IM) formulation of Ziprasidone. The authors report results from 2 early phase I studies in healthy volunteers: a trial of single 5-, 10-, or 20-mg IM doses of ziprasidone in 24 subjects and an open-label 3-way crossover trial of 5-mg intravenous (IV), 5-mg IM, and 20-mg oral ziprasidone in 12 subjects. Absorption of IM ziprasidone was rapid (Tmax < 1 hour). The IM pharmacokinetic profile was consistent between studies and linear, with dose-related increases in exposure observed. The mean IM elimination t(1/2) was short and approximately 2.5 hours. The mean bioavailability for the 5-mg IM ziprasidone dose was approximately 100%. Adverse events were generally mild to moderate, and no subjects were discontinued from the study. No significant effects on renal function or other laboratory values were noted. These results support the use of IM ziprasidone in treating acutely agitated patients with schizophrenia.
What makes a food protein an allergen

Food allergens are almost always proteins, but not all food proteins are allergens. This one statement sums up the purpose of this article, defining the difference between an innocuous food protein and a food allergen. The simplest answer is that a food allergen has the ability to first elicit an IgE response, and then, on subsequent exposures, to elicit a clinical response to the same or similar protein. However, this simplistic answer avoids the more complex issues of defining the biochemical characteristics that allow a food protein to survive the extremes of food processing, escape the digestive enzymes of the human gastrointestinal tract, and interact with the immune system. More than 700 allergen sequences have been identified from food and nonfood sources. However, despite increasing knowledge of the structure and amino acid sequences of the identified allergens, only a few biochemical characteristics can be associated with food allergens. Food allergen characteristics, including abundance of the protein in the food; multiple, linear IgE binding epitopes; resistance of the protein to digestion and processing; and allergen structure are discussed, and the possible reasons they predispose some food proteins to become allergens are suggested.
Role of the amygdala in the reproductive and aggressive behavior of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis

Abstract Thirteen male green anole lizards were lesioned in the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) of the posterior dorsal ventricular ridge (“amygdala”) and/or the paleostriatum (PS) to determine the influence of these structures on assertion and challenge displays addressed to male intruders, or courtship displays and copulatory neckgrip directed toward females. Lesions that effected both VMN and PS reduced or eliminated both challenge and courtship displays as well as the neckgrip, a crucial component in courtship. Subjects with lesions limited to VMN had assertion and challenge left unimpaired but courtship was reduced and neckgrip eliminated in most subjects. A lesion restricted to PS caused a significant deficit in challenge while other measures were unaffected. These data indicate that the VMN is involved in reproductive function in the green anole lizard.
Antioxidant nutrient supplementation reduces the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein to oxidation in patients with coronary artery disease.

Abstract Objectives. This study sought to determine the effect of antioxidant supplementation on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD). Background. Data are inconsistent regarding the role of antioxidant nutrients in the prevention of CVD. Methods. The study design was a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients with CVD (n = 45) were randomized to 1) placebo control; 2) 400 IU of vitamin E, 500 mg of vitamin C, 12 mg of beta-carotene (mid-dose); or 3) 800 IU of vitamin E, 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 24 mg of beta-carotene (high dose) daily. Reduced susceptibility of LDL to oxidation was estimated by an increase in lag phase (minutes). Baseline and 6- and 12-week measurements of lipoproteins and lag phase were obtained. Plasma levels of antioxidants were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Results. Concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C and beta-carotene significantly increased in the mid- and high dose groups during the trial. Lag phase significantly increased from baseline (190.1 ± 63.8 min [mean ± SD]) to 12 weeks (391.1 ± 153.0 min) in the high dose group (p Conclusions. A high dose combination of antioxidant nutrients reduces the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation in patients with CVD and may be useful in secondary prevention.
Comments on nonlinear excitations in the anisotropic Heisenberg chain

It is suggested that pulse soliton solutions for the classical, continuum, isotropic, ferromagnetic Heisenberg chain in a magnetic field continuously deform to sine Gordon breather solutions as anisotropy is increased to an extremeXY limit (theXY plane containing the applied field). The relevance of this observation for applications to magnetic chains such as CsNiF3 is emphasized, and comparisons with the zero-field limit are noted.
Template recognition of protein-imprinted polymer surfaces.

Synthetic materials capable of specifically recognizing proteins are important in separations, biosensors, and biomaterials. In this study, polysaccharide-like surfaces with tailored protein-binding nanocavities were prepared by a novel templating approach based on radiofrequency plasma deposition of thin films. The template-imprinted proteins included albumin, immunoglobulin, fibrinogen, lysozyme, ribonuclease A, α-lactalbumin, and glutamine synthetase. Transmission electron microscopy showed that nanometer-sized “pits” in the shape of imprinted protein were formed on the surfaces of template-imprinted polymer films. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry indicated the saccharide covering of imprint surfaces and the removal of template proteins. 125I-labeled protein adsorption from single solutions showed a similar amount of protein was adsorbed to its own imprint as to the imprint of another protein. However, more protein remained on the former surface than on the latter following elution with the detergents Tween 20 or sodium dodecyl sulfate. Competitive adsorption of a binary protein mixture showed a highly preferential adsorption of template protein to the corresponding imprint. This template recognition diminished as the number of protein-imprinted pits decreased. Structurally unstable proteins such as α-lactalbumin exhibited weaker template recognition that “robust” proteins such as lysozyme. The hypothesis that protein recognition is due to complementarity between the protein and its imprinted nanopit was supported by protein turnover experiments that showed template protein adsorbed to its own imprint was less readily displaced by a nontemplate protein. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 49, 1–11, 2000.
Local initiatives and national policies: The politics of private schooling in Tanzania 1

Abstract Government and public administration in Tanzania are formally highly centralized, hierarchical, and compartmentalized. Education is no exception. In practice, however, the public policy process in Tanzania is far less authoritarian than it appears. The privatization of secondary education is a clear case in point. Over the formal objections of central educational administrators, and against the resistance of national political leaders, local initiatives successfully created, and then nurtured and maintained, private secondary schools. Squeezed between limited resources and escalating demands, national political leaders acceded to those local initiatives. Privatizing, at least in part, what is perhaps the most significant public policy became the stated objective of a socialist leadership. Or had it? Education remains a contested terrain in Tanzania.
SAP97 blocks the RXR ER retention signal of NMDA receptor subunit GluN1-3 through its SH3 domain

SAP97 is directly involved in exporting NMDA receptors with a specific subunit composition from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Characterization of the interactions between SAP97 and an NMDA receptor splice variant, GluN1-3, and of the effects on forward trafficking revealed that an ER-level interaction blocked the RXR ER-retention motif in the GluN1-3 cytoplasmic C-terminus in the context of both reporter molecules and full-length receptors. Binding of SAP97 to the PDZ-binding domain of GluN1-3 was required, but the blockade of ER-retention was mediated by the SH3-GuK domains coupled with the action of the N-terminus of SAP97. While other domains of SAP97 were involved in forward trafficking of GluN1-3 out of the ER, the SH3 domain was necessary and sufficient to block the ER retention. This is the first direct evidence for the masking of ER-retention signals by PDZ domain-containing proteins, and provides detailed underlying mechanistic requirements. Such a mechanism could be central to modulating the ER exit of receptors into local, non-conventional or conventional, secretory pathways in neurons.
Atypical signatures of motor variability found in an individual with ASD

We provide objective metrics of sequential movements and study a young adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in relation to novice typical controls (TC) as they learned to perform beginners' martial-arts routines. We studied segments staged to hit an opponent simultaneously performed with supplemental segments. In TC instructed changes in speed had profound differential effects on the intended vs. supplemental segments that were absent in the ASD case. Moreover, the frequency-distribution of velocity and acceleration maxima in TC was well fitted by a Gamma distribution but in the ASD case the fit was exponential yielding uncannily precise motions with atypically low-range of spatio-temporal variability.
Usefulness of 3′-[F-18]Fluoro-3′-deoxythymidine with Positron Emission Tomography in Predicting Breast Cancer Response to Therapy

Objective The usefulness of 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG)–positron emission tomography (PET) in monitoring breast cancer response to chemotherapy has previously been reported. Elevated uptake of FDG by treated tumors can persist however, particularly in the early period after treatment is initiated. 3′-[F-18]Fluoro-3′-deoxythymidine (FLT) has been developed as a marker for cellular proliferation and, in principle, could be a more accurate predictor of the long-term effect of chemotherapy on tumor viability. We examined side-by-side FDG and FLT imaging for monitoring and predicting tumor response to chemotherapy.
Defining the critical hypoxic threshold that promotes vascular remodeling in the brain.

Abstract In animal models, hypoxic pre-conditioning confers protection against subsequent neurological insults, mediated in part through an extensive vascular remodeling response. In light of the therapeutic potential of this effect, the goal of this study was to establish the dose–response relationship between level of hypoxia and the extent of cerebrovascular modeling, and to define the mildest level of hypoxia that promotes remodeling. Mice were exposed to different levels of continuous hypoxia (8–21% O 2 ) for seven days before several aspects of vascular remodeling were evaluated, including endothelial proliferation, total vascular area, arteriogenesis, and fibronectin/α5β1 integrin expression. For most events, the threshold level of hypoxia that stimulated remodeling was 12–13% O 2 . Interestingly, many parameters displayed a biphasic dose–response curve, with peak levels attained at 10% O 2 , but declined thereafter . Further analysis in the 12–13% O 2 range revealed that vascular remodeling occurs by two separate mechanisms: (i) endothelial hyperplasia, triggered by a hypoxic threshold of 13% O 2, which leads to increased capillary growth, and (ii) endothelial hypertrophy, triggered by a more severe hypoxic threshold of 12% O 2, which leads to expansion of large vessels and arteriogenesis. Taken together, these results define the hypoxic thresholds for vascular remodeling in the brain, and point to two separate mechanisms mediating this process.
Effects of Phytic Acid and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) on the Chick’s Requirement for Magnesium

Abstract A VARIABLE zinc requirement of the chick which depended upon the protein component of the purified diet has been reported by Moeller (1959). Chicks that were fed isolated soybean protein in the diet exhibited a greater need for zinc than chicks fed either casein or egg protein. Kratzer et al. (1959) have shown that poults fed non-autoclaved isolated soybean protein had a greater zinc requirement for optimum growth and prevention of perosis than poults fed autoclaved isolated soybean protein. Only approximately 55% of the magnesium contained in isolated soybean protein was found available by McWard and Scott (1961) when they studied the magnesium needs of the young chick. These reports suggest that isolated soybean protein either has protein-trace mineral complexes or contains factor(s) that make trace minerals unavailable to the poult and chick. Kratzer et al. (1959) indicated that the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to an isolated soy protein…
Reduction of Contamination on the Dental Explorer

The dental explorer may inoculate teeth with odontopathic organisms. Several methods were tested for reducing the likelihood of such contamination.
Food Reinforcement and Eating: A Multilevel Analysis

Eating represents a choice among many alternative behaviors. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of how food reinforcement and behavioral choice theory are related to eating and to show how this theoretical approach may help organize research on eating from molecular genetics through treatment and prevention of obesity. Special emphasis is placed on how food reinforcement and behavioral choice theory are relevant to understanding excess energy intake and obesity and how they provide a framework for examining factors that may influence eating and are outside of those that may regulate energy homeostasis. Methods to measure food reinforcement are reviewed, along with factors that influence the reinforcing value of eating. Contributions of neuroscience and genetics to the study of food reinforcement are illustrated by using the example of dopamine. Implications of food reinforcement for obesity and positive energy balance are explored, with suggestions for novel approaches to obesity treatment based on the synthesis of behavioral and pharmacological approaches to food reinforcement.
Staggered-Vorticity Correlations in a Lightly Doped t − J Model: A Variational Approach

We report staggered-vorticity correlations of current in the d-wave variational wave function for the lightly doped t-J model. Such correlations are explained from the SU(2) symmetry relating d-wave and staggered-flux mean-field phases. The correlation functions computed by the variational Monte Carlo method suggest that pairs are formed of holes circulating in opposite directions.
PRICING A BANKING SERVICE—THE SPECIAL CHECKING ACCOUNT

SINCE CHECKS ARE OUR most important medium of exchange and their price is one of the few banking functions free of regulation, it is surprising that their price determinants and price impact have received so little attention. This paper will attempt to fill part of this void with an analysis of the price of the special checking service.' The analysis involves, first, the reduction of the several variable components of consumer cost to an average price; second, the estimation of the profitability of this service to the bank; and, third, a discussion of the insulated nature of the pricing of checking services. New York State serves as the focal point of this study. The contrasts between banks in New York City and upstate offer the advantages of a cross-section of conditions prevailing in most banking communities.
The effect of nerve growth factor and limb regeneration on the spinal and sympathetic ganglia of Triturus

In Triturus administration of NGF causes hypertrophy of neuronal perikarya of third dorsal root ganglia and post-subclavian sympathetic ganglia. Two classes of neurons were characterized cytologically in the third dorsal root ganglia. Some evidence is presented which indicates that Class I neurons respond more vigorously to NGF. It is suggested that Class I neurons are similar to the medio-dorsal neuroblasts of chick embryos in their response to NGF. Forelimb amputation did not cause neuronal hypertrophy in either third dorsal root ganglia or post-subclavian sympathetic ganglia. The incorporation of (3H)-uridine increases to a highly significant extent in third dorsal root ganglia following NGF treatment or limb amputation. When NGF treatment and limb amputation were combined, no further increase in (3H)-uridine incorporation was noted. This suggests that RNA synthesis is maximally stimulated by either NGF treatment alone or limb amputation alone.
Business lobbies and policymaking in developing countries: the contrasting cases of India and China

Among the key decisions lobbies make are which political players to lobby, at what stage or stages to intervene in the policy process and which strategies and tactics to use. This paper addresses the lack of sources of knowledge beyond the United States for understanding these key decisions. It argues that the manner in which the design of legislative institutions establishes the balance of power between political parties and individual politicians has a significant influence on all three choices of the target of lobbying, the stage of the policymaking process in which to lobby and the strategies and tactics used by lobbies. Data to support the arguments are presented from a survey of groups in India and China. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal decay of rhodopsin: role of hydrogen bonds in thermal isomerization of 11-cis retinal in the binding site and hydrolysis of protonated Schiff base.

Although thermal stability of the G protein-coupled receptor rhodopsin is directly related to its extremely low dark noise level and has recently generated considerable interest, the chemistry behind the thermal decay process of rhodopsin has remained unclear. Using UV−vis spectroscopy and HPLC analysis, we have demonstrated that the thermal decay of rhodopsin involves both hydrolysis of the protonated Schiff base and thermal isomerization of 11-cis to all-trans retinal. Examining the unfolding of rhodopsin by circular dichroism spectroscopy and measuring the rate of thermal isomerization of 11-cis retinal in solution, we conclude that the observed thermal isomerization of 11-cis to all-trans retinal happens when 11-cis retinal is in the binding pocket of rhodopsin. Furthermore, we demonstrate that solvent deuterium isotope effects are involved in the thermal decay process by decreasing the rates of thermal isomerization and hydrolysis, suggesting that the rate-determining step of these processes involves...
LEAD STUDIES : III. THE EFFECTS OF LEAD ON RED BLOOD CELLS. PART 2. SURFACE PHENOMENA AND THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION.

The physiological changes following the reaction of lead upon red blood cells are numerous and show the marked effects of a change in the cell surface. In experiments here reported 0.01 to 0.05 mg. of lead acting upon 5 billion red cells caused such marked variations from normal as: 1. Partial loss of the normal stickiness of red corpuscles, which is demonstrated by their falling from a clean glass surface. 2. Loss of the agglutination reaction which normally follows mixture with serum of a different isoagglutinating group. 3. Decrease in volume even in isotonic solutions. 4. Loss of normal elasticity and, therefore, reduced changes in volume upon exposure to marked variations in osmotic tension. 5. Increase in resistance to large changes in external osmotic pressure because of this inelasticity, and therefore decreased hemolysis in hypotonic salt solution (Part 1). 6. Increase in the speed of disintegration in spite of this increased resistance to external osmotic pressure. "Leaded" cells break up more readily upon standing than do normal cells, and are easily fractured by rotation or shaking (Part 1). All these phenomena seem to be associated largely with surface changes in the corpuscles. Evidence is cited that there is no chemical reaction between lead and hemoglobin. The gas exchange is identical in normal and "leaded" cells. The function of the interior of the red cells, therefore, appears to be unaffected by lead. The effects of lead upon red blood cells are thus manifested by shrinkage, inability to expand, increased brittleness, and loss of the normal consistency which makes their surface sticky. After exposure to lead, red blood corpuscles are more like hard inelastic brittle rubber balls, than like the soft, elastic, resilient cells characteristic of normal blood.
An Analytical Primer on Environmental Multimedia Transport Modeling

Environmental engineering/science has undergone significant changes over the past decade. The development of numerous experimental studies in pollution control and remediation processes in conjunction with the establishment of a number of environmental policies and laws has led to the emergence of environmental multimedia transport ~EMMT! modeling as a holistic analytical approach to solving environmental problems. The critical role of this class of studies has given rise to several important developments, including the analytical aspect of chemodynamics, the large-scale environmental assessment, and the ‘‘cradle-to-grave’’ approach in the manufacturing process. Thus far, the study of EMMT has established itself as an important branch in modern environmental engineering and science. For brevity, the primary objective of an EMMT analysis is to provide a quantitative determination of a chemical behavior in a multimedia environment. Although the notion of multimedia has existed for a long time, analytical multimedia modeling is a relatively new matter with on-going discussions concerning several fundamental aspects, including the underlying mechanisms of multiphase processes, parameter estimations, the complexity of mathematical formulations, and solution algorithms, among others. The analytical framework of EMMT is built upon the principle of mass balance, the conceptual environmental compartment, and the transport properties of the target chemical. As a result, the
A framework for generating synthetic diffraction images from deforming polycrystals using crystal-based finite element formulations

A framework for generating synthetic diffraction images on X-ray detectors from individual grains within polycrystals under in situ loading is described. Crystal plasticity-based finite element simulations of three-dimensional (3D) polycrystalline aggregates undergoing deformation were utilized to mimic a far-field High Energy Diffraction Microscopy (HEDM) experiment. The smearing of the diffraction spots on a two-dimensional (2D) area detector was consistent between the experiment and simulation for a target grain within a polycrystalline sample of a Cu–Cr–Zr alloy. The influence of crystallographic neighborhood and grain shape on the diffracted intensity distributions of the diffraction spots, the stress distribution and the misorientation distribution within a grain is also investigated. Key features of the diffraction spots are examined, differentiating between changes with applied stress and changes due to lattice misorientation associated with plastic straining.
Ion-induced X-ray studies with a high luminosity von Hamos crystal spectrometer☆

Abstract A high-resolution, high-efficiency, von Hamos geometry, Bragg crystal X-ray spectrometer has been developed and mounted on a beamline at the Holifield Heavy Ion Research Facility at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Measurements have been made of K and L X-rays emitted from a variety of targets and projectiles. Instrument performance characteristics are reported here along with spectra from fast projectile ions and very low intensity target emission — areas of measurement for which this spectrometer is especially suitable.
On the theory of solute clustering in binary alloys

Abstract Pseudopotential theory is used to describe the chemical interaction between solute atoms in binary alloys. The binding energies of clusters containing small numbers of solute atoms in aluminium are calculated using this approach. Preferred cluster geometries are predicted in agreement with observed Guinier-Preston zone formation in Al Cu and Al Zn.
Validation of aerosol extinction and water vapor profiles from routine Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Climate Research Facility measurements

[1] The accuracy with which vertical profiles of aerosol extinction σep(λ) can be measured using routine Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) Climate Research Facility (ACRF) measurements and was assessed using data from two airborne field campaigns, the ARM Aerosol Intensive Operation Period (AIOP, May 2003), and the Aerosol Lidar Validation Experiment (ALIVE, September 2005). This assessment pertains to the aerosol at its ambient concentration and thermodynamic state (i.e., σep(λ) either free of or corrected for sampling artifacts) and includes the following ACRF routine methods: Raman lidar, micropulse lidar (MPL), and in situ aerosol profiles (IAP) with a small aircraft. Profiles of aerosol optical depth τp(λ), from which the profiles of σep(λ) are derived through vertical differentiation, were measured by the NASA Ames Airborne Tracking 14-channel Sun photometer (AATS-14); these data were used as benchmark in this evaluation. The ACRF IAP σep(550 nm) were lower by 11% (during AIOP) and higher by 1% (during ALIVE) when compared to AATS-14. The ACRF MPL σep(523 nm) measurements were higher by 24% (AIOP) and 19–21% (ALIVE) compared to AATS-14, but the correlation improved significantly during ALIVE. In the AIOP, a second MPL operated by NASA showed a smaller positive bias (13%) with respect to AATS-14. The ACRF Raman lidar σep(355 nm) measurements were larger by 54% (AIOP) and by 6% (ALIVE) compared to AATS-14. The large bias in the Raman lidar measurements during AIOP stemmed from a gradual loss of Raman lidar sensitivity starting about the end of 2001 going unnoticed until after AIOP. A major refurbishment and upgrade of the instrument and improvements to a data processing algorithm led to the significant improvement and very small bias in ALIVE. Finally, we find that during ALIVE the Raman lidar water vapor densities ρw are 8% larger when compared to AATS-14, whereas in situ measured ρw aboard two different aircraft are smaller than the AATS-14 values by 0.3–3%.
A functional approach for studying technological progress: Extension to energy technology

Abstract This paper extends a broad functional category approach for the study of technological capability progress recently developed and applied to information technology to a second key case—that of energy based technologies. The approach is applied to the same three functional operations—storage, transportation and transformation—that were used for information technology by first building a 100 plus year database for each of the three energy-based functional categories. In agreement with the results for information technology in the first paper, the energy technology results indicate that the functional approach offers a stable methodology for assessing longer time technological progress trends. Moreover, similar to what was found with information technology in the first study, the functional capability for energy technology shows continual—if not continuous—improvement that is best quantitatively described as exponential with respect to time. The absence of capability discontinuities—even with large technology displacement—and the lack of clear saturation effects are found with energy as it was with information. However, some key differences between energy and information technology are seen and these include: ▪ Lower rates of progress for energy technology over the entire period: 19–37% annually for Information Technology and 3–13% for Energy Technology. ▪ Substantial variability of progress rates is found within given functional categories for energy compared to relatively small variation within any one category for information technology. The strongest variation is found among capability progress among different energy types. ▪ More challenging data recovery and metric definition for energy as compared to information technology. These findings are interpreted in terms of fundamental differences between energy and information including the losses and efficiency constraints on energy. We apply Whitney's insight that these fundamental differences lead to naturally modular information technology artifacts. The higher progress rates of information-based as opposed to energy-based technologies follows since decomposable systems can progress more rapidly due to the greater ease of independent as opposed to simultaneous development. In addition, the broad implications of our findings to studies of the relationships between technical and social change are briefly discussed.
Sesquiterpene lactones from Peucephyllum schottii

Abstract From the twig-leaves of Peucephyllum schottii three known flavonoids, cirsimaritin, demethoxycentaureidin and eriodictyol, and two new sesquiterpene lactones were isolated. The lactones were characterized from their spectroscopic data (NMR, IR, MS) and confirmed by X-ray analysis.
A new form of cerebellar long-term potentiation is postsynaptic and depends on nitric oxide but not cAMP.

Long-term depression (LTD) at cerebellar parallel fiber (PF)-Purkinje cell synapses must be balanced by long-term potentiation (LTP) to prevent saturation and allow reversal of motor learning. The only previously analyzed form of cerebellar LTP is induced by 4–8 Hz PF stimulation and requires cAMP but not nitric oxide. It is a poor candidate to reverse LTD because it is presynaptically expressed whereas LTD is postsynaptic. We now characterize a new form of LTP induced by 1 Hz PF stimulation for at least 300 s. This LTP is postsynaptically expressed, enhanced by chelating postsynaptic Ca2+, and depends on nitric oxide but not cAMP or cGMP, making it a plausible anti-Hebbian counterpart to Hebbian LTD.
Increased Mitochondrial Glycerol Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in Insulinomas of Two Hypoglycemic Infants

The activities of flavin-linked, mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase in islet cell adenomas from two infants were 8 and 16 times higher than those in their uninvolved pancreases. The enzyme in the insulinomas, but not that in the nearby pancreases, was inhibited by diazoxide, which is a known inhibitor of insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo. These results provide preliminary evidence that the enzyme may be used as an adjunct to histology for identifying human insulinsecreting tissues. Its sensitivity to diazoxide adds specificity to the test. Taken together with previous work with animal pancreatic islets, the results of the present study suggest that the glycerol phosphate shuttle plays an important role in stimulussecretion coupling in the pancreatic β-cell.
Regulation of RNA polymerase subunit synthesis in Escherichia coli: utilization of DNA-Intercalating drugs as a probe.

Abstract The effect of four DNA-intercalating drugs on the synthesis of the β and β′ subunits of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase was investigated. Acridine orange, proflavine, ethidium bromide, and berberine sulfate at sublethal doses caused a general reduction in cellular RNA and protein syntheses. Under this condition, acridine orange and proflavine rapidly led to overproduction of the β and β′ subunits in significant amounts. Ethidium bromide and berberine sulfate also caused overproduction of the two subunits but with a delay of 10 min at 30 °C. The β and β′ subunits of RNA polymerase became the major proteins being synthesized by E. coli cells after prolonged treatment with DNA-intercalating drugs. The level of the α subunit of RNA polymerase was not altered by any of the drugs tested. The overproduction of the β and β′ subunits induced by DNA-intercalating drugs is shown to require de novo synthesis of the ββ′ mRNA. These findings indicate that the expression of the ββ′ operon is regulated and that the synthesis of the α subunit is not regulated by the mechanism regulating the ββ′ operon. Taken together with evidence reported by others, these results strongly suggest that the concentration of intracellular free RNA polymerase plays a role in regulating the expression of the ββ′ operon.
Peptide YY is a physiological regulator of water and electrolyte absorption in the canine small bowel in vivo

Abstract Background: Peptide YY (PYY), a hormone released following a meal, is one potential mediator of intestinal absorption. Although PYY inhibits 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-stimulated small intestinal secretion in vitro, its effects on fluid and electrolyte transport in vivo are unknown. Methods: This study examines the effects of physiological doses of PYY in dogs (n = 6) with jejunal and ileal exteriorized, neurovascularly intact intestinal loops (Thiry-Vella fistulas). Results: Plasma PYY levels increased after a meal from 155 ± 15 to 324 ± 26 pmol/L at 30 minutes and remained elevated for 2 hours. PYY infused intravenously in unfed animals at 25, 50, 100, and 200 pmol · kg −1 · h −1 , produced a dose-dependent increase in plasma PYY levels. At 100 pmol · kg −1 · h −1 , PYY plasma concentrations were similar to those of fed animals (317 ± 39 pmol/L). PYY infusion resulted in a dose-dependent increase in water and electrolyte absorption at all doses in both the jejunum and ileum. Although the relative increase in absorption was similar, the magnitude was greater in the ileum. Conclusions: Physiological concentrations of PYY produced an increase in small bowel absorption of water and electrolytes in vivo. The postprandial release of PYY may mediate the increase in absorption following a meal. Such a proabsorptive agent may have considerable potential for clinical use in malabsorptive states.
Alterations in the pattern of daunomycin-induced chromosomal aberrations by inhibitors of protein and DNA synthesis.

Abstract Human leukocytes treated with 0.08, 0.06 and 0.04 μg/ml of daunomycin between 48–52 h of culturing exhibit aberrations of chromatid and chromosome type. Inhibition of protein synthesis by puromycin at quantities of 1, 2, 3, and 6 μg/ml drastically reduces the frequencies of Dm-induced chromatid and chromosomes exchanges in relation to the frequency of free fragments. Fluorodeoxyuridine at concentrations of 10 −6 to 10 −3 M , on the other hand, causes no shifts in the relative frequencies of chromatid or chromosome types of aberrations including exchanges. The results indicate that under the experimental conditions protein synthesis is required for the reunion of daunomycin-induced breaks and that DNA synthesis is perhaps not an a priori condition for rejoining.
Differencing as an approximate de-trending device

Abstract Consider the model y j = ƒ( j n ) + e j , j = 1,…, n , where the yj's are observed, ƒ is a smooth but unknown function, and the ej's are unobserved errors from a zero mean, strictly stationary process. The problem addressed is that of estimating the covariance function c(k) = E(e0ek) from the observations y1,…, yn without benefit of an initial estimate of ƒ. It is shown that under appropriate conditions on ƒ and the error process, n consistent estimators of c(k) can be constructed from second differences of the observed data. The estimators of c(k) utilize only periodogram ordinates at frequencies greater than some small positive number δ that tends to 0 as n → ∞. Tapering the differenced data plays a crucial role in constructing an efficient estimator of c(k)
The King Fruit versus Lateral Fruit Thinning Effects on Yield and Fruit Quality in Apple

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to determine the king versus lateral fruit thinning effects on yield and fruit quality of ‘Elstar’, ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Starkrimson Delicious’, ‘Ultra Red’, ‘Topred’, and ‘Jonagold’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars grafted on MM106 rootstock in 2002-2003. Removal of the king fruit (KFR) treatment partially increased the yield in ‘Jonagold’, ‘Elstar’, and ‘Granny Smith’ cultivars while the effects were different by years in “Starkrimson Delicious”. Leaving of the king fruit (KFL) treatment gave better results in the ‘Topred’ cultivar, and similar effects were obtained from both treatments in ‘Ultra Red’ cultivar. Non-significant differences were obtained from both treatments with respect to fruit weight in the ‘Topred’, ‘Starkrimson Delicious’, ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Granny Smith’ cultivars. Leaving of the king fruit treatment increased the fruit weight significantly in ‘Elstar’ and ‘Ultra Red’ cultivars in 2002. The values of fruit flesh firmness (lb), total soluble soli...
Technique for cellular fluorescence distribution analysis

The usefulness of multidimensional slit-scan flow cytometry in whole cell measurements is dependent on extracting relevant features from the cellular fluorescence distributions (slit-scan contours). In addition, the extraction of these features must be rapid to allow for realtime data processing during acquisition. This paper describes two algorithms that have been used successfully to count the numbers of local maxima (peaks) and to find nuclear bloundaries in a cellular fluorescence distribution. These routines are efficient, use only simple integer arithmetic, and have been implemented on several different microprocessors.
An approximation to the stationary distribution of a multiechelon repairable‐item inventory system with finite sources and repair channels

We consider a multiechelon repairable-item inventory system where several bases are supported by a central depot. Unlike METRIC-based models, there are only a finite number of repairmen at each base and the depot, and the failure rates at the bases depend on the current number of items online. The principal objective of this article is to develop a quick and accurate approximation to the steady-state distribution of this system. A secondary objective is to compare the solution of this system with a comparable METRIC solution.
Reduced Sulfation of Liver Heparan Sulfate in Experimentally Diabetic Rats

Analyses by anion exchange chromatography indicate that heparan sulfate proteoglycans isolated from the livers of experimentally diabetic rats have a reduced net negative charge as compared with heparan sulfate proteoglycans from control rats. In contrast, the size of the normal and diabetic proteoglycans are indistinguishable as are the size of individual polysaccharide chains when compared by gel chromatography. The reduced net negative charge of heparin sulfate from diabetic rats is shown to be caused by a reduced number of sulfate groups present in the diabetic heparan sulfate. Results are presented suggesting that one of the biosynthetic enzymes; the N-deacelylase, which tentatively has been identified as a regulatory enzyme affecting the sulfate content of the polysaccharide chains, may be inhibited in the diabetic rat.