cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Functional Signaling Domains from Fluorescence Imaging and the Two-Dimensional Continuous Wavelet Transform

A technique that utilizes the one-dimensional (1D) continuous wavelet transform (CWT) of linearized fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopic images has been extended to identify signaling macro- and microdomains in cell plasma membranes by incorporating the two-dimensional (2D) CWT of time-lapse fluorescence and/or FRET images. Signaling domains were identified from differences in wavelet coefficient matrices, and there was good agreement between the 1D and 2D methods on examining a), static fluorescent images of COS1 cells expressing calmodulin kinase II fused with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein, and b), time lapse FRET images of reporters of protein kinase C (PKC) (PKC activity reporter) and adenylyl cyclase dynamics (cAMP) activity within COS1 plasma membrane confines after stimulation by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate or forskolin, respectively. The proposed 2D wavelet-based image analysis effectively detected phosphorylation/dephosphorylation signaling microdomains (PKC) as well as those reflective of cAMP without the limitation of requiring linearized signals imposed by the 1D approach. Illustrating successful application to the analysis of intracellular compartments, the 2D CWT was further used to identify signaling domains of cAMP response element-binding (CREB)-induced transcriptional activation in the nuclei of COS1 cells, which could not be achieved with the 1D approach. This technique may be eventually used to characterize complex cellular signaling and protein-protein interactions within localized cytoplasmic domains.
Effect of Palliative Drug Therapy on Quality of life in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Advanced cancer patients are managed by palliative care and its main aim is to provide best possible quality of life to the patients by symptom management. Pain is the most agonizing symptom experienced by advanced head and neck cancer patients. Control of pain hence requires more attention by the caregiver in order to improve their quality of life. Recently quality of life issues have emerged as a main focus of cancer treatment as compared to conventional increase in survival rate. This study mainly focuses on the effect of palliative drug therapy on quality of life.
An investigation of the thermal stability and char-forming tendency of cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate)

Abstract The thermal degradation of two network copolymers of methyl methacrylate was studied as a function of the chemical nature of the cross-linking agent and the frequency of cross-links. Unlike the linear homopolymer, both the trimethylolpropane triacrlylate and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate networks were found to char when burned. The corresponding derivative thermograms indicate that there are dramatic differences in the thermal degradation of these polymers even in the absence of oxygen. These differences are interpreted in terms of a simple model for the kinetics of depolymerization.
LPS-induced decrease of neutrophil apoptosis is regulated through TLR2, not through TLR4

Abstract Introduction: Decreased neutrophil apoptosis during sepsis may amplify or prolong systemic inflammation. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 is thought to recognize LPS from gram-negative bacteria and TLR2 is thought to recognize gram-positive bacterial products. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of TLRs in LPS-induced modulation of neutrophil apoptosis in mice. Methods: Neutrophils were isolated from C3H/HeJ mice which have a point mutation in TLR4 or from TLR2KO mice. C3H/HeN mice and C57BL6 mice were used as controls. Blood-derived neutrophils from the mice were cultured with or without LPS or synthetic bacterial lipopeptide (sBLP) in FBS-containing medium. Polymyxyn B (PMB) was used to block the effect of LPS-induced activity. After 24 hours, apoptosis was assessed by two-color flowcytometry using a neutrophil-specific antibody and propidium iodide. LPS-induced mRNA expression for A1, Mcl-1, Bcl-XL, and Bak was determined by RT followed by real-time PCR. Results: LPS and sBLP significantly decreased the apoptosis of neutrophils from C3H/HeN mice as well as from C3H/HeJ mice, and the LPS-induced decrease in apoptosis was blocked by PMB in these mice. However, neither LPS nor sBLP decreased apoptosis in neutrophils from TLR2KO mice. Finally there were no significant differences in LPS-induced mRNA expression for the apoptosis-related factors examined in this study. ∗ . C3H/HeN C3H/HeJ WT TLR2KO VEHICLE 41 ± 8 36 ± 5 53 ± 6 39 ± 8 LPS (1 μg/ml) 22 ± 4 ∗ 18 ± 7 ∗ 16 ± 4 ∗ 39 ± 11 ∗ LPS (1 μg/ml)/PMB (50 μg/ml) 47 ± 7 32 ± 2 ND ∗∗ ND BLP (1 μg/ml) 15 ± 0 ∗ 15 ± 1 ∗ 16 ± 9 ∗ 39 ± 9 ∗ Data depict mean ± SD percent neutrophil apoptosis; ∗ p ∗∗ ND = not done. Conclusions: These results suggest that LPS decreases neutrophil apoptosis mainly through TLR2, not through TLR4, and the transcriptional activity of A1, Mcl-1, Bcl-XL, and Bak apoptosis-associated factors do not appear to play a major role in this process.
High‐resolution model reproduces heliospheric current sheet fold

Spewing from the Sun, magnetic field lines are carried by the solar wind to the outer reaches of the solar system. Crossing over the extended reach of the Sun' equator, these magnetic field lines turn inward toward the Sun's opposite hemisphere. Particularly during solar minimum, the path traced by these magnetic fields creates an equatorially partitioned solar system, with distinct halves of inward and outward polarity. The heliospheric current sheet, a thin region of space with no magnetic polarity and a large electrical current, divides the inward polarity and outward polarity regions.
Rotation and Solvation of Ammonium Ion

From nitrogen-15 spin-lattice relaxation times and nuclear Overhauser enhancements, the rotational correlation time (c) for (15)NH(4)(+) was determined in a series of solvents. Values of (c) range from 0.46 to 20 picoseconds. The solvent dependence of (c) cannot be explained in terms of solvent polarity, molecular dipole moment, solvent basicity, solvent dielectric relaxation, or solvent viscosity. The rapid rotation and the variation with solvent can be accounted for by a model that involves hydrogen bonding of an NH proton to more than one solvent molecule in a disordered solvation environment.
Service Learning: A Promising Strategy for Connecting Future Teachers to the Lives of Diverse Children and Their Families

This article provides a description of service learning implemented in a course entitled "Working With Socioculturally Diverse Families" for teacher education candidates (preK–grade 5). Students participated in 30 hours of service learning in which they provided support and service to diverse mentor families and implemented family events at participating schools. Students’ reflections from focus group interviews conducted after the course regarding their service learning experiences were coded and analyzed. Students reported learning about the dynamics of family diversity, how family resources and backgrounds influence children's school success, and how family involvement should be viewed as a continuum given the diverse priorities and resources of families. Recommendations for the use of service learning in the preparation of early childhood teachers are presented.
Class and Culture: American Political Cleavages in the Twentieth Century:

the New Deal political system had finally come to an end and what kind of system was replacing it. For some the New Deal system remained fundamentally intact except for aberrant presidential elections and short-term deviations (Sundquist 1983: 412-49). Others saw an emerging conservative coalition dominated by the GOP or a "no-party" politics based on single issues or personalities (Burnham 1970, 1982; Ladd and Hadley 1978; Phillips 1970). As the American political system enters the 1990s none of these alternatives is appropriate in describing the political scene. In presidential politics the New Deal era ended in 1968, and since that time the Republican party has consistently prevailed by winning over key elements of the Democrats' New Deal Coalition, particularly white Southerners and urban Catholics. Yet the "Emerging Republican Majority" remains stillborn in Congress and in the states. And while a case can be made for the dealignment hypothesis, the political parties are unlikely to vanish and in many respects are much more coherent entities in terms of ideology and national organization (if not voter mobilization) than they were a quarter-century ago. Rather than remaining caught in the thicket of the realignment/dealignment debate, this paradoxical situation may be better explained as a result of the resurgence in presidential politics of ethnoreligious cultural conflicts that were temporarily suppressed by the class-based party politics of the New Deal era. "Culture" in this context refers to cleavages that are based on questions of region, race, ethnicity, religion and morality, rather than questions of economic power or distribution of the national wealth. Divisions on foreign policy and national security issues that reflect differing conceptions of the U.S. role in the world are also rooted in cultural differences.
NMR-based Binding Screen and Structural Analysis of the Complex Formed between α-Cobratoxin and an 18-Mer Cognate Peptide Derived from the α1 Subunit of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor fromTorpedo californica

Abstract The α18-mer peptide, spanning residues 181–198 of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α1 subunit, contains key binding determinants for agonists and competitive antagonists. To investigate whether the α18-mer can bind other α-neurotoxins besides α-bungarotoxin, we designed a two-dimensional1H-15N heteronuclear single quantum correlation experiment to screen four related neurotoxins for their binding ability to the peptide. Of the four toxins tested (erabutoxin a, erabutoxin b, LSIII, and α-cobratoxin), only α-cobratoxin binds the α18-mer to form a 1:1 complex. The NMR solution structure of the α-cobratoxin·α18-mer complex was determined with a backbone root mean square deviation of 1.46 A. In the structure, α-cobratoxin contacts the α18-mer at the tips of loop I and II and through C-terminal cationic residues. The contact zone derived from the intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects is in agreement with recent biochemical data. Furthermore, the structural models support the involvement of cation-π interactions in stabilizing the complex. In addition, the binding screen results suggest that C-terminal cationic residues of α-bungarotoxin and α-cobratoxin contribute significantly to binding of the α18-mer. Finally, we present a structural model for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-α-cobratoxin interaction by superimposing the α-cobratoxin·α18-mer complex onto the crystal structure of the acetylcholine-binding protein (Protein Data Bank code 1I9B).
Hematopoietic origins of fibroblasts: II. In vitro studies of fibroblasts, CFU-F, and fibrocytes

Objective Using transplantation of a clonal population of cells derived from a single hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) of transgenic enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mice, we have documented the hematopoietic origin of myofibroblasts, such as kidney mesangial cells and brain microglial cells. Because myofibroblasts are thought to be an activated form of fibroblasts, we tested the hypothesis that fibroblasts are derived from HSCs. Materials and Methods Clones of cells derived from single cells of EGFP Ly-5.2 C57Bl/6 mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated Ly-5.1 mice. Using bone marrow and peripheral blood cells from mice showing high-level multilineage hematopoietic reconstitution, we induced growth of fibroblasts in vitro. Results Culture of EGFP + bone marrow cells from clonally engrafted mice revealed adherent cells with morphology typical of fibroblasts. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the majority of these cells are CD45 − and express collagen-I and the collagen receptor, discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of cultured cells demonstrated expression of procollagen 1-α1, DDR2, fibronectin, and vimentin mRNA. Fibroblast colonies consisting of EGFP + cells were observed in cultures of bone marrow cells from clonally engrafted mice, indicating an HSC origin of fibroblast colony-forming units. Culture of peripheral blood nucleated cells from clonally engrafted mice revealed EGFP + cells expressing collagen-I and DDR2, indicating that fibrocytes are also derived from HSCs. Conclusion We conclude that a population of fibroblasts and their precursors are derived from HSCs.
A Prospective Study of Pulmonary Function in Patients Receiving Mitomycin

Mitomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent that is used to treat a variety of solid tumors. Pulmonary toxic reactions from this agent can be life threatening. We prospectively investigated the utility of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in monitoring for the occurrence of pulmonary toxicity due to mitomycin. PFTs were obtained at baseline and after three cycles of mitomycin therapy. We analyzed the clinical course, radiologic studies, and PFT results in 133 patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung randomized to treatment with either mitomycin, vinblastine, and cisplatin or mitomycin alone as part of a prospective treatment protocol of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG). The diffusing capacity (Dco) was available in only 40 patients after the third cycle due to a high rate of progression and death from their underlying disease. After three cycles of chemotherapy, there was an average decline in the Dco of 14% (p 20% change after correcting for hemoglobin) was noted in 11 of 40 patients (28%). This decline in the Dco was not associated with a worse prognosis (p=0.77). Seven patients (5%) developed severe pulmonary toxic reactions attributed to chemo-therapy, including noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, interstitial pneumonitis, and pleural effusions. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in temporary subjective improvement in three patients. The Dco did not correlate with the development of pulmonary toxic reactions in these seven patients. In conclusion, (1) the incidence of clinically significant pulmonary toxic reactions from mitomycin is relatively low (5%), (2) mitomycin therapy resulted in a greater than 20% decline in the Dco in approximately one-fourth of patients receiving three cycles of chemotherapy, and (3) the use of serial PFTs in patients receiving mitomycin was not shown to be predictive of pulmonary toxicity.
Transition metal mediated routes to poly(arylphosphine)s: investigation of novel phosphorus containing conjugated polymers

Abstract Poly(aryl-P-alkylphosphine)s were prepared via palladium and nickel mediated coupling and the spectral and electrochemical properties of the polymers were investigated. Palladium catalyzed carbonphosphorus bond formation was used for the preparation of poly(p-phenylene-P-alkylphoshpine)s (1a–b) via two routes. Low molecular weight polymers (1000–3000) were obtained by the condensation polymerization of 1,4-diiodobenzene with primary alkylphosphines. Higher molecular weight polymers (1000–14 000) were obtained via polymerization of p-bromophenylalkylphosphines (2a–b). Poly(4,4′-diphenyl-P-2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphine (TMPPH2)) (4b) was also prepared via two routes, the palladium catalyzed cross-coupling of 4,4′-diiodobiphenyl with primary alkylphosphines and the nickel mediated homo-coupling of bis-p-bromophenylalkylphosphines. The molecular weight of 4b was low (1000–3000) via both routes due to poor solubility. The electronic properties of polymers 1a–b were investigated with UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry and suggest a degree of electronic delocalization along the polymer backbone through phosphorus.
Detection of the Human Cytomegalovirus 2.0-kb Immediate Early Gene 1 Transcripts in Permissive and Nonpermissive Infections by RNA in situ Hybridization.

The immediate early gene 1 (IE1) is the first gene to be expressed following the entry of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) into the cell and it does not require prior protein synthesis for its expression. Therefore, the IE1 gene is a potential candidate for the development of probes to detect HCMV in various states of infection. Using strand-specific32P- or digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes derived from an exon-specific subgenomic fragment of the HCMV Towne IE1 gene, we performed Northern blot analysis and RNA in situ hybridization on HCMV-infected human (permissive cells) and mouse (nonpermissive cells) fibroblasts and on 10 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of human tissue. By Northern blot analysis and by in situ hybridization, expression of the 2.0-kb IE1 gene was found in permissive as well as in nonpermissive infections. Specific nuclear and cytoplasmic hybridization was found at 5, 10, 24, and 72 h after infection in human fibroblasts. In comparison, hybridization was first detected at 10 h after infection in mouse fibroblasts. Hybridization with the IE1 probe was detected in cells with and without cytopathic changes in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded HCMV-infected human tissues. Hybridization patterns of the IE1 riboprobe were compared to those of the HCMV 2.7-kb major early β-riboprobe which we have previously described [Am J Pathol 141:1247–1254;1992]. Although both riboprobes hybridize to their respective target sequences in the consecutive tissue sections, the patterns of hybridization are different. On occasion, sections of HCMV-infected human tissue showing no specific hybridization for the 2.7-kb riboprobe will show specific in situ hybridization when using the IE1 riboprobe. Our results suggest that RNA in situ hybridization with a probe directed at the IE1 transcripts is an effective method of detecting early and late stages of both permissive and nonpermissive HCMV infections.
Intermittency trends and Lagrangian evolution of non-Gaussian statistics in turbulent flow and scalar transport

The Lagrangian evolution of two-point velocity and scalar increments in turbulence is considered, based on the ‘advected delta-vee system’ (Li & Meneveau 2005). This system has already been used to show that ubiquitous trends of three-dimensional turbulence such as exponential or stretched exponential tails in the probability density functions of transverse velocity increments, as well as negatively skewed longitudinal velocity increments, emerge quite rapidly and naturally from initially Gaussian ensembles. In this paper, the approach is extended to provide simple explanations for other known intermittency trends in turbulence: (i) that transverse velocity increments tend to be more intermittent than longitudinal ones, (ii) that in two dimensions, vorticity increments are intermittent while velocity increments are not, (iii) that scalar increments typically become more intermittent than velocity increments and, finally, (iv) that velocity increments in four-dimensional turbulence are more intermittent than in three dimensions. While the origin of these important trends can thus be elucidated qualitatively, predicting quantitatively the statistically steady-state levels and dependence on scale remains an open problem that would require including the neglected effects of pressure, inter-scale interactions and viscosity.
Not so simple: The multidimensional nature and diverse origins of political ideology

At odds with Hibbing et al., we argue that political ideology is best explained by at least two dimensions linked to economic and social ideology. In addition, Hibbing et al's claim that conservatism is grounded in a heightened sensitivity to negative outcomes, something closely tied to the personality trait of neuroticism, does not fit with the established personality correlates of political ideology. Conscientiousness and a lack of openness to experience are linked to conservatism but there is no established connection to neuroticism.
GABA as a trophic factor during development

Abstract The process of synaptogenesis has been studied by many investigators to determine the factors which regulate synapse formation. We have used neonatal rabbit retina to investigate the role of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system during development. By utilizing an in vitro in treatment of isolated eyecups we found that treatment with nipecotic acid, a GABA uptake blocker, resulted in a 4-fold increase in the amount of specific 3H-muscimol binding. In addition, incubation of the tissue in the presence of the GABA agonists muscimol, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [5,4-c]pyridine-3-ol (THIP), or GABA itself led to similar increases in specific 3H-muscimol binding. The findings support the conclusion from previous studies that the induction of GABA receptors observed after in vivo treatment of 1-day-old rabbits with nipecotic acid resulted from an increase in the extracellular concentration of GABA. A possible role for GABA in the regulation of GABAergic synapse formation is presented in this report.
Optimizing system performance of free-space optical MIMO links with APD receivers

Free-space optical MIMO communication systems are considerably improved by proper selection of key parameters. We use an SNR criterion to optimize APD gain and optical energy per bit for a given error probability in PPM transmission.
Increased Attractiveness of Man to Mosquitoes with Induced Eccrine Sweating

IN studies on human attractiveness to mosquitoes, we not only found gross interhost differences1 but also that individuals were more attractive shortly after physical exercise. In in vitro studies whole lyophilized sweat is attractive to mosquitoes2. We report here in vivo studies in which we induced eccrine sweating and compared attractiveness to mosquitoes before and after sweating.
Hospital use and costs among patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy in the first prospective randomized amlodipine survival evaluation study.

The incidence of hospitalizations, lengths of stay, and per-diem costs were determined for 421 patients (amlodipine, 209; placebo, 212) with nonischemic cardiomyopathy in the first Prospective Randomized Amlodipine Survival Evaluation (PRAISE) study to assess the impact of amlodipine on hospital use and to compare the costs of hospitalization with the cost of amlodipine treatment. Treatment with amlodipine versus placebo significantly delayed the mean (± SD) time to first hospitalization (447 ± 26 d vs 315 ± 18 d, respectively; P = 0.0139). Both treatment groups showed a similar number of hospital admissions per patient per year. The overall hospital length of stay was 1.17 days less per year with amlodipine than with placebo, at a cost of $1098 less per person per year although these differences were not statistically significant. Significantly fewer amlodipine patients were admitted for unexplained cardiac arrest (odds ratio, 0.235; P = 0.002) and ventricular arrhythmias (odds ratio, 0.497; P = 0.004). These findings are consistent with clinical reports from PRAISE of prolonged survival and a reduction in sudden cardiac death among patients with severe heart failure due to nonischemic heart disease. This analysis suggests that in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy, treatment with amlodipine can delay the time to hospitalization and may reduce the number of hospital admissions related to ventricular arrhythmias. The estimated reduction in hospital costs of $1098 per year would more than offset the amlodipine treatment cost of approximately $700 per year.
In inhomogeneously broadened lasers, spontaneous & stimulated emitting atoms participate in Doppler Effects differently

Internal QM frequency for the same transition levels being fixed; spontaneously emitting source & stimulated emitting detecting atoms in an inhomogeneously broadened gas laser reveal different processes behind Doppler Effect.
Treatment and Management of Epilepsy in the Elderly Demented Patient

Epilepsy and seizures are more frequent in the elderly population than in any other age group. The number of individuals older than 65 is constantly increasing, and dementia is a process that predominantly affects this age group. Several studies have shown that dementia is an important risk factor for developing seizures and epilepsy. Seizure semiology in the elderly demented might differ from that of younger age groups and diagnosis can be complicated further by the variety of other causes of transient changes of alertness and behavior that affects these patients. The pharmacokinetic changes of antiepileptic drugs in the elderly make this group a major therapeutic challenge. Side effects and drug interactions play a major role in the choice of antiepileptic agents. This review intends to summarize the existing data to see whether this can help guide the clinician in the treatment and management of epilepsy in the elderly patient with dementia. Nonpharmacologic therapeutic options are also briefly considered.
The effectiveness of using standardized patients to improve community physician skills in mammography counseling and clinical breast exam

Abstract Background. Traditional didactic continuing education is relatively ineffective in improving physicians' clinical skills. We hypothesized that a centralized course including small group workshops utilizing standardized patients could improve clinical skills for a reasonable cost. Methods. We designed a 5-h course aimed at improving physicians' counseling skills (re: screening mammography) and clinical breast exam (CBE) skills. The course included lectures, demonstrations, and small group skills sessions utilizing standardized patients and was offered to 156 typical community-based primary care physicians. Pre- and postcourse evaluation included in-office assessments of physician CBE and counseling performance by standardized patients and a written test of knowledge and attitudes. Results. A total of 54.5% of eligible physicians participated. They improved modestly in only one of three areas of counseling skills measured (providing counseling appropriate to the patient's readiness to accept mammography, P = 0.01). The overall CBE score increased substantially from 24.8 to 34.7 (P Conclusions. Most community-based primary care physicians may find small group training and in-office evaluation involving standardized patients acceptable. Such training may be more effective in improving physical exam skills than complex communication skills.
Human adenosine receptor bearing lymphocytes: enumeration, characterization, and distribution in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Abstract Ox red blood cells (Ox-RBC) which were coated with adenosine covalently linked to human serum albumin (HSA) formed rosettes with a minor population of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) 2 . An average of 10.7% of total circulating PBL were capable of forming adenosine-specific rosettes and the majority of these cells (84%) were found in the spontaneous sheep E-rosetting cell population. The lymphocyte receptor was specific for the adenosine moiety in that HSA-coated Ox-RBC alone, or guanosine-HSA-coated Ox-RBC bound less that 2% of total PBL. In addition, the binding of the adenosine-HSA-coated Ox-RBC to the lymphocytes could be competitively inhibited by adenosine-HSA, adenosine, and low levels of theophylline but not by inosine or guanosine. The majority of the lymphocytes forming the adenosine-HSA rosettes appeared as small resting lymphocytes when examined by electron microscopy.
Effect of ethidium bromide on transcription of linear and circular DNA templates

Abstract The extent of inhibition of Eacherichia coli DNA-dependent RNA polymerase caused by ethidium bromide depends on the source and form of the DNA template. Although all the templates tested can be inactivated completely by this DNA-binding drug, the dose required to do this for some is ten times that required for others. A difference in sensitivity is found even for DNA molecules that have very similar ethidium bromide-binding properties. In general, transcription of covalently closed circular DNAs is more readily inhibited by this drug than transcription of linear DNAs. However, there are variations in both categories, and one linear DNA (T7) is at least as sensitive as some of the circular DNAs. One of the less sensitive circular templates is rat liver mitochondrial DNA.
Role of Calf RTH-1 Nuclease in Removal of 5'-Ribonucleotides during Okazaki Fragment Processing †

The role of the exonucleolytic activity of the calf 5 ' to 3' exo/endonuclease, a RAD2 homolog 1 (RTH-1) class nuclease, in lagging-strand DNA replication has been examined using model Okazaki fragment substrates. These substrates exemplify the situation in Okazaki fragment processing which occurs after the initiator RNA primer is cleaved off, and released intact, by calf RNase HI, leaving a single ribonucleotide at the 5' end of the RNA-DNA junction. This final RNA is then removed by the calf RTH-1 nuclease (Turchi et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 9803-9807). The cleavage specificity of calf RTH-1 nuclease for different junction ribonucleotides was compared. These were removed without the usual requirement of calf RTH-1 for an immediately adjacent upstream primer. In most cases, the presence of an upstream DNA or RNA primer, separated from the monoribonucleotide- DNA segment by either a nick or a gap, reduced the efficiency of removal of the monoribonucleotide compared to the removal seen with no upstream primer. Substrates in which the monoribonucleotide- DNA segment had been replaced by an oligomer of the same sequence but consisting entirely of DNA also exhibited upstream primer inhibition. Results with various sequences indicated that the upstream primer is generally inhibitory for ribonucleotide removal but is sometimes neutral. For deoxynucleotide removal it could be stimulatory, neutral, or inhibitory. Possible reasons for the unexpected lack of upstream primer dependence have been explored. The ratio of RNase HI to RTH-1 was also shown to be critical for both enzymes to work together efficiently. These results suggest that regions of upstream primer inhibition within the genome may play a role in determining the mechanism by which mammalian Okazaki fragments are processed.
Radiation transfer through a model sunspot

A cylindrically symmetric model for a sunspot atmosphere using the similarity principle of Schlueter and Temesvary for the magnetic field configuration is presented. The equations of magnetostatic equilibrium are used, augmented by a radial Evershed flow. The LTE radiative transfer equations for the Stokes vector were solved under a variety of conditions for a ray emerging from a typical penumbral point. The contribution from isolated lines to the broadband circular polarization in sunspot penumbrae is evaluated using a more realistic model sunspot atmosphere than has hitherto been considered. Results indicate that the inclusion of a velocity field along the magnetic field vector is unable to give a net circular polarization of sufficient magnitude, although the variation with the angle between the line-of-sight and the magnetic field vector is in qualitative agreement with observations. The corresponding results for the net linear polarization are satisfactory.
On divisible modules over domains

This note is devoted to the study of divisible modules over arbitrary commutative domains R with 1. Whereas divisible modules over Dedekind domains can be completely characterized by numerical invariants, not much is known about their structures in the general case. Divisible modules have been studied by Matlis [6] who was the first to distinguish between divisibility in general and h-divisibility. He established an important duality between h-divisible torsion modules and complete torsion-free R-modules [7] . Matlis [6] and Hamsher [4] characterized those domains R for which all divisible R-modules are h-divisible, e.g. by the property that the field Q of quotients of R has projective dimension 1.
The plasminogen-plasmin fibrinolytic system accelerates degradation of alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules in vitro.

Abstract Inspired by the idea of “artificial cell” proposed by Dr T.M. Chang 30 years ago, Dr A.M. Sun's group developed alginate-poly- l -lysine-alginate (A-P-A) microcapsules in 1980 to immunoisolate rat islet transplant which reversed hyperglycemia of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice for a couple of weeks. Although reversal of hyperglycemia in various diabetic animal models and human subjects by A-P-A microencapsulated islets have been reported since 1980, the graft function was found to be variable in degree and duration. In 1994, Dr Soon-Shiong and colleagues presented a case of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) who received a total of 960,000 A-P-A microencapsulated human islets intraperitoneally had a period, although for only 2 months, without the heed of exogenous insulin. We intend to identify and correct adverse factors that reduce graft survival of A-P-A microencapsulated islets to maintain long-term normoglycemia of treated diabetic patients. The pathogenesis of graft rejection of A-P-A microencapsulated xenoislet is not clear. It was noted that pericapsular cellular infiltration of A-P-A microencapsulated xenoislet grafts occurred as early as 28 days after intraperitoneal implantation. Many researchers found that the majority of pericapsular cellular components were macrophages and fibroblasts. Pericapsular macrophages may secrete proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β which may suppress islet beta-cells and result in graft dysfunction. The inflammatory reaction induced by A-P-A microencapsulated islets may suffocate the islets by exhausting oxygen. Many unidentified factors are possibly involved in degradating A-P-A microcapsules in vivo. It is interesting to note that macrophages secreted urokinase plasminogen activator in response to inflammation. One of the principal players of the fibrinolytic system is plasminogen which binds to the exposed lysyl residues in fibrin. Polylysine was found to mimic the cofactor (enhancing) function of fibrin in tissue activator-induced and low molecular weight urokinase-induced plasminogen activation. Since A-P-A microcapsules were formed by polycondensation of poly- l -lysine and alginate, it contained terminal and interchain lysine residues on their surface. The exposed lysine residues of A-P-A microcapsule confer binding sites for plasminogen and its activators. If the membrane-bound tissue activator is activated for plasminogen activation, the catalytic domain of plasmin will cleave poly- l -lysine and disintegrate capsular membrane. Therefore, we hypothesize that the plasminogen-plasmin fibrinolytic system is involved in degradation of A-P-A microcapsules. To verify this hypothesis, we studied the lytic activity of the plasminogen-plasmin fibrinolytic system on the physical durability of A-P-A microcapsules in vitro.
A practical method for large-scale plant tissue culture

Summary A method is described for obtaining and propagating large-scale plant tissue cultures in an ordinary laboratory. Scale-up of cultures, sampling, addition, change of media, and division of whole cultures are routinely performed with little or no risk of contamination. A single culture maintained in two 6-1 flasks yielded more than 5000 g of tissue over a period of five months. By simplicity of operation and elimination of the need for spare cultures, the method permits the use of tissue cultures for certain types of biochemical studies otherwise largely impracticable.
Incorporation of deoxyribonucleic acid by mammalian cells in vitro.

TRANSFORMATION of bacterial cells in the presence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been demonstrated1–3, and has indicated that genetic information is carried by DNA. There is little unequivocal evidence for such transformations in higher forms of life, in contrast to the obvious transfer of genetic information that occurs by means of the gamete during fertilization. The two reported attempts to obtain these transformations through the mediation of added DNA have been conflicting4,5. On the other hand, evidence for the uptake of DNA by mammalian cells6,7 has supported the idea that observed biological effects might be obtained. In this communication I present evidence for the incorporation of extracellular high molecular weight DNA into the nuclear DNA of cells of the Ehrlich–Lettre ascites tumour, when they are incubated in vitro (Table 1). Labelled homologous DNA for these experiments was first obtained by injecting formate labelled with carbon-14 intraperitoneally in mice bearing this tumour. After an appropriate time-interval, the tumour cells were removed and washed and the DNA isolated by the detergent procedure8. To determine the specific activity of the DNA used in the experiments, samples were hydrolysed with 70 per cent perchloric acid for 1 hr. at 100° C. and the bases, adenine and thymine, separated by paper chromatography using a solvent system of isopropanol, hydrochloric acid and water. The bases were eluted and the specific activity of each was determined for appropriately plated samples using a gas-flow counter for the radioactivity determinations.
Europa clipper spacecraft configuration evolution

The Europa Clipper mission is a concept under study by a joint JPL and APL team that would conduct detailed reconnaissance of Jupiter's moon Europa, and would investigate whether the icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life. The mission would perform a detailed investigation of Europa using a highly capable, radiation-tolerant spacecraft that would perform repeated close flybys of the icy moon from an orbit around Jupiter.
Materials performance in advanced fossil technologies

A number of advanced technologies are being developed to convert coal into clean fuels for use as a feedstock in chemical plants and for power generation. From the standpoint of component materials, the environments created by coal conversion and combustion in these technologies and their interactions with materials are of interest. This article identifies several modes of materials degradation and possible mechanisms for metal wastage. Available data on the performance of materials in several of the environments are highlighted, and examples of promising research activities to improve the corrosion resistance of materials are presented.
Regional Discrimination and Propagation of Local Rearrangements along the Ribosomal Exit Tunnel

All proteins, from bacteria to man, are made in the ribosome and are elongated, one residue at a time, at the peptidyl transferase center. This growing peptide chain wends its way through the ribosomal tunnel to the exit port, ~100A from the peptidyl transferase center. We have identified locations in the tunnel that sense and respond to single side chains of the nascent peptide to induce local conformational changes. Moreover, side-chain sterics and rearrangements deep in the tunnel influence the disposition of residues 45A away at the exit port and are consistent with side-chain-induced axial retraction of the peptide backbone. These coupled responses are neither haphazard nor uniform along the tunnel. Rather, they are confined to discriminating zones in the tunnel and are sequence specific. Such discerning communication may contribute to folding events and mechanisms governing sequence-specific signaling between different regions of the tunnel during translation.
Emerging Tim-3 functions in antimicrobial and tumor immunity

T cell immunoglobulin-3 (Tim-3) has been identified as a marker of differentiated interferon-γ-producing CD4 + T helper type 1 and CD8 + T cytotoxic type 1 cells. The interaction of Tim-3 with its ligand, galectin-9 (Gal-9), induces cell death, and in vivo blockade of this interaction results in exacerbated autoimmunity and abrogation of tolerance in experimental models, establishing Tim-3 as a negative regulatory molecule. Recent studies have uncovered additional mechanisms by which Tim-3 negatively regulates T cell responses, such as promoting the development of CD8 + T cell exhaustion and inducing expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In contrast to this inhibitory effect on T cells, Tim-3–Gal-9 interaction promotes macrophage clearance of intracellular pathogens. Here, we focus on the emerging role for Tim-3 in tumor and antimicrobial immunity.
Application of Transfer Functions to Indian Ocean Planktonic Foraminifera

The distribution and abundance of planktonic Foraminifera from the Indian Ocean are used to illustrate geographic variations in faunal assemblages in the plankton and on the seabed caused by sedimentary and postdepositional processes and to analyze the effect of these variations on paleoecological reconstruction. Principal components analysis of these data describes the composition and distribution of faunal assemblages in plankton-tow samples, low-dissolution core-top samples, and high-dissolution core-top samples. Factor-comparison analysis describes the relationships among these three sets of assemblages: The species composition of low-dissolution faunal assemblages may be accurately described as a simple linear mixing of plankton assemblages. The geographical distributions of the faunal assemblages in the sediments, however, are often displaced equatorward of their counterparts in the plankton. Dissolution causes complex changes in the composition of faunal assemblages and produces an equatorward displacement of several high-dissolution assemblages relative to their counterparts in low-dissolution sediments. Three transfer functions, or equations, are derived using plankton, low-dissolution, and high-dissolution data. Numerical experiments indicate that transfer functions lose accuracy when applied to discordant data sets: The plankton transfer function often underestimates temperatures in core-top sediments, and the low-dissolution transfer function underestimates temperatures in high-dissolution sediments. These systematic differences in temperature estimates are illustrated by applying the three transfer functions to downcore samples representing conditions 18,000 years ago. Other experiments indicate that these distortions can be reduced by using larger size fractions and calibrating transfer functions with both low- and high-dissolution core-top samples.
A study of factors associated with weight change in women who attempt smoking cessation.

Abstract This study investigated behavioral and attitudinal relatioships over a 12-week time period in 48 women enrolled in a commercial smoking cessation program who were categorized as non-recidivists (NR), early recidivists (ER) and late recidivists (LR) to cigarette smoking. NR had significantly higher weight gains ( F = 6.70), significantly higher levels of physical activity ( F = 6.42), and significantly less concern of postsmoking cessation weight gain ( F = 5.08) than either two groups of recidivists, ( p ≤ .05). Other findings, although not significant, were that NR exhibited lower caloric intake and more frequent snacking behaviors than either ER or LR. These results indicate an overall stronger commitment to more positive health behaviors in the NR than those who returned to cigarette smoking.
Closed-form expression of numerical reflection coefficient at PML interfaces and optimization of PML performance

The authors present a derivation of the closed-form expression of numerical reflection at interfaces of perfectly matched layer (PML). Reflection coefficients at single interfaces and of finite-thickness absorbers are presented. The derived closed-form expression is found to match identically With the reflection coefficient obtained directly through finite-difference time-domain computation. The closed-form expression of numerical reflection coefficient can significantly facilitate the optimization of PML performance.
Possibilities and Challenges of Early Critical Literacy Practices: Bilingual Preschoolers' Exploring Multiple Voices and Gender Roles.

Despite the emphasis on the significance of critical literacy, there has been a startling paucity of studies examining how critical literacy pedagogies can be implemented to preschool bilingual set...
Institutional foodservice benchmarking: survey of administrators' attitudes and practices in the USA

Benchmarking is an ongoing process that gathers information to evaluate the best practices and improve performance. Despite possible changes and benefits, research reporting current foodservice benchmarking is limited. A nationwide survey of foodservice administrators was conducted to determine current practices and administrators' attitudes toward benchmarking. A questionnaire was developed, validated by experts and pilot-tested. Randomly selected, 600 foodservice administrators from health-care, school, correctional and university facilities received questionnaires, and 121 provided usable data (20%). Food cost percentage, labor cost percentage, and percent customer satisfaction with service were the three most used measures. Benchmarking was regarded as important in performing most respondents' jobs (61%), but fewer indicated their benchmarking knowledge as being above average (48%). For training, 41% indicated needs for training on ways to collaborate with benchmarking partners. The majority preferred training through professional association meetings (70%) and Internet-based training (69%). Results indicate opportunities for benchmarking training preferably through meetings and Internet.
Cytogeography and chromosome evolution of subgenus Tridentatae of Artemisia (Asteraceae)

The subgenus Tridentatae of Artemisia (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) is composed of 11 species of various taxonomic and geographic complexities. It is centered on Artemisia tridentata with its three widespread common subspecies and two more geographically confined ones. Meiotic chromosome counts on pollen mother cells and mitotic chromosome counts on root tips were made on 364 populations ( = 3.1 plants per population). These population counts are ∼60% of all Tridentatae counts. Some are first records for taxa. The Tridentatae are a polyploid complex (x = 9) with ploidy levels from 2x to 8x, but mostly 2x (48%) and 4x (46%). Polyploidy occurs in nine of the 11 species and in many subspecies as well. Supernumerary or b chromosomes are present only at a low frequency. In the principal species, A. tridentata, 2x plants are larger than 4x ones, which are adapted to drier conditions, probably in consequence of their slower growth rates. Gigas diploidy is a phenomenon shared by some other woody genera, but is in contrast to the gigas polyploid nature of many herbaceous genera. Polyploidy occurs within populations and is essentially autoploid. Hybridization sometimes occurs at taxa interfaces in stable hybrid zones. Stable Tridentatae hybrid zones coupled with the group's inherent propensity for polyploidization has led to the establishment of a geographically and numerically large and successful complex of species.
Ultrasonic imaging by local shape function method with CGFFT

A numerical algorithm for the reconstruction of the density and the compressibility of a biological body from ultrasonic scattering data is presented. The reconstruction algorithm is based on the local shape function method (LSF) combined with the conjugate gradient method with fast Fourier transform (CGFFT). The nonlinearity due to the multiple scattering has been accounted for in an iterative minimization scheme. Numerical examples of simulation data and real experimental data are given showing the capability of this algorithm.