cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cooperative properties of cytochromes P450

Cytochromes P450 form a large and important class of heme monooxygenases with a broad spectrum of substrates and corresponding functions, from steroid hormone biosynthesis to the metabolism of xenobiotics. Despite decades of study, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the complex non-Michaelis behavior observed with many members of this superfamily during metabolism, often termed 'cooperativity', remain to be fully elucidated. Although there is evidence that oligomerization may play an important role in defining the observed cooperativity, some monomeric cytochromes P450, particularly those involved in xenobiotic metabolism, also display this behavior due to their ability to simultaneously bind several substrate molecules. As a result, formation of distinct enzyme-substrate complexes with different stoichiometry and functional properties can give rise to homotropic and heterotropic cooperative behavior. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of cooperativity in cytochromes P450, with a focus on the nature of cooperative effects in monomeric enzymes.
Amino acid residues 196–225 of LcrV represent a plague protective epitope

LcrV, a protein that resides at the tip of the type III secretion needles of Yersinia pestis, is the single most important plague protective antigen. Earlier work reported monoclonal antibody MAb 7.3, which binds a conformational epitope of LcrV and protects experimental animals against lethal plague challenge. By screening monoclonal antibodies directed against LcrV for their ability to protect immunized mice against bubonic plague challenge, we examined here the possibility of additional protective epitopes. MAb BA5 protected animals against plague, neutralized the Y. pestis type III secretion pathway and promoted opsonophagocytic clearance of bacteria in blood. LcrV residues 196-225 were necessary and sufficient for MAb BA5 binding. Compared to full-length LcrV, a variant lacking its residues 196-225 retained the ability of eliciting plague protection. These results identify LcrV residues 196-225 as a linear epitope that is recognized by the murine immune system to confer plague protection.
Spectroscopic measurements of combustion gas composition in supersonic flow.

A spectroscopic technique for measuring the composition of combustion gases in supersonic flow is described, and the difference between thermal equilibrium and chemical kinetic conditions is demonstrated. The gas flows were generated by an end-burning, double-base solid propellant and expanded through a conical nozzle. The physical chemistry involved was the water-gas reaction, the kinetics of which have been treated in the literature. Temperature and gas composition determinations were made by using the nozzle during flow as an infrared absorption or emission cell. The principle bands of H^O, CO, and CC>2 in the 4-6 H, spectral region were recorded at selected stations along the axis. Calibration of the spectrometer was done with gas samples heated to elevated temperatures and pressures in an electric furnace. Spectral measurements of CC>2 using the 4.25-^ band indicated that the gas composition followed the chemical kinetic calculation.
Chiral Capsules. 1. Softballs with Asymmetric Surfaces Bind Camphor Derivatives

Self-assembling “softballs” are hollow pseudospherical dimers held together by hydrogen bonds in organic solvents. They encapsulate smaller molecules of suitable size and shape. Stereochemical aspects of these systems are explored through the encapsulation of camphor derivatives. Both symmetrical softballs and those rendered chiral by functional groups on the softball's surface are examined by 1H NMR methods.
Attachment behavior and socialibility with strangers in premature and fullterm infants

Twenty premature and 20 fullterm infants participated in study of stranger sociability and infant-mother attachment. The preterms were born 4–10 weeks early and had a mean birth weight of 1990 grams. The two groups of infants did not differ on variables such as SES or time between hospital discharge and laboratory assessment. Stranger sociability was assessed in the Stevenson and Lamb (1979) procedure, and security of attachment in the Strange Situation (Ainsworth & Wittig, 1969). Mothers also completed questionnaires on child-rearing attitudes, perinatal anxiety, and infant temperament. Results showed that birth status was unrelated to both attachment and sociability. Securely attached infants were more sociable, however, and were perceived as more “easy” than insecurely attached infants. Difficult infants were less sociable than infants perceived as easy.
Tunable interactions and phase transitions in Dirac materials in a magnetic field

A partially filled Landau level (LL) hosts a variety of correlated states of matter with unique properties. The ability to control these phases requires tuning the effective electron interactions within a LL, which has been difficult to achieve in GaAs-based structures. Here we consider a class of Dirac materials in which the chiral band structure, along with the mass term, gives rise to a wide tunability of the effective interactions by the magnetic field. This tunability is such that different phases can occur in a single LL, and phase transitions between them can be driven in situ. The incompressible, Abelian and non-Abelian, liquids are stabilized in interaction regimes different from GaAs. Our study points to a realistic method of controlling the correlated phases and studying the phase transitions between them in materials such as graphene, bilayer graphene, and topological insulators.
A study of engagement and premature termination in a university counseling center

Abstract Differences between engaged (clients seen for at least two counseling sessions) and nonengaged clients, and between post-engaged premature terminators and clients who terminated with counselor knowledge at a university counseling center were investigated. Five practicum trainees, four professional counselors, and 308 college student clients participated. Professionals had higher rates of engagement and lower rates of premature termination than trainees. Engagement was positively associated with understanding and teaching the client and with longer intake interviews. Premature termination was associated with counselor attractiveness, expertness, and trustworthiness. These characteristics related to premature termination in opposite directions for professional and practicum counselors. Results are discussed in terms of possible different mechanisms operating at the beginning and end of counseling.
Is SP1 (pregnancy specific β1 glycoprotein) elevated in cancer patients

Pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein, SP1, was measured in serum by competitive double antibody radioimmunoassay. Very low levels of SP1 or SP1-like activity were found in only 2 out of 85 sera from patients with cancer of the digestive tract, breast cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma, in 2 out of 11 sera from patients with infectious diseases, and in none out of 15 sera from non-pregnant healthy individuals. SP1 thus does not seem to be ectopically produced in vivo by the types of cancer studied, but is probably highly specific for the normal and malignant trophoblast.
Biosynthesis of dehydro‐N‐acetyldopamine by a soluble enzyme preparation from the larval cuticle of Sarcophaga bullata involves intermediary formation of N‐acetyldopamine quinone and N‐acetyldopamine quinone methide

The enzymes involved in the side chain hydroxylation and side chain desaturation of the sclerotizing precursor N-acetyldopamine (NADA) were obtained in the soluble form from the larval cuticle of Sarcophaga bullata and the mechanism of the reaction was investigated. Phenylthiourea, a well-known inhibitor of phenoloxidases, drastically inhibited both the reactions, indicating the requirement of a phenoloxidase component. N-acetylcysteine, a powerful quinone trap, trapped the transiently formed NADA quinone and prevented the production of both N-acetylnorepinephrine and dehydro NADA. Exogenously added NADA quinone was readily converted by these enzyme preparations to N-acetylnorepinephrine and dehydro NADA. 4-Alkyl-o-quinone:2-hydroxy-p-quinone methide isomerase obtained from the cuticular preparations converted chemically synthesized NADA quinone to its quinone methide. The quinone methide formed reacted rapidly and nonenzymatically with water to form N-acetylnorepinephrine as the stable product. Similarly 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-o-benzoquinone was converted to 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl glycol. When the NADA quinone-quinone isomerase reaction was performed in buffer containing 10% methanol, beta-methoxy NADA was obtained as an additional product. Furthermore, the quinones of N-acetylnorepinephrine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl glycol were converted to N-acetylarterenone and 2-hydroxy-3',4'-dihydroxyacetophenone, respectively, by the enzyme. Comparison of nonenzymatic versus enzymatic transformation of NADA to N-acetylnorepinephrine revealed that the enzymatic reaction is at least 100 times faster than the nonenzymatic rate. Resolution of the NADA desaturase system on Benzamidine Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200 columns yielded the above-mentioned quinone isomerase and NADA quinone methide:dehydro NADA isomerase. The latter, on reconstitution with mushroom tyrosinase and hemolymph quinone isomerase, catalyzed the biosynthesis of dehydro NADA from NADA with the intermediary formation of NADA quinone and NADA quinone methide. The results are interpreted in terms of the quinone methide model elaborated by our group [Sugumaran: Adv. Insect Physiol. 21:179-231, 1988; Sugumaran et al.: Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 11:109, 1989] and it is concluded that the two enzyme beta-sclerotization model [Andersen: Insect Biochem. 19:59-67, 375-382, 1989] is inadequate to account for various observations made on insect cuticle.
Fluoxetine, but not other selective serotonin uptake inhibitors, increases norepinephrine and dopamine extracellular levels in prefrontal cortex

Rationale: The selective serotonin uptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine has been shown to not only increase the extracellular concentrations of serotonin, but also dopamine and norepinephrine extracellular concentrations in rat prefrontal cortex. The effect of other SSRIs on monoamine concentrations in prefrontal cortex has not been thoroughly studied. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the ability of five systemically administered selective serotonin uptake inhibitors to increase acutely the extracellular concentrations of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in rat prefrontal cortex. Methods: The extracellular concentrations of monoamines were determined in the prefrontal cortex of conscious rats using the microdialysis technique. Results: Fluoxetine, citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline similarly increased the extracellular concentrations of serotonin from 2- to 4-fold above baseline. However, only fluoxetine produced robust and sustained increases in extracellular concentrations of norepinephrine and dopamine after acute systemic administration. Fluoxetine at the same dose blocked ex vivo binding to the serotonin transporter, but not the norepinephrine transporter, suggesting that the increase of catecholamines was not due to non-selective blockade of norepinephrine uptake. Prefrontal cortex extracellular concentrations of fluoxetine at the dose that increased extracellular monoamines were 242 nM, a concentration sufficient to block 5-HT2C receptors which is a potential mechanism for the fluoxetine-induced increase in catecholamines. Conclusion: Amongst the SSRIs examined, only fluoxetine acutely increases extracellular concentrations of norepinephrine and dopamine as well as serotonin in prefrontal cortex, suggesting that fluoxetine is an atypical SSRI.
AN EVALUATION OF THE STIMULUS EQUIVALENCE PARADIGM TO TEACH SINGLE-SUBJECT DESIGN TO DISTANCE EDUCATION STUDENTS VIA BLACKBOARD

The purpose of the current study was to examine the degree to which instruction based on stimulus equivalence procedures could be used to teach single-subject design methodology to graduate-level professionals through a Web-based course management system known as Blackboard (see http://www.blackboard.com). Specifically, we used the stimulus equivalence paradigm to teach relations among the names, definitions, graphical representations of the designs, and two practical scenarios of when it would be appropriate to implement each design. Most participants demonstrated the emergence of untaught relations, and some participants showed generalization to novel vignettes and graphs. Relations largely were not maintained at follow-up but were retaught.
Unusual injury caused by a pencil

A case involving a 3-year-old boy who sustained a penetrating injury to the perineum is presented.
A large area detector for x-ray applications

Abstract A large area detector for X-ray synchrotron applications has been developed. The front end of this device consists of a scintillator coupled to a fiber-optic taper. The fiber-optic taper is comprised of 4 smaller (70 mm × 70 mm) tapers fused together in a square matrix giving an active area of 140 mm × 140 mm. Each taper has a demagnification of 5.5 resulting in four small ends that are 12 mm diagonally across. The small ends of each taper are coupled to four microchannel-plate-based image intensifiers. The output from each image intensifier is focused onto a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) detector. The four CCDs are read out in parallel and are independently controlled. The image intensifiers also act as fast (20 ns) electronic shutters. The system is capable of displaying images in real time. Additionally, with independent control on the readout of each row of data from the CCD, the system is capable of performing high speed imaging through novel readout manipulation.
Polar Coronal Holes and Cosmic-Ray Modulation

A comparison of the size of polar coronal holes with the cosmic-ray intensity observed during the most recent sunspot cycle shows close correspondence. This lends support to recent suggestions that the well-known sunspot-cycle modulation of cosmic rays is a three-dimensional effect, probably related to the global character of the interplanetary magnetic field.
Pineapples in Paradise: Why Islam Does Not Necessarily Support Human Rights and Why That Is a Good Thing

Liberal Muslims answer in the affirmative to the question of whether Islam supports human rights. This article argues that such an approach to human rights falls into the same fallacy that causes more conservative Muslims to reject human rights. Just as pineapples are not mentioned in the Qur’an, human rights are also not specifically mentioned because neither concept existed in 7th century Arabia. As a result, it does make sense to debate whether there are pineapples in paradise or whether Islam supports human rights. Islam cannot support or reject human rights because human religious knowledge on the topic is necessarily incomplete. Liberal Muslims should make this argument and then present practical reasons why human rights are right for Muslim societies. Such a move will bring the debate about human rights back to the temporal realm and away from a theological debate which can never be won.
Effects of insecticides and defoliants applied alone and in combination for control of overwintering boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis; Coleoptera: Curculionidae)--laboratory and field studies

In laboratory, greenhouse and field tests, we determined the effects of combining full rates of the defoliants tribufos and thidiazuron and the herbicide thifensulfuron-methyl with half rates of the insecticides lambda-cyhalothrin or azinphos-methyl, and the combination of tribufos and thidiazuron, both in half rates, on mortality of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman and on the quality of defoliation. Tribufos, 0.47kgha −1 and tribufos, 0.235kgha −1 + thidiazuron, 0.125kgha −1 exhibited a slightly toxic effect to boll weevil, while tribufos, 0.47kgha −1 + lambda − cyhalothrin, 0.019kgha −1 ,t ribufos, 0.47kgha −1 + azinphos − methyl, 0.14kgha −1 , and tribufos, 0.235kgha −1 + thidiazuron, 0.125kgha −1 + azinphos − methyl, 0.14kgha −1 , provided control of boll weevil as good as or better than full-rate azinphos-methyl or lambda-cyhalothrin alone owing to synergistic effects. Thidiazuron or thifensulfuron-methyl alone or in combination with insecticides did not affect boll weevil mortality. Treatment with tribufos + thidiazuron, both at half rate, significantly increased defoliation compared to full rates of tribufos or thidiazuron alone, and provided adequate defoliation for approximately the same cost per hectare. Published in 2004 for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence for preserved representations in change blindness

People often fail to detect large changes to scenes, provided that the changes occur during a visual disruption. This phenomenon, known as "change blindness," occurs both in the laboratory and in real-world situations in which changes occur unexpectedly. The pervasiveness of the inability to detect changes is consistent with the theoretical notion that we internally represent relatively little information from our visual world from one glance at a scene to the next. However, evidence for change blindness does not necessarily imply the absence of such a representation---people could also miss changes if they fail to compare an existing representation of the pre-change scene to the post-change scene. In three experiments, we show that people often do have a representation of some aspects of the pre-change scene even when they fail to report the change. And, in fact, they appear to "discover" this memory and can explicitly report details of a changed object in response to probing questions. The results of these real-world change detection studies are discussed in the context of broader claims about change blindness.
Figure skater level moderates balance training

It was suggested that baseline levels of postural control in figure skaters might influence the effectiveness of neuromuscular training. The aims of the present study were to investigate the baseline association of skater skill level with standard center of pressure metrics and time to stabilization, and to determine if skill level influenced the effectiveness of a 6-week neuromuscular training program. There was no main effect of skill level for any baseline center of pressure metric for either test. There was no main effect of skill level on the percent change in any metric for the single leg stance following training. However, skill level did influence landing test outcome measures. The difference in percent change of root mean squared was evident for the mediolateral (low: 24.5±16.50% vs. high: 2.42±14.99%) and anterior-posterior (low: 6.66±9.21% vs. high: − 4.03±5.91%) axes. Percent change in anterior-posterior time to stabilization also differed by skill level (low: − 0.73%±4.74 vs. high: − 5.61%±2.76). Note that this study was underpowered with 26 subjects and 14 subjects contributing to baseline and post-training assessments, respectively. Though no baseline differences in postural control were observed, compared with low skill levels, high skill levels benefitted more from training.
Collaboration: the key to value creation in supply chain management

As global markets grow increasingly efficient, competition no longer takes place between individual businesses, but between entire value chains. Collaboration through intelligent e‐business networks will provide the competitive edge that enables all the participants in a value chain to prevail and grow. Collaboration requires individual participants to adopt simplified, standardized solutions based on common architectures and data models. Time to market is critical, and participants will have to forego the luxuries of customization and modification that characterized the proprietary infrastructures of the past.
Superexpanded prussian-blue analogue with [Fe(CN)6]4- , [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- , and [Mn(salen)]+ as building units

A cluster-based 3D cyano-bridged trimetallic porous coordination polymer, [H3O]2[Fe(CN)6(Mn(salen))6Nb6Cl12(CN)6]·3H2O (1) with a superexpanded Prussian-blue-type structure built of [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4-, [Fe(CN)6]4-, and [Mn(salen)]+ building units was synthesized and characterized. 1 shows overall ferromagnetic coupling and has a surface area of 55.4 m2/g.
Respiratory muscles: a review of old and newer concepts.

The function of the respiratory muscles in health and disease is currently receiving increased and long overdue interest. Points of practical as well as theoretical interest are the following: 1. The diaphragm, by far the most important of the respiratory muscles, has unique mechanical and metabolic characteristics which probably represent advantageous adaptations to its function. 2. Both the length-tension properties of the diaphragm and its distinctive curved geometry (i.e. in relation to Laplace’s law) are important in the diaphragm’s function in human health and disease. 3. Pioneering recent work by Goldman and Mead indicate that in most circumstances the diaphragm moves the rib cage effectively and that the other muscles of respiration usually act to optimize the length-tension conditions of the diaphragm’s function. 4. There is mounting evidence that tonic as well as phasic activity of respiratory muscles is a major determinant of lung volume in many circumstances in both health and disease. 5. Fatigue of respiratory muscles is being recognized as an important contributor to respiratory disability and failure, and several methods of recognizing fatigue are being developed. 6. The relief from dyspnea experienced by some severe emphysema patients when they lean forward or lie supine is, we believe, related to the improved length-tension state of the diaphragm which the more comfortable postures favor.
Cyberinfrastructure, Data, and Libraries, Part 2: Libraries and the Data Challenge: Roles and Actions for Libraries

Most academic library services support the delivery and stewardship of text-based collections in a variety of print and digital formats. There are exceptions: libraries also manage and deliver images, multimedia, sound, maps, and various other artifacts of research and culture, including data and datasets. Today, libraries' roles in data management and data services tend to relate to a few well-defined categories of data: social science data, geo-referenced data (GIS), and bioinformatics.1
Chemistry and molecular biology of anticancer platinum drugs

Abstract The anticancer platinum drug cis -diamminedichloroplatinum(II) ( cis -DPP) binds avidly to DNA both in vitro and in vivo . The mechanism by which cis -DDP kills tumor cells is thought to involve DNAPt interactions [1], but further experimental work to establish this point would be valuable. Accordingly, in joint studies with M. Poirier and her group at the National Cancer Institute, we have developed an antibody to cis -DDP-DNA adducts formed in vitro which reacts specifically with cis -DDPDNA adducts extracted from leukemia cells of mice treated with the platinum drug [2]. Though these antibody studies and other work using nucleases, especially restriction enzymes and exonuclease III, to probe the nature of the cis -DDPDNA binding stereochemistry we find substantial evidence to support the hypothesis that the cis -(NH 3 2 Pt 2+ unit forms an intrastrand crosslink between two adjacent or nearby guanine bases on DNA [3]. The stereochemistry of this adduct has been deduced by NMR studies of a model complex formed between the self-complementary hexanucleoside pentaphosphate d(ApGpGpCpCpT) and cis -DDP. In this complex the two adjacent guanine bases are coordinated to the cis -diammineplatinum(II) moiety through their N-7 nitrogen atoms [4]. When cis -DPP is administered in chemotherapy it is invariably used in combination with other anticancer drugs. How do these drugs affect the chemistry of cis -DDP within the cell? Moreover, agents within the cell such as glutathione are known to form complexes with cis -DDP. Will these intracellular reactions affect the DNA- cis -DDP interaction? With these questions in mind we have studied the binding of cis -DDP to DNA plasmids and restriction fragments. Our results demonstrate that the minor groove intercalating drug ethidium bromide switches the nuclease sensitive binding sites of cis -DDP [5] and that glutathione also alters the DNA binding properties of the antitumor drug. Finally, an investigation has been conducted using 195 Pt NMR spectroscopy which demonstrates the kinetic mobility of diammineplatinum(II) adducts of the nucleobase analog α-pyridone [6]. In particular, the head-to-head isomer of [(en)Pt(C 5 H 4 NO)] 2+ 2 rearranges thermally to the head-to-tail isomer by a process that is reversible, intramolecular, and dissociatively activated. The possible relevance of this isomerization reaction to cis -DPPDNA adducts will be discussed.
Picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy of the initial trans to cis isomerization in the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

Abstract The resonance Raman (RR) spectra in the fingerprint region (1100–1300 cm−1) are reported for the initial, picosecond interval of the bacteriorhodopsin (BR) photocycle during which the J-625 and K-590 intermediates are formed. These are the first RR features assigned to J-625 while the RR bands assignable to K-590 alone are clarified with respect to previous studies. The assignment of RR features to J-625 and K-590 is based on the results of two-laser, picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman (PTR3) experiments designed to separate RR bands of K-590 from other species. The instrumental design underlying PTR3 experiments and the associated advantages for analyzing time-resolved data are described. The PTR3 data in the fingerprint region suggest that neither J-625 nor K-590 contain all-trans retinal and therefore, establish that the primary BR photocycle event involves a configurational change in the retinal chromophore. The RR fingerprint bands assignable to J-625 and K-590, however, differ from one another indicating that the two intermediates do not contain retinal in the same configurational or conformational form and that a second change in retinal structure occurs over the initial 10 ps of the photocycle. The identification of either intermediate in terms of an absolute configuration (e.g., 13-cis retinal) or conformation remains unresolved.
Comparison of Daily Motion of the Cervical and Lumbar Spine to ASTM F2423-11 and ISO 18192-1.2011 Standard Testing

Background–The purpose of this investigation is to measure the normal neck and trunk motion of daily living and to compare this to annualized movements as defined by the ASTM F2423-11 and ISO 18192-1:2011 standards. Methods–Ten volunteers wore a custom sensor system that monitored their upper and lower spine motion. The system allows continuous measurement of the frequency and magnitude of spinal motion about all three axes. The angular motion can then be determined for the upper and lower spinal segments. The results were extrapolated to yield the yearly frequency and magnitudes of movements. The data were compared to ASTM and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. Results–The median magnitude of neck motion was 14.3°, 13.8°, and 21.6°, and the mean annual frequency of cervical motion was 10.6 × 106, 8.5 × 106, and 5.6 × 106 movements in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, respectively. The observed-to-standard (ASTM) ratio of annual cervical excursion was 1.22, 1.09, and 0.69, and for ISO the ratios were 1.22, 1.09, and 1.04 in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, respectively. The median range of motion for the thorax relative to the iliac crest (lumbar) was 11.2°, 10.3°, and 12.5°, and the estimated number of annual movements was 6.8 × 106, 5.2 × 106, and 3.8 × 106 in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and rotation. The observed-to-standard ratios from ASTM were 0.63, 0.56 and 1.6, and for ISO they were 1.5, 1.68, and 1.59, in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and rotation respectively. Discussion–Neck and lumbar movements in healthy young adults aremore frequent that 1 × 106 times per annum. The amplitude is smaller than specified in current standards. Overall, the total annual angular excursions specified by ASTM correlated well with results, whereas the ISO specified smaller ranges of motion for the lumbar spine, and therefore the observed angular motions were greater than specified. New testing standards should consider using more physiologic movement patterns.
Potential epigenetic dysregulation of genes associated with MODY and type 2 diabetes in humans exposed to a diabetic intrauterine environment: an analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation.

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the potential role of DNA methylation in mediating the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in offspring of mothers who had diabetes during pregnancy.
Differential expression of neurotrophin and neurotrophin receptor mRNAs in and adjacent to fetal midbrain grafts implanted into the dopamine-denervated striatum.

This study examined the expression of neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors in the lesion/transplanted striatum at four different time points after transplantation. The ventral mesencephalic region was dissected from a single rat fetus at embryonic day 14 (E14) and implanted into the denervated striatum of rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions. Transplanted rats were killed at 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks after transplantation surgery and the brains subsequently prepared for semiquantitative in situ hybridization analysis of neurotrophin and neurotrophin trk receptors. Hybridization of cRNA probes for trkB or trkC showed a time-dependent reduction within the transplant during the first 4 weeks after transplantation; hybridization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor or tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA probes within the transplant did not change significantly during the same posttransplantation period. Hybridization of the trkB mRNA probe in host striatum adjacent to the transplant was significantly higher than probe hybridization in the corresponding region of the intact striatum during the first 2 weeks after transplantation, but by the 3rd and 4th week, probe hybridization in the denervated/transplanted and intact striatum were the same. Lesioned animals without transplants maintained higher trkB mRNA probe hybridization in the denervated striatum than in the intact striatum at the same postlesion time points suggesting that lesioned/transplanted animals show a normalization of trkB mRNA probe hybridization. Hybridization of the trkC mRNA probe in the lesioned/transplanted striatum was significantly lower than that observed in the intact striatum 4 weeks after transplantation; however, at this same time point we observed a similar reduction of trkC probed hybridization in lesioned animals without transplants. The results of the study show dynamic neurotrophic activity occurring within the transplant and host tissue during the first month of transplant development. J. Comp. Neurol. 423:462–473, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The impact of social style upon person perception in primary relationships

The concept of social style, or the observable style of communication behavior exhibited by each individual, was introduced. Two primary dimensions of communication behavior were identified: assertiveness and responsiveness. Combinations of high and low levels of each dimension yield four styles: expressive, driving, amiable, and analytical. Hypotheses were presented which suggest that the consequences of social style include varying person perceptions. These perceptions included versatility, trust, credibility, power, attraction, and similarity. Finally, it was suggested that style is stable for an individual across situations and contexts. Two hypotheses were derived in order to test the relationships between social style and person perception and a research question was posed in regard to the assumption of stability. One hundred sixty‐two people had acquaintances, friends, and co‐workers fill out the research instrument. The total N for the study was approximately 375. Results indicated that in those c...
Some Behavioral Aspects of Cooperative Bargaining in Agriculture

B ARGAINING power for farmers currently is receiving attention from numerous groups who are concer ed about the price a d i come problems facing U. S. commercial agriculture. In spite of considerable experience with collective bargaining in agriculture, a paucity of information exists on the process by which cooperative bargaining associations attempt to enhance the economic returns of their member producers. This paper explores some of the behavioral aspects of cooperative bargaining in agriculture. Since the bilateral monopoly model was developed over a century ago, economists have attempted to resolve the bargaining problem by using conventional economic analysis [5]. Game theorists took up the task of developing meaningful bargaining theories in the 1940's [3]. Both approaches contain a major weakness: the implausible assumptions on which they are based. Helmberger and Hoos recently developed a theory of cooperative bargaining in which they identify the boundaries of price and quantity under various market structure assumptions [4, pp. 50-63]. However, none of the existing theories give much insight into the bargaining process as it occurs in the sale of farm products to processors.
Technical Analysis of the Slosson–Diagnostic Math Screener (S-DMS)

The Slosson-Diagnostic Math Screener (S-DMS) was designed to help identify students in Grades 1 to 8 at risk for mathematics failure. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, item analysis, decision efficiency, convergent validity, and factorial validity of all five levels of the S-DMS were studied using 20 independent samples of students aged 6 to 13 years. The Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement-Revised Broad Mathematics Cluster, the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised Arithmetic subtest, and the KeyMath-Revised Operations Area were used as convergent validity measures.
A new wall shear stress gauge

A new technique has been developed to measure the wall shear stress and its direction in a turbulent boundary layer. This technique involves the measurement of torque upon a very small cylindrical body placed above the wall deep in the viscous sublayer, so that the device is operating in the creeping flow regime. The approach has involved calibration tests on a gauge 8 mm long by 0.8 mm in diameter, located in uniform shearing flow of glycerol created in a cone-and-plate apparatus. Our theoretical, computational and experimental results show that the torque has a linear relation with the wall shear stress. We have used a spectral element code, Nekton, for determining the creeping flow about the gauge. There is a very good agreement between the experimental and computational results.
Effect of kinematic hardening on the initiation and growth of shear bands in plane strain deformations of a thermoviscoplastic solid

We study dynamic thermomechanical deformations of an elasto-viscoplastic body deformed in plane strain compression at a nominal strain-rate of 5 000 sec−1. The boundaries of the block are assumed to be perfectly insulated. We model the thermoviscoplastic response of the material by the Brown-Kim-Anand constitutive relation in which the evolution of the microstructural changes is accounted for by two internal variables, viz. a scalar and a traceless symmetric second order tensor. The former accounts for the isotropic hardening of the material, and the latter for the kinematic hardening. We model a material defect by introducing a temperature perturbation in the stress-free reference configuration. It is found that the consideration of kinematic hardening does not change the qualitative nature of results.
Application of phenolic oxidation chemistry in synthesis: preparation of the BCE ring system of ryanodine

Abstract A reaction sequence involving phenolic oxidation followed by singlet oxygen addition was used to assemble a model system containing the trans -fused, bridgehead oxygenated bicyclo[4.3.0] ring system found in the ryanoid group of natural products.
Geometric and Analytical Aspects of Anyons

We consider quantum systems ofn indistinguishable spinless particles, constrained to closed compact surfaces and satisfying fractional statistics (anyons). We question the traditional choice of a configuration space, and show that a theory maintaining the diagonal is possible. Such a theory leads naturally to questions in algebraic geometry involving desingularizations of certain algebraic varieties. The desingularizations induce the possibility of an “exotic exclusion principle” for anyons, wherein multiple occupancy is not excluded in general.
Child Abuse and Performance Task Assessments of Executive Functions in Boys

We examined executive functions using performance tasks in 126 boys aged 6 to 16 years, who attended public schools and therapeutic schools for children with emotional and behavioral problems. Children were further grouped based on the presence or absence of substantiated abuse histories. Based on their abuse histories and schools of origin, children were classified as Therapeutic, Abused (TA, N = 25), Therapeutic, Nonabused (TN, N = 52), and Public School (PS, N = 48). Controlling IQ and medication status, we compared children in the three groups on teacher ratings of behavior, on experimenter observations of behavior during testing, and on performance tasks challenging the capacities to inhibit an act in progress, and to passively avoid responses associated with adverse consequences. We examined mean group differences in symptoms, behaviors, and task performance, as well as differential age-dependent changes in these dimensions. Independent of abuse history, therapeutic school children demonstrated comparable levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and comparable levels of redirections to task during testing sessions, that were significantly higher than those of the public school children. Both groups of therapeutic school children also showed comparable overall performance on the capacities to inhibit an act in progress, and to passively avoid responses associated with adverse consequences that were poorer than the performance of children from the public school. Children with histories of substantiated abuse showed diminished improvement with increasing age in the capacity to passively avoid responses associated with adverse consequences when compared not only to the public school children, but also to the children from the therapeutic schools without histories of abuse. Our findings complement reports of behavioral observations of abused children, and reports associating child abuse with altered cognitive development in other areas of competence. They suggest that child abuse may negatively influence the expected developmental progression of competence in certain executive functions. This in turn could have implications for the nature and the persistence of certain forms of psychopathology associated with abuse and poor self-control. Given the cross-sectional nature of our data, however, longitudinal developmental studies of the relations between child abuse and executive functions are needed to elucidate the influence of abuse on the growth and development of such organizing principles of behavioral self-regulation.
Highly Porous Zirconium Aryldiphosphonates and Their Conversion to Strong Bronsted Acids

Abstract Porous inorganic–organic hybrids have been prepared by the reaction of 4,4′-biphenylbis(phosphonic acid) with Zr(IV) in organic solvents. The resultant products consist of α -zirconium phosphate-type layers crosslinked by biphenyl pillars. By using an excess of Zr in the synthesis, surface areas of ∼400 m 2 /g have been obtained and the pores can be controlled to be the micro-type with diameters of 10–20 A and a relatively narrow pore size distribution. The aromatic rings are readily sulfonated by SO 3 under pressure to produce very strong Bronsted acid catalysts. An NMR procedure, utilizing the shift of the carbonyl carbon of acetone-2- 13 C sorbed onto the sulfonated products, indicated an acid strength for the Bronsted acid sites equal to that of 100% sulfuric acid. Unpillared Zr(O 3 PC 6 H 4 SO 3 H) 2 has a somewhat lower acid strength, but still has a higher acid strength than zeolites HX and HY. The particles of this layered acid exfoliate in water and light-scattering data show that they are in 5 nm size range. They also exhibit high proton conductivity as solid membranes. These sulfonated materials have a potential as strong acid catalysts for a variety of reactions at a low temperature.
Anhydrotetracycline and 4-ePianhydrotetracycline in Market Tetracyclines and Aged Tetracycline Products

A large number of tetracycline samples were tested for the presence of anhydrotetracycline and 4-epianhydrotetracycline when they were fresh and after being stored under normal and adverse conditions. It was found that: (a) Newly manufactured tetracycline preparations contain only small amounts of anhydrotetracycline and 4-epianhydrotetracycline. (b) Storage under adverse conditions markedly increases the percentage of degradation products, but storage under normal conditions results in only a slow increase in anhydrotetracycline and 4-epianhydrotetracycline. In syrups, this can be correlated with loss in tetracycline potency. (c) Citric acid greatly increases the tendency of tetracycline to degrade. (d) Tetracycline hydrochloride is more stable than tetracycline phosphate. (e) Demethylchlortetracycline is the most stable of the tetracycline derivatives studied. (f) Rolitetracycline is extremely unstable.
Characterization and Cost Analysis for the UC Merced Campus Load Including Effects of Solar Farm Variability

Variability and uncertainty in renewable energy generation has a direct impact on the cost of electricity prices because of the potential impacts on the operation of existing power generating units. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study detailing the variability added to the UC Merced campus load after including a 1-MW photovolataic (PV) plant to supply a significant amount (25–30% of maximum demand) of the energy load. Cost estimates of the required mechanisms to compensate for the variability are calculated based on utility prices and the PV power output fluctuations. The resulting cost estimates are then compared with solar power variability metrics in order to show the economic impacts of solar variability. Additionally, a simulation is performed for a integrated battery storage system to mitigate the PV fluctuations by solving a revenues optimization formulation. The simulated costs are also correlated with three variability metrics including the standard deviation of the fluctuations and the mean absolute values of the fluctuations. In order to extrapolate results from the case study to a more general scenario, we show that the obtained correlations of normalized variables can be useful for providing estimates on the financial impacts of variable generation resources based on more widely available solar irradiance data.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Single-molecule adsorption at nanometer indentations

The temporal behavior of bursts from single molecules reveals whether adsorbates are diffusing at chemical interfaces or are specifically adsorbed. The chemical interface of water/C18-monolayer on silica is studied. Burst data for single molecules of DiI show that regions of the surface having more nanoindentations are associated with a greater number of specific adsorption events. Lysozyme is shown to adsorb irreversibly, and an oligonucleotide is shown to adsorb reversibly but more strongly than DiI to nanointendations at this interface. For each adsorbate, the specific adsorption at the nanoindentations is attributed to hydrogen bonding to exposed silanols.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Stem cells improve left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction.

Background Animal studies have suggested dramatic improvement in cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) through regeneration of the myocardium or neovascularization by transfer of cells derived from bone marrow (BMC) generated clinical studies. Recently published small sized studies have yielded mixed results, leaving the question unanswered. Hypothesis We analyzed data from these studies in a meta-analysis to investigate if intracoronary stem cell therapy was effective in improving cardiac function. Methods A total of 7 randomized controlled trials meeting the inclusion criteria were identified by a systematic literature search. Primary endpoint was change in global left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) baseline to follow-up (ranging between 3 to 6 months). The meta-analysis consisted of 516 patients (BMC group, 256; control group, 260). A 2-sided α error of less than .05 was considered to be statistically significant (P<.05). Results There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the BMC treatment and control groups at baseline. Compared to the control group, patients in the BMC treatment group had significantly greater increase in LVEF from baseline to follow-up (mean difference: 6.108%; SE: 1.753%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.672%− 9.543%; P<.001). Conclusions The present meta-analysis suggests that intracoronary bone marrow stem cell infusion may be effective in improving left ventricular systolic function in patients after acute myocardial infarction. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A review of the pharmacokinetic profile of temafloxacin.

Temafloxacin is a new fluoroquinolone with potent activity against several important bacteria. Studies in healthy volunteers indicate that the average bioavailability of temafloxacin exceeds 90%, with little intersubject variability. Steady-state peak serum levels are approximately 1 mg/L per 100 mg oral dose administered; thus, the steady-state peak serum level after 600 mg bd oral dosing is approximately 6 mg/L. The long serum elimination half-life (approximately 8 h in patients with normal renal function) allows for single or twice-daily dosing. Approximately 60% of a dose is recovered unchanged in the urine in normal volunteers. Non-renal clearance is approximately 60-80 mL per minute and consists of metabolism (5% of dose), biliary secretion of unchanged drug, and presumptive transintestinal elimination. A doubling of the dosing interval (e.g. from 12 to 24 h) is indicated in patients with a creatinine clearance less than 40 mL/min. No special adjustment of dose is required in those with hepatic dysfunction or the elderly. Studies with temafloxacin show no significant effects on the metabolism of theophylline. Integration of drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties support use of single or twice-daily dosing of temafloxacin.
Survival of Cancer Cells Is Maintained by EGFR Independent of Its Kinase Activity

Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a receptor tyrosine kinase associated with cell proliferation and survival, is overactive in many tumors of epithelial origin. Blockade of the kinase activity of EGFR has been used for cancer therapy; however, by itself, it does not seem to reach maximum therapeutic efficacy. We report here that in human cancer cells, the function of kinase-independent EGFR is to prevent autophagic cell death by maintaining intracellular glucose level through interaction and stabilization of the sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1).