cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practical aspects of proton-carbon-carbon-proton three-dimensional correlation spectroscopy of 13C-labeled proteins

The determination of protein solution structures by NMR requires complete assignment of both the backbone and the amino acid side-chain resonances. For larger proteins, such assignments can be difficult to obtain because of extensive resonance overlap in the 2D ‘H‘H correlation spectra. The overlap problem can be substantially reduced by separating homonuclear correlation spectra in a three-dimensional experiment, combining the homonuclear correlation techniques with a heteronuclear multiple-quantum correlation (HMQC) experiment. Such 3D NOESY-HMQC and HOHAHA-HMQC techniques work well for “N-labeled proteins (1-3). Very recently, it has been demonstrated that the 3D NOESY-HMQC technique can also be used for 13C-labeled proteins (4,5). However, separating homonuclear J-correlation spectra according to the chemical-shift frequencies of attached 13C nuclei, as previously used for smaller molecules ( 6, 7)) is inefficient for macromolecules. The main reason for this stems from the severe heteronuclear dipolar line broadening of the protons attached to 13C, making the JHH transfer very inefficient. Recently, we proposed a new three-dimensional NMR experiment, known as HCCH, in which magnetization is transferred between vicinal protons in a three-step manner (8). In the first step, ‘H magnetization is transferred to its attached 13C nucleus via the large and well-resolved ‘J,-coupling ( 140 Hz). In the second step, 13C magnetization is transferred to its 13C neighbor(s) via the relatively large ’ Jcc coupling (33-45 Hz). Finally 13C magnetization is transferred back to ‘H via the ’ Jcn coupling. To maximize sensitivity, this HCCH experiment requires a high level (>90%) of uniform 13C labeling. Since magnetization is transferred through one-bond couplings that to first order are independent of dihedral angles, the transfer efficiency is independent of local geometry, in contrast to conventional homonuclear correlation methods. Because all three individual transfer steps are highly effective, the HCCH experiment transfers a substantial fraction of magnetization from one proton to its vicinal partners, despite the relatively large ‘H linewidth. Although spectra previously obtained with the HCCH method show many of the desired correlations, they were plagued by relatively high levels oft’ noise and spectral artifacts (8). In the present Communication we address the sources of these undesirable features and demonstrate improvements that greatly reduce their intensity.
Failure Analysis of Redundant Escalator Chain Pin Retention Mechanisms

The pins in new escalator chains were observed to have drifted laterally out of the chain side plates within a few hours of startup. The force driving this movement was sufficient to overcome a light interference fit and retaining rings intended to restrain the pins. Neither pins with heavy interference fit nor connector pins with sliding fits exhibited this tendency to drift. A failure analysis showed that even if the pins and side plates had been manufactured with a heavy interference fit, the sharp edge of the retaining ring groove acted as a broaching tool during assembly, shaving out and enlarging the side plate hole, and destroying the intended fit. The driving force for pin drift was traced to the hysteretic force and rotation sequence as the chain traveled around the escalator sprockets, which led to a walking mechanism that imparted a lateral force sufficient to move the pins and overcome the retaining rings.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Infrared radiofrequency double resonance in the ν1 band region of CF3Br

Abstract Pure nuclear quadrupole resonances in the ground, ν 1 , ν 6 , and ν 1 + ν 6 vibrational states of CF 3 79 Br and in the ground and ν 1 states of CF 3 81 Br have been observed in the region 1–500 MHz by applying the method of infrared radiofrequency double resonance with a sample cell placed outside the cavity of a CO 2 laser. The 9 R (28) and 9 R (30) 12 CO 2 laser lines were used for pumping. In addition to the quadrupole hyperfine structure, A 1 - A 2 splittings in the ν 6 and ν 1 + ν 6 vibrational states of CF 3 79 Br have been observed. Quadrupole coupling constants have been determined by least-squares fits of experimental frequencies to frequencies calculated by direct diagonalization of energy matrices in the coupled representation. These constants have been obtained for all of the vibrational states studied for the two species. The l -doubling constants have been determined for the ν 6 and ν 1 + ν 6 states of CF 3 79 Br. From the laser coincidences with the pumped vibration-rotation transitions, the centers of the ν 1 and the ν 1 + ν 6 ← ν 6 vibration-rotation bands have been estimated.
Teachers’ Discussions of Emotion in Child Care Centers

Teachers have the opportunity to discuss the emotions of children as they occur in the context of the classroom. As such, teachers play an important role in the socialization of emotions of young children. This observational study examines teachers’ discussions of emotions in three child care centers. The findings suggest that child care centers are important social contexts for learning about feelings because of ongoing interaction between teachers and children. Teachers in child care centers use various strategies with children to discuss their emotional expressions. They help children learn to identify emotion-related words, to understand the causes of emotion, and to provide them with constructive means of emotion regulation. The implications for teacher-training programs focusing on methods of facilitation of emotional competence and appropriate emotional socialization are presented.
Interrelations among physical characteristics, sensory perception and oral processing of protein-based soft-solid structures

Abstract Oral processing is essential in breaking down the physicochemical structure of the food and thus important to the sensory perception of food in the mouth. To have an understanding of protein-based, soft-solid texture perception, a multidisciplinary approach was applied that combined studies of food microstructure with mechanical properties, sensory evaluation, and oral physiology. Model foods were developed by combining ion-induced micro-phase separation and protein-polysaccharide phase separation and inversion. Activities of masseter, anterior temporalis and anterior digastric muscles during oral processing were recorded by electromyography (EMG), while jaw movement amplitudes, durations, and velocities were simultaneously collected by a three-dimensional jaw tracking system (JT-3D). Changes in the microstructure of mixed gels significantly altered the characteristics of the chewing sequence, including the muscle activities, number of chews, chewing duration and chewing frequency. Mechanical attributes related to structural breakdown and sensory perception of firmness were highly correlated with the amount of muscle activity required to transform the initial structure into a bolus ready for swallowing. Chewing frequency was linked to mechanical properties such as recoverable energy, fracture strain and water holding capacity of the gels. Increased adhesiveness and moisture release also resulted in slower chewing frequency. Evaluation of oral processing parameters at various stages (i.e., first cycle, first 5 cycles, and last 3 cycles) was found to be a useful method to investigate the dynamic nature of sensory perception at first bite, during chewing and after swallowing. The study showed that muscle activity and jaw movement can be used to understand the links between physical properties of foods and sensory texture.
The Pythagorean Theorem: What Is It About?

(2006). The Pythagorean Theorem: What Is It About? The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 113, No. 3, pp. 261-265.
WebGLORE: a web service for Grid LOgistic REgression.

WebGLORE is a free web service that enables privacy-preserving construction of a global logistic regression model from distributed datasets that are sensitive. It only transfers aggregated local statistics (from participants) through Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure to a trusted server, where the global model is synthesized. WebGLORE seamlessly integrates AJAX, JAVA Applet/Servlet and PHP technologies to provide an easy-to-use web service for biomedical researchers to break down policy barriers during information exchange. Availability and implementation: http://dbmi-engine.ucsd.edu/webglore3/. WebGLORE can be used under the terms of GNU general public license as published by the Free Software Foundation. Contact: ude.dscu@gnaij1x
SELECTIVE PATHWAYS FOR THE METABOLISM OF PHENCYCLIDINE BY CYTOCHROME P450 2B ENZYMES: IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTROPHILIC METABOLITES, GLUTATHIONE, AND N-ACETYL CYSTEINE ADDUCTS

The metabolism of phencyclidine (PCP) has been studied previously in cytochrome P450 (P450)-containing microsomal systems. However, the reactive intermediate(s) that covalently binds to the P450 and leads to inactivation or leaves the active site to modify other proteins has not been identified. In this study two electrophilic intermediates of PCP were identified by mass spectrometry and by trapping with reduced glutathione (GSH) or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). The tentative structures of these electrophilic intermediates were determined using mass spectrometry. P450s 2B1 and 2B4 formed a metabolite that exhibited an m/z of 240 corresponding to the mass of the 2,3-dihydropyridinium species of PCP or its conjugate base, the 1,2-dihydropyridine. Chemical reduction of the incubation mixture using NaBH4 resulted in the disappearance of the signal at m/z 240, consistent with reduction of a 2,3-dihydropyridinium species. Furthermore, the reactive metabolite trapped by GSH resulted in an adduct exhibiting an m/z of 547, consistent with the mass of the 2,3-dihydropyridinium species of PCP (m/z 240), that has reacted with a molecule of GSH (m/z 308). However, P450 2B6 formed a different reactive intermediate of PCP that was isolated as a GSH adduct exhibiting an m/z of 581 and an NAC adduct with an m/z of 437. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of these adducts suggested that a di-oxygenated iminium metabolite of PCP could be the reactive intermediate formed by P450 2B6 but not by the other 2B isoforms. These data suggest that P450 2B6 favors oxidation pathways for PCP metabolism that are different from those of P450s 2B1 and 2B4.
Insulin regulation of renal glucose metabolism in humans

Eighteen healthy subjects had arterialized hand and renal veins catheterized after an overnight fast. Systemic and renal glucose and glycerol kinetics were measured with [6,6-2H2]glucose and [2-13C...
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: It's not just in communities anymore

Abstract Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections continue to spread worldwide. From an epidemiologic perspective, the risk factors for infections caused by health care-associated strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (HA-MRSA) include hospitalization within the last year; having had surgery, received dialysis, or resided in a long-term care facility in the previous year; having a permanent indwelling catheter or percutaneous medical device; or having previously had an MRSA infection. Strains causing infections in patients without risk factors for MRSA are called community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). The laboratory definition of CA-MRSA is more of a moving target. While CA-MRSA strands typically are resistant only to oxacillin and macrolides, carry SCC mec type IV, and harbor the genes encoding the Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin, there are at least four distinct lineages defined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis that fit this definition. CA-MRSA strains are already moving into a variety of health care institutions and causing infections. Thus, the line between HA- and CA-MRSA is blurring.
Residential Treatment for Women Parolees Following Prison-Based Drug Treatment: Treatment Experiences, Needs and Services, Outcomes:

This article reports on an evaluation of the community residential phase of a prison-based program for drug-using women, the Forever Free Substance Abuse Program at the California Institute for Wom...
Choice of gender on the DAP and measures of sex-role identification.

The relationship between choice of which gender is drawn first on the DAP and measures of sex-role identification was investigated in 34 schizophrenic and 34 normally functioning male Ss. The results indicated no significant relationship between choice of gender and sex-role identification scores, thus questioning the usefulness of gender choice as a criterion of sex-role identification. Clinicians should be extremely cautious in assigning interpretive significance to choice of gender on the DAP as reflecting sex-role identification.
19. Zeev Maoz and Bruce Russett. 1993. “Normative and Structural Causes of Democratic Peace, 1946–1986.” American Political Science Review 87 (September): 624–38. Cited 278 times

This article—one of only two on the “top twenty” list published later than 1986—undertook two tasks. The first was to examine whether the “democratic peace” was a spurious relationship that could be disconfirmed by several possible alternative explanations. The second was to provide a stepping stone—to be revised and improved by others—for converting the democratic peace from a theoretically loose, substantially intuition-driven project into a research program in which theory and empirics reinforced each other.
Manipulator control with superquadric artificial potential functions: theory and experiments

A potential function based on superquadrics is presented that closely models a large class of object shapes. This potential function also prevents the creation of local minima when it is added to spherically symmetric attractive wells. Two compatible forms of the superquadric potential function are introduced: one for obstacle avoidance, and another for obstacle approach. The avoidance and approach potentials are implemented in simulations. In these simulations the end effector of the manipulator experiences an attractive force from a global spherical well, while the end effector and each of the links experience repulsive forces from all of the objects. The authors have also experimentally implemented the avoidance potentials on the CMU DDARM II system. The results demonstrate successful obstacle avoidance and approach, and exhibit an improvement over existing schemes. >
The effects of shale gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing on the quality of water resources in the United States

Advances in drilling technologies and production strategies such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have significantly improved the production of natural gas by stimulating fluid flow from wells. Since 2008, these technological developments have spurred exponential growth of gas well drilling across the U.S. While the new drilling for shale gas and hydraulic fracturing technologies have dramatically changed the energy landscape in the U.S., recent scientific findings show evidence for contamination of water resources. This paper provides key observations for the potential risks of shale gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing on the quality of water resources and include: (1) stray gas contamination of shallow groundwater overlying shale gas basins; (2) pathways and hydraulic connectivity between the deep shale gas formations and the overlying shallow drinking water aquifers; and (3) inadequate disposal of produced and flowback waters associated with shale gas exploration that causes contamination of surface waters and long-term ecological effects. By using geochemical (e.g., Br/Cl) integrated with oxygen, hydrogen, strontium, radium, and boron isotopic tracers, we have characterized the geochemical fingerprints of brines from several shale gas basins in the USA, including the Utica and Marcellus brines in the Appalachian Basin and the Fayetteville brines in Arkansas. We use these geochemical fingerprints to delineate the impact of shale gas associated fluids on the environment.
Sub-barrier fusion cross sections in 58,64Ni+92,100Mo studied with the gas-filled magnet technique

Abstract Cross sections for evaporation residue formation in the systems 58,64 Ni+ 92,100 Mo have been measured over a large range of energies using the gas-filled magnet technique for the separation of projectiles and evaporation residues. Contrary to the results of previous studies, good arrangement between the experimental data and coupled-channel calculations is observed for both, excitation functions and spin distributions for 64 Ni+ 100 Mo.
Channel capacity in bits per joule

Underwater acoustic telemetry has a total input energy constraint, since the energy is stored in the transmitter's batteries. This work is primarily rephrasing the work in channel capacity in terms of C_{J} bit/J as compared to C bit/s, to emphasize the energy efficiency and to deemphasize the speed of the telemetry. The energy channel capacity C_{J} , for any waveform channel with well-defined capacity C bit/s at signal power S watts, is defined as C/S bit/J. It is shown that for coherent binary frequency shift keying (BFSK) and waveform channels, the supremum of C_{J} over S is approached as S approaches zero. For the Gaussian channel the best coding uses narrow bands with the highest S/N.
Consistency in physical and on-screen action improves perceptions of telepresence robots

Does augmented movement capability improve people's experiences with telepresent meeting participants? We performed two web-based studies featuring videos of a telepresence robot. In the first study (N=164), participants observed clips of typical conversational gestures performed a) on a stationary screen only, b) with an actuated screen moving in physical space, or c) both on-screen and in-space. In the second study (N=103), participants viewed scenario videos depicting two people interacting with a remote collaborator through a telepresence robot, whose distant actions were a) visible on the screen only, or b) accompanied by local physical motion. These studies suggest that synchronized on-screen and in-space gestures significantly improved viewers' interpretation of the action compared to on-screen or in-space gestures alone, and that in-space gestures positively influenced perceptions of both local and remote participants.
ROS‐Mediated PARP Activity Undermines Mitochondrial Function After Permeability Transition Pore Opening During Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion

Background Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) studies have implicated oxidant stress, the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) as contributing factors in myocardial cell death. However, the interdependence of these factors in the intact, blood-perfused heart is not known. We therefore wanted to determine whether oxidant stress, mPTP opening, and PARP activity contribute to the same death pathway after myocardial I/R. Methods and Results A murine left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion (30 minutes) and release (1 to 4 hours) model was employed. Experimental groups included controls and antioxidant-treated, mPTP-inhibited, or PARP-inhibited hearts. Antioxidant treatment prevented oxidative damage, mPTP opening, ATP depletion, and PARP activity, placing oxidant stress as the proximal death trigger. Genetic deletion of cyclophilin D (CypD−/−) prevented loss of total NAD+ and PARP activity, and mPTP-mediated loss of mitochondrial function. Control hearts showed progressive mitochondrial depolarization and loss of ATP from 1.5 to 4 hours of reperfusion, but not outer mitochondrial membrane rupture. Neither genetic deletion of PARP-1 nor its pharmacological inhibition prevented the initial mPTP-mediated depolarization or loss of ATP, but PARP ablation did allow mitochondrial recovery by 4 hours of reperfusion. Conclusions These results indicate that oxidant stress, the mPTP, and PARP activity contribute to a single death pathway after I/R in the heart. PARP activation undermines cell survival by preventing mitochondrial recovery after mPTP opening early in reperfusion. This suggests that PARP-mediated prolongation of mitochondrial depolarization contributes significantly to cell death via an energetic crisis rather than by mitochondrial outer membrane rupture.
Influence of Ambient Temperature on Reproductive Traits of Male and Female Chickens

Abstract ENVIRONMENTAL temperature has been shown to be an important contributor to seasonal variation in reproductive activity of chickens. However, the extent to which the male and female are respectively implicated in seasonal reproductive changes has not been fully described. Extremes in ambient temperature, both cool (30°–55°F.) and warm (70°–100°F.), have resulted in reductions in egg yields of similar magnitude (Qark et al., 1963). Semen production and density are also both seasonally influenced. Higher yields of semen have been obtained in fall and winter months than in spring and summer months, while semen density has been shown to be both lower (Parker and McSpadden, 1943) and higher (Wheeler and Andrews, 1943; Polge, 1951) in the warmer months of the year. Perek and Snapir (1963) found no differences in semen yields at temperatures of 20°, 23° or 26°C. It has been shown, however, that semen yield was positively correlated with . . .
Hierarchically structured bicontinuous polymeric microemulsions

We recently described the synthesis and phase behavior of a new type of CECEC–P multiblock copolymer composed of glassy poly(cyclohexylethylene) (C), semicrystalline poly(ethylene) (E), and elastomeric poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) (P) with symmetric (equal volume) CECEC and P sequences (G. Fleury and F. S. Bates, Macromolecules, 2009, 42, 3598–3610). Here we report the formation and characterization of a multicontinuous structure based on the blending of CEC triblock copolymer and P homopolymer with such a hexablock copolymer along the 50 : 50 (CEC/P) isopleth. These materials produce a sequence of phases that are correlated with the volume fraction of CECEC–P as evidenced by SAXS and TEM measurements. A percolating bicontinuous mesostructure was identified at volume fractions of hexablock copolymer, fCECEC–P = 0.10 and 0.125, within the composition range known to result in a bicontinuous morphology in A–B/A/B systems. A solid product was formed by cooling the initially homogeneous ternary mixture from above the melting temperature of the E blocks to room temperature. Crystallization of E leads to microphase separation of C and E and simultaneous ejection of P from CEC (and CECEC) at a larger length scale. The mechanical properties of these materials are inferior to what is anticipated based on pure CEC triblock copolymer, attributable to the low molecular weight and irregular structure of the C/E region sequences. Nevertheless, this study establishes a procedure for producing bicontinuous yet structurally asymmetric materials based on the microemulsion process and extends the concept of a microemulsion to multiblock copolymers.
Transplantation of multipotent cells extracted from adult skeletal muscles into the subventricular zone of adult rats.

Stem cells isolated from adult tissues may be useful for autologous cell therapy in the nervous system. In the present study we tested the ability of multipotent stem cells isolated from adult muscle to survive and respond to migratory and differentiating cues when transplanted into the adult subventricular zone (SVZ). Prior to transplantation the cells were grown as spheres that expressed doublecortin, nestin, and βIII-tubulin, as well as the mRNAs for the receptor EphA4 and the ligands ephrin B1, ephrin B2, but not ephrin B3. Four weeks after transplantation into the anterior part of the SVZ in adult rats, surviving cells were observed along the ventricular wall, in the SVZ, and in the posterior rostral migratory stream (RMS). None of these cells stained for βIII-tubulin or doublecortin, which are molecules expressed by migrating neuroblasts, and none were present in the more rostral regions of the RMS or the olfactory bulb. However, most surviving transplanted cells were integrated into the wall of the lateral ventricle and expressed vimentin, a marker also expressed by ependymocytes. No tumors were observed 4 weeks posttransplantation. Our results suggest that multipotent stem cells isolated from adult muscle, which can be easily and safely isolated from patients and rapidly expanded ex vivo, may provide autologous vectors for the local delivery of secreted factors to the ventricles or nearby regions. J. Comp. Neurol. 491:96–108, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
"Narrow" thinking about difficult weaning: don't forget the endotracheal tube.

Liberating a patient from mechanical ventilation (often referred to as weaning) remains a major challenge in critical care. Studies performed in the 1990s suggested the process was simpler than previously supposed. Those studies indicated that 65–85% of patients recovering from acute respiratory
Needs Assessment and Hospice Planning in a Rural Setting

A needs assessment is a research and planning activity designed to determine a community's service needs and utilization patterns. One of the most practical ways to plan services is to gather information accurately about a defined population and use that information to revise existing programs or develop new ones. Unfortunately, needs assessment findings often go unused. This article describes how a needs assessment was designed to assess the need for hospice services in a rural Pennsylvania county and how the results of this assessment were useful in determining priorities for program planning and service development. The implications of a model needs assessment such as the one proposed are discussed.
Use of Proton SEE Data as a Proxy for Bounding Heavy-Ion SEE Susceptibility

Although heavy-ion single-event effects (SEE) pose serious threats to semiconductor devices in space, many missions face difficulties testing such devices at heavy-ion accelerators. Low-cost missions often find such testing too costly. Even well funded missions face issues testing commercial off the shelf (COTS) due to packaging and integration. Some missions wish to fly COTS systems with little insight into their components. Heavy-ion testing such parts and systems requires access to expensive and hard-to-access ultra-high energy ion accelerators, or significant system modification. To avoid these problems, some have proposed using recoil ions from high-energy protons as a proxy to bound heavy-ion SEE rates.
Leg preference associated with protective stepping responses in older adults.

Background Asymmetries in dynamic balance stability have been previously observed. The goal of this study was to determine whether leg preference influenced the stepping response to a waist-pull perturbation in older adult fallers and non-fallers.
Infected femorodistal bypass: is graft removal mandatory?

Abstract Infected lower extremity bypass grafts have been associated with high rates of limb loss. Traditionally treatment has included graft excision. To compare aggressive local treatment, without graft removal, with more conventional graft excision, we reviewed 38 consecutive patients with 39 infected lower extremity bypasses treated during the last 10 years. The grafts used were prosthetic in 33 cases, vein in 4, and composite in 2. Median follow-up was 2.7 years. Twenty-eight infected grafts were treated with either complete (14) or partial (14) graft removal. Nine new grafts were placed. Recurrent infection developed in five cases, and two patients died of complications of graft infection. Ten of 20 limbs at risk were lost. Eleven patients with patent bypasses (4 vein, 2 composite, 5 prosthetic) were treated without graft excision. Treatment of five patients in this group included muscle transposition. Five patients were treated with incision and drainage of abscesses, and one had excision of a persistent sinus tract. One patient underwent major amputation 6.3 years after treatment of graft infection. Limb salvage was significantly higher ( p = 0.012, log-rank test) than in patients treated with graft excision. One patient died, and no recurrent infections developed; these were not significant differences compared with those having graft excision. We conclude that aggressive local treatment of infected lower extremity bypass grafts, including drainage, debridement, and muscle transposition may treat infection in selected patients without the need for graft removal and with rates of limb salvage superior to those obtained with excisional therapy. (J Vasc Surg 1992;15:295–305.)
Stereotypic and specific elements of the human colonic response to Entamoeba histolytica and Shigella flexneri

The clinical presentations of bacillary dysentery caused by shigella, and amoebic dysentery caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, can be indistinguishable, with both organisms causing colonic mucosal damage and ulceration. However, the two organisms are quite distinct, and have very different pathogenic mechanisms. This raises the fundamental question of whether the similar clinical manifestations reflect a stereotypic response of the human gut to mucosal injury, or whether there are differences at the molecular level in the host response to individual gut pathogens. To characterize the human colonic response to each pathogen at the molecular level, we measured the differential transcription of nearly 40,000 human genes in sections of human colonic xenografts obtained 4 and 24 h following infection with Shigella flexneri or E. histolytica. Our results indicate that much of the human colonic response to these two pathogens is stereotypic, with increased expression of genes activated in cells undergoing stress and/or hypoxic responses, genes encoding cytokines, chemokines, and mediators that are involved in immune and inflammatory responses, and genes encoding proteins involved in responses to tissue injury and in tissue repair. The responses to amoeba and Shigella were not identical however, and we found unique elements in each response that may provide new insights into the distinct pathogenic mechanisms of E. histolytica and S. flexneri.
Protein mobility in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli

The rate of protein diffusion in bacterial cytoplasm may constrain a variety of cellular functions and limit the rates of many biochemical reactions in vivo. In this paper, we report noninvasive measurements of the apparent diffusion coefficient of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli. These measurements were made in two ways: by photobleaching of GFP fluorescence and by photoactivation of a red-emitting fluorescent state of GFP (M. B. Elowitz, M. G. Surette, P. E. Wolf, J. Stock, and S. Leibler, Curr. Biol. 7:809‐812, 1997). The apparent diffusion coefficient, Da, of GFP in E. coli DH5a was found to be 7.7 6 2.5 mm 2 /s. A 72-kDa fusion protein composed of GFP and a cytoplasmically localized maltose binding protein domain moves more slowly, with Da of 2.5 6 0.6 mm 2 /s. In addition, GFP mobility can depend strongly on at least two factors: first, Da is reduced to 3.6 6 0.7 mm 2 /s at high levels of GFP expression; second, the addition to GFP of a small tag consisting of six histidine residues reduces Da to 4.0 6 2.0 mm 2 /s. Thus, a single effective cytoplasmic viscosity cannot explain all values of Da reported here. These measurements have implications for the understanding of intracellular biochemical networks.
Bank Lending To Corporations: Scenario Analysis as an Alternative to Traditional Metrics

For most financial institutions today, lending is a multi-step process that often is separated from credit review. In an ideal situation, the credit proposal delineates the inherent risks to the transaction. However, the thrust of the credit approval is more often the internal selling of the deal. As such, the credit proposal, if it does err, errs in overselling the strengths of the credit and in underestimating the risks in the transaction. The author examined some twenty loan agreements, and in every company or industry that was analyzed, the problems experienced could not have been discovered by traditional credit analysis. There can be no substitute for the initial step of appropriate due diligence of past and expected results. Bankers should run scenario testing of pro forma financials, which applies probabilities to various future states, and a joint expected value is then calculated. The concept can only be effective if research is conducted to determine the causal factors that affect loan repayment. There is a gap in the literature in analyzing the behavior of corporate borrowers. The author suggests that non-performing loan experience should be studied over several years to develop regressions on various independent variables.
Mathematical and computer modelling reports: Global models

This article summarizes recent developments in computerized global modelling. It is largely descriptive, and will be followed in further issues by articles dealing with more qualitative scenario approaches to global forecasting and an overall evaluation of current forecasting efforts.
Memory, Hate, and the Criminalization of Bias-Motivated Violence

Bias crimes exist within a context and within a culture. Similarly, a polity's bias crime law reveals context, and provides insights to the society's self-understanding. This paper sketches the background of British bias crime law, along with the case for understanding recent developments as an instance of dramatic legal change. It also offers some tentative observations as to the reasons for these changes, and the implications of these observations for using bias crime law as a window into a society's self-perception as a multicultural society. The paper first outlines a framework for understanding bias crimes, using the American context as a point of departure, and addresses several of the challenges that Professor Minow has set for those who argue in support of bias crime legislation. First, criminal punishment must elevate society even as it punishes wrongdoers. Second, criminal punishment has an essential educative and expressive function. Perhaps put more accurately, criminal punishment plays a role in the development and expression of societal values, a wide-ranging process that involves public and private realms, and moves well beyond legal systems to embrace education, civic and social organizations, and private social relations. The experiences of the United Kingdom may have much to teach us in this regard.
Further observations on the Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester (oxidative) cyclase system

The Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester (oxidative) cyclase was strongly inhibited by CN- and N3- in a reconstituted system, but was inhibited slightly or not at all by the same reagents in intact developing chloroplasts. Known inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 processes showed no consistent effect. Benzoquinone and quinol, which can give rise to the same semiquinone by one-electron redox events, were strong inhibitors of the cyclase. It was previously shown that O2 and a source of electrons are required in the cyclization process. The substrates for the dehydrogenases of the pentose phosphate pathway (glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate) were effective reductants in the reconstituted system with supernatant that had been dialysed or passed through Sephadex G-50, in the absence of added NADP+. However, inhibitor studies suggested that the electrons from these sugar phosphates reached the cyclase system via NADPH. Therefore we infer the presence of protein-bound NADP+ that can be reduced by glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate and donate reducing equivalents to the cyclase system. This bound NADPH pool may be particularly effective in the cyclization process, owing to channeling. These findings are discussed in relation to the results of a companion paper [Whyte and Castelfranco (1993) Biochem. J. 290, 361-367] on the breakdown of chloroplast pigments in the same reconstituted system.
Prevention of hip fractures.

The effort to identify elderly people at high risk of hip fracture can reasonably focus on patients who are prone to falling (identified by several criteria, including a history of falling) and perhaps those who are likely to be the most osteopenic. Efforts at treatment must be individualized. Increased use of estrogens by women now going through menopause may improve the statistics on hip fracture, beginning 10 to 20 years from now. Meanwhile, the tailoring of interventions in elderly people to prevent falls, to counter osteoporosis, and to identify and treat correctable causes of osteopenia may produce a more immediate improvement in the statistics. Language: en
Power loss in dipping internal reflectors, imaged using ice-penetrating radar

The geometry of ice-sheet internal layers is frequently interpreted as an indicator of present and past ice-sheet flow dynamics. One of the primary goals of radio-echo sounding is to accurately reproduce that layer geometry. Internal layers show a loss in reflection amplitude as a function of increasing dip angle. We posit that this energy loss occurs via several mechanisms: destructive interference in trace stacking, energy dispersion through synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing and off-nadir ray path losses. Adjacent traces collected over a dipping horizon contain reflection arrivals which are not in phase. Stacking these traces results in destructive interference. When the phase shift between adjacent traces exceeds one-half wavelength, SAR processing, which otherwise coherently combines data from dipping reflectors, disperses the energy, reducing image quality further. Along with amplitude loss from destructive stacking and SAR dispersion, imaging reflectors from off-nadir angles results in additional travel time and thus additional englacial attenuation relative to horizontal reflectors at similar depths. When selecting radar frequency, spatial sample rate and stacking interval for a given survey, the geometry of the imaging target must be considered. Based on our analysis, we make survey design recommendations for these parameters.
Chemical Effects of a Solvent-Limited Approach to HCl-Doped Polyaniline Nanopowder Synthesis

The unconventional solvent-limited synthesis approach for conductive polymer production is analyzed for the well-known system of HCl-doped polyaniline (PAN) to elucidate the impact of nearly solvent-free reactions on chemical and electronic structures including chain conformation, specifically, branching and cross-linking. Moreover, the dependence of PAN polymorphism on the synthesis approach was demonstrated. A careful comparison is established with conventionally solvent-rich syntheses for rapid and extremely slow oxidations. Detailed Raman and UV–vis spectroscopy analyses demonstrate that the “solvent-free” product has the lowest cross-linking density with enhanced charge delocalization as a result of more expanded-coil chains and achieves an optimal oxidation level for the highest conductivity. This is in contrast to conventional solvent-rich polymerization for more compact coils and cross-links producing lower conductivities. The importance of tuning synthesis conditions toward delocalized polaron el...
The Ethnographic Method in CSR Research: The Role and Importance of Methodological Fit:

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has burgeoned in the past several decades. Despite significant advances, our review of the literature reveals a problematic gap: We know little about ...
Load compensation and respiratory muscle function during sleep

The sleeping state places unique demands on the ventilatory control system. The sleep-induced increase in airway resistance, the loss of consciousness, and the need to maintain the sleeping state without frequent arousals require the presence of complex compensatory mechanisms. The increase in upper airway resistance during sleep represents the major effect of sleep on ventilatory control. This occurs because of a loss of muscle activity, which narrows the airway and also makes it more susceptible to collapse in response to the intraluminal pressure generated by other inspiratory muscles. The magnitude and timing of the drive to upper airway vs. other inspiratory pump muscles determine the level of resistance and can lead to inspiratory flow limitation and complete upper airway occlusion. The fall in ventilation with this mechanical load is not prevented, as it is in the awake state, because of the absence of immediate compensatory responses during sleep. However, during sleep, compensatory mechanisms are activated that tend to return ventilation toward control levels if the load is maintained. Upper airway protective reflexes, intrinsic properties of the chest wall, muscle length-compensating reflexes, and most importantly chemoresponsiveness of both upper airway and inspiratory pump muscles are all present during sleep to minimize the adverse effect of loading on ventilation. In non-rapid-eye-movement sleep, the high mechanical impedance combined with incomplete load compensation causes an increase in arterial PCO2 and augmented respiratory muscle activity. Phasic rapid-eye-movement sleep, however, interferes further with effective load compensation, primarily by its selective inhibitory effects on the phasic activation of postural muscles of the chest wall. The level and pattern of ventilation during sleep in health and disease states represent a compromise toward the ideal goal, which is to achieve maximum load compensation and meet the demand for chemical homeostasis while maintaining sleep state.
SUTURELESS BRONCHIAL STUMP CLOSURE; AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY.

SUMMARY An experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the relative merits of closure of the bronchial stump following lobectomy by means of interrupted silk sutures, Eastman 910 monomer, and Eastman 910 adhesive. Results indicate that suture closure is easier from a technical standpoint and is safer than closure with either the monomer or the adhesive.
Input of 129 I into the western Pacific Ocean resulting from the Fukushima nuclear event

We present an initial characterization of the input of 129I into the Pacific Ocean resulting from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. This characterization is based primarily on 129I measurements on samples collected from a research cruise conducted in waters off the eastern coast of Japan in June 2011. These measurements were compared with samples intended to reflect pre-Fukushima background that were collected during a May 2011 transect of the Pacific by a commercial container vessel. In surface waters, we observed peak 129I concentrations of ~300 μBq/m3 which represents an elevation of nearly three orders of magnitude compared to pre-Fukushima backgrounds. We coupled our 129I results with 137Cs measurements from the same cruise and derived an average 129I/137Cs activity ratio of 0.442 × 10−6 for the effluent from Fukushima. Finally, we present 129I depth profiles from five stations from this cruise which form the basis for future studies of ocean transport and mixing process as well as estimations of the total budget of 129I released into the Pacific.
The Effects of the Inertial Properties of Above-Knee Prostheses on Optimal Stiffness, Damping, and Engagement Parameters of Passive Prosthetic Knees

Our research aims to design low-cost, high-performance, passive prosthetic knees for developing countries. In this study, we determine optimal stiffness, damping, and engagement parameters for a low-cost, passive prosthetic knee that consists of simple mechanical elements and may enable users to walk with the normative kinematics of able-bodied humans. Knee joint power was analyzed to divide gait into energy-based phases and select mechanical components for each phase. The behavior of each component was described with a polynomial function, and the coefficients and polynomial order of each function were optimized to reproduce the knee moments required for normative kinematics of able-bodied humans. Sensitivity of coefficients to prosthesis mass was also investigated. The knee moments required for prosthesis users to walk with able-bodied normative kinematics were accurately reproduced with a mechanical system consisting of a linear spring, two constant-friction dampers, and three clutches (R2=0.90 for a typical prosthetic leg). Alterations in upper leg, lower leg, and foot mass had a large influence on optimal coefficients, changing damping coefficients by up to 180%. Critical results are reported through parametric illustrations that can be used by designers of prostheses to select optimal components for a prosthetic knee based on the inertial properties of the amputee and his or her prosthetic leg.
Comment on “The Load Distribution on a Polynomial Mean Line and the Converse”

I am grateful to Mr. Llewelyn for pointing out the slip in equation (3) of reference 1. In considering a particular case of the polynomial camber line I did have to evaluate a number of integrals of the kind but the process is not as laborious as perhaps Mr. Llewelyn implies for there is a simple recurrence relation between integrals of this kind.
GRADIENT-DIFFUSION CLOSURE AND THE EJECTION-SWEEP CYCLE IN CONVECTIVE BOUNDARY LAYERS

The inadequacy of conventional gradient-diffusion closure in modeling turbulent heat flux within the convective atmospheric boundary-layer is often alleviated by accounting for nonlocal transport. Such nonlocal effects are a manifestation of the inherent asymmetry in vertical transport in the convective boundary layer, which is in turn associated with third-order moments (skewness and fluxes of fluxes). In this work, the role of these third-order moments in second-order turbulence closure of the sensible heat flux is examined with the goal of reconciling the models to various closure assumptions. Surface layer similarity theory and mixed-layer parametrizations are used here, complemented by LES results when needed. The turbulent heat flux with various closure assumptions of the flux transport term is solved, including both local and nonlocal approaches. We connect to ejection-sweep cycles in the flow field using the GramCharlier cumulant expansion of the joint probability distribution of vertical velocity and potential temperature. In this nonlocal closure, the transport asymmetry models that include the vertical velocity skewness as a correction term to H originate from ejection-sweep events. Vertical inhomogeneity results in a modified-skewness correction to the nonlocal contribution to the heat flux associated with the relative intensity of ejections and sweeps.
THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF SACRO-ILIAC CONDITIONS BY THE INJECTION OF PROCAINE (NOVOCAIN)

1. The injection of procaine into the region of the sacro-iliac joint produces anaesthesia of this joint, which permits the stretching of tight hamstring muscles and manipulation of the joint. 2. This procedure affords a method of determining whether a disorder of the sacro-iliac joint is responsible for the patient's symptoms. 3. Improvement, which was more than transient, resulted in 60 per cent. of a series of patients so injected.