cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dopaminergic activity of cis-trans isomers of benzhydro[f]quinoline analogs.

Abstract A comparison of the biological activity of isomers with varying alkyl substitutions on the heterocyclic nitrogen of benzhydro[f]quinoline derivatives was made. The secondar amines did not inhibit adrenergic transmission. The trans-isomer of the secondary amine was 0.5 as active as norepinephrine when evaluated for positive chronotropic action in anesthetized cats. The trans-isomers of the N-alkyl derivatives produce inhibition of responses produced by stimulation of cardioaccelerator nerves with doses of 1–5 μmol/kg. Likewise potent emetic activity (dog) and rotational behavior (rat) was observed with the N-alkyl derivatives when administered subcutaneously. The cis-isomers were much less active. The neuronal inhibitions in cats were antagonized by haloperidol 100 μg/kg, except the cis-isomer of the N-ethyl derivate which required phentolamine, 2 mg/kg. In general, the trans-isomers were more potent in contracting the isolated rabbit aorta. This response appeared to be mediated through an α-adrenergic mechanism since phentolamine blocked these responses. The trans-isomer TL-305 was effective in relaxing methacholine contracted guinea-pig trachea through a β-adrenergic mechanism since propranolol blocked this response.
Four cardiac hormones increase circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone and testosterone

This study was designed to determine whether four peptide hormones consisting of amino acids 1–30—long-acting natriuretic hormone (LANH), 31–67 (vessel dilator), 79–98 (kaliuretic hormone), and 99–126 (atrial natriuretic hormone [ANH])—of the 126 amino acid atrial natriuretic prohormone increase the circulating concentration of testosterone in healthy humans (n=30). Vessel dilator, kaliuretic hormone, LANH, and ANH increased the circulating concentration of testosterone 3.8, 2.6, 3.9, and 3.4-fold, respectively (p<0.01 for each), when infused at 100 ng/(kg of body wt·min) for 60 min. The increases in testosterone lasted 2.5–3 h after cessation of the respective atrial natriuretic peptides’ infusions. ANH, vessel dilator, LANH, and kaliuretic hormone increased luteinizing hormone (LH) 3-to 8.4-fold (p<0.001) during infusion, with the maximal increase in LH being 6.7- to 11.7-fold (p<0.001) secondary to these cardiac hormones. Vessel dilator and kaliuretic hormone increased LH before increasing testosterone in a sequential fashion. These data suggest that four peptide hormones—ANH, LANH, vessel dilator, and kaliuretic hormone—increase the circulating con-centrations of LH and testosterone in humans.
Proton affinity of SO3

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the radical cation H2SO 4 + gives the product pairs H2O++SO3 and HO+HSO 3 + with a 1:3 ratio that is essentially independent of collision energy. Statistical analysis of the two channels indicates that the proton affinity of HO is 3±4 kJ/mol lower than that of SO3. This can be used to derive PA(SO3)=591±4 kJ/mol at 0 K and 596±4 kJ/mol at 298 K. Previously, Munson and Smith bracketed the proton affinity as PA(HBr)=584 kJ/mol<PA(SO3)<PA(CO)=594 kJ/mol. The threshold of 152±16 kJ/mol for formation of H2O++SO3 indicates that the barrier to CID is small or nonexistent, in contrast to the substantial barriers to decomposition for H3SO 4 + and H2SO4.
Risk‐informed performance‐based approach to building regulation

Performance‐based building codes are being developed and promulgated around the world. Concurrently, performance‐based analysis and design approaches are being used in a number of disciplines, including structural, mechanical, and fire protection engineering. The performance‐based building regulatory and design environment promises great opportunities for engineers and designers to innovate and to apply analytical tools and methods to design safe, efficient, cost‐effective, and aesthetically pleasing buildings. However, for regulators and enforcement officials, performance‐based approaches are often met with skepticism and concern, as the desired performance is not always well defined and agreed, the perceived certainty associated with compliance with prescriptive design requirements is no longer assured, and there is concern that the data, tools, and methods – necessary to assure that performance‐based designed buildings achieve the levels of performance and risk deemed tolerable to society – are lacking...
Ameliorating Thermally Accelerated Aging With State-Based Application of Fault-Tolerance in Cyber-Physical Computers

Cyber-physical systems have become more prevalent in recent years. Computer control is increasingly being considered for use in applications which are operationally resource-constrained and are very cost-sensitive, while requiring very high reliability. The primary approach to building ultra-reliable systems is to deploy massive redundancy. However, the constraints just mentioned make it very difficult to use the massive everywhere-redundancy approaches used in such traditional (relatively cost-insensitive) applications as aerospace. In this paper, we address such problems by adaptively adjusting fault-tolerance levels according to the current state of the controlled plant. Such an approach imposes far less thermal stress on the computer, thereby enhancing reliability, and thus requiring a smaller number of line-replaceable units to maintain required levels of reliability over any given period of operation.
Phosphorylation Destabilizes the Amino-Terminal Domain of Enzyme I of the Escherichia coli Phosphoenolpyruvate:Sugar Phosphotransferase System

Thermal stabilities of enzyme I (63 562 M(r) subunit, in the Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS), and a cloned amino-terminal domain of enzyme I (EIN; 28 346 Mr) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and far-UV circular dichroism (CD) at pH 7.5. EIN expressed in a delta pts E. coli strain showed a single, reversible, two-state transition with Tm = 57 degrees C and an unfolding enthalpy of approximately 140 kcal/mol. In contrast, monomeric EIN expressed in a wild-type strain (pts+) had two endotherms with Tm congruent with 50 and 57 degrees C and overall delta H = 140 kcal/mol and was converted completely to the more stable form after five DSC scans from 10 to 75 degrees C (without changes in CD: approximately 58% alpha-helices). Thermal conversion to a more stable form was correlated with dephosphorylation of EIN by mass spectral analysis. Dephospho-enzyme I (monomer right arrow over left arrow dimer) exhibited endotherms for C- and N-terminal domain unfolding with Tm = 41 and 54 degrees C, respectively. Thermal unfolding of the C-terminal domain occurred over a broad temperature range ( approximately 30-50 degrees C), was scan rate- and concentration-dependent, coincident with a light scattering decrease and Trp residue exposure, and independent of phosphorylation. Reversible thermal unfolding of the nonphosphorylated N-terminal domain was more cooperative, occurring from 50 to 60 degrees C. DSC of partially phosphorylated enzyme I indicated that the amino-terminal domain was destabilized by phosphorylation (from Tm = 54 to approximately 48 degrees C). A decrease in conformational stability of the amino-terminal domain of enzyme I produced by phosphorylation of the active-site His 189 has the physiological consequence of promoting phosphotransfer to the phosphocarrier protein, HP(r).
Transit Availability and Automobile Ownership: Some Policy Implications

The recent increases in auto ownership among low-income households make one wonder whether public transit continues to provide adequate services to this group of transportation disadvantaged. With this question in mind, the study examines the relationship between transit availability and auto ownership with travel survey data from Los Angeles. Although the relationship is statistically significant, it is rather weak, indicating that significant improvements will be needed in transit services to bring forth a slight decrease in auto ownership among the general population. Empirical evidence also shows that auto ownership is relatively low among the poorest households. Due to the difficulties in attracting the general population from automobile use to transit use, it has been suggested that instead of trying to achieve its many objectives, transit may benefit by rigorously pursuing provision of services to those incapable of owning and operating an automobile.
Selective precipitation of 32Pi onto filter papers. Application to ATPase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase determination

Abstract A simple and selective method is described for the isolation of 32Pi based on the precipitation of the phosphomolybdate complex with triethylamine. Precipitation takes place on filter papers, which are then washed with a solution containing ammonium molybdate and triethylamine to remove other radioactive phosphates. Very large numbers of samples and very small sample volumes can be accommodated easily. The use of this method to measure ATPase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity is demonstrated.
Comparative cell population kinetics of tritiated thymidine labeled diploid and colchicine-induced tetraploid cells in the same tissue of pisum.

Summary The present study represents an effort to test three hypotheses: (1) that colchicine-induced tetraploidy and the associated increase in DNA of cells within the diploid root of a given species does not necessarily result in an increased mitotic cycle duration, (2) that colchicine and 3 H-T mark two different populations in the root and (3) that irradiation from 3 H-T increases the cycle duration of the labeled cells. The experimental approach involved the use of 3 H-T and colchicine, both separately and conjunctively. In the latter case, colchicine treatment was followed, at increasing time intervals, by 3 H-T labeling. Spacing the two treatments in this manner enabled the formation of a 3 H-T labeled tetraploid cell population in root meristems composed mostly of diploid cells. The results indicated that the tetraploid cells had a cycle duration less than that of the 3 H-T label diploids—even when the tetraploid cells were labeled with 3 H-T. They also suggest the following possibilities: (1) since colchicine-induced tetraploid cells in a primarily diploid tissue do not reveal an increased cycle duration, the cellular kinetics of a normally diploid tissue will be diploidic, (2) that colchicine and 3 H-T do not necessarily affect and mark different cell populations within the root, (3) that the S period of the colchicine-induced tetraploid cells was not longer than the diploid cells of the same root, (4) that the constancy of the S period was maintained because the enzyme systems associated with DNA synthesis were increased proportionally with the DNA content, and (5) that the different cycle durations reflect either the effect of the β -radiation from 3 H on diploid cells which are more sensitive to the irradiation because of a higher ratio of radioactive to nonradioactive molecules in the DNA, or a physiological advantage of the colchicine-induced tetraploid cells.
Polycrystalline gold electrode redox behavior in an ammoniacal electrolyte

Abstract The redox behavior of a gold electrode in an ammoniacal electrolyte (0.1 M NH 3 and 0.1 M NaClO 4 ) was investigated using four techniques. These were the rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE), the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Two different gold surface compounds, AuO and AuNH 2 , are formed in relative amounts that depend on the holding time at +0.6 V (versus SCE). XPS and SIMS studies were used to distinguish the surface species AuO and AuNH 2 from AuO and AuOHNH 2 . When the potential is held at +0.6 V for longer times, other oxidized gold surface species may form, e.g. AuO, AuOHNH 2 , [OH(NH 2 )Au] 2 NH, AuNH 2 , Au 2 O 3 ·2NH 3 and Au 2 O 3 ·3NH 3 . During the gold electrode oxidation process, NH 3 is probably oxidized to N 2 . During the surface gold species reduction process, some soluble Au(III) species form that can be reduced to an adsorbed Au(I) species at −0.4 V.
Space, time, and causality in the human brain

Abstract The ability to perceive causality is a central human ability constructed from elemental spatial and temporal information present in the environment. Although the nature of causality has captivated philosophers and scientists since antiquity, the neural correlates of causality remain poorly understood. In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to generate hypotheses for candidate brain regions related to component processes important for perceptual causality in the human brain: elemental space perception, elemental time perception, and decision-making (Experiment 1; n = 16). We then used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to test neural hypotheses generated from the fMRI experiment (Experiment 2; n = 16). In both experiments, participants judged causality in billiard-ball style launching events; a blue ball approaches and contacts a red ball. Spatial and temporal contributions to causal perception were assessed by parametrically varying the spatial linearity and the temporal delays of the movement of the balls. Experiment 1 demonstrated unique patterns of activation correlated with spatial, temporal, and decision-making components of causality perception. Using tDCS, we then tested hypotheses for the specific roles of the parietal and frontal cortices found in the fMRI experiment. Parietal stimulation only decreased participants' perception of causality based on spatial violations, while frontal stimulation made participants less likely to perceive causality based on violations of space and time. Converging results from fMRI and tDCS indicate that parietal cortices contribute to causal perception because of their specific role in processing spatial relations, while the frontal cortices contribute more generally, consistent with their role in decision-making.
Assessing new remote sensing aerosol detection algorithms

Atmospheric aerosols affect the weather and climate by changing cloud formation and the energy balance and, depending on their type and concentration, can negatively affect air quality. Important atmospheric aerosols include dust, ash, volcanic sulfate aerosols, sea salt, biogenic particles, urban/industrial pollution, and smoke. For more than a decade, the twin Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) aboard NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites have provided regular global assessments of aerosol loading, and now, following its 2011 launch, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP) satellite is ready to contribute to that assessment.
Costs of carrying students to a criterion level of competency in physics

Data are presented which display the performance of students in an introductory physics course that was conducted in a competency-based, multiple-opportunity format. These data reveal features of student behavior that are reproducible. The specific costs, measured in instructor's time per student produced are shown to be related to the character of the examination questions and to the comprehensional modes of the students. Specific costs for single-trial and multiple-trial formats are compared and the evidence clearly shows that the multiple-trial opportunity has lower specific costs and a much higher yield of students at the full competency level.
Sterile recurrent spinal epidural abscess in a patient with Crohn's disease: a case report.

Abstract Background The frequency of SEA is increasing. There are several well-established predisposing factors. Case Description Our case presents certain unusual features that include an association with CD, persistent sterile cultures, and multiple recurrences of lesions at adjacent levels. Conclusions A review of the literature showed only 13 case reports of SEA in patients with CD with an additional patient mentioned in one series. Recurrence of SEA at the same location was reported only twice. The diagnostic workup and treatment modalities pertinent to this case are discussed.
Allelic loss on chromosomes 8 and 9 correlates with clinical outcome in locally advanced clear cell carcinoma of the kidney.

Purpose: We correlated allelic loss on chromosomes 8p, 9p and 14q with clinical outcome in locally advanced conventional renal cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods: We analyzed radical nephrectomy specimens from 72 stage P3N0 conventional renal cell carcinomas by microsatellite loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses directed at chromosomes 3p, 8p, 9p and 14q (2 primers per chromosome). All patients were treated with surgery only. LOH results were correlated with disease-free survival using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results: We detected LOH on chromosome 3p in 60 of 64 (94%), on chromosome 8p in 19 of 59 (32%), on 9p in 21 of 67 (31%) and on 14q in 18 of 70 (26%) informative cases. Of the 72 patients 24 (33%) had recurrence during followup. On univariate analysis patients with tumors demonstrating LOH on chromosomes 8p and 9q were at high risk for recurrence (p = 0.01). The correlation of recurrence with LOH approached significance for the individual chromosomes 8p and 9p (p = 0.10 and 0.14, respectively). No...
Depletion saturation of parametric instabilities

Abstract Analytic expressions are presented for the depletion-saturated plasma wave energies for parametric instabilities. The results are in good agreement with simulation experiments.
Structural, immunocytochemical and initial biochemical characterization of NAOH-extracted gap junctions from an insect, Heliothis virescens

Subcellular fractions enriched in gap junctions with an ultrastructure similar to those in intact insect tissue have been obtained by extracting crude membranes from the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with 2.5 mM NaOH. n-Octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (OG) was used to further purify integral membrane proteins in the NaOH-extracted fractions. A polyclonal antibody (R16) is described that specifically labels nonextracted and NaOH-extracted gap junctions in cell fractions by electron microscope immunocytochemistry. R16 immunostaining of sectioned Heliothis testis at the light-microscope level yields a pattern of immunoreactivity consistent with the distribution of gap junctions in the tissue. R16 identifies a 40-kDa protein as a candidate gap junction protein on immunoblots of crude membrane, NaOH-extracted and NaOH/OG-extracted fractions.
Quantum approach to 1 f noise

On the basis of the known experimental properties of $\frac{1}{f}$ noise, some previous models are analyzed. The presence of $\frac{1}{f}$ noise in the simplest systems such as beams of charged particles in vacuum, the existence of $\frac{1}{f}$ noise in currents limited by the surface recombination rate, bulk recombination rate, or by the finite mobility determined by interaction with the phonons in solids, suggests a fundamental fluctuation of the corresponding elementary cross sections. This leads to fluctuations of the kinetic transport coefficients such as mobility $\ensuremath{\mu}$ or recombination speed, observable both in equilibrium and nonequilibrium. In the first case the available Johnson noise power $\mathrm{kT}$, determined by the Nyquist theorem, is free of this type of $\frac{1}{f}$ fluctuation. An elementary calculation is presented which shows that any cross section, or process rate, involving charged particles, exhibits $\frac{1}{f}$ noise as an infrared phenomenon. For single-particle processes, the experimental value of Hooge's constant is obtained as an upper limit, corresponding to very large velocity changes of the current carriers, close to the speed of light. The obtained ${sin}^{2}(\frac{\ensuremath{\theta}}{2})$ dependence on the mean scattering angle predicts much lower $\frac{1}{f}$ noise for (low-angle) impurity scattering, showing a strong ($\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}}{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{latt}}^{2}}$) noise increase with temperature at the transition to lattice scattering. This is in qualitative agreement with measurements on thin films and on heavily doped semiconductors, or on manganin. The theory is based on the infrared quasidivergence present in all cross sections (and in some autocorrelation functions) due to interaction of the current carriers with massless infraquanta: photons, electron-hole pair excitations at metallic Fermi surfaces, generalized spin waves, transverse phonons, hydrodynamic excitations of other quanta, very low-energy excitations of quasidegenerate states observed, e.g., in disordered materials, at surfaces, or at lattice imperfections, etc. The observed $\frac{1}{f}$ noise is the sum of these contributions, and can be used to detect and study new infraquanta.
Evolving diagnostic and therapeutic applications of ultrasound contrast agents

Ultrasound contrast agents have been primarily used for improving left ventricular opacification, but there are emerging applications that could significantly increase their utilization. In addition to enhancement of endocardial border detection and Doppler assessment of LV function, contrast echocardiography may be utilized to assess myocardial perfusion and viability. Until now, detection of myocardial perfusion has been almost exclusively done with radionuclide tracers. However, since the myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) is safe, less expensive and it can be performed at the patient’s bedside there is growing interest in this application. In addition MCE has increased resolution when compared with radionuclide imaging (2 mm vs. 8–12 mm) which permits detection of subendocardial perfusion defects with improved precision. New data indicate that MCE may be used in the emergency department to assist in ruling out acute coronary syndromes [1] and that myocardial perfusion imaging with ultrasound contrast agents during dobutamine stress echocardiography is significantly better than wall motion analysis alone in predicting patient’s outcome [2]. MCE has also been used to detect the no-reflow phenomenon. The defect detected before primary PCI can define the region at risk, and the defect detected after successful coronary reperfusion constitute the area of no-reflow. The improvement of myocardial perfusion on MCE was predictive of subsequent improvement in left ventricular function [3]. Assessment of myocardial perfusion and the coronary microcirculation with MCE corresponded to evaluation using coronary flow reserve measurements obtained with a coronary artery Doppler wire. MCE may also provide prognostic information. In one study of 50 patients with a first myocardial infarction who received thrombolytic therapy, the presence of reduced opacification on MCE, performed on day two, predicted a higher major cardiac event rate (death, nonfatal infarction, or admission for congestive heart failure) during a mean follow up of 22 months (28% vs. 4% in those with adequate opacification) [4]. In another study, patients with a persistent defect in the infarct zone due to the no-reflow phenomenon, despite the restoration of TIMI grade 3 flow, had a deterioration of regional and global systolic dysfunction [5]. Current study published by Wita et al. in this issue of Folia Cardiologica contributes significant data. It demonstrates that MCE has high prognostic value for prediction of functional left ventricular improvement in patients with first myocardial infarction and restored patency of target artery. In fact, MCE turned out to be significantly better than currently utilized methods, raising the possibility of MCE becoming the new “gold standard” for evaluation of no-reflow phenomenon.
Memory Antitumor T-Cells Resist Inhibition by Immune Suppressor Cells

Cancer immune therapy is difficult partly because several classes of suppressor cells, including regulatory T-cells and macrophage-derived suppressor cells, inhibit the antitumor T-cell response. We used treatment studies of implanted tumors in mice to demonstrate that the same inhibitory cells that abrogated an acute therapeutic T-cell response to established tumor did not inhibit the therapeutic response produced by memory T-cells. Generating antitumor memory T-cells may be a highly potent strategy against cancer with late developing metastases.
Cholesterol Worships a New Idol

The growing worldwide epidemic of cardiovascular disease suggests that new therapeutic strategies are needed to complement statins in the lowering of cholesterol levels. In a recent paper in Science, Tontonoz and colleagues have identified Idol as a protein that can control cholesterol levels by regulating the stability of the low-density lipoprotein receptor; inhibiting the activity of Idol could provide novel approaches for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Effects of Community and Center-Based Settings on the Alertness of Persons with Profound Mental Retardation.

We studied effects of different settings on the behavior of persons with profound mental retardation. Adaptive (alert) and nonadaptive behaviors were observed in two community settings and a center setting. Results of the descriptive assessment showed that participants engaged in a higher percentage of adaptive behaviors and a lower percentage of nonadaptive behaviors in the "high stimulation" community setting. The results are discussed in light of environmental setting events on persons with profound mental retardation.
Third Parties and Culture

This essay describes the four broad themes that emerged from our discussionabout the role of process in cross-cultural negotiations and considerstheir implications for future research. First, we address the nature of theconflict, in particular whether a negotiation is classified as a dispute or atransactional exchange. Second, we contrast the role of cognition and rapportin negotiations and consider when rapport replaces the centrality ofcognition. We also discuss the extent to which negotiating processes createrelationships based on trust or power, and consider how cultural valuesinfluence the development of these underlying relationships. Finally, weconsider the role of culture in defining what is perceived as an optimal outcomeand raise the possibility that suboptimal outcomes may holdsymbolic value in cross-cultural negotiations.
Glycotyping of prostate specific antigen

Measurement of serum levels of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) is now widely used for the diagnosis of prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia. This serum marker is of value since it is derived only from the tissue of interest, but increased levels of PSA in serum do not allow a completely clear cut diagnosis of benign versus malignant changes. Since PSA is a glycoprotein with one asparagine linked oligosaccharide, and since malignant transformation often leads to an increased branching of such oligosaccharides, we initially studied the asparagine linked structures on PSA made by a cell line derived from malignant metastatic prostate tissue. We observed that unlike normal PSA, which bears only biantennary oligosaccharides, PSA from the metastatic cell line has a mixture of biantennary and triantennary oligosaccharides. Further experiments will reveal carbohydrate differences derived from the PSA from sera or, prostate tissue of normal versus prostate cancer patients, and of the utility of such carbohydrate differences as a possible diagnostic marker for prostate cancer.
Visual cues collimate the trajectories of almond moth Cadra cautella males flying in wind and still air within a wind‐formed plume of pheromone

Male Cadra cautella (Walker) moths are videotaped in three dimensions in a 3-m long wind tunnel as they fly within a 65-cm wide plume of pheromone. Moths are presented two floor patterns, either ‘aligned’, a 25-cm wide ‘trail’ of solid red circles along the tunnel's midline, or ‘offset’, in which the trail veers 25 cm to the left at the tunnel's midpoint. These visual patterns are presented either in a continuous airflow or airflow that is stopped before moths reach the tunnel's halfway point. Moths fly relatively straight paths over the aligned pattern in still air after the wind is stopped. With the offset pattern in wind and when the wind is stopped, moths swerve towards the offset pattern before again progressing along the plume. Prominent visual cues appear to ‘collimate’ (i.e. align with a directional cue) the moth's course as long as the moth remains in contact with pheromone. In wind, these moths appear to favour trajectories that enhance visual feedback, even if the path taken is not directly upwind. During wind lulls, this manoeuvre may enable moths to continue progress towards calling females along a visually set course. The centring of trajectory over prominent visual cues suggests that these moths favour a route that enhances visual feedback.
Growth, Population Structure, and Reproduction of Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata) on the Central Coast of California

Abstract We studied the population structure and growth of western pond turtles (Actinemys marmorata) at Vandenberg Air Force Base along the coast of central California in April 1995 and June 1996. We captured 179 individuals (115 males, 27 females) from 7 ponds during 26 days of trapping. Many turtles were adult-sized, but based on scute annuli, 74% were < 10 years of age, including many 2- to 3-year-olds. This population structure likely was due to a relatively fast growth rate, especially compared with closely related aquatic turtles in eastern North America. Mean clutch size was 5.2, but 66.7% of females were gravid, and 1 female produced 2 clutches. These reproductive data are similar to those reported for other populations in the southern portion of the species' range. Females reached reproductive maturity as early as 4 years of age. The relatively mild temperatures of California's Mediterranean climate, especially when compared to the seasonal extremes in more continental and northern regions of No...
A study of inventory policy for correlated demands

Simultaneous determination of order quantity (Q) and reorder point (r) is investigated for correlated demand under a continuous review inventory management system. Several parametric models for representing demand during lead time are suggested. Optimal choice of the pairs (Q, r) is obtained by minimising the expected total inventory cost. Numerical investigation shows that the correlation of demand has substantial impact on the choice of (Q, r) and the total inventory cost. If, however, the annual demand is considered as fixed, then the correlation has strong effect only on r, but not on Q. It is advisable to properly estimate the correlation of the demand prior to the inventory decisions for better planning.
Temporal detection of equine herpesvirus infections of a cohort of mares and their foals

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of equine herpesviruses (EHV) 1-5 in the nasal secretions (NS) of a cohort of 12 mares and their foals from birth to 6 months of age, estimate the prevalence of EHV-1-5 infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of selected foals, and investigate phylogenetic relationships amongst the various strains of EHV-2 and 5. Virus-specific PCR assays were used to detect EHV-1-5 in NS and PBMC. A homologous portion of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene of the various strains of EHV-2 and 5 was sequenced and compared. EHV-2, 4, and 5 were all detected in NS from the horses, but only EHV-4 was associated with respiratory disease (P=0.005). EHV-2 and 5 infections were both common, but foals shed EHV-2 in their NS earlier in life than EHV-5 (P=0.01). Latent EHV-2 and 5 infections were detected in the PBMC of 75 and 88%, respectively, of the foals at approximately 6 months of age. The strains of EHV-2 shed in the NS of individual horses were more genetically heterogeneous than the strains of EHV-5 (95.5-99.3% versus 98.8-99.3% nucleotide identity, respectively). One-month-old foals typically shed strains of EHV-2 that were identical to those infecting their dams whereas older foals often shed virus strains that were different from those of their dams. Although herpesvirus infections were ubiquitous in this cohort of horses, there were distinct clinical consequences and clear epidemiological differences between infections with the different viruses.
Expression of metabolically targeted biomarkers in endometrial carcinoma.

Objectives The differential metabolic phenotype observed between malignant and non-transformed cells may constitute a biochemical basis for therapeutic intervention. Increased glucose uptake is one of the major metabolic changes found in malignant tumors, a process that is mediated by glucose transporters such as Glut1. Cellular growth can be regulated by mTOR in response to the nutrient milieu. In this study, we sought to determine if endometrial carcinoma cells express Glut1 and mTOR, and if inhibition of these factors is cytotoxic to endometrial carcinoma cells in vitro.
Electron ionization mass spectra of reduced and permethylated urinary oligosaccharides from patients with mannosidosis

The electron ionization mass spectra of reduced and permethylated isomeric mixtures of the major urinary tri- to deca-oligosaccharides of patients with mannosidosis are reported. Many of the oligosaccharide isomers can be differentiated in the mixtures on the basis of their distinct fragmentation patterns.
Intrinsic Control of Axon Regeneration

A determinant of axon regeneration is the intrinsic growth ability of injured neurons, which dictates a battery of injury responses in axons and cell bodies. While some of these regulatory mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved, others are unique to the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) where spontaneous regeneration usually does not occur. Here we examine our current understanding of these mechanisms at cellular and molecular terms and discuss their potential implications for promoting axon regeneration and functional recovery after nerve injury.
OpenDHT: a public DHT service and its uses

Large-scale distributed systems are hard to deploy, and distributed hash tables (DHTs) are no exception. To lower the barriers facing DHT-based applications, we have created a public DHT service called OpenDHT. Designing a DHT that can be widely shared, both among mutually untrusting clients and among a variety of applications, poses two distinct challenges. First, there must be adequate control over storage allocation so that greedy or malicious clients do not use more than their fair share. Second, the interface to the DHT should make it easy to write simple clients, yet be sufficiently general to meet a broad spectrum of application requirements. In this paper we describe our solutions to these design challenges. We also report our early deployment experience with OpenDHT and describe the variety of applications already using the system.
Recovery of Function

Individuals engaged in the study of recovery from brain damage and those looking at the literature in this area from a distance would agree that at present the subject is controversial. In fact, historically minded individuals would point out that this has always been the case. For example, Flourens (1842) believed that recovery could occur, but when one function returned all functions returned. In Broca’s 1865 paper, he argued that one hemisphere could function for the other under certain pathological conditions, and Munk (1877) generated disagreement when he proposed that neighboring zones may take over for injured cortical areas through a process that might best be described as “reeducation.”
Genetic characterization of Theileria equi infecting horses in North America: evidence for a limited source of U.S. introductions.

Background: Theileria equi is a tick-borne apicomplexan hemoparasite that causes equine piroplasmosis. This parasite has a worldwide distribution but the United States was considered to be free of this disease until recently. Methods: We used samples from 37 horses to determine genetic relationships among North American T. equi using the 18S rRNA gene and microsatellites. We developed a DNA fingerprinting panel of 18 microsatellite markers using the first complete genome sequence of T. equi. Results: A maximum parsimony analysis of 18S rRNA sequences grouped the samples into two major clades. The first clade (n = 36) revealed a high degree of nucleotide similarity in U.S. T. equi, with just 0–2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among samples. The remaining sample fell into a second clade that was genetically divergent (48 SNPs) from the other U.S. samples. This sample was collected at the Texas border, but may have originated in Mexico. We genotyped T. equi from the U.S. using microsatellite markers and found a moderate amount of genetic diversity (2–8 alleles per locus). The field samples were mostly from a 2009 Texas outbreak (n = 22) although samples from five other states were also included in this study. Using Weir and Cockerham’s FST estimator (θ) we found strong population differentiation of the Texas and Georgia subpopulations (θ = 0.414), which was supported by a neighbor-joining tree created with predominant single haplotypes. Single-clone infections were found in 27 of the 37 samples (73%), allowing us to identify 15 unique genotypes. Conclusions: The placement of most T. equi into one monophyletic clade by 18S is suggestive of a limited source of introduction into the U.S. When applied to a broader cross section of worldwide samples, these molecular tools should improve source tracking of T. equi outbreaks and may help prevent the spread of this tick-borne parasite.
Inhibition of Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain-Containing Protein A Novel Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases?

See related article, pp 386–393 Intermittent hypoxia, such as that observed in patients with sleep apnea, is frequently associated with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Hypoxia also participates in pathophysiological remodeling of cardiac myocytes, as well as remodeling of the vasculature. Overreactivity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has long been implicated in the etiology of hypertension associated with hypoxia,1 and a recent human study confirms the importance of the angiotensin II type I (AT1) receptor activation in this process.2 However, current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanism by which RAS is activated and mediates cardiovascular diseases under hypoxia remains quite limited. The cellular response to hypoxia involves the induction of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), considered to be the major transcription factor involved in gene regulation by hypoxia. In normoxia, HIF1α is hydroxylated by the cellular oxygen “sensor” prolyl-hydroxylase domain (PHD) proteins (PHD1, PHD2, and PHD3) and degraded by proteasomes. The PHDs are inhibited in hypoxia, resulting in stabilization and activation of transcription by the nonhydroxylated and stabilized form of HIF1α. PHDs are an evolutionarily conserved subfamily of dioxygenases that use oxygen and 2-oxoglutarate as cosubstrates …
Time and energy efficient Viterbi decoding using FPGAs

State-of-the-art FPGAs integrate multi-million gate configurable logic and heterogeneous hardware components. They are an attractive choice for implementing Viterbi decoders. As more emphasis is placed on time and energy performance, previous FPGA implementations of Viterbi decoders either fail to provide high data throughput or are not energy efficient. We propose an architecture for implementing Viterbi decoders on FPGAs. Our architecture can provide various throughput and energy trade-offs. Considering the throughput/energy performance metric, experimental results show that our design achieves improvements up to 26.1% compared with previous designs.
Transformer Noise Reduction witk a Close-Fitting Mass-Law Enclosure

This paper discusses the design and development of a high-attenuation field-applicable acoustic enclosure for large power transformers, based in concept upon the "Field Incidence Mass Law" from the field of acoustics. Free-standing and form-fitting, enclosures of this type have been designed to provide noise reduction in the order of 15 to 20 db (decibels), in addition to other advantages inherent in a near-total enclosure.
Trendsetting Charter Schools: Raising the Bar for Civic Education by Gary J. Schmitt and Cheryl Miller: New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield., 190 pp, $30.00 (paperback).

The debate on charter schools is shifting. The Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll, an annual, nationally representative survey of Americans’ views on K–12 education issues, shows that a majority of respon...
Toroidal modes of a simple laterally heterogeneous sphere

Two methods which have been proposed for calculating the normal modes of laterally heterogeneous models of the Earth are first-order degenerate perturbation theory and the Rayleigh-Ritz variational procedure. The purpose of this paper is to compare these two techniques in a calculation of some low-order toroidal modes of a simple laterally heterogeneous body—a sphere consisting of two hemispheres with different elastic properties. Both methods express the eigenfunctions of the test case as linear combinations of degenerate eigenfunctions of the corresponding laterally averaged model. Our results show, however, that solutions generated by the more accurate variational technique can contain significant contributions from modes from several degenerate multiplets, whereas each solution given by first-order degenerate perturbation theory contains the effects of modes from only one degenerate multiplet. Furthermore, the variational procedure yields solutions which reflect the presence of lateral heterogeneity of odd angular order, but first-order degenerate perturbation theory does not. These differences are potentially important for free oscillation studies of realistic, laterally heterogeneous models of the Earth: our findings suggest that the Rayleigh-Ritz variational procedure, or a comparably accurate method, may be required for such work.
Hierarchical Latin Hypercube Sampling

ABSTRACTLatin hypercube sampling (LHS) is a robust, scalable Monte Carlo method that is used in many areas of science and engineering. We present a new algorithm for generating hierarchic Latin hypercube sets (HLHS) that are recursively divisible into LHS subsets. Based on this new construction, we introduce a hierarchical incremental LHS (HILHS) method that allows the user to employ LHS in a flexibly incremental setting. This overcomes a drawback of many LHS schemes that require the entire sample set to be selected a priori, or only allow very large increments. We derive the sampling properties for HLHS designs and HILHS estimators. We also present numerical studies that showcase the flexible incrementation offered by HILHS.
Abstract 435: Reduction of the invasive phenotype of SNAI overexpressing human breast cancer cells by peptide aptamer-mediated inhibition of SNAI protein functions

Two members of the SNAI superfamily of zinc-finger transcriptional repressors: SNAI1 (also known as SNAIL) and SNAI2 (also known as SLUG) are implicated in the induction of aggressiveness and metastatic phenotypes in human breast cancer cells. SNAI1 and SNAI2 are very similar in their amino acid sequences at the C-terminal zinc-finger domains, but the N-terminal repressor domain is somewhat different. SNAI2 has two essential sub-domains, SNAG and SLUG domains, required for its repressor activity. The SNAG domain is also important in SNAI1. We have developed a recombinant protein containing thioredoxin, a tri-repeat of SNAG and SLUG domains of SNAI2 and a membrane translocation motif (MTM; AAVLLPVLLAAP) for the protein to be targeted to the nucleus. We expressed and purified this protein from E. coli using the His-patch thiofusion expression system (Invitrogen). When delivered to MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells, this aptamer inhibited the functions of the SNAI proteins. The effect of SNAI protein knockdown by the peptide aptamer on the transformed phenotypes of these cells was evaluated by investigating the following parameters: (i) Measurement of doubling time and saturation density by plating cells and performing daily counts. (ii) Evaluation of cellular proliferation by measuring incorporation of 5′-bromodeoxyuridine into logarithmically growing cells. (iii) Determination of anchorage-independent growth in soft agar assays and analysis of the number and size of colonies formed. (iv) Evaluation of the cellular migration in scratch assays and in modified Boyden Chamber/transwell migration assays (directional migration). (v) Measurement of cellular invasion in vitro by using Matrigel-coated chambers. (vi) Assessment of the sensitivity to anoikis by plating cells on poly-HEMA coated plates and determination of cells undergoing apoptosis with propidium iodine staining or annexin labeling and flow cytometric analysis. (vii) Performing 3D culture assays to analyze invasiveness, proliferation or matrix degradation. All these data indicated reduction of the invasive phenotypes of the SNAI protein over expressing highly aggressive and metastatic human breast cancer cells by the peptide aptamer. Wrapsome-mediated targeted delivery of this aptamer alone or with other drugs may be used to reduce the progression of breast cancer. Supported by the DOD-CDMRP IDEA Grant# W81XWH-06-1-0466 and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation grant# BCTR0707627 to GC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 435.
Intergovernmental Regional Cooperation in European Higher Education

Intergovernmental regional cooperation is one of the defining characteristics of political Europe. This article investigates it in the area of higher education and research. Specifically it explores what types of intergovernmental regional alliances exist and to what extent their member countries coordinate their higher education and research policies. The article focuses on six most prominent and most formalized intergovernmental regional alliances: the Benelux, Norden–The Nordic Cooperation, the Visegrad Group, the Franco-German Cooperation, the Western Balkans, and the Baltic Cooperation. There has been much research devoted to study of policy diffusion from the European to the national level, but the intergovernmental regional level has largely been ignored. This article argues that there clearly exists a multi-level governance system in the area of higher education and research, in which regional intergovernmental alliances also perform policy coordination. Therefore, the politics of European higher education policy-making cannot be fully understood by ignoring intergovernmental regional cooperation.
On the Marginalization of Contemporary Chinese Humanistic Elites

Coupled with the social transformation of China,the contemporary humanistic elites are stepping into marginalization.The rise of post-modernism,the popularity of materialism,the impact of division of academic works and mass-culture lead to this situation.However,the marginalization won't last long without limits.The marginalization is a chance to break their political dependence and form their personality of independence and criticism.
Decommissioning three nuclear reactors at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Three nuclear reactors, including the historic water boiler reactor, were decommissioned at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The decommissioning of the facilities involved removing the reactors and their associated components. Planning for the decommissioning operation included characterizing the facilities, estimating the costs of decommissioning operations, preparing environmental documentation, establishing systems to track costs and work progress, and preplanning to correct health and safety concerns in each facility.