cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iron-manganese relationships in white lupine grown on a calciaquoll.

The Fe chelate of ethylenediamine-di-O-hydroxphenylacetic acid (EDDHA) applied to calcareous soils strongly suppresses Mn accumulation in many plants with Strategy I Fe-stress responses. However, white lupine (Lupinus albus L. cv. Kiev), a legume with proteoid roots, does not show this typical suppression. This study was conducted to determine under greenhouse conditions the influence of NaH₂PO₄-P (0, 60, and 120 mg kg⁻¹) and FeEDDHA-Fe (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg kg⁻¹) rates on Mn accumulation by both inoculated (Bradyrhizobium lupini) and NH₄NO₃-N (80 mg kg⁻¹) treated white lupine grown on a Wheatville loam (coarse-silty over clayey, frigid Aeric Calciaquoll). Application of 60 and 120 mg P kg⁻¹ decreased shoot Mn concentrations six- and 17-fold, respectively, presumably due to suppression of proteoid roots. Inoculated plants generally had at least twice the shoot Mn concentration of their N-treated counterparts. FeEDDHA had little effect on suppressing shoot Mn concentration except in plants treated with 120 mg P kg⁻¹. Symptoms atypical of P deficiency, apparently due to Mn toxicity, developed in plants grown without added P. In contrast, N-treated plants grown with 120 mg P kg⁻¹ and 8 mg Fe kg⁻¹ developed an abnormality resembling Mn deficiency. Ammonium nitrate and added P, but not high shoot Mn concentration, intensified Fe-deficiency chlorosis in leaflets. Complex interactions involving the source of N and availability of Fe, P, and Mn affected the growth of white lupine on the Wheatville soil.
Heterogeneity of the Upper Mantle: ABSTRACT

In their investigations of the interior of the earth, geophysicists have generally regarded the mantle as composed of homogeneous shells and have considered the crust of the earth as varying laterally in composition and thickness. Evidence from measurements of the gravitational field and of the heat flow to the surface have suggested that differences exist in the composition of the upper mantle. Very recent information on seismic velocities and attenuations clearly indicates that substantial lateral variations in the physical properties of the mantle exist beneath both continents and oceans. The geological complexities evident at the earth's surface now appear to be reflected in the upper mantle. End_of_Article - Last_Page 360------------
Performance and applications of a mid-infrared step-scan FT-IR spectroscopic imaging system

PERFORMANCE AND APPLICATIONS OF A MID4NFRARED STEP SCAN FTffiSPECTROSCOPIC IMAGING SYSTEMN. A. Wright, R. A. Crocombe, and D. L. DrapchoBio-Rad, Digilab Division237 Putnam AvenueCambridge, MA 02139 U.S.A.ABSTRACTAn infrared spectroscopic imaging technique has been developed which combines a step-scan Fourier transform (Fl) Michelson interferometer with focaiplane array (FPA) imagedetection. The first reports utilized an indium antimonide (InSb) FPA in the spectral region3950-1975 cm. Mercury-cadmium-telluride (MCT) focaiplane arrays are now commerciallyavailable, giving access to the spectral range 3950-800 cm, thus greatly broadening theapplication of the technique for chemical analysis in the mid infrared region. This paper describessome ofthe instrumental considerations as well as applications in the use of an MCT arraydetector, for novel mid-infrared spectroscopic imaging applications.Keywords: imaging, spectroscopy, chemical analysis, mid-infrared
A Synergistic Pt–Ni Catalyst for the Reduction of NO with H2

A logical microstructure-based design methodology has been applied to design a Pt–Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst for the reduction of NO with H2. Synergy in activity and selectivity were observed. The Pt–Ni nanoparticles on the synergistic catalyst were designed and tailored to mimic the microstructure of previously prepared Pt–Rh and Pt–Co nanoparticles.
Autoradiographic evidence of the coordination of the genesis of Sharpey's fibers with new bone formation in the periodontium of the mouse.

Multiple injections of 3H-proline over a period of ten days produced a series of radiolabelled appositional bands at sites of new bone formation. Appositional surfaces of periodontal alveolar bone not only contained parallel appositional bands but also a second series of bands oriented perpendicular to the appositional bands. The perpendicular bands were continuous with Sharpey's fibers of the adjacent periodontal ligament (PDL). Labelling over Sharpey's fibers frequently extended beyond the osteoblasts and into the PDL. This pattern of 3H-Proline labelling suggests that new Sharpey's fiber are secreted simultaneouly with new bone deposition. The shape and polarity of adjacent PDL fibroblasts suggests that they may migrate away from the bone surface as they engage in Sharpey's fiber formation.
Thyroidectomy cells and their response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) in the rat.

Thyroidectomy cells of the rat pituitary gland were studied by the peroxidase-antibody labeling procedure and by electron microscopy. Secretory granules accumulated in these cells in response to a short-term treatment with thyroxine, and the cells were then reactive to the peroxidase-antibody labeling procedure. An intravenous injection of synthetic thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) to thyroxine-treated, thyroidectomized rats provoked an acute and active extrusion of secretory granules from the thyroidectomy cells. The secretory granules in these cells were mostly “haloed” after primary fixation in osmium tetroxide. It is concluded that TRH causes thyroidectomy cells to release their secretory granules, and presumably TSH, by the usual process of exocytosis or granule extrusion.
Long-chain triglyceride lipases of pig liver.

It appears that the recently established capacity of rat liver homogenates to hydrolyze long-chain triglycerides [ 1,2] is due primarily to the presence of a lysosomal lipase with an acidic pH optimum [3-51 and a microsomal lipase exhibiting maximal activity at alkaline pH values [6,7] . There is less conclusive evidence for the presence of another distinct lipase in the plasma membrane [4,89] as well as an inactive lipoprotein lipase [lo] . However, it has also been proposed [ 1 l] that liver lipase is a complex of liver esterase and lipid rather than a separate enzyme. Some of these conflicting results indicate clearly the necessity for further studies on the characterization and differentiation of liver lipolytic enzymes which obviously play a very significant role not only in intracellular catabolism but also in the uptake of triglycerides by the liver. This communication describes the pH optima, time courses of hydrolysis and the effects of various compounds on the pig liver lipolytic activities and presents the evidence for their subcellular localization.
Full counting statistics in a disordered free fermion system

The full counting statistics is studied for a one-dimensional system of noninteracting fermions with and without disorder. For two unbiased $L$ site lattices connected at time $t=0$, the charge variance increases as the natural logarithm of $t$, following the universal expression $\ensuremath{\langle}\ensuremath{\delta}{N}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}\ensuremath{\approx}\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}}\mathrm{ln}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}t$. Since the static charge variance for a length $l$ region is given by $\ensuremath{\langle}\ensuremath{\delta}{N}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}\ensuremath{\approx}\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}}\mathrm{ln}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}l$, this result reflects the underlying relativistic or conformal invariance and dynamical exponent $z=1$ of the disordered free lattice. With disorder and strongly localized fermions, we have compared our results to a model with a dynamical exponent $z\ensuremath{\ne}1$ and a model for entanglement entropy based upon dynamical scaling at the infinite disorder fixed point (IDFP). The latter scaling, which predicts $\ensuremath{\langle}\ensuremath{\delta}{N}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}\ensuremath{\propto}\mathrm{ln}\mathrm{ln}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}t$, appears to better describe the charge variance of disordered one-dimensional fermions. When a bias voltage is introduced, the behavior changes dramatically, and the charge and variance become proportional to ${(\mathrm{ln}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}t)}^{1/\ensuremath{\psi}}$ and $\mathrm{ln}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}t$, respectively. The exponent $\ensuremath{\psi}$ may be related to the critical exponent, characterizing spatial/energy fluctuations at the IDFP.
Media Trust in a Community Context A Multilevel Analysis of Individual- and Prefecture-Level Sources of Media Trust in Japan

Prior research has examined various correlates of media trust including media consumers’ political stands and media use, objectivity in news reports, and perceived biases stemming from journalists’ political leanings. The goal of this study is to examine community contextual sources of media trust. Data from the Japanese General Social Surveys indicate that prefecture-level structural pluralism and political heterogeneity are negatively associated with measures of media trust, independent of personal characteristics of respondents. Implications are discussed in terms of the production of media messages.
Integrated absorptivity of Gaussian clusters of Lorentz lines

Abstract The integrated absorptivity (equivalent width) of a quasi-random cluster of spectral lines having Lorentz profiles, exponential strength distribution, and Gaussian frequency distribution of centers is evaluated for arbitrary optical depth. The result is expressed in terms of the equivalent width of an isolated Lorentz-Doppler line, which is given in existing curves of growth.
PROBFIND: a computer program for selecting oligonucleotide probes from peptide sequences.

Abstract Synthetic oligonucleotides have proven to be extremely useful probes for screening cDNA and genomic libraries. Selection of the appropriate probe can be more easily and accurately achieved with the use of the computer program PROBFIND. The user enters the amino acid sequence from a file or from the keyboard, selects the minimum length allowed for the probe and the maximum allowable degeneracy. The computer prints a list of the sequences of potential probes which meet these minimum specifications and the location of the corresponding sequence in the protein to the screen and to a file. The user may modify the specifications for length and degeneracy at any time during the output of data, which allows for rapid selection of the desired probe. The program is interactive, accepts any file format with only a single modification of the file, is written in BASIC, and requires less than 6 kbytes of memory. This makes the program easy to use and adaptable even to unsophisticated microcomputers.
Cochlear Implant Microphone Location Affects Speech Recognition in Diffuse Noise

Background: Despite improvements in cochlear implants (CIs), CI recipients continue to experience significant communicative difficulty in background noise. Many potential solutions have been proposed to help increase signal-to-noise ratio in noisy environments, including signal processing and external accessories. To date, however, the effect of microphone location on speech recognition in noise has focused primarily on hearing aid users. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to (1) measure physical output for the T-Mic as compared with the integrated behind-the-ear (BTE) processor mic for various source azimuths, and (2) to investigate the effect of CI processor mic location for speech recognition in semi-diffuse noise with speech originating from various source azimuths as encountered in everyday communicative environments.
Two learning models for responses measured on a continuous scale

Two linear operator models are presented for a class of learning situations in which the response is on a numerical scale and the subject is given the magnitude of his error on some or all of the trials. Theoretical expressions are developed for sequential dependencies, mean learning curves, variances, and covariances, which permit a number of tests of goodness of fit.
Cell volume regulation and transport mechanisms across the blood-brain barrier: implications for the management of hypernatraemic states.

Onset and correction of hypernatraemia constitute major hypertonic stresses for mammalian cells. Cells respond by activating specific osmoregulatory mechanisms allowing to preserve their volume and to adapt to their new environmental conditions. These processes have major implications in the management of hypernatraemia. In particular, cells chronically exposed to hypertonic conditions progressively accumulate organic osmolytes to maintain optimal intracellular electrolyte concentrations. During treatment of hypernatraemia, elevated intracellular organic osmotic content exposes cells to cellular oedema if sodium concentrations are rapidly corrected. In addition, circulating ions equilibrate slowly across the blood-brain barrier during acute changes in plasma osmolality. This can generate major brain water shifts and severe cerebral lesions related to brain shrinking or cerebral oedema. Conclusion The basic mechanisms involved in brain ion and water transport are reviewed. A proper understanding of these processes is essential to develop appropriate treatment strategies in managing children with hypernatraemia.
Calmodulin Regulation of the Neuronal Voltage-Dependent Sodium Channel

Calmodulin (CaM) is an essential eukaryotic calcium sensor comprised of two homologous domains (N, C). Ca2+ binding to CaM changes its conformation and determines how CaM recognizes and regulates target proteins such as the neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel (Nav1.2) which is essential for the generation and propagation of action potentials. Nav1.2 is a multimer with one pore-forming α-subunit and one or more β-subunits. CaM binds to an IQ-motif (IQxxxBGxxxB, B=K,R) of Nav1.2 that is near the C-terminus of the α-subunit. Prior thermodynamic studies showed that this IQ peptide (Nav1.2IQp, KRKQEEVSAIVIQRAYRRYLLKQKVKK) selectively lowers the Ca2+-binding affinity sites in the C-domain of CaM, without affecting the N-domain (Theoharis et al, Biochemistry 2008). This selective decrease correlates with Nav1.2IQp having a higher affinity for apo CaM than for calcium-saturated CaM. Structural studies of complexes of CaM bound to target peptides or proteins demonstrated that the 4-helix bundle of the CaM C-domain adopts an “open” conformation when Ca2+-saturated. There is only one high-resolution structure (2IX7) of apo CaM bound to an IQ motif; it shows the C-domain having a “semi-open” conformation. To understand the Ca2+-dependent conformational switching CaM when regulating Nav1.2, we applied heteronuclear NMR methods. Amide exchange, hnNOE, and chemical shift perturbation experiments revealed residue-specific changes consistent with a “semi-open” conformation of the apo C-domain of CaM when bound to Nav1.2IQp. NMR experiments are complete and analysis is underway to determine the solution structure of the apo C-domain of CaM bound to Nav1.2IQp. Understanding the interface between CaM and the IQ-motif of the channel will result in a more complete model of how CaM regulates Nav1.2 function at low physiological [Ca2+] in neuronal tissues. NIH GM57001
Marketing/manufacturing trade-offs in product line management

A critical decision facing firms across industries is the selection of a mix of products to offer in the marketplace. Both in practice and in the academic literature, the product line design problem has typically been considered from a marketing perspective, with a focus on how alternative sets of products interact and compete in the marketplace. The operational implications of product line decisions have been largely ignored, even while the importance and complexity of interactions among products in the manufacturing environment increase with broadening product lines. Furthermore, consideration of manufacturing synergies among products in product line design is increasingly beneficial given efforts in many industries to improve co-ordination of manufacturing activities across products. In this work we examine the benefits of integrating marketing implications of product mix with more detailed manufacturing cost implications. Traditional product line models are extended to capture both individual product costs and relevant cost interactions among products. The relevant marketing and manufacturing elements are considered in a mathematical programming formulation that identifies a profit maximizing mix of products. The resulting normative model of the product line design problem is used to generate insights into important cross-functional issues in product line management. Specifically, we examine the impact of alternative manufacturing environment characteristics on the composition of the optimal product line.
A conserved RNA polymerase III promoter required for gammaherpesvirus TMER transcription and microRNA processing

Canonical RNA polymerase III (pol III) type 2 promoters contain a single A and B box and are well documented for their role in tRNA and SINE transcription in eukaryotic cells. The genome of Murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) contains eight polycistronic tRNA-microRNA encoded RNA (TMER) genes that are transcribed from a RNA pol III type 2-like promoter containing triplicated A box elements. Here, we demonstrate that the triplicated A box sequences are required in their entirety to produce functional MuHV-4 miRNAs. We also identify that these RNA pol III type 2-like promoters are conserved in eukaryotic genomes. Human and mouse predicted tRNA genes containing these promoters also show enrichment of alternative RNA pol III transcription termination sequences and are predicted to give rise to longer tRNA primary transcripts.
Boron Nitride Particle Filled Paraffin Wax as a Phase-Change Thermal Interface Material

Wax (predominantly tricosane paraffin wax, with a melting temperature of 48°C) filled with hexagonal boron nitride (BN) particles (5-11 μm) was found to be an effective phase-change thermal interface material. The thermal contact conductance, as measured with the interface material between copper surfaces, decreased with increasing temperature from 22 to 48 °C, but increased with increasing temperature from 48 to 55 °C. The melting of the wax enhanced the conductance, due to increased conformability to the mating surfaces. For a given BN volume fraction and a given temperature, the thermal contact conductance increased with increasing contact pressure. However, a pressure above 0.30 MPa resulted in no significant increase in the conductance. The conductance increased with BN content up to 6.2 vol. %, but decreased upon further increase to 8.6 vol. %. The highest conductance above the melting temperature was 18 X 10 4 W/m 2 . °C, as attained for a BN content of 4.0 vol. % at 55°C and 0.30 MPa. Below the melting temperature, the highest conductance was 19×10 4 W/m 2 . °C, as attained for a BN content of 6.2 vol. % at 22°C and 0.30 MPa.
How the personality dimensions of neuroticism, extraversion and psychoticism relate to self-actualization

Abstract This study examines the relationship between the personality dimensions of ‘neuroticism’, ‘extraversion’, ‘psychoticism’, from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and ‘self-actualization’, measured by the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) for 212 undergraduate students. The two major scales of the POI, (Time Competence and Inner Directed), both separately and as a combined measure of self-actualization were correlated with the scores obtained on the EPQ. The results showed the hypothesized significant negative relationship between neuroticism and self-actualization, and for females only, the hypothesized significant positive relationship between extraversion and self-actualization. Contrary to hypothesis, no relationship between psychoticism and self-actualization was found.
Tuning query performance in mobile sensor databases

In this paper we propose a query-driven approach for tuning the time/energy trade-off in sensor networks with mobile sensors. The tuning factors include re-positioning of mobile sensors and changing their transmission ranges. We propose an algebraic query optimization framework that explores these factors while utilizing collision-free concurrent data transmissions with different degrees of data filtering and aggregation.
Role of estrogen as initiator of daily LH surges in the ovariectomized rat.

The following studies were performed to determine whether the occurrence of daily LH surges in long-term ovariectomized rats requires an increment in circulating estradiol concentrations, and if so, to investigate the nature of the estrogen stimulus. On the 15th day after bilateral ovariectomy (day 0), estradiol benzoate (EB, 50 μg/rat SC in sesame oil), estradiol–17β in Silastic capsules implanted SC, or sesame oil was administered at 7:00 AM. Within 10 hr following EB treatment, circulating estrogen increased to approximately 1800 pg/mland then declined progressively during the next 4 days to 100 pg/ml. Following insertion of estradiolimplants, however, serum estradiol levels attained maxima of approximately 125 pg/ml within 1 hr anddecreased within 14 hr to 75 pg/ml, a level maintained until implant removal. Blood samples were withdrawn from unanesthetized rats by carotid cannula or by cardiac puncture at 6:00 AM on day 0 and at 12:30 and 5:00 PM on days 0–4. Within 5½ hr following administration of EB...
Chronic conditions and health status in older cancer survivors

Abstract Background With the aging population and improved cancer care, the number of cancer survivors is steadily increasing. Planning for their care requires an understanding of the impact of cancer and chronic conditions on quality of life. We sought to determine chronic conditions and health status in older cancer survivors compared to controls. Methods In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we used survey data from 18,133 cancer survivors and 94,407 controls age 65 and older who participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2009 telephonic survey. Our main measures were chronic conditions (cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, and arthritis) and poor health status (poor or fair self-rated health). Results Cancer survivors were older, more likely white, had higher education, and slightly more likely to have a healthcare provider and higher levels of emotional support. More survivors reported having 2 or more chronic conditions compared to controls (67.5% vs. 64.5%, respectively). Health status was lower for survivors, and was significantly different by racial/ethnic group. In a multivariable model for health status, having 2 or more chronic conditions was more strongly associated with poorer health status than cancer survivorship. Conclusions Cancer survivors had slightly higher numbers of chronic conditions and poorer health status than controls. However, chronic conditions were more strongly associated with poor health status than cancer. Monitoring for recurrence and second cancers is important in cancer survivors, but chronic conditions also need to be given priority due to their substantial impact on health status.
Accuracy of family history of cancer as reported by men with prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives. To report on the accuracy of probands providing information on specific cancer types in their families and the ability of investigators to document these reports. Accurate information on the health status of family members is critical when studying familial patterns of diseases. However, collecting these data require significant resources. Methods. We identified 143 patients with prostate cancer from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center who had reported at least 1 first-degree relative with cancer. There were 263 first-degree relatives identified, for whom we confirmed diagnoses using medical records, death certificates, and verbal confirmation. The data are reported in summary statistics and compared with chi-square analysis. Results. We documented 78% of the reports, with an accuracy rate of 81.6%. We found that accuracy was highly related to the site reported. Accuracy and documentation levels were not related to the age or income of the proband. The education level was significantly associated with the ability to document cancer, but not with the accuracy of the report. The accuracy and documentation differed by the relationship of the first-degree relative to the proband. Conclusions. Proband reporting of cancer in first-degree relatives varies widely by site, with common metastatic sites the most inaccurate. No reliable demographic factors were found that would reasonably predict the ability to document the accuracy of the report. We found a significant proportion of proband-reported prostate cancer was, in reality, benign prostatic hyperplasia. We propose a strategy of targeting male relatives and reports of cancer in common metastatic sites for aggressive follow-up.
Position-independent chemical quantitation with passive 13.56-MHz radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors

Recently, we have demonstrated an attractive approach to adapt conventional radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for multianalyte chemical sensing. These RFID sensors could be very attractive as ubiquitous distributed remote sensor networks. However, critical to the wide acceptance of the demonstrated RFID sensors is the analyte-quantitation ability of these sensors in presence of possible repositioning errors between the RFID sensor and its pickup coil. In this study, we evaluate the capability for such position-independent analyte quantification using multivariate analysis tools. By measuring simultaneously several parameters of the complex impedance from such an RFID sensor and applying multivariate statistical analysis methods, we were able to compensate for the repositioning effects such as baseline signal offset and magnitude of sensor response to an analyte.
The F. and M. Riesz theorem revisited

A result (Lemma 1) is obtained concerning the absolute continuity properties of operators implementing the unitary equivalence of two self-adjoint operators having a positive difference. A proof of the F. and M. Riesz theorem is given as a consequence.
Abiotic and biotic resistance to grass invasion in serpentine annual plant communities

Biological invasions severely impact native plant communities, causing dramatic shifts in species composition and the restriction of native species to spatially isolated refuges. Competition from resident species and the interaction between resource limitation and competition have been overlooked as mechanisms of community resistance in refugia habitats. We examined the importance of these factors in determining the resistance of California serpentine plant communities to invasion by three common European grasses, Avena barbata, Bromus diandrus, and Hordeum murinum. We added seeds of each of these grasses to plots subjected to six levels of resource addition (N, P, Ca, H2O, all resources together, and a no-addition control) and two levels of competition (with resident community present or removed). Resource limitation and competition had strong effects on the biomass and reproduction of the three invaders. The addition of all resources together combined with the removal of the resident community yielded individual plants that were fourfold to 20-fold larger and sixfold to 20-fold more fecund than plants from control plots. Competitor removal alone yielded invaders that were twofold to sevenfold larger and twofold to ninefold more fecund. N addition alone or in combination with other resources led to a twofold to ninefold increase in the biomass and fecundity of the invaders. No other resource alone significantly affected native or invader performance, suggesting that N was the key limiting resource during our experiment. We found a significant interaction between abiotic and biotic resistance for Bromus, which experienced increased competitive suppression in fertilized plots. The threefold increase in resident biomass with N addition was likely responsible for this result. Our results confirm that serpentine plant communities are severely N limited, which, in combination with competition from resident species, promotes the resistance of these systems to invasions. Our work suggests that better understanding the relative sensitivities of invaders and residents to the physical environment is critical to predicting how abiotic and biotic factors interact to determine community resistance.
Serum albumin levels in cancer patients receiving total parenteral nutrition

Serum albumin concentration is commonly used as an index of nutritional status and as an indicator of nutritional response in hospitalized patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). One hundred thirty-nine cancer patients receiving TPN for at least two weeks were studied. Albumin intake, serum albumin, fluid balance, and weight change was monitored from 14 to 100 days of TPN. Patients were classified into three groups: A) patients receiving no exogenous albumin; B) patients receiving less than 25 grams of exogenous albumin; and C) patients receiving at least 25 grams of exogenous albumin during their course of TPN. Linear regression analysis of serum albumin levels vs. time on TPN showed a minimal positive correlation for patients in groups B and C (r = 0.154 and r = 0.183, respectively). Further analysis showed a significant elevation of serum albumin levels only in patients in group C (p less than or equal to 0.05). Contingency table analysis showed statistically significant increase in the incidence of sepsis in patients treated with exogenous albumin (X2 = 10.50, df = 2, p less than 0.01). There was no relationship between the change in serum albumin concentrations and the number of patient deaths. In addition, no relationship between tumor burden and subsequent response of serum albumin levels were identified. Serum albumin levels do not increase in cancer patients receiving TPN, unless exogenous albumin is given. Serum albumin appears to be a poor index of nutritional response in cancer patients receiving TPN.
Hindcast hurricane characteristics on the Belize barrier reef

Hurricane Greta was the most intense of the 1978 Atlantic hurricanes, with a minimum central pressure of 947 hPa (mb) just prior to passage across the Belize barrier reef in the western Caribbean. At Carrie Bow Cay, along the Belize barrier reef, 12 km south of the point where the storm crossed the barrier, coral reef damage was moderate and island damage rather extensive. Felled palm trees indicated that the most destructive storm force came from the SW, from across the barrier reef lagoon. Hindcasting of hurricane winds at Carrie Bow indicated that the palms probably fell in response to the most intense storm winds from the SW. Hindcast, significant waves at Carrie Bow reached a maximum height of 10.0 m with a period of 12.7 s. The largest waves that reached Carrie Bow from across the lagoon were hindcast to have a significant wave height of 2.8 m, significant period of 7.0 s and were responsible for construction of a storm berm at Carrie Bow, facing the lagoon.
Induction of 6a-hydroxymaackiain 3-O-methyltransferase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase mRNA translational activities during the biosynthesis of pisatin

Abstract The isoflavonoid phytoalexin pisatin is synthesized by pea ( Pisum sativum L.) in response to microbial infection and certain other forms of stress. The terminal step in the biosynthesis of pisatin is catalyzation by the (+)-6ahydroxymaackiain 3- O -methyltransferase (HMKMT). This enzyme, identified as a protein of M r 43,000 by photoaffinity labeling (Preisig et al. (1989) Plant Physiol. 91, 559–566), was purified 280-fold from CuCl 2 -stressed pea seedlings and subjected to preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Antibodies were raised in rabbit against this protein cut from the polyacrylamide gels. The antiserum against the purified enzyme inhibited HMKMT enzyme activity and showed high specificity for the M r 43,000 protein on Western blots and in immunoprecipitations. This enzyme, present almost exclusively in the 95,000 g supernatant after differential centrifugation, was induced in pea from a low constitutive level by treatment with CuCl 2 , suggesting that the HMKMT is newly synthesized in response to stress. HMKMT mRNA translational activity increased in peas with time after treatment with CuCl 2 . Peak translational activity occurred about 12 h after treatment, preceding peak enzyme activity by a few hours. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) mRNA abundance increased coordinately with that of HMKMT. The increase in PAL mRNA translational activity in response to stress is known to reflect transcriptional activation of PAL genes. Thus, the induction by stress of enzyme activity both at an early step and at the terminal step in the phenylpropanoid/isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway appears to be at the transcriptional level.
Broadcasting on [0, L ]

Abstract We study the problem of broadcasting in a system where n nodes are placed on a line of length L, independently uniformly distributed. We assume that every node is equipped with a transmitter whose radius of transmission is 1. We further assume that simultaneous broadcasts by neighbouring nodes results in garbled messages. The system is synchronous and time is slotted with nodes transmitting only during a slot. We present an algorithm for broadcasting and compute the expected number of time steps required for it to complete. The algorithm is shown to be optimal. We also present and analyze an algorithm, to be executed by every node, that identifies the subset of nodes to serve as transmitters for a broadcast originating at the origin. We assume that the nodes are initially unaware of the topology of the system.
The psbB gene cluster of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast: sequence and transcriptional analyses of psbN and psbH.

We have sequenced and characterized the complete psbB gene cluster of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast DNA. Although the petB and petD genes are located elsewhere, the sequential order of psbB, ORF31, psbN and psbH is identical to that of the psbB operon in higher plants. Also, intergenic non-coding regions are much larger in the Chlamydomonas gene cluster. Northern blot analyses indicate the formation of dicistronic transcripts of psbB and ORF31 and monocistronic transcripts of psbN and psbH. It is unclear whether a psbB operon is transcribed to yield a large polycistronic precursor but northern blot analysis with total RNA from cells grown at 15°C does not detect an increased complexity of the transcripts, as has been found in studies of the psbB operon of higher plants. From primer extension and nuclease protection assays, it is apparent that 5′ and 3′ processing of the primary psbH transcript results in the accumulation of a heterogenous population of mRNAs. Northern blot analyses reveal transcription of Chlamydomonas psbN and show that its mRNA is much larger than that identified in liverwort and pea. The sequence identities of the PSII-H and PSII-N polypeptides as compared to their vascular plant counterparts is 50 to 62%. While the amino acid sequences of PSII-H and PSII-N proteins are significantly conserved, the mass of PSII-H from Chlamydomonas is significantly larger.
Comparison of insulin sensitivity measures in South Asians.

Objective South Asians have increased visceral adiposity, insulin resistance and greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease when compared to Caucasians of European origin. Surrogate markers of insulin resistance such as the composite insulin sensitivity (Matsuda) index correlate with glucose clamps in other populations, but ethnicity can affect these indices. We compared the Matsuda index, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and triglyceride/HDL ratio to insulin sensitivity derived from euglycemic clamps in healthy South Asians and Caucasians.
Compliance behavior in a hospital setting: employee and patients' reactions to no-smoking signs.

Abstract Compliance behavior to no-smoking signs by hospital patients and employees was measured. Results showed initial compliance followed by a gradual return to pre-treatment smoking rate. The employees returned to baseline earlier than patients. The results seem to suggest that no-smoking signs by themselves (without enforcement of smoking policy) are not sufficient to produce compliance.
ESR and electronic spectra of some bis(N-substituted-2-picolinamine N-oxide)copper(II) tetraphenylborates

Abstract ESR and electronic spectral parameters of four tetraphenylborate salts of Cu(II) complexes are presented and compared to the analogous tetrafluoroborate and perchlorate salts.
Vibrational spectra of spinels with cation ordering on the octahedral sites

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra are reported for compounds with 1 : 1, 1 : 3, and 1 : 2 mixed ordering on the octahedral sites of the spinel structure. The spectra of the superstructures are complex with many more bands observed than occur in the parent spinel structure, although less than were predicted by group theoretical analysis. A qualitative interpretation of the spectra can be made through the large Brillouin zone concept.
U.S. department of the interior U.S. geological survey: Fractal lognormal percentage analysis of the U.S. geological survey’s 1995 national assessment of conventional oil and gas resources

The U.S. Geological Survey periodically makes appraisals of the oil and gas resources of the Nation. In its 1995 National Assessment the onshore areas and adjoining State waters of the Nation were assessed. As part of the 1995 National Assessment, 274 conventional oil plays and 239 conventional nonassociated-gas plays were assessed. The two datasets of estimates studied herein are the following: (1) the mean, undiscovered, technically recoverable oil resources estimated for each of the 274 conventional oil plays, and (2) the mean, undiscovered, technically recoverable gas resources estimated for each of the 239 conventional nonassociatedgas plays. It was found that the two populations of petroleum estimates are both distributed approximately as lognormal distributions. Fractal lognormal percentage theory is developed and applied to the two populations of petroleum estimates. In both cases the theoretical percentages of total resources using the lognormal distribution are extremely close to the empirical percentages from the oil and nonassociated-gas data. For example, 20% of the 274 oil plays account for 73.05% of the total oil resources of the plays if the lognormal distribution is used, or for 75.52% if the data is used; 20% of the 239 nonassociated-gas plays account for 76.32% of the total nonassociated-gas resources of the plays if the lognormal distribution is used, or for 78.87% if the data is used
Rapid folding and unfolding of apaf-1 CARD

Caspase recruitment domains (CARDs) are members of the death domain superfamily and contain six antiparallel helices in an α-helical Greek key topology. We have examined the equilibrium and kinetic folding of the CARD of Apaf-1 (apoptotic protease activating factor 1), which consists of 97 amino acid residues, at pH 6 and pH 8. The results showed that an apparent two state equilibrium mechanism is not adequate to describe the folding of Apaf-1 CARD at either pH, suggesting the presence of intermediates in equilibrium unfolding. Interestingly, the results showed that the secondary structure is less stable than the tertiary structure, based on the transition mid-points for unfolding. Single mixing and sequential mixing stopped-flow studies showed that Apaf-1 CARD folds and unfolds rapidly and suggest a folding mechanism that contains parallel channels with two unfolded conformations folding to the native conformation. Kinetic simulations show that a slow folding phase is described by a third conformation in the unfolded ensemble that interconverts with one or both unfolded species. Overall, the native ensemble is formed rapidly upon refolding. This is in contrast to other CARDs in which folding appears to be dominated by formation of kinetic traps.
Human ribonucleotide reductase M2 subunit gene amplification and transcriptional regulation in a homogeneous staining chromosome region responsible for the mechanism of drug resistance.

In our previous publication it was shown that a Gemcitabine-resistant KBGem clone derived from step-wise exposure to Gemcitabine resulted in overexpression of the human Ribonucleotide Reductase M2 subunit (hRRM2) mRNA and protein (Goan et al., 1999). In this study we confirm these results and show that the hRRM2 gene amplification arises in a homogeneous staining region (hsr) derived from chromosome translocation. The hydroxyurea-resistant clone (KBHURs) was studied as a comparison. PCR analysis of the hRRM2 gene promoter confirmed the amplification. Northern and Western blots were further employed to confirm the gene amplification and hRRM2 mRNA and protein expression were compatible with the level of drug resistance. Cells synchronized by serum starvation and then returned to serum-containing growth conditions showed a rapid induction of high levels of transcription of the hRRM2 gene. To clarify whether expression of hRRM2 mRNA was regulated at a transcriptional level, several transcription factors, including AP-1, Sp1, AP-2, CREB, NF-kappa B, and OCT1, were examined by gel-shift assay. Interestingly, the KBGem clone was regulated by different transcription factors than the KBHURs clone. Compared to the wild-type KB cells (KBwt), the KBGem clone exhibited a different binding pattern for Sp1 and NF-kappa B. The KBHURs clone, however, demonstrated a unique binding pattern with AP-1 and CREB, different from the KBwt control as well as the KBGem clone. Therefore, we conclude that the drug-resistant phenotype is associated with human RRM2 gene amplification from a homogeneous staining chromosome region and altered transcription regulation. Each clone demonstrated a unique pattern of transcription factor binding that may play a vital role in the mechanism of drug resistance.
Non-cognate Enzyme-DNA Complex: Structural and Kinetic Analysis of EcoRV Endonuclease Bound to the EcoRI Recognition Site GAATTC

The crystal structure of EcoRV endonuclease bound to non-cognate DNA at 2.0 angstroms resolution shows that very small structural adaptations are sufficient to ensure the extreme sequence specificity characteristic of restriction enzymes. EcoRV bends its specific GATATC site sharply by 50 degrees into the major groove at the center TA step, generating unusual base-base interactions along each individual DNA strand. In the symmetric non-cognate complex bound to GAATTC, the center step bend is relaxed to avoid steric hindrance caused by the different placement of the exocyclic thymine methyl groups. The decreased base-pair unstacking in turn leads to small conformational rearrangements in the sugar-phosphate backbone, sufficient to destabilize binding of crucial divalent metal ions in the active site. A second crystal structure of EcoRV bound to the base-analog GAAUTC site shows that the 50 degrees center-step bend of the DNA is restored. However, while divalent metals bind at high occupancy in this structure, one metal ion shifts away from binding at the scissile DNA phosphate to a position near the 3'-adjacent phosphate group. This may explain why the 10(4)-fold attenuated cleavage efficiency toward GAATTC is reconstituted by less than tenfold toward GAAUTC. Examination of DNA binding and bending by equilibrium and stopped-flow florescence quenching and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) methods demonstrates that the capacity of EcoRV to bend the GAATTC non-cognate site is severely limited, but that full bending of GAAUTC is achieved at only a threefold reduced rate compared with the cognate complex. Together, the structural and biochemical data demonstrate the existence of distinct mechanisms for ensuring specificity at the bending and catalytic steps, respectively. The limited conformational rearrangements observed in the EcoRV non-cognate complex provide a sharp contrast to the extensive structural changes found in a non-cognate BamHI-DNA crystal structure, thus demonstrating a diversity of mechanisms by which restriction enzymes are able to achieve specificity.
Two novel applications of Shepard-type interpolation for polyatomic systems: Reduced dimensionality HOCO and full dimensionality Ar-HCO

We present potential energy surfaces for two four-atom systems, HOCO and Ar-HCO. In the former system a previous, reduced dimensionality 2 degree-of-freedom model of the OH+COH+CO2 reaction is extended by inclusion of the nonreactive CO stretch. In the latter system, extensive ab initio calculations are done for 19 HCO geometries and 120–150 Ar-HCO planar configurations, for a fixed HCO geometry. In both systems a Shepard-type representation of the global potential is presented in the former system in 3 degrees of freedom, and in the latter system in the full 6 degrees of freedom. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 65: 965–973, 1997
Genetic defects in acetylcholine signalling promote protein degradation in muscle cells of Caenorhabditis elegans.

A myosin-lacZ fusion, expressed in 103 muscle cells of Caenorhabditis elegans, reports on how proteolysis in muscle is controlled by neural and intramuscular signals. Upon acute starvation, the fusion protein is degraded in the posterior 63 cells of the body-wall muscle, but remains stable in 32 anterior body-wall muscles and 8 vulval muscle cells. This distinction correlates with differences in the innervation of these cells. Reporter protein in the head and vulval muscles becomes labile upon genetic ‘denervation’ in mutants that have blocks in pre-synaptic synthesis or release of acetylcholine (ACh) or post-synaptic reception at nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChR), whereas protein in all 103 muscles is stabilized by the nicotinic agonist levamisole in the absence of ACh production. Levamisole does not stabilize muscle protein in nAChR mutants that are behaviorally resistant to levamisole. Neural inputs thus exert negative control over the proteolytic process in muscle by stimulating muscle nicotinic ACh receptors. SUMMARY
International Productivity Differences, Trade and the Distributions of Factor Endowments

This paper presents a model of task assignment and worker matching to explore how the distributions of labor endowments within countries influence aggregate productivity and international trade patterns. Higher moments of the skill distribution have complex relationships with the organization of the labor force. First, labor endowments skewed toward high abilities exhibit positive assortment of workers across tasks, while countries with distributions of ability skewed towards low abilities exhibit underemployment. Second, greater dispersion improves aggregate productivity in countries that experience underemployment, but worsens productivity where there is assortative assignment. Furthermore, the shape and size of factor endowments are shown to jointly determine a global pattern of comparative advantage. Countries are more likely to export their abundant factors when labor markets organize heterogenous workers effectively. These predictions receive empirical support from Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries using measures of diversity constructed from educational attainment.
On the dispersion of a solute in pulsating flow through a tube

The effective dispersion coefficient of a solute in pulsating flow through a circular tube is here found. The case of a viscous flow under a pulsating pressure gradient is treated in detail and it is found that the Taylor diffusion coefficient contains terms proportional to the square of the amplitude of the pressure pulsations. However, the coefficients of these terms tend rapidly to zero, and the effect of pulsation will rarely contribute a fraction of more than 1/128 (the ratio of the amplitude of pressure gradient pulsation to mean pressure gradient) 2 to the total dispersion coefficient. The methods may be applied to diffusion in any periodic flow.