cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient Expression of the Gene for Spinach Phosphoribulokinase in Pichia pastoris and Utilization of the Recombinant Enzyme to Explore the Role of Regulatory Cysteinyl Residues by Site-directed Mutagenesis

Phosphoribulokinase (PRK), unique to photosynthetic organisms, is regulated in higher plants by thioredoxin-mediated thiol-disulfide exchange in a light-dependent manner. Prior attempts to overexpress the higher plant PRK gene in Escherichia coli for structure-function studies have been hampered by sensitivity of the recombinant protein to proteolysis as well as toxic effects of the protein on the host. To overcome these impediments, we have spliced the spinach PRK coding sequence immediately downstream from the AOX1 (alcohol oxidase) promoter of Pichia pastoris, displacing the chromosomal AOX1 gene. The PRK gene is now expressed, in response to methanol, at 4-6% of total soluble protein, without significant in vivo degradation of the recombinant enzyme. This recombinant spinach PRK is purified to homogeneity by successive anion-exchange and dye-affinity chromatography and is shown to be electrophoretically and kinetically indistinguishable from the authentic spinach counterpart. Site-specific replacement of all of PRK's cysteinyl residues (both individually and in combination) demonstrates a modest catalytically facilitative role for Cys-55 (one of the regulatory residues) and the lack of any catalytic role for Cys-16 (the other regulatory residue), Cys-244, or Cys-250. Mutants with seryl substitutions at position 55 display non-hyperbolic kinetics relative to the concentration of ribulose 5-phosphate. Sulfate restores hyperbolic kinetics and enhances kinase activity, presumably reflecting conformational differences between the position 55 mutants and wild-type enzyme. Catalytic competence of the C16S-C55S double mutant proves that mere loss of free sulfhydryl groups by oxidative regulation cannot account entirely for the accompanying total inactivation.
Molecular structure and infrared spectrum of protonated nitrous oxide

Abstract Ab initio molecular-orbital theory is applied to the protonated N 2 O isomers HNNO + and NNOH + in the light of the recent high-resolution spectroscopic detection of this molecular ion by Amano. Only the oxygen-protonated species is consistent with the experimental observations of Amano.
Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Computer-Assisted Navigation in Patients with Deformities of The Femur and Tibia

Anatomic aberrations of the femur and tibia secondary to trauma, congenital defects, and prior surgery present challenges for the reconstructive knee surgeon because of an altered mechanical axis and distorted anatomic landmarks. Five patients with arthritis of the knee and extra-articular femoral and/or tibial deformity, retained hardware, or intramedullary (IM) implants underwent total knee arthroplasty using a computer navigation system. The navigation system obviated the need for an IM guide, and the normal mechanical axis of the patients was restored. Extensive dissection for hardware removal or osteotomy was not necessary in these patients. In these 5 cases, a navigation system proved to be an effective tool for restoration of limb alignment in the presence of significant extra-articular deformities and/or IM hardware. Thus, it provides an alternative approach to the traditional IM instrumentation for treating these patients in an effective manner.
On the specification of taste neurons in the rat tongue.

Abstract It is known in mammals that regenerating taste fibers will reform, innervate and maintain new taste buds in characteristic tongue locations—the taste papillae. The ability of non-taste sensory and motor nerve fibers (auriculo-temporal, mylohyoid and hypoglossal nerves) to substitute for a taste (IXth) nerve was evaluated by whole nerve recording and anatomical examination of experimentally innervated rat tongues. The non-taste nerve endings grew into the tongue and were physiologically responsive to cooling and to localized mechanical stimulation of the foliate and circumvallate taste papillae on the tongue. However, unlike the control regenerated IXth nerve these non-taste nerves were unable to (1) reform new taste buds, or (2) innervate, and (3) maintain existing taste buds. It was suggested that taste fibers have physico-chemical properties which permit interaction with groups of specialized cells in the dorsal epithelium of the tongue (taste receptor cell precursors) by a process involving recognition between matched taste fiber and nascent receptor cell.
Zapoteca formosa: sulfur chemistry and phytotoxicity.

Chemical analysis of Zapoteca formosa extracts show that a variety of volatile sulfur-containing components, including cyclic polysulfides, are responsible for the distinctive odor of its germinating seeds and young plants. The major sulfur-containing compounds include acetyl djenkolic acid, djenkolic acid, taurine, cystine, benzothiazole, dimethyl disulfide, 2,4-dithiapentane, 2-hydroxyethylmethylsulfide, trithiane, 1,2,4-trithiolane, and 1,2,4,6-tetrathiepane. Decreased amounts of djenkolic acid in seedlings and young plants, as compared to the seed, indicate that this is likely the metabolic precursor of the volatile sulfur components. Germination and radicle elongation assays show that germinating seeds of Zapoteca and mixtures of volatile sulfur-containing compounds are highly phytotoxic to Cucumis sativa, Lactuca sativa, Lycopersicon esculentum, and Acacia farnesiana.
DISCRETE COST OPTIMIZATION OF COMPOSITE FLOORS USING A FLOATING-POINT GENETIC ALGORITHM

Abstract The biologically-inspired genetic algorithm (GA) is usually implemented by binary representation of parameters, which is simple to create and manipulate. The binary representation, however, requires excessive computational resources when the number of variables is large or a high level of precision is required. An alternative to the popular binary genetic algorithm is a floating-point parameter GA where each variable is represented by a floating point number and linear interpolation is used to combine variable values to crossover from parents to an offspring. This article presents cost optimization of composite floors using a floating point genetic algorithm. The total cost function includes the costs of (a) concrete, (b) steel beam, and (c) shear studs. The design is based on the AISC Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications and plastic design concepts. Based on a comparison with example designs presented in the literature it is concluded that a formal cost optimization can result...
Acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia associated with intrinsic platelet dysfunction and constitutional ring 21 chromosome in a young boy

A 3-year-old boy with pancytopenia and a paucity of circulating blast cells was found to have acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia. Histopathologic investigation of the bone marrow biopsy disclosed replacement by megakaryoblasts and mild-to-moderate reticulin fibrosis, the megakaryocytic origin of these cells was confirmed by their staining properties and by cross-reactivity with rabbit anti-rat platelet serum. Treatment with adriamycin and cytosine arabinoside induced a complete remission of this otherwise rapidly fatal disease. Before chemotherapy, the patient's platelets showed decreased aggregation in response to thrombin and adenosine diphosphate, as well as a defective thrombin-induced serotonin release reaction. Neither functional defect resolved after remission induction, indicating that the platelets were intrinsically abnormal. Most striking was the finding of a constitution chromosomal defect, a ring No. 21 chromosome, in addition to an abnormal malignant stem line. This appears to be the first reported instance of a constitutional r(21) chromosome associated with acute leukaemia.
Type of Fall and Risk of Hip and Wrist Fractures: The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

Objective: To determine the causes of hip or wrist fractures. Design: Case-control analysis nested in a prospective cohort study. Setting: Four clinical centers in Baltimore, Maryland, Minneapolis Minnesota, Portland, Oregon, and Monessen, Pennsylvania. Participants: Non-black women age 65 and older living in the community. Measurements: We measured bone density, arm strength, and anthropometric characteristics at a baseline examination. Those who subsequently suffered hip (n = 130) or wrist (n = 294) fractures as a result of a fall and a consecutive sample of those who fell without a fracture (n = 467) were interviewed about their falls. Results: In multivariate analyses, those who suffered hip fractures were more likely to have fallen sideways or straight down (odds ratio 3.3; 95% confidence interval 2.0 to 5.6) and to have landed on or near the hip (32.5; 9.9, 107.1) than women who fell without a fracture. Among women who fell on the hip, those with hip fractures were taller (1.5; 1.2, 2.2 per SD increase), less likely to have landed on a hand (0.3; 0.1 to 0.6) or to break the fall by grabbing or hitting an object (0.4; 0.2, 0.9), had weaker triceps (1.7; 1.2, 2.5 per SD decrease), and were more likely to land on a hard surface (2.8; 1.4, 5.5) than those without fractures. Women with wrist fractures were more likely to have fallen backward (2.2; 1.3, 3.8) and to have landed on a hand (20.4; 11.5, 36.0) than those who fell without a fracture. Among women who fell on the hand, those with wrist fractures were taller (1.4; 1.1, 1.8 per SD increase) and less likely to break the fall by grabbing or hitting an object (0.4; 0.2, 0.7). Among women who fell on their hip or hand, the risk of fracturing that site more than doubled for each standard deviation decrease in bone density at the site of fracture. Conclusions: The nature of the fall determines the type of fracture, while bone density and factors that increase or attenuate the force of impact of the fall determine whether a fracture will occur when a faller lands on a particular bone. These findings have important implications for prevention of fractures in older women.
D1 receptors regulate dendritic morphology in normal and stressed prelimbic cortex

Both stress and dysfunction of prefrontal cortex are linked to psychological disorders, and structure and function of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are altered by stress. Chronic restraint stress causes dendritic retraction in the prelimbic region (PL) of mPFC in rats. Dopamine release in mPFC increases during stress, and chronic administration of dopaminergic agonists results in dendritic remodeling. Thus, stress-induced alterations in dopaminergic transmission in PL may contribute to dendritic remodeling. We examined the effects of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) blockade in PL during daily restraint stress on dendritic morphology in PL. Rats either underwent daily restraint stress (3h/day, 10 days) or remained unstressed. In each group, rats received daily infusions of either the D1R antagonist SCH23390 or vehicle into PL prior to restraint; unstressed and stressed rats that had not undergone surgery were also examined. On the final day of restraint, rats were euthanized and brains were processed for Golgi histology. Pyramidal neurons in PL were reconstructed and dendritic morphology was quantified. Vehicle-infused stressed rats demonstrated dendritic retraction compared to unstressed rats, and D1R blockade in PL prevented this effect. Moreover, in unstressed rats, D1R blockade produced dendritic retraction. These effects were not due to attenuation of the HPA axis response to acute stress: plasma corticosterone levels in a separate group of rats that underwent acute restraint stress with or without D1R blockade were not significantly different. These findings indicate that dopaminergic transmission in mPFC during stress contributes directly to the stress-induced retraction of apical dendrites, while dopamine transmission in the absence of stress is important in maintaining normal dendritic morphology.
Variable microsatellite markers amplify across divergent lineages of cyprinid fishes (subfamily Leusicinae)

Thomas F. Turner1,∗, Thomas E. Dowling2, Richard E. Broughton3 & John R. Gold4 1Department of Biology and Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131; 2Department of Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287; 3Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019; 4Center for Biosystematics and Biodiversity, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 (∗Corresponding author: E-mail: turnert@unm.edu)
The effect of beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii, on the yield of sugar beet in organic soils

Summary In ten experiments on commercial sugar-beet crops grown on organic soils in 1984–86, a Genstat programme was used to examine the relationship between the initial population of Heterodera schachtii and sugar-beet root yield using the equation Y = Ymin + (Ymax - Ymin) Zpi-T Fixing T = 200 eggs + juveniles 100 g-1 soil and ZT= 0.95, estimated values of Ymax varied from 49.2–67.1 t ha-1 (129– 155% of the national average root yield for the years in which the experiments were carried out) and estimates of Ymin varied from 14.5–53.9 t ha-1 (27–94% of Ymax). The estimated average root yield loss caused by the nematode was 6.95 t ha-1.
Testicular Microlithiasis in a Patient with a Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumour

Testicular microlithiasis is a rare benign condition with a characteristic sonographic appearance, associated with a number of disorders. Sonography reveals multiple small, hyperechoic non-shadowing foci, generally diffuse throughout the testes, giving a 'snow-storm' appearance. Testicular microlithiasis has been found in association with pre-existing testicular germ cell tumours in a number of cases. Testicular tumours are known to arise in patients with pre-existing testicular microlithiasis sonographically [1,2]. Extratesticular germ cell tumours presenting in association with testicular microlithiasis are reported in the literature less widely [3,4]. We present a case of a patient with mediastinal non-seminoma mixed germ cell tumour in whom testicular microlithiasis was subsequently discovered.
Switching Oxide Traps

Positive oxide trapped charge is one of the main factors determining the radiation response of a CMOS device. The most widely accepted model for oxide-trapped charge is the dipole model, originally proposed by Lelis et al. The annealing of radiation-induced positive trapped charge proceeds (usually) via the tunneling of electrons, which form metastable dipoles, compensating the trapped positive charge without removing it. Under appropriate bias, these compensating electrons can tunnel back to the Si substrate, restoring the trapped positive charge. The experimental work leading to the development of this model is summarized. By now there is a large body of experimental and theoretical work by others, confirming and extending the original model. In particular, the relevance of the model to some electron trapping studies has been shown, and its application to the larger topic of oxide reliability is discussed.
The velocity structure of the upper ocean in the presence of surface forcing and mesoscale oceanic eddies

One goal of the Joint Air-Sea Interaction Experiment (JASIN) was to investigate the structure of the near-surface velocity field and to attempt to quantify what fraction of that field was related to the local wind. Toward that end, in the late summer of 1978, two moorings were deployed in the northern Rockall Trough with oceanographic instrumentation concentrated in the upper 100m of the ocean. Simultaneous observations were made of the surface winds at each mooring and, adjacent to one of the moorings, of the velocity field at depths from 79 to 1000m. Energetic, eddy-like circulation dominated the velocity field in the JASIN area at depths shallower than approximately 800m. However, both the velocity and the vertical shear of horizontal velocity showed variability that increased with proximity to the surface. Empirical orthogonal functions, computed to separate the velocity data into uncorrelated modes of variability, showed that over 97% of the variability in the upper 300m was distributed among only three vertical modes. The first function had little depth dependence; the second had strong depth-independent flow in the depth range of the mixed layer and weak flow in the opposite direction at all depths below; and the third had strong flow near the surface, strong flow in the opposite direction just below the base of the mixed layer, and weaker flow at all other depths. Function 1 alone provided a near-complete description of the velocity variability below 85m, where the flows associated with the eddy-like circulation and the barotropic semidiurnal tide were the dominant components. At 85m and above all three functions were necessary to provide a complete description. Temporal variability of function 2 was coherent with the local wind stress at the inertial frequency, but, at lower frequencies, resulted in transport in the mixed layer to the southeast that was not coherent with the local wind. Low frequency temporal variability of function 3 was coherent with the local wind stress; at these frequencies the velocity vector of function 3 nearest the surface was directed to the right of the wind stress vector and the velocity vector just below the base of the mixed layer was directed to the left of the wind stress. Thus, forcing by the local wind can account for some but not all of the increased variability found near the surface.
Oligomerization of Chicken Acetylcholinesterase Does Not Require Intersubunit Disulfide Bonds

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is secreted from muscle and nerve cells and associates as multimers through intermolecular covalent and noncovalent bonds. The amino acid sequence of the C-terminus is thought to play an important role in these interactions. We generated mutants in the C-terminus of the catalytic T-subunit of chicken AChE to determine the importance of this region to oligomerization and to the amphipathic character of the protein. Wild-type recombinant chicken AChE secreted from human embryonic kidney 293 cells was assembled into dimers and tetramers exclusively. Mutants lacking the C-terminal Cys 764 , the only cysteine involved in interchain disulfide bonds, showed lower but significant levels of the secreted dimeric and tetrameric forms. A truncated mutant, lacking the C-terminal 39 amino acids, exhibited a severe decrease in content of the multimeric forms, yet small amounts of the dimer were detectable. The amphipathic character was dependent on the state of oligomerization. When analyzed by sucrose gradients, the sedimentation of tetramers was not affected by detergent, but monomers and dimers sedimented more slowly in the presence of detergent. Most of the recombinant wild-type enzyme, shown to be dimeric and tetrameric by sedimentation analysis, was monomeric when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions, indicating that much of the secreted oligomeric AChE was not disulfide bonded. These data suggest that disulfide bonding of Cys 764 is not required for the catalytic subunit of chicken AChE to form oligomers and that regions outside of the C-terminus contribute to the hydrophobic interactions that are important for stabilizing the oligomeric forms.
Disuse-related decline in trabecular bone structure.

Sedentary life style may degrade bone mass and microstructure resulting in osteoporosis. We characterized trabecular bone structural properties to determine if the LRP5 G171V mutation will protect against disuse-related bone loss. Forty-eight adult male mice representing three genotypes (WT = wild type, KO = LRP5-knockout +/−, HBM = High bone with the LRP5 G171V mutation) were each randomly divided between control and disuse (4 week hindlimb suspension) groups. Trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) declined in all the three genotypes. Trabecular thickness was lower in the HBM and LRP5 (+/−) KO disuse groups when compared to their respective controls. While the remaining measures of bone structure (Trabecular number, connectivity density, apparent and tissue density) were lower, the trabecular separation increased in the LRP5 (+/−) with disuse. Although the absolute loss in BV/TV was similar, the relative loss due to disuse was far greater in the LRP5 (+/−) mice (67%) than in the HBM mice (14%). The disuse caused 20% decrease in trabecular number and thickness for LRP5 (+/−), while the decline was between 6 and 11% for the HBM and WT mice.
Two simple high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for simultaneous determination of 2′-deoxycytidine 5′-triphosphate and cytosine arabinoside 5′-triphosphate concentrations in biological samples

Abstract Cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) has been used in the treatment of leukemia, but its exact mechanism of cytotoxicity is not yet known. One of the proposed mechanisms for the effectiveness of this drug in treating leukemias suggests that a metabolite of ara-C, i.e., 2′-deoxycytidine 5′-triphosphate (araCTP), competes with cytosine arabinoside 5′-triphosphate (dCTP) for binding to DNA polymerase. The ratio of the drug metabolite to the endogenous nucleotide (araCTP/dCTP) may, therefore, be important in determining the effectiveness of ara-C therapy. This ratio may also play a role in drug resistance. Previously published methods have focused on either araCTP or dCTP, along with metabolites and analogues of one of these compounds. The methods presented here provide two simple, sensitive ways to measure dCTP and araCTP in the same biological sample.
Economic influences on early Israel

I examine and find wanting the attribution of artifactual similarity of Israelite highland settlements and Late Bronze Age Canannite cities to cultural contact through trade in agricultural products or to peaceful transition. Instead, I attribute early Iron Age highland settlement to the potential for the production of an agricultural surplus there which was made possible by the introduction of steeled iron technology by the Philistines. Highland settlers most likely came from the coastal plain or the Esdraelon valley. The growth in population and area of the highland settlements led to the establishment of monarchy in the highlands to reduce the loss of output through theft under conditions of anarchy.
CACTUS—clustering categorical data using summaries

Clustering is an important data mining problem. Most of the earlier work on clustering focussed on numeric attributes which have a natural ordering on their attribute values. Recently, clustering data with categorical attributes, whose attribute values do not have a natural ordering, has received some attention. However, previous algorithms do not give a formal description of the clusters they discover and some of them assume that the user post-processes the output of the algorithm to identify the final clusters. In this paper, we introduce a novel formalization of a cluster for categorical attributes by generalizing a definition of a cluster for numerical attributes. We then describe a very fast summarizationbased algorithm called CACTUS that discovers exactly such clusters in the data. CACTUS has two important characteristics. First, the algorithm requires only two scans of the dataset, and hence is very fast and scalable. Our experiments on a variety of datasets show that CACTUS outperforms previous work by a factor of 3 to 10. Second, CACTUS can find clusters in subsets of all attributes and can thus perform a subspace clustering of the data. This feature is important if clusters do not span all attributes, a likely scenario if the number of attributes is very large. In a thorough experimental evaluation, we study the performance of CACTUS on real and synthetic datasets.
Immune Dysfunction in Silicosis: A Hypothesis

Abstract Silicosis is a fibrosing lung disease induced by silica particle inhalation. In addition to its effects on pulmonary physiology, the disease is also associated with clinically important immune dysfunction, detectable both systemically and in the lung. An important local pulmonary manifestation of silicosis-associated immune dysfunction is impaired host defense against mycobacteria. Normal host defense against mycobacteria is accomplished through cell-mediated responses by T cells and macrophages. The mechanism underlying impaired antimycobacterial defense and silicotuberculosis in silicotics is unknown. Despite impaired host defense against mycobacteria, silicosis appears to be associated with increased and dysregulated antibody production, as evidenced by the presence of hypergammaglobulinemia, circulating immune complexes, and autoantibodies in many patients with silicosis. The apparent paradox of excess antibody production, but impaired cell-mediated immunity, is not unique to silicosis. In a ...
Interrelationships between continental freeboard, tectonics and mantle temperature

Oceanic hypsometry and isentropic melting models are combined to address the question of freeboard from the middle Archean to the present. In addition to the fraction of continental crust, the factors governing the long-term balance of the continental freeboard include the mantle potential temperature (TP), the oceanic lithosphere thickness, and the plate creation rate (C0). It is shown that variation in TP far outweighs the other factors in importance, with freeboard decreasing by 1 km for every TP increase of about 80 C. The huge ten- to thirtyfold increases in C0 backward in geological time that have been invoked to explain near-constant freeboard are shown to be unnecessary. The low value found for TP is consistent with the preservation of ancient diamonds in the deep South African lithosphere. It is concluded from this that the present cooling rate of the earth of about 46 C/Ga has general applicability over much of geological time.
Effect of dentate stimulation on neuronal activity in the caudate nucleus

Abstract Extracellular microelectrode recordings from the caudate nucleus in barbiturateanesthetized and xylocaine-curarized cats show the mean discharge frequency rates to be 2.95 and 3.90/sec, respectively. In cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose the mean spontaneous discharge rate was 6.35/sec; but under the influence of this anesthetic, 8% of the cells fire with a mean frequency of 0.052/sec and, in one instance, spontaneous fring occurred only once every 55 sec. The question of different pharmacologically reactive cells and different types of cells in the caudate nucleus is raised. These spontaneous discharge patterns under different anesthetics were found to be unchanged after destruction of the motorsensory cortices, substantia nigra, red nuclei or intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus. However, upon stimulation of the dentate nucleus, especially at a frequency of 100/sec, about 50% of the cells in the ipsilateral or contralateral caudate nucleus would show an increased or decreased discharge rate 50–350 msec after the commencement of the stimulation and the change in activity would ofter persist for 1–2 min after the cessation of stimulation. This change in response to dentate stimulation did not occur after the thalamic intralaminar nuclei were destroyed, suggesting that these nuclei play an important role in the transmission of impulses from the dentate to caudate nucleus.
Numerical methods for controlled regime-switching diffusions and regime-switching jump diffusions

This work is concerned with numerical methods for controlled regime-switching diffusions, and regime-switching jump diffusions. Numerical procedures based on Markov chain approximation techniques are developed. Convergence of the algorithms is derived by means of weak convergence methods. In addition, examples are also provided for demonstration purpose.
A psychosocial study of hyperactive and learning-disabled boys.

Adequately reading hyperactive boys, normally behaved learning-disabled (LD) boys, and normal controls were contrasted on tests measuring personality traits, cognitive role taking, and moral reasoning. Additionally, parents and teachers rated all children on a number of behaviors, and parents were interviewed in a process-oriented fashion to assess home stimulation potential. Hyperactive boys were rated more aggressive and anxious than LD boys and controls and had not been encouraged as much by parents to achieve. Hyperactives had been born to younger parents, on the average, and 25% lived with their mothers and stepfathers. None of the LD or control boys had stepfathers. The groups did not differ significantly in moral reasoning ability, cognitive role taking, or locus of control; on the Junior Personality Inventory hyperactives tended to have elevated scores on the neuroticism scale while LD boys had higher scores on the lie scale.
Intergenerational relations in urban China: proximity contact and help to parents.

Although most older Chinese parents live with an adult son or daughter, most adult offspring do not live with parents. We examine the relations of these noncoresident offspring with parents in terms of proximity, frequency of contact, and exchange of help. Based on a 1993 random sample survey conducted in two major Chinese cities, we find that although rates of coresidence are high, noncoresident sons and daughters live close to parents, have frequent contact with their parents, and provide regular help to parents. Relationships with noncoresident sons and daughters are unaffected by whether parents coreside with another child. There is some evidence of closer relationships with sons than with daughters, but parents without a son receive as much help from all children as do parents with sons. The effects of these and other predictors are estimated in multivariate analyses, and results are interpreted in terms of the persistence or change of traditional family norms.
EMG of Pharyngoesophageal Musculature during Alaryngeal Voice Production

EMG activity from the inferior constrictor and cricopharyngeus muscles and the voice signal were obtained from 18 laryngectomized male subjects as they produced isolated vowels using alaryngeal pho...
Assessing intercultural competence

Intercultural competence and related global learning outcomes are increasingly becoming a priority for postsecondary institutions to assess. This chapter discusses the complexities of assessing this outcome.
Cloud-based simulations on Google Exacycle reveal ligand modulation of GPCR activation pathways

Simulations can provide tremendous insight into the atomistic details of biological mechanisms, but micro- to millisecond timescales are historically only accessible on dedicated supercomputers. We demonstrate that cloud computing is a viable alternative that brings long-timescale processes within reach of a broader community. We used Google's Exacycle cloud-computing platform to simulate two milliseconds of dynamics of a major drug target, the G-protein-coupled receptor β2AR. Markov state models aggregate independent simulations into a single statistical model that is validated by previous computational and experimental results. Moreover, our models provide an atomistic description of the activation of a G-protein-coupled receptor and reveal multiple activation pathways. Agonists and inverse agonists interact differentially with these pathways, with profound implications for drug design.
A bcr3/Short Form PML-RARα Transcript in an Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Resulted From a Derivative Chromosome 17 Due to Submicroscopic Insertion of the PML Gene Into the RARα Locus

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. Submicroscopic insertion of RARalpha into PML, resulting in PML-RARalpha from derivative chromosome 15, has been rarely reported. Herein, we describe a functional PML-RARalpha transcript from the long arm of derivative chromosome 17 in a patient with microgranular APL. The conventional karyotype showed normal chromosomes 15 and 17. It is interesting that interphase and metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridizations demonstrated a fusion signal on the long arm of one chromosome 17 homolog, with both PML and RARalpha still present on chromosomes 15 and 17, respectively, although the signal on one chromosome 15 was weaker, indicating partial loss of the PML gene. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed a transcript corresponding to a break cluster region 3 (bcr3) short form PML-RARalpha. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an APL with a bcr3/short form PML-RARalpha transcript generated from derivative chromosome 17 due to submicroscopic insertion of the PML gene into the RARalpha locus.
Calculated binding of gold atoms to alkali halide substrates

Abstract The contributions to the atomic desorption energy and activation energy for surface diffusion from electrostatic polarization forces and van der Waals dispersion forces for the deposition of gold on alkali halide substrates have been calculated assuming hard-sphere repulsion between adatom and ion. The results for different substrates are compared with each other and with experimental values for gold on ultrahigh-vacuum-cleaved NaF, NaCl, KCl and KBr surfaces. The magnitude of the polarization term is nearly equal to that of the van der Waals term and can be important in determining the adsorption site and diffusion path. This appears to be the case for NaF but not for NaCl.
Isolation of plasma membrane ofPhytophthora megasperma f. sp.glycinea and some properties of the associated ATPase

Abstract Plasma membrane vesicles were isolated from Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea using conventional methods of mechanical disruption followed by differential and density gradient centrifugation. The validity of presumed biochemical markers was confirmed using electron microscopy and the phosphotungstic acid-chromic acid staining procedure, which was judged to be specific for plasma membrane when performed under suitable conditions. The plasma membrane fraction showed a peak equilibrium density of 1.14 g/ml and was identified by its vanadate-sensitive Mg 2+ -dependent ATPase with an optimum temperature of 42°C and a pH optimum of 6.0 to 6.5. The activity was weakly stimulated by K + and strongly inhibited by Ca 2+ . The enzyme showed a marked specificity for ATP as a substrate compared to other nucleoside mono-, di-, and triphosphate substrates or other general phosphatase substrates. The divalent cation requirement could be met equally well by Mg 2+ and Co 2+ and, to a lesser extent, by Mn 2+ , but not by Ni 2+ , Ba 2+ , Zn 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ca 2+ , Hg 2+ , Cu 2+ , or Fe 2+ (in decreasing order of preference). Contamination by intact mitochondria (density 1.21 g/ml) or mitochondrial fragments (density 1.16 g/ml) was minimal and could be monitored by measuring cytochrome c oxidase or oligomycin-sensitive pH 8.5 ATPase.
Analysis of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and its hydrolytic metabolites in biological specimens by high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

Due to its cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and adipogenicity observed in in vitro studies, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) may pose a health risk to humans. Quantifying BADGE exposure is an essential step to assess potential health risks associated with this ubiquitous compound widely used in certain plastic products. Due to the lack of endogenous sources for BADGE, bio-monitoring of BADGE and/or its hydrolytic metabolites (BADGE·H2O and BADGE·2H2O) can be a useful means to measure exposure. In this study, we developed a highly specific and sensitive method to measure BADGE, BADGE·H2O and BADGE·2H2O in plasma and urine, using a fast liquid-liquid extraction technique followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography and positive electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method. The method can quantify BADGE, BADGE·H2O and BADGE·2H2O with lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.05, 0.05 and 0.2 ng/ml, respectively. The percentage deviation of mean calculated concentrations from target concentrations was within 20%, variations across repeated analyses were within 15%, and mean extraction recovery was higher than 51.4% for all the three analytes in both plasma and urine matrices. The method has been applied to venous blood samples, cord blood samples, and urine samples collected from 9 to 14 adult volunteers. Results showed that concentrations of BADGE were lower than LLOQ in all of these samples except one urine sample. Low levels of BADGE·H2O from 0.108 to 0.222 ng/ml were observed in four venous blood samples and one urine sample (0.187 ng/ml). In contrast, concentrations of BADGE·2H2O were higher than LLOQ, varying from 0.660 to 303.593 ng/ml, in all the 10 venous blood samples and 1 cord blood sample (0.592 ng/ml) and two urine samples (0.200 and 0.306 ng/ml). The results suggest that bio-monitoring of blood and urine for BADGE exposure should focus on the hydrolysis derivatives of BADGE, mainly in the form of BADGE·2H2O.
The Response of Mainline Protestant Clergy Members to the Moral Panic Regarding Harry Potter

This article builds upon and expands an earlier research project on the moral panic that surrounded the Harry Potter books and movies from 1997 through the first decade of the twenty-first century. Soulliere focused on the publications and public pronouncements of religious groups and leaders, media, and research organizations linked together by “the promotion of traditional values and a conservative ideology as well as a Judeo-Christian worldview, primacy of the family, and emphases on biblical foundations and authority” (Soulliere paragraph 14), which he refers to as the Christian Right. The current study seeks to discover the degree to which, if any, this moral panic extended beyond the Christian Right into the pulpits of mainstream Protestant denominations.
Role of the eosinophil in chronic vascular rejection of renal allografts

Abstract Obliterative arteriopathy in chronic renal allograft rejection is caused by intimal smooth muscle proliferation accompanied by infiltration of lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. We investigated the role of the eosinophil in chronic rejection. Twenty-four allograft nephrectomies were examined for the presence of eosinophils on hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections and using epifluorescence on Fisher-Giemsa-stained sections. Among 15 cases with chronic rejection, eosinophils were detected in 14 cases (93%) with epifluorescence compared with only six cases (40%) with hematoxylin-eosin staining ( P = 0.005). With epifluorescence, eosinophils were identified in the intimal, adventitial, and tubulointerstitial compartments in 73%, 80%, and 87% of cases, respectively. To examine the pathogenic relevance of the eosinophils in the vessel wall, we investigated the effect of eosinophil-conditioned medium on DNA synthesis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Autofluorescent eosinophils were isolated from atopic human donors using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Supernatant was collected from eosinophils (1 × 10 6 /mL) cultured overnight in medium with 0.5% fetal bovine serum. Incorporation of 3 H-thymidine into DNA was measured in rat and human vascular smooth muscle cells treated for 24 hours with eosinophil-conditioned medium at 1:20, 1:10, 1:5, and 1:2 dilutions. Eosinophil-conditioned medium had a significant dose-dependent stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis in both cell lines. Our results indicate that eosinophil involvement in chronic renal allograft rejection is more common than previously recognized. The stimulatory effect of eosinophil-conditioned medium on vascular smooth muscle cell DNA synthesis suggests that eosinophils may be involved in the pathogenesis of the obliterative arteriopathy characteristically seen in chronic vascular rejection of renal allografts.
Virtual enterprises: building blocks for dynamic e-business

Dynamic e-business, as envisioned by several industry analysts and corporate leaders, involves the rapid teaming of companies with both familiar and new business partners in pursuit of specific market opportunities. For realizing this new generation business model, the ability to form, operate, and disband virtual enterprises will be the single-most important requirement. These short-lived, opportunity-based organizations leverage the individual capabilities of several member companies to form virtual enterprises that have resources equivalent to a traditional vertically integrated corporation. Before successfully applying this business model, however, several issues need to be resolved, such as building trust and a collaborative attitude amongst member companies, developing the e-commerce infrastructure for handling engineered-to-order products and services, building optimal coalitions for the job, etc. This paper discusses our experiences in developing a web-based infrastructure for creating, operating, and eventually dissolving virtual enterprises. The primary operators of this infrastructure will be market makers offering custom products and services in various industries as well as corporations involved in bringing new products to the market.
Exploring cultural capital in the instructional design process: A case study

In this case study, we are able to take a close look at a situation not often encountered in the literature on ICTs in emerging economies: a private company from an emerging economy providing much-needed funding for a consortium in the US non-profit sector. This case study examines this training program by asking: How does cultural capital interact with the instructional design process, as defined by Young’s Culture-Based Model (CBM) framework, in this case of a cross-sector, cross-border training program? Researchers and practitioners concerned with education in a globalized context may consult findings here related to the bi-directional flows of cultural capital and misconceptions about cultural capital across borders and across sectors in this case.
Vehicle Route Guidance Systems: Classification and Comparison

Route guidance in vehicular roadways has become an important and emerging method of congestion alleviation. The proliferation of low cost electronics such as sensors, wireless communication, and computing equipment has now made large scale vehicle navigation practical. The advanced computational equipment available has made performing complex algorithms in real time possible, the key to the operation of vehicle route guidance systems. While route guidance systems fundamentally strive for similar optimum operation, several important differences exist in the design of these systems. This paper presents an investigation of some of the main distinctions between these systems. Much work has been done in this field in the past, which is presented here as a classification and comparison of such systems
Parenting Values, Attitudes, Behaviors, and Goals of African American Mothers from a Low-Income Population in Relation to Social and Societal Contexts

There is broad consensus among family and child development researchers that variations in parenting styles and practices contribute to individual differences along a range of child outcomes. Although the literature implies a continuum of parenting styles, research on ethnic minority and low-income families has often implied that these groups are homogeneous with respect to parenting practices and has compared them to standard samples (usually ethnic majority and middle class). In rejecting these assumptions, we examined the diversity of parenting styles in a sample of a low-income, African American families served by Head Start. Analyses revealed a range of child-rearing beliefs yielding discrete patterns of parenting that were distinguished in terms of beliefs about desirable child attributes and community-level attributes, and were associated with children's social competence. Findings suggest that crude group comparisons are inadequate to describe or explain the effects of parenting values and parent-...
Tracing abyssal food supply back to upper-ocean processes over a 17-year time series in the northeast Pacific

Detrital aggregates episodically deposited on the seafloor represent an underestimated food source to deep-sea communities. A 17-yr time-series study was conducted from 1990 to 2006 in the abyssal northeast Pacific (Sta. M, 4100 m in depth) to evaluate the importance of this food source and its temporal relationship to water column and surface ocean processes. Detrital aggregates appeared on the seafloor from June through December, with the highest peaks in 1990, 1994, 2001, and 2002 reaching a maximum density of 23 m22 in fall 2001. A total of 15,816 aggregates were measured, most less than 20 cm2 in area and with a mode of 9 cm2. Density of detrital aggregates was highly correlated with particulate organic carbon (POC) flux at 600 and 50 m above the bottom (p , 0.001) with no time lag. Export flux of organic carbon from the euphotic zone was significantly correlated with aggregate density, lagged earlier by 1–4 months (p # 0.001). Zooplankton displacement volume was significantly correlated with POC flux (p 5 0.023) and with detrital aggregate density (p 5 0.028) on the seafloor when lagged earlier by #1 month. The Bakun upwelling index computed for the region around Sta. M was significantly correlated with detrital aggregate density when lagged earlier by 2–5 months (p , 0.001). A strong correlation exists between surface ocean processes and abyssal food supply, including POC flux and detrital aggregates. This direct coupling through the entire water column must be considered in resolving the marine carbon cycle.
What is a purely functional language

Functional programming languages are informally classified into pure and impure languages. The precise meaning of this distinction has been a matter of controversy. We therefore investigate a formal definition of purity. We begin by showing that some proposed definitions which rely on confluence, soundness of the beta axiom, preservation of pure observational equivalences and independence of the order of evaluation, do not withstand close scrutiny. We propose instead a definition based on parameter-passing independence. Intuitively, the definition implies that functions are pure mappings from arguments to results; the operational decision of how to pass the arguments is irrelevant. In the context of Haskell, our definition is consistent with the fact that the traditional call-by-name denotational semantics coincides with the traditional call-by-need implementation. Furthermore, our definition is compatible with the stream-based, continuation-based and monad-based integration of computational effects in Haskell. Finally, we observe that call-by-name reasoning principles are unsound in compilers for monadic Haskell.
Early renal pathophysiology in an acute model of cyclosporine nephrotoxicity in rats.

We have recently described a rat model of acute cyclosporine nephrotoxicity characterized by rapid onset of reproducible mild to moderate renal failure. In the present studies, we have examined early pathophysiologic events and morphologic changes in this model. Following acute intraperitoneal administration of 60 mg/kg of parenteral cyclosporine, renal blood flow (RBF) fell 24% from baseline. Intraperitoneal administration of an oral cyclosporine preparation (60 mg/kg) also reduced RBF (25%), as did administration of an equivalent volume of parenteral cremophore (23%). Renal vascular resistance (RVR) increased significantly in all these groups. In contrast, intraperitoneal administration of mineral oil or olive oil oral vehicle produced no significant change in RBF (4% fall from baseline), and RVR actually decreased in these control animals. Following 2 daily doses of these agents, RBF remained significantly lower in rats given parenteral cyclosporine (5.10 mL/min vs 8.54 mL/min in cremophore rats and 7....