cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nephrotoxicity of 2-bromo-(cystein-S-yl) hydroquinone and 2-bromo-(N-acetyl-L-cystein-S-yl) hydroquinone thioethers.

The in vivo toxicity of isomeric cystein-S-yl and N-acetylcystein-S-yl conjugates of 2-bromohydroquinone was determined in male Sprague-Dawley rats. 2-Bromo-(dicystein-S-yl)hydroquinone [2-Br-(diCYS)HQ] and 2-bromo-(di-N-acetyl-l-cystein-S-yl)hydroquinone [2-Br-(diNAC)HQ] were considerably more nephrotoxic than their corresponding monosubstituted thioethers and 2-Br-(diCYS)HQ was more nephrotoxic than 2-Br-(diNAC)HQ. 2-Br-(diCYS)HQ caused elevations in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations and increases in the urinary excretion of glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) at a dose of 25 μmol/kg (iv). In contrast, 2-Br-(diNAC)HQ caused significant elevations in BUN at 100 μmol/kg and glucosuria and enzymuria at 50 μmol/kg. 2-Br-3-(CYS)HQ and 2-Br-5&6-(CYS)HQ caused increases in the biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity at doses between 50 and 150 μmol/kg whereas 2-Br-5-(NAC)HQ and 2-Br-6-(NAC)HQ required doses of 150–200 μmol/kg to cause smaller, though significant increases in urinary glucose, γ-GT, and LDH excretion. The histological alterations caused by each thioether were qualitatively similar; only differences in the extent of the renal proximal tubular damage were observed. The initial lesion appears to involve the cells of the medullary ray and the S3M within the outer stripe of the outer medulla. The in vivo nephrotoxicity of 2-Br-(diCYS)HQ, 2-Br-(diNAC)HQ, and the most potent monosubstituted thioethers, 2-Br-5&6-(CYS)HQ and 2-Br-6-(NAC)HQ, was investigated further. Pretreatment of animals with aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of cysteine conjugate β-lyase (β-lyase), had no effect on the toxicity of 2-Br-(diCYS)HQ, partially inhibited the toxicity of 2-Br-5&6-(CYS)HQ, and almost completely protected against the toxicity of both 2-Br-6-(NAC)HQ, and 2-Br-(diNAC)HQ. Thus, the nephrotoxicity of 2-Br-5&6-(CYS)HQ, 2-Br-6-(NAC)HQ, and 2-Br-(diNAC)HQ may be mediated, in part, via their processing by β-lyase. Pretreatment of animals with probenecid, an inhibitor of renal organic anion transport, completely protected against the toxicity of 2-Br-(diNAC)HQ but had no effect on the toxicity of the other thioethers.
Choices between positive and negative reinforcement during treatment for escape-maintained behavior

Positive reinforcement was more effective than negative reinforcement in promoting compliance and reducing escape-maintained problem behavior for a child with autism. Escape extinction was then added while the child was given a choice between positive or negative reinforcement for compliance and the reinforcement schedule was thinned. When the reinforcement requirement reached 10 consecutive tasks, the treatment effects became inconsistent and reinforcer selection shifted from a strong preference for positive reinforcement to an unstable selection pattern.
Electro-optic interferometry for study of carbon deposition on transition metal surfaces: preliminary results

The objective of this investigation is to measure surface enrichment, develop non equilibrium surface phase diagrams, and, using these phase diagrams area tools, study in situ reactions such as carbon deposition on transition metals and their alloys. Electro-Optic Interferometry (EOI) has been chosen as a nondestructive technique to monitor carbon deposition with the strains induced by the molar volume increase. Preliminary experiments have been performed by applying mechanical deformations to verify the accuracy of the EOI for monitoring strains on highly reflective, smooth surfaces. The preliminary results indicate that, using the EOI as described in this paper, full field displacements can be determined with accuracies down to 0.025 micrometers . Based on these results it can be concluded that the EOI has potential for developing surface phase diagrams and in situ studies of carbon deposition.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The inhibition of protein prenyltransferases by oxygenated metabolites of limonene and perillyl alcohol

The monoterpenes limonene and perillyl alcohol are effective therapeutic agents against advanced rat mammary cancer. Limonene is currently undergoing clinical testing in cancer patients. These monoterpenes and their oxygenated metabolites have been previously shown to inhibit protein prenylation in cultured cells. Since farnesylation of ras protein is critical for its ability to cause oncogenic transformation, inhibition of protein prenylation may be the basis of the anti-tumor effects of limonene and perillyl alcohol. In this study we test the ability of limonene and its oxygenated analogs to inhibit protein prenylation enzymes in vitro. Limonene and perillyl alcohol and their major in vivo metabolite, perillic acid, are weak inhibitors of both mammalian and yeast protein farnesyl transferase (PFT) and protein geranylgeranyl transferase (PGGT). In contrast, a minor metabolite of both limonene and perillyl alcohol, perillic acid methyl ester, is a potent inhibitor of both enzymes. Perillic acid methyl ester is a competitive inhibitor of yeast PFT with respect to farnesyl pyrophosphate. These studies suggest that if the inhibition of protein prenylation is a mechanism for limonene's and perillyl alcohol's anti-cancer activities, these monoterpenes may be prodrugs that are converted into pharmacologically-active substances by metabolic modification.
Computer Simulation of the Operation of a Three-Dimensional Quadrupole Ion Trap:

A computer simulation of the motion of ions in a three-dimensional (3-D) quadrupole ion trap has been performed with a Gateway 386 PC/AT computer. The SIMION program was used as the main program to calculate the potential array of the ion trap space. Several user-written programs were interfaced to the SIMION program to simulate the effects of changing various operating conditions, such as the radio-frequency (rf) potential, the collisional buffer gas, external ion injection, dc ejection from the trap, and resonance ejection. With the use of this simulation, the total storage mass range could be obtained as a function of rf voltage and frequency. The simulations show, as expected, that the collisional buffer gas plays an important role in both stabilizing the trajectory of high-kinetic-energy ions (hot ions) inside the ion trap and trapping ions injected from an external source. Several different buffer gases were studied for their effects upon the trapping motion. In addition, both the total mass ejection that results from applying a dc pulse on the output end-cap electrode and the ion ejection that results from applying an rf frequency to the end cap to produce resonance ejection were also studied with this simulation program. It is demonstrated that a simple PC computer using a modified SIMION program provides results very similar to those expected from theory or from previous work.
Gene therapy and retinitis pigmentosa: advances and future challenges

It may be possible, one day, to use gene therapy to treat diseases whose genetic defects have been discerned. Because many genes responsible for inherited eye disorders within the retina have been identified, diseases of the eye are prime candidates for this form of therapy. The eye also has the advantage of being highly accessible with altered immunological properties, important considerations for easy delivery of virus and avoidance of systemic immune responses. Currently, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and lentivirus have been used to successfully transfer genetic material to retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells. By harnessing therapeutic genes to these viruses, researchers have been able to demonstrate rescue in rodent models of retinitis pigmentosa, providing evidence that this form of therapy can be effective in delaying photoreceptor cell death. Future challenges include confirming therapeutic effects in animal models with eyes more anatomically similar to those of humans and demonstrating long-term rescue with minimal toxicity.
Numerical simulation of laminar reacting flows with complex chemistry

We present an adaptive algorithm for low Mach number reacting flows with complex chemistry. Our approach uses a form of the low Mach number equations that discretely conserves both mass and energy. The discretization methodology is based on a robust projection formulation that accommodates large density contrasts. The algorithm uses an operator-split treatment of stiff reaction terms and includes effects of differential diffusion. The basic computational approach is embedded in an adaptive projection framework that uses structured hierarchical grids with subcycling in time that preserves the discrete conservation properties of the underlying single-grid algorithm. We present numerical examples illustrating the performance of the method on both premixed and non-premixed flames.
A comparison of energy bugs for smartphone platforms

Bugs that cause reduced battery life in smartphones have been classified as energy bugs. The majority of previous research on energy bugs focused on the Android platform. The goal of this work is to identify the similarities and differences of energy bugs for the Android, iOS and Windows platforms, based on which, we can then determine whether the techniques of managing energy bugs developed for one platform can be potentially applicable in other platforms. Our results show that applications in Android and Windows share similar root causes for leading to battery drain, but energy bugs in iOS applications are produced differently. Our conclusions are drawn based on a comparison of power models for the three platforms and an analysis of the bugs from 6 applications common to Android, iOS and Windows.
Rapid detection of salmonella using SERS with silver nano-substrate

Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) can detect the pathogen in rapid and accurate. In SERS weak Raman scattering signals are enhanced by many orders of magnitude. In this study silver metal with biopolymer was used. Silver encapsulated biopolymer polyvinyl alcohol nano-colloid was prepared and deposited on stainless steel plate. This was used as metal substrate for SERS. Salmonella typhimurium a common food pathogen was selected for this study. Salmonella typhimurium bacteria cells were prepared in different concentrations in cfu/mL. Small amount of these cells were loaded on the metal substrate individually, scanned and spectra were recorded using confocal Raman microscope. The cells were exposed to laser diode at 785 nm excitation and object 50x was used to focus the laser light on the sample. Raman shifts were obtained from 400 to 2400 cm-1. Multivariate data analysis was carried to predict the concentration of unknown sample using its spectra. Concentration prediction gave an R2 of 0.93 and standard error of prediction of 0.21. The results showed that it could be possible to find out the Salmonella cells present in a low concentration in food samples using SERS.
Evaluation of Group Health Promotion with Community-Dwelling Older Women

Health promotion outcomes with older adults are characterized increasingly in terms of several effects. The outcomes of a health-promotion intervention with a group consisting of a majority of African-American older women were evaluated after six months. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with intervention and control groups all living in the area of a midwestern city with the highest proportion of low-income and non-Caucasian elders. Women in the intervention group participated in weekly group meetings over 26 weeks. The intervention was derived from the ecologic well being model and incorporated content related to three areas of outcome evaluation: health practices, psychologic and spiritual well-being, and social integration. Interviews conducted prior to and on conclusion of the intervention incorporated four single-item qualitative measures and the following three instruments as outcome measures: the senior lifestyle inventory, the integration inventory, and the social integration subscale. Although no significant increases in outcomes were demonstrated over time for the intervention group, statistical analysis before and after the intervention did reveal significant contrasts among controls in relation to well-being, health practices, and life satisfaction, suggesting a preventive-maintenance effect for the participants.
A simple model for unidirectional crystal growth

Abstract We define a simple, effectively nonlocal model for diffusion-controlled directional crystal growth. The model is closely related to the complex Korteweg-de Vries equation. We find exact stationary solutions with second order poles; the motion of the poles reduces under certain conditions to a many-body problem. Numerical integration reveals that singular configurations are indeed attractive and cusps appear on the solidification front.
Patterns of genetic alterations in pancreatic cancer: a pooled analysis.

Both K-ras and p53 gene mutations are found commonly in pancreatic tumors. Analysis of the mutational patterns may provide insight into disease etiology. To further describe the mutational patterns of pancreatic cancer and to assess the evidence to date, we performed a pooled analysis of the published data on genetic mutations associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We included data from studies that evaluated point mutations in the two genes most studied in pancreatic cancer, K-ras and p53. A majority of the 204 tumors had mutations in at least one gene, with 29% having both K-ras and p53 mutations, 39% with K-ras mutation alone, and 16% having p53 mutation alone. Sixteen percent of tumors lacked mutation in either gene. K-ras mutations were present in high frequencies in all tumor grades (>69%). A statistically significant trend was observed for p53 mutation with higher tumor grade (P = 0.04). For K-ras, G2 and G3 grades, combined, had notably higher prevalences of mutation than G1 (P = 0.004). CGT mutations in K-ras codon 12 were marginally associated with lower tumor grade (P for trend = 0.09), and these tumors were somewhat less likely to have a p53 mutation than tumors with other K-ras mutations (P = 0.06). In the 59 K-ras+/p53+ tumors, 64% had the same type of mutation (transition or transversion) in both genes, suggesting a common mechanism. The mutational pattern of p53 in pancreatic cancer is similar to bladder cancer, another smoking-related cancer, but not to lung cancer. Analyses of molecular data, such as that performed here, present new avenues for epidemiologists in the study of the etiology of specific cancers. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 33:111–122, 1999 © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Growth habit and sugar accumulation in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) transformed with a cytokinin biosynthesis gene

Expression of a bacterial cytokinin biosynthesis gene fused to a patatin gene promoter was studied in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.). Two independent transformants, Pat-ipt 1 and 2, exhibited a number of distinguishable morphological alterations commonly induced by cytokinins, i.e. less root growth, reduced leaf surface area, and increased axillary shoot development. Concentrations of the cytokinins zeatin and zeatin riboside were increased by twofold in taproots and 7- to 18-fold in leaves. Leaf sucrose and glucose concentrations were not significantly different from those in control plants except in Pat-ipt 2 where glucose levels were elevated ninefold. Since normal taproot development was severely inhibited, sucrose concentrations in the taproots were significantly reduced.
Algorithms for efficient planning and operation of a particular FMS

This article is a detailed case study of a particular FMS that will be operational in 1989. It describes the daily planning and operating problems that will need to be addressed. The algorithms that will operate this system are presented. Given the daily changing production requirements, the algorithms begin with an aggregate planning feasibility check. Then planning, scheduling, inventory management, and breakdowns are addressed. The key problems in operating this system are tool management problems. Detailed tooling data and their analysis are presented in an appendix to address these problems.
The potential benefits of dietary and/or supplemental calcium and vitamin D

Osteoporosis is a significant problem in women and men. In addition, as osteoporosis has garnered more attention there should be more attention than ever placed on the potential benefits of calcium and vitamin D. Clinicians need to inform patients that there are numerous healthy dietary sources of calcium and vitamin D. Calcium and vitamin D supplements seem to act synergistically to reduce fracture risk in men and women; therefore, they need to be taken together to impact fracture risk. In addition, almost every randomized trial of an effective osteoporosis drug therapy has utilized calcium and vitamin D to enhance the efficacy of the drug itself. Several forms of calcium supplements are commercially available today and clinicians need to understand the similarities and differences between them. Calcium and vitamin D in moderation also have a good safety profile and may actually have benefits far beyond osteoporosis therapy. For example, calcium may increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL), prevent colon polyps, reduce blood pressure, reduce kidney stone recurrence, and may promote weight loss. Vitamin D may reduce the risk of some cancers, provide an enhanced response to some chemotherapeutic agents, prevent type I diabetes, and may reduce tooth loss along with calcium. Clinicians need to encourage individuals to receive the recommended daily allowance of these two agents because they seem to have an impact on numerous health conditions besides osteoporosis.
Transmission of HIV to the placenta, fetus and mother and implications of gametic infection

Therapeutic interventions and public education are reducing pediatric AIDS cases in developed countries, but the number of HIV-infected women and children is still a major global concern. The finding that human sperm-associated HIV can be transmitted to oocytes following in vitro fertilization provides a novel viewpoint from which to consider not only the problem of HIV transmission to children but also transmission to women. In the present paper we will first discuss some recent findings that offer new perspectives on the role of the placenta, and particularly the trophoblast, in maternal-fetal transmission of HIV. Results will be presented showing that cell-mediated infection of syncytiotrophoblast cells requires direct contact between infected lymphocytes and trophoblast. We will also discuss possible routes of transmission of HIV to both mothers and their offspring in the light of data providing evidence of gametic infection. These hypothetical routes include trophoblast-mediated infection of maternal uterine cells during implantation and trophoblast-mediated infection of maternal blood cells during pregnancy. Clearly, more studies are needed in order to assess the significance and relative contribution of these routes in the transmission of HIV.
The Expanding World of Trinucleotide Repeats

A paper in this week's issue of Science (Campuzano et al. , [p. 1423][1]) reports that Friedreich's ataxia has now joined the list of diseases caused by expanding trinucleotide repeats. In his Perspective, S. Warren discusses how some unusual features of the repeats in this disease challenge some generalizations that have been made about the mechanisms by which these unusual mutations cause disease. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.271.5254.1423
Focal nodular hyperplasia in children, adolescents, and young adults

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign hepatic tumor that is rare in children. In order to understand whether there are differences in the etiology or appearance of FNH in children, we analyzed the clinical information and imaging of pathologically proven cases. A pathology database was used to identify all cases of FNH diagnosed at our institution. Each patient’s imaging was evaluated for the characteristics of FNH lesions. Clinical information was obtained on each patient. Thirteen patients with FNH were identified (7 male/6 female, mean age 14.3 years, range 1–27 years). Seven patients (5 male/2 female) had a remote history of childhood malignancy. The time interval between the diagnoses of malignancy and FNH ranged from 9 to 27 years (mean 14.4 years). On imaging, all seven cancer survivors had multiple liver lesions. In the remaining six patients (2 male/4 female), there was no history of malignancy and all but one of these patients had a solitary FNH. Half of the patients with FNH in this study were long-term cancer survivors and each of these patients had multiple masses. Recognizing the features of FNH will aid in diagnosis and appropriate management.
Fuzzy Logic Control of Microhole Electrical Discharge Machining

A microhole electrical discharge machining (EDM) system with adaptive fuzzy logic control and precision piezoelectric stage is developed in this study. A high-speed EDM monitoring system is implemented to measure the gap voltage, current, and ignition delay time, which are used to derive three input parameters—the average gap voltage, deviation in spark ratio, and change in the deviation in spark ratio—for the fuzzy logic control. Servo displacement and speed of the piezoelectric stage during each sampling duration are synthesized in real time by the adaptive fuzzy logic controller. Effects of the single and multiple input parameters, ignition delay threshold value, and maximum servo displacement and speed on the EDM drilling process are experimentally studied. Experimental results show that the fuzzy logic EDM control system yields a much more stable and efficient microhole EDM drilling process.
Barriers and missed opportunities in breast and cervical cancer screening among women aged 50 and over, New York City, 2002.

Objectives: Breast and cervical cancer screening both are routinely recommended for women. However, data are sparse on factors associated with joint screening behaviors. Our objective to describe the factors associated with receiving both, one, or neither screening test among women aged ≥50. Methods: Using data from the New York City Community Health Survey (NYC CHS), we compared the characteristics of women > age 50 (n = 2059) who missed (1) a Pap smear only, (2) mammography only, or (3) both screening procedures with the characteristics of women who received both tests. Analyses were performed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Seventy-three percent of women had both screening tests, 6.7% needed a Pap smear only, 10% missed mammography only, and 10% missed both tests. After multiple logistic regression, missing a Pap smear only was more likely among women > 70 years compared with younger women and among women from Queens than from Manhattan. Missing mammography only was more common among women...
The action of phospholipase C on black film bilayer membranes.

Abstract The effects of phospholipase C ( Clostridium perfringens ) on the electrical and visual properties of black film bilayer membranes are reported. Addition of this enzyme to one side of a phosphatidyl choline:phosphatidyl serine:cholesterol (0.71:0.29:1.0, w/w/w) bilayer membrane resulted in a rapid decrease in membrane resistance which leveled off after several minutes at about one-half its initial value. The maximal rate of resistance decrease was proportional to the amount of enzyme added. A maximal effect was observed with phosphatidyl choline:phosphatidyl serine ratios between 1:1 to 9:1. No effect was observed in the absence of Ca2+ and an optimal effect was observed at 2 m M Ca2+. A pH optimum of 7.2 was observed. These studies demonstrate the possibility of forming asymmetric membranes by limited phospholipase action on one side of a bilayer membrane. Such a system can be used to study the mechanism of enzyme action on a substrate which is part of a bilayer membrane and the possible role of asymmetric membranes in membrane processes such as the control of ion permeability.
Improved infeasible path optimization for sequential modular simulators. I: The interface

Abstract Recently, it was shown that chemical processes modeled by steady-state simulators could be optimized without repeatedly converging the process simulation. Instead, optimization and simulation of the process can be performed simultaneously (along an infeasible path), thus leading to much more efficient performance. In this two-part study, several improvements to this infeasible path approach are described. This first paper deals with improvements to the interface between the optimization algorithm and the process simulator. Here one is primarily concerned with obtaining the necessary function and gradient information for the optimization with minimum computational effort from the process simulator. The architecture of sequential modular simulators, the structure of process optimization problems and any sources of error in obtaining the necessary gradient information for the optimization algorithm are considered. To this end, a chainruling algorithm is derived that allows the incorporation of analytic derivative information for parts of the flowsheet and generally leads to less frequent evaluation of the flowsheet modules. This algorithm is demonstrated on three process optimization problems. The results indicate significant improvement in performance.
Association of mortality with disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis, independent of comorbidity

Objective To measure the extent to which mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with disease severity, independent of the presence of coexistent diseases (comorbidity). Methods We measured disease severity and comorbidity among RA patients attending scheduled appointments at a rheumatology clinic. We used the Duke Severity of Illness Checklist (DUSOI), a clinical judgment-based measure of the severity of disease. We disaggregated the DUSOI into an RA component (RADUSOI), which we used to measure RA disease severity, together with a physician-rated 10-point global RA severity assessment. We measured comorbidity using the non-RA component of the DUSOI (COMDUSOI) and using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Patients were contacted periodically for up to 6 years, during which we recorded deaths. We estimated the effect of disease severity and comorbidity on mortality using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Cox proportional hazards models, and logistic regression with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Results The sample comprised 779 patients. Followup ranged from 0.1 year to 6.3 years (mean 2.52 years), for an observation period of 2,315 patient-years. Seventy-five patients died (9.6%), for a total mortality of 3.2 per 100 patient-years (95% confidence interval 2.6–4.1). Both disease severity and comorbidity displayed significant bivariate associations with mortality. In multivariate Cox models adjusted for age, sex, and disease duration, the RADUSOI and global RA severity scores were associated with mortality independent of either the COMDUSOI or Charlson Comorbidity scores. The area under the ROC curve for a logistic model on mortality increased from 0.79 with age, sex, and disease duration included, to 0.84 after adding RA severity and comorbidity (P ≤ 0.005 for the increase in ROC area). Conclusion RA disease severity is significantly associated with mortality regardless of the presence of comorbid disease. Combined with each patient's age, sex, and disease duration, information on RA severity and comorbidity allows an accurate prediction of mortality among patients with RA.
Measurement of therapeutic concentrations of tricyclic antidepressants in serum.

(1979). Measurement of Therapeutic Concentrations of Tricyclic Antidepressants in Serum. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 79-97.
Evaluation and Control of Exposures in Repairing Microwave Ovens

Abstract Consumer exposures to microwave ovens have received considerable attention; however, there was only one report found in the literature concerning occupational exposure of oven repairmen. In repair and testing such ovens, the workmen must remove the casings and jump the safety interlocks. The workers are required to place their faces and bodies close to the energized magnetron. The medical evaluation of eight such repairmen is discussed in relation to the potential biologic side effects of such radiation, which include cataracts and thermal damage to the skin and deeper structures. Environmental evaluations revealed microwave levels in excess of 10 mw/cm2, at the repairman's face and body. A simple, effective, and inexpensive control measure, using copper mesh screening, is described. This control reduces the worker's exposure to a level well below 10 mw/cm2 and allows him to continue visually observing for malfunctions in and around the magnetron.
Platelet dysfunction in injured patients

A renewed understanding of Trauma Induced Coagulopathy (TIC) has implicated platelets as a crucial mediator and potential therapeutic target in hemostasis. While the importance of abnormal coagulation tests is well described in trauma, there is a paucity of data regarding the role of platelets in coagulopathy. New coagulation models, namely the cell-based-model of hemostasis, have refocused attention toward the platelet and endothelium as key regulators of clot formation. Although platelet dysfunction has been associated with worse outcomes in trauma, the mechanisms which platelet dysfunction contributes to coagulopathy are poorly understood. The goal of this review article is to outline recent advances in understanding hemostasis and the ensuing cellular dysfunction that contributes to the exsanguination of a critically injured patient.
A PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE VERMILION EYE COLOR MUTANTS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

HE vermilion eye color mutant Drosophila melanogaster was one of the Tmutants used by BEADLE, EPHRUSSI, TATUM and their collaborators in their early attempts to interpret the biochemical effects of genes (Cf. Review by EPHRUSI 1942). More recent studies on vermilion mutants (GREEN 1949, 1952, 1954) made it seem worthwhile to pursue further the study of the physiological effects of these mutants. The sex-linked, recessive vermilion ( U ) eye color mutants of D. melanogaster are characterized phenotypically by a lack of brown eye pigment under the usual genetic and environmental conditions. GREEN ( 1952) distinguished two series of vermilion mutants by their differential interaction with a nonallelic X chromosome mutant, suppressor of vermilion (su-U) . One group of u mutants approaches wild type in the production of brown eye pigment when combined with SU-U. This series may be designated us, indicating that it is suppressible by su-U. The other series may be designated vu, since it is unsuppressed by su-U. GREEN (1954) reported crossing over between a us allele ( U ’ ) and a vu allele ( ~ ~ ~ f ) indicating that they are pseudoallelic to each other. BARISH and Fox (1956) report that the vu mutant, uAsa, is allelic to v’ and pseudoallelic to STURTEVANT (1920) demonstrated by the use of gynandromorphs that the ~ ( u ’ = u s ) mutant was nonautonomous in development; i.e., flies which have genetically u eye tissue, but also contain U + tissue, may have phenotypically U + eyes. Transplantation of optic discs from u larvae into wild type larvae (EPHRUSSI and BEADLE 1935) confirmed the nonautonomous development of u with respect to wild type tissue. GREEN (1952) established developmental nonautonomy of the vu mutants ( ~ ~ ~ f , usla, u5lc) with respect to wild type tissue in gynandromorphs. Studies by TATUM (1939), TATUM and HAAGEN-SMIT (1941 ) , BUTENANDT, WEIDEL and BECKER (1940) and KIKKAWA (1941 ) establishcl i h genetically u flies will produce brown eye pigment if supplied with the tryptuphan metabolite, kynurenine, either by injection or in the larval food. GREEN (1949) found that large quantities of nonprotein tryptophan are dccumulated by flies carrying U’. Either kynurenine or its precursor, formylkynurenine, was shown to act as a precursor for brown eye pigment for both U’ ( u s )
A SPEECH CORRECTIVE PROSTHESIS FOR ANTERIOR "OPEN BITE" MALOCCLUSION AND ITS EFFECT ON TWO POSTDENTAL FRICATIVE SOUNDS.

Abstract Ten Navy recruits with anterior "open bite" malocclusions ranging from 2.5 mm. to 6.5 mm. who also had faulty s and z sounds were selected as subjects. Both the experimenters and the subjects were clearly aware of the speech defect. Acrylic resin veneer overlays were fabricated that completely corrected the malocclusions so far as speech was concerned. The prostheses were worn for three weeks without speech therapy. Recordings made "before and after" were subjected to a paired comparison study by a jury of skilled judges. Although the speech appeared to change, there was no evidence that it improved over this brief trial period without speech therapy. This study clearly supports the contention that the majority of those with frontal "open bite" malocclusion will develop normal speech. Experience indicates that the one third or so who retain speech defects will profit from speech therapy, preferably after dental correction.
An interface for validation of MR image segmentations

Validation of magnetic resonance image segmentations is an important but difficult problem. A graphical user interface for manual labeling of an MR image data set is described. Results obtained on a normal volunteer indicate that MR intensity distributions may be multi modal, contrary to implicit assumptions for many segmentation methods. Results obtained with a commercial segmentation work station on tumor volumes are consistent with the manual volumes, taking into account the operator dependency of the commercial system. The described GUI may provide the much needed ground truth for MR image segmentation. >
The Chemokine System in Innate Immunity

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that control the migration and positioning of immune cells in tissues and are critical for the function of the innate immune system. Chemokines control the release of innate immune cells from the bone marrow during homeostasis as well as in response to infection and inflammation. They also recruit innate immune effectors out of the circulation and into the tissue where, in collaboration with other chemoattractants, they guide these cells to the very sites of tissue injury. Chemokine function is also critical for the positioning of innate immune sentinels in peripheral tissue and then, following innate immune activation, guiding these activated cells to the draining lymph node to initiate and imprint an adaptive immune response. In this review, we will highlight recent advances in understanding how chemokine function regulates the movement and positioning of innate immune cells at homeostasis and in response to acute inflammation, and then we will review how chemokine-mediated innate immune cell trafficking plays an essential role in linking the innate and adaptive immune responses.
Gene therapy of the hemophilias

Development of hemophilia gene therapy depends on testing gene transfer vectors in hemophilic and nonhemophilic animals. Available animal models include factor VIII or factor IX knockout mice as well as dogs with spontaneous hemophilia A or B. Large animals (particularly dogs) more closely replicate the requirements for correction of human hemophilia than do mice. Small animals are more convenient to maintain and require significantly less vector for testing than do large animals. Nonhemophilic animals (mice or nonhuman primates), whose endogenous factor VIII and factor IX complicate analysis of the human proteins, have utility for safety testing of vectors; some assays can discriminate between human coagulation factors and the endogenous coagulation factors. Most animal models suffer the limitations imposed by the immune response to human factor VIII or IX protein. Clinical trials have failed to achieve significant factor VIII expression in hemophilia A patients, while one clinical trial in hemophilia B patients showed only transient therapeutic increments of factor IX expression. Gene therapy remains an investigational method with many obstacles to overcome before it can be widely used as treatment for hemophilia.
A Theoretical Databank of Transferable Aspherical Atoms and Its Application to Electrostatic Interaction Energy Calculations of Macromolecules.

A comprehensive version of the theoretical databank of transferable aspherical pseudoatoms is described, and its first application to protein−ligand interaction energies is discussed. The databank contains all atom types present in natural amino acid residues and other biologically relevant molecules. Each atom type results from averaging over a family of chemically unique pseudoatoms, taking into account both first and second neighbors. The spawning procedure is used to ensure that close transferability is obeyed. The databank is applied to the syntenin PDZ2 domain complexed with four-residue peptides and to the PDZ2 dimer. Analysis of the electrostatic interactions energies calculated by the exact-potential/multipole-moment-databank method stresses the importance of the P0 and P-2 residues of the peptide in establishing the interaction, whereas the P-1 residue is shown to play a much smaller role. Unexpectedly, the charged P-3 residue contributes significantly to the interaction. The class I and II pept...
Investigation of FinFET Devices for 32nm Technologies and Beyond

FinFET devices are demonstrated with multiple fins (>2) at a 120nm pitch using e-beam lithography to address some key challenges of FINFETs for 32nm node technologies and beyond. Target Vt's are achieved by proper halo design using 20nm fins. Vt scatter due to Fin width variation is greatly reduced with a reduced halo. When such a realistic fin pitch is used, S/D contact formation becomes a serious challenge due to poly-to-active overlay requirements and the need for raised S/D for series resistance reduction. A new FinFET design without S/D contact pads is thus proposed and a selective epitaxial process to merge individual fins is developed
Fabrication and Characterization of High Aspect Ratio Conducting Polymer Fibers

Electroactive conducting polymers are currently studied for use in smart textiles that incorporate sensing, actuation, control, and data transmission. The development of intelligent garments that integrate these various functionalities over wide areas (i.e. the human body) requires the production of long, highly conductive, and mechanically robust fibers. This study focuses on the electrical, mechanical and electrochemical characterization of high aspect ratio polypyrrole fibers produced using a novel, custom-built fiber slicing instrument. In order to ensure high conductivity and mechanical robustness, the fibers are sliced from tetra-ethylammonium hexafluorophosphate-doped polypyrrole thin films electrodeposited onto a glassy carbon crucible. The computer-controlled, four-axis slicing instrument precisely cuts the film into thin, long fibers by running a sharp blade over the crucible in a continuous helical pattern. This versatile fabrication process has been used to produce free-standing fibers with square cross-sections of 2 μm × 3 μm, 20 μm × 20 μm, and 100 μm × 20 μm with lengths of 15 mm, 460 mm, and 1,200 mm, respectively. An electrochemical dynamic mechanical analyzer built in-house for nano- and microfiber testing was used to perform stress-strain and conductivity measurements in air. The fibers were found to, on average, have an elastic modulus of 1.7 GPa, yield strength of 37 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 80 MPa, elongation at break of 49%, and an electrical conductivity of 12,700 S/m. SEM micrographs show that the fibers are free of defects and have cleanly cut edges. Preliminary measurements of the fibers’ strain-resistance relationship have resulted in gage factors suitable for strain sensing applications. Initial tests of the actuation performance of fibers in neat 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexaflourophosphate have shown promising results. These monofilament fibers may be spun into yarns or braided into 2- and 3-dimensional structures for use as actuators, sensors, antennae, and electrical interconnects in smart fabrics.
Coupled Global and Local Changes Direct Substrate Translocation by Neurotransmitter-Sodium Symporter Ortholog LeuT

Significant advances have been made in recent years in characterizing neurotransmitter:sodium symporter (NSS) family structure and function. Yet, many time-resolved events and intermediates that control the various stages of transport cycle remain to be elucidated. Whether NSSs harbor one or two sites for binding their substrates (neurotransmitters or amino acids), and what the role of the secondary site S2 is, if any, are still unresolved. Using molecular modeling and simulations for LeuT, a bacterial NSS, we present a comprehensive account of substrate-binding and -stabilization events, and subsequently triggered interactions leading to substrate (alanine) release. LeuT instantaneous conformation as it reconfigures from substrate-receiving (outward-facing) to -releasing (inward-facing) state appears to be a determinant of its affinity to bind substrate at site S2. In the outward-facing state, S1 robustly binds alanine and regulates subsequent redistribution of interactions to trigger extracellular gate closure; whereas S2 is only a transient binding site. The substrate-binding affinity at S2 increases in an intermediate close to inward-facing state. LeuT harbors the two substrate-binding sites, and small displacements of second substrate near S2 are observed to induce concerted small translocations in the substrate bound to primary site S1, although complete release requires collective structural rearrangements that fully expose the intracellular vestibule to the cytoplasm.
Variations in adolescent conflict and social interaction associated with maternal employment and family structure

Adolescents' relationships with parents, siblings, and friends were examined as a function of family structure and maternal employment. High school subjects responded to questionnaires indicating, for each relationship, rate and affective intensity of conflicts from the previous day, as well as amount of social interaction. There were no differences between adolescents with full-time, part-time, and nonemployed mothers in reports of conflict or social interaction. Conflict affective intensity was unrelated to household structure, as were levels of social interaction. Subjects in single mother households indicated more conflict with mothers than those in two-parent families, although levels of conflict with single mothers were equivalent to the total number of disagreements that adolescents in two-parent families experienced with both parents. Adolescents in single mother households also reported higher rates of conflict with siblings, but not friends. The results do not support views that adolescents with...
A Municipal Audit Fee Model Using Structural Equation Modeling

The purpose of this project is to model municipal audit fees using an audit economics framework and then analyze this conceptual framework empirically using structural equation modeling, because structural equation models are excellent for examining complex and interdependent environments. The sample is large cities using 1996 data. The theoretical model uses five constructs to explain audit fees: (1) client size, (2) complexity of client operations, (3) financial risks including demographic characteristics, (4) auditing factors, and (5) governance structure. The final model includes six variables directly related to audit fee plus five mediating variables. The results demonstrate that SEM modeling can explain audit fees and provides more information on how the highly correlated independent variables are interrelated in the context of explaining audit fee levels.
Effects of Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency and X-Radiation on the Plasma Cholesteryl Ester Spectrum of the Rat

T HE PRESENT study was motivated by curiosity concerning possible changes in the fatty acid spectrum of plasma cholesteryl esters accompanying such phenomena as the development of overt symptoms of deficiency in the mouse with chronic deficiency of fat following exposure to x-radiation.’ It seemed reasonably certain that the animal’s economy of polyunsaturated fatty acids is altered under such circumstances, and since the plasma cholesteryl esters are easily accessible, are known to be rich in acids of this type and are suspected of being involved in their transport, these lipids were an obvious choice for initial scrutiny. METHODS
Women-Owned Businesses: Why do They Matter?

The role of women in entrepreneurial endeavors has changed dramatically over the past decades. Since 1970, women’s share of small businesses increased from 5 percent to 38 percent, growing from 1.5 million to nearly 8 million in number (74U.S. Small Business Administration, 1995b). Today, women-owned businesses contribute more than $2.3 trillion in sales and employ one out of every four company workers, a total of 18.5 million employees (53National Foundation of Women Business Owners, 1996). Less than three decades ago few women-owned businesses achieved sales of greater than $1 million, but now more than 600,000 boast sales greater than this figure (52NFWBO, 1992).
Trends in sexual attitudes and behaviors of a college population over a 15-year period.

The purpose of this study was to identify trends regarding sexual attitudes and behaviors among a college-aged population, over a 15-year period. Results indicated liberal attitudes and behaviors regarding premarital intercourse. Males persisted in being more liberal than females, and a sexual revolution had been perceived to have occurred. More conservative attitudes concerning extramarital sex and abortion emerged, while contraception appeared more acceptable and utilized by the majority of those sexually active. Information regarding marriage and family size was also queried. Ninety-six percent of the subjects intended to marry and have two children.
Effects of glyphosate on the mineral content of glyphosate-resistant soybeans (Glycine max).

There are conflicting claims as to whether treatment with glyphosate adversely affects mineral nutrition of glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops. Those who have made claims of adverse effects have argued links between reduced Mn and diseases in these crops. This article describes experiments designed to determine the effects of a recommended rate (0.86 kg ha–1) of glyphosate applied once or twice on the mineral content of young and mature leaves, as well as in seeds produced by GR soybeans (Glycine max) in both the greenhouse and field using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the greenhouse, there were no effects of either one application (at 3 weeks after planting, WAP) or two applications (at 3 and 6 WAP) of glyphosate on Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Sr, Ba, Al, Cd, Cr, Co, or Ni content of young or old leaves sampled at 6, 9, and 12 WAP and in harvested seed. Se concentrations were too low for accurate detection in leaves, but there was also no effect of glyphosate applications on Se in th...
Serum muramidase and granulocyte turnover.

SummaryStudies in rabbits indicate that serum muramidase activity probably is derived mostly from the degradation of granulocytes. The data also suggest that serum muramidase levels may be a useful index of granulocyte turnover.