cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pyruvate Carboxylase: IX. SOME PROPERTIES OF THE ACTIVATION BY CERTAIN ACYL DERIVATIVES OF COENZYME A

Pyruvate carboxylase purified from chicken liver shows an essentially absolute requirement for activation by an acyl coenzyme A in all preparations and under all conditions tested thus far. The enzyme is activated by formyl-, acetyl-, propionyl-, crotonyl-, and iso-butyryl-CoA, but carboxylated analogues of the activating acyl derivatives of CoA and certain other acetyl thioesters are potent competitive inhibitors with respect to acetyl-CoA. Examination of the initial reaction rate as a function of activator concentration reveals a sigmoid relationship, suggesting that more than 1 molecule of activator per active site is required for the activation process or that cooperative interactions between the bound activator molecules occur. Inactivation analyses show an interaction of acetyl-CoA with pyruvate carboxylase, with resultant marked alterations in the tertiary and quaternary structures of the protein as compared with the free enzyme. For example, the rate of inactivation of this biotin enzyme by avidin is markedly increased in the presence of acetyl-CoA concentrations similar to those required for activation of the over-all reaction. Acetyl-CoA also affords almost complete protection of this enzyme against denaturation at 2° or by low concentrations of urea and sodium dodecyl sulfate. These findings are consistent with the proposal that acetyl-CoA and the other activator acyl-CoA derivatives act as allosteric effectors for pyruvate carboxylase. However, acetyl-CoA in the presence or absence of other reaction components has no significant effect either on the sedimentation properties of pyruvate carboxylase in the range from 0.5 to 5.0 mg of protein per ml or on the absorption spectrum of this enzyme. Pyruvate carboxylase catalyzes a very slow hydrolysis of acyl thioesters. An apparent relationship between thioester hydrolysis and the activation of the over-all reaction is suggested by studies of the specificity of hydrolysis and of the effects of other reaction components on the rate of hydrolysis. The evidence appears to exclude the possibility that the activated species of pyruvate carboxylase is an acyl-enzyme, and the observed thioester hydrolysis may therefore be related indirectly to the activation process.
PAR-2 is asymmetrically distributed and promotes association of P granules and PAR-1 with the cortex in C. elegans embryos

The par genes participate in the process of establishing cellular asymmetries during the first cell cycle of Caenorhabditis elegans development. The par-2 gene is required for the unequal first cleavage and for asymmetries in cell cycle length and spindle orientation in the two resulting daughter cells. We have found that the PAR-2 protein is present in adult gonads and early embryos. In gonads, the protein is uniformly distributed at the cell cortex, and this subcellular localization depends on microfilaments. In the one-cell embryo, PAR-2 is localized to the posterior cortex and is partitioned into the posterior daughter, P1, at the first cleavage. PAR-2 exhibits a similar asymmetric cortical localization in P1, P2, and P3, the asymmetrically dividing blastomeres of germ line lineage. This distribution in embryos is very similar to that of PAR-1 protein. By analyzing the distribution of the PAR-2 protein in various par mutant backgrounds we found that proper asymmetric distribution of PAR-2 depends upon par-3 activity but not upon par-1 or par-4. par-2 activity is required for proper cortical localization of PAR-1 and this effect requires wild-type par-3 gene activity. We also find that, although par-2 activity is not required for posterior localization of P granules at the one-cell stage, it is required for proper cortical association of P granules in P1.
Maximum Likelihood Analysis of Population Differences in Allelic Frequencies

Statistical techniques are presented for the analysis of geographic variation in allelic frequencies. Likelihood ratio test criteria are derived from a multinominal sampling distribution, and are used to answer three questions. (1) Are there geographic differences in allelic frequencies? (2) Are population differences in allelic frequencies associated with environmental differences? (3) Is there any residual "lack of fit" variation among populations, after accounting for that variation associated with environmental differences? The two- and three-allele cases are explicitly treated, and the extension to more alleles is indicated.
Oligarchy in Thailand

A modern conception of oligarchy, which can be housed under an authoritarian regime as easily as it can under a liberal democratic one, can affect our understanding of the potential national political repercussions of extreme inequalities of wealth. This article has two goals: (1) to conceptually analyse the meaning of oligarchy; and (2) to make a descriptive case for its use in the Thai context. The test case of contemporary Thailand shows what exactly an oligarch or oligarchy means under a military regime and the potential effects for national politics of an oligarchy based on material wealth. Utilizing Jeffrey A. Winters’ Aristotelian-grounded conception of oligarchy for the contemporary world, this article argues that some political outcomes in Thailand are inexplicable without recourse to a modern variant of oligarchic theory and analysis.
Seasonal increases in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons related to two-stroke engine use in a small Alaskan lake

Abstract To determine if hydrocarbon levels in salmon-rearing lakes are affected by seasonal increases in the number of two-stroke powered watercraft, passive hydrocarbon sampling devices were deployed in Auke Lake in southeast Alaska for five successive summers (1999–2003). Estimates of the number of two-stroke powered water craft were made by daily census in 2003. Passive samplers mimic the bioconcentration of trace waterborne lipophilic contaminants by living organisms and are used worldwide for in situ monitoring of organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Monthly increases in PAHs coincided with monthly increases in the number of two-stroke powered watercraft (jet skis and powerboats) on the lake during the summer. This increase in PAHs varied in magnitude from year to year. PAHs were detected in the surface waters (1 m), particularly in high use areas, and were not detected at 9 m depth. These localized seasonal inputs appeared to come primarily from recreational watercr...
Polypharmacy concerns in the geriatric population

With the geriatric population steadily increasing and receiving primary care, it is important for the osteopathic family physician to have knowledge about safely prescribing to the geriatric patient. Polypharmacy, the use of 5 or more medications or the use of any medication that is not clinically warranted, presents many risks to the elderly patient and increases morbidity and mortality. Irrespective of a patient's medical problems, polypharmacy has proven to be associated with an increased risk of falls as well as fracture. Drug-related cognitive changes as well as worsening of underlying dementia may be attributable to polypharmacy. Certain types of medications are more likely to cause cognitive changes, but any medication may cause a status change in the geriatric patient. Safe prescribing to the geriatric patient involves understanding the physiological changes of aging and adjusting the dosages accordingly, to avoid adverse events such as acute renal failure. Many resources (including the Beers Criteria, screening tool to alert doctors to right treatments [START] tool, and screening tool of older persons' potentially inappropriate prescriptions [STOPP] tool) exist to assist the osteopathic family physician in safely prescribing to the geriatric patient. Utilizing these resources for a thorough medication review for each geriatric patient would enable the osteopathic family physician to implement safe prescribing practices thus decreasing risks to the patient.
Sulfonylurea herbicide resistance in common chickweed, perennial ryegrass, and Russian thistle

Abstract Sulfonylurea herbicide resistance was demonstrated in two broadleaf species, common chickweed (Stellaria media [L]. Vill.) and Russian thistle (Salsola iberica Sennen & Pau), and in one grass species, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), in greenhouse tests by determining the sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicide rates required to reduce the dry weight accumulation of resistant and susceptible weed biotypes. The herbicide resistance in each of the three weed biotypes was due to an acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme that was less sensitive to inhibition by ALS-inhibiting herbicides, including five sulfonylurea, one imidazolinone, and one dichlorosulfonanilide herbicides. The Km (pyruvate) and specific activity values associated with ALS isolated susceptible biotypes. Both susceptible and resistant biotypes of each weed species metabolized radiolabeled sulfonylurea herbicides at similar rates, indicating that herbicide metabolism was not contributing to the differential plant response of the biotypes to ALS-inhibiting herbicides.
Dietary nitrates, nitrites, and cardiovascular disease

Dietary nitrate (NO(3)), nitrite (NO(2)), and arginine can serve as sources for production of NO(x) (a diverse group of metabolites including nitric oxide, nitrosothiols, and nitroalkenes) via ultraviolet light exposure to skin, mammalian nitrate/nitrite reductases in tissues, and nitric oxide synthase enzymes, respectively. NO(x) are responsible for the hypotensive, antiplatelet, and cytoprotective effects of dietary nitrates and nitrites. Current regulatory limits on nitrate intakes, based on concerns regarding potential risk of carcinogenicity and methemoglobinemia, are exceeded by normal daily intakes of single foods, such as soya milk and spinach, as well as by some recommended dietary patterns such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet. This review includes a call for regulatory bodies to consider all available data on the beneficial physiologic roles of nitrate and nitrite in order to derive rational bases for dietary recommendations.
Trainees do not negatively impact the institutional learning curve for robotic prostatectomy as characterized by operative time, estimated blood loss, and positive surgical margin rate.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the learning curves and perioperative outcomes of an experienced laparoscopic surgeon and his trainees to assess our structured teaching program. METHODS We retrieved 383 patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) from our database. Trainees completed a structured teaching program and were categorized as early (days 0 to 232), mid (days 566 to 797), and late (days 825 to 1218) according to the time period in which they were working with the mentor. We compared operative times, estimated blood loss (EBL), and positive surgical margin (PSM) rates between the trainees and the mentor (Mann-Whitney and Chi-square test). Association of EBL, body mass index (BMI), and prostate weight with operative time was evaluated in multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS Median operative times of the early, mid, and late trainees (258, 220, and 200 minutes) significantly decreased and were similar to the corresponding senior surgeon's (254, 242, and 180 minutes). Operative times decreased with lower BMI, EBL, and prostate weight (P = 0.006, P <0.001, and P <0.001, respectively). Overall, EBL (150 mL vs. 150 mL, P = 0.215) and PSM rates (20% vs. 18.6%, P = 0.741) did not differ between the mentor and the trainees. CONCLUSIONS A structured teaching program for RALP is effective and trainees are able to adopt the increased efficiency and skills of their mentor. Lower BMI, EBL, and prostate weight were associated with shorter operative times. Trainees performing the procedure did not negatively affect EBL and positive surgical margin rate.
Optimizing the Garch Model---An Application of Two Global and Two Local Search Methods

Results from our optimization exercise clearly show the advantage of using the random search algorithms when we anticipate the search for the global optimum to be difficult. When the number of parameters in the model is relatively small (nine parameters) Differential Evolution performs better than Genetic Algorithm. However, when the number of parameters in the model is relatively large (fifteen parameters) the reverse case is true. A comparison of the Quasi-Newton and Simplex methods also shows that both the Quasi-Newton algorithm of shazam and the simplex algorithm of fminsearch are sensitive to starting values. However, allowing shazam to set its starting values or using the PRESAMP option to set the starting values produced the best results for shazam. The general conclusion of this paper is that the choice of optimization technique for difficult optimization problems like the one attempted here should be based on problem attributes. When in doubt, multiple techniques should be applied and the estimated results evaluated.
Explicit-explicit subcycling with non-integer time step ratios for structural dynamic systems

An explicit-explicit subcycling procedure for the finite element analysis of structural dynamics is developed. This procedure has relaxed the usual constraint of requiring integer time step ratios for adjacent nodal groups. This allows for greater advantage to be taken of local stability criteria, and thus improves the efficiency of the explicit time integrator. Example problems are included to demonstrate the accuracy and stability of the method.
Kinetic analysis of planned gait termination in healthy subjects and patients with balance disorders

We examined the stability and strategies used by balance impaired (vestibular hypofunction, VH: n=25; cerebellar damage, CB: n=20) patients and healthy (HE: n=52) controls during planned gait termination. Upper body strategies (during final stride and final step) were investigated using peak positive kinetic power (KP(+): kinetic energy increasing), and peak negative kinetic power (KP(−): kinetic energy decreasing) of the head–arms–trunk segment. Compared to HE controls (P<0.05): CB patients' medio-lateral KP(+) and KP(−) and were 53 and 71% higher during final stride, respectively; VH patients medio-lateral KP(+) and KP(−) was 78 and 57% higher during final step, respectively, and; during the final, standing stage VH patients were 32% less stable (from phase plane analysis) in the frontal plane. The excessive energy transfers in final stride for CB patients was likely due to poor eccentric muscle control when preparing for the stop. VH patients had difficulty controlling lateral stability during final step and once they had stopped walking, probably due to the lack of vestibular feedback regarding forward velocity changes. A better understanding of these abnormal movement patterns or compensatory strategies may assist in rehabilitation of patients with balance dysfunction.
Estradiol regulation of reactions involved in turnover of the amino acid acceptor terminus of tRNA in the rat uterus

Estradiol (E 2 ) increases the specific amino acid acceptor activity of rat uterine tRNAs by increasing the proportion of certain tRNAs with intact and functional 3′-CCA acceptor termini. Activities of tRNA nucleotidyltransferase and 3′-exoribonuclease which synthesize and degrade this terminus, respectively, were measured and neither enzyme was modified by hormone treatment. Since cytidine triphosphate (CTP) levels are below reported K m values for nucleotidyltransferase, changes in CTP concentrations may regulate nucleotidyltransferase activity. An E 2 -induced 3-fold increase was seen in CTP synthetase activity (conversion of uridine triphosphate, UTP, into CTP). Uterine CTP levels in controls are minute (9 nmol/uterus, approx. 90 μM), and are increased 2.5-fold in E 2 (12h)-treated rats. The rate of incorporation of [ 3 H]UTP into the 3′-CCA terminus of tRNA was measured as coupled CTP synthetase-nucleotidyltransferase reactions and a 2.5-fold increase in incorporation occurred 8–12 h after E 2 treatment. Injection of azaserine, (inhibitor of CTP synthetase) reduced E 2 -induced increases in CTP levels, CTP synthetase activity, and leucine acceptor activity of tRNAs. These results indicate that E 2 regulates CTP levels by modulation of CTP synthetase activity, and that regulation of synthesis and/or repair of the 3′-CCA terminus of tRNA is proportional to E 2 -induced uterine cytosolic CTP levels.
Overview of SAR polarimetry and interferometry

This paper summarizes the recent work in the fields of Synthetic Aperture Radar polarimetry and interferometry. These fields have seen very significant development during the last five years, and these fields are now well understood.
Blood Cultures Do Not Change Management in Hospitalized Patients with Community‐acquired Pneumonia

Objectives: To determine if blood cultures identify organisms that are not appropriately treated with initial empiric antibiotics in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia, and to calculate the costs of blood cultures and cost savings realized by changing to narrower-spectrum antibiotics based on the results. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in an urban academic emergency department (ED). Patients with an ED and final diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia admitted between January 1, 2001, and August 30, 2003, were eligible when the results of at least one set of blood cultures obtained in the ED were available. Exclusion criteria included documented human immunodeficiency virus infection, immunosuppressive illness, chronic renal failure, chronic corticosteroid therapy, documented hospitalization within seven days before ED visit, transfer from another hospital, nursing home residency, and suspected aspiration pneumonia. The cost of blood cultures in all patients was calculated. The cost of the antibiotic regimens administered was compared with narrower-spectrum and less expensive alternatives based on the results. Results: A total of 480 patients were eligible, and 191 were excluded. Thirteen (4.5%) of the 289 enrolled patients had true bacteremia; the organisms isolated were sensitive to the empiric antibiotics initially administered in all 13 cases (100%; 95% confidence interval = 75% to 100%). Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were isolated in 11 and two patients, respectively. The potential savings of changing the antibiotic regimens to narrower-spectrum alternatives was only 170. Conclusions: Appropriate empiric antibiotics were administered in all bacteremic patients. Antibiotic regimens were rarely changed based on blood culture results, and the potential savings from changes were minimal.
Signaling pathways weigh in on decisions to make or break skeletal muscle

Purpose of review Regulation of muscle size is essential for proper development and homeostasis of adult musculature. This regulation is mediated in large part by signal transduction pathways that promote the synthesis or breakdown of skeletal muscle. PI(3)K/Akt, myostatin and NF-kappaB represent three such pathways that will be the focus of this review. Recent findings Recent reports solidify the requirement of the PI(3)K/Akt pathway in the regulation of muscle hypertrophy. In response to IGF-1, Akt activates downstream effectors, mTOR and p70S6K to stimulate protein synthesis thereby increasing the cytoplasmic compartment in muscle fibers. Tsc2 was also identified as a novel Akt target, whose phosphorylation and inactivation by Akt may lead to an increase in cell size. The mechanisms by which myostatin functions in muscle wasting was recently explored using in-vitro assays of myogenesis. Myostatin was found to repress myogenesis by inhibiting the synthesis and activity of MyoD. Paradoxically, myostatin expression is itself regulated by MyoD binding to the myostatin promoter. The NF-kappaB transcription factor also functions as a negative regulator of myogenesis by inhibiting MyoD. Chronic activation of NF-kappaB has been associated with muscle wasting, but the mechanisms by which this regulation occurs remain for the most part unknown. Summary Recent cell culture and animal studies have provided insight on the mechanisms by which Akt, myostatin, and NF-kappaB signaling pathways regulate muscle size. Clinical intervention to boost Akt signaling or modulate myostatin and NF-kappaB activities may prove useful in diseases associated with chronic muscle wasting.
Experimental subretinal neovascularization in the rabbit.

Subretinal neovascularization (SRN) in the rabbit was induced by subretinal injection of vitreous without rupture of Bruch's membrane. Eight of 26 eyes developed SRN. The incidence of SRN rose from 33% to 57% in a period of 4–40 weeks. Because of the absence of any fluorescein angiographic indication of SRN, these occult new vessels were identified by light and transmission electron microscopy. Histological examination showed that these newly formed vessels are composed of continuous capillaries with the morphologic characteristics of choriocapillaris, including diaphragmed fenestrations, basement membranes, and junctional complexes. The new vessels originated from the choriocapillaris and penetrated through Bruch's membrane into the subretinal space, where they were associated with the degenerated sensory retina and proliferating glial and/or RPE cells. This experiment provides a model of SRN without breaks in Bruch's membrane.
Global Food and Agricultural Institutions: The Cosmology of International Development Assistance

. By D. John Shaw. New York: Routledge, 2008. 256 pp. £17.99 pb. International development assistance, food aid and the food-security situation acquired their place in the sun following food and energy price hikes in 2007. Now, for the first time, a book by John Shaw, a veteran of the World Food Programme, provides a comprehensive overview of the collectivity of international organisations concerned with world food and agriculture, offering considerable food for thought for students and activists in the business of international development on history’s lessons and what must be done to avoid repeating its mistakes. Nearly 2 billion poor people earning less than $2 a day are directly affected by the actions of these organisations. Despite a largely common membership, there is a lack of co-ordination among them. A growing number of national representatives serve on their highly diverse governance structures on a rotating basis. Among the organisations Shaw reviews, FAO was established in 1945 at the end of World War II, predating the establishment of the United Nations and the World Bank by a few months. Of the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Bank was charged with addressing long-term capital needs, to complement the IMF’s charge of creating a multilateral system of exchange rates to address its member countries’ short-term balance-of-payments needs. The World Food Programme (WFP) was established as a joint undertaking by the UN and FAO in 1961, as a multilateral system of food aid. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (the CGIAR) was set up in 1971 in response to the first world food crisis, to scale up the new plant-breeding breakthroughs of international centres which the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations had established. In 1974 the UN established the World Food Council as a co-ordinating mechanism, through the Economic and Social Council, to integrate attention to UN
Static multiplicity of stress states in granular heaps

As a summary and extension of previous work on arching in granular heaps, an analysis is given of statically admissible stress distributions in infinite planar wedges and axisymmetric cones composed of an isotropic linearelastic material subject to a noncohesive MohrCoulomb yield criterion. The treatment is based on a combination of analytical solutions for elastic and simple plastic states, together with numerical integration of the (SokolovskiiKtter) ordinary differential equations appropriate to more complex plastic states. For wedges, we obtain a oneparameter family of continuous elastoplastic solutions, with only three isolated symmetric solutions for symmetric wedges, one of which has a central pressure dip or 'arch'. For axisymmetric cones subject to a wellknown closure for plastic hoop stress, only one continuous elastoplastic state is found, and it exhibits an arch. In addition to the above continuous solutions, a class of discontinuous plasticlimit states is considered, which exhibit a central p...
The effects of changing bone and muscle size on limb inertial properties and limb dynamics: a computer simulation.

The magnitude and distribution of bone and muscle mass within limbs affect limb inertial properties, maximum movement speed and the energy required to maintain submaximal movements. Musculoskeletal modeling and movement simulations were used to determine how changes in bone and muscle cross-sectional area (and thus mass) affect human thigh and shank inertial properties, the maximum speed of unloaded single-leg cycling and the energy required to sustain submaximal single-leg cycling. Depending on initial conditions, shank moments of inertia increased 61–72 kg cm2 per kg added bone and 72–100 kg cm2 per kg added muscle. Thigh moments of inertia increased 46–63 kg cm2 per kg bone and 180–225 kg cm2 per kg muscle. Maximum unloaded cycling velocity increased with increased muscle mass (∼2.2–2.9 rpm/kg muscle), but decreased with increased cortical bone mass (∼2.0–2.8 rpm/kg bone). The internal work associated with unloaded submaximal cycling increased with increased muscle mass (∼0.42–0.48 J/kg muscle) and bon...
Successful fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma resection in a hydropic fetus.

Abstract Background/Purpose: The development of hydrops in a fetus with a sacroccocygeal teratoma (SCT) usually is a predictor of fetal demise; in utero resection may offer the only chance of survival. Although the authors had performed this procedure in 3 previous cases, they had no long-term patient survival. The authors report a successful case of in utero resection of a fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma. Methods: The authors resected a fetal SCT from a 23-weeks-gestation hydropic fetus, using gradually tightening umbilical tapes at the tumor base, electrocautery, and careful sharp dissection. After a blood transfusion, the fetus suffered cardiac arrest but was resuscitated and returned to the uterus. Results: Postoperatively, residual SCT growth ceased, and hydrops rapidly resolved. Five weeks after the procedure, the infant was delivered because of preterm labor, and, after resection of residual SCT, was discharged home at 3 months of age. She is now a healthy 3 year old. Conclusion: This case shows that successful fetal SCT resection and long-term patient survival is possible. J Pediatr Surg 35:1489-1491. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
An evolutionary critique of cultural analysis in sociology

A noteworthy development that has transpired in American sociology in the past quarter century has been the increasingly sophisticated interest in the analysis of human cultural systems. Sadly, however, these analyses reveal that social scientists rarely appreciate the profoundly evolutionary aspects of human culture. The chief purpose of this essay is to address this shortcoming and to offer some tentative suggestions toward its rectification. The essay begins by briefly reviewing recent developments in the analysis of cultural systems, primarily by reference to the influential work of Wuthnow. Second, a common flaw in these approaches is addressed—namely, the absence of any recognition of the value of grounding sociocultural theory in an informed evolutionary framework—and the case is made that this shortcoming is avoidable, even within the context of the intellectual traditions of the social sciences. Third, the evolutionary foundations of human cultural behavior are explored in terms of an analysis of relevant theoretical and empirical developments in the evolutionary neurosciences. Fourth, the value of these insights is illustrated by reference to an evolutionary critique of a recent and thought-provoking contribution to the study of modern political culture—Douglas and Wildavsky’s analysis ofRisk and Culture. Finally, the article concludes by emphasizing the value of and the necessity for incorporating evolutionary reasoning into the domain of sociocultural theory.
Radiation-associated cardiovascular disease

As the number of cancer survivors grows because of advances in therapy, it has become more important to understand the long-term complications of these treatments. This article presents the current knowledge of adverse cardiovascular effects of radiotherapy to the chest. Emphasis is on clinical presentations, recommendations for follow-up, and treatment of patients previously exposed to irradiation. Medline literature searches were performed, and abstracts related to this topic from oncology and cardiology meetings were reviewed. Potential adverse effects of mediastinal irradiation are numerous and can include coronary artery disease, pericarditis, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease and conduction abnormalities. Damage appears to be related to dose, volume and technique of chest irradiation. Effects may initially present as subclinical abnormalities on screening tests or as catastrophic clinical events. Estimates of relative risk of fatal cardiovascular events after mediastinal irradiation for Hodgkin's disease ranges between 2.2 and 7.2 and after irradiation for left-sided breast cancer from 1.0 to 2.2. Risk is life long, and absolute risk appears to increase with length of time since exposure. Radiation-associated cardiovascular toxicity may in fact be progressive. Long-term cardiac follow-up of these patients is therefore essential, and the range of appropriate cardiac screening is discussed, although no specific, evidence-based screening regimen was found in the literature.
An algorithm for trading off quantization error with hardware resources for MATLAB based FPGA design

Most practical FPGA designs of digital signal processing applications are limited to fixed-point arithmetic owing to the cost and complexity of floating-point hardware. While mapping DSP applications onto FPGAs, a DSP algorithm designer, who often develops his applications in MATLAB, must determine the dynamic range and desired precision of input, intermediate and output signals in a design implementation to ensure that the algorithm fidelity criteria are met. The first step in a flow to map MATLAB applications into hardware is the conversion of the floating-point MATLAB algorithm into a fixed-point version using "quantizers" from the Filter Design and Analysis (FDA) Toolbox for MATLAB. We describe an approach to automate the conversion of floating-point MATLAB programs into fixed-point, for mapping to FPGAs by profiling the expected inputs to estimate errors. Our algorithm attempts to minimize the hardware resources while constraining the quantization error within a specified limit.
Arguments in hypertext: a rhetorical approach

The qualities of non-sequentiality that make hypertext so appealing to writers and readers of informative and literary texts are also those that problematize arguments in the same settings. For a hypertextual argument to succeed, it should clearly employ the fundamentals of giving good reasons and ample evidence. But such an essay should also deal with the loss of control over order by making use of recent developments in rhetoric and argument theory. Specifically, the author presents concepts of informal logic, stasis theory, primacy/recency/repetition effects, spatial metaphors, and textual coherence as a starting point for building a rhetorical understanding of argumentation strategies in hypertext.
Relationship Between Proximity to Transit and Ridership for Journey-to-work Trips in Chicago

Abstract The use of privately owned vehicles (POVs) contributes significantly to US energy consumption (EC) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). Strategies for reducing POV use include shifting trips to other modes, particularly public transit. Choices to use transit are based on characteristics of travelers, their trips, and the quality of competing transportation services. Here we focus on the proximity of rail stations to trip origins/destinations as a factor affecting mode choice for work trips. Using household travel survey data from Chicago, we evaluate the profile of journey-to-work (JTW) trips, assessing mode share and potential for more travelers to use rail. For work trips having the origin/destination as close as 1 mile from rail transit stations, POVs were still the dominant travel mode, capturing as much as 61%, followed by rail use at 14%. This high degree of POV use coupled with the proportion of JTW trips within close proximity to rail stations indicated that at least some of these trips may be candidates for shifting from POV to rail. For example, shifting all work trips with both the origin/destination within 1 mile of commuter rail stations would potentially reduce the energy associated with all work-related POV driving trips by a maximum of 24%. Based on the analysis of trips having the origin and destination closest to train stations, a complete shift in mode from POV to train could exceed CO 2 reduction goals targeted in the Chicago Climate Action Plan. This could occur with current settlement patterns and the use of existing infrastructure. However, changes in traveler behavior and possibly rail operation would be necessary, making policy to motivate this change essential.
Concerning female ejaculation and the female prostate

Abstract This paper is based on a study of the centuries‐long controversy over female ejaculation. Culture and language tend to obscure knowledge that the human female has a prostate gland and is capable of ejaculation. Despite this existing scientific knowledge, contemporary research on female sexuality presupposes that women do not ejaculate. Nevertheless, current findings establish that more similarities than differences exist between men and women in coital responses. To the known homologues in adult urogenital anatomy are added female and male prostates. Studies of the female prostate (urethral glands) report marked variation from woman to woman in the extent and size of these glandular structures. The more recent clinical literature is oriented towards anatomy and pathology, whereas de Graaf's seventeenth‐century treatise documents not only the anatomy of the female prostate, but also the discharge of prostatic fluid from the female urethra described as a cause of pleasure. How denial of this phenom...
The accumulation pattern of ingested gossypol in selected organs of the rat.

Bound gossypol levels in the spleen and kidney of rats ingesting dietary gossypol (0.98%) varied directly with the feeding intervals of 6,14, 28 and 35 days. Free gossypol level in the kidney, spleen and lungs increased for 14 days and then tended to decrease as the feeding period was extended.
Sensitivity analysis of a directional potential drop sensor for creep monitoring

Abstract Recent research efforts indicated that directional potential drop (PD) measurements could be exploited for in-situ creep monitoring. The present work investigates the sensitivity of such measurements with a square-electrode configuration to geometrical and material variations caused by creep. This measurement technique is based on a modification of the conventional PD technique as it measures simultaneously two resistance values in orthogonal directions. Under uniaxial stress condition, the ratio of the lateral and axial resistances is roughly proportional to the applied strain. Experimental tests showed that small anisotropic changes in the resistance ratio caused by directional effects of creep can be distinguished from potentially far larger isotropic changes caused by non-directional reversible and irreversible thermal effects. The sensitivity of the square-electrode PD sensor to geometrical and material variations was analyzed separately and the analytical predictions were validated by experimental tests in both cases. The directional PD technique was found to exhibit high sensitivity that allows the detection of elastic and plastic strains as low as 0.05%. Additional experimental results from an accelerated 400-hour creep test are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of this technique to monitor creep degradation in 304 stainless steel at 600 °C.
Systematic genetic analysis identifies Cis-eQTL target genes associated with glioblastoma patient survival.

Prior expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) studies have demonstrated heritable variation determining differences in gene expression. The majority of eQTL studies were based on cell lines and normal tissues. We performed cis-eQTL analysis using glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) data sets obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to systematically investigate germline variation’s contribution to tumor gene expression levels. We identified 985 significant cis-eQTL associations (FDR<0.05) mapped to 978 SNP loci and 159 unique genes. Approximately 57% of these eQTLs have been previously linked to the gene expression in cell lines and normal tissues; 43% of these share cis associations known to be associated with functional annotations. About 25% of these cis-eQTL associations are also common to those identified in Breast Cancer from a recent study. Further investigation of the relationship between gene expression and patient clinical information identified 13 eQTL genes whose expression level significantly correlates with GBM patient survival (p<0.05). Most of these genes are also differentially expressed in tumor samples and organ-specific controls (p<0.05). Our results demonstrated a significant relationship of germline variation with gene expression levels in GBM. The identification of eQTLs-based expression associated survival might be important to the understanding of genetic contribution to GBM cancer prognosis.
Paternalistic Regulation of Women: Exploring Punitive Sanctions in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

U.S. welfare policy coerces low-income women into low-wage jobs by imposing punitive sanctions for not working, despite the lack of supporting evidence that sanctions are effective. This qualitative study explored whether sanctions compel compliance, whether there are unintended consequences of sanctions, and what causes noncompliance. The findings indicate that noncompliance is not always chosen but results from insurmountable barriers. Furthermore, sanctions may create a communication “disconnect” between clients and the welfare agency, rendering the clients further entrenched in poverty and dependence. Implications for research and policy are discussed.
The detection of weak recombinogenic activities in the herbicides alachlor and propachlor using a plant-activation bioassay.

Many chemical agents are not mutagenic themselves but require metabolic activation before any biological activity is observed [ 1--3]. For example, dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) must be metabolized before its mutagenic properties become apparent [5,16]. DMN without activation is not mutagenic in fungal [12,14] or bacterial [9] test systems. However, when yeast [4], Neurospora [16] or bacterial [3] cells are treated with DMN in a liver microsome activation system, it is mutagenic. Thus, the incorporation of a mammalian activation system into standard mutagen tests appears to be a useful tool for the study of potential mutagenic and carcinogenic properties of many chemicals [15]. Recently, we have shown that similar principles of metabolic activation of chemicals into mutagens apply to plants [10,17,18]. Extracts of Zea mays plants grown in small quantities of the herbicide atrazine (Aatrex-80W, CibaGeigy, active ingredient 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) are recombinogenic in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [17,18] mutagenic in S. cerevisiae [17], and mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli (S. Rogers, Montana State University, personal communication). Atrazine without activation is not mutagenic in yeast or bacteria [18,19]. These data strongly suggest that metabolic activation of chemicals into mutagens and/or carcinogens is not confined to mammalian assay systems, but is a universal phenomenon operating in both plant and animal systems. The importance of this concept is critical; pesticides previously shown to be non-mutagenic may be metabolized by plants into mutagens that could enter the environment undetected. We determined if herbicides structurally unrelated to atrazine could be metabolized by maize plants into mutagens. Two compounds belonging to the class of herbicides known as ~-chloroacetamides were chosen. The ~-chloroacetamides along with the s-triazines, are among the most widely used agricultural
Altair Lunar Lander Consumables Management

The Altair lunar lander is scheduled to return humans to the moon in the year 2020. Keeping the crew of 4 and the vehicle functioning at their best while minimizing lander mass requires careful budgeting and management of consumables and cooperation with other constellation elements. Consumables discussed here include fluids, gasses, and energy. This paper presents the lander's missions and constraints as they relate to consumables and the design solutions that have been employed in recent Altair conceptual designs.
Studies on the normal lens potential of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

The lens potential of rainbow trout, measured by impalement of lenses with glass micro-electrodes (tip diameter 3 μ), was found to be 59 mv. The interior of the lens was negative to an external Ringer solution. Although the epithelium is absent from the posterior surface of the lens, the maximum potential recorded was the same at all positions measured. The thickness of the tissue across which a maximum potential occurred was 70 and 50 μ for the anterior and posterior surfaces respectively, and the combined thickness of the capsule and epithelial layer was found to average from 40 to 50 μ. Measurements made after treatment with ouabain indicate that the maintenance of the potential difference depends upon a sodium-potassium activated ATPase. The potential difference also depends upon the presence of both Na + and K + , however, an increase in the concentration of K + in the bathing medium had a greater effect on reducing the potential than did a lowering of Na + . The effect of temperature on mechanisms for maintenance of the teleostean lens potential are discussed.
Rapid preparation of a panel of polyclonal antibodies to Drosophila segmentation proteins

We describe a method for rapidly raising a panel of high quality polyclonal antibodies from bacterially expressed proteins. Approximately 12/3 days of preparation is required per protein. One step that speeds up the procedure is the visualization of purified bands by precipitated sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Antigenicity of the purified recombinant proteins may be increased by precipitation in double-distilled water. The results of using the serums obtained for fluorescent staining of Drosophila embryos are shown.
Optical characterization of wide band gap amorphous semiconductors (a-Si:C:H): Effect of hydrogen dilution

The effect of hydrogen dilution on the optical properties of a wide band gap amorphous semiconductor (a-Si:C:H) was investigated. The samples were prepared by glow discharge decomposition of tetramethylsilane and were characterized primarily by optical techniques: spectroscopic ellipsometry, Raman scattering, infrared absorption, spectrophotometry, and UV photoluminescence. The deposition rate decreased with hydrogen dilution, while the silicon to carbon ratio remained constant with the addition of hydrogen. The optical band gap of this material increased as the hydrogen flow rate increased. Infrared absorption studies show that the concentration of hydrogen which is bonded to carbon decreases systematically upon hydrogen dilution. Hydrogen dilution appears to reduce the size and concentration of sp2 bonded carbon clusters, possibly caused by the etching of sp2 clusters by atomic hydrogen. The result was also supported by the shift of the Raman G peak position to a lower wave number region. Room temperatu...
Crystal structures of the G139A, G139A–NO and G143H mutants of human heme oxygenase-1. A finely tuned hydrogen-bonding network controls oxygenase versus peroxidase activity

Conserved glycines, Gly139 and Gly143, in the distal helix of human heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) provide the flexibility required for the opening and closing of the heme active site for substrate binding and product dissociation during HO-1 catalysis. Earlier mutagenesis work on human HO-1 showed that replacement of either Gly139 or Gly143 suppresses heme oxygenase activity and, in the case of the Gly139 mutants, increases peroxidase activity (Liu et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 275:34501, 2000). To further investigate the role of the conserved distal helix glycines, we have determined the crystal structures of the human HO-1 G139A mutant, the G139A mutant in a complex with NO, and the G143H mutant at 1.88, 2.18 and 2.08 A, respectively. The results confirm that fine tuning of the previously noted active-site hydrogen-bonding network is critical in determining whether heme oxygenase or peroxidase activity is observed.
Differential kinetics for immunoneutralization of circulating gastrin by gastrin monoclonal antibody and its Fab1 fragment in rats.

Abstract The kinetics of gastrin immunoneutralization were studied in rats treated with a mouse monoclonal IgG antibody to gastrin (CURE GAS 93) and with the Fab 1 prepared from this antibody. Clearance studies using specific ELISA measurements of serum IgG of Fab determined the T 1 2 for IgG as 59.3 ± 3.5 h and for Fab 1 as 7.3 ± 0.7 h. Gastrin was immunoneutralized in rats for up to 16 days using alternate day IP injections of anti-gastrin immunoglobulin. Gastric acid secretion stimulated by gastrin-17, but not histamine, was inhibited 48 h after the last dose of antibody, indicating specific inhibition of gastrin. Peak serum levels of antibody were observed 8 h after IP administration and indicated an estimated 70% absorption of the administered dose. Fab 1 fragments completely blocked gastric acid secretion stimulated by gastrin-17, but not histamine, 4 h after IV administration; however, this effect was not observed 24 h after administration. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of chronic immunoneutralization of gastrin and defines the effective period of immunoneutralization for intact IgG and for the Fab 1 fragment.
FIRMNESS AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF RED BEETS IN STORAGE

Firmness and thermal conductivity of “Detroit Dark Red, Ferry's Strain” and “Ruby Queen” beets were determined after storage at: 0°C, 95% relative humidity (RH); 12.8°C, 24% RH, and 1.7°C, uncontrolled humidity. Firmness at fixed temperature and humidity conditions decreased with storage; it could be described by a first order rate equation. At a fixed temperature (1.7°C) and uncontrolled humidity, magnitudes of firmness varied as the humidity varied; in contrast, thermal conductivity was influenced very little. At 0°C and 95% rel. humidity, thermal conductivity remained essentially constant for four weeks. The magnitude of thermal conductivity, at room temperature and on the day of harvest, was about the same for four different varieties of beets; “King Red,”“Detroit Dark Red, Ferry's Strain,”“Ruby Queen,” and “Detroit Dark Red, Morse's Strain;” it ranged between 0.579 and 0.600 W/m °K.