cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feedback inhibition by thiols outranks glutathione depletion: a luciferase-based screen reveals glutathione-deficient γ-ECS and glutathione synthetase mutants impaired in cadmium-induced sulfate assimilation.

Plants exposed to heavy metals rapidly induce changes in gene expression that activate and enhance detoxification mechanisms, including toxic-metal chelation and the scavenging of reactive oxygen species. However, the mechanisms mediating toxic heavy metal-induced gene expression remain largely unknown. To genetically elucidate cadmium-specific transcriptional responses in Arabidopsis, we designed a genetic screen based on the activation of a cadmium-inducible reporter gene. Microarray studies identified a high-affinity sulfate transporter (SULTR1;2) among the most robust and rapid cadmium-inducible transcripts. The SULTR1;2 promoter (2.2 kb) was fused with the firefly luciferase reporter gene to quantitatively report the transcriptional response of plants exposed to cadmium. Stably transformed luciferase reporter lines were ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenized, and stable M(2) seedlings were screened for an abnormal luciferase response during exposure to cadmium. The screen identified non-allelic mutant lines that fell into one of three categories: (i) super response to cadmium (SRC) mutants; (ii) constitutive response to cadmium (CRC) mutants; or (iii) non-response and reduced response to cadmium (NRC) mutants. Two nrc mutants, nrc1 and nrc2, were mapped, cloned and further characterized. The nrc1 mutation was mapped to the γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase gene and the nrc2 mutation was identified as the first viable recessive mutant allele in the glutathione synthetase gene. Moreover, genetic, HPLC mass spectrometry, and gene expression analysis of the nrc1 and nrc2 mutants, revealed that intracellular glutathione depletion alone would be insufficient to induce gene expression of sulfate uptake and assimilation mechanisms. Our results modify the glutathione-depletion driven model for sulfate assimilation gene induction during cadmium stress, and suggest that an enhanced oxidative state and depletion of upstream thiols, in addition to glutathione depletion, are necessary to induce the transcription of sulfate assimilation genes during early cadmium stress.
Genital mucosal transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus: animal model for heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract An animal model for the heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was developed by the application of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) onto the genital mucosas of both mature and immature, male and female rhesus macaques. Virus preparations were infused into the vaginal vaults or the urethras (males) of the animals through a soft plastic pediatric nasogastric feeding tube. The macaques that were infected by this route (six males and nine females) developed SIV-specific antibodies, and SIV was isolated from peripheral mononuclear cells of all seropositive animals. One male and one female infected by this route developed severe acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-like disease with retroviral giant-cell pneumonia. As few as two inoculations of cell-free SIV containing 50 50% tissue culture infective doses induced persistent viremia. Cell-free virus preparations were capable of producing infection by the genital route. Much higher doses of virus were required to transmit SIV by this route than are required for transmission by intravenous inoculation. Thus, it appears that the mucous membranes of the genital tract act as a barrier to SIV infection. Spermatozoa and seminal plasma were not required for the genital transmission of SIV. Rarely, SIV was recovered from mononuclear cells in semen and vaginal secretions. The SIV-rhesus macaque model is suitable for assessing the role of cofactors in heterosexual transmission of HIV and will be useful for testing the effectiveness of spermicides, pharmacologic agents, and vaccines in preventing the heterosexual transmission of HIV.
Pharmacists on the front lines in the fight against meth. A 50-state comparison of the laws regulating the retail sale of pseudoephedrine.

Meth—it’ll kill you if you take it; it’ll kill you if you make it. 1 Dirk Johnson, Meth: The Home-Cooked Menace 19 (2005). Jane, a Tennessee resident and mother of three young children, pulls into ...
Postvaccination susceptibility to invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in infant rats.

To evaluate the possibility that immunization with a capsular polysaccharide vaccine decreases immunity in the immediate postvaccination period and renders an animal susceptible to invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, we passively immunized infant rat pups with an immune globulin preparation, vaccinated them with an H. Influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide vaccine at a wide range of doses, and challenged them with H. influenzae type b given intraperitoneally. Bacteremia occurred in 89% of protected, vaccinated pups compared with 17% of protected, unvaccinated pups ( p =0.0001). In protected, vaccinated pups the rate of bacteremia resembled that in unprotected, unvaccinated control pups and did not vary with the dose of vaccine administered. The magnitude of bacteremia and the incidence of meningitis in protected, vaccinated pups exceeded that occurring in the protected, unvaccinated control animals, but these effects diminished with the dose of vaccine. Diminution of anticapsular antibody occurred in association with the largest doses of vaccine. We conclude (1) that the administration of H. influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide vaccine in infant rats is associated with a diminution of passively acquired anticapsular antibody immediately after vaccination and (2) that experimental challenge with H. influenzae type b at this time produces disease resembling that in animals not passively given protection.
Impact of parameterized lee wave drag on the energy budget of an eddying global ocean model

Abstract The impact of parameterized topographic internal lee wave drag on the input and output terms in the total mechanical energy budget of a hybrid coordinate high-resolution global ocean general circulation model forced by winds and air-sea buoyancy fluxes is examined here. Wave drag, which parameterizes the generation of internal lee waves arising from geostrophic flow impinging upon rough topography, is included in the prognostic model, ensuring that abyssal currents and stratification in the model are affected by the wave drag. An inline mechanical (kinetic plus gravitational potential) energy budget including four dissipative terms (parameterized topographic internal lee wave drag, quadratic bottom boundary layer drag, vertical eddy viscosity, and horizontal eddy viscosity) demonstrates that wave drag dissipates less energy in the model than a diagnostic (offline) estimate would suggest, due to reductions in both the abyssal currents and stratification. The equator experiences the largest reduction in energy dissipation associated with wave drag in inline versus offline estimates. Quadratic bottom drag is the energy sink most affected globally by the presence of wave drag in the model; other energy sinks are substantially affected locally, but not in their global integrals. It is suggested that wave drag cannot be mimicked by artificially increasing the quadratic bottom drag because the energy dissipation rates associated with bottom drag are not spatially correlated with those associated with wave drag where the latter are small. Additionally, in contrast to bottom drag, wave drag is a non-local energy sink. All four aforementioned dissipative terms contribute substantially to the total energy dissipation rate of about one terawatt. The partial time derivative of potential energy (non-zero since the isopycnal depths have a long adjustment time), the surface advective fluxes of potential energy, the rate of change of potential energy due to diffusive mass fluxes, and the conversion between internal energy and potential energy also play a non-negligible role in the total mechanical energy budget. Reasons for the
What is the intelligentsia? once more, an old russian question

I shall always be grateful to one of my critics, who, in a book review, perplexed me by his remark that I was "anti-intellectual." I wrote him to f ind out what, precisely, made him level this charge. He replied by point ing out that I explicidy took issue with the governing ideas of today's intelligentsia, particularly its addiction to abstract theorizing. That much was true: I had held that the complexities of social, psychological, and moral life were ultimately unformalizable and I had urged a greater sensitivity to particulars. For my critic, the very fact that I had set myself against the intelligentsia made me anti-inteUectual in "a straightforward sense." May I confess that this answer thrilled me? I knew that I had heard something important , someth ing I would think about for a long time. I had always thought of an intellectual as someone who thinks for himself or herself, who explores ideas wherever they might lead, and who, above all, is animated by a spirit of nonconformism. He is suspicious o f the a rgument f rom authority, especially group authority. Amicus Plato, sed magis arnica veritas. And here was a colleague with a very different idea of what it means to be an intellectual: someone who adheres to the governing ideas o f the intelligentsia o f his day. It struck me that one needs to draw a distinction between intellectualism and what might be called "intelligentsialism." It is impor tant to distinguish an intellectual f rom someone who identifies as a m e m b e r o f the intelligentsia, a l though the lack of a separate English term for a m e m b e r o f the intelligentsia makes it easy to elide the difference. And of course, it is in the interest o f the intelligentsia that the distinction should not be drawn. When I reflected that Russian has such a term-inteUigent (plural intelligenty)--I began to draw a connect ion between the situation in American academia today and a topic on which I had long been working, the nineteenth-century Russian intelligentsia and its opponents .
Assessing Interdisciplinary Learning and Student Activism in a Water Issues Course.

In response to a request from a campus student organization, faculty from three fields came together to develop and teach an integrated interdisciplinary course on water issues and social activism. This course, "Water as Life, Death, and Power," brought together issues from the fields of anthropology, biology and chemistry to explore water rights, access to clean water, and water treatment methods. Students enrolled in the course developed interdisciplinary projects related to a variety of local and global water issues to present real-world solutions at a university-wide student research showcase. This article reports the assessment outcomes of the course, measuring changes in both interdisciplinary learning and levels of student activism.
3-D object pose determination using computer vision

Abstract This paper is concerned with determining the position and orientation of a three-dimensional object using computer vision. An algorithm is presented which uses an enclosing object and the central moments for an initial estimate. A refined estimation is achieved by a nonlinear least squares technique.
Interaction forces at high ionic strengths: The role of polar interfacial interactions

The interaction of soluble salt particles in their saturated brines is of interest from both a fundamental and practical perspective. The state of dispersion/aggregation of alkali halide particles as determined by optical microscopy has been described based on nonequilibrium electrokinetic measurements for alkali halides. These results indicate that the sign of the surface charge has a significant effect on the extent of particle dispersion/aggregation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is now being used to directly measure the interaction forces responsible for the stability of these alkali halide aggregates observed in optical microscopy studies. These experimental results can be explained based on the interfacial polar interaction theory. In this regard the nature of such particle interaction forces at high ionic strengths is examined to improve our understanding of these systems.
Image contrast in fluorescence and magnetic resonance images for glioblastoma detection

A diffusely infiltrative human glioma cell line (U251-GFP) has been developed and used as a model for the tumor growth outside of MR image detectable tumor boundary. The aminolevulinic acid-protoporphyrin IX (ALA-PpIX) fluorescence system has shown great strides for fluorescence guided surgical resection, but often fluorescence is observed outside of the MR image detectable tumor margin. Here we compare the use of ALA-PpIX fluorescence with that of standard gadolinium enhanced MR imaging as well as T2 and diffusion imaging to determine whether there is a correlation between fluorescence and MR imaging. We found that PpIX fluorescence, T1WCD and Absolute T2 images have the highest contrast difference from controls and are likely candidates for highly infiltrative tumor detection.
Mortality of the Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex owyheei) After Exposure to 137>Cs Gamma Radiation

Harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex owyheei Cole, irradiated with 3.5 kR to 268 kR of /sup 137/Cs gamma radiation, were maintained at simulated summer (27/sup 0/C) and winter (7/sup 0/C) temperature regimes. After thirty days, the cool series was warmed to 27/sup 0/C and observed for mortality along with the warm series. Though mortality was delayed in the cool series, each series reached 50% mortality at similar rates. Because the harvester ant is extremely tolerant to radiation and experimental rates used far exceed possible environmental exposure, it is unlikely that ant colonies dwelling among low-level nuclear waste storage sites will be deleteriously affected by radiation. This species has the capability of tunneling to a depth well within the range of some buried waste. Since these harvester ants are potential transporters of buried waste, they should be considered as a biotic factor in radioactive waste management operations in semi-arid regions.
The HapticMaster: Rendering Haptics in MATLAB

The FCS HapticMaster is a 3 degree of freedom robot that incorporates an admittance control paradigm. This device is capable of rendering haptic objects through the use of a HapticAPI. However, the HapticAPI relies on C++ source code and OpenGL for graphical display. MATLAB executable (MEX) functions may offer an alternative approach for rendering haptics. These subroutines allow MATLAB to execute C++ code directly in MATLAB, as if they were MATLAB functions. These MEX functions grant the ability to use the HapticMaster in MATLAB, gaining access to all the positive features of the software. This has prompted the development of virtual reality therapies in MATLAB that incorporate haptic features.
Formation of allylic and hydrogen addition radicals in tiglic acid (αβ-dimethylacrylic acid) irradiated at 77 K as studied by ESR

Abstract Nearly equal amounts of allylic and hydrogen addition radicals are formed in tiglic acid [ CH 3 CH = C ( CH 3 ) COOH ] irradiated at 77 K by loss of a hydrogen atom from the β methyl group and by addition of a hydrogen atom to the β carbon atom, respectively. Unlike usual unsaturated carboxylic acids, the origin of the added hydrogen atom is likely from the C-H hydrogen rather than the acidic one, because deuterium substitution of the acidic hydrogen does not result in deuterium addition. In β-methyl substituted acrylic acids, deprotonation of the primary cation seems to take place at the β methyl group forming allylic radicals and the detached proton adds to the primary anions forming hydrogen addition radicals [ CH 3 CH 2 - C ( CH 3 ) COOH ], although a possibility of homolytic scission of the C-H bond in the β methyl group followed by the hydrogen atom addition to form the above mentioned two radicals cannot be excluded. The drastic difference from the acidic proton addition to the molecular anion in many unsaturated carboxylic acids may be ascribable to the existence of β methyl group which leads to the formation of persistent allylic radicals.
A Postulational System on Social Interaction

(1950). A Postulational System on Social Interaction. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 355-377.
Botulism in Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the United States

Abstract Botulism type E was first recognized as a major cause of fish mortality in the United States in 1979. This disease caused an estimated loss of 1 1 4 million juvenile salmon reared in earth-bottom ponds during the summer and fall of 1979 and 1980. The botulism outbreaks, preliminary laboratory results of experimental botulism, and precautions to be taken by fish farm employees are discussed.
Frequency and duration of food insecurity and hunger in US households.

Abstract Objective This study examines the extent to which food insecurity and hunger in US households are occasional, recurring, or frequent/chronic. Design/Variables The federal food security scale measures the severity of food insecurity in surveyed households and classifies households as to their food security status during the previous year. The Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS) collects the data elements used to calculate the food security scale. Supplementary data on the frequency of occurrence of the behaviors and experiences comprising the food security scale are also collected by the CPS-FSS, but most of this information is not included in the food security scale. This study analyzes these supplementary data along with the food security scale and its constituent items using data from the Food Security Supplement of the nationally representative CPS conducted in August 1998. Results About two thirds of households classified as food insecure by the federal food security scale experience the condition as recurring, and around one fifth experience these conditions as frequent or chronic. The monthly prevalence of hunger is about 60% of the annual prevalence, and the daily prevalence is about 13% to 18% of the annual prevalence. Conclusions and Implications Nutritionists can use these findings to enhance the informative value of food insecurity and hunger statistics from national, state, and local surveys when interpreting them to policy makers and to the general public.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate induced contraction of bladder smooth muscle

Abstract Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid that contracts most smooth muscles. Although S1P has been shown to contract bladder smooth muscle, the mechanism(s) by which S1P initiates contraction has not been extensively investigated. The goal of this study was to determine if S1P-induced force generation and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation are dependent on calcium sensitization pathways mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) and Rho kinase (ROCK) and which S1P receptor is important in this response. Bladder smooth muscle strips from rabbit and rat were mounted for isometric force recording and contracted in response to carbachol or S1P in the presence and absence of an inhibitor of PKC (3 µM Bisindolylmaleimide-1) or ROCK (1 µM H-1172). 10 µM S1P produced approximately 40% of the force generated in response to 110 mM KCl in rabbit bladder smooth muscle. S1P, up to 100 µM, did not produce a response in rat bladder smooth muscle, any response evoked was due to solvent (NaOH). S1P-dependent force development was associated with a concomitant increase in Ser 19 , but not dual Thr 18 /Ser 19 MLC phosphorylation. Inhibition of PKC decreased force development, whereas inhibition of ROCK abolished S1P-induced force. An inhibitor of the S1P2 receptor, JTE-013, relaxed a S1P-induced contraction; whereas, an agonist with low affinity to the S1P2 receptor, dihydro-S1P, did not elicit a contraction. Our results suggest that S1P contracts rabbit, but not rat, bladder smooth muscle via the S1P2 receptor and is dependent on MLC phosphorylation and myofilament calcium sensitization primarily in response to ROCK activation.
The Janus-face of philosophy of biology

Philosophy of biology, unlike philosophy of physics and philosophy of science generally, is Janus-faced. Like philosophy of physics, it looks at logical and conceptual issues in its chosen discipline. And like philosophy of science generally, it investigates scientific methodology and logic. However, it also uses its chosen discipline to scrutinize philosophical issues. This comes about because biology seems to have something to tell us about human nature, and philosophical theories frequently depend on some concept of human nature. Both of these faces of philosophy of biology are represented in this collection of essays, essays which are printed here for the first time. More is represented here as well, for two biologists contribute to the volume, one speaking directly to philosophers about the relevance of their discipline to his and of how that relevance can be increased. This is a complex, interesting collection, written for professionals in the fields of both biology and philosophy. The volume does not have a single focus, and if the reader comes away with a single impression, it is that philosophy of biology is extremely varied and complex. The volume comes with an informative introduction. I will not repeat what is said there, but instead will note the problem each essay addresses as well as each essay's conclusion, then make critical comments where appropriate. The collection can be divided into two parts, coincident with the Janus faces of philosophy of biology. I will move from the essays on human nature to those dealing with logical and conceptual issues in biology. But first, one correction to the introduction. The discussion of Immanuel Kant and Peter Singer on pages 1112 is not accurate. Kant does not abstract away from our desires in his ethics, although Singer does; Kant eschews desires, even benevolent ones, as a basis for ethics (Kant 1964, pp. 66-67). Singer (1981, pp. 3-53) holds that reason operates on our evolved, altruistic motives, not on our evolved selfish ones, to yield a universal morality. The problem of ethics, as he
The minimum important difference for the Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire

Although the Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ) is widely used to assess sexual function in women, the minimum important difference (MID) (defined as the smallest difference in scores of a patient-reported outcome measure that is perceived by patients as beneficial or harmful and which would lead the clinician to consider a change in treatment) is not known. The objective was to estimate the MID for the PISQ. Two study populations, one of women with overactive bladder (OAB) and urgency UI (UUI) treated with tolterodine in a placebo-controlled trial (cohort I), and one of women treated surgically for prolapse and/or UI (cohort II) were used. Cohort I anchors were the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), the Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC), the Patient Perception of Treatment Benefit Questionnaire (PPTBQ), and the change in number of UUI episodes in bladder diaries. Distribution MIDs were also calculated. In the anchor-based analysis, the MID values for changes in PISQ total scores at 3 months in cohort I were 5 points using the UUI anchor (diary-dry women), 5 points using the PPBC anchor, 5 points with the PPTBQ, and 9 points with the OAB-q. In cohort II, the MID at week 12 in PISQ total scores was 7 points in women with improved IIQ-7 scores. The distribution-based MID in PISQ total scores was 5.3 points in cohort I and 5.8 points in cohort II. A reasonable estimate of MID for the PISQ total score is 6 points. Improvements that meet these thresholds may be considered clinically important.
Adeno-associated virus in normal and myositis human skeletal muscle

The normal tissue tropism of adeno-associated virus (AAV) is poorly defined, although the majority of humans test seropositive for this virus. Eighty-five muscle biopsy specimens were tested for AAV genomes; AAV DNA was identified in 17% of normal and 10% of Duchenne muscular dystrophy muscle biopsy specimens, but in only 3% of peripheral blood samples. AAV genomes were absent from all 37 muscle biopsy specimens from patients with myositis tested. Muscle is a major target organ for AAV, and infection is associated with autoimmune disease of muscle.
Random Multifractals: Negative Dimensions and the Resulting Limitations of the Thermodynamic Formalism

The story described in this paper has started with the \`death or survival' criterion, which the author published in 1972-1974 and had obtained in 1968 while investigating Kolmogorov's hypothesis that the turbulent dissipation $\epsilon $(dx) in a box is log-normally distributed. Using this criterion, the present paper discusses the concrete significance of negative fractal dimensions. They arise in those random multifractal measures, for which the Cramer function f($\alpha $) (the \`spectrum of singularities') satisfies f($\alpha $) 0, and concerns three aspects of such measures: (a) the fine-grained multifractal properties, which are non-random and the same for (almost) all realizations; (b) the properties obtained by using the \`partition function' formalism; and (c) the \`typical' coarse-grained multifractal properties. However, the f($\alpha $)s in the range where f($\alpha $) > 0 say nothing about the variability of coarse-grained properties between samples. A description of these fluctuations, hence a fuller multifractal description of the measure, is shown to be provided by the values of f($\alpha $) in the range where f($\alpha $) < 0. We prefer to reserve the term \`thermodynamic' for the fine-grained and partition-functional properties, and to say that the coarse-grained properties go beyond the thermodynamics, i.e. are not macroscopic but `mesoscopic'.
Hall and magnetoresistance effects in mictomagnetic AuMn

Abstract The Hall and magnetoresistance effects in a mictomagnetic Au + 17.3 at.% Mn alloy depend upon thermal treatments which change the net moment of the average magnetic cluster. The behaviour suggests that the cluster's moments have an important influence upon the itinerant electrons' motion.
Prognostic Value of MIB-1, E-Cadherin, and CD44 in Pediatric Chordomas

The prognosis of pediatric chordomas is difficult to predict based on histology. The objective of this study was to assess the expression of a proliferation marker and adhesion molecules in pediatric chordomas and relate the expressions to outcome. In 8 pediatric chordomas, we calculated the MIB-1 labeling index (LI) by counting the number of MIB-1–positive tumor cells in 100 tumor cells. The grade of expression of E-cadherin and CD44 was calculated by estimating the percentage of tumor cells expressing these markers. MIB-1 LI correlated with tumor recurrence (P = 0.007) and low survival rate (P = 0.007). The expression of E-cadherin correlated with disease-free survival (P = 0.009), tumor recurrence (P > 0.0007), and low survival rate (P > 0.0007). CD44 expression did not correlate with recurrence (P = 0.056) or survival rate (P = 0.056). Our results suggest that MIB-1 LI and expression of E-cadherin are helpful to predict outcome in pediatric chordomas.
Expression Analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgZR Two-Component Regulatory System

Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence components are subject to complex regulatory control primarily through two-component regulatory systems that allow for sensing and responding to environmental stimuli. In this study, the expression and regulation of the P. aeruginosa AlgZR two-component regulatory system were examined. Primer extension and S1 nuclease protection assays were used to identify two transcriptional initiation sites for algR within the algZ coding region, and two additional start sites were identified upstream of the algZ coding region. The two algR transcriptional start sites, RT1 and RT2, are directly regulated by AlgU, consistent with previous reports of increased algR expression in mucoid backgrounds, and RpoS additionally plays a role in algR transcription. The expression of the first algZ promoter, ZT1, is entirely dependent upon Vfr for expression, whereas Vfr, RpoS, or AlgU does not regulate the second algZ promoter, ZT2. Western blot, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and transcriptional fusion analyses show that algZR expression is Vfr dependent. The algZ and algR genes also are cotranscribed in both nonmucoid and mucoid backgrounds. Furthermore, algZR was found to be cotranscribed with hemCD by RT-PCR. RT-qPCR confirmed that hemC transcription in the PAO1 ΔalgZ mutant was 40% of the level of the wild-type strain. Taken together, these results indicate that algZR transcription involves multiple factors at multiple start sites that control individual gene expression as well as coexpression of this two-component system with heme biosynthetic genes.
Effect of Sequential Mixing and Compounding Conditions on Cellulose Acetate/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites

Injection molded nanocomposites have been successfully fabricated from cellulose acetate (CA), eco-friendly triethyl citrate (TEC) plasticizer, and organically modified clay with and without maleic anhydride grafted cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB-g-MA) as a compatibilizer. The effects of processing conditions such as mixing methods, pre-plasticizing times, extruder retention times (RT) and addition of compatibilizer on the performance of these nanocomposites have been evaluated. The cellulosic plastic with CA/TEC (80/20 wt%) was used as the polymer matrix for nanocomposite fabrication. The morphologies of these nanocomposites were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were measured and have been correlated with the XRD and TEM observations. From all of the sequential mixing methods used, powder–powder mixing leads to the most transparent nanocomposites. Cellulosic plastic-based nanocomposites obtained using increased pre-plasticizing times and RT showed better exfoliated structures. In the system containing compatibilizer, the minimum retention time required for obtaining almost completely exfoliated hybrid nanocomposites was shorter than in the system without compatibilizer.
Nature versus technology: The breast‐feeding decision

This paper discusses the paradigmatic model of breast‐feeding that has guided researchers interested in the infant‐feeding choices of women in the developed world.
Some Sociopsychological Characteristics of Student Political Activists

A variety of hypotheses regarding the motives, values, attitudes, intelligence, and sociological backgrounds of leftist student activists were tested by comparing Yale undergraduate signers of a pledge to resist induction into the Armed Services, with a representative sample of nonsigners. Contrary to previous findings, the signers neither were better students nor more sociologically privileged than their nonsigning peers. The decision to sign the pledge appeared to be a single manifestation of an anti-institutional, yet nonfatalistic and nonauthoritarian life style which is highlighted by a marked concern with developing helpful, protective, intimate relationships and a devaluation of achievement, deference to authority, and self-restraint. The implications of these and other findings for the student protest movement are discussed.
Two possible conducting states of the influenza A virus M2 ion channel.

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed on protonated four-helix bundles based on the 25-residue Duff–Ashley transmembrane sequence of the M2 channel of the influenza A virus. Well-equilibrated tetrameric channels, with one, two and four of the H37 residues protonated, were investigated. The protonated peptide bundles were immersed in the octane portion of a phase-separated water/octane system, which provided a membrane-mimetic environment. The simulations suggest that there could be two conducting states of the M2 channel corresponding to tetramers containing one or two protonated histidines. The more open structure of the doubly protonated state suggests it would have the higher conductance.
Sabre Yachts: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze Sabre Yachts, a firm that manufactures specialty sail and power boats.Design/methodology/approach – A case research method including field interviews and secondary research was carried out. The case describes the dilemma that the Marketing Manager, Bentley Collins of Sabre Yachts faced in developing a profitable marketing mix given the firm's competitors, product line, industry and national economic trends and provides an analysis of the situation through structured case questions and answers.Findings – Sabre decided to “stick to the knitting” (Peters and Waterman) and not expand geographically, as the authors suggested, into the largest state market segments. Instead, they took a more conservative approach and expanded their product line which expanded the breadth of their market into other boat market (size) segments.Originality/value – The case analysis applies strategic management and marketing concepts to a specific real‐life business sit...
Phi DM-Dialog: an experimental speech-to-speech dialog translation system

Phi DM-Dialog, one of the first experimental speech-to-speech systems and the first to demonstrate simultaneous interpretation possibilities, is described. An overview is given of the model behind Phi DM-Dialog. It consists of a memory network for representing various knowledge levels and markers for inferencing. The markers have rich information content. The integration of speech and natural language processing in Phi DM-Dialog and its cost-based scheme of ambiguity resolution are discussed. Its simultaneous interpretation capability, which is made possible by an incremental parsing and generation algorithm, is examined. Prototype system results are reported. >
OPAC integration in the era of mass digitization: the MBooks experience

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the OPAC integration in the University of Michigan's local implementation of materials digitized in the partnership with Google.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a discussion of different strategies used in integrating metadata with digital resources and presenting the digital objects to the user in the OPAC.Findings – The paper finds that methods that had served in smaller digitization projects require more automation and error reduction processes in an undertaking of this scale. Increased integration with the OPAC is one approach.Originality/value – Michigan is the first of the Google partners to mount their materials themselves and others involved in mass digitization may be interested in the experience.
Racial and ethnic differences in blood pressure: biology and sociology.

In the last few years, much attention has been given to racial and ethnic differences in health measures. Not surprisingly, much of the work in this area is being done in the United States. Not only does our unique racial and ethnic diversity offer opportunities for study, but the social and political issues related to this diversity have driven a need to understand the disparities in health related to these differences. Article p 2780 These racial and ethnic differences in health measures are seen clearly in cardiovascular disease risk factors and outcomes for Americans of African descent, or African Americans (AAs), compared with those of European descent, or European Americans (EAs). Compared with EAs, AAs have higher mortality rates for most cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke. These differences are magnified at younger ages.1 Prevalence rates for key risk factors differ for AAs, with higher rates for hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, and lower rates for dyslipidemia. Additionally, the cardiovascular consequences imposed by various risk factors differ by race. Compared with hypertensive EA men and women and AA men, AA women with hypertension have a substantially greater relative risk for heart disease. Conversely, AA women have a substantially lower relative risk for diabetes mellitus than EA women.2 The disparities in cardiovascular outcome are large and significant, and the disparities in outcome have worsened in the last 2 decades.3 Appropriately, much attention is being given to understanding these differences. For a number of years, this important area of study was hampered by a lack of interest and a lack of funding. Now that a commitment is being made in this area, other challenges of understanding the causes of these differences are becoming clearer. The science is complex.3 The challenges to understanding the science of racial …
Evidence for opioidergic inhibition of oxytocin release in periparturient mares.

In the horse mare, the onset of parturition is associated with an increase in oxytocin secretion, and it has been suggested that the onset of parturition may be triggered by endogenous oxytocin release. To test the hypothesis that oxytocin secretion is regulated by endogenous opioids in the periparturient period, we have 1) characterized oxytocin secretion in response to vaginocervical stimulation and 2) determined the effect of naloxone, an opioid antagonist, on oxytocin secretion induced by vaginocervical stimulation in prepartum mares and in postpartum mares at estrus and diestrus. During the last 2 months of pregnancy, the first diestrus and subsequent estrus post partum, a total of 66 vaginocervical stimulations were performed. Mares were pretreated with naloxone (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) or saline, administered 20 min before vaginocervical stimulation on subsequent days, using a randomized switchback design in which mares served as their own controls. Plasma was collected from 30 min before until 30 min after stimulation and was analyzed for oxytocin concentrations. Vaginocervical stimulation resulted in a significant increase in oxytocin secretion in all mares. Between Days 30 and 20 prepartum, the total amount of oxytocin secreted (calculated as area under the curve for 0 to 10 min after vaginocervical stimulation) was significantly greater in naloxone-treated than in saline-treated mares. From Day 20 prepartum until parturition, the differences between naloxone and saline-treated mares tended to decrease with approaching parturition, and were no longer statistically different. Peak plasma oxytocin concentrations were greater in naloxone-treated mares than in saline-treated mares during the entire prepartum period. During the postpartum period, total amount of oxytocin secreted following vaginocervical stimulation tended to be greater than during the prepartum period, and stimulated oxytocin secretion was significantly greater in naloxone-treated mares than in saline-treated mares. In conclusion, these data suggest that endogenous opioids suppress oxytocin secretion pre and post partum. It appears that opioid inhibition is not limited to the prepartum period, tends to decrease gradually towards parturition and is reinstated after foaling.
Effects of induction of R- and S-warfarin and metabolite concentrations in rat plasma☆

The plasma half-lives of R- and S-warfarin were statistically indistinguishable (p < 0.05) for uninduced male Wistar rats, although plasma concentrations of S-warfarin were invariably higher at equivalent doses. Induction of hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity by phenobarbital significantly shortened the plasma half-lives and lowered the plasma zero-time concentrations of both enantiomers relative to uninduced rats. In contrast, induction with 3-methylcholanthrene produced a significantly lower than normal zero-time concentration of R-warfarin but not of S-warfarin. R- and S-warfarin plasma half-lives did not differ significantly from one another in phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rats, but the half-lives differed significantly between the two induced groups. Concentrations of S-warfarin metabolites exceeded those of R-warfarin metabolites in the plasma of uninduced or induced rats. The major plasma metabolites were 4′-hydroxywarfarin from S-warfarin and, to a lesser extent, from R-warfarin. Plasma R- and S-warfarin metabolite patterns were markedly different from in vitro patterns catalyzed by hepatic microsomal enzymes of uninduced and phenobarbital- or 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rats. In uninduced rats a dose of 1 mg of S-warfarin/kg produced an anticoagulant response equivalent to 10 mg of R-warfarin/kg. The intrinsic activity of S warfarin was calculated to be 4.9 ± 0.4 times that of R-warfarin. Induction of rats with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene diminshed the magnitude of the normal anticoagulant response to R- and S-warfarin.
A numerical scheme for extracting strength model coefficients from Taylor test data

A simple pair of ordinary differential equations describing a one-dimensional model of a deforming Taylor impact specimen were numerically integrated. The Johnson-Cook strength model was assumed to apply and was used to estimate material strengths and plastic wave speeds during the deformation process. The material constants of the Johnson-Cook model were adjusted using an optimizer so that experimentally measured deformed geometries were matched with those calculated by the integrator. In this fashion Taylor test data were used to back-out strength model coefficients. Event durations, and peak values of stresses, equivalent plastic strains, equivalent plastic strain rates, and temperatures were also obtained from the simple numerical model. The EPIC finite element code was used to investigate the validity of the predictions of the simple model. Three different materials are considered (OFE copper, 6061-T6 aluminum, and 4340 steel) and the results obtained are reasonable.
The Use of Disease-Modifying Agents Among Multiple Sclerosis Patients Enrolled in Medicare from 1995 to 2002 and the Impact of Medicare Part D: Analysis of Claims Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey

Abstract Objectives: The goals of this analysis were as follows:(1) identify the prevalence of access barriers to disease-modifying agents (DMAs) used in the United States for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), (2) identify the relationship between patient characteristics and use of DMAs, and (3) interpret the results in the context of Medicare Part D. Methods: Using claims data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) 1992 to 2001, we identified beneficiaries with a diagnosis of MS on ⩾4 claims. To adapt for the bimodality of the claims distribution and to capture the majority of MS claims, ⩾4 claims were used. We estimated the mean out-of-pocket price of prescription medications and prevalence of perceived economic barriers to address the hypothesis that the expansion of Medicare to include an out-patient drug benefit will decrease beneficiaries' burden of MS. Results: A total of 416 patients with MS were identified with the MCBS claims data. Furthermore, data for 3 DMAs used to manage MS were available: interferon β-1b, interferon β-1a, and glatiramer acetate. Data were available for interferon β-1b for the years 1995 to 2002, and for interferon β-1a and glatiramer acetate for the years 1999 to 2002. The mean out-of-pocket price per prescribing event (typically 30 days) for interferon β-1b was US $44.40 from 1995 to 1998 and US $15.08 from 1999 to 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, the mean out-of-pocket price per prescribing event for interferon β-1a was US $84.74; for glatiramer acetate during the same period, it was US $114.90. Assuming complete compliance for the year, the mean out-of-pocket burden per patient for each medication using the 1999-to-2002 numbers would be US $1016.88 for interferon β-1a, US $548.91 for interferon β-1b, and US $1378.80 for glatiramer acetate. The annual prevalence of use of any DMA increased from 6.5% during the years 1995 to 1998 to 21.2% during the years 1999 to 2002. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that these MSpatients, who were Medicare beneficiaries, faced considerable economic barriers to necessary health care, particularly prescription medications. Substantial differences existed in the out-of-pocket prices of DMAs between the 2 time periods analyzed. These differences could be expected to be attenuated by the expansion of Medicare to include a drug benefit (Part D), which will increase insurance coverage for DMAs and reduce the out-of-pocket burden of MS therapies.
A fluorometric method for the detection of endodeoxyribonuclease on DNA-polyacrylamide gels.

Abstract A fluorometric method has been described for the detection and identification of DNA-specific endonucleases in DNA-polyacrylamide gels after their separation by disk electrophoresis. This method was found sensitive enough to detect quantities as low as 5 pg of pancreatic DNase I. By the careful manipulation of the incubation conditions and the molecular state of the DNA substrate used, this method would be applicable to the detection and identification of other classes of enzymes exhibiting endo- and/or exonucleolytic activities such as those involved in the processes of replication, recombination, repair of DNA damage, and restriction.
A parallel algorithm for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a general complex matrix

A new parallel Jacobi-like algorithm is developed for computing the eigenvalues of a general complex matrix. Most parallel methods for this problem typically display only linear convergence, Sequential `norm-reducing' algorithms also exist and they display quadratic convergence in most cases. The new algorithm is a parallel form of the `norm-reducing' algorithm due to Eberlein. It is proven that the asymptotic convergence rate of this algorithm is quadratic. Numerical experiments are presented which demonstrate the quadratic convergence of the algorithm and certain situations where the convergence is slow are also identified. The algorithm promises to be very competitive on a variety of parallel architectures. In particular, the algorithm can be implemented usingn 2/4 processors, takingO(n log2 n) time for random matrices.
Pathological Activity in Mediodorsal Thalamus of Rats with Spinal Cord Injury Pain

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results not only in motor deficits, but produces, in many patients, excruciating chronic pain (SCI pain). We have previously shown, in a rodent model, that SCI causes suppression of activity in the GABAergic nucleus, the zona incerta (ZI), and concomitant increased activity in one of its main targets, the posterior nucleus of the thalamus (PO); the increased PO activity is correlated with the maintenance and expression of hyperalgesia after SCI. Here, we test the hypothesis that SCI causes a similar pathological increase in other thalamic nuclei regulated by the ZI, specifically the mediodorsal thalamus (MD), which is involved in the emotional-affective aspects of pain. We recorded single and multiunit activity from MD of either anesthetized or awake rats, and compared data from rats with SCI with data from sham-operated controls (anesthetized experiments) or with data from the same animals prelesion (awake experiments). Consistent with our hypothesis, MD neurons from rats with SCI show significant increases in spontaneous firing rates and in the magnitude and duration of responses to noxious stimuli. In a subset of anesthetized animals, similar changes in activity of MD neurons were produced by pharmacologically inactivating ZI in naive rats, suggesting that the changes in the MD after SCI are related to suppressed inhibition from the ZI. These data support our hypothesis that SCI pain results, at least in part, from a loss of inhibition to thalamic nuclei associated with both the sensory-discriminative and emotional-affective components of pain.