cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-specific "pairing" of DNA molecules by recombination enzyme of Bacillus subtilis.

ATP-dependent deoxyribonuclease(s) (ATP-DNase) is involved in the genetic recombination process in Escherichia coli1–3, Diplococcus pneumoniae4 and Bacillus subtilis5 and may also play an important part in DNA repair6–8, DNA replication9 and cell growth10. ATP-dependent or ATP-stimulated DNases have also been isolated and characterised in other microorganisms11–14. We reported the purification and properties of this enzyme in B. subtilis15,16 and noted that at the 600-fold purification level, the enzyme requires ATP for the hydrolysis of double stranded (ds) DNA, but not for single stranded (ss) DNA16. Since the activities on ds and ssDNA appear to reside in the same enzyme, we suggested the possibility that ATP consumption is somehow linked to the active unwinding of dsDNA before the DNase can hydrolyse phosphodiester bonds16. Recently, Friedman and Smith24 have also proposed an active role of ATP in dsDNA unwinding by Haemophilus influenzae enzyme, which is based on the structural feature of intermediate product DNA. To examine this possibility further, we tried to visualize the unwound portion of DNA and the DNA-enzyme complex by electron microscopy. Although the visual evidence is still ambiguous, an unexpected observation has been made. We report here the unusual property of B. subtilis ATP-DNase which apparently brings DNA molecules into close proximity or causes non-specific ‘pairing’ of dsDNA molecules.
Dicer- and BSC-dependent miRNAs during murine anagen development

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a major class of conserved non-coding RNAs that have a wide range of functions during development and disease. Biogenesis of canonical miRNAs depend on the cytoplasmic processing of pre-miRNAs to mature miRNAs by the Dicer endoribonuclease. Once mature miRNAs are generated, the miRNA-induced silencing complex, or miRISC, incorporates one strand of miRNAs as a template for recognizing complementary target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to dictate post-transcriptional gene expression. Besides regulating miRNA biogenesis, Dicer is also part of miRISC to assist in activation of the complex. Dicer associates with other regulatory miRISC co-factors such as trans-activation responsive RNA-binding protein (Tarbp2) to regulate miRNA-based RNA interference. Although the functional role of miRNAs within epidermal keratinocytes have been extensively studied within embryonic and post-natal mouse skin, its contribution to the normal function of hair follicle bulge stem cells (BSCs) during post-natal hair follicle development is unknown. With this question in mind, we sought to ascertain whether Dicer-Tarpb2 plays a functional role within BSCs during induced anagen development by utilizing conditional knockout mouse models. Our findings suggest that Dicer, but not Tarbp2, functions within BSCs to regulate induced anagen (growth) development of post-natal hair follicles. These findings strengthen our understanding of miRNA-dependency within hair follicle cells to define a boundary for post-transcriptional gene regulation during anagen development.
Top-down Control of Inhibition Reshapes Neural Dynamics Giving Rise to a Diversity of Computations

Growing evidence shows that top-down projections from excitatory neurons in higher brain areas selectively synapse onto local inhibitory interneurons in sensory systems. While this connectivity is conserved across sensory modalities, the role of this feedback in shaping the dynamics of local circuits, and the resultant computational benefits it provides remains poorly understood. Using rate models of neuronal firing in a network consisting of excitatory, inhibitory and top-down populations, we found that changes in the weight of feedback to inhibitory neurons generated diverse network dynamics and complex transitions between these dynamics. Additionally, modulation of the weight of top-down feedback supported a number of computations, including both pattern separation and oscillatory synchrony. A bifurcation analysis of the network identified a new mechanism by which gamma oscillations could be generated in a model of neural circuits, which we termed Top-down control of Inhibitory Neuron Gamma (TING). We identified the unique roles that top-down feedback of inhibition plays in shaping network dynamics and computation, and the ways in which these dynamics can be deployed to process sensory inputs.
Current Use of the “Best Interests of the Child” Standard in Foster Care Policy and Practice

This chapter provides a review and analysis of the “best interests of the child” standard in foster care policy and practice. Specifically, we discuss whether and how the “best interests” standard is applied to decisions about whether children enter foster care, where they are placed, and how they exit foster care. We assess concerns about the subjectivity of the “best interests” standard and provide examples of how policy has created barriers to acting in children’s best interests. In doing so, we highlight the distinction between policies and practices that benefit the typical or average foster child versus decision making that accounts for the needs and circumstances of individual children.
Time-lapse monitoring of stress-field variations within the Lower Permian shales in Kansas

Abstract Azimuthal stress-field variations in Permian shale overlying voids in salt appear related to localized void roof failure based on interpretations of time-lapse recordings of passive seismi...
Four Key Trends Driving the New Energy Future

Ned Harvey, Managing Director at RMI, presents thoughts on four emerging hard to see trends that he believes are at the top of the list of the underlying dynamics accelerating the energy transition: demand flexibility, the capital-light energy business model, the convergence of disparate energy systems, and the rise of customer-centric energy. Each of these trends are driving fundamental shifts in the global energy economy, creating opportunity for those who understand and embrace them and disrupting those who cannot see beyond business as usual.
Naive human B cells can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 through recognition of its receptor binding domain

Exposure to a pathogen elicits an adaptive immune response aimed to control and eradicate. This initial exposure is imprinted on the immune system, so that a subsequent encounter to the same pathogen or a variant will result in a memory recall response that is often protective. Interrogating the naive B cell repertoire in terms of both abundance and specificity to said pathogen may contribute to an understanding of how to potentially elicit protective responses. Here, we isolated naive B cells across 8 human donors, targeting the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD). Single B cell sorting, and subsequent sequence analysis, showed diverse gene usage and pairing with no apparent restriction on complementarity determining region length in either the heavy or light chains. We show that recombinantly expressed IgGs and Fabs of these germline precursors bind SARS-CoV-2 RBD. Importantly, a subset of these naive antibodies also bind SARS-CoV, an emergent variant (501Y.V2) and a potential pandemic (WIV-1) coronavirus. Furthermore, naive antibodies can also neutralize SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses in the absence of any somatic hypermutation, suggesting that protective immunity to coronaviruses, more broadly, may be genetically encoded. Future studies aimed at understanding the naive repertoire to other coronaviruses may ultimately reveal shared specificities that could be leveraged to develop pan-coronavirus vaccines aimed at priming encoded germline responses.
Engaging in autonomous learning in the outdoors: Final expedition and youth autonomy

Autonomy has been an important trait that marks the transition from childhood to adolescence. This study examines the effectiveness of the use of an autonomous learning component in outdoor programs, the final expedition, in enhancing youth autonomy in outdoor programs. This study used a mixed-method quantitative and qualitative research design to explain and interpret the effect of autonomous learning component in an outdoor context on youth autonomy. This study recruited participants from two outdoor organizations with a total of 72 subjects. Participants’ reported their youth autonomy level at three time points, including the first day of the course, and before and after the final expedition. The results provide evidence that long-term outdoor programs with a final expedition component can be effective in developing participants’ autonomy. Specifically, female students’ autonomy level increased significantly during the final expedition period, and students who played follower roles during the final expedition gained higher levels of autonomy than those who played leader roles. Qualitative findings of this study suggest that the final expedition might afford opportunities for exploring group relationships, demonstrating leadership, and developing a sense of achievement and independence. The relationship between the final expedition, sense of responsibility, independence, and maturity warrants further investigation.
Hyperbranched polymer hydrogels with large stimuli-responsive changes in storage moduli and peroxide-induced healing

Hydrogels with the ability to repair damage or undergo controllable changes in stiffness and swelling are becoming increasingly important in multiple technologies. For example, hydrogels performing as dynamic matrices are able to more accurately capture cellular processes such as fibrosis compared to static hydrogels. However, it has been suggested that changes in hydrogel stiffness of several kPa are required in order to observe meaningful differences in cell behavior. In the work reported here gels have been prepared using hyperbranched polymers containing pendent thiols. Softening experiments with these gels resulted in stiffness changes of around 8.5 kPa after a thiol-disulfide exchange reaction with a small-molecule thiol compared to only 4.5 kPa for gels made from linear polymers. The hydrogels also demonstrated healing behavior when treated with hydrogen peroxide, and healed gels with higher values of storage moduli could be obtained from using hyperbranched polymers. Collectively, these results demonstrate how polymer architecture can be used to increase the stimuli-responsiveness of synthetic hydrogels. It is anticipated that these results will be useful in in vitro models for studying cellular behavior with dynamic matrix changes.
Atrial tachycardia

The available therapies for atrial tachycardia include the use of antiarrhythmic drug [1,2,3–7], radiofrequency catheter ablation [8,9,10], and antiarrhythmic surgery [11,12]. The growing realization that catheter ablation cures atrial tachycardia with high efficacy and safety has contributed to the increasing popularity of the procedure and makes it the therapy of choice in symptomatic patients. Antiarrhythmic drugs are thought to be effective acutely in 40% to 60% of patients, but their long-term efficacy remains poorly defined. Infrequently, atrioventricular nodal catheter ablation combined with pacing may be needed in patients whose arrhythmias are refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs and curative radiofrequency ablation. Antiarrhythmic surgery has a limited role as a therapy of last resort.
Portraits of teachers in neoliberal times: projections and reflections generated by shadow education research

Shadow education (or private supplementary tutoring) has grown exponentially both as a phenomenon and an area of research. Based on a qualitative content analysis of international research on priva...
Coping With COVID-19: The Impact of the Pandemic on Latina Immigrant Women's Mental Health and Well-being.

IntroductionWe sought to describe how Latina immigrants living in King County coped with the pandemic, including their attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19, and the impact of the pandemic on...
Development and characterization of prostate specific antigen inhibitors

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4381 A characteristic of prostatic epithelia that is retained during the development and progression of prostate cancer is the secretion of prostate specific antigen (PSA). This property has been exploited for diagnostic purposes. The detection of PSA in serum is a valuable tool for disease diagnosis, the monitoring of progression, and response to therapy. PSA is a serine protease produced principally by men in the prostate and is under the transcriptional regulation of the androgen receptor. It is secreted by the luminal epithelia of the prostate gland and, when mixed with seminal fluid during ejaculation, cleaves structural proteins such as the seminogelins, leading to seminal liquefaction. While much is written about the utility of PSA as a disease marker, relatively little is reported on the role the protein plays in fertility or prostate cancer pathophysiology, where cancerous tissue continues to produce high levels of active enzyme. We sought generate inhibitors of PSA’s enzymatic activity for use in answering some of the fundamental questions regarding this protein. Here, we report on the design and generation of several PSA inhibitors including beta lactam serine protease inhibitors as the template for development and modeling of the enzyme’s active site. These inhibitors display varied activity profiles against PSA and other serine proteases, with functions that affect the viability of PSA-expressing cells. These activities are consistent with what was predicted by our modeling strategy. These initial compounds provide a promising starting point for the development PSA inhibitors with high potency and selectivity for its target. These may have utility in basic and preclinical studies, and eventually the clinic.
Models, algorithms, and evaluation for autonomous mobility-on-demand systems

This tutorial paper examines the operational and economic aspects of autonomous mobility-on-demand (AMoD) systems, a rapidly emerging mode of personal transportation wherein robotic, self-driving vehicles transport customers in a given environment. We address AMoD systems along three dimensions: (1) modeling - analytical models capable of capturing the salient dynamic and stochastic features of customer demand, (2) control - coordination algorithms for the vehicles aimed at stability and subsequently throughput maximization, and (3) economic - fleet sizing and financial analyses for case studies of New York City and Singapore. Collectively, the models and algorithms presented in this paper enable a rigorous assessment of the value of AMoD systems. In particular, the case study of New York City shows that the current taxi demand in Manhattan can be met with about 8,000 robotic vehicles (roughly 70% of the size of the current taxi fleet), while the case study of Singapore suggests that an AMoD system can meet the personal mobility need of the entire population of Singapore with a number of robotic vehicles that is less than 40% of the current number of passenger vehicles. Directions for future research on AMoD systems are presented and discussed.
ADCs for digital receivers: the whole world tunes in

Digital receivers require analog to digital converters with linear transfer functions. Dither is used to remove the effect of encoder nonlinearities and increase the effective dynamic range by more than 20 dB on the AD9042. 80 dB dynamic range is shown for analog input frequencies up to 40 MHz, by removing the effects of the input amplifier. Sampling jitter of 300 femto seconds is inferred by observing the increased noise floor level when sampling 201 MHz input signals.
Enhancing scheduling solutions through ant colony optimization

In this paper a methodology based on ant colony optimization is presented to generate optimal scheduling during high-level synthesis. The classical force equation of the force-directed scheduling algorithm has been modified to accommodate the experiences accumulated by multiple agents in different iterations. In each iteration the obtained schedule is subjected to remaining steps of synthesis using standard techniques like clique partitioning for resource allocation and left edge algorithm. The results are used to improve scheduling in the next iteration.
Children's Judgments of Durations: A Modified Replication of Piaget's Study.

One hundred students, 25 each in grades 2, 4, 6, and 8, were individually interviewed. A cylindrical beaker with five equidistant levels marked on it was presented first, and a pear-shaped separation funnel was also presented. The funnel had a “faucet” at the bottom that allowed water to start and stop running into the beaker. The interviewer asked the child to mark the water levels on the funnel when the water had run to the first level in the beaker, to the second level, to the third level, and so on. The levels on the funnel thus varied a great deal depending on its diameter. The interviewer then asked, “Did the water take the same amount of time to go down from this level to the next in the funnel as it did to go up from this level to the next in the beaker?” It was found that correct judgments about durations were not made before eighth grade (the criterion being 75% of the eighth graders giving correct answers). This grade level was considerably later than the age of 7 or 8 (second grade) that Piaget reported.
The real relationship in psychotherapy: The hidden foundation of change

The real relationship in psychotherapy: The hidden foundation of change. C.J. Gelso (2011). Washington DC: American Psychological Association Press. As with most matters psychotherapeutic, it was F...
Low-Volume Roads Engineering: Best Management Practices:

The concept and application of best management practices (BMPs) for low-volume roads projects were studied. BMPs are techniques or design practices that will prevent or reduce nonpoint pollution, maintain water quality, and help produce well-built roads. A Low-Volume Roads Engineering Best Management Practices Field Guide was developed to address those key practices. Roads that are not well planned or located, not properly designed or constructed, not well drained, not well maintained, or not made with durable materials often produce negative impacts, most of which are preventable with good engineering and road management practices. A number of key practices and design techniques can be used to prevent adverse impacts on roads. First a road must serve the needs of the user through good transportation system planning. Long-term cost-effectiveness and minimized impacts are then achieved through application of good design and maintenance practices, including a road location that avoids problematic areas such...
Drug and gene therapy of hereditary retinal disease in dog and cat models

There are many different spontaneously occurring dog and cat retinal dystrophies that are the equivalent of human conditions such as Leber congenital amaurosis, retinitis pigmentosa and Best disease. These large animal species have eyes that are similar in size and dimensions and photoreceptor distribution to the human eyes. Some of these models have already proven valuable in preclinical proof-of-concept trials for gene and drug therapies.
The Pto Bacterial Resistance Gene and the Fen Insecticide Sensitivity Gene Encode Functional Protein Kinases with Serine/Threonine Specificity

The catalytic activity and amino acid specificity of the tomato Pto and Fen kinases were investigated. The Pto and Fen genes were fused to the carboxyl terminus of the maltose-binding protein and expressed in Escherichia coli. Incubation of the purified fusion proteins with [gamma-32P]ATP in an in vitro assay showed that both proteins were capable of autophosphorylation. Mutant fusion proteins in which the conserved lysine residue of subdomain II was changed to a glutamine were unable to autophosphorylate. Phosphoamino analysis of the active fusion proteins indicated that both kinases phosphorylate serine and threonine residues but not tyrosine.
Topological properties of the intersection graph of covers of n -dimensional surfaces

Motivated by a problem in computer graphic we develop discrete models of continuous n-dimensional spaces by using molecular spaces and graphs. We study a family of induced subgraphs of a given graph and find the conditions when the intersection graph of this family is homotopic to the given graph. We show that for a given surface and for all proper covers of this surface their intersection graphs are homotopic, can be transformed from one to the other by contractible transformations and have the same Euler characteristic and homology groups. As an example, we consider discrete two-dimensional closed spaces that are digital counterparts of a two-dimensional sphere, a torus, a projective plane and a Klein bottle.
A novel way to transport high activity C15O over long distances.

Abstract We have outlined the theory and a practical technique of an easy, inexpensive and reliable method of transferring high activity carbon monoxide (C 15 O) over long distances. C 15 O is adsorbed at low temperature on a molecular sieve packed in a small copper U-tube, which is then transferred at very high speed through a pneumatic transfer tube. At the receiving end, the U-tube is heated up to 150°C and C 15 O is eluted with a stream of air and collected as a breathable bolus in an anesthesia bag.
Economic Effects of Multinational Accounting Diversity

The purpose of this paper is to whet the appetite of accounting researchers by providing a menu of research issues in accounting and auditing that merit scholarly attention and which appear suitable for publication in JIFMA. Especially needed are inquiries that examine the economic impacts of accounting differences in a world economy characterized by unconstrained capital flows, far-flung multinational operations and financial decisions which are made within the context of organizational complexity with diverse practices and traditions of economic behavior. The research questions that need to be addressed are substantive and will soon dwarf national inquiries in importance as the trend toward a world economy continues.
Glycoprotein biosynthesis in peripheral nervous system myelin: effect of tunicamycin.

: The effect of an inhibitor of N-glycosylation of glycoproteins, tunicamycin, on synthesis of PNS myelin proteins was investigated in vitro by using chopped sciatic nerves or spinal roots of 21-day-old Wistar rats. Tunicamycin when incubated with these nerves in the presence of 3H-labeled fucose, mannose, or glucosamine inhibited the uptake of radioactivity into myelin proteins including some high-molecular-weight proteins, P0, 23K protein, and 19K protein by amounts ranging from 42 to 79%. Uptake of 14Camino acid mixture was inhibited much less by tunicamycin, but a new radioactive protein peak appeared when the protein mixtures had been separated by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. This protein ran directly in front of the P0 peak, did not correspond to any bands stained by Fast green, and was not labeled by fucose. This peak appeared in increasing larger proportions with progressive time of incubation of nerves with 3H amino acids in the presence of tunicamycin. The new protein, which cross-reacts with P0 antiserum, was tentatively identified as a nonglycosylated P0 protein that appears to be almost as well incorporated as P0 into the subcellular fraction containing myelin. At this time it is not possible to determine whether the unglycosylated P0 is actually assembled into a site and configuration like that of P0.
Are airbags effective in decreasing trauma in auto accidents

Multiple studies have addressed the effect of airbags on injury and mortality after motor vehicle collision with discrepant results (Table 1). Although large, population-based studies have minimized the protective effect of airbags, the most recent studies examining airbags have shown a decrease in injury and death, with the greatest protective effect seen when they are used in conjunction with seatbelts. Optimal restraint use is also associated with a decrease in infectious morbidity and hospital resource utilization. The widespread use of seatbelts and airbags will continue to save lives and decrease morbidity after motor vehicle collision.
Photoreactions of bacteriorhodopsin

Bacteriorhodopsin is a membrane-bound light energy transducer which generates an electrochemical proton gradient. It undergoes a cyclic photoreaction in which five intermediates have been identified. During the cycle it releases a proton from one surface of the membrane and takes up a proton on the opposite surface. The active chromophore consists of retinal bound through a Schiff base to the protein. The Schiff base is deprotonized during the photoreaction cycle and appears to be involved in the transport of protons through the membrane. The retinal may also undergo an isomerization.
Cardiac Tissue Slice Transplantation as a Model to Assess Tissue-Engineered Graft Thickness, Survival, and Function

Background—Cell therapies offer the potential to improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Although injection of single-cell suspensions has proven safe, cell retention and survival rates are low. Tissue-engineered grafts allow cell delivery with minimal initial cell loss and mechanical support to the heart. However, graft performance cannot be easily compared, and optimal construct thickness, vascularization, and survival kinetics are unknown. Methods and Results—Cardiac tissue slices (CTS) were generated by sectioning mouse hearts (n=40) expressing firefly luciferase and green fluorescent protein into slices of defined size and thickness using a vibrating blade microtome. Bioluminescence imaging of CTS transplanted onto hearts of immunodeficient mice demonstrated survival of ≤30% of transplanted cells. Cardiac slice perfusion was re-established within 3 days, likely through anastomosis of pre-existing vessels with the host vasculature and invasion of vessels from the host. Immunofluorescence...
Local compactness of Hom (—, H)

If H is a topological group with Hom, (G, H) locally compact for all locally compact G, then H is a compact Lie group.
Punched-Card Methods for Studying Fiber-Yarn Relationships

Methods of applying punched-card computing to a study of the relationships between fibers and yarns are described. Various factors such as fiber property distributions, fiber arrangements, the interaction of fiber properties with yarn structure, and the yarn breakage mechanism are considered. Some informational needs which may lead to a better comprehension of the problem and ultimately to a valid prediction of yarn properties are discussed.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOVERNMENTAL FINANCIAL REPORTING

Accountability is the cornerstone of Governmental Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GGAAP) in the United States according to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). This paper analyzes the implications of alternative definitions of the concept of accountability for GGAAP and for GASB. It also discusses the costs and benefits of accountability information, the effect of diverse users of governmental reports, and alternative mechanisms for achieving accountability in governments. Finally, a governmental accounting research agenda based on accountability is proposed for the future.
Parallel Simulations of Reacting Two-Phase Flows: A DoD Grand Challenge Progress Report*

Parallel simulation of unsteady turbulent combustion is carried out for a range of precursor test problems leading to the development of a new methodology for reacting two-phase flows. Simulations are carried out using large-eddy simulations (LES) which allows full spatio-temporal resolution of all scales larger than the grid resolution with the unresolved small-scales modeled by a localized dynamic one-equation subgrid models. For two-phase applications, Lagrangian tracking of a range of droplets is carried out and is fully coupled to the Eulerian gas phase flow. An extension of this approach to accurately deal with small-scale scalar mixing and chemical reactions has been carried out using an innovative model that is implemented within each LES cell, to account for the effects of small-scale mixing and molecular diffusion on the chemical processes. The first year's effort focused on validating this methodology using both simple and complex test configurations. Highly optimized parallel LES codes are used for these studies. In addition to parallel scaleup data, results discussed in this paper include stagnation point premixed flame, opposed jet diffusion flame, highly swirling premixed flame in a General Electric combustor and two-phase mixing and vaporization in mixing layers. Comparison with experimental data wherever possible, clearly demonstrates the unique capabilities of the new subgrid combustion LES model.
Adhesion-mediated apoptosis resistance in cancer

Adhesion-mediated apoptosis resistance (AMAR) is an emerging concept that may explain the observed differences in survival between cells within the three-dimensional structure of a tumor and the standard monolayer culture conditions in the laboratory. Not only the cancer cells' motility and invasiveness are different in a three-dimensional tumor, but - crucially - the cells' sensitivity towards apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, varies widely between the in vivo and in vitro situation. Tumor cells interacting either with a specific extracellular matrix protein substrate or with each other or with non-transformed cells, such as fibroblasts, exhibit increased resistance towards a wide variety of therapeutic approaches. In this review we discuss the molecular basis of these interactions and the main downstream effectors that are involved in the enhancement of the tumor cells' survival. In particular, we show that the pathways activated by adhesion are not unique, but involve the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, which are reused between different forms of AMAR and are also found in adhesion-independent modes of resistance. Thus, the tools to overcome AMAR are already at our disposal and using them in this novel context of AMAR should lead to significant therapeutic benefit.
Influence of ammonium and nitrate nutrition on enzymatic activity in soybean and sunflower.

Under conditions of controlled pH, nitrate and ammonium are equally effective in supporting the growth of young soybean (Glycine max var. Bansei) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var., Mammoth Russian) plans. Soybean contains an active nitrate reductase in roots and leaves, but the low specific activity of this enzyme in sunflower leaves indicates a dependency upon the roots for nitrate reduction. Suppression of nitrate reductase activity in sunflower leaves may be due to high concentrations of ammonia received from the roots. Nitrate reductase activity in leaves of nitrate-supplied soybean and sunflower follows closely the distribution of nitrate reductase. For the roots of both species, glutamic acid dehydrogenase activity was greater with ammonium than with nitrate. The glutamic acid dehydrogenase of ammonium roots is wholly NADH-dependent, whereas that of nitrate roots is active with NADH and NADPH. In leaves, an NADPH-dependent glutamic acid dehydrogenase appears to be responsible for the assimilation of translocated ammonia and ammonia formed by nitrate reduction.In soybean roots ammonia is actively incorporated into amides, much of which remains in the roots. Sunflower roots are less active in amide formation but transfer much of it, together with ammonia, into the shoots. Glutamine synthetase activity in leaves is 20- to 40-fold lower than in roots.Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity appears to be correlated with the activity of the nitrate reducing system in roots, but not in leaves.
A ternary logic model for recurrent neuromime networks with delay

In contrast to popular recurrent artificial neural network (RANN) models, biological neural networks have unsymmetric structures and incorporate significant delays as a result of axonal propagation. Consequently, biologically inspired neural network models are more accurately described by nonlinear differential-delay equations rather than nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs), and the standard techniques for studying the dynamics of RANNs are wholly inadequate for these models. This paper develops a ternary-logic based method for analyzing these networks. Key to the technique is the realization that a nonzero delay produces a bounded stability region. This result significantly simplifies the construction of sufficient conditions for characterizing the network equilibria. If the network gain is large enough, each equilibrium can be classified as either asymptotically stable or unstable. To illustrate the analysis technique, the swim central pattern generator (CPG) of the sea slug Tritonia diomedea is examined. For wide range of reasonable parameter values, the ternary analysis shows that none of the network equilibria are stable, and thus the network must oscillate. The results show that complex synaptic dynamics are not necessary for pattern generation.
New roles of hRAD21 in alternative lengthening of telomeres in cancer genesis.

Commentary to:hRad21 overexpresses and localizes to the ALT-associated Promyelocytic Leukemia Body in ALT cellsBo Zhao, Zhen Jun Wang, Bing Qiang Yi, Hua Chong Ma and Hui Min Xu
Diagnosis and treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the major cause of non-relapse morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). GVHD also is associated with a potent anti-leukemic effect. Chronic GVHD resembles autoimmune diseases and can likely affect any organ or tissue of the body. Skin, oral, liver, and lacrimal gland involvement are most common. The incidence and presentation have been in evolution as new stem cell sources and transplant approaches have been introduced. Although progress in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic GVHD has been limited for many years, there is renewed interest in this disorder. New prognostic scores and animal models of chronic GVHD have been developed. Large, multicenter phase III therapy and biology studies have been undertaken. The challenge for the future will be the discovery of targeted approaches that allow the anti-leukemic effect to be retained and for the reconstitution of normal immunity, thereby reducing infectious complications.
Students Demonstrating Persistent Low Response to Reading Intervention: Three Case Studies.

Three students with severe reading disabilities participated in a 3-year intervention provided by trained tutors from first grade through third grade (175–231 hours). All three students demonstrated very low response to initial levels of intervention and were provided adjusted intensive intervention in an attempt to remedy their low response to instruction. Findings revealed that two of the three students realized limited growth and did not accelerate progress toward reducing the gap between their performance and the expected grade level performance. One student accelerated growth considerably during third grade and made accelerated progress toward grade level expectations. Information on intervention implementation and student progress as well as implications for practice and further research are discussed.
The destructive wrist arthropathy of pseudogout

The wrist is a frequent site of arthropathy in the pscudogout syndrome (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease). Three cases of severe wrist arthropathy are presented to emphasize the destructive changes which may occur, including necrosis or collapse of the lunate and navicular bones. The roentgenographic findings characteristic of pseudogout in the wrist are discussed.
A survey of the reflex activity elicited in muscles of the Limulus walking leg in response to stimulation of joint and tension afferents

Electrical stimulation of tension afferents in the walking legs of the horseshoe crab elicited reflexes which varied in sign and strength, depending upon stimulus voltage and frequency. Electrical stimulation of articular membrane receptor afferents in an isolated leg‐ganglion preparation of the horseshoe crab elicited movements at all major joints in the walking leg. Stimulation of articular membrane afferents at the trochanter‐femoral joint (T‐F) led to increased activity in efferents innervating tibial, patellar and trochanteral flexor muscles, giving a leg posture similar to that observed during feeding. Stimulation of articular membrane afferents at the patello‐tibial (P‐T) joint led to increased activity in efferents innervating tibial and patellar flexors and trochanteral extensors, giving a leg posture similar to that observed when the leg is lifted from the substratum during walking. The number of efferent units excited, and their frequency, generally increased with an increase in either the volt...
Militant Democracy: The Legacy of Germany’s War on Terror in the 1970s

This article was originally published in the journal, The European Legacy, vol.19, n.5 and has been modified to conform to ADA standards and practices.
Planktonic bloom of an introduced species of Polysiphonia (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) along the coast of North Carolina, USA

Polysiphonia breviarticulata, a species previously known only from the Adriatic, the Mediterranean, and the Canary Islands, is reported for the first time from the Western Atlantic in Dominica and North Carolina. In the latter region it has grown in bloom quantities as drifting, planktonic plants that are a nuisance on beaches and a serious impediment to fishermen whose nets become fouled with the plants.
The Nature of News Rules

Drawing on new institutionalist theory, this article presents a theory of news rules to explain the curious fact that so much of the news looks similar across news organizations, yet reporters maintain a great deal of autonomy in choosing which stories to report and how to report them. The theory hinges on a distinction between constitutive and regulative rules. Where constitutive rules tell us what the news is, regulative rules tell us how the news ought to be produced. The author argues that a better understanding of how these types of rules implicate one another in the production of news explains why the news can be both homogeneous and variable at the same time.
Proximal suction tracheotomy tube reduces aspiration volume.

ObjectiveConventional cuffed tracheotomy tubes do not prevent aspiration of secretions. Aspiration of saliva may be decreased with the use of a subglottic suction port.Study DesignProspective.Metho...
Apolipoprotein E level and cholesterol are associated with reduced synaptic amyloid beta in Alzheimer’s disease and apoE TR mouse cortex

The apolipoprotein E4 allele (APOE4) contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk and APOE2 is protective, but the relevant cellular mechanisms are unknown. We have used flow cytometry analysis to measure apolipoprotein E (apoE) and amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) levels in large populations of synaptic terminals from AD and aged cognitively normal controls, and demonstrate that modest but significant increases in soluble apoE levels accompany elevated Aβ in AD cortical synapses and in an APP/PS1 rat model of AD. Dual labeling experiments document co-localization of apoE and Aβ in individual synapses with concentration of Aβ in a small population of apoE-positive synapses in both AD and controls. Consistent with a clearance role, the apoE level was higher in Aβ-positive synapses in control cases. In aged targeted replacement mice expressing human apoE, apoE2/4 synaptic terminals demonstrated the highest level of apoE and the lowest level of Aβ compared to apoE3/3 and apoE4/4 lines. In apoE2/4 terminals, the pattern of immunolabeling for apoE and Aβ closely resembled the pattern in human control cases, and elevated apoE was accompanied by elevated free cholesterol in apoE2/4 synaptic terminals. These results are consistent with a role for APOE in Aβ clearance in AD synapses, and suggest that optimal lipidation of apoE2 compared to E3 and E4 makes an important contribution to Aβ clearance and synaptic function.
Measuring edge straightness by diffraction

Edge straightness of polyester f i l m s can be checked easily and quickly with the instrument described. Although designed specifically for monitoring the accuracy of film strips used in the IBM 2321 data cell drive, the instrument has other applications, such as measuring precise corner straightness and openings which are merely thousandths of an inch wide. It can also be set f o r a desired limiting value and be used as a simple go no-go gauge.
Identification and visualization of dominant patterns and anomalies in remotely sensed vegetation phenology using a parallel tool for principal components analysis

We investigated the use of principal components analysis (PCA) to visualize dominant patterns and identify anomalies in a multi-year land surface phenology data set (231 m × 231 m normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)) used for detecting threats to forest health in the conterminous United States (CONUS). Our goal is to find ways that PCA can be used with this massive data set to automate the process of detecting forest disturbance and attributing it to particular agents. We briefly describe the parallel computational approaches we used to make PCA feasible, and present some examples in which we have used it to visualize the seasonal vegetation phenology for the CONUS and to detect areas where anomalous NDVI traces suggest potential threats to forest health.
Synthesis and in vitro platelet aggregation and TP receptor binding studies on bicyclic 5,8-ethanooctahydroisoquinolines and 5,8-ethanotetrahydroisoquinolines

Abstract Eighteen novel bicyclic 1-substituted benzyl octahydro- and tetrahydroisoquinolines were synthesized and evaluated for human thromboxane A 2 /prostaglandin H 2 (TP) receptor affinity and antagonism of TP receptor-mediated platelet aggregation. In both cases, potency depended more on the presence of methoxy groups on the 1-benzyl moiety than on nitrogen substitution or extent of oxidation of the isoquinoline ring system. The most potent of the bicyclic compounds retained the 5,8-ethanooctahydroisoquinoline ring structure of the parent molecule (1) and required the 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl substitution pattern found in the well-characterized tetrahydroisoquinoline antiplatelet agent trimetoquinol. Differences in nitrogen substituent SAR were noted between the mono-methoxylated compounds and the 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl derivatives.
Deceitful behaviors of alliance partners: potential and prevention

Purpose – To provide decision makers in strategic alliances a risk‐time framework to: categorize types of potential deceitful behaviors by partners; and adopt appropriate deterrence mechanisms to curb and control such behavior.Design/methodology/approach – The article identifies four types of deceitful behavior, based on: the degree of relational risk that characterizes interactions of a firm with its alliance partner; and the length of the deceit horizon.Findings – Suggests a number of deterrence mechanisms for controlling the different types of deceitful behavior, with the aim of enhancing confidence in partner cooperation in alliances.Practical implications – The article provides a practical template for alliance managers to decide what kinds of deterrence mechanisms to adopt on the basis of the type of perceived deceitful behavior of alliance partners.Originality/value – The article responds to an unmet need of managers with alliance responsibilities for a framework to help select the most effective m...
Effect of muscle disuse on acetylcholine receptors

MOTOR nerves have an important role in the trophic regulation of many properties of skeletal muscle, including acetylcholine receptor (AChR) distribution1. In innervated muscle, the density of AChR at neuromuscular junctions is at least 2,500 times greater than at extrajunctional regions2. When the motor nerves are sectioned, extrajunctional AChR density increases markedly2–5. The trophic mechanisms by which the nerves normally prevent this denervation change are not yet well understood. It has been suggested that muscle use contributes to the control of AChR. This hypothesis has been tested in two ways. First, electrical stimulation was applied directly to denervated muscle, and the extrajunctional ACh sensitivity was determined. The results indicated that stimulation-induced use largely prevented the denervation effect6,7. Second, attempts have been made to assess the effect of disuse of muscle on extrajunctional ACh sensitivity. Various methods have been used to eliminate muscle contraction but all have had shortcomings. In some cases, the ‘disuse’ has been incomplete8–10; in others, the methods used to block nerve conduction7,11 have produced blockade of axonal transport12,13, which may itself result in denervation effects14,15. Using a new model of disuse free of these problems, we have now compared the effects of disuse and denervation with respect to extrajunctional AChR density. We report here evidence that disuse produces a significant increase in extrajunctional AChR, but does not completely reproduce the effect of surgical denervation.
The role of the dentate gyrus, CA3a,b, and CA3c for detecting spatial and environmental novelty

It has been suggested that the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 cooperate to efficiently process spatial information. The DG has been proposed to be important for fine spatial discrimination, and the CA3 has been proposed to mediate larger scale spatial information processing. To evaluate the roles of the DG and CA3a,b for spatial processing, we developed a task that measures responses to either overall environmental novelty or a response to more subtle changes within the environment. Animals with lesions to the DG showed impaired novelty detection for both environment as well as smaller changes in the environment, whereas animals with lesions to CA3a,b showed no such deficits. A closer look at the lesions suggested that the CA3 lesions included only CA3a and CA3b, but spared CA3c. To test the role of the spared CA3c region, animals with selective lesions to CA3c that spared CA3a,b were run on the same task and showed an intermediate pattern of deficits. These results suggest that the DG is critical for spatial information processing. These data also suggest that CA3 is a heterogeneous structure, with CA3c lesioned animals showing greater spatial processing deficits than CA3a,b lesioned animals. These findings extend our knowledge of hippocampal function and need to be accounted for in future computational models. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
FORWARD AND BACKWARD CHAIN-CODE REPRESENTATION FOR MOTION PLANNING OF CARS

The path-planning problem is presented to show a car of any desired shape moving from a starting position to a destination in a finite space with arbitrarily shaped obstacles in it. In this paper, a new chain-code representation is developed to record the motion path when forward and backward movements are allowed. By placing the smooth turning-angle constraint, we can obtain more realistic results to the actual motion of cars. Meanwhile, by combining rotational mathematical morphology and distance transformation, we can obtain the shortest collision-free path. As soon as the distance map and the collision-free codes have been established offline, the shortest paths of cars starting from any location toward the destination can be promptly obtained online. Experimental results show that our algorithm works successfully in different conditions. We also extend our algorithm to the automated parallel parking and three-dimensional path planning.