cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Glutamate Receptor-Interacting Proteins GRIP1 and GRIP2

The molecular mechanisms underlying the targeting and localization of glutamate receptors at postsynaptic sites is poorly understood. Recently, we have identified a PDZ domain-containing protein, glutamate receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP1), which specifically binds to the C termini of AMPA receptor subunits and may be involved in the synaptic targeting of these receptors. Here, we report the cloning of GRIP2, a homolog of GRIP1, and the characterization of the GRIP1 and GRIP2 proteins in the rat CNS. GRIP1 and GRIP2 are ∼130 kDa proteins that are highly enriched in brain. GRIP1 and GRIP2 are widely expressed in brain, with the highest levels found in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb. Biochemical studies show that GRIP1 and GRIP2 are enriched in synaptic plasma membrane and postsynaptic density fractions. GRIP1 is expressed early in embryonic development before the expression of AMPA receptors and peaks in expression at postnatal day 8–10. In contrast, GRIP2 is expressed relatively late in development and parallels the expression of AMPA receptors. Immunohistochemistry using the GRIP1 antibodies demonstrated that GRIP1 is expressed in neurons in a somatodendritic staining pattern. At the ultrastructural level, DAB and immunogold electromicroscopy studies showed that GRIP1 was enriched in dendritic spines near the postsynaptic density and was expressed in dendritic shafts and in peri-Golgi regions in the neuronal soma. GRIP1 appeared to be clustered at both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. These results suggest that GRIP1 and GRIP2 are AMPA receptor binding proteins potentially involved in the targeting of AMPA receptors to synapses. GRIP1 also may play functional roles at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses, as well as in early neuronal development.
Zinc Deficiency, Infectious Disease and Mortality in the Developing World

Zinc deficiency places children in many low-income countries at increased risk of illness and death from infectious diseases. Randomized controlled trials of zinc supplementation provide the best estimate of this risk through demonstrated preventive benefits. In six of nine trials that evaluated prevention of diarrhea, significantly lower incidence of diarrhea occurred in the zinc group than in the controls; a pooled analysis demonstrated 18% (95% confidence interval, 7-28%) less diarrhea. In five trials, a lower rate of pneumonia infection was found in the zinc-supplemented groups, and there was some indication of a preventive effect in three trials with a clinical malaria outcome. Zinc was also found to have a therapeutic benefit in seven trials of acute diarrhea and five of persistent diarrhea. Studies to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on mortality are under way, but a recently published study from India identified a 68% reduction in mortality in small-for-gestational-age term infants that were supplemented with zinc from 1 to 9 mo of age. The important effects of zinc deficiency are now clear, and nutrition programs should address this prevalent problem.
Identification and properties of Trichomonas vaginalis proteins involved in cytadherence.

Abstract Trichomonas vaginalis NYH286 surface proteins which are candidates for mediating parasite cytadherence (adhesins) were identified. At least four trichomonad protein ligands ranging in relative molecular mass from 65 to less than or equal to 21 kilodaltons were found to selectively bind to chemically stabilized HeLa cells. The proteins were present on the surfaces of 10 different isolates of T. vaginalis examined; however, the nonpathogenic trichomonad T. tenax did not possess similar HeLa cell-binding proteins under identical experimental conditions, suggesting that these proteins are unique to the pathogenic human trichomonads. The surface nature of the candidate adhesins was confirmed by the ability of the proteins on intact, live organisms to be radioiodinated and to be removed with trypsin treatment. Rabbit antiserum (immunoglobulin G fraction) generated against adhesin proteins electroeluted from acrylamide preparations inhibited cytadherence compared with control immunoglobulin G. An adherence-negative subpopulation of T. vaginalis NYH286 organisms was also isolated. These nonadherent trichomonads did not synthesize the adhesin proteins. Interestingly, absence of adhesins from these parasites paralleled expression of a major immunogen known to undergo phenotypic variation. Revertant organisms derived from the adherence-minus subpopulation synthesized the adhesins and attached to HeLa cells. The emergence of revertant adherent T. vaginalis organisms also corresponded with the appearance of parasites which were without the major immunogen on their surface. Finally, it was determined that only those parasites lacking the major surface immunogen were capable of adherence and toxicity to HeLa cells.
Cellular dehydration and hypovolemia: Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on drinking

Chronic oral administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, reduces the latency with which rats begin drinking in response to hypovolemia but has no effect on the total amount of water consumed to this stimulus. When drinking is due to cellular dehydration, latency to drink is unaffected while total water intake is markedly augmented by ASA-pretreatment. Chronic, low-dose exposure to ASA or indomethacin has no effect on plasma levels of the dipsogen, angiotensin II. These data, taken in conjunction with previous work demonstrating a suppression of drinking following administration of exogenous prostaglandin E, support the contention that the E prostaglandins are involved in the physiological control of water intake, but suggest that the precise role of the prostaglandin in controlling consumption is dependent upon the stimulus eliciting the behavior.
Stab injury and device implantation within the brain results in inversely multiphasic neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative responses

An estimated 25 million people in the US alone rely on implanted medical devices, ∼2.5 million implanted within the nervous system. Even though many devices perform adequately for years, the host response to medical devices often severely limits tissue integration and long-term performance. This host response is believed to be particularly limiting in the case of intracortical microelectrodes, where it has been shown that glial cell encapsulation and localized neuronal cell loss accompany intracortical microelectrode implantation. Since neuronal ensembles must be within ∼50 µm of the electrode to obtain neuronal spikes and local field potentials, developing a better understanding of the molecular and cellular environment at the device-tissue interface has been the subject of significant research. Unfortunately, immunohistochemical studies of scar maturation in correlation to device function have been inconclusive. Therefore, here we present a detailed quantitative study of the cellular events and the stability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) following intracortical microelectrode implantation and cortical stab injury in a chronic survival model. We found two distinctly inverse multiphasic profiles for neuronal survival in device-implanted tissue compared to stab-injured animals. For chronically implanted animals, we observed a biphasic paradigm between blood-derived/trauma-induced and CNS-derived inflammatory markers driving neurodegeneration at the interface. In contrast, stab injured animals demonstrated a CNS-mediated neurodegenerative environment. Collectively these data provide valuable insight to the possibility of multiple roles of chronic neuroinflammatory events on BBB disruption and localized neurodegeneration, while also suggesting the importance to consider multiphasic neuroinflammatory kinetics in the design of therapeutic strategies for stabilizing neural interfaces.
Notes on the (post)colonial in the Maghreb

■ This article examines the formation of French colonial culture in the Maghreb and the power relations it has generated. Through an analysis of colonial knowledge, the author shows the different and changing discursive strategies put in place to comprehend and control the local population. He also argues that the effects of this colonial knowledge continue in the present and, far from debunking it, national reactions by historians helped make colonial categories and understanding part of the present.
Living Mulches of Legumes in Imidazolinone-Resistant Corn

Living mulches of legumes are permanent cover crops that can fix atmospheric N and improve soil quality. The objectives of this study were to determine effects of living mulches on corn (Zea mays L.) yield and N fertilizer response and on soil quality. In this split-plot design, living mulches were main plots and N rates (0-225 kg ha -1 N) subplots. Living mulches were crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.) cultivars Penngift and Pennmulch, flatpea (Lathyrus sylvestris L.) cultivar Lathco, birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) cultivars Empire and Steadfast, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and galega (Galega officinalis L.). The crop was rainfed imidazolinone (IMI)-resistant corn on a Murrill silt loam (Typic Hapludult) in central Pennsylvania. Only crownvetch, flatpea, and birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) cultivars survived the herbidde program. Living mulches did not reduce corn yields, except in the dry year of 1995. The average N fertilizer equivalency of Penngift, Pennmulch, Empire, Steadfast, and Lathco was 71, 45, 44, 13, and 50 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively, at 0 N rates. Their N fertilizer equivalency decreased to zero, however, with increasing N fertilizer rates. Bulk density, soil organic C content, and infiltration rate were not significantly improved after 10 yr of Penngift living mulch. When suppressed severely, crownvetch, BFT, and flatpea can be managed without yield reduction to IMI-resistant corn, but then N contribution to corn and soil quality benefits will be limited. For maximum corn yield, full N rates are required with these living mulches.
Substance abuse among individuals with intellectual disabilities

Individuals with disabilities are a growing population that confronts multiple disadvantages from social and environmental determinants of health. In particular, the 7-8 million people in the U.S. with an intellectual disability (ID) suffer disproportionately from substance use problems, largely because of a lack of empirical evidence to inform prevention and treatment efforts for them. Although available research could inform future research efforts, studies are scattered across disciplines with the last review synthesizing findings written more than five years ago. To consider more recent findings with earlier works, PubMed, PsychINFO, and Google Scholar were searched and produced 37 peer-reviewed texts across multiple disciplines, 15 from 2006 or later. While the prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use in this population are low, the risk of having a substance-related problem among ID substance users is comparatively high. Gaps in the research and population subgroups that warrant special attention are identified, such as individuals with borderline and mild ID, individuals with co-occurring mental illness, and individuals who are incarcerated. Compared with substance abusers without ID, ID substance abusers are less likely to receive substance abuse treatment or remain in treatment. Research is needed to better gauge the magnitude of substance use problems, identify prevention strategies, and specify treatment components that meet the unique needs of individuals with ID.
Longitudinal acoustic modes of polytetrafluoroethylene copolymers and oligomers

Abstract Raman active longitudinal acoustic modes ( LAM ) have been observed in the perfluoro n-alkanes and in a random copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene (TFE-HFP). Low frequency bands were found in both the melt and solid phases of the oligomers, and their comparison indicates that regular extended helical conformations exist in the melt phase of perfluoro n-alkanes below n-C 12 F 26 . Good agreement is found between the lamellar long spacings of the copolymer and that calculated from the LAM frequencies. Normal mode calculations, using available force fields, have been performed on the infinite homopolymer (PTFE) and n-C 16 F 34 . It was found that the helix reversal type of chain defect does not affect LAM frequencies and intensities.
The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia revisited.

Abstract (1) The effects of antipsychotic agents in blocking dopamine (DA) receptors and the similarity between paranoid schizophrenia and amphetamine-induced psychosis have opened new research areas in schizophrenia. (2) This paper reviews studies on the hypothesized role for DA in schizophrenia, specifically defects in the DA system including receptor supersensitivity and other dysfunctions. (3) While clinical studies seem to support the DA hypothesis, evidence from the evaluation of spinal fluid homovanillic acid (HVA), dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) and plasma prolactin has been inconclusive. (4) Schizophrenic symptoms fluctuate with central DA activity and some positive brain autopsies appear to support the notion of dysfunctional DA systems. (5) Increasing evidence suggests that other neurotransmitters or modulators of DA activity, such as amino acids (e.g. GABA), amines (norepinephrine) or peptides (endorphins), may be involved in the regulation of psychosis. (6) The author suggests that more specific presynaptic DA agonists and agents that specifically affect mesolimbic DA systems should be developed to test the DA hypothesis further. The mechanism of how DA activity affects schizophrenia has not yet been elucidated.
Mitochondrial Alterations with Mitochondrial DNA Depletion in the Nerves of AIDS Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by 2′3′-Dideoxycytidine (ddC)

Mitochondrial Alterations with Mitochondrial DNA Depletion in the Nerves of AIDS Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by 2′3′-Dideoxycytidine (ddC)
Compressed microfibril models of the native collagen fibril.

A three-dimensional crystal model for packing of collagen molecules (type I) in the native fibril has recently been proposed by Hulmes and Miller1. It provides a straightforward explanation of the major features of the X-ray diffraction pattern, and is consistent with measurements of fibril density. However, there is independent evidence for a well defined microfibrillar substructure, which is absent from their model. This evidence, which is derived from electron microscopy2,5 and studies of in vitro assembly6,7, the pattern of covalent crosslinks8 and sequence analysis9,10, is convincing. Therefore, we have searched for a means to reconcile this conflict. We now propose two models which contain five-stranded microfibrils compressed to place molecules (in cross-section) on a pseudo-hexagonal lattice. The unit cells are equivalent or related to the cell proposed by Hulmes and Miller1. In the simplest case, molecules, and thus microfibrils, are straight-tilted. However, it is not ruled out that molecules are supercoiled and microfibrils are straight. Noncrystallographic considerations6,7,9,10 favour supercoiling.
Optical Testing Using Laser Feedback Metrology

The sensitivity of laser diodes to small amounts of optical feedback provides the basis for a remarkably simple and versatile tool for interferometric metrology of optical elements and systems. The tool uses a simple optical scanner and phase tracking to analyse wavefronts and is particularly useful for obtaining surface profiles of strongly aspheric mirrors. Surface profiles have been obtained to an accuracy of 100 nm in the presence of extremely high (1011/mm) departures from spherical.
Conservation of relative chromosome positioning in normal and cancer cells.

Abstract Chromosomes exist in the interphase nucleus as individual chromosome territories. It is unclear to what extent chromosome territories occupy particular positions with respect to each other and how structural rearrangements, such as translocations, affect chromosome organization within the cell nucleus. Here we analyze the relative interphase positioning of chromosomes in mouse lymphoma cells compared to normal splenocytes. We show that in a lymphoma cell line derived from an ATM −/− mouse, two translocated chromosomes are preferentially positioned in close proximity to each other. The relative position of the chromosomes involved in these translocations is conserved in normal splenocytes. Relative positioning of chromosomes in normal splenocytes is not due to their random distribution in the interphase nucleus and persists during mitosis. These observations demonstrate that the relative arrangement of chromosomes in the interphase nucleus can be conserved between normal and cancer cells and our data support the notion that physical proximity facilitates rearrangements between chromosomes.
Non-trivial continuum limit of a π44 model with negative coupling constant

Abstract We present a rigorous, non-perturbative construction of a non-trivial euclidean π 4 4 field theory with negative coupling constant, as a scaling limit of stable lattice theories. In the present paper the usual propagator is replaced by a hierarchical one for pedagogical reasons. The resulting model has similar renormalization problems as the standard π 4 4 theory. Our non-perturbative construction has the standard renormalized perturbation expansion as an asymptotic expansion, and is asymptotically free. The analysis can be extended to the conventional model with the use of a rigorous block-spin formulation to yield a non-trivial continuum theory with similar properties, but possibly violating reflection positivity in a non-perturbative way.
Law enforcement ethics: Using officers' dilemmas as a teaching tool

This article addresses the use of officer-generated dilemmas in teaching law enforcement ethics classes for both in-service training and university students. The personal dilemmas provide the grist for discussion about decision making and about the philosophical framework from which the decisions derive. Included are descriptions of the more common ethical philosophies, how they may be used to resolve various officer-generated dilemmas, and how recognizing dilemmas and different ethical philosophies may result in different resolutions. The article concludes with the statement that the identification of common dilemmas and the employment of ethical philosophies in resolving them lead to the development of a personal ethical philosophy.
Corruption in the politicized university: lessons for Ukraine's 2010 presidential elections

This article argues that corruption is used on a systematic basis as a mechanism of direct and indirect administrative control from the state level down to local authorities and administrations of public and private institutions of higher education. Informal approval of corrupt activities in exchange for loyalty and compliance with the regime was commonplace in the former Soviet Union. This article explains how corrupt regimes maximize their position in terms of loyalty and compliance using the example of the 2004 presidential elections in Ukraine, which later became known as the Orange Revolution. The 2010 presidential elections and their aftermath pose new challenges to those aspiring to power. This article presents mechanisms by which political bureaucracies politicize universities in order to influence students and channel their electoral power during presidential campaigns.
Exact Reproduction of Colored Images

Abstract The problem of producing a colored image from a colored original is analyzed. Conditions are determined for the production of an image in which the colors cannot be distinguished form those in the original by a human observer. If the final image is produced by superposition of controlled amounts of colored lights, only a simple linear transform need be applied to the outputs of the image sensors to produce the control inputs required for the image generators. In systems which depend instead on control of the concentration or the fractional area covered by colored dyes, a more difficult computation is called for. This calculation may for practical purposes be expressed in table lookup form. The conditions for exact reproduction of colored images should prove useful in the design and analysis of image processing systems whose final output is intended for human viewing. Judging by the design of some existing systems, these rules are not generally known or adhered to. Modern computational techniques make it practical to tackle this problem now. Adherence to design constraints developed here is of particular importance where colors are to be judged when the original is not directly accessible to the observer as, for example, when it is on another planet.
Explicit Newmark/Verlet algorithm for time integration of the rotational dynamics of rigid bodies

We reformulate the traditional velocity based vector-space Newmark algorithm for the rotational dynamics of rigid bodies, that is for the setting of the SO(3) Lie group. We show that the most naive re-write of the vector space algorithm possesses the properties of symplecticity and (almost) momentum conservation. Thus, we obtain an explicit algorithm for rigid body dynamics that matches or exceeds performance of existing algorithms, but which curiously does not seem to have been considered in the open literature so far. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute ventricular septal rupture. Angiographic-morphologic features and clinical assessment.

Twenty patients with acute ventricular septal rupture underwent cardiac catheterization. Prior to catheterization, 17 patients were in Killip class 3-4. Mean cardiac index and cardiac output were 2.03 ± 0.81 L/min/m2 and 3.55 ± 1.33 L/min, respectively. Based on a recent pathologic description of septal rupture, we encountered by angiography and during surgery, two morphologic types of rupture: simple type which appears as a direct through-and-through communication between the ventricles, and complex type which presents hemorrhagic tracts in the septum with the opening into the ventricles at different levels. Considering the management of patients with septal rupture and the clinical outcome in our series, it is suggested that there is a need to minimize invasive angiographic procedures prior to early surgical correction of the ruptured septum. (Chest 1989; 95:292-98)
Non-adiabatic and stochastic mechanisms for cyclotron resonance trapping and heating in mirror geometries

Numerical orbit calculations-indicate very efficient trapping of injected particles by an r.f. field with a frequency corresponding to the cyclotron frequency within a magnetic mirror. For an initially isotropic velocity distribution the orbit theory indicates that the trapping process is nonadiabatic and consequently that the particles will remain trapped for very long periods of time and be stochastically heated to high energies. The orbit theory also predicts a transition to adiabatic behavior for large initial to heat highly anisotropic plasmas in this manner. A statistical theory has been developed to calculate both the degree of heating and the trapping times. The predicted distribution function is Gaussian in energy rather than Maxwellian. Experiments on r.f. cyclotron resonance capture and heating have been performed. Previously reported work has been extended and considerably higher temperatures ( approximately 100 keV at peak compression of 45 kG) have been found. A clear transition between the Gaussian and Maxwellian energy distribution is found, as predicted by the theory. The absolute magnitude of the stochastic heating ( approximately 8 keV at the end of the heating pulse at cyclotron resonance of 3.7 keV) is in reasonable agreement with the theoretical prediction. The number of trapped particles is found to be greater than 1012.
Structure and magnetism of Fe/Si multilayers grown by ion-beam sputtering

Ion-beam sputtering has been used to prepare Fe/Si multilayers on a variety of substrates and over a wide range of temperatures. Small-angle x-ray-diffraction and transmission electron microscopy experiments show that the layers are heavily intermixed although a composition gradient is maintained. When the spacer layer is an amorphous iron silicide, the magnetic properties of the multilayers are similar to those of bulk Fe. When the spacer layer is a crystalline silicide with the {ital B}2 or DO{sub 3} structure, the multilayers show antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling like that observed in ferromagnet/paramagnet multilayers such as Fe/Cr and Co/Cu. Depending on the substrate type and the growth temperature, the multilayers grow in either the (011) or (001) texture. The occurrence of the antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling is dependent on the crystallinity of the iron and iron silicide layers, but does not seem to be strongly affected by the perfection of the layering or the orientation of the film. Since the {ital B}2- and DO{sub 3}-structure Fe{sub {ital x}}Si{sub 1{minus}{ital x}} compounds are known to be metallic, antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling in Fe/Si multilayers probably originates from the same quantum-well and Fermi surface effects as in Fe/Cr and Co/Cu multilayers. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physicalmore » Society.}« less
Healthy pets: web sites to help you make wise health care decisions for your pet

As the number of pets and pet owners continues to increase in the United States, more and more people are becoming consumers of health information for their pets. Although the veterinarian continues to be the primary source of medical information for pet owners, many are turning to the Internet to begin their search for information or to find additional information that will assist them in making health care decisions about their pets. The types and quality of information available on the Internet about a pet's health varies greatly, and it is imperative that the pet owner finds high quality, unbiased, and up-to-date information in order to make wise decisions. This article briefly reviews the types of sites available and presents examples of high quality sites for the savvy pet owner.
Comparison of optical predetection processing and postdetection linear processing for partially coherent image estimation

A comparison is made between the effectiveness of optical predetection processing and that of electronic postdetection filtering for image-estimation applications. The results indicate that optical preprocessing is more effective than postdetection filtering when the object illumination is coherent or nearly coherent, whereas the reverse is true for incoherent illumination. Two methods for using the processing capabilities of the optics in conjunction with the processing capabilities of the postdetection filter are also presented. The theory is formulated by assuming stationary statistics for the objects. Results of computer simulations performed on nonstationary objects indicate that the theory can be applied with minor modifications to nonstationary objects.
Small conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channels are regulated by Ca2+‐calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II in murine colonic myocytes

Ca2+ regulates the activity of small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels via calmodulin-dependent binding. We investigated whether other forms of Ca2+-dependent regulation might control the open probability of SK channels. Under whole-cell patch-clamp conditions, spontaneous openings of SK channels can be resolved as charybdotoxin-insensitive spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs). The Ca2+–calmodulin-dependent (CaM) protein kinase II inhibitor KN-93 reduced the occurrence of charybdotoxin-insensitive STOCs. The charybdotoxin-insensitive STOCs are related to spontaneous, local release of Ca2+. KN-93 did not affect spontaneous Ca2+-release events. KN-93 and W-7, a calmodulin inhibitor, decreased the open probability of SK channels in on-cell patches but not in excised patches. Application of autothiophosphorlated CaM kinase II to the cytoplasmic surface of excised patches increased the open probalibity of SK channels. Boiled CaM kinase II had no effect. We conclude that CaM kinase II regulates SK channels in murine colonic myocytes. This mechanism provides a secondary means of regulation, increasing the impact of a given Ca2+ transient on SK channel open probability.
Perturbation Estimation of the Subspaces for Structure from Motion with Noisy and Missing Data

It is common when analyzing experimental data to encounter matrices that have been contaminated by noise and have missing elements. Missing data can be recovered with imputation methods if the measurement data matrix is of low rank and the data is noise-free. However, iterative imputation can produce poor results for cases of large noise or a large proportion of missing data. Non-imputing methods rely on the use of existent data and require a selection of complete submatrices. Jacobs introduced a non-imputing method which can produce good results, but the randomness in selecting the submatrices cannot guarantee a consistently accurate recovery of missing data. Chen and Suter's method chooses the most reliable submatrix based on the number of missing data elements only, which fails to consider the effect of noise on the selected data. Herein, a new criterion based on an estimate of the sensitivity of submatrices to perturbation is introduced which takes into consideration that in some cases a column with more missing data could provide more useful information than one with less missing data. Experimental results for the problem of structure from motion with noisy point correspondences and missing data show that our criterion can sort submatrices properly in terms of their possible perturbation and recover the 3D structure of the scene more accurately than other non-imputing methods.
Radon transformation of the Wigner spectrum

The radon transform of the Wigner spectrum has been shown to be the optimal detection scheme for linear FM signals, but the properties of this representation have not been well characterized. By the projection slice theorem, each line integral through the Wigner spectrum corresponds to the inverse Fourier transform of a radial slice through the ambiguity plane. Since line integrals through the Wigner spectrum can be calculated by dechirping, calculation of the Wigner spectrum may be viewed as a tomographic reconstruction problem. In this paper we show that all time-frequency transforms of Cohen's class may be achieved by simple changes in backprojection reconstruction filtering. The resolution-ringing trade-off that occurs in computed tomography is shown to be analogous to the resolution-cross-term trade-off that occurs in time-frequency kernel selection. `Ideal' reconstruction using a purely differentiating backprojection filter yields the Wigner distribution while low-pass differentiating filters produce cross-term suppressing distributions such as the spectrogram or the Born-Jordan distribution. The one-to-one identities between the Wigner, Radon-Wigner, and ambiguity planes suggest that the Radon-Wigner domain may be a new design space for time-frequency filtering and kernel design. The distribution of white noise in this space is presented as well as some simple examples of time-varying filtering.
Imidazole Is a Sensitive Probe of Steric Hindrance in the Distal Pockets of Oxygen-Binding Heme Proteins †

The FixL heme-based sensor, despite its low affinity for oxygen, is much more reactive than myoglobin toward the large polar ligand imidazole. To determine which features of a myoglobin heme pocket favor binding of imidazole, we have measured binding of this ligand to the FixL heme domain, elephant myoglobin, wild-type sperm whale myoglobin, and sperm whale myoglobins having alanine, valine, threonine, glutamine, leucine, phenylalanine, or tryptophan substitutions of the distal (E7) histidine residue. Except for histidine, the association rate constants dropped more than 3000-fold as the volume of the E7 side chain, at position 64, was expanded from alanine (10(6) M-1 s-1) to phenylalanine (10(3) M-1 s-1). There was inhibition of imidazole binding due to displacement of coordinated water from H64 and H64Q sperm whale myoglobins, where the E7 side chain hydrogen bonds directly to the bound ligand. The imidazole dissociation rate constants varied less dramatically and less consistently with any single factor, though they were measurably decreased by hydrogen bonding to an E7 glutamine or histidine. On the whole, the results for the sperm whale myoglobin E7 substitutions show that the rate constants for imidazole binding are useful and sensitive indicators of steric hindrance and polar interactions in the distal pockets of myoglobins. The combined effects of the glutamine 64 and phenylalanine 29 in elephant myoglobin largely account for its increased imidazole association and dissociation rate constants, respectively, compared to those of sperm whale myoglobin. An unhindered distal pocket not competent to stabilize positive poles is indicated by the large imidazole association (>/=10(4) M-1 s-1) and dissociation (>/=50 s-1) rate constants, parameters that are characteristic of FixL.
“Yummy Mummies” and the Contradictions of Modern Pregnancy

Nash, M. (2012). Making “Postmodern” Mothers: Pregnant Embodiment, Baby Bumps, and Body Image. London: Palgrave. Price: $85.00 (hardcover) ISBN: 9780230355439Making “Postmodern” Mothers: Pregnant E...
Structural studies of atom-specific anticancer drugs acting on DNA

Abstract The interactions of many important anticancer drugs with DNA play important roles in their biological functions. In fact, DNA can be considered as a macromolecular receptor for those drugs. There are several classes of DNA-acting anticancer drugs. Some form noncovalent complexes with DNA by either intercalation (such as daunorubicin and doxorubicin) or groove-binding (such as distamycin A). Others, such as cisplatin, mitomycin C, and ecteinascidins, form covalent linkages with DNA. Finally, some (e.g., duocarmycin/CC-1065, bleomycin/pepleomycin, and enediyne antibiotics) cause DNA backbone cleavages. During the past decade, the detailed molecular interactions of several DNA-acting anticancer drugs with DNA have been studied with structural tools, including high resolution X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy. These results have provided useful insights into DNA conformation and drug-DNA interactions. In particular, it was found that specific atomic sites on DNA are often the targets for drug covalent actions. Here we review the structural aspects of the interactions of several anticancer drugs acting on: (1) the N2 amino group of guanine in the minor groove, (2) the N3 atom of guanine and adenine in the minor groove, (3) the N7 atom of guanine and adenine in the major groove, and finally, (4) the C4′, C5′, and C1′ atoms of the deoxyribose in the backbone of B-DNA double-helix. Understanding the underlying mechanism of the drug action at the cellular and molecular levels through those structural studies should be useful in the development of new anticancer drugs.
Microsaccade production during saccade cancelation in a stop-signal task

We obtained behavioral data to evaluate two alternative hypotheses about the neural mechanisms of gaze control. The "fixation" hypothesis states that neurons in rostral superior colliculus (SC) enforce fixation of gaze. The "microsaccade" hypothesis states that neurons in rostral SC encode microsaccades rather than fixation per se. Previously reported neuronal activity in monkey SC during the saccade stop-signal task leads to specific, dissociable behavioral predictions of these two hypotheses. When subjects are required to cancel partially-prepared saccades, imbalanced activity spreads across rostral and caudal SC with a reliable temporal profile. The microsaccade hypothesis predicts that this imbalance will lead to elevated microsaccade production biased toward the target location, while the fixation hypothesis predicts reduced microsaccade production. We tested these predictions by analyzing the microsaccades produced by 4 monkeys while they voluntarily canceled partially prepared eye movements in response to explicit stop signals. Consistent with the fixation hypothesis and contradicting the microsaccade hypothesis, we found that each subject produced significantly fewer microsaccades when normal saccades were successfully canceled. The few microsaccades escaping this inhibition tended to be directed toward the target location. We additionally investigated interactions between initiating microsaccades and inhibiting normal saccades. Reaction times were longer when microsaccades immediately preceded target presentation. However, pre-target microsaccade production did not affect stop-signal reaction time or alter the probability of canceling saccades following stop signals. These findings demonstrate that imbalanced activity within SC does not necessarily produce microsaccades and add to evidence that saccade preparation and cancelation are separate processes.
Resource tradeoffs in distributed subspace tracking over the wireless medium

This paper studies distributed subspace tracking in wireless networks based on consensus averaging. Most prior approaches to this require the exchange of many inter-node messages between the arrival of new measurements, forcing communications to happen at a faster timescale than measurements. By contrast, this paper proposes a technique, termed hierarchical subspace tracking, which leverages recent advances in consensus over wireless networks in order to track subspaces when communications and measurements occur on the same timescale. It is shown that the resource consumption of hierarchical subspace tracking scales slowly in the size of the network. Further, it is shown that the convergence speed of hierarchical subspace tracking is the same as if measurements were known globally.
A daily process examination of the temporal association between alcohol use and verbal and physical aggression in community couples

Alcohol use has been associated with intimate partner aggression perpetration and victimization; however, much of the evidence is based on survey research. Few studies have addressed the proximal effects of drinking episodes on the subsequent occurrence of partner aggression. The current study used daily diary methodology to consider the daily and temporal association between drinking episodes and episodes of partner verbal and physical aggression among a community sample of married and cohabiting couples (N = 118). Male and female partners each provided 56 days of independent daily reports of drinking and partner conflict episodes, including verbal and physical aggression, using interactive voice response technology. Dyadic data analyses, guided by the actor-partner interdependence model, were conducted using hierarchical generalized linear modeling with multivariate outcomes. Daily analyses revealed that alcohol consumption was associated with perpetration of verbal and physical aggression the same day, but not with victimization. Temporal analyses revealed that the likelihood of perpetrating verbal and physical aggression, and the likelihood of being verbally and physically victimized, increased significantly when alcohol was consumed in the previous four hours. Findings did not differ according to gender of perpetrator or victim, and the interaction between perpetrator and victim's alcohol use was not significant in any analysis. The study provides clear evidence that, within a sample of community couples without substance-use disorders or other psychopathology, alcohol consumption by men and women contributes to the occurrence of partner aggression episodes.
The Relationship among HRpeak, RERpeak, and VO2peak during Treadmill Testing in Girls

Clear criteria for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) determination in youth are not available, and no studies have examined this issue in girls. Our purpose was to determine whether different peak heart rate (HRpeak) and peak respiratory exchange ratio (RERpeak) cut points affect girls' (N = 453; M age = 13.3 years, SD = .1) VO2max during a maximal treadmill test. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed VO2max (ml.kg-1.min-1) differed significantly among HRpeak, 180–189 b.min-1 = 34 (SD = .8), 190–194 b.min-1 = 35 (SD = .9), 195–199 b.min-1 = 38 (SD = .8), 200–204 b.min-1 = 40 ml.kg-1.min-1 (SD = .8), and >205 b.min-1 = 42 ml.kg-1.min-1 (SD = .7) but not RERpeak. In studies where evidence of a VO2 plateau was examined, peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) did not differ between plateau and no-plateau groups. Although our results suggest the association between lower VO2peak and lower peak heart rate is a true cardiovascular limit to aerobic energy production, we cannot rule out participant effort.
Arrhythmias after the mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries: A long-term study

This study presents follow-up data on 95 patients with transposition of the great arteries who underwent a Mustard intraatrial baffle operation. The patients were followed up serially by means of scalar electrocardiograms and 24 hour Holter monitoring studies. The latter study was effective in documenting abnormal rhythm patterns when the standard electrocardiogram was within normal limits. Twenty percent of the patients had atrial arrhythmias at the time of hospital discharge. New rhythm disturbances were recognized during each year of follow-up; 75% of the patients had atrial rhythm disorders by the sixth year. Slow junctional rhythm was the most common rhythm disturbance found. Complete heart block did not occur. Supraventricular tachycardia occurred within the context of the tachycardia/bradycardia syndrome in 8 of 10 patients, and in all it was documented after hospital discharge. The incidence of sudden death in this series was 3%. Six of the patients have had pacemaker insertions and there have been no deaths among these individuals. It was observed that the slow atrial or junctional rhythms that appeared after intraatrial correction of transposition of the great arteries rarely progressed to life-threatening rhythm disorders in childhood or adolescence, but the prognosis in adult life remains unknown. The three deaths in the series occurred in patients with a history of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Elimination of arrhythmias caused by extensive intraatrial surgery is one of the potential advantages of the arterial switch operation for correction of transposition of the great arteries.
Application of a direct spectrophotometric assay employing a chromogenic substrate for tryptophanase to the determination of pyridoxal and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphates.

Abstract Improved procedures for the isolation of apotryptophanase and its use in estimation of the vitamin B-6 coenzymes are presented. An excess of the apoenzyme is allowed to react with limiting amounts of pyridoxal-P. Estimation of the holotryptophanase thus formed by use of the chromogenic substrate. S-o-nitrophenyl- l -cysteine, provides a sensitive (1–400 pmol) and conveniently direct spectrophotometric assay for pyridoxal-P. For the specific estimation of pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate, samples are first reduced with NaBH4 to convert pyridoxal-P to pyridoxine-P (inactive). By nonenzymatic transamination with glyoxylate, pyridoxamine-P is then converted quantitatively to pyridoxal-P and estimated with apotryptophanase. The method gives excellent recoveries of the added coenzymes and indicates that in many tissue extracts pyridoxamine-P surpasses pyridoxal-P in concentration.
Identification of tryptophan pyrrolase in liver lysosomes after treatment of rats with hydrocortisone and chloroquine

Abstract Liver lysosomes isolated from rats treated with hydrocortisone and chloroquine were found to contain an increased amount of protein including 3% of the tryptophan pyrrolase enzyme activity and 5% of the antigenic activity. Immunoprecipitates were obtained by incubating lysosomes with antibody to tryptophan pyrrolase. Analysis of these immunoprecipitates by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed tryptophan pyrrolase subunits (MW 45,000) and smaller polypeptides, presumably proteolytic degradation products of intact subunits.
Prediction of the Influence of Vibration on Structural Integrity of Elevator Suspension Ropes

Traction drive elevator installations employ ropes of variable length as a mean of car and counterweight suspension. The inertial and elastic characteristics of elevator suspension systems depend on the rope construction and vary slowly during the elevator travel. The system suffers from vibrations caused by various sources of excitation. This paper presents the analysis of the dynamic response of the suspension system employing traditional steel wire ropes as well as ropes constructed of aramid fibers. The equations describing the lateral response of the system subjected to a boundary periodic excitation are solved numerically. The results show that the entire rope is subjected to repetitive low frequency transient resonances. Consequently, the structural integrity of the suspension ropes is compromised. The issue of active vibration control and the feasibility of the integration of shape memory alloy elements within the suspension rope design are discussed.
A regeneration model for the effect of bioturbation by fiddler crabs on 210Pb profiles in salt marsh sediments

Burrowing by fiddler crabs results in the transfer of sediment at depth to the surface, where it is washed away and replaced by sediment with a surficial 210Pb signature. It is not clear that this mode of bioturbation can be approximated by analogy to molecular diffusion because the exchange is not between adjacent sediment parcels and does not occur in random directions. Accordingly, we propose a regeneration model to simulate the effects of fiddler crab burrowing on 210Pb profiles. The steady-state equation that describes our model is: ∂210Pb∂z=−γ210PbS+KB(210Pb0−210Pb)exp(−z/UB)S where λ is the radioactive decay constant for 210Pb, 210Pb0 is the activity of 210Pb at the surface, S is the sedimentation rate, KB is the burrowing frequency and UB is the mean depth of a burrow. The probability of a burrow reaching or exceeding a given depth z is assumed to be distributed exponentially. Depending on the values selected for KB and UB a wide variety of profile forms can be simulated or fitted to actual data, including profiles that show an abrupt increase in the apparent sedimentation rate at depth using conventional models. We suggest that such profiles could be due to bioturbation rather than actual changes in sedimentation rate. A useful aspect of the model is that it can be used to calculate the volume of sediment turned over each year by bioturbation as a function of depth.
57.3: The Effect of Touch Screen Hand Stability Method on Performance & Subjective Preference in Turbulence

Eight participants conducted representative flight deck display interaction tasks using a touch screen fitted with four hand stabilization methods in turbulent motion conditions simulated by off-road driving on a bumpy surface. A variety of objective and subjective data were gathered including workload, time on task, error rate, and electromyography (EMG) captured at the participants' forearms. Results indicated no significant differences in task performance across the hand stabilization methods, while preference ratings and comments significantly favored the “rails” hand stabilization method. EMG data indicated that the “slider” stabilization method reduced the variability in the EMG signal for all subjects. The results suggest that participants required at least some form of hand stabilization to support completion of flight deck tasks when using a touch screen in turbulent conditions.