cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Moloney murine leukemia and sarcoma virus RNAs: purification and hybridization map of complementary DNAs from defined regions of Moloney murine sarcoma virus 124.

Abstract Complementary DNAs (cDNA's) specific for various regions of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV) 124 RNA genome were prepared by cross-hybridization techniques. A cDNA specific for the first 1,000 nucleotides adjacent to the RNA 3′ end (cDNA 3′) was prepared and shown to also be complementary to the 3′-terminal 1,000 nucleotides of a related Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV) genome. A cDNA complementary to the “MSV-specific” portion of the MSV 124 genome was prepared. This cDNA was shown not to anneal to Moloney MLV RNA and to anneal to a portion of the viral RNA of about 1,500 to 1,800 nucleotides in length, located 1,000 nucleotides from the 3′ end of MSV RNA. A cDNA common to the genome of MSV and MLV was also obtained and shown to anneal to the 5′-terminal two-thirds, as well as to the 3′-terminal 1,000 nucleotides, of the MSV RNA genome. This cDNA also annealed to the RNA from MLV and mainly to the 5′-terminal half of the MLV genome. It is concluded that the 6-kilobase Moloney MSV 124 RNA genome has a sequence arrangement that includes (i) a 3′ portion of about 1,000 nucleotides, which is also present at the 3′ terminus of MLV; (ii) an MSV-specific region, not shared with MLV, which extends between 1,000 and 2,500 nucleotides from the 3′ terminus; and (iii) a second “common” region, again shared with MLV, which extends from 2,500 nucleotides to the 5′ terminus. This second common region appears to be located in the 5′ half of the 10-kilobase MLV genome as well. Experiments in which a large excess of cold MLV cDNA was annealed to 3H-labeled polyadenylic acid-containing fragments of MSV RNA gave results consistent with this arrangement of the MSV genome.
Physiological underpinnings of irritable bowel syndrome: neurohormonal mechanisms

The gastrointestinal tract is a vast neuroendocrine organ with extensive extrinsic and intrinsic neural circuits that interact to control its function. Circulating and paracrine hormones (amine and peptide) provide further control of secretory, absorptive, barrier, motor and sensory mechanisms that are essential to the digestion and assimilation of nutrients, and the transport and excretion of waste products. Specialized elements of the mucosa (including enteroendocrine cells, enterocytes and immune cells) and the microbiome interact with other intraluminal contents derived from the diet, and with endogenous chemicals that alter the gut's functions. The totality of these control mechanisms is often summarized as the brain–gut axis. In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is the most common gastrointestinal disorder, there may be disturbances at one or more of these diverse control mechanisms. Patients present with abdominal pain in association with altered bowel function. This review documents advances in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms in the brain–gut axis in patients with IBS. It is anticipated that identification of one or more disordered functions in clinical practice will usher in a renaissance in the management of IBS, leading to effective therapy tailored to the needs of the individual patient.
The Future of Foreclosure

Observations on recent California foreclosure decisions and the consequent uncertainty as to the validity of trustee sales.
Decidability and Complexity Results for Timed Automata and Semi-linear Hybrid Automata

We define a new class of hybrid automata for which reachability is decidable--a proper superclass of the initialized rectangular hybrid automata--by taking parallel compositions of simple components. Attempting to generalize, we encounter timed automata with algebraic constants. We show that reachability is undecidable for these algebraic timed automata by simulating two-counter Minsky machines. Modifying the construction to apply to parametric timed automata, we reprove the undecidability of the emptiness problem, and then distinguish the dense and discrete-time cases with a new result. The algorithmic complexity-- both classical and parametric--of one-clock parametric timed automata is also examined. We finish with a table of computability-theoretic complexity results, including that the existence of a Zeno run is Σ11 -complete for semi-linear hybrid automata; it is too complex to be expressed in first-order arithmetic.
SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANSAMINASE ACTIVITY OF SERUM

THE MEASUREMENT of enzyme activity of serum as an indicator of disease has a long history in medicine. In the past, it has been the aim of the designers of these methods to make them as specific as possible for assay of an enzyme characteristic of a particular system or group of similar organs. Examples of these venerable tests are those for amylase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and choline esterase in the serum. Warburg made the first departure from this specificity by demonstrating that the activity of triosephosphate dehydrogenase in the serum of animals with cancer was much greater than that of controls. This test was partially specific, for as Warburg had earlier shown, the glycolytic activity of tumors is much greater than that of normal tissues. The non-specific approach became extreme with the introduction of the measurement of the glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase reaction in the diagnosis of acute coronary disease.
Recent results on adaptive multiuser signal separation in CDMA; important steps in meeting the needs of third-generation wireless comm. systems

CDMA is predicted to be an important method for the third generation wireless communication systems. However, for CDMA to satisfy the need for an increased number of simultaneous users, multiuser interference must be effectively combated. For such cancelers, adaptive methods are quite attractive. We summarize some of the results on adaptive multiuser detection, obtained at the Center for Comm. and Signal Processing.
Temperature Sensitivity of Neural Tube Defects in Zoep Mutants.

Abstract Neural tube defects (NTD) occur when the flat neural plate epithelium fails to fold into the neural tube, the precursor to the brain and spinal cord. Squint (Sqt/Ndr1), a Nodal ligand, and One-eyed pinhead (Oep), a component of the Nodal receptor, are required for anterior neural tube closure in zebrafish. The NTD in sqt and Zoep mutants are incompletely penetrant. The penetrance of several defects in sqt mutants increases upon heat or cold shock. In this project, undergraduate students tested whether temperature influences the Zoep open neural tube phenotype. Single pairs of adults were spawned at 28.5°C, the normal temperature for zebrafish, and one half of the resulting embryos were moved to 34°C at different developmental time points. Analysis of variance indicated temperature and clutch/genetic background significantly contributed to the penetrance of the open neural tube phenotype. Heat shock affected the embryos only at or before the midblastula stage. Many factors, including temperature c...
A database system for constructing, integrating, and displaying physical maps of chromosome 19

Efforts are underway at numerous sites around the world to construct physical maps of all human chromosomes. These maps will enable researchers to locate, characterize, and eventually understand the genes that control human structure and function. The volume and complexity of the data already generated requires a sophisticated array of computational support to collect, store, analyze, integrate and display data in biologically meaningful ways. The Human Genome Center at Livermore has spent the past 6 years constructing a database system to support its physical mapping efforts on human chromosome 19. Our computational support team is composed of experienced computer professionals who share a common pragmatic primary goal of rapidly supplying tools that meet the ever-changing needs of the biologists. In this paper, we concentrate on the design issues, tradeoffs, and consequences from the point of view of building a complex database system to support leading-edge genomic research. We introduce the topic of physical mapping, discuss the key design issues involved in our database, and discuss the use of this data by our major tools (DNA fingerprint analysis and overlap computation, contig assembly, map integration and database browsing). Given the advantage of hindsight, we discuss what worked, what didn't, and where to go from here. As early pioneers in this field, we hope that our experience may prove useful to others who are now beginning to design and construct similar systems. >
Chromosome Behaviour Due to a Gene Which Prevents Metaphase Pairing in Datura

1. In Datura stramonium a recessive gene (bd) which is located in the 21·22 chromosome, is responsible for a complete lack of pairing of homologous chromosomes during the first meiotic division in both microsporocytes (pollen-mother-cells) and megasporocytes. The 24 univalents may be scattered along the axis of the bipolar spindle. This results in irregular distribution of chromosomes or even failure to form more than one group (non-reduction).2. In shape, size and behavior, these univalent chromosomes are similar to the univalents of haploids.3. The second meiotic division is normal and equational.4. The tetrad stage is characterized by a varying number of microspores and microcytes.5. Dyads are the result of non-reduction which varies from zero to eight percent.6. PMC's showed a limited number of kinds of irregular chromosome distribution; a few occurred more frequently than others.7. During anaphase I there was a tendency for the chromosomes to separate into two groups, along with a lesser tendency toward non-reduction. There was considerable lagging of chromosomes.8. Chromosome groups which contain less than a genom produce microcytes only. A formula is given for the probability of a genom in groups of 12 or more chromosomes.9. Pollen abortion varies from 92 to 98 per cent. Good pollen consists of varying amounts of large grains which have the size characteristic of the pollen of tetraploids and of smaller grains which presumably contain a genom with none to several extra chromosomes.10. The amount of good pollen found is in fair agreement with the amount expected from application of the formula for probability of a genom to chromosome counts at metaphase II.11. Trisomic (2n+21·22) plants which are triplex for this gene also show lack of metaphase pairing, 2n+21·22 plants which are duplex for it show normal pairing.12. Two tetraploids were obtained when bd2 pollen was used on a 4n female.
Life-threatening presentation of mediastinal neoplasms: report on 7 consecutive pediatric patients

Background: Cases of respiratory failure at presentation in children with anterior mediastinal malignancies can be very challenging for clinicians. Seven consecutive children presenting with superior mediastinal syndrome are reported needing urgent critical care approach. Patients and Methods: Seven children (age range from 0.8 to 14 years; mean, 4.5 years) suffered from critical mediastinal neoplasms. Clinical presentation, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome are discussed. Setting: a tertiary-care 6-bed medical and surgical pediatric intensive care in a university hospital. Interventions included emergency management, resuscitation and intensive care admission, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Results: All cases showed a respiratory compromise and underwent ventilatory and/or cardiovascular support. Two patients needed renal replacement therapy. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit discharge was achieved in all patients. Conclusions: Critical or extreme presentation of mediastinal neoplasms does not preclude a good clinical outcome: an intensive care approach is essential to allow patient recovery and effective antineoplastic therapy administration.
Micro- and macrokinetic behavior of the subunit gating channel

The concept of a channel that builds up from subunit molecules by way of aggregation can provide the framework for a unified description of electrical excitability in cell and model membranes at the micro- and macrokinetic level. Monte Carlo simulations of the microkinetics of a subunit channel predict two extreme kinds of gating behavior. Depending on the reaction parameters, a simulation can result either in single-step open-closed microkinetics, as elucuidated by noise analysis of excitable cell membranes, or in records resembling the multi-step conductance bursts that are measured in lipid bilayers modified by alamethicin. Numerical calculations of the voltage-clamp macrokinetics for the two cases reveal that the set of parameters that produces nerve- and muscle-like fluctuations gives Hodgkin-Huxley-type time courses, while the set that results in alamethicin-like fluctuation behavior gives alamethicin-like macrokinetics. The macrokinetic behavior is generated by summing microkinetic simulations for the nerve and the alamethicin case.
Nobel Prize: Three Named for Medicine, Physiology Award

Three scientists, George Wald, Ragnar Granit, and Haldan Keffer Hartline, were named last week to share the 1967 Nobel prize in medicine or physiology. Wald is professor of biology at Harvard University. Granit is retired director of the Neurophysiological Institute of the Royal Medical School in Stockholm; at present he is serving as a visiting professor at St. Catherine's College in Oxford. Hartline is professor of biophysics at Rockefeller University. The following are appreciations and descriptions of Wald's work by John E. Dowling and of Granit's and Hartline's work by Floyd Ratliff.
A framework for parallelized efficient global optimization with application to vehicle crashworthiness optimization

This article presents a framework for simulation-based design optimization of computationally expensive problems, where economizing the generation of sample designs is highly desirable. One popular approach for such problems is efficient global optimization (EGO), where an initial set of design samples is used to construct a kriging model, which is then used to generate new ‘infill’ sample designs at regions of the search space where there is high expectancy of improvement. This article attempts to address one of the limitations of EGO, where generation of infill samples can become a difficult optimization problem in its own right, as well as allow the generation of multiple samples at a time in order to take advantage of parallel computing in the evaluation of the new samples. The proposed approach is tested on analytical functions, and then applied to the vehicle crashworthiness design of a full Geo Metro model undergoing frontal crash conditions.
Tumor Doubling Time and Survival of Men with Bronchogenic Carcinoma

The relationship between tumor volume doubling time and survival was studied in 28 patients with histologically confirmed bronchogenic carcinoma with the following characteristics: the cancers presented radiographically as circumscribed peripheral nodules first observed at a diameter of 0.6 to 1.4 cm, and follow-up was maintained until death or for at least 8.5 years from the time the tumor was 1.0 cm in diameter. Among eight patients whose cancers were not resected, survival was longer in the four treated with radiation than in the four who were not. Among 20 patients whose cancers were resected, 18 who died showed a fair correlation between tumor doubling time and survival; the other two patients were still alive 116 and 143 months after the tumors were 1 cm in diameter, presumably cured. These observations indicate that tumor growth rate is an important factor in the prognosis of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.
Pandemic Influenza: Impact on Perianesthesia Nursing Areas

As our readers are aware, these pages are typically used by the editors. However, in light of the recent events and concerns surrounding the swine flu, the editors have elected to quickly substitute an informative piece regarding influenza for the usual editorial. We thank Dr. Daphne Stannard for her willingness to disseminate her knowledge on the topic. The Editors
Recognition of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and initiation of argatroban therapy after cardiothoracic surgery in the intensive care unit

Objective Patients recovering from cardiothoracic surgery are known to be at increased risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Postoperatively, if heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is suspected, heparin is discontinued immediately and an alternative anticoagulant, such as the direct thrombin inhibitor argatroban, is administered. Current data regarding the safety and efficacy of argatroban in the postoperative cardiothoracic surgical patient in the intensive care setting are limited. Methods Data were collected retrospectively from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2010, from patients tested for antiplatelet factor 4/heparin antibodies on clinical suspicion of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia after cardiothoracic surgery. We evaluated the use of argatroban as a therapeutic agent for the postoperative treatment of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia by comparing thrombotic and bleeding events, platelet dynamics, antiplatelet factor 4/heparin antibody titer, and clinical probability score between patients who did and did not receive argatroban. Results Eighty-seven patients were included; 47 patients (54%) were treated with argatroban, and 40 patients (46%) were not treated with argatroban. There was no association between argatroban therapy and bleeding, mortality, length of stay, or pretreatment thrombotic events. Among all patients, antiplatelet factor 4/heparin antibody titer and clinical probability score were higher in patients treated with argatroban. Conclusions Clinical suspicion of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia as detected by clinical probability score and thrombotic complications should prompt immediate cessation of heparin and initiation of an alternative anticoagulant such as argatroban. The results from this study demonstrate that argatroban should be considered without increased risk for adverse events, including bleeding, in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit after surgery.
SU-E-T-215: A Technique for Treating Patients outside the Mosaiq R&V System for TrueBeam Users (or 4DTC).

Purpose: When the record and verify (R&V) system (Mosaiq, Elekta Medical Systems) is unavailable to send information to the treatment console of the linear accelerator (Varian Clinac, Varian Medical Systems), treatment is manually delivered by entering parameters into the treatment console and loading backed up MLC files. The new linear accelerator, the TrueBeam (Varian Medical Systems) lacks the ability to manually deliver treatment by entering machine parameters into the treatment console. Methods: The TrueBeam can only deliver treatments using the R&V system or loading DICOM RT plan files directly in File Mode. Every time a prescription site is sent from the R&V system to the accelerator, a DICOM RT plan file is created by the R&V system. A script was created that reads the headers of these files, copies them to the treatment console and renames them in an identifiable form. At the end of each treatment day, the script is executed transferring only the DICOM RT plan files created that treatment day. A contingency report is then generated from the R&V system, which contains machine parameters for all fields for all patients under treatment. When the R&V system is unavailable the RT plan files are opened in file mode, and the machine parameters are verified using the contingency report before delivery. This system was tested on a cohort of patients. Each patient's plan was opened in file mode and the machine parameters were verified against the patient's planned treatment in the R&V system. Results: All files opened in file mode were identical to the information stored in the R&V system. This was tested both on the TrueBeam and accelerators having the 4DTC. Conclusions: Our technique was validated and is an alternative method for delivering treatment when the R&V system is unavailable.
Sensing, perceiving, and thinking: On the method of phenomenal contrast

I apply the Method of Phenomenal Contrast to examples involving aesthetic experience and sensory illusion. While the method can provide reasons to prefer one form of content hypothesis over others, it may be of no help in answering substantive questions about the nature and structure of such content. I suggest that successful application of the method can leave us with a difficult question. Why would a sensory system have the function of representing a property that it cannot detect?
Meta-caching and meta-transcoding for server-side service proxy

This paper proposes novel concepts of meta-caching and meta-transcoding which indicate that intermediate results (metadata) of service (e.g., video transcoding) sessions are cached and subsequent identical service requests are served through transcoding from the cached metadata. The proposed methods provide a foundation to achieving superior storage and computation resource balance at service proxies. It is primarily useful in reducing the computing load of service proxies at the server side. The paper further identifies the appropriate metadata and its characteristics for three types of video transcoding tasks. Simulations based on these characteristics validate that the proposed methods achieve superior computing load reduction on transcoding service proxies.
A nutritional test for the low density lipoprotein receptor in chinese hamster fibroblasts

The role of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in the uptake of serum cholesterol and the regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis has proved pivotal in understanding these two processes and their malfunction in the human congenital disease, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia [ 11. Furthermore, the uptake of LDL has proved to be an interesting model for general studies of receptormediated endocytosis [2]. In studies of the uptake of LDL, fibroblasts from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia have been of great value in providing test systems. These naturally occurring mutations fall into three allelic groups but the complexity of the LDL pathway suggests that other complementary mutations can exist. Thus, the full genetic analysis of the LDL pathway would seem to require application of the techniques of somatic cell genetics. Probably the most useful somatic.cell system for genetic analysis has proved to be cultured Chinese hamster cells, particularly the CHO-Kl line [3]. When suitable nutritional means are available for distinguishing between the presence or absence of a particular function, this cell can be used for the isolation of mutations defective in that function by the BudR visible light technique [ 31. Furthermore, nutritional detection of a function in this cell allows the use of hybridization techniques in the analysis of complementation groups [3] and chromosomal mapping of human genes for that function [4]. Here we present a simple medium which allows nutritional detection of the low density lipoprotein receptor which could prove useful in such somatic cell genetic studies.
Mapping procedure to match hysteresis loops from models to experimental results

A procedure is described for altering the shape of hysteresis loops obtained from a model while preserving the proper nesting of major and minor loops. The technique is called mapping. Some typical results obtained from mapping are shown and discussed.
Teenage Marriage among Hmong American Women

As Hmong transition to life in America, efforts are made by Hmong to maintain traditional cultural practices. This article explores the traditional practice of early marriage among Hmong women and their responses to this practice. As Hmong women acculturate to American ways, women may question the role of traditional practices in their identity and everyday lives. This study examines the family socialization and individual processes associated with teenage marriage among Hmong American women. Interviews with 12 Hmong American women who were married in their teens describe their experiences.
The magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere as a system - Dynamics Explorer 5 years later

The Dynamics Explorer (DE) program summarizes its accomplishments during the first 5 years since the launch of the two DE satellites. This introduction to six review articles provides background information and a brief history of the program, especially citing the contributions of many people to its development. The principal investigators who had primary responsibility to implement the program are listed, together with the instruments they provided. Orbital information and approaches and constraints to data acquisition are explained. The brief description of the ground data processing and analysis system provides information on access to data catalogs and data sets. Each review article is then placed in the context of the categories of scientific objectives of the program.
Screening mammography and older Hispanic women. Current status and issues.

Background. Little is known about the screening behavior of older minority women, especially Hispanic women. Data from Los Angeles were compared to national data to examine any similarities and unique problems. Methods. In 1990, 726 women from Los Angeles older than 65 years of age were surveyed by telephone after being identified through a probability sample or through Medicare listings. Mammography experience and knowledge and attitudes about screening were collected. Differences in mammography experience by racial /ethnic group were computed using the chi-square test. Results. Hispanic women were not underscreened significantly compared with older white and black women
Methods of overcoming interspecific barriers in Trifolium.

Barriers to interspecific hybridization in Trifolium were investigated by manipulation of mentor pollen treatments, ploidy levels, and compatibility and male sterility systems. Crosses involving the addition of mentor pollen produced fewer seeds and hybrids than crosses involving normal pollination. Lower seed set with mentor pollen was deduced to result from the use of less viable pollen, approximately half the pollen having been killed by alcohol. Pollinations at the diploid level resulted in more hybrids than at the tetraploid level, perhaps because genes for male sterility produced higher female sterility in the tetraploids. The self-compatible stock produced more seeds, mostly selfs, than the self-incompatible stock, but produced more hybrids only in one cross, T. pratense L. × T. diffusum Ehrh. The use of male-sterile female parents reduced selfing but produced fewer hybrids than male-fertile female parents. Techniques of this study were designed to affect prefertilization barriers, but the lack of effect may indicate that postfertilization barriers in Trifolium are of greater importance.
016 TNF?alpha Mediated Induction of MMP?9 is Modulated by P21?activated Kinase (PAK)

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) transiently expresses in acute wound. In non-healed wounds, MMP-9 together with other proteinases persistently elevate, which may lead excessive ECM degradation and failure of wound closure. To understand the molecular regulation of MMP-9 we investigated the signal transduction for TNF-alpha mediated induction of MMP-9 by dermal fibroblasts. TNF-alpha initiates three major signal pathways including NF-11B, JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK. On the other hand, Rho-GTPase plays an important role in a variety of cellular functions including cell morphogenesis, motility, survival, angiogenesis, and mitosis. It remains unknown if the “cross talk” of these signals having a role in regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study we found that over expression of the p21-activated kinase (PAK) specifically attenuates TNF-alpha mediated induction of MMP-9. However, TNF-alpha mediated induction of MMP-3 and proMMP-2 activation was intact. NF-κB signal is regarded as a common pathway for many MMPs. Indeed, PAK did not affect TNF-alpha mediated degradation of Ikappa B, suggesting additional signal is targeted by PAK. In contrast, MMP-3 but not MMP-9 expression is specifically blocked by p38 MAK. Thus TNF-alpha induced expression of multiple MMPs in wound healing may utilize different intracellular signal pathways.
Guidelines for behavioral practice in the open community agency procedure and evaluation

Summary A step-wise practice procedure developed for conducting behavioral assessment and modification with individuals and families in open community settings was applied with a sample of 32 cases. These cases embraced 66 problem areas characteristic of the diverse behavioral difficulties encountered in open service settings. Eight practitioners working under close supervision employed the Procedure for a period of 8 months in two family service agencies. It was found that the Procedure provided for orderly and systematic behavior modification for the large variety of cases that may be encountered in the open setting and other services and occasional crises could be managed with only temporary delay in orderly progress in behavioral modification. There was a high degree of effectiveness for problems progressing to the point of modification or to maintenance. Although some countervailing conditions were found which interfered with case activity, these influences were rarely a serious threat to behavior modification. Positive changes in contracted behavior were not accompanied by an increase in negative changes in non-targeted behavior and there were more positive than negative changes in non-targeted behaviors incidental to work on targeted behavior. The most important potential threats to successful behavior modification in the open community setting were attrition (27 per cent premature termination) and client inaccessability. These areas should be addressed in future work on behavioral procedures for community settings. In addition to several procedural guidelines of the type applied here, behavior modification in the open setting also requires specialized procedures for purposes of handling such particular difficulties as family communication and decision making, as well as life situations involving crises and temporary and transitional status.
Nanostructure development in photodeposited, titania-based thin films

Ultraviolet irradiation (λ = 248 nm) was used to photocatalyze a solution of the heteroleptic titanium alkoxide (OPy)2Ti(TAP)2 [where OPy = pyridine carbinoxide and TAP = 2,4,6 tris(dimethylamino)phenoxid e], leading to the deposition of a titania-based thin film only in the exposed region. The effect of water addition to the (OPy)2Ti(TAP)2 pyridine solution on the properties of the final photodeposited film structure was examined by using vibrational spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Under consistent optical exposure conditions, the amount of water added altered the nanoscale porosity of the final material produced. Films deposited from a solution with a 1:1 H2O/Ti content exhibited surface pores ~100 nm in diameter, whereas a 4:1 ratio yielded 10-nm pores, and material produced from a 8:1 solution appeared fully condensed. In addition, the effect of postdeposition thermal treatments on the nanostructure and chemistry of the photodeposited films was examined.
Differential Appearance of DNase I-hypersensitive Sites Correlates with Differential Transcription of Pgk Genes during Spermatogenesis in the Mouse

Two functional genes encoding phosphoglycerate kinase are differentially expressed during spermatogenesis in the mouse. Expression of the X-linked Pgk-1 gene is repressed coincident with X chromosome inactivation during prophase of meiosis I. At this same stage, expression of the autosomal Pgk-2 gene is initiated by tissue-specific mechanisms. To investigate the role of chromatin structure in these processes, we have examined the appearance and disappearance of DNase I-hypersensitive (DH) sites in each gene, and correlated this with transcriptional activity as measured by nuclear run-off analysis at specific stages of spermatogenesis. Our results demonstrate that the occurrence of DH sites is related to periods of active transcription. Results with the Pgk-1 gene indicate that transcriptional inactivation of the X chromosome in spermatogenic cells may not be as complete as that in somatic cells, and that maximum repression may be limited to a very transient period during the pachytene stage of first meiotic prophase. Results with the Pgk-2 gene indicate that DH sites appear coincident with, or just prior to, transcriptional activation of this gene. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to the role of X chromosome inactivation in spermatogenic cells and the developmental order of molecular events that regulate differential gene expression during spermatogenesis.
Optimized synthesis of hydrogen-bond surrogate helices: surprising effects of microwave heating on the activity of Grubbs catalysts.

This manuscript discusses microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis of hydrogen-bond surrogate based α-helices and analogues by ring-closing metathesis (RCM). Microwave-mediated RCM allows access to a greater variety of amino acid residues in the macrocycles in shorter reaction times and higher yields compared to conventional heating. Surprisingly, we discovered that the Grubbs II catalyst is highly active under the influence of microwaves but catalytically dead under oil-bath conditions for the metathesis of these peptide bisolefins.
Methemoglobin reductase: Inactivation and protection against inactivation during disc gel electrophoresis

Methemoglobin reductase was found to be inactivated during electrophoresis on ammonium persulfate polymerized polyacrylamide gels. Hemoglobin in various states of ligation offers protection from inactivation. Thiols such as dithiothreitol also offer protection but the effect due to hemoglobin is not provided by its sulfhydryl groups.
Effects of friction dampers on aerodynamically unstable rotor stages

Attention is given to the physical concepts and mathematical techniques useful in the analysis of the stabilizing effect of friction on aerodynamically unstable rotor stages. Results are presented for three-, four-, and five-bladed disks. In the present multidegree-of-freedom model of an aerodynamically unstable rotor stage, a harmonic steady state solution due to the friction dampers may be either a stability limit, a stable cycle limit, or neither. A criterion is established in the form of an energy function which determines whether the solution is a stability limit. In the event that the initial displacement and velocity exeed those associated with the steady state solution corresponding to a stability limit, the reponse becomes unbounded.
Recovery of pelvic limb function in dogs following acute intervertebral disc herniations.

Chondrodystrophoid breeds of dog are prone to explosive herniation of mineralized disc material into the thoracolumbar spinal canal. The resulting acute spinal cord injury may respresent an excelle...
Subunit H of the vacuolar (H+) ATPase inhibits ATP hydrolysis by the free V1 domain by interaction with the rotary subunit F.

The vacuolar (H+) ATPases (V-ATPases) are large, multimeric proton pumps that, like the related family of F1F0 ATP synthases, employ a rotary mechanism. ATP hydrolysis by the peripheral V1 domain drives rotation of a rotary complex (the rotor) relative to the stationary part of the enzyme (the stator), leading to proton translocation through the integral V0 domain. One mechanism of regulating V-ATPase activity in vivo involves reversible dissociation of the V1 and V0 domains. Unlike the corresponding domains in F1F0, the dissociated V1 domain does not hydrolyze ATP, and the free V0 domain does not passively conduct protons. These properties are important to avoid generation of an uncoupled ATPase activity or an unregulated proton conductance upon dissociation of the complex in vivo. Previous results (Parra, K. J., Keenan, K. L., and Kane, P. M. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 21761–21767) showed that subunit H (part of the stator) inhibits ATP hydrolysis by free V1. To test the hypothesis that subunit H accomplishes this by bridging rotor and stator in free V1, cysteine-mediated cross-linking studies were performed. Unique cysteine residues were introduced over the surface of subunit H from yeast by site-directed mutagenesis and used as the site of attachment of the photo-activated cross-linking reagent maleimido benzophenone. After UV-activated cross-linking, cross-linked products were identified by Western blot using subunit-specific antibodies. The results indicate that the subunit H mutant S381C shows cross-linking between subunit H and subunit F (a rotor subunit) in the free V1 domain but not in the intact V1V0 complex. These results indicate that subunits H and F are proximal in free V1, supporting the hypothesis that subunit H inhibits free V1 by bridging the rotary and stator domains.
Micro-RNA-451 and Measures of Hemolysis Associated with Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation

Purpose Hemolysis is a well-known complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation that contributes to hemodynamic derangement and end-organ damage. Micro-RNAs (miRs) are non-coding RNA species that control gene expression by targeting specific messenger RNAs for degradation. MiR-451 is specifically expressed in erythrocyte precursors and mature red blood cells. The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in circulating miR-451 levels before and after LVAD implantation and whether these changes associate with measures of hemolysis. Methods and Materials Blood samples were obtained from healthy volunteers and from patients with advanced heart failure at the time of LVAD implantation and at the time of explantation. Absorbance at 414 nm (ABS 414 ), the maximum absorbance of hemoglobin, was measured in plasma. RNA was extracted from plasma and RT-PCR specific for miR-451 was performed. Results The mean duration of LVAD therapy was 488 ± 179 days. Plasma ABS 414 correlated with the degree of hemolysis of blood that was mechanically disrupted in vitro. The mean plasma ABS 414 was increased 3.4-fold after LVAD implantation compared to paired pre-implantation samples (P=0.05), which had a mean plasma ABS 414 comparable to non-hemolyzed control samples. Lactate dehydrogenase and bilirubin, commonly used tests for hemolysis, each correlated poorly with plasma ABS 414 among these patients (R2=0.20 and 0.22, respectively; each P nonsignificant) and did not differ between pre- and post-LVAD samples. Compared to control plasma, miR-451 levels were roughly 40% higher in samples from heart failure patients before LVAD placement. Plasma miR-451 levels increased 164-fold after LVAD implantation compared to paired pre-implant samples (Mann-Whitney P= 0.002). Conclusions Micro-RNAs hold promise as biomarkers in heart failure. MiR-451 may be a new marker of hemolysis related to LVAD implantation that performs favorably compared to traditional markers.
Population-based study of home accessibility features and the activities of daily living: clinical and policy implications.

Purpose. To empirically test a biopsychoecological model referred to as Health Environmental Integration (HEI) by showing associations between the perception of unmet need for home accessibility features and the experience of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) difficulties.Method. A USA population-based cross-sectional study of the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) supplements on Disability (NHIS-D). Estimated likelihood of ADL difficulty, comparing those who perceived unmet needs for home accessibility features to those who did not, were obtained through logistic regression after controlling for severity and socioeconomic differences. ADLs included dressing, eating, getting in and out of chairs, or getting to and using the bathroom.Results. There were 12,743 people with physical limitations, 10.3% of whom perceived an unmet need for at least 1 home accessibility feature. After accounting for severity of physical limitations and socioeconomic differences, the odds of an ADL difficulty we...
A Discrete Phase Model for Ferroelectric Domain Evolution

Discrete phase modeling utilizes a finite element framework with a Landau-Devonshire type multi-well potential as a material subroutine to model domain evolution in ferroelectrics. The time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation with polarization as an order parameter governs evolution of polarization. In the discrete phase method, the domain wall width is not controlled by an adjustable parameter, the gradient energy term used in phase field models; rather, it is controlled by a balance between mechanical, structural, and electrostatic contributions to the free energy. The effect of this energy balance on the resulting domain wall width of 90° and 180° tetragonal domain walls is discussed and examples are presented.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Observations on spiny dogfish ( Squalus acanthias) captured in late spring in a North Carolina estuary.

Five spiny dogfish were captured in early-mid May during gillnet and longline sampling targeting juvenile coastal sharks in inshore North Carolina waters. Dogfish captures were made within Back Sound and Core Sound, North Carolina. All dogfish were females measuring 849-905 mm total length, well over the size at 50% maturity. Dogfish were caught at stations 1.8-2.7 m in depth, with temperatures 22.9-24.2 °C, 32.8-33.4 ppt salinity, and 6.9-8.0 mg/L dissolved oxygen. These observations are among the latest in the spring for spiny dogfish in the southeastern U.S. and occurred at higher temperatures than previously recorded for this species. It is unclear whether late-occurring spiny dogfish in this area represent a cryptic late-migrating or resident segment of the Northwest Atlantic population.
The effect of numbers of noise events on people’s reactions to noise: An analysis of existing survey data

The effect of the number of noise events on noise annoyance has been examined in an analysis of data from large-scale social surveys. The relative impact of noise level and number on human reactions is measured by the decibel equivalent number effect (k) expressed as the number of decibels which have an effect equivalent to that of a tenfold increase in number of events. Values of k differ between surveys but none is significantly greater (p greater than 0.05) than the value of k = 10 which is implicit in Leq or Ldn. The mean of the existing data provide a best estimate of k = 5. Although there are some surveys in which annoyance decreases as numbers of events increase above about 150 a day, the available evidence is not strong enough to reject the conventional assumption that reactions are related to the logarithm of the number of events. The conventional assumption that the effects of number and peak noise level are additive cannot be rejected with these data. Differences between the surveys' estimates of the effect of number of events remained large even when equivalent questionnaire items and definitions of noise events could be used. The most likely explanations for inconsistent estimates are (1) errors in specifying the values of noise parameters, (2) the effects of unmeasured acoustical and area characteristics which are correlated with noise level or number, and (3) large sampling errors which are due to community differences in response to noise. Multipoint annoyance scales give more reliable estimates than do dichotomous "very annoyed" measures. It is concluded that significant improvements in the knowledge about the effects of numbers of noise events will only occur if surveys include large numbers of study areas, a requirement which can only be met if economical noise measurement techniques are developed which have known levels of precision.
When Businesses Collide: Producer Interest Groups and the Politics of Regulation

Much interest-group analysis assumes that producer-group pressures are especially influential. Sometimes business interests conflict; in that case, which producer groups will be most influential? Using data from 54 state telephone rate cases, this paper explores the relative influence of several different intervener types. Estimates indicate that influencing outcomes depends on credible information rather than other resources, and also that business interest groups cannot all be considered homogenous. Some implications for the Telecommunications Act of 1996 are drawn.
Changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia re-induction therapy using three different asparaginase preparations

Recently we reported the influence of two different Escherichia coli asparaginase (ASP) preparations on fibrinolytic proteins in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) demonstrating a significant association between ASP activity and haemostatic alterations. The present study was designed for prospective evaluation of coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters in leukaemic children receiving different ASP preparations during the course of re-induction. Forty leukaemic children receiving ASP (Medac: n = 13; Bayer: n = 10; Erwinia: n = 17) at 3-day intervals during re-induction were enrolled in this study. Blood samples for coagulation studies were obtained before each ASP administration together with serum samples for pharmacokinetic monitoring. Compared with Medac ASP 10,000 IU/m2, patients receiving Bayer ASP or Erwinia ASP showed significantly higher fibrinogen values. Antithrombin and plasminogen showed normal values in children after Erwinia ASP. α2-antiplasmin and D-Dimer were no different in the groups studied. Neither side-effects, nor sustained asparagine depletion was observed in the majority of children treated with Erwinia ASP.
A Cost-Effective Method of Aerosolizing Dry Powdered Nanoparticles

The ability to produce nanoscale aerosols from dry powdered material is needed for studies of the toxicity and environmental transformation and fate of manufactured nanoparticles. Wet aerosol generation methods can alter particle chemistry, while dry methods often cannot produce truly nanoscale aerosols. We have developed a cost-effective dry dispersion technique for manufactured nanoparticles and have demonstrated its use with C60 fullerene, TiO2, and CeO2. The system disperses dry powders to create aerosols with mode diameters below 100 nm. Average mode and median diameters for each of the tested manufactured nanoparticles are 91 and 107 nm for C60, 65 and 77 nm for TiO2, and 40 and 43 nm for CeO2. All aerosols exhibit right-skewed unimodal distributions and irregular morphology. Aerosol mass concentrations produced by the dispersion system vary linearly with the mass of nanomaterial loaded into it and are of a magnitude appropriate for inhalation nanotoxicology studies. This work demonstrates the abili...