cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estrogens and Epilepsy: Why Are We So Excited?

Estrogens are essential for normal brain function throughout life. The source of estrogens is not only from the periphery, but local production has also been demonstrated in the CNS. Actions of estrogens involve a variety of effects, which include modulation of gene expression, regulation of neurotransmitter release, or direct inter-actions with neurotransmitter receptors. By these effects, estrogens affect neuronal excitability and thus may play an important role in seizure disorders. Although the original clinical as well as animal studies suggest that estrogens have exclusively proconvulsant properties, it has now become clear that estrogens also produce anticonvulsant effects. These opposite effects of estrogens on seizures may depend on treatment duration, latency prior to seizure testing, mode of administration, estrogen dose and hormonal status, estrogenic species, the region/neurotransmitter system involved, seizure type/model used, and sex. Animal data also suggest that estrogens, specifically beta-estradiol, have neuroprotective effects on seizure-induced hippocampal damage. Further studies are necessary to understand the role of estrogens in seizure disorders. Such under-standing is important, especially for women with epilepsy, to make qualified decisions regarding administration of contraceptives and hormonal replacement therapy as well as for the design of new therapeutic strategies for better seizure control and prevention of seizure-induced neuronal damage.
The HIV-1 Tat protein: an RNA sequence-specific processivity factor?

Bryan R. Cullen Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina 27710 The pathogenic human immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs) encode two small nuclear regulatory proteins, termed Tat and Rev, that are essential for viral replication in
Limits of some q -Laguerre polynomials

Abstract A q -analogue of Palama's limit, obtaining Hermite polynomials from Laguerre polynomials as the parameter α → ∞, is given, and the corresponding limit for a pair of weight functions is obtained.
Interaction of nitrogen and carbon monoxide on iron synthetic ammonia catalysts

Abstract The inhibitive effect of nitrogen chemisorption on the adsorption of carbon monoxide has been studied over a singly and a doubly promoted iron synthetic ammonia catalyst. The adsorption of nitrogen at 450 °C did not decrease the amount of carbon monoxide chemisorption capable of taking place at −183 ° or −195 °C. On the other hand, in the temperature range 130 ° to 300 ° the inhibition increased with a decrease in temperature and corresponded, at the lowest temperature, to a decrease of as much as 0.7 cc of carbon monoxide chemisorption per cc of chemisorbed nitrogen. The results seem to indicate that in the temperature range 130 ° to 300 °C a considerable portion of the chemisorbed nitrogen on iron synthetic ammonia catalysts is held as nitrogen molecules, or NN or NN groups, whereas at temperatures of about 450 ° it is held on the surface primarily in the atomic form.
Radiation-Induced Addition of Flame Retardants to the Double Bond in Acrylamidomethyl Cellulose

Cotton and rayon fabrics were condensed with N-methylol acrylamide to give products with various degrees of un saturation. Radiation-induced free-radical addition to the double bonds in these fabrics was accomplished with carbon tetrachloride, bromoform, chloroform, bromotetrachloromethane, polyethylene oxide, chloral and bromal hydrate, and sodium hypophosphite. Stannous and stannic chloride were also reacted by what seems to be a different mechanism. Bromination of these fabrics is also described. Significant flame retardancy was obtained without alteration of hand, because the reactions are limited to the inside of the cellulose fiber.
The development of possibility judgment within and across domains

Abstract The ability to differentiate possible events from impossible ones is an invaluable skill when reasoning about claims that transcend the perceptual evidence at hand, yet preschool-aged children do not readily make this differentiation when reasoning about physically extraordinary events [Shtulman, A., & Carey, S. (2007). Improbable or impossible? How children reason about the possibility of extraordinary claims. Child Development , 78 , 1015–1032]. The present study sought to determine whether this failure stems from deficits in domain-specific knowledge or deficits in the domain-general procedure by which possibility judgments are made. Participants (48 children aged 4-9 years olds and 16 adults) were asked to judge the possibility of three types of extraordinary events – physical, psychological, and biological – and to justify their judgments of impossibility. Developmental changes in the ability to differentiate improbable events from impossible events were qualitatively similar across domains. Moreover, participants’ propensity to judge improbable events possible was significantly correlated with the quality of their justifications, both within and across domains. These findings suggest that modal development involves a domain-general change in how modal claims are evaluated.
A Natural Order of Volcanic Succession: Midnineteenth-Century Field-based Models of Von Richthofen, King, and Dutton

During the latter half of the nineteenth century, pioneering studies of volcanic rocks were undertaken by Ferdinand von Richthofen, Clarence King, and Clarence Dutton in the Great Basin and California Cascades. They developed hypotheses on the petrogenesis of magmas in order to explain what they deemed to be a regular progression of volcanic rock types through time during the Cenozoic Era. There was general agreement that effusive volcanism resulted in an orderly sequence of magmas: propylitic, andesitic, trachytic, rhyolitic, and basaltic. Von Richthofen related this phenomenon to the tapping of magma sources at ever-greater depths during orogenic activity, the basic magmas being denser and occupying a lower level within the Earth. King felt that so-called ‘lakes of fusion’ developed within the Earth as a result of erosional unloading of its crust; and that within such lakes gravity separation resulted in silicic magmas floating upon basic. In the secular refrigeration of the globe these temporary lakes ...
Reversal of learning deficits in a Tsc2+/− mouse model of tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis is a single-gene disorder caused by heterozygous mutations in the TSC1 (9q34) or TSC2 (16p13.3) gene and is frequently associated with mental retardation, autism and epilepsy. Even individuals with tuberous sclerosis and a normal intelligence quotient (approximately 50%) are commonly affected with specific neuropsychological problems, including long-term and working memory deficits. Here we report that mice with a heterozygous, inactivating mutation in the Tsc2 gene (Tsc2(+/-) mice) show deficits in learning and memory. Cognitive deficits in Tsc2(+/-) mice emerged in the absence of neuropathology and seizures, demonstrating that other disease mechanisms are involved. We show that hyperactive hippocampal mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling led to abnormal long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and consequently to deficits in hippocampal-dependent learning. These deficits included impairments in two spatial learning tasks and in contextual discrimination. Notably, we show that a brief treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin in adult mice rescues not only the synaptic plasticity, but also the behavioral deficits in this animal model of tuberous sclerosis. The results presented here reveal a biological basis for some of the cognitive deficits associated with tuberous sclerosis, and they show that treatment with mTOR antagonists ameliorates cognitive dysfunction in a mouse model of this disorder.
Rapid separation of fresh fission products

A novel radiochemical separation for 48 V radiotracer in no-carrier-added (NCA) form, via proton irradiation on Ti targets of natural isotopic composition has been developed. Metallic Ti targets irradiated with 21 MeV proton beam energy was submitted to a selective radiochemical separation consisting of an alkaline fusion-precipitation step, followed by column Chelex-100 chromatographic purification. Very high specific activity 48 V, at levels of hundreds MBq . µg -1 was prepared. Chemical analysis of radiotracer was carried out by ET-AAS and INAA. The decontamination factor from Ti target was 5 . 10 5 , with an overall radiochemical yield for 48 V larger than 90p. The NCA 48 V has used for labeling a range of chemical forms of V(III, IV, V) and applied in the study of metabolic behavior of different chemical forms in in-vivo and in-vitro experiments on rats and cell cultures.
The distribution of nickel, cobalt, gallium, palladium and gold in iron meteorites

Abstract The concentrations of nickel, cobalt, gallium, palladium and gold have been determined in 45 iron meteorites including representatives from all structural classes. Gallium was determined, in addition, in two specimens of troilite and in the metallic phase of two pallasites. The analytical procedures and the structural characteristics of the meteorites studied are described in detail. It is found that most meteorites fall into three distinct classes, each class possessing a fairly narrow range of gallium concentrations: Class I, 40–100 ppm Ga; Class II, 20 ppm Ga; and Class III, 2 ppm Ga. Analysis of the structures, nickel contents and palladium and gold distributions leads to the same divisions. All hexahedrites, nickel-poor ataxites and coarse and coarsest octahedrites possess gallium levels corresponding to Class I. Medium octahedrites are split between Classes I and II in the approximate ratio 1:2. All fine and finest octahedrites which posses nickel contents in the range 7·5% to 8·5% are in Class III. The conclusions which might be drawn from these observations are discussed.
Turbulent heat transfer in annuli with small cores

Abstract The J factors for heat and momentum and the maximum points of the velocity profiles have been experimentally determined for air flow at Reynolds number from 17000 to 100000 in a tube and three concentric annuli having radius ratios of about 10, 16 and 31. The heat-transfer data are correlated successfully by means of geometrical transformations which yield coincident patterns of the eddy diffusivities for momentum.
High-Speed Hybrid Superconductor-to-Semiconductor Interface Circuit With Ultra-Low Power Consumption

Superconductor electronics for high-performance computing and high-speed analog-to-digital converters requires multi-channel digital data links. Most difficult is the amplification of the weak signals from the superconductor circuit to the volt level of semiconductor electronics. We developed a hybrid digital interface based on a Josephson latching driver, the so-called Suzuki stack, and a clocked CMOS comparator. The input can be directly triggered by a single flux quantum pulse and the output provides a 1 V CMOS-level signal. In contrast to existing systems, our interface is optimized for ultra-low-power consumption to enable its application for parallel multi-bit data interfaces. We provide evaluation of various types of Suzuki stacks and various CMOS comparators. We present experimental data on the delay of the overall hybrid interface and the total power consumption. The bit-error rate has been measured to be below 10-12. We will discuss the trade-off among circuit robustness, speed, and power consumption.
Sex steroid hormones differentially regulate nitric oxide synthase and arginase activities in the proximal and distal rabbit vagina.

Sex steroid hormones differentially regulate nitric oxide synthase and arginase activities in the proximal and distal rabbit vagina
Tripartite assessment of the efficacy of eye-movement desensitization in a multi-phobic patient

Abstract The relative efficacy of Eye-Movement Desensitization (EMD) and Eye- Focus Desensitization (i.e., a treatment procedure designed to control for the effects of eye movement) in treating multiple phobias was assessed along behavioral, cognitive, and physiological response channels in a single-subject, multiple-baseline design across fear areas. Continuous physiological measurements, rather than presession/post- session change scores, were employed to permit accurate, fine-grained analysis of each intervention's effects. Results indicated that EMD failed to produce clinically significant intra- and intersession improvements beyond those produced by the control procedure on all dependent measures. A second multiple-baseline design across fear areas was implemented with the same subject and employed in vivo exposure/reinforced practice in order to demonstrate the patient's potential responsiveness to treatment. This procedure produced dramatic improvement on behavioral and subjective measures, but not on physiological indices. Results from this single-case experiment did not support the effectiveness of EMD.
Cosine Lobe Based Relighting from Gradient Illumination Photographs

We present an image-based method for relighting a scene by analytically fitting a cosine lobe to the reflectance function at each pixel, based on gradient illumination photographs. Realistic relighting results for many materials are obtained using a single per-pixel cosine lobe obtained from just two color photographs: one under uniform white illumination and the other under colored gradient illumination. For materials with wavelength-dependent scattering, a better fit can be obtained using independent cosine lobes for the red, green, and blue channels, obtained from three monochromatic gradient illumination conditions instead of the colored gradient condition. We explore two cosine lobe reflectance functions, both of which allow an analytic fit to the gradient conditions. One is non-zero over half the sphere of lighting directions, which works well for diffuse and specular materials, but fails for materials with broader scattering such as fur. The other is non-zero everywhere, which works well for broadly scattering materials and still produces visually plausible results for diffuse and specular materials. Additionally, we estimate scene geometry from the photometric normals to produce hard shadows cast by the geometry, while still reconstructing the input photographs exactly.
Sex-specific variation in the emphasis, inducibility and timing of the post-mating immune response in Drosophila melanogaster.

Ecological immunology attempts to explain variation in immune function. Much of this work makes predictions about how potential hosts should invest in overall immunity. However, this ‘overall’ perspective under-emphasizes other critical aspects, such as the specificity, inducibility and timing of an immune response. Here, we investigate these aspects by examining gene regulation across several immune system components in both male and female Drosophila melanogaster prior to and after mating. To elucidate potentially important temporal dynamics, we also assayed several genes over time. We found that males and females emphasized different components of their immune system, however overall investment was similar. Specifically, the sexes emphasized different gene paralogues within major gene families, and males tended to invest more in gram-negative defence. By contrast, the inducibility of the immune response was both transient (lasting approx. 24 hours) and equal between the sexes. Furthermore, mating tended to induce humoral gene upregulation, while cell-mediated genes were unaffected. Within the humoral system, gram-negative bacterial defence genes exhibited a greater inducibility than those associated with fungal or gram-positive bacterial defence. Our results suggest that variation in the effectiveness of the immune response between the sexes may be driven by differences in emphasis rather than overall investment.
On the mechanism of specific phosphate adsorption by hydroxylated mineral surfaces: A review

Abstract The mechanism of specific phosphate adsorption by hydroxy‐lated mineral surfaces comprises two aspects: the phosphate‐hydroxyl surface reaction and the configuration of the adsorbed phosphate ion. Evidence pointing to ligand exchange as the mechanism of the phosphate‐surface hydroxyl reaction include kinetics of adsorption and desorption; hydroxyl ion release; infrared spectroscopy, and stereochemical calculations. Data pertaining to the coordination of adsorbed phosphate on hydroxy‐lated mineral surfaces have not been conclusive overall. Isotopic exchange experiments and studies of desorption kinetics do not provide definitive information on surface coordination. Measurements of hydroxyl ion release and crystallographic calculations provide support for the existence of both monodentate and bidentate surface complexes of phosphate ions. Infrared spectroscopic investigations suggest a binuclear complex on dried, phosphated goethite. However, these studies cannot be extrapolated automatically to so...
Gradient-Enhanced Proton-Detected Heteronuclear NMR at Improved Resolution

Abstract The two-dimensional gradient-enhanced heteronuclear multiple-quantum experiment, ge-HMQC, can be modified to produce spectra that are unaffected by magnetic field inhomogeneity broadening along the evolution dimension. Two sequences are proposed. In the first one, ge-SHARP1-HMQC, refocusing is accomplished by asymmetric partitioning of the evolution time. In the second, ge-SHARP-HMQC, an additional heteronuclear 180° pulse is applied during the evolution time. The two sequences differ in their response to the evolution of heteronuclear scalar couplings and chemical shifts. Results on model solutions demonstrate the expected immunity of the 13 C spectral resolution to poor shimming and the concomitant higher detection sensitivity of the narrowed signals.
Economic Restructuring in Primary Industries: Transaction Costs and Corporate Vertical Integration in the Arizona Copper Industry, 1980–1991

Abstract The recent restructuring of the copper industry in Arizona offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the role of transaction costs in the reorganization of production systems. Contrary to popular assertions that mass production is declining in importance all across the economic landscape, our study documents the existence of firms that are exploiting economies of scale and intensifying vertical integration. Firms that dominate the restructuring process are perfecting their core skills in the industry, restoring reliability in the supply of inputs, and harmonizing decisions at each stage in the vertical chain of production. Moreover, these firms intensified vertical integration by reducing transaction costs. We assess the importance of these cost reductions by comparing the normative allocations of minesite concentration mill outputs to smelters, as generated by a linear programming model that minimizes transportation, labor, and fixed costs, with actual allocations of outputs in the restructured pr...
Influences of Organizational Culture and Climate on Individual Creativity.

This paper provides a framework for conceptualizing and reviewing the literature on the influences of organizational culture and climate on individual creativity. Although often treated interchangeably, culture and climate are distinct constructs operating at different levels of meaning; yet at the same time, they are closely interrelated. Culture is the beliefs and values held by management and communicated to employees through norms, stories, socialization processes, and observations of managerial responses to critical events. The beliefs and values that typify a culture for creativity become manifested in organizational structures, practices, and policies. In turn, these structures, practices, and policies guide and shape individual creativity by creating a climate that communicates both the organization's goals regarding creativity and the means to achieve those goals. The paper concludes with a discussion of issues relating to the development of cultures and climates for creativity and potential new directions for future research.
Postpartum Depression Prevention for Reservation-Based American Indians: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Postpartum depression is a devastating condition that affects a significant number of women and their offspring. Few preventive interventions have targeted high risk youth, such as American Indians (AIs).
Detecting the Influence of Ions on Protein Hydration Dynamics with Site-Specific 2D-IR

A strong vibrational probe bound to the surface of the model protein lysozyme reveals ion-specific modulation of the local hydration dynamics. Explicit water and ion simulations reveal strong cation association with a nearby charged side-chain.
Opioid antagonist (naltrexone) stimulation of cell proliferation in human and animal neuroblastoma and human fibrosarcoma cells in culture

Endogenous opioids play a role in carcinogenic events by serving as inhibitory growth factors that alter cell proliferative events by interaction with opioid receptors. The present study addresses the question of whether endogenous opioid systems function tonically in tissue culture. Using S20Y neuroblastoma, a cell line that produces a growth-related opioid peptide (i.e.[Met5]enkephalin) and contains the zeta receptor known to be associated with growth, the effects of opioid receptor blockade by naltrexone, a potent opioid antagonist, was examined. Drug concentrations of 10(-4) to 10(-8) M naltrexone stimulated cell proliferation, with 32-86% more cells found in the naltrexone groups than control from 12 to 48 h after initiating drug exposure; drug concentrations of 10(-9) to 10(-13) M had no effect on growth. Evaluation of labeling and mitotic indices revealed that both DNA synthesis and mitosis were increased by naltrexone, as were the number of cells with process lengths greater than 40 microns. Naltrexone (10(-6) M) also stimulated the growth of N115 murine neuroblastoma, SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma, and HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma. These results indicate that endogenous opioids function in vitro to regulate growth by inhibitory mechanisms, and do so actively. This autocrine mechanism in tissue culture also occurs in other animal neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as for human neuroblastoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines.
Functional analysis of proteins involved in movement of the monopartite begomovirus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus.

The functional properties of proteins [capsid protein (CP), V1, and C4] potentially involved with movement of the monopartite begomovirus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), were investigated using microinjection of Escherichia coli expressed proteins and transient expression of GFP fusion proteins. The TYLCV CP localized to the nucleus and nucleolus and acted as a nuclear shuttle, facilitating import and export of DNA. Thus, the CP serves as the functional homolog of the bipartite begomovirus BV1. The TYLCV V1 localized around the nucleus and at the cell periphery and colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum, whereas C4 was localized to the cell periphery. Together, these patterns of localization were similar to that of the bipartite begomovirus BC1, known to mediate cell-to-cell movement. However, in contrast to BC1, V1 and C4, alone or in combination, had a limited capacity to move and mediate macromolecular trafficking through mesophyll or epidermal plasmodesmata. Immunolocalization and in situ PCR experiments, conducted with tomato plants at three stages of development, established that TYLCV infection was limited to phloem cells of shoot apical, leaf, stem, and floral tissues. Thus, the V1 and/or C4 may be analogs of the bipartite begomovirus BC1 that have evolved to mediate TYLCV movement within phloem tissue.
THE CONDITIONS OF RECOVERY OF TRANSMISSIVITY OF NEWLY REPASSIVATED IRON WIRES IN NITRIC ACID.

1. Passive steel wires were activated in a bath (Bath A) containing 70 v. per cent HNO(3) (in which they undergo prompt repassivation), and immediately transferred to a second bath (Bath B) containing HNO(3) of a concentration varying in different experiments. After varying intervals in this bath they were transferred while still passive to a third bath (Bath C) containing strong HNO(3) (70 or 100 v. per cent) and there immediately activated. 2. During the immersion in Bath B the wires progressively recover their ability to transmit activation waves in strong HNO(3). The measure of this recovery is the distance travelled by the activation waves in Bath C after the varying times of exposure in Bath B. Transmissivity as thus measured is at first incomplete (decremental) and later becomes complete. The minimal exposures in Bath B required to render wires completely transmissive in the strong acid of Bath C were determined for concentrations of HNO(3) between 10 and 100 v. per cent. With 100 v. per cent HNO(3) in Bath C, these exposures range from 40 minutes or more in 15 v. per cent to 10 minutes in 100 v. per cent HNO(3) (temperature 19-20 degrees in all baths). 3. The time required for complete recovery varies inversely with the concentration of the acid in the recovery bath (Bath B), but increases rapidly with the concentration of the acid in the testing bath (Bath C). Hence at a time when a wire has recovered just sufficiently to transmit non-decrementally in a given strong acid (e.g., 70 v. per cent) it still transmits decrementally in a stronger acid. Complete recovery for transmission in 100 v. per cent HNO(3) requires about twice as long as for 70 v. per cent HNO(3). In HNO(3) of 50 v. per cent and less decremental transmission does not occur. 4. The indications are that recovery is an effect of the progressive solvent action of the external acid on the passivating oxide film, which at its first deposition appears to be relatively thick and hence resistant to electrochemical reduction. The final stage of recovery, when electrical sensitivity and speed of transmission are maximal, would on this hypothesis correspond to minimal thickness, possibly monomolecular. 5. The rate of recovery in Bath B is not far from proportional to the concentration of HNO(3) in the more dilute solutions, but in the higher, especially the strongly passivating, concentrations (70 to 100 v. per cent) the rate becomes appreciably slower than proportional, apparently because of the intense oxidizing action of these solutions, which reinforces the oxide sheet and retards the thinning process. 6. The bearing of these observations on the problem of the conditions of recovery in irritable living tissues (such as nerve) during the absolute and relative refractory periods is briefly discussed.
Dynamics and Control of a Helicopter Carrying a Payload Using a Cable-Suspended Robot

This paper presents a study of the dynamics and control of a helicopter carrying a payload through a cable-suspended robot. The helicopter can perform gross motion, while the cable suspended robot underneath the helicopter can modulate a platform in position and orientation. Due to the under-actuated nature of the helicopter, the operation of this dual system consisting of the helicopter and the cable robot is challenging. We propose here a two time scale control method, which makes it possible to control the helicopter and the cable robot independently. In addition, this method provides an effective estimation on the bound of the motion of the helicopter. Therefore, even in the case where the helicopter motion is unknown, the cable robot can be stabilized by implementing a robust controller. Simulation results of the dual system show that the proposed control approach is effective for such a helicopter-robot system.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Role of transforming growth factor-β1 in experimental chronic cyclosporine nephropathy

Role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in experimental chronic cyclosporine nephropathy. The pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic cyclosporine (CsA) nephropathy remains unknown. Since TGF-β1 plays a key role in the fibrogenesis of a number of renal diseases, we studied a salt-depleted rat model of chronic CsA nephropathy which shows similarity to the structural and functional lesions described in patients. Pair fed rats were treated with either CsA (15 mg/kg/day s.c.) or an equivalent dose of olive oil and sacrificed at 7 and 28 days. Characteristic histologic changes of proximal tubular injury, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and arteriolopathy developed in CsA-treated rats at day 28. They were accompanied by physiologic changes of increased serum creatinine, decreased creatinine clearance, increased enzymuria and decreased concentrating ability. CsA-treated rats showed a progressive increase in mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and matrix proteins at days 7 and 28. Most of the changes were in the tubulointerstitial and vascular compartments by immunofluorescence with a predominant involvement of the medulla as compared to cortex. The mRNA expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor, a protease inhibitor stimulated by TGF-β1, followed TGF-β1 and matrix proteins, suggesting that the fibrosis of chronic CsA nephropathy likely involves the dual action of TGF-β on matrix deposition and degradation.
Turbine Blade Image Processing System

A vision system has been developed at North Carolina State University to identify the orientation and three dimensional location of steam turbine blades that are stacked in an industrial A-frame cart. The system uses a controlled light source for structured illumination and a single camera to extract the information required by the image processing software to calculate the position and orientation of a turbine blade in real time.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Construction of thermoresponsive SCKs through tuning the crystalline melting point of the core domain

Shell cross-linked knedel-like (SCK) block copolymer micellar nanoparticles were prepared from poly(acrylic acid-b-octadecyl acrylate-co-decyl acrylate) and studied as unique systems, having tunable core melting transition temperatures (Tm). Tm depression was accomplished by diluting octadecyl acrylate with the co-monomer decyl acrylate in the construction of the hydrophobic block segment of amphiphilic block copolymers of similar lengths and chemical compositions. Organization of those block copolymers into micelles and cross-linking throughout the shell then afforded a series of SCKs that exhibited core Tm values ranging from 3 to 40 °C. Confinement of the side-chain crystalline polymer chains within the core of the SCKs resulted in depression and broadening of the Tm values, which increased by ca. 5 °C when the shell was hydrated, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry measurements in the dry and 30 % (w/w) hydrated states. Passage through the melting transition was also observed for the SCKs dispersed in water, by dynamic light scattering experiments, which revealed an expansion and then collapse in hydrodynamic diameter over the temperature range of core melting. As the crystalline-amorphous core behaviors could be tuned over physiological temperature ranges, these nanoparticles are expected to be of utility as tunable drug delivery devices, with control over the kinetics and conditions of packaging and release.
Serum Amyloid A proteins take retinol for a ride

Vitamin A plays pleiotropic roles in the immune system. A recent eLife paper by Hooper and colleagues shows that hepatic and intestinal serum amyloid A proteins, which are induced in response to infection, can transport vitamin A metabolites to tissues and thus impact immune responses both locally and systemically.
An examination of the role of increased cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations in the inhibition of mRNA translation.

Abstract Mobilization of Ca 2+ sequestered by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) produces the phosphorylation of initiation factor (eIF) 2, whereas an increase in cytosolic free Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+ ] i ) due to plasmalemmal Ca 2+ influx increases the phosphorylation of elongation factor (eEF) 2. In nucleated mammalian cells, depletion of ER Ca 2+ stores has been demonstrated to inhibit translational initiation, but evidence that increased [Ca 2+ ] i per se causes slowing of peptide chain elongation is lacking. L-type Ca 2+ channel activity of GH 3 pituitary cells, which are enriched in calmodulin-dependent eEF-2 kinase, was manipulated such that the impact of [Ca 2+ ] i on eEF-2 phosphorylation and translational rate could be examined for up to 10 min without inhibiting initiation. At 1 mM extracellular Ca 2+ , resting [Ca 2+ ] i values were high (154–255 nM) and eEF-2 was phosphorylated. The Ca 2+ channel antagonist, nisoldipine, lowered [Ca 2+ ] i and reduced eEF-2 phosphorylation by half but had no effect on amino acid incorporation. The Ca 2+ channel agonist, Bay K 8644, produced sustained elevations of [Ca 2+ ] i that were associated with 25–50% increases in eEF-2 phosphorylation, but no changes in protein synthetic rates occurred. Larger Ca 2+ influxes were achievable with either 25 mM KCl or KCl plus Bay K 8644. These treatments further increased eEF-2 phosphorylation (50–100% above control) and inhibited leucine incorporation by 20–70% but ATP content was reduced by 25–50% and total cell-associated Ca 2+ contents rose by 3- to 13-fold. eIF-2α was not phosphorylated during these treatments. Addition of low concentrations of ionomycin, which do not lower ATP content, was associated with complex changes in [Ca 2+ ] i that resembled alterations in eEF-2 phosphorylation. The inhibition of leucine incorporation in response to ionomycin, however, coincided only with the phosphorylation of eIF-2α, not eEF-2. It is concluded that changes in [Ca 2+ ] i occurring in the absence of ATP depletion alter the phosphorylation state of eEF-2 but are not regulatory for mRNA translation.
Learning more about materials science through nanometer fabrication technology

Abstract A set of examples are presented to illustrate the value of nanometer fabrication technology to materials research. The examples are chosen to represent many areas of materials science: Mechanical properties, thermodynamics, kinetics, electron and phonon transport. In general we cite studies involving microfabrication at the micron or submicron scale which have already been completed. Discussion is then presented concerning the possible extension of these studies into the nanometer regime.
Differences in metabolic urinary abnormalities in stone forming and nonstone forming patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background. Hyperparathyroidism is associated with hypercalciuria and nephrolithiasis. Urine calcium excretion decreases after parathyroidectomy, but whether there is a differential decrease between stone and nonstone formers remains controversial. We evaluated differences between stone formers and non-stone formers in serum and urinary parameters before and after parathyroidectomy. Methods. 90 patients, 40 with and 50 without a history of nephrolithiasis underwent parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism; 24-hour urine samples were collected before and after parathyroidectomy. Overall, 92% of patients provided samples before parathyroidectomy and 63% after parathyroidectomy. Preoperative, postoperative and changes in urinary parameters were evaluated. Results. Preoperative hypercalciuria was present in ;65% in both groups (P = .68). Parathyroidectomy decreased serum levels of calcium, parathyroid hormone, and urinary calcium, but there were no differences between stone formers and nonstone formers. Stone formers were 12-fold (P = .001) more likely to resolve an increase in supersaturation of calcium oxalate (SSCaOx), and after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI were 46-fold (P = .002) more likely to resolve an increase in SSCaOx. After parathyroidectomy, the rate of stone recurrence was 23% and male sex (aOR 20, P = .032) and increasing BMI (aOR 1.23, P = .038) were the only independent predictors of stone recurrence after adjusting for age. No other factor evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, or the change after parathyroidectomy differentiated stone and nonstone formers or predicted stone recurrence. Conclusion. Metabolic evaluation did not differentiate stone formers from nonstone formers reliably. Stone formers were more likely to resolve an increase in SSCaOx after parathyroidectomy. Male sex and increasing BMI were independently associated with stone recurrence after parathyroidectomy. (Surgery 2012;151:477-83.)
An interactive learning environment for breadth-first computing science curriculum

Developing a learning suppliment to support the breadth-first computer science curriculum and taking advantage of emerging technologies to provide interactive, demand-driven simulations which enhance comprehension of abstract concepts in computer science resulted in the PACER (Personally Active Computing Exploration Resource) project. Development of this educational tool includes three fundamental objectives: simulation and experimentation, connection to supplementary information, and delivery to a wide audience across multiple computer platforms. All three objectives are required to support the educational demands of students who struggle with difficult theoretical material, seek access to information round-the-clock from home and work and use a variety of computer platforms. The PACER system meets learners' needs of repetition and visual simulation of complex ideas. It also offers the ability to pursue education from remote locations making accessible resources never before available. The interactive design of PACER encourages self-directed learning. It also challenges and supports commuting adults, students with disabilities, and traditional students to pursue fields of quantitative reasoning. Unlike traditional WWW-based learning environments, the PACER pages support interactive learning sessions as well as simulations with animation capabilities. The hierarchical organization of Web pages allows the PACER system to have learning modules that are inter-linked which in turn supports "demand-driven" learning. This feature allows PACER to be an active learning tool.
Importance of a single base pair for discrimination between intron-containing and intronless alleles by endonuclease I-BmoI.

Abstract Homing endonucleases initiate mobility of their host group I introns by binding to and cleaving lengthy recognition sequences that are typically centered on the intron insertion site (IS) of intronless alleles [1, 2]. Because the intron interrupts the endonucleases' recognition sequence, intron-containing alleles are immune to cleavage by their own endonuclease [3]. I- Tev I and I- Bmo I are related GIY-YIG endonucleases that bind a homologous stretch of thymidylate synthase (TS)-encoding DNA but use different strategies to distinguish intronless from intron-containing substrates [4–8]. I- Tev I discriminates between substrates at the level of DNA binding, as its recognition sequence is centered on the intron IS [5–7]. I- Bmo I, in contrast, possesses a very asymmetric recognition sequence with respect to the intron IS, binds both intron-containing and intronless TS-encoding substrates, but efficiently cleaves only intronless substrate [8]. Here, we show that I- Bmo I is extremely tolerant of multiple substitutions around its cleavage sites and has a low specific activity. However, a single G-C base pair, at position −2 of a 39-base pair recognition sequence, is a major determinant for cleavage efficiency and distinguishes intronless from intron-containing alleles. Strikingly, this G-C base pair is universally conserved in phylogenetically diverse TS-coding sequences; this finding suggests that I- Bmo I has evolved exquisite cleavage requirements to maximize the potential to spread to variant intronless alleles, while minimizing cleavage at its own intron-containing allele.
Effect of chronic supraventricular tachycardia on left ventricular function and structure in newborn pigs.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of supraventricular pacing tachycardia on left ventricular function and myocardial structure in newborn, immature pigs and to determine whether immature pigs respond to suproventricular tachycardia differently from adults. Background. Previous studies have shown that supraventricular tachycardia causes dilated cardiomyopathy in adult animals; however, in humans, supraventricular tachycardia-induced congestive heart failure occurs most frequently in children and newborns. Because some clinical diseases may cause myocardial failure in adults but rarely do so in children, it was hypothesized that the effects of supraventricular tachycardia in newborns may be different from those in adults. Methods. In two groups of newborn swine (3 weeks of age), left ventricular volume, mass and function were assessed with simultaneous echocardiography and cardiac catheterization and myocardial structure was examined with light and electron microscopy. Six piglets underwent 3 weeks of left atrial pacing tachycardia (240 beats/min) and six littermates served as a control group. Both groups were followed up for 3 weeks. Results. At the end of the protocol, left ventricular dimensions increased in the piglets with supraventricular tachycardia compared with values in the control group, but there were no differences in left ventricular mass. Systolic function, assessed by fractional shortening, peak ejection rate and maximal rate of pressure development, was decreased in the group with supraventricular tachycardia. The fractional shortening-end-systotic stress relation in the piglets with supraventricular tachycardia decreased below normal values. Left ventricular diastolic function assessed by the relaxation time constant was prolonged, the peak filling rate was decreased and left ventricular stiffness was increased in the supraventricular tachycardia group. The morphologic data demonstrated that supraventricular tachycardia did not change total myocyte volume but did decrease total myofibrillar volume. Conclusions. Supraventricular tachycardia caused dilated cardiomyopathy in immature pigs. These changes in left ventricular function were associated with a decrease in cellular contractile proteins. Thus, the effects of supraventricular tachycardia on left ventricular function and structure in immature animals were comparable to previous findings in mature animals.
Integrating Design in a Reduced Hour Curriculum: A New Perspective

This paper describes the evolution of the design content in a mechanical engineering curriculum as it evolved from 139 semester credit hour curriculum to a 128 credit program that includes an additional three credit course in the core curriculum. The process of reducing the number of credit hours in the curriculum forced the faculty to take a fresh look at the “design across the curriculum” concept. The implementation of the reduced hour curriculum was eventually enhanced by the addition of hands-on content supporting a theme based on process control systems design. The Process Control Breadboard System, a suite of thermal, fluid, sensor and control elements developed with funding from the National Science Foundation, is used to provide hands-on design, build and test experiences at each academic level. A description of the design curriculum and enhancements is provided. The impact of the thematic approach on the undergraduate design experience, as well as an overall strategy to attract and retain engineering students, is presented. A review of lessons learned from the K-12 experiences and undergraduate implementation of the process controls theme are also included.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
PHOTOREGULATION OF LOGARITHMIC FLUENCE-RESPONSE CURVES FOR PHYTOCHROME CONTROL OF CHLOROPHYLL FORMATION IN PISUM SATIVUM L*

— Logarithmic fluence-response curves for red (660 nm) and far red (730 nm) light induction of rapid chlorophyll a (Chi a) accumulation in pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L. cv. Early Alaska) indicate extreme light sensitivity in dark-grown seedlings. The energy requirement for onset of 660 nm light induction is less than 20 μJ m-2 and for 730 nm is about 1 mJ m-2. De-etiolation produced by a saturating exposure of red light (3–8 kJ m-2) 24 h prior to the construction of the logarithmic fluence-response curves resulted in approximately a 3 fold increase in slope for 660 nm light, whereas the energy requirement for onset of induction shifted to about 100 mJ m-2. In such de-etiolated plant material, far red applied at low incident energies almost completely lost its inductive capacity. The inductive capacity of far red applied as high irradiance over a long period of time (16h) appeared not to be affected by the de-etiolation treatment. Reciprocity failed for both dark-grown and de-etiolated seedlings upon exposures exceeding 1,000s. Nearly identical results were obtained for seedlings de-etiolated by red exposures immediately followed by far red (4.8 kJ m-2), although this treatment did not lead to any significant decrease in spectrophotometrically measurable phytochrome. Therefore, no simple correlation was observed between the level of phytochrome present and the sensitivity of seedlings for induction of rapid Chl a accumulation. In order to explain this apparent phytochrome paradox the possibility was tested and ruled out for changes in the degree of synchronization of seedlings, or for induction of some sort of circadian rhythmicity in light sensitivity being involved. In addition, no correlation was observed between induction of morphogenic development and changing light sensitivity. These results formed, therefore, additional support for a model for phytochrome action involving its intracellular transport and local concentration during the process of seedling de-etiolation.
Evidence of Sea Level Rise at the Early Ostionan Coralie Site (GT-3), c. AD 700, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands

Abstract Soil and sediment analyses were conducted on samples from the early Ostionan Coralie Site (c. ad 705±60) on Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, the earliest dated settlement site in the Bahama Islands. The focus of these analyses was a sand layer mantling archaeological features discovered on a buried land surface. The tapering, wedge-shaped configuration of the sand body prompted the hypothesis that it was deposited by water—either a storm surge or a more gradual rise in sea level. This hypothesis was tested using soil morphological descriptions, particle-size distribution analysis and grain characteristics, contents of organic carbon and total phosphorus, and identification of invertebrate organisms found in the soil samples. A fining upward trend in particle size, round and rolled grain shapes, and a rich shallow-water micro-invertebrate infauna indicated a gradual marine transgression over the site, as opposed to either a catastrophic storm event or aeolian deposition. These results explain the incremental inland shift of settlement activity over time at Coralie.
Ultrasonic attenuation near the spin-alignment transition of EuTe

Abstract The shear attenuation in EuTe is higher in the canted phase than in the paramagnetic phase, and it exhibits a peak at the boundary between the two phases. This phase boundary, in the H−T plane, was determined ultrasonically.
The shape of stretched planar trees

We study the asymptotics of a “stretched” model of unlabeled rooted planar trees, in which trees are not taken equiprobable but are weighted exponentially, according to their height. By using standard methods for computing the probabilities of large deviations of random processes, we show that, as the number of vertices tends to infinity, the normalized shape of a random tree converges in distribution to a deterministic limit. We compute this limit explicitly. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.