cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatially resolved detection of antibody-antigen reaction on solid/liquid interface using total internal reflection excited antigen fluorescence and charge-coupled device detection.

Abstract Spatially-resolved detection of antibody—antigen reactions at the solid/liquid interface was investigated by total internal reflection excited fluorescence from large area flat surfaces. Anti-HSA immunoglobulin G(IgG) antibody was immobilized at four spatially distinct spots. Binding of fluorescein-labeled human serum albumin (HSA) from the solution to immobilized antibody was detected by a cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) as a change in the fluorescence intensity. A two-dimensional representation of the fluorescence was obtained during the binding reaction time of 25 mins. The contributions from bound and free antigen to the total signal were evaluated. The influence of the scattered excitation light and the normalization of fluorescence signal with respect to the two-dimensional incident light intensity distribution are discussed.
An Ease-Off Based Method for Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis of Hypoid Gears Having Local and Global Surface Deviations

Manufacturing errors typically cause real (measured) spiral bevel and hypoid gear surfaces to deviate from the theoretical ones globally. Tooth surface wear patterns accumulated through the life span of the gear set are typically local deviations that are aggravated especially in case of edge contact conditions. An accurate and practical methodology based on ease-off topography is proposed in this study to perform loaded tooth contact analysis of spiral bevel and hypoid gears having both types of local and global deviations. It starts with definition of the theoretical pinion and gear tooth surfaces from the machine settings and cutter parameters, and constructs the theoretical ease-off and roll angle surfaces to compute unloaded contact analysis. Manufacturing errors and localized surface wear deviations are considered to update the theoretical ease-off to form a new ease-off surface that is used to perform a loaded tooth contact analysis according to the semi-analytical method proposed earlier. At the end, a numerical example with locally deviated surfaces is analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology as well as quantifying the effect of such deviations on load distribution and the loaded motion transmission error.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
High order holds using polynomial spectral observation

Abstract New methods for generating high order data holds are developed that are especially attractive for digital controllers requiring substantial processing time between samples. The hold computations may be performed in parallel and need not represent an overhead to the stream of control computation. Both analog and digitally-based outputs are described, and numerical examples of each are given.
The Treatment of HIV-Associated Nephropathy

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) preserves kidney function in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). Emerging data also document substantial renal benefits of ART in the general HIV-infected population, which is associated in part with suppression of HIV-1 viral replication. The extent to which the response to ART differs in persons with HIVAN compared with those with other HIV-associated kidney disorders is unknown. Beneficial effects of corticosteroids and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on kidney function also are suggested by retrospective cohort studies and uncontrolled trials of patients with HIVAN. Underexposure to ART or inadequate ART dosing in HIV-infected patients with CKD may curtail the optimal benefits that may be derived from this therapy.
CYSTEINE CONCENTRATIONS IN RODENT TUMORS: UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH VALUES MAY CAUSE THERAPY RESISTANCE

Thiol-containing compounds of low m.w. play a key role in protecting cells from the toxic effects of ionizing radiation, other free-radical-generating reactions, reactive oxygen spe- cies and chemical toxins. Previous studies have emphasized the importance of the tripeptide glutathione, which is the most abundant soluble thiol in cells. Cysteine is more difficult to quantitate than glutathione, with reported concentrations only 1-10% that of glutathione in most normal tissues and tissue culture cells. Using an electrochemical method (oxidation of the functional -SH group) which allows the direct assay of thiols after acid extraction of cells or tissue, our measurements confirm the above indicated distribution of glutathione and cysteine in cells and normal tissues. However, in several rat and mouse tumors grown in vivo, we found a much higher proportion of cysteine, sometimes exceeding the millimolar concentrations often found for glutathione. Our results have important implica- tions for predicting tumor radiation resistance since cysteine is a much better radiation-protecting agent than glutathione. Since thiols and oxygen have interacting and opposite effects on the net radiation response, high cysteine levels would directly increase the proportion of radio-resistant cells in tumors. o 1996 Wiley-Liss. Inc.
Implementation of the European Monetary Union and Its Sustainability, 1999-2002: Recommendations from a Dynamic Game

This paper presents a dynamic theoretic model of monetary union break - downs that result from violations of the macroeconomic targets agreed upon at the time of monetary integration. Non-cooperative behavior of two constituen - cies or interest groups results in multiple possible equilibria. The paper ana - lyzes the conditions of financing and the cost of maintaining the targets that will determine whether or not a monetary union member will be subject to for - eign reserves depletion or, in the extreme, an exchange rate attack. In addition, it provides the decision rule for European countries to determine if they should continue to participate in the monetary union or withdraw from it. Therefore, it indirectly provides an intuition for the conditions required for the monetary union to succeed.
Fashion, Postmodernity and Personal Appearance: A Symbolic Interactionist Formulation

A theoretical explanation of fashion change is offered, drawing upon symbolic-interactionist insights on fashion and appearance, and developing macro-micro connections between cultural ambivalence and the negotiation of meaning as inspired by symbolic ambiguity in appearances. The postmodern condition, connected with advanced capitalism, spawns cultural ambivalence and a plethora of clothing styles that emerge, in part, to clarify and lend expression to ambivalence. A broad variety of clothing styles, however, coupled with tendencies toward production of self, contribute to a high degree of ambiguity in individually constructed appearances, the meaning of which must then be collectively negotiated in social interaction. Failure of clothing styles to resolve cultural ambivalence results in fashion change in an ongoing dialectic.
Regulation of Aicda expression and AID activity

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is expressed in a B cell differentiation stage-specific fashion and is essential for immunoglobulin (Ig) gene class switch DNA recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM). CSR and SHM play a central role in the maturation of antibody and autoantibody responses. AID displays a mutagenic activity by catalyzing targeted deamination of deoxycytidine (dC) residues in DNA resulting in dU:dG mismatches, which are processed into point-mutations in SHM or double-strand breaks (DSBs) in CSR. Although AID specifically targets the Ig gene loci (IgH, Igκ and Igλ), it can also home into a wide array of non-Ig genes in B-and non-B-cell backgrounds. Aberrant expression of AID is associated with multiple diseases such as allergy, inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer. In autoimmune systemic lupus erythematosus, dysregulated AID expression underpins increased CSR, SHM and autoantibody production. As a potent mutator, AID is under stringent transcriptional, post-transcript...
22Na+ and 86Rb+ transport in vascular smooth muscle of SHR, Wistar Kyoto, and Wistar rats.

To gain further insight into differences in cellular Na+ and K+ regulation between the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), Wistar Kyoto (WKY), and American Wistar (W) rats, 22Na+ and 86Rb+ washouts were performed under steady-state conditions in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from the three rat strains. SHR vascular smooth muscle cells showed significantly higher bumetanide sensitive 86Rb+ washout rate constant (x 10(-4)/min; mean +/- SEM) than WKY cells (-38.6 +/- 2.84 and -23.8 +/- 3.58, respectively; p less than 0.005). SHR vascular smooth muscle cells also exhibited significantly higher values than WKY cells in the total 22Na+ washout rate constant (x 10(-2)/min) (-61.0 +/- 1.57 vs. -53.8 +/- 1.24; p less than 0.005). The amiloride sensitive component of the 22Na+ washout rate constant accounted for these differences (-18.6 +/- 1.04 for SHR and -12.1 +/- 2.00 for WKY; p less than 0.05). There were no apparent differences in cellular Na+ concentrations between WKY and SHR cells. In general, the 86Rb+ and 22Na+ washout parameters of W rat cells were quite similar to those of cells from SHR. We conclude that the bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb+ washout (the Na+ K+-cotransport), the overall, and the amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ washout (the latter primarily represents the Na+/H+more » antiport) are higher in SHR than WKY rat vascular smooth muscle cells. These findings indicate innate differences in cellular Na+ and K+ transport in vascular smooth muscle cells of the SHR and WKY rat. The mechanisms responsible for these differences are yet to be determined.« less
Egalitarian solutions and uncertain disagreement points

Abstract We consider bargaining problems with uncertain disagreement points. We search for solutions providing agents the incentive to reach agreements before the uncertainty is resolved. We identify the weighted Egalitarian solutions as being the only ones in the family of ‘directional solutions’ characterized in an earlier paper [Chun and Thomson (1987)] to satisfy three alternative lists of complementary conditions. We also show that on the class of coalitional form games, the Kalai-Samet (1985) extension of the Egalitarian solutions does not provide this incentive for early agreement.
Right ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background Mechanical dyssynchrony predicts response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in adults with heart failure. Children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) are susceptible to right ventricular (RV) failure; however, mechanical dyssynchrony has not been studied in this population with newly available methodologies. We investigated RV mechanical dyssynchrony in children with HLHS using vector velocity imaging. Methods We used vector velocity imaging to quantify the SD of time to peak velocity, strain, and strain rate among 6 RV segments to define intraventricular RV synchrony in 16 children with HLHS and RV and left ventricular (LV) synchrony in 16 healthy age-matched control subjects. We further investigated relations between QRS duration and mechanical dyssynchrony and between mechanical dyssynchrony and systolic function. Results Children with HLHS had significant RV mechanical dyssynchrony versus LV and RV control subjects (strain 37 ± 35 vs 8 ± 8 milliseconds, P = .003 [LV], 9 ± 11 milliseconds, P = .005 [RV]; strain rate 31 ± 37 vs 10 ± 13 milliseconds, P = .04 [LV], 14 ± 15 milliseconds, P = .09 [RV]). There was no significant relationship between QRS duration and mechanical dyssynchrony and no obvious relation between the degree of mechanical dyssynchrony and the RV fractional area of change. Conclusions Children with HLHS have RV mechanical dyssynchrony unrelated to surface electrocardiographic QRS duration. This may contribute to RV dysfunction and may indicate the usefulness of cardiac resynchronization therapy in this population.
X-IRRADIATION OF THE DROSOPHILA MALE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE NUMBER OF SPERM TRANSFERRED TO THE FEMALE.

Experiments were carried out to determine the number of sperm transferred by the maleDrosophila after X-irradiation. Acute doses (1000 r/min) of 5,000 r, 25,000 r and 50,000 r delivered to the male results in reductions of some 20–25%, 60–65%, and 85–90%, respectively, in the number of sperm scored in the ventral receptable of inseminated females. It appears, further, that sperm in ejaculates of relatively small size (50 or fewer) from irradiated as well as unirradiated males distribute themselves such that 20–50% or more found in the spermathecae. The bearing of this observation on the apparent 1:1 sperm: progeny ratio reported byPeacock andErickson (1965) from ejaculates with low sperm number is noted.
ROTATIONAL DYNAMICS OF EXCITED PROBES: THE ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL DATA

The time course of molecular rotational motion can be observed directly using partially oriented samples produced by photoselection and fast laser techniques. The magnitude of the observed absorption dichroism or fluorescence anisotropy is related to the relative directions of the excitation and observation transition moment vector as well as the degree of orientation. The duration of the observed effect depends on the shape of the probe and the solvent viscosity. It has been the accepted procedure to assume isotropic rotational dynamics of the probe when calculating rotational time constants. This assumption is too severe. It has been shown that the assumption of isotropic rotational dynamics leads to incorrectly determined rotational time constants using simulated data. Systematic errors in these constants render them inappropriate for evaluating rotational dynamics theories such as Debye-Stokes-Einstein theory or extensions thereof.
Internal models direct dragonfly interception steering

Sensorimotor control in vertebrates relies on internal models. When extending an arm to reach for an object, the brain uses predictive models of both limb dynamics and target properties. Whether invertebrates use such models remains unclear. Here we examine to what extent prey interception by dragonflies (Plathemis lydia), a behaviour analogous to targeted reaching, requires internal models. By simultaneously tracking the position and orientation of a dragonfly's head and body during flight, we provide evidence that interception steering is driven by forward and inverse models of dragonfly body dynamics and by models of prey motion. Predictive rotations of the dragonfly's head continuously track the prey's angular position. The head-body angles established by prey tracking appear to guide systematic rotations of the dragonfly's body to align it with the prey's flight path. Model-driven control thus underlies the bulk of interception steering manoeuvres, while vision is used for reactions to unexpected prey movements. These findings illuminate the computational sophistication with which insects construct behaviour.
Strongyloides stercoralis: eosinophil-dependent immune-mediated killing of third stage larvae in BALB/cByJ mice.

Abstract Challenge worm survival was significantly reduced when BALB/cByJ mice were vaccinated againstStrongyloides stercoralisinfective third stage larvae (L3) regardless of whether the challenge infections consisted of systemically migrating L3 or L3 implanted in diffusion chambers. The only cell type that increased in number in diffusion chambers in immunized mice, 1 week after booster immunizations, was the eosinophil, and maximal levels of eosinophils were coincident with parasite killing. Mice were treated with mAb to eliminate IL-5 or granulocytes to assess the role that eosinophils play in larval killing. Treated animals showed no decrease in immunity when challenge infections consisted of systemically migrating L3 administered 3 weeks after booster immunizations. Eosinophil numbers in immunized mice decreased to control levels when measured 3 weeks post-booster immunization, both in diffusion chambers and in the peripheral blood, whereas they were elevated at 1 week after booster immunizations. Direct contact between host cells and L3 was, however, still required for larval killing in immunized hosts 3 weeks after booster immunizations. Elimination of eosinophils by treatment with mAb to IL-5 or granulocytes significantly reduced protective immunity, when L3 were implanted in diffusion chambers at 1 and 3 weeks post-booster. However, as systemically migrating L3 were still killed in immunized, eosinophil-depleted animals, other cell types may play a role in larval destruction. Two human eosinophil granule products were found to be toxic for host-adapted L3+, but had no effect on infective L3, indicating that host-adapted larvae are possible targets for eosinophil-mediated destruction of third stage larvae. These findings suggest that inactivation of eosinophils by mAb treatment abolishes protective immunity to L3 contained within diffusion chambers and that small numbers of eosinophils are sufficient for immune-mediated killing ofS. stercoralisL3.
The Motion of Trapped Particles in a Distorted Field

The motion of charged particles in a geomagnetic field distorted by the solar wind is examined, using adiabatic theory. It is shown that the drift motion of particles trapped on high L-shells depends strongly on their equatorial pitch angle. Those mirroring near the equator move in on the night side, while those mirroring at low altitudes move out, thus producing a significant Splitting of the L-shell with pitch angle. One consequence is that the very high latitude lines on the day side may contain trapped particles near the equator, but none near the ends of the lines. The opening up of field lines in the geomagnetic tail may be the Controlling factor governing the high-latitude limit of trapping on both the day side and the night side.
Immediate Unplanned Hospital Admission After Outpatient Ureteroscopy for Stone Disease

Purpose: Medicare recently changed reimbursement for ureteroscopy, encouraging migration to ambulatory surgical centers. To our knowledge the risk of immediate unplanned hospital admission, which may discourage ureteroscopy at ambulatory surgical centers, is unknown. We determined the rate of immediate unplanned hospital admission, identified factors associated with admission and developed a risk stratification tool to assist with location selection for outpatient ureteroscopy.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,798 consecutive outpatient ureteroscopic procedures for urolithiasis performed from 1998 to 2008 at our institution. Patients requiring immediate hospital admission were matched 1 to 3 by provider, gender and date with controls who did not require admission. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, stone history and burden, and operative technique were assessed for impact on admission by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. A scoring system was develope...
Homelessness, Affiliation, and Occupational Mobility

Affiliation and employment histories obtained from a sample of skid-row men and a control sample of residents in a low-income metropolitan census tract are used in a test of the hypotheses that skid-row men are less affiliated than lower-class men in settled neighborhoods, and that downward occupational mobility is associated with loss of affiliations. Compared with the control sample, skid-row men have long histories of low affiliation, both before and after their arrival on skid row. The two samples did not differ much in occupational mobility, but their affiliative patterns have been quite different. Apparently the disaffiliation of skid-row men cannot be attributed to their downward mobility. Whether downward mobility is accompanied by disaffiliation seems to depend on the context in which it occurs. D espite a long tradition of research dealing with homeless men, many crucial questions about the phenomenon of homelessness remain to be answered. Numerous studies of vagrants, beggars, hobos, and other isolated persons have provided insight into the way homeless people live, but there are few thorough explorations of the social origins and consequences of homelessness. During the past 15 years the situation has changed somewhat. In preparation for urban renewal, Sacramento, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia have completed large-scale action-oriented surveys of their skid rows.1 These studies have provided descriptions of skid row and its men, but have not answered some fundamental questions about the development of homelessness. The present paper examines one of these questions, that of the relation between occupational mobility and dis-
Effectively processing medical term queries on the UMLS Metathesaurus by layered dynamic programming

Mapping medical terms to standardized UMLS concepts is a basic step for leveraging biomedical texts in data management and analysis. However, available methods and tools have major limitations in handling queries over the UMLS Metathesaurus that contain inaccurate query terms, which frequently appear in real world applications. To provide a practical solution for this task, we propose a layered dynamic programming mapping (LDPMap) approach, which can efficiently handle these queries. LDPMap uses indexing and two layers of dynamic programming techniques to efficiently map a biomedical term to a UMLS concept. Our empirical study shows that LDPMap achieves much faster query speeds than LCS. In comparison to the UMLS Metathesaurus Browser and MetaMap, LDPMap is much more effective in querying the UMLS Metathesaurus for inaccurately spelled medical terms, long medical terms, and medical terms with special characters. These results demonstrate that LDPMap is an efficient and effective method for mapping medical terms to the UMLS Metathesaurus.
Biogenic and anthropogenic organic compounds in rain and snow samples collected in southern california

Abstract Ten rainwater and snow samples were collected from the Los Angeles area and its vicinity (semirural and rural areas) in S California. The samples were studied for various types of solvent-extractable organic compounds, including n -alkanes, UCM hydrocarbons, PAHs, FAs, benzoic acids and phenols. (See Table 1 for definition of acronyms.) In rural (mountain) snow samples, the major identifiable species are odd-carbon-numbered n -alkanesin the C 17 –C 35 range and even-carbon-numbered FAs in the C 12 –C 30 range, which are both of biogenic origin. On the other hand, Los Angeles urban rain samples contain abundant phenols, benzoic acids and UCM, which are considered to originate from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels mostly in automobile, as well as biogenic FAs. The results indicate that in urban areas, anthropogenic sources are the most important factor controlling the organic chemistry of rainwater, whereas biogenic sources are a minor contributor. Several indices are discussed for evaluating the anthropogenic/biogenic contribution to organic matter in wet deposition. The CPI of n -alkanes, UCM/ n -alkanes ratio, phenols/C 12 –C 30 FA ratio, benzoic acids/C 12 –C 30 FA ratio, UCM/C 12 –C 30 FA ratio and PAH/C 12 –C 30 FA ratio change drastically from rural to urban areas, indicating that they are useful indicators.
A Low Agar Casein-Wheat Germ Diet for Rearing Tobacco Budworms

The amount of agar in the casein-wheat germ diet fed to larvae of Heliothis virescens (F.) was reduced from 75 to 20 g/3.4 liters of diet by adding 350 g of corn cob grits as a filler. The change did not affect growth of larvae when they were reared in cell units but did delay the time to pupation by 2 days when the larvae were reared in 3/4-oz plastic cups. Cost of the diet was reduced 25% when the corn cob grits were used.
Age-dependent thyroid absorbed doses for radiobiologically significant radioisotopes of iodine.

In light of the post-Chernobyl increase in pediatric thyroid cancer incidence, among other recent events, there is renewed interest in radioiodine thyroid dosimetry and effects. Among the radioiodines produced in fission of 235 U, only 131 I [(T 1/2 ) p =8.04 d], 132 I (2.3 h), 133 I (20.3 h), and 135 I (6.7 h) may undergo significant environmental dispersion. Age-dependent thyroid absorbed dose estimates for these radiobiologically significant radioiodines and for the medical radioisotopes 123 I (13.2 h) and 125 I (60 d) have been derived, incorporating the effect of absorption following inhalation or ingestion. This effect has generally been ignored in previously derived estimates of radioiodine absorbed doses to the thyroid. Based on the latest ICRP lung and gut models, inhaled radioiodine is absorbed at a rate of 0.175 h -1 and exhaled at 0.101 to 0.118 h -1 (depending on age) and ingested radioiodine is completely absorbed in the stomach at a rate of 1 h -1 . Whole-body compartmental models (SAAM II) were fit to previously published 24-h thyroid uptakes, thyroid half-times, and 48-h plasma concentration of protein-bound iodine. The resulting fitted models were used to calculate thyroid residence times of radioiodine. The mean thyroid absorbed doses [cGy/37 kBq (rad/μCi) injected intravenously] were then calculated using the age-dependent S(thyroid←thyroid) factors (MIRDOSE III), with the highest doses (from 0.49 for 123 I to 36 for 131 I) in newborns and the lowest doses (from 0.014 for 123 I to 1.4 for 131 I) in adults in inverse relation to the thyroid mass. Although the thyroid absorbed dose for inhalation is substantially (30 to 70%) less than that for injection for all radioiodines and at all ages, it is markedly (25%) less for ingestion only for short-lived 132 I.
Circulation of bottom waters in the southwestern South Atlantic

Data from 137 new hydrographic stations are used with older hydrographic data to construct horizontal charts of potential temperature at 4000 m and the depth of the 0°C potential temperature surface for the southwestern South Atlantic. The data are also used to construct seven potentials temperature sections and to calculate bottom water transport. From the horizontal charts it is inferred that the abyssal circulation in the Argentine Basin and its southward extension consists of several distinct gyres. The most intense abyssal circulation is in the western Argentine Basin. It is suggested that these bottom waters are renewed by northward flow through the East Falkland Channel from the Georgia Basin. The Georgia Basin provides the most direct conduit to the western Argentine Basin for the cold, fresh bottom waters found in the vicinity of the South Sandwich Trench. The horizontal charts also indicate a southward flow from the Argentine Basin into the Georgia Basin of warmer bottom waters through the East Falkland Channel. These waters are found along the southern flank of the Falkland Fracture Zone and the eastern flank of the Islas Orcadas Rise. The vertical potential temperature sections illustrate the baroclinic structure of the western boundary currents over the South Sandwich Trench and along the Argentine Continental Slope. The calculated northward transports for waters with potential temperatures less than 0°C are largest (18 x 106 m3 s−1) at the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench just north of the Weddell Sea. The transports decrease to 5 x 106 m3 s−1 at the northwestern end of the trench. The major flow of cold bottom water into the Argentine Basin appears to be through the Georgia Basin, with 1 to 3 x 106 m3 s−1 flowing through the Falkland Channels. A reference level is chosen in the Argentine Basin that is coincident with the depth of the 0°C potential temperature surface that on the average is 2000 m deeper than that proposed by DEFANT (Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Atlantischen Expedition auf dem Forschungs- und Vermessungsschiff “Meteor”, 1925–1927, 6 (2, 5), 191–260, 1941) and used by Wust (Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Atlantischen Expedition auf dem Forschungs- und Vermessungsschiff “Meteor”, 1925–1927, 6 (2, 6), 261–420, 1957). The calculated transports for the deep and abyssal boundary currents in the western Argentine Basin are small (2 x 106 m3 s−1), less than one-tenth that calculated bu Wust (1957) for the bottom waters.
Attachment of hyaluronic acid to polypropylene, polystyrene, and polytetrafluoroethylene

Surfaces of polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were activated with radio frequency plasmas Ar and NH3 to aminate the polymer surface and were subsequently reacted with hyaluronic acid (HA) in one of the three different attachment schemes. Results show that ammonia plasma treated polymers were more reactive toward HA attachment. The three chemistry schemes consisted of two distinct approaches: (1) direct attachment of the HA to the aminated surface, and (2) extending the reactive group away from the surface with succinic anhydride and then reacting the newly formed carboxylic acid group with an adipic dihydrazide modified HA (HA-ADH). The latter scheme proved to be more effective, suggesting that steric effects were involved with the reactivity of the HA with surface groups. These HA-coated polymers are a candidate for cell attachment and growth.
Energetic requirements for processive elongation of actin filaments by FH1FH2-formins.

Formin-homology (FH) 2 domains from formin proteins associate processively with the barbed ends of actin filaments through many rounds of actin subunit addition before dissociating completely. Interaction of the actin monomer-binding protein profilin with the FH1 domain speeds processive barbed end elongation by FH2 domains. In this study, we examined the energetic requirements for fast processive elongation. In contrast to previous proposals, direct microscopic observations of single molecules of the formin Bni1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae labeled with quantum dots showed that profilin is not required for formin-mediated processive elongation of growing barbed ends. ATP-actin subunits polymerized by Bni1p and profilin release the γ-phosphate of ATP on average >2.5 min after becoming incorporated into filaments. Therefore, the release of γ-phosphate from actin does not drive processive elongation. We compared experimentally observed rates of processive elongation by a number of different FH2 domains to kinetic computer simulations and found that actin subunit addition alone likely provides the energy for fast processive elongation of filaments mediated by FH1FH2-formin and profilin. We also studied the role of FH2 structure in processive elongation. We found that the flexible linker joining the two halves of the FH2 dimer has a strong influence on dissociation of formins from barbed ends but only a weak effect on elongation rates. Because formins are most vulnerable to dissociation during translocation along the growing barbed end, we propose that the flexible linker influences the lifetime of this translocative state.
Temporal patterns of postoperative complications.

Hypothesis A variety of major complications occur after intra-abdominal operations. Knowledge of when specific complications occur during the postoperative period would be useful in their diagnosis, prevention, and management. Our aim was to determine the incidence of major complications during specific postoperative intervals. Design One thousand twenty-one patients undergoing intra-abdominal operations were studied postoperatively as part of a randomized clinical trial. Thirteen defined major complications were sought at the following specific intervals: less than 1, 1 through 3, 4 through 7, and 8 through 30 days after the operation. Setting Cooperative trial from 15 Veterans Affairs medical centers. Interventions Intra-abdominal aortic, gastric, biliary, and colonic procedures. Main Outcome Measurements Major postoperative complications. Results Four hundred thirty-five major complications were diagnosed within 30 days of the patients' being operated on. Seventy-four (17%) occurred within 1 day, 185 (43%) between 1 and 3 days, 72 (17%) between 4 and 7 days, and 104 (24%) between 8 and 30 days. Three deaths (8%) occurred within 1 day, 3 (8%) in 1 through 3 days, 4 (11%) in 4 through 7 days, and 27 (73%) in 8 through 30 days. The greatest risk of hypotension (43%), myocardial infarction (47%), and respiratory depression (55%) was within 1 day. The highest incidence of congestive heart failure (46%), pulmonary embolus (50%), and respiratory failure (76%) occurred at 1 through 3 days. Pneumonia (38%) was most common at 4 through 7 days. Cerebrovascular accident (53%) and sepsis (71%) occurred preponderantly at 8 through 30 days. Renal failure had a bimodal distribution with maxima at 1 through 3 days (31%) and 8 through 30 days (56%). The risk of cardiac arrhythmia and gastrointestinal tract bleeding was similar throughout all intervals. Conclusions While major complications occur throughout the postoperative period, the highest incidence is 1 through 3 days after the operation. However, specific complications occur in the following distinct temporal patterns: early postoperative, several days after the operation, throughout the postoperative period, and in the late postoperative period. Knowledge of these patterns should aid clinical management.
Framing effects on metacognitive monitoring and control.

Three experiments explored the contribution of framing effects on metamemory judgments. In Experiment 1, participants studied word pairs. After each presentation, they made an immediate judgment of learning (JOL), framed in terms of either remembering or forgetting. In the remember frame, participants made judgments about how likely it was that they would remember each pair on the upcoming test. In the forget frame, participants made judgments about how likely it was that they would forget each pair. Confidence differed as a result of the frame. Forget frame JOLs, equated to the remember frame JOL scale by a 1-judgment conversion, were lower and demonstrated a smaller overconfidence bias than did remember frame JOLs. When judgments were made at a delay, framing effects did not occur. In Experiment 2, people chose to restudy more items when choices were made within a forget frame. In Experiment 3, people studied Spanish—English vocabulary pairs ranging in difficulty. The framing effect was replicated with judgments and choices. Moreover, forget frame participants included more easy and medium items to restudy. These results demonstrated the important consequences of framing effects on assessment and control of study.
Calibration laws based on multiple linear regression applied to matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Operation of any mass spectrometer requires implementation of mass calibration laws to translate experimentally measured physical quantities into a m/z range. While internal calibration in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) offers several attractive features, including exposure of calibrant and analyte ions to identical experimental conditions (e.g. space charge), external calibration affords simpler pulse sequences and higher throughput. The automatic gain control method used in hybrid linear trap quadrupole (LTQ) FT-ICR-MS to consistently obtain the same ion population is not readily amenable to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) FT-ICR-MS, due to the heterogeneous nature and poor spot-to-spot reproducibility of MALDI. This can be compensated for by taking external calibration laws into account that consider magnetic and electric fields, as well as relative and total ion abundances. Herein, an evaluation of external mass calibration laws applied to MALDI-FT-ICR-MS is performed to achieve higher mass measurement accuracy (MMA).
Ultrasonic three-dimensional imaging and volume from a series of arbitrary sector scans

Abstract A computer-based system has been developed for generating a three-dimensional reconstruction of an organ as a series of arbitrary outlines from a real-time, two-dimensional ultrasonic sector scanner. This reconstruction can be viewed in perspective or used to find volume by an algorithm which assumes no a priori shape for the organ. The various outlines are obtained by positioning the scan head over the organ to be imaged and tracing the borders with a light pen. The position and orientation of each scan is obtained with a special acoustic position locating system allowing nearly complete freedom of motion of the scan head. An initial feasibility test of this system has been done on seven balloons in a water tank. The correlation between measured and calculated volumes for 30 reconstructions on the seven balloons was R = 0.99, while the range of errors was −9.3 to +7.8%. Possible applications of this system include carotid artery imaging, fetal and liver volumes, and left ventricular volumes.
Pyrene and Phenanthrene Influence on Soil Microbial Populations

Two studies were conducted to evaluate microbial populations in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Captina silt loam was freshly exposed to (1) 0 or 2000 mg pyrene/kg and sampled after 10- and 61-wk incubation and (2) 0 or 505 mg pyrene + 445 mg phenanthrene/kg and sampled after a 21-wk incubation. Microbial numbers were determined by plate-count techniques. Isolated bacteria, selected degraders, and wholesoil extracts were analyzed by fatty acid methyl ester analysis (FAME). In the pyrene experiment, pyrene did not affect total bacterial or fungal numbers, but pyrene degraders increased from undetectable levels to 7.09 log10 degraders/g in the contaminated soil. The FAME analysis of bacterial isolates detected no pyrene effect, but wholesoil FAME indicated an increase in the contaminated soil of a fatty acid characteristic of protozoa and a major fatty acid detected in isolated degraders. In the pyrene + phenanthrene experiment, the contaminants had no impact on bacterial, fungal, or acti...
Isoflurane preconditioning improves short-term and long-term neurological outcome after focal brain ischemia in adult rats.

Isoflurane preconditioning improved short-term neurological outcome after focal brain ischemia in adult rats. It is not known whether desflurane induces a delayed phase of preconditioning in the brain and whether isoflurane preconditioning-induced neuroprotection is long-lasting. Two months-old Sprague–Dawley male rats were exposed to or were not exposed to isoflurane or desflurane for 30 min and then subjected to a 90 min middle cerebral arterial occlusion (MCAO) at 24 h after the anesthetic exposure. Neurological outcome was evaluated at 24 h or 4 weeks after the MCAO. The density of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells in the penumbral cerebral cortex were assessed 4 weeks after the MCAO. Also, rats were pretreated with isoflurane or desflurane for 30 min. Their cerebral cortices were harvested for quantifying B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression 24 h later. Here, we showed that pretreatment with 1.1% or 2.2% isoflurane, but not with 6% or 12% desflurane, increased Bcl-2 expression in the cerebral cortex, improved neurological functions and reduced infarct volumes evaluated at 24 h after the MCAO. Isoflurane preconditioning also improved neurological functions and reduced brain infarct volumes in rats evaluated 4 weeks after the MCAO. Isoflurane preconditioning also decreased the density of TUNEL-positive cells in the penumbral cerebral cortex. We conclude that isoflurane preconditioning improves short-term and long-term neurological outcome and reduces delayed cell death after transient focal brain ischemia in adult rats. Bcl-2 may be involved in the isoflurane preconditioning effect. Desflurane pretreatment did not induce a delayed phase of neuroprotection.
Gene structure and alternative splicing of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) in neural and non-neural tissues

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3beta) is a multifaceted serine-threonine kinase that is of interest both because of its role in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which is involved in mammalian brain regionalization, and its role in phosphorylating the microtubule-associated protein Tau. Because of the potential association of GSK-3beta with human developmental and neurodegenerative conditions, we determined its exon/intron boundaries by a combination of sequencing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and database mining. Study of GSK-3beta expression using reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting and Northern blotting showed alternative splicing in nervous and non-nervous system tissues. Both at the protein and mRNA level we were able to identify two isoforms, one full length form containing exon 10 and one without exon 10. At the mRNA level we identified an additional exon that is sometimes seen between exons 8 and 9. Furthermore, rather than the reported 2-3 kb mRNA predominant in non-neural tissues, we identified the major brain isoforms of GSK-3beta as two high molecular weight RNAs (8.4 and 7.7 kb).
Fundamentals-radiation effects on electrical insulation

The basics of radiation interaction with the chemical structure of some common polymers are presented. Polymer chain crosslinking and scission, the two principal effects, are described, and stabilization of polymers to radiation is discussed. Effects of dose-rate temperature during radiation on service endurance are considered. >
Electrophysiological and morphological properties of light and dark cells isolated from mudpuppy taste buds

Isolated Necturus taste receptor cells were studied by giga-seal whole-cell recording and electron microscopy to correlate electrophysiological properties with taste cell structural features. Dark (type I) cells were identified by the presence of dense granular packets in the supranuclear and apical regions of the cytoplasm. In response to a series of depolarizing voltage commands from a holding potential of −80 mV, these cells exhibited a transient, TTX-sensitive inward Na+ current, a sustained outward K+ current, and a slowly inactivating inward Ca++ current. Light (type II) cells were identified by a lack of granular packets and by an abundance of smooth endoplasmic reticulum distributed throughout the cell. In addition, isolated light cells had clear vesicular inclusions in the cytoplasm and blebs on the plasma membrane. Light cells were divided into two functional populations based upon electrophysiological criteria: cells with inward and outward currents, and cells with outward currents only. Light cells with inward and outward currents had voltage-activated Na+, K+, and Ca++ currents with properties similar to those of dark cells. In contrast, the second group of light cells had only voltageactivated outward K+ currents in response to depolarizing voltage commands. These data suggest that dark cells and light cells with inward and outward currents are capable of generating action potentials and releasing neurotransmitters onto gustatory afferent neurons in response to taste stimulation. In contrast, light cells with outward currents only likely serve a different function in the taste bud. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Specific domains of Aβ facilitate aggregation on and association with lipid bilayers

A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, a late-onset neurodegenerative disease, is the deposition of neuritic amyloid plaques composed of aggregated forms of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). Aβ forms a variety of nanoscale, toxic aggregate species ranging from small oligomers to fibrils. Aβ and many of its aggregate forms strongly interact with lipid membranes, which may represent an important step in several toxic mechanisms. Understanding the role that specific regions of Aβ play in regulating its aggregation and interaction with lipid membranes may provide insights into the fundamental interaction between Aβ and cellular surfaces. We investigated the interaction and aggregation of several Aβ fragments (Aβ1-11, Aβ1-28, Aβ10-26, Aβ12-24, Aβ16-22, Aβ22-35, and Aβ1-40) in the presence of supported model total brain lipid extract (TBLE) bilayers. These fragments represent a variety of chemically unique domains within Aβ, that is, the extracellular domain, the central hydrophobic core, and the transmembrane domain. Using scanning probe techniques, we elucidated aggregate morphologies for these different Aβ fragments in free solution and in the presence of TBLE bilayers. These fragments formed a variety of oligomeric and fibrillar aggregates under free solution conditions. Exposure to TBLE bilayers resulted in distinct aggregate morphologies compared to free solution and changes in bilayer stability dependent on the Aβ sequence. Aβ10-26, Aβ16-22, Aβ22-35, and Aβ1-40 aggregated into a variety of distinct fibrillar aggregates and disrupted the bilayer structure, resulting in altered mechanical properties of the bilayer. Aβ1-11, Aβ1-28, and Aβ12-24 had minimal interaction with lipid membranes, forming only sparse oligomers.
Kinetic proofreading scanning models for eukaryotic translational initiation: the cap and poly(A) tail dependency of translation.

Abstract Two simplified kinetic proofreading scanning (KPS) models were proposed to describe the 5′ cap and 3′ poly(A) tail dependency of eukaryotic translation initiation. In Model I, the initiation factor complex starts scanning and unwinding the secondary structure of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) from the 5′ terminus of mRNA. In Model II, the initiation factor complex starts scanning from any binding site in the 5′ UTR. In both models, following ATP hydrolysis, the initiation factor complex either dissociates from mRNA or continues to scan and unwind RNA secondary structure in the 5′ UTR. This step repeats n times until the AUG codon is reached. These two models show very different cap and/or poly(A) tail dependency of translation initiation. The models predict that both cap and poly(A) tail dependencies of translation, and translatability of mRNAs are coupled with the structure of 5′ UTR: the translation of mRNA with structured 5′ UTR is strongly cap- and poly(A) tail-dependent; while translation of mRNA with unstructured 5′ UTR is less cap- and poly(A) tail-dependent. We use these two models to explain: (1) the cap and poly(A) tail dependence of translation; (2) the effect of exogenous poly(A) on translation; (3) repression of host mRNA and translation of late adenovirus mRNA in the late phase of adenovirus infection; (4) repression of host mRNA and translation of Vaccinia virus mRNA in virus-infected cell; (5) heat shock repression of translation of normal mRNA and stimulation of translation of hsp mRNA; and (6) the synergistic effect of cap and poly(A) tail on stimulating translation. The kinetic proofreading scanning models provide a coherent interpretation of those phenomena.
Responsive Interaction Interventions for Children With or at Risk for Developmental Delays: A Research Synthesis

The purpose of this article is to synthesize the available studies regarding responsive interaction intervention (RII) for children with or at risk for developmental delays with a focus on six dime...
Existence of a second A3 phase in B2 epitaxial Co2Cr1−xFexAl thin films

Abstract The Heusler alloy Co2Cr1−xFexAl, predicted to be half-metallic for low x , has recently shown relatively large giant and tunnel magnetoresistances in thin film structures. However, the saturation magnetic moment and spin polarization for low x films has been found to fall significantly short of the theoretical half-metallic values. Using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, we have observed the presence of a second hcp A 3 phase in B 2 epitaxial thin films of Heusler alloy Co2Cr1−xFexAl with x 1 . Assuming this second phase to have a lower magnetic moment and spin polarization than the B 2 phase explains the reduction in magnetic moments and spin polarizations observed in this class of compounds.