cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulatory role of E-NTPase/NTPDase in fat/CD36-mediated fatty acid uptake

Fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36-mediated long-chain fatty acid uptake in human umbilical vessel endothelial cells is associated with as yet uncharacterized translocase activity. The molecular mechanism of its function is not yet understood. Numerous attempts to purify rat cardiac sarcolemmal E-NTPase (an integral membrane protein also referred to as ecto-Ca2+/Mg2+ATPase) have revealed a complete amino acid sequence identity for FAT/CD36 protein. The most striking observation is that purified CD36 from human platelets shows significant E-NTPase activity. In view of recent progress in understanding CD36 functional properties, an attempt is made in this article to illustrate the point that association of E-NTPase (possibly extracellular Ca2+/Mg2+nucleotide triphosphate diphosphohydrolase) activity with CD36 may be of potential functional significance.
Living the game of hide and seek: Leisure in the lives of gay and lesbian young adults

Abstract Little attention has been given to gays and lesbians in leisure research. Increased understanding of the issues surrounding gay and lesbian people can enhance the leisure of individuals of non‐dominant sexual orientations and allow them to construct positive, self‐expressive leisure experiences. Using a symbolic interactionist approach, this study explored how gay and lesbian young adults assign meaning to their leisure and what role leisure plays in their identity development. Interviews were conducted with 19 gay and lesbian young adults. Three major themes were identified through constant comparative data analysis: negotiation of comfort within leisure, the experience of homophobia, and a desire for group enclosure in leisure. Implications and suggestions for eliminating heterosexism in leisure are discussed based on these findings.
Secretion of plasminogen activators by human colorectal and gastric tumor explants.

Conditioned media from explants of human colorectal and gastric tumors in short-term organ culture were analysed for plasminogen activator activity, activity toward the synthetic urokinase substrate, Spectrozyme-UK, and for the presence of urokinase antigen using monospecific goat antibody, by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Comparisons were made between primary tumors, adjacent normal mucosa and metastatic lesions. These analyses were carried out on unfractionated culture fluids and on fractions obtained by fast protein liquid chromatography separation using Superose 6 gels. Plasminogen activator activity, tested by azocaseinolysis in the presence of added plasminogen, was restricted to peaks of 55 kD and 155 kD. These were of the urokinase type as shown by specific immunoinhibition and by absorption by an antiurokinase antibody Affigel 10 column. Spectrozyme-UK, in addition to these peaks, detected a series of higher molecular weight activities, the largest of which appeared in the void volume, and were therefore of >106 molecular weight. These activities were greatly increased by inclusion of trace plasmin indicating that these components were mostly in their proenzyme forms. The characteristics of these very large enzymes were similar to those isolated earlier from a human lung cancer cell line [10]. Comparison of the primary and metastatic tumors confirmed earlier observations showing that urokinase secretion by the metastatic tumors was greatly reduced in comparison with the primary tumors: in the colon carcinomas it was 10 per cent of the value for the primary, in the gastric tumors 3 per cent, whether means or medians were compared (P<0·0001). This large difference was characteristic only of plasminogen activator secretion assayable by azocaseinolysis; activities toward Spectrozyme-UK, and antigen reacting with anti-urokinase antibody, were considerably less different in the two groups. In individual tissues, no correlation was found between the amount of extractable plasminogen activator and amounts secreted, or between the latter and the amount of lactic acid released. It is postulated that the greatly reduced plasminogen activator secretion by explants of metastatic tumors may be a phenotypic characteristic of distinct advantage for cancer cells destined to initiate metastatic foci, and may contribute to the ability of circulating cancer cells to lodge in the blood vessels of the target organ.
The Effects of Contact on the Prejudice Between Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Whites in the United States:

The growing Hispanic population has come into increasing contact with the larger population of non-Hispanic Whites. It is important to understand the effects of this contact on prejudice. The effects of six kinds of contact were examined for their effects on prejudice between Hispanics (n = 156) and non-Hispanic Whites (n = 1,479) who were participants in a recent survey representative of the U.S. population. Both groups were prejudiced, but in different ways. Contact reduced the prejudice of both groups, but it reduced it much more for non-Hispanic Whites. The findings suggested that prejudice between the two groups will almost certainly decline as contact increases. Questions were raised for further research.
Behavior of the thermal conductivity of dilute 3He-4He mixtures in the superfluid phase.

We present a new solution to the Khalatnikov two-fluid hydrodynamic equations which suggests that thermal conduction experiments in superfluid $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He mixtures measure the diffusive conductivity. This implies that for small $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ concentrations the measured conductivity approaches a constant. The singular behavior predicted by Khalatnikov's original solution can be eliminated using a constraint imposed by the tight coupling of concentration and temperature gradients. Microscopically, we find that diffusive mass transport in bulk superfluid is limited by the ability of the diffusing atoms to get rid of the thermodynamic diffusion energy they carry, leading to an apparent diffusivity which can be much smaller that the isothermal mass diffusivity. We also describe a preliminary experiment to observe two effects predicted by our analysis. In agreement with our predictions, we find that (1) the thermal relaxation time in dilute mixtures is very long and (2) the temperature gradient in a superfluid mixture is caused by $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ mass diffusion. The latter observation gives rise to a new technique for measuring the effective thermal conductivity which avoids the main difficulties encountered by the previous method.
How does sonication affect the mineral and organic constituents of soil aggregates?—A review

Application of ultrasound to disperse soil aggregates has been critical in enabling researchers to separate and analyze aggregate building blocks that include organic and mineral particles as well as mineral associated organic matter. But the forces generated in the process may also alter the dispersion products and, thus, potentially interfere with the interpretation of experimental results. This review summarizes present knowledge on experimental conditions that may lead to physical damage and chemical modifications of aggregate building blocks. The energy level at which physical disintegration of organic particles could be detected was as low as 60 J mL–1. Physical damage of sand- and silt-sized mineral particles was observed to commence at energy levels exceeding 700 J cm–3. No evidence was found for the disintegration of particles within the clay-size fraction of soils even though studies analyzing pure minerals such as kaolinite revealed particle breakage after application of energy amounts > 12,000 J cm–3. Here we outline a strategy to minimize artifacts such as physical damage of mineral or organic particles resulting from ultrasonication by adopting a stepwise dispersion protocol involving successively higher energy levels, accompanied by a sequential separation of organic and mineral compounds.
Application of a cluster tool for control of bipolar polysilicon emitter transistor characteristics

ABSTRACT A cluster tool technique featuring a vapor HF clean followed by controlled growth of a thin interfacialoxide prior to polysilicon deposition is described. The tool is used in the fabrication of polysiicon emittercontact bipolar transistors. Parametric data show that base current and beta vary systematically with oxide thickness but other device parameters remain unchanged. An initial assessment of run-to-run-process reproducibility is also described. The tool has significant potential for future BiCMOS processes whichwill require precision control of the interfacial layer and low-temperature processing. 1. INTRODUCTION Recent bipolar and BiCMOS technologies have taken advantage ofpolysiicon emitter contact technologyto achieve enhanced performance relative to metal contact 1 A key feature of these devices is the higher gain (beta) which results from the hole blocking/base current (Ib) suppression which is characteristic of the interface between the polysilicon contact and the mono-silicon emitter region. Thepresence of an interfacial oxide has been shown to have a major effect on characteristics of these devices.2While thicker interfacial oxide provides a more effective hole barrier and higher gain, emitter resistance andprocess variation can reach unacceptable levels. Adequate control of the process has been difficult to attainbecause of variation in the oxide thickness.A typical polysilicon contact process involves an oxide etch just prior to polysilicon deposition to providean oxide free surface. However, uncontrolled oxidation can subsequently occur prior to the deposition of
P‐50: Dynamic Gamma: Applications to Improve LCD Temporal Response using Overdrive

In our previous papers, we proposed a metric “dynamic gamma” to quantitatively evaluate the dynamic temporal response of an LC display device. Dynamic gamma, associated with 2-D plots, is arguably more suitable for quantitatively characterizing the dynamic characteristics of an LC panel. In this paper, we apply the dynamic gamma metric to improve the temporal response of LCD. From dynamic gamma data, overdrive table can be derived. It can also evaluate the quality of overdrive. With the second order dynamic, we can even assess the performance of different overdrive algorithms. Test result confirms that dynamic gamma is not only a good metric for LCD panel, but also for overdrive algorithm evaluation.
A new method of intermaxillary fixation for jaw fractures in patients wearing artificial dentures

Abstract A new method of intermaxillary fixation of jaw fractures for use in partly edentulous patients is described. A report is presented of a case in which the method of treatment was used with gratifying results, and the means of application of the method to other types of jaw fractures is explained. The advantages of this method are case of execution, effectiveness, and minimum discomfort and inconvenience for the patient.
Anthrax toxin receptor drives protective antigen oligomerization and stabilizes the heptameric and octameric oligomer by a similar mechanism.

Background Anthrax toxin is comprised of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). These proteins are individually nontoxic; however, when PA assembles with LF and EF, it produces lethal toxin and edema toxin, respectively. Assembly occurs either on cell surfaces or in plasma. In each milieu, PA assembles into a mixture of heptameric and octameric complexes that bind LF and EF. While octameric PA is the predominant form identified in plasma under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37°C), heptameric PA is more prevalent on cell surfaces. The difference between these two environments is that the anthrax toxin receptor (ANTXR) binds to PA on cell surfaces. It is known that the extracellular ANTXR domain serves to stabilize toxin complexes containing the PA heptamer by preventing premature PA channel formation—a process that inactivates the toxin. The role of ANTXR in PA oligomerization and in the stabilization of toxin complexes containing octameric PA are not understood. Methodology Using a fluorescence assembly assay, we show that the extracellular ANTXR domain drives PA oligomerization. Moreover, a dimeric ANTXR construct increases the extent of and accelerates the rate of PA assembly relative to a monomeric ANTXR construct. Mass spectrometry analysis shows that heptameric and octameric PA oligomers bind a full stoichiometric complement of ANTXR domains. Electron microscopy and circular dichroism studies reveal that the two different PA oligomers are equally stabilized by ANTXR interactions. Conclusions We propose that PA oligomerization is driven by dimeric ANTXR complexes on cell surfaces. Through their interaction with the ANTXR, toxin complexes containing heptameric and octameric PA oligomers are similarly stabilized. Considering both the relative instability of the PA heptamer and extracellular assembly pathway identified in plasma, we propose a means to regulate the development of toxin gradients around sites of infection during anthrax pathogenesis.
Enzymes of Common Pathway for Aromatic Amino Acid Biosynthesis in Brevibacterium flavum and Its Tryptophan-producing Mutants

Five enzymes after 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DS) in the common pathway for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Brevibacterium flavum were examined for general enzymatic and regulatory properties. These enzyme activities were not feedback-inhibited by the end products, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. On the other hand, syntheses of dehydroquinate synthase (DQS), shikimate dehydrogenase (SD), shikimate kinase (SK) and 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (ESPS) were derepressed 2- to 8-fold by tyrosine limitation as is DS. The azaserine-resistant tryptophan-producing mutant A-100 had 1.6- to 2.9-fold higher levels of DS, DQS, SD, SK, and chorismate synthase than those of the parent. Moreover, further increases of DS and DQS activities were found in sulfaguanidine-resistant mutants derived from strain A-100. These enzymes in the azaserine- and sulfaguanidine-resistant mutants were still repressed by tyrosine but showed higher activities than did the respective pare...
Pathogenicity of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the almond moth, Cadra cautella

Abstract Tests were conducted with neonate Cadra cautella larvae to determine the pathogenicity of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus. A bioassay on an agar base diet showed that concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, 2.00, and 4.00 polyhedra/mm2 killed 27, 55, 87, and 92% of the test larvae, respectively. A study of the time of death showed that most larvae died on the 9th or 10th day after exposure to 4 polyhedra/mm2 at 27°C. When larvae were exposed to 8, 16, 32, and 64 × 103 polyhedra/g of bran diet, recorded mortalities were 18, 22, 48, and 80%, respectively. All the samples of virus in bran diet which were incubated at various temperatures for 7, 14, and 28 days remained stable at all test conditions except the sample incubated at 42°C for 14 days, and those held at 37° and 42° for 28 days. Larvae of C. cautella, Plodia interpunctella, Ephestia elutella, and Paramyelois transitella placed on a diet with 40 × 103 polyhedra/g had mortalities of 75, 59, 16, and 4%, respectively. Light and electron microscopical examination of P. interpunctella cadavers showed that they were infected with a multiply occluded nuclear polyhedrosis virus.
Concomitant Deep Venous Thrombosis, Femoral Artery Thrombosis, and Pulmonary Embolism after Air Travel

The association between air travel and deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism “economy-class syndrome” is well described. However, this syndrome does not describe any association between long duration travel and arterial thrombosis or coexistence of venous and arterial thrombosis. We present a case of concomitant deep venous thrombosis, acute femoral artery thrombosis, and bilateral pulmonary embolisms in a patient following commercial air travel. Echocardiogram did not reveal an intracardiac shunt that may have contributed to the acute arterial occlusion from a paradoxical embolus. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature that associates air traveling with both arterial and venous thrombosis.
Open questions: Zombie projects, translational research, and the real secret of the inside of the cell.

It may be a sign of incipient old age, but I find myself increasingly convinced that the key question in biology these days is philosophical, not scientific. It is the question of what balance should exist, given that the financial pie is not only finite but likely to be shrinking for some time, between large-scale, top-down, 'big science' projects that are primarily aimed at information gathering, and hypothesis-driven, individual-investigator initiated 'little science' projects. The seesaw has tilted pretty heavily in favor of the big stuff lately. I have nothing against such programs in principle, but it seems to me that in practice there are too many of dubious merit and low benefit-to-cost ratio. They are never pitted against small science projects when they are reviewed, and because they are attractive to administrators - they produce lots of data that can be shown proudly to superiors, politicians and citizens - they become very difficult to kill, even if the data are not very useful or the original mission has been fulfilled, because too many influential reputations and comfortable livelihoods are vested in their continuation. As I see it, there is a danger that these 'zombie programs' will take over biology, and investigator-initiated research, which is where most breakthroughs come from, is already getting short shrift as a consequence. It's time we stop letting that happen by default, and ask how priorities in biomedical research should be set, and by whom.
Ads are watching me - A view from the interplay between anthropomorphism and customisation

With the advancement of technological platforms, the use of recommendation agents that can provide highly customisable solutions has become more ubiquitous. Marketing academics and practitioners alike have begun to investigate various communication styles and functionality designs of such decision aid systems. One variant of a design of a recommendation agent is to imbue it with humanlike features (i.e. to anthropomorphise it). However, academic research is silent with respect to whether this type of design would lead to more favourable consumer evaluations. To fill this gap, our research investigates the downstream consequences of anthropomorphising a recommendation agent, when the recommendation itself may require the exchange of personally sensitive information, and the message is customised. The results of two experiments reveal that, when a message is customised, the effect of an anthropomorphized recommendation agent on attitude towards the advertisement is predominantly negative and is mediated by ...
Multiple Subtypes of Excitatory Amino Acid Receptors Coupled to the Hydrolysis of Phosphoinositides in Rat Brain

: The excitatory amino acid (EAA) analogues quisqualate, ibotenate, and trans-(±)-1-amino-1, 3-cyclopentanedicarboxylate (trans-ACPD) activate the metabotropic EAA receptors that are coupled to the hydrolysis of Phosphoinositides (PI). Previous studies of hippocampal cross sections demonstrated that PI hydrolysis stimulated by these agonists can be inhibited by either L-aspartate-β- hydroxamate (L-AβHA) or DL-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionate (DL-AP3). The goal of the present studies was to determine if all metabotropic EAA receptors are sensitive to L-AβHA and DL-AP3. Two approaches were used. In the first, using cerebellar cross sections, the effects of these agonists and inhibitors were examined. The EC50 values (the concentrations required to evoke half-maximal stimulation) of quisqualate, ibotenate, and trans-ACPD in cerebellum were similar to the EC50 values that we observed previously in hippocampus, but neither L-AβHA nor DL- AP3 blocked PI hydrolysis. The EC50 values were 0.65 ± 0.17 μM for quisqualate, 12.8 ± 2.5 μM for ibotenate, and 18.1 ± 3.1 μM for trans-ACPD. All data were best fit to theoretical curves that had Hill slopes of 1. In the second approach, another EAA analogue, D-aspartate, was identified as an agonist that stimulates PI hydrolysis. The EC50for PI hydrolysis stimulated by D-aspartate was 470 ± 90 μM in hippocampus. Neither L-AβSHA nor DL-AP3 blocked PI hydrolysis stimulated by D-aspartate in hippocampus. Furthermore, antagonists of ionotropic EAA receptors, antagonists of other receptor systems coupled to PI hydrolysis, and inhibitors of the Na+-dependent L-glutamate transport process also did not block PI hydrolysis stimulated by D-aspartate. These data support the presence of three pharmacologically distinct metabotropic EAA receptor subtypes.
SU‐FF‐T‐260: In‐Vivo Dosimetry Verification of a 3D Treatment Plan Prescription Dose at a Depth Beyond Dmax Using Diodes

Purpose: To provide an in‐vivo verification using diode detectors of a patient prescription dose calculated by a three‐dimensional treatment planning algorithm. Method and Materials: Three models of diodes specially designed for high‐energy photon beams (6‐MV Isorad and QED, and the 20‐MV QED diode detectors manufactured by Sun Nuclear Corporation, Melbourne, Florida) were used to measure the percent depth dose (PDD) of a 6‐MV and 20‐MV photon beams produced by a Varian 2300 C/D Linac. These diodes were not water proof and the measurements were performed at multiple depths in a solid‐water phantom. Results: The measured PDD curves agree within 2% with clinical PDD curves scanned in a water tank to depths up to 25 cm. This allows scaling of the diode dose reading measured at the patient skin to a depth inside the patient which is usually the prescription point or the isocenter for a multiple beam SAD treatment as defined in a 3D treatment plan. In‐vivo measurements were performed on real patients. The doses scaled to the measurement depth were summed for all beams and compared with the calculated value from the treatment planning system (TPS). The treatment sites and agreement are listed below. ‐ 10 head and neck cases thus far, 0.4%–6.7% difference between calculated and measured doses, ‐ 8 pelvis cases thus far, 1.9%–6.5% difference between calculated and measured doses, ‐ 6 breast cases thus far, 2.3%–5.4% difference between calculated and measured doses, 4 chest cases thus far, 1.3%–6.7% difference between calculated and measured doses. Conclusion: An in‐vivo dosimetric method has been developed to measure delivered dose to the prescription point at a depth within the patient. Overall agreement between the measured and TPS‐calculated dose to the prescription point falls within ± 7% as recommended by the TG‐62 protocol.
Description of an exceptionally large new species of Diplophryxus (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae) from a Chilean alpheid (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae), with a key to species of Diplophryxus and a new genus for D. richardsonae Chopra, 1930

Abstract A new species of Diplophryxus Richardson, 1904 is described from shallow waters of Chile infesting Alpheus inca Wicksten & Mendez G., 1981. This is the ninth species described in the genus. Diplophryxus richardsonae Chopra, 1930 from India does not belong in the genus and a new genus, Micropodiphryxus, is erected for it. Diplophryxus is now known to have a circumglobal distribution in temperate and tropical latitudes infesting host shrimp in Alpheidae, Palaemonidae, and Gnathophyllidae, whereas the new genus is known only from the Andaman Islands and Kerala, India, from hosts in Crangonidae. A key to species of both genera is provided along with a summary of all records from the literature.
Positive symptoms of psychosis correlate with expression of ubiquitin proteasome genes in peripheral blood

Several brain- and blood-based gene expression studies in patients with psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) have identified genes in the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) pathway as putative biomarkers. However, to date an examination of the UPS pathway in the broader context of symptom severity in psychosis has not been conducted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between clinical scores on the Scales for the Assessment of Positive and Negative Symptoms (SAPS-SANS) and expression of 43 highly annotated genes within the UPS pathway in blood from patients with psychosis. A sample of 19 psychotic patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 13) or bipolar disorder (n = 6) were recruited. Pearson's partial correlations, adjusting for gender, ethnicity, age, education, medication, smoking, and past 6-month substance use, were performed between each of the selected UPS genes and both scales. Significant Bonferroni-adjusted positive associations were observed between SAPS scores and two ubiquitin conjugation genes (i.e., UBE2K, SIAH2), while a negative association was observed with one deubiquitination gene (i.e., USP2). No gene expression levels were significantly associated with scores on the SANS after correction for multiple testing. Our findings suggest that dysregulation of the UPS, specifically ubiquitin conjugation and deubiquitination, may point to a possible underlying biological mechanism for severity of positive but not negative symptoms.
Predictors of Attachment Security in Preschool Children From Intact and Divorced Families

The authors selected 58 mother-child dyads from divorced and intact families to participate in a study on the impact of divorce on preschoolers' attachment security. The authors explored pathways that lead to security of attachment. They found that mothers from divorced families were younger, had lower income levels, and had lower levels of education compared with their intact counterparts. Divorced mothers also reported significantly higher levels of stress, depression, need for social support, and conflict with their spouses. Mothers from intact families were more likely to use positive (authoritative) parenting styles compared with divorced mothers. Children in the divorced group had lower security scores on the Attachment Q-Set instrument (E. Waters, 1995). Regression analyses indicated that parenting style made a direct (independent) contribution to attachment security. In addition, temperament was related to attachment security, but temperament did not diminish the association of parenting style wit...
Geometric modeling using octree encoding

Abstract A geometric modeling technique called Octree Encoding is presented. Arbitrary 3-D objects can be represented to any specified resolution in a hierarchical 8-ary tree structure or “octree” Objects may be concave or convex, have holes (including interior holes), consist of disjoint parts, and possess sculptured (i.e., “free-form”) surfaces. The memory required for representation and manipulation is on the order of the surface area of the object. A complexity metric is proposed based on the number of nodes in an object's tree representation. Efficient (linear time) algorithms have been developed for the Boolean operations (union, intersection and difference), geometric operations (translation, scaling and rotation), N-dimensional interference detection, and display from any point in space with hidden surfaces removed. The algorithms require neither floating-point operations, integer multiplications, nor integer divisions. In addition, many independent sets of very simple calculations are typically generated, allowing implementation over many inexpensive high-bandwidth processors operating in parallel. Real time analysis and manipulation of highly complex situations thus becomes possible.
Superparamagnetic nanoparticles as targeted probes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have been attractive for medical diagnostics and therapeutics due to their unique magnetic properties and their ability to interact with various biomolecules of interest. The solution phase based chemical synthesis provides a near precise control on NP size, and monodisperse magnetic NPs with standard deviation in diameter of less than 10% are now routinely available. Upon controlled surface functionalization and coupling with fragments of DNA strands, proteins, peptides or antibodies, these NPs can be well-dispersed in biological solutions and used for drug delivery, magnetic separation, magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement and magnetic fluid hyperthermia. This Perspective reviews the common syntheses and controlled surface functionalization of monodisperse Fe3O4-based superparamagnetic NPs. It further outlines the exciting application potentials of these NPs in magnetic resonance imaging and drug delivery.
Factors influencing spontaneous combustion of solid waste

Landfill fires create a critical problem for landfill operators and require investigation of its occurrence and the conditions that favor its initiation. Subsurface fires are considered the most significant due to the difficulty in determining their location and extent. These fires are mainly caused by spontaneous combustion, combustion due to high temperature in absence of flame. This study investigates the effect of moisture content, oxygen concentration and leachate components on spontaneous ignition, combustion initiation, and self-heating of solid waste. A new procedure for testing spontaneous ignition is described; however, variations in solid waste components and landfill conditions can create some limitations to its use. The presence of water and dissolved solids in leachate was found to accelerate chemical self-heating of the solid waste. Oxygen concentration at 10% by volume can sustain chemical oxidation but did not promote accelerated burning.
Composition and Bacterial Growth as Factors Affecting the Body of Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread

Summary Effects of variations of composition on the firmness of pasteurized process cheese spreads made with Dariworld cheese were determined by (1) modifying moisture and fat contents of a base formula and (2) by substituting nonfat dry milk (NDM), lactose, or dried whey for part of the solids-not-fat supplied by cheese (CSNF). Firmness of spreads varied inversely with moisture, where the proportion of solids-not-fat to fat was held constant. Firmness was not affected by changes in fat when the ratio of moisture to solids-not-fat was not altered. Use of increased amounts of lactose and dried whey decreased the firmness of spreads. Addition of NDM was less effective in decreasing firmness. Firmness increased when the proportion of moisture to cheese solids-not-fat (H 2 O/CSNF) was decreased; this relationship was notably regular for all modifications. Some samples containing added lactose and NDM increased markedly in firmness and acidity during 90 days of storage at 90 F.; gram-positive bacilli were found in large numbers in all batches of such firm-bodied spreads. Spreads without added NDM or lactose did not increase in firmness during storage for 90 days at 90 F., regardless of levels of moisture or fat.
Intracellular location of newly synthesized interferon in human FS-4 cells.

Abstract The distribution of interferon was examined in fractions of human FS-4 diploid fibroblasts induced with polyinosinate-polycytidylate [poly(I) · poly(C)]. In order to synchronize interferon production in the cultures, cells were first induced with poly(I) · poly(C) in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. After 4 hr, protein synthesis was allowed to resume by removing cycloheximide. Cells were harvested for the analysis of intracellular interferon at 20 min after the removal of cycloheximide, i.e., before substantial quantities of newly synthesized interferon could reach the extracellular environment. Much of the intracellular interferon present in the postnuclear supernatant (PNS) was associated with a membrane fraction that formed a single peak in sucrose density gradients. Treatment with pancreatic ribonuclease which abolished free polysomes did not result in a marked alteration of the distribution of interferon activity in the sucrose gradient, whereas treatment of the PNS with deoxycholate (0.5%) resulted in the release of all interferon activity from the membrane. Unlike free interferon, membrane-associated interferon was resistant to treatment with trypsin-chymotrypsin. Treatment with puromycin in high salt, which caused release on membrane-bound ribosomes, failed to remove interferon from the membrane fraction. These observations suggest that the membrane-associated interferon was contained inside membraneous vesicles. In addition to the interferon found in membrane-bound form, some interferon activity in the PNS of induced cells was present in free form. However, available evidence strongly suggests that this “free” interferon is an artifact due to the release of interferon from membraneous vesicles during the cell homogenization procedure. It is concluded that probably all interferon in this cell system is synthesized on membrane-bound polysomes, discharged into the lumina of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and further processed during passage through various intracellular membrane compartments.
Lathlike mesostructured γ-alumina as a hydrodesulfurization catalyst support

Abstract A mesostructured γ-alumina with a lathlike framework morphology, denoted MSU-γ, has been prepared according to previously described methods through the reassembly and crystallization of a mesostructured alumina precursor with initially amorphous framework walls and used as a support for the catalytic hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT). The alumina support was loaded with molybdenum and cobalt ions via incipient wetness impregnation methods and then converted to the active sulfide form by reaction with H 2 S. HDS reactions of DBT were carried out at 400 °C and 400 psi to achieve a DBT conversion of 69–77% and a biphenyl (BP) product selectivity of 60–64% after a reaction time of 3 h, indicating that most of the DBT could undergo desulfurization while limiting excessive hydrogen consumption through aromatic hydrogenation. Although the dispersion of the active Mo/Co sulfide phase supported on lathlike MSU-γ alumina remained very high after several hours on stream, the conversions most likely were limited by a loss of surface area and porosity under HDS conditions.
KdV dynamics in the plasma-sheath transition

A mathematical model is formulated to catch the dynamics hidden in the plasma-sheath transition layer and the inner sheath layer for planar motion of a plasma. It is shown that the rescaled potential in the plasma-sheath transition layer and inner layer is governed by a perturbed KdV equation, through which some of the complex interactions and couplings among physical mechanisms acting in the plasma-sheath formation process are elucidated. This model is analyzed and compared with the model used by Fokas in his study of nonlinear dispersive initial boundary value problems [1].
Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography of eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane: Correlation between macular morphology and visual function

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the macular morphological changes associated with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) using high-resolution Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), as they correlate with visual acuity and microperimetry (MP-1). In all, 24 eyes (19 subjects) with iERM were imaged prospectively using FD-OCT with axial resolution of 4.5 μm and transverse resolution of 10 to 15 μm. MP-1 and Stratus OCT were carried out in a subset of eyes. The mean log of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.18±0.16 (range: −0.08 to 0.48, Snellen equivalent 20/15−1 to 20/60). ERM was visualized in all 24 eyes with FD-OCT and in 17 eyes (85%) of 20 eyes imaged with Stratus OCT. Although BCVA correlated with macular thickening in the central 1 mm sub-field of the Stratus ETDRS (P=0.0005) and macular volume (central 3 mm area) on FD-OCT (P<0.0001), macular thickening on thickness map and volume correlated poorly with decrease in macular sensitivity on MP-1 (P=0.16). On FD-OCT, foveal morphological changes correlated best with decrease in BCVA, the strongest being central foveal thickness (P<0.0001). Other significant changes included blurring of the foveal inner segment–outer segment (IS–OS) junction and/or Verhoeff's membrane, vitreal displacement of foveal outer nuclear layer and foveal detachment (P<0.05). Foveal IS–OS junction disruption was seen in 25% of eyes on Stratus OCT but in none of the eyes on FD-OCT. FD-OCT allowed improved visualization of ERM and associated foveal morphological changes that correlated best with BCVA. Macular thickening correlated weakly with decreased macular function as assessed by MP-1.
Transient multiple diffraction rings induced by ultrafast laser from chinese tea

Abstract Transient multiple diffraction rings associated with self-defocusing from chinese tea solution in ethanol are observed during the time of laser “turn on”. A second harmonic of cw mode-locked Nd:YAG laser was used. The phenomenon is shown to be the result of laser induced refractive-index change. Diffraction ring patterns under different conditions are compared. The dependence of ultrafast laser induced fluorescence on the polarization of laser beams is also observed. A tentative explanation is given.
SYNTHESIS AND ELECTROCHEMISTRY OF ELECTRONEGATIVE SPIROANNELATED METHANOFULLERENES : THEORETICAL UNDERPINNING OF THE ELECTRONIC EFFECT OF ADDENDS AND A REDUCTIVE CYCLOPROPANE RING-OPENING REACTION

Spiroannelated methanofullerenes bearing quinone-type addends including TCNQ and DCNQI analogues (3a−c, 6a,b, 8, 10, and 11) have been prepared, and their structural and electronic properties have been characterized by both experimental techniques and quantum-chemical calculations. The spiro[2,5-cyclohexadienone-4,61‘-methanofullerene] derivatives (3a−c), the spiro[10-anthrone-9,61‘-methanofullerene] (8), and the TCNQ- and DCNQI-type derivatives (10 and 11) were isolated as [6,6] adducts. The spiro[cyclohexanone-4,61‘-methanofullerene] (6) was however obtained as a mixture of [5,6] and [6,6] isomers. The novel methanofullerenes, with the only exception of 6, show irreversible cyclic voltammograms with additional reduction peaks. The conjugated cyclohexadienone derivatives 3 exhibit better acceptor abilities than the parent C60. Semiempirical PM3 calculations show that the addend lies perpendicular to the transanular bond in 3, while it folds down and adopts a butterfly shaped structure for compounds 8, 10...
Heterogeneous growth of plant tissues

Heterogeneous growth is defined as different rates or patterns of growth in adjacent tissue regions, in contrast to homogeneous growth where a region expresses a uniform rate or pattern of growth. Heterogeneous growth is inspected in a variety of plant tissues and the pattern of expansion is characterized for each. In the case of epidermal cell proliferation, different growth rates for cell plates and old walls lead to the feature of coordinated growth in which slow growth of the former is compensated for by a faster rate of the latter. Examples include leaf epidermal cells above veins growing differently from those above areole regions, and pairs of guard cells of stomata ceasing to expand before other epidermal cells. In the alga Coleochaete only marginal walls grow, and at different rates around the colony, to generate a fractal, stochastic type of coordinated growth. In the fern gametophyte there are complex gradients of differential growth rates. Epidermal cells of apices are often of mixed growth, as cells at the summit undergo two dimensional expansion while cells along the flanks express one dimensional expansion. Coordinated growth requires matched rates where the constraining effect of the slower growing region is compensated for by a faster rate in an enacircling region compared to the average rate of the overall tissue. Mixed and differential growth patterns do not necessarily create constraints and so lead to smooth tissue expansion. Emergence of some constraints leads to breaking of symmetry and disruptive growth as in the appearance of new axes found in organs and epidermal derivatives. In planar development heterogeneous growth appears to be the rule, and homogeneous growth the exception.
Msh2-Msh3 Interferes with Okazaki Fragment Processing to Promote Trinucleotide Repeat Expansions

Summary Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansions are the underlying cause of more than 40 neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, including myotonic dystrophy and Huntington's disease. Although genetic evidence points to errors in DNA replication and/or repair as the cause of these diseases, clear molecular mechanisms have not been described. Here, we focused on the role of the mismatch repair complex Msh2-Msh3 in promoting TNR expansions. We demonstrate that Msh2-Msh3 promotes CTG and CAG repeat expansions in vivo in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Furthermore, we provide biochemical evidence that Msh2-Msh3 directly interferes with normal Okazaki fragment processing by flap endonuclease1 (Rad27) and DNA ligase I (Cdc9) in the presence of TNR sequences, thereby producing small, incremental expansion events. We believe that this is the first mechanistic evidence showing the interplay of replication and repair proteins in the expansion of sequences during lagging-strand DNA replication.
High-Resolution Nanomechanical Mapping Using Interferometric-Force-Sensing AFM Probes

In this paper, we demonstrate high-resolution mapping of composite surfaces based on their nanomechanical properties by employing an atomic force microscope probe that can resolve high-frequency tip-sample interaction forces in tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) (TM-AFM). Time-resolved force measurements are achieved by a small integrated interferometric high-bandwidth grating force sensor at the end of the cantilever beam. The probes are batch fabricated using optical lithography and are used in an AFM system with no further modification. The fabricated devices are characterized and grating-force-sensor signals and their measured spectra confirm that probes with integrated high-bandwidth force sensors can successfully resolve high-frequency tip-sample interaction forces. We utilize the capability of our probes to form images by recording the amplitude of the higher harmonics of the time-resolved tip-sample interaction forces with lock-in detection. These images show that our probes can successfully map, with high spatial resolution, the mechanical contrast due to different materials and structural differences in composite surfaces.
Minimal residual disease in hematologic disorders.

Abstract In almost no other area of medical oncology has the introduction of new drugs, combinations of chemotherapeutic agents, and novel biologic treatments caused such dramatic responses as it has in the treatment of malignant hematologic disorders. However, despite some therapeutic success, many patients relapse and die from recurrence of their disease. The implications of minimal residual disease (MRD), a term referring to disease that is undetectable by conventional morphologic methods, have therefore attracted increasing attention in recent years. New and powerful laboratory tools such as polymerase chain reaction assays have extraordinary sensitivity and provide exciting new insights into the detection, nature, quantification, and kinetics of MRD. This article summarizes methods used in the identification of MRD and its importance as exemplified in the case of acute leukemias and chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Retailer opinions about and compliance with family smoking prevention and tobacco control act point of sale provisions: a survey of tobacco retailers.

The objectives of this study were to document retailer opinions about tobacco control policy at the point of sale (POS) and link these opinions with store level compliance with sales and marketing provisions of the Tobacco Control Act. This study conducted interviews of 252 tobacco retailers in three counties in North Carolina and linked their opinions with in-person observational audit data of their stores’ compliance with POS policies. We conducted analyses examining retailer factors associated with noncompliance using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) controlling for individual, store, neighborhood, and county factors. Over 90 % of retailers support minors’ access provisions and a large minority (over 40 %) support graphic warnings and promotion bans. Low levels of support were found for a potential ban on menthol cigarettes (17 %). Store noncompliance with tobacco control policies was associated with both more reported retailer barriers to compliance and less support for POS policies. Awareness of and source of information about tobacco control regulations were not associated with compliance when accounting for neighborhood and county characteristics. Retailers expressed some support for a wide range of POS policies. Advocates and government agencies tasked with enforcement can work with retailers as stakeholders to enhance support, mitigate barriers, and promote compliance with tobacco control efforts at the point of sale.
Body satisfaction in adolescence.

Body-satisfaction and self-satisfaction scales based on the work of Secord and Jourard (1953) were given to 146 male and 194 female adolescents ranging in age from 11 through 19 yr. Response tendencies of males and females are significantly different, females expressing more dissatisfaction with themselves and their bodies than do males. The expression of body- and self-satisfaction was not related to age for this range. Despite differences in response tendencies, male and female adolescents tended to react to body- and self-satisfaction items in a similar fashion. For both sexes the same degree of relative dissatisfaction was expressed for those aspects of the body experience associated with growth, namely, height, weight, and physique. It is also suggested that the relative expression of dissatisfaction with height, weight, chest, waist, and hips may reflect cultural factors associated with concerns with weight gain in an affluent society, rather than concerns with stylized standards of beauty.
Dissociating cognitive deficits involved in voluntary eye movement dysfunctions in Parkinson's disease patients

Abstract In an attempt to distinguish and define the altered cognitive processes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), we examine and try to dissociate the components of an effective voluntary saccade: (1) the planning and execution of a voluntary saccade; (2) the suppression of reflexive eye movements; and (3) the working memory processes required. We tested 14 PD patients (off their medications) and 11 control subjects on antisaccade (AS), delayed antisaccade (DAS), and remembered antisaccade (RAS) paradigms. The three tasks required identical responses, each task only differing in a single manipulation for direct comparison – a delay period was added in the DAS, and the target was removed during the delay period of the RAS – allowing us to study the specific cognitive processes involved in the execution of a voluntary saccade. Voluntary saccade response times were longer in the PD group compared to controls on all three tasks, suggesting difficulties in voluntary saccade execution. Furthermore, PD patients showed difficulty suppressing reflexive saccades (increased number of errors in the AS task and increased number of disinhibitions in the DAS task). Finally, our study did not show significant differences in either response time or error rate between the RAS and the DAS tasks for either control subjects or PD patients. In sum, we report evidence for voluntary saccade execution deficits together with problems inhibiting reflexive saccades in Parkinson's disease patients. These findings were correlated with each other and disease severity, suggesting that eye movement measurement may be a useful tool for studying higher cognitive function.