cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opinion #3: Diane Novy, PhD

This case clearly demonstrates different approaches to pain. During the patient's 3-year treatment at the first clinic, he had various and repetitive invasive procedures. Without a clear medical basis for these procedures or significant and durable pain relief, there is little support for the repetition of these procedures. Instead, more extensive …
Synthetic Strategies for Semiconductor Nanocrystals Expressing Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance

The field of semiconductor plasmonics has grown rapidly since its outset, only roughly six years ago, and now includes many crystalline substances ranging from GeTe to wide-bandgap transition-metal oxides. One byproduct of this proliferation is the sea of differing synthetic methods to realize localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) based on the studied material. Strategies vary widely from material to material, but all have the common goal of introducing extremely high carrier densities to the semiconductor system. This doping results in tunable, size-quantized, and on/off-switchable LSPR modes, which are a complete departure from traditional metal-nanoparticle-based plasmon resonances. This Minireview will provide an overview of the current state of nanocrystal and quantum-dot plasmonics and the physical basis thereof, however its main purpose is to summarize the methods for realizing LSPRs in the various syntheses and systems that have been reported to date.
A stabilized finite element formulation for monolithic thermo‐hydro‐mechanical simulations at finite strain

Summary An adaptively stabilized monolithic finite element model is proposed to simulate the fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of porous media undergoing large deformation. We first formulate a finite-deformation thermo-hydro-mechanics field theory for non-isothermal porous media. Projection-based stabilization procedure is derived to eliminate spurious pore pressure and temperature modes due to the lack of the two-fold inf-sup condition of the equal-order finite element. To avoid volumetric locking due to the incompressibility of solid skeleton, we introduce a modified assumed deformation gradient in the formulation for non-isothermal porous solids. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the versatility and efficiency of this thermo-hydro-mechanical model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antibodies to left-handed Z-DNA bind to interband regions of Drosophila polytene chromosomes

Antibodies which are specific to the Z-DNA conformation have been purified and characterized on the basis of their binding to three different DNA polymers which can form this left-handed helix. These antibodies bind specifically to polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster as visualized by fluorescent staining. The staining is found in the interband regions and its intensity varies among different interbands in a reproducible manner. This is the first identification of the Z-DNA conformation in material of biological origin.
Single Particle Tracking using Fluorogen Activating Peptides to Investigate FcεRI Signaling Dynamics

The high affinity IgE receptor, FceRI, serves as the primary immunoreceptor on mast cells and basophils. Cross-linking of IgE-bound FceRI via multivalent antigen initiates a signaling cascade that ultimately results in the release of key mediators for an allergic response. Priming with IgE has been traditionally thought of as a passive event, yet certain forms of IgE termed ‘cytokinergic’ IgEs (cIgE) have been shown to induce activation independent of antigen. The mechanism of action of cIgEs remains unclear. To determine whether changes in receptor mobility are associated with cIgE activation, we have developed a fluorogen activating peptide (FAP)-tagged FceRI ɣ-subunit for single particle tracking. FAPs are genetically expressible tags that bind an exogenous fluorogen dye. The titration of the fluorogen dye allows the labeling density to be adjusted at the time of imaging without the need to photo-bleach or photo-activate a population of dye molecules. We find that even in the presence of concentrations of cIgE that induce robust signaling, FceRI remains highly mobile.We take advantage of the FAP system to additionally investigate the mobility of the downstream scaffolding protein Linker for Activation of T-cells (LAT). The mechanism through which FceRI crosslinking propagates signaling to LAT remains a topic of debate as LAT has been previously shown to form clusters segregated from FceRI after activation. However, these studies were carried out using high concentrations of multivalent allergen that resulted in large immobile FceRI aggregates. The far-red emission of the MG2P fluorogen allows for simultaneous tracking of FAP-LAT mobility with respect to FceRI labeled with Alexa488-IgE. Using FAP-tagged LAT, we investigate how LAT mobility and distribution change over a range of activating conditions, in which FceRI goes from mobile to immobile crosslinked aggregates.
Detection of acoustic temporal fine structure by cochlear implant listeners: behavioral results and computational modeling.

Abstract A test of within-channel detection of acoustic temporal fine structure (aTFS) cues is presented. Eight cochlear implant listeners (CI) were asked to discriminate between two Schroeder-phase (SP) complexes using a two-alternative, forced-choice task. Because differences between the acoustic stimuli are primarily constrained to their aTFS, successful discrimination reflects a combination of the subjects' perception of and the strategy's ability to deliver aTFS cues. Subjects were mapped with single-channel Continuous Interleaved Sampling (CIS) and Simultaneous Analog Stimulation (SAS) strategies. To compare within- and across- channel delivery of aTFS cues, a 16-channel clinical HiRes strategy was also fitted. Throughout testing, SAS consistently outperformed the CIS strategy (p ≤ 0.002). For SP stimuli with F0 = 50 Hz, the highest discrimination scores were achieved with the HiRes encoding, followed by scores with the SAS and the CIS strategies, respectively. At 200 Hz, single-channel SAS performed better than HiRes (p = 0.022), demonstrating that under a more challenging testing condition, discrimination performance with a single-channel analog encoding can exceed that of a 16-channel pulsatile strategy. To better understand the intermediate steps of discrimination, a biophysical model was used to examine the neural discharges evoked by the SP stimuli. Discrimination estimates calculated from simulated neural responses successfully tracked the behavioral performance trends of single-channel CI listeners.
The early magnetic resonance imaging features of the knee in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Abstract AIMS: Early diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) facilitates earlier more aggressive therapy, and improved outcome. Recognition of the features of early, untreated JIA on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will improve disease detection and expedite treatment. This study aims to highlight the relevant MRI features. METHODS: MRI examinations of the knee joint were performed on 11 children with clinically confirmed, early, untreated JIA. The MRI images were obtained at a mean of 2 months after symptom onset and independently evaluated by two consultant paediatric radiologists. RESULTS: Abnormalities were found on all MRI examinations. Synovial hypertrophy, joint effusions, popliteal lymph nodes and soft tissue swelling were present in all patients. Gadolinium DTPA enhancement improved the detection of synovial hyperplasia. Metaphyseal splaying and condylar overgrowth were seen in five cases (41%), oedema of the lateral collateral ligament in two cases (18%) and superficial cartilage thinning in one case. Bony erosions and deep cartilage destruction were not demonstrated. CONCLUSION: MRI of the knee joint identifies early joint changes which are distinct from those in later disease. The presence of these features should alert the radiologist to the possible diagnosis of JIA and post gadolinium DTPA sequences should be performed. Gadolinium DPTA enhancement increases the sensitivity for the detection of inflammatory changes in JIA. Johnson, K.et al. (2002). Clinical Radiology57, 466–471.
Effect of a Multimodal Reminder Program on Repeat Mammogram Screening

Background Patient mammogram reminders are effective but have not been fully implemented in practice to improve routine screening. The effectiveness of implementation and maintenance phases of a multimodal reminder program that incorporated automated calls capable of efficiently reaching large numbers of women was evaluated to improve repeat mammography screening. Design A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2008 using electronic medical record data during three time periods: pre-reminder phase (2004), post-reminder implementation phase (2006), and post-reminder maintenance phase (January 1–July 1, 2007). Setting/participants Participants were female Kaiser Permanente Northwest HMO members aged 42 years or more who were 20 months past their last mammogram (index date) (N=35,104). The intervention program targeted women aged 50–69 years. Women aged 42–49 years (for whom clinical guidelines also recommend mammography) not targeted by the program constituted the primary comparison group (CG1). Intervention A “mammogram due soon” postcard was mailed to participants 20 months after their last mammogram, followed by up to two automated phone calls and one live call for nonresponders. Main outcome measures The outcome measure was the time until participants received a mammogram in the 10 months following the index date. Results Pre-reminder, 63.4% of targeted women completed a mammogram; this number increased to 75.4% in the post-reminder implementation phase; 80.6% completed a mammogram in the maintenance phases. After controlling for demographics and clinic visits, intervention women were 1.51 times more likely to complete a mammogram (CI=1.40, 1.62) post-reminder implementation, compared to CG1. The effect was maintained in 2007 (hazard ratio 1.81, CI=1.65, 1.99). Conclusions The study found that this multimodal reminder system could be effectively implemented and maintained in a large health system. If widely implemented, this intervention could substantially improve community mammography screening.
System studies of Compact Ignition Tokamaks

A new version of the FEDC Tokamak System Code (TSC) has been developed to analyze the Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT). These proposed experiments have small (major radius F 1.5m) and high magnetic fields (B J 10T), and are characterized by reduced cost. Key design constraints of CIT include limits to the high stress levels in the magnetic coils, limits to the large temperature rises in the coils and on the first wall or divertor plate, minimizing power supply requirements, and assuring adequate plasma performance in fusion ignition and burn time consistent with the latest physics understanding. We present systems code level studies of CIT parameter space here for a range of design options with various design constraints. The present version of the TSC incorporates new models for key components of CIT. For example, new algorithms have been incorporated for calculating stress levels in the TFC and ohmic solenoid, temperature rise in the magnetic coils, peak power requirements, plasma MHD equilibrium and volt-second capability. The code also incorporates a numerical optimizer to find combinations of engineering quantities (device size, coil sizes, coil current densities etc.) and physics quantities (plasma density temperature, and beta, etc.) which satisfy all the constraints and canmore » minimize or maximize a figure of merit (e.g., the major radius). This method was recently used in a mirror reactor system code (3) for the Minimara concept development.« less
86. Orbitofrontal IL-6 enhances reversal learning in the rat

Chronic stress is a risk factor for depression. Stress can induce cytokine release and depression is associated with excessive cytokine signaling. Cytokines can damage cells and may be responsible for the depression-like deficits seen after chronic stress. Previously, we demonstrated that chronic intermittent cold (CIC) stress induces behavioral deficits that model depression. Depressed patients show cognitive inflexibility, or an inability to modify behaviors to adapt to environmental change. CIC stress impairs reversal learning, a form of cognitive flexibility that can be measured in the rat using the Attentional Set-shifting Test. To test the hypothesis that elevations in cytokine signaling were responsible for the CIC stress-induced reversal learning deficits, we measured cytokine levels after CIC stress in the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), the dorsomedial striatum, and the amygdala, brain regions involved in reversal learning. Using q-PCR, we found that CIC stress increased IL-6, but not IL-1beta or TNF-alpha, expression. Next, we used a neutralizing IL-6 antibody to determine if the IL-6 increase was responsible for the cognitive deficit. Surprisingly, IL-6 neutralization impaired reversal learning in both CIC and control animals, suggesting that this cytokine actually enhances cognitive flexibility. This effect was region-specific as an acute injection of the IL-6 antibody into the OFC, but not the striatum, impaired reversal learning. Ongoing experiments will determine if OFC IL-6 over-expression can rescue the stress-induced deficit in reversal learning.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanosheet Polymer Gelling Agents

The synthesis and characterization of nine organosilicon sheet polymers from the sheet silicate apophyllite (KCa4Si8O20(F,OH)·8H2O) and a series of chlorosilanes are described. Five of the polymers have a single pendent group of the type OSi(CH3)2(n-CnH2n+1), where n = 1, 4, 8, 10, or 18, and are members of the homologous series [((n-CnH2n+1)(CH3)2SiO)x(OH)1-xSiO1.5]n. The other four have pendent groups of the type OSi(CH3)2R, where R = CH3, n-C4H9, n-C3H7CN, or n-C4H8Cl, interspersed among pendent groups of type OSi(CH3)2(n-C18H37). These latter polymers belong to the series [((n-C18H37)(CH3)2SiO)x((R)(CH3)2SiO)y(OH)1-x-ySiO1.5]n. The five homologous polymers have interplanar spacings that vary predictably with the size of their pendent groups. All but two of the nine polymers form good gels with both n-decane and 10 cSt trimethylsiloxy-capped poly(dimethylsiloxane).
Structure of the key species in the enzymatic oxidation of methane to methanol

Time-resolved resonance Raman vibrational spectroscopy was used to study the mechanism of soluble methane monooxygenase and obtain structural information on the key reaction cycle intermediate, compound Q, which contains a unique dinuclear FeIV cluster that breaks the strong C-H bond of methane and inserts an oxygen atom (from O2) to form methanol. Using time-resolved resonance Raman vibrational spectroscopy, Rahul Banerjee et al. have determined the structure of 'compound Q', a key transient intermediate from the soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) system found in methanotrophic bacteria. Q is the strongest known biological oxidant and catalyses cleavage of the ultimately stable C–H bond of methane with insertion of oxygen to form the liquid fuel methanol. With a better understanding of the structure and mechanism of action of Q it might be possible to synthesize small molecule enzyme mimetics that could convert naturally occurring methane to methanol, thereby converting a damaging greenhouse gas into a potentially important source of liquid fuel and chemicals. Methane monooxygenase (MMO) catalyses the O2-dependent conversion of methane to methanol in methanotrophic bacteria, thereby preventing the atmospheric egress of approximately one billion tons of this potent greenhouse gas annually. The key reaction cycle intermediate of the soluble form of MMO (sMMO) is termed compound Q (Q). Q contains a unique dinuclear FeIV cluster that reacts with methane to break an exceptionally strong 105 kcal mol−1 C-H bond and insert one oxygen atom1,2. No other biological oxidant, except that found in the particulate form of MMO, is capable of such catalysis. The structure of Q remains controversial despite numerous spectroscopic, computational and synthetic model studies2,3,4,5,6,7. A definitive structural assignment can be made from resonance Raman vibrational spectroscopy but, despite efforts over the past two decades, no vibrational spectrum of Q has yet been obtained. Here we report the core structures of Q and the following product complex, compound T, using time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy (TR3). TR3 permits fingerprinting of intermediates by their unique vibrational signatures through extended signal averaging for short-lived species. We report unambiguous evidence that Q possesses a bis-μ-oxo diamond core structure and show that both bridging oxygens originate from O2. This observation strongly supports a homolytic mechanism for O-O bond cleavage. We also show that T retains a single oxygen atom from O2 as a bridging ligand, while the other oxygen atom is incorporated into the product8. Capture of the extreme oxidizing potential of Q is of great contemporary interest for bioremediation and the development of synthetic approaches to methane-based alternative fuels and chemical industry feedstocks. Insight into the formation and reactivity of Q from the structure reported here is an important step towards harnessing this potential.
Distal risk factors for suicidal behavior in alcoholics: replications and new findings.

Background: To examine distal risk factors for suicidal behavior in alcoholics. Methods: Two-hundred and eighty alcoholics were interviewed and completed the Childhood Trauma (CTQ) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaires (EPQ). Results: One-hundred and twenty-one of the two-hundred and eighty alcoholics had attempted suicide (42.9%). Significantly more of the attempters were female and had a family history of suicidal behavior. Alcoholics who had attempted were significantly younger and had significantly higher CTQ scores for emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect. Attempters were significantly more introverted and neurotic on the EPQ. Significantly more alcoholics who had attempted suicide had received antidepressant medication. Limitation: Other possible distal and proximal suicide risk factors were not examined. Conclusion: These results suggest that the suicide risk factor model may be applicable to suicidal behavior in alcoholics. Distal risk factors like childhood trauma, family history of suicide, and introversion may increase an alcoholics suicide risk when they experience a proximal or trigger factor like depression.
Inverse compilation feasibility

The feasibility of the use of techniques of inverse compilation (decompilation) for the solution of Software Transport problems depends to a great extent upon the level of adaptability of software systems designed to automate the decompilation process. The attainment of a sufficiently high level of adaptability requires the development of very general and efficient techniques of program structure and variable usage analysis. However, while such techniques are necessary for the development of adaptable decompilation software, they are not by themselves sufficient. What is further needed is a highly sophisticated medium of program description that 1) is comparatively easy to map to and from assembly languages for a wide variety of machines, 2) is suitable for direct input to a program analyzer, and 3) is easily produced by a high-level language compiler.
Resistance to extinction and continuous punishment in humans as a function of partial reward and partial punishment training

Human Ss were trained under 100% reward, 50% reward-50% nonreward, or 50% punishment-50% reward. Following acquisition, half the Ss experienced extinction while the remaining Ss experienced continuous punishment unaccompanied by reward. Both partial punishment and partial reward training led to greater resistance to extinction than continuous reward. Partial punishment training increased persistence under continuous punishment.
Behavioral autonomy age expectations among Mexican-origin mother–daughter dyads: An examination of within-group variability

This study examined differences in behavioral autonomy age expectations between Mexican-origin mothers and their adolescent daughters (N = 319 dyads); variability in behavioral autonomy age expectations as a function of nativity and maternal educational attainment also was examined. Findings indicated significant differences between mothers and daughters, such that mothers reported later expectations for the timing of behavioral autonomy than did daughters. Follow-up analyses indicated that findings appeared to be driven by maternal nativity, with dyads comprised of Mexico-born mothers reporting the latest age expectations for behavioral autonomy when compared with dyads comprised of U.S. born mothers. Findings underscore the need to examine normative development among Latino adolescents and their families with a specific focus on how sociocultural characteristics can contribute to within-family differences.
Hyaluronan in flexor tendon repair.

This study assesses the effect of a preparation of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) applied topically at the time of flexor tendon repair in a well-established model. The hypothesis is that hyaluronic acid applied topically at the time of flexor tendon repair will decrease adhesions, and will improve clinically the gliding function of the repaired flexor tendon. After transect ion and repair of the second and fifth flexor tendons of the left forepaw of four mongrel dogs, the second flexor tendon was treated with hyaluronic acid of molecular weight 3.6 x 10 6 daltons applied topically between the synovial sheath and the repair site. The left forepaws were completely immobilized for 5 weeks to optimize the formation of adhesion ingrowth. After death, the repaired tendons and sheaths were removed en bloc, fixed, and dissected. Gross inspection and histologic evaluation of all tendons showed that the quality and quantity of adhesions from the wound repair to the synovial sheath appeared to have been consistently affected by hyaluronan. Hyaluronic acid had a beneficial effect on both the repair site and synovial sheath by decreasing the peripheral inflammatory response and promoting a contact healing process via epitenon and endotenon cell involvement in the repair process.
17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 9 and other short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases that catalyze retinoid, 17β- and 3α-hydroxysteroid metabolism

Subgroups of related short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family members serve as retinoid/androgen/estrogen metabolizing enzymes. These include retinol dehydrogenases (RoDHs) 1-3, cis-retinol/androgen dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (CRAD), retSDRs1-4, 9/11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase, and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) types 6 and 9. Interaction with cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP), the major physiological form of retinol, led to the identification and cDNA cloning of RoDH1. Probes for RoDH1 contributed to cDNA cloning many of the others. Some of these SDRs show specificity with all-trans-retinol (RoDH, retSDR, 17beta-HSD6 and 9) and others with 9 and/or 11-cis-retinol (CRAD, 9/11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase). Many have 3alpha-HSD activities with 3alpha-androstandiol as the most efficiently used substrate, followed by androsterone. In addition to 3alpha-HSD activity, CRAD2 shows relatively weak 17beta-HSD activity with testosterone. Rat 17beta-HSD6 and mouse 17beta-HSD9, which are not interspecies homologs, have efficient 17beta-HSD activities. 17beta-HSD6 has approximately 50% greater 17beta-HSD activity with estradiol than with 3alpha-androstandiol. With 3alpha-androstandiol, 17beta-HSD9 operates equally efficiently as a 17beta-HSD or a 3alpha-HSD. The multi-substrate nature of these SDRs allows for retinoid/steroid interactions. The ability of some these SDRs to access retinol bound with CRBP provides specificity in retinoid metabolism and allows retinoic acid biosynthesis and retinol esterification to continue, as CRBP protects retinol from the general cellular milieu.
Caregiver Burden, Dementia, and Elder Abuse in South Korea

The purpose of this study is to identify characteristics that would increase the likelihood that a Korean older adult with dementia being cared for by a family caregiver is at risk of being abused. This analysis was based on a sample of 481 primary family caregivers from the data of Comprehensive Study for the Elderly Welfare Policy in Seoul (2003). Multiple regression analysis was used to examine predictors among the demographic characteristics of caregivers and care recipients, the severity of cognitive impairment, functional ability, caregiver burden, and social support for the degree of elder abuse. The degree of elder abuse was significantly associated with caregiver burden, mental impairment, dependency of daily living of care recipient, and use of formal services.
Regulation and oversight of adult living donor liver transplantation.

Key points 1. Ethical principles and informed consent standards should be implemented for all living donors. 2. Institutions that perform living donor transplantation should provide an independent donor advocate to ensure that informed consent standards and ethical principles are applied to the practice of all live organ donor transplantation. 3. A database of health outcomes for all live donors should be established and funded through and under the auspices of the US Department of Health and Human Services. 4. Serious consideration should be given to the establishment of a separate resource center for living donors and their families. 5. The present preference in Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network allocation policy, given to previous living organ donors who subsequently need a kidney, should be extended so that any living organ donor would be given preference as a candidate for any organ transplant, should one become needed. .6. A process should be established to verify qualifications of a center to perform living donor liver or lung transplantation.
Proton and alpha spectroscopic factors for states at 6.4–7.5 MeV in Ne 19

We have computed single-particle alpha and proton widths for states at 6.4--7.5 MeV in $^{19}\mathrm{Ne}$ and compared them with measured widths to extract spectroscopic factors. The state at 7.42 MeV appears to have either an incorrectly-assigned ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ or an incorrect proton width, or both.
Understanding rural reform in Russia: A response to reisinger

HOW ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND PATTERNS OF LAND REFORM in post-communist Russia? What explains patterns of behaviour exhibited by Russian rural dwellers, and how do we explain continuities in behaviour from the Soviet period? Despite enormous institutional and policy changes since 1991 the Russian countryside has remained essentially collectivist and egalitarian. Why? In 1994 I published an article in this journal that attempted to shed light on these questions.1 In that article, which was based on several years of field work, I used a political culture approach to help us understand ongoing rural behavioural patterns that were evident during the land reform process in Russia. In addressing a series of 'why' questions I posed a triad of factors that were important in reinforcing and continuing basic political cultural attributes. This triad included the way in which reform institutions were defined, rural attitudes, and various social agents in the countryside. In that article I presented a two-staged analysis to explain rural behaviours. First, I argued that it was necessary to look at the nature of reform institutions in order to understand patterns of land reform in Russia. In particular, I was impressed by the degree to which cultural continuities were reflected in the definition of reform institutions. The definition of rural reform institutions was instrumental in framing the behavioural options that were available to rural dwellers. I argued that cultural continuities were influencing elite definitions of reform institutions. The second stage of the analysis asserted that, owing to cultural influences on reform options, individual behavioural choices were affected. Those individual choices were reflected in patterns of land reform. The policy prescription was that institutional change was not sufficient for successful rural reform. Instead, culture and rural attitudes would need to change and I suggested that this would be a long-term process. Recently, my article and the political culture approach were attacked by William
Stroke: hyperlipidemia and cerebral small-vessel disease.

The role of hyperlipidemia as a risk factor for stroke is unclear. A new retrospective study has examined the relationship between a history of hyperlipidemia and MRI-defined white matter hyperintensities in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The results indicate that hyperlipidemia might have a protective role against cerebral small-vessel disease.
Aerodynamic and Flight Dynamic Analysis of Finned Re-Entry Vehicles

A computational method is presented for predicting nonlinear aerodynamic characteristics of finned re-entry configurations and (by computer simulation) the effect of these characteristics on vehicle flight stability. These aerodynamic characteristics, which include induced roll and yaw effects, are highly dependent on in viscid surface cross-flow. This cross-flow is often severe enough to produce large induced roll moments which can negate the control effect of the fins and in some cases generate severe flight instabilities. The important cross-flow effects on fins are accurately determined by an approximation to the circumferential momentum equation. Particular attention is given to a representation of the fin roll and yaw characteristics with analytic functions of angle of attack and fin cant. Computer simulations indicate that the adverse cross-flow effects for a variable cant, two-fin roll-control system can be dramatically reduced by the addition of two fixed-cant fins. The validity of the analytic methods for fin aerodynamic characteristics and the trajectory simulation technique is fully established by means of a flight test in which the unique four-fin control system maintained vehicle roll and yaw stability through a severe roll resonance encounter. Actual roll rate and flight-derived fin aerodynamic characteristics are in excellent agreement with predictions, thus verifying the analysis.
Evolution of Rate-Promoting Oscillations in a Model Enzyme

This work explores dynamical couplings between global enzymatic fluctuation patterns and the catalytic fitness of a model enzyme system. A genetic algorithm drives the evolution of a population of enzyme molecules toward greater catalytic fitness by modifying via recombination and mutation events the interaction strengths between enzymatic subunits. We've identified, through a combination of molecular dynamics simulation and an approximate normal-mode analysis, two features that are tuned for increased catalytic efficacy throughout the evolutionary process. First, the average distance between substrate and the enzymatic subunit responsible for the chemistry is optimized. Second, the fraction of rate-promoting oscillations at the reaction coordinate is maximized. In other words, enzyme evolution in our model system proceeds by tuning geometric constraints and effectively eliminating catalytically nonproductive fluctuations. This modulation at the reaction coordinate results from global fluctuation patterns...
Potentiation of signal transduction mitogenesis and cellular proliferation upon binding of receptor-recognized forms of α2-macroglobulin to 1-LN prostate cancer cells

Abstract The α2-macroglobulin signalling receptor is upregulated in highly metastatic 1-LN prostate cancer cells. Stimulation of 1-LN cells with activated α2-macroglobulin (α2M*) caused a two- to threefold increase in [3H]thymidine uptake and cell number. These events require the Ras-dependent MAPK and PI 3-kinase/Akt signalling cascades. Incubation of 1-LN cells with α2M* induced Grb2, shc, sos and Raf-1 expression, as well as phosphorylation of MEK 1/2, ERK 1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK. This treatment also increased PI 3-kinase activation, PDK1 expression, Akt phosphorylation and p70s6k phosphorylation. Levels of the early gene products c-fos protein and thymidylate synthase were comparably increased. Exposure of 1-LN cells to α2M* significantly raised the levels of phosphorylated CREB by about 15–20 min and phosphorylated p53 by about 60–90 min of incubation. We conclude that the growth regulatory effects of ligating the α2M* signalling receptor on 1-LN cells are exerted via the onset and crosstalk between the Ras-dependent MAPK and PI 3-kinase/Akt signalling cascades.
Sequence and expression of MRNAs encoding the α1 and α2 subunits of a DHP-sensitive calcium channel

Complementary DNAs were isolated and used to deduce the primary structures of the alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits of the dihydropyridine-sensitive, voltage-dependent calcium channel from rabbit skeletal muscle. The alpha 1 subunit, which contains putative binding sites for calcium antagonists, is a hydrophobic protein with a sequence that is consistent with multiple transmembrane domains and shows structural and sequence homology with other voltage-dependent ion channels. In contrast, the alpha 2 subunit is a hydrophilic protein without homology to other known protein sequences. Nucleic acid hybridization studies suggest that the alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunit mRNAs are expressed differentially in a tissue-specific manner and that there is a family of genes encoding additional calcium channel subtypes.
Normotensive secondary hyperaldosteronism

The case of a 2 1/2 year old boy is reported in which a separation of the dual effects ofangiotensin II were demonstrated: elevation of systemic blood pressure and stimulation of aldosterone secretion. The patient had hypokalemia, hyposthenuria, and growth retardation. The excretion of aldosterone was elevated; the serum concentration of renin was increased, and elevations in blood pressure in response to both angiotensin and renin infusions were inadequate. Hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus was seen on renal biopsy. Studies obtained on the parents and siblings of this patient may be compatible with a genetic basis for this disease.
New chelating agents for colorimetric determination of calcium

Two new calcium chromoionophores2 and3 are described and their potential application to colorimetric determination of calcium is assessed. Chromogenic compound2 bears two acetic acid chelating groups and a 4-(4′-nitrophenyl)azophenol chromophore. Its complexation of Ca2+ at pH 9.0 is accompanied by a 109-nm bathochromic shift and increase in the absorptivity. Triaryl chromoionophore3 bears two phosphonic acid chelating groups and the same azophenol chromophore. Compound3 exhibits a 107-nm bathochromic shift of the absorption maximum, an increase in the absorptivity upon complexation with Ca2+, and good selectivity for Ca2+ over Mg2+ at pH 7.0. Both chromoionophores exhibit linear responses from 0 to 4×10−3 M Ca2+.
Beyond the Design and Evaluation of Library Web Sites: An Analysis and Four Case Studies.

The literature offers considerable guidance on creating and evaluating library Web sites. This article identifies the salient issues in Web site direction for Web site management and reviews their practical application through examination of four case studies.
Aversive Situational Effects on Alpha Feedback Training.

Anticipation of electric shock did not depress alpha activity in a feedback situation though it was associated with reported anxiety and heightened arousal indexed by greatly increased heart rate and number of spontaneous skin conductance responses. Contrary to previous reports, a reduction in alpha activity is not a necessary consequence of apprehension or heightened arousal.
Specific alterations in the performance of learning and memory tasks in models of chemoconvulsant-induced status epilepticus

Cognitive impairment is a common comorbidity in patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE). These impairments, particularly deficits in learning and memory, can be recapitulated in chemoconvulsant models of TLE. Here, we used two relatively low-stress behavioral paradigms, the novel object recognition task (NOR) and a spatial variation, the novel placement recognition task (NPR) to reveal deficits in short and long term memory, in both kainic acid (KA) and pilocarpine (Pilo) treated animals. We found that both KA- and Pilo-induced significant deficits in long term recognition memory but not short term recognition memory. Additionally, KA impaired spatial memory as detected by both NPR and Morris water maze. These deficits were present 1 week after SE. The characterization of memory performance of two chemoconvulsant-models, one of which is considered a surrogate organophosphate, provides an avenue for which targeted cognitive therapeutics can be tested.
Systemic 1-methyl,4-phenyl,1-2-3-6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administration decreases retinal dopamine content in primates.

Abstract Following MPTP administration, 4 Cynomolgus monkeys developed a parkinsonian syndrome, accompanied by specific changes of both pattern visual evoked potential and electroretinogram. Retinal dopamine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid contents were measured in the 4 MPTP-treated monkeys and in 3 normal monkeys. Dopamine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels were significantly lower in the retinas of the MPTP-treated animals (p
Intelligent pervasive middleware for context-based and localized telematics services

Telematics is arguably the next-wave in mobile computing: with most cars already equipped with multiple embedded computing platforms, we shall witness the development of a variety of mobile services and applications with significant commercial potential. Telematics will only become a commercial reality when the underlying architecture is able to address significant concerns related to the security and privacy of telematics data, and is able to provide context information from and to a large number of mobile data sources in a scalable and device-independent manner. A telematics platform should utilize existing Internet components and technologies but cannot rely exclusively on these, especially since mobile commerce applications in the telematics environment impose specific requirements on the relationships between various services and data providers. In this paper we describe how we are developing an open standards telematics platform based on the ts-PWLAN wireless service environment and the Telematics Resource Manager middleware. Our design employs existing web service interfaces coupled with novel technology for connecting to these through a wireless gateway. Our middleware acts as a common substrate for building and deploying a wide range of telematics applications. We describe how several of these applications are currently being built on our infrastructure.
Thermally reversing window and stiffness transitions in chalcogenide glasses

Abstract Raman scattering and temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry measurements on SixSe1−x glasses show that onset of rigidity occurs over a wide compositional window 0.20
Comparison of Exact and Approximate Frequency Response of a Piecewise Linear Vibration Isolator

In this paper an investigation is carried out to classify the steady state responses of asymmetric piecewise linear vibration isolators as double hitting, single hitting, and no hitting. In each class, the analysis has been carried out using a set of coupled nonlinear algebraic equations following Natsiavas and Gonzalez [1]. Applying perturbation technique, a closed form analytic expression of the frequency response is also derived for symmetric conditions. The exact frequency response is utilized to validate the analytic results obtained by perturbation techniques. Direct comparison indicates the results obtained by averaging method are mathematically and practically close to the exact solution.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Cellular response to conditional expression of hepatitis C virus core protein in Huh7 cultured human hepatoma cells

Data suggesting that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein influences normal cellular processes remain controversial. To determine the effects of core on cellular gene expression in hepatocytes, we developed a human hepatoma (Huh7)-derived cell line with tightly regulated core expression under the control of a tetracycline-regulated promoter. Cells expressing core did not have impaired proliferative abilities. Changes in gene expression profiles in response to core expression were determined using commercial oligonucleotide microarrays (Affymetrix GeneChip). Significant increases were observed in the abundance of mRNA-encoding members of the metallothionein (MT) family, as well as nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) and glutathione peroxidase-like protein (GPLP). These changes did not result from removal of tetracycline from growth media, and were confirmed in reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. They suggest that core protein expression leads to intracellular oxidative stress, and that vital cellular functions are, in turn, protected by up-regulation of cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. In conclusion, these findings can explain many potentially conflicting prior observations concerning the effects of core on cellular physiology, and are of relevance to the role of core protein in the pathogenesis of HCV-related fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Maize seed weight is dependent on the amount of endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase

Summary Most if not all glucose for starch synthesis comes from the activated sugar, ADP-glucose. This sugar nucleotide is synthesized from glucose-1-phosphate and ATP by the enzyme ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP). Recent observations from potato and maize point to AGP as a key limiting step in starch synthesis. Here, we provide further evidence for this conclusion. Transposon mutagenesis was used to create isogenic lines containing or lacking a functional structural gene for this enzyme. These lines were used to create otherwise genetically identical seed differing only in amounts of AGP activity. Seed weight increased when the number of functional alleles increased from one to three doses although no difference was found between two and three doses. These data point to the physiological importance of the allosteric properties of AGP, although the data show that these properties cannot compensate for a 67% reduction in total AGP activity.
Minimum-weight design of structures with natural-frequency constraints

Abstract The problem of minimum-weight design of structures with several natural-frequency constraints is considered in this paper. The problem is solved by using a combined finite element method and sequential linear programming (FEM-SLP) formulation. The unique features of the present approach include the use of the assumed mode reanalysis formulation for the repeated eigensolution and the associated sensitivity analysis. The present approach has been implemented using the general-purpose finite element program msc/nastran . Two examples are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the present approach.
Membrane Tethers Formed from Blood Cells with Available Area and Determination of Their Adhesion Energy

Fundamental to all mammalian cells is the adherence of the lipid bilayer membrane to the underlying membrane associated cytoskeleton. To investigate this adhesion, we physically detach the lipid membrane from the cell by mechanically forming membrane tethers. For the most part these have been tethers formed from either neutrophils or red cells. Here we do a simple thermodynamic analysis of the tether formation process using the entire cell, including tether, as the control volume. For a neutrophil, we show that the total adhesion energy per unit area between lipid membrane and cytoskeleton depends on the square of the tether force. For a flaccid red cell, we show that the total adhesion energy minus the tension in the spectrin cytoskeleton depends also on the square of the tether force. Finally, we discuss briefly the viscous flow of membrane. Using published data we calculate and compare values for the various adhesion energies and viscosities.
Dependence of the sedimentation of high molecular weight DNA on centrifuge speed.

Abstract A theory by Zimm [B.H. Zimm, Biophys. Chem. 1 (1974) 279] predicts that for a given centrifuge speed, there is a broad maximum in a plot of the sedimentation coefficient of DNA against molecular weight. Experimental measurements of these maxima for various centrifuge speeds were made for double-helical DNA in neutral sucrose gradients and single-strand DNA in alkaline gradients. The measurements are in quantitative agreement with the theory, providing good evidence for its validity. The existence of the maximum shows that there is a limit to the sedimentation rate under specified conditions for DNA in the linear form. By implication, DNA observed to sediment faster than this limit is not in the linear form to which most sedimentation theory is applicable.
Biological activity in the repopulating rat spermatocyte after the withdrawal of gossypol treatment. V. Inhibition and recovery of microtubular dynein

Abstract After oral administration with gossypol acetic acid for various times, young male rats developed a low content of microtubular (or cytoplasmic) dynein in the spermatogenic cells, e.g., spermatids and primary spermatocytes. The content of dynein in the cells was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using monoclonal antidynein antibody. The results were expressed as ng dynein/ 10 6 cells and compared with those of the control rats. After gossypol treatment for 8, 12, and 19 weeks, the content of dynein in spermatids was reduced by 61%, 70%, and 68%, respectively; whereas, the amount of dynein in primary spermatocytes was reduced by 37%, 44%, and 31%, respectively. The microtubular dynein associated with spermatids was more vulnerable to gossypol than that of the primary spermatocytes. Immunofluorescent staining technique confirmed the finding that the control cells have more dynein than that of the drug-treated cells. Eight weeks after the withdrawal of the drug treatment, the content of dynein in spermatids and primary spermatocytes was fully recovered. The possible effects of this change in conjunction with the function of microtubules during spermatogenesis and sperm motility are discussed.
A first-order system approach for diffusion equation. I: Second-order residual-distribution schemes

In this paper, we embark on a new strategy for computing the steady state solution of the diffusion equation. The new strategy is to solve an equivalent first-order hyperbolic system instead of the second-order diffusion equation, introducing solution gradients as additional unknowns. We show that schemes developed for the first-order system allow O(h) time step instead of O(h^2) and converge very rapidly toward the steady state. Moreover, this extremely fast convergence comes with the solution gradients (viscous stresses/heat fluxes for the Navier-Stokes equations) simultaneously computed with the same order of accuracy as the main variable. The proposed schemes are formulated as residual-distribution schemes (but can also be identified as finite-volume schemes), directly on unstructured grids. We present numerical results to demonstrate the tremendous gains offered by the new diffusion schemes, driving the rise of explicit schemes in the steady state computation for diffusion problems.
Application of thermogravimetric techniques to reaction kinetics

An easier technique for the determination of reaction constants such as order, energy of activation, and frequency factor from the thermogravimetric data has been described. The method requires two TGA curves obtained with different sample weights under similar reaction conditions. Applicability of the method to complex reactions, where simultaneous decomposition occurs, has been discussed. Reaction constants for different steps of the decomposition of calcium oxalate monohydrate are evaluated.