cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome

Rationale: Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), a unique disorder of respiratory control associated with Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and tumors of neural crest origin, results from polyalanine repeat expansion mutations in the paired-like homeobox (PHOX)2B gene in more than 90% of cases, and alternative PHOX2B mutations in remaining cases.Objectives: To characterize CCHS-associated nonpolyalanine repeat mutations in PHOX2B, evaluate genotype–phenotype relationships, and compare clinical features of CCHS in cases with nonpolyalanine repeat mutations to those with polyalanine expansion mutations.Methods: DNA from probands was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for the common polyalanine repeat expansion. If no expansion was present, coding regions and intron–exon boundaries of PHOX2B were sequenced. When possible, parents and siblings were screened for the mutation found in the proband.Results: Fourteen nonpolyalanine repeat mutations, including missense, nonsense, and frameshift mutations...
"Unskilled, Unaware, & Uninterested in Learning More: Reactions to Emotional Intelligence Feedback"

Despite the importance of self-awareness for managerial success, many organizational members hold overly-optimistic views of their expertise and performance—a phenomenon particularly prevalent amon...
Effects of Apholate on a Restricted Population of House Flies

Laboratory studies (LaBrecque 1961) and field investigations (Gouck et al. 1963) have indicated that apholate can greatly affect fly populations but these tests left unanswered some questions and practical problems.
Nanoemulsion-based delivery systems for poorly water-soluble bioactive compounds: Influence of formulation parameters on polymethoxyflavone crystallization

Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) extracted from citrus peel exhibit potent anti-cancer activity, but are highly hydrophobic molecules with poor solubility in both water and oil at ambient and body temperature, which limits their bioavailability. The possibility of encapsulating PMFs within nanoemulsion-based delivery systems to facilitate their application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products was investigated. The influence of oil type (corn oil, MCT, orange oil), emulsifier type (β-lactoglobulin, lyso-lecithin, Tween, and DTAB), and neutral cosolvents (glycerol and ethanol) on the formation and stability of PMF-loaded nanoemulsions was examined. Nanoemulsions (r < 100 nm) could be formed using high pressure homogenization for all emulsifier types, except DTAB. Lipid droplet charge could be altered from highly cationic (DTAB), to near neutral (Tween), to highly anionic (β-lactoglobulin, lyso-lecithin) by varying emulsifier type. PMF crystals formed in all nanoemulsions after preparation, which had a tendency to sediment during storage. The size, morphology, and aggregation of PMF crystals depended on preparation method, emulsifier type, oil type, and cosolvent addition. These results have important implications for the development of delivery systems for bioactive components that have poor oil and water solubility at application temperatures.
Biochemical Analysis of Metallo-β-Lactamase NDM-3 from a Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strain Isolated in Japan

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-3 (NDM-3) was identified in a multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolate, NCGM77, obtained from the feces of a patient in Japan. The enzymatic activities of NDM-3 against β-lactams were similar to those of NDM-1, although NDM-3 showed slightly lower kcat/Km ratios for all the β-lactams tested except for doripenem. The genetic context for blaNDM-3 was tnpA-blaNDM-3-bleMBL-trpF-dsbC-tnpA-sulI-qacEdeltaI-aadA2-dfrA1, which was present on an approximately 250-kb plasmid.
Density and diffusion limited aggregation in membranes

Aggregation of membrane molecules is a crucial phenomenon in developing organisms, a classic example being the aggregation of post-synaptic receptors during synaptogenesis. Our understanding of the molecular events involved is improving, but most models of the aggregation or concentration process do not address binding events on the molecular level. An exception is the study of diffusion limited aggregation, in which the aggregation process is simulated on a molecular level. In this analysis, however, important physical parameters such as molecular size, diffusion constant and initial density are not addressed. Thus no predictions about the rate at which such aggregates will form is possible. In the present work the model of diffusion limited aggregation is extended to incorporate these parameters and make the corresponding predictions.
Inhibition of PDGF-Mediated Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Calcium Antagonists

Background and Purpose The mechanism by which calcium antagonists (CAs) inhibit proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is not yet fully understood. We investigated the effects of four CAs (clentiazem, verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine) on signal transduction pathways activated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). To determine these effects, the levels of inositol phosphates (IPs), protein kinase C (PKC), and the induction of the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1) were measured. Methods The mitogenic effect of PDGF on VSMCs was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporated into DNA. IP production was monitored by [3H]myo-inositol incorporation. PKC activation was determined by measurement of myristoylated, alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) phosphorylation in digitonin-permeabilized VSMCs. The induction of AP-1 complex was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Results Each CA significantly inhibited the [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in unstimulated cel...
Lysine 419 Targets Human Glucocorticoid Receptor for Proteasomal Degradation

Glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are members of a highly conserved family of ligand dependent transcription factors which following hormone binding undergo homologous down-regulation reducing the levels of receptor protein. This decline in human GR (hGR) is due in part to a decrease in protein receptor stability that may limit cellular responsiveness to ligand. To examine the role of the proteasome protein degradation pathway in steroid-dependent hGR responsiveness, we utilized the proteasomal inhibitors MG-132, beta-lactone, and epoxomicin. HeLa cells and COS cells were treated with proteasome inhibitors in the presence of the GR agonist dexamethasone (Dex), or were pretreated with proteasomal inhibitor and then Dex. Dexamethasone induced glucocorticoid responsive reporter activity significantly over untreated controls, whereas cells treated with proteasomal inhibitors and Dex together showed 2-3-fold increase in activity. Protein sequence analysis of the hGR protein identified several candidate protein degradation motifs including a PEST element. Mutagenesis of this element at lysine 419 was done and mutant K419A hGR failed to undergo ligand dependent down-regulation. Mutant K419A hGR displayed 2-3-fold greater glucocorticoid responsive reporter activity in the presence of Dex than wild type hGR. These differences in transcriptional activity were not due to altered subcellular localization, since when the mutant K419A hGR was fused with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) it was found to move in and out of the nucleus similarly to wild type hGR. Together these results suggest that the proteasome and the identified PEST degradation motif limit steroid-dependent human glucocorticoid receptor signaling.
Impaired human hippocampal neurogenesis after treatment for central nervous system malignancies

The effects of cancer treatments such as cranial radiation and chemotherapy on human hippocampal neurogenesis remain unknown. In this study, we examine neuropathological markers of neurogenesis and inflammation in the human hippocampus after treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia or medulloblastoma. We demonstrate a persistent radiation-induced microglial inflammation that is accompanied by nearly complete inhibition of neurogenesis after cancer treatment. These findings are consistent with preclinical animal studies and suggest potential therapeutic strategies.
Sonographic diagnosis of mesenteric hematoma

Blunt abdominal trauma is common in children. Handlebar injuries may produce duodenal hematoma and pancreatic injuries, but mesenteric hematoma is relatively uncommon. We report a mesenteric hematoma resulting from a handlebar injury in a 4-year-old boy. Abdominal sonography showed a heterogeneous hypoechoic mass with an echogenic wall in the central portion of the abdomen. Color Doppler study revealed vascularity at the periphery of the lesion, suggesting mesenteric hematoma. CT, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and a small bowel x-ray series confirmed the diagnosis. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 27:284–286, 1999.
The role of soil and plant metabolic processes in controlling trace element behavior and bioavailability to animals.

Abstract Metabolic and physiological processes play important roles in regulating the transfer and behavior of trace elements in the soil/plant/animal system. The behaviors of Ni, Cd, Cr, Tl, Np, Pu and Tc are used to illustrate important aspects of these processes. Microbial metabolism has both indirect and direct effects on trace element solubility in soils. Once non-nutrient trace elements are solubilized, the ability of plant roots to actively accumulate them is dependent on chemical activity of the element in soil solution, the presence of competing ions and the redox potential and absorption capacity of the root. After absorption in the plant, trace elements are translocated, metabolized and stored; fate and behavior varies with the properties of the element, but is generally analogous to nutrient elements. These processes can dramatically affect the availability of individual elements to animals consuming plants.
ANDROGEN SECRETION BY A FEMINIZING GRANULOSA CELL TUMOR

The majority of granulosa cell tumors cause feminization, although in a few women virillzation has occurred. MacDonald et al (Obstet. Gynecol. 47:649, 1976) have recently documented that a post-menopausal woman with an androstenedione (A) producing ovarian adenocarcinoma became estrogenized as a result of extraglandular conversion of A to estrogens. A 4 year old girl with a small right sided granulosa cell tumor presented with rapidly progressing breast enlargement, vaginal bleeding, but without androgen dependent signs of precocity. Pre-operative plasma steroid determinations revealed: estradiol (E2) 62 pg/ml, estrone (E1) 12 pg/ml, A 0.1 ng/ml, testosterone (T) 0.02 ng/ml. Serum LH was 0.1 and rose to 1.2 MIU/ml (LER 907) after LHRH, while FSH remained suppressed. ACTH stimulation caused no effect, but a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin resulted in a 20-fold rise in T and A while E1 and E2 increments were only 2 to 4-fold. Very high androgen concentrations were also found in right ovarian venous samples (A 94, T 11, E2 2.55 and E1 0.55 ng/ml). After tumor removal, plasma steroid levels returned to prepubertal values, breast size declined and LHRH caused an exaggerated FSH but normal prepubertal LH response. It is concluded that the absence of virilization in this girl with an androgen secreting granulosa cell tumor resulted from extraglandular conversion of androgens to estrogens.
Communicating risk in prenatal genetic testing

Prenatal testing for Down syndrome and neural tube defects has become routine, and testing for other genetic conditions is becoming commonplace. Counseling about these tests involves a discussion of risk information, so pregnant women and their partners can use the information effectively when they make choices about testing. Discussing risk can be challenging, as many individuals, particularly those of lower literacy, have a poor understanding of the numerical concept of risk. Furthermore, whether risk is comprehended accurately or not, it is interpreted by patients in light of their existing knowledge and past experiences. Strategies available to optimize understanding of risk include communication of risk figures as frequencies rather than as probabilities or percentages and explicit discussion of a woman's preconceptions about her risk and about the condition being tested for.
Insulin in the brain what is its role

Insulin and insulin receptors are present in brain and appear to function outside the realm of glucose homeostasis. Insulin receptors in the brain are structurally unique and appear to be found exclusively on neurons. Evidence from a variety of experimental systems indicates that insulin plays a role in neuronal growth and differentiation; additional functions may exist in the adult brain. Insulin action in neurons may be associated with unique signal transduction pathways.
CALCULATED VOLATILIZATION RATES OF FUEL OXYGENATE COMPOUNDS AND OTHER GASOLINE-RELATED COMPOUNDS FROM RIVERS AND STREAMS

Abstract Large amounts of the “fuel-oxygenate” compound methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) are currently being used in gasoline to reduce carbon monoxide and ozone in urban air and to boost fuel octane. Because MTBE can be transported to surface waters in various ways, established theory was used to calculate half-lives for MTBE volatilizing from flowing surface waters. Similar calculations were made for benzene as a representative of the “BTEX” group of compounds (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and the xylenes), and for tert-butyl alcohol (MA). The calculations were made as a function of the mean flow velocity u (today), the mean flow depth h (m), the ambient temperature, and the wind speed. In deep, slow-moving flows, MTBE volatilizes at rates which are similar to those for the “BTEX” compounds. In shallow, fast-moving flows, MTBE volatilizes more slowly than benzene, though in such flows both MTBE and benzene volatilize quickly enough that these differences may often not have much practical significance. TBA was found to be essentially nonvolatile from water.
Applications of a new technique for system identification to dolphin temperature regulation and rabbit intraocular pressure control.

This study illustrates the application of system identification by linear programming (see page 231) to two diverse biological problems, namely incremental deep body temperature regulation in dolphins, recorded by radio telementry from a swallowed temperature sensitive transmitter, and intraocular pressure control in rabbits. An interesting result of the dolphin experiment is that the animal's internal temperature rises following a transfer from warmer to colder water. The temperature transient indicates an overshoot phenomena followed by a return to the original equilibrium temperature in approximately 1 hr. A theory of the operation of the ‘counter-flow heat exchanger’ of the dolphin is presented in conjunction with a linear model for thermal regulation. The mechanism of intraocular pressure control in a rabbit is also briefly investigated. Pressure transients resulting from injection of small amounts of fluid into a rabbit's eye are presented and a comparison is made between the formulated mathematical model and existing electrical analogs for intraocular pressure regulation. The pressure transient and model for an eye in a recently killed rabbit are significantly different from those of a live rabbit.
A comparison of the semidiscontinuous element and multiple node with auxiliary boundary collocation approaches for the boundary element method

Several approaches have been considered to resolve boundary element formulation problems associated with geometric corners and edges as well as discontinuous boundary conditions. The semidiscontinuous element and multiple node approaches are perhaps the two most widely used methods. In the semidiscontinuous element approach, functional and collocation nodes are moved off geometric corners, edges, and lines of discontinuous boundary conditions. In the multiple node approach, multiple nodes are placed at corners, and double nodes are placed along edges and along lines of discontinuous boundary conditions. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the differences between these two approaches and perform a direct comparison of the approaches by considering several numerical example problems.
The Role of Assessment and Accountability in Higher Education Doctoral Programs: A Presidential Perspective.

note: This manuscript has been peer-reviewed, accepted, and is endorsed by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) as a signi cant contribution to the scholarship and practice of education administration. In addition to publication in the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, Volume 7, Number 2 (Summer 2012), ISSN 21559635, this manuscript exists in the Connexions Content Commons as an Open Education Resource (OER). Formatted and edited by Theodore Creighton, Virginia Tech; Brad Bizzell, Radford University; and Janet Tareilo, Stephen F. Austin State University. The assignment of topic editor and double-blind reviews are managed by Editor, Linda Lemasters, George Washington University. The IJELP is indexed in the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), sponsored by the United States Department of Education.
The Influence of Hybrid Maturity and Planting Date on Sweet Sorghum Productivity during a Harvest Season

If sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is to be successfully deployed for sugar and biofuel production, agronomic systems must be developed that maximize the duration of the harvest season. Using available sweet sorghum hybrids, the goal of this study was to determine optimum planting dates and hybrid maturity selection to maximize the duration and yield of a harvest season for a subtropical production environment. Ten sweet sorghum hybrids representing three maturity classes (early, medium, and late) and three planting dates (April, May, and June) were evaluated in replicated trials in 2010 and 2011 in College Station, TX, and each maturity class was harvested to maximize biomass and sugar yields. At this location, sweet sorghum hybrids can be continually harvested from late July to early November. During this time, sugar yields are lowest at the beginning of the season (2.6 Mg ha-1) and highest from late August through early October (5.3 Mg ha-1). As expected, yields are maximized by medium and late maturing hybrids planted in April, but early maturity hybrids and late planting dates are necessary to extend the range of the harvest season. The harvest season of sweet sorghum in this environment is very complementary to the sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) harvest season, indicating that these two crops could be grown and harvested in sequence to extend a mill season in most regions of the world where sugarcane is produced
Differential effects of anesthetic agents on regional blood flow and central hemodynamic parameters in rats

Three commonly used anesthetic agents (pentobarbital, chloralose-urethane, and inactin) were studied in a rat model. The radiolabeled microsphere technique was used to evaluate rats anesthetized (no reaction to pain stimulus) with the three drugs as compared to awake unanesthetized animals. Of the three anesthetic agents studied, pentobarbital caused the smallest alteration in central hemodynamic parameters. Chloralose-urethane significantly lowered cardiac output (56%), stroke volume (35%), and minute work (51%). Chloralose-urethane also significantly increased total peripheral resistance (59%). Inactin at the concentration used in the present study had very little effect on cardiac index, heart rate, stroke volume, and minute work but significantly increased total peripheral resistance and mean arterial pressure. All three anesthetic agents reduced cerebral and skeletal muscle blood flows equally. While pentobarbital and chloralose-urethane significantly decreased renal blood flow (33%), inactin did not change flow to the kidney. It is concluded that anesthetic agents used in small animal experiments should be chosen carefully so that they do not influence blood flow to the organ being studied.
Status Report on Stanford's Superconducting Heavy Ion Linac Project

Two superconducting niobium reentrant cavities resonating at 430 MHz were phase locked to within ± 0.05 rad. A quarter-wavelength resonator, operated at 215 MHz to chop the ion beam at the frequency of the accelerating cavities, was built and tested. Beam chops of less than 185 ps FWHM were obtained from a continuous 2 MeV proton beam. A double cavity structure, having the same separation between cavities and the same design details as planned for a many-cavity accelerator section, has been constructed. An assembly of two such double cavities, with associated tuners and electronics for each of the four cavities, is currently under test.
Light and nutrient control of photosynthesis in natural phytoplankton populations from the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, Arctic Ocean

During the 2010–2011 ‘Impacts of Climate Change on the EcoSystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment’ project, we measured photosynthetic parameters in natural Arctic phytoplankton assemblages from the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Water-column samples were taken from the near surface (3.1 ± 0.9 m) and subsurface (28 ± 10.3 m) at ∼ 85 stations each year representing a wide range of ecological conditions, including under sea ice (UI) and in open water (OW). The physiological response of phytoplankton to light was used to assess photo-acclimation, photosynthetic efficiency, and maximum chlorophyll a (Chl a) normalized rates of carbon fixation. Phytoplankton from the subsurface were acclimated to lower irradiance, as evidenced by higher photosynthetic efficiencies (α*), reduced mean absorption spectra (ā*) associated with heavy pigment packaging, higher maximum quantum yields of photosynthesis (Φm), increased Chl a content (Chl a : POC), and higher potential growth rates (μm) than surface samples. In addition, phytoplankton growing in the UI subsurface had higher μm, increased Φm, and higher Chl a content, as well as reduced ā* compared with those found in OW. P*m did not vary between habitats despite vastly different nutrient and light conditions (averaging ∼ 1 mg C mg−1 Chl a h−1), except where nitrate exceeded > 10 mg m−3, in which case P*m averaged 5–6 mg C mg−1 Chl a h−1. Results from a stepwise regression analysis of photosynthetic parameters vs. environmental factors indicate that the concentration of inorganic nitrogen (significant relationships with P*m, α*, Φm, μm, and Chl a : POC) and temperature at sample depth (a strong indicator of habitat type; significant relationship with β*, ā*, Φm, μm, and Chl a : POC) are the best predictors of photosynthetic variables. In addition, the amount of light available at sample depth significantly predicted both Ek and Chl a : POC. Our results suggest that it is the balance between light and nutrient availability in the various environments encountered in the seasonal sea ice zone that result in the pattern of photo-physiological data presented here. A significant proportion of primary production has now been observed to occur under the sea ice; therefore, our results may be a change from prior conditions in the region.
Crystal Structure of Imidazol

WE have undertaken an analysis of the crystal structure of imidazol (C3N2H4). The space group is P21/c instead of P2/m as reported by Greenwood1, with the c-axis doubled. The cell dimensions are a = 7.70 A, b = 5.43 A, c = 9.73 A, β = 117° 20′, with four molecules per unit cell.
EFFECT OF E20D SUBSTITUTION IN THE ACTIVE SITE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI INORGANIC PYROPHOSPHATASE ON ITS QUATERNARY STRUCTURE AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES

Glutamic acid 20 is an evolutionarily conserved residue found within the active site of the inorganic pyrophosphatase of Escherichia coli (E-PPase). Here we determine the effect of E20D substitution on the quaternary structure and catalytic properties of E-PPase. In contrast to wild-type enzyme, which is hexameric under a variety of conditions, E20D-PPase can be dissociated by dilution into nearly inactive trimers, as shown by electrophoresis of cross-linked enzyme, analytical ultracentrifugation, and measurement of catalytic activity as a function of enzyme concentration. Hexamer stability is increased in the presence of both substrate and Mg2+, is maximal at pH 6.5, and falls off sharply as the pH is lowered or raised from this value. Measured at saturating substrate, 20 mM Mg2+ and pH 7.2, E20D substitution (a) decreases activity towards inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) hydrolysis and oxygen exchange between water and inorganic phosphate (P1), (b) increases the rate of net PPi synthesis, and (c) decreases the amount of enzyme-bound PPi in equilibrium with Pi in solution. Measurements of PPi hydrolysis rate as a function of both Mg2+ concentration and pH for the E20D variant show that its decreased activity is largely accounted for on the basis of an increased pKa of the catalytically essential base at the active site, and the need for a Mg2+ stoichiometry of 5 in the enzyme-substrate complex, similar to what is seen for the D97E variant. By contrast, wild-type PPase catalysis over a wide range of Mg2+ concentration and pH is dominated by an enzyme-substrate complex having a total of four Mg2+ ions. These results are consistent with a supporting role for Glu20 in PPase catalysis and demostrate that even conservative mutation at the active site can perturb the quaternary structure of the enzyme.
LNS architectures for embedded model predictive control processors

This paper presents a research on arithmetic units targeted to implement model predictive control (MPC) in a custom embedded processor. A novel hardware implementation of cotransformation for the calculation of addition and subtraction in the Logarithmic Number System (LNS) is proposed. This architecture provides a small ROM-less adder/subtracter, with longer operation latency than other LNS techniques, but easily pipelineable. These characteristics make it very adequate for implementing the datapath of custom MPC embeddable microprocessors. A review of the arithmetic customization process is presented, including: an analysis of the finite precision problem, modifications to the standard MPC algorithm that simplify embedding the application, and the reasons that suggest better performance of LNS over standard floating-point (FP) architectures. The proposed arithmetic unit architecture for 16-bit LNS is fully synthesized for ASIC, and compared with an equivalent FP implementation. Area and clock cycle estimates are compared. Finally, considerations on low-precision implementations of LNS arithmetic units are provided, and an embedded-ROM implementation of addition/subtraction in LNS is proposed and analyzed.
Cytoskeletal Tension differences between Normal and Dystrophic Myotubes Probed with FRET Based Stress Sensors

Duchene muscular dystrophy is caused by the loss of the cortical cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. These muscle cells have abnormally structured cortical cytoskeleton that leads to impaired ability to control stress in the cell cortex. When a stress bearing cytoskeletal element is removed from a system other proteins rearrange to adapt to the changed stress distribution and must absorb stresses that they were not intended to bear. This could affect a number of downstream mechanically sensitive receptors and enzymes. Knowing which cytoskeletal elements absorb the stress in the system that was intended for dystophin would be useful in understanding what mechanically based sensory systems will be affected most and can help in the design of treatments and in assessing therapies to treat muscular dystrophy. We created chimeric cytoskeletal proteins containing the cpstFRET stress sensing cassette and expressed them in developing normal and dystrophic mouse myotubes. These proteins included actinin, filamin, spectrin, vinculin and dystrophin. These chimeric proteins all showed distinct spatial distributions in the myotubes. We measured the stress on these proteins in resting cells and in cells stretched with a micropipette. All proteins had different resting stress levels. Filamin, an important component of focal adhesion plaques, showed the most significant difference in resting stress levels between normal and dystrophic myotubes. It also showed the most significant stress change in response to stretching. The distribution of filamin was very similar to dystrophin forming longitudinal tracks along the contacted surfaces of the myotube.
Pine or Pasture? Estimated Costs and Benefits of Land Use Change in the Peruvian Andes

Abstract In the Peruvian sierra near the city of Cajamarca, livelihood options of extensive grazing and plantation forestry often conflict with ecosystem services provided by the native jalca grasslands where these land uses are undertaken. This study estimates financial returns for local landowners for grazing livestock and plantation forestry and compares these values with estimated values for environmental services under each land use. Results of the estimated financial returns to landowners suggest that the profitability of each land use varies significantly because of local variation in grassland productivity, proximity to the village, and rates of time preference. In comparison to the financial returns to each land use, resulting values for environmental services were relatively high in magnitude, especially for the ecosystem service of water provision, suggesting that in most cases, overgrazing and pine plantations in the jalca will yield net economic losses at the national level. Regarding pine pl...
Stiles's II5 color mechanism: tests of field displacement and field additivity properties.

The Π5 color mechanism was isolated in two observers with a 667 nm, 200 ms, 1 deg foveal test flash. Stiles’s field displacement law and the law of field additivity were tested with increment thresholds upon monochromatic and bichromatic adapting fields. The data of both observers obey the displacement law and exhibit no systematic deviations from additivity. Our results cannot reject the hypothesis that the first log unit of adaptation observed under Π5-isolation conditions is determined exclusively by the quantum catch rate of the long-wavelength-sensitive cones.
A new vector for recombination-based cloning of large DNA fragments from yeast artificial chromosomes

Abstract The functional analysis of genes frequently requires manipulation of large genomic regions embedded in yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs). We have designed a yeast-bacteria shuttle vector, pClasper, that can be used to clone specific regions of interest from YACs by homologous recombination. The important feature of pClasper is the presence of the mini-F factor replicon. This leads to a significant increase in the size of the plasmid inserts that can be maintained in bacteria after cloning by homologous recombination in yeast. The utility of this vector lies in its ability to maintain large fragments in bacteria and yeast, allowing for mutagenesis in yeast and simplified preparation of plasmid DNA in bacteria. Using PCR-generated recombinogenic fragments in pClasper we cloned a 27 kb region from a YAC containing the Hoxc cluster and a 130 kb region containing the entire Hoxb cluster. No rearrangements were seen when the recombinants in the shuttle vector were transferred to bacteria. We outline the potential uses of pClasper for functional studies of large genomic regions by transgenic and other analyses.
A comparison between a semi-analytical and a numerical solution of a two-dimensional hydraulic fracture

Abstract This paper compares a semi-analytical self-similar solution of the problem of a hydraulically driven fracture with results obtained using the numerical model Loramec. The problem under consideration is a hydraulic fracture propagating in an infinite impermeable elastic medium under plane strain conditions. The fracture is driven by an incompressible Newtonian fluid injected, at a constant rate, from a source located at the center of the fracture. There are some differences between the two models in regard to the modeling of the near tip processes. The semi-analytical solution is built on the assumptions that the fracture is completely filled by the injection fluid and that the solid has zero toughness, while the numerical model explicitly accounts for the existence of a priori unknown lag between the fluid and crack front. It is shown that the numerical results exhibit self-similarity; in particular the predicted power law dependence on time of the net pressure, aperture and fracture length is well observed in the numerical results. Also, a very good agreement between the self-similar and the numerical solution is observed under conditions of `small' toughness. The results of this study actually suggest that the self-similar zero toughness solution is a good approximation to cases where the rock has a non-zero fracture toughness and a fluid lag develops, provided that the ratio of the rate of energy dissipation in the solid over the viscous dissipation in the fluid is less than 102. 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Making invisible women visible: Studying the history of Muslim women in South Asia

(1986). Making invisible women visible: Studying the history of Muslim women in South Asia. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 1-13.
Familial osteolysis of the carpal and tarsal bones.

The third generation of a family with familial carpal and tarsal osteolysis is described. This is a rare hereditary condition with onset at about five years of age. Early symptoms are those of “acute arthritis” of the wrists and ankles. Progressive lysis of the carpal and tarsal bones ensues and results in varying degrees of disability in adult life. This syndrome, because of the characteristic selectivity of the bones involved, is distinct from the other “disappearing-bone” disease. The basic pathologic mechanism and etiology are unknown. There is no satisfactory treatment.
Lower extremity peripheral vein bypass graft wall thickness changes demonstrated at 1 and 6 months after surgery with ultra-high spatial resolution black blood inner volume three-dimensional fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective To demonstrate lower extremity peripheral vein bypass graft wall thickness changes over time in a patient using very high spatial resolution cardiac gated, black blood inner volume three-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo (FSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Case report A 52-year-old diabetic man with a history of hyperlipidemia underwent uncomplicated bypass grafting for an asymptomatic 5.2 cm popliteal artery aneurysm using reversed great saphenous vein. A segment of the bypass graft was studied at 1 and 6 months after surgery with cardiac gated inner volume 3D-FSE imaging with non-interpolated 0.195 mm3 voxel volumes (0.3125 × 0.3125 × 2 mm). T1- and T2-weighted images were acquired in 10 min per contrast weighting. Graft imaging at one month after implantation illustrates expansion of the outer wall of the graft that partially resolves 5 months later. Conclusion In this patient, expansion of the lower extremity peripheral bypass graft wall can be characterized in clinical scan times with a 3D-FSE MRI protocol using highly selective inner volume excitation followed by non-selective refocusing pulses. The resulting 3D images can potentially be used to study the biology of the vessel wall.
Delivery systems for penetration enhancement of peptide and protein drugs : design considerations

This paper discusses the challenges to be met in designing delivery systems that maximize the absorption of peptide and protein drugs from the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. The ideal delivery system for either route of administration is one that will release its contents only at a favorable region of absorption, where the delivery system attaches by virtue of specific interaction with surface determinants unique to that region and where the delivery system travels at a rate independent of the transitory constraints inherent of the route of administration. Such a delivery system, which is as yet unavailable, will benefit not only peptide and protein drugs, but other poorly absorbed drugs.
DNA Sequence Detection using the Nanopore MspA

Nanopore DNA sequencing is a single molecule sequencing method in which DNA is pulled through a nanometer-sized pore, while the nucleotides modulate an ionic current. We use a protein pore based on Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA) that we developed to have sensitivity to single nucleotides in DNA. When using the phi29 DNA polymerase to move DNA in single-nucleotide steps through MspA, we observe a succession of well resolved ionic current levels. Each current level is primarily determined by the two nucleotides centered in MspA's narrowest constriction and is partially influenced by the flanking nucleotides. We present progress towards decoding algorithms that translate the observed ionic current patterns to DNA sequence.
HMR 1098 is not an Sur Isotype Specific Inhibitor of Sarcolemmal or Heterologous KATP Channels

Murine ventricular and atrial KATP channels contain different sulfonylurea receptors (ventricular KATP channels are Kir6.2/SUR2A complexes, while atrial KATP channels are Kir6.2/SUR1 complex). HMR 1098, the sodium salt of HMR 1883 {1-[[5-[2-(5-chloro-o-anisamido)ethyl]-2-methoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-3-methylthiourea}, has been used as a selective sarcolemmal (i.e. SUR2A-dependent) KATP channel inhibitor. However, specificity for ventricular versus atrial channels has not been examined. We used whole-cell patch-clamp techniques on mouse ventricular and atrial myocytes as well as 86Rb+ efflux assays and excised inside-out patch-clamp techniques on Kir6.2/SUR2A and Kir6.2/SUR1 channels heterologously expressed in COSm6 cells. In mouse ventricular myocytes, pinacidil-activated KATP currents were inhibited by HMR 1098 at high (100 ∈μM) but not low (10 ∈μM) concentration. By contrast, in atrial myocytes, both spontaneously activated and diazoxide-activated KATP currents were effectively inhibited by 10 ∈μM HMR 1098. Consistent with this finding, HMR 1098 inhibits 86Rb+ effluxes through Kir6.2/SUR1 more effectively than Kir6.2/SUR2A channels in COSm6 cells. In excised inside-out patches, HMR 1098 effectively inhibited Kir6.2/SUR1 channels as well as Kir6.2/SUR2A channels in the absence of nucleotides, but inhibited Kir6.2/SUR1 channels more effectively than Kir6.2/SUR2A channels in the presence of MgADP and MgATP (mimicking physiological stimulation). Finally, dose-dependent enhancement of insulin secretion from pancreatic islets confirms that HMR 1098 is an effective inhibitor of Kir6.2/SUR1-composed KATP channels, and is not specific for SUR2A-composed channels.
Seven-membered ring synthesis based on arene olefin cycloadditions: The total synthesis of (±)-Rudmollin

Abstract The total synthesis of the antileukemic agent rudmollin (1) is described, based on a new approach to complex seven-membered ring synthesis involving the arene olefin meta photocycloaddition.
Contact hypersensitivity: not just T cells!

Contact hypersensitivity is a form of delayed-type hypersensitivity, a classic T cell–mediated, clinically important phenomenon. Unexpectedly, a new study indicates that natural killer cells may mediate contact hypersensitivity and demonstrate adaptive, memory-like activity.
Labour Market Structure and Inequality: A Comparison of Italy and the U.S.

Markets with rigid labour regulations and centralized wage setting are often thought to be inefficient but egalitarian. Using a model of off- and on-the-job search and event-history, individual-level data for Italy and the U.S., we show that while the cross-sectional wage distributions of young Italian males are much more compressed than are the comparable distributions for young white U.S. males, the estimated search model implies that the distribution of lifetime welfare is no more disperse in the U.S. than it is in Italy. Our model implies that the high frequency of movements between labour market states leads to both a relatively equitable distribution of "long run" welfare in the U.S. and a high level of cross-sectional inequality.
Identification of a hyaluronic acid (HA) binding domain in the PH-20 protein that may function in cell signaling

The macaque sperm surface protein PH-20 is a hyaluronidase, but it also interacts with hyaluronic acid (HA) to increase internal calcium ( [Ca(2+)](i) ) in the sperm cell. A region of the PH-20 molecule, termed Peptide 2 (aa 205-235), has amino acid charge homology with other HA binding proteins. The Peptide 2 sequence was synthesized and two recombinant PH-20 proteins were developed, one containing the Peptide 2 region (G3, aa 143-510) and one without it (E12, aa 291-510). On Western blots, affinity-purified anti-Peptide 2 IgG recognized the 64 kDa band corresponding to PH-20 in acrosome intact sperm and, under reducing conditions, recognized the whole 67 kDa PH-20 and the endoproteolyzed N-terminal fragment of PH-20. HA conjugated to a photoaffinity substrate specifically bound to sperm surface PH-20. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that Fab fragments of anti-Peptide 2 IgG bound to the head of live sperm. Biotinylated HA was bound by Peptide 2 and by sperm extracts in a microplate binding assay, and this binding was inhibited by Fab fragments of anti-Peptide 2 IgG. Biotinylated HA bound to the G3 protein and this binding was inhibited by anti-Peptide 2 Fab, but HA did not bind to the E12 protein. Fab fragments of anti-Peptide 2 IgG inhibited the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) induced in macaque sperm by HA. Our results suggest that the Peptide 2 region of PH-20 is involved in binding HA, which results in the cell signaling events related to the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) during sperm penetration of the cumulus.
Vista preparedness at Indiana University

In June of 2006 the Director for User Support at Indiana University (IU) issued a mandate stating that the organization should begin to prepare the support infrastructure for the release of Microsoft Vista and Office 2007. The goal: to ensure staff was trained and documentation in place to manage what could be a huge load on user support resources. A 'Vista/Office 2007 Readiness Team' was assembled. The team consisted of members from across the University Information Technology Services organization; experts in the areas of Frontline Support, Knowledge Management, Messaging, Security, Student Technology Centers, Residential IT Services, Local Support Provider Services and User Communications. With access to beta versions of Vista and Office, the team was able to do extensive testing of the products and identify potential problems. User communications was an essential element of the Vista/Office 2007 Readiness project. While the various technology experts shared insights regarding technical problems the User Communications and Knowledge Management teams were there to take that information, distill it into a form readily digested by the average user and then construct a plan to communicate this information to the users. The group's experience proved that educating a user community about high profile IT issues is best done in an environment in which information is shared across relevant segments of the IT organization. It is assumed that this model will work for future large scale implementations at Indiana University.
Concentration of immnoglobulin G in plasma varies among 6C.7 recombinant congenic strains of chickens

Chicken Lines 63 and 72 were inbred during selection for resistance or susceptibility to viral-induced tumors. A sandwich ELISA assay was adapted to define the milligrams per milliliter of Ig-gamma (IgG) in plasma from chickens of Lines 63 and 72, as well as 19 recombinant congenic strains (RCS). Each RCS resulted from a 7(2) x 6(3) F(1) and two backcross matings using 63 as the recurrent female line. The IgG levels in the RCS were evaluated after four to seven generations of sib-matings, when each RCS was becoming inbred and fixed for a different 12.5% of the 72 genome. In three generations approximately 24-wk-old chickens of Line 72 had higher levels of plasma IgG than chickens of Line 63 (P < 0.05). None of the RCS had repeatable IgG levels comparable to Line 7(2). However, in the last two generations, two of the 18 RCS had higher IgG levels than nine with low IgG levels (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between an IgG level of a RCS and resistance to Marek's disease. It was concluded that selected RCS may be useful for identifying genes that determine differences in IgG levels, as well as for understanding the relationship between genes, IgG levels, and other traits that differ between Lines 63 and 72.
Effect of atenolol vs metoprolol succinate on vascular function in patients with hypertension.

Background We evaluated the effect of atenolol vs metoprolol succinate on vascular function in patients with essential hypertension. Hypothesis Given intrinsic differences between these agents, we hypothesized that atenolol and metoprolol succinate would have disparate effects on vascular function. Methods This study included 24 patients with hypertension (age 56 ± 2 years, 8 female, body mass index 28 ± 1) and featured a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Each β-blocker (atenolol or metoprolol succinate) was taken by patients once daily for a 4-week period. Measures of vascular function included peripheral augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave amplitude reactive hyperemia index from peripheral arterial tonometry, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation from ultrasound. Results There were similar reductions in mean arterial pressure following treatment with atenolol and metoprolol succinate. Compared with metoprolol succinate, there was a significant increase in peripheral AIx following atenolol therapy (P < 0.05). There were no changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation or pulse wave amplitude reactive hyperemia index following either drug treatment. Conclusions Although atenolol and metoprolol succinate have similar effects on blood-pressure reduction, they have different effects on vascular function. Compared with metoprolol succinate, atenolol increases peripheral AIx. Neither drug has an effect on vascular endothelial function. These findings may have clinical implications, depending on the indication for treatment in an individual patient. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. These data are derived from a parent study which was funded, in part, by AstraZeneca, Inc. K. Heffernan was supported by funding from NIH T32 HL069770-06. The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity in service delivery.

(2002). Nexus: Ethics, Law, and Management: Cultural, Ethnic, and Religious Diversity in Service Delivery. Hospital Topics: Vol. 80, No. 1, pp. 29-33.