cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Profiling of Estrogen Receptor/Specificity Protein-Dependent Transactivation

17β-Estradiol (E2) activates the estrogen receptor (ER) through multiple genomic and nongenomic pathways in various tissues/organs. ERα/specificity protein-dependent activation of E2-responsive genes containing GC-rich promoters has been identified in breast and other cancer cell lines, and in this study, we describe transgenic animals overexpressing a transgene containing three tandem GC-rich sites linked to a minimal TATA or thymidine kinase promoter and a luciferase gene. Several mouse lines expressing the transgenes were characterized and, in line 15, E2 induced a 9-fold increase in luciferase activity in the female mouse uterus, and the synthetic estrogens bisphenol A and nonylphenol also induced uterine luciferase activity. The pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 induced luciferase activity in the mouse uterus, and similar results were observed for ICI 182,780 in breast cancer cells transfected with this construct. Differences in the ER agonist and antagonist activities of E2, nonylphenol, bisphenol A, and ICI 182,780 were investigated in the male testis and penis and the male and female stomach in line 15 transgenic mice. All of these tissues were hormone responsive; however, the patterns of induced or repressed luciferase activity were ligand structure, tissue, and sex dependent. These results demonstrate for the first time hormonal activation or repression of a GC-rich promoter in vivo, and the results suggest that the ERα/specificity protein pathway may contribute to E2-dependent induction and repression of genes.
Trivalent Semantics and the Vaguely Vague

Michael Tye responds to the problem of higher-order vagueness for his trivalent semantics by maintaining that truth-value predicates are “vaguely vague”: it’s indeterminate, on his view, whether they have borderline cases and therefore indeterminate whether every sentence is true, false, or indefinite. Rosanna Keefe objects (1) that Tye’s argument for this claim tacitly assumes that every sentence is true, false, or indefinite, and (2) that the conclusion is any case not viable. I argue – contra (1) – that Tye’s argument needn’t make that assumption. A version of her objection is in fact better directed against other arguments Tye advances, though Tye can absorb this criticism without abandoning his position’s core. On the other hand, Keefe’s second objection does hit the mark: embracing ‘vaguely vague’ truth-value predicates undermines Tye’s ability to support validity claims needed to defend his position. To see this, however, we must develop Keefe’s remarks further than she does.
Effect of hydrogen absorption on the magnetic properties of ZrMn2−xFex ternaries with a C14 structure

Abstract Magnetization measurements were carried out on ZrMn 2− x Fe x ( x = 0.4, 0.7 and 1.0) and their hydrides. All systems possess a hexagonal Laves phase structure (C14 structure). These compounds are found to absorb about 3.6 hydrogen atoms per formula unit. The hydrogen absorption is accompanied by a large expansion in volume ranging from 26% to 28% with no change in crystal structure. In this system, both the magnetic moments and the transition temperatures were found to be significantly larger in the hydride phases than in the corresponding host compounds. An increase in the magnetic moments on hydrogenation can be interpreted as a result of charge transfer from the transition metal atoms to hydrogen due to the difference of electronegativity. An increase in the magnetic ordering temperatures is attributed to a decrease in the electron concentration of 3d bands as well as to an increase in the lattice constants on hydrogenation. Spin glass behavior is exhibited by all the systems studied. The spin glass behavior is thought to originate from iron-rich clusters which occur as a consequence of statistical fluctuations in the manganese sublattice.
'Open access' generic method for continuous determination of major human CYP450 probe substrates/metabolites and its application in drug metabolism studies.

1. An ‘open access’ generic high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for different combination sets each containing specific cytochrome P450 probe substrate and the corresponding metabolite. Method development, optimization and validation were carried out with the following combinations: phenacetin + paracetamol + internal standard (IS, celecoxib), bufuralol + hydroxybufuralol + IS, testosterone + 6β-hydroxytestosterone + IS, chlorzoxazone + 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone + IS, coumarin + 7-hydroxycoumarin + IS, tolbutamide + hydroxytolbutamide + IS, and diazepam + desmethyldiazepam + IS.2. The assay procedure involved a simple one-step liquid/liquid extraction followed by reverse phase chromatography (Inertsil ODS 3V column) employing a ternary gradient system and the eluate was monitored by a photodiode array/fluorescence detector. The standard curve for each compound, in the concentration range 0.1–10 μg ml−1, in various sets was linear (r2>0.99) and absolute recoveries of all analytes were ...
Design and folding of a multidomain protein

To test whether the folding process of a large protein can be understood on the basis of the folding behavior of the domains that constitute it, we coupled two well-studied small -helical proteins, the B-domain of protein A (60 amino acids) and Rd-apocytochrome b562 (Rd-apocyt b562, 106 amino acids), by fusing the C-terminal helix of the B-domain of protein A with the N-terminal helix of Rd-apocyt b562 without changing their hydrophobic core residues. The success of the design was confirmed by determining the structure of the engineered protein with multidimensional NMR methods. Kinetic studies showed that the logarithms of the folding/unfolding rate constants of the engineered protein are linearly dependent on concentrations of guanidinium chloride in the measurable range from 1.7 to 4 M. Their slopes (m-values) are close to those of Rd-apocyt b562. In addition, the 1H-15N HSQC spectrum taken at 1.5 M guanidinium chloride reveals that only the Rd-apocyt b562 domain in the designed protein remained folded. These results suggest that the two domains have weak energetic coupling. Interestingly, the redesigned protein folds faster than Rd-apocyt b562, suggesting that the fused helix stabilizes the rate-limiting transition state.
Electron-positron plasma drop formed by ultra-intense laser pulses

We study the initial properties and positron annihilation within a small electron-positron plasma drop formed by intense laser pulse energy. Such QED cascade generated plasma is, in general, far below the chemical (particle yield) equilibrium. We find that the available electrons and positrons equilibrate kinetically, yet despite relatively high particle density, the electron-positron annihilation is very slow, suggesting a rather long life span of the plasma drop.
Bacterial contamination of platelets

Bacterial contamination of platelet products, both single donor apheresis platelet units and whole blood-derived platelet pools, continues to occur despite preventive measures. While some advances have been made in decreasing the rate of bacterial contamination of platelet units, particularly through diversion methods and early culture, a great deal remains to be done to eliminate the problem. Diversion methods have decreased contamination rates associated with skin commensal organisms. Culture methods are now widely used and many at-issue detection methods have been developed or are undergoing development. This article reviews the current developments and the challenges that remain to minimize and detect bacterial contamination of platelet products.
Analysis of Polarization Properties of Shallow Metallic Gratings by an Extended Rayleigh-Fano Theory

Rayleigh-Fano theory has been extended for the purpose of calculating the polarization anomaly of a grating having shallow grooves and finite conductivity. Simple analytic formulas are derived for predicting the position and the appearance of the anomalies. Phenomenological explanations are given to the origin of the anomalies. The validity of our analysis is examined by comparing computed degree of polarization with experimental data obtained in the visible region for Al-, Ag-, and Au-coated blazed gratings.
Genetic influences on cellular reactions to CNS injury: The reactive response of astrocytes in denervated neuropil regions in mice carrying a mutation (WldS) that causes delayed Wallerian degeneration

This study compares the reactive changes in astrocytes in denervated neuropil regions in normal mice and in mice carrying the Wld(S) mutation which leads to delayed Wallerian degeneration. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemical techniques were used to define the time course of changes in the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and GFAP mRNA in the denervated neuropil of the hippocampus after unilateral aspiration lesions of the entorhinal cortex. In control mice, GFAP mRNA levels increased rapidly in the denervated neuropil to a peak that was about tenfold higher than control at 2-4 days, decreased between 6 and 8 days postlesion, and then increased again to a second peak at 10 days postlesion. Increases in immunostaining for GFAP were evident by 2 days, remained elevated until 12 days postlesion and then decreased slowly. In mice carrying the Wld(S) mutation, the upregulation of GFAP mRNA levels in the denervated laminae was substantially delayed. Strikingly absent was the dramatic increase in labeling at 2-4 days postlesion which was such a prominent feature of the response in control animals. Peak labeling in the denervated laminae was not seen until 10-12 days postlesion. The development of a well-defined band of intensely immunostained and hypertrophied astrocytes in the denervated zone was also delayed in the Wld(S) animals, although there were modest increases in immunostaining as early as 2 days postlesion that were seen throughout the hippocampus ipsilateral to the lesion. These results suggest that degenerative changes in axons and synaptic terminals are the principal trigger for upregulating GFAP expression in the denervated neuropil, although other signals also play a role in the early postlesion response.
Taf1 Regulates Pax3 Protein by Monoubiquitination in Skeletal Muscle Progenitors

Pax3 plays critical roles during developmental and postnatal myogenesis. We have previously shown that levels of Pax3 protein are regulated by monoubiquitination and proteasomal degradation during postnatal myogenesis, but none of the key regulators of the monoubiquitination process were known. Here we show that Pax3 monoubiquitination is mediated by the ubiquitin-activating/conjugating activity of Taf1, a component of the core transcriptional machinery that was recently reported to be downregulated during myogenic differentiation. We show that Taf1 binds directly to Pax3 and overexpression of Taf1 increases the level of monoubiquitinated Pax3 and its degradation by the proteasome. A decrease of Taf1 results in a decrease in Pax3 monoubiquitination, an increase in the levels of Pax3 protein, and a concomitant increase in Pax3-mediated inhibition of myogenic differentiation and myoblast migration. These results suggest that Taf1 regulates Pax3 protein levels through its ability to mediate monoubiquitination, revealing a critical interaction between two proteins that are involved in distinct aspects of myogenic differentiation. Finally, these results suggest that the components of the core transcriptional are integrally involved in the process of myogenic differentiation, acting as nodal regulators of the differentiation program.
Testing a longitudinal social cognitive model of intended persistence with engineering students across gender and race/ethnicity

Abstract We examined the temporal relations within Lent et al.'s (2013) integrative SCCT model of academic satisfaction and intended persistence in a sample of 551 engineering undergraduates from a Hispanic serving institution. They completed measures of instrumentality, support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, interests, academic satisfaction, and intended persistence at two time points approximately 12 months apart. Using longitudinal cross-panel design, the findings supported a model where: (a) instrumentality predicted self-efficacy, (b) self-efficacy was a temporal precursor for both interests and academic satisfaction, (c) support was a temporal precursor for outcome expectations, while also predicting academic satisfaction, (d) academic satisfaction and intended persistence had a reciprocal relation with one another, and (e) relations in the model did not differ by gender or race/ethnicity. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Recently Demonstrated Radiation Immunity of Symmetrical Cell I2L

A significant degree of radiation hardness has been achieved for I2L devices using symmetrical cell topologies. MSI complexity functions have been implemented with no degradation in device hardness from individual gate performance. Short pulse upset thresholds of 2×1010 Rad (Si)/sec and 1x1014 neutrons/cm2 fluence immunity have been demonstrated.
Innovative Practice Approaches to Matching in Adoption

Matching a child to a family in adoption has often been seen as a professional yet subjective decision-making process. The recent emphasis on evidence-based practice in the field of social work and child welfare has led many adoption professionals to pursue more objective, innovative approaches to the matching process. This article provides an overview of 7 assessment tools and discusses the potential for their use as part of an innovative approach to adoption practice using a public health model of prevention. The need for standardization and data on the effectiveness of these tools is also highlighted.
Neuronal cytomechanics: the actin-based motility of growth cones

The patterns of synaptic connection that underlie brain function depend on the elaborate forms characteristic of neurons. It is therefore a central goal of neuroscience to understand the molecular basis for neuronal shape. Neuronal pathfinding during development is one major determinant of neuronal shape: growing nerve axons and dendrites must navigate, branch, and locate targets in response to extracellular cue molecules within the embryo. The leading tips of growing nerve processes, structures known as growth cones, contain especially high concentrations of the ubiquitous mechanochemical protein actin. Force generation involving this cytoskeletal molecule appears to be essential to the ability of growing nerve fibers to respond structurally to extracellular cues. New results from electronically enhanced light microscopy of living growth cones are helping to show how actin-based forces guide neurite growth and synapse formation.
Effect of silicon carbide particulate on cyclic plastic strain response characteristics and fracture of aluminium alloy composites

Abstract The cyclic stress-response characteristics of powder-metallurgy-processed high-purity aluminium alloy 2124 discontinuously reinforced with varying volume fractions of silicon carbide particulates were studied over a range of plastic strains. The specimens were cycled using tension/compression loading under total strain control. The composite material, in the heat-treated condition, displayed cyclic hardening at all cyclic strain amplitudes and for different volume fractions of the ceramic reinforcement in the aluminium alloy matrix. The degree of hardening was observed to be greater at the higher cyclic strain amplitudes than at corresponding lower strain amplitudes. Micromechanisms controlling the hardening response during cyclic straining are highlighted and rationale for the observed hardening behaviour is attributed to concurrent and competing influences of an increase in dislocation-dislocation interaction, dislocation multiplication and dislocation-particle interactions, and is a mechanical effect. The kinetics of the cyclic fracture process of the composite alloy is discussed in light of composite microstructural effects, plastic strain amplitude and concomitant response stress.
Contextual land-cover classification: incorporating spatial dependence in land-cover classification models using random forests and the Getis statistic

Land-cover characterization of large heterogeneous landscapes is challenging because of the confusion caused by high intra-class variability and heterogeneous landscape artefacts. Neighbourhood context can be used to supplement spectral information, and a novel way of incorporating spatial dependence in a heterogeneous region is tested here using an ensemble learning technique called random forests and a measure of local spatial dependence called the Getis statistic. The overall Kappa accuracy of the random forest classifier that used a combination of spectral and local spatial (Getis) variables at three different neighbourhood sizes (3 × 3, 7 × 7, and 11 × 11) ranged from 0.85 to 0.92. This accuracy was higher than that of a non-spatial random forest classifier having an overall Kappa accuracy of 0.78, which was run using the spectral variables only. This study demonstrated that the use of the Getis statistic with different neighbourhood sizes leads to substantial increase in per class classification acc...
SHE CAN (ALMOST) SING LIKE HIM

![Figure][1] Guys have a way of laying on the charm when a relationship starts. The man does his best to show only his finest attributes while wooing his girl. This is quite a common theme in virtually all animal courtship. Even the male fruit fly taps into all the magnetism he can muster in
Interferometric radar measurements of water level changes on the Amazon flood plain

Measurements of water levels in the main channels of rivers, upland tributaries and floodplain lakes are necessary for understanding flooding hazards, methane production, sediment transport and nutrient exchange. But most remote river basins have only a few gauging stations and these tend to be restricted to large river channels. Although radar remote sensing techniques using interferometric phase measurements have the potential to greatly improve spatial sampling, the phase is temporally incoherent over open water and has therefore not been used to determine water levels. Here we use interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data1,2,3, acquired over the central Amazon by the Space Shuttle imaging radar mission4, to measure subtle water level changes in an area of flooded vegetation on the Amazon flood plain. The technique makes use of the fact that flooded forests and floodplain lakes with emergent shrubs permit radar double-bounce returns from water and vegetation surfaces5,6, thus allowing coherence to be maintained. Our interferometric phase observations show decreases in water levels of 7–11 cm per day for tributaries and lakes within ∼20 km of a main channel and 2–5 cm per day at distances of ∼80 km. Proximal floodplain observations are in close agreement with main-channel gauge records, indicating a rapid response of the flood plain to decreases in river stage. With additional data from future satellite missions, the technique described here should provide direct observations important for understanding flood dynamics and hydrologic exchange between rivers and flood plains.
Cannabinoids as pharmacotherapies for neuropathic pain: from the bench to the bedside.

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating form of chronic pain resulting from nerve injury, disease states, or toxic insults. Neuropathic pain is often refractory to conventional pharmacotherapies, necessitating validation of novel analgesics. Cannabinoids, drugs that share the same target as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, have the potential to address this unmet need. Here, we review studies evaluating cannabinoids for neuropathic pain management in the clinical and preclinical literature. Neuropathic pain associated with nerve injury, diabetes, chemotherapeutic treatment, human immunodeficiency virus, multiple sclerosis, and herpes zoster infection is considered. In animals, cannabinoids attenuate neuropathic nociception produced by traumatic nerve injury, disease, and toxic insults. Effects of mixed cannabinoid CB1/CB2 agonists, CB2 selective agonists, and modulators of the endocannabinoid system (i.e., inhibitors of transport or degradation) are compared. Effects of genetic disruption of cannabinoid receptors or enzymes controlling endocannabinoid degradation on neuropathic nociception are described. Specific forms of allodynia and hyperalgesia modulated by cannabinoids are also considered. In humans, effects of smoked marijuana, synthetic Δ9-THC analogs (e.g., Marinol, Cesamet) and medicinal cannabis preparations containing both Δ9-THC and cannabidiol (e.g., Sativex, Cannador) in neuropathic pain states are reviewed. Clinical studies largely affirm that neuropathic pain patients derive benefits from cannabinoid treatment. Subjective (i.e., rating scales) and objective (i.e., stimulus-evoked) measures of pain and quality of life are considered. Finally, limitations of cannabinoid pharmacotherapies are discussed together with directions for future research.
Voltage emergency prediction: Using signatures to reduce operating margins

Inductive noise forces microprocessor designers to sacrifice performance in order to ensure correct and reliable operation of their designs. The possibility of wide fluctuations in supply voltage means that timing margins throughout the processor must be set pessimistically to protect against worst-case droops and surges. While sensor-based reactive schemes have been proposed to deal with voltage noise, inherent sensor delays limit their effectiveness. Instead, this paper describes a voltage emergency predictor that learns the signatures of voltage emergencies (the combinations of control flow and microarchitectural events leading up to them) and uses these signatures to prevent recurrence of the corresponding emergencies. In simulations of a representative superscalar microprocessor in which fluctuations beyond 4% of nominal voltage are treated as emergencies (an aggressive configuration), these signatures can pinpoint the likelihood of an emergency some 16 cycles ahead of time with 90% accuracy. This lead time allows machines to operate with much tighter voltage margins (4% instead of 13%) and up to 13.5% higher performance, which closely approaches the 14.2% performance improvement possible with an ideal oracle-based predictor.
Larval abundance and recruitment of the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus in Monterey Bay, California, USA

Seasonal abundance of planktonic larvae of the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus was determined in Monterey Bay, California, USA. Larvae were counted from two offshore stations and also over a coastal sand dollar bed, and these data were compared with settlement in the sand dollar bed, with adult population structure and with adult reproductive condition. These measurements were made during the period July 1978 to October 1980 and in October 1981. Sand dollar larvae were most abundant in the plankton during the summer, a period when phytoplankton productivity tended to be high and currents were relatively slow and variable. In some years, small-scale current variations appeared to prevent many larvae in the open bay from reaching the nearshore sand dollar beds; however, in other years, massive shoreward transport of the larvae evidently did occur, since the adult population in the sand dollar bed exhibited a mode in size, indicating a large settlement. A comparison of settled individuals in 1980 and the adult size-frequency distribution in 1981 gives an estimated mortality rate of 88% yr^(-1) for early juveniles of D. excentricus.
Brainstem regions with neuronal activity patterns correlated with priming of locomotor stepping in the anesthetized rat.

Abstract Locomotor stimulation in the perifornical hypothalamus produces a transient facilitation of subsequent locomotion, a priming effect, such that stepping to a second train of stimulation occurs with a shorter latency of onset and increased amplitude. Neurons responsible for the initiation of this facilitated stepping presumably respond to locomotor stimulation with a similar priming effect, i.e. either a shorter latency or a larger change in activity rate. This study used anesthetized rats (urethane, 800 mg/kg) to compare brainstem regions in terms of the relative rates of occurrence of single neurons that showed both specific responses to locomotor stimulation and also priming effects. Specific responses were characterized by a progressive increase in activity prior to the first step (a Type I pattern). In that they co-varied in time with the increased probability of stepping onset, Type I responses were more specific than Type II responses, which peaked early in the stimulation train several seconds before the onset of stepping. Regions with high proportions of neurons showing Type I responses and priming effects included the anterior dorsal tegmentum lateral to the central gray, the oral pontine reticular nucleus and the medial gigantocellular nucleus. Few Type I neurons showed a modulation of activity related to the step cycle. Type I primed neurons were uncommon in the cuneiform and the pedunculopontine regions, but neurons showing other patterns (decreases and antidromic responses) were relatively prevalent there. The ventral tegmental area was generally unresponsive. The results indicate that stepping elicited by perifornical stimulation in the anesthetized rat is mediated by circuits that differ at midbrain levels from the circuits implicated in other types of locomotion. Two regions, the anterior dorsal tegmentum and the oral pontine reticular nucleus, warrant further attention to determine their possible roles in the initiation of locomotion.
Vacancy models for concentrated binary alloys—I short-range ordered and clustered alloys

Abstract Four models for estimating the effect of short-range ordering (or clustering) on the equilibrium concentration of vacancies in binary alloys are developed in terms of statistical thermodynamics. The Smeared-Displacement, Simple-Displacement and Modified Vacancy-Energy Models assume that the energy to produce a vacancy can be estimated from the change in bond energy when an atom is displaced from the bulk of the crystal to the surface. Each model differs, however, relative to the details of the environments about vacancies that are taken into consideration. All such models suggest that the vacancy concentration decreases as a result of ordering. The Vacancy-Energy Model is physically more realistic and more detailed but somewhat less tractable than the other models. It assumes that the energy to produce a vacancy depends primarily on the immediate environment of the vacancy.
iPOP Goes the World: Integrated Personalized Omics Profiling and the Road toward Improved Health Care

The health of an individual depends upon their DNA as well as upon environmental factors (environome or exposome). It is expected that although the genome is the blueprint of an individual, its analysis with that of the other omes such as the DNA methylome, the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome will further provide a dynamic assessment of the physiology and health state of an individual. This review will help to categorize the current progress of omics analyses and how omics integration can be used for medical research. We believe that integrative personal omics profiling (iPOP) is a stepping stone to a new road to personalized health care and may improve disease risk assessment, accuracy of diagnosis, disease monitoring, targeted treatments, and understanding the biological processes of disease states for their prevention.
A Motzkin---Straus Type Result for 3-Uniform Hypergraphs

Motzkin and Straus established a remarkable connection between the maximum clique and the Lagrangian of a graph in [8]. They showed that if G is a 2-graph in which a largest clique has order l then $${\lambda(G)=\lambda(K^{(2)}_l),}$$ where ?(G) denotes the Lagrangian of G. It is interesting to study a generalization of the Motzkin---Straus Theorem to hypergraphs. In this note, we give a Motzkin---Straus type result. We show that if m and l are positive integers satisfying $${{l-1 \choose 3} \le m \le {l-1 \choose 3} + {l-2 \choose 2}}$$ and G is a 3-uniform graph with m edges and G contains a $${K_{l-1}^{(3)}}$$ , a clique of order l?1, then $${\lambda(G) = \lambda(K_{l-1}^{(3)})}$$ . Furthermore, the upper bound $${{l-1 \choose 3} + {l-2 \choose 2}}$$ is the best possible.
Effects of epidermal growth factor-loaded mucoadhesive films on wounded oral tissue rafts.

Current treatments for traumatic oral mucosal wounds include the gold standard of autologous tissue and alternative tissue-engineered grafts. While use of autografts has disadvantages of minimal availability of oral keratinized tissue, second surgery, and donor site discomfort, tissue-engineered grafts are limited by their unavailability as off-the-shelf products owing to their fabrication time of 4–8 weeks. Hence, the current work aimed to develop a potentially cost-effective, readily available device capable of enhancing native mucosal regeneration. Considering the key role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in promoting mucosal wound regeneration and the advantages of mucoadhesive delivery systems, mucoadhesive films composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone and carboxymethylcellulose were developed to provide sustained release of EGF for a minimum of 6 h. Bioactivity of released EGF supernatants was then confirmed by its ability to promote proliferation of BALB/3T3 fibroblasts. Efficacy of the developed system was then investigated in vitro using buccal tissues (ORL 300-FT) as a potential replacement for small animal studies. Although the mucoadhesive films achieved their desired role of delivering bioactive EGF in a sustained manner, treatment with EGF, irrespective of its release from the films or solubilized in medium, caused a hyperparakeratotic response from in vitro tissues with distinguishable histological features including thickening of the spinous layer, intra- and intercellular edema, and pyknotic nuclei. These significant morphological changes were associated with no improvements in wound closure. These observations raise questions about the potential of using in vitro tissues as a wound healing model and substitute for small animal studies. The mucoadhesive delivery system developed, however, with its potential for sustained release of bioactive growth factors and small molecules, may be loaded with other desired compounds, with or without EGF, to accelerate the process of wound healing.
Suppression of drinking by exposure to a high-strength static magnetic field

High-strength static magnetic fields of 7 T and above have been shown to have both immediate and delayed effects on rodents, such as the induction of locomotor circling and the acquisition of conditioned taste aversions. In this study, the acute effects of magnet field exposure on drinking were examined. Exposure to a 14.1-T magnetic field for as little as 5 min significantly decreased the amount of a glucose and saccharin solution (G+S) consumed by water-deprived rats over 10 min. The decreased intake could be accounted for largely, but not entirely, by an increase in the latency of magnet-exposed rats to initiate drinking. When intake was measured for 10-60 min after the initiation of drinking, thus controlling for increased latency, magnet-exposed rats still consumed less G+S than sham-exposed rats. The increased latency was not due simply to an inability of magnet-exposed rats to reach the elevated sipper tube of the G+S bottle, providing rats with long tubes that could be reached without raising their heads normalized intake but latency was still increased. The increased latency and decreased intake appeared to be secondary to somatic effects of magnet exposure, however, because during intraoral infusions magnet-exposed rats consumed the same amount of G+S with the same latency to reject as sham-exposed rats. The suppression of drinking by magnetic field exposure is consistent with the acute effects of other aversive stimuli, such as whole-body rotation, on short-term ingestion. These results add to the evidence that high-static strength magnetic fields can have behavioral effects on rodents.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT IN ADVANCED LUNG DISEASE: The Pulmonary Cachexia Syndrome

Patients with advanced lung disease (ALD) demonstrate changes in body composition characteristically manifested by a progressive loss of body weight. The mechanisms of this pulmonary cachexia syndrome are multifactorial, and treatment must be comprehensive in nature. This article addresses our current knowledge regarding the relationship between nutrition and ALD.
Model for an Employee Wellness Project

Abstract A pilot project designed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a health-related employee assistance program was implemented at the University of South Carolina. One hundred interested participants were randomly selected from university faculty and administrative staff. The project utilized the following methods: 1) psychophysical tests including health risk appraisals, health knowledge levels, physical activity assessments, psychological batteries of tests, and biophysical data obtained through a treadmill stress test, percent body fat, blood analysis, blood pressure, and pulmonary function; 2) individual health consultants who served to inform, model, and encourage participants to practice healthful behaviors; 3) group programs related to self-care/wellness promotion techniques; 4) mass media contact to repeat and reinforce healthful behaviors; 5) wellness-oriented social activities, such as fun runs, meatless covered dish dinners, etc. Results of the project included statistically sign...
The Reich case: Economic implications of depletion allowances

Abstract The Reich case was tried in the 1969 Tax Court of the United States and the Court held that geothermal steam is a gas and is an exhaustible resource at The Geysers field. Accordingly, all geothermal steam producers are now entitled to deduct as current expense the intangible costs of developing and drilling geothermal steam wells and all producers who can demonstrate that their geothermal steam resource is depletable are entitled to what is now a 22 percent depletion allowance. The key expert witness in the case was Dr. Henry J. Ramey , Jr. and a summary is presented of his monograph which was submitted as evidence. His conclusion, based on a reservoir engineering analysis, was that the geothermal resource at the Big Geysers area had, as of 1968, a 20 to 46 years of productive life remaining. In the economics portion of the paper, it is demonstrated that the corporate income tax discriminates against risky and capital-intensive industries such as oil and gas and geothermal. The central economic argument in favor of percentage depletion allowances and expensing privileges is that these provisions remove the discriminatory bias of corporate income taxes. The economic consequences of depletion allowances are 1. — a short- and long-run increase in production; 2. — a short- and long-run increase in investment in renewal-exploration, discovery, and development; 3. — lower prices; 4. — a ratio of reserves to output—the Life Index—which tends to be constant; 5. — a short-run increase in profits which encourages the entry of new firms and a long-run situation in which average rates of return are again equalized across industries.
Axial shortening during pachynema unrelated to nonhomologous synapsis.

The pachytene behavior of chromosomes participating in quadrivalent formation in male mice heterozygous for T(X;4)7R1 or T(X;4)8R1 was analyzed in electron micrographs of microspread spermatocytes. In
The Optimal Margin of Illusion

This article proposes that optimal psychological functioning is associated with a slight to moderate degree of distortion in one's perception of self and world. Past evidence suggests that substantial distortions provide a dangerous basis for action, yet recent research has shown that highly accurate perceptions are associated with depression and other maladaptive patterns. By seeing things as only slightly better than they really are, the individual may enjoy the affective benefits of illusions while avoiding the pragmatic, behavioral risks of acting on false assumptions. Departures from this optimal margin of illusion are associated with risks and difficulties, and power hierarchies may be an important arena for studying these problems.
Testing the Relative Constancy of Mass Media Expenditures in the United Kingdom

This study tests the hypothesis of relative constancy in the United Kingdom, applying regression techniques to a series of consumer mass media expenditures from 1963 to 1989. The analysis confirms a long-term constancy of mass media spending, regardless of variations in disposable personal income and the passage of time. During the entire 27-year period, U.K. consumers spent a relatively stable share of their disposable personal income on mass media. A separate analysis of data from 1980 to 1989 also reveals that they devoted an increasing share of their income to mass media in the last decade, largely because of the introduction of video hardware and software.
PRENATAL TREATMENT OF CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA

AbstractPurpose: The relevant aspects of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH-21), the single most common cause of female pseudohermaphroditism, are reviewed to understand the benefits and risks of prenatal intervention. Timely diagnosis is important, since infants with this condition may suffer adrenal insufficiency which carries a high mortality rate.Materials and Methods: Infants suspected of having CAH-21 should undergo radioimmunoassay of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone, karyotype and pelvic/abdominal ultrasound at a minimum. Treatment with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid supplements should be instituted immediately. Surgical correction of genitourinary tract anomalies should be performed by a pediatric urologist experienced in this area.Results: Proper postnatal medical and surgical management of CAH-21 will allow the patient to thrive. Many women with classic CAH-21 have now conceived and delivered healthy children. Prenatal diagnosis, now most often done by molecu...
Mitochondrial inheritance: cell cycle and actin cable dependence of polarized mitochondrial movements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Asymmetric growth and division of budding yeast requires the vectorial transport of growth components and organelles from mother to daughter cells. Time lapse video microscopy and vital staining were used to study motility events which result in partitioning of mitochondria in dividing yeast. We identified four different stages in the mitochondrial inheritance cycle: (1) mitochondria align along the mother-bud axis prior to bud emergence in G1 phase, following polarization of the actin cytoskeleton; (2) during S phase, mitochondria undergo linear, continuous and polarized transfer from mother to bud; (3) during S and G2 phases, inherited mitochondria accumulate in the bud tip. This event occurs concomitant with accumulation of actin patches in this region; and (4) finally, during M phase prior to cytokinesis, mitochondria are released from the bud tip and redistribute throughout the bud. Previous studies showed that yeast mitochondria colocalize with actin cables and that isolated mitochondria contain actin binding and motor activities on their surface. We find that selective destabilization of actin cables in a strain lacking the tropomyosin 1 gene (TPM1) has no significant effect on the velocity of mitochondrial motor activity in vivo or in vitro. However, tpm1 delta mutants display abnormal mitochondrial distribution and morphology; loss of long distance, directional mitochondrial movement; and delayed transfer of mitochondria from the mother cell to the bud. Thus, cell cycle-linked mitochondrial motility patterns which lead to inheritance are strictly dependent on organized and properly oriented actin cables.
Applications of digital methods to ultrasonic materials characterization

Abstract The advent of modern digital signal acquisition and processing equipment has meant that signal digitization, even at the rapid sampling rates needed for high-frequency ultrasonic signals, can be accomplished almost instantaneously. This paper presents an overview of some applications of digital processing of ultrasonic signal information to materials characterization that have been investigated by the authors at the University of Oklahoma. Specific applications examined are: viscoelastic property measurement; dynamic property measurement; microstructure characterization; acoustoelastic measurements.
Heat flow studies for large temperature gradients by molecular dynamics simulation

We derived a molecular dynamics algorithm capable of simulating heat flow in fluids beyond the linear regime. Unlike the synthetic Evans method, our algorithm establishes real temperature differences between two regions of the model system by pumping heat continuously into the high-temperature region and taking it away from the low-temperature region. Since there is no solid phase present, the generated density variation is small. The heat flow can be calculated from the energy input and output of the thermostat or can be measured by the method of planes. We performed extensive calculations to study the performance of the algorithm and compared the determined heat conductivity coefficients to results obtained by the synthetic method. For the studied simple fluid model the conductivity was found practically independent of the size of the temperature gradient.
The Integrity of Corrupt States: Graft as an Informal State Institution:

This article argues that corrupt practices such as bribery and embezzlement, which scholars have previously assumed to be evidence of the breakdown of the state, may reinforce the state's administrative hierarchies under certain conditions. Drawing on a cross-national analysis of 132 countries and a detailed examination of the informal institutions of official graft in Ukraine, the article finds that where graft is systematically tracked, monitored, and granted by state leaders as an informal payment in exchange for compliance, it provides both an added incentive to obey leaders' directives and the potent sanction of criminal prosecution in the event of disobedience. Where graft is informally institutionalized in this way, it provides the basis for state organizations that are effective at collecting taxes, maintaining public order, and repressing political opposition but that may undermine the development of liberal politics.
A Comparison of Two Teaching Designs Using the Organization Game as a Measure of Outcome Performance

According to the model of managerial readiness to develop, the classroom simulation of an organization should occur in a systematic, planned fashion, moving from simple to complex simulations, because students need to practice with the former to succeed with the latter. To test this idea, an organizational psychology class was taught using two different formats: (a) lecture-discussion training with a low level of complexity and (b) training with increasingly complex experiential exercises. The performance of each class was compared by using the objective performance indicators of the Organization Game, a complex simulation used to measure the relative performance of each class. The mean performance indicator for the experiential training classes was 87.8, which was significantly higher than the lecture-discussion mean of 64.8. These results support the idea of a continuum of complexity that should be considered when planning the use of experiential exercises.
Measurement of emitter and collector series resistances

Emitter and collector series (extrinsic) resistances can be evaluated by measuring the open-circuited (floating) junction voltage as the other junction is forward biased. Evaluation can be carried out on either a point-by-point basis or with the aid of a curve tracer. Specific results are indicated for a 2N4400 transistor and an experimental transistor.
Osteonecrosis of the Knee After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Report of 5 Cases.

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is performed commonly, with a low risk of complication. Osteonecrosis of the knee is a potentially devastating condition and has been obse...
European child care in global perspective

SUMMARY This paper sketches out some of the features of the European day care landscape that differentiate it most dramatically from the day care terrain found on other continents, and then examines some particularly European themes related to the quality of care, as expressed in 11 case studies developed as part of the author's recently published international comparison of child care policies and programmes. Particular attention is paid to the tension between child development and schooling, the distinction between 0–2 and 3–5 year olds, the place of family settings, professional vs. parent perspectives, parent involvement, cultural diversity, decentralization efforts, privatization, and the quality-quantity dichotomy.
The putative penicillin-binding proteins 1 and 2 are important for viability, growth and cell morphology of Brucella melitensis.

Abstract The penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are enzymes that regulate the assembly of the peptidoglycan layer of the bacterial cell wall. The genome of Brucella melitensis strain 16 M possesses seven pbp genes: three in pbp-1 family (designated as 1A , 1B , and 1C ); one in pbp-2 family; and three in pbp-6 family (designated as 6A , 6B , and 6C ). We investigated the importance of pbp-1 and pbp-2 genes to viability, cell morphology and infectivity of B. melitensis . A recombinant B. melitensis strain (designated 16 MΔ pbp1C ) was generated by disrupting the pbp-1C of strain 16 M by allelic exchange. This strain produced nearly 20% smaller colonies on trypticase soy agar plates, and grew slower in trypticase soy broth compared to the strain 16 M. Electron microscopy revealed that strain 16 M exhibited native cocco-bacillus morphology, while 16 MΔ pbp1C possessed a spherical morphology. Strain 16 MΔ pbp1C did not differ from strain 16 M in terms of recovery from infected mouse macrophage cell line J774.1, or recovery from spleens of infected BALB/c mice, suggesting that pbp-1C is dispensable for intracellular persistence of B. melitensis . Expression of mRNA of fixR , the gene downstream of pbp-1C was similar between the strains 16 M and 16 MΔ pbp1C suggesting that disruption of pbp-1C did not induce any polar effects. Multiple attempts to mutate pbp-1A , pbp-1B , or pbp-2 genes failed, most probably because these genes are indispensable for viability of B. melitensis . Our findings suggest that pbp-1C regulates in vitro growth and cell morphology, whereas pbp-1A , pbp-1B , and pbp-2 are essential for viability of B. melitensis .