cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metal-induced formation of metallothionein in rat liver

Abstract Metallothionein, which accumulates in livers of rats which have received subcutaneous injections of cadmium, has been purified to homogeneity by the use of Sephadex chromatography, acetone fractionation and chromatography on diethyl aminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose. Anion exchange chromatography of Cd-thionein yielded two components differing in amino acid composition. Both forms of purified Cd-thionein displayed such characteristic features as high cysteine content and lack of aromatic amino acids. A molecular weight of 10,200 and a typical metal content of five atoms of cadmium and two atoms of zinc per protein molecule were common features of the two forms. The low molecular weight proteins which are induced in rats exposed to zinc, mercury or silver have been purified by the same procedure as was used for Cd-thionein. In each case the thionein was resolved into what appeared to be the same two fractions on DEAE-cellulose. The two forms of each metalloprotein exhibited mobilities identical to those of the corresponding Cd-thionein on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The amino acid compositions of the more anionic forms of Hg-thionein and Zn-thionein were quite similar to that of the corresponding Cd-thionein. Thus, the identity of the proteins induced in rats by zinc, mercury and silver with the previously known metallothionein induced by cadmium has been established.
Chronic Chlamydia trachomatis Infections in Infants

Objective. —To study the natural history of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in infants. Design. —Bacteriologic and serologic study of an inception cohort. Setting. —University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle. Participants. —Twenty-two infants with C trachomatis infections either not treated early in life or recurring after antimicrobial treatment. Main Outcome Measures. —Persistence of infection in various anatomic sites, antibody responses to specific serovars (serologic variants) of C trachomatis , and serovars of isolates from mothers and infants. Results. —The cumulative proportion of infants still infected at the age of 1 year was 35%. Infection persisted in the conjunctiva, nasopharynx, and oropharynx in one child for as long as 866 days (28.5 months), when she was cured by treatment. In none of the infants did serologic tests suggest acquisition of infection other than at birth. Isolates of C trachomatis from mothers and their respective infants were always of the same serovar. Conclusions. —Many infants infected with C trachomatis at birth remain infected for months or years in the absence of specific antimicrobial therapy. Such infections may be confused with those acquired by sexual abuse. ( JAMA . 1992;267:400-402)
Impact of HIV and a history of marijuana dependence on procedural learning among individuals with a history of substance dependence

Marijuana (MJ) use and HIV infection are both associated with neurocognitive deficits, yet there is little research to date examining their interactions, specifically how they pertain to procedural learning (PL). We examined a sample of 86 individuals with a history of dependence for multiple substances who underwent a comprehensive evaluation including measures of mental health, substance use history, and three measures of PL: the photoelectric Rotary Pursuit Task (RPT), the Star Mirror Tracing Task (SMT), and the Weather Prediction Task (WPT). We found that a positive HIV serostatus and a history of marijuana dependence were both independently associated with overall poorer performance on the SMT and RPT in this sample of individuals with a history of dependence for multiple substances. Rate of improvement across trial blocks did not differ as a function of HIV serostatus or history of marijuana dependence. Although we found no significant HIV × MJ interaction for any of the PL tasks, we did observe evidence of additive negative effects from HIV and a history of marijuana dependence on overall performance on the SMT and RPT, but not the WPT. The findings suggest that complex motor skills are adversely affected among abstinent polysubstance users with a history of marijuana dependence and that such deficits are compounded by HIV.
Mutator gene action and the replication of bacteriophage λ DNA

Abstract Bacteriophage λ susN 7 labeled with 13 C 15 N were used to infect a λ lysogen carrying the mutator allele, mut T1. All mutator-induced λN + revertants from the resulting lysate had replicated at least once. Few, if any, of the mutator-induced revertants were recombinant. The results are interpreted to mean that the mut T1 allele is active only during DNA replication.
Injury as Alienation in Sport

(1989). Injury as Alienation in Sport. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 44-58.
688 NONINVASIVE SCREENING TESTS FOR ENTEROPATHY IN CHILDHOOD

No study has compared the 3 most commonly used screening tests for enteropathy and jejunal biopsy results. A retrospective survey of all jejunal biopsies at CHMC (7/83-7/84) was undertaken to evaluate which test best predicted a normal biopsy. Screening tests: Lactose breath hydrogen test (LBHT, 2gm/kg, max 50gm; abnormal>10ppm rise after 60min); serum D-xylose (Xyl, 0.5 gm/kg, max 25gm; abnormal 10% of intake over 72 hours). Histology was reviewed and scored blindly as N (normal-minimal villous blunting) or Abn. (moderate-severe villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia). Results: Jejunal biopsies were obtained from 117 children. 49 patients had no prior screening test and were excluded. Conclusions: None of the screening tests analyzed were ideal. Xyl and FF were significantly correlated with biopsy results. A normal result in either was highly predictive of a normal biopsy. The xylose test is preferable on the basis of greater sensitivity and ease of patient compliance.
The Cost of Generic Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows as Estimated by Using Dynamic Programming

The objective of this study was to estimate the cost of generic clinical mastitis (CM) in high-yielding dairy cows given optimal decisions concerning handling of CM cases. A specially structured optimization and simulation model that included a detailed representation of repeated episodes of CM was used to study the effects of various factors on the cost of CM. The basic scenario was based on data from 5 large herds in New York State. In the basic scenario, 92% of the CM cases were recommended to be treated. The average cost of CM per cow and year in these herds was $71. The average cost of a CM case was $179. It was composed of $115 because of milk yield losses, $14 because of increased mortality, and $50 because of treatment-associated costs. The estimated cost of CM was highly dependent on cow traits: it was highest ($403) in cows with high expected future net returns (e.g., young, high-milk-yielding cows), and was lowest ($3) in cows that were recommended to be culled for reasons other than mastitis. The cost per case of CM was 18% higher with a 20% increase in milk price and 17% lower with a 20% decrease in milk price. The cost per case of CM was affected little by a 20% change in replacement cost or pregnancy rate. Changes in CM incidence, however, resulted from changes in these factors, thus affecting whole-farm profitability. The detailed results obtained from this insemination and replacement optimization model can assist farmers in making CM treatment decisions.
ORIGIN OF OVARIAN CYST FLUID: STUDIES ON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED CYSTS IN THE RAT.

Injection of pregnant mares' serum or human chorionic gonadotrophin into the thiouracil-fed rat induced the development of large ovarian follicular cysts. Goitrogen feeding increased the total protein and gamma globulin content of both serum and cystic fluid. Total protein-bound carbohydrate and the protein :polysaccharide ratios of the fractions of serum and cyst fluid were also equal. When animals were allowed to recover from the effects of goitrogen feeding, total proteins and gamma globulin decreased. The albumin fractions increased significantly, as evidenced by the markedly increased albumin: globulin ratios. Although uptake of 35S from DL-methionine or 14C-DL-leucine was more rapid in serum, parallel accumulation was observed for cyst fluid after an 8-hr lag, with equilibration by 24 hr. During the period of equilibration there was no loss in activity. Once it reached its peak, cyst fluid specific activity was maintained for 120 hr regardless of which gonadotrophin was used. Furthermore, rat serum ...
Theory of unusual anisotropy of magnetoresistance in organic superconductors.

We suggest that weak electron tunneling between layers is responsible for the experimentally observed dramatic deviations from two-dimensional behavior in the magnetoresistance in the metallic phase of the quasi-two-dimensional conductors (TMTSF${)}_{2}$${\mathrm{ClO}}_{4}$ and (TMTSF${)}_{2}$${\mathrm{PF}}_{6}$. We predict a fine structure due to resonances in open orbits between motion parallel and perpendicular to the planes.
Competitive privacy in the smart grid

The requirement of wide-area monitoring in the deregulated electric grid is driving the need for distributed state estimation. This leads to a novel problem of competitive privacy amongst energy providers (operators) that captures the conflict between the need for collaboration to estimate the global system state with high fidelity (utility) and the need to withhold data (privacy) for competitive reasons. The precise tradeoff between utility and privacy is made explicit using rate distortion theory with privacy constraints for a two-operator network. Practical approaches are briefly discussed.
Faint young Sun paradox remains

Arising from M. T. Rosing, D. K. Bird, N. H. Sleep & C. J. Bjerrum, , 744–747 (2010)10.1038/nature08955 The Sun was fainter when the Earth was young, but the climate was generally at least as warm as today; this is known as the ‘faint young Sun paradox’. Rosing et al.1 claim that the paradox can be resolved by making the early Earth’s clouds and surface less reflective. We show that, even with the strongest plausible assumptions, reducing cloud and surface albedos falls short by a factor of two of resolving the paradox. A temperate Archean climate cannot be reconciled with the low level of CO2 suggested by Rosing et al.1; a stronger greenhouse effect is needed.
Using minimization of maximal regret for interface selection in a heterogeneous wireless network

Integration of various wireless access technologies have pushed the evolution of mobile clients (MC) to be equipped with multiple interfaces for simultaneously accessing different network technologies. In these heterogeneous wireless networks (HWNs), MCs (and the underlying network) must be able to quickly and dynamically adapt to varying network conditions so as to satisfy required communication constraints. However, unlike their machine counterparts, MCs tend to have very vague and uncertain demands. This paper focuses on imprecise and dynamic nature of the MC's demands, while fulfilling multiple — often contradicting — constraints. The problem of uncertain decision making is considered by utilizing techniques from the multiple criteria decision making area. At each MC, an enhanced minimization of maximal regret (MMR) ranks available network interfaces and this maps imprecise user constraints to ranked interfaces.
Camera Calibration Using Neural Network for Image-Based Soil Deformation Measurement Systems

A neural network camera calibration algorithm has been adapted for image-based soil deformation measurement systems. This calibration algorithm provides a highly accurate prediction of object data points from their corresponding image points. The experimental setup for this camera calibration algorithm is rather easy, and can be integrated into particle image velocimetry (PIV) to obtain the full-field deformation of a soil model. The performance of this image-based measurement system was illustrated with a small-scale rectangular footing model. This fast and accurate calibration method will greatly facilitate the application of an image-based measurement system into geotechnical experiments.
Peer Disagreement and Independence Preservation

It has often been recommended that the differing probability distributions of a group of experts should be reconciled in such a way as to preserve each instance of independence common to all of their distributions. When probability pooling is subject to a universal domain condition, along with state-wise aggregation, there are severe limitations on implementing this recommendation. In particular, when the individuals are epistemic peers whose probability assessments are to be accorded equal weight, universal preservation of independence is, with a few exceptions, impossible. Under more reasonable restrictions on pooling, however, there is a natural method of preserving the independence of any fixed finite family of countable partitions, and hence of any fixed finite family of discrete random variables.
Keeping pace with change

A textbook covering all aspects of evolution puts the spotlight on the molecular motor that drives it. Evolutionary biology has seen some remarkable advances in the past 30 years, with new fields like 'evodevo' and evolutionary genomics expanding the scope of the field in all directions. This means there is always room for a good up-to-date textbook. Our reviewer rates Evolution, from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, as one of the best. With support promised from http://www.evolution-textbook.org/ , the book weighs in at a convenient size and scores well on readability.
Stress single photon emission computed tomography for detection of coronary artery disease and risk stratification of asymptomatic patients at moderate risk

The American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Society of Nuclear Cardiology appropriateness criteria document assigns single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) a rating of uncertain for detection and risk assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic patients at moderate risk. The nuclear cardiology database was used to identify 260 asymptomatic patients (67 ± 8 years, 72% men) without known CAD who were at moderate CAD risk according to the Framingham risk score. SPECT MPI images were categorized using the summed stress score (SSS). Mean follow-up 9.9 ± 3.0 years. Abnormal SPECT MPI scans were present in 142 patients (55%). By SSS categories, SPECT scans were low-risk in 67%, intermediate-risk in 20%, and high-risk in 13% of patients. Overall survival at 10 years was 79%, significantly better than the age- and gender-matched Minnesota general population (P < 0.001). Survival was 60% for patients with high-risk scans (95% CI 45-80%), 79% with intermediate-risk scans (95% CI 69-91%), and 83% with low-risk scans (95% CI 77-88%) (P = 0.03), including 84% (95% CI 77-91%) with normal scans. In this retrospectively identified group of asymptomatic patients at moderate CAD risk, stress SPECT MPI was effective for the detection and risk stratification of CAD. Average annual mortality was 4.0% in patients with high-risk scans vs 1.6% in patients with normal scans.
Finite energy solutions of self‐adjoint elliptic mixed boundary value problems

This paper describes existence, uniqueness and special eigenfunction representations of H1-solutions of second order, self-adjoint, elliptic equations with both interior and boundary source terms. The equations are posed on bounded regions with Dirichlet conditions on part of the boundary and Neumann conditions on the complement. The system is decomposed into separate problems defined on orthogonal subspaces of H1(Ω). One problem involves the equation with the interior source term and the Neumann data. The other problem just involves the homogeneous equation with Dirichlet data. Spectral representations of the solution operators for each of these problems are found. The solutions are described using bases that are, respectively, eigenfunctions of the differential operator with mixed null boundary conditions, and certain mixed Steklov eigenfunctions. These series converge strongly in H1(Ω). Necessary and sufficient conditions for the Dirichlet part of the boundary data to have a finite energy extension are described. The solutions for a problem that models a cylindrical capacitor is found explicitly. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variation in male sailfin molly, preference for female size: does sympatry with sexual parasites, drive preference for smaller conspecifics?

Male sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) are sexually parasitized by gynogenetic Amazon mollies (Poecilia formosa). In areas of sympatry, Amazon mollies are frequently larger than female sailfin mollies. In sympatry, selection may favor males that prefer smaller conspecific mates (avoid mismating with Amazon mollies), or selection may favor males that prefer larger conspecific mates (higher fecundity). To explore this potential species and mate-quality recognition conflict, we examined male preference variation across populations. Males from one sympatric population showed stabilizing preference functions, whereas in another sympatric population, males showed directional preference functions. Variation across sympatric populations may be related to the length of time of co-evolution with Amazon mollies. In the allopatric populations, we found flat preference functions. Variation in male preferences could have important ramifications for the maintenance of Amazon mollies, as well as for the evolution of female size.
The Everyday and the Episodic: The Spatial and Political Impacts of Urban Informality:

Informality, understood either as an economic sector or as a form of shelter and service provision, dominates Southern cities, even as disciplinary divides dominate the study of informality and its impacts. The author seeks to move beyond these divides by focusing on the production of urban space under different structural conditions in two Indian cities, Delhi and Ahmedabad. Using a Lefebvrian theoretical framework, the author examines existing literature to unpack the mutually constitutive political and spatial practices of informality. The segregated spaces thus produced can be linked to a politics of informality that includes not just everyday resistance and creeping encroachments to achieve gains, but also episodic moments of open protest, collective mobilization, and violence. In highlighting these impacts, production of space theories also open up the question of generating knowledge for new sites of resistance.
National Medal of Science

The nation's highest honor for American scientists and engineers, the National Medal of Science is awarded annually by the president of the United States to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to or for the total impact of their work on the current state of chemical, physical, biological, social or behavioral sciences; mathematics; or engineering. Anyone can submit a nomination. Submit a short description of the nominee's contribution and three letters of support to http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/medal.jsp by 1 May 2014.
Adjustment of robot joint gears using encoder velocity and position information

A new technique for the adjustment of joint gears in industrial robots is presented. Band-limited random excitation signals were injected into the drive system of the joint under test, and both the actuator shaft velocity and position were monitored. The coherence functions between the voltage at the terminals of the electric actuator and the position and velocity signals were determined. The change in the coherence functions was studied for various joint gear settings. An algorithm is proposed for determining the gear setting which results in the most linear operation of the joint drive system. This algorithm was tested on the adjustment of the gears of the wrist rotation joint of a PUMA 560 robot arm.
Conversion of methyl radicals to methanol and formaldehyde over vanadium oxide catalysts

Methyl radicals, formed by the thermal decomposition of azomethane, react with V{sub 2}O{sub 5} to form methoxide ions. Infrared results confirm the presence of methoxide ions, and ESR spectra demonstrate that the reaction involves the reduction of V{sup 5+} to V{sup 4+}. The methoxide ions may either decompose to formaldehyde or react with water or surface protons to form methanol. In temperature-programmed reaction experiments, both methanol and formaldehyde reached a maximum concentration in the gas phase at 200- 250{degrees}C over V{sub 2}O{sub 5}, but over V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/SiO{sub 2}, the methanol and formaldehyde maxima were shifted to ca. 300 and 400{degrees}C, respectively. The production of CH{sub 3}OH at the lower temperature over V{sub 2}O{sub 5}/SiO{sub 2} suggests that methoxide ions may react with water or surface protons to form methanol more quickly than they decompose to formaldehyde. Nevertheless, in continuous flow experiments at 300 and 500{degrees}C, formaldehyde was the principal oxygenated product because of the rapid oxidation of CH{sub 3}OH at this temperature, and, in the case of pure V{sub 2}O{sub 5}, the direct conversion of methoxide ions to formaldehyde appears to compete favorably with their reaction with water. 20 refs., 5 figs., 5 tabs.
Multichannel detector for use in particle spectrometers

A 15-channel scintillation counter has been constructed for use in magnetic spectrometers with extended focal line. It utilizes 15 organic scintillators placed along the focal line. The scintillators are optically coupled in binary code to four photomultiplier tubes. The output pulses from these tubes are electronically converted into standard current pulses (weighted 1, 2, 4, 8) in a common resistor. The resulting voltage pulse is proportional to the position of the scintillator giving the light pulse, and can be displayed on a “kicksorter”. The results of an experimental test of the multichannel electron detector are described. Further improvements are expected with use of a fifth multiplier tube in coincidence with the above mentioned tubes.
Effect of flow on quasi-one-dimensional acoustic wave propagation in a variable area duct of finite length

The general equation for the velocity potential of quasi-one-dimensional acoustic wave motion in a variable area, finite duct with one-dimensional flow is derived by using a perturbation technique. The nonlinear second-order partial differential equation is linearized and then solved, by either a power series expansion method or the Runge-Kutta fourth-order method, for harmonic time dependence. The boundary condition taken at the duct mouth is that of matching the impedance of the duct sound field to that of the radiation field at the duct opening. Three axial Mach number variations along the duct axis are considered and the results obtained are compared with those for the case of constant Mach number, to determine the influence of the axial velocity gradient on sound propagation. The effect of flow on the radiation impedance is also considered.
The Colorado LEAP study: rationale and design of a study to assess the short term longitudinal effectiveness of a preschool nutrition and physical activity program

The preschool years are a critical window for obesity prevention efforts; representing a time when children establish healthy eating habits and physical activity patterns. Understanding the context in which these behaviors develop is critical to formulating a model to address childhood obesity. The Colorado LEAP Study, an intervention study designed to prevent early childhood obesity, utilizes a social ecological approach to explore individual, family and environmental factors and their relationship to child weight status over a 3 year timeframe. The study is located in 5 rural Colorado preschool centers and elementary schools (2 treatment and 3 control). Treatment sites receive The Food Friends® nutrition (12 weeks) and physical activity (18 weeks) interventions during preschool. Observational measures assess 3 layers of the social ecological model including individual, family and organizational inputs. Children’s food preferences, food intake, gross motor skills, physical activity (pedometers/accelerometers), cognitive, physical and social self-competence and height/weight are collected. Parents provide information on feeding and activity practices, child’s diet, oral sensory characteristics, food neophobia, home food and activity environment, height/weight and physical activity (pedometers). School personnel complete a school environment and policy assessment. Measurements are conducted with 3 cohorts at 4 time points – baseline, post-intervention, 1- and 2-year follow-up. The design of this study allows for longitudinal exploration of relationships among eating habits, physical activity patterns, and weight status within and across spheres of the social ecological model. These methods advance traditional study designs by allowing not only for interaction among spheres but predictively across time. Further, the recruitment strategy includes both boys and girls from ethnic minority populations in rural areas and will provide insights into obesity prevention effects on these at risk populations. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01937481 .
Postischemic (1 hour) hypothermia significantly reduces ischemic cell damage in rats subjected to 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion.

We investigated the effect of hypothermia induced 1 hour after transient (2-hour) middle cerebral artery occlusion on the extent of ischemic cell damage in the rat. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced extracranially by insertion of a nylon filament into the right internal carotid artery. Two groups of rats were investigated: (1) rats (n = 10) subjected to normothermic (37 degrees C) ischemia and normothermic reperfusion; and (2) rats (n = 10) subjected to normothermic ischemia and 1 hour of normothermic reperfusion followed by 3 hours of hypothermia (30 degrees C). All rats were killed 1 week after the experiment, and brain sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for evaluation of ischemic cell damage. Infarct volume in normothermic rats involved 20.9 +/- 4.6% of the hemisphere, whereas hypothermic rats exhibited a significantly smaller (P < .001) infarct volume of 11.1 +/- 2.7%. The numbers of surviving (or structurally intact) neurons within large sections of the cortex and striatum were significantly greater for hypothermic compared with normothermic rats (P < .01). Our data suggest that postischemic induction of hypothermia significantly reduces ischemic cell damage after 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat, and that an interval of time of at least 1 hour after ischemia exists in which hypothermic intervention is effective in either salvaging or postponing irreversible neuronal injury.
A monokine stimulates prostaglandin-E2 production by human amnion

The studies reported in this communication were designed to test the hypothesis that products of mononuclear cells are capable of stimulating prostaglandin E2 production by human amnion. Conditioned media obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with amnion cells in primary culture. A dose dependent increase in PGE2 biosynthesis was observed in response to increasing amounts of the conditioned media. These observations suggest that mononuclear cells produce a factor(s) capable of stimulating prostaglandin production by amnion cells. The signal responsible for the increased biosynthesis of prostaglandins by human amnion associated with parturition in the setting of intraamniotic infection may be of host origin.
Probabilistic Methods for the Calculation of Laminate Properties

A method for calculating the properties of advanced composite laminates, including their variations due to known variations in the properties of the individual plies and the laminate geometry, is presented. The method is useful for understanding scatter in the measured properties of composite laminates. This scatter is particularly important in the design of ultra-low coeflicient of thermal expansion (CTE) laminates. Such lami nates are designed with a theoretically zero CTE, but in practice have a distribution of non- zero CTEs. Information useful for designing ultra-low expansion laminates is discussed. A practical limit on how close to zero the CTE of a laminate can be assumed to be is found.
Tumor Necrosis Factor α-induced Pancreatic β-Cell Insulin Resistance Is Mediated by Nitric Oxide and Prevented by 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 and Aminoguanidine A ROLE FOR PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR γ ACTIVATION AND iNOS EXPRESSION

Abstract Recent studies have identified a β-cell insulin receptor that functions in the regulation of protein translation and mitogenic signaling similar to that described for insulin-sensitive cells. These findings have raised the novel possibility that β-cells may exhibit insulin resistance similar to skeletal muscle, liver, and fat. To test this hypothesis, the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), a cytokine proposed to mediate insulin resistance by interfering with insulin signaling at the level of the insulin receptor and its substrates, was evaluated. TNFα inhibited p70s6k activation by glucose-stimulated β-cells of the islets of Langerhans in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with maximal inhibition observed at ∼20–50 ng/ml, detected after 24 and 48 h of exposure. Exogenous insulin failed to prevent TNFα-induced inhibition of p70s6k , suggesting a defect in the insulin signaling pathway. To further define mechanisms responsible for this inhibition and also to exclude cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) as a mediator, the ability of exogenous or endogenous insulin ± inhibitors of nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) activity, aminoguanidine or N-monomethyl-l-arginine, was evaluated. Unexpectedly, TNFα and also interleukin 1 (IL-1)-induced inhibition of p70s6k was completely prevented by inhibitors that block NO production. Western blot analysis verified inducible NOS (iNOS) expression after TNFα exposure. Furthermore, the ability of IL-1 receptor antagonist protein, IRAP, to block TNFα-induced inhibition of p70s6k indicated that activation of intra-islet macrophages and the release of IL-1 that induces iNOS expression in β-cells was responsible for the inhibitory effects of TNFα. This mechanism was confirmed by the ability of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 to attenuate TNFα-induced insulin resistance by down-regulating iNOS expression and/or blocking IL-1 release from activated macrophages. Overall, TNFα-mediated insulin resistance in β-cells is characterized by a global inhibition of metabolism mediated by NO differing from that proposed for this proinflammatory cytokine in insulin-sensitive cells.
Gunfight at the O. K. Corral : holding your own with collection development

What an interesting title, especially at 2:45 pm on the second day of the conference! When Tom Leonhardt called and asked me to speak to this conference on the somewhat uneasy relationship between acquisitions librarians and collection development officers, he didn't provide the title. He did say that he wanted someone who was not currently involved in acquisitions work so that the individual could speak freely and not go home to trouble, or worse. Currently, I am a library director, but I did serve as Acquisitions Librarian for nine years at the University of Wyoming, from 1978-1987. So, I am not going home to trouble or worse, but I would prefer this talk to be entitled:
Induction of Latent Immunological Memory in Genetically Nonresponsive Mice

C57BL/10 mice exhibit major histocompatibility complex linked nonresponsiveness to hen egg white lysozyme (HEL). When these animals are primed with HEL in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), their secondary splenic plaque forming cell responses to aqueous HEL challenge are minimal to nonexistent. This notwithstanding, we show here that concomitant priming with both HEL and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) leads to an enhanced response to the HEL component following secondary challenge with an HEL-KLH conjugate. This enhancing effect can be transferred by nylon wool nonadherent spleen cells from HEL/FCA primed animals. Adoptive transfer studies with fractionated spleen cell populations suggest also that B cells are primed in these animals. Thus, animals which are incapable of mounting a secondary response to this antigen nevertheless appear to be primed at both the T-cell and B-cell levels following exposure to the antigen in FCA. The implications of this finding are discussed.
The Oncogenic STP Axis Promotes Triple-Negative Breast Cancer via Degradation of the REST Tumor Suppressor

Defining the molecular networks that drive breast cancer has led to therapeutic interventions and improved patient survival. However, the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer subtype (TNBC) remains recalcitrant to targeted therapies because its molecular etiology is poorly defined. In this study, we used a forward genetic screen to discover an oncogenic network driving human TNBC. SCYL1, TEX14, and PLK1 ("STP axis") cooperatively trigger degradation of the REST tumor suppressor protein, a frequent event in human TNBC. The STP axis induces REST degradation by phosphorylating a conserved REST phospho-degron and bridging REST interaction with the ubiquitin-ligase βTRCP. Inhibition of the STP axis leads to increased REST protein levels and impairs TNBC transformation, tumor progression, and metastasis. Expression of the STP axis correlates with low REST protein levels in human TNBCs and poor clinical outcome for TNBC patients. Our findings demonstrate that the STP-REST axis is a molecular driver of human TNBC.
The effect of impingement on heat transfer in rotating condensation

Abstract A study has been made of the heat transfer for an impinging, condensing flow on a rotating disk. Results were obtained based on integral methods. Although the effect of impingement is to increase the heat transfer, the magnitude is insufficient to account for the larger experimental results reported in the literature.
More than meets the eye: Curricular and Programmatic Effects on Student Learning

This article reports the effects of program characteristics and faculty activities on students’ experiences and, ultimately, the development of students’ analytical and group skills. Data come from nationally representative samples of 4,330 seniors, 1,243 faculty members, and 147 engineering program chairs on 40 campuses nationwide. Findings indicate that program characteristics and faculty behaviors and values have significant, if relatively small and largely indirect, effects on student learning by encouraging (or discouraging) certain kinds of student experiences, which, in turn, influence student learning. The results point to a need for more complex designs than are typically adopted in most learning outcomes studies.
Cold-Shock Resistance to Largemouth BASS, Bluegill, and Channel Catfish

: Juvenile specimens of largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish were tested to determine their ability to withstand abrupt temperature decreases simulating the environmental impact from a sudden shutdown of a nuclear reactor during the winter. Temperature reductions were administered over 2-hour and 24-hour periods to assess the importance of the rate of temperature change and hence the mitigative value of having a holding pond with a one-day retention time between the proposed cooling tower discharge and the receiving stream. Temperature decreases administered over a 2-hour period resulted in much greater mortality than decreases of the same magnitude administered over a 24-hour period. Thus, the value of a pond for mitigation from cold shock was substantiated. Results also indicated that adherence to the U.S. EPA temperature criteria for freshwater fish should provide adequate protection from cold shock.
Construction of a deletion strain and expression vector for the Escherichia coli NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I)

Complex I of Escherichia coli is encoded by 13 consecutive genes, called the nuo operon. A chromosomal deletion of all nuo genes has been achieved by homologous recombination. A vector that encodes all of the nuo genes has been constructed, and it expresses a functional enzyme.
A Solution Approach for Lower Hessenberg Linear Systems

An approach is developed to obtain solutions to lower Hessenberg linear systems with general entries. The approach involves developing solution vectors for an extended lower Hessenberg linear system (having an extra column and an extra introduced unknown) for each nonzero term on the right hand side. The overall solution is then found through superposition and determination of the extra introduced unknown. The approach supports parallel solution algorithms without communication between processors, since each solution vector is computed independently of the others. The number of parallel processors needed will be equal to the number of nonzero right hand side terms.
Universal quantum mechanics

If gravity respects quantum mechanics, it is important to identify the essential postulates of a quantum framework capable of incorporating gravitational phenomena. Such a construct likely requires elimination or modification of some of the ``standard'' postulates of quantum mechanics, in particular, those involving time and measurement. This paper proposes a framework that appears sufficiently general to incorporate some expected features of quantum gravity. These include the statement that space and time may only emerge approximately and relationally. One perspective on such a framework is as a sort of generalization of the S-matrix approach to dynamics. Within this framework, more dynamical structure is required to fully specify a theory; this structure is expected to lack some of the elements of local quantum field theory. Some aspects of this structure are discussed, both in the context of scattering of perturbations about a flat background, and in the context of cosmology.
A robust physical and predictive model for deep-submicrometer MOS circuit simulation

An efficient physical and predictive model (the Berkeley short-channel insulated-gate FET model, or BSIM3) for deep-submicrometer MOSFETs is presented with emphasis on both digital and analog applications. BSIM3 has extensive built-in dependences of important dimensional and processing parameters such as channel length, width, gate oxide thickness, junction depth, substrate doping concentration, and LDD (lightly doped drain) structures. The model is compact, and time-consuming functions are excluded. The ease of parameter extraction was a major consideration. The number of parameters is small (/spl sim/25), and every parameter has a physical meaning; the effects of parameters on output characteristics are very predictive. This feature of BSIM3 makes statistical study of the device fabrication process possible. BSIM3 has been implemented in SPICE3 and the divergence problem is also greatly improved.
Computer applications in foodservice management education in four-year hospitality management programs.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which computers are being utilized as a tool in teaching foodservice management concepts in four-year undergraduate hospitality programs. A ...
Comparison of 3-D OSEM versus 1-D SAGE for focal total-activity quantification in I-131 SPECT with HE collimation

A three-dimensional (3-D) ordered-subset expectation maximization (OSEM) reconstruction algorithm used fits to the average behavior of the I-131 point-source-response function at different depths to model the detector-collimator response of a SPECT camera. The fitting function was a Gaussian, plus a single exponential to account for septal-penetration of the high-energy (HE) collimation. Results from that unregularized 3-D OSEM were compared to those with regularized one-dimensional (1-D) space-alternating generalized expectation maximization (SAGE). The latter used a simple strip integral. Each reconstruction algorithm employed attenuation correction and scatter compensation. The SPECT camera was calibrated by imaging a 200 cm/sup 3/ sphere containing a known I-131 activity. This sphere was located inside an elliptical cylinder. The water in the cylinder contained one of four I-131 activity concentrations. The ratio of background-over-target activity concentration b was used to characterize the different situations. The known activity and the reconstructed counts within the sphere at each b value yielded a counts-to-activity conversion factor, CF. After reconstruction with 3-D OSEM, CF varied much less with b than after reconstruction with 1-D SAGE. A test of activity quantification was carried out with 20 realizations of an anthropomorphic phantom with zero background activity. This phantom simulated a 100 cm/sup 3/ spherical tumor centrally located inferior to the lungs. The mean bias in the estimate of "tumor" activity was -7.3% with 3-D- OSEM-based quantification and -4.3% with 1-D-SAGE-based quantification. Recovery-coefficient-based correction was applied with both algorithms. With UHE collimation, the previously-published mean bias in the estimate of the "tumor" activity was -5.2% after adding a recovery-coefficient-based correction. For that collimation, the previously-published mean bias with 1-D-SAGE-based quantification was -10.7%. We conclude that 1) two-component fitting allowed 3-D OSEM to do a good job of compensating for the septal penetration of the HE collimation, 2) the procedure for activity quantification with 3-D OSEM was simpler than that with 1-D SAGE, and 3) activity accuracy for a test phantom had a similar quality for four situations, using 3-D OSEM-based activity quantification and 1-D-SAGE-based activity quantification and combining each with HE and UHE collimation.
Preliminary assessment of mercury accumulation in Massachusetts and Minnesota seasonal forest pools

Seasonal forest pools (SFPs) are common, widespread, and provide critical habitat for amphibians and invertebrates. The ephemeral hydrology of SFPs has been identified as an important factor in the production of biologically active methylmercury (MeHg). To investigate mercury (Hg) in SFPs, we collected water, fine benthic organic matter (FBOM), detrital materials, and faunal samples from 10 pools in Massachusetts and Minnesota, across a range of basin morphometry, water chemistry, canopy closure, and hydroperiod. Total Hg (THg) and MeHg concentrations were comparable to other small, lentic waters. MeHg was found in greater concentrations in fauna than in periphyton, detrital items, or FBOM. In spite of consistently lower pool acidity and higher THg deposition in Massachusetts, we found no significant differences in Hg concentrations between states. No significant relationship was found between MeHg concentration and canopy closure. A weak, positive relationship was identified between pool hydroperiod and the bioaccumulation of THg, suggesting that longer exposure may be a factor in increased Hg concentrations in basal resources, which is then propagated into consumer trophic levels. Further work on the mechanisms determining Hg trophic transfer and bioaccumulation is required to fully understand the influence of hydrogeochemical and landscape influences on Hg dynamics in SFPs.
ATP synthesis and degradation rates in the perfused rat heart. 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance double saturation transfer measurements

A limitation of magnetization transfer techniques for studying enzyme kinetics in vivo has been the difficulty of treating systems with more than two exchanging species. This problem was addressed in the original papers describing saturation transfer. Since then, a number of approaches have been devised to study these complex situations. Here, we present a method based on the transient saturation transfer experiment in which spin-lattice relaxation time constants and reaction rates are obtained from the same magnetization transfer data. This technique is particularly suitable for biological samples. We apply the method to evaluate flux balance in the three-site linear exchange network composed of ATP, creatine phosphate, and inorganic phosphate in the isolated, perfused rat heart and show that the method yields reasonable values for the reaction velocities of ATP synthesis and degradation.
Addiction to Prescription Analgesics and Minor Tranquilizers: A Case Study of Hidden Primary Addiction

Addiction to prescription analgesics and psychotropic drugs consistently remains a greater addiction problem for women than men. This case study of a 30-year-old white, middle class female teacher characterizes a pattern of primary addiction to prescription drugs common to women of all ages. This case history consists of in-depth interviews in which the respondent first traces the predisposing factors to her addiction, then describes the underlying health problems that led to the prescriptions, elaborates the intricate schemes for obtaining medication, discusses the altering issues of pain and panic, and delineates the comprehensive rehabilitation program that successfully changed her behavior. The respondent offers insights leading to recommendations for prevention of the addiction, recognition of the addictive symptoms, and suggestions for surviving with chronic pain but without addictive mediations.
Features of protein-protein interactions that translate into potent inhibitors: topology, surface area and affinity

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) control the assembly of multi-protein complexes and, thus, these contacts have enormous potential as drug targets. However, the field has produced a mix of both exciting success stories and frustrating challenges. Here, we review known examples and explore how the physical features of a PPI, such as its affinity, hotspots, off-rates, buried surface area and topology, might influence the chances of success in finding inhibitors. This analysis suggests that concise, tight binding PPIs are most amenable to inhibition. However, it is also clear that emerging technical methods are expanding the repertoire of 'druggable' protein contacts and increasing the odds against difficult targets. In particular, natural product-like compound libraries, high throughput screens specifically designed for PPIs and approaches that favour discovery of allosteric inhibitors appear to be attractive routes. The first group of PPI inhibitors has entered clinical trials, further motivating the need to understand the challenges and opportunities in pursuing these types of targets.
Current status of the monitoring of medication practice.

Medication practice encompasses the processes of prescribing, dispensing, preparing, administering, and monitoring the clinical effects of medicines. The mission for hospital pharmacy services is to ensure the safe, effective, and economic uses of medicines. Medication practice measures monitor one