cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Separation of two distinct gonadotropins from the pituitary gland of the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina).

Two chemical fractionation schemes were used in conjunction with various non-mammalian bioassays to isolate gonadotropin from the pituitary gland of the snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Ammonium sulfate fractionation, effective in separating mammalian FSH from LH, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 concentrated all the turtle gonadotropin into a single fraction. A second fractionation method employing ion exchange chromatography on Amberlite IRC-50 and DEAE-cellulose effected considerable purification of gonadotropin and also resulted in the distinct separation of two different kinds of gonadotropic activities from the turtle glands. The two kinds of gonadotropic activities were distinguished by tests that are relatively specific for mammalian FSH (an Anolis lizard assay) and LH (an anuran in vitro ovulation assay). Both of the turtle fractions were active in frog spermiation and the uptake of 32P by cockerel tests which is consistent with the lack of specificity for mammalian FSH and LH shown by these assays. The turtle hormones had low potencies in mammalian assays. Growth hormone and thyrotropin were also purified during fractionation, but the latter activity was not effectively separated from the gonadotropins. These results support the existence of two separate gonadotropins having FSH- and LH-like biological and chemical properties in the turtle pituitary.
Ketotifen reduces sneezing but not histamine release following nasal challenge with antigen.

Summary We evaluated the effect of pre-treatment with 1 and 2 mg b.i.d. of ketotifen on the early response to nasal challenge in a double-blind cross-over trial. Weekly nasal challenges were performed in 10 allergic subjects after 1 hr and 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of ketotifen administration. The response to nasal challenge was monitored by counting the number of sneezes, the assessment of subjective symptoms, and by measuring the levels of histamine and TAME-esterase activity in recovered nasal lavages. The number of sneezes diminished significantly after a single dose of drug with both the 1 and 2 mg doses. Prolonged pre-treatment did not improve the results. The levels of histamine and TAME-esterase activity in recovered nasal lavages were not changed significantly by either pre-treatment at either dose. Although the number of subjects was small, our data suggest that ketotifen diminishes allergic symptomatology by its antihistaminic properties rather than by inhibiting histamine release from mast cells. As we did not look into the effects of ketotifen on other products generated by mast cells (prostanoids, leukotrienes and tryptase), we cannot fully rule out an effect on mast cells.
High-yield hydrogen production by catalytic gasification of coal or biomass

Abstract Gasification of coal or wood, catalyzed by soluble metallic cations to maximize reaction rates and hydrogen yields, offers a potential for large-scale, economical hydrogen production with near-commercial technology. With optimum reaction conditions and catalysts, the product gas, rich in both hydrogen and methane, can be used in fuel cells to produce electricity at efficiencies nearly double those of conventional power plants. If plantation silvaculture techniques can produce wood at a raw energy cost competitive with coal, further enhancement of product gas yields may be possible, with zero net contribution of CO2 to the atmosphere.
The effects of real and dark light on single unit activity in Macaca mulata

Abstract The activity of single units in the lateral geniculate nucleus in the rhesus monkey was monitored. Activity produced by the process of bleaching photopigment molecules (field adaptation) was found to have effects on the sensitivity of these units similar to the effects produced by previously bleached molecules (bleaching adaptation), but the effects on maintained firing rate were different. Thus, the unit activity was consistent with the equivalent background principle of visual adaptation, but not with the equivalent luminance principle. It was also found that unit response characteristics to an increment of stimulus intensity could be changed from “off” to “on” in bleaching adaptation conditions, but not in field adaptation conditions. This suggests differential effects on receptive field organization characteristics.
Enzyme-replacement therapy in cultured tay-sachs disease brain cells

The clinical results of in vivo enzyme-replacement therapy for sphingolipidoses have been uniformly disappointing, especially when the central nervous system is the target organ, as in Tay-Sachs Disease. In vitro enzyme-replacement studies using cultured fibroblasts have serious limitations when applied to Tay-Sachs disease (TSD, McKusick 27280). Whereas TSD fibroblasts lack N-acetyl-13-D-hexosaminidase A (HexA), they do not demonstrate the increased concentration of GM2 ganglioside and the membranous cytoplasmic bodies that are characteristic of the TSD brain. Thus, they are not ideal models for the disease. In contrast, cells cultured from TSD fetal cerebellum contain increased concentrations of GM2 and membranous cytoplasmic bodies. The increased concentrations of GMa are due to lack of degradation (Hoffman et al., 1978). The uptake of lysosomal hydrolases is a receptormediated phenomenon, with the low uptake variety predominating in certain purified preparations (Neufeld and Hickman, 1972). Liposomes have been employed as carriers to increase enzyme uptake, but intracellular uptake may be difficult to achieve. Therefore, for these studies, the plant lectin concanavalin A (Con A) has been used as a ligand to link Hex A to the target-cell surface and to facilitate endocytosis of the enzyme by the cells,
The LifeSite Hemodialysis Access System in patients with limited access

Abstract Objective The LifeSite Hemodialysis Access System was recently introduced as a completely subcutaneous device with reported advantages of improved patient comfort and reduced catheter-related infection. The performance of the LifeSite catheter at a single, tertiary-care university medical center was reviewed. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent placement of the LifeSite catheter between February 2001 and March 2002. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to determine the probability of patient survival, freedom from catheter-related infection, and freedom from device failure necessitating catheter removal. Results Thirty-six patients who had previously received dialysis for an average of 6.1 years underwent placement of 37 LifeSite catheters. Most patients (95%) were referred for LifeSite placement because they had exhausted all available arteriovenous fistula and graft sites. Mean follow-up was 6.8 months, with a patient survival rate of 81% at 8 months. Primary and secondary patency rates were 62% and 87% at 8 months, respectively. Two patients died from infectious device-related complications. Twelve of 17 patients (71%) with device-related infection did not manifest any signs or symptoms at the valve site. There were 2.4 catheter-related infections and 2.6 device failures requiring removal per 1000 patient-catheter days. Freedom from infection and device removal at 8 months was 46% and 49%, respectively. Conclusions The LifeSite demonstrated acceptable patency, infection, and device failure rates; however, in patients with limited access, unrecognized infection and death may occur. The LifeSite should not be used as a substitute for a more permanent form of hemodialysis access.
Evaluating alterations of genetic diversity in sunfish populations exposed to contaminants using RAPD assay

Bioindicators of pollutant exposure can be more sensitive and ecologically relevant than simply measuring levels of pollutants in the environment and are applied here as a tool for assessing environmental stress on aquatic organisms. DNA polymorphisms, detected by using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique, are used as biomarkers to assess genetic diversity and genetic distance among populations of redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) residing in reference streams and a contaminated stream (East Fork Poplar Creek, EFPC). The RAPD technique uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with short oligonucleotide primers under reduced stringency to produce DNA fragments which, when analyzed by gel electrophoresis, form banding patterns similar to DNA fingerprints. A total of 13 primers were used which produced 45 polymorphic bands among all populations of fish tested. Using this technique, only slight differences in genetic diversity were detected among populations of sunfish within EFPC although the diversity of all EFPC populations analyzed together did differ from the reference populations. Fish populations in EFPC were consistently less genetically distant from each other than they were from each of the reference sites. Differences in genetic distance between populations may be due to selection pressure of pollutants on fish in EFPC which is supported by the finding that frequencies of certain unique genotypes in EFPC sunfish were correlated with the downstream pollutant gradient. These results are discussed in relation to implications of RAPD assays and recent remediation efforts within EFPC.
Formation of hexagonal and cubic ice during low-temperature growth

From our daily life we are familiar with hexagonal ice, but at very low temperature ice can exist in a different structure––that of cubic ice. Seeking to unravel the enigmatic relationship between these two low-pressure phases, we examined their formation on a Pt(111) substrate at low temperatures with scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy. After completion of the one-molecule-thick wetting layer, 3D clusters of hexagonal ice grow via layer nucleation. The coalescence of these clusters creates a rich scenario of domain-boundary and screw-dislocation formation. We discovered that during subsequent growth, domain boundaries are replaced by growth spirals around screw dislocations, and that the nature of these spirals determines whether ice adopts the cubic or the hexagonal structure. Initially, most of these spirals are single, i.e., they host a screw dislocation with a Burgers vector connecting neighboring molecular planes, and produce cubic ice. Films thicker than ∼20 nm, however, are dominated by double spirals. Their abundance is surprising because they require a Burgers vector spanning two molecular-layer spacings, distorting the crystal lattice to a larger extent. We propose that these double spirals grow at the expense of the initially more common single spirals for an energetic reason: they produce hexagonal ice.
Voluntary Social Participation and Health

The importance of participation in voluntary formal associations for enhancing health is supported by four kinds of evidence. (1) Seven prospective studies of social relations and mortality show the independent effect of formal social participation, net of informal ties. (2) Conceptual analysis demonstrates that voluntary formal associations constitute a separate class of social causation. (3) Our factor analysis of data from a sample of 629 nonmetropolitan elderly identified two types of formal social participation: "instrumental," as in associations that are community oriented, and "expressive," as in those that exist for the benefit of the members. (4) Regression analysis showed that the instrumental participation factor is linked, net of controls, to the perceived health of both men and women, whereas the expressive factor predicts for women only.
An efficient isolation method for domestic hen (Gallus domesticus) ovarian primary follicles.

An enzymatic method of isolating primary follicles in the turkey has been described previously, but no similar work has been done in the hen. In this study, primary follicles from domestic hens (Gallus domesticus) were isolated using an enzymatic method, and the isolated follicular quantity, quality, and development in vitro were assessed. About 400 primary follicles ranging from 60 to 1125 μm in diameter were recovered with trypsin and collagenase from hen ovaries (per ovary). Of these, 76.5% were intact follicles with a complete single layer of granulose cells surrounded by the basement membrane, and their ultrastructures appeared this way in situ. Follicles (351 to 500 μm in diameter) were cultured in vitro, and 46.67% of them survived after 5 days. Ultrastructural examination showed that elongated mitochondria forming a ring were distributed to the periphery of the oocyte, the Golgi was oriented with the maturing face toward the granulosa cell layer, and the oocyte plasma membrane presented a few short microvilli lying on the oocyte surface, which confirmed that the surviving follicles were developmental. These results suggest that a simple, rapid, effective enzymatic method can be used to isolate a great number of intact primary follicles from the hen ovary.
Methods to identify the pulmonary vein ostium.

I Perez-Castellano et al should be congratulated on drawng attention to the difficulty in identifying the ostium of the ulmonary veins. Ever since Haissaguerre et al demontrated the significance of the pulmonary veins in the elecrophysiology of atrial fibrillation, knowing the detailed natomy of these structures has become important. Anyne who holds a human heart in his/her hand and examines he relationship between the left atrium and the pulmonary eins is struck by the difficulty in clearly ascertaining where he left atrium ends and the pulmonary vein begins. Even ith histologic examination of this interface, the distinction f what is vein and what is atrium depends largely on the bserver’s judgment. Although attention has been placed on trial myocardial sleeves extending into the vein, it is qually true that venular structures extend into the left trium. If determining the true ostium of the pulmonary vein s difficult even with examination of an autopsied specimen, hen it comes as no surprise that mistakes occur when etermining this site using any imaging technique. Before examining the findings reported by Perez-Castelano et al and discussing the relative merits and demerits of he methods available for determining the pulmonary vein stium, we need to ask whether this determination remains elevant in present-day electrophysiology. Three main techiques to approach ablation for atrial fibrillation exist. First s ablation at the venoatrial junction to electrically isolate he pulmonary veins, second is an anatomic so-called ide area circumferential ablation usually performed with he aid of a three-dimensional mapping system along with inear ablation loosely mimicking the surgical maze proceure, and third is a set of closely allied techniques targeting igh-frequency fragmented electrograms possibly denoting he proximity of cardiac ganglionated plexuses. Alhough the importance of the left atrial pulmonary vein unction is apparent with the first approach (pulmonary vein solation), it probably is equally important with the newer pproaches. For example, with wide area circumferential blation, typically larger-area catheters with higher-power blation is used. If these lesions are placed inadvertently ithin the pulmonary vein, then pulmonary vein stenois—a complication that this technique was designed to
Clinical Reasoned Judgment and the Nursing Process

Every nursing school student is taught the nursing process as a systematic framework for processing patient information to make clinical decisions. This article provides a model for integrating a conceptual model of critical thinking into the nursing process, with the goal of enabling nurses to think critically, reason accurately, and make appropriate clinical decisions about their patients. Eight elements of critical thinking provide the universal structure of thought processes: clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, and logic. The model provides nurses with a practical approach for making effective clinical decisions.
Self-Regulation and Other Executive Functions Relationship to Pediatric OCD Severity and Treatment Outcome

The intersection of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and executive functioning (EF) in children and adolescents is an emerging topic in the current literature. Spurred by the consistent association between increased EF deficits and higher adult obsessive-compulsive severity, a few initial studies have replicated this relationship in pediatric OCD samples and also have found preliminary evidence that EF deficits are associated with worse response to first-line psychotherapeutic or psychopharmacological treatments for pediatric OCD. This study aimed to extend the literature by providing the first comprehensive investigation of how multiple EF domains, measured repeatedly over the course of treatment, impact pediatric obsessive-compulsive severity and response to multimodal treatment. Multi-level modeling results found that deficits in shifting, inhibition, emotional control, planning/organizing, monitoring and initiating all predicted higher average obsessive compulsive severity across treatment. Interestingly, out of the eight domains of EF investigated, only emotional control moderated treatment outcome such that those with worse emotional control experienced less of a reduction in obsessive-compulsive severity during treatment. The findings generally align with previous theories for the link between EF and OCD and indicate that emotional control has important implications in the treatment of pediatric OCD. In fact, emotional control may provide one explanation for why factors such as disgust sensitivity, oppositional behavior, and third-wave behavioral treatment techniques have all been linked to pediatric OCD treatment outcome. Future research should investigate augmentation strategies that target emotional control in children and adolescents.
Temperature Fronts and Patterns in Catalytic Systems

Current understanding and open questions concerning formation and motion of temperature fronts and patterns in packed-bed reactors and on single catalytic pellets are reviewed. For the single-reaction case, it is possible to readily predict the maximal temperature of fronts formed in packed-bed reactors following sudden changes in the feed conditions (wrong-way behavior) or during reverse-flow operation. There is a need to extend these relations for systems involving multireactions and reversible changes in the pellet state. Complex temperature patterns may be generated on catalytic surfaces by global interaction and surface nonuniformities. Simulations predict that even more intricate patterns may evolve in packed-bed reactors. It is still unresolved which of these complex patterns exist in commercial reactors, what is their impact, and which control policies can stabilize beneficial temperature patterns. The predictions of several important dynamic features, such as hot-spot formation, await further analysis of models which account also for the momentum transport and changes in the physical properties of the fluid in the reactor.
Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India

What kinds of civic ties between different ethnic communities can contain, or even prevent, ethnic violence? This book draws on new research on Hindu-Muslim conflict in India to address this important question. Ashutosh Varshney examines three pairs of Indian cities, one city in each pair with a history of communal violence, the other with a history of relative communal harmony, to discern why violence between Hindus and Muslims occurs in some situations but not in others. His findings will be of strong interest to scholars, politicians, and policymakers of South Asia, but the implications of his study have theoretical and practical relevance for a broad range of multiethnic societies in other areas of the world as well. The book focuses on the networks of civic engagement that bring Hindu and Muslim urban communities together. Strong associational forms of civic engagement, such as integrated business organisations, trade unions, political parties, and professional associations, are able to control outbreaks of ethnic violence, Varshney shows. Vigorous and communally integrated associational life can serve as an agent of peace by restraining those, including powerful politicians, who would polarize Hindus and Muslims along communal lines.
Subclinical central nervous system disease of neonates: a prospective study of infants born with increased levels of IgM.

Umbilical cord sera obtained over a 1 year interval from all deliveries in a low income population were screened for elevated levels of IgM to determine the usefulness of this approach for diagnosis of subclinical congenital infection in newborns. There was a 30-fold or more increased infection rate in neonates born with elevated IgM values when compared with an appropriate control group. Forty-two systemic or localized infections, mostly subclinical forms, were detected in infants with increased cord IgM. Although symptoms were absent, persistent cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and elevated protein values were detected in over a half of infected newborns. Two of these with toxoplasma and 2 with cytomegaloviral infections have already developed signs of central nervous system damage during the first year. Data indicate that subclinical congenital infections with “silent” CNS involvement occur frequently in certain newborn groups and may be an important cause of brain damage that is currently unclassified. When coupled with methods for specific identification, screening of cord and neonatal sera for elevated IgM can be helpful in the search for and definition of this type of disease.
Fracture of hamate hook--diagnosis by the hamate hook lateral view.

Ten intact wrist joints were examined to evaluate the hamate hook visualisation by a hamate hook lateral radiographic view. Results of the study indicated that this 30°-tilted lateral wrist radiographic projection with palmar abduction of the thumb clearly revealed the hamate hook from its base to the tip in the first web space away from the metacarpal bases and carpal bones. This radiographic technique was applied on patients who experienced pain at the hypothenar eminence. Fracture can be detected at the hamate hook in two cases and bilateral bipartite hamulus in one case. This specific supplementary projection is recommended in patients with the relevant physical signs.
Generation of covalently functionalized hierarchical IRMOF-3 by post-synthetic modification

Abstract Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of covalently functionalized hierarchical IRMOF-3 having micro-/meso-pores and macroscopic trenches. Functionalized hierarchical IRMOF-3 was synthesized by an etching process by the protons released when the amine groups in the structure react with cyanuric chloride. This etching process is found to be self-limited due to the diffusion limitation of cyanuric chloride. X-ray diffraction confirms that the crystal structure of the MOF is maintained during the modification reaction and N 2 isotherms show the presence of micro- and meso-porosity in IRMOF-3 after modification. The microstructure of hierarchical IRMOF-3 after being modified with cyanuric chloride was studied using various characterization techniques such as optical/electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Preliminary CO 2 adsorption by post-synthetically modified hierarchical IRMOF-3 is promising with an improved sorption capacity despite having a reduced surface area.
α-d-Galactosidase immobilized on a soluble polymer

α-d-Galactosidase (α-d-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.22) from green coffee beans has been immobilized by attachment to cyanogen bromide-activated Dextran T-70. Since this represents the first reported example of the preparation of a water-soluble derivative of an enzyme showing substrate inhibition, the kinetic properties, thermal stability and pH optima were investigated and compared with those of the free enzyme. The Km, Ks, Ki, Vmax, optimum substrate concentration and optimum pH were all lower than those of free enzyme. The enzyme conjugate showed greater resistance than the free enzyme to thermal inactivation. These data, although obtained with the synthetic substrate 4-nitrophenyl-α-d-galactoside, suggest some advantages in using the enzyme conjugate for the removal of terminal α-d-galactopyranosyl groups from the erythrocyte cell surface.
Hemodynamic and volumetric effects of venodilation with nitroglycerin in chronic mitral regurgitation.

To evaluate the potential value of nitrate therapy in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation, the hemodynamic and angiographic effects of intravenous nitroglycerin were studied in 10 such patients. Nitroglycerin infusion, titrated to reduce mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure at least 20%, resulted in a significant reduction in mean blood pressure (from 91 ± 12 to 77 ± 13 mm Hg, p < 0.0001), mean right atrial pressure (12± 6 to 7 ± 4 mm Hg, p < 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (22 ± 7 to 13 ± 5 mm Hg, p < 0.0001) and peak V wave of indirect left atrial pressure (34 ± 9 to 20 ± 10 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Changes in systemic vascular resistance (1,986 ± 468 vs 1,582 ± 534 dynes s cm−5) and forward stroke volume (39 ± 14 vs 45 ± 8 ml) were not statistically significant. Angiographic data showed a decrease in both end-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular volumes (248 ± 51 to 216 ± 54 ml, p = 0.06 and 127 ± 69 to 99 ± 48 ml, p < 0.05, respectively) and an improvement in ejection fraction, from 0.52 ± 0.15 to 0.55 ± 0.15 (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in the group values for mitral regurgitant volume and fraction (from 85 ± 32 to 72 ± 32 ml and 67 ± 10 to 64 ± 5%, respectively). It is concluded that the predominant venodilation of nitrate therapy is associated with a significant improvement in cardiovascular hemodynamics and left ventricular function in patients with severe chronic mitral regurgitation. In most cases, these changes result from the peripheral vascular effects of the drug rather than from a reduction of mitral valve regurgitant volume.
Factorial invariance of child self-report across english and spanish language groups in a hispanic population utilizing the pedsQL™ 4.0 generic core scales

The measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children has witnessed significant international growth over the past decade in an effort to improve pediatric health and well-being, and to determine the value of health-care services. In order to compare international HRQOL research findings across language groups, it is important to demonstrate factorial invariance, i.e., that the items have an equivalent meaning across the language groups studied. This study examined the factorial invariance of child self-reported HRQOL across English- and Spanish-language groups in a Hispanic population of 2,899 children ages 8-18 utilizing the 23-item PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed specifying a five-factor model across language groups. The findings support an equivalent 5-factor structure across English- and Spanish-language groups. Based on these data, it can be concluded that children across the two languages studied interpreted the instrument in a similar manner. The multigroup CFA statistical methods utilized in the present study have important implications for cross-cultural assessment research in children in which different language groups are compared.
Behaviors of Bobcats Preying on White-tailed Deer in the Everglades

Abstract Predatory behaviors of bobcats (Lynx rufus) that preyed on 39 radio-instrumented white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginanus) in the Everglades during a 3-yr study, 1 April 1989–31 March 1992, are described and compared with those of other felids. Bobcats killed 33 fawns and six adults by administering ≥one bite to the neck and throat region. The maximum prey:predator weight ratio was 8:1. Twelve (31%) of 39 kills were dragged 2–10 m to concealment cover before being eaten. Twelve (71%) of 17 carcasses that were not dragged from the kill site exhibited a characteristic death form in that the head on each was twisted backwards (throat dorsal) and positioned diagonally under the shoulder. Feeding was initiated on large muscle masses, predominantly on the hindquarters. Bobcats eviscerated 29 (83%) of 35 carcasses, severed ≥ one fore- or hind-limbs from 18 (55%) of 33 kills, and plucked hair from 13 (33%) of 39 carcasses. Bobcats partially or completely covered 17 (52%) of 33 carcasses with plant litter...
Chelifera wagneri sp.n. (Diptera, Empididae: Hemerodromiinae) from Macedonia (Yugoslavia)

Chelifera wagneri sp.n. (Diptera, Empididae: Hemerodro miinae), a new species of the aquatic dance flies from Macedonia (Yugoslavia), is described and illustrated.
Quantitative analysis of the time course of Aβ oligomerization and subsequent growth steps using tetramethylrhodamine-labeled Aβ

Although amyloid β (Aβ) is a critical player in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, there is currently little Information on the rate and extent of formation of oligomers that lead to the presence of Aβ fibrils observed in amyloid plaques. Here we describe a unique method to monitor the full time course of Aβ aggregation. In this method, Aβ is labeled with tetramethylrhodamine at a lysine residue on the N-terminal end. During aggregation, the fluorescence is quenched in a time-dependent manner in three distinct phases: an early oligomerization phase, an intermediate phase, and a growth phase. The oligomerization phase can be characterized as a monomer-dimer-trimer process for which we have determined the rate and equilibrium constants. The rate constants differ markedly between Aβ1–42 and Aβ1–40, with Aβ1–42 showing a greater oligomerization propensity. The intermediate phase reflects slow clustering and reorganization of the oligomers, whereas the growth phase ultimately results in the formation of fibrillar material. The data are consistent with a conformational change being an important rate-limiting step in the overall aggregation process. The rates of all phases are highly sensitive to temperature and pH, with the pH-dependent data indicating important roles for lysine and histidine residues. From the temperature-dependent data, activation energies of oligomerization and fibrillization are estimated to be 5.5 and 12.1 kCal/mol, respectively. The methodologies presented here are simple and can be applied to other amyloidogenic peptides or proteins.
Characteristics of three phages infectious for psychrophilic fishery isolates of Pseudomonas putrefaciens.

Three phages capable of infecting at 2 C strains ofPseudomonas putrefaciens from fish were isolated and characterized. Two phages were extremely sensitive to 55 C. DNA base composition of the three phages, based on Tm measurements, were 36.4, 40.0 and 48.8% G+C. Only one phage plaqued at a lower efficiency in the presence of citrate, none were inhibited by indole, while the plating efficiency of all three was reduced by oxalate. One phage was found to be obligately psychrophilic on its original propagating host and was unable to plaque at 20 C even though the host grew well up to 27 C.
Quantitative FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) Analysis for SENP1 Protease Kinetics Determination

Reversible posttranslational modifications of proteins with ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubls) are widely used to dynamically regulate protein activity and have diverse roles in many biological processes. For example, SUMO covalently modifies a large number or proteins with important roles in many cellular processes, including cell-cycle regulation, cell survival and death, DNA damage response, and stress response 1-5. SENP, as SUMO-specific protease, functions as an endopeptidase in the maturation of SUMO precursors or as an isopeptidase to remove SUMO from its target proteins and refresh the SUMOylation cycle (1,3,6,7). The catalytic efficiency or specificity of an enzyme is best characterized by the ratio of the kinetic constants, kcat/KM. In several studies, the kinetic parameters of SUMO-SENP pairs have been determined by various methods, including polyacrylamide gel-based western-blot, radioactive-labeled substrate, fluorescent compound or protein labeled substrate (8-13). However, the polyacrylamide-gel-based techniques, which used the "native" proteins but are laborious and technically demanding, that do not readily lend themselves to detailed quantitative analysis. The obtained kcat/KM from studies using tetrapeptides or proteins with an ACC (7-amino-4-carbamoylmetylcoumarin) or AMC (7-amino-4-methylcoumarin) fluorophore were either up to two orders of magnitude lower than the natural substrates or cannot clearly differentiate the iso- and endopeptidase activities of SENPs. Recently, FRET-based protease assays were used to study the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) or SENPs with the FRET pair of cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) (9,10,14,15). The ratio of acceptor emission to donor emission was used as the quantitative parameter for FRET signal monitor for protease activity determination. However, this method ignored signal cross-contaminations at the acceptor and donor emission wavelengths by acceptor and donor self-fluorescence and thus was not accurate. We developed a novel highly sensitive and quantitative FRET-based protease assay for determining the kinetic parameters of pre-SUMO1 maturation by SENP1. An engineered FRET pair CyPet and YPet with significantly improved FRET efficiency and fluorescence quantum yield, were used to generate the CyPet-(pre-SUMO1)-YPet substrate (16). We differentiated and quantified absolute fluorescence signals contributed by the donor and acceptor and FRET at the acceptor and emission wavelengths, respectively. The value of kcat/KM was obtained as (3.2 ± 0.55) x10(7) M(-1)s(-1) of SENP1 toward pre-SUMO1, which is in agreement with general enzymatic kinetic parameters. Therefore, this methodology is valid and can be used as a general approach to characterize other proteases as well.
The Legitimacy of Opposition Parties in Democratic Political Systems: a New Use for an Old Concept:

rT HE CONCEPT of legitimacy has a long and checkered history and has been employed in a variety of ways. Like other concepts in the social sciences, it has been the subject of many definitional disputes, and no binding agreement has been reached as to its precise meaning. It has also raised a number of fundamental questions, for which satisfactory answers are still being sought. Some of these questions are: (1) how is legitimacy to be distinguished from such related concepts as compliance and support? (2) how may legitimacy be measured and subjected to comparative treatment? (3) to what institutions and actors does the concept of legitimacy apply? and (4) from what donors is legitimacy being solicited? A major difficulty with regard to analyzing the nature of legitimacy stems from the problem of boundary delineation. Voluntary compliance with a regime's commands has been considered to be one of the hallmarks of legitimacy. Yet, it is clear that if a policy directive is advantageous to one's interests voluntary compliance may take place even though one regards the regime that has issued the directive as illegitimate. Therefore, legitimacy has to be distinguished somewhat from compliance, however voluntary (Eckstein 1971: 50-65; Gurr and McClelland 1971: 30, 33). The even more difficult task of distinguishing legitimacy from support is clearly recognized by Easton, who sees legitimacy as an expression, not of specific support (i.e., support for incumbents, policies, and performance), but of diffuse support (i.e., support for the community or regime). The person who gives diffuse suport to a regime envisages that regime as conforming to his/her own sense of what is morally appropriate (Easton 1975: 436-37, 447, 450-51). This raises another problem frequently encountered in considering legitimacy: the selection of appropriate standards of measurement and of suitable indicators by means of which those standards may be applied to specific cases. It has become evident that legitimacy is not a nominal variable like the Chinese "mandate of heaven" which either exists or does not exist. Instead, it is present to varying degrees in various regimes. Moreover, the supply of legitimacy possessed by any given regime or government tends to fluctuate over time. The fluid and elusive character of
NASA Computational Case Study, Hyperspectral Data Processing: Cryospheric Change Detection

This case study shows how remotely sensed hyperspectral data of NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite are processed to detect features such as ice, water, and snow on Earth.
Autocrine and paracrine actions of breast tumor aromatase. A three-dimensional cell culture study involving aromatase transfected MCF-7 and T-47D cells

Abstract Stable aromatase-expressing MCF-7 and T-47D cell lines (i.e. MCF-7aro and T-47Daro) have been prepared by aromatase cDNA transfection and G418 (neomycin) selection. MCF-7aro was further subjected to a clonal purification. Aromatase activity in the transfected MCF-7 and T-47D cell lines was determined to be 73 ± 6 pmol/mg/h and 48 ± 4 pmol/mg/h, respectively. It is thought that these cell lines express aromatase in a stable manner, as demonstrated by a steady expression of the enzyme during culture in the absence of G418. The growth of these cells could be stimulated by androgens (1–10 nM) as demonstrated through a spheroid culture method. The androgen-stimulated growth could be suppressed by 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (4-OHA) (0.01–0.1 mM) or tamoxifen (50 nM-1 μM). In order to test the hypothesis that tumor aromatase can affect breast tumor growth in a paracrine manner, we have carried out cell culture experiments by co-culturing MCF-7 cells with either MCF-7aro or T-47Daro cells. Testosterone (1 nM) increased cell growth to a similar degree for MCF-7/MCF-7aro co-culture (0.75 × 10 6 cells each type) as with MCF-7aro only (2- to 3-fold). In addition, the enzyme activities remained unchanged for MCF-7/MCF-7aro co-culture samples with and without androgen treatment, indicating that estrogen produced by transfected cells can also stimulate the growth of untransfected cells. The androgen response could be inhibited by an addition of 4-OHA (0.01–0.1 mM). For MCF-7/T-47Daro co-culture experiments, a clear induction of cell growth by androgen was observed, and the level of the increase was similar to that on T-47Daro only. However, for either culture with T-47D only or with MCF-7/T-47Daro co-culture, the aromatase activity was found to increase significantly after testosterone treatment. T-47Daro cells were not subjected to a clonal purification, and it is therefore thought that the androgen treatment may selectively stimulate the growth of high aromatase-expressing T-47Daro cells. These results indicate that estrogen synthesized by tumor aromatase can stimulate breast tumor growth in both an autocrine and a paracrine manner
Sex Differences in Coronary Heart Disease Why Are Women So Superior? The 1995 Ancel Keys Lecture

It was a great privilege to be asked to give the 1995 Ancel Keys lecture, following five very distinguished colleagues [Geoffrey Rose, Henry Blackburn, Jeremiah Stamler, Fred Epstein, and William Kannel] and honoring Ancel Keys. It is difficult to imagine how little we would know about CHD without their contributions. The subject of my lecture, “Why are women so superior with regard to coronary heart disease?,” is surely one of the most interesting of all epidemiological questions. My intention is to illustrate methodological problems and review old and new provocative results, making inferences from a variety of disciplines. My focus is on the origin of the gender gap, not postmenopausal estrogen therapy. There will be no conclusions, only reconstruction. My lecture is outlined in Fig 1⇓. Figure 1. Lecture outline. ### Unhealthy Behaviors For years it was thought that the excess male mortality was explained by unhealthy behaviors that were more socially acceptable for men than women. These behaviors might include cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol use, eating more red meat and fewer fruits and vegetables, and exposure to physical hazards. The usual view was that differences in behavior were more important determinants of the higher male mortality than inherent sex differences in physiology.1 More recently, studies adjusting for unhealthy behaviors show that they contribute to but do not fully explain the increased risk of CHD in men.2 ### Work Outside the Home It was also a popular premise that men were harmed by the stresses of the workplace; women were apparently protected by being at home relaxing with the children and the washing up. As Bernard notes, “. . . the husband went forth each day to grapple with the cruel cold world and the wife remained in the ‘heart’ of the home, generating sweetness and light to bind the wounds inflicted on the husband and …
Jerusalem artichoke growth, development, and field storage. II. Carbon and nutrient element allocation and redistribution

Abstract Jerusalem artichokes store carbon (C) predominately in the form of inulin, a functional food of increasing interest due to its dietary health benefits for humans and calorie replacement potential in processed foods. To better understand the developmental and agronomic requirements of this crop, the allocation of C and nutrient elements into individual plant parts (stems, leaves, stolons, tubers, ‘seed’ tuber, and roots) was monitored at 2‐week intervals throughout the entire growth cycle of the cultivar ‘Sunchoke’ grown on a Cecil sandy clay loam. Accumulation patterns of C and nutrient elements in individual plant parts were generally in accordance to the pattern of dry matter accumulation, though concentration patterns differed. Overall, nutrient element levels in vegetative structures decreased with the onset of rapid tuber development. Leaves had the highest nutrient levels, except iron (Fe) and sodium (Na). The concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), and co...
The Collection 6 MODIS aerosol products over land and ocean

Abstract. The twin Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors have been flying on Terra since 2000 and Aqua since 2002, creating an extensive data set of global Earth observations. Here, we introduce the Collection 6 (C6) algorithm to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol size parameters from MODIS-observed spectral reflectance. While not a major overhaul from the previous Collection 5 (C5) version, there are enough changes that there are significant impacts to the products and their interpretation. The C6 aerosol data set will be created from three separate retrieval algorithms that operate over different surface types. These are the two "Dark Target" (DT) algorithms for retrieving (1) over ocean (dark in visible and longer wavelengths) and (2) over vegetated/dark-soiled land (dark in the visible), plus the "Deep Blue" (DB) algorithm developed originally for retrieving (3) over desert/arid land (bright in the visible). Here, we focus on DT-ocean and DT-land (#1 and #2). We have updated assumptions for central wavelengths, Rayleigh optical depths and gas (H2O, O3, CO2, etc.) absorption corrections, while relaxing the solar zenith angle limit (up to ≤ 84°) to increase poleward coverage. For DT-land, we have updated the cloud mask to allow heavy smoke retrievals, fine-tuned the assignments for aerosol type as function of season/location, corrected bugs in the Quality Assurance (QA) logic, and added diagnostic parameters such topographic altitude. For DT-ocean, improvements include a revised cloud mask for thin-cirrus detection, inclusion of wind speed dependence on the surface reflectance, updates to logic of QA Confidence flag (QAC) assignment, and additions of important diagnostic information. At the same time, we quantified how "upstream" changes to instrument calibration, land/sea masking and cloud masking will also impact the statistics of global AOD, and affect Terra and Aqua differently. For Aqua, all changes will result in reduced global AOD (by 0.02) over ocean and increased AOD (by 0.02) over land, along with changes in spatial coverage. We compared preliminary data to surface-based sun photometer data, and show that C6 should improve upon C5. C6 will include a merged DT/DB product over semi-arid land surfaces for reduced-gap coverage and better visualization, and new information about clouds in the aerosol field. Responding to the needs of the air quality community, in addition to the standard 10 km product, C6 will include a global (DT-land and DT-ocean) aerosol product at 3 km resolution.
Model Predictive Control of a Freeway Network With Capacity Drops

In this paper, we present a model predictive controller to reduce road traffic congestion in freeway networks. The model predictive controller regulates traffic in the freeway through the use of ramp metering and variable speed limits. The controller uses a Link-Node Cell transmission model (LN-CTM) to represent freeway dynamics. We modify the standard LN-CTM to account for the capacity drop phenomenon, which is observed as a discontinuous decrease in flow throughput when traffic density exceeds a critical value. The resulting optimal control problem with a modified model, which accounts for the capacity flow phenomenon, is non-convex. We present heuristic restrictions on the solution trajectories, which allow us to solve the problem efficiently. This enables us to obtain the solution of the actual optimal control problem by solving a sequence of relaxed linear programs. We describe the procedure which can be used to map the optimal solution of this relaxed problem to the solution of the actual optimal control problem. Finally, we demonstrate the application of the model predictive controller on a simulated example, and discuss the characteristics of the controller.
Stiff lattices with zero thermal expansion

Lattice microstructures are presented with zero coefficient of thermal expansion. These are made of positive expansion materials. The behavior is primarily stretch dominated, resulting in favorable stiffness. The behavior of these lattices is compared with that of triangular and hexagonal honeycombs in a modulus–density map. These lattices do not undergo thermal buckling, in contrast to designs based on sublattices.
Research Advances in Pick's Disease: A New Biomarker Candidate

Copyright: © 2013 Hu W, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The eponym Pick’s disease (PiD) was named after Arnold Pick, a German neurologist, who first described this rare neurodegenerative disease in 1892 [1]. Current knowledge indicates that PiD is a member of a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders with similar or related histopathologic and clinical features known as frontotemporal lobal degeneration or dementia (FTD) [2,3]. FTD may also be called Pick complex [3] including PiD, primary progressive aphasia, semantic dementia, FTD with parkinsonism (FTDP) linked with chromosome-17, FTD with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTDALS) linked to a newly identified gene named as C9ORF72 in the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 [4], corticobasal degeneration (CBD) [5], and others [2,3]. FTD is the first or second most common cause of dementia among individuals younger than 60 years and the fourth most common cause of dementia in the USA. It has been noted that the incidence rates of FTD in 100,000 were 2.2 for ages 40 to 49, 3.3 for ages 50 to 59, and 8.9 for ages 60 to 69 [6], and range between 4% and 20% within dementia and 12% before the age of 65 [7]. Autopsy findings showed the occurrence between 2% and 20% [7-9]. Prevalence was estimated as 15 per 100,000 (8.4 to 27.0) in the 45to 64-year-old population [10,11]. PiD affects in individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 years old but can be seen individuals between 20 to 80 years old. A striking male preponderance (14:3) has been noted [11].