cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tn1000-mediated insertion mutagenesis of the histidine utilization (hut) gene cluster from Klebsiella aerogenes: genetic analysis of hut and unusual target specificity of Tn1000.

Abstract The histidine utilization (hut) genes from Klebsiella aerogenes were cloned in both orientations into the HindIII site of plasmid pBR325, and the two resulting plasmids, pCB120 and pCB121, were subjected to mutagenesis with Tn1000. The insertion sites of Tn1000 into pCB121 were evenly distributed throughout the plasmid, but the insertion sites into pCB120 were not. There was a large excess of Tn1000 insertions in the "plus" or gamma delta orientation in a small, ca. 3.5-kilobase region of the plasmid. Genetic analysis of the Tn1000 insertions in pCB120 and pCB121 showed that the hutUH genes form an operon transcribed from hutU and that the hutC gene (encoding the hut-specific repressor) is independently transcribed from its own promoter. The hutIG cluster appears not to form an operon. Curiously, insertions in hutI gave two different phenotypes in complementation tests against hutG504, suggesting either that hutI contains two functionally distinct domains or that there may be another undefined locus within the hut cluster. The set of Tn1000 insertions allowed an assignment of the gene boundaries within the hut cluster, and minicell analysis of the polypeptides expressed from plasmids carrying insertions in the hut genes showed that the hutI, hutG, hutU, and hutH genes encode polypeptides of 43, 33, 57, and 54 kilodaltons, respectively.
Prenatal In Vivo Bulbourethral Gland Development Is Not Affected by Prostaglandin E2 Inhibition

Investigation of bulbourethral gland (BUG) development is useful to study genitourinary (GU) tract growth and differentiation. Understanding GU tract growth and differentiation is relevant to testing the hypothesis that the initial lesion of human benign prostatic hyperplasia involves focal re-expression of inductive processes in the periurethral region of the prostatic transitional zone. Prostaglandins play a role in regulating growth and morphogenesis of different organ systems. Previous reports have proposed that prostaglandin E 2 (PgE 2 ) mediates the masculinizing effects of testosterone in the developing neonatal male GU tract. We have previously shown that androgens lower rather than raise BUG PgE 2 levels. Further studies led us to conclude that PgE 2 does not play a major role in postnatal BUG growth and morphogenesis in vitro. In order to investigate the possible role of PgE 2 in prenatal BUG development, indomethacin (INDO, 1.0 mg/kg- day, subcutaneously) was administered to pregnant BALB/c mice on gestational days 12-18. Control pregnant mice were either untreated or injected with dimethylsulfoxide vehicle. Anogenital distances were measured within 12 hours after birth in male and female oHspring on day 19. In male neonatal mice, BUGs were examined histologically and PgE 2 levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in BUGs and whole genital tracts. We observed no significant morphological differences in INDO-exposed BUGs compared to controls. No significant differences in mean anogenital distances of INDO- exposed male offspring or controls were detected. Mean anogenital distances of female offspring were similar in the three respective groups. Mean BUG PgE 2 levels in INDO-exposed neonates were significantly lower (P<0.05) than in untreated neonates. Significant (P<0.05) PGE 2 inhibition by prenatal INDO treatment was also detected in both female and male GU tracts, confirming effective blockade of PgE 2 production by INDO. We conclude that although INDO effectively inhibits PgE 2 production, it has no eHect on antenatal BUG development. Contrary to previous reports, we were unable to detect significant decreases in anogenital distances of INDO-exposed neonatal males. Further understanding of the role of steroid hormones and prostaglandin metabolism using in vitro and in vivo animal models such as the BUG system may yield insight into human developmental and proliferative GU tract disorders. J Androl 1995;IB:5-11
Lensless Imaging Using Table-Top Soft X-Ray Lasers and High Harmonics Sources Reaching 70 nm Resolution

A very promising high resolution imaging technique currently under rapid development is x-ray diffraction microscopy (or lensless imaging), in which a coherent x-ray diffraction pattern of a non-crystalline specimen is measured. In this technique, a sample is illuminated by coherent light, and the detailed scatter pattern is sampled at a rate higher than the Nyquist frequency. A computerized, iterative phase-retrival algorithm replaces the imaging optics, thus making it possible to reconstruct the image of the sample. Here we demonstrate soft x-ray diffraction microscopy with two complementary coherent soft x-ray sources- a capillary discharge soft x-ray laser at 47 nm [1] and a high harmonic generation source at 29 nm [2]. By using novel field curvature correction in the image reconstruction at high numerical aperture, we retrieve images with resolution as los was 70 nm using set-ups that fit on a 4′x8′ optical table- including both the soft x-ray source and the lensless microscope.
Autocoid binding to serum proteins: Interaction of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) with human serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG)

Abstract Platelet activating factor (PAF; 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is a potent bioactive phospholipid released from platelets, neutrophils, basophils and macrophages that has been proposed as a mediator of anaphylaxis, acute lung injury and other disorders. Specific factors which stabilize PAF and/or regulate PAF activity in body fluids are largely unknown. As part of a general autocoid-serum protein binding screen, the platelet activating factor-alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (PAF-AAG) interaction was indirectly characterized by examining the ability of PAF to displace propranolol from AAG. Both PAF and its deacetylated metabolite (lyso-PAF), at 20 μM, doubled the fraction unbound of propranolol (0.4 μm) from purified human AAG (20 μM). None of the other autocoids that were studied (epinephrine, serotonin, spermidine, putrescine, leu-enkephalin or phenethylamine) exhibited any propranolol displacement activity. Scatchard analysis indicated that PAF competitively displaced propranolol from AAG, causing the apparent affinity constant for propranolol-AAG to decrease from 1.8 × 105 M to 6.9 × 104 M. PAF behaved qualitatively like chlorpromazine (a documented inhibitor of propranolol binding to AAG), but PAF was less effective at displacing propranolol. The apparent binding to AAG may help stabilize and transport extracellular PAF. Furthermore, the interaction of PAF and AAG suggests that serum AAG, which fluctuates in a number of diseases, may function to regulate PAF activity during acute and chronic disease states.
Hormone and Drug-Mediated Modulation of Glucose Metabolism in a Microscale Model of the Human Liver

Due to its central role in glucose homeostasis, the liver is an important target for drug development efforts for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Significant differences across species in liver metabolism necessitate supplementation of animal data with assays designed to assess human-relevant responses. However, isolated primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) display a rapid decline in phenotypic functions in conventional monolayer formats. Cocultivation of PHHs with specific stromal cells, especially in micropatterned configurations, can stabilize some liver functions for ~4 weeks in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether coculture approaches can stabilize glucose metabolism that can be modulated with hormones in PHHs. Thus, in this study, we compared commonly employed conventional culture formats and previously developed micropatterned cocultures (MPCCs) of cryopreserved PHHs and stromal fibroblasts for mRNA expression of key glucose metabolism genes (i.e., phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-1 [PCK1]) and sensitivity of gluconeogenesis to prototypical hormones, insulin and glucagon. We found that only MPCCs displayed high expression of all transcripts tested for at least 2 weeks and robust gluconeogenesis with responsiveness to hormones for at least 3 weeks in vitro. Furthermore, MPCCs displayed glycogen storage and lysis, which could be modulated with hormones under the appropriate feeding and fasting states, respectively. Finally, we utilized MPCCs in proof-of-concept experiments where we tested gluconeogenesis inhibitors and evaluated the effects of stimulation with high levels of glucose as in T2DM. Gluconeogenesis in MPCCs was decreased after stimulation with drugs (i.e., metformin) and the PHHs accumulated significant amount of lipids following incubation with excess glucose (i.e., 340% in 50 mM glucose relative to physiologic 5 mM glucose controls). In conclusion, MPCCs provide a platform to study glucose metabolism and hormonal responsiveness in cryopreserved PHHs from multiple donors for several weeks in vitro. This model is also useful to study the effects of drugs and overnutrition for applications in T2DM.
An Economic Theory of the Second Moments of Disturbances of Behavioral Equations

Applied econometricians have known for a long time that the smooth curves in economics texts which pretend to be the geometric representations of behavioral equations present an over-simplified picture of the real world. It almost never occurs that data fit a simple theoretical relation exactly, and an explicit method of interpreting and handling the deviations from such relations is therefore needed. In the early days of econometrics it was frequently assumed that observational errors were the only or at least the main cause of the occurrence of deviations, but this idea was later rejected on the ground that even when the data are perfect, deviations will continue to be found because there are very few economic agents who react exactly according to some simple mathematical law. The “neglected factors” entered into the picture; their combined influence came to be regarded as a random disturbance with zero mean and unknown variance.
Muon colliders-ionization cooling and solenoids

For a muon collider, to obtain the needed luminosity, the phase space volume must be greatly reduced within the muon life time. The ionization cooling is the preferred method used to compress the phase space and reduce the emittance to obtain high luminosity muon beams. Alternating solenoid lattices has been proposed for muon colliders, where the emittance are large. We present an overview, discuss formalism, transfer maps for solenoid magnets and beam dynamics.
A Survey of Library Support for Formal Undergraduate Research Programs

Undergraduate research is defined by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) as “an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.” This study serves as a snapshot of current library practices in relation to formal undergraduate research programs and identifies common elements of library support among different types of institutions. The results of this research fill a gap in both the library and education literature, provide critical background data for libraries wishing to build support for undergraduate research programs, and suggest a foundation for further research into an underexplored area.
Conservation Laws and Energy-Release Rates

New path-independent integrals recently discovered by Knowles and Sternberg are related to energy-release rates associated with cavity or crack rotation and expansion. Complex-variable forms are presented for the conservation laws in the cases of linear, isotropic, plane elasticity. A special point concerning plastic stress distributions around cracks is discussed briefly.
The expanding role of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) in toxicology

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) have found wide use in correlating the bioactivity of all kinds of organic compounds with all kinds of biological entities. So many QSAR have been published that it is time for a new phase of study, that of comparative QSAR. From our current database of about 6000 QSAR illustrative examples are discussed.
Population paleoecology and comparative taphonomy of two edrioasteroid (echinodermata) pavements: Upper ordovician of kentucky and Ohio

Two strophomenid brachiopod shell pavements bearing abundant edrioasteroid epizoans occur stratigraphically within the top 4.5 m of the Corryville Formation (Upper Ordovician, Maysvillian) in Boone County, Kentucky, and Hamilton County, Ohio. Both assemblages are dominated by Isorophus cincinnatiensis and contain Carneyella pilea and Streptaster vorticellatus as lesser constituents. Pedicle exterior valves of Rafinesquina “alternata”; are the preferred substratum for all species at both sites, but the Kentucky population occurs mainly on unabraded, articulated shells and the Ohio population occupies abraded, disarticulated shells. The Kentucky population includes a greater size range of Isorophus (at least three cohorts) than the Ohio population (at least two cohorts), suggesting a greater time span of colonization for the Kentucky site. Host shells from Kentucky have anterior‐posterior axes strongly aligned NE‐SW whereas the Ohio shells are unoriented. Isorophus in Kentucky show a preference for the ante...
Off-grid compressive sensing through-the-wall radar imaging

Compressive sensing techniques have been widely used to decrease the data acquisition time while generating high-resolution images due to the sparsity of the target space in through-the-wall radar imaging application. The CS-based imaging techniques mainly discretize the continuous target space into grid points and generate a dictionary of model data to form an optimization problem. The choice of the grid for generating the sparsity inducing basis or dictionary is a central point of CS and sparse approximation. However, good sparse recovery performance is based on the assumption that the targets are positioned at the pre-discretized grid locations; otherwise, the performance would significantly degrade. In this paper, the first-order approximation to estimate the targets' off-grid shifts and the joint sparse recovery method are used for reducing the effect of the grid to locate the off-grid target. Numerical examples demonstrate the robust results with lower localization errors using the joint sparse recovery method are obtained for off-grid targets compared to standard sparse reconstruction techniques.
Stimulation of immune response in hybrid mice following Rauscher virus infection.

The effect of Rauscher leukemia virus injection on the splenic plaque former cells (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was measured in a mouse strain sensitive to the virus (SJL/J), one resistant to the virus (C57B1/10), and their F/sub 1/ hybrid (SJL/JxC57B1/10)F/sub 1/. In contrast to previous findings of a suppressive effect of Friend virus on PFC response in another hybrid of different resistant and sensitive strains, a significant immunostimulation was seen. Immunostimulation was also seen in the resistant parent when the PFC response level was measured 12 days or later after RLV infection, while the PFC response of the sensitive parent was nearly completely suppressed. Evaluation of the effect of RLV on the splenic masses of the three strains indicated a mild transient splenomegaly in the hybrid; a pronounced splenomegaly in the sensitive parent; and no effect on the resistant strain. Comparison of the data suggests that the change in splenic PFC number in the hybrid following RLV infection occurs as a function partially independent of changes in the total splenic mass.
Solution structure of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) nsp3a and determinants of the interaction with MHV nucleocapsid (N) protein

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are positive-sense, single-stranded, enveloped RNA viruses that infect a variety of vertebrate hosts. The CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein contains two structurally independent RNA binding domains, designated the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the dimeric C-terminal domain (CTD), joined by a charged linker region rich in serine and arginine residues (SR-rich linker). An important goal in unraveling N function is to molecularly characterize N-protein interactions. Recent genetic evidence suggests that N interacts with nsp3a, a component of the viral replicase. Here we present the solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) nsp3a and show, using isothermal titration calorimetry, that MHV N219, an N construct that extends into the SR-rich linker (residues 60 to 219), binds cognate nsp3a with high affinity (equilibrium association constant [K(a)], [1.4 ± 0.3] × 10(6) M(-1)). In contrast, neither N197, an N construct containing only the folded NTD (residues 60 to 197), nor the CTD dimer (residues 260 to 380) binds nsp3a with detectable affinity. This indicates that the key nsp3a binding determinants localize to the SR-rich linker, a finding consistent with those of reverse genetics studies. NMR chemical shift perturbation analysis reveals that the N-terminal region of an MHV N SR-rich linker peptide (residues 198 to 230) binds to the acidic face of MHV nsp3a containing the acidic α2 helix with an affinity (expressed as K(a)) of 8.1 × 10(3) M(-1). These studies reveal that the SR-rich linker of MHV N is necessary but not sufficient to maintain this high-affinity binding to N.
Induction of the lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor in rat ovary during luteinization

Molecular analysis of the induction of the lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor during the process of luteinization of the rat ovary was performed. The appearance of receptor binding activity and an immunological analysis of the receptor using Triton solubilized membrane proteins show little receptor present in luteal tissue through day 3 subsequent to hCG treatment, with some in day 4, and a marked increase by day 5. A similar pattern was found in the analysis of RNA hybridizing to several probes derived from the published cDNA sequence suggesting that receptor induction occurs primarily at the level of transcription.
Magnetic Induction Heating of Ferromagnetic Implants for Inducing Localized Hyperthermia in Deep-Seated Tumors

A variable frequency magnetic induction heating system has been developed for localized hyperthermic treatment of deep-seated tumors via power deposition into arrays of 1-2 mm diameter ferromagnetic cylindrical implants. The frequency dependence of implant heating compared to that induced directly into tissues indicates use of frequencies below 4 MHz. Above 10 MHz, tissues are heated directly from the induced eddy currents. Thermographic analyses of temperature distributions induced in tissues equivalent phantom models and in exposed animal tissues in vivo have been performed for several implant materials and array configurations. Results of the thermal dosimetry show that the majority of tissue contained within multiimplant arrays can be heated such that the temperature rises to 55-70 percent of the implant temperature differential. The resulting tissue temperature distribution is dependent on local blood flow and array characteristics, but not significantly on tissue electrical properties. Operating the system at 1.9. MHz, we demonstrate that it is possible to raise an implanted volume to therapeutic temperatures safely, in less than 10 min, with little increase in temperature outside the array boundaries.
Effects of age on organization and recall of two sets of stimuli

Short-term recall of sequences of 8 letters was measured for 12 young and 12 aged Ss in a control condition with a single stimulus set and three experimental conditions which differed in arrangement of two sets of color-coded stimuli. The results indicated that there were no differences in performance for the stimuli to be recalled first, while both age and conditions were significant effects for the stimulus set to be recalled second.
Histochemical demonstration of (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase activity of synaptosomes and synaptosomal membranes.

Abstract Synaptosomes retain many of the biochemical and physiological characteristics of intact nerve terminations. Among the most important of these properties is their high specific activity of (Na + + K + )-activated ATPase. A histochemical method for demonstrating (Na + + K + )-activated ATPase activity in frozen sections of mammalian tissue has recently been described; the present study was therefore performed to determine whether synaptosomal ATPase activity could also be demonstrated by this procedure. Synaptosomes and synaptosomal subfractions (synaptosomal membranes, vesicles and mitochondria) were prepared from homogenates of rat brain. One portion of these preparations was analyzed quantitatively for ATPase activity and the other was smeared on a mciroscope slide and stained histochemically. Quantitative activity was high in synaptosomes and synaptosomal membranes and low in the synaptosomal vesicles and mitochondria. The synaptosomes and synaptosomal membranes stained intensely by the histochemical procedure whereas the synaptosomal vesicles and mitochondria did not. This result provides further evidence that the histochemical method is specific for localizing the activity of this enzyme and provides a technique for visualizing these submicroscopic particles by light microscopy.
Proteomic identification of carbonylated proteins and their oxidation sites.

Excessive oxidative stress leaves a protein carbonylation fingerprint in biological systems. Carbonylation is an irreversible post-translational modification (PTM) that often leads to the loss of protein function and can be a component of multiple diseases. Protein carbonyl groups can be generated directly (by amino acids oxidation and the α-amidation pathway) or indirectly by forming adducts with lipid peroxidation products or glycation and advanced glycation end-products. Studies of oxidative stress are complicated by the low concentration of oxidation products and a wide array of routes by which proteins are carbonylated. The development of new selection and enrichment techniques coupled with advances in mass spectrometry are allowing the identification of hundreds of new carbonylated protein products from a broad range of proteins located at many sites in biological systems. The focus of this review is on the use of proteomics tools and methods to identify oxidized proteins along with specific sites o...
Gambling with a loser. A history of the Las Vegas PRT project

Abstract In 1971 the Navada State legislature passed a public trust law to permit financing of a “monorail” system for Las Vegas. In December of that year, Oklahoma-based financier A. J. Kavanaugh was awarded a contract by the City of Las Vegas and Clark County to execute a feasibility study of a monorail and, if feasible, to build the system. From December 1971 to December 1974, when the project was finally abandoned, a series of events transpired, alternately advancing and slowing the project. Involved were local government officials, transportation consultants, civic groups, financiers and aerospace manufacturing firms. This paper compiles a history of the project derived from more than 90 newspaper articles and planning documents, supplemented by conversations with individuals close to the project. It is shown that problems in planning, coordination and demand estimation were the primary causes for the defeat of the system. Government officials, in the face of uncertain information, took the prudent course and dropped the project. In addition, the Watergate scandal touched the project, and made decision-makers and the public wary of private sector involvement in the financing of the project.
Value of 111indium chloride bone marrow scanning in the differential diagnosis of blood count depression in lymphoma

In patients with Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the etiology of low peripheral blood counts is often difficult to determine. Often it is based on the results of a "random" bone marrow biopsy and/or aspirate, plus evaluation of circulating peripheral blood elements. However, these tests may be misleading. The present study evaluates the usefulness of 111Indium chloride bone marrow scanning in conjunction with marrow biopsies in distinguishing intrinsic from extrinsic causes for low peripheral blood counts. Thirty consecutive patients with Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, presenting with low peripheral blood counts and without any form of antineoplastic treatment for at least 5 weeks, were analyzed. Scan ratings were felt to be clinically accurate in 27 of the 30 patients analyzed (90%). In 18 patients (60%), the scan provided information which was not provided by any other standard test. 111Indium chloride scanning in conjunction with a marrow biopsy appears to be a useful, accurate means of evaluating bone marrow function in patients with depressed peripheral blood counts.
CFD Modeling of Pressure Coefficients for a Natural Ventilation Study in an Experimental Low Rise Building

Mean wind pressure coefficient (Cp) is one of the major input data for natural ventilation study using building energy simulation approach. Due to their importance, they need to be accurately determined. In current engineering practice, tables and analytical Cp models only give mostly averaged results for simpler models and configurations. Considering the limitation of tables and analytical models, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) could provide a means for an accurate and detailed assessment of Cp. In this paper, we make use of a relatively high resolution, detailed experiments done at Florida Intentional University to validate a CFD modeling of the pressure coefficients Cp. The results show that existing CFD model has a good agreement with experimental results and gives important information of distribution of Cp values over the surface. The local values of the Cp are investigated. In addition, the CFD derived Cp and discharge coefficient (Cd) values are utilized in semi-analytical ventilation models in order to get a more accurate value of ventilation rates.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
California's ammonia emissions have been drastically underestimated

In California, Los Angeles and the Central Valley often have atmospheric concentrations of particulate matter that exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's health guidelines. In the air, chemical reactions between ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides can create inorganic aerosols like ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. With their small particle sizes, these compounds can be dangerous to breathe, particularly for those with respiratory problems.
Physiological changes in red spruce seedlings during a simulated winter thaw

We evaluated net photosynthesis, respiration, leaf conductance, xylem pressure potential (XPP) and cold hardiness in red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) seedlings exposed to either a continuous thaw (CT) or a daytime thaw with freezing nights (FN) for 8 days during mid-winter. Physiological differences between CT and FN seedlings were evident for all measured parameters. However, the temporal expression of treatment differences varied among parameters. When compared to FN seedlings, CT seedlings had higher rates of respiration following 24 h of treatment, and a higher net photosynthetic rate, leaf conductance and XPP after 48 h of treatment. The CT seedlings were significantly less cold tolerant than the FN seedlings following 4 days of thaw, whereas FN seedlings did not deharden over the 8 days of treatment. Examination of temporal trends among thaw-associated changes in physiology suggested that, although greater carbon exchange occurred as stomatal conductance increased, the transition from negative to positive net photosynthesis was not the result of increases in conductance, but may have been associated with thaw-induced increases in XPP. Because thaw-associated changes in gas exchange and cold hardiness were offset in time, we conclude that, if changes in these processes are physiologically linked, the linkage is indirect.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW ETHYLENEDIAMINE AND 1,1-BIS(AMINOMETHYL)CYCLOHEXANEPLATINUM(II) COMPLEXES CONTAINING DISUBSTITUTED SULFIDE AS A LEAVING GROUP

Abstract A series of cationic platinum(II) complexes of the type [Pt(en)(R′R″S)Cl]NO3 and [Pt(BAMCH)(R′R″S)Cl]NO3 (where en = ethylenediamine; BAMCH = 1,1-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane; and R′R″S = dimethylsulfide, diethysulfide, dipropylsulfide, diisopropylsulfide, diphenylsulfide, dibenzylsulfide, thioanisole, and methyl-p-tolylsulfide) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, and 195Pt nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques.
Chlorhexidine gluconate versus povidone iodine at cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial

AbstractBackground/Aims: To compare the prevalence of positive bacterial cultures at the cesarean delivery (CD) incision site in patients with pre-operative application of chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) versus povidone iodine (PI).Methods: Women undergoing a scheduled CD at ≥36 gestational weeks were randomly assigned to receive CG or PI. A swab of the incision site was performed at 3 min after disinfectant application and at 18 post-operative hours, and the prevalence of cultures with any detected bacterial growth was compared for the two groups.Results: Of the 60 participants, 33 (55.0%) were in the PI group. There were no differences detected at 3 min, with 9.1% positive in the PI group versus 0% positive in the CG group (p = 0.2499). However, at 18 h, women in the PI group were seven times more likely than women in the CG group to have a positive culture (16/33 [48.5%] versus 3/27 [11.1%], OR = 7.53 [95% CI 1.67–38.83], p = 0.0023). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated similar results: OR = 7.3...
PION PRODUCTION IN NEUTRINO-NUCLEON COLLISIONS

An evaluation of the scattering amplitude for pion production in neutrino-nucleon collisions is made assuming that the $\frac{3}{2}\ensuremath{-}\frac{3}{2}$ $\ensuremath{\pi}$-nucleon resonance dominates the dispersion integrals. No assumption is made concerning nucleon recoil. The vector part of the amplitude is related to the isovector part of the amplitude for electroproduction of pions by use of the Feynman-Gell-Mann conserved vector current theory. An independent calculation is given for the axial vector part of the amplitude.
Summary of the characteristics of several "modern" programming languages

Some characteristics of nine recently developed or historically significant languages are discussed. Abstraction capabilities of the languages are noted in particular. Some characteristics of the languages are displayed in tabular form and others are presented in a separate discussion for each language. A hash coded string table program is written in each language.This paper is the result of a class project of a graduate seminar in programming linguistics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, led by Frank DeRemer
A flux-coordinate-splitting technique for flows with shocks and contact discontinuities

Abstract The two-dimensional gasdynamic equations are solved everywhere in the flow field except in regions surrounding the contact discontinuites. A flux-vector-splitting (FVS) technique is applied to the Euler equations so that the directions of propagation of the signals and hence the shocks in the flow can be correctly captured. The split flux equations are solved using conventional second-order-accurate finite difference methods. In the regions surrounding the contact discontinuities, the gasdynamic equations are split into a set of one-dimensional equations. These are transformed in such a way that the density does not appear explicitly in the spatial derivatives of the resultant equations, which are of the Langrangian form. The equations are then solved using second-order-accurate finite difference schemes and numerical smearing of the contact discontinuities is avoided because the dependent variables are continuous across the discontinuities. Consequently, both shocks and contact discontinuities in a two-dimensional gasdynamic flow are accurately resolved. This flux-coordinate-splitting technique is used to calculate the gasdynamic flow in a shock tube, a converging cylindrical shock and the mixing of two supersonic streams. The results are compared with exact solutions and with those deduced from proven numerical techniques. Good correlations are obtained, especially in the sharp definition of contact discontinuities. Therefore, the proposed coordinate-splitting technique improves the resolution of contact discontinuities without affecting the overall calculations of the flow field. In view of this, the coordinate-splitting technique can also be used with other shock capturing techniques besides FVS to achieve the same results.
Simplified intranuclear cascade approach to inclusive (p, π - xn) reactions near threshold

We calculate the total inclusive ($p, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{xn}$) reaction cross section for 200 MeV protons on $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$ using a simplified intranuclear cascade model in which only one particle at a time is tracked through the nucleus. Computer time is kept to a minimum by multiplying the very small $\mathrm{NN}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{NN}\ensuremath{\pi}$ probability by a weighting factor. The nucleon and pion charge exchange mechanisms contribute more than half the cross section. The predictions are sensitive to choice of energy in the $\mathrm{NN}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{NN}\ensuremath{\pi}$ input cross sections, but a reasonable choice gives cross sections in agreement with experiment. The predicted ($p, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{xn}$) cross section grows rapidly from ${T}_{\mathrm{lab}}=160$ MeV (just above threshold) to 220 MeV.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}(p, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}xn)^{210\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{At}$, $E$ near 200 MeV, calculated $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E)$, simplified intranuclear cascade model, nucleon and pion charge exchange.
Leukocyte phenotyping to stratify septic shock patients

In a recent study conducted in a cohort of 52 septic patients, Monserrat and coworkers found that profound failure of peripheral T cells to convert from a naive phenotype to an activated phenotype has positive predictive value in identifying patients who do not recover. These data support the hypothesis that failure of the innate immune system to engage the T-cell compartment contributes to sepsis mortality and provides motivation for the development and clinical evaluation of immunostimulatory therapies for patients with sepsis.
Increased expression of δCaMKII isoforms in skeletal muscle regeneration: Implications in dystrophic muscle disease

The expression of delta isoforms of calcium-calmodulin/dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) has been reported in mammalian skeletal muscle; however, their functions in this tissue are largely unknown. This study was conducted to determine if deltaCaMKII expression was altered during regeneration of skeletal muscle fibers in two distinct models. In the first model, necrosis and regeneration were induced in quadriceps of normal mice by intramuscular administration of 50% glycerol. Immunostaining and confocal microscopy revealed that deltaCaMKII expression was clearly enhanced in fibers showing centralized nuclei. The second model was the mdx mouse, which undergoes enhanced muscle necrosis and regeneration due to a mutation in the dystrophin gene. sern blot analysis of hind leg extracts from 4 to 6 week old mdx mice revealed that deltaCaMKII content was decreased when compared to age-matched control mice. This loss in delta kinase content was seen in myofibrillar and membrane fractions and was in contrast to unchanged deltaCaMKII levels in cardiac and brain extracts from dystrophic mice. Confocal microscopy of mdx quadriceps and tibialis muscle showed that deltaCaMKII expression was uniformly decreased in most fibers from dystrophic mice; however, enhanced kinase expression was observed in regenerating muscle fibers. These data support a fundamental role for deltaCaMKII in the regeneration process of muscle fibers in normal and mdx skeletal muscle and may have important implications in the reparative process following muscle death.
Parafermion statistics and quasihole excitations for the generalizations of the paired quantum Hall states

We continue the program started in cond-mat/9809384 and explain the statistics of the excitations for the generalizations of the paired states in the quantum Hall effect in terms of the parafermion statistics. We show that these excitations behave as combinations of bosons and parafermions. That generalizes the prior treatment of the paired (Pfaffian) state where the excitations behave as combinations of bosons and fermions. We explain what it means, from a quantum mechanical point of view, for a particle to be a `parafermion' rather than a boson or a fermion and work through several explicit examples. The resulting multiplets coincide exactly with the angular momentum multiplets found numerically for the $k+1$ particle interaction Hamiltonian on a sphere. We also present a proof that the wave functions found in cond-mat/9809384 are indeed the correlation functions of the parafermion conformal field theory.
Accumulation and washout of glycerol in isolated rabbit atria.

Abstract Continuously stimulated rabbit atria were equilibrated in Ringer-Locke solution, transfered to Ringer-Locke solution containing 400m m glycerol, and returned to Ringer-Locke solution. Accumulation and washout of glycerol were determined using tritium labeled glycerol. During exposure to the hypertonic media, glycerol was observed to accumulate in atria at a half time of approximately 12 min. Return of atria to Ringer-Locke solution resulted in glycerol washout at a half time of approximately 16 min. Data indicated that only about 80% of the total tissue water is accessible to glycerol, and that the remaining 20% becomes accessible to glycerol when CuSO4 is added to the hypertonic media. A permanent decrease in wet tissue weight was seen as a result of glycerol treatment.
Capturing an evader in polygonal environments with obstacles: The full visibility case

Suppose an unpredictable evader is free to move around in a polygonal environment of arbitrary complexity that is under full camera surveillance. How many pursuers, each with the same maximum speed as the evader, are necessary and sufficient to guarantee a successful capture of the evader? The pursuers always know the evader's current position through a camera network, but need to physically reach the evader to capture it. We allow the evader knowledge of the current positions of all the pursuers as well-this accords with the standard worst-case analysis model, but also models a practical situation where the evader has 'hacked' into the surveillance system. Our main result is to prove that three pursuers are always sufficient and sometimes necessary to capture the evader. The bound is independent of the number of vertices or holes in the polygonal environment.
Thoracic patterning by the drosophila gap gene hunchback

Localized gene expression patterns are critical for establishing body plans in all multicellular animals. In Drosophila, the gap gene hunchback (hb) is expressed in a dynamic pattern in anterior regions of the embryo. Hb protein is first detected as a shallow maternal gradient that prevents expression of posterior gap genes in anterior regions. hb mRNA is also expressed zygotically, first as a broad anterior domain controlled by the Bicoid (Bcd) morphogen, and then in a stripe at the position of parasegment 4 (PS4). Here, we show that the PS4-hb stripe changes the profile of the anterior Hb gradient by generating a localized peak of protein that persists until after the broad domain has started to decline. This peak is required specifically for the formation of the mesothoracic (T2) segment. At the molecular level, the PS4-hb stripe is critical for activation of the homeotic gene Antennapedia, but does not affect a gradient of Hb repressive activity formed by the combination of maternal and Bcd-dependent Hb. The repressive gradient is critical for establishing the positions of several target genes, including the gap genes Kruppel (Kr), knirps (kni), and giant (gt), and the homeotic gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx). Different Hb concentrations are sufficient for repression of gt, kni, and Ubx, but a very high level of Hb, or a combinatorial mechanism, is required for repression of Kr. These results suggest that the individual phases of hb transcription, which overlap temporally and spatially, contribute specific patterning functions in early embryogenesis.
Methodology for matching experimental and analytical aerodynamic data

Correction factor methodologies have been developed which use steady experimental or analytical pressure or force data to correct steady and unsteady aerodynamic calculations. Three methods of calculating correction factors have been developed to match steady surface pressure distributions, to match airfoil section forces and moments, and to match total forces and moments. Data for a rectangular supercritical wing that was previously tested in the NASA Langley Research Center Transonic Dynamics Tunnel have been used to determine correction factors to match surface pressure distributions for a range of Mach numbers.
Solving nonuniform problems on SIMD computers: case study on region growing

Abstract Nonuniform problems are characterized by a behavior that is data dependent and cannot be determined at compile time. Currently, no formal methods for implementation or evaluation exist for this class of algorithms. This paper presents an implementation of the region growing problem, which is representative of one class of nonuniform problems, on a highly parallel SIMD computer. The region growing paradigm for image segmentation groups neighboring pixels into regions depending upon a predetermined homogeneity criteria. Our algorithm is based upon a parallel merging paradigm, which involves the selection of the best of all merge possibilities for all regions concurrently. A key requirement of any parallel region growing scheme is the ability to concurrently compute functions on irregular shaped regions. A set of general primitive functions for region growing is defined and techniques for implementing these functions on an SIMD processor are developed. These techniques make use of an embedded tree data structure to represent regions. The results of implementing a parallel split-and-merge region growing algorithm on the Massively Parallel Processor are discussed. A comparison is made to an MIMD implementation of the algorithm on the Intel iPSC/2 hypercube. The SIMD approach is shown to be efficient primarily for images involving large numbers of regions.
Genetic diagnosis of the preimplantation embryo

Genetic diagnosis and therapy is well established in the antenatal period. The advancement of uterine and in vitro fertilization allow access to the early blastocyst. Simultaneously, laboratory techniques are being miniaturized to be sufficiently sensitive and specific for diagnosis with only a few cells. Thus genetic diagnosis and therapy may be extended from the antenatal patient to the antegravid patient. This article discusses the techniques of uterine lavage and in vitro fertilization as well as the diagnostic possibilities that this early embryonic period offers.
Dairy Compost as a Source of Turkey Brooder Bedding

Abstract Dairy compost (DC) was evaluated as a possible bedding substrate for brooding turkeys. This study compared livability, weight gain, and footpad score between pine shavings (PS) and DC for 2 strains of turkeys. There were no significant differences in either strain for livability through 35 d of age. Mean body weight at 35 d in the DC treatment compared with PS was less in strain B but not significantly different in strain A. Footpad score in the DC treatment was significantly greater in both strains compared with PS; however, brooder performance as measured by mortality and ambulatory disturbances was not affected in either strain. Results suggest DC may have limited but possible value as a bedding material for brooding turkeys.
Quantitative methods for three-dimensional comparison and petrographic description of chondrites

X-ray computed tomography can be used to generate three-dimensional (3D) volumetric representations of chondritic meteorites. One of the challenges of using collected X-ray tomographic data is the extraction of useful data for 3D petrographic analysis or description. Here, I examine computer-aided quantitative 3D texture metrics that can be used for the classification of chondritic meteorites. These quantitative techniques are extremely useful for discriminating between chondritic materials, but yield little information on the 3D morphology of chondrite components. To investigate the morphology of chondrite minerals such as Fe(Ni) metal and related sulfides, the homology descriptors known as Betti numbers, are examined. Both methodologies are illustrated with theoretical discussion and examples. Betti numbers may be valuable for examining the nature of metal-silicate structural changes within chondrites with increasing degrees of metamorphism.
Protection of focal ischemic infarction by rilmenidine in the animal: Evidence that interactions with central imidazoline receptors may be neuroprotective

Rilmenidine and idazoxan reduce the volume of focal ischemic infarctions produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in the rat by 33% and 29%, respectively, by preserving neurons within the ischemic penumbra. In contrast, the alpha 2-selective antagonist SKF-86466 is without effect. The neuroprotective action of rilmenidine is dose dependent and parallels its antihypertensive actions. Neuroprotection cannot be attributed to changes in cerebral blood flow. We conclude that the neuroprotection produced by rilmenidine is attributable to an interaction with imidazoline receptors (IRs). However, the mechanism of action is not obvious. If it results from an action within the penumbra (direct), it is mediated by mitochondrial I-2 receptors on astrocytes, since cortical neurons are devoid of IRs. Neuroprotection might occur by selectively stimulating Ca2+ uptake into astrocytes, and thereby reducing Ca2+ uptake into neurons. Alternatively, rilmenidine may act indirectly to activate pathways in the brain that are neuroprotective. Neuroprotection may be a therapeutic target for rilmenidine and allied agents that act at central IRs.
Grand Unification of Effective Gauge Theories

Abstract An effective non-renormalizable SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) invariant gauge theory results at ordinary energies when superheavy fields are integrated out from a grand unified theory based on a simple gauge group G. The solutions of the second-order renormalization-group equations for the gauge coupling constants of the effective theory are examined. General formulae for the superheavy vector boson mass and for sin 2 θ near M W are given in this approach to grand unification. The superheavy vector boson mass is plotted against the QCD scale parameter Λ for a certain set of grand unified models. Corrections to the prediction when the set of models is enlarged are discussed, and illustrated with examples from G≡SU(5) and O(10).
POU domains and homeodomains

Abstract Transcription factors containing homeodomain and POU domain DNA-binding motifs play central developmental roles in eukaryotes. Over the past year, considerable progress has been made in the structural characterization of these domains and in elucidating the factors that determine sequence-specific DNA recognition. NMR structures have been reported for the Oct-1 POU-specific domain, and NMR and X-ray structures of a variant homeodomain have been described. These structures contain non-canonical helix-turn-helix motifs in which additional amino acids are accommodated in the turn region. New insights into the role of protein-protein interactions in determining functional specificity have been forthcoming.