cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muscle derived cell mediated ex vivo gene transfer to the lower urinary tract: comparison of viral vectors.

Gene therapy is a novel form of molecular medicine that may have a major impact on the future of human health care. We explored the efficacy of skeletal muscle derived cells (MDC) transduced with four viruses for ex vivo gene transfer into the lower urinary tract. Primary MDC were isolated from normal neonatal rats and transduced with: (1) adenovirus, (2) herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), (3) retrovirus or (4) adeno-associated virus (AAV), all of which express the β-galactosidase reporter gene. Adult Sprague Dawley rats (n=4 each group-time) were used. The MDC were injected into the right and left lateral bladder walls. The number of injected MDC ranged from 1 to 1.5×106. The tissues were harvested after 1, 4, 7, and 15 days, sectioned and assayed for β-galactosidase expression. In the bladder wall, we noted cells expressing β-galactosidase for each viral group. Adenoviral and HSV-1 transduced cells showed strong expression at 1 and 4 days post-injection, but the expression decreased gradually and was not detectable at 15 days post-injection. Retroviral transduced cells were detected at each time point with a strong expression persisting for 15 days but decreasing gradually over time. Although expression of the AAV transduced cells was initially weak, the later time points exhibited a much stronger expression, especially at day 7 post-injection. This expression persisted for at least 15 days post-injection. In conclusion, successful MDC mediated ex vivo gene transfer into the lower urinary tract was achieved with all four viral vectors. Our results suggest that the ex vivo approach may lead to an efficient and persistent viral gene delivery to the lower urinary tract while minimizing exposure of the host to virus.
The role of myotubularin-related phosphatases in the control of autophagy and programmed cell death.

We have investigated a previously little-studied subfamily of related active MTM proteins namely MTMR6, MTMR7, and MTMR8. All three of these proteins partner with the same inactive MTMR9 thus potentially creating competition. We find that complex formation in each case greatly stabilizes all of the proteins. In the absence of complex formation all of the proteins are markedly unstable. We examined the substrate specificity of the proteins and found that the MTMR8/MTMR9 complex prefers PtdIns(3)P as substrate while the MTMR6/MTMR9 complex prefers PtdIns(3,5)P2. In view of this difference the two complexes serve different functions in cells. The MTMR8/MTMR9 complex serves to inhibit autophagy while the MTMR6/MTMR9 complex inhibits apoptosis. We have also created a mouse heterozygous for Mtmr9 that displays a very strong phenotype with small size, ataxia, seizures, unrestrained growth of the teeth, and in most animals premature death. The heterozygous mice express markedly reduced levels of all of these MTM proteins presumably reflecting the instability of the monomeric proteins. This instability results in levels of the proteins that are much less than that expected in heterozygous animals.
The contribution of the fatbody to RNA and ribosomal changes during development of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala (Meig.)

Abstract The initiation of blowfly metamorphosis is associated with a pronounced decrease in the number of larval ribosomes; this reduced number then remains constant throughout pharate adult development. Ribosomal RNA accounts for most of the total RNA in larvae shortly after the cessation of feeding and growth, but thereafter the amount of rRNA declines disproportionately to total RNA until early pharate adult development; thereafter, the ratio remains constant until adult emergence. Larval fatbody ribosomes, which constitute about half of the total in the entire organism, are destroyed in situ prior to pupariation. The progressive decrease in fatbody rRNA is accompanied by a corresponding increase in a degraded, relatively insoluble 4–7 S nucleic acid which, stored until adult emergence when it is discarded, accounts for the disparity between total RNA and rRNA. The extracellular ribosomes previously observed during pharate adult development are thus derived from dissolution of larval tissues other than fatbody.
Altered gene expression in early atherosclerosis is blocked by low level apolipoprotein E.

Background Mice deficient in apolipoprotein E (apoE−/−) develop atherosclerosis. The possible linkage between expression of adhesion molecules/cofactors and atherosclerosis was probed at the level of mRNA and protein expression. The hypothesis of a linkage between changes of adhesion molecules/cofactors and atherosclerosis was tested further by suppression of aortic lesion formation in apoE−/− mice by expression of very low levels of transgenic apolipoprotein E.
Margins of the Southwest sub-basin of the South China Sea—A frontier exploration target?

Abstract The deep South China Sea Basin is about 500 km narrower (when measured along fracture zone directions) in the southwest sub-basin than in the eastern sub-basin. Reconstruction of the South China Sea Basin to predrift configurations thus creates an unacceptable 500-km overlap of continental or transitional crust in the western half of the proto-South China Basin. In order to maintain continuity through the plate-tectonic evolution of this basin, about 500 km of differential crustal extension must have occurred in the west in relation to that in the east. Virtually no deep-penetration seismic data exist across the northwest and southwest foundered and extended continent-transition crust. However, plate tectonics allows us to place constraints on the effective β even in the absence of direct information on crustal thickness, heat flow, or subsidence history. The problem here is essentially the inverse of that normally presented. Assuming various endmember models and knowing the effective β (i.e., extension), we can predict the cumulative subsidence (and hence maximum sediment thicknesses), the regional thermal history, and crustal thicknesses. The total continental plus transitional margin crust in the western sub-basin represents a differential stretching factor about twice that inferred for rifted margins of the eastern sub-basin. The actual mean stretching factor for the western sub-basin margins may be as high as β = 5 or 6. The anomalous crustal extension inferred for the western half of the basin leads us to speculate on the likelihood that numerous rift basins and their associated sediments may have been subjected to unusual thermal conditions that would be favorable for the early maturation of hydrocarbons. Although this region remains virtually unexplored, the foregoing analysis suggests it should perhaps be one focus for additional frontier exploration. This portion of the South China Sea margin (young, thin sediments) offers the ideal natural laboratory for the further testing of continental margin thermal subsidence models.
Reactions of Nb2Cl6(SMe2)3 and Ta2Cl6(SMe2)3 with compounds containing NN single bonds

Abstract Ta2Cl6(SMe2)3 reacts with PhHNNHPh to afford Ta2Cl4(μ-Cl)2(μ-PhN)(PhNH2)3 (1) a compound with a TaIVTaIV single bond, with a length of 2.644(1) A. The compound crystallizes in space group Pnma with unit cell dimensions a = 22.960(8), b = 16.875(4), c = 6.367(3) A, V = 2467(1) A3, and Z = 4. The reaction of Nb2Cl6(SMe2)3 with PhHCNNCHPh, merely on mixing at room temperature produced Nb2Cl6(SMe2) [PhHC(N)PhHCNHNCHPh]·C7H8 (2) as large red crystals in ca. 50% yield. The molecule consists of two NbIV atoms, one six-coordinate and the other seven-coordinate, united by three bridging atoms (Cl, Cl, N) and a NbNb bond of length 2.681(1) A. The way in which the tridentate triazo ligand is generated is completely obscure. Crystallographic data for 2: space group P21/n with a = 11.393(3), b = 11.988(3), c = 27.233(7) A, β = 100.75(2)°, V = 3654(3) A, and Z = 4.
Mechanisms and the Nature of Causation

In this paper I offer an analysis of causation based upon a theory of mechanisms-complex systems whose “internal” parts interact to produce a system's “external” behavior. I argue that all but the fundamental laws of physics can be explained by reference to mechanisms. Mechanisms provide an epistemologically unproblematic way to explain the necessity which is often taken to distinguish laws from other generalizations. This account of necessity leads to a theory of causation according to which events are causally related when there is a mechanism that connects them. I present reasons why the lack of an account of fundamental physical causation does not undermine the mechanical account.
Single- and Multiphoton Turn-On Fluorescent Fe3+ Sensors Based on Bis(rhodamine)

Selective and sensitive turn-on fluorescent Fe3+ sensors based on novel bis(rhodamine) dye molecules are reported. The compounds are synthesized with very high yields and characterized with NMR, ESI mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Single- and two-photon fluorescence enhancement is observed for both molecules in the presence of Fe3+. High selectivity and sensitivity is observed over other metal ions and is shown to be due mainly to the spirolactam ring-opening power of Fe3+. All measurements are made in buffer environments simulating biological conditions to facilitate single- and multiphoton fluorescence imaging of Fe3+ in vivo and in vitro. Larger enhancement of fluorescence for both one- and two-photon excitation makes them suitable candidates for fluorescent labeling of biological systems. Two photon cross-section and time-resolved fluorescence measurements are utilized to understand the selectivity of the present sensors for Fe3+-sensing.
Plasma adhesion molecules in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

Study objectives To determine whether childhood sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with elevated levels of plasma adhesion molecules. Design Prospective, observational study. Setting Sleep Medicine Center of Kosair Children's Hospital. Participants Thirty-nine children with SDB (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] > 5/h), 47 children with mild SDB (AHI 1 to 5/h), and 42 healthy control subjects (AHI Measurements and results One hundred twenty-eight children underwent a standard polysomnographic assessment with a blood draw the following morning. Plasma levels of CRP and the adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and P-selectin were measured. No differences were observed in ICAM-1 levels among the groups; however, obese children had higher ICAM-1 levels than nonobese children (425.0 ± 123.0 ng/mL vs 375.6 ± 107.1 ng/mL, p = 0.04) [mean ± SD]. P-selectin levels were significantly higher in the SDB group (84.0 ± 52.2 ng/mL) and the mild SDB group (89.3 ± 49.9 ng/mL) when compared to control subjects (49.5 ± 22.3 ng/mL; p r = 0.32, p r = 0.27, p = 0.002), and nadir of oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry ( r = − 0.19, p = 0.038). Plasma CRP levels were found to correlate with P-selectin even after controlling for BMI ( r = 0.20, p = 0.05). No correlations were found between CRP and ICAM-1. Conclusions Children with SDB have plasma elevations of P-selectin, a marker of platelet activation, lending support to the premise that inflammatory processes are elicited by SDB in children, and may contribute to accelerated risk for cardiovascular morbidity. In contrast, elevations in ICAM-1 are primarily associated with obesity rather than SDB.
Mechanism of formation of 60° and 90° misfit dislocations in semiconductor heterostructures

Abstract A proposal is made and experimental evidence provided for a mechanism of formation of 60° glissile ( a 2 )〈101〉[111] (mixed) and 90° ( a 2 )〈110〉[001] (edge) misfit dislocations in semiconductor heterostructures such as Ge/Si and GaAs/Si. With increasing thickness of the epilayer the nature of dislocations was found to change from being predominantly 60° to mostly 90°. Calculations of atomic structures of dislocations using Stillinger-Weber interatomic potentials were done to show that it is energetically favorable for a 60° core to transform into a 90° core. Thus the strained layer system relaxes its energy by minimizing short-range core distortions as well as long-range elastic displacements. A distinguishing feature of the present mechanism is that the second 60° dislocation is nucleated near the surface in the appropriate glide plane to meet (primarily via a glide process and partly by a climb process) and react with the first 60° dislocation which is already at the interface. High resolution transmission electron microscopy studies have been performed to rationalize and confirm the proposed mechanism.
Improving adherence to blood glucose testing in insulin-dependent diabetic children *

A treatment program designed to increase blood glucose monitoring was applied to three insulin-dependent diabetic children and their families in a multiple baseline design across subjects. The program included the use of contingent praise by the parents, and a point system in which points were awarded for the completion of the monitoring procedure at the appropriate times each day, and for the recording of the blood glucose value. Blood glucose monitoring improved for all three children, which was maintained at a 4-month follow-up. In addition, long-term metabolic control in the children measurably improved following the implementation of the program.
A program for identification of linear systems.

A program has been written for the identification of parameters in certain linear systems. These systems appear in biomedical problems, particularly in compartmental models of pharmacokinetics. The method presented here assumes that some of the state variables are regularly modified by jump conditions. This simulates administration of drugs following some prescribed drug regime. Parameters are identified by a least-square fit of the linear differential system to a set of experimental observations. The method is especially suited when the interval of observation of the system is very long.
Dietary Calorie Restriction in Mice Induces Carbamyl Phosphate Synthetase I Gene Transcription Tissue Specifically (

Dietary calorie restriction (CR) delays age-related physiologic changes, increases maximum life span, and reduces cancer incidence. Here, we present the novel finding that chronic reduction of dietary calories by 50% without changing the intake of dietary protein induced the activity of mouse hepatic carbamyl phosphate synthetase I (CpsI) 5-fold. In liver, CpsI protein, mRNA, and gene transcription were each stimulated by ∼3-fold. Thus, CR increased both the rate of gene transcription and the specific activity of the enzyme. Short-term feeding studies demonstrated that higher cpsI expression was due to CR and not consumption of more dietary protein. Intestinal CpsI activity was stimulated 2-fold, while its mRNA level did not change, suggesting enzyme activity or translation efficiency was stimulated. CpsI catalyzes the conversion of metabolic ammonia to carbamyl phosphate, the rate-limiting step in urea biosynthesis. cpsI induction suggests there is a shift in the metabolism of calorie-restricted animals toward protein catabolism. CpsI induction likely facilitates metabolic detoxification of ammonia, a strong neurotoxin. Enhanced protein turnover and metabolic detoxification may extend life span. Physiologic similarities between calorie-restricted and hibernating animals suggest the effects of CR may be part of a spectrum of adaptive responses that include hibernation.
A clinicopathologic series of primary graft failure after Descemet's stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty.

Purpose To characterize the clinical and histologic features of primary graft failure after Descemet's stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). Design Retrospective observational case series. Participants Sixteen cases of DSAEK graft failure from 15 patients, all with detailed histologic examination of failed graft tissue. Methods Hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff staining, and light microscopy were used to examine the failed DSAEK graft tissue from all patients. Main Outcome Measures Examination of specimens for corneal endothelial cell viability and host–donor interface characteristics. Results Clinical history revealed that 88% (14/16) of studied DSAEK grafts detached before failure, and pathologic examination found that 75% (12/16) of failed grafts had atrophic corneal endothelium. Examples of residual host Descemet's membrane in the graft site and improper donor trephination were also identified. Conclusions Marked loss of the corneal endothelium is the prominent feature of primary DSAEK graft failure. Examples of surgical features, such as incomplete Descemet's stripping and residual full-thickness cornea with a DSAEK graft, are shown. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
CMS SLHC Trigger and DAQ

R&D is needed for LHC trigger and data acquisition systems if the LHC luminosity is increased to 10 cm" s" . This upgrade, entitled the Super LHC (SLHC), would occur in the next decade. The physics triggers, the algorithms needed to provide these triggers against the substantially increased backgrounds and pile-up, and the types of electronics solutions that can support these more sophisticated algorithms are discussed. New architectures of Data Acquisition systems exploiting advances in network technology are also presented.
Conformer-dependent proton-transfer reactions of ubiquitin ions

The conformations of ubiquitin ions before and after being exposed to proton transfer reagents have been studied by using ion mobility/mass spectrometry techniques. Ions were produced by electrospray ionization and exposed to acetone, acetophenone, n-butylamine, and 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene. Under the conditions employed, the +4 to +13 charge states were formed and a variety of conformations, which we have characterized as compact, partially folded, and elongated, have been observed. The low charge state ions have cross sections that are similar to those calculated for the crystal conformation. High charge states favor unfolded conformations. The ion mobility distributions recorded after ions have been exposed to each base show that the lowest charge state that is formed during proton-transfer reactions favors a compact conformation. More open conformations are observed for the higher charge states that remain after reaction. The results show that for a given charge state, the apparent gas-phase acidities of the different conformations are ordered as compact < partially folded < elongated.
New NC Routines for Quality in Milling

Summary This paper illustrates some developments in NC programming routines for pockets. Where previous work focused on choosing optimum speed and feed, this work addresses the need to select proper axial and radial depths of cut. First, it is shown that in pocketing operations, acceptable depths of cut can change as the direction and mode (UP-or down-milling) changes. It is therefore advantageous to have pocketing subroutines which allow for that fact. A database suggesting appropriate cutting parameters to produce given quality criteria has been developed using measured dynamics and time-domain simulation. The tool path is automatically selected using this database and optimizing metal removal rate. Additional improvements were made by choosing the tool path to avoid the necessity of internal corners, since the change in radial depth of cut there changes the quality of the part.
Effects of the 16 February 1980 solar eclipse on the composition of the low‐latitude ionosphere as seen by Atmosphere Explorer E

[1] Solar eclipses are known to locally disrupt the transport, production, and loss mechanisms in the ionosphere. Ion composition, ion temperature, and neutral temperature data from the Atmosphere Explorer E spacecraft are examined for the total solar eclipse of 16 February 1980. The spacecraft transited twice across the dayside face of the Earth during the course of the eclipse, allowing for examination of eclipse effects to be made over a wide longitude and local time range and for examination of posteclipse recovery of the ionosphere. One orbit from 14 February, occurring over a longitude and local time range similar to that of the first eclipse orbit, is used as control data. The eclipse had a significant effect on the concentrations of both O+ and N+, which both dropped. The concentration of H+ seems to show an eclipse effect, but the concentrations are too low to draw definite conclusions. Signatures of charge exchange between H+ and neutral oxygen are seen in the data from the second eclipse orbit. The ion temperature drops by as much as 60 K. The neutral atmosphere shows no change in temperature during the course of the eclipse. The second eclipse orbit occurred closer to the path of the eclipse than did the first orbit, and the perturbations caused by the eclipse are greater in the second orbit. The control and second eclipse orbit data are compared to results from the International Reference Ionosphere 2000 model. The model results show good qualitative agreement with the ion concentration data.
Apoyo caldera, Nicaragua: A major quaternary silicic eruptive center

Apoyo caldera, near Granada, Nicaragua, was formed by two phases of collapse following explosive eruptions of dacite pumice about 23,000 yr B.P. The caldera sits atop an older volcanic center consisting of lava flows, domes, and ignimbrite (ash-flow tuff). The earliest lavas erupted were compositionally homogeneous basalt flows, which were later intruded by small andesite and dacite flows along a well defined set of N—S-trending regional faults. Collapse of the roof of the magma chamber occurred along near-vertical ring faults during two widely separated eruptions. Field evidence suggests that the climactic eruption sequence opened with a powerful plinian blast, followed by eruption column collapse, which generated a complex sequence of pyroclastic surge and ignimbrite deposits and initiated caldera collapse. A period of quiescence was marked by the eruption of scoria-bearing tuff from the nearby Masaya caldera and the development of a soil horizon. Violent plinian eruptions then resumed from a vent located within the caldera. A second phase of caldera collapse followed, accompanied by the effusion of late-stage andesitic lavas, indicating the presence of an underlying zoned magma chamber. Detailed isopach and isopleth maps of the plinian deposits indicate moderate to great column heights and muzzle velocities compared to other eruptions of similar volume. Mapping of the Apoyo airfall and ignimbrite deposits gives a volume of 17.2 km3 within the 1-mm isopach. Crystal concentration studies show that the true erupted volume was 30.5 km3 (10.7 km3 Dense Rock Equivalent), approximately the volume necessary to fill the caldera. A vent area located in the northeast quadrant of the present caldera lake is deduced for all the silicic pyroclastic eruptions. This vent area is controlled by N—S-trending precaldera faults related to left-lateral motion along the adjacent volcanic segment break. Fractional crystallization of calc-alkaline basaltic magma was the primary differentiation process which led to the intermediate to silicic products erupted at Apoyo. Prior to caldera collapse, highly atypical tholeiitic magmas resembling low-K, high-Ca oceanic ridge basalts were erupted along tension faults peripheral to the magma chamber. The injection of tholeiitic magmas may have contributed to the paroxysmal caldera-forming eruptions.
Disease Gene Characterization through Large-Scale Co-Expression Analysis

Background In the post genome era, a major goal of biology is the identification of specific roles for individual genes. We report a new genomic tool for gene characterization, the UCLA Gene Expression Tool (UGET). Results Celsius, the largest co-normalized microarray dataset of Affymetrix based gene expression, was used to calculate the correlation between all possible gene pairs on all platforms, and generate stored indexes in a web searchable format. The size of Celsius makes UGET a powerful gene characterization tool. Using a small seed list of known cartilage-selective genes, UGET extended the list of known genes by identifying 32 new highly cartilage-selective genes. Of these, 7 of 10 tested were validated by qPCR including the novel cartilage-specific genes SDK2 and FLJ41170. In addition, we retrospectively tested UGET and other gene expression based prioritization tools to identify disease-causing genes within known linkage intervals. We first demonstrated this utility with UGET using genetically heterogeneous disorders such as Joubert syndrome, microcephaly, neuropsychiatric disorders and type 2 limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2) and then compared UGET to other gene expression based prioritization programs which use small but discrete and well annotated datasets. Finally, we observed a significantly higher gene correlation shared between genes in disease networks associated with similar complex or Mendelian disorders. Discussion UGET is an invaluable resource for a geneticist that permits the rapid inclusion of expression criteria from one to hundreds of genes in genomic intervals linked to disease. By using thousands of arrays UGET annotates and prioritizes genes better than other tools especially with rare tissue disorders or complex multi-tissue biological processes. This information can be critical in prioritization of candidate genes for sequence analysis.
Analysis Of The Energy Broadening Of Liquid Metal Ion Sources

Analysis of the Energy Broadening of Liquid Metal Ion SourcesM. A. Gesley, D. L. Larson and L. W. SwansonDepartment of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering, Oregon Graduate Center,Beaverton, OR 97006C. H. HinrichsPhysics Department, Linfield College, McMinnville, OR 97128AbstractThe increase in the beam energy spread of liquid metal ion sources with particlemass (m) and current (I) is analyzed in terms of the pairwise coulomb interactions ofparticles emitted from a spherical emitter according to Poisson statistics. According tomodel calculations m1/ I12 which agrees with experimental results. In addition, ashift in the average energy of the particles due to the mutual interactions is predicted bythe model calculations.IntroductionIn recent investigations of the high brightness liquid metal ion source (LMIS) it hasbeen observed that the energy deficit and full width at half maximum of the total energydistribution,
Utilization of injected L-alanine by adrenalectomized rats.

THE utilization of exogenous amino acids by fasted adrenalectomized rats has been studied by a number of investigators (Wells and Kendall, 1940; Evans, 1941; Samuels et al., 1937; Lewis et at., 1940) but interpretation of apparently contradictory results is complicated by the various procedures used. Cagan, Gray and Jensen (1950) administered casein hydrolysates intraperitoneally to adrenalectomized rats and found that there Avas a slower clearance of blood amino acids and urea than in normal animals but failed to find the expected increase in blood glucose. Moreover, unlike the case of the normal rats, the administered casein did not increase the liver amino acid oxidase of the adrenalectomized animals. The problem of amino acid utilization by adrenalectomized rats has now been restudied. The results which are reported here were obtained from experiments in which L-alanine was used, and in which alanine alone was measured, instead of total amino acid nitrogen. Short time intervals were employed
Complementary relations in the theory of preference

(1) This paper uses the following binary relations: > (is preferred to); ⩽ (is not preferred to); y ⇔ y are complementary relations onA: [x y]. (3) Pratt, Raiffa and Schlaifer used primitive ⩽, postulated to be transitive onL (the set of lotteries), to define the others with a different expression for are not necessarily complementary onL; since ⩽ is not postulated to be connected onL, but connected ⩽ is necessary and sufficient for such complementarity. Since the restriction of ⩽ to the subsetA ofL is connected, ⩽ and > are complementary onA. (4) Fishburn used primitive are complementary, since asymmetric are asymmetric, negatively transitive, antisymmetric, irreflexive, and transitive; but only ~ is symmetric.
« Vivre de sa Plume » Réflexions sur un topos de l’Auctorialité Moderne

Que veut dire « vivre de sa plume » ? L’expression a souvent ete invoquee par des historiens avancant le recit d’un progres dans les pratiques litteraires marque par le passage des ecrivains du patronage au marche, afin de definir la « modernite » auctoriale par rapport a un modele ancien de l’homme de lettres protege par la noblesse. Or un examen plus attentif montrera que ce progres vers une autonomie gagnee par la vente des ecrits n’est guere aussi evident qu’on a eu tendance a le croire. Cet article etudie donc les ambiguites du recit historique implicite dans la notion de « vivre de sa plume ». Il propose ensuite une approche differente qui considere cette representation non pas comme le reflet d’une nouvelle realite professionnelle, mais comme un element dans une nouvelle rhetorique de la presentation de soi en tant qu’intellectuel. Comme topos, l’image va designer — et en fait, constituer — a la fois la liberation sociale de l’auteur a l’egard de la noblesse et son autorite morale lorsque ses tentatives de vivre de ses ecrits echouent et qu’il persiste tout de meme a sacrifier son bonheur personnel a son art.
Chromosomal variation in the southern short-tailed shrew ( Blarina carolinensis )

Chromosomal polymorphism was assessed in the southern short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis) using standard metaphase chromosome and G-banding techniques. Twenty-one animals (11 males, 10 females) from the Meeman Biological Station in Shelby Co., Tennessee, were examined for diploid number. Results showed diploid numbers of 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 and fundamental numbers of 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. No diploid numbers or fundamental numbers were unique to a specific collecting locality. The first G-banded karyotypes are reported for the species. These results indicate that Robertsonian polymorphisms, inversions, and possibly other events are responsible for chromosomal variation in B. carolinensis.
Protein Binding of Potent Analogs of the Gastrin Peptides

A pharmacologically potent analog of the gastrin peptides (fluorotetragastrin) was shown to be bound to both canine and human serum albumin by agar gel electrophoresis at pH 8.6. This binding was confirmed by demonstrating a change in the absorption spectrum of bound fluorotetragastrin. Binding of another gastrin analog, Gastratet (the carbobenzoxy analog of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin) by serum albumin was studied by equilibrium dialysis and 2 binding sites with an association constant of 3300M-1 were found. Confirmatory evidence of binding of human serum albumin and Gastratet was obtained by showing an altered proteolytic digestibility for the serum albumin- Gastratet complex as compared to serum albumin. These studies show that both these active gastrin analogs are bound to human serum albumin. Attempts to demonstrate binding of the fluorescent gastrin analog and gastric mucosal extracts were unsuccessful. (Endocrinology 88: 1303, 1971)
Low-dose estrogen therapy for menopausal women: a review of efficacy and safety

Background: Recent adverse events involving research of traditional estrogen therapy have led to interest in lower-than-standard doses of menopausal estrogen therapy. Method: The Medline (1966-pres...
Adaptation of a cholesterol deficient human T cell line to growth with lanosterol

Abstract A3.01 is a human T cell line previously shown to be defective in cholesterol biosynthesis. Following passage into serum-free medium, A3.01 cells displayed a gradual decline in growth rate which correlated with a depletion of cellular cholesterol content and an accumulation of lanosterol and 24,25-dihydrolanosterol. At the point when cholesterol became undetectable, the growth rate of serum-deprived cells was only one-tenth of the rate observed for serum-supplemented cells. The addition of low density lipoproteins (LDL) restored cellular cholesterol content and resulted in a 7-fold higher growth rate, confirming that cholesterol-deprivation was responsible for the slower growth in the absence of serum. Following prolonged culture in serum-free medium, A3.01 cells underwent a phenotypic change such that the cells achieved a growth rate which was ∼65% of either LDL-supplemented or cholesterol-proficient cells. This apparent adaptation was not attributable to changes in either fatty acid or sterol composition. These results demonstrate that while cholesterol is preferred, this lymphoid cell line can adapt to the use of lanosterol to satisfy its membrane sterol requirement.
Somatic hypermutation in T-independent and T-dependent immune responses to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide.

Secondary immune responses to T-independent antigens are characterized by little or no affinity maturation, a phenomenon attributed to limited somatic hypermutation. In the human immune response to Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide, however, there are numerous differences between rearranged heavy chain variable region gene segments and candidate germline genes, irrespective of antigen presentation in a T-independent or T-dependent form. To determine the characteristics of somatic hypermutation in this response, we analyzed rearranged heavy chain variable region segments and associated 3' untranslated JH4-JH5 introns from monoclonal anti-Hib PS antibodies. Mutation of untranslated introns and heavy chain variable segments in both T-independent and T-dependent responses resembles that described in murine and unselected human immune responses. Although mutation is frequent in both T-independent and T-dependent anti-Hib PS responses, there is little evidence of antigen-driven selection, suggesting that ongoing pressure to conserve the variable segment germline configuration limits affinity maturation in this immune response.
A Mixed Method for the Biharmonic Problem Based On a System of First-Order Equations

We introduce a new mixed method for the biharmonic problem. The method is based on a formulation where the biharmonic problem is rewritten as a system of four first-order equations. A hybrid form of the method is introduced which allows us to reduce the globally coupled degrees of freedom to only those associated with Lagrange multipliers which approximate the solution and its derivative at the faces of the triangulation. For $k \ge 1$ a projection of the primal variable error superconverges with order $k+3$ while the error itself converges with order $k+1$ only. This fact is exploited by using local postprocessing techniques that produce new approximations to the primal variable converging with order $k+3$. We provide numerical experiments that validate our theoretical results.
Designing responsive buckled surfaces by halftone gel lithography.

Self-actuating materials capable of transforming between three-dimensional shapes have applications in areas as diverse as biomedicine, robotics, and tunable micro-optics. We introduce a method of photopatterning polymer films that yields temperature-responsive gel sheets that can transform between a flat state and a prescribed three-dimensional shape. Our approach is based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers containing pendent benzophenone units that allow cross-linking to be tuned by irradiation dose. We describe a simple method of halftone gel lithography using only two photomasks, wherein highly cross-linked dots embedded in a lightly cross-linked matrix provide access to nearly continuous, and fully two-dimensional, patterns of swelling. This method is used to fabricate surfaces with constant Gaussian curvature (spherical caps, saddles, and cones) or zero mean curvature (Enneper’s surfaces), as well as more complex and nearly closed shapes.
El pronóstico cambiante del infarto de miocardio en la era de la reperfusión: implicaciones para la evaluación y el tratamiento de las arritmias ventriculares

El pronostico de los pacientes con cardiopatia isquemica ha mejorado notablemente con la instauracion de la terapia de reperfusion que, ademas, se ha acompanado de una modificacion agresiva de los factores de riesgo. En consecuencia, la tasa de episodios cardiovasculares despues de un infarto de miocardio ha descendido aproximadamente a un 5% a los 2 anos, comparado con el 20-30% que se registraba en la era pretrombolitica. En este contexto, no es probable que los resultados de estudios previos en la era de la reperfusion se puedan aplicar a este grupo de pacientes. Algunos trabajos que abordan esta cuestion han demostrado que la identificacion de subgrupos de pacientes con un riesgo mayor y la busqueda de nuevos marcadores de riesgo pueden aportar mejoras significativas en la supervivencia de los pacientes que se encuentran en una situacion de mayor riesgo, a pesar de la terapia de reperfusion. Asi, por ejemplo, en el estudio GISSI-2 se observo que la no idoneidad para realizar la prueba de esfuerzo se asociaba a una mortalidad del 7% a los 6 meses. Otros factores que determinan un mal pronostico tras un infarto de miocardio son la insuficiencia cardiaca transitoria, la disfuncion ventricular izquierda y la edad avanzada. La busqueda activa de nuevos marcadores de riesgo esta permitiendo incluir en esta lista otros factores como la no resolucion del segmento ST, la presencia de un llenado restrictivo, la sensibilidad barorrefleja anomala o la onda T alternante, que puede ser beneficioso para la valoracion del riesgo. Por otra parte, el momento en el que se estratifica el riesgo de un paciente puede ser decisivo. A menudo, los factores de riesgo que se han investigado corresponden a estudios que no analizan la estratificacion del riesgo antes del alta hospitalaria sino semanas e incluso meses despues de producirse el infarto. Aproximadamente un 30% de pacientes sufre un deterioro de la funcion ventricular izquierda durante los siguientes 2-3 meses, mientras que otros presentan una mejoria, lo que destaca la dificultad en intentar estratificar el riesgo en un periodo determinado. Aunque nadie duda del impacto que ha supuesto la revascularizacion coronaria en el pronostico de la cardiopatia isquemica, unido a la eficacia de la aspirina, bloqueadores beta, liporreductores e inhibidores de la ECA, la busqueda de marcadores de riesgo cardiacos o no cardiacos puede contribuir notablemente a aumentar la supervivencia de los pacientes con infarto de miocardio.
Giant out-of-plane magnetoresistance in Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O: A new dissipation mechanism in copper-oxide superconductors?

We have measured the anisotropic magnetoresistivity tensor of single-crystal ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ in the normal and in the mixed state. For magnetic fields applied perpendicular to the Cu-O (a-b) planes, the out-of-plane (c-axis) resistivity displays a huge magnetic enhancement, and a large apparent depression in the resistively measured transition temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ (c axis). No such depression is observed in ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$(a-b plane). Although these results suggest a field-induced anisotropy in ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$, we propose an alternate model of novel Lorentz-force-independent fluctuation-induced dissipation in the mixed state. The model may also account for the anomalous anisotropic magnetoresistance observed in layered low-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superconductors.
Effect of Zinc Deficiency and Restricted Feeding from Two to Five Months of Age on Reproduction in Holstein Bulls

Abstract Reproductive performance in Holstein bulls that had been severely zinc-deficient from 8 to 21 wk was compared with that of bulls fed a zinc-adequate diet both ad libitum and in amounts restricted to somewhat less than those consumed by the deficient animals. The deficiency per se caused a reduction in testicular size at 21 wk, but the difference disappeared by 64 wk of age. There were no definite effects of the treatment on volume of semen produced, spermatozoa concentration, total number of spermatozoa produced, rate of motility, or percentage motile spermatozoa during a once per week collection period for 8 wk, nor in a partial-exhaustion trial of 14 collections at 10-min intervals. Histological differences in the testicles at the end of the study were not large and not highly correlated with most measures of semen quality. Thus, in contrast to previous experiments with rats, the zinc deficiency did not greatly affect reproductive performance. Restricting the amount of control diet to 58% of that fed, the ad libitum-fed controls from 8 to 21 wk of age did not significantly affect any of the reproductive characteristics measured.
Human-robot cross-training: computational formulation, modeling and evaluation of a human team training strategy

We design and evaluate human-robot cross-training, a strategy widely used and validated for effective human team training. Cross-training is an interactive planning method in which a human and a robot iteratively switch roles to learn a shared plan for a collaborative task. We first present a computational formulation of the robot's interrole knowledge and show that it is quantitatively comparable to the human mental model. Based on this encoding, we formulate human-robot cross-training and evaluate it in human subject experiments (n = 36). We compare human-robot cross-training to standard reinforcement learning techniques, and show that cross-training provides statistically significant improvements in quantitative team performance measures. Additionally, significant differences emerge in the perceived robot performance and human trust. These results support the hypothesis that effective and fluent human-robot teaming may be best achieved by modeling effective practices for human teamwork.
Fatal Pulmonary Embolism: A Study of Genetic and Acquired Factors

Background: Investigators speculate that hereditary thrombotic disease coupled with acquired factors account for a large number of pulmonary thromboemboil. Clinical correlation between genetic and acquired factors with fatal pulmonary thromboemboli has not been extensively studied. Methods: Archival autopsy material was obtained from patients who died of or with pulmonary emboli for whom confirmed autopsy results were available. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed for factor V Leiden and factor II/20210A allele. Retrospective chart review was performed to determine the presence or absence of acquired factors that can predispose to pulmonary thromboemboli. Results: Two of 36 patients (5.5%) were heterozygous for factor V Leiden. No patients had detected abnormalities for factor II/20210A allele. Eight patients (22.2%) had a malignancy present, one of whom was heterozygous for factor V Leiden. Fourteen patients (38.8%) had recent major surgery or were immobilized. Conclusions: The incidence of factor V Leiden and factor II/20210A allele in patients with fatal pulmonary thromboemboli is not greater than published results of the incidence of these factors in the general population. Recognized acquired factors such as malignancy, recent surgery, and immobilization are frequently present in these patients. Our results suggest that genetic profiling of thrombotic disease will not replace clinical vigilance in reducing the risk for death from pulmonary thromboemboli.
Locations of a Human Satellite DNA in Human Chromosomes

USING techniques for DNA/RNA or DNA/DNA hybridization in situ, Pardue and Gall1 and Jones2 made several significant discoveries on the chromosomal locations of the mouse satellite DNA: (1) this fraction of DNA is found in all chromosomes except the Y, (2) the cytological location of the satellite DNA is limited to the centromeric region of each chromosome and is probably absent in other regions and (3) the centromeric regions of all mouse chromosomes are hetero-chromatic.
Applications of the geometric mean to international banking data

Applications of the geometric mean are relatively rare. However, in the field of international banking this measure of central tendency has gained popularity in recent years on account of its reciprocity property. Two simple examples are discussed. The first involves the computation of an average of daily exchange rates of a currency in a given period and the second relates to a widely used calculation of a simple effective exchange rate index for a currency relative to a base period.
Alterations in the Postnatal Development of Striatal Preprotachykinin but Not Preproenkephalin mRNA Expression in the Serotonin-Depleted Rat

We examined the effects of diminished serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) levels on the postnatal development of striatal tachykinin and enkephalin neuropeptide systems. Neonatal rats received intracisternal injection of vehicle or the 5-HT neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT; 100 micrograms) on postnatal day 2 followed by sacrifice 1-29 days later. Monoamine analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection revealed a drastic reduction of midbrain 5-HT levels, but not norepinephrine or dopamine, as early as 1 day and extending to 29 days following 5,7-DHT injection. Striatal preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA levels were significantly increased 8 days following injection. However, PPT mRNA amounts failed to remain up-regulated, falling back to or below control levels during the second and third weeks following injection. By day 29, striatal PPT mRNA had normalized to control levels even though 5-HT amounts were still markedly reduced. Throughout the entire time course, striatal preproenkephalin mRNA levels did not significantly differ from control levels. These results suggest that striatal tachykinin, but not enkephalin, neurons may be transiently sensitive to lowered 5-HT neurotransmission during postnatal development.
Localization and Synaptic Release of N‐acetylaspartyl‐glutamate in the Chick Retina and Optic Tectum

The neuropeptide, N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), was identified in the chick retina (1.4 nmol/retina) by HPLC, radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry. This acidic dipeptide was found within retinal ganglion cell bodies and their neurites in the optic fibre layer of the retina. Substantial, but less intense, immunoreactivity was detected in many amacrine-like cells in the inner nuclear layer and in multiple bands within the inner plexiform layer. In addition, NAAG immunoreactivity was observed in the optic fibre layer and in the neuropil of the superficial layers of the optic tectum, as well as in many cell bodies in the tectum. Using a newly developed, specific and highly sensitive (3 fmol/50 microl) radioimmunoassay for NAAG, peptide release was detected in isolated retinas upon depolarization with 55 mM extracellular potassium. This assay also permitted detection of peptide release from the optic tectum following stimulation of action potentials in retinal ganglion cell axons of the optic tract. Both of these release processes required the presence of extracellular calcium. Electrically stimulated release from the tectum was reversibly blocked by extracellular cadmium. These findings suggest that NAAG serves an extracellular function following depolarization-induced release from retinal amacrine neurons and from ganglion cell axon endings in the chick optic tectum. These data support the hypothesis that NAAG functions in synaptic communication between neurons in the visual system.
“A Moral Form to Master Commerce”: The Economies of DeLillo's Great Jones Street

(1994). “A Moral Form to Master Commerce”: The Economies of DeLillo's Great Jones Street. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 157-172.
Meadowfoam fatty amides: preparation, purification and use in enrichment of 5, 13-docosadienoic acid and 5-eicosenoic acid.

Recrystallization from hexane of amides prepared from meadowfoam fatty acids provides crystals of the monoenoic fatty amides. Hydrolysis of the crystals, or the mother liquor, provides meadowfoam fatty acids that are enriched in 5-eicosenoic acid and 5,13-docosadienoic acid, respectively. The meadowfoam fatty amides may be useful as slip and antiblock agents in polyolefin film.