cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of nitric oxide in the physiopathology of pain

Many painful disorders, including joint dysfunctions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), are associated with hyperthermia of the overlying skin. The same is true of certain intractable chronic pain conditions, such as chronic orofacial pain, which may be associated with TMD. We suggest that this skin hyperthermia, caused by regional vasodilation, is induced by extravascular nitric oxide (NO). Extravascular NO can be produced in the affected joint by osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and macrophages, by mechanical stimulation of endothelial cells, or by stimulated neurons. In view of a strong correlation between pain and skin hyperthermia in these disorders, and the evidence that NO enhances the sensitivity of peripheral nociceptors, we also suggest that at least this kind of pain is associated with excessive local level of NO. This hypothesis can be verified by dynamic area telethermometry, assessing the effect of NO on the sympathetic nervous function. This mechanism, which is in line with the general role of NO as a mediator between different organ systems, also may be relevant to any pain associated with enhanced immune response. Clinical implications of the proposed mechanism are discussed.
Flexibilized Employment in the Public Sector: Surprising Similarities and Important Differences between the United States and the United Kingdom

Abstract How have employment relationships changed as government experiences greater and greater exposure to market ebb and flows? How have public sector managers responded to increasingly dynamic product and labor markets, and to what extent are these responses dictated by regulations and practices surrounding the employer-employee relationship? In this paper, we contrast the institutional contexts of the US and UK, and hypothesize that more liberalized institutions surrounding US employment in government, compared to those in the UK, accompanies greater use of flexibilized working arrangements. We demonstrate that, in fact, the use of NSWAs in the United States and the UK is similar.
Gesture-based Sound Localization and Manipulation

With current advancements in computer vision depth sensing technologies, gestures provide a new means of computer interaction. 3D audio research has gained significant ground in accurately localizing sound in 3D space, but not much work has been conducted relating to modes of user interaction in such applications. In this paper, gestures are used as a more natural way of interacting with 3D spatial audio applications, specifically for the localization and manipulation of sound sources.
Comparison of seismic reflection and ground‐penetrating radar imaging at the controlled archaeological test site, Champaign, Illinois

Shallow seismic reflection and ground-penetrating radar images were collected at a replicated burial mound in the Controlled Archaeological Test Site (CATS) in Champaign, Illinois. The CATS mound contains a pig burial within a wood-lined crypt at a depth of 1.6–2.4 m. Seismic reflection data were collected from two different energy sources: a small (0.5 kg) hammer for an impulsive source, and a vibrator for a frequency swept source. Seismic data were collected at densely spaced points (5 cm) along a line of 48 geophone receivers. These data were stacked in a common mid-point gather, band-pass filtered, and processed with frequency–wavenumber migration. The seismic image produced by the hammer source was dominated by bodywaves at 120 Hz, whereas the vibrator source image was dominated by surface waves at 70 Hz. Both seismic sources revealed clear reflections from the burial crypt, and placed the top of the crypt at the correct depth with a seismic velocity of 120 m s−1. The bottom of the crypt was poorly defined by the seismic data owing to multiple reflections within the crypt. The vibrator source also revealed a high-frequency (360 Hz) reflector at 2.7 m depth within the mound, perhaps due to a resonant cavity within the pig's body. Single channel ground-penetrating radar data were processed with the same approach, including band-pass filtering and migration. The radar data reveal clear reflections from the burial crypt. Extremely fast radar velocities (260 mm ns−1) are required in the upper portion of the burial mound to place the top of the crypt at its correct depth. The bottom of the crypt was well defined by ground-penetrating radar, and was located accurately with respect to the top of the crypt with a moderate radar velocity (170 mm ns−1). The application of both seismic reflection and ground-penetrating radar to the same site may be beneficial for improved understanding of their abilities for shallow subsurface imaging. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Color and Culture: Black Writers and the Making of the Modern Intellectual

Introduction - culture has no colour after identity politics the unclassified residuum black intellectuals and other oxymorons - Du Bois and Fanon the distinction of Du Bois - aesthetics, pragmatism and politics divine anarchy - Du Bois and the craving for modernity motley mixtures - Locke, Ellison, Hurston the agon black intellectual - Baldwin and Baraka cosmopolitan collage -Samuel Delany and Adrienne Kennedy.
Derivation of the molecular vibration-rotation Hamiltonian from the Schrödinger equation for the molecular model☆

Abstract The vibration-rotation Hamiltonian for a polyatomic molecule is derived in the form discovered by Watson by starting with the Schrodinger equation for the N particle system comprising the molecular model.
The earthquake disaster mitigation act

The scientific study of earthquakes evolved from mankind's need and desire to understand, and perhaps thereby be able to mitigate, a major cause of natural disasters. Of course, a great deal of basic knowledge of the internal structure, composition, and dynamic processes that characterize the planet earth has been gained also during these investigations, and the results of the studies of earthquakes and the waves that they send through the earth are the basis of a major part of our current understanding of the earth. Today we can readily identify a number of problem areas in which seismological research has an opportunity to contribute further to the well-being of the nation. High among these areas of opportunity is the entire field of earthquake hazards mitigation, and it is to this subject that these remarks are primarily addressed.
Plastic Deformation Under Simultaneous Cyclic and Unidirectional Loading at Low and Ultrasonic Frequencies

Abstract Whenever cyclic strain is superimposed on undirectional loading, the inherent asymmetry of plastic deformation causes an apparent decrease in the externally observable load. This facilitation of deformation can be spectacular at ultrasonic frequencies. Since ultrasound is used for both materials testing and metal forming, the actual stresses reached within the samples must be of concern. The stress dip might be caused by strain-induced recovery, by microstructural changes or by elastic stress relaxation. Aluminum alloy samples were simultaneously exposed to static and vibratory loading at 0.5, 1, 10, 50 and 20 000 Hz. No frequency influence was observed at room temperature. The stress dip is caused by elastic relaxation.
Effect of Water Vapor on the Sintering of Glass Powder Compacts

Shrinkage isotherms of powder compacts of two soda-lime glasses were measured in various partial pressures of water vapor. The rate of shrinkage increased with increasing partial pressure of water vapor. Shrinkage isotherms of porous glass of high silica content were also sensitive to the partial pressure of water vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Because the rate of shrinkage is proportional to surface tension and inversely proportional to viscosity, it is not possible to clearly delineate the effect of water on viscosity, but arguments are presented for a dependence of viscosity on the square root of water vapor partial pressure.
Retrieval of long-term memory: “Tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon

Ss were able to predict better than chance which common-knowledge question that they had missed on a recall test they would subsequently answer correctly on a multiple-choice test. Providing the initial letter of the correct answer significantly facilitated recall as compared to provision of an incorrect first letter or no letter clue.
Large-eddy simulations of turbulence on the CM-2

This paper reports the development and performance of a computer program for large-eddy simulations (LES) of turbulence on a massively parallel computer, the Connection Machine-2 (CM-2). The computer program solves the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations for large scales of turbulence using a second-order time and space accurate, semi-implicit, finite-difference scheme. The effects of small scales of turbulence are represented by a subgrid closure model. The computer program is written in CM Fortran but uses some of the Connection Machine Scientific Subroutine Library (CMSSL) routines for line inversions and discrete Fourier transforms. Calculations are performed for fully developed channel flow and results are compared with previously published numerical and experimental data. In comparison with a similar calculation on a single-processor Cray-2, a speedup factor of 2.1 has been achieved with a 32 K CM-2. It is observed that the CM-2 provides a promising environment for turbulence simulations. Details...
SOUNDS OF SILENCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY: THE CATEGORIZATION OF CLIENTS' PAUSES

Empirical studies examined silences in psychotherapy by measuring the duration of pauses and studying this variable as a homogeneous factor. This approach produced a body of inconclusive findings dealing with the relation between silences and therapeutic outcome or alliance. In the present study, interpersonal process recall interviews of 7 clients' self-reported experiences of in-session pauses were analyzed. A qualitative analysis, based on grounded theory methodology, was used. In this inductive process, researchers are guided by the analysis of data to develop an understanding of phenomena grounded in empirical observation. A pausing inventory of 7 categories was generated, reflecting an understanding of silences as heterogeneous phenomena, and included disengaged pauses, emotional pauses, interactional pauses, reflexive pauses, expressive pauses, associational pauses, and mnemonic pauses. This categorization of pauses can facilitate attunement to client pausing experiences both in future research and...
The application of scanning electron microscopy to fractography

Abstract Many failures involve fracture, and determination of the fracture process is a key factor in understanding the failure. This is frequently accomplished by characterizing the topography of the fracture surface. Scanning electron microscopy has a prominent role in fractography due to three features of the scanning electron microscope (SEM): high resolution, great depth of field, and the ability to obtain chemical information via analysis of the X-rays generated by the electrons. A qualitative treatment is presented of the interaction of electrons with a sample and the effect of the SEM operating parameters on image formation, quality, and X-ray analysis. Fractographs are presented to illustrate these features of scanning electron microscopy and to illustrate the limitations and precautions in obtaining fractographs and X-ray analyses. The review is concluded with examples of fracture surface features of metallic, ceramic, and polymeric materials.
Plants contain multiple biotin enzymes: Discovery of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate carboxylase in the plant kingdom☆

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase is the sole biotin enzyme previously reported in plants. Western analysis with 125I-streptavidin of proteins extracted from carrot somatic embryos visualized six biotin-containing polypeptides, the relative molecular masses of which are 210,000, 140,000, 73,000, 50,000, 39,000, and 34,000. This multiplicity of the biotin-containing polypeptides can be partly explained by the discovery of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase, and pyruvate carboxylase in extracts of somatic carrot embryos, biotin enzymes previously unknown in the plant kingdom. These biotin enzymes seem to be widely distributed in the plant kingdom.
A New Calculus for the Treatment of Optical SystemsV. A More General Formulation, and Description of Another Calculus

After a brief review of the nature of the calculus, a formulation is provided for the application of the calculus to a wider class of optical systems than those postulated in the earlier papers of this series. The application is found, however, to be subject to the drastic limitation that the system must not depolarize the light passing through it. Since homogeneous crystalline plates are almost completely free of depolarization, this limitation does not exist in the previously contemplated application to piles of crystalline plates. A more powerful calculus, whose formulation is due to Soleillet and whose development is due to Perrin and Mueller, is described, and is found to be free of this limitation. Its general properties are compared with those of the calculus discussed in this series of papers.
The mouse B cell-specific mb - 1 gene encodes an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) protein that may be evolutionarily conserved in diverse species by purifying selection

The B-lymphocyte accessory molecule Ig-alpha (Ig-α) is encoded by the mouse B cell-specific gene (mb-1), and along with the Ig-beta (Ig-β) molecule and a membrane bound immunoglobulin (mIg) makes up the B-cell receptor (BCR). Ig-α and Ig-β form a heterodimer structure that upon antigen binding and receptor clustering primarily initiates and controls BCR intracellular signaling via a phosphorylation cascade, ultimately triggering an effector response. The signaling capacity of Ig-α is contained within its immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM), which is also a key component for intracellular signaling initiation in other immune cell-specific receptors. Although numerous studies have been devoted to the mb-1 gene product, Ig-α, and its signaling mechanism, an evolutionary analysis of the mb-1 gene has been lacking until now. In this study, mb-1 coding sequences from 19 species were compared using Bayesian inference. Analysis revealed a gene phylogeny consistent with an expected species divergence pattern, clustering species from the primate order separate from lower mammals and other species. In addition, an overall comparison of non-synonymous and synonymous nucleotide mutational changes suggests that the mb-1 gene has undergone purifying selection throughout its evolution.
A SystemC library for specifying pipeline abstractions

We describe a SystemC library for specifying, modeling, and simulating hardware pipelines. The library includes a set of overloaded operators defining a pipeline expression language that allows the user to quickly specify the architecture of the pipeline. The pipeline expression is used to derive the connectivity of the SystemC modules that define the stages of the pipeline and to automatically insert latches and control modules between the stages to handle the proper routing of transactions through pipeline. Using the SystemC simulator the pipeline can then be simulated and evaluated. The pipeline expression language sits on top of SystemC, exposes all of the features of C++ and SystemC enabling the user to specify, evaluate, and analyze pipeline architectures.
Raman scattering cross sections and polarizability derivatives of H2S, D2S, and HDS☆

Abstract Absolute Raman scattering cross sections have been measured for the trace and anisotropy scattering of gaseous H 2 S and several mixtures containing varying amounts of H 2 S, D 2 S, and HDS. The trace scattering cross sections have been interpreted in terms of a set of two isotopically invariant ∂ α ∂S j parameters and the isotopic mole fractions. For the anisotropy cross sections, the analysis is complicated by the fact that there are two polarizability components which contribute to each of the totally symmetric modes, together with the fact that the bands due to the two stretching modes overlap in the spectra of H 2 S and D 2 S. Relations between these polarizability components were determined from analyses of ro-vibrational band profiles in the H 2 S spectra. These relations were used as constraints in the analysis of the anisotropy cross sections, to obtain approximate values for each of the polarizability component derivatives.
Rapid Analysis of Fluorine in Geological Samples with Ion Chromatographic Detection

Abstract A method is described for the analysis of fluorine in geological samples involving the decomposition of the sample with phosphoric acid and the measurement of the fluoride ion concentration using an ion chromatograph. The detection limit is below 5 g F in the original sample. Multiple analyses of NBS-91 Opal Glass yielded a relative standard deviation of less than 2.5%. In excess of 30 samples can be analyzed in an 8 hour day. Potential interference from high carbon containing samples, such as oil shales, is discussed.
Myeloid dendritic cells from human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are poor stimulators of T-cell proliferation.

To determine the phenotype and function of myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) from human cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC), we studied their surface marker expression and allo-stimulatory potential ex vivo. There were abundant CD11c+ myeloid DCs, as well as TNF and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-producing DCs, in and around SCC tumor nests. Although myeloid DCs from SCC, adjacent non-tumor-bearing skin, and normal skin, were phenotypically similar by flow cytometry, and there was a pronounced genomic signature of mature DCs in SCC, they showed different T-cell stimulatory potential in an allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction. Myeloid DCs from SCC were less potent stimulators of allogeneic T-cell proliferation than DCs from non-tumor-bearing skin. Culture with a DC-maturing cytokine cocktail (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and PGE2) enhanced stimulatory potential in DCs from non-tumor-bearing skin, whereas SCC-associated DCs remained poor stimulators of T-cell proliferation. The microenvironment associated with SCC showed expression of TGF-β, IL-10, and VEGF-A, factors capable of suppressing the DC function. These findings indicate that CD11c+/HLA-DRhi DCs from SCC are mature, but are not potent stimulators of T-cell proliferation compared with phenotypically similar DCs isolated from non-tumor-bearing skin. Identification of mechanisms responsible for suppression of tumor-associated DCs may provide insight into the evasion of immunosurveillance by SCC.
Carbon ionization stages as a diagnostic of the solar wind

Oxygen charge states measured by in situ instrumentation have long been used as a powerful diagnostic of the solar corona and to discriminate between different solar wind regimes, both because they freeze in very close to the Sun, and because the oxygen element abundance is comparatively high, allowing for statistically relevant measures. Like oxygen, carbon is also rather abundant and freezes in very close to the Sun. Here, we show an analysis of carbon and oxygen ionic charge states. First, through auditory and Fourier analysis of in situ measurements of solar wind ion composition by ACE/SWICS we show that some carbon ion ratios are very sensitive to solar wind type, even more sensitive than the commonly used oxygen ion ratios. Then we study the evolution of the ionization states of carbon and oxygen by means of a freeze-in code, and find that carbon ions, commonly found in the solar wind, freeze in at comparable coronal distances, while oxygen ions evolve over a much larger range of coronal distances. Finally, we show that carbon and oxygen ion abundance ratios have similar sensitivity to the electron plasma temperature, but the carbon ratios are more robust against atomic physics uncertainties and a better indicator of the temperature of the solar wind source regions.
3D-3D Registration of partial capitate bones using spin-images.

It is often necessary to register partial objects in medical imaging. Due to limited FOV, the entirety of an object cannot always be imaged. This study presents a novel application of an existing registration algorithm to this problem. The spin-image algorithm [1] creates pose-invariant representations of global shape with respect to individual mesh vertices. These 'spin-images,' are then compared for two different poses of the same object to establish correspondences and subsequently determine relative orientation of the poses. In this study, the spin-image algorithm is applied to 4DCT-derived capitate bone surfaces to assess the relative accuracy of registration with various amounts of geometry excluded. The limited longitudinal coverage under the 4DCT technique (38.4mm, [2]), results in partial views of the capitate when imaging wrist motions. This study assesses the ability of the spin-image algorithm to register partial bone surfaces by artificially restricting the capitate geometry available for registration. Under IRB approval, standard static CT and 4DCT scans were obtained on a patient. The capitate was segmented from the static CT and one phase of 4DCT in which the whole bone was available. Spin-image registration was performed between the static and 4DCT. Distal portions of the 4DCT capitate (10-70%) were then removed and registration was repeated. Registration accuracy was evaluated by angular errors and the percentage of sub-resolution fitting. It was determined that 60% of the distal capitate could be omitted without appreciable effect on registration accuracy using the spin-image algorithm (angular error 98.4%).
Remote sensing and navigation in the animal world: an overview

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to acquaint a wide audience of readers with some of the unique remote sensing and navigation capabilities of animals.Design/methodology/approach – Biomimetic comparison of remote sensors evolved by animals and sensors designed by man. The study and comparison includes thermal infrared sensors used by snakes, echolocation used by bats and dolphins, and navigation methods used by birds. Countermeasures used by prey to avoid capture are also considered.Findings – Some animals have remote sensing and navigation capabilities that are considerably more efficient than those provided by the human body or designed by man.Practical implications – Sensor designers may be encouraged to use the biometic approach in the design of new sensors.Social implications – The paper provides a better understanding of animal behaviour, especially their unique abilities to remotely sense, echolocate and navigate with high accuracy over considerable distances.Originality/value – The paper pres...
Overdue analysis of Bourdieu's theory of practice

Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice is an unsung classic of contemporary social philosophy. It combines the first analysis by a social theorist of the practical intelligibility governing action with an exciting perspective on how the structure of social phenomena determines and is itself perpetuated by action. Bourdieu, however, misinterprets his own theory of intelligibility as a theory of the causal generation of action. Moreover, he attempts to analyze the underlying structure of intelligibility with a set of fundamental oppositions that at the same time structure the social phenomena found in the worlds through which people live. It is argued that practical intelligibility has no underlying structure, that the fundamental oppositions apply at best to traditional societies alone, and that these oppositions do not even structure intelligibility in such societies but, instead, are only a descriptive scheme with which a social scientist can reconstruct social phenomena in them. The outline of a more adeq...
Forest certification (eco-labeling) programs and their policy-making authority: explaining divergence among North American and European case studies

In recent years, transnational and domestic non-governmental organizations have created private standard setting bodies whose purpose is to recognize officially companies and landowners practicing ‘sustainable forest management’. Eschewing traditional state processes and state authority, these certification programs have turned to the market to create incentives and force compliance to their rules. This paper compares the emergence of this non-state market driven (NSMD) phenomenon in the forest sector in eight regions in North Am40erica and Europe. We specifically seek to understand the role of forest companies and landowners in granting competing forest certification programs ‘legitimacy’ to create the rules. We identify distinct legitimation dynamics in each of our cases, and then develop seven hypotheses to explain differences in support for forest certification. 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Surgical trends since the turn of the century.

IT WAS with sincere pleasure, but with a keen sense of my own shortcomings, that I accepted the invitation to deliver the first annual Peer P. Johnson Lecture in Surgery, established as an expression of admiration and loyalty for your chief. I am happy to have the opportunity to show my appreciation of his friendship and my esteem for his qualities as a surgeon — feelings that have strengthened with the years. I believe, too, that I have a tenuous tie with the Beverly Hospital because my uncle, Edward L. Giddings, was on the first Board of Directors, when it . . .
Induction of High Affinity Epidermal Growth Factor Binding in the Aorta of Dahl Hypertensive Rats Fed with High Salt Diet.

Dahl salt sensitive rats (DS) developed severe hypertension on four weeks of high salt feeding while the Dahl salt resistant rats (DR) remained normotensive under the same conditions. The specific maximal binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the freshly prepared kidney membranes of high salt fed DS rats was higher than those from DR rats (5.3 +/- 1.9 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.62 fmoles/mg protein, p<0.001). Scatchard analysis of EGF binding in the kidney showed one class of receptors in the DR (K(d) = 0.75 +/- 0.05 nM) as well as in the DS rats (K(d)=0.69 +/- 0.06 nM). The EGF binding in the aortic membranes of DS rats was also high compared to DR rats (24.98 +/- 5.52 vs. 13.20 +/- 4.10 fmoles/mg protein, p < 0.001). Scatchard analysis of EGF binding in the aorta showed one class of receptors in the DR aorta with a K(d) of 0.70 +/- 0.06 nM. On the other hand, in the DS rat aorta two classes of receptors, a high affinity form (K(d)=0.05 +/- 0.01 nM) and a low affinity form (K(d)=3.5 +/- 0.3 nM) were noted. The induction of a high affinity species of EGF receptors in the aorta, appears to be a mechanism unique to the salt fed DS rats.
Infrared Spectra of RhCO+, RhCO, and RhCO- in Solid Neon: A Scale for Charge in Supported Rh(CO) Catalyst Systems

Laser-ablated Rh+, Rh, and electrons react with CO on condensation in excess neon at 4 K to form RhCO+, RhCO, RhCO-, and Rh(CO)2+, Rh(CO)2, Rh(CO)2-, and higher carbonyls. These rhodium carbonyls are identified by isotopic substitution (13CO, C18O, and mixtures), electron trapping with added CCl4, and comparison with DFT calculations of isotopic frequencies. This is the first spectroscopy of isolated rhodium carbonyl cations and anions. The isolated monocarbonyl species provide a scale to estimate local charge on Rh(CO) sites in catalyst systems.
Thermodynamic modeling of the Ag–Sr system

Abstract The CALPHAD method was employed to model thermodynamic properties of the Ag–Sr system. The liquid phase was treated as a substitutional model (Ag,Sr), with the excess molar Gibbs free energy expressed by the Redlich–Kister formula. All the intermetallic phases were modeled as stochiometric compounds. The solubilities of Ag and Sr in the terminal solid phases were not considered due to their negligible values. Calculated results were then compared with available data from existing literatures. A set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters of the Ag–Sr binary system was obtained.
Thermogravimetric analysis with a heated quartz crystal microbalance

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with an SC-cut quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was demonstrated at temperatures in the range from 20 °C to 450 °C. A measurement system was built around a crystal sensor head that was mounted in a small tube furnace. Changes in third-overtone C-mode frequencies of the crystal were measured during thermally activated decomposition and combustion of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film with an initial mass of approximately 6 μg, and corresponding changes in mass Δm were estimated through the use of the Sauerbrey equation. Noise and drift in frequencies and associated Δm were determined through least-squares fitting and compared with commercially available highresolution conventional TGA systems. The microbalance-based TGA (μ-TGA) system is found to have one to two orders of magnitude lower noise than high-resolution TGA at temperatures below 200 °C and to have at least an order of magnitude lower drift over the entire measured temperatures. However, increasing temperature dependence of crystal frequencies at elevated temperatures and noise in temperature measurements lead to noise in the determination of temperature-dependent mass above 400 °C that is comparable in magnitude to that of high-resolution TGA. Enhancements in performance of μ-TGA depend primarily on the implementation of reliable piezoelectric resonators with low temperature dependence over the entire measured range.
The potential role of MLC phosphatase and MAPK signalling in the pathogenesis of vascular dysfunction in heart failure

The clinical syndrome of heart failure is associated with both a resting vasoconstriction and reduced sensitivity to nitric oxide mediated vasodilatation, and this review will focus on the role of myosin light chain (MLC) phosphatase in the pathogenesis of the vascular abnormalities of heart failure. Nitric oxide mediates vasodilatation by an activation of guanylate cyclase and an increase in the production of cGMP, which leads to the activation of the type I cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKGI). PKGI then activates a number of targets that produce smooth muscle relaxation including MLC phosphatase. MLC phosphatase is a holoenzyme consisting of three subunits; a 20 kD subunit of unknown function, an approximately 38-kD catalytic subunit and a myosin targeting subunit (MYPT1). Alternative splicing of a 31 bp 3 exon generates MYPT1 isoforms, which differ by a COOH-terminus leucine zipper (LZ). Further, PKGI-mediated activation of MLC phosphatase requires the expression of a LZ+ MYPT1. Congestive heart failure is associated with a decrease in LZ+ MYPT1 expression, which results in a decrease in the sensitivity to cGMP-mediated smooth muscle relaxation. Beyond their ability to reduce afterload, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have a number of beneficial effects that include maintaining the expression of the LZ+ MYPT1 isoform, thereby conserving normal sensitivity to cGMP-mediated vasodilatation, as well as differentially regulating genes associated with mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling. ACE inhibition reduces circulating angiotensin II and thus limits the downstream activation of MAPK signalling pathways, possibly preventing the alteration of the vascular phenotype to preserve normal vascular function.
Identification and characterization of proteins that selectively interact with the LHR mRNA binding protein (LRBP) in rat ovaries

Luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) mRNA binding protein (LRBP), identified as mevalonate kinase, has been shown to be a trans factor mediating the post-transcriptional regulation of LHR mRNA expression in ovaries. LRBP binds to the coding region of LHR mRNA and accelerates its degradation. Our previous studies in an in vitro system showed that LRBP represses the translation of LHR mRNA by forming an untranslatable ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex, further suggesting that the untranslatable mRNP complex is directed to the mRNA repression/decay machinery for subsequent mRNA turnover. In the present studies, we used yeast two-hybrid system to screen a cDNA library which was constructed from LHR down-regulated ovaries. Two proteins were identified interacting with LRBP: ribosomal protein S20 (RP S20) and ubiquitin conjugating enzyme 2i (UBCE2i). Their interactions with LRBP were confirmed by the mating assay, co-immunoprecipitation analyses and in vitro sumoylation assays. Furthermore, we show that LRBP is a target for modification by SUMO2/3 but not by SUMO1, at K256 and/or K345. Mutation of both lysine residues is sufficient to abrogate the sumoylation of LRBP. These findings suggest that the direct interaction of LRBP with the translation machinery, through RP S20, may be responsible for the transition of LHR mRNA to an untranslatable complex, and that sumoylation of LRBP may play a role in targeting the untranslatable mRNP complex to the mRNA decay machinery in specific cytoplasmic foci.
Single ventricle with persistent truncus arteriosus as two rare entities in an adult patient: a case report.

Introduction Single ventricle and truncus arteriosus are both rare congenital cardiac syndromes with limited survival. Their occurrence together is extremely uncommon and prolonged survival is exceptionally rare. We present the case of a patient who had both of these defects with survival to age 45.
Crystal structure at 2.8 Å of the DLLRKN-containing coiled-coil domain of Huntingtin-interacting protein 1 (HIP1) reveals a surface suitable for clathrin light chain binding

Huntingtin interacting protein 1 (HIP1) is a member of a family of proteins whose interaction with Huntingtin is critical to prevent cells from initiating apoptosis. HIP1, and related protein HIP12/1R, can also bind to clathrin and membrane phospholipids, and HIP12/1R links the CCV to the actin cytoskeleton. HIP1 and HIP12/1R interact with the clathrin light chain EED regulatory site and stimulate clathrin lattice assembly. Here, we report the X-ray structure of the coiled-coil domain of HIP1 (residues 482-586) that includes residues crucial for binding clathrin light chain. The dimeric HIP1 crystal structure is partially splayed open. The comparison of the HIP1 model with coiled-coil predictions revealed the heptad repeat in the dimeric trunk (S2 path) is offset relative to the register of the heptad repeat from the N-terminal portion (S1 path) of the molecule. Furthermore, surface analysis showed there is a third hydrophobic path (S3) running parallel with S1 and S2. We present structural evidence supporting a role for the S3 path as an interaction surface for clathrin light chain. Finally, comparative analysis suggests the mode of binding between sla2p and clathrin light chain may be different in yeast.
Effects of amrinone on thrombin-induced platelet-derived growth factor-like protein secretion from endothelial cells.

Endothelial cells (EC) secrete platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-like protein, which is a potent mitogen to smooth muscle and connective tissue cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if amrinone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, could inhibit PDGF-like protein secretion on the basis of its ability to increase cAMP. Human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC) (n = 7) were preincubated for 4 h with amrinone (10 μg/mL) before coincubation with thrombin (10 IU/mL) and amrinone (10 μg/mL) for 18 h. The supernatant was then assayed for the presence of both PDGF-like protein by using a competitive 125I-PDGF radioreceptor inhibition assay, and cAMP by using an RIA. Thrombin-induced PDGF-like protein secretion from HUAEC was significantly inhibited by amrinone (7.8 ± 1.6 fmol/106 EC) when compared with thrombin alone (12.1 ± 2.4 fmol/106 EC) (p < 0.05). Amrinone alone had no effect on baseline PDGF-like protein secretion. Amrinone inhibition of thrombin-induced PDGF-like protein secretion was comparable whether amrinone was added to HUAEC 4 or 0 h before thrombin, and it was dose dependent with a maximal inhibition of 82.7% by amrinone (160 μg/mL). In contrast, IL-1α (10 μg/mL) and tumor necrosis factor (100 ng/mL) induced less secretion of PDGF-like protein from HUAEC, and this secretion was not inhibited by amrinone. Amrinone (10 μg/mL) significantly increased secretion of cAMP from HUAEC from a baseline value of 6.4 ± 0.4 pmol/106 EC to 10.6 ± 0.1 pmol/106 EC (p < 0.01). We conclude that amrinone inhibits thrombin-induced PDGF-like protein secretion from HUAEC. This ability of amrinone to inhibit thrombin-induced PDGF-like protein secretion from EC is associated with an increase in secretion of cAMP from EC, suggesting that this inhibition is associated with, or mediated through, an increased production of cAMP.
The Social Context of Urban Classrooms: Measuring Student Psychological Climate

Classrooms are unique and complex work settings in which teachers and students both participate in and contribute to classroom processes. This article describes the measurement phase of a study tha...
HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER WITH MULTIPLE PARTICLE INTERACTIONS PART I. DROPLET EVAPORATION

A generalized treatment of heat and/or mass transport between an assemblage of particles and a surrounding continuum is presented. The unsteady state diffusive transport is shown to depend on the size and positions of the particles, and the rate processes are found to be radically different from single particle rates because of particle interactions. A three dimensional model has been developed to predict global concentration or temperature distributions by treating the particles as point sources or sinks. The conditions for which particles can be treated as isolated or as interactive members of a group are established, and correction factors are presented from which multiple particle mass transfer rates can be calculated from single isolated particle mass transfer rates. For finite assemblages the correction factors are shown to be in close agreement with results computed previously using the method of images.
Staphylococcal ß-Lactamases

Summary In summary, it is clear that the s-lactamases of S. aureus are more complicated that originally thought and follow a similar evolution to the s-lactamases of Gram-negative microorganisms. These differences in s-lactamases may, as seen in Gramnegative pathogens, play a role in therapeutic efficacy. This role remains to be determined.
Quantifying proximal and distal sources of NO in asthma using a multicompartment model

Nitric oxide (NO) is detectable in exhaled breath and is thought to be a marker of lung inflammation. The multicompartment model of NO exchange in the lungs, which was previously introduced by our laboratory, considers parallel and serial heterogeneity in the proximal and distal regions and can simulate dynamic features of the NO exhalation profile, such as a sloping phase III region. Here, we present a detailed sensitivity analysis of the multicompartment model and then apply the model to a population of children with mild asthma. Latin hypercube sampling demonstrated that ventilation and structural parameters were not significant relative to NO production terms in determining the NO profile, thus reducing the number of free parameters from nine to five. Analysis of exhaled NO profiles at three flows (50, 100, and 200 ml/s) from 20 children (age 7–17 yr) with mild asthma representing a wide range of exhaled NO (4.9 ppb < fractional exhaled NO at 50 ml/s < 120 ppb) demonstrated that 90% of the children had a negative phase III slope. The multicompartment model could simulate the negative phase III slope by increasing the large airway NO flux and/or distal airway/alveolar concentration in the well-ventilated regions. In all subjects, the multicompartment model analysis improved the least-squares fit to the data relative to a single-path two-compartment model. We conclude that features of the NO exhalation profile that are commonly observed in mild asthma are more accurately simulated with the multicompartment model than with the two-compartment model. The negative phase III slope may be due to increased NO production in well-ventilated regions of the lungs.
Understanding Instant Messaging Traffic Characteristics

Instant messaging (IM) has become increasingly popular due to its quick response time, its ease of use, and possibility of multitasking. It is estimated that there are several millions of instant messaging users who use IM for various purposes: simple requests and responses, scheduling face to face meetings, or just to check the availability of colleagues and friends. Despite its popularity and user base, little has been done to characterize IM traffic. One reason might be its relatively small traffic volume, although this is changing as more users start using video or voice chats and file attachments. Moreover, all major instant messaging systems route text messages through central servers. While this facilitates firewall traversal and gives instant messaging companies more control, it creates a potential bottleneck at the instant messaging servers. This is especially so for large instant messaging operators with tens of millions of users and during flash crowd events. Another reason for the lack of previous studies is the difficulty in getting access to instant messaging traces due to privacy concerns. In this paper, we analyze the traffic of two popular instant messaging systems, AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and MSN/Windows Live Messenger, from thousands of employees in a large enterprise. We found that most instant messaging traffic is due to presence, hints, or other extraneous traffic. Chat messages constitute only a small percentage of the total IM traffic. This means, during overload, IM servers can protect the instantaneous nature of the communication by dropping extraneous traffic. We also found that the social network of lM users does not follow a power law distribution. It can be characterized by a Weibull distribution. Our analysis sheds light on instant messaging system design and optimization and provides a scientific basis for instant messaging workload generation.
Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer Divergence and Clouds along California in June 1996

Abstract The authors have performed a numerical experiment using Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) with a horizontal resolution of 9 km to simulate hourly atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics along the U.S. California coast for all of June 1996. The MM5 results were evaluated using more than 18 000 data points from wind profilers, radiosondes, buoys, and land stations; the results support the use of modeled dynamics for reliable monthly statistics and calculation of diurnal variations. Month-long mesoscale simulations of the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) and satellite observations have been used to investigate the diurnal variation of near-shore and farther offshore clouds along the U.S. California coast. The authors extended the usual model evaluation with respect to time series and power spectrum analysis to investigate a link between the evaluated dynamics and satellite-derived cloudiness. Two distinct types of cloudiness variation were revealed. One is in the near-shore zone, extending approximate...
Urocortin Expression in Rat Brain: Evidence Against a Pervasive Relationship of Urocortin‐Containing Projections With Targets Bearing Type 2 CRF Receptors

Histochemical and axonal transport methods were used to clarify the central organization of cells and fibers that express urocortin (UCN), a recently discovered corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related neuropeptide, which has been proposed as an endogenous ligand for type 2 CRF receptors (CRF-R2). Neurons that display both UCN mRNA and peptide expression were found to be centered in the Edinger-Westphal (EW), lateral superior olivary (LSO), and supraoptic nuclei; lower levels of expression are seen in certain cranial nerve and spinal motoneurons and in small populations of neurons in the forebrain. Additional sites of UCN mRNA and peptide expression detected only in colchicine-treated rats are considered to be minor ones. UCN-immunoreactive projections in brain are predominantly descending and largely consistent with central projections attributed to the EW and LSO, targeting principally accessory optic, precerebellar, and auditory structures, as well as the spinal intermediate gray. Although neither the EW nor LSO are known to project to the forebrain, UCN-ir neurons in the EW were identified that project to the lateral septal nucleus, which houses a prominent UCN-ir terminal field. Although substantial UCN-ir projections were observed to several brainstem cell groups that express CRF-R2, including the dorsal raphe and interpeduncular nuclei and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), most prominent seats of CRF-R2 expression were found to contain inputs immunopositive for piscine urotensin I, but not rat UCN. The results define a central UCN system whose organization suggests a principal involvement in motor control and sensorimotor integration; its participation in stress-related mechanisms would appear to derive principally by virtue of projections to the spinal intermediolateral column, the NTS, and the paraventricular nucleus. Several observations, including the lack of a pervasive relationship of UCN-ir projections with CRF-R2-expressing targets, support the existence of still additional CRF-related peptides in mammalian brain. J. Comp. Neurol. 415:285–312, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Utilization of Internal Standard Response Factors to Estimate the Concentration of Organic Compounds Leached from Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems and Application of Such Estimated Concentrations to Safety Assessment

Substances from packaging systems that are leached into packaged medical products may have a safety impact on patients to whom such medical products are administered. The potential safety impact depends on the identity and concentration of the leached substances. The concentration above which a leachable must be identified in order to assess its safety impact is frequently estimated using an internal standard to "calibrate" the analytical response of a chromatographic system. Such an estimate is accurate to the extent that the responses of the internal standard and leachables are similar. To establish the accuracy of the internal standard approach, a database of gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) responses was generated for thirty-eight leachables and eight internal standard candidates. Although the FID and MS responses of many of the leachables and internal standards fell within a narrow band, acidic and basic compounds produced responses that were discernibly different from those of neutral analytes. While most of the internal standards were suited for concentration estimation, three of the candidates, dimethylphthalate, triphenylphosphate and 4,4-dibromobiphenyl, produced the smallest mean error in estimated concentration for the analytes examined. As the FID and MS responses were linear, internal standards could be used to estimate leachables concentrations even when the difference in leachable versus internal standard concentrations was as great as a factor of 25. A multiplier may be appropriate to adjust an estimated concentration to its greatest possible value, and it is this value that is used to convert an estimated Analytical Evaluation Threshold (AET) into a working or final AET.
The Politics of the Royal Harem and the Case of Bat-Sheba

The title gebirâ in the Hebrew Bible has been discussed in terms of a cultic role, a political role, and as a title accorded to royal women who influenced the politics of Israel and Judah through their strong personalities. This article reviews the ancient Near Eastern documents that refer to the political influence of the queen or queen mother in the royal court. It then reviews documentation from the households of the royal family of the Ottoman Empire as a means of further supporting the argument that the title gebirâ in the Hebrew Bible refers to a woman who is fulfilling a particular role in the polygynous royal harem. With the role of the gebirâ defined, it is then argued that in 1 Kings 1-2, Bat-Sheba fulfills the role of the ancient Near Eastern gebirâ.