cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An octamer element is required for the expression of the alpha H2B histone gene during the early development of the sea urchin.

Abstract Early (alpha) histone genes are one of several histone gene families in the sea urchin genome. They are expressed at high levels in blastula-stage embryos and are inactivated by the early gastrula stage. By microinjecting mutant early H2B genes into sea urchin zygotes and monitoring their transcriptional activity in blastula- and gastrula-stage embryos, we sought to identify the cis-regulatory elements responsible for this dramatic change in early H2B gene activity. We found that deletion of DNA 5′ of −71 and 3′ of +591 did not affect the timing or magnitude of early H2B gene expression. Neither was early H2B gene expression affected by the replacement of sequences downstream of −36 with the corresponding region of the L1 late H2B gene, expressed after the peak transcription of the early H2B gene. Further deletion of early H2B promoter sequences from −71 to −56, removing a conserved octamer element, resulted in near-complete inactivation of the early H2B gene in both blastula- and gastrula-stage embryos. Also inactivating early H2B gene expression were an internal deletion of the octamer element and a base substitution mutation that altered its sequence. This base substitution mutation also caused a parallel reduction in the ability of the octamer element to bind a factor present in nuclear extracts of sea urchin blastulae. These data strongly suggest that the proper expression of the early H2B gene in cleavage- and blastula-stage embryos depends on the octamer element and a factor with which it interacts.
Load-induced focal adhesion mechanotransduction is altered with aging in the Fischer 344/NNiaHSd x Brown Norway/BiNia rat aorta.

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway has emerged as a critical component for mediating numerous cellular responses including control of cell growth, differentiation, and adaptation. Here we compared the expression, basal activation, and the ability of increased intraluminal pressure to activate FAK and focal adhesion-associated proteins in the aorta of adult (6 months old) and very aged (36 months old) Fischer 344/NNiaHSd X Brown Norway/BiNia (F344/NXBN) rats. Immunoblot analysis showed increases in the aortic content of FAK (15%), FAK related non-kinase (p41-FRNK) (28%), Src (92%), RhoA (41%), and paxillin (23%) in the very aged aortae. Increased age significantly changed the basal phosphorylation status of FAK and paxillin. Application of aortic intraluminal pressure (200 mm Hg) amplified the phosphorylation of FAK (Tyr 925), Src (Tyr 416), and paxillin (Tyr 188) in adult animals while aortic loading in the very aged animals failed to induce FAK (Tyr 925) phosphorylation. Aging did not alter the load-induced regulation of RhoA; however, FRNK (p41) translocation between cytosolic and membrane compartments was increased. These results confirm previous observations that FAK and focal adhesion-associated proteins are mechanically regulated and expand these studies to suggest that FAK mechanotransduction is altered with aging.
Direct spinal stimulation for intraoperative monitoring during scoliosis surgery

Intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring of the spinal cord has traditionally been done by recording somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). There is a risk that SEPs can be unaltered when significant injury to the anterior spinal cord has occurred. The purpose of this report is to describe a simple technique for intraoperative spinal cord stimulation which monitors descending pathways in the anterior spinal cord. Stimulation occurs through needle electrodes inserted into spinous processes in the rostral surgical wound, and recordings are made from electrodes in the popliteal spaces. We report our experience in monitoring spinal instrumentation in 45 patients with idiopathic scoliosis and 20 with some form of neurological disease causing scoliosis. The neurogenic motor evoked potentials (NMEP) are stable and easily recorded from the popliteal spaces in the majority of patients. We describe the case of 1 patient with Friedreich's ataxia in whom no SEPs could be recorded, but NMEPs were used successfully for monitoring. We have fond that combining traditional SEP monitoring with NMEP recording provides a safe and effective method to monitor the spinal cord during surgical procedures where it is at risk.
Hybrid Intelligent System for Driver Workload Estimation for tailored vehicle-driver communication and interaction

Advanced vehicle cabin technologies provide drivers infotainment, navigation, and enhanced convenient driving experiences. As interaction between the driver and in cabin technologies increases it is beneficial to provide tailored driver communication for an improved cabin experience. Assessment of the driving demand is of particular value to assist in modulating communication and vehicle system interactions with the driver. The complex vehicle, driver, and environment driving contexts require innovative prognostic approaches to driver workload inference. This paper presents a Hybrid Intelligent System for Driver Workload Estimation (HWLE). The real-time HWLE soft computing modules incorporate expert models, model-driven reasoning, and specialized computational intelligence techniques to compute an aggregated WLE-Index. The context depended WLE-Index facilitates tailoring vehicle-driver communication and interaction based on the driving demand. Results from application of the HWLE system under real-time conditions are presented.
Camera placement for handheld 3D video communications

We investigate the effect of stereo camera separation on 3D perception and realism for handheld 3D video communications. Using a handheld device equipped with an autostereoscopic display, a front-facing stereo camera can capture left and right views of the user's face. However, consideration must be paid to the camera separation in order to balance both viewer comfort and realism. Using display-camera geometry, we illustrate the relationship between real depths in camera space and perceived depths in display space. We then derive the optimal camera separation to capture depths within a user's face that are consistent with the size of the face on a handheld display, and contrast this result with traditional rules of thumb used by stereographers. These recommendations are evaluated by a perceptual user study with a current 3D handheld device.
Literacy and Delinquency: Current Status of Reading Interventions With Detained and Incarcerated Youth

This article presents the findings of a literature review of reading research investigations in juvenile corrections settings. Six studies met criteria for inclusion in the review and were examined for methodological rigor and the importance of the findings. Authors of two of the articles reviewed demonstrated adequate experimental control, and concluded that intensive, empirically validated research programs can improve reading outcomes for incarcerated youth. The remaining studies had methodological shortcomings that limited the interpretation and generalization of the findings. Recommendations for future research are provided and discussed.
Characterization and Localization of the Human Genes for Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid

Summary: The genetic sequence complementary to ribosomal RNA was separated from human DNA and its characteristics studied. Both 18S and 28S sequences were located on the same isolated strand. DNA rRNA hybrids have a melting temperature of 80° or 4° less than that of native ribosomal DNA. Ribosomal genes behave as a satellite when complexed with Ag+ in the Cs2SO4 gradient. With in situ hybridization, these rRNA genes can be shown to chromosomally translocate. The study of a highly fluorescent chromosome indicates that the ribosomal DNA does not contribute to the fluorescent nature of the secondary constrictions. This study examines the molecular organization of human ribosomal genes. The chromosomal inheritance of these genes is explored by in situ hybridization. Speculation: Human ribosomal DNA represents a well defined repetitious DNA which can vary quantitatively in normal and abnormal ways. This DNA should be representative for studying the inheritance patterns of repetitious DNA.
Analysis of the DNA Joining Repertoire of Chlorella Virus DNA ligase and a New Crystal Structure of the Ligase-Adenylate Intermediate

Chlorella virus DNA ligase is the smallest eukaryotic ATP-dependent DNA ligase known; it suffices for yeast cell growth in lieu of the essential yeast DNA ligase Cdc9. The Chlorella virus ligase–adenylate intermediate has an intrinsic nick sensing function and its DNA footprint extends 8–9 nt on the 3′-hydroxyl (3′-OH) side of the nick and 11–12 nt on the 5′-phosphate (5′-PO4) side. Here we establish the minimal length requirements for ligatable 3′-OH and 5′-PO4 strands at the nick (6 nt) and describe a new crystal structure of the ligase–adenylate in a state construed to reflect the configuration of the active site prior to nick recognition. Comparison with a previous structure of the ligase–adenylate bound to sulfate (a mimetic of the nick 5′-PO4) suggests how the positions and contacts of the active site components and the bound adenylate are remodeled by DNA binding. We find that the minimal Chlorella virus ligase is capable of catalyzing non-homologous end-joining reactions in vivo in yeast, a process normally executed by the structurally more complex cellular Lig4 enzyme. Our results suggest a model of ligase evolution in which: (i) a small ‘pluripotent’ ligase is the progenitor of the much larger ligases found presently in eukaryotic cells and (ii) gene duplications, variations within the core ligase structure and the fusion of new domains to the core structure (affording new protein–protein interactions) led to the compartmentalization of eukaryotic ligase function, i.e. by enhancing some components of the functional repertoire of the ancestral ligase while disabling others.
DISORDERING TRANSITIONS OF METAL SURFACES

We review the results of recent synchrotron x-ray scattering experiments which study the thermal roughening of Ag (110) as well as the roughening and deconstruction of the Au (110) 1x3 reconstruction. The Ag (110) experiments provide direct evidence that the silver surface undergoes a roughening transition at TR = 450° C. Above TR, the rough phase is characterized by logarithmically divergent height fluctuations. For Au (110), it is found that at Tc = 485° C the 1x3 surface undergoes a reversible transition to a structure incommensurate with the bulk crystalline lattice. The data suggest that during this commensurate-incommensurate transition the surface both roughens and deconstructs.
Intensity of Cultivation and Kin Group Discreteness among Tropical Shifting Cultivators

We hypothesized that in kinship-based agricultural societies, as the intensity of use of arable land increases, the kinship groups as sociated with this use become more discrete. We used two variables: intensity of cultivation was measured by the ratio of cropping to fallowing period; kin group discreteness was measured by a Guttman scale of kin group attributes. We tested these two variables on a sample of nineteen tropical-horticultural societies to control for con founding variables. Results indicated a strong relationship between independent and dependent variables (Tau C = .61, p < .01; Gamma = 0.85).
Variable content of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose and neutral sugars in mammalian heparins☆

Abstract A wide range in the content of the linkage-region sugar units and of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- d -glucose was found in heparin samples from different sources. All heparin preparations examined contained 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- d -glucose, and this constituent was not altered by bleaching reagents which significantly lowered the neutral sugar and l -serine content. This indicated that the variability of the 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- d -glucose content was not due to the methods of purification. Most of the purified heparin preparations showed single compact spots of varying mobilities on electrophoresis, although unbleached beef-lung fractions showed distinct double spots.
The Turner/Herskovits Connection: A Historiographical Note on the Substrate Hypothesis

Approche historique de la vie et l'oeuvre de Turner et Herskovits, sur l'influence du substrat dans la creolisation
Personality characteristics differentiating and predicting the achievement of televised‐course students and traditional‐course students 1

Abstract A large‐scale field study was conducted to 1) determine if the personality traits of students enrolled in televised college‐level courses differ from the personality traits of students enrolled in traditional college‐level courses and 2) identify the specific personality traits predictive of successful performance in televised classes. Results showed that students enrolled in telecourses do have a unique personality profile and that certain traits predicted success for these students. Implications of these results are discussed.
Lipase-catalyzed incorporation of oleic acid into melon seed oil

The ability of lipase PS30 (Pseudomonas sp.) to modify the fatty acid profile of melon seed oil by incorporation of oleic acid (18:1n-9) was investigated. The transesterification was carried out in hexane in an orbital shaking water bath at 55°C for 24 h with methyl oleate (70% pure) as acyl donor. Oleic acid content increased from 13.5% to 53%, and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) content decreased from 65% to 33%. The incorporation of oleic acid into melon seed oil by Pseudomonas sp. lipase helped balance the fatty acid profile of the oil in terms of monounsaturated (18:1n-9) and essential fatty acids (18:2n-6).
Regional cerebral blood flow in first break and chronic schizophrenic patients and normal controls

Dynamic 133Xe Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) was used to measure the resting regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in 16 neuroleptic free schizophrenic and schizophreniform male patients and 13 age-matched male normal controls. A subgroup consisting of 'first break' patients who had never been exposed to neuroleptic treatment were age-matched to a subgroup of young chronic patients most of whom had been previously exposed to neuroleptics. The age-adjusted rCBF values were compared among first breaks, young chronics, normal controls, and a subgroup of older, more chronic patients. In first break patients, we found significantly lower absolute global cerebral blood flow and significantly lower superior frontal, middle frontal, and middle temporal absolute rCBF compared to normals. We also found significantly lower relative superior frontal rCBF in first breaks vs. normals, and higher relative superior frontal and relative middle frontal rCBF in older chronics vs. the other groups. For relative posterior temporal rCBF there was greater asymmetry (right side > left) in first breaks and young chronics compared to normals and older chronics.
Single-parameter terrain classification for terrain following

To avoid excessive simulation of terrain following flights, it is desirable to have a method to classify terrain with regard to its suitability for terrain following. Analytical expressions for the probability of crashing (Pc) for a terrain-following missile indicate that the variances oe and ae, of missile altitude error and error rate, respectively, have considerable effect on Pc. In general, the larger they are, the larger is Pc. Linearized studies of the missile control system interacting with stationary terrain statistics indicate that both <re and vevary with aT, the standard deviation of the terrain, and with some function of terrain bandwidth. This suggests that even for the nonlinear, nonstationary case, the ratio R — aT/lT where 1T is the terrain correlation length has a large effect on missile terrain-following performance. The parameter R is called the roughness ratio. Actual digitized terrain was processed to obtain moving estimates of R. This provides a single-parameter preliminary classification method for a variety of terrains. Simulated flights over strips of terrain confirmed that in general the missile had most difficulty where R was largest.
Constraints on core formation from molybdenum solubility in silicate melts at high pressure

Abstract We report results from 43 new molybdenum solubility experiments performed in order to test molybdenum’s compatibility with the magma ocean hypothesis for core formation. A Walker-type multi-anvil press was used for all experiments and we investigated the pressure range of 2.5–12 GPa and temperature range of 1585–2200 °C. Eight different silicate compositions were also employed. Our data show that increasing temperature causes solubility to increase, whereas pressure has a negligible effect over the range investigated here. In general, increasing silicate melt polymerization causes solubility to decrease; however, the effect of silicate composition is best addressed by looking at the effects of individual oxides versus a universal melt parameter such as NBO/T (ratio of non-bridging oxygens to tetrahedrally coordinated oxygens). From our solubility data, we calculated metal–silicate partition coefficients at infinite iron dilution. Parameterization of our data plus data from the literature shows that there is no discrepancy between partition coefficients determined directly from experiments and those calculated from solubility data, so long as all variables are taken into account, i.e. changes in metal phase composition. Additionally, most of the experiments in the literature were conducted at pressures below 2 GPa, therefore the addition of our high pressure data set makes extrapolations to deep magma ocean conditions more accurate. We determined that the observed mantle abundance of Mo can be explained by both single-stage and multi-stage magma ocean models. Previous siderophile element studies have suggested a wide range of possible single-stage core formation conditions, from 10 to 60 GPa along the peridotite liquidus. Our results narrowed this range by constraining the P – T conditions to 40–54 GPa and 3050–3400 K. Our results also further constrained the multi-stage core formation models by limiting the depth of metal–silicate equilibration during the final impacts of accretion to 31–42% of the core–mantle boundary depth.
Asynchronized synchronous machines

This book provides a theoretical treatment of the operation, and the excitation systems, of “asynchronized” synchronized (AS) machines — that is, ac motors and generators which have their excitation supplied by an independent slip-frequency source. Such devices are usually called “doubly fed” machines in American practice. Almost the entire book is devoted to the development and analysis of the d and q axes equations of the machine, and consideration of the excitation requirements — including the power that must be supplied by the excitation system.
New recursion relations for tree amplitudes of gluons

Abstract We present new recursion relations for tree amplitudes in gauge theory that give very compact formulas. Our relations give any tree amplitude as a sum over terms constructed from products of two amplitudes of fewer particles multiplied by a Feynman propagator. The two amplitudes in each term are physical, in the sense that all particles are on-shell and momentum conservation is preserved. This is striking, since it is just like adding certain factorization limits of the original amplitude to build up the full answer. As examples, we recompute all known tree-level amplitudes of up to seven gluons and show that our recursion relations naturally give their most compact forms. We give a new result for an eight-gluon amplitude, A ( 1 + , 2 − , 3 + , 4 − , 5 + , 6 − , 7 + , 8 − ) . We show how to build any amplitude in terms of three-gluon amplitudes only.
The Political Community Model and Prisoner Litigation: Can We Afford Not to Try a Better Way?

Prisoners file large numbers of civil rights lawsuits, although their success rate is low and recent court rulings have narrowed the scope of judicial intervention. The political community model for an effective, efficient, stable, and flexible community is a valuable tool for understanding inmate litigation. This study examines classification litigation through a national survey of state attorneys. Survey results are analyzed using the political community perspective to gain new insights into why prisoners litigate so often, why they challenge certain issues, and why they continue to litigate after several decades of penal reform.
Deformability characteristics of sickle cells by microelastimetry.

Deformability of normal and sickle erythrocytes was measured by means of micropipette elastimetry with determination of intrinsic membrane rigidity (P) and total cell deformability (Pt). In the elastimetric technique employed, negative pressure at the pipette tip was generated and measured continuously. Membrane rigidity is defined as the negative pressure, in mm H2O, required to induce a hemispherical projection of the cell surface into the micropipette, and total cell deformability as the negative pressure required to aspirate the entire cell into the pipette lumen. Membrane rigidity for oxygenated sickle discocytes was not statistically different from that of control normal discocytes, but Pt measurements were significantly higher for sickle than normal discocytes. Irreversibly sickled cells (ISCs) had markedly increased membrane rigidity and whole cell deformability when compared to control normal cells. Mildly deformed ISCs and severely deformed ISCs at ambient pO2, both showed significantly higher mean membrane rigidity values than sickle discocytes and reversibly sickled cells. Sickle and normal discocytes both showed membrane elasticity with reversion to original cell shape following release of the cell from its aspirated position at the pipette tip. ISCs, however, exhibited elastic deformation of the membrane. These studies provide further evidence of progressive alteration of the sickle cell membrane induced by the sickling-unsickling process, culminating in formation of the ISC, and suggest a role for the ISC membrane abnormality in the pathologic rheology of sickle cell disease.
The effect of robot-assisted lokomotor training on gait recovery: A multivariate analysis

To explore the effect of LOKOMAT and LOKOMAT+Tizanidine on the improvement of walking capacity for people with spinal cord injury (SCI), 20 SCI subjects with hypertonia spasticity at their ankle joints participated in a 12-session Lokomat training; among them, 10 subjects received Tizanidine. 1-hour LOKOMAT training was provided 3 times per week for 4-weeks. Subjects were evaluated 4 times for Timed-Up-and-Go, 10-Meter-Walking, and 6-Minute-Walking testings, at the baseline, 1-, 2- and 4-weeks after training. Latent Class Growth model was used to classify the LOKOMAT training speed, and clinical walking evaluations. Subjects in each treatment group could be classified into two subclasses for training speed and clinical evaluation. It was found that the training speed increased in all treatment group, while the subjects in LOKOMAT+Tizanidine presented a significant improvement of their training speed from the training session. The clinical evaluations classified subjects similarly, and no significant improvement of clinical measurements was observed for either treatment. The MVC dorsiflexion torque at the ankle joint was able to predict the class memberships of subjects for their walking capacity and can be used as a significant predictor for therapeutic functional recovery after spinal cord injury.
Normal stress effects induced during circular shear of a compressible non-linear elastic cylinder

Abstract The response of compressible non-linear isotropic elastic materials is studied using the problem of the circular shearing of a hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder's inner surface is fixed and its outer surface is allowed to rotate but not move radially. The present work is concerned with several issues not considered in previous studies, namely, how the load condition and material properties affect the distribution of local volume change and the local shear response. The study is carried out using a generalization of the Blatz-Ko constitutive equation. First, the homogeneous deformation of simple shear superposed on triaxial extension is considered because it can be compared to the local deformation of a material element in a hollow cylinder subjected to circular shear. It is shown that for plane strain without normal tractions, the shear modulus depends on the magnitude of shear K and a loss of monotonicity in the \ gs 12 vs K curve is possible for certain material parameters. In circular shear, the cylindrical surfaces rotate about the centerline which produce shear strains in the circumferential direction and associated normal stresses in the radial and circumferential directions. The compressibility of the material allows the cylindrical surfaces to undergo radial expansion or contraction. The radial distribution of shear strain, radial and circumferential stretch ratios, and local volume changes are determined for different values of the material parameters. It is shown that the local volume changes vary monotonically with radius. Regions of volume increase and decrease depend on the values of the material parameters. It is also shown that there is a value of the material parameter for which the local shear stress-shear strain response is found to be non-monotonic, which can lead to kinks in the moment-rotation relation.
Determination of Hashin-Shtrikman bounds on the isotropic effective elastic moduli of polycrystals of any symmetry

Although methods to determine optimal Hashin-Shtrikman bounds for polycrystals of cubic to monoclinic symmetry have been described, the calculation of bounds for triclinic crystals has not previously been possible. The recent determination of elastic moduli of common minerals with low symmetry provides motivation to extend the Hashin-Shtrikman formulation to lower symmetry. Here, Hashin-Shtrikman moduli, valid for crystals of any symmetry, are calculated as a function of the properties of a reference isotropic material. Defining the difference between moduli of the crystal and the moduli of the reference isotropic material as the residual tensor, the optimal lower (and upper) bounding moduli are found by a search along the boundary of positive (or negative) definite regimes of the residual elasticity tensor. The new numerical approach reproduces earlier results for higher symmetry crystals and successfully provides optimal bounds for triclinic crystals that have previously not been subject to analysis. The algorithm is sufficiently compact that implementation is relatively easy within any modern computational environment. Hashin-Shtrikman bounds for triclinic minerals in the plagioclase solid solution series are reported. These bounds are significantly narrower than extremal Voigt-Reuss bounds. The Hill averages moduli lie within the Hashin-Shtrikman bounds. An improved method to calculate Hashin-Shtrikman bounds for polycrystal aggregates elasticity is given.The algorithm is illustrated graphically to improve comprehension of the underlying theory and numerical methods.The algorithm, using modern numerical environments, results in compact code.The new method works for crystals of any symmetry class.Results for low symmetry crystals, that could not previously be analyzed, are reported.
Delayed gamma rays from muon capture on 207Pb

Abstract We have measured the energies and intensities of delayed γ-rays from 207,201Tl following muon capture on 207Pb. Probabilities for the emission of 0–6 neutrons have been deduced. Measured and predicted neutron multiplicities (based on an impulse approximation model) are in reasonable agreement for multiplicities of 2, 3, 4 and 5. Experimental values for high and low multiplicities are not accounted for by the theory. High angular momentum states involving the h 11 2 proton hole are observed in several of the thallium daughters. Using a simple shell-model approach, we have correlated μ-capture on the h 11 2 proton shell with the energy spectrum of directly emitted neutrons.
The stress of scramble: sex differences in behavior and physiological stress response in a time-constrained mating system

Iteroparous species maximize lifetime reproductive fitness by balancing current and future reproductive investments. In order to maximize fitness in the face of social or environmental heterogeneity, individuals of the same species may vary in whether they prioritize current reproductive opportunity or sacrifice immediate reproduction in order to prioritize survival and future reproductive potential. Glucocorticoid (GC) secretion plays an important role in mediating this trade-off by promoting behavioral and physiological responses associated with survival, often at the expense of nonessential (e.g., reproductive) functions. We used wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus [Rana sylvatica]) to test whether males and females differed in their (a) physiological response (plasma corticosterone [CORT] concentration) to standardized handling stress—a proxy for predation threat—and (b) performance of reproductive behaviors that may enhance their conspicuousness to predators. We also tested whether levels of male competition influenced sex differences in these factors, as more intense competition may require males to devote more time to risky reproductive behaviors. We found that females had lower baseline CORT but exhibited a significantly greater CORT response to a stressor and spent less time performing potentially risky behavior (surface floating) than did males. These sex differences were consistent across different levels of male mating competition. Our results reveal that during breeding, males and females may differentially respond to stressors and perform risk-prone behaviors, despite facing the same extreme breeding constraints, providing new insight into the survival-reproduction trade-off of explosively breeding species.
The role of immunophilins in mutant superoxide dismutase-1linked familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

It has been reported that expression of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS)-associated mutant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD) induces apoptosis of neuronal cells in culture associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species. SOD recently has been shown to prevent calcineurin inactivation, initiating the present investigations examining the role of calcineurin in mutant SOD-induced cell death. Wild-type or mutant SOD was expressed in neuronal cells by infection with replication-deficient adenoviruses. PC12 cells overexpressing human wild-type SOD exhibited higher calcineurin activity than cells expressing FALS-related mutant SOD (SODV148G); however, cells expressing SODV148G had calcineurin activity equal to mock-infected cells, suggesting that cell death induced by mutant SOD was not related to a decrease in calcineurin activity. Calcineurin antagonists such as cyclosporin A and FK506, as well as nonimmunosuppressant analogs of cyclosporin A, significantly enhanced SODV148G- and SODA4V-induced cell death. Because both groups of drugs inhibit the rotamase activity of cyclophilins (CyP), but only the immunosuppressant analogs inhibit calcineurin activity, these data suggest that rotamase inhibition underlies the enhanced cell death after SODV148G expression. The importance of rotamase activity in mutant SOD-mediated apoptosis was supported by experiments showing that overexpressed wild-type cyclophilin A (CyPA), but not CyPA with a rotamase active site point mutation, protected cells from death after SODV148G expression. These data suggest that mutant SOD produces a greater need for rotamase and, also, highlights possible new therapeutic strategies in FALS.
Femur fracture induces site-specific changes in T-cell immunity.

Abstract Background. Trauma is associated with altered host defense and susceptibility to infection, in part due to cytokine dysregulation and altered T-cell immunity. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) provides a defense against infection and contributes to the process of mucosal healing by T-cell activation and cytokine production. Objective. To determine whether femur fracture induces alterations in Peyer's patch and splenic T-cell phenotype, proliferative response, and cytokine expression following traumatic injury. Methods. Mice underwent femur fracture or sham procedure and, 48 h later, lymphocytes were isolated from spleen and Peyer's patches. Lymphocytes were cultured, and lipopolysaccharide (10 μg/ml) was added in some cultures. Cells and supernatant were harvested at 48 h. Proliferation was analyzed by [ 3 H]thymidine, and interleukin-10 (IL-10) protein was measured by ELISA in the culture supernatant. T-cell phenotype was determined by flow cytometry. Results. Femur fracture induced a significant increase in proliferative response in Peyer's patch immunocytes. In contrast, no significant differences were identified in splenocyte proliferative response 48 h after femur fracture injury. Femur fracture induced a significant decrease in IL-10 protein expression of both splenocytes and Peyer's patches. Femur fracture also induced a significant increase in the fraction of CD3 + , CD4 + , and T-cell receptor-αβ Peyer's patch immunocytes, whereas splenocytes demonstrated no significant phenotypic change. Conclusion. Femur fracture is associated with significant alterations in Peyer's patch but not splenic T-cell phenotype and proliferative response early (48 h) after injury. Changes in the GALT immune response may contribute to intestinal mucosal dysfunction and increased susceptibility to gut-derived sepsis after traumatic injury.
Observation based analysis of the growth of MJO time scale from its nonlinear scale interactions with the synoptic scales

The present paper addressed the issue of growth of planetary boundary-layer fluxes on the time scale of MJO based on ECMWF reanalysis daily data of 180 days covering April–September, 2001. Diagnostic analysis of this data set utilises computations of moisture and sensible heat fluxes in the frequency domain which involve nonlinear interactions phenomena of MJO time scale with the synoptic scales. Basically the whole computations performed are based on surface similarity theory and Richardson number dependent K-theory in the surface and planetary boundary layer (PBL), respectively, both invoke triple product nonlinearilies. Present observational study shows that among the totality of the triads participating in phase-locking phenomena, a prominent band of those reside in the MJO time scales (30 to 60 days) and the synoptic time scales (3 to 7 days). The study suggests that the low frequency variability on MJO time scale in moisture and sensible heat flux arises from its nonlinear interactions with synoptic time scales. The results show that the phases of the three interacting oscillations associated with specific humidity/SST, Richardson number dependent instability factor and wind shear are positive and reasonably close to each other. The amplitudes of the synoptic scale oscillations are not insignificant compared to that of MJO. These dynamical aspects regarding the phases and amplitudes of the three participating oscillations favour the nonlinear interactions of MJO to the synoptic scales and thus lead to rapid exchange of energy transfer to the former.
Bargaining over an Uncertain Value: Arbitration Mechanisms Compared

This article explores the theoretical and behavioral impact of conventional arbitration and final-offer arbitration (FOA) when parties are bargaining over an uncertain value. In this context, one player receives a fixed payment while the other player receives the uncertain residual. Although both forms of arbitration have identically sized contract zones, we show theoretically that in FOA the contract zone shifts in favor of the residual claimant. In addition, as the variance of the possible values rises, the contract zone shifts further in favor of the residual claimant. In laboratory testing, the contract zone roughly reflects the central tendencies of behavior; however, both forms of arbitration increase conflict relative to a no-arbitration baseline. This is caused by residual claimants being more aggressive when arbitration is available while fixed-payment recipients are not. However, both parties play a role in the conflict escalation due to the increased proposal variation.
Hazardous waste disposal: A comparative analysis of regulation, taxes and subsidies

This paper contains a critique of existing legislation which deals with hazardous waste disposal and expands on the efforts made by the Office of Technology Assessment and other economists to develop a public policy which will deal effectively with the problems associated with hazardous waste generation and disposal. A new policy is set forth here which encourages both waste reduction and safe disposal while providing revenue to pay for cleanups at Superfund sites.
A TRUEX-Based Separation of Americium from the Lanthanides

Abstract The inextractability of the actinide AnO2 + ions by the TRUEX solvent suggests the possibility of a separation of americium from the lanthanides using oxidation to Am(V). The only current method for the direct oxidation of americium to Am(V) in strongly acidic media is with sodium bismuthate. We prepared Am(V) over a wide range of nitric acid concentrations and investigated its solvent-extraction behavior for comparison to europium. While a separation is achievable in principal, the presence of macro amounts of cerium competes for the sparingly soluble oxidant and the oxidant itself competes for CMPO complexation. These factors conspire to reduce the Eu/Am separation factor from ∼40 using tracer solutions to ∼5 for extractions from the first-cycle raffinate simulant solution. To separate pentavalent americium directly from the lanthanides using the TRUEX process, an alternative oxidizing agent may be necessary.
Sphincter of Oddi manometry: decreased risk of clinical pancreatitis with use of a modified aspirating catheter

This study was undertaken to determine whether routine use of a modified triple-lumen five French sphincter of Oddi manometry catheter would reduce the frequency and severity of post-manometry pancreatitis and pancreatic enzyme elevation. Seventy-six patients were alternately assigned to undergo sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM) with a standard perfusion (infused group) catheter or the newly developed aspiration (aspirated group) catheter. After SOM, there were significantly more patients in the infused group with both amylase and lipase values elevated at feast two times the upper limits of normal at 2 (p X ¯ ± SE , versus 1 day; p=0.03) and milder pancreatitis. The aspiration manometry catheter should be considered for standard use for SOM, particularly if the pancreatic duct sphincter is being evaluated.
Conjectures concerning the Origins of Misconceptions in Logo

Adult students learning LOGO for the first time developed a series of misconceptions concerning the flow of control in their programs. Most errors consisted of violations of programming discourse or style conventions. Students with prior programming experience in BASIC developed a novel implementation of recursion in LOGO that reflected the iterative FOR … NEXT construct of BASIC. The origins of these violations of programming conventions were traced to general properties of cognition and also to specific instructional practices. Changes in instructional practices, implemented in a second study, reduced the general incidence of some types of errors. However, instances of negative transfer due to prior programming experience continued to occur.
Role of long range interaction in oxygen superstructure formation on Cu(001) and Ni(001).

On the basis of electronic structure calculations, we show that the long range Coulomb interaction provides the driving mechanism for oxygen overlayer formation on Cu(001). We illustrate that this interaction in the precursor $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ phase induces a missing row reconstruction of Cu(001), and leads to the $(2\sqrt{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{2})R45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ O structure, which has strong covalent $p\mathrm{O}--d\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}$ coupling. For the $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)\mathrm{O}$ overlayer on Ni(001) and Cu(001), we show that $p\mathrm{O}--d\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}$ bonding is larger than $p\mathrm{O}--d\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}$ and serves to neutralize the perturbation of the Coulomb interaction induced by the O overlayer. Consequently, $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)\mathrm{O}/\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}(001)$) is stable while $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)\mathrm{O}/\mathrm{C}\mathrm{u}(001)$ exists only in limited environments.
A fast way to generate recombinant adenoviruses: a high- frequency-recombination system

the recombinant lacZ-adenovirus was developed by using plaque overlay containing LacZ substrate X-Gal (5-bromo4-chloro-3-indolyl-b-d-galactopyranoside). The combination of using this high-frequency-recombination system and X-Gal staining results in the rapid generation and identification of lacZ-adenovirus. Materials and methods Cell culture and medium Human embryonic kidney 293 cells were purchased from ATCC (Rockville, MD, USA). Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (D-MEM) was purchased from Gibco BRL (Gaithersburg, MD, USA). Fetal bovine serum (FBS) was from Hyclone Laboratories (Logan, UT, USA). Cells were grown in D-MEM with 10% FBS at 37° Ci n 5% CO 2. Cotransfection of kidney 293 cells with adenoviral
Instructors' Address Forms Influence Course Ratings

When evaluating potential new courses, students take into account the address forms of the instructors. Seventy college students rated the desirability of courses based on their syllabus descriptions. Syllabi differed only in the presentation of the instructors’ names with seven variations in their address listings: Dr, Professor, Mr, Ms, Mrs, Miss, or No Title. Results indicate that instructors’ address forms had a significant effect on course ratings. Specifically, courses with the instructor labeled with an academic title (i.e., Professor, Dr) received higher ratings than those with a generic title (i.e., Mr, Ms, Mrs, Miss), and those with a male address form received higher ratings than those with a female address form. Unlike previous studies, the three female titles of address — Ms, Mrs, and Miss — were evaluated similarly, suggesting that connotative differences in meaning among these address forms are disappearing.
The Role of Competitiveness in Japan's Export Performance, 1954-58

APAN ACHIEVED a spectacular increase in exports during the four-year period 1954-57. From $1,275 million in 1953, total exports increased to $2,858 million in 1957, or by 124 per cent. In volume terms, the gain was slightly larger, 132 per cent, as the unit value of exports declined somewhat. Shipments of manufactured goods,l of which Japan is among the leading world exporters and which constituted about 87 per cent2 of total Japanese exports, increased by 143 per cent. This increase was the largest among the major trading nations of the world. During the same period, exports of manufactures from the Federal Republic of Germany increased by 104 per cent, from the United States by 51 per cent,3 and from the United Kingdom by 31 per cent. It will be argued later that the larger expansion of Japanese exports cannot, to any great extent, be viewed as merely evidence of the recovery of Japan's prewar position in world trade. In 1953, Japan's total exports paid for only 61 per cent of its imports; in balancing foreign payments, special government receipts4 played an important role, being equal to about two thirds of the value of exports. By 1957, exports had taken over a much larger share of the burden of external payments; in that year they covered 88 per cent of imports. On the other hand, the significance of special government receipts declined, as they were only a sixth of the value of exports.
Experiments searching for nonbaryonic dark matter

It is increasingly likely that the universe has critical density, the only time-stable value, and that therefore at least 90% of its mass is in a nonbaryonic form outside the Standard Model of particle physics. Probably ∼ 70% of this mass is cold dark matter and the rest hot, in the form of neutrinos with total mass summed over all active species of ∼ 5 eV. If the solar ν e and atmospheric ν μ deficits also require neutrino mass, then there are only two viable patterns for those masses: (1) the ν e , ν μ , and ν τ are all ∼ 2 eV, or (2) the ν e and a sterile neutrino, ν e can be light, and the ν μ and ν τ are ∼ 3 eV. Terrestrial experiments are needed to determine the neutrino masses, and there are already hints of effects from the LSND neutrino oscillation experiment and possibly from neutrinoless double beta decay. Information on cold dark matter can be obtained from accelerator experiments, searches for dark matter annihilation products, and direct detection of the dark matter particles. This third approach has already eliminated a span of 13 orders of magnitude in mass for Dirac particles and 20 orders of magnitude in their interaction cross section. New direct detection experiments include a search for axions through their conversion to microwave photons in a magnetic field and numerous searches using a variety of scintillators and new types of cryogenic devices to detect nuclei struck by dark matter particles. The latter searches and those attempting to find annihilation products in balloon-borne and large underground detectors now especially seek the supersymmetric neutralino.
Coexistence of neoplasia and cortical dysplasia in patients presenting with seizures.

Summary: Tumors and cortical dysplasia are associated with epilepsy, but few studies have examined the coexistence of neoplasia and dysplasia in these patients. We studied 13 patients (age 4–29 years) with recurrent seizures of 1 month to 21-year’ duration (median 72 months). Ten patients were aged <21 years. Imaging studies localized the lesion to the temporal lobe (10 patients), parietal lobe (2 patients), and frontal lobe (1 patient). Tumors included ganglioglioma (8 patients), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) (3 patients), and low-grade as- trocytoma (2 patients). Cortical dysplasia, including atypical aggregates of neurons (6 patients), multifocal loss of the cortical laminar architecture (7 patients), and neurons in the molecular layer of the cortex (3 patients) were observed near but separate from the tumor. Coexistence of certain tumors with cortical dysplasia, most frequently observed in the pediatric population, suggests a hamar-tomatous/dysplastic nature of the neoplasms.
Environmental fine particular matter and airway epithelium cell stress

Air pollution, especially the environmental particulate matter (PM), is known to have adverse effects on human health. The association between PM exposure and hospital admissions for COPD exacerbations has been widely reported. We focus on the effects of PM on airway epithelial cells and the role of oxidative stress in COPD. After exposure to PM2.5, oxidants and oxidative stress are increased in the epithelial cells. Increased oxidative stress plays an important role in COPD exacerbation by activating nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) pathway. Oxidative stress also regulates epigenetic changes including histone modifications to contribute to increased inflammation and steroid resistance. We will discuss the potential therapeutic targets including antioxidants and epigenetic regulation in COPD.