cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anti-nociceptive effect of a conjugate of substance P and light chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating condition resulting from damage to sensory transmission pathways in the peripheral and central nervous system. A potential new way of treating chronic neuropathic pain is to target specific pain-processing neurons based on their expression of particular receptor molecules. We hypothesized that a toxin-neuropeptide conjugate would alter pain by first being taken up by specific receptors for the neuropeptide expressed on the neuronal cells. Then, once inside the cell the toxin would inhibit the neurons' activity without killing the neurons, thereby providing pain relief without lesioning the nervous system. In an effort to inactivate the nociceptive neurons in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis in mice, we targeted the NK1 receptor (NK1R) using substance P (SP). The catalytically active light chain of botulinum neurotoxin type A (LC/A) was conjugated with SP. Our results indicate that the conjugate BoNT/A-LC:SP is internalized in cultured NK1R-expressing neurons and also cleaves the target of botulinum toxin, a component-docking motif necessary for release of neurotransmitters called SNAP-25. The conjugate was next tested in a murine model of Taxol-induced neuropathic pain. An intracisternal injection of BoNT/A-LC:SP decreased thermal hyperalgesia as measured by the operant orofacial nociception assay. These findings indicate that conjugates of the light chain of botulinum toxin are extremely promising agents for use in suppressing neuronal activity for extended time periods, and that BoNT/A-LC:SP may be a useful agent for treating chronic pain.
Modeling the kinetics of large sets of reactions on metal surfaces

We are concerned with constructing and solving kinetic models for large-scale catalytic mechanisms involving hundreds of reactions. We need reliable estimates for hundreds of rate constants for each project we undertake. In order to obtain reliable estimates of activation barriers with co-adsorbate effects, we employ the UBI-QEP method whenever applicable. We also bring quantum mechanical electronic structure methods to bear when necessary. Herein we describe a new model for obtaining reasonable estimates for rate constants for reactions on metal surfaces that yields rate constants and rate constant parameters without large amounts of computer time. The model is based on a novel approach to surface-phase chemistry and a re-thinking regarding the phases from which surface adsorbates react. We will also discuss recent literature regarding trends in Arrhenius pre-exponential factors (prefactors).
The Evolution of Rosa

THE recently published paper of Dr. C. C. Hurst (“Experiments in Genetics,” 38, 1925) on the chromosomes and characters in Rosa may well mark a new epoch in biology. We must await the appearance of his monograph for full details, but as he suggests, we may in the meanwhile try to apply the Rosa principles to other plants and animals. It is suggested that the common ancestor of all roses was a northern decaploid species, at present unknown. The various forms could have arisen by the dropping out of sets of chromosomes, the existing five diploid types being the end-products of this process. We are told, however, that “certain cultivated triploid and tetraploid forms are obviously duplicated forms which have arisen by duplication of the septets of chromosomes.” These maintain the essential specific characters of the original diploid species, instead of showing a complex of the characters of diverse septets. Is it not possible to suppose that this duplication may have been the first step in the production of polyploid species, the latter acquiring the diverse septet characters by successive mutations? The Drosophila work has shown that mutations are likely to be lethal or unfavourable. In a diploid species such mutations should apparently work more havoc than in a polyploid one. Polyploidy might then be a condition favouring the survival and accumulation of mutated genes, resulting after very long periods of time in diversity of the septets. Such diversity might come to have its advantages, as Dr. Hurst indicates, in specific cases. On the other hand, in some cases the shedding of a septet might be ad vantageous, getting rid of some undesirable features, and producing a more uniform or consistent type. Thus the diploid R. rugosa, which I found to be a strictly sea-coast plant in Siberia, is a well-defined type specially adapted to its peculiar habitats but not extending even a few miles inland. Yet it is not to be expected that the diploids will all be successful, and close field study combined with cytological research may be expected to reveal a variety of forms with reduced chromosome numbers, coming into existence only to perish at once or in a few years. Many, probably, may not even be capable of development.
Tidal rigidity of Phobos

A novel scenario is proposed in which the orbital eccentricity of Phobos results from several gravitational resonance excitations within the past one billion years, assuming that tidal friction in Phobos has had only a small effect on its orbit. Both the primordial eccentricity and inclination may have been much smaller than presently observed. Constraints imposed on tidal friction in Phobos by the apparent age of its surface, which is greater than one billion years, in addition to those of the gravitational resonance excitation scenario, can be satisfied only if the product of the rigidity and the Q factor is greater than 10 to the 12th dynes/sq cm. In view of the fact that the Q factor is only about 100, so that the rigidity must be greater than 10 to the 10th dynes/sq cm, Phobos should have substantial internal strength.
Staining properties of deepithelialized human amniotic membrane.

Purpose: The surgical use of human amniotic membrane (HAM) can be challenging because of its transparency, thin structure, and adhesive quality. Staining of HAM has been proposed to facilitate intraoperative visualization. We evaluated the in vitro staining properties of deepithelialized HAM using 5 vital dyes. Methods: Deepithelialized HAM was stained with indocyanine green (1.0%, 0.5%, 0.1%), fluorescein sodium (1.0%, 0.25%, 0.1%), lissamine green (0.5%, 0.1%), rose bengal (1.0%, 0.1%), and trypan blue (0.5%, 0.1%). The staining of each dyed sample was evaluated using a X 10 operating microscope by a single observer. Each membrane was then rinsed, resuspended (3 mL of balanced salt solution), and then reevaluated for staining at 30-minute intervals for a total of 4 hours. All remaining stained samples were then placed in 5 mL balanced salt solution and then reevaluated for staining at 24 hours. Results: All concentrations of the 5 dyes stained the membrane initially. After 120 minutes, fluorescein sodium 0.1% and lissamine green 0.5% and 0.1% no longer stained the membrane. Fluorescein sodium 0.5% no longer stained at 210 minutes, and fluorescein sodium 1.0% no longer stained at 24 hours. All concentrations of indocyanine green, rose bengal, and trypan blue stained positively at 24 hours. Conclusions: All 5 dyes stain deepithelialized HAM initially. Tested concentrations of fluorescein sodium and lissamine green may be superior to other tested dyes for intraoperative use because these dyes stain the membrane and then fade. Tested concentrations of rose bengal, trypan blue, and ICG may not be ideal for clinical use because they demonstrate persistent staining at 24 hours.
Finite type, open set conditions and weak separation conditions

We study graph-directed iterated function systems of finite type. We show that such an IFS of finite type induces another graph-directed IFS of finite type where every strongly connected component satisfies the open set condition. We introduce the notions of topological and geometric weak separation properties, and summarize the relationship between the different separation conditions. For the induced IFS, the similarity, growth, box and Hausdorff dimensions coincide. Finally we prove that the generalized finite-type condition for graphs implies the geometric weak separation property.
On the Correlation of Total and Partial Enthalpies of Ion Solvation and the Relationship to the Energy Barrier to Nucleation

Abstract The energetics of ion clustering for the full range of conditions extending from the isolated ion-single molecule cluster in the gas phase, to the bulk condensed state, is examined. Employing concepts taken from the Thomson equation a relationship is developed which correlates the gas phase enthalpies for successive clustering reactions, with the single-ion heats of solvation. The success of the correlation enables the prediction of the heat of solvation of a given ion in a solvent such as water or ammonia from the gas phase determination of the enthalpies for the attachment of only five ligands to a single ion. Employing this new relationship, the contribution of cluster bonding to the energy barrier to nucleation can thereby be readily evaluated for any size cluster.
PAIN AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOLLOWING RADICAL RETROPUBIC PROSTATECTOMY

AbstractPurpose: We assess pain and quality of life following radical retropubic prostatectomy and determine whether intraoperative anesthetic management has any long-term effects on outcomes.Materials and Methods: A total of 110 patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy were randomly assigned to receive epidural and/or general anesthesia. Patients responded to a questionnaire mailed 3 and 6 months following surgery that assessed prostate symptoms, pain related to surgery, quality of life and mood.Results: No long-term effects of anesthesia were observed. Of the 103 respondents (94%) at 3 months 49% had some pain related to surgery. Although pain was not related to anesthetic technique, patients who had it at 3 months used significantly more pain medication on postoperative day 3. Pain at 3 months was mild, averaging 1.5 on a scale of 0 to 10, and associated with poor perceptions of overall health (p <0.02), and reduced physical (p <0.01) and social (p <0.01) functioning. Pain at 3 months was a...
Potential uses of kairomones for behavioral manipulation ofCotesia marginiventris (Cresson).

The effects of kairomone pattern and preconditioning on parasitization rates of fall armyworm larvae,Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) byCotesia (=Apanteles)marginiventris (Cresson) were investigated in the laboratory and greenhouse using a hexane extract of frass and actual fall armyworm frass. Parasitization rates increased 55 and 26% in Petri dishes and on corn seedlings, respectively, when the entire experimental area was sprayed with the frass extract. Applying the extract in spots resulted in a 20-30% reduction in parasitization compared to treating the entire area. However, spot application produced significantly better parasitization rates compared to the control treatment. Exposing the parasitoids to actual fall armyworm frass resulted in ca. 50% greater retention in the release area and an increase of ca. 60-75% in the number of parasitoids searching.C. marginiventris parasitized factitious hosts topically treated with an extract of fall armyworm frass.
Line follower for finite element postprocessing and current imaging

The display of isopotential contours is a standard technique in the interpretation of results generated by the finite element analysis of voltage distribution problems. The complementary display of the current flow or flux lines is in many ways more useful intuitively, but has not been used widely in finite element analyses. We describe a simple method for generating flux line distributions, and discuss the method as applied to the reconstruction of current distributions from magnetic field maps.
Economic institutions as ecological niches

Economic institutions governing such activities as food sharing among non-kin, the accumulation and inheritance of wealth, and the division of labor and its rewards are human-constructed environments capable of imparting distinctive direction and pace to the process of biological evolution and cultural change. Where differing structures of these institutions take the form of distinct conventions sustained by (near) mutual adherence, small initial differences may support divergent evolutionary trajectories even in the absence of conformist behaviors.
β -adrenergic antagonists attenuate withdrawal anxiety in cocaine-and morphine-dependent rats

Rats were treated chronically with either cocaine (20 mg/kg/day, 14 days), morphine (incrementing doses of 10 mg/kg/day to 80 mg/kg, 11 days) or saline. During morphine or cocaine abstinence (48 h), dependent rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior in a conditioned defensive burying paradigm as evidenced by significantly shorter latencies to begin burying as well as a 4-fold increase in burying duration relative to saline-treated animals. This withdrawal-induced increase in burying behavior was blocked by pretreatment with either the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol (5 mg/kg) or the lipophobic selective beta 1-antagonist, atenolol (5 mg/kg). These results are consistent with the possibility that activation of peripheral beta 1 receptors may substantially contribute to withdrawal-induced anxiety and that beta-adrenergic antagonists could be useful in treating in cocaine and morphine dependent addicts.
LHRH-conjugated lytic peptides directly target prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. For patients with hormone-refractory disease, few treatments are available once the tumor has metastasized beyond the prostate. In the present study, two conjugated lytic peptide sequences (named JCHLHRH and JC21LHRH) were designed to target luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptors (LHRH-R). Our results indicate that human prostate cancer cell lines were sensitive to both LHRH-conjugated and non-conjugated lytic peptides, with IC(50) concentrations for LNCaP cells, 4.4 and 9.1μM; for DU-145 cells, 4.8 and 5.7μM; and for PC-3 cells, 4.4 and 8.2μM, respectively. JCHLHRH and JC21LHRH were nontoxic to normal primary human prostate epithelial cells or to bone marrow stromal cells in co-culture. There were morphological changes in PC-3 cells after 3h of exposure to either peptide; after 6h, there were significant reductions in cell numbers. Exposure of PC-3 cells for 24h to either JCHLHRH or JC21LHRH blocked their growth over 3 days. Since JCHLHRH and JC21LHRH have specificity for and anti-proliferative activity against tumor cells, and low toxicity for normal prostate cells, these peptides could serve as a new type of therapy for prostate cancer.
Tear Fluid Extracellular DNA: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications in Dry Eye Disease

Purpose To determine the abundance of extracellular DNA (eDNA) in tear fluid of patients with dry eye disease (DED) and to report clinical outcomes after DNase I eyedrops use to reduce excessive tear fluid eDNA. Methods Tear fluid was collected from healthy control subjects and patients with DED. The eDNA abundance was determined with the PicoGreen dye assay. The DED symptoms and clinical signs were recorded and correlated with eDNA abundance. Two patients with DED having excessive eDNA in tear fluid were treated with DNase I eyedrops. Results The PicoGreen dye assay measures tear fluid eDNA abundance after a 2-minute incubation time. With longer incubations, admixed cells also contribute to eDNA measurements. The mean (SE) eDNA abundance in healthy control subjects' tear fluid was 1.4 (0.2) μg/mL. The mean (SE) eDNA abundance in tear fluid of patients with nonautoimmune DED, autoimmune DED, and graft versus host disease was significantly higher: the values were 2.9 (0.6), 5.2 (1.2), and 9.1 (2.3) μg/mL, respectively (P Conclusions Excessive eDNA is present in tear fluid of patients with dry eyes. A novel therapeutic approach for managing DED may be to measure eDNA abundance in tear fluid with the PicoGreen dye assay and reduce excessive amounts with DNase I eyedrops.
Does Knowing about an HPV Infection Influence Behavior Change? A Feasibility Study of Females Attending a Teen Clinic

Abstract Objective To test the feasibility of a brief, clinic-based, behavioral intervention designed to foster the adoption of three protective behaviors among adolescent females testing positive for any of 13 oncogenic strains of HPV. This feasibility study also included non-statistical comparisons of risk behaviors assessed at follow-up. Design A non-randomized clinical trial. Participants Twenty-eight sexually active, 17–23-year-old females were recruited from a hospital-based adolescent medicine clinic. Intervention Adolescents testing positive for HPV received a physician-delivered intervention designed to emphasize the association of high-risk HPV with cervical cancer and to promote protective behaviors. Those testing negative for HPV did not receive intervention. Main Outcome Measure Several indicators were used including sexual risk behaviors, intent for subsequent Pap testing, intent to quit smoking, and intent to be vaccinated against HPV. Results Those testing positive (39.3%) received the intervention. Recruitment and retention rates were high. In comparing the two groups after a 30-day follow-up period, modest differences, favoring the intervention, were observed. At follow-up, teens testing positive reported lower levels of risk taking behavior, greater intent to return for next Pap testing, greater intent to quit smoking (if applicable), and greater intent to be vaccinated against HPV. Conclusion Overall, the findings suggest that a larger study is indeed feasible and may produce meaningful differences between groups. Although the source (i.e., testing positive vs. the receipt of intervention) of these differences cannot be determined, findings suggests that further investigation of a testing/behavioral intervention regarding HPV and cervical cancer prevention for adolescent females may be warranted.
Extension of a generalized state-vector model of radiation carcinogenesis to consideration of dose rate

Mathematical models for radiation carcinogenesis typically employ transition rates that either are a function of the dose to specific cells or are purely empirical constructs unrelated to biophysical theory. These functions either ignore or do not explicitly model interactions between the fates of cells in a community. This paper extends a model of mitosis, cell transformation, promotion, and progression to cases in which interacting cellular communities are irradiated at specific dose rates. The model predicts that lower dose rates are less effective at producing cancer when irradiation is by X- or gamma rays but are generally more effective in instances of irradiation by alpha particles up to a dose rate in excess of 0.01 Gy/day. The resulting predictions are compared with existing experimental data.
Xanthine excretion in a desert scorpion,Paruroctonus mesaensis

The nature of the nitrogen excretory products of a desert scorpion (Paruroctonus mesaensis) was investigated. Two dimensional thin-layer chromatography revealed one major component, comigrating with xanthine, and a minor component which occurred sporadically and comigrated with hypoxanthine. The identity of xanthine as the major nitrogenous waste was confirmed with additional chromatographic systems, by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and by enzymatic analysis.
Probing the Dust-enshrouded Regions of the Interacting Galaxy System Arp 299:A Near-Infrared Study

We present high spectral resolution (λ/δλ103) Paβ(1.28 μm) and Brγ(2.17 μm), 3.29 μm dust feature, and near-infrared broadband images of the Arp 299=NGC 3690/IC 694 galaxy system. The emission is found to be concentrated at the positions of three active regions, known as sources A, B, and C. From our Brγ/Paβ flux ratio we find the visual extinction toward the ionized gas in A, B, and C is ~6, 6, and 2 magnitudes, respectively, assuming case B recombination and a foreground screen geometry for the obscuring material. Our observations can be explained entirely by a starburst model for the Arp 299 system. The putative active galactic nucleus (AGN) in source A does not dominate the properties of this source. We see no evidence of broad recombination lines. In addition, the ratio of the 3.29 μm dust feature to total luminosity, a tracer of starburst activity, is consistent in each source with that seen in M82 and other starburst galaxies. Also, our imaging observations reveal that the dust feature emission is concentrated in the nucleus of source A, contrary to the extended annular distribution of the feature emission seen surrounding the nucleus of the more distant Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469. In this galaxy, the absence of the feature emission in the nucleus has been attributed to the destruction of the dust carriers in the hard radiation field surrounding the AGN. Our observations suggest that all of the active regions in Arp 299 are characterized by starburst episodes. The observed CO indices and Brγ equivalent widths imply that source B is older than source A and source C is the youngest star-forming region. Although these regions are probably complex physical systems not necessarily characterized by a single coeval population of stars, we have compared our observations with an instantaneous starburst model with a Salpeter initial mass function. Using this simple model, we find starburst ages of ~6 × 106, 8 × 106, and 4 × 106 for sources A, B, and C, respectively.
ADHESION AND BONDING OF POLAR AND NON-POLAR SIC SURFACES TO TI(0001)

Abstract The atom superposition and electron delocalization molecular orbital calculations have been performed for studying the interfacial bonding and adhesion of some polar and nonpolar surfaces of α- and β-SiC with the close-packed Ti(0001) surface, using large cluster models and idealized structures. Polar SiC surfaces studied in this work are the Si- and C-terminated (111) and (100) planes and the nonpolar surfaces with equal concentration of Si and C, i.e., β-SiC(110), α-SiC(1010) and α-SiC(1120). For the unrelaxed polar SiC surfaces, the average Si/Ti and C/Ti interfacial bond strengths are maximum for the β-SiC(110)/Ti(0001) interface due to two dangling surface state orbitals on each surface atom in place of one on the (111) SiC surfaces. The Si- and C-terminated (100) surfaces undergo dimerization. Adhesion energies for the (111) and (100) surfaces to Ti(0001) are comparable when surface relaxation and reconstruction effects are considered. Nonpolar α- and β-SiC surfaces bind comparatively weakly to titanium, and their adhesion energies to Ti(0001) are all approximately equal. In each case of interfacial bonding the sp hybridized dangling orbitals on Si and C surface atoms are stabilized by bond formation with Ti 3d band orbitals.
TeV γ-rays via nuclei de-excitation: HEGRA source

It is possible that TeV γ rays can originate in the photo-deexcitation of a PeV nucleus following photodisintegration via the Giant Dipole Resonance in an environment rich in Lyman alpha photons. This mechanism is examined as a candidate explanation of the recently discovered HEGRA source. The ultra-violet photon background results from the rich O and B star environment of the CygnusOB2 association. A signature of the mechanism is the existence of a lower limit ~ 500 GeV on the γ-ray spectrum. The conditions for an measurable accompanying neutrino flux from neutron decay are assessed.
Perceptual invariance for stop consonants in different positions

The basis for the invariant perception of place of articulation in pre- and postvocalic stops was investigated using the selective adaptation paradigm. Experiments 1 and 2 considered the role of identical bursts, mirror-image formant transitions, and similar onset and offset spectra in the invariant perception of place of articulation in CV and VC stimuli, and Experiment 3 considered the importance of the second two cues in a VCV context. The results of these experiments suggest that, at the level of processing tapped by selective adaptation, neither identical bursts, mirror-image formant transitions, nor similar onset and offset spectra are the basis for the invariant perception of place of articulation in initial and final position. The vowel portion of an adapter was found to affect perception of the consonant portion of a stimulus, and the direction of this effect was predictable from the acoustic characteristics of the consonant and vowel. The implications of these findings for the nature of selective adaptation are discussed.
Toxicity evaluation of prolonged convection-enhanced delivery of small-molecule kinase inhibitors in naïve rat brainstem

Purpose Convection-enhanced delivery (CED), a local drug delivery technique, is typically performed as a single session and drug concentrations therefore decline quickly post CED. Prolonged CED (pCED) overcomes this problem by performing a long-term infusion to maintain effective drug concentrations for an extended period. The purpose of the current study was to assess the toxicity of using pCED to deliver single and multi-drug therapy in naive rat brainstem.
Numerical analysis of small recessed silicon carbide grinding wheels

Purpose: Silicon carbide grinding wheels are tools used in manufacturing industry to form precision components and continue to be used to increase production rates due to their ability to remove high volumes of material at high speeds. There is a demand to increase the speed of rotation of the grinding wheel in order to achieve high removal rates. The increase in speed creates a situation where the grinding machine and the operator are subjected to a possible catastrophic failure of the wheel due to the stresses generated in the coarse brittle structure of the vitrified grinding wheel. The study focused on building and analyzing computer models of grinding wheels with recessed features spinning at different rotational speeds. By employing a computational approach, it was possible to determine the maximum principal stresses in the wheel together with the location of the stresses. The geometry of vitrified wheels considered included a plain-sided rotating wheel and a recessed rotating wheel. Design/methodology/approach: The paper shows how stresses and factors of safety are calculated in order to predict the bursting speeds of small recessed SiC grinding wheels. The main methods used include finite element analysis and mechanical testing of abrasive materials. The approach of the paper is to integrate the use of numerical analysis techniques and experimental techniques to predict the safe operating conditions of SiC abrasive products. Findings: Calculations were conducted to determine maximum stress in parallel-sided and recessed cup wheels. Relevant factors of safety and bursting speed were also calculated and compared with experimental data. The paper proves the usefulness and applicability of a method developed for taking account of stress concentrations at the recess of small cup-shaped silicon carbide grinding wheels. Research limitations/implications: The paper is limited to analyzing small recessed SiC grinding wheels. Further work should focus on large recessed wheels and wheels made with different abrasive grains and bonding materials. The type of porosity distribution should also be investigated. Practical implications: The paper shows how numerical methods are used to design safe operating conditions for brittle grinding wheels. The methods used show that numerical techniques are suitable for calculating the measures of safety that are an important consideration when designing high speed rotating grinding wheels that can be devastating if allowed to fail in service. Originality/value: The originality in the paper is revealed owing to the fact that fracture mechanics principles are applied to the prediction of failure of rotating grinding wheels. The paper is of practical importance to mechanical designers who are responsible for the safe design of grinding wheels.
Effects of amino acids on insulin release from excised rabbit pancreas.

The influence of amino acids, tolbutamide and glucose on the release of insulin from excised rabbit pancreas into Krebs buffer was studied. Glucose stimulated insulin release and a dose response relationship was demonstrated. Tolbutamide stimulated insulin release in the absence of glucose in the buffer. The amino acids arginine, lysine, leucine and histidine when tested in buffer containing either no glucose or glucose 0.5 mg/ml failed to stimulate insulin release. However, when the amino acids were tested in buffer containing glucose1.5 mg/ml or tolbutamide 125 μg/ml, they caused significant enhancement of insulin release. No essential difference of insulin releasing potency was demonstrated among the individual amino acids tested. Epinephrine inhibited insulin release stimulated by glucose and by glucoseamino acid. It is concluded that at least the major effect of amino acids on insulin release is dependent upon the presence of a primary stimulant (e.g., glucose or tolbutamide). (Endocrinology 84: 835,...
Superhydrophobic electrospun nanofibers

This review describes state-of-the-art scientific and technological developments of electrospun nanofibers and their use in self-cleaning membranes, responsive smart materials, and other related applications. Superhydrophobic self-cleaning, also called the lotus effect, utilizes the right combinations of surface chemistry and topology to form a very high contact angle on a surface and drive water droplets away from it. The high-contact-angle water droplets easily roll off the surface, carrying with them dirt, particles, and other contaminants by way of gravity. A brief introduction to the theory of superhydrophobic self-cleaning and the basic principles of the electrospinning process is presented. Also discussed is electrospinning for the purpose of creating superhydrophobic self-cleaning surfaces under a wide variety of parameters that allow effective control of roughness of the porous structure with hydrophobic entities. The main principle of electrospinning at the nanoscale and existing difficulties in synthesis of one-dimensional materials by electrospinning are also covered thoroughly. The results of different electrospun nanofibers are compared to each other in terms of their superhydrophobic properties and their scientific and technological applications.
Antidepressant activity and calcium signaling cascades

Although antidepressant treatments produce clear effects on monoaminergic neuronal function, the link between these effects and therapeutic response to treatment is controversial. Previous studies have demonstrated that antagonists of the NMDA receptor-gated calcium ionophore result in antidepressant-like responses in rodents and humans. Likewise, antidepressant treatments produce regionally selective adaptation of the NMDA receptor suggestive of diminished capacity to gate calcium into receptive neurons. Similarly, voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists have been reported to produce antidepressant-like effects in rodents. A major target of increases in subcellular calcium concentration is nitric oxide synthase (NOS) which liberates NO in response to stimulation. Recently, we have demonstrated that nitric oxide synthase antagonists produced antidepressant-like response in both in vivo preclinical screening procedures and in post-mortem in vitro studies of beta-adrenoceptor density. We propose: 1) that interruption of the Ca(2+)-calmodulin-NOS-guanylyl cyclase subcellular signaling pathway at any point will produce antidepressant-like effects; 2) that the acute actions of antidepressants in preclinical screening procedures are a consequence of their ability to disrupt Ca(2+)-calmodulin-NOS-guanylyl cyclase signaling; 3) that chronic but, not acute treatment with antidepressants results in adaptation of the Ca(2+)-calmodulin-NOS-guanylyl cyclase signaling pathway; 4) that this adaptation is necessary for the achievement of the therapeutic actions of antidepressants and; 5) that major depression is accompanied by an alteration (hyperactivity?) of subcellular Ca(2+) signaling. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The 2B domain of the Escherichia coli Rep protein is not required for DNA helicase activity.

Abstract The Escherichia coli Rep protein is a 3′ to 5′ SF1 DNA helicase required for replication of bacteriophage φX174 in E. coli, and is structurally homologous to the E. coli UvrD helicase and the Bacillus stearothermophilus PcrA helicase. Previous crystallographic studies of Rep protein bound to single-stranded DNA revealed that it can undergo a large conformational change consisting of an ≈130° rotation of its 2B subdomain about a hinge region connected to the 2A subdomain. Based on crystallographic studies of PcrA, its 2B subdomain has been proposed to form part of its duplex DNA binding site and to play a role in duplex destabilization. To test the role of the 2B subdomain in Rep-catalyzed duplex DNA unwinding, we have deleted its 2B subdomain, replacing it with three glycines, to form the RepΔ2B protein. This RepΔ2B protein can support φX174 replication in a rep− E. coli strain, although the growth rate of E. coli containing the repΔ2B gene is ≈1.5-fold slower than with the wild-type rep gene. Pre-steady-state, single-turnover DNA unwinding kinetics experiments show that purified RepΔ2B protein has DNA helicase activity in vitro and unwinds an 18-bp DNA duplex with rates at least as fast as wild-type Rep, and with higher extents of unwinding and higher affinity for the DNA substrate. These studies show that the 2B domain of Rep is not required for DNA helicase activity in vivo or in vitro, and that it does not facilitate DNA unwinding in vitro.
Sensitivity to Azoxystrobin Among Isolates of Uncinula necator: Baseline Distribution and Relationship to Myclobutanil Sensitivity.

Two hundred fifty-six single-conidial chain isolates of Uncinula necator were assayed for their sensitivity to azoxystrobin and myclobutanil. These isolates were collected from two sites in New York in 1999: an "organic" vineyard where no synthetic fungicides have been used (baseline population) and a commercial vineyard having a history of compromised powdery mildew control with myclobutanil (demethylation inhibitor [DMI]-resistant population). Mean coefficients of variance for a leaf disk assay used to test fungicide sensitivities were 31% for azoxystrobin and 41% for myclobutanil. Baseline ED50 values ranged from 0.0037 to 0.028 μg/ml (mean 0.0097μg/ml) for azoxystrobin and from 0.0049 to 0.69 μg/ml (mean 0.075 μg/ml) for myclobutanil. A shift in the mean ED50 value for azoxystrobin to 0.018 μg/ml was observed in the DMI-resistant population; with the strongest shift observed for isolates collected from vines treated exclusively with myclobutanil (0.024 μg/ml). For the 256 tested isolates, there was a moderate, but statistically significant, correlation between azoxystrobin and myclobutanil sensitivities (R2 = 0.36, P < 0.001). Tests with three other strobilurin fungicides (kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin) indicate clear differences in the intrinsic activity of these compounds against U. necator, and the applicability of the methods developed with azoxystrobin for assays with pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin. Isolates from the high and low ends of the azoxystrobin sensitivity distribution (15× difference in mean ED50 values) were equally controlled in planta by protectant or postinfection treatment with azoxystrobin at 250 μg a.i./ml, but postinfection application at lower rates (2.5 and 25 μg a.i./ml) resulted in a 41 and 44% decrease, respectively, in the control of the low-sensitivity isolates versus high-sensitivity isolates. The results of this study document the baseline sensitivity distribution of U. necator to azoxystrobin, provide evidence of partial cross-sensitivity between azoxystrobin and myclobutanil, and illustrate the potential selection for individuals with reduced sensitivity (quantitative range) to azoxystrobin by postinfection application and reduced rates of this fungicide.
Phase Relations in the Garnet Region of the System Y2O3–Fe2O3–FeO–Al2O3

Liquidus equilibrium relations for the air isobaric section of the system Y2O3–Fe2O3–FeO–Al2O3 are presented. A Complete solid-solution series is found between yttrium iron garnet and yttrium aluminum garnet as well as extensive solid solutions in the spinel, hematite, orthoferrite, and corundum phases. Minimum melting temperatures are raised progressively with the addition of alumina from 1469°C in the system Y–Fe–O to a quaternary isobaric peritectic at 1547°C and composition Y0.22Fe1.08Al0.70O2.83* Liquidus temperatures increase rapidly with alumina substitutions beyond this point. The thermal stability of the garnet phase is increased with alumina substitution to the extent that above composition Y0.75Fe0.65Al0.60O3 garnet melts directly to oxide liquid without the intrusion of the orthoferrite phase. Garnet solid solutions between Y0.75Fe1.25O3 and Y0.75Fe0.32-Al0.93O3 can be crystallized from oxide liquids at minimum temperatures ranging from 1469° to 1547°C, respectively. During equilibrium crystallization of the garnet phase, large changes in composition occur through reaction with the liquid. Unless care is taken to minimize temperature fluctuations and unless growth proceeds very slowly, the crystals may show extensive compositional variation from core to exterior.
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis

Examined the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral intervention to help adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) cope with daily stressors. Five youths were referred for the therapy by medical staff because of perceived problems with anxiety or coping. Treatment impact was assessed on measures of coping, anxiety, perceptions of functional disability, and parental reports of behavior. A multiple baseline design across subjects was used. Reductions in anxiety, a decrease in maladaptive coping efforts with CF-related problems, and an increase in positive coping with CF-related problems were obtained. Youths also reported a decrease in functional disability due to CF after the initiation of the intervention. Follow-up assessment indicated that most youths maintained gains in anxiety and perceived functional disability, but not coping efforts. Results suggest that cognitive behavioral treatment is a viable intervention for anxious youths with CF.
Viking 1 Lander on the surface of mars: Revised location

The method used to pinpoint the location of the Viking 1 Lander is described. The higher resolution of pictures taken by the Viking Orbiter at a lower periapsis altitude facilitated the correlation of topographical features with the same features in the Lander pictures. The new areographic coordinates of the Lander are 22.483 deg N latitude and 47.968 deg W longitude.
The preparation and specificity of antibody to thyrotropin releasing hormone.

Synthetic thyrotropin releasing hormone (L-pyroglutamyl-L-histidyl-L-prolineamide) (TRH) was coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) with bis-diazotized benzidine (BDB). Recovery after dialysis of 14C-TRH included in the reaction mixture indicated that the product contained 37.5 μg TRH/mg albumin. The TRH-BDBBSA conjugate in doses calculated to contain 200 and 1000 ng TRH was biologically inactive whereas 20 ng TRH significantly increased rat serum TSH in vivo. Immunization of rabbits with the conjugate yielded significant quantities of anti- TRH antibody which was detected by reaction of diluted antiserum with 125I-TRH. Using 125I-TRH a double antibody radioimmunoassay for TRH has been developed in which as little as 0.1 ng unlabeled TRH can be detected. A variety of TRH analogues were tested and all had little reactivity in this immunoassay. The most potent of these was L-pyroglutamyl-D-histidyl-L-prolineamide which had 1.08% of the activity of TRH. Addition of the amino acid constituents of TRH, various ...
New approaches to the industrial synthesis of HIV protease inhibitors

Efficient and industrially applicable synthetic processes for precursors of HIV protease inhibitors (Amprenavir, Fosamprenavir) are described. These involve a novel and economical method for the preparation of a key intermediate, (3S)-hydroxytetrahydrofuran, from L-malic acid. Three new approaches to the assembly of Amprenavir are also discussed. Of these, a synthetic route in which an (S)-tetrahydrofuranyloxy carbonyl is attached to L-phenylalanine appears to be the most promising manufacturing process, in that it offers satisfactory stereoselectivity in fewer steps.
Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for measurement of nutrient intake in a dietary intervention study.

Objective: To validate a 171-item semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for measurement of nutrient intake in an intervention trial based on walnut supplementation. Design and setting: Free-living adults from Southern California were randomly assigned to either an intervention (walnut-supplemented) or a control diet. The prescribed 6-month intervention was $28 g of walnuts per day for the walnutsupplemented group and #2 g of walnuts per day for the control group. Participants provided at least six 24-hour dietary recalls and completed a self-administered FFQ. Subjects: Eighty-seven adults aged 30–72 years (48 females, 39 males). Results: Our findings from validation (by correlation with six diet recall measures) of the measurement of 32 nutrients by the FFQ are as follows. We found significant positive correlations (corrected for measurement error) between the FFQ and diet recalls for total energy (r ¼ 0.34), total carbohydrate (r ¼ 0.42), vegetable protein (r ¼ 0.43), total fat (r ¼ 0.51), polyunsaturated fat (r ¼ 0.77), total fibre (r ¼ 0.60), linoleic acid (r ¼ 0.78) and a-linolenic acid (r ¼ 0.79) – the last nutrient being an excellent nutrient biomarker of the intervention (walnut supplementation). Significant positive correlations were also found for vitamin C (r ¼ 0.96) and certain minerals (r ¼ 0.46–0.80 for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and potassium). Uncorrected correlations were also high (r . 0.40) for retinol, b-carotene, folate and alcohol. Both diet recalls and FFQ showed a similar significant difference in a-linolenic acid content between the walnut-supplemented and control diets. Conclusions: The FFQ demonstrated good relative validity in the estimation intake of some of the major nutrients in a dietary intervention trial and was a particularly valid estimate of an important nutrient biomarker of walnut supplementation.
From Campus Racism to Cyber Racism: Discourse of Race and Chinese Nationalism

As Sino-African engagement keeps developing, racial relations have emerged to concern people on both sides. The recent Chinese cyber discussions on Africans have shown a blatant racialism against Africans. Comparing this with the campus racism in the 1980s and contextualizing it in China's modern history and, more importantly, China's recent rise as a global power, the article argues that racial discourse has become an important component in Chinese nationalism without public awareness of it.
Costimulator deficient antigen presentation by an endothelial cell line induces a nonproliferative T cell activation response without anergy

The ability of endothelial cells to activate helper T (Th) cells by antigen presentation was studied using the murine endothelial cell line SVEC4-10 and antigen-specific murine T cell clones. SEVEC4-10 cells constitutively express vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 but not intercellular adhesion molecule 1. Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) treatment of these cells induced class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression and antigen-presenting capabilities, but did not alter surface integrin expression. IFN-gamma-treated SVEC4-10 cells were competent at mediating antigen-dependent cytokine production and proliferation of a Th2 clone. In contrast, endothelial antigen presentation to Th1 cells did not stimulate T cell proliferation. The addition of MHC mismatched spleen cells as a source of costimulatory molecules resulted in the ability of the endothelial cells to stimulate Th1 cell proliferation in an antigen-specific manner. The failure of the endothelial cell line alone to support Th1 cell proliferation correlated with the failure to stimulate interleukin 2 (IL-2) gene expression. T cell exposure to the endothelial cells plus antigen resulted in upregulation of IL-2 receptors and an enhanced response to subsequent antigen presentation by splenic antigen-presenting cells. Despite the lack of functional costimulators for IL-2 expression, antigen presentation by the endothelial cell line did not induce Th1 cell anergy, indicating that costimulator deficiency for IL-2 expression is not obligatorily linked to anergy induction. Thus, endothelial cells are capable of presenting antigens to helper T lymphocytes, but stimulate only partial T cell responses. These partial responses may serve to selectively stimulate transmigration of antigen-specific T cells and may enhance functional responses upon subsequent, extravascular antigen exposure.
Digital simulation of power systems

This paper outlines the evolution of digital simulation of power systems and describes the present state of the art. This evolution is caused by and closely follows the evolution of the digital computer. Both the speedup of the hardware and the sophistication of the software environment have greatly influenced the digital simulation of power systems and its various applications. The hardware speedup has allowed the real-time simulation of larger systems while improved database and graphics have allowed the applications to be more user friendly.
MuLTIPLExED FIBER OPTIC SENSORS

A wide range of multiplexing techniques for fiber optic sensors have been proposed and demonstrated over the past 10 years. In many cases, systems utilizing multiplexed sensors have undergone field trials which have successfully proven the technology. This paper reviews this technology and discusses recent research efforts in the area.
Power-efficient instruction delivery through trace reuse

As power dissipation inexorably becomes the major bottleneck in system integration and reliability, the front-end instruction delivery path in a traditional out-of-order superscalar processor needs to deliver high application performance in an energy-effective manner. This challenge can be addressed by efficiently reusing the work of fetch and decode performed during preceding loop iterations and resident mostly within the processor itself. As a large percentage of the instructions currently under fetch have previously dispatched copies resident in the Reorder Buffer (ROB), in this paper we develop a mechanism to utilize the ROB as a storage location for previously decoded instructions. Thus instructions can be fed directly from the ROB into the rename and issue stages, enabling the gating off of the fetch and decode logic for large periods of time so as to deliver significant power savings. Power and performance criticality of the ROB requires an efficient reuse identification mechanism; we outline such a cost-efficient Reuse Identification Unit (RIU) which enables effective identification of the matches between the ROB entries and the instructions currently under fetch. Simulation results on both multimedia and SPEC 2000 benchmarks confirm that incorporating the proposed technique on traditional out-of-order superscalar processors results in not only a sight improvement in performance, but also significant savings in the overall system power dissipation, achieved within a limited hardware budget.