cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The F-Box Protein SKP2 Binds to the Phosphorylated Threonine 380 in Cyclin E and Regulates Ubiquitin-Dependent Degradation of Cyclin E

Abstract Cyclin E is required for S phase entry. The subsequent ubiquitin-dependent degradation of cyclin E contributes to an orderly progression of the S phase. It has been shown that phosphorylation of threonine 380 (Thr380) in cyclin E provides a signal for its ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis. We report that SKP2, an F-box protein and a substrate-targeting component of the SCF SKP2 ubiquitin E3 ligase complex, mediates cyclin E degradation. In vitro, SKP2 specifically interacted with the cyclin E peptide containing the phosphorylated-Thr380 but not with a cognate nonphosphorylated peptide. In vivo, expression of SKP2 induced cyclin E polyubiquitination and degradation. Conversion of Thr380 into nonphosphorylatable amino acids caused significant resistance of cyclin E to SKP2. The presence of the CDK inhibitor p27 Kip1 also prevented the SKP2-dependent degradation of cyclin E. Our findings suggest that SKP2 regulates cyclin E stability, thus contributing to the control of S phase progression.
Evaluating Preceptor Perception of Support Using Educational Podcasts

After their initial training, preceptors report a lack of ongoing support specifically in dealing with preceptor-identified areas of unsafe practice: the inability to demonstrate knowledge and skills, attitude problems, unprofessional behavior, and poor communication skills. The purpose of this staff development study was to test the use of educational technology in the form of podcasts, demonstrating how a preceptor could constructively approach difficult situations using caring behaviors to engage novice nurses and to examine the relationship between preceptor support and role commitment. A correlational research design was used to examine the effects of the podcasts, continuously available through common web sites. Findings include a significant increase in the preceptor's perception of support especially among participants who had less training or experience with precepting. A strong correlation between the preceptor's perception of support and commitment to their role was also demonstrated. Preceptors suggest development of additional podcasts for ongoing educational support.
On a Scale of State Empathy During Message Processing

State empathy during message processing was conceptualized as a process where perception of the characters’ state automatically activates the recipient's vicarious experience of their state, situation, and object, which automatically primes and generates the associated automatic and somatic responses that precede persuasion outcomes. It was proposed that there are three dimensions within state empathy: affective, cognitive, and associative empathy. A 12-item scale was developed as a measurement instrument. Confirmatory factor analyses of data from two samples, one of college students (N = 289) and the other of the general public (N = 189), showed that the scale was unidimensional on the second order. The scale exhibited good internal and external consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity. The scale also had good reliability. Implications for future research and health communication were discussed.
Knight’s Tours on Rectangular Chessboards Using External Squares

The classic puzzle of finding a closed knight’s tour on a chessboard consists of moving a knight from square to square in such a way that it lands on every square once and returns to its starting point. The 8 × 8 chessboard can easily be extended to rectangular boards, and in 1991, A. Schwenk characterized all rectangular boards that have a closed knight’s tour. More recently, Demaio and Hippchen investigated the impossible boards and determined the fewest number of squares that must be removed from a rectangular board so that the remaining board has a closed knight’s tour. In this paper we define an extended closed knight’s tour for a rectangular chessboard as a closed knight’s tour that includes all squares of the board and possibly additional squares beyond the boundaries of the board and answer the following question: how many squares must be added to a rectangular chessboard so that the new board has a closed knight’s tour?
Life cycle of a new species of Amblyospora (Microspora: Amblyosporidae) in the mosquito Aedes taeniorhynchus

Abstract A new species of Microspora, Amblyospora polykarya , is described from the mosquito Aedes taeniorhynchus . The parasite is transovarially transmitted for one generation only. Spores in adult females extrude binucleate sporoplasms which infect developing eggs. Merogony occurs in larval oenocytes with diplokaryotic stages in early instars giving rise to plasmodia with many diplokarya. Plasmodia undergo cytokinesis to form diplokaryotic sporonts. In fat body cells, these sporonts secrete pansporoblastic membranes and undergo two nuclear divisions to form octonucleate sporonts. Cytokinesis and differentiation result in uninucleate spores in packets of eight. These spores are not transmissible per os and are of different morphotype from those in adult females. Infected larvae die in the fourth stadium.
The curvature elastic-energy function of the lipid–water cubic mesophase

CELL and lipid membranes are able to bend, as manifested during membrane fusion and the formation of non-lamellar lyotropic mesopbases in water. But there is an energy cost to bending of lipid layers, called the curvature elastic energy. Although the functional form of this energy is known1, a complete quantitative knowledge of the curvature elastic energy, which is central to predicting the relative stability of the large number of phases that lipid membranes can adopt, has been lacking. Here we use X-ray synchrotron diffraction measurements of the variation of lattice parameter with pressure and temperature for the periodic Ia3d (Q230) cubic phase of hydrated monoolein to calculate the complete curvature elastic-energy function for the lipid cubic mesophase. This allows us to predict the stabilities of different cubic and lamellar phases for this system as a function of composition.
The effects of stearyl and cetyl alcohol on the electrospray mass spectrometry of proteins and their implications on the electrospray mechanism

The presence of a low percentage of a long-chained n-alkanol, such as stearyl or cetyl alcohol, in a micrometer-size water droplet is known to retard significantly the droplet’s evaporation rate due to formation of a layer of the alcohol on its surface. If solvent evaporation from electrospray-generated droplets played a crucial role in the electrospray mechanism, the presence of a long-chained n-alkanol would interfere with the gas-phase ion formation and cause a drastic decrease in analyte response. As it turned out, the electrospray responses of proteins tested with and without the presence of n-alkanols were comparable. In these experiments, the n-alkanols were added either as solutes in water/methanol solutions of proteins or in hexane solutions delivered coaxially to aqueous protein solutions during their electrospray. These results lend further support to our hypothesis that solvent evaporation is not a necessary prerequisite to ion formation in electrospray, and that ions are formed early rather than late during the electrospray process; the earliest point that this can occur is at the Taylor cone.
On the Kolmogorov complexity of functions of finite smoothness

Abstract The ϵ-complexity, in the sense of Kolmogorov, of the class W 1 r = {f: [0, 1] → [−1, 1], f (r−1) is absolutely continuous, ∫ 0 1 | f ( r ) ( x ) | dx r > 1, is asymptotically equal to (l/ϵ) 1/r /log(l/ϵ).
Behavior problems and social skills in preschool children: Parent-teacher agreement and relations with classroom observations.

The goals of the present investigation were to provide basic psychometric information about the use of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS: Merrill, 1994) with a sample of normally-developing preschool children, to assess agreement between parent and teacher ratings of children on this instrument, and to assess concurrent, criterion-related validity of these instruments in terms of their relations with observations of children's behavior in the classroom. Parents and teachers of 47 preschool children completed the scales and these children were observed naturalistically in the classroom setting. Overall, agreement between parents and teachers was modest (–.09 to .38). Cross-informant correlations were poor (–.09 to .27) for social skills, low (.15 to .36) for internalizing behaviors, and modest (.29 to .38) for externalizing behavior. Both parents and teachers rated boys as having more externalizing behavior problems than girls. Parents perceived their children to have more externalizing,...
How does cardiac resynchronization therapy improve exercise capacity in chronic heart failure

Abstract Background Studies have shown that neither ejection fraction nor hemodynamic abnormalities during exercise in chronic heart failure (HF) correlate with symptoms of fatigue and exhaustion. The concept that exercise limitation in patients with chronic HF is due to abnormal hemodynamics during exercise has been revised to acknowledge that the skeletal myopathy of chronic HF contributes significantly to exercise dysfunction in heart failure. Why then does cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), a therapy that improves abnormalities of cardiac function, such as cardiac output and ejection fraction, produce a consistent, measurable, irrefutable increase in exercise capacity? Methods and Results In this review I will (1) review the mechanisms of exercise dysfunction in chronic HF, with special attention to the concept of “coordinated adaptation”; (2) analyze the effects of CRT on autonomic dysfunction in HF; and (3) propose a unifying hypothesis to understand how a therapy that improves cardiac function can improve exercise dysfunction attributable to a skeletal myopathy. Specifically, I will review evidence that CRT improves exercise capacity by attenuating the chronic sympathetic activation of HF. Conclusion The decrease in sympathetic activation, and perhaps inflammation, during CRT likely reverses many features of the skeletal myopathy, leading to improved exercise capacity.
Ti(III)-Mediated reductions of N-hydroxy imidazoles to 1-protio-2,4(5)-disubstituted derivatives

N-hydroxy imidazoles are converted via TiCl3 in MeOH/H2O to N-protio derivatives, useful precursors of chiral amino acids.
Compilers and knowledge dictionaries for expert systems: inference engines of the future

Abstract For the most part, the current technology of expert system inference engines only provides basic coverage of its rule base, i.e. they do not go beyond the simple matching of symptoms to rules. Today's inference engines do not provide any dynamic reorganization or substitution when certain symptoms are either unavailable as session input or not included in the knowledge base. An expert system prototype CompilerlKnowledge Dictionary Expert System (CKDES) is developed to demonstrate how load, compile, sort, and grouping techniques can both simplify and improve the organization/ reorganization of knowledge bases. The CKDES prototype can take “ill-defined” (unorganized) text knowledge, load (scan) it in, and reorganize it into a workable and efficient knowledge base. A “knowledge dictionary” is generated during the knowledge base load1compile process. A “knowledge dictionary” (KD) is here defined as a repository (file) containing the definitions of all symptoms and diagnoses used by the knowledge base. Inference engines of the future can use this KD to dynamically substitute for unavailable symptoms and reorganize decision tree constructs. The CKDES prototype is tested in a nursing diagnostic application. Results of this experiment are presented.
In Vivo Footprinting Analysis of the Hepatic Control Region of the Human Apolipoprotein E/C-I/C-IV/C-II Gene Locus

Expression of both the apolipoprotein (apo)E and apoC-I genes in the liver is specified by a 319-nucleotide hepatic control region (HCR-1) that is located 15 kilobase pairs downstream of the apoE gene and 5 kilobase pairs downstream of the apoC-I gene. In vivo footprint analysis of HCR-1 in intact nuclei revealed several liver-specific protein-binding sites that were not detectable by in vitro methods. In addition to three previously identified in vitro footprints, four in vivo footprints were identified in a region of HCR-1 that is required for directing gene expression to hepatocytes. Prominent liver-specific DNase I-hypersensitive sites were associated with these footprints. Liver-specific nuclear protein binding to these sites was confirmed by oligonucleotide gel-retention assays. The in vivo analysis also identified a cluster of nuclear protein-binding sites in the Alu family repeat segment adjacent to the domain required for liver expression. Micrococcal nuclease digestion indicated the presence of a nucleosome in the central domain of HCR-1 in liver chromatin that was in phase with the nucleosome location in tissues that did not express the transgene. These results suggest that HCR-1 functions in a highly structured chromatin environment requiring a complex interaction of liver-enriched transcription factors.
Network stack optimization techniques for Multichannel Network Video Receivers

Multichannel Network Video Receiver (NVR) is the counter part for Internet Protocol Network Camera (IPNC). Increasing demand of IPNCs for surveillance purpose in turn imposes need to have more NVRs. Traditionally, NVRs are Personal Computer (PC) based applications but there are multi-core System On Chips (SOC)s available in market which can provide much cheaper solutions for this application. For these low cost and low power multi-core SOCs, it is highly likely that most of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) cycles of the master processor are spent in receiving the data over network. In order to receive video data over network with minimum possible cycles spent, the entire network stack needs to be optimized from network receive (RX) perspective. The paper focuses on various efficient techniques for network stack optimization, those can be applied to UNIX based NVR systems. Few of the optimizations described here are very easy to implement and can be implemented without actually changing anything in the source code of application. Experiments carried out using these optimization techniques demonstrate how humongous gain in CPU cycles is obtained for multichannel NVR systems and quantifies the same through exceptional results.
Myocardial remodeling in reperfused myocardial infarction with multiparametric CMR: does diffuse fibrosis occur in remote noninfarcted myocardium?

Background Although mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) has decreased due to improved reperfusion strategies, adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling after MI is associated with poor long-term prognosis and is thus an important therapeutic target. We developed a Yucatan mini-pig model of reperfused MI using percutaneous techniques for coronary occlusion/reperfusion, and sought to characterize remodeling in both the infarct and remote territories using multiparametric CMR techniques.
Comparison of cognitive performances during a placebo period and an atypical antipsychotic treatment period in schizophrenia: critical examination of confounds.

Although previous studies report cognitive improvement following atypical antipsychotic administration in schizophrenia (SC), few placebo-controlled within-subject studies with examination of confounds (symptom reduction, cooperation, learning, and outliers) have been reported. The present study examines the effects of atypicals and confounds upon cognition in SC. The hypothesis tested was that relative to placebo, atypicals as a general class of medication would elicit cognitive improvement in SC. In all, 19 patients with SC (15 males) completed the double-blind, counterbalanced, randomized within-subject study of the effects of atypical antipsychotics (risperidone, clozapine, olanzapine, or quetiapine) vs placebo administration upon cognitive performance in the domains of executive function, attention, memory, language, visual perception, and general intellect. Significant cognitive improvement during atypical antipsychotic administration relative to placebo withdrawal occurred in most cognitive domains with robust improvements in intelligence (p=0.001), memory (p=0.0009), and fluency (p<0.002) even after outliers and unmotivated performances were excluded. These findings suggest that relative to placebo withdrawal, atypicals improve cognitive performance in SC. However, this finding may not be specific to atypicals, since analogous studies of typicals have not been performed.
Studies on sodium-potassium-activated adenosinetriphosphatase. XV. The rectal gland of the elasmobranchs.

Abstract 1. 1. The enzyme NaK activated adenosinetriphosphatase (NaK ATPase) was found in high activity in the rectal gland of nine elasmobranch species. 2. 2. Species with a radial arrangement of tubules in the gland had higher activities per kg body weight than species with lobular division of the glandular parenchyma. 3. 3. The properties of the NaK ATPase system suggest that it has a primary, rate-limiting role in the NaCl secretion by this gland.
Nanometer-scale control of single quantum dot nucleation through focused ion-beam implantation

In situ ${\mathrm{Ga}}^{+}$ focused ion-beam (FIB) implantation has been used to control the nucleation of individual Ge islands on the Si(001) surface at the nanometer scale. The patterning technique consists of three steps: (i) low dose implantation, (ii) post-implantation annealing, and (iii) ultrahigh vacuum deposition of Ge. Varying the conditions for the Ga implantation and the post-implantation anneal allows four types of surface features to be created, and features that present a particular nanotopography after annealing act as island nucleation centers. Furthermore, because of Ga surface segregation during post-implantation annealing, Ge islands formed on patterned substrates present different characteristics compared to conventional Ge islands grown on the unmodified Si(001) surface. We discuss the influence of growth parameters and pattern feature topography on island nucleation, and identify the ideal growth conditions that lead to the formation of one coherent island on each pattern feature and the tightest island size distribution. The patterning technique described here can presumably be applied to systems other than $\mathrm{Si}∕\mathrm{Ge}$ and to techniques other than FIB that allow the creation of suitable local nanotopography.
Anti-leukemic mechanisms of pegylated arginase I in acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia

New treatments for adults with acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia (T-ALL) are urgently needed, as the current rate of overall remission in these patients is only about 40 percent. We recently showed the potential therapeutic benefit of the pegylated-human-arginase I (peg-Arg I) in T-ALL. However, the mechanisms by which peg-Arg I induces an anti-T-ALL effect remained unknown. Our results show the induction of T-ALL cell apoptosis by peg-Arg I, which associated with a global arrest in protein synthesis and with the phosphorylation of the eukaryotic-translation-initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α). Inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation in T-ALL cells prevented the apoptosis induced by peg-Arg I, whereas the expression of a phosphomimetic eIF2α form increased the sensibility of T-ALL cells to peg-Arg I. Phosphorylation of eIF2α by peg-Arg I was mediated through kinases PERK and GCN2 and down-regulation of phosphatase GADD34. GCN2 and decreased GADD34 promoted T-ALL cell apoptosis after treatment with peg-Arg I, whereas PERK had an unexpected anti-apoptotic role. Additional results showed that phospho-eIF2α signaling further increased the anti-leukemic effects induced by peg-Arg I in T-ALL-bearing mice. These results suggest the central role of phospho-eIF2α in the anti-T-ALL effects induced by peg-Arg I and support its study as a therapeutic target.
Androgens regulate prostate cancer cell growth via an AMPK-PGC-1α-mediated metabolic switch.

Androgens regulate prostate cancer cell growth via an AMPK-PGC-1α-mediated metabolic switch
Novel Crosslinked Guest-Host System with Stable Second Order Nonlinearity

Abstract An epoxy-based nonlinear optical (NLO) polymeric material incorporating 4-(4′-nitrophenylazo) phenylamine has been synthesized and subsequently functionalized with acryloyl groups. A glass transition temperature (T 8)of 108°C and a degradation temperature (air) of 251°C were recorded. After crosslinking at 160°C for 2 hours, the T 8 of the polymer increased to 146°C. In order to increase the nonlinear optical chromophore concentration and the crosslinking density, the crosslink-able NLO dye, 2,4-acryloyloxy (4′-phenylazo nitrobenzene), was processed and poled in this epoxy-based NLO material matrix in a manner similar to a typical guest-host system, and thermally crosslinked under the above condition in the poled phase. The crosslinked guest-host material was found to be amorphous with a T 8 of approximately 132°C. It also exhibits a second-order nonlinear optical coefficient d 33 of 14.14 pm/V at a maximum doping level of 33% by weight of the NLO dye, and retains 93% of its original d 33 value a...
Calibration of elastic localization tensors to finite element models: Application to cubic polycrystals

Generalized composite theories for effective elastic response of heterogeneous materials are well established in the literature. An important component of these theories is the concept of a localization tensor that relates the local elastic stress at the microscale to the macroscale (averaged) strain imposed on the composite. In this paper, we present a novel approach for expressing the localization tensors for polycrystalline materials in an efficient spectral framework that can be calibrated to results from finite element models. The proposed approach is critically validated through selected case studies in polycrystalline copper.
On quadatic approximation of a cublic reponse

Kupper and Meydrech (1973, 1974) considered the general problem of approximating a second degree polynomial in p variables over a cuboidal region of interest by a plane is a diagonal matrix of appropriately chosen constants and , is the vector of usual least squares estimates. By employing the which minimizes the maximum of integrated mean square error J over a restricted parameter space formed by specifying bounds for one or more elements of relative to , they were able to achieve smaller J than when for a fixed choice of design. When fitting a straight line to a possibly quadratic response, this approach with additional restrictions (this time involving ) leads to the choice of a mini-max design providing smaller J than is achieved with the best choice of design for in this paper, we consider the special case of fitting a quadratic polynomial to a possibly cubic response.
The behavior of embryonic chick gonads when transplanted to embryonic chick hosts

Experiments were begun in the spring of 1924 for the purpose of analyzing the sex potentialities of developing chick gonads by transplanting them to the vascular chorio-allantoic membranes of host chick embryos. In these experiments the circulations of the host embryo and the sex graft are related in a manner which is essentially similar to the relations existing between twin embryos in cattle.1 In this analysis several important problems arise. It may be possible to determine first how early in development the sex potencies of the gonads and their laterality are fixed; secondly, whether these original sex potencies may be modified or inverted by transplanting the gonadal primordia during the morphologically indifferent stage to host embryos of opposite sexes; thirdly, the behavior of sexually differentiated right and left ovaries and testes when implanted to male and female host embryos.The method employed was essentially the same as previously reported.2 The Wolffian body with its associated sex gland a...
Behavioral profile of constituents in ayahuasca, an Amazonian psychoactive plant mixture

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant mixture typically composed of the β-carboline-rich Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the hallucinogenic plant Psychotria viridis. Ayahuasca has long been used by aboriginal populations for its putative spiritual and medicinal benefits. Although the presumed primary chemical constituents of ayahuasca have been identified, little is known about the basic in vivo pharmacology of the extract. Two principal constituents of ayahuasca, the β-carboline harmine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were selected for detailed study in mice using the Functional Observational Battery (FOB). The B. caapi extract was then examined alone and in combination with DMT. Harmine and the B. caapi extract produced similar effects in the FOB, particularly in the open field. Clonic and tonic motor movements were augmented by DMT administration. Harmine and B. caapi decreased acoustic startle amplitude without significantly affecting prepulse inhibition. DMT appeared to attenuate startle-decreasing effects of harmine and B. caapi, although these effects fell just short of significance. These results suggest that the behavioral effects of B. caapi in mice may be attributed in large part to its principal alkaloid species, harmine, and related β-carbolines in the extract. Hence, the presence of the banisteriopsis vine in the admixture may directly contribute to the unique subjective effects of ayahuasca.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of p38α kinase-targeting dialkynylimidazoles

Abstract Based on the mild, thermal rearrangement of 1,2-dialkynylimidazoles to reactive carbene or diradical intermediates, a series of 1,2-dialkynylimidazoles were designed as potential irreversible p38 MAP kinase α-isoform (p38α) inhibitors. The synthesis of these dialkynylimidazoles and their kinase inhibition activity is reported. The 1-ethynyl-substituted dialkynylimidazole 14 is a potent (IC50 = 200 nM) and selective inhibitor of p38α. Moreover, compound 14 covalently modifies p38α as determined by ESI-MS after 12 h incubation at 37 °C. The unique kinase inhibition, covalent kinase adduct formation, and minimal CYP450 2D6 inhibition by compound 14 demonstrate that dialkynylimidazoles are a new, promising class of p38α inhibitors.
An FPGA-based method for non-linear LADAR image scanning correction and enhancement

Upon acquisition of a non-corrected LADAR image, a noticeable sinusoidal spatial distortion is present in the image. Resonant horizontal scanners must oscillate at high frequencies (in the kilohertz), and therefore they must scan in a sinusoidal pattern. As a result, the laser beam scans slower at the left and right edges of the object and scans the fastest at the center of the object. When the pixels are sampled at a constant rate with respect to time, as it is most commonly done, the resulting image will be noticeably compressed at the center and expanded at the left and right side. The design and testing of an FPGA-based embedded method for correction of this non-linear distortion upon acquisition is the focus of this paper. A working prototype has been currently obtained. This method incorporates dynamic adjustment of the sampling rate upon acquisition. Instead of sampling at a constant rate with respect to time, it is the goal of this system to sample at a constant rate with respect to position (of the deflected laser beam). The sampling rate with respect to time must therefore vary in a non-linear fashion. This is easiest if it is done within an FPGA that controls the acquisition of the data through the ADC (Analog to Digital Conversion), as we show in this work.
Hypermetallic dilithium fluoride, Li2F, and its cation and anion: a combined dissociation and charge permutation study

Abstract Dilithium fluoride, Li–F–Li, has been produced in the gas phase by neutralization of the Li2F+ cation, generated by fast atom bombardment ionization of lithium trifluoroacetate. Subsequent reionization after ∼0.2 μs conclusively shows that the hypermetallic fluoride Li2F has survived intact and, thus, exists as a bound species. Charge reversal of Li2F+ reveals that the anion Li2F− is stable also. These results are in agreement with previous results of ab initio calculations which predict considerable binding energies (≥129 kJ mol−1) for radical Li2F and anion Li2F−, both of which violate the octet rule. Collisionally excited Li2F+ cations dissociate to Li+, LiF+·, Li2+·, and F+ fragments. The yield of F+ strongly depends on the collision gas used, maximizing with He and Ne targets whose ionization energies lie above that of the fluorine atom.
Imaging of traumatic arterial injuries in the neck with an emphasis on CTA

Arterial injuries in the neck may be secondary to blunt or penetrating trauma. Because of clinical difficulties in early identification of these injuries as well as their potentially catastrophic consequences, imaging is indispensible in the diagnosis of arterial injuries in the neck. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) has become the initial study of choice in management of these patients. We review the clinical and imaging features of vascular injuries of the neck with special emphasis on CTA.
Comparing simulations and experimental observations of the trapped-particle instability in the Stanford FEL

Abstract Simulations of the Stanford free electron laser describe the trapped-particle instability leading to sidebands and limit-cycle behavior. Comparisons are made to recent experimental results.
Efficient full-wave analysis of packaging interconnects with bends using the method of moments

In this paper, a method of moments (MoM) based, full-wave layered interconnect simulator, UA-FWLIS is extended to handle interconnects with bends. The accuracy of this new bend-cell expansion function is investigated by comparing with Agilent Momentum.
Photoperiod and Reproduction in Lobsters (Homarus)

SYNOPSIS. Photoperiodic control of lobster ( Homarus ) oviposition ranges from none in the European species ( H. gammarus ) to a two-phase requirement in some populations of H. americanus . In the inshore population from Massachusetts two to three months of shortday photoperiod appear necessary to condition the ovary for final vitellogenesis following long-day onset (LDO). The stimulus of LDO is only effective near the time of molt. If molt follows LDO within 120 days, egg extrusion follows the molt in about 80 days. If LDO follows the molt, extrusion occurs in about 125 days. Extrusion delayed in this way delays the following molt, which is also delayed by the retention of eggs on the pleopods. In lobsters from Prince Edward Island the photoperiodic response seen at laboratory temperatures ( ca . 14°C) appears to be subordinated to a response to other cues, probably temperature, when females are held on a near-natural temperature regime with winter minimum of 2°C characteristic of inshore environments. H. americanus from the migratory outer continental shelf population experience winter temperatures rarely lower than 8°C and probably require photoperiodic control to initiate migration as well as vitellogenesis. The photoperiodic response may have originated in offshore populations during the Pleistocene and spread to more northerly inshore areas as habitat opened after the retreat of the continental ice sheet.
Coronary collateral flow following acute coronary occlusion: a diastolic phenomenon.

Retrograde coronary flow (Qr) was collected from the cannulated distal bed of the ligated left anterior descending artery in 10 open-chest canine preparations. Mean systolic and diastolic aortic root pressure (MSP, MDP [mm Hg]), and heart rate were independently varied, employing intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation and atrial pacing. Intervention with isoproterenol and with nitroglycerin was studied. Qr increased with MDP in direct proportion to the function (0·006 MDP+0·00004 MDP2). Qr was not influenced significantly by MSP (-0·0002 MSP +1·02). Tachycardia resulted in decreased Qr, the reduction correlating with a decrease in the diastolic fraction (fd) of the cardiac cycle. Isoproterenol (two experiments) and nitroglycerin (two experiments) were slight collateral dilators. The results indicate that post-occlusion coronary collateral flow occurs almost entirely in diastole, and is determined directly by MDP and fd. The diastolic collateral flow is influenced by alterations in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and only slightly by pharmacological interventions. The relative indifference of Qr to alterations in peak systolic pressure and heart rate suggests that coronary collateral flow is not primarily metabolically regulated in the acute post-occlusive state. A linear elastic model of the collateral bed is consistent with the experimental findings and lends to their interpretation.
New methods of proteome analysis: multidimensional chromatography and mass spectrometry

Abstract Shortcomings in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis have encouraged the search for new methods of high-throughput proteome analysis. A variety of chromatographic methods can be coupled directly to a mass spectrometer to accomplish this task. However, multidimensional chromatography must be used to achieve the resolving power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Current systems still fall short of the resolving power of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis but they have the potential to improve.
The personal digital assistant in an obstetrics and gynecology residency program

Improvements in electronic technologies have resulted in smaller devices at faster speeds. Whether the provision of a personal digital assistant (PDA) to obstetrics and gynecology residents enhances their residency experience is open to question. This paper presents our institutional experience with incorporating a PDA into an obstetrics and gynecology residency training program. A PDA (Handspring Visor) was provided to residents who did not currently have a PDA. They were then instructed to use this tool at their own leisure with no requirements imposed from the department. Surveys were conducted at three intervals to determine whether this tool was impacting residency experience. Resident responses to the survey revealed that there was a decreased perceived value to this tool at follow-up intervals. However, residents felt that they were not using this tool to its maximum potential. In 94% of responses, the responder felt that the PDA should be available at residency programs and anticipated using it in private practice after completing residency. Expectations for the potential uses of a PDA were high among the obstetrics and gynecology residents. However, the voluntary implementation of a new tool added an additional responsibility in an otherwise busy residency-training program. Thus, the integration of the PDA did not meet the anticipated expectations of overwhelming use by residents. Providing additional software applications and PDA tutorials may encourage residents to take advantage of tools available for procedure logs, electronic billing, electronic prescriptions, and wireless fetal monitoring.
DDT-like effects as a result of corticosterone treatment in an anuran amphibian: Is DDT a corticoid mimic or a stressor?

Exposure of tadpoles to dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) induces pathological development of the upper mandible. In the current study, we report a similar pathological development after tadpoles of the Senegal walking frog (Kassina senegalensis: Hyperolidae) were treated with the steroid hormone, corticosterone (CORT) for 5 d at 1.1 μM. Corticosterone-treated tadpoles developed a “hole” in the snout (mandibular fenestration) with complete loss of the upper keratinized beak, denticles, and oral papillae. Histological analysis revealed a loss of connective tissue, epidermis, and dermis, but remaining dermis, dermal skin glands, and epidermis appeared normal. Analysis of cleared and stained specimens showed that there was no loss of chondrocranial elements but that the cornu trabeculae was eroded, and the cartilago infrarostralis was repositioned and reshaped. The similarities in the effects of CORT reported in the current study and the previously reported effects of DDT suggest that DDT “mimics” CORT or that DDT acts as a “stressor” causing an increase in endogenous CORT. These data are important in defining the effects and mechanisms of pesticide action on anuran larval development.
THE RELATION BETWEEN THE STRUCTURE OF THE EPIDERMIS OF THE RAT AND THE GUINEA PIG, AND THE PROLIFERATIVE POWER OF NORMAL AND REGENERATING EPITHELIAL CELLS OF THE SAME SPECIES

1. A comparative study of the resting and regenerating epidermis of the rat, pigeon, and guinea pig shows the connection between the structure of the skin and the proliferating power of the epithelial cells. We may at present distinguish two types of epidermal cells: (a) cells with less proliferative energy (pigeon and rat), and (b) cells with a greater proliferative power (guinea pig); the former provides the element from which the type of a thin epidermis is built up, while from the latter the type of a thick epidermis develops. 2. The cell type with greater proliferative power in the normal skin shows also greater proliferative power during regeneration, and the regenerative stimulus causes approximately the same relative increase in the number and size of cells and nuclei in both kinds of skin during regeneration, provided that we base our determination of the number of mitoses on the same unit number of cells in both skins rather than on the same unit area. The absolute increase in the number of cells during regeneration is greatest in the type with the greatest proliferative power in the normal cell (guinea pig). 3. The number of mitoses and the size of cells and nuclei follow a similar curve in the different species during regeneration. They reach a maximum approximately on the 7th day; remain stationary or show some decline from the 7th day on until the time of the closure of the wound; following the closure a further fall takes place; but the figures remain higher than in the normal epidermis for a considerable period afterwards. There seems, therefore, to exist under the conditions of our experimentation a period of approximately 7 days, at the end of which the regenerative stimulus reaches its maximum effect. The closure of the wound represents probably an additional factor determining the curve of cell proliferation. Failure of the wound to close at an early date seems to make the decline in the number of mitoses sharp after the maximum has been reached. 4. The curve representing the thickness of living regenerating epithelium declines much more slowly than the curve representing cell size and number of mitoses. This indicates probably that even after closure of the wound some push of epithelial cell towards the center of the former wound continues to take place. 5. From the second day the additional growth of the epidermal tongue decreases in each successive period, if we use the length of the tongue at the beginning of each period as the unit of measurement. 6. Retraction and contraction of the wound are factors additional to epithelial movements and epithelial proliferation determining the closure of the wound.
Assessment of fetal scalp oxygen saturation determination in the sheep by transmission pulse oximetry

Abstract Objective: Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring has an unacceptable false-positive nonreassuring rate, which results in an excess of operative interventions. As a more objective measure of fetal oxygenation, fetal scalp pulse oximetry has been used to assess fetal blood oxygen saturation (SO 2 ). The current devices use reflectance oximetry, which has inherent limitations. These include varying depths of signal penetration, variation with position, and potential for optical interference. In this study we evaluated a newly developed transmission pulse oximetry device consisting of transmitter and receiver diodes mounted within the coil of a standard scalp electrode (Spiral O 2 CTG; Respironics Inc, Marietta, Ga). Study Design: Six pregnant ewes at 127 to 135 days' gestation (term, 145 days' gestation) were anesthetized, intubated, and prepared with a femoral artery catheter. Fetuses were prepared with brachial artery and jugular vein catheters. Maternal inspired oxygen fraction was titrated from 21% to 3%. Oximetry O 2 CTG devices were positioned on the fetal scalp, and recordings were compared with directly determined fetal arterial pH, PO 2 , and SO 2 values. Results: Maternal SaO 2 and PaO 2 ranged from 102% to 16% and 110 to 18 mm Hg, respectively. Fetal SaO 2 and PaO 2 ranged from 76% to 12% and 28 to 8 mm Hg, respectively. There was excellent correlation between direct fetal SaO 2 and scalp SO 2 ( r 2 = 0.90; scalp SO 2 = 0.79 SaO 2 + 6.89). With an SaO 2 of 2 measurements had a 94% ± 10% specificity and a 94% ± 10% positive predictive value. Conclusion: (1) Preliminary studies of the Spiral O 2 CTG sensor demonstrated high correlation of scalp SO 2 with fetal SaO 2 . (2) Although potential inaccuracies remain, transmission oximetry may offer potential advantages in consistency, ease of application, and technology with respect to the current reflection oximeter devices. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:1549-53.)
Correlations Phonon Spectrum-sensitivity in Metal-oxide Gas Sensors

Abstract We show that the sensitivity of metal-oxide gas sensors to a given gas peaks at temperatures which correspond to specific oxide phonon energies. It indicates that atomic vibrations contribute to the sensing mechanism and explains the dependence of the sensitivity on the exposed facet. In addition, the signature of the molecular vibrations in sensitivity is reported. Lattice anharmonicity as ingredient in shaping the sensitivity peak is introduced. The existence of a resonant charge transfer when the phonon frequency matches a molecular vibration one is brought to the fore.
Proteomic analysis of rat atrial secretory granules: a platform for testable hypotheses.

The recent development of powerful proteomic tools has enabled investigators to directly examine the population of proteins present in defined biological systems. We report here the first proteomic analysis of atrial secretory granules. Approximately 100 distinct protein components of the atrial secretory granule proteome were detected using subcellular fractionation and one-dimensional SDS-PAGE in conjunction with peptide mass fingerprinting by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Of this number, 61 proteins were clearly identified by high probability data matches and repeated observation. The majority of the proteome was found to be membrane-associated with the most prominent proteins being peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) and pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (pro-ANP). This proteomic analysis of the rat atrium secretory granule produced an assembly of proteins with a diverse array of reported functions. The identified proteins fall into seven functional categories: (1) granular transport, docking and fusion; (2) signal transduction; (3) calcium-binding/calcium-dependent; (4) cellular architecture/chaperoning; (5) peptide/protein processing; (6) hormone; (7) proton transport. The novel finding of several protein processing enzymes and signal transduction proteins offer new perspectives on how pro-ANP is stored and processed to ANP during release. Accordingly, defining the proteome of the atrial secretory granule provides a framework for the development of new hypotheses that address key mechanisms governing granule function and ANP secretion.
Hydrogen storage in CeNi5−xCux

Abstract Hydrides of CeNi5−xCux (x = 2, 2.5, 3) were studied in the temperature range of 0–50 °C. Pressure-composition isotherms with well-defined flat plateaux were obtained in this temperature range for x = 2 and 2.5. Substitution of copper for nickel causes a substantial decrease in the hydrogen dissociation pressure. The substitution also lowers the alloy cost. The kinetics of absorption and desorption are extremely fast (90% of the absorption takes place in about 50 s). The heats ΔH of formation of the hydride system are low relative to the value for LaNi5-H2. The low value of ΔH together with the high absorption and desorption rates makes these compounds promising materials for technical applications, especially hydrogen storage.
Models of unidirectional propagation in heterogeneous excitable media

Two differential equation models of excitable media (threshold and recovery kinetics) with solutions that exhibit unidirectional propagation are presented. It is shown that unidirectional propagation in heterogeneous excitable media with non-oscillatory kinetics can be initiated from homogeneous initial data. Simulations on a reaction-diffusion model with FitzHugh-Nagumo kinetics and spatially heterogeneous parameters yields a rotating wave on a one-dimensional circular spatial domain. An ordinary differential equation model with four semi-coupled excitable cells and heterogeneous parameters is analyzed to determine a critical parameter region over which unidirectional propagation may occur.
The sufficient-component discrete-cause model and its extension to several risk factors

Abstract This paper is concerned with Koopman's (1981) discussion of using the ICDR as a measure of deviation from an additive model of no interaction. This measure has been shown to be zero or slightly negative when the assumptions of no interaction hold in the sufficient-component discrete-cause model. The discussion centers around a theoretical structure of sufficient causes for juvenile-onset diabetes where there is a component cause common to all sufficient causes and two binary factors or risks X and Y are measured ( X : Coxsackie B 4 infection; Y : HLA4). In this paper, we have extended Koopman's discussion to the case where three or more binary factors X , Y , Z ,… are measured. We have considered interaction between factors in every subset and have proved that the ICDR is again either zero or negative when the assumptions of no interaction hold in the sufficient-component cause model. It is supposed that these factors in conjunction will inevitably result in beta-cell destruction together with a set of immunologic conditions that permit dissemination of the enterovirus infection and permit an autoimmune response.
Activation of multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase in intact hippocampal slices

In vitro phosphorylation of multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) converts it to a form that is independent of Ca2+. We demonstrate that significant Ca(2+)-independent CaM kinase activity is present in untreated hippocampal slices. Two manipulations that produce a long-lasting enhancement of neuronal activity in hippocampal slices, elevated extracellular Ca2+ or depolarization with high K+, generate additional Ca(2+)-independent activity. This increase is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and is correlated with an increased phosphorylation of CaM kinase. In contrast, CaM kinase in posterior pituitary, a brain structure that is not thought to be involved in memory-related processes, is not modulated by depolarization. These results suggest that the Ca(2+)-independent form of CaM kinase may modulate neuronal activity in the hippocampus.
Assessing forces in the selection of local television news

Through quantitative coding of potential news items during newsroom observation, this study explored the roles of four forces on news selection. News judgment, although important to selection decisions, was not the only relevant factor. Constraints on resources for covering stories were nearly as important in shaping news content, but the impact of subsidized news information and electronic technology were relatively less significant.