cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Qualitative Functional Deficiency of Affinity-Purified Lactoferrin from Neutrophils of Patients with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, and Lactoferrin/H-Ferritin-Cell Interactions in a Patient with Lactoferrin-Deficiency with Normal Numbers of Circulating Leukocytes

The iron-binding proteins lactoferrin (LF) and H-ferritin have been implicated in the negative regulation of myelopoiesis in vitro and in vivo. The present studies evaluated the functional activity of affinity-purified LF from polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and LF/H-ferritin-cell interactions in a nonleukemic patient with LF deficiency with normal levels of circulating blood leukocytes. Affinity-purified CML-PMN-LF was found to be qualitatively deficient as a suppressor of the release of colony-stimulating factors from mononuclear blood cells, adding to previous information from our group documenting defective LF-cell interactions in CML. LF was detected by immunoradiometric assay in PMN of the patient with LF deficiency, but at a much lower level than normal. This LF was found, however, to be active as a suppressor molecular against the patient’s cells and normal donor cells. Patient cells were as responsive as normal cells to effects of purified milk LF. Decreased LF levels in this patient were associated with increased levels of monocyte H-ferritin inhibitory activity, consistent with the known suppressive effects in vitro of LF on H-ferritin release from monocytes. Patient marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells were as responsive as progenitors from normal donors to suppression by purified H-ferritin and prostaglandin Ei. These results are consistent with a role of LF and H-ferritin in the control of myelopoiesis in this patient.
Chemical analyses of martian soil and rocks obtained by the Pathfinder Alpha Proton X-ray spectrometer

Abstract The US Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, which landed on the red planet on the 4th of July 1997, carried an Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) that obtained the chemical composition of martian soil and rocks. The principles of the APXS operation are based on three interactions of alpha particles with matter: Rutherford alpha backscattering; (α, p) nuclear reactions; and X-ray generation by charged particles and X-ray excitation. The APXS, as was implemented on the Pathfinder mission, uses for all three modes of operation a monoenergetic beam of alpha particles from about 40 mCi of 244Cm radioisotope. It employs Si charged particle detectors for alpha and proton modes and a specially designed silicon PIN detector for its X-ray mode that does not require cooling for its operation. The APXS can detect all of the elements (except H and He) present above a few tenths of a percent for all major elements and several hundred ppm for many minor and trace elements. The APXS on Pathfinder was transported to various locations on the martian surface by the Sojourner rover which enabled it to analyze multiple soil and rock samples selected by the science team from the lander camera images. The APXS performed excellently under the adverse martian environment conditions and provided important information about the chemical composition of the martian soil and rocks. All of the analyzed rocks at the Pathfinder site were found to have high concentrations of silica, sulfur and iron, and low in magnesium, similar to those of the terrestrial basaltic andesites and definitely different from the SNC meteorites that are believed to have originated from Mars. All of the soil samples analyzed by the APXS have similar composition and are very close to the soil analyses obtained by the two Viking missions. The information derived from the Pathfinder APXS has significant implications about the origin and evolution of planet Mars.
M7: Oracle's Next-Generation Sparc Processor

The Oracle Sparc M7 processor more than triples the throughput of the Sparc M6 processor, while increasing per-thread performance, power efficiency, and I/O bandwidth. M7 contains 32 8-thread, dual-issue, out-of-order Sparc cores. To minimize L3 cache hit latency, M7 features a partitioned L3 cache, with a novel on-chip network for communication between the cache partitions, coherence control, and memory. Memory bandwidth is more than 3 times that of the Oracle Sparc M6 processor. On-chip accelerators providing query filtering and decompression can provide another order of magnitude performance increase for these tasks. M7 keeps power consumption at a minimum through multiple power-saving techniques. M7 scales to 32-processor shared memory multiprocessing systems (SMPs). Coherent shared memory is also supported between SMPs in a cluster. Such a cluster is robust against both communication and SMP failure. Application data integrity guards against pointer-related software vulnerabilities without slowing the processor. Fine-grained memory migration supports concurrent garbage collection.
Systemic thermochemotherapy: Toxicity and plasma pharmacokinetics of methotrexate and doxorubicin

Chemotherapy administered during systemic hyperthermia is more tumoricidal than either modality used alone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma drug pharmacokinetics and host toxicity when methotrexate (MTX) or doxorubicin (adriamycin--ADR) was given at 37 or 43 degrees C. Eight dogs were heated to 43 degrees C for 1 hr without chemotherapy; eight dogs received MTX (5 mg/kg) and four dogs received ADR (2 mg/kg) intravenously as a constant infusion at 43 or 37 degrees C. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 1, 2, 24, and 48 hr. Mean plasma MTX levels were not significantly different at 1, 2, and 6 hours in 43 and 37 degrees C dogs, but at 24 and 48 hr mean plasma MTX levels were significantly elevated in heated (43 degrees C) dogs compared with sham-heated (37 degrees C) dogs. Plasma MTX concentration multiplied by time (area under curve) was 131 g . hr/liter in 43 degrees C dogs compared with 73 g . hr/liter in 37 degrees C dogs (P less than 0.001). Vomiting and bloody diarrhea lasted an average of 4 days in heated control dogs (no drugs) 4 days in 37 degrees C dogs, and 5 to 7 days in 43 degrees C MTX dogs. Mean plasma ADR levels were similar in 37 and 43 degrees C dogs at all time intervals. Vomiting and bloody diarrhea lasted at least 7 days in 43 degrees C dogs compared with only 1 day in 37 degrees C dogs treated with ADR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Aging of Iron (Hydr)oxides by Heat Treatment and Effects on Heavy Metal Binding

Amorphous iron (hydr)oxides are used to remove heavy metals from wastewater and in the treatment of air pollution control residues generated in waste incineration. In this study, iron oxides containing heavy metals (e.g., Pb, Hg, Cr, and Cd) were treated at 50, 600, and 900 °C to simulate their transformations caused by heat treatment prior to disposal or aging at a proper disposal site. The transformations were investigated by XRD, SEM, XANES, EXAFS, surface area measurements, pH static leaching tests, and extractions with oxalate and weak hydrochloric acid. It was found that at 600 and 900 °C the iron oxides were transformed to hematite, which had a greater thermodynamic stability but less surface area than the initial products. Heat treatment also caused some volatilization of heavy metals (most notably, Hg). Leaching with water at pH 9 (L/S 10, 24 h) and weak acid extraction showed that heat treatment caused a part of the metals bound in the oxides to be released, thus increasing metals leachability b...
From calculus to topology: teaching lecture-free seminar courses at all levels of the undergraduate mathematics curriculum

ABSTRACT The paper discusses the author's experiences teaching mathematics courses in a lecture-free, discussion-based seminar format at all levels of the traditional undergraduate mathematics curriculum. These seminars replace the traditional lecture with classroom discussion of course readings and exercises prepared by students in advance of class. Methods of motivating, instructing, and supporting student efforts towards independent reading of mathematical text is discussed. A non-scientific assessment of the results in these seminar courses is provided. The author's success with the seminar approach to mathematics education at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum suggests the potential value of subsequent experimentation in seminar instruction by other professors. Suggestions for such experimentation are provided. * This paper is an invited paper from the Contributed Paper Session on The Undergraduate Seminar in Mathematics at the New Orleans Joint AMS/AMA Mathematics Meetings, 10–13 January 2001.
Developmental hormonal profiles accompanying the neonatal hypothyroidism-induced increase in adult testicular size and sperm production in the rat.

Neonatal treatment with the reversible goitrogen 6-N-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) results in a near doubling of testicular size and a 25% increase in the efficiency of spermatogenesis, without affecting circulating testosterone (T) levels in adult rats. The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of neonatal PTU treatment on the pattern of testicular growth and circulating levels of anterior pituitary (FSH, LH, PRL, GH, and TSH), gonadal [immunoreactive inhibin-alpha (irI alpha) and T], and thyroid (T3 and T4) hormones over the first 100 days of life. Treatment of rats with PTU from birth to 24 days of age significantly reduced testicular weights between 10 and 60 days of age. However, the duration of testicular growth was extended in treated males, resulting in a 68% increase at 100 days of age. Serum gonadotropin levels in treated males were reduced throughout the experimental period, typically remaining between 50-70% of control levels. The characteristic robust prepubertal FSH peak wa...
Quantitation of functional differences between the two segments of the rat proximal tubule in the handling of chlorphenol red and hippuran-131I.

The work reported in this paper attempts to associate several functions known to occur in the renal proximal tubule with either the convoluted or straight segment of this tubule, and from observations made on a zonal basis to offer conclusions concerning the specific functions of these segments. Measurements were made of chlorphenol red and hippuran-131I in kidneys of diuretic rats which had one ureter ligated to create stop-flow conditions. Autoradiographs were also obtained from the hippuran-131I study. The results show that chlorphenol red and hippuran-131I accumulate in the cortex in kidneys after ligation of the ureter and in the outer stripe of the outer zone of medulla in free urine flow kidneys. The measurements made in renal tissue when compared with the plasma and urine levels of chlorphenol red and hippuran-131I obtained during the experiments, indicate that these substances are actively secreted at both the vascular and luminal margins of the epithelial cell of the convoluted segment and passively reabsorbed by the epithelial cells of the straight segment.
A double-blind comparison of low-dose intravenous ketamine and methohexital in adults

Abstract Two ultralight general anesthetic techniques, one using low-dose ketamine and the other using methohexital as the primary anesthetic agent, were compared for efficacy, safety, and psychomotor recovery in a double-blind fashion for use during third molar surgery. Low-dose intravenous ketamine as the primary anesthetic following premedication with fentanyl and midazolam, and in conjuction with nitrous oxide, appeared to produce less hypoxia, hypercarbia, and apnea than when methohexital was used. No significant differences were noted in heart rate or blood pressure between the techniques. The ketamine technique was universally preferred by the surgeons and anesthesiologists because of superior patient cooperation and airway management. No unpleasant psychomimetic side effects of significance were noted with the use of ketamine. Postoperative recovery took slightly longer in the ketamine group, with patients being judged fit for discharge approximately 10 to 15 minutes later than the patients who received methohexital.
Bone marrow cytotoxic precursor T cells: Alloantigen-induced cytotoxic T-cell responses by murine bone marrow cells in vitro

Abstract When bone marrow cells, obtained from C57BL/6 mice, were incubated in vitro with irradiated BALB/c spleen cells, cytotoxic activity against P815 tumor cells developed at 5–7 days of culture. This cytotoxic activity was T cell mediated and specific for the H-2 type of the allogeneic spleen cells used as stimulators. The generation of this cytotoxic T-cell activity was dependent on T cells present in the bone marrow since T-cell-depleted bone marrow cells failed to generate a cytotoxic response in vitro . The correct ratio of bone marrow cells to allogeneic stimulator cells was critical for demonstrating an in vitro cytotoxic response. Further, bone marrow cells incubated in culture medium not supplemented with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) failed to generate alloantigen induced cytotoxic responses. Cytotoxic activity generated by bone marrow cells was always lower than the cytotoxic activity generated by alloantigen stimulated spleen cells. However, the level of cytotoxic activity generated by bone marrow cells was not in proportion to the initial low number of T cells present in that tissue. Before in vitro culture with alloantigen, 3% of the bone marrow cells were Thy-1.2 + as compared to 40% of the spleen cells being Thy-1.2 + . After 5 days of culture with alloantigen, 28% of the bone marrow cells were Thy-1.2 + , representing a sixfold increase in the absolute number of T cells. The possibility that differentiation of pre-T cells into cytotoxic effector T cells is taking place in this in vitro response is considered.
High-voltage class-D direct-drive audio amplifier for electrostatic loudspeakers

Electrostatic loudspeakers (ESLs) are capable of low distortion and have desirably flat frequency response within the audio frequency range. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed for audio amplification using a high-voltage direct-digital solid-state class-D amplifier as a method that replaces impedance matching ESL audio transformers. Optical coupling is used to achieve isolation from the high-voltage side. The proposed stacked MOSFET output stage provides a solution to the voltage swing limitations of the available switching power MOSFETs. An example digital amplifier having 14-bit ADC precision PWM with ƒ c = 50 kHz was implemented at ± 375 V delivering 7W into R a =20kΩ. The digital modulator was realized on a Xilinx Virtex4 Sx35-10ff668 at F s = 100 MHz clock.
Simulation of the thermostamping of woven composites: mesoscopic modelling using explicit fea codes

A hybrid finite element discrete mesoscopic approach is proposed to model the forming of woven-fabric reinforced composites. The yarns are modelled by 1-D elements, and the shearing behaviour of the fabric is incorporated within 2-D elements. The approach has the advantage of being easy to code into a commercial finite element package through a user-defined material subroutine. The material constants can be determined from conventional tensile and shear-frame tests. The proposed material model has been implemented in the ABAQUS and LS-DYNA explicit finite element programs with the material parameters for a Twintex® plain-weave fabric (commingled polypropylene and glass fibres). To validate the approach, shear-frame and bias-extension tests have been modelled, and the finite element results are compared to experimental data. Then, as an example of the capabilities of the method, the thermostamping of a hemisphere has been modelled. The finite element results from ABAQUS and LS-DYNA are similar and agree well when compared to the experimental data.
Inhibition by human interleukin-1 alpha of parathyroid hormone-related peptide effects on renal calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the rat.

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) is at least partly caused by tumor secretion of PTH-related peptide (PTHrP), but there is growing evidence for cosecretion with PTHrP of other bone-resorbing peptides, such as the cytokine interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). Administration of PTHrP in vivo and in vitro generally mimics the actions of PTH itself, with increases in both resorption and formation of bone. However, bone in HHM is characterized by uncoupling of bone turnover, with increased resorption and decreased formation. We performed experiments to determine whether IL-1 alpha might alter the effects of PTHrP and produce uncoupling. Thus, we administered to 100-g male rats by sc osmotic minipumps synthetic PTHrP-(1-34) alone (2 micrograms/100 g/day), recombinant IL-1 alpha alone (1.5 micrograms/100 g/day), both peptides together at the previous doses, or vehicle only. We infused 5 groups of 12 rats each (PTHrP, IL-1 alpha, PTHrP plus IL-1 alpha, ad libitum fed control, and controls pair-fed to the PT...
Experimental evidence for hole transport limited intensity modulation response in quantum well lasers

Direct experimental evidence is presented to show that it is the hole transport across wide separate confinement heterostructures and not the electron quantum capture that leads to the low frequency rolloff in the intensity modulation response of quantum well lasers.
Modeling the concentration of ethanol in the exhaled breath following pretest breathing maneuvers.

A previously developed mathematical model that describes the relationship between blood alcohol (ethanol) concentration and the concentration of alcohol in the exhaled breath at end-exhalation (BrAC) has been used to quantitate the effect of pretest breathing conditios on BrAC. The model was first used to “condition” the airways with different breathing maneuvers prior to simulating a single exhalation maneuver, the maneuver used in standard breath alcohol testing. On inspiration, the alcohol in the air reaches local equilibrium with the alcohol in the bronchial capillary bed prior to entering the alveolar region. On expiration, approximately 50% of the alcohol absorbed on inspiration is desorbed back to the airways. BrAC correlates with the amount of alcohol that is desorbed to the airways. The six pretest breathing conditions and the percent change in BrAC relative to the control maneuver were: hyperventilation (−4.4%), hypoventilation (3.7%), hot-humid air (−2.9%), hot-dry air (0.66%), cold-humid air (0.13%), and cold-dry air (0.53%). The mechanism underlying these responses is not due to changes in breath temperature, but, rather to changes in the axial profile of alcohol content in the mucous lining of the airways.
Factor Analysis and Reliability of the Mental Dexterity Test

Sammary.-The primary objective of the present study was to factor analyze a recently developed mental ability test in order to develop verbal and numeri621 su[6s515-then to establish the reliability of the subtests (and of the test as a whole) using 97 advanced college srudents as,Ss. Using a varimax rorarion, some 34 factors were extracted, the most prominent two factors being verbal and numerical in nature. Based mainly on factor-loadings, two subtests were developed----a 5O-item verbal comprehension test and a 30-item numerical ability test. The KR-20 reliability coefficients for the verbal and numerical subtests were.89 and.82 respectively, whereas that for the entire 100-item test was .93.
Study of the gauge group SU(2)L×(T3)R×UV(1)

Abstract We study the gauge group SU(2)L×(T3)R×UV(1) for the unification of the weak and electromagnetic interactions. This group, which contains the standard SU(2)×U(1) Weinberg-Salam (WS) model as a subgroup, can emerge as a low-energy subgroup in some models of grand unification. Depending on the symmetry breaking pattern we set limits on the mass of the heavier Z boson. One symmetry breaking pattern allows parity violations in atoms to be much smaller than in the WS model while preserving the agreement with data in all other processes. This pattern permits the heavier Z boson to be as light as 1.78 MW/cos θW. An alternate pattern only affects neutrino results, and here the lower limit on the heavy Z boson mass is 2.74 MW/cosθW.
The experience of effortlessness in hypnosis: Perceived or real?

Abstract Hypnotized individuals who successfully respond to a suggestion typically report that the response requires little or no cognitive effort. It is important, however, to distinguish between whether this effect occurs in actual effort or is only perceived. In addition, the authors distinguish between cognitive effort expended to initiate a response and that required to maintain it. The authors examine the different predictions of four theories-compliance theory, sociocognitive theory (Lynn & Rhue, 1991), Hilgard's (1986) neodissociation theory and Bowers's (1992) theory of dissoaated control-regarding both of these distinctions. Experimental evidence bearing on the various predictions is examined. Additionally, the authors propose a number of design modifications that may help sort out the variables contributing to the effortlessness of the hypnotic response.
Constructionist Perspectives on the Life Course

This article reviews recent developments in constructionist approaches to life course studies. It outlines the general tenets of social constructionism and compares and contrasts two contemporary constructionist perspectives on the life course.
Dynamic bending rigidity of DNA.

Rapidly relaxing components in the decay of the transient electric dichroism of DNA restriction fragments were reported by Diekmann et al. [(1982) Biophys. Chem. 15, 263-270] and Porschke et al. [(1987) Biopolymers 26, 1971-1974]. These are analyzed using a new normal mode theory for weakly bending rods and assigned to bending. The longest bending relaxation times for fragments with 95-250 base pairs coincide with the theoretical curve calculated for a dynamic bending rigidity corresponding to a dynamic persistence length Pd = 2100 A. Analysis of the relative amplitudes of fast and slow components following weak orienting pulses is also consistent with a rather large dynamic persistence length. The enhancement of the relative amplitude of the fast component in large electric fields is attributed to steady-state bending of initially perpendicular DNAs by the field. Several reasons are proposed why the dynamic bending rigidity is 4 times larger than the apparent static bending rigidity inferred from equilibrium persistence length measurements on the same fragments.
The Undecided Respondent in Mandatory Voting Settings: a Venezuelan Exploration

.jOLITICAL SCIENTISTS have devoted great energies to understanding individual choices in presidential elections.' Studies, usually involving survey methods, have taught us a great deal about how people who report their choices reach their decisions. In contrast, we know little about respondents who report themselves undecided, except as indecisiveness has been analysed in the context of nonvoting (Hadley 1978; Wolfinger and Rosenstone 1980). This treatment is not surprising as earlier American evidence suggested that individuals who report themselves undecided in the middle of an intense political campaign are unlikely to vote (Campbell, Converse, Miller, and Stokes 1960). With the focus on who is going to vote for which candidate and why, undecided respondents become relegated to "missing data." In the small but significant number of democracies with compulsory voting (Crewe 1981: 240), undecided respondents deserve serious attention. Since in mandatory voting systems undecided individuals eventually must cast their ballots, undecided respondents do become voters. This is recognized by pollsters and campaign strategists who devote great time and energy attempting to uncover the political motivations and preferences of the undecided. Campaign consultants assume that understanding undecided respondents is a key to winning elections. Political scientists concerned with electoral choice in obligatory voting systems have not matched the political consultants' concern with undecided respondents. This oversight may be explained in part by the methodological difficulty in dealing with subjects who respond "I don't know" to the quintessential question of most psephological research. The purpose of this paper is to examine the voting behavior and motivations of voters who report themselves undecided in preelection days surveys. We propose to show how undecided respondents can be studied and to demonstrate that a focus on the undecideds enhances the
Quadrat Analysis of Urban Dispersion: 3. Bivariate Modelst

This paper is a continuation of an earlier two-part essay on quadrat analysis. It extends the previous discussion by introducing bivariate models of spatial dispersion to analyze statistically the correlated spatial clustering of food stores and population in urban areas. The data used for empirical study are the spatial patterns of food stores and residential population in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia.
Low-density versus high-density thoracic pedicle screw constructs in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: do more screws lead to a better outcome?

Abstract Background context Thoracic pedicle screw (TPS) constructs have improved curve correction measurements compared with hook and hybrid constructs in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but the optimal implant density, or the number of screws per level, remains unknown in the treatment of flexible thoracic curves. Purpose To determine how implant density affects clinical outcome, radiographic outcome, and cost in the treatment of Lenke Curve Type I AIS. Study design A retrospective clinical study. Patient sample Ninety-one consecutive AIS patients with Lenke Type I curves who underwent surgical correction with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Outcome measures Radiographic outcomes included assessment of preoperative and 2-year postoperative thoracic Cobb angle, T5–T12 kyphosis, and curve flexibility. We also assessed SRS-22 outcome measures and thoracic angle of trunk rotation (ATR) before surgery and at the 2-year postoperative time point. The cost of each construct was also evaluated. Methods Bivariate analysis was conducted between implant density and the following factors: percent correction of the major curve, ATR, and change in kyphosis. The correlation between curve flexibility and percent correction of the major curve was determined. Patients were then divided into two groups: the low-density (LD) TPS group defined by implant density below the mean number of screws per level for the entire cohort (less than 1.3 screws per level) and the high-density (HD) TPS group defined by implant density above the mean number of screws per level (more than 1.3 screws per level). Independent sample t tests were used to compare demographic data as well as radiographic and clinical outcomes at baseline and at follow-up between the two groups. Results Sixty-one female and 30 male patients met inclusion criteria. No significant correlations were found between implant density and the following parameters: percent correction of the major curve (p=.25), ATR (p=.75), and change in T5–T12 kyphosis (p=.40). No correlation was found between curve flexibility and percent correction of the major curve (p=.54). The LD group consisted of 57 patients, whereas the HD group had 34 patients. There were no differences between the HD group and the LD group in regard to major curve correction, change in T5–T12 kyphosis, or change in ATR. Total implant costs were significantly higher in the HD group ($13,272 vs. $10,819; p Conclusions We identified no clinical, radiographic, perioperative, or complication-related advantage of constructs with higher TPS implant density in this patient cohort with flexible idiopathic scoliosis. Cost was significantly higher with HD constructs in comparison with LD constructs. Optimal implant density chosen by the surgeon should rely on a number of factors including curve magnitude and rigidity, bone density, and desired correction.
And justice for all: Revisiting the Global Belief in a Just World Scale

Abstract The Global Belief in a Just World Scale (GBJWS) has been widely used in measuring the Belief in a Just World (BJW) personality trait. Despite its widespread application across the social sciences, the validity of this scale has not been sufficiently tested in the literature. In this research, the authors examine the internal and external validity of the GBJWS using both standard correlational analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM). Specifically, the authors test the concurrent validity, internal consistency, unidimensional structure, convergent validity, and both measurement and latent mean invariance of the scale across gender and culture. The results of a pilot study suggest strong concurrent validity of the GBJWS with other BJW scales, and the findings of the two main studies support the internal and external validity of GBJWS across gender and culture. The authors’ results further show an overall greater level of BJW of Chinese individuals compared to Americans. The present research provides a much needed investigation of the validity of the GBJWS, and answers calls for research examining the scale’s utility across different populations.
Adaptive mesh refinement for chevron nozzle jet flows

Abstract In this paper an adaptive mesh generation procedure is presented for improving the resolution of the numerical simulation of a turbulent jet exhausting from a chevron nozzle. This procedure is based on the minimization of a variational integral whose integrand depends on the metric (also called the monitor function) induced by a curvilinear grid generated in the physical domain. Specifically, it leads to solving parabolic equations involving the monitor function, which is carefully designed to resolve the flow gradients, and which, in the present instance, is determined by the time-averaged axial velocity profile within the jet. This mesh redistribution strategy is incorporated into a flow computation code (that solves the compressible three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations using a prefactored optimized fourth-order compact difference scheme for spatial derivatives and the Beam-Warming method for the time derivative on a multi-block overset grid) and is demonstrated to be efficient and effective.
A Role for Myocilin in Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis

Myocilin is a broadly expressed protein that when mutated uniquely causes glaucoma. While no function has been ascribed to explain focal disease, some properties of myocilin are known. Myocilin is a cytoplasmic protein that also localizes to vesicles specifically as part of a large membrane-associated complex with properties similar to the SNARE machinery that function in vesicle fusion. Its role in vesicle dynamics has not been detailed, however myocilin intersects with the endocytic compartment at the level of the multivesicular body. Since internalized GPCRs are sorted in the multivesicular body, we investigated whether myocilin functions in ligand-dependent GPR143 endocytosis. Using recombinant systems we found that the kinetics of myocilin recruitment to biotinylated membrane proteins was similar to that of arrestin-3. We also co-localized myocilin with GPR143 and Arrestin-2 by confocal microscopy. However, wild-type myocilin differed significantly in its association kinetics and co-localization with internalized proteins from mutant myocilin (P370L or T377M). Moreover, we found that myocilin bound to the cytoplasmic tail of GPR143, an interaction mediated by its amino terminal helix-turn-helix domain. Hydrodynamic analyses show that the myocilin-GPR143 protein complex is >158 kD and stable in 500 mM KCl, but not 0.1% SDS. Collectively, data indicate that myocilin is recruited to the membrane compartment, interacting with GPCR proteins during ligand-mediated endocytosis and that GPCR signaling underlies pathology in myocilin glaucoma.
Alzheimer's Disease, Apolipoprotein E4, and Gender

To the Editor. —Researchers at Duke University have shown that apolipoprotein E4 (apo E) gene dosage correlates with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). 1 Their study included members of 42 families with late-onset AD (age at onset, >60 years) with known apo E genotype and used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate the age-of-onset curves for subjects with zero, one, and two E4 alleles. The resulting curves revealed a significant dosage effect, where each additional E4 allele shifted the onset to an earlier age. We have performed a similar study, which included members of 52 families with late-onset AD (age at onset, >60 years) with known apo E genotype and used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate the age-of-onset curves for subjects with zero, one, and two E4 alleles. Our study included 252 individuals with known age and apo E genotype; 38 were younger than 60 years,
Functional Transcriptional Regulatory Sequence (TRS) RNA Binding and Helix Destabilizing Determinants of Murine Hepatitis Virus (MHV) Nucleocapsid (N) Protein

Coronavirus (CoV) nucleocapsid (N) protein contains two structurally independent RNA binding domains. These are denoted N-terminal domain (NTD) and C-terminal domain and are joined by a charged linker region rich in serine and arginine residues (SR linker). In mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), the NTD binds the transcriptional regulatory sequence (TRS) RNA, a conserved hexanucleotide sequence required for subgenomic RNA synthesis. The NTD is also capable of disrupting a short RNA duplex. We show here that three residues on the β3 (Arg-125 and Tyr-127) and β5 (Tyr-190) strands play key roles in TRS RNA binding and helix destabilization with Ala substitutions of these residues lethal to the virus. NMR studies of the MHV NTD·TRS complex revealed that this region defines a major RNA binding interface in MHV with site-directed spin labeling studies consistent with a model in which the adenosine-rich 3′-region of TRS is anchored by Arg-125, Tyr-127, and Tyr-190 in a way that is critical for efficient subgenomic RNA synthesis in MHV. Characterization of CoV N NTDs from infectious bronchitis virus and from severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV revealed that, although detailed NTD-TRS determinants are distinct from those of MHV NTD, rapid helix destabilization activity of CoV N NTDs is most strongly correlated with CoV function and virus viability.
General Purpose Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Instrument on HFIR Oak Ridge

Within the past year, the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) has resumed routine operation and service to the scientific user community with a number of significant upgrades. Among the most important of these is a new supercritical hydrogen moderator (T ∼ 20 K) that is the “brightest” cold source currently available. While this will eventually provide neutrons to a whole suite of scattering instruments through four cold-neutron guides (CG1–4), the two flagship instruments, new small-angle neutron-scattering (SANS) instruments on the CG2 and CG3 cold neutron guides, have been installed and commissioned.
Characteristics of c-fos and jun B gene expression in A5 cells after β-adrenoreceptor stimulation and during the cell cycle

The beta-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol elevates cAMP concentrations in the A5 rat salivary epithelial cell line and rapidly and transiently induces the expression of c-fos and jun B at 30 and 60 min following continuous stimulation of these cells. The induction of both genes is mediated by cAMP. We show here that the inducibility of these genes by isoproterenol or 8-BrcAMP is transcriptionally regulated and short (5 min) incubations of A5 cells with either agent is sufficient to trigger the induction of c-fos and jun B. We also have investigated the expression and inducibility of these genes during the A5 cell cycle. Both c-fos and jun B mRNA are elevated at the early phase of the cell cycle and are detectable throughout the cycle. At different stages of the cell cycle in synchronous A5 cells, both genes are as highly induced by isoproterenol or 8-BrcAMP as in asynchronous A5 cells. These studies provide the first evidence for the transcriptional regulation of c-fos and jun B by beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation or cAMP in an epithelial cell line (A5) and demonstrate the coordinate expression and inducibility of these genes at the different stages of the A5 cell cycle.
Epstein-Barr Virus and the Immune System: Hide and Seek

CASE PRESENTATION A 35-YEAR-OLD an was admitted to the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, with Burkittlymphoma. The patient had been in good health until 2 months before admission, when he developed back pain. One month before admission, he noted left supraclavicular adenopathy followed by numbness in the left flank, clonus of the left leg, and a rapidly increasing mass in the left paraspinal area. He was admitted to a local hospital, where a biopsy specimen of the supraclavicular node showed lymphoma. A computed tomographic scan showed periaortic and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, and a magnetic resonance image showed extradural compression of the spinal cord. The patient received oral dexamethasone and radiotherapy to the area of cord compression; the back pain resolved and the paraspinal mass diminished in size. On examination at the Clinical Center, there was no apparent lymphadenopathy or hepatosplenomegaly, and
An international radon-in-air measurement intercomparison using a new transfer standard

Abstract A new secondary measuring system for 222 Rn-in-air that can be used as a very efficacious transfer calibration standard for measurement intercomparisons between laboratories has been developed and extensively tested. The system is based on measurements of the photon emission rate of radon samples contained in spherical 35-mL glass ampoules with a NaI(Tl) well counter. The system is calibrated against the NIST pulse-ionization-chamber (PIC) national radon measuring system, and has an overall uncertainty of approximately 2 percent. An international intercomparison of 11 laboratories, including NIST, using this system was performed.
Rational Places on Algebraic Function Fields over Generalized Closed Fields

Abstract The theorem of Lang asserting that a formally real finitely generated field extension of a real closed field admits a rational place is generalized here. In this generalization, the "formally real extensions" and "real closed fields" of Lang′s theorem are replaced by the "admissible extensions" and "closed fields" of R. Brown (J. Algebra169 (1994), 751-774). Knebusch′s theorem combining Lang′s rational place existence theorem and Lang′s imbedding theorem is also generalized. The existence of rational places with various special properties is proved; one such result includes Prestel and Roquette′s rational place existence theorem for formally p-adic algebraic function fields over p-adically closed fields.
Recovery of soil microbial community structure after fire in a sagebrush‐grassland ecosystem

Recovery of the soil microbial community after fire in a sagebrush-grassland ecosystem was examined using a chronosequence of four sites ranging in time since fire from 3–39 years. The successional stage communities examined included Recent Burn (3 years since fire, ysf), Establishment (7 ysf), Expansion (21 ysf), and Mature (39 ysf). Aboveground standing plant biomass increased with time since disturbance to the Mature stage where sagebrush became dominant over herbaceous species. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis was used to characterize the microbial community structure. Soil microbial community productivity generally appeared to be similar to the Mature site soil (39 ysf) within 7 years of fire. Diversity of PLFAs detected in soils, at both depths, increased from a low value of 29 at the Recent site to a high of 37 at the Establishment site and then decreased again to 31 at the Mature stage site. Canonical variates analysis indicated important disparities in microbial community structure at the four sites. Greatest disparities were observed in microbial community structure between the Recent and Establishment stages but greater similarity between the Recent stage and the sagebrush dominated Mature stage. This study emphasizes both short-term and long-term changes in the belowground community and suggests that soil microbial communities are highly resilient to disturbances after prescribed fire. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interface-driven microstructure development and ultra high strength of bulk nanostructured Cu-Nb multilayers fabricated by severe plastic deformation

We examine the development of stable bimetal interfaces in nanolayered composites in severe plastic deformation. Copper-niobium multilayers of varying layer thicknesses from several micrometers to 10 nanometers (nm) were fabricated via accumulative roll bonding (ARB). Investigation of their 5-parameter character and atomic scale structure finds that when layer thicknesses refine well below one micrometer, the interfaces self-organize to a few interface orientation relationships. With atomic scale and crystal plasticity modeling, we identify that the two controlling factors that determine whether an interface is stable under high strain rolling are orientation stability of the bicrystal and interface formation energy. A figure-of-merit is introduced that not only predicts the development of the prevailing interfaces but also explains why other interfaces did not develop. Through a suite of nanomechanical and bulk test results, we show that ARB composites containing these stable interfaces are found to have exceptional hardness (~4.5 GPa) and strength (~2 GPa).
Interspecific Interactions among Natural Enemies ofBemisiain an Inundative Biological Control Program

Abstract Interspecific interactions among insect natural enemies have seldom been investigated experimentally within the context of biological control. Research in this area is needed due to the often contradictory predictions provided by the many theoretical models, the increasing dependence on biological control, and the concern that biological control agents may adversely affect some nontarget organisms. We describe a study whereby the occurrence and dynamics of interspecific interactions among three natural enemies (two parasitoids: Encarsia formosa and Encarsia pergandiella; and one predator Delphastus pusillus ) of the whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii (previously referred to as Bemisia tabaci strain “B”), were evaluated in greenhouse cage experiments. Eight populations consisting of all possible combinations of the three natural enemies and one population of whitefly alone were established to test the following hypotheses: (1) Natural enemy introductions are capable of suppressing B. argentifolii populations; (2) all interspecific interactions are detrimental to achieving biological control; (3) the likelihood of achieving biological control decreases as the potential number of interspecific interactions increases; and (4) the species composition of biological control agents is of greater consequence than the number of natural enemy species released. In addition, we tested the hypothesis (5) that the frequency of interspecific interactions increases with a decrease in host or prey availability. Our results demonstrate that all combinations of natural enemies provided significant levels of whitefly suppression. While the intensities of interspecific interactions among natural enemy species were frequently positively and significantly correlated with the densities of parasitized whitefly, interspecific interactions among natural enemies were not detrimental to achieving higher levels of biological control. The composition of species released, rather than the number of species released, was of greater importance to accomplishing biological control. Releases of D. pusillus in combination with one or both of the parasitoids provided the greatest levels of whitefly suppression. These results suggest that the types of interspecific interactions rather than the numbers of interspecific interactions among natural enemies may be important to the outcome of inundative biological control programs.
Lacustrine to fluvial floodplain deposition in the Eocene Bridger Formation

Abstract The depositional systems and sedimentology of lithofacies sequences in the Bridger Formation (unit B) are described. A lithofacies association is determined and includes from base to top: limestone, claystone, thin bedded sandstone and siltstone, and a cross-bedded sandstone facies. The limestone facies is generally composed of a dense resistant limestone that may contain fossil plant impressions, tufa and/or stromatolites, gastropods, bivalves, and other fossils. The claystone facies contains abundant fossil turtles, gar, crocodiles, gastropods and plants. Desiccation cracks, plant roots and soil features are lacking. Extremely abundant turtles may occur in this facies, sometimes associated with abundant coalified plant fragments. The thin bedded sandstone and siltstone facies is composed of silty clay to medium sand. At a few localities it grades laterally into medium- to course-grained sandstone channels up to 3 m thick. Fossil turtles are present, but are much less abundant than in the claystone facies. The cross-bedded sandstone facies is composed of thick, laterally extensive channel sandstones associated laterally with silty claystone beds. The lithofacies association is interpreted as a shallowing upward sequence. It started with a basal limestone facies, deposited in a widespread, shallow, carbonate-precipitating lake. The lake was rapidly filled by episodic volcaniclastic deposition, delivered via air-fall and/or prograding fluvial–deltaic systems. Deltaic deposition may have been similar to the infilling of the northern portion of Lake Turkana in Africa by the Omo River Delta. The claystone facies is interpreted as a short-lived fluvial–lacustrine system that prograded out over the limestone facies and/or was deposited as air-fall ash into the entire lake. The sharp upper contact of the limestone facies with the claystone facies suggests that an abrupt paleoenvironmental change may have taken place with a large influx of volcaniclastics. An organic-rich unit, the organic turtle bed within the Black Mountain turtle layer (a claystone facies), contains abundant plant material and turtles and is interpreted as representing an episodic depositional event, probably storm related. As volcaniclastic deposition continued to dominate the system, the thin bedded sandstone and siltstone facies sequence was deposited. It is interpreted as distributary and crevasse splay sheet sands uniformly deposited (laterally correlative) over large areas. This depositional system was ultimately replaced by a well-established, fluvial floodplain environment with large fluvial channels representing major meandering rivers. Development of the succeeding lake system occurred when siliciclastic deposition significantly slowed relative to the rate of basin subsidence. Deposition in the Bridger Formation, unit B, suggests a delicate balance between a closely interacting lacustrine and fluvial system. Although fluvial processes and clastic sedimentation dominated depositional patterns, lacustrine depositional regimes frequently returned.
EFFECT OF FRUIT PORTION, STAGE OF RIPENESS AND GROWTH HABIT ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FRESH TOMATOES

Tomato fruits were analyzed for total and reduced ascorbic acid, pH, titratable acidity (% citric acid) and % soluble solids. Locular material from table ripe fruits were higher in total ascorbic acid and titratable acidity and lower in pH compared to pericarp tissue. ln two pairs of cultivars, each pair having determinate and indeterminate growth habits in essentially the same genetic background, fruits from the indeterminate had more ascorbic acid and soluble solids than did those from determinate. When table ripe and mature green fruits (eight cultivars) were harvested on the same day, table ripe fruits were higher in reduced ascorbic acid and titratable acidity and were lower in pH. No differences in total ascorbic acid were noted between the two stages of ripeness.