cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Na current in membrane blebs: implications for channel mobility and patch clamp recording

When suction was applied to loose patch clamp pipettes while recording from enzymatically dissociated muscle fibers, large membrane blebs formed within the pipettes. We initiated a study of these suction-induced blebs because ion channels in the blebs would complicate or possibly invalidate loose patch voltage clamp measurements of membrane current density. The low lateral mobility (Stuhmer and Almers, 1982) and steep gradients of Na channels at the end-plate and tendon (Caldwell et al., 1986) imply tight binding of Na channels to cytoskeletal elements and led us to expect few, if any, Na channels in the blebs. Bleb formation produced an increase in membrane capacitance, as expected from the increase in membrane area. Bleb formation also increased the Na current, indicating that the blebs contained Na channels. Assuming that the increased capacitance and Na current were due to lipid and Na channels moving from membrane outside the pipette, ejection of the bleb from the pipette was expected to bring the capacitance and Na current back to their original values. Capacitance did return to its original value, but Na current was lower than expected. The decrease in Na current is explained by Na channels moving from the patch membrane into the bleb. Normalization of bleb and patch Na current to their respective capacitances revealed that bleb membrane had a Na channel density almost 50% that of normal surface membrane. Thus, bleb membrane is neither devoid of proteins nor truly representative of the normal surface membrane from which it arose. It is enriched in membrane lipids and is relatively protein poor. Two conclusions can be drawn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Creating Diversities: Folklore, Religion and the Politics of Heritage

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2004 Publisher: Finnish Literature Society ISBN: 951-746-631-5 (soft cover). Prices: 31 €(soft cover).
Experimental analysis of different techniques for bounded model checking

Bounded model checking (BMC) is a procedure that searches for counterexamples to a given property through bounded executions of a non-terminating system. This paper compares the performance of SAT-based, BDD-based and explicit state based BMC on benchmarks drawn from commercial designs. Our experimental framework provides a uniform and comprehensive basis to evaluate each of these approaches. The experimental results in this paper suggest that for designs with deep counterexamples, BDD-based BMC is much faster. For designs with shallow counterexamples, we observe that indeed SAT-based BMC is more effective than BDD-based BMC, but we also observe that explicit state based BMC is comparably effective, a new observation.
Nitrogen recovery in planted seedlings, competing vegetation, and soil in response to fertilization on a boreal mine reclamation site

Abstract Field fertilization during reforestation often yields variable results, particularly on harsh restoration sites. An improved understanding of the recovery of applied nitrogen (N) under different fertilization practices should aid in developing more effective fertilizer prescriptions. We evaluated field establishment of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) seedlings as well as N recovery within planted seedlings, soil, and competing vegetation on a mine reclamation site in the oil sands region of northern Alberta in response to immediately available fertilizer (IAF) and polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) applications. 15N-enriched urea was applied as IAF and as a polymer-coated CRF (20 g N seedling−1 and 4 g N seedling−1, respectively) to each species. Seedling survival, growth, and nutritional status, along with occurrence of competing vegetation and plant and soil 15N recovery were quantified after the first field season. Seedlings receiving CRF exhibited increased diameter and organ dry mass relative to the IAF and control treatments. Both IAF and CRF promoted comparable increases in seedling N status, and fertilizer type did not influence within-seedling 15N allocation. Neither IAF nor CRF affected vegetation cover or dry mass. Recovery of fertilizer-derived 15N was low, with much of the recovered 15N remaining in soils and only small amounts observed in seedlings and competing vegetation for both fertilizer treatments. Findings indicate that directed root zone application of CRF promotes first-year seedling growth and nutritional responses similar to or better than those induced by broadcast IAF applications, but at substantially lower N application rates. Our results suggest that a shift from broadcast IAF to targeted soil applications of CRF may produce similar or improved early seedling growth and nutrient uptake on reclamation sites, while greatly reducing overall quantities of N applied during the regeneration phase, much of which appears to be lost from the site of application regardless of fertilizer type.
Metabolic syndrome and cerebral vasomotor reactivity.

Background and purpose: Metabolic syndrome has been proposed as a risk factor for stroke and transient ischaemic attack. One pathophysiological mechanism could be impairment of endothelial function. Thus, we hypothesized that cerebral vasomotor reactivity would be decreased in patients with metabolic syndrome, compared to patients without metabolic syndrome. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, 83 consecutive patients (aged 59.19 ± 15.98; 33 women) underwent Doppler examination for carotid artery disease including bi-hemispherical vasomotor reactivity assessment using transcranial Doppler monitoring. Vasomotor reactivity data were analyzed from the hemisphere with no or low-grade carotid stenosis (<40%). Cerebral vasomotor reactivity was calculated as percent increase in mean flow velocity per mmHg pCO2 during 2 min of 5% CO2 inhalation delivered by anesthesia mask (normal if ≥2%/mmHg). Univariate and multivariable linear regression models were used to determine factors, including metabolic syndrome, that were independently associated with pathologic vasomotor reactivity. Results: After adjusting for the presence of contralateral carotid stenosis and ipsilateral stroke in the multivariable model, metabolic syndrome was independently associated with lower vasomotor reactivity values (2.27 ± 1.24% vs. 2.68 ± 1.37; s = −0.258, P = 0.033). In this model, there was no association of cerebral vasomotor reactivity with age, gender, race, cardiac disease, current statin therapy, or small vessel disease. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that impaired cerebral vasomotor reactivity may be a mediator of stroke in patients with metabolic syndrome, a syndrome affecting a significant and growing proportion of the population. A prospective longitudinal study is warranted to study the cerebral haemodynamic effect of metabolic syndrome.
Coordinated bandwidth adaptations for distributed 3D tele-immersive systems

3D tele-immersion improves the state of collaboration among geographically distributed participants. Unlike the traditional 2D videos, a 3D tele-immersive system employs multiple 3D cameras based in each physical site to cover a much larger field of view, generating a very large amount of stream data. One of the major challenges is how to efficiently transmit these bulky 3D streaming data to bandwidth-constrained sites. In this paper, we propose an adaptive Human Visual System (HVS) -aware bandwidth management framework for efficient delivery of multiple streams produced from distributed 3D tele-immersive sites to a receiver site with limited bandwidth budget. Our novel adaptation framework exploits the semantics link of HVS with multiple 3D streams in the 3D tele-immersive environment. Our evaluation results show that the proposed HVS-aware adaptation improves the total quality per unit of bandwidth used to deliver streams in 3D tele-immersive systems.
A 'Neo-Abolitionist Trend' in Sub-Saharan Africa? Regional Anti-Trafficking Patterns and a Preliminary Legislative Taxonomy

From the late 1990s anti-trafficking agencies – including domestic and regional NGOs and inter-governmental organizations – called on African nations to take legislative action to combat child trafficking. Responding to this advocacy, the US State Department added further political pressure to enact change. This article explores the content of anti-trafficking legislation in sub-Saharan Africa as it addresses the problems of coercion and parental responsibility. We examine the forms and content of the laws, using examples from several countries, and analyze the current wave of anti-trafficking legislation based on their respective responses to international models for criminalization of the parental role in child trafficking.
Metabolism of tritiated ω-fluorofatty acids and alcohols in the termite reticulitermes flavipes (kollar) (isoptera, rhinotermitidae)

Abstract The metabolism of four ω-tritiated ω-fluorofatty acids and alcohols, previously shown to be potent delayed-action termiticides, was studied in Reticulitermes flavipes. After topical application of these two ω-tritio-ω-fluorinated C16 substrates to worker termites, erythro [2- 3 H]2-fluorocitrate can be isolated by a lengthy sequence of chromatographic separations and derivatizations. This is the first direct demonstration that labelled fluorocitrate is produced from a labelled ω-fluorofatty acyl precursor in termites. Curiously, only 3H-labelled citrate (but not fluorocitrate) was isolated from termites treated with 3H-labelled 12-fluorododecadienol. In contrast, those treated with 3H-labelled 16-fluorohexadecenol showed 0.02% conversion to [3H]fluorocitrate. The lipid products of these in vivo incubations were quite different: the two 12-carbon substrates gave predominantly the defluorinated a,ω- diols , while the two 16-carbon substrates were converted to fatty acids and acyl glycerols. The metabolite [12-3H]3Z,6Z-1,12-dodecadienol was identified by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods.
Insulin resistance is not associated with thermogenic effect of a high-fat meal in obese children

In adults, insulin resistance may decrease the thermogenic effect of food, contributing to weight gain. We aimed to determine the effect of insulin resistance on energy expenditure in children with long-standing obesity. We hypothesized that thermogenic effect of food would decrease with increasing insulin resistance. Energy expenditure was measured using whole room indirect calorimetry in obese children 7 to 18 years old. Participants were fed a high-fat meal with energy content equal to 35% of measured resting energy expenditure. Thermogenic effect of food was measured for 180 minutes posttest meal and expressed as a percent of calories consumed. Body composition was assessed using whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Fasting glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin A1C were measured. Complete data were available for 25 children (median age, 12.1 years; 52% male). As expected, a significant decrease in resting energy expenditure was observed with increasing Tanner stage (P = .02 by Kruskal-Wallis test). Insulin sensitivity, as determined by homeostasis model assessment index equation, did not significantly affect resting energy expenditure (P = .3) or thermogenic effect of food (P = .7) after adjustment for Tanner stage. In conclusion, our study did not find an association between insulin resistance and energy expenditure in obese children.
Adaptive texture filtering for defect inspection in ultrasound images

The use of ultrasonic imaging to analyze defects and characterize materials is critical in the development of non-destructive testing and non-destructive evaluation (NDT/NDE) tools for manufacturing. To develop better quality control and reliability in the manufacturing environment advanced image processing techniques are useful. For example, through the use of texture filtering on ultrasound images, we have been able to filter characteristic textures from highly-textured C-scan images of materials. The materials have highly regular characteristic textures which are of the same resolution and dynamic range as other important features within the image. By applying texture filters and adaptively modifying their filter response, we have examined a family of filters for removing these textures.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A 64-kDa protein is a substrate for phosphorylation by a distinct thylakoid protein kinase.

Solubilization of spinach thylakoids with the nonionic detergent n-octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (OG) releases active protein kinase from the membrane. Further purification was reported to demonstrate that a 64-kDa protein is the origin of this kinase activity (Coughlan S J and Hind G (1986) J Biol Chem 261: 11378–11385). The N-terminal sequence of this protein was subsequently determined (Gal A, Herrmann R, Lottspiech F and Ohad I (1992) FEBS Lett 298: 33–35). Liquid phase isoelectric focusing of the OG extract and an hydroxylapatite-purified fraction, derived from the OG preparation, reveals that the 64-kDa protein with this documented N-terminal sequence can be separated from the protein kinase activity. Experimental conditions were optimised by manipulation of ampholyte and detergent concentrations to maximise protein solubility and enzyme activity. The kinase-containing fraction was able to catalyze the phosphorylation of several proteins including the 64-kDa which was identified using antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal sequence. The results described indicate that this 64-kDa protein is not the protein kinase responsible for the phosphorylation of the light-harvesting complex associated with Photosystem II.
KOC (K homology domain containing protein overexpressed in cancer) and S100A4-protein immunoreactivity improves the diagnostic sensitivity of biliary brushing cytology for diagnosing pancreaticobiliary malignancies.

Biliary tract brush cytology is one of the favored methods of evaluating lesions of the pancreatobiliary tract. However, although its specificity has been reported to be high (91–100%), the sensitivity is lower (30–88%). In this study we applied KOC and S100A4 protein immunocytochemistry to assess their potential use as adjunct markers in differentiating benign from malignant cells, and improve the diagnostic sensitivity of this method for pancreatobiliary malignancies. The authors examined KOC and S100A4 protein expression in 44 alcohol-fixed cytology specimens obtained by biliary brushings. Diagnoses included: (1) benign/atypical favor reactive (20 cases), (2) atypical/not diagnostic of malignancy (3 cases), and (3) suspicious for malignancy/malignant (21 cases). Alcohol-fixed Papanicolaou-stained slides (PAP) were stained with monoclonal antibody to KOC/L523S and polyclonal antibody to S100A4 protein. Results were recorded as negative or positive. Twenty-four cases were confirmed positive for adenocarcinoma and 20 cases were negative. The sensitivity and specificity of cytology was 83 and 95%, KOC showed a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 95%. S100A4 protein showed a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 95%. The combined use of KOC and S100A4 protein showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95%, respectively. The concurrent use of KOC and S100A4 protein improves the diagnostic sensitivity of biliary brushings cytology and demonstrates similar specificity as cytology alone in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary malignancy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008; 36: 561–567. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Facile procedure for the hydrolysis of vinyl halides to ketones

Die Vinylchloride (Ia) und (Ib) reagieren mit Hg-acetat in Eisessig/Bortrifluorid oder Trifluoressigsaure zu den Ketonen (II).
Thermal energy reactions of OH−+Cl2, Br2 : rate coefficients, product branching fractions and OH product vibrational populations

Abstract The rate coefficients, branching fractions, and OH product vibrational distributions are measured in a flowing afterglow apparatus for the OH− + Cl2 and OH− + Br2 reactions at thermal energy. Both reactions proceed at the Langevin collision rate, with k = 1.33(±0.13) × 10−9 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for OH− Cl2 and k = 1.60(±0.16) × 10−9 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for OH− + Br2. The branching fractions for OH− + Cl2 are 0.75(±0.10) Cl−2 + OH, 0.24(±0.10) Cl− + HOCl and a discernible ⩽0.01 HOCl− + Cl. For OH− + Br2, the branching fractions are 0.75(±0.10) Br−2 + OH, 0.15(±0.05) Br− + HOBr and 0.10(±0.05) HOBr− + Br. The vibrational populations of the OH product from the charge transfer channel are measured by laser-induced fluorescence detection and found to be OH(v = 1)/OH(v = 0) = 0.01(±0.01) for both reactions. While the OH(v) states are consistent with a Franck—Condon mechanism, arguments for a long-lived intermediate complex are made on the basis of substantial branching fractions into Cl− + HOCl (Br− + HOBr) and HOCl− + Cl (HOBr− + Br) channels and the extreme difference in bond length for Cl2 and Cl−2 (Br2 and Br−2).
Summary of solutions to the spherically symmetric accretion and stellar wind problems

The stellar wind and accretion problems described by the steady, spherically symmetric continuum equations incorporating thermal conduction and viscosity are studied. A summary of solutions, including some new solutions, is presented and the solution properties are briefly examined.
Optimal disparity estimation in natural stereo images

A great challenge of systems neuroscience is to understand the computations that underlie perceptual constancies, the ability to represent behaviorally relevant stimulus properties as constant even when irrelevant stimulus properties vary. As signals proceed through the visual system, neural states become more selective for properties of the environment, and more invariant to irrelevant features of the retinal images. Here, we describe a method for determining the computations that perform these transformations optimally, and apply it to the specific computational task of estimating a powerful depth cue: binocular disparity. We simultaneously determine the optimal receptive field population for encoding natural stereo images of locally planar surfaces and the optimal nonlinear units for decoding the population responses into estimates of disparity. The optimal processing predicts well-established properties of neurons in cortex. Estimation performance parallels important aspects of human performance. Thus, by analyzing the photoreceptor responses to natural images, we provide a normative account of the neurophysiology and psychophysics of absolute disparity processing. Critically, the optimal processing rules are not arbitrarily chosen to match the properties of neurophysiological processing, nor are they fit to match behavioral performance. Rather, they are dictated by the task-relevant statistical properties of complex natural stimuli. Our approach reveals how selective invariant tuning-especially for properties not trivially available in the retinal images-could be implemented in neural systems to maximize performance in particular tasks.
Accuracy of reduced-grid calculations

The accuracy of calculations on reduced grids is examined from a climate modelling perspective. It is demonstrated that an adiabatic Eulerian spectral-transform model run on an e-digit grid is accurate to e digits for short integrations. The error introduced by the reduced grid grows as expected for a turbulent atmosphere, and the growth is not accelerated by the reduced grid. The errors from an adiabatic semi-Lagrangian spectral-transform model can be significantly larger than those from an Eulerian model because the interpolation required in the semi-Lagrangian method will not maintain more than a few digits of accuracy. Adiabatic model errors are put in perspective by illustrating errors introduced by arbitrary aspects of model specification such as the longitude of the first grid point. For the Eulerian adiabatic model there appears to be no justification in using a higher-digit grid than the 2-digit one. A higher-digit grid may be desirable for an adiabatic semi-Lagrangian model. Results from a cosine-bell advection test are presented. All reduced grids tested have the same error for Eulerian spectral-transform advection. The semi-Lagrangian advection shows some increase in error with greater reduction in the grid, but the variation is comparable with the difference in error from choosing different interpolants or different time steps. There is little reason to choose a higher-digit grid than the 4-digit grid. In fact the 3-, 2- and 1-digit grids might be considered satisfactory for semi-Lagrangian advection. Finally, multiple-year climate simulations with full and reduced grids are presented. The overall impression is that the mean climates produced by the models run on the reduced grids are all very similar. There is no indication that the reduced grids introduce pathological errors that contaminate the simulations. A few select fields which are particularly sensitive to model changes are shown to quantify the differences, and to indicate that the differences are comparable with those which arise from the natural variability of the model. The results indicate that even a 1-digit grid is suitable for climate modelling with both Eulerian and semi-Lagrangian spectral-transform models.
Effects of Nonfluencies on Comprehension

The effects of simulated nonfluencies on the comprehension of a 205-word recorded passage were studied. The results for 5 groups of 30 undergraduates indicate that prolongations and double-unit phoneme repetitions on key words and on lesser words reduced comprehension and that the comprehension reduction with the prolongations on key words was less than the reductions produced by the other conditions of nonfluency.
Effects of Angle, Sex, and Cue on Adults' Perception of the Horizontal:

This study required adult Ss to draw a line to indicate the water level on drawings of tilted glasses. It was a repetition of the Rebelsky (1964) work on horizontality with the addition of a cue-noncue variable. Women, being more field-dependent than men, were expected to make greater use of the additional line cue. The field dependency hypothesis was not substantiated. Results further indicated significant differences associated with S's sex, the angle of tilt, and a direction by cue interaction. Differences in techniques of scoring and data analysis which precluded precise comparisons of studies using these stimuli were noted.
Examining Interfacial Diffuse Phonon Scattering Through Transient Thermoreflectance Measurements of Thermal Boundary Conductance

Today's electronic and optoelectronic devices are plagued by heat transfer issues. As device dimensions shrink and operating frequencies increase, ever-increasing amounts of thermal energy are being generated in smaller and smaller volumes. As devices shrink to length scales on the order of carrier mean free paths, thermal transport is no longer dictated by the thermal properties of the materials comprising the devices, but rather the transport of energy across the interfaces between adjacent materials in the devices. In this paper, current theories and experiments concerning phonon scattering processes driving thermal boundary conductance (h BD ) are reviewed. Experimental studies of thermal boundary conductance conducted with the transient thermoreflectance technique challenging specific assumptions about phonon scattering during thermal boundary conductance are presented. To examine the effects of atomic mixing at the interface on h BD , a series of Cr/Si samples was fabricated subject to different deposition conditions. The varying degrees of atomic mixing were measured with Auger electron spectroscopy. Phonon scattering phenomena in the presence of interfacial mixing were observed with the trends in the Cr/Si h BD . The experimental results are reviewed and a virtual crystal diffuse mismatch model is presented to add insight into the effect of interatomic mixing at the interface. The assumption that phonons can only transmit energy across the interface by scattering with a phonon of the same frequency-i.e., elastic scattering, can lead to underpredictions of h BD by almost an order of magnitude. To examine the effects of inelastic scattering on h BD , a series of metal/dielectric interfaces with a wide range of vibrational similarity is studied at temperatures above and around materials' Debye temperatures. Inelastic scattering is observed and new models are developed to predict h BD and its relative dependency on elastic and inelastic scattering events.
Maternal parenting and mental health of Mexican American youth: A bidirectional and prospective approach.

Understanding the bidirectional relation between parenting behaviors and youth mental health in Mexican American families is crucial because of the current need to improve the availability of high quality services for this underserved population and to broaden the reach of extant theories on this topic. Youth (14-19 years old; N = 88) were recruited from a public high school in an urban immigrant enclave and reported their internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as six maternal parenting behaviors at two points approximately one year apart. Youth-reported parenting behaviors formed two factors: Supportive Parenting and Harsh Parental Control. T1 externalizing symptoms predicted higher T2 Harsh Parental Control, providing evidence for the coercive model. T1 internalizing symptoms predicted lower T2 Supportive Parenting, providing evidence for social interaction theory. However, T1 parenting factors did not predict T2 youth mental health symptoms as expected according to bidirectional theories. We advocate the use of eco-developmental models to interpret our findings and guide future research.
Effects of pH and ionic strength on kinetics of oil agglomeration of fine coal

Abstract Batch agglomeration tests were conducted with a specially designed mixing unit to determine the effects of the pH and ionic strength of the aqueous medium in which coal particles were suspended on the oil agglomeration kinetics of the particles. Highly hydrophobic, No. 2 Gas Seam coal from West Virginia and moderately hydrophobic, Colchester Seam coal from Illinois were agglomerated with hexadecane in a series of tests in which oil dosage was varied as well as the pH and salt concentration of the aqueous medium. Changes in the aqueous medium had the greatest effect on the rate of agglomeration when the oil dosage was a minimum. The rate of agglomeration was a maximum at pH 9 for No. 2 Gas coal and at pH 4 for Colchester coal. Between pH 9 and 12, the rate of agglomeration of Colchester coal decreased markedly for any oil dosage, whereas the rate of agglomeration of No. 2 Gas coal declined less noticeably except at the lowest oil dosage. The rate of agglomeration of both coals increased when the ionic strength was increased. However, the effect was much greater on No. 2 Gas coal than on Colchester coal.
N-Bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate as a probe for the identification of a liver microsomal glucose-6-phosphate transporter peptide in rats and Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice.

Abstract Hepatic microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase is a multicomponent system composed of substrate/product translocases and a catalytic subunit. Previously we (Foster et al. (1996) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 12, 244–254) demonstrated that N -bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate (BAEP) is a time-dependent, irreversible inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate hydrolysis in intact but not disrupted microsomes. We proposed that BAEP manifests its inhibitory effect by binding with a glucose-6-phosphate translocase protein of the glucose-6-phosphatase system. Here we provide additional evidence that BAEP inhibits glucose-6-phosphate transport in microsomal vesicles and utilize [ 32 P]BAEP as an affinity label in the identification of a glucose-6-phosphate transport protein. In this study, we identify 51-kDa rat and mouse liver microsomal proteins involved in glucose-6-phosphate transport into and out of microsomal vesicles by utilizing (1) an Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mouse model, which displays a decreased sensitivity to the time-dependent inhibitory effect of BAEP, and (2) another glucose-6-phosphate translocase inhibitor, tosyl-lysine chloromethyl ketone, in conjunction with [ 32 P]BAEP as an affinity label.
Chemical relationships between firs of Japan and Taiwan

Cortical essential oil from Abies sachalinensis, A. veitchii, A. mariesii, A. firma, A. homolepis, and A. Kawakamii was analyzed for its mono and sesquiterpenoid constituents. Qualitatively the essential oils were similar to those from the New World firs. Using percent composition of monoterpenoid hydrocarbons, it was possible to completely separate most of the mentioned taxa from each other. A method was developed for calculation of similarity coefficients and construction of taxonomic structure on the basis of biosynthetic relationships between individual components of cortical oleoresin. The resulting chemosystematic dendrograms reflected similarity in material flow through various biosynthetic intermediates and paralleled in many features the morphological similarity relationships between the species studied.
Putative parathyroid tumor suppressor on 1p: Independent molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis from 11q allelic loss

Abstract Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene was identified to be a tumor suppressor that encodes menin, playing an important role in the development of MEN1-associated tumors. Somatic MEN1 gene mutations also were detected in sporadic non-MEN1 endocrine tumors. Frequent loss of chromosomal arm 1p has been reported in parathyroid adenomas, suggesting the existence of putative tumor-suppressor genes on 1p. In this study, we performed allelotyping of chromosomes 1p and 11q on 60 sporadic parathyroid adenomas. Thirteen of 48 (27%) informative tumors had allelic loss on 1p, and 18 of 50 (36%) had allelic loss on 11q. Ten of 18 tumors with 11q allelic loss successfully completed the sequence of the MEN1 gene coding region and splice junctions, and 3 of 10 (30%) tumors had no somatic mutation, indicating that other putative tumor-suppressor genes on 11q may contribute to their tumorigenesis. Frequency of allelic losses on 1p was significantly higher in tumors without 11q allelic losses (7 of 11 informative tumors [64%]) than in tumors with 11q allelic losses (3 of 17 informative tumors [18%]) by chi-square test (P = 0.0131; chi-square = 6.152). These observations suggested that putative tumor-suppressor genes locate on 1p, and pathways of their tumorigenesis are independent from inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes on 11q. © 2001 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
The Evolving Role of HDL in the Treatment of High-Risk Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Clinical studies and animal models have suggested that increasing HDL will reduce atherosclerosis and decrease clinical events in high-risk cardiovascular patients.
Methods for Measurement of Community Structure in Deep-Sea Macrobenthos*

Methods are compiled and developed for the analysis of community structure in the deep-sea benthos. These methods are tailored to the conditions of high species diversity and low standing crop. A new modification of the 0.25-m2 box corer is described. Fisher's index of dispersion is adapted by using each species as a replicate. When the resultant summary statistic is partitioned in the illustrated manner, it is possible to determine whether species indeed behave as homegeneous replicates of a single dispersion pattern, or, alternatively, whether habitat partitioning is indicated. Species are also used as replicates in a modification of Pielou's “joins” technique of determining whether high-density and low-density areas of given species are randomly mingled. An indirect analytical approach is developed which proposes that, if an environmental grain of relatively small dimensions has been important in structuring the community, species which have smaller ambits will be more diverse than species having larger ambits.
High molecular weight tropomyosins regulate osteoclast cytoskeletal morphology

Tropomyosins are coiled-coil dimers that bind to the major groove of F-actin and regulate its accessibility to actin-modifying proteins. Although approximately 40 tropomyosin isoforms have been identified in mammals, they can broadly be classified into two groups based on protein size, that is, high molecular weight and low molecular weight isoforms. Osteoclasts, which undergo rounds of polarization and depolarization as they progress through the resorptive cycle, possess an unusual and highly dynamic actin cytoskeleton. To further define some of the actin regulatory proteins involved in osteoclast activity, we previously performed a survey of tropomyosin isoforms in resting and resorbing osteoclasts. Osteoclasts were found to express two closely related tropomyosins of the high molecular weight type, which are not expressed in monocytic and macrophage precursors. These isoforms, Tm-2 and Tm-3, are not strongly associated with actin-rich adhesion structures, but are instead distributed diffusely throughout the cell. In this study, we found that Tm-2/3 expression occurs late in osteoclastogenesis and continues to increase as cells mature. Knockdown of these isoforms via RNA interference results in flattening and increased spreading of osteoclasts, accompanied by diminished motility and altered resorptive capacity. In contrast, overexpression of Tm-2, but not Tm-3, caused morphological changes that include decreased spreading of the cells and induction of actin patches or stress fiber-like actin filaments, also with effects on motility and resorption. Suppression of Tm-2/3 or overexpression of Tm-2 resulted in altered distribution of gelsolin and microfilament barbed ends. These data suggest that high molecular weight tropomyosins are expressed in fusing osteoclasts to regulate the cytoskeletal scaffolding of these large cells, due at least in part by moderating accessibility of gelsolin to these microfilaments.
α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Hydrolyzable Tannins from Eugenia jambolana Seeds

Three new hydrolyzable tannins including two gallotannins, jamutannins A (1) and B (2), and an ellagitannin, iso-oenothein C (3), along with eight known phenolic compounds were isolated from the seeds of Eugenia jambolana fruit. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. All compounds isolated were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory effects compared to the clinical drug acarbose.
Heavy element affinities in Apollo 17 samples

Abstract 204 Pb, Bi, Tl and Zn in samples from Apollo 17 exhibit relationships not found in samples from other sites. 204 Pb, Tl and Zn in residues remaining after dilute acid leaching are correlated with one another. Orange soil 74220, which is enriched in 204 Pb, Tl and Zn, is included in these relationships. In addition the submicron metallic phase generally associated with agglutinate formation is correlated with all three of these elements; this relationship has already been reported for 204 Pb in other samples. Thus, orange soil and agglutinates appear to be involved in concentrating heavy volatile metals. A process other than mixing is required to account for this. As a consequence of the isolation of the landing site by the surrounding massifs, local supply and recycling of volatile trace elements in soils may account for some of the interelement relations.
Isothermal Adsorption of Aflatoxin B1 on HSCAS Clay

Previously, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), a phyllosilicate clay of the smectite class, was shown to tightly bind aflatoxins and prevent aflatoxicosis in animals. HSCAS is a comme...
Cognitive interviewing in the evaluation of fatigue items: Results from the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS)

Objectives Cognitive Interviewing (CI) is a technique increasingly used to obtain respondent feedback on potential items during questionnaire development. No standard guidelines exist by which to incorporate CI feedback in deciding to retain, revise, or eliminate potential items. We used CI in developing fatigue items for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Roadmap initiative. Our aims were to describe the CI process, formally evaluate the utility of decisions made on the basis of CI, and offer suggestions for future research.
EFFECTS OF TRANSITORY PTEROYLGLUTAMIC ACID (PGA) DEFICIENCY ON EMBRYONIC AND PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE RAT.

Female Long-Evans rats, were given a purified PGA-deficient diet containing 10 mg% of the antimetabolite, 9-methyl-PGA, from days 8 to 10 of gestation, followed by a PGA-supplemented diet from day 10 to autopsy. Thisregimen resulted in 18% embryonic death by day 11, 65% by day 12, and 100% by day 13 of pregnancy. No morphological differences between PGA-deficient and control embryos were observed at nine or nine and one-half days but ten-day embryos showed retardation of growth and development and decreased mitosis, especially in the neural epithelium. In 11-day PGA-deficient embryos the cranial portion of the neural tube was markedly retarded or anomalous. PGA-deficient embryos still living on day 12 exhibited severely retarded or abnormal development of the cranial region with moderate retardation in other areas. The placentas of PGA-deficient embryos were normal until the twelfth or thirteenth day when vacuolization and pyknosis of giant cells in the junctional zone occurred. These changes as well as placental involution through day 16 appeared morphologically identical with those observed in placentas of embryosdestroyed surgically on day 12. PGA-deficiency appeared primarily to affect embryonic rather than placental tissues.
Genetic variation in β-adrenergic receptors in mice: A magnesium effect determined by a single gene

Genetic variation in the amount of binding of dihydroalprenolol (a potent antagonist) to hepatocyte β-adrenergic receptors has been observed among inbred strains of mice. This variation is attributed to a differential effect of magnesium on the receptors between the high and low binding strains. Evidence for a single gene controlling the magnesium effect on dihydroalprenolol binding to β-adrenergic receptors was found using recombinant inbred lines between the high and low strains. We suggest the provisional gene symbol Badm.
Dynamics of Wet and Dry Years in West Africa

Abstract This paper proposes a theoretical framework for describing interannual climatic variability over West Africa. The dynamical theory of zonally symmetrical thermally direct circulations suggests that a meridional monsoon circulation must develop over any tropical region (off the equator) when the absolute vorticity near the tropopause reaches a threshold value of zero. However, for a moist atmosphere that satisfies a quasi-equilibrium balance between moist convection and the radiative forcing, the absolute vorticity at upper-tropospheric levels is a function of both latitude and the meridional distribution of boundary-layer entropy. Hence, the onset of a monsoon circulation depends in a nonlinear fashion on these two factors. The theory predicts that a flat distribution of entropy does not drive any circulation and that a relatively large gradient of entropy should drive a strong monsoon circulation. The location of the region of West Africa, relatively close to the equator, dictates that the dynam...
Selecting upwind parameters for improved iterative performance

The effect of upwinding on iterative performance of convection–diffusion problems is investigated. An analysis of the iterative method considered here leads to a criterion for selecting the optimal upwinding parameter to improve iterative performance for a class of two-dimensional convection–diffusion problems. Supporting numerical experiments are presented.
The Measurement of Self-Concept in an Employment Setting:

A rationale is described for the measurement of self-concept in the employment setting that involves the translation of six postulated constructs into six factor scales entitled Level of Aspiration, Anxiety, Job Interest and Satisfaction, Leadership and Initiative, Identification versus Alienation, and Job Stress. An experimental form of a test entitled Dimensions of Self-Concept, Form W with 30 self-report items for each of the six factor scales was administered to a sample of 201 employees in a mid-sized division of approximately 700 individuals working in a major electronics/computer company. Internal-consistency estimates of reliability varied between .84 and .91 for the six scales. Approximately 75.6% of the items registered at least as high a correlation with the total score of the factor scale of which they were intended members as with the total score on any of the other remaining five factor scales. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that four of the hypothesized constructs received empirica...
Infrared spectra and normal coordinate analysis of iron pentacarbonyl

Abstract The infrared spectrum of iron pentacarbonyl has been reinvestigated from 4000 cm−1 to 400 cm−1. Eight of the thirteen infrared active fundamentals have been assigned from this data, and the remaining frequencies have been obtained from the assignment of infrared combination bands. A normal coordinate analysis has been found to fit best a tetragonal pyramidal model.
Growth Hormone Secretory Status is a Determinant of the Thyrotropin Response to Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone in Euthyroid Patients with Hypothalamic- Pituitary Disease*

To assess the influence of endogenous GH secretion on the TSH and T3 responses to TRH administration in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disease, we analyzed tests in a selected group of 26 euthyroid patients with hypothalamicpituitary disease and in 15 normal controls. Basal TSH levels and the TSH response to TRH were significantly greater in GHdeficient patients (group 1) than in patients with normal anterior pituitary function and unimpaired GH reserve (group II). However, the T3 response to TRH was significantly less in group 1 than in group II patients. In acromegaly (group III), the TSH response to TRH was blunted, while basal and stimulated T3 levels were no different compared to control levels. These findings suggest that endogenous GH depresses the TSH response to TRH while enhancing the thyroid secretion of T3 in responseto the evoked TSH released.
On fiscal disparities across cities

Abstract Some cities have fewer taxable resources and higher costs for providing public services than do other cities. The result, which is widely regarded as unfair, is a wide variation in the ability of cities to supply public services. But our understanding of these fiscal disparities, particularly on the cost side, is limited. This paper provides a general treatment of fiscal disparities by incorporating input and environmental costs into a model of local expenditure determination, investigating the consequences of fiscal disparities in a system of local governments (including housing price adjustments and migration), and designing intergovernmental grants to offset fiscal disparities.
Do patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention benefit from clopidogrel pretreatment

Do patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention benefit from clopidogrel pretreatment?
The amino terminal sequence of cholera toxin subunits

Abstract The N -terminal amino acid sequence of Cholera toxin, molecular weight 84,000 daltons, has been established. A high sensitivity sequencing procedure, employing 35S-labelled phenylisothiocyanate as the coupling reagent in the automated Edman degradation was used. The toxin was found to consist of two polypeptide chains in the approximate molar ratio of 4:1. The amino-terminal twenty residues of each subunit will be reported here.
An Interactive Morphological Matrix Computational Design Tool: A Hybrid of Two Methods

This paper builds on previous concept generation techniques explored at the University of Missouri - Rolla and presents an interactive concept generation tool aimed specifically at the early concept generation phase of the design process. Research into automated concept generation design theories led to the creation of two distinct design tools: an automated morphological search that presents a designer with a static matrix of solutions that solve the desired input functionality and a computational concept generation algorithm that presents a designer with a static list of compatible component chains that solve the desired input functionality. The merger of both the automated morphological matrix and concept generation algorithm yields an interactive concept generator that allows the user to select specific solution components while receiving instantaneous feedback on component compatibility. The research presented evaluates the conceptual results from the hybrid morphological matrix approach and compares interactively constructed solutions to those returned by the non-interactive automated morphological matrix generator using a dog food sample packet counter as a case study.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Glycoprotein biosynthesis: the purification and characterization of a polypeptide. N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase from bovine submaxillary glands

Abstract An enzyme was found in membranes of bovine submaxillary glands that synthesizes a protein-carbohydrate linkage, the N -acetylgalactosaminyl-O-hydroxyamino acid unit found in submaxillary glycoproteins. Most (90% or more) of the enzyme is normally bound to membranous material. The polypeptide: N -acetylgalactosaminyl transferase was purified 70-fold by gel filtration and ultracentrifugation after solubilization from the 16,000 g residue with the detergent Triton X-100. The enzyme was highly purified as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation; glycoprotein, endogenous receptor, and galactosyl transferase were absent from the purified enzyme. The transfer of N -acetylgalactosamine from UDP-galNAc to protein receptor is highly specific; receptor, nucleotide sugar, and Mn 2+ (or Co 2+ ) were required. Receptors were prepared from BSM from which hexosamine had been removed by either hexosaminidase or periodate-acid hydrolysis treatment. It was found that 18–22% of the theoretical receptor sites ( N -acetylhexosamine removed) of the receptors could be filled by prolonged incubation. N -Acetylgalactosamine- 14 C was obtained from the receptor-galNAc- 14 C product with hexosaminidase; N -acetylgalactosaminitol- 14 C was identified after alkaline-borohydride treatment. The enzyme gave K m values of 6 × 10 −5 m and 9.5 × 10 −4 m , with respect to UDP-galNAc and theoretical receptor sites respectively. A pH optimum existed from 6.5–7.5; maximal activity occurred with 6 mM Mn 2+ . The role of this enzyme in initiation of assembly of the carbohydrate unit of glycoproteins is discussed.
A comparison of the rheological properties of polytetrafluoroethylene below its melting point with certain low‐molecular smectic states

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was extruded from a capillary rheometer at temperatures between the first-order transition at 30°C and the melting point. Both PTFE at 50–300°C and various smectic states of certain low-molecular benzylidene anilines obey the following relationship between the shear stress τ and the apparent shear rate . The apparent viscosities for the two classes of substances are similar even though their molecular weights differ by a factor of about 104. Both have characteristic shear planes which are parallel to the polymer chains in PTFE and normal to the long axes of the benzylidene aniline molecules. The melting process in virgin PTFE begins near 300°C. Above this temperature, the shear stress at constant shear rate increases and the rheological exponent rises from 0.25 toward 0.5 at the final melting point.