cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural and Functional Comparison Between the Effects of CaBP1 and Calmodulin on the Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel Cav1.2

Calcium-dependent feedback modulation is central to voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV) function. The bilobed EF-hand containing calcium-binding protein 1 (CaBP1) is thought to modulate CaV function by competing with the homologous calmodulin (CaM) for binding to the CaV C-terminal IQ-domain. In CaV1.2, CaBP1 inhibits calcium-dependent inactivation (CDI) of CaV1.2 and introduces calcium-dependent facilitation (CDF). We investigated the origins of functionally important differences between CaM and CaBP1 by creating a number of CaM/CaBP1 chimeras and found a clear division of function between the various elements. Determination of the CaBP1 X-ray structure revealed an interaction site between linker and one of the lobes that is required for inhibition of CaV1.2 CDI. Using titration calorimetry, we found that, similar to CaM, the CaBP1 C-terminal lobe is responsible for high-affinity interaction with the IQ-domain. CaM requires functional C-terminal lobe EF-hands for supporting CDI. In contrast, we found that CaBP1 does not require functional EF-hands for inhibition of CDI. CaBP1-mediated CDF however requires all EF-hands to be functional and also has different requirements from CaM-mediated CDF, suggesting that these are two distinct processes. Overall, the data reveal those parts of CaBP1 that set it functionally apart from CaM and provide a framework for understanding how CaBP1 and CaM regulate CDI and CDF on CaV1.2.
The reconquista and the Jews: 1212 from the perspective of Jewish history

This article discusses the meaning of Las Navas de Tolosa, and of the broader political and cultural changes that it represents, for the history of Iberian Jewry. It suggests that the fundamental structure of Hispano-Jewish life changed relatively little as the Jews moved from Muslim to Christian rule over the course of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Rather, it was the increased contacts between the Arabised Jews of Andalusi heritage and the Latinised Jews from Provence and northern Europe that produced the true turning point in the history of Iberian Jewry. This study thus seeks to disentangle the social and political history of the Jews, which remained quite stable over the course of their transition from Muslim to Christian Iberia, from their substantial cultural transformation during this same period.
An experimental and numerical study of deformation in metal-ceramic composites

The deformation characteristics of ceramic whisker- and particulate-reinforced metal-matrix composites were studied experimentally and numerically with the objective of investigating the dependence of tensile properties on the matrix microstructure and on the size, shape, and distribution of the reinforcement phase. The model systems chosen for comparison with the numerical simulations included SiC whisker-reinforced 2124 aluminum alloys with well-characterized microstructures and 1100-o aluminum reinforced with different amounts of SiC particulates. The overall constitutive response of the composite and the evolution of stress and strain field quantities in the matrix of the composite were computed using finite element models within the context of axisymmetric and plane strain unit cell formulations. The results indicated that the development of significant triaxial stresses within the composite matrix, due to the constraint imposed by the reinforcements, provides an important contribution to strengthening. Systematic calculations of the alterations in matrix field quantities in response to controlled changes in reinforcement distribution give valuable insights into the effects of particle clustering on the tensile properties. The numerical results also deliver a mechanistic rationale for experimentally observed trends on: (i) the effects of reinforcement morphology and volume fraction on yield and strain hardening behavior of the composite, (ii) the pronounced influence of reinforcement clustering on the overall constitutive response, (iii) ductile failure by void growth within the composite matrix, (iv) the insensitivity of the yield strength of the composite to changes in matrix microstructure, and (v) the dependence of ductility on the microstructure of the matrix and on the morphology and distribution of the reinforcement. The predictions of the present analyses are compared and contrasted with current theories of elastic and plastic response in multi-phase materials in an attempt to develop an overall perspective on the mechanisms of composite strengthening and of matrix and interfacial failure.
Notes on an approximation method for fitting parabolic equations to experimental data

When a numerical transformation of raw data is used only to simplify the arithmetic of curve fitting, the transformation may lead to undesirable and even highly distorted results. This principle is illustrated with an approximation method of fitting parabolic equations to experimental data, as described recently in texts by Johnson and Lewis. Although the approximation method will never yield as good fits as the exact, least-squares method, satisfactory results are in general achieved whenever the transformed scores yield a linear plot as a function ofX. The principal difficulty with the method is that some data which fall along a parabola may not yield a linear plot of the transformed scores versusX, and so cannot be fitted satisfactorily by the approximation method.
Association between baseline neutrophil count, clopidogrel therapy, and clinical and angiographic outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction receiving fibrinolytic therapy

Aims To investigate the association between neutrophil count, outcomes, and benefit of clopidogrel therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods and results Baseline neutrophil count was measured in 2865 patients in CLARITY-TIMI 28, a randomized trial of clopidogrel vs. placebo in STEMI patients undergoing fibrinolysis. Angiography was performed at 2–8 days following enrolment. Analyses were adjusted for demographics, time from symptom onset, Killip class, peak CK-MB, and therapies received. A baseline neutrophil count in the highest quartile was independently associated with the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death [adj (adjusted) OR (odds ratio) 5.8, P < 0.001] and congestive heart failure (adj OR 3.0, P = 0.009) at 30 days. Patients with higher neutrophil counts were less likely to achieve complete ST-segment resolution (adj OR 0.76, P = 0.03) or TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 2/3 (adj OR 0.71, P = 0.017). Clopidogrel had a lesser effect on reducing the odds of a closed infarct-related artery, or death or MI before angiography, in patients with a neutrophil count above the median (adjusted OR 0.83, 0.61–1.13) vs. in those below the median (adjusted OR 0.46, 0.33–0.64) ( P interaction = 0.008). Conclusion In patients with STEMI, higher baseline neutrophil count is associated with worse angiographic findings and increased CV mortality, as well as a diminished benefit of clopidogrel.
The Three Rs: The Way Forward

Laws that mandate replacement alternatives, reduction alternatives, and refinement alternatives (the Three Rs) in scientific research have been passed in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and the European Union over the past decade. Full implementation of this newly developed legislation depends upon scientists' ability to understand animal welfare issues and to accept the legitimacy of the public's interest in the conduct of science. The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), established by the European Commission in 1991 to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods, recently sponsored a workshop to discuss the current status of the Three Rs and to make recommendations aimed at
Immunosuppressants, mortality, and risk of cancer

1 Platts-Mills TAE, Erwin E, Heymann P, Woodfolk J. Is the hygiene hypothesis still a viable explanation forthe increased prevalence of asthma? Me/yy2005;60(suppl79):25-31. 2 Van den Oord RAHM, Sheikh A. Filaggrin gene defects and risk of developing allergic sensitisation and allergic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2009;339:b2433. 3 Palmer CN, Irvine AD, Terron-Kwiatkowski A, Zhao Y, Liao H, Lee SP, et al. Common loss-of-function variants ofthe epidermal barrier protein filaggrin are a major predisposing factor for atopic dermatitis. Nat Genet 2006;38:441-6. 4 Sandilands A, Terron-Kwiatkowski A, Hull PR, O'Regan GM, Clayton TH, Watson RM, et al. Comprehensive analysis ofthe gene encoding filaggrin uncovers prevalent and rare mutations in ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic eczema. Nat Genet 2007;39:650-4. 5 Marenholz I, Nickel R, Ruschendorf F, Schulz F, Esparza-Gordillo J, KerscherT, etal. Filaggrin loss-of-function mutations predispose to phenotypes involved in the atopic march. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;118:866-71. 6 WeidingerS, IlligT, BaurechtH, Irvine AD, Rodriguez E, Diaz-Lacava A, et al. Loss-of-function variations within the filaggrin gene predispose for atopic dermatitis with allergic sensitizations. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;118:214-9. 7 Stemmler S, Parwez Q, Petrasch-Parwez E, Epplen JT, Hoffjan S. Two common loss-of-function mutations within the filaggrin gene predispose for early onset of atopic dermatitis./Invest Dermatol 2007;127:722-4. 8 Nomura T, Sandilands A, Akiyama M, Liao H, Evans AT, Sakai K, et al. Unique mutations in the filaggrin gene in Japanese patients with ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007;119:434-40. 9 Novak N. New insights into the mechanism and management of allergic diseases: atopic dermatitis./A//erpy 2009;64:265-75.
Hardness Assurance Considerations for the Neutron Environment

Two related questions pertaining to neutron hardness assurance technology are examined. (1) How much statistical variability in neutron response is present when the same product is manufactured by two different companies on controlled lines. (2) How does circuit design margin affect neutron failure probability. A large body of statistical data on semiconductor device neutron degradation has been accumulated at Rockwell International covering procurement from several manufacturers over approximately five years. The data has shown that the neutron radiation response usually differs by less than a factor of two when comparing the same device from two manufacturers; furthermore, the neutron radiation response of a specific device usually varies by less than a factor of two from the line average when compared over a period of several years. At a selected failure probability, the failure fluence divided by the circuit design safety margin is approximately constant over a wide range of selected failure probabilities and design safety margins. (auth)
Effects of ionizing radiation on nitric oxide myoglobin. Part 2. Effects on the globin moiety.

SummaryIrradiation of nitric oxide myoglobin (NOMb) induces changes in the haem as well as protein moiety of NOMb, especially at doses of 400–800 krad. The changes in the protein include:(a) Conformational changes, with apparent partial denaturation of globin α-helix as evidenced by circular dichroism.(b) Preferential scission of the polypeptide chain and dimerization via covalent bond(s) as evidenced by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Products with a spectrum of hydrodynamic volumes between those of the monomer and the dimer are also formed.(c) The shift of NOMb pIs toward more acidic pHs (probably due to modification and/or destruction of basic amino acid residues by water radiolytic products) as evidenced by isoelectric focusing.
Endoscopy for removal of unusual foreign bodies in urethra and bladder

Numerous reports have been published concerning intraurethral foreign bodies. Two patients required endoscopic intervention: one for the removal of screws from the urethra and the other for extraction of a calculus. The technique utilized the Wolf universal nephroscope and stone dislodger with 3 jaws, and its success prevented a more aggressive surgical approach.
500 EPIDEMIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS (NEC) IN GEORGIA

The widely varied institutional reports of incidence rates and fatality ratios (FR) of NEC prompted a statewide epidemiologic study of this disease. We defined NEC using the criteria of Bell (J Pediatric Surg 1978;187:1), and identified all cases of NEC occurring in Georgia residents born during 1977 and 1978. Case finding included visits to tertiary-care centers, a telephone survey of smaller nurseries with follow-up visits when necessary, and contact of intensive-care nurseries in neighboring states. Hospital-chart review identified 148 cases; 78 infants were females and 70 males. Birth-weight and rate-specific incidence rates and FR were: NEC rates for infants weighing less than 2500 grams were higher for blacks than whites (p<.005). Weight-specific FR were not affected by transport. Weight-specific incidence rates and FR did not vary significantly among 6 tertiary centers. NEC deaths represented 15% of all post-hebdomadal deaths of infants weighing less than 1500 grams. Further evaluation of NEC in populations of different socioeconomic and ethnic makeup is needed.
Synthesizing Holograms By Spectrum Shaping

Today I would like to discuss an approach to synthesizing digital holograms developed while I was at Stanford University. These holograms, like the kinoforml, an approach by IBM, require only phase transmittance material for recording and are reconstructed on-axis without conjugate images. Unlike the kinoform, however, amplitude information on the hologram plane is not discarded, pre-venting the associated loss of fidelity2, which is a fundamental limitation of the kinoform. The synthesis procedure for these holograms is essentially the same as that for the kinoform with only one minor additional step in the digital processing stage. This extra step shapes the spectrum in a variety of manners including leveling the spectrum completely. The leveled spectrum is then made into a phase hologram. In the recon-struction, the original object can be reconstructed with full fidelity together with some extraneous elements introduced by the spectrum shaping. However, these extraneous elements, which we called "parity elements"' are clearly separated from the data and can be discarded.© (1975) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The MAP kinase pathway is required for entry into mitosis and cell survival

In this communication, we examined the role of the MAP kinase pathway in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Activation of the Plk1 and MAP kinase pathways was initially evaluated in FT210 cells, which arrest at G2 phase at the restrictive temperature (39 degrees C), due to a mutation in the cdc2 gene. Previous studies had shown that these cells enter mitosis at the nonpermissive temperature upon incubation with okadaic acid, a protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor. We show that treatment of FT210 cells at 39 degrees C with okadaic acid activated Plk1, as shown by hyperphosphorylation and elevated protein kinase activity, and also induced activation of the MAP kinase pathway. The specific Mek inhibitor PD98059 antagonized the okadaic acid-induced activation of both Plk1 and MAP kinases. This suggests that activation of the MAP kinase pathway may contribute to the okadaic acid-induced activation of Plk1 in FT210 cells at 39 degrees C. We also found that PD98059 strongly attenuated progression of HeLa cells through mitosis, and active Mek colocalizes with Plk1 at mitotic structures. To study the potential function of the MAP kinase pathway during mitosis, RNAi was used to specifically deplete five members of this pathway (Raf1, Mek1/2, Erk1/2). Each of these five protein kinases is required for cell proliferation and survival, and depletion of any of these proteins eventually leads to apoptosis. Treatment with Mek inhibitors also inhibited cell proliferation and caused apoptosis. A dramatic increase of Plk1 activities and a moderate increase of Cdc2 activities in Raf1-depleted cells indicate that Raf1-depleted cells arrest in the late G2 or M phase. Mek1 and Erk1 depletion also caused cell cycle arrest at G2, suggesting that these enzymes are required for the G2/M transition, whereas the loss of Mek2 or Erk2 caused arrest at G1.
Microscale phase separator for selective extraction of CO 2 from methanol solution flow

Abstract This study is aimed at understanding the limits in reducing the size of a membrane-based CO 2 separator and its pressure head needs and energy consumption, while maximizing its selectivity. The separator consists of a flow channel capped by a hydrophobic nanoporous membrane through which CO 2 exits the anode flow stream of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). A systematic study is conducted to determine the effect of differential pressure across the membrane, flow velocity, and flow channel dimensions on the separation process. The extraction flux was found to change linearly with pressure difference across the membrane. The effect of flow velocity on the extraction flux was negligible up to a critical velocity beyond which the separation process ceased. The separation selectivity enhanced by increasing the differential pressure across the membrane but did not change with varying the flow velocity and channel depth. Using the findings of the first part of the study, an optimal micro-separator (with a footprint of approximately 10 × 1 mm 2 ) was designed/fabricated for a 20 W DMFC and its performance was experimentally analyzed. An unprecedented separation selectivity of close to 200 was achieved at a differential pressure of about 10 kPa and negligible energy consumption.
Randomized trial comparing fanning with standard technique for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of solid pancreatic mass lesions.

Background and study aims The fanning technique for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS–FNA) involves sampling multiple areas within a lesion with each pass. The aim of this study was to compare the fanning and standard techniques for EUS–FNA of solid pancreatic masses.
The Chinook hardware/software co-synthesis system

Abstract: Designers of embedded systems are facing ever tighter constraints on design time, but computer-aided design tools for embedded systems have not kept pace with these trends. The Chinook co-synthesis system addresses the automation of the most time-consuming and error-prone tasks in embedded controller design, namely the synthesis of interface hardware and software needed to integrate system components, the migration of functions between processors or custom logic, and the co-simulation of the design before, during and after synthesis. This paper describes the principal elements of Chinook and discuss its application to a variety of embedded designs.
Comparative acute sensitivities of early life stages of atherinid fishes to chlorpyrifos and thiobencarb

Sensitivity, expressed as the 96-hr LC50 derived from acute lethality tests, was compared for four ages (day-of-hatch, 7-day, 14-day, and 28-day) of three atherinid fishes:Leuresthes tenais (California grunion),Menidia menidia (Atlantic silverside), andMenidia peninsulae (tidewater silverside). Responses of each age-species combination exposed to the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos and the carbamate herbicide thiobencarb were compared in both static and flowing seawater toxicity tests. Chlorpyrifos was highly toxic to all atherinids (96-hr LC50's ranged from 0.4 to 6.7 μg/ L); toxicity of thiobencarb was approximately two orders of magnitude lower (LC50 values from 199 to 1,405 μg/L). Responses to each pesticide were similar among the three species. Sensitivity was generally highest for 7-day and 14-day age groups, and flowing water tests were more sensitive measures of toxicity than static tests, especially for chlorpyrifos. Comparisons of three computational methods indicate that probit and moving average methods calculate comparable LC50 estimates with the binomial method being the least uniform point estimator.
Animation of output applied to manufacturing capacity analysis

A general purpose technique for animating simulation output is described. The technique can be implemented using inexpensive hardware and is applicable to many types of simulation models. An example which uses the procedure for capacity analysis in a job shop is presented.
Coating Behavior of Suspensions

The ability of a solid suspension in liquid medium to coat a vertical surface was analyzed. Results with model suspensions, consisting of polystyrene particles (37–147 μm) in volume concentration from 15–40%, show that coating thickness increases linearly with particle concentration in suspension, and then increases sharply at a critical concentration. The coating thickness of sucrose in corn oil shows behavior similar to that of the model system.
The Role of Human and Financial Capital in the Profitability and Growth of Women‐Owned Small Firms

This paper examines the relationship between human and financial capital and firm performance for women‐ and men‐owned small firms in the service and retail sectors. Results indicate that human cap...
Comparative Analysis of Terpenoid Emissions from Florida Host Trees of the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

ABSTRACT The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an exotic wood-boring insect that vectors Raffaelea lauricola, the fungal pathogen responsible for laurel wilt, a lethal disease of trees in the Lauraceae. First detected in the U.S. near Savannah, GA in 2002, X. glabratus has since spread throughout the southeastern coastal plain causing high mortality in native Persea species, particularly redbay (P. borbonia) and swampbay (P. palustris). Currently, breeding populations of X. glabratus pose an imminent threat to the avocado (P. americana) industry in south Florida. There is a critical need for effective attractants to detect, monitor, and control the spread of this invasive pest. In an effort to identify host-based attractants for dispersing female X. glabratus, we conducted a comparative study of the volatile chemicals emitted from wood of six species of Lauraceae found in Florida: avocado (Persea americana), redbay (P. borbonia), swampbay (P. ...
International Monetary Policy: A Global Taylor Rule

John Taylor’s rule for setting interest rates provides a framework for studying the global monetary policy generated by individual countries pursing their own policy goals. The study reflects the global nature of monetary policy by modeling an aggregate short-term interest rate as a function of measures of worldwide inflation and the GDP gap. Multiple specifications are estimated to correspond to past studies of the U.S. relationships between these variables. The authors find that Taylor rule is a useful tool for characterizing the global monetary environment as his equation provides a good fit to the data in every specification explored by the authors. However, the international response to inflation is slightly less robust despite claims of inflation targeting by the bulk of the larger economies in the sample.
Complete Distances of All Negacyclic Codes of Length $2^{s}$ Over $\BBZ _{2^{a}}$

Various kinds of distances of all negacyclic codes of length 2s over Zopf2 a are completely determined. Using our structure theorems of negacyclic codes of length 2 s over Zopf2 a, we first calculate the Hamming distances of all such negacyclic codes, which particularly lead to the Hamming weight distributions and Hamming weight enumerators of several codes. These Hamming distances are then used to obtain their homogeneous, Lee, and Euclidean distances. Our techniques are extendable to the more general class of constacyclic codes, namely, the lambda- constacyclic codes of length 2s over Zopf2 a , where lambda is any unit of Zopf2 a with the form 4k-1. We establish the Hamming, homogeneous, Lee, and Euclidean distances of all such constacyclic codes
Theoretical evaluation on monitoring hypothermic anesthesia by the electrical response of human skin neurons

This study used the Hodgkin–Huxley (H–H) equations to simulate the electric response of the neuron in human body during hypothermic anesthesia. Several wave forms of self-sustained oscillation in biological neuron subject to body surface cooling and blood cooling were presented. Parametric studies on the influences of cooling water temperature, the heat convection coefficient, the blood temperature and the blood perfusions etc. to the neuron response were carried out. Finally, a criterion is established to monitor the depth of anesthetized body. The results would be beneficial for better understanding the people’s sensory response to varied hypothermic anesthesia. Given accurate physiological parameters for human body, this model could possibly be applied to evaluate and monitor the physiological status of anesthetized biological bodies quantitatively. Efforts made in this paper open up a new theoretical way to evaluate the hypothermic anesthesia of human body.
SCH28080, a K+-competitive inhibitor of the gastric H,K-ATPase, binds near the M5-6 luminal loop, preventing K+ access to the ion binding domain.

Inhibition of the gastric H,K-ATPase by the imidazo[1,2-α]pyridine, SCH28080, is strictly competitive with respect to K+ or its surrogate, NH4+. The inhibitory kinetics [Vmax, Km,app(NH4+), Ki(SCH28080), and competitive, mixed, or noncompetitive] of mutants can define the inhibitor binding domain and the route to the ion binding region within M4−6. While mutations Y799F, Y802F, I803L, S806N, V807I (M5), L811V (M5−6), Y928H (M8), and Q905N (M7−8) had no effect on inhibitor kinetics, mutations P798C, Y802L, P810A, P810G, C813A or -S, I814V or -F, F818C, T823V (M5, M5−6, and M6), E914Q, F917Y, G918E, T929L, and F932L (M7−8 and M8) reduced the affinity for SCH28080 up to 10-fold without affecting the nature of the kinetics. In contrast, the L809F substitution in the loop between M5 and M6 resulted in an ∼100-fold decrease in inhibitor affinity, and substitutions L809V, I816L, Y925F, and M937V (M5−6, M6, and M8) reduced the inhibitor affinity by 10-fold, all resulting in noncompetitive kinetics. The mutants L8...
Neural networks: II. Unified learning theory and behavioral psychotherapy

Abstract Part I, Tryon (1993), demonstrated that neural networks provide a unified theoretical perspective from which to integrate at least 11 important theoretical/philosophical schisms which have unproductively divided psychology in general and clinical psychology in particular (Staats, 1983, 1991). Part II extends unification to neural network learning theory (NNLT) and discusses implications for behavioral psychotherapy. The cognitive revolution within clinical psychology addressed the need to provide a proximal causal explanatory mechanism mediating stimuli and responses of Skinner's radical behaviorism. Neural networks provide a learning mechanism capable of addressing the full spectrum of psychological and behavioral phenomena. Neural networks are trained rather than programmed, which gives them a developmental history. To fully integrate neural network learning theory with operant conditioning, their development is approached from an evolutionary perspective. The success of the present synthesis is demonstrated by showing that NNLT is a cognitive model which is fully consistent with behavioral values. Integrative success is more strictly demonstrated by providing a proximal causal mechanism capable of explaining the functional properties of variation and natural selection, on which operant conditioning is based. Implications for behavioral psychotherapy for selected DSM-III-R disorders are discussed.
Thermosyphon Effects for Pump Seal Cooling

The results of an analytical and experimental study are presented. They can be applied in design calculations for cooling systems for mechanical seals in hot process pumps. The thermosyphon effect is caused by buoyancy in a liquid-filled system with a heated chamber at the bottom and a cooler on the top. The analytical model prepared shows very good agreement with experimental results. Several graphsare presented which show the effect of height, temperature difference, cooler size and fluid type on the amount of power which can be removed. Presented at the 47th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 4–7, 1992
Molecular Biology of Axons: “A Turning Point…”

Previous studies have shown that dendrites and axons contain both mRNAs and the machinery for local protein translation. While a number of studies in recent years have focused on the functional role of protein synthesis in dendrites, relatively less is know about the role of local translation in axons. Campbell and Holt (this issue of Neuron) show that local protein synthesis and degradation are required for proper chemotropic turning responses of isolated retinal growth cones.
ONTOCENY OF BLOOD PRESSURE (BP) IN THE INBRED DAHL HYPERTENSION–SENSITIVE (S/JR) AND -RESISTANT (R/JR) RAT

The inbred S/JR rat is characterized by a genetic predisposition to NaCl-induced hypertension (III). Although mature S/JR but not R/JR rats develop HT when fed a high NaCl-contalning diet, this effect has not been examined in the pre-weaning state. S/JR and R/JR dams were maintained on 0.15% (w/w) or 8% (w/w) NaCl diets throughout gestation and lactation. Measurements of abdominal aortic blood pressure (MAP, mmHg) were obtained in anesthetized (Ketamine 25 mg/kg and Xylazine 3 mg/kg i.p.) offspring at 5, 15 and 25 days of age. Values = mean ± SEM; n = 8-14 rats/group. *p<.05 vs. age-matched S/JR on same diet; +p<.05 vs. strain- and age-matched rats on 8% diet; S/JR exposed to 8.0% died (NA). A hypertensinogenic effect of 8% NaCl was seen in R/JR rats at 5 and 15 days. BP in S/JR rats was consistently higher. Ontogeny of BP may be determined by pre- and postnatal dietary NaCl.
How PhD students at research universities can prepare for a career at a liberal arts college (abstract only)

We will discuss how to better organize as graduate students and postdoctoral researchers seeking a career in liberal arts colleges (LACs). The BoF will bring together those who are interested in a career path to a LAC but do not have reliable advice and mentorship in their home departments and often turn out to be the only person in their department with such a career choice. Additionally, several people who have recently made a successful transition from graduate school to new faculty positions will attend the BoF.
Space-conditioning using triple-effect absorption heat pumps

A triple-effect cycle absorption heat pump was investigated in this study using OSU-ABSIM, a modular steady state simulation program. Ammonia-water solution was used as the working fluid for the upper, high pressure cycle, while ammonia-water and ammonia-sodium thiocyanate solutions were investigated for the lower pressure cycle. The overall system is so configured that the absorber, condenser, and rectifier heat duty from the high pressure cycle is rejected to the generator of the low pressure cycle. The complete absorption system was analyzed, including air-to-hydronic heat exchangers and the natural gas-fired generator. Cycle performance was modeled over a wide range of cooling and heating mode ambients to determine the overall benefits of using this cycle. The effect of high ambient temperatures on the rise in the highest cycle pressures and temperatures (to maintain coupling between the two cycles) was investigated over the range of expected ambients. Parametric studies were conducted on several significant variables that affect cycle performance, such as heat exchanger sizes and different control schemes. The results of this study can be used to determine the merits of this cycle versus other absorption heat pump alternatives, specifically in terms of potential COP benefits for additional system complexity.
Vocational and Technical Education in Peru.

The relative costs of and returns to VTE (Vocational and Technical Education) and general education in Peru are investigated here. The paper is composed as follows. Following a brief introduction, section 2 describes the system of education in Peru and changes that have occurred in this system over time. Section 3 surveys the (relatively sparse) literature on comparative rates of return to VTE and general education. Sections 4 and 5 describe, respectively, the data used for this study and the model used to estimate the returns to different levels and types of education. Section 6 reports the results of the empirical analysis. Section 7 introduces data obtained from Peru's Ministry of Education on the relative costs of VTE and general education. The concluding section 8 considers the implications, if any, of the findings for educational policy.
Steroid receptor coactivators 1, 2, and 3: critical regulators of nuclear receptor activity and steroid receptor modulator (SRM)-based cancer therapy

Coactivators are a diverse group of non-DNA binding proteins that induce structural changes in agonist-bound nuclear receptors (NRs) that are essential for NR-mediated transcriptional activation. Once bound, coactivators function to bridge enhancer binding proteins to the general transcription machinery, as well as to recruit secondary coactivators that modify promoter and enhancer chromatin in a manner permissive for transcriptional activation. In the following review article, we focus on one of the most in-depth studied families of coactivators, the steroid receptor coactivators (SRC) 1, 2, and 3. SRCs are widely implicated in NR-mediated diseases, especially in cancers, with the majority of studies focused on their roles in breast cancer. We highlight the relevant literature supporting the oncogenic activity of SRCs and their future as diagnostic and prognostic indicators. With much interest in the development of selective receptor modulators (SRMs), we focus on how these coactivators regulate the interactions between SRMs and their respective NRs; and, importantly, the influence that coactivators have on the functional output of SRMs. Furthermore, we speculate that coactivator-specific inhibitors could provide powerful, all-encompassing treatments that target multiple modes of oncogenic regulation in cancers resistant to typical anti-endocrine treatments.
On the calcium concentration of cataractous and normal human lenses and protein fractions of cataractous lenses.

Abstract Calcium concentrations of a large number of cataractous human lenses and nine normal human lenses were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The mean concentration of calcium in cataractous lenses is 2–13 times higher than the mean calcium concentration of the normal lenses. In considering individual lenses, however, a large number of cataractous lenses contain either less or equivalent calcium concentrations than are present in normal lenses. The Calcium distributions in both the water-soluble and water-insoluble protein fractions isolated from yellow and brown cataracts were also determined. While some aggregate fractions of yellow lenses are calcium rich, no clearcut differences in the mean calcium concentrations of the remaining protein fractions could be established.
Streptococcus bovis: Answers and questions

Abstract Bacteremia caused by Streptococcus bovis can indicate serious conditions, like endocarditis and colonic cancer. S. bovis has also been documented as an agent of central nervous system and abdominal infections and osteomyelitis. The link between S. bovis and colonic cancer is still not well understood, and observations on this relationship may have been clouded in the past by the inability to accurately identify S. bovis and related organisms. This article explores the clinical significance of bacteria identified as S. bovis , their link with gastrointestinal cancer, and the evolution of the taxonomy and classification of these organisms. Better methods of identification of S. bovis organisms may aid in unraveling the true clinical role of these bacteria.
The Polio Eradication Effort: Should Vaccine Eradication Be Next?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented a plan to eradicate poliovirus that is widely viewed as having made enormous progress. If all goes as planned, polio will be eradicated on this planet by the year 2003. However, there is a debate, as highlighted in a pair of Policy Forums in this issue, over when vaccination against polio can be stopped. Dove and Racaniello believe that the reliance of the WHO on the live Sabin oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) means that there will be a continuing threat of release of potentially pathogenic virus into the environment. They are also concerned that the planned destruction of all wild-type polio stocks will not be possible. They therefore recommend a switch to the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). In response, Hull and Aylward explain why a switch from OPV is not necessary and describe the studies being sponsored by the WHO to determine how and when immunization can safely be ended.
Molecular‐orbital model for metal‐sapphire interfacial strength

Self-consistent-field X-Alpha scattered-wave cluster molecular-orbital models have been constructed for transition and noble metals (Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ag) in contact with a sapphire (Al2O3) surface. It is found that a chemical bond is established between the metal d-orbital electrons and the nonbonding 2p-orbital electrons of the oxygen anions on the Al2O3 surface. An increasing number of occupied metal-sapphire antibonding molecular orbitals explains qualitatively the observed decrease of contact shear strength through the series Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ag.
Research and Training Programs in General Internal Medicine

Excerpt To the editor: The plea by Drs. Griner and Huth (1) for increased involvement of general internal medicine faculty members in research activities is timely. There is an urgent need not only...
The impact of red mud on growth of wetland vegetation and substrate fertility

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of “red mud”, the residue of the Bayer process for extracting alumina from bauxite, on wetland to investigate whether red mud can be used for wetland restoration. Two wetland species,Spartina alterniflora Loisel. andSagittaria lancifolia L., were used to test their response to the following substrate treatments: 100% marsh sediment, 100% red mud, a mixture of 50% marsh sediment and 50% red mud, a mixture of 50% red mud and 50% compost, and neutralized red mud. Each substrate treatment received two fertilization levels, fertilized (N−P−K) and unfertilized. Red mud could support the growth of the salt marsh species,Spartina alterniflora, but not the fresh marsh species.Sagittaria lancifolia. The high Na content and salinity of red mud, even when mixed with marsh sediment or compost, appeared to be the primary cause for the high mortality ofSagittaria in these substrates. Fertilization did not reduce the stress response ofSagittaria to red mud, but significantly increased the growth ofSpartina. Red mud is low in available N and P and required fertilizer or organic matter (e.g., compost) addition to increase fertility. In experiments with both fresh and salt marsh sediments, the concentrations of soluble heavy metals, with the exception of Mn, were not significantly greater for red mud than for marsh sediment. Thus, the release of heavy metals from red mud over the short-term may not pose an environmental concern. However, the mobilization of heavy metals over the long-term and the influence of plants in accumulating metals requires further investigation.
A newly characterized group of anti-phosphocholine antibodies: Group III antibodies

Four anti-phosphocholine (PC) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are described that can be clearly distinguished from group I and II anti-PC antibodies [Chang et al. (1982) J. Immun. 128, 702–706]. They bind optimally and suboptimally PC-histone coated ELISA plates equally well, in contrast to group I and II MAbs which bind much less well to suboptimally coated plates. On optimally coated plates their fine specificity for PC analogues is group II-like, whereas on suboptimally coated plates it is group I-like; group I and II MAbs each maintain their own characteristic fine specificity patterns on either type of plate. At the molecular level, all four MAbs utilize VK24 light chains and share a 5.2kb rearranged band in Southern blot analysis (using a JH probe and EcoRI restricted DNA). The term “group III” is proposed to define and distinguish these anti-PC antibodies.
Analyzing eye fixations and gaze orientations on films and pictures

Eye movements are arguably the most natural and repetitive movement of a human being. The most mundane activity, such as watching television or reading a newspaper, involves this automatic activity which consists of shifting our gaze from one point to another. Identification of the components of eye movements (fixations and saccades) is an essential part in the analysis of visual behavior because these types of movements provide the basic elements used by further investigations of human vision. However, many of the algorithms that detect fixations present a number of problems. In this paper, we present the results of a new fixation identification technique that is based on clustering of eye positions, using projections and a projection aggregation applied to static pictures. We also present results of a new method that computes dispersion of eye fixations in videos considering a multi-user environment.
Complications of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management

Perioperative nerve injuries are recognized as a complication of regional anesthesia. Although rare, studies suggest the frequency of complications is increasing. Risk factors include neural, traumatic injury during needle or catheter placement, infection, and choice of local anesthetic solution. Neurologic injury due to pressure from improper patient positioning, tightly applied casts or surgical dressings, and surgical trauma are often attributed to regional anesthetic. Body habitus and preexisting neurologic dysfunction may also contribute. The safe conduct of regional anesthesia involves knowledge of patient, anesthetic, and surgical risk factors. Early diagnosis and treatment of reversible etiologies are critical to optimizing neurologic outcome.
Severe gas bubble disease in a warmwater fishery in the midwestern united states

Abstract Gas bubble disease below Harry S. Truman Dam, sited on the upper Osage River and spilling into Lake of the Ozarks, caused the largest fish kill on record in Missouri. This is the first recorded evidence of serious supersaturation in the Midwest. Total gas saturation levels up to 139% killed nearly a half million fish in the upper 85 km of the Osage Arm, Lake of the Ozarks, during April-June, 1978 and 1979. Gas supersaturation occurred throughout the 150 km of this main-stem reservoir. Nitrogen was the primary gas responsible for gas bubble disease mortalities. Pelagic and near-shore species suffered the earliest and heaviest mortalities, but fish characteristic of deeper waters were increasingly killed as supersaturation persisted. Instream cage bioassays defined the zone of lethal supersaturation. Significant mortality occurred in bottom-dwelling fish of several species, due to long-term intermittent exposure. Susceptibility to gas bubble disease was related to fish size.
Why do superantigens care about peptides

Abstract Superantigen (SAg)-mediated activation of T cells is enhanced by the ability of the SAg to bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules outside the peptide-binding groove, thereby bypassing the normal constraints of MHC restriction. However, recent studies have shown that SAg binding is acutely sensitive to the MHC class II-associated peptide. Here, David Woodland, Renren Wen and Marcia Blackman argue that this feature has evolved to optimize T-cell responses by more closely mimicking conventional antigen recognition.
Cluster State LOQC with Entangled Spatial Modes

We present a scheme for cluster state linear optical quantum computation using Hermite-Gauss (HG) transverse spatial modes. We describe HG fusion gate elements, an HG-entangled biphoton source, and multi-photon spatial cluster state characterization.
Consideration of grain and extent in landscape studies of terrestrial vertebrate ecology

The choice of scale (both grain and extent) of a research project can directly affect the results of the project itself, and the comparability of those results to similar research. This paper reviews 149 self-described landscape studies published between 1987 and 2001. From each paper, data for several variables were gathered that we proposed may influence the choice of scale. These variables included the taxa the research considered, the characteristics of the landscape of interest, the species response variables measured, the type of methodology employed by the study, the habitat type(s) surveyed, and the technique(s) used to create habitat maps. Our results demonstrated that only 61% of the papers identified both the grain and extent at which the research was conducted. Taxonomic group, landscape characteristics, and study type all appeared to influence both the choice of grain and extent for the study. Wide variation (standard deviation) in grain and extent among studies suggests that researchers either used some factor not considered here to select scale, or made decisions of the scale on pragmatic grounds, rather than on the appropriateness of the scale to the variables. Finally, 24 of the 149 studies reviewed researched the same combination of categories of the six variables that we considered, yet only for one combination was the grain and extent used within the same order of magnitude. This review highlights the need for more structured choice of scale in landscape studies, and in particular the need for more standardized size of grain and extent for greater comparability among studies.
Design and Protocol of a Randomized Multiple Behavior Change Trial: Make Better Choices 2 (MBC2)

Background Suboptimal diet and inactive lifestyle are among the most prevalent preventable causes of premature death. Interventions that target multiple behaviors are potentially efficient; however the optimal way to initiate and maintain multiple health behavior changes is unknown.
Amphipathic helixes and plasma lipoproteins: thermodynamic and geometric considerations

In this paper analyses are made of the thermodynamic and geometric properties of the predicted association between amphipathic helixes and phospholipid vesicles. From thermodynamic considerations it is proposed that a major driving force for such an association is the negative free energy gained by the transfer of a number of hydrophobic residues (contained within the non-polar faces of amphipathic helixes), from water to the interior of a phospholipid bilayer. The mechanism proposed is that in the aqueous state a potentially amphipathic sequence forms a non-helical hydrophobic patch on the surface of the apolipoprotein. Formation of an amphipathic helix and simultaneous burial of the hydrophobic residues in the surface of a phospholipid bilayer provides the driving force for lipid association. From this model an estimate of the upperlimit for the hydrophobically driven free energy of lipid association (-40-65 kcal/mol) is calculated for the 4 apolipoproteins with known sequences. On the basis of geometrical considerations a model for an intermediate state of high density lipoprotein (HDL) synthesis is proposed. This model consists of a cholesterol-containing phospholipid bilayer disc whose 'naked" hydrophobic edges are shielded from the aqueous phase by amphipathic helixes of the apolipoproteins. Exposure of these 'bicycle tire" miscelles to the enzyme lecithin : cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) is postulated to result in the formation of mature spherical HDL particles with cholesteryl ester forming a neutral lipid core.