cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Halobacterium halobium Gas Vesicles

Gas vesicles, isolated from lysed Halobacterium halobium cells, gave an amino acid analysis which accounted for 78% of the weight, and the balance was mainly salt and water. One percent of tightly bound d-galactose was found, as well as 2% of phosphate that was not released by treatment which promotes β-elimination, by hydrolytic release of the galactose, by carboxymethylation of lysine, or by alkaline phosphatase digestion. Only a trace of lipid was detected, and it appeared to have a polyisoprenoid structure. The vesicles were not solubilized by extremes of pH, by agents such as urea, guanidine hydrochloride, formic acid, and detergents, or by organic solvents. Succinylation and carboxymethylation gave partial dispersion, but the products were heterogeneous and of high molecular weight. The amino acid composition of vesicles was independent of fragment size. No band was obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with neutral, acidic, and alkaline systems, with or without sodium dodecyl sulfate and urea, before or after chemical modification. No amino terminus was detected. Electrofocusing of a vesicle dispersion showed a major component with a pI of 4.0 and an amino acid composition of the whole vesicles, and a minor band with pI 3.4 which had an amino acid composition different from whole vesicles. Vesicle protein was resistant to digestion by Pronase, trypsin, thermolysin, and papain. The precipitin reaction with rabbit antivesicle serum was not inhibited by galactose or inorganic phosphate. Succinylated and carboxymethylated vesicles cross-reacted with antivesicle serum. Cell lysates contained material which reacted with antiserum, but it was heterogeneous and mainly larger than 5 × 106 daltons. Material from nonvacuolated mutants reacted weakly with antiserum, but the amino acid composition of the precipitated antigen was different from that of vesicles and of soluble cross-reacting material from vacuolated cells.
Cancer Classification and Molecular Signature Identification

Cancer is a family of diseases that share a common set of characteristics such as reprogrammed energy metabolism, uncontrolled cell growth, tumor angiogenesis and avoidance of immune destruction, referred to as cancer hallmarks, as introduced in Chap. 1. Based on their original cell types, cancers are classified into five classes: (1) carcinoma, which begins in epithelial cells and represents the majority of the human cancer cases; (2) sarcoma, derived from mesenchymal cells, e.g., connective tissue cells such as fibroblasts; (3) lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma, originating in hematopoietic or blood-forming cells; (4) germ cell tumors, developing, as the name implies, from germ cells; and (5) neuroblastoma, glioma, glioblastoma and others derived from cells of the central and peripheral nervous system and denoted as neuroectodermal tumors because of their beginning in the early embryo. Each class may consist of cancers of different types. For example, carcinoma comprises adenocarcinoma, basal-cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, independent of their underlying tissue types. Cancers of the same type and developing in the same tissue may have distinct properties in terms of their growth patterns, malignance levels, survival rates and possibly even different underlying mechanisms. They may respond differently to the same drug treatment and hence have different mortality rates. As of now, over 200 types of human cancers have been identified and characterized (Stewart and Kleihues 2003), the majority of which are determined based on the location, the originating cell type and cell morphology. It is now becoming evident that this type of classification, in large part subjective, is not adequate for developing personalized treatment plans, which are becoming increasingly desirable and clearly represents the future of cancer medicine.
FINE STRUCTURE OF MYCOTA. 12. KARYOCHORISIS--SOMATIC NUCLEAR DIVISION-IN CORDYCEPS MILITARIS.

The literature on somatic nuclear division in the fungi consistently suggests that, with but one present exception, the process is non-mitotic. The correlation of previous electron microscopic studies of yeasts with the present study of Cordyceps militaris supports this interpretation and provides a possible mechanism, identified as karyochorisis (nuclear sundrance). During karyochorisis there are two successive invaginations of the inner and outer elements of the perinuclear cisterna. The invagination of the inner nuclear membrane divides the nucleoplasm into two or more subunits described by the new term karyome. The subsequent invagination of the outer nuclear membrane separates the karyomes into daughter nuclei. It is suggested that, in contrast to continued sterile efforts to prove that mitosis is the general mode of fungal somatic nuclear division, the hypothesis of karyochorisis raises new questions that offer new areas for future research. Four that are put forth are 1. the possibility of a correlation between nuclear size and the mode of division; 2. the nature of the mechanism of chromosome replication and separation; 3. the cause of nuclear elongation and the possibility that its initiation depends on a critical RNA volume; and 4. the possibility that colchicine produces polyploidy by blocking the invaginations of the nuclear envelope. In a concluding section the suggestion is made that the proposed hypothetical mode of fungal nuclear division, karyochorisis, may represent only a special example of a general phenomenon of division of double membrane organelles in primitive cells.
Collaborative Conceptual Design Thinking and Software Aids: A Review

This paper reviews recent research on collaborative design thinking and software aids. The review has two foci: 1) collaborative design thinking, and 2) software aids. Recent developments regarding these foci are discussed for their contribution to collaborative design performance. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Design of the Optical Communication Demonstrator instrument optical system

This paper describes the optical system for the Optical Communication Demonstrator (OCD) instrument. With an aperture of only 4 inches, the OCD instrument is designed to demonstrate the capability of communicating from space to a ground station with a small instrument using optical wavelengths.
Joint Instability of Latitudinal Differential Rotation and Concentrated Toroidal Fields below the Solar Convection Zone. II. Instability of Narrow Bands at All Latitudes

Assuming that concentrated toroidal field bands occur in the solar tachocline at different latitudes as the solar cycle progresses, we examine the joint instability of latitudinal differential rotation and coexisting narrow bands placed at a wide range of latitudes. Following the basic formalism developed by Gilman & Fox and employing the numerical technique of Dikpati & Gilman, we show that the instability exists for almost all phases of the solar cycle, i.e., for a wide range of latitudinal positions of the bands of field strengths between 500 G and 200 kG. Modes with longitudinal wavenumber m = 1 up to m = 7, depending on parameter values, are unstable for both kinds of symmetries. Mid-latitude bands are the most unstable; the instability disappears if the band is at very high or low latitudes. High-latitude bands are highly unstable, with e-folding growth times of a few months, even when the field strength is low (about a few hundred gauss); low-latitude bands are unstable with longer growth times (≥1 yr), but for high field strengths (104-2 × 105 G). We argue that, because of the instability, the high-latitude bands would undergo turbulent mixing in the latitudinal direction on a timescale that is short compared to their build-up time from shearing of poloidal field by the differential rotation, and thus they may not be buoyant enough to appear as active regions at the surface, but the low-latitude bands can build up simultaneously with this instability and can eventually manifest as active regions. Instability for modes with m ≥ 1 could help determine the longitude distribution of active regions; nonlinear changes in the toroidal field due to the instability may contribute to their decay.
Transplanted bone marrow regenerates liver by cell fusion

Results from several experimental systems suggest that cells from one tissue type can form other tissue types after transplantation. This could be due to the presence of multipotential or several types of adult stem cells in donor tissues, or alternatively, to fusion of donor and recipient cells. In a model of tyrosinaemia type I, mice with mutations in the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase gene (Fah-/-) regain normal liver function after transplantation of Fah+/+ bone marrow cells, and form regenerating liver nodules with normal histology that express Fah. Here we show that these hepatic nodules contain more mutant than wild-type Fah alleles, and that their hepatocytes express both donor and host genes, consistent with polyploid genome formation by fusion of host and donor cells. Using bone marrow cells marked with integrated foamy virus vectors that express green fluorescent protein, we identify common proviral junctions in hepatic nodules and haematopoietic cells. We also show that the haematopoietic donor genome adopts a more hepatocyte-specific expression profile after cell fusion, as the wild-type Fah gene was activated and the pan-haematopoietic CD45 marker was no longer expressed.
Semantic guidance of attention within natural scenes

When viewing real-world scenes composed of a myriad of objects, detecting changes can be quite difficult, especially when transients are masked. In general, changes are noticed more quickly and accurately if they occur at the currently (or a recently) attended location. Here, we examine the effects of explicit and implicit semantic cues on the guidance of attention in a change detection task. Participants first attempted to read aloud a briefly presented prime word, then looked for a difference between two alternating versions of a real-world scene. Helpful primes named the object that changed, while misdirecting primes named another (unchanging) object in the picture. Robust effects were found for both explicit and implicit priming conditions, with helpful primes yielding faster change detection times than misdirecting or neutral primes. This demonstrates that observers are able to use higher order semantic information as a cue to guide attention within a natural scene, even when the semantic information...
Nematospiroides dubius: genetic control of immunity to infections of mice.

Abstract Inbred strains of mice differ in their susceptibility and resistance to challenge infections with Nematospiroides dubius. In our studies, F1 hybrid mice from resistant SJL and susceptible CBA parents were resistant to N. dubius challenge infections. Only 22% of backcrosses to SJL were susceptible while backcrosses to CBA had a wide range of susceptibility. Male mice were more susceptible than female mice. In another experiment, inbred strains of mice were compared in their ability to resist N. dubius challenge infection: SJL and A.SW (H-2s) mice became resistant after one immunizing infection, A, A He (both H-2a), as well as BALB c and DBA 2 (both H-2d) mice became resistant after two immunizing infections, while C 57 B L 6 (H-2b), C 3 H He , CBA, and AKR (H-2k) mice remained susceptible. The resistance to reinfections was characterized by reduction of worm burdens between Days 6 and 14 postinfection. It was concluded that (1) resistance to N. dubius challenge infections is inherited in a dominant fashion and that multiple genes may influence such response, which in turn might be modulated by the Y chromosome; (2) both MHC and non-MHC genes may influence, in conjunction with the number of exposures to parasite antigens, the resistance to challenge infections.
Fading memory and stability

Abstract The conditions under which discrete-time nonlinear affine systems possess fading memory are explored. A sufficient condition is given based on discrete-time Lyapunov theory; whereas a necessary condition is provided based on the relationship between the stability and the continuity of this system.
Recurrence of symptoms after percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty: Relationship to Doppler diastolic filling values

Short-term follow-up after percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty shows a high incidence of restenosis. Yet a high percentage of patients with restenosis continue to show symptomatic improvement. Those with decreased left ventricular function originally tend to have a recurrence of symptoms. In this study Doppler-derived diastolic filling values at follow-up were most highly associated with symptom status, suggesting that change in diastolic filling after percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty is one of the factors related to symptoms.
Amplification of microsphere-based microarrays using catalyzed reporter deposition.

Abstract Assay sensitivities using three fluorescent signal generation schemes were evaluated on the Luminex flow cytometer. Following microsphere capture of antigen by immobilized antibodies, bound targets were quantified by use of (1) Cy3-labeled “tracer” antibodies (30 min total time), (2) biotinylated tracers followed by streptavidin-R-phycoerythrin (60 min total time), or (3) biotinylated tracers followed by avidin-peroxidase conjugates and tyramide signal amplification (TSA; 90 min total time). Use of TSA for signal generation in three individual toxin assays improved performance up to 100-fold over Cy3-antibody-based detection, and while streptavidin-R-phycoerythrin provided equivalent sensitivities, TSA produced dramatic increases at low concentrations simplifying positive sample identification. Detection limits for TSA-interrogated assays for ricin, cholera toxin, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B were 64 pg/ml, 4 pg/ml, and 0.1 ng/ml, respectively, using optimized conjugates; analogous detection limits for Cy3-antibody-interrogated assays were 8 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, and 1 ng/ml, respectively. No improvement was observed in botulinum toxoid A assays when TSA amplification was used. As unique preferences for specific avidin-peroxidase conjugates were observed in the individual assays, improvements in multiplexed assays utilizing a single conjugate were significantly lower (3–10-fold improvements). Furthermore, increases in variability resulted in poorer performance of TSA-interrogated assays for botulinum toxoid, indicating that assay-specific optimization should be performed, especially prior to multiplexing.
Concave distal end of ulna metaphysis alone is not a sign of rickets

Background Statements have been made in the literature and in legal testimony that misrepresent the radiographic finding of concave distal end of the ulnar metaphysis.
Effect of ethanol on absorption of iron in rats.

ConclusionsLong or short term alcohol administration appeared to have no effect in normal healthy rats on either total body uptake or the isolated intestinal segment uptake of Fe59 in its ferrous or ferric form with the possible exception of the effect of long term alcohol on the segmental absorption of ferric Fe59.
A Family Study of Sleep Apnea: Anatomic and Physiologic Interactions

The distribution of symptoms, physiologic responses, and upper airway structure in members of one family with three generations of subjects with sleep apnea (SA) is reported. Questionnaire data were obtained from ten family members (ages 7 to 66 years), overnight sleep studies were performed in nine subjects, and ventilatory responses to hyperoxic hypercapnia and to eucapnic hypoxia and cephalometry were obtained in five subjects. All ten family members reported habitual snoring or nighttime snorting/gasping; five of ten family members also reported excessive daytime sleepiness. All studied subjects except for a pregnant woman had greater than ten apneas/hypopneas per hour. Ventilatory responses to hypoxia were markedly reduced in all five subjects studied (≤0.51 L/min/SaO 2 ); hypercapnic responses were reduced in three of five subjects (≤0.61 L/min/mm Hg CO 2 ). No subject was morbidly obese (body mass index 2 ) or demonstrated retrognathia. The posterior airway space was reduced in three subjects, and the mandibular to hyoid distance was increased in four subjects. The two subjects with the longest soft palates and the most inferiorly displaced hyoids had the most severe sleep disorder. Sleep apnea was present, albeit less profound, in the one subject with normal anatomy who had an abnormal hypoxic ventilatory response. The distribution of these physiologic and anatomic measurements in this family provides further support for a genetic basis for SA, and suggests that the disorder may occur as a result of interactions between ventilatory control abnormalities and anatomic risk factors.
The Strategic Air Command : evolution and consolidation of nuclear forces, 1945-1955

Introduction Air Force Strategic Planning, 1945 to 1953 The New Look Evolution of SAC Personnel Policies Origins and Evolution of SAC Maintenance The Transition from the B-47 to the B-52 Intelligence and Targeting Conclusion Bibliography Index
Should India launch a national immunisation programme against rotavirus? Yes

India is considering including rotavirus vaccine in its national childhood immunisation programme. Johnie Rose and Umesh Parashar support the move, but Jacob Puliyel and Joseph Mathew (doi:10.1136/bmj.e7832) question the evidence used to support vaccination
Phosphoinositide-generated second messengers in cardiac signal transduction.

Abstract Hokin and Hokin were the first to demonstrate that tissue inositol phospholipid (phosphoinositide, PI) turnover was increased by hormone treatment. Twenty years later, Michell published a seminal review in which he suggested a relationship between stimulated inositol phospholipid metabolism and Ca2+ mobilization. The biochemical link between these two events was subsequently identified by Berridge and colleagues as inositol trisphosphate (InsP3), a Ca2+-mobilizing ligand that is formed by the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2). The other product of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis, diacylglycerol, activates a Ca2+-sensitive phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, which has been considered as a potential regulator of cardiac ion channels, inotropic state, and gene expression. This review summarizes our current state of knowledge concerning the formation of phosphoinositide-generated second messengers in cardiac cells and their potential role in mediating functional responses in the myocardium.
New insights into inhibitor design from the crystal structure and NMR studies of Escherichia coli GAR transformylase in complex with beta-GAR and 10-formyl-5,8,10-trideazafolic acid.

The crystal structure of Escherichia coli GAR Tfase at 2.1 A resolution in complex with 10-formyl-5,8,10-trideazafolic acid (10-formyl-TDAF, Ki = 260 nM), an inhibitor designed to form an enzyme-assembled multisubstrate adduct with the substrate, β-GAR, was studied to determine the exact nature of its inhibitory properties. Rather than forming the expected covalent adduct, the folate inhibitor binds as the hydrated aldehyde (gem-diol) in the enzyme active site, in a manner that mimics the tetrahedral intermediate of the formyl transfer reaction. In this hydrated form, the inhibitor not only provides unexpected insights into the catalytic mechanism but also explains the 10-fold difference in inhibitor potency between 10-formyl-TDAF and the corresponding alcohol, and a further 10-fold difference for inhibitors that lack the alcohol. The presence of the hydrated aldehyde was confirmed in solution by 13C−1H NMR spectroscopy of the ternary GAR Tfase−β-GAR−10-formyl-TDAF complex using the 13C-labeled 10-formyl-...
A Very Little Bit of Knowledge: Re-Evaluating the Meaning of the Heritability of IQ

Richardson and Norgate have argued that two unwarranted assumptions underlie many of the conclusions drawn by adoption study researchers, namely that genetic and environmental influences on phenotypic variation are additive, and that adoption studies approximate a simple randomized-effects design in which genetic and environmental influences on variance do not contaminate one another. As they note, this issue is important because the primary conclusions of such studies – that genetic variation accounts for a significant proportion of variation in psychological characteristics such as IQ – have been widely accepted [Maccoby, 2001; Nuffield Council on Bioethics, 2002; Turkheimer, 2005]. To address the inappropriateness of the assumption of additivity, Richardson and Norgate refer to several works that support the ascendant view that biological and psychological characteristics are constructed during development, when genes interact with local environmental factors that can be influenced by the broader environment. However, it is worth noting that the literature in developmental biology is replete with findings that support this view, so much so that the earlier view that some genes are able to independently cause or contribute to developmental outcomes is effectively indefensible [Coen, 1999; Edelman, 1988; Keller, 2000; Gottlieb, 1998; Jablonka & Lamb, 2005; Lewontin, 2000; Lickliter & Honeycutt, 2003; Michel & Moore, 1995; Moore, 2002; Robert, 2004; Schaffner, 1998]. Because gene-environment interactions are now understood to drive the development of all of our characteristics, the assumption of additivity is never warranted [Nijhout, 2002; Robert, 2000]. Likewise, after reviewing the relevant data, Richardson and Norgate conclude that the assumption that adopted children’s genes are uncorrelated with their adoptive developmental environments is probably unwarranted in many cases as well.
Household actions can provide a behavioral wedge to rapidly reduce US carbon emissions

Most climate change policy attention has been addressed to long-term options, such as inducing new, low-carbon energy technologies and creating cap-and-trade regimes for emissions. We use a behavioral approach to examine the reasonably achievable potential for near-term reductions by altered adoption and use of available technologies in US homes and nonbusiness travel. We estimate the plasticity of 17 household action types in 5 behaviorally distinct categories by use of data on the most effective documented interventions that do not involve new regulatory measures. These interventions vary by type of action and typically combine several policy tools and strong social marketing. National implementation could save an estimated 123 million metric tons of carbon per year in year 10, which is 20% of household direct emissions or 7.4% of US national emissions, with little or no reduction in household well-being. The potential of household action deserves increased policy attention. Future analyses of this potential should incorporate behavioral as well as economic and engineering elements.
Suggesting Joint Limitations and Physical Parameters for Motion Generating 3 DOF Planar Chains

Synthesizing a motion generating 3-jointed planar chain, under no additional constraints, is trivial. Given a set of desired planar rigid body positions, one can select via straightforward geometric considerations the locations of the revolute (R) joints and prismatic (P) joints of a chain that will reach the positions. On the other hand, specifying constraints on joint limitations or physical parameters may result in no chains that reach the desired positions. In this paper, we study a rigid body in a set of positions in order to determine the point on the body that lies nearest a point, circle or line. Note that the point, circle or line is unknown and is determined as part of the process. The set of points formed by the rigid body point in all of its positions defines a workspace for the outermost moving pivot of the chain. By fitting a generic RPR, PRR or RRR chain’s workspace to these points, we can suggest nearly minimal joint constraints and physical parameters.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Analgesia and hyperreactivity produced by intracranial microinjections of morphine into the periaqueductal gray matter of the rat.

A total of 137 microinjections of morphine sulfate in doses of 1.0–50 μg were made into various midbrain sites of 47 rats implanted with chronic indwelling cannulae. Three to six μg of morphine injected in a 0.5 μl volume produced a marked increase in hot plate reaction time when injected into a circumscribed region of the periaqueductal gray matter ventral to the cerebral aqueduct encompassing the dorsal raphe nucleus and bordering tissue. Microinjections of low doses of morphine in other midbrain loci produced less effective antinociceptive activity or no analgesia at all. Higher doses of morphine (10–50 μg) eliminated the pain response to limb pinching, but in addition caused rats to become “hyperreactive,” i.e., to over respond to a variety of stimuli. Death resulted in seven of these hyperreactive rats. Although mild hyperactivity, i.e., spontaneous motor activation, was frequently observed when 3 μg of morphine was microinjected into more lateral midbrain sites, this dose elicited little or no hyperreactivity. The results of these studies are in agreement with those studies that showed identical sites of action for electrical analgesia in the rat. These results suggest morphine and electrical stimulation have similar mechanisms of action in producing analgesia when these active midbrain sites are involved.
Exploration of crustal/mantle material for the earth and moon using reflectance spectroscopy

Near-infrared reflectance spectra have been acquired (1) for Moses Rock diatreme in SE Utah using an airborne imaging spectrometer (AIS) and (2) for small areas in and around the large lunar impact crater Copernicus using a spectrometer on earth-based telescopes. The high spectral resolution and precision of these data allow several mineral components of surface material to be identified and analyzed in a spatial context. The derived mineralogical information is used to address specific geological problems. For the terrestrial study the distribution of the measured abundance of mantle derived ultramafic microbreccia across Moses Rock dike indicates that flow stabilized into a few channels during the violent eruption. For the lunar study the variety of rock types identified in crustal material of deep-seated origin is distinct from the dominant rock types sampled from the upper lunar crust and suggests a complex crustal evolution.
Can recoil distribution models account for end-of-range damage?

A quantitative evaluation of two existing models for end-of-range damage in Ge+ implanted silicon is presented. The models propose that the amount of end-of-range damage is related to either (1) the number of ions or (2) the number of recoiling Si atoms that come to rest beyond the amorphous/crystalline (α/c) interface. TRIM (Monte Carlo) simulations of the implants studied were used to obtain the predictions of each model. These predictions were compared to experimental results obtained from implants at 30, 100 and 150 keV and doses of 5 × 1014, 1 × 1015 and 2 × 1015. Plan view and cross-sectional TEM observations were used to determine the concentration of atoms bound by the end-of-range dislocation loops and the location of the α/c interface. Increasing the energy or dose resulted in significant increases in the amount of end-of-range damage. Neither model was able to consistently predict these trends at the lower doses and energies where ion beam induced epitaxial crystallization was suppressed. However, the recoil model was found to be superior overall to the ion model when compared to data from a wider range of implant conditions.
Binding of 7α,17α-Dimethyl-19-Nortestosterone (Mibolerone) to Androgen and Progesterone Receptors in Human and Animal Tissues*

In rat uterus and prostate, 7α,17α-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone (DMNT) binds to the androgen receptor specifically and with high affinity. However, this steroid does not bind to glucocorticoid receptors, since it does not displace binding of [3H]triamcinolone acetonide in calf thymus cytosol. In calf uterine and human breast tumor cytosols DMNT binds to the androgen and progesterone receptors, since binding of [3H] DMNT is displaced by unlabeled 16α-ethyl-21-hydroxy-19-nor-4-pregnene-3,20-dione triamcinolone acetonide, and 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Conversely, binding of [3H]16α-ethyl-21- hydroxy-19-nor-4-pregnene-3,20-dione is effectively competed for by unlabeled DMNT but not by DHT. The observed differences in binding of [3H]DMNT to rat and calf uterine cytosols suggest the species specificity of progesterone receptors. Unlike DHT, DMNT has no appreciable binding to human sex-steroid binding globulin. These findings suggest DMNT as a suitable ligand for measurement and characterization of androgen r...
Measures of learning, memory and processing speed accurately predict smoking status in short-term abstinent treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals.

Author(s): Durazzo, Timothy C; Fryer, Susanna L; Rothlind, Johannes C; Vertinski, Mary; Gazdzinski, Stefan; Mon, Anderson; Meyerhoff, Dieter J | Abstract: AimChronic cigarette smoking appears to adversely affect several domains of neurocognition in those with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The primary goal of this study was to identify which measures commonly used to assess neurocognition in AUDs accurately predict smoking status of individuals seeking treatment of alcohol dependence.MethodsTreatment-seeking alcohol-dependent participants (ALC; n = 92) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery after 33 ± 9 days of abstinence. Measures significantly different between smoking and non-smoking ALC were entered as predictors in binary logistic regression and discriminant analysis models, with smoking status as the dependent variable.ResultsSmoking ALC performed significantly worse than non-smoking ALC on measures assessing processing speed, auditory-verbal and visuospatial learning and memory. Using these measures as predictors, a logistic regression model accurately classified 91% of smokers and non-smokers into their respective groups overall and accounted for 68% of the variance in smoking status. The discriminant analysis confirmed the findings from the logistic regression. In smoking ALC, smoking chronicity was inversely related to performance on multiple measures after controlling for lifetime alcohol consumption.ConclusionsMeasures of processing speed, learning and memory robustly predicted the smoking status of ALC with high sensitivity and specificity during early abstinence. The results identified specific measures within a comprehensive neurocognitive battery that discriminated smoking and non-smoking alcohol-dependent individuals with a high sensitivity and specificity. The association of greater smoking chronicity and poorer performance on multiple measures after control for alcohol consumption suggests that chronic smoking adds an additional burden to neurocognitive function in those with alcohol dependence.
The telencephalon of tetrapods in evolution.

Numerous scientists have sought a homologue of mammalian isocortex in sauropsids (reptiles and birds) and a homologue of sauropsid dorsal ventricular ridge in mammals. Although some of the proposed th
Crack closure under high load ratio and Kmax test conditions

Fatigue-crack-growth-rate tests on compact specimens were conducted on several materials (2024-T3, 2324-T39, 7050T7451, Inconel-718 and 4340 steel) at load ratios of 0.1 to 0.95, and for several Kmax test conditions. Test data were generated from threshold to near fracture using compression pre-cracking constant-amplitude (CPCA) or compression pre-cracking loadreduction (CPLR) test methods in the threshold regime; and constant-amplitude loading at higher rates. Remote back-face strain (BFS) gages were used to monitor crack growth. BFS and local strain gages placed along the crack path were both used to measure crack-opening loads. Previous research had indicated that high load ratio and Kmax tests produced crack-closure-free conditions. However, measured crack-closure behavior under high load ratios and Kmax test conditions was attributed to residualplastic deformations, crack-surface roughness and/or fretting-debris. From local crack-opening load measurements, the effective stress-intensity-factor range appeared to be uniquely related to crack-growth rate from threshold to higher rate conditions.
Substoichiometric Hydroxynonenylation of a Single Protein Recapitulates Whole-cell-stimulated Antioxidant Response

Lipid-derived electrophiles (LDEs) that can directly modify proteins have emerged as important small-molecule cues in cellular decision-making. However, because these diffusible LDEs can modify many targets [e.g., >700 cysteines are modified by the well-known LDE 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)], establishing the functional consequences of LDE modification on individual targets remains devilishly difficult. Whether LDE modifications on a single protein are biologically sufficient to activate discrete redox signaling response downstream also remains untested. Herein, using T-REX (targetable reactive electrophiles and oxidants), an approach aimed at selectively flipping a single redox switch in cells at a precise time, we show that a modest level (∼34%) of HNEylation on a single target is sufficient to elicit the pharmaceutically important antioxidant response element (ARE) activation, and the resultant strength of ARE induction recapitulates that observed from whole-cell electrophilic perturbation. These data provide the first evidence that single-target LDE modifications are important individual events in mammalian physiology.
Release of endogenous opiod peptides displaces [3H]diprenorphine binding in rat hippocampal slices

Abstract Pharmacological depolarization by KCl or veratrine reduced [3H]dipronorphrine binding to opioid receptors in the hippocampal slice in a transient, calcium-dependent, and peptide-sensitive manner. These results suggest that endogenous opioid peptides were released from synaptic terminals and competitively displaced [3H]diprenorphine binding to opioid receptors. [3H]diprenorphine binding was significantly reduced by calcium-dependent depolarization throughout the hippocampus as determined by subsequent receptor autoradiography and quantitative densitometry. Displacement of binding was evident at sites in the CA1 and CA3 regions, the dentate gyrus, and the subculum. The dramatic reduction was evident in stratum lacunosum moleculare of CA3. Correlating the sites of maximal [3H]diprenorphine displacement with the previously described distribution of the opioid peptides suggests that the perforant path fibers release enkephalins in stratum lacunosum moleculare of CA3 and stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus, and that mossy fibers may release both dynorphins and enkephalins near stratum pyramidale of CA3 and stratum granulosum. The lack of complete overlap between the distribution of opioid terminals and the sites of displacement indicates that these peptides may diffuse a moderate distance to their sites of action. Radioligand displacement defines the sites of endogenous opioid binding, suggests the likely sources of peptide release, and thus predicts the sites of endogenous opioid action within the hippocampus.
Domains of divergence of the USSOR method applied on p -cyclic matrices

Using a recently derived classical type general functional equation, relating the eigenvalues of a weakly cyclic Jacobi iteration matrix to the eigenvalues of its associated Unsymmetric Successive Overrelaxation (USSOR) iteration matrix, we obtain bounds for the convergence of the USSOR method, when applied to systems with ap-cyclic coefficient matrix.
Care of Patients and Their Families With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a dominantly inherited disorder that is typically characterized by the appearance of multiple colorectal adenomas usually by the teenage years, with a risk of early colorectal cancer approaching 100%. Genetic testing can help determine which family members have the disorder and require surveillance endoscopy. Astute physicians may detect unsuspected FAP in patients with extraintestinal manifestations such as hard or soft cutaneous tumors. Colectomy will prevent cancer but is often necessary before the patient is 20 years old. Postoperative lifelong surveillance is indicated to screen for associated duodenal, thyroid, and rectal or ileal neoplasms. Attenuated FAP variants are less typical and may be confused with other types of familial colorectal neoplasia. Chemoprevention, regression, and other treatment strategies are being developed to improve the management of extracolonic neoplasms and desmoid tumors. A better understanding of the natural history of these FAP-associated phenomena will facilitate the rational selection of interventions. Management guidelines that were recently developed at Mayo Clinic Rochester to provide for uniform care and surveillance are discussed.
Metabolic and mechanical energy costs of reducing vertical center of mass movement during gait.

Abstract Gordon KE, Ferris DP, Kuo AD. Metabolic and mechanical energy costs of reducing vertical center of mass movement during gait. Objectives To test the hypothesis that reducing vertical center of mass (COM) displacement will lower the metabolic cost of human walking. To examine changes in joint work associated with increasing and decreasing vertical COM movement during gait. Design Randomized repeated measures. Setting Human Neuromechanics Laboratory, University of Michigan. Participants Able-bodied subjects (N=10). Interventions Subjects walked at 1.2m/s on a treadmill and overground. Subjects manipulated vertical COM displacement either by adjusting stride length or by using visual feedback to reduce COM movement. Main Outcome Measures We measured kinematic and kinetic data to calculate vertical and lateral COM displacements, joint torques, and work. In addition, we collected oxygen consumption to calculated metabolic power. Results Increasing and decreasing vertical COM displacement beyond subjects' preferred range resulted in increases in the metabolic cost of walking. When vertical COM displacement was reduced, corresponding increases in positive ankle and hip work and negative knee work were observed. Conclusions Humans are capable of walking in a manner that will reduce COM displacement from normal. Decreasing vertical COM movement results in increases in metabolic energy costs because of greater mechanical work performed at the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Thus, reducing vertical COM movement is not a successful strategy for improving either metabolic or mechanical energy economy during normal walking by able-bodied subjects.
Aggregation Properties of the Acetylcholinesterase from the Central Nervous System of Manduca sexta

The CNS of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, provides a rich source of true acetylcholinesterase (AChE, acetylcholine, hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7). Optimal extraction of the enzyme was obtained with a nonionic detergent at high ionic strength (1% Triton X-100, 0.5 M NaCl). Velocity sedimentation of the Triton + salt-extracted enzyme demonstrated a single peak whose sedimentation coefficient was dependent upon the enzyme concentration layered on top of the gradient. When more than 20 units were applied to the gradient, a sedimentation coefficient of 8.6 S (205,000) was obtained, and extrapolation to zero units yielded a 5.7 S (110,500) species. Sedimentation in the absence of detergents (1.0 M NaCl or 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4) yielded pelleted enzyme and species with mean values of 18.6 S (650,000) and 17.5 S (600,000), respectively. The detergent-extracted enzyme also demonstrated a concentration-dependent size in gel filtration experiments. When less than 300 units were applied to the column, a single species was recovered, with a molecular radius of 40.15 +/- 2.08 A (108,000) or 43.4 +/- 2.38 A (117,000) calculated by different methods. If the sample contained 300 to 1,300 units, two species were observed, with molecular radii of 40.15 +/- 2.08 A or 43.4 +/- 2.38 A and 78.4 +/- 3.94 A (319,000) or 80.25 +/- 3.01 A (326,000). Velocity sedimentation and gel filtration of AChE have demonstrated that the enzyme has a minimum molecular weight of approximately 110,000 and also exists as higher-molecular-weight aggregates of this value.
On the Hamiltonian structure of generalized fluid equations

It is shown that generalized incompressible fluid equations inherit their Hamiltonian structure from the compressible generalized fluid equations, and some examples are given.
Radiation-Induced Degradation of a Series of Poly(vinyl Ethers)

Abstract The degradative effects of γ-radiation on diethyl ether solutions of poly(alkyl vinyl ethers) under a variety of conditions were studied by polymer molecular weight measurements. Poly(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE), poly(ethyl vinyl ether) (PEVE), poly(isopropyl vinyl ether) (PIPVE), and poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) (PIBVE) exhibited similar degradative behavior, with G(SC) values between 0.3 and 0.9 scissions/100 eV at 0°C. Chemically polymerized and radiation-polymerized PEVE samples gave comparable results. Chain degradation was much more pronounced for samples of poly(tert-butyl vinyl ether) (PTBVE) which yielded a G(SC) value of 3.6 at 0°C. Degradation experiments conducted on PEVE in air resulted in significantly higher rates of scission: G(SC) = 5.6 scissions/100 eV at 0°C. Chain scission was not measurably influenced by changing the solvent from diethyl ether to di-isopropyl ether. Increased polymer concentration was found to reduce the rate of polymer degradation.
Regulatory perspective on the importance of ADME assessment of nanoscale material containing drugs

The promise of nanoscale material containing drug products to treat complex diseases is mounting. According to the literature, in addition to the liposomes, micelles, emulsions, there are novel drug delivery systems such as dendrimers and metal colloids at different stages of pre-clinical and clinical development. With the anticipation that more nanoscale material containing drug products will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval in the future, FDA formed a Nanotechnology Task Force in 2006 to determine the critical regulatory issues regarding nanomaterials. As a result, all centers within the FDA are considering the development of guidance documents to address nanomaterial specific issues. It is well established in the literature that physico-chemical characterization (PCC) studies are crucial for nanomaterial containing drug products. However, this paper addresses the equally important topic of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME) studies for nanomaterials and provides examples of how physical properties affect biodistribution (i.e. the state of agglomeration, or aggregation, surface characteristics, stability of PEG). This paper also attempts to highlight some of the ADME study design issues related to nanomaterials such as the need for conducting biodistribution studies on each moiety of the multifunctional nanoparticles, dual labeled pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, and comparative PK studies on the free versus encapsulated drugs. In addition, this paper underlines the importance of long-term biodistribution and mass balance studies to understand the nanoparticle accumulation profile which may help to assess the safety and efficacy of the nanomaterial containing drug products. This review also lists some of the pre-clinical guidance documents that may help sponsors get started in developing data for inclusion in an initial investigational new drug application package for nanoscale material containing drug products.
Influence of dopamine on cyclic nucleotide enzymes in bovine retinal membrane fractions

Dopamine is a major neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in vertebrate retina. Although its pharmacological and physiological actions are well understood, the biochemical mechanisms of its signal transduction are less clear. Acting via D1 receptors, dopamine was shown to increase cyclic AMP levels in intact retina and to activate adenylate cyclase in retinal homogenates. The action via activation of D2 receptors is controversial: it was reported to decrease cyclic AMP levels in intact retina but inhibition of cyclase could not be demonstrated in retinal homogenates; also it was reported to activate rod outer segment cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase in vitro but did not decrease cyclic GMP levels in aspartate-treated retinas. We made an attempt to fractionate bovine retinal membranes and to investigate the effects of dopamine, via D1 and D2 receptors, on the synthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. Activation of cyclic AMP synthesis was noted in all fractions, but no effects were evident on cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis or cyclic GMP synthesis in any fraction. Also, D2 agonist did not inhibit cyclic AMP synthesis. These observations suggest that D2 receptors may not be directly coupled to cyclic nucleotide metabolizing enzymes in bovine retina.
The effects of hypoxia and hyperoxia on fetal-placental vascular tone and inflammatory cytokine production.

Abstract Objective: To determine the effects of fetal hypoxia and hyperoxia on placental vascular tone and production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Study Design: The maternal and fetal circulation of 2 cotyledons from 5 human placentas were perfused for 4 hours. The fetal circulation of 1 cotyledon was perfused with hypoxic Hanks' balanced salt solution; the other was perfused with hyperoxic Hanks' balanced salt solution. Fetal vascular pressures were recorded every 10 minutes, and fetal vein effluents were collected hourly. Results: Fetal-placental vascular perfusion pressure was reduced from baseline during hypoxic conditions. Cytokine concentrations were elevated during hyperoxic conditions compared with hypoxic conditions, with significant differences achieved at 2, 3, and 4 hours for interleukin-6 and at 4 hours for tumor necrosis factor-α. Conclusion: Fetal-placental vasodilation may be a compensatory mechanism to improve hypoxic conditions. Supraphysiologic oxygenation may contribute to the fetal inflammatory response syndrome and to the development of cerebral palsy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:1068-72.)
Bidirectional Influence between Parent and Child: Rethinking Assessment of the Transition from Other- to Self-Regulation:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether children eventually achieve the competency to monitor their own task performances (i.e., memory monitoring) by way of prior social interactions with parents (i.e., other- to self-regulation). It was hypothesized that, if cognitive abilities, such as memory monitoring, are internalized via social interactions with parents, then children who are able to gauge their task performance cognitively should require little or no aid from their parents in completing the task To test this hypothesis, interactions of 26 elementary school children and their parents over 10 to 12 mo. were examined. Analysis indicated an incongruence between children's ability to monitor their task performance and the extent to which they required parent assistance to complete the task. Although children internalized the ability to monitor their task performance, no sex, age, or parent-child dyadic differences were found in children's need for parental assistance to complete the task. An...
Effect of Continuous and Discontinuous Fabrication and Reflow Processes on PWB Warpage

PWB also known as Printed Circuit Board (PCB) provides the physical structure for mounting and holding the electronic components and electrically connecting it. They are foundation of virtually all of the electronic devices. Typically they are multilayer structures consisting of organic/composites (e.g. FR4) and circuit layers, laminated together. Such multi-layered structures exhibit ‘board warpage’ during manufacturing process. It is a result of residual thermo-mechanical stresses along with any asymmetries (if present) during the curing process. This effect further increases when the board undergoes thermal cycling during component mounting and reflow process. Effect of different parameters such as board size, board thickness, and pressure (at the time of developing) on PWB warpage is studied.© 2005 ASME