cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of the opioid-benzodiazepine, tifluadom, on ingestive behaviors.

Abstract A large body of evidence has suggested a role for the endogenous opiates and their receptors in the regulation of appetite. In this study, we report on the effects of tifluadom, a noval opiate with a benzodiazepine-like structure and preferential activity at the K opiate receptor, on ingestive behaviors. Tifluadom increases food intake in rats without altering water intake. Tifluadom's effect on feeding is more potent than that of morphine or ketocyclazocine and equivalent to that of butorphanol. The effect is partially resistant to naloxone antagonism. Tifluadom is more potent when administered subcutaneously than when given intraperitoneally. These data provide further support for the concept that K opiate receptors represent an important component of the natural feeding drive.
CpG-binding protein is a nuclear matrix- and euchromatin-associated protein localized to nuclear speckles containing human trithorax. Identification of nuclear matrix targeting signals.

CpG-binding protein (CGBP) binds unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and is essential for mammalian development. CGBP exhibits a punctate nuclear localization correlated with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole light regions and is excluded from metaphase chromosomes. The distribution of CGBP is distinct from the heterochromatin-associated proteins MBD1, methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, and HP1α. Some CGBP-containing nuclear speckles co-localize with splicing factor SC-35 and actively transcribed regions of the genome, whereas most CGBP co-localizes with acetylated histones, indicating that CGBP is localized to active chromatin. CGBP contains two nuclear localization signals that are insufficient to direct punctate subnuclear distribution. Instead, localization of CGBP to nuclear speckles requires signals within the acidic, basic, and coiled-coil domains. CGBP associates with the nuclear matrix, and fragments of CGBP that fail to associate with the nuclear matrix fail to localize to nuclear speckles and exhibit reduced transcriptional activation activity. Mutated versions of CGBP that lack DNA binding activity exhibit a normal nuclear distribution, suggesting that CGBP accumulates at nuclear speckles as a result of protein/protein interactions. Importantly, the subcellular distribution of CGBP is identical to human trithorax, suggesting that these proteins may be components of a multimeric complex analogous to the histone-methylating Set1 complex ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae that contains CGBP and trithorax homologues.
Brownian dynamics simulations of intramolecular energy transfer.

Abstract A novel technique for modelling intramolecular energy transfer is presented. Brownian dynamics calculations are used to compute the trajectories of donor and acceptor species, and the instantaneous orientation factor is calculated during each temporal iteration. In this work, several model systems are considered. Trajectories were computed for energy transfer between a flexible donor and a rigidly fixed acceptor. We have considered configurations where the donor is, (1) tethered to a fixed point in space, but free to diffuse rotationally, and (2) constrained to wobble in a cone. The luminescence decay of the donor is ‘measured’, and a non-single-exponential decay is observed for configurations of efficient energy transfer. Luminescence anisotropy measurements of constrained and unconstrained donors reflect the contribution of both energy transfer and rotational diffusion to the shape of the anisotropy decay curve.
Significance Of Multiple Scattering In Imaging Through Turbid Media

The degradation of image quality in a turbid medium is analyzed within the framework of the small-angle approximation, the diffusion approximation, and a rigorous two-dimensional radiative transfer equation. These three approaches allow us to emphasize different aspects of the imaging problem when multiple scattering effects are important. For a medium with a forward-peaked phase function, the separation of multiple scattering into a series of scatterings of various order provides a fruitful technique. The use of the diffusion approximation and transport theory extends the determination of the modulation transfer function to a turbid medium with an arbitrary degree of anisotropy.
Determinants of underachievement as perceived by gifted, above‐average, and average black students 1

This study examined determinants of underachievement as perceived by 148 Black fifth‐and sixth‐grade students in an urban school district. Explored were the respective influences of social, psychological, and cultural determinants of underachievement as perceived by Black students in three different academic programs (gifted, above‐average, and average). Students were placed into groups based on profiles of achievement behavior (Types I through V) and compared relative to their perceptions and attitudes. Findings from the statistical analyses (frequency analyses, t‐tests, analyses of variance, and multiple regression) suggest that psychological factors played the greatest role in underachievement or poor achievement motivation, and that underachievement behaviors were noted among all students, irrespective of their academic program. Implications and recommendations are suggested for educators working with gifted, above‐average, and average Black students in urban areas.
Neural induction of chick myoblast differentiation in culture.

Abstract Developing chick embryo leg muscle contains a series of clonally distinct myoblasts. One of these myoblast classes, CMR-III, appears during the eighth day of development and, by Day 10, comprises up to 50% of all clonable cells in the leg muscle tissue. Denervation earlier in development prevents the appearance of CMR-III. The nature of neural influence on CMR-III production has been studied with a completely in vitro system which allows functional interaction between cultured neurons and myogenic cells. Spinal cord cells from 4- to 6-day-old embryos are grown on gelatin-coated dishes and, after neuronal differentiation, myogenic cells from the legs of 10- to 12-day-old denervated embryos are added to the cultures. After 48 hr of coculture the cells are removed from the plates and myoblast populations assayed by clonal analysis. Cocultures produce CMR-III myoblasts as efficiently as do normal embryos—up to 50% of all clonable cells—while control cultures remain nearly free of CMR-III. The induction of CMR-III from precursor is inhibited by curare and by physical separation of neurons and myogenic cells. Induction is not mediated by soluble or insoluble, stable or unstable components released by spinal cord cells. Nonneuronal cells from skeletal muscle, liver, adrenal, and heart muscle do not induce CMR-III. It is suggested that contact between neurons and sensitive precursor myogenic cells is required for conversion of precursor into CMR-III.
Cross‐linking of bovine and caprine caseins by microbial transglutaminase and their use as microencapsulating agents for n‐3 fatty acids

Summary Bovine and caprine caseins were cross-linked with microbial transglutaminase (mTG). The mTG-cross-linked bovine or caprine casein dispersion, mixed with 14.5% maltodextrin (DE = 40), was used to prepare emulsions with 10.5% algae oil. Oxidative stability of emulsions was evaluated by peroxide values (PVs) and anisidine values. Adding liposoluble rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid and δ-tocopherol lowered the formation of hydroperoxides and their subsequent decomposition products in emulsions. Emulsions stabilised with liposoluble rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid and δ-tocopherol were spray-dried at 180/95 °C. Algae oil microencapsulated with mTG-cross-linked bovine casein reduced PV by ≈ 34%, while the algae oil microencapsulated with mTG-cross-linked caprine casein with low levels of αs1-casein reduced PV by ≈ 42% at 4 weeks of storage at 30 °C. The investigation suggests that liposoluble rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid and δ-tocopherol effectively protected algae oil during the coating process with mTG-cross-linked bovine and caprine caseins. The above results clearly indicated that the choice of milk caseins (bovine vs. caprine) cross-linked with mTG impacts the oxidative stability of spray-dried algae oil emulsions (microcapsules) enriched with n-3 fatty acids.
Management of a large frontoethmoid osteoma with sinus cranialization and cranial bone graft reconstruction.

Abstract Osteoma represents the most common benign neoplasm of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The etiology of osteomas is uncertain, and the majority occur in the frontal, ethmoid, and maxillary sinuses in that order. We present a 14-year-old male with a large frontoethmoid osteoma that required frontal sinus cranialization and pericranial bone graft reconstruction following removal. The osteoma recurred 6 months postoperatively and was excised. Treatment alternatives and a review of the literature are presented.
Application of binding free energy calculations to prediction of binding modes and affinities of MDM2 and MDMX inhibitors.

Molecular docking is widely used to obtain binding modes and binding affinities of a molecule to a given target protein. Despite considerable efforts, however, prediction of both properties by docking remains challenging mainly due to protein’s structural flexibility and inaccuracy of scoring functions. Here, an integrated approach has been developed to improve the accuracy of binding mode and affinity prediction and tested for small molecule MDM2 and MDMX antagonists. In this approach, initial candidate models selected from docking are subjected to equilibration MD simulations to further filter the models. Free energy perturbation molecular dynamics (FEP/MD) simulations are then applied to the filtered ligand models to enhance the ability in predicting the near-native ligand conformation. The calculated binding free energies for MDM2 complexes are overestimated compared to experimental measurements mainly due to the difficulties in sampling highly flexible apo-MDM2. Nonetheless, the FEP/MD binding free e...
The impact of antiplatelet drugs on trauma outcomes.

BACKGROUNDAntiplatelet drugs (APDs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications. We wondered whether patients with trauma receiving preinjury APD have worse outcomes.METHODSWe interrogated our institutional database during a 5-year period to evaluate preoperative risks and trauma outcomes in
Core-periphery, new clusters, or rising stars?: international scientific collaboration among `advanced' countries in the era of globalization

Assuming the OECD member states as `advanced' nations equipped with basic scientific capacities, the present research addresses the network configuration of these countries in international scientific collaboration and the transformation of this network along with globalization. The result suggests that geographical, linguistic, and economic affinities did not have a meaningful impact on the formation of co-authorship network between `advanced' nations, different from previous research results which claimed their importance on international cooperation. Globalization facilitated by the development of information and transportation technologies was found to influence the co-authorship link between countries, but not to accelerate centralization of the network in the past 15 years. Though the core-periphery pattern still persists, new rising stars, which are Korea and Turkey, have emerged in the co-authorship network among `advanced' nations. These two countries, having a rapid increase in the share of degree centrality from 1995 to 2010, had strategic financial support from the government which stimulated the collaboration between universities and industries and emphasized the development of science and engineering fields.
Platelet activation during coronary angioplasty in humans.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have indicated that balloon angioplasty is associated with local platelet activation. In addition, different contrast media have different effects on thrombus formation during angioplasty in humans. We hypothesized that coronary angioplasty in humans is associated with activation of platelets to specific platelet agonists and that this activation may be differently modified by different angiographic contrast agents. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 25 patients referred for angioplasty of the left anterior descending or circumflex coronary arteries. All patients were pretreated with aspirin and received heparin. Blood samples for assessment of platelet aggregation to serotonin, ADP, epinephrine, and collagen were obtained from the coronary sinus before any contrast injection, after initial diagnostic contrast injections, and after three balloon inflations. Patients were randomized to receive iopamidol, diatrizoate, or ioxaglate. Contrast alone was not associated with altered platelet aggregation. However, balloon angioplasty was consistently associated with increased platelet aggregation to serotonin but not to ADP, epinephrine, or collagen. These effects were similar with the three contrast agents studied except that the use of iopamidol was associated with increased platelet responsiveness to all concentrations of ADP after balloon dilation. CONCLUSIONS Coronary angioplasty in humans was associated with increased platelet aggregation in blood drawn from the coronary sinus. This effect was primarily seen when serotonin was used as an agonist.
Abstract 144: microRNA-107 regulates PKCepsilon and functions as a tumor suppressor miR in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide with about 600,000 new cases diagnosed in the last year. The 5-year survival rate of HNSCC has remained stagnant despite advances in the clinical management of this disease. Understanding the molecular pathways that lead to aggressive HNSCC is crucial to identify new “druggable” targets for anti-cancer drug development. Protein kinase Cepsilon (PKCe) is elevated in HNSCC and regulates cell invasion and motility thorough activation of Rho GTPases. Our laboratory and others provide evidence that PKCe is a transforming oncogene that phosphorylates and modulates a cascade of signal transduction pathways, including Akt, EGFR, Rho GTPases, and Stat3. Thus, targeting PKCe may be an attractive therapeutic approach to dampen multiple hyper-active signaling pathways in concert. At this time, the molecular mechanism of PKCe dysregulation in HNSCC remains to be elucidated. In silico analysis with TargetScan, MiRBase, and miRanda identified numerous putative microRNA (miR) binding sites in the 3’-UTR region of PKCe. We screened a panel of miRs using qPCR and miR-107 was identified to have an inverse association with PKCe in HNSCC cell lines with high endogenous PKCe. Ectopic expression of miR-107 in several HNSCC cell lines significantly reduced PKCe mRNA expression and protein levels. The expression of a luciferase reporter construct containing the 3’-UTR of PKCe was down-regulated by miR-107 and deletion/mutation of the three cognate miR-107 binding sites completely abolished the regulation by miR-107. These observations confirm PKCe as a validated target of miR-107. Ectopic expression of miR-107 in HNSCC cell lines significantly inhibited cell proliferation, DNA replication, clonogenic survival, invasion and migration. Tumor take and tumor growth of HNSCC cells was suppressed by miR-107 in a pre-clinical nude mouse model of HNSCC. Lastly, miR-107 was significantly reduced and showed an inverse expression relationship with PKCe in human primary HNSCC tumors. These results indicate that miR-107 regulates PKCe levels to control the tumorigenicity of HNSCC cells. Taken together, our data substantiate the potential application of miR-107 as a novel anti-cancer therapeutic for HNSCC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 144. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-144
Quantitative measurements of linear birefringence during heating of native collagen.

Background and Objective Linear birefringence is an anisotropic property of rat tail tendon, which is largely composed of collagen. Our goal is to show that the dynamic range and sensitivity of the linear birefringence loss of collagen during heating are sufficient for kinetic modeling of the reaction. Study Design/ Materials and Methods: The linear birefringence loss was quantified for tendon denatured via both a heated-isotonic-saline bath and a heated stage. All measurements were made with a polarizing transmission microscope equipped with a Berek compensator. Results The data show that the loss of linear birefringence is a first-order kinetic reaction. The native rat tail tendon birefringence, Δn = 3.0 ± 0.6 × 10−3 (mean ± std. err.), is lost after denaturation occurs (Δn = 0). Application of the Arrhenius equation to the linear birefringence data yields the activation energy (Ea = 89 ± 1 kcal/mole), pre-exponential coefficient (A = e130±1 s−1), enthalpy (ΔH = 88 ± 1 kcal/mole) and entropy (ΔS = 197 ± 2 cal/°K·mole). Conclusion This study shows that dynamic changes in linear birefringence can be used to monitor thermally induced changes in collagen. Lasers Surg. Medicine 20:310–318, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Studies of the energy requirement for intracellular protein degradation in Escherichia coli

Abstract We have investigated the energy requirement for protein degradation in Escherichia coli by determinating how specific impairments in energy production affect the rapid degradation of proteins containing the arginine analog [14C]-canavanine. Although cyanide and azide reduced the intracellular concentration of ATP by up to 80%, they did not inhibit proteolysis in cells when glucose was present in the medium. However, in hte absence of glucose and upon addition of α-methylglucoside, cyanide reduced the ATP levels further and markedly inhibited protein breakdown. The readdition of glucose to such cells restored proteolysis. By contrast, when cells growing on succinate were treated with azide or cyanide or were deprived of oxygen, ATP levels fell by over 90%, and protein degradation was inhibited almost completely. These results indicate that either anaerobic glycolysis or aerobic phosphorylation can provide sufficient energy to support protein breakdown. Unlike cyanide, uncoupling agents inhibited proteolysis even in the presence of glucose probably because the uncouplers stimulated the hydrolysis of ATP derived from glycolysis via the (Ca2++Mg2+)ATPase. This conclusionn was supported in experiments with mutants lacking the (Ca2++Mg2+)ATPase Arsenate, an inhibitor of all types of phosphorylation, drastically reduced both ATP concentration and protein breakdown, but did not inhibited the active transport of proline which is supported by the “energy-rich membrane state”. Addition of phosphate to arsenate-treated cells rapidly restored proteolysis and ATP to control levels. Thus cell respiration or the “energy-rich membrane state” cannot support protein degradation in the absence of high energy phosphates. To determine more precisely the energy donor for protein degradation, cells were depleted of their endogenous energy reserves, such that proteolysis did not occur. Protein breakdown and ATP in these cells were restored by glucose or D-lactate (an oxidizable substrate), but only glucose could restore proteolysis in the presence of cyanide. Neither carbon source could restore protein degradation in the presence of arsenate. Thus ATP, or some other high energy phosphate, appears to provide the energy required for proteolysis. The energy dependent step seems to have high affinity for ATP, since ATP had to be reduced by over 85% before protein degradation was significantly inhibited. This requirement for high energy phosphates does not reflect a requirement for protein synthesis, since similar results were obtained in the presence or absence of chloramphenicol. The degradation of normal proteins during starvation for nitrogen shows a similar requirement for metabolic energy as does the degradation of proteins containing [14C]canavanine.
Sacral Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Refractory Urinary Retention: Long-Term Efficacy and Durability

Objectives To examine the long-term efficacy and durability of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) for the treatment of refractory, nonobstructive urinary retention. Methods A retrospective study of all patients who underwent SNS with the InterStim device for refractory, nonobstructive urinary retention was performed. All patients had their history taken, underwent physical examination and urodynamic study, and completed a voiding diary before treatment with staged SNS. Patients with greater than 50% improvement in symptoms underwent implantable program device placement. Patients were followed up for evidence of postoperative complications, device failure, and treatment efficacy. Statistical analyses were performed. Results From June 1, 2000 to February 1, 2007, 40 patients were treated with SNS for refractory, nonobstructive urinary retention. Of the 40 patients, 29 had complete urinary retention (using clean intermittent catheterization), and 11 demonstrated incomplete retention (elevated postvoid residual urine volume). Of the 40 patients, 28 (70%) demonstrated greater than 50% improvement in symptoms and underwent implantable program device placement. At a mean follow-up of 40.03 ± 19.61 months, 24 (85.7%) of 28 patients demonstrated sustained improvement of greater than 50%. Of the 28 patients, 4 (14.3%) had their InterStim device removed and 6 (21.4%) required revision. Among those with complete retention, significant improvement occurred in the number of catheterizations/day and the volume/catheterization (P Conclusions At a mean follow-up of 40 months, 85.7% of patients with refractory, nonobstructive urinary retention demonstrated greater than 50% improvement in symptoms with SNS. For 911 patients, a statistically significant improvement in voiding parameters resulted.
Transient FTIR studies of multiplicities, oscillations, and reaction non-uniformities during CO and ethylene oxidation on supported Pt and Pd catalysts

Transient infrared spectroscopy was used to study the dynamics of CO and Ethylene oxidation on a Pt/SiO2 catalyst wafer. Temperature and concentration programming techniques, combined with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, are used to study the temperature and concentration dependence of adsorbed and gas phase species, and to locate regions of multiplicity, instability and oscillatory behavior. Selected area measurements reveal that, under the conditions used during these experiments, regions of reaction rate non-uniformities develop during oscillatory behavior. Furthermore, during CO oxidation, these reaction rate non-uniformities were found to propagate back and forth in the direction of the gas flow. Similar results were observed during ethylene oxidation. Oscillations were observed in a reactor with an external recycle which decreased significantly the temperature effects. The results of CO oxidation are explained via an elementary step kinetic model, including heat and mass transport effects, and a pseudo-inhomogeneous reactor model to simulate non-uniformities.
The myth of the Keynesian recovery

The evidence in the national accounts clearly contradicts the widely held myth that the current economic expansion was sparked by an acceleration in consumer spending resulting from Federal budget deficits, in classic Keynesian style. Instead, the data distinctly portray a pattern of an investment-led economic recovery and expansion—indeed, they show the emergence of a capital goods boom in reaction to strong supply-side tax incentives to invest and accommodating monetary policy.
Investigation of momentum relaxation and time-dependent conductance in radiation-damaged GaAs

We report experimental characterization of a transient capacitative electrical effect in a GaAs photoconductive switch due to initial momentum relaxation of the carriers within the photoexcited plasma. The carrier-momentum-dampening rate (${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}_{\mathit{d}}$) of approximately 1 ps is characterized by optical square-pulse excitation in a radiation-damaged GaAs substrate, which produces asymmetries in the electrical impulse response of the photoconductor. Defect densities in the radiation-damaged samples are measured with use of medium-energy Rutherford backscattering and correlated with the electrical characteristics. Simulations of the electron transport and electrical response under our experimental conditions agree favorably with the observed electrical characteristics of the photoconductor. We discuss the effect of plasma dampening on electrical-switching characteristics and the site-defect capture process.
Heterotrophic nitrogen fixation in decomposing litter: Patterns and regulation

Metrosideros polymorpha is the dominant tree in a wide range of Hawaiian forests, and it produces litter that varies widely in structure and chemistry. Long-term fertilizer experiments have further expanded the range of litter characteristics and have also provided plots that differ substantially in nutrient availability. We used natural and experimentally induced variation in litter characteristics and site nutrient availabilities to determine controls on heterotrophic N2 fixation (acetylene reduction or AR, calibrated with 15N2) in decomposing litter. In a large-scale experiment that evaluated 28 litter types, we found that low-lignin litter fixed substantially more N than did higher-lignin litter (0.9–1.3 vs. 0.06–0.26 mg N/gram initial litter mass, integrated over two years of decomposition). The supply of nutrients other than N had small and inconsistent effects on N2 fixation. A second experiment then focused on the importance of non-N nutrients, using litter collected from control plots and plots fertilized with P and with all other essential elements except N (abbreviated “T”), and decomposed in plots that had been fertilized with P, T, and P + T for 12 yr. Litter from P-fertilized plots supported significantly greater AR activity; however, the increase could be explained by decreased lignin concentrations in litter produced in P-fertilized plots. Related studies on controls of decomposition rates in Hawaiian montane forests show that the decomposition of low-lignin litter is increased substantially by added N, while that of high-lignin litter is increased less or not at all. The extent to which decomposition is N-limited correlates strongly with the integrated quantity of N fixed during decomposition. We conclude that low carbon quality of litter, indicated by high lignin concentrations, constrains decomposition and heterotrophic N2 fixation in Hawaiian montane forests, even where N supply limits net primary production. This disconnection in resource limitation between producers and decomposers contributes to the maintenance of N limitation in terrestrial ecosystems.
Odor Control in Wastewater Treatment: The Removal of Thioanisole from WaterA Model Case Study by Pulse Radiolysis and Electron Beam Treatment

A novel electron beam irradiation process has proven to be effective in removing thioanisole (methyl phenyl sulfide, CH3S−C6H5) from aqueous solutions. This paper presents substrate destruction data at pH 5 and pH 9. To apply a kinetic model, which predicts removal efficiencies, overall rate constants for reactions of thioanisole with •OH radicals, hydrated electrons, and hydrogen atoms were newly measured or carefully re-determined by pulse radiolysis. The respective values are (9.90 ± 0.13) × 109, (3.1 ± 0.1) × 108, and (3.24 ± 0.08) × 109 (M s)-1. Comparison of the model predictions to the experimental results revealed a very good agreement at pH 5 and an overestimation of the removal at pH 9. The presence of an additional scavenger at pH 9 but not at pH 5 reacting with •OH radicals, hydrated electrons and hydrogen atoms is considered to be responsible for the decrease in removal efficiency.
Effect of vidarabine on chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

SERA of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection contain several viral forms. The development of reproducible assays for these markers facilitates the evaluation of intervention with antiviral agents. Human leukocyte interferon, given systemically to patients with chronic HBV infection, resulted in a decrease in the Dane particle markers core antigen (HB c Ag), DNA polymerase, and the e antigen (HB e Ag) to undetectable levels in the serum. 1 The hepatitis B surface antigen (HB s Ag) level also decreased in two interferon-treated patients. Vidarabine (adenine arabinoside), a purine nucleoside that inhibits replication of certain DNA viruses in tissue culture, has been administered to humans in an attempt to alter the course of various herpesvirus infections. Herpes simplex encephalitis patients treated with vidarabine had a significantly reduced mortality in a recent report. 2 Toxic reactions with this agent have been minimal at the dosage used in the reported studies.
Marine mollusks and the skin

Human contact with marine mollusks such as shellfish, marine snails, octopuses, and squids may result in human illness including dermatologic disorders. These range from minor traumatic injury of the skin to more serious systemic illnesses that include dermatologic manifestations. Notable among these are dermatologic manifestations of illness caused by toxins from ingested mollusks, stings of the cone snail, and envenomation by the bite of the blue-ringed octopus. Cone snail and blue-ringed octopus envenomations, although rare, can be deadly due to neuromuscular paralysis. Management of dermatologic illnesses caused by marine mollusks depends upon the nature of the exposure. Attention to local measures is usually sufficient for minor cuts and abrasions. Conversely, cone snail and blue-ringed octopus envenomations require immediate attention, possibly including cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Damage-potential comparison of spherical and cylindrical projectiles impacting on a system of bumper plates

This paper describes a series of smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of tungsten cylindrical and spherical projectiles impacting steel bumper plates at different impact configurations. Comparisons of the destructive capabilities of the spherical and cylindrical projectiles for each impact configuration are presented. Cylindrical geometries were spatially rotated to cover a wide range of impact configurations. The incidence angle of the velocity vector and its magnitude were varied. A rational approach is proposed to quantify the level of damage inflicted on the bumper plates on each impact event. This damage measure is used to create a set of comparative damage matrixes for cylindrical and spherical projectiles that identify under which impact configurations a given geometry is more damaged than the other.
Cardiac glycosides: Correlations among Na + , K + -ATPase, sodium pump and contractility in the guinea pig heart

Relationships among positive inotropic response to cardiac glycosides, Na+,K+-ATPase inhibition and monovalent cation pump activities were studied using paced Langendorff preparations of guinea-pig heart. Na+,K+-ATPase activity was estimated from the initial velocity of (3H)-ouabain binding in ventricular homogenates, and cation pump activity from ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake of ventricular slices. These parameters were assayed in control, ouabain- or digitoxintreated hearts either at the time of inotropic response to the cardiac glycosides or during the course of drug washout. Development and loss of the inotropic response during ouabain or digitoxin perfusion and washout was accompanied by reduction and subsequent recovery of the initial ouabain binding velocity, respectively. If homogenates from glycoside-treated hearts were incubated at 37°C for 10 min during ouabain-binding studies, the levels of binding were not different from those of control hearts, indicating a rapid dissociation of the glycosides from cardiac Na+,K+-ATPase in this species. Despite differences in the time course of the loss of inotropic responses produced by ouabain or digitoxin, the relationship between Na+,K+-ATPase inhibition and inotropic responses were similar. Inotropic responses to digitoxin during perfusion, and subsequent los during washout, also were accompanied by a reduction and subsequent recovery of 86Rb uptake. A correlation between inhibition of cation pump activity and positive inotropy has hitherto not been demonstrated. Thus, it appears that with cardiac glycosides, a relationship exists among contractility, cardiac Na+,K+-ATPase and monovalent cation pump activities.
A Modular Approach to A Microcomputer Monitoring System

(1977). A Modular Approach to A Microcomputer Monitoring System. Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association: Vol. 27, No. 5, pp. 470-471.
Intestinal Absorption of Folic Acid Monoglutamates and Polyglutamates: a Brief Review of Some Recent Developments

Summary. Recent evidence indicates that there are important species differences in the digestion and intestinal absorption of pteroylpolyglutamates, the predominant form of the folate vitamin(s) in food. Birds appear to possess a pteroylpolyglutamyl hydrolase, or conjugase, in extracts of pancreas and intestinal mucosa, that acts as an endopeptidase and produces pteroyldiglutamate as a major end product. The precise anatomical site of pteroylpolyglutamate cleavage (whether intraluminal, intracellular, or at the cell surface) has not been established with certainty in the chick, although it has been assumed to occur in the lumen. Several lines of current investigation indicate that in mammalian systems conjugase is primarily an intracellular, lysosomal enzyme, and that it is not localized in brush-border fractions of intestinal epithelium. There appears to be relatively little conjugase activity in the proximal small bowel lumen of humans or dogs. Human liver conjugase appears to act as an exopeptidase, cleaving terminal glutamate residues from the gamma-glutamyl chain one at a time, with pteroylmonoglutamate as the end product. These and other observations are compatible with the view that (at least in some mammalian systems) pteroylpolyglutamates are absorbed intact by intestinal epithelial cells and cleaved to monoglutamates at an intracellular site.
Subjects to citizens: From non-voting, to protesting, to voting in Estonia during the transition to democracy

Abstract The political behaviour of ethnic Estonians and Slavs during the Soviet and transition (1989–1991) years reflects differing political orientations towards and grievances with the Soviet regime. Survey data from Estonia show that the reasons for non-voting during the Soviet era vary between ethnic Estonian and Slavic non-voters with ethnic Estonians choosing not to vote for system rejecting reasons. Estonians who did not vote in elections from 1983 to 1988 were more likely to be young, to live in urban areas and to have had a family member repressed. They were also much more likely to engage in petitioning, picketing, and meetings and demonstrations in support of independence between 1986 and 1990, especially if they did not vote for system rejecting reasons between 1983 and 1988. Non-voting among Slavs in the 1980's was not only much rarer than for Estonians with few citing system rejecting reasons for not-voting, but it had no relationship with later protest activities. Estonian non-voters joine...
Cellular immunity in lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy.

Abstract The depression of cellular immunity in lepromatous patients is not understood. While the blood monocytes of leprosy patients appear to be activated normally by lymphokines, T cell proliferation and production of lymphokines in response to Mycobacterium leprae are impaired in lepromatous patients. Attempts to restore responsiveness in cells from these patients have been unsuccessful in our hands. The addition of exogenous IL-2 to leukocyte cultures does not appear to restore responsiveness to M. leprae in cells from nonresponder patients. Rather, some enhancement, often not antigen specific, is observed in cells from patients with a preexisting response. Similarly, depletion of monocytes does not restore responsiveness to M. leprae in nonresponder patients, but a nonspecific enhancement of proliferation is observed in monocyte-free cultures from patients that do respond to M. leprae . Thus, the defect in lepromatous nonresponder patients does not result from a simple lack of IL-2 production or suppression by monocytes and/or their products. Possibly, there is a low level or lack of M. leprae responsive T cells in the circulation of these patients.
Computer-Aided Modeling and Analysis of an Energy-Saving Refrigerating System

Energy efficiency is one of the most important objectives in today’s engineering systems. This paper introduces a new type of energy-saving refrigerating system based on functional and performance studies, computer-aided 3-D modeling, computational fluid dynamic analysis, and the prototype testing. The main advantages of this energy-saving regenerative system include: higher performance efficiency due to less frictional force, simplified mechanical system, less vibration due to its symmetrical structure design, less frictional losses between free piston and cylinder, and cost-saving in mechanism due to low tolerance requirement manufacturing of the system components.
Observations regarding a c(4×4) C Si(100) surface

Abstract We present C 1s soft X-ray photoemission data for c(4×4) C–Si(100) surfaces observed in low-energy electron diffraction. These surfaces are prepared by either evaporation from graphite or ethylene exposure to Si(100) at 823–923 K. The c(4×4) structure is due to a “subsurface” C species, with a C 1s energy varying from about −283.1 to −282.7 eV and attaining the latter value in well-annealed samples. From the observed intensities and total coverage estimates, we qualitatively discuss the possibilities for a C-enriched near-surface layer as the origin of the reconstruction.
Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on ruminal in situ forage degradability, performance, and physiological responses of feeder cattle.

Two experiments were conducted to compare ruminal, physiological, and performance re- sponses of forage-fed cattle consuming grain-based sup- plements without (NF) or with the inclusion (10%; DM basis) of a rumen-protected PUFA (PF) or SFA source (SF). Supplements were offered and consumed at 0.6% of BW/animal daily (DM basis). In Exp. 1, DMI and ruminal in situ forage degradability were evaluated in 3 Angus × Hereford cows fitted with ruminal cannulas and allocated to a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Within each experimental period, hay was offered in amounts to ensure ad libitum access from d 1 to 13, DMI was re- corded from d 8 to 13, and cows were limited to receive 90% of their average hay DMI (d 1 to 13) from d 14 to 21. On d 16, polyester bags containing 4 g of ground hay (DM basis) were incubated within the rumen of each cow for 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h. Hay and total DMI were reduced (P 0.48) for ruminal disappearance rate and effective ruminal degradability of hay DM and NDF. In Exp. 2, preconditioning DMI, ADG, carcass traits, and plasma concentrations of cor- tisol, fatty acids, acute-phase proteins, and proinflam- matory cytokines were assessed in 72 Angus × Hereford steers receiving supplement treatments during a 28-d preconditioning period. All steers were transported to a commercial growing lot after preconditioning (d 1) and were later moved to an adjacent commercial finishing yard (d 144), where they remained until slaughter. No treatment effects were detected (P ≥ 0.52) for precon- ditioning ADG and G:F, but DMI tended (P = 0.09) to be reduced in steers receiving PF compared with those receiving NF and SF. Plasma PUFA concentrations were greater in steers receiving PF compared with those receiving NF and SF (P = 0.01). After transportation, concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α increased for steers receiving NF, did not change for steers receiving SF, but decreased for steers receiving PF (treatment × day interaction, P < 0.01). Steers fed PF had greater (P = 0.02) ADG compared with those fed NF during the growing phase. Carcass yield grade and marbling were greater (P < 0.05) for steers fed PF compared with those fed NF. In conclusion, PUFA supplementa- tion did not affect ruminal forage degradability but did impair DMI in beef cows. Further, PUFA supplementa- tion to steers during preconditioning reduced plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α after trans- portation, and benefited growing lot ADG and carcass marbling.
Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Clinical Assessment of Asthma in the Adult

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder that is characterized by 3 distinct responses in the airways: inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling. Clinical diagnosis of asthma is often based on the presence of symptoms, such as cough, wheeze, breathlessness, and chest tightness; but the presence of these symptoms is not exclusive to asthma, and clinical correlation with spirometry and other diagnostic testing is essential. Once a diagnosis of asthma is established, the focus of care should be toward control of the disease. This article discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and clinical assessment of asthma in the adult patient population.
Actin-Activation of Myosin Heavy Chain Kinase A in Dictyostelium: A biochemical mechanism for the spatial regulation of myosin II filament disassembly

Abstract Studies in Dictyostelium discoideum have established that the cycle of myosin II bipolar filament assembly and disassembly controls the temporal and spatial localization of myosin II during critical cellular processes, such as cytokinesis and cell locomotion. Myosin heavy chain kinase A (MHCK A) is a key enzyme regulating myosin II filament disassembly through myosin heavy chain phosphorylation in Dictyostelium. Under various cellular conditions, MHCK A is recruited to actin-rich cortical sites and is preferentially enriched at sites of pseudopod formation, and thus MHCK A is proposed to play a role in regulating localized disassembly of myosin II filaments in the cell. MHCK A possesses an aminoterminal coiled-coil domain that participates in the oligomerization, cellular localization, and actin binding activities of the kinase. In the current study, we show that the interaction between the coiled-coil domain of MHCK A and filamentous actin leads to an ∼40-fold increase in the initial rate of kinase catalytic activity. Actin-mediated activation of MHCK A involves increased rates of kinase autophosphorylation and requires the presence of the coiled-coil domain. Structure-function analyses revealed that the coiled-coil domain alone binds to actin filaments (apparent KD = 0.9 μm) and thus mediates the direct interaction with F-actin required for MHCK A activation. Collectively, these results indicate that MHCK A recruitment to actin-rich sites could lead to localized activation of the kinase via direct interaction with actin filaments, and thus this mode of kinase regulation may represent an important mechanism by which the cell achieves localized disassembly of myosin II filaments required for specific changes in cell shape.
Diurnal Variation of the Dayside, Ionospheric, mid-Latitude Trough in the Southern Hemisphere at 800 km: Model and Measurement Comparison

Abstract Our high latitude ionospheric model predicts the existence of a pronounced “dayside” trough in plasma concentration equatorward of the auroral oval in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres for solar maximum, winter, and low geomagnetic activity conditions. The trough in the Southern Hemisphere is much deeper than that in the Northern Hemisphere, with the minimum trough density at 800 km being 2 × 10 3 cm −3 in the Southern Hemisphere and 10 4 cm −3 in the Northern Hemisphere. The dayside trough has a strong longitudinal (diurnal) dependence and appears between 11:00 and 19:00 U.T. in the Southern Hemisphere and between 02:00 and 08:00 U.T. in the Northern Hemisphere. This dayside trough is a result of the auroral oval moving to larger solar zenith angles at those universal times when the magnetic pole is on the antisunward side of the geographic pole. As the auroral ionization source moves to higher geographic latitudes, it leaves a region of declining photoionization on the dayside. For low convection speeds, the ionosphere decays and a dayside trough forms. The trough is deeper in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere because of the greater offset between the geomagnetic and geographic poles. Satellite data taken in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres confirm the gross features of the dayside trough, including its strong longitudinal dependence, its depth, and the asymmetry between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere troughs.
Iridium in marine organisms

Iridium concentrations in several types of marine organisms from the northern Gulf of Mexico averaged 20 parts per trillion (range < 4–80 pptr). Based on this value the PtIr ratio for marine organisms is 10 as compared to the 100 that has been reported for both seawater and authigenic Mn nodules. This low ratio may be related to the weaker ability of Ir to form stable chloro-metal complexes in seawater. The Ir inventory in the present-day marine biosphere is five orders of magnitude less than that of Cretaceous/Tertiary (K-T) boundary sediments, making it unlikely that the Cretaceous marine biosphere was a significant source of Ir for K-T boundary sediments. This small, modern inventory also suggests that the recently reported Ir enrichment (1100 ppb) in organic kerogen from K-T boundary sediments probably occurred after deposition as a result of Ir redistribution within the sediments.
Spatial phase sensitivity for sinusoidal grating targets.

Abstract Because the full specification of a sinusoidal grating target must include phase as well as amplitude, an experiment was performed to determine the phase sensitivity for sinusoidal gratings in central vision for normal human observers. Phase displacement thresholds for sinusoidal gratings ranging in spatial frequency from 3 to 25 cycles/degree are a linear function of spatial frequency (1° of phase angle per c/deg). The just-detectable lateral distances are constant and equal to those for a single line.
Expression, purification, and kinetic characterization of a recombinant 80-kDa intracellular calcium-independent phospholipase A2.

A CHO cell-derived 80-kDa recombinant polypeptide (GenBank number I15470I15470) putatively encoding a calcium-independent phospholipase A2 was expressed in S. frugiperda cells resulting in over a 15-fold increase in a calcium-independent phospholipase A1/A2 activity which was entirely inhibitable by (E)-6-(bromomethylene)-3-(1-naphthalenyl)-2H-tetrahydropyran-2-one. The recombinant polypeptide was purified from cytosol by sequential tandem affinity chromatographies employing ATP-agarose and calmodulin-Sepharose stationary phases. This strategy resulted in the rapid purification (36 h) of recombinant phospholipase A2 activity in 56% overall yield to a single intense 80-kDa protein band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after silver staining. The purified protein possessed phospholipase A1, phospholipase A2, and lysophospholipase activities. Microbore anion exchange chromatography demonstrated that the 80-kDa protein band was comprised of multiple distinct isoforms including an anionic isoform which possessed over a 5-fold higher specific activity (5 micromol/mg.min) than earlier eluting isoforms. Collectively, these results unambiguously demonstrate that: 1) the 80-kDa polypeptide catalyzes phospholipase A1/A2 and lysophospholipase activities with distinct kinetic parameters; 2) calmodulin and ATP both interact with the catalytic polypeptide independent of regulatory proteins; and 3) distinct isoforms of this polypeptide exist which possess markedly different specific activities.