cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atomic force microscope imaging of DNA and DNA repair proteins: Applications in radiobiological research

By using the atomic force microscope (AFM), three-dimensional structures of biological specimens may be imaged at nanometer resolution. Furthermore, samples can be imaged in air or in fluid environments. The tapping mode of AFM operation for imaging has offered a significant advance in visualizing soft biological structures, such as DNA, proteins, and membranes. Here, we review the principles underlying the application of this instrument to radiation biological investigations. We focus on examples of proteins involved in the processes of repair of damaged DNA, including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, Ku protein, and DNA protein kinase. Novel observations on the character of DNA damage and repair have been addressed by direct visualization of DNA and protein-DNA interactions, such as the observation that the Ku protein is capable of physically joining DNA fragments in vitro. The AFM offers a powerful tool for investigating biologically important molecular interactions that are relevant to DNA damage and repair processes. Radiat. Oncol. Invest. 5:163–169, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Predicting outcomes of lupus nephritis with tubulointerstitial inflammation and scarring

Objective In lupus nephritis, glomerular injury correlates poorly with progression to renal failure. While the tubulointerstitium is also commonly involved, the importance of such involvement is not well defined. Therefore, we developed a simple method to assess the prognostic utility of measuring tubulointerstitial inflammation (TI). Methods Sixty-eight systemic lupus erythematosus patients with lupus nephritis were enrolled. Tubulointerstitial lymphocytic infiltrates were quantitated both by anti-CD45 antibody staining and standard histochemical staining. Followup data were obtained and survival analysis was carried out to determine which histologic features were predictive of subsequent renal failure. Results By CD45 staining, TI was a common pathologic finding, with 72% of biopsies having moderate or severe involvement. The extent of TI correlated with serum creatinine, but not with double-stranded DNA antibodies, serum C3, or glomerular inflammation. TI severity, but not glomerular injury, identified patients at greater risk for renal failure (P = 0.02). A high National Institutes of Health (NIH) chronicity index also identified patients at risk for renal failure. However, when the glomerular and tubulointerstitial subcomponents of the NIH chronicity index were separated in a bivariate model, only tubulointerstitial chronicity provided prognostic information (hazard ratio [HR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.3–3.6; P = 0.002 versus HR 1.0, 95% CI 0.7–1.5; P = 0.97 for glomerular chronicity). Conclusion TI identifies lupus nephritis patients at greatest risk for progression to renal failure. The immunologic mechanisms underlying TI may provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
Determinants of Receptivity to Expatriate Assignment

This study is an empirical investigation of receptivity to expatriate assignment in culturally similar and dissimilar environments. The theoretical underpinnings of the study emerge from a model of the expatriate adjustment process which views the determinants as anticipatory adjustment variables antecedent to actual adjustment. Vertical individualism, career distance and corporate career policy along with role clarity and economic development as moderators were found to significantly explain willingness to relocate to culturally similar environments. Economic development, corporate family policy and career distance were significant predictors of mobility to culturally dissimilar environments. The proposed model for culturally similar environments substantially improves explanatory power over an existing model. Implications of the study in conjunction with predictors from the domestic mobility and international adjustment literature are discussed.
Influence of light polarization on the diffraction efficiency of TIR holograms

Abstract Normally when forming a TIR hologram two interference gratings are stored in the recording medium. The object beam interferes with the incoming and with the reflected reference beam. An appropriate selection of the polarization orientations of the interfering light beams leads to the suppression of one of the grating systems. Even to reconstruct TIR hologram it is not all the same in which orientation the reconstructing laser beam is polarized. With the proper selection of the polarization orientations of the forming and reconstructing laser light the diffraction efficiency for TIR holograms can be optimized.
The Enigma of Vasculitis

We describe the case of an 86-year-old man presenting with clinical symptoms suggestive of Temporal Arteritis. The evolution of the case prompted extensive work-up, including temporal artery and kidney biopsy. Based on the clinical and pathological findings, a diagnosis of ANCA-negative granulomatous necrotizing vasculitis involving the small-, medium-, and large-size vessels was made. The patient was treated with prednisone and cyclophosphamide, which was later switched to rituximab. The patient remained asymptomatic under this regimen and stabilization of his kidney function was achieved.
Differential analysis of peripheral blood- and bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells for enhanced vascularization in bone tissue engineering.

For tissue engineering applications, effective bone regeneration requires rapid neo-vascularization of implanted grafts to ensure the survival of cells in the early post-implantation phase. Incorporation of autologous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) for the promotion of primitive vascular network formation ex vivo has offered great promise for improved graft survival, enhanced rate of vascularization and bone regeneration in vivo. For clinical usage, identification of an optimal EPC isolation source from the patient is critical. We have, for the first time, characterized and directly compared EPCs from rabbit peripheral blood and bone marrow (PB-EPCs and BM-EPCs, respectively). PB-EPCs outperformed BM-EPCs on all measures. PB-EPCs displayed typical endothelial cell markers, such as CD31, as well as high angiogenic potential in three-dimensional extracellular matrix in vitro. Furthermore, PB-EPCs cultured simultaneously with mesenchymal stem cells, displayed significantly enhanced expression levels of key osteogenic and vascular markers, including alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenetic protein 2, and vascular endothelial growth factor. On the contrary, putative BM-EPCs did not express CD31, and instead, expressed key smooth muscle markers. BM-EPCs further failed to display vasculogenic activity. Hence, the highly angiogenic PB-derived EPCs may serve as an ideal cell population for enhanced vascularization and success of engineered bone tissue. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1507–1515, 2012
Neutrino Astrophysics Experiments Beneath the Sea and Ice

Neutrino astronomy beyond the Sun was first imagined in the late 1950s. A neutrino detector at the bottom of Lake Baikal, the deployment of detectors in the Mediterranean Sea, and the construction of a kilometer-scale neutrino telescope at the South Pole exemplify current efforts to realize this dream.
Rhythms and the pharmacology of lithium

Lithium is the treatment of choice for bipolar affective disorder (manic-depression) and is useful in other recurrent affective and nonaffective illnesses. This review discusses lithium's actions on period, phase, amplitude and coupling of biological rhythms that may relate to its therapeutic effectiveness. Alternatively, lithium might interact with environmental light to influence circadian rhythms by an action on the retina. The mechanisms responsible for lithium's chronopharmacological actions are not known, but cellular cations, phosphoinositide or adenylate cyclase second messenger systems, hormones and neurotransmitters may all be involved.
Need for a Soil-Based Approach in Managing Nitrogen Fertilizers for Profitable Corn Production

Nitrogen fertilization for corn (Zea mays L.) production has relied extensively on yield-based recommendations that were developed to represent regional averages, yet are routinely applied to individual fields, on the assumption that fertilizer N serves as the major supply for crop N uptake. Using data from 102 on-farm N-response studies, an evaluation was conducted of the Illinois proven-yield (PY) method for accuracy and economic profitability on a site-by-site basis. As additional objectives, the Illinois soil N test (ISNT) was evaluated for detecting whether N fertilization was economical, and for quantifying crop response to N fertilization relative to soil and management factors. For 18% of the site-years studied, N recommendations by the PY method were accurate to within 20 kg ha - 1 , whereas 13% were underfertilized by 25 to 129 kg ha - 1 (60 kg ha - 1 on average) at a current cost of $5 to $170 ha - 1 ($75 ha - 1 on average), and 69% were overfertilized by 21 to 235 kg ha - 1 (103 kg ha - 1 on average) at a cost of $12 to $130 ha - 1 ($57 ha - 1 on average). The latter group included 30 site-years that were completely nonresponsive to N fertilization, all but two of which were predicted by site-average ISNT values assuming a critical test level of 230 mg kg - 1 . This level was exceeded for 19 of 69 responsive site-years, mostly during 2001-2003 when corn followed soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) with high plant populations. A higher critical test level would have been required under such conditions, owing to more extensive residue inputs that would promote microbial N immobilization, and increased crop uptake of mineralized soil N. The ISNT was significantly related to crop N requirement, and was the most powerful predictor of error in PY recommendations (P < 0.001).
Angularly resolved coherent Raman spectroscopy (ARCS) in gases

Abstract We report here the development of a Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) configuration which takes advantage of the phasematching criterion to produce simultaneous spatially-separated signals from different constituents within a gas. In particular, we have show that separate CARS beams from nitrogen monoxide may be simultaneously observed from a single sample volume.
Effects of docosapentaenoic acid on neuronal apoptosis

We previously established that n-3 FA status in membrane phospholipids influences the biosynthesis and accumulation of PS in neuronal tissues. We also demonstrated that neuronal apoptosis under adverse conditions is prevented by DHA enrichment in a PS-dependent manner. In this study, we examined the effect of a structural analog of DHA, docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-6, DPA), which accumulates in neuronal membranes during n-3 FA deficiency. We observed that enrichment of neuronal cells with DPA increased the total PS content in comparison to nonenriched control. However, the increase was significantly less than that observed in DHA-enriched cells, primarily due to the fact that the 18:0,22:5n-6 species was not accumulated as effectively as 18:0,22:6n-3 in PS. As was the case with DHA, DPA enrichment also protected against cell death induced by staurosporine treatment in Neuro 2A cells, but to a lesser extent. These data indicate that provision of DPA in place of DHA is sufficient neither for fully supporting PS accumulation nor for cell survival. The in vitro interaction between Raf-1 and membrane was affected not only by the PS content but also by the fatty acyl composition in PS. The reduction of PS concentration as well as the substitution of 18:0,22:6 with 16:0,18:1 in the liposome considerably reduced the interaction with Raf-1. These data suggest that depletion of DHA from neuronal tissues may have a compounding effect on Raf-1 translocation in growth factor signaling. The fact that DPA cannot fully support the protective role played by DHA may provide a basis for the adverse effect of n-3 FA deficiency on neuronal development and function.
Honeybees Use Celestial and/or Terrestrial Compass Cues for Inter‐Patch Navigation

Foraging honeybees (Apis mellifera) are well known to fly straight from the hive, their primary hub, to distal goals as well as between familiar feeding sites. More recently, it was shown that a distal feeding site may be used as a secondary hub. If not fully satiated, the foraging bee may decide to depart the first feeding site in a new compass direction straight to one of many other feeding sites (inter-patch foraging). Using a recently developed recording method, we discovered that the chosen departure direction at a secondary hub can be guided exclusively by either celestial or terrestrial compass cues. Given our data, we draw two theoretical inferences. First, the bees must be capable of learning and remembering multiple, spatially distinct, navigation vectors between the hive and among multiple feeding sites. Second, this documented and useful representation of multiple navigation vectors between multiple, identified target locations logically implies composite place-vector mapping, stored in long-term memory.
Metalloamphiphiles with [Cu2] and [Cu4] Headgroups: Syntheses, Structures, Langmuir Films, and Effect of Subphase Changes

The metalloamphiphiles [(L PM18 ) 2 Cu 2 Cl 2 ]·H 2 O (1), [(L PMtax ) 2 -Cu 2 Cl 2 ]·2MeOH (2), [(L OF18 ) 2 Cu 2 Cl 2 ] (3), [(L OF18 ) 2 Cu 4 (μ 4 -O)-(μ 2 -OAc) 4 ] (4), [(L OF14 ) 2 Cu 4 (μ 4 -O)(μ 2 -OAc) 4 ] (5) were synthesized and characterized by means of several spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. The acronyms L PMC18 , L PMtax , L OF18 , and L OF14 indicate the deprotonated forms of pseudo-macrocyclic (PM) and open-frame (OF) ligands based on 2,6-bis(iminomethyl)-4-methylphenol attached to octadecyl (18), trialkoxyamine (tax) and tetradecyl (14) moieties, whereas Cl- and OAc ― indicate chlorido and acetato coligands. Crystal structures were obtained for 4 and 5 that crystallize in tri-clinic crystal systems with P1 space groups. The average Cu― Op henolate and Cu―N imine bond lengths are approximately 2.0 A. Species 1―5 were analyzed by means of isothermal compression and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Moderate collapse pressures of approximately 15 mNm ―1 were observed for 3, 4, and 5, while 1 collapses at approximately 30 mNm ―1 . Species 1, 3, 4, and 5 are responsive to several subphase changes such as temperature and addition of terephthalate ions, which leads to considerable Langmuir film enhancement. In presence of terephthalate the collapse pressure for 3, 4, and 5 nearly doubles, whereas a minimal effect was observed for 1. It appears that as temperature decreases, collapse pressure increases. The variation of pH produced inconclusive data. It is suggested that terephthalate ion interacts with the amphiphiles at a molecular level to generate discrete molecules rather than extended systems.
Resistance training and bone mineral density in adolescent females.

Abstract Objective: To examine the effects of 15 months of resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD) in female adolescents (aged 14 to 17 years). Study design: Participants were randomly assigned to either a training (n = 46) or control group (n = 21). BMD and body composition were measured by using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Strength was assessed by means of one-repetition maximums for the leg press and bench press. The exercise group trained 30 to 45 minutes a day, 3 days per week, using 15 different resistance exercises. Control participants remained sedentary ( Results: Leg strength increased significantly (40%) in the exercise group, but there were no changes in the control group. Femoral neck BMD increased significantly in the training group (1.035 to 1.073 g/cm 2 , P 2 ). No significant changes were seen in either group in lumbar spine BMD (1.113 to 1.142 g/cm 2 and 1.158 to 1.190 g/cm 2 , respectively) or total body BMD (1.103 to 1.134 g/cm 2 and 1.111 to 1.129 g/cm 2 , respectively). Conclusion: Resistance training is a potential method for increasing bone density in adolescents, although such a program would be best done as part of the school curriculum. (J Pediatr 2001;139:494-500)
Processing variables for the reduction of stiction on MEMS devices

The ability to successfully release a Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is a critical processing step of a MEMS device. Due to the inherent proximity of the moving structure and the surrounding surfaces, the final drying process can lead to 'stiction' of the structure that cannot be released. The amount of stiction on a surface micromachined polysilicon structure is dependent upon the various drying techniques employed. A comparison is made between a vapor isopropyl alcohol system, and a Marangoni drying system. The IPA system creates a meniscus at the bottom of the wafer and dries up, while the Marangoni system works in the opposite mode. Identical polysilicon test structures were used for the experiments. Experiments were performed with the IPA and Marangoni dryers using various MEMS structures to determine if there were increases in yields that were design dependent. The initial results obtained from these experiments indicate the Marangoni dryer increased the yield uniformity within a lot and lot to lot.
Optimizing reproduction in a randomly varying environment when a correlation may exist between the conditions at the time a choice has to be made and the subsequent outcome.

Abstract A model is constructed of organisms which optimize their reproduction in a randomly varying environment, and can also receive some information about their environment. The model is of organisms which complete their reproduction and life cycle within a discrete time interval and produce seeds in yields which are random variables depending on environmental conditions. Maximal long-term growth rate of the organism is achieved when for each environmental event or signal, which may be correlated with eventual yield, there is an optimal fraction of seeds which germinate. These optimal responses depend on the probabilities of yields, on the conditional probabilities between the external signals and the yields, which are a measure of the degree of correlation between the external signals and the yields, and on the viability of seeds which do not germinate. It has been shown in this model that optimized long-term growth rate is increased by increased correlation between external signals and yields, which is equivalent to the amount of relevant information about the environment which is processed by the organism. The quantity of external information to be processed may be minimized without decreasing growth by lumping together those external signals for which the optimized responses are identical.
The Limits of Citizenship: Migration, Sex Discrimination and Same‐Sex Partners in EU Law

This article addresses the paradoxical politics of heterosexism within European Union (EU) policy through a critical consideration of matrimony as the primary legitimating link between EU nationals and third-country spouses. It also emphasizes the discrimination experienced by same-sex couples to whom the protection and privileges of marriage are unavailable and questions efforts to extend state-sanctioned unions to same-sex partners. Indeed, it argues against the presumption that relationships (whether spousal, cohabitational, sexual or familial) provide justifiable criteria for citizenship and the privileges associated with it. The article has theoretical implications for those studies in which the themes of citizenship, immigration, family, sexuality and social exclusion are central.
The cultural production of Mexican identity in the United States: an examination of the Mexican threat narrative

This paper examines how the cultural production of Mexican identity in the US media processes a Mexican threat narrative in the American public's mind. Racial profiling procedures utilized by the US Border Patrol that criminalize Mexican identity are used to illustrate the application of the Mexican threat narrative. The news media is treated as a primary data source because its portrayals are instrumental in processing perceptions in the public's mind that emphasize the criminality or foreignness of ‘others’ in US civic culture. For our purpose in this paper the authors we examined daily news articles from the Los Angeles Times focused on US-Mexico border news events. The analysis of the news articles supports two categorical domains: Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans as perceived threats to US society; and the racial profiling of Mexican identity.
Quantization and bosonic BRST theory

Abstract We show that BRST symmetry has a natural bosonic analogue in symplectic geometry. In fact, bosonic BRST theory arises as a purely symplectic construction, which can naturally be viewed as a specific instance of symplectic induction. In this context, both the BRST charge and the total ghost number appear as the “components” of a momentum map on an extended symplectic phase space. Our approach to bosonic BRST theory is motivated by certain problems which arise in the quantization of constrained classical systems. We show that the usual Dirac quantization prescription is incorrect when the system has nonunimodular symmetries and demonstrate how bosonic BRST theory may be used to rectify this. As a byproduct we also prove, under certain circumstances, that both the processes of induction and reduction commute with quantization.
Soluble and resistant proteoglycans in epiphyseal plate cartilage.

The proteoglycans of cartilage occur in a form which is readily extracted (soluble) and in form which is relatively difficult to extract (resistant). Following the extraction of the soluble proteoglycans from slices of epiphyses from young rats, the distribution of the resistant proteoglycans are visualized by staining with toluidine blue. Daily quantitative recoveries of uronic acid over 7 days are used as an index of the rate and completeness of extraction. In contrast to other cartilages (nasal, costal, ear, articular) in which the resistant proteoglycans are restricted to perilacunar localizations, the resistant proteoglycans in epiphyseal plate extend across the plate as a continuous stratum and occupy extraterritorial regions. This stratum of resistant proteoglycans is difficult to identify with a specific zone in the plates of young individuals, because of primitive columniation. In more highly organized, older human and porcine epiphyseal plates, however, the stratum is clearly seen at the junction of the zones of resting and proliferating chondrocytes. It dips down a short distance between the columns, disappears and then reappears again at the level of the zone of provisional calcification. These observations are discussed in the context of endochondral growth.
Fire spread through porous fuels from the conservation of energy

The rate of spread of fire through a fuel bed in the quasi-steady state was evaluated on an energy flux conservation basis. Another heat flux term in addition to the forward horizontal heat flux was found to be of significance in the description of fire propagation. The additional term involves the vertical gradient of the vertical component of the overall forward heat flux and is shown to be dependent on the shape of the combustion zone interface within the fuel bed.
More Polygraph Futility A Comment on Jensen, Shafer, Roby, and Roby (2015)

This article takes a critical look at the recent Jensen, Shafer, Roby, and Roby study that found that juveniles and adults have no statistically significant different rates of passing sexual history polygraph examinations. Numerous research and statistical issues are identified, including lack of independence, no adjustment for differing rates of opportunity across ages, poor construct validity of deceit, failure to adjust for base rates of deceit in subsequent analyses, and failure to include recidivism as an outcome. In addition, three arguments made by Jensen et al. against using recidivism as an outcome to judge post-conviction polygraph are discussed along with critical assessments of two recent studies examining the relationship between recidivism and sexual history polygraph examinations. It ends with a discussion of the current state of post-conviction polygraph testing research and way forward to find solid, replicable evidence that assesses its utility as a correctional intervention.
THE SIMULTANEOUS PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF PHOSPHATIDES, CEREBROSIDES AND SULFATIDES.

Abstract A paper chromatographic system utilizing silicic acid impregnated paper and a solvent system using diisobutyl ketone, pyridine and water has been described. Cerebrosides, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, sulfatide, lecithin, sphingomyelin, and an unknown lipid, possibly, “cephalin B”, were separated by this system. Strandin remained immobile while cholesterol, cholesterol esters and neutral lipids were located at the solvent front. The sensivity, simplicity, and rapid lipid analysis are noteworthy. The versatility of the system is commented on and examples of its application are cited.
Morphine-3-Succinyl—Bovine Serum Albumin: An Immunogenic Hapten-Protein Conjugate

Morphine-3-hemisuccinate was synthesized by reaction of morphine with succinic anhydride. This compound was conjugated to bovine serum albumin by the mixed anhydride method, and the degree of conjugation was determined by base hydrolysis of the conjugate, extraction, and measurement of free morphine. An average of 6.5 molecules of morphine were conjugated to each molecule of protein. Eleven rabbits immunized with varying doses of the conjugate were producing antibody 8 weeks later, as determined by a modification of the ammonium sulfate method, which measures primary binding of antigen by antibody.
A Business Communication Module for an MBA Managerial Accounting Course: A Teaching Note

AbstractThis Teaching Note describes a two-hour-and-40-minute Business Communication module developed and used by the author over the past six years in an MBA Managerial Accounting course at a university in the USA. The module has two modest but important goals: to sensitize graduate accounting students to the importance of communication skills for professional success; and to provide students with a set of writing-improvement resources. The students' component of the module consists of a set of five readings and two learning resources. For teachers, a comprehensive set of PowerPoint slides is available from the author. The module is flexible in two respects: it can be used in graduate-level accounting courses other than Managerial Accounting; and a reduced version of in-class presentation time is possible by using only a sub-set of the PowerPoint slides, based on teacher preferences. Student responses to the module have been consistently positive and have supported continued use of the module into the fu...
The coupling of a large-amplitude stretch with a bending vibration

Abstract The exact energy levels are calculated for a system in which a large-amplitude stretch is coupled to a small-amplitude bend. These two vibrational coordinates are part of a triatomic molecule which may be linear or bent. The exact results are compared with approximate values obtained using an effective hamiltonian to describe the bending motion.
Prophylactic sequential bronchoscopy after inhalation injury: results from a three-year prospective randomized trial

That the prophylactic, sequential use of bronchoscopy after inhalation injury as a therapeutic tool to remove secretions and carbonaceous material and to screen for the early detection of pneumonia will improve outcome. A three-year prospective randomized trial at a regional burn center. Thirty-three patients with inhalation injury requiring mechanical ventilation were admitted over three years. The bronchoscopy group had a higher initial carboxyhemoglobin level at 11.9 % (95 % CI ± 9.6 %) versus the control group at 9.9 % (95 % CI ± 5.7 %, p = 0.7). There was no difference in the incidence of pneumonia between groups (p = 0.6). There was a trend toward fewer days of antibiotic use in the bronchoscopy group, at 4.5 days (95 % CI ± 4.5 days) versus 9.3 days (95 % CI ± 7.1 days, p = 0.3). Fewer patients were treated with antibiotics in the bronchoscopy group (4/13, 31 %) versus the control group (9/15, 60 %, p = 0.1). There was a statistically significant difference in the morbidity that favored the bronchoscopy group (3/13, 23 %) over the control group (9/15, 60 %, p = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in days of mechanical ventilation (bronchoscopy 5.1 days, 95 % CI ± 3.6 days, control 6.7 days, 95 % CI ± 6.3 days, p = 0.7), ICU days (bronchoscopy 10 days, 95 % CI ± 10 days, control 18 days, 95 % CI ± 12 days, p = 0.4), and hospital days (bronchoscopy 21 days, 95 % CI ± 12 days, control 26 days, 95 % CI ± 12 days, p = 0.5), although the trends favored the bronchoscopy group for all of the endpoints. In conclusion, this program of scheduled, sequential bronchoscopy after inhalation injury showed several strong trends towards less morbidity, fewer days of mechanical ventilation, and a shorter length of stay. There was also a strong trend towards less antibiotic use and a shorter duration of treatment. This data is promising and should promote a larger, multi-institutional trial in the future.
Pinning control of diffusively coupled oscillators in fast switching networks

The effectiveness of pinning control in stabilizing a fast switching network of oscillators is examined. The minimum number of required pinning controllers is calculated under various conditions. We show that the number of required pinning controllers are inversely related to feedback gains. We also show that in some cases, these gains cannot exceed a certain limit.
Characterization of some minor gangliosides in Tay—Sachs brains

Abstract The ganglioside distribution of Tay—Sachs brain was re-examined in detail. In both the gray and white matter, the levels of lipid-bound sialic acid were increased 6- and 10-fold, respectively, over normal infant brain, and approximately 90% of the total ganglioside was G M2 . The level of G M2 was increased about 90 times in gray matter and 220 times in white matter in comparison with that in normal controls. The level of G D1a -GaINAc was increased 19 times and 10 times in gray and white matter, respectively. The concentration of G D2 was increased about 4-fold in Tay-S-Sachs white matter. In addition, the G M3 level was increased 2.7 and 3.5 times and the G D3 level 2 and 2.4 times over normal gray and white matter, respectively. However, the levels of other complex gangliosides such as G M1 , G D1a , G D1b , G T1b and G Q1b decreased remarkably. Since G M2 , G D2 , G D1a -GalNAc and a recently characterized ganglioside G M1b -GalNAc possess a common N-acetylgalactosaminyl terminal structure, their accumulation in Tay—Sachs brains is therefore consistent with the known hexosaminidase A deficiency. However, the accumulation of hexosamine-free G M3 and G D3 is not. The in vitro incorporation of N-acetylgalactosamine into G M3 to form G M2 was examined in a rat brain microsomal fraction in the presence of large amounts of other glycolipids. Acidic glycolipids were slightly stimulating and then became increasingly inhibitory when the molar ratio of lipid to substrate G M3 exceeded 10 to 1. Neutral glycolipids and the phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine, were inhibitory at all levels tested. The data suggest that the accumulation of G M3 and G D3 in Tay—Sachs brains could be due to an inhibition of N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferas by high levels of glycolipids, and the inhibition is not due to chelation of the obligate divalent cation necessary for the activity of this enzyme. The inhibition of this enzyme may also be responsible for the decreased levels of other complex gangliosides.
Cholo to ‘Me’: From Peripherality to Practicing Student Success for a Chicano Former Gang Member

For many situationally marginalized Mexican-descent students today, hopelessness is fueled by a bleak life situation that is reflected in their school performance. Success in school remains elusive because they are not or have not had the opportunity to become members of a community that contributes to their sense of agency, possibility and hope in life or educational pursuits. From a sociocultural perspective of learning and developing a “way of being” and identity through this learning, the purpose of this study was to see how one socially, educationally, and socioeconomically marginalized, Mexican-descent student struggled, learned and “became” another way of being in his first year of college mediated through a retention and support program.
DNA ligase and exonuclease activities in virions of rous sarcoma virus.

Virions of Schmidt-Ruppin avian sarcoma virus have both polynucleotide ligase activity and DNA exonuclease activity. These enzymes complete the machinery necessary to transfer information from RNA to double stranded DNA integrated in the host DNA.
Work, Free Will and Law

American law conceptualizes work as an exercise of free will, as a choice rather than as a right. Work law is dominated by a freedom of contract analysis in which occupations, jobs, union representation, working conditions, and exit are seen as freely chosen. New Deal-era regulatory regimes are undermined by the pervasive influence of the work-as-free-will framework. Vast spheres of worker activity that benefit employers yet occur within the coercive context of an employment regime in which jobs are a choice and a privilege rather than a right are left unregulated. Worker agency is reduced as workers conform their aspirations, expectations and demands for workplace justice to the confines of the job as defined by the employer. Few question the prevailing meaning of work as freedom because it is consonant with our cultural commitment to the American Dream—but we should.
Clinical role of calprotectin assay in determining histological relapses in children affected by inflammatory bowel diseases

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by periods of remission with recurrent episodes of symptom exacerbation because of acute intestinal inflammation, which is correctly evaluated by endoscopy with biopsy sampling. However, many surrogate markers of intestinal inflammation, including fecal calprotectin (FC), are detected as potential predictors of mucosal inflammation in IBD patients. The aim of our study was to retrospectively assess the clinical efficacy of the calprotectin assay in determining histological relapses of pediatric IBD patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the histological examinations, clinical records, and FC values of patients who had undergone colonoscopy at our hospital over an 8-year period, from December 31, 1998, to December 31, 2006. Only patients with a first histological examination showing a quiescent IBD who submitted to a second histological examination during the next 3 years were selected. Results: Seventy-three IBD patients, all with a first biopsy showing a quiescent IBD, were studied; at the second histological examination, 32 presented with relapse and 41 presented with remission. Relapsed patients showed significantly increased FC levels compared with nonrelapsed patients. A FC value of 275 μg/g achieved sensitivity and negative predictive value of 97% and specificity and positive predictive value of 85% in predicting histological relapse. Conclusions: FC seems to be a direct measure of intestinal inflammation and therefore a good marker of the risk of histological relapse in pediatric IBD patients. The application of this test in clinical practice may enable the avoidance of invasive tests as well as targeting treatment. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2008)
Four-quark mesonic states of low orbital excitations

Abstract A nonrelativistic potential model is used to describe the orbital excitations and color configuration mixing in four-quark mesonic states. Possible experimental structures to which some of the calculated states might correspond are briefly discussed.
Displacement chromatography of proteins using a self-sharpening pH front formed by adsorbed buffering species as the displacer.

Abstract The preparative-scale separation of two proteins into adjoined, pure bands was accomplished using a novel, hybrid chromatography method which employs chromatofocusing using a self-sharpening pH front and displacement development. The method eliminates the use of a traditional displacer for accomplishing displacement chromatography, and was used to separate the A and B forms of β-lactoglobulin using a strong-base anion-exchange column packing and a buffer system composed of acetic acid and either 3-(N-morpholino)propane-sulfonic acid (MOPS) or 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES). Sample loads up to 150 mg of protein were applied to a 75×7.5 mm column to produce a displacement train composed of highly pure protein bands with greater than 90% recovery of protein. A discussion is given of the chromatographic behavior of proteins under concentration overloaded conditions for the case where a self-sharpening pH front formed using adsorbed buffering species is used to desorb proteins from an anion-exchange column packing.
The portal hypertensive effect of dopamine

Abstract Intravenous infusions of either dopamine, vasopressin, or simultaneous dopamine and vasopressin were administered to normal adult mongrel dogs, and the effect on systemic and portal hemodynamics monitored. Dopamine increased superior mesenteric artery blood flow and portal venous pressure. Because of this portal hypertensive effect, dopamine should not be given to patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Dopamine administered with vasopressin failed to protect against a reduction in cardiac output, and completely reversed the portal hypotensive effect of vasopressin. Isoproterenol remains the drug of choice for offsetting the adverse hemodynamic effects of vasopressin administration.
Self-Concept, Implicit Leadership Theories, and Follower Preferences for Leadership

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that shape followers’ initial reactions to leaders. Based on the literature on self-concept and leader categorization theory, it was hypothesized that followers’ self-concepts (specifically their self-esteem and self-construal) would predict their conceptualization of an ideal leader (i.e., their implicit leadership theory, ILT), which would then predict followers’ preferences for specific leadership styles. Using a sample of 206 university students, results indicated that the effects of independent self-construal on charismatic leader preference were partially mediated by the dedication ILT dimension, and the effects of interdependent self-construal were fully mediated by the sensitivity ILT dimension. Additional findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Steady seepage in trenches and dams : Effect of capillary flow

Steady seepage from two-dimensional domains is investigated using a dimensionless formulation for variably saturated media that depends on three dimensionless parameters, M, n, and α. The parameter M is the product of the anisotropy ratio and the squared ratio of the vertical length scale to the horizontal length scale. The parameter n increases with the uniformity of the pore sizes, and α represents the ratio of the domain height to the height of the capillary fringe. Our modeling results show that the seepage face height in rectangular domains is always larger than the seepage face height computed from saturated flow models. The results also show that the seepage face height increases with increasing M, increasing n, and/or decreasing α. The outflows computed from the present model are always larger than the outflows computed by the Dupuit assumption. Nomographs for rectangular and trapezoidal domains simulating trenches and dams are presented.
Liouville's theorem and the velocity field of galaxies

Did the large-scale distribution of matter in the Universe evolve by a dissipationless process (such as hierarchical clustering) or is it the result of a strongly dissipative event (such as the ‘pancake’ scenario)? If the distribution of galaxies in the Universe can be treated as a dissipationless fluid, then an application of Liouville's theorem predicts a linear relationship between the observed galaxy density and the cube of the velocity dispersion as measured at any point in space. Evidence from existing cluster data is presented here which supports this hypothesis.
EFFECTS OF THYROTROPHIN ON METABOLISM OF THIOURACIL-TREATED RATS

MUCH EVIDENCE has been accumulating that thiourea and thiourea derivatives depress the ability of the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormone. Thus, the ability of the gland to synthesize organic iodine has been found lowered (Franklin, Chaikoff and Lerner, 1944), the level of circulating organic iodine decreased (Salter and McKay, 1944) and the Basal Metabolic Rate (B.M.R.) depressed (Astwood, Sullivan, Bissell and Tyslowitz, 1943; MacKenzie and MacKenzie, 1943). Because of the importance of the anterior pituitary thyrotrophin in controlling thyroid secretion, it was thought worthwhile to determine the metabolic response of the thiouracil-treated animal to this hormone. Jandorf and Williams (1944) have reported tissue metabolism studies on such animals, but did not include whole-animal changes. Williams and Bissell (1943) reported that thyrotrophin did not raise the B.M.R. of a patient also receiving thiouracil, but no standard response to the thyrotrophin was presented.
Semipermeable, chemisorbed adlayers of focally-substituted organothiol dendrons on gold

A series of focally substituted organothiol dendrons of the first through third generation were used to construct adlayers on a gold surface. The presence and structural features of these adlayers were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and ellipsometry. The relative coverage and/or permeability of these adlayers was studied using capacitance and electrochemical blocking experiments. It was found that as the number of hyperbranches in the dendron increased from one to three, the dendron adlayers became initially less and then more permeable. This result indicated a tradeoff between size and packing efficiency when using these molecules to cover a surface. These data also suggest that the dendrons have formed homogeneous but permeable adlayers on the gold surface rather than adlayers consisting of islands of material. These adlayers showed large differences in their ability to trap and hold a small molecule, trans-cyclohexanediol, within them.
Quality and Individualization in Wraparound Team Planning

In children’s mental health, collaborative, team-based individualized service planning is most commonly known as wraparound, and has become one of the primary strategies for improving services and outcomes for children with the highest levels of need. We report on analyses of data gathered at 72 wraparound team meetings from communities around the United States. We describe the composition of the teams and the quality of the planning process they engaged in, and explore the extent to which these factors were associated with team member satisfaction and the individualization of plans. Teams in our study were numerically dominated by professionals. Parents attended a large majority of meetings, participation by youth and family advocates was frequent, participation by other family members infrequent, and participation by other members of the family’s informal or natural support networks rare. Observed teams varied considerably in the quality of their planning process and the degree of individualization of plans. Higher-quality planning was significantly associated with increased individualization of plans and with team member satisfaction with meeting productivity.
Local area networks in radioactivity measurements

We describe the operation of a Local Area Network at Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory involved in surveillance of environmental radioactivity. Detailed consideration is given separately to computer and network hardware, radiation instrument interfacing, software, as well as operations. The application of a Local Area Network offers considerable improvements in the laboratory preformance, quality assurance of radioactivity analyses, and data reporting.
A Rare Case of Bilateral Multilocular Renal Cysts

Several names have been used to describe a rare multiloculated cystic lesion in the kidney, including benign multilocular cyst, multilocular cystic nephroma, cystic nephroma and others. The abundance of names is partially attributable to an incomplete understanding of the etiology and natural history of this condition. Most authorities believe that this lesion is part of a spectrum of renal cystic disorders with multilocular cyst and cystic Wilms tumor representing the 2 extremes. Whatever the etiology, multilocular cysts have a typical radiographic appearance, are almost uniformly unilateral and are treated with curative nephrectomy. We report a unique case of bilateral multilocular renal cysts treated with bilateral partial nephrectomy. CASE REPORT A 15-month-old Hispanic boy presented with a 3-month history of progressively enlarging bilateral flank masses, and nausea, vomiting and anorexia 1 week in duration. There was no other significant medical history. Physical examination revealed blood pressure of 100/60 mm. Hg and abdominal examination demonstrated bilateral 12 to 14 cm., nontender, nonfixed, firm flank masses. Serum electrolytes, urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin and urinalysis were normal. Abdominal ultrasound and computerized tomography showed 10 X 12 cm. cystic renal masses with multiple septa (fig. 1). A rim of normal appearing renal parenchyma (right side greater than left side) was displaced inferiorly and medially. 3-Mercaptoacetyltriglycine nuclear renal scan revealed that 80% of renal function was by the right kidney. Abdominal exploration was planned but moderate hypertension developed, which was controlled with oral calcium channel blockers. Subsequently exploration was performed through a transperitoneal midline incision. The left renal mass was approached first, revealing a firm mobile cystic renal mass contiguous with the inferior pole of normal appearing renal tissue. Because of the benign appearance of this mass and bilateral involvement, a nephron sparing procedure was performed involving partial nephrectomy with renal reconstruction. The mass was completely excised en bloc (fig. 2). However, the dilated renal pelvis was opened to extrude the inferior aspect of the mass, which had herniated into the collecting system. Frozen section was consistent with a multilocular renal cyst without evidence of malignancy. Exploration of the right side revealed similar fmdings and an identical procedure was performed. Postoperatively the patient recovered well. He is currently asymptomatic and thriving, and hypertension has completely resolved. Followup renal scan and ultrasound 6 months postoperatively demonstrated excellent function of both remaining renal units with no evidence of any recurrent cystic lesions. The final pathological diagnosis was consistent with bilateral benign multilocular renal cysts.