cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aging-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction mediated by ceramide signaling inhibits antitumor T cell response.

Summary We lack a mechanistic understanding of aging-mediated changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics and lipid metabolism that affect T cell function. The bioactive sphingolipid ceramide, induced by aging stress, mediates mitophagy and cell death; however, the aging-related roles of ceramide metabolism in regulating T cell function remain unknown. Here, we show that activated T cells isolated from aging mice have elevated C14/C16 ceramide accumulation in mitochondria, generated by ceramide synthase 6, leading to mitophagy/mitochondrial dysfunction. Mechanistically, aging-dependent mitochondrial ceramide inhibits protein kinase A, leading to mitophagy in activated T cells. This aging/ceramide-dependent mitophagy attenuates the antitumor functions of T cells in vitro and in vivo. Also, inhibition of ceramide metabolism or PKA activation by genetic and pharmacologic means prevents mitophagy and restores the central memory phenotype in aging T cells. Thus, these studies help explain the mechanisms behind aging-related dysregulation of T cells’ antitumor activity, which can be restored by inhibiting ceramide-dependent mitophagy.
Abstract 12622: Pro-inflammatory Urinary CXCL10 and VCAM Are Elevated After Infant Cardiac Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently after infant cardiac surgery and is associated with mortality. AKI mechanisms are unknown, limiting therapeutic targets. Emerging data impl...
Questioning Gender Norms to Promote Sexual Reproductive Health Among Early Adolescents: Evidence from a School Program in Mumbai, India

Early adolescent interventions are expected to prepare grounds for positive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes at later ages. If girls and boys are socialized into believing in and practicing gender equitable norms and attitudes, they would be more likely to change their behaviors, which would lead to making informed choices and engaging in less risky SRH behaviors. This chapter presents one such intervention called Gender Equity Movement in Schools (GEMS) carried out in Mumbai schools among early adolescent girls and boys of ages 12–14 years. Interventions promoting gender equality included structured group education activities (GEA) and school-based campaigns with students of grades VI and VII over 2 years. Girls and boys exposed to the interventions showed much greater improvement in self-reported measures of sexual and reproductive health than those with no interventions. Domain specific analysis of gender attitudes however showed that some areas of gender relations were less likely to change than others. Findings suggest that the gender-focused initiatives must engage children at early ages and also pay special attention to the areas that are difficult to change.
Social Dividend Versus Basic Income Guarantee in Market Socialism

(2004). Social Dividend Versus Basic Income Guarantee in Market Socialism. International Journal of Political Economy: Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 20-40.
Comparison of the ammonium oxalate extraction of fertilizer for K2O, method 983.02, with the ammonium citrate/EDTA extraction, method 993.31.

The direct available method for phosphorus in fertilizers, Method 960.03, is an Official Method for extraction of both P2O5 and K2O. Because K2O is much more soluble and easier to extract than P2O5, the conditions of the extraction procedure are set for efficient extraction of P2O5, and the extraction of K2O is, in effect, a bonus. In 1993, a modified extraction procedure, using an extractant of ammonium citrate/ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution, was evaluated for P2O5 and then collaboratively studied. This now-modified extraction procedure for phosphorus is Official Method 993.31, which is used extensively as an alternative to Method 960.03 for phosphorus because it is less labor-intensive. Method 993.31 was also evaluated in our laboratory for K2O extraction, but it was never formally collaboratively studied for K2O. To demonstrate the suitability of Method 993.31 as an extraction procedure for K2O, as well as P2O5 in fertilizers, Method 993.31 extraction for K2O was compared with Method 983.02, the traditional ammonium oxalate extraction procedure for K2O. A wide range of fertilizer samples was extracted by using both procedures. The t-test for samples containing 30% K2O had a t-value of 0.30 and a probability of 0.77, also indicating no significant difference. It is recommended that Method 983.02 be modified to include the ammonium citrate/EDTA extraction procedure as an additional option for extraction of K2O from commercial fertilizers.
Does chemically induced hepatocyte proliferation predict liver carcinogenesis

Cell proliferation has long been recognized as having an important role in chemically induced carcinogenesis. Based on findings that certain nongenotoxic chemical carcinogens induced cell proliferation in the same organ that had an increased incidence of tumors, it has been hypothesized that a chemically induced response of enhanced DNA synthesis and cellular division causes cancer by increasing the rate of spontaneous mutations. It was further suggested that there would be no increased human risk of cancer by non-DNA-reactive compounds at doses that do not cause a proliferative response. An evaluation of the literature on the relationship between chemically induced cell proliferation and liver carcinogenesis reveals that very few systematic cell proliferation studies have been conducted over periods of extended exposure, and in many cases the exposure concentrations were not similar to those used in the cancer studies. The proliferative response resulting from exposure to many nongenotoxic carcinogens is...
On the robust stability of plant families with poles crossing the imaginary axis: A new small gain condition

A standard assumption made when employing the small gain theorem for robust stabilization of an uncertain plant family is that the plant family cannot have any poles arbitrarily crossing the imaginary axis or that the number of unstable poles must remain fixed. This assumption can with structured uncertainties. Considered in this paper is the problem of robust stabilization of single-input single-output plant families with structured uncertainties, possibly with poles crossing the imaginary axis. A necessary and sufficient condition for robust stabilization of such a family is derived by using the zero exclusion condition. Also given is a small gain like sufficient condition for robust stability formulated as a mixed sensitivity problem in the H/sub /spl infin// setting. This new condition is less conservative than the well known standard small gain condition. With the new small gain condition in hand the typical robust performance problem for plants with structured uncertainties in the sense of quantitative feedback theory (QFT) can also be posed as a mixed sensitivity problem in the H/sub /spl infin// setting.
Effects of angle of attack on the leading edge attachment line

The computational results presented show good agreement with existing flight test data. A parametric study on the sensitivity of attachment line location and crossflow profiles to alpha was conducted. For the 20 case, the attachment line is very close to the leading edge. However, for a = 0.00 and 3.670, the outboard attachment point moves much further downstream relative to the inboard attachment point. At different angles-of-attack the boundary layer thickness and stream-wise velocity profiles do not change significantly. There is, however, a significant change in the crossflow velocity profiles with different angles-of-attack. The trends exhibited in the crossflow velocity profiles indicate that as the angle of attack is decreased from 3.670 to 0.00, the maximum crossflow velocity at a fixed location increases.
Legislated Ethics or Ethics Education?: Faculty Views in the Post-Enron Era

The tension between external forces for better ethics in organizations, represented by legislation such as the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX), and the call for internal forces represented by increased educational coverage, has never been as apparent. This study examines business school faculty attitudes about recent corporate ethics lapses, including opinions about root causes, potential solutions, and ethics coverage in their courses. In assessing root causes, faculty point to a failure of systems such as legal/professional and management (external) and declining personal values (internal). We also found that faculty recommend external forces as a remedy more often than increased ethics educational coverage; we contextualize this finding with recent ethics education literature. We conclude by proposing that neither legislation nor ethics education alone are complete when addressing widespread unethical corporate acts and offer a multi-faceted approach to ethics educational opportunities.
The safety and efficacy of prolonged outpatient sulindac to prevent the recurrence of preterm labor: a prospective double-blind study.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of outpatient oral sulindac given until 34 weeks gestation to prevent the recurrence of preterm labor (PTL).Materials and Methods: Women were considered candidates for the study if they had an episode of preterm labor successfully treated with inpatient parenteral tocolysis, intact membranes, cervical dilatation <4 cm, and gestations <34 weeks. Candidates for the study were randomized by the pharmacy to receive either a "look-alike" placebo or sulindac, 100 mg po bid until 34 weeks gestation. The patient was seen for follow-up visits at 1 week and then every other week until 34 weeks. On follow-up visits hourly fetal urine production, amniotic fluid assessment, and ductal velocities were obtained.Results: Forty-four patients were randomized (21 sulindac and 23 placebo). All demographic and clinical variables were similar with the weeks at randomization 29.2 and 30.5 in the sulindac and placebo groups, respectively. Readmission for tocolysis occurred in 5 and 3 of the sulindac and placebo group patients, respectively (P = NS). Twenty and 22 of the sulindac and placebo group, respectively, delivered after 7 days. Amniotic fluid index in the sulindac group at 1 week was significantly lower than in the placebo group at 10.6 vs 13.0. All neonatal outcome variables were similar between the groups, including birth weights, Apgar, cord pH, and total NICU days.Conclusion: Sulindac until 34 weeks gestation following successful tocolysis results in no apparent prolongation of gestation.
Regulation of non-esterified fatty acid and glycerol concentration by insulin in normal individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes

Plasma glycerol and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were determined in the basal state and in response to physiological hyperinsulinaemia in 30 non-obese individuals, 15 with Type 2 diabetes and 15 with normal glucose tolerance. Patients with Type 2 diabetes had higher basal concentrations of both glycerol (81 +/- 7 (+/- SE) vs 61 +/- 7 mumol l-1, p less than 0.05) and NEFA (842 +/- 40 vs 630 +/- 46 mumol l-1, p less than 0.002). Plasma NEFA and glycerol concentrations fell in both groups when steady-state plasma insulin concentrations were raised to approximately 450 pmol l-1 by an infusion of exogenous insulin, but plasma concentrations of glycerol (28 +/- 3 vs 13 +/- 3 mumol l-1, p less than 0.002) and NEFA (186 +/- 15 vs 109 +/- 14 mumol l-1, p less than 0.001) were still higher in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Percentage decrease in glycerol from basal levels in response to insulin was significantly less in patients with Type 2 diabetes than in control subjects (64 +/- 3 vs 80 +/- 3%, p less than 0.005); percentage decrease in plasma NEFA concentration was similar in the two groups (78 +/- 3 vs 80 +/- 4%). These results suggest that both plasma glycerol and NEFA concentrations are higher than normal in patients with Type 2 diabetes when measured at the same insulin concentration, both under basal conditions and in response to physiological hyperinsulinaemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Case histories of dust explosions

Three dust explosion incidents that occurred within Monsanto Europe are discussed. The company carries out a wide range of operations involving powdered solids, and the incidents illustrate the range of situations that can cause dust explosions. The design approaches used now, covered by guides such as the NFPA 68 and 69 usually prevent major losses, but there are some lessons to be learned from the three incidents described. The most basic one is that there are so many different ways of igniting flammable dusts that we should never use elimination of ignition sources as the sole method of protection. The other lesson is a very old one: the need to maintain all our equipment and safety systems in operational condition at all times. This is particularly difficult in practice because these systems are not required for day-to-day production, but still must operate effectively when they are needed.
Whole spectrum fluorescence detection with ultrafast white light excitation

We have developed a new detection mechanism for ultrabroadband multicolor fluorescence detection using an ultrafast supercontinuum white light source without spectral filtering to simultaneously excite different fluorophores. A nonlinear photonic crystal fiber was utilized in conjunction with a femtosecond laser to generate the supercontinuum. A time-resolved detector was tested to detect the whole spectrum fluorescence while gating out the excitation white light in the time domain.
Electrodynamics of superconductors

An alternate set of equations to describe the electrodynamics of superconductors at a macroscopic level is proposed. These equations resemble equations originally proposed by the London brothers but later discarded by them. Unlike the conventional London equations the alternate equations are relativistically covariant, and they can be understood as arising from the ``rigidity'' of the superfluid wave function in a relativistically covariant microscopic theory. They predict that an internal ``spontaneous'' electric field exists in superconductors, and that externally applied electric fields, both longitudinal and transverse, are screened over a London penetration length, as magnetic fields are. The associated longitudinal dielectric function predicts a much steeper plasmon dispersion relation than the conventional theory, and a blueshift of the minimum plasmon frequency for small samples. It is argued that the conventional London equations lead to difficulties that are removed in the present theory, and that the proposed equations do not contradict any known experimental facts. Experimental tests are discussed.
Post-Cranial Hairs in Four Families of Bats

This study identifies the presence of specialized post-cranial hairs on 66 species of bats, and speculates on their significance. While examining museum bat specimens, three main suspected sensory types of hair were discovered: toe hairs, rump hairs, and uropatagial hairs. Life history traits such as day roost type, size of roosting group, and diet were compared with the presence or absence of these hairs using Spearman's Rho tests. The presence of post-cranial hairs was extremely variable across families and genera, making their function difficult to infer. Nevertheless, our tests revealed statistically significant correlations between the presence of uropatagial hairs and using small roosts and the presence of rump hairs and using hollow tree roosts. We suggest that rump hairs may play an important role in roost navigation, while uropatagial hairs may contribute to landing or foraging abilities, especially when found on tailless bats. Toe hairs are suspected to aid in grooming. Histological analysis and...
Survival of patients with clinical stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer after induction therapy: age, mediastinal downstaging, and extent of pulmonary resection as independent predictors.

Background In clinical stage IIIA non–small cell lung cancer, the role of surgical resection, particularly pneumonectomy, after induction therapy remains controversial. Our objective was to determine factors predictive of survival after postinduction surgical resection. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of 136 patients who underwent surgical resection after induction chemotherapy (n = 119) or chemoradiation (n = 17) from June 1990 to January 2010. Results One hundred five lobectomies or bilobectomies and 31 pneumonectomies were performed. There was 1 perioperative death (pneumonectomy). Seventy-one patients had downstaging to N0 or N1 nodal status (52%). There were 2 complete pathologic responses. Median follow-up was 42 months (range, 0.69–136 months). Overall 5-year survival for entire cohort was 33% (36% lobectomy, 22% pneumonectomy, P = .001). Patients with pathologic downstaging to pN0 or pN1 had improved 5-year survival (45% vs 20%, P = .003). For patients with pN0 or pN1 disease, survival after lobectomy was better than after pneumonectomy (48% vs 27%, P = .011). In patients with residual N2 disease, there was no statistically significant survival difference between lobectomy and pneumonectomy (5-year survival, 21% vs 19%; P = .136). Multivariate analysis showed as independent predictors of survival age (hazard ratio, 1.05; P = .002), extent of resection (hazard ratio, 2.01; P = .026), and presence of residual pN2 (hazard ratio, 1.60; P = .047). Conclusions After induction therapy for patients with clinical stage IIIA disease, both pneumonectomy and lobectomy can be safely performed. Although survival after lobectomy is better, long-term survival can be accomplished after pneumonectomy for appropriately selected patients. Nodal downstaging is important determinant of survival, particularly after lobectomy.
Operators commuting with a von Neumann algebra modulo the set of compact operators

Let U be a von Neumann algebra acting on a Hilbert space H. If T is the sum of an element of U′ and a compact operator, then TA-AT is compact for all U′. The basic problem considered in this paper is whether the converse statement holds. The converse is shown to be true if U does not contain certain Type II1 factors as direct summands. No examples are known for which the converse fails. Examples are given indicating the extent to which the main result holds when U is abelian and not weakly closed. The main result leads to a number of theorems on representations of derivations and automorphisms of the algebra of operators on H generated by U and the compact operators.
Telomeres and senescence: The history, the experiment, the future

Telomere length has been proposed to signal entry into cellular senescence. Expression of the human telomerase subunit, hTERT, in primary cells now shows that these cells bypass senescence.
Diurnal expression of transducin mRNA and translocation of transducin in rods of rat retina

The messenger RNA (mRNA) that encodes alpha subunit of the guanosine triphosphate-binding protein transducin (T alpha) and T alpha immunoreactivity were localized and measured in the rat retina during the light-dark cycle with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Both T alpha mRNA and T alpha immunoreactivity were observed only in photoreceptors. Within the photoreceptor T alpha mRNA was present primarily in the inner segments and to a lesser extent in the outer nuclear layer at all times during the day and night. However, the distribution of T alpha immunoreactivity varied profoundly with the light-dark cycle; during the day, T alpha immunoreactivity was highest in the inner segments, and at night the outer segments were more immunoreactive. The amounts of T alpha mRNA and T alpha immunoreactivity also depended on the light-dark cycle. Levels of T alpha mRNA were high immediately before and after lights on; levels were low for the rest of the light-dark cycle. During the day, T alpha immunoreactivity increased in the inner segments following the increase in T alpha mRNA. After the lights were turned off, T alpha immunoreactivity decreased in the inner segments and increased in the outer segments. Thus, it appears that T alpha is synthesized in the inner segments after a morning increase in T alpha mRNA. Newly synthesized T alpha remains in the inner segments until it is transported to the outer segments at night, where it may be involved in the increase in the sensitivity of photoreceptor rods at night.
REGIONAL CONVERGENCE VERSUS UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUNBELT SMSAs

Discriminant analysis was used to investigate the empirical underpinnings of the labels, "Sunbelt" and "Frostbelt." Nine study variables were chosen to represent structural, economic, and population characteristics in 158 SMSAs with 1980 populations over 200,000. The results show that SMSAs in the Sunbelt have lower densities; they house larger minority populations who are less likely to participate in the political process; and their economies are less oriented to manufacturing. In terms of the regional convergence-uneven development debate, results favor the uneven development thesis. The fact that Sunbelt metropolitan areas house populations that are different from their Frostbelt counterparts and perform different social roles and functions in the national space economy suggests they represent a new form of urban development rather than a manifestation of heretofore lagging regions converging with traditional centers of development.
Significant science at Titan and Neptune from aerocaptured missions

Abstract In 2001, NASA began assembling the Aerocapture Systems Analysis Team, a team of scientists and engineers from multiple NASA centers. Their charter is to perform high-fidelity analyses of delivering scientifically compelling orbital missions that use aerocapture for orbit insertion at their destinations. After establishing scientific credibility, studies focus on aerocapture systems design and performance, including approach navigation, flight mechanics, aerothermodynamics, and thermal protection. The team's October 2001–September 2002 study examined a mission to explore the organic environment of Titan and its chemical, geological, and dynamical context. Its architecture includes a Titan polar orbiter that would complete and extend Cassini's soon-to-begin global mapping, aiding global extrapolation of findings from a mobile in situ element (rover, blimp, etc.). The in situ element would perform remote sensing and in situ investigations, for analysis and characterization of Titan's surface, shallow subsurface, atmosphere, processes occurring there, and energy sources driving it all. The study concentrated on the orbiter and orbit insertion, largely treating the in situ element as a black box with data relay requirements. October 2002–September 2003 the team studied a mission to perform Cassini/Huygens-level exploration of the Neptune system. Before aerocapture this mission would deploy and support multiple Neptune atmospheric entry probes. After aerocapture the orbiter uses Triton as a “tour engine”, in much the same manner as Cassini uses Titan, to provide many Triton flybys and orbit evolution for detailed investigation of Neptune's interior, atmosphere, magnetosphere, rings, and satellites. This presentation summarizes the missions’ science objectives, instrumentation, and data requirements that served as the foundations for the studies, and describes mission design requirements and constraints that affect the science investigations.
The Responsiveness of a Tetracycline-sensitive Expression System Differs in Different Cell Lines

A tetracycline-sensitive inducible expression system was used to regulate the expression of neurotransmitter receptor genes in two mammalian cell lines. The dopamine D3-receptor was stably expressed in GH3 cells, and GluR6 (a glutamate receptor subunit) was stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. Three striking differences were found. 1) In the inactive state, virtually no D3-receptor expression was found in GH3 cells, whereas substantial levels of GluR6 expression were found in HEK 293 cells. 2) The induction of expression obtained upon removal of tetracycline was robust in GH3 cells but only modest in HEK 293 cells. 3) Whereas in each clonal cell line, the expression of a co-transfected hybrid transactivator is clearly regulated in a tetracycline-responsive manner, in the induced state, its mRNA levels were found to be very low in GH3 cells and very high in HEK 293 cells. The results indicate that, in contrast to GH3 cells, HEK 293 cells do not provide a cellular environment in which the expression of a heterologous gene can be tightly controlled in a tetracycline-responsive manner.
Radiation damage to the small intestine

Although radiation therapy has proven effective in both cancer control and cure, grave side effects may occur. Among the most serious treatment complications encountered by a patient with malignant disease is that of radiation injury to the small intestine. Patients with gynecologic malignancies are most often found to have these problems of therapy. The etiology of radiation damage at the cellular level is mostly molecular damage resulting in lethal cellular injuries. Accompanying vascular and connective tissue may also be altered and cause later complications. Because of the complex nature of the patient's malignant disease and treatment, diagnosis of radiation injury to the small bowel and other pelvic structures can be most difficult to determine. The management of acute manifestations of enteric radiation injury includes diet modification and drugs that affect intestinal motility. Long-term manifestations of enteric radiation injury present more serious difficulties. Initially, the patient must be stabilized to reverse the effects of chronic malnutrition, sepsis, and electrolyte imbalance. Immediate surgery may be necessary in patients with suspected perforation. Most patients, however, require further studies for complete assessment of clinical damage. In patients with enteric fistulas, an operation is always necessary for fistula control. Complete enteric bypass utilizing minimally affected intestine is mandatory to ensure the least morbidity and mortality. Prevention of enteric radiation injury requires efforts to minimize postoperative adhesions, avoidance of excessive therapy to segments of fixed small bowel, and dosimetry alteration when complications arise during initial therapy.
A Simple Way of Synthesizing Single-Crystalline Semiconducting Copper Sulfide Nanorods by Using Ultrasonication during Template-Assisted Electrodeposition

We demonstrate here the utilization of ultrasonication during template-assisted electrodeposition to synthesize high quality one-dimensional nanostructures. Copper sulfide nanorods were synthesized “sonoelectrochemically” to achieve single-crystal nanorods with predominantly single stoichiometric composition (1.0:1.0 Cu:S). Structural characterization by HRTEM, SAD, EDS reveals that nanorods have fully crystalline hexagonal covellite (CuS) structure, which is topotactically intergrown with minor amounts of nanometer size domains of cubic Cu1.8S. Nanorods in the range of 50−200 nm in diameter were produced and electrically characterized as p-type semiconductors.
Induction of liver and lung tumours in rats by the simultaneous administration of sodium nitrite and morpholine.

Abstract Long-term feeding studies were conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats using various dietary concentrations (up to 1000 ppm each) of nitrite and morpholine or 5 or 50 ppm N -nitrosomorpholine. The animals fed nitrite and morpholine at moderate to high concentrations developed hepatocellular carcinomas and angiosarcomas, histologically identical to those induced by preformed N -nitrosomorpholine. The data suggest that in vivo nitrosation of morpholine does occur in the rat, presumably in the acidic gastric environment.
Natural selection on gene function drives the evolution of LTR retrotransposon families in the rice genome

Although the proliferation of LTR retrotransposons can cause major genomic modification and reorganization, the evolutionary dynamics that affect their frequency in host genomes are poorly understood. We analyzed patterns of genetic variation among LTR retrotransposons from Oryza sativa to investigate the type of selective forces that potentially limit their amplification and subsequent population of a nuclear genome. We performed both intra- and interfamily analyses of patterns of molecular sequence variation across multiple LTR retrotransposon genes. This analysis involved more than 1000 LTR retrotransposon sequences from 14 separate families that varied in both their insertion dates and full-length copy numbers. We uncovered evidence of strong purifying selection across all gene regions, but also indications that rare episodes of positive selection and adaptation to the host genome occur. Furthermore, our results indicate that LTR retrotransposons exhibit different but predictable patterns of sequence variation depending on their date of transposition, suggesting that LTR retrotransposons, regardless of superfamily and family classifications, show similar “life-histories.”
Accumulation of I131 by channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) ovaries in vivo and in vitro

Ovaries of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were found to concentrate I131 with accumulation reaching a peak 20–30 hours after injection. A major portion of the injected I131 was recovered in the ovaries which accounted for 45.0% of the injected dose after 24 hours while the thyroid accounted for only 2.43%. Accumulation of I131 in the ovaries occurred against a concentration gradient with ovary to blood ratios after 24 hours of 32:1. Accumulation of I131 was also demonstrated by ovarian tissue in vitro with tissue to medium ratios as high as 96:1. Concentration of I131 in vitro was inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol, sodium perchlorate, and sodium thiocyanate, but was not affected by methimazole or thiouracil. The I131 in fish ovaries accumulated in vitro appeared to be predominately in an inorganic form. However, seasonal variations were noted in which I131 uptake by ovaries obtained in June, as opposed to those obtained in January, appeared to be more firmly bound to the tissue. Traces of I131 were present in the protein band after electrophoresis of tissue homogenates and 2–5% of the I131 was associated with protein after paper chromatography.
Antitumor agents. 178. Synthesis and biological evaluation of substituted 2-aryl-1,8-naphthyridin-4(1H)-ones as antitumor agents that inhibit tubulin polymerization.

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates in the 2-aryl-1,8-naphthyridin-4(1H)-one series, we have synthesized two series of 3‘-substituted 2-phenyl-1,8-naphthyridin-4(1H)-ones and 2-naphthyl-1,8-naphthyridin-4(1H)-ones. All compounds showed significant cytotoxic effects (log GI50 < −4.0; log molar drug concentration required to cause 50% growth inhibition) against a variety of human tumor cell lines of the National Cancer Institute's in vitro screen, including cells derived from solid tumors such as non-small cell lung, colon, central nervous system, melanoma, ovarian, prostate, and breast cancers. All 3‘-substituted compounds demonstrated strong cytotoxic effects in almost all tumor cell lines. Introduction of an aromatic ring at the 2‘- and 3‘-positions also generated compounds with potent antitumor activity. Incorporation of an aromatic ring at the 3‘- and 4‘-positions produced compounds with reduced activity. Interestingly, introduction of a halogen at the 3‘-position ...
Understanding it adoption decisions in small business: integrating current theories

Using a "combine and conquer" strategy with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the technology acceptance model (TAM), we applied a series of loosely to tightly integrated models to the IT adoption decisions of small business executives regarding a web site. With application of structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, we found that there were progressive improvements in fit as the models become more fully integrated. The results indicate that a "Collected" model representing the underlying categories of cognitions from the TPB and the TAM provided a better fit than either the TAM or the TPB alone.
Biochemical Characterization of the Heteromeric Bacillus subtilis Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase and Its Isolated Subunits

Abstract Bacillus subtilis dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHOD) consists of two subunits, PyrDI ( M r = 33,094) and PyrDII ( M r = 28,099). The two subunits were overexpressed jointly and individually and purified. PyrDI was an FMN-containing flavoprotein with an apparent native molecular mass of 85,000. Overexpressed PyrDII formed inclusion bodies and was purified by refolding and reconstitution. Refolded PyrDII bound 1 mol FAD and 1 mol [2Fe–2S] per mol PyrDII. Coexpression and purification of PyrDI and PyrDII yielded a native holoenzyme complex with an apparent native molecular mass of 114,000 that indicated a heterotetramer (PyrDI 2 PyrDII 2 ). The holoenzyme possessed dihydroorotate:NAD + oxidoreductase activity and could also reduce menadione and artificial dyes. Purified PyrDI also possessed DHOD activity but could not reduce NAD + . Compared to PyrDI, the holoenzyme had a more than 20-fold smaller K m value for dihydroorotate, an approximately 50-fold smaller K i value for orotate, and approximately 500-fold greater catalytic efficiency. Dihydroorotate:NAD + oxidoreductase activity could be recovered by mixing the purified subunits. Recovered activity showed a clear dependence on FAD reconstitution of PyrDII but not on reconstitution with FeS clusters. PyrDII had a strong preference for FAD over FMN and bound it with an estimated K d value of 4.9 ± 0.8 nM. pyrDII mutants containing alanine substitutions of the cysteine ligands to the [2Fe–2S] cluster failed to complement the pyr bradytrophy of a ΔpyrDII strain, indicating a requirement for the FeS cluster in PyrDII for normal function in vivo.
Profinite MV-algebras and Multisets

Simple algebraic and topological characterizations of profinite MV-algebras (i.e., MV-algebras that are inverse limits of finite MV-algebras) are obtained. It is shown that these are the direct products of finite Łukasiewicz chains. We also prove that the category \(\mathbb {M}\) of multisets is dually equivalent to the category \(\mathbb {P}\) of profinite MV-algebras and complete homomorphisms. This duality extends the well-known duality between finite MV-algebras, and finite multisets on one hand, and the duality between sets with functions and atomic complete Boolean algebras with complete homomorphisms on the other hand.
Small-angle X-ray scattering: a bridge between RNA secondary structures and three-dimensional topological structures

Whereas the structures of small to medium-sized well folded RNA molecules often can be determined by either X-ray crystallography or NMR spectroscopy, obtaining structural information for large RNAs using experimental, computational, or combined approaches remains a major interest and challenge. RNA is very sensitive to small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) due to high electron density along phosphate-sugar backbones, whose scattering contribution dominates SAXS intensity. For this reason, SAXS is particularly useful in obtaining global RNA structural information that outlines backbone topologies and, therefore, molecular envelopes. Such information is extremely valuable in bridging the gap between the secondary structures and three-dimensional topological structures of RNA molecules, particularly those that have proven difficult to study using other structure-determination methods. Here we review published results of RNA topological structures derived from SAXS data or in combination with other experimental data, as well as details on RNA sample preparation for SAXS experiments.
Modulation of energy-dependent quenching of excitons in antennae of higher plants

Energy-dependent exciton quenching, or qE, protects the higher plant photosynthetic apparatus from photodamage. Initiation of qE involves protonation of violaxanthin deepoxidase and PsbS, a component of the photosystem II antenna complex, as a result of lumen acidification driven by photosynthetic electron transfer. It has become clear that the response of qE to linear electron flow, termed “qE sensitivity,” must be modulated in response to fluctuating environmental conditions. Previously, three mechanisms have been proposed to account for qE modulation: (i) the sensitivity of qE to the lumen pH is altered; (ii) elevated cyclic electron flow around photosystem I increases proton translocation into the lumen; and (iii) lowering the conductivity of the thylakoid ATP synthase to protons (gH+) allows formation of a larger steady-state proton motive force (pmf). Kinetic analysis of the electrochromic shift of intrinsic thylakoid pigments, a linear indicator of transthylakoid electric field component, suggests that, when CO2 alone was lowered from 350 ppm to 50 ppm CO2, modulation of qE sensitivity could be explained solely by changes in conductivity. Lowering both CO2 (to 50 ppm) and O2 (to 1%) resulted in an additional increase in qE sensitivity that could not be explained by changes in conductivity or cyclic electron flow associated with photosystem I. Evidence is presented for a fourth mechanism, in which changes in qE sensitivity result from variable partitioning of proton motive force into the electric field and pH gradient components. The implications of this mechanism for the storage of proton motive force and the regulation of the light reactions are discussed.
Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: The paraffin to olefin ratio as a function of carbon number

The Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction mechanism has been studied by establishing a steady-state operation using a syngas comprised of H2 and CO and then switching to a syngas feed comprised of D2 and carbon monoxide. The products made during the 24-h period following switching from a hydrogen-containing syngas to a deuterium-containing one are analyzed for deuterium content. The paraffin/olefin (P/O) ratio of the highly deuterated products represent primary FTS products. The data show that the P/O ratio increases much more slowly with carbon number than the O/P ratio of the total products exiting the reactor. The data show that diffusion limitations for the olefin products and their subsequent re-incorporation as chain initiators does not make a major impact on the product distribution.
Nuclear run-on transcription from primary embryonic lens tissue.

Abstract We have devised an in vitro RNA elongation assay (nuclear “run-on” transcription) that is suitable for use with small amounts of primary embryonic tissue. The assay is sensitive enough to detect transcription of single-copy genes in 8 × 10 5 nuclei isolated from embryonic chicken lens epithelia, and gives no detectable hybridization to unrelated DNAs, such as oX or pBR322. We have used this assay to examine transcription of δ-crystallin and six proto-oncogenes in lens epithelia of 6-day-old embryonic chickens. The results indicate that δ-crystallin, c- myc , p53, and c- fos are actively transcribed in these cells, while c- myb , N- ras , and c- mil are not transcribed at detectable levels.
Easily Testable Realizations ror Logic Functions

Desirable properties of "easily testable networks" are given. A realization for arbitrary logic function, using AND and EXCLUSIVE-OR gates, based on Reed-Muller canonic expansion is given that has many of these desirable properties. If only permanent stuck-at-0 (s-a-0) or stuck-at-1 (s-a-1) faults occur in a single AND gate or only a single EXCLUSIVE-OR gate is faulty, the following results are derived on fault detecting test sets for the proposed networks: 1) only (n/4) tests, independent of the function being realized, are required if the primary inputs are fault-free; 2) only 2n, additional inputs (which depend on the function realized) are required if the primary inputs can be faulty, where n, is the number of variables appearing in even number of product terms in the Reed-Muller canonical expansion of the function; and 3) the additional 2ne inputs are not required if the network is provided with an observable point at the output of an extra AND gate.
Depleting Gene Activities in Early Drosophila Embryos with the “Maternal-Gal4–shRNA” System

In a developing Drosophila melanogaster embryo, mRNAs have a maternal origin, a zygotic origin, or both. During the maternal–zygotic transition, maternal products are degraded and gene expression comes under the control of the zygotic genome. To interrogate the function of mRNAs that are both maternally and zygotically expressed, it is common to examine the embryonic phenotypes derived from female germline mosaics. Recently, the development of RNAi vectors based on short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) effective during oogenesis has provided an alternative to producing germline clones. Here, we evaluate the efficacies of: (1) maternally loaded shRNAs to knockdown zygotic transcripts and (2) maternally loaded Gal4 protein to drive zygotic shRNA expression. We show that, while Gal4-driven shRNAs in the female germline very effectively generate phenotypes for genes expressed maternally, maternally loaded shRNAs are not very effective at generating phenotypes for early zygotic genes. However, maternally loaded Gal4 protein is very efficient at generating phenotypes for zygotic genes expressed during mid-embryogenesis. We apply this powerful and simple method to unravel the embryonic functions of a number of pleiotropic genes.
Increased thromboxane A2 synthesis by rat lung neutrophils during selenium deficiency

Abstract Modulation of cellular hydroperoxide levels is considered one of the important physiological mechanisms for regulating the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) in mammalian cells. Both vitamin E and selenium (Se) have the potential to affect the concentration of peroxides and, thus, the biosynthesis of eicosanoids. To gain insight into some of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of the arachidonic acid cascade by vitamin E and Se, we have investigated the influence of altered vitamin E and Se nutrition on the ability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) derived from endotoxin-challenged lung to secrete arachidonic acid metabolites. Selenium deficiency had no significant effect (p>0.05) on lavage fluid levels of thromboxane (TX) B2, LTB4 or LTC4. Vitamin E deficiency, however, led to a significant increase in LTB4 recovered from lavage fluid while having no effect on TXB2. In contrast, Se deficiency, although producing no discernible effects on the production of LTB4, resulted in a significant increase in the release of TXB2 by PMNs. An increase in TXB2 release was seen in both in vitro -stimulated and nonstimulated PMNs. Vitamin E deficiency appeared to induce an enhancement of LTB4 release by PMNs but the increase was not statistically significant. No detectable levels of LTC4 were found in PMN cultures stimulated with either zymosan or A23187. Thus, these studies indicate that deficiencies of either Se or vitamin E lead to alterations in the metabolism of arachidonic acid in the lung.
Synthesis and Electrochemistry of Molecular Dumbbells. Triblock Copolymers of Dendrons and Rigid Rods

Polyether dendrons, generations 1−4, were connected to naphthalene diimides and rigid rod naphthalene diimide-benzidine oligomers. This provided a series of well-defined triblock copolymers with flexible dendrons on both ends of rigid rods. The largest of these used generation-4 dendrons with a 4.4-nm rigid rod containing two diimides and three benzidines. The estimated length of this molecule is 10 nm. Electrochemical reduction in DMF provided anion radicals on each diimide of the rigid rod. The diffusion coefficients and rates of these reductions were measured using cyclic voltammetry. The diffusion coefficients were successfully compared with predictions for diffusing prolate ellipsoids. Comparison of the heterogeneous rate constants showed that larger dendrons slowed the electrochemical reaction, and had slightly larger effects when the rod was shorter. It is proposed that the bulky dendrons prevent access of the diimide groups to the electrode even when they are not directly connected to the diimide....
School as a site of Tibetan ethnic identity construction in India? Results from a content analysis of textbooks and Delphi study of teachers' perceptions1

The role of the school in multiethnic societies is a central issue in the sociology of education. The discipline's focus on multiculturalism in education has been investigated through the examinati...
Elasticity of α-Cristobalite: A Silicon Dioxide with a Negative Poisson's Ratio

Laser Brillouin spectroscopy was used to determine the adiabatic single-crystal elastic stiffness coefficients of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) in the α-cristobalite structure. This SiO 2 polymorph, unlike other silicas and silicates, exhibits a negative Poisson9s ratio; α-cristobalite contracts laterally when compressed and expands laterally when stretched. Tensorial analysis of the elastic coefficients shows that Poisson9s ratio reaches a maximum value of –0.5 in some directions, whereas averaged values for the single-phased aggregate yield a Poisson9s ratio of –0.16.
High-Moisture Corn versus Dry corn in Combination with either Corn Silage or Hay for Lactating Cows

Abstract Forty cows were assigned to four groups of ten each in a 2 × 2 factorial design and fed one of four diets: 1) high-moisture shelled corn (HMSC) + hay; 2) HMSC + corn silage; 3) dry shelled corn (DSC) + hay; and 4) DSC + corn silage. All diets were supplemented with a protein, vitamin, and mineral mixture to meet the cows’ nutritional requirements. Concentrates, hay, and corn silage were fed to all cows during a 14 day standardization, Cows were than switched to experimental rations for 21 day adjustment, and experimental data were collected in the following 84 days. Cows were offered 1 kg concentrates (DSC + supplement equivalent) for each 2.75 kg of milk produced. Forage was fed free choice. Results for cows fed HMSC + hay, HMSC + corn silage, DSC + hay, and DSC + corn silage averaged: DM intake (kg/day), 18.9, 16.5, 19.7, 18.1; 4% FCM, 25.5, 20.6, 23.7, 21.3; milk fat %, 3.00, 3.41, 3.47, 3.01; and acetate: propionate ratio in the rumen fluid, 2.54, 2.29, 3.08, 1.83. Cows fed DSC ate more than cows fed HMSC. Dry matter intake of Cows fed hay was greater than for cows offered corn silage. Milk fat % and 4% fat-corrected milk did not differ significantly. The acetate: propionate ratio was greater for hay-fed cows than for corn silage-fed cows, but no difference was observed between the corn grain source. Digestibility coefficients and TDN for HMSC + hay, HMSC + corn silage, DSC + hay and DSC + corn silage were: Dry matter, 69.8, 67.5, 66.9, 63.8; organic matter (OM), 71.8, 70.5, 68.2, 65.7; crude protein, 68.5, 66.7, 66.4, 63.2 acid detergent fiber, 51.7, 39.6, 54.3, 40.8; ether extract, 72.1, 72.5, 68.7, 63.9; N-free extract (NFE), 82.2, 79.6, 72.5; and total digestible nutrients (TDN), 70.8, 69.3, 67.8, 65.2. Dry matter, OM, NFE and ether extract digestibilities and TDN were higher for HMSC than for DSC diets. Dry matter and acid detergent fiber digestibilities were greater for hay than for corn silage diets.