cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of rat brain pyruvate dehydrogenase by thiamine analogs.

Abstract The effects of thiamine thiazolone (TT) and thiamine thiazolone pyrophosphate (TTPP) on the in vitro and in vivo inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) from rat cortex and hippocampus were characterized. TTPP decreased PDHC activity in vitro but had no effect in vivo following its direct chronic administration via osmotic mini-pumps into the brains of behaving rats. In contrast, TT had no direct effect in vitro following a differential centrifugation purification of the mitochondrial PDHC fraction, but decreased PDHC activity in vivo. Additional experiments demon- strated that the cytosolic fraction converted TT to TTPP which, in turn, inhibited PDHC in vitro. A mechanism is proposed to explain these effects that is consistent with a non-competitive inhibition of brain PDHC by TTPP.
Localization of Estrogen Receptor α and β RNA in Germinal and Nongerminal Epithelia of the Channel Catfish Testis

Abstract The germinal epithelium of the anterior region of the channel catfish testis is the site of spermatogenesis, whereas the nongerminal epithelium of the posterior region (seminal vesicle) may play a role in the regulation of seminal fluid composition. The available information indicates that estrogens play a physiological role in the regulation of spermatogenesis and seminal fluid composition in vertebrates. However, the cellular distribution of estrogen receptor (ER) gene expression in the teleost testis is poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the presence and cellular distribution of ERα and ERβ transcripts in germinal and nongerminal epithelia of the mature testis of channel catfish. RT–PCR of whole-testis RNA extracts showed that ERα and ERβ RNAs are present in the mature testis. In situ hybridization of histological sections of the germinal epithelium showed that primary spermatocytes contain little or no ERα or ERβ RNA. However, both ER transcripts were present in secondary spermatocytes and spermatids and their levels were relatively high in mature sperm. The columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicle also contained ERα and ERβ RNA. The ER RNAs in epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle were not evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm but seemed to concentrate in their apical region, near the nucleus. In conclusion, ERα and ERβ genes are coexpressed in germinal and nongerminal epithelia of the mature testis of channel catfish and seem to be developmentally regulated in spermatocytes. These observations are consistent with the concept that estrogens, via interaction with ERα and ERβ, participate in the regulation of male gamete development and fertility.
A MNDO study of the structures and stabilities of some substituted pentadienyl anions

Abstract A MNDO study of the structures and stabilities of a series of pentadienyl anions has predicted that the W geometric form is more stable than the S or U forms by about 1.0 and 3.7 kcal/mol, respectively. Substitution of methyl for hydrogen in the 1- and 3-positions of pentadienyl anions has been found to stabilize the anion but less effectively than in the cations. Stabilization of the anion by alkyl (∼1–2 kcal/mole) was less than that observed upon substitution of phenyl (∼11 kcal/mole). Polarization, rather than negative hyperconjugation or induction, is probably the most important stabilizing factor. Charge density in the pentadienyl anion and cation follows the order: 3-> 1-> 2-positions. Charge alternation increases significantly upon substitution so that the same order of charge densities is found, with significantly more negative charge borne at the 3- and 1-positions in substituted anions.
Detection of defects in foam thermal insulation using lateral migration backscatter x-ray radiography

A new Compton x-ray backscatter imaging technique called lateral migration radiography (LMR) has been successfully applied to the detection of voids and delaminations in the foam thermal insulation used on the shuttle external tank. LMR employs detection of selected scatter field velocity components, by using specially designed detectors and detector collimators, to achieve high image contrast. LMR is based on image contrast generated by migration of probe x-ray radiation in directions transverse to the illumination radiation beam. Because LMR is sensitive to electron density variations in these directions, thin, but large density variations, such as cracks and delaminations, generate signal-to-background ratios sufficient to produce images of features which are not even detectable in the usually interrogated thin dimension. The examined foam thermal insulation test panels consist of aluminum plates onto which the sprayed-on foam insulation (SOFI) is applied. Some of the test panels include structural features bolted to the base plate. The SOFI was layed down over the base plate and structure with a thickness varying from a few tens of mm up to a few hundred mm. The test panels included voids and simulated delaminations in the SOFI ranging in cross-sectional size from 6 x 6 mm to 50 x 50 mm. High quality images were acquired using pixels of 2 to 3 mm and irradiation times as low as 0.05 s per pixel.
Embryonic nervous system genes predominate in searches for dinucleotide simple sequence repeats flanked by conserved sequences.

Abstract To study evolution of dinucleotide simple sequence repeats (diSSRs) we searched recently available mammalian genomes for UTR-localized diSSRs with conserved upstream flanking sequences (CFS). There were 252 reported Homo sapiens genes containing the repeats (AC) n , (GT) n , (AG) n or (CT) n in their UTRs including 22 (8.7%) with diSSR-upstream flanking sequences conserved comparing divergent mammalian lineages represented by Homo sapiens and the marsupial, Monodelphis domestica . Of these 22 genes, 19 had known functions including 18 (95%) that proved critical for mammalian nervous systems (Fishers exact test, P Cd2ap , proved critical for development of kidney podocytes, cells that have multiple similarities to neurons. Gene functions included voltage and chloride channels, synapse-associated proteins, neurotransmitter receptors, axon and dendrite pathfinders, a NeuroD potentiator and other neuronal activities. Repeat length polymorphism was confirmed for 68% of CFS diSSRs even though these repeats were nestled among highly conserved sequences. This finding supports a hypothesis that SSR polymorphism has functional implications. A parallel study was performed on the self-complementary diSSRs (AT) n and (GC) n . When flanked by conserved sequences, the self-complementary diSSR (AT) n was also associated with genes expressed in the developing nervous system. Our findings implicate functional roles for diSSRs in nervous system development.
Activation of Dimethyl Gold Complexes on MgO for CO Oxidation: Removal of Methyl Ligands and Formation of Catalytically Active Gold Clusters

A supported CO oxidation catalyst was synthesized by the reaction of Au(CH{sub 3}){sub 2}(acac) (acac is acetylacetonate) with partially dehydroxylated MgO powder. The as-prepared sample was found by infrared (IR) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies to incorporate dimethyl gold complexes that were bonded to the support; it lacked measurable catalytic activity for CO oxidation at room temperature. As the temperature was increased to >373 K with the sample in flowing CO + O{sub 2} at atmospheric pressure, removal of methyl ligands from the gold was observed by IR and EXAFS spectroscopies. Simultaneously, the sample became active for CO oxidation catalysis. EXAFS characterization of the sample right after the activation indicated that the gold had aggregated into clusters consisting of approximately 4-6 Au atoms each, on average. These are among the smallest supported gold clusters yet reported, and they are inferred to be the catalytically active species. The XANES data suggest that the gold in the activated catalyst had not been reduced to the metallic state.
Creating and using equipment models in semiconductor manufacturing

Abstract As integrated circuit cost and performance specifications grow more demanding, several aspects of classical manufacturing science are finding their way into the cleanroom. This presentation focuses on the definition, development and application of production worthy equipment models. The concepts of model development and characterization are illustrated with examples drawn from modeling low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma etch and lithography. Applications in recipe generation and model-based control and diagnosis are also discussed.
A Model of Polymeric Nanopropulsion Engine

We have performed molecular dynamics simulations and developed a scaling model of a nanopropulsion engine. The engine consists of a nozzlelike pore with catalytic sites located at the closed end of the nozzle. The nozzle is immersed in a solution of monomers that serves as a "fuel" for the polymerization reaction. The engine can be thought of as an analogue of the jet propulsion engine that secretes polymers in a solution and utilizes polymer viscoelasticity for its motion. Using scaling analysis, we have established that the nozzle velocity is proportional to the chain's polymerization rate with the proportionality coefficient being determined by the nozzle geometry, the nozzle friction coefficient, and the dynamics of the polymer chains inside the nozzle. The results of the molecular dynamics simulations are in remarkable agreement with the predictions of the scaling model.
Polyphonic music modeling with random fields

Recent interest in the area of music information retrieval and related technologies is exploding. However, very few of the existing techniques take advantage of recent developments in statistical modeling. In this paper we discuss an application of Random Fields to the problem of creating accurate yet flexible statistical models of polyphonic music. With such models in hand, the challenges of developing effective searching, browsing and organization techniques for the growing bodies of music collections may be successfully met. We offer an evaluation of these models in terms of perplexity and prediction accuracy, and show that random fields not only outperform Markov chains, but are much more robust in terms of overfitting.
Reliable vision-guided grasping

Automated assembly of truss structures in space requires vision-guided servoing for grasping a strut when its position and orientation are uncertain. This paper presents a methodology for efficient and robust vision-guided robot grasping alignment. The vision-guided grasping problem is related to vision-guided 'docking' problems. It differs from other hand-in-eye visual servoing problems such as tracking in that the distance from the target is a relevant servo parameter. The methodology described in this paper is a hierarchy of levels in which the vision/robot interface is decreasingly 'intelligent', and increasingly fast. Speed is achieved primarily by information reduction. This reduction exploits the use of region-of-interest windows in the image plane and feature motion prediction. These reductions invariably require stringent assumptions about the image. Therefore, at a higher level, these assumptions are verified using slower, more reliable methods. This hierarchy provides for robust error recovery in that when a lower-level routine fails, the next-higher routine will be called and so on. A working system is described which visually aligns a robot to grasp a cylindrical strut. The system uses a single camera mounted on the end effector of a robot and requires only crude calibration parameters. The grasping procedure is fast and reliable, with a multi-level error recovery system.
Physical conditioning and left ventricular performance in the elderly: Assessment by radionuclide angiocardiography

In contrast to young persons, normal elderly persons who undergo symptom-limited dynamic exercise demonstrate a decrease in left ventricular (LV) contractile performance characterized by a decrease in LV ejection fraction. To test the hypothesis that physical conditioning can be achieved in older persons and produces improvement in the exercise-induced decrease in LV ejection fraction observed during normal aging, we examined 24 normal elderly persons (mean age 72.0 years) before and after a 12-week program of physical training. The subjects had been screened for evidence of cardiovascular disease including rest and exercise stress electrocardiograms. All subjects underwent rest and exercise upright sitting radionuclide angiocardiography before and after the training program. The subjects achieved cardiovascular training effects as measured by increased functional capacity and decreased double product at one-half the maximum work load attained at the initial stress test. A significant increase occurred after training in the cardiac index response to exercise (p less than 0.02) and in the augmentation of the end-diastolic volume index produced by exercise (p less than 0.05). However, the exercise-induced decrease in LV ejection fraction and increase in LV end-systolic volume index remained unaltered by training. In conclusion, although older persons can achieve overall training effects from a program of physical conditioning, the age-associated differences in LV contractile performance remained unchanged. Our data suggest that deconditioning is not a significant contributor to the decline in LV contractile performance in the elderly.
Generating Performance Bounds from Source Code

Understanding and tuning the performance of complex applications on modern hardware are challenging tasks, requiring understanding of the algorithms, implementation, compiler optimizations, and underlying architecture. Many tools exist for measuring and analyzing the runtime performance of applications. Obtaining sufficiently detailed performance data and comparing it with the peak performance of an architecture are one path to understanding the behavior of a particular algorithm implementation. A complementary approach relies on the analysis of the source code itself, coupling it with a simplified architecture description to arrive at performance estimates that can provide a more meaningful upper bound than the peak hardware performance. We present a tool for estimating upper performance bounds of C/C++ applications through static compiler analysis. It generates parameterized expressions for different types of memory accesses and integer and floating-point computations. We then incorporate architectural parameters to estimate upper bounds on the performance of an application on a particular system. We present validation results for several codes on two architectures.
On the Competitiveness of Online Real-Time Scheduling with Rate of Progress Guarantees

This paper investigates the task scheduling problem in the oontext of reservation-based real-time systems that provide quality of service (QoS) guarantees. In such a system, each incoming task specifies a rate of progress requirement on the task's execution that must be met by the system in order for the computation to be deeemed usable. A new metric, called granularity, is introduced that quantifies both the maximum slowdown and the variance in execution rate that the task allows. This metric generalizes the stretch metric used in recent research on task scheduling. An online preemptive scheduling algorithm is presented that achieves a competitive ratio of g(1 - r) for every set of tasks with maximum rate r and minimum granularity g. This result generalizes a previous result based on the stretch metric that showed that a competitive ratio of (1 - r) is achievable for the case when g = 1.
Design of resilient processing plants-IX. Effect of model uncertainty on dynamic resilience

Abstract The achievable quality of control for a particular system (its dynamic resilience) is limited by the nonminimum phase characteristics of the plant, constraints on the manipulated variables and model uncertainty. Model uncertainty requires that the controller be detuned and performance be sacrificed. The goal of this paper is to quantify this well-known qualitative statement. The closed-loop system must remain stable for all possible plants as defined by the uncertainty description. This robust stability requirement is used to derive simple bounds on the nominal performance for some specific cases. These bounds are relatively easy to evaluate and should be effective tools for screening alternative designs in terms of their resilience characteristics. The RGA and the minimized condition number are accurate measures with respect to element uncertainty, provided the relative errors of the transfer matrix elements are independent (uncorrelated) and have similar magnitude bounds.
A preliminary study on the non-essentiality of lecithin for hatchery-produced juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

A 6-week growth experiment was conducted using a 2×2 factorial design (0 or 8% refined soy lecithin and 0 or 0.8% choline chloride supplementation) of determine the essentiality of lecithin or choline for hatchery-produced juvenile white sturgeon. Fish fed a diet without supplemental soy lecithin and choline chloride had a significantly (P<0.05) lower percent body weight increase (%BWI) and higher feed gain ratio (FGR) than those fed diets with either one or both supplements. The % BWI of fish fed the diet with 8% soy lecithin but no choline chloride was significatly lower than that of those fed diets with supplemental choline chloride and either 0 or 8% soy lecithin. The FGRs of fish fed diets with only soy lecithin or choline chloride supplement were not significantly different from those of fish fed the diet with both supplements. Results from this preliminary experiment suggest that there is not a lecithin requirement but there is a choline requirement for good growth of hatchery-produced juvenile (11–34 g) white sturgeon.
Haiti, State Against Nation: The Origins and Legacy of Duvalierism

Haiti, State Against Nation: The Origins and Legacy of Duvalierism. Michel-Rolph Trouillot. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1990. 282 pp. $26.00 (cloth), $12.00(paper). ISBN 0-85345-755-7, ISBN 0-85345-756-5.
Stability and waves on a two-dimensional inviscid shear flow

Abstract The stability of an inviscid parallel flow with a free surface is considered. The numerical solution technique is a spectral method. The eigenvalues are found by converting the resulting quadratic eigenvalue problem into a linear eigenvalue problem, using the QR method. The results are compared to an iterative scheme, and have been found to match to the first five decimal places. The bottom of the liquid layer is treated as either a rigid boundary or in contact with an infinite layer of initially still liquid. A linear and an exponential velocity profile is examined. The case with the infinite layer of liquid below the shear layer has been found to be less unstable than the case with a rigid bottom for very long waves, more unstable for an intermediate interval of wavenumber, and about the same for very short waves.
Patterns of organellar and nuclear inheritance among progeny of two geographically isolated strains of Volvox carteri

Strains of Volvox carteri forma nagariensis derived from Japanese and Indian isolates (“J” and “I” strains, respectively) exhibited length differences (RFLPs) for approximately 90% of the restriction fragments detected by hybridization with a variety of unique-sequence, small-gene-family and repetitive-element probes, including heterologous probes of chloroplast and mitochondrial origin. Extensive post-zygotic mortality was observed among the zygotes produced by crossing J and I strains, suggesting some form of genetic incompatability between them. Most of the viable progeny exhibited recombinant patterns of nuclear inheritance and maternal inheritance of mitochondrial and chloroplast markers. However, many progeny exhibited exclusively uniparental (usually maternal, but in one case paternal) inheritance of both nuclear and organellar markers. Some of these non-recombinant individuals may be derived from “parthenospores” (dormant asexual cells resembling zygospores). Others may be a result of “pseudogamy,” in which one of the parental pronuclei is excluded from the zygote, followed by selective exclusion of both the mitochondrial and the chloroplast genomes derived from that same parent. When segregation patterns for 44 nuclear markers were analyzed in 90 recombinant progeny, statistically significant, locus-specific deviations from expected Mendelian transmission ratios were observed for a sizeable fraction of all markers in both reciprocal crosses: some markers were preferentially transmitted by the J strain, while others were preferentially transmitted by the I strain. It is speculated that these transmission distortions may be related to the regions of inter-isolate genetic incompatability, and may complicate the use of JxI crosses to establish a RFLP-based linkage map for the species.
ERCP training: for the few, not for all.

See article on page 154 Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an advanced endoscopic procedure that requires considerable training and experience to perform effectively and safely.1 It is the most dangerous procedure regularly performed by gastrointestinal endoscopists, with morbidity and mortality of 5–10% and 0.1–1%, respectively.2 In the United States, recommendations for ERCP training have evolved from ridiculously low “guesstimates” of procedure numbers required for competence3 (e.g. 25, 50) to the current consensus—based on a large prospective study4—that at least 180–200 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are needed. ERCP is an integral part of the management of hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) disorders, but it is only a part. Trainee gastroenterologists wishing to become experts in dealing with these disorders need to learn many clinical as well as procedural skills; it is useful to think of this as HBP training. The would be HBP specialist must work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and learn a great deal about body imaging (e.g. ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance), interventional radiology, gastrointestinal pathology and cytology, hepatology, oncology, surgery, and nutrition. Although perhaps only half of the cases seen in a specialist unit require ERCP, those intending to perform this procedure should be fully trained. There is no place for the purely “diagnostic” ERCP endoscopist: all endoscopists who perform ERCP must be able to decompress an obstructed biliary tree by sphincterotomy, stenting or nasobiliary drainage.5 The trained ERCP endoscopist’s success rate for cannulating the duct …
Feature estimation performance using a two-dimensional parametric model of radar scattering

An attributed scattering center model exploits scattering phenomenology that is not accessed through traditional SAR image formation. Frequency, aspect, and polarization dependent scattering behaviors are jointly processed to provide a concise, descriptive, high resolution analysis of regions of interest. Used in conjunction with other features such as shadows, context, and image texture, attributed scattering center features hold promise for both feature- based and model-based automatic target recognition systems. In this conference paper, we present a parametric model for radar scattering as a function of frequency and aspect angle; the model is suggested by high-frequency monostatic far-field scattering solutions provided by the geometrical theory of diffraction and physical optics. The scattering model is used for analysis of synthetic aperture radar data. The estimated parameters provide a concise, physically relevant description of measured scattering for use in target recognition, data compression and scattering studies.The scattering model may be fit to either complex- valued imagery or to radar phase history data using a nonlinear least-squares estimator. Statistical analysis of the scattering model serves to characterize uncertainty to estimated scattering parameters. Feature estimation performance bounds are evaluated for X-band, K-band, and ultra wideband synthetic aperture radar scenarios.
Neuropharmacological effects induced by butanol, 4-hydroxybutyrate, 4-mercaptobutyric acid thiolactone, tetrahydrofuran, pyrrolidine, 2-deoxy-d-glucose and related substances in the rat.

Abstract The present study evaluated in the rat the gross behavioural and electroencephalographic activity produced by several short chain aliphatic alcohols, fatty acids, some of their derivatives and some heterocyclic 5-ring compounds that have structural similarities mainly to 4-hydroxybutyric acid and butyrolactone. 4-Hydroxybutyric acid (and butyrolactone) produced a progression of EEG and behavioural changes characteristic of generalized non-convulsive epilepsy. During the period of continuous EEG high amplitude slow wave activity, the rat was cataleptoid and during periods of spiking with electrical silence, the righting reflex was lost. Non-convulsive epileptoid activity with some characteristics similar to that produced by 4-hydroxybutyric acid and butyrolactone was observed following administration of butanol, 2-butanol, 1,4-butane-diol, 4-chlorobutanol, 4-methoxybutyric acid, 4-chlorobutyric acid, tetrahydrofuran and 2-deoxy- d -glucose. Convulsive seizures were observed following 4-mercaptobutyric acid thiolactone and pyrrolidine. The results are discussed with regard to the structural components necessary to elicit epileptoid activity and the possible mechanism of action. It is suggested that part of the mechanism of action of these substances may involve inhibition of the enzymes involved in brain glutamate and aspartate metabolism.
Internal cohesion of ls sets in graphs

Abstract Let G be a finite connected graph. A set of vertices H ⊂ V ( G ) is called a LS set if for every proper subset K ⊂ H , there are more edges linking K to H − K than there are linking K to V ( G )- H . Since “cliques” in social networks have usually been seen informally as sets of individuals more closely tied to each other than to outsiders, LS sets provide a natural realization of the “clique” concept. In this paper, it is shown that LS sets in social networks have cohesive properties that make them even more useful for empirical analyses. In particular, subgraphs induced by LS subsets remain connected even after several edges have been removed. Results bounding the number of edges that can be so removed are used to get an upper bound for the diameter of subgraphs induced by LS subsets.
Religion and spirituality in child and adolescent psychiatry: a new frontier

This article introduces the interface between child and adolescent psychiatry and religion and spirituality. Developmental psychopathology has become increasingly diverse in its study of risk and protective factors for child and adolescent psychopathology. The effect of religion and spirituality on clinical conditions is among those factors. This review addresses (1) historical aspects of the relationship between psychiatry and religion/spirituality, (2) definitional issues, and (3) unique factors in child and adolescent work. Considering these factors and some general principles of intervention, it prepares the reader for other articles in this issue. The article concludes with some observations on the "secular family".
Morphometry of the obstructed detrusor: II. Principles of a comprehensive protocol

Morphologic studies on the obstructed detrusor have revealed several structural neuromuscular changes that must be evaluated quantitatively by morphometry to be functionally meaningful and clinically relevant. The peculiar structural organization of the detrusor poses important limitations to methods of morphometry that have withstood the test of time in other visceral smooth muscle systems, particularly the intestine. Because of this, conclusions in the literature about structure of the obstructed detrusor based on standard methods of morphometry are in many instances open to question. What is needed for scientifically credible morphometry of the detrusor is a comprehensive protocol that takes into consideration its peculiar structural organization and outlines the most appropriate methods for its processing and study within the context of the morphometric parameters to be evaluated. The principles of such a protocol will be presented in this report after a review of standard methods of morphometry and their applicability to the detrusor.
Connectopathy in ageing and dementia

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Regional amyloid burden and intrinsic connectivity networks in cognitively normal elderly subjects’ by Lim et al. (doi:10.1093/brain/awu271).
A molecular dynamics study of effective thermal conductivity in nanocomposites

In this study, non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations are performed to determine the effective thermal conductivity of nanocomposites embedded with a variety of nanoparticles. The effects of orientation and arrangement of asymmetric nanoparticles, thermal property mismatch at the interface, interface density per unit volume of nanocomposite, and polydispersity of nanoparticles on the effective thermal conductivity of nanocomposites are investigated. Simulation results are compared with existing model predictions based on the effective medium approach. Results indicate that, with the same particle volume fraction, the nanocomposites that have a larger interfacial area perpendicular to heat flow or a larger interface density yield a smaller effective thermal conductivity. In addition, a larger mismatch at the interface between the host material and nanoparticle inclusions leads to a smaller effective thermal conductivity. Finally, it is found that the effective thermal conductivity of nanocomposites decreases with increasing polydispersity of embedded nanoparticles.
Transcription of adenovirus 2 DNA by human RNA polymerase II in vitro.

The interaction of Adenovirus 2 DNA and human placental RNA polymerase II in vitro satisfies criteria that suggest that at least some fraction of our purified polymerase preparations corresponds to prokaryotic holoenzyme and is able to initiate transcription at “true” promoters: (1) The purified enzyme forms highly stable complexes at specific sites on Ad 2 DNA; Kass=1–2x1012 M-1. (2) Transcription of Ad 2 DNA from pre-formed complexes with human RNA polymerase II is resistant to poly I. (3) Many of the stable-binding sites correspond to Ad 2 promoters known to be active in vivo.
Cohesion energies and solubility parameters for tetra-n-alkylgermanes

Abstract Previously published vapor pressure and density data for tetra-n-alkylgermanes (C1 to C5) have been used to calculate cohesion energies and solubility parameters in the range 273–400 K. Antoine constants are also reported for these compounds. The van der Waals constants (a) and the effective molecular radii have been determined for these molecules. These parameters show normal ranges and relationships for liquids interacting only by London dispersion forces.
Inhibition of adjuvant-induced arthritis by systemic tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 4 gene delivery.

Objective An imbalance in the matrix metalloproteinase:tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (MMP:TIMP) ratio in favor of MMP appears to be an important determinant of tissue damage in arthritis. We undertook this study to explore whether reversal of this imbalance in favor of TIMP would alter this process and to examine the mechanism of this alteration. Methods We administered human TIMP-4 by electroporation-mediated intramuscular injection of naked DNA using the rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model. Results Intramuscular naked TIMP-4 gene administration resulted in high circulating TIMP-4 levels and completely abolished arthritis development in the rat AIA model. This inhibition was associated with significantly decreased MMP activity in the joint tissue as well as with significantly decreased serum and tissue tumor necrosis factor α levels and serum interleukin-1α levels compared with animals with arthritis. The mutation of cysteine at position 1 of TIMP-4 failed to block the development of AIA. Conclusion Our data indicate that TIMP-4 is a potent antiinflammatory agent, and that its antiarthritis function may be mediated by MMPs. Arthritis-inhibiting effects of TIMP-4 may suggest a unique application of this gene therapy method for arthritis.
Post‐translational processing in model neuroendocrine systems: Precursors and products that coordinate reproductive activity in Aplysia and Lymnaea

The regulation of egg-laying behavior in the hermaphroditic marine mollusc Aplysia has been an important model system that has provided insight into the cellular and molecular bases of neuroendocrine function. The advantages of this system derive primarily from the unique characteristics of the bag cells, two clusters of neurosecretory cells whose peptide products initiate and coordinate egg deposition. In particular, the large number of bag cell neurons in a single animal and their relative isolation from other elements of the nervous system facilitate biochemical analyses of the peptides synthesized and released by the cells. Moreover, the episodic nature of bag cell electrical activity, combined with the relative simplicity of the Aplysia nervous system and the stereotypic nature of the behaviors exhibited during egg deposition, provide unusually favorable opportunities for investigating neuropeptide action and function. This review will focus on neuropeptide synthesis and processing in the bag cells and in other organs expressing structurally related genes.
Phenotypic characterization of a Csf1r haploinsufficient mouse model of adult-onset leukodystrophy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP)

Mutations in the colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) that abrogate the expression of the affected allele or lead to the expression of mutant receptor chains devoid of kinase activity have been identified in both familial and sporadic cases of ALSP. To determine the validity of the Csf1r heterozygous mouse as a model of adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) we performed behavioral, radiologic, histopathologic, ultrastructural and cytokine expression studies of young and old Csf1r+/- and control Csf1r+/+ mice. Six to 8-month old Csf1r+/- mice exhibit cognitive deficits, and by 9-11 months develop sensorimotor deficits and in male mice, depression and anxiety-like behavior. MRIs of one year-old Csf1r+/- mice reveal lateral ventricle enlargement and thinning of the corpus callosum. Ultrastructural analysis of the corpus callosum uncovers dysmyelinated axons as well as neurodegeneration, evidenced by the presence of axonal spheroids. Histopathological examination of 11-week-old mice reveals increased axonal and myelin staining in the cortex, increase of neuronal cell density in layer V and increase of microglial cell densities throughout the brain, suggesting that early developmental changes contribute to disease. By 10-months of age, the neuronal cell density normalizes, oligodendrocyte precursor cells increase in layers II-III and V and microglial densities remain elevated without an increase in astrocytes. Also, the age-dependent increase in CSF-1R+ neurons in cortical layer V is reduced. Moreover, the expression of Csf2, Csf3, Il27 and Il6 family cytokines is increased, consistent with microglia-mediated inflammation. These results demonstrate that the inactivation of one Csf1r allele is sufficient to cause an ALSP-like disease in mice. The Csf1r+/- mouse is a model of ALSP that will allow the critical events for disease development to be determined and permit rapid evaluation of therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, our results suggest that aberrant activation of microglia in Csf1r+/- mice may play a central role in ALSP pathology.
The pathogenetic spectrum of Bartter's syndrome

Case presentation An 18-year-old white male was admitted to the Clinical Research Center of the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio for evaluation of magnesium repletion in Bartter's syndrome. The diagnosis had been made at another hospital 5 years earlier when, after being admitted for a urinary tract infection, the patient was found to have hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis with normal blood pressure. Plasma renin activity was elevated (60 nglmllhr), and an angiotensin II infusion test failed to increase the diastolic blood pressure by 20 mm Hg until more than 30 to 40 times the normal dose was given. Renal clearances under conditions of maximal free-water diuresis revealed fractional distal solute reabsorption of .45, .54, and .52 (normal, .85— .98). An open renal biopsy at the time of a ureteral implantation for right vesicoureteral reflux showed marked hyperplasia and increased granularity of the juxtaglomerular cells. The patient was given spironolactone, ibuprofen, and potassium chloride; the serum potassium level rose from 2.2 to 3.1 mEq/liter. Because the patient was adopted at the age of 18 months, the family history is not available. He has no limitations on his physical activities. He has a learning impairment and goes to a special school, where he does well. He reports that he feels fine but has symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, and blurred vision when he forgets to take his medicine. The patient had been admitted to the Clinical Research Center on two previous occasions. On the first admission the effect of chronically administered indomethacin on fractional distal solute reabsorption was evaluated. Values of .50 and .51 (not different from his control data) were obtained. Eight months prior to the latest admission, he was hospitalized for a study of the effect of a low chloride intake on
808. Optimizing Non-Primate Lentiviral Vectors for Gene Transfer of CFTR to Airway Epithelia

Suboptimal expression from Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) cDNA delivered by viral vectors has, in part, limited the use of gene transfer as a therapy for cystic fibrosis. Previously we described a lentiviral vector developed from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) pseudotyped with baculovirus GP64 which transduces nasal epithelia in mice and persistently expresses a reporter gene. The goal of the current project is to further improve transgene expression levels through several modifications to this FIV vector, and to test the optimized vector's effects on protein expression. Modifications include rendering the lentiviral vector |[ldquo]|self-inactivating|[rdquo]| by deleting the U3 region of the 3’ LTR, thus providing a layer of safety. The FIV central polypurine tract (cPPT) element was inserted upstream of the internal promoter and the woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element (wPRE) was incorporated downstream of the reporter gene. Also, two sites were mutated, a major splice donor and the start codon of the partial Gag sequence, preventing production of undesired product. In addition, a newly identified post- transcriptional control element from the 5’ LTR of spleen necrosis virus (SNVU5) was incorporated into the delivery vector. The Rous sarcoma virus promoter and the reporter gene, firefly luciferase, were used to test relative expression of the intermediate vectors in the production of the optimized FIV vector. Expression was quantified in two model systems transduced with modified FIV lentiviral vector: cultured HT1080 cells and Balb/c mice. As determined by luciferase activity assay, in vitro transductions with intermediate vectors showed an enhanced luciferase expression with wPRE and SNVU5, but no enhanced expression with the addition of cPPT. As determined by CCD camera detection of bioluminescence in vivo, both the wPRE and SNVU5 elements significantly increased luciferase expression in the FIV lentiviral vector, but the cPPT did not. The optimized and intermediate vectors were used to deliver the CFTR gene, and expression was detected by real-time PCR targeting CFTR mRNA. The optimized vector produced approximately 20-fold increase in CFTR mRNA as compared with the control vector. Vector constructs with epithelial specific promoters will be used to transduce airway epithelia in vitro and in vivo, and the contribution of the promoter to expression levels, persistence, and cell specific expression will be assessed. The long-term goal is to use an optimized viral vector construct to express sufficient CFTR protein in the airways of humans with cystic fibrosis to correct the chloride ion transport defect.
Enzymatic synthesis of insect juvenile hormones

Abstract Cell-free extracts of the corpus allatum-corpus cardiacum complex from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta Johannson, catalyze the formation of labeled juvenile hormones from [methyl-3H]- S -adenosyl- L -methionine. Enzymatic activity is confined to the 12,000 × g supernatant. The radioactive products were identified by their chromatographic properties and chemical derivatizations. Radioactivity was confined exclusively to the methyl ester function.
Impedance of strip-traveling waves on an elastic half space - Asymptotic solution

The dynamic normal-load distribution across a strip that is required to maintain a plane progressive wave along its length is studied for the case where the strip is of infinite length and lies on the surface of a homogeneous isotropic elastic half space. This configuration is proposed as a preliminary idealized model for analyzing the dynamic interaction between soils and flexible foundations. The surface load distribution across the strip and the motion of the strip are related by a pair of dual integral equations. An asymptotic solution is obtained for the limiting case of small wavelength. The nature of this solution depends importantly on the propagation velocity of the strip-traveling wave in comparison with the Rayleigh wave speed, the shear wave speed and the dilatational wave speed. When the strip-traveling wave propagates faster than the Rayleigh wave speed, a pattern of trailing Rayleigh waves is shed from the strip. The limiting amplitude of the trailing waves is provided by the asymptotic solution.
Total fluorescent scattering cross sections.

The total cross section for fluorescent scattering by a spherical particle uniformly filled with fluorescent scatters is computed using a model for fluorescent scattering formulated earlier. Results are given for an arbitrary incident beam and for a linearly polarized plane wave normalized to the cross section for the same number of scatterers in bulk medium. The cross section has a form which clearly shows the possibility of resonance peaks when either the incident or the fluorescent frequency (or both) coincides with eigenfrequencies of the particle.
Human Services Contracting: Environmental, Behavioral, and Organizational Conditions

Government's practice of contracting out with outside organizations for public services has become a major recommendation for cutting costs and improving service delivery. However, few scholars have examined this alternative in terms of the requisite procedures and conditions that lead to the expected benefits. This article focuses on three conditions—competition, rational decision-making, and government oversight—that appear to be critical to the contracting process. To evaluate these conditions and their presence in human service contracting, research in two policy areas is presented—social services (Title XX) and employment and training services (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, or CETA), as implemented in Michigan state and local government. The conclusion suggests key organizational, behavioral, and environmental factors that the pro-contracting argument overlooks.
Government Policy and the Distribution of Income in Peru, 1963–1973

For the past decade, the redistribution of income has been a key element in Peruvian governmental policy. Both the Belaunde and Velasco regimes professed a deep concern with economic injustice, and they have been regarded as models of peaceful progress toward social justice. Despite its good intentions, Richard Webb shows, the government has had little impact on the rigid imbalance of wealth in Peru. The rich have continued to get richer faster than the poor have got less poor.Inequality has grown, and those most in need of improvement have benefited least. The tax structure has actually become more regressive, with taxes raised most on middle-income groups and least on the very rich. Overall, the Peruvian government's economic policy has been mildly progressive, but not progressive enough to have an appreciable effect on the widespread poverty. What is needed, Webb argues, are movements of capital from the modern sector of the economy to the traditional sector to create new jobs for the poor. Finally, substantial redistribution seems to require changes in attitude. The elimination of poverty must precede a concern for equity per se, and the needs of the very poor must acquire the status of rights rather than claims to compassion. "
Self-Reported Sexual Function and Sexual Arousability in Women with Epilepsy

Summary: Purpose: Women with epilepsy are at risk for sexual dysfunction but the frequency and types of dysfunction have not been well characterized. Methods: Self-reported sexual function was evaluated in 116 women aged 18-65 years with epilepsy and no concomitant medical or psychiatric illness, including 99 with localization-related epilepsy (LRE) and 17 with primary generalized epilepsy (PGE). Variables evaluated included seizure frequency, age of seizure onset, and antiepileptic drug (AED) exposure. Standardized inventories assessed sexual functioning, sexual arousability and anxiety, sexual behavior, and depression. Results: Although sexual experience was not reduced, women with PGE and LRE reported significantly less sexual arousability and women with LRE reported significantly more sexual anxiety. Women with LRE experienced significantly more dyspareunia, vaginismus, arousal insufficiency, and sexual dissatisfaction, whereas women with PGE experienced an-orgasmia and sexual dissatisfaction. Sexual symptoms were not associated with seizure frequency, AED exposure, sexual experience, depression, or prepubertal seizure onset. Conclusions: In contrast to subjects of previous research, the women in our study did not have a disorder of sexual desire, but more than one third experienced disorders of sexual arousal, implying a physiological deficit. Although the etiology for these arousal phase dysfunctions has not been defined, such conditions are treatable and warrant referral to a gynecologist versed in the treatment of sexual disorders.
Clinical and Research Perspectives on Nonspeech Oral Motor Treatments and Evidence-Based Practice

Purpose Evidence-based practice (EBP) involves the incorporation of research evidence, clinical expertise, and client values in clinical decision making. One case in which these factors conflict is...