cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Translational Control of Tropomyosin Expression in Vertebrate Hearts

The tropomyosin (TM) gene family produces a set of related TM proteins with important functions in striated and smooth muscle, and nonmuscle cells. In vertebrate striated muscle, the thin filament consists largely of actin, TM, the troponin (Tn) complex (Tn-I, Tn-C and Tn-T), and tropomodulin (Tmod) and is responsible for mediating Ca(2+) control of muscle contraction and relaxation. There are four known genes (designated as TPM1, TPM2, TPM3, and TPM4) for TM in vertebrates. The four TM genes generate a multitude of tissue- and developmental-specific isoforms through the use of different promoters, alternative mRNA splicing, different 3'-end mRNA processing and tissue-specific translational control. In this review, we have focused mainly on the regulation of TM expression in striated muscles, primarily in vertebrate hearts with special emphasis on translational control using mouse and Mexican axolotl animal models.
Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and Turner syndrome

Gastrointestinal bleeding in individuals with Turner syndrome is relatively rare and there have been only a handful of reported cases in the literature. Here, we present two patients with Turner syndrome who were evaluated for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Our first patient presented with iron deficiency anemia and the work-up for a possible gastrointestinal bleed was pertinent only for polyps and a non-bleeding vein in the colon seen on colonoscopy. Our second patient had a history of unexplained recurrent melena and iron deficiency anemia, with previously normal esophagogastroduodenoscopies, colonoscopies and a Meckel's diverticulum scan. Both patients were subsequently diagnosed with gastrointestinal vascular malformations via capsule endoscopy.
Endogenous hospital regulation and its effects on hospital and non-hospital expenditures

Past studies of hospital rate setting regulation conclude that mature programs have been effective in constraining hospital expenditures. However, if rate regulation is influenced by higher hospital expenditures the relationship between expenditures and rate setting is confounded. This study assesses the impact of rate setting on hospital and non-hospital expenditures using a simultaneous-equation model which separates the effects of hospital expenditures on the decision to regulate from the effects of regulation on expenditures. The simultaneous-equation results indicate that mature rate setting is associated with lower per capita health care expenditures, including hospital and non-hospital expenditures.
Mixed valence: Comparison between Ce, Yb and Tm, Pr, Tb☆

Abstract It is shown that the charge fluctuation processes dominating the properties of Ce and Yb mixed valent compounds do not remove the magnetic moment in Tm, Pr, and Tb compounds because all f-occupations are degenerate. Thus the interaction between different ions is much more important in these compounds. In particular a Tb compound with ≈ 7 to ≈ 7.3 electrons per ion should order magnetically even for low Tb concentration.
Effect of damping and wave parameters on offshore structure under random excitation

This paper describes the linearized and nonlinear dynamic response of a tension leg platform (TLP) to random waves and current forces. The forcing term of the equation of motion is inherently nonlinear due to the nonlinear drag force. Two analysis procedures are used: nonlinear time domain analysis and linear frequency domain analysis. For the nonlinear analysis, the random wave particle velocities and accelerations are simulated for a given wave spectrum. The nonlinear equation of motion is then integrated directly to obtain the system response statistics. For the linear frequency domain analysis, the nonlinear drag force is linearized through an introduction of linearization coefficients. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of the structural damping and wave parameters on both nonlinear and linear dynamic response of the TLP by parametric studies. The results of stochastic nonlinear and linear dynamic response of the TLP, with and without the presence of current, are presented and compared.
Trypanosoma cruzi: flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte subsets in susceptible and protected C3H/He mice.

Abstract Inbred strains of mice vary widely in their ability to survive infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. C3H/He mice are highly susceptible to infection with the Brazil strain T. cruzi, but can be protected by immunization with avirulent Corpus Christi strain parasites. We have examined, during the course of infection, the changes in lymphocyte populations in C3H/He mice that were infected but protected by immunization, infected but not immunized, immunized but not infected, and normal age-matched controls. Immunization- and/or infection-induced changes in lymphocyte populations in lymph nodes were unremarkable except for an increase in the percentage of Ig+ cells. Conversely, in the spleen the percentages of mu+ cells decreased and T cells increased in all manipulated animals. The increase in splenic T cell subsets in immunized only controls occurred simultaneously and thus the CD4:CD8 ratio remained similar to that of normal animals (approximately 2.2). Twenty days after infection, mice that were infected but not immunized (and thus would be expected to die 4–8 days later) showed a dramatic increase in the percentage of CD8+ cells which resulted in a decline in the CD4:CD8 ratio to 0.85. Mice protected by immunization had a CD4:CD8 ratio of 1.7 at this critical time point, which did, however, decline to 1.0 by Day 60. The percentages of all cell phenotypes examined in all mice had returned to normal levels 155 days after infection. These data suggest that alterations in the splenic CD4:CD8 ratio may be important in determining whether or not an animal can survive infection with the Brazil strain of T. cruzi.
2 H(d, p) 3 H anisotropy at low energies

Abstract The angular distribution of protons from the 2H(d, p) 3H reaction has been measured for deuteron lab energies in the range 90 to 120 keV in steps of 2 keV and with a resolution of less than 3 keV. A resonance as reported in other measurements was not reproduced.
Viral gene expression and provirus load of Orf-A defective FIV in lymphoid tissues and lymphocyte subpopulations of neonatal cats during acute and chronic infections.

Neonatal cats were infected with a wild type (JSY3) or orf-A defective (JSY3ΔORF-A) feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) to determine the provirus load and level of viral gene expression at the acute versus chronic stages of infection. FIV DNA in the thymus, lymph node, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymphocyte subpopulations at week 8 post-infection was lower in animals infected with JSY3ΔORF-A as compared to that of JSY3. At week 16 we observed no significant difference in provirus load between the two groups except for B cells where it was higher in the JSY3 infection. In B cells proviral burden was found to be the same in animals infected with JSY3 for both time points. In the chronic stage, therefore, proviral burden dominates in B cells for JSY3, whereas the level of JSY3ΔORF-A was lower with comparable values for all lymphocytes at both weeks 8 and 16. Gene expression profiles as measured by real time PCR for gag and rev transcripts revealed decreased levels of JSY3ΔORF-A mRNAs as compared to that of JSY3. The JSY3 chronic phase infection showed viral gene expression to be higher in B cells relative to CD4+ and CD8+ cells. The presence of viral RNA in CD8 and B cells during the chronic infection implicates active virus replication. Hematological profiles revealed that there was a decline in the number of B cells in JSY3ΔORF-A-infected cats during the chronic stage of infection while no significant change was observed in animals infected with the wild type virus. Comparative analysis of cell numbers to provirus load and levels of viral transcripts in CD4+ and CD8+, however, did not correlate cell numbers to the levels of viral DNA and gene expression. It remains to be determined whether the relatively high virus burden in B cells as compared to CD4+ and CD8+ cells reflects a role for Orf-A in a shift to B cell virus load during the chronic stage of FIV infection.
Ideal Frames for Perturbed Keplerian Motions

Cartan's exterior calculus is used to refer a perturbed Keplerian motion to an ideal frame by means of either the Eulerian parameters or the Eulerian angles, in which case the equations are given a Hamiltonian form. The results are compared with the corresponding systems in the orbital and nodal frames.
Bidirectionality in the tongue processes of the oligodendroglial cell investment of axons in the albino rat

Serial sections from the lumbar spinal cord of 5-day old female albino rats were examined by electron microscopy. A change in direction of the inner and outer processes of the oligodendroglial cell investment of an axon within an internode was observed in two ribbons. The shorter of the two ribbons is described in this report.
Buoyancy and Pressure Perturbations Derived from Dual-Doppler Radar Observations of the Planetary Boundary Layer: Applications for Matching Models with Observations

Abstract The technique developed by Gal-Chen in 1978 is used to derive vertical velocities, buoyancy, and pressure perturbations from dual-Doppler radar observations of the planetary boundary layer (PBL). Several approaches to verification are pursued. They include: (a) scan-to-scan temporal continuity of the derived fields; (b) an objective test to find out how well the derived pressure perturbations balance the dynamical equations; (c) comparison of dual-Doppler derived, horizontally averaged fluxes of heat versus in situ measurements and other data sets; and (d) a noteworthy improvement in the quality of the retrieved pressure when tendencies are included. Previous studies indicate that in order for the method to be viable the radars have to resolve the PBL with at least ten vertical levels. One such event occurred on 27 September 1978 during project PHOENIX, conducted at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) 300 m tower. An inversion above a shallow boundary layer of height around 800 m was eroded...
Effects of bleomycin on cells in culture: a quantitative cytochemical study.

Bleomycin-treated mouse L-929 fibroblasts are large in size and often appear multinucleated. Quantitative cytochemical studies show that these cells have an increased content of DNA and total proteins (dry mass) per cell. The increased accumulation of DNA and protein content (4–8C or more) is compatible with and may well be related to the bleomycin-induced inhibition of cell division and the resulting endoreduplication.
Comprehensive defect analysis methodology for nano imprint lithography

Because of the non traditional elements involved in both the manufacture of nano imprint lithography (NIL) templates [T. DiBiase, J. Maltabes, B. Reese, M. Ahmadian, SPIE 6151 (2006)] and the resulting features printed on substrates, methods and procedures for effectively locating, tracking and identifying defect mechanisms need to be modified and refined from the traditional methods employed by the semiconductor industry [I. Peterson, G. Thompson, T. DiBiase, S. Ashkenaz, R. Pinto, Yield Management Solutions, KLA-Tencor Spring, (2000)]. Since NIL involves pattern structures defined at 1x magnification, there is no defect ''forgiveness'' such as with conventional 4x optical reduction lithography. In addition, NIL is performed with the patterning tooling (template) in full contact with the casting material (in this case, UV curable monomer) used to define the final features on the substrate of interest. Surface chemistry and substrate interactions quickly become obvious crucial factors in defect formation mechanisms. This article describes a few non-traditional approaches to working with the extreme dynamic range of defect types found in the step and repeat NIL process.
Technical Note: Defining Project Scale

Scale is a fundamental consideration when evaluating and ranking capital investment projects. Beaves [2, 3], Lin [6], and Shull [7] have noted that the definition of “project scale” is key to the definition of “modified” or “overall” rates of return earned by projects. This article demonstrates that the impact of how project scale is defined extends beyond the calculation of rate of return decision criteria. Given its importance to the capital budgeting process, it is somewhat surprising that project scale has not been clearly and consistently defined. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the need for a uniform definition of project scale. Although three potential measures of project scale are compared, this article does not provide a mathematical proof that one of these definitions is correct and the others are not. Nonetheless, a strong argument is made for a particular measure of project scale as well as for the importance of having a single, uniform definition of that concept.
Craving predicts within session drinking behavior following placebo

Tiffany's (1990) cognitive processing model postulates that craving will only occur when access to alcohol is blocked. To test a hypothesis based on this model, we analyzed data from a naturalistic laboratory alcohol challenge study involving moderate-to-heavy drinking young adults (N = 174) with a focus on the placebo beverage condition of this study. Our hypothesis was that self-reports of "wanting more alcohol" (i.e., craving) in the lab, following placebo, would predict subsequent ad libitum consumption because placebo administration would constitute partial blocking of access to alcohol. We also tested the possibility that craving might mediate associations between personality traits and ad libitum consumption. Both trait disinhibition and reports of craving following the placebo beverage significantly predicted ad libitum consumption. Further, craving partially mediated the association between trait disinhibition and ad libitum consumption. Potential implications of these findings are discussed.
A study of the reaction between Mo2(OCH2CMe3)6(μ-η1,η2-NCNR2) compounds (R = Me and Et) and 2-butyne

Abstract The compound Mo2(ONp)6(μ-η1,η2-NCNEt2) reacts with MeCCMe (2 equiv.) in hydrocarbon solvents at ca 0°C to give Mo2(ONP)6(μ-C4Me4)(NCNEt2), I, which is shown to be structurally related to the previously characterized compound Mo2(ONp)6(μ-C4H4)py obtained in the reaction between Mo2(ONp)6 and HCCH (2 equiv.) in the presence of pyridine (py = pyridine and Np = neopentyl). Compound I is unstable in hydrocarbon solutions at room temperature. It rapidly and reversibly loses NCNEt2 and addition of py or PMe3 leads to the compounds Mo2(ONp)6(μ-C4Me4)L, where L = py or PMe3. Compound I also reacts by CC and NH bond formation to give Mo2(ONp)6(μ-C4Me3CH2C(NEt2)NH), II. A mechanism for the conversion of I to II is proposed to involve (i) initial dissociation of NCNEt2, (ii) CH bond cleavage of a β-CMe group and (iii) insertion of the CN moiety into the MoH bond with CC bond formation. Rate studies show that the conversion of I to II is suppressed by the addition of excess py or PMe3 supporting the view that initial dissociation of NCNEt2 is required in a rapid pre-equilibrium step. The new compounds I and II have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray studies.
An Extended Natural Variable Formulation for Compositional Simulation Based on Tie-Line Parameterization

A nonlinear formulation based on extension of natural variables set is proposed for modeling compositional two-phase flow in porous media. The focus here is on numerical general-purpose simulation using the fully implicit method. In the formulation, the phase fraction and the saturation change “continuously” in the immiscible region of the compositional space (i.e., sub-critical region). Inside the two-phase region, these variables are identical to the saturation and phase-fraction of the standard approach. In the single-phase regions, however, these saturation-like and phase-fraction-like variables can become negative, or larger that unity. We demonstrate that when this variable set is used, the equation-of-state (EoS)-based thermodynamic equilibrium computations are resolved completely within the global Newton loop. That is, need not to separate things into phase stability and flash computations. Compared to the standard natural variables approach, the number of global Newton iterations grows only slightly, but overall, the new approach leads to more efficient simulations. Moreover, the continuous variation of both the saturation and phase fraction across phase boundaries results in improved behavior of the nonlinear (Newton) solver. Two different strategies are used to deal with the densities. The first scheme honors the nonlinear dependence of the overall density on phase fractions and saturation, and the second employs a linearized relation for the overall density. Both schemes are compared with the standard natural variables formulation using several challenging compositional problems.
Sequential analysis of zona thickness during in vitro culture of human zygotes: Correlation with embryo quality, age, and implantation

Zona pellucida thickness was measured daily in zygotes and cleavage stage embryos. Measurements were performed on a Nikon inverted microscope equipped with Hoffman modulation optics, using an ocular micrometer. Zona thickness of each zygote/embryo was measured four times, the zygote/embryo was then “rolled over,” and four more measurements were repeated for a total of eight. The zygotes/embryos were photographed daily and the measurements repeated on the prints. Subsequently, the mean zona thickness for each stage was calculated. A total of 81 patients (mean age 33.8 ± 4.2) participated in the study. A total of 427 embryos were evaluated. Categorical data differences between groups were evaluated by ANOVA and multiple linear regression. For nominal data, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied; when P < 0.05 the differences were considered to be significant. We found that the average zona thickness on day 1 of in vitro culture was 17.7 ± 0.14 μm; 16.3 ± 0.14 μm on day 2 and 14.9 ± 0.14 μm on day 3 (P < .0001). When the zona thickness was analyzed in relation to the number of blastomeres on day 3 of culture, there was a highly significant correlation with blastomere number (P < .0001). Similarly, there was a highly significant correlation with embryo grade (P < .005) and fragmentation (P < .001). The data were also analyzed for embryos transferred that resulted in a successful pregnancy, revealing that embryos in a pregnancy cycle had significantly thinner zonae pellucidae (P < .0001), when compared to embryos that were not transferred or from nonconceptual cycles. The average zona thickness also decreased with age, and was most apparent after 35 years. Changes in zona thickness correlated with the number of blastomeres, grade, fragmentation, age and were more evident in embryos transferred from cycles resulting in successful pregnancies. Therefore, zona pellucida measurements should be included in the overall assessment of embryo quality, since this information may be useful in the selection of optimal embryos for transfer. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 47:99–104, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Molecular-dynamics calculations of the velocity autocorrelation function: Hard-sphere results

The velocity autocorrelation function for the hard-sphere fluid is computed for ten values of the volume ranging from 25 to 1.6 times the close-packed volume V/sub 0/ for systems of from 108 to 4000 hard spheres, using a Monte Carlo, molecular-dynamics technique. The results are compared with the theoretical predictions of the mode-coupling theory, modified to take into account the finite size of the system and the periodic boundary conditions. The data are found to be in good agreement with the theory, evaluated using Enskog values for the transport coefficients, for values of the time greater than roughly 15 to 30 mean free times (depending on density), for volumes as small as 2 V/sub 0/. The higher-density results do not agree with the theory, unless the actual transport coefficients are used in the theory. The latter version of the theory, however, fails to fit the data at lower densities, except at very long times. To answer the recent critique by Fox, the data are further compared with the theory over time intervals for which the molecular-dynamics trajectories retain some measure of accuracy. The agreement between the data and the theory is largely unaffected, except at a volume 1.8 V/sub 0/more » for which there is a marginally significant difference at very long times only. 12 references, 10 figures, 4 tables.« less
Hydrothermal crystal growth of ABe2BO3F2 (A=K, Rb, Cs, Tl) NLO crystals

Abstract Crystals of a family of compounds, ABe 2 BO 3 F 2 (ABBF, A=K, Rb, Cs, Tl), have been grown hydrothermally. Each of these materials was studied using the powder SHG technique and exhibited promising NLO behavior. Seeded crystal growth was demonstrated and the growth conditions were optimized by modifying the temperature, thermal gradient and mineralizer concentration. RbBe 2 BO 3 F 2 crystals possessed a particularly good combination of SHG intensity, favorable crystal habit and fast growth rates. High quality crystals suitable for advanced deep-UV NLO studies were grown at rates of 0.11 mm/day on (0 0 1) and 0.12 mm/day perpendicular to (0 0 1).
Resuming translation on tmRNA: a unique mode of determining a reading frame

The bacterial ribosome switches from an mRNA lacking an in-frame stop codon and resumes translation on a specialized RNA known as tmRNA, SsrA or 10Sa RNA. We find that the ribosome can reach and use the extreme 3' terminal codon of the defective mRNA prior to switching. The first triplet to be translated in tmRNA (the resume codon) is determined at two levels: distant elements in tmRNA restrict resume codon choice to a narrow window and local upstream elements provide precision. Insights from a randomization-selection experiment secure the alignment of tmRNA sequences from diverse species. The triplet UA(A/G) (normally recognized as a stop codon by release factor-1) is strongly conserved two nucleotides upstream of the resume codon. The central adenosine of this triplet is essential for tmRNA activity. The reading frame of tmRNA is determined differently from all other known reading frames in that the first translated codon is not specified by a particular tRNA anticodon.
Effects of peripheral nerve injuries and tissue inflammation on the levels of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in rat primary afferent neurons

Changes in neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPYir) in the rat L4 and L5 spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were examined after different sciatic nerve injuries (transection, loose ligation, and crush) and a localized, painful inflammation of the hind paw. Inflammation had no effect on NPYir. All the nerve injuries produced comparable increases in NPYir in ipsilateral laminae III-V axons and varicosities, and induction of NPYir in many DRG cells. Most NPYir DRG cells were medium to large (mean diameters: 40-45 microns); less than 2% of the cells had diameters of 25 microns or less. We conclude that the nerve injury-evoked increase in NPYir occurs mostly in the somata and intraspinal arbors of low-threshold mechanoreceptors; very few, if any, C-fiber afferents are involved. Nerve injury, rather than a painful condition, appears to be the stimulus for the induction of NPYir synthesis.
MMIC Power Amplifier Output Combiner Network Considerations for S-Band Applications

The output combiner network for any power amplifier application that utilizes 2 or more parallel combined active devices is well known to be a critical component for a successful design. At higher microwave and millimeter frequencies, distributed corporate combiners are generally employed for a low loss, integrated combiner solution. This combiner technique can also be employed for lower microwave frequency applications, for example, for S-Band MMIC power amplifiers. Though relatively easy to model and design, these lower frequency applications present unique challenges of their own. This paper compares several possible solutions to the combiner network problem for the S-Band MMIC applications. A comparative study of the various solutions is presented. This study was used as a selection process for the design of a S-Band power amplifier MMIC that was subsequently fabricated, packaged and tested. Modeled versus measured performance, with respect to the output combiner network, shows very good agreement.
iv) Wrist arthroscopy

Abstract Wrist arthroscopy is nowadays a commonly used procedure employed in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic pathologies, such as triangular fibrocartilage injuries, distal radius fractures, malunions and scaphoid fractures, as well as degenerative conditions such as scapholunate advanced collapse, wrist, Kienbock’s disease and dorsal wrist ganglia cysts. Several procedures have recently been undertaken arthroscopically, such as radial styloidectomy, distal ulnar excision (“wafer procedure”), and proximal row carpectomy. Wrist arthroscopy has become the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of certain wrist injuries such as scapholunate instability. Compared to open techniques, arthroscopic procedures improve the postoperative management in terms of pain and early movement thus allowing an earlier return to work and resumption of daily living activities.
Rectal perforation during colonoscopic retroflexion: a large, prospective experience in an academic center.

Background Retroflexion in the rectum is performed routinely during colonoscopy in an attempt to detect lesions that could be missed by forward viewing alone. Case reports of rectal perforation caused by this procedure have been published, but the frequency of this serious complication in large series is unknown. In addition, there are few reports regarding the management of colonoscopic rectal perforations. Objective To determine the colonic perforation rate of rectal retroflexion and the management of this complication at 3 affiliated academic hospitals from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2008. Design Multicenter case series. Setting A university hospital, a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, and an urban safety-net hospital. Patients A diverse population of patients who underwent colonoscopy for various indications. Results Four cases of rectal perforation occurred during rectal retroflexion in a total of 39,054 consecutive colonoscopies (0.10 per 1000). One of these complications occurred in a colonoscopy performed by a supervised trainee; the other 3 occurred during colonoscopy performed by experienced faculty endoscopists alone. Three of the 4 perforations were managed successfully without surgical intervention. Limitations The complication rate relies on physician self-reporting. Conclusions Rectal retroflexion during colonoscopy is associated with a low rate of perforation, yet this serious complication can occur even in the hands of experienced endoscopists. Most cases of rectal perforation during retroflexion can be managed nonoperatively.
Post-MI Psychiatric Syndromes: Six Unanswered Questions

Depression, anxiety, and other psychological variables following acute myocardial infarction (MI) have been the subject of intense study over the last two decades. Through selective literature review and editorial commentary, we address six vital, unanswered questions concerning these psychological variables and their impact on coronary outcome. The picture that emerges is complex. Despite all that has been learned about the nature, consequences, and management of post-MI depression and related disorders, there remain many open issues. First, the prevalence, phenomenology, medical impact, and method of diagnosis of post-MI depression and other psychiatric syndromes remain unclear. In addition, at least four pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link between depression and cardiac disease, but evidence of causation remains elusive. There have been increasingly well-designed treatment studies of post-MI depression, but the optimal agents and timing of treatment have yet to be defined. Finally, few recent studies of post-MI anxiety have been conducted. To make further progress, large, multicenter trials that use optimized screening tools, obtain data at several time points, consider multiple psychosocial variables, and correct carefully for medical/cardiac severity are required.
Loss of murine TDP-43 disrupts motor function and plays an essential role in embryogenesis

Abnormal TDP-43 aggregation is a prominent feature in the neuropathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Mutations in TARDBP, the gene encoding TDP-43, cause some cases of ALS. The normal function of TDP-43 remains incompletely understood. To better understand TDP-43 biology, we generated mutant mice carrying a genetrap disruption of Tardbp. Mice homozygous for loss of TDP-43 are not viable. TDP-43 deficient embryos die about day 7.5 of embryonic development thereby demonstrating that TDP-43 protein is essential for normal prenatal development and survival. However, heterozygous Tardbp mutant mice exhibit signs of motor disturbance and muscle weakness. Compared with wild type control littermates, Tardbp+/− animals have significantly decreased forelimb grip strength and display deficits in a standard inverted grid test despite no evidence of pathologic changes in motor neurons. Thus, TDP-43 is essential for viability, and mild reduction in TDP-43 function is sufficient to cause motor deficits without degeneration of motor neurons.
Initial characterization of sulfated macromolecules in the blastocoels of mesenchyme blastulae of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus pictus

Abstract Sulfated macromolecules have been implicated in many morphogenetic activities, including cell migration and gastrulation in echinoid embryos. Since the blastocoel is a major site for the accumulation of sulfated macromolecules, this study focuses on an initial characterization of sulfated components present in isolated blastocoelic matrix from mesenchyme blastula-stage embryos of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus pictus . Based on transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the isolated matrix resembles that seen in situ , containing 25- to 30-nm-diameter granular and small fibrous components. Only a small proportion of the labeled material enters 7.5% polyacrylamide gels to separate in a number of species-specific bands larger than 30,000 daltons. A major portion of the label is voided from Sepharose CL-2B columns prepared in dissociative solvent. Based on the chromatographic isolation of digestion products after treatment with chondroitinase AC and ABC, in S. purpuratus about 37% of the label is in dermatan sulfate and 16% in chondroitin 6-sulfate. In contrast, in L. pictus about 25% of the label is in dermatan sulfate with only low levels of chondroitin sulfate. In both species, based on nitrous acid and heparinase sensitivity of Pronase digests prior to chromatography on Sephadex G50, about 13% of the label is in heparan sulfate. A small residual fraction remains uncharacterized.
Reduced activity of antioxidant enzymes underlies contrast media-induced renal injury in volume depletion

Oxidant-mediated renal injury has been suggested as an important mechanism of acute renal failure induced by contrast media. Since volume depletion has been recognized as a predisposing factor for contrast media nephropathy, the present study was designed to characterize host-defense mechanisms against oxidant-mediated renal injury during volume depletion. Antioxidant enzyme activities in renal cortex were compared between acutely water deprived (WD, 72 hours) and non-WD rats. WD rats had reduced activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities (on average, 48% and 60% of values in non-WD, respectively). In separate groups of WD rats, saline or one of three different contrast media, namely diatrizoate meglumine/diatrizoate sodium (DTZ), ioxaglate meglumine/ioxaglate sodium (IXG), and iohexol (IHX) was injected. Both GFR and renal plasma flow rate, measured 24 hours later, was some 50% less in DTZ-injected than saline-injected WD rats. WD rats treated with IXG and IHX had similar GFR to saline-treated rats. In DTZ-treated WD rats, specific products of membrane lipid peroxidation, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine hydroperoxide, determined by chemiluminescent HPLC, were more than two-fold higher than saline, IXG, or IHX-treated WD rats. DTZ did not induce renal dysfunction and enhance lipid peroxidation in non-WD rats. Therefore, DTZ appeared to induce oxidant-mediated injury only in WD rats. When WD rats were pretreated with polyethylene glycol-coupled catalase (1.4 mg x 2 days), renal cortical catalase activity remained at a level similar to that of non-WD rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Characteristics of AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure RT-SCR model

Electrical properties of a resonant-tunneling-semiconductor-controlled rectifier (RT-SCR) model have been presented. The current, temperature, gain, doping concentration, and layer size versus voltage relationships have been numerically obtained. The RT-SCR device requires smaller turn-on voltage than a comparable traditional device for the same gate current. This indicates that, in comparison with the traditional thyristor, a smaller control current may be used to turn on the device at a particular voltage. Characteristics of the device are affected by p1, n1, and p2 regions. It is showed that higher doping concentrations cause lower turn-on voltages and an increase in the region width results in higher turn-on voltages for p1 and p2 regions. Changing the doping concentration and width in n1 region affects the characteristics of the structure differently from that of the p1 and p2 regions.
Covalently-grafted polyaniline on graphene oxide sheets for high performance electrochemical supercapacitors

Abstract A simple route to achieve covalently-grafted polyaniline (PANI)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites has been developed. The synthesized composites showed a uniform hierarchical morphology of the PANI thin film and short rod-like nanostructures that had densely grown on the GO sheets, in contrast to the nonuniform morphology of noncovalently-grafted PANI/GO. Compared to pure PANI and noncovalently-grafted PANI/GO composites, the covalently-grafted PANI/GO composites possessed a much larger specific surface area and pore volume, which increased the accessible surface area for the redox reaction and allowed faster ion diffusion. This unique hierarchical morphology maximized the synergistic effect between PANI and GO, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance (capacitance 442 F/g of PANI/GO (6:1) vs. 226 F/g of pure PANI) and improved cycling stability (83% @ 2000 cycles of PANI/GO (6:1) vs. 54.3% @ 1000 cycles of pure PANI). The enhanced electrochemical performance demonstrates the advantage of the PANI/GO composites prepared via this covalent grafting method.
Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcal Food-Borne Disease: An Ongoing Challenge in Public Health

Staphylococcal food-borne disease (SFD) is one of the most common food-borne diseases worldwide resulting from the contamination of food by preformed S. aureus enterotoxins. It is one of the most common causes of reported food-borne diseases in the United States. Although several Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) have been identified, SEA, a highly heat-stable SE, is the most common cause of SFD worldwide. Outbreak investigations have found that improper food handling practices in the retail industry account for the majority of SFD outbreaks. However, several studies have documented prevalence of S. aureus in many food products including raw retail meat indicating that consumers are at potential risk of S. aureus colonization and subsequent infection. Presence of pathogens in food products imposes potential hazard for consumers and causes grave economic loss and loss in human productivity via food-borne disease. Symptoms of SFD include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea. Preventive measures include safe food handling and processing practice, maintaining cold chain, adequate cleaning and disinfection of equipment, prevention of cross-contamination in home and kitchen, and prevention of contamination from farm to fork. This paper provides a brief overview of SFD, contributing factors, risk that it imposes to the consumers, current research gaps, and preventive measures.
Testing the incentive-sensitization theory with at-risk drinkers: Wanting, liking, and alcohol consumption.

Motivational models of addiction typically propose that alcohol and drugs are desired because of their hedonic effects (i.e., increasing pleasure or reducing distress). In contrast, the incentive-sensitization theory proposes that wanting motivation and liking motivation are separable and that after repeated substance use, motivation shifts from liking to wanting. Using a sample of 85 at-risk drinkers (as defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), in the current study we examined the separability of liking motivation and wanting motivation for alcohol and whether years of drinking experience was associated with an increased role for wanting motivation and a decreased role for liking motivation. Consumption was measured with a free-drinking task. Wanting motivation was assessed immediately before drinking, and liking was assessed immediately after drinking had begun. The results indicated that (a) wanting motivation predicted variance of consumption unique from that accounted for by liking motivation, (b) longer drinking experience was associated with a decreased relation between liking motivation and consumption, and (c) longer drinking experience was not associated with an increased relation between wanting motivation and consumption. The results provide partial support for the incentive-sensitization theory.
Vapour-mediated sensing and motility in two-component droplets

The ability to control the movement of fluid droplets is of practical use in many applications including microfluidic liquid handling. Existing techniques demand large energy gradients on the solid surfaces on which the droplets are placed or a carefully prepared surface to overcome contact line pinning (an effect which usually limits droplet motion). This paper reports a previously unrecognized phenomenon that could provide a convenient means of manipulating fluid droplets. Droplets consisting of two miscible components in which one component has both a higher vapour pressure and higher surface tension than the other such as water and propylene glycol exhibit a contact angle when deposited on a high-energy surface (clean glass), but rest on a fluid film so do not suffer from contact line pinning. The droplets are stabilized by evaporation-induced surface tension gradients and can move under the influence of tiny forces, including the vapour emitted by neighbouring droplets. A wide range of interesting interactions is recorded for example, one droplet bouncing off another, a droplet 'chasing' another in a circle and a rainbow of different droplets sorted according to their surface tensions.
Cyanogenesis in Acacia farnesiana

Abstract Linamarin and lotaustralin are the major cyanogens of Acacia farnesiana ; a third unidentified cyanogen is also present. The amount of cyanide produced by plants within one population of the taxon varies from below the level of detection with picrate paper to approximately 5 μmol per g (1.4%) dried plant material.
Person‐Centered Assessment

The use of tests and assessment in person-centered counseling is discussed. In person-centered counseling, the most fundamental value is honoring the client as the authority on his or her own life. The extreme focus of person-centered theory on the “self-authority” tends to militate against the use of tests and assessment. Person-centered counseling includes unsystematic counselor responses, such as reactions, questions, and suggestions. This increasing involvement of the counselor as a person has implications for the use of tests in person-centered counseling.
Chemical Interactions and Compromised Immune System

Abstract Only a limited number of reports are available on interactions between chemicals in relation to their effects in modifying immune functions. In many cases the exact site of chemical immunotoxicity is not well understood because immune functions are highly complex and multifaceted. Chemical interactions that have been proposed are difficult to investigate. In several cases the immunotoxicity of one chemical has been modified by a second chemical that alters xenobiotic metabolism. Immunomodulation by drugs having opposite effects on the immune system has been reported. Metals can either enhance or suppress immune responses and studies involving interactions of metals suggest both synergistic and antagonistic effects on immune responses. Various environmental chemicals that modify the immune functions may also interact with chemical carcinogens, especially since several carcinogens are also immuno-suppressive.
Catecholamine inhibition of thyrotropin-induced secretion of thyroxine: Mediation by an α-adrenergic receptor

Abstract Thyroxine secretion by mouse thyroid gland incubated in vitro was measured. Thyrotropin or dibutyryl cAMP increased thyroxine secretion several-fold. l-Epinephrine and l-norepinephrine strongly inhibited this stimulated release; l-isoproterenol was relatively ineffective. Phentolamine prevented the inhibition by catecholamines of thyroxine release; l-propranolol had no effect. These findings indicate that stimulation of α-adrenergic receptors opposes the action of thyrotropin in the regulation of thyroxine secretion.
Steric effects on the C6-C1-C2 valence angle in exo-6-chloronorbornenes: implications for orbital coupling

Abstract Ab initio calculations on norbornenyl derivatives indicate that steric interactions between bridgehead and exo -6-chlorine substituents result in a diminished C6-C1-C2 valence angle. Computational and spectral data are presented which indicate that this diminution leads to enhanced through-space orbital coupling.
Functional correlates of optic flow motion processing in Parkinson’s disease

The visual input created by the relative motion between an individual and the environment, also called optic flow, influences the sense of self-motion, postural orientation, veering of gait, and visuospatial cognition. An optic flow network comprising visual motion areas V6, V3A, and MT+, as well as visuo-vestibular areas including posterior insula vestibular cortex (PIVC) and cingulate sulcus visual area (CSv), has been described as uniquely selective for parsing egomotion depth cues in humans. Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) have known behavioral deficits in optic flow perception and visuospatial cognition compared to age- and education-matched control adults (MC). The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate neural correlates related to impaired optic flow perception in PD. We conducted fMRI on 40 non-demented participants (23 PD and 17 MC) during passive viewing of simulated optic flow motion and random motion. We hypothesized that compared to the MC group, PD participants would show abnormal neural activity in regions comprising this optic flow network. MC participants showed robust activation across all regions in the optic flow network, consistent with studies in young adults, suggesting intact optic flow perception at the neural level in healthy aging. PD participants showed diminished activity compared to MC particularly within visual motion area MT+ and the visuo-vestibular region CSv. Further, activation in visuo-vestibular region CSv was associated with disease severity. These findings suggest that behavioral reports of impaired optic flow perception and visuospatial performance may be a result of impaired neural processing within visual motion and visuo-vestibular regions in PD.
Panel discussion for graduate students at I 2 MTC: a success!

The IEEE I&M Society strives to support all of its constituents and members including the student members of the Society. One way that the Society has initiated to interact with its student members is through the Panel Discussion for Graduate Students. The first Panel Discussion was held this year at the International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC) in Victoria, B.C., Canada.
A system of digital computer subroutines for blood gas calculations

Abstract A system of digital subroutines which considers all possible relationships between the gas constituents of blood is described. The subroutines apply to blood samples with any level of hemoglobin and base excess. Two specific applications of the subroutines are given: 1) a program that will draw a Dill nomogram of the blood, and 2) a program that constructs Va/q lines.
Characterization of stress corrosion cracking in carbon steel using nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves

Abstract This research uses nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves to characterize stress corrosion cracking (SCC) damage in carbon steel. Cold rolled carbon steel is widely used for buried fuel pipelines; the environment surrounding these pipelines creates a mildly corrosive environment, which, in combination with an applied stress, can cause SCC. To ensure the safe operation of these structures, it is crucial that damage due to SCC be detected before their structural integrity is reduced by large cracks. In the early stages of SCC, microstructural changes such as dislocation formation and microcrack initiation occur, which have shown to considerably increase the acoustic nonlinearity of a material. These microstructural changes distort and generate higher harmonics in an initially monochromatic ultrasonic wave. This research considers four different levels of SCC induced in four separate 1018 steel specimens, a material which has a similar susceptibility to SCC as steel used for buried fuel pipelines. Then nonlinear ultrasonic measurements are performed before and after the SCC damage is induced. Nonlinear Rayleigh surface waves are utilized to detect the SCC damage that is concentrated near the material surface. The amplitudes of the fundamental and second harmonic waves are measured with contact wedge transducers at varying propagation distances to obtain the acoustic nonlinearity of the specimens as a function of SCC damage. The results show an increase in the measured acoustic nonlinearity in the early stages of SCC, indicating the feasibility of using this nonlinear ultrasonic method to detect the initiation of SCC in carbon steels.
Differential Splicing and Alternative Polyadenylation Generate Multiple Mimecan mRNA Transcripts

We previously showed the 25-kDa corneal keratan sulfate proteoglycan to be a translation product of the gene producing osteoglycin and proposed the name mimecan for this gene and its product. We also demonstrated three mimecan RNA transcripts using Northern blot analysis. In this report, we investigate the mechanisms accounting for these transcripts. Ribonuclease protection analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of bovine corneal mRNA detected a mimecan transcript that lacked 278 base pairs of the 5′-untranslated region between residues 62 and 340. This splice variant represents the predominant form of mimecan mRNA in bovine cornea and sclera. It was also detectable in other bovine tissues as a minor transcript. Two additional cDNA clones that were isolated contained 398 bases of nucleotide sequence at the 3′-end of mimecan cDNA, not present in the published sequence. Ribonuclease protection analyses with the 3′-probe, which included the new sequence, allow detection of three RNA transcripts while 5′-probes recognized only two. These results indicate that the three canonical polyadenylation sites in the 3′-untranslated region of mimican mRNA are alternatively selected. Possible roles for this previously undetected degree of diversity of mimecan RNA isoforms transcribed in the same tissue are discussed.