cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential neuroprotective potential of CRMP2 peptide aptamers conjugated to cationic, hydrophobic, and amphipathic cell penetrating peptides.

The microtubule-associated axonal specification collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is a novel target for neuroprotection. A CRMP2 peptide (TAT-CBD3) conjugated to the HIV transactivator of transcription (TAT) protein’s cationic cell penetrating peptide motif (CPP) protected neurons in the face of toxic levels of Ca2+ influx leaked in via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hyperactivation. Here we tested whether replacing the hydrophilic TAT motif with alternative cationic (nona-arginine (R9)), hydrophobic (membrane transport sequence (MTS) of k-fibroblast growth factor) or amphipathic (model amphipathic peptide (MAP)) CPPs could be superior to the neuroprotection bestowed by TAT-CBD3. In giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) derived from cortical neurons, the peptides translocated across plasma membranes with similar efficiencies. Cortical neurons, acutely treated with peptides prior to a toxic glutamate challenge, demonstrated enhanced efflux of R9-CBD3 compared to others. R9-CBD3 inhibited N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-evoked Ca2+ influx to a similar extent as TAT-CBD3 while MTS-CBD3 was ineffective which correlated with the ability of R9- and TAT-CBD3, but not MTS-CBD3, to block NMDAR interaction with CRMP2. Unrestricted Ca2+ influx through NMDARs leading to delayed calcium dysregulation and neuronal cell death was blocked by all peptides but MAP-CBD3. When applied acutely for 10 minutes, R9-CBD3 was more effective than TAT-CBD3 at neuroprotection while MTS- and MAP-CBD3 were ineffective. In contrast, long-term (> 24 hours) treatment with MTS-CBD3 conferred neuroprotection where TAT-CBD3 failed. Neither peptide altered surface trafficking of NMDARs. Neuroprotection conferred by MTS-CBD3 peptide is likely due to its increased uptake coupled with decreased efflux when compared to TAT-CBD3. Overall, our results demonstrate that altering CPPs can bestow differential neuroprotective potential onto the CBD3 cargo.
Damage and protection of the human gastric mucosa: A multiparameter assessment

Abstract Studies in animals and humans have indicated that endogenous prostaglandins as well as synthetic prostaglandin analogues can prevent gastric mucosal damage induced by various agents. Methods were developed to assess induced damage and the effects of potentially protective agents (synthetic prostaglandin analogues and the histamine [H 2 ]-receptor antagonist cimetidine) on the human gastric mucosa by measuring ion fluxes and transmucosal potential difference, as well as by observations with gastrointestinal endoscopy. Commonly ingested agents, such as aspirin, 1,300 mg, and 20 percent ethanol increased hydrogen ion and sodium ion fluxes, decreased potential difference, and caused gross mucosal damage, as observed by endoscopy. Conversely, acetaminophen, 2,600 mg, and 10 percent ethanol did not have any significant effects. Hyperosmolar solutions (1,800 and 3,600 mOsm/kg) also produced acute damage. Sodium taurocholate (10 mmol/liter) when instilled into the stomach, either at pH 1.1 or 7.0, produced both functional and structural damage. When given as a single dose, neither 15(R)15-methyl PGE 2 nor the synthetic PGE, analogue, misoprostol, prevented mucosal damage induced by aspirin and taurocholate (pH 1.1), respectively. Cimetidine, 400 mg orally, however, did reduce aspirin-induced mucosal damage, and this effect was independent of gastric acid inhibition.
Increased axonal regeneration and swellings in intraepidermal nerve fibers characterize painful phenotypes of diabetic neuropathy

Abstract We examined changes in intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) to differentiate patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN) and diabetic neuropathic pain (DN-P) from those with DN without pain (DN-NOP). Punch skin biopsies were collected from the proximal thigh (PT) and distal leg (DL) of normal subjects, patients with type 2 diabetes without evidence of DN (DM), or DN-P and DN-NOP patients. Protein gene product 9.5-positive (PGP+) immunohistochemistry was used to quantify total IENF, and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) for regenerating IENF. Compared to normal subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes without evidence of DN, both DN-P and DN-NOP have reduced PGP+ IENF densities in DL and PT. Although GAP43+ IENF densities were also reduced in DL for both DN-P and DN-NOP, the GAP43+ IENF densities in PT of DN-P remained at the control levels. Higher GAP43/PGP ratios were detected in DN-P compared to DN-NOP in the DL and PT. In parallel, increased numbers of axonal swellings per PGP+ fiber (axonal swelling/PGP) were detected in DN-P compared to normal subjects, patients with type 2 diabetes without evidence of DN, and DN-NOP in the DL. These axonal swellings were positive for tropomyosin-receptor-kinase A and substance P, suggesting that they are associated with nociception. Perspective Among patients with DN, the ratios of GAP43/PGP and axonal swelling/PGP are likely to differentiate painful from painless phenotypes.
Single trial evoked potential analysis by means of crosscorrelation and dynamic time-warping

Abstract A new approach to obtain evoked potential (EP) estimates is described. EPs are minute voltage fluctuations in the electrical activity of the brain in response to an external stimulus. EPs are often buried in the spontaneous brain activity and special techniques are required to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The method presented here uses a dynamic time-warping (DTW) algorithm to maximize the crosscorrelation between a template and the recorded block. The algorithm was evaluated using simulated data consisting of triangular shapes superimposed on white noise and a rhythm resembling alpha activity (8–12 Hz). It was found that warping increased the crosscorrelation between the template and single trial, however, the template occasionally converged to the background noise especially for low signal-to-noise ratios. For SNRs larger than 2, the time-warping approach obtained better latency estimates than the conventional averaging method. Amplitude estimates were consistently inferior for DTW.
RECENT INVESTIGATIONS OF THE FISHER EFFECT AND THE STABILITY OF THE REAL RATE OF INTEREST

The past two decades of economic activity in the U.S. have been characterized by both high inflation and interest rates in comparison to previous periods of stability. The importance of these two variables to our economic welfare and to the effectiveness of economic policy have led to renewed interest in the Fisher Effect. This is the hypothesis put forth by Irving Fisher describing the relationship between these two variables. It usually takes the form R = re + pe + repe (1) in which R is the nominal rate of interest, re is the expected real rate of interest, and pe is the expected rate of change of prices. The term repe is usually considered insignificant and is dropped, giving R = re + pe. (2) Although this equation can be readily quantified on an ex post basis using actual rather than expected values, the fact that expectation of r and p are not directly observable have always made it difficult to derive an ex ante measure of the real rate.
Chondroitin 4-sulfate: The structure of a sulfated glycosaminoglycan

Abstract The molecular conformation and crystal structure of a regular 3-fold helical form of chondroitin 4-sulfate have been refined by a process in which agreement between observed and calculated intensities is optimized, while non-bonded interactions are restrained simultaneously to reasonable values. Two polymer molecules intersect the trigonal unit cell which has a = b = 1.452 nm, c = 2.832 nm and space group symmetry P3221. The polyanion conformation is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond across each β(1 → 4) linkage and two intermolecular hydrogen bonds per disaccharide repeat. The two sodium cations in the crystal asymmetric unit were located initially by Fourier difference syntheses. Since neither cation is within 0.3 nm of the oxygen atoms of the sulfate and carboxylate groups, it was assumed that each is fully hydrated and therefore their positions were refined assuming each was surrounded by a rigid co-ordination shell of water molecules. Probable differences between corresponding helical forms of chondroitin 6-sulfate and dermatan sulfate are discussed both from the viewpoint of differences in the recorded diffraction patterns and in terms of the minimum stereochemical changes required by the different constitution of these related polymers.
Catalytic single-chain antibodies possessing β-lactamase activity selected from a phage displayed combinatorial library using a mechanism-based inhibitor

Catalytic single-chain antibodies (scFvs) possessing β-lactamase activity were selected from a phage displayed combinatorial antibody library using a penam sulfone mechanism-based inhibitor of β-lactamase. The scFvs FT6 and FT12 catalyzed the hydrolysis of ampicillin with rate accelerations (kcatkuncat) of 5200 and 320.
A Proposed Mechanism of [ closo -CB 11 H 12 ] - Formation by Dichlorocarbene Insertion Into [ nido -B 11 H 14 ] - . A Computational Study by Density Functional Theory

A plausible mechanism is proposed for the insertion of dichlorocarbene into [nido-B 1 1 H 1 4 ] - to yield [closo-CB 1 1 H 1 2 ] - and is supported by the results of density functional theory and ah initio calculations.
Erratum to: The Use of Nuclear Imaging for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Erratum to: Curr Cardiol Rep DOI 10.1007/s11886-010-0086-9 Chen J, Boogers MJ, Bax JJ, et al.: The Use of Nuclear Imaging for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.Curr Cardiol Rep 2010, 12:185–191. The abovementioned article was published in the March 2010 issue of Current Cardiology Reports (volume 12, issue 2). The article inadvertently listed the middle initial of the second author incorrectly. The name should have been listed as Mark J. Boogers.
Maria Sibylla Merian and the metamorphosis of natural history

Known primarily for creating beautiful images of butterflies and flowers, Maria Sibylla Merian (German, 1647–1717) has remained largely unappreciated for her seminal contribution to early modern natural history. Merian was indeed a talented artist, but she clearly thought of herself as a naturalist, and employed both text and images to depict lepidopteran metamorphosis and behavior with unprecedented accuracy and detail. Merian documented larvae and adult insects feeding not only on plants, but also on other animals, and she depicted other creatures preying on insects. An image of battling spiders and ants and the accompanying text in her 1705 Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium illuminated the world of tropical arthropods in a way that was groundbreaking, and set the stage for a new way to envision nature.
LSD produces conditioned place preference in male but not female fawn hooded rats.

Male and female Fawn Hooded rats were examined for conditioned place preference (CPP) or aversion (CPA) to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Using a biased design, experimental animals were trained with LSD (0.2 mg/kg, IP) administered in conjunction with confinement in either the preferred or nonpreferred location. Control animals received confinement in both locations after administration of saline. Results indicated that rats administered LSD while sequestered in the nonpreferred location spent more time in that location during a nondrug test. This effect, indicative of a conditioned place preference, was exhibited only in male animals. Results are discussed in terms of potential sex differences that may mediate serotonergic sensitivity in the Fawn Hooded rat strain.
Digitally intensive wireless transmitter architecture employing RF pulse width modulation

A digitally-intensive Cartesian RF transmitter based on three-level pulse width modulation (PWM) is proposed. The architecture utilizes two PLL-based RF-PWM generators to modulate baseband I and Q signals to switching signals at RF, which are used to drive class-D output stages. Due to the use of a ring voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), the architecture is well-suited for multiband operation. A switched capacitor technique is used to provide a differential three-level RF-PWM output. The proposed transmitter is simulated in a 65-nm CMOS process, and achieves a peak output power of 22 dBm with 48% and 33% peak power added efficiency (PAE) at 900 MHz and 1.95 GHz respectively.
Aperture averaging effects in stellar scintillation

Stellar scintillation has been measured for apertures as low as 0.012 m by using photoncounting techniques. The scintillation measurements have been made for various aperture sizes in quick succession in order to determine experimentally the effects of aperture averaging. The results of the experiment are compared with the predictions of a model proposed earlier in the literature to quantify the phenomenon.
A Food-Grade Enzyme Preparation with Modest Gluten Detoxification Properties

Background and Aims Celiac sprue is a life-long disease characterized by an intestinal inflammatory response to dietary gluten. A gluten-free diet is an effective treatment for most patients, but accidental ingestion of gluten is common, leading to incomplete recovery or relapse. Food-grade proteases capable of detoxifying moderate quantities of dietary gluten could mitigate this problem.
The evolution of a model: A review of Thurstonian and conditional stimulus effects on difference testing

Abstract The application of Thurstonian modeling to difference tests is reviewed and explained non-mathematically. How experimental variables can affect the variance of perceptual distributions and reduce discriminability ( d ′ values) is described. The tendency of triangle and 3-AFC tests with one stronger stimulus and two weaker stimuli to be more sensitive than triads with one weaker and two stronger stimuli, is explained using the idea of conditional stimuli. From this, the development of sequential sensitivity analysis and the four distribution Thurstonian model is described. These ideas are then developed further to produce a potential eight distribution conditional stimulus model, to account for the effects of various interstimulus rinses and cognitive contrast. Also, the physical and physiological properties of the salt taste detection system, used in the development of these models, are outlined.
Dichloro(isopropylamido)bis(isopropylamine)(isopropylimido)tantalum(V), a monomeric TaV compound with imido, amido and amino moieties.

The title compound, [Ta(C 3 H 7 N)(C 3 H 8 N)Cl 2 (C 3 H 9 N) 2 ], is the first monomeric example of a metal complex that features imido, amido and amino moieties in the same molecule. The Ta atom has distorted octahedral coordination, with the imido moiety trans to chlorine and the pseudo-axial ligands bent away from the imido moiety. Principal dimensions include Ta=N = 1.763 (8) A. Ta-N(H) = 1.964 (7) A, and Ta-N(H 2 ) = 2.247 (7) and 2.262 (7) A.
Improved Reasoning in Undergraduate Writing through Structured Workshops.

The Department of Economics at Duke University has endeavored to increase participation in undergraduate honors thesis research while ensuring a high-quality learning experience. Given the faculty-to-student ratio in the department (approximately 1:16), increasing research participation required the creation of a stable, replicable framework for mentoring students through research. The department aimed to make the research experience more consistent and interactive so that students also learned from each other in a group setting. Here, the authors assess the relationship between changes in mentoring support of honors research and students’ scientific reasoning and writing skills reflected in their undergraduate theses. They find that students who participated in structured courses designed to support and enhance their research exhibited the strongest learning outcomes, as measured by systematic writing assessment.
Isolation and Characterization of an Actin Promoter from the Red Abalone ( Haliotis rufescens )

: We have isolated and characterized the 5'-flanking and part of the coding region of an actin gene from the red abalone Haliotis rufescens. There is high sequence homology between the abalone actin coding region and actins from other species. The sequence of this abalone actin is more closely related to vertebrate cytoplasmic actins than to muscle actins. RNase protection assays located the position of the transcription start point 66 bp upstream of the initiation codon. Promoter prediction by neural network located a TATA box 30 bp upstream of the transcription start point. A search with the SIGNAL SCAN program identified several potential transcription factor binding sites in the abalone sequence. These sites include sequences highly conserved in other actin promoters, like several putative CAAT and E boxes and a modified CArG box. Transfection assays with a construct containing the 5' flanking region of the abalone actin coupled to a luciferase reporter gene showed that the promoter is functional in mammalian and fish cell lines, as well as in abalone gonad tissue. Expression vectors constructed with the abalone actin promoter will be useful for gene transfer studies into abalone and other mollusks.
Correlation of radiographic cardiothoracic ratio with cardiac function in patients with acute congestive heart failure

Objective: Plain film radiographs are routinely used as a part of the emergency department evaluation of patients with acute congestive heart failure. Determination of the cardiothoracic ratio (CT ratio) may provide insight into the severity and mechanism of the cardiac dysfunction. This study was designed to correlate the determined CT ratio with measures of systolic and diastolic function in patients with decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: The CT ratio was retrospectively calculated from the routine upright anteroposterior plain film radiographs obtained during the evaluation of patients with acute CHF. Likewise, values for the diastolic time intervals such as isovolumic relaxation times and filling times (measures of diastolic dysfunction, IVRT, FT) and the Heather Index (a measure of systolic contractility, HI) were obtained from the tracings obtained by impedance cardiography (IC). These functional measures were then independently correlated with the CT ratio by multiple regression analysis. The degree of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as determined by EKG voltage was also correlated to cardiac function measures for comparison. Results: In 45 patients there was no significant correlation (P < 0.05) of the measured IVRT and FT with the corresponding CT ratio. The HI was also significantly inversely correlated with the CT ratio (r = –0.36, P < 0.05). By comparison, the degree of LVH was not significantly related to the measures of systolic function but was highly correlated to the IVRT. Conclusion: CT ratios determined from plain film radiographs appear to correlate well with measures of cardiac systolic function and may be useful in determining the severity and mechanism of CHF in the acute setting.
The Counseling Center Internship in Higher Education.

The full-year internship is developing into an important issue and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision has recommended that it be included in future doctoral level training. Candidates interested in a university placement, however, will find little information available. A survey was conducted to determine the (a) location of positions, (b) required credentials, (c) methods of announcement, and (d) reaction to APGA supervision and accreditation of internship sites. Results indicate that ACES will need to become more actively involved in the development and retainment of internship positions.
Unusual structures of lithium terphenyl derivatives

Abstract The synthesis, spectroscopic and structural characterization of three new lithium derivatives of terphenyl ligands are reported. These are the mixed lithium alkyl–lithium aryl compound {Li(t-Bu)LiC6H3-2,6-Trip2} (1, Trip=C6H2-2,4,6-i-Pr3), the dilithiated {LiC6H3-2-(C6H3-2-Me-5-t-Bu)-6-(C6H3-2-CH2Li-5-t-Bu)·Et2O}2 (2), and the ether solvated (Et2O)LiC6H3-2,6-(C6H4-4-t-Bu)2 (3). The synthesis of the terphenyl halide precursors for 2 and 3 is also given. The compound 1 resulted from the treatment of 1-IC6H3-2,6-Trip with two equivalents of Li(t-Bu) in hexane. It features the alkyl and aryl (terphenyl) groups bridged by two lithium ions. The lithium ions are further solvated by ortho aryl substituents and methyls of the t-Bu groups. This compound is a very rare example of a mixed lithium alkyl–lithium aryl species. Compound 2 was obtained in low yield from the treatment of 1-BrC6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2-Me-5-t-Bu)2 with two equivalents of Li(t-Bu). The terphenyl ligand was dilithiated by replacement of the bromine and a hydrogen from one of the methyl groups on the ortho aryl substituents. The ether solvated, dimeric, tetrametallic structure illustrated in the Table of Contents resulted. The compound 3 was obtained from the straightforward lithiation of the iodoterphenyl precursor in the presence of diethyl ether and features a lithium ion solvated by two ethers terminally bound to the ipso-carbon of the terphenyl group.
SU‐E‐I‐75: An Inexpensive Scanner‐Independent Luminescent Motion Monitor for MRI

Purpose: To develop and test an inexpensive single‐channel motion monitor to track and feedback information about patient movement in realtime. Methods: The motion monitor utilizes an optical motion sensor to track patient movement. The components are a 2000 lumens light source, a light detector and an analog‐to‐digital converter that connects via USB to a computer. The InstaCal software directs the signal into the Matlab Data Acquisition Toolbox for processing. Fiber optic cables were used to transmit the light from the source and detector during an MRI scan. A movable cylindrical gel phantom, 11.4cm outer diameter and 15.2 cm length, was designed and constructed for testing, including inserts for geometric distortion and spatial resolution. Movement magnitude (2mm, 4mm, 6mm), and direction (roll, pitch, yaw) were varied. Dynamic echo‐planar imaging (EPI), TR=2s, spatial resolution = 3mm × 3mm × 3mm, was performed on the gel phantom and human subjects to compare motion monitor results to results from motion correction software. Anatomical images were acquired, scantime 4 minutes, spatial resolution = 1mm × 1mm × 1mm, using magnetization‐prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo, MP‐RAGE, to compare the effects of motion at 30 seconds versus motion at 2 minutes.Results: Motion was viewable in real‐time during monitor tests on the phantom that demonstrated sensitivity as small as 2mm. MPRAGE images with motion occurring closer to the center of k‐space, at 2 minutes, showed more image distortion than those with motion near the edge of k‐space, at 30 seconds. This was evident in both phantom trials and human trials.Conclusion: The motion monitor developed was sensitive to movements larger than 2mm in both the test phantom and the human subjects. Adding sensors, positioned at different angles on the head, would boost the sensitivity of the motion monitor to a wider range of motions.
The Effect of Nucleosome Unwrapping on Chd1-Induced Chromatin Remodeling

The tight wrapping of DNA into nucleosomes reduces access and can provide a barrier for gene expression. Chromatin remodelers are responsible for sliding the nucleosome into a position where the DNA can be readily processed but the precise mechanism is unclear. The DNA in the nucleosome dynamically unwraps and rewraps around the histone core, which may affect how the chromatin remodeler binds to the nucleosome and facilitates sliding. Unwrapping is a natural response to proteins binding to DNA at the edge of the nucleosome, and can also be affected by DNA sequence. Chromodomain Helicase DNA Binding Protein 1 (Chd1) is an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler that is responsible for transcription-related chromatin remodeling, generating evenly spaced nucleosomal arrays across the genome. We made unwrapping variants by perturbing DNA-histone interactions to see what effect this might have on Chd1's ability to slide nucleosomes. We find that unwrapping DNA from the histone slows Chd1-induced sliding. We are investigating the effects of proteins binding to the edge of the nucleosomes as well as sequence effects to understand how these influence Chd1 sliding and positional preference.
ANXIETY AND TWO COGNITIVE FORMS OF RESISTANCE TO THE IDEA OF DEATH

A relationship between affective orientation to death and two cognitive forms of resistance to the idea of death was hypothesized. Affect was measured by the Sarnoff Fear of Death Scale (Sarnoff & Corwin, 1959). One form of resistance was examined by using a perceptual defense model employing neutral- and death-related words; the other was connotative rigidity, a postulated associative inflexibility of death-related concepts. This rigidity was conceived as a clustering of death-related words on the Evaluative (E), Potency (P), and Activity (A) factors of the semantic differential (Osgood, Suci, & Tannenbaum, 1957), and was mathematically expressed as a variance score. Death-related words, presented tachistoscopically, proved significantly more difficult to recognize than neutral words (p < .01). No significant relationships were demonstrated between affective orientation to death and the two forms of resistance. However, significant correlations between the measures of perceptual defense and connotative r...
A Characterization of Certain Families of Distributions via Esscher Transforms and Independence

Abstract The main purpose of this article is to answer the following question: Given n random variables Y 1, …, Yn with the property that their conditional joint distribution (their sum being z) belongs to a family of Esscher transforms with parameters that may depend on z, when will these random variables be independent? Applications include characterizations of various families of distributions.
Change of shift

“Just one more drunk college student, Doc.” The veteran emergency nurse shook his balding head. “When will these kids ever learn to not drive home after the party?” Probably never, I thought, as I remembered countless late night motor vehicle crashes involving young intoxicated drivers. Why does the elixir of youth and beer induce delusions of immortality? “I don’t have a chart on him yet,” the nurse continued. “The registration clerk says it will be a few minutes—she’s all backed up getting information on the rest of Alex’s* drinking buddies. You’d better take a look at his face. He’s done a number on it.” Immobilized by a dozen Velcro straps, Alex mixed moans with a few slurred four-letter words. I patted his shoulder and checked him over. His blood pressure was good, and he was moving both arms and both legs. Only his face was a mess. “I need to check your pupils, Alex,” I said, trying to pry apart a pair of eyelids that were a swollen purple bruise. Alex grunted as I flashed my penlight in front of 2 bloodshot eyes. His pupillary reflexes were briskly normal— business as usual for the optic nerves. “That hurts!” Alex objected, as I felt the contour of his facial bones. His left infraorbital rim was lower than its mate on the right. I told my patient that he would need to stay on the backboard until I had seen radiographs of his neck and facial bones. I jotted 2 lines on a temporary order sheet and hurried on to the next accident victim. This was going to be another hectic Saturday night. Just over an hour later, I inspected the black-and-white films on the view box. Alex’s cervical spine was straighter
Transparent Conductors from Carbon Nanotubes LBL-Assembled with Polymer Dopant with π−π Electron Transfer

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) and other carbon-based coatings are being considered as replacements for indium tin oxide (ITO). The problems of transparent conductors (TCs) coatings from SWNT and similar materials include poor mechanical properties, high roughness, low temperature resilience, and fast loss of conductivity. The simultaneous realization of these desirable characteristics can be achieved using high structural control of layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition, which is demonstrated by the assembly of hydroethyl cellulose (HOCS) and sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK)-SWNTs. A new type of SWNT doping based on electron transfer from valence bands of nanotubes to unoccupied levels of SPEEK through π−π interactions was identified for this system. It leads to a conductivity of 1.1 × 105 S/m at 66 wt % loadings of SWNT. This is better than other polymer/SWNT composites and translates into surface conductivity of 920 Ω/◻ and transmittance of 86.7% at 550 nm. The prepared LBL films also revealed u...
The contribution of c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation and subsequent Bcl-2 phosphorylation to apoptosis induction in human B-cells is dependent on the mode of action of specific stresses

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway can play paradoxical roles as either a pro-survival or a pro-cell death pathway depending on type of stress and cell type. The goal of the present study was to determine the role of JNK pathway signaling for regulating B-cell apoptosis in two important but contrasting situations--global proteotoxic damage, induced by arsenite and hyperthermia, versus specific microtubule inhibition, induced by the anti-cancer drug vincristine, using the EW36 B-cell line. This cell line over-expresses the Bcl-2 protein and is a useful model to identify treatments that can overcome multi-drug resistance in lymphoid cells. Exposure of EW36 B-cells to arsenite or lethal hyperthermia resulted in activation of the JNK pathway and induction of apoptosis. However, pharmacological inhibition of the JNK pathway did not inhibit apoptosis, indicating that JNK pathway activation is not required for apoptosis induction by these treatments. In contrast, vincristine treatment of EW36 B-cells resulted in JNK activation and apoptosis that was suppressed by JNK inhibition. A critical difference between the two types of stress treatments was that only vincristine-induced JNK activation resulted in phosphorylation of Bcl-2 at threonine-56, a modification that can block its anti-apoptotic function. Importantly, Bcl-2 phosphorylation was attenuated by JNK inhibition implicating JNK as the upstream kinase. Furthermore, arsenite and hyperthermia treatments activated a p53/p21 pathway associated with apoptosis induction, whereas vincristine did not activate this pathway. These results reveal two stress-activated pathways, one JNK-dependent and another JNK-independent, either of which can bypass Bcl-2 mediated resistance, resulting in cell death.
Na(1.5)Ag(1.5)MO3F3 (M = Mo, W): an ordered oxyfluoride derivative of the LiNbO3 structure.

Na1.5Ag1.5MoO3F3 and Na1.5Ag1.5WO3F3 have been synthesized by solid state reactions and structurally characterized using synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. Unlike the vast majority of salts containing [MO3F3]3– anions (M = Mo, W) the oxyfluoride groups in Na1.5Ag1.5MoO3F3 and Na1.5Ag1.5WO3F3 are orientationally ordered, so that the Na+ ions are coordinated by fluorine and the Ag+ ions by oxygen. The resulting structure type, which has not previously been reported, is related to the LiNbO3 structure, but the combination of Na/Ag ordering and orientational ordering of the [MO3F3]3– anions produces a supercell that doubles the c-axis and changes the space group symmetry from R3 to R3. The use of hard (Na+) and soft (Ag+) cations to direct the orientational ordering of polar oxyfluoride building units provides a new approach to the design of polar materials.
Attrition studies with precipitated iron Fischer-Tropsch catalysts under reaction conditions

Iron Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) catalyst particles break-up during reaction in slurry phase reactors by physical attrition, and due to chemical stresses caused by phase transformations. Although “chemical” attrition is known to be important with iron (Fe) F–T catalysts, there have been no studies of attrition properties of precipitated Fe catalysts under reaction conditions. Here we report on attrition properties of three precipitated Fe catalysts (100 Fe/3–5 Cu/4–6 K/16–25 SiO2) during F–T synthesis in a stirred tank slurry reactor (STSR). Our results show that after 295–497 h of F–T synthesis with these three catalysts in the STSR, the particle size reduction by fracture was moderate, whereas erosion (generation of particles smaller than 10 μm) was small (2.3–2.7). The attrition strength of these catalysts is adequate for use in Slurry bubble column reactors (SBCRs) for F–T synthesis.
Laminar Wall Jet of a Non-Newtonian Fluid Over a Curved Surface

On presente une analyse de l'ecoulement d'un jet laminaire bidimensionnel de fluide non newtonien, incompressible sur une surface courbe. On obtient une solution de similitude unique pour les surfaces concave et convexe. La solution de similitude requiert une forme particuliere de surface courbe qui est determinee. On presente des resultats numeriques pour le champ de vitesse et le coefficient de frottement superficiel en fonction du parametre de courbure
Simple error bound for coupled-channel scattering calculations

Abstract Since the complete set of rotation—vibration states of a molecule contains a dissociative continuum, a coupled-channel calculation for molecular scattering parameters based on an expansion in the set of discrete molecular states does not give the correct values. Here it is shown how one can very simply obtain a rigorous bound to the contribution from all internal states — discrete and continuous — which are omitted in a finite coupled-channel calculation.
Food Aid During Conflict: Discussion

Stewart distinguishes between what she calls the old development food aid, or DEVFAID, from the newer conflict-related food aid, or CONFAID. According to Stewart, CONFAID, while driven primarily by a humanitarian objective, viz to reduce deaths and relief of suffering caused by conflicts, has consequences at three levels: humanitarian, economic, and political economy. Her main thesis is "that appropriate policies can only be devised if there is understanding of each level and of the interactions among levels, and that serious policy mistakes have occurred as a result of rather simple-minded pursuit of humanitarian objectives, without analyzing the other aspects." Stewart's focus is civil conflicts among groups within a country rather than international conflicts, even though she correctly notes that often outside countries directly or indirectly support one or the other parties in a domestic conflict. She finds that CONFAID, which is directly delivered either to camps into which the suffering have been gathered or to governments that are made responsible to deliver the aid to the suffering, has a poor record even in terms of short-term humanitarian effects. CONFAID often arrives too late
Elitism and Esotericism: Strategies of Secrecy and Power in South Indian Tantra and French Freemasonry

Despite the proliferation of interest in the subjects of secrecy and esotericism throughout popular culture, media and entertainment, these phenomena have only recently begun to be treated seriously by historians of religions. In this essay, I suggest a new way of looking at esotericism by engaging in a comparative, cross-cultural analysis, and by looking in particular at its social and political implications. Specifically, I compare two traditions — the Srīvidyā school of Indian Tantra, and the Rectified Scottish Rite of French Freemasonry — juxtaposing and analogically relating them in order to shed new light on both. Contrary to many popular conceptions, I argue that esotericism is by no means primarily a “counter-cultural” or “subversive” phenomenon ; rather, it is very often an elitist phenomenon , the province of highly educated, affluent and powerful intellectuals, who wish, not to undermine existing social structures, but rather subtly to reinforce them, or else to bend and reshape them according to their own interests. This essay examines three primary strategies employed by the Tantrics and Masons: 1) the creation of a new social space or private sphere, which promises “equality” and liberation for all classes, while at the same time constructing new and more rigid hierarchies; 2) a hermeneutical strategy, which appropriates the authority of traditional scriptures, while at the same time asserting the superiority of esoteric exegesis; 3) a ritual strategy, which creates a homology between the body of the initiate, the hierarchy of the cosmos and the hierarchy of the esoteric sect, inscribing the individual into the body of the order, and inscribing the order onto the human body.
Can international criminal justice advance ethnic reconciliation? The ICTY and ethnic relations in Bosnia-Herzegovina

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was created by the United Nations Security Council in 1993 to advance a number of goals including providing justice, deterring human rights atrocities and advancing peace. We investigate the impact of the ICTY on another goal – reconciliation – that lies at the convergence of justice and peace. We suggest that, to the extent the work of the ICTY is favourably viewed by Bosnians, the better the prospects are for reconciliation. The ICTY’s justice and truth can potentially provide a critical basis on which individual judgements about reconciliation will, in part, rest. We test our hypotheses on data from the Southeast Europe Social Survey Project, which contains thousands of observations of survey data from the former Yugoslavia. We find support in our statistical model for our hypotheses regarding the impact of international justice on attitudes reflective of reconciliation.
Amphiphilicity Determines Binding Properties of Three Mitochondrial Presequences to Lipid Surfaces

The interactions of three peptides, which correspond to presequences that direct mitochondrial protein import, with model membrane systems were characterized using NMR, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopies. The positively charged peptides adopted an ordered secondary structure only when the negatively charged phospholipid, cardiolipin, was present in small unilamellar vesicles. Conversely, the peptides adopted an ordered secondary structure in the presence of micelles formed from both formally neutral and negatively charged detergents. The peptides had the same relative affinity for micelles and small unilamellar vesicles containing 20% cardiolipin. Amide proton exchange rates showed that the region of the helical structure which had the greatest hydrophobic moment interacted most readily with micelles. Therefore, it appears that a major determinant of binding to lipid surfaces is the ability of the peptide to attain the correct orientation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. For the three peptides studied, affinity also correlated with the length of the helix, but not with hydrophobic surface area. In each case, the interacting segment of the peptide was toward the C-terminal end of the helix. Previous work has allowed us to postulate that the N-terminus of the presequence is vital for import [Wang, Y., & Weiner, H. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 4759-4765] and the C-terminal end is essential for membrane interaction [Karslake, C., Piotto, M., Pak, Y. K., Weiner, H., & Gorenstein, D. G. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 9872-9878]. On the basis of the data that are now available, it appears that the interaction with membrane surfaces may depend on the location of an amphiphilic region of the sequence that is near but not necessarily at the C-terminus.
ENDOTHELIUM DERIVED NITRIC OXIDE (EDNO) DECREASES PULMONARY VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE (PVSM) TONE INDEPENDENT OF pH IN BOVINE NEWBORNS. † 1581

ENDOTHELIUM DERIVED NITRIC OXIDE (EDNO) DECREASES PULMONARY VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE (PVSM) TONE INDEPENDENT OF pH IN BOVINE NEWBORNS. † 1581
Questioning Presidents: Journalistic Deference and Adversarialness in the Press Conferences of U.S. Presidents Eisenhower and Reagan

This paper develops a new system for analyzing the questions that journalists ask public figures in broadcast news interviews and press conferences. This system is then applied in a comparative study of the forms of questioning that characterized the press conferences of Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. The comparison focuses on the phenomenon of adversarialness in question design. Ten features of question design are examined that serve as indicators of 4 basic dimensions of adversarialness: (a) initiative, (b) directness, (c) assertiveness, and (d) hostility. The results reveal substantial and significant differences for all indicators, all in the direction of increased adversarialness. This pattern suggests that journalists have become much less deferential and more aggressive in their treatment of the U.S. president. Possible factors contributing to this development, and its broader ramifications for the evolving relationship between journalism and government, are also discussed.
Do X- or Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa competes with older eggs in human?

Human spermatozoa pass a torturous journey during fertilization. A slight deviation from 1:1 has been observed in the sex ratio and a number of variables ranging from seasonal, religious days and position of females during mating have been implicated in producing offsprings of a desired gender. The selective choice of sperm by a female based on the aforementioned factors [superstitions] has not been substantiated. In this investigation we collected data from 2,071 pregnant women who visited our two laboratories for genetic amniocentesis during the past two decades. The findings are classified by age group: The sex ratio remains the same for all age groups except the group of women in the range of 20-24 years. This finding is apparently fortuitous because of the smaller sample size. The concept of sex determination based on a non-chromosomal [X- or Y-chromosome] basis will remain an enigma in the mind of religious orthodoxies as even older eggs did not have any preferential attraction for either X- or Y-chromosome bearing sperm.
Correlations of three-dimensional motion of chromosomal loci in yeast revealed by the double-helix point spread function microscope

Single-particle tracking has been applied to study chromatin motion in live cells, revealing a wealth of dynamical behavior of the genomic material once believed to be relatively static throughout most of the cell cycle. Here we used the dual-color three-dimensional (3D) double-helix point spread function microscope to study the correlations of movement between two fluorescently labeled gene loci on either the same or different budding yeast chromosomes. We performed fast (10 Hz) 3D tracking of the two copies of the GAL locus in diploid cells in both activating and repressive conditions. As controls, we tracked pairs of loci along the same chromosome at various separations, as well as transcriptionally orthogonal genes on different chromosomes. We found that under repressive conditions, the GAL loci exhibited significantly higher velocity cross-correlations than they did under activating conditions. This relative increase has potentially important biological implications, as it might suggest coupling via shared silencing factors or association with decoupled machinery upon activation. We also found that on the time scale studied (∼0.1-30 s), the loci moved with significantly higher subdiffusive mean square displacement exponents than previously reported, which has implications for the application of polymer theory to chromatin motion in eukaryotes.
AND-ATM Network Design System

In this paper augmented infinitesimal perturbation analysis (APA) is used for gradient estimation in a hybrid simulation/analytic system for computer communications network capacity planning called ATM Network Design (AND) System. Usage of APA provides an alternative to traditional network planning methods that assume independence of packet service times. A steepest descent algorithm determines locally optimal minimum average network delays based on these APA estimates. The algorithm employs an Armijo line search. In addition a linear, separable capacity constraint is assumed. It is assumed that input regulators (e.g., leaky bucket regulators) are used at the source of each virtual circuit. All virtual circuit external arrivals are modeled as independent Poisson processes. Regenerative simulation is used.
A structural alignment kernel for protein structures

Motivation: This work aims to develop computational methods to annotate protein structures in an automated fashion. We employ a support vector machine (SVM) classifier to map from a given class of structures to their corresponding structural (SCOP) or functional (Gene Ontology) annotation. In particular, we build upon recent work describing various kernels for protein structures, where a kernel is a similarity function that the classifier uses to compare pairs of structures. Results: We describe a kernel that is derived in a straightforward fashion from an existing structural alignment program, MAMMOTH. We find in our benchmark experiments that this kernel significantly out-performs a variety of other kernels, including several previously described kernels. Furthermore, in both benchmarks, classifying structures using MAMMOTH alone does not work as well as using an SVM with the MAMMOTH kernel. Availability: http://noble.gs.washington.edu/proj/3dkernel Contact: noble@gs.washington.edu
The Ras-GRF1 Exchange Factor Coordinates Activation of H-Ras and Rac1 to Control Neuronal Morphology

The Ras-GRF1 exchange factor has regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity for H-Ras and Rac1 through separate domains. Both H-Ras and Rac1 activation have been linked to synaptic plasticity and thus could contribute to the function of Ras-GRF1 in neuronal signal transduction pathways that underlie learning and memory. We defined the effects of Ras-GRF1 and truncation mutants that include only one of its GEF activities on the morphology of PC12 phaeochromocytoma cells. Ras-GRF1 required coexpression of H-Ras to induce morphological effects. Ras-GRF1 plus H-Ras induced a novel, expanded morphology in PC12 cells, which was characterized by a 10-fold increase in soma size and by neurite extension. A truncation mutant of Ras-GRF1 that included the Ras GEF domain, GRFdeltaN, plus H-Ras produced neurite extensions, but did not expand the soma. This neurite extension was blocked by inhibition of MAP kinase activation, but was independent of dominant-negative Rac1 or RhoA. A truncation mutant of Ras-GRF1 that included the Rac GEF domains, GRFdeltaC, produced the expanded phenotype in cotransfections with H-Ras. Cell expansion was inhibited by wortmannin or dominant-negative forms of Rac1 or Akt. GRFdeltaC binds H-Ras.GTP in both pulldown assays from bacterial lysates and by coimmunoprecipitation from HEK293 cells. These results suggest that coordinated activation of H-Ras and Rac1 by Ras-GRF1 may be a significant controller of neuronal cell size.
Polarity and morphology in seeded growth of bulk AlN on SiC

Growth of AlN bulk crystals on on-axis and off-axis (0001), Si-face SiC seeds was performed by physical vapor transport (PVT) using an AlN powder source. AlN layers between 0.1–3 mm thickness were grown on inch-sized seeds. Cracks formed in the AlN layers due to the thermal expansion mismatch between AlN and SiC were observed to decrease with increasing AlN thickness. AlN grown on on-axis SiC was primarily Al-polar, but contained N-polar inversion domains (IDs) revealed buy wet etching in hot, aqueous phosphoric acid or potassium hydroxide solutions. IDs were not observed in crystals grown on off-axis seeds. Using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy results, the influence of SiC seed orientation on the polarity and morphology of the AlN layers is discussed. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)