cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 (eIF2)-GTP-Met-tRNAi Ternary Complex and eIF3 Stabilize the 43 S Preinitiation Complex

The formation of a stable 43 S preinitiation complex (PIC) must occur to enable successful mRNA recruitment. However, the contributions of eIF1, eIF1A, eIF3, and the eIF2-GTP-Met-tRNAi ternary complex (TC) in stabilizing the 43 S PIC are poorly defined. We have reconstituted the human 43 S PIC and used fluorescence anisotropy to systematically measure the affinity of eIF1, eIF1A, and eIF3j in the presence of different combinations of 43 S PIC components. Our data reveal a complicated network of interactions that result in high affinity binding of all 43 S PIC components with the 40 S subunit. Human eIF1 and eIF1A bind cooperatively to the 40 S subunit, revealing an evolutionarily conserved interaction. Negative cooperativity is observed between the binding of eIF3j and the binding of eIF1, eIF1A, and TC with the 40 S subunit. To overcome this, eIF3 dramatically increases the affinity of eIF1 and eIF3j for the 40 S subunit. Recruitment of TC also increases the affinity of eIF1 for the 40 S subunit, but this interaction has an important indirect role in increasing the affinity of eIF1A for the 40 S subunit. Together, our data provide a more complete thermodynamic framework of the human 43 S PIC and reveal important interactions between its components to maintain its stability.
TNF-α enhances contraction and inhibits endothelial NO-cGMP relaxation in systemic vessels of pregnant rats

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is elevated in the plasma of preeclamptic women and may have a role in pregnancy-induced hypertension. However, whether the hemodynamic effects of TNF-α reflect the ...
SU-E-T-289: Scintillating Fiber Based In-Vivo Dose Monitoring System to the Rectum in Proton Therapy of Prostate Cancer: A Geant4 Monte Carlo Simulation

Purpose: To construct a dose monitoring system based on an endorectal balloon coupled to thin scintillating fibers to study the dose delivered to the rectum during prostate cancer proton therapy Methods: The Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit version 9.6p02 was used to simulate prostate cancer proton therapy treatments of an endorectal balloon (for immobilization of a 2.9 cm diameter prostate gland) and a set of 34 scintillating fibers symmetrically placed around the balloon and perpendicular to the proton beam direction (for dosimetry measurements) Results: A linear response of the fibers to the dose delivered was observed within <2%, a property that makes them good candidates for real time dosimetry. Results obtained show that the closest fiber recorded about 1/3 of the dose to the target with a 1/r{sup 2} decrease in the dose distribution as one goes toward the frontal and distal top fibers. Very low dose was recorded by the bottom fibers (about 45 times comparatively), which is a clear indication that the overall volume of the rectal wall that is exposed to a higher dose is relatively minimized. Further analysis indicated a simple scaling relationship between the dose to the prostate and the dose to the top fibers (amore » linear fit gave a slope of −0.07±0.07 MeV per treatment Gy) Conclusion: Thin (1 mm × 1 mm × 100 cm) long scintillating fibers were found to be ideal for real time in-vivo dose measurement to the rectum for prostate cancer proton therapy. The linear response of the fibers to the dose delivered makes them good candidates of dosimeters. With thorough calibration and the ability to define a good correlation between the dose to the target and the dose to the fibers, such dosimeters can be used for real time dose verification to the target.« less
Salience of physical appearance characteristics among young women in Thailand.

Our aim in the present study was to identify key components of physical appearance among young Thai women. Free listings, focus groups and pile sorting were used. One-hundred twenty young women generated 78 unique physical appearance characteristics. Ninety-four nursing students validated these characteristics in focus groups and then sorted them into piles that reflected separate domains of physical appearance and labeled them. Salience analysis revealed that facial appearance (e.g., bright facial skin, high nose bridge, big eyes) was the most important domain, followed by body weight and shape, skin color and texture, hair (color, texture, length), and ‘other’ physical appearance (e.g., slender neck, slim fingers). This is the first study to identify aspects of physical appearance that are most salient to young Thai women and that may differ from women in other cultural contexts. These findings could be used to develop culturally grounded measures of physical appearance in Thai women.
Understanding Preservice Teachers' Perspectives on Diversity:

Case studies of six preservice teachers were conducted to assess their emerging perspectives about the problems that confront diverse learners in classrooms, their commitment to teaching diverse learners, and their beliefs about the causes of failure for diverse learners. Students' perceptions of the influences on their perspectives including the course work, their background experiences, contrasting field experiences, and their entering perspectives are discussed.
Timeliness of surgical care in children with special health care needs: delayed palate repair for publicly insured and minority children with cleft palate.

Abstract Background/Purpose Disparities in access to health care are known to exist for the most vulnerable pediatric population, children with special health care needs. Timely access to surgical care in this population is critical, yet poorly studied. Methods A national database of pediatric hospitals in the United States was searched for nonsyndromic, healthy patients younger than 24 months who underwent cleft palate repair from 2003 to 2008. A multivariate, linear regression model was constructed to determine the relationship of public payer status and race with age at palatal repair. Results Age at palate repair was significantly delayed for patients who were publicly insured (1.2 weeks, P = .01), were of nonwhite race/ethnicity (1.5-3.5 weeks, P = .009), and had a diagnosis of cleft lip in addition to cleft palate (3.4 weeks, P = .006) compared to their counterparts in a sample of 2995 patients with cleft palate. Conclusion There is a small but significant delay in age at repair for patients who are publicly insured or of nonwhite race/ethnicity. These results may herald broader access disparities that could adversely affect clinical outcomes and should be investigated further.
Defect creation in low lattice-mismatched epitaxial structures

The formation of crystalline defects is studied as a function of the epitaxial layer thickness in InGaAs and GaAsSb material systems grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (001) GaAs wafers. The Sb and In composition is roughly 8% in both sets of samples while the nominal thicknesses are respectively 50, 125, 250nm and 500nm for the InGaAs structures and 100, 250 and 500nm for the GaAsSb structures. High-resolution x-ray diffraction results show that similar partial relaxation is obtained in both systems for nearly the same thickness. Consistent structural transformation of point defects into dislocation loops related to the thickness of ternary layers is revealed. This resulted in a partial relaxation of 42 and 46% in the 250 nm thick GaAsSb and InGaAs layers respectively due to a density of secondary 60° dislocation loops of ∼ 1 × 109 cm−2. The relaxation increased to 64% in the 500nm thick InGaAs and to 68% for the 500nm thick GaAsSb films even though the density of 60° dislocation loops in the volume was reduced due to intersections of these dislocation loops. Explanation of revealed structural features is suggested.
Finite groups acting on surfaces and the genus of a group

Abstract The relationship between a finite group action on a closed surface and Cayley graphs for the group embedded in the surface is studied.
New Research in the Field of Stroke: Therapeutic Hypothermia after Cardiac Arrest

Therapeutic hypothermia as a potential treatment for stroke, cerebral ischemia, and other neurological diseases has gained momentum since the initial discovery that relatively small differences in intraischemic brain temperature critically determine ischemic neuronal vulnerability.1 Since that time, laboratories throughout the world have investigated the potential use of mild-to-moderate hypothermia in many ischemia models.2,3 Various studies have also investigated potential mechanisms contributing to hypothermic protection. Pathomechanisms sensitive to intra- and postischemic temperature reductions and elevations include glutamate release, stabilization of the blood-brain barrier, oxygen radical production, intracellular signal conduction, protein synthesis, ischemic depolarization, reduced cerebral metabolism, membrane stabilization, inflammation, activation of protein kinases, cytoskeletal breakdown, and early gene expression.2,4 Because the pathophysiology of ischemic brain injury is complex, the fact that many injury mechanisms have been reported to be temperature sensitive may account for the dramatic effects of temperature on ischemic outcome. Thus, therapeutic hypothermia has the necessary support from preclinical data to initiate well-designed clinical studies targeting various patient populations. In a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine , the results of 2 randomized clinical trials showed clearly that mild hypothermia improves neurologic outcome and reduces overall mortality in survivors of out-of-hospital–witnessed cardiac arrest.5,6 In the study from Australia, a total of 77 patients who remained comatose after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were randomized to receive 12 hours of hypothermia or standard normothermic temperature management.5 In that study, surface cooling was begun in the field and the target temperature of 32°C to 34°C was reached within 2 hours of ROSC. Forty-nine percent of those treated with hypothermia were discharged home or to a rehabilitation facility, as compared with 26% of those not treated with hypothermia ( P =0.046). In the second study from Europe, 9 centers in 5 countries participated, with …
The acute oral toxicity, repellency, and hazard potential of 998 chemicals to one or more species of wild and domestic birds.

The acute oral toxicity, repellency, and hazard potential of 998 chemicals to one or more of 68 species of wild and domestic birds was determined by standardized testing procedures. Red winged blackbirds were the most sensitive of the bird species tested on a large number of chemicals, and an index based on redwing toxicity and repellency may provide an appropriate indication of the probability of acute avian poisoning episodes. Avian repellency and toxicity were not positively correlated (i.e. toxicity varied independently with repellency).
THE FLICKER RESPONSE CURVE FOR FUNDULUS.

After Fundulus heteroclitus have been for some time in the laboratory, under conditions favorable for growth, and after habituation of the fishes to the simple routine manipulations of the observational procedure required, they are found to give reproducible values of the mean critical flash illumination ( Im ) resulting in response to visual flicker. The measurements were made with equality of light time and dark time in the flash cycle, at 21.5°C. Log Im as a function of flash frequency F has the same general form as that obtained with other fishes tested, and for vertebrates typically: the curve is a drawn-out S , with a second inflection at the low I end. In details, however, the curve is somewhat extreme. Its composite form is readily resolved into the two usual parts. Each of these expresses a contribution in which log I , as a function of F , is accurately expressed by taking F as the summation (integral) of a probability distribution of d log I , as for the flicker response contour of other animals. As critical intensity I increases, the contribution of rod elements gradually fades out; this decay also adheres to a probability integral. The rod contribution seen in the curve for Fundulus is larger, absolutely and relatively to that from the cones, than that found with a number of other vertebrates. The additive overlapping of the rod and cone effects therefore produces a comparatively extreme distortion of the resulting F -log I curve. The F -log Im curve is shifted to lower intensities as result of previous exposure to supranormal temperatures. This effect is only very slowly reversible. The value of F max. for each of the components of the duplex curve remains unaffected. The rod and cone segments are shifted to the same extent. The persisting increase of excitability thus fails to reveal any chemical or other differentiation of the excitability mechanism in the two groups of elements. Certain bearings of the data upon the theory of the flicker response contour are discussed, with reference to the measurements of variation of critical intensity and to the form of the F -log I curve. The quantitative properties of the data accord with the theory derived from earlier observations on other forms.
Head ramming behaviour by three paedophagous cichlids in Lake Malawi, Africa

Abstract We observed three cichlid species, Cyrtocara orthognathus, C. liemi and an undescribed species, feeding on eggs, embryos and larval stages of mouthbrooding cichlids in Lake Malawi. Each species engages in a unique head ramming behaviour, forcing females to jettison some young involuntarily. The three paedophagous species had either eggs, embryos and/or larval fish in their stomachs. Cyrtocara orthognachus mimicked females by turning on and off its stripe depending on whether or not it was stalking the silver C. eucinostomus or the striped C. pleurotaenia . We discuss two previous hypotheses concerning how paedophages capture their prey and conclude that ramming of females is the manner by which most paedophages obtain their food in nature.
Subendocardial trauma produced by right-sided catheterization of the heart in man.

Abstract Two recent reports have summarized the literature regarding the endocardial damage7 produced by venous catheterization of the heart, and the arrhythmias which may result from catheterization.3,7 Among catheterized patients brought to post-mortem examination, Johnson and associates6 and Holling and Zak5 have reported the presence of intracardiac thrombi one month and ten days, respectively, after catheterization. Zimdahl alone has reported an arrhythmia lasting more than twelve hours.7 In his case, that of a four-year-old boy with the Tetralogy of Fallot, complete auriculoventricular block was noted on the morning following passage of the catheter. The arrhythmia retrogressed spontaneously through the stages of second and first degree heart block until a sinus rhythm became re-established on the seventh day. Zimdahl postulated that the bundle of His may have been injured by the occurrence of a small subendocardial hemorrhage. The production of the latter in dogs, together with mural thrombosis and subjacent myocardial necrosis, was described by Banfield and associates1 and Ellis and co-workers;2 in addition, Goodale and associates4 demonstrated the healed end result of subendocardial fibrosis in dogs permitted to survive several weeks after intracardiac manipulation of the catheter. We report here one case of subendocardial hemorrhages and one of right bundle branch block of five days' duration, both resulting from cardiac catheterization.
Traditional versus progressive nurse education: a review of the literature

Abstract The reader is asked to assume that current nurse education practices fall into one of two categories. The first and oldest is referred to as traditional nurse education, which is underpinned by its teacher centredness and its reliance upon the medical model, whereas progressive nurse education is characterised by its student and patient centredness, which parallels the nursing process. Following an extensive review of appropriate literature, which included British and Commonwealth studies, European studies and American studies covering both general and nurse education, the author has summarised some of the main points which will enable the reader to judge the principal attributes of each teaching strategy and possibly provide the stimulus for a deeper inquiry.
The intraclnal diversity and control of antibody isotype swith recombination

The configuration of the expressed and unexpressed IgH alleles within two groups of hybridomas, both derived from single clones of B cells at an intermediate stage of the immune response of one mouse, were characterized. The data obtained confirm that individual 'naive' B cells are totipotent in their capacity to generate, via deletions in the IgH locus, offspring that express different IgG isotypes. Further, the number of distinct isotype switch deletions that took place during the proliferation and differentiation of these clones was enormous. Nevertheless, switching within one clone occurred exclusively to the IgG1 isotype at expressed and unexpressed IgH alleles. The data support the conclusion that, despite the fact that isotype switch recombination is occurring on a global scale within responding clones during the immune response, exclusive intraclonal expression of only one isotype can result from the direct control of the switching process.
Growth factor therapy and neuronal nitric oxide synthase.

Trauma to the cavernous nerve is a known cause of erectile dysfunction, with lengthy and often incomplete recovery. Using rat models, we have previously shown that injury to the cavernous nerves or ligation of pudendal arteries causes a significant decrease of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the dorsal nerve of the penis and intracavernosal tissue as well as loss of erectile response to neurostimulation. Intracavernous injection of vascular endothelial growth factor or brain-derived neurotrophic factor facilitates the recovery of nNOS and erectile function. Studies are underway to elucidate the molecular mechanism of cavernous nerve regeneration and the potential of using growth factors to enhance the recovery of erectile function in patients after radical pelvic surgery.
Virtual active networks: towards multi-edged network computing

Abstract Virtual active networks (VANs) are dynamically constructed virtual networks of packet processing nodes and QoS-enabled tunnels that support application-specific services, such as Web caching, multi-casting, transcoding, and filtering, etc. The goals of a VAN are to enable large-scale multi-edged network applications, i.e., applications with components distributed at network edge nodes, to control and configure network topology and resources to best support their needs; and to enable these applications to monitor and adapt to network changes. In this paper, we describe the VAN architecture, a middleware that provides services and mechanisms to achieve these goals. In particular, the VAN architecture provides: (1) abstractions for applications to specify a VAN; algorithm to map the VAN specification to physical network topology and resources; and protocols to acquire the topology and resources. (2) Algorithm and protocol to resolve deadlock among competing VANs for shared node and link resources. (3) Mechanisms to recover from physical network failure in order to preserve VAN service properties.
In vitro progesterone metabolism by selected brain areas, pituitary gland and testes of the adult male cat☆

Abstract This study was conducted to define the pattern of in vitro metabolism of [3H]-progesterone by the adult cat reproductive system involving the following structures: selected brain areas implicated in reproductive physiology, anterior pituitary, and the testes. Tissues were incubated with radiolabeled progesterone, and the formed metabolites were separated, isolated, and purified by sequential paper chromatography, and further identified by derivative formation and isotopic dilution and recrystallization. All tissues used in this experiment converted progesterone to androgens, indicating the presence of 17 α-hydroxylase, 17, 20-desmolase and 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; some tissues also demonstrated a capacity to produce estrogens, showing the presence of the aromatizing enzyme system; yet, no 5α-reduced androgens were detected in any of the incubations. These transformations in neuroendocrine tissues may provide further evidence concerning the possible role of androgens and estrogens in central reproductive physiology and sexual behavior.
The role of physical activity and sedentary behaviors in explaining the association between acculturation and obesity among Mexican-American adults

Abstract Purpose. We investigated associations of acculturation with various types of activity (moderate-vigorous leisure-time physical activity [LTPA], moderate-vigorous work- and transportation-related physical activity, and sedentary activity), and whether these activities mediated the acculturation-obesity association among Mexican-Americans. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010. Subjects. Mexican-American NHANES participants aged ≥20 years (n = 1902). Measures. Demographic characteristics, physical activity, sedentary behavior, acculturation, and body mass index. Analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate associations of acculturation with categories of self-reported activity. Path analysis was used to test whether the activity measures mediated acculturation-obesity associations. Results. In adjusted models, compared to U.S.-born Mexican-Americans, foreign-born Mexican-Americans living in the United States for less ...
Same-Sex Parent Families and Children's Academic Achievement

Children in traditional families (i.e., married, 2 biological parents) tend to do better than their peers in nontraditional families. An exception to this pattern appears to be children from same-sex parent families. Children with lesbian mothers or gay fathers do not exhibit the poorer outcomes typically associated with nontraditional families. Studies of same-sex parent families, however, have relied on a static conceptualization of the family and discounted the importance of the timing and number of family transitions for understanding children's outcomes. To examine whether same-sex parent families represent an exception among nontraditional families, the author used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten cohort (N = 19,043) to create a dynamic indicator of children's family structure and tested its association with math assessment scores. The results indicated that children in same-sex parent families scored lower than their peers in married, 2-biological parent households, but the difference was nonsignificant net of family transitions.
Ecological considerations in the biological control of soil-inhabiting insects with entomopathogenic nematodes

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes in the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae are undergoing intense scrutiny as biological alternatives to chemicals for suppression of soil-inhabiting insects. Although naturally adapted to the soil, these nematodes are currently not as predictable or effective as chemical agents. Efforts to close or narrow this efficacy gap have been directed toward technological solutions, with striking advances being made recently in nematode mass rearing, shipping, storage, formulation and genetic improvement. Our understanding of entomopathogenic nematode soil ecology has not kept pace. In particular, we are unable to predict nematode behavior in the soil, biotic interactions with soil antagonists remain virtually unstudied, and the abiotic conditions optimal for survival and mobility are insufficiently understood. There is a compelling need for a standardized protocol that would permit cause and effect relationships to be established for successful and unsuccessful field trials. Fundamental to the applied use of entomopathogenic nematodes is gaining insight into nematode interactions with environmental parameters that determine the likelihood and outcome of nematode-insect encounters.
Force generation by kinesin and myosin cytoskeletal motor proteins

Kinesins and myosins hydrolyze ATP, producing force that drives spindle assembly, vesicle transport and muscle contraction. How do motors do this? Here we discuss mechanisms of motor force transduction, based on their mechanochemical cycles and conformational changes observed in crystal structures. Distortion or twisting of the central β-sheet - proposed to trigger actin-induced Pi and ADP release by myosin, and microtubule-induced ADP release by kinesins - is shown in a movie depicting the transition between myosin ATP-like and nucleotide-free states. Structural changes in the switch I region form a tube that governs ATP hydrolysis and Pi release by the motors, explaining the essential role of switch I in hydrolysis. Comparison of the motor power strokes reveals that each stroke begins with the force-amplifying structure oriented opposite to the direction of rotation or swing. Motors undergo changes in their mechanochemical cycles in response to small-molecule inhibitors, several of which bind to kinesins by induced fit, trapping the motors in a state that resembles a force-producing conformation. An unusual motor activator specifically increases mechanical output by cardiac myosin, potentially providing valuable information about its mechanism of function. Further study is essential to understand motor mechanochemical coupling and energy transduction, and could lead to new therapies to treat human disease.
The Use of a PleurX Catheter in the Management of Recurrent Benign Pleural Effusion: A Concise Review

Recurrent pleural effusion (RPE) can be encountered in various benign conditions such as inflammatory, infectious, or other systemic diseases (e.g., congestive heart failure (CHF), hepatic hydrothorax, post lung transplants, post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and chronic exudative pleurisy). Each condition is treated based on its unique pathophysiologic characteristics, and medical management is successful in the majority of patients. In rare circumstances, pleural effusions are rapidly recurring despite optimal medical therapy and patients have frequent hospitalisations that require repeated thoracenteses. Other than medical therapy and repeat thoracentesis, treatment options are limited to chest tube placement and chemical pleurodesis or, rarely, surgical pleurodesis. We conducted a literature review using PubMed and Google Scholar, finding 33 articles that were relevant to our topic over the last 30 years. In patients with recurrent benign pleural effusion that is refractory to medical management, the PleurX catheter seems to be a useful tool in relieving respiratory symptoms, decreasing the rate of hospitalisation and achieving pleurodesis.
‘A leatherneck reports’, part 1: The correspondence of lieutenant general James Carson Breckinridge, USMC, assistant us naval attache to Petrograd, 1916–17

Lieutenant General James Carson Breckinridge, USMC, (1877–1942) a veteran and well‐respected Marine Corps officer during the first four decades of the twentieth century, had the distinct honor of being one of only a handful of US military officers with an intimate knowledge of Russian history and civilization. His personal papers, on repository at the Marine Corps University Archives, Quantico, Virginia, contain reports, observations, newspaper clippings and articles dealing with Russian affairs, as well as his own reflections of events then ongoing in Russia and afterwards. In his position as the Assistant US Naval Attache to the US Embassy in Petrograd prior to and during the February 1917 Revolution, Breckinridge served in Russia at a pivotal time in US‐Russian relations. From the vantage point of the US Embassy in Petrograd and later from consulates in Christiania (Oslo, Norway), Stockholm, and for a short while Copenhagen, Breckinridge's letters, mainly to his mother, reflect the hectic days in the R...
The production rate and spatial distribution of H2O for comet P/Halley

Spectroscopic observations of the O I 1D lines for Comet P/Halley are used to derive water-production rates; 43 exposures during the period August 1985 to June 1986 are reduced. The reduction procedure involves sky subtraction, ratios with solar analog comparison stars, subtraction of contaminating NH2 emissions, and absolute flux calibration. The flux collected within the 2.5-arcsec-wide x 151-arcsec-long integration aperture is converted to a total comet O I 6300-A luminosity using a cometary gas outflow model. Water-production rates for 10 preperihelion dates and seven postperihelion dates are derived. An error budget yields an estimated uncertainty of + 30 percent in H2O production rates with a maximum error of + or - 50 percent. For the preperihelion period, a good fit of the water-production rate as a function of heliocentric distance can be obtained as Q(H2O) = 4.36 x 10 to the 29th x r exp -2.54. A postperihelion enhancement by about a factor of 1.8, which appears to dissipate by June 1986, is observed. Several values of enhanced water production agree well with the observed light curve of P/Halley. Comparison of H2O production rates with those deduced by other methods shows quite reasonable agreement.
Typical xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A fibroblasts have detectable ultraviolet light-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis

Abstract Ultraviolet-induced nuclear uptake of tritiated thymidine [ 3 H]dThd demonstrable by autoradiography in non-synthesis phases of the cell cycle is known as unscheduled DNA synthesis and reflects repair replication of ultraviolet-damaged DNA. We have reported that the rate of any such unscheduled DNA synthesis in typical group A xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts, if present, is less than 2% of the normal rate. We have now performed experiments to determine whether these fibroblasts have any unscheduled DNA synthesis. Fibroblast coverslip cultures of four xeroderma pigmentosum group A strains were prepared. Irradiated (254 nm ultraviolet light) and unirradiated cultures from each strain were incubated with [ 3 H]dThd at 37°C, and autoradiograms were prepared using NTB-3 emulsion. A nuclear grain count was made of 100 consecutive nuclei of non-S-phase irradiated and unirradiated cells. A slide background grain count was simultaneously made from an acellular area adjacent to each cell analyzed. When a strain's irradiated and unirradiated autoradiograms having similar slide background grain count averages were compared, the nuclear grain count average of the irradiated cells was always higher than that of the unirradiated cells. This ultraviolet-induced increase in the mean nuclear grain count ranged from 0.4 to 1.3% of that given by normal non-xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts and was not reduced by 10 −2 M hydroxyurea. Planimetric studies showed that the ultraviolet-induced increase in nuclear grain count is not due to an increased nuclear area in irradiated cells. We conclude that these typical group A xeroderma pigmentosum strains perform very low, but detectable, ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis which probably reflects repair replication. We cannot, however, determine if there are significantly different rates of ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis among these ultraviolet strains.
Catastrophic Destruction of Coral Reefs by Venomous Sea Star Acanthaster planci: ABSTRACT

The sea star, Acanthaster planci, widely but sparsely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region, has experienced sudden local population explosions causing unprecedented damage to certain coral reefs of the Pacific. By devouring and killing hard corals en masse, this animal has created massive environmental upheavals as hordes advance systematically over reef surfaces reducing coral communities to dead rubble. In order to preserve Green Island (Australia), divers have been collecting for destruction as many as 375 individuals per day for more than 15 months. Nevertheless, the entire width of more than 1 mi of reef has been devastated. As new outbreaks occur, there is fear in Australia that this sea star, if unchecked, ultimately could destroy the entire Grea Barrier Reef and along with it the valuable marine community that it harbors. In 1966-1968 the writer discovered localized Acanthaster populations of very high density at Guam, Saipan, Koror, Fiji, and New Guinea. The problem is not only of considerable importance to the economy, health, and welfare of inhabitants of Pacific Islands, but elucidation of the factors permitting the phenomenal increase in numbers may help the understanding of apparent catastrophic events concerning coral reefs as indicated by the geologic record. The writer's ecologic studies of Acanthaster are guided by two hypotheses: (1) an unknown predator of the sea star has been removed from these reefs, possibly by man, and (2) a mutant, more venomous strain of A. planci evolved in the 1950s or 1960s. At present, the e is some evidence supporting both hypotheses. End_of_Article - Last_Page 749------------
Biochemical evidence for re‐use of noradrenergic storage vesicles in the guinea‐pig heart

1. The present investigation was specifically aimed to study the question of re-use of sympathetic storage vesicles of the isolated guinea-pig heart.2. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 20 mM) caused a massive enhancement of noradrenaline (NA) overflow upon transmural stimulation of the heart. The enhancement was inversely related to the frequency of stimulation, and maximum amounts (expressed per pulse) overflowed upon stimulation with one pulse. After one pulse the overflow reached a maximum level in about 20 sec and gradually declined to a basal level in about 80 sec.3. Enhanced overflow of NA by TEA and intermittent stimulation was accompanied by reduction in ventricular NA content. Reduction was inversely related to the frequency of stimulation. Almost 50% reduction occurred 15 min after TEA and stimulation (1 Hz), and reached a maximum value (80%) in 60-70 min.4. Substantially higher quantities of NA were recovered in the perfusion fluid than were lost from the heart after TEA plus stimulation.5. Reduction in NA content effected by TEA plus stimulation (for 70 min) was not accompanied by any decrease in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase.6. After incubation with 6 mum-NA, the normal ventricular portions showed a net accumulation of NA (0.87 mug/g). Tissue NA content was not changed upon incubation with 6 mum-dopamine or 25 muM-L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine).7. Partially depleted stores of ventricular NA (by TEA and stimulation) were restored to a significant extent by exogenous NA, dopamine or L-DOPA. The process of partial depletion of and repletion with NA was repeated two times in the same tissue. Restoring effects of NA, dopamine and L-DOPA on the NA stores of the partially depleted ventricle were almost completely blocked by desipramine.8. Newly retained NA or that synthesized from L-DOPA in a partially depleted ventricle was released upon electrical stimulation. The release was totally dependent on Ca.9. The capacity of a partially depleted tissue to take up and retain exogenous NA remained identical to that of a normal ventricle, provided the tissue was stimulated in the presence of TEA for only 10 min rather than for 70 min.10. Our conclusion is that the functional integrity of the noradrenergic storage vesicles of cardiac sympathetic nerves remains normal after exocytotic release of their transmitter substance. One possibility is that these vesicles can be re-utilized by the terminal region of the neurone to synthesize, store and release their transmitter substance.
Androgen dependency of alcohol effects on aggressive behavior: a seasonal rhythm in high-ranking squirrel monkeys.

The relationship between testosterone and alcohol's effects on social behavior within established groups of squirrel monkeys was studied. Consistent behavioral differences between dominant and subordinate monkeys were quantitatively measured using computer assisted, continuous measurement techniques. Blood samples collected during the mating season revealed plasma testosterone measures of 202.9±13.4 ng/ml in dominant monkeys and 28±6.2 ng/ml in subordinate monkeys. Alcohol (0.1–1.0 g/kg, PO) produced a dose-related decrease of testosterone levels in dominant monkeys. Concurrently, alcohol produced biphasic effects on the behavior of dominant but not subordinate monkeys; low doses (0.1, 0.3 g/kg) increased the frequency of threats, grasps, and displacements. Subordinate monkeys were not affected at any dose. During the non-mating season, plasma levels of testosterone fell to 55.2±23.7 ng/ml in dominant monkeys and 7.3±1.7 ng/ml in subordinate monkeys. Plasma testosterone and the social behavior of both dominant and subordinate monkeys were unaffected by alcohol.
New 9- or 10-dentate luminescent lanthanide chelates.

Polyaminocarboxylate-based luminescent lanthanide complexes have unusual emission properties, including millisecond excited-state lifetimes and sharply spiked spectra compared to common organic fluorophores. There are three distinct sections in the structure of the luminescent lanthanide chelates: a polyaminocarboxylate backbone to bind the lanthanide ions tightly, an antenna molecule to sensitize the emission of lanthanide ions, and a reactive group to attach to biomolecules. We have previously reported the modifications on the chelates, on the antenna molecules (commonly cs124), and on the reactive sites. In searching for stronger binding chelates and better protection from solvent hydration, here we report the modification of the coordination number of the chelates. A series of 9- and 10-dentate chelates were synthesized. Among them, the 1-oxa-4,7-diazacyclononane (N2O)-containing chelate provides the best protection to the lanthanide ions from solvent molecule attack, and forms the most stable lanthan...
Natural gas contracts in an emerging competitive market

Natural gas is being viewed by many as the fuel of the 1990s and beyond because of its environmental qualities, relatively low cost and significant domestic resource base. However, in the Fall of 1991, a group of electric utility executives met with then Deputy Secretary of Energy Henson Moore and asserted that an inability to obtain long term gas contracts meant that supplies are unreliable and construction of gas-fueled generating stations is being discouraged. This study was requested by the Deputy Secretary to address the issues surrounding long-term gas contracts and supply reliability. The relationship between supply reliability and contracts is explained in terms of the number of buyers and sellers in a market. With the appropriate state regulatory policies, utilities can contract for gas and obtain reliable supplies at competitive market prices. Public utility commissioners are encouraged to permit utilities a free choice in signing gas contracts, but to allow only competitive market prices to be reflected in allowable fuel costs.
Issues and challenges in compiling for the CBEA

It has been demonstrated that expert programmers can develop and hand tune applications to exploit the full performance potential of the CBE architecture. We believe that sophisticated compiler optimization technology can bridge the gap between usability and performance in this arena. To this end we have developed a research prototype compiler targeting the Cell processor.In this talk we describe a variety of compiler techniques to exploit the Cell processor. These techniques are aimed at automatically generating high quality codes for the heterogeneous parallelism available on the Cell processor. In particular we will focus the discussion on managing the small local memories of the SPEs and discuss our approach to presenting the user with a single shared memory image through our compiler controlled software cache. We will also report and discuss the results we have achieved to date, which indicate that significant speedup can be achieved on this processor with a high level of support from the compiler.
An Elementary Product Identity in Polynomial Dynamics

(2001). An Elementary Product Identity in Polynomial Dynamics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 108, No. 9, pp. 860-864.
Decentralized Learning for Multiplayer Multiarmed Bandits

We consider the problem of distributed online learning with multiple players in multiarmed bandit (MAB) models. Each player can pick among multiple arms. When a player picks an arm, it gets a reward. We consider both independent identically distributed (i.i.d.) reward model and Markovian reward model. In the i.i.d. model, each arm is modeled as an i.i.d. process with an unknown distribution with an unknown mean. In the Markovian model, each arm is modeled as a finite, irreducible, aperiodic and reversible Markov chain with an unknown probability transition matrix and stationary distribution. The arms give different rewards to different players. If two players pick the same arm, there is a collision, and neither of them get any reward. There is no dedicated control channel for coordination or communication among the players. Any other communication between the users is costly and will add to the regret. We propose an online index-based distributed learning policy called dUCB4 algorithm that trades off exploration versus exploitation in the right way, and achieves expected regret that grows at most as near- O(log2T). The motivation comes from opportunistic spectrum access by multiple secondary users in cognitive radio networks wherein they must pick among various wireless channels that look different to different users. This is the first distributed learning algorithm for multiplayer MABs with heterogeneous players (that have player-dependent rewards) to the best of our knowledge.
Reacting shock bubble interaction

Abstract In this work, experimental results are presented for the first time on the shock-initiated combustion of a spherical density inhomogeneity. A converging lens geometry, in which a heavy bubble free-falls in a lighter fluid, is used to focus a planar shock wave resulting in the ignition of a mixture of H 2 , O 2 and Xe (55%, 30% and 15%, respectively) in N 2 . The experiments are performed at the Wisconsin Shock Tube Laboratory in a 9 m vertical shock tube with a 25.4 cm square cross-section. A pneumatic injector is used to generate a 4 cm diameter soap film bubble filled with the combustible mixture. The injector retracts flush into the side of the tube releasing the bubble into a state of free-fall. The initial conditions are captured with two high speed CMOS cameras orientated perpendicular to one another. Simultaneous Mie scattering and chemiluminescence diagnostics are used to image the post-shock bubble morphology and combustion, respectively. The ignition delay times are measured for several incident shock strengths (1.3 M M is the Mach number) and range between 5 μs and 400 μs. The ignition delay times are used in combination with 1D gas dynamics to estimate the effect of shock-focusing. It is observed that two limiting cases emerge, with the combustion characteristics depending heavily on the incident shock strength. A comparison to non-combusting mixtures is made by matching the density of the bubble mixture without the fuel (49% Xe, 51% O 2 ).
Glycinamide ribonucleotide analogue probes for glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase

Abstract Glycinamide ribonucleotide (GAR) transformylase catalyzes the conversion of glycinamide ribonucleotide and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to formylglycinamide ribonucleotide and tetrahydrofolate. This reaction constitutes the third step in de novo purine biosynthesis. A series of glycinamide ribonucleotide analogues, in which the glycinamide side chain (R = CH 2 NH 2 ) has been replaced by R = CH 2 Br, CH 2 Cl, CH 2 CN, CHN 2 , CHClCH 2 NH 2 , and , has been prepared. All of these analogues were inhibitors of GAR transformylase, competitive against GAR, but none of these proved to be enzyme inactivators. Neither R = CHClCH 2 NH 2 nor served as substrates for the enzyme-catalyzed transformylation reaction.
Evolutionary history of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes in Lotus, Medicago, and Phaseolus

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) genes encode proteins that mediate various signaling pathways associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses in eukaryotes. The MAPK genes form a 3-tier signal transduction cascade between cellular stimuli and physiological responses. Recent identification of soybean MAPKs and availability of genome sequences from other legume species allowed us to identify their MAPK genes. The main objectives of this study were to identify MAPKs in 3 legume species, Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula, and Phaseolus vulgaris, and to assess their phylogenetic relationships. We used approaches in comparative genomics for MAPK gene identification and named the newly identified genes following Arabidopsis MAPK nomenclature model. We identified 19, 18, and 15 MAPKs and 7, 4, and 9 MAPKKs in the genome of Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula, and Phaseolus vulgaris, respectively. Within clade placement of MAPKs and MAPKKs in the 3 legume species were consistent with those in soybean and Arabidopsis. Among 5 clades of MAPKs, 4 founder clades were consistent to MAPKs of other plant species and orthologs of MAPK genes in the fifth clade-"Clade E" were consistent with those in soybean. Our results also indicated that some gene duplication events might have occurred prior to eudicot-monocot divergence. Highly diversified MAPKs in soybean relative to those in 3 other legume species are attributable to the polyploidization events in soybean. The identification of the MAPK genes in the legume species is important for the legume crop improvement; and evolutionary relationships and functional divergence of these gene members provide insights into plant genome evolution.
Partitioned analysis of coupled mechanical systems

Abstract This is a tutorial article that reviews the use of partitioned analysis procedures for the analysis of coupled dynamical systems. Attention is focused on the computational simulation of systems in which a structure is a major component. Important applications in that class are provided by thermomechanics, fluid–structure interaction and control–structure interaction. In the partitioned solution approach, systems are spatially decomposed into partitions. This decomposition is driven by physical or computational considerations. The solution is separately advanced in time over each partition. Interaction effects are accounted for by transmission and synchronization of coupled state variables. Recent developments in the use of this approach for multilevel decomposition aimed at massively parallel computation are discussed.
Optimal hardware module planning and switch backplane configuration for layer-one traffic grooming

We present an automatic hardware module planning approach for optical transport networks. An optimal switch backplane size is identified that can achieve the most cost-effective hardware module planning.