cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photochemical derivatization of agarose: synthesis of an affinity agarose using a photoaffinity ligand specific for the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor.

Abstract PK 14105, a photoaffinity ligand specific for the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBZR), was photochemically coupled to ω-aminobutyl agarose (ABAg) to yield PK 14105 agarose (PKAg). 19 F and 1 H NMR spectroscopy were consistent with the proposed site of coupling at the 2′-fluorine of PK 14105 by the primary amine moiety of ABAg. Quantitation of the affinity gel using two different colorimetric assays for primary amines suggests approximately 50% of the available primary amine groups of ABAg were bound by PK 14105. The estimated concentration of PK 14105 bound to ABAg was 2.3 μmol/ml of settled gel (2.3 m m effective ligand concentration). PKAg specifically binds the bovine PBZR solubilized by digitonin. The affinity of PKAg for the soluble PBZR was estimated by varying the concentration of PKAg. PBZR binding to PKAg was saturable and the apparent affinity of PKAg for the bovine receptor was estimated from the saturation data. APKAg affinity column bound 85% of the solubilized PBZR from rat adrenals partially purified by anion exchange chromatography. These results indicate PKAg is a receptor-specific affinity media which may be useful in the purification of the native PBZR from various species.
Cholecystocolic fistula: an unusual presentation and diagnosis by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

This report describes a patient with a cholecystocolic fistula whose presentation was unusual because it lacked the signs and symptoms that suggest biliary disease (abdominal pain, food intolerance, and belching) and because the fistula was not visualized on barium enema but was apparent on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after incidental pneumobilia discovered on ultrasound directed our attention to the biliary tree. A previous Billroth II with vagotomy may have predisposed to the development of the fistula.
Adaptive reliability revisited

In this paper we start by recalling the seminal concepts underlying adaptive reliability of Tom Dy Liacco conceived almost four decades ago [1]. Unfortunately, these concepts have not developed nor have been adopted by the industry yet. Recent efforts toward grid modernization will fall short of the anticipated expectations unless this gets implemented. Two distinct, yet related, challenges and opportunities are: 1) making electric energy services reliable and secure over broad ranges of conditions created by un-intended and/or intended system failures; and, 2) ensuring at the same time environmental and economic sustainability of energy services. We stress that even in the regulated industry this can be achieved only by implementing adaptive reliability. Moreover, as the industry restructures and novel resources get deployed the notions of adaptive reliability must evolve as well.
Monte Carlo simulation of co-operative adsorption of ligands onto polymers

Abstract A computer model simulates multiple binding of an arbitrary number of species of ligand to an arbitrary number of identical (interactive or non-interactive) sites deployed in a one-dimensional array on a macromolecule. The free energy of adsorption at a site is a function of the state of occupancy of its nearest neighbors (the Ising hypothesis). The probability of a site being occupied by a specific ligand is derived as a function of the activities of the ligand and the free energy change associated with binding. Using these probabilities, a Monte Carlo calculation determines a new occupant for each binding site. The process is iterated to obtain stable averages for the fraction of sites occupied by each ligand. Simulation of binding of oxygen by hemoglobin produces excellent agreement with experimental data. New theoretical curves illustrate the effects of various types of interaction between bound ligands, e.g. some interactions stabilize the system while others lead to an all-or-none response.
William Lazer: reflections on my American Marketing Association presidency

Purpose – The purpose of this article is intended to record the author’s personal reflections on his term of office as President of the American Marketing Association (AMA). Design/methodology/approach – Personal reflections are provided in an autobiographical approach. Findings – The article discusses the AMA situation during the 1970s, membership and conferences, the Office of the President and the author’s goals and objectives as President of the AMA. Other issues discussed include certification, Canadian affiliates, the New York Chapter and how the AMA handled the Journal of Consumer Research and the Journal of Marketing during this period in time. International issues during the author’s Presidency included the International Marketing Federation, AMA’s International Activities and Strategic Plans and the Global Division. Political issues included dealing with the Doctoral Consortium, Bureau of the Census, the White House Department of Consumer Affairs, AMA Advocacy and a definition of Marketing. Orig...
Y(ou)r q(ua)ntifi(e)d s(el)f

Whether or not your existence is noticed (and 61 per cent of the time it is), whether you detect it or not, you are exquisite. And you are immersed in … yourself. By Michael Blumlein
Characteristics of a massive training artificial neural network in the distinction between lung nodules and vessels in CT images

Abstract We investigated the characteristics of a massive training artificial neural network (MTANN) in the distinction between nodules and vessels in thoracic CT images. The MTANN is a trainable highly nonlinear filter consisting of a modified multilayer artificial neural network. The MTANN is trained with a large number of input sub-regions extracted from CT images and the corresponding pixels in teacher images. For enhancement of nodules and suppression of vessels, we trained an MTANN with 10 nodules and 10 non-nodules including medium-sized and small vessels. In order to investigate the basic characteristic of the trained MTANN, we applied the MTANN to simulated CT images containing models of nodules and vessels. Various-sized modeled nodules with different contrast in the output images of the trained MTANN were represented by light circular distributions, whereas various-sized modeled vessels with different orientations were completely dark. This result indicates that the MTANN would be robust against the change in scale and rotation in enhancement of nodules and suppression of vessels. To investigate the performance for actual nodules and vessels, we applied the trained MTANN to non-training cases. Three major nodule patterns such as p-GGO, m-GGO and solid nodules of various sizes in the output images of the trained MTANN were represented by light distributions, whereas the output images for medium-sized and small vessels were almost dark. This result indicates that the MTANN has high generalization ability in the distinction between nodules and vessels in CT images.
Histones of genetically active and inactive chromatin in mealy bugs.

Abstract The histones from second and third instar male and female mealy bugs were isolated and analyzed by acrylamide disc electrophoresis. There is no major histone fraction unique to or completely absent from either sex or stage. For each sex and stage, the percent of total histone within each band does not vary significantly, within experimental error. Since male mealy bugs contain heterochromatic chromosomes (genetically inactive) and female mealy bugs do not, the results suggest that heterochromatization is not related to a quantitative or qualitative variation in the histone fractions resolvable by this method.
Oxygen-Induced Fibroblast Proliferation in Human Fetal Lung Cells Is Mediated by Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1

Oxygen-Induced Fibroblast Proliferation in Human Fetal Lung Cells Is Mediated by Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1
Electrostatic turbulence in tokamaks on transport time scales

Simulating electrostatic turbulence in tokamaks on transport time scales requires retaining and evolving a complete turbulence modified neoclassical transport description, including all the axisymmetric neoclassical and zonal flow radial electric field effects, as well as the turbulent transport normally associated with drift instabilities. Neoclassical electric field effects are particularly difficult to retain since they require evaluating the ion distribution function to higher order in gyroradius over background scale length than standard gyrokinetic treatments. To avoid extending gyrokinetics an alternate hybrid gyrokinetic-fluid treatment is formulated that employs moments of the full Fokker–Planck kinetic equation to remove the need for a higher order gyrokinetic distribution function. The resulting hybrid description is able to model all electrostatic turbulence effects with wavelengths much longer than an electron Larmor radius such as the ion temperature gradient (ITG) and trapped electron modes (TEM).
Evidence for positive and negative regulation of the mouse Cdx2 gene

The caudal family of transcription factors specifies posterior structures during mouse development. We describe the cis-regulatory regions that control mouse Cdx2 expression in the posterior neural tube and mesoderm. An 11.4 kb genomic fragment directs reporter gene expression in a pattern reflecting endogenous Cdx2 expression. A crucial enhancer is located in a 1 kb fragment upstream of the Cdx2 transcriptional start site. This enhancer by itself directs reporter gene expression to more anterior levels in the neural tube compared to the endogenous Cdx2 expression, suggesting the presence of negative regulatory elements outside the 1 kb fragment. A second enhancer, located in the first intron directs robust expression to the posterior two-thirds of the developing embryo in a pattern that is ectopic to Cdx2 expression. The intronic enhancer activity is silenced in the context of the larger 11.4 kb reporter construct. Intron 1 contains two independent enhancers that specifically direct expression to mesoderm (MSE) and neural tube (NSE). Phylogenetic comparison of vertebrate Cdx2 sequences indicates several conserved regions of sequences within the three-enhancer regions. A transcription factor database search suggests potential binding sites for factors involved in FGF and Wnt signaling pathways. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 308B:308–321, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Identification of a 20,000-dalton protein in SSV-transformed nonproducer cells.

Abstract Simian sarcoma virus-transformed nonproducer cells (SSV-NP cells) express a 20,000-dalton protein (p20), which is precipitated by an autologous antiserum against SSV-NP cells. The molecule is shed or secreted from the cells because it was found in cell extracts as well as tissue culture supernatants. P20 was detected in SSV-transformed cells from three different species, but not in helper virus (SSAV)-infected nontransformed cells. The data suggest that the expression of p20 is specific for transformation by SSV.
Flowering dynamics and pollinator visitation of oilseed echium (Echium plantagineum).

Echium (Echium plantagineum L.) is an alternative oilseed crop in summer-wet temperate regions that provides floral resources to pollinators. Its seed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as stearidonic acid, which is desired highly by the cosmetic industry. Seeds were sown in field plots over three years in western Minnesota in spring (early-sown) or early summer (late-sown), and flower abundance, pollinator visitation, and seed yields were studied. Initial flowering commenced 41 to 55 d after sowing, and anthesis duration (first flowering to harvest) was 34 to 70 d. Late sowing dates delayed anthesis, but increased the intensity of visitation by pollinators. Cumulative flower densities ranged from 1 to 4.5 billion ha−1. Flowers attracted numerous honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), as many as 35 per minute of observation, which represented about 50% of all insect visitors. Early-sown echium produced seed yields up to 750 kg ha−1, which were 2–29 times higher than those of late-sown echium. Early sowing of echium in Minnesota provides abundant floral resources for pollinators for up to two months and simultaneously produces seed yields whose profits rival those of corn (Zea mays L.).
A high-yield and simplified procedure for the synthesis of α-[11C]Methyl-l-tryptophan

Alpha-[11C]methyl-L-tryptophan (AMT) has been synthesized by stereoselective methylation with [11C]methyl iodide of the lithium-enolate generated by treating dimethyl 2(S), 3a(R), 8a(S)-(+)-hexahydro-8(phenylsulfonyl)pyrrolo [2, 3-b]indole-1,2-dicarboxylate (2) with lithium diisopropyl amide (LDA) at -55 degrees C, followed by ring opening using trifluoroacetic acid and alkaline hydrolysis of the protecting groups. The crude product was purified by a simple reverse-phase C-18 Sep-Pak procedure. The purified product was isolated with an average radiochemical yield of 53 +/- 12% (decay corrected) in 30-35 min from [11C]methyl iodide. At end of synthesis (EOS), 138 +/- 35 mCi (n = 24) of product was collected with a specific activity of ca. 1-1.3 Ci/mumol (EOS) (4-5 Ci/mumol @ EOB) starting from 1.5 Ci (EOB) of [11C]CO2.
Experimental and theoretical study of Hall field limitations in MHD generators

Experimental and theoretical results pertaining to the Hall field behavior in combustion-driven MHD generators using clean fuel are presented. MHD generators are subject to Hall field breakdown as a result of electrical-thermal instabilities within the interelectrode plasma region and the interelectrode insulator. Interelectrode breakdown within the insulator typically occurs at a lower threshold voltage than breakdown of the plasma itself. As a result, experiments have been carried out to study the effect on the insulator initiated breakdown threshold of interelectrode insulator cooling. Experiments have also been carried out to study the dependence of the breakdown threshold on the electrode boundary-layer Joule heating, insulator width, and magnetic field. A two-dimensional computer model of the plasma and insulator regions has been developed. Theoretical results based on this model are compared with experimental data. The comparisons indicate both qualitative and quantitative agreement between experiment and theory. 12 references.
Why Research on the Pharmacogenetics of Atypical Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Is Warranted.

Weight gain is an often-observed side effect of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) and is particularly significant in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). The majority of individuals treated with AAPs will gain at least 10% of their initial body weight over the course of therapy (Umbricht & Kane, 1996). One's genetic constitution is an important factor that influences the variability of weight gain observed among patients taking AAPs. This article reviews the existing literature on psychopharmacogenetics of AAP-induced weight gain and the importance of this research for individuals with ID.
Generalized ERSS tree model: Revisiting working sets

Accurately characterizing the resource usage of an application at various levels in the memory hierarchy has been a long-standing research problem. Existing characterization studies are either motivated by specific allocation problems (e.g., memory page allocation) or they characterize a specific memory resource (e.g., L2 cache). The studies thus far have also implicitly assumed that there is no contention for the resource under consideration. The inevitable future of virtualization driven consolidation necessitates the sharing of physical resources at all levels of the memory hierarchy by multiple virtual machines (VMs). Given the lack of resource isolation mechanisms at several levels of the memory hierarchy within current commodity systems, provisioning resources for a virtualized application not only requires a precise characterization of its resource usage but must also account for the impact of resource contention due to other co-located applications during its lifetime. In this paper, we present a unifying Generalized ERSS Tree Model that characterizes the resource usage at all levels of the memory hierarchy during the entire lifetime of an application. Our model characterizes capacity requirements, the rate of use, and the impact of resource contention, at each level of memory. We present a methodology to build the model and demonstrate how it can be used for the accurate provisioning of the memory hierarchy in a consolidated environment. Empirical results suggest that the Generalized ERSS Tree Model is effective at characterizing applications with a wide variety of resource usage behaviors.
Production of a chiral polyester by Pseudomonas oleovorans grown with 5‐phenyl‐2,4‐pentadienoic acid

Pseudomonas oleovorans has been previously shown to produce a polyester containing a phenyl pendant group when grown with 5-phenylpentanoic acid under nutrient-limiting conditions. The same polyester was produced when 5-phenyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid was the only carbon source, and a mixture of two different polymers was produced when this bacterium was grown on a mixture of 5-phenyl-2,4-pentadienoic acid and nonanoic acid. The polymer blend obtained was separated by fractional crystallization to yield poly(3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoate) and the copolymer which is normally produced with nonanoic acid alone.
Animal models of infection-mediated vasculitis: implications for human disease

The human vasculitides including Takayasu's arteritis are idiopathic syndromes for which both autoimmune and infectious etiologies have been proposed. Although proof of a correlation between infection and human vasculitis would aid in patient management, it is difficult to confirm causality. To study infection-mediated vascular disease, different animal models have been developed. Infections with the bacteria C. pneumoniae, an RNA virus, and herpesviruses all cause vascular pathology and will be reviewed here. Many aspects of the human diseases are recapitulated in these models, so further animal studies may help elucidate mechanisms of infection-mediated vasculitis. Such results may improve management, and potentially, prevention of these important human diseases. Importantly, the animal models provide an opportunity to define how the immune and inflammatory processes function in the great vessels and the molecular basis for the selectivity of certain viral infections for the great elastic arteries.
CONSTITUENTS OF ELEMENTARY BODIES OF VACCINIA : V. A FLAVIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURIFIED VIRUS.

Suspensions of purified elementary bodies of vaccinia exhibit fluorescence in the presence of ultraviolet light. This fluorescent constituent can be separated by chromatographic methods provided the virus is first denatured by acid and heat. By means of the specific protein of d-amino acid oxidase it has been possible to identify the flavin constituent as flavin-adenine-dinucleotide and show that it can participate in the oxidative deamination of d-alanine. By means of microbiological assay the flavin component has been quantitatively measured and shown to compare favorably in concentration with that observed in animal cells and in some bacteria; its concentration in virus is lower than that observed in yeast. The demonstration that it exists as an integral portion of the virus is not conclusive. So far, however, it has been separated from the elementary bodies only by means which in themselves inactivate the virus.
Flow and thermally induced birefringence in gas-assisted tubular injection moldings: Simulation and experiment

Various components of birefringence in polystyrene (PS) and polycarbonate (PC) tubular moldings, obtained by gas-assisted injection molding (GAIM), are measured and simulated considering both flow- and thermally induced stresses. The flow- and thermally induced stresses are calculated using nonlinear and linear viscoelastic theories, respectively, based on the flow and temperature histories that the polymer experiences during the GAIM cycle. Flow-induced birefringence components are calculated from flow stresses using the stress optical rule, while thermally induced birefringence components are calculated from thermal stresses using a photoviscoelastic model. The simulated total residual birefringence takes into account the contributions of both flow- and thermally induced birefringence generated during the melt injection, gas injection, and cooling stages of GAIM. The simulated results are in better agreement with the measured birefringence in PS moldings than in PC moldings. Considering both thermal and flow birefringence, simulations provides a better description of the experimental results indicating that, in GAIM moldings, the birefringence near the mold was caused mainly by flow stresses while that located towards the polymer/gas interface was caused mainly by thermal stresses. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Study of split higher order mode resonances in superconducting cavities

Abstract Split resonances are a common appearance in superconducting cavities and are studied here on a specific example. A five cell superconducting cavity suitable for the envisioned electron-hadron collider eRHIC was designed and will be used in the upcoming “Coherent electron Cooling” Proof-of-Principle experiment. The superconducting cavity is intended for high-current applications, and beam stability depends on minimizing the Higher Order Modes (HOM). This was attempted in the design phase and will be done with appropriate mode dampers in operation. The design was implemented as a copper cavity and two Niobium cavities were fabricated. The availability of the copper model provided a convenient opportunity to confirm the design and to study potentially nefarious HOMs. Selected high- Q resonances were investigated via bead pull measurements. The appearance of split resonances impeded their study and suitable methods of HOM identification are presented in this report.
Mycobacterium haemophilum Masquerading as Leprosy in a Renal Transplant Patient

Opportunistic infections following immunosuppression in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients are common complications with the skin being a common sight of infection. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are rare but potential causes of skin infection in SOT patients. We present a case of an adult male immunosuppressed following renal transplantation who presented with an asymptomatic rash for several months. The patient's skin eruption consisted of erythematous papules and plaques coalescing into an annular formation. After failure of the initial empiric therapy, a punch biopsy was performed that demonstrated nerve involvement suspicious for Mycobacterium leprae. However, culture of the biopsy specimen grew acid-fast bacilli that were subsequently identified as M. haemophilum. His rash improved after a prolonged course of clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin. Both organisms are potential causes of opportunistic skin infections and can be difficult to distinguish with similar predilection for skin and other biochemical and genetic similarities. Ultimately they can be distinguished with culture as M. haemophilum will grow in culture and M. leprae will not. This case was unique due to nerve involvement on biopsy which is classically seen on biopsies of leprosy.
MAGICAL demonstration: system for automated metadata generation for instructional content

The "Tools for Automatic Generation of Learning Object Metadata" project addresses the requirement of developing advanced distributed learning delivery architecture and services for a large US government agency. We have developed a Webbased system called MAGIC (Metadata Automated Generation for Instructional Content) to assist content authors and course developers in generating metadata for learning objects and information assets to enable wider reuse of these objects across departments and organizations. Using the MAGIC system, content authors review and edit automatically-generated metadata sufficient to register and describe their assets for use and discovery in current and future distributed learning applications complying with the ADL SCORM standard. Course developers can use the system to assist in the conversion of existing courses to SCORM format or in developing new SCORM courses. The MAGIC system includes software tools to analyze and extract descriptive metadata from instructional videos, training documents, and other information assets. The tools generate some of the most critical SCORM metadata completely automatically. Benefits of MAGIC include easier reuse and repurposing, improved interoperability, and more timely registration of content for use by course developers. In this paper, we describe the system architecture, analysis tools developed, and services supported. A live demonstration of the system illustrating several use cases of the system will be presented at the conference, with a discussion of results from user studies and evaluation of the system.
Modeling multiscale diffusion processes in random heterogeneous media

A simple stochastic up-scaling strategy is presented for incorporating the effects of micro-scale variations of thermal conductivity in the thermal analysis of macro-scale systems. Incomplete characterization of the fine-scale variation necessitates posing the thermal conductivity as a stochastic multiscale random field. A data-driven approach coupled with a non-linear dimension reduction algorithm is used to construct a low-dimensional stochastic descriptor of the fine-scale variation of the stochastic conductivity. A representative volume element (RVE) argument is utilized to construct a simple model for up-scaling the stochastic thermal conductivity. In this model, the effective stochastic thermal conductivity is estimated by virtually interrogating the stochastic RV. A realistic example of the proposed stochastic multiscale diffusion strategy is illustrated utilizing limited experimental data.
Numerical solution of the viscous stability equations for low‐speed reacting flows

The governing equations required to analyse the linear (viscous) stability of low-speed reacting flows are derived and a solution method based on initial value problems is described. The algorithm accurately reproduces the neutral stability curve for a non-reacting viscous shear layer, thus providing partial validation. The results for premixed and non-premixed flames in planar shear layers are presented and discussed.
The local energy indicator: designing for wind and solar energy systems in the home

This paper proposes and investigates the area of local energy for interactive systems design. We characterize local energy in terms of three themes: contextuality, seasonality, and visibility/tangibility. Here we focus on two specific local energy technologies domestic, electrical generation from wind and solar. In order to investigate this area we design, deploy and study a novel local energy device: The Local Energy Indicator. We conclude by outlining directions for future work related to local energy for interactive design.
The Intersections of Identity and Politics in Archaeology

▪ Abstract This paper traces the conjunction of two interrelated epistemic phenomena that have begun to shape the discipline since the early 1990s. The first entails theorizing social identity in past societies: specifically, how social lives are inscribed by the experiences of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and so on. The other constitutes the rise of a politicized and ethical archaeology that now recognizes its active role in contemporary culture and is enunciated through the discourses of nationalism, sociopolitics, postcolonialism, diaspora, and globalism. Both trends have been tacitly shaped by anthropological and social theory, but they are fundamentally driven by the powerful voices of once marginalized groups and their newfound place in the circles of academic legitimacy. I argue that our disciplinary reticence to embrace the politics of identity, both in our investigations of the past and our imbrications in the present, has much to do with archaeology's lack of reflexivity, both personal and disc...
Validation of the Theoretical Spectrum of Baroclinic Inertia-Gravity Waves

Abstract Assuming nonlinear dynamics of baroclinic inertia–gravity (BIG) waves to be dominated by resonant four-wave interactions, recent studies yielded simple analytical expressions for the energy spectra. The only parameter remaining unknown is a nondimensional constant of proportionality α, referred to as a “Kolmogorov constant” in wave turbulence theory. The goals of the present study are 1) to validate the theoretical spectrum of the kinetic wave energy by comparing it with observed frequency spectra of horizontal velocities and 2) to obtain the first empirical estimate of α for this model.
On elementary symmetric functions of the roots of two matrices in multivariate analysis

1. SUMMARY A lemma is proved to show that the moments of the (8-i)th elementary symmetric function (E.S.F.) in s non-null characteristic roots, Ai (i = 1, 2,..., s), of a matrix in multivariate analysis can be derived from those of the ith E.S.F. Using this lemma the first four moments of the (s - I)th E.S.F. have been obtained from those of the first E.S.F. already known (Pillai, 1954, 1960; Pillai & Samson, 1959). Further, a second lemma is given showing that the moments of the (s - I)th E.S.F. in the s characteristic roots, 64 = Ai/(I + Ai), are derivable from those of the first E.S.F. in the A's. Upper percentage points (5 and 1 %) are obtained for the distribution of the (s - I)th E.S.F. in the A's for s = 3 using the moment quotients. An example is given to illustrate the use of this criterion.
Structure-activity relationships in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase revealed by radiation target analysis.

Radiation target analysis is a powerful technique that can be used to determine both the structural and functional sizes of macromolecules. We have used this technique to probe the structure–function relationships of the recombinant forms of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). For the p66/p51 and p66/p66 dimeric forms of HIV-1 RT, both the structural and functional target sizes corresponded to that of the dimeric protein, indicating that a primary ionization in one subunit of the HIV-1 RT enzyme results in the concomitant polymer scission of both subunits. In contrast to p66/p51 and p66/p66 RT, the individually isolated p51 subunit of HIV-1 RT inactivated as a monomer. However, in the presence of a DNA template/primer substrate, the radiation inactivation analyses of p51 yielded a structural target size corresponding to that of a dimeric protein. This would indicate that the DNA substrate acted as a scaffold or template for p51 RT homodimer formation. In light of this observation, radiation inactivation studies can readily be applied to other DNA polymerase enzymes, such as the murine leukemia virus RT, for which the functional form of the enzyme has yet to be determined.
On the Comparative Study of Immigrant and Ethnic Groups in the New World: A Note

The modern history of Asians in the New World is a long and complex one beginning with South Asian indentured laborers brought to the West Indies in the early decades of the nineteenth century and continuing into the present, when, in recent years, wholly apart from Southeast Asian refugees, Asians have amounted to about one in four of the legal migrants to the United States. Almost all of the literature about these immigrants and their descendants has been particularistic, focussing on one particular ethnic or national group residing within a limited geographical area, often as narrow as a particular city. This being the case, the articles in this journal by Stephen I. Thompson (1979) and Bernard Wong (1978) about the degree of relative assimilation of East Asians in Peru and the United States should be welcomed by all scholars interested in comparative ethnicity. Although the comments to follow are largely negative they should not be considered as dismissive of the value of the empirical research of either scholar; I have learned from each and hope to continue to do so.
An Electrogenic Sodium Pump in Limulus Ventral Photoreceptor Cells

A hyperpolarization can be recorded intracellularly following either a single bright light stimulus or the intracellular injection of Na+. This after-hyperpolarization is abolished by bathing in 5 x 10-6 M strophanthidin or removal of extracellular K+. Both treatments also lead to a small, rapid depolarization of the dark-adapted cell. When either treatment is prolonged, light responses can still be elicited, although with repetitive stimuli the responses are slowly and progressively diminished in size. The rate of diminution is greater for higher values of [Ca++]out; with [Ca++]out = 0.1 mM, there is almost no progressive diminution of repetitive responses produced by either K+-free seawater or strophanthidin. We propose that an electrogenic Na+ pump contributes directly to dark-adapted membrane voltage and also generates the after-hyperpolarizations, but does not directly generate the receptor potential. Inhibition of this pump leads to intracellular accumulation of sodium ions, which in turn leads to an increase in intracellular Ca++ (provided there is sufficient extracellular Ca++). This increase in intracellular calcium probably accounts for the progressive decrease in the size of the receptor potential seen when the pump is inhibited.
Aerobic Exercise Training Can Reverse Age-Related Peripheral Circulatory Changes in Healthy Older Men

Background—The age-related decline in maximal oxygen consumption is attenuated by habitual aerobic exercise. However, the relative effects of training on central and peripheral responses to exercise in older subjects are not known. The present study assessed the contribution of central and peripheral responses to the age-associated decline in peak oxygen consumption and compared the effect of exercise training in healthy older and younger subjects. Methods and Results—Ten older and 13 younger men underwent invasive measurement of central and peripheral cardiovascular responses during an upright, staged cycle exercise test before and after a 3-month period of exercise training with cycle ergometry. At baseline, cardiac output and AV oxygen difference during exercise were significantly lower in older subjects. With training, the older and younger groups increased maximal oxygen consumption by 17.8% and 20.2%, respectively. Peak cardiac output was unchanged in both groups. Systemic AV oxygen difference incre...
Stimulation of rabbit erythroblast multiplication and maturation in vitro by blood leukocytes: Cytological observations. III. Studies on erythropoiesis

Blood leukocytes incubated in vitro with rabbit-marrow cells induced a several-fold increase in basophilic erythroblasts and smaller increases in acidophils and reticulocytes. The main effect was nearly complete in one hour at 37°. Erythropoietin augmented the leukocyte effect; anti-erythropoietin inhibited it with or without erythropoietin. The erythroblast increase came entirely from the marrow cells; the precursor cell class has not been identified, except that division of pre-existing basophils appears to be excluded. Autologous and homologous leukocytes were about equally effective. A method is described of measuring on stained smears changes in relative concentrations of different classes of cells induced experimentally. A method of preparing highly concentrated peripheral blood leukocytes is described.
Serum proteins prevent aggregation of Fe2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles

Aggregation of metal oxide nanoparticles in aqueous media complicates interpretation of in vitro studies of nanoparticle–cell interactions. We used dynamic light scattering to investigate the aggregation dynamics of iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Our results show that iron oxide particles aggregate more readily than zinc oxide particles. Pretreatment with serum stabilises iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles against aggregation. Serum-treated iron oxide is stable only in pure water, while zinc oxide is stable in water or cell culture media. These findings, combined with zeta potential measurements and quantification of proteins adsorbed on particle surface, suggest that serum stabilisation of iron oxide particles occurs primarily through protein adsorption and resulting net surface charge. Zinc oxide stabilisation, however, also involves steric hindrance of particle aggregation. Fluid shear at levels used in flow experiments breaks up iron oxide particle aggregates. These results enhance our understanding of nanoparticle aggregation and its consequences for research on the biological effects of nanomaterials.
Mineral metabolism markers and the long-term risk of hip fracture: the cardiovascular health study.

Context: Disturbances in mineral metabolism are associated with lower bone mineral density and fracture; however, previous human studies have assessed individual mineral metabolism markers in isolation. Objective: We assessed serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), PTH, and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) concentrations individually, and in combination, in association with the long-term risk of hip fracture among a general population of older adults. Design and Setting: We studied 2294 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study (mean age 74 yr) who were ambulatory and free of hip fracture and known cardiovascular disease at baseline. We used proportional hazards models to evaluate associations of baseline serum 25-OHD, PTH, and BAP concentrations with the time to first hospitalized hip fracture. Results: During a median of 13 yr of follow-up, 242 participants (10.6%) developed an incident hip fracture. Serum 25-OHD concentrations less than 15 ng/ml were associated with a 61% ...
Sp1 activation of a TATA-less promoter requires a species-specific interaction involving transcription factor IID

Sp1 is a ubiquitous activator of numerous TATA-containing and TATA-less promoters within the human genome. This transcription factor is distinct from several other mammalian activators because it cannot stimulate transcription of reporter genes when ectopically expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Here we report that in cultured cells from Drosophila melanogaster human Sp1 efficiently activates transcription from synthetic promoters containing TATA boxes, but not from promoters that contain an initiator instead of a TATA box. The inability of Sp1 to activate initiator-mediated transcription did not result from inactivity of the consensus initiator element used for the experiments, as other initiator functions were conserved in Drosophila cells. Interestingly, a difference between the Drosophila and human TFIID complexes was found to be responsible for the selective inability of Sp1 to activate initiator-mediated transcription in Drosophila; in a complementation assay with a TFIID-depleted HeLa cell extract both the Drosophila and human TFIID complexes supported TATA-mediated transcription, but only the human complex supported initiator-mediated transcription. These results suggest that a species-specific interaction is required for activation of TATA-less promoters by Sp1, revealing a difference in transcriptional activation mechanisms between vertebrates and invertebrates.
A Comparative Review Of Optical Surface Contamination Assessment Techniques

This paper will review the relative sensitivities and practicalities of the common surface analytical methods that are used to detect and identify unwelcome adsorbants on optical surfaces. The compared methods include visual inspection, simple reflectometry and transmissiometry, ellipsometry, infrared absorption and attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (ATR), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and mass accretion determined by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The discussion is biased toward those methods that apply optical thin film analytical techniques to spacecraft optical contamination problems. Examples are cited from both ground based and in-orbit experiments.
Opportunities via extended networks for teens' informal learning

With the increasing use of the Internet and social media for knowledge and social connections, we might expect that people more easily expand their opportunities for new learning through social relationships online. Yet, this mixed methods study of teens' use of technologies (e.g. YouTube and social media) in informal learning contexts reveals that, in teens' preferred learning activities, few interact with new ties outside their immediate networks (school, family, and friends). Given the value of social interaction and weak ties for learning new knowledge, this research investigates teens' use of networked technologies with people and resources outside their immediate networks. Based on 23 semi-structured interviews, we describe teens' informal learning activities and technology practices, from which we identify design opportunities. To inform these, we examine teens' paths into extended networks, including the role of digital skills, technology access, intrinsic motivation, and sense of relatedness. We find that relatedness both motivated and inhibited teens to reach beyond immediate networks into extended networks for informal learning activities.
A 150mA Low Noise, High PSRR Low-Dropout Linear Regulator in 0.13μm Technology for RF SoC Applications

An integrated low-noise, high power supply rejection ratio (PSRR), low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator has been developed in Texas Instruments' (TI) 130nm CMOS technology. The LDO regulator is capable of producing a regulated output voltage of 2.8 V from a Li-ion battery supply, with a dropout voltage of 200 mV while supplying a load current of 150 mA. The LDO regulator features > 65 dB PSRR at 20 kHz, and > 40 dB up to 1 MHz. The LDO regulator also features output noise performance of < 350 nVrms/radicHz at 100Hz. The LDO die area is 0.166 mm2 and the maximum no-load power consumption is 450μW.
Identification of Bax-voltage-dependent anion channel 1 complexes in digitonin-solubilized cerebellar granule neurons.

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 1137–1150. Abstract Mitochondrial outer membrane Bax oligomers are critical for cytochrome c release, but the role of resident mitochondrial proteins in this process remains unclear. Membrane-associated Bax has primarily been studied using 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) as the solubilizing agent, as it does not induce conformational artifacts, although recent evidence indicates it may have other artifactual effects. The objective of this study was to investigate digitonin as an alternative detergent to assess Bax oligomeric state, and possible interaction with voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC)1 in cerebellar granule neurons. VDAC1 co-immunoprecipitated with Bax in digitonin extracts from healthy and apoptotic neurons. Two-dimensional blue native-SDS–PAGE revealed five Bax and VDAC1 oligomers having similar masses from 120 to 500 kDa. The levels of two VDAC1 oligomers in Bax 1D1 immunodepleted extracts negatively correlated with levels of co-precipitated VDAC1, indicating the co-precipitated VDAC1 was derived from these oligomers. Immunodepletion with the 6A7 antibody modestly reduced the levels of Bax oligomers from apoptotic but not healthy neurons. A sixth 170 kDa oligomer containing exclusively 6A7 Bax and no VDAC1 was identified after apoptosis induction. CHAPS failed to solubilize VDAC1, and additionally yielded no distinct oligomers. We conclude that digitonin is a potentially useful detergent preserving Bax–VDAC1 interactions that may be disrupted with CHAPS.
Variation in Hypericins from Wild Populations of Hypericum perforatum L. in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.A1

Representatives from eight wild populations of Hypericum perforatum L. were collected from Montana and Northern California at flowering, and subsequently analyzed for hypericin and pseudohypericin using HPLC analysis. Total individual plant concentrations in these wild populations were from 0.0003–0.1250% dry weight (DW) hypericin and 0.0019–0.8458% DW pseudohypericin. In general, hypericin concentrations were highest in the plant’s reproductive (flower and bud) tissues, followed by leaf and stem tissues, respectively. Hypericin and pseudohypericin concentrations were positively correlated in all samples, although the relative ratio of hypericin to pseudohypericin varied with site location.
Case Study: Structured Settlements

Students are presented with a report that offers a present value analysis of a Structured Settlement and asked to decide whether they agree with its conclusions. The case tests quantitative, financial and spreadsheet skills, exposes students to the world of law and legal statutes, and requires value judgments about fairness. The case is appropriate for senior-level undergraduate business majors and MBAs, in courses that involve decision-making.
Urban climate effects on extreme temperatures in Madison, Wisconsin, USA

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat, cities and their urban heat island (UHI) effects are growing, as are the urban populations encountering them. These mutually reinforcing trends present a growing risk for urban populations. However, we have limited understanding of urban climates during extreme temperature episodes, when additional heat from the UHI may be most consequential. We observed a historically hot summer and historically cold winter using an array of up to 150 temperature and relative humidity sensors in and around Madison, Wisconsin, an urban area of population 402 000 surrounded by lakes and a rural landscape of agriculture, forests, wetlands, and grasslands. In the summer of 2012 (third hottest since 1869), Madison's urban areas experienced up to twice as many hours ≥32.2 °C (90 °F), mean July TMAX up to 1.8 °C higher, and mean July TMIN up to 5.3 °C higher than rural areas. During a record setting heat wave, dense urban areas spent over four consecutive nights above the National Weather Service nighttime heat stress threshold of 26.7 °C (80 °F), while rural areas fell below 26.7 °C nearly every night. In the winter of 2013–14 (coldest in 35 years), Madison's most densely built urban areas experienced up to 40% fewer hours ≤−17.8 °C (0 °F), mean January TMAX up to 1 °C higher, and mean January TMIN up to 3 °C higher than rural areas. Spatially, the UHI tended to be most intense in areas with higher population densities. Temporally, both daytime and nighttime UHIs tended to be slightly more intense during more-extreme heat days compared to average summer days. These results help us understand the climates for which cities must prepare in a warming, urbanizing world.