cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Structure, Conformational Analysis, and Structure−Activity Studies of Dendrotoxin and Its Homologues Using Molecular Mechanics and Molecular Dynamics Techniques

Three-dimensional structures of Dendrotoxin (DtX), Toxin-I (DpI), and Toxin-K (DpK) were determined using molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics techniques. The overall molecular conformation and protein folding of the three dendrotoxins are very similar to the published crystal structures of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and alpha-DtX. Major secondary structural regions of the dendrotoxins are stable without much fluctuation during the dynamics simulation; the regions corresponding to the turns and bends (rich in lysines and arginines) exhibit more fluctuations. The conformational angles and the C alpha...C alpha' distances of the three disulfides (in each of the dendrotoxins) are different from each other. Comparative model building studies, involving the dendrotoxins and the proteinases, reveal that the key interactions (observed in BPTI-trypsin complex) needed for anti-protease activity are absent due to structural differences between the dendrotoxins and BPTI at the anti-protease loop; this explains the inability of the dendrotoxins to inhibit proteinases. The model also suggests that the solvent-exposed beta-turn region, rich in lysines (residues 26-28), might bind directly to the extracellular anionic sites of the receptors (K+ channels) by ionic interactions. The strikingly homologous cysteine distribution (Cys-x-x-x-Cys) in DtX, DpI, and DpK, at the C-terminus, induces the occurrence of a characteristic conformational motif, consisting of an alpha-helix (in an amphiphilic environment) stabilized by two disulfides, one involving a cysteine at the beta-strand, and the other at the N-terminus. This amphiphilic secondary structural element seems to provide the rigid frame work needed for exposing the proposed active site region of the dendrotoxins to the anionic sites of the K+ channel receptors.
Well Damage Hazards Associated With Conventional Completion Fluids

A class of high-density fluids is formulated using acid-soluble particulates as weighting agents. In the most advanced fluids of this class, the particles are suspended in water or brine by non-damaging polymers. Use of these fluids avoid all of the residual problems associated with clear, high-density fluids. When extreme situations warrant, particulate-weighting can be complemented with dissolved salts to maximize protection against damage. Any temporary productivity loss due to the particulates in these fluids is restricted to the surface of the wellbore and can be removed by simply washing the formation face with hydrochloric acid.
A digital library for water main break identification and visualization

This paper describes a prototype of a digital library for water main break identification and visualization. Many utilities rely on an emergency call to detect water main breaks, because breaks are difficult to predict. Collecting the information by call requires time consuming human efforts. Furthermore, it is not archived and not shared with others. Collecting and archiving the information by tweets, news, and web resources helps users to identify relevant water main breaks efficiently. In developing this prototype, we extracted location information from text instead of using GPS data. We also describe the importance of tweet visualization by location, and how we visualize tweets on a map.
An assessment of P-glycoprotein expression and activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of transplant candidates.

Abstract Background P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is involved in the transport of the xenobiotic immunosuppressive agents and many cytokines, such as IL-2 and IFN-γ. Hence, P-gp activity on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) could affect the pharmacologic response to xenobiotic immunosuppressants and immune responsiveness. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the level of P-gp expression and activity on PBLs of kidney transplant candidates; and (2) determine whether P-gp expression correlates with P-gp activity. Methods We measured P-gp expression and activity on CD3 + /CD8 + , CD3 + /CD4 + , B lymphocytes, and NK cells of 36 kidney transplant candidates using a flow cytometric assay. P-gp activity was determined for each subpopulation of cells by the ratio of the mean Rhodamine 123 fluorescence (MFI Rh123) in the presence of verapamil divided by the MFI Rh123 in the absence of verapamil. P-gp expression was noted as the percentage of P-gp + cells. Results NK cells exhibited the greatest amount of P-gp activity (MFI Rh123 = 20.2 ± 16.4) compared with other cell populations ( P + /CD8 + cells (13.9 ± 10.5) compared with B lymphocytes (4.9 ± 2.7; P + cells (2.4 ± 1.0; P + /CD8 + cells (7.3 ± 6.9) and CD3 + /CD4 + cells (6.4 ± 3.8). P-gp expression was highly variable and did not correlate with P-gp activity ( P > .05). Conclusions CD3 + /CD8 + cells and NK cells, exhibited significantly increased P-gp activity compared with the other cell populations. P-gp expression is not a good correlate of P-gp activity. These findings may have important implications for the use of immunosuppressive drugs posttransplant and immune responsiveness after transplantation.
Age-Related Increases in Photopic Increment Thresholds Are Not Due to an Elevation in Intrinsic Noise.

Threshold vs. intensity (tvi) functions were measured under conditions in which the slope of the rising branch approximated the deVries–Rose law in order to evaluate the contribution of intrinsic visual noise (dark light, Eigengrau) to age-related elevations in threshold under photopic conditions. Data were obtained from 48 observers (20–88 years) using a temporal 2AFC procedure. The stimulus was centered at 8° nasal retinal eccentricity and consisted of a 560 nm, 14.4′ test flash (10 ms) concentric with a steady 500 nm (12.9°) adapting field (13 intensity levels ranging from 0–9 log quanta · sec−1 · deg−2), which resulted in clear scotopic and photopic branches. Photopic thresholds increased linearly with age at a rate of 0.08 log unit per decade at the cornea. The mean slope of the rising portion of the tvi functions (in log–log coordinates) was 0.62, and not correlated with age. Dark light values increased with age, but not significantly. Dark light was a statistically significant predictor of individual differences in absolute photopic threshold, but it is not responsible for age-related increases in threshold under photopic conditions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 26, S48–S52, 2001
Evolution of the G Ring and the Population of Macroscopic Ring Particles

Abstract An evolutionary model of the G Ring incorporating theoretical results from R. M. Canup and L. W. Esposito (1995,Icarus113, 331–352) yields a complete particle size distribution that is consistent with existing observations. Results from numerical modeling demonstrate that a G Ring origin from the disruption of a 1.5–3 km progenitor satellite can match all known properties of the ring. In addition, we estimate the population of unseen macroscopic material from both observational upper limits and our theoretical model for the region surrounding the G Ring, where the Cassini spacecraft will likely make its innermost passes in the saturnian system. For models that fit all available data, the probability of Cassini striking a hazardous ring particle is less than 1%.
Activity-enhancing mutations in an E3 ubiquitin ligase identified by high-throughput mutagenesis

Although ubiquitination plays a critical role in virtually all cellular processes, mechanistic details of ubiquitin (Ub) transfer are still being defined. To identify the molecular determinants within E3 ligases that modulate activity, we scored each member of a library of nearly 100,000 protein variants of the murine ubiquitination factor E4B (Ube4b) U-box domain for auto-ubiquitination activity in the presence of the E2 UbcH5c. This assay identified mutations that enhance activity both in vitro and in cellular p53 degradation assays. The activity-enhancing mutations fall into two distinct mechanistic classes: One increases the U-box:E2-binding affinity, and the other allosterically stimulates the formation of catalytically active conformations of the E2∼Ub conjugate. The same mutations enhance E3 activity in the presence of another E2, Ube2w, implying a common allosteric mechanism, and therefore the general applicability of our observations to other E3s. A comparison of the E3 activity with the two different E2s identified an additional variant that exhibits E3:E2 specificity. Our results highlight the general utility of high-throughput mutagenesis in delineating the molecular basis of enzyme activity.
AN ACADEMIC STRESS SCALE: IDENTIFICATION AND RATED IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC STRESSORS

The purpose of this study was to identify events which elicit academic stress, determine the relative magnitude of each item, and develop an academic stress scale for college students. A convenient sample of 202 college students was used to generate the 35 stressors while one of 498 students was utilized to assess the stressfulness of each item on a scale of 1 to 1000. The data indicated that final grades, excessive homework, term papers, examinations, and studying for examinations were the most significant stressors encountered by the students. Although ratings appeared to be similar for all demographic subgroups, pooled variance t tests indicated 13 significant mean differences within the composite instrument. Religion and ethnicity were the areas of greatest difference, with Buddhists and Arabs differing from all other religions and races, respectively. Reliability for the composite instrument, as measured by Cronbach's alpha, was .92 and .86 via the split-half method. Results can be used to enhance st...
Solve the policy and procedure puzzle.

Explore the merits of forming a multidisciplinary policy and procedure team to simplify processes.
Field resistance to cylindrocladium black rot and tomato spotted wilt virus among advanced runner-type peanut breeding lines

Abstract Disease resistant cultivars are urgently needed to minimize damage and reduce chemical control costs in USA runner market type peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) production. Field trials were conducted for three consecutive years (1999, 2000, and 2001) to evaluate several advanced runner-type breeding lines developed by the Georgia peanut breeding program for Cylindrocladium black rot (CBR) resistance and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) resistance. The test site at the University of Georgia, Southeast Georgia Branch Experiment Station near Midville, GA, is known to be heavily infested with Cylindrocladium parasiticum Crous, Wingfield and Alfenas; syn C. crotalariae (Loos) Bell and Sobers, the causal agent of CBR. Significant differences were found among genotypes for mid-season disease incidence, mid-late season disease incidence, late-season disease incidence, and after digging disease incidence as well as pod yields. Disease incidence ratings included both CBR and TSWV, but the predominant disease late in the growing season was CBR. Several advanced runner-type Georgia breeding lines and cultivars were found to be significantly better in TSWV-resistance and comparable to the best CBR-resistant virginia-type check cultivars in CBR disease incidence and pod yield.
Debating America’s Role in the World: Representative Ron Paul’s Exceptionalist Jeremiad

This essay examines Texas representative Ron Paul’s foreign policy discourse during the 2008 presidential campaign. The author argues that Paul encased his opposition to America’s foreign policy within a secular jeremiad. Although Paul failed to win any of the Republican primaries, his opposition to America’s involvement with Iraq and other parts of the globe is a microcosm of a larger debate occurring among U.S. foreign policy elites on the extent of America’s role within the world and about the very nature of its exceptional status. This analysis informs a theoretical understanding of American exceptionalism and interrogates a larger debate in U.S. foreign policy.
Hepatoprotection by L-cysteine-glutathione mixed disulfide, a sulfhydryl-modified prodrug of glutathione.

L-Cysteine-glutathione disulfide, a ubiquitous substance present in mammalian cells, was shown to be highly effective in protecting mice against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Since the corresponding D-cysteine-glutathione disulfide was totally ineffective in this regard, an enzymatic mechanism that provides glutathione directly to cells is postulated.
Thiolation Mediated Pegylation Platform to Generate Functional Universal Red Blood Cells

The PEGylation that adds an extension arm on protein amino groups with the conservation of their positive charge masks the A and D antigens of erythrocytes efficiently. In the present study, the efficiency of masking the antigens of RBC by PEGylation protocols that do not conserve the charge with and without adding extension arms is compared. The conjugation of PEG-5000 to RBCs through the addition of extension arms masked the D antigen more efficiently than the other protocol. A combination of PEG-5 K and PEG-20 K is needed to mask the A antigen, irrespective of the PEGylation approach. The oxygen affinity of the PEGylated RBCs increased by the extension arm facilitated PEGylation. The protocol involving the conjugation of PEG-chains without adding extension arm did not alter the oxygen affinity of RBCs. A combination of PEGylation protocols is an alternate strategy to generate universal red blood cells with good levels of oxygen affinity.
Vaginoscopic resection for rhabdomyosarcoma of the vagina: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma found in children. Genitourinary sites comprise 20% of the primary location of these tumors. 1 A polypoid form of the embryonal type of rhabdomyosarcoma, sarcoma botyroides, is often found in girls under age 5. 2 These tumors are usually localized to the anterior vaginal wall. Their superficial location and clinical symptoms lead to early diagnosis, and these tumors are therefore considered to be the easiest to treat and most likely to be cured. 3 In the past 30 years we have seen a shift in treatment from radical surgery to conservative surgery with chemotherapy and radiation, with improved survival and preservation of normal anatomy and improved postoperative body imagery. 1. , 4. , 5. , 6. Conservative excision in the past has been performed by sharp curettage of the anterior vaginal wall. We present a case of a 2-yr-old child with a RMS of the vagina for which we utilized vaginoscopy not only to determine the extent of the tumor but also for precise resection using a bipolar electrode with normal saline as the distension medium.
Nonoperative management of perforated appendicitis without periappendiceal mass

Abstract Background: Initial nonoperative treatment for patients with periappendiceal mass has been shown to be safe and effective. Our goal was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of initial nonoperative management for perforated appendicitis not accompanied by a palpable mass. Methods: The study population consisted of 77 patients with appendicitis treated initially nonoperatively between 1992 and 1998. All had localized abdominal tenderness and computed tomography findings of abscess or phlegmon. None had a palpable abdominal mass. Outcome parameters evaluated were rate of failure, complication, and recurrence. Results: There were 49 males and 28 females with a mean age of 35 years (range 16 to 75). Initial nonoperative management was successful in 95% of patients. Complications occurred in 12% of patients. Recurrent appendicitis developed in 6.5% of patients after an average follow-up of 30 weeks. Conclusions: Perforated appendicitis patients with localized abdominal tenderness and abscess or phlegmon can safely and effectively be treated in an initial nonoperative fashion.
Genitourinary polyps in children

Abstract Objectives. This study was undertaken to review the presenting complaints, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and natural history of children with genitourinary polyps seen at the Mayo Clinic during the past 35 years. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all children less than 16 years ofage with symptomatic genitourinary polyps who were seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1957 and 1992. The age of each patient, clinical presentation, anatomic location of the polyp, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment were reviewed. Long-term follow-up data, including complications, were recorded, and the literature was reviewed. Results. The most common presenting symptoms were hematuria in 9 patients(gross 7, microscopic 2) and urinary tract obstruction in 9 patients (upper tract 3, lower tract 6). Four children had ureteral polyps. Excretory urography showed hydronephrosis and filling defects in 3 patients and a filling defect without hydronephrosis in 1 child. Two patients underwent segmental ureterectomy, 1 had open excision of the polyp, and 1 had ureteroscopic excision. Urethral polyps were identified in 12 children, most often as a filling defect of the posterior urethra on voiding cystourethrography (5 patients) or during cystourethroscopy (7 patients). All 12 patients were managed successfully by transurethral resection. Conclusions. Genitourinary polyps in children require a high degree of alertness and can be diagnosed with excretory urography, with voiding cystourethrography, or endoscopically. The biologic activity of these polyps is uniformly benign, and there have been no recurrences following complete excision.
Electrically controllable artificial PAN muscles

Artificial muscles made with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers are traditionally activated in electrolytic solution by changing the pH of the solution by the addition of acids and/or bases. This usually consumes a considerable amount of weak acids or bases. Furthermore, the synthetic muscle (PAN) itself has to be impregnated with an acid or a base and must have an appropriate enclosure or provision for waste collection after actuation. This work introduces a method by which the PAN muscle may be elongated or contracted in an electric field. We believe this is the first time that this has been achieved with PAN fibers as artificial muscles. In this new development the PAN muscle is first put in close contact with one of the two platinum wires (electrodes) immersed in an aqueous solution of sodium chloride. Applying an electric voltage between the two wires changes the local acidity of the solution in the regions close to the platinum wires. This is because of the ionization of sodium chloride molecules and the accumulation of Na + and Cl - ions at the negative and positive electrode sites, respectively. This ion accumulation, in turn, is accompanied by a sharp increase and decrease of the local acidity in regions close to either of the platinum wires, respectively. An artificial muscle, in close contact with the platinum wire, because of the change in the local acidity will contract or expand depending on the polarity of the electric field. This scheme allows the experimenter to use a fixed flexible container of an electrolytic solution whose local pH can be modulated by an imposed electric field while the produced ions are basically trapped to stay in the neighborhood of a given electrode. This method of artificial muscle activation has several advantages. First, the need to use a large quantity of acidic or alkaline solutions is eliminated. Second, the use of a compact PAN muscular system is facilitated for applications in active musculoskeletal structures. Third, the PAN muscles become electrically controllable and therefore the use of such artificial muscles in robotic structures and applications becomes more feasible. A muscle is designed such that it is exposed to either Na + or Cl - ions effectively. Muscle contraction or expansion characteristics under the effect of the applied electric field are discussed.
Estimation of thermophysical properties of composites using multi-parameter estimation and zeroth-order regularization

A simple but efficient method of determining the thermophysical properties of orthotropic materials such as carbon-carbon composites is the subject of this study. An inverse method based on the exact solution is the method of choice for this investigation. A thin platinum film served as the heater and the carbon-carbon was electrically isolated from the heater using a layer of aluminum nitride. The experimental data were fed into an inverse procedure for simultaneous determination of heat flux input, thermal conductivity, heat capacitance, and energy losses through insulation.
Striking a Balance with Assessment

Assessment has become more common for courses and programs, including the need to satisfy requests from one’s department and institution. It has also led to pressure on some individuals when the stakes get very high.
The Use of the Conceptual Category of Race in American Sociology, 1937-99

We examine how mainstream sociology has used race as an explanatory factor by examining papers in the American Sociological Review between 1937 and 1999. We find a dramatic increase in the likelihood that sociologists will take race into account, and we suggest that methodological innovations are largely responsible for creating an environment in which it is taken for granted that analysts in many fields will “control for race.” This pattern of usage may reinforce an implicit conception of racial differences that we call “broad but shallow,” in that race is expected to matter almost everywhere, but its effect can be neutralized by the addition of a control.
Influence of tungsten on metabolic patterns in Pyrococcus furiosus, a hyperthermophilic archaeon

Pyrococcus furiosus is a strictly anaerobic heterotroph that grows optimally around 100 °C. It can be cultured in an artificial seawater-based medium with either peptides or maltose as the carbon source. Significant stimulation of cell yields were observed when trace levels of tungsten (as tungstate) were added to an energy-limited chemostat culture of P. furiosus when maltose is present, but not when peptides were the sole carbon source. The addition of tungsten also led to dramatic increases in the specific activities within cell-free extracts of aldehyde ferredoxin oxidoreductase (AOR), which is a tungsten-iron-sulfur protein. Moreover, the addition of tungsten to cells growing in maltose/peptide medium dramatically reduced the specific activity of intracellular proteases, suggesting a preference for the utilization of maltose over peptides as the carbon and energy source in the presence of tungsten.
Effects of Heating Mode on Steady Axisymmetric Thermocapillary Flows in Microgravity

Steady thermocapillary flows in cylindrical containers with unit aspect ratio (radius = depth) are studied numerically and by scaling analysis in order to investigate how the velocity and thermal fields are influenced by the method of heating. Two heating modes are considered : heating by a uniform temperature cylindrical heater placed along the centerline (called the CT heating) and heating by an external radiative source (the CF heating). The steady velocity and temperature fields are computed numerically under various conditions for various Prandtl number fluids. The effects of those two types of heating on the flows are discussed. The results are also found to support the scaling laws derived herein for the characteristic velocity, length, and Nusselt number. The main thermocapillary driving force region is fixed by the heating zone area in the CF heating but it generally varies with the flow in the CT heating.
Video-based face model fitting using Adaptive Active Appearance Model

Active Appearance Model (AAM) represents the shape and appearance of an object via two low-dimensional subspaces, one for shape and one for appearance. AAM for facial images is currently receiving considerable attention from the computer vision community. However, most existing work focuses on fitting an AAM to a single image. For many applications, effectively fitting an AAM to video sequences is of critical importance and challenging, especially considering the varying quality of real-world video content. This paper proposes an Adaptive Active Appearance Model (AAAM) to address this problem, where both a generic AAM component and a subject-specific appearance model component are employed simultaneously in the proposed fitting scheme. While the generic AAM component is held fixed, the subject-specific model component is updated during the fitting process by selecting the frames that can be best explained by the generic model. Experimental results from both indoor and outdoor representative video sequences demonstrate the faster fitting convergence and improved fitting accuracy.
Identification of cholesteryl esters in human carotid atherosclerosis by ex vivo image-guided proton MRS.

Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques may be identified by their large lipid component, particularly liquid cholesteryl ester (CE), covered by a fibrous cap. We hypothesized that image-guided 1H proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) would identify mobile CE in discrete, preselected regions of atherosclerotic plaque. Human carotid endarterectomy specimens (n = 10) were imaged ex vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at high field (11.7 T) utilizing standard T1- and T2-weighted spin echo protocols. MRS spectra were acquired from 1 mm3 voxels, localized to plaque regions that we judged by MRI to be lipid rich or lipid poor. The spectra revealed methyl and methylene resonances of fatty acyl chains with relative intensities and linewidths characteristic of pure CE, by comparison with lipid standards. Regions judged to be lipid rich by MRI showed much more intense CE resonances than did lipid-poor regions. The integrated intensities of lipid peaks were 5.5 ± 2.0% (lipid-rich regions) versus 0.9 ± 0.6% (lipid-poor regions) of the unsuppressed water peak (P
The quasi-1D nature of the superconducting instability in La2-xSrxCuO4

Abstract The effect of the orthorhombicity of La0.85Sr0.15CuO4 on its superconducting behaviour is discussed. Calculations of the superconducting transition temperature are carried out as a function of the doping x using a mechanism we recently proposed that exploits electron-hole fluctuation in one dimension. In a single consistent picture, we have been able to produce the increase of the superconducting transition temperature from zero as the doping concentration x is increased from zero.
Integer Polar Coordinates for Compression

This paper introduces a family of integer-to-integer approximations to the Cartesian-to-polar coordinate transformation and analyzes its application to lossy compression. A high-rate analysis is provided for an encoder that first uniformly scalar quantizes, then transforms to "integer polar coordinates," and finally separately entropy codes angle and radius. For sources separable in polar coordinates, the performance (at high rate) is shown to match that of entropy-constrained unconstrained polar quantization - where the angular quantization is allowed to depend on the radius. Thus, for sources separable in polar coordinates but not separable in rectangular coordinates - including certain Gaussian scale mixtures - the proposed system performs better than any transform code. Furthermore, unlike unconstrained polar quantization, integer polar coordinates are appropriate for lossless compression of integer-valued vectors. Combination of integer polar coordinates with integer-to-integer transform coding is also discussed.
Neuroimaging of fibromyalgia

The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain. This symptom is accompanied by secondary symptoms, such as cognitive difficulties and sensitivity to painful stimulation, and by numerous co-morbidities. The first neuroimaging studies addressed the primary symptom by examining differences between patients and controls using single-photon-emission-computed tomography (SPECT). Subsequent studies focussed on the secondary symptom of increased sensitivity to painful stimulation. Functional MRI (fMRI) studies using the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) method to assess brain activation demonstrated augmented sensitivity to painful pressure and the association of this augmentation with variables such as depression and catastrophising. These studies have also assessed brain processes associated with cognitive dysfunction. Neuroimaging studies of fibromyalgia have now come full circle, using new techniques to provide information about differences that may relate to underlying mechanisms and the primary symptom of widespread pain. Using a wide array of techniques, these studies have found differences in opioid receptor binding, concentration of metabolites associated with neural processing in pain-related regions and differences in functional brain networks and in regional brain volume and in white-matter tracks. This array of neuroimaging techniques continues to provide increasing information about supraspinal mechanisms associated with fibromyalgia that will aid in diagnosis, including identification of diagnostic subgroups, the development of new efficacious treatments that address both causes and symptoms and the matching of patients to treatments.
Thermodynamic studies of the complexation of dibenzo-27-crown-9 and dibenzo-24-crown-8 with cesium ion in mixed nonaqueous solvents

Abstract Thermodynamic parameters for the complexation of the cesium ion by macrocyclic polyethers, dibenzo- 27-crown-9, (DB27C9), and dibenzo-24-crown- 8, (DB24C8), were determined in dimethylformamide— acetonitrile binary solvent systems by cesium- 133 NMR technique. Enthalpies and entropies of the complex formation were obtained from the temperature dependence of the complexity constant. In all cases the complexes are enthalpy stabilized but entropy destabilized and both parameters are quite sensitive to the solvent composition.
Moon - Origin and evolution of multi-ring basins

This paper summarizes current data and new observations on lunar basin systems. Parts 1–4 review earlier literature and give new crater-counts used to reconstruct basin histories. Among the results are: basin rings are defined by faults, hills, craters, and/or wrinkle ridges; all of these are inter-related; √2 plays a special role in the ratios of ring diameters; flooding occurred in many basins prior to the formation of the familiar front-side maria; 3 km is a typical depth of lava flooding in basins. Parts 5–11 interpret these results in terms of origin and evolution of basins. Polar concentrations of basins and old, large craters are found (Figures 28 and 29). Basins originated by impacts of very early planetesimals left over from or created during formation of the Moon (6). Concentric fractures were produced by the impacts. Concentric rings developed along fractures during subsequent sagging of the basin into partially melted substrata, along the lines of theory and experiments by Lance and Onat (1962) (Figures 36 and 37). There is marginal empirical evidence that some rings formed significantly after their basins (8). The structure of specific rings depended on the nature of volcanic products extruded. Wrinkle ridges, ‘peak-rings’, rings of craters, concentric graben, and central peaks are all consequences of basin-forming evolutionary processes (9, Figure 41), Flooding by lava was a final stage in basin evolution. Lava extruded from concentric ring-faults, wrinkle ridges, and crater and basin rims (10). Mascons are directly correlated with the amount of mare lava, but not correlated with basin age or morphology (11). Section 12 summarizes the results and compares them to those of other authors.
Soy Proteins in Milk Replacers Identified by Immunoblotting

A method was developed for detecting soy proteins in milk replacers and infant formulas. The method is based upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins, electroblotting the proteins to nitrocellulose, and detection of specific proteins by immunoblotting. As little as 25 ng of total soy protein per gel lane can be detected with this method. Proteins from other plant products were detected by the method but care must be used in comparing milk replacer proteins directly to soy proteins. This method should be of value to the animal and food industries that manufacture and use milk replacers.
Composition of the aqueous phase of chromaffin granules

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used to determine the composition of the aqueous phase of bovine chromaffin granules. Relative concentrations of catecholamines (epinephrine plus norepinephrine), ATP and chromogranins have been measured from integrated intensities in the proton spectra using computer simulation techniques. Most or all of the catecholamines (97 +/- 8%) are present in the aqueous phase and contribute to the high resolution spectrum. The catecholamine:ATP molar ratio (4.41 +/- 0.45) determined by NMR is close to the value (4.45) derived from biochemical assay indicating that most or all of the ATP is present with catecholamine in the aqueous phase. Catecholamine:protein ratios show that approximately 45% of the soluble protein freed by lysis is not NMR visible. Intensity from this fraction does not appear under highly denaturing conditions (8 M urea) but reappears after hydrolysis. This behavior is similar to that of recently isolated soluble lipoprotein complexes. Variations in the NMR spectra associated with (1) different preparative procedures; (2) different suspension media, and (3) increasing osmolality are described. The fact that high concentrations of epinephrine and ATP (approximately 700 mM total) are dissolved in the aqueous phase implies that solution phase interactions at least partially ionic in nature are responsible for the low internal osmolality of chromaffin granules in vivo. Ordered phases containing a substantial fraction of the total catecholamine in an osmotically inactive form are not present.
The effect of annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-X microcomposites

The effect of annealing on the microstructure, texture, and room-temperature mechanical properties ofin situ processed copper-based microcomposites has been investigated. These copper microcomposites, containing 15 vol pct Nb, Cr, or Ta, were produced by rolling of cast material. Annealing was carried out in vacuum for 10 hours at 250 °C, 400 °C, and 650 °C. Evidence of microstructural coarsening was found even at the lowest annealing temperature. The through-thickness microstructure of the composites was examined by transmission electron microscopy both before and after the annealing treatments. Texture of the as-processed micro-composites was assessed using X-ray diffraction methods. The strength of the composites following annealing was found to scale with the melting point of the second component.
Band structure and Fermi surface of ferromagnetic nickel

The band structure and Fermi surface of ferromagnetic Ni were studied using Mueller's combined interpolation scheme, extended to include spin-orbit and exchange interactions. Uniform exchange splittings were included in the molecular-field approximation. Semiempirical band structure were obtained which gave detailed agreement with experimental data where they were available, and over-all agreement with the results of ab initio calculations. In particular, good fits were obtained to the $X$ pocket and $L$-neck de Haasvan Alphen data, magnetic breakdown effects, optical edges, and valence (i.e., 10.00 electrons/atom). It was possible to fit the $X$ pocket Fermi surface using a "partial" two-center approximation to the tight-binding $d$ parameters. The ${X}_{5}$ quasiellipsoidal pocket was found to have an unusual shape, resulting from anisotropic interaction with the neighboring ${X}_{2}$ band. Moreover, the $d$ bands were sufficiently high in energy that the $X$ pocket had some $s\ensuremath{-}p$ character along its major axis. Many-body mass enhancement factors were found to be nearly uniform (\ensuremath{\approx} 2) after the light-mass $s\ensuremath{-}p$ character was added to the $X$ pocket. For the $d$-band exchange splittings, values of 0.4-0.6 eV were found, depending on assignments of optical edges. The density of states showed a sharp multipeaked structure, which, when smeared out, gave qualitative agreement with the density of states obtained from recent ultraviolet photoemission studies.
Enhancement Of Optical Registration Signals Through Digital Signal Processing Techniques

Alignment and setup of lighography processes has largely been conducted on special test wafers. Actual product level optimization has been limited to manual techniques such as optical verniers. This is especially time consuming and prone to inconsistencies when the registration characteristics of lithographic systems are being measured. One key factor obstructing the use of automated metrology equipment on product level wafers is the inability to discern reliably, metrology features from the background noise and variations in optical registration signals. This is often the case for metal levels such as aluminum and tungsten. This paper discusses methods for enhancement of typical registration signals obtained from difficult semiconductor process levels. Brightfield and darkfield registration signals are obtained using a microscope and a 1024 element linear photodiode array. These signals are then digitized and stored on the hard disk of a computer. The techniques utilized include amplitude selective and adaptive and non-adaptive frequency domain filtering techniques. The effect of each of these techniques upon calculated registration values is analyzed by determining the positional variation of the center location of a two line registration feature. Plots of raw and processed signals obtained are presented as are plots of the power spectral density of ideal metrology feature signal and noise patterns. It is concluded that the proper application of digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to problematic optical registration signals greatly enhances the applicability of automated optical registration measurement techniques to difficult semiconductor process levels.
Automatic removal of EEG artifacts using electrode-scalp impedance

Due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the quality of the electrode-scalp contact is an important factor in EEG-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). For this reason, the impedance between each individual electrode and the scalp is measured prior to each EEG recording session. In order to obtain high quality EEG signals and accurate performance, the impedance has to be low (below 5K Ohms). Typically, researchers have reduced the electrode-scalp impedance by performing time-consuming electrode adjustments prior to the data acquisition stage. In this paper, we utilize the electrode-scalp impedance information to remove the EEG artifacts caused by high impedance electrodes in order to enhance the signal quality during the signal processing stage. Our proposed method is based on the independent component analysis (ICA) algorithm, which is used to decompose the EEG signals into independent components. The electrode-scalp impedance is employed to automatically distinguish irrelevant components from event-related components. The experimental results show that our method can effectively remove artifacts and enhance the BCI performance compared to the scenario where no artifacts were removed, and the scenario in which irrelevant independent components were removed manually based on prior knowledge.
Potent Inhibition of Scrapie‐Associated PrP Accumulation by Congo Red

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (prion diseases), Alzheimer's disease, and other amyloidoses result in the accumulation of certain abnormally stable proteins that are thought by many to play central roles in disease pathogenesis. Using scrapie-infected neuroblastoma cells as a model system, we found that Congo red, an amyloid-binding dye, potently inhibits the accumulation of the scrapie-associated, protease-resistant isoform of protein PrP without affecting the metabolism of the normal isoform. Growth of the cells with submicromolar concentrations of Congo red for 5 days reduced the amount of protease-resistant PrP detected in the cultures by greater than 90%. This activity of Congo red suggests that it selectively disrupts the conversion of PrP to the protease-resistant isoform or destabilizes this isoform once it is made. Potential therapeutic applications of Congo red are discussed.
Action of rubratoxin B on mouse liver mitochondria

Abstract The effect of rubratoxin B on the electron transport system of mouse liver mitochondira was investigated. Oxygen consumption in mitochondira isolated from male mice was measured polarographically in a Gilson Oxygraph Model K-ICC. Oxygen consumption was depressed 73% at a concentration of 1.13 mM rubratoxin. At concentrations as low as 0.08 mM rubratoxin B, 50% inhibition was observed. Rubratoxin B (0.28 mM) depressed oxygen consumption 67% in ADP-coupled mitochondria and 60% in 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)-uncoupled mitochondira using either pyridine-nucleotide linked substrates or succinate. By employing the N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) shunt, it was shown that inhibition was not between cytochrome b and cytochrome C1 or C. It appears, based on these studies and comparison with known inhibitors of specific sites along the electron transport system that the principal site of action of rubratoxin B is between cytochrome C1 or C and the termination of electron flow.
Application of scanning angle Raman spectroscopy for determining the location of buried polymer interfaces with tens of nanometer precision

Near-infrared scanning angle (SA) Raman spectroscopy was utilized to determine the interface location in bilayer films (a stack of two polymer layers) of polystyrene (PS) and polycarbonate (PC). Finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) calculations of the sum square electric field (SSEF) for films with total bilayer thicknesses of 1200–3600 nm were used to construct models for simultaneously measuring the film thickness and the location of the buried interface between the PS and PC layers. Samples with total thicknesses of 1320, 1890, 2300, and 2750 nm and varying PS/PC interface locations were analyzed using SA Raman spectroscopy. Comparing SA Raman spectroscopy and optical profilometry measurements, the average percent difference in the total bilayer thickness was 2.0% for films less than ∼2300 nm thick. The average percent difference in the thickness of the PS layer, which reflects the interface location, was 2.5% when the PS layer was less than ∼1800 nm. SA Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be a viable, non-destructive method capable of determining the total bilayer thickness and buried interface location for bilayer samples consisting of thin polymer films with comparable indices of refraction.
Regional and laminar differences in synaptic localization of NMDA receptor subunit NR1 splice variants in rat visual cortex and hippocampus

Changes in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor expression may represent a molecular substrate for differences in synaptic plasticity between early postnatal and adult brains (Fox and Zahs [1994] Curr. Opinion Neurobiol. 4:112-119). We have, therefore, examined the regional and laminar distribution of NR1, the essential subunit of the NMDA receptor, in two regions in which synaptic plasticity has been most thoroughly studied: primary visual cortex and hippocampus. To study NR1 expression at the light and electron microscopic levels we have used a new antiserum (NR1-C1; Sheng et al. [1994] Nature 368:144-147) directed against a differentially spliced C-terminal exon ("C1"). The most striking result was that the pattern of NR1-C1 labeling in the adult was more restricted than that of previously published NR1-specific antibodies. Specifically, NR1-C1 did not label cells in the CA3, dentate gyrus or subicular regions of the hippocampus or in layer 4 of the visual cortex. Quantitative ultrastructural analysis revealed that these differences were paralleled by differential expression of NR1-C1 at synapses. In sharp contrast to the pattern in the adult, NR1-C1 immunoreactivity was distributed more widely in the developing brain. At postnatal day 11, NR1-C1 splice variants were expressed in all layers of the visual cortex and in all regions of the hippocampus. The transient expression of NR1-C1 splice variants in layer 4 of visual cortex suggests that NR1-C1 may play a role in determining the critical period for binocular plasticity. Continued expression of NR1-C1 in upper and lower layers of the adult cortex and in CA1 of the hippocampus may provide a substrate for plasticity in corticocortical connections and Schaffer collateral synapses beyond the critical period. In addition to abundant postsynaptic staining, NR1-C1 immunoreactivity was found in a large number of axon terminals in the dorsal subiculum, but in very few terminals in visual cortex. This strongly suggests that presynaptic NMDA receptors play a major role in neuronal processing of hippocampal output through the subiculum, but play a relatively minor role in visual processing.
Preliminary Criteria for Predicting Departure Characteristics/ Spin Susceptibility of Fighter-Type Aircraft

The results of a study conducted to determine criteria for predicting loss-of-control characteristics at near-stall angles of attack based on lateral-directional static stability parameters are presented. The Cn0,dynamic and aileron-alone divergence parameters are calculated for variations in lateral-directional static stability and departure characteristics, as predicted by these parameters, are then correlated with high angle-of-attack stability and control characteristics determined from model and full-scale flight tests. Results of this limited correlation indicate that the Cnp,dynamic and aileron-alone divergence parameters are promising as a preliminary criteria for predicting departure characteristics at near-stall angles of attack as well as spin susceptibility.
P53 content in relation to cell growth and proliferation in murine L1210 leukemia and normal lymphocytes

The protein p53 has been reported to be associated with cell transformation and/or proliferation. Using p53 monoclonal antibodies we estimated by flow cytometry the relative content of this protein in individual L1210 leukemic cells from exponentially growing and plateau-phase cultures and compared it with that in normal thymocytes of parental DBA/2 mice and in mitogen-stimulation and nonstimulated human lymphocytes. Simultaneous differential staining of p53 vs DNA and p53 vs RNA, followed by bivariate analysis, made it possible to estimate p53 with respect to cell position in the cell cycle and correlate it with RNA (predominantly rRNA;) content. The data show that in exponentially growing L1210 cells p53 is being progressively accumulated during the G1 S and G2 phases and that the content of p53 and RNA are highly correlated. In plateau L1210 cultures most cells are arrested in G1 some cells, however, still continue to progress through S and G2. In these cultures the p53 content of all cells, regardless of the phase of the cell cycle, is diminished and the decrease in p53 is more pronounced than that of RNA or total protein content. The normal thymocytes as well as the stimulated lymphocytes show bimodal distribution with respect to p53 expression, compatible with the assumption that the cycling cells have increased expression of this protein related to the G0 cells. Some cycling cells, however, have minimal p53. The quantitative p53 immunofluorescence data were confirmed by the immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis. The results suggest that expression of p53 in leukemic and normal cells is more correlated with cell growth than with entrance to the cell cycle or progression through particular phases of the cycle.