cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic influences on growth and body composition in mice: multilocus interactions.

The genetic architecture of body weight and body composition is complex because these traits are normally influenced by multiple genes and their interactions, even after controlling for the environment. Bayesian methodology provides an efficient way of estimating these interactions. We used Bayesian model selection techniques to simultaneously estimate the main effects, epistasis and gene–sex interactions on age-related body weight (at 3, 6 and 10 weeks, denoted as WT3wk, WT6wk and WT10wk) and body composition (organ weights and fat-related traits) in an F2 sample obtained from a cross between high-growth (M16i) mice and low-growth (L6) mice. We observed epistatic and main-effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) that controlled both body weight and body composition. Epistatic effects were generally more significant for WT6wk than WT10wk. Chromosomes 5 and 13 interacted strongly to control body weight at 3 weeks. A pleiotropic QTL on chromosome 2 was associated with body weight and some body composition phenotypes. Testis weight was regulated by a QTL on chromosome 13 with a significantly large main effect (2logeBF ∼15). By analyzing epistatic interactions, we detected QTL not found in a previous analysis of this mouse population. Hence, the detection of gene–gene interactions may provide new information about the genetic architecture of complex obesity-related traits and may lead to the detection of additional obesity genes.
Does reduced skeletal loading account for age-related bone loss?

A leading theory suggests that decreasing activity and muscle mass is the main cause of age-related bone loss. However, in a population-based study of 375 women and 325 men (age, 21–97 years), we failed to find a close correspondence between these variables and changes in bone strength with aging. Introduction: It has been suggested that bone strength is homeostatically adapted to habitual skeletal loading conditions and that bone loss could, therefore, result simply from age-related reductions in physical activity and muscle mass, but this notion has not been explored in detail. Materials and Methods: In a stratified random sample of Rochester, MN, women and men 21–97 years of age, indices of bone strength, flexural rigidity (EI), and axial rigidity (EA) were estimated from central QCT measurements at the femoral neck and lumbar spine and pQCT measurements at the ultradistal radius, whereas habitual skeletal loading was assessed using lean body mass, total skeletal muscle mass (TSM), body weight, and physical activity. Using regression analysis, we tested the hypothesis (Ho) that bone strength per unit load did not vary with age. Results and Conclusions: In these cross-sectional data, the null hypothesis of no age-related change was rejected in 72% of the strength-to-load ratios tested. For example, the ratio of femoral neck EI to TSM increased by 0.19%/year in women (p =0.008) and by 0.49%/year in men (p < 0.001). There was no close correspondence between changes in habitual load and changes in bone strength, nor any consistent pattern. Moreover, interindividual variation in the strength-to-load ratios was substantial. These data suggest that the notion of reduced skeletal loading as the primary basis for age-related bone loss is oversimplified.
Predicting the Removal of Optionally Retrievable Caval Filters: Are We There Yet?

Interruption Cave Study Group. N Engl J Med 1998; 338:409–415. 15. Geerts WH, Pineo GF, Heit JA, et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism: the Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy. Chest 2004; 126(suppl):338S–400S. 16. Ingber S, Geerts WH. Vena caval filters: current knowledge, uncertainties and practical approaches. Curr Opin Hematol 2009; 16:402–406. 17. Hann CL, Streiff MB. The role of vena caval filters in the management of venous thromboembolism. Blood Rev 2005; 19:179–202. 18. Ray CE Jr, Mitchell E, Zipser S, Kao EY, Brown CF, Moneta GL. Outcomes with retrievable inferior vena cava filters: a multicenter study. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2006; 17:1595–1604. 19. Charles HW, Black M, Kovacs S, et al. G2 inferior vena cava filter: retrievability and safety. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2009; 20:1046–1051.
Pain and soreness associated with a percutaneous electrical stimulation muscle cramping protocol

Muscle cramps are difficult to study scientifically because of their spontaneity and unpredictability. Various laboratory techniques to induce muscle cramps have been explored but the best technique for inducing cramps is unclear. Electrical stimulation appears to be the most reliable, but there is a perception that it is extremely painful. Data to support this perception are lacking. We hypothesized that electrical stimulation is a tolerable method of inducing cramps with few side effects. We measured cramp frequency (HZ), pain during electrical stimulation, and soreness before, at 5 s, and 30, 60, and 90 min after cramp induction using a 100-mm visual analog scale. Group 1 received tibial nerve stimulation on 5 consecutive days; Group 2 received it on alternate days for five total treatments. Pain and soreness were mild. The highest ratings occurred on Day 1 and decreased thereafter. Intersession reliability was high. Our study showed that electrical stimulation causes little pain or soreness and is a reliable method for inducing cramps.
No mushy zones in the Earth’s core

Abstract Mushy zones, assemblages of crystals and their pore-space liquids, have been invoked for both the upper and lower boundaries of the liquid outer core. The timescale of very slow accumulation compared with solidification at either of these interfaces militates against such zones, where instead hard ground should be expected to form by solidification at the interface. Such adcumulus growth involves isothermal, isocompositional solidification by successful exchange of evolving solute with fresh melt from an infinite reservoir. At both boundaries of the outer core, the removal of rejected material is significantly aided by compositional convection. The accumulation rates at the outer core boundaries are orders of magnitude slower than required for adcumulus growth, as calibrated both by field and experimental evidence in silicate melts. A conceptual phase diagram for the core–mantle boundary helps to visualize the relevant equilibria. Capture of core metal into the mantle has been suggested to occur via a mushy zone, to explain a high electrical conductivity there, as plausibly required by the secular behavior of the Earth’s nutation. One conjecture is that the rejected light elements from the freezing of the inner core might be able to congregate as a porous flotation sediment at the top of the core. The idea of porosity in such a mushy zone must be rejected from experience with solidification of cumulates from magmas. A high electrical conductivity might instead be caused by solution of core metal by mantle, followed by exsolution. The hottest part of the mantle lies in contact with the molten outer core, where the maximum solubility of Fe must occur in the major mantle phases. On leaving the core–mantle boundary, the mantle must cool and may exsolve metal on the metal–silicate solvus. If the iron-rich metal resides chiefly in the rheologically weaker metal oxide phase, which coats the deforming perovskite grains, it may furnish a short circuit for mantle conductivity in the basal mantle. At still cooler and higher levels, the mantle encounters more normal mantle redox conditions, and any exsolved Fe metal should oxidize to FeO in the metal oxide and perovskite phases, ceasing to be a conductor.
The Number of “Magic” Squares, Cubes, and Hypercubes

(2003). The Number of “Magic” Squares, Cubes, and Hypercubes. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 110, No. 8, pp. 707-717.
Metabolic oxidation of carcinogenic arylamines by p450 monooxygenases: theoretical support for the one-electron transfer mechanism.

Abstract N-oxidation by cytochrome P450 enzymes is an initial step in the metabolic activation of aromatic amine compounds. Once metabolized, these compounds are converted to DNA-reactive species which can exhibit potent mutagenic and/or carcinogenic activity. The precise mechanism of P450 enzyme oxidation is not completely understood, although various theories, involving either one-electron transfer, two-electron transfer or addition–rearrangement, have been debated. In previous studies, selection of the most probable mechanism has been based on consideration of Huckel theory charge distribution calculations and experimentally-derived enzyme metabolism data. This approach can now be improved by incorporating contemporary, ab initio quantum chemical methods to accurately determine the chemical properties of P450 aromatic amine substrates. In this work, we have re-examined the feasibility of three proposed P450 oxidation mechanisms by comparing the experimental oxidation yields and rates of 1-naphthylamine (1-NA), 2-naphthylamine (2-NA) and 2-aminofluorene (2-AF). This data has then been analyzed with respect to ab initio-calculated charge distributions and energies of reactants, oxidation products and proposed intermediates. Our analysis of theoretical and experimental data indicates that the one-electron model is more consistent with oxidation rate data for 1-NA, 2-NA, and 2-AF. We therefore conclude, in contrast to earlier studies, that the one-electron mechanism is more likely to be the pathway for P450-catalyzed aromatic amine oxidation.
Sexually dimorphic transcriptional responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone require chronic in vivo exposure to estradiol.

GnRH regulates secretion of the gonadotropins, LH and FSH, in a sexually dimorphic manner. In the present study, we examined GnRH regulation of the gonadotropin alpha-subunit promoter to assess whether sex-dependent hormonal effects are manifest at the transcriptional level. Primary cultures of male or female rat pituitary cells were transfected with a reporter gene containing the alpha-promoter linked to luciferase (-420 alpha-LUC) and then subjected to treatment with GnRH for 24 h. Basal alpha-LUC expression was 4.2-fold greater in pituitary cells from males than in those from females. alpha-LUC activity was stimulated 5.3-fold by GnRH in males, whereas GnRH induced a 148-fold increase in alpha-promoter activity in females. The GnRH responsiveness of the transfected alpha-promoter did not vary in pituitary cells isolated at different stages of the female reproductive cycle, suggesting that acute changes in the hormonal milieu are not sufficient to alter transcriptional responses to GnRH. In males, orchi...
Single rovibronic level lifetimes of the 1A2 state of SO2 excited in the 3043 Å (“E”) band: rotationally resolved fluorescence emission spectrum

Abstract Rotationally resolved resonance fluorescence from selected rovibronic levels of the SO 2 ( 1 A 2 ) molecule has been studied at low pressure. The collision-free lifetime is 13.4±1.3μs. The sum of the cross sections for the collision-induced electronic quenching and “non-specific” rotation-vibration relaxation is ≈480 A 2 .
Preventing stroke-related seizures When should anticonvulsant drugs be started?

Stroke is the leading cause of epilepsy after age 60.1 Despite the importance of the problem, there are few data on the natural history of stroke-related seizures and no good guideposts to suggest when to initiate anticonvulsant therapy after stroke. Can one identify stroke patients in whom one seizure is enough to justify lifetime anticonvulsant therapy? Does it make a difference whether the seizure occurs at stroke onset or months later? The stakes are high. Anticonvulsant drugs have many side effects and are often poorly tolerated in elderly patients. Since the risk for further seizures after a single unprovoked seizure is low, most epileptologists suggest starting anticonvulsant therapy only after a second seizure.2 However, for patients who have an unprovoked seizure after brain insult, the risk of a subsequent seizure is almost double that seen in patients with a seizure of unknown cause. Thus, the risk of epilepsy in some patients with …
The effect of axial stress to hoop stress ratio on the susceptibility of unirradiated Zircaloy-4 to iodine stress corrosion cracking

Specimens of stress relieved Zircaloy-4 tubing were internally pressurized at 633 K with helium containing a nominal concentration of 60 g iodine per square meter of Zircaloy surface. The ratio of applied axial stress (σa) to applied hoop stress (σh) was varied between zero and infinity by axially loading the pressurized specimens. The susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) varied in a complex manner with stress ratio (σa)(σh) in the range 0 < (σa)(σh) < 1 and was substantially greater under hoop tension (σa)/(σh) = 0) than under axial tension (σa)/(σh) = ∞). It is concluded that the influence of stress ratio in the range 0 < (σa)/(σh) < 1 most likely arises through its effect on the circumferential strain rate. On the other hand, the difference between the SCC susceptibilities under axial and hoop loading is probably attributable to fabrication-induced anisotropy of the grain orientation and shape.
The Incidence and Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in 320 Patients Treated in an Inner-City Hemodialysis Center

From January 1, 1986 through June 30, 19899 320 maintenance hemodialysis patients treated at The Brookdale Hospital Medical Center were tested for the presence of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot assays. Thirty-nine patients (12%) tested positive for HIV antibody (HIV +) with both the ELISA and Western blot, 24 (62%) of whom were known intravenous drug abusers (IVDA). Of the remaining non-IVDA patients, unanticipated HIV + results were found in 10 (25%). Thirty-four (87%) of the 39 HIV + patients were asymptomatic at the start of the study, while two had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and three others, AIDS-related complex (ARC). Four patients subsequently developed AIDS 20 ± 4.9 weeks (range, 12 to 32) after testing, three of whom initially had ARC. One patient developed ARC 7 months after testing. Sixteen HIV + patients died, including five of the six with AIDS, one with ARC, and two others from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The eight other deaths were from causes unrelated to HIV disease and occurred 12 ± 2.3 months (range, 1 to 24) after testing. Two HIV + patients were lost to follow-up. Twenty-one HIV + patients (54%) are alive and 20 (51 %) asymptomatic 15 ± 2.4 months (range, 1 to 42) after HIV testing. Thus, despite HIV positivity, 28 patients (72%) had an asymptomatic period lasting 14 ± 1.9 months (range, 1 to 42). Seventy-two of the 281 HIV-negative (HIV −) patients died during the study. None of the HIV − patients manifested ARC or AIDS, confirming that there was no false-negative HIV test. Sixty-three of the HIV − patients were retested 15 ± 1.2 months (range, 3 to 41) after initial screening and none seroconverted, indicating that transmission to uninfected patients probably did not occur. In conclusion, our study shows that HIV infection without documented ARC or AIDS is compatible with a long (up to 42 months) and uncomplicated course for endstage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis; however, the development of ARC or AIDS in these patients portends a poor prognosis. We believe that this relatively high incidence of HIV + patients, many of whom are asymptomatic and unsuspected, supports the routine testing of maintenance hemodialysis patients for HIV antibody.
Partition coefficients for nonane and its isomers in the rat.

Jet Fuel 8 (JP-8) is a major fuel source used by US and NATO military. JP-8 is a complex mixture of aliphatic and aromatic isomers of hydrocarbons. Tissue/blood partition coefficient (PC) values are chemical-specific parameters used in modeling the kinetic behavior of chemicals. The partition coefficient values for n-alkanes tend to increase with the increasing carbon number, but less is known about the trend for isomers of n-alkanes. PC values were obtained for the n-alkane nonane (C9) and five of its isomers, namely 3-methyloctane, 4-ethylheptane, 2,3-dimethylheptane, 2,2,4-trimethylhexane, 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane. The blood:air and tissue:air PC values correlated with the published log octanol/water (O:W) PC values for n-nonane and its isomers. Experimentally determined blood:air and tissue:air PC values for n-nonane with the largest O:W value were greatest and smallest for the isomer 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane with the lowest O:W value. As expected the fat tissue had the highest PC values and muscl...
Granular cell myoblastoma of the vulva in a 6-year-old girl

Granular cell myoblastomas are rare neoplasms thought to arise in neural tissue resembling Schwann cells. About 7% of these tumors are located on the vulva. This is the second reported case in a prepubertal girl with both cases having been found in 6 year olds. None of the vulvar lesions have been malignant. The treatment is wide surgical excision and observation for recurrence. Extragenital sites should be evaluated since multiple tumors are found in a number of patients.
Sequence of Value-Added Activities in the Internationalization of Developing Country MNEs

This paper studies the sequence of value-added activities in the multinationalization of firms from developing countries. Analysis of twenty Latin American multinational firms, or Multilatinas, reveals three alternative sequences: start multinationalizing with marketing subsidiaries in all countries, start multinationalizing with production subsidies in all countries, or start multinationalizing with marketing subsidiaries in some countries and production subsidiaries in others. These alternative sequences are explained through the integration and extension of arguments from the incremental model of internationalization and its discussion of difficulties, and the eclectic paradigm of foreign production and its discussion of advantages. I argue that firms that benefit from a location advantage in the country of origin are more likely to start multinationalizing using marketing subsidiaries, firms that benefit from a location advantage in the host country are more likely to start multinationalizing using production subsidiaries, and firms that face difficulties in the transfer of products across countries are more likely to start multinationalizing using production subsidiaries.
Multiple Reflection Effects on Evaporative Cutting With a Moving CW Laser

Multiple reflection and beam guiding effects during laser machining are analyzed numerically. The surface of the treated material is considered to reflect the laser irradiation in a fully diffuse fashion, limiting the analysis to bodies that have a rough surface during laser evaporation (e.g., micro-explosive removal, violent surface boiling, etc.) For local irradiation calculations the material surface is divided into a number of triangular elements with linear interpolation functions. The net radiative flux for these elements is obtained from standard view factor theory. The irradiation calculations are combined with a simple integral method governing conduction losses into the medium, and the resulting groove shape and depth are found through an iterative procedure. Considering multiple reflection results in increasing material removal rates and deeper grooves, accompanied by a flatter profile near the centerline and steeper slopes in the other parts of the groove cross section.
Immune mechanisms in the primary and secondary vasculitides

Vasculitis, or angiitis, affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems and is increasingly recognized as a cause of neurologic dysfunction. The vascular inflammation may be systemic or organ restricted. Recent work has expanded our knowledge on the pathogeneses of vasculitis. Historically, immune complex mediated vasculitis is best defined but studies now delineate cell mediated immune mechanisms including T cell and endothelial cell interactions. Additional factors in the genesis of vascular inflammatory diseases are also being explored. There are numerous underlying etiologies ranging from primary immunologic disturbances to infections, malignancies, and toxins. In order to plan rational therapies, clinicians need to be aware of current work on the pathogeneses of vascular inflammation as well as exploring specific etiologies in their individual patients.
Sarin, Soman, Tabun und VX

Lange Zeit war ein chemischer Kampfmittelangriff ein militarisches Szenario. Spatestens seit der Attacke mit Sarin auf die Tokioter U-Bahn im Jahre 1995 durch den Aum-Shinrikyo-Kult werden zivile Kampfstoffeinsatze in den Szenarien von vielen Katastrophenplanern mit einbezogen. Dieser Angriff war der groste zivile chemische Angriff auf Zivilisten in der Geschichte. Nervenkampfstoffe werden auch haufig als Nervengase bezeichnet, obwohl diese zunachst als Flussigkeiten oder Aerosole vorliegen und danach erst evaporieren. Die bekanntesten Vertreter sind Sarin, Tabun, Soman und VX. Diese 4 Substanzen haben gemeinsam, dass sie schon in kleinsten Mengen das Enzym Acetylcholinesterase blockieren, einen Uberschuss von Acetylcholin im synaptischen Nervenspalt erzeugen und somit ein lebensbedrohliches cholinerges Krankheitsbild hervorrufen. Die 4 Substanzen unterscheiden sich in ihrer Pharmakologie und ihren physikochemischen Eigenschaften. Das Wissen um diese Eigenschaften ist wichtig bei der Triage sowie bei der Einschatzung der richtigen Behandlungsstrategie beim Massenanfall von Verletzten. Die beste Vorbereitung auf ein solch grauenhaftes Szenario ist die Verhinderung durch kontinuierliche polizeiliche und nachrichtendienstliche Praventivmasnahmen. Eine standardisierte Ausbildung des Medizin- und Rettungspersonals sowie die Anschaffung und Vorhaltung von Geraten und Medikamenten sind weitere wichtige Masnahmen und sollten ebenfalls in Betracht gezogen werden.
Effects of anticonvulsants on cell growth and enzymatic and receptor binding activity in a neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell culture.

Summary: : The effects of anticonvulsants on markers of growth, intracellular enzymes, and synaptic functions were evaluated using a rapidly dividing cholinergic neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell-line (NG108-15). Cell cultures were exposed for 4 days to phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, or valproic acid. Anticonvulsant concentrations added to the media were selected to produce free levels in the cell media that were equivalent to free levels in humans ranging from therapeutic to very toxic. Free levels of anticonvulsants in the toxic range affected cell number, protein content, and neurochemical markers. However, only valproic acid and phenytoin reduced cell growth at therapeutic free drug concentrations. Valproic acid was the only medication to act as a differentiating agent, significantly increasing the activity of choline acetyl transferase, (3-galactosidase, and muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding. These results emphasize the importance of performing drug studies at appropriate free drug concentrations and suggest that valproic acid differs from other commonly prescribed anticonvulsants by having both a growth-suppressing and a differentiating effect.
OBSERVATIONS OF PASCHEN ALF IN P CYG AND OTHER OB STARS.

Ground-based observations of Paschen alpha yield an equivalent width of 79 A in P Cyg and upper limits in the range 6 A-10 A for four other luminous early-type stars that are known to be losing mass. The ratios P-alpha/H-beta and P-alpha/H-alpha for P Cyg are approximately in accord with line ratios predicted for optically thick, low temperature (30,000 K) envelopes. The observations demonstrate that, at least for Mauna Kea, atmospheric transmission is high enough (about 16%) to allow observations at 1.9 micron.
Skeletal effects of whole-body vibration in adult and aged mice.

Low-amplitude, whole-body vibration (WBV) may be anabolic for bone. Animal studies of WBV have not evaluated skeletal effects in aged animals. We exposed 75 male BALB/c mice (7 month/young-adult; 22 month/aged) to 5 weeks of daily WBV (15 min/day, 5 day/wk; 90 Hz sine wave) at acceleration amplitudes of 0 (sham), 0.3, or 1.0 g. Whole-body bone mineral content (BMC) increased with time in 7 month (p 0.05). Each of these outcomes was diminished in 7 month versus 22 month animals (p < 0.05). In summary, 5 weeks of daily exposure to low-amplitude WBV had no skeletal effects in aged male mice. The potential of WBV to enhance bone mass in age-related osteoporosis is not supported in this preclinical study. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:241–247, 2010
Discrimination and exiting homelessness among homeless adolescents.

This paper examines how newly homeless adolescents’ discrimination experiences were associated with exiting homelessness after six months. A sample of 262 homeless adolescents, aged 12 to 20 years, were recruited and followed longitudinally (six-month retention rate = 88%). Discrimination was related to being gay, lesbian, or bisexual (LGB). Discrimination from family was related to exiting homelessness. Other than those who were LGB, adolescents who reported discrimination from their families were more likely to exit homelessness than adolescents who did not report such discrimination. Suggestions for future research include focusing on the experiences of LGB homeless adolescents, the role of families in the lives of homeless adolescents, and other aspects of discrimination, including salience, frequency, intensity, and duration.
Cavitation nucleated by 10B(n, α)7Li

Abstract Acoustic cavitation has been nucleated on the reaction 10 B ( n , α ) 7 Li in methanol solution. Implications for a slow neutron detector or counter are discussed.
A review of sources of spurious silicon peaks in electron microprobe X-ray spectra of biological specimens.

Abstract The presence of Si peaks in X-ray spectra of biological specimens can lead to misinter-pretation of data if one is unaware of potential sourees of artifactual Si. Silicontcontamination may be acquired from oils or greases during the course of specimen preparation or from the vacuum system of the electron microscope. In energy dispersive X-ray detection, the level of the Si peak cannot be reduced below that of the internal fluorescence peak obtained from the dead layer of the detector.
Effectiveness Assessment of Solid-State Drive Used in Big Data Services

Big data poses challenges to the technologies required to process data of high volume, velocity, variety, and veracity. Among the challenges, the storage and computing required by big data analytics is usually huge, and as a result big data capabilities are often provisioned in cloud and delivered in the form of Web-based services. Solid-state drive (SSD) is widely used nowadays as an elementary hardware feature in cloud infrastructure for big data services. For example, Amazon Web Service (AWS) offers EC2 instances with SSD storage, and its key-value data store, DynamoDB, is backed up by SSD for superior performance. Compared to hard disk drive (HDD), SSD prevails in both access latency and bandwidth. In the foreseeable future, SSD would be readily available on commodity servers though its capacity would be neither large enough nor cost effective to accommodate big data on its own. Therefore, it is essential to investigate how to efficiently leverage SSD as one layer in a storage hierarchy in addition to HDD. In this paper, we investigate the effectiveness of using SSD in three workloads, namely standalone Hadoop MapReduce jobs, Hive jobs, and HBase queries. Firstly, we device an approach to enable Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) having a SSD-HDD storage hierarchy. Secondly, we investigate the IO involved in different phases of Hadoop jobs and design different schemes to place data discriminatively in the aforementioned storage hierarchy. Afterward, the effectiveness of different schemes are evaluated with respect to job run time. Finally, we summarize best practices of data placement for examined workloads in a SSD-HDD storage hierarchy.
Patterns of codon recognition by isoacceptor amino acyl-tRNAs from hymenoptera

Summary Isoacceptors of Ala-, Arg-, Glu-, Gln-, Gly-, Ile-, Lys-, Ser-, Thr-, and Val-tRNAs from Hymenoptera were resolved by reverse phase chromatography, isolated, and examined for codon recognition properties. Codon assignments have been made to most isoacceptors. Evolutionary changes which have occurred in patterns of codon recognition and in the relative abundances of isoacceptor aa-tRNAs in Hymenoptera and other organisms are discussed.
Studies on synchronously dividing cultures of Euglena gracilis Klebs (strain Z). II. Patterns of biosynthesis during the cell cycle

Dry weight, total protein, chlorophyll a, carotenoids, soluble protein, RNA, DNA, and total phosphorus were determined at intervals of two hours during synchronous growth of Euglena at a cell concentration of 5–10 × 104 cells/ml maintained by periodic dilution. Detailed analyses of the soluble proteins (DEAE-cellulose fractionation) and of the intracellular distribution of phosphorus were made also. In general, a linear doubling of each of these major components occurred during the light period; there was no net synthesis during the dark. Since cell number doubled during the dark period, a halving of the amounts of the parameters in each cell occurred. The most notable exception was the stepwise synthesis of DNA during the light period: DNA replicated during the last 6 hr only of the light period, commencing at 8 hr after the onset of light. Although DNA replication was a necessary condition for cell division to occur, it was not necessarily a sufficient one. It was found that different absolute rates of synthesis exist for the different compounds, with a doubling of a given parameter sometimes being completed before the end of the light period.
Changes in differential gene expression because of warm ischemia time of radical prostatectomy specimens.

The expression of thousands of genes can be monitored simultaneously using cDNA microarray technology. This technology is being used to understand the complexity of human disease. One significant technical concern regards potential alterations in gene expression because of the effect of tissue ischemia. This study evaluates the increase in the differential gene expression because of tissue processing time. To evaluate differential gene expression because of ischemia time, prostate samples were divided into five time points (0, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 hours). Each time point consisted of a homogeneous mixture of 12 to 15 prostate tissue cubes (5 mm3). These tissues were maintained at room temperature until at the assigned time point the tissue was placed in OCT, flash frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at −80°C until RNA extraction. RNA from each time point was hybridized against an aliquot of 0 time point RNA from the same prostate. Four prostate glands were used in parallel studies. M-A plots were graphed to compare variability between time point sample hybridizations. Statistical Analysis of Microarray software was used to identify genes overexpressed at the 1-hour time point versus the 0-hour time with statistically significance. Microarray analysis revealed only a small percentage of genes (<0.6%) from more than 9000 to demonstrate overexpression at the 1-hour time point. Among the 41 statistically significant named overexpressed genes at the 1-hour time point were early growth response 1 (EGR1), jun B proto-oncogene (jun B), jun D proto-oncogene (jun D), and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). Genes previously associated with prostate cancer did not have significantly altered expression with ischemia time. Increased EGR1 protein expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Microarray technology has opened the possibility of evaluating the expression of a multitude of genes simultaneously, however, the interpretation of this complex data needs to be assessed circumspectly using refined statistical methods. Because RNA expression represents the tissue response to insults such as ischemia, and is also sensitive to degradation, investigators need be mindful of confounding artifacts secondary to tissue processing. All attempts should be made to process tissue rapidly to ensure that the microarray gene profile accurately represents the state of the cells and confirmatory studies should be performed using alternative methods (eg, Northern blot analysis, Western blot, immunohistochemistry).
Can technological solutions for diabetes replace islet cell function

The central objective of diabetes research and management is to restore the deficient secretion of insulin, thereby restoring a state of euglycemia and minimizing short- and long-term risks associated with poor glucose control. The development of the artificial pancreas seeks to imitate the action of the pancreatic beta cell by employing closed-loop control to respond to glycemic excursions by appropriately infusing appropriate amounts of insulin. This article examines progress towards implementing an artificial pancreas in the context of the pancreatic islet as the ideal model for controlling blood glucose. Physiologic insulin secretion will form our foundation for considering the technical design elements relevant to electromechanically imitating the beta cell. The most recent clinical trials using closed-loop control are reviewed and this modality is compared to other curative approaches including islet cell transplantation and preservation. Finally, the potential of the artificial pancreas as a method...
Preparation and structural characterization of poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride)

Poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride) was synthesized by free-radical initiation to yield a 1:1 copolymer over a 0.2-0.8 mole fraction range of monomer feed in maleic anhydride. Evidence of 1:1 charge transfer complex between 4-vinylphenylacetate and maleic anhydride was obtained in the UV region at 355 nm. The 13C NMR chemical shifts and 1H NMR integration data indicate that poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride) has an alternating and stereoregular structure. The molecular weight of poly(4-vinylphenylacetate-co-maleic anhydride) was controlled by using specific solvents and initiator concentrations.
College readers' mental imagery, comprehension and attitude with abstract and concrete expositoy materials

Abstract This study investigated the relationships between the number and clarity of mental images reported by college readers and their reported interest, perceived reading ease, and comprehension scores. Subjects each read one of four experimental passages which had previously been rated as either concrete or abstract by five independent raters and then answered likert‐scale questions about their interest, attitude, and number and clarity of mental images. In Investigation I, comprehension was measured by multiple‐choice questions, and in Investigation II by short‐answer questions. The results of both experiments indicated that though there were no significant relationships between imagery ratings and comprehension scores, there were significant relationships for the concrete passages between the imagery ratings and the attitude ratings and between the imagery ratings and the self‐reported reading ease ratings.
Respect for the Elderly in Asia: Stability and Change:

This study analyzes data from seventy-nine focus groups conducted in the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The research examined ways in which respect for the elderly is experienced in these four countries, the extent to which respect has changed over time, and the reasons for changes in respect for the elderly. Using qualitative analysis, five distinct dimensions of respect were identified: gestures and manners, tokens, customs and rituals, asking for advice, and obedience. Focus group discussions indicated that changes have occurred on most of these dimensions of respect. The changes were attributed to variations in family structure and function, education, income, and modernization. These findings are discussed in relation to changing definitions of respect and variations in the way in which respect for the elderly is expressed in Asia.
The great debate: stopping immunomodulators and biologics in Crohn's disease patients in remission.

Lifelong immunosuppression for Crohn’s disease has been associated with increased morbidity; opportunistic infections, lymphomas, nonmelanoma skin cancers and allergic/hypersensitivity reactions [1...
Applications of dendrochronology and sediment geochronology to establish reference episodes for evaluations of environmental radioactivity

Abstract Dendrochronology and sediment geochronology have been used to demonstrate retrospective monitoring of environmental radioactivity at United States Department of Energy (DOE) sites. 14 C in annual growth rings of sagebrush preserved the temporal and spatial patterns of 14 C resulting from dispersion downwind of a nuclear fuel processing facility at the Hanford Site in Washington State. As far as 10 km downwind of the facility, 14 C concentrations were significantly higher in growth rings formed during a fuel processing episode than in rings produced during preoperational or postoperational episodes. An episode of uranium mill tailings deposition in pond sediments at the Grand Junction Office in Colorado was reconstructed using 210 Pb geochronology constrained by a marker of peak 137 Cs fallout. Uranium concentrations in ponds sediments deposited after the processing episode provide a reasonable cleanup standard. These reference episodes of environmental radioactivity reconstructed from measurements taken within contaminated environments can improve or replace reference area data as baseline information for dose reconstructions, risk assessments, and the establishment of cleanup standards.
License or Obligation to Smile: The Effect of Power and Sex on Amount and Type of Smiling

This experiment tested whether social power and sex affect amount and type of smiling. Participants were assigned to low-, high-, or equal-power positions and interacted in dyads. For high- and equal-power participants, smiling correlated with positive affect, whereas for low- power participants, it did not. Women smiled more than men overall and showed more Duchenne smiling in the equal-power context, but they did not differ in the high-power context or low-power context. Results are interpreted as reflecting the license given to high-power people to smile when they are so inclined and the obligation for low-power people to smile regardless of how positive they feel.
Post-Test Characterization of a Chromium-Plated Copper Conductor

Chromium-plated copper rails previously tested as electromagnetic launcher rail conductors were studied. As-received specimens were characterized. To simulate the effect of liquid aluminum that is generated at the sliding interface, aluminum hot-dipping experiments were performed at high temperature. In addition, a further reliquification and spreading experiment to examine aluminum wetting on chromium was conducted. Numerous cracks and voids were found on the chromium layer of as-received specimens, and no molten aluminum–chromium interaction was found at the armature footprint because of the protection provided by the Cr2O3 scale. It was found that cracking due to the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch upon heating allows oxide-free surfaces to interact with molten aluminum, and oxide formation on the surface of the aluminum deposit prevents the spreading of the deposit.
Effects of Motor Unit Size on Innervation Patterns in Neonatal Mammals

Abstract Different muscles in neonatal rabbits differ with respect to the extent of multiple innervation and the rate of synapse elimination. Counts were made of both α-motor neurons (using retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase) and muscle fibers for each of three rabbit muscles, to see whether the differences between muscles in the degree of multiple innervation and/or the rate of synapse elimination were related to the motor neuron:muscle fiber ratio (the innervation ratio). The results suggest that individual motor neurons from muscles with a 10-fold range of muscle fiber number tend initially to establish a similar number of synapses, which results in different degrees of multiple innervation among muscles. The rate of synapse elimination in a muscle, however, does not appear to depend on the innervation ratio.
Template Syntheses of Polypyrrole Nanowires and CdS Nanoparticles in Porous Polymer Monoliths

Template synthesis is a powerful method for the preparation of nanoscale materials with specific size and shape. We describe the template synthesis of polypyrrole nanowires and CdS nanoparticles within monolithic nanoporous polymer templates prepared from ordered block copolymer precursors. SAXS measurements confirmed retention of the host structure after growth of the nanomaterials within the pores of the template. SEM and TEM were used for direct visualization of the size and shape of the templated materials both in the monolith as well as after removal of the template through dissolution. The size of the templated nanomaterials matched that of the template pores and was modifiable by using templates containing different pore dimensions. For the case of CdS nanoparticles, WAXS was also used to verify particle size and crystal structure. In an effort to impregnate the nanoporous monoliths with CdS particles smaller than the pore dimensions of the template, a synthetic protocol utilizing a capping agent w...
Application of a neural network to improve an automated thermoplastic tow-placement process

Abstract This study demonstrates the use of an on-line neural network to calculate process set points for PID controllers in a manufacturing process such as the automated thermoplastic tow-placement (ATP) technique. The set points are computed by the neural network so that the throughput is near maximum and a desired minimum quality is maintained. A novel neural network predictive scheme is developed to enable performance over a wide range of processing inputs. Process history can greatly affect the final part quality and, therefore, is an integral part of the method for determining the set points. The system is first trained and tested in simulation and then validated for the highly non-linear ATP process resulting in significantly improved process operation. The developed approach is applicable to many other manufacturing processes where process simulations exist and conventional control techniques are lacking.
Response to corticosteroids in chronic bronchitis

Abstract Corticosteroid drugs are often employed in the treatment of patients with chronic bronchitis. Although some patients respond favorably to such therapy, the characteristics of such patients are not known. Twenty-four patients with chronic bronchitis were treated with prednisone 30 mg daily or placebo for one week each in a double-blind crossover study. The following were monitored before and after each treatment period: physical examination, symptoms, peripheral blood eosinophil count, sputum cell examination, forced vital capacity (FVC), before and after isoproterenol aerosol. Seven of 24 patients had an FEV1 increase greater than 30% of the control value on prednisone but not on placebo. Blood eosinophil count was elevated (≥350/mm3) in 7 patients; 2 of these 7 improved on steroid. Sputum cell examination revealed preponderance of eosinophils in 1, and occasional clumps of eosinophils in 8. Seven of these 9 responded to steroid. Sputum but not blood eosinophilia is a good predictor of a favorable response to steroid therapy.
Detection and Repair of Poorly Converged Optimization Runs

The use of iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) for detecting design points where optimizations converge poorly is demonstrated. Because optimization error tends to he one-sided with poor results producing overweight designs, a nonsymmetrical version of IRLS (NIRLS) that accounts for the asymmetry in optimization errors is also developed. A parameterized Rosenbrock function problem, where a programming error caused poor optimizations, is used to demonstrate the techniques. The identified outliers were repaired by more accurate optimizations to improve response surface approximations. Structural optimization of a high-speed civil transport (HSCT) produced inaccurate wing structural weight. Optimization studies with various sets of convergence criteria showed that the optimization errors were due to incomplete convergence. The IRLS technique could identify many of the points with very large optimization errors, but the NIRLS techniques were much more reliable in this task. However, results of HSCT configuration optimizations using wing weight response surface models show that it may be preferable to identify and repair only a subset of the poorly converged optima.
Efficient Modeling Scheme for Transient Analysis of Inelastic RC Structures

: Simple modeling schemes for efficient and reliable analysis of reinforced concrete structures in the inelastic range are presented. The objective of the modeling techniques is to represent overall behavior in terms of macromodels. A reinforced concrete structure is discretized into a series of macroelements: beam columns, shear walls, and general-purpose inelastic springs. Each element macro-model is developed from distributed flexibility concepts in which the effects of spread plasticity are implicitly included. Nonlinear material behavior is specified by means of hysteretic force-deformation models that incorporate stiffness degradation, strength deterioration, and pinching or bondslip effects. The models are incorporated into a microcomputer program that is capable of analyzing two-dimensional or entire three-dimensional wall-frame systems that can be discretized into a series of interconnected parallel frames. Solution modules for nonlinear static, monotonic, quasistatic cyclic, and transient seismic loads are developed. The efficiency and reliability of the modeling are demonstrated in terms of its effectiveness in reproducing experimentally observed behavior.
Characterization of melanocortin receptor subtype expression in murine adipose tissues and in the 3T3-L1 cell line

It has been known for many years that adipocytes express high affinity ACTH and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) binding sites, and that ACTH, alpha-MSH, and beta-lipotropin are potent lipolytic hormones. We show here that the adipocyte response to the melanocortin peptides results from the expression of both the MC2 (ACTH) receptor as well as the newly discovered MC5 receptor. Using RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization, high levels of MC2 receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) were found in all adipose tissues examined in the mouse, whereas MC5 receptor mRNA was found in a subset of these. Both receptors mRNAs were also found in the 3T3-L1 cell line but only after the cells had been induced to differentiate into adipocytes. This cell line was then used to characterize the pharmacological properties of the MC2 and MC5 receptor sites in situ. The MC2 receptor exhibits properties similar to the ACTH receptor characterized in adrenocortical cells, coupling to activation of adenylyl cyclase with an EC50 of approximately 1 nM. An MSH binding site characterized in these cells is presumably the MC5 receptor, based on the observation that this is the only other melanocortin receptor mRNA detected in these cells. The MC5 receptor in the 3T3-L1 adipocyte activated adenylyl cyclase in response to alpha-MSH stimulation. Interestingly, Nle4, D-Phe7-alpha-MSH (NDP-MSH), a commonly used synthetic alpha-MSH agonist, was a potent antagonist of the MC5 receptor expressed in the 3T3-L1 cell line. Although the agouti signaling peptide is a potent antagonist of NDP-MSH binding to the MC1 and MC4 melanocortin receptors, agouti was unable to block NDP-MSH binding in the 3T3-L1 adipocyte.