cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
α-Actinin Is a Cross-Reactive Renal Target for Pathogenic Anti-DNA Antibodies

Anti-DNA Abs commonly found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are thought to play an important pathogenic role in lupus nephritis. Anti-DNA Abs may contribute to renal disease by cross-reactivity with renal Ags, the identity of which remain elusive. To identify a target Ag for pathogenic anti-DNA Abs, we performed Western blotting and immunoprecipitations of mesangial cell lysates from the lupus-prone MRL-lpr/lpr mouse and a nonautoimmune BALB/c mouse with the pathogenic anti-DNA Ab R4A. We found that R4A (but not a nonpathogenic Ab mutant of R4A) binds to and immunoprecipitates a 100-kDa protein expressed on the cell surface and in lysates of MRL-lpr/lpr mesangial cells. DNase treatment of the lysate and of the R4A Ab did not effect binding, indicating that the binding of R4A to the 100-kDa protein was direct and not mediated by an antigenic bridge containing DNA. Binding was greatly diminished in BALB/c lysates, suggesting that Ag expression or availability at the level of the target organ may be a factor in determining susceptibility to lupus nephritis. Following identification of this 100-kDa protein as nonmuscle α-actinin, binding of R4A to α-actinin was confirmed by Western blot, ELISA, inhibition studies, and immunofluorescence. High titers of anti-α-actinin Abs were present in sera and kidney eluates of lupus mice with active nephritis. These results indicate that the nephritogenicity of some anti-DNA Abs may be mediated via cross-reactivity with α-actinin. Furthermore, variations in target Ag display between individuals may underlie differential susceptibility to anti-DNA Ab-induced renal disease.
The Effects Of The Practice Of The Newstart Health Regimen On Faculty Stress Among Faculty At Seventh-Day Adventist Colleges And Universities

Utilizing an availability sample of (n = 124) faculty from three postsecondary Seventh-day Adventists institutions that promote a healthy lifestyle philosophy encapsulated in the acronym NEWSTART, this study explored effects of this health/religious regimen on faculty stress among this group. The findings reported in this paper indicate that three of the five components of the Faculty Stress Index were significantly influenced by the practice of the NEWSTART principles. These components are time constraints, reward and recognition, and departmental influence. These results constitute baseline information on health practices used by faculty at SDA institutions and the effectiveness of this model as a means of faculty stress reduction among this group and potentially for faculty at a wider range of educational institutions.
cis-Pt(NH3)2(GpG) Properties Interpreted through Comparison with Retro-Model GpG Adducts Having Carrier Ligands Designed to Slow Dynamic Motion and Control Cross-Link Handedness

Cisplatin forms the cis-Pt(NH3)2(d(GpG)) intrastrand cross-link with DNA. Recently our experiments showed that the phosphodiester backbone can have a normal (1) or opposite (2) backbone propagation direction, leading to four conformer classes, HH1, HH2, ΔHT1, and ΛHT2, with the bases in either a head-to-head or head-to-tail orientation. In addition, since each G residue can be syn or anti and the base canting can be left (L) or right (R) handed, 32 variants of this cross-link are conceivable. Reported evidence supported the existence of only the two anti,anti HH1 variants, L in single strands and in cis-Pt(NH3)2(d(GpG)) and R in duplexes and in the ribo analogue, cis-Pt(NH3)2(GpG); in this regard, the latter is an excellent simple model of the DNA lesion. To test such interpretations, we used retro-model adducts (complexes with carrier ligands designed to slow dynamic motion in the d(GpG) cross-link). In retro-model d(GpG) adducts, anti,syn ΔHT1 L (5‘-G anti and 3‘-G syn) and anti,anti HH2 R variants have...
Enzymatic saccharification of dilute acid pretreated saline crops for fermentable sugar production

Abstract Four saline crops [athel (Tamarix aphylla L), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Jose Tall Wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum), and Creeping Wild Ryegrass (Leymus triticoides)] that are used in farms for salt uptake from soil and drainage irrigation water have the potential for fuel ethanol production because they don’t take a large number of arable lands. Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis were conducted to select the optimum pretreatment conditions and the best saline crop for further enzymatic hydrolysis research. The optimum dilute acid pretreatment conditions included T = 165 °C, t = 8 min, and sulfuric acid concentration = 1.4% (w/w). Creeping Wild Ryegrass was decided to be the best saline crop. Solid loading, cellulase and β-glucosidase concentrations had significant effects on the enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute acid pretreated Creeping Wild Ryegrass. Glucose concentration increased by 36 mg/mL and enzymatic digestibility decreased by 20% when the solid loading increased from 4 to 12%. With 8% solid loading, enzymatic digestibility increased by over 30% with the increase of cellulase concentration from 5 to 15 FPU/g-cellulose. Under given cellulase concentration of 15 FPU/g-cellulose, 60% increase of enzymatic digestibility of pretreated Creeping Wild Ryegrass was obtained with the increase of β-glucosidase concentration up to 15 CBU/g-cellulose. With a high solid loading of 10%, fed-batch operation generated 12% and 18% higher enzymatic digestibility and glucose concentration, respectively, than batch process.
Biochemical and Immunochemical Properties of HPLC Peak 2, an Ion-Exchange Fraction of Common Cattle Grub (Diptera: Oestridae)

Soluble proteins extracted from first instar common cattle grub, Hypoderma lineatum (Villers), can be resolved into four major proteolytic fractions by HPLC ionexchange chromatography. Hypodermin A, hypodermin B, and collagenase are serine proteases contained in three of the four fractions and have been described previously. HPLC peak 2 (P2), another fraction of first instar H. lineatum , was prepared and compared with the three other protease fractions. P2 exhibited tryptic esterase activity (as indicated by hydrolysis of amide and ester substrates of trypsin) and no chymotryptic esterase activity. Although tryptic activity within P2 was inhibited by both soybean and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitors, chicken ovomucoid had little inhibitory effect. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and N-α-tosylphenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK, a chymotrypsin inhibitor) were without effect on P2 tryptic esterase activity, while the trypsin inhibitors benzamidine and N-α-tosyl-L-lysyl chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) were slightly inhibitory. Tryptic esterase activity of P2 was relatively stable at temperatures from 20 to 50°C and had pH optimum of 7.0-7.8. Results indicated that hypodermin B and P2 protease activities were more closely related to one another than they were to hypodermin A. lmmunochemical cross-reactivity suggested antigenic similarities between hypodermin B and P2, yet hypodermin A was found to be antigenically distinct.
Top-Gate Organic Field-Effect Transistors with High Environmental and Operational Stability

Over the past several years, great progress has been made in the development of organic fi eld-effect transistors (OFETs). Prototypes of electronic devices such as drivers for fl at-panel displays, [ 1 ] complementary circuits, [ 2 , 3 ] radio-frequency identifi cation tags, [ 4 ] and chemical or biological sensors [ 5 , 6 ] have already been demonstrated. While charge-carrier mobility values have improved [ 2 , 3 , 7–9 ] with comparable values for both n and p -channel transistors, long-term environmental and operational stability remain two major issues that need to be resolved before OFETs can realize their full commercial potential. Recently, much effort has been devoted to improve the stability of OFETs. [ 10–18 ] For instance, to improve the environmental stability of OFETs, air-stable organic semiconductors have been synthesized [ 10 , 11 ] or encapsulation layers have been developed. [ 12 , 13 ] On the other hand, achieving operational stability is still a major challenge faced by OFETs as well as other fi eld-effect transistor (FET) technologies, such as those based on a -Si:H, poly-Si, and metal-oxide semiconductors. The operational stability of a FET is in general related to dipolar orientation and charge trapping/de-trapping events at all its critical interfaces and in the bulk of the semiconductor and gate dielectric. [ 14–18 ] The degradation of the performance of a FET during operation is refl ected by changes of its current-voltage characteristics that result from changes of mobility ( μ ), of threshold voltage ( V th ), or variations of the capacitance density ( C in ) of the gate dielectric. The dynamics of the physical and/or chemical mechanisms producing these changes, intrinsic or extrinsic, affect the performance of a FET on different time scales. [ 14 ] The stability of a FET is determined by the total effects produced by several physical and/or chemical processes, but in general, one tends to dominate over the others. This has caused current approaches to improve the stability to focus on mitigating individual processes. [ 15–18 ] Furthermore, the stability of OFETs has been primarily evaluated in devices with a bottom-gate geometry. OFETs with a top-gate geometry are relatively rare because the choice of gate dielectric material is limited since its deposition can potentially damage the organic semiconductor layer underneath. The use of an amorphous fl uoropolymer, CYTOP,
Public ocean literacy in the United States

Abstract The 2004 Pew Ocean Commission report suggests a need to improve public literacy about oceans. The authors of the report assume that enhancing public awareness and knowledge of oceans will lead to increased public support for ocean restoration efforts. Following this line of reasoning, our study investigates current levels of public knowledge and informedness concerning oceans, and also explores the correlates of knowledge holding. Using data gathered from a national random sample of 1233 citizens in Summer/Fall 2003, two hypotheses—trans-situational and situation-specific—are examined as explanations of public knowledge levels concerning ocean policy issues. The trans-situational hypothesis evaluates socioeconomic status (SES) as an explanation for levels of knowledge. The situation-specific hypothesis evaluates personal experiences and contexts that might overcome SES characteristics. We also examine the effect of information source use on knowledge holding. Findings suggest that both trans-situational and situation-specific hypotheses are useful in explaining knowledge levels. We also find that information sources, such as newspapers and the internet, are likely to improve citizen knowledge on ocean issues, while television and radio have a negative effect.
An Indian Child Welfare perspective on disproportionality in child welfare

Abstract American Indians and Alaska Natives have struggled with outplacement of children from their families and communities since the beginning of colonization of North America. American Indian and Alaska Native efforts to keep children in their families, communities and tribal nations have created an Indian Child Welfare perspective that is vital to understanding disparities and disproportionalities in child welfare. The history of Indian Child Welfare consists of repeated documentation of institutional bias and institutional racism confirming that United States policies were designed to remove American Indian and Alaska Native children from tribes to undermine indigenous nations and to benefit non-native peoples. From an Indian Child Welfare perspective this means that institutional racism and institutional bias are the primary causes of disparities and disproportionalities in child welfare. The implication for other communities is the need to do their own research and documentation of the participation of their children and families in child welfare.
All-trans-retinoic acid modulation of drug-metabolizing enzyme activities: investigation with selective metabolic drug probes.

Purpose: All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is a retinoid analogue that has been shown to be effective in acute promyelocytic leukemia. It is currently being investigated for efficacy in the treatment and prevention of various types of cancer. One of the factors limiting its use is the observed increase in ATRA clearance and elimination which occurs shortly after treatment is started, leading to reduced levels of drug in the body and loss of effectiveness. ATRA efficacy may be enhanced if this autoinduction of metabolism can be overcome, for example through the inhibition of the activity of the induced specific metabolizing enzyme(s). This requires the identification of this induced enzyme(s) and development of approaches to selectively inhibit its activity. Methods: In the course of a phase II evaluation of ATRA in prostate cancer, we investigated the activities of five specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) (CYPs 1A2, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 and 3A4) and N-acetyltransferase enzymes using a newly developed five-drug cocktail involving caffeine, mephenytoin, debrisoquine, chlorzoxazone and dapsone respectively. Enzyme activities were assessed in 17 patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer before the initiation of ATRA therapy, after 14 days of continuous ATRA administration and 7 days after cessation of drug therapy. Results: After 14 days of ATRA therapy, the activities of CYP2E1 (chlorzoxazone hydroxylase) and N-acetyltransferase (in fast acetylators only) were increased by 83% and 29% (P < 0.05), respectively. Both activities returned to baseline by 7 days after cessation of therapy and the profiles were similar to the changes seen in the clearance of ATRA itself. There were no changes in the activities of any of the other enzymes investigated. Conclusion: This study shows that ATRA selectively modulates the activities of specific metabolizing enzymes and that this approach may be useful in identifying enzymes that can be explored in an attempt to mitigate ATRA autoinduction through selective modulation of enzyme activities. Further investigations are required to determine whether the elevated enzymes are also responsible for the increased clearance and elimination of ATRA.
Glucocorticoid and Androgen Activation of Monoamine Oxidase A Is Regulated Differently by R1 and Sp1

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A is a key enzyme for the degradation of neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. There are three consensus glucocorticoid/androgen response elements and four Sp1-binding sites in the human monoamine oxidase A 2-kb promoter. A novel transcription factor R1 (RAM2/CDCA7L) interacts with Sp1-binding sites and represses MAO A gene expression. Luciferase assays show that glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) and androgen (R1881) increase MAO A promoter and catalytic activities in human neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cells. Gel-shift analysis demonstrates that glucocorticoid/androgen receptors interact directly with the third glucocorticoid/androgen response element. Glucocorticoid/androgen receptors also interact with Sp1-binding sites indirectly via transcription factor Sp1. In addition, dexamethasone induces R1 translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus in a time-dependent manner in both the neuroblastoma and wild-type UW228 cell lines but not in R1 knock-down UW228 cells. In summary, this study shows that glucocorticoid enhances monoamine oxidase A gene expression by 1) regulation of R1 translocation; 2) direct interaction of the glucocorticoid receptor with the third glucocorticoid/androgen response element; and 3) indirect interaction of glucocorticoid receptor with the Sp1 or R1 transcription factor on Sp1-binding sites of the MAO A promoter. Androgen also up-regulates MAO A gene expression by direct interaction of androgen receptor with the third glucocorticoid/androgen response element. Androgen receptor indirectly interacts with the Sp1, but not R1 transcription factor, on Sp1-binding sites. This study provides new insights on the differential regulation of MAO A by glucocorticoid and androgen.
Sequence analysis of the Mycoplasma arthritidis bacteriophage MAV1 genome identifies the putative virulence factor.

Abstract The bacteriophage MAV1 is required for the development of arthritis in rats after infection with its host Mycoplasma arthritidis . To identify the phage-encoded virulence factor for this arthritis, the complete nucleotide sequence of MAV1 was determined. The linear double-stranded genome of MAV1 is 15 644 bp and contains 15 ORFs. Putative protein products from these ORFs were identified by comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences to known proteins and comprise DNA replication, restriction–modification, structural, regulatory, and integration/excision proteins. Eight putative promoters were identified; four of these would produce polycistronic transcripts. Translation of each ORF appears to be initiated independently, with each having its own RBS. A single ORF, vir , was identified on the minus strand of the phage genome. The putative protein product of vir contains a classic prokaryotic lipoprotein signal sequence and is a strong candidate for the MAV1-encoded virulence determinant.
Blacks in Colonial Veracruz: Race, Ethnicity, and Regional Development

Blacks in Colonial Veracruz: Race, Ethnicity, and Regional Development. Patrick J. Carroll. Austin: University of Texas Press,1991. 240 pp. $35.00 (cloth). ISBN 0–393–70780–0.
Reduced levels of β-subunit protein influence tomato fruit firmness, cell-wall ultrastructure, and PG2-mediated pectin hydrolysis in excised pericarp tissue

Summary Tomato fruit expressing an antisense gene for the tomato fruit β-subunit protein were examined to determine the effect of this protein on fruit and pericarp firmness, the susceptibility of excised pericarp tissue to hydrolysis by purified PG2, and pericarp ultrastructure. Firmness of β-subunit-antisense and wild-type fruit and pericarp tissue was similar at the mature green stage. When ripe, β-subunit-antisense fruit firmness averaged 22% lower than firmness of wild type fruit, whereas pericarp firmness was nearly 50 % lower in the antisense line. Pericarp discs from wild-type and β-subunit-deficient mature-green fruit showed firmness decreases of 9 and 16 %, respectively, in response to treatment with purified PG2. PG2 treatment increased levels of soluble pectins recovered from mature-green discs but molecular mass differences between the β-subunit-antisense and wild type tissues were minimal. Ultrastructural differences between β-subunit-antisense and wild-type fruits, both during normal ripening and in mature-green pericarp discs treated with PG2, confirmed that the influence of the β-subunit protein on wall metabolism was dependent on the presence of PG2. Evidence indicated that the enzyme was capable of greater mobility within the tissue of the subunit-deficient compared with the wild-type line.
Intramodal and intermodal transfer of movement information.

Abstract Transfer of movement information between and within the visual and kinesthetic sensory systems was examined using a linear movement task. The amount of information to be transferred and the methods of reproduction were standardized by using a single light as a visual stimulus and by examining passive movements. The results, in terms of absolute error, indicated that intramodal matching was as proficient as intermodal matching at short distances with intermodal matching becoming less proficient as movement length increased. Contrary to Connolly and Jones (1970), transfer from vision to kinesthesis was as proficient as transfer from kinesthesis to vision except at longer distances where transfer from vision to kinesthesis had less error than transfer from kinesthesis to vision. These differences did not support and were in the opposite direction to the Connolly and Jones findings. Therefore, the present results supported a model characterized by little difference in transfer ability except at long distances where it appeared that transfer did not occur until reproduction. In general, it was pointed out that transfer mechanisms are sensitive to the type of information and reproduction procedures used. As such, the Cannolly and Jones model of transfer is inappropriate due to the lack of research and the inability of such models to account for all types of observed performance.
“Aha!”: The neural correlates of verbal insight solutions

What are the neural correlates of insight solutions? To explore this question we asked partici- pants to perform an anagram task while in the fMRI scanner. Previous research indicates that ana- grams are unique in that they can yield both insight and search solutions in expert subjects. Using a single-trial fMRI paradigm, we utilized the anagram methodology to explore the neural correlates of insight versus search solutions. We used both reaction time measures and subjective reports to classify each trial as a search or insight solution. Data indicate that verbal insight solutions activate a distrib- uted neural network that includes bilateral activation in the insula, the right prefrontal cortex, and the anterior cingulate. These areas are discussed with their possible role in evaluation and metacognition of insight solutions, as well as attention and monitoring during insight. Hum Brain Mapp 30:908-916, 2009. V C 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Demographic effects on the trail making test in marijuana abusers

Demographic effects on the Trail Making Test (TMT), a test often used for screening for cognitive impairment, were examined in a sample of marijuana abusers in drug abuse treatment programs. A sample was drawn from electronic files of data from the Drug Abuse Treatment outcome Study (DATOS). The DATOS was a naturalistic, prospective cohort study that collected data from 1991-1993 in 96 programs in 11 cities in the United States. The number of marijuana abusers' scores available for analysis were 259. Data were analyzed to determine the effects of sex, ethnicity, age, and education variables on the two parts of the TMT in this large treatment sample of marijuana abusers. The variables of age and education level were statistically significantly related to TMT parts A and B, and ethnicity was statistically significant for part H of the TMT. R-Square values for overall models were moderate (A =. 15, B -.18) suggesting that demographic effects on the TMT are weak.
Formability of steel sheet in high velocity impact

Abstract High velocity deformation can be quite effective in increasing the forming limits of metal sheets as well as effectively treating some other common metal forming problems, such as wrinkling and distortion. This study examines the high velocity formability of cold rolled sheet steel as developed in impact with a curved punch. To study forming over large areas, a steel sheet sample was electromagnetically launched, at a shaped punch at velocities of 50–220 m/s, using a flat spiral electromagnetic coil and an aluminum driver sheet. Estimates of impact velocity were obtained with the help of a high-speed camera. It was observed that the impact velocity of the samples increased nearly linearly with the energy of launch. The failure strains of all the steels were dramatically increased beyond those obtained in tensile tests as expected from the forming limit diagram. The forming limits of steels with both very low and high quasi-static ductility were similar in high velocity forming. Formability seemed to depend largely on local boundary conditions as dictated by the punch/tool geometry used. The strain distribution obtained depended on the shape of the punch used for impact. Thus it appears that in high velocity impact, the quasi-static ductility of the material is not of primary importance to the material's formability. At high velocities, high strains to failure can be obtained with steels having very low quasi-static ductilities. Based on these observations, one may be able to develop forming operations that take advantage of this dramatic improvement in formability. This could enable the use of high-strength low-cost materials in a number of complex components.
Clinical Trials – More Than an Assessment of Treatment Effect: LXV Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture

Purpose To review the development of clinical trials and demonstrate their value beyond the assessment of the treatment effect. Design Retrospective literature review. Methods Retrospective literature review. Results There has been a rapid increase in the number of clinical trials in ophthalmology as assessed by the number of ophthalmic publications and the number of ongoing National Eye Institute-(NEI) sponsored clinical trials over the last four decades. The public health significance of the results of these NEI clinical trials goes beyond the demonstration of treatment effects and side effects. From these trials, we learn about the clinical course and risk factors of disease, allowing us to better determine who and when to treat. Furthermore, the collaboration of investigators, as they develop and carry out protocols, facilitates incorporation of new ideas into the practice of medicine. Conclusions The practice of medicine is increasingly dependent on the results of carefully designed clinical trials. The determination as to whether a new treatment is safe and effective is important, but the additional information we can obtain regarding natural history, risk factors, and patient satisfaction adds immeasurably to our ability to care for our patients.
Regulation of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Cultured Porcine Granulosa Cells by Growth Factors and Hormones

To assess the potential role of hormones and growth factors in ovarian follicular growth, we have developed a simple method for the evaluation of DNA synthesis in cultured porcine granulosa cells. Optimal conditions were found to entail newly established cultures that were growth arrested by serum deprivation and then treated with growth-promoting agents. Such treatment resulted in an easily quantitated 3- to 30-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable macromolecules. The radioactivity incorporated was localized to the DNA band on cesium chloride gradients and showed excellent correlation with labeling indices. Insulin, multiplication-stimulating activity, epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor, and ovarian follicular fluid were potent stimulators of DNA synthesis in this assay. While EGF and insulin effects were additive, indicating discrete modes of action, the effects of insulin and multiplication- stimulating activity were not additive ...
A cigar is sometimes just a cigar, but a dog is never just a dog.

(2015). A Cigar Is Sometimes Just a Cigar, But a Dog Is Never Just a Dog. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 65, Special Issue on Violence in America: Part I, pp. 115-123.
Decomposing neural synchrony: toward an explanation for near-zero phase-lag in cortical oscillatory networks

Background Synchronized oscillation in cortical networks has been suggested as a mechanism for diverse functions ranging from perceptual binding to memory formation to sensorimotor integration. Concomitant with synchronization is the occurrence of near-zero phase-lag often observed between network components. Recent theories have considered the importance of this phenomenon in establishing an effective communication framework among neuronal ensembles. Methodology/Principal Findings Two factors, among possibly others, can be hypothesized to contribute to the near-zero phase-lag relationship: (1) positively correlated common input with no significant relative time delay and (2) bidirectional interaction. Thus far, no empirical test of these hypotheses has been possible for lack of means to tease apart the specific causes underlying the observed synchrony. In this work simulation examples were first used to illustrate the ideas. A quantitative method that decomposes the statistical interdependence between two cortical areas into a feed-forward, a feed-back and a common-input component was then introduced and applied to test the hypotheses on multichannel local field potential recordings from two behaving monkeys. Conclusion/Significance The near-zero phase-lag phenomenon is important in the study of large-scale oscillatory networks. A rigorous mathematical theorem is used for the first time to empirically examine the factors that contribute to this phenomenon. Given the critical role that oscillatory activity is likely to play in the regulation of biological processes at all levels, the significance of the proposed method may extend beyond systems neuroscience, the level at which the present analysis is conceived and performed.
Corrigenda to the paper

p. 372 It is true, for the reason given on pp. 360-361, that every open-orderisomorphism [-antimorphism] is also a closed-order-isomorphism [-antimorphism]. The assertion that every open-isotone [-antitone] mapping is also closed-isotone [--antitone] is, however, false. It is easy to construct counterexamples. The assertion was used only in the proofs of Propositions 7.2 and 7.3. These propositions remain true, but the implications (ii)=-(iii) and (iv) ~ (v) now require proof.
Altered gene expression in human cells induced by the agricultural chemical Enable.

Steroid hormones bind to highly specific nuclear receptors, regulating gene expression that results in normal fetal growth and development and/or in normal adult physiological function. Many industrial and agricultural chemicals may bind one or more nuclear receptors, acting as mimics of steroid hormones, and are called endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDC) because they alter the expression of endocrine-regulated genes. A widely used fungicide, Enable (fenbuconazole), was evaluated to examine its capacity to alter endocrine-regulated gene expression. Cells of an oestrogen-dependent human breast cancer-derived line, MCF-7, were treated with a range, 0.033-3.3 ppb (ng/mL), of Enable, and gene expression was compared to that of untreated cells. Microarray analysis using a chip with 600 gene spots showed downregulation of eight genes and upregulation of 34 genes in cells treated with 3.3 ppb of Enable, compared to untreated cells. Specific genes were selected for consideration. Real-time PCR confirmed results ...
Motion and Stability of a Dual-Spin Satellite with Nutation Damping

Motion and stability characteristics of dual spin satellite system with pendulous type nutation dampers, noting mass unbalance effect
Improving the Life Chances of Vulnerable Children and Families with Prenatal and Infancy Support of Parents: The Nurse-Family Partnership*

Pregnancy and the early years of the child's life offer an opportune time to prevent a host of adverse maternal and child outcomes that are important in their own right, but that also have significant implications for the development of criminal behavior. This paper summarizes a three-decade program of research that has attempted to improve the health and development of mothers and infants and their future life prospects with prenatal and infancy home visiting by nurses. The program, known as the Nurse-Family Partnership, is designed for low-income mothers who have had no previous live births. The home visiting nurses have three major goals: to improve the outcomes of pregnancy by helping women improve their prenatal health; to improve the child's health and development by helping parents provide more sensitive and competent care of the child; and to improve parental life-course by helping parents plan future preg- nancies, complete their educations, and find work. Given consistent effects on prenatal health behaviors, parental care of the child, child abuse and neglect, child health and development, maternal life-course, and criminal involvement of the mothers and children, the program is now being offered for public investment throughout the United States, where careful attention is being given to ensuring that the program is being conducted in accordance with the program model tested in the randomized trials. The program also is being adapted, developed, and tested in countries outside of the US: the Netherlands, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia, and Canada, as well as Native American and Alaskan Native populations in the US, where programmatic adjustments are being made to accommodate different populations served and health and human service contexts. We believe it is important to test this program in randomized controlled trials in these new settings before it is offered for public investment.
Mechanosensory projections to cuneate, gracile, and external cuneate nuclei in a tree squirrel (fox squirrel, Sciurus niger).

Abstract The distribution and organization of mechanosensory projections to the cuneate, gracile and external cuneate nuclei were mapped in tree squirrels anesthetized with ketamine and urethane. Tungsten microelectrodes were used to record unit and unit cluster responses to mechanical stimulation. Most responses in the gracile nucleus were to stimulation of skin and hairs of the tail, hind foot and leg, and trunk, in that order going from dorsal to ventral in the nucleus. A similar distribution of responses was found in the cuneate nucleus to stimulation of forelimb, neck and pinna going from dorsomedial to ventrolateral in the nucleus. Some responses to stimulation or movement of subcutaneous tissue were found in the cuneate and gracile nuclei. Responses in the external cuneate were to stimulation of deep-lying tissues in the hand medially, the lower arm centrally and the shoulder and trunk laterally. The pattern of projections in the tree squirrel differed most strikingly from that seen in raccoons and opossums in the relatively small extent of projections from the glabrous skin of the forepaws which were concentrated in a small region near the obex in squirrels. In contrast, there was a large representation of hairy receptive fields located on the forelimb in all regions of the squirrel cuneate nucleus. Otherwise, the somatotopic organization of mechanosensory projections to these dorsal column nuclei in tree squirrels was similar to that reported in other mammals.
Once-yearly sampling for the detection of trends in biodiversity: The case of Willow Slough, California

Abstract The butterfly fauna at Willow Slough, Yolo County, California has been censused for 32 years as part of a participatory citizen-science project, the Fourth of July Butterfly Count. While the utility of a once-a-year census as a monitoring tool is potentially compromised by lack of standardization in counting protocols and variation in observer skill, at Willow Slough these issues have been minimized. We examined the Willow Slough count data for trends in both faunal diversity and the probability of presence of individual species. During the study, the number of species observed at a visit declined by 39%. Regressions of per-visit species counts against time did not detect a statistically significant decline until year 24. In contrast, Fisher’s α, a statistic designed to reduce sample-size bias, detected the decline as early as year 13. Twelve of the 24 species analyzed showed significant declines in probability of occurrence; a further nine exhibited negative but non-significant trends. Butterflies that overwinter as eggs or larvae were more likely to decline than those that overwinter as pupae or adults. Many species in decline at Willow Slough have also been observed less frequently at nearby sites which are monitored year-round, supporting the value of once-a-year monitoring. Although correlations with climatic data have been identified, they are too weak to account for the observed faunal decline. We suspect broader patterns of land use and habitat continuity are implicated in butterfly declines across the region. We conclude that once-a-year sampling, if properly and rigorously done, is in fact useful as a monitoring tool for butterfly faunas, and that Fisher’s α is well suited to early detection of trends in repeated diversity sampling.
Inositol Metabolism in Plants. VI. Conversion of Myo -Inositol to Phytic Acid in Wolffiella floridana

When Wolffiella floridana, an aquatic angiosperm in the family, Lemnaceae, was grown in axenic culture under continuous light in E medium containing 1.0% sucrose and a micromolar amount of (14)C-labeled myo-inositol (MI), MI was taken up by the growing plants and converted to phytic acid. After 13 weeks in labeled medium during which time there was a 1000-fold increase in fresh weight, 30% of the (14)C was recovered in ethanol insoluble residue. Extraction of this residue with EDTA released 70% of the label into solution. Phytic acid, identified by paper electrophoresis, ion exchange chromatography, and hydrolysis with phytase, accounted for most of this radioactivity although some label was also found in pentaphosphate and lower phosphate esters of MI. Very little MI was converted to cell wall polysaccharides under the conditions used. Results of this study indicate that Wolffiella floridana is a convenient tissue for the study of phytic acid biosynthesis under laboratory conditions.Lemna gibba G3, grown under short day conditions in medium of the same composition as that used for W. floridana, also formed labeled phytic acid as well as other labeled lower phosphate esters of MI.
Path Probability Method of Irreversible Statistical Mechanics

Formalism of the Path Probability method (PPM) of irreversible statistical mechanics has been examined in order to explore the applicability of the method to a variety of kinetic problems. It is found that the PPM works very well when the time dependence of macrovariables in homogeneous systems such as the order-disorder transformations in alloys is studied. If the method is applied to problems in which deviations from the above conditions are involved, however, the reliability of the method decreases
What explains consumption and money holding in the very short-run?: evidence from checking account data

This article investigates consumption and money-holding behaviour within an intertemporal optimization model of the individual household. Our data set consists of deposits and withdrawals from individual household checking accounts that received pay cheques by direct deposit. We construct samples of panel data for households with weekly, biweekly and semi-monthly pay periods and form two different measures of consumption. Generalized Method of Moments estimates of structural parameters provide limited evidence for habit formation or durability. The results indicate small but positive marginal utility of money within a well-behaved utility function, with ‘rule of thumb’ consumption a close approximation. These findings are uniform for sub-samples split according to household age or income.
A miniature mattauch—herzog mass spectrometer for the investigation of planetary atmospheres

Abstract A miniature double-focusing mass spectrometer using the Mattauch—Herzog geometry is described. Several such instruments have been flown on sounding rockets for studying the composition of earth's upper atmosphere. An instrument having a radius of curvature of 2.54 cm in the magnetic field has been designed as a prototype for the Mars landing in 1976. The complete instrument weighs approximately 4 kg and consumes less than 5 watts of power. With slits sufficiently narrow to separate masses up to a.m.u. it has a sensitivity of 1 × 10 −5 A/torr for N 2 .
Low-temperature transport and quantum interference of ballistic particles in systems with random rough walls

We present a simple theory of transport processes and quantum interference and localization effects in films and channels with rough walls.
MICROWAVE BLANCHING EFFECTS ON COLOR, CHEMICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF FROZEN ASPARAGUS

Asparagus was blanched for 4 min using: conventional boiling water (BW), steam (ST), microwave (MW), or microwave heated in boilable bags (MWB). Samples were ice-cooled, bagged, heat-sealed and stored at -18C for 4 weeks. Peroxidase activity was reduced from 98-114 units in fresh, unblanched to 1-7 units in blanched asparagus. Reduced ascorbic acid (RAA) content in fresh, unblanched asparagus was approximately 49 mg/100 g; RAA content in fresh, BW-blanched asparagus was approximately 44 mg/100 g. Frozen, unblanched asparagus retained about 40% of original RAA content; BW-blanched asparagus retained 61%, and MWB-blanched asparagus retained 87%. After frozen storage all samples were darker than freshly blanched samples. Blanching increased and freezing decreased greenness of all samples. Blanching increased yellowness of fresh samples; after frozen storage, blanching treatment differences were lost. Unblanched samples had the highest appearance scores; unblanched and MW-blanched samples had the highest color scores. Overall quality of the microwave blanched asparagus was as good as or superior to conventionally blanched asparagus.
PERFORMANCE FUNCTIONS AND SUBLEVEL SETS FOR FREQUENCY DOMAIN DESIGN OF SINGLE LOOP FEEDBACK CONTROL SYSTEMS WITH PLANT UNCERTAINTY

The frequency domain design of control systems involves the fitting of a designable complex function of frequency (e.g., loop transfer function, compensator transfer function) to specification derived constraints in the design space ℂ×ℝ. In the classical Bode approach and its recent modifications the designable function is the loop transfer function, the specifications lead to constraints on the magnitude of the loop transfer function and the constraints have circular cross-sections in ℂ. In more recent design procedures (e.g., H∞ optimization or QFT) the specifications lead to more complex constraint surfaces in ℂ×ℝ and the design procedure must fit the designable function to these constraints. In this paper we develop explicit representations of some important ℂ×ℝ constraint surfaces encountered in the design of SISO control systems with both non-parametric (unstructured) and parametric plant uncertainty and study the characteristics of their frequency axis cross-sections or level sets: important information use in the fitting process. The results are presented in two systems of co-ordinates (i.e., designable functions): nominal closed loop transfer function To(jω) and and nominal open loop transfer function Lo(jω). While the results in To co-ordinates are more useful when using mathematical optimization (e.g., H∞ optimization techniques), the results in Lo co-ordinates have significant advantages of insight and ease of graphical manipulation as demonstrated in QFT. The inclusion of results in both sets of co-ordinates increases their utility for workers in both areas and also reveals some links between these two different approaches. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The transition from a rural to an urban environment alters expression of the human Ebola virus receptor Neiman-Pick C1: implications for the current epidemic in West Africa

The 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa has captured the world’s attention and has been described as a humanitarian crisis and a threat to international security by Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization (Chan 2014). As of October 25th of this year, a total of 10,141 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported primarily in five countries, including Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, resulting in 4922 deaths thus far (WHO 2014a). The prediction is that without drastic control measures the number of cases and deaths could increase to thousands per week in the coming months (WHO Ebola Response Team 2014).
Delayed inoculation and starter nitrogen for enhancing early growth and nitrogen status ofLespedeza cuneata

Two growth chamber experiments were conducted to determine the response ofLespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don. (sericea lespedeza) to delayed inoculation and low levels of nitrogen fertilization. Nitrogen was supplied either as NH 4 + or as NO 3 − in solution. At 0.5 and 5.0 ppm nitrogen early growth and N2(C2H2) fixation was inhibited by NH 4 + and promoted by NO 3 − . Inoculation at seeding did not negatively affect growth prior to the onset of N2(C2H2) fixation. Delayed inoculation until the trifoliate stage thus did not increase growth or N2 fixation during the first 40 days of growth. After 40 days, specific nitrogenase activity was highest for plants inoculated at the first trifoliate stage of growth. In contrast, growth and total shoot nitrogen accumulation were higher in plants inoculated at planting. The experimental results suggest that delaying inoculation is not a useful technique for improving early growth ofL. cuneata for surface mine reclamation.
Microwave-hydrothermal processing for synthesis of electroceramic powders

Microwave-hydrothermal processing has so far been used only to dissolve inorganic solids for chemical analysis. We report herein the use of microwave-hydrothermal processing to synthesize various ceramic powders in binary and polynary systems. We describe the synthesis of some electroceramic powders such as BaTiO3, SrTiO3, Sr0.5Ba0.5TiO3, PbTiO3, BaZrO3, SrZrO3, Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3, and pyrochlore phases with the Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 and Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 compositions by this novel microwave-hydrothermal processing technique.
Synthesis of [2,2,3α,4,4-D5]CP-88,818 (tiqueside), an internal standard for a quantitative HPLC/MS assay system

Abstract A polydeuterated form of CP-88,818 ( 1 , tiqueside) was needed as an internal standard for a quantitative HPLC/MS assay system. [2,2,3α,4,4-D 5 ]CP-88,818 ( 11 ) with undetectable D 0 content was synthesized in five steps from tigogenin ( 2 ). The low D 0 content was achieved through two sequential incorporation procedures which gave results superior to those achieved through a single incorporation procedure. A preparatively useful procedure for removing spirostane impurities found in naturally occurring tigogenin was also discovered.
Conceptual Design Using Executable Architectures for a Manned Mission to Mars

Solar radiation events present a significant threat to future manned missions to Mars. However, little architectural analysis has been documented on how to best protect these interplanetary manned missions. With renewed interest in manned missions to Mars, there is a clear need to develop and analyze radiation protection architectures. The Mars scenario was selected due to its relatively high likelihood, the robust body of background data available, and the adaptability of the analytic methods, concepts, and trade spaces to other planetary missions. An executable model was developed to assess the cost and effectiveness of 14 candidate solar warning architectures. Candidates were evaluated and compared based upon two performance metrics: warning time and solar coverage. The cost of each architecture was assessed by estimating the total dry mass of all required components. Relation of the performance metric of each architecture to its estimated cost enabled construction of a Pareto frontier of design options using multiattribute utility theory to combine performance metrics into an overall “best value” solution. This analysis resulted in a manned Mars spacecraft with onboard sensing/processing.