cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting the presence of human-associated and fecal indicator real-time quantitative PCR genetic markers in urban-impacted recreational beaches.

Urban runoff can carry a variety of pollutants into recreational beaches, often including bacterial pathogens and indicators of fecal contamination. To develop complete recreational criteria and risk assessments, it is necessary to understand conditions under which human contamination could be present at beaches solely impacted by urban runoff. Accurately estimating risk requires understanding sources, concentrations, and transport mechanisms of microbial contaminants in these environments. By applying microbial source tracking methods and empirical modeling, we assessed the presence and level of human contamination at urban runoff impacted recreational beaches. We also identified environmental parameters and pollution sources that can influence the concentration and transport of culturable and molecular fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in systems impacted solely by urban runoff. Water samples and physico–chemical parameters were collected from shoreline locations from three South Carolina (SC) beaches (five locations per beach) and two Florida (FL) beaches (three locations per beach). Each SC beach was directly impacted by swashes or tidal creeks receiving stormwater runoff from the urbanized area and therefore were designated as swash drain associated (SDA) beaches, while FL beaches were designated as non-swash drain associated (NSDA). Sampling in swash drains (SD; three sites per SD) directly impacting each SC beach was also conducted. Results indicate that although culturable (enterococci) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (EC23S857, Entero1, and GenBac3) FIB concentrations were, on average, higher at SD locations, SDA beaches did not have consistently higher molecular FIB signals compared to NSDA beaches. Both human-associated markers (HF183 and HumM2) were concomitantly found only at SDA beaches. Bacteroidales species-specific qPCR markers (BsteriF1 and BuniF2) identified differences in the Bacteroidales community, depending on beach type. The marker for general Bacteroidales was most abundant at SD locations and exhibited a high correlation with both culturable and other molecular markers. Combining molecular information with predictive modeling allowed us to identify both alongshore movement of currents and SD outflow as significant influences on the concentration of molecular and culturable indicators in the bathing zone. Data also suggests that combining methodologies is a useful and cost effective approach to help understand transport dynamics of fecal contamination and identify potential sources of contamination at marine beaches.
Cassegrain telescopes: limits of secondary movement in secondary focusing

The maximum distance to which the secondary mirror can be moved with respect to its primary in a true Cassegrain telescope with limited image deterioration is found to be proportional to the fourth power of the focal ratio of the primary mirror. This limit is independent of all other parameters describing the system when the magnification of the secondary is greater than about 3.
Optimal design of acoustical sandwich panels with a genetic algorithm

Abstract An optimization study is performed to design a sandwich panel with a balance of acoustical and mechanical properties at minimal weight. An acoustical model based on higher-order sandwich beam theory is used with mechanical analysis of the maximum deflection at the center of the sandwich panel under a concentrated force. First, a parametric study is performed to determine the effects of individual design variables on the sound transmission loss of the sandwich panel. Next, by constraining the acoustical and mechanical behavior of the sandwich panel, the area mass density of the sandwich panel is minimized using a genetic algorithm. The sandwich panels are constructed from eight face-sheet and sixteen core materials, with varying thicknesses of the face sheets and the core. The resulting design is a light-weight, mechanically efficient sound insulator with strength and stiffness comparable to sandwich structures commonly used in structural applications.
Neurons involved in nitric oxide–mediated cGMP signaling in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Recently, both nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive guanylyl cyclase were cloned in Manduca sexta and implicated in several cellular, developmental, and behavioral processes (Nighorn et al. [1998] J Neurosci 18:7244-7255). However, NO is a highly diffusive gas, and little is known about the range and specificity of its actions on neurons. To begin examining the role of NO as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) of larval Manduca, we have mapped potential NO-producing neurons using fixation-resistant NADPH-diaphorase staining and antisera that recognize a NOS-specific epitope. In addition, to detect NO-responsive neurons, we treated the CNS with NO donors and used antibodies that recognize elevated levels of cyclic 3;,5;-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Many potential NO-producing neurons were mapped, including the ventral unpaired median cells and three pairs of lateral cells in each abdominal ganglion. Additional neurons in the dorsal midline of ganglia A5-7 (PM2) appear to express NOS in a segment-specific manner. At the larval-to-pupal transition, this staining pattern changes; the PM2 neurons stain weakly or are undetectable and there is novel expression of NOS in cell 27. In response to NO donors, a small number of neurons produce detectable cGMP accumulation in a segment-specific pattern. These include a pair of posteriodorsally positioned interneurons (IN505) in all the abdominal ganglia, PM2 neurons in A5, and PM1 and PM2 neurons in A7. Hence, PM2 neurons in A5 and A7 are potentially capable of producing and responding to NO. These identified NO-producing and responding neurons provide a tractable model system for studying the dynamics and specificity of NO signaling in the CNS.
Thermal response of a packed bed of spheres containing a phase-change material

A computational model of the transient thermal response of a packed bed of spheres containing a phase-change material (PCM) is presented. A one-dimensional separate phases formulation is used to develop a numerical analysis of the dynamic response of the bed which is subject to the flow of a heat transfer fluid, for arbitrary initial conditions and inlet fluid temperature temporal variations. Phase-change models are developed for both isothermal and nonisothermal melting behaviours. Axial thermal dispersion effects are modelled, including intraparticle conduction (Biot number) effects. Regenerative thermal storage applications involve flow reversals to recover the stored energy; this aspect of operation is included in the present model. Results from the model for a commercial sized thermal storage bed for both the energy storage and recovery periods are presented. Experimental measurements of transient temperature distributions in a randomly packed bed of uniform spheres containing a PCM for a step-change in inlet air temperature are reported for a range of Reynolds number.
Understanding feedback between ecological systems requires feedback among scientists

On a global scale, ecologists have long recognized the importance of feedback between aboveground and belowground ecological systems. In our general ecology classes, we teach that major world biomes are characterized by distinctive vegetation types, which are influenced both by climate and soil types. Soils, in turn, are a product of the mineral composition of the bedrock, the particular soil weathering action caused by that climate, and the physical and chemical characteristics of the organic matter returned to the soil by the vegetation. Soils and vegetation, students learn, are inextricably connected with each defining the identity of the other. In Communities and Ecosystems, Linking the Aboveground and Belowground Components,David Wardle examines how aboveground biological communities and ecosystems are linked to those in the soil at spatial scales smaller than a biome. He articulates his primary goal as considering terrestrial communities and ecosystems from a combined aboveground‐ belowground perspective in order to identify feedback between the two systems and to interpret how such feedback influences ecosystem functions such as carbon and nitrogen cycling. Wardle convincingly argues that understanding the linkages is important for predicting how changes in the components, including those caused by anthropogenic activity, affect ecosystem
Neurobiology: a cool ion channel.

Researchers are getting warm in their search for the details of cold detection. The discovery of a cold-sensitive ion channel will help dissect how the nervous system encodes and decodes the temperature spectrum.
Design, Analysis and Experimental Verification of the Pack-Rolling Process

Summary The paper presents a design and analysis approach for the pack rolling process to determine the stability in terms of the correct dimensions of the material and the desired microstructure without defects. Pack rolling involves the rolling of “difficult-to-form” materials within a pack or cover material. Simulation of the process requires modeling the physics of the pack rolling process; the temperature distribution, the velocity discontinuities between the cover plate and the workpiece, and the deformation process. An analytical model was developed for simulating the pack rolling process which utilizes a kinematically admissible velocity field to determine the relative slip between the cover plate and the workpiece, a heat transfer module determines the temperature distribution, and the deformation analysis is modeled by a modified slab method. A 2D finite element analysis with coupled heat transfer for pack rolling is presented. The pack rolling model was correlated with experiments and the more accurate finite element model.
Polymers containing fluorinated ketone groups. IV. Syntheses and characterization of new fluorinated ketone‐containing polymer‐substituted polystyrenes

A series of new fluorinated ketone-containing polymers, poly(p-vinyltrifluoroacetophenone) (PVTFA), poly(p-vinyldifluoroacetophenone) (PVDFA), poly(p-vinylphenylheptafluoropropyl ketone) (PVHFK), and poly(o-and p-vinylbenzyltrifluoromethyl ketone) (PVTFK), were prepared by the free radical polymerization of the corresponding monomers. The monomers, p-vinyltrifluoroacetophenone (VTFA), p-vinyldifluoroacetophenone (VDFA), p-vinylphenylheptafluoropropyl ketone (VHFK), and o-and p-vinylbenzyltrifluoromethyl ketone (VTFK), were prepared by the reaction of Grignard reagent with the corresponding perfluoroacid or its lithium salt. Polymerization was a competitive side reaction during monomer preparation. Reduced side reaction and higher yields of monomer (based on the Grignard reagent) were obtained from the lithium salt of the perfluoroacid, compared with the perfluoroacid itself. These new substituted polystyrenes which contain fluorinated ketone functionality were characterized by their ability to (1) react with active hydrogen compounds such as alcohols or water; (2) have high glass transition temperatures and decreased solubility in nonpolar solvents (e. g., benzene) compared with polystyrene; and (3) be converted into other functional groups such as alcohols or acids by treatment with the appropriate chemical reagents. Beads of a styrene (ST) terpolymer with 2% divinylbenzene (DVB), which contained the CF3COCH2 function, were prepared by suspension polymerization of ST, VTFK, and DVB. The terpolymer, which contains 15-17% mole (or 0.70–0.71 meg/g) of CF3COCH2 swollen with a solvent, were shown to chemisorb alcohols.
Transgenic expression of hepatitis C virus structural proteins in the mouse

Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, the role of viral cytopathic effects remains unclear. To study the biosynthesis of HCV structural proteins and their pathogenic role, we constructed transgenic mice, expressing type 1b HCV structural proteins (core, E1, and E2) in liver tissues. Two liver-specific promoters were used. The mouse major urinary protein (MUP) promoter has been shown to be developmentally regulated with little or no expression in utero but high-level expression after birth. The albumin (Alb) promoter provides constitutive, high levels of transgenes in live. Expression of both HCV transgenes was detected in several lines by Northern blots, HCV-specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR), and Western immunoblotting. Alb HCV lines showed higher levels of HCV expression than the MUP HCV lines. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a predominantly cytoplasmic presence of core protein with occasional nuclear staining, and both cytoplasmic and membrane expression of the E2 protein in the transgenic livers. In both transgenes, the highest levels of both antigens were seen in perivenular hepatocytes, suggesting potential processing specificity in those cells. At six months of age, the livers of all transgenic lineages remained histologically normal. We concluded that HCV structural proteins are not directly cytopathic in this animal model.
Equity Considerations in Economic and Policy Analysis

There is little doubt that equity considerations play some role in human decision making. This can be seen through statements that "we are all created equal," or that "we have equal rights." This can also be seen through some of the transfer mechanisms that societies are willing to put in place for the benefits of the poor or the malnourished. In spite of this evidence, the role of equity in resource allocation remains poorly understood. Most economic analyses tend to focus on efficiency issues and avoid addressing distribution issues. As argued by Sen (1987, 1992), as long as human behavior is affected by equity considerations, it seems that economics could be made more productive by paying greater attention to welfare distribution. At the center of equity is whether and how to distinguish between people in terms of their needs, their abilities, their contributions, and their individual rights. People being different, at least some of their differences seem to be relevant to the economic evaluation of equity issues. At this point, it remains somewhat unclear how to approach such issues. The current debate about equity has been profoundly influenced by Rawls's Theory of Justice. Rawls's theory is based on the concept of justice as fairness.1 It relies on a so-called "original position" where individuals do not yet know their exact position in society. Rawls suggests that a society is just if its current members would find the "original position" fair. Rawls's views have been influential, yet controversial. Part of the debate comes in part from some antagonism between equity, and rights (e.g., Nozick). And private property rights are often seen as contributing to inequalities of wealth in modern society. The objective of this paper is to explore equity issues, with a special focus on interactions between efficiency, equity, and the role of information in resource allocation. In the next
Reappraisal of the Stachia-stachiomella-Pseudostachia complex (Collembola: Odontellidae), redescriptions of Stachia minuta and Stachiomella oxfordia, and Stachia tasgola, new species

ABSTRACT The three genera of Odontellidae lacking ocelli and tenaculum (Pseudostachia, Stachia, Stachiomella) are reappraised, and type specimens of Stachia minuta and Stachiomella oxfordia are redescribed. All described Pseudostachia spp. are transferred to Stachia. Stachia tasgola, new species is described from North Carolina and Michigan.
The Role of the Ocean in the Seasonal Cycle of the Hadley Circulation

Abstract The influence of ocean heat transport on the seasonal cycle of the Hadley circulation is investigated using idealized experiments with a climate model. It is found that ocean heat transport plays a fundamental role in setting the structure and intensity of the seasonal Hadley cells. The ocean’s influence can be understood primarily via annual mean considerations. By cooling the equatorial regions and warming the subtropics in a year-round sense, the ocean heat transport allows for regions of SST maxima to occur off the equator in the summer hemisphere. This leads to large meridional excursions of convection over the ocean and a seasonal Hadley circulation that is strongly asymmetric about the equator. The broadening of the latitudinal extent of the SST maximum and the convecting regions by the ocean heat transport also weakens the annual mean Hadley circulation in a manner that is consistent with simpler models. The results are discussed in the context of prior studies of the controls on the stre...
Serpentinization and the inorganic synthesis of H2 in planetary surfaces

The near-surface inorganic synthesis of molecular hydrogen (H2) is a fundamental process relevant to the origins and to the sustenance of early life on Earth and potentially other planets. Hydrogen production through the decomposition of water is thought to be a principal reaction that occurs during hydrothermal alteration of olivine, an iron–magnesium silicate abundant near planetary surfaces. We demonstrate that copious amounts of H2 are produced only when the olivine undergoing alteration (serpentinization) contains 1 to 50 mol% iron over a variety of planetary surface P–T conditions. This suggests that extrasolar Earth-like planets that are hosted by a star with iron contents up to two times the solar value could support life provided they are hydrothermally active and fall within the habitable zone around the star.
From safe yield to sustainable development of water resources—the Kansas experience

This paper presents a synthesis of water sustainability issues from the hydrologic perspective. It shows that safe yield is a flawed concept and that sustainability is an idea that is broadly used but perhaps not well understood. In general, the sustainable yield of an aquifer must be considerably less than recharge if adequate amounts of water are to be available to sustain both the quantity and quality of streams, springs, wetlands, and ground-water-dependent ecosystems. To ensure sustainability, it is imperative that water limits be established based on hydrologic principles of mass balance. To establish water-use policies and planning horizons, the transition curves of aquifer systems from ground-water storage depletion to induced recharge of surface water need to be developed. Present-day numerical models are capable of generating such transition curves. Several idealized examples of aquifer systems show how this could be done. Because of the complexity of natural systems and the uncertainties in characterizing them, the current philosophy underlying sustainable management of water resources is based on the interconnected systems approach and on adaptive management. Examples of water-resources management from Kansas illustrate some of these concepts in a real-world setting. Some of the hallmarks of Kansas water management are the formation of local ground-water management districts, the adoption of minimum streamflow standards, the use of modified safe-yield policies in some districts, the implementation of integrated resource planning by the City of Wichita, and the subbasin water-resources management program in potential problem areas. These are all appropriate steps toward sustainable development. The Kansas examples show that local decision-making is the best way to fully account for local variability in water management. However, it is imperative that public education and involvement be encouraged, so that system complexities and constraints are better understood and overly simplistic solutions avoided.
Coercion and Long‐Term Contraceptives

Some public health groups and womens advocates worry that long-term contraceptives could be forced upon women of low socioeconomic status and others. The author agrees that long-acting contraceptives such as Norplant which are easy to monitor and do not require user compliance clearly have a potential for coercive use. That potential for coercion is greater where there are financial incentives due to the risk that financial pressures will force individuals to make reproductive choices which are not in accordance with their own values and preferences. The author however finds it unlikely that small amounts of money would constitute such pressure. Small financial incentives combined with other types of encouragement could actually help counteract the psychosocial pressures among some groups toward teen pregnancy. It is more difficult to determine whether incentives paid to Norplant recipients who receive public assistance are coercive. In closing the author stresses that coercion is not always unjustified or improper with some socially desirable ends capable of being achieved only through mutually agreed upon coercive policies such as taxation and immunization.
Computationally efficient model predictive control of freeway networks

A computationally efficient model predictive controller for congestion control in freeway networks is presented in this paper. The controller utilizes a modified Link-Node Cell Transmission Model (LN-CTM) to simulate traffic state trajectories under the effect of ramp metering, variable speed limit control and compute performance objectives. The modified LN-CTM simulates freeway traffic dynamics in the presence of capacity drop and ramp weaving effects. The objective of the controller can be chosen to represent commonly used congestion performance measures like total congestion delay measured in units of vehicle hours. The optimal control formulation based on this modified model is non-convex making it inefficient for direct use within a model predictive framework. Heuristic restrictions and relaxations are presented which allow the computation of the solution using optimal solutions of a sequence of derived linear programs. Mainly, the freeway is cleverly divided into regions, and limited restrictions are placed on solution trajectories to allow us to derive computationally efficient control actions. In the absence of capacity drop, this solution strategy provides optimal solutions to the original optimal control problem by solving a single linear program. The properties of the solution are discussed along with the role of variable speed limits when capacity drop is present/absent. Examples are provided to showcase the computational efficiency of the solution strategy, and scenarios simulated using the modified LN-CTM are analyzed to investigate the role of variable speed limits as a congestion control strategy.
Potencies of various neurotensin-(8-13) analogs for inhibition of heat-induced edema in the anesthetized rat.

Abstract Peptides of the neurotensin (NT) and xenopsin (XP) families inhibit vascular leakage in various models of tissue injury. In this study, we measured the potency of NT fragments, NT analogs and NT-(8–13) analogs for inhibition of thermal edema induced by immersion of the anesthetized rat's paw in 58°C water for 1 min. The pattern of anti-edema potencies seen with sixteen NT-(8–13) analogs correlated well with the pattern of activities obtained in binding measurements to rat brain membrane preparations and to activities in isolated organ preparations. Replacement of Tyr 11 with Trp in NT-(8–13) and Arg 8 with d -Arg resulted in an analog [ d -Arg 8 , Trp 11 ]NT-(8–13) which was 5-times more potent than NT-(8–13). Substitution of d -Arg for Arg 8 and Arg 9 in NT-(8–13) produced analogs that retained anti-edema activity but with decreased effects on gut motility and hypotension.
JOURNALS FOR ANATOMISTS IN MEDICAL VERSUS NONMEDICAL BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

A sharp distinction of journal needs between anatomists in medical vs. nonmedical biological research institutions is documented by diverging publication patterns between 1965-79. This is traced to an historical drifting apart beginning in the nineteenth century. Medically affiliated researchers, who dominate most anatomy journals, are generally microscopists who also require journals of embyology, cell biology, pathology, and neurology. Anatomists affiliated with university departments of the zoological sciences and physical anthropology, or with natural history museums, have maintained a small share of papers in some anatomy journals and often continue to stress the classical dissection or reconstruction of remains. They need journals of zoology, marine biology, evolution, paleontology, and physical anthropology. Museum bulletins are shown to be uniquely important to the nonmedical group, while multiscience and academic clinical investigation journals are frequent outlets for only the medically affiliea...
Chemical forms of tritium in reactor-produced fluorine-18.

Abstract Radiopharmaceutical fluoride- 18 F preparations from reactor-irradiated lithium carbonate are found to contain tritium in the forms of acetate- 3 H, formate- 3 H and water- 3 H. Most of the tritium activity from such fluorine-18 preparations clears from the serum of test rabbits with an effective half-life of ca . 3·5 days while the remainder ( ca . 6%) clears with an effective half-life of about 3 weeks.
Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis: Clinical impact of resistance and susceptibility

Sinusitis is a common disorder associated with notable direct and indirect economic costs. Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is a relatively poorly defined clinical syndrome characterized by a high spontaneous resolution rate, wide variations in presenting symptoms, and an incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical course of the disease. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are the most common causative pathogens in adult ABRS. A relative lack of bacteriological eradication data compared with other respiratory illnesses, uncertainty on the part of many clinicians as to when to treat, and increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance hamper logical treatment strategies. Because it is impossible to know which cases of ABRS will spontaneously resolve and which will not, antimicrobials are recommended. In general, antimicrobial treatment for ABRS should cover both S pneumoniae and H influenzae while considering the risk of infection with resistant organisms. Treatment guidelines for ABRS were developed by the Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership in 2000 and were updated in 2004. This article discusses a Sinusitis Therapeutic Outcome Model, a data-driven model used in the development of the treatment guidelines, with respect to different scenarios involving ABRS to illustrate the implications of antimicrobial selection on therapeutic outcome.
Studies in Discrimination Learning by Monkeys: VI. Discriminations Between Stimuli Differing in Both Color and Form, Only in Color, and Only in form

(1945). Studies in Discrimination Learning by Monkeys: VI. Discriminations Between Stimuli Differing in Both Color and Form, Only in Color, and Only in form. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 225-235.
War on terror. Islam and the imperative of democracy

The war on terror, which began with the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre (WTC) and the Pentagon in the United States (US) on 11 September 2001, has now entered its second year. Much has been happening since. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan, a regime believed to have harboured Al-Qaeda, is now gone. The terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden is believed to have been disrupted and weakened. The despotic regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, believed by the US as a regime that supported terrorism and posed a threat to international security, has been toppled, and the country is now under American occupation. Despite such significant developments, however, a clear fact remains: terrorism has not been defeated, and in fact, is increasingly more dangerous and more active in perpetrating horrendous terrorist acts against humanity. As long as the world remains threatened by terrorism and terrorists, it seems that “the war on terror” will still go on indefinitely.¶This paper provides a reflection on the world since the “war against terror” initiated by the US, the predicaments of Southeast Asian Muslims in such a war on terror, and the imperative of democracy as an important element in a long-term strategy to counter terrorism.
A real-time network simulation infrastructure based on OpenVPN

We present an open and flexible software infrastructure that embeds physical hosts in a simulated network. In real-time network simulation, where real-world implementations of distributed applications and network services can run together with the network simulator that operates in real-time, real network packets are injected into the simulation system and subject to the simulated network conditions computed as a result of both real and virtual traffic traversing the network and competing for network resources. Our real-time simulation infrastructure has been implemented based on Open Virtual Private Network (OpenVPN), modified and customized to bridges traffic between the physical hosts and the simulated network. We identify the performance advantages and limitations of our approach via a set of experiments. We also present two interesting application scenarios to show the capabilities of the real-time simulation infrastructure.
The synthetic GLP-I receptor agonist, exenatide, reduces intimal hyperplasia in insulin resistant rats:

We studied the effect of a synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonist, exenatide, a drug approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, on the recovery from vascular injury in Zucker (non-diabetic) fatty rats. Exenatide 5.0 µg/kg per day or saline was administered for seven days before, and 21 days after balloon catheter mediated carotid injury. A pair feeding experiment helped differentiate between the drug itself and the known effects of the drug on decreased food intake. Body weight and glucose (weekly), carotid artery I/M ratio, aortic protein eNOS and NFkB-p65 were measured. Body weight gain in exenatide rats was significantly lower (53±5 vs. 89±8 g) than controls. Blood glucose did not change significantly. The I/M ratio in the exenatide group was 0.2±0.1 vs. 0.9±0.1 in controls (p<0.05). The expression of aortic eNOS was unchanged in exenatide treated rats and a small decrease seen in NFkB-p65 expression was not statistically significant. We conclude that exenatide attenuates intimal hyperplasia following balloon catheter induced vascular injury independently of glucose regulation and food intake. Our findings provide additional support for cardiovascular benefits of exenatide, especially in obese and pre-diabetic patients. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying these effects.
Strain conformation, primary structure and the propagation of the yeast prion [PSI+]

Prion proteins can adopt multiple infectious strain conformations. Here we investigate how the sequence of a prion protein affects its capacity to propagate specific conformations by exploiting our ability to create two distinct infectious conformations of the yeast [PSI(+)] prion protein Sup35, termed Sc4 and Sc37. PNM2, a G58D point mutant of Sup35 that was originally identified for its dominant interference with prion propagation, leads to rapid, recessive loss of Sc4 but does not interfere with propagation of Sc37. PNM2 destabilizes the amyloid core of Sc37 and causes compensatory effects that slow prion growth but aid prion division and result in robust propagation of Sc37. By contrast, PNM2 does not affect the structure or chaperone-mediated division of Sc4 but interferes with its delivery to daughter cells. Thus, effective delivery of infectious particles during cell division is a crucial and conformation-dependent step in prion inheritance.
Properties and performance of RAINBOW piezoelectric actuator stacks

Stacks of RAINBOW high-displacement actuators are currently under consideration for use in scanning mechanisms capable of providing controlled travels on the order of 1 cm. In this work, actuator stacks were produced by stacking PZT-5A and PZT-5H RAINBOWs in a clamshell configuration. The displacement properties of the RAINBOW stacks were then evaluated as a function of applied electric field, static load, number of actuators in the stack, and diameter of the actuators. The displacement properties of the stacks were found to increase nearly proportionately to the number of actuators in the stack, with the PZT-5A RAINBOW stacks generating one and half to two times the displacement of the PZT-5H stacks at +/- 8 and +/- 16 kV/cm.
Essential cysteine-alkylation strategies to monitor structurally altered estrogen receptor as found in oxidant-stressed breast cancers.

Oxidant-induced structural modifications within the cysteine-rich DNA-binding domain (DBD) of the overexpressed estrogen receptor (ER) likely contribute to its loss of DNA-binding function and altered transcriptional activity during human breast cancer development. Using recombinant ER protein as a model, procedures to detect such endogenously produced structural changes in the two Cys4-type zinc fingers within the DBD of ER extracted from breast cancer cells are being developed. Unfortunately, ex vivo oxidation of these ER-DBD cysteine residues can occur during routine ER purification and preparation procedures. Also, cysteine residues readily undergo thiol–disulfide exchange reactions that can result in artificial oxidation and incorrect disulfide bond assignments. These problems can be circumvented by an initial irreversible alkylation of all free thiols followed by reduction of any disulfides and treatment with a second alkylating agent, prior to proteolysis and high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of peptides in the doubly alkylated ER digest, to differentiate between the originally free and the disulfide-bonded cysteine residues. Although the use of chemically identical but isotopically different alkylating agents was more effective than the use of chemically different alkylating agents, subsequent problems were encountered with incomplete alkylation of particular Cys residues in the native ER protein. To overcome this limitation, the initial alkylation was accompanied by denaturation and the second alkylation was carried out during the proteolytic digestion. These improved analytical strategies should facilitate the monitoring of structurally altered endogenous ER produced within oxidant-stressed human breast cancer cells.
Sudden Death Putatively Related to Desipramine Treatment in Youth: A Fifth Case and a Review of Speculative Mechanisms

ABSTRACT A 14-year-old boy with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was prescribed desipramine for over 12 months, and had been generally stable on 300 mg daily at the time of his death. Three months before, his plasma desipramine level was 132 ng/mL while taking 225 mg daily. Family history included cardiac disease but not sudden death. After diving in a pool for several minutes, he climbed out of the pool, sat down, and lost consciousness. Witnesses described body movements that might have been a seizure. Despite extensive resuscitation, the patient died within 1 h. There was no evidence of acute or chronic overdose, suicidality, pill hoarding, or missing pills. Autopsy uncovered an anomaly in the size of the right coronary artery. This is the fifth reported case of sudden unexplained death of a youth during tricyclic antidepressant treatment that is not attributed to overdose. All five cases have involved desipramine, and three occurred during or just following physical exertion. Despite ample ava...
Ultrastructure of rat ovarian interstitial gland cells during pregnancy

The fine structure of the interstitial gland of the rat ovary was studied at estrus and on Days 4, 6, 10, 14 and 18 of pregnancy. At estrus, ovarian interstitial cells have small nuclei with dense irregular clumps of heterochromatin. Mitochondria are small and rod-shaped and have predominantely lamellar cristae. Numerous osmiophilic lipid droplets are present. At Days 4 and 6, nuclear heterochromatin is reduced, and nucleoli are larger and complex. Mitochondria are enlarged and often bizarre-shaped and have tubular cristae. Golgi and smooth endoplasmic reticulum are more conspicuous. At Day 10, prominent ultrastructural features include nuclei with conspicuous heterochromatin, smaller mitochondria with both lamellar and tubular cristae, numerous ribosomes and lipid droplets with decreased osmiophilia. At Days 14 and 18, nuclei have increased heterochromatin, mitochondria are small and have lamellated cristae and an increase in the size and number of lipid droplets occurs. These observations suggest that steroidogenic activity of interstitial cells is highest during the first half of pregnancy and regresses during the last half. It is suggested that the interstitial gland is an important ovarian source of pregnancy hormone(s) during the first half of gestation and that LH may modulate steroidogenic activity in this ovarian component.
A Simple Method for Assessment of Human Anti-Neu5Gc Antibodies Applied to Kawasaki Disease

N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is an immunogenic sugar of dietary origin that metabolically incorporates into diverse native glycoconjugates in humans. Anti-Neu5Gc antibodies are detected in all human sera, though with variable levels and epitope-recognition profiles. These antibodies likely play a role in several inflammation-mediated pathologies including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In cancer, they have dualistic and opposing roles, either stimulating or repressing disease, as a function of their dose, and some of these antibodies serve as carcinoma biomarkers. Thus, anti-Neu5Gc antibodies may signify risk of inflammation-mediated diseases, and changes in their levels could potentially be used to monitor disease progression and/or response to therapy. Currently, it is difficult to determine levels of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in individual human samples because these antibodies recognize multiple Neu5Gc-epitopes. Here we describe a simple and specific method for detection and overall estimation of human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies. We exploit the difference between two mouse models that differ only by Neu5Gc-presence (wild-type) or Neu5Gc-absence (Cmah(-/-) knockout). We characterize mouse serum from both strains by HPLC, lectin and mass-spectrometry analysis and show the target Neu5Gc-epitopes. We then use Cmah(-/-) knockout sera to inhibit all non-Neu5Gc-reactivity followed by binding to wild-type sera to detect overall anti-Neu5Gc response in a single assay. We applied this methodology to characterize and quantify anti-Neu5Gc IgG and IgA in sera of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) at various stages compared to controls. KD is an acute childhood febrile disease characterized by inflammation of coronary arteries that untreated may lead to coronary artery aneurysms with risk of thrombosis and myocardial infarction. This estimated response is comparable to the average of detailed anti-Neu5Gc IgG profile analyzed by a sialoglycan microarray. Both assays revealed an elevated response in acute KD patients with normal coronaries compared to patients with aneurysm or dilated coronaries. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Kinetics of the spontaneous reduction of 1,2,3-triaquodiethylenetriaminecobalt(III) cation in aqueous perchloric acid☆

Abstract The spontaneous reduction of 1,2,3-Co(dien)(OH 2 ) 3 3+ to Co(II) has been investigated spectrophotometrically in 0·1-2F HClO 4 at 80–100°C. The observed first-order rate constant has the form k obs = k 1 + ( k ′ 2 /[H + ]); the hydrogen ion dependence has been ascribed to reduction of the hydroxodiaquo species. In 3·5M ionic strength (controlled with NaClO 4 ), k 1 = (6·5 ± 2·1) × 10 −8 sec −1 and k ′ 2 = (1·4 ± 0·8) × 10 −7 M sec −1 at 80·7°. The activation parameters for the acid independent ( k 1 ) path are E a = 36 ± 7 kcal mole −1 , log PZ (sec −1 ) = 15·0 ± 4·3.
Transferred electron effects in n-GaAs and n-InP under hydrostatic pressure

Abstract Experimental results are presented showing the variation of the peak velocity, electric field at peak velocity and saturated velocity of the velocity-field curve for bulk n -GaAs under hydrostatic pressure. Similar data are presented for the field at peak velocity for bulk n -InP. The extraction of the data from the current-voltage characteristics is based on an exploitation of the influence of boundary conditions on the manifestation of transferred-electron induced (Gunn) current instabilities. Our results, which differ from those of other investigations, are compared with our Monte Carlo calculations of the velocity-field curves for these materials. We find that ionized impurity scattering plays an important role in the understanding of our data.
Gone with the wind: Where is the missing stellar wind energy from massive star clusters?

Star clusters larger than $\sim 10^{3}$ $M_\odot$ contain multiple hot stars that launch fast stellar winds. The integrated kinetic energy carried by these winds is comparable to that delivered by supernova explosions, suggesting that at early times winds could be an important form of feedback on the surrounding cold material from which the star cluster formed. However, the interaction of these winds with the surrounding clumpy, turbulent, cold gas is complex and poorly understood. Here we investigate this problem via an accounting exercise: we use empirically determined properties of four well-studied massive star clusters to determine where the energy injected by stellar winds ultimately ends up. We consider a range of kinetic energy loss channels, including radiative cooling, mechanical work on the cold interstellar medium, thermal conduction, heating of dust via collisions by the hot gas, and bulk advection of thermal energy by the hot gas. We show that, for at least some of the clusters, none of these channels can account for more than a small fraction of the injected energy. We suggest that turbulent mixing at the hot-cold interface or physical leakage of the hot gas from the HII region can efficiently remove the kinetic energy injected by the massive stars in young star clusters. Even for the clusters where we are able to account for all the injected kinetic energy, we show that our accounting sets strong constraints on the importance of stellar winds as a mechanism for feedback on the cold interstellar medium.
Molecular mechanisms of the suppression of axon regeneration by KLF transcription factors

Molecular mechanisms of the Kruppel-like family of transcription factors (KLFs) have been studied more in proliferating cells than in post-mitotic cells such as neurons. We recently found that KLFs regulate intrinsic axon growth ability in central nervous system (CNS) neurons including retinal ganglion cells, and hippocampal and cortical neurons. With at least 15 of 17 KLF family members expressed in neurons and at least 5 structurally unique subfamilies, it is important to determine how this complex family functions in neurons to regulate the intricate genetic programs of axon growth and regeneration. By characterizing the molecular mechanisms of the KLF family in the nervous system, including binding partners and gene targets, and comparing them to defined mechanisms defined outside the nervous system, we may better understand how KLFs regulate neurite growth and axon regeneration.
New Daily Persistent Headache: Clinical Perspective

New daily persistent headache is a recognized form of primary chronic daily headache. It is unique in its presentation and course. The goal of this article is to discuss the clinical characteristics, triggering factors, possible underlying pathogenesis and treatment options for this unique headache disorder. At present prognosis for new daily persistent headache is considered poor with very few effective treatment options. A new treatment paradigm for new daily persistent headache based on triggering events will be suggested. The current International Classification of Headache Disorders 2 criteria for new daily persistent headache will also be discussed including its apparent inadequacies and revised criteria will be recommended.
Distribution of the Protease Inhibitor α1-Antichymotrypsin in Cerebral and Systemic Amyloid

We performed immunocytochemical staining to study the distribution of serum protease inhibitors in cerebral and systemic amyloid deposits. In beta-protein amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, age-related cerebral amyloidosis, sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis of Dutch origin, antibody to alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) stains senile plaques and vascular deposits. Immature plaques or preamyloid deposits, identified by their positive staining for beta-protein and negative staining for Congo red, which represents the earliest recognizable stages of amyloid deposition, are also labeled. We did not detect ACT in other chemically different forms of cerebral and systemic amyloid. None of the other inhibitors in this study, i.e. antithrombin III and alpha 2-macroglobulin, was detected in the amyloid deposits. Neurons and glial cells throughout the central nervous system in normal and amyloid-containing brains also bind ACT antibody. The results emphasize the close association of ACT with one type of cerebral amyloid (beta-amyloid diseases) as well as the failure to detect such an association in other chemically different forms of cerebral and systemic amyloids.
Time-independent and time-dependent behaviour of high-latitude flux bundles at the core-mantle boundary

[1] Using a numerical dynamo model, we examine whether quasi-stationary high latitude flux bundles which are observed in the geomagnetic field over the last 300 years, and possibly over much longer time periods, result from thermal core-mantle interactions. We do so by imposing lateral heat flux variations at the core-mantle boundary based upon the dominant pattern of seismic heterogeneity in the lowermost mantle. We find that the time-averaged field then has a similar arrangement of flux bundles to that observed during the last few hundred years. However, the field is time-dependent, and this arrangement of flux bundles is not a feature of the field at all times.
A New Nonsymmetric Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Time Dependent Convection Diffusion Equations

We propose a discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for convection diffusion equations that involves a new methodology handling the diffusion term. Test function derivative numerical flux term is introduced in the scheme formulation to balance the solution derivative numerical flux term. The scheme has a nonsymmetric structure. For general nonlinear diffusion equations, nonlinear stability of the numerical solution is obtained. Optimal kth order error estimate under energy norm is proved for linear diffusion problems with piecewise P k polynomial approximations. Numerical examples under one-dimensional and two-dimensional settings are carried out. Optimal (k+1)th order of accuracy with P k polynomial approximations is obtained on uniform and nonuniform meshes. Compared to the Baumann-Oden method and the NIPG method, the optimal convergence is recovered for even order P k polynomial approximations.