cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases in microsomal enzyme induction in southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania) larvae

Abstract RNA polymerase activity in a midgut nuclear fraction from southern armyworm larvae exposed to the microsomal enzyme inducer pentamethylbenzene (PMB, 2000 ppm in diet) was 40% higher than in controls. With the solubilized, partially purified polymerases, the activity of RNA polymerase III increased about 40% in response to the inducing action of PMB; polymerase II activity was only slightly enhanced in induced larvae and no change was observed in the activity of polymerase I. Treatment of larvae with α-amanitin (0.25 μg/larva) or cycloheximide (50 ppm in diet) caused respectively a 60% and 70% reversal of the PMB-induced increase in RNA polymerase activity. Such treatments also cause an essentially complete block of the PMB induction of microsomal N- demethylase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The data are discussed in relation to the involvement of the transcription process in the mechanism of microsomal enzyme induction.
Single-Parameter Free-Electron Exchange Approximation in Free Atoms

The optimum scale factor for the Slater free-electron exchange approximation for atoms has been obtained by minimizing the total electronic energy. In general, the scale factor lies between the Slater and the Gaspar-Kohn-Sham limit of 1 and $\frac{2}{3}$, respectively. The variation that occurs as the different shells are populated is qualitatively understandable in terms of the inhomogeneity of the over-all charge distribution.
Synthesis of acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphates and related derivatives

Abstract The chemical syntheses of 1- O -palmitoyl- and 1- O -acetyl-2,2-dimethoxypropane-3-phosphate cyclohexylammonium salt and 1- O -palmitoyl-2,2-dimethoxypropane-3- O -phosphoryl-ethanolamine are reported. The acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphates can serve as intermediates in the pathway for the biosynthesis of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and alkyl glycerolipids.
Modeling Energy Deposition in Very Thin Layered Media by Monte Carlo Simulation

A Monte Carlo model with special features for modeling of radiation transport through very thin layers has been presented. Over the decades traditional Monte Carlo model has been used to model highly scattering thin layers in skin and may inaccurately capture the effect of thin layers since their interfaces are not perfectly planar and thicknesses non-uniform. If the Monte Carlo model is implemented without special features then the results of the simulation would show no effect of the outer thin layer since the path length of most photons would be significantly larger than the layer thickness and the resulting predicted photon travel would simply not notice the presence of the layer. Examples of multi-layered media are considered where the effect of a very thin absorbing layers is systematically examined using both the traditional Monte Carlo and that with new features incorporated. The results have profound implications in the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of laser in biomedicine and surgery.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Efficacy and tolerability of oxaprozin in the elderly

Retrospective data from controlled clinical trials with Oxaprozin, an investigational nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), were stratified by patient age to ascertain whether the drug is as safe and effective in patients over 60 years old as it is in younger patients. Data for 1.423 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) were studied; 1,012 of these patients received Oxaprozin (600 to 1,800 mg daily), 232 received aspirin (2,600 to 3,900 mg daily), and 179 received ibuprofen (1,200 to 2,400 mg daily). The three drugs were equally effective in treating RA and OA, and efficacy measures indicated similar improvement in patients of both age groups. Elderly patients who received Oxaprozin, aspirin, or ibuprofen were more likely to have gastrointestinal and hematologic adverse effects than their younger counterparts, and older patients who received Oxaprozin or aspirin therapy were also more likely to have adverse renal effects. The incidence of hepatic side effects was very low and comparable with all three drugs, both in older and younger patients. Thus, Oxaprozin is no more likely than other NSAIDs to increase the risk of gastrointestinal, hematologic, or renal toxicity among elderly patients with RA or OA, and the incidence of these forms of toxicity varies depending on the underlying disease. Such factors as concomitant disease, organ dysfunction, or medication may contribute to the increased incidence of NSAID toxicity observed among older patients.
Character, blameworthiness, and blame: comments on George Sher's In Praise of blame

In his recent book, In Praise of Blame, George Sher argues (among other things) that a bad act can reflect negatively on a person if that act results in an appropriate way from that person’s “character,” and defends a novel “two-tiered” account of what it is to blame someone. In these brief comments, I raise some questions and doubts about each of these aspects of his rich and thought-provoking account.
Congruent Evolution Between Whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and Their Bacterial Endosymbionts Based on Respective 18S and 16S rDNAs

Whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae) possess heritable eubacterial endosymbionts sustained in specialized organ-like structures called mycetomes. Comparisons of distances between the ash whitefly,Siphoninus phillyreae, and two biotypes (“A” and “B”) of the sweetpotato whitefly,Bemisia tabaci, based on sequence analysis of genes for 18S rRNAs (rDNAs), were equivalent to the distances represented by the 16S rDNAs of their respective endosymbionts. This finding indicates that evolutionary divergence in whitefly hosts and their endosymbionts is congruent. The nucleotide sequences of the 18S rDNAs and endosymbiont 16S rDNAs indicate the two biotypes ofB. tabaci are the same species.
Effects of systemic and local CXC chemokine administration on the ethanol-induced suppression of pulmonary neutrophil recruitment.

Background: Acute alcohol intoxication impairs the neutrophil response to intrapulmonary infection, resulting in impaired host defense and increased patient morbidity and mortality. We recently showed that intratracheal (IT) chemokine administration promotes pulmonary neutrophil migration in rats and that this process is enhanced by systemic administration of the Glu-Leu-Arg (ELR+) and CXC chemokine cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC). Here we hypothesized that exogenous chemokine administration would mitigate the suppressive effect of alcohol on neutrophil recruitment into the lung. Methods: Macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), a rat ELR+ CXC chemokine, or live Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) was administered it to induce alveolar neutrophil migration in the absence or presence of acute ethanol intoxication. Depending on the experimental protocol, rats received either intravenous (IV) CINC or IT chemokines (CINC and MIP-2) 20 min after it MIP-2 or K. pneumoniae. Rats were euthanized 90 min or four hr after the first IT injection for sample collection. Results: Neutrophil counts were significantly elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats receiving IT MIP-2 compared with vehicle-treated rats, and this response was significantly decreased in animals pretreated with ethanol. CINC IV enhanced the neutrophil response to IT MIP-2 in both the absence and presence of acute ethanol intoxication. In rats challenged with K. pneumoniae, ethanol pretreatment significantly reduced BALF levels of CINC and MIP-2, suppressed alveolar neutrophil recruitment, and decreased whole-lung myeloperoxidase activity. CINC IV did not alter BALF neutrophil counts in the absence or presence of ethanol administration 4 hr after IT K. pneumoniae. Alternatively, IT chemokine instillation partially restored BALF neutrophil recruitment but not whole-lung myeloperoxidase activity in ethanol-treated rats. Conclusions: Ethanol significantly inhibits the pulmonary inflammatory responses to both MIP-2 and K. pneumoniae. Exogenous chemokine administration may be a useful means to enhance host defenses in the ethanol-intoxicated host, although the results of this study also indicate that ethanol intoxication can impair neutrophil recruitment, independent of its effects on local chemotactic gradients.
Imitation in Toddlers as a Function of Motor and Verbal Aspects of Modeling

Abstract This study investigated the effects of the motor and verbal aspects of modeling on imitation. The subjects were 2- and 3-year-old children (N = 96). The child's imitation responses were recorded during the play period that followed each modeled act. Each child observed the model in one of four modeling conditions. In Condition 1, the model “flew” a telephone while saying that he or she was flying an airplane. Imitation was recorded as motor if the child flew the telephone but was recorded as verbal and realistic if the child flew an airplane. In Condition 2, the model flew an airplane while saying that he or she was flying a telephone. Imitation was recorded as verbal if the child flew the telephone. In Condition 3, the model flew an airplane and said that he or she was flying an airplane. If the child flew an airplane, imitation was scored as motor, verbal, and. realistic. In Condition 4, the model flew a telephone and said that he or she was flying a telephone. Imitation was scored as motor and...
NLP research at the Yale AI Project

The Yale Al Project is an interdisciplinary research effort, made up primarily of computer scientists and psychologists, but also including, over the last several years, researchers trained in linguistics, philosophy, and anthropology. Current graduate students are officially affiliated with either the Computer Science or Psychology departments, but are educated, beyond general departmental requirements as Cognitive Scientists.
Effect of peptide YY (PYY) on food-associated conflict

Peptide YY (PYY) administered centrally in rats induces powerful overeating. PYY also occurs endogenously in humans and is elevated in abstaining bulimic patients. To examine the effect of PYY in an environment that parallels some aspects of bulimia, rats were tested in a paradigm associated with approach-avoidance behavior, choosing a preferred (sweet) food paired with shock, over regular food safe from shock. PYY-treated rats chose to sustain shock to retrieve and consume the preferred food, at a significantly greater speed and quantity. The number of approaches that were met without retrieval of food due to anxiety after PYY treatment indicates that PYY increased motivation towards feeding, rather than anxiolysis. This effect of PYY in a model of conflict associated with food choice resembles aspects of bulimic binge-eating, which is characterized by the repetitive, rapid intake of food, despite anxiety associated with this behavior.
Residue Depletion of Tritium‐Labeled Ivermectin in the Muscle Tissues of Aquacultured Atlantic Salmon, Tilapia, and Catfish following Oral Treatment

Abstract The residue depletion and metabolism profiles of tritium-labeled ivermectin in the muscle tissues of aquacultured Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, hybrid tilapia (Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus × Mozambique tilapia O. mossambicus; hereafter, “tilapia”) and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus following oral treatment are reported. Fish were administered 3H-ivermectin at the dose level of 0.1 mg/kg of body weight (9–10 μ curies [Ci]) in a gel capsule via a stomach tube. At each postdose withdrawal time (1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d), six fish of each species were sedated, euthanized, bled, and scaled, and fillets with adhering skin (except for catfish) were collected. The muscle fillets were homogenized in dry ice and an aliquot of each was extracted in acetonitrile followed by a high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis to determine the presence of parent ivermectin and its potential metabolites. The analysis of the muscle extracts revealed that the parent 3H-ivermectin is the major residue prese...
Proenkephalin and prodynorphin related neuropeptides in the cochlea.

Abstract Dynorphin B (rimorphin), a proenkephalin B (prodynorphin)-derived p'eptide, and met-enkephalin-Arg 6 , Gly 7 , Leu 8 (met-enkephalin octapeptide), a proenkephalin A-derived peptide, were identified in the mammalian cochlea by specific radioimmunoassays. The antisera are directed against unique sequences in the peptides, and this immunoreactivity cannot be ascribed to cross-reaction with any other known opioid peptides. Met-enkephalin octapeptide and dynorphin B can for this reason serve as reliable markers for the proenkephalin A- and proenkephalin B-derived peptides, respectively. Lesion studies in the cochlea indicate that dynorphin B is confined to olivocochlear efferents. It has not been determined if the dynorphin-containing neurons are the same as those known to contain enkephalin-related peptides, or if they may be cholinergic. Different, presumably inhibitory, neurotransmitters or modulators in the olivocochlear fibers create the possibility of separately modulating the effects of inner or outer hair cells on auditory nerve activity, and so becoming able to study their individual actions in audition. The olivocochlear fiber-hair cell-eighth nerve interaction may provide a valuable model for a complex multi-transmitter synaptic junction.
Thermodynamic theories of micellar and vesicular systems

Thermodynamic theories of surfactant self-assembly in aqueous solution describe the formation and unique characteristics of aggregates such as micelles and vesicles by considering both intra- and inter-aggregate interactions. Recent developments for single surfactant systems include new descriptions of micelle formation and growth, as well as detailed modeling of micellar size polydispersity and intermicellar interactions. In mixed surfactant systems, the formation of mixed micelles continues to be described by the pseudophase separation approximation and modifications of the regular solution theory, although the size and composition distributions of mixed micelles have also been modeled in the context of broader thermodynamic descriptions. Recent thermodynamic theories have also aimed at a more accurate description of the spontaneous formation and stabilization of mixed surfactant vesicles.
A 384-Well Solid-Phase Extraction for LC/MS/MS Determination of Methotrexate and Its 7-Hydroxy Metabolite in Human Urine and Plasma

A solid-phase extraction procedure, in a 384-well format, has been developed for methotrexate and its primary metabolite, 7-hydroxymethotrexate, in human urine and plasma. This format has not been utilized previously for solid-phase extraction of drugs from biological fluids. The 384-well plates contained a C-18 stationary phase bonded to silica particles which are incorporated into a glass-fiber membrane. Methotrexate and 7-hydroxymethotrexate have been quantified across the curve range of 1 to 50 microg/mL and 50 to 1000 ng/mL, respectively, in urine and from 5 to 250 ng/mL and 5 to 100 ng/mL, respectively, in plasma. Both analytes are quantified by linear regression using 20-microL sample aliquots. Experiments to evaluate the influence of particle size, elution volume, and injection volume on signal intensity were conducted and are reported, along with the results of experiments examining cross contamination between wells. Recovery was determined to be > or = 95% from urine. Results from a run of 384 samples analyzed over a 14-h period indicate that 384-well SPE can be successfully utilized to increase analytical run sizes and sample throughput for LC/MS/MS determination of small drug molecules in biological samples.
CpG DNA: recognition by and activation of monocytes

Unmethylated CpG motifs present in bacterial DNA rapidly trigger an innate immune response characterized by the activation of Ig- and cytokine-secreting cells. Synthetic oligonucleotides (ODNs) containing CpG motifs mimic this activity, triggering monocytes to proliferate, secrete and/or differentiate. Analysis of hundreds of novel ODNs led to the identification of two structurally distinct classes of CpG motif that differentially activate human monocytes. ODNs of the "K"-type interact with Toll-like receptor 9 and induce monocytes to proliferate and secrete IL-6. In contrast, "D"-type ODNs trigger monocytes to differentiate into mature dendritic cells.
Laparoscopic Surgery in the Elderly: A Review of the Literature

Laparoscopic techniques are gradually replacing many common surgical procedures that are performed in an increasingly aging population. Laparoscopy places different physiologic demands on the body than in open surgery. PubMed was searched for evidence related to the use of laparoscopy in the elderly population to treat common surgical pathologies. Randomized trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were preferred. Currently, over 40% of all surgeries performed in the U.S. are on patients older than 65 years. By the end of the 21st century, Americans are expected to live 20 years longer than the current average. However, elderly patients clearly show higher rates of surgical morbidity and mortality overall. Laparoscopic techniques show decreased wound complications, post-operative ileus, intraoperative blood loss, and reduced need for post-operative rehabilitation. In conclusion, laparoscopic surgery is safe in the elderly population and affords multiple advantages including decreased pain and convalescence. However, the physiology of laparoscopy places demands on elderly patients that typically present with more medical comorbidities.
Application of Jastrow wave functions to quantum lattice spin theories

The use of variational wave functions that are products of overlapping locally correlated functions for studying the ground state of lattice spin theories is described. It is found that very accurate results can be obtained for very simple trial functions. For determining the energy, the method is superior to methods based on blocks.
Evaluation of peripheral and autonomic nerve function in Fabry disease

UNLABELLED The neurological manifestations of Fabry disease include severe episodes of lancinating pain and burning paraesthesias in the extremities, often triggered by changes in temperature. The preferential involvement of small nerve fibres and the accumulation of storage product in the central autonomic nervous system and autonomic ganglia means that standard neurophysiological procedures cannot adequately evaluate the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems of affected patients. This paper describes the various methods that have been developed to assess impairment of temperature perception, vibratory perception, sudomotor and sweat gland function, and limb and superficial skin blood flow and vasoreactivity. These methods, including thermal provocation tests, quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing and venous occlussion plethsmography, have been used effectively in patients with Fabry disease to measure the extent of neurological dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Effective methods for measuring neurological involvement in patients with Fabry disease have been developed. These methods will be valuable in assessing the response of patients to enzyme replacement therapy.
Tertiary climates and floristic relationships at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere

During the Paleocene and Eocene, climates were characterized by a low mean annual range of temperature (a maximum of 10–15°C), a moderate to high mean annual temperature (10–20°C), and abundant precipitation; strong broad-leaved evergreen vegetation extended to almost lat. 60°N during the Paleocene and to well above 61°N during the Eocene. Poleward of the broad-leaved evergreen forests were forests that were broad-leaved deciduous; these deciduous forests, however, were unlike extant broad-leaved deciduous forests in general floristic composition and physiognomy. Coniferous forests probably occupied the northernmost latitudes. At the end of the Eocene, a major climatic deterioration resulted in a high (> 30°C) mean annual range of temperature and a low mean annual temperature (< 10°C). Vegetation represented temperate broad-leaved deciduous and coniferous forests. The Oligocene and Neogene climatic trends represent a decrease in both mean annual range of temperature and mean annual temperature. Tundra vegetation did not appear until late in the Neogene. The present distribution of broad-leaved evergreens concomitant with the principles of plant physiology indicates that present winter light conditions at high latitudes could not support broad-leaved evergreen forest. A possible solution to the problem is to increase winter light by lessening the inclination of the earth's rotational axis.
Contragredient equivalence: A canonical form and some applications

Abstract Let A and C be m -by- n complex matrices, and let B and D be n -by- m complex matrices. The pair ( A , B ) is contragrediently equivalent to the pair ( C , D ) if there are square nonsingular complex matrices X and Y such that XAY −1 = C and YBX −1 = D . Contragredient equivalence is a common generalization of four basic equivalence relations: similarity, consimilarity, complex orthogonal equivalence, and unitary equivalence. We develop a complete set of invariants and an explicit canonical form for contragredient equivalence and show that ( A , A T ) is contragrediently equivalent to ( C , C T ) if and only if there are complex orthogonal matrices P and Q such that C = PAQ . Using this result, we show that the following are equivalent for a given n -by- n complex matrix A : 1. (1) A = QS for some complex orthogonal Q and some complex symmetric S ; 2. (2) A T A is similar to AA T ; 3. (3) ( A , A T ) is contragrediently equivalent to ( A T , A ); 4. (4) A = Q 1 A T Q 2 for some complex orthogonal Q 1 , Q 2 ; 5. (5) A = PA T P for some complex orthogonal P . We then consider a linear operator φ on n -by- n complex matrices that shares the following properties with transpose operators: for every pair of n -by- n complex matrices A and B , (a) φ. preserves the spectrum of A , (b) φ ( φ ( A )) = A , and (c) φ ( AB ) = φ ( B ) φ ( A ). We show that ( A , φ ( A )) is contragrediently similar to ( B , φ ( B )) if and only if A = X 1 BX 2 for some nonsingular X 1 , X 2 that satisfy X −1 1 = φ ( X 1 ) and X −1 2 = φ ( X 2 ). We also consider a factorization of the form A = XY , where X −1 = φ ( X ) and Y = φ ( Y ). We use the canonical form for the contragredient equivalence relation to give a new proof of a theorem of Flanders concerning the relative sizes of the nilpotent Jordan blocks of AB and BA . We present a sufficient condition for the existence of square roots of AB and BA and close with a canonical form for complex orthogonal equivalence.
Anticardiolipin antibodies: Clinical consequences of "low titers"

Objective To clarify the implications of low levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)-G or IgM anticardiolipin antibodies. Methods Women who underwent clinically indicated testing for antiphospholipid antibodies were divided into four groups based on results: 1) high-positive (lupus anticoagulant or more than 19 IgG binding units of anticardiolipin antibodies; N=131), 2) low-positive IgG (fewer than 20 IgG binding units; N=93), 3) IgM only (more than nine IgM binding units; N=97), and 4) negative (N=153). The development of antiphospholipid antibody-related disorders was assessed for the time interval from initial antibody testing to patient interview. The median study interval for each group was at least 4 years. Forty-five percent of women had repeat testing at the time of interview. Results Women in the high-positive group were more likely to develop at least one new medical complication than those in the low-positive IgG (odds ratio [OR] 4.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.01-10.03), IgM only (OR 6.00, 95% CI 2.65-13.59), and negative (OR 9.11, 95% CI 3.92-21.2) groups. In contrast, the low-positive IgG, IgM only, and negative groups had similar risks for the development of new disorders. Twelve of 129 (9.3%) women in the lowpositive IgG, IgM only, or negative groups had lupus anticoagulant or more than 19 IgG binding units on retesting. Half of these women developed at least one new disorder. Conclusion Women with IgM or low levels of IgG anticardiolipin antibodies comprise distinct populations from those with lupus anticoagulant or moderate to high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies. These women are not at risk for antiphospholipid antibody-related disorders beyond the risk conferred by their medical histories. However, repeat testing is warranted with new or recurrent clinical symptoms.
White Spruce seed loss caused by insects in interior Alaska.

Insects caused serious damage to cones and seeds of white spruce during one of the five years of this study. A new seed and cone insect, Pegohylemyia sp., was recorded for the first time from Alaska. This insect destroyed an average of 50% of the seeds per cone.
In situ measurements of microbially-catalyzed nitrification and nitrate reduction rates in an ephemeral drainage channel receiving water from coalbed natural gas discharge, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA

Abstract Nitrification and nitrate reduction were examined in an ephemeral drainage channel receiving discharge from coalbed natural gas (CBNG) production wells in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. CBNG co-produced water typically contains dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), primarily as ammonium. In this study, a substantial portion of discharged ammonium was oxidized within 50 m of downstream transport, but speciation was markedly influenced by diel fluctuations in dissolved oxygen (> 300 µM). After 300 m of transport, 60% of the initial DIN load had been removed. The effect of benthic nitrogen-cycling processes on stream water chemistry was assessed at 2 locations within the stream channel using acrylic chambers to conduct short-term (2–6 h), in-stream incubations. The highest ambient DIN removal rates (2103 µmol N m− 2 h− 1) were found at a location where ammonium concentrations > 350 µM. This occurred during light incubations when oxygen concentrations were highest. Nitrification was occurring at the site, however, net accumulation of nitrate and nitrite accounted for
Dry matter accumulation and phosphate distribution in soybean grown on varying levels of phosphate nutrition

Abstract Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) plants grown under normal nutrient conditions remobilize a high percentage of the total P absorbed from leaves to developing seeds. This study was conducted to determine the effect of P nutrition on dry matter production and P accumulation, distribution and remobilization during reproduction in soybean. Williams 82 soybeans were established in hydroponic culture in the greenhouse at four levels of P (0.45 mM, 0.20 mM, 0.10 mM or 0.05 mM) and harvested four times during reproductive growth. Dry matter production and P accumulation were reduced in the 0.05 mM P treatment to levels that were 10% of the 0.45 mM P treatment. The proportion of total plant P retained by nodules of low P plants was greater than that retained by nodules of high P plants (8.9% vs 4.2%). The 0.05 mM P plants partitioned a greater percentage of their P to seeds (74% vs 63%) than did the 0.45 mM P plants. Remobilization of P began in the 0.05 mM P plants earlier than in plants grown with 0.4...
A data collection program for x-ray diffractometry

A computer program for controlling diffractometers is described. At present it is capable of controlling a four‐circle diffractometer in a variety of calculation modes, a two‐circle diffractometer, and also a z‐axis diffractometer. The program includes on‐screen plotting of both the current scan and previous scans. There is a separate program which consists of the plotting subset of the commands so that while one user is collecting data other users can be analyzing old data simultaneously. Extensive on‐line help is provided. The program is written in fortran, runs on the VMS operating system, and is primarily dependent on CAMAC for data collection.
Highly Exfoliated Poly(ε-caprolactone)/organomontmorillonite Nanocomposites Prepared by In Situ Polymerization

Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/organomodified montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization with dibutyltin dimethoxide as an initiator/ catalyst. The montmorillonite was first modified with 1-decyl-2-methyl-3-(11-hydroxyundecyl)imidazolium cation. The hydroxyl functionality was used not only for initiating polymer chains from the surface of the clay platelets but also for grafting polymer chains to the surface by acting as a reversible chain-transfer agent. The molecular weights of the polymer chains were controlled by the ratio of monomer to hydroxyl content. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed that highly exfoliated nanostructures were formed. The amount of inorganic component did not affect the thermal behavior of the polymer matrix as shown by differential scanning calorimetry or thermogravimetric analysis. The highly exfoliated clay sheets acted as nucleating agents and increased the degree of crystallinity from 51 to 69% at 5 wt %. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed an enhancement of the storage modulus with increasing clay content above the glass-transition temperature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Locus of control orientation: parents, peers, and place

An internal locus of control contributes to positive youth outcomes such as a general well-being and academic success, while also serving as a protective factor against exposure to community violence and reducing negative behaviors like violence. Despite these benefits, very little is known about antecedents of an internal locus of control orientation. Without an understanding of what factors contribute to the development of an internal locus of control, it is not clear how to best encourage its formation. This study uses data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods to examine whether various mesosystem variables (family management strategies, peer interactions, neighborhood context, and individual-level characteristics) are associated with an internal locus of control orientation among 1,076 youth ages 9–19 living in 78 Chicago neighborhoods. Study participants were Hispanic (46 %), African American (34 %), and White (15 %), and 50 % were female. The findings suggest that, while most levels of the mesosystem influence locus of control orientation, family management strategies are more prominent determinants of an internal locus of control than peers, neighborhood context, or individual characteristics. Parental supervision over the time a youth spends at home and family socioeconomic status are consistent predictors of an internal locus of control, while harsh discipline is associated with an external locus of control. The discussion examines the import of various parenting techniques in shaping an internal locus of control and considers future avenues for research to further unpack how antecedents of locus of control can vary across youth.
The reductive metalation of 1,2-dihalobenzocyclobutenes by NaFe(CO)2Cp and HFe(CO)2Cp

Abstract The reactions between cis - and trans -1,2-dibromo- or 1,2-diidobenzocyclobutene and NaFe(CO) 2 Cp (NaFp) were investigated. The mechanism of formation of 1,2-bis(cyclopentadienyldicarbonyliron)benzocyclobutene (I) and 1-(cyclopentadienyldicarbonyliron)benzocyclobutene (II) is thought to involve initial formation of benzocyclobutadiene, addition of a Fp radical to benzocyclobutadiene and subsequent addition of a second Fp radical to form I, or hydrogen abstraction from FpH to form II.
ATM SONET 622-Mbps LAN using shortwave CD laser to achieve high-performance cost-effective optical link

The information superhighway is coming closer to reality, because significant progress has been made in developing both private and public netorks in the last several years. ATM, the major technology for transferring multimedia, has been implemented in many backbone applications. However, the key to speed up the deployment of the information superhighway is hinged on the affordability for mass users to access the ATM network from desktop terminals. In addition to cost-effectiveness, the ATM network has to be a high-performance network to carry the increasingly high volumes of information. The ATM SONET 622 Mbps (OC12) optical LAN can provide the bandwidth to serve the high-performance needs; nevertheless, the challenge is to keep the connection cost low. This paper describes an ATM SONET 622 Mbps optical link using the commercially available devices to design a high-performance and low- cost LAN. The design of the LAN using shortwave CD laser tranceivers, ATM SONET OC12 framers, and ATM cell generators/analyzers is analyzed. Furthermore, the test configuration, test methods, and test results are presented to confirm the design analysis and to provide a reliable ATM SONET 622 Mbps LAN design.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Utilization of Aquatic Plants Elodea canadensis and Hydrilla verticillata in Diets for Laying Hens. 1. Performance and Egg-Yolk Pigmentation

Abstract An experiment involving 320 Hy-line laying hens, 10 mo of age, was conducted for 56 days to evaluate the feeding value of two aquatic plants, elodea (Elodea canadensis Michx.) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata Rich., with and without pithophora) as well as their effect on bird performance and egg-yolk pigmentation. Aquatic plants were formulated in corn-soybean diets producing the following treatments: 1) control (corn-soybean meal), 2) 7.5% elodea, 3) 7.5% hydrilla, and 4) 7.5% hydrilla and algae (Pithophora spp.). Differences were not found (P>.05) among egg production, feed conversion, spleen weight, hemoglobin, and hematocrits for the four treatments. Aquatic plants did not adversely affect the variables of egg weight, egg specific gravity, and Haugh units. Adding aquatic plants to the diets increased yolk pigmentation (dominant wavelength) over the controls. The data suggest that these aquatic plants may be used as feed ingredients at 7.5% in diets for laying hens.
Chiral condensate in the deconfined phase of quenched gauge theories

The authors compute the low lying spectrum of the overlap Dirac operator in the deconfined phase of finite-temperature quenched gauge theory. It suggests the existence of a chiral condensate which they confirm with a direct stochastic estimate. They show that the part of the spectrum responsible for the chiral condensate can be understood as arising from a dilute gas of instantons and anti-instantons.
Horizontal ray paths of underwater sound from Heard Island to Ascension Island

Abstract To interpret the received transmissions from the Heard Island Feasibility Test, we need to know the propagation paths between the source and the receivers. We have constructed the horizontal ray paths between Heard Island and Ascension Island by using Munk et al. 's equations (Munk et al., J. Phys. Oceanogr. , 18 , (1988) 1876–98), and present the numerical results in this paper. The ray paths exhibited multipath structure with modes 1 to 4 carrying most of the acoustic energy to Ascension. The calculated travel times for modes 1 to 4 were spread over 10 s and range from 6240 to 6250 s. By taking 6245 ± 5 s, the average, as an estimate of travel time for the first arrival and comparing it with the estimate (6257 s) obtained by signal processing, our numerical result is found to be 12 s less than that obtained by measurement. This travel time discrepancy might be due to the rigid-bottom assumption, the uncertainty in sound speed database, and the effects of ocean currents. The influences of currents on the travel time are qualitatively discussed. It appears that ocean currents can be a major factor affecting the computed travel time.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SAND AND SOLUTION CULTURES OF MARQUIS WHEAT

The present study, in which a comparison is made of the growth of Marquis wheat in sand and solution cultures, represents one of several experiments involving solution III of the National Research Council series which are now in progress in the plant-physiology laboratory at Iowa State College. Most investigators attempting to determine the salt requirements of higher plants have used water cultures. Tottingham (25) placed the whole proposition on a definite quantitative basis. He took the well-known Knop's solution, and, by varying the proportions of salts under definite volume-molecular partial concentrations, procured a superior yield of wheat of I I percent over the original solution. Shive (i9) followed the plan suggested by Tottingham' and, making use of a three-salt solution containing mono-potassium phosphate, calcium nitrate, and magnesium sulphate, obtained an increase in yield of wheat of 27 percent over Tottingham's solution of the same total concentration. McCall (io) used Shive's solution and grew wheat in sand cultures. He noted that the average dry weights of both tops and roots were decidedly greater for the plants grown in sand than for those grown in the solution cultures. Incidentally there was a marked difference between the solutions producing the highest yield of plants in sand and those giving the best growth in Shive's cultures. Livingston and Tottingham (8) made a preliminary test of a series of type III solutions, containing the three component salts KNO3, Ca(H2PO4)2, and MgSO4. Their results showed that the solution IIIR6Ci was apparently just as good as Shive's best IR5C2 solution. However, this experiment lasted only i8 days. Shive (20) and Shive and Martin (22) studied the salt requirements of young and of mature buckwheat plants in both solution and sand cultures. They found that the solution yielding the maximum weight of tops during the early developmental period, and the solution that gave the highest yield of tops and of roots during the late period of development, were identical for both the solution and the sand cultures, but the actual dry weight of
Formal contaminated binormal model and fits of the model to classic ROC data

A contaminated binormal receiver operating characteristic (ROC) model is proposed to account for ROC data with very few false positive reports even though many normal patients are sampled. The model assumes that for a proportion of abnormalities, no signal information is captured and that those abnormalities have the same distribution as noise along the latent decision axis. The new model can fit ROC data in which some or all of the ROC points have false positive fractions of zero and true positive fractions less than one without concluding perfect performance. The resulting ROC curves never exhibit inappropriate chance line crossings. The model holds that, for expert decision makers, there are situations in which the prevalence and utility matrix preclude operating points in some ROC regions. The model has a straightforward extension to the joint detection and localization ROC curve. Fits of the contaminated binormal ROC model to non-degenerate data from exemplary experiments in radiology were evaluated. For several studies, the contaminated binormal model fit the data better than conventional ROC models suggesting that contamination may not be limited to degenerate ROC data. This research has been published for a different audience.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of viologens and polyviologens and their preliminary electrochromic effects

A simple, fast, effective, and safe method for the synthesis of viologens and polyviologens has been reported by microwave irradiation. Furthermore, their preliminary electrochromic properties have also been investigated. The experimental results demonstrate that their electrochromic effects extremely depend on their chemical structures.
Lipids and membrane microdomains in HIV-1 replication.

Several critical steps in the replication cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) – entry, assembly and budding – are complex processes that take place at the plasma membrane of the host cell. A growing body of data indicates that these early and late steps in HIV-1 replication take place in specialized plasma membrane microdomains, and that many of the viral and cellular components required for entry, assembly, and budding are concentrated in these microdomains. In particular, a number of studies have shown that cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched microdomains known as lipid rafts play important roles in multiple steps in the virus replication cycle. In this review, we provide an overview of what is currently known about the involvement of lipids and membrane microdomains in HIV-1 replication.
Multiparameter estimation for some multivariate discrete distributions with possibly dependent components

In multiparameter estimation for multivariate discrete distributions with infinite support, inadmissibility problems in situations where the multivariate probability distribution function isnot a product of the one-dimensional marginal probability distribution functions have previously been unexplored. This paper examines the inadmissibility problem in some of these situations. Special attention is given to estimating the mean of a negative multinomial distribution. In estimating the mean vector, certain Clevenson-Zidek type estimators are shown to be uniformly better than the usual estimator under a large class of generally scaled squared loss functions. Some of the results are generalized to other multivariate discrete distributions and to situations where several independent negative multinomial distributions are considered.
Lyme Chondritis Presenting as Painless Ear Erythema

Erythema of the ear lobe in the context of Lyme disease is caused by either borrelial lymphocytoma or localized erythema migrans. Here we present a case of chondritis limited to the ear cartilage caused by Lyme disease. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone with complete resolution of symptoms.
Beverages obtained from soda fountain machines in the U.S. contain microorganisms, including coliform bacteria

Ninety beverages of three types (sugar sodas, diet sodas and water) were obtained from 20 self-service and 10 personnel-dispensed soda fountains, analyzed for microbial contamination, and evaluated with respect to U.S. drinking water regulations. A follow-up study compared the concentration and composition of microbial populations in 27 beverages collected from 9 soda fountain machines in the morning as well as in the afternoon. Ice dispensed from these machines was also examined for microbial contamination. While none of the ice samples exceeded U.S. drinking water standards, coliform bacteria was detected in 48% of the beverages and 20% had a heterotrophic plate count greater than 500 cfu/ml. Statistical analyses revealed no difference in levels of microbial contamination between beverage types or between those dispensed from self-service and personnel-dispensed soda fountains. More than 11% of the beverages analyzed contained Escherichia coli and over 17% contained Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. Other opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms isolated from the beverages included species of Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas, Candida, and Serratia. Most of the identified bacteria showed resistance to one or more of the 11 antibiotics tested. These findings suggest that soda fountain machines may harbor persistent communities of potentially pathogenic microorganisms which may contribute to episodic gastric distress in the general population and could pose a more significant health risk to immunocompromised individuals. These findings have important public health implications and signal the need for regulations enforcing hygienic practices associated with these beverage dispensers.
Insoluble human plasma protein immunoadsorbents. Large-scale production and storage.

Abstract Methods for producing and preserving large volumes of insoluble immunoadsorbents (for removing unwanted antibodies to serum proteins) from surplus blood bank plasma by glutaraldehyde were evaluated by quantitiative and qualitative means using radioactive 125 I and immunoelectrophoresis, respectively. Some of the factors affecting the desired physical characteristics and antibodyabsorbing properties of the immunoadsorbent studied were: plasma acidfication, varying concentrations of glutaraldehyde, addition of small amounts of formalin, storage under varying conditions of temperature, and exposure to preservatives in the wet and lyophilized state for periods up to 2.5 years. The best preservation of antibody-adsorbing properties (under storage conditions) was obtained in the washed state at 4°C, but good preservation was also obtained at room temperature in the presence 10% formalin and in the unwashed state at room temperature in the presence of unreacted glutaraldehyde. Lyophilization destroyed about 70% of an adsorbent's activity.
Methodologies for in vitro nucleic acid amplification and their applications

The capability to detect the genetic elements (DNA or RNA) of a particular pathogen as a means of identifying the infectious agent has been the traditional function of nucleic acid hybridization assays. The low copy number of genetic material from several types of viral pathogens has fostered the development of in vitro nucleic acid amplification methods as a means to increase the copy number of the characteristic genetic elements of pathogenic agents. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a transcription-based amplification system (TAS) are two amplification methods that have been developed to serve this function. Both methods have been employed to study both genetic and infectious disease problems. This review discusses the characteristics of these amplification methods and describes some of their applications, especially in the study of HIV-1.
A convenient synthesis of 1-azabicycloalkanes and their lactams via cuprates of formamidines

Abstract Piperidine and pyrrolidine formamidines, transformed into their α-metalloderivatives are alkylated with bifunctional electrophiles and cyclized, on formamidine removal, to the title compounds.
The effects of aryl-halogenation on the gas permeabilities of poly (phenolphthalein terephthalate) and poly (bisphenol A phthalate)

Abstract Effects of aryl-halogenation on the permeability of poly(phenolphthalein terephthalate) and poly(bisphenol A phthalate) to several permanent gases are reported. Analyses based on separate solubility and diffusivity considerations are presented. The influence of reduced packing density of the polymer on the equilibrium gas sorption capacity and steady-state gas-permeability of the polymer is addressed. The results concur well with previous findings on poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene oxide) and its aryl-brominated counterparts. Finally, the relationships among polymer chain rigidity, gas-diffusivity, gas molecular size, and permselectivity of the polymer are analyzed.