cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coulomb Excitation of Second 2 + States in Even-Even Medium Weight Nuclei

The location of a second ${2}^{+}$ state has been found for thirteen even-even medium-weight nuclei by means of Coulomb excitation produced by 8-, 9-, and 10-Mev $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles. The relatively weak excitation of these states is detected by a coincident measurement of the cascade gamma rays. From the observed gamma-ray yields, information is obtained on the $B(E2)'\mathrm{s}$ for the crossover transitions. The cross over $B(E2)'\mathrm{s}$ exhibit some uniformity and are all rather weak, being about single-particle value or a little less. For some nuclei the cascades/crossovers ratio for the second ${2}^{+}$ state is known from other work, and it is then possible to extract the $B(E2)$ for the upper cascade transition. These upper cascade $B(E2)'\mathrm{s}$ exhibit enhancements comparable to those for the lower cascade transitions. Evidence is obtained for the "double $E2$" Coulomb excitation of the ${4}^{+}$ state in ${\mathrm{Cd}}^{114}$ and this requires an enhanced $4\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2B(E2)$. In general, the measurements reported support a collective model interpretation, but it is as yet difficult to draw conclusions concerning the shape of the collective potential energy surface governing this motion.
Quantitative genetics of ultrasonic advertisement signalling in the lesser waxmoth Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Males of the lesser waxmoth Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) produce ultrasonic advertisement signals attractive to females within several metres. Previous studies showed that females prefer male signals that are louder, delivered at a faster rate, and have a greater asynchrony between pulses produced by the right and left wings. These three signal characters vary considerably within populations but are repeatable within individuals. Breeding experiments employing half-sib designs were conducted on both collectively and individually reared moths to determine genetic variance within and covariance among these signal characters. Heritabilities of all signal characters were significant among collectively reared moths. Heritabilities for signal rate and right‐left wing asynchrony interval were not significant, however, among individually reared moths, suggesting the presence of significant nonadditive genetic variance or common environmental variation. Development time was also significantly heritable, but only under individual rearing. The only significant genetic correlation was between signal rate and length of the right‐left wing asynchrony and this was negative. Our findings on heritability of signal characters are consistent with a coevolutionary sexual selection mechanism, but the absence of signal · development genetic correlation fails to support specifically a good-genes mechanism. The variation in heritability among conditions suggests that environmental variance may be high, and may render selection on signal characters by female choice ineAective. Thus, additive genetic variance for these characters may be maintained in the presence of directional female choice.
Procedural efficiency: General and specific components and effects on social judgment

Abstract The cognitive processes involved in making social judgments (e.g., judgments about whether behaviors imply a particular trait) become more efficient and faster with practice. This paper investigates three aspects of practice effects for behavior-trait judgments and for a nonsocial comparison task. General practice effects make trait judgments faster even for new behaviors, last at least 24 h, and are largely transferable to a new target trait but not to a different task. Specific practice effects make judgments concerning a previously seen behavior faster than judgments for comparable new ones. They also last at least 24 h and are independent of conscious recognition of the repeated behavior as old. They do not appear when the target trait is changed, but are evident across a change of task in at least one case. The pattern of effects supports the proceduralization mechanism of J. R. Anderson's ACT ∗ over two theoretical alternatives (facilitation of reading the stimulus word or storage and retrieval of a stimulus-response pair). Finally, practice influences the contents (as well as the speed) of social judgment , the evaluation of behaviors on a questionnaire administered after the experiment was ostensibly complete. Practice-induced changes in efficiency of the processes underlying social judgments—including the remarkably specific and long-lasting component identified by this study—may have major implications for social judgments in person perception, stereotyping, and other areas.
Factors associated with acceptance and decline of client gift giving.

Client gift giving is an interesting interpersonal event, and scholars have considered the ethical and clinical complexities involved in receiving gifts from clients. Attention to the cultural relations of client gift giving invites a more nuanced discussion of psychologists' decisions to accept or
Automating proofs of the absence of common runtime errors

The Runcheck Verifier is a working system for proving the absence of common runtime errors. The language accepted is Pascal without variant records, side effects in functions, shared variable parameters to procedures, or functional arguments. The errors checked are: 1) accessing a variable that has not been assigned a value, 2) array subscripting out of range, 3) subrange type error, 4) dereferencing a NIL pointer, 5) arithmetic overflow, and 6) division by zero.
Productivity and misallocation during a crisis: Evidence from the Chilean crisis of 1982☆

Abstract Measured total factor productivity often declines sharply during financial crises. In 1982, the Chilean manufacturing sector suffered a severe contraction in output, most of which can be accounted for by a falling Solow residual. This paper uses establishment data from the Chilean manufacturing census to examine the decline in measured TFP. To quantify the contribution of resource misallocation, I develop a measure of allocational efficiency along the lines of Hsieh and Klenow (2009) and derive the appropriate measure of aggregate productivity to which it should be compared. Across specifications, within-industry allocational efficiency either remained constant or improved in 1982, while a decline in between-industry allocational efficiency accounts for about one-third of the reduction in TFP. Industries more sensitive to domestic demand – durables and industries with low exports – experienced larger declines in measured TFP. This finding is consistent with large adjustment costs and underutilization of inputs. Reduced capital utilization played a substantial role, accounting for 25–50 percent of the decline in measured TFP.
Predation on elasmobranch eggs

Predation on large, energy rich eggs is common in terrestrial and freshwater communities with the eggs of amphibians, reptiles and birds figuring as prominant prey. We might predict that predation on large eggs would also be widespread in marine communities. However, little information is available to test this prediction. We present new evidence for such predation on elasmobranch eggs based on examination of capsules held in museum collections, those collected from beaches, long-term incubations of caged egg capsules, and SCUBA observation. The principal egg predators appear to be gastropods, though vertebrates contribute to mortality of embryonic elasmobranchs. As yet we can only speculate about the effects of egg predation for populations of oviparous elasmobranchs, or about the direct and indirect consequences predation upon their energy-rich eggs may have for marine communities.
Similarities and differences in signal transduction by interleukin 4 and interleukin 13: Analysis of Janus kinase activation

The cytokines interleukin (IL) 4 and IL-13 induce many of the same biological responses, including class switching to IgE and induction of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens and CD23 on human B cells. It has recently been shown that IL-4 induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 170-kDa protein, a substrate called 4PS, and of the Janus kinase (JAK) family members JAK1 and JAK3. Because IL-13 has many functional effects similar to those of IL-4, we compared the ability of IL-4 and IL-13 to activate these signaling molecules in the human multifactor-dependent cell line TF-1. In this report we demonstrate that both IL-4 and IL-13 induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of 4PS and JAK1. Interestingly, although IL-4 induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK3, we did not detect JAK3 phosphorylation in response to IL-13. These data suggest that IL-4 and IL-13 signal in similar ways via the activation of JAK1 and 4PS. However, our data further indicate that there are significant differences because IL-13 does not activate JAK3.
Predictors and Biomarkers of Treatment Gains in a Clinical Stroke Trial Targeting the Lower Extremity

Background and Purpose— Behavioral measures are often used to distinguish subgroups of patients with stroke (eg, to predict treatment gains, stratify clinical trial enrollees, or select rehabilitation therapy). In studies of the upper extremity, measures of brain function using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have also been found useful, but this approach has not been examined for the lower extremity. The current study hypothesized that an fMRI-based measure of cortical function would significantly improve prediction of treatment-induced lower extremity behavioral gains. Biomarkers of treatment gains were also explored. Methods— Patients with hemiparesis 1 to 12 months after stroke were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of ropinirole+physical therapy versus placebo+physical therapy, results of which have previously been reported (NCT00221390). 15 Primary end point was change in gait velocity. Enrollees underwent baseline multimodal assessment that included 19 measures spanning 5 assessment categories (medical history, impairment, disability, brain injury, and brain function), and also underwent reassessment 3 weeks after end of therapy. Results— In bivariate analysis, 8 baseline measures belonging to 4 categories (medical history, impairment, disability, and brain function) significantly predicted change in gait velocity. Prediction was strongest, however, using a multivariate model containing 2 measures (leg Fugl–Meyer score and fMRI activation volume within ipsilesional foot sensorimotor cortex). Increased activation volume within bilateral foot primary sensorimotor cortex correlated positively with treatment-induced leg motor gains. Conclusions— A multimodal model incorporating behavioral and fMRI measures best predicted treatment-induced changes in gait velocity in a clinical trial setting. Results also suggest potential use of fMRI measures as biomarkers of treatment gains.
Parameterization of vocal tract area functions by empirical orthogonal modes

Abstract A set of ten vowel area functions, based on MRI measurements, has been parameterized by an “empirical orthogonal mode decomposition” which accurately represents each area function as the sum of the mean area function and proportional amounts of a series of orthogonal basis functions. The mean area function was found to possess a formant structure similar to that of a uniform tube (i.e., nearly equally spaced formants) suggesting that empirical orthogonal modes are perturbations on the mean (∼neutral) vowel shape much like past vocal tract analyses have considered perturbations on a uniform tube. The acoustic characteristics of the two most significant empirical orthogonal modes were examined, showing that both modes tend to increase the first formant as the modal amplitude coefficients are both increased from negative to positive values. However, the second formant was found to decrease in frequency for increasing values of the first modal coefficient and to increase for increasing values of the second mode coefficient. Next, a mapping between F1-F2 formant pairs and vocal tract area functions is proposed which is largely one-to-one but was initially limited by a constant vocal tract length. A possible method to include variable vocal tract length and higher ordered orthogonal modes in the mapping is given. The mode-to-formant mapping suggested the possibility of an inverse mapping to determine physiologically realistic area functions from a speech waveform and a simple example is presented. Finally, empirical orthogonal modes for a collection of ten vowels and eight consonants were derived and showed many similarities to those for the vowel-only case.
Radiologic Evaluation of Renal Trauma: Part 2:

Imaging of the kidneys and upper urinary tract has traditionally relied upon the administration of intravascular, iodine-based radiographic contrast agents. These contrast agents are not without dr...
Fabrication of Fully Integrated Microfluidic Device With Carbon Sensing Electrode for the Detection of Forensic and Biomedical Targets

Fabrication of fully integrated capillary electrophoresis (CE)-based microfluidic device with integrated carbon sensing electrode is described in this paper. A combination of microfabrication protocols were employed for fabricating the hybrid PDMS/glass microfluidic device including chemical wet etching, soft lithography, and micromolding techniques. The microdevice is comprised of glass substrate with integrated gold electrodes and carbon sensing electrode, and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) slab that encompasses the microchannels network. The carbon sensing electrode was physically characterized via atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectrometry. In addition, its quality was evaluated electrochemically and compared to commercial glassy carbon electrodes upon performing cyclic voltammetric analysis of two illicit drugs, morphine and codeine. The analytical performance of the stand-alone microdevice was evaluated upon testing the injection, separation and amperometric detection on the carbon sensing electrode. The carbon sensing electrode provides stable background current during applying high sensing potential, which is of particular necessity for sensing molecules that can be only detected at high potentials including morphine and codeine.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Chronic granulomatous disease with gastric antral narrowing

Marked narrowing of the gastric antrum produced vomiting in a boy with chronic granulomatous disease; the antral stenosis resolved after five months of medical management. A review of the seven previously reported cases indicates that this uncommon lesion may be self-limited and should be given an exhaustive trial of nonsurgical therapy, in view of the high morbidity of surgery in these children. Antibiotics may speed resolution.
Is the Formation of the Correct Nucleating Loop the Rate-Limiting Step in Hairpin Formation in ss-Polynucleotides?

Numerous kinetics measurements on the formation of single-stranded (ss) DNA and RNA hairpin structures with ∼4-20 nucleotides (nt) in the loop and ∼5-8 base-pairs in the stem, indicate that the time required to form hairpins is ∼10-500 microseconds. If ss-polynucleotide chain is treated as an ideal semiflexible polymer with a statistical segment length of ∼4 nt, the theoretical estimate for the end-to-end contact time for an ∼10-nt long chain is expected to be tens-of-nanoseconds. To explain this discrepancy in time-scale, we proposed that the formation of the nucleating loop, prior to the zipping step, is slowed down as a result of transient trapping in misfolded conformations, with mis-paired base-pairs, non-native hydrogen bonding, or intrastrand stacking interactions in the unfolded state. Experimental measurements of end-to-end contact formation indicate that loop closure times for 4-nt poly(dT) loops are ∼400 ns, and for 4-nt poly(dA) loops are ∼8 microseconds, thus confirming that intrachain interactions slow down the configurational diffusion of the chain (Wang and Nau, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 808). Interestingly, despite this evidence for intrachain interactions slowing down diffusion, the hairpin closing times for both ssDNA and RNA hairpins are found to scale with the length of the loop as L2.2-2.6, in reasonable agreement with the scaling behavior expected for loop-closure of a semiflexible polymer.Here, we present a kinetic zipper model that explicitly includes all misfolded microstates with non-native contacts, to describe the hairpin relaxation rates. The temperature and loop-size dependence for the relaxation rates is described in terms of two free parameters, the configurational diffusion coefficient that is relevant for the single-strand chain dynamics, and one parameter that characterizes the strength of non-native interactions prior to the formation of the nucleating loop.
The relationship between punishment and unavoidability in eliminating avoidance behavior in humans

Recent research has indicated that elimination of a persistent avoidance response (AR) is facilitated by an unavoidability procedure, wherein the noxious stimulus (NS) is presented on all trials whether an AR occurs or not, but it is facilitated even more by punishment wherein the NS is presented only following an AR. The unavoidability and punishment procedures were conceptualized as extremes on a continuum designated as the percentage of nonresponses followed by the NS. Thus, four groups (N = 13) of undergraduates received the NS following each AR made during the elimination phase, but they differed with respect to the percentage of nonresponses followed by the NS: 0% (punishment), 25%, 75%, and 100% (unavoidability). Several measures of performance during the elimination phase indicated significantly greater persistence as the percentage variable increased. These results were taken as supporting the original conceptualization.
Neural Responses during Social and Self-Knowledge Tasks in Bulimia Nervosa

Self-evaluation closely dependent upon body shape and weight is one of the defining criteria for bulimia nervosa. We studied 53 adult women, 17 with bulimia nervosa, 18 with a recent history of anorexia nervosa, and 18 healthy comparison women, using three different fMRI tasks that required thinking about self-knowledge and social interactions: the Social Identity task, the Physical Identity task, and the Social Attribution task. Previously, we identified regions of interest (ROI) in the same tasks using whole brain voxel-wise comparisons of the healthy comparison women and women with a recent history of anorexia nervosa. Here, we report on the neural activations in those ROIs in subjects with bulimia nervosa. In the Social Attribution task, we examined activity in the right temporoparietal junction, an area frequently associated with mentalization. In the Social Identity task, we examined activity in the precuneus and dorsal anterior cingulate. In the Physical Identity task, we examined activity in a ventral region of the dorsal anterior cingulate. Interestingly, in all tested regions, the average activation in subjects with bulimia was more than the average activation levels seen in the subjects with a history of anorexia but less than that seen in healthy subjects. In three regions, the right temporoparietal junction, the precuneus, and the dorsal anterior cingulate, group responses in the subjects with bulimia were significantly different from healthy subjects but not subjects with anorexia. The neural activations of people with bulimia nervosa performing fMRI tasks engaging social processing are more similar to people with anorexia nervosa than healthy people. This suggests biological measures of social processes may be helpful in characterizing individuals with eating disorders.
EFFECT OF BELTWAYS ON METROPOLITAN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

There is debate on the effect of beltways, also known as loop and perimeter highways, on metropolitan economic activity. This article contributes to that debate by evaluating the association between beltways and retail/service activity among 44 metropolitan areas in the United States. After controlling for other factors, statistical analysis indicates that metropolitan areas with one or more beltways fared less well in sales per capita than metropolitan areas with no beltways and metropolitan areas with one beltway fared better than those with two or more. The reason is that beltways deconcentrate metropolitan populations to levels that prevent the creation of trade areas sufficient to support retail and service firms at the margins. Policy implications are offered.
Acute regulation of the SLC26A3 congenital chloride diarrhoea anion exchanger (DRA) expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Mutations in the human SLC26A3 gene, also known as down-regulated in adenoma (hDRA), cause autosomal recessive congenital chloride-losing diarrhoea (CLD). hDRA expressed in Xenopus oocytes mediated bidirectional Cl−-Cl− and Cl−-HCO3− exchange. In contrast, transport of oxalate was low, and transport of sulfate and of butyrate was undetectable. Two CLD missense disease mutants of hDRA were nonfunctional in oocytes. Truncation of up to 44 C-terminal amino acids from the putatively cytoplasmic C-terminal hydrophilic domain left transport function unimpaired, but deletion of the adjacent STAS (sulfate transporter anti-sigma factor antagonist) domain abolished function. hDRA-mediated Cl− transport was insensitive to changing extracellular pH, but was inhibited by intracellular acidification and activated by NH4+ at acidifying concentrations. These regulatory responses did not require the presence of either hDRA's N-terminal cytoplasmic tail or its 44 C-terminal amino acids, but they did require more proximate residues of the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Although only weakly sensitive to inhibition by stilbenes, hDRA was inhibited with two orders of magnitude greater potency by the anti-inflammatory drugs niflumate and tenidap. cAMP-insensitive Cl−-HCO3− exchange mediated by hDRA gained modest cAMP sensitivity when co-expressed with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Despite the absence of hDRA transcripts in human cell lines derived from CFTR patients, DRA mRNA was present at wild-type levels in proximal colon and nearly so in the distal ileum of CFTR(-/-) mice. Thus, pharmacological modulation of DRA might be a useful adjunct treatment of cystic fibrosis.
Prospects and Problems for Ecomusicology in Confronting a Crisis of Culture

The environmental crisis is not only the fault of failed engineering, bad science, ecological misunderstanding, poor accounting, and bitter politics. It is also a failure of holistic problem solving, interpersonal relations, ethics, imagination, and creativity. In short, the environmental crisis is a failure of culture.1 Humanist academics (particularly philosophers, literary scholars, and historians) work to understand the people, cultures, and ethical situations that created, perpetuate, attempt to solve, and face this crisis. In that context, musicologists have perspectives and insights to offer, especially because of the ubiquity of music, the importance that most people accord to it, and the communicative and emotional powers associated with music and the communities who make, enjoy, and consume it. There are good prospects for ecomusicology to contribute to the larger humanistic endeavor of understanding and addressing this crisis of culture, but such possibilities are tempered by problems and challenges. Although a longer list deserves to be enumerated, and numerous examples and lacunae could be proffered, I will outline just a half dozen items
The migratory capacity of myogenic cells in vitro

Time-lapse films of micromass cultures prepared from stage 19-24 chick embryo wing buds indicate that the majority of the mesenchymal cells present undergo little net movement, even during the formation of prechondrogenic aggregates. Rather, these cells undergo mitosis and pulsatile movements in place. In the same cultures, round or elongate myoblasts could be observed migrating as single cells on or between the mesenchymal cells. These in vitro observations are consistent with the suggestion that migratory myoblasts may establish the myogenic pattern in the limb by extensive migration through the nonmigrating limb mesenchyme.
Growth and equilibrium structures in the epitaxy of Si on Si(001).

Scanning-tunneling-microscopy measurements of submonolayer growth of Si on Si(001) show anisotropic island shapes. From coarsening experiments it is determined that these shapes are a consequence of the growth kinetics. They can be explained by a lateral accommodation coefficient for atoms arriving at the edge of islands that differs by an order of magnitude at the ends and at the sides of dimer rows.
MODIFICATION OF VALENCE-BAND SYMMETRY AND AUGER THRESHOLD ENERGY IN BIAXIALLY COMPRESSED INAS1-XSBX

Strained-layer superlattices (SLS's) with biaxially compressed ${\mathrm{InAs}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sb}}_{\mathit{x}}$ were characterized using magnetophotoluminescence and compared with unstrained ${\mathrm{InAs}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Sb}}_{\mathit{x}}$ alloys. Holes in the SLS exhibited a decrease in effective mass, approaching that of the electrons. In the two-dimensional limit, a large increase in the Auger threshold energy accompanies this strain-induced change in SLS valence-band symmetry. Correspondingly, the activation energy for nonradiative recombination in the SLS's displayed a marked increase compared with that of the unstrained alloys. Strained-layer superlattices and alloy activation energies are in agreement with estimated Auger threshold energies.
Prostatic cancer. Transcortin levels during treatment with estramustine phosphate.

Abstract Plasma transcortin and cortisol levels, which are significantly elevated by estrogens, were determined in a group of patients with prostatic cancer who were on estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) therapy. In a series of 44 male patients studied transcortin and cortisol levels became elevated above normal and were maintained at these high levels as long as the patients were on estramustine phosphate therapy. The levels observed in this study may serve as reliable indices to monitor patients who are on this drug.
The Evolution of Thyroidal Function in Fishes

Although the thyroid gland evolved from the gut, there is no evidence that thyroxine functions as part of the gastro-intestinal endocrine system nor does it have any major function analogous to the control of glucose by the pancreatic islets. The control of the thyroid evolved from the pituitary control of the gonad suggesting that an early role of thyroxine was in reproduction. This idea is supported by the presence of cycles of thyroid activity associated with reproduction in both elasmobranchs and teleosts. In teleosts thyroxine is necessary for gonadal maturation. The numerous other effects of thyroxine in teleosts may have evolved from this maturational effect or have been added to it during the course of teleost evolution.
A framework for constitutive relations and failure criteria for materials with distributed properties, with application to porous viscoplasticity

Abstract A framework is presented for constitutive equations and failure criteria for materials whose properties are not adequately representable as averages, but where the distribution of material properties must be taken into account. The framework describes the evolution of the distribution with deformation and allows failure criteria to be formed based on a much more complete knowledge of the state of the material. This framework should allow a number of processes, such as ductile fracture, dynamic recrystallization and composite failure, which are intrinsically dependent on the distribution of the material properties at a microscopic level, to be modeled in a way that was not possible previously. The framework can also be used as a tool to probe the actual interactions between parts of a body with distributed properties. An integration procedure is proposed which dramatically reduces the numerical effort involved in implementing this framework for certain classes of problems. Finally, the framework is implemented for a simplified model of porous viscoplasticity, and it is shown that this model allows us to qualitatively reproduce experimental observations about the effect of the distribution of porosity on the strain to fracture which other porous plasticity models cannot duplicate.
Constructing a perfect duality in infinite programming

One version of the infinite Farkas Lemma states the equivalence of two conditions, (1)y⋅b ⩾ 0 whenevery⋅a j ⩾ 0 forj=1,2,.. and (2)b ∈ cl C, whereb and alla j are inR n andC is the convex cone spanned by all thea j 's. In this paper an ascent vector specifies a direction along which an arbitrarily small movement fromb with enterC. A Fredholm type theorem of the alternative characterizes the set of all ascent vectors associated with an arbitrary system of linear inhomogeneous inequalities in a finite number of variables. As a consequence, a pair of infinite programs is constructed which is in perfect duality in the sense that (p1) if one program is consistent and has finite value, then the other is consistent and (p2) if both programs are consistent, then they have the same finite value. The duality is sharp in that the set of all feasible perturbations along rays is determined.
The concern manipulation environment

The area of aspect-oriented software development (AOSD) has seen much progress in the past few years towards improving the quality of object-oriented, generative, and component-based software engineering, including some use in large-scale applications. Large-scale AOSD requires tools, paradigms, and methodologies that support multiple aspect models, multiple artifacts and formalisms, and multiple tasks and activities. The Concern Manipulation Environment (CME) is an Eclipse open source project that aims to provide a set of open, extensible components and a set of tools that promote aspect-oriented software development throughout the software lifecycle. This paper provides an overview of this programming environment. It also provides a general discussion of the available tools and the platforms where this environment can be integrated.
Insect Ferritins: typical or atypical?

Insects transmit millions of cases of disease each year, and cost millions of dollars in agricultural losses. The control of insect-borne diseases is vital for numerous developing countries, and the management of agricultural insect pests is a very serious business for developed countries. Control methods should target insect-specific traits in order to avoid non-target effects, especially in mammals. Since insect cells have had a billion years of evolutionary divergence from those of vertebrates, they differ in many ways that might be promising for the insect control field—especially, in iron metabolism because current studies have indicated that significant differences exist between insect and mammalian systems. Insect iron metabolism differs from that of vertebrates in the following respects. Insect ferritins have a heavier mass than mammalian ferritins. Unlike their mammalian counterparts, the insect ferritin subunits are often glycosylated and are synthesized with a signal peptide. The crystal structure of insect ferritin also shows a tetrahedral symmetry consisting of 12 heavy chain and 12 light chain subunits in contrast to that of mammalian ferritin that exhibits an octahedral symmetry made of 24 heavy chain and 24 light chain subunits. Insect ferritins associate primarily with the vacuolar system and serve as iron transporters—quite the opposite of the mammalian ferritins, which are mainly cytoplasmic and serve as iron storage proteins. This review will discuss these differences.
Oxidative Transformation of Aminodinitrotoluene Isomers by Multicomponent Dioxygenases

The electron-withdrawing nitro substituents of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) make the aromatic ring highly resistant to oxidative transformation. The typical biological transformation of TNT involves reduction of one or more of the nitro groups of the ring to produce the corresponding amine. Reduction of a single nitro substituent of TNT to an amino substituent increases the electron density of the aromatic nucleus considerably. The comparatively electron-dense nuclei of the aminodinitrotoluene (ADNT) isomers would be expected to be more susceptible to oxygenase attack than TNT. The hypothesis was tested by evaluating three nitroarene dioxygenases for the ability to hydroxylate the ADNT isomers. The predominant reaction was dioxygenation of the ring to yield nitrite and the corresponding aminomethylnitrocatechol. A secondary reaction was benzylic monooxygenation to form aminodinitrobenzyl alcohol. The substrate preferences and catalytic specificities of the three enzymes differed considerably. The discovery that the ADNT isomers are substrates for the nitroarene dioxygenases reveals the potential for extensive bacterial transformation of TNT under aerobic conditions.
Identification and Purification of a 10-Kilodalton Protein Associated with Mitochondrial Benzodiazepine Receptors

The isoquinoline carboxamide photoaffinity probe PK14105, a ligand with selectivity for mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors, has been established to photolabel an 18-kDa protein. When this radioactive probe is used to photolabel rat mitochondrial preparations, a protein of 10 kDa, in addition to the 18-kDa protein, is identified following electrophoretic separation and extended autoradiography. These proteins are referred to herein as pk10 and pk18, respectively. Both proteins exhibited the same specificity to a series of ligands used in competition photolabeling studies and are mutually present at apparently similar ratios across multiple tissues. Subcellular fractionation of rat adrenals indicated that pk10 and pk18 comigrated with the mitochondrial marker enzyme cytochrome c oxidase. In numerous paradigms examining specificity, photolabeling of pk18 invariably coincided with photolabeling of pk10. In detergent-solubilized extracts of rat adrenal mitochondria, pk18 and pk10 coimmunoprecipitated when using antisera raised against pk18. Furthermore, purification of the photolabeled proteins using nondenaturing conditions demonstrated that pk18 and pk10 copurify substantiating their intimate association. A set of three antisera, specific to different regions of pk18, did not recognize pk10 on Western blots. Likewise, partial amino acid sequence of peptide fragments indicate that pk10 is not derived from proteolytic cleavage of pk18. These data suggest that pk10 represents another component of mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors whose identity is not apparent with any known protein.
Inequality as Ingroup Privilege or Outgroup Disadvantage: The Impact of Group Focus on Collective Guilt and Interracial Attitudes

Among members of privileged groups, social inequality is often thought of in terms of the disadvantages associated with outgroup membership. Yet inequality also can be validly framed in terms of ingroup privilege. These different framings have important psychological and social implications. In Experiment 1 (N = 110), White American participants assessed 24 statements about racial inequality framed as either White privileges or Black disadvantages. In Experiment 2 (N = 122), White participants generated examples of White privileges or Black disadvantages. In both experiments, a White privilege framing resulted in greater collective guilt and lower racism compared to a Black disadvantage framing. Collective guilt mediated the manipulation’s effect on racism. In addition, in Experiment 2, a White privilege framing decreased White racial identification compared to a Black disadvantage framing. These findings suggest that representing inequality in terms of outgroup disadvantage allows privileged group member...
Transport properties of A-axis YBa2Cu3O7/PrBa2Cu3O7 superlattices

Abstract We have measured the resistive transition of a-axis oriented YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 /PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 superlattices in magnetic fields. We find for fields applied parallel to the substrate (i.e. perpendicular to the CuO 2 planes) that 80% of the transition of 48A/48A multilayer was unaffected by magnetic fields up to 8T. For a 24A/24A multilayer we observe that only the upper 30% part of the transition is insensitive to the magnetic field. Those results show that no substantial screening currents develop in the CuO 2 planes above the crossover implying that each plane is divided into independent superconducting channels separated by insulating channels where the respective channels are determined by whether the rare earth neighbor is Pr or Y.
Distribution of Deep Near-Inertial Waves Observed in the Kuroshio Extension

The distribution of deep near-inertial waves (NIWs) is investigated using data mainly from an array of 46 near-bottom acoustic current meter sensors spanning a 600 km × 600 km region as part of the Kuroshio Extension System Study during 2004–2006. The deep NIW distribution is interpreted in the context of both upper-layer and near-bottom mapped circulations. The wintertime-mean mixed-layer NIW energy input, modeled from observed wind stress, has the same range of values north and south of the Kuroshio Extension in this region. Yet, the wintertime-mean deep NIW energy distribution reveals a sharp factor-of-5 decrease from north to south of the Kuroshio jet. This direct observational evidence shows that the Kuroshio Extension blocks the equatorward propagation of NIWs. The NIW energy that does reach the sea floor within the subset of wintertime observations in the subtropical gyre arrives with patchy spatial and temporal distribution. Elevated NIW energy in deep water is associated with anticyclones in the deep barotropic flow and unassociated with upper layer eddies.
Few benefits, likely harms: against universal random urine drug screening in pain management.

There are three reasons why we oppose universal mandatory random urine drug screening (RUDS) in chronic pain management [1]. First, there is extremely weak evidence supporting its efficacy. Second, whatever purpose is meant to be accomplished via such screening can already be accommodated via the informed consent process. Third, such screening carries a significant likelihood of stigmatizing already disadvantaged populations. As to the first rationale, there is very little evidence demonstrating that opioid agreements improve treatment efficacy or reduce prescription drug misuse [2]. Indeed, a general Cochrane review of physician–patient contracts noted insufficient evidence upon which to “base a recommendation …
Role of hydrogen ion concentration in retrogradation of starch sols

Cornstarch sols were prepared with pH adjusted to various values both before and after gelatinization. Retrogradation was ascertained by measurement of crystallinity (x-ray), enzymatic digestibility, and cold water solubility. When the starch was gelatinized after pH adjustment, maximum retrogradation was at a pH value of about 5, with diminishing retrogradation at higher and lower values. When the starch was gelatinized before pH adjustment, maximal retrogradation occurred at pH values 1–2, with diminishing retrogradation at higher values. After an initial period of rapid retrogradation, retrogradation at all pH values studied follows first-order kinetics. The data are explained in terms of molecular size, role of pH in hydrogen bond rupture, the weakly acidic character of starch, and changes in the configurational entropy of starch molecules.
Practical Strategist: Grow by Shrinking Your Market Share

One of the biggest constraints to growth in many companies is too narrow a definition of their market. Don't get me wrong—high market share is a good thing. The positive correlation between high share and high profitability is has been known for decades.
Circulatory adaptation to hypoxaemia during anaesthesia and surgery in newborn and two weeks old piglets

When piglets were subjected to anaesthesia and surgery (placing electromagnetic flow-probes around the ascending aorta) and, additionally in part, to hypoxia (Pao2 lowered from 60-100 Torr [8-13.3 kPa] to 30-40 Torr[4-5.3 kPa] by changing Fio2), a remarkably uniform response of the cardiovascular system could be observed: Soon after the beginning of the experiment cardiac performance increased by 12-35 percent (p< 0.01) within 15-30 min. This was followed by a fatal decrease leading to cardiac failure accompanied by increasing metabolic acidosis. In three groups mean survival time was approximately three hours: In the hypoxaemic newborns (n = 10), in both the normoxaemic (n = 8) and the hypoxaemic piglets two weeks of age (n = 8). The normoxaemic newborns (n = 8), however, survived significantly longer (416 ± 167 min; p < 0.001), and all the changes occured later. Survival time depended on pH decrease per hour in all groups and on the extent of the increase of heart rate in both hypoxaemic groups. We conclude from our experiments that newborn and two weeks old biglets cannot sustain hypoxaemia of this degree longer than 80 min. Newborn piglets tolerate anaesthesia and surgery, not complicated by hypoxaemia, better than two weeks old animals.
Exacerbation of Senile Macular Degeneration Following Cataract Extraction

Six eyes in four patients had hemorrhagic detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium following cataract extraction. All eyes had evidence of nonexudative senile macular degeneration preoperatively as manifested by drusen or alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium, or both. Postoperatively, all eyes had evidence of a subretinal neovascular membrane manifested by the presence of subretinal hemorrhage or by evidence on fluorescein anglography. We believe cataract extraction may cause changes in the choroidal hemodynamics that allow pre-existing new blood vessels to leak or bleed, or induces the formation of choroidal neovascularization in a predisposed eye.
Interaction of Ia antigen-bearing polymorphonuclear leukocytes and murine splenocytes.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were induced in the peritoneum of a Balb/c mouse by ip injection ofFusobacterium nucleatum (FN) (>95% PMN). A subpopulation of PMN harvested bore Ia surface antigens and stimulated a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) when cultured with C57B1 /6J splenocytes. The reaction was blocked by a short prior incubation of PMN with anti-Ia antibody or PMN cell depletion by the same antibody plus complement. The Ia antigen-bearing PMN were capable of antigenic modulation since incubation of PMN for 24 h rendered the cells incapable of stimulating an MLR. The Ia antigen-bearing PMN produced a soluble material that enhanced the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response of murine splenocytes and the active material was a product of live cells since the supernatants contained no detectable lactate dehydrogenase activity. The data suggest that murine PMN subpopulations, defined by surface Ia antigen, can modulate mitogenic responses by production of an enhancing factor(s).
A low-power high-speed ultra wideband pulse radio system

We present a low-power high-speed ultra-wideband (UWB) pulse radio transmission test platform. The transmitter circuit is fabricated on the Peregrine semiconductors 0.5 micron silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) CMOS process and packaged in a DIP16 package. 12.5Mbps data rate of wireless transmission is achieved. The power consumption of the transmitter is 10mW when the pulse rate is 90MHz. The core circuit size is 70µm by 130µm. The transmission distance is in excess of 4m. The circuit is a transformative technology candidate for high-data rate and low power wireless biomedical applications.
Stereophotogrammetry of the sea surface: an introduction

In this paper, we present an introductory analysis of errors which degrade the accuracy of ocean topography estimation via marine interfacial stereophotogrammetry. We describe the error of range estimation due to parameters such as the sensor range and look angle, sensor footprint geometry, camera SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), as well as image distortions due to atmospheric and in-water scattering and absorption. Additionally, we discus the propagation of such distortions through our disparity computation algorithm, which is based upon the cepstrum of the received stereo pair. Particular attention is given to the problems of periodic ocean wave patterns, correlation between target, background, and surface illumination patterns, as well as sensor configuration. Given synthetic sea surfaces with controlled periodicities, simulated sensor error, and carefully constrained optical distortions, we discuss conditions under which the predicted range error can be held within the design limit of +/- 10 cm at ranges up to 71 meters, under constraint of a 1.5 m sea state and clear air.
Exercise-induced oxidative stress: theory and practical implications for older adults

Exercise has been promoted as an essential component of a healthy lifestyle during aging. However, benefits of exercise may be partially offset by increased oxidative stress associated with higher oxygen consumption during physical activity. In this review, we discuss the significance of exercise-induced oxidative stress in the aging process. Evidence supports the free radical theory, which posits that the extent of oxidative damage (caused by oxygen metabolism) predicts biological aging. Although oxidative stress tends to increase during exercise, a mild increase appears to upregulate antioxidant defenses and, hence, provide health benefits. A similar phenomenon has been depicted by the hormesis theory. However, intense or prolonged bouts of exercise may overwhelm antioxidant capacity and accelerate the aging process, particularly in an older adult. The risk of exercise-induced oxidative damage may also increase when the exercise regimen is irregular or interrupted for several weeks. Practical implicatio...
ARTISTIC IMAGE GENERATION BY DEVIATION MAPPING

This paper describes a novel technique (deviation mapping) that generates images with artistic appearances, e.g. spray painted wall, embossment, cashmere painting, etc. Our technique employs a deviation map constructed from a single background image in the image generation process. Instead of recovering the exact geometry from the background image, the deviation map can be regarded as a virtual surface. This virtual surface is then painted with a foreground image and illuminated to generate the final result. Interestingly, the synthesized images exhibit some artistic appearances. Our method is very fast and very simple to implement.
Fault detection in dynamic systems via decision fusion

Due to the growing demands for system reliability and availability of large amounts of data, efficient fault detection techniques for dynamic systems are desired. In this paper, we consider fault detection in dynamic systems monitored by multiple sensors. Normal and faulty behaviors can be modeled as two hypotheses. Due to communication constraints, it is assumed that sensors can only send binary data to the fusion center. Under the assumption of independent and identically distributed (1ID) observations, we propose a distributed fault detection algorithm, including local detector design and decision fusion rule design, based on state estimation via particle filtering. Illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.