cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship

A fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology is 3 years in length and will provide training in the management of general endocrine disorders and diabetes. Fellowship will consist of both clinical and research training, and the proportion of each will depend on the focus and goals of the fellowship program. In preparation for applying to a pediatric endocrine fellowship program, it is important to consider rotating through a pediatric endocrine elective and securing letters of recommendation from attending physicians that can speak to your character, patient care abilities, and medical knowledge. During fellowship you will begin to focus on life after fellowship and the opportunities that await, including clinical practice, research, teaching, the pharmaceutical industry, or even some combination of these.
The Academic Library and the Re-imagination of Undergraduate Education

In July 2010 the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) launched its "Red Balloon Project: Re-Imagining Undergraduate Education" (Mehaffy, 2010).The inspiration for the Red Balloon moniker came from a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contest that challenged any individual or team to be the first to locate ten red weather balloons placed in random locations throughout the United States. The $40,000 reward was won by a team from MIT in 8 hours and 52 minutes using the Internet, social networking, shared expertise, and team work. In his white paper introducing the Red Balloon initiative, George L. Mehaffy (2010), AASCU’s Vice President for Academic Leadership and Change, argues that this experiment captures the essence of his thesis that higher education is in crisis and must use its collective wisdom to reinvent institutional structures in order to meet the demands of teaching and learning in the information age.
Data retrieval and aggregates in SQL*/NR

Standard SQL is incapable of handling recursive database queries and nested relations. A proposed solution to allow recursion in SQL was given in SQL* [KC93], while a solution to allow nested relations in SQL was given in SQL/N F [RKB87]. However, these two problems with SQL were handled separately, and an extended SQL that handles both recursive queries and nested relations is still lacking. To overcome this shortcoming, we propose an extended SQL, called SQL*/NR, that not only can handle both recursive queries and nested relations, but also allows aggregate operators. A query Q in SQL*/NR is processed by first transforming Q into rule expressions in LDL/NR, a logic database language for nested relations, and the transformed rule expressions are evaluated for retrieving the desired result of Q. Transforming Q into rule expressions in LDL/N R is desirable since LDL/NR handles recursion on nested relations with a built-in mechanism for recursive query processing. In this paper, we define SQL*/NR and include an approach for transforming SQL*/NR queries into rule expressions in LDL/NR. SQL*/NR, as defined, enhances the expressive power of standard SQL and SQL/NF and has the expressive advantage over SQL*.
Preliminary report on the use of ileum as oviduct in the dog.

Abstract Recent surveys 23, 27 show that 30 per cent of infertile women have occluded Fallopian tubes. To restore these oviducts gynecologists have carried out many different procedures. 4, 8, 12, 16, 18, 19, 21 These include linear salpingostomy, reconstruction and reimplantation of the oviducts over catheters and tubing of various materials, some native to the patient, such as arteries and veins, others foreign, such as allantoic membrane and polyethylene tube. These operative procedures give a fair rate of anatomic patency but a low incidence of pregnancy. 6, 13, 14, 21, 24 One might infer that the operative procedure did not restore the physiologic function. This altered physiologic integrity may be concerned with the reception, fertilization, or transportation of the ovum. The following is a preliminary report of an attempt to replace an oviduct system with an isolated intact segment of terminal ileum.
Can Damages Buy You Happiness? Damages for Distress after Farley v Skinner

(2008). Can Damages Buy You Happiness? Damages for Distress after Farley v Skinner. King's Law Journal: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 113-134.
The early history of the American Society for Reproductive Immunology: a personal memoir.

Several years ago, I was asked to write about the development and early history of the American Society for Immunology and Reproduction, first by Joan Hunt, and then Judith Head, when each was president of the ASIR. Then, later, David Clark and Tom Gill, when they were presidents, officially named me as the Society Historian. Though this has been an organization that is of the utmost importance to me, and to which I devoted an enormous amount of time and effort, I have been slow to respond. But, at last, let me tell you that story of how and why we developed, and our early days, based upon my memory, notes, and letters that I have kept. As an undifferentiated medical student at the University of Virginia, having returned to University of Virginia to go to medical school after several years on active duty in the US Navy, I tried to assess which areas of medicine I enjoyed the most, as I went through the different clerkships. In those days, we had 3 months off every summer, and each summer I obtained a fellowship and did research. I worked in the Department of Physiology, and then Microbiology. I was so intrigued by the tissue culture work and immunological studies I did in my second summer, that I continued to work on those projects throughout the next school year. I also learned that I was best suited for the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology, because it was the best mix of both general medicine and surgery, both being of great interest to me.
Chapter 14. Antineoplastic Agents

Publisher Summary Comparison of structure–activity relationships of nitrosoureas active against L1210 leukemia with their toxicities indicated that the neutral agents with octanol/water partition coefficients of -1.5 to -2.5 might have better therapeutic indices than those currently in use. Clinical demonstration that cross-resistance between mustard-type alkylating agents does not exist in some tumors was found when cyclophosphamide-resistant, advanced breast cancer responded to the treatment with peptichemio. Direct chemical evidence that DNA cross-linking is a product of alkylation with busulfan is presented int his chapter. Methotrexate polyglutamates, which are readily formed in human tumor cells and bind to dihydrofolate reductase, may be selectively retained in cells and may be important determinants of duration of action and cytotoxicity of methotrexate in human solid tumors. A study of the interaction between adriamycin and phospholipids indicate similar association constants for such complexes and for DNA complexes; the data suggest competitive behavior between a membrane site and target DNA and consequently, lipid components of cell membranes may be an important determinant in the behavior of this agents. Some amino acid and dipeptide derivatives of daunorubicin were more active than the parent against subcutaneously-inoculated LL. Chemical reduction to semiquinones and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent microsomal activation of adriamycin and daunorubicin resulted in covalent binding to DNA. A mitomycin C-dextran conjugate demonstrated increased antitumor activity in comparison with the free drug and cellular uptake of methotrexate-poly (L-lysine) conjugates far exceeded the uptake of free drug in drug sensitive and resistant lines.
Topographical requirements for delta opioid ligands: Common structural features of dermenkephalin and deltorphin

We propose a common topographical model for the bioactive conformation of deltorphin and dermenkephalin at the delta opioid receptor. In this model a hydrophilic surface from the N- to C-termini is surrounded by lipophilic residues ("hot dog" structure). The important element that orients the N-terminal tyramine is the interaction of the N-terminal amino group, with the carboxyl group of Asp4 in deltorphin I and with Asp7 through His4 (as a triad) in dermenkephalin. The biological properties of synthetic analogues designed to test this model demonstrate that the hydrophilic amino acid residues of these peptides are interchangeable. In addition, incorporation of Aib residues that change the lipophilic topography of these molecule, strongly reduces affinity for the delta opioid receptor.
A High-resolution Photoionization and Photoelectron Study of 58Ni Using a Vacuum Ultraviolet Laser

In order to provide high-resolution spectroscopic data of nickel (58Ni) and its cation (58Ni+) for the assignment of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) stellar spectra, we have obtained the photoionization efficiency (PIE) spectra of 58Ni by using a supersonically cooled laser ablation transition-metal beam source and a broadly tunable VUV laser in the range of 61,100-73,600 cm–1, covering the photoionization transitions: Ni+ (3d 9 2 D) ← Ni (3d 84s 2 3 D), Ni+(3d 9 2 D) ← Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F), and Ni+ (3d 84s 4 F) ← Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F). We have also measured the VUV laser pulsed-field-ionization-photoelectron (PFI-PE) spectra of 58Ni in these regions. The VUV-PFI-PE measurement has allowed the determination of a precise value of 61,619.89 ± 0.8 cm–1 (7.6399 ± 0.0001 eV) for the ionization energy (IE) of 58Ni. Due to the narrow VUV laser optical bandwidth of 0.4 cm–1 used in the present study, many complex autoionizing resonances exhibiting Fano line shape profiles are resolved in the PIE spectra. Four autoionizing Rydberg series originating from two-electron and one-electron excitations from the Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F 4) ground state to converge to the respective Ni+(2 D 3/2) and Ni+(4 FJ ) (J = 9/2, 7/2, and 5/2) ion states are identified. The Rydberg analysis, along with VUV-PFI-PE measurements, has yielded highly precise IE values for the formation of these excited ionic states from the Ni(3d 84s 2 3 F 4) ground state. The IE values, relative photoionization cross sections, and autoionizing Rydberg resonances observed in the present study are relevant to astrophysics by enhancing the atomic database of iron group transition metal atoms and for understanding the Ni and Ni+ contribution to the VUV opacity in the solar atmosphere.
Miniemulsion and conventional emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butadiene: A comparative kinetic study

The kinetics of conventional and miniemulsion copolymerizations of styrene and butadiene were compared using the Mettler RC1 calorimeter. A two-step homogenization procedure was applied to obtain miniemulsions of these monomers with hexadecane as the costabilizer. The results indicated that the miniemulsion polymerizations proceeded mainly by nucleation in the monomer droplets, while in the conventional emulsion polymerizations, particle formation occurred by a combination of micellar and homogeneous nucleation. The overall rate of miniemulsion polymerization was faster than the corresponding conventional emulsion system if the surfactant concentration was below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and slower if the surfactant concentration was above the cmc. The homogenization process is important for making stable miniemulsion systems, but had no effect on the conventional emulsion system (without hexadecane), most likely because of the second stage addition of the butadiene monomer. The dependencies of the rate of polymerization (heat of reaction) and number of particles on the surfactant concentration differed for the two types of polymerization systems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2304–2312, 2006
Derivations and nil ideals

IfR is a torsion free ring, then the nil radical ofR is stable relative to any derivation ofR. In this note, we show the same is true for the Levitzki radical ofR, which is the largest locally nilpotent ideal ofR.
Effects of Banana Plantation Pesticides on the Immune Response of Lepidopteran Larvae and Their Parasitoid Natural Enemies

Basic research on the insect immune response has progressed dramatically within the last two decades, showing that immunity is one of the most effective defenses against foreign invaders. As such, it is important to understand the causes of variation in this response. Here, we investigate the effects of pesticides used in Costa Rican banana plantations on the immune response of the lepidopteran larva, Caligo memnon (Brassolinae). In addition, we performed a parasitism survey of the banana plantations and surrounding forests to provide a broader assessment of pesticide effects on parasitoid populations. All caterpillars for the immune assay were collected from two banana plantations and brought to La Selva Biology Station for immune challenge. Individuals were fed leaves from the plantations (pesticide) or leaves from La Selva (pesticide-free), then immune challenged with injected sephadex beads. We found that individuals feeding on pesticide leaves had significantly lower bead melanization compared to individuals feeding on pesticide-free leaves. Nonetheless, the parasitism survey showed that caterpillars from the banana plantations had lower parasitism rates compared to caterpillars from the La Selva forest. This study adds to the growing body of evidence documenting negative effects of pesticides on the insect immune response and on adult parasitoids, and underscores the need for more research at the intersection between ecological entomology and immunology.
Network-assisted investigation of antipsychotic drugs and their targets.

Antipsychotic drugs are tranquilizing psychiatric medications primarily used in the treatment of schizophrenia and similar severe mental disorders. So far, most of these drugs have been discovered without knowing much on the molecular mechanisms of their actions. The available large amount of pharmacogenetics, pharmacometabolomics, and pharmacoproteomics data for many drugs makes it possible to systematically explore the molecular mechanisms underlying drug actions. In this study, we applied a unique network-based approach to investigate antipsychotic drugs and their targets. We first retrieved 43 antipsychotic drugs, 42 unique target genes, and 46 adverse drug interactions from the DrugBank database and then generated a druggene network and a drugdrug interaction network. Through druggene network analysis, we found that seven atypical antipsychotic drugs tended to form two clusters that could be defined by drugs with different target receptor profiles. In the drugdrug interaction network, we found that three drugs (zuclopenthixol, ziprasidone, and thiothixene) tended to have more adverse drug interactions than others, while clozapine had fewer adverse drug interactions. This investigation indicated that these antipsychotics might have different molecular mechanisms underlying the drug actions. This pilot network-assisted investigation of antipsychotics demonstrates that network-based analysis is useful for uncovering the molecular actions of antipsychotics.
Excess electron pairs from heavy-ion collisions at CERN and a more complete picture of thermal production

The low-mass dielectron signal from heavy-ion collisions at the CERN-SPS reported by the CERES Collaboration is in excess of estimated hadronic decays, suggesting a possible contribution from two-pion annihilation or other hadronic reactions. In the absence of dramatic medium modifications, annihilation alone is unable to account for the data. We explore the role of pion plus resonance scattering [$\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{a}_{1}(1260)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$], which has favorable kinematics to populate masses between $2{m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ and ${m}_{\ensuremath{\rho}}$. While it seems to account for some of the remaining excess beyond annihilation, it fails to allow quantitative interpretation of data.
Structural and spectroscopic evidence for the formation of trinuclear and tetranuclear vanadium(III)/carboxylate complexes of acetate and related derivatives in aqueous solution.

The formation of vanadium(III) complexes with nuclearity greater than two is believed to occur in aqueous solution on the basis of potentiometric, electrochemical, and/or UV−vis spectroscopy titration measurements, although structural evidence for this is limited. Upon the addition of 1−2 equiv of acetate, propionate, chloroacetate, trifluoroacetate, or bromoacetate to an aqueous, acidic solution of vanadium(III), trinuclear and tetranuclear complexes are formed. The structures of [V4(μ-OH)4(μ-OOCCF3)4(OH2)8]Cl4·7.5H2O (1), [V4(μ-OH)4(μ-OOCCH3)4(OH2)8]Cl4·CH3COOH·12H2O (2), [V4(μ-OH)4(μ-OOCCH3)4(OH2)8]Cl4·3H2O (3), [V3(μ3-O)(μ-OOCCH2Br)6(OH2)3]CF3SO3·H2O (4), [V3(μ3-O)(μ-OOCCH2CH3)6(OH2)3]Cl·2H2O (5), [V3(μ3-O)(μ-OOCCH3)6(OH2)3]Cl·3.5H2O (6), and [V3(μ3-O)(μ-OOCCH2Cl)6(OH2)3]CF3SO3·H2O (7) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Importantly, electrospray mass spectrometry and 1H NMR measurements suggest that these complexes are not purely solid-state phenomena but are also present in solution. For the ...
Clinical and Histologic Determinants of Mortality for Patients With Barrett's Esophagus-Related T1 Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Background & Aims Superficial (T1) esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) commonly is treated by endoscopic resection, yet little is known about factors that predict outcomes of this approach. We assessed clinical and histologic variables associated with the overall survival times of patients with T1 EAC who received therapy. Methods In a retrospective analysis, we collected data from patients who underwent endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for T1 EAC (194 patients with T1a and 75 patients with T1b) at the Mayo Clinic, from 1995 through 2011. EMR specimens were reviewed systematically for depth of invasion, presence of lymphovascular invasion, grade of differentiation, and status of resection margins. Kaplan–Meier curves and proportional hazards regression models were used in statistical analyses. Results Demographic characteristics were similar between patients with T1a and T1b EAC. Overall survival at 5 years after EMR was 74.4% for patients with T1a (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.6%−81.8%) and 53.2% for patients with T1b EAC (95% CI, 40.3%–70.1%). Of surviving patients with T1a EAC, 94.1% remained free of cancer (95% CI, 89.8%–98.5%), and 94.7% of surviving patients with T1b EAC remained free of cancer (95% CI, 85.2%−100%). A multivariable model associated older age (per 10-year increment), evidence of lymphovascular invasion, and deep margin involvement with reduced overall survival in patients with T1 EAC. Conclusions Systematic assessment of EMR specimens can help predict mortality and potentially guide treatment options for patients with T1 EAC.
Estimating a Dynamic Model of Household Choices in the Presence of Income Taxation

The purpose of the article is to study the incentive and distributional consequences of income taxation. The article analyzes tax changes in a dynamic setting. The framework is estimated under a set of different identifying assumptions using parametric, nonparametric, and semiparametric techniques. The empirical results focus on tax reforms in Germany in the 1980s. The article shows that these reforms did not significantly lower effective tax rates. The findings also suggest that estimated elasticities for male labor supply are small, ranging between 0.02 and 0.2.
The Ethics of Evaluation in Museums

Ethics in research and evaluation has a long standing history, one steeped with legal and moral implications. This article addresses the technicalities of ethics in evaluation as well as highlights the importance for museum educators to prioritize adopting such practices. While understanding the myriad of ethical concerns and best practices can be overwhelming, it is museum educators' duty to have their visitors' best interest in mind.
Intersubject variability in perceived oscillation as a function of threshold for binocular disparity.

Four groups of 15 female subjects each were classified along a quantitative dimension for proportion of perceived oscillation and threshold for binocular disparity. Analyses of variance showed that significant differences in proportion of perceived oscillation were accompanied by significant differences in threshold for binocular disparity for perceivers of "high" and "low" oscillation (p less than .05). For perceivers of "intermediate" oscillation significant differences in proportion of perceived oscillation but not threshold for binocular disparity were found. It was suggested that: (1) intersubject variability in perceived oscillation may be governed by the threshold for binocular disparity, (2) "low" perceivers may be especially sensitive to the magnitude of the cue, (3) "intermediate" perceivers' subjective reports may be primarily dependent on response criteria and the multiplicity of subjective factors which constitute it, (4) "high" perceivers apparently have least response sensitivity and they cannot maintain a consistent response criterion.
Forest Floor Composition and Ammonia Loss from Urea in a Loblolly Pine Plantation

Surface application of urea to pine forests may lead to ammonia (NH 3 ) volatilization, which can reduce forest production. The objective of this study was to characterize urea reactions with the forest soil and to determine how various forest floor components interact with weather to affect NH 3 loss. Three field studies were performed in a midrotation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation with up to three treatments in each study, where NH 3 volatilization chambers were fertilized with 200 kg N ha -1 that contained either (i) intact forest floor, (ii) forest floor removed by hand raking, or (iii) forest floor burned. In a complementary laboratory study, NH 3 loss was evaluated from cores comprised of: (i) mineral soil only, (ii) mineral soil + humus layer, (iii) mineral soil + humus + old needles, and (iv) mineral soil + humus + old needles + new needles. Loss of NH 3 in the field was generally greatest when urea was applied to a mineral soil with no forest floor, resulting in a loss of 53 and 59% of the applied N in two 29-d studies. Loss of NH 3 was intermediate from a complete forest floor (11 and 35% loss), and rates of loss appeared to be most affected by relative humidity. Losses were least from a recently burned forest floor (6 and 7% loss), due partly to slower urea hydrolysis. Loss of NH 3 in the laboratory study was also greater from the bare soil than from the complete forest floor. Retention of NH 4 + in the soil layers was related to the soil pH buffering capacity below pH 7. Because the humus layer was shown to have a large pH buffering capacity to retain NH 4 + , these results suggest forest management that enhances humus formation should increase NH 4 + sorption and decrease NH 3 volatilization.
Anatomy of the sural nerve complex

The anatomy of the sural nerve complex in 20 cadaveric limbs was determined by dissection. The nerve usually consists of four named components: the medial sural cutaneous nerve, the lateral sural cutaneous nerve, the peroneal communicating branch, and the sural nerve. In most instances (80%), the sural nerve is formed in the distal portion of the leg by the union of the medial sural cutaneous nerve and the peroneal communicating branch. In 20% of cases, the peroneal communicating branch is absent. In such cases, the sural nerve is derived from the medial sural cutaneous nerve alone. The lateral sural cutaneous nerve is laterally situated and usually divides into medial and lateral branches. In a few cases, its medial division may contribute to the sural nerve through the peroneal communicating branch. The peroneal communicating branch can be of substantial caliber and may be useful as a source of nerve graft without complete sacrifice of the sural nerve. We describe a technique of isolation of the peroneal communicating branch for use as a nerve graft.
Distinguishing states of awareness from confidence during retrieval: Evidence from amnesia

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether recollective experience is distinguishable from confidence. In Experiment 1, we tested college participants in a within-subjects design and replicated Gardiner and Java’s (1990) findings from a between-subjects design. We observed higher remember judgments for words than for nonwords, but higher know judgments for nonwords than for words. For confidence judgments, we obtained greater sure than unsure responses for both words and nonwords. In Experiment 2, we tested amnesic participants and matched control participants. Control participants produced the same pattern of results as college participants, but the results of amnesic participants diverged in an important way. For confidence judgments, the amnesic participants, like the control and college participants, made more sure than unsure judgments to both words and nonwords. But for recollective judgments, amnesic participants did not produce the crossover interaction for words and nonwords. This striking difference between the performance of memory-intact and amnesic participants demonstrates that recollective judgments and confidence that accompany retrieval are not isomorphic psychological experiences.
Simultaneous determination of picomole levels of gluco- and galactocerebroside, monogalactosyl diglyceride, and sulfatide by high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract A sensitive but simple new procedure has been developed for the simultaneous determination of gluco- and galactocerebroside, monogalactosyl diglyceride and sulfatide by high performance liquid chromatography. The method involves the extraction of lipids, benzoylation, desulfation of perbenzoylated sulfatide and product analysis by high performance chromatography. No preliminary fractionation of the benzoylated product was necessary, and the method allows clear separation of cerebrosides and sulfatides containing nonhydroxy and hydroxy fatty acids. The quantitative range of the method is 50–600 pmol of cerebroside and sulfatide. The benzoylation was performed by heating the lipids with benzoyl chloride/pyridine (1 : 5, v/v), and the desulfation was performed by treating the benzoylated product with 0.2 M HClO 4 in acetonitrile. High performance liquid chromatography was performed on 5 μm Spherisorb Silica with a gradient elution of 0.5–10% isopropanol in hexane. The effluent was monitored for 230 nm absorbance; it can be collected readily and further analyzed by a reverse-phase, high performance liquid chromatography. Straight lines were obtained when retention times of individual homologs were ploted on a logarithmic scale against fatty acid carbon numbers. A new sulfatide synthesis containg [1- 14 C]ignoceric acid is described.
Large deflection formulations of a simple beam element including shear deformations

A simple beam element is developed for the solution of large deflection problems. The total Lagrangian formulation is based on the kinematic relations proposed by Reissner for finite rotations and stretching as well as shearing of plane beams. The motion is discretized by linear expansions of the global displacement components and the cross‐sectional rotation in two‐dimensional Euclidean space yielding a simple beam element with three degrees of freedom at the two nodes. The shear locking is reduced by selective integration in order to eliminate the spurious shear constraint similar to interdependent variable interpolation. The large rotation formulation is compared with two forms of moderate rotation theories which have been used in the past to develop the geometric stiffness properties for linear stability analysis of the so‐called Mindlin plate elements. The predictive value of different geometric stiffness approximations is assessed with several examples which range from the static and kinetic stability analysis of the classical Euler‐column to the large deflection problem of a clamped beam.
Photosynthesis of cryptobiotic soil crusts in a seasonally inundated system of pans and dunes in the western Mojave Desert, CA: Field studies

Abstract Cryptobiotic soil crusts form the dominant cover of a unique system of dunes and intermittently inundated pans and playas situated on the Pleistocene Lake Thompson bed, in the western Mojave Desert, CA. Recent work has reported on basic ecological parameters including distribution, abundance, and species composition of these algal (cyanobacterial)-dominated crusts as well as on their photosynthetic rates in laboratory studies. As a step toward building an ecological model for a natural resource management plan, we determined the photosynthetic rate of the crusts under field environmental conditions. We examined the relationship between the environmental conditions of crust moisture content (MC), temperature, and ambient CO2 concentration on photosynthetic rates during the mid-spring and the late autumn. Maximal photosynthetic rates (Pmax), which did not vary greatly with season, were 3.57 and 3.99 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 for crusts on dunes and in pans, respectively. Mean photosynthetic rates for three types of crust on dunes, smooth and flat, pedicillated, and unconsolidated, were 1.31, 1.47, and 1.29 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1, respectively. Pmax of crusts on dunes and pans occurred at soil MCs of 110% and 20%, respectively, both lower and higher MCs resulted in decreased rates of photosynthesis. The relation between atmospheric CO2 concentration and net photosynthesis was linear ( r 2 = 0.88 and 0.97 for crusts on dunes and pans, respectively) through at least 1000 ppm CO2. We measured positive net photosynthesis at temperatures from 0 to 46 °C and found no clear optimum within this range when crusts were provided with optimal moisture and light conditions. Photosynthetic rates in this field study were somewhat lower than those measured in the laboratory, but both optimum MC and the relation between ambient CO2 and net photosynthetic rate were similar. Respiration rates were generally less than 10% those of photosynthetic rates. Based on data herein and climatic information, we estimated the potential net primary productivity of crusts on dunes to be 11.7 g C m−2 yr−1. The photosynthetic rate of the unconsolidated crust type, for which no data have been published, was similar to the other crust types. This finding, together with previous information that the chlorophyll values of this and other crust forms were similar, suggests that ecological studies, as well as conservation and restoration efforts, give these the same attention as the other crust types.
Reflections on Woolf's three Guineas

Abstract The following essay, delivered as a speech at Smith College as part of the Sophia Smith Conference on Women and Peace in January 1980, asks ‘What is women's relation to war?’ and brings Virginia Woolf's broad anti-militarism in Three Guineas up to date with some personal reflections on hierarchy, competition, rank, and the meaning of feminism.
Fast spin-echo imaging of the abdomen during breath-holding: an alternative to RASE and other fast imaging techniques.

We have developed a rapidly acquired T1-weighted spin-echo pulse sequence that uses gradient echo-like parameters of TR 70 ms, TE 10 ms, NEX-1 (SE 70/10/1) with large pulse angles, and presaturation. This sequence yields two images of the abdomen during a comfortable breath-hold of 9 s. Preliminary phantom studies with this sequence demonstrated that peak signal-to-noise ratios occurred at pulse angles of 120° and 135°. Compared to this rapidly acquired sequence, a conventional T1-weighted spin-echo sequence of TR 140 ms, TE 10 ms, NEX-4 demonstrated 2.8 times the signal-to-noise ratio, 2.6 times the liver-spleen contrast-to-noise ratio but only 1.6 times the contrast-to-artifact ratio. When normalized for the imaging time, however, there was little difference in the signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios, although the SE 70/10/ 1 demonstrated 2.0 times the contrast-to-artifact ratio. We conclude that for abdominal imaging the SE 70/10/1 is an excellent alternative to RASE and other fast imaging techniques, and, although there are inherently low signal-to-noise ratios, it may be particularly useful when coupled with a paramagnetic contrast agent.
Phosphorylation, “aging” and possible alkylation reactions of saligenin cyclic phosphorus esters with α-chymotrypsin

Abstract Saligenin cyclic phosphonates, phosphates and N-alkylphosphoramidates readily phosphorylate α-chymotrypsin at the hydroxyl group of serine-195. The phosphoenzyme undergoes rapid further reaction (aging) both to release saligenin and form bound phenolic residues without regeneration of esteratic activity. The bound phenolics include about equal parts of trapped saligenin, possibly in the region of the active site, and material which may result from enzyme alkylation. The ratio between these types of bound phenolics is altered by pretreatment of the enzyme with ethoxyformic anhydride but not with diisopropyl-fluorophosphate. N- e2 of the imidazole portion of histidine-57 may participate in the aging reaction by stabilizing a potential benzyl carbonium ion intermediate. This intermediate is subsequently trapped either by a hydroxyl nucleophile to produce saligenin or possibly by the stabilizing imidazole to yield N-alkylated enzyme. Trypsin with an esteratic site similar in configuration to chymotrypsin undergoes analogous phosphorylation and aging reactions.
Awards for suffering: the Nobel Peace Prize recipients of South Africa

This article examines the biographies of the four Noble Peace Prize laureates – Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, and Frederik Willem de Klerk – who stood for justice during the apartheid regime in South Africa. Of interest to the Nobel Committee were these leaders’ accomplishments and efforts in the ending of apartheid. Chief Luthuli was a Christian minister and President of the African National Congress in the 1950s and 1960s. Bishop Tutu is a revered religious leader of the Anglican Church in South Africa. Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work towards the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa. The telling of these Nobel laureates’ stories through the text of their Nobel speeches illustrates the accelerated changes in the lives of black South Africans. Remarkable new justice institutions and court processes such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission emerged sh...
Local and average transfer coefficients due to an impinging row of jets

Abstract The local transfer coefficients which result from the impingement of a row of circular jets on a plane surface were determined by means of the naphthalene sublimation technique in conjunction with an innovative data acquisition system. Spanwise average and surface average transfer coefficients were also deduced from the local measurements. The parameters that were varied included the jet Reynolds number, the spacing between adjacent jet orifices, and the separation distance between the jet orifices and the impingement surface. The local transfer coefficient distributions enable the identification of surface locations where the impinging jets provide effective heating (or cooling). At locations that are mid-way between adjacent jets, relatively high local transfer coefficients may exist owing to the collision of the spreading flows from adjacent impinged jets. The stagnation point transfer coefficient exhibits a maximum as a function of the orifice-to-impingement separation distance. Both the spanwise average and surface average transfer coefficients take on their largest values on the impingement line and diminish with increasing downstream distance.
Privatizing state farms in Yugoslavia

Abstract The objective of this paper is to show the effects of alternative sectoral policies on privatization, production, labor use, and agricultural trade in Yugoslavia’s agricultural sector. Bilevel programming method is used since decision making process involves the independent decision making units, namely government and state and private farms. Most important results of the model indicate that policies inducing moderate and partial privatization in the short and intermediate run will best increase efficiency of the agricultural sector. Even partial privatization, however, does not prevent an immediate layoff of a large portion of the state sector agricultural workers what may cause further destabilization of the economy.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Protects Oligodendrocytes that Restore Central Nervous System Functions in an Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling is reported to protect neurons under pathologic conditions; however, its effect on oligodendrocytes (OLs) remains to be elucidated. We investigated whether AMPK signaling protects OLs to restore central nervous system (CNS) functions in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis. Increased inflammation and demyelination in the CNS and peripheral immune responses were consistent with the observed clinical impairments in EAE animals, which were attenuated by treatment with metformin compared with vehicle. In addition, expressions of neurotrophic factors and of signatory genes of OL lineages were increased in the CNS of metformin-treated EAE animals. Likewise, metformin attenuated inflammatory response and enhanced expressions of neurotrophic factors, thereby protecting OLs via AMPK activation in mixed glial cultures stimulated with lipopolysaccharide/interferon γ in vitro, as evidenced by analysis of the expression of signatory genes of O1 + /MBP + OLs and their cellular populations. Metformin also attenuated oxidative stress and malondialdehyde-containing protein levels, with corresponding induction of antioxidative defenses in OLs exposed to cytokines via AMPK activation. These effects of metformin were evident in the CNS of EAE animals. These data provide evidence that AMPK signaling is crucial to protect OLs and, thus, CNS functions in EAE animals. We conclude that AMPK activators, including metformin, have the potential to limit neurologic deficits in multiple sclerosis and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Dissolved oxygen depletion in static bioassay systems.

Acute toxicity tests employing static bioassays are generally conducted for 24, 48 or 96 hours. There is concern over the frequency with which dead test organisms should be removed from the system and whether or not artificial aeration should be allowed. Understanding bioassay oxygen regimes is important because of the relationship between dissolved oxygen concentration (D.O.) and toxicity of many substances. The mechanism responsible for toxicity in the presence of reduced oxygen concentration should be considered (SOUTHGATE et al. 1933; WUHRMANN 1952; WUHRMANN and WOKER 1953; DOWNING 1954; WEISS and BOTTS 1957; ALLERDICE and BRETT 1957; CAIRNS and SCHEIER 1958; LLOYD 1961; SAUNDERS 1962; HERBERT and SHURBEN 1963; BURDICK 1967; PICKERING 1968; BROWN 1968; SPRAGUE 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973; HOKANSON and SMITH 1971; LOCH and MACLEOD 1974). It appears that the greater toxicity of substances at lower D.O. concentrations is due to changes in physiological reactions by test fish such as increased respiration and mass flow over gills. Even if dead organisms were removed as soon as detected, there could still be a significantly long period of time, up to 15 hours during the night, when dead test fish would not be observed. We investigated the possibility that dead animals, as possibly encountered in bioassays after the laboratory staff had gone home for the evening, could impose a detrimental B.O.D. on the system.
Regiospecific synthesis of α-arylsulfonoxy ketones from ketone derivatives

Abstract Isomeric enol ester, enamine, and silyl enol ether derivatives of unsymmetrical ketones are converted regiospecifically to α-arylsulfonoxy ketones with arylsulfonyl peroxides.
Uptake and metabolism of 14C anthracene by soybean (Glycine max)

Abstract Soybeans grown in solution culture and in soil containing 14 C anthracene assimilated anthracene and translocated it to stems and leaves. Soybeans grown in solution culture and exposed to an atmosphere containing 14 C anthracene assimilated the anthracene through the leaves and translocated it to stems and roots. Measurement of 14 CO 2 efflux from the soil grown plants and thin layer chromatography (TLC) of extracts of the plants grown in solution culture demonstrated that soybean plants can catabolize anthracene. Anthracene uptake rates from solution culture were correlated with concentration of anthracene in the solution. Uptake from solution culture exceeded uptake from soil. Greater uptake and catabolism of anthracene was observed from soil at field capacity than from flooded soil.
The Impact of Surface Errors on the Location and Orientation of a Cylindrical Workpiece in a Fixture

Surface error at the contact region is one factor that contributes to the displacement of the workpiece in a fixture. This work employs the Newton-Raphson technique to develop a mathematical model that predicts the impact of surface errors on the location and orientation of a cylindrical workpiece. Model validation and measurement analysis were conducted to verify the proposed mathematical model. An experimental fixture and workpiece were developed to simulate the effect of surface errors on the placement of a workpiece. The study showed that the numerical model is reliable in predicting the behavior of the workpiece.
Combinatorial Wnt control of zebrafish midbrain-hindbrain boundary formation.

Abstract Wnt signaling is known to be required for the normal development of the vertebrate midbrain and hindbrain, but genetic loss of function analyses in the mouse and zebrafish yield differing results regarding the relative importance of specific Wnt loci. In the zebrafish, Wnt1 and Wnt10b functionally overlap in their control of gene expression in the ventral midbrain–hindbrain boundary (MHB), but they are not required for the formation of the MHB constriction. Whether other wnt loci are involved in zebrafish MHB development is unclear, although the expression of at least two wnts, wnt3a and wnt8b, is maintained in wnt1/wnt10b mutants. In order to address the role of wnt3a in zebrafish, we have isolated a full length cDNA and examined its expression and function via knockdown by morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (MO)-mediated knockdown. The expression pattern of wnt3a appears to be evolutionarily conserved between zebrafish and mouse, and MO knockdown shows that Wnt3a, while not uniquely required for MHB development, is required in the absence of Wnt1 and Wnt10b for the formation of the MHB constriction. In zebrafish embryos lacking Wnt3a, Wnt1 and Wnt10b, the expression of engrailed orthologs, pax2a and fgf8 is not maintained after mid-somitogenesis. In contrast to acerebellar and no isthmus mutants, in which midbrain and hindbrain cells acquire new fates but cell number is not significantly affected until late in embryogenesis, zebrafish embryos lacking Wnt3a, Wnt1 and Wnt10b undergo extensive apoptosis in the midbrain and cerebellum anlagen beginning in mid-somitogenesis, which results in the absence of a significant portion of the midbrain and cerebellum. Thus, the requirement for Wnt signaling in forming the MHB constriction is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates and it is possible in zebrafish to dissect the relative impact of multiple Wnt loci in midbrain and hindbrain development.
Analysis of Message Expression in Single Neurons of Alzheimer’s Disease Brain

Abstract Because many cell types and disease states exist in the sample of cells in even a very small region of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain tissue, optimal understanding of disease mechanisms requires study at the level of the single cell. Our Golgi studies of single neurons in the AD brain have revealed reduced dendritic extent in many, but not all, brain regions. This reduced dendritic extent is interpreted as reduced capacity of neurons in AD to proliferate new dendritic material. Studies of message expression in single neurons reveal that neurons containing neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) show reduced expression of messages for proteins related to growth of neuronal processes and to synapses. Neighboring neurons free of NFTs express these messages at levels approximating the levels expressed by single neurons from control brain. This reduction of expression of messages related to growth of neuronal processes and to synapses is selective, because expression of message for the lysosomal enzyme, cathepsin D, is increased in neurons containing NFTs. Simultaneous analysis of the expression of multiple genes by single neurons using an aRNA technique offers powerful capacity to profile message expression as a function of disease state of single cells.
Theoretical studies of molecular complexes: a probe into basis set and correlation effects

Abstract We investigate the effect of basis set size, correlation effects and interplanar separation on the theoretical electronic structure of stacking complexes of para- and meta-hydroxyaruline with formamidinium cation, constructed as analogs for the complexes of 5- and 6-hydroxytryptamine with imidazolium cation.
A simple jitter-free picosecond streak camera

Abstract Using a DC-biased room-temperature photoconductive switching element, a picosecond resolution optical streak camera is operated at sweep rates up to 7 ps/mm. Single-shot jitter is 2 ps with complete absence of short and long-term drift characteristic of all other sweep drivers. This high accuracy allows the streak camera to be used in a single-shot averaging mode which leads to a sub-picosecond absolute timing accuracy. When operated in this manner, the streak camera becomes a highly reliable and accurate device for measuring transient events on a time scale of single picoseconds. The simplicity of this method makes it highly attractive for many applications in laser fusion and picosecond chemistry and photophysics studies where reliable no-drift operation is highly desirable.
EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION OF GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE-TAGGED HIV-1 GP120 : NO EVIDENCE OF AN INTERACTION WITH CD26

Abstract We describe the use of a new baculovirus expression vector to enable the secretion of the major surface glycoprotein of HIV-1 (gp120) fused to the carboxy-terminus of the widely used affinity tag glutathione S -transferase. The secreted protein can be purified in a single step with the minimum of denaturation on immobilised glutathione and is as active as the parental molecule in binding CD4. We use this molecule in a variety of assay formats to examine the gp120 interaction with CD26, a reported auxiliary molecule in the HIV entry process. We find no evidence of a CD26-gp120 interaction in the absence or presence of CD4.