cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of intracellular deoxyribonucleases using polynucleotide-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Intracellular deoxyribonucleases (DNases) in human peripheral blood leukocytes have been identified and characterized by polynucleotide-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PPAGE). This technique combines the protein separating powers of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with the sensitivity of detection characteristic of an enzyme assay. Visualization of nuclease activity is made possible by the inclusion of high molecular weight DNA substrate within the sieving portion of a narrow polyacrylamide gel. No sodium dodecyl sulfate, urea, or other protein denaturants are used in this procedure. However, electrophoresis of the contents of up to 106 cells/gel is accomplished using conditions under which the enzymes are inactive. The positions of DNases are then revealed by incubation of the gel in an appropriate buffer followed by staining for intact DNA. Colorless regions correspond to the presence of enzyme. Used as a pattern recognition tool, PPAGE revealed that leukocytes from normal donors contained lower levels of certain activities than did cells from donors with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The rapid simultaneous characterization of multiple activities is made possible by simply using different buffer compositions in the incubation step. For example, ionic strength and pH optima may be found directly for activities present in unpurified human intracellular contents. The reproducibility of this method permits comparison of individual activities by using Ferguson plot analysis to detect differences or similarities among enzymes. These analyses revealed that DNase activities in human peripheral blood leukocytes fell into a minimum of two families. Modifications of overall effective charge probably account for microheterogeneity.
AN INSULIN-LIKE THYMIC FACTOR: A PRELIMINARY REPORT.

Previous studies have indicated that AKR strain mice develop hypoglycemia and thymic enlargement in association with spontaneous lymphatic leukemia. Histologic, biologic and immunologic studies of the thymus in the AKR mouse and other vertebrate species have shown that the reticular cells and Hassal9s bodies secrete or store an insulin-like material. These data coupled with the embryological origin of the thymus suggest that it functions as an endocrine organ. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Effects of Growth Regulators on Ribonucleic Acid Metabolism of Barley Leaf Segments

Illumination or gibberellic acid treatment of etiolated barley leaf segments stimulates unrolling and results in an increased level of RNA. In contrast, segments treated with abscisic acid do not unroll and have a lower content of RNA. Gibberellic acid treatment enhanced the capacity of segments to incorporate radioactivity from 32 P-orthophosphate into all the RNA components detected by gel electrophoresis; abscisic acid greatly restricted the incorporation of precursors into all the RNA fractions. In conjunction with a changed capacity for RNA synthesis it was observed that abscisic acid-treated segments had a lowered soluble DNA-dependent RNA polymerase level in comparison to gibberellic acid-treated or illuminated segments. However, the influence of growth regulators on RNA polymerase content of the segments was associated with general effects on protein level rather than a specific effect on the synthesis of polymerase enzyme. Ribosomal preparations from gibberellic acid-treated segments had a greater percentage of polysomes and a greater capacity for amino acid incorporation in vitro into proteins than similar preparations from abscisic acid-treated segments.
Experimental Characterization of an Electrorheological Material Subjected to Oscillatory Shear Strains

The coupled electrical and mechanical dynamic properties of electrorheological materials comprised of alumino-silicate in fluorinated liquids are experimentally studied to gain insight into their effectiveness for application in the area of vibration control. A prototype test device is built to subject the test materials to oscillatory shear strains over a frequency of 1 to 50 Hz. Energy dissipation in the material is determined as a function of volume fraction, electric field, strain amplitude, and frequency. Both the pre yield and post yield dynamic characteristics of the material under electric field are evaluated
Santa Ana Windflow in the Newhall Pass as Determined by an Analysis of Tree Deformation.

Abstract A tree deformation study was conducted in a suburban area of the Newhall Pass (located to the north of Los Angeles, California) to determine the direction and intensity of the Santa Ana windflow. Trees were used to provide the large data base necessary to study the windflow in rugged terrain in an area that is very vulnerable to the fire hazard presented by these winds. To obtain a large data base, the study involved the use of several tree species. Comparison of the wind-direction data obtained from the trees correlates very closely with windvane data obtained in the study area. In measuring the intensity of the winds, a statistical deformation index was devised that is not affected by differing species response to the wind. This index is based upon the total number of trees per unit area that are deformed. It transforms the study of wind intensity–as reflected by the trees–from a largely qualitative judgement of the degree of tree deformation to a quantitative statistic. With a careful consider...
Functional relaxations and spectral techniques in Computer‐Aided circuit analysis

Analysis of transients in integrated circuits is performed with the use of highly specialized computer programs. The transient responses are computed using time-marching integration methods and require a substantial amount of computer time. A new method based on spectral analysis and waveform relaxation is proposed. The method results in a substantial saving in computing time without compromising the accuracy. A basic algorithm utilizing the spectral technique in a relaxation framework is described. A prototype simulator based on the algorithm was developed and used to simulate certain types of CMOS circuits. The results showed a significant time savings in comparison with the widely used circuit simulator ‘SPICE’. Example circuits and relevant results are provided.
The Isotope Effect as a Means of identifying the Emitters of Band Spectra: Application to the Bands of the Metal Hydrides

The Isotope Effect as a Means of identifying the Emitters of Band Spectra: Application to the Bands of the Metal Hydrides
Review of 54 patients with complete DiGeorge anomaly enrolled in protocols for thymus transplantation: outcome of 44 consecutive transplants

The purpose of this study was to characterize a large group of infants with complete DiGeorge anomaly and to evaluate the ability of thymus transplantation to reconstitute immune function in these infants. DiGeorge anomaly is characterized by varying defects of the heart, thymus, and parathyroid glands. Complete DiGeorge anomaly refers to the subgroup that is athymic (< 1%). The characteristics of 54 subjects at presentation and results from 44 consecutive thymus transplantations are reported. Remarkably, only 52% had 22q11 hemizygosity and only 57% had congenital heart disease requiring surgery. Thirty-one percent developed an atypical phenotype with rash and lymphadenopathy. To date, 33 of 44 subjects who received a transplant survive (75%) with post-transplantation follow-up as long as 13 years. All deaths occurred within 12 months of transplantation. All 25 subjects who were tested 1 year after transplantation had developed polyclonal T-cell repertoires and proliferative responses to mitogens. Adverse events developing after transplantation included hypothyroidism in 5 subjects and enteritis in 1 subject. In summary, diagnosis of complete DiGeorge anomaly is challenging because of the variability of presentation. Thymus transplantation was well tolerated and resulted in stable immunoreconstitution in these infants.
Surface grid generation for flowfield applications using B-spline surfaces

The adequate discretization of the flowfield domain in structured grid techniques depends on the body surface, the zones, and the interior grid. Attention is presently given to the problem of obtaining a versatile surface-definition and grid-generation technique; a general surface grid-generation technique is presented which develops three-dimensional patches from point data. The grid is generated on a two-dimensional field on the basis of either a direct or inverse interpolation procedure. It is then mapped onto physical space to yield the surface grid.
TISSUE PULSATILITY IMAGING OF CEREBRAL VASOREACTIVITY DURING HYPERVENTILATION

Abstract Tissue pulsatility imaging (TPI) is an ultrasonic technique that is being developed at the University of Washington to measure tissue displacement or strain as a result of blood flow over the cardiac and respiratory cycles. This technique is based in principle on plethysmography, an older nonultrasound technology for measuring expansion of a whole limb or body part due to perfusion. TPI adapts tissue Doppler signal processing methods to measure the “plethysmographic” signal from hundreds or thousands of sample volumes in an ultrasound image plane. This paper presents a feasibility study to determine if TPI can be used to assess cerebral vasoreactivity. Ultrasound data were collected transcranially through the temporal acoustic window from four subjects before, during and after voluntary hyperventilation. In each subject, decreases in tissue pulsatility during hyperventilation were observed that were statistically correlated with the subject's end-tidal CO 2 measurements. (E-mail: kucewicz@u.washington.edu )
Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibition in a murine model of thoracic aortic ischemia reperfusion: Renal and cardiac benefits

Abstract Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated as a tissue protective agent following ischemia reperfusion. We have demonstrated that poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) blockade prevented spinal cord dysfunction and improved survival following murine thoracic aortic ischemia reperfusion (TAR). Because renal and cardiac derangements are a significant source of morbidity following TAR, experiments were designed to examine the potential protective effect of PARP inhibition on VEGF expression and renal and cardiac tissue injury. Methods: Mice (n = 23) were subjected to 11 minutes of TAR. Animals were treated 1 hr prior to and 1 hr after surgery with either saline (Control, n = 8, 0.5 mL saline IP) or PARP inhibitor (PJ34, n = 10, PJ34 10 mg/kg IP). MS (n = 5) mice underwent median sternotomy without TAR. At 48 hours, surviving mice (n = 13) were sacrificed. Serum, kidney and cardiac tissues were subjected to VEGF analysis (ELISA) and tissue viability index determined (MTT assay, expressed as % sham). Results: PARP inhibition resulted in increased serum, renal and cardiac VEGF levels and improved renal viability (table, ∗p Table 1 . Serum, renal and cardiac VEGF, renal and cardiac viability index Serum VEGF (pg/mL) Renal VEGF (pg/mg) Renal viability index (%) Cardiac VEGF (pg/mg) Cardiac viability index (%) MS (5) 56.8 ± 5.3 52.8 ± 5.4 83.6 ± 9.5 25.3 ± 2.9 102.7 ± 6.7 Control (5) 152.6 ± 49.9 18.0 ± 3.4 75.8 ± 2.2 17.8 ± 1.4 90.1 ± 4.1 PJ34 (8) 1977.4 ± 571.1 + 36.1 ± 4.0 ∗∗ 116.5 ± 9.5 ∗ 34.1 ± 3.0 ∗ 86.7 ± 2.3 ∗ p ∗∗ p + p Conclusions: In the setting of TAR, PARP inhibition markedly increases serum VEGF and prevents a decrease in renal and cardiac VEGF levels. These higher VEGF levels coincide with an improvement in renal viability index and suggest that PARP inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic approach to the preservation of renal function in the setting of TAR.
Rural society in twentieth‐century Russia : An introduction∗

(1984). Rural society in twentieth‐century Russia : An introduction. Social History: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 171-180.
Modeling differential scanning calorimetry of thermally degrading thermoplastics

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of thermally degrading thermoplastics is modeled using a discrete population balance equation (PBE). The PBE allows for species mole change due to pyrolysis and bubbling mass loss. Efficient solution is achieved by lumping non-volatile species into a single, notional “polymer” species. Thermodynamic properties are calculated by group additivity techniques, and empirical corrections are made to account for the changes in specific heat capacity and enthalpy upon mixing. Simulation results for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are compared to literature data for DSC at heating rates of 5, 10, and 20 K/min. The model predicts peak energy absorption rates to within 4% at the lowest heating rate. The heat of decomposition was found to be within 17% of literature values at all three heating rates. The predicted pyrolysis gas species distribution agrees well with literature gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) data.
Recongnition and separation of discrete objects with in complex 3D voxelized structures

Abstract 3D voxelized images can be manipulated if their component parts can be identified, cataloged, and measured. To accomplish this, it is necessary to separate individual convex objects from the complex structures that result from digital observation techniques such as X-ray tomography. Toward this end, we have developed schemes that peel away sequential layers of voxels from complex structures until narrow waists that connect individual objects disappear, and each component object can be identified. These peeling schemes provide the most uniform possible cumulative thickness of removed layers regardless of the orientation of the voxel grid pattern. Consequently, they lead to the most accurate application regarding inter-object interfaces, medial axis analysis, and individual object statistics such as volumes, orientations and interconnectivity. Peeling schemes can be categorized by the number of steps involved in each peeling iteration. Each step removes voxels according to three possible criteria for defining the exterior of a voxel: exposed faces, edges, or corners. Each of these ultimately causes an initial sphere, for example, to evolve into a cube, dodecahedron, or octahedron, respectively. Combinations of steps can be used to create more complex polyhedra (tetrahexadra, trisoctahedra, trapezohedra, and hexoctahedra). The resulting polyhedron that most closely resembles a starting sphere depends on the appropriate definition of “sphericity”. Using a metric based on the standard deviation of the polyhedral surface from that of a concentric sphere of equal volume, the optimal scheme is peeling by faces 7 times, by edges 3 times, and by corners 4 times. This leads to a hexoctahedron with Miller indices (14 7 4) and a standard deviation of 0.025. Using a metric based on minimizing surface area, the optimal scheme is peeling by faces 9 times, by edges 6 times, and by corners 5 times, leading to a hexoctahedron with Miller indices (20 11 5). In the past, only 1-step peeling has been used (by faces or corners). If computational or conceptual constraints limit peeling to 1-step, the criterion of edges should be used, as the dodecahedron that results deviates from a sphere by only half the amount of either the cube or octahedron resulting from 1-step peeling of faces or corners, respectively. We also determined the best criteria for 2-step and 3-step peeling. The peeling schemes we identify can be used to separate objects from complex structures for application to a number of geological and other problems. Information that emerges from the analysis includes object volumes, which can be used for determining grain- or bubble-size distributions in volcanologic, petrologic, and sedimentary applications, among others.
Solubility of Anthracene in Ternary 2-Alkoxyethanol + Cyclohexane + Heptane and 2-Alkoxyethanol + Cyclohexane + 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane Solvent Mixtures

Article on the solubility of anthracene in ternary 2-alkoxyethanol + cyclohexane + heptane and 2-alkoxyethanol + cyclohexane + 2,2,4-trimethylpentane solvent mixtures.
Birefringence effects induced by optical saturation, dispersion effects in the far infra-red.

Abstract It has been demonstrated recently, using computer simulation, that a molecular liquid treated with strong electromagnetic radiation becomes birefringent in the far infra red region of the electromagnetic spectrum This appears to be a new observation, opening the way for the spectral investigation of molecular dynamics with powerful laser fields. It is shown in this paper that the birefringence is accompanied by dispersion at frequencies characteristic or the molecular dynamics on the picosecond time scale. Dispersion of the birefringence that accompanies dynamic optical saturation is a new practical method of investigating molecular material at far infra red frequencies.
MATLAB for Engineering and the Life Sciences

Abstract In recent years, the life sciences have embraced simulation as an important tool in biomedical research. Engineers are also using simulation as a powerful step in the design process. In both arenas, Matlab has become the gold standard. It is easy to learn, flexible, and has a large and growing userbase. MATLAB for Engineering and the Life Sciences is a self-guided tour of the basic functionality of MATLAB along with the functions that are most commonly used in biomedical engineering and other life sciences. Although the text is written for undergraduates, graduate students and academics, those in industry may also find value in learning MATLAB through biologically inspired examples. For instructors, the book is intended to take the emphasis off of learning syntax so that the course can focus more on algorithmic thinking. Although it is not assumed that the reader has taken differential equations or a linear algebra class, there are short introductions to many of these concepts. Following a short ...
Manipulating and controlling for personality effects on visualization tasks

Researchers in human–computer interaction and visualization have recently been challenged to develop a better understanding of users’ underlying cognitive processes in order to improve system design and evaluation. While existing studies lay a critical foundation for understanding the role of cognitive processes and individual differences in visualization, concretizing the intuition that each user experiences a visual interface through an individual cognitive lens is only half the battle. In this article, we investigate the impact of manipulating users’ personality on observed behavior when using a visualization. In a targeted study, we demonstrate that personality priming can result in changes in behavior when interacting with visualizations. We then discuss how this and similar techniques could be used to control for personality effects when designing and evaluating visualizations systems.
Solid/liquid interface shape and Marangoni convection on a germanium float zone

Abstract The usefulness of low gravity for growing homogeneous, exceptionally pure crystals has been demonstrated several times in the past. Crystals of both organic and inorganic substances have been successfully grown in space, obtaining a purity and homogeneity unachievable in 1- g conditions. In this paper, a numerical modelling was performed to simulate the free surface behaviour and the solid/liquid interface shape for a germanium float zone. In order to verify the accuracy of the programme, a comparison between numerical and experimental results for a sodium nitrate liquid column was made.
Optimization of low-voltage electron optics

In a previous paper we described a miniature unity-magnification system that employed magnetic focusing solely and indicated that a minimum beam diameter of about 150 angstroms should be possible at 100 V. However, such a system has proved difficult to realize in practice because of the difficulty of providing a suitable beam extraction system for the field emission source. The scanning tunneling microscope has proven capable of high-resolution patterning at ultra-low energy (< 100 eV), but the sensitivity of electron-beam resists tends to drop at these energies. Here we describe a variety of alternative designs that appear to be more practical. One possible configuration, an acceleration/retardation system with superposed magnetic field, should allow us to obtain a minimum beam diameter of about 100 angstroms at 200 V. In another configuration which we have implemented experimentally, we employ a standard commercial SEM as our source and introduce a confined magnetic lens as the final focusing element. The magnetic field is provided by a NdFeB permanent magnet, which allows for reasonably high field strength (0.6 - 0.8 T) and compact size. This system offers an effective means of extending the range of operation of any SEM to low energies.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dulmage-Mendelsohn Canonical Decomposition as a generic pruning technique

We introduce a new generic propagation mechanism for constraint programming. A first advantage of our pruning technique stems from the fact that it can be applied on various global constraints. In this work we describe a filtering scheme for such a family based on Dulmage-Mendelsohn Structure Theorem. Our method checks the feasibility in polynomial time and then ensures hyper-arc consistency in linear time. It is also applicable to any soft version of global constraint expressed in terms of a maximum matching in a bipartite graph and remains of linear complexity.
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamine prevents escalation of cocaine self-administration in rats with extended daily access.

Rationale Escalation from moderate to excessive drug intake is a hallmark of human addiction that can be modeled in rats by giving them longer daily access time to self-administer cocaine. Nicotine and cocaine are commonly coabused drugs in humans and recent work in animals suggests that activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) can increase cocaine self-administration.
Improving data-center efficiency for a smarter planet

In 2009, IBM launched its Smarter Planet™ initiative, which is based on the paradigm that virtually any physical object, process, or system can be instrumented, interconnected, and infused with intelligence. Because of the increased demand for information technology (IT) to facilitate Smarter Planet solutions, physical data centers have become interconnected, instrumented, and intelligent (i.e., adaptable, scalable, energy efficient, and cost effective). "Green data centers," which are discussed in this paper, are those that make use of facilities and IT integration, resulting in lower energy costs, reduced carbon footprint, and reduced demand for power, space, and cooling resources. This paper reviews energy-efficiency strategies that are being incorporated in eight million square feet of data-center space that IBM operates in support of its customers. These strategies include both a dynamic infrastructure IT initiative and an energy-efficiencies pillar of the IBM New Enterprise Data Center initiative. For example, compared to nonmodular designs, implementation of a modular design to optimize expandable data centers will better match the IT demand with the data-center energy supply. This high-level overview describes the integration of these strategies to create a class of leading-edge IBM data centers and a plan for the optimization of existing data centers.
Disorders of higher cerebral function in children: New investigative techniques

Samuel T. Orton, a neuropathologist and neuropsychiatrist, broke new ground when he undertook, in 1925, to study children with developmental disorders of language, reading and writing (Orton 1966, p. 17). He compared their deficits to those of adults with acquired aphasias, alexias and apraxias, assuming these would shed light on the children's disorders. Since the children did not have the neurologic signs regularly observed in adults in whom autopsy would later disclose circumscribed left brain lesions, he hypothesized that the children's difficulties might be due to delay in the establishment of dominance of the left hemisphere for language, reading and skilled movement (Orton 1937, p. 66). He stressed that children with these specific deficits are neither mentally retarded nor behaviorally disturbed and, most importantly for them, he showed that individualized remedial education can help them circumvent their deficits.
VP16 and ubiquitin; binding of P-TEFb via its activation domain and ubiquitin facilitates elongation of transcription of target genes.

Acidic or type IIB transcriptional activation domains (AADs) increase rates of initiation as well as elongation of transcription [1]. For the former effects, AADs bind general transcription factors and larger coactivator complexes, which position RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at sites of initiation of transcription [2]. For the latter effects, their ubiquitylation plays an important role [3]. In this study, this posttranslational modification increased the binding between a prototypic AAD and the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which contains a C-type cyclin (CycT1, CycT2, or CycK) and Cdk9 [4]. By phosphorylating negative elongation factors and the C-terminal domain of RNAPII, P-TEFb modifies the transcription complex for efficient elongation and cotranscriptional processing of mRNA [5, 6]. Indeed, the activation domain of VP16 and ubiquitin bound the cyclin boxes and the C terminus in CycT1, respectively. Moreover, the artificial fusion of ubiquitin with VP16 not only increased its activity via DNA and RNA, which was reflected in increased ratios of elongated to initiated transcripts, but rescued the deleterious substitution of alanine for phenylalanine at position 442 in its AAD. Thus, the ubiquitylation of AADs increases their interaction with P-TEFb and augments rates of elongation of transcription.
Profound Hypothermia Secondary to Clobazam Use in Epilepsy: A Novel Association

Clobazam, a 1-5 benzodiazepine, was introduced in the 1970s for the treatment of anxiety and agitation. Antiepileptic properties were recognized, and efficacy in a number of epilepsy syndromes was demonstrated in humans, with good tolerance. Recent reviews are generally favorable, with a relative minimum of medication-related side effects. However, a number of benzodiazepines have been associated with causing hypothermia. To date, this side effect has not been reported with clobazam. We report two cases of profound hypothermia associated with the use of this medication for the treatment of epilepsy. Both children had significant cerebral dysgenesis and were developmentally impaired, but neither had experienced hypothermia before. Temperature dysregulation was resolved with medication withdrawal after an extensive work-up for alternative causes. Hypothermia should be considered as a possible side effect of clobazam, although the exact mechanism is unknown. Appropriate monitoring of temperature is appropriate, and precautions should be offered by caregivers.
CFD modeling of the EPR primary circuit

Abstract The present paper deals with the feasibility of a RANS CFD computation of almost all of the primary circuit of a EPR PWR reactor. The developed model includes the vessel, the core, the steam generators and the associated piping. The flow in the primary circuit is studied under normal operations with balanced flow rates between loops. The k – ɛ realizable model is retained for the turbulence modeling, and standard wall functions are used as wall treatment. The constructed grid contains about 181,000,000 elements, mainly hexahedrons. The computation is performed with the commercial CFD code STAR-CD, and despite the relatively large amount of cells, such kind of computation is fully accessible at an industrial scale with today available computational resources. A comparison with experimental data of the obtained results is carried out. The simulation results in the vessel are confronted to measurements issued from JULIETTE and ROMEO mock-ups, representative of the EPR lower and upper internals respectively. Regarding the steam generators, a benchmark with the dedicated code GENEPI is also performed. An overall good agreement with the reference data is underlined. The potential up-and-downstream effects of the different modeled components brought interesting knowledge, especially with regards to safety issues. These encouraging results allow in testing, in a near future, this model in other configurations such as unbalanced operation or accidental transients.
APPLICATION OF PHOTOHOLOELASTICITY TO FROZEN TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODELS WITH EXTENSIONS TO THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Hologram interferometry was extended to the study of stresses in fixed two-dimensional photoelastic models. Application to three-dimensional slice analyses was explored qualitatively. The process involved a double exposure hologram, whereby the hologram of the model was exposed before and after annealing. Reconstruction of the processed hologram displayed isochtomatic and isopachic interference patterns.
HPLC-MS analysis of toxic norditerpenoid alkaloids: refinement of toxicity assessment of low larkspurs (Delphinium spp.).

Introduction The low larkspurs (Delphinium nuttallianum and D. andersonii) are two toxic plant species that are often fatally ingested by cattle on western USA rangelands. To assess the potential toxicity of the plants, methods are needed to identify and quantify the toxic N-methylsuccinimidoanthranoyllycacontine type alkaloids in the plant. Objective To compare normal-phase and reverse-phase HPLC-MS methods of analysis for detection and identification of toxic alkaloids in two species of toxic larkspur plants and to define the toxic alkaloids found in Delphinium nuttallianum and D. andersonii collected from several sites in the western USA. Results The major toxic alkaloids found in the low larkspurs included methyllycaconitine, nudicauline, 14-deacetylnudicauline and geyerline. Other toxic alkaloids detected at lower concentrations included 16-deacetylgeyerline, grandiflorine, bearline, 14-acetylbearline, barbinine, 16-demethylnudicauline and three additional isomers of bearline. Total toxic alkaloid concentrations ranged from 0.72 mg/g (d.w.) to 7.02 mg/g determined by reverse-phase HPLC-MS. Conclusion The low larkspurs contain a number of toxic alkaloids in addition to the alkaloid methyllycaconitine that need to be assessed when considering the toxicity of the plant. Both normal-phase and reverse-phase HPLC methods are adequate to detect and quantify the alkaloids. The reverse-phase separation may be preferred due to readily available columns, reduced solvent use and simplicity of the electrospray ionisation source. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYA

ABSTRACT The initial period of Malayan development reflected an effort to exert administrative control and extract tin ore through a complementary rail and road system. The network system provided a base for the development of rubber estates in the subsequent period when the road network became recognized as the most flexible form of transportation. After the formation of a basic grid, road net-worth growth was associated with social and economic objectives at the rural level. The network expansion generally follows the “ideal-typical sequential'’model and may be viewed as a process rather than discrete historical stages. The primary transportation corridor was reinforced through interaction with the evolving larger cities in the rubber and tin zones. The self-reinforcement of the network, along with the urban concentration process, and feedback expressed through recurrent or abandoned demand, provide support for a more general model of transportation and city-system development.
The dynamics of penal reform

Over the past two decades, a vast body of literature has developed that examines various penal reforms. However, several writers have argued this literature is empirically weak and theoretically overgeneralized. To advance the penal reform literature, it has been suggested that micro-studies informed by multiple theoretical frameworks be employed. This study responds to this call by providing a case study of intermediate punishment. Specifically, the study explores a reform's origins, operations, and outcomes, and how the motivations and activities of several control agents impact this process. A major finding associated with this reform effort is a “piling up of sanctions.” The “piling up of sanctions” exposes offenders to a number of punitive and rehabilitative controls, which often leads to violations and returns to the correctional system. To adequately interpret this and other reform process findings, several frameworks, including organizational, political economy, and professional ideology, are necessary. In particular, Cohen's (1984) notion of “deposits” is useful in describing the relationships that underly the reform process.
FEM models including randomness and its application to the blasting vibrations prediction

Abstract This paper shows the development of a FEM model that predicts ground vibrations due to blasting, a very complex problem involving factors very difficult to quantify: ground anisotropy, sequencing time of the blasting shots, action of each shot, etc. From the vibration records in several blasts in a limestone quarry, we have approximated the referred factors obtaining a model that simulates with enough accuracy the complex waves originated in real blasts. Afterwards, we detail a work methodology which was developed including randomness. This methodology allows the practical use of the models by the engineers who design the blasts.
Host behaviour and exposure risk in an insect–pathogen interaction

1. Studies of variability in host resistance to disease generally emphasize variability in susceptibility given exposure, neglecting the possibility that hosts may vary in behaviours that affect the risk of exposure. 2. In many insects, horizontal transmission of baculoviruses occurs when larvae consume foliage contaminated by the cadavers of virus-infected conspecific larvae; so, host behaviour may have a strong effect on the risk of infection. 3. We studied variability in the behaviour of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae, which are able to detect and avoid virus-contaminated foliage. 4. Our results show that detection ability can be affected by the family line that larvae originate from, even at some distance from a virus-infected cadaver, and suggest that cadaver-detection ability may be heritable. 5. There is thus the potential for natural selection to act on cadaver-detection ability, and thereby to affect the dynamics of pathogen-driven cycles in gypsy moth populations. 6. We argue that host behaviour is a neglected component in studies of variability in disease resistance.
Fate of freshwater mussels transplanted to formerly polluted reaches of the Clinch and North Fork Holston rivers, Virginia

ABSTRACT Adult freshwater mussels (Unionidae) were translocated to reaches of the Clinch and North Fork Holston rivers in southwestern Virginia, where mussels had previously been eliminated by water pollution. A total of 3,872 adult mussels of seven species were translocated and monitored for up to four years. Annual declines of some species were roughly 10%, whereas other species appeared to decline much more rapidly. Losses were attributed largely to the high natural mortality of the older mussels that were translocated, as little active or passive movement of mussels from the sites was detected. Some mortality of mussels moved to the Clinch River may have been related to continuing perturbations in water quality. Site selection and the use of both young and adult cohorts appear to be key factors in the successful translocation of mussels.
Excimer fluorescence of pyrene-tropomyosin adducts.

Abstract Studies of the fluorescence of N -(1-pyrene)maleimide and N -(1-pyrenyl)iodoacetamide with actin from rabbit skeletal muscle tropomyosin revealed the presence of excimer fluorescence characterized by a broad emission band at 480 nm with a shoulder at 505 nm. Monomer fluorescence decay exhibited different lifetimes, viz., about 3, 22 and 87 ns for the pyrenemaleimide adduct; about 2.5, 11 and 51 ns for the aminolyzed maleimide adduct: and about 2.5, 15 and 74 ns for the pyrenyliodoacetamide adduct. Almost identical excimer fluorescence lifetimes were found for all adducts; about 9, 35 and 65 ns. Excimer fluorescence was sensitive to changes in ionic strength and pH of the medium while monomer fluorescence did not change. The protein denaturants guanidine hydrochloride and urea caused dissociation of the two tropomyosin subunits and partial disappearance of excimer fluorescence, but not as effectively as the hydrophobic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate. The sensitivity of excimer fluorescence to changes in the micro-environment make these pyrene derivatives very useful probes for studying conformational changes and binding interaction of tropomyosin with other contractile proteins. The unique location of the excimer probe at tropomyosin Cys-190 and its characteristic long lifetimes could make it useful in time-resolved anisotropy studies and fluorescence energy-transfer experiments.
Charged dislocations and plasto-electric effect in ionic crystals

The electric charges on the edge dislocations in KCl single crystals doped with divalent cation impurities were determined as a function of impurity concentration and temperature. This is then used to determine the density of mobile dislocations in compression, strain rate cycling, stress relaxation, latent hardening and the Bauschinger effect by using the plasto-electric effect. Some other plasto-electric, electro-plastic and magneto-plastic effects are also discussed.
Fc receptors for IgE and interleukin-4 induced IgE and IgG4 secretion

IgE binds to two types of Fc receptors, called Fc epsilon R1 (or high-affinity Fc epsilon R) and Fc epsilon R2 (or low-affinity Fc epsilon R). The Fc epsilon R1 is composed of four polypeptide chains, one alpha, one beta, and two gamma chains. The alpha chain contains the IgE binding site and is a member of the immunoglobulin supergene family. The Fc epsilon R2, also called CD23, consists of one polypeptide chain which shows homology to animal lectin receptors. Fc epsilon R1 are expressed on mast cells and basophils. Crosslinking of the Fc epsilon R1 induces immediate release of mediators of inflammation such as histamine and leukotrienes and delayed secretion of interleukins 4, 5, and 6. Fc epsilon R2 are expressed on resting mu delta + B cells, monocytes/macrophages (M phi), eosinophils, and platelets but rarely on T cells. Interleukin-4 upregulates Fc epsilon R2 expression on B cells and M phi. The functions of Fc epsilon R2 on the different cell types are not fully established and are controversial. Fc epsilon R2 on M phi, eosinophils, and platelets mediate cytotoxicity to schistosomules, enhance phagocytosis, and induce the release of granule enzymes. However, M phi from patients with atopic dermatitis expressing significantly more Fc epsilon R2 than M phi from normals do not release more leukotriene C4, prostaglandin E2, or beta-glucuronidase after incubation with aggregated IgE than normal monocytes. Furthermore, aggregated IgG1 is much more efficient than IgE in inducing mediator release from M phi and IgG1 antibodies are not known to induce immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. Therefore, definitive proof that Fc epsilon R2 are involved in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders is still lacking. IL-4 appears to play a central role in immediate-type hypersensitivity. It induces human B cells to secrete IgE and IgG4, Ig isotypes typical for antibodies to helminthic parasites and allergens. IL-4 stimulates mast cell growth and upregulates Fc epsilon R2 expression. Interferon-gamma and IL-2 inhibit the IL-4-induced IgG4 and IgE secretion. Whether the abnormally high IgE antibody production in atopic patients is the result of overproduction of IL-4 or deficient IFN-gamma/IL-2 production is presently unknown.
Correlation Between Rash and a Positive Drug Response Associated with Bevacizumab in a Patient with Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Bevacizumab is the fi rst vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted agent shown to increase survival in patients receiving first- and second-line intravenous 5-FU-based chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Bevacizumab is typically well tolerated and its major side effects include hypertension, proteinuria, bleeding, gastrointestinal perforation and arterial thrombotic events. Although exfoliative dermatitis has been described as a side effect in 19% of patients, skin rash (type unspecified) has rarely been described in patients following infusion of bevacizumab. We recently reported the fi rst patient with colon cancer manifesting a correlation between rash and a positive drug response with bevacizumab. A 49-year old male with T3 N1 M1 rectal carcinoma received modified FOLFOX-6/bevacizumab, which he tolerated very well except for grade 2 skin rash related to bevacizumab. The rash continued to progress as the serum carcinoembryonic antigen decreased significantly. Computed tomography and positron emission tomography scan confirmed response to FOLFOX/bevacizumab. We therefore believe that this rash was linked to bevacizumab administration and correlated with response to therapy. Grade 1/2 rash has been described in patients after infusion of bevacizumab in initial phase I and II studies. Skin rash was observed in 34% and 46% of patients in the Kabbinavar's study receiving 5 mg/kg dose and 10 mg/kg respectively but no patient developed > grade 3 rash. This toxicity was not well described in pivotal phase III studies. On the other hand, acneiform rash occurs in > 90% patients who receive cetuximab and panitumumab, severity of which appears to be predictive of response. To our knowledge, this case report is the second report of possible correlation between rash and a positive drug response associated with bevacizumab and warrants further investigation of similar observation.
Describing small-scale structure in random media using pulse-echo ultrasound.

A method for estimating structural properties of random media is described. The size, number density, and scattering strength of particles are estimated from an analysis of the radio frequency (rf) echo signal power spectrum. Simple correlation functions and the accurate scattering theory of Faran [J.J. Faran, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 23, 405-418 (1951)], which includes the effects of shear waves, were used separately to model backscatter from spherical particles and thereby describe the structures of the medium. These methods were tested using both glass sphere-in-agar and polystyrene sphere-in-agar scattering media. With the appropriate correlation function, it was possible to measure glass sphere diameters with an accuracy of 20%. It was not possible to accurately estimate the size of polystyrene spheres with the simple spherical and Gaussian correlation models examined because of a significant shear wave contribution. Using the Faran scattering theory for spheres, however, the accuracy for estimating diameters was improved to 10% for both glass and polystyrene scattering media. It was possible to estimate the product of the average scattering particle number density and the average scattering strength per particle, but with lower accuracy than the size estimates. The dependence of the measurement accuracy on the inclusion of shear waves, the wavelength of sound, and medium attenuation are considered, and the implications for describing the structure of biological soft tissues are discussed.
Global response to non-communicable diseases—the role of epidemiologists

Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Union Office, Brussels, Belgium, Post-Graduate Programme in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil and European Educational Programme in Epidemiology, Florence, Italy
Analysis of the low gravity tolerance of Bridgman-Stockbarger crystal growth: I. Steady and impulse accelerations

The effects of steady and impulse-type residual accelerations on dopant distributions during directional solidification in 2D and 3D 'generic' models of the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique are investigated using numerical methods. The calculations are based on the thermophysical properties of molten germanium doped with a low concentration of gallium. A Chebyshev collocation pseudospectral method is used for the solution of the governing momentum-, mass-, species-, and heat-transfer equations. Only convection caused by temperature gradients is considered. It is found that lateral nonuniformity in composition is very sensitive to the orientation of the steady component of the residual gravity vector and to the particular operating conditions under consideration. It is also found that laterally or radially averaged composition profiles are alone insufficient to describe the extent of residual convection in a spacecraft environment. The effects of impulse-type disturbances can be severe and can extend for times on the order of 1000 sec after the termination of the impulse.
Molecular structure of dihydroorotase: a paradigm for catalysis through the use of a binuclear metal center.

Dihydroorotase plays a key role in pyrimidine biosynthesis by catalyzing the reversible interconversion of carbamoyl aspartate to dihydroorotate. Here we describe the three-dimensional structure of dihydroorotase from Escherichia coli determined and refined to 1.7 A resolution. Each subunit of the homodimeric enzyme folds into a “TIM” barrel motif with eight strands of parallel β-sheet flanked on the outer surface by α-helices. Unexpectedly, each subunit contains a binuclear zinc center with the metal ions separated by ∼3.6 A. Lys 102, which is carboxylated, serves as a bridging ligand between the two cations. The more buried or α-metal ion in subunit I is surrounded by His 16, His 18, Lys 102, Asp 250, and a solvent molecule (most likely a hydroxide ion) in a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement. The β-metal ion, which is closer to the solvent, is tetrahedrally ligated by Lys 102, His 139, His 177, and the bridging hydroxide. l-Dihydroorotate is observed bound to subunit I, with its carbonyl oxygen, O4, lyin...
Perspectives on Water Governance

Although fresh water only comprises 2.5 percent of all water resources worldwide, it is essential for sustaining human life. Yet, approximately 1.1 billion people lack access to any type of safe drinking water. As a direct consequence, about 1.6 million people die every year from waterborne illnesses (e.g., diarrhea and cholera) of whom 90 percent are children under ave, primarily in developing countries.1 In 2000, the United Nations Millennium Summit afarmed the importance of safe drinking water for poverty alleviation as embedded in Goal 7, Target 10 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seeks to halve by 2015 the number of people worldwide without adequate access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The common feature of the three books under review here is their attention to water. Even then, they cover different types of water resources and uses (surface water versus groundwater; irrigation water versus drinking water) and at different levels of scale (villages, national governments, and international treaties). They also cover different theoretical perspectives, encapsulating a wide-range of disciplines within the social sciences, including development economics, geography, social ecology, political science, public policy, anthropology, and law. What unites these books, then, is their focus on the centrality of water resources for alleviating poverty and improving human life, fostering equity and fairness, adjudicating social struggles over access to and quality of water deliv-