cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The preparation of yeast hexokinases.

Abstract Improved methods are described for the preparation of hexokinase from baker's yeast. The isolation procedure is designed to avoid proteolysis, by using mechanical disintegration of the yeast cells, by organophosphate inhibition of the serine-dependent proteases, and by removal of all other proteases by gel filtration. Three isoenzymes, A, B and C, can be obtained thus. For hexokinase A, the ratio of activity in phosphorylating fructose as compared to glucose is about twice that of B or C. Hexokinase C is very similar in properties to B, but is separable by ion-exchange chromatography and appears to be a conformational isoenzyme of B. In the final purified state, the specific activity on glucose (27 mM, pH 8.3, 25.0) is 275 international units per mg for A, 900 for B and 750 for C, these values being higher than those for previously reported forms.
The effects of exercise on cardiovascular outcomes before, during, and after treatment for breast cancer

Asymptomatic cardiotoxicity following breast cancer treatment is a significant issue for many patients, as these patients typically face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Exercise has well established benefits to improve and maintain cardiovascular function across patients with and without CVD. However, there is a dearth of information on the effects of exercise on cardiovascular outcomes in breast cancer patients. While pre-clinical studies support the use of exercise in mitigating cardiotoxicity, only one human study has specifically investigated cardiac function following an exercise intervention during chemotherapy treatment. No significant differences were observed between groups, which highlights the unidentified role of exercise in altering the risk of cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients. Issues such as establishing the optimal timing, type, and intensity of an exercise program before, during, or after oncologic treatment for breast cancer are unclear. CVD risk and incidence increase in breast cancer survivors post therapy, and CVD is the number one killer of women in the United States. Thus, there is an increasing need to define the efficacy of exercise as a non-pharmacologic intervention in this growing population.
A Small Study Assessing Teacher Effectiveness: Does Learning Last?.

Abstract Students of six classes who had previously participated in a larger study of teaching styles were tested a year after completion of the course. The purpose of the follow-up was to determine whether or not the prior battery of tests, including a student evaluation of instructor form, the Introductory Psychology Criteria Test, an Attitude Toward Psychology Scale, and a knowledge test, administered in a large group setting independent of those used for grades by instructors, would be positively related to student performance on comparable tests given a year later. The follow-up measures included items from the above measures plus questions regarding experiences and readings related to psychology in the year since the students' introductory course and two brief experiments which the students were to critique. Results indicated that the end of the semester measures of teaching effectiveness in terms of student performance and attitudes were positively related to similar responses obtained a year later.
Long-haul WDM transmission using no-guard-interval coherent optical OFDM

This paper reviews 100-Gb/s/ch long-haul WDM transmission techniques based on no-guard-interval coherent optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing.
Time-Dependent Wave Packet Studies on the Cl + HCl Hydrogen Exchange Reaction

The initiation of the hydrogen exchange reaction Cl((2)P)+HCl --> ClH+Cl((2)P) by excitation of the HCl molecular stretch to v=2 is studied for total angular momentum quantum number J=(1)/(2) and both even and odd parity. The calculations were performed using a time-dependent propagation from an initial quasi-bound state and employed all three relevant potential energy surfaces and the nonadiabatic couplings between them. Coriolis and spin-orbit coupling were also taken into account. The electronic and HCl rotational distributions of the products in both dissociation channels are analyzed, and the results are interpreted using features of the potential energy surfaces.
PREPARATION OF HIGH PURITY THORIUM AND THORIUM SINGLE CRYSTALS.

Abstract Ultra-high purity thorium has been prepared using electrotransport as the refining method. This metal has a total impurity content of less than 50 p.p.m. and a resistance ratio of greater than 1000. A procedure was also developed by which single crystals of the high purity thorium could be prepared by repeated heating of the specimen through its alpha to beta phase transformation followed by prolonged heating just below the transformation temperature.
Methyl parathion removal from denim fabrics by selected laundry procedures.

Safety is essential for persons working with pesticides because of the potential of health-endangering exposure. Reduction in pesticide-related accidents among these individuals requires knowledge of pesticide use, toxicology, and proper pesticide handling. WOLFE et al. (1967) established that the principal route of pesticide absorption into the body among agricultural workers was through the skin and not the respiratory system.
Lesions of the caudal periaqueductal gray prevent compensation of arterial pressure during hemorrhage

Abstract Arterial pressure normally changes very little during small hemorrhage. In cats with bilateral lesions of the region of the caudal periaqueductal gray arterial pressure and renal vascular resistance decreased rapidly and precipitously during a 10 ml/kg·3 min −1 hemorrhage. This lack of compensation was pronounced in response to a hemorrhage one week after lesioning but was not seen 1 h after lesioning in separate experiments. The critical region appears anterior and dorsal to the locus coeruleus and medial to the parabrachial nuclei.
Curcumin mediates both dilation and constriction of peripheral arterioles via adrenergic receptors.

Curcumin has wound healing attributes mediated through a plethora of biological activities that in general are not ascribed to specific receptors. Recently, we have demonstrated that intravenous administration of curcumin limits burn injury progression in a rat model. As decreased microvascular perfusion is a central element of burn injury progression, we hypothesized that curcumin may induce vasodilation in peripheral arterioles, to improve perfusion. Using mucosal microcirculation as an in situ assay, cheek pouch tissue was exteriorized in anesthetized (phentobarbital 70mgkg -1 intraperitoneal) male hamsters ( N =60) to observe the terminal feed arterioles (∼8μm diameter) and the immediately upstream arcade arterioles (∼20μm). Curcumin (10 -12 –10 -4 moll -1 ) was applied dose-wise (micropipette, 60seconds). Subnanomolar curcumin dilated, whereas micromolar doses constricted, the arterioles. For the terminal arteriole: vasodilation logEC 50 -10.3±0.2, peak dilation +39±1%; vasconstriction logEC 50 -8.0±0.4, peak constriction -14±2%. Simultaneous atropine (muscarinic antagonist) or PD142893 (endothelin antagonist) had no effect. Propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor (β-Ad) antagonist) enhanced constriction by removing the vasodilation response to curcumin. Phentolamine (α-adrenergic receptor (α-Ad) antagonist) enhanced dilation to curcumin by removing the vasoconstriction response. Thus, the curcumin vasomotor activity on microcirculation was α-Ad and β-Ad receptor-dependent and its net vasoactive effect was concentration- and time-dependent.
Aerothermodynamic Design Feasibility of a Generic Planetary Aerocapture/Aeromaneuver Vehicle

Lifting aerodynamic configurations have been screened and selected for a generic planetary aerocapture/aeromaneuver vehicle where a common configuration will be utilized for missions to any of several planets including Mars, Saturn and Uranus. Hypersonic convective and radiative heat transfer to these vehicles was estimated based on a combination of three-dimensional inviscid and viscous flow field solutions and from engineering correlations developed for the numerous complete convective and radiative heat transfer evaluations in CO2 and H2-He mixtures from the Pioneer Venus and Galileo programs. Thermal protection materials have been selected and sized. It is recommended that the thermal protection system be designed for each specific mission, thus maximizing the deliverable payload. Aerothermodynamic technology needs of this generic aerocapture concept are identified.
Dissolution of the periclase (001) surface: A scanning force microscope study

In contrast to most ionic minerals studied by SFM, the periclase (001) surface dissolves not by retreat of monolayer steps parallel to (001), but by retreat of a rough surface perpendicular to (001). At pH < 2, dissolution has an additional contribution from retreating macro-steps at the edges of nearly square pits. The macro-steps have heights up to 120 nm. In general, step direction is parallel to [110] and equivalent directions. During dissolution at low pH, a soft near-surface region is formed. Other investigators have shown that the near-surface region is protonated. Protonation is supposed to stabilize the (111) surface of periclase. Due to the structural similarities between periclase (111) and brucite (001), and similar dissolution rates of periclase and brucite at pH < 5, the authors conclude that during dissolution the periclase (001) surface is restructured into ``(111) nano-facets`` representing brucite (001)-like layers and appearing as a rough and soft surface in SFM images. The most probable reasons that the slopes of these macro-steps (up to 50{degree}) are lower than the slopes of perfect (111) facets are the likely poorly ordered structure of these layers, microtopography on these surface facets, and tip-surface convolution in SFM. By measuring the verticalmore » position of the surface vs. time, the authors calculated the dissolution rate. At pH 1 and pH 2 they found the rates to be 17.1 {+-} 5.8 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} and 5.7 {+-} 3.7 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} mol/m{sup 2}{center_dot}s, respectively. These rates are in reasonable agreement with previously reported rates of periclase and brucite (001) dissolution, and are consistent with the idea that the MgO (001) surface consists of Mg(OH){sub 2} (001)-like layers.« less
Vancomycin ototoxicity: a reevaluation in an era of increasing doses.

Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity have historically been documented as relatively rare complications of vancomycin monotherapy. Recent reports have linked aggressive vancomycin dosing strategies to significant risks of nephrotoxicity. We evaluated the rate of high-frequency hearing loss detected by audiometry for patients on vancomycin therapy. For this purpose, we used retrospective case-control analysis of audiometry results for patients on vancomycin therapy for whom baseline and follow-up exams were available. Analysis of 89 patients for whom audiograms were performed after an average of 27 days of vancomycin therapy showed a 12% rate of high-frequency hearing loss, with a trend in univariate analysis toward a higher rate with advanced age. The mean of the highest vancomycin trough levels for both patients with worsening audiograms and those without worsening audiograms was 19 mg/liter. Regression tree modeling demonstrated that for patients 53 years old, the incidence was 19% (P = 0.008). We conclude that a significant rate of high-frequency hearing loss in older patients receiving vancomycin monotherapy was detected by audiometry. While these data urge caution against continued indiscriminate vancomycin dose escalation to treat infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus strains for which vancomycin MICs are 2 mg/liter, further prospective studies are needed to determine the clinical significance and reversibility of these effects.
An Empirical Investigation of the Conception Focused Curriculum: The Importance of Introducing Undergraduate Business Statistics Students to the “Real World”

Continuing pressures are being placed on undergraduate business education to alter curriculum content and delivery. The anticipated product of these changes is a graduate that is capable of performing the higher order thinking skills needed to navigate a constantly changing, global business environment. This article describes the implementation of a conception-focused curriculum in an undergraduate business statistics course that has guided students to become masters of the discipline through conception learning and real world problem solving. The sample of 125 students shows that students exposed to the conception-focused curriculum perceived themselves as being higher order learners and global citizens. Recommendations are provided for other educators to implement this approach in their classrooms and suggestions made for future research.
Discovery of Human Zinc Deficiency: Its Impact on Human Health and Disease

The essentiality of zinc in humans was established in 1963. During the past 50 y, tremendous advances in both clinical and basic sciences of zinc metabolism in humans have been observed. The major factor contributing to zinc deficiency is high phytate-containing cereal protein intake in the developing world, and nearly 2 billion subjects may be zinc deficient. Conditioned deficiency of zinc has been observed in patients with malabsorption syndrome, liver disease, chronic renal disease, sickle cell disease, and other chronic illnesses. Major clinical problems resulting from zinc deficiency in humans include growth retardation; cell-mediated immune dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. In the Middle East, zinc-deficient dwarfs did not live beyond the age of 25 y, and they died because of intercurrent infections. In 1963, we knew of only 3 enzymes that required zinc for their activities, but now we know of >300 enzymes and >1000 transcription factors that are known to require zinc for their activities. Zinc is a second messenger of immune cells, and intracellular free zinc in these cells participate in signaling events. Zinc has been very successfully used as a therapeutic modality for the management of acute diarrhea in children, Wilson’s disease, the common cold and for the prevention of blindness in patients with age-related dry type of macular degeneration and is very effective in decreasing the incidence of infection in the elderly. Zinc not only modulates cell-mediated immunity but is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
A Female Papilio canadensis (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) Puddles with Males

Abstract Puddling in female butterflies is rare. When it has been reported in Papilio females they were alone and usually worn, unlike males which cluster and are usually recently eclosed. A fresh female of P. canadensis was found puddling on fresh mammal dung with a group of nine P. canadensis males. To my knowledge, such an observation has never been reported for any species of the swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae).
Oversubscription on multicore processors

Existing multicore systems already provide deep levels of thread parallelism; hybrid programming models and composability of parallel libraries are very active areas of research within the scientific programming community. As more applications and libraries become parallel, scenarios where multiple threads compete for a core are unavoidable. In this paper we evaluate the impact of task oversubscription on the performance of MPI, OpenMP and UPC implementations of the NAS Parallel Benchmarks on UMA and NUMA multi-socket architectures. We evaluate explicit thread affinity management against the default Linux load balancing and discuss sharing and partitioning system management techniques. Our results indicate that oversubscription provides beneficial effects for applications running in competitive environments. Sharing all the available cores between applications provides better throughput than explicit partitioning. Modest levels of oversubscription improve system throughput by 27% and provide better performance isolation of applications from their co-runners: best overall throughput is always observed when applications share cores and each is executed with multiple threads per core. Rather than “resource” symbiosis, our results indicate that the determining behavioral factor when applications share a system is the granularity of the synchronization operations.
Axis Ratios and Flutter Angles of Cloud Ice Particles: Retrievals from Radar Data

AbstractA novel method of retrieving the mean axis ratio (width/length) and standard deviation of orientation angles (σθ, which is called herein the intensity of fluttering) of ice cloud particles from polarimetric radar data is described. The method is based on measurements of differential reflectivity ZDR and the copolar correlation coefficient in cloud areas with ZDR > 4 dB. In three analyzed cases, the values of the retrieved axis ratio were in an interval from 0.15 to 0.4 and σθ found in an interval from 2° to 20°. The latter values indicate that the particles experienced light to moderate fluttering. Ambiguities in the retrievals because of uncertainties in the bulk ice density of the particles and possible presence of columnar crystals are considered. The retrieval method is applicable for centimeter-wavelength radars; the analyzed data were collected with the dual-polarization S-band Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D).
Analysis of anisotropic conductors on anisotropic substrates

A full-wave finite-difference time-domain technique is used to study the anisotropy associated with anisotropic conductors on anisotropic substrates. The scheme is applied to analyze high temperature superconductor (HTS) YBCO film deposited on anisotropic sapphire substrate. The effect of the anisotropy on the performance of the coplanar waveguide and the microstrip line is evaluated. The losses and the dispersion characteristics, as well as the current distributions inside the HTS, are calculated. It is shown that the 90/spl deg/ r-cut sapphire substrate structure has lower loss and lower effective dielectric constant than the 0/spl deg/ r-cut substrate. >
Widespread Decreased Expression of Immune Function Genes in Human Peripheral Blood Following Radiation Exposure

We report a large-scale reduced expression of genes in pathways related to cell-type specific immunity functions that emerges from microarray analysis 48 h after ex vivo γ-ray irradiation (0, 0.5, 2, 5, 8 Gy) of human peripheral blood from five donors. This response is similar to that seen in patients at 24 h after the start of total-body irradiation and strengthens the rationale for the ex vivo model as an adjunct to human in vivo studies. The most marked response was in genes associated with natural killer (NK) cell immune functions, reflecting a relative loss of NK cells from the population. T- and B-cell mediated immunity genes were also significantly represented in the radiation response. Combined with our previous studies, a single gene expression signature was able to predict radiation dose range with 97% accuracy at times from 6–48 h after exposure. Gene expression signatures that may report on the loss or functional deactivation of blood cell subpopulations after radiation exposure may be particu...
Intravenous versus Oral Corticosteroids for Treatment of Acute Asthma Exacerbations

OBJECTIVE:To compare the duration of hospitalization of patients treated with either oral or intravenous corticosteroids for an acute asthma exacerbation.METHODS:A retrospective chart review was performed on a random sample of inpatients. Patients were included with the following: a discharge diagnosis of an acute asthma exacerbation, a past medical history significant for asthma, age between 16 and 60 years, and treatment with either oral or intravenous corticosteroids at the time of admission. Exclusion criteria included: patients receiving chronic prednisone therapy, a past medical history significant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an admission to the intensive care unit, or a consistent smoking habit of at least 1 pack daily. Length of hospitalization was the primary outcome measured. Secondary outcomes included 24-hour peak expiratory flow rate, 24-hour pulse oximetry (pO2), and amount of β-agonist and ipratropium used.RESULTS:Fifty-three patients were included in the final data analysis....
Tensile recoveries of cotton modified with and without crosslinks

When effect of the substrate is nullified, resiliency can be defined as a function of strain, time, and humidity. Determination of improvement in the immediate, or rapid, tensile recovery readily delineates differences due to chemical modifications. Delayed recovery is usually less improved than immediate. Crosslinking cotton with dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) increases tensile strain recovery as the number of crosslinks increase, reduces dependency of recovery upon external strain, and produces maximum recovery at about 65% R.H. Noncrosslinking treatments produce limited increases in tensile strain recovery. Measurements on yarns crosslinked with DMEU and then hydrolyzed indicate that incalculably few residual links may contribute to tensile recovery. N-Methylol-N'-methylethyleneurea treated cotton displays physical blocking and water swelling which aid recovery. Oleoyl chloride esterified cellulose has tensile recovery probably due to molecular entanglements. Its delayed or viscoelastic recovery is the most improved with immediate recovery being the least improved. The higher the moisture regain, the greater tensile modulus reduction under wet conditions. Crosslinking with DMEU under dry conditions lessens this reduction in modulus. Improvements in the tensile recovery of strain and energy, for all samples and with varied conditions of humidity and strain, correspond linearly with unit slope.
Immune Responses to Recombinant Pneumococcal PspA Antigen Delivered by Live Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Vaccine

Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing recombinant antigens from other pathogens elicits primarily a Th1-type dominant immune response to both recombinant and Salmonella antigens. The immunogenicity and appropriate subcellular location of the recombinant antigen in the Salmonella vaccine strain may contribute to augmenting immune responses by facilitating adequate exposure of recombinant antigen to antigen-presenting cells for processing. To allow for secretion from gram-negative bacteria and overexpression of antigen, a DNA fragment encoding a highly antigenic α-helical region of PspA (pneumococcal surface protein A) was subcloned downstream from the β-lactamase signal sequence in the multicopy Asd+ pYA3493 vector to create pYA3494. pYA3493 was derived from a class of Asd+ vectors with reduced expression of Asd to minimize selective disadvantage and enhance immunization of expressed recombinant antigens. The S. enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine strain was constructed by the introduction of deletion mutations Δcrp-28 and ΔasdA16. Approximately 50% of the recombinant PspA (rPspA) expressed in a Salmonella strain harboring pYA3494 was detected in the combined supernatant and periplasmic fractions of broth-grown recombinant Salmonella. After a single oral immunization in BALB/c mice with 109 CFU of the recombinant Salmonella vaccine strain carrying pYA3494, immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses were stimulated to both the heterologous antigen rPspA and Salmonella lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins (OMPs). About half, and even more at later times after immunization, of the antibodies induced to rPspA were IgG1 (indicating a Th2-type response), whereas 60 to 70% of the antibodies to LPS and 80 to 90% of those to OMPs were IgG2a (indicating a Th1-type response). A sublethal infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae WU2 boosted PspA antibody levels and maintained IgG2a/IgG1 ratios similar to those seen before the challenge. Oral immunization with Salmonella-PspA vaccine protected 60% of immunized mice from death after intraperitoneal challenge with 50 times the 50% lethal dose of virulent S. pneumoniae WU2.
Cholinergic Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease Enhance in Vitro Dopamine Release

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a decline in cognitive abilities. Patients also frequently have noncognitive symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, apathy, and psychosis, that impair daily living. The most commonly prescribed treatments for Alzheimer's disease are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil and galantamine. Enhanced cholinergic functions caused by these compounds are believed to underlie improvements in learning, memory, and attention. The noncognitive aspects of dementia, however, are usually linked to serotonin and dopamine rather than acetylcholine because those neurotransmitter systems most directly influence mood, emotional balance, and psychosis. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry applied to mouse striatal brain slices was used to measure the real-time release of dopamine arising from spontaneous activity or from single electrical stimulations. At concentrations that include their prescribed dosage ranges, donepezil (1-1000 nM) and galantamine (50-1000 nM) increase action potential-dependent dopamine release. Consistent with previous literature, the data support slightly different modes of action for donepezil and galantamine. The ability of these commonly prescribed drugs to alter catecholamine release may underlie their influence over noncognitive symptoms of dementia. Furthermore, these results suggest that acting via nicotinic receptors, these drugs may serve presently untapped therapeutic roles by altering dopamine release in other disorders involving dopaminergic systems.
Challenge of the Future

In recent years, there has been remarkable growth in the number of psychologists in medical settings and in their contribution to research, teaching, and the clinical care of patients (Thompson, 1987). In 30 years, the percentage of members of the American Psychological Association (APA) who are identified as medical school faculty increased fivefold (Clayson & Mensh, 1987; Pion & Bramblett, 1985). Approximately 3,000 psychologists in North America are currently employed in medical schools (Clayson & Mensh, 1987), and more than 7,000 are employed in hospitals and clinics (National Science Foundation, 1988). The number of psychologists newly employed in medical schools increased from an average of 46 yearly in the mid 1950s to 130 during 1.968-1976 (Gentry, Street, Masur, & Asken, 1981). Growth during the 1980s, though not yet documented, appears to have been even greater.
Shrubs as Ecosystem Engineers in a Coastal Dune: Influences on Plant Populations, Communities and Ecosystems

Question: How do two shrubs with contrasting lifehistory characteristics influence abundance of dominant plant taxa, species richness and aboveground biomass of grasses and forbs, litter accumulation, nitrogen pools and mineralization rates? How are these shrubs ‐ and thus their effects on populations, communities and ecosystems ‐ distributed spatially across the landscape? Location: Coastal hind-dune system, Bodega Head, northern California. Methods: In each of 4 years, we compared vegetation, leaf litter and soil nitrogen under canopies of two native shrubs ‐ Ericameria ericoides and the nitrogen-fixing Lupinus chamissonis ‐ with those in adjacent open dunes. Results: At the population level, density and cover of the native forb Claytonia perfoliata and the exotic grass Bromus diandrus were higher under shrubs than in shrub-free areas, whereas they were lower under shrubs for the exotic grass Vulpia bromoides. In contrast, cover of three native moss species was highest under Ericameria and equally low under Lupinus and shrub-free areas. At community level, species richness and aboveground biomass of herbaceous dicots was lower beneath shrubs, whereas no pattern emerged for grasses. At ecosystem level, areas beneath shrubs accumulated more leaf litter and had larger pools of soil ammonium and nitrate. Rates of nitrate mineralization were higher under Lupinus, followed by Ericameria and then open dune. At landscape level, the two shrubs ‐ and their distinctive vegetation and soils ‐ frequently had uniform spatial distributions, and the distance separating neighbouring shrubs increased as their combined sizes increased. Conclusions: Collectively, these data suggest that both shrubs serve as ecosystem engineers in this coastal dune, having influences at multiple levels of biological organization. Our data also suggest that intraspecific competition influenced the spatial distributions of these shrubs and thus altered the distributionoftheir effects throughout the landscape.
Structural and kinetic analysis of the chemical rescue of the proton transfer function of carbonic anhydrase II.

Histidine 64 in human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II) functions in the catalytic pathway of CO2 hydration as a shuttle to transfer protons between the zinc-bound water and bulk water. Catalysis of the exchange of 18 O between CO2 and water, measured by mass spectrometry, is dependent on this proton transfer and was decreased more than 10-fold for H64A HCA II compared with wild-type HCA II. The loss of catalytic activity of H64A HCA II could be rescued by 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), an exogenous proton donor, in a saturable process with a maximum activity of 40% of wild-type HCA II. The crystal structure of the rescued complex at 1.6 A resolution shows 4-MI bound in the active-site cavity of H64A HCA II, through ﷿ stacking interactions with Trp 5 and H-bonding interactions with water molecules. In this location, 4-MI is about 12 A from the zinc and approximates the observed "out" position of His 64 in the structure of the wild-type enzyme. 4-MI appears to compensate for the absence of His 64 and rescues the catalytic activity of the H64A HCA II mutant. This result strongly suggests that the out conformation of His 64 is effective in the transfer of protons between the zinc-bound solvent molecule and solution.
Wireless charging for Li-Ion battery using a printable Conformal SCMR

A wireless charging system for a lithium-ion (Li-Ion) rechargeable battery using printable Conformal Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonance (CSCMR) is proposed. This charging system could be used for implantable devices or small portable electronic devices. The charging circuit consists of the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) elements along with the RF-to-DC bridge rectifier and a LTC4070 designed on a PCB. It takes 18 minutes to charge a coin cell Li-Ion battery.
Magnetic Field Assisted Pulsed Vortex Gas Core Rocket Reactor

It had been previously shown [1,2] that the fissile fuel retention problem of nuclear rocket propulsion gas core reactors is in principle solved by a pulsed operation. Here I propose a very promising pulsed configuration, where the heavy fissile material is separated from the light propellant in a vortex with a superimposed axial magnetic field. Making the fissile-propellant assembly prompt critical, a convergent cylindrical shock wave is launched from the fissile material propellant interface, with the high temperature interface plasma acting like an imploding liner compressing the magnetic field. The propellant is thereby heated both by the convergent shock wave and by thermal radiation from the hot fissile layer. For properly chosen initial conditions the imploding fissile layer is by the build-up in magnetic pressure brought to a standstill at a radius somewhat larger than the radius of the exhaust nozzle for the propellant. Thereafter, the radiatively cooled fissile layer is pushed back in the radial direction by the magnetic pressure for the start of the new pulsed cycle. The proposed concept leads to a high thrust and exhaust velocities of the order 50 km/sec.
The relative effects of system parameters on texture in gray-scale ultrasonograms

Texture in B-mode ultrasonography of the abdomen can, in many cases, serve as an important diagnostic tool. Unfortunately, because texture as it is now presented depends on many parameters which are independent of pathology, it is not always a reliable sign. Parameters such as transducer size, center frequency, and bandwidth; B-mode display and storage methods; near and far field wave effects; and the type of intervening tissue all influence the display of texture. We have investigated these parameters of texture through the analysis of computer simulated B-mode ultrasonograms based on in vitro A-line data collected under a variety of circumstances and conditions. A freshly excised bovine pancreas served as the target tissue. Computer generated textured B-mode images, produced with different gray-scale and scan converter storage algorithms, were evaluated by a panel of six radiologists who individually divided sixty images into groups of images with similar texture. These evaluations were mapped into a six feature hyperspace with each axis representing a particular parameter. By applying a variation of the principal components transformation, each parameter could be ranked according to its effect on texture. We found that the type of gray-level preprocessing map had the most effect on texture; intervening tissue and transducer variations had intermediate effects. So long as the target distance did not exceed the focal length of the transducer, the distance between the transducer and the target tissues had the least effect on texture.
On the Small Strain Behavior of Peroxide Crosslinked Natural Rubber

Abstract Torque and normal force measurements on a cylinder subjected to torsion at constant length were used to study the behavior of NR crosslinked with 5 phr dicumyl peroxide. The derivatives of the strain-energy density function ∂W/∂I1 and ∂W/∂I2 were calculated from the data using the scaling law of Penn and Kearsley. The new results extend the limit of small strains at which the strain-energy density function derivatives have been measured to γ<0.005 and further confirm our previous results that for peroxide-crosslinked NR, ∂W/∂I2 does not become negative at small strain, contrary to several reports in the literature. Reduced stress was determined for the rubber by using the approach of Kearsley and Zapas to calculate the derivative w′(λ) of the Valanis-Landel form of the strain energy function. The results were compared with the measured values for reduced stress in tension and compression at small strains. While the deviation between the predictions and the experimental behavior do not exceed 6%, ...
Handcuffing Justice: The Shaky Empirical Foundations of the Feeney Amendment

The United States Sentencing Guidelines greatly restrict the sentencing discretion traditionally vested in district court judges. Since their adoption in 1987, federal judges have criticized the Guidelines more sharply than any other federal law. In 2003, Congress overwhelmingly passed the PROTECT Act. The Feeney Amendment to the Act, added late in the process, imposed further restrictions on judicial discretion in sentencing. Supporters of the Amendment argued that federal district court judges were increasingly departing below the ranges specified in the Sentencing Guidelines. Using data on all federal criminal sentences between 1993 and 2001, this essay argues that the empirical evidence put forward in support of the Feeney Amendment was deeply flawed. While the rate of downward departures increased, much of the increase can be explained by a number of potentially relevant variables such as type of offense, the offense level, district of sentencing, and offender characteristics. In addition, even though downward departures were more frequent, total prison sentences did not change during this time period because departures were smaller in magnitude. I find no evidence that the increasing number of Democratic appointees on the federal district court bench affected prison sentences or downward departures. Most importantly, there is no evidence to support the argument that judges were ignoring the Sentencing Guidelines. The percentage of prison sentences explained by explicit Guidelines factors changed little over the time period. I conclude that the radical reform undertaken by Congress was poorly informed.
An innovative capstone health care informatics clinical residency: Interprofessional team collaboration:

Integrated information systems and wireless technology have been increasingly incorporated into health care organizations with the premise that information technology will promote safe, high-quality, cost-effective patient care. With the advancement of technology, the level of expertise necessary to assume health care information technology roles has escalated. The purpose of this article is to describe a clinical residency project whereby students in a graduate degree health care informatics program successfully fulfilled program competencies through a faculty-lead research project focused on the use of home telehealth with a group of heart failure patients. Through the use of Donabedian's framework of structure, process, and outcomes, the health care informatics students completed essential learning activities deemed essential for transition into the role of an informatics specialist. Health care informatics educational leaders are encouraged to adapt this template of applied learning into their practices.
Expanding the cloud: highlights from a three-prong cloud computing program

This paper provides insights into North Carolina Central University's (NCCU) holistic approach in deploying cloud computing, specifically Virtual Computing Lab (VCL), to engage and strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in university and K-12 students, faculty and communities. This was accomplished by addressing three critical, interdependent environments. VENTURE: Virtualization - Enabling New Technologies to Unify Research and Education's focus is on fortifying the VCL initiative at North Carolina Central University in breadth and depth. VICTORY: Virtualization - Information Communication Technology Outreach to Re-energize Youth's focus is on engaging and emerging K-12 students into a technology rich environment where they have access to software applications and tools that support and expand the classroom environment. VOICE: Virtualization Outreach to Increase Community Equity's focus is on the education and training of communities through the use of technology to help solve issues and revitalise the environment in which we live.
Analysis of diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis patients in Taizhou in 2011

Objective To investigate clinical types,age structure,case classification and treatment outcome of tuberculosis patients in Taizhou urban area;to provide basis for tuberculosis prevention and control.Methods For patients diagnosed in 2011,all information and data of registration,diagnosis,treatment and management was input into worksheet(Excel 2003), which was subjected to epidemiological analysis using SPSS 18.0.Results In 2011,tuberculosis registration rate was 62.73/ 100 000,patients were mainly from 45to 64years old,accounted for 42.59%,with male to female ratio of 1.75∶1.Farmers accounted for 70.03%,followed by workers,which accounted for 19.19%.Annual cure rate of smear-positive TB patients was 88.24%;for smear-negative patients and patients whose sputum results were not available,the treatment rate was 95. 38%.Conclusion Current TB epidemic situation in Taizhou urban area is still serious.In order to reduce incidence of TB,advocacy should be enhanced to improve the intensity of prevention and control on key TB groups such as students and farmers.
Construction of Generalized Intuitionistic Fuzzy Index and Its Application

Considering that the construction method of Existing generalized intuitionistic fuzzy index does not make use of the generalized intuitionistic fuzzy complement operator.Firstly,this paper proposes a kind of new generalized intuitionistic fuzzy index by means of generalized intuitionistic fuzzy complement operator.Secondly,the properties of generalized intuitionistic fuzzy index is strictly proved to be correct.Finally,it is applied in image thresholding segmentation,meanwhile the choosing method of parameters in image thresholding criteria based on generalized intuitionistic fuzzy index is presented.Experimental results show that the proposed construction method of generalized intuitionistic fuzzy index is effective,and the new image thresholding segmentation method based on generalized intuitionistic fuzzy index can obtain more satisfactory segmentation quality than that of traditional intuitionistic fuzzy entropy for uneven illumination gray images.
NUTRITION IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

The data and experimental results reviewed here allow the construction of the following hypothesis: alcohol-induced liver disease results from a combination of two phenomena. The first is the induction of the maximum activity of CYP 2E1 by several dietary factors, i.e. (1) low carbohydrate-high fat diet; and (2) the dietary fats composed of PUFA (Yang et al., 1992). The second is the production of lipid peroxidation induced by CYP 2E1 oxidation of ethanol maintained at high blood alcohol levels (> 200 mg %) with the availability of PUFA as substrate (Ekstrom and Ingelman-Sundberg, 1988; Koop, 1992). Thus, lipid peroxidation may be the final common pathway which supports the induction of ALD. Further, it may provide the common denominator which links ALD pathogenesis to non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) (French et al., 1989b), where CYP 2E1 is induced by high fat diet and/or diabetes (Dong et al., 1988).
Second Harmonic Generation Imaging Analysis of Collagen Arrangement in Human Cornea.

Purpose To describe the horizontal arrangement of human corneal collagen bundles by using second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging.
Return to (Illiberal) Diversity

The collapse of Communism unleashed a phenomenon never before seen in Eastern Europe: people taking to the streets en masse to demand equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The region’s first public LGBT rights demonstrations were held in Prague in 1990, but mobilization began to take off only in this decade, when Gay Pride parades began to be organized in numerous postcommunist countries. Many of these met with aggressive resistance. Between 2001 and 2006, ten Pride marches were banned in the region, marches and related events were met with violence at least 13 times, “leading politi- cians ... used inflammatory language on at least ten occasions,” and police forces “failed to provide adequate protection” seven times and “[broke] up a peaceful demonstration” twice.
Linear system identifiability from distributional and time series data

We consider identifiability of linear systems driven by white noise using a combination of distributional and time series measurements. Specifically, we assume that the system has no control inputs available and can only be observed at stationarity. The user is able to measure the full stationary state distribution as well as observe time correlations for small subsets of the state. We formulate theoretical conditions on identifiability of parameters from distributional information alone. We then give a sufficient condition and an effective necessary condition for identifiability using a combination of distributional and time series measurements. We illustrate the ideas with some simple examples as well as a biologically inspired example of a transcription and degradation process.
A Humanistic and Human Science Approach to Emotion

Publisher Summary This chapter characterizes humanistic and human science psychology and related approaches to understanding human affairs. The chapter also introduces a qualitative research method that discusses a human science analysis of one emotion, anger. Based on this understanding, the chapter presents a human science understanding of emotion. Thereafter, the chapter addresses the relation of Erikson's stages of development to what adults become emotional about, and then relates a human science conception of emotion to well being. Finally, the chapter explores the significance of a humanistic, human-science approach make.
Two-phase Nonrepudiation Protocols

A nonrepudiation protocol from party S to party R performs two tasks. First, the protocol enables party S to send to party R some text x along with a proof (that can convince a judge) that x was indeed sent by S. Second, the protocol enables party R to receive text x from S and to send to S a proof (that can convince a judge) that x was indeed received by R. A nonrepudiation protocol from one party to another is called two-phase iff the two parties execute the protocol as specified until one of the two parties receives its complete proof. Then and only then does this party refrain from sending any message specified by the protocol because these messages only help the other party complete its proof. In this paper, we present methods for specifying and verifying two-phase nonrepudiation protocols.
Más que Esclavos: A BlackCrit examination of the treatment of Afro-Latin@s in U.S. high school world history textbooks

Drawing from Black Critical Theory (BlackCrit) as a theoretical framework, this study examined how Afro-Latin@s are represented in U.S. world history textbooks alongside global narratives of race a...
Moderating Effects of Weather-Related Factors on a Physical Activity Intervention.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to identify whether weather-related factors moderate the effect of a physical activity (PA) intervention. Methods Participants (N=204, 77% female, mean age 33 [SD=11] years, mean BMI 28.2 [SD=7.1]) from the Make Better Choices 1 trial, enrolled April 2005 to April 2008, were randomized to one of two treatment conditions: (1) increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) treatment group, or (2) decrease sedentary behavior control group. Participants wore an accelerometer for 5 weeks: a 2-week baseline assessment followed by a 3-week intervention. Accelerometer data were used to estimate minutes/day of MVPA. Average daily temperature, day length, and precipitation were obtained from the National Climatic Data Center and combined with the accelerometer data. Linear mixed effects models were used to determine whether these weather-related factors moderated the effect of the intervention on MVPA. Separate models were fit for season, daily average temperature, and day length. Results There was a significant moderating effect of season on MVPA such that the PA intervention, as compared with control, increased MVPA 10.4 minutes more in the summer than in the winter (95% CI=1.1, 19.6, p =0.029). There was a significant moderating effect of daily temperature such that every 10°F increase in temperature was associated with an additional 1.5 minutes/day increase in the difference in MVPA increase between the two intervention conditions (95% CI=0.1, 2.9, p =0.015). There was a significant moderating effect of day length such that every additional hour of daylight was associated with a 2.23-minute increase in the PA intervention’s impact on increasing MVPA (95% CI=0.8, 3.7, p =0.002). Conclusions Day length and temperature had a significant moderating effect on change in MVPA during a PA intervention such that the intervention was less effective on colder days and on shorter days, independently. These results suggest that strategies to overcome environmental barriers should be considered when designing PA interventions for adults.