cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early taproot development of a xeric shrub (Larrea tridentata) is optimized within a narrow range of soil moisture

Effects of watering amount and frequency on root biomass accumulation and taproot elongation were examined 16–17 days post-germination in seedlings of Larrea tridentata, a dominant shrub in North American hot deserts. Two experimental variables manipulated in a full factorial design greenhouse study were (i) number of “triggering” days: consecutive days (2, 3, 4 or 5) at the start of the experiment on which seedlings received 10 mm of water per day; and (ii) “post-trigger” watering frequency: 5 mm of water either daily or every other day. We hypothesized that taproot elongation would increase with greater numbers of triggering days, whereas higher post-trigger watering frequency would enhance root biomass development. Increasing the number of triggering days from two to four promoted taproot extension without affecting root biomass, and higher watering frequency in the post-trigger phase generally increased root biomass, as expected. Contrary to expectations, root biomass and taproot length were significantly reduced when daily watering followed five consecutive triggering days. Taproot length correlated with root biomass, but irrigation regime also had a biomass-independent effect: with either two or five triggering days, taproots were shorter than expected based on root biomass. Thus, both too little and too much water stymied taproot extension. In natural settings, the adverse response of taproots to too little or too much water could reduce seedling survivorship and restrict establishment to a narrow range of environmental conditions.
Effect of deuterium oxide on neutrophil oxidative metabolism, phagocytosis, and lysosomal enzyme release.

We have previously shown that deuterium oxide (D2O) enhances the oxidation of methionine, a myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated reaction, by human neutrophils during phagocytosis. However, D2O has no effect on the oxidation of methionine by the purified MPO-H2O2-Cl− system. To explain this observation, we studied the effect of D2O on the oxidative metabolism, phagocytosis, and lysosomal enzyme release by human neutrophils. D2O stimulated the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) activity of resting neutrophils in a dose-response fashion. In the presence of latex particles or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), D2O brought about an exaggerated stimulation of the HMS activity. This enhancement of the HMS activity by D2O was markedly reduced when neutrophils form two patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) were used, either in the presence or absence of latex particles or PMA. Superoxide and H2O2 production by neutrophils in the presence of latex particles or PMA were also stimulated by D2O. In contrast, D2O inhibited the ingestion of latex particles. D2O enhanced the extracellular release of MPO, but not lactate dehydrogenase, by neutrophils only in the simultaneous presence of cytochalasin B and latex particles. The enhancement of HMS activity and MPO release by D2O was partially inhibited by colchicine. Our results suggest that enhancement of neutrophil oxidative metabolism by D2O may in part explain the stimulation of methionine oxidation by phagocytosing neutrophils.
Liquid‐side resistance in gas absorption

The film theory of liquid-side resistance to gas absorption, embodying the assumption of a thin stagnant liquid film adjacent to the interface in which steady state diffusion occurs, has long been open to question, particularly in packed columns. Higbie's penetration theory, believed to be more reasonable, pictures the liquid as flowing over a piece of packing for a very short period of time before being mixed as it flows to the next piece of packing. In the penetration model absorption occurs during a series of brief contacts, and unsteady state mass transfer conditions prevail in the liquid. Several short glass-wetted-wall columns 1.9 to 4.3 cm. long were constructed to simulate the assumptions of the penetration theory. Because of the short length ripples were absent except when the gas rate was higher than ReG = 2,200. The desorption of carbon dioxide from water and of chlorine from dilute hydrochloric acid (0.16 to 0.18 N) was studied. The desorption rate of carbon dioxide was unaffected by gas velocity up to ReG of 2,200 and increased 1.1%/°C. over the temperature range of 22° to 31°C.
2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-Hexahydroxy-1,1′-biphenyl-6,6′-dimethanol dimethyl ether (HBDDE)-induced neuronal apoptosis independent of classical protein kinase C α or γ inhibition

Abstract Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes constitute a family of at least 12 structurally related serine–threonine kinases that are differentially regulated and localized, and are presumed to mediate distinct intracellular functions. To explore their roles in intact cells, investigators are developing cell-permeable, isoform-selective inhibitors. 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-Hexahydroxy-1,1′-biphenyl-6,6′-dimethanol dimethyl ether (HBDDE) is reported to be a selective inhibitor of PKC α and γ with ic 50 values of 43 and 50 μM, respectively, using an in vitro assay. However, data examining the potency and selectivity of HBDDE in intact cells are lacking. Employing rodent cerebellar granule neurons as a model system, we investigated the effects of HBDDE using cell survival as a functional end-point. HBDDE induced an apoptotic form of cell death that was dependent upon protein synthesis and included activation of a terminal executioner of apoptosis, caspase 3. The concentration of HBDDE required for half-maximal cell death was less than 10 μM (∼5-fold less than the reported ic 50 values for PKC α and γ in vitro ). Furthermore, HBDDE induced apoptosis even after phorbol-ester-mediated down-regulation of PKC α and γ, indicating that this effect is independent of these isoforms. Consistent with this, 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) indol-3-yl]-3-(indol-3-yl)-maleimide (GF 109203X), a general inhibitor of all classical and some novel PKCs, did not interfere with survival. Thus, HBDDE should not be used as an isoform-selective inhibitor of PKC α or γ in intact cells. Nevertheless, identification of its target in granule neurons will provide valuable information about survival pathways.
Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol reporting and goal attainment in primary care.

Background The Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines established non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) as a secondary treatment target. However, non-HDL-C levels are not reported on standard lipid panels by many hospital-based and/or commercial biochemical laboratories. Objective We determined whether reporting non-HDL-C was associated with improved non-HDL-C goal attainment. Methods We identified patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or diabetes receiving care within the Veterans Health Administration. We matched a facility that reported non-HDL-C levels on lipid panels (3994 CVD and 5108 diabetes patients) to a facility with similar size, patient complexity, and academic mission that did not report non-HDL-C (4269 CVD and 6591 diabetes patients). We performed patient-level analysis to assess differences in non-HDL-C from baseline to the most recent lipid panel at these facilities. Results Baseline non-HDL-C levels for CVD patients were 114 mg/dL and 107 mg/dL at the reporting and nonreporting facilities, respectively. At 2.3-year follow-up, non-HDL-C levels decreased at both facilities but by a greater amount at the reporting facility (−11 mg/dL vs −3 mg/dL at the nonreporting facility, P P P = .004). Results were similar in diabetes patients. Reporting was also associated with greater proportions of patients meeting non-HDL-C treatment goal of Conclusion Non-HDL-C reporting could improve non-HDL-C goal attainment.
A Demonstration of SearchonTS: An Efficient Pattern Search Framework for Time Series Data

In recent years, time series data are everywhere across different industry, which creates a huge demand on time series data analysis, such as pattern search. Meanwhile, it is increasingly realized that only when pattern search results together with information from relational tables could be used in a programming-free way, can they perform analysis on time series conveniently. Hence, casual users highly demand that queries involving pattern search could be performed via SQLs. However, existing database products supporting time series data type lack the capability to perform pattern searches on time series data. This paper presents SearchonTS, an extendable framework for in-database pattern search on time series data. It provides a series of interfaces so that time series index and pattern search can be added and performed in a uniformed and query optimized manner. SearchonTS is implemented as an extension on Informix, which is a database product in IBM software product series. It targets a future release of IBM Informix. We have implemented index-based pattern search for Euclid Distance(ED) via SearhonTS to demonstrate its usability for developers. And real scenario is also provided to show SQL involving pattern search so that users can have a more clear experience of the convenience.
Tool for Rapid Advanced Cockpit Simulation (TRACS) For Next Generation Human Space Vehicles

In today’s aerospace industry envir onment, technology needs, capability, and tools are changing at an extremely fast pace. In order to address this rapidly changing environment, it is essential to have tools and capabilities that support rapid -prototype development. These tools and capabi lities must also be designed in such a fashion as to be easily extended to support emerging technology, as it becomes available. Honeywell has developed an architecture and rapid -prototyping environment to address many of these industry needs . This paper describes Honeywell's Tool for Rapid Advanced Cockpit Simulation (TRACS) for use in human interface requirement synthesis and cockpit development for the next generation human space vehicles. TRACS is currently providing key aerospace customers, certificat ion authorities, and industry officials with an opportunity to look at new ways to display information and implement control systems. TRACS is a powerful tool for assisting customers and vendors in communicating their next generation vehicle cockpit requi rements and needs. Prime vehicle manufacturers have used TRACS systems at their factories to evaluate pilot preferences and performance on an ongoing basis. TRACS has supported crew training and Human Factors analysis for various aerospace vehicles. Appli ed to human space vehicles, TRACS is used to capture end -user (i.e. astronauts) requirements and is also an advanced development tool for engineers. TRACS is an excellent forum for showcasing advanced vehicle technology and concepts of operation. Concepts and technologies have been demonstrated on TRACS that are relevant to next generation vehicles (e.g. NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle). TRACS is used in industry as a key toolset for reducing product and vehicle development cycle -time. TRACS, based on CO TS hardware and software, is a cost -effective solution to reduce program cost and risk. TRACS promotes industry standards and software re -use, and provides developers with the flexibility to develop software and hardware upgrades concurrently with a space craft flight test program
Optimization of polymer photovoltaic cells with bulk heterojunction layers hundreds of nanometers thick: modifying the morphology and cathode interface

In polymer photovoltaic (PV) cell, it is desirable to use a relatively thick polymer semiconductor film in order to maximize the light absorption, and to achieve better controllability and reproducibility of the film in manufacturing processes. However, the low fill factor due to restricted charge transport and extraction at large film thickness serially limits the performance of the polymer PV cell. In this work, we investigate the factors that can impact the device performances as film thickness is increased. We also introduce ways to help alleviate these problems in thick BHJ PVs. Our measurement results, based on the space-charge limited-current (SCLC) model and the photo-induced carrier extraction by linearly increasing voltage (photo-CELIV) method, show that the thicker BHJ devices have relatively low electron mobility compared with hole mobility, which directly correlates with high contact resistance at the top cathode interface that prevents efficient transport of photo-generated electrons. Specifically, we found that the newly introduced ESSENCIAL fabrication process helps improve the blend donor and acceptor domain morphologies; and adding an ultrathin C60 layer at the cathode interface helps improve the surface morphology and significantly reduce the contact resistance. The effects of the added thin C60 layer on PV cells were further studied by examining several important diode characteristics. Our results proved that this layer not only decreases the contact resistance at the cathode but also improves the hole-blocking, thereby providing significantly suppressed recombination at the cathode interface. Consequently, the fabricated PV devices optimized in morphology and interface show significantly improved internal quantum efficiency (IQE) as compared with the thermally annealed conventional PV cells, leading to 5.11% PCE from a P3HT:PCBM blend system. The modifications to the fabrication of BHJ PV cells described in this work allow for photoactive layers to be hundreds of nanometers thick for efficient light absorption and better controllability.
Chemoenzymatic Solution- and Solid-Phase Synthesis of O-Glycopeptides of the Mucin Domain of MAdCAM-1. A General Route to O-LacNAc, O-Sialyl-LacNAc, and O-Sialyl-Lewis-X Peptides

An efficient and general method for the solid-phase synthesis of glycopeptides containing an O-linked sialyl-Lewis-X (SLex) tetrasaccharide is described. Using a combined chemoenzymatic approach, the first synthesis of an unnatural β-O-linked SLex attached to a partial sequence of the mucin domain of the L-selectin ligand MAdCAM-1, was demonstrated. A resin-bound O-glycoconjugate was synthesized from a new Fmoc-threonine building block which carries an O-unprotected β-linked N-acetylglucoseamine (GlcNAc) moiety. The acid- and base-stable HYCRON-linker enabled the complete removal of all protecting groups on solid phase. Glycosyltransferases were employed to extend the glycan on supported and unsupported O-GlcNAc-octapeptide substrates. The acid- and base-sensitive O-glycopeptides were released under practically neutral conditions, taking advantage of the palladium(0)-catalyzed cleavage of the allylic linkage. Studies toward the selective O-deacetylation of ester-linked glycopeptides possessing O-acetyl-pr...
Negative impacts of rainfall on Aquarius Sea Surface Salinity measurements

The remote sensing of Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) by the Aquarius L-band radiometer is a very challenging task. This paper describes one particular challenge, namely to remove the effects of rain contamination on the measurement of ocean surface brightness temperature. Instantaneously, rain drops striking the ocean increases the surface roughness that raises the ocean surface brightness temperature and that results in a corresponding reduction of the retrieved SSS. Moreover, over time periods of hours, rain accumulation can produce a fresh water lens that modifies the ocean brightness, which also affects the retrieved ocean salinity. This paper investigates these negative effects of instantaneous and accumulated rainfall on Aquarius SSS measurement.
Decay of Aircraft Wake Vortices Under Daytime Free Convective Conditions

Nomenclature B = buoyancy flux, m=s b = span, m b0 = vortex spacing, m g0 = gravitational acceleration, m=s 2 h = height above the ground, m hABL = height of the atmospheric boundary layer, m N = buoyancy frequency, 1=s Q = heat flux,W=m Re = Reynolds number s0 = characteristic distance scale, m t, T = time, s t0 = characteristic time scale, s V1 = aircraft speed, m=s W = aircraft weight, N w0 = characteristic velocity scale, m=s = safe nondimensional circulation, safe= 0 0 = circulation, m =s " = turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate, m=s = kinematic viscosity, m=s = nondimensional distance, s=s0 = nondimensional circulation, = 0 = nondimensional time, t=t0 = atmospheric turbulence number, b "b = 0
Test Standards and Credentialing Examinations

Three professional associations, the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education, jointly adopted the new Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing in 1985. The relationship of these new Standards to the earlier Standards published by the same three sponsoring associations is reviewed briefly. In addition, implications of the new Standards for credentialing examination programs in the health professions are discussed.
Ultracentrifugal Studies of γ-Globulins Prepared by Electrophoresis-Convection

In concluding these remarks, I wish to emphasize the role played today by applied ecology in sport and commercial fisheries. We meet it on every hand. The primary problems in fresh-water fisheries today concern interrelations between species, and population balance. In the ocean, interest centers on the effect environment exerts on population numbers. If, through careful study, the uncertainties can be eliminated, at least in large part, then the road is clear to measure the influence of the fishery on the maintenance of a high economic level of production. All this investigational subject matter goes by a variety of names, but I can think of none more appropriate than applied ecology. The time has come to crystallize our thinking in regard to these particular categories of knowledge, to encourage a uniform terminology, and to utilize an old and well-established concept-namely, the application of science to human affairs.
Application of chiral (E)-crotylsilanes in synthesis: The asymmetric synthesis of the C19C34 spiroketal fragment of rutamycin B

Abstract The asymmetric synthesis of the spiroketal fragment of rutamycin B is reported employing allylsilane bond construction methodology for the introduction of five of the eight stereogenic centers. In this paper, the construction of the C19C28 and C29C34 fragments as well as their coupling through an alkylation reaction of a lithiated N , N -dimethylhydrazone are described.
The influence of adsorption and step reconstruction on the growth and etching vectors of silicon (111)

Abstract The lateral growth and etching vectors which are published for silicon and related materials appear to differ between the vacuum (or gas)-solid systems and the liquid-solid system: the vectors are 180° rotated with respect to each other. A theoretical analysis based on a first order broken bond model and assuming either unaffected dangling bonds or completely saturated dangling bonds, leads to growth and etching vectors consistent with the vector orientations observed in the liquid-solid system. When step reconstruction is taken into account a similar treatment leads to the 180° rotated vector orientations which are found in the vacuum (or gas)-solid systems.
Searching for the Global in Global Studies

Nederveen Pieterse certainly has done more than his part over the years in popularizing globalization studies. His prolific literary output is quite extraordinary not only in terms of the number of...
DSP-controlled, space-vector PWM, current source converter for STATCOM application

Abstract Basic operational concepts of the single current source converter (CSC)-based STATCOM are studied in this paper. The space vector modulation scheme is adopted to control switching functions of the CSC. Capitalizing on anticipated new switch technology, the reduced-size LC filter is examined and design guidance is given. A filter current compensation method to reduce the error between command and response current is proposed under steady-state operation condition by use of phasor analysis. A loss compensation control is introduced that allows operation without a charging converter to maintain a desired value of current through the dc inductor. A DSP-based lab model is built to validate the concepts of the space vector modulated STATCOM and the control scheme proposed in this paper. The experimental results are satisfactory in that a low distortion line current results for steady-state operation.
Tumor necrosis factor stimulates DNA synthesis in the liver of intact rats

TNF is cytotoxic to tumor cell lines but enhances growth of some nontransformed cells. Because animals administered TNF have an increase in liver size, we studied the [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in the liver of intact rats. A significant increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation is seen 20 hours following TNF administration and peaks at 24 hours. The lowest dose of TNF that increases DNA synthesis is 10 micrograms/200 g rat with a maximal increase occurring with 25 micrograms/200 g, considerably less than the dose required for maximally increasing plasma triglycerides. The increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation was shown to be due to an increase in DNA polymerase alpha activity (associated with the replication of DNA) rather than DNA polymerases beta (associated with DNA repair) plus gamma activity. These results indicate that TNF administration stimulates DNA replication in the liver of intact animals.
Multiple shrinkage estimators in multiple linear regression

Consider a standard multiple linear regression model . The usual least squares estimator of β , is dominated by Stein-typed shrinkage estimators; each shrinks to a prior subspace specified by a linear restriction in the form of Cm×pβ = dm×1 where m≤p. However, the reduction in expected sum of prediction squared errors is significant only in a small region in the param-eter space around the prior subspace. The multiple shrinkage estimators, which were first introduced by George (1986), are applied. In multiple linear regression, a multiple shrinkage estimator, which shrinks to more than one prior subspace simultaneously, is shown to dominate . It does not only enlarge the region in the parameter space that gives significant reduction in expected sum of prediction squared errors over that of , but also helps in solving the problem of model selection. A computer simulation is done to show that multiple shrinkage estimators are preferred to estimators given by the stepwise regression procedure in most cases. ...
Influence of Filler Type and Water Exposure on Flexural Strength of Experimental Composite Resins

The objective of this investigation was to determine the influence of water exposure on the flexural strength of three experimental composite materials. The composites consisted of an experimental resin system which contained silane-treated filler particles of quartz, barium glass, and porous silica. The amorphous silica particles were spheres approximately 5 micron in diameter. In addition to the different composites, pure resin samples were investigated as a control group. The results of this investigation did not support the hypothesis that use of porous amorphous silica filler particles reduced the hydrolytic degradation effect of composites containing such silica particles. Instead, the results indicated that water may have a more detrimental effect on the strength of the matrix than on the filler-matrix interface. However, the relatively high frequency of fracture lines in the porous silica particles after storage in water indicate that water had a weakening effect on this type of filler.
Extraction of control signals from a mixture of source activity in the peripheral nerve

Extracting physiological signals to control external devices such as prosthetics is a field of research that offers great hope for patients suffering from disabilities. In this paper, we present an algorithm for isolating control signals from peripheral nerve cuff recordings. The algorithm is able to extract individual control signals from a mixture of source signal activity while maximizing SNR and minimizing cross-talk between the control signals. Based on fast independent component analysis FICA and an adaptation of Champagne, the proposed algorithm is tested against previously published results obtained using beamforming techniques in an acute preparation of rabbits. Preliminary results demonstrate an improvement in performance.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE AVIAN IRIS AND CILIARY BODY : MECHANISMS OF CELLULAR DIFFERENTIATION DURING THE SMOOTH-TO-STRIATED MUSCLE TRANSITION

The avian iris and ciliary body undergoes a transition from smooth-to-striated muscle during embryonic development. Using antibodies specific for smooth muscle-specific alpha-actin and myosin heavy chain, we confirm that a smooth-to-striated muscle transition occurs between E8 and E17 in both iris and ciliary body of the chick. To study the mechanisms regulating the transition in muscle type, we analyzed the fate of quail clones derived from E7 iris cells. When cells were cloned alone, 45/71 colonies differentiated into smooth muscle and 10/71 became striated muscle. None of the colonies were mixed with respect to muscle phenotype, indicating a lack of pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, clones giving rise to nonstriated muscle could not be forced to incorporate into myotubes when cocultured with chick myocytes. Clones grown in coculture with chick embryo fibroblasts or E11 iris cells had very high cloning efficiencies (>98%). Significantly more clones differentiated into striated muscle when cocultured with E11 cells (60/156) than when cocultured with fibroblasts (29/108). This was due to an increased recruitment of undifferentiated cells into striated muscle, rather than a change in the percentage of cells differentiating into smooth muscle. In vivo and in vitro, various smooth and striated muscle-specific markers including contractile proteins, acetylcholine receptor subtypes, and transcription factors were colocalized in cells. Although our data argue against a multipotent stem cell for smooth and striated muscle cells, they cannot exclude a role for transdifferentiation. Cumulatively these results suggest that both smooth muscle and migratory myoblasts contribute to the development of myotubes in the avian iris and that this process is regulated in a non-cell-autonomous fashion by locally generated signals.
Hydrogen Bond Flexibility and Water Dynamics in the Far Red Fluorescent Protein TagRFP675

Next-generation far-red emitting fluorescent proteins (FPs) with enhanced fluorescence quantum yields and high photostability are highly desirable. They would enable deeper tissue penetration and lengthened imaging times given a lower autofluorescence background, lower light scattering, and higher transmission beyond 650 nm. The farthest red emitting FP engineered to date is TagRFP675, which has a 77 nm Stokes shift. The red emission of TagRFP675 is attributed to several H-bonding contacts involving Q41 and S28 at the N-acylimine position with additional H-bonds at the phenoxy end of the chromophore with N143, N158, and R197. We used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the relationship between flexibility of the chromophore environment and the large Stokes shift in TagRFP675 and related variants mKate and its mutant mKate-M41Q. Both TagRFP675 and mKate-M41Q have large Stokes shift as compared to mKate. Analysis of the hydrogen bonds around the chromophore reveal that in both TagRFP675 and mKate-M41Q have an extended hydrogen bond network connecting Q106-water-F65-Q41-S28 whereas in mKate, this network does not extend beyond F65. The water molecule involved in the hydrogen bond network shows significantly larger flexibility and mobility in TagRFP675 as compared to mKate-M41Q, highlighting the role of the chromophore environment for large bathochromic shifts.
Behavioral assessment of personality disorders

This article examines the definition of personality disorders (PDs) from a functional analytical framework and discusses the potential utility of such a framework to account for behavioral tendencies associated with PD pathology. Also reviewed are specific behavioral assessment methods that can be employed in the assessment of PDs, and how information derived from these assessments may be linked to specific intervention strategies.
The axisymmetric contraction-expansion: the role of extensional rheology on vortex growth dynamics and the enhanced pressure drop

The flow of a polystyrene Boger fluid through axisymmetric contraction‐expansions having various contraction ratios (2 8) and varying degrees of re-entrant corner curvatures are studied experimentally over a large range of Deborah numbers. The ideal elastic fluid is dilute, monodisperse and well characterized in both shear and transient uniaxial extension. A large enhanced pressure drop above that of a Newtonian fluid is observed independent of contraction ratio and re-entrant corner curvature. Streak images, laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) are used to investigate the flow kinematics upstream of the contraction plane. LDV is used to measure velocity fluctuation in the mean flow field and to characterize a global elastic flow instability which occurs at large Deborah numbers. For a contraction ratio of D 2, a steady elastic lip vortex is observed while for contraction ratios of 4 8, no lip vortex is observed and a corner vortex is seen. Rounding the re-entrant corner leads to shifts in the onset of the flow transitions at larger Deborah numbers, but does not qualitatively change the overall structure of the flow field. We describe a simple rescaling of the deformation rate which incorporates the effects of lip curvature and allows measurements of vortex size, enhanced pressure drop and critical Deborah number for the onset of elastic instability to be collapsed onto master curves. Transient extensional rheology measurements are utilized to explain the significant differences in vortex growth pathways (i.e. elastic corner vortex versus lip vortex growth) observed between the polystyrene Boger fluids used in this research and polyisobutylene and polyacrylamide Boger fluids used in previous contraction flow experiments. We show that the role of contraction ratio on vortex growth dynamics can be rationalized by considering the dimensionless ratio of the elastic normal stress difference in steady shear flow to those in transient uniaxial extension. It appears that the differences in this normal stress ratio for different fluids at a given Deborah number arise from variations in solvent quality or excluded volume effects. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
In Search of the Real State

The Myth of 1648: Class, Geopolitics and the Making of Modern International Relations. By Benno Teschke. London: Verso, 2003. 300 pp., $35.00 cloth (ISBN: 1-85984-693-9). Benno Teschke's The Myth of 1648 is a welcome, though flawed, addition to the growing body of literature in international relations written by the likes of Michael Mann (1986), John Ruggie (1993), Hendrik Spruyt (1994), Yosef Lapid and Friedrich Kratochwil (1996), Rodney Hall (1999), Robert Denemark (Denemark, Modelski, and Gills 2000) that takes history seriously and that emphasizes the critical role of the past in explaining the present. Taking issue with the views of many of above scholars, Teschke argues that a genuine interstate system did not come into existence with the seventeenth century Westphalian settlement. Rather, it emerged over a century later as a result of the shift in property relations under capitalism, which, Teschke asserts, initially took place in nineteenth-century Britain. The Myth of 1648 surveys European international relations from the early Middle Ages to the twentieth century. It does so from an imaginative and highly accessible neo-Marxist perspective that is derived, in the author's words, from a “theory of social property relations” (p. 7). The historical analysis that follows from this foundation leads Teschke to conclude that both Europe's Middle Ages and the dynastic epoch of absolutism that followed featured precapitalist property relations based on exploitation and war rather than on the accumulation of wealth as in the later capitalist era. In simplified form, his argument is that modern international relations (IR) consists of modern or capitalist states, that such states did not emerge until the nineteenth century, and that much …
The Profile of Immune Modulation by Cannabidiol (CBD) Involves Deregulation of Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells (NFAT)

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid compound derived from Cannabis Sativa that does not possess high affinity for either the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Similar to other cannabinoids, we demonstrated previously that CBD suppressed interleukin-2 (IL-2) production from phorbol ester plus calcium ionophore (PMA/Io)-activated murine splenocytes. Thus, the focus of the present studies was to further characterize the effect of CBD on immune function. CBD also suppressed IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA expression, proliferation, and cell surface expression of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain, CD25. While all of these observations support the fact that CBD suppresses T cell function, we now demonstrate that CBD suppressed IL-2 and IFN-gamma production in purified splenic T cells. CBD also suppressed activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcriptional activity, which are critical regulators of IL-2 and IFN-gamma. Furthermore, CBD suppressed the T cell-dependent anti-sheep red blood cell immunoglobulin M antibody forming cell (anti-sRBC IgM AFC) response. Finally, using splenocytes derived from CB1(-/-)/CB2(-/-) mice, it was determined that suppression of IL-2 and IFN-gamma and suppression of the in vitro anti-sRBC IgM AFC response occurred independently of both CB1 and CB2. However, the magnitude of the immune response to sRBC was significantly depressed in CB1(-/-)/CB2(-/-) mice. Taken together, these data suggest that CBD suppresses T cell function and that CB1 and/or CB2 play a critical role in the magnitude of the in vitro anti-sRBC IgM AFC response.
Characterization of a Novel DNA Primase from the Salmonella typhimurium Bacteriophage SP6

The gene for the DNA primase encoded by Salmonella typhimurium bacteriophage SP6 has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and its 74-kDa protein product purified to homogeneity. The SP6 primase is a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase that synthesizes short oligoribonucleotides containing each of the four canonical ribonucleotides. GTP and CTP are both required for the initiation of oligoribonucleotide synthesis. In reactions containing only GTP and CTP, SP6 primase incorporates GTP at the 5'-end of oligoribonucleotides and CMP at the second position. On synthetic DNA templates, pppGpC dinucleotides are synthesized most rapidly in the presence of the sequence 5'-GCA-3'. This trinucleotide sequence, containing a cryptic dA at the 3'-end, differs from other known bacterial and phage primase recognition sites. SP6 primase shares some properties with the well-characterized E. coli bacteriophage T7 primase. The T7 DNA polymerase can use oligoribonucleotides synthesized by SP6 primase as primers for DNA synthesis. However, oligoribonucleotide synthesis by SP6 primase is not stimulated by either the E. coli- or the T7-encoded ssDNA binding protein. An amino acid sequence alignment of the SP6 and T7 primases, which share only 22.4% amino acid identity, indicates amino acids likely critical for oligoribonucleotide synthesis as well as a putative Cys3His zinc finger motif that may be involved in DNA binding.
Viruses and antibody response: An update

Wingard, J. R. et al. (1983). Effect of several antiviral agents on human 20. lymphocyte functions and marrow progenitor cell prolifcration. Antimicrob. Agcnts Chemothcr. 23:593-597. Wittek, A. E. et al. (1983). Effccts of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine on proliferation of human fibroblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and granulocyte-monoeyte progenitor cells in vitro. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 24:803-806.
Atomic effects on nuclear resonance reaction yield curves of aluminium and nickel

Abstract Aluminium targets evaporated under a variety of conditions all showed a Lewis peak on the thick-target γ-ray yield curves over the Al 27 (p, γ)Si 28 resonance reaction at 992 keV. The peaks of all targets prepared at pressures below 4 × 10 −7 mm Hg rose above the plateau to a height of about 10% of the plateau yield. Targets prepared at higher pressures showed smaller peaks. Thick-target yield curves from the Ni 58 (p, γ)Cu 59 resonance reaction at 1424 keV showed a Lewis peak which was about 23% abobe the plateau yield. Results indicate that nickel targets are much less susceptible to contamination than aluminium. Yield curves were calculated using an improved collision spectrum which takes into account the electron shells of the atom. These calculated curves fit the experimental data much better than previous calculations which treated the electrons in the target as free. Results from these calculations indicate that the point corresponding to one-half the plateau yield, lies about 120 eV below the resonance energy for aluminium and 125 eV below for nickel. Results also indicate that past methods for experimentally determining energy resolution from thick-target yield curves are in error.
Combinatorial packings of R^3 by certain error spheres

This paper concerns one of the "error spheres" discussed by Golomb in 1969, his "Stein corner" in three-dimensional Euclidean space R^{3} . This figure, which we shall call a semicross, is defined as follows. Let k be a positive integer. The (k, 3) -semicross consists of 3k + 1 unit cubes: a corner cube together with three nonopposite arms of length k . (It may be thought of as a tripod.) For k \geq 2 translates of the (k, 3) -semicross do not tile R^{3} . The question of how densely the translates pack R^{3} will be examined by combinatorial techniques. While the maximum density is not determined, sufficiently dense packings are produced to show that they are much denser than the densest lattice packing.
Two cases of changes in amino acid transport activity with tissue development

Abstract During the first day of extrauterine life the liver of the guinea-pig greatly intensifies the extent of the steady-state concentration of two amino acids, one normal and one non-metabolizable. Another change with tissue development is in the reverse direction, namely the loss of two or more uphill transport systems by the rabbit reticulocyte on its maturation. The nature of the association between changes in the character and intensity of protein synthesis and in amino acid transport activity, as illustrated by these two cases, is discussed.
STUDIES IN ONAGRACEAE VIII. THE SUBGENERA HARTMANNIA AND GAUROPSIS OF THE GENUS OENOTHERA. THE GENUS GAYOPHYTUM

In the preparation of this paper it has been my privilege to see material in many herbaria and it is now a great pleasure to express my deep appreciation to those in charge of the various institutions where I was allowed to work, both for their kindness and that of the various members of their staffs. The names of the herbaria from which I cite material, with the abbreviations I shall use, are as follows:
Death or Declaw: Dealing with Moral Ambiguity in a Veterinary Hospital

The medical practice of declawing has received much political debate over the past few years. Yet, empirical and theoretical research on how this practice is maintained and the ethical positions of those who actually participate in this work is lacking. Drawing from 9 months of ethnographic fieldwork in a feline-specific veterinary hospital and open-ended interviews with veterinarians and staff, this study examines veterinary staff members' attitudes toward, and strategies for, dealing with the medical practice of declawing. Specifically, findings show that a number of staff felt uncomfortable with their participation in onychectomy (declawing) and relied heavily on organizational support structures to cope both with these feelings and the moral ambiguity about the practice. Relying on these structures, the veterinarians and their staff are able simultaneously to define felines as subjects worthy of respect for their quality of life, protect their own self-identity as people who work toward the best interest of animals, and paradoxically support action toward felines that they find morally objectionable.
A 'win-win' mechanism for low-drag transients in controlled two-dimensional channel flow and its implications for sustained drag reduction

A simple pressure-based feedback control strategy for wall-transpiration control of incompressible unsteady two-dimensional channel flow was recently investigated by Aamo, Krstic & Bewley (2003). Nonlinear two-dimensional channel flow simulations which implemented this control strategy resulted in flow transients with instantaneous drag far lower than that of the corresponding laminar flow. The present article examines the physical mechanism by which this very low level of instantaneous drag was attained. It then explores the possibility of achieving sustained drag reductions to below the laminar level by initiating such low-drag transients on a periodic basis. All attempts at sustaining the mean flow drag below the laminar level fail, perhaps providing indirect evidence in favour of the conjecture that the laminar state might provide a fundamental ‘performance limitation’ in such flows. Mathematical analysis of two-dimensional and three-dimensional channel-flow systems establishes a direct link between the average drag increase due to flow-field unsteadiness and a weighted space/time average of the Reynolds stress. Phenomenological justification of the conjecture is provided by a Reynolds analogy between convective momentum transport and convective heat transport. Proof of the conjecture remains an open problem.
Hierarchical chemo-nanomechanics of proteins: entropic elasticity, protein unfolding and molecular fracture

Proteins are an integral part of nature’s material design. Here we apply multiscale modeling capable of providing a bottom-up description of the nanomechanics of chemically complex protein materials under large deformation and fracture. To describe the formation and breaking of chemical bonds of different character, we use a new reactive force field approach that enables us to describe the unfolding dynamics while considering the breaking and formation of chemical bonds in systems that are comprised of several thousand atoms. We particularly focus on the relationship between secondary and tertiary protein structures and the mechanical properties of molecules under large deformation and fracture. Our research strategy is to systematically investigate the nanomechanics of three protein structures with increasing complexity, involving alpha helices, random coils and beta sheets. The model systems include an alpha helical protein from human vimentin, a small protein -conotoxin PnIB from conus pennaceus, and lysozyme, an enzyme that catalyzes breaking of glycosidic bonds. We find that globular proteins can feature extremely long unfolding paths of several tens of nanometers, displaying a characteristic sawtooth shape of the force-displacement curve. Our results suggest that the presence of disulfide crosslinks can significantly influence the mechanics of unfolding. Fibrillar proteins show shorter unfolding paths and continuous increase of forces until molecular rupture occurs. In the last part of the article we outline how a mesoscale representation of the alpha helical protein structure can be developed within the framework of hierarchical multiscale modeling, utilizing the results of atomistic modeling, without relying on empirical parameters. We apply this model to describe the competition between entropic and energetic elasticity in the mechanics of a single alpha helical protein molecule, at long time scales reaching several microseconds. We conclude with a discussion of hybrid reactive-nonreactive modeling that could help to overcome some of the computational limitations of reactive force fields.
Coherent correlated pair method with an application to the four-nucleon system

The method of coherent correlated pairs is applied with a realistic effective Hamiltonian to the four-nucleon system. Three methods of solution are compared for ease of implementation and convergence rates. A Monte Carlo method yields the best upper bound within the coherent correlated pair space. The full variational treatment of the four-nucleon coherent correlated pair problem yields equations which have poor stability properties. An ansatz variational method proves to be rapidly convergent and yields results very close to those of the Monte Carlo method. The results for binding energy and the one body density distribution are compared with Hartree-Fock results using the same effective Hamiltonian in the same model space. As in previous soluble model applications the coherent correlated pair method provides a superior upper bound to the ground state energy.
Death and Hypnosis: Two Remarkable Cases

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported The First Recorded Death in Hypnosis in its issue of October 27, 1894. Ninety-nine years later, on September 23, 1993 a healthy 24-year old mother of two was found dead at home, fully clothed and draped across the foot of one of her children's bed, 5 hours after volunteering as a subject for a stage hypnosis show. The suggestion given to terminate the trance had been that when the hypnotist said, "Goodnight", several subjects would feel 10,000 volts of electricity through the seat of their chairs. Unknown to the hypnotist, she had been phobic about electricity ever since a childhood shock, and would not even change a light bulb or plug in a cord. The coroner's verdict was death by natural causes.
Emissive Erbium-Doped Silicon and Germanium Oxide Nanofibers Derived from an Electrospinning Process

Use of sol–gel condensation reactions with the proper precursors, in conjunction with electrospinning methods, leads to the facile formation of one-dimensional nanofibers of silicon or germanium dioxide doped with erbium. These nanowires are characterized by a combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopies, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, FT IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. By comparing such structures with comparably sized nanofibers of erbium oxide (Er2O3), the influence of oxide matrix and erbium concentration on Er3+ luminescence in the near-infrared at 1540 nm is examined. Furthermore, an analysis of the luminescence excitation spectra of Er-doped GeO2 nanofibers prepared by the above route with Er-doped GeO2 NWs and Er-doped Ge NWs prepared by a different vapor–liquid–solid pathway suggests a common excitation mechanism of erbium ions in these structures assisted by GeOx through a carrier-mediated process.