cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biochemical production capabilities of escherichia coli

Microbial metabolism provides at mechanism for the conversion of substrates into useful biochemicals. Utilization of microbes in industrial processes requires a modification of their natural metabolism in order to increase the efficiency of the desired conversion. Redirection of metabolic fluxes forms the basis of the newly defined field of metabolic engineering. In this study we use a flux balance based approach to study the biosynthesis of the 20 amino acids and 4 nucleotides as biochemical products. These amino acids and nucleotides are primary products of biosynthesis as well as important industrial products and precursors for the production of other biochemicals. The biosynthetic reactions of the bacterium Escherichia coli have been formulated into a metabolic network, and growth has been defined as a balanced drain on the metabolite pools corresponding to the cellular composition. Theoretical limits on the conversion of glucose, glycerol, and acetate substrates to biomass as well as the biochemical products have been computed. The substrate that results in the maximal carbon conversion to a particular product is identified. Criteria have been developed to identify metabolic constraints in the optimal solutions. The constraints of stoichiometry, energy, and redox have been determined in the conversions of glucose, glycerol, and acetate substrates into the biochemicals. Flux distributions corresponding to the maximal production of the biochemicals are presented. The goals of metabolic engineering are the optimal redirection of fluxes from generating biomass toward producing the desired biochemical. Optimal biomass generation is shown to decrease in a piecewise linear manner with increasing product formation. In some cases, synergy is observed between biochemical production and growth, leading to an increased overall carbon conversion. Balanced growth and product formation are important in a bioprocess, particularly for nonsecreted products.
General-purpose lidar system model with experimental validation in fog, oil, and smoke conditions

A general-purpose remote sensing lidar system model has been developed for use with aerosol targets as well as hard targets in various atmospheric conditions and battlefield aerosol smoke conditions to model the actual analogue return waveform. A description of the model with equations and some of the aerosol parameters are presented. An empirically determined impulse response function from a commercially developed short-range system that operates at 0.905 micrometers is used in the prediction of the analogue output waveform for this particular system. The computed waveforms show the effects of backscatter for aerosol smoke conditions. Some experimental validation of the model for a hard target in military fog oil smoke is shown. This model will be used to predict performance of the current lidar sensor as well as other senors under various other atmospheric and battlefield smoke conditions.
Clustering of gene locations

Genes that are more closely spaced on the chromosome than expected by chance are said to be spatially clustered. Standard tests of clustering versus uniformity do not take into account two important features of genes-the high variability of gene length and the low probability that gene locations overlap (exclusion). We show by simulation that the standard null distributions which ignore length and exclusion do not appropriately approximate the true null distributions of standard tests such as the chi-squared test. We therefore recommend bootstrap sampling to estimate the null distributions. Simulations demonstrate that the chi-squared goodness-of-fit test is a more powerful test of clustering than two other commonly used tests-Kolmogorov and Cramer-von Mises-when the distribution of gene lengths and locations is modeled by a mixture of exponentials and there is a single cluster. The chi-squared test requires binning the gene locations-the number of genes in the bin can be compared to the expected maximum number under random distribution to determine the location of gene clusters and gene deserts. The bootstrap method to test clustering is illustrated using data from human chromosome 22.
Threshold kinetic processes for t-C4F9I

To determine the relative threshold of the lasant gas t-C4F9I in comparison to n-C3F7I, the pump energy to reach threshold for photodissociation iodine lasing is measured in a common aparatus. The comparison is made for the threshold energies in the iodide pressure range up to 50 Torr when 64-J electric input into a flashlamp is used for pumping. It is shown from the results that qualitative differences between the thresholds of the two gases result from the degree to which steady state is achieved by the time threshold is reached. The estimated recombination rate for t-C4F9I is found to be much larger than the value given by Ershov et al (1978).
Echo-Reaction as an Approach to Semantic Resolution

To determine the relationship of echo-reactions to degree of semantic challenge, instances of spontaneous echo, vocalized and whispered, were tabulated from performances of eight-year-olds on the P...
Soil Water Retention at Varying Matric Potentials following Repeated Wetting with Modestly Saline-Sodic Water and Subsequent Air Drying

Abstract Coal bed natural gas (CBNG) development in the Powder River (PR) Basin produces modestly saline, highly sodic wastewater. This study assessed impacts of wetting four textural groups [0–11%, 12–22%, 23–33%, and >33% clay [(g clay/100 g soil)×100%)] with simulated PR or CBNG water on water retention. Soils received the following treatments with each water quality: a single wetting event, five wetting and drying events, or five wetting and drying events followed by leaching with salt‐free water. Treated samples were then resaturated with the final treatment water and equilibrated to −10, −33, −100, −500, or −1,500 kPa. At all potentials, soil water retention increased significantly with increasing clay content. Drought‐prone soils lost water‐holding capacity between saturation and field capacity with repeated wetting and drying, whereas finer textured soils withstood this treatment better and had increased water‐retention capacity at lower matric potentials.
Rift basins and supradetachment basins: intracontinental extensional end-members

Two end-members characterize a continuum of continental extensional tectonism: rift settings and highly extended terrains. These different styles result in and are recorded by different extensional basins. Intracontinental rifts (e.g. East Africa, Lake Baikal) usually occur in thermally equilibrated crust of normal thickness. Rift settings commonly display alkali to tholeiitic magmatism, steeply dipping (45–60°) bounding faults, slip rates 25 Myr. The fault and sub-basin geometry which dominates depositional style is a half-graben bounded by a steeply dipping normal fault. Associated basins are deep (6–10 km), and sedimentation is predominantly axial- or hangingwall-derived. Asymmetric subsidence localizes depocentres along the active basin-bounding scarp. Highly extended continental terrains (e.g. Colorado River extensional corridor, the Cyclade Islands) represent a different tectonic end-member. They form in back-arc regions where the crust has undergone dramatic thickening before extension, and usually reactivate recently deformed crust. Volcanism is typically calc-alkalic, and 80–90% of total extension requires much less time ( 2 mm yr-1) and bulk extension (often > 100%) are high. The differences in extension magnitude and rate, volcanism, heat flow, and structural style suggest basin evolution will differ with tectonic setting. Supradetachment basins, or basins formed in highly extended terrains, have predominantly long, transverse drainage networks derived from the breakaway footwall. Depocentres are distal (10–20 km) to the main bounding fault. Basin fill is relatively thin (typically 1–3 km), probably due to rapid uplift of the tectonically and erosionally denuded footwall. Sedimentation rates are high (˜ 1 m kyr-1) and interrupted by substantial unconformities. In arid and semi-arid regions, fluvial systems are poorly developed and alluvial fans dominated by mass-wasting (debris-flow, rock-avalanche breccias, glide blocks) represent a significant proportion (30–50%) of basin fill. The key parameters for comparing supradetachment to rift systems are extension rate and amount, which are functions of other factors like crustal thickness, thermal state of the lithosphere and tectonic environment. Changes in these parameters over time appear to result in changes to basin systematics.
Serial passage of hepatitis delta virus in chronic hepatitis B virus carrier chimpanzees

Five consecutive passages of hepatitis delta virus in hepatitis B virus carrier chimpanzees were performed in order to further characterize the infectious and pathogenic nature of this naturally occurring defective virus. Three animals received identical inocula at fourth passage in order to assess individual animal variation as a factor in the course of infection and disease. Acute hepatitis delta virus infection occurred in all hepatitis B virus carrier chimpanzees as demonstrated by coincident intrahepatic hepatitis delta antigen, serum hepatitis delta antigen and serum hepatitis delta virus RNA followed by seroconversion to antibody to hepatitis delta antigen. In all animals, acute hepatitis was temporally associated with hepatitis delta virus infection and was self-limited. The incubation period to hepatitis shortened with passage, whereas biochemical and histologic evidence of liver diseases increased. The marked increase in liver disease with passage was not associated with increasing markers of hepatitis delta virus replication or expression, thus indicating that adaptation to the chimpanzee by serial passage resulted in increased hepatitis delta virus virulence. The duration of hepatitis due to hepatitis delta virus infection in three chimpanzees which received the same inoculum varied from 1 to 8 months. The observations of passage adaptation and individual host variation in this experimental model of hepatitis delta virus disease parallel known pathogenic variations in human hepatitis delta virus infection.
Toward a reconceptualization of "choice": challenges by women at the margins.

This article reviews the feminist literature on the conceptualization of “choice” within the reproductive rights movement in the United States, focusing particularly on the critiques of “choice” by women of color and women with disabilities. The article then zeroes in on the debate surrounding female foeticide in India, and draws out the implications for both the conceptualization of “choice” and of a reproductive politics based on “choice,” in light of the critiques presented by women at the margins, and in light of the struggles taking place in the arena of reproductive politics.
Pediatric surgical wound infections

Abstract Postoperative wound infections are one of the most common nosocomial infections in surgical patients and the third most common nosocomial infection in all hospitalized patients. Surgical wound infections commonly increase the need for antibiotics and increase the length of stay and hospital costs. Although this subject has been discussed frequently in the adult literature, fewer than 10 articles exist on the subject in the pediatric patient population, despite the rate of surgical wound infection, which ranges from 3 to 20 percent. Surgical site infections are potentially preventable complications that increase hospital costs as well as patient morbidity and discomfort. Recognizing the patient who is at high risk for a surgical site infection and providing appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis to those patients is an important step in decreasing surgical site infections. This article discusses the risks of surgical site infection specific to pediatric surgical procedures, as well as appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
COCAINE ACTION ON PERIPHERAL, NON-MONOAMINE NEURAL SUBSTRATES AS A TRIGGER OF ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC DESYNCHRONIZATION AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ACTIVATION FOLLOWING I.V. ADMINISTRATION IN FREELY MOVING RATS

Abstract Many important physiological, behavioral and subjective effects of i.v. cocaine (COC) are exceptionally rapid and transient, suggesting a possible involvement of peripheral neural substrates in their triggering. In the present study, we used high-speed electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) recordings (4-s resolution) in freely moving rats to characterize the central electrophysiological effects of i.v. COC at low doses within a self-administration range (0.25–1.0 mg/kg). We found that COC induces rapid, strong, and prolonged desynchronization of cortical EEG (decrease in alpha and increase in beta and gamma activity) and activation of the neck EMG that begin within 2–6 s following the start of a 10-s injection; immediate components of both effects were dose-independent. The rapid effects of COC were mimicked by i.v. COC methiodide (COC-MET), a derivative that cannot cross the blood–brain barrier. At equimolar doses (0.33–1.33 mg/kg), COC-MET had equally fast and strong effects on EEG and EMG total powers, decreasing alpha and increasing beta and gamma activities. Rapid EEG desynchronization and EMG activation was also induced by i.v. procaine, a structurally similar, short-acting local anesthetic with virtually no effects on monoamine uptake; at equipotential doses (1.25–5.0 mg/kg), these effects were weaker and shorter in duration than those of COC. Surprisingly, i.v. saline injection delivered during slow-wave sleep (but not during quiet wakefulness) also induced a transient EEG desynchronization but without changes in EMG and motor activity; these effects were significantly weaker and much shorter than those induced by all tested drugs. These data suggest that in awake animals, i.v. COC induces rapid cortical activation and a subsequent motor response via its action on peripheral non-monoamine neural elements, involving neural transmission via visceral sensory pathways. By providing a rapid neural signal and triggering neural activation, such an action might play a crucial role in the sensory effects of COC, thus contributing to the learning and development of drug-taking behavior.
The morphology of the mandibular antegonial notches and facial symmetry

Thirty randomly selected pre-treatment postero-anterior cranial radiographs of adolescent patients attending the orthodontic department, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo comprised the sample in this study. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the depths of the right, and the left, mandibular antegonial notches, and (2) to determine whether the morphology of the antegonial notches bears a statistical relationship to some other transverse metrical characters of the face. The frontal cranial radiographs of thirty patients were digitized to determine the linear, and surface area, measurements of the right, and the left, antegonial notches as well as some transverse dimensions of the faces. An analysis of variance showed that no statistically significant difference existed between the measurements made by the two examiners, who digitized the radiographs.The data were analyzed by means of the Student's t- test. The results showed that there were statistically significant ...
Graffiti, Calliglyphs and Markers in the UK

Graffiti is a commonplace in the modern world but it is easy to project the concept of illegal graffiti into the past. Writing on walls in previous historical periods is discussed and as most was not illegal the concept of ‘calliglyphs’ is introduced to allow historic writing or drawings on walls or objects to be studied in context. The article then proposes the word ‘marker’ as a concept to define wider forms of personal expression and the human imprint in the late twentieth/early twenty-first century landscapes. A framework for markers is outlined based upon the concepts of permission and tolerance.
Elevation by fenfluramine of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in brain and of corticosterone and prolactin in serum of fenfluramine-pretreated rats.

Summary Fenfluramine (15 mg/kg) elevated 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid concentration in whole brain and prolactin and corticosterone concentration in serum of rats 30 minutes after its i.p. injection. The same effects occurred in control rats and in rats pretreated 5 days earlier with a higher dose of fenfluramine (50 mg/kg, i.p.), which depleted brain serotonin to 63% of the concentration in control rats.
Human phenotypes associated with GATA-1 mutations

GATA-1 is one of the six members of the GATA gene family, a group of related transcription factors discovered in the 1980s. In the past few decades, the crucial role of GATA-1 in normal human hematopoiesis has been delineated. As would be expected, mutations in GATA-1 have subsequently been found to have important clinical significance, and are directly linked to deregulated formation of certain blood cell lineages. This paper reviews the functional consequences of GATA-1 mutations by linking specific errors in the gene, or its downstream protein products, to documented human diseases. These five human diseases are: X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT), X-linked thrombocytopenia with thalassemia (XLTT), congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) and acute megarakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) associated with Trisomy 21, and, lastly, a particular subtype of anemia associated with the production of GATA-1s, a shortened, mutant isoform of the wild-type GATA-1. The different phenotypic expressions associated with GATA-1 mutations illustrate the integral function of the transcription factor in overall body homeostasis. Furthermore, these direct genotype-phenotype correlations reinforce the importance of unraveling the human genome, as such connections may lead to important therapeutic or preventive therapies.
Strong regularity and circulant graphs

Abstract Strongly regular pk-circulants, where p is a prime number, are characterised and a representation of Paley graphs of order p2 as metacirculants is given.
The Flow Lab: A Simple Activity for Generating NOS Principles

While there is near universal agreement within the science education community that a strong understanding of nature of science (NOS) - both as a student goal and a teacher attribute - is critical, we still struggle with how to achieve these aims. Barriers range from pragmatic logistics to fundamental curricular tensions. In this paper, we share a classroom activity designed to aid in the learning of key NOS principles that we have found constructive. We discuss the basic activity, connections to science studies literature, and opportunities for explicit reflection on nature of science.
Isocyanato urethane methacrylates derived from hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Isocyanato urethane methacrylates were synthesized from five diisocyanates and hydroxyethyl methacrylate. They may be homopolymerized or copolymerized with other methacrylates by the usual free radical methods of initiation and have potential as adhesion-promoting agents for dentin.
Change to an Informal Interview Dress Code Improves Residency Applicant Perceptions

Introduction: Residency interview apparel has traditionally been the dark business suit. We changed the interview dress code from a traditionally established unwritten ‘formal’ attire to an explicitly described ‘informal’ attire. We sought to assess if the change in dress code attire changed applicants’ perceptions of the residency program or decreased costs. Methods: The authors conducted an anonymous survey of applicants applying to one emergency medicine residency program during two application cycles ending in 2012 and 2013. Applicants were asked if the change in dress code affected their perception of the program, comfort level, overall costs and how it affected their rank lists. Results: We sent the survey to 308 interviewed applicants over two years. Of those, 236 applicants completed the survey for a combined response rate of 76.6% (236/308). Among respondents, 85.1% (200 of 235) stated they appreciated the change; 66.7% (154 of 231) stated the change caused them to worry more about what to wear. Males were more uncomfortable than females due to the lack of uniformity on the interview day (18.5% of males [25/135] vs. 7.4% of females [7/95], collapsed results p-value 0.008). A total of 27.7% (64/231) agreed that the costs were less overall. The change caused 50 of 230 (21.7%) applicants to rank the program higher on their rank list and only one applicant to rank the program lower. Conclusion: A change to a more informal dress code resulted in more comfort and fewer costs for applicants to a single residency program. The change also resulted in some applicants placing the program higher on their rank order list. [West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(1):-0.]
Variation in microbiologic profiles among pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine if clinical findings and sociodemographic variables among bacterial vaginosis (BV)-positive pregnant women are associated with different microbiologic profiles. Study design Pregnant women were assessed for BV by Nugent criteria. BV+ women were separated into 6 mutually exclusive microbiologic groups. In unadjusted analyses, we compared (1) sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, and (2) 3 clinical characteristics among BV+ women with and without Mobiluncus (M+ vs M−). Unadjusted data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the likelihood of having clinical signs of BV in women with and without Mobiluncus spp while controlling for confounders. Results A total of 1756 BV+ pregnant women were followed. The M + group (n=702) was significantly more likely than the M − group (n=1054) to be non-Hispanic black (80.9% vs 66.2%; P P P M + group was also more likely to have clue cells on wet mount (63.9% vs 47.2%; P P =.001). There was no difference in other demographic variables or physician diagnosis of abnormal vaginal discharge. In the adjusted analyses for each clinical outcome, all findings were consistent with the unadjusted analyses. Conclusion BV+ pregnant women with Mobiluncus spp are more likely to have clue cells present on wet mount, a positive amine odor after KOH preparation, and to be older, non-Hispanic black, and have had more lifetime sexual partners compared to BV+ women without any Mobiluncus species.
Hydrogen interactions with intrinsic defects in silicon

Abstract The interactions between hydrogen and intrinsic defects in silicon are studied using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations in periodic supercells and Hartree–Fock in saturated clusters. The two issues discussed here are the complexes involving one neutral self-interstitial with one to four H's and the trapping of a single H at various vacancy aggregates. The binding energies, structures, and properties of these defects are calculated.
Fatigue crack growth behavior of Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn in methanol and methanol-water solutions

Differences in the corrosion fatigue crack growth behavior of anα–β titanium alloy in chloride-containing aqueous and methanol environments are reported, and discussed in relation to differences in repassivation behavior for the two types of environments. Experiments have been conducted with various solution mixtures of water (a passive film-forming environment) and methanol (a nonfilm-forming environment) to define the role of repassivation in controlling fracture modes and crack growth rates at different frequencies. The critical event in determining whether the repassivation process can suppress environmental fatigue fracture is the interaction between the rate of exposure of fresh metal surfaces at the crack tip and the rate at which they can be repassivated. The out-come of this mechano-chemical interaction is shown to be dependent on the frequency and stress intensity(ΔK) level as well as the chemistry of the environment. As a result, differences in repassivation behavior for methanol-water solutions can be correlated with major differences in fatigue crack growth rates and fracture modes at low ΔK levels, whereas repassivation differences have little effect at high ΔK levels. Based on these low-ΔK corrosion fatigue characteristics, methanol solutions are concluded to be far more detrimental to titanium alloys than aqueous solutions.
The hydrofracturing stress measuring method and recent field results

Abstract The hydrofracturing technique is a recent development in the area of stress measurements in rock. Unlike most other methods, it does not measure strain at a point through the use of delicate instrumentation in the test-hole. Rather, it directly determines average stresses over large areas by recording two hydraulic pressures, one necessary to crack open a segment of the test-hole and the other required to keep the fracture open. To do so, it uses simple down-hole mechanical tools so that the method can be employed at any depth from the surface. Elementary elastic relationships exist between recorded pressures and in-situ stresses, and between fracture direction and stress orientation. Our laboratory experiments have confirmed these relationships, and in the last five years we have conducted a number of successful field measurements throughout the United States and elsewhere, at depths between very near the surface and 5000 m . The results of these measurements, details of which are given in the paper, have been used in studying earthquake control problems (Rangely, Colorado), underground power station design (California, South Carolina), hard rock tunnel design (Wisconsin), and geology and plate tectonics (all the measurements and particularly those in Michigan and Iceland). A general uniformity of maximum principal stress direction throughout the continental United States has been established. Stress magnitudes are affected by regional geologic conditions but generally show linear increases with depth.
The gas‐phase thermal unimolecular elimination of 1,1‐dimethylketene from 7,7‐dimethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept‐2‐en‐6‐one

The gas-phase thermal decomposition of 7,7-dimethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one (DBH) to yield cyclopentadiene and 1,1-dimethylketene as primary products was studied in the temperature range of 470-550 °K using a static reaction system. First-order rate constants for the depletion of DBH based on the internal standard technique and gaschromatographic analyses were independent of the initial starting pressure (7-68 torr) and of the conversion, ranging between 5% and 89%. (Throughout this paper, 1 torr = (101.325/760) kNm−2, and 1 cal = 4.184J). The reaction is essentially homogeneous, as the nature of the reaction vessel surface (Teflon or glass) had no effect on the observed rate constants which fit the Arrhenius relationship where θ = 2.303 RT. These activation parameters, when compared with those for similar reactions involving the molecules bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one, bicyclo[3.2.0]heptan6-one, and cyclobutanone, demonstrate a very small effect of the alkyl substituents bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the carbonyl carbon. Accepting the previously discussed concerted and pronounced polar nature of the mechanism for these retro-ketene addition reactions, the present data suggest that considerable changes in charge densities between the ground and transition state are only occurring on the two opposite centers of the molecule, with the negative charge residing essentially on the oxygen atom and the positive charge on the opposing bridgehead carbon atom. It then appears that the charge separation in the transition state is more appropriately described as being pseudo-zwitterionic rather than quadrupolar in nature.
An Examination of Audit Delay: Further Evidence from New Zealand

Abstract An important qualitative attribute of financial statements is timeliness. The recognition that the length of the audit may be the single most important determinant affecting the timing of earnings' announcements has motivated recent research on audit delay. The present study extends prior research by examining the multivariate relationship between a set of explanatory variables and audit delay for a large sample of New Zealand public companies. Further, the study includes two explanatory variables, company control (i.e. owner control versus manager control) and debt proportion, which have not previously been considered. The results indicate that both company size and sign of income significantly affect audit delay across the two years examined. Five other explanatory variables significantly affected audit delay for one of the two years examined. The adjusted R2s of the regression models, however, were relatively low. Additional analysis was also performed on each company control subsample. These ...
A proposal for revision of the quality factor.

As a result of recent radiobiological research it has become evident that the RBE of neutrons can at low absorbed doses reach values that are substantially higher than the values of the quality factor (Q) currently adopted for radiation protection. There is theoretical and observational evidence that such high RBE values are the rule rather than the exception and that they apply to at least one radiation effect on humans. New values as well as different formulations are proposed for the factor that is employed in radiation protection to weight absorbed doses for their biological effectiveness.
Predicting Viewer Perceived Emotions in Animated GIFs

Animated GIFs are everywhere on the Web. Our work focuses on the computational prediction of emotions perceived by viewers after they are shown animated GIF images. We evaluate our results on a dataset of over 3,800 animated GIFs gathered from MIT's GIFGIF platform, each with scores for 17 discrete emotions aggregated from over 2.5M user annotations - the first computational evaluation of its kind for content-based prediction on animated GIFs to our knowledge. In addition, we advocate a conceptual paradigm in emotion prediction that shows delineating distinct types of emotion is important and is useful to be concrete about the emotion target. One of our objectives is to systematically compare different types of content features for emotion prediction, including low-level, aesthetics, semantic and face features. We also formulate a multi-task regression problem to evaluate whether viewer perceived emotion prediction can benefit from jointly learning across emotion classes compared to disjoint, independent learning.
Evaluation of chemical seed coat sterilants

Three seed coat sterilants were evaluated for effectiveness as surface sterilants and for effects on seed germination. Several exposure times in sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid were evaluated. Seeds of the following crop plants were used: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]; soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. All treatments reduced germination of wheat and soybean seed, but only the most severe peracetic acid treatments substantially reduced germination of sorghum seed. Considering both sterilization effectiveness and seed germination, a treatment with 5% sodium hypochlorite for 45 min appeared to be the most satisfactory of the treatments used.
Measurement of the diamagnetic Zeeman shift of potassium S and D Rydberg states

Abstract The diamagnetic Zeeman shifts of 2 S and 2 D Rydberg states of potassium were measured by Doppler-free two-photon absorption with fluorescence detection. Experimental results are found to agree excellently with theoretical values calculated using quantum defect method wavefunctions.
Cloud Microphysics and Climate

Recent studies have shown that global radiative and hydrological fluxes are strongly linked to microphysical processes in clouds. The sensitivity of predictions of climate variations to assumptions about the microphysical processes has led to new approaches to atmospheric measurements and to heightened interest and progress in understanding the physical chemistry, radiative properties, and kinetics of small solid and liquid aqueous particles.
A real-time vehicle detection and tracking system in outdoor traffic scenes

This work presents a moving vehicle detection and tracking system, MVDT, for real-time operation in outdoor scenes. MVDT consists of three major components: road detection, vehicle detection, and vehicle tracking. The road detection algorithm utilizes a plane-fitting feature, the vehicle detection uses both segmented blob and snakes blob features in a neural network classifier, and a fast vehicle tracking algorithm is designed to locate vehicles in consecutive image frames. We show through experiments that MVDT is effective in detecting moving vehicles in various outdoor scenes and can indeed reach real-time operation requirements.
Spatial structure of isoepoxyestafiatin

The spatial structure of the sesquiterpene lactone isoexpoxyestafiatin has been established by the x-ray method as 1,10s;3,4α-diepoxy-5,7α,6βH-11(13)en-6,12-olide.
The Use of Religion in Death Penalty Sentencing Trials

Both prosecutors and defense attorneys have presented religious appeals and testi mony about a defendant's religious activities in order to infl uence capital ju- rors' sentencing. Courts that have objected to this use of religion fear that religion will improperly infl uence jurors' decisions and interfere with their ability to weigh aggrava- tors and mitigators. This study investigated the effects of both prosecution and defense appeals. Prosecution appeals did not affect verdict decisions; however, use of religion by the defense affected both verdicts and the weighing of aggravators and mitigators. These results could be due to differences in perceived sincerity and remorse that are conveyed in the various appeals.
Estrogen acutely inhibits ion transport by isolated stria vascularis.

Abstract We investigated the nongenomic effects of female sex steroid hormones on the short circuit current ( I sc,probe ) across gerbil stria vascularis using the voltage-sensitive vibrating probe. The strial marginal cell epithelial layer produces I sc,probe by secreting K + via I Ks channels in the apical membrane. Application of 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) caused a decrease of I sc,probe in a dose-dependent manner (10 nM–10 μM) within seconds. Tamoxifen, a competitive inhibitor of the intracellular estrogen receptor, did not change the inhibitory effect of E 2 . Activation of I Ks channels by 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid in the presence and absence of E 2 was used to test the mechanism of action. The results were consistent with a direct inhibitory effect of E 2 on the I Ks channels. By contrast, progesterone caused a transient increase of I sc,probe . These results suggest that E 2 decreases secretion of K + by inhibition of I Ks channels via a nongenomic mechanism at concentrations near those occurring under some physiologic conditions while progesterone caused only transient effects on I sc,probe .
Effects of reorientational and vibrational relaxation on linewidth of resonance Raman spectral lines

Abstract The theory of line-shape analysis of Raman bands in terms of a molecular reorientation correlation function and vibrational relaxation is extended to be applicable to resonant Raman spectroscopy (RRS) where the Raman tensor may be unsymmetric. A line shape analysis of the spectral power density is presented in terms of the three Raman tensor invariants for each of the four measurable polarizations of incident and scattered light: parallel, perpendicular, co-rotating and contra-rotating. A specific example of a symmetric top molecule with antisymmetric Raman tensor is treated.
A novel N x M array of resonance-based addressable MEMS actuators

We present an electromagnetically actuated MEMS actuator array which can be addressed using resonant vibration triggered by an oscillating signal. Several actuators having different inherent resonant frequencies can be addressed with a single control line. More actuators can be addressed in this manner by using a first set of actuators to control a second set, allowing one to form an N x M actuator array of switches that are controlled by only two address lines. These actuators can be used in any applications requiring multiple devices in bi-state configuration, such as microswitches, micro-mirrors or micro-valves.
An Analysis of Reentrant Loops

Reentrant loops are an important structural motif in alpha-helical transmembrane proteins. A reentrant loop is a structural motif that goes only halfway through the membrane and then turns back to the side from which it originates. The question of what causes the reentrant loops to form such a unique topology is still unanswered. In this study, we try to answer this question by analyzing the hydrophobicity distribution on the amino acid sequences of the reentrant loops. Our results show that reentrant loops have very low hydrophobicity around the deepest point buried in the membrane and relative high hydrophobicity close to the membrane surfaces. We speculate that this hydrophobicity distribution is a major force that stabilizes the unique reentrant loop structure. Our results also show that this hydrophobicity distribution results in special patterns on protein sequences, which can be captured using profile hidden Markov models (HMMs). The resulting profile HMMs can detect reentrant loops on protein sequences with high sensitivity and perfect specificity.
Observations on the determination of electron mean-free paths from rf size effect measurements

Numerical calculations of the line shape of the rf size effect for 0.1 mm thick potassium plates in the transmission geometry at 1.25 MHz, show that the amplitude of the fundamental resonance is proportional to exp (−1.22d/l), while that of the second resonance is proportional to exp (−0.92d/l), whered andl are the plate thickness and electron mean-free path, respectively. In the case of the fundamental, our result differs significantly from the exp (−1.57d/l) dependence usually assumed for the purpose of determiningl, and indicates that the conventional analysis leads to an overestimate ofl by approximately 30%. The amplitude dependence found here can be explained physically in terms of the finite skin depth, and in the case of the second resonance, in terms of the strength of the electric field splash at the center of the plate.
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of soybean oil in a radial flow-through Raney nickel powder reactor

Soybean oil has been hydrogenated electrocatalytically on Raney nickel powder catalyst at atmospheric pressure and moderate temperatures in a novel undivided packed bed radial flow-through reactor. The reactor consisted of a single anode/cathode tubular element, where Raney nickel catalyst powder was contained in the annular space between two concentric porous ceramic tubes and the flow of the reaction medium (a dispersion of oil in a water/t-butanol/tetraethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate electrolyte) was either in the inward or outward radial direction. The innovative design of this reactor allows for a thin nickel bed and a high anode/cathode interfacial area without the normal problems associated with electrolyte flow distribution. The total size of the reactor can be increased without changing the relative anode/cathode position and the electrolyte flow pattern by simply increasing the length and/or number of anode/cathode elements in a single common shell (similar to a shell-and-tube heat exchanger). For the brush hydrogenation of soybean oil, current efficiencies of 90–100% were achieved with a single element reactor when the electrolyte oil content was 10 or 25 wt/vol %, the apparent current density was 10 or 15 mA cm−2, the temperature was 75 °C, and the electrolyte flowed in the inward radial direction. The electrohydrogenated oil product was characterized by a high stearic acid content and low concentrations of linolenic acid and trans fatty acid isomers, as compared to the traditional high temperature chemical catalytic oil hydrogenation route with hydrogen gas.
Thinking intelligently about extraterrestrial intelligence: An application of living systems theory

Recent developments in the physical and biological sciences suggest that the probability of intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe is sufficiently high as to justify a $100 million radio telescope search. The present paper suggests that despite the limits of our current knowledge we can still formulate useful working hypotheses about extraterrestrial intelligence. As we develop such hypotheses, we should remain within the framework of science and view the evolution of life and civilizations as orderly processes which proceed within broad natural limits. James G. Miller's Living System Theory (LST) provides a simple framework for disassembling and analyzing, in identical terms, systems of different sizes and complexity. A simplified version of LST involving three systems levels (organism, society, supranational system) and two basic processes (matter-energy processing and information processing) is applied to organize current thinking about extraterrestrial intelligence. It is concluded that LST's categories and principles will prove useful for comparative studies of terrestrial and extraterrestrial life forms and civilizations.
Pathology of HIV-related skin disease.

Abstract Pruritus is a common complaint in the HIV-infected patient. 1 In this population, pruritus may be associated with primary skin disease, may be found with underlying systemic disease, or may be idiopathic in origin. It may be disabling enough to interfere with the quality of a person's life, and it may be difficult and frustrating to treat. Therefore, it is important for the physician to understand the common causes of pruritus in the HIV-infected patient (Table 1) so that the underlying contributing factors can be eliminated and effective treatment instituted expeditiously.
Modeling Guessing The Influence of Multinomial Models on the Evolution of Process-Dissociation Theory

Multinomial processing-tree modeling has had a major impact on process-dissociation theory. Buchner, Erdfelder, and Vaterrodt- Plunnecke (1995) added guessing parameters to the original model of Jacoby (1991) and created a class of process-dissociation models. Furthermore, Erfelder and Buchner (1998) formulated criterion values of the dual-process signal-detection model (Yonelinas, 1994) as multinomial parameters. Buchner, Erdfelder, Steffens, and Martensen (1997) suggested a new approach by proposing a multinomial source- monitoring model for process-dissociation data. Two experiments described here demonstrated that dual-process signal-detection theory must assume different levels of familiarity in inclusion and exclusion tests. Similarly, in some cases the source-monitoring model must assume different levels of recognition guessing in the two tests. Reasons are given for preferring the source-monitoring model.
Why Are There So Few Women Presidents of the Society for Psychological Anthropology

We have been asked to discuss our own central interests, how those are faring today, and where we see them going in the future. I did that on Thursday, in my plenary session paper, "The Mainstreaming of Cultural Models." Since the present assignment was sprung on me after I had committed to address that topic in the plenary session, here I will try to add another dimension to what I had said Thursday.
A CASE OF TROCAR SITE IMPLANTATION OF ENDOMETRIOSIS THREE YEARS AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC HYSTERECTOMY

We present the case of a 42-year-old woman who had undergone laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine myoma three years prior to diagnosis with trocar site endometriosis. The patient was observed to suffer endometrial implant exclusively at the suprapubic trocar site. This case demonstrated that trocar site endometriosis can occur, even in a patient without a uterus and without previous endometriosis. The etiopathogenesis of this condition was likely attributed to the dissemination of endometrial tissue during laparoscopic surgery, resulting in subsequent microscopic endometriosis cell implantation in the trocar site.
Farnesoid X-Activated Receptor Induces Apolipoprotein C-II Transcription: a Molecular Mechanism Linking Plasma Triglyceride Levels to Bile Acids

The farnesoid X-activated receptor (FXR; NR1H4), a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, induces gene expression in response to several bile acids, including chenodeoxycholic acid. Here we used suppression subtractive hybridization to identify apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II) as an FXR target gene. Retroviral expression of FXR in HepG2 cells results in induction of the mRNA encoding apoC-II in response to several FXR ligands. EMSAs demonstrate that recombinant FXR and RXR bind to two FXR response elements that are contained within two important distal enhancer elements (hepatic control regions) that lie 11 kb and 22 kb upstream of the transcription start site of the apoC-II gene. A luciferase reporter gene containing the hepatic control region or two copies of the wild-type FXR response element was activated when FXR-containing cells were treated with FXR ligands. In addition, we report that hepatic expression of both apoC-II and phospholipid transfer protein mRNAs increases when mice are fed d...
The Concept of Fermi Level Pinning at Semiconductor/Liquid Junctions. Consequences for Energy Conversion Efficiency and Selection of Useful Solution Redox Couples in Solar Devices

Fermi level pinning refers to a situation where the band bending in a semiconductor contacting a metal is essentially independent of the metal even for large variation in the work function of the metal. It was found that a similar situation sometimes results for a semiconductor contacting liquid electrolyte solutions containing redox couples having very different electrochemical potentials. Recently, workers in the field of semiconductor photoelectrochemistry have emphasized a limiting case of the model of the semiconductor/liquid interface where the drop across the semiconductor depends on applied potential; at equilibrium with the solution, the band bending is generally regarded as varying with changes in the solution potential by virtue of changes in the redox couple or simply changing the ratio of oxidized and reduced material. Fermi level pinning results in semiconductor/liquid interfaces which can be viewed as analogous to a Schottky barrier photocell in series with an electrochemical cell in that the extent to which a given redox process can be driven uphill is independent of the potential of the redox couple.n-GaAs, p-GaAs, p-GaAs, and p-Si are semiconductors that exhibit Fermi level pinning in liquid electrolyte solutions (CH/sub 3/CN/(n-Bu/sub 4/N)ClO/sub 4/) of redox reagents. Fermi level pinning has the disadvantagemore » in practical terms of limiting photovoltage in optical energy conversion applications, but such a phenomenon allows the use of a very wide range of solution couples. Since Fermi level pinning results from surface states, changes in the surface brought about by deliberate surface chemistry may change the surface states and hence the photovoltage in solid-state and liquid-junction solar devices.« less