cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiplexed functional metagenomic analysis of the infant microbiome identifies effectors of NF-κB, autophagy, and cellular redox state.

The human microbiota plays a critical role in host health. Proper development of the infant microbiome is particularly important. Its dysbiosis leads to both short-term health issues and long-term disorders lasting into adulthood. A central way in which the microbiome interacts with the host is through the production of effector molecules, such as proteins and small molecules. Here, a metagenomic library constructed from 14 infant stool microbiomes is analyzed for the production of effectors that modulate three distinct host pathways: immune response (nuclear factor κB [NF-κB] activation), autophagy (LC3-B puncta formation), and redox potential (NADH:NAD ratio). We identify microbiome-encoded bioactive metabolites, including commendamide and hydrogen sulfide and their associated biosynthetic genes, as well as a previously uncharacterized autophagy-inducing operon from Klebsiella spp. This work extends our understanding of microbial effector molecules that are known to influence host pathways. Parallel functional screening of metagenomic libraries can be easily expanded to investigate additional host processes.
Genetic and androgenic control of N1-methylnicotinamide oxidase activity in mice.

Abstract A 10-fold difference in activity of the liver enzyme, N1-methylnicotinamide oxidase, was found between mice of strains C57BL/6 and DBA/2. The Km value for the enzyme from DBA/2 mice with low activity was twice that of the enzyme from C57BL/6 mice. The activity difference segregated in F1, F2, and backcross generations as though it were genetically controlled by a single autosomal locus with alleles acting in an additive manner. The 2- to 4-fold higher activity in the adult male as compared to the adult female within each strain indicated that hormonal control of N1-methylnicotinamide oxidation was operating in addition to direct genetic control. Evidence from immature mice and from castrated and testosterone-treated animals supports the role of testosterone in increasing N1-methylnicotinamide oxidation.
Gender Beliefs: Susceptibility to Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Vulnerability to sexuality transmitted diseases (STDs) is different for men than for women because of the varying ideologies and beliefs about what counts as socially acceptable behavior among them. Biological, cultural, and social explanations help to explain these differences in susceptibility. While sociological discourse on gender beliefs and susceptibility to STDs most often includes interest in social and cultural explanations – such as relationship dynamics, relationship power, and racially and culturally based ideologies that influence sexual behavior within relationships – biological explanations – such as greater male–female transmission as a result of vaginal bleeding, vaginal tears, and the amount of virus transmitted from males to females during intercourse – cannot be overlooked. Because of their gender (i.e., sex), females and males are subject to socially accepted practices, ideologies, and beliefs that often define their roles and drive their behaviors within sexual relationships, thus influencing their susceptibility to STDs. Keywords: gender; illness and social construction; HIV/AIDS and gender; race and gender; sex; STDs and gender
MARKET INTERMEDIARIES IN THE POST- BUCKLEY WORLD

This essay for a Brennan Center symposium on the state of campaign finance law addresses the organizations that have sprung up in the post-Buckley regulatory environment. The essay identifies three central periods focused on PACs, state party soft money intermediaries, and Super PACs and independent expenditure groups. The main thesis is that efforts to curb money flows to those players (candidates and parties) that can be regulated has created an impetus to push money outside the regulatory domain and into the hands of increasingly unaccountable and extreme political forces.
Morphologic and biochemical evidence for a contractile cell network within the rat intestinal mucosa

Subepithelial and pericryptal fibroblastlike cells form a two-dimensional network immediately subjacent to the epithelial basal lamina in the small intestine and colon in several mammalian species. Stellate-shaped cells with similar, but not identical characteristics, form a three-dimensional network deep within the villar lamina propria. Electron microscopic studies indicate that these cells contain a putative contractile apparatus, are attached to each other and to apparently organized elements of the extracellular matrix by typical adhesive devices, and form gap junctions with each other. Comparative in situ immunoperoxidase localization studies document the presence in these cells of four contraction-associated proteins (smooth muscle isotropomyosin, cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase, both nonmuscle and smooth muscle isomyosin, and actin) in amounts generally greater than those found in connective tissue fibroblasts, but less than in smooth muscle cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest a smooth muscle-like, contractile function for these cells and indicate that this cellular network may provide a supportive tonus for the epithelium, as well as provide the force needed for active movement of the villus, expulsion of crypt secretion products, and propulsion of absorption products in the lamina propria, the microvasculature, and lacteals of the intestinal villus.
A Brief History of Optimal Foraging Ecology

Optimal foraging ecology began in 1966 with the back-to-back publication in American Naturalist of two papers, one by MacArthur and Pianka, the other by Emlen. Although different in detail, the papers were collectively unique in their proposal that prey selectivity could be understood as driven by a tendency, selected through evolution, to maximize net energy gained per unit time feeding. The temporal coincidence of the two papers suggests that the ecological world was as ready to receive this proposal as to invent it. Indeed, in the 20 years since, hundreds of papers mentioning optimal foraging have been published—like other areas of science (Price 1963) and ecology (Schoener 1974a, 1983a), optimal foraging enjoyed an exponential growth phase which is only now beginning to inflect (Pyke 1984, and below).
A high pressure, rep-rate liquid-dielectric switch test stand

This paper reports on the design and modelling of an experimental test stand developed to examine the performance of a flowing high-pressure liquid dielectric design verification switch under rep-rate conditions. The test stand is designed to generate 70 ns long, 250-300 kV pulses at 250 J per pulse and 100 pps continuous mode operation. Short-duration bursts at 1000 pps will be used to examine switch recovery characteristics.
Assessing local planning capacity to promote environmentally sustainable residential development

Smart growth and sustainability planning have, in recent years, become central issues in planning discourse. Scholars have argued that planning capacity at the local government level is critical for smart growth planning, and that planners have a fundamental role to play in advancing local and regional sustainability. In this paper, we investigate the extent to which local planning capacity enables communities to promote more sustainable, smart growth residential development. Based on a 2013 survey of 38 county and 53 municipal governments in the state of Wisconsin, USA, this study finds that the majority of the sample communities have permitted residential developments characterized as transit-oriented, New Urbanist, mixed use, infill developments, or conservation subdivisions as alternatives to low-density, automobile-dependent conventional developments. The study also finds that jurisdictions with higher planning capacities are more likely to overcome significant barriers to more sustainable residentia...
Superthreshold behavior of ultrasound-induced lung hemorrhage in adult mice and rats: role of pulse repetition frequency and exposure duration.

Superthreshold behavior for ultrasound-induced lung hemorrhage was investigated in adult mice and rats at an ultrasound center frequency of 2.8 MHz to assess the role of pulse repetition frequency and exposure duration. One hundred fifty, 6 -7-week-old female ICR mice and 150 10 -11-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were each divided into 15 exposure groups (10 animals per group) for a 3 3 5 factorial design (3 exposure durations of 5, 10, and 20 s and 5 pulse repetition frequencies of 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 Hz). The in situ (at the pleural surface) peak rarefactional pressure of 12.3 MPa and the pulse duration of 1.42 ms were the same for all ultrasonically-exposed animals. In addition, 15 sham exposed mice and 15 sham exposed rats were included into both studies. In each study of 165 animals, the exposure conditions were randomized. The lesion depth and surface area were measured for each animal, as well as the percentage of animals with lesions per group. The characteristics of the lesions produced in mice and rats were similar to those described in studies by our research group and others, suggesting a common pathogenesis for the initiation and propagation of the lesions at the gross and microscopic levels. The proportion of lesions in both species was related statistically to pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and exposure duration (ED), with the exception that PRF in rats was not quite significant; the PRF 3 ED interaction (number of pulses) for lesion production was not significant for either species. The PRF, but not ED, significantly affected lesion depth in both species; the PRF 3 ED interaction for depth was not significant for either species. Both PRF and ED significantly affected lesion surface area in mice, while neither affected area in rats; the PRF 3 ED interaction for surface area was not significant for either species. (E-mail: wdo@uiuc.edu) © 2001 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.
Mechanistic investigations of 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic acid oxidase with alternate cyclic and acyclic substrates.

The behavior of three cyclic and three acyclic analogues of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) with ACC oxidase has been analyzed with regard to turnover rates, product distribution, and O 2 uncoupling. The cyclic analogues all form ethylene, and the acyclic analogues all undergo decarboxylation. The degree of uncoupling varies from almost none (ACC) to 21-fold (glycine), while turnover rates (k cat ) are all within a factor of 4-fold of that of ACC. The aggregate data point toward a rate-determining formation of an activated iron-oxo intermediate, which partitions between amine oxidation and reductive uncoupling in a manner that is dependent on substrate structure.
Panning of multiple subsets of leukocytes on antibody-decorated poly(ethylene) glycol-coated glass slides

Abstract The antibody (Ab) array format provides a unique opportunity to pan and characterize multiple leukocyte subsets in parallel. However, the questions of reproducibility and robustness of leukocyte panning on Ab arrays need to be answered for this technology to become an immunophenotyping tool. The present study sought to address several of these questions, including: (1) purity of leukocyte subsets captured on Ab regions, (2) dynamics of leukocyte binding, (3) elimination of non-specific cell adhesion, and (4) standardization of cell washing conditions. Abs for CD4 T-cells, CD8 T-cells, CD36 monocytes, and CD16b neutrophils were dispensed onto standard glass slides containing a thin film of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel. PEG gel coating was highly effective in eliminated non-specific cell adhesion on the surface. Incubation of the Ab arrays with red blood cell (RBC) depleted whole blood resulting in antigen-specific panning of leukocyte subsets on the respective Ab domains. A flow through chamber was employed to determine optimal shear stress conditions for removal of non-specifically attached cells. The purity of the four subsets remaining on the surface after washing was determined by Wright staining and immunofluorescence, and was found to be as follows: CD4 T-cells (99.2 ± 0.3%), CD8 T-cells (98.7 ± 0.3%), CD36 monocytes (97.2 ± 0.9%), and CD16b neutrophils (99.1 ± 0.6%). In conclusion, the methods described in this study allow to separate whole blood into pure leukocyte subsets with minimal sample preparation and handling. These approaches will be valuable in the future development of Ab arrays as tools for quantitative immunophenotyping of leukocytes.
LI+-(DIGLYME)2 AND LICLO4-DIGLYME COMPLEXES : BARRIERS TO LITHIUM ION MIGRATION

The lithium ion migration mechanism in Li+−(diglyme)2 and LiClO4−diglyme complexes with coordination of Li+ by 3 to 6 oxygens has been investigated using ab initio molecular orbital theory. Local minima corresponding to different coordination sites of the Li+ cation and transition states between them have been located. The Li+ binding energies of the Li+−(diglyme)2 and LiClO4−diglyme complexes range from 94 to 122 and 167 to 188 kcal/mol, respectively. The binding energies increase with increasing coordination of Li+ by oxygen, although the binding per Li−O bond decreases, and structures with higher coordination of Li+ by oxygen exhibit longer Li−O bond lengths than the ones with lower coordination number. The barrier heights for n + 1 → n coordination of the cation by oxygen decrease with increasing coordination number n, with the smallest Li+ migration barriers (7−11 kcal/mol) occurring for complexes with the highest coordination numbers. The reaction coordinate for lithium ion migration between coordin...
Transformations of elliptic hypergeometric integrals

We prove a pair of transformations relating elliptic hypergeometric integrals of different dimensions, corresponding to the root systems BC_n and A_n; as a special case, we recover some integral identities conjectured by van Diejen and Spiridonov. For BC_n, we also consider their “Type II” integral. Their proof of that integral, together with our transformation, gives rise to pairs of adjoint integral operators; a different proof gives rise to pairs of adjoint difference operators. These allow us to construct a family of biorthogonal abelian functions generalizing the Koornwinder polynomials, and satisfying the analogues of the Macdonald conjectures. Finally, we discuss some transformations of Type II-style integrals. In particular, we find that adding two parameters to the Type II integral gives an integral invariant under an appropriate action of the Weyl group E_7.
Genome editing in plants via designed zinc finger nucleases.

The ability to create DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at specified genomic locations, which then stimulate the cell’s naturally occurring DNA repair processes, has introduced intriguing possibilities for genetic modification. Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are designed restriction enzymes consisting of a nonspecific cleavage domain fused to sequence-specific DNA binding domains. ZFN-mediated DSB formation at endogenous genomic loci followed by error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair can result in gene-specific mutations via nucleotide base pair insertions or deletions. Similarly, specific DNA sequence modifications can be made by providing donor DNA templates homologous to sequences flanking the cleavage site via homology-directed repair (HDR). Targeted deletions of intervening DNA sequence can be obtained by ZFNs used to create concurrent DSBs. Site-specific transgene integration into ZFN-induced DSBs is possible via either NHEJ or HDR. Genome editing can be used to enhance our basic understanding of plant gene function as well as modify and improve crop plants. As with conventional plant transformation technology, the efficiency of genome editing is absolutely dependent on the ability to initiate, maintain, and regenerate plant cell and tissue cultures.
Possible heavy solitons in the strongly coupled Higgs sector

Abstract In a presumed dynamically broken, minimally coupled SU(2) model, a natural Higgs mass of order 1 TeV marks the onset of a strongly interacting Higgs sector probably rich in resonance structure and inaccessible to perturbation theory. In the spirit of the chiral dynamics approach to low-energy hadron physics, the heavy Higgs sector is here assumed to be well described up to one-loop effects by an SO(4) non-linear σ-model of the Skyrme type. Taken as an effective zeroth-order lagrangian, the latter is shown to admit two varieties of finite-energy, three-dimensional localized solitons which may exist in nature. They are given by the S3 → S3 Chern-Pontryagin maps and the S3 → S2 twisted toroid Hopf maps, respectively. Upper and lower bounds on the masses of the hedgehog and twisted ring with kink-number one are found to lie in the few TeV range. By a topological theorem of Finkelstein et al., both types of solitons provide classical analogues of superheavy fermion states. The connection between these solitons with other extended objects predicted by Nambu and Huang, and their possible experimental signatures are sketched. Finally, the extension of our results to the more realistic SU(2) × U(1) Weinberg-Salam model is discussed.
Mutants in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Implications for prevention.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is inherited as an X-linked recessive disease that behaves as a lethal trait. 1 Males who inherit the mutations become disabled and die before they have children. It was elegantly stated by J. B. S. Haldane 2 in 1935 that, for genetic disorders in which the mutation rate in males and females were equal, a third of the affected cases in the population in each generation would be due to new mutations. For more than a decade there has been a controversy concerning the site of the new mutations in DMD. 3-10 Resolution of this controversy will have major ramifications for both genetic counseling and preventive screening. When faced with a sporadic case of DMD, most genetic clinics assume that there is a 66% chance that the mother is a genetic carrier and a 33% chance that the affected male represents a new mutant that occurred
Further improvements in the method of testing for evolutionary homology among proteins

An earlier method for detecting significant genetic relatedness between two gene products (Fitch, 1966a) is improved upon through three specific measures. The first measure reduces the background noise, against which the homologous comparisons must be detected by eliminating large numbers of comparisons which may reasonably be expected to be non-homologous. The second measure permits the multiple simultaneous comparison of one amino acid sequence against two other known homologous sequences. The third measure modifies the log likelihood-ratio test to permit one to estimate the probability that a presumptive homologous relationship could be a chance event. The third measure is used to show that the use of the first two measures may, in some circumstances, decrease by two orders of magnitude the probability that a result would be ascribed to a chance event. The third measure is also used to show how quickly the probability that a result would be ascribed to a chance event decreases as the length of the sequences being compared is increased.
Microbial upgrading of shale oil: removal of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds

Abstract Microbial cultures that can degrade heterocyclic nitrogen compounds have been established. These cultures have potential for use in biotechnological processes for upgrading shale oils. These cultures removed quinoline, methylquinolines, and isoquinoline without attacking the aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons. The selectivity of the organisms for the heterocyclic compounds within the shale oil means that the nitrogen contents of shale oils can be reduced in a biotechnological process without simultaneously degrading the oil's valued hydrocarbons.
Near-Contact Motion of Surfactant-Covered Spherical Drops: Ionic Surfactant

Abstract A lubrication analysis is presented for near-contact axisymmetric motion of spherical drops covered with an insoluble nondiffusing surfactant. The surfactant equation of state is arbitrary; detailed results are presented for ionic surfactants. The qualitative behavior of the system is determined by the dimensionless force parameter F, the external force normalized by the maximum resistance force generated by Marangoni stresses. For F > 1 drops coalesce on a time scale commensurate with the coalescence time τ0 for drops with clean interfaces. For F
Soft x-ray and extreme ultraviolet quantum detection efficiency of potassium bromide photocathode layers on microchannel plates.

The quantum detection efficiency (QDE) of KCl photocathodes in the 44-1460 A range was investigated. An opaque layer of KCl, about 15,000-A-thick, was evaporated and applied the surface of a microchannel plate (MCP), and the contribution of the photocathode material in the channels (and on the interchannel web) to the QDE was measured using a Z stack MCP detector. It is shown that KCl is a relatively stable photocathode material, with the QDE equal to 30-40 percent in the EUV. At wavelengths above 200 A, the QDE is slightly better than the QDE of CsI, as reported by Siegmund et al. (1986). While the shape of the QDE curve as a function of wavelength is similar to those reported for CsI and KBr, KCl was found to lack the high QDE peak found in the curves of CsI and KBr at about 100 A. A simple QDE model is described, the predictions of which were found to agree with the measurements on the KCl photocathode.
Lifetime measurement in the β system (c1Φ-a1Δ) of TiO

Abstract The radiative lifetime of the v ′ = 0 level of the c 1 Φ state of TiO has been measured from observations on fluorescent decay of a single rotational level, following excitation by laser radiation. The value is τ 0 = 17.5 ± 1.0 nsec. From this is derived a transition probability of 5.71 × 10 7 sec −1 and an emission f value of 0.270. Transition probabilities for the other bands in the β system have been calculated.
A study of the uptake and gelation reactions of Cr(III) oligomers with polyacrylamide

The reaction rates of Cr(III) oligomers with partially hydrolyzed (PAAm) polyacrylamide were measured. The oligomers were prepared in relatively pure form using liquid chromatography, allowed to react with polymer, quenched, and then separated using equilibrium dialysis. In the pH range of 4–5, Cr(III) concentrations in the range of 8–30 ppm and polymer concentrations in the range of 4000–20,000 ppm, reaction rates increased with increasing oligomer size, concentration, and pH. Gelation rates determined using rheological measurements were found to follow closely the Cr(III) reaction rates. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 1381–1391, 1997
Analytical Predictions of Residential Electric Heating System Performance

Performance of a heating system depends on the interrelationship of its component parts. One measure of performance is the cyclic room air temperature swings. This paper presents results of analog computer tests of the predominant factors influencing such air temperature swings: design capacity of the heating system, time constant of the heater, the space itself and furnishings, and the thermostat cycling rate. Also considered is the influence of the heating system on the control air temperature droop.
The role of vertical and horizontal object orientation in mate-finding and predator-avoidance by the American cockroach

Abstract Air currents with and without sex pheromone were presented perpendicularly to the dorsum of individual male and female American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana , on horizontal and vertical surfaces. Males and females on the horizontal surface turned in small angles (0 ° to 90 °) in response to air currents with and without sex pheromone (horizontal object orientation). On the vertical surface, tethered males and females consistently moved upward in response to air currents without sex pheromone (predator-avoidance), whereas males moved downward in response to air currents with sex pheromone (mate-finding). Male and female vertical distributions in a semi-natural situation revealed that most males were found above some females.
Role of inflammatory cells in the metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mouse skin

Abstract Oxidants, such as those generated by activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) during inflammation, have been implicated in the metabolic activation of procarcinogens to their ultimate carcinogenic form. In this study we examined the effect of inflammation on the metabolic activation of (±)- trans -7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[ a ]pyrene (BP 7,8-dihydrodiol) to a covalent binding species in mouse epidermis. Interaction of BP 7,8-dihydrodiol with 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated murine leukocytes resulted in the generation of both a chemiluminescent intermediate and one that covalently bound to the DNA of cocultured epidermal keratinocytes. Topical treatment of mouse skin with TPA led to an influx of PMNs into the skin beginning several hours after application. Myeloperoxidase activity, a marker for neutrophils, increased 15-fold in the skin by 16 hr after TPA treatment. Dual applications of TPA at both 16 hr before and concurrently with administration of [ 3 H]BP 7,8-dihydrodiol led to a 50% enhancement of the level of carcinogen that was covalently bound to epidermal DNA. However, a single application of TPA, either 16 hr before or concurrently with BP 7,8-dihydrodiol administration, had no enhancing effect, suggesting that both initial recruitment of PMNs into the skin and subsequent stimulation of oxidant production by the PMNs were required to enhance carcinogen binding. By contrast, no enhancement of benzo[ a ]pyrene binding was observed by TPA treatments in vivo . However, TPA-stimulated neutrophils did not activate this procarcinogen to a chemiluminescent metabolite in vitro . These results suggest that oxidants generated by metabolically stimulated PMNs can activate penultimate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as BP 7,8-dihydrodiol, to potentially genotoxic metabolites in vivo and further define a role for inflammation in carcinogenesis.
Inhibitors of monoamine oxidase II. Syntheses of some N‐2(9)‐Substituted tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines and evaluation of their inhibitory activities

Abstract Tetrahydro- β -carbolines with alkyl or aralkyl substitution on N-9, alkyl on N-2, and alkyl on both N-2 and N-9 were synthesized and their monoamine oxidase inhibitory activities evaluated. Two different binding conformations were proposed for the 9-methyl and the 9-hydrogen series. The binding of the 9-methyl group hydrophobically to the enzyme would account for the high inhibitory activities of 9-methyl compounds. In the case of 9-hydrogen-2-alkyl series, since there is no methyl group on the indolic nitrogen, hydrophobic bonding would not be possible. Relief of steric hindrance due to the 2-alkyl would probably cause the molecule to assume another binding conformation. of all the compounds tested, 2,9-dimethyltetrahydro- β -carboline was the most active inhibitor. Its activity was about one-third that of the previously reported 9-methyltetrahydro- β -carboline.
Altered nitric oxide metabolism and increased oxygen free radical activity in lead-induced hypertension: Effect of lazaroid therapy

Chronic exposure to low levels of lead results in sustained hypertension (HTN) in humans and experimental animals. The mechanism of lead-induced HTN remains unclear. We investigated the possible role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their impact on nitric oxide (NO) metabolism in lead-induced HTN. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with lead (100 ppm in drinking water) for twelve weeks. They were then treated with either the potent antioxidant, lazaroid (des-methyl-tirilazad, 5 mg/kg i.p., twice daily) (Pb-Lz group) or placebo (Pb group) for two weeks and monitored for an additional two weeks. A group of normal animals served as controls (N = 6 in each group). Lead administration resulted in marked HTN together with a significant rise in plasma concentration of lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA, reflecting increased ROS generation) and a twofold reduction in urinary excretion of NO metabolites, that is, total nitrates and nitrites (NOx). Lazaroid therapy led to prompt normalization of blood pressure, plasma MDA and urinary NOx. In contrast, blood pressure and plasma MDA remained elevated, and recovery of urinary NOx excretion was slow with placebo therapy. No significant difference was found in creatinine clearance between the study groups during the observation period. Thus, chronic lead exposure resulted in marked HTN coupled with increased ROS production and decreased urinary NOx excretion. Administration of the potent antioxidant, lazaroid, abrogated HTN and reversed the abnormalities of plasma MDA and urinary NOx excretion, thus supporting the role of ROS in lead-induced HTN in this model.
Coupled chaotic chemical oscillators.

We present a model study of two mass-coupled reactors containing the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction under chaotic conditions. The critical coupling strength is estimated for symmetry breaking when two identical low flow rate chaotic modes are coupled. Our results confirm that the critical coupling strength is directly proportional to the maximum Lyapunov exponent of the uncoupled system. The constant of proportionality is found to be somewhat larger than the theoretical value. Direct integration reveals a rich structure of dynamical behavior when the coupling strength and the flow rate in one cell are varied. Our simulations reveal domains of oscillator death, in which a stable steady state coexists with limit cycle oscillations. We introduce a simple model for predicting the dynamics of the coupled system from the dynamical behavior of the uncoupled subsystems and the dependence on the coupling strength of the Hopf bifurcation of the coupled system. The model gives good estimates of the dynamical behavior of two coupled oscillators with a small difference in one parameter at intermediate and high coupling strengths. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
CO2 capturing from power plant flue gases: Energetic comparison of amine absorption with MgO based, heat integrated, pressure–temperature-swing adsorption

Abstract In this work, a novel, heat-integrated, pressure–temperature-swing-adsorption (PTSA) process is proposed for the capture of CO 2 from the flue gas of fossil-fueled power plants. The proposed PTSA process utilizes MgO to capture CO 2 , in cyclic adsorption/desorption steps involving temperature and pressure swings. The adsorption/desorption temperature and pressure operating conditions are found by globally solving the associated Gibbs free energy minimization problem. The proposed process is heat-integrated, and involves a heat-pump, a refrigeration loop, a flash-separator train with inter-stage compression and cooling, and a heat exchange network. Our energetic analysis suggests that a 12% increase in power output can be attained for 90% CO 2 capture, over an amine process featuring the same CO 2 capture level.
Geochemical formation of organosulphur compounds (thiols) by addition of H 2 S to sedimentary organic matter

Organosulphur compounds constitute a significant fraction of organic matter in both recent and ancient iron-poor marine sediments as well as in petroleum generated in such sediments1,2. Most studies on organosulphur compounds in marine sediments have focused on hydrophobic compounds, for example, thiophenes3–6, sulphur-containing hopanoids7 and volatile compounds. Recently, hydrophilic, organic thiols were found in significant concentrations in anoxic marine sediments8,9. Several studies10–13 have shown that H2S formed from bacterial sulphate reduction can become incorporated into organic matter during early diagenesis, however, the exact chemical mechanisms by which this sulphur reacts with sedimentary organic matter are not well understood. Here we describe the widespread occurrence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid in coastal marine sediments (Biscayne Bay, Florida) and present evidence for its formation by an abiotic reaction between hydrogen sulphide and acrylic acid, which is a cleavage product of the common algal osmolyte β-dimethylsulphoniopropionate14,15. The reaction probably occurs by nucleophilic addition of bisulphide (HS−) ion to the activated double bond in the α,β-unsaturated car bony 1 system of acrylic acid. Reactions between hydrogen sulphide and activated unsaturated bonds in organic molecules are probably responsible for the formation of other thiols in sediments and could represent a major pathway for the incorporation of sulphur into sedimentary organic matter during early diagenesis.
Control of intracellular calcium redistribution by guanine nucleotides and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in permeabilized GH4C1 cells.

In GH4C1 rat pituitary cells, a GTP-binding protein appears to be involved in signal transduction between the TRH receptor and phospholipase C. In certain other cell types, another role for GTP has been reported, namely regulation of Ca2+ translocation from one intracellular pool to another. Using digitonin-permeabilized GH4C1 cells, we have investigated whether an analogous process occurs in pituitary cells. In permeabilized GH4Ci cells, TRH, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), and nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs guanosine 5′-0-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS) and 5′-guanylyl imidodiphosphate each increased free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]). Unlike several other systems, GTP did not increase [Ca2+]. Guanosine 5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) inhibited Ca2+ release induced by both TRH and GTPγS. Heparin abolished IP3-induced Ca2+ release but did not prevent Ca2+ release induced by TRH or GTPγS, suggesting a mechanism for their actions that did not depend solely on IP3 production. Neomycin inhibited GTPγS-induced Ca2+ rele...
New Venues for Discovering Fire and Emergency Services Literature

This paper looks at a project that served to make Executive Fire Officer Applied Research Project papers as well as fire and emergency services-related periodical literature discoverable in the WorldCat search engine, the world’s largest database of library materials. It examines why these resources are important to the fire community and explains the desirability of making them more readily visible to a wider audience. Integrating citations to the EFOP papers and periodical literature into WorldCat also led to other new developments at the US Fire Administration’s library such as the implementation of the WorldCat Local search which affords users a wide variety of highly important research tools and enhancements including a more seamless and immediate means to search across the fire and emergency services domain of periodical literature and more.
Foams, thin films and surface rheological properties

This overview paper highlights the role of thin liquid film dynamics in understanding foam structure and stability, and summarizes the recent contributions of the fundamental research performed in our laboratory. The significance of the surface rheological properties such as surface elasticity or surface tension gradient, and surface shear and dilatational viscosities in the hydrodynamics of thin foam films as well as in foam bulk rheological behavior is illustrated. The phenomenon of stratification (i.e., stepwise thinning) in foam films and a new mechanism for the stabilization of foams due to the formation of long-range, “ordered” micellar structures inside the film, over distances of the order of 100 nm or 1,000A, are discussed. The stabilizing/destabilizing effects of oil for aqueous foam systems and the importance of the “pseudoemulsion” film in controlling stability in such three-phase foam systems are explained.
Gryphon M3 system: integration of MEMS for flight control

By using distributed arrays of micro-actuators as effectors, micro-sensors to detect the optimal actuation location, and microelectronics to provide close loop feedback decisions, a low power control system has been developed for controlling a UAV. Implementing the Microsensors, Microactuators, and Microelectronics leads to what is known as a M3 (M-cubic) system. This project involves demonstrating the concept of using small actuators (approximately micron-millimeter scale) to provide large control forces for a large-scale system (approximately meter scale) through natural flow amplification phenomenon. This is theorized by using fluid separation phenomenon, vortex evolution, and vortex symmetry on a delta wing aircraft. By using MEMS actuators to control leading edge vortex separation and growth, a desired aerodynamic force can be produced about the aircraft for flight control. Consequently, a MEMS shear stress sensor array was developed for detecting the leading edge separation line where leading edge vortex flow separation occurs. By knowing the leading edge separation line, a closely coupled micro actuation from the effectors can cause the required separation that leads to vortex control. A robust and flexible balloon type actuator was developed using pneumatic pressure as the actuation force. Recently, efforts have started to address the most elusive problem of amplified distributed control (ADC) through data mining algorithms. Preliminary data mining results are promising and this part of the research is ongoing. All wind tunnel data used the baseline 56.5 degree(s) sweepback delta wing with root chord of 31.75 cm.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Radiation Protection in Interventional Radiology: Survey Results of Attitudes and Use

Abstract Purpose To assess attitudes of interventional radiologists toward personal radiation protection and the use of radiation protection devices. Materials and Methods Invitations to an anonymous online survey that comprised eight questions focused on operator attitudes toward radiation protection devices were sent via e-mail to the active membership of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR): a total of 3,158 e-mail invitations. A single reminder e-mail was sent. Results There were 504 survey responders (16% response rate). Reported radiation safety device use included lead apron (99%), thyroid shield (94%), leaded eyeglasses (54%), ceiling-suspended leaded shield (44%), rolling leaded shields (12%), ceiling-suspended/rolling lead-equivalent apron (4%), radiation-attenuating sterile surgical gloves (1%), and sterile lead-equivalent patient-mounted drape (4%). Reasons commonly cited for not using certain devices were comfort (eyewear), ease of use (mounted shields), and lack of availability (rolling/hanging shields and patient-mounted shields). Conclusions Interventionalists have an array of tools from which to choose for personal radiation protection; however, for a variety of reasons related to lack of availability or choice, these tools are not universally employed. Further study may be of value to clarify why comfort was cited most often as the primary barrier to the use of protective eyewear and difficulty of use was cited as the primary barrier to use of mounted shields (despite reporting that concern for radiation-induced injury to the eye is paramount). It may also be of interest to further study why certain devices with demonstrable protection effects are not readily available, such as rolling/hanging and patient-mounted shields.
Comparison of Alfalfa-Orchardgrass Hay Stored in Large Round Bales and Conventional Rectangular Bales for Lactating Cows

Abstract Lactating Jersey cows were used in two trials to evaluate alfalfa-orchardgrass hay baled and stored by the following methods: 1) conventional rectangular bales; 2) large round bales, stored inside; and 3) large round bales, stored outside. Half the round bales stored outside in trial 1 were stored on automobile tires and the other half were stored on the gound. In trial 2, half of the bales stored outside were partially covered with plastic caps and the other half were exposed to the weather. Covariance adjusted milk production was significantly higher for inside over outside storage in trial 1 and for conventional over round bales and covered over exposed in trial 2. In trial 1, utilization by cows as a percent of dry matter baled was 92.9, 74.0, and 66.6% for round bales stored inside, stored outside on tires, and stored outside on the ground. Percents were 86.8, 88.8, and 65.0% for round bales stored inside, stored outside covered, and stored outside exposed in trial 2. Storing round bales on automobile tires effectively reduced bottom spoilage. Covers of polyethylene film reduced weather deterioration and feeding waste of covered bales to amount of bales stored inside.
Heterogeneous populations of ES cells in the generation of a floxed Presenilin-1 allele.

Generation of a floxed Presenilin-1 (PS1) allele involved two recombination events in the embryonic stem (ES) cells. First, a targeting vector containing a loxP site in intron 1 and a floxed CMV-HYG/TK double selection cassette in intron 3 was integrated into the PS1 locus by homologous recombination. The use of a negative selection cassette, PGK-DTA, dramatically increased the recombination efficiency within the targeted locus (75-fold). Second, an expression vector encoding Cre recombinase was introduced to excise the floxed CMV-HYG/TK cassette via site-specific recombination. However, all five ES cell clones testing positive for the proper removal of the CMV-HYG/TK cassette also contained a proportion of ES cells in which recombination had occurred between the distal loxP sites in introns 1 and 3, resulting in excision of the entire floxed region. It is therefore critical to screen for possible recombination events involving all 3 loxP sites, in order to identify ES cells clones bearing high proportions of the desired ES cells. genesis 26:5-8, 2000.
Learning of food and water positions by hippocampus damaged rats.

Abstract Hippocampus damaged, neodecorticate, and normal control rats were tested in a Maier three table situation. One goal was baited with food, the other with water. The animals were food or water deprived on alternate days and trained to run to the appropriate goal. After reaching criterion, reversal learning was begun. The results showed that neodecorticate and normal rats switched responses to obtain appropriate rewards but hippocampal rats were deficient in learning this. The hippocampal group had high total errors and a strikingly high proportion of such errors were committed consecutively. Upon reversal, both hippocampal and neodecorticate rats initially had high error scores. On the seventh day of reversal learning the hippocampal group still had a mean of 3 errors while the others had 1 error. The results were discussed in terms of perseverative tendencies and a lack of attention to relatively minor but crucial stimuli.
The Characterization of Damage Propagation of BGA Flip-Chip Electronic Packages Under Mechanical Shock Loading

Increasing power and I/O demands in HDI (high density interconnect) components coupled with the industry-wide conversion to lead-free products has introduced additional risk for solder joint reliability (SJR) of BGA (ball grid array) Flip-Chip electronic packages. One particular concern is SJR under mechanical shock (dynamic bend) loading. While leaded alloys provided good performance in shock for many years due to the unparalleled ability of lead’s slip systems to absorb the energy in shock events, lead-free alloys cannot provide the same benefit. To mitigate this risk, better approaches for understanding damage propagation are needed to enable better design to limit and reduce the SJR risk during shipping and end-user handling. To this end, a characterization study is undertaken to monitor damage progression at the second-level interconnect in BGA’s on flip-chip electronic packages during mechanical shock loading. The study uses a board-level, strain-monitoring approach plus the dye and peel failure analysis technique to track the initiation and propagation of solder joint cracks under loading. The approach being used differs from conventional reliability testing in that both design and load variables are used to quantify damage growth and strain response to bridge the understanding of design feature impact to traditional reliability testing. The scope of the study includes investigating the impact of such factors as package placement, board layout, and enabling load on the monitored board strain and the damage propagation observed. From this study, directions and design guidelines for improving solder joint reliability of future BGA’s on flip-chip electronic packages under mechanical shock loading conditions are proposed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Migration and substance use: evidence from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey.

Representative data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey are used to investigate the substance use patterns of immigrants and compare them to those of the native born populations. The information examined is from the 1991 supplementary Drug and Alcohol Use Data File, which examined the self-reported substance use behaviors of approximately 21,000 adults aged 18–44. Findings indicate that immigrants to the U.S. in the late twentieth century are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs than are native born citizens. Additional findings suggest assimilation processes by which exposure to mainstream American society leads to patterns of alcohol and illicit drug use among long term immigrants that approximates that of the native born population. The patterns of substance use observed among immigrants, however, are not consistent with acculturative stress mechanisms. These findings provide an important and representative profile of the substance use patterns of one of the largest international migra...
The dielectric constant of bloch electrons in crossed electric and magnetic fields

The longitudinal dielectric constant of an interacting Bloch electron gas in crossed electric and magnetic fields is here derived using the effective-mass formulation of Wannier and Fredkin and in the random phase approximation employing an equation-of-motion method. The results are derived for all relative strengths of the electric and magnetic fields. There are some subtleties involved in this problem as the usual Schrodinger equation for the system breaks down for electric fields larger than or equal in magnitude to the magnetic field. Therefore the problem is reformulated by solving the Dirac equation and using the solutions corresponding to spinless particles as the starting point. The effective-mass formulation of the Wannier-Fredkin type is formulated for the Dirac equation so that the problem of crossed fields can be handled more appropriately. From the dielectric constant the optical absorption in solids is derived. The appearance of Landau levels when the magnetic field is stronger than the electric field and the appearance of Wannier-Stark levels in the opposite limit is brought out. In the case of equality of the field strengths, a new type of Stark levels appears and suggestions are made as to the study of the transition from one type of states to the other as the relative strengths of the fields are varied.