cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breaking silence: Some fieldwork strategies in cloistered and non-cloistered communities

This paper deals with some of the linguistic difficulties I encountered during fieldwork conducted among cloistered and non-cloistered communities of Roman Catholic nuns. I illustrate here the necessity for taking both active and passive research modes—that is, moving from observer to participant and back—in order to counteract problems related to interaction styles, lack of language, meaning inversions, and silence as a mode of communication. These problems represent a continuum—a progression from least to most problematical in terms of the connection between researcher and researched. I argue that by adopting a stance appropriate to the groups being studied—that is, by using both active and passive research strategies with equal rigor—many linguistic barriers can not only be overcome, but usedas sources of important data.
Examination of in vitro melatonin secretion from superfused trout (Salmo gairdneri) pineal organs maintained under diel illumination or continuous darkness.

Melatonin secretion was measured from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) pineal organs maintained individually under flow-through whole organ culture (superfusion) conditions. Radioimmunoassay of perfusate fractions collected during controlled photic conditions demonstrated that melatonin secretion in vitro remained basal during the photophase and underwent increases in titer during the scotophase. While amounts of melatonin (met) secreted were characteristic of individual pineal organs, photophase values ranged between 0.25 and 0.75 ng mel/ml and scotophase values ranged from 6 to 10 ng mel/ml of perfusate. Diel melatonin secretion profiles reflected the illumination regimen, with light associated with low melatonin titer in the perfusate and darkness associated with high titer. Light pulses during a normal scotophase resulted in a depression in melatonin secretion regardless of whether it was administered early or late in the dark period. Pulses of darkness given early or late in a normal photophase resulted in increased melatonin secretion. Superfused trout pineal organs did not display endogenous rhythmicity in melatonin secretion when subjected to prolonged exposure to continuous darkness (DD), whether first exposed to entraining light/dark (LD) cycles prior to DD or exposed to DD at the initiation of superfusion. In both studies, elevated melatonin secretion gradually declined over time. But exposure to a 4:4LD cycle after DD resulted in decreased (with light) and increased (with darkness) melatonin secretion. These results demonstrate that the trout pineal organ can be maintained for extended periods of time in superfusion culture, that the trout pineal organ is very responsive to light or dark for regulating melatonin synthesis, and that an endogenous rhythm in melatonin synthesis when organs were maintained in DD was not detectable.
Minimizing impacts of land use change on ecosystem services using multi-criteria heuristic analysis.

Development of natural landscapes to support human activities impacts the capacity of the landscape to provide ecosystem services. Typically, several ecosystem services are impacted at a single development site and various footprint scenarios are possible, thus a multi-criteria analysis is needed. Restoration potential should also be considered for the area surrounding the permanent impact site. The primary objective of this research was to develop a heuristic approach to analyze multiple criteria (e.g. impacts to various ecosystem services) in a spatial configuration with many potential development sites. The approach was to: (1) quantify the magnitude of terrestrial ecosystem service (biodiversity, carbon sequestration, nutrient and sediment retention, and pollination) impacts associated with a suite of land use change scenarios using the InVEST model; (2) normalize results across categories of ecosystem services to allow cross-service comparison; (3) apply the multi-criteria heuristic algorithm to select sites with the least impact to ecosystem services, including a spatial criterion (separation between sites). As a case study, the multi-criteria impact minimization algorithm was applied to InVEST output to select 25 potential development sites out of 204 possible locations (selected by other criteria) within a 24,000 ha property. This study advanced a generally applicable spatial multi-criteria approach for 1) considering many land use footprint scenarios, 2) balancing impact decisions across a suite of ecosystem services, and 3) determining the restoration potential of ecosystem services after impacts.
System theory aspects of multi-body dynamics

The spacecraft attitude dynamics and control problem is introduced as a broad class of nonlinear systems. Some of the basic properties of these systems are described from a system theory point of view. Various system theory concepts and research topics which have applicability to this class of systems are identified and briefly described. The subject of multibody dynamics is presented in a vector space setting and related to system theory concepts.
Estimates of Variability for Somatic Cell Count Measurements in the Iowa Dairy Industry

Abstract The SCC collected from 15 instruments in 12 laboratories were used to quantify accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility in the Iowa dairy industry. For each of three trials, milk was sampled at the morning milking from 30 different Holsteins in the Iowa State University herd. Identified samples and unidentified duplicates were provided for each participating instrument. Mean SCC was 418,000 cells/ml. and mean SCC for duplicates ranged from 9000 to 3,966,000. Accuracy for a set of 30 duplicates was lowest for trial 1 (CV=16.4%) and highest for trial 2 (CV=7.6%). Intraclass correlations estimated repeatability and were .99 for all but one instrument. Coefficients of variation for repeatability (weighted mean=11.4%) were similar to estimates for accuracy (weighted mean=11.0%), but reproducibility was considerably lower (30.0%). Samples were classified by SCC as very low, 500,000. Repeatability for high samples was higher than repeatability for very low SCC samples; coefficient of variation for high SCC samples was 6.8% but was >25.0% for samples with
Women's midlife symptom-reporting in China: cross-cultural analysis.

This report draws on data from the author's China Study of Midlife Women (CSMW) to test the popular notion that East Asian women have a low level of midlife symptom reporting compared with North American women. Symptom-reporting frequencies from a general population sample of 156 Chinese women of age 45–55 in China are compared with rates from published studies on midlife women in Japan, Canada, and the U.S. While the Japanese women's rates of reporting 16 core symptoms are uniformly low, the Chinese women's frequencies range from low to moderate. Except on hot flashes and headaches, the Chinese women's symptom-reporting rates tend to be more similar to the North American than to the Japanese sample. This analysis demonstrates that women's midlife symptom reporting in China cannot be equated with findings on women in Japan. Sources should be more cautious in making generalizations about East Asian women in this regard. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:219–222, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Counterintuitive effects of large‐scale predator removal on a midlatitude rodent community

Historically, small mammals have been focal organisms for studying predator- prey dynamics, principally because of interest in explaining the drivers of the cyclical dynamics exhibited by northern vole, lemming, and hare populations. However, many small-mammal species occur at relatively low and fairly stable densities at temperate latitudes, and our understanding of how complex predator assemblages influence the abundance and dynamics of these species is surprisingly limited. In an intact grassland ecosystem in western Montana, USA, we examined the abundance and dynamics of Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus), deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and montane voles (Microtus montanus) on 1-ha plots where we excluded mammalian and avian predators and ungulates, excluded ungulates alone, or allowed predators and ungulates full access. Our goal was to determine whether the relatively low population abundance and moderate population fluctuations of these rodents were due to population suppression by predators. Our predator- exclusion treatment was divided into two phases: a phase where we excluded all predators except weasels (Mustela spp.; 2002-2005), and a phase where all predators including weasels were excluded (2006-2009). Across the entire duration of the experiment, predator and/or ungulate exclusion had no effect on the abundance or overall dynamics of ground squirrels and deer mice. Ground squirrel survival (the only species abundant enough to accurately estimate survival) was also unaffected by our experimental treatments. Prior to weasel exclusion, predators also had no impacts on montane vole abundance or dynamics. However, after weasel exclusion, vole populations reached greater population peaks, and there was greater recruitment of young animals on predator-exclusion plots compared to plots open to predators during peak years. These results suggest that the impacts of predators cannot be generalized across all rodents in an assemblage. Furthermore, they suggest that specialist predators can play an important role in suppressing vole abundance even in lower-latitude vole populations that occur at relatively low densities.
Simultaneous Determination of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin Oxygen Binding Curves by Spectral Curve Fitting

A completely optical method is described for the simultaneous determination of hemoglobin and myoglobin oxygen saturation. Solution oxygen concentrations were computed from measurements of phosphorescence decay of a soluble palladium porphyrin using the Stern-Volmer quenching relationship. Visible absorption spectra were recorded of hemoglobin/myoglobin mixtures progressively deoxygenated by bacterial aerobic metabolism. Separate hemoglobin and myoglobin oxygenation curves were resolved from the spectra of solutions containing both proteins by curve fitting, with the use of singular value decomposition of the spectra vs. oxygen concentration matrix. The method yielded a P50 of 1.2 Torr for horse heart myoglobin at 24 ± 1°C, while the P50 for sheep hemoglobin was 23 Torr at the same temperature. These values, obtained from mixtures, compare favorably with literature values determined for hemoglobin and myoglobin separately.
In situ measures of methanotroph activity in upland soils: A reaction‐diffusion model and field observation of water stress

[1] Laboratory assays of methanotroph activity in upland (i.e., well-drained, oxic) ecosystems alter soil physical structure and weaken inference about environmental controls of their natural behavior. To overcome these limitations, we developed a chamber-based approach to quantify methanotroph activity in situ on the basis of measures of soil diffusivity (from additions of an inert tracer gas to the chamber headspace), methane concentration change, and analysis of results with a reaction-diffusion model. The analytic solution to this model predicts that methane consumption rates are equally sensitive to changes in methanotroph activity and diffusivity, but that doubling either of these parameters leads to only a p 2 increase in consumption. With a series of simulations, we generate guidelines for field deployments and show that the approach is robust to plausible departures from assumptions. We applied the approach on a dry grassland in north central Colorado. Our model closely fit measured changes in methane concentrations, indicating that we had accurately characterized the biophysical processes underlying methane uptake. Field patterns showed that, over a 7-week period, soil moisture fell from 38% to 15% water-filled pore spaces, and diffusivity doubled as the larger soil pores drained of water. However, methane uptake rates fell by � 40%, following a 90% decrease in methanotroph activity, suggesting that the decline in methanotroph activity resulted from water stress to methanotrophs. We anticipate that future application of this approach over longer timescales and on more diverse field sites has potential to provide important insights into the ecology of methanotrophs in upland soils.
Molecular Signatures of Mouse TRPV1-Lineage Neurons Revealed by RNA-Seq Transcriptome Analysis

Abstract Disorders of pain neural systems are frequently chronic and, when recalcitrant to treatment, can severely degrade the quality of life. The pain pathway begins with sensory neurons in dorsal root or trigeminal ganglia, and the neuronal subpopulations that express the transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1) ion channel transduce sensations of painful heat and inflammation and play a fundamental role in clinical pain arising from cancer and arthritis. In the present study, we elucidate the complete transcriptomes of neurons from the TRPV1 lineage and a non-TRPV1 neuroglial population in sensory ganglia through the combined application of next-gen deep RNA-Seq, genetic neuronal labeling with fluorescence-activated cell sorting, or neuron-selective chemoablation. RNA-Seq accurately quantitates gene expression, a difficult parameter to determine with most other methods, especially for very low and very high expressed genes. Differentially expressed genes are present at every level of cellular function from the nucleus to the plasma membrane. We identified many ligand receptor pairs in the TRPV1 population, suggesting that autonomous presynaptic regulation may be a major regulatory mechanism in nociceptive neurons. The data define, in a quantitative, cell population–specific fashion, the molecular signature of a distinct and clinically important group of pain-sensing neurons and provide an overall framework for understanding the transcriptome of TRPV1 nociceptive neurons. Perspective Next-gen RNA-Seq, combined with molecular genetics, provides a comprehensive and quantitative measurement of transcripts in TRPV1 lineage neurons and a contrasting transcriptome from non-TRPV1 neurons and cells. The transcriptome highlights previously unrecognized protein families, identifies multiple molecular circuits for excitatory or inhibitory autocrine and paracrine signaling, and suggests new combinatorial approaches to pain control.
Family-Friendly Organizations? Work and Family Programs in the 1990s:

Benefits that enable employees to manage better their work and personal lives are an important form of compensation offered by some but by no means all organizations. Using data from the 1996 Natio...
Intellectual and personality differences between community-living and institutionalized older adult females.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate simultaneously differences between normal institutionalized older adults and community-living older adults with respect to intelligence/cognitive test performance and personality. Participants were 25 community-living females (M age = 72.9 yrs., SD = 6.34) and 25 institutionalized females (M age = 80.0 yrs., SD = 6.46). Intellectual/cognitive ability was assessed by the WAIS, Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (Form L-M), Ravens Coloured Progressive Matrices; personality was assessed by the Hand Test, a projective technique. Several multivariate analyses (discriminant analysis) were conducted. Results suggested that even when controlling for age and level of education, institutionalization appears to be associated with intellectual/cognitive as well as personality deficits. The findings were discussed in terms of the potential implications for the professional working with institutionalized older adults.
735–6 Transesophageal Echocardiographic Evaluation of Patients with Cryptogenic Stroke: Is Transthoracic Echocardlography Helpful?

Approximately 30–40% of ischemic strokes are believed to be cardiogenic in origin. Despite its poor sensitivity transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is widely used to rule out cardiac source of emboli. Recently transesophagel echocardiography (TEE) has shown higher sensitivity for detecting potential sources of embolic stroke. However, the extent to which TEE findings alter the initial treatment plan is unclear. We evaluated 112 patients who were referred for TTE to rule out cardiac sources of stroke by both TTE and TEE. Nineteen (17%) had a positive TTE compared to 64 (57%) with positive TEE. In addition, 11 of the 64 (17%) with abnormal TEE had findings which clearly redirected the treatment plan (myxoma = 4; thoracic aortic mass = 1; native valve vegetation = 1; prosthetic valve vegetation = 1; valvular masses = 3). One patient whose TTE was interpreted as left atrial (LA) myxoma had atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) byTEE. This ASA protruded into the LA and simulated as a “mass” on the TTE. A higher rate of detection of potential source for emboli was noted by TEE compared to TTE for ASA (10 vs 4); left atrial (lA) and LA appendage thrombi (20 vs 3); LA myxoma (4 vs 2); vegetation (2 vs 1); patent foramen ovale (4 vs 0); spontaneous echo contrast effect (11 vs 1) and aortic debris (10 vs 0). These observations suggest increased ability of TEE in the detection of potential cardiac sources of emboli with significant impact on the treatment strategy. Whether TEE should be the initial choice of test in patients with suspected systemic emboli remains to the defined.
POPULATION DISPERSION VS. CONCENTRATION IN A TWO‐REGION MIGRATION MODEL WITH ENDOGENOUS NATURAL AMENITIES*

Contrary to the predictions of the basic spatial equilibrium model, the long-run distribution of population across rural U.S. counties with high-valued natural amenities has become relatively more concentrated versus dispersed. We provide an explanation by developing a two-region model with mobile labor, production externalities and endogenous natural amenities. We find that strong preferences for natural amenities generally foster population dispersion. However, such preferences can also lead to population concentration when ecological degradation is low and man-made capital is a relatively scarce input into natural amenity production. Investments that enhance natural amenities are found to reduce the divergence between the steady state and optimal outcomes.
Sequential analysis of cattle location: Day-to-day movement patterns

Abstract Studies were conducted in Texas and Colorado to determine if there were consistent movement patterns of grazing cattle. Based on optimal foraging theory, we hypothesized that cattle would select the same area of a pasture to graze for several days in a row. In the Colorado study, the location of cattle was observed each morning for 6 weeks. The 50-ha pasture was separated into 10 sections. The calculated number of cattle that moved from one section to another was analyzed using a transition matrix. Cattle were rarely observed in the same section of the pasture on two successive mornings. In the Texas study, the location of cattle after they began grazing was observed each morning for eight seasonal trials lasting 6–15 days. The 248-ha pasture was divided into 63 units based on plant community, slope, aspect, elevation and distance from water. Cluster analysis was used to group these units into five separate areas. Clusters were based on the amount of grazing in each unit during the trials. The number of cattle that moved from one area to another during successive mornings (calculated from expected values) was analyzed using a transition matrix. Separate analyses were made for spring, summer and winter periods. There was no consistent movement pattern across all seasons. Cattle seldom grazed in the same area for more than two successive mornings. The transitions on successive mornings from areas separated by the greatest distance generally occurred less often than expected by chance. The hypothesis that cattle would select the same area to graze for several successive mornings was rejected. In both studies, cattle appeared to graze nearby areas on the following morning.
Discussing Controversial Public Issues in Secondary Social Studies Classrooms: Learning from Skilled Teachers

Abstract This study examined the teaching of controversial public issues (CPI) in middle and high school social studies classes. I sought to better understand the instruction and conceptions undergirding the instruction of secondary social studies teachers who were nominated by discussion experts as especially skillful at teaching their students to participate more effectively in CPI discussions. Using grounded theory, I analyzed three types of data: classroom observation field notes, interviews of the teachers, and CPI discussion teaching artifacts. First, I describe CPI discussions in the teachers' classes, then introduce six propositions induced about the teaching of CPI discussions. Next, I discuss how the propositions challenge and add to the existing literature on classroom discussion in secondary social studies, and suggest implications for the CPI discussion teaching practice of teachers and teacher educators.
Transport of sulfate to New York State

Trajectory analysis provides evidence that high sulfate concentrations observed during summer high-pressure systems at three rural sites in New York state are products of sulfur dioxide emissons to the south and southwest of New York state. The highest concentratins occur in air that first stagnates over the area surrounding the Ohio River Valley and then is advected into New York state as the high-pressure system begins to move eastward. The amount of oxides of nitrogen that emissions data indicate should accompany these high sulfate concentrations is not present in the particulate samples as inorganic nitrate.
Analysis of the interpretation of yielding and strengthening behavior in small-size samples

In recent literature related to mechanical testing of small-volume metal specimens, plastic strain bursts during apparent elastic loading have been reported for materials commonly known to exhibit smooth yielding. Interpretation of the observed plastic yielding effects in these tests have ignored a significant part of the actual experimental findings, and produced conclusions regarding dislocation structure that these tests do not unequivocally support. It is pointed out that the heterogeneity of dislocation debris left in the microstructure does not clearly represent deformation resistance, nor give a clear indication of strain within the specimen. The measured high rate of strain hardening and stability of plastic flow in the small-volume specimens are dependent on stress-state, and are shown to be not correlated with dislocation debris or dislocation-starvation concepts; rather the reason for the observed strengthening is related to the resistance to slip propagation through the specimen surface to form surface steps, viewed as an atomic-scale shear fracture process, elaborated in a companion paper. In a compression test the surface is closed under high compressive stress, thus repeatedly blocking the process, but in a tension test the surface separates more easily, causing loss of plastic stability.
Fine-needle-aspiration cytology in gynecologic oncology: “Early detection of occult persistent, or recurrent cancer after radiation therapy”

Abstract This study discusses the value of fine-needle-aspiration cytology in the early detection of occult carcinoma in patients treated with radiation therapy for gynecologic malignancies. Fifty-eight patients with normal cervical cytology were evaluated with 77 fine-needle aspirations (FNA) starting as early as 3 months after therapy. The results of FNAs added about 30% predictability to the accuracy of diagnosing carcinoma to that of the conventional methods used today like pelvic examination and radiographic studies. Fine-needle aspiration of the pelvis after radiation therapy is an accurate and safe method to sample the parametria, pelvic sidewalls, and other sites of possible recurrence, and may be used as part of the routine follow-up of these patients.
Differential Effects of Retinoic Acid (RA) andN-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR) on Cell Growth, Induction of Differentiation, and Changes in p34cdc2, Bcl-2, and Actin Expression in the Human Promyelocytic HL-60 Leukemic Cells

Abstract Incubation of the HL-60 cells with 3 μM of RA and 4-HPR resulted in suppression of cell growth and decrease in cell viability. A significant percentage of the RA-treated cells also displayed differentiation towards neutrophils, as assayed by changes in nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBT) and α-naphthyl-acetate esterase (ANAE) activities, whereas the 4-HPR treated cells remained essentially undifferentiated. Flow cytometric analysis showed 4-HPR to cause partial cell arrest in the G2/M phase after a 3-day treatment and an additional G1phase arrest after a 7-day treatment. With RA-treated cells, a reduction in the percentage of cells in the G1phase was observed after 7 days of treatment. In 4-HPR-treated cells an extra peak, characteristic of cells undergoing apoptosis, was found in the cell cycle phase distribution analysis. Determination of specific protein expression changes by Western blot analysis showed that the p34cdc2was down-regulated by both chemicals. Furthermore, RA induced bcl-2 but prevented the processing of actin, whereas 4-HPR had little effect on bcl-2 but increased the specific processing of actin. These results suggest that RA promotes neutrophil differentiation and the establishment of a semi apoptosis-resistant state, possibly through the overexpression of the bcl-2 gene. By contrast, 4-HPR may trigger apoptosis by inducing overall cyto-architectural changes and specific DNA fragmentation subsequent to increased turnover of the protein actin.
Seventeenth-century English travel literature and the significance of foreign foodways 1

Early modern English travel writers describing Europe often included detailed descriptions of foreign foodways in their narratives. These descriptions served not only to satisfy readers’ curiosity about the details of foreign life, but as a means of marking cultural differences. In particular, the role of such descriptions was to emphasize and reinforce attitudes about foreign countries that were not specifically related to food. Instead, the underlying theme was international power relations. This tendency is most clearly revealed by comparing representations of the foodways of the Irish and the Ottoman Turks. These regions were superficially described as having similar traits, such as simple foods, lack of social distinctions in the serving of food, and a lack of proper accoutrements of food serving. However, similar practices were interpreted differently according to the needs of the authors. While the Irish were regarded as bestial and unskilled, the Turks were seen as deliberately austere, much as th...
The Role of the Intellectual in Contemporary Turkish Women's Narratives

In her article "The Role of the Intellectual in Contemporary Turkish Women's Narratives" Adile Aslan analyzes the figure of the woman intellectual in two of the most widely praised novels written in Turkish, Adalet A!ao!lu's 1971 Olmeye Yatmak (Lying Down to Die) and Leyla Erbil's 1985 Karanli!in Gunu (The Day of Darkness). Aslan discusses how the two authors represent in their texts intertwined personal histories with political history. The novels present, as well as surmount the obstacles that the current socio-historical conditions impose on people in general and intellectuals in particular and how these circumstances have a bearing on their private and public lives. Adile Aslan, "The Role of the Intellectual in Contemporary Turkish Women's Narratives, page 2 of 8 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 14.1 (2012):
Death Associated Protein Kinase (DAPK) -mediated neurodegenerative mechanisms in nematode excitotoxicity

Excitotoxicity (the toxic overstimulation of neurons by the excitatory transmitter Glutamate) is a central process in widespread neurodegenerative conditions such as brain ischemia and chronic neurological diseases. Many mechanisms have been suggested to mediate excitotoxicity, but their significance across diverse excitotoxic scenarios remains unclear. Death Associated Protein Kinase (DAPK), a critical molecular switch that controls a range of key signaling and cell death pathways, has been suggested to have an important role in excitotoxicity. However, the molecular mechanism by which DAPK exerts its effect is controversial. A few distinct mechanisms have been suggested by single (sometimes contradicting) studies, and a larger array of potential mechanisms is implicated by the extensive interactome of DAPK. Here we analyze a well-characterized model of excitotoxicity in the nematode C. elegans to show that DAPK is an important mediator of excitotoxic neurodegeneration across a large evolutionary distance. We further show that some proposed mechanisms of DAPK’s action (modulation of synaptic strength, involvement of the DANGER-related protein MAB-21, and autophagy) do not have a major role in nematode excitotoxicity. In contrast, Pin1/PINN-1 (a DAPK interaction-partner and a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase involved in chronic neurodegenerative conditions) suppresses neurodegeneration in our excitotoxicity model. Our studies highlight the prominence of DAPK and Pin1/PINN-1 as conserved mediators of cell death processes in diverse scenarios of neurodegeneration.
Rethinking dietary saturated fats

A re-evaluation of the diet/heart disease hypothesis is occurring, and the link between dietary fat and heart disease is not as conclusive as once was thought. A re-evaluation of assessment of cardiometabolic risk is also occurring – from serum low density lipoprotein to serum triacylglycerol and high density lipoprotein. As the focus of cardiometabolic risk changes, the emphasis will change from dietary fat restriction (which lowers low density lipoprotein) to dietary carbohydrate restriction (which lowers triacylglycerol and raises high density lipoprotein). If these re-evaluations continue to de-emphasize dietary fat restriction, then products to support low-carbohydrate, high-fat lifestyles could rise in importance.
Measurement of dynamic capillary pressure and viscosity via the multi-sample micro-slit rheometer

Abstract We develop two direct methods to simultaneously measure the dynamic capillary pressure and the viscosity of fluids by application of differential forces during flow into micro-channels. In the first method, a series of external pressures is applied in conjunction with the dynamic capillary pressure and a “Bagley analysis” is applied to the flow front velocity, and in the second, we utilize differential gravitational forces. By explicitly measuring the dynamic capillary pressure, the measurement window of the recently developed multi-sample micro-slit rheometer is extended to the regime where capillary forces are significant. These measurement methods will be useful in understanding filling flows encountered in diverse areas such as microfluidics, oil recovery and biological transport.
Synergistic stimulation of type I interferons during influenza virus coinfection promotes Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in mice

Pneumococcal infection of the respiratory tract is often secondary to recent influenza virus infection and accounts for much of the morbidity and mortality during seasonal and pandemic influenza. Here, we show that coinfection of the upper respiratory tract of mice with influenza virus and pneumococcus leads to synergistic stimulation of type I IFNs and that this impairs the recruitment of macrophages, which are required for pneumococcal clearance, due to decreased production of the chemokine CCL2. Type I IFN expression was induced by pneumococcal colonization alone. Colonization followed by influenza coinfection led to a synergistic type I IFN response, resulting in increased density of colonizing bacteria and susceptibility to invasive infection. This enhanced type I IFN response inhibited production of the chemokine CCL2, which promotes the recruitment of macrophages and bacterial clearance. Stimulation of CCL2 by macrophages upon pneumococcal infection alone required the pattern recognition receptor Nod2 and expression of the pore-forming toxin pneumolysin. Indeed, the increased colonization associated with concurrent influenza virus infection was not observed in mice lacking Nod2 or the type I IFN receptor, or in mice challenged with pneumococci lacking pneumolysin. We therefore propose that the synergistic stimulation of type I IFN production during concurrent influenza virus and pneumococcal infection leads to increased bacterial colonization and suggest that this may contribute to the higher rates of disease associated with coinfection in humans.
Evidence for the Formation of alpha-Hydroxydialkylnitrosamines in the pH-Independent Solvolysis of alpha-(Acyloxy)dialkylnitrosamines.

A kinetic study of the decay of α-(acyloxy)dialkylnitrosamines in aqueous solutions, at 25 °C, ionic strength 1 M (NaClO4), and 4% acetonitrile by volume, is reported. Rate constants for disappearance of the N−NO chromophore or appearance of benzaldehyde product increase with the introduction of electron-withdrawing groups into the acyloxy moiety. For some compounds, in some regions of pH, the kinetics are non-first-order. For these compounds, in other regions of pH, the rate constants are coincident with those previously reported for the decay of the corresponding α-hydroxydialkylnitrosamines. These data provide direct evidence that α-hydroxydialkylnitrosamines are intermediates in the pH-independent decomposition of the α-(acyloxy)dialkylnitrosamines studied.
Microstructures and mechanical properties of pure Al matrix composites reinforced by Al;Cu;Fe alloy particles

Abstract A new type of composite material was produced from elemental Al matrix powders and 30 vol.% Al ;Cu ;Fe quasicrystal particles by a powder metallurgy technique. SEM examination shows that reinforcement particle cracking perpendicular to the loading axis is the dominant failure mechanism for the composites. Because of the fine (diameter
Tensional intraplate seismicity in the Eastcentral Pacific

Abstract We identify a region of enhanced intraplate seismicity west of the Mathematicians Ridge in the Eastcentral Pacific. Recent activity includes the December 2, 1984 event (Ms = 6.2) which was accompanied by a swarm of seismic activity, including 45 recorded shocks in the 3 months preceding the earthquake, and 10 aftershocks extending into 1986. Modeling of the main shock P and SH waveforms and a grid search fit to the body wave amplitudes indicates normal faulting along a NE-SW plane. Inversion of WWSSN P waveforms suggests a depth of 14 km and a source time function duration of 7 s; such figures preclude the anomalous low stress drops observed for documented volcanic earthquakes. We obtain similar focal mechanisms for the October 5 foreshock (mb = 5.5) and the May 28, 1986 aftershock (mb = 5.5). Relocation shows that the large June 30, 1945 earthquake (with Gutenberg magnitude 6 3 4 ) was an intraplate shock which occurred 400 km south of the 1984 epicentral region. Body waveform modeling and moment variance analysis of P, SH, Love, and Rayleigh waves suggest a normal faulting mechanism with east-west striking fault planes at a depth similar to the 1984 event. Small earthquakes also occurred near the 1945 epicenter in 1973, 1978, and 1985. The seismicity occurs in tectonically complex lithosphere formed just before a re-orientation of spreading on the Mathematicians Ridge associated with the elimination of offset along the Clarion Fracture Zone. SEASAT data indicate a significant gravity anomaly in the region of the 1945 event, which may represent a fracture zone of substantial offset, but no such features are found near the 1984 epicenter. The earthquakes suggest that concentrations of normal faulting intraplate earthquakes, found previously in the Indian Ocean, occur elsewhere in the oceanic lithosphere.
Protein folding and peptide docking: A molecular modeling and global optimization approach

Global optimization approaches are proposed for addressing both the protein folding and peptide docking problems. In the protein folding problem, the ultimate goal involves predicting the native protein conformation. A common approach, based on the thermodynamic hypothesis, assumes that this conformation corresponds to the structure exhibiting the global minimum free energy. However, molecular modeling of these systems results in highly nonconvex energy hypersurfaces. In order to locate the global minimum energy structure on this surface, a powerful global optimization method, αBB, is applied. The approach is shown to be extremely effective in locating global minimum energy structures of solvated oligopeptides. A challenging problem related to protein folding is peptide docking. In addressing the peptide docking problem, the task is not only to predict a macromolecular-ligand structure but to also rank the binding affinities of a set of potential ligands. Many methods have used qualitative descriptions of the macromolecular-ligand complexes in order to avoid the need to perform a global search on the nonconvex energy hypersurface. In this work, a novel decomposition based approach that incorporates quantitative, atomistic-level energy modeling and global optimization is proposed. This approach employs the αBB global optimization method and is applied to the prediction of peptide docking to the MHC HLA-DR1 protein.
In situ synthesis of AlN particles in Mg–Al alloy by Mg3N2 addition

Abstract This communication reports an experimental study on the in situ formation of hard AlN particles in an Mg–10 wt.% Al alloy at 700 °C by externally adding Mg3N2 powders.
Evaluation of an LC8-Binding Peptide for the Attachment of Artificial Cargo to Dynein

The limited cytoplasmic mobility of nonviral gene carriers is likely to contribute to their low transfection efficiency. This limitation could be overcome by mimicking the viral strategy of recruiting the dynein motor complex for efficient transport toward the host cell nucleus. A promising approach for attaching artificial cargo to dynein is through an adaptor peptide that binds the 8 kDa light chain (LC8) found in the cargo-binding region of the dynein complex. Several viral proteins that bind LC8 have in common an LC8-binding motif defined by (K/R)XTQT. Short peptides containing this motif have also been shown to bind recombinant LC8 in vitro. However, since the majority of intracellular LC8 exists outside of the dynein complex, it remains unclear whether peptides displaying this LC8-binding motif can access and bind to dynein-associated LC8. In this study, we employed biochemical analysis to investigate the feasibility of attaching artificial cargo to the dynein motor complex using a peptide displaying the well-characterized LC8-binding motif. We report that free intracellular LC8 bound specifically to an LC8-binding (TQT) peptide and not to a control peptide with a mutated LC8-binding motif. However, a similar binding interaction between the TQT peptide and intracellular dynein was not detected. To determine whether dynein binding of the TQT peptide was prevented by competition with free intracellular LC8 or due to the inability of the peptide to access its LC8 binding site in the dynein complex, the TQT peptide was evaluated for its ability to bind either purified LC8 or purified dynein. Our results demonstrate that, while the TQT peptide readily binds free LC8, it cannot bind to dynein-associated LC8. The results emphasize the need to identify functional dynein-binding peptides and highlight the importance of designing peptides that bind to the intact dynein motor complex.
Liquid phase PVT data for binary mixtures of toluene with nitroethane and acetone, and benzene with acetonitrile, nitromethane, and ethanol

Abstract Liquid phase PVT data were obtained at 0°C, 45°C, and 90°C for pressures up to 217.7 atm for various binary mixtures of toulene—nitroethane, toluene—acetone, acetonitrile—benzene, nitromethane—benzane, and ethanol—benzene. Such data are required for purposes of converting excess thermodynamic property data from a constant pressure basis to a constant volume basis. Data are presebt for each pure component and for three separate mole fractions for each binary pair. Because benzene solidifies at 5.5°C, data for pure benzene are reported at 12°C rather than 0°C.
Climate–vegetation dynamics in the fast lane

Evidence from paleoclimatological research indicates that major climatic changes, such as the rapid increase in temperatures at the end of the Younger Dryas event ∼11 000 years ago, can occur over the span of a few decades. Vegetation response to climatic variation and change, is, by contrast, often assumed to occur gradually over much longer timescales. Two recent papers confirm earlier, theoretical predictions that changes in species composition of plant communities following climatic shifts can, however, occur with striking rapidity.
Afghanistan and multiculturalism in Khaled Hosseini's novels: study of place and diversity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to frame Khaled Hosseini's novels, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, as literature to expand and enhance the American secondary curriculum with multicultural themes based on Afghanistan as a geographical and cultural place in a dynamic, diverse, and complex world more mediated than ever before by computer technologies.Design/methodology/approach – The methodological approach to the study is a synthesis of geographic education grounded in the concept of place and diversity pedagogy.Findings – Khaled Hosseini's web site has become the cyber place where hundreds of readers from around the world come to express their deep emotional reactions to The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. At the same time, that so many diverse international readers are responding favorably to Hosseini's novels, his works are being censored in classrooms in the USA. The research outlines geographical and cultural geographic features of Afghanistan – a place torn by military e...
Phenyl- and mesitylglyoxylic acids: catemeric hydrogen bonding in two α-keto acids

alpha-Oxobenzeneacetic (phenylglyoxylic) acid, C(8)H(6)O(3), adopts a transoid dicarbonyl conformation in the solid state, with the carboxyl group rotated 44.4 (1) degrees from the nearly planar benzoyl moiety. The heterochiral acid-to-ketone catemers [O.O = 2. 686 (3) and H.O = 1.78 (4) A] have a second, longer, intermolecular O-H.O contact to a carboxyl sp(3) O atom [O.O = 3.274 (2) and H.O = 2.72 (4) A], with each flat ribbon-like chain lying in the bc plane and extending in the c direction. In alpha-oxo-2,4, 6-trimethylbenzeneacetic (mesitylglyoxylic) acid, C(11)H(12)O(3), the ketone is rotated 49.1 (7) degrees from planarity with the aryl ring and the carboxyl group is rotated a further 31.2 (7) degrees from the ketone plane. The solid consists of chiral conformers of a single handedness, aggregating in hydrogen-bonding chains whose units are related by a 3(1) screw axis, producing hydrogen-bonding helices that extend in the c direction. The hydrogen bonding is of the acid-to-acid type [O.O = 2.709 (6) and H.O = 1.87 (5) A] and does not formally involve the ketone; however, the ketone O atom in the acceptor molecule has a close polar contact with the same donor carboxyl group [O.O = 3.005 (6) and H.O = 2.50 (5) A]. This secondary hydrogen bond is probably a major factor in stabilizing the observed cisoid dicarbonyl conformation. Several intermolecular C-H.O close contacts were found for the latter compound.
CHANGES IN LACTATE PRODUCTION IN ENTEROCYTES UNDER AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

The aerobic production of lactate from glucose by the intestine has been proposed as an important source of carbon substrate for liver glycogen synthesis. In order to determine the significance of aerobic and anaerobic lactate production by jejunal villus cells, we determined lactate production and energy charge (EC), an indicator of intracellular oxygen availability and oxidative phosphorylation activity, in jejunal villus cells under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Adult rat villus cells were incubated in a polarographic chamber containing Krebs Ringer Phosphate Buffer, 5 mM glutamine, 5 mM glucose and 5 mg/ml BSA. The rate of O2 consumption was determined using a Clark electrode. Aliquots of assay mixture were removed and analyzed for lactate, ATP, ADP and AMP conc, after 5 periods (5 min (aerobic), 4 min (anaerobic-O2 sat<3%), 4 min anaerobic, 4 min recovery in which the cells were placed in an aerobic medium and a 4 min aerobic period). Lactate production was calculated by substracting lactate concentration of successive samples and dividing by the time interval. EC=(ATP+0.5*ADP)/(ATP+ADP+AMP). The results are means±SD (n=4). The rate of O2 consumption, initially 0.66±.05(μmol/mg/min) was not affected by 8 min of hypoxia(0.7±.23). The EC during the aerobic period was 0.60±.07. The EC decreased to 0.52±.08 and 0.46±.05 (p<.03) at the end of 4 and 8 min of hypoxia, indicating that the hypoxic conditions altered the enterocyte oxidative phosphorylation activity. After the recovery and subsequent aerobic period, the EC increased to 0.67±.07 and 0.65±.09 respectively, Indicating aerobic metabolism of undamaged enterocytes. Lactate production remained constant during the initial aerobic and anaerobic periods (45.8±2.0 nmol/mg/min, 30.8±9 and 37.0±0). During the recovery period when the EC was initially .46, lactate production increased to 77.8±20.1 (p<.01). In the subsequent aerobic period, lactate production decreased to its original rate (42.3± 13.1). In summary, under aerobic conditions with a high EC, enterocytes can metabolize glucose to lactate and is a possible source of portal venous lactate. Furthermore, enterocyte lactate production can increase two fold during hypoxic conditions.
Location of a Constriction in the Lumen of a Transmembrane Pore by Targeted Covalent Attachment of Polymer Molecules

Few methods exist for obtaining the internal dimensions of transmembrane pores for which 3-D structures are lacking or for showing that structures determined by crystallography reflect the internal dimensions of pores in lipid bilayers. Several approaches, involving polymer penetration and transport, have revealed limiting diameters for various pores. But, in general, these approaches do not indicate the locations of constrictions in the channel lumen. Here, we combine cysteine mutagenesis and chemical modification with sulfhydryl-reactive polymers to locate the constriction in the lumen of the staphylococcal α-hemolysin pore, a model protein of known structure. The rates of reaction of each of four polymeric reagents (MePEG-OPSS) of different masses towards individual single cysteine mutants, comprising a set with cysteines distributed over the length of the lumen of the pore, were determined by macroscopic current recording. The rates for the three larger polymers (1.8, 2.5, and 5.0 kD) were normalized with respect to the rates of reaction with a 1.0-kD polymer for each of the seven positions in the lumen. The rate of reaction of the 5.0-kD polymer dropped dramatically at the centrally located Cys-111 residue and positions distal to Cys-111, whether the reagent was applied from the trans or the cis side of the bilayer. This semi-quantitative analysis sufficed to demonstrate that a constriction is located at the midpoint of the pore lumen, as predicted by the crystal structure, and although the constriction allows a 2.5-kD polymer to pass, transport of a 5.0-kD molecule is greatly restricted. In addition, PEG chains gave greater reductions in pore conductance when covalently attached to the narrower regions of the lumen, permitting further definition of the interior of the pore. The procedures described here should be applicable to other pores and to related structures such as the vestibules of ion channels.