cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drugs and bilirubin.

Current concepts of the mechanisms of biotransformation and drug detoxification evolved largely as a result of studies of the last decade and a half.1 It was demonstrated that most of the enzyme systems responsible for the oxidative, reductive, hydrolytic, and conjugating reactions of drugs, toxins, and many endogenous substances are located in the endoplasmic reticulum of the liver cell, operationally defined as the microsomal fraction. Remmer2 and Conney and his collaborators3 were among the first to point out that many of the compounds metabolized by these pathways have the capacity of enhancing not only their own metabolic transformation, but also that of substances chemically or biologically unrelated to the stimulating agent.
A Robust Human-Silhouette Extraction Technique for Interactive Virtual Environments

In this paper, we present a method for robustly extracting the silhouette form of the participant within an interactive environment. The approach overcomes the inherent problems associated with traditional chroma-keying, background subtraction, and rear-light projection methods. We employ a specialized infrared system while not making the underlying technology apparent to those interacting within the environment. The design also enables multiple video projection screens to be placed around the user. As an example use of this technology, we present an interactive virtual aerobics system. Our current implementation is a portable system which can act as a re-usable infrastructure for many interactive projects.
Characterization of Escherichia coli Mutants Tolerant to Bacteriocin JF246: Two New Classes of Tolerant Mutants

Several hundred independent bacteriocin-tolerant mutants have been isolated without mutagenesis from three strains of Escherichia coli. On the basis of patterns of sensitivity to eight different colicins, over 85% of these mutants could be grouped into four classes. Two classes of mutants, class A and class B, are equivalent to tolA and tolB type mutants. We found tolA and tolB mutants were sensitive to the antibiotic bacitracin. The other two classes of bacteriocin-tolerant mutants, class F and class G, are distinguished from other types of colicin-tolerant mutants on the basis of sensitivity to colicins, dyes, detergents, antibiotics, and chelating agents. The mutation in class F and class G mutants is located between 21 to 23 min on the E. coli chromosome. We propose to designate the loci of these mutations as tolF and tolG, respectively.
Cell Volume Measurements by Optical Transmission Microscopy

Cell volume is an important parameter in cell adaptation to anisosmotic stress, in the development of apoptosis and necrosis, and in the pathogenesis of several diseases. This unit describes a method for measuring the volume of adherent cells using a standard light microscope. A coverslip with attached cells is placed in a shallow chamber in a medium containing a strongly absorbing and cell-impermeant dye, Acid Blue 9. When such a sample is imaged in transmitted light at a wavelength of maximum dye absorption (630 nm), the resulting contrast quantitatively reflects cell thickness. Once the thickness is known at every point, the volume can be computed as well. Technical details, interpretation of data, and possible artifacts are discussed. Measurements in absolute units require knowledge of the absorption coefficient, and a similar procedure for the measurement of absorption coefficient is described.
Pico-Hydropower Franchising in Rural Honduras

This paper describes a four-year effort to alleviate poverty in rural villages of Honduras by creating financially self-sustaining electricity businesses at the village level. What began as a humanitarian engineering project undertaken by students and faculty at Baylor University, subsequently evolved into a larger effort of social entrepreneurship that included the incorporation of companies in the United States and Honduras. A novel micro-franchise business model was created that used small hydropower systems to generate electricity in local villages, and local villagers having vested financial interests to maintain, distribute, and protect these systems. Two of the authors relocated to Honduras to install village-level franchises, but numerous problems plagued the project. A few months after we launched the businesses, however, a fatal flaw was identified in the business model regarding the pace at which new systems could be deployed. Disclosure of this flaw resulted in the loss of funding. This paper will attempt to share the successes and failures of this project. Focus will be given to the most innovative aspects of our project which were largely entrepreneurial in nature. Technical details, when they are novel, will be shared, but hydro electric basics will be omitted where there is existing literature.
Dose-response model of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever).

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the intracellular gram-negative bacterium Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), which only multiplies within the phagolysosomal vacuoles. Q fever may manifest as acute or chronic disease. The acute form is generally not fatal and manifestes as self-controlled febrile illness. Chronic Q fever is usually characterized by endocarditis. Many animal models, including humans, have been studied for Q fever infection through various exposure routes. The studies considered different endpoints including death for animal models and clinical signs for human infection. In this article, animal experimental data available in the open literature were fit to suitable dose-response models using maximum likelihood estimation. Research results for tests of severe combined immunodeficient mice inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with C. burnetii were best estimated with the Beta-Poisson dose-response model. Similar inoculation (i.p.) trial outcomes conducted on C57BL/6J mice were best fit by an exponential model, whereas those tests run on C57BL/10ScN mice were optimally represented by a Beta-Poisson dose-response model.
On the Number of Graphical Forest Partitions

A graphical partition of the even integer n is a partition of n where each part of the partition is the degree of a vertex in a simple graph and the degree sum of the graph is n. In this note, we consider the problem of enumerating a subset of these partitions, known as graphical forest partitions, graphical partitions whose parts are the degrees of the vertices of forests (disjoint unions of trees). We shall prove that gf(2k) = p(0) + p(1) + p(2) + . . . + p(k − 1) where gf(2k) is the number of graphical forest partitions of 2k and p(j) is the ordinary partition function which counts the number of integer partitions of j.
Situational Influences on the Selection of Strategies to Resist Compliance-Gaining Attempts.

This study investigated the effects of situational variables on the likelihood of use of four types of strategies to resist compliance-gaining attempts: identity managing, negotiation, justifying, and non-negotiation. Subjects rated strategies on the probability that they would actually use them to resist complying in each of eight situations, which varied systematically in the level of agent-target intimacy, the consequences to the target-agent relationship of noncompliance, and the rights of the target to resist. Significant second-order interactions of the situational factors were obtained for the likelihood of use of each of the four types of strategies. Resistance message selection was concluded to be based upon an assessment of the relative risk associated with the implementation of a given strategy in conjunction with a particular combination of situational constraints.
The Crystal and molecular structure of (η5-C5H5)(OC)2MoC(C6H5)2N(CH3)C(C6H5)N(CH3)

Abstract The X-ray structure of (η5-C5H5)(CO)2MoC(C6H5)2N(CH3)C(C6H5)N(CH3) has been determined from single crystal diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with four molecules in a unit cell of dimensions a = 11.803(5), b = 12.114(6), c = 17.198(6) A and β = 96.61(3)°. The structure was solved by the Patterson method and refined to a final R factor of 5.1% using 2979 independent data. The molecules consist of a central Mo atom surrounded by an approximately square-pyramidal array of five ligands: the Cp ring, two carbonyls and a bidentate ligand, the latter consisting of a nitrogen and a carbon as binding atoms and forming a five membered chelate ring. The Mo atom is 2.02 and 0.99 A from the Cp and basal square pyramidal planes, respectively. The dihedral angle between those two planes is 5.1°. The geometry of the (η5-C5H5)(CO)2Mo fragment is normal. The two MoC(CO) and the two CO distances are slighlty different due to the trans effect. The distances between the Mo atom and the binding carbon and nitrogen are 2.353(8) and 2.160(7) A, respectively. One of the phenyl rings attached α to the Mo is close to facing the edge of the Cp ring and is held rigidly since steric hindrance could not allow large vibration about the PhC single bond.
Platypnea in the Intensive Care Unit: A Newly Described Cause

Platypnea in a patient with COPD developed during the subacute onset of an ileus. Arterial blood gas studies failed to document orthodeoxia. Routine treatment for COPD failed to resolve the patient's positional dyspnea, but the dyspnea rapidly resolved following resolution of the ileus. The authors postulate that impaired abdominal muscle contraction in the upright position secondary to the ileus was responsible for the development of platypnea.
Effects of sodium nitroprusside on thermal trauma depressed cardiac output in the anaesthetized dog

Summary Thermal trauma to the anaesthetized dog results in an immediate significant decrease in cardiac output, an increase in peripheral resistance and no significant change in mean arterial blood pressure. The infusion of sodium nitroprusside, 5 or 8 μg/kg. min, produced a significant increase in cardiac output and a decrease in peripheral resistance. Mean arterial blood pressure fell during the infusion and returned to pre-injection values immediately upon cessation of infusion. Cardiac output and peripheral resistance also returned to pre-infusion values upon cessation of infusion. A comparison between the responses to infusion of sodium nitroprusside and the administration of verapamil showed that infusion of sodium nitroprusside produced a slower onset of increase in cardiac output and a lower maximum increase in cardiac output than observed after verapamil.
Correlated double sampling integrator insensitive to parasitic capacitance

A new correlated double sampling (CDS) scheme is proposed which improves the operation of an integrator with a large parasitic capacitor at the input node of an op-amp. It suppresses the effects of the 1/f noise and offset voltage of the op-amp, as well as the kTC charge noise from the parasitic capacitor. It also reduces charge injection and clock feedthrough effects.
A Review and Analysis of the Medicaid Prudent Pharmaceutical Purchasing Bill and Its Impact on Managed Care Pharmacy

The Medicaid Prudent Pharmaceutical Purchasing Bill is designed to improve Medicaid patients' access to medications in return for signed rebate agreements from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The legislation also recognizes and attempts to develop the potential clinical role of pharmacy through mandates for drug utilization review, patient counseling, and electronic claims processing for Medicaid patients. Managed care pharmacy has a distinct advantage in the achievement of these clinical roles; it has already implemented drug utilization review and has electronic claims capabilities. This article reviews the legislation and describes the potential impact of the law on managed care pharmacy practice. The government is a major player in terms of setting health policy and trends in this country, and managed care pharmacy departments should be keenly aware of the legislative impact on overall future pharmacy trends. The potential exists for other government agencies and eventually the private sector to require...
Model for ferric sulfate leaching of copper ores containing a variety of sulfide minerals: Part II. Process modeling of in situ operations

The Lin-Sohn Leach simulation (DLS) computer model was used to simulate copper extraction from run-of-mine fragment size distributions expected for underground modifiedin situ solution mining. Ventilation was found to be a key variable in obtaining good copper recoveries, and the rate of ventilation was found to vary with ore type and through time. Improving recoveries and recovery rates with improved fragmentation was found to be more difficult than expected. Limitations on surface kinetics and bacterial ferric ion generation often erode benefits expected from reduction in diffusion limitation. Control of fines formation is difficult with the current state of the art in blasting. Fines may also improve the initial leaching rate at the expense of increased ventilation cost and more limited ultimate recovery. Ore grade was found to be less important to solution mining than to conventional copper recovery. Mineralogy was found to be crucial to solution mining economics. Mineralogy affects the grade of the ore and the importance of that grade. Pyrite was found to be helpful in increasing the ultimate copper recovery from ore but, at the same time, was found to reduce the rate of that recovery. Recovery rates were found to be very sensitive to mineral grain size, and calibration of DLS to a given ore may be especially important in this variable. Tortuosity and porosity of ore fragments appear relatively unimportant over the ranges typical of sulfide copper porphyry ore. Modifiedin situ solution mining appears to be a competitive option when a favorable ore type is available. The DLS computer code may be a valuable aid in screening options and selecting the most favorable orebodies.
Capturing Labile Sulfenamide and Sulfinamide Serum Albumin Adducts of Carcinogenic Arylamines by Chemical Oxidation

Aromatic amines and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are a class of structurally related carcinogens that are formed during the combustion of tobacco or during the high temperature cooking of meats. These procarcinogens undergo metabolic activation by N-oxidation of the exocyclic amine group to produce N-hydroxylated metabolites, which are critical intermediates implicated in toxicity and DNA damage. The arylhydroxylamines and their oxidized arylnitroso derivatives can also react with cysteine (Cys) residues of glutathione or proteins to form, respectively, sulfenamide and sulfinamide adducts. However, sulfur–nitrogen linked adducted proteins are often difficult to detect because they are unstable and undergo hydrolysis during proteolytic digestion. Synthetic N-oxidized intermediates of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a carcinogenic HAA produced in cooked meats, and 4-aminobiphenyl, a carcinogenic aromatic amine present in tobacco smoke, were reacted with human serum albumin (SA...
Suppression of amplified spontaneous emission by the four-wave mixing process.

Two-photon-resonant excitation of the sodium $3d$ level can lead to the generation of new frequencies either by amplified spontaneous emission at the $3d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3p$ transition frequency or by a resonantly enhanced four-wave mixing process. Competition between these two processes has been observed. The four-wave mixing process can suppress amplified spontaneous emission by preventing the excitation of the $3d$ level due to an interference between two different pathways connecting the ground ($3s$) and $3d$ states.
(q,t)-analogues and $GL_{n}({\mathbb{F}}_{q})$

We start with a (q,t)-generalization of a binomial coefficient. It can be viewed as a polynomial in t that depends upon an integer q, with combinatorial interpretations when q is a positive integer, and algebraic interpretations when q is the order of a finite field. These (q,t)-binomial coefficients and their interpretations generalize further in two directions, one relating to column-strict tableaux and Macdonald's "7 th variation" of Schur functions, the other relating to permutation statistics and Hilbert series from the invariant theory of $GL_{n}({\mathbb{F}}_{q})$ .
Tectonic implications of early Miocene extensional unroofing of the Sierra Mazatán metamorphic core complex, Sonora, Mexico

Sierra Mazatan in northwest Mexico is the southernmost metamorphic core complex in the North American Cordillera. New geologic, structural, and 4 0 Ar/ 3 9 Ar thermochronologic data demonstrate that the core complex detachment fault accommodated 15-35 km of slip at a rate of 3.3-7.7 mm/yr between 20.5 and 16 Ma. These data also suggest that the lower plate was tilted eastward 20°-50° since 20 Ma, indicating that the detachment fault initially dipped 30°-60°. Rapid slip on the fault occurred concurrently with subduction in Sonora and thus was not related to the ca. 12 Ma plate boundary change at this latitude or the late Miocene opening of the Gulf of California. Rapid extension at Sierra Mazatan was synchronous with core complexes along the length of the Cordillera, suggesting a distinct 20-15 Ma core complex event, the fundamental causes of which remain a mystery.
A randomized Phase I study of Atuna racemosa: A potential new anti-MRSA natural product extract

Abstract Aim We previously reported significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria from the extract of the Atun tree ( Atuna racemosa ), identified through rapid digital bioprospecting of a 400-year-old historic herbal text. Toxicity studies in human cell lines showing safety, combined with the ethnomedical descriptions of botanical use, suggested that this extract might be clinically useful against topical Gram-positive bacteria infections. Materials and methods Using a minimal inhibitory concentration assay, we examined the susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to an extract of the kernel of the Atun tree ( Atuna racemosa ). Additionally, a maximum tolerated topical application of the extract was determined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. Results Here we report that the effectiveness of this Atuna racemosa extract against MRSA (MIC = 16–32 μg/mL) is on par with currently available last-line antibiotics, while it remains well tolerated in short-term topical applications of 10 times the minimally inhibitory concentration. Conclusions Although further studies are needed to determine safety and clinical efficacy, this effective extract, identified in a 400-year-old historic herbal text, may prove to be clinically useful in the treatment of MRSA.
Voice disorders in the elderly

Summary Objectives Despite the prevalence of voice disorders, as well as the physiological and functional changes of the aging larynx, there is a lack of data analyzing dysphonia in the geriatric population. The goal of this study was to investigate dysphonia in this cohort. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods This study analyzes the histories, demographics, Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaires, and objective voice measures (OVMs) for 175 patients with voice complaints, age ranging from 65 to 89 years. Diagnoses of any vocal fold pathology were made via strobovideolaryngoscopy and laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) at the time of presentation. Results Strobovideolaryngoscopy revealed that laryngeal laryngopharyngeal reflux in 91% (N = 159) was the most common diagnosis associated with the voice complaints, followed by muscle tension dysphonia in 73% (N = 127) and paresis in 72% (N = 126). Of the 175 patients in this study, 27% (N = 48) of patients had a history of antecedent event, which might have contributed to their current dysphonia, most commonly upper respiratory tract infection in 27% (N = 13) and endotracheal intubation in 21% (N = 10). Ninety-three percent (N = 153) of patients who underwent LEMG had weakness in the distribution of at least one nerve. VHI scores varied greatly, ranging from 4 to 104, with an average score of 43.9. When VHI scores were correlated with OVMs, correlations were found with mean jitter (%), jitter (abs.), maximum phonation time (s), and shimmer (%). When OVM scores were compared with KayPENTAX normative thresholds, 69.7% of subjects were found to be above the threshold for soft phonation index. Conclusion Our studies identified at least one pathologic factor contributing to dysphonia in all elderly patients presenting with voice complaints. The high average VHI score indicated that these geriatric patients experienced significant dissatisfaction because of their dysphonia. The problem was of sufficient magnitude to result in a high percentage of patients proceeding with treatment. Additional research is needed to determine normative values for OVMs and other assessments in the elderly population and establish whether normative values in common use are appropriate for this population.
Far-infrared spectra of ring compounds. XII. Far-infrared spectra, ring-puckering vibration, and molecular conformation of some analogs of bicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane

Abstract The far-infrared spectra of bicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane, 3-oxabicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane, and 3,6-dioxabicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane exhibit series of Q branches in the frequency range 250–125 cm−1, like those observed for 6-oxabicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane (cyclopentene oxide) by Carreira and Lord (J. Chem. Phys. 51, 2735 (1969)). The Q branches are interpreted as single quantum jumps of a one-dimensional ring-puckering vibration governed by a potential function of the form V(cm−1) = A(Z4 + BZ2 + CZ3), where Z is a reduced ring-puckering coordinate. The potential parameters for bicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane are A, 24.31 cm−1; B, 26.67; C, 9.63; for 3-oxabicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane, 27.77 cm−1, 20.63, 7.84; and for 3,6-dioxabicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane, 25.25 cm−1, 17.23, 7.33. They were determined by an iterative least-squares fit to the observed four, seven, and nine Q branches, respectively. These potential functions all have only a single minimum, implying a single stable conformation. The dipole moment, μrms, for 3,6-dioxabicyclo(3.1.0.)hexane in benzene solution was determined to be 2.50 D, clearly indicating that the stable conformation is the boat form. The boat conformation had been determined to be the stable form for cyclopentene oxide from a microwave study by Lafferty (J. Mol. Spectrosc. 36, 84 (1970)). There is no direct evidence for the preferred conformation of the remaining two molecules but consideration of torsional interactions about the 1–2 and 4–5 bonds as well as the similarity of the spectra and potential functions for these molecules suggests that the boat conformation is the stable form of all of these molecules.
Food-Restricted, Prepubertal, Female Rats: Rapid Recovery of Luteinizing Hormone Pulsing with Excess Food, and Full Recovery of Pubertal Development with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone*

Prepubertal female rats were maintained continuously at 45% of their expected 50-day body weight by restricting their food intake. Uteri and ovaries declined in weight under these conditions. No evidence of pulsatile LH release was seen when these animals were examined at 50 days of age. Allowing unlimited access to food at this time caused rapid pubertal development. LH pulsing began in some females within 12 h; strong LH pulsing was seen in most females within 24 h, and all ovulated after only 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 days of ad libitum feeding. These were fertile ovulations, accompanied by mating and resulting in pregnancy. Administering GnRH in a pulsatile manner to 50-day-old, food-restricted animals also yielded full pubertal development. Uteri and ovaries gradually increased in weight, and ovulation occurred in 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 days. These findings support a contention that the major reproductive deficit resulting from food restriction relates to the control of GnRH secretion. In toto they also suggest a close metabolic coupling between some dimension of nutrient and/or energy processing and the GnRH pulse generator in the normally growing female.
Structure property relationships for thermoplastic block terpolymers containing poly(styrene-p-tert-butylstyrene) copolymer end segments

Terpolymers containing polybutadiene as a central segment and diblock or random copolymer terminal units of equimolar amounts of styrene and p-tert-butylstyrene have been synthesized and evaluated. The structure property relationships were examined by a combination of transmission electron microscopy (morphology), dynamic viscoelasticity measurements, and melt rheological evaluations. The presence of p-tert-butylstyrene was found to lead, under certain circumstances, to thermoplastic elastomers exhibiting good phase separation and mechanical properties at ambient temperature along with Newtonian melt viscosities at low shear rates at elevated temperatures. This latter behavior is in contrast with that exhibited by conventional poly(styrene-diene-styrene) triblock copolymers.
Effects of cigarette smoke on the antibody responses to thymic independent antigens from different lymphoid tissues of mice

The influence of cigarette smoke on the humoral immune response of mice was investigated in lymphocytes derived from the spleen, bone marrow (BM) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). Mice of the DBA/2J or C57BL/6 strain were exposed to cigarette smoke of a standard research cigarette, 2R1, twice a day, ten puffs each in morning and afternoon for 20, 40 or 60 weeks. At the end of the smoking period, animals were immunized intraperitoneally with the thymic independent antigens polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or trinitrophenyl (TNP)-Ficoll. The antibody responses were analyzed using sheep red blood cells coated with PVP or TNP, in a plaque forming cell (PFC) assay. The results indicate a statistically significant inhibition of the antibody response induced by PVP but not by TNP-Ficoll in splenic B cells of smoke exposed mice compared to sham controls. When tested in other lymphoid organs, there was higher anti-TNP PFC response from the BM and MLN cells of smoke exposed animals compared to sham controls.
Experience with esmolol for the treatment of cocaine-associated cardiovascular complications.

Abstract The authors report their experience using esmolol, an ultra-short acting β-adrenergic antagonist, for the treatment of seven patients with cocaine-associated cardiovascular complications. No consistent hemodynamic benefit was found with the use of this drug. Although there was a decline in mean heart rate of 23% (range 0% to 35%), they were unable to show a consistent antihypertensive response. Adverse effects occurred in three patients. This included one patient with a marked exacerbation of hypertension and one who became hypotensive. Another patient developed emesis and lethargy during esmolol therapy and required endotracheal intubation. They do not recommend the routine use of esmolol for cocaine cardiotoxicity.
Microleakage of new crown and fixed partial denture luting agents

This study measured the in vitro microleakage of conventional and new FPD luting agents. Standardized preparations were made on 42 freshly extracted premolars. Facial and lingual chamfer margins were placed in enamel, mesial and distal in dentin and cementum, and castings were made in Rexillium III alloy and were then cemented with a standardized technique. Six groups of seven samples were tested, (1) polycarboxylate, (2) zinc phosphate, (3) glass ionomer, (4) Den-Mat Thin Film cement, (5) Panavia Ex, and (6) Den-Mat Thin Film cement with Tenure. The ranking of groups for stain ingress was from the greatest (1) to the least (6). A one-way analysis of variance and Tukey-Student range analysis revealed significantly similar groups, p less than 0.05:(1,2,3,4) (5,6).
GLASS INTERVALS TO ENHANCE THE VISUAL CORRELATION OF CHOROPLETHIC MAPS

The selection of class intervals for choroplethic maps is approached with the objective of maximizing the visual correspondence between the variable to be categorized and a referent variable with which it is associated. A measure of visual correlation is developed to serve as the objective function for an algorithm which locates breaks between classes, one at a time, and also tests each stage in the solution process for stability. A simple, ten-area example and a more comprehensive, five-variable application using forty-eight areal units are used in discussing the algorithm's operation and effectiveness. Possible modifications to the procedure are also considered. L'approche de l'auteur pour ce qui est du choix des intervalles de classe pour les cartes choroplethes vise a maximiser la correspondance visuelle entre la variable a classer et une variable de reference a laquelle elle est associee. L'auteur etablit une mesure de la correlation visuelle, qui sert de fonction objective d'un algorithme qui situe ...
Simultaneous Polarographic Determination of Iron (II) and Iron (III) in Coal Mine Waste Water

Abstract Polarography with a sodium carbonate-oxalic acid supporting electrolyte was used to determine both Fe(II) and Fe(III) simultaneously in actual coal mine water samples. The average relative percent error was 2.2% for Fe(II) and 2.1% for Fe(III) over a range of 10 to 500 ppm. In actual mine water the Fe(II) content was highest where the mine water emerged. As the water moved down stream from the source of pollution Fe(II) decreased and Fe(III) concentration increased as Fe(II) was oxidized to Fe(III) by oxygen. This was accompanied by a decrease in pH. Further down the stream Fe(III) started to precipitate and then its concentration steadily decreased.
Using biological assemblage composition to infer the values of covarying environmental factors

Summary 1. Observations of different organisms can often be used to infer environmental conditions at a site. These inferences may be useful for diagnosing the causes of degradation in streams and rivers. 2. When used for diagnosis, biological inferences must not only provide accurate, unbiased predictions of environmental conditions, but also pairs of inferred environmental variables must covary no more strongly than actual measurements of those same environmental variables. 3. Mathematical analysis of the relationship between the measured and inferred values of different environmental variables provides an approach for comparing the covariance between measurements with the covariance between inferences. Then, simulated and field-collected data are used to assess the performance of weighted average and maximum likelihood inference methods. 4. Weighted average inferences became less accurate as covariance in the calibration data increased, whereas maximum likelihood inferences were unaffected by covariance in the calibration data. In contrast, the accuracy of weighted average inferences was unaffected by changes in measurement error, whilst the accuracy of maximum likelihood inferences decreased as measurement error increased. Weighted average inferences artificially increased the covariance of environmental variables beyond what was expected from measurements, whereas maximum likelihood inference methods more accurately reproduced the expected covariances. 5. Multivariate maximum likelihood inference methods can potentially provide more useful diagnostic information than single variable inference models.
Analysis of the carbon-13 NMR spectrum of phenalenone

Abstract The normal and noise-decoupled 13C NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times of phenalenone are recorded. The spectra are analysed by single-proton decoupling, assignment of relaxation times, and comparison with spectra of simple derivatives. The spectra of four methoxylated naphthalenes are reported; observed chemical shift differences are utilized in assignments of the phenalenone series.
Finding a longest open reading frame of an alternatively spliced gene

This paper provides a deterministic algorithm for finding a longest open reading frame (ORF) among all alternative splicings of a given DNA sequence. Finding protein encoding regions is a fundamental problem in genomic DNA sequence analysis and long ORFs generally provide good predictions of such regions. Although the number of splice variants is exponential in the number of optionally spliced regions, we are able to in many cases obtain quadratic or even linear performance. This efficiency is achieved by limiting the size of the search space for potential ORFs: by properly pruning the search space we can reduce the number of frames considered at any one time while guaranteeing that a longest open reading frame must be among the considered frames.
Tragedies of the Broadcast Commons: Consumer Perspectives on the Ethics of Product Placement and Video News Releases

This article explores cynicism as an ethical issue associated with the blurring of content and advertising in mass media. From a communitarian perspective and adapting Hardin's (1968) metaphorical use of “commons” to the domain of broadcasting, we surveyed the attitudes of individuals toward two phenomena of media saturation (product placement and video news releases) and three constructs (cynicism directed toward government, cynicism directed toward marketers, and the individual's assessment of their marketing literacy). Respondents were highly cynical about government regulation of advertising and nearly as cynical of the ability of marketer's to self-regulate.
Static compression of ε-FeSi and an evaluation of reduced silicon as a deep Earth constituent

The volume of e-FeSi has been measured to pressures of 50 GPa. No high pressure transformations are observed in this system, including after laser-heating at high pressures. The bulk modulus of this phase is 209 (±6) GPa, with a pressure derivative of 3.5 (±0.4). This high bulk modulus will slightly elevate the thermochemically-inferred pressure conditions at which chemical reactions between iron and mantle silicates should commence at mid-mantle depths. Moreover, because of the relatively low pressure derivatives of the bulk moduli of FeSi alloys manifested both in our data and in previous shock results, silicon as the sole light alloying component of the outer core is unlikely to produce a sufficiently large change in the bulk sound speed of the outer core relative to pure iron liquid. Therefore, silicon is not likely to be the primary alloying component in the outer core, unless its effect on the elasticity of the outer core is fortuitously offset by other light alloying constituents: its role is probably that of a subsidiary constituent. Thus, silicon is unique (to date) among proposed major outer core alloying constituents in being potentially precludable on purely geophysical grounds.
Using mRNA allelic imbalance assay to study rSNPs

1182 Single nucleotide polymorphisms found in the regulatory region may influence the transcription of a gene. Studies of regulatory single nucleotide polymorphisms (rSNPs) are limited and cataloging these rSNPs is lagging in public databases. We have implemented an mRNA allelic imbalance (AI) assay to measure differential expression of mRNA from two chromosomes in heterozygous samples, thereby determining the existence and the transcriptional effect of any rSNPs. To perform an AI assay, any common SNP present in the mRNA transcript is chosen as a marker SNP (mSNP) and heterozygous subjects are selected for the mSNP. Quantitative allele-specific PCR (qASPCR) of cDNA for the mSNP is used to quantify the transcription of the two alleles. AI is present if the transcription levels of the two alleles divergence from 1:1 after normalization to qASPCR measurements of heterozygous genomic DNA, which, by definition, has no AI (AI=0). We present data from the CYP19 gene as an example. RNA was extracted from myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) of 150 anonymous blood donors. AI was determined by qASPCR and validated by direct sequencing. Both methods yielded similar results. Among 63 individuals heterozygous for the mSNP, 15(24%) demonstrated >2 fold expression of one allele over the other, indicating the existence of a functional rSNP. Since the CYP19 gene is known to exhibit tissue-specific expression from ten different promoters, we determined the functional promoter regions in our cells. Only the PI.3 and PII promoters were functional. In on-going work, we are examining candidate rSNPs in these two promoters to determine the origin of the observed AI. A functional rSNP must be heterozygous when AI is observed and homozygous (either allele) when AI is absent. AI measurements are powerful in that absence of AI in a population allows one to rule out for the existence of functional rSNPs, while presence of AI points the way to identification of polymorphic cis-acting regulatory regions.
Linear IgA bullous dermatosis. Characterization of a subset of patients with concurrent IgA and IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies.

Background and Design: The term linear IgA bullous dermatosis defines an immune-mediated blistering skin disease characterized by pruritic blisters, subepidermal separation with neutrophilic infiltration, and linear IgA antibody deposition at the basement membrane zone (BMZ). However, some patients with linear IgA bullous dermatosis demonstrate both IgA and IgG anti-BMZ autoantibodies on immunofluorescence. We describe four such patients and attempt to define this group of patients by studying their clinical, histopathologic, immunopathologic, immunoultrastructural, and immunochemical characteristics. Results: Clinically, all four patients had a generalized pruritic blistering skin disease consistent with linear IgA bullous dermatosis. Histopathologically, all four cases demonstrated subepidermal blister formation with a predominantly neutrophilic dermal infiltrate. Immunopathologically, tissue-bound IgA (in four of four patients) and IgG (in three of four patients) antibodies were detected at the BMZ. Circulating IgA (in four of four patients) and IgG (in four of four patients) labeled the epidermal BMZ of normal human skin fractured at the lamina lucida and did not label the dermal BMZ. By immunoblot analyses, IgA (in three of three patients) and IgG (in one of three patients) circulating antibodies labeled the 97-kd linear IgA bullous dermatosis antigen. By direct immunoelectron microscopy, IgA and IgG antibodies were localized (in two of two patients) exclusively within the upper lamina lucida of the BMZ. Conclusions: Four cases of an immune-mediated blistering skin disease typical for linear IgA bullous dermatosis demonstrated both IgA and IgG anti-BMZ autoantibodies against the linear IgA bullous dermatosis antigen within the upper lamina lucida. We conclude that linear IgA bullous dermatosis should include a subgroup of patients with both IgA and IgG anti-BMZ autoantibodies. (Arch Dermatol. 1995;131:1432-1437)
Locomotor diversity in prosimian primates.

An understanding of prosimian movement is basic to many anatomical and paleontological studies in that these studies attempt to correlate movement with anatomy and therefore infer movement in fossil primates. Duke University has a large and diverse collection of prosimian primates, which are housed in cages and enclosures large enough for movement studies. Extant prosimians move in many different ways, and none are so specialized that only one mode of travel is used. The most general locomotor patterns are observed for the cheirogaleids, and thus theirs may best resemble the locomotor patterns of the ancestral euprimate.
Rethinking Literacy: Comparing Colonial and Contemporary America

This article compares literacy in colonial and contemporary America along four dimensions: conceptions of literacy; the practice of literacy; the relationships among speaking, reading, and writing; and sites for learning literacy. These comparisons suggest several directions for refiguring literacy today: clarifying our conception of what people need to know and what role literacy plays in it; placing more emphasis on literacy as a collaborative practice; examining the relationship between the speaking and writing skills of students; and broadening the sites for literacy acquisition.
A Note on the Use and Misuse of the Racial Diversity Index

This note concerns the use of the Blau index of racial and ethnic diversity in the social sciences and in policy analysis. The diversity index, by design, captures the heterogeneity of the population group being studied, typically according to the racial and ethnic categories of the U.S. Census but does not account for the relative size of specific racial groups. Thus, with the most commonly used diversity index, the implicit assumption is that for the purposes of the analysis a population that is 80 percent white and 20 percent Asian is identical to a population that is 80 percent black and 20 percent Hispanic. Examples are given from studies of voting behavior, organizational performance, and the provision of public goods and services to show that the diversity index is often used in ways that are inappropriate given the context of the study.
An analytical method for determining thermal conductivity from dynamic experiments

The temperature profile along a cylindrical rod or tube as it cools has been obtained by numerical solution of the second-order time-dependent partial differential equation for heat conduction. The surface temperature is calculated for given temperature dependent values of the heat capacity, hemispherical total emissivity, thermal expansion and thermal conductivity and, by adjusting the thermal conductivity, is fitted to experimental temperature profiles obtained from preliminary measurements on a cooling cylindrical tungsten rod. The surface temperature of the rod is quite sensitive to the thermal conductivity but the accuracy of the predicted thermal conductivity cannot be assessed without further experimentation.
Configurational Stability of Unsubstituted Cyclohexyllithium

The configurational stability of cyclohexyllithium was examined by the proton label method without the influence of perturbing substituents. According to this method, configurational changes are followed by the steric arrangement of protons and deuterons. The desired labeling pattern was obtained by conversion of cyclohexanol-2,2,6-d3 (1H and 6H either cis or trans) to bromocyclohexane-2,2,6-d3. Good yield and high stereoselectivity was achieved by formation of the tosylate and treatment of the tosylate with magnesium bromide. The two stereoisomers of bromocyclohexane-2,2,6-d3 were allowed to react separately with lithium in pentane. The separate reactions give the same racemized mixture of cyclohexanecarboxylic-2,2,6-d3 acids after treatment with CO2. The racemization probably occurs during formation of the organolithium reagent on the surface of the metal or during the lifetime of a short-lived radical intermediate. It is not likely that the aggregated organolithium reagent itself undergoes racemization.
An Autoinhibitory Helix in the C-Terminal Region of Phospholipase C-β Mediates Gαq Activation

By examining the structure of phospholipase C-β, an autoinhibitory helix that interacts with the catalytic core of this enzyme is now identified. Disrupting this interaction enhances basal activity and decreases stimulation by Gαq, supporting an allosteric mechanism for PLCβ activation through displacement of the autoinhibitory helix by Gαq. The enzyme phospholipase C-β (PLCβ) is a crucial regulator of intracellular calcium levels whose activity is controlled by heptahelical receptors that couple to members of the Gq family of heterotrimeric G proteins. We have determined atomic structures of two invertebrate homologs of PLCβ (PLC21) from cephalopod retina and identified a helix from the C-terminal regulatory region that interacts with a conserved surface of the catalytic core of the enzyme. Mutations designed to disrupt the analogous interaction in human PLCβ3 considerably increase basal activity and diminish stimulation by Gαq. Gαq binding requires displacement of the autoinhibitory helix from the catalytic core, thus providing an allosteric mechanism for activation of PLCβ.
Chemicals from biomass--the U.S. prospects for the turn of the century.

Historically, chemicals from biomass have been and are expected to be economical in three major areas: byproducts, specialty items and polymers. Assessments of producing major chemicals from biomass in a processing plant based on the available conversion techniques indicate that they are not economically attractive, with the possible exception of conversion to ammonia and ethanol. The deterrents are the heavy capital investments, dependability of raw material supply and transportation costs for large plants, lack of operation experience, inadaptability of market variations, and competition from petroleum and coal. More importantly, it is also shown that even if chemicals from biomass were economical today, the resultant savings in petroleum would be far less than those achieved through other options available for the utilization of biomass as fuel and structural material. Thus, it is concluded that near-term research and development must be toward improved conversion processes, recovery of valuable products from waste streams at existing plants, more efficient use of biomass of energy and more efficient production of superior material products.
Electrocatalysis of the hydrogen evolution reaction by nanocomposites of poly(amidoamine)-encapsulated platinum nanoparticles and phosphotungstic acid

Poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (Generation-4) encapsulated platinum nanoparticles (PtNP-PAMAM) were prepared and used to fabricate nanocomposites with Keggin-type phosphotungstic acid (PW12O403−) using a layer by layer electrostatic assembly technique. Indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, which were first modified with a monolayer of 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (3-APTES), were used as substrates for assembly of the PW12O403− monolayer. Nanocomposites were then fabricated by depositing PtNP-PAMAM on the monolayer of PW12O403−. The amount of PtNP-PAMAM deposited was controlled by using different concentrations of PtNP-PAMAM diluted in 0.1 M H2SO4 solution. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was used to test electrocatalytic activities of these nanocomposite modified electrodes. Modification of ITO|3-APTES with PW12O403− |PtNP-PAMAM showed significantly higher electrocatalytic activities toward the HER than electrodes modified with either PW12O403− or PtNP-PAMAM alone. The electrocatalytic activities were found to depend on the composition of PtNP-PAMAM and PW12O403− on electrode surfaces, which was attributed to an interaction between these species. Heat treatment of ITO|3-APTES|PW12O403− |PtNP-PAMAM electrodes at 200 °C produced significantly higher electrocatalytic activities, which supported the suggestion of an interaction.
Optimization of contrast delivery for pulmonary CT angiography

Pulmonary CT angiography is becoming an increasingly important tool for diagnosing Pulmonary Emboli. An important aspect in optimizing the quality of these studies is achieving maximum levels of enhancement of the pulmonary arteries. In this study we reviewed the current literature to see if there was any standardization of protocols to achieve this purpose, and found that there was no consensus. Using well described techniques for determining blood flow we were able to demonstrate the proper time delays to achieve the highest levels of enhancement. As contrast flows into the pulmonary arteries, the degree of enhancement rapidly reaches a plateau phase. This is then followed by a recirculation phase where enhancement starts to increase again. The proper time delays between scan time and start of contrast infusion should allow for enhancement to be within this recirculation phase. An experimental model was developed to demonstrate the principles.