cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum and spinach with the new affinity label 2-bromo-1,5-dihydroxy-3-pentanone 1,5-bisphosphate.

Abstract In an attempt to identify the active-site base believed to initiate catalysis by ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase, we have synthesized 2-bromo-1, 5-dihydroxy-3-pentanone 1,5-bisphosphate, a reactive analogue of a postulated intermediate of carboxylation. Although highly unstable, this compound can be shown to inactivate the carboxylases from both Rhodospirillum , rubrum and spinach rapidly and irreversibly. Inactivation follows pseudo first-order kinetics, shows rate saturation and is greatly reduced by saturating amounts of the competitive inhibitor, 2-carboxyribitol 1,5-bisphosphate. The incorporation of reagent, quantified by reducing the modified carboxylases with [3H]NaBH4, shows that inactivation results from the modification of approximately one residue per catalytic subunit of the Rhodospirillum , rubrum enzyme and less than one residue per protomeric unit of the spinach enzyme.
Maternal resource variation across the laying sequence in Canada geese Branta canadensis maxima

Variation in maternal investments to offspring presumably reflects an optimization of resource allocation such that a female's fitness is maximized. In birds, both egg size and yolk constituents are examples of resources that can vary among offspring within a clutch. Egg size and maternally-derived steroid hormone concentrations present in yolk have been characterized for many species that lay small clutches or have altricial young, but little information is available for species that lay moderate to large clutches of precocial young. In this study, we recorded laying position, measured fresh egg mass and determined maternally-derived testosterone and estradiol concentrations present in yolks for whole clutches of free-living Canada geese Branta canadensis maxima to assess variation in maternal resources within clutches. We found that egg size varied non-linearly across the laying sequence such that first laid eggs were small, the largest eggs in the clutch occurred in the second and third positions, and size declined in eggs laid in subsequent positions. Concentration of testosterone in the yolk followed a pattern in which the first and second laid eggs have the highest concentrations within a clutch and declining concentrations in subsequently laid eggs. In contrast, maternally-derived yolk estradiol concentrations (measured in a subset of clutches) did not change across the laying sequence.
Cattle Grazing and Conservation of a Meadow-Dependent Amphibian Species in the Sierra Nevada

World-wide population declines have sharpened concern for amphibian conservation on working landscapes. Across the Sierra Nevada's national forest lands, where almost half of native amphibian species are considered at risk, permitted livestock grazing is a notably controversial agricultural activity. Cattle (Bos taurus) grazing is thought to degrade the quality, and thus reduce occupancy, of meadow breeding habitat for amphibian species of concern such as the endemic Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus [ = Bufo] canorus). However, there is currently little quantitative information correlating cattle grazing intensity, meadow breeding habitat quality, and toad use of meadow habitat. We surveyed biotic and abiotic factors influencing cattle utilization and toad occupancy across 24 Sierra Nevada meadows to establish these correlations and inform conservation planning efforts. We utilized both traditional regression models and Bayesian structural equation modeling to investigate potential drivers of meadow habitat use by cattle and Yosemite toads. Cattle use was negatively related to meadow wetness, while toad occupancy was positively related. In mid and late season (mid July-mid September) grazing periods, cattle selected for higher forage quality diets associated with vegetation in relatively drier meadows, whereas toads were more prevalent in wetter meadows. Because cattle and toads largely occupied divergent zones along the moisture gradient, the potential for indirect or direct negative effects is likely minimized via a partitioning of the meadow habitat. During the early season, when habitat use overlap was highest, overall low grazing levels resulted in no detectable impacts on toad occupancy. Bayesian structural equation analyses supported the hypothesis that meadow hydrology influenced toad meadow occupancy, while cattle grazing intensity did not. These findings suggest cattle production and amphibian conservation can be compatible goals within this working landscape.
GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES

This paper examines the issue of governance in the process of economic development. The paper first provides a literature review on the various arguments regarding the role of government in promoting economic development and the major issues emphasized in recent government reform projects. The paper then focuses on three major policy changes and reforms that are related to the area of governance and economic development: (1) regulatory reform, (2) privatization policy, and (3) decentralization policy. The paper concludes with discussions about the continuing arguments about the role of government, the increasing importance of local governments, and the contribution of nongovernmental or nonprofit organizations in economic development.
Is paradoxical pharmacology a strategy worth pursuing

Abstract The first rule of medicine is, ‘do no harm'. Perhaps accepting this precept has produced a logic for disease treatment where our primary purpose is limited to only assisting or helping to correct a malfunctioning system. Can we use drugs that, according to traditional views, would be considered to increase stress on the system in the short term, to actually treat and cure disease in the long term? Is it possible to exacerbate disease for a longer-term gain? Although there are several examples of where this strategy has appeared to work, a systematic testing of the hypothesis has not occurred and, for the majority of diseases, this hypothesis has never been tested.
Temperature monitoring of superconducting wire for quench detection

Multipoint temperature measurement of the superconducting wire was demonstrated to detect quench behavior utilizing a multiplexed fiber Bragg gratings sensor. The sensor was directly attached on the wire to measure actual wire temperature during the quenching. Quench propagation was successfully detected by measuring delay time of temperature increase on each grating.
Trout intestinal alkaline phosphatases. II. The effect of temperature upon enzymatic activity in vitro and in vivo.

Two fundamental physical properties of partially purified trout intestinal alkaline phosphatases which have been examined in detail are thermostability and activation energy. It has been clearly demonstrated that differences in thermostability exist between the trout isozymes, and that as a group they are more thermolabile than mammalian phosphatases. The activation energies of the two main trout phosphatase zones, however, are comparable to mammalian phosphatases. Experiments on cold-acclimation of hatchery brook trout suggest that a fundamental reorganization of the intestinal alkaline phosphatase complement occurs. There are drastic quantitative differences in the isozyme patterns of 4° C-acclimated fish and those acclimated to 10° C or 15° C. The 4° isozyme complement has a lower activation energy in the range of 2° C−10° C than does the 10° C isozyme complement. This finding strongly suggests that there is a reconstruction of the phosphatase isozyme complement with cold-acclimation. This is functionally significant in that it results in the production of enzymes better suited to the new thermal regime. Three mechanisms are discussed as possible regulators of this process.
Transition from Localized Corrosion to Stress Corrosion Cracking in an Al-Li-Cu-Ag Alloy

Abstract The early stages of stress-assisted corrosion and stress corrosion crack (SCC) initiation from machine-notched aluminum alloy (AA) 2096 (UNS A92096) specimens, lacking prefatigue cracks, were investigated. Double-notched tensile specimens of an extremely SCC-susceptible underaged (i.e., 4-h artificially aging at 160°C) temper of AA2096 were exposed in an alternate immersion (A/I) 0.6 sodium chloride (NaCl) environment. Focused ion beam (FIB) sectioning/secondary electron imaging methods were used to study and document the earliest stages of pit, intersubgranular corrosion, corrosion fissure, and SCC development starting from LT surfaces. SCC in machine-notched AA2096 involved several stages: trenching of the alloy matrix along bands of constituent particles, constituent particle-induced pit or trench coalescence, elongated corrosion fissure growth initially by general dissolution on the length scale of subgrains and the transition to intersubgranular attack, followed by the initiation/transition ...
Clearance of Aerosolized 99mTc-Diethyle nettaminepentacetate Before and After Smoke Inhalation

The pulmonary clearance of aerosolized 99mTc-diethylene-triaminepentacetate (DTPA) was studied in mongrel dogs immediately after exposure to wood smoke to see if a sensitive, objective way of assessing the degree of pulmonary injury might be found. Animals were studied in four groups as follows: control, following five minutes, two minutes, and 15 seconds of smoke exposure. Chest roentgenograms and 133 Xe scans were taken before and after smoke exposure. The DTPA clearance was more sensitive in detecting injury than either of these imaging techniques. The DTPA clearance rates increased in a dose responsive way following smoke inhalation: 2.4 percent and 12.1 percent excreted per minute for control animals and those exposed to five minutes of smoke, respectively. Seven patients in a clinical trial of DTPA following smoke exposure are described; their DTPA clearance rates were all normal, although five were active cigarette smokers. Despite encouraging results in animal experiments, DTPA clearance studies may be of little practical value in the clinical setting of acute inhalation injury.
Solid phase extraction for analysis of biogenic carbonates by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS): an investigation of rare earth element signatures in otolith microchemistry

Abstract Uptake of trace elements into fish otoliths is governed by several factors such as life histories and environment in addition to stock and species differences. In an attempt to elucidate the elemental signatures of rare earth elements (REEs) in otoliths, a solid phase extraction (SPE) protocol was used in combination with electrothermal vaporization (ETV) as a sample introduction procedure for the determinations by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Effects of various parameters, such as carrier gas flow rate, atomization temperature and chemical modification, were examined for optimization of the conditions by ETV-ICP-MS. Atomization was achieved at 2800 °C. Lower temperatures (i.e. 2600 °C) resulted in severe memory problems due to incomplete atomization. Palladium was used as a chemical modifier. It was found that an increase in Pd concentration up to 0.5 μg in the injection volume (70 μl) led up to four-fold enhancement in the integrated signals. This phenomenon is attributed to the carrier effect of Pd rather than the stabilization since no significant losses were observed for high temperature drying around 700 °C even in the absence of Pd. Preconcentration was performed on-line at pH 5 by using a mini-column of Toyopearl AF-Chelate 650M chelating resin, which also eliminated the calcium matrix of otolith solutions. After preconcentration of 6.4 ml of solution, the concentrate was collected in 0.65 ml of 0.5% (v/v) HNO3 in autosampler cups, and then analyzed by ETV-ICP-MS. The method was validated with the analysis of a fish otolith certified reference material (CRM) of emperor snapper, and then applied to samples. Results obtained from otoliths of fish captured in the same habitat indicated that otolith rare earth element concentrations are more dependent on environmental conditions of the habitat than on species differences.
Multilevel Regression Models for Learning in the Presence of Rare Data

Learning with imbalanced datasets has been a major topic of study for many years. In this paper, we focus on a type of imbalance called imbalance due to rare instances. Such imbalances occur in a variety of domains. Rare instances have received less focus in prediction problems and we wish to draw attention to how accuracy can be improved in the presence of rare data. We discuss an approach to regression tasks, where the training instances are first grouped by similarity and a group of heterogeneous models is applied to each of these groups. This approach enables better prediction on unseen or rare instances when compared to existing approaches. We present results that show performance across datasets from different domains. Our approach was found to provide better prediction than common approaches on rare unseen instances without affecting the overall performance on prediction tasks.
The isolation effect and verbal discrimination learning

The present study was a 2 by 2 factorial design of verbal-discrimination learning with isolation vs no isolation of a pair of items as one factor and isolation vs no isolation of the correct item feedback as the other factor. The Ss were 36 undergraduates, 9 to a group. It was found that there were significantly fewer errors on the isolated item when the pair was isolated, but not when the feedback was isolated.
Crystal structure of the aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from Entamoeba histolytica.

Abstract The crystal structure of the aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from the eukaryotic parasite Entamoeba histolytica has been determined at 2.8 Aresolution. Relative to homologous sequences, the E. histolytica protein contains a 43-residue insertion between the N-terminal anticodon binding domain and the C-terminal catalytic domain. The present structure reveals that this insertion extends an arm of the hinge region that has previously been shown to mediate interaction of aspartyl-tRNA synthetase with the cognate tRNA D-stem. Modeling indicates that this Entamoeba -specific insertion is likely to increase the interaction surface with the cognate tRNA A s p . In doing so it may substitute functionally for an RNA-binding motif located in N-terminal extensions found in AspRS sequences from lower eukaryotes but absent in Entamoeba. The E. histolytica AspRS structure shows a well-ordered N-terminus that contributes to the AspRS dimer interface.
Rules to leave by: patch departure in foraging blue jays

Abstract Captive blue jays, Cyanocitta cristata , hunted for moths in projected images in a modified operant chamber. On each trial the jays could choose between two patches: (1) a non-depleting patch with a low, uniform prey density, and (2) a depleting patch that had a high initial prey density but depleted in a single step later in the session. The number of prey available in the depleting patch was varied across conditions. The jays typically started a bout in the depleting patch and finished in the non-depleting patch, obtaining close to the maximum number of total available prey. Efficiency declined when conditions changed, then recovered. Relative efficiency was greatest in the condition with the fewest prey. The decision to leave the depleting patch appeared to be a function of both the length of the ‘run-of-bad-luck’ and the number of prey found within the depleting patch.
RESPONSES OF AMPHIBIANS TO RESTORATION OF A SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN WETLAND: PERTURBATIONS CONFOUND POST-RESTORATION ASSESSMENT

Although regulatory, agencies in the USA typically require 3–5 yr of post-restoration monitoring of biotic responses to wetland mitigation, many researchers have argued that longer time frames are needed to assess population responses adequately. We conducted an 8-yr study to examine the demographic responses of the wood frog (Rana sylvatica) and spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) to wetland creation at a mitigation bank in western North Carolina. Our primary goals were to compare juvenile output in ten reference and ten constructed ponds and to assess the overall change in breeding population size in response to site restoration. We used annual censuses of egg masses to assess changes in breeding population size and used estimates of larval population size at hatching and the initiation of metamorphosis to assess embryonic and larval survival. Adults of both species bred in most constructed ponds within a few months after filling in 1996. Estimated juvenile production from 1996 to 2002 did not differ significantly between pond types for either species. The percentage of both constructed and reference ponds that produced juveniles decreased markedly from 1996 to 1998 and remained low through 2002. The decrease in juvenile output was mostly associated with reduced larval survival rather than increased embryonic mortality across years. Drought and outbreaks of a pathogen (Ranavirus) were the primary causes of low juvenile production from 1998 to 2002. The overall breeding population of R. sylvatica increased markedly in 1999–2000 following a large recruitment of juveniles from constructed ponds in 1996–1997. With the onset of drought and ranaviral infections, the population declined to levels in 2002 that were at or below 1995 pre-restoration numbers. Despite site perturbations, the breeding population of A. maculatum remained relatively stable from 1995 to 2002, a phenomenon that may reflect selection for delayed reproduction and iteroparity in this species. Although we have monitored R. sylvatica and A. maculatum for seven breeding seasons after the creation of seasonal wetlands, we are still uncertain that site restoration will achieve the goal of increasing breeding populations above pre-restoration levels. Because amphibians have significant population lags and are sensitive to site perturbations, monitoring that exceeds five years may be required to assess demographic responses to site restoration adequately.
Features of Rhodobacter sphaeroides ChrR required for stimuli to promote the dissociation of σ(E)/ChrR complexes.

Abstract In the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a transcriptional response to the reactive oxygen species singlet oxygen (1O2) is mediated by ChrR, a zinc metalloprotein that binds to and inhibits the activity of the alternative σ factor σE. We provide evidence that 1O2 promotes the dissociation of σE from ChrR to activate transcription in vivo. To identify what is required for 1O2 to promote the dissociation of σE/ChrR complexes, we analyzed the in vivo properties of variant ChrR proteins with amino acid changes in conserved residues of the C-terminal cupin-like domain (ChrR-CLD). We found that 1O2 was unable to promote the detectable dissociation of σE/ChrR complexes when the ChrR-CLD zinc ligands (His141, His143, Glu147, and His177) were substituted with alanine, even though individual substitutions caused a 2-fold to 10-fold decrease in zinc affinity for this domain relative to that for wild-type ChrR (Kd ∼ 4.6 × 10− 10 M). We conclude that the side chains of these invariant residues play a crucial role in the response to 1O2. Additionally, we found that cells containing variant ChrR proteins with single amino acid substitutions at Cys187 or Cys189 exhibited σE activity similar to those containing wild-type ChrR when exposed to 1O2, suggesting that these thiol side chains are not required for 1O2 to induce σE activity in vivo. Finally, we found that the same aspects of R. sphaeroides ChrR needed for a response to 1O2 are required for the dissociation of σE/ChrR complexes in the presence of the organic hydroperoxide t-butyl hydroperoxide.
DNA damage signaling in hematopoietic cells: a role for Mre11 complex repair of topoisomerase lesions.

The Mre11 complex promotes DNA double-strand break repair and regulates DNA damage signaling via activation of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase. The hypermorphic Rad50S allele encodes a variant of Rad50, a member of the Mre11 complex. Cells expressing Rad50S experience constitutive ATM activation, which leads to precipitous apoptotic attrition in hematopoietic cells. In this study, we show that ATM activation by the Rad50S-containing Mre11 complex enhances the proliferation of LSK cells, a population consisting of hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitor cells. In Rad50S/S mice, enhanced LSK proliferation triggers apoptotic attrition. This phenotype is mitigated when Rad50S/S is combined with mutations that alter either LSK cell quiescence (myeloid elf-1–like factor/ELF4–deficient mice) or hematopoietic differentiation (p21- and p27-deficient mice), indicating that the LSK population is a primary target of Rad50S pathology. We show that cells from Rad50S/S mice are hypersensitive to camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor that causes DNA damage primarily during DNA replication. On this basis, we propose that apoptotic attrition of Rad50S/S hematopoietic cells results from enhanced proliferation in the context of topoisomerase-associated DNA damage. Impairment of apoptosis in Rad50S/S mice promotes hematopoietic malignancy, suggesting that primitive hematopoietic cells serve as a reservoir of potentially oncogenic lesions in Rad50S/S mice. These data provide compelling evidence that the Mre11 complex plays a role in the metabolism of topoisomerase lesions in mammals, and further suggest that such lesions can accumulate in primitive hematopoietic cells and confer significant oncogenic potential. [Cancer Res 2008;68(7):2186–93]
Microfabrication by through-mask electrochemical micromachining

Patterning of thin films or foils by wet etching generally involves selective material removal through photoresist masks. Compared to the commonly employed chemical etching process, the electrochemical method of metal removal offers better control and flexibility for microfabrication. Other advantages include higher machining rate, the use of non-toxic and non- corrosive electrolyte and the possibility of machining a wide range of electrically conducting materials. Electrochemical metal removal (electrochemical micromachining) is now receiving attention in the electronics and other high-tech industries as a greener processing technology for microfabrication. Several examples of the application of electrochemical micromachining are presented in this paper. These examples demonstrate the challenges and opportunities offered by electrochemical metal removal in microfabrication.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Influence of grounded back electrode on AC creepage breakdown

Solid insulation using back electrodes has been adopted in various types of electrical equipment. This paper investigates the impact of back electrode on solid insulation AC creepage discharge characteristics. Breakdown voltages at different gap distances are obtained via experiments, and electric field distribution is calculated using computer software. We compare the results between 'with' and 'without' use of back electrodes, and investigate the internal relationship between breakdown properties and electric field distribution. It is observed that back electrodes result in concentration of the electric field near the high voltage electrode. A larger gap distance results in an increase in the maximum tangential electric field strength. When tangential electric field strength exceeds a certain critical value, partial discharge streamers are generated. Such streamers help to lower the breakdown voltage and make the maximum electric field strength less than expected value.
Raincube: A proposed constellation of precipitation profiling radars in CubeSat

Numerical climate and weather models depend on measurements from space-borne satellites to complete model validation and improvements. Precipitation profiling capabilities are currently limited to a few instruments deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which cannot provide the temporal resolution necessary to observe the evolution of short time-scale weather phenomena and improve numerical weather prediction models. A constellation of precipitation profiling instruments in LEO would provide this essential capability, but the cost and timeframe of typical satellite platforms and instruments make this solution prohibitive. A new radar instrument architecture that is compatible with low-cost satellite platforms, such as CubeSats and SmallSats, has been designed at JPL that enables constellation missions, which could revolutionize climate science and weather forecasting.
KYSPILL: A Practical Modeling System of Scale-Dependent Dispersion after Chemical Spills

Scale-dependent dispersion is a phenomenon that manifests as an increase in the magnitude of the dispersion parameters with the distance of travel, or the time after the spill. This implies that contaminant plumes occupy a larger portion of the aquifer at later times than that predicted by the traditional convection-dispersion models. Although it is an area of active research, scale-dependent ground water pollution modeling is now available through the practical application of a new hydrologic theory of dispersion. The KYSPILL software was developed as an application of this theory. KYSPILL provides an easy way to simulate and graph the movement of contaminant plumes in heterogeneous soils and aquifers. It has self-supported menus and windows that allow the selection of the type of spill, the input of hydrogeologic data, and the plotting of contours and breakthrough curves. It simulates biological or radioactive decay, adsorption, point or nonpoint sources in the unsaturated zone and subsequently in the saturated zone. An automatic self-diagnosis system tests every input data, and an on-line, context-sensitive, help system aids the user in the input data and running phases. KYSPILL is a simple tool for those chemical spills with little or uncertain data. It may be used formore » preliminary forecasting, monitoring planning, or remedial actions.« less
An asymmetric synthesis of duloxetine hydrochloride, a mixed uptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, and its C-14 labeled isotopomers

Two 14 C-isotopomers of duloxetine HCl (S-(+)-N-methyl-3(1-naphthalenyloxy)-3(2-thiophene)propanamine hydrochloride), a potent mixed serotonin/norepinephrine uptake inhibitor have been prepared by an asymmetric synthesis. The palladium catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-thienoyl chloride (3c) (or its [carbonyl- 14 C] isotopomer 3d) with vinyl tri-n-butyl-stannane, followed by addition of HCl afforded the key pro-chiral intermediate chloroketone (5a,b). Chiral reduction with borane in the presence of the appropriate oxazaborolidine catalyst (14a or b) provided the 5-chloroalcohol (7a) and its 14 C-labeled counterpart 7b or the analogous R-chloroalcohol (6). Activation of 7a,b by reaction with NaI/acetone, followed by reaction of the corresponding iodoalcohol with methylamine yielded the penultimate aminoalcohols (8a,b). Formation of the alkoxide with NaH, followed by reaction with 1-fluoronaphthalene yielded duloxetine or its 14 C-labeled isotopomer 9. Alternatively, reaction of 6 with 1-naphthol-[1- 14 C] under Mitsunobu conditions afforded arylether 10a,b, which was in turn activated by reaction with NaI/acetone. Subsequent reaction of 10c,d with methylamine followed by salt formation yielded duloxetine or its naphlthalene-labeled isotopomer (13) as their HCl salts
Minimum-weight codewords as generators of generalized Reed-Muller codes

We establish the range of values of /spl rho/, where 0/spl les//spl rho//spl les/m(q-1), for which the generalized Reed-Muller code R/sub Fq/(/spl rho/, m) of length q/sup m/ over the field F/sub q/ of order q is spanned by its minimum-weight vectors.
Improving direction-giving through utilization of an RFID-enabled kiosk

This paper presents an RFID-enabled electronic kiosk system for personalized information retrieval. The system builds on research in direction-giving by streamlining the process and therefore providing the user with a quicker transaction for personalized information. The RFID technology also provides potential for greater security and privacy for the user. The RFID prototype is built on top of a current production informational kiosk utilized for a building directory.
Parallel digital halftoning by error-diffusion

Digital halftoning, or dithering, is the technique commonly used to render a color or grayscale image on a printer, a computer monitor or other bi-level displays. A particular halftoning technique that has been used extensively in the past is the so-called error diffusion technique. For a number of years it was believed that this technique is inherently sequential and could not be parallelized. In this paper we present and analyze a simple, yet optimal, error-diffusion parallel algorithm for digital halftoning and we discuss an implementation on a parallel machine. In particular, we describe implementations on data-parallel computers that contain linear arrays and two-dimensional meshes of processing elements. Our algorithm runs in 2•n+m parallel steps, a considerable improvement over the 10•m•n sequential algorithm. We expect that this research will lead to the development of faster printers and larger high-resolution monitors.
Base-induced photochemical reaction of cyclopentylideneacetaldehyde tosylhydrazone

Abstract Irradiation of base-induced cyclopentylideneacetaldehyde tosylhydrazone affords spiro[2,4]hept-1-ene, vinylidenecyclopentane and 1-vinylcyclopentene by direct intramolecular rearrangements from the excited diazoalkene state (64%) and by competitive formation and subsequent rearrangement of the corresponding vinylcarbene.
Nitrogen-fixing (acetylene-reducing) bacteria associated with ectomycorrhizae of Douglas-fir

Nitrogenase activity, measured by acetylene reduction, was detected on nursery-grown, surface-sterilized ectomycorrhizae of Douglas-fir, formed withLaccaria laccata, Hebeloma crustuliniforme, Rhizopogon vinicolor, andThelephora sp. Detached mycorrhizae were incubated in nitrogen-free liquid medium under microaerophilic conditions. Nitrogenase activity was attributed toClostridium spp. andAzospirillum spp.
Chronoscopes: a theory of underspecified temporal representations

Representation and reasoning about time and events is a fundamental aspect of our cognitive abilities and intrinsic to our construal of the structure of our personal and historical lives and recall of past experiences. These capabilities also underlie our understanding of narrative language. This paper describes an abstract device called a Chronoscope, that allows a temporal representation (a set of events and their temporal relations) to be viewed based on temporal abstractions. The temporal representation is augmented with abstract events called episodes that stand for discourse segments. The temporal abstractions allow one to collapse temporal relations, or view the representation at different time granularities (hour, day, month, year, etc.), with corresponding changes in event characterization and temporal relations at those granularities. The paper situates Chronoscopes in terms of systems for automatically extracting the temporal structure of narratives.
AV node dysfunction in the mitral valve prolapse syndrome

The mitral valve prolapse syndrome is associated with a variety of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. A portion of these patients manifest bradyarrhythmias, which in turn, may be the cause of lightheadedness and syncope. Thie study details the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of seven patients with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse and AV node dysfunction. The electrophysiology study demonstrated either a prolonged AH interval or abnormal response to atrial pacing in six of seven patients. A significant proportion of these patients had abnormalities of sinus node function and distal His-Purkinje conduction in addition to AV node dysfunction. AV node dysfunction in symptomatic patients with mitral valve prolapse may be secondary to autonomic dysfunction of diffuse conduction system disease.
Linear and Nonlinear Valence Functions: A Behavioral Decision‐Making Assessment

In Vroom's [45] original formulation of expectancy theory, the relationship between affect and perceived instrumentality was assumed to be linear. Others have suggested that such a relationship may be better modeled by a nonlinear, utility-type function [30]. The current research contrasts the predictive ability of two linear and four nonlinear functions. Using four levels of McClelland's [26] needs for achievement, affiliation, and power as instrumentalities, 101 subjects provided more than 12,900 decisions on the valences of jobs in a behavioral decision-making experiment. Nearly 40 percent of the subjects exhibited nonlinear valence functions. The results emphasize the need to specify the appropriate functional form of the valence component to enhance predictive accuracy and to prevent misspecification problems.
Hirschsprung's disease coexisting with colonic atresia

A case is presented to emphasize the potential coexistence of Hirschsprung's disease and intestinal atresia.
Lymphocryptoviruses: EBV and Its Role in Human Cancer

Lymphocryptoviruses (LCVs) are gamma 1-herpesviruses well known for infecting Old-World primates. They display a biphasic life cycle usually with a lifelong persistence, which is typically asymptomatic in their host, and are capable of inducing malignancies. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is the most well-studied LCV and is the only member known to cause infection in humans. EBV is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis and is associated with a number of human malignancies including, Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL), Hodgkin’s disease (HD), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and posttransplant lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD). Interestingly, many of the Old-World primates are known to have the pathological equivalents of these diseases associated with respective LCVs. The EBV genome provides the genetic validation for similarities between EBV infection in human and LCV infections of Old-World primates. Here, we discuss the molecular aspects of host–pathogen interaction in regard to EBV-induced diseases with a particular focus on tumorigenesis, as a representative of the general pathologies associated with LCV-induced malignancies. The role of various EBV proteins in establishment of infection, persistence, and tumorigenesis, as well as the numerous host-signaling pathways targeted by the viral molecules for carrying out these phenomena are explored. Furthermore, the available preferences for diagnosis and treatment modalities for EBV-induced pathologies are discussed in this chapter.
Dynamic channel assignment in shotgun cellular systems

This paper analyzes dynamic channel assignment in cellular systems where the base stations are placed at random. Using a simple dynamic channel assignment algorithm, random systems are compared to an ideal hexagonal system. Under log-normal shadow fading the random system has capacity within 1 dB of the hexagonal system. This paper looks at both the uplink and downlink and finds that performance is similar to previous downlink analysis. Thus, at a modest cost in performance, deployment effort is greatly reduced.
The change in electric potential due to lightning

The change in the electric potential due to lightning is evaluated. The potential along the lightning channel is a constant which is the projection of the pre-flash potential along a piecewise harmonic eigenfunction which is constant along the lightning channel. The change in the potential outside the lightning channel is a harmonic function whose boundary conditions are expressed in terms of the pre-flash potential and the post-flash potential along the lightning channel. The expression for the lightning induced electric potential change is derived both for the continuous equations, and for a spatially discretized formulation of the continuous equations. The results for the continuous equations are based on the properties of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the following generalized eigenproblem: Find u ∈ H 1 (Ω), u � , andλ ∈ R such that �∇ u, ∇vL = λ�∇ u, ∇v� Ω for all v ∈ H 1 (Ω), where Ω ⊂ R n is a bounded domain (a box containing the thunderstorm), L is a subdomain (the lightning channel), and �· , ·� Ω is the inner product �∇ u, ∇v� Ω = � Ω ∇u ·∇ v dx.
A Masked Spectral Bound for Maximum-Entropy Sampling

We introduce a new “masked spectral bound” for the maximum-entropy sampling problem. This bound is a continuous generalization of the very effective “spectral partition bound”. Optimization of the masked spectral bound requires the minimization of a nonconvex, nondifferentiable objective over a semidef-initeness constraint. We describe a nonlinear affine scaling algorithm to approximately minimize the bound. Implementation of the procedure obtains excellent bounds at modest computational expense.
Thermodynamic Bias in the Multimodel Mean Boreal Summer Monsoon

AbstractHere it is shown that almost all models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) exhibit a common bias in the thermodynamic structure of boreal summer monsoons. The strongest bias lies over South Asia, where the upper-tropospheric temperature maximum is too weak, is shifted southeast of its observed location, and does not extend as far west over Africa as it does in observations. Simulated Asian maxima of surface air moist static energy are also too weak and are located over coastal oceans rather than in their observed continental position. The spatial structure of this bias suggests that it is caused by an overly smoothed representation of topography west of the Tibetan Plateau, which allows dry air from the deserts of western Asia to penetrate the monsoon thermal maximum, suppressing moist convection and cooling the upper troposphere. In a climate model with a decent representation of the thermodynamic state of the Asian monsoon, the qualitative characteristics of this b...
Modeling the information systems architecture: an object-oriented approach

Presents an object-oriented design approach for modeling an information systems architecture (ISA). An ISA is a plan for modeling the global information requirements of an enterprise and provides a way to map the information needs of an organization, relate them to specific processes and document their interrelationships. This mapping is then used to guide applications development and to facilitate the integration and sharing of data. To facilitate these functions, an object-oriented modeling system (ELISA) is introduced in which the primitives of the ISA correspond to the natural language used by managers and executives. The research reported is a prototype design that focuses on a representation, storage, access, and manipulation scheme of enterprise meta-data. A repository system is described for the storage of information required by the ISA. An example shows how an object representation of the ISA is applied to the information requirements of a small business. Directions for further research are also discussed. >
Sport-dependent variations in arm position during single-limb landing influence knee loading: implications for anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Background: Increased valgus loading at the knee has been previously identified as a possible risk factor for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries, which are common in sports. Arm position variation may affect risk of injury by altering valgus knee loading.Hypothesis: Sport-dependent variations in arm position increase valgus loading of the knee during run-to-cut maneuvers.Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.Methods: Eleven subjects performed a sidestep cutting maneuver, first with no arm constraints and then with 3 sports-related arm positions in random order (holding a lacrosse stick, holding a football on the plant side, and holding a football on the cut side). The analysis focused on the knee valgus moment relative to the arm positions during the landing phase of the activity.Results: Arm position significantly influenced the valgus moment with an increase in the lacrosse trials and in the plant-side football trials but not in the cut-side football trials (α = .05).Conclusions: Constra...
The Psychological Cost of Market Transition: Mental Health Disparities in Reform-Era China

China's post-1978 economic reform has led to fundamental changes in its urban life. Yet little attention has been paid to the effects of this massive societal transformation on individuals' psychological well-being. Using survey data collected from a national sample of 3,443 Chinese urban residents in 2005, 1 examine the effects of employment conditions, political affiliation, and regional level of marketization on self-reported symptoms of psychological distress. The findings show that individuals whose personal conditions expose them more to the risks and uncertainty brought about by market reform, such as self-employed workers, are more likely to suffer from psychological distress. By contrast, residents in more marketized areas tend to feel more satisfied with their economic conditions and therefore have lower levels of distress. Taken together, these results suggest that the reduced social protection resulting from reform contributes to an elevated level of psychological distress. However, a higher perceived level of economic well-being reduces distress and partly compensates for the disruptive effects of China's market transition.
Taming Legal Information Overload

All legal researchers deal with a deluge of legal information. For law students learning how to conduct legal research, this abundance of information can be overwhelming and frustrating. Written for Student Lawyer magazine, this column presents several tips law students and all legal researchers can use to deal with legal information overload.
Nonhereditary p53 Mutations in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Are Associated With the Relapse Phase

We have previously reported that greater than 60% of human leukemic T- cell lines possess mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. To determine whether T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patient samples possess p53 mutations, we screened peripheral blood-and bone marrow-derived leukemia samples, taken at diagnosis and at relapse, for p53 mutations. Exons 4 through 9 and selected intron regions of the p53 gene were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing. p53 mutations were found in 0 of 15 T-ALL diagnosis samples, as compared with 10 of 36 (28%) T-ALL relapse samples. To determine whether p53 mutations play a role in the recurrence (relapse) of T-ALL, two special groups of T-ALL patients were studied: (1) a group of 8 relapse patients whose disease was refractory to chemotherapeutic treatment, and (2) a group of 6 “paired” T-ALL cell samples from patients for whom we possess both diagnosis and relapse samples. Three of 8 relapsed patients (37.5%) whose disease was refractory to the reinduction of remission by chemotherapy possessed missense mutations of the p53 gene. All 3 cases had mutations in exon 5. Among the paired samples, 3 of 6 patients harbored p53 mutations at disease recurrence, but possessed only wild- type p53 alleles at diagnosis. One case had mutation on exon 4, 1 case in exon 5, and 1 case in exon 8 with loss of heterozygosity. These data clearly indicate that recurrence of T-ALL is associated with missense mutations in p53. Our results indicate that (1) mutations of p53 do occur in T-ALL in vivo, and such mutations are associated with the relapse phase of the disease; and (2) p53 mutation is involved in the progression of T-ALL. This conclusion is supported by our observation that the introduction of T-ALL-derived mutant p53 expression constructs into T-ALL cell lines further increases their growth rate in culture, enhances cell cloning in methylcellulose, and increases tumor formation in nude mice.
Abstract 267: Ablation of Sympathetic Neurons Projecting to Mesenteric Blood Vessels Attenuates Nicotine-Induced Rise in Systemic Arterial Pressure

Celiac ganglionectomy attenuates the increase in arterial pressure (AP) seen in the DOCA-salt model of hypertension; however, it is unknown which population of neurons in the celiac ganglion (CG) is responsible for this attenuation. Therefore, we ablated sympathetic post ganglionic neurons selectively innervating mesenteric blood vessels by applying a retrograde tracer, cholera toxin subunit b, conjugated to the neurotoxin saporin (CTB-SAP) on multiple, adjacent branches (~6mm) of mesenteric arteries and veins. Control animals received PBS instead of a CTB-SAP treatment. After 7-10 days rats were anesthetized, and fitted with a femoral catheter to record AP. Nicotine (200mM) was then applied to the surface of the surgically-exposed CG, which caused a significant increase in AP in control animals but not in CTB-SAP treated animals ( Table 1 ). Quantitative morphometry done on the CG revealed a significant reduction in the density of ganglionic neurons in CTB-SAP treated animals when compared to control animals ( Table 1 ). This study shows ablating CG neurons that innervate such a small portion of the mesenteric vasculature reduces the elevation of systemic AP induced by nicotine. Moreover, this study gives way for further investigations into how ablation of neurons innervating mesenteric arteries or veins can modulate AP.
A Universal Standard for Obscenity? The Importance of Context and Other Considerations

abstractThe U.S. Supreme Court’s Miller test for obscenity states that there should be a “community standard” that defines what is obscene. The reliance on such a standard depends on a set of questionable assumptions about the both the existence of a consensus view in a given community and individual jurors’ ability to utilize such a standard when it diverges from their own views. Utilizing an original survey experiment, I show that there are strong practical difficulties with these assumptions that question the implementability of the Miller test.
Selfish node isolation in Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks.

This thesis will focus on the topic of Selfish Nodes within a Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANET), specifically sensor networks due to their lower power and bandwidth. The approach used is a reputation based algorithm to isolate the selfish nodes from communication by using past history to determine how reliable the node is. The reputation of each node is determined by their behavior within the network. As a node continuously acts selfishly, their reputation is decreased, until finally meeting the minimum threshold; therefore they are determined to be malicious. A node’s reputation is increased for successfully participation and communication with neighboring nodes, but once a node is determined to be malicious, they are ignored and cannot regain positive reputation. Once a node is isolated, the remaining nodes must find alternate paths to send their data to avoid any and all selfish nodes, regardless of the increase in distance. The method could easily be transformed to expand such routing protocols as DestinationSequenced Distance Vector (DSDV). By using the proposed algorithm within DSDV, functionality and performance will be increased in the MANET. As a result of the isolation, retransmission is decreased and throughput increased, therefore conserving power consumption of individual nodes and creating a more reliable network by having less error rate and spare bandwidth.