cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paul and Socrates: the Aim of Paul' s Areopagus Speech

Paul's Areopagus speech is in many ways a riddle. This article approaches the speech with Paul's aim in view. If Paul hoped his audience would respond by conversion, he did not have much success. It is argued that Paul's aim was to arouse curiosity and create an interest in further information; indeed, some responded to him for this very reason and later became believers. This article presents three arguments: (1) the rhetorical strategy to be used by a speaker faced with a critical audience was insinuatio, subtle approach, to speak with concealment; (2) Paul's way of introducing Jesus in this speech is surprisingly cryptic, and leaves the audience with questions; (3) the use of Socrates traditions found quite clearly in the prelude to the speech is seen as shedding light on Paul's indirect speaking in the speech itself. Paul's aim was to promote curiosity and elicit questions.
Digestive proteases of two species of wasps of the genus Vespula

Abstract Adults of Vespula germanica and V. maculifrons were examined for digestive protease activities. All caste members of both species that were analysed possessed trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase A, and carboxypeptidase B-like activities, with one exception: worker V. maculifrons lacked carboxypeptidase B activity. Adults of these two species can in all likelihood digest protein. The trypsin and chymotrypsin-like enzymes of the two species were also examined with specific inhibitors to determine their similarity to bovine enzymes. The wasp enzymes possess a serine and a histidine in their active centers; the trypsin-like enzyme has a specificity for basic amino acids, whereas the chymotrypsin-like enzyme specifies aromatic amino acids. These wasp enzymes are therefore similar to bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin in these respects. Methodological and interpretative differences are noted between the present study and an earlier publication on absence of digestive proteases in Vespa orientalis .
Gödel's Algorithm for Class Formation

A computer implementation of Godel’s algorithm for class formation in MathematicaTM is useful for automated reasoning in set theory. The original intent was to forge a convenient preprocessing tool to help prepare input files for McCune’s automated reasoning program Otter. The program is also valuable for discovering new theorems. Some applications are described, especially to the definition of functions. A brief extract from the program is included in an appendix.
Structure, transport and potential vorticity of the Gulf Stream at 68°W: Revisiting older data sets with new techniques

Abstract The stream-coordinates mean structure of the Gulf Stream at 68°W is derived using new methods for both defining stream coordinates and interpreting bottom pressure and inverted echo sounder travel times collected during the extensive Synoptic Ocean Prediction experiment. These new analyses provide pictures of the vertical structure of Gulf Stream flows that are demonstrably dynamically consistent with the density field at all depths, in contrast to previous work that relies on simple vertical interpolations to fill gaps between sparse current meter measurements. This new view of the Gulf Stream suggests a slightly higher total mean transport, with the increases coming from both baroclinic and barotropic components, and slightly stronger recirculation cells, particularly on the southern side. The recirculation of the Gulf Stream appears to have a weak baroclinic component, perhaps 10% of the total. A significant advantage of the methodology is the ability to obtain sensible vertical and horizontal gradients of currents and density so that the vertical and cross-stream structures of the components of the mean potential vorticity can be clearly imaged. One new feature from this calculation is that the along-stream gradient of the cross-stream velocity, a term that is often ignored in potential vorticity analyses, is non-negligible (though small) and is asymmetric about the current axis. Both the derived structure and implied dynamics of the circulation can be significantly altered by small changes to the method of calculating daily stream coordinates, e.g., by carefully filtering out observations in rings or not. Arrays of pressure-equipped inverted echo sounders provide the opportunity (at reasonable cost) for properly defining the stream coordinates of energetic jets such as the Gulf Stream.
Co(II) interactions with penicillamine and cysteine

Abstract Penicillamine, even in excess, forms only bis complexes with hexacoordinate Co(II) according to potentiometric and spectrophotometric results. L -cysteine appears to behave similarly. Extensive visible circular dichroism results are reported for mixed ligand complexes of Co(II), histidine, and either penicillamine or cysteine with the ligands in a variety of configurations. The CD sign pattern and intensities are determined by the sulfhydryl compound with the histidine enantiomer having a secondary effect. It is shown that the geometry about Co(II) in yeast aldolase cannot be tetrahedral. The possibility that the Co(II) in the enzyme is hexacoordinate and bound to a sulfhydryl group is considered.
Falling on deaf neurons

The brain of a bird that is singing appears to be able to block out certain signals and prevent them from influencing brain activity.
A Novel Approach to Grass–Legume Management

Spatially separated monoculture grasses and legumes within the same paddock (SS) may help alleviate constraints to the widespread adoption of legumes in pastures. A grazing study conducted during the winter―spring seasons of 2008 (steers, initial body weight [BW] = 236 ± 24 kg) and 2009 (heifers, initial BW = 245 ± 40 kg) at Raymond, MS, evaluated four forage systems (FS) at two stocking rates (SR; 3 or 6 animals ha ―1 ). Using 'Marshall' annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and 'Durana' white clover (Trifolium repens L.), FS treatments were SS, monoculture grass (MG), monoculture legume (ML), and a binary mixture of grass and legume (MIX). Herbage mass was similar among FS at the high SR (1.9 Mg ha ―1 ), but herbage mass at low SR was greater in MG, MIX, and the grass component of SS than ML and the legume component of SS (2.9 vs. 2.0 Mg ha ―1 ). Among legume plots, SR did not affect herbage mass (1.9 Mg ha ―1 ), but on grass plots, herbage mass was greater at low than high SR (2.9 vs. 2.0 Mg ha ―1 ). Herbage accumulation was greater on grass than on legume plots (32 vs.13 kg ha ―1 d ―1 ), but there was no difference among FS within these two forage species. Low SR had greater herbage accumulation (27 kg ha- 1 d ―1 ) than high SR (21 kg ha- 1 d ―1 ). Average daily gain was greater on SS (1.12 kg) than on ML (0.97 kg), but neither was different from MG (1.08 kg) or MIX (1.00 kg), and greater on low SR than on high SR (1.09 vs. 0.99 kg). These results suggest that a SS system may be an option to enhance adoption of legumes in pastures.
Biochemical characteristics of phagocytosis in the P388 D1 cell.

Adherence and phagocytosis of 51chromium labeled sheep red blood cells ([51Cr]-sRBC) by P388 D1 cells in tissue culture were studied under various conditions and were found to possess certain requirements including opsonization, temperature, microfilaments and cyclic nucleotide levels. Exogenous administration of 10−2 M N6, O2-dibutyryl adenosine 3′–5′ cyclic monophosphoric acid (db-cAMP) or adenosine 3′–5′ cyclic monophosphoric acid (cAMP) inhibited phagocytosis of opsonized [51Cr]-sRBC by 36 and 42%, respectively. Aminophylline potentiated the inhibitory response to both cAMP and db-cAMP. The measurement of endogenous cyclic nucleotide levels during phagocytosis of opsonized sRBC showed a rise in guanosine 3′–5′ cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) during the first 5 min with a gradual decline to control levels at 45 min and a rise in cAMP levels reaching a peak at 30 min which remained above control values for the duration of the experiment. As the rate of phagocytosis decreased the ratio of cAMPcGMP increased. These observations emphasize the importance of metabolic functions and cyclic nucleotides during phagocytosis by the P388 D1 cells and strengthen the usefulness of the P388 D1 cells as a model in evaluating various macrophage activities.
Optical Emission Characteristics of Electric Discharges in Helium, Argon-Nitrogen Mixtures Under High Frequency Unipolar Voltages

Partial discharges and corona are generally considered as unwanted processes in power systems as they are constant source of power loss and electrical noise (EMI). These effects can further develop into a major problem at the component level, causing insulation deterioration and component failure leading to possible electrical breakdown. The availability of switching power supplies operating at higher intermediate frequencies makes it important to consider the effects of higher operating frequencies on corona and gas breakdown in partial vacuum conditions. This work presents the breakdown characteristics of argon and argon-nitrogen / helium-nitrogen mixtures in partial vacuum conditions subject to unipolar electric fields at 20 kHz. Results of breakdown events are discussed and compared with the results of helium breakdown under similar conditions. This work also presents results of various energy transitions in argon, argon-nitrogen, and helium-nitrogen mixtures as observed from the spectra collected during the breakdown events under unipolar pulsed voltages. These studies provide initial findings on the differences in breakdown behavior between atomic and diatomic excitation processes under unipolar-repetitive pulsed fields in kHz range.
Effect of target oxidation on reactive sputtering rates of titanium in argon-oxygen plasmas

Abstract Reactive sputtering rates of titanium in argon-oxygen plasmas were studied as a function of oxygen and argon partial pressures in an r.f. diode sputtering system at 2 keV bias voltage. The sputtering rate changed by an order of magnitude at a critical oxygen mole fraction in the plasma equal to 0.0070. This transition corresponds to the onset of target oxidation. The threshold for target oxidation is shown to be independent of the total plasma pressure, and to be specified uniquely by a critical mole fraction of oxidant in the plasma.
Intersite helper function of T cells specific for a protein epitope that is not recognized by antibodies.

Humoral responses to a protein require T-B cell communication for B cell activation by T cells. Previous studies from this laboratory have mapped the T and B cell recognition sites (epitopes) on sperm-whale myoglobin (Mb) and several other proteins. It was found that, five of six regions on Mb recognized by T cells are also recognized by B cells (i.e. antibodies). There is. however, one region (E6) residing within Mb residues 61–77, that is recognized only by T cells and to which no antibody (Ab) responses are detectable. To investigate the function of this exclusive T cell epitope, we established, from E6-primed BALB/c mice, an E6-specific T cell line (TE6) which comprised Th2-type cells. These T cells provided help in vitro to B cells from Mb-primed BALB/c mice and activated them to produce anti-Mb Abs of the IgM (58.2%) and IgG (41.8%) isotypes. The helper activity of TE6 cells was dependent on the concentration of the challenging Ag (intact Mb or peptide E6) in culture. Action of soluble factors relea...
CuIn(Ga)Se2-based devices via a novel absorber formation process

Abstract A novel pathway for the formation of copper–indium (gallium) diselenide has been developed. This two-stage process consists of (a) the formation of Cu–In–(Ga)–Se precursors, and (b) subsequent thermal treatment to form CuIn(Ga)Se2. The morphology, structure and growth mechanism for several different precursor structures prepared under various conditions were studied and correlated to the deposition parameters as well as the structure and morphology of the annealed films. Photovoltaic devices prepared from CuInSe2 and CuIn0.75Ga0.25Se2 resulted in efficiencies of 10% and 13%, respectively.
What Judges Want: Judges' Goals and Judicial Behavior:

Political scientists in the field of judicial politics' devote the largest portion of their collective effort to the explanation of judicial behavior They have made considerable progress, yet scholars in the field often express disappointment about our limited understanding of judicial behavior That disappointment is reasonable, in that we are far from fully comprehending the forces that shape what judges do. But students of judicial behavior have accomplished more than they realize, because the several useful strands of research on this issue have not been integrated as well as they might be Greater attention to integration is needed, particularly integration that is aimed at building theory. One promising approach to integration focuses on the goals of judges. Positive political theorists have demonstrated the utility of analyzing the behavior of policymakers in terms of the goals they seek to achieve. Goals have proved to be excellent building blocks for theories of policymaking most notably in research on Congress (Rieselbach 1992). This essay focuses on the relationship between judges' goals and judicial behavior The first section surveys what the existing scholarly literature on judicial behavior tells us about this relationship. In the second section I offer some thoughts about directions for future research.2 In the essay I distinguish between what might be called inherent and operative goals. Inherent goals refer to the ends that judges as people would like to achieve. The actual situations in which judges do their work can modify
Diversity in Political Institutions and Congressional Responsiveness to Minority Interests

Despite claims that diversity benefits the democratic process, critics question whether increased diversity significantly improves government responsiveness and accountability beyond electoral competition and constituency influence. The authors advance a diversity infrastructure theory to explain why and how minority legislators have kept minority interests on the congressional agenda. Using data on congressional hearings held on civil rights and social welfare from 1951 to 2004, the authors find that despite the decline of national attention to civil rights and social welfare issues in general, increased diversity in the House and to a lesser extent in the Senate is responsible for keeping minority interests on the congressional agenda.
A Lower-Carbohydrate, Higher-Fat Diet Reduces Abdominal and Intermuscular Fat and Increases Insulin Sensitivity in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Obesity, particularly visceral and ectopic adiposity, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if restriction of dietary carbohydrate is beneficial for body composition and metabolic health. Methods: Two studies were conducted. In the first, 69 overweight/obese men and women, 53% of whom were European American (EA) and 47% of whom were African American (AA), were provided with 1 of 2 diets (lower-fat diet: 55%, 18%, and 27% of energy from carbohydrate, protein, and fat, respectively; lower-carbohydrate diet: 43%, 18%, and 39%, respectively) for 8 wk at a eucaloric level and 8 wk at a hypocaloric level. In the second study, 30 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were provided with 2 diets (lower-fat diet: 55%, 18%, and 27% of energy from carbohydrate, protein, and fat, respectively; lower-carbohydrate diet: 41%, 19%, and 40%, respectively) at a eucaloric level for 8 wk in a random-order crossover design. Results: As previously reported, among overweight/obese adults, after the eucaloric phase, participants who consumed the lower-carbohydrate vs. the lower-fat diet lost more intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) (11 ± 3% vs. 1 ± 3%; P < 0.05). After weight loss, participants who consumed the lower-carbohydrate diet had 4.4% less total fat mass. Original to this report, across the entire 16-wk study, AAs lost more fat mass with a lower-carbohydrate diet (6.2 vs. 2.9 kg; P < 0.01), whereas EAs showed no difference between diets. As previously reported, among women with PCOS, the lower-carbohydrate arm showed decreased fasting insulin (−2.8 μIU/mL; P < 0.001) and fasting glucose (−4.7 mg/dL; P < 0.01) and increased insulin sensitivity (1.06 arbitrary units; P < 0.05) and “dynamic” β-cell response (96.1 · 109; P < 0.001). In the lower-carbohydrate arm, women lost both IAAT (−4.8 cm2; P < 0.01) and intermuscular fat (−1.2 cm2; P < 0.01). In the lower-fat arm, women lost lean mass (−0.6 kg; P < 0.05). Original to this report, after the lower-carbohydrate arm, the change in IAAT was positively associated with the change in tumor necrosis factor α (P < 0.05). Conclusion: A modest reduction in dietary carbohydrate has beneficial effects on body composition, fat distribution, and glucose metabolism. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00726908","term_id":"NCT00726908"}}NCT00726908 and {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01028989","term_id":"NCT01028989"}}NCT01028989.
Isolation and culture of porcine hepatocytes for artificial liver support

The primary requirement of cells in a liver support system is the preservation of the in vivo metabolic functions that prevent or decrease the progress of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) by providing interim support to liver failure patients. While rodent hepatocytes offer a model for liver assist device (LAD) research, their limited number per animal prohibits direct scale up to human devices. Healthy human liver cells are seldom available in adequate numbers to support clinical LAD use; consequently, a large animal source of liver cells is needed. The study presented here explored the potential of porcine hepatocytes to proliferate and maintain metabolic function in vitro. Porcine hepatocytes were isolated from approximately 12 kg swine by a modification of Seglen's method. Hepatocytes cultured up to 10 days were shown to metabolize ammonia and maintain both Phase I and II detoxification functions. In addition, the cultures showed proliferative activity both as an increase in total protein content and by thymidine incorporation. Immunocytochemical staining identified cell proliferation through Day 4 to be primarily hepatocytes while Days 6 and 10 showed nonparenchymal cells to be increasing. The detoxification functions measured showed peak activity on Day 4 and gradually declined through Day 10. The ability of porcine hepatocytes to proliferate and maintain a diversity of hepatic functions in culture strongly suggests their potential for use as the biological component of artificial LADs.
The C-terminal RpoN Domain of σ54 Forms an Unpredicted Helix-Turn-Helix Motif Similar to Domains of σ70

The ''{delta}'' subunit of prokaryotic RNA-polymerase allows gene-specific transcription initiation. Two {sigma} families have been identified, {sigma}{sup 70} and {sigma}{sup 54}, which use distinct mechanisms to initiate transcription and share no detectable sequence homology. Although the {sigma}{sup 70}-type factors have been well characterized structurally by x-ray crystallography, no high-resolution structural information is available for the {sigma}{sup 54}-type factors. Here we present the NMR derived structure of the C-terminal domain of {sigma}{sup 54} from Aquifex aeolicus. This domain (Thr323 to Gly389), which contains the highly conserved RpoN box sequence, consists of a poorly structured N-terminal tail followed by a three-helix bundle, which is surprisingly similar to domains of the {sigma}{sup 70}-type proteins. Residues of the RpoN box, which have previously been shown to be critical for DNA binding, form the second helix of an unpredicted helix-turn-helix motif. This structure's homology with other DNA binding proteins, combined with previous biochemical data, suggest how the C-terminal domain of {sigma}{sup 54} binds to DNA.
Growth hormone deficiency impedes the rise in plasma insulin-like growth factor I levels associated with precocious puberty

We tested the hypothesis that growth hormone (GH) mediates the rise in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations in children with precocious puberty. We studied three groups of patients. Group 1 included six children with GH deficiency and precocious puberty (precocious GH-deficient); group 2 included 10 GH-sufficient patients with idiopathic true precocious puberty (precocious GH-sufficient); and group 3 included 9 prepubertal children with GH deficiency (prepubertal GH-deficient). Growth rates, pubertal status, and plasma IGF-I concentrations were determined at regular intervals. The precocious children with GH deficiency had a mean (±SD) growth rate of 7.2±2.1 cm/yr, significantly below that of the precocious GH-sufficient patients (10.5±2.5 cm/yr, p p p p
Fiscal transfers and revenue-expenditure efforts of urban local governments in Bangladesh

Intergovernmental financial transfers (grants-in-aid) can influence the fiscal affairs and allocation and distribution of resources at the local government (LG) level. This paper uses pooled crosssection-time-series econometric technique to examine the revenue-expenditure efforts of the urban LGs in Bangladesh in response to transfers received from the central government. Two important goals of the Bangladesh central government concerning the local public sector are increased resource mobilization and fiscal decentralization. It is held that intergovernmental transfers are the key to these goals. However, this paper concludes that the urban transfer program in its current form cannot help achieve these goals. The empirical results indicate that the central grants stimulated the overall expenditures of the recipient jurisdictions but reduced their own expenditures. This means that part of the grant money was substituted for local fiscal effort of these LG units. This paper suggests that to promote local revenue generation capacity and fiscal decentralization, the transfer system should be restructured to provide proper incentives in this regard for the LGs.
Ionic Microenvironmental effects on Triplex DNA Stabilization

DNA structure and conformation are influenced by metal ions, polyamines, and the microenvironment. Positively charged ions stabilize DNA and RNA structures, and provoke conformational transitions. In poly(purine).poly(pyrimidine) sequences, triplex DNA formation is facilitated by metal ions, polyamines and several other ligands. We studied the effects of mono, and di-valent metal ions, and ammonium salts on the stability of triple- and double-stranded structures formed from poly(dA) and poly(dT) by measuring their respective melting temperatures. In the presence of metal ions, the absorbance versus temperature profile showed two transitions: Tm1 for triplex to duplex and single stranded DNA, and Tm2 for duplex DNA melting to single stranded DNA. Monovalent cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+ and NH4+) promoted triplex DNA at concentrations ≥ 150 mM. The triplex DNA melting temperature varied from 49.8 °C in the presence of 150 mM Li+ to 30.6 °C in the presence of 150 mM K+. Among ammonium compounds, NH4+ was the most effective ion in stabilizing triplex DNA and its efficacy decreased with increasing substitution of the hydrogen atoms with bulky alkyl groups. Divalent cations were 1000-fold more efficacious than monovalent ions in stabilizing triplex DNA. All positively charged cations increased the melting temperature of duplex DNA. using 1/Tm1/1/Tm2 versus ln [ion concentration] plots, we calculated the amount of cation release and appropriate thermodynamic parameters, on triple/duplex melting. Circular dichroism spectroscopic studies showed distinct conformational changes in triplex DNA stabilized by alkali metal and ammonium ions. The results suggest ion specific effects on triplex DNA stabilization. Our results might be useful in developing triplex forming oligonucleotide based gene silencing techniques.
U-Pb geochronology of detrital zircons from the Snow Lake pendant, central Sierra Nevada—Implications for Late Jurassic– Early Cretaceous dextral strike-slip faulting

The Snow Lake pendant is underlain by a thick (>1500 m) sequence of predominantly quartzite, marble, and schist that has previously been correlated with miogeoclinal strata of the western Mojave Desert. In this study, U-Pb analyses of detrital zircons from the Snow Lake pendant have been conducted to test for possible correlations with strata of the Cordilleran miogeocline, as well as nearby rocks of the Roberts Mountains allochthon and the Shoo Fly Complex. Zircons from Snow Lake strata yield dominant age groups that strongly support correlation of Snow Lake strata with miogeoclinal strata in the Mojave Desert. This correlation provides additional support for previous suggestions that the Snow Lake pendant was displaced ∼400 km northward along the Mojave–Snow Lake fault.
A direct facilitatory action for dopamine at the neuromuscular junction.

Abstract This study of neuromyal action of dopamine was carried out on fast muscles of the cat. In vivo and in vitro preparations were used; in the latter case, the muscle was immobilized by (+)-tubocurarine, or by transversally cutting the muscle fibres (cut fibre preparation). The data suggests that dopamine has at least two sites of action, pre- and postjunctional, at the neuromuscular junction. In addition to a dual site dopamine also demonstrates a dual type of action, facilitation and depression. These effects were demonstrated in vivo and in vitro; depressant actions predominate when dopamine is used in conjunction with (+)-tubocurarine. The facilitation of the response to indirectly stimulated muscle may be due to a nerve terminal effect leading to a facilitation of the transmitter release by an increase of the mobilization rate and an increase of fractional release. These effects predominate in the absence of (+)-tubocurarine. A post-junctional action and desensitization of the receptors for acetylcholine could be responsible for the depressant component of action.
Changes in the composition of canine respiratory cells obtained by bronchial lavage following irradiation or drug immunosuppression.

SummaryCanine respiratory cells, obtained by bronchial lavage, and blood leukocytes were monitored to observe cellular changes following acute and chronic immu-nosuppression. Irradiation (350 R) produced bone marrow suppression and prompt peripheral blood leukopenia, but did not affect recovery of pulmonary alveolar macrophages or lymphocytes for 12 days after. Treatment for 6 weeks with daily methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg) caused a progressive decrease in the number of recoverable respiratory lymphocytes, whereas alternate day methylprednisolone (2 mg/kg) had less effect. Cyclophosphamide in combination with steroids generally augmented the progressive loss of blood and respiratory lymphocytes. Recovery of alveolar macrophages was not changed appreciably. Thus, the population of lung macrophages, sampled by pulmonary lavage, withstood acute and chronic forms of immunosuppression very well. In contrast, canine lymphocytes seem more susceptible to injury, especially to drug regimens containing steroids.
Boxed in: Economists and benefits from crime

In cost-benefit (welfare) analyses of crime, economists have been uncertain whether to treat criminals' gains as relevant benefits. Several approaches to this issue have been tried, only some of them economic. Jeff Lewin and William Trumbull have offered another argument for excluding such benefits.1 This rejoinder to them makes three points. First, recasting the problem in an Edgeworth box identifies one source of economists' confusion. Second, Gordon Tullock years ago solved the problem addressed by Lewin and Trumbull. Tullock's analysis is superior, finally, as it uses an existing model already familiar to economists.
Configuration dependent L = 0 shapes in 32S(t,p)34S☆

Abstract In the 32 S(t,p) 34 S reaction at 10 MeV, qualitative differences appear in the 0 + → 0 + angular distributions even at forward angles. Qualitatively similar differences result from simple distorted-wave calculations, using pure microscopic configurations.
Reactions of Butylbenzene Isomers on Zeolite HBeta: Methanol-to-Olefins Hydrocarbon Pool Chemistry and Secondary Reactions of Olefins

The reactions of n-butylbenzene, isobutylbenzene, sec-butylbenzene, and tert-butylbenzene on zeolite HBeta (SiO2/Al2O3 = 150) were studied at 350 °C using a pulse reactor with GC-MS analysis of product gases. Similar experiments also probed the reactions of butylbenzene isomers with excesses of methanol-13C. The reactions of tert-butylbenzene were also explored as a function of zeolite acid site density and reactant loading. In the absence of secondary reactions such as oligomerization and cracking, olefin product selectivity is governed by the detailed structure of alkyl side chains; for example, tert- and isobutylbenzene each yielded isobutene, but sec- and n-butylbenzene each gave equilibrium mixtures of 1-butene and cis- and trans-2-butene. The rate of butene elimination from the benzene rings increased with the degree of branching on the carbon α to the aromatic ring as well as the extent of in situ ring methylation by co-fed methanol. In the presence of methanol-13C, isomerization between 2-butene a...
Use of Intraoperative X-rays to Optimize Component Position and Leg Length During Total Hip Arthroplasty

Proper femoral and acetabular component position and leg length equality are important intraoperative considerations during total hip arthroplasty. Unfortunately, traditional surgical techniques often lead to suboptimal component position, and such deviations have been associated with increased rates of prosthetic wear, dislocation, component loosening, and patient dissatisfaction. Although surgical navigation has been shown to improve reproducibility of component alignment, such technology is not universally available and is associated with significant costs and additional surgical/anesthetic time. In the current study, we found that a routine intraoperative pelvic radiograph could successfully identify malpositioned components and leg length inequalities and could allow for successful correction of identified problems. Unexpected component malposition and leg length inequality occurred in only 1.5% of cases where an intraoperative pelvic radiograph was utilized.
Porcine Noroviruses Related to Human Noroviruses

Detection of genogroup II (GII) norovirus (NoV) RNA from adult pigs in Japan and Europe and GII NoV antibodies in US swine raises public health concerns about zoonotic transmission of porcine NoVs to humans, although no NoVs have been detected in US swine. To detect porcine NoVs and to investigate their genetic diversity and relatedness to human NoVs, 275 fecal samples from normal US adult swine were screened by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with calicivirus universal primers. Six samples were positive for NoV. Based on sequence analysis of 3 kb on the 3' end of 5 porcine NoVs, 3 genotypes in GII and a potential recombinant were identified. One genotype of porcine NoVs was genetically and antigenically related to human NoVs and replicated in gnotobiotic pigs. These results raise concerns of whether subclinically infected adult swine may be reservoirs of new human NoVs or if porcine/human GII recombinants could emerge.
Flow visualization and numerical analysis of a coflowing jet - A three-dimensional approach

The instabilities of an acoustically excited coflowing jet are investigated by using a time series of cross-sections of large-scale structures present in the flow and by a fully three-dimensional numerical simulation via the vortex-element method. These structures are first revealed by a flow-visualization technique based on smoke seeding the inner jet flow and observing the flow cross-sections as the structures are convected past a stationary sheet of laser light. Usage of image-processing techniques along with computer graphics allows the full three-dimensional reconstruction of the structure. The general morphology of the flow is determined from the reconstructed views and shows that the vorticity is mainly concentrated into a single large-scale vortex ring. Hypotheses regarding the nature and origin of the longitudinal instabilities observed in the flow can be drawn from the reconstructed views, and are supported by the numerical simulations. Quantitative values such as the surface-to-volume ratio and the entrainment level are also obtained from the experimental data. The onset of streamwise vorticity and its distribution are derived from the numerical calculations as well. Three-dimensional views and a holographic display of a characteristic eddy are also presented.
Fabry-Perot measurements of InAs/GaAs quantum dots

A scanning Fabry-Perot cavity is used to measure the photoluminescence of InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dots with linewidths as low as 1 GHz. This cavity is subsequently locked to the dot emission using PI control.
Dual-DPSK-OOK transceiver for free-space optical networks

We propose a reconfigurable dual-DPSK-OOK transceiver sub-system. The concept is demonstrated at 10 Gb/s, and offers a simple and cost effective approach for building a flexible satellite-terrestrial optical network.
INDUCTION OF THYROTROPIN-DEPENDENT THYROID TUMORS BY THYROTROPES1

Transplantable thyroid tumors were induced by grafting thyroids of mice with an autonomous but functional thyrotropic tumor. The latter provided the necessary stimulus of sustained high levels of thyrotropin. These thyroid tumors remained fully dependent after four consecutive animal passages, i.e., they failed to grow in the absence of a thyrotropic tumor. Although remaining fully dependent in the course of four passages, the tumors gradually assumed the histological appearances associated with malignant growth, as manifested by cellular pleomorphism, loss of polarity, and frequency of mitotic figures. The tumor appeared to be locally invasive, but there was no evidence of distant metastases. The latency of the tumors was long (8–10 months) when the thyroid and thyrotropic tumors were grafted simultaneously. It could be reduced greatly by grafting the thyrotropic tumor much before the thyroid tumor.
A technique for adapting to speech rate

A technique is proposed for automatically estimating and dynamically adapting to the rate of a speech signal. A recurrent network is first trained to predict the input signal at a normal rate. Once trained, the network essentially becomes a model of the signal. Then, with the weights fixed, the network's time constant is adapted using gradient descent as it receives the same signal at a different rate. The network's time constant thus becomes a measure of the rate of the signal and can be used to drive the recognition process. Experiments show that, on simple signals, the network adapts rapidly to new inputs of varying rates. The results suggest that rapid adaptation to speaking rate can be accomplished by this method. >
Power handling capability of Faraday rotation isolators for CO 2 laser radars

Faraday rotation isolators for CO2 laser radars must be capable of handling substantial average power loads without degrading the beam quality or experiencing thermal runaway. For this reason, the semiconductor-based isolators, which are of promise for applications at 10.6 μm, must be cooled. This creates radial temperature gradients and, in conjunction with a nonuniform beam pattern, may lead to severe wavefront aberrations. It is the purpose of this paper to formulate simple procedures for assessing the impact of such aberrations in a cw regime and to provide a prescription on how to proceed in the context of designing or evaluating Faraday rotators for CO2 laser systems. If it is a good approximation to describe the beam-induced temperature rise by means of a fourth-order even polynomial, the degradation in beam quality originates entirely from the quartic term δT4ρ4. Specifically, it is the spherical aberration factor S=δΤ4var[ρ4] that best describes the combined impact of temperature profile and beam shape. The heat flow equation for cw-loaded, edge-cooled, or face-cooled cylindrical Faraday rotator elements can be formulated in a simple nondimensional manner, which demonstrates that (a) temperature variations causing optical distortion scale with βP/K, i.e., linearly with the deposited power per unit path length and inversely with the thermal conductivity; (b) in a transmission mode of operation with edge cooling and no thermal runaway, the power handling capability is independent of the aperture diameter; and (c), in a double-pass reflection mode of operation that takes advantage of a face-cooled back surface, a significant reduction of the distortion requires Nusselt numbers of at least 10, which leads to a new figure of merit for characterizing the performance of Faraday rotator material candidates. Edge-cooled optical isolators described in the published literature then provide cases for exercising the formalism and demonstrating its effectiveness. Finally, the authors examine the InSb free-carrier Faraday rotator developed at Case Western Reserve University and evaluate its surface-cooling requirement in light of specific design objectives.
Memory for objects in canonical and noncanonical viewpoints

This article investigates how the perspective from which we see an object affects memory. Object identification can be affected by the orientation of the object. Palmer, Rosch, and Chase (1981) coined the term canonical to describe perspectives in which identification performance is best. We present two experiments that tested the effects of object perspective on memory. Our results revealed a double dissociation between task (recognition and recall) and type of object perspective. In recognition, items studied in the noncanonical viewpoint produced higher proportions of "old" responses than did items studied in the canonical viewpoint, whereas new objects presented from a noncanonical viewpoint produced fewer "old" responses than did new objects presented from the canonical viewpoint. In free recall, conversely, objects studied from the noncanonical viewpoint produced lower recall rates than did objects studied from the canonical viewpoint. These results, which reveal a pattern similar to word frequency effects, support the psychological reality of canonical viewpoints and the frequency-of-exposure-based accounts of canonical viewpoint effects.
TLR-signaling Networks An Integration of Adaptor Molecules, Kinases, and Cross-talk

Toll-like receptors play a critical role in innate immunity by detecting invading pathogens. The ability of TLRs to engage different intracellular signaling molecules and cross-talk with other regulatory pathways is an important factor in shaping the type, magnitude, and duration of the inflammatory response. The present review will cover the fundamental signaling pathways utilized by TLRs and how these pathways regulate the innate immune response to pathogens. Abbreviations: TLR, Toll-like receptor; PRR, pattern recognition receptor; PAMP, pathogen-associated molecular pattern; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; APC, antigen-presenting cell; IL, interleukin; TIR, Toll/IL-1R homology; MyD88, myeloid differentiation factor 88; IFN, interferon; TRIF, TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β; IRAK, IL-1R-associated kinase; TAK1, TGF-β-activated kinase; TAB1, TAK1-binding protein; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; NLR, NOD-like rece...
A three-dimensional multiscale model of intergranular hydrogen-assisted cracking

We present a three-dimensional model of intergranular hydrogenembrittlement (HE) that accounts for: (i) the degradation of grainboundary strength that arises from hydrogen coverage; (ii) grain-boundary diffusion of hydrogen; and (iii) a continuum model of plastic deformation that explicitly resolves the three-dimensional polycrystalline structure of the material. The polycrystalline structure of the specimen along the crack propagation path is resolved explicitly by the computational mesh. The texture of the polycrystal is assumed to be random and the grains are elastically anisotropic and deform plastically by crystallographic slip. We use the impurity-dependent cohesive model in order to account for the embrittling of grain boundaries due to hydrogen coverage. We have carried out three-dimensional finite-element calculations of crack-growth initiation and propagation in AISI 4340 steel double-cantilever specimens in contact with an aggressive environment and compared the predicted initiation times and crack-growth curves with the experimental data. The calculated crack-growth curves exhibit a number of qualitative features that are in keeping with observation, including: an incubation time followed by a well-defined crack-growth initiation transition for sufficiently large loading; the existence of a threshold intensity factor KIscc below which there is no crack propagation; a subsequent steeply rising part of the curve known as stage I; a plateau, or stage II, characterized by a load-insensitive crack-growth rate; and a limiting stress-intensity factor KIc ,o rtoughness ,a t which pure mechanical failure occurs. The calculated dependence of the crack-growth initiation time on applied stress-intensity factor exhibits power-law behavior and the corresponding characteristic exponents are in the ball-park of experimental observation. The stage-II calculated crack-growth rates are in good overall agreement with experimental measurements.
Birefringence and dichroism of rubbery copolymers

Abstract : The Kuhn-Grun theory for the birefringence and dichroism of rubbery polymers is extended to the case of copolymers consisting of two or more statistical segments of differing lengths. It is shown that the previous equations are applicable provided that the anisotropy of polarizabilities and absorptions are replaced with suitable averages in which the segment anisotropies are weighted by the squares of their lengths. This indicates that the stress-optical coefficient will not generally vary linearly with composition. The orientation measured from the dichroism of bands arising from different segments will be different. (Author)
Synaptic mechanism of pentylenetetrazole: selectivity for chloride conductance

In the neurons of Aplysia californica pentylenetetrazole (2 millimolar) greatly reduced chloride-dependent responses to the iontophoresis of putative transmitters. At the same concentration, pentylenetetrazole caused less attenuation of the other iontophoretic responses and had minimal membrane effects. Several convulsants have been observed to have a similar selectivity for the chloride conductance. A common mechanism of convulsant action--reduction of transmitter-induced chloride conductances--is hypothesized.
Coexistence of Burkholderia, Cupriavidus, and Rhizobium sp. Nodule Bacteria on two Mimosa spp. in Costa Rica

rRNA gene sequencing and PCR assays indicated that 215 isolates of root nodule bacteria from two Mimosa species at three sites in Costa Rica belonged to the genera Burkholderia, Cupriavidus, and Rhizobium. This is the first report of Cupriavidus sp. nodule symbionts for Mimosa populations within their native geographic range in the neotropics. Burkholderia spp. predominated among samples from Mimosa pigra (86% of isolates), while there was a more even distribution of Cupriavidus, Burkholderia, and Rhizobium spp. on Mimosa pudica (38, 37, and 25% of isolates, respectively). All Cupriavidus and Burkholderia genotypes tested formed root nodules and fixed nitrogen on both M. pigra and M. pudica, and sequencing of rRNA genes in strains reisolated from nodules verified identity with inoculant strains. Inoculation tests further indicated that both Cupriavidus and Burkholderia spp. resulted in significantly higher plant growth and nodule nitrogenase activity (as measured by acetylene reduction assays) relative to plant performance with strains of Rhizobium. Given the prevalence of Burkholderia and Cupriavidus spp. on these Mimosa legumes and the widespread distribution of these plants both within and outside the neotropics, it is likely that both β-proteobacterial genera are more ubiquitous as root nodule symbionts than previously believed.
Orai1 trafficking in mammalian cells

Modulation of calcium homeostasis plays a key role in regulating fundamental cellular processes, including gene transcription, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is the major pathway in non-excitable cells for extracellular Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane and is regulated by the content of the intracellular Ca2+ stores. Following store depletion, the Ca2+ sensor in ER, stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) clusters in ER regions close to the plasma membrane and recruits Orai1, which is a Ca2+ selective channel resulting in SOCE. Despite the significant knowledge in understanding STIM1 subcellular distribution dynamics, little is known about the trafficking of Orai1. Our laboratory previously showed that in Xenopus leavis oocytes Orai1 shuttles between plasma membrane and endosomal compartments, and that it internalizes during meiosis. However, the subcellular distribution and trafficking of Orai1 in mammalian cells is not fully understood. In this study we show that at steady state around 46% of Orai1 is on the surface of the plasma membrane of CHO cells, while the remaining 54% localizes intracellularly, suggesting that Orai1 constitutively recycles between the two compartments. Our time lapse imaging shows continuous shuttling of Orai1 to and from the PM with an exocytosis rate T1/2 of around 5 minutes. We also measured the endocytic rate of Orai1 at 5% min-1. To identify the domain within Orai1 required for its trafficking, we generated deletions of either the N- or C-terminus of Orai1. Deletion of N-terminus does not affect Orai1 trafficking to the cell membrane in CHO cells. In contrast deletion of the whole C-terminus (257-301) significantly altered Orai1 trafficking to the cell membrane. Deletion of amino acids 285-301 of Orai1 C-terminus does not have any impact on Orai1 trafficking to PM, suggesting that the information necessary for Orai1 trafficking to PM is located in the segment 257-285 of Orai1 C-terminus. In this study we determined, for the first time, the percentage of Orai1 on PM of mammalian cells and showed through time lapse-imaging that it constitutively recycles between PM and intracellular compartments. Our results also suggest, for the first time, that the amino acid region (257-285) of Orai1 C-terminus is essential for its plasma membrane trafficking.