cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Allocation procedure in multi-output process: an illustration of ISO 14041

Allocation results for a multi-output process in a life cycle assessment study depend on the definition of the unit process which can vary with the depth of a study. The unit process may be a manufacturing site, a sub-process, or an operational unit (e.g. distillation column or reactor). There are three different approaches to define a unit process: macroscopic approach, quasi-microscopic approach, and microscopic approach. In the macroscopic approach, a unit process is the manufacturing site, while a unit process in the quasi-microscopic approach is a sub-process of the manufacturing site. An operational unit becomes the unit process in the microscopic approach. In the quasi-microscopic and the microscopic approaches, a process can be subdivided into a joint process, a physically separated process which is physically apart from other processes, and a fully separated process. Each type can be a unit process. Therefore, the multi-output process in the quasi-microscopic and the microscopic approaches can be subdivided among two or more unit processes depending on the actual operations. The allocation in the fully separated process can be avoided because this process fulfills one function. In the joint process and the physically separated process, which deliver two or more functions, allocation is still required. Ammonia manufacturing, where carbon dioxide is formed as a byproduct is given to show a specific detailed example of the allocation procedure by subdivision in ISO 14041. It is shown that the quasi-microscopic and the microscopic approaches can reduce the multi-output allocation of a given chemical product. Furthermore, the quasi-microscopic and the microscopic approaches are very useful in identifying key pollution prevention issues related with one product or function.
Effect of valproic acid on mitochondrial epigenetics

Abstract Valproic acid (valproate), an anticonvulsant and a mood stabilizer, is a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor and a widely utilized pharmacological tool for neuroepigenetic research including DNA methylation. However, only nuclear but not mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been investigated for the effects of valproate on the formation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Using mouse 3T3-L1 cells, we investigated the effects of short (1 day) and prolonged (3 days) valproate treatment on global mtDNA 5mC content, global and mtDNA sequence-specific 5hmC content, mRNA levels for ten–eleven-translocation (TET) enzymes involved in 5hmC formation, and the mitochondrial content of TET proteins. Only 5hmC but not 5mC content in mtDNA was affected (decreased) by valproate, and only after the prolonged treatment. This action of valproate was mimicked by MS-275, a class I histone deacetylase inhibitor. The prolonged but not the short valproate treatment decreased the expression of Tet1 mRNA and reduced the mitochondrial content of the TET1 protein. Hence, a likely scenario for a valproate-induced 5hmC decrease in mtDNA may involve nuclear histone deacetylase inhibition (mitochondria do not contain histones) causing the initial increase of Tet1 transcription, which is followed by a delayed compensatory decrease of Tet1 expression and a reduced presence of TET1 protein in mitochondria. Further research is needed to elucidate the functional implications of epigenetic modifications of mtDNA. The observed effects of valproate on mitochondrial epigenetics may have implications for a better understanding of both therapeutic and unwanted effects of this drug and possibly other histone deacetylase inhibitors.
LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS WITH REPAIR OF AORTIC 113 COARCTATION IN INFANCY

Twenty nine patients who survived surgical repair of thoracic coarctation of the aorta in infancy have been followed 10 - 22 (mean 14.8)years. Preoperatively, all patients had congestive heart failure refractory to medical management; 27/29 were under 6 months of age. Of the 29, 8 had associated left-to-right shunts at ventricular (7) or atrial (1) level. Initial procedure was resection and end-to-end anastomosis with continuous suture. Subacute bacterial endocarditis occurred in 1 patient in this series who had associated aortic valve stenosis. Symptoms of subclavian steal syndrome occurred 9 years postoperatively in 1 patient. No residual hypertension was present in any patient unless associated with recurrence of coarctation. There were no deaths. Follow-up catheterization on 25 patients has been performed with specific attention to recoarctation. Reoperation was required in 10/29 at a mean age of 13 years with reoperation anticipated in at least 4 more patients. At the time of repeat surgery, patch angioplasty was performed in 5/10, resection and end-to-end anastomosis in 2/10, and Dacron tube grafts were used in 3/10. In this series, significant restenosis after coarctation repair in infancy has occurred in 48% of patients (14/29), an additional 5/29 have gradients across the coarctation site of greater than 25 mm Hg. Only 3/29 have neither residual gradient nor recoarctation angiographically proven by postoperative catheterization.
Complex transformations of solutions of cauchy problems with application

Transformations that connect solutions of higher order Cauchy problems to corresponding lower order ones are examined. These generally have a non-transmutational character. They are employed to study the limiting behaviors of solutions of various Euler-PoissonDarboux type problems relative to parameters appearing in the underlying equations and to solve Cauchy problems that involve iterated operators. Consideration is also given to higher order systems of partial differential equations.
Identification ofDictyostelium discoideum plasma membrane proteins by cell surface labeling and quantitative two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Abstract Plasma membrane proteins of the cellular slime moldDictyostelium discoideum were characterized by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a variety of labeling techniques and a microcomputer-based videodensitometer. Algorithms for the determination of molecular weights and isoelectric points were developed to aid in the comparison of polypeptides from different autoradiographs, Coomassie blue-stained gels, and Western blots. Cell homogenates were compared to plasma membranes isolated by a silica density perturbation technique and to cytoskeletons obtained by nonionic detergent extraction. Plasma membrane proteins were distinguished from subcellular contaminants by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed radioiodination, by selective labeling withN-hydroxysuccinimidyl-2-iminobiotin, and by quantitatively determining the enrichments of individual polypeptides from gels of plasma membrane proteins relative to their counterparts in gels of total cell lysate proteins. In contrast to defining plasma membrane purity by measuring a representative marker enzyme activity, the quantitative two-dimensional gel analysis strategy presented allowed for a rigorous evaluation of the enrichments of all detectable polypeptides in the subcellular fraction. Quantitative two-dimensional gel analysis avoided problems encountered with marker enzyme activation or inhibition during subcellular fractionation as enrichments were based solely on polypeptide amounts. It was also capable of identifying a wider spectrum of plasma membrane proteins than any of the labeling techniques employed in this study. A high resolution two-dimensional gel catalog was generated containing information about plasma membrane protein orientation in the bilayer, association with the cytoskeleton, phosphoryalation state, glycosylation state, copy number, isoelectric point, and molecular weight.
A shock tube study of reactions of atomic oxygen with isocyanic acid

Reactions of atomic oxygen with isocyanic acid (HNCO) have been studied in incident and reflected shock wave experiments using HNCO/N2O/Ar mixtures. Quantitative time-histories of the NH(X3Σ−) and OH(X2Πi) radicals were measured behind the shock waves using cw, narrow-linewidth laser absorption at 336 nm and 307 nm, respectively. The second-order rate coefficients of the reactions: and were determined from early-time NH and OH formation rates, with least-squares two-parameter fits of the results given by: and cm3 mol−1 s−1. The minimum and maximum rate constant factors (ƒ,F) define the lower and upper uncertainty limits, respectively. An upper limit on the rate coefficient of was determined to be: .
Numerical analysis of first-order acousto-optic Bragg diffraction of profiled optical beams using open-loop transfer functions

In standard acousto-optic Bragg analysis, the incident light and sound beams are assumed to be uniform plane waves (with constant profiles) leading to the results based on standard weak interaction theory. As a follow-up to earlier work dealing with nonuniform incident optical beams, we revisit the problem of Bragg diffraction under nonuniform profiles, and include Gaussian, third-order Hermite–Gaussian, and zeroth-order Bessel profiles in our investigation, along with a few others. The first-order diffracted beam is examined (using a transfer function formalism based on angular spectra) under several parametric limits [such as the Klein–Cook parameter Q , the effective profile width, and the optical phase-shift parameter ( α ^ 0 ) in the sound cell]. Wherever feasible, the numerical results are compared with analytic theory. The scattered first-order profile output versus the optical phase-shift appears to maintain behavior similar to the known first-order characteristics ( sin 2 in intensity) encountered for the uniform incident beam case. It is observed, however, that such conformity exists seemingly only at relatively small values of Q (typically about 20 to 50). At higher Q s, on the other hand (where one would otherwise expect behavior closer to standard Bragg theory based on large Q s), it is found that the first-order intensity deviates substantially from the expected sin 2 - (or related) pattern. This deviation actually becomes more severe at even higher Q s. Additionally, the output profiles at higher Q s are also found to be distorted relative to the incident profiles. These results, though anomalous, are nevertheless generally compatible with earlier studies. Based on the transfer function theory, it is also known that for very large optical phase shifts (i.e., when α ^ 0 goes to infinity), the scattered first-order output for a Gaussian profile undergoes an axial (spatial) shift past the output plane of the sound cell. This predicted result is corroborated in our numerical simulation for both the Gaussian and third-order Hermite–Gaussian profiles, but not the zeroth-order Bessel or Airy profiles. These results provide both confirmation of some expected behavior for profiled beam scattering (including likely affirmation of the well known and unique diffractionless properties of certain Bessel beams), but also some insight into unexpected and anomalous photon-phonon interaction behavior.
Activation of the HIF Prolyl Hydroxylase by the Iron Chaperones PCBP1 and PCBP2

Mammalian cells express dozens of iron-containing proteins, yet little is known about the mechanism of metal ligand incorporation. Human poly (rC) binding protein 1 (PCBP1) is an iron chaperone that binds iron and delivers it to ferritin, a cytosolic iron storage protein. We have identified the iron-dependent prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) and asparaginyl hydroxylase (FIH1) that modify hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIFα) as targets of PCBP1. Depletion of PCBP1 or PCBP2 in cells led to loss of PHD activity, manifested by reduced prolyl hydroxylation of HIF1α, impaired degradation of HIF1α through the VHL/proteasome pathway, and accumulation of active HIF1 transcription factor. PHD activity was restored in vitro by addition of excess Fe(II), or purified Fe-PCBP1, and PCBP1 bound to PHD2 and FIH1 in vivo. These data indicated that PCBP1 was required for iron incorporation into PHD and suggest a broad role for PCBP1 and 2 in delivering iron to cytosolic nonheme iron enzymes.
Absolute Magnitudes of Quasi-stellar Radio Sources

Absolute magnitudes of quasi-stellar sources, plotted against the logarithms of their red-shifts, fall between two limits. The interpretation of the diagrams varies according to the type of model universe chosen
A lightweight X-band organic antenna array with integrated SiGe amplifier

This paper presents an X-band silicon-germanium (SiGe) low-noise amplifier (LNA) successfully integrated onto a 4×1 lightweight antenna array utilizing a multilayer liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. Measurements show the packaged LNA had nearly no negative effect on antenna performance. The resulting antenna gain of the antenna array with packaged LNA measured 25 dBi. A comparison of radiation patterns for the 4×1 antenna with integrated LNA and the baseline 4x1 antenna showed a 16.2 dB increase in antenna gain. The nulls and peaks of both antennas remained closely matched. Also, the 3 dB beam widths showed a 2 degree decrease in the H-plane and a 7 degree decrease in the E-plane.
Isolation and characterization of five Drosophila genes that encode an ets-related DNA binding domain.

The recent determination of the site-specific DNA binding properties of several proteins related to the ets oncoprotein has allowed the definition of a novel DNA binding domain, designated the ETS domain. In Drosophila, an ETS domain is present in the early ecdysone-induced E74A protein, which binds DNA in a site-specific manner and interacts with many ecdysone-induced polytene chromosome puffs at the onset of metamorphosis. As a first step toward determining the function of ETS-domain proteins during Drosophila development, we have used PCR amplification with degenerate oligonucleotides to isolate five other ets-related genes. Two of these genes, D-ets-2 and D-elg, have been previously identified. The proteins encoded by these genes are highly related to one another and to the seven identified vertebrate ETS-domain proteins, within the ∼85-amino-acid DNA binding domain. In situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes revealed that these ets-related genes are not clustered in the genome and that only E74 corresponds to an ecdysone-inducible puff locus. These five ets-related genes are distinguished further from E74 in that they are transcribed through most of development, suggesting that they do not perform a stage-specific function. They are, however, expressed in a variety of patterns in early embryos, suggesting roles in the development of specific cell types. D-ets-2 is expressed in a complex pattern that changes dynamically during early embryogenesis. D-ets-3 and D-ets-6 are expressed in the ventral nervous system. The expression of D-ets-3 is higher in the three thoracic segments and lower in the abdominal segments. The high levels of expression in the thoracic segments are dependent on the presence of the bithorax complex. D-ets-4 and D-elg are expressed at their highest levels in the pole cells, suggesting a role in the development of the germline. This study represents the first effort in any organism to systematically isolate members of the ets gene family. The identification of six independent ets-related genes demonstrates that the ETS-domain proteins constitute a new family of potential transcriptional regulators encoded by the Drosophila genome.
It’s (Not) in His Kiss: Gay Kisses and Camera Angles in Contemporary US Network Television Comedy

Although the number of gay male representations on American situation comedies has increased, an examination of the ways same-sex intimacy operates within sitcoms is of paramount importance. This article traces a brief history of same-sex intimacy in sitcoms, then uses film and television stylistic analysis of the contemporary sitcoms Modern Family, Happy Endings, and The New Normal to argue that the positioning of the camera and the spatial relationship between actors is deliberate and conveys critical information. The article argues that sitcoms in the 21st century obscure same-sex kisses through camera angles, particularly the over-the-shoulder shot, and that the public/private dichotomy factors prominently into the spaces where same-sex intimacy is permissible and how such intimacy is filmed within the televisual home. Ultimately, gay representation in American network television comedy retains a conservative approach to same-sex intimacy even as it continues to include gay male characters in greater ...
Application and interpretation of simple odds ratios in physical therapy-related research.

Over the past several decades, physical therapists have demonstrated an increasing responsiveness to the profession's obligation to generate objective evidence for examination and intervention strategies employed in physical therapy practice. This trend is evident, not only in the increasing number of journals that are publishing physical therapy research, but in the growing sophistication of research design and analytic options used by investigators. At the same time, physical therapists are held increasingly accountable for adopting an evidence-based approach to practice. The result for many of us is a growing concern about our ability to interpret study findings. The ability to independently weigh the importance to our own practice of evidence reported in a study requires that we understand the strengths and potential weaknesses of the sample, design, and analyses being used. The odds ratio (OR) is one of the analytic measures that has only recently appeared in the physical therapy literature. Because ...
Risk factors associated with acute kidney injury in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. In a case–control study, medical records of all ELBW infants who were admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 1 January 2000 and 31 January 2008 were reviewed. During the study period, 12.5% (59/472) of all ELBW infants developed AKI. Forty-six infants with available medical records were matched to 46 controls. The mean gestational age and birth weight of infants with AKI and their controls were 24.7 ± 1.8 vs. 24.9 ± 1.9 weeks (p = 0.61) and 614 ± 128 vs. 616 ± 127 g (p = 0.93), respectively. Infants with AKI had a higher mean airway pressure, a lower mean arterial blood pressure, and higher exposure to cefotaxime than their controls. Infants with AKI also had an increased mortality in comparison to their controls [33/46 (70%) vs. 10/46 (22%), respectively; p < 0.0001), and oliguric patients had a higher mortality than nonoliguric patients [31/38 (81%) vs. 2/8 (25%), respectively, p = 0.003]. Based on our results, we conclude that a high mean airway pressure, low blood pressure, and the use of cefotaxime are associated with renal failure in ELBW infants. AKI in ELBW infants is also associated with an increased mortality, especially in the presence of oliguria.
Determination of lead isotope ratios by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Abstract An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used to measure isotope ratios of lead and thallium. Significant variations in the measured ratios were found as a function of varying (B) lens settings and sample flow rates. No significant effect with changing analyte concentration was observed. The use of thallium as an internal isotope ratio standard is introduced. Poisson counting statistics is shown to be a minor component in the measured error in ratios at high analyte concentrations.
Quantum erasers and probing classifications of entanglement via nuclear magnetic resonance

We report the implementation of two- and three-spin quantum erasers using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Quantum erasers provide a means of manipulating quantum entanglement, an important resource for quantum information processing. Here, we first use a two-spin system to illustrate the essential features of quantum erasers. The extension to a three-spin "disentanglement eraser" shows that entanglement in a subensemble can be recovered if a proper measurement of the ancillary system is carried out. Finally, we use the same pair of orthogonal decoherent operations used in quantum erasers to probe the two classes of entanglement in tripartite quantum systems: the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state and the W state. A detailed presentation is given of the experimental decoherent control methods that emulate the loss of phase information in strong measurements, and the use of NMR decoupling techniques to implement partial trace operations.
Compounding effects of fluid confinement and surface strain on the wet–dry transition, thermodynamic response, and dynamics of water–graphene systems

We studied the link between the water-mediated (tensile or compressive) strain-driven hydration free energy changes in the association process involving finite-size graphene surfaces, the resulting water–graphene interfacial behaviour, and the combined effect of surface strain and fluid confinement on the thermodynamic response functions and the dynamics of water. We found that either small surface corrugation (compressive strain) or surface stretching (tensile strain) is able to enhance significantly the water–graphene hydrophobicity relative to that of the unstrained surface, an effect that exacerbates the confinement impact on the isothermal compressibility and isobaric thermal expansivity of confined water, as well as on the slowdown of its dynamics that gives rise to anomalous diffusivity.
The effect of alignment on the pressure/flow characteristics of flow control shunt valves

Object: The proper functioning of shunt valves in vivo is dependent on many factors, including the valve itself, the antisiphon device (if included), patency of inlet and outlet tubing and location of the valve. Two general categories of shunt valves are available today, the differential-pressure valve (with or without antisiphon device) and the flow-control valve. We have previously shown that the relationship between the position of the valve body and the inlet catheter tip can have profound effects on the outflow rate of differential pressure valves with antigravity devices. The current study was conducted to evaluate the importance of this relationship for the pressure/flow characteristics of the flow-control shunt valve. Methods: We bench-tested flow-control valves from two manufacturers in the system we devised for testing differential-pressure valves. Valves were connected to an "infinite" reservoir, and the starting head pressure was determined from product inserts. The inlet catheter tip was fixed at this position and the valve body was moved in relation to the inlet catheter tip. Outflow rates were determined gravimetrically for positions +4 to –8 cm relative to the inlet catheter tip. Conclusions: All flow-control valves utilized in this study showed nearly constant outflow rate as the valve body was moved incrementally with respect to the level of the inlet catheter tip. As previously tested, differential-pressure valves exhibit significant increases in outflow rate as the valve body is moved below the inlet catheter tip. The outflow rate for the flow-control shunt valves does not change over the range of effective head pressures used in this study.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON RESPIRATION XXVIII. THE EFFECT OF ANESTHETICS ON THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON DIOXID BY WHEAT UNDER AËROBIC AND ANAËRQBIC CONDITIONS

The relation between the aerobic and the anaerobic production of carbon dioxid has been the subject of much discussion and is still far from settled. It would seem that the problem can be attacked by comparing the aerobic and the anaerobic behavior of the same organism under a variety of conditions which affect respiration. If the aerobic and the anaerobic methods of production of carbon dioxid are essentially alike, they should vary in similar fashion when subjected to such influences. But if they are fundamentally different, this fact should become clear when a sufficient variety of conditions has been studied. No quantitative studies of this kind have yet been made, so far as the writer is aware, with the exception of a recent paper by Lyon.' The present paper describes a quantitative investigation of the effect of certain anesthetics upon the production of carbon dioxid by wheat. No attempt has been made to investigate the subject in all its bearings, since the purpose was merely to make certain exploratory experiments in order to discover whether any striking differences exist in the behavior toward reagents under aierobic and anaerobic conditions. The method employed is that described by Osterhout.2 In the anaerobic experiments the oxygen was driven out of the apparatus as far as possible by means of a current of nitrogen (from a cylinder of compressed nitrogen). Before entering the apparatus it passed in succession through a series of towers containing (NH4)2C03, conqentrated NH40H plus copper gauze, and dilute H2S04. The current of nitrogen was allowed to flow through the apparatus for half an hour before starting the experiment. A bottle of alkaline pyrogallol was placed in the apparatus; through this the circulating gas constantly bubbled. If it became so dark as to indicate leakage of oxygen from outside, the experiment was rejected. Not infrequently there was some darkening during the course of an experiment, indicating the presence of traces of oxygen, which, however, were so promptly removed by the pyrogallol that they did not appear to interfere with the results.3
Agroforestry, attitude towards risk and nutrient availability: a case study of south Indian farming systems

Introduction of two systems of agroforestry to the farmers portfolio is evaluated for their changes in cropping pattern, input use, income generation, farmers attitude towards risk and nutrient availability. Two different types of farmers are studied under both irrigated and dryland farming systems. Farm survey data collected from south Indian villages have been used with a mean-variance framework to identify the risk aversion levels of farmers. The results indicate that the risk-taking preferences of farmers should be given consideration in evaluating the impact of agroforestry systems. Among the two agroforestry systems analyzed, the one with drumstick is shown to increase the risk of crop production while the one with leucaena reduces the risk and enables farmers to invest in more risky cash crops. The impact of agroforestry on crop allocation, input use and income differs due to the differences in resource availability of farmers. The influence of agroforestry on nutrient availability of the farm households also differs based on the components of agroforestry, orientation of farming and the nature of farming systems. It is argued that design of agroforestry systems should consider differences in resource constraints in farming systems and risk attitudes of farmers towards their allocation decisions and that such considerations would largely enhance the successful adoption of agroforestry in developing countries.
FPGA design for constrained energy minimization

The Constrained Energy Minimization (CEM) has been widely used for hyperspectral detection and classification. The feasibility of implementing the CEM as a real-time processing algorithm in systolic arrays has been also demonstrated. The main challenge of realizing the CEM in hardware architecture in the computation of the inverse of the data correlation matrix performed in the CEM, which requires a complete set of data samples. In order to cope with this problem, the data correlation matrix must be calculated in a causal manner which only needs data samples up to the sample at the time it is processed. This paper presents a Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) design of such a causal CEM. The main feature of the proposed FPGA design is to use the Coordinate Rotation DIgital Computer (CORDIC) algorithm that can convert a Givens rotation of a vector to a set of shift-add operations. As a result, the CORDIC algorithm can be easily implemented in hardware architecture, therefore in FPGA. Since the computation of the inverse of the data correlction involves a series of Givens rotations, the utility of the CORDIC algorithm allows the causal CEM to perform real-time processing in FPGA. In this paper, an FPGA implementation of the causal CEM will be studied and its detailed architecture will be also described.
From college to clinic: reasoning over memorization is key for understanding anatomy.

Anatomy and physiology are taught in community colleges, liberal arts colleges, universities, and medical schools. The goals of the students vary, but educators in these diverse settings agree that success hinges on learning concepts rather than memorizing facts. In this article, educators from across the postsecondary educational spectrum expand on several points: (1) There is a problem with student perception that anatomy is endless memorization, whereas the ability to manage information and use reasoning to solve problems are ways that professionals work. This misperception causes students to approach the subject with the wrong attitude. (2) The process of learning to use information is as important as the concepts themselves. Using understanding to explain and make connections is a more useful long-term lesson than is memorization. Anatomy should be presented and learned as a dynamic basis for problem solving and for application in the practice and delivery of quality health care. (3) Integration of form and function must be explicit and universal across all systems. (4) Using only models, images, audiovisuals, or computers cannot lead students to the requisite reasoning that comes from investigative dissection of real tissue. (5) Some undergraduate courses require students to memorize excessive musculoskeletal detail. (6) Learning tissue biology is a particular struggle for medical students who have no background from an undergraduate course. (7) Medical professors and students see benefits when students have taken undergraduate courses in anatomy, histology, and physiology. If medical schools suggest these electives to applicants, medical students might arrive better prepared and, thus, be able to learn clinical correlations more efficiently in the limited allocated time of medical school curricula.
Responses to alcohol and cigarette use during ecologically assessed drinking episodes

Tobacco and alcohol are frequently used together, and this may be partly explained by a distinct profile of subjective effects associated with co-administration. Ecological momentary assessment studies have examined effects of naturally occurring co-use, but, to date, have not assessed differing effects as alcohol levels rise and fall. The objective of the study was to describe subjective states and appraisals of cigarette and alcohol effects reported during the entirety of real-world drinking episodes. Currently-smoking frequent drinkers (N = 255) carried electronic diaries for 21 days. Analyses focused on reports made during 2,046 drinking episodes. Signaled prompts intensively oversampled moments in the hours following consumption of the first drink in an episode. Multilevel regression analyses were used to predict ratings of buzz, dizziness, excitement, and sluggishness as a function of person-level and contextual covariates, estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) level, ascending vs. descending eBAC, smoking, and their interactions. Appraisals of cigarette and alcohol effects were also examined within this framework. Buzz, excitement, and pleasure from alcohol and cigarettes were prominent features of real-world drinking episodes. Smoking was associated with enhanced buzz and excitement when eBAC was high and descending. Smoking slightly accentuated the relation between eBAC and ratings of drinking pleasure among women, but this relation was somewhat weakened by smoking among men. Smoking during drinking episodes may be partly explained by a persistence of stimulant alcohol effects beyond the blood alcohol concentration peak. Acute effects of nicotine and tobacco use on the descending limb deserve further scrutiny in experimental alcohol challenge research.
A clinical study of the treatment of root canal and periapical infections with penicillin.

Some preliminary clinical work was done at Michigan in which penicillin was used in the treatment of infected root canals, first in solution in physiological salt solution (5000 u. per c.c.) and later by use of absorbent points which had been saturated with 1000 u. of penicillin each. Results in a small series were unsatisfactory as compared to results obtained with commonly used drugs. Therefore, it was felt that if penicillin were to be used successfully some method must be found by which a large quantity of penicillin could be used in the tooth in a form that would slowly release penicillin over an extended period. After some study it was found that by using a paste made up with penicillin, calcium carbonate and physiological salt solution it was possible to incorporate from 5000 to 10,000 units in the average root canal and pulp chamber and that the penicillin was slowly released over a period ranging up to 96 hours. This was confirmed by recovering absorbent points from penicillin-treated root canals after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hour intervals. These points were then placed in 5% blood agar plates with beef infusion broth base inoculated with a culture of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, an organism extremely sensitive to penicillin, as determined by Kakavas and Scott (10). After incubation for 48 hours it was found that all points showed significant areas of inhibited growth in the agar, thus indicating that effective quantities of penicillin were present up to 96 hours. The clinical phase of this study was carried out by treatment of root canal cases in the clinic by exactly the same procedure as that routinely used, except for the substitution of penicillin for camphorated p. monochlorophenol or other commonly used drugs. Special precaution was taken to completely dry the canals of solution of sodium hypochlorite which is routinely used at each appointment for washing the root canals, since it would tend to inactivate the penicillin.
Black‐capped vireo nest predator assemblage and predictors for nest predation

Nest predation is a major limiting factor for songbird productivity, including the federally endangered black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla). However, nest predator information is limited across the range of the black-capped vireo in central and southwest Texas. We monitored nests in 3 counties within the breeding range of black-capped vireos in Texas in 2008 and 2009 and used continuous recording digital video cameras to record predation events. We video-monitored 115 nests and documented 39 predation events by at least 9 predator species. Overall, we observed avian species (51%, n = 39), specifically brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater; n = 12), and snakes (26%, n = 39) as the most frequent nest predators. The estimated daily nest survival rate during the laying and incubation stage was 0.985 (95% CI = 0.967–0.993) and 0.944 (95% CI = 0.921–0.961) during the nestling stage. In addition, we analyzed models of predator-specific nest predation using multinomial logistic regression. Effect of nest height on predation rate was significant for snakes; nest stage was significant for nests depredated by avian predators. By identifying and increasing our knowledge of nest predators and vegetation characteristics associated with greater risk of predation in multiple locations within the black-capped vireo's range, we can effectively manage habitat to benefit recovery efforts of the species. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Comparison of Mueller-Hinton Agar and Oxoid Sensitivity Test Medium in Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing of Escherichia coli

The in vitro activity of five antibiotics against 368 strains of Escherichia coli was determined by use of Mueller-Hinton agar and Oxoid sensitivity test medium. Minimal inhibiting concentrations were essentially identical with both media.
The Bangladesh Health SWAp: Experience of a New Aid Instrument in Practice

Sector-wide approaches are being widely adopted as a new aid modality, incorporating government ownership, partnership and a move from project to programme support. The literature to date on their performance in practice is, at best, mixed. This article reviews these issues in the light of the experience of arguably the world's oldest and largest SWAp, the Bangladesh health sector programme. A positive picture emerges of an evolutionary institutional adaptation towards a programme approach, with positive systemic effects on government processes and a reduction in transaction costs in dealing with donors. There are, however, negative aspects, notably, donor dominance in ‘dialogue’, though with limited influence on the government's actual strategy.
Sex and computing.

The computational power of asexual and sexual reproduction is explored with the conclusion that sexual reproduction probably offers significantly greater computational power. This at least partially explains the evolution of sex.
India: A fragmented democracy

Elections are determining the future of several key countries in core regions of the world. Our panel of experts assesses the prospects for these countries based on their upcoming or recent poll results.
Integrating writing into the optics curriculum

In response to a need for interactive learning, we designed a physical optics course that incorporates writing-to-learn principles and allows students to meld in-class theory with real-world practice. Students "published" their papers on the open-access web. This exercise necessitated that students understand principles sufficiently to simplify complex topics for a broad general audience.
Light adaptation/acclimation of photosynthesis and the regulation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity in sun and shade plants.

The consequences of light adaptation and acclimation of photosynthesis on photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), particularly as it relates to the efficiency of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) use in photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, was studied in the sun species Glycine max and the shade species Alocasia macrorrhiza. Both G. max and A. macrorrhiza were found to possess the capacity for light acclimation of CO2 assimilation, but over distinctly different ranges of photon flux density (PFD). For each species, light acclimation of photosynthesis had little effect on the rate of photosynthesis per unit Rubisco protein or the light response of Rubisco carbamylation and CA 1P metabolism. In contrast, photosynthesis per unit Rubisco protein was significantly higher in G. max than in A. macrorrhiza, due in part to a lower total (fully carbamylated) molar activity (activity per unit enzyme) of A. macrorrhiza Rubisco than that of G. max. Comparison of the light response of Rubisco regulatory mechanisms between G. max and A. macrorrhiza indicated some degree of adaptation, such that carbamylation was higher and CA 1P levels lower at lower PFDs in the shade species than the sun species. However, this adjustment was not sufficient for Rubisco in low light grown A. macrorrhiza to be fully active at the growth PFD. Photosynthesis in A. macrorrhiza appeared to become RuBP regeneration-limited at lower PFDs than G. max, and this was probably the determinant of the light saturated rate of photosynthesis in the shade species. The low efficiency of Rubisco use in A. macrorrhiza was a major contributing factor to its five- to sixfold lower photosynthetic NUE than G. max. Shade species such as A. macrorrhiza appear to make far from maximal use of Rubisco protein N.
EFFECT OF LUMINANCE ON THE PERCEPTION OF TEMPORAL ORDER OF FLASHING LIGHTS

The temporal interval between flashing lights required to perceive nonsimultaneity increases with decreasing luminance. This explanation appears to lie in the reported changes in the activity of the transient cells in the visual system with changes in luminance.
STRUCTURE AND STABILITY OF γ‐CRYSTALLINS‐IV. AGGREGATION AND STRUCTURAL DESTABILIZATION IN PHOTOSENSITIZED REACTIONS

— Unlike α- and β-, γ-crystallins become turbid upon irradiation with 300 nm or white light in the presence of photosensitizers, e.g., methylene blue (MB) or riboflavin (RF). These proteins, however, do not aggregate in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride. Turbidity formation is concentration-dependent. Except in RF-sensitized reactions, the onset and rate of turbidity formation are faster in γ-IV than in the other two crystallins. Labeling the thiol groups of the protein with iodoacetamide does not change the turbidity rate in case of irradiation with 300 nm light, but it does change it in case of RF- or MB-sensitized reaction. The order of rate constants of the decrease in tryptophan emission under aerobic conditions upon 300 nm irradiation and MB- and RF-sensitized reactions is γ-IV > γ-III > γ-II. The rate constants in the absence of air and in the presence of D2O upon MB- and RF-sensitized reactions also indicate that the role of singlet oxygen is significant in the former reaction. We suggest that the photoinduced structural changes occur in two steps. In the first, photooxidation of tryptophan as well as cysteine residues (including the buried cysteines) occurs, leading to small conformational changes of the protein. Conformational changes of the protein, as evident from the near-UV CD and fluorescence lifetime measurements, subsequently result in aggregation of the protein. As suggested by X-ray analysis, the perturbation of the cys 78 and 32 by the active species of oxygen appears to be responsible for the destabilization of the protein structure, resulting in rapid aggregation of these crystallins.
Stimulation of Cells by Antibody

Tumor cell lines exposed to immunoglobulins specific for cell surface antigens developed increased cellular incorporation of [125I]iododeoxyuridine and [3H]thymidine (up to 200-fold increases over cells treated with normal rabbit immunoglobulins). Antibody-stimulated cells multiplied more rapidly and lived longer than control cells in tissue culture. These observations were made both with cells substituted with 2,4,6-trinitrophenol and purified antibody against 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, and with several cell lines and their respective whole-cell antibodies. Antibodies that were stimulatory at low concentrations were cytotoxic at high concentrations. These observations may have significance in regard to enhancing effects of antibodies on tumor cell growth in vivo.
Measuring mechanical properties of micro- and nano-fibers embedded in an elastic substrate: Theoretical framework and experiment

We propose to measure the elastoplastic properties of micro- and nano-fibers by a normal indentation technique in which the vertically aligned fibers are embedded in an elastic matrix. Measurements are taken at two different indentation depths, which represent different levels of the matrix effects and lead to the establishment of two independent equations that correlate the fiber/matrix properties with the indentation responses. Effective reverse analysis algorithms are proposed, and by following which the desired fiber properties can be determined from a sharp indentation test. Comprehensive analysis is also carried out to verify the effectiveness and error sensitivity of the presented method. The extracted material properties agree well with those measured from the parallel experiments on human hair and glass fibers.
The environment of Mo(V) in supported molybdena catalysts

Supported molybdenum catalysts are of great current interest because of their importance in hydrodesulfurization and coal hydrogenation. These catalysts have been studied using ESR in order to delineate their structure-function relationship. As a result of these studies, an ESR signal observed in reduced supported molybdenum catalysts has been ascribed to the MO(V) ion which was envisioned as being surrounded by an octahedron of 02ions with one 02ion removed so as to give a square pyramidal environment of C,, symmetry. We wish here to reinterpret the local symmetry assignment of the MO(V) ion in these catalysts based mainly on the strength of new crystallographic and spectroscopic evidence that has recently appeared in the literature. An ESR signal was first observed in alumina-supported molybdenum catalysts by Boreskov et al. (I), and the signal was assigned to a MO(V) ionic species. This assignment is reasonable because even if MO(N) were paramagnetic, its signal would not be observable at room temperature due to the fact that it is an 3F state ion with a large zero field splitting and fast relaxation. By the same reasoning Mo(III) can be eliminated as a source of this signal. In subsequent work Ashley and Mitchell (2) on basis of X-ray and optical reflectance spectra suggested that the molybdenum ion in Co-MO-A&O, catalysts is present in a tetrahedral environment but did not rule out the possibility of an octahedral environment. Asmolov and Krylov (3) suggested that for low content MO/~-Al*O, catalysts, Mo(VI) is present in a tetrahedral environment but later (4) concluded that in the reduced catalyst, MO(V) is in a square pyramid of C,, symmetry. This is in agreement with other workers’ assignment (5-7). In (5,6) MOO, supported on alumina gave an ESR signal with observable peakto-peak line width of about 80 G and an average g-value of 1.93. The signal was asymmetric with a broad tail. The signal obtained from bismuth molybdates supported on silica (7,8) had a broad tail with a double minimum and was about 40 G wide when measured between points at the maximum and the first up field minimum. These lines have been described in terms of an axially symmetric Hamiltonian that can be written as:
MODEL PROJECTIONS OF THE FISHERY IMPLICATIONS OF THE ALLEE EFFECT IN BROADCAST SPAWNERS

There has been widespread concern that reduction in density of broadcast spawners by a fishery can have severe effects on reproduction. As fishing decreases density, fertilization efficiency declines, so that reproduction declines more rapidly than indicated by density, producing an Allee effect. However, this potentially precipitous decline in reproduction with declining density or stock size is not well understood at the population level. We used a simple deterministic model of the reproductive dynamics of a broadcast spawning invertebrate to show that the abrupt threshold often proposed as the form of this Allee effect is possible only when individuals are evenly spaced, and when sperm dispersal distribution is a constant out to a specified distance. When the spatial distribution is random and the sperm dispersal distribution is either Gaussian or exponential, fertilization success is linear up to 100%; thus, zygote production is quadratic up to this density. As the width of the dispersal function decreases, fertilization reaches 100% at higher densities, so that it may be beyond the highest density experienced by the population. In that case, zygote production is functionally linear. We then used a simulation model to assess the effects of aggregative behavior and stochastic variability in spatial patterns. We compared narrow and broad sperm dispersal distributions that were based on empirically determined fertilization of the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, under two flow regimes. Zygote production exhibited a gradual nonlinear Allee effect as density decreased for the broader gamete dispersal distribution, but a functionally linear relationship with a much lower slope for the narrower sperm dispersal distributions. Increasing aggregation increased the slope of both fertilization and zygote production vs. density at the origin, but they remained linear for the narrower distribution. High interannual variability in zygote production due to different spatial configurations suggested that the geometric mean of recruitment is a better indicator of population consequences than the arithmetic mean, and it displays a sharper threshold than the arithmetic mean. Our results imply that potential Allee effects at low density in broadcast spawning populations rarely exhibit threshold behavior, and that these Allee effects may be too weak to be detected in stock–recruitment relationships.