cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An examination of the expected degree of sequence similarity that might arise in proteins that have converged to similar conformational states: The impact of such expectations on the search for homology between the structurally similar domains of rhodanese

Abstract Recognition of structural similarity in proteins invites the inference of homology even when the amino acid sequences are not highly similar. The influence of structural similarity on both the genetic tests for amino acid sequence similarity and the inference of homology was examined by statistical methods. Structure-dependent compositions of amino acid sequences representing segments of secondary and supersecondary structure were examined for the preferential occurrence of structurally similar amino acids that are also similar according to the genetic criteria of Fitch (1970), Dayhoff (1979) and McLachlan (1971). These analyses revealed that: (1) the preferential occurrence of structurally similar amino acids in analogous secondary structures should not give rise to a statistically significant sequence similarity; (2) some positional amino acid preferences in secondary and supersecondary structures score highly in sequence similarity tests; (3) the preferential occurrence of non-polar, β-branched amino acids in the parallel β-pleated sheets of α β proteins constitutes an important structural bias in genetic tests for sequence similarity. These findings may be applied to sequence comparisons whenever the conformational states are either known experimentally or may be inferred from predictive analysis of the amino acid sequence. The corrections for structure-dependent compositions were made in a search for homology between the two structurally similar, globular domains of bovine liver rhodanese. Despite these corrections and earlier failures to observe significant sequence similarity, a statistically significant sequence similarity was detected, supporting the inference that the domains are internally paralogous, i.e. intraspecies products of a partial internal duplication of an ancestral gene.
Why Petascale Visualization and Analysis Will Change the Rules

In the last decade, supercomputers and the scientific simulations performed on them have dramatically increased in size. Currently, simulations can use hundreds of TeraFLOPs (trillions of floating point operations per second) and generate many, many terabytes of data. In the near future, we will see PetaFLOP computing and petabytes of data. In addition, a critical step in the simulation process is "postprocessing": applying visualization and analysis techniques to better understand the simulation. As a result, the issues of visualizing and analyzing massive data sets have never been more important. This puts the spotlight on two key issues. One, are we prepared for the unprecedented scale of data that we will need to postprocess? And, two, assuming that we can handle data of this size, can we intelligently analyze these simulations? I will argue that, for both of these questions, we must "change the rules" and make dramatic departures from our current modus operandi.
The Accompanied Sonata and the Domestic Novel in Britain at the Turn of the Nineteenth Century

Abstract In their recent research, literary historians have discovered new information about the popular success of British women novelists at the turn of the nineteenth century. Contrary to a canonical rendition of history, which argues that, Jane Austen aside, male writers dominated this period in British history, this new scholarship reveals that there were several women novelists of the late-Georgian era who were among the most widely read authors of their time. Many of these novelists chose the domestic realm as the setting for their stories. In particular, numerous female writers authored novels about courtship. Their works posed a new feminine archetype, which Anne Mellor has called the “new woman,” who valued intellect, self-confidence, and reason, bringing those qualities into marriage. This article locates the “new woman” in music making of the early nineteenth century. Using recent work in the field of English literary history as a paradigm through which to approach music, it notes how accompanied sonatas of the late Georgian era, like novels, posed an alternative to the patriarchal norms of British culture. This study focuses on the work of two British women, the author Maria Edgeworth and the composer Maria Hester Park, juxtaposing two of their works that are stylistically representative of their respective genres: Edgeworth9s Belinda , a novel of courtship, and Park9s op. 13, no. 2, an accompanied sonata, both of which were published in 1801. These two works—and their genres—articulated a new feminine ideal for a new century; the widespread popularity of the genres helped to integrate this ideal into the very fabric of British society.
From an SNP to a Disease: A Comprehensive Statistical Analysis

Understanding and linking at the molecular level a disease phenotype to a specific genotype often requires going through a protein structure and function. In this issue of Structure, Gao et al. (2015) perform large scale analysis of available sequences and structural data for more than 6000 mutants representing more than 600 proteins to uncover some interesting structural effects of disease-associated mutations.
Distributed Computation of Likelihood Maps for Target Tracking

Using the Bayesian framework of measurement likelihood, sensor data can be combined in a rigorous manner to produce a concise summary of knowledge of a target's location in the state-space. This framework allows sensor data to be fused across time, space and sensor modality. When target motion and sensor measurements are modeled correctly, these "likelihood maps" contain all the relevant information for making inferences about the underlying target state. By combining all data without thresholding for detections, targets with low signal to noise ratio (SNR) can be detected where standard detection algorithms may fail. As the calculation cost of computing likelihood maps over the entire state space is prohibitively high for most practical applications, we propose an approximation which is computed in a distributed fashion, locally at each sensor node. We analyze this approximation, and give cases where it agrees with the centrally calculated likelihood map. Detection and tracking examples using measured data from multi-modal sensors (Radar, EO, Seismic) are presented.
Immunological study of anthranilate synthetase.

Abstract An immunological study of anthranilate synthetase (ASase) has been initiated using quantitative precipitation, enzyme neutralization, and immunodiffusion methods. Cross-reactivity of anthranilate synthetase-anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (ASase-PRTase) from Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, and Salmonella typhimurium and ASase from Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas putida was detected with antibodies to ?E. coli trypsin-treated ASase. Cross-reactivity of antigens was also obtained with S. marcescens anti-ASase. Indices of dissimilarity verified the overall structural similarity of ASase-PRTase from E. coli, K. aerogenes, and S. typhimurium and the divergence from S. marcescens ASase. Further divergence of these enzymes from ASase in B. subtilis and P. putida was apparent. Precipitation of ASase components I and II (ASase CoI and ASase CoII) was obtained using anti-ASase or antiserum fractionated to contain component-specific antibodies. Anti-ASase inhibited enzyme activity to binding to determinants on both subunits. Anti-ASase CoI inhibited the ammonia-dependent reaction and interfered with amide transfer from glutaminyl-ASase CoII. Anti-ASase CoII inhibited the glutamine reaction by blocking amide transfer. Enzyme neutralization experiments indicate more conservation of determinants at the active site region of ASase CoII compared to ASase CoI in the enterobacteria. A particulate form of ASase-PRTase in E. coli, K. aerogenes, and S. typhimurium could be distinguished by quantitative precipitation and immunodiffusion.
‘Comradeship’ and ‘Friendship’: Masculinity and Militarisation in Germany's Homosexual Emancipation Movement after the First World War

This article analyses the impact of the First World War on Germany's homosexual emancipation movement. I argue that the war was a turning point for the nation's gay movement, as it provided a central ideal – comradeship – which altered the ways in which homosexual rights organisations defined homosexuality and masculinity. A militarised rhetoric permeated the language of gay rights groups in the 1920s, providing a vision of a spiritually and politically emancipated hypermasculine gay man who fought to legitimise ‘friendship’ and secure civil rights. The article relies on the publications of three major homosexual rights organisations recently collected at the Schwules Archiv und Museum in Berlin.
Characterization of the oxidative inactivation of xylanase by laccase and a redox mediator

Abstract The biomass-processing enzymes laccase and xylanase can each be used to moderately reduce the amount of chlorine dioxide required for bleached pulp production. Although combined enzyme treatment is anticipated to be appealing to biomass-converting industries seeking to implement green processes, simultaneous incubation of these enzymes in the presence of a laccase mediator such as 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) results in rapid loss of xylanase activity. To characterize this inactivation, Thermomyces lanuginosus xylanase was treated with Trametes versicolor laccase in the presence of HBT. The time-dependent loss of xylanase activity showed first order kinetics, and a plot of inactivation rate constant versus HBT concentration exhibited saturation kinetics. Further, the xylanase substrate xylan protected against the inactivation. These results are consistent with an active-site directed modification, and the change in the xylanase UV absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra upon inactivation suggests tryptophan oxidation. To further characterize the nature of the modification, inactivated xylanase was digested with chymotrypsin and the resulting peptides were analyzed via mass spectrometry. The laccase-generated HBT oxidant was demonstrated to oxidize tryptophan residues to oxindolealanine residues, including Trp17 and known xylan-binding Trp18. Mechanistic detail of the oxidative inactivation will provide the basis for future studies focused on construction of redox-resistant xylanases.
Spectrofluorometric determination of bacterial DNA base composition

A spectrofluorometric technique for bacterial DNA base composition has been developed. This fast and simple technique requires two fluorescent dyes and a few inexpensive reagents. The data from this assay indicate that the guanine-cytosine content obtained was within acceptable statistical limits in comparison to commonly cited literature values. The spectrofluorometric technique is reliable and reproducible.
Deliberations on design

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to encourage libraries to be as involved as possible in the design of the services they provide, be that traditional Web services or sophisticated discovery services. An inordinate reliance upon turn key applications that afford little to no opportunity for customization will not allow the author to be responsive to patron needs. Design/methodology/approach – This is a viewpoint column, and the content is exploratory in nature. Findings – The findings, in a sense, are that while in the past, others have been trusted to make critical design decisions, the author now needs to focus on applying information science skills to the design of his Web-based services. Originality/value – The quality of the digital services offered by libraries is a direct correlation of the level of investment offered. Investing at a more substantial level involves risks that need to be weighed against the potential benefits, but those risks cannot be completely ignored if the goal is a higher...
A physically-based model for guidewire simulation on patient-specific data

Abstract Minimally-invasive surgery (MIS) has radically transformed traditional surgical techniques. However, with the currently available tools, the interventionalist has to rely solely on his/her past experiences to place guidewire and stents at the desired location. While various valuable decision-making metrics have been developed to aid the interventionalist, recognition of the behavior of guidewires, catheters, stents, etc., inside patient-specific vessel data would enhance the reliability of his/her decisions. Such interventions are hard to simulate using analytical methods but may be modeled accurately by numerical techniques such as finite element methods (FEM). In the present work, the goal is not to provide an example of a model surgical procedure on standard anatomy, but to simulate the tool–vessel interaction on patient-specific vascular models extracted in near real-time. We present successful implementation of our FEM simulation on clinical data sets.
THE COMPARATIVE ACTIVITY OF DESOXYCORTICO-STERONE ACETATE AND PROGESTERONE IN ADRENAL-ECTOMIZED RATS

DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE prepared by Steiger and Reichstein (1) is considered by them and by Simpson (2) to be similar to the substance B of Kendall et al. (3); the latter is now known as corticosterone. Desoxycorticosterone acetate has been shown to be effective in correcting the symptoms of adrenalectomy in dogs (1, 4, 5) and in rats (1,6, 7). Relief of symptoms was also obtained in hypoadrenal function in man (2, 4, 5). We were interested in this new compound with reference to the dose for rats in comparison with the dose of progesterone for rats. The first reference to the rat did not state the dose used (1) but, since the present data were started, two papers on the rat have been published (6, 7). Grollman (6) indicated that the rat should be given 1 mg. or more daily to obtain growth, and Harrison (7) showed that 2.5 mg. were needed to maintain normal blood sugar levels in adrenalectomized rats.
Identifiability of 3D attributed scattering features from sparse nonlinear apertures

Attributed scattering feature models have shown potential in aiding automatic target recognition and scene visualization from radar scattering measurements. Attributed scattering features capture physical scattering geometry, including the non-isotropic response of target scattering over wide angles, that is not discerned from traditional point scatter models. In this paper, we study the identifiability of canonical scattering primitives from complex phase history data collected over sparse nonlinear apertures that have both azimuth and elevation diversity. We study six canonical shapes: a flat plate, dihedral, trihedral, cylinder, top-hat, and sphere, and three flight path scenarios: a monostatic linear path, a monostatic nonlinear path, and a bistatic case with a fixed transmitter and a nonlinear receiver flight path. We modify existing scattering models to account for nonzero object radius and to scale peak scattering intensities to equate to radar cross section. Similarities in some canonical scattering responses lead to confusion among multiple shapes when considering only model fit errors. We present additional model discriminators including polarization consistency between the model and the observed feature and consistency of estimated object size with radar cross section. We demonstrate that flight path diversity and combinations of model discriminators increases identifiability of canonical shapes.
The Value of Ophthalmoscopic Examination in the Diagnosis of Systemic Diseases

Ophthalmoscopic examination is a routine procedure in the diagnostic study of every medical case. The internist should therefore be an ophthalmologist insofar as ophthalmoscopy is concerned with systemic diseases. Important information is obtained from this source of examination in cases of essential hypertension, nephritis, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, toxemias of pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, blood dyscrasias, and diseases of the nervous system. The paper deals with the ophthalmoscopic findings in vascular diseases, renal diseases, toxemias of pregnancy, and heart disease. It includes an explanation of the various pictures seen. The terms, retinitis and neuroretinitis, are discussed; they are considered improper because these conditions are not inflammatory in origin. Also, neuroretinitis is merely an advanced stage of so-called retinitis. These conditions have some prognostic importance, but are probably not of great importance in the differential diagnosis of conditions in which there is hypertension. Vascular constriction and vascular spasm are probably the basis of all the changes in the retina in various diseases associated with hypertension. Delivered before the Washington, D.C. Ophthalmological Society, November 4, 1935, and transcribed by Dr. Hugh H. Hussey.
Stability of f.c.c. type-2 antiferromagnetic ordering and comments on the calculation of exchange constants: Application to MnO, α-MnS, NiO, GdP and GdAs

Abstract Using Green's function techniques, the limits of stability for f.c.c. type-2 antiferromagnetic order have been calculated where a ferromagnetic, as well as an antiferromagnetic, nearest-neighbor exchange interaction has been allowed. Calculations of exchange constants from susceptibility data are discussed with application to MnO, α-MnS, NiO, GdP and GdAs.
A charge-transfer interpretation of the interactions of hemoglobin with oxygen and carbon monoxide.

It is shown that the use of the charge-transfer theory to describe the interaction between hemoglobin and O2 or CO leads to the prediction of a linear relationship between log K and the quantity (λαHbO2 − λαHbC), where K is the equilibrium constant of the reaction HbO2 + CO af HbCO + O2 and λαHbO2 and λαHbCO are the wavelengths of the so-called α-bands in the absorption spectra of oxyhemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin. Such a linear relation was long ago observed experimentally for a number of vertebrate hemoglobins, but was never satisfactorily explained. The fact that the charge-transfer theory does explain this seemingly unlikely experimental relationship provides support for the view that the interaction between hemoglobin and O2 or CO may be regarded and treated as a charge-transfer process.
Mitochondrial Electron Transport Inhibitors Cause Lipid Peroxidation-Dependent and -Independent Cell Death: Protective Role of Antioxidants

Mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors induced two distinct pathways for acute cell death: lipid peroxidation-dependent and -independent in isolated rat hepatocytes. The toxic effects of mitochondrial complex I and II inhibitors, rotenone (ROT) and thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA), respectively, were dependent on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, while cell death induced by inhibitors of complexes III and IV, antimycin A (AA) and cyanide (CN), respectively, was caused by MMP collapse and loss of cellular ATP. Accordingly, cellular and mitochondrial antioxidant depletion or supplementation, in general, resulted in a dramatic potentiation or prevention, respectively, of toxic injury induced by complex I and II inhibitors, with little or no effect on complex III and IV inhibitor-induced toxicity. ROT-induced oxidative stress was prevented by the addition of d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (TS) but surprisingly TS did not afford hepatocytes protection against TTFA-induced oxidative damage. TS treatment prevented ROT-induced mitochondrial lipid hydroperoxide formation but had no effect on the loss of mitochondrial GSH or cellular ATP, suggesting a mitochondrial lipid peroxidation-mediated mechanism for ROT-induced acute cell death. In contrast, only fructose treatment provided excellent cytoprotection against AA- and CN-induced toxicity. Our findings indicate that complex III and IV inhibitors cause a rapid and severe depletion of cellular ATP content resulting in acute cell death that is dependent on cellular energy impairment but not lipid peroxidation. In contrast, inhibitors of mitochondrial complex I or II moderately deplete cellular ATP levels and thus cause acute cell death via a lipid peroxidation pathway.
Effects of CuO Content on the Wetting Behavior and Mechanical Properties of a Ag-CuO Braze for Ceramic Joining

A silver-based joining technique referred to as reactive air brazing has been recently developed for joining high-temperature structural ceramic components of the type used in gas turbines, combustion engines, heat exchangers, and burners. It was found that additions of copper oxide to silver exhibit a tremendous effect on both the wettability and joint strength characteristics of the subsequent braze relative to polycrystalline alumina substrates. The effect is particularly significant at low copper oxide content, with substantial improvements in wetting observed in the 1–8 mol% range. The corresponding strength of the brazed polycrystalline alumina joints appears to be maximized at a copper oxide content of 8 mol%, with a maximum room temperature flexural strength approaching that of monolithic alumina. While further increases in oxide content lead to improved wetting on polycrystalline alumina, the effect on joint strength is deleterious. It appears that the formation of a continuous brittle copper-based oxide layer along the interface between the braze and alumina faying surface is responsible for the poor mechanical behavior observed in joints fabricated with higher copper oxide content brazes.
Euboulos' Ankylion and the Game of Kottabos

Euboulos' 'αγκeλ⋯ων is represented by only four fragments (frr. 1–3 frr. 1–4 Hunter), all culled from Athenaeus, which tell us nothing about the plot of the play or about the identity of its titular character. R. L. Hunter, in his recent commentary on Euboulos, discusses at length the name 'αγκeλ⋯ων and concludes that it could belong to either (1) a humble and poor man; (2) ‘a character from folklore notorious for sexual relations with his mother’ ; or (3)’ a wily slave such as those foreshadowed in Aristophanes and familiar from New Comedy'. In view of our ignorance of the play's plot, each of these possibilities has an equal claim to our consideration. I believe, however, that the context in which the fragments are embedded in Athenaeus allows us to refine our understanding of the name even further.
A fluorometric method for the determination of nitrilotriacetic acid

Abstract The procedure described in this paper can be used to determine trace amounts of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) in tap water samples with a relative standard deviation of 10% or less. The procedure does not use expensive equipment, is relatively fast and can be used for routine determination of NTA.
Strong male-driven evolution of DNA sequences in humans and apes

Studies of human genetic diseases have suggested a higher mutation rate in males than in females1 and the male-to-female ratio (α) of mutation rate has been estimated from DNA sequence and microsatellite data to be about 4–6 in higher primates2,3,4,5. Two recent studies, however, claim that α is only about 2 in humans6,7. This is even smaller than the estimates (α > 4) for carnivores and birds8,9; humans should have a higher α than carnivores and birds because of a longer generation time and a larger sex difference in the number of germ cell cycles. To resolve this issue, we sequenced a noncoding fragment on Y of about 10.4 kilobases (kb) and a homologous region on chromosome 3 in humans, greater apes, and lesser apes. Here we show that our estimate of α from the internal branches of the phylogeny is 5.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44 to ∞), similar to the previous estimates2,3,4,5, but significantly higher than the two recent ones6,7. In contrast, for the external (short, species-specific) branches, α is only 2.23 (95% CI: 1.47–3.84). We suggest that closely related species are not suitable for estimating α, because of ancient polymorphism and other factors. Moreover, we provide an explanation for the small estimate of α in a previous study12. Our study reinstates a high α in hominoids and supports the view that DNA replication errors are the primary source of germline mutation.
Inhibition of carcinoma cell motility by epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) antagonists.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases, CYP2C8, 2C9 and 2J2 mRNAs and proteins, were expressed in prostate carcinoma (PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP) cells. 11,12-Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) was the major arachidonic acid metabolite in these cells. Blocking the EET synthesis by a selective CYP epoxygenase inhibitor (MS-PPOH) inhibited tonic (basal) invasion and migration (motility) while exogenously added EETs induced cell motility in a concentration-dependent manner. An EGFR kinase inhibitor (AG494) or a PI3 kinase inhibitor (LY294002) inhibited cell migration and reduced 11,12-EET-induced cell migration. Importantly, synthetic EET antagonists (14,15-EEZE, 14,15-EEZE-PEG and 14,15-EEZE-mSI) inhibited EET-induced cell invasion and migration. 11,12-EET induced cell stretching and myosin-actin microfilament formation as well as increased phosphorylation of EGFR and Akt (Ser473) while 14,15-EEZE inhibited these effects. These results suggest that EETs induce and EET antagonists inhibit cell motility, possibly by putative EET receptor-mediated EGFR and PI3K/Akt pathways, and suggest EET antagonists as potential therapeutic agents for prostate cancer.
Solar Absorption by Cirrus Clouds and the Maintenance of the Tropical Upper Troposphere Thermal Structure

Abstract Radiative transfer calculations employing observed values of the ice crystal size distribution demonstrate that the absorption of solar radiation by cirrus clouds can make a significant contribution to the diabatic heating of the upper troposphere. The effects due to this absorption on the upper tropospheric (100–300 mb) thermal profile are investigated in a general circulation model (GCM) with interactive clouds; guided by observations, two experiments are performed assuming vastly different vertical profiles of the ice water density. Solar heating rates within the extensive cirrus decks associated with monsoon and other convective clouds reach values of 1.5 K day−1. Thus, cirrus solar heating can be an important source for east-west asymmetries in the tropical diabatic heating. Furthermore, because of the latitudinal gradients in the solar insolation, cirrus solar absorption can also influence the meridional beating gradients within the upper troposphere. In spite of the significant east-west a...
Searching for Shortest Single Axioms for Groups of Exponent 6

In this note, we study shortest (with respect to the number of variable occurrences on the left-hand side) possible single axioms for groups of exponent 6 of the form T = x, where T is a term in product only. These investigations were carried out with the automated theorem provers OTTER and Prover9 and the finite first-order model finder Mace4.
Macrocycle ring expansion by double Stevens rearrangement.

New benzimidazolidinone cyclophanes were synthesized through a double Stevens rearrangement employed as a ring expansion technique. Para-substituted heterophanes underwent efficient rearrangement. Meta-substituted heterophanes were also prepared. Structure analyses of the new cyclophanes are also provided.
Effects of cryogenic cooling of shell eggs on egg quality

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cryogenic cooling on shell egg quality. Gaseous nitrogen (GN), liquid nitrogen (LN), and gaseous carbon dioxide (GC) were utilized to rapidly cool eggs in a commercial egg processing facility and were compared to traditional cooling (TC). A modified food freezer was attached to existing egg processing equipment in order to expose eggs to the selected cryogen. In Experiment 1, eggs were treated with GN, LN, and TC then stored and tested over 10 wk. Experiment 2 eggs were treated (GC and TC) and evaluated for 12 wk. Quality factors that were measured included Haugh units, vitelline membrane strength and deformation at rupture, and USDA shell egg grades for quality defects. Haugh unit values were greater for cryogenically treated eggs as compared to traditionally cooled eggs (Experiment 1: 73.27, GN; 72.03, LN; and 71.4, TC and Experiment 2: 74.42, GC and 70.18, TC). The percentage of loss eggs in the GN treatment was significantly (P < 0.01) greater than those of the LN and TC treatments. Vitelline membrane strength was greater for the cryogenically cooled eggs versus traditional processing. Vitelline membrane breaking strength decreased over storage time. Vitelline membrane deformation at rupture was significantly (P < 0.05) greater for the cryogenically cooled eggs compared to the traditional eggs in each experiment. Use of the technology could allow for egg quality to be maintained for a longer time, which could increase international markets and potentially lead to extended shelf lives.
Work in progress — Merging science inquiry and engineering design: A summer workshop series for middle and high school science teachers

We report on a two-week professional development workshop for middle and high school science teachers offered as part of a three-year Indiana Department of Education Math-Science Partnership grant awarded to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) and Vigo County School Corporation (VCSC).
Natalia Andronova (1953-2014)

Natalia (Natasha) Andronova passed away on 1 June 2014 at the age of 61, after a fight with cancer that lasted more than 2 years. Her kindness and smile are remembered by all who knew her as both a colleague and a friend. She helped the scientific community in many ways, serving most recently as AGU secretary for Climate in the Atmospheric Sciences section for 6 years from 2008 to 2013.
The preparation and some properties of hexasilicon tetradecachloride, Si6Cl14☆

Abstract The conditions under which hexasilicon tetradecachloride is produced in the trimethylamine-induced disproportionations of disilicon hexachloride and trisilicon octachloride are described. The polymorphism of hexasilicon tetradecachloride is described, along with other known physical properties. The behaviour of Si6Cl14 towards trimethylamine, silicon tetrachloride, trichlorosilane, antimony trichloride and dimethyl zinc is noted.
PHILOSOPHY, SEXUALITY AND GENDER: MUTUAL INTERROGATIONS

These three papers present a quite diverse and complementary set of answers to the question, “Why Sexuality Matters to Philosophy.” They show the ways in which sexuality as an issue may be of interest to philosophers working on a wide range of questions. The theme of sexuality appears as both subject matter and context for the development of scientific theories of human behavior, as a pervasive dimension of the representation of everyday life, and as a social phenomenon raising important questions bearing on the implications of equal citizenship for persons of different genders and sexualities. Sexuality reveals itself as implicated in epistemology and philosophy of science, aesthetics and ethics, political philosophy and jurisprudence. Sexuality as a subject matter provides rich examples for extending the treatment of quite traditional problems. At the same time, by identifying sexuality as a fundamental human phenomenon, fraught with normative implications and closely linked to emotional and bodily life, these papers show how thinking about sexuality may also act to unsettle and redefine certain important areas of philosophical inquiry.
Analyzing NMR shielding tensors calculated with two-component relativistic methods using spin-free localized molecular orbitals

A recently developed analysis method [J. Chem. Phys. 127, 124106 (2007)] for NMR spin-spin coupling constants employing two-component (spin-orbit) relativistic density functional theory along with scalar relativistic natural localized molecular orbitals (NLMOs) and natural bond orbitals (NBOs) has been extended for analyzing NMR shielding tensors. Contributions from a field-dependent basis set (gauge-including atomic orbitals) have been included in the formalism. The spin-orbit NLMO/NBO nuclear magnetic shielding analysis has been applied to methane, plumbane, hydrogen iodide, tetracholoplatinate(II), and hexachloroplatinate(IV).
Cholesterol biosynthesis in polychlorinated biphenyl-treated rats

Abstract After administration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) at 0.05% (w/w) of the diet to Wistar rats for 30 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of tritiated water, [14C]mevalonate, and [14C]acetate, there was a decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis in rat liver. No significant change in cholesterol formation was observed when PCB was administered at 0.01% (w/w) of the diet. In vitro inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by rat liver microsomes was observed with PCB. Squalene 2,3-oxidocyclase activity of rat liver microsomes was not significantly altered. Desmosterol δ24 reductase activity was inhibited only at relatively high concentrations of PCB. There was increased incorporation of radioactivity into squalene and lanosterol, in vitro, in the presence of PCB. The primary inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis appears to be at the demethylation and rearrangement reactions between lanosterol and cholesterol in the biosynthetic pathway.
Effects of whole cottonseed diet and recombinant bovine somatotropin on ovarian follicles in lactating dairy cows.

Abstract The effects of whole cottonseed (WCS) in the diet and the administration of bovine somatotropin (bST) on ovarian follicular dynamics and plasma progesterone (P 4 ) concentrations were examined in cows during a period of synchronized follicular growth. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 28) were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Diets consisted of WCS (15% of dry matter) or no WCS, and bST at a dose of 0 or 208mg/14 d. Dietary treatments began within 24h of calving and bST treatments began within 7 d postpartum. Cows received GnRH at 65±3 d postpartum (d 0), PGF 2α (d 7), a second dose of GnRH (d 9), and were inseminated 16h later (d 10). Ovarian changes were monitored daily by ultrasonography from d 0 to 9. On d 9, 93% of cows had a preovulatory follicle and 86% ovulated. For Class 2 (6 to 9mm) follicles, a diet×bST interaction was detected, with bST stimulating Class 2 follicles in cows fed WCS, but not in cows on the control diet. Neither diet nor bST affected numbers of Class 1 (2 to 5mm) or Class 3 (≥10mm) follicles or sizes of the subordinate and dominant follicles. During the luteal phase of the cycle, lactating cows fed WCS tended to have elevated concentrations of plasma P 4 , whereas bST was without effect. Plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were increased in cows fed WCS. Number and diameter of corpora lutea did not differ among treatments.
MAINTENANCE OF SKIN XENOGRAFTS OF WIDELY DIVERGENT PHYLOGENETIC ORIGIN ON CONGENITALLY ATHYMIC (NUDE) MICE

Congenitally athymic (nude) mice accepted for their lifetime intact skin grafts from distantly related mammals (cat, human) and birds (chicken). They also failed to immunologically reject skin grafts from reptiles (lizards) and amphibians (tree frog), although the skin in these grafts underwent varying degrees of disorganization. A definitive role for the thymic defect in this failure to reject xenografts was established by showing that thymus implantation into nude mice enabled them to reject such foreign skin.
Optimal estimation of the regularization parameter and stabilizing functional for regularized image restoration

Regularization is an effective method for obtaining satisfactory solutions to image restoration problems. The application of regularization necessitates a choice of the regularization parameter as well as the stabilizing functional. For most problems of interest, the best choices are not known a priori. We present a method for obtaining optimal estimates of the regularization parameter and stabilizing functional directly from the degraded image data. The method of generalized cross-validation (GCV) is used to generate the estimates. Implementation of GCV requires the computation of the system eigenvalues. Certain assumptions are made regarding the structure of the degradation so that the GCV criterion can be implemented efficiently. Furthermore, the assumptions on the matrix structure allow the regularization operator eigenvalues to be expressed as simple parametric functions. By choosing an appropriate structure for the regularization operator, we use the GCV criterion to estimate optimal parameters of the regularization operator and thus the stabilizing functional. Experimental results are presented that show the ability of GCV to give extremely reliable estimates for the regularization parameter and operator. By allowing both the degree and the manner of smoothing to be determined from the data, GCV-based regularization yields solutions that would otherwise be unattainable without a priori information.
A technique for preserving retained distal cytoplasmic droplets in situ for immunofluorescence evaluation of ejaculated porcine spermatozoa.

Abstract Cytoplasmic droplets (CD) associated with mammalian sperm have traditionally been investigated after isolation from ejaculated sperm cells, or in fixed tissue sections from the epididymides. Many of the current techniques for preparing spermatozoa for immunofluorescence assay (IFA) induce separation of distal cytoplasmic droplets, particularly when membrane permeabilization is required. This article describes a technique capable of maintaining distal cytoplasmic droplets in situ on ejaculated porcine spermatozoa throughout the process of permeabilization and immunostaining. Key steps in this technique include fixation with 0.2% glutaraldehyde, permeabilization with 0.05% TX-100, and microtube incubations for IFA. Utilizing glutaraldehyde fixation, this technique yielded a mean retention rate of 88% for distal cytoplasmic droplets on ejaculated porcine spermatozoa.
Reliability of blood pressure recordings.

I n the last decade there has been a proliferation of devices that measure blood pressure (BP) without human intervention. Most machines simulate the standard auscultatory approach accepted as the standard for 90 years. The question asked of the vendor of these machines is, how accurate are the measurements? What physicians really mean is, can it do as good a job as I do? The average physician takes for granted the reliability of the method he has used for years, but has little insight into its limitations. The limitations of our ability to accurately measure BP were highlighted by a study done at the Johns Hopkins Hospital by Russell.’ The investigators set up a sound film of the BP being recorded on a patient. Physicians listened to the sounds while they watched a manometer on the film and then recorded their estimation of the BP. When the true readings were compared with the physicians’ recorded ranges of responses, significant interand intraobserver variability was present. The wide variations are more surprising because these experienced physicians knew the accuracy of their technique was being tested, and they would be expected to take extra care in the measurements. How could the results be so bad, especially when most of the common errors that lead to faulty BP recordings were eliminated by the testing methodology? These include equipment and technique problems such as inaccurate aneroid manometers, inappropriate-sized air bladders and cuffs, heavy pressure on the stethoscope, too rapid deflation rate, terminal digit bias, systolic recheck and many others.
A comparison of measurements of the oxygen nightglow and atomic oxygen in the lower thermosphere

Abstract We have investigated the relationship between the oxygen nightglow and the atomic oxygen density in the lower thermosphere. This was done using data from two sounding rocket experiments conducted over White Sands Missile Range (32°N, 106°W). The first flight was launched on 2 November 1978 while the second was launched on 7 December 1981. Both flights contained resonance lamps to measure the atomic oxygen density. The peak density in both cases was near 1.9 × 1011 cm−3. In addition, the 1978 flight contained a photometer to measure the 5577 A green line while the 1981 flight contained photometers to measure the green line, the u.v. nightglow, and the 7620 A (0,0) atmospheric band. We have used empirical models of these airglow features to compare with the O density measurements. In the case of the atmospheric band, excellent agreement is seen concerning the shape of the atomic oxygen profile, while some discrepancies were seen with the Herzberg band and the green line. In all cases, the absolute value of our peak O density appeared to be about 2.5 times lower, for a given airglow intensity, than previous measurements.
The metabolism of cortisol in eviscerated rats.

Abstract 1. 1. Cortisol-4-C 14 administered to eviscerated rats is metabolized rapidly (60 min.) to Substance “E” of Reichstein, Substance “U” of Reichstein, cortisone, and dihydrocortisol. 4-Androstene-11β-ol-3, 17-dione has been partially identified. Four additional compounds are still under investigation. 2. 2. The common “tetrahydro” derivatives usually found as products of cortisol metabolism in intact animals or in the in vitro metabolism by liver were not observed as steroid products in the eviscerated animal. 3. 3. The water-soluble fractions obtained from both control and experimental animals were of the same low-order magnitude, indicating no significant formation of water-soluble conjugates.
Identification of groundwater flowpaths and denitrification zones in a dynamic floodpain aquifier

Abstract The groundwater flow system in the thick sand and gravel aquifer of the wide forested floodplain along the Lower Wisconsin River was characterized using major ion and oxygen and deuterium stable isotope analyses to explain nitrate attenuation in the floodplain. Critical to the groundwater flow system are the 60–90 m bluffs, the Pleistocene river terrace, and the modern floodplain with ridge and swale microtopography. Upland nitrate concentrations reached 12 mg NO 3 –N/L, but were largely below the detection limit in the downgradient floodplain wetlands. A transect of monitoring wells and multilevel samplers, with depths of up to 6 m, were installed to characterize spatial and temporal variability in the floodplain groundwater flowpaths. Results showed that the topography induces deep, intermediate, and shallow flow systems and that temporal variability causes mixing between water from different sources. Nitrate attenuation in this system is likely a combination of dilution, plant uptake and denitrification. The absence of dissolved oxygen and nitrate and presence of high soluble iron concentrations in the lower floodplain indicate an ample supply of electron donors for oxygen consumption, denitrification and subsequent iron reduction. The data indicate that conditions created by the topography and temporal variability of the system are suitable for denitrification to occur at depth.
Acoustic absorption and emission associated with the martensitic transformation in an FeNi alloy

Multiple ultrasonic attenuation peaks associated with martensitic transformation are observed in an FeNi (29.58 wt% Ni) alloy. Attenuation peaks are observed just prior to the formation of martensite as indicated by acoustic emission over a wide temperature range. The temperature associated with formation of the martensite plates is obtained by ultrasonic attenuation and acoustic emission in this FeNi alloy. The correlation of attenuation peaks with subsequent martensite formation lends support to the soft mode model of martensite nucleation. The first acoustic emission event is found to be approximately 50°C higher than the published values of Ms in this alloy. It is found that a detectable change of the sample resistivity as a function of temperature occurs only when a large number of martensite plates are formed, whereas the first few martensite plates formed at higher temperatures can be detected only by the more sensitive methods of acoustic emission and ultrasonic attenuation measurements. De multiples pointes d'attenuation ultrasonique, associees avec la transition martensitique, ont ete observees dans l'alliage FeNi (29,58 pourcentage poids Ni). Des pointes d'attenuation ont ete observees juste avant la formation de martensites, comme l'indique l'emission acoustique au court d'un interval de temperature large. La temperature associee avec la formation des plaques de martensite a ete obtenue par l'attenuation ultrasonique et l'emission acoustique dans cet alliage FeNi. La correlation de pointes d'attenuation avec la formation subsequente de martensite, supporte le modele de la mode mou de la nucleation de martensite. Le premier evenement d'emission acoustique a ete observe a une temperature environ 50°C plus elevee que les valeurs publiees pour Ms dans cet alliage. Il a ete observe qu'un changement perceptible de la resistivite du specimen en fonction de la temperature, a lieu seulement quand un grand nombre de plaques martensitiques ont ete formees; cependant les premieres plaques martensitiques qui forment a une plus haute temperature doivent etre mesurees par les methodes plus sensibles de l'emission acoustique et de l'attenuation ultrasonique.
Update on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of genital human papillomavirus manifestations

Human papillomavirus (HPV) affects 20 million people across the globe each year. The prevalence of HPV is vast. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that at least 50% of all sexually active men and women will contract HPV at some point in their lives. The most drastic and consequential effect of HPV in a carrier is the risk of developing cancer. Cervical cancer is the most commonly reported anogenital cancer; however HPV can cause other cancers, such as vulvar, vaginal, penile, and anal. In addition to cancer, nononcogenic HPV strains cause visible warts, specifically HPV types 6 and 11. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, approximately 30 of which affect the genital tract. Based on the risk of cancerous potential, genital tract HPV strains are divided into low risk (nononcogenic) and high-risk (oncogenic) subtypes. Although visible warts do not have the same cancerous potential, they cause distress through embarrassment, as well as create uncomfortable symptoms including itching, burning, and localized bleeding. This review article will address the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of anogenital HPV manifestations, both from low- and high-risk subtypes.