cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformational studies of 13 trinucleoside bisphosphates by 360‐MHz 1H‐NMR spectroscopy

The ribose protons of 13 trinucleoside bisphosphates (trimers) were studied, using 360-MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Complete assignments and analyses of the NMR signals of these protons were carried out by the methods of homonuclear decoupling and computer line-shape simulations. It was shown that the trinucleotides preferred the anti, 3' endo, gamma +, beta t and epsilon t/epsilon- conformations for the glycosidic torsions, the ribose rings, the C4'-C5' bonds, the C5'-O5' bonds, and the C3'-O3' bonds, respectively. It was also found that the trimers, especially those which had noticeable population of 'bulged' structures, did not necessarily have a higher population of these preferred local conformations than their component dimers. The overall conformations of the trinucleotides are classified into two categories. The conformations in the first category involve the nearest-neighbor interactions. Each dinucleotide moiety can assume one of the four stable conformations (I, I', II and III) or the open forms of dinucleoside monophosphates. However, due to steric hindrance, there are only four cases in which both dinucleotide moieties can assume one of the four stable conformations at the same time. These four combinations of conformations are I-I, I'-I', I-II and III-I', where the first Roman numeral represents the conformation of the NpN'p-moiety and the second one, that of the -pN'pN'' moiety of the trimers. Among them, I-I and I'-I' are helical structures, capable of forming a double helix. The second category contains conformations with bulged structures which have the two dinucleotide moieties in open forms (i.e. no nearest-neighbor interactions) and the bases of the two terminal residues stacking on each other while the middle residue is bulged out. These bulged conformations may serve as structural models for frame-shift mutations.
DIODE LASER TREATMENT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTIC PREMEDICATION

Lasers used in the treatment of periodontal therapy are becoming more prevalent in dental offices. Patients with periodontal disease see extensive improvements in their periodontal status and overall health with laser therapy. Studies have shown a decreased prevalence in oral bacteria following these treatments (Moritz et al., 1998). Dental lasers in the treatment of periodontal disease can reduce significantly the bacterial population in the gingival tissue, theoretically reducing the need for antibiotic premedication (Kamma, Vasdekis, & Romanos, 2006). Future research in this area can provide the groundwork for the advancement of laser therapy in all aspects of medicine as well.
Peer Victimization and Mental Health During Early Adolescence

In this article, the authors describe recent research on peer victimization and its mental health consequences during early adolescence. They begin with a working definition of peer victimization t...
ASET-A computer program for calculating available safe egress time

In the event of a fire in a building compartment the time available for occupants to safely evacuate the compartment, the Available Safe Egress Time (ASET), depends on the time of fire detection and on the time of the onset of hazardous conditions. In order to estimate these two times a dynamic simulation of the developing fire environment in the compartment is required. Also required are specific criteria for the simulation of detection and onset of hazard. A user-oriented computer program which carries out the required simulations and provides estimates for the ASET has been developed. This paper describes the program and its use. For fire growth in a particular fuel assembly, a single program run can be used to evaluate the ASET from enclosures (which are assumed to contain the fuel assembly) of different heights and areas, and under a variety of different detection and hazard criteria. The program can be used in either an interactive or batch mode. It is written in ANSI FORTRAN and requires no computer specific subroutines.
Automatic mapping rules and OWL ontology extraction for the OBDA Ontop

Extracting Ontop mapping rules and OWL ontology manually from a relational schema is a tedious task. We present an automatic approach for extracting Ontop mappings and OWL ontology from an existing database schema. The end users can access the underlying data source through SPARQL queries. A SPARQL query is written according to the extracted ontology and the end user does not need to know about the underlying data source and its schema. The proposed approach takes into consideration the different relationships between entities of the database schema. Instead of extracting a flat ontology that is an exact copy of the database schema, it extracts a rich ontology. The extracted ontology can also be used as an intermediate between a domain ontology and the underlying database schema. The experiment results indicate that the extracted mappings and ontology are accurate. i.e., end users can query all data (using SPARQL) from the underlying database source in the same way as if they have written SQL queries.
Historical and Personal Nostalgia in Advertising Text: The Fin de siècle Effect

Abstract This paper uses literary criticism as the basis for stimulus-side analysis of nostalgia in advertising text. It provides a historical context for modern nostalgia by discussing the phenomenon as a fin de siecle or “end of century” cultural effect. It presents a nostalgia taxonomy by distinguishing between two types of nostalgia — historical and personal — that determine advertising elements of plot, setting, characters, and values inherited from literary antecedents. It analyzes each type in commercial communications, using advertisements, periodicals, and direct mail catalogues as examples. Personal and historical nostalgia advertisements are linked to consumer effects of, respectively, empathy and idealization of the self. Eight propositions are developed for additional research in three areas: content analysis, different gender responses, and effects on consumer values.
Solving embedded generalized network problems

Abstract A complete, unified description is given of the design and implementation of a fast and efficient program which solves linear programming problems with network substructures. The very efficient generalized network procedures which have recently been developed are extended in this paper to produce an algorithm, called E mnet , which can solve generalized network problems with additional constraints and additional (complicating) variables. The only requirement on the network substructure is that it contain, at most two nonzero entries in each column. This requirement is the most general possible for network substructures. Many large linear programming problems can be placed in this form by a simple rearrangement of its rows and columns. Preliminary computational experience indicates E mnft is about five times faster than M inos . The algorithm presented should provide a very efficient and fast solution for many linear programming problems involving production scheduling, distribution, facility location and personnel assignment. These problems tend to contain large embedded network substructures.
Enhanced histopathology of the thymus.

The thymus is a primary or central lymphoid organ in which T lymphocytes undergo diffentiation and maturation autonomously within the cortex, without the need for antigenic stimulation, and it is essential for the normal development and function of the immune system. The thymus has been shown to be a sensitive target organ following exposure to immunotoxicants and endogenous corticosteroids, and a decrease in size or weight is often one of the first noted measures of compound-induced effects with cortical lymphocytes (thymocytes) being especially susceptible. Therefore, changes in thymus histopathology and architecture are considered to be of particular relevance for immunotoxicity screening. The separate compartments in each lymphoid organ should be evaluated separately and descriptive rather than interpretive terminology should be used to characterize changes within those compartments (Haley et al., 2005). Therefore, enhanced histopathological evaluation of the thymus involves the determination of the size and cellularity of the cortex and medulla, which should be noted separately. Other changes to evaluate include, but are not limited to, increased lymphocyte apoptosis, lymphocyte necrosis, cortex:medulla ratio and an increase or decrease in the epithelial component of the thymus.
Myeloma of the jaw bones: a clinicopathologic study of 33 cases.

Background. A clinicopathologic study of 33 cases of plasma cell neoplasm of the jaw bones was performed. Methods. The Mayo Clinic's pathology files through 1995 were reviewed for cases of plasma cell neoplasia involving the jaw bones. Clinical data, radiologic features, and follow-up data were obtained from the hospitals of origin, referring physicians, and Mayo Clinic files. The histopathologic features of the 33 tumors were studied. Results. There were 21 (64%) male and 12 (36%) female patients, ranging in age from 25 to 81 years (mean, 57.7 years). Twenty-one tumors (64%) were classified as solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) and 12 (36%) as multiple myeloma (MM). Among the SPB cases, 15 (71%) involved the maxilla, and 14 patients were men, with a mean age of 57.1 years. Abnormal serum protein was found in 22% of patients, and in nine patients (43%) the SPB converted to MM after a median of 20.7 months. Among the MM cases, seven (58%) affected the maxilla, seven patients were men with mean age of 58.3 years, and abnormal serum protein and Bence-Jones protein were found in 42% and 73% of the patients, respectively. Anaplastic histology was identified in seven (33%) SPB and six (50%) MM tumors, and amyloid was present in eight (38%) SPB and three (25%) MM tumors. Twelve (57%) SPB patients died of the disease after a median disease-free survival of 6.75 years, and the overall and disease-free survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 52%, 33%, 33%, and 24%, respectively. All MM patients died of the disease after a median survival of 17.6 months, and the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 8% and zero. Eighty-six percent of the SPB patients with anaplastic histologic findings died of the disease (average survival, 3.8 years), whereas only 43% of those with classic histologic findings died of the disease (average survival, 11.75 years). Among MM patients, anaplastic histologic findings were associated with a 9-month average survival (26-month average survival for MM patients with classic histologic findings). Conclusions. SPB patients seem to have a better prognosis than MM patients, and 43% of SPB tumors convert to MM after an average of 20.7 months. Anaplastic histologic findings seem to be associated with lower survival rates and periods for SPB patients and lower survival periods for MM patients. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 000–000, 2003
Responses to Chinese Rule in Xinjiang: Patterns of Cooperation and Opposition

No abstract available. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjia.v0i10.122 The Mongolian Journal of International Affairs; Number 10, 2003, Pages 102-119
Wound Healing in Channel Catfish by Epithelialization and Contraction of Granulation Tissue

Abstract We studied the process of wound healing by contraction of granulation tissue in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus from which surgically implanted dummy transmitters had been expelled through midventral abdominal incisions. Here we describe histological details on the nature of second-intention wound healing, rate of healing, and the nature of granulation tissue contraction. At the time of expulsion, the wound margins were connected by highly vascular granulation tissue; the granulation tissue was not epithelialized until 6 d postexpulsion. By 16 d postexpulsion, the granulation tissue had contracted the wound margins into apposition. By 41–43 d postexpulsion, the granulation tissue contained collagen fibers, and the epidermis contained well-differentiated alarm substance cells. The epidermis over the wound site was histologically normal in most fish by 41–43 d postexpulsion. The dermal collagen at the incision site was only slightly less regular than normal when the experiment ended 93 d postex...
The effect of maize residues and tillage on emergence of Setaria faberi, Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus retroflexus and Chenopodium album

Summary Tillage and maize (Zea mays L.) residues at up to four times the base level had variable effects on the emergence of four annual weed species in the field. Environmental conditions varied during the three years of the research and interacted with residue and tillage to govern seedling emergence. When tillage affected Setaria faberi Herrm., emergence was greater in untillcd than tilled plots. The effect of residues varied among years. Abutilon theophrasti Medik, emergence from tilled soil was greater than from untilled soil in two of three years. Maize residue at two or four times the base levei reduced emergence. Amaranthus retroflexus L. emergence was often greater from untilled than tilled soil. The effect of maize residues on this species was dependent on tillage and precipitation. Chenopodium album L. emergence was affected by tillage and residues but differences over the three years were inconsistent. Results of this research indicate that tillage and residues interact with weed species, precipitation and other factors to regulate seedling emergence. The reduced soil disturbance and minimal weed seed burial associated with the elimination of tillage appear to have a greater impact on weed population dynamics than surface residues in non-tillage maize production systems.
Consequences of the presence of sulfur in the core of the earth

Abstract As a direct consequence of the remarkable stability of alkali and alkaline metal sulfides, it is likely that potassium and several other elements not usually regarded as chalco- or siderophilic may be enriched in Earth's core. Decay of the radioisotope 40 K in the core may provide ∼ 10 20 erg/sec , 10 4 times the power required to maintain the Earth's magnetic field. Convection in the mantle will be driven strongly from below. The energy from decay of 40 K will be largely transported through the oceanic crust, while decay energy of U and Th will be lost through the top of the continental crust. The depletion of sulfur, the chalcophile elements, and the alkali metals in Earth's lithosphere relative to chondritic Earth models can be simply explained if sulfur, not silicon, is the light component of the core.
Multi-state outcome analysis of treatments (MOAT): application of a new approach to evaluate outcomes in longitudinal studies of bipolar disorder

Survival analyzes are usually based on a single point in time predefined event. Dissatisfied with this approach to evaluating maintenance treatment outcomes, we developed the Multi-state Outcome Analysis of Treatments (MOAT) methodology using a combined database from two FDA registration studies of lamotrigine, lithium and placebo. MOAT partitions total survival time into clinically distinct periods operationally defined by cutpoints on rating scales. For bipolar disorder (BD), the clinical states are remission, subsyndromal and syndromal mania, mixed states or depression. MOAT results can be crossed with information about tolerability and functioning to yield an outcome system integrating efficacy and tolerability. As found in the original analysis, both drugs were associated with longer time in study compared with the placebo. MOAT supplements this by finding that both drugs increased the time remitted compared with placebo. However, a substantial amount of time in all three treatments was spent in subsyndromal depression. Time with manic symptoms was reduced with lithium, but not lamotrigine. Patients on placebo neither benefitted nor had adverse effects from the assignment but experienced more syndromal levels of symptoms and were terminated from the study sooner than either drug treated group. Lithium was associated with both benefit in time manic and worse tolerability compared with placebo. In summary, lamotrigine was associated with limited therapeutic benefit but not harm; lithium with both benefit and harm; and placebo with neither. MOAT describes not only quantity but also quality of time spent in longitudinal studies, providing a more clinically informative picture than Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.
Membrane properties of a human neuroblastoma II: Effects of differentiation

The SK-N-SH cell line is a human neuroblastoma which when grown under standard culture conditions remains relatively undifferentiated. The undifferentiated SK-N-SH cells are relatively inexcitable: they show only partial active responses to injections of current pulses and lack the depolarizing component of the action potential generating mechanism [Kuramoto et al, 1977]. In this study we report on the membrane properties of two subclones of the SK-N-SH, the SK-N-SH-IN (referred to as IN) and the SK-N-SH-Sy5Y (referred to as 5Y) which exhibit extensive morphological differentiation when grown with 1mM dibutyryl cAMP. Fully differentiated IN and 5Y cells have higher resting membrane potentials, in the range of -50 to -80 mV, and higher input resistance and time constants than do the undifferentiated SK-N-SH parental cell line. After 1 week in culture the differentiated IN and 5Y cells exhibit spike potentials in response to injection of current to the cell body. The presence of the Na2+-dependent depolarization was verified directly by the use of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and indirectly in experiments where veratridine (0.1 mM) markedly enhanced the influx of 22Na+. Taken together, the data indicate that generation of action potentials in these human neuroblastoma cells is to a large extent a function of morphological differentiation.
Short time-series microarray analysis: Methods and challenges

The detection and analysis of steady-state gene expression has become routine. Time-series microarrays are of growing interest to systems biologists for deciphering the dynamic nature and complex regulation of biosystems. Most temporal microarray data only contain a limited number of time points, giving rise to short-time-series data, which imposes challenges for traditional methods of extracting meaningful information. To obtain useful information from the wealth of short-time series data requires addressing the problems that arise due to limited sampling. Current efforts have shown promise in improving the analysis of short time-series microarray data, although challenges remain. This commentary addresses recent advances in methods for short-time series analysis including simplification-based approaches and the integration of multi-source information. Nevertheless, further studies and development of computational methods are needed to provide practical solutions to fully exploit the potential of this data.
Substitutions at position 146 of cytochrome b affect drastically the properties of heme bL and the Qo site of Rhodobacter capsulatus cytochrome bc1 complex

Abstract The cytochrome (cyt) b subunit of ubihydroquinone: cytochrome c oxidoreductase ( bc 1 complex) contains four invariant glycine (G) residues proposed to be essential for proper packing of the high and low potential ( b H and b L ) hemes of the bc 1 complex. One of these residues, G146 located in the transmembrane helix C of cyt b of Rhodobacter capsulatus , was substituted with A and V using site-directed mutagenesis, and the effects of these substitutions on the properties of the ubiquinone oxidation (Q o ) site and heme b L of the bc 1 complex were analyzed. The mutants G146A and V produced properly assembled but catalytically defective bc 1 complexes that are unable to support photosynthetic growth. The steady-state ubihydroquinone: cytochrome c reductase activities of the mutant complexes were about one-tenth of that of a parental strain overproducing the wild-type enzyme. Similarly, their light-activated single turnover rates were significantly lower than those of a wild-type complex. The dark potentiometric titrations revealed no significant changes in the redox midpoint potentials ( E m,7 ) of the high ( b H ) and low ( b L ) potential hemes of cyt b in both G146A and V mutants. However, EPR spectroscopy of the [2Fe-2S] cluster of the bc 1 complex indicated that the Q o site of the mutant enzymes were unoccupied. Moreover, the g z signal of heme b L , but not that of heme b H , was modified both in G146A and V, suggesting that the geometry of its ligands has been distorted. These findings indicate that this region of cyt b must be well packed around heme b L since even a slight increase in the size of the amino acid side chain at position 146 (such as G to A) greatly perturbs the spatial conformation of heme b L , alters substrate accessibility and binding to the Q o site, and renders the bc 1 complex inactive.
Drug use is associated with elevated food consumption in college students

Higher food consumption, particularly of sweets, has been reported by substance-dependent persons in various stages of treatment but no investigation of substance use and actual food consumption has been conducted in non-dependent persons. Sixty-two male and female college students completed the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey and the amount of each of six snack foods (including both sweet and savory items) they consumed were measured. Participants also rated appetite before and after eating and rated the pleasantness of and desire to eat each food. Hierarchical multivariate regression revealed that, while controlling for the influence of BMI and intermeal interval, frequency and breadth of substance use significantly predicted elevated food consumption and elevated ratings of hunger and desire to eat. Furthermore, the link between breadth of drug use and food consumption was mediated by higher desire to eat and not by pleasantness of the food. The relationship between substance use and eating behavior may not be restricted only to those in recovery or treatment for persons diagnosed with substance use disorders.
Spinal gap junctions: Potential involvement in pain facilitation

Abstract Glia are now recognized as important contributors in pathological pain creation and maintenance. Spinal cord glia exhibit extensive gap junctional connectivity, raising the possibility that glia are involved in the contralateral spread of excitation resulting in mirror image pain. In the present experiments, the gap junction decoupler carbenoxolone was administered intrathecally after induction of neuropathic pain in response to sciatic nerve inflammation (sciatic inflammatory neuropathy) or partial nerve injury (chronic constriction injury). In both neuropathic pain models, a low dose of carbenoxolone reversed mirror image mechanical allodynia, while leaving ipsilateral mechanical allodynia unaffected. Ipsilateral thermal hyperalgesia was briefly attenuated. Critically, blockade of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia was not observed in response to intrathecal glycyrrhizic acid, a compound similar to carbenoxolone in all respects but it does not decouple gap junctions. Thus, blockade of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia by carbenoxolone does appear to reflect an effect on gap junctions. Examination of carbenoxolone's effects on intrathecal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 showed that blockade of pain facilitation might result, at least in part, via suppression of interleukin-1 and, in turn, interleukin-6. These data provide the first suggestion that spread of excitation via gap junctions might contribute importantly to inflammatory and traumatic neuropathic pain. Perspective The current studies provide evidence for involvement of gap junctions in spinal cord pain facilitation. Intrathecal carbenoxolone, a gap junction decoupler, reversed neuropathy-induced mirror image pain and intrathecal gp120-induced allodynia. In addition, it decreased gp120-induced proinflammatory cytokines. This suggests gap junction activation might lead to proinflammatory cytokine release by distantly activated glia.
A continuum mechanics theory of depolarized and polarized Rayleigh-Brillouin light scattering spectra of supercooled liquids

On the basis of a constitutive equation appropriate for linear viscoelastic liquids, a continuum mechanics theory has been developed to consistently describe the polarized and depolarized light scattering spectra of viscoelastic liquids consisting of anisotropic molecules. The theory introduces the effect of the translation-rotational coupling in the hydrodynamic equations. It is shown that such a coupling results in reducing of the dynamic shear viscosity, the reduction of the dynamic shear viscosity thus makes the bulk viscosity dominant in determining the isotropic light scattering spectrum. The results are useful for interpreting the dynamic light scattering spectra of viscous and supercooled liquids.
Room‐temperature observation of resonant tunneling through an AlGaAs/GaAs quasiparabolic quantum well grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We report the first room‐temperature observation of resonant tunneling through a double‐barrier diode with a 31.5‐nm‐wide AlGaAs/GaAs quasiparabolic quantum well grown by molecular beam epitaxy. As the bias voltage is scanned from 0 to 4 V, 11 resonant tunneling transitions are observed at room temperature. At 77 K, 13 resonant tunneling transitions are observed; 10 of them show negative differential resistance, and the highest peak‐to‐valley ratio is 1.4. At 4.2 K, 17 resonant tunneling transitions are observed; 15 of them show negative differential resistance, and the peak‐to‐valley ratio of the first tunneling peak is 3.6. Computer simulation indicates that for the 17 resonant tunneling transitions, the first 13 are likely due to resonant tunneling through quasibound states in the well, and the remainder are due to resonant tunneling through virtual states.
Determination of PCBs and chlorinated hydrocarbons in marine mammal tissues

Abstract Selected tissues (blubber, liver, kidney and muscle) from marine mammals, which were collected as part of the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP), were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and chlorinated pesticides. Concentrations of these compounds in the different tissues were compared and blubber was selected as the primary tissue for organic contaminant analyses for the AMMTAP based on higher levels (1–2 orders of magnitude) in this tissue compared to liver, kidney and muscle. Concentrations for 15 PCB congeners and 12 chlorinated pesticides are reported for 10 different animals of three species (northern fur seal, ringed seal and belukha whale) from five different sites.
Clintonomics: The first year

This paper reviews the Clinton economic program's first year. It begins by identifying three distinguishing features of the Clinton approach: 1) The belief that government should be more involved in the economy; 2) A concern about the distribution of resources in society; and, 3) A belief that the recent large budget deficits do represent an important economic problem. It then considers the three main economic issues of the Clinton administration's first year—the 1993 budget package, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and health care reform—in terms of these three features. The paper's overall conclusion is that the Clinton administration has made a considerable effort at achieving economic progress during its initial year, but that, particularly as health care reform progresses, more attention needs to be paid to economic principles.
Orthogonal cross joints: do they imply a regional stress rotation?

Abstract Orthogonal cross joints extend across intervals between systematic joints in brittle sedimentary strata and abut the systematic joints at about 90° angles. These joints typically form a ‘ladder-like’ pattern if viewed on a bedding surface. A common interpretation is that orthogonal cross joints define the orientation of the regional stress field during their formation: least compressive stress perpendicular to the joints. It follows that they indicate a rotation of regional principal stresses by 90° after the formation of the systematic joints. Using a three-dimensional boundary element code (Poly3D), we considered a simple geologic case of vertical systematic fractures developing in horizontal strata under a triaxial remote load with: the maximum principal tensile stress being horizontal and perpendicular to the strike of the fractures, the intermediate principal stress being horizontal and parallel to the strike of the fractures, and the least principal tensile stress (i.e. maximum compressive stress) being vertical. The results show that the local maximum principal stress is first perpendicular, and then parallel to, the strike of the systematic fractures as the ratio of fracture spacing to height changes from greater than to less than a critical value when the horizontal remote principal stress ratio, the ratio of the intermediate remote principal stress to the maximum remote principal stress under the sign convention of positive for tensile stresses, is greater than a threshold value (∼0.2). Thus, the fracturing process changes from infilling of systematic fractures to the formation of orthogonal cross fractures. This provides an alternative mechanism for the formation of orthogonal cross joints that does not require a systematic rotation of the regional stress field by 90°. The critical spacing to height ratio for the local principal stress switch is independent of the least remote principal stress (i.e. overburden). It increases nonlinearly with increasing ratio of the horizontal remote principal stresses, and decreases nonlinearly with increasing Poisson's ratio of the material.
The successes and failure of narratology

Twentieth-century study of narrative featured many successes and one grave failure. Narratology taught us the basics of how to study the structure of narrative, but proves to be a dead end in the study of texts. This was clear soon after Gerard Genette’s groundbreaking studies, but later works such as Paul Ricoeur’s fail to get beyond narratology. This paper therefore claims that narrative theory has not changed since its inception several decades ago, even though the need for such a change is broadly supported. Attention has been paid to expanding narrative methods to other fields like medicine and education rather than further developing the theory. I advocate a more serious consideration of contemporary literature to renew narrative theory.
Accessibility designer: visualizing usability for the blind

These days, accessibility-related regulations and guidelines have been accelerating the improvement of Web accessibility. One of the accelerating factors is the development and deployment of accessibility evaluation tools for authoring time and repair time. They mainly focus on creating compliant Web sites by analyzing the HTML syntax of pages, and report that pages are compliant when there are no syntactical errors. However, such compliant pages are often not truly usable by blind users. This is because current evaluation tools merely check if the HTML tags are appropriately used to be compliant with regulations and guidelines. It would be better if such tools paid more attention to real usability, especially on time-oriented usability factors, such as the speed to reach target content, the ease of understanding the page structure, and the navigability, in order to help Web designers to create not simply compliant pages but also usable pages for the blind. Therefore, we decided to develop Accessibility Designer (aDesigner), which has capabilities to visualize blind users' usability by using colors and gradations. The visualization function allows Web designers to grasp the weak points in their pages, and to recognize how accessible or inaccessible their pages are at a glance. In this paper, after reviewing the related work, we describe our approach to visualize blind users' usability followed by an overview of Accessibility Designer. We then report on our evaluations of real Web sites using Accessibility Designer. After discussing the results, we conclude the paper.
İlk Dönem Medîne'de Efemineler

Câhiliyye ve ilk Islâm donemi Arap toplumunda erkekler arasinda transseksuellik ya da efemineligin acikca bilinen ve yerlesmis bir sekilde mevcudiyetine dair onemli deliller vardir. Diger erkeklerden farkli olarak bu efemineler ya da muhanneslerin cinsel egilimlerinin olmadigi dusunulerek kadinlarla serbestce arkadaslik etmelerine izin verilmis ve bunlar siklikla evlenecek olanlar arasinda arabulucu veya daha az bir mesruiyete sahip olarak bir tur muhabbet tellalligi vazifesi gormuslerdi. Onlar Emeviler Doneminde Mekke ve ozellikle en unlu hânende ve sâzendeler arasinda sayildiklari Medine’de Arap Muziginin gelismesi hususunda da onemli rol oynamislardi. Devlet tarafindan donem donem bazi eziyetlere maruz kalmis olsalar da bunlar onlarin cinsel statulerinden degil- ki cok azi disinda onlar birer homoseksuel olarak addedilmiyorlardi- Toplumun ve ozellikle kadinlarin ahlâki degerlerine zarar verdikleri dusunulen muzisyenlik ve copcatanlik faaliyetlerinden kaynaklaniyordu. Ozellikle Halife Suleyman b. Abdulmelik donemindeki agir baskilar, muhanneslerin varliklarini degilse de muzik ve toplumdaki unlerini sonlandirmistir
A retrospective analysis of contact allergy to lanolin.

BACKGROUND: Lanolin is often stated to be an important sensitizer but some of the available literature is based on the analysis of high-risk patients. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the frequency of contact allergy to lanolin (wool alcohols) in a central London teaching hospital patch-test population. METHODS: Review of 24,449 patients recorded on our database during 1982--96 who were tested with a standard series containing 30% wool alcohols. RESULTS: The mean annual rate of sensitivity to this allergen was 1.7%. The wool alcohols-allergic group contained a higher proportion of females (P < 0.05), and the mean age of both males and females (48.4 and 49.2 years) was higher than that of non-wool alcohols-allergic patients (41.4 and 35.9 years; P < 0.0005). There was no difference in atopic eczema status between these groups. The highest prevalence of allergy to wool alcohols was among patients with lower leg dermatitis (6.0%; 95% confidence interval, CI 4.46--7.54), followed by those with anogenital dermatitis (3.23%; 95% CI 1.81--4.65). There was an unexplained decline in the rate of positive patch tests to Amerchol L-101. However, some patients who reacted to this were negative with wool alcohols, so it may be a useful additional test reagent. The mean rates of allergy to Eucerin (0.65% per annum) and 50% hydrogenated lanolin in petrolatum (1% per annum) were low, and we no longer use these as test reagents. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates that lanolin sensitization has remained at a relatively low and constant rate even in a high-risk population (i.e. patients with recent or active eczema).
DEFORMATION OF MYLONITES IN PALM CANYON, CALIFORNIA, BASED ON XENOLITH GEOMETRY

Abstract An analysis of xenoliths in granodiorite and mylonites of the Peninsular Ranges batholith in southern California documents large deformation with Von Mises equivalent strains ranging from 1 to 4. From the geometry of xenoliths in mylonites it is concluded that much of the deformation occurred by flattening. If deformation had been homogeneous, the 800 m thick mylonite sequence would have extended originally over more than 10 km. Contrary to xenoliths associated with ballooning diapirs, these in Santa Rosa mylonites show much larger strains and are elongated in the lineation direction. It is proposed that the overall deformation pattern is consistent with a top to the west shear displacement, but most of the strain in the Santa Rosa mylonites was produced in flattening, during emplacement of the partially solidified batholith. The large deformation may have produced folds that have coalesced with the foliation to accommodate the strain.
Mutants at conserved positions in gene IV, a gene required for assembly and secretion of filamentous phages

The filamentous phage protein pIV is required for assembly and secretion of the virus and possesses regions homologous to those found in a number of Gram-negative bacterial proteins that are essential components of a widely distributed extracellular protein-export system. These proteins form multimers that may constitute an outer membrane channel that allows phage/protein egress. Three sets of f1 gene IV mutants were isolated at positions that are absolutely (G355 and P375) or largely (F381) conserved amongst the 16 currently known family members. The G355 mutants were non-functional, interfered with assembly of pIV+ phage, and made Escherichia coli highly sensitive to deoxycholate. The P375 mutants were non-functional and defective in multimerization. Many of the F381 mutants retained substantial function, and even those in which charged residues had been introduced supported some phage assembly. Some inferences about the roles of these conserved amino acids are made from the mutant phenotypes.
The mitigation of acute toxicity of coal‐derived liquids by hydrotreatment

Abstract Acute toxicity of 12 coal derived liquids representing 3 different technologies and 4 different severities of hydrotreatment has been examined with the Tetrahymena population growth bioassay. Tetrahymena were exposed to various concentrations of the organic materials and growth impairment was monitored. In addition, analyses of the major organic elements in the coal liquids are presented. Coal‐derived liquids have a greater heteroatom and aromatic content than do natural crude oils. Hydrotreatment, the catalytic addition of hydrogen, concomitantly reduces toxicity as well as heteroatom content and aromaticity. Regression analysis of log toxicity vs % weight of the major organic elements suggests hydrogen content may be a good indicator of relative toxicity of coal‐derived liquids.
Amino acid composition of some human tissues

Abstract 1. 1. A similarity was found in the proportions of the 18 amino acids in liver, heart, and muscle tissue of the human. 2. 2. Skin contained lower amounts of the amino acids, except for glycine, than the other three tissues.
A Comparison of the Pāli and Chinese Versions of the Brahma Saṃyutta, a Collection of Early Buddhist Discourses on Brahmās, the Exalted Gods

Sa?yutta of the P?li Sa?yutta-nik?ya in conjunction with two other versions preserved in Chinese translation in Taish? vol. 2, nos 99 and 100. Then it compares the main teachings contained in the three versions. This comparative study of these three different versions focuses on some shared images of Brahm?s and on disagreements of some teachings presented in the three versions. It reveals similarities and significant differences in structure and doctrinal content, thus advancing the historical/critical study of early Buddhist doctrine in this area.
In vitro metabolism of fipronil by human and rat cytochrome P450 and its interactions with testosterone and diazepam

Fipronil (5-amino-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile) is a highly active, broad spectrum insecticide from the phenyl pyrazole family, which targets the gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) receptor. Although fipronil is presently widely used as an insecticide and acaricide, little information is available with respect to its metabolic fate and disposition in mammals. This study was designed to investigate the in vitro human metabolism of fipronil and to examine possible metabolic interactions that fipronil may have with other substrates. Fipronil was incubated with human liver microsomes (HLM) and several recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms obtained from BD Biosciences. HPLC was used for metabolite identification and quantification. Fipronil sulfone was the predominant metabolite via CYP oxidation. The K(m) and V(max) values for human liver microsomes are 27.2 microM and 0.11 nmol/mg proteinmin, respectively; for rat liver microsomes (RLM) the K(m) and V(max) are 19.9 microM and 0.39 nmol/mg proteinmin, respectively. CYP3A4 is the major isoform responsible for fipronil oxidation in humans while CYP2C19 is considerably less active. Other human CYP isoforms have minimal or no activity toward fipronil. Co-expression of cytochrome b(5) (b(5)) is essential for CYP3A4 to manifest high activity toward fipronil. Ketoconazole, a specific inhibitor of CYP3A4, inhibits 78% of the HLM activity toward fipronil at a concentration of 2 microM. Oxidative activity toward fipronil in 19 single-donor HLMs correlated well with their ability to oxidize testosterone. The interactions of fipronil and other CYP3A4 substrates, such as testosterone and diazepam, were also investigated. Fipronil metabolism was activated by testosterone in HLM but not in CYP3A4 Supersomes. Testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation in HLM was inhibited by fipronil. Fipronil inhibited diazepam demethylation but had little effect on diazepam hydroxylation. The results suggest that fipronil has the potential to interact with a wide range of xenobiotics or endogenous chemicals that are CYP3A4 substrates and that fipronil may be a useful substrate for the characterization of CYP3A4 in HLM.
The lattice vibrations of molecular crystals. III - The spectrum, dynamics and lattice energy of the methylamine system

Methylamine crystals lattice vibrations IR spectra recordings, making spectral band assignments according to translational and librational motions
Heated Ascorbic/Citric Acid Solution as Browning Inhibitor for Pre-Peeled Potatoes

Treatment of pre-peeled potatoes with heated ascorbic acid (AA)/citric acid (CA) solution to extend shelf-life was investigated. Potatoes were abrasion or high pressure steam peeled, heated for 5-20 min in 1% AA + 2% CA at 45-55°C, cooled, and then dipped for 5 min in browning inhibitor (BI) solution containing 4% AA + 1% CA + 1% sodium acid pyrophosphate. Combined treatment inhibited potato discoloration for 14 days at 4°C, compared to 3-6 days with BI treatment alone. Raw material and treatment conditions were selected to minimize graying and textural abnormalities encountered with some treatments. Treatment with heated AA/CA may be an alternative to use of sulfites to control browning in pre-peeled potatoes.
Expert’s comment concerning Grand Rounds case entitled “Staged corrective surgery for complex adolescent kyphoscoliosis caused by back scalding during the childhood period” (by Hui-Ren Tao et al. doi:10.1007/s00586-012-2519-1)

The authors present a very complex case of severe spinal deformity following chest wall and flank scalding during childhood [1]. Little literature is available on this topic. Surgeons dealing with pediatric spinal deformities occasionally encounter such challenging cases. The authors have reported a very rational discussion as to the options for surgical treatment. A team approach that includes a spine surgeon and a plastic and reconstructive specialist familiar with all methods of soft tissue coverage is of paramount importance. This is the reason why in this Grand Rounds we asked two opinions: one from the spinal deformity world and the other one from the plastic/microvascular reconstruction world.
NEW MACROSCOPIC FORCES

The forces mediated by spin-0 bosons are described, along with the existing experimental limits. The mass and couplings of the invisible axion are derived, followed by suggestions for experiments to detect axions via the macroscopic forces they mediate. In particular, novel tests of the T-violating axion monopole-dipole forces are proposed.
Birefringence measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer by swept source polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography

A Swept Source Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-PS-OCT) instrument has been designed, constructed, and verified to provide high sensitivity depth-resolved birefringence and phase retardation measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer. The swept-source laser had a center wavelength of 1059 nm, a full-width-half-max spectral bandwidth of 58 nm and an A-line scan rate of 34 KHz. Power incident on the cornea was 440 µW and measured axial resolution was 17 µm in air. A multiple polarization state nonlinear fitting algorithm was used to measure retinal birefringence with low uncertainty. Maps of RNFL phase retardation in a subject measured with SS-PS-OCT compare well with those generated using a commercial scanning laser polarimetry instrument. Peak-to-valley variation of RNFL birefringence given here is less than values previously reported at 840nm.
Anterior cervical arthrodesis using DOC dynamic stabilization implant for improvement in sagittal angulation and controlled settling.

Object. Placing instrumentation in the anterior cervical spine is a common procedure. The bi- and unicortical systems currently available, however, have distinct advantages and disadvantages. The author reports a prospective series in which a new dynamized anterior cervical fixation system was evaluated. Methods. Thirty-seven patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in which the DOC ventral cervical stabilization system was used for indications including cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, disc herniation, trauma, and myelopathy. Patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion and/or corpectomy. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data included assessment of spinal cord and nerve root deficit, function, neck pain, and arm pain. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic data included sagittal angle, translation, and settling of the graft. Fusion status was determined by the presence of trabecular bridging bone on plain anteroposterior and lateral cervical radiog...
Dissolution rates for thin films of miscible polymer blends

The dissolution rates of thin polymer films were measured and compared. Mixtures of various ratios of poly( methyl methacrylate), PMMA, and poly(p-hydroxy-styrene), PPHS, were dissolved in methyl isobutyl ketone, MIBK. The polymer solutions were then spun into thin films on silicon wafers and dried. The coated wafers were immersed in an MIBK bath and the rate of dissolution was observed using laser interferometry. The results show that pure PPHS films have dissolution rates 1000 times greater than films of pure PMMA at comparable molecular weights. However, for films containing both PPHS and PMMA, a minimum dissolution rate occurs for a mixture with about 20% (by weight) PPHS.
Self-injection of d,1-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the baboon.

MDMA (d,1-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine HCl; “ecstasy”) self-injection (0.1–3.2 mg/kg/injection) was examined in baboons under conditions in which baseline responding was maintained by intravenous injections of cocaine HCl (0.32 mg/kg/injection). Drug was available under a FR 160-response schedule of intravenous injection. Each drug injection was followed by a 3-h time out allowing a maximum of eight injections per day. MDMA or MDMA vehicle (saline) was substituted for cocaine for a period of 14 or more days followed by a return to the cocaine baseline. MDMA (0.32–3.2 mg/kg/inj) maintained more injections and higher responses rates than were maintained by saline. The maximal number of injections maintained by MDMA and the maximal response rate maintained by MDMA were less than those maintained under baseline conditions with cocaine. The highest dose of MDMA tested maintained a cyclic pattern of self-injection, i.e., days of high numbers of injections intermixed with days of low numbers of injections. At the highest dose of MDMA tested, concurrent food maintained behavior was suppressed to an extent that food intake was also decreased.