cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creating Eclipses: Using Scale Models to Explore How Eclipses Happen.

ABSTRACT The importance of using proportional scaled models in teaching about eclipses to elementary- and middle-level students is presented in this article. The authors illustrate how using creative models to display the basic concepts of shadows, scale, and perspective can foster a deeper understanding of how eclipses occur. Three innovative, easy-to-construct, scaled models are described as effective tools to enhance students’ understanding of eclipses. The models include space perspective on cast shadows, Earth perspective on solar eclipses, and the Moon's orbital plane around Earth.
Interactions of erythrosin B (U.S. F, D & C Red 3) with rat cortical membranes.

Erythrosin B inhibits Na,K-ATPase in rat brain tissue as demonstrated by studying glycoside binding, ATPase activity and ion fluxes. The potency of the noncompetitive inhibition of [3H]-ouabain binding by erythrosin B is influenced by glycoside concentration, monovalent cation concentration, and incubation time. [14C]-Erythrosin B binds to synaptic membranes prepared from rat cortex. Erythrosin B and some of its structural analogs inhibit both [3H]-ouabain and [14C]-erythrosin B binding, but ouabain and other glycosides do not inhibit the binding of [14C]-erythrosin B. Subcellular distributions of [3H]-ouabain and [14C]-erythrosin B binding in fractionated cortical tissue preparations are equivalent and parallel ATPase activity. The dissimilar response of [3H]-ouabain binding and [14C]-erythrosin B binding to changes in tissue preparation, incubation temperature, and partial solubilization of binding sites by deoxycholate (DOC) suggests two separate binding sites for erythrosin and ouabain to rat cortical membranes.
P–H activation using alkynylgold substrates: steric and electronic effects

The susceptibility of a prototypical hydrogen phosphonate to undergo P–H activation upon treatment with alkynylgold complexes has been studied. Dynamic solution behavior was observed during reactions involving triphenylphosphine ligated substrates and was attributed to rapid phosphine exchange between the alkynylgold starting material and the gold phosphonate product. The use of bulky biaryldialkylphosphine ligands eliminated the fluxional behavior, but did not significantly slow the rate of P–H activation. Similarly, changing the supporting ligand to an N-heterocyclic carbene did not significantly slow the rate of the reaction. Despite a number of reports outlining the functionalization of propargyl alcohols using gold catalysts, incorporating these groups into the architecture of the alkynylgold substrates did not alter the product distributions. Although the chemistry tolerated a range of supporting ligands, incorporating electron donating groups into the alkyne increased the rate of the reaction while electron-withdrawing groups slowed the reaction. A possible mechanism for the process includes a transition state containing significant pi-contribution from the alkyne. Due to the high yields of gold phosphonates obtained in this chemistry as well as the mild conditions of the reactions, the interception of intermediates/catalysts by substrates or ligands containing labile P–H donors is an issue that must be circumvented when designing or developing a gold catalyzed reaction that proceeds through alkynylgold intermediates.
Five Potential Consequences of Climate Change for Invasive Species

Scientific and societal unknowns make it difficult to predict how global environmental changes such as climate change and biological invasions will affect ecological systems. In the long term, these changes may have interacting effects and compound the uncertainty associated with each individual driver. Nonetheless, invasive species are likely to respond in ways that should be qualitatively predictable, and some of these responses will be distinct from those of native counterparts. We used the stages of invasion known as the "invasion pathway" to identify 5 nonexclusive consequences of climate change for invasive species: (1) altered transport and introduction mechanisms, (2) establishment of new invasive species, (3) altered impact of existing invasive species, (4) altered distribution of existing invasive species, and (5) altered effectiveness of control strategies. We then used these consequences to identify testable hypotheses about the responses of invasive species to climate change and provide suggestions for invasive-species management plans. The 5 consequences also emphasize the need for enhanced environmental monitoring and expanded coordination among entities involved in invasive-species management.
Comparative Biology of Latent Varicella-Zoster Virus and Herpes Simplex Virus Infections

The clinicoepidemiologic features of varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus latency are clearly distinctive. These differences indicate that each virus has evolved a unique strategy to ensure the establishment and maintenance of latency and to reactive therefrom. Indeed, current data reveal divergent pathogenetic and molecular biologic properties that may account for the clinicoepidemiologic characteristics that distinguish recurrent infections with these herpesviruses.
The Collective Dynamics of Racial Dehumanization and Genocidal Victimization in Darfur

Sociologists empirically and theoretically neglect genocide. In this article, our critical collective framing perspective begins by focusing on state origins of race-based ideology in the mobilizat...
Mechanisms by which psychologic stress alters cutaneous permeability barrier homeostasis and stratum corneum integrity

Although many skin disorders, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, are adversely affected by psychologic stress (PS), the pathophysiologic link between PS and disease expression remains unclear. Recent studies demonstrated PS-induced alterations in permeability barrier homeostasis, mediated by increased endogenous glucocorticoids. Here, we assessed the mechanisms by which PS alters stratum corneum (SC) function. Insomniac psychologic stress (IPS) altered both barrier homeostasis and SC integrity. IPS decreased epidermal cell proliferation, impaired epidermal differentiation, and decreased the density and size of corneodesmosomes (CD), which was linked to degradation of CD proteins (e.g., desmoglein1). Barrier compromise was linked to decreased production and secretion of lamellar bodies (LB), which in turn could be attributed to a decrease in de novo synthesis of epidermal lipids. Topical physiologic lipids (equimolar cholesterol, ceramides, and free fatty acids) normalized both barrier homeostasis and SC integrity in IPS mice, further evidence that lipid deficiency accounted for these functional abnormalities. Thus, PS inhibition of epidermal lipid synthesis results in decreased LB formation and secretion, as well as decreased CD, compromising both permeability barrier homeostasis and SC integrity. These studies suggest that topical treatment with epidermal physiologic lipids could be beneficial in stress-induced, barrier-associated dermatoses, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Single-dose cefuroxime axetil in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea: a controlled trial.

One hundred eighty-four patients were enrolled in a randomized study that evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a single dose of orally administered cefuroxine axetil in the treatment of men and women with uncomplicated gonorrhea. Sixty-two patients received cefuroxine axetil alone, 62 received cefuroxine axetil and probenecid, and 60 received amoxicillin plus probenecid. Cure rates in the three groups were 98%, 98%, 96%, respectively. Only 2% of patients who received cefuroxine axetil alone complained of nausea, as compared with 11% of those who received a regimen that contained probenecid (P less than .05). The results show that cefuroxime axetil is effective and nontoxic in the treatment of uncomplicated gonococcal infections in adults.
Activation of apoptosis by cytoplasmic microinjection of cytochrome c.

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a conserved and highly regulated pathway by which cells die1. Apoptosis can be triggered when cells encounter a wide range of cytotoxic stresses. These insults initiate signaling cascades that ultimately cause the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space to the cytoplasm2. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria is a key event that triggers the rapid activation of caspases, the key cellular proteases which ultimately execute cell death3-4. The pathway of apoptosis is regulated at points upstream and downstream of cytochrome c release from mitochondria5. In order to study the post-mitochondrial regulation of caspase activation, many investigators have turned to direct cytoplasmic microinjection of holocytochrome c (heme-attached) protein into cells6-9. Cytochrome c is normally localized to the mitochondria where attachment of a heme group is necessary to enable it to activate apoptosis10-11. Therefore, to directly activate caspases, it is necessary to inject the holocytochrome c protein instead of its cDNA, because while the expression of cytochrome c from cDNA constructs will result in mitochondrial targeting and heme attachment, it will be sequestered from cytosolic caspases. Thus, the direct cytosolic microinjection of purified heme-attached cytochrome c protein is a useful tool to mimic mitochondrial cytochrome c release and apoptosis without the use of toxic insults which cause cellular and mitochondrial damage. In this article, we describe a method for the microinjection of cytochrome c protein into cells, using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and primary sympathetic neurons as examples. While this protocol focuses on the injection of cytochrome c for investigations of apoptosis, the techniques shown here can also be easily adapted for microinjection of other proteins of interest.
The Fungal Genetics Stock Center: a repository for 50 years of fungal genetics research

The Fungal Genetics Stock Center (FGSC) was established in 1960 to ensure that important strains used in early genetics research were available to subsequent generations of fungal geneticists. Originally, only mutant strains were held. At present, any organism that has had its genome sequenced is a genetic system and so the FGSC has added many new organisms. The FGSC is well integrated in its core community and, as research came to depend on cloned genes, vectors and gene libraries, the FGSC included these materials. When the community expanded to include plant and human pathogens, the FGSC adopted these systems as well. Wild isolates from around the world have also proven instrumental in answering important questions. The FGSC holds tremendous diversity of the Neurospora species, which form the core of the collection. The growth in the number of strains distributed illustrates the growth in research on fungi. Because of its position near the centre of the fungal genetics effort, the FGSC is also the first to see trends in research directions. One recent example is the 300% jump in requests for strains of Neurospora crassa carrying a mutation that makes them sensitive to high salt concentration. These strains were seldom requested over many years, but became among our most popular resources following the demonstration of their utility in studying fungicide resistance. This exemplifies why materials need to be preserved without regard to their immediate perceived value and reinforces the need for long-term support for preservation of a broad variety of genetic resources.
Social and cultural issues in urban communities

To better understand the world of adult learners, we must remove ourselves from our ivory towers, classrooms, and offices and engage in the practice of adult education programs in urban settings.
Self-consistent potential variations in magnetic wells

Self-consistent electrostatic potential variations are considered in a spatial region of weak magnetic field, as in the proposed tandem mirror thermal barriers (with no trapped ions). For some conditions, equivalent to ion distributions with a sufficiently high net drift speed along the magnetic field, the desired potential depressions are found. When the net drift speed is not high enough, potential depressions are found only in combination with strong electric fields on the boundaries of the system. These potential depressions are not directly related to the magnetic field depression.
Nano-texture for a wear-resistant and near-frictionless diamond-like carbon

Abstract The effect of nano-scale surface texture on wear resistance of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films was studied using a reciprocating ball-on-flat tribometer in dry, humid, and liquid water environments. The nano-scale surface texture was produced by depositing ∼1 μm thick DLC films onto silicon substrates pre-textured with pyramidal wells and polystyrene spheres. The surface roughness of the textured DLC films was about 50 nm in both cases. The friction and wear behavior of the flat and nano-textured DLC films were tested with AISI 440C-grade stainless steel balls at a contact load creating about 360 nm deep Hertzian deformation which is significantly larger than the surface roughness. At this condition, nano-texturing did not affect the friction coefficient, but it significantly reduced the wear of DLC films in dry and humid nitrogen compared to flat DLC. In dry nitrogen, the nano-textured DLC films showed the ultra-low friction without substantial wear of DLC and deposition of thick transfer films onto the counter-surface. The wear reduction appeared to be related to the stress relief in the nano-textured DLC film. In liquid water, surface features on the nano-textured DLC films were diminished due to tribochemical oxidation and material removal at the sliding interface.
Service Learning and Commitment to Community: Exploring the Implications of Honors Students' Perceptions of the Process 2 Years Later

This article discusses an investigation involving 13 students who enrolled in a senior honors seminar designed as a service-learning course. The purpose was to explore how the participants perceived the course and their role in the community 2 years later. In keeping with the grounded theory techniques used to analyze the data, the study focused on discovering a grounded substantive theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) that described the processes involved in service learning for this particular group rather than on measuring outcomes. Using this approach led to the realization that there is a discrepancy between how many educators and researchers have conceptualized service and how participants in this study perceive their commitment to community 2 years after completing a service-learning course. Elements related to this new orientation that merit further exploration include the types and extent of commitment to community, participants' perceptions of the social context for their commitment to community, and...
Resonant destruction as a possible solution to the cosmological lithium problem

We explore a nuclear physics resolution to the discrepancy between the predicted standard big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) abundance of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ and its observational determination in metal-poor stars. The theoretical $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ abundance is 3--4 times greater than the observational values, assuming the baryon-to-photon ratio, ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{\mathrm{wmap}}$, determined by WMAP. The $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ problem could be resolved within the standard BBN picture if additional destruction of $A=7$ isotopes occurs due to new nuclear reaction channels or upward corrections to existing channels. This could be achieved via missed resonant nuclear reactions, which is the possibility we consider here. We find some potential candidate resonances which can solve the lithium problem and specify their required resonant energies and widths. For example, a ${1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ or ${2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ excited state of $^{10}\mathrm{C}$ sitting at approximately 15.0 MeV above its ground state with an effective width of order 10 keV could resolve the $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ problem; the existence of this excited state needs experimental verification. Other examples using known states include $^{7}\mathrm{Be}+t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{10}\mathrm{B}(18.80\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV})$, and $^{7}\mathrm{Be}+d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{9}\mathrm{B}(16.71\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV})$. For all of these states, a large channel radius ($ag10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fm}$) is needed to give sufficiently large widths. Experimental determination of these reaction strengths is needed to rule out or confirm these nuclear physics solutions to the lithium problem.
Identities of Sequestered Proteins in Aggregates from Cells with Induced Polyglutamine Expression

Proteins with expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. One common characteristic of expanded-polyQ expression is the formation of intracellular aggregates (IAs). IAs purified from polyQ-expressing cells were dissociated and studied by protein blot assay and mass spectrometry to determine the identity, condition, and relative level of several proteins sequestered within aggregates. Most of the sequestered proteins comigrated with bands from control extracts, indicating that the sequestered proteins were intact and not irreversibly bound to the polyQ polymer. Among the proteins found sequestered at relatively high levels in purified IAs were ubiquitin, the cell cycle–regulating proteins p53 and mdm-2, HSP70, the global transcriptional regulator Tata-binding protein/TFIID, cytoskeleton proteins actin and 68-kD neurofilament, and proteins of the nuclear pore complex. These data reveal that IAs are highly complex structures with a multiplicity of contributing proteins.
Comparing decision bound and exemplar models of categorization

The performance of a decision bound model of categorization (Ashby, J992a; Ashby & Maddox, in press) is compared with the performance of two exemplar models. The first is the generalized context model (e.g., Nosofsky, 1986, 1992) and the second is a recently proposed deterministic exemplar model (Ashby & Maddox, in press), which contains the generalized context model as a special case. When the exemplars from each category were normally distributed and the optimal decision bound was linear, the deterministic exemplar model and the decision bound model provided roughly equivalent accounts of the data. When the optimal decision bound was nonlinear, the decision bound model provided a more accurate account of the data than did either exemplar model. When applied to categorization data collected by Nosofsky (1986, 1989), in which the category exemplars are not normally distributed, the decision bound model provided excellent accounts of the data, in many cases significantly outperforming the exemplar models. The decision bound model was found to be especially successful when(1) single subject analyses were performed, (2) each subject was given relatively extensive training, and (3) the subject's performance was characterized by complex suboptimalities. These results support the hypothesis that the decision bound is of fundamental importance in predicting asymptotic categorization performance and that the decision bound models provide a viable alternative to the currently popular exemplar models of categorization.
Managing the Refractory Idiopathic Overactive Bladder with OnabotulinumtoxinA: Phase 2 Trial

Introduction: Refractory overactive bladder (OAB) is an all-too-familiar condition seen in clinical practice when anticholinergic medications fail or intolerable side effects prevail. Dmochowski et al. conducted a large phase 2, dose–response, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial with onabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of idiopathic OAB in 313 patients failing anticholinergic medications.
Determining Hydrogen Diffusion in Doped Fused Silica from the Fluorescence

Fused silica doped with both Tb and Eu exhibits a visible fluorescent green band under ultraviolet light after a heat treatment above 700°C in a hydrogen atmosphere. The growth kinetics of this band have been studied as a function of time, temperature, and hydrogen pressure in the temperature range of 700°—1050°C, and have been found to be a hydrogen diffusion‐controlled reaction. From these measurements and using tritium, diffusion coefficients have been evaluated, and in the temperature range of 850°—1040°C can be represented by the relation: D=6.5×10−5 exp(−12.5 kcal mole−1/RT)cm2sec.−1 The mechanism of the fluorescent scheme is believed to be a reduction of the Eu3+ ion to Eu2+ ion by the diffusing hydrogen, with the reduced ion being able to absorb light. This is followed by an energy transfer to the trivalent terbium ion, and then a terbium fluorescence.
Evaluating the quality of websites offering information on female hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

This study evaluates websites relevant to female hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Its primary aim is to evaluate the quality of Internet HSDD information. One hundred and one websites, identified through simple Google searches, were scored using a tool incorporating expert consensus-derived quality criteria for HSDD. The tool included structural criteria such as currency, authorship, and disclosure of competing interests. It also included performance criteria, evaluating accuracy, and comprehensiveness, and was adapted from a published website evaluation tool for diabetes. For each website, a quality index score with a potential range from 1 to 5 (1 = poor, 5 = excellent) was calculated, and the websites were rank ordered using this score. Quality index scores ranged from 1.68 to 4.64, with 75% of websites scoring at or below 3.27. Test-retest reliability was moderate (n = 24, r = 0.6601, P = .0004). Rank ordering of the websites by quality index allowed identification of the top five highest qua...
Searching for sensitivity in the life history of Atlantic menhaden: inferences from a matrix model

We used modified Leslie matrix models to explore the life history of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus). By examining the sensitivity of long-term population growth rates to changes in vital rates, we identified those life history components which can cause large population level responses. Our models subdivide the first year of life into five stages (eggs, early larvae, late larvae, juveniles, and ‘peanuts’ or subadults), and population growth rate responds most strongly to changes in juvenile and late larval stages. The relative ranking between these stages is dependent on the magnitude of mortality during the prejuvenile stages relative to juvenile mortality. An examination of low-level model parameters indicates that the population growth rate is influenced by the growth and mortality rates during the time when young-of-the-year menhaden are gaining access to and residing in the estuaries. Sensitivity to changes in many adult metrics, such as fishing mortality, were relatively low. We conclude that a better understanding of biotic and abiotic factors that influence the late larval and juvenile stages will further our understanding of population dynamics in this species.
First-principles calculation of the insulator-to-metal transition pressure in CsI

Abstract The room temperature compression isotherm and electronic band structure of CsI have been computed with the nonrelativistic self-consistent augmented-plane-wave method. The isotherm is in excellent agreement with available static and ultrasonic measurements, and hence allows an improved extrapolation of Asaumi and Kondo's measurements of the absorption edge to gap closure in the range 38–46 A3 and 65–105 GPa when uncertainties in the experimental determination of the band gap are accounted for. The calculated band structure suggests that the band gap is direct and it is in close agreement with the corresponding experimentally determined band gap when the Slater exchange potential is used. These consistencies between the measurements and calculations suggest that the insulator-to-metal transition occurs in the 100±10 GPa range, somewhat higher than Asaumi and Kondo's estimate of 70 GPa, but in good agreement with the prediction from Herzfeld's theory.
Purification and biophysical characterization of a new [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from Azotobacter vinelandii, a putative [Fe-S] cluster assembly/repair protein.

During the purification of site-directed mutant variants of Azotobacter vinelandii ferredoxin I (FdI), a pink protein, which was not observed in native FdI preparations, appeared to associate specifically with variants that had mutations in ligands to FdI [Fe-S] clusters. That protein, which we designate FdIV, has now been purified. NH2-terminal sequence analysis revealed that the protein is the product of a previously described gene, herein designated fdxD, that is in the A. vinelandii iscSUA operon that encodes proteins involved in iron-sulfur cluster assembly or repair. An apoprotein molecular mass of 12,434.03 ± 0.21 Da was determined by mass spectrometry consistent with the known gene sequence. The monomeric protein was shown to contain a single [2Fe-2S]2+/+ cluster by UV/visible, CD, and EPR spectroscopies with a reduction potential of −344 mV versus the standard hydrogen electrode. When overexpressed in Escherichia coli, recombinant FdIV holoprotein was successfully assembled. However, the polypeptide of the recombinant protein was modified in some way such that the apoprotein molecular mass increased by 52 Da. Antibodies raised against FdIV and EPR spectroscopy were used to examine the relative levels of FdIV and FdI in various A. vinelandii strains leading to the conclusion that FdIV levels appear to be specifically increased under conditions where another protein, NADPH:ferredoxin reductase is also up-regulated. In that case, the fpr gene is known to be activated in response to oxidative stress. This suggests that thefdxD gene and other genes in the iron-sulfur cluster assembly or repair operon might be similarly up-regulated in response to oxidative stress.
Transient Cortisol Suppression in Response to Oral Clonidine Administration

In this study we have confirmed that the decrease in cortisol values in children after oral clonidine administration is the result of the suppressant effect of clonidine and not an artifact of diurnal variation. In addition, we have demonstrated clonidine causes a transient suppression of plasma cortisol while it simultaneously produces a transient stimulation of serum growth hormone. The potential heuristic implications of using clonidine as a central nervous system probe of hypothalamic-pituatary-adrenocortical system responsivity are discussed.
Utilization patterns in an asthma intervention.

Background The National Cooperative Inner-City Asthma Study (NCICAS) tested a model of asthma management in which a master's degree-prepared social worker functioned as an asthma counselor. The NCICAS resulted in decreased symptom days and a trend toward fewer emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions in the intervention group compared with the control group. Objective To determine whether a real-world implementation would give similar results to the NCICAS. Methods Children with moderate or severe persistent asthma were enrolled in a 1-year program, the Inner-City Asthma Intervention (ICAI) program, modeled on the NCICAS. Since the program initially was not designed to be research, data were collected retrospectively. ED and hospital visits were compared 1 year before and after the intervention at 2 of the intervention sites, Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH) and Baystate Medical Center, to determine whether there was a significant change. Results Data for 93 children from CMH and 77 from Baystate were evaluated. At CMH annual ED visits were 0.38 before, 0.42 during, and 0.41 after the intervention, whereas at Baystate ED visits were 0.09 before, 0.17 during, and 0.15 after the intervention. Mean hospitalizations at CMH increased from 0.06 before to 0.22 during and then decreased to 0.12 after ( P > .05), whereas admissions at Baystate increased from 0.03 before to 0.05 during and 0.04 after the intervention. Conclusions Asthma self-management interventions can lead to decreases in asthma utilization under controlled circumstances. Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether the ICAI intervention is effective under real-world conditions.
The possible relationship between cardiac relaxing substance and cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate

Abstract Concentrations of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate between 10−8 M and 10−4 M were completely without effect on the Mg-stimulated actomyosin ATPase (EC 3.6.1.4) activity of fresh and glycerinated canine cardiac myofibrils. All fibrils were known to be capable of responding to soluble cardiac relaxing substance. Cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate also failed to alter either the stimulant effect of Ca or the inhibitory effect of cardiac relaxing substance. We conclude from these and supporting observations, (a) that cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate is not cardiac relaxing substance, and (b) that a co-factor capable of conferring relaxing activity upon cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate probably does not exist.
Macrocosm and microcosm: The interface of anthropology and clinical psychiatry

Abstract When the anthropologist is drawn into working in the field of psychiatry, he generally finds himself to be one member of a multidisciplinary team, with both research and training responsibilities, and within a specific program under the rubric of “social psychiatry” 1 or “community mental health.” 2 These multidisciplinary teams are noted for their administrative difficulties, interpersonal conflicts 3–6 and communication barriers. In this examination of the borderland in which anthropologists and clinical psychiatrists meet, we will present some of the reasons for this incompatibility. A discussion of the interface of two professions, two groups, or even two persons is always colored by the observer's bias which represents his special knowledge and experience as well as his special situation. Unable and unwilling to dispel this bias, the author must warn the reader about his “conflict of interests.” Since no one can accurately describe himself as having two roles at the same time and since roles tend to blend and hybridize, the author must describe himself as having once been an anthropologist, now working and thinking as a clinical psychiatrist with primary focus on training others to treat emotionally disturbed persons.
Myoglobin: quantification in the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus).

1. 1. Myoglobin from the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus) was purified on Sephadex G-75. The absorption spectrum and extinction coefficients for HbCO and MbCO were determined between 520 and 590 nm and used to quantify myoglobin within the heart, diaphragm, thigh, triceps and gastrocnemis in six adults and one juvenile. 2. 2. Mean values, in mg myoglobin/g wet muscle wt in the adults were: heart, 6.68 mg/g; diaphragm, 7.09 mg/g and the pooled skeletal muscle, 8.04 mg/g. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between muscle groups in the adults. 3. 3. Quantities in the juvenile were lower, with the heart containing 3.41 mg/g, diaphragm 0.91 mg/g and skeletal muscle 1.87 mg/g. 4. 4. Disc electrophoresis revealed three distinct myoglobin protein bands. 5. 5. The increased myoglobin content suggests an adaptation related to the armadillo's fossorial existence and tolerance to hypoxia during feeding and burrowing.
Polymerization of 1-bromo-2-phenylacetylene

The title monomer was polymerized by thermal initiation and the polymers were analyzed by IR, NMR, and GPC. The polymers were found to be low molecular weight species that had eliminated bromine as the polymerization progressed. In addition, initiation with AIBN was attempted, however, no difference in rate of polymerization, percent conversion, or molecular weight was noted between these polymers and those synthesized by thermal initiation. Also, no initiator fragments were found in the polymers.
Estimating the Analytical and Surface Enhancement Factors in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS): A Novel Physical Chemistry and Nanotechnology Laboratory Experiment.

A novel laboratory experiment was successfully implemented for undergraduate and graduate students in physical chemistry and nanotechnology. The main goal of the experiment was to rigorously determine the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sensing capabilities of colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These were quantified by estimating the analytical enhancement factor (AEF) and surface enhancement factor (SEF) of the AgNPs, that is, the most important values for characterizing the SERS effect. SERS is an embodiment of Raman spectroscopy that currently finds numerous cutting-edge applications. To achieve this, students synthesized a Creighton colloid and characterized its optical properties by UV–vis absorption spectrophotometry. The AEF and SEF values were then estimated from the measured Raman, SERS, and fluorescence emission spectra of a test probe, rhodamine 6G, adsorbed on the colloidal AgNPs. This laboratory experiment introduced the students to the fundamentals of SERS spectroscopy an...
Impact of Family Hypertension History on Exercise-Induced Cardiac Remodeling

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is a well-established, but highly variable, finding among exercise-trained persons. The causes for the variability in LV remodeling in response to exercise training remain incompletely understood. The present study sought to determine whether a family history of hypertension is a determinant of the cardiac response to exercise training. The cardiac parameters in 60 collegiate rowers (30 men/30 women; age 19.8 +/- 1.1 years) with (family history positive [FH+], n = 22) and without (family history negative [FH-], n = 38) a FH of hypertension were studied with echocardiography before and after 90 days of rowing training. The LV mass increased significantly in both groups. However, the LV mass increased significantly more in FH- persons (Delta 17 +/- 5 g/m(2)) than in FH+ persons (Delta 9 +/- 6 g/m(2), p <0.001) with distinctly differently patterns of LV hypertrophy between the 2 groups. FH- athletes experienced eccentric LV hypertrophy (relative wall thickness index 0.39 +/- 0.4) characterized by LV dilation. In contrast, FH+ athletes developed concentric LV hypertrophy (relative wall thickness index 0.44 +/- 0.3; p <0.001) characterized by LV wall thickening. Furthermore, the eccentric LV remodeling in FH- athletes was associated with a more robust enhancement of LV diastolic function than the concentric LV remodeling that occurred in FH+ athletes. In conclusion, these findings suggest that patterns of exercise-induced LV remodeling are strongly associated with FH history status.
A brief survey of self‐organization in wireless sensor networks

Summary Many natural and man-made systems exhibit self-organization, where interactions among components lead to system-wide patterns of behavior. This paper first introduces current, scientific understanding of self-organizing systems and then identifies the main models investigated by computer scientists seeking to apply self-organization to design large, distributed systems. Subsequently, the paper surveys research that uses models of self-organization in wireless sensor networks to provide a variety of functions: sharing processing and communication capacity; forming and maintaining structures; conserving power; synchronizing time; configuring software components; adapting behavior associated with routing, with disseminating and querying for information, and with allocating tasks; and providing resilience by repairing faults and resisting attacks. The paper closes with a summary of open issues that must be addressed before self-organization can be applied routinely during design and deployment of senor networks and other distributed, computer systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electronic structure and energetics of sapphire (0001) and (11¯02) surfaces

Electronic structure and energetics of (0001) and (11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}02) surfaces of sapphire, \ensuremath{\alpha}-${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, were calculated using the self-consistent-field discrete variational (DV) method in the local-density framework. Clusters of a size of 70--120 atoms embedded in the semi-infinite host lattice were used to model the sapphire free surfaces. Calculations were performed on all possible terminating (0001) and (11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}02) surfaces obtained from cleaving a sapphire single crystal. The energetic calculations show that the surface with the lowest cleavage energy is terminated with an Al layer for the (0001) surface, while it is terminated with an O layer for the (11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}02) surface. The concept of the surface building block, useful in determining the surface atomic termination, was proposed. Two unoccupied surface bands derived from the top-layer Al atoms are found within the bulk band gap at 2 and 8 eV below the conduction-band minimum (CBM) for the (0001) surface. For the (11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}02) surface, the occupied valence states derived from 2p states of the top-layer O atoms are found \ensuremath{\sim}4.0 eV below the CBM, which may explain the 4.7-eV energy-loss feature found experimentally on a sapphire (11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}02) surface.
Effect of nanocomposite synthesis on the combustion performance of a ternary thermite.

Nanocomposite thermites are attractive materials for their diverse applications from metallurgy to ordnance technologies. While there are a plethora of combinations of fuel and oxidizers, this work shows that the composite's overall performance is intimately tied to how the fuel and oxidizer are prepared and combined. Comparison of the combustion velocities of two separate ternary mixtures of Al−Fe2O3−SiO2, one prepared in situ using sol−gel processing and the other prepared by physically mixing discrete nanoscale particles, demonstrated different burning behaviors as a result of preparation technique. The stoichiometry of the two sets of thermite was varied to examine the influence of SiO2 on combustion velocity as a means to control the reaction behavior. For pure Fe2O3 + Al reactions, results show that the sol−gel synthesized materials (40 m/s) exhibit increased velocities over the physically mixed materials (9 m/s) by approximately 4 times. This trend is not observed, however, upon addition of SiO2 to...
Regulatory and Clinical Aspects of the Resurgence of Compounding by Pharmacists

During the past decade there has been a significant increase in the number of pharmacists in the United States who devote a substantial part of their professional activities to compounding prescription, in some instances for a wide variety of drugs and drug delivery systems. There is dispute about the legal status of some of these activities. Also, the clinical safety and efficacy of some of these products may be open to question. The present paper explores issues involved in the present debate.
Interpretation of biomarkers of bone metabolism in children: impact of growth velocity and body size in healthy children and chronic disease.

Objectives To determine the effects of growth, maturation, and whole body bone mineral content (WB-BMC) accrual on biomarkers of bone formation (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase [BSAP]) and resorption (urine deoxypyridinoline/creatinine [DPD]) in healthy children and children with Crohn's disease. Study design BSAP and DPD were measured at baseline, with growth and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) WB-BMC measured at baseline and 6 months in 202 control subjects and 110 subjects with Crohn's disease, ages 5 to 21 years. Multivariable linear regression identified determinants of biomarkers in control subjects and subjects with Crohn's disease. Results In control subjects, BSAP and DPD were significantly and independently associated with sex, Tanner stage, WB-BMC, height velocity, and WB-BMC accrual rates; these covariates explained 77% to 80% of the variability in the bone biomarkers, respectively. Subjects with Crohn's disease had lower height-for-age (P Conclusions These data illustrate the potential confounding effects of growth and WB-BMC on bone metabolism biomarkers in children. After adjustment for these effects, Crohn's disease was associated with lower biomarkers of bone formation and greater bone resorption.
Abstract 1855: Regulation of proliferation of colon cancer cells by compounds affecting glycolysis including 3-bromopyruvate, 2-deoxyglucose and biguanides.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC In earlier work we found that incubation of colon cancer cells with 2-deoxyglucose had an additive inhibitory effect on proliferation with the biguanides, metformin and phenformin, and blocked the acidification of the medium caused by incubation of cells with biguanides. In the present work, studies were performed with Caco-2, HCT116, HT29 and SW1116 colon cancer cells. Metabolism of glucose and acidification of the medium was greater with the more rapidly proliferating cells being greatest with HCT116 cells and least with SW1116 cells. We have seen that, as with 2-deoxyglucose, 3-bromopyruvate can also prevent the lowering of medium pH caused by biguanide treatment. . Inhibition of glucose metabolism paralleled the decrease in acidification of the medium. 3-bromopyruvate inhibited colon cancer cell proliferation. Additive effects with metformin and 3-bromopyruvate were not observed in any of the four colon cancer cell lines but some additive effects were seen with phenformin and 3-bromopyruvate. An additive effect was more notable in combined treatment with 3-bromopyruvate and 2-deoxyglucose. Induction of alkaline phosphatase activity serves as a marker of differentiation in colon cancer cells. The induction of alkaline phosphatase activity by butyrate was not consistently affected by combination with other agents that modified glucose metabolism. The drug combinations that were examined inhibited proliferation in wild type and P53 null HCT116 cells and affected colon cancer lines with different growth rates. Although metformin and phenformin increase glucose metabolism by colon cancer cells while 3-bromopyruvate and 2-deoxyglucose inhibit glucose metabolism, all these compounds have potential inhibitory action on the proliferation of colon cancer cells. Citation Format: Michael A. Lea, Mehreen Qureshi, Michael Buxhoeveden, Nicolette Gengel, Jessica Kleinschmit, Charles desBordes. Regulation of proliferation of colon cancer cells by compounds affecting glycolysis including 3-bromopyruvate, 2-deoxyglucose and biguanides. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1855. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1855
Synthesis, properties, and photodynamic properties in vitro of heavy-chalcogen analogues of tetramethylrosamine

Thio and seleno analogues of tetramethylrosamine were prepared by the directed-metalation/cyclization of the corresponding N,N-diethyl 2-(3-dimethylaminophenylchalcogeno)-4-dimethylaminobenzamide to the 2,7-bis-(N,N-dimethylamino)-9H-chalcogenoxanthen-9-one followed by the addition of phenylmagnesium bromide, dehydration, and ion exchange to the chloride salt. The thio and seleno tetramethylrosamines had longer wavelengths of absorption and higher quantum yields for the generation of singlet oxygen than tetramethylrosamine. Both the thio and selenoanalogues of tetramethylrosamine were efficient photosensitizers against R3230AC rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells in vitro.
The political economy of WTO accession: the unfinished business of universal membership

While the WTO now represents most of the world's population, GDP, and trade, the accession process since its founding has been lengthy, and it is getting longer. Compared to its predecessor, the GATT, the WTO applies a much more detailed and legalistic approach to accession, due to its broader scope of policy coverage and the enforcement powers of the Dispute Settlement Understanding. In WTO accession cases, WTO incumbent members have a superior bargaining position. The present study provides evidence that the elapsed time from WTO application to accession has increased with the number of completed accessions, suggesting a process of learning by WTO members to bargain for more demanding concessions from applicants. Regarding the terms of accession, the number of rules commitments has increased, and the level of bound tariffs has fallen, as the number of completed accessions has increased. In view of the difficult cases remaining in order to complete universal WTO membership, the author proposes more flexibility in accession requirements, along the lines of the GATT tradition.
Dose distribution of 125I sources in different tissues.

The low-energy photons of {sup 125}I deposit energy in tissues primarily by the photoelectric effect, which is strongly dependent on the atomic number {ital Z}. Thus dose distributions of {sup 125}I sources in media of different {ital Z} are not the same. LiF and CaF{sub 2} thermoluminescent dosimeters were used for relative dose distribution measurements in materials that are equivalent to muscle, breast, and bone. The experimental data are in good agreement with published results for muscle, and in reasonable agreement with Monte Carlo calculations for all the tissues tested. These measured data provide the basis for dose distribution calculations when {sup 125}I seeds are implanted in or near inhomogeneous tissues.
Re-print of “Radical Delivery and Fragmentation for Structural Analysis of Glycerophospholipids”

Abstract Conventional tandem mass spectrometry relies on even-electron fragmentation that provides limited structural information for glycerophospholipids (GP), which are key constituents of all cell membranes. Different GP classes are chemically very similar and subtle variations in carbon-carbon bonding features and linkages can lead to numerous isomeric structures that are challenging to distinguish with traditional mass spectrometry. In this study, we demonstrate that the primary amine groups in many GP classes can be modified with either noncovalent attachment of crown ether derivatives containing an iodobenzoyl moiety, or by direct covalent attachment of the iodobenzoyl moiety. Radical lipids can be generated using these modifications via photoactivation of labile carbon-iodine bonds, providing rich information about headgroup and fatty acid chain structure. The method is demonstrated for lipid standards containing various carbon chain motifs and linkages, as well as phospholipids extracted from a soybean mixture. Numerous lipids were examined, including plasmalogen-, lyso-, diacyl- types of phospholipids containing mono-/poly- unsaturated fatty acid (FA) substituents, and branched-/nonbranched-FA chains. Interestingly, the presence of double bond and/or vinyl ether linkage leads to the formation of a signature fragment ion that facilitates rapid structural identification.