cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinguishing rate-limiting electron versus H-atom transfers in Cu2(O2)-Mediated oxidative N-dealkylations: Application of inter- versus intramolecular kinetic isotope effects

Copper-dioxygen adducts are important biological oxidants. To gain a better understanding of the underlying chemistries of such species, we report on a series of Cu2II-O2 complexes, [{CuII(MePY2)R‘}2(O2)](B(C6F5)4)2 (1R‘) (where (MePY2)R‘ is a 4-pyridyl substituted bis[2-(2-(4-R‘-pyridyl)ethyl]methylamine; R‘ = H, MeO, Me2N; Zhang, C. X.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 634−635), which readily oxidize exogenous substrates. In this study, we explore the mechanism by which 1R‘ facilitates the oxidative N-dealkylation of para-substituted N,N-dimethylanilines (R−DMA; R = MeO, Me, H, CN). In the case of 1H, the linear free-energy correlation plot (ρ = −2.1) and intramolecular deuterium kinetic isotope effect (KIEintra, using p-R−(C6H4)−N(CH3)(CD3)) profile suggest that R−DMA oxidation occurs through rate-limiting electron transfer (ET). This mechanism was further enforced by comparison of KIEintra versus the intermolecular KIE (KIEinter, using p-R−(C6H4)−N(CH3)2 versus p-R−(C6H4)−N(CD3)2). It was found tha...
Thyroxine and 3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine Bind to the Same Putative Receptor in Hepatic Nuclei of Rana catesbeiana Tadpoles*

Previous studies have provided conflicting evidence as to whether tadpole liver nuclei contain the same number of high affinity binding sites for T4 as they do for T3. Inability to prepare stable tadpole liver nuclei may have contributed to these inconsistencies. Thus, a study was carried out in which the in vivo binding of T4 and T3 by tadpole liver nuclei was reexamined with a greatly improved method for isolating liver nuclei. It was found that the maximum binding capacities of the nuclei for T3 and T4 were not significantly different [0.161 ± 0.015 (±sem) vs. 0.185 ± 0.046 pmol/mg DNA]. However, the affinity of the binding sites for T3 was 2–3 times their affinity for T4 (Kd, 1.65 ± 0.31 vs. 4.32 ± 0.92 × 10−12 m). Furthermore, the nuclear binding of [125I]T4 or [125I]T3 was decreased to comparable levels by administration of saturating amounts of T3 and T4 given either before or with the 125I-labeled hormone, indicating that both hormones were competing for the same set of sites. It is suggested that...
Characterization and optical properties of sol–gel processed PMMA/SiO2 hybrid monoliths

Abstract Organic–inorganic hybrid monoliths consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) and SiO2 were synthesized by the sol–gel process. Three PMMA/TEOS ratios by weight were prepared, namely PMMA/TEOS = 80/20, 50/50 and 20/80. The effects of the ratio of PMMA/TEOS on thermal stability, microstructure, morphology and optical properties were systematically studied. In particular, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated morphological variation corresponding to the degree of miscibility between organic and inorganic components. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) clearly revealed that the SiO2 was more uniformly distributed in the hybrids with increasing PMMA content. The refractive index could be adjustable in the range of 1.474–1.486. The 80/20 monolith had the similar transparency to pure PMMA in the visible region and lower absorption than PMMA in the near infrared region, suggesting its potential applications for optical devices.
Relabeling exchange method (REM) for learning in neural networks

The supervised training of neural networks require the use of output labels which are usually arbitrarily assigned. In this paper it is shown that there is a significant difference in the rms error of learning when `optimal' label assignment schemes are used. We have investigated two efficient random search algorithms to solve the relabeling problem: the simulated annealing and the genetic algorithm. However, we found them to be computationally expensive. Therefore we shall introduce a new heuristic algorithm called the Relabeling Exchange Method (REM) which is computationally more attractive and produces optimal performance. REM has been used to organize the optimal structure for multi-layered perceptrons and neural tree networks. The method is a general one and can be implemented as a modification to standard training algorithms. The motivation of the new relabeling strategy is based on the present interpretation of dyslexia as an encoding problem.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Evaluating the impact of matrix effects on biomarker assay sensitivity

Background: The accuracy of highly sensitive biomarker methods is often confounded by the presence of various circulating endogenous factors in samples causing matrix effects. Method: This article outlines two different biomarker methods: hepcidin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for which an orthogonal assessment of ELISA to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was performed to examine the potential matrix effect, and sclerostin ELISA to evaluate the matrix effect. Results: Although the potential interfering effects of the endogenous hepcidin variants (prohepcidin and clipped) showed that these proteins had >30% immunoreactivity in ELISA, the hepcidin ELISA preferentially measures full-length hepcidin when the molar ratios of full-length to variants remain >1. The correlation of ELISA to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry results showed full-length hepcidin as the major form in diseased populations. Conclusion: A fit-for-for-purpose assessment of matrix effect/selectivity w...
An experimental investigation of hydrogen production from biomass gasification

Abstract An experimental study of hydrogen production from biomass was conducted using a benchscale fluidized bed gasifier. Parametric experiments were performed to determine the effects of reactor temperature, equivalence ratio, and steam to biomass ratio. Experimental measurements of gas composition and yield were used to calculate the hydrogen yield potential, the capacity of the gas stream for hydrogen production by shifting carbon monoxide and steam reforming higher hydrocarbons. Over the ranges of experimental conditions examined, hydrogen yield potential proved to be most sensitive to equivalence ratio, varying from 62 g H2 kg−1 of dry, ash-free biomass at an equivalence ratio of 0.37, to 128 g H2 kg−1 of dry, ash-free biomass at an equivalence ratio of 0.0. Of the conditions tested, the highest hydrogen yield potential, 128 g H2 kg−1 of dry, ash-free biomass, was achieved at a reactor temperature of 850 °C, equivalence ratio of 0.0, and a steam to biomass ratio of 1.7. This is 78% of the theoretical maximum yield of 165 g H2 kg−1 of dry, ash-free biomass for this feedstock.
Fatigue analysis of an edge crack specimen: Hysteresis strain energy density

Abstract Accumulative damage model based on the hysteresis strain energy density is proposed for predicting fatigue crack growth. Investigated is the application of sinusoidal loading on an edge crack whose growth rates are obtained by specifying the number of cycles, Δ N , for each growth step. The corresponding increment of crack growth, Δ a , is calculated by having the accumulated local strain energy density to reach certain critical value, (dW/dV) c . As it is to be expected, each growth increment Δ a increases up to the point of unstable rapid fracture. The growth rate da/dN versus a data are generated from the nonlinear incremental theory of plasticity. Because of the complexities involved in the stress and subcritical crack growth analysis, the finite element procedure is adopted such that the grid pattern is readjusted for each step of crack growth. Results for the edge crack specimen are displayed graphically and compared with those for the center cracked specimen made of the same material. The different growth characteristics are discussed and expected because material damage by fatigue is sensitive to changes in load history, specimen geometry and crack configuration. Insight into these nonlinear effects provides a means for establishing the range of applicability of the linear fatigue growth models. Discussed in particular are the da/dN vs δ k 1 and AS relations where the linear theory of elasticity is used to calculate Δ K 1 and Δ S .
A pulse amperometric sensor for the measurement of atmospheric hydrogen peroxide.

Gaseous H2O2 is sampled through a Nafion membrane diffusion scrubber while 1 mM HCl is maintained stationary in the scrubber. After a preselected preconcentration time (typically, 5−10 min), a valve is opened to allow the scrubber liquid to flow by gravity over an electrochemical H2O2 sensor for a brief period. The miniature flow-over sensor consists of a Pt/Rh wire working electrode and a Pt wire counter electrode wound respectively on separate segments of a Nafion solid polymer electrolyte tubing supported on a Ag/AgCl wire reference electrode. A simple electronic interface and a personal computer are used to control and record the electrochemical measurement. The liquid phase detection limit for this sensor is ∼30 nM H2O2 in the anodic oxidation mode. For a 9 min gas sample preconcentration period, the LOD (S/N = 3 criterion) is 0.11 ppbv H2O2(g). Ambient H2O2 data obtained with this instrument were in excellent agreement with those obtained by an established fluorometric technique in a blind intercomp...
Supply chain planning: a reinforcement learning approach to production planning in the fabrication/fulfillment manufacturing process

We have used Reinforcement Learning together with Monte Carlo simulation to solve a multi-period production planning problem in a two-stage hybrid manufacturing process (a combination of build-to-plan with build-to-order) with a capacity constraint. Our model minimizes inventory and penalty costs while considering real-world complexities such as different component types sharing the same manufacturing capacity, multi-end-products sharing common components, multi-echelon bill-of-material (BOM), random lead times, etc. To efficiently search in the huge solution space, we designed a two-phase learning scheme where "good" capacity usage ratios are first found for different decision epochs, based on which a detailed production schedule is further improved through learning to minimize costs. We will illustrate our approach through an example and conclude the paper with a discussion of future research directions.
Documenting and Engaging Communities in Appalachia and Wales: Life after Coal

How do resource rich regions transition from their historic dependence on fossil fuels, while sustaining the communities those fuels helped build? After Coal: Welsh and Appalachian Mining Communities is a documentary and collaborative research project that addresses this question by exploring the legacy of mining and the future of former coal communities in Wales and Appalachia.
Probing the high energy states in proteins by proteolysis.

Unless the native conformation has an unstructured region, proteases cannot effectively digest a protein under native conditions. Digestion must occur from a higher energy form, when at least some part of the protein is exposed to solvent and becomes accessible by proteases. Monitoring the kinetics and denaturant dependence of proteolysis under native conditions yields insight into the mechanism of proteolysis as well as these high-energy conformations. We propose here a generalized approach to exploit proteolysis as a tool to probe high-energy states in proteins. This “native state proteolysis” experiment was carried out on Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI. Mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing showed that thermolysin cleaves the peptide bond between Thr92 and Ala93 in an extended loop region of the protein. By comparing the proteolysis rate of the folded protein and a peptidic substrate mimicking the sequence at the cleavage site, the energy required to reach the susceptible state (ΔGproteolysis) was determined. From the denaturant dependence of ΔGproteolysis, we determined that thermolysin digests this protein through a local fluctuation, i.e. localized unfolding with minimal change in solvent assessable surface area. Proteolytic susceptibilities of proteins are discussed based on the finding of this local fluctuation mechanism for proteolysis under native conditions.
Spray characteristics of a swirl atomiser in trigger sprayers using water–ethanol mixtures

Pressure swirl atomisers are widely used in both industry and daily life. It is critical to understand the spray transient behaviour for better design of these systems. This paper presents an experimental study of conical liquid sheets breakup from a swirl atomiser nozzle in trigger sprayers. Spray and atomisation characteristics were measured and analysed. Water–ethanol mixtures were used to simulate different fluids on the breakup and atomisation quality of the spray development process with a wide range of surface tension while maintaining relatively small changes in fluid viscosity and density. The spray images were taken by a high speed digital camera and post-processed to analyse the global spray structure, spray cone angle, and breakup length. The droplet size and its distribution were measured using a laser diffraction technique. It was observed that the surface waves grow rapidly on the cone-shaped liquid sheets and breakup into liquid ligaments and droplets during the initial stage of fluid dispensing. Then the spray transitions into the developed stage. Near the end of the dispensing process, the liquid cone collapses with poor atomisation (large droplets) due to momentum loss. The comparison between different fluids showed that the spray cone angle and liquid breakup length decreased with the increase of ethanol percentage ratio. The percentiles parameters, Sauter mean diameter (SMD) and particle size distribution were measured and compared for different locations. High surface tension fluids produce larger droplets than lower surface tension fluids, which have the same trend as the percentiles parameters and SMD. Results also show that droplet size and its distribution depend on the location of the measurement. Generally speaking, smaller droplet size is found for a location away from the nozzle axis in the vertical direction. In the horizontal direction, larger droplet sizes are found for a location closer to the nozzle exit. © 2013 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Intraorifice sealing of gutta-percha obturated root canals to prevent coronal microleakage

A study was conducted to evaluate Cavit, Intermediate Restorative Material, and Super-EBA as intraorifice filling materials to prevent coronal microleakage. Root canal instrumentation and obturation was done on 74 extracted single-rooted teeth. Three and one-half millimeters of the guttapercha was removed from the coronal aspect of the root canal and replaced with one of the three filling materials. The teeth were suspended in scintillation vials containing trypticase soy broth, and human saliva was added to the pulp chambers. Microbial penetration was detected as an increase in turbidity of the broth corresponding to bacterial growth. At the end of 90 days, the results showed that 15% of the Cavit-filled orifices leaked, whereas 35% of the Intermediate Restorative Material and Super-EBA-filled orifices leaked. The gutta-percha obturated root canals that received an intraorifice filling material leaked significantly less than the obturated, unsealed control group—all of which leaked in
Comparative effects of hydrofluoroalkane and chlorofluorocarbon beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation on small airways: Assessment with functional helical thin-section computed tomography

A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group pilot study compared the relative efficacy of hydrofluoroalkane-134a beclomethasone dipropionate (HFA-BDP [QVAR]; mass median aerodynamic diameter, 0. 8-1.2 m) versus cholorofluorocarbon-11/12 BDP (CFC-BDP [Beclovent]; mass median aerodynamic diameter, 3.5-4.0 m) in 31 steroid naive patients with mild to moderate asthma (PC(20,) 4 mg/mL). Functional high-resolution computed tomography was used to assess the relative efficacy of HFA-BDP and CFC-BDP on regional air trapping, as an indirect measure of small airways function and on regional hyperreactivity. Pretreatment functional computed tomography was performed at residual volume before and after methacholine challenge. After 4 weeks of treatment, functional imaging was repeated before and after the same concentration of methacholine that was administered before the treatment (n = 19 patients). Quantitative assessment of changes in distribution of lung attenuation was performed. After 4 weeks of treatment, the HFA-BDP group showed significantly more improvement in air trapping overall (a shift in the lung attenuation curve at residual volume toward more attenuation) on the posttreatment computed tomography scan (P <.05; Fisher's Exact Test). After an equal constrictor stimulus (methacholine concentration), subjects treated with HFA-BDP (n = 10 patients) showed less increase in air trapping overall than subjects treated with CFC-BDP (n = 9 patients) on the posttreatment scans compared with the pretreatment scans (P <.001; Fisher's Exact Test). No significant difference was demonstrated between the 2 treatment groups with respect to improvement in symptoms, spirometry, or methacholine responsiveness assessed by FEV(1), except for a greater reduction in breathlessness in the HFA-BDP group (P <.05). We conclude that HFA-BDP may have greater efficacy in the peripheral airways and that this effect is better assessed with functional imaging computed tomography techniques than with conventional physiologic tests.
Spin fluctuations, spin bags and the high Tc superconductivity

Abstract The magnetic properties of the half-filled one band Hubbard model is studied within the random phase approximation (RPA) above the mean field spin-density-wave (SDW) background. The spin wave spectrum and the sublattice magnetization are shown to interpolate smoothly between the weak and strong coupling limits. A hole in the SDW background is self-trapped in a region of reduced SDW amplitude and forms an object which we call the spin bag. The attraction among the two holes results due to the tendency to share the region of reduced SDW amplitude. A detailed calculation based on the RPA above the SDW background support this picture. The symmetries and the nodes of the resulting pairing gap are discussed.
Compositae of the Guayana Highland—VII. Noteworthy species of Chromolaena and Mikania (Eupatorieae) from Venezuela

Chromolaena ternicapitulata is described from Sierra de Maigualida in T. F. Amazonas and a key to the species of Chromolaena from Guayana is given. Newly documented for the flora of Venezuela are M. aschersonii Hieron. and M. amazonica Baker, the second herein resurrected from the synonymy of common and widespread M. sprucei Baker. Mikania karsteniana Klot. ex Hieron. is not considered synonymous with M. pannosa Baker, thus the latter is again considered to be endemic to Guayana.
Perturbation of drug receptor equilibrium in the presence of competitive blocking agents

Abstract In this paper we have analyzed the consequences of perturbing a pharmacological system in equilibrium due to an agonist drug alone, as well as in the presence of either reversible or irreversible competitive antagonists. We have shown that the recovery after perturbation is exponential. The time constants obey the order relation: τrev > τ > τirr. When applied to vascular smooth muscle perturbed by ultraviolet light, the theory is compatible with the hypothesis that ultraviolet light causes relaxation by interfering with drug receptor bonds.
Cosmic Origins Spectograph FUV detector

The Far Ultraviolet (FUV) detector for the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS), scheduled to be installed in the Hubble Space Telescope in June 2003, is currently being built by the Experimental Astrophysics Group at The University of California, Berkeley. The COS FUV detector system is based on the detectors flown on the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite with changes to take advantage of technological improvements since the development of those detectors. The COS FUV detector is a dual segmented, cylindrical input face, MCP detector with cross delay line (XDL) readouts. Each segment is a Z-stack of MCPs with an active area 85 mm by 10 mm. The segments are abutted end to end to form a total active area approximately 180 mm by 10 mm (with a gap in the middle). Detector spatial resolution in the long (spectral) dimension is better than 25 microns and in the short dimension (cross-dispersion) is better than 50 microns. The MCPs are coated with a CsI photocathode to achieve the optimal quantum detection efficiency (QDE) in the 1150 - 1750 angstrom bandpass. Improvements in the understanding of the processing required to produce higher QDE MCPs has lead to significant improvements in the FUV QDE relative to previous missions. This paper presents the basic design parameters and performance characteristics of the COS FUV detector.
Microporous metal-organic frameworks for gas separation.

Microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are comparatively new porous materials. Because the pores within such MOFs can be readily tuned through the interplay of both metal-containing clusters and organic linkers to induce their size-selective sieving effects, while the pore surfaces can be straightforwardly functionalized to enforce their different interactions with gas molecules, MOF materials are very promising for gas separation. Furthermore, the high porosities of such materials can enable microporous MOFs with optimized gas separation selectivity and capacity to be targeted. This Focus Review highlights recent significant advances in microporous MOFs for gas separation.
Rise and demise of the Bahama-Grand Banks gigaplatform, northern margin of the Jurassic proto-Atlantic seaway

Abstract An extinct, > 5000-km-long Jurassic carbonate platform and barrier reef system lies buried beneath the Atlantic continental shelf and slope of the United States. A revised stratigraphic framework, a series of regional isopach maps, and paleogeographic reconstructions are used to illustrate the 42-m.y. history of this Bahama-Grand Banks gigaplatform from its inception in Aalenian(?) (early Middle Jurassic) time to its demise and burial in Berriasian-Valanginian time (early Early Cretaceous). Aggradation-progradation rates for the gigaplatform are comparable to those of the familiar Capitan shelf margin (Permian) and are closely correlated with volumetric rates of siliciclastic sediment accumulation and depocenter migration. Siliciclastic encroachment behind the carbonate tracts appears to have been an important impetus for shelf-edge progradation. During the Early Cretaceous, sea-level changes combined with eutrophication (due to landward soil development and seaward upwelling) and the presence of cooler upwelled waters along the outer shelf appear to have decimated the carbonate producers from the Carolina Trough to the Grand Banks. This allowed advancing siliciclastic deltas to overrun the shelf edge despite a notable reduction in siliciclastic accumulation rates. However, upwelling did not extend southward to the Blake-Bahama megabank, so platform carbonate production proceeded there well into the Cretaceous. Subsequent stepwise carbonate abatement characterized the Blake Plateau Basin, whereas the Bahamas have maintained production to the present. The demise of carbonate production on the northern segments of the gigaplatform helped to escalate deep-water carbonate deposition in the Early Cretaceous, but the sudden augmentation of deep-water carbonate reservoirs in the Late Jurassic was triggered by other agents, such as global expansion of nannoplankton communities.
A national profile of teacher education faculty: The construction of an online survey

Physical education teacher education faculty are responsible for educating the next generation of teachers. Despite their significant role, little is known about their characteristics, work preferences, or role responsibilities. The last comprehensive study undertaken to examine these variables was conducted approximately 25 years ago by Metzler and Freedman (1985). The purpose of the current investigation is to describe and validate an instrument for obtaining an updated comprehensive profile of physical education teacher education faculty in the United States. An online survey consisting of six sections was developed. To establish validity and confirm the psychometric quality of the instrument, test–retest was conducted with a subsample of 40 participants. In addition, Cronbach alpha analysis was conducted to provide support for the internal structure of the instrument. The survey accurately identifies and discriminates between the current characteristics and work responsibilities of today's teacher edu...
Auditory cortex mapmaking: principles, projections, and plasticity

Maps of sensory receptor epithelia and computed features of the sensory environment are common elements of auditory, visual, and somatic sensory representations from the periphery to the cerebral cortex. Maps enhance the understanding of normal neural organization and its modification by pathology and experience. They underlie the derivation of the computational principles that govern sensory processing and the generation of perception. Despite their intuitive explanatory power, the functions of and rules for organizing maps and their plasticity are not well understood. Some puzzles of auditory cortical map organization are that few complete receptor maps are available and that even fewer computational maps are known beyond primary cortical areas. Neuroanatomical evidence suggests equally organized connectional patterns throughout the cortical hierarchy that might underlie map stability. Here, we consider the implications of auditory cortical map organization and its plasticity and evaluate the complementary role of maps in representation and computation from an auditory perspective.
The Treatment Outcomes of Pain Survey (TOPS): A Clinical Monitoring and Outcomes Instrument for Chronic Pain Practice and Research

The field of health outcomes research has increased the utilization of health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) instruments to document economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes (ECHO). The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Questionnaire (MOSSF-36, SF-36) has been utilized extensively in many disease states for this purpose, although it is not validated for use in chronic pain patients. The Total Outcomes of Pain Survey (TOPS) incorporates all the domains of the SF-36, and includes additional domains relevant in the management of chronic pain patients. The TOPS is well validated in these patients. In addition to its utility as an outcomes research tool, the TOPS is sensitive enough to document clinical changes in individual patients, making it a useful assessment tool for clinicians.
Thermal acclimation and hardening in tadpoles of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Abstract 1. 1.|Critical thermal maxima (CTMax) and minima (CTMin) were measured to evalute thermal hardening in Rana catesbeiana . 2. 2.|Tadpoles show heat hardening and CTMax acclimation, and both responses are influenced by developmental stage. 3. 3.|The first evidence of cold hardening in vertebrates is reported here. 4. 4.|Heat hardening significantly reduces cold tolerance, but there is otherwise no evidence of a cross-hardening effect.
Gauge fixing in string field theory using the Polyakov path integral

Abstract The gauge-fixed off-shell propagator for free closed string field theory is calculated using the Polyakov path integral for a cylinder with boundary conditions that break reparametrization invariance - the result for open strings is given without proof. This explicitly establishes the connection between gauge transformations in free string field theory and world-sheet diffeomorphisms on the boundaries, giving an attractive geometrical picture for the origin of gauge invariance. A decomposition of the two-dimensional metric is used which does not distinguish between changes in the metric g ab which effectively move the boundary, such as Teichmuller variations, and diffeomorphisms M → M which do not move the boundary. This decomposition requires an overcomplete set of parameters which specify coordinate transformations on the boundary. The choice of ghost sources attached to the propagator is determined by the choice of a minimal set of these parameters from the overcomplete set. The parameters representing coordinate transformations of the boundaries can be included as dynamical fields in two dimensions and as new coordinates for string field theory. Zero modes of these new coordinates are modular parameters for the torus when the ends of the cylinder are brought together. The relationship between these new coordinates and those introduced by other groups is discussed.
The Molecular Evolution of the Vertebrate Trypsinogens

We expand the already large number of known trypsinogen nucleotide and amino acid sequences by presenting additional trypsinogen sequences from the tunicate (Boltenia villosa), the lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), the pufferfish (Fugu rubripes), and the frog (Xenopus laevis). The current array of known trypsinogen sequences now spans the entire vertebrate phylogeny. Phylogenetic analysis is made difficult by the presence of multiple isozymes within species and rates of evolution that vary highly between both species and isozymes. We nevertheless present a Fitch-Margoliash phylogeny constructed from pairwise distances. We employ this phylogeny as a vehicle for speculation on the evolution of the trypsinogen gene family as well as the general modes of evolution of multigene families. Unique attributes of the lamprey and tunicate trypsinogens are noted.
Differential effects of granule cell transplantation on two sprouted axonal systems in granuloprival coeruleocerebellar cultures.

Abstract Exposure of coeruleocerebellar cultures to cytosine arabinoside for the first 5 days in vitro destroyed granule cells and induced sprouting of cortical neurites (Purkinje cell recurrent axon collaterals) and catecholaminergic fibers. Transplantation of such granuloprival cultures with kainic acid-treated cerebellar explants as a source of granule cells resulted in a reduction of silver-positive cortical neurites, but not of histofluorescent catecholaminergic axons. Tissue levels of catecholamines were similar in transplanted and non-transplanted cultures. Differences in types of contacts made with target Purkinje cells in vitro may account for the difference in response to granule cell transplantation by the two axonal groups.
Nonlinear piezoelectricity in epitaxial ferroelectrics at high electric fields.

Non-linear effects in the coupling of polarization with elastic strain have been predicted to occur in ferroelectric materials subjected to high electric fields. Such predictions are tested here for a Pb(Zr0.2,Ti0.8)O3 ferroelectric thin film at electric fields in the range of several MV/cm. Thermal runaway and subsequent low-frequency dielectric breakdown are overcome by using nanosecond electrical pulses to apply high electric fields, which made the probing of the film's structure possible at piezoelectric strains reaching up to 2.7%. The piezoelectric strain exceeds predictions based on constant piezoelectric coefficients at electric fields from 2 to 4 MV/cm, which is consistent with a non-linear effect predicted to occur at concomitant piezoelectric distortions. At higher fields, the piezoelectric response decreases, suggesting that elastic interactions between atoms enter a new regime.
A protein dissection study demonstrates that two specific hydrophobic clusters play a key role in stabilizing the core structure of the molten globule state of human α‐lactalbumin

The molten globule state of alpha-lactalbumin (alpha LA) has served as a paradigm for understanding the role of these partially folded states in protein folding. We previously showed that a peptide construct consisting of the A and B helices (residues 1-38) cross-linked to the D- and C-terminal 3(10) helices (residues 101-120) of alpha LA is capable of folding to a stable molten globule-like state. Here, we report the study of three peptide constructs that are designed to investigate the contribution two short hydrophobic sequences located near the C-terminus of alpha LA make to the structure and stability of the alpha LA molten globule state. These regions of the protein have been shown to form stable non-native structures in isolation. The three peptide constructs contain residues 1-38 cross-linked to three separate C-terminal peptides via the native 28-111 disulfide bond. The C-terminal peptides consist of residues 101-114, 106-120, and 106-114. The results of CD, fluorescence, ANS binding, and urea denaturation experiments indicate that constructs that lack either of the hydrophobic sequences (residues 101-105 and 115-120) are significantly less structured. These results highlight the importance of long-range, mutually stabilizing interactions within the molten globule state of the protein. Proteins 2001;42:237-242.
Thyroid function in mongolism

Several parameters of thyroid function were studied in mentally retarded children with and without Down's syndrome. Both groups had normal protein-bound iodine and thyroidal radioiodine uptake. However, the erythrocyte T 3 -I 131 -uptake was elevated in children with mongolism. A high proportion of them had circulating thyroid antibodies. Bone age was retarded in children under 10 years. The mechanism and significance of these anomalies have been discussed.
Nekton assemblages of three tributaries to the Calcasieu estuary, Louisiana

From September 1985 to August 1986, nekton species were sampled monthly by seine in three waterways that feed the upper Calcasieu Estuary of southwestern Louisiana. Of the three bayous sampled, Choupique Bayou has been elast modified by man. Contraband Bayou and Bayou d’Inde have been highly modified-both have been dredged and channelized along portions of their lengths, and both receive wastes from municipal sewagetreatment plants. Additionally, Bayou d’Inde receives industrial waste from a large petrochemical complex. To identify different nekton assemblages of the three bayous, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was performed on a species-by-sample matrix containing numbers of individuals of all species sampled at all locations. This analysis differentiated between freshwater assemblages found in a bayou’s upper reaches and estuarine assemblages found in downstream reaches, and demonstrated seasonal changes in species composition of these assemblages. The freshwater and estuarine assemblages contained some species in common. In particular, several estuarine, species appeared in high numbers throughout the bayous, moving into freshwater as postlarvae and small juveniles. These freshwater reaches comprise an important nursery area for many estuarine species (including commercially important forms). However, the value of estuarine and freshwater nursery areas is compromised by human activities. Choupique Bayour was quite rich in species, with an average of 23.7 species sampled each month. The species found in Contraband Bayou were a subset of those found in Choupique Bayou. Contraband Bayou averaged 14.8 species each month, lacking many oxygen-sensitive species found in Choupique Bayou. Species found in Bayou d’Inde were a restricted subset of those found in Contraband Bayou (average of 10.1 species sampled each month). Most of the species inhabiting Bayou d’Inde were relatively less abundant than in Contraband Bayou. These results showed that human activities dramatically reduced the number of species found in a bayou and reduced the value of a bayou as a nursery area for commercially important species.
Women's health and nutrition research: US governmental concerns.

The US Public Health Service (USPHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have a major commitment to women's health issues and to women's health research. “To assess the problems of women's health in the context of the lives women in America lead today,” the Assistant Secretary for Health, USPHS, appointed a task force whose report published in 1985 identified issues, listed 15 recommendations, and served as a guide for the establishment of groups within each agency to implement the recommendations according to their appropriate responsibilities. NIH established an Advisory Committee on Women's Health Issues which assessed NIH involvement in women's health research, made recommendations for implementation or expansion of this research, including a recommendation that women be included in clinical trails or their exclusion be justified. An Office of Research on Women's Health was created. The NIH announced a Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in the spring of 1991, which will address three of the leadi...
123 I EARLY RAOlOlOOINE TEST AS A PREDICTOR OF OUT - COME IN CHILORENWITH THYROTOXICOSIS.

Prediction of relapse in thyrotoxic patients have been difficult with currently available tests especially without discontinuing thlonamide therapy. We have devised a new method of analysis, using early (20 minute) radio-iodine kinetics to determine if normal pituitary feedback mechanism has returned in medically treated patients without discontinuing therapy. By using the short half life radio-isotope 123 I and thionamlde 1 hour prior to the test, we have been able to limit radiation exposure to less than 1% of that generally experienced with current use of 125 1 or 131 1. Our method uses coincidence counting of gamma and x-rays emitted by the isotope which permits determination of the absolute rate of disintegration of the isotope independent of geometry. In 20 patients tested thus far we have been able to predict the outcome correctly in 87.5% with a minimum follow up of 6 months. A trapping rate constant K1 and also absolute iodine uptake AIU is calculated. The upper limit of normals for K1 is 0.03 min-1 and for AIU 0.04 ug/min. In the hyperthyrold patients without remission all values before and after tri-iodothyronine suppression were well outside this normal range for both measurements. Two patients with abnormal measurements who did go into remission appear to have thyroiditis in addition to Graves' disease. This new method of analysis appears to enhance substantially the accuracy of prediction of remission in medically treated patients with Graves' disease.
High-temperature weak ferromagnetism on the verge of a metallic state: Impact of dilute Sr doping on BaIrO 3

The $5d$-electron-based ${\mathrm{BaIrO}}_{3}$ is a nonmetallic weak ferromagnet with a Curie temperature at ${T}_{C}=175\mathrm{K}.$ Its greatly extended orbitals generate strong electron-lattice coupling, and the magnetism and electronic structure are thus critically linked to the lattice degree of freedom. Here we report results of our transport and magnetic study on slightly Sr-doped ${\mathrm{BaIrO}}_{3}.$ It is found that dilute Sr doping drastically suppresses ${T}_{C},$ and instantaneously leads to a nonmetal-metal transition at high temperatures. All results highlight the instability of the ground state and the subtle relation between magnetic ordering and electron mobility. It is clear that ${\mathrm{BaIrO}}_{3}$ along with very few other systems represents a class of materials where the magnetic and transport properties can effectively be tuned by slight alterations in lattice parameters.
Functional roles of enhancer RNAs for oestrogen-dependent transcriptional activation

The functional importance of gene enhancers in regulated gene expression is well established. In addition to widespread transcription of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in mammalian cells, bidirectional ncRNAs are transcribed on enhancers, and are thus referred to as enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). However, it has remained unclear whether these eRNAs are functional or merely a reflection of enhancer activation. Here we report that in human breast cancer cells 17β-oestradiol (E2)-bound oestrogen receptor α (ER-α) causes a global increase in eRNA transcription on enhancers adjacent to E2-upregulated coding genes. These induced eRNAs, as functional transcripts, seem to exert important roles for the observed ligand-dependent induction of target coding genes, increasing the strength of specific enhancer-promoter looping initiated by ER-α binding. Cohesin, present on many ER-α-regulated enhancers even before ligand treatment, apparently contributes to E2-dependent gene activation, at least in part by stabilizing E2/ER-α/eRNA-induced enhancer-promoter looping. Our data indicate that eRNAs are likely to have important functions in many regulated programs of gene transcription.
Unfinished Business in Rape Law Reform

Substantial and widespread changes in federal and state rape laws, designed to advance the concerns of feminists and law enforcement interests, have gone into effect over the past 15 years. Some researchers who have tried to assess the effects of these reforms believe the changes have thwarted feminist goals; others have found little impact on case processing or victims' experiences; still others have pronounced the reform efforts a success. There are many obstacles to measuring and achieving rape reform, the most notable being the need to eliminate juror misconceptions about rape and its victims. Contemporary research and law reform should focus on the trial process, especially on how rules of evidence and methods of constructing a rape case relate to social perceptions about gender, coercion, and sexuality.
Micro-environment conditions, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and seed germination in Cypripedium candidum: strategies for conservation

Cypripedium candidum Muhl. ex Willd. (White Lady’s Slipper), a terrestrial northern United States / southern Canada prairie orchid, reproduces both by seed and adventitious buds from older roots and rhi- zomes. To determine the pollination effects of diverse prairie micro-environments caused by com- peting foliage, particularly with respect to height and density of surrounding flora, ovary development (pollination success) versus ovary abortion (no pol- lination) was recorded for every flower in three diverse populations in eastern South Dakota, USA.
Frass Analysis of Diets of Aphidophagous Lady Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Utah Alfalfa Fields

Aphidophagous lady beetles enhance their foraging success in natural settings by consuming other types of food in addition to aphids. Frass analysis was used to examine natural diets of female lady beetles in fields of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in northern Utah. The first (spring) alfalfa crop was censused in 2004 and 2005 to determine the diet of female adults of the introduced Coccinella septempunctata L., and two native species, C. transversoguttata richardsoni Brown, and Hippodamia convergens Guerin. The proportion of females of the three lady beetle species that fed on pea aphids [Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)] and alfalfa weevil larvae [Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), an abundant alternative prey] increased from early to late season during the first crop. A corresponding seasonal decrease occurred in the proportion of females consuming other types of arthropods (e.g., thrips and collembolans) and nonarthropod food (pollen and fungal spores). Overall, frass analysis indicated that the diets of C. septempunctata and the two native species in alfalfa were similar in their inclusion of a broad variety of foods. The study shows that frass analysis can provide a good overview of the diets of lady beetles in natural settings.
An effective dental work extraction and matching method for bitewing radiographs

This paper presents a method of dental work (DW) extraction and matching for bitewing radiographs. The method includes an algorithm that can correctly extract DW's from radiograph images and two matching metrics (d FD of frequency domain and d XOR of spatial domain) that can effectively match a postmortem DW to the genuine antemortem DW in the database. The experimental results show that our method can extract DW's more correctly shape- and number-wise than methods that use global thresholding. The results also show that, for a database containing 52 different shaped DW's, the accuracy based on d FD is 95% when using top 6% retrievals and achieves to 100% when using top 17% retrievals; whereas the accuracy based on d XOR is 86 and 95 %, respectively, when using the same percentage retrievals. For a database containing 10% of hoax DW's (i.e., DW's have the same shape but different orientation/position as some genuine DW's), the accuracy based on both metrics maintains about the same except the top-1 match based on d FD . The fact that d XOR was not affected by hoax DW's indicates that d FD and d XOR can compensate each other when matching the postmortem DW with hoax DW's. Comparing with the 95% and 100% hit rates using top 8% and 47% retrievals from a much bigger database reported in literature, the metric d FD not only is more efficient but gives a better result.
Transcriptomic and phylogenetic analysis of a bacterial cell cycle reveals strong associations between gene co-expression and evolution

The genetic network involved in the bacterial cell cycle is poorly understood even though it underpins the remarkable ability of bacteria to proliferate. How such network evolves is even less clear. The major aims of this work were to identify and examine the genes and pathways that are differentially expressed during the Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle, and to analyze the evolutionary features of the cell cycle network. We used deep RNA sequencing to obtain high coverage RNA-Seq data of five C. crescentus cell cycle stages, each with three biological replicates. We found that 1,586 genes (over a third of the genome) display significant differential expression between stages. This gene list, which contains many genes previously unknown for their cell cycle regulation, includes almost half of the genes involved in primary metabolism, suggesting that these “house-keeping” genes are not constitutively transcribed during the cell cycle, as often assumed. Gene and module co-expression clustering reveal co-regulated pathways and suggest functionally coupled genes. In addition, an evolutionary analysis of the cell cycle network shows a high correlation between co-expression and co-evolution. Most co-expression modules have strong phylogenetic signals, with broadly conserved genes and clade-specific genes predominating different substructures of the cell cycle co-expression network. We also found that conserved genes tend to determine the expression profile of their module. We describe the first phylogenetic and single-nucleotide-resolution transcriptomic analysis of a bacterial cell cycle network. In addition, the study suggests how evolution has shaped this network and provides direct biological network support that selective pressure is not on individual genes but rather on the relationship between genes, which highlights the importance of integrating phylogenetic analysis into biological network studies.
Effects of heat and other agents on amino acid uptake in Escherichia coli.

In Escherichia coli K1060 grown at 37°C we observed that the uptake of both L-[3H]leucine and L-[35S]methionine was inhibited by exposure of the cells to 48°C. The calcium channel Mockers diltiazem and verapamil, and the anti-arrhythmic agent quinidine, inhibited the uptake of L-[3H]leucine at both 37°C and 48°C. Verapamil also inhibited the uptake of L-[35S]methionine at 37°C, but at 48°C protected against some of the heat-induced decrease in the uptake of this amino acid. The local anaesthetic procaine markedly inhibited the uptake of both labelled amino acids at temperatures between 37°C and 48°C. Amino acid uptake and cell killing were not correlated.