cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Profile of Brian K. Kobilka and Robert J. Lefkowitz, 2012 Nobel Laureates in Chemistry

Those of us that had been hammering away in the field for 40 years or more cannot deny the excitement in learning that Brian Kobilka, a former postdoctoral fellow of Robert Lefkowitz, in collaboration with Roger Sunahara, had determined the structure of the agonist-bound β2-adrenergic receptor-Gs protein complex (1). To borrow a phrase from Henry Bourne, this is “the Big Enchilada” for the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)/G protein field. This work followed just five years after Kobilka and Schertler’s determination of the crystal structure of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) bound to the inverse agonist carazolol (2), and over two and a half decades after the reports by Robert Lefkowitz’s group of the purification, cloning, and sequencing of the mammalian β2AR (3, 4). These remarkable achievements and others discussed below led to the award of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Kobilka and Lefkowitz. This was another big win for GPCRs, G proteins, and second messengers, a field that has already been richly rewarded, and justifiably so, for the role they play in hormone and neurotransmitter signaling and pharmacology.
Studies on a Submerged Flexible Sheet Type Wave Energy Device With Distributed Point-Wise Secondary Power Conversion

This paper reports ongoing work on a horizontally submerged tension-moored flexible sheet serving as a wave energy absorber. The device represents a “smart structure” designed for efficient wave energy conversion, and would have such advantages as low primary converter costs, multiple resonant peaks, and ready tunability with reactive loading. The natural response of the sheet is studied analytically, and both flexural and membrane effects are modeled. Natural frequency dependence on device length and in-plane applied tension is investigated. Secondary energy conversion is via hydraulic actuators applying point loads, and desirable locations for the actuators are identified. Finally, the effect of reactive loads on the dynamic response is explored through calculations on the lowest oscillation mode.© 2007 ASME
Barriers to defect melting in chemo-epitaxial directed self-assembly of lamellar-forming diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends

We investigate energy barriers and minimum energy paths (MEPs) for transitions from dislocation-pair defects to perfect lamellae in self-assembly of AB-diblock copolymer plus A- or B-homopolymer blends using self-consistent field theory (SCFT) and the numerical string method. For neutral substrates, all minimum energy paths discovered by the string method show two successive energy barriers. The two-barrier qualitative nature of the MEPs appears not to depend on the presence or absence of small amounts of homopolymer. For the first energy barrier, the barrier height shows pronounced increase with addition of A-homopolymer due to localization of A-homopolymer on the T-junction core of the dislocation. For chemo-epitaxially patterned substrates (stripes of A-attractive substrate alternating with neutral substrate), the presence of A-attractive stripes helps draw the system towards a perfect lamellar configuration, and energy barriers along the MEP are reduced, in some cases disappearing entirely. Our findings provide guidance on how the presence of homopolymer and chemo-epitaxial prepatterns affect the stability of defective morphologies.
Contaminant Uranium Phases and Leaching at the Fernald Site in Ohio

Electron beam techniques were used to characterize uranium-contaminated soils at the Fernald site in Ohio. Uranium particulates had been deposited on the soil through chemical spills and from the operation of an incinerator plant on the site. The major uranium phases were identified using analytical electron microscopy (AEM) combined with electron diffraction as uranyl phosphate (meta-autunite), uranium oxide (uraninite), and uranium metaphosphate [U(PO3)4]. The U(PO3)4 was found predominantly at an incinerator site at Fernald. Carbonate leaching in an oxygen environment has removed some of the U(IV) phases; however, U(PO3)4 has not been removed by any of the chemical remediation technologies tried to date. These observations suggest that an additional physical extraction procedure is needed to remove this phase. Some evidence suggests that the uranium has undergone weathering, resulting in its redistribution within the soil.
Murine autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease with multiorgan involvement induced by the cpk gene.

Background Autosomal recessive (AR) polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized in humans and mice as a rapidly progressive, collecting duct cystic disease usually leading to uremia in the neonatal or infantile period. In humans, ARPKD renal pathology can be variable in severity and is associated with the development of prominent bile duct and liver pathology. The C57BL/6J-cpk/cpk mouse model of ARPKD is the most extensively studied murine model of inherited infantile PKD; however, these mice lack extrarenal pathology. Methods In the present study, the cpk gene was backbreed onto CD1 mice to examine the development of cpk-induced ARPKD in this outbred mouse background. Resulting cystic offspring were examined morphologically and their serum urea nitrogen levels were assessed. Results The rapid development of PKD in CD1 mice homozygous for the cpk gene appears to be slightly more rapid but otherwise comparable to that seen in inbred C57BL/6J mice. In CD1-cpk/cpk mice, the principal renal pathological finding is collecting duct cysts, which are lined by a relatively uniform epithelium. This epithelium appears to be relatively undifferentiated based on almost total absence of intercalated cells. Proximal tubule cysts are prominent in the first postnatal week while collecting duct cysts predominate in the later stages of the disease. Extrarenal manifestations of the cpk gene are evident in the CD1 strain and include cysts of pancreatic, common bile, and major hepatic ducts. Intrahepatic bile ducts also have focal dilations. Primary (thymus) and secondary (spleen) lymphoid tissues become hypoplastic as azotemia progresses. The strain-related variability in renal and liver changes in cpk-induced ARPKD may reflect the influence of other genes (possibly modifier genes) expressed in this mouse strain. In older CD1-cpk/+ mice, renal (proximal tubular) cysts and prominent liver cysts (lined by a biliary epithelium) develop, indicating that the heterozygous state (cpk/+ genotype) causes renal and hepatic pathology. Conclusions The cpk gene, when placed on an appropriate mouse strain background, causes multiorgan disease that more closely mimics human ARPKD than when the cpk gene is expressed on the C57BL/6J strain. A gene dose effect is present as cystic pathology is present in kidney and liver of both suckling homozygous (cpk/cpk) and old heterozygous (cpk/+) mice. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Temperature‐dependent photoabsorption cross sections in the VUV‐UV region: Ethylene

[1] Using synchrotron radiation as a continuum light source, we have measured the absolute photoabsorption cross sections of ethylene (C2H4) in the region between 118 nm and 192 nm with a spectral bandwidth (full width at half maximum) of 0.06 nm and at five different temperatures: 370 K, 330 K, 295 K, 200 K, and 140 K. Significant temperature effects are observed in several spectral regions, including the threshold absorption region. From the Pc,370K curve we are able to identify and assign several hot bands. When the gas temperature decreases from 370 K to 140 K, the cross sections of the hot bands in the 190 nm region decrease by an order of magnitude. The line shapes of the Pc,T exhibit characteristic symmetric and asymmetric peaks, as well as the first derivative-like and second derivative-like curves associated with various absorption features. The results obtained in the present work provide the required data to the planetary atmospheres community and may have an important contribution to our understanding of the atmospheres of giant planets.
Effect of FA composition on epoxidation kinetics of TAG

The rate constants of epoxidation were determined by reacting formic acid with a number of oils, pure TAG, and pure FAME. These results showed that FA composition had a significant effect on the value of the rate constant. In TAG, the double bonds of oleic acid and linoleic acid were equally reactive, and the double bonds of linolenic acid were approximately three times more reactive than oleic and linoleic acids. For FAME, the rate constants of epoxidation increased as the level of unsaturation increased. Furthermore, the rate constants of epoxidation for the FAME were higher than their respective TAG. We conclude that steric and electronic effects caused FA with different levels of unsaturation to have different reactivities. These results were used to derive a model that predicts the epoxidation kinetics of oils from their FA composition. The predictions of the model closely match the experimentally determined rate constants.
Pharmacokinetics of dapsone in children

We studied dapsone pharmacokinetics in eight children with compromised immune function who were receiving three different preparations. Peak serum concentration was less than 0.25 μ g/ml after doses of an extemporaneous liquid preparation but ranged from 0.72 to 1.33 μ g/ml after initial tablet or proprietary liquid doses and 1.48 to 2.48 μ g/ml during long-term proprietary liquid administration. Elimination followed first-order kinetics; the mean elimination half-life was 15.1 hours.
The identification of a cis-element and a trans-acting factor involved in the response to polyamines and polyamine analogues in the regulation of the human spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase gene transcription.

The superinduction of spermidine/spermineN 1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) gene has been associated with a cytotoxic response to a new class of antineoplastic polyamine analogues. The initial mechanism of SSAT superinduction is an increase in transcription in response to analogue exposure. This increased transcription appears to be modulated through the association between a nuclear protein factor and a cis-element described here as the polyamine-responsive element (PRE). The PRE was identified as a 9-base pair sequence, 5′-TATGACTAA-3′, in the context of a 31-base pair stretch from –1522 to –1492 base pairs with respect to the SSAT transcriptional start site. This element binds a nuclear factor from polyamine analogue-responsive cells, but not from polyamine analogue-insensitive cells. The labeled PRE was used to clone and identify the transcription factor, Nrf-2, that binds constitutively to the PRE sequence. Although the PRE sequence shares homology to the originally identified Nrf-2 recognition sequence, the two sequences are not identical. The Nrf-2 transcription factor appears only to be present in cell types that are capable of expressing high amounts of SSAT. The results of these studies suggest that Nrf-2, bound to the PRE, plays an important regulatory role of expression of the human SSAT gene.
Phase relations in the system Pb-Sn-Se

Phase equilibria have been determined in the portion of the Pb-Sn-Se system bounded by the compositions Pb-Sn-SnSe-PbSe. The PbSe-SnSe join is quasibinary with only small deviations from stoichiometry. The ternary phase boundaries lie close to the Pb-Sn side of the diagram. Subsolidus relations are shown by a series of isoplethal sections.
Determine Mesh Orientation by Voxel-Based Principal Component Analysis

In this paper we propose a new method to determine the part orientation of a 3D mesh based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Although the idea and practice of using PCA to determine part orientation is not new, it is not without practical issues. A major drawback of PCA, when it comes to dealing with meshes comprised of nodes and elements, is that the results are tessellation-dependent because of its sensitivity to variability. Two CAE meshes derived from the same CAD model but with different mesh node distribution characteristics, for instance, can yield different principal components. This is an undesirable outcome because the primary concern in model reorientation is shape, not the representational details of the shape. In order to reduce the influence of node characteristics, weight factors were proposed in the past, but the improvement is limited. To overcome this limitation, we must eliminate the influence of mesh node distribution. We achieve this by introducing an intermediate workspace, which is subsequently voxelized. We then find the intersection of the mesh model with the voxelized workspace. We collect the intersecting voxels to form an intermediate, tessellation-independent representation of the mesh. Applying PCA to this “neutralized” representation allows us to achieve mesh-property-independent results. The voxel representation also provides an opportunity of computational efficiency. We implemented an octree data structure to store the voxels and implemented a fast intersection (between a mesh element and a voxel) check procedure utilizing the interval overlap check derived from the separating axis theorem. Practical issues concerning determination of the voxel space resolution is addressed. A two-step trial and correction approach is proposed to enhance the consistency of results. Our voxel-based PCA is robust, fast, and straightforward to implement. Application examples are shown demonstrating the effectiveness and efficiency of this approach.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Short‐time Breadmaking Systems. A Continuous Mix System

In a continuous mix system an oxidant system of azodicarbonamide (ADA, 15 ppm) and KBrO3 (60 ppm) gave bread with good volume and excellent grain. However, the bread had a tendency to shrink (keyhole) and had a dull crust appearance. Formulation changes (increased sugar and nonfat dried milk) solved the dull crust problem. A response surface methodology study showed that bread with good volume and grain and a reasonable small amount of keyholing could be produced. The best conditions were 5% yeast and an oxidant system of 30 ppm ADA and 60 ppm of KBrO3.
Precursors of Maillard browning in Atlantic short finned squid

Abstract The mantle muscle from Atlantic short finned squid (Illex illecebrosus) harvested off the coasts of Newfoundland (Nfld) and Massachusetts (MA), contains the sugars: glucose (Nfld = 38 mg%, MA = 40 mg%), ribose (Nfld = 44 mg%, MA = 38 mg%), glucose-6-P (Nfld = 59 mg%, MA = 49 mg%) and ribose-5-P (Nfld = 34 mg%, MA = 54 mg%) and much higher concentrations of free amino acids (Nfld = 35 mg%, MA = 38 mg%) than previously reported for other genera of squid. Amino acids which are active precursors of Maillard browning, notably taurine, are more than five times as abundant in Atlantic short finned squid than in other genera of squid that are reported to have a lesser tendency to exhibit undesirable browning reactions in processed squid products. The mantle muscle of this squid also contains the betaine derivative, homarine (Nfld = 40 mg%, MA = 26 mg%), a compound which was previously implicated with non-enzymatic browning in irradiated squid muscle.
Comparative studies on excystation and morphological features of the metacercariae of Echinostoma paraensei and E. caproni

Abstract Studies were done to determine specific differences between the metacercariae of Echinostoma paraensei and E. caproni . The percentage of excystation of E. caproni in an alkaline trypsin-bile salts medium was about 6 × greater than that of E. paraensei . The body and acetabular length of excysted metacercariae of E. caproni were significantly greater (Student's t -test, P E. paraensei . The length and width of encysted metacercariae of E. caproni were significantly greater than those of E. paraensei . The number of excretory concretions in both encysted and excysted metacercariae of E. caproni was significantly greater than that of E. paraensei . In conclusion, in vitro excystation data and morphometric light microscopic studies were useful in determining specific differences in the metacercariae of these 2 closely related allopatric species of 37-collar-spined Echinostoma .
The diels-alder chemistry of 1-vinyl-2-pyridones

Abstract The Diels-Alder chemistry of a series of 1-vinyl-2-pyridones using a variety of dienophilic species including dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, benzyne, maleic anhydride and methyl vinyl ketone has been explored in order to determine the generality of this method for generation of N -vinylisoquinuclidines. In general, the cycloaddition reactions lead to modestly high yeilds of the azabicyclooctane products. In the course of these studies, we noted that retro-Diels-Alder reactions of N -vinylisoquinuclidienones lead to generation of N -vinylisocyanates and a benzene fragment while the corresponding mono-unsaturated isoquinuclidenones form the corresponding pyridones by elimination of an ethylene unit. Lastly, the regio- and stereochemical courses for the π2+ π4 addition reactions of methyl vinyl ketone and 1-vinyl-2-pyridones were investigated. The major products from these reactions appear to result from reaction pathways predicted to be of low energy using first-order molecular orbital methods.
Exercise and gastrointestinal function and disease: an evidence-based review of risks and benefits

Background & Aims: Exercise is beneficial to health because it reduces the risk of cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, improves bone and muscle conditioning, and lessens anxiety and depression. However, the impact of exercise on the gastrointestinal system has been conflicting. This systematic literature review evaluates the effect of the different modes and intensity levels of exercise on gastrointestinal function and disease using an evidence-based approach. Although more applicable to trained athletes and individuals who are highly active and, as such, at risk to experience the side-effects of exercise, an effort was made to state the level or degree of exercise or the lack of such evidence. Results: Light and moderate exercise is well tolerated and can benefit patients with inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease. Physical activity can also improve gastric emptying and lower the relative risk of colon cancer in most populations. Severe, exhaustive exercise, however, inhibits gastric emptying, interferes with gastrointestinal absorption, and causes many gastrointestinal symptoms, most notably gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusions: This knowledge will enable physicians to prescribe physical exercise in health and disease and to better manage patients with exercise-related gastrointestinal disorders. Our understanding of exercise and its gastrointestinal manifestations as well as risks and benefits warrants further investigation.
Amylase in pancreas, intestine, liver, and serum during fasting, non-protein diet and realimentation.

SummaryMale rats were fasted for 8 days or fed non-protein diet for 16 days. Amylase activity was determined at intervals in pancreas, small gut, liver and serum. In each instance fasting caused sharp and parallel drops in amylase activity. Feeding non-protein diet 2–4 days seemed to spare amylase in small gut and serum. Liver fluctuated in the first 4 days and then remained at half normal activity for 16 days. Pancreatic amylase activity was depleted more on non-protein diet than in fasting. Feeding induces increased secretion of pancreatic amylase which, with other endogenous proteins, is probably hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen and its amino acids absorbed. The data suggest that intestinal mucosa by its absorptive function is able to remove amino acids for protein synthesis directly from gut contents, and the liver has next choice through the portal system. Finally pancreas and other tissues are supplied by way of the peripheral circulation.
The histopathologic misdiagnosis of melanoma: sources and consequences of "false positives" and "false negatives".

and malignant melanomas. J Pathol 1996;179:183-7. 9. Imokawa G, Yada Y, Kimura M. Signalling mechanisms of endothelin-induced mitogenesis and melanogenesis in human melanocytes. Biochem J 1996;314:305-12. 10. Yohn JJ, Smith C, Stevens T, Hoffman TA, Morelli JG, Hurt DL, et al. Human melanoma cells express functional endothelin-1 receptors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1994;201:449-57. 11. Imokawa G, Yada Y, Miyagishi M. Endothelins secreted from human keratinocytes are intrinsic mitogens for human melanocytes. J Biol Chem 1992;267:24675-80. 12. Ahn GY, Butt KI, Jindo T, Yaguchi H, Tsuboi R, Ogawa H. The expression of endothelin-1 and its binding sites in mouse skin increased after ultraviolet B irradiation or local injection of tumor necrosis factor alpha. J Dermatol 1998;25:78-84. 13. Chisholm LJ, Dovgan PS, Agrawal DK, McGregor PE, Edwards JD. Modulation of monocyte adherence to endothelial cells by endothelin-1 involvement of Src (p60src) and JAK1-like kinases. J Vasc Surg 1996;23:288-300. 14. Schwarting A, Schlaak J, Lotz J, Pfers I, Meyer zum Buschenfelde KH, Mayet WJ. Endothelin-1 modulates the expression of adhesion molecules on fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS). Scand J Rheumatol 1996;25:246-56.
Ring artifacts on the barium enema.

A specific ring artifact that is occasionally seen on barium enemas is described. The cause, appearance, and means of avoiding this artifact are discussed.
Stokeslets-meshfree computations and theory for flow in a collapsible microchannel

We present both a theoretical model and Stokeslets-meshfree computations to study the induced flow motions and transport in a 2D microchannel with moving multiple prescribed dynamic collapses (contractions) along the upper wall. The channel is assumed to have a length that is much greater than its width, i.e., \({(\delta = W/L \ll1)}\) . The wall contractions are set to move with or without time (phase) lags with respect to each other. The theoretical analysis presented is based on the quasi-steady state approximations and the lubrication theory at the low Reynolds number flow regime. The meshfree numerical method is based on the method of fundamental solutions MFS, which uses a set of singularized force elements called Stokeslets to induce the flow motions. The flow field developments and structures induced by these wall contractions are given at various time snapshots during the collapsing cycle. The effect of the wall contractions amplitudes and the phase lags between individual contractions on the flow variables and on the time-averaged net flow over a complete cycle of contractions motions is studied. The present study is motivated by pumping mechanisms observed in insects, physiological systems that use multiple contractions to transport fluid, and the emerging novel microfluidic devices that mimic these systems.
Simulation analysis of dispatching rules for automated material handling systems and processing tools in semiconductor fabs

A critical aspect of semiconductor manufacturing is the design and analysis of material handling and production control policies to optimize fab performance. This research utilizes two simulations of SEMATECH fab data of actual production fabs. The hypothesis of this study is that both vehicle and machine dispatching rules and their interaction have significant impact on fab performance. To test this hypothesis, a full factorial design experiment is performed. The vehicle and machine dispatching rules as well as their interaction are shown to have a significant impact
Work in progress - Using insights from non-engineers to help develop laboratory projects

A group from engineering programs at both four and two year colleges has been assembled to explore creating laboratory modules with an emphasis on activities and perspectives shown to be successful in technological literacy courses for non-engineering students. To meet the needs of community college engineering programs, the logistical and commercial feasibility of shipping a complete laboratory in a box will be investigated. This will minimize the laboratory preparation time for community college instructors. These laboratories will be suitable for use in either technological literacy or introduction to engineering courses. The laboratories will attempt to utilize insights from non-engineering students to determine themes that may help interest students in engineering and enliven introduction to engineering courses. Technological literacy courses on a number of campuses have found that non-engineers respond positively to material that focuses on technology familiar to the students in their everyday life, uses extensive verbal and graphical explanations, and includes useful information that helps to establish a sense of empowerment regarding technology. Eight laboratory projects will be created and tested at a variety of two and four-year schools.
Protection against Anthrax Toxemia by Hexa-d-Arginine In Vitro and In Vivo

The anthrax toxin protective antigen precursor is activated by proteolytic cleavage by furin or a furin-like protease. We present here data demonstrating that the small stable furin inhibitor hexa-D-arginine amide delays anthrax toxin-induced toxemia both in cells and in live animals, suggesting that furin inhibition may represent a reasonable avenue for therapeutic intervention in anthrax.
Push enteroscopy has a 96% cecal intubation rate in colonoscopies that failed because of redundant colons

Background Performing a complete colonoscopy to the cecum is important for ruling out malignancy and other lesions, but failure rates are significant with a standard colonoscope. A previous study using a push enteroscope for failed colonoscopies had a completion rate of 68.7%. Objective To improve the cecal intubation rate by using a newer version of a push enteroscope. Design Retrospective study at first, then a prospective study. Setting Single-center veterans health care system. Patients A total of 47 patients in whom the cecum was not reached with a regular adult colonoscope between January 2007 and December 2010 were included. Those with poor bowel preparation were excluded. Interventions Repeat colonoscopy using a new version of a push enteroscope. Main Outcome Measurements The rate of cecal intubation and additional pathological findings. Results The cecum or terminal ileum was reached in 45 patients (96%). Additional significant pathological findings in the previously unexamined colon were seen in 18 patients (38%). Limitations Small sample size, lack of comparison with other endoscopes. Conclusions Colonoscopy with a push enteroscope could be advanced to either the terminal ileum or cecum in 96% of patients, which is one of the highest known completion rates in patients in whom colonoscopy failed. Clinical management changed in all patients with additional findings.
INCOHERENT OPTICAL PROCESSOR FOR X-RAY TRANSAXIAL TOMOGRAPHY

A single-channel incoherent optical processor that reconstructs an object from its 1-D x-ray projections has been developed. The projection data are recorded directly on x-ray film, which, after development, is used as the input transparency for the processor. The same computing algorithms used by commercial computed tomography units are optically implemented to reconstruct the object from these projections. The totally analog processor employs time-modulated OTF synthesis to achieve the necessary bipolar filtering operations. This technique involves a time-varying pupil plane mask in conjunction with synchronous demodulation of the detector output to obtain the desired response. Results are presented that are similar in quality to reconstructions produced by commercial scanners. The advantage of this system is that it should offer equivalent performance at a reduced cost.
Feed intake regulation for the female broiler breeder: In theory and in practice

SUMMARY The modern commercial broiler is the product of intensive genetic selection for rapid and efficient growth. An unintended consequence of this selective breeding has been the loss of the ability for self-regulation of feed intake to closely match the requirements for maintenance, growth, and reproduction. Thus, the broiler tends to overconsume feed, resulting in a range of metabolic and health problems related to the development of obesity. These problems progress with age and become a significant impediment to the production of parent stock. To manage this situation, broiler breeder birds must be subjected to severe feed restriction, beginning early in life, to ensure that appropriate BW and composition are achieved at critical phases of the production cycle. This review focuses on the female broiler breeder because this bird requires the most intensive management with respect to feed allocation throughout production to attain BW targets that ensure good livability and efficient egg and chick production. Background information is provided on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate feed intake and energy expenditure in poultry. In addition, several examples are discussed with regard to the endocrine and metabolic consequences of different feeding regimens commonly used in the management of the female breeder during the rearing and egg-laying phases of production.
The question of cyclic versus acyclic ions: The structure of [C10H12]+˙ gas phase ions

The extent of isomerization of acyclic and cyclic gas phase radical cations of composition [C10H12]+˙ has been investigated by using collisionally activated dissociation spectroscopy. Both electron and charge exchange ionizaiton were employed to form the ions with various internal energies. The [C10H12]+˙ ions investigated consisted of ionized phenylbutenes, ring-substituted methyl derivatives of allylbenzene and phenylpropene, 1-methyl-2-isopropenylbenzene, benzylcyclopropane, phenylcyclobutane, tetralin and 1-methylindan. The 1-methylindan and tetralin radical cations are the most stable of the C10H12 isomeric radical ions. The [C10H12]+˙ formed from acyclic olefins having the double bond in conjugation with the aromatic ring retain the initial structure to a significant extent. However, ions derived from olefins with the double bond out of conjugation with the benzene ring preferentially cyclize to stable five- and six-membered cyclic ions. Ring opening of small-ring cyclic ions, such as ionized benzylcyclopropane and phenylcyclobutane, occurs, followed by ring closure to the tetralin radical cation.
Effect of plasticity on elastic modulus measurements

[1] Recent developments in high-pressure X-ray studies enable the measurement of the elastic strain anisotropy induced by a macroscopic differential stress in an aggregate sample. Such data are commonly used to constrain the single-crystal elastic moduli under the assumptions of the Reuss-Voigt state. We find this procedure is valid only for samples that have not been plastically deformed. Measured elastic strain anisotropy for MgO at stress levels below the yield point agree well with the Reuss elastic model. Plastic deformation effects a change in the stress field for subpopulations of grains that represent different crystallographic orientations with respect to the applied stress field. Our data for the plastically deformed sample are consistent with the predictions of a self-consistent aggregate model for deforming polycrystals. Such models may be useful as a guide to define the elastic properties in light of the active slip systems. INDEX TERMS: 3902 Mineral Physics: Creep and deformation; 3909 Mineral Physics: Elasticity and anelasticity; 3924 Mineral Physics: High-pressure behavior; 3954 Mineral Physics: X ray, neutron, and electron spectroscopy and diffraction; 3994 Mineral Physics: Instruments and techniques. Citation: Weidner, D. J., L. Li, M. Davis, and J. Chen (2004), Effect of plasticity on elastic modulus measurements, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L06621, doi:10.1029/ 2003GL019090.
Probability of error, equivocation, and the Chernoff bound

Relationships between the probability of error, the equivocation, and the Chernoff bound are examined for the two-hypothesis decision problem. The effect of rejections on these bounds is derived. Finally, the results are extended to the case of any finite number of hypotheses.
The meaning of silence for the holocaust child survivor: the role of family romance and rescue fantasies.

History is no stranger to human aggression, yet, the Holocaust (1940–1945), a magnum opus of deliberately planned destruction, defies comprehension. Historians, philosophers, and social scientists have tried to make sense of this disaster. Psychoanalysts, likewise, have contributed an impressive literature to an understanding of individual behavior and group dynamics during the Nazi tyranny and its aftermath (Bergmann, 1982; Kestenberg, 1980; Krystal, 1988; Niederland, 1981; Ostow, 1982; Pines, 1986). Much has changed in the past sixty years. Individual survivors who previously maintained.an “epic silence” have begun to speak, to acknowledge the horrors, the trauma, and losses that they experienced. The world, albeit reluctantly, has acknowledged its crimes and denials of this catastrophic event. In spite of this change, we have a history of shattered lives among the survivors, and serious difficulties for their children (Yale Holocaust Video Archives; Holocaust and Genocide Studies, University of Minnesota). The question that we must address as psychoanalysts is by what diagnostic norms are we to judge a people so brutalized and traumatized by the social structure? How are we to understand the psychology of the survivors when the norms of a “good-enough” society no longer applied? How realistic an assessment can we make when the structure of their society, the organization of family life, and the moral value of human relationships disintegrated under the planned extermination by the Nazis (Wannsee Conference, 1942)? There is a vast psychological literature on the subject of the
The vanishing Mpongwe: European contact and demographic change in the Gabon River

A drastic decline of aboriginal populations has been an important by-product of European commercial and imperial expansion in many parts of the world. Europeans have been aware of this phenomenon from the early days of Spanish exploration and conquest when Fray Bartolome de las Casas deplored the rapid collapse of Indian populations in the Caribbean. The problem still seemed acute in the nineteenth century. For example, the young Charles Darwin, describing the decline of the Australian Aborigines, placed most of the blame on alcoholism, introduced diseases, and the loss of hunting grounds. But these factors did not fully explain what appeared to be the impending extinction of a variety of peoples. ‘Besides these several evident causes of destruction,’ he wrote,there appears to be some more mysterious agency at work. Wherever the European has trod, death seems to pursue the aboriginal. We may look to the wide extent of the Americas, Polynesia, the Cape of Good Hope, and Australia, and we find the same result.
Infinitesimal and finite perturbation analysis for queueing networks

The sample-path pertrubation analysis technique introduced in refs. (1-4) is extended to included finite (and possibly large) pertrubations typically introduced by changes in queue sizes or other parameter. It is shown that there is a natural hierarchy of perturbation analysis which takes care of increasingly large perturbations. Experiments with zeroth (infinitesmal) and first order (finite) pertrubation analysis show that significant accuracy improvement can be obtained with small increase in computational effort.
Severe Adverse Drug Reaction Following Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) Administration for Copperhead Snakebite

Objective: To present the case of a severe anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction to Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) in a patient bitten by a copperhead snake. Case Summary: A 68-year-old man presented with progressive envenomation after receiving a copperhead snakebite on each hand. Crotalinae Fab antivenom was administered. While the initial and only dose was partially infusing, the patient developed an adverse drug reaction (ADR) of urticaria and hypotension, which resolved with cessation of the infusion, recurred with resumption of the infusion, and ultimately was completed with supportive care. An additional episode of hypotension, urticaria, and angioedema occurred shortly after antivenom therapy completion. Epinephrine was administered, resolving the reaction with complete patient recovery. The event received a Naranjo score of 10, indicating a definite ADR. Discussion: Treating copperhead snakebites with antivenom is a matter of debate. Concern over adverse events and cost induce some physic...
A Short-Term Delayed Approach to Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia When Injury Is Suspected

Laparoscopic repair is a safe and effective method for treating ventral hernias. Although the risk of bowel injury is low, its management is controversial. When injury is suspected or repaired, the risk of infection might prohibit a repair with prosthetic mesh. The timing of safe mesh placement is unclear. We retrospectively reviewed 9 patients from our prospective laparoscopic ventral hernia database who were treated with a 2-to 6-day delay in mesh placement due to violation of the gastrointestinal tract or risk of unidentified or delayed injury. All 9 patients had large ventral hernias from previous laparotomies (average defect, 399.4 cm2) and presented for elective repair. Three of the patients were morbidly obese, and one was diabetic. The decision to delay mesh placement was made intraoperatively. Reasons for delay were colotomy with repair, extensive serosal tears, resection after enterotomy, and resection for chronic small bowel obstruction. All patients received broad-spectrum antibiotics while aw...
Strategic Behavior, Private Information, and Decentralization in the European Union Emissions Trading System

In the European Union Emissions Trading System, the supply of carbon permits is determined in a decentralized manner by Member States. Alternatively, the supply could be determined by an EU central authority. We analyze whether decentralization leads to lower total abatement costs under various assumptions about the behavior of Member States and the privacy of information about their abatement costs. If Member States do not behave strategically, then decentralization is preferred, regardless of whether abatement costs are private information. If the Member States behave strategically, then decentralization may or may not be preferred, depending on the degree of uncertainty about abatement cost parameters, the variation in emission endowments, and the number of Member States.
LIFE HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS OF PLACENTAL NONVOLANT MAMMALS

The purpose of this data set was to compile general life history characteristics for a variety of mammalian species in order to perform comparative life history analyses among different taxa and different body size groups. Data were collected from the literature, and data sources are documented for each species within the data file. Since life history characteristics will show minor variation with environmental conditions (resource availability, climate, competitive environment, and predation pressure) a general life history for each species was sought to average over minor differences in local populations. To create a general life history for each species, life history values are often an average from several literature sources. Life history variables included in the data set are: maximum lifespan (months), age of first reproduction (months), gestation time (months), weaning age (months), weaning mass (grams), litter size, litters per year, newborn mass (grams), and adult body mass (grams). Since these d...
Commentary: The Pharmacological Antioxidant Amifostine—Implications of Recent Research for Integrative Cancer Care

Amifostine is a pharmacological antioxidant used as a cytoprotectant in cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It is thought to protect normal tissues relative to tumor tissue against oxidative dama...
On the role of roles: from role-based to role-sensitive access control

This paper maintains that for an access-control (AC) mechanism tosupport a wide range of policies, it is best to dispense with any built-insemantics for roles in the mechanism itself---be it the semantics of RBAC, orany other---leaving such semantics to be defined by particular policies. Inother words, an AC mechanism should be sensitive to roles, allowingspecific policies to take roles into account for their authorizationdecisions. But it should not be based on any particular interpretationof the structure of roles, or of their effect on access control. The validity of this assertion is demonstrated by showing that a mechanismcalled Law-governed interaction (LGI), which has no built-in concept of roles,can nevertheless support a wide range of policies that take roles intoaccount. These include RBAC itself, its various generalizations, as well asconcepts like budgetary controls, which seems to be quite inconsistent withRBAC. All such policies can be formulated, deployed, and enforced, via asingle scalable, and fully implemented LGI mechanism.
Quantum Transduction of Telecommunications-band Single Photons from a Quantum Dot by Frequency Upconversion

Transducing non-classical states of light from one wavelength to another is required for integrating disparate quantum systems that take advantage of telecommunications-band photons for optical-fibre transmission of quantum information and near-visible, stationary systems for manipulation and storage. In addition, transducing a single-photon source at 1.3 mm to visible wavelengths would be integral to linear optical quantum computation because of near-infrared detection challenges. Recently, transduction at single-photon power levels has been accomplished through frequency upconversion, but it has yet to be demonstrated for a true single-photon source. Here, we transduce triggered single photons from a semiconductor quantum dot at 1.3 mm to 710 nm with 21% (75%) total detection (internal conversion) efficiency. We demonstrate that the upconverted signal maintains the quantum character of the original light, yielding a second-order intensity correlation, g (2) (t), that shows that the optical field is composed of single photons with g (2) (0) 5 0.165< 0.5.
A heuristic algorithm for schedule reconfiguration of projects during Execution

This paper considers the schedule reconfiguration of multi - mode resource - constrained projects. Before a project starts, we assume that an optimal schedule of the project is obtained under the objective of minimizing the resource usage and hiring costs. This initial schedule serves as a baseline for the execution of the project. However during the project execution, the project can be subjected to several disruptions that may disturb the baseline schedule. Therefore, a reconfiguration must be performed to adjust the project schedule based on the observed disruptions. We develop a heuristic algorithm to calculate the update and reconfiguration strategy based on total cost minimization.
Bovine blastocyst development after follicle-stimulating hormone and platelet-derived growth factor treatment for oocyte maturation in vitro.

Bovine embryonic viability after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was affected by addition of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or growth factor combinations to gonadotrophin-supplemented serum-free medium for in vitro maturation (IVM). Thus, 0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 ng PDGF/ml combined with 500 ng follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/ml enhanced oocyte maturation as reflected by greater proportions (p < 0.05) of matured and inseminated oocytes developing to blastocysts in vitro than were afforded by PDGF alone, i.e. 32.4%, 28.2% and 31.0% respectively vs. 11.4%, 13.5% and 8.6% respectively. By contrast, luteinising hormone (LH, 500 ng/ml) combined with the same concentrations of PDGF did not increase the proportions of oocytes developing to blastocysts (16.2%, 12.5% and 16.9%). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) + insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) with or without PDGF when added to low concentrations of FSH or LH did not significantly improve cleavage or morula development. Significant improvement (p < 0.05) in blastocyst formation was seen when FSH was supplemented with either EGF (38.0%) or EGF+IGF-I+PDGF (40.7%) compared with FSH alone (27.4%) or FSH+LH (24.3%), but no improvement followed FSH+EGF+IGF-I (33.6%) or FSH+LH+EGF+IGF-I+PDGF (29.2%) treatments for IVM. Results revealed a positive influence on blastocyst development of FSH and PDGF or EGF +/- PDGF during IVM and suggest the possibility of a concerted action of gonadotrophins with growth factors in physiological (functional) oocyte maturation.
Human extracellular superoxide dismutase is a tetramer composed of two disulphide-linked dimers: a simplified, high-yield purification of extracellular superoxide dismutase

Studies examining the biochemical characteristics and pharmacological properties of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC SOD) have been severely limited because of difficulties in purifying the enzyme. Recently EC SOD was found to exist in high concentrations in the arteries of most mammals examined and it is the predominant form of SOD activity in many arteries. We now describe a three-step, high-yield protocol for the purification of EC SOD from human aorta. In the first step, the high affinity of EC SOD for heparin is utilized to obtain a fraction in which EC SOD constitutes roughly 13% of the total protein compared with only 0.3% of that of the starting material. In addition, over 80% of the original EC SOD activity present in the aortic homogenate was retained after the first step of purification. EC SOD was further purified using a combination of cation- and anion-exchange chromatography. The overall yield of EC SOD from this purification procedure was 46%, with over 4 mg of EC SOD obtained from 230 g of aorta. Purified EC SOD was found to exist predominantly as a homotetramer composed of two disulphide-linked dimers. However, EC SOD was also found to form larger multimers when analysed by native PAGE. It was shown by urea denaturation that the formation of multimers increased the thermodynamic stability of the protein. Limited proteolysis of EC SOD suggested that there is one interchain disulphide bond covalently linking two subunits. This disulphide bond involves cysteine-219 and appears to link the heparin-binding domains of the two subunits.
Determination of the oxygen reduction products on ASTM A516 steel during cathodic protection

The electrochemistry of steel in aerobic and anaerobic aqueous alkaline solutions was studied with or without forced convection to investigate the cathodic processes occurring on steel exposed by defects in polymer coated steel pipe. The results are relevant to the mechanistic understanding of the effect of cathodic protection on the disbonding of fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) coatings on steel. Moderate (pH9.8) and strongly (pH14) alkaline aqueous solutions were used to simulate the water layers at the cathodically polarized steel surface on the soil-side of buried pipe. A rotating gold ring and steel disc electrode (RRDE) in alkaline aqueous electrolyte equilibrated with 1atm oxygen over solution was used to measure the rotation rate dependent current for the electroreduction of oxygen, O2, on an ASTM A516 steel disc and the resulting peroxide generation, which was determined by monitoring the oxidation current on the gold ring. An appreciable fraction of the oxygen reduction current on the steel disk gave rise to peroxide generation over a wide range of potentials, from −0.2 to −0.9V vs SCE in 1M KOH. The observation of peroxide generation is noteworthy, because oxidizing agents, such as peroxide and its decomposition products, superoxide and hydroxy radical, can degrade the polymers used for coating pipelines. As result, oxidative degradation of polymer or interfacial compounds may be a cause of the accelerated disbonding observed for protective coatings on steel pipelines under cathodic protection.