cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid determination of eight benzodiazepines in suspected counterfeit pharmaceuticals using surface-enhanced Raman scattering with handheld Raman spectrometers.

The excessive prescription of benzodiazepines is putting more people at risk of dependence on these drugs and is exacerbating the fatal overdose toll of opioids. A rapid and sensitive SERS method has been developed for trace detection of select benzodiazepines in low-dosage suspect counterfeit tablets, capsules, and injectable solutions using two different portable handheld Raman spectrometers equipped with either a 785-nm laser or a 1064-nm laser. A total of 169 samples and blanks were examined using five handheld Raman spectrometers, which provided data set of 729 examinations. The extraction/SERS procedures yielded true positive rates above 90% for alprazolam, diazepam, and midazolam using the 1064-nm device and yielded true positive rates above 95% for alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, estazolam, midazolam, and temazepam using the 785-nm device; however, the extraction/SERS procedures yielded true positive rates below 60% for lorazepam and triazolam. The minimum concentration (Cmin ) of the benzodiazepine standards that reproducibly yielded a positive match ranged from 1 to 10 μg/ml using the 1064-nm laser device and from 0.5 to 50 μg/ml using the 785-nm laser device. For the analysis of authentic and suspect counterfeit tablets containing these benzodiazepines, the measured Cmin ranged between 10 and 15 µg per tablet or capsule for 1064-nm laser device and 1-100 µg per tablet or capsule for 785-nm laser device. The developed methods are simple, rapid, and ideal for screening suspect benzodiazepine-containing pharmaceutical products at satellite laboratories located within or near international mail facilities and express courier hubs.
Proceedings of MOBICOM 2021

This paper presents Millimetro, an ultra-low-power tag that can be localized at high accuracy over extended distances. We develop Mil-limetro in the context of autonomous driving to efficiently localize roadside infrastructure such as lane markers and road signs, even if obscured from view, where visual sensing fails. While RF-based localization offers a natural solution, current ultra-low-power local-ization systems struggle to operate accurately at extended ranges under strict latency requirements. Millimetro addresses this challenge by re-using existing automotive radars that operate at mmWave fre-quency where plentiful bandwidth is available to ensure high accuracy and low latency. We address the crucial free space path loss problem experienced by signals from the tag at mmWave bands by building upon Van Atta Arrays that retro-reflect incident energy back towards the transmitting radar with minimal loss and low power consumption. Our experimental results indoors and outdoors demonstrate a scal-able system that operates at a desirable range (over 100 m), accuracy (centimeter-level), and ultra-low-power (< 3 uW).
The aromatic and heme chromophores of rabbit hemopexin: Difference absorption and fluorescence spectra

Spectrophotometric and fluorimetric techniques were employed to charcterize the environment of the heme chromophore of rabbit hemopexin and to monitor changes in the environment of aromatic amino acid residues induced by the interaction of hemopexin with porphyrins and metalloporphyrins. Difference spectra showed maxima at 292 and 285 nm when hemopexin binds heme or deuteroheme but not deuteroporphyrin. These maxima are attributed to alterations in the local environment of tryptophan and tyrosine residues. Spectro-photometric titrations of the tyrosine residues of hemopexin, heme-hemopexin and hemopexin in 8 M urea showed apparent pK values at 11.4, 11.7, and 10.9 respectively. Perturbation difference spectra produced by 20% v/v ethylene glycol are consistent with the exposure of 6-8 of the 14 tyrosine residues and 6-8 of the 15 tryptophan residues of rabbit hemopexin to this perturbant. Only small differences were found between the perturbation spectra of apo- and heme-hemopexin near 290 nm, suggesting that slight or compensating changes in the exposure to solvent of tryptophan chromophores occur. In the Soret spectral region, the exposure of heme in the heme-hemopexin complex to ethylene glycol was 0.7, relative to the fully exposed heme peptide of cytochrome c. The fluorescence quantum yields of rabbit apo- and heme-hemopexin were estimated to be 0.06 and 0.03, respectively, compared to a yield of 0.13 for L-tryptophan. Iodide quenched 50% of the fluorescence of the deuteroheme-hemopexin complex. Cesium was not an effective quencher. Modification of approximately, 4 tryptophan residues with N-bromosuccinimide also decreased the relative fluorescence of apo-hemopexin by 50% and concomitantly reduced the heme-binding ability of the protein by 70%. The existence of sterically unhindered tryptophan residues in either apo- heme-hemopexin is unlikely since no charge transfer compelxes between these proteins and N-methylnicotinamide were detected.
Means Testing: The Dilemma of Targeting Subsidies in African Higher Education

Статья рассматривает проблему определения уровня доходов с целью введения целевых субсидий на высшее образование в развивающихся странах. Произведен обзор и анализ попыток введения системы финансирования по принципу "cost-sharing" в африканских странах.
If Fiber is the Medium, What is the Message? Next-Generation Content for Next-Generation Networks

The nature of content is critical for the economic viability of an ultrabroadband infrastructure. This article asks what types of media content we will have when we achieve widespread fiber optic networks. In the past, an expansion of transmission capacity led to a 'widening' of the TV medium. But the impact of ultrabroadband will be a 'deepening' of the content to a richer, more bit-intensive content. The study investigates, for 25 media, the price and capacity trends over the past century. It creates a model which shows the relationship of media prices per second over time, and the declining transmission cost per second and per GB. We find that the price people have been willing to pay for media entertainment per time unit has been fairly steady over a century, adjusted for inflation, at about 4.4 cents per minute. The price of distribution of content has been dropping at a compound rate of 8%. This enables us to identify the trend of bits per second delivered - the 'richness' - of the media over time. It grows at about 8% per annum. Projecting this rate permits us to predict the type, style, and genres of media content of the near future. It also enables us to determine the time when media will become visually richer than 3-D real life in terms of sensory experience.
The Anatomic Basis for Ventricular Arrhythmia in the Normal Heart: What the Student of Anatomy Needs to Know

The traditional route for teaching cardiac anatomy involves didactic instruction, cadaver dissections, and familiarization with the main structure and relationships of the cardiac chambers, valves, and vasculature. In contemporary cardiac electrophysiology, however, a very different view of anatomy is required including details rarely appreciated with a general overview. In this review, we discuss the critical advances in cardiac electrophysiology that were possible only because of understanding detailed anatomic relationships. While we briefly discuss the clinical relevance, we explain in depth the necessary structural information for the student of clinical anatomy. Interspersed through the text are boxes that highlight and summarize the critical pieces of knowledge to be borne in mind while studying the fascinating structural anatomy of the human heart.
Do Trichodesmium spp. populations in the North Atlantic export most of the nitrogen they fix

A new observational synthesis of diazotrophic biomass and nitrogen fixation provides the opportunity for systematic quantitative evaluation of these aspects in biogeochemical models. One such model of the Atlantic Ocean is scrutinized, and the simulated biomass is found to be an order of magnitude too low. Initial attempts to increase biomass levels through decreasing grazing and other loss terms caused an unrealistic buildup of nitrate in the upper ocean. Two key changes to the model structure facilitated a closer match to the observed biomass and nitrogen fixation rates: addition of a pathway for export of diazotrophically fixed organic material and uptake of inorganic nitrogen by the diazotroph population. These changes, along with a few other revisions to existing model parameterizations, facilitate more accurate simulation of basin-scale distributions of diazotrophic biomass, as well as mesoscale variations contained therein. The resulting solutions suggest that the Trichodesmium spp. populations of the North Atlantic export the vast majority of the nitrogen they fix, a finding that awaits assessment through direct observation.
Calculation of shocked flows by mathematical programming

A framework for using mathematical programming to solve Burgers' equation is presented. The steady-state inviscid Burgers' equation with given boundary conditions is considered, and the physically relevant solution is discretized using a four-point difference scheme for the viscous term and a two-point difference scheme for the inviscid term. The framework is then used to solve the Euler equations for quasi-one-dimensional flows on grids with variable spacing.
Temporal dynamics of gene expression in the lung in a baboon model of E. coli sepsis

Bacterial invasion during sepsis induces disregulated systemic responses that could lead to fatal lung failure. The purpose of this study was to relate the temporal dynamics of gene expression to the pathophysiological changes in the lung during the first and second stages of E. coli sepsis in baboons. Using human oligonucleotide microarrays, we have explored the temporal changes of gene expression in the lung of baboons challenged with sublethal doses of E. coli. Temporal expression pattern and biological significance of the differentially expressed genes were explored using clustering and pathway analysis software. Expression of selected genes was validated by real-time PCR. Cytokine levels in tissue and plasma were assayed by multiplex ELISA. Changes in lung ultrastructure were visualized by electron microscopy. We found that genes involved in primary inflammation, innate immune response, and apoptosis peaked at 2 hrs. Inflammatory and immune response genes that function in the stimulation of monocytes, natural killer and T-cells, and in the modulation of cell adhesion peaked at 8 hrs, while genes involved in wound healing and functional recovery were upregulated at 24 hrs. The analysis of gene expression modulation in response to sepsis provides the baseline information that is crucial for the understanding of the pathophysiology of systemic inflammation and may facilitate the development of future approaches for sepsis therapy.
α1-Proteinase Inhibitor, α1-Antichymotrypsin, and α2-Macroglobulin Are the Antiapoptotic Factors of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells *

Serum depletion induces cell death. Whereas serum contains growth factors and adhesion molecules that are important for survival, serum is also likely to have antiapoptotic factor(s). We show here that the plasma proteinase inhibitors alpha1-proteinase inhibitor, alpha1-antichymotrypsin, and alpha2-macroglobulin function as critical antiapoptotic factors for human vascular smooth muscle cells. Cell survival was assured when serum-free medium was supplemented with any one or all of the above serine proteinase inhibitors. In contrast, the cells were sensitive to apoptosis when cultured in medium containing serum from which the proteinase inhibitors were removed. The antiapoptotic effect conferred by the proteinase inhibitors was proportional to proteinase inhibitory activity. Without proteinase inhibitors, the extracellular matrix was degraded, and cells could not attach to the matrix. Cell survival was dependent on the intact extracellular matrix. In the presence of the caspase inhibitor z-VAD, the cells detached but did not die. The activity of caspases was elevated without proteinase inhibitors; in contrast, caspases were not activated when medium was supplemented with one of the proteinase inhibitors. In conclusion, the plasma proteinase inhibitors prevent degradation of extracellular matrix by proteinases derived from cells. Presumably an intact cell-matrix interaction inhibits caspase activation and supports cell survival.
A comparative clinical evaluation of some commonly used local anesthetic compounds

Within the past several years many new local anesthetic agents have been intro­ duced into dental practice. Some o f these compounds have been reported exten­ sively in the literature.1'5 Others have gained widespread clinical use even though animal tests and human clinical results for these drugs have appeared in the dental literature in somewhat limited numbers. Animal tests for local anesthetic poten­ cy and toxicity are of great importance before clinical use o f these agents may be advocated. Animal work, however, must be corroborated by extensive clinical testing on human patients before conclu­ sions may be reached which have signif­ icance for the practitioner o f general dentistry. Both M um ford and Geddes0 and Epstein and co-workers7 emphasize the limitations o f animal experimentation by referring to the species differences in enzyme patterns which give rise to widely different rates o f hydrolysis and detoxifi­ cation of the different local anesthetics. Confirmation o f previous observations and comparisons in clinical performance of these newer compounds can be gained by objective clinical studies. Clinical comparisons in effectiveness generally have been made between 2 per cent pro­ caine control solution and only one or two of the newer solutions. These deter­ minations usually have not been con­ cerned with any possible differences be­ tween infiltrative and conductive effects. The purpose of this study was to make a clinical evaluation of seven generally used products by comparing them for differences in conductive and infiltrative effects with regard to such features as potency, induction, duration, occurrence of untoward symptoms, and the effects of varying concentrations o f vasoconstrictor. The psychic implications of local an­ esthesia play an important part in the results obtained. Such factors as patient management, operator’s skill, and opera­ tor’s confidence in the solution which he is using make it difficult for objective comparisons to be made in everyday practice. Nearly every dentist has made
Cross pathogenicity studies with isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from either cucumber or watermelon pathogenic to both crop species

SUMMARY Isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from Abaco, the Bahamas, whether obtained from wilted plants of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) or watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), were pathogenic to cucumber, watermelon, and cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus). The West Indian gherkin (Cucumis anguria), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), and three cultivars of summer squash (C. pepo var. melopepo) were not susceptible. Strains of F. oxysporum from wilted cucumber or watermelon plants from Florida were highly pathogenic only to their original host species and are regarded as different formae speciales.
Observability and Estimation Methods Using Synchrophasor

Abstract Intermittent generations such as large-scale renewable energy increases the risk of instability in a power grid. In this paper, we introduce the concept of observability and its computational algorithms for power networks equipped with synchrophasors. The goal is to estimate the angles and its derivatives around unstable trajectories, the information that is critical for the detection of power network instabilities. The algorithm is developed to determine the number and the siting of synchrophasors in a power network so that the state of the system can be accurately estimated in the presence of instability. An unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is adopted as a tool to estimate the states that are not directly measured by synchrophasors. The theory and its computational algorithms are illustrated by using a 9-bus model with three generators.
Interpersonal deception: III. Effects of deceit on perceived communication and nonverbal behavior dynamics

Much past research on deception has examined it individually and noninteractively. Here we argue for broadening our understanding of deception by examining it as a dyadic and interactive event. Assumptions of an interpersonal perspective, articulated in Interpersonal Deception Theory, are advanced. These include recognizing the agency of both parties to interpersonal exchanges, examining such exchanges at multiple levels, incorporating measures of communicationrelated perceptions and interpretations as well as behaviors, recognizing that behaviors may be strategic as well as nonstrategic, and viewing such behavior as dynamic rather than static. An experiment reflecting this orientation is presented in which pairs of participants, half friends and half strangers, conducted interviews during which interviewees (EEs) either lied or told the truth to interviewers (ERs) who were induced to be highly, moderately, or not suspicious. Dependent measures included participant (EE and ER) perceptions, interpretations, and evaluations of EE behaviors and trained coders' ratings of actual nonverbal behaviors. Consistent with the theory, deceivers were more uncertain and vague, more nonimmediate and reticent, showed more negative affect, displayed more arousal and non-composure, and generally made a poorer impression than truthtellers. Their behaviors also connoted greater formality and submissiveness. Also consistent with the theory's premise that deceptive interactions are dynamic, deceivers' kinesic relaxation and pleasantness changed over time, in line with a behavior and image management interpretation, and degree of reciprocity between EE and ER nonverbal behaviors was affected by the presence of deception and suspicion.
Exploratory celiotomy for cervical carcinoma: The role of histologic grading

Abstract Eighty-five patients underwent a surgical staging procedure during a 2-year period. Fifty-eight of these patients were evaluated in relation to the histologic grade of their squamous carcinoma of the cervix. An increased incidence of extrapelvic lymph node metastasis is associated with poorly differentiated tumors and with parametrial extension of the primary tumor regardless of histologic grade. Surgical staging is suggested for patients with parametrial extension of their tumor or for patients with poorly differentiated tumors.
Russian Identities: A Historical Survey – By Nicholas V. Riasanovsky

The author, a prominent figure among the first generation of Russian historians in the postwar era, has written extensively on the first half of the nineteenth century (treating such questions as t...
Using VHDL for high-level, mixed-mode system simulation

The application of a very-high-speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL) to the modeling of complex, application-specific systems that employ a mix of digital hardware and software and interact with their environments through continuous-time components is described. A VHDL model simulating package and a SPICE-like low-level package simulating continuous-time subsystems are discussed. To illustrate how the various packages discussed are used in a complete high-level system simulation, a simplified high-level block diagram of a robot control system is presented, and the modeling of the system is described. Specialized VHDL packages model the system's discrete-time portion as a set of concurrent processes communicating via channels with well-defined protocols, and sets of coupled ordinary differential equations model the system's continuous-time blocks. >
Endothelial morphology and plasma total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol changes in hypothalamically stimulated squirrel monkeys fed a modified atherogenic diet

Abstract Experimental animals fed atherogenic diets show endothelial damage, impairment of endothelial regeneration and plasma lipid changes characterized by elevation of LDL and decrease of HDL cholesterol concentrations. Previous studies in this laboratory disclosed that chronic electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus was associated with electron-microscopic evidence of endothelial injury in rats and squirrel monkeys maintained on basal (low fat/cholesterol-free) diets. In the present investigation squirrel monkeys fed similar diets supplemented with “modest” amounts of caloric fat and cholesterol were subjected to chronic lateral hypothalamic stimulation for periods as long as 20 months with the expectation that endothelial injury would be greater than in the absence of the supplements. These expectations were not substantiated. Endothelium was found to be surprisingly intact by electron microscopy and similar to that of implanted nonstimulated controls. A further observation of interest was the cholesterolemic response, notably in the HDL fraction, observed in both groups, but more striking in experimental animals. The data suggest that an interaction between a modified lipid/cholesterol diet and hypothalamic stimulation may lead to elevation of plasma HDL cholesterol concentration and preservation of endothelial integrity. Further investigation is required to determine whether these two events are causally related.
Sibling composition and selective gender-based survival bias

We examine the relationship between the gender composition of surviving older siblings and gender differences in children’s survival using data from the Third National Family and Health Survey (2005–2006) in India. We address the possibility of unobserved mother-specific heterogeneity and explore the role of household wealth, parental education, and urban residence in strengthening or weakening selective gender-based survival bias. We find that daughters’ survival disadvantage increases in the number of older sisters and decreases in the number of older brothers they have. The opposite is true for sons’ survival disadvantage. Household wealth, parental education, and urban residence are all found to intensify selective survival bias among daughters and sons.
Quantitative solder inspection with computed tomography

In this paper we present a quantitative, three-dimensional method to analyze solder characteristics and defect voids using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT). We also present a range of case studies where this methodology has enabled a more precise and time-efficient quality assurance process for printed circuit board suppliers, manufacturers and designers. This methodology also allows a comprehensive, non-destructive inspection and reconstruction of field return or failed samples involving printed circuit boards, hand-soldered assemblies or components, home appliances, and electrical systems.
The Institutional Turn in Comparative Authoritarianism

The institutional turn in comparative authoritarianism has generated wide interest. This article reviews three prominent books on authoritarian institutions and their central theoretical propositions about the origins, functions and effects of dominant party institutions on authoritarian rule. Two critical perspectives on political institutions, one based on rationalist theories of institutional design and the other based on a social conflict theory of political economy, suggest that authoritarian institutions are epiphenomenal on more fundamental political, social and/or economic relations. Such approaches have been largely ignored in this recent literature, but each calls into question the theoretical and empirical claims that form the basis of institutionalist approaches to authoritarian rule. A central implication of this article is that authoritarian institutions cannot be studied separately from the concrete problems of redistribution and policy making that motivate regime behavior.
BLAST WAVES GENERATED BY CONSTANT VELOCITY FLAMES: A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH

Abstract The self-similar solution to the blast waves generated by a constant velocity flame can be calculated easily if one assumes that the pressure and density between the flame and shock are constant, irre-spective of geometry. The technique of calculation is discussed and the results are compared to the exact solution (which involves numerical integration of differential equations) to assess the inaccuracies introduced by this simplifying assumption.
Treatment efficacy: dysarthria

The dysarthrias form a group of diverse, chronic motor speech disorders. The disorders of Parkinson's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and cerebral palsy are reviewed because they represent important clinical diagnoses in which dysarthria is a frequent and debilitating symptom. The roles played by speech-language pathologists include participation in differential diagnosis, provision of speech treatment, staging of treatment, and timely education so that clients and families can make informed decisions about communication alternatives. Both scientific and clinical evidence is presented that suggests that individuals with dysarthria benefit from the services of speech-language pathologists. Group-treatment studies, single-subject studies, and case reports illustrate the effectiveness of various types of speech treatment. Research into the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication systems for individuals with cerebral palsy is also presented.
Fast Odor Learning Improves Reliability of Odor Responses in the Locust Antennal Lobe

Recordings in the locust antennal lobe (AL) reveal activity-dependent, stimulus-specific changes in projection neuron (PN) and local neuron response patterns over repeated odor trials. During the first few trials, PN response intensity decreases, while spike time precision increases, and coherent oscillations, absent at first, quickly emerge. We examined this "fast odor learning" with a realistic computational model of the AL. Activity-dependent facilitation of AL inhibitory synapses was sufficient to simulate physiological recordings of fast learning. In addition, in experiments with noisy inputs, a network including synaptic facilitation of both inhibition and excitation responded with reliable spatiotemporal patterns from trial to trial despite the noise. A network lacking fast plasticity, however, responded with patterns that varied across trials, reflecting the input variability. Thus, our study suggests that fast olfactory learning results from stimulus-specific, activity-dependent synaptic facilitation and may improve the signal-to-noise ratio for repeatedly encountered odor stimuli.
Androgen regulation of soluble guanylyl cyclaseα1 mediates prostate cancer cell proliferation

The growth and progression of prostate cancer are dependent on androgens and androgen receptor (AR), which act by modulating gene expression. Utilizing a gene microarray approach, we have identified the α1-subunit gene of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) as a novel androgen-regulated gene. A heterodimeric cytoplasmic protein composed of one α and one β subunit, sGC mediates the widespread cellular effects of nitric oxide (NO). We report here that, in prostate cancer cells, androgens stimulate the expression of sGCα1. A cloned human sGCα1 promoter is activated by androgen in an AR-dependent manner, suggesting that sGCα1 may be a direct AR target gene. Disruption of sGCα1 expression severely compromises the growth of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent AR-positive prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of sGCα1 alone is sufficient for stimulating prostate cancer cell proliferation. Interestingly, the major growth effect of sGCα1 is independent of NO and cyclic guanosine monophosphate, a major mediator of the sGC enzyme. These data strongly suggest that sGCα1 acts in prostate cancer via a novel pathway that does not depend on sGCβ1. Tissue studies show that sGCα1 expression is significantly elevated in advanced prostate cancer. Thus, sGCα1 may be an important mediator of the procarcinogenic effects of androgens.
A new boundary-layer inviscid iteration technique for separated flow

A new viscous-inviscid iteration procedure is presented which is applicable to separated flows. The new procedure is simple, converges rapidly, and does not require numerical smoothing, at least in the cases computed thus far. Calculations are presented for both incompressible and compressible separated flow in the juncture region between an axisymmetric body and sting. The viscous computation is obtained with a recently developed inverse boundary-layer procedure which is no more complicated than a standard direct finite-difference boundary-layer technique. The inviscid computation is made with an axisymmetric transonic code called RAXBOD, in which surface injection is used to represent the viscous effects.
Filial cannibalism in a non-brood cycling marine fish

Direct observation and the analysis of stomach contents indicate that custodial male Cortez damselfish, Stegastes rectifraenum, regularly eat some of the eggs they fertilize and guard. The pattern of forced starvation and brood cycling by custodial males that is seen in sticklebacks and other fishes for which filial cannibalism is known in the field does not exist for this species. These results indicate that filial cannibalism is likely to be more common among fishes than previously thought, because this behavior is not restricted to species that brood cycle.
The Growth of Professionalism in TESOL: Challenges and Prospects for the Future

Stephen Gaies, TESOL Quarterly Editor, has invited me to start off the 21st volume with a contribution “on the growth of TESOL during its first 20 years and on the challenges and prospects which we face in the years ahead.”
An occurrence of coked bitumen, Raton Formation, Purgatoire River Valley, Colorado, U.S.A.

Abstract Numerous examples of coke produced by igneous intrusion into coal have been reported in the Spanish Peaks region of south central Colorado. However, in a recent study of an intruded section of the Raton Formation (Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene) along the Purgatoire River near Medina Plaza, CO, coked bitumen has been observed. This material occurs in “fingers” (hexagonally jointed bodies) in a shaley xenolith within a lamprophyre sill and in carbonaceous Type III shale directly below the sill. The coke fingers are characterized by a remarkable flow mosaic texture, high vitrinite/coke reflectance (average random reflectance between 8% and 9%, but with maximum readings around 14–15%), high anisotropy, abundant devolatilization vacuoles, and an absence of inertinite inclusions. Within the underlying shales, the coked bitumen occurs as pore, void, and fracture linings and fillings. Geochemically, the coke in the fingers has low S1 and S2 values ( These observations suggest that the coke found in this study was not formed by the direct coking of coal, but from a mobile phase (bitumen or pitch) that was subsequently coked by the intrusion. This bitumen was either derived from the abundant coal within the section above the sill, or from the organic matter contained within the Type III carbonaceous shales, or both. Unaltered Type III shale sampled at this site has a HI of ~ 350 mg HC/g TOC suggesting some, albeit limited, capacity to generate petroleum. We suggest that bitumen was generated prior to or during the time of intrusion and was subsequently coked by the high temperatures of the emplaced sill. As the bitumen pooled adjacent to the sill, rapid heating led to the development of mesophase, resulting in a highly anisotropic ribbon mosaic texture on cooling, and vaporization of gases that subsequently condensed along pores, vacuoles, and fractures as pyrolytic carbon and spherulitic pyrolytic carbon. Bitumen within the underlying silty shales was also coked, but to a lesser degree. The texture of this coked bitumen looks very much like commercially produced petroleum coke. This coked bitumen differs from other reports of coked bitumen in its mode of occurrence (coke fingers in a xenolith), ribbon mosaic structure, and extremely high anisotropy and reflectance.
Challenges for Inflation Targeting in Emerging Market Countries

In the past decade, numerous emerging market countries have adopted inflation targeting as their basic monetary policy strategy. The institutional framework in many emerging market countries that affects monetary policy outcomes has generally differed from that in advanced countries. This paper first outlines what traditionally has made emerging market and other developing economies different from advanced countries and what challenges these differences have presented to those that adopted inflation targeting. The paper then examines whether, given these challenges, inflation targeting has been a success in emerging market countries.
Dielectric properties of plasma-spray-deposited BaTiO3 and Ba0.68Sr0.32TiO3 thick films

The dielectric properties of high-k dielectric BaTiO 3 and Ba 0 . 6 8 Sr 0 . 3 2 TiO 3 thick films deposited on alumina substrates using a plasma-spray process were investigated. The as-deposited films were predominantly crystalline but contained an amorphous second phase, the amount of which depended on spray conditions. The effect of the spray conditions on crystallinity was studied and related to the dielectric properties of the films. The presence of a low dielectric constant interfacial layer in plasma-spray-deposited films was determined from the dependence of the dielectric constant on film thickness. After annealing at 500 °C for 20 h in air, the crystallinity and dielectric constant increased. Annealing was also found to affect the interfacial layer properties.
Plants as a direct source of fuel

Euphorbia lathyris, a plant which has been proposed as an ‘energy farm’ candidate yields a total of 35% of its dry weight as simple organic extractables. Chemical analyses of the extracts show that 5% of the dry weight is a mixture of reduced terpenoids, in the form of triterpenoids, and 20% of the dry weight is simple sugars in the form of hexoses. The terpenoids can be converted to a gasoline-like substance and the sugars can be fermented to alcohol. Based on a biomass yield of about 25 dry tons ha−1 year−1, the total energy that can be obtained from this plant in the form of liquid fuels is 48 MJ ha−1 year−1, 26 MJ in the form of hydrocarbons and 22 MJ in the form of ethanol. A conceptual process study for the large scale recovery ofEuphorbia lathyris products indicates that this crop is a net energy producer. Several lines of investigation have been started to increase the hydrocarbon yield of this plant. Tissue cultures ofE. lathyris have been established and will be used for selection, with the aim of regenerating a superior plant. Biochemical studies have been initiated to elucidate regulation of terpenoid metabolism. Future plans include eventual genetic engineering to select the most desirable plant for hydrocarbon production.
Beyond the means: validating climate models with higher-order statistics

Large-scale climate models are validated by comparing those models' means and variabilities to actual observation. New applications place more demands on such models, which we can address by examining the models' distributions of daily quantities such as temperature and precipitation.
HIGH DIETARY PROTEIN/ENERGY (P/E) RATIO SPARES TISSUE NITROGEN (N) ASCITES TUMOR-BEARING MICE TREATED WETH ACINETOBACTER GLUTAMINASE-ASPARAGINASE (AGA)

Previously, we showed that a high protein (58g%; HP) diet caused marked N sparing of liver (L), intestine (I), thymus (T), and carcass (C) compared to an isocaloric, normal protein diet (20g%; NP) in normal mice treated with AGA (Pediatr Res 17: 192A). In the present study, 32 mice previously innoculated with Ehrlich Ascites tumor were randomized into 2 treatments: AGA (600 IU/kg/d, 7d) and 0.9% NaCl controls and into 2 diets HP or NP. In both diet groups, AGA resulted in markedly lower (p<0.01) tumor burdens as characterized by ascites volume, cell count, or tumor N content, but HP did not increase tumor burden. In the AGA group: HP resulted in significant N sparing in the following tissues (% increase from NP; P value): L (18%; P=0.05), I (25%; p<0.05), T (164%; p<0.01); HP completely prevented the N depleting effect of AGA on L and T; HP resulted in significantly (p< 0.05) higher hematocrit (42%) and serum total protein (5.5 g/dl) compared to NP (33% and 5.0 respectively) but in lower total food intake and insignificant differences in blood counts. Our conclusion may be relevant to man, to other cancers, and to those forms of chemotherapy which affect Nutilization: an increased dietary P/E ratio, even without energy supplementation, may improve N content of T, L, and I without antagonizing anti-cancer therapy. (Support: NIH Grant CA20061)
Stem cells hold their breath.

In this issue of Blood , Winkler and colleagues use blood perfusion to define and characterize 2 distinct HSC populations in the BM, demonstrating that the most primitive HSCs reside in a BM niche with negligible perfusion.[1][1] Over the past decade there has been great interest in in vivo
Role of acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana

Acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase (ACS) is a plastidic enzyme that forms acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) from acetate and coenzyme A using the energy from ATP. Traditionally it has been thought to be the major source for the production of acetyl-CoA destined for fatty acid formation. Recent work suggested that the accumulation of lipids in developing Arabidopsis seeds was more closely correlated with the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex than with the expression of ACS, suggesting that most of the carbon for fatty acid formation in the plastids of seeds comes from pyruvate rather than from acetate. To explore the role of this enzyme, Arabidopsis plants with altered amounts of ACS were generated by overexpressing its cDNA in either the sense or the antisense configuration. The resulting plants had in vitro enzyme activities that ranged from about 5% to over 400% of wild-type levels. The rate of [1-14C]acetate conversion into fatty acids was closely related to the in vitro ACS activity, showing that the amount of enzyme clearly limited the capacity of leaves to convert exogenous acetate to fatty acids. There was, however, no relationship between the ACS level and the capacity of the plants to incorporate 14CO2 into 14C-labeled fatty acids. These data strongly support the idea that, although plants can convert acetate into fatty acids, relatively little carbon moves through this pathway under normal conditions.
Abstract 2910: Suppressing excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation by RIP1 potentiates BPDE-induced transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells.

Cell survival signaling is important for the malignant phenotypes of cancer cells. Although the role of receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1) in cell survival signaling is well documented, whether RIP1 is directly involved in cancer development has never been studied. In this report, we found that RIP1 expression is substantially increased in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and cell lines. RIP1 expression in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) was significantly induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE), the active form of the tobacco-specific carcinogen benzo (a) pyrene (BaP). In RIP1 knockdown HBECs, BPDE-induced cytotoxicity was significantly increased, which was associated with induction of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mainly hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including JNK, ERK and p38. Scavenging ROS suppressed BPDE-induced MAPK activation and inhibiting ROS or MAPKs substantially blocked BPDE-induced cytotoxicity, suggesting ROS-mediated MAPK activation is involved in BPDE-induced cell death. The H 2 O 2 -reducing enzyme catalase is destabilized in an ERK- and JNK-dependent manner in RIP1 knockdown HBECs and application of catalase effectively blocked BPDE-induced H 2 O 2 accumulation and cytotoxicity. Importantly, BPDE-induced transformation of HBECs was significantly reduced when RIP1 expression was suppressed. Altogether, these results strongly suggest an oncogenic role for RIP1, which promotes malignant transformation through protecting DNA-damaged cells against carcinogen-induced cytotoxicity associated with excessive ROS production. Citation Format: Qiong Wang, Wenshu Chen, Xiuling Xu, Bilan Li, Weiyang He, Mabel T. Padilla. Suppressing excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation by RIP1 potentiates BPDE-induced transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2910. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2910
Karl Marx: Founding Father of Workers' Self-Governance?:

Using textual evidence, primarily from original sources, this article presents and evaluates the argument that workers' self-governance and self-management are central to Karl Marx's vision of the ...
Vibrational Dynamics of Icosahedrally Symmetric Biomolecular Assemblies Compared with Predictions Based on Continuum Elasticity

Coarse-grained elastic network models elucidate the fluctuation dynamics of proteins around their native conformations. Low-frequency collective motions derived by simplified normal mode analysis are usually involved in biological function, and these motions often possess noteworthy symmetries related to the overall shape of the molecule. Here, insights into these motions and their frequencies are sought by considering continuum models with appropriate symmetry and boundary conditions to approximately represent the true atomistic molecular structure. We solve the elastic wave equations analytically for the case of spherical symmetry, yielding a symmetry-based classification of molecular motions together with explicit predictions for their vibrational frequencies. We address the case of icosahedral symmetry as a perturbation to the spherical case. Applications to lumazine synthase, satellite tobacco mosaic virus, and brome mosaic virus show that the spherical elastic model efficiently provides insights on collective motions that are otherwise obtained by detailed elastic network models. A major utility of the continuum models is the possibility of estimating macroscopic material properties such as the Young's modulus or Poisson's ratio for different types of viruses.
The Quillen Complex of Groups of Symplectic Type: The Characteristic 2 Case

Abstract Let G = Op′(G) ⋊ S where S = Z /pn Z ∗ T is of symplectic type with T an extra-special p-group and Op′(G) solvable. From results in [ 3 ] it is easy to show that when p is odd, the Quillen complex of G at p is Cohen-Macaulay. In this note we show that the result also holds when p = 2.
Conformational differences and steric energies for compounds containing α-d-glucopyranose chairs having a range of 0–4-0–1 distances

Abstract Conformations corresponding to minimal energies are predicted with molecular mechanics for a series of compounds containing α- d -glucopyranose rings. These model rings, in the 4 C 1 conformation, were constrained to have O-4-O-1 distances ranging from 360 to 500 pm. The predicted conformation of lowest energy has an O-4-O-1 distance of 426 pm, close to the midpoint of the observed 400–460-pm range. The predicted monomers with O-4-O-1 distances of 400 and 460 pm have energies ∼2.51 kJ.mol −1 (∼0.6 kcal.mol −1 ) above the minimum. Systematic relationships of valence and torsion angles to the O-4-O-1 distance were examined with these molecular models, and the predicted relationships were compared to changes observed by single-crystal diffraction-studies. All of the ring torsion-angles, except C-1-C-2-C-3-C-4, several ring-valence angles, and the virtual angles involving O-1, C-1, C-4, and O-4, showed systematic changes with change in O-4-O-1 distance. Discrepancies between the observed and predicted rings include the values for the virtual angle C-1-C-4-O-4, values for the C-1-C-4 distance (10 pm) and its rate of change, and values for CO bond-lengths.
1417 RN BABYSITTING FOR INTENSIVE CARE NURSERY GRADUATES (ICN-G): A PROGRAM TO REDUCE CARETAKER FATIGUE

Parental stress related to birth and hospitalization of a sick infant is well documented. This stress, rarely abolished by the infant's discharge may, in tact, intensify as parents assume primary caretaker's role. To allow parents some relief and time to themselves, we established an ICN-RN Babysitting Service (RN-BS) for families of infants who had required > 2 wks hospitalization. All RN-BS are CPR certified and oriented to home care of ICN-G through a session reviewing home monitoring (HM) home oxygen (H-OX), special needs of ICN-G and routine babysitting practices. Payment is $2/hr by the family, supplemented by $8/hr by our Hospital Auxiliary. Twenty-one percent or 13/63 families eligible for RN-BS requested the service 29 times over a 7 mo. period; 5 families were multi-users. Two jobs were cancelled due to infant hospitalizations. Characteristics of users vs non-users were: 61 vs. 43 da. mean length of stay, 46% vs 30% HM, 15% vs 0% H- OX, 30% vs 14% firstborth, 92% vs 42% Caucasian, and 92% vs 38% with privat insurance. The mean job time was 6.6 hrs (2.5-15 hrs). Parental outings provided time for social events and time with older siblings. We assessed families' reactions to RN-BS through a questionnaire: 54% users and 24% non-users responded. 58% non-users left their infant with a trusted individual: 86% family member, and 14% routine babysitter. In contrast, 71% of users would not have gone out if RN-Bs were not available; all users felt more comfortable leaving baby with RN than other individuals. All respondents (users and non-users) recommended RN-BS for families of ICN-G. All feel it important (mean 4.7, on scale of 1-5, 5 most important) for parents to have time to themselves in the first months after their infant's discharge.
The protein composition of nuclei during spermiogenesis in the leopard frog, Rana pipiens.

Cytochemical studies of the basic and non-basic protein composition of nuclei in succeeding stages of spermiogenesis of the leopard frog are described. The histones which occur in nuclei of each stage, including the mature sperm, are of the somatic type. Nuclei of early stages contain nonhistone proteins. As chromatin condensation occurs in mid spermiogenesis, nonhistone proteins are detected where DNA and histones are distributed diffusely but not where DNA and histones are concentrated. In the uniformly condensed nuclei of late stages, nonhistone proteins are absent.
Ion Implantation and Ion Beam Analysis of Lithium Niobate

Implantations of He and Ti were made into LiNbO3 and the H and Li profiles determined by elastic recoil detection (ERD) techniques. The loss of Li and gain of H depends upon the supply of surface H (surface contaminants or ambient atmosphere). For 50 keV He implants into LiNbO3 through a 200 A Al film, the small Li loss is governed by the interface H. This is also the case for He implants into uncoated LiNbO3 in a beam line with low hydrocarbon surface contamination; similar implants under conditions of greater hydrocarbon deposition result in proportionally larger Li loss and H gain in the implant damage region. The exchange is possible only for those He energies, i.e., 50 keV, where the damage profile intersects the surface. For Ti implants Li is lost with little H gain. For this case the Li loss is believed to result from radiation-enhanced diffusion. Where He implantation is used to establish waveguiding in LiNbO3, the presence or absence of H in the implanted region is crucial with regard to refractive index stability, due to the replacement of H by Li from the bulk.