cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical and hormonal evaluation of transsexual patients: a longitudinal study.

The physical and hormonal characteristics of 60 male-to-female transsexuals and 30 female-to-male transsexuals were measured before or during treatment with commonly used forms and dosages of hormones. Only two patients (both female-to-male) had either a congenital defect in hormonal production or abnormal genital development. Patients were seen at 3- to 6-month intervals for an average of 18 months. The response to therapy was examined over time; physical parameters, hormonal concentrations, liver function tests, lipids, and glucose were measured. Three patients were changed from ethinyl estradiol to conjugated estrogen because of liver enzyme elevations. Ethinyl estradiol (0.1–0.5 mg/day) was equal to conjugated estrogen (7.5–10 mg/day) in its ability to suppress testosterone and gonadotropins and to promote breast growth. Maximum breast growth required 2 years of therapy. During treatment with testosterone, female-to-male transsexuals had a significant mild elevation of cholesterol and triglyceride. The female-to-male transsexuals receiving testosterone cypionate, 200 mg every 2 weeks, ceased to have menstrual periods and became progressively masculinized. A mean maximal clitoral length of 4.6 cm which achieved by 1 year of therapy. Based on the data generated by this study, we recommend as hormonal therapy 0.1–0.5 mg/day of ethinyl estradiol or 7.5–10 mg/day of conjugated estrogen for male-to-female transsexuals, and intramuscular testosterone cypionate, 200 mg every 2 weeks, for female-to-male transsexuals.
Application of Optimization Algorithm to HVAC Configulation Design

It is required to attain performance goals at the development early stage for short period development of air conditioner. To attain basic A/C performance goals (high cooling performance, good temperature control property, good flow distributions to outlets, low noise), it is important to balance competing goals for heat exchanger transit flow distribution uniformity and pressure drop lowering within configuration limitation. In this study, we tried an optimization calculation of a HVAC configuration upstream the evaporator which governs evaporator transit flow distribution uniformity and the HVAC total pressure drop for short period development.
Potassium channels and their evolving gates

Potassium channels allow potassium ions to flow across the membrane and play a key role in maintaining membrane potential. Recent research has begun to reveal how these channels transport potassium in preference to other ions, how their activity is controlled, and how they are related to other channels.
Molecular Simulation of the Influence of Interface Faceting on the Shock Sensitivity of a Model Plastic Bonded Explosive

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to model the shock loading of an interface with various degrees of nanometer scale faceting between an inert binder and an energetic crystal. The facets create regions of local compression that induce exothermic reaction that leads to local hotspots and an increased shock sensitivity to detonation. Two mechanisms for compression and hotspot formation are identified that depend on the shock impedance mismatch between the binder and energetic crystal, namely shock focusing and local compression of the facets. These results provide a possible explanation for why spherical RDX crystals in cast polymer-bonded explosives appear less shock sensitive than RDX with more faceted morphologies.
Corporate social performance: Creating resources to help organizations excel

The most commonly employed theories of corporate social performance (CSP) tend to ignore firm-level processes and structures as sources of competitive advantage. But, by taking a resource-based view (RBV), and by enhancing a firm's capability to engage in socially responsible activities, it can potentially create its own competitive advantages. We examine four major components of CSP—community relations, the environment, diversity, and employee relations. And we show that the ability of a firm to develop its knowledge and skills—as well as policies and implementation plans and procedures—in each of these areas is a potential resource that may in fact provide competitive advantages and higher organizational performance, bringing benefits to both society and the firm. The community dimension evaluates the firm's performance in relationship to philanthropic giving and community support. The environmental aspect considers such firm stewardship activities as pollution prevention, global warming, and recycling. The diversity component measures CSP considering such factors as board member diversity and a firm's hiring, evaluation, training, and promotion policies concerning women and minorities. The employee relations dimension examines such socially responsible human resource practices as innovative employee involvement programs and profit sharing. Together, these capabilities can provide tangible and intangible resources that can provide the firm with competitive advantages. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Magnetic properties of amorphous Dy-Co films with different thickness

Abstract The thickness dependence of magnetic properties has been studied in amorphous Dy x Co 1- x thin films ( x =0.43, 0.49). The compensation temperature and coercivity were found to be thickness dependent. In uncoated films with thickness below 800 A, the coercivity and compensation temperature were found to decrease with thickness and this was attributed to the oxidation of the surface layer of the films. This behavior was not observed in the thicker films and in SiO-coated films. In these films, both the compensation temperature and coercivity do not change with thickness and they depend only on the intrinsic properties.
Handling estimated proportions in public sector data envelopment analysis

Periodically data envelopment analysis (DEA) is conducted on values that include estimated proportions, such as defect, satisfaction, mortality, or adverse event rates computed from samples. This occurs frequently in healthcare and public sector analysis where proportions frequently are estimated from partial samples. These estimates can produce statistically biased and variable estimates of DEA results, even as sample sizes become fairly large. This paper discusses several approaches to these problems, including Monte Carlo (MC), bootstrapping, chance constrained, and optimistic/pessimistic DEA methods. The performance of each method was compared using previously published data for fourteen Florida juvenile delinquency programs whose two of three inputs and one output were proportions. The impact of sample size and number of estimated rates also were investigated. In most cases, no statistically significant differences were found between the true DEA scores and the midpoints of optimistic/pessimistic, MC, and bootstrap intervals, the latter two after bias correction. True DEA results are strongly correlated with those produced by the MC (r=0.9865, p<0.001), chance constraint (r=0.9536,p<0.001), bootstrapping (r=0.9368,p<0.001), and optimistic/pessimistic (r=0.6799,p<0.001) approaches. While all methods perform fairly well, the MC approach tends to produce slightly better results and be fairly easy to implement.
The impact of solar flares and magnetic storms on humans

The Sun shines, and Earth and its inhabitants benefit. But the Sun radiates more than light, and these radiations are variable over time scales of seconds to days. The consequences for people range from glorious celestial displays—auroras—to subtle but potentially damaging effects on the technological systems that are increasingly important for daily living. For example, electric power transmission systems and communication links have proven vulnerable to solar phenomena. And outside of Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic shield, there is a small but genuine risk of a solar energetic particle burst that would be lethal to satellite sensors and command and control systems and astronauts.
Quantification of Endogenous Viral Polymerase, 3Dpol, in Preparations of Mengo and Encephalomyocarditis Viruses

Abstract Measurement of an antigenic response to the aphthovirus infection-associated antigen (VIA), the viral RNA polymerase 3Dpol, is frequently used as a discriminating assay for the extent of viral replication in animals. In practice, animals seropositive for VIA are assumed to have been exposed to live virus, although in fact it is suspected that endogenous 3Dpol in commercial inactivated vaccines may occasionally stimulate analogous responses and result in false-positive tests for virus exposure. Cardiovirus infections in mice produce similar anti-VIA antibodies, and in view of recently developed attenuated Mengo vaccines and live Mengo vectors, these VIA responses are also under investigation as potential correlates of vaccine efficacy. We have purified recombinant Mengo 3Dpol, developed monoclonal antibodies to the protein, and used these reagents in highly sensitive Western blot assays to quantify the levels of endogenous 3Dpol in Mengo and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) preparations. The presence of 3Dpol was detected at all stages of standard vaccine purification procedures, including materials purified by CsCl. Clarified suspensions of Mengo- or encephalomyocarditis virus-infected HeLa cells were found to contain very high quantities of 3Dpol, averaging ∼1.2–1.5 μg of protein/μg of virus. Pelleting through 30% sucrose or purification by CsCl removed much of this material, but even these samples retained ∼0.2–0.4 ng of 3Dpol/μg virus. These ratios represent ∼1 3Dpol molecule/20 virus particles in the most highly purified materials and probably indicate that 3Dpol is a contaminant on the particle surface rather than an intrinsically packaged molecule. In clarified cell lysates, which are commonly used as vaccine inocula, the protein to virus ratio was ∼210:1, a level that could represent serious contamination problems for future VIA detection if such inocula are used without further purification.
Molecular Cloning of Nedd4 from Xenopus Laevis

The tryptophan-bounded WW domains ofNedd4 bind to the proline-tyrosine (PY) motifs contained in the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of the beta and gamma subunits of the rat amiloride-sensitive sodium channel (ENaC). In patients with Liddle's syndrome, the PY motif is mutated and the channel remains constitutively activated leading to sodium retention and hypertension. Although the function ofNedd4 is unknown, it contains a highly conserved ubiquitin protein ligase domain that may attach ubiquitin to ENaC, targeting it for degradation or it may modulate ENaC activity through another undetermined pathway. Xenopus laevis-derived cells, such as oocytes and the A6 kidney cell line, are important models currently used for the study of ENaC regulation. We describe the X. laevis homologue of Nedd4 (xNedd4). A partial clone, approximately 2.6 Kb, was isolated from an aldosterone-treated A6 cell cDNA library. Further 5' sequence, approximately 1.2 Kb, was obtained using a modified 5' rapid amplification of cDNA (RACE) protocol and cDNA from untreated A6 cells as the substrate. The identity and similarity of xNedd4 with human Nedd4 are approximately 63 and 71%, respectively. xNedd4 contains the C2, ubiquitin protein ligase, and 4 WW domains previously described for Nedd4 from other species.
Protease activity in schistosome cercariae.

Abstract It has been shown that the cercariae of Schistosomatium douthitti and Schistosoma mansoni do not possess a true collagenase as determined by incubation of living cercariae and cercarial homogenates with human gingival tissue. These studies confirmed the work of others in showing that these cercariae possess potent proteases as indicated by the liberation of dye material from azocoll. The implications of these findings in terms of the possible mechanism of penetration of host tissue by schistosome cercariae are discussed.
The relationship between leaf hydrophobicity, water droplet retention, and leaf angle of common species in a semi-arid region of the western United States

Abstract Leaf hydrophobicity and water droplet retention are important functional traits among plant species and may be important selective strategies to increase water availability to root systems in arid and semi-arid environments. Hydrophobic canopies may decrease rainfall interception and increase throughfall to the soil. Leaf angle may also influence the ability of water droplets to channel off leaf surfaces. Water droplets may have a greater ability to drain off leaf surfaces with steeper leaf angles which decrease rainfall interception and increase throughfall to the soil. This study examined the relationships between leaf angle, leaf hydrophobicity, and water droplet retention in 11 species from a semi-arid region of Colorado in the western United States. Leaf hydrophobicity of the adaxial and the abaxial leaf surface was measured by calculating the contact angle between a water droplet and the leaf surface. Water droplet retention was measured as the angle at which a water droplet begins to move as a leaf is incrementally tilted from 0° to 90°. Leaf hydrophobicity was greater than leaf angle for 9 species and similar for 2 species. Leaf angle was greater than water droplet retention on the adaxial leaf surface for 8 species and similar for 3 species. Leaf angle was greater than water droplet retention on the abaxial leaf surface for 7 species and similar for 2 species. The relationship between leaf angle and leaf hydrophobicity and the relationship between leaf angle and water droplet retention were weak; however, the relationship between leaf hydrophobicity and water droplet retention was stronger. Results indicate that intercepted water droplets during a rainfall event will likely drain off the leaf surfaces from a majority of the species examined and contribute to throughfall because leaf angle is greater than water droplet retention in these species. The relationship between leaf angle and canopy hydrophobicity may be a significant influence on hydrological processes in arid and semi-arid regions.
Who's Right About the Right? Comparing Competing Explanations of the Link Between White Evangelicals and Conservative Politics in the United States

Five competing explanations for why white evangelicals hold right-of-center political attitudes are examined using data from the 2000–2004 National Election Studies. Dependent variables include attitudes about abortion, homosexuality, immigration, national defense, and social spending. The five competing explanations accounting for conservative positions are: religiosity, moral standards traditionalism, gender and family ideology, class culture, and cultural geography. Moral standards traditionalism attenuated the evangelical effect on attitudes about abortion, homosexuality, and social spending. Religiosity and male-dominant gender ideology attenuated the effect on abortion and homosexuality only. In a second set of models, which include members of all major religious groups, these three variables, together with low levels of education, were significantly associated with conservative attitudes. Moral standards traditionalism demonstrated the most consistent, and generally the strongest, effects across dependent variables.
A prediction model for the presence of axillary lymph node involvement in women with invasive breast cancer: a focus on older women.

n Abstract: Axillary lymph node (ALN) status at diagnosis is the most powerful prognostic indicator for patients with breast cancer. Our aim is to examine the contribution of variables that lead to ALN metastases in a large dataset with a high proportion of patients greater than 70 years old. Using the data from two multicenter prospective studies, a retrospective review was performed on 2,812 patients diagnosed with clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer from 1996 to 2005 and who underwent ALN sampling. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify variables that were strongly associated with axillary metastases, and an equation was developed to estimate risk of ALN metastases. Of the 2,812 patients with invasive breast cancer, 18% had ALN metastases at diagnosis. Based on univariate analysis, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), tumor grade, age at diagnosis, menopausal status, race, tumor location, tumor type, and estrogen and progesterone receptor status were statistically significant. The relationship between age and involvement of axillary metastases was nonlinear. In multivariate analysis, LVI, tumor size and menopausal status were the most significant factors associated with ALN metastases. Age, however, was not a significant contributing factor for axillary metastases. Tumor size, LVI, and menopausal status are strongly associated with ALN metastases. We believe that age may have been a strong factor in previous analyses because there was not an adequate representation of women in older age groups and because of the violation of the assumption of linearity in their multivariate analyses. n
Peri‐operative risk factors for delayed gastric emptying after a pancreaticoduodenectomy

Abstract Background Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is a frequent cause of morbidity, prolonged hospital stay and readmission after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We sought to evaluate predictive peri-operative factors for DGE after a PD. Methods Four hundred and sixteen consecutive patients who underwent a PD at our tertiary referral centre were identified. Univariate and multivariate (MV) logistic regression models were used to assess peri-operative factors associated with the development of clinically significant DGE and a post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Results DGE occurred in 24% of patients ( n = 98) with Grades B and C occurring at 13.5% ( n = 55) and 10.5% ( n = 43), respectively. Using MV regression, a body mass index (BMI) ≥35 [odds ratio (OR) = 3.19], operating room (OR) length >5.5 h (OR = 2.72) and prophylactic octreotide use (OR = 2.04) were independently associated with an increased risk of DGE. DGE patients had a significantly longer median hospital stay (12 versus 7 days), higher 90-day readmission rates (32% versus 18%) and an increased incidence of a pancreatic fistula (59% versus 27%). When controlling for POPF, only OR length >5.5 h (OR 2.73) remained significantly associated with DGE. Conclusions DGE remains a significant cause of morbidity, increased hospital stay and readmission after PD. Our findings suggest patients with a BMI ≥35 or longer OR times have a higher risk of DGE either independently or through the development of POPF. These patients should be considered for possible enteral feeding tube placement along with limited octreotide use to decrease the potential risk and consequences of DGE.
Evidence suggesting time-dependent recovery of excitability in the in vivo human sinus node

Abstract The sinus node (SN) possesses the properties of automaticity and conduction. Automaticity arises in its dominant and latent pacemaker cells and results from both time and voltage-dependent ionic currents as shown by in vitro studies.1,2 Conduction is required for propagation of the generated impulse. Both automaticity and conduction can be assessed in vivo by way of clinical electrophysiologic studies, as well as in vitro.3,4 The SN also displays excitability; i.e., the ability for an action potential to be produced by an applied stimulatory current.1,2 In the SN, in vitro studies have shown that the recovery of excitability, the ability of a cell to be reexcited by a subsequent application of current, is also both voltage-dependent, typical of all cardiac tissues, and time-dependent, characteristic of only “slow response” fibers.1,2 Time-dependent recovery outlasts voltage-dependent recovery; thus, SN cells cannot be reexcited by a stimulatory current (are “refractory”) despite a return of membrane potential to baseline voltage until time-dependent recovery has also been achieved.1,2 Unlike automaticity and conduction, recovery of SN excitability has not been directly studied in humans since clinical electrophysiologic studies have not encompassed the ability to directly stimulate the SN and verify such stimulation. Nevertheless, one might expect that similar mechanisms would be operative in vivo as in vitro. In the 1980s, 2 developments occurred which bear on the ability to assess excitability in vivo. The first was the recognition and verification that SN refractoriness could be studied through retrograde activation5–8 (i.e., the responses to atrial premature stimuli can be analyzed to determine the coupling interval at which retrograde penetration of the SN is lost and the complexes become interpolated). Interpolation has been shown to occur when SN refractoriness is encountered.5 The second was the development of SN electrography9–12 and the documentation that the extracellular, transcatheter SN electrogram truly reflects the action potentials occurring in the underlying SN. We believe these 2 developments could be combined to indicate whether time-dependent recovery of SN excitability exists in vivo. If SN refractoriness outlasts the voltage excursions of the SN depolarization on the SN electrogram, time dependence of recovery of excitability is suggested.
Feature-specific Measurement of Surface Roughness in SEM Images

Characterization of the roughness of surfaces of individual features present in SEM images is obtained from the slope and intercept of a plot of the brightness difference between pixels as a function of their separation distance, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the scan lines within the outlines of the feature. The descriptive names contrast and texture are given to the intercept and slope of this plot, respectively. These parameters can be used to classify features, just as measures of size, shape, etc. are used for selection, distribution plots and statistical comparison. Evidence is also shown for a correlation between the texture and the fractal dimension of the feature profile, and consequently with the surface fractal dimension of the feature.
The Ba1−ySryMnO3−x system

Abstract Subsolidus phase relations at ambient atmospheric pressure and elevated temperatures in the Ba 1− y Sr y MnO 3− x system were investigated by quenching, gravimetric, and X-ray diffraction methods. The system is not binary above ∼1035°C because of reactions with atmospheric oxygen. The air isolar, P O 2 = 0.2 atm, was characterized at 1225, 1375, 1490, and 1610°C. Seven oxygen-deficient phases including a perovskite phase characterize the system. Their stability depends on the values of y and x in Ba 1− y Sr y MnO 3− x . The cell dimensions of these phases expand as x increases at fixed y . These seven modifications can be retained in stoichiometric form by oxidation at lower temperatures.
Interim analyses and early termination of clinical trials.

The group sequential tests (GST) are appropriate for performing interim analyses in clinical trials. Various GST are reviewed and compared in this paper in terms of the expected sample size, the maximum sample size and other practical aspects. Also discussed are the p-values of the significant differences for GST. Common problems and difficulties of using GST in practice are examined. One problem is difficulties associated with the delayed data accumulated after a trial is terminated at an interim test. The GST with O'Brien-Fleming type of boundaries are found to be safe in dealing with delayed observations. Possible approaches for performing futility analyses are illustrated with examples. It is recommended that futility analysis with GST be built into the design of large clinical trials.
The Rapidly Evolving Research on Vitamin D Among HIV-Infected Populations

With ongoing improvement in antiretroviral therapy, mortality among HIV-infected persons has dramatically decreased. For HIV-infected persons who remain engaged in care on suppressive therapy, life expectancy approaches that of the general population. Additionally, we have seen increases in comorbidities traditionally associated with aging: diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, and osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency has also been identified as a highly prevalent entity among HIV-infected populations. The association of vitamin D deficiency with several of these comorbidities and its impact on immune function provide the impetus for well-designed studies to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on HIV disease and antiretroviral therapy. This review summarizes the role of vitamin D in several disease states that are prevalent among HIV populations, with a specific focus on bone health and the interactions with antiretroviral medications.
Cytotaxin Production by Comedonal Bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes, Propionibacterium granulosum and Staphylococcus epidermidis)

The potential role of different species of comedonal bacteria as chemotactic stimuli in the inflammatory phase of acne vulgaris was investigated by comparing 12 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis , 11 strains of Propionibacterium acnes , and 5 strains of P. granulosum for production of cytotaxin in vitro . Results indicated that not only were there marked differences in cytotaxin production between different strains of the same species grown under identical growth conditions, but there were often significant differences in cytotaxin activity of the same strain grown in different media. This finding is discussed in relation to development of inflammation in quiescent comedones in acne vulgaris.
Cefotaxime therapy of bacterial meningitis in children

Thirty children with bacterial meningitis were randomized to receive either ampicillin and chloramphenicol in standard doses or cefotaxime (50 mg/kg/dose every 6 h) for 10 to 14 days. Eighteen patients received ampicillin and chloramphenicol and 12 patients received cefotaxime. Cerebrospinal fluid isolated included: Haemophilus influenzae (20), Streptococcus pneumoniae (4), Neisseria meningitidis (3), Group B streptococcus (2), and Salmonella enteritidis (1). Five of the H. influenzae isolates were ampicillin resistant but no isolates were resistant to cefotaxime. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of cefotaxime for 30 isolates ranged from 0.0004 to 0.06 mg/l, while the minimum bactericidal concentrations ranged from 0.007 to 0.12 mg/l. The cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal titres for the cefotaxime-treated group ranged from 1:64 to 1:1024. On the second day of therapy the mean cefotaxime serum concentrations were 56.9 +/- 28.7 mg/l at 1 h and 3.66 +/- 5.65 mg/l at 6 h after administration of the drug whilst mean desacetyl-cefotaxime serum concentrations were 12.31 +/- 7.56 mg/l at one hour and 7.96 +/- 8.26 mg/l at 6 h respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime measured one hour after drug administration were 3.72 +/- 5.57 mg/l and 4.35 +/- 7.12 mg/l, respectively. No adverse drug reactions were noted in either treatment group. Cefotaxime proved to be both as safe and as efficacious as standard therapy for the treatment of bacterial meningitis in children.
Experimental corneal neovascularisation using sucralfate and basic fibroblast growth factor.

Purpose: To develop a non-inflammatory model of both acute and chronic angiogenesis in the rabbit cornea using a known directly angiogenic cytokine. Methods: Pellets made of the slow-release polymer Hydron (polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate) and containing sucralfate and/or basic fibroblast growth factor (basic-FGF) were implanted into rabbit corneas. The neovascular response to the implantation of pellets containing basic-FGF alone, sucralfate alone or a titration of basic-FGF in the presence of a constant amount of sucralfate was measured. The role of inflammation in the neovascular response was also investigated. Results: The addition of sucralfate to the pellets led to the sustained release of basic-FGF resulting in a predictable and aggressive neovascular response with a low dose of basic-FGF that by itself was unable to elicit neovascularisation. At a dose of 500ng per pellet, approximately one-third of the surface area of the cornea was vascularised within eight days of implantation. Minimal or no vascularisation occurred with the same dose of basic-FGF without sucralfate. While this dose of basic-FGF induced corneal oedema, only minimal inflammation was observed and the response was unaffected by ionising radiation. A less aggressive though still robust neovascular response with no or only minimal oedema was observed when the dose was lowered to 50ng of basic-FGF per pellet. Some induced vessels persisted for more than three months. Conclusion: This is an inexpensive in vivo model of angiogenesis with the advantages of the neovascularisation being aggressive, predictable, persistent, unassociated with an obvious inflammatory response and induced by the sustained release of an agent known to have a direct stimulatory action on endothelial cells.
lz Person-Fit Index to Identify Misfit Students With Achievement Test Data

The usefulness of the lz person-fit index was investigated with achievement test data from 20 exams given to more than 3,200 college students. Results for three methods of estimating θ showed that the distributions of lz were not consistent with its theoretical distribution, resulting in general overfit to the item response theory model and underidentification of potentially nonfitting response vectors. The distributions of lz were not improved for the Bayesian estimation method. A follow-up Monte Carlo simulation study using item parameters estimated from real data resulted in mean lz approximating the theoretical value of 0.0 for one of three θ estimation methods, but all standard deviations were substantially below the theoretical value of 1.0. Use of the lz distributions from these simulations resulted in levels of identification of significant misfit consistent with the nominal error rates. The reasons for the nonstandardized distributions of lz observed in both these data sets were investigated in a...
The preparation of stearolic acid and methyl dideutero-oleate, and certain of their derivatives

1. Improved methods of synthesizing stearolic acid and 9,10-diketostearic acid in high yields are described. Dehydrobromination of dibromostearic acid by sodamide in ammonia is shown to be a very smooth and practical reaction. 2. Dibromo-oleic acid, methyl stearolate, and ethyl stearolate have been prepared and characterized. 3. Stearolamide, dibromo-oleyl alcohol, and stearolyl alcohol (9-octadecynol-1) have been synthesized and their properties described. 4. Selective hydrogenation and low temperature crystallization have been utilized to prepare oleic acid from stearolic acid and methyl oleate and methyl 9,10-dideutero-oleate, free of other higher unsaturated substances, from methyl stearolate. 5. Complete reduction of dideutero-oleate yielded 9,10-tetradeuterostearate which, on hydrolysis, gave tetradeuterostearic acid. 6. Infra-red absorption curves for 9,10-dideuterooleate, tetradeuterostearate, and tetradeuterostearic acid are also reported.
The Role of Arrestin α-Helix I in Receptor Binding

Arrestins rapidly bind phosphorylated activated forms of their cognate G protein-coupled receptors, thereby preventing G protein coupling and often switching signaling to other pathways. Amphipathic alpha-helix I (residues 100-111) has been implicated in receptor binding, but the mechanism of its action has not been determined yet. Here we show that several mutations in the helix itself and in adjacent hydrophobic residues in the body of the N-domain reduce arrestin1 binding to light-activated phosphorylated rhodopsin (P-Rh*). On the background of phosphorylation-independent mutants that bind with high affinity to both P-Rh* and light-activated unphosphorylated rhodopsin, these mutations reduce the stability of the arrestin complex with P-Rh*, but not with light-activated unphosphorylated rhodopsin. Using site-directed spin labeling, we found that the local structure around alpha-helix I changes upon binding to rhodopsin. However, the intramolecular distances between alpha-helix I and adjacent beta-strand I (or the rest of the N-domain), measured using double electron-electron resonance, do not change, ruling out relocation of the helix due to receptor binding. Collectively, these data demonstrate that alpha-helix I plays an indirect role in receptor binding, likely keeping beta-strand I, which carries several phosphate-binding residues, in a position favorable for its interaction with receptor-attached phosphates.
Heteroleptic and heterometallic divalent lanthanide bis(trimethylsilyl)amide complexes: mixed ligand, inverse sandwich, and alkali metal derivatives

Abstract The utility of the [(Me3Si)2N]− ligand in providing access to new members of three classes of divalent lanthanide organometallic complexes is demonstrated by the synthesis of inverse sandwich bimetallic, heteroleptic monometallic, and heterometallic bridged derivatives. {[(Me3Si)2N]Sm(THF)2}2(μ-C8H8) (1) can be obtained from [(Me3Si)2N]2Sm(THF)2, SmI2(THF)2, and K2C8H8 in THF and crystallizes from THF with a planar (C8H8)2− ring sandwiched between two {[(Me3Si)2N]Sm(THF)2}+ cations. The analogous {[(Me3Si)2N]Yb(THF)2}2(μ-C8H8) (2) can be generated from K[N(SiMe3)2], YbI2(THF)2, and K2C8H8 in THF. Heteroleptic (C5Me5)Yb[N(SiMe3)2](THF)2 (3) is generated from K[N(SiMe3)2] and [(C5Me5)Yb(THF)2(μ-I)]2 in THF and crystallizes from toluene with a distorted piano stool geometry. The bridged alkali metal derivatives {K2[Zr2(OiPr)9]} {Yb[N(SiMe3)2]3}(THF)3 (4), KSm[N(SiMe3)2]3 (5), and NaSm[N(SiMe3)2]3 (6) show the diversity of bridging modes available with [(Me3Si)2N]− ligands in complexes with similar Ln/N(SiMe3)2 sub-structures, in this case the trigonal planar {[(Me3Si)2N]3Ln}− anions.
Recent developments in International Disaster Response Laws: ILC’s Work and IDRL Rules in Disaster Relief

The paper is based on the initiative by the ILC for an international legal framework for the protection of individuals in the event of disasters. It comprises a description of the broad field of disaster relief law and, following, how sovereignty and individual rights issues are situated within the current work of the ILC. In addition, the so-called IDRL Guidelines are examined in the paper. Since these non-binding international documents play a key role in the disaster relief field at present, their determinant role in the development of an accepted international legal framework for disaster victims and humanitarian relief operations is imprinted in the paper.
Blind reduced-rank MMSE detector for DS-CDMA systems

We first develop a reduced-rank minimum mean square error (MMSE) detector for direct-sequence (DS) code division multiple access (CDMA) by forcing the linear MMSE detector to lie in a signal subspace of a reduced dimension. While a reduced-rank MMSE detector has lower complexity, it cannot outperform the full-rank MMSE detector. We then concentrate on the blind reduced-rank MMSE detector which is obtained from an estimated covariance matrix. Our analysis and simulation results show that when the desired user's signal is in a low-dimensional subspace, there exists an optimal subspace so that the blind reduced-rank MMSE detector lying in this subspace has the best performance. By properly choosing a subspace, we guarantee that the optimal blind reduced-rank MMSE detector is obtained. An adaptive blind reduced-rank MMSE detector, based on a subspace tracking algorithm, is developed. The adaptive blind reduced-rank MMSE detector exhibits superior steady-state performance and fast convergence speed.
Exact Solutions of Wind-Driven Coastal Upwelling and Downwelling over Sloping Topography

AbstractThe dynamics of wind-driven coastal upwelling and downwelling are studied using a simplified dynamical model. Exact solutions are examined as a function of time and over a family of sloping topographies. Assumptions in the two-dimensional model include a frictionless ocean interior below the surface Ekman layer and no along-slope dependence of the variables; however, dependence in the cross-slope and vertical directions is retained. Density and the along-slope component of momentum are advected by the cross-slope velocity, with thermal wind balance maintained at all times. The time-dependent initial value problem is solved with constant initial stratification and no initial along-slope flow. Previously, this model has been used to study upwelling over flat-bottomed ocean, but the novel features in this work are the study of exact solutions for a family of sloping topographic profiles, for both upwelling and downwelling. The exact solutions are compared to numerical solutions from a primitive equat...
“That School Had Become All About Show”: Image Making and the Ironies of Constructing a Good Urban School:

The last two decades have seen dramatic change in U.S. schooling as a response to high-stakes accountability and market-based reform movements. Critics cite a number of unfortunate consequences of these movements, especially for students in urban schools. This article explores the troubling ironies related to one strategy for survival in this environment: constructing an image of a “good school.” Drawing from an ethnographic study of an urban middle school, the author argues that the administration developed and promoted an image of a good school in the public sphere but this image did not reflect the experiences of students and teachers. The author develops this argument by drawing out four ironies that resulted from image-building in a climate of high-stakes accountability and market-driven reform.
Functional regression for data fusion and indirect measurements of physiological variables collected by wearable sensor systems and indirect calorimetry

The paper describes application of different types of functional regression for analysis and modeling of the data collected by wearable sensor systems. The data have been recorded from human subjects while they were staying in whole room calorimeter chamber for 48 hours. This allowed very accurate measurements of their oxygen consumption, energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. These physiological parameters are notorious for their inaccuracy when measured in field conditions. The subjects wore two types of body sensors: the Hidalgo Equivital™ (Cambridge, UK) physiological monitors with a telemetry thermometer pill and iPro Professional Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) (Medtronic MiniMed, Inc, Northridge, CA). The data collected by these two systems and by the calorimeter chamber were subsequently analyzed off-line using the functional regression techniques. The energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and body core temperature were used as response variables, while heart rate, respiratory rate, subcutaneous glucose concentration, and skin temperature were used as predictors. The results show that the 24-hours and instantaneous energy expenditure values can be inferred from instantaneous measurements of heart rate, respiratory rate and glucose concentrations. Also, the body core temperature can be inferred from heart rate, respiratory rate, glucose concentration, and skin temperature. The substrate oxidation was the most difficult parameter to infer and it can only be accomplished during the exercise activity.
LIFTING PRACTICE: TEACHERS AS RESEARCHERS IN THE LANGUAGE CLASSROOM . Louise M. Jansen & Anthony J. Liddicoat (Eds.) . Canberra: Language Australia, 1998. Pp. 110. A$19.80 paper.

Jansen and Liddicoat's volume on teachers as researchers in the FL/SL classroom is an invaluable contribution to the complex and complicated issue of assessing formal language learning environments (i.e., classrooms). The purpose is to provide “an overview of the philosophy which underlies the inclusion of research as a central part of an in-service professional development program” (p. 1) as well as to “give examples of the scope and potential for research conducted by teachers” ( ibid .).
Reporting transfusion-asociated hepatitis.

Exclusion of donors implicated in transfusion-associated hepatitis (TAH) remains important as a means of preventing this disease. By sending a six-month follow-up post card to the physician of every patient receiving blood, the reporting rate of TAH for one hospital has increased six times the average of the region.
Pulmonary Disease Due to Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly associated with pulmonary disease. This is a worldwide phenomenon and one that is not related just to better diagnostic techniques or HIV infection. The mode of transmission of NTM is not well defined, but environmental exposure may be the major factor. While most exposed and infected individuals never acquire NTM disease, some ostensibly immunocompetent persons will. Although our understanding of the pathogenesis of NTM disease is incomplete, we believe that both host and mycobacterial factors are involved. Among the former, interferon-γ"trafficking" may well play a central role. When disease occurs, it is likely to present in one of three prototypical forms: a tuberculosis-like pattern often affecting older male smokers with COPD; nodular bronchiectasis classically occurring in middle-aged or older women who never smoked and present with cough; and hypersensitivity pneumonitis following environmental exposure. While Mycobacterium avium complex has been described with all three forms, many other NTM can produce one or another of them; variants of these prototypes also exist. Diagnosis of NTM disease relies on microbiology and chest CT scanning, and criteria to aid diagnosis are available. Treatment of disease depends on the species involved, extent and form of disease, and overall condition of the patient. Surgery for localized disease may be useful for those species expected to be refractory to medical therapy. Observation without treatment may be appropriate for some patients with slowly progressive disease that is expected to be particularly difficult to treat.
Laboratory evaluation of dual-frequency multisensor capacitance probes to monitor soil water and salinity

Real-time information on salinity levels and transport of fertilizers are generally missing from soil profile knowledge bases. A dual-frequency multisensor capacitance probe (MCP) is now commercially available, for sandy soils, to simultaneously monitor volumetric soil water content (VWC) measured as a percentage and salinity as a unitless volumetric ion content (VIC). The objectives of this research were to assess the relationship of salinity and water content with these dual-frequency MCPs under laboratory conditions, and assess its potential for field use in sandy soils of the mid-Atlantic region of the US. Water and salinity studies were conducted in two sand-filled PVC columns, 1.2 m long by 0.25 m ID. Each column was instrumented with ten dual-frequency capacitance sensors and two thermocouple temperature sensors. Four salinity levels were studied in the two columns using 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 dSm−1 NH4NO3 solutions. Water, salinity, and temperature readings were continuously recorded at 1-min intervals. The VIC values were found to be primarily qualitative, but combined with real-time VWC measures the probe could still be an important fertigation management tool to provide near-continuous real-time information on fertilizer penetration, spread and subsequent changes during crop growth.
N-acetylglucosaminyl transferases from the pupal instar of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans

N-acetylglucosaminyl transferases from pupae of Stornoxys calcitrans (L.) were studied in l0,OOOg pellet suspensions. Characterization of these enzymes was based on formation of glycolipids (ie, Dola PP-ClcNAc and Dole PP(GlcNAc)z), oligosaccharide lipids, and glycoproteins. Studies on transferase activity during the pupal instar showed that there were two peaks of activity; the first peak was on day 0 (prepupae) and the second at 3 days after pupation. Subcellular fractionation indicated that 10,OOOg and 100,OOOg pellets contained most of the transferase activities. The transferases required divalent cations (either Mn2+ or Mg2+). The pH optimum, which varied for each of the products formed, was 7.5 for glycolipids, 7.0 for oligosaccharide lipids, and 6.5 for glycoprotein. Inclusion of dolichol monophosphate doubled the amount of Dol+PP-GlcNAc and DOI-PP*(GICNAC)~ formed, but had little effect on oligosaccharide lipid and glycoprotein formation. Tunicamycin was a potent inhibitor of glycolipid formation with an ls0 of 1.8-4.8 nM. It was confirmed that tunicamycin acts by preventing the transfer of GlcNAc-1-P from UDP-GlcNAc to Dole P. UMP reverses glycolipid formation, yielding UDP-GlcNAc. Some characterization of the products was performed. Glycolipids were shown to be Do1 1 PP-GlcNAc and Do1 . PP-(GIcNAc)~. Glycoprotein was rapidly solubilized by protease and detergent treatments, whereas oligosaccharide lipids appeared to be acid-labile, pyrophosphatecontaining lipids. The apparent kinetic constants for the formation of glycolipids were as follows: UDP-ClcNAc K, = 1.55 & 0.47 pM, V,,, = 0.66 f 0.21 pmol.min-l-mg-l; Do1.P K, = 2.08 f 0.85 pM, V,,, = 0.13 f 0.06
The distributions, mechanisms, and structures of metabolite-binding riboswitches

Riboswitches are noncoding RNA structures that appropriately regulate genes in response to changing cellular conditions. The expression of many proteins involved in fundamental metabolic processes is controlled by riboswitches that sense relevant small molecule ligands. Metabolite-binding riboswitches that recognize adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl), thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP), lysine, glycine, flavin mononucleotide (FMN), guanine, adenine, glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P), 7-aminoethyl 7-deazaguanine (preQ1), and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) have been reported. We have used covariance model searches to identify examples of ten widespread riboswitch classes in the genomes of organisms from all three domains of life. This data set rigorously defines the phylogenetic distributions of these riboswitch classes and reveals how their gene control mechanisms vary across different microbial groups. By examining the expanded aptamer sequence alignments resulting from these searches, we have also re-evaluated and refined their consensus secondary structures. Updated riboswitch structure models highlight additional RNA structure motifs, including an unusual double T-loop arrangement common to AdoCbl and FMN riboswitch aptamers, and incorporate new, sometimes noncanonical, base-base interactions predicted by a mutual information analysis. Riboswitches are vital components of many genomes. The additional riboswitch variants and updated aptamer structure models reported here will improve future efforts to annotate these widespread regulatory RNAs in genomic sequences and inform ongoing structural biology efforts. There remain significant questions about what physiological and evolutionary forces influence the distributions and mechanisms of riboswitches and about what forms of regulation substitute for riboswitches that appear to be missing in certain lineages.
Reproductive Biology of the Del Norte Salamander (Plethodon elongatus)

Abstract We examined seasonal reproductive patterns of the Del Norte Salamander, Plethodon elongatus, in mixed conifer and hardwood forests of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. Seasonal size differences in reproductive structures suggested that maximum spermatogenic activity occurred during the late summer, with spermatozoa transfer to the vasa deferentia occurring in the fall through spring. Maximum development of mature follicles occurred during the winter; however, follicular growth occurred year-round and was asynchronous among individuals. Courtship and mating probably occurred in late fall through early spring, with egg deposition from spring into early summer. Reproduction for females was not annual, and patterns suggested that the reproductive cycle was biennial or less frequent. In contrast, evidence indicated annual reproduction in males. Gravid females contained an average of 10 mature follicles.