cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Swing and a myth: a review of Caplan’s The Myth of the Rational Voter

'Anyone who hates children and dogs," WC. Fields declared, "can't be all bad." Surely the bibulous iconoclast would have warmly received Bryan Caplan's The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies (Caplan 2006). Democracy has become such a sacred cow for us that nothing, not even its avowed embrace by George W Bush, will lead people to voice suspicions. Caplan, however, is a conspicuous exception. Democracies, he tells us in the subtitle, choose bad policies, and they do so because voters fall down badly in their civic performances. It's not only that they are ignorant about politicians and policy, an understandable shortfall in a world in which bits of good information are mixed in with superabundant dross. Rather, asserts Caplan, they are irrational This means that not only do they commit errors, but these mistakes are systematically biased. Rather than some individuals' ignorance being checked and balanced by the equal and opposed mistakes of other voters, they predictably tend to get the same things wrong in the same sort of way. What's worse, they do so over and over again, obdurately declining to learn from past mistakes. The result is a parade of policies that make us all worse off than we could be. Within contemporary political practice, there is no cure for the democratic malady. Only if the power of irrational majorities is cut back will policy prospects improve. Caplan is not optimistic. (Neither was Fields.) He is aware of the momentum of populist enthusiasms. Nonetheless, he concludes the volume with suggestions for improvement, most notably a much enhanced public presence by economists. That this may seem a bit self-serving coming from a member of George Mason University's Economics department does not imply that the prescription is erroneous. This lively and provocative work is welcome for a number of reasons, not least the zeal with which it punctures conventional wisdom.1
Solid-state 29Si NMR of TEOS-based multifunctional sol-gel materials

Abstract Solid-state 29 Si NMR experiments were carried out on multifunctional TEOS-based sol-gel materials to determine the types of silicate structures formed as well as the degree of reaction attained under previously established acid-catalyzed conditions. The degree of reaction attained and the final functionality of the gels were found to correlate with a flexible/brittle transition which was observed to be a function of the gel composition. Both FT/MAS and CP/MAS experiments were conducted which allowed a comparison of the two methods in terms of their quantitative results. It was found that the CP/MAS experiment run under the proper conditions provides (with the exception of pure TEOS gels) quantitatively similar spectra to those obtained by FT/MAS experiments.
Beggiatoa: Occurrence in the Rice Rhizosphere

A catalase-like activity surrounding the root tips of rice plants favors the presence of Beggiatoa, an organism capable of oxidizing the hydrogen sulfide which is toxic to rice and is found in paddy soil conditions. Beggiatoa has now been isolated from rice field soil. A mutually favorable interaction between rice and this bacterium is suggested.
Bounds on the spectral and maximum norms of the finite element stiffness, flexibility and mass matrices

Abstract Upper and lower bounds are established on the spectral and maximum norms (and hence on the corresponding condition numbers) of the stiffness, flexibility (the inverse of the stiffness) and mass matrices generated from regular and irregular meshes of finite elements. Explicit expressions for these bounds are derived, in terms of the intrinsic and discretization parameters, for second and fourth order problems in one, two and three dimensions discretized with linear, triangular and tetrahedronal elements.
N-acetyl-D-galactosamine inhibits the early phospholipid response by lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin.

Two early events in the initiation of lymphocyte growth by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) are the acceleration of phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover1 and the agglutination of the lymphocytes2. To determine whether these two responses are related, a specific inhibitor of the lymphocyte agglutination, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (NAGA)2, was tested for its effect on the PI response. NAGA was found greatly to inhibit the acceleration of PI turnover by PHA, which suggests that the abilities of PHA to agglutinate lymphocytes and to activate PI metabolism are related properties of this mitogen.
Assisted Breeding in Sugar Beets

Molecular insight and methods applied to plant breeding and germplasm enhancement is the goal of assisted breeding, also known as marker assisted breeding, marker assisted selection, molecular plant breeding, or genome-wide selection, among others. The basic idea is that most, if not all, heritable components of agronomic performance can be assayed with an unbiased, uniform, and comparatively inexpensive set of measures that are highly or completely correlated with phenotypic values. Typically such heritable components are genetically controlled, thus the panoply of DNA-based correlative methods should provide the requisite tools for assisted breeding to be successful. Whether DNA-based methods are successful in predicting agronomic performance depends on a host of considerations, many of which remain to be completely addressed for sugar beet, and thus assisted breeding remains somewhat empirical in practice, at least with respect to the specific traits of interest. Most sugar beet breeding and improvement programs have initiated assisted breeding efforts, primarily as a first step to discover marker associations with traits. These initial activities serve a number of important functions such as determining the complexity of trait inheritance, narrowing the possible range of genes and loci involved in phenotypic expression in different populations, and following the progress of sugar beet improvement following hybridization with wild and unadapted germplasm. It is unlikely that breeding will or should ever rely completely on assisted methods, however selection of the most promising germplasm can be greatly accelerated using molecular insights and knowledge.
Evidence of Endogenous Mono-ADP-Ribosylation of Cardiac Proteins Via Anti-ADP-Ribosylarginine Immunoreactivity

. Arginine-specific mono-ADP-ribosylation of proteins and arginine-specific mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase occur in heart. We developed a polyclonal antiserum, R-28, against ADP-ribosylpolyarginine that recognized mono-ADP-ribosylated proteins and identified the major mono-ADP-ribosylation products of quail heart. Treatment of Immobilon-bound ADP-ribosylated Gs protein with hydroxylamine under conditions that remove ADP-ribose from its arginines eliminated R-28 immunoreactivity to Gs. Also, R-28 immunoreactivity to quail heart proteins was removed by NaOH and phosphodiesterase I treatments. Similar treatment with mercuric chloride did not remove the immunoreactivity but did remove exogenously (via in vitro pertussis toxin treatment) added ADP-ribose from cysteine of cardiac Gi/Go proteins. The antiserum did not appear to react with ADP-ribosylasparagine of Rho (formed by C3 toxin), ADP-ribosyldiphthamide of elongation factor 2 (formed by diphtheria toxin) in quail heart preparations, or polyADP-ribosylated proteins of a neonate rat cardiac nuclear preparation. Thus, the R-28 antiserum appears to contain predominantly antibodies directed against ADP-ribosylarginine. To test the usefulness of R-28, immunoblotting of subcellular fractions of quail heart was performed. R-28 showed the greatest immunoreactivity in the sarcolemma with significant immunoreactivity in denser membrane fractions. The cytosol also contained an immunoreactive band distinct from those found in the membranes. Hydroxylamine treatment eliminated immunoreactivity in the sarcolemma and denser membrane fractions but not the cytosol, suggesting the membranous immunoreactive bands contain ADP-ribosylarginine. In conclusion, a polyclonal antiserum that recognizes ADP-ribosylarginine proteins has been raised. The usefulness of the antiserum is demonstrated by the characterization of endogenous arginine mono-ADP-ribosylation products in quail heart. The quail heart has several sarcolemmal and denser membrane fraction proteins that appear to be mono-ADP-ribosylated on arginines.
Chaperoning G Protein-Coupled Receptors: From Cell Biology to Therapeutics

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane proteins that traverse the plasma membrane seven times (hence, are also called 7TM receptors). The polytopic structure of GPCRs makes the folding of GPCRs difficult and complex. Indeed, many wild-type GPCRs are not folded optimally, and defects in folding are the most common cause of genetic diseases due to GPCR mutations. Both general and receptor-specific molecular chaperones aid the folding of GPCRs. Chemical chaperones have been shown to be able to correct the misfolding in mutant GPCRs, proving to be important tools for studying the structure-function relationship of GPCRs. However, their potential therapeutic value is very limited. Pharmacological chaperones (pharmacoperones) are potentially important novel therapeutics for treating genetic diseases caused by mutations in GPCR genes that resulted in misfolded mutant proteins. Pharmacoperones also increase cell surface expression of wild-type GPCRs; therefore, they could be used to treat diseases that do not harbor mutations in GPCRs. Recent studies have shown that indeed pharmacoperones work in both experimental animals and patients. High-throughput assays have been developed to identify new pharmacoperones that could be used as therapeutics for a number of endocrine and other genetic diseases.
Nanostructured materials based on polymerizable amphiphiles

Over the past 2 years, significant advances have been made in the development of nanostructured materials based on the polymerization of amphiphilic assemblies. The most notable advances include the synthesis of new nanostructured composite materials, demonstration of enhanced mechanical properties and catalytic reactivity in these systems, and a better understanding of the polymerization dynamics in these ordered assemblies. We expect this field to grow in the coming years, as it is one of the few simple, reliable routes towards nanoengineering and nanotechnology.
Effect of turbulent wake on bubble—buble interaction in a gas—liquid—solid fluidized bed

Visual experiments are carried out in a three-dimensional fluidized bed. The bubble-bubble interaction is interpreted in terms of the wake velocity which accounts for an increase in the bubble rise velocity due to the presence of the wake. Results obtained in the present system are also compared with those obtained in the two-dimensional system
Surface Roughness Effects on Energy Dissipation in Fretting Contact of Nominally Flat Surfaces

The effect of roughness on the frictional energy dissipation in fretting contact of nominally flat rough surfaces is studied. The contact is modeled as the statistical sum of asperity tip junctions. A mathematical analysis with a probability distribution of asperity heights in the form of a delta sequence is conducted to analytically show that a rougher surface dissipates more energy than a smoother surface. Numerical simulations with three typical measured surface roughness profiles are presented, validating the analytical finding that rougher surfaces dissipate more energy than smoother surfaces in fretting contact. The proposed statistical approach is compared with so called "direct" calculation methods, which analytically model discrete asperity contacts, and the differences regarding the energy dissipation in fretting are discussed.
Finite-temperature conductance signatures of quantum criticality in double quantum dots

We study the linear conductance through a double-quantum-dot system consisting of an interacting dot in its Kondo regime and an effectively noninteracting dot connected in parallel to metallic leads. Signatures in the zero-bias conductance at temperatures $Tg0$ mark a pair of quantum $(T=0)$ phase transitions between a Kondo-screened many-body ground state and non-Kondo ground states. Notably, the conductance features become more prominent with increasing $T$, which enhances the experimental prospects for accessing the quantum-critical region through tuning of gate voltages in a single device.
Physical and Electronic Structure Effects of Embedded Dipoles in Self-Assembled Monolayers: Characterization of Mid-Chain Ester Functionalized Alkanethiols on Au{111}

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au{111} prepared from the midchain ester functionalized thiols, HS(CH2)mCO2(CH2)n-1CH3 with m,n = 10,5; 10,10; 15,5; and 5,10, along with deuterated analogs, were characterized by wetting, ellipsometry, near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, quantitative infrared spectroscopy, high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS), and density functional theory calculations. The SAMs can be viewed as layered structures in which the bottom −(CH2)− alkyl segment (between the ester group and the substrate) exhibits typical conformational ordering and orientation analogous to long chain alkanethiolate SAMs, while the upper segment (ambient side) is significantly more conformationally disordered. The presence of the ester moiety leads to the formation of a strong electric dipole layer with a component of 1.05(±0.09) Debye normal to the surface. This dipole layer exhibits a strong electrostatic effect on the XPS spectra in which the C 1s photoelectron kinet...
Genetic characterization of the oral Actinomyces

Abstract Actinomyces are difficult to identify using serological and biochemical methods but genotyping is an efficient and reliable means of bacterial characterization and can be used to determine clonal identity. The purpose here was to genotype 13 American type culture collection (ATCC) reference strains representing six different oral Actinomyces spp. by using chromosomal DNA fingerprinting (CDF), arbitrarily primed-polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) and polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). In CDF analysis, Bam HI, Bst EII and Sma I yielded digestion patterns revealing characteristic differences among the known Actinomyces spp., with Sma I demonstrating optimal resolution. Amplicons generated by AP-PCR with primer OPB-07 displayed banding patterns that permitted discrimination of all Actinomyces strains tested. PCR–RFLP with Mnl I digests generated fragment patterns that also characterized the reference strains. Collectively, genotypic profiles generated by CDF, AP-PCR and PCR–RFLP permitted differentiation of all 13 ATCC Actinomyces strains. Sma I CDF analysis of 18 clinical isolates of catalase-positive A. naeslundii genospecies 2 revealed extensive genetic diversity among these strains. These molecular approaches may be useful in determining genetic diversity within oral Actinomyces populations and fidelity of Actinomyces transmission between mother and child.
No correlation between pretreatment serum CEA levels and tumor volume in locally advanced rectal cancer patients.

Abstract Background Although serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels reflect tumor volume in rectal cancer patients intrapersonally, it is unclear interpersonally. We determined the correlation between pretreatment serum CEA levels and tumor volume. Methods A total of 489 patients with locally advanced primary rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery between October 2001 and April 2007 were retrospectively evaluated. CEA levels were measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, and magnetic resonance (MR) volumetry was performed using MR data. The correlation between CEA levels and tumor volume was assessed using linear regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance. The prognostic values of CEA levels and tumor volume for survival were evaluated. Results There was no significant correlation between CEA levels and tumor volume. The five-year overall survival and disease-free survival were 89.0%, 80.6% and 82.9%, and 72.0%, 70.0% and 60.3% in patients with CEA levels of ≤ 3 ng/ml, > 3–10 ng/ml, and > 10 ng/ml, respectively. Tumor volume had no prognostic value for either overall survival or disease-free survival Conclusions Pretreatment serum CEA levels were not correlated with tumor volume. While there was no correlation between tumor volume and survival, there was a positive correlation between CEA levels and survival.
A stoichiometric analysis of the zooplankton–phytoplankton interaction in marine and freshwater ecosystems

IN the 35 years since A. C. Redfield's classic paper1, the use of elemental ratios has become widespread in marine and freshwater phytoplankton studies2,3. But nutrient ratios have only recently been studied elsewhere in pelagic ecosystems, such as the producer-consumer interface4,5. Here we report the results of the first study, to our knowledge, of N:P ratios in pelagic producers and consumers (phytoplankton and zooplankton) in lacustrine and marine habitats. The N:P ratio of phytoplankton was higher in lakes than in marine sites; however, N:P ratios were higher in marine zooplankton than in freshwater zooplankton. The elemental imbalance of the phytoplankton–zooplankton interaction (N:Pfood–N:Pconsumers) in lakes was positive and exceeded the negative imbal-ance in marine sites; thus P-deficient food may limit zooplankton growth in lakes but not in oceans. Stoichiometric calculations6 indicated that consumer-driven nutrient recycling ratios in lakes may be 4–6 times higher than in marine systems. Consistent with this difference, phytoplankton P-limitation was more prevalent in lakes than in marine sites. Thus, the ecological stoichiometry of the zooplankton–phytoplankton interaction differs qualitatively in freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Behavior of butt-welds and treatments using low-carbon steel under cyclic inelastic strains

Abstract The materials and details used to construct sacrificial structural steel components must be evaluated for the full range of inelastic demands imposed by extreme loading events. This study characterizes the cyclic response and low-cycle fatigue life of a plate steel material designed to have a relatively low yield stress and various complete joint penetration butt-weld details considered for use in applications where inelastic behavior is expected. Large amplitude cyclic strain tests were performed on the base material and butt-welded specimens. The welded specimens utilized several different weld treatment details designed to mitigate stress concentrations, reduce tensile residual stresses, and improve weld-toe geometry. Uniaxial material models and a low-cycle fatigue model were used to characterize the cyclic stress–strain response and low-cycle fatigue life of the specimens. A linear damage accumulation model was also applied and found to adequately predict the failure of specimens subjected to more arbitrary strain histories. The presence of butt-welds were found to only slightly decrease the low-cycle fatigue life and the various weld treatments were found to have minimal impact.
Comparison of vaporization efficiencies with Murphree-type efficiencies in distillation — I

Abstract Certain serious limitations of Murphree-type efficiencies for the description of the degree of completion of the transfer processes occurring on the plate of a distillation column in the process of separating a multicomponent mixture are presented. By comparison, vaporization efficiencies are shown to be non-zero, finite, and positive numbers, provided the components to which they apply are detectable and have equilibrium constants which are non-zero, finite, and positive numbers.
The WISC-R as a Predictor of WRAT Achievement for Educable Mentally Handicapped Students

The present study investigated the predictive validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) Full Scale IQ relative to the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) Reading, Spelling, and Arithmetic subtests as criterion measures for a group of 61 educable mentally handicapped (EMH) students in a public school setting. The results of a multivariate multiple regression analysis indicated that WISC-R Full Scale IQ did not yield valid prediction of achievement as measured by the WRAT subtests. Cautions are presented with regard to generalizing the current findings to other student populations.
Daredevil: ultra-wideband radar sensing for small UGVs

We are developing an ultra wideband (UWB) radar sensor payload for the man-portable iRobot PackBot UGV. Our goal is to develop a sensor array that will allow the PackBot to navigate autonomously through foliage (such as tall grass) while avoiding obstacles and building a map of the terrain. We plan to use UWB radars in conjunction with other sensors such as LIDAR and vision. We propose an algorithm for using polarimetric (dual-polarization) radar arrays to classify radar returns as either vertically-aligned foliage or solid objects based on their differential reflectivity, a function of their aspect ratio. We have conducted preliminary experiments to measure the ability of UWB radars to detect solid objects through foliage. Our initial results indicate that UWB radars are very effective at penetrating sparse foliage, but less effective at penetrating dense foliage.
c-FLIPL is a dual function regulator for caspase-8 activation and CD95-mediated apoptosis

Activation of the caspase cascade is a pivotal step in apoptosis and can occur via death adaptor-mediated homo-oligomerization of initiator procaspases. Here we show that c-FLIPL, a protease-deficient caspase homolog widely regarded as an apoptosis inhibitor, is enriched in the CD95 death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and potently promotes procaspase-8 activation through hetero-dimerization. c-FLIPL exerts its effect through its protease-like domain, which associates efficiently with the procaspase-8 protease domain and induces the enzymatic activity of the zymogen. Ectopic expression of c-FLIPL at physiologically relevant levels enhances procaspase-8 processing in the CD95 DISC and promotes apoptosis, while a decrease of c-FLIPL expression results in inhibition of apoptosis. c-FLIPL acts as an apoptosis inhibitor only at high ectopic expression levels. Thus, c-FLIPL defines a novel type of caspase regulator, distinct from the death adaptors, that can either promote or inhibit apoptosis.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN EXPRESSED SELF-CONCEPTS CONCERNING THE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED MOTOR SKILLS

Numerous studies exist which investigate the difference between the sexes in their responses to a myriad of phenomena such as: opinions concerning world events ( 3 ) , selection of favorite play activities (4), body concepts ( 2 ) , self-estimates of performance on classroom tests ( S ) , and perceptual behavior ( 1 ) . But there is a paucity of information concerning any differences which may exist between males' concepts of themselves performing gross motor skills and females' concepts of themselves performing these same skills. The results of study in other contexts strongly suggest that females might be expected to have less favorable concepts of themselves in the performance of certain motor skills than would males. The present study presents some findings which support, in part, this expectation.
Optimal, Static Hedging for Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMO) can exhibit different degrees of cash flow variability depend-ing on tranche structure and realized prepayment speeds. In order to have a meaningful comparison across structures and collateral types an Option-Adjusted Spread (OAS) methodology is typically used. While OAS provides an improvement to yield-to-maturity for CMO, it does not always make a good com-parison between structures with differing convexities. We introduce a related methodology which in-volves designing an optimal, static hedge. Our valuation directly takes into account the cost of setting up that hedge and thus appears to more fully take into account the negative convexity of a CMO. Numerical results for a simple, transparent binomial model and for market-calibrated Monte-Carlo simulation are given.
Accumulation of trifluoroacetate in seasonal wetlands in California.

Trifluoroacetate (TFA, CF3COO-) is a stable and mildly phytotoxic breakdown product of several fluorinated organic compounds including the hydro(chloro)fluorocarbons (HFC/HCFCs) that have largely replaced the stratospheric ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). TFA enters aquatic ecosystems primarily through precipitation and has the potential to accumulate in water bodies with little or no outflow to the point where toxic concentrations could be achieved. This study demonstrated that seasonal wetlands lacking outflow concentrated TFA as they evaporated during the dry season. In addition, the TFA within the pools was retained between years, which may result in long-term TFA accumulation. Since plants acquire TFA from their growing media, the plants exposed to high aqueous concentrations of TFA within the pools had elevated TFA concentrations with a median concentration of 279 ng/g dry weight in their tissues as compared to 33 ng/g for species growing outside the pools. The highest TFA concentrations ...
The US Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002: Summary and update for non-US issuers

This paper summarises the key aspects of the US Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (‘the Act’), as it applies to foreign private issuers. The authors focus first on internal control and lay out the requirements of Section 404 of the Act as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's Auditing Standard No. 2 (governing internal control audits). The paper also highlights the provisions of the Act covering central topics such as chief executive and chief financial officer certification, non-GAAP financial measures, off-balance sheet and other MD&A disclosure, standards relating to listed company audit committees, auditor independence rules, attorney conduct and liability.
Synthesis, characterization, and hydrotreating activity of carbon-supported transition metal phosphides

Abstract A series of nickel, molybdenum, and tungsten metal phosphides deposited on a carbon black support (Ni 2 P/C, MoP/C, and WP/C) were synthesized by means of temperature-programmed reduction. The samples were characterized by BET surface area, CO uptake, X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. The activity of these catalysts was measured at 613 K and 3.1 MPa in a three-phase, packed-bed reactor for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) with a model liquid feed containing 500 ppm sulfur as 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), 3000 ppm sulfur as dimethyl disulfide, and 200 ppm nitrogen as quinoline. The Ni 2 P/C catalyst was found to exhibit the best hydroprocessing performance based on equal CO chemisorption sites (70 μmol) loaded in the reactor. An optimum Ni loading for HDS and HDN activity was found as 1.656 mmol g −1 (11.0 wt.% Ni 2 P) which gave an HDS conversion of 99% and an HDN conversion of 100% at a molar space velocity of 0.88 h −1 . These were much higher than those of a commercial Ni–Mo–S/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst which gave an HDS conversion of 68% and an HDN conversion of 94%, and a previously reported best Ni 2 P/SiO 2 catalyst which gave an HDS conversion of 76% and an HDN conversion of 92%. The use of carbon instead of silica as a support gave rise to other differences, which included smaller particle size, higher CO uptake, lessened retention of P on the support, and reduced sulfur deposition. The stability of the 11.0 wt.% Ni 2 P/C catalyst was also excellent with no deactivation observed over 110 h of time on stream. The activity and stability of the Ni 2 P/C catalyst were affected by the phosphorous content, both reaching a maximum with an initial Ni/P ratio of 1/2. EXAFS and elemental analysis of the spent samples indicated the formation of a surface phosphosulfide phase on the Ni 2 P, which was beneficial for hydrotreating activity, while the bulk structure of the phosphides was maintained during the course of reaction as revealed from the XRD patterns.
The Arginine Anomaly: Arginine Radicals Are Poor Hydrogen Atom Donors in Electron Transfer Induced Dissociations

Arginine amide radicals are generated by femtosecond electron transfer to protonated arginine amide cations in the gas phase. A fraction of the arginine radicals formed (2-amino-5-dihydroguanid-1‘-yl-pentanamide, 1H) is stable on the 6.7 μs time scale and is detected after collisional reionization. The main dissociation of 1H is loss of a guanidine molecule from the side chain followed by consecutive dissociations of the 2-aminopentanamid-5-yl radical intermediate. Intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer from the guanidinium group onto the amide group is not observed. These results are explained by ab initio and density functional theory calculations of dissociation and transition state energies. Loss of guanidine from 1H is calculated to require a transition state energy of 68 kJ mol-1, which is substantially lower than that for hydrogen atom migration from the guanidine group. The loss of guanidine competes with the reverse migration of the arginine α-hydrogen atom onto the guanidyl radical. RRKM calculat...
A study of the high pressure electronic spectrum of a pseudotetrahedral cobalt(II) complex

Several investigators have studied the electronic spectral properties of tetrahedral and pseudotetrahedral coba l t ( l l ) complexes (1-6). In many of the studies, the near infrared and v is ib le spectral bands were very useful f i r s t in dist inguishing tetrahedral from other usually f ive and six-coordinate -geometries and second in establishing the extent of d is tor t ion of such complexes from pure tetrahedral geometry (2,3,5). In some instances, i t was possible to gain an understanding of the re lat ive d-orbi ta l energies in the pseudotetrahedral complexes (2) by using the structure typ ica l l y observed in the near infrared spectra. These investigations have been supported by polarized single crystal studies (7,8). This paper reports the results of a study of the high pressure, near infrared and v is ib le spectrum of a pseudotetrahedral coba l t ( l l ) complex and indicates how such studies may be used to determine in part the re la t ive ordering of d orb i ta ls .
An Examination of Teacher and Student Behaviors in Classrooms for Students With Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disability

Students with moderate and severe intellectual disability require intensive instruction to develop academic skills. A majority of instruction for these students takes place in self-contained classrooms. Unfortunately, there are little data describing common instructional practices within these classrooms. This pilot investigation aimed to explore classrooms for students with moderate and severe intellectual disability to determine the levels at which teachers typically present opportunities to respond and provide feedback in classrooms for these students, the degree to which students are engaged with academic instruction in these classrooms, and if there is a difference in teaching practices and student engagement in different school settings (separate school vs. separate classroom in a general education school). Findings, limitations, and ideas for future research are discussed.
Physical Activity and Risk of Developing Colorectal Cancer Among College Alumni

The assessment of physical activity at a single time to evaluate its association with cancer may be limited, since such a measure may not adequately reflect activity over the long term. To overcome this limitation, we studied 17,148 Harvard alumni aged 30-79 years who were followed prospectively for the occurrence of colon cancer (n = 225) and rectal cancer (n = 44) from 1965 through 1988. Physical activity, based on self-reported stair climbing, walking, and sports play, was assessed in either 1962 or 1966 (1962/1966) and again in 1977. The increased activity evaluated using either assessment (1962/1966 or 1977) taken alone was not associated with risk of colon cancer. However, alumni who were highly active (energy expenditure of greater than 2500 kilocalories/wk) at both assessments had half the risk of developing colon cancer relative to those who were inactive (less than 1000 kilocalories/wk) at both assessments (age-adjusted rate ratio = 0.50; 90% confidence interval = 0.27-0.93), whereas those who were moderately active (1000-2500 kilocalories/wk) at both assessments had an age-adjusted rate ratio of 0.52 (90% confidence interval = 0.28-0.94). We conclude that either consistently higher levels of activity are necessary to protect against colon cancer or combining two assessments increased the precision of physical activity measurement. We found no evidence that increased physical activity protected against rectal cancer.
Consequentialism's Double-Edged Sword

Recent work on consequentialism has revealed it to be more flexible than previously thought. Consequentialists have shown how their theory can accommodate certain features with which it has long been considered incompatible, such as agent-centered constraints. This flexibility is usually thought to work in consequentialism's favor. I want to cast doubt on this assumption. I begin by putting forward the strongest statement of consequentialism's flexibility: the claim that, whatever set of intuitions the best non-consequentialist theory accommodates, we can construct a consequentialist theory that can do the same while still retaining whatever is compelling about consequentialism. I argue that if this is true then most likely the non-consequentialist theory with which we started will turn out to have that same compelling feature. So while this extreme flexibility, if indeed consequentialism has it (a question I leave to the side), makes consequentialism more appealing, it makes non-consequentialism more appealing too.
The cryptochrome family of photoreceptors

CRY1, the primary photoreceptor responsible for blue light-mediated inhibition of hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana, has been characterized. The properties of CRY1, and those of the related protein CRY2, and their relationship to the photolyase family of flavoproteins are discussed.
Wildlife Goods for Tourists

In Colombia, despite the protection laws, illegal trade in wildlife products, especially articles made from endangered species, continues in Colombia. The laws are adequate; the difficulty is enforcement. The author, a graduate student in ecology at Rutgers University, USA, describes what he found during a day spent visiting tourist shops where wildlife products were displayed for sale.
Regulation of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor and its mRNA in the rat lung by dexamethasone.

Glucocorticoids increase beta 2-adrenergic responsiveness and receptor density in the lung, but the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. To determine whether changes in beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene expression are involved in vivo, we measured beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA levels and beta 2-adrenergic receptor density in lungs from Sprague-Dawley rats treated with a daily injection of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg subcutaneously) for 1, 3, or 7 days. Animals were sacrificed either 2 or 24 h after receiving the last injection. beta 2-Adrenergic receptor mRNA levels were significantly (p < .05) elevated compared to saline-treated controls in the lungs of animals sacrificed 2 h after dexamethasone injection for 1 day (174 +/- 12%), 3 days (236 +/- 18%), and 7 days (220 +/- 11%). Receptor mRNA levels measured 24 h after dexamethasone injection did not differ significantly from the control group. Induction of beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA by dexamethasone was transient, since no significant cumulative or sustained increase in receptor mRNA levels was observed during the study period. Treatment with dexamethasone increased beta 2-adrenergic receptor density as expected, but no significant increase in receptor density was detected until 24 h after the third daily injection of dexamethasone, when levels reached 2045 +/- 150 fmol/mg protein compared to 1292 +/- 34 fmol/mg protein in the control group. Receptor density then remained at this elevated level through 7 days of treatment. These results show that dexamethasone up-regulates both the beta 2-adrenergic receptor and its mRNA in vivo in the lung. The induction of beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA levels indicates that glucocorticoids may regulate receptor density in the lung through modulation of gene expression. However, the difference between the time course of induction for the beta 2-adrenergic receptor and its mRNA suggests that additional translational or post-translational mechanisms may also be involved.
Decomposition of YBa2Cu3O7−x and YBa2Cu4O8 for po2≤0.1 MPa

Abstract The temperature and oxygen pressure conditions were determined by thermogravimetry for decomposition of phase-pure YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x and YBa 2 Cu 4 O 8 from 3 Pa to 0.1 MPA O 2 . All extant data were reviewed to determine the conditions for thermodynamic dynamic stability of phase-pure YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x and for compositions lying between YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x and CuO . Thermodynamic values for YBa 2 Cu 4 O 8 were derived, as was the 123-CuO section of the Y 2 O 3 -BaO-CuO phase diagram.
Superior segmental optic nerve hypoplasia and diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to describe the ocular findings of an 8-year-old girl with bilateral superior segmental optic nerve hypoplasia (SSONH) whose mother had a history of Type 1 diabetes mellitus and to review the prior literature concerning this association. Methods Neuroophthalmic examination, including funduscopy, visual fields, optical coherence tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and orbits, were used. Results Bilateral inferior visual field defects prompted initial neuroophthalmic evaluation. Funduscopy revealed bilateral SSONH, worse on the right. MRI of the brain and orbits revealed hypoplastic optic nerves and a small optic chiasm. Conclusions Although the association between SSONH and maternal diabetes mellitus is a well-documented entity, prior reports have been solely in the neuroophthalmic literature. The optic discs in patients with SSONH have a characteristic appearance, which may obviate the need for additional evaluation of the visual field defects. The MRI findings of hypoplastic optic nerves and a small optic chiasm have previously not been reported. This patient underscores the importance of recognizing the association between SSONH and maternal diabetes mellitus.
Concerted Ion and Electron Transfer Across Electronically Conductive Polymer Membranes

We describe in this paper an experiment involving an electronically conductive polymer (ECP) which, to our knowledge, has not been described previously. A free-standing ECP (polypyrrole)-based membrane separates a solution of an electron donor from a solution of an electron acceptor. Because the ECP is both electronically and anionically conductive, the membrane can transport electrons from the donor solution to the acceptor solution, and anions in the opposite direction, such that a sustainable electron-transfer reaction is driven across the ECP membrane. We demonstrate such transmembrane electron/ion-transfer processes using both an inorganic and a biochemical electron donor/acceptor system. The biochemical case is of particular interest because we show that the reduced form of the enzyme glucose oxidase can give its electrons directly to the synthetic metal. Direct electron transfer is usually not possible at inorganic metals.
Management of a Patient With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Learning Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation

Psychological stress can have profound disruptive effects upon glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. Presented here is a case study in which biofeedback- assisted relaxation techniques were used to help a young woman with a 10-year history of insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus to more effectively manage stress, thereby improving glycemic control. Hypoglycemia is a frequently encountered problem with this technique, so the patient was taught to identify causes of hypoglycemic episodes and to take action to prevent their occur rence. The team approach of a diabetes nurse educator working in conjunction with a biofeedback therapist was vital to the success of this program.
Two-active electron approach to multi-electron systems in intense ultrashort laser pulses: Application to Li−

Abstract The interaction of Li− with an ultrashort intense laser pulse is investigated by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation (TDSE) in the dipole approximation using a two-active electron approach. We describe the numerical solution of the TDSE and give a more detailed presentation of a technique for obtaining angular distributions for double ionization by intense ultrashort laser pulses. We show how selection rules observed in the angular distributions for double ionization by an intense laser field can be derived from the symmetry properties of the wave function. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms for double ionization in the multiphoton regime, we have performed numerical experiments for ionization by single cycle and double half-cycle pulses. Our preliminary results unveil the important contribution of the shake-off mechanism, in addition to the rescattering and sequential ionization mechanisms.
RISK OF POST-TRANSFUSION HEPATITIS IN RECIPIENTS OF BLOOD CONTAINING S.H. ANTIGEN AT HARLEM HOSPITAL

Abstract Serum hepatitis (S.H.) in addicts is Summary extremely common in Harlem Hospital, New York, but post-transfusion hepatitis is rare, despite the fact that most blood units were purchased from commercial sources. Sixteen patients who had received a unit of blood containing S.H.-related SH/ Au antigen (Ouchterlony technique) were followed up— two for 4 and 5 months, the others for 6 months. No patient had jaundice. One patient was persistently S.H. positive by Ouchterlony, but could have been a previous carrier; one became positive briefly at 6 months; and a third patient was transiently positive for antigen by immunoelectrophoretic technique (and on Ouchterlony with concentrated serum) only. Four patients had brief elevations of serum-glutamic-pyruvic-transaminase of greater than 90 units. The frequency of clinically apparent hepatitis differed strikingly from the results of other studies. This suggests that this population differs in susceptibilities from the others studied, in part, because of socio-economic differences in the frequency of S.H. transmission in this city. This would better explain the S.H. rate of 1.2% in commercial blood, as compared to 0.1% in volunteer blood, than, as previously supposed, the frequency of addicts selling their blood to such sources.
WSDL-D: A Flexible Web Service Invocation Mechanism for Large Datasets

WSDL Web services are built around the request-reply framework, requiring service invocation to be bundled together with all relevant data in a single message. Inefficiency becomes evident as Web service providers begin to offer more robust services that require massive datasets (e.g., multimedia and scientific data). Under the WSDL standards, these hefty datasets must be ported to an appropriate message format and transferred in their entirety upon each service invocation or response. Significant gains in service flexibility and performance can be made simply by separating invocation messages from their datasets. Such a separation ultimately grants service consumers the ability to pass parameter datasets from third party hosts, to maintain dataset parameters on the service provider host for use with future service invocations, and to provide datasets in a variety of different formats. In this paper, we develop a service invocation mechanism, called WSDL-D, to support this separation of service invocation from parameter datasets.
Muscarinic activation of Ca2+‐activated Cl− current in interstitial cells of Cajal

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) provide pacemaker activity and functional bridges between enteric motor nerve terminals and gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells. The ionic conductance(s) in ICC that are activated by excitatory neural inputs are unknown. Transgenic mice (Kit(copGFP/+)) with constitutive expression of a bright green fluorescent protein were used to investigate cellular responses of ICC to cholinergic stimulation. ICC displayed spontaneous transient inward currents (STICs) under voltage clamp that corresponded to spontaneous transient depolarizations (STDs) under current clamp. STICs reversed at 0 mV when E(Cl) = 0 mV and at -40 mV when E(Cl) was -40 mV, suggesting the STICs were due to a chloride conductance. Carbachol (CCh, 100 nm and 1 μm) induced a sustained inward current (depolarization in current clamp) and increased the amplitude and frequency of STICs and STDs. CCh responses were blocked by atropine (10 μm) or 4-DAMP (100 nm), an M(3) receptor antagonist. STDs were blocked by niflumic acid and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (both 100 μm), and CCh had no effect in the presence of these drugs. The responses of intact circular muscles to CCh and stimulation of intrinsic excitatory nerves by electrical field stimulation (EFS) were also compared. CCh (1 μm) caused atropine-sensitive depolarization and increased the maximum depolarization of slow waves. Similar atropine-sensitive responses were elicited by stimulation of intrinsic excitatory neurons. Niflumic acid (100 μm) blocked responses to EFS but had minor effect on responses to exogenous CCh. These data suggest that different ionic conductances are responsible for electrical responses elicited by bath-applied CCh and cholinergic nerve stimulation.
Modularity and development: the case of spatial reorientation

In a series of experiments, young children who were disoriented in a novel environment reoriented themselves in accord with the large-scale shape of the environment but not in accord with nongeometric properties of the environment such as the color of a wall, the patterning on a box, or the categorical identity of an object. Because children's failure to reorient by nongeometric information cannot be attributed to limits on their ability to detect, remember, or use that information for other purposes, this failure suggests that children's reorientation, at least in relatively novel environments, depends on a mechanism that is informationally encapsulated and task-specific: two hallmarks of modular cognitive processes. Parallel studies with rats suggest that children share this mechanism with at least some adult nonhuman mammals. In contrast, our own studies of human adults, who readily solved our tasks by conjoining nongeometric and geometric information, indicated that the most striking limitations of this mechanism are overcome during human development. These findings support broader proposals concerning the domain specificity of humans' core cognitive abilities, the conservation of cognitive abilities across related species and over the course of human development, and the developmental processes by which core abilities are extended to permit more flexible, uniquely human kinds of problem solving.
Linear theory of micropolar viscoelasticity

Viscoelasticity for micropolar solids, obtaining constitutive equations of strain and microrotation rate dependent materials