cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
'Antioxidant' berries, anthocyanins, resveratrol and rosmarinic acid oxidize hydrogen sulfide to polysulfides and thiosulfate: A novel mechanism underlying their biological actions

Abstract Nutraceutical polyphenol catechins in green tea oxidize H2S to polysulfides (PS) in buffer and in cells thereby conveying their cytoprotective effects. Here we measure H2S oxidation in buffer and HEK293 cells by over-the-counter nutraceuticals, blueberry, bilberry and cranberry, and by polyphenols, cyanadin (Cya), quercetin (Que), rosmarinic acid (RA) and resveratrol (Res). H2S and PS were measured with specific fluorophores, AzMc and SSP4 respectively, and thiosulfate (TS) production was measured in buffer using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). All compounds increased polysulfide production from H2S in buffer and increased polysufides in cells. Decreasing oxygen from 100% to 21% and 0% progressively decreased PS production by Que and RA in buffer and Que decreased PS production in cells incubated in 5% O2 compared to 21% O2. Que, RA and Res, but not Cya, increased TS production from H2S in 21% O2 but not in 0% O2. Superoxide dismutase did not affect PS production from H2S by Que or TS production from H2S by Que, RA or Res, whereas catalase inhibited TS production by all three polyphenols. Conversely, these polyphenols only slightly reduce a mixed polysulfide (K2Sn) or thiosulfate to H2S in 0% O2. Collectively, our results suggest that polyphenols are autoxidized to a semiquinone radical and that this, in turn, oxidizes H2S to a thiyl radical from which polysulfides and thiosulfate derived. They also suggest that this is catalyzed by a semiquinone radical and it is independent of either superoxide or hydrogen peroxide concomitantly produced during polyphenol autoxidation. The polysulfides produced in these reactions are potent antioxidants and also initiate a variety of downstream cytoprotective effector mechanisms. It is also possible that H2S can be regenerated from the thiosulfate produced in these reactions by other cellular reductants and reused in subsequent reactions.
A simple protocol to produce mature human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

When cultured under typical conditions, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are structurally and functionally immature. We have previously demonstrated that culture of hiPSC-CMs in maturation medium containing fatty acids, in combination with culture on micropatterned surfaces, produces cells that demonstrate a more mature phenotype compared to standard approaches. Here, we show in detail the steps needed to produce mature hiPSC-CMs. Compared with many approaches, our protocol is relatively simple and can be easily adapted to new laboratories. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Knight et al. (2021).
Stochastic Dynamical Systems

Randomness is introduced into dynamical systems for many reasons. A dynamical system might depend on some not well-determined parameters. Assuming this parameter to be a random variable results in a system where many trajectories emanate from a point in state space, one for each realization of the random variable, and one can analyze the spread of these trajectories to study how sensitive the dynamical system is to the exact value of the parameter.
Interpretation of shoe wear patterns in a personal injury case

In the course of a personal injury case, a shoe having a broken sole was examined to determine if the sole was broken when its wearer suffered a serious fall or if the sole had been broken prior to the fall (and therefore could have caused the accident). The analysis of scratches and other manifestations of wear, as well as the presence of waterstaining in the shoe's lining, indicated that the broken sole had not resulted from the wearer's fall but had existed for some time previous to that accident.
Chlorine Oxygen Acids and Salts, Chloric Acid and Chlorates

Sodium chlorate is the primary raw material for the manufacture of chlorine dioxide, a bleaching agent in the pulp and paper industry. Increases in the chlorine dioxide substitution for chlorine in pulp bleaching have resulted in an average growth of 12%/y in production. Sodium chlorate is prepared electrolytically. The modern technology described minimizes sodium chloride and sodium dichromate impurities. Chlorates are powerful oxidizers, and they are also used in perchloric salt and uranium production. Chloric acid technologies have been developed which allow the generation of chlorine dioxide directly from the acid, without the formation of sodium salts in the generator.
A note on the discrete binary Mumford-Shah model

This paper is concerned itself with the analysis of the two-phase Mumford-Shah model also known as the active contour without edges model introduced by Chan and Vese. It consists of approximating an observed image by a piecewise constant image which can take only two values. First we show that this model with the L1-norm as data fidelity yields a contrast invariant filter which is a well known property of morphological filters. Then we consider a discrete version of the original problem. We show that an inclusion property holds for the minimizers. The latter is used to design an efficient graph-cut based algorithm which computes an exact minimizer. Some preliminary results are presented.
Review of "The Deacons for Defense: Armed Resistance and the Civil Rights Movement" by L. Hill

Book review The Deacons for Defense: Armed Resistance and the Civil Rights Movement. By Lance Hill (North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 2004. x plus 363pp.). In his Deacons for Defense, Lance Hill directs long overdue attention to the Deacons for Defense (DFD) and what he rightly calls, "The Myth of Nonviolence." Using an impressive array of sources including: archival materials, government documents, FBI files and a substantial body of oral history, Hill argues "that black collective force did not simply enhance the bargaining power of moderates; it was the source of their power." Even the limited success of civil rights organizations such as SNCC, CORE, the NAACP or the SCLC depended upon the threat of collective black violence in the form of Malcolm X, urban rebellions or the DFD. As one of African Americans' most successful, if least remembered, indigenous working class political movements in the South, the significance of the Deacons for Defense rested not only in their advocacy of armed self defense, but also in the ideological challenge they represented for middle class black leadership. The Deacons were organized in Jonesboro, Louisiana in 1964 by local Blacks to protect the larger community and civil rights activists from the Ku Klux Klan and other vigilantes. However, they also represented, "a growing disillusionment of working-class blacks with the pacifistic, legalistic, and legislative strategies proffered by national organizations." The Deacons often clashed with middle class black leadership as well as the Klan. Considering their rapid expansion from Jonesboro to Bogalusa to an organization with twenty-one chapters and a national profile, Hill rightly argues that the platform of armed self-defense held deep resonance in working-class black communities throughout the nation. Despite public perception to contrary the Deacons were "not ideologues or revolutionaries" as much as they were pragmatic reformists. Hill asserts, "They were simply hardworking men,—barbers, mill hands, factory workers, church deacons—who wanted nothing more than quality and justice within the framework of the traditional American dream."(217) Though the history of the Deacons was "purposefully forgotten" due to their stance on self-defense, their efforts resulted in material gains for rural blacks in Louisiana and Mississippi and neutralized the impact of the Klan; and much like the "New Negro" movement of the 1920's the Deacons helped usher in a new era where fear and passivity were replaced by dignity, manhood and a new sense of self-determination.
A mutation creating an out-of-frame alternative translation initiation site in the GRHPR 5'UTR causing primary hyperoxaluria type II.

Primary hyperoxaluria type II is a recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in the GRHPR gene. Although several dozen mutations have been described, all affect coding or transcript splicing. A man suspected of having primary hyperoxaluria type II was heterozygous for a novel single-nucleotide deletion (c.694delC) in GRHPR affecting Gln(232) , which introduced a pre-mature termination (p.Gln232Argfs*3). Two 5'untranslated region (UTR) variants of unknown significance were also noted. We show that these two variants occur in cis, on the opposite allele, and introduce - immediately upstream of the canonical translation initiation site - a novel out-of-frame translational start site. In vitro studies using the GRHPR 5'UTR fused to a luciferase reporter show that the variant start site pre-empted initiation at the canonical translational start site, and this was corroborated within the broader context of 1.3 kb of the GRHPR proximal promoter. This latter mechanism may be underappreciated in general; reports of clinically significant functional variation of this type are extremely rare.
The Use of Saponified Vegetable Oil Distillates/Ethanol Microcellular Solution as a Diesel Fuel

Vegetable oils are considered possible replacement fuels for diesel engines; however, past research has shown that long term engine durability is adversely affected by the use of these fuels. Most researchers have attempted to reduce the problems associated with vegetable oil fuels either by the formation of vegetable oil/diesel blends or the esterfication of the vegetable oils. In this investigation of an alternative approach, the performance of saponified soybean oil/aqueous ethanol microcellular solutions were tested in a single-cylinder, direct injection, air-cooled diesel engine. The products of the pyrolytic distillation of crude soybean oil were mixed with 150 proof ethanol in the ratio of 4:1 by volume and saponified with anhydrous ammonia gas. This ''parent fuel'' was then diluted with 150 proof ethanol to obtain two test fuels, one with 30 percent ethanol concentration and the other with 40 percent ethanol concentration. The fuels were used in the engine under various loads at two speeds, and the performance was compared to the performance using No. 2-D commercial diesel fuel.
Of microarrays and meandering data points.

Microarray analysis greatly assists in defining functions of genes and elucidating important biological pathways. To enhance this power, a database or compendium of hundreds of gene-expression profiles was constructed using gene-deletion mutants of yeast. Statistical tools could then sift through the compendium to identify matching fingerprints of expression and thereby unearth, for example, therapeutic targets.
Nucleoside monophosphate kinases. I. Transphosphorylation between adenosine triphosphate and nucleoside monophosphates.

Abstract 1. 1. The nucleoside monophosphate kinase catalyzing the ATP-UMP reaction has been purified 40–45-fold from an extract of calf liver acetone powder. The ATP-CMP kinase followed the fractionation closely but the ATP-AMP kinase was partially removed while the ATP-GMP kinase and the kinases for reactions between nucleoside triphosphate and AMP were completely removed. 2. 2. Some of the properties of this ATP-nucleoside monophosphate kinase preparation are presented.
Promoter Elements of the Mouse Acetylcholinesterase Gene TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION DURING MUSCLE DIFFERENTIATION

The increase in acetylcholinesterase expression during muscle differentiation from myoblasts to myotubes was shown previously to reflect primarily a greater stability of the messenger RNA (mRNA). Here, we investigate the regulation of the acetylcholinesterase gene during early determination of the muscle phenotype. (i) We employ myogenic transcription factors to transform non-muscle cells into myoblasts in order to assess the role of the myogenic transcription factors in this regulation. (ii) We analyze the Ache promoter region by deletion analysis, point mutagenesis, and gel mobility shift assays. The myogenic transcription factors do not accelerate transcription of the Ache gene in spite of the presence of E-boxes at -335 base pairs from the start of transcription and in the first intron, and they are not able to trigger stabilization of the Ache mRNA when constitutively expressed in 10T1/2 fibroblasts. A GC-rich region (at -105 to -59 base pairs from the start of transcription) containing overlapping binding sites for the transcription factors Sp1 and Egr-1 is essential for promoter activity. Mutation of the Sp1 sites dramatically reduces the promoter activity while mutation of the Egr-1 sites has little effect. Sp1 and Egr-1 compete for binding to overlapping sites and an increase in Egr-1 decreases the expression of the Ache gene.
Which Spheres are Shellable

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the definition, present knowledge of shellability, and some related matters. The chapter describes an algorithm that finds all maximal extensions of a partial shelling and presents computational results. The chapter summarizes the knowledge of shellability where attention is confined to the case in which B is the set of all d-simplices in a d-dimensional simplicial complex. The chapter also discusses three questions, they are: (1) “How efficiently can shellability be tested?”, (2) “Are all 3-spheres shellable?”, and (3) “Are all 4-spheres shellable?”. The chapter explains why they may be important, suggests the algorithmic study of shellability as a subject for research, and describes what little progress has far been made in that study.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphomas that present as skin lesions. Mycosis fungoides with large cell transformation has a 5-year overall survival of 32% with involved skin and 7% with extracutaneous involvement. Failure to cure advanced MF with large cell transformation and peripheral T-cell lymphoma has resulted in a search for novel targeted agents including antibodies and gene modulators. Histone deacetylase inhibitors are small molecules that seem to be particularly active for T-cell lymphoma.
Intensity of the Earth's Magnetic Field in the Geological Past

RECENTLY, Krs1,2 has obtained two estimates of the Permo-Carboniferous geomagnetic field intensity from cassiterite, and one estimate of the Permian field intensity from ignimbrite, in central Europe, using the method developed by Thellier and Thellier3. Both the Permo-Carboniferous values (0.50 oersteds and 0.60 oersteds at lat. 50.12° N., long. 12.80° E.; maximum error ±10 per cent) and the Permian value (0.50±0.03 oersteds at lat. 50.63° N., long. 16.30° E.) were similar to the present field intensity in the same region (0.482 oersteds), the implication being that the Earth's field intensity has not changed appreciably since the Permo-Carboniferous. Furthermore, because the cassiterite was obtained from a greisen body. Krs considered that its thermoremaneiit magnetization was acquired over a period long enough to average out secular variations in intensity. The quoted Permo-Carboniferous field intensity estimates were thus thought to represent the mean geomagnetic field rather than the instantaneous field corresponding to a certain point on the secular variation curve.
A Physical Difference between Two Strains of Herpes Simplex Virus apparent on Sedimentation in Cesium Chloride.

Abstract Herpes simplex virus particles of a strain which causes syncytium formation (macroplaques) and a strain which causes rounding and clumping of cells (microplaques) were ultracentrifuged in a solution of cesium chloride. Assays of infectious macroplaque and microplaque virus particles contained in fractions collected from the bottom of the tube after the ultracentrifugation revealed that the two strains differ in their apparent buoyant density by 0.8%. The macroplaque virus which localized in less dense zones may be less homogeneous with respect to density than the microplaque variant of herpes simplex virus. It is concluded that the physical difference between the two strains may be due either to a difference in nucleic acid, protein, or lipid content of the particles or to preferential interaction of particles of one strain with cesium chloride or impurities
Prognostic Value of Initial Elevation in Cardiac Troponin I Level in Critically Ill Patients Without Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND Cardiac troponin I levels are often obtained to help rule out acute coronary syndrome. OBJECTIVE To determine if elevation of troponin level within 24 hours for patients without acute coronary syndrome admitted to the intensive care unit provides important prognostic information. METHODS Patients without acute coronary syndrome admitted to the intensive care unit were prospectively divided into 2 groups according to highest serum level of cardiac troponin I within 24 hours of admission (elevated > 0.049 ng/mL; control ≤ 0.049 ng/mL). Hospital mortality, incidence of intubation, and other parameters were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Patients with elevated troponin level (n = 40) had higher mortality than did control patients (n = 50) (35% vs 12%; P= .01). Compared with control patients, patients with elevated levels were more likely to be intubated (41% vs 17%; P= .02). CONCLUSION Critically ill patients without acute coronary syndrome with elevated levels of cardiac troponin I at admission had higher mortality and more intubations than did control patients.
Thin-layer chromatographic separation of some bromo- and hydroxyderivatives of stearic acid.

Addition of polar substituents to unsaturated fatty acids or their methyl esters enhanced the adsorption affinity contributed by each unsaturation site to such an extent that the resulting derivatives could be easily separated by differential adsorption on a silica gel coating. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids could be separated by thin layer chromatography after either bromination of their methyl esters or oxidation of their mixture into unsaturated esters, monoenoates, dienoates, and trienoates. Furthermore, it was possible to separate the configurational isomers of the hydroxystearic acids derived fromcis andtrans hydroxylation of oleic and linoleic acids.
Collective modes of type II semiconductor superlattices

Abstract A general formulation is developed to describe the electronic collective modes of a type II superlattice as exemplified by the InAs/GaSb system. Dispersion relations are evaluated in the limit of weak coupling between different intersubband excitations and the intrasubband modes.
Effects of the enkephalin analog (D-Met2, Pro5)-enkephalinamide on α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone secretion

Abstract We used the met-enkephalin analog ( d -Met 2 , Pro 5 )-enkephalinamide (DMPEA) to investigate enkephalinergic control of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) secretion. Systemic (s.c.) administration of DMPEA elevated plasma titers of α-MSH in a dose- and time-related manner. Pretreatment with the opiate antagonist naltrexone had no effect on basal plasma levels of α-MSH but blocked DMPEA-induced α-MSH release. Treatment with a dose of naltrexone sufficient to block DMPEA-induced secretion of α-MSH had no effect on stress-induced secretion of α-MSH. Although pretreatment with the dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine prevented DMPEA-induced α-MSH secretion, DMPEA had no effect on the synthetic activity of tuberohypophysial dopamine neurons as gauged by measuring the accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine in the neurointermediate lobe (NIL) following administration of NSD-1015. In vitro treatment of isolated NILs with DMPEA resulted in a significant increase in α-MSH release. Naltrexone completely blocked the stimulatory effects of DMPEA on α-MSH release in vitro. Our results indicate that DMPEA stimulates α-MSH secretion by acting directly through opiate receptors at the level of the NIL.
Antigonococcal activity of 11 drugs used for therapy or prophylaxis of malaria.

Abstract Antibacterial agents are often used in malarial endemic areas for antimalarial prophylaxis (such as doxycycline and clindamycin). Gonococcal infections may coexist in the same geographic area, thus becoming suppressed by compounds directed toward malarial parasites. We tested 11 drugs with activity for Plasmodium species against 105 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains. Traditional or investigational antimalarials such as arteflene (Ro 42-1611), chloroquine, primaquine, pyrimethamine, quinacrine, and quinine were observed to be inactive. Fansidar (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine) and mefloquine possess marginal action in a minority of gonococcus strains ( 90 ) 2 μg/ml] and azithromycin (MIC 90 , 0.5 μg/ml) among the antibacterials were very active, indicating a dual role as antimalarial and antigonococcal agents. Thus, the gonorrhea and sexually transmitted disease epidemiologic data from geographic regions where doxycycline or newer macrolides may be used for malarial prophylaxis or therapy could be significantly altered.
Conservation of mus-ms enzyme motions in the apo- and substrate-mimicked state.

Solution NMR spin-relaxation experiments were used to compare μs−ms dynamics in RNase A in the apo form and as complexed to the substrate-mimic, pTppAp. The crystal structure of the RNase A/pTppAp complex was determined and demonstrates that this ligand binds at the active site and utilizes established substrate binding sites in its interaction with RNase A. Relaxation-compensated CPMG experiments identify flexible residues in and around the active site in both the apo and pTppAp-bound enzyme. Quantitative analysis of the NMR spin-relaxation dispersion curves show that the time scale of motion in RNase A is unchanged when pTppAp binds and is similar to the time scale for the rate-determining step of the catalytic reaction. Temperature-dependent measurements provide an activation barrier for motion of 5.2 ± 1.0 kcal/mol and 4.5 ± 1.2 kcal/mol for the apo and pTppAp forms of RNase A, respectively. These data indicate very similar motion exists in the free and bound enzyme. Additionally, chemical shift data ...
The effect of naproxen on fever in children with malignancies

Naproxen was used as an antipyretic agent in febrile pediatric cancer patients with evidence of active malignant disease. Sixteen children with leukemia and lymphoma who had fever for more than 72 hours were given naproxen to control fever. Their ages ranged from 16 months to 17 years. There were ten female and six male patients. Their temperature was greater than 38.3 degrees C and the leukocyte count ranged from 400/microliters to 33.3 X 10(3)/microliters, with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) from 0 to 4514/microliters. The children had no evidence of infection by clinical or laboratory evaluations. All patients were receiving triple antibiotics when naproxen was started. Fourteen patients responded to naproxen with complete lysis of fever within 6 hours of initiation of treatment. Two patients did not respond to naproxen, but proved to have culture-positive infections. There were no side effects from the drug. Naproxen is an effective antipyretic in patients with cancer. It may be useful as a means of differentiating fever secondary to active malignant disease from that due to infection.
Infrared And Millimeter Wave Techniques For The Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite

The Cosmic Background Explorer Satellite will employ infrared and microwave techniques to gain information about the very early universe. Three instruments will cover the spectral range from 8 microns to 13 mm, determining both the spectrum and angular distribution of the large scale background radiation fields. A cryogenic polarizing Michelson interferometric spectrometer will measure the spectrum of the 3 deg K relic radiation from the big bang with precision. Four differential microwave radiometers will map the sky from 23 to 90 GHz in a search for anisotropy of the universe. A broadband cryogenic IR photometer will map zodiacal dust emission, galactic dust, and an extragalactic residual component.
Obama’s Human Rights Policy: Déjà vu with a Twist

In US history, much human rights policy developed in four waves during the twentieth century. These waves were triggered by similar circumstances, but all proved short-lived as structural constraints such as limited US power over other countries’ domestic actions, competing US policy priorities, a US hesitance to join multilateral institutions, and the continued domestic political weakness of human rights advocates led to setbacks. As Barack Obama took office, his campaign comments and the past patterns led to widespread expectations that he would introduce new human rights initiatives. His policies, though, would continue to face the structural constraints and would be affected by the Bush administration’s legacy. It was predictable that many of Obama’s initiatives would be only partially implemented and only partially successful. As expected, Obama’s first years have seen mixed results, but the Obama administration has advanced US human rights policies sufficiently in half-dozen key areas to say that a fifth wave of human rights policy development is underway.
n-Type Conjugated Dendrimers: Convergent Synthesis, Photophysics, Electroluminescence, and Use as Electron-Transport Materials for Light-Emitting Diodes

Three new electron-acceptor and light-emitting conjugated dendrimers, [G1-4Q], [G1-6Q], and [G2-12Q], based on a benzene core, poly(phenylenevinylene) dendrons, and diphenylquinoline peripheral groups have been synthesized, characterized, and used as emissive and electron-transport materials in efficient light-emitting diodes. All three dendrimers emit blue light (λmax = 414 nm) in solution with high fluorescence quantum yields in the 0.69−0.87 range and fluorescence lifetimes of 1.4−1.6 ns. In thin films the dendrimers emit yellow light with poor fluorescence efficiency, suggesting aggregation and excimer formation in the solid state. The dendrimers showed quasi-reversible electrochemical reduction with a formal potential of −2.0 V (vs SCE) and derived LUMO levels of 2.5−2.6 eV, implying that injected electrons are localized in the periphery of the dendrimers. As the emissive materials in light-emitting diodes, the dendrimers showed yellow electroluminescence the brightness and efficiency of which increa...
Natural History of UPDRS Motor Scores in an Observational Parkinson's Disease Cohort (S22.004)

Objective: This study estimated the annual rate of change on The United Parkinson9s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor section in Parkinson9s disease (PD) patients and assessed the influence of early-onset PD on motor progression. Background The UPDRS is the standard clinical measure of PD motor symptoms. Most data describing the rate of change on the UPDRS are derived from clinical trials or other interventional studies (e.g. DATATOP). More data is needed from studies with broad inclusion criteria. Design/Methods: Idiopathic PD patients were enrolled in longitudinal study consisting of biannual motor, cognitive, and psychiatric assessments. The UPDRS motor section was rated in the "off" state. Random effect models estimated the rate of change in UPDRS motor scores per year of disease duration controlling for age, sex, education, and depression. An interaction term for young-onset PD ( Results: On average patients were 67.4 years old (SD 10.5), had PD for 9.6 (6.7) years, and were followed for 3.0 years (3.0; Min-Max 0-10). Thirty-five patients (22.4%) had young-onset PD. Total UPDRS motor scores increased by 1.2 points/year (SE 0.2). The bradykinesia subscore increased by 0.4 points/year (0.07), the rigidity subscore increased by 0.2 points/year (0.05), and the axial subscore increased by 0.3 points/year (0.04). The tremor subscore increased by 0.02 points/year (0.05), but the slope was not statistically significant. Early-onset PD was associated with a decreased rate of change in axial symptoms [-.2 points/year (0.07)], but was not associated with a differential rate of change on the total motor score or other subscores. Conclusions: The average UPDRS motor score increase was 1.2 points/year; however, tremor scores did not change over time. This study suggests that young-onset PD is associated with milder axial symptoms but does not support the notion of an overall milder disease course in young-onset patients. Supported by: NINDS grant P50-NS-58377 (the Morris K. Udall Parkinson9s Disease Research Center of Excellence at Johns Hopkins) and NIA grant T32-AG-027668 (Williams). Disclosure: Dr. Williams has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec and Johns Hopkins University as an employee. Dr. Mari has received personal compensation for activities with Teva, Merz, and Ipsen. Dr. Mari has received research support from Merz, Allergan, and PharmaNet. Dr. Pontone has received research support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation, EMD (Merck) Serono, and Acadia Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Bassett has nothing to disclose.
Delay-sensitive power management for packet switches

Power management has become a critical issue for communication and computing infrastructures. In this paper, we develop systematic and heuristic algorithms for managing communication switches with multiple speed (throughput) modes. Switch speed is increased by activating additional network processor cores, voltage/frequency scaling of the electronics, etc. Higher speed modes burn more power. The developed power (speed) control algorithms are responsive to switch queue backlogs and aim to efficiently trade backlog vs. power costs, so as to minimize the long-run overall backlog and power cost. We first systematically model the system in a Dynamic Programming (DP) framework, where the optimal control can be computed in principle. Unfortunately, the complexity is so high that even for a 2 × 2 switch the computation time is practically infeasible. We therefore develop an Approximate Dynamic Programming (ADP) algorithm based on the Q-learning framework, which has good computation and performance properties. We also develop two low-complexity heuristic power controls, one based on a “myopic” view of the control problem, and the other on “congestion-awareness” of the standard maximum weight matching scheme. We study the performance of the Q-learning and heuristic controls against the optimal one (which we can practically compute only for the 2×2 switch case), and coPmment on their efficiency. We also extend the method and results to the general case of multiprocessor computing resources.
Toward a ‘macro-micro’ analysis of gender, power and ICTs A response to Micky Lee’s feminist political economic critique of the human development approach to new ICTs

This essay, in response to Micky Lee’s article in this issue, agrees with her macro-level argument that the UNDP’s human development approach to new ICTs and global indices are grounded in old mode...
Effect of actinomycin D on the multiplication of the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus of trout

La croissance du virus de la necrose infectieuse pancreatique dans les cultures des cellules de la truite est arretee dans une proportion de plus de 99% par l'actinomycine D, a toutes les concentrations essayees. La reaction sensible a l'actinomycine a lieu dans les premieres phases du processus infectieux.
Infinitesimal Stability of the Equilibrium States of an Incompressible, Isotropic Elastic Tube Under Pressure

The infinitesimal stability of the equilibrium states of an arbitrary incompressible, isotropic and homogeneous elastic cylindrical shell in a pure radial expansion under a constant inflation pressure is studied for both thick- and thin-walled shells. The classical criterion of infinitesimal stability yields a general stability theorem relating the frequency and pressure response and reveals that points at which the pressure is stationary define the domain of unstable or neutrally stable states. All results are expressed in terms of a general shear response function, and specific results are provided for the Mooney-Rivlin, Gent and Ogden models, the second having limited extensibility, the last including experimental data. Every static state of a Mooney-Rivlin tube is stable so long as the pressure is less than an asymptotic limit that increases with the thickness. Otherwise, only the Ogden model exhibits static states of instability for all long cylindrical tubes of thickness less than a transitional value above which all static states are infinitesimally stable. A long cylindrical cavity in all three unbounded models is stable for all pressures. All results are illustrated graphically.
Functional analysis of the mouse homeobox gene HoxB9 in Drosophila development

Abstract Mammalian genomes contain clusters of homeobox genes ( Hox-C, HOX-C ) which are structurally similar to the homeotic genes of the Drosophila HOM complex. One method for assessing the functional similarity of particular Drosophila HOM and mammalian Hox genes is to test the ability of Hox genes to induce homeotic phenotypes when expressed in developing Drosophila . Here we describe such functional tests using mouse HoxB9 (formerly Hox-2.5 ), whose closest structural relative in Drosophila is Abdominal-B . When expressed from a heat shock promoter, HoxB9 induces transformations of head towards more posterior identities in Drosophila larvae and adults. These transformations share some similarities with the phenotypic effects produces by ectopically expressed Abdominal-B , but are also similar to the transformations induced by Antennapedia and mouse HoxB6 ( Hox-2.2 ), suggesting that HoxB9 specifies a positional identity that is intermediate between Antennapedia and Abdominal-B .
Beyond the Tipping Point: Issues of Racial Diversity in Magnet Schools Following Unitary Status

This article uses qualitative case study methodology to examine why the racial composition of magnet schools in Nashville, Tennessee, has shifted to predominantly African American in the aftermath of unitary status. The article compares the policy contexts and parents' reasons for choosing magnet schools at two points in time—under court order and under unitary status. Social networks, choice sets, and “closer to home” student assignment policies are identified as key influences on the changing demographics of magnet schools in a postunitary status environment.
Selection Criteria for Developing Therapy Goals

Although phonological analysis of disordered speech has become very common since the late 1970s, relatively little has been written about how to use the results of a phonological analysis in planning remediation, particularly in selecting therapy targets. This paper is an attempt to fill part of that gap. After a brief review of suggestions made in the published phonological assessment procedures, several criteria for selecting target processes are presented. Next, there is a discussion of criteria to be used in selecting target sounds. In addition, some
Propagation of Errors in Colorimetric Transformations

A common colorimetric transformation is a homogeneous linear transformation of tristimulus values from one primary system to another. The transformation coefficients are obtained by spectrophotornetry and/or visual color matching and consequently are subject to certain errors. These errors, together with those associated with the given tristimulus values, propagate into the tristimulus values to be computed by means of the transformation equations. The theory of the propagation of such errors is outlined and illustrated by an example.
Correcting radar range measurements for atmospheric propagation effects

A fundamental relationship that is the foundation for all radar is that a target’s range is proportional to an echo delay time. The actual relationship requires knowledge of the velocity of propagation of the signal whose echo delay time is measured. A typical assumption for radar ranging is to use free-space velocity of propagation. However, atmospheric dielectric properties yield a measurably slower velocity of propagation that is a function of temperature, atmospheric pressure, and especially humidity. This results in range measurement errors. A simplified model is developed to estimate the error in range measurements for airborne ground-surveillance radars.
An annotated bibliography of benchmarks for object databases

This annotated bibliography presents a collection of published papers, technical reports, Master's and PhD Theses that have investigated various aspects of object database performance.
Bromination of octaphenylsilsesquioxane

The bromination and characterization of octaphenylsilsesquioxane is reported. The reaction is successful with a variety of methods, including microwave assisted synthesis. The analysis of the obtained product mix was carried out with a combination of high performance liquid chromatography and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The analysis indicates that the bromination leads to multiple bromines per octaphenylsilsesquioxane molecule with a distribution dominated by statistical odds and the reaction conditions. The results showed that the bromination is not selective and does not lead to a single defined product.
More or Less? Multimedia Effects on Perceptions of News Websites:

Despite a growing trend of using multimedia to enhance online news and audience engagement, little is known about the actual benefit of such a practice. Empirical evidence regarding multimedia effe...
General Yield Conditions in a Plasticity Analysis of Soil-Wheel Interaction

Abstract Plasticity theory and a general representation of the Mohr failure criterion are applied to the problem of soil-wheel interaction. Load, drawbar pull (or drag), and torque are computed for a rigid wheel being driven on Jones Beach sand. Analytical results obtained from solutions using a conventional Mohr-Coulomb linear failure envelope are compared to those obtained from a non-linear solution. Conclusions are drawn from the comparison that attest the importance of considering the nonlinearity of failure envelopes in certain cases for accuracy of soil-wheel interaction prediction. Preliminary experimental results show reasonable agreement with predicted values of wheel performance parameters.
Information Literacy in Top Schools of Business Evident to the Outside World

Maintaining a competitive advantage in the business world has become an increasingly daunting task. As high-stakes big-business decisions raise equity in sections of the globe not seriously tapped before, companies look to their employees as assets to help make a difference. Those that are tasked with making unique and significant contributions to the bottom line are more often than not leaders who are equipped with a MBA from an accredited university. As much as having this type of credential may help graduates enter a new career, it does not necessarily indicate that they are equipped with the skills necessary to move a company into a higher tax bracket. The skills needed to obtain, decipher, analyze and plan around various pieces of vital information are fundamental aspects of information literacy. Is it safe to assume information literacy is part of the core curriculum of today’s top MBA programs? Is it even safe to assume information literacy is an overall element found in most American Universities? Even if the answers to both these questions were a resounding “yes,” how can we tell? The research conducted in this study examined the “search” functions on both Business and University-level web pages of institutions in U. S. News & World Report’s Top 25 MBA Programs to determine if the presence of information literacy could be confidently acknowledged. Along with examining the state of information literacy in business programs across the country through peer review, we hope to come to a conclusive determination of where present-day programs stand. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p26
Methane–air mixtures ignited by CW laser-heated targets on optical fiber tips: Comparison of targets, optical fibers, and ignition delays

Abstract Fiber optic systems are being deployed in locations where explosive gas atmospheres are normally present or are present under fault conditions. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (NIOSH, PRL) conducted a study of laser safety in potentially flammable environments. Researchers conducted experiments to estimate the mean and standard deviation of laser powers needed to ignite 6% methane–air atmospheres using single mode optical fiber tips covered by two types of iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 and (FeMn) 2 O 3 ) mixed with a ceramic adhesive. The iron oxides, heated by a 1064 nm continuous wave laser, ignited the methane–air mixtures at similar powers. The minimum igniting power and maximum non-igniting power (10 tests) were 407 and 350 mW, respectively, using a 62.5 μm fiber. Laser beams guided by 125 and 80 μm diameter cladding single mode fibers produced similar methane–air igniting powers. Ignition was not observed using coal particles at powers that produced ignition with the iron oxides. Threshold ignition delays using the single mode fiber were approximately proportional to the inverse square of the igniting power. Ignition delays were significantly longer than the reported activation time for a commercial fiber optic power limiter. Comparisons are made with the results of other researchers.
Leishmania mexicana pifanoi: in vivo and in vitro interactions between amastigotes and macrophages.

Macrophages of the cell line J774 were used in a comparative study of virulence involving amastigote stages ofLeishmania mexicana pifanoi isolated from macrophages (AMA-M) of the aforementioned cell line, amastigote forms grown in the UM-54 cell-free medium (AMA-C), and promastigote stages. The macrophage cultures were inoculated with AMA-M and AMA-C at the culture cell to parasite ratios of 1∶3, 1∶5, and 1∶10. The macrophages were exposed to either kind of amastigotes for 24, 48, and 72 h. At the end of each of these periods, and for each dilution, the percentages of macrophages harboring the parasites within their cytoplasm and the mean numbers of intracellular parasites/macrophage were estimated on the basis of examination of 200 phagocytes. When either AMA-M or AMA-C were employed, after 24 h, the percentages of infected macrophages were, respectively, 84.5%, 89.0%, and 94.5% for the three aforementioned dilutions, the majority of the phagocytes containing 1–5 parasites. After 48- and 72-h exposures, the macrophages harbored 6–11 and 11–20 amastigotes/cell, respectively. Evidently intracellular multiplication of the amastigotes has taken place. In contrast to the results obtained with the amastigote forms, after inoculations of the macrophage cultures with promastigotes at the dilutions previously used for amastigotes, only 48–78 phagocytes were found to contain intracellular stages within their cytoplasm. Many macrophages were parasite-free, especially when exposed to fewer promastigotes. Experiments in which 5×106 promastigotes, AMA-M, or AMA-C were inoculated into the footpads of hamsters yielded the following results with regard to terminal footpad volumes: 1.57, 3.31, and 3.32 cm3, respectively. Evidently both kinds of amastigotes had equal virulence for hamsters; however, the promastigote stages were much less virulent for these experimental hosts.
Effects of Habitat and Landscape Structure on Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana) Regeneration Across an Urban Gradient

Abstract Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) woodlands are the focus of intensive conservation efforts. However, little is known about regeneration in protected oak stands, particularly in small stands surrounded by residential and commercial development. This study investigates the relationship between habitat and landscape structure and patterns of oak seedling and sapling abundance. Specifically, I ask whether patterns of oak seedling and sapling abundance reflect the habitat preferences of animals that disperse acorns and whether seedling and sapling abundance differ in urban versus non-urban landscapes. I conducted vegetation surveys within 30 oak woodlands with natural understory distributed across a gradient of urban development. I used general linear mixed models to determine relationships between oak seedling and sapling abundance and habitat and landscape features. Seedling and sapling patterns showed different relationships to habitat and landscape structure, suggesting that different factors m...
Body Mass Index and Vigorous Physical Activity and the Risk of Heart Failure Among Men

Background— Elevated body mass index (BMI; weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) in the obese range (≥30 kg/m2) is associated with an excess risk of heart failure (HF). However, the impact of overweight or preobese (BMI, 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) status and physical activity on HF risk is unclear. Methods and Results— In a prospective cohort of 21 094 men (mean age, 53 years) without known coronary heart disease at baseline in the Physicians’ Health Study, we examined the individual and combined effects of BMI and vigorous physical activity (exercise to the point of breaking a sweat) on HF incidence from 1982 to 2007. We evaluated BMI as both a continuous (per 1-kg/m2 increment) and a categorical (lean, <25 kg/m2; overweight, 25 to 29.9 kg/m2; and obese, ≥30 kg/m2) variable; we evaluated vigorous physical activity primarily as a dichotomous variable (inactive [rarely/never] versus active [≥1 to 3 times a month]). During follow-up (mean, 20.5 years), 1109 participants developed new-onset HF. In ...
Leaf senescence and late-season net photosynthesis of sun and shade leaves of overstory sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) grown in elevated and ambient carbon dioxide concentrations

We examined the effects of elevated CO 2 concentration ([CO 2 ]) on leaf demography, late-season photosynthesis and leaf N resorption of overstory sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) trees in the Duke Forest Free Air CO 2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Sun and shade leaves were subdivided into early leaves (formed in the overwintering bud) and late leaves (formed during the growing season). Overall, we found that leaf-level net photosynthetic rates were enhanced by atmospheric CO 2 enrichment throughout the season until early November; however, sun leaves showed a greater response to atmospheric CO 2 enrichment than shade leaves. Elevated [CO 2 ] did not affect leaf longevity, emergence date or abscission date of sun leaves or shade leaves. Leaf number and leaf area per shoot were unaffected by CO 2 treatment. A simple shoot photosynthesis model indicated that elevated [CO 2 ] stimulated photosynthesis by 60% in sun shoots, but by only 3% in shade shoots. Whole-shoot photosynthetic rate was more than 12 times greater in sun shoots than in shade shoots. In senescent leaves, elevated [CO 2 ] did not affect residual leaf nitrogen, and nitrogen resorption was largely unaffected by atmospheric CO 2 enrichment, except for a small decrease in shade leaves. Overall, elevated [CO 2 ] had little effect on the number of leaves per shoot at any time during the season and, therefore, did not change seasonal carbon gain by extending or shortening the growing season. Stimulation of carbon gain by atmospheric CO 2 enrichment in sweetgum trees growing in the Duke Forest FACE experiment was the result of a strong stimulation of photosynthesis throughout the growing season.
A novel magnetoelastic interaction in partially spin-ordered gadolinium alloys studied by ultrasonics

Abstract We observed novel ultrasonic absorption peaks in helimagnetic and Ferro-I phases of gadolinium alloys. These peaks occur only for longitudinal waves propagating along the direction of spontaneous spin ordering, in the presence of an external thus indicating the existence of a novel spin-phonon coupling mechanism, not predicted by conventional models of spin-phonon interactions.