cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of a catastrophic wildfire on downstream fish assemblages in an aridland river

Few studies have evaluated the effects of large wildfires on downstream non-salmonid fish assemblages. Using multi-year (2009–2015) data from fish assemblage surveys and high-frequency water quality monitoring, we analyzed within-site responses of a cypriniform-dominated fish assemblage at two sites located > 20 km downstream of a 633 km2 wildfire in 2011 in the Rio Grande watershed in New Mexico, USA. Season had a weak influence on fish assemblage (fish) catch rate, richness, and evenness at the upstream site, but it had a strong negative influence (during spring/winter) on fish catch rate and richness at the downstream site. Fish species richness and evenness at both sites were not strongly affected by the wildfire, despite numerous post-fire sags in dissolved oxygen (including short-lived hypoxia < 2 mg L−1and anoxia—0 mg L−1) during subsequent monsoon seasons. Although fish catch rate was negatively impacted by the wildfire at the upstream site, it was unaffected at the downstream site. Fish catch rate, richness, and evenness at the upstream site were suppressed following a major flood event that occurred 26 months post-fire, but the downstream fish assemblage was resistant to the flood disturbance. Our study provided a rare opportunity to evaluate how aridland riverine fishes respond to disturbance from wildfire and subsequent flooding. Larger and more severe wildfires are occurring due to climate warming, and responses of water quality and fish community assemblages require study and assessment.
Awareness and Stigma of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Undergraduate Students

BackgroundSocial stigma is a barrier for students with autism on college campuses. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between autism knowledge and autism stigma endorsement.Me...
No One is Superman: 3-D Safety Margin Profiles When Using Head-Up Display (HUD) for Takeoff in Low Visibility and High Crosswind Conditions.

The role of crosswinds in the relationship between crew workload and size of safety margin during low visibility takeoffs using HUD was examined. 3-dimensional (3-D) safety margin profiles for different low visibility takeoff conditions and guidance types were generated utilizing the raw and standardized scores for the six NASA-TLX subscales, with and without the effect of crosswinds. The results underlined the critical role for aviation safety of a) building an evocative shared mental model within the pilots’ community of the multi-faceted nature of safety margin; and b) having a clear understanding of the complex interplay between the many factors that affect its shape and size.
Characterization of Biopsies by Dermatologists and Nonphysician Providers in the Medicare Population: A Rapidly Changing Landscape.

BACKGROUND Previous studies show that nonphysician providers may require a higher number of biopsies to identify skin malignancies than dermatologists. Therefore, understanding the trends behind the types of providers performing biopsies may help analyze their impact on this vulnerable population. OBJECTIVE This retrospective study analyzes changes in nationwide, regional, and state-level data on the number and proportion of biopsies performed by dermatologists compared with nonphysician providers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Biopsy cases were isolated in the Medicare database from 2012 to 2018 using the HCPCS codes 11,100 and 11,101. Cases were limited to biopsies performed by a dermatologist, nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA). RESULTS From 2012 to 2018, national biopsy rates per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries for dermatologists decreased by 6%, whereas those for NPs and PAs increased by 97% and 82%, respectively. Each state showed variation in both the proportion of biopsies by provider type and the net change in biopsies rates over time. All states saw increases in the number of biopsies per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries by nonphysician providers. CONCLUSION As the number of Medicare beneficiaries continues to grow, nonphysician providers are performing an increasing proportion of biopsies, with specific states and regions being affected more than others.
Actions of Adrenocortical Hormones

The clinical and laboratory abnormalities seen in Cushing’s disease can all be related to known physiological and pharmacological effects of glucocorticoid hormones1, since, in cases of Cushing’s disease and syndrome, glucocorticoid concentrations may rise well into the pharmacological range (Table 4.1). These hormones affect virtually all body tissues. In recent years, investigators have sought to establish a common basic mechanism for all glucocorticoid actions (Baxter and Forsham 1972). It is believed that both the catabolic and anabolic responses seen with corticosteroid administration reflect the expression of similar mechanisms in different tissues (Leung and Munck 1975).
Secure data aggregation using commitment schemes and quasi commutative functions

A scheme is proposed for secure data aggregation in wireless sensor networks. Commitment schemes and a class of functions called quasi commutative functions are used to achieve provably secure data aggregation. Efficient schemes to verify the data aggregation are provided.
Geo-parsing Messages from Microtext

Widespread use of social media during crises has become commonplace, as shown by the volume of messages during the Haiti earthquake of 2010 and Japan tsunami of 2011. Location mentions are particularly important in disaster messages as they can show emergency responders where problems have occurred. This article explores the sorts of locations that occur in disaster-related social messages, how well off-the-shelf software identifies those locations, and what is needed to improve automated location identification, called geo-parsing. To do this, we have sampled Twitter messages from the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. We annotated locations in messages manually to make a gold standard by which to measure locations identified by a Named Entity Recognition software. The Stanford NER software found some locations that were proper nouns, but did not identify locations that were not capitalized, local streets and buildings, or non-standard place abbreviations and mis-spellings that are plentiful in microtext. We review how these problems might be solved in software research, and model a readable crisis map that shows crisis location clusters via enlarged place labels.
Induced Mutation Rates in Sperm Transmitted to Sons and Daughters in Drosophila Melanogaster.

Irradiated second chromosomes in wild-type Drosophila melanogaster males were scored for induced lethal frequencies when transmitted to male and female progeny. No difference was observed between these two groups, and it has been concluded that the sex of the zygote which receives the irradiated chromosome does not influence the frequency of lethal mutations recovered. (auth)
Stoffstrommanagement auf der Basis eines fuzzyfizierten Multi-Agenten-Ansatzes

Die zunehmende Vernetzung von Produktionsaktivitaten bei gleichzeitig steigenden Umweltschutzauflagen erfordert die zielgerichtete Lenkung von Stoff-und Energiestromen. In diesem Zusammenhang sind insbesondere auch Produktionsabstimmungsmechanismen bereitzustellen die sowohl betriebswirtschaftlichen als auch okologischen Zielen Rechnung tragen. Bezugnehmend auf diese Entwicklungstendenzen und Anforderungen ist es Ziel dieses Beitrags einen entsprechenden methodischen Ansatz zu entwickeln der Entscheidungsunterstaetzung im Rahmen der Planung und Steuerung von Stoff-und Energiestromen leistet. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird ein umweltschutzorientierter Produktionssteuerungsansatz auf Basis eines Multi-Agenten-Systems mit unscharfen Bewertungskalkulen der lokalen Zielfunktionen vorgestellt.
Angiogenesis in mesenteric microvascular networks from spontaneously hypertensive versus normotensive rats.

Elevated blood pressure during hypertension has been associated with microvascular rarefaction defined by loss of microvessels. However, whether rarefaction is a result of impaired angiogenesis remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare angiogenesis across the time course of mesenteric microvascular network remodeling in adult spontaneously hypertensive versus normotensive rats. Angiogenic responses in 15–16-week-old SHR and Wistar rats at 0, 3, 5, 10 or 25 days post 20 minute exteriorization of the mesentery were quantified. Consistent with the phenomenon of rarefaction, vascularized area in unstimulated SHR was decreased compared to Wistar. By 25 days, SHR vascular area had increased to the Wistar level and vascular length density and capillary sprouting were comparable. At 3 and 5 days, SHR and Wistar tissues displayed an increase in the capillary sprouting and vascular density relative to their unstimulated controls. At 10 days, capillary sprouting in the SHR remained elevated. The percent change in vascular density was elevated in the SHR compared to the Wistar group at 3 and 5 days and by 25 days the rate of change was more negative. Our results suggest that SHR networks undergo an increased rate of growth followed by an increased rate of pruning.
A communication-induced checkpointing and asynchronous recovery algorithm for multithreaded distributed systems

Checkpointing and recovery in traditional distributed systems is relatively well established. However, checkpointing and recovery in multithreaded distributed systems has not been studied in the literature. Using the traditional checkpointing and recovery algorithms in multithreaded systems leads to false causality problem and high checkpointing overhead. The checkpointing algorithm is implemented at the process level to reduce number of checkpoints and the recovery algorithm is implemented at the thread level which minimizes the false causality problem. The algorithm also takes advantage of the communication-induced checkpointing method to reduce the message overhead.
Multi-dimensional regression analysis of time-series data streams

Real-time production systems and other dynamic environments often generate tremendous (potentially infinite) amount of stream data; the volume of data is too huge to be stored on disks or scanned multiple times. Can we perform on-line, multi-dimensional analysis and data mining of such data to alert people about dramatic changes of situations and to initiate timely, high-quality responses? This is a challenging task. In this paper, we investigate methods for on-line, multi-dimensional regression analysis of time-series stream data, with the following contributions: (1) our analysis shows that only a small number of compressed regression measures instead of the complete stream of data need to be registered for multi-dimensional linear regression analysis, (2) to facilitate on-line stream data analysis, a partially materialized data cube model, with regression as measure, and a tilt time frame as its time dimension, is proposed to minimize the amount of data to be retained in memory or stored on disks, and (3) an exception-guided drilling approach is developed for on-line, multi-dimensional exception-based regression analysis. Based on this design, algorithms are proposed for efficient analysis of time-series data streams. Our performance study compares the proposed algorithms and identifies the most memory- and time- efficient one for multi-dimensional stream data analysis.
Bender's Cuts Guided Large Neighborhood Search for the Traveling Umpire Problem

This paper introduces the use of Bender's Cuts to guide a Large Neighborhood Search to solve the Traveling Umpire Problem, a sports scheduling problem inspired by the real-life needs of the officials of a sports league. At each time slot, a Greedy Matching heuristic is used to construct a schedule. When an infeasibility is recognized Bender's cuts are generated, which guides a Large Neighborhood Search to ensure feasibility and to improve the solution.
Market and Social Welfare Effects of the Renewable Fuels Standard

This chapter evaluates the welfare and greenhouse-gas effects of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the presence of biofuel subsidies. In our numerical model, demand for gasoline and ethanol stems from consumer demand for driving miles, but all fuels have congestion and environmental external costs. Our estimates of the effects of ethanol mandates on greenhouse gases and social welfare (relative to the status quo) are sensitive to assumptions about the gasoline supply elasticity. The impact of the mandate, by itself, on greenhouse gas emissions ranges from −0.5 to −5% relative to the status quo and is reduced when the mandate is accompanied by a tax credit. The welfare costs of the mandate relative to the socially optimal policy range from $60 B to $115 B depending on the elasticity of gasoline supply. The provision of a tax credit in addition to the mandate leads to additional deadweight losses that range from $1.1 to $12 billion. An ethanol mandate policy provides assured demand for ethanol and therefore supports the domestic ethanol industry, particularly the cellulosic biofuel industry. However, such policy may harm the well-being of the country as a whole, even relative to the ethanol support policy that was in place before the current mandate was passed.
Integrating Terror Management Theory Into Fear Appeal Research

Fear appeal communications have sustained the interest of researchers for over a half century. The dominant paradigm guiding fear appeal research asserts that differences in level of fear lead to differences in the persuasiveness of a message. Research grounded in the level of fear perspective has produced equivocal results, failed to explain why fear appeals sometimes backfire, and has not provided an a priori explanation for who may reject fear appeal messages. By emphasizing differences between individuals’ responses to the fear of death versus the fear of physically or socially undesirable consequences, terror management theory (TMT) offers a complementary theoretical perspective that may overcome the shortcomings of extant fear appeal research. This article reviews extant theoretical approaches to fear appeal research and summarizes the central tenets of TMT. A comparison of extant theories to TMT suggests that incorporating TMT into future fear appeal research may improve both the explanatory and predictive power of fear appeal theories.
Automating the Arealometer: Examination of the Kozeny Equation:

Samples of eleven cottons with a wide range of fineness and immaturity properties, as measured by the Arealometer, were studied for airflow behavior on an experimental computerized system. Specific surface areas as calculated from the Kozeny relationship were obtained for void fractions ranging between 0.60 to 0.90. The observed variation in fiber fineness with void fraction was unexpected as originally applied to the Areal ometer. Nevertheless, both the specific surface areas A and AH at low and high specimen compressions, respectively, correlated favorably with results of the Arealometer. These correlations were best when the values obtained on the newly automated system were at fixed void fractions rather than fixed porous plug resistances to airflow as built into the Arealometer.
On the characteristics of cosmogenic in situ 14C in some GISP2 Holocene and late glacial ice samples

Abstract In previous studies, we have shown that information on ice accumulation processes is recorded by the in situ production of 14C, from nuclear interactions of cosmic rays with oxygen in ice (Lal et al., 1997). In this report, we discuss a study of a number of Holocene and several glacial ice samples from the GISP2 core whose accumulation rates are known and which should be little affected by uncertainties in ice flow models (Cuffey et al., 1997), to determine trapping efficiencies of in situ 14C. We present new results along with discussion of the earlier results of Lal et al. (1997), which include results on partitioning of in situ 14C among the CO and CO2 phases through time in ice. The usefulness of the in situ 14C data to measurements of ice accumulation rates and ages are discussed.
Functional role of a conserved tryptophan residue of Chromatium vinosum high potential iron protein

Abstract A Trp80Asn point mutation of Chromatium vinosum high potential iron protein has provided insight on the functional role of this conserved aromatic residue. Following mutation to Asn, a minimal change in the midpoint potential of the [Fe4S4]3+/2+ cluster is observed (+33 mV). In contrast to other proteins carrying mutations of Tyr and Phe residues, the reduced state of the Trp80Asn derivative is stable in an aerobic environment, but displays a more pronounced temperature-dependent degradation that appears to be mediated by unfolding of the protein prior to degradation of the cluster. Accordingly, Trp80 serves a distinct role from other aromatic residues found in the hydrophobic cluster binding pocket. The rate of electron transfer exchange with ferricyanide is similar to that observed for native protein (knat=0.7 s−1; kTrp80Asn=1.7 s−1), the minor increase in reactivity reflecting the change in driving force from the increase in cluster midpoint potential.
Electron‐impact of the OI λ1641.3 Å line emission

The cross section for the dissociative excitation of the forbidden OI(2p41D-3s3S, 1641.3 A) transition by electron impact on O2 is measured. At 100 eV, a cross section value of 1.22 x 10 to the -23/sq cm + 2 - 35 percent is found. This result is consistent with recent estimates of this branching ratio from theoretical calculations and aeronomical observations and supports the suggestion by Meier et al. (1985) that observation of the OI 1641.3 A line would be useful for remote monitoring of atomic oxygen in the upper atmosphere.
Novel components of the Apicomplexan moving junction reveal conserved and coccidia-restricted elements.

Apicomplexan parasites generally invade their host cells by anchoring the parasite to the host membrane through a structure called the moving junction (MJ). This moving junction is also believed to sieve host proteins from the nascent parasitophorous vacuole membrane, which likely protects the pathogen from lysosomal destruction. Previously identified constituents of the Toxoplasma MJ have orthologues in Plasmodium, indicating a conserved structure throughout the Apicomplexa. We report here two novel MJ proteins, RON5 and RON8. While RON5 is conserved in Plasmodium, RON8 appears restricted to the coccidia. RON8, which is likely essential, coimmunoprecipitates RON5 and known MJ proteins from extracellular parasites, indicating a preformed complex exists within the parasites. Upon secretion, we show that RON8 within the MJ localizes to the cytoplasmic face of the host plasma membrane. To examine interactions between RON8 and the host cell, we expressed RON8 in mammalian cells and show that it targets to its site of action at the periphery in a manner dependent on the C-terminal portion of the protein. The discovery of RON5 and RON8 provides new insight into conserved and unique elements of the MJ, furthering our understanding of how the moving junction contributes to the intricate mechanism of Apicomplexan invasion.
Flow maldistributions and hot spots in down-flow packed bed reactors

A two-dimensional two-phase (heterogeneous) model that predicts flow maldistributions and hot spots in an adiabatic down-flow packed bed reactor is developed and analyzed. The model considers the effects of fluid flow, changes of physical properties, heat and mass transfer by conduction and convection, interphase gradients and reactant consumption by an exothermic irreversible first-order reaction with Arrhenius kinetics. The one-dimensional model is analyzed in detail using singularity theory. Linear instability theory is used to determine the boundary of the region of parameters at which the uniform down-flow loses stability, and it is shown that flow maldistributions are possible for typical operating conditions. Bifurcation theory, numerical spectral and continuation methods are combined to determine the different types of nonuniform flow patterns and corresponding temperature and concentration fields. Unlike the pseudohomogeneous model where the maximum exit temperature cannot exceed the adiabatic temperature rise (Pe m →∞), the heterogeneous model can have isolated high temperature branches that exist when particle Lewis number is less than unity. It is shown that this maximum temperature on the isolated branch can be as high as β/Le where β is the adiabatic temperature rise and Le is the particle Lewis number (Le<1.0). Finally, a possible mechanism for the formation of the localized hot spots observed in commercial reactors is proposed; the interphase resistances cause the existence of very high temperature isolated steady-state branches which are attained by the catalyst particles when maldistributed flows occur
Economies of scale for the GI/G/c queuing model

This paper considers the potential economies of massing servers when both the arrival and the service rates are random variables. The paper shows that as the nature of the demand and service processes become more stochastic, the potential for economies increases.
The chemistry of aquatic phosphate: inorganic processes in rivers

Phosphate levels in turbid rivers with low calcium concentrations are controlled by a solid ferric hydroxide-phosphate solution present in colloidal suspensions or suspended particulates. A chemical model, based on this behavior, is consistent with data from dialyzed suspensions of iron and phosphorus prepared in the laboratory as well as from the Amazon, Zaire, Orinoco, Sepik, Delaware, Hudson, Negro, and Mullica rivers. Data indicate that solid Fe/P ratios are related to solid activity coefficients by an exponential parameter, y, which represents the deviation of solid-solution from ideality. The model is mathematically consistent with Langmuir and Freundlich sorption isotherms under equilibrium conditions, and demonstrates that the isotherm parameters consist of a combination of selected constants and variables defined by solution theory. The reciprocal of the model parameter-y is shown to be equivalent to the exponential parameter in a Freundlich isotherm. The Langmuir parameter and Freundlich exponential parameter are related through the model parameter-y in systems at constant pH and ionic strength.
Characterization of HEM-12 virus proteins

Abstract The major internal protein, p30, and the major envelope glycoprotein, gp70, of HEL12 virus were compared with the analogous proteins of simian sarcoma-simian associated virus [SiSV(SSAV)] and baboon endogenous virus, M7 strain (BaEV-M7), by monospecific radioimmunoassays (RIA) using purified antigens and monospecific antisera. The pseudotypes, SiSV(HEL-12) and SiSV(SSAV), formed by infection of marmoset cells nonproductively transformed by SiSV were extensively used in this work. The p30 and gp70 antigens of these pseudotypes are provided by the helper virus. Neither SiSV(HEL-12) nor SiSV(SSAV) competed in BaEV-M7 p28 or gp70 assays. Similarly, BaEV-M7 did not compete in assays directed toward SiSV(SSAV) or SiSV(HEL-12) antigens. SiSV(HEL12) and SiSV(SSAV) had cross-reactive p30 proteins which were not distinguished by RIA. However, 100- to 1000-fold more SiSV(HEL-12) than SiSV(SSAV) protein was needed for comparable competition suggesting that SiSV(HEL-12) contains p30s not related to SiSV(SSAV) p30. The gp70s of SiSV(HEL-12) and SiSV(SSAV) were cross-reactive but not identical. SiSV(HEL-12) is therefore similar but not identical to SiSV(SSAV) and distinct from BaEV-M7.
Amino Compounds in Poultry Litter, Litter-Amended Pasture Soils and Grass Shoots

Amino compounds (ACs), i.e., amino acids and amino sugars, are the major forms of organic nitrogen (N) in animal manure and soil. To increase our understanding on the effect of long-term poultry litter (PL) application on soil AC pools and turnover, in this study, we determined the contents of 21 ACs in 23 PL samples, 15 soil samples collected from 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm layers of five pasture plots with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of PL applications, and 5 grass shoot samples grown on these pasture fields. The contents of 21 ACs were simultaneously determined by methanesulfonic acid hydrolysis/extraction and anion chromatography-pulsed amperometry. PL application increased soil total and individual AC contents with a distribution pattern similar to that of AC in PL. The highest AC-N concentrations were observed in the soils with 10- or 15-year PL applications, inconsistent with the order of annual application rates or cumulative applied PL amounts. Application of PL increased the AC contents in grass shoots whereby the highest increase of most ACs was with the shoots from the fields that received PL for 5 years. These observations suggested that both freshly applied and residual PL had contributions to the soil AC-N, and that PL application also accelerated AC-N transformation in soil.
How Scholarships Morphed into Financial Aid

Before World War II, academically excellent students from families unable to afford college for them could apply for scholarships available to outstanding students, but scholarships were scarce. The federal government itself did not then make direct grants to individual high school students to enable them to attend college, as it does now. Thomas Jefferson would doubtless have approved of scholarships to provide educational opportunities to high-ability students to attend, maybe even federal scholarships. In the course of advocating scholarships for able youngsters at the University of Virginia, Jefferson had written, “By that part of our plan [of education in Virginia] which prescribes the selection of the youths of genius from among the classes of the poor, we hope to avail the State of those talents which nature has sown as liberally among the poor as the rich, but which perish without use, if not sought for and cultivated.” It is unlikely that Jefferson would have favored financial aid to students of lesser abilities. And he probably would have been astounded by “athletic” scholarships. His proposal sought students who were intellectually outstanding. Athletic scholarships are not merit-based scholarships in the Jeffersonian sense of rewarding intellectual achievements and potentialities. Varsity athletes Acad. Quest. (2010) 23:298–310 DOI 10.1007/s12129-010-9174-y
Algebraic approach to shape invariance

The integrability condition called shape invariance is shown to have an underlying algebraic structure and the associated Lie algebras are identified. These shape-invariance algebras transform the parameters of the potentials such as strength and range. Shape-invariance algebras, in general, are shown to be infinite dimensional. The conditions under which they become finite dimensional are explored. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Infinitely many nonhomogeneous conditions

Abstract A general formula is given for the index of a linear manifold in Banach space. This is expressed in terms of the dimensions of linear manifolds. A fundamental result is established, called a Boundary-Form Formula, for linear manifolds. This is then used to study the existence of the solutions of boundary value problems for linear manifolds subject to finite or infinite nonhomogeneous boundary conditions. An application is made to study the deficiency index of a second-order ordinary differential operator by dividing an interval into infinite subintervals.
Beneficence and Self-Love: A Kantian Perspective*

What, if anything, are we morally required to do on behalf of others besides respecting their rights? And why is such regard for others a reasonable moral requirement? These two questions have long been major concerns of ethical theory, but the answers that philosophers give tend to vary with their beliefs about human nature. More specifically, their answers typically depend on the position they take on a third-question: To what extent, if any, is it possible for us to act altruistically?
Diffusion and sorption of cyclohexane vapor in SBS and SBR copolymers

Abstract Diffusion and sorption of cyclohexane vapor in styrenebutadiene copolymers were used to study the morphology of an SBS triblock copolymer (29.3 wt% styrene) cast from different solvents. The weight gains or losses of this SBS and several SBR (5, 23, 45, and 85 wt% S content) samples were continuously monitored at 40°C and at penetrant pressures of 30, 60, 90, and 120 Torr. Significant differences exist in the equilibrium sorption among the different samples. Possible reasons for this observation are explored. The one corroborated by dynamic mechanical measurements attributes the differences to varying interphase volume fractions. The interphase region separating the PB and PS phases in SBS was assumed to be a continuous profile of equivalent SBR with different S contents. Experimental results, coupled with simple calculations, indicated that the overall interphase volume fractions in the SBS are 0.28 for the MEK/THF-cast (1:9 volume ratio of MEK and THF) sample, 0.15 for the toluene-cast sample, ...
Protein identification using 2D-LC-MS/MS

Multidimensional liquid chromatography techniques have been coupled to tandem mass spectrometry to provide a robust method to identify proteins in complex mixtures. Data acquisition is interfaced directly with search algorithms for identification through cross-correlation with databases. This review describes the most recent advances in methodologies for protein identification by mass spectrometry and describes the limitations of the application of the technologies.
Irreversible and Reversible Photobleaching of Dyes

Fifteen reaction steps have been demonstrated to occur in solutions (or other simple systems) of dyes and pigments Although no one compound has been proved to undergo all of them, they, and probably additional reaction steps, must be considered as constituting the primary processes for photochemical reactions of dyes. Some attempt has been made to suggest how these reaction steps may be related to irreversible and reversible photobleaching of dyes under conditions of technical importance.
Overexpression in Escherichia coli and functional reconstitution of the liposome binding ferriheme protein nitrophorin 7 from the bloodsucking bug Rhodnius prolixus.

A number of ferriheme proteins, termed nitrophorins (NPs), occur in the saliva of the bloodsucking insect Rhodnius prolixus (‘kissing bug’), which is a vector for Chagas’ disease. Nitrophorins bind the heme b cofactor in the β-barrel of their lipocalin fold, which is further anchored through a proximal histidine–FeIII bond. The distal FeIII coordination site then binds nitric oxide (NO) for delivery into a host’s tissues during blood feeding, where, upon NO release, the distal FeIII site acts as a histamine trap to delay the victim’s immune response. Previously, four nitrophorins from R. prolixus, NP1 to NP4, have been extensively characterized. Recently, another nitrophorin, NP7, was discovered in a cDNA library derived from the same insect. Among the R. prolixus nitrophorins, NP7 was found to be unique in its ability to bind to negatively charged cell surfaces. However, the yield of functional recombinant NP7 was rather low when the established protocol for NP1–4 was followed. Here, we report on a novel expression and reconstitution method for NP7 that yields sufficient amounts of pure protein for extensive characterization (28-fold increase). This method may prove useful for the reconstitution of other proteins with a lipocalin fold.
More of the Same: Washington Pressure Group Activity in a Decade of Change

Interviews with government affairs representatives in a random sample of 175 Washington lobbying organizations support the popular impression that the volume of pressure group activity has skyrocketed over the past decade. There are many more groups now active on the Washington scene. Moreover, nearly all of them have increased their use of many different kinds of lobbying techniques--not simply, as might be expected, those facilitated by the revolution in electronic technologies or those encouraged by closer representative/constituent relations, but also traditional forms of lobbying. Among the various factors responsible for this explosion in interest group activity are the internal changes in congressional organization since 1974.
The Ins and Outs of Arabidopsis Embryogenesis

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Nodine and colleagues show that two related leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases, RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEIN KINASE1 and TOADSTOOL2, are critical in establishing radial pattern in the Arabidopsis embryo (Nodine et al., 2007). Embryos lacking these kinases show replacement of outer cell fates with inner cell fates.
Essential but Problematic: Faculty Perceptions of Media Literacy Education at the University Level

In this study the author considers the perceptions of university faculty members regarding media literacy education at the university level. Data from faculty interviews (N = 16) suggest that faculty members across multiple disciplines feel that it is important for university students to develop media literacy competencies. Nevertheless, faculty members fell into three categories regarding the extent to which they address media literacy: willing, unwilling because of systemic factors, and unwilling because of personal factors. An exploration of these categories demonstrates the challenges associated with addressing media literacy competencies within higher education.
Validation of a New Skinfold Prediction Equation Based on Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry.

Skinfold prediction equations recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine underestimate body fat percentage. The purpose of this research was to validate an alternative equation for men ...
Do women do worse after proximal gastric vagotomy

The view that woman fare worse than men following gastric surgery led us to examine the results of proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) performed in 25 women with chronic duodenal ulcer. Follow-up was from 6 months to 8 years, with an average of 45 months. These were compared with men undergoing PGV for the same condition over the same period. The age, duration of symptoms and complication and recurrence rates were similar. Modified Visick grading rated the result as good as in more than 90 per cent of both men and women. Flatulence and postprandial fullness were the most common complaints but were usually mild. The results of PGV in women are just as good as those in men.
Evidence for a role of specific isoacceptor species of tRNA in amino acid transport.

Abstract The transport of phenylalanine by the general aromatic amino acid system and of threonine by a separate system in spheroplasts of Escherichia coli 9723 is stimulated by tRNA ( E. coli B) and inhibited competitively by the respective aminoacylated tRNA. tRNA appears to increase the affinity of the transport system for the amino acid. The stimulatory activity of tRNA was found to reside in fractions containing minor isoacceptor species obtained by fractionation of the respective aminoacylated tRNA and deacylation.
Extensive Detachment of Descemet Membrane after Holmium Laser Sclerostomy

Purpose: To describe a corneal complication and its surgical repair after holmium laser sclerostomy. Method: A 63-year-old woman had extensive detachment of Descemet membrane 3 months after holmium laser sclerostomy. The authors describe the case history of a detached Descemet membrane secondary to holmium laser sclerostomy and its subsequent repair. Results: The patient achieved a visual acuity of 20/20 in the involved eye after descemetopexy with sodium hyaluronate and air combined with suturing. Conclusions: Detachment of the Descemet membrane should be recognized as a potential complication of holmium laser sclerostomy. Suturing should be considered as a method of repair if there is not spontaneous reattachment of the Descemet membrane.
Influence of asymmetry on the flexion relaxation response of the low back musculature.

Abstract Background The flexion relaxation phenomenon has been extensively studied in sagittally symmetric postures. Knowledge about this phenomenon in asymmetric trunk postures is less well understood, and may help to reveal the underlying physiology of the passive tissue/active tissue load-sharing mechanism in the lumbar region. Methods Twelve participants performed fifteen controlled, full range trunk flexion–extension motions toward three asymmetric lifting postures (0° (sagittally symmetric), 15°, and 30° from the mid-sagittal plane). The electromyographic activity data from the paraspinals at the L3 and L4 levels and trunk kinematics data from motion sensors over the C7, T12 and S1 vertebrae were recorded. The lumbar flexion angles at which these muscles' activities were reduced to resting levels during forward flexion provided quantitative data describing the effects of asymmetry on the passive tissue/active tissue interaction. Findings Flexion relaxation was observed in the muscles contralateral to the direction of the asymmetric trunk flexion motion. The response of the ipsilateral extensor musculature was much less consistent, with many trials indicating that flexion relaxation was never achieved. Increasing asymmetry from 0° to 30° led to a 10% reduction in the maximum lumbar flexion. Lumbar flexion angles necessary to achieve flexion relaxation in the contralateral muscles also decreased (L4 paraspinal-related angle decreasing by 15% and the L3 paraspinal-related angle decreasing by 21%). Interpretation Under asymmetric conditions the lumbar flexion angle at which the transition from active muscle to passive ligamentous extension moment is altered from that seen in symmetric motions and this transition can have implications for the loading of the spine in full flexion (or near full flexion) postures.
JEDDITO YELLOW WARE, MIGRATION, AND THE KAYENTA DIASPORA

In this paper, I explore the significance of Jeddito Yellow Ware found outside its production zone, the Hopi Mesas region. Using theory and method for identifying traces of migration, I evaluate case studies in which Jeddito Yellow Ware has played a role in inferences of population movement. Jeddito Yellow Ware is rare at or absent from the sites in southern Arizona that have yielded the most compelling evidence of immigrants from northern Arizona. I conclude by offering possible explanations for this pattern.
Infrared Resonance of OH With the H 2 O Laser: A Galactic Maser Pump?

The 79-\ensuremath{\mu}m electric dipole spectrum of OH ($^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{\frac{3}{2}},J=\frac{3}{2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{\frac{1}{2}},J=\frac{1}{2}$) has been measured by a magnetic-resonance absorption method, with a water-vapor laser as the source oscillator. Corresponding magnetic dipole spectra are calculated from the data. A near overlap of the water line on one magnetic-dipole transition suggests a possible pumping mechanism for the 18-cm maser emission of stellar OH.
A 26 to 40 GHz wideband feedback amplifier using 0.18 μm CMOS

A 4-stage, Ka-band amplifier employing frequency controlled feedback with parasitic cancellation is presented. A novel gain response superposition concept is adopted to achieve a predicted flat gain of 17.2 dB ±0.8 dB over the entire waveguide band using 0.18 μm CMOS technology.
The fluxes of elemental carbon in coastal marine sediments

Management practices in the control of forest and brush fires off California and British Columbia appear to have had little effect on the fluxes of elemental carbon (microcrystalline graphite) in the marine environment. Part of the carbon produced during the burning process can be transferred to the oceans via the atmosphere immediately following combustion. Another part is temporarily accommodated in surface soils and may later enter the ocean via the atmosphere or terrestrial runoff.
Formation of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area: neuronal growth, migration and changes in cell number

The sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) appears to be a morphological marker of the process of sexual differentiation of the rat brain. A portion of the presumptive SDN-POA neurons can be specifically identified utilizing autoradiography following the administration of [3H]thymidine on day 18 of gestation. In the present study we have utilized this fact in order to describe the general pattern of formation of the SDN-POA during the perinatal period. Following the administration of [3H]thymidine, fetal pups were sacrificed and perfused with neutral formalin either two hours after the injection or on day 20 or 22 postfertilization. Neonatal pups were either sacrificed and perfused or assigned to one of the treatment groups. Male pups were either gonadectomized or sham gonadectomized; females were all sham gonadectomized. These pups were then sacrificed and perfused on either day 26, 28 or 32 postfertilization. All brains were processed for autoradiography. The size, number and location of labeled cells within the medial preoptic area (MPOA) was determined. In general it appears that the labeled cells grow in size during the early postnatal period. These cells also migrate from the more ventral aspects of the MPOA to aggregate and form the SDN-POA. Furthermore, there is a significant decrease in the number of labeled cells by day 32 postfertilization (day 10 of postnatal life) which appears to contribute to the specific labeling of the SDN-POA of the adult animal. However, results obtained in this study from quantitative analyses do not indicate that sex or the postnatal steroid hormone environment influence the processes of growth, migration and decrease in MPOA cell number of those presumptive SDN-POA cells born specifically on day 18 of gestation and analyzed in this study.
Banks Multicultural Model: A Framework for Integrating Multiculturalism Into Nursing Curricula

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended that more minorities be represented in the health care workforce and that cross-cultural education be included in all health care programs (Betancourt, J.R., & Maina, A.W., 2004). Although nurse educators have embraced the need of inclusion of diversity in the curriculum, there remains a gap between the desire to educate about diversity and the application of this concept into the curriculum. Common barriers include difficulty fitting it into an already full curriculum and a lack of experience in the area of diversity. The conceptual framework of James Banks may be considered when implementing multiculturalism into an undergraduate nursing program, an associate degree program, or over a semester as a freestanding course on diversity. The Banks model identifies five dimensions of multicultural education (content integration, knowledge construction, prejudice reduction, equitable pedagogy, and empowering school culture) to facilitate the process of conceptualization and implementation of multicultural education. These dimensions build upon each other and can be leveled throughout a program curriculum or across a semester. Examples of assignments for each dimension and level are provided, as well as a discussion of the faculty role in implementing multiculturalism.
Quinolones in Salmonella typhi Infection

The quinolones possess a high degree of in vitro activity against enteric bacteria, including Salmonella. This observation, coupled with the limitations of current antityphoid agents, has resulted in the evaluation of quinolones in the therapy of S. typhi infection, including both enteric fever and chronic intestinal carriage. In open uncontrolled trials, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin have been used successfully to treat more than 200 patients with cultureproven typhoid fever. In comparative clinical trials, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin or fleroxacin were equivalent or superior to standard antityphoid therapy. In separate studies, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were each effective in eliminating intestinal excretion of S. typhi in chronic carriers. Because of increasing resistance worldwide to conventional antityphoid drugs, and in view of the efficacy of the quinolones in the therapy of both typhoid fever and typhoid intestinal carriage, these drugs may become the treatment of choice for these important enteric infections.
High-resolution paleomagnetic record of geomagnetic field fluctuations from the varved sediments of Elk Lake, Minnesota

Measurements of samples taken from three parallel cores from Elk Lake in northern Minnesota have been combined to produce a high-quality record of recent variations in the local magnetic field. Annual laminations in the sediment provide excellent time control for the record and evidence for a consistent depositional environment. The Elk Lake paleomagnetic record contributes significantly to our understanding of the recent history of the magnetic field in central North America, modifying several previous conclusions.
Whispering-gallery-mode resonators as frequency references. I. Fundamental limitations

We discuss thermodynamic as well as quantum limitations of the stability of resonance frequencies of solid-state whispering-gallery-mode resonators. We show that the relative frequency stability of a millimeter scale resonator can reach one part per 10−12 per 1 s integration time.
The effects of gender and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val108/158Met polymorphism on emotion regulation in velo-cardio-facial syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome): An fMRI study.

Abstract Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is caused by a micro-deletion of over 40 genes at the q11.2 locus of chromosome 22 and is a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. COMT, one of the genes located in the deleted region, has been considered as a major candidate gene for genetic susceptibility in psychiatric diseases. Its functional polymorphism Val108/158Met has been shown to affect prefrontal function and working memory and has been associated with emotional dysregulation. We utilized a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) event-related paradigm to asses COMT genotype and gender-moderated effects on the neural activation that are elicited by viewing emotionally salient images charged with pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral content. Since estrogen down-regulates COMT activity resulting in lower COMT activity in women than men, we hypothesized an allele-by-gender interaction effect on neural activation. Participants included 43 VCFS individuals (Val/male = 9, Val/female = 17, Met/male = 9, Met/female = 8). We observed a gender effect on processing positive emotions, in that girls activated the cingulate gyrus more than boys did. We further observed a significant gender-by-allele interaction effect on neural function specific to the frontal lobe during the processing of pleasant stimuli, and specific to limbic regions during the processing of unpleasant stimuli. Our results suggest that in VCFS, the effect of the COMT Val108/158Met polymorphism is moderated by gender during the processing of emotional stimuli and could contribute to the understanding of the way in which this COMT polymorphism affects vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Location of hydrogen transfer steps in the mechanism of reduction of L-amino acid oxidase.

Abstract We show by means of a specific kinetic isotope effect that the bond between hydrogen and the 2-carbon of the substrate is broken in forming the 540 mμ complex of L-amino acid oxidase. In addition, this process is considerably slowed in 2 H 2 O. The conversion of the 540 mμ complex to the fully reduced enzyme appears not to involve the rate-limiting transfer of a species of hydrogen of any kind.