cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Exchange Rate Volatility on South Africa’s Trade with the European Union

In this paper we analyze the effects of the real exchange rate volatility on South Africa’s trade flows with the European Union over the period 1980 to 2009. Our study uses quarterly trade flows on South Africa’s exports and imports and utilizes the bounds testing approach to cointegration, and error-correction model. Our results reveal that imports depend positively on the levels of domestic economic activity and foreign exchange reserves but negatively on relative prices and exchange rate volatility. In addition, exports depend positively on the levels of foreign economic activity but negatively on relative prices and exchange rate volatility. Furthermore, the exchange volatility exerts mixed effects in the short-run and in the long-run.
Continuous Versus Intermittent Infusion of Vancomycin and the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives Critically ill patients routinely receive vancomycin as empiric antibiotic therapy. A continuous infusion administration strategy may be superior to intermittent infusion by minimizing peak concentrations and variability thereby optimizing safety. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the impact of vancomycin infusion strategy on acute kidney injury in critically ill adults. Data sources A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Google Scholar was undertaken. Study selection We included randomized controlled trials and observational studies evaluating acute kidney injury in critically ill adults comparing vancomycin administered by intermittent and continuous infusion. Secondary outcomes included mortality and pharmacokinetic target attainment. Data extraction Eleven studies were identified for analysis with baseline demographics, endpoints, protocol definitions, and outcomes extracted. Data synthesis When compared with intermittent infusion, continuous infusion was associated with a reduction in acute kidney injury in critically ill adults (odds ratio, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.34-0.65) and a 2.6 greater odds of pharmacokinetic target attainment (odds ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.52-4.57). No difference in mortality was observed (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.80-1.35). Conclusions When administered via a continuous infusion, vancomycin is associated with a 53% reduction in the odds of acute kidney injury and a 2.6-fold higher odds of pharmacokinetic target attainment when compared with intermittent infusion without influencing overall mortality.
Does Coloring Reduce Anxiety? Comparing the Psychological and Psychophysiological Benefits of Coloring Versus Drawing:

In this study, we compared the psychological and psychophysiological benefits of coloring to drawing as a means of distraction versus expression. Participants were 60 undergraduates who experienced...
Transfusion transmitted babesiosis: A systematic review of reported cases

Abstract Background Transfusion transmitted babesiosis (TTB) has a high mortality rate but may go unrecognized, particularly in non-endemic areas. We therefore conducted a systematic review to better characterize clinical aspects of TTB. Methods A literature search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL databases, from which 25 eligible articles describing 60 TTB patients met criteria for data extraction. Results Symptom evaluation was provided for 25 implicated donors: 18/25 (72%) were asymptomatic while 7/25 (28%) had mild flu-like symptoms but were asymptomatic at time of donation. It was common for a single donor or donation to infect multiple patients. Where reported, species included B. microti – 54/60 (90%), B. duncani – 3/60 (5%), and B. divergens-like/MO-1 – 1/60 (2%). Most TTB patients (44/60, 73%) resided in endemic states, while most TTB deaths 6/9 (67%) occurred in non-endemic states. Severity of hemolysis was proportional to degree of parasitemia. Mortality in our series was 9/60 (15%); most deaths occurred at extremes of the age spectrum: 6/9 non-survivors were aged >55 years, 2/9 were Conclusions All implicated donors (for which symptoms data were reported) resulting in TTB infections were asymptomatic at the time of donation, and it was common for a single donor or donation to infect multiple patients. Mortality of TTB appeared highest among those with more comorbidities and in non-endemic states. Heightened awareness of this diagnosis is key in its recognition.
Resection of Mesenteric Tumors

In removing a portion of the large bowel for adenocarcinoma, the en bloc resection of the appropriate corresponding portion of the mesocolon has been standardized, according to the location of the particular colon cancer, such as right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy, sigmoid resection, and so forth. For carcinoma of the small intestine, it is also well known and adequately standardized that in addition to removing an adequate length of small bowel proximal and distal to the tumor, the corresponding mesentery should be removed in a triangular shape from the mesenteric border of the small bowel at the points of its intended proximal and distal division to the base of the mesentery. When primary tumors involve the mesentery itself, however, particularly when the base of the mesentery is involved close to the proximal loops of small bowel, methods of dealing surgically with the situation are not clear. One finds in perusing the literature that often the resectability of tumors at the base of the mesentery is decided upon mere palpatory or visual examination, the rationale being that tumors at the base of the mesentery in this proximal portion probably involve the superior mesenteric vessels, so an attempt at resection poses the risk of complete devascularization of the small bowel and the right colon. The result for the patient would be a permanent need for intravenous hyperalimentation due to short-bowel syndrome. We have found, however, that in cases of desmoid tumors involving the small bowel or mesentery or retroperitoneal sarcomas located at the base of the mesentery (often causing bowel obstruction), dissection at the base of the mesentery and exposure of the superior mesenteric vessels allows preservation of the latter and resection of most of these tumors. The exposure of the superior mesenteric vessels to establish the presence or absence of actual involvement by the tumor of these vessels is the definitive way to decide deliberately whether the tumor can be removed safely.
Serum Serotonin Differentiates Between Disease Activity States in Crohn's Patients.

Background Diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) utilize invasive methods including endoscopy and tissue biopsy, with blood tests being less specific for IBDs. Substantial evidence has implicated involvement of the neurohormone serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the pathophysiology of IBDs. The current study investigated whether serum 5-HT is elevated in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Serum samples were obtained from a German cohort of 96 CD and UC patients with active disease, refractory disease, or remission of disease based upon their disease activity index (DAI) and disease history. High pressure liquid chromatography with tandemmass spectrometry was used to measure 5-HT, tryptophan (TRP), and kynurenine (KYN) levels in the serum samples, and Luminex Multiplex ELISA was used to measure cytokine levels. Intestinal mucosal biopsies were obtained from a separate cohort of healthy and CD patients, and the immunoreactivity of the serotonin transporter (SERT) was determined. Results There was no statistically significant difference in TRP or KYN levels between disease categories in either UC or CD. Interestingly, 5-HT levels were significantly elevated in patients with active CD but not active UC when compared with the levels in remission or refractory disease. Serum 5-HT was superior to C-reactive protein and circulating cytokines in differentiating between disease categories in CD. Additionally, SERT immunoreactivity was decreased in the ileum and colon of patients with CD compared to healthy controls. Conclusion We have shown that the serum 5-HT can differentiate between active disease and refractory disease or remission among CD patients, emphasizing the potential suitability of serum 5-HT as an auxiliary measure in diagnosing active CD.
Phage lysis‐lysogeny switches and programmed cell death: Danse macabre

Exploration of immune systems in prokaryotes, such as restriction-modification or CRISPR-Cas, shows that both innate and adaptive systems possess programmed cell death (PCD) potential. The key outstanding question is how the immune systems sense and "predict" infection outcomes to "decide" whether to fight the pathogen or induce PCD. There is a striking parallel between this life-or-death decision faced by the cell and the decision by temperate viruses to protect or kill their hosts, epitomized by the lysis-lysogeny switch of bacteriophage Lambda. Immune systems and temperate phages sense the same molecular inputs, primarily, DNA damage, that determine whether the cell lives or dies. Because temperate (pro)phages are themselves components of prokaryotic genomes, their shared "interests" with the hosts result in coregulation of the lysis-lysogeny switch and immune systems that jointly provide the cell with the decision machinery to probe and predict infection outcomes, answering the life-or-death question.
SplitServe: Efficiently Splitting Apache Spark Jobs Across FaaS and IaaS

Due to their lower startup latencies and finer-grain pricing than virtual machines (VMs), Amazon Lambdas and other cloud functions (CFs) have been identified as ideal candidates for handling unexpected spikes in simple, stateless workloads. However, it is not immediately clear if CFs would be similarly effective in autoscaling complex workloads involving significant state transfer across distributed application components. We have found that, through careful design, currently available CFs can indeed be useful even for complex workloads. To demonstrate this, we design and implement SplitServe, an enhancement of Apache Spark. If not enough executors on existing VMs are available for a newly arriving latency-sensitive job, SplitServe is able to use CFs to quickly bridge this shortfall in VMs, so avoiding the startup latencies of newly requested VMs. If desirable in terms of performance or cost, when newly requested VMs, or executors on existing VMs, do become available, SplitServe is able to move ongoing work from CFs to them. Our experimental evaluation of SplitServe using four different workloads (either on a mixture of VM-based executors and CFs or just CFs) shows that it improves execution time by up to (a) 55% for workloads with small to modest amount of shuffling, and (b) 31% in workloads with large amounts of shuffling, when compared to only VM-based autoscaling.
Empowering Leadership of the Heads as Perceived by the Employees and Employees’ Job satisfaction

The study aimed to determine the effect of empowering leadership and the job satisfaction of employees. To support the purpose, the literature was reviewed and theories were established to strengthen the title of the study. The study followed a research methodology and the research design was the descriptive assessment and correlational research design. To gather the data, validated questionnaires were and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Weighted mean and Pearson r correlation was used to determine the level of different variables of empowering leadership and the correlation between empowering leadership and job satisfaction. The results indicate that empowering leadership of heads and job satisfaction of employees is not very high or high but a moderate extent and there is a significant correlation between empowering leadership and job satisfaction. Therefore, the hypothesis of the study is accepted.
Emergency Powers in Asia: Constitution and ‘extraconstitution’: colonial emergency regimes in postcolonial India and Pakistan

This essay explores the experiences with emergency and emergency-like powers in postcolonial Pakistan and India to illustrate the ways in which constitutional and extraconstitutional states of exception can converge in their application. The experiences in Pakistan with what I term its "extraconstitution" - illustrated most recently by the state of "emergency" declared by Pervez Musharraf in 2007 - demonstrate, perhaps unsurprisingly, that extraconstitutional assertions of emergency powers can provide a ready template for authoritarian rulers to usurp power, violate fundamental rights, and transform the constitutional landscape in the guise of addressing a crisis. At the same time, the authoritarianism in such moments is not entirely "lawless," and the experiences of both Pakistan and India suggest that the assertion of constitutionally-authorized emergency powers - as perhaps most notably exercised by Indira Gandhi in India from 1975-77 - can be as difficult to constrain as extraconstitutional regimes of the sort seen in Pakistan, and can lead to excesses and lasting transformations that are at least as severe.While constitutionality is not necessarily irrelevant in constraining or legitimising emergency powers regardless of context, in postcolonial South Asia the significance of constitutionality has had limits. Owing in part to the persistence in both countries of the shared discourse of emergency powers inherited from the British colonial state, the antidemocratic tendencies inherent in the use of emergency powers have continued to manifest themselves in the laws and institutions of both India and Pakistan, albeit in evidently and importantly different ways in each country. Whether those tendencies have operated through constitutional or extraconstitutional means, the basic results have in some respects been strikingly similar.
Analyzing the Cost-Effectiveness of Instruction Expenditures towards High School Completion among Oahu's Public School Districts.

The following study attempted to ascertain the instructional cost-effectiveness of public high school teachers towards high school completion through a financially based econometric analysis. Essentially, public high school instruction expenditures and completer data were collected from 2000 to 2007 and bivariate interaction analyzed through a correlation and linear regression procedure. Based on the collective results, with the exception of the Leeward District that reported a statistically significant positive relationship, a statistically insignificant positive relationship was noted for the Central District; and a statistically insignificant negative relationship noted for both the Honolulu and the Windward District. Consequently, based on the findings of this study, public high school teachers in the Leeward District had a more economically positive influence towards high school completers in contrast to the other school districts on Hawaii’s Island of Oahu from 2000 to 2007.
Estimating the prevalence of pyruvate kinase deficiency from the gene frequency in the general white population

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is the most common cause of hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. The prevalence of this deficiency is unknown, though some estimates have been made based on the frequency of low red cell PK activity in the population. An additional 20 patients with hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia caused by PK deficiency have been genotyped. One previously unreported mutation 1153C→T (R385W) was encountered. The relative frequency of PK mutations in patients with hemolytic anemia caused by PK deficiency was calculated from the 18 white patients reported here and from 102 patients previously reported in the literature. DNA samples from 3785 subjects from different ethnic groups have been screened for the 4 more frequently encountered mutations—c.1456 C→T(1456T), c.1468 C→T(1468T), c.1484 C→T(1484T), and c.1529 G6A (1529A)—by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. Among white patients the frequency of the 1456T mutation was 3.50 × 10−3; that of the 1529A mutation was 2.03 × 10−3. Among African Americans the frequency of the 1456T mutation was 3.90 × 10−3 The only mutation found in the limited number of Asians tested was 1468T at a frequency of 7.94 × 10−3. Based on the gene frequency of the 1529A mutation in the white population and on its relative abundance in patients with hemolytic anemia caused by PK deficiency, the prevalence of PK deficiency is estimated at 51 cases per million white population. This number would be increased by inbreeding and decreased by failure of patients with PK deficiency to survive.
Arterial endothelial function in a porcine model of early stage atherosclerotic vascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and is projected to become the leading cause of mortality in the world. Atherosclerosis is the most important single factor contributing to this disease burden. In this study, we characterize relationships between endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease in an animal model of diet-induced, early-stage atherosclerotic vascular disease. We tested the hypothesis that hypercholesterolaemia induces vascular disease and impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in conduit arteries of adult male Yucatan pigs. Pigs were fed a normal fat (NF) or high fat cholesterol (HFC) diet for 20-24 weeks. Results indicate that, while the HFC diet did not alter EDR in femoral or brachial arteries, EDR was significantly decreased in both carotid and coronary arteries. Sudanophilic fatty streaks were significantly present in the abdominal aorta and common carotid artery. Histopathology revealed increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and foam cell accumulation in Stary Stage I-III lesions in the abdominal aorta, common carotid artery and femoral arteries. In the coronary arteries, the accumulation of foam cells in Stary Stage I and II lesions resulted in a trend for increased IMT. There was no evidence of vascular disease in the brachial arteries. These results indicate that early stages of CVD (Stary Stage I-III) precede decreases in EDR induced by HFC diet, because femoral arteries exhibited foam cell accumulation and an increased IMT but no change in endothelial function.
Operating experience with TFTR's Tritium Storage and Delivery System

The Tritium Storage and Delivery System (TSDS) at TFTR was fabricated at Monsanto Mound Lab in the late 1970's and delivered to PPPL in the early 1980's. Commissioning progressed slowly and was finally completed in 1992 following a series of preoperational tests and integrated systems tests. Those tests included thorough leak testing of glove boxes and process piping, electrical interlocks and controls, instrumentation calibrations, volume determinations and verification of uranium bed capacity. The system accepted tritium in dilute form in May of 1993 and began serious usage of pure tritium in November 1993. As the throughput of high purity tritium increased, shortcomings of the system became evident and extensive repairs were implemented. System leakage and material compatibility were the primary causes of the problems. To date, the system has received, stored and delivered over 500 kCi of tritium and is performing very well. The dedicated quadrupole mass spectrometer and beta scintillator system has been analyzing tritium bearing and pure gas streams for over 3 years with minimal downtime.
VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY OF SHOCK-COMPRESSED LIQUID CO

Single-pulse, multiplex, coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) was used to observe the vibrational spectra of liquid CO shock compressed to several pressures and temperatures up to 9.9 GPa and 2010 K. The experimental spectra were compared to synthetic spectra calculated using a semiclassical model for CARS intensities and estimated vibrational frequencies, peak Raman susceptibilities and Raman line widths. A comparison of these data with result in the isoelectronic and materially very similar N{sub 2} show a significant difference in vibrational frequency shift with pressure. 21 refs., 2 figs.
Central retinal vein occlusion in juvenile diabetes; case report with consideration of the pathogenic relationship between diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion.

Abstract The occurrence of central retinal vein occlusion in juvenile diabetics is emphasized. Based on an unusual case report of a 15-year-old diabetic boy in whom diabetic retinopathy developed in one eye in immediate time-relationship of central vein occlusion in the other, the pathogenic relationship between these two conditions is discussed. The mechanism of the production of stasis in the venous retinal circulation in young diabetic individuals and in central retinal vein occlusion is outlined. A chronic condition of stasis in young diabetics appears to be brought about mainly by a distension of the venules as part of a pathophysiologic vasomotor reaction and intravascular aggregation of the red blood cells. It is suggested that a condition of stasis in the venous retinal circulation is a common pathogenic factor in the development of retinopathy and retinal vein thrombosis, and that this may explain the occurrence of central retinal vein occlusion in young diabetics.
Plant–Microbe Interactions in the Marine Environment

Plant-Microbe Interactions of Emergent Marine Plants Plant-Microbe Interactions of Submerged Marine Plants Keywords: marine environment; phyllosphere; plant-microbes interaction; rhizosphere; sediments
Bis[(2-methyl-benz-yl)bis-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl-κN)amine-κN]manganese(II) bis-(perchlorate).

In the title complex, [Mn(C20H21N3)2](ClO4)2, two tridentate (2-methyl­benz­yl)bis­(pyridin-2-ylmeth­yl)amine (L) ligands form the MnII complex [MnL2](ClO4)2. The MnII ion lies on a twofold axis and the complex cation is significantly distorted from regular octa­hedral geometry. The packing is stabilized by weak C—H⋯O inter­actions between the cations and anions, which link them into a zigzag ribbon along [101]. The perchlorate anion is disordered and was constrained to be tetra­hedral with two orientations having occupancies of 0.768 (4) and 0.232 (4). The 2-methylbenzyl moiety is also disordered over two sets of sites, with occupancies of 0.508 (15) and 0.492 (15).
FAMILIAL NONHEMOLYTIC JAUNDICE WITH LATE ONSET OF NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE

A patient with familial nonhemolytic jaundice is described. The child had been normal, apart from his jaundice, for all of his life. But, at 16 years of age he developed neurological disabilities which progressed to his death 6 months later. The signs were similar to those of kernicterus seen in infants. Attempts to reduce the bilirubin level of the blood and so to reverse the nervous system damage were unsuccessful.
Fused Silica Final Optics for Inertial Fusion Energy: Radiation Studies and System-Level Analysis

The survivability of the final optic, which must sit in the line of sight of high-energy neutrons and gamma rays, is a key issue for any laser-driven inertial fusion energy (IFE) concept. Previous ...
Origin of conglomerate stratigraphy in the Franciscan assemblage and Great Valley sequence, northern California

In the northern California Coast Ranges, the forearc-basin Great Valley sequence of Late Jurassic and Cretaceous age contains three distinctive types of conglomerate: (1) chert-rich conglomerate of Tithonian to Valanginian age, (2) volcanic-rich conglomerate of mainly Valanginian age, and (3) mixed-clast conglomerate of Valanginian and younger age. All three types are found in stratigraphic sequence along the west side of the Sacramento Valley, but in three belts of outliers that overlie the Franciscan assemblage to the west, the oldest conglomerate present in each belt is progressively younger southwestward. This may reflect the widening of the forearc basin over time as progressively younger conglomerate types lapped onto the elevated western margin of the basin. The same three conglomerate types occur in coeval rocks of the accretionarywedge Franciscan assemblage and show a similar southwestward progression in composition, possibly due to trench deposition of conglomerate with the same sources as the Great Valley sequence, each conglomerate type being accreted successively to the west side of the accretionary wedge. The Franciscan must have underthrust the forearc basin, become deeply buried, been metamorphosed, and returned to the surface without major disruption of the distribution of conglomerate types.
Simulation of microstructure evolution during pulsed-laser annealing and ablation of solid mnterinlc

Microstructure evolution in an amorphous layer of Si (a-Si) irradiated by pulsed lasers has been investigated using a two-dimensional heat-conduction, phase-change, and microstructure simulation model. The approach has several unique features for describing nonequilibrium phase transformations under the extreme conditions of pulsed-laser annealing and ablation, e.g., the concepts of the state diagram and the state array. The approach has been used to study several problems related to the annealing and ablation of solids by pulsed lasers, e.g., (i) dynamics of ‘explosively’ propagating buried liquid layers during pulsed-laser annealing of an a-Si layer on a c-Si substrate; (ii) dynamics of Si ‘flake’ nucleation and growth and the resulting final microstructures for various laser energy densities;, (iii) ablation due to absorption by localized but extended defects such as occurs in the case of MgO; (iv) particulate ejection during laser ablation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). The results from the modeling and simulation are compared to experimental measurements and observations. Quantitative and qualitative agreement between experiment and theory demonstrate that the approach can be applied to a variety of problems and for many different materials.
THE PATHOGENESIS OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS - A HYPOTHESIS

We have suggested that a thymic factor plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. The presence of specific ACh R antibodies in more than 90% of patients with myasthenia gravis has provided us with a marker for this disorder and has greatly increased our understanding of the pathophysiology. These antibodies can induce physiological parameters similar to those seen in myasthenia gravis following passive transfer to experimental animals and can accelerate degradation of ACh R in myotube culture. However, clinical studies suggest that additional factors of thymic origin are necessary for the development of the clinical features of myasthenia gravis. While the nature of the thymic factor(s) is speculative, this hypothesis has a significant clinical implication as it argues for an early, total thymectomy as the treatment of choice for myasthenia gravis.
Of methods and manners for aspiring sociologists : 37 moral imperatives

L'A. porte son attention sur la profession de sociologue. Il s'efforce de mettre en lumiere les facteurs qui influent sur le deroulement des carrieres des enseignants et des chercheurs dans cette discipline. Il isole 37 imperatifs moraux qui, s'ils sont scrupuleusement respectes, permettent de mener a bien ce type de carriere
Flexure-Compression Testing of Bridge Timber Piles Retrofitted with Fiber Reinforced Polymers

The adequacy of using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) retrofit technique to restore the flexure-compression behavior of deteriorated bridge timber piles is examined experimentally in this paper. Sixteen specimens are tested monotonically under eccentric compressive loading. The specimens are first tested in their unretrofitted condition to determine their elastic properties. Each specimen is then cut and connected (posted) using the proposed FRP retrofit technique, and retested. The results show that the retrofitted specimens are capable of reaching same or higher strengths than that of the unretrofitted specimens with minimal reduction in their stiffness. Based on the experimental results, a design equation is presented to compute the volumetric ratio of FRP needed for retrofitting bridge timber piles under eccentric load.
Reactive Oxygen Species and Protein Oxidation in Aging: A Look Back, A Look Ahead

The existence of free radicals, as chemical entities, was inferred 100 years ago but not universally accepted for some 30-40 years. The existence and importance of free radicals in biological systems was not recognized until the mid 1950s, by a small number of visionary scientists who can be credited with founding the field of reactive oxygen biochemistry. For most of the remaining 20th century, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were considered a type of biochemical "rusting agent" that caused stochastic tissue damage and disease. As we enter the 21st century, reactive oxygen biochemistry is maturing as a discipline and establishing its importance among the biomedical sciences. It is now recognized that virtually every disease state involves some degree of oxidative stress. Moreover, we are now beginning to recognize that ROS are produced in a well-regulated manner to help maintain homeostasis on the cellular level in normal, healthy tissue. This review summarizes the history of reactive oxygen biochemistry, outlining major paradigm shifts that the field has undergone and continues to experience. The contributions of Earl Stadtman to the recent history of the field (1980-present) are especially highlighted. The role of ROS in signal transduction is presented in some detail as central to the latest paradigm shift. Emerging technologies, particularly proteomic technologies, are discussed that will facilitate further evolution in the field of reactive oxygen biochemistry.
The Evidence for Middle Palaeolithic Scavenging from Couche VIII, Grotte Vaufrey (Dordogne, France)

Abstract Couche VIII, Grotte Vaufrey (Dordogne, southwestern France) provided a sample of nearly 1200 identifiable bones and teeth of ungulates and carnivores associated with artefacts assigned to the Typical Mousterian. Binford (Etude taphonomique des restes fauniques de la grotte Vaufrey, Memoires de la Societe Prehistorique Francaise 19, 535-564, 1988) has argued that the Couche VIII ungulates were introduced either by carnivores or by human scavengers. We present a taphonomic reanalysis of the Couche VIII fauna and show that neither Binford's data nor ours support his interpretations.
Elevated S-adenosylhomocysteine in Alzheimer brain: influence on methyltransferases and cognitive function.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is common in Alzheimer’s disease and is negatively correlated with cognitive function. Hyperhomocysteinemia can increase S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a potent methyltransferase inhibitor. This study investigates the role of brain SAH in the cognitive and neurological disruption in Alzheimer’s disease. SAH was significantly (26%) higher in prefrontal cortex of Alzheimer patients than normals. Brain homogenates from Alzheimer patients inhibited an exogenous methyltransferase 15% more than normal homogenates (P < .001). Brain SAH levels correlated (r=.508) with methyltransferase inhibition by brain homogenates. Methyltransferase inhibition by Alzheimer brain homogenates correlated inversely with cognitive function as determined by MMSE (r=−0.36). Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) activities were more than 30% lower (P<0.001) in Alzheimer than normal brains. Brain PNMT activity correlated significantly with cognitive function (r=0.243), age of Alzheimer’s onset (r=0.272), and choline acetyltransferase activity (r=0.333), but negatively with neurofibrillary tangles (r=−0.332). COMT activity also correlated significantly with cognitive function (r=0.324), age of disease onset (r=0.209), choline acetyltransferase activity (r=0.326), levels of synaptophysin (r=0.506), and negatively with tangles (r=−0.216 P=0.039). Elevated SAH in Alzheimer brain inhibits methyltransferases and is related to markers of disease progression and cognitive impairment.
Laser-induced vapour-phase syntheses of boron and titanium diboride powders

Small diameter boron and titanium diboride powders were synthesized from vapour phase reactants heated with infrared radiation from a CO2 laser. Boron powders were synthesized from BCI3 + H2 gas mixtures undfrom B2H6. TiCl4 + B2H6 gas mixtures yielded TiB2 powder. BCI3 + H2 + TiCl4 gas mixtures yielded TiCl2 powder but no TiB2. Novel equipment designed to vapourize TiCI4 liquid is described, Detailed characterizations of the product powders are presented.
Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in optically pumped semiconductors

Optical pumping enhanced double quantum nuclear spin coherences were detected in bulk GaAs and InP by two-dimensional NMR. The stimulation of the coherences was achieved using a single non-selective resonant RF pulse. This is unusual because stimulation of such coherences from a spin system at thermal equilibrium in high field would normally require a minimum of two pulses. A density matrix analysis, combined with a time-resolved study of the build-up of the double quantum coherence in GaAs, suggests that the enhancement of the double quantum coherence amplitude stems from optical pumping of dipolar nuclear spin order.
Resonance enhanced umklapp Raman processes in GaAs-Ga1−xAlxAs superlattices

We report the observation of umklapp Raman scattering of phonons with wavevector of 2nπd in GaAs-Ga1−xAlxAs superlattices with period d, due to resonance enhancements at transitions from valence band to conduction band minibands. We also observed, for the first time, minizone formation in the spin-orbit split valence band.
Influence of test parameters on the measurement of the coefficient of friction of magnetic tapes

Abstract The cylinder friction and the normal stress distribution were calculated for the general case of a magnetic tape wrapped around a cylinder. The coefficient of friction was found to depend on the radius r of the cylinder and the initial tension T 0 according to the relation ( r T 0 ) 1−n and to be independent of the wrap angle θ 0 . On the basis of tests conducted on five commercial magnetic tapes and on a typical tape substrate (poly(ethylene terephthalate)), n was found to be close to 1. Hence r , T 0 and θ 0 in the ranges used in the tests reported here have no significant influence on the coefficient of friction. For the speed range from 27 to 80 mm s −1 , the sliding speed has no influence on the coefficient of friction, but temperature and humidity do have a significant influence. Therefore, temperature and humidity conditions should be selected on the basis of the application of the machine.
Qualitative and quantitative analyses of ginkgo terpene trilactones by liquid chromatography/sonic spray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatography/sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry method (LC/SSI−MS) was developed for qualitative and quantitative analyses of ginkgo terpene trilactones. Five ginkgo terpene trilactones were successfully protonated for qualitative and quantitative analyses under the study conditions. The typical ion adducts were identified as (M + H)+, (M + NH4)+, and (M + Na)+. The limits of detection were achieved between 2.5 and 10 ng with RSD of 0.173−4.82% and a linear range of 10−80 ng with R2 = 0.991−0.999. This method was used to identify and quantify ginkgo terpene trilactones in extractions of ginkgo biloba leaves obtained from three different extraction methods. This is the first completely validated LC/MS method for quantification of ginkgo terpene trilactones. The factors that contributed to reduce the errors of identification and quantification of ginkgo terpene trilactones are systematically reported, and the advantages and disadvantages of LC/MS method in quantitative analysis are also dis...
Changes in plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids in patients fed enteral formulas containing different fats.

Critically ill hospital patients were fed enteral formulas containing different fat substrates. Seven patients received formula X, which contained 28 g of structured triglycerides and menhaden oil to provide 7.6 g of medium-chain fatty acids, 2.5 g linoleic acid, 1.3 g eicosapentaenoic acid, and 0.4 g docosahexaenoic acid per 1000 mL of formula. Six patients received formula Y consisting of 36.8 g of medium-chain triglycerides and corn and soy oils providing 14.3 g medium-chain fatty acids and 11.7 g linoleic acid per 1000 mL. Feeding of formula X increased plasma total phospholipid levels of eicosapentaenoic acid on days 7 and 14 and docosahexaenoic acid levels on day 14. Plasma levels of linoleic acid were reduced in formula-X-fed in comparison to formula-Y-fed patients, whereas arachidonic acid was maintained in both groups during feeding. As a result of these changes, the patients receiving formula X had decreased ratios of arachidonic acid:eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma. Formula Y feeding did not al...
The impact of a primary care-based weight loss intervention on the quality of life.

This study investigated changes in the quality of life of men and women who participated in a primary care-based weight loss intervention program. Participants were enrolled in a 2-year randomized clinical trial (POWER-UP) conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and in six affiliated primary care practices. Inclusion criteria included the presence of obesity (body mass index of 30–50 kg m−2) and at least two components of the metabolic syndrome. Quality of life was assessed by three measures: the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12); the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite; and the EuroQol-5D. Six months after the onset of treatment, and with a mean weight loss of 3.9±0.3 kg, participants reported significant improvements on all measures of interest with the exception of the Mental Component Score of the SF-12. These changes remained significantly improved from baseline to month 24, with the exception of the EuroQol-5D. Many of these improvements were correlated with the magnitude of weight loss and, for the most part, were consistent across gender and ethnic group. Individuals with obesity and components of the metabolic syndrome reported significant improvements in most domains of the quality of life with a modest weight loss of 3.7% of initial weight, which was achieved within the first 6 months of treatment. The majority of these improvements were maintained at month 24, when participants had lost 3.0% of their weight.
Luther and the Just-War Tradition

Historians of the just-war tradition frequently cite Martin Luther as a major proponent of the just war in the sixteenth century and assimilate his views to those of earlier writers such as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. In this study I show that Luther's relationship to the just-war tradition was more complex than scholars typically acknowledge. Although he adopted a just-war outlook in general, he sometimes ignored or rejected aspects of the tradition, and this led to two possible outcomes. In some instances, Luther's teaching appears less nuanced and coherent than earlier teachings, for example on the topics of just cause and jus in bello. In other ways, though, Luther helped to advance the tradition, for example on the topics of holy war and the personal responsibility of soldiers.
Association of insects and ergot (Claviceps purpurea) in Kentucky bluegrass seed production fields.

Insects in Kentucky bluegrass seed production fields in Oregon, Iaho, and Washington were sampled just before harvest and their association with ergot conidia of Claviceps purpurea Fr. (Tul.) was evaluated during 1996–1998. A diversity of insects was observed at all three locations. The most abundant beneficial insects collected with sweep nets were Nysium spp., Nabis spp., ichneumonid wasps, and Hippodamia spp. The cranberry girdler, Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller), was the only important pest on grass seed collected by sweep net. Numbers of aphids such as Sitobion avenae (F.), cicadellids and thrips such as Anaphothrips spp. and Aptinothrips spp. that were collected with an aphid sampler were below economic thresholds. Other insect groups occurred in low numbers. Noctuid moths collected in universal blacklight traps included nine species of cutworms and armyworms. Protagrotis obscura (B. & McD.) was the most common cutworm species and was present in all fields. The moth Chortodes rufostrigata (Pack.) previously reported only from wet meadows in northeast and south central Oregon was found in Kentucky bluegrass fields in central Oregon, suggesting that irrigated Kentucky bluegrass seed production fields may simulate a montane meadow habitat. Conidia of C. purpurea were found on a diversity of insects, including moths, flies, leafhoppers, and thrips. Up to 100% of moths and 75% of flies collected from some fields carried conidia of C. purpurea. No correlation between ergot honeydew present in a field and number of insects with conidia of C. purpurea was detected.
Inverse Bloch oscillator: Strong terahertz-photocurrent resonances at the Bloch frequency.

We have observed the inverse Bloch oscillator effect: resonant changes in the current-voltage characteristics of miniband semiconductor superlattices when the Bloch frequency is resonant with a terahertz field and its harmonics. The resonances consist of a peak in the current accompanied by a decrease of the current at the low bias side. At the highest intensities we observe up to a four-photon resonance. This is an analog of Shapiro steps in a S-I-S junction caused by the ac Josephson effect. The increase of the current is caused by stimulated emission of photons and we can estimate the THz gain of the superlattice from the induced current at the resonance.
A pro-drug of zidovudine with enhanced efficacy against human immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract In a attempt to alleviate the drug-related toxicity of zidovudine in patients with AIDS, a pro-drug of zidovudine, 5′-{(1,4-dihydro-1-methyl-3-pyridinylcarbonyl)oxy}-3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine (DP-AZT), has been evaluated. Cellular uptake by H9 cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with zidovudine and DP-AZT showed at least a 50% greater intracellular concentration of DP-AZT with-in 2 hr. DP-AZT was significantly less toxic to murine bone marrow cells as measured by CFU-E assay. The ED 50 concentration to inhibit the production of HIV specific p24 antigen was 0.05 μM for DP-AZT whereas zidovudine required 0.125 μM. These results demonstrated that DP-AZT has a higher therapeutic ratio than zidovudine as an anti-HIV-1 agent.
Effect of adrenergic receptor activation on post-herpetic neuralgia pain and sensory disturbances

Patients with acute herpes zoster, and to a lesser extent post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), have been reported to respond to local anesthetic blockade of the sympathetic nervous system. In animal models of nerve injury, local injection of adrenergic agonists after nerve injury, but not before, excites nociceptors. In some patients with chronic neuropathic pain, local application of norepinephrine evokes pain. In 15 subjects with PHN, the role of adrenergic receptors in PHN pain was assessed in a two-session double blind study comparing the response to cutaneous infiltration of epinephrine or phenylephrine (30 micrograms in 3 ml) with the response to normal saline in both the painfully affected skin and mirror-image normal skin. Two adjacent sites were studied on each side of the body, one site for injection and the other for measuring sensory effects of the injection. In the morning part of each session, mirror-image normal skin was injected. In the afternoon portion of each session, skin in the most painful area affected by PHN was injected. Injection of saline or the adrenergic agonist in normal skin produced mild and transient pain without development of allodynia and without affecting overall PHN pain intensity. In PHN skin, injection of saline and the adrenergic agonist produced an equivalent degree of transient pain that was slightly greater than injection into mirror-image normal skin. After injection of the adrenergic agonist into PHN skin, both overall PHN pain and allodynia severity were significantly greater than after saline injection, peaking at 10-15 min post-injection. Even when PHN has been present for years, adrenergic receptor stimulation in PHN skin increases pain, most likely through direct activation of C-nociceptors in the painful skin. Increased allodynia is most likely mediated centrally and driven by the increase in C-nociceptor input.
Microwave-induced effects on superconductors

We have studied the effects of microwave radiation on superconducting tunnel junctions and on the critical currents of superconducting strips at 2.0 and 10.0 GHz. In the tunnel junctions both quantum mechanical and classical effects (photon-induced tunneling and classical rectification, respectively), were observed, but not gap enhancement. The application of microwave radiation on long, superconducting, thin-film bridges was found to increase their critical current. The microwave magnetic field was found to couple more efficiently to the superconductor. The increase in the critical current was found to be proportional to the square root of the incident power.
Metabolism of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol in the rat.

Abstract The metabolism of 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), a selective sea lamprey larvicide was investigated in rats. Analysis of urine from TFM-treated rats indicated that a portion of the injected TFM was reduced to 3-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenol (RTFM) and that both TFM and RTFM were excreted as polar, acid labile compounds. At least some of the polar derivatives appear to be glucuronides since treatment of these materials with β-glucuronidase released both TFM and RTFM. Quantitative studies utilizing tritiumlabeled TFM indicated that approximately 60% of the injected radio-activity was excreted in the urine in 24 hr, but only about 6% of that recovered was free unchanged TFM.
Modulating The Conductance And Ionic Preference Of MscL, A Biological Nanovalve

The bacterial mechanosensitive channel of large conductance, MscL, has many properties that are ideal for use as a nanosensor. Previous studies have shown that the pore size is huge (>30A), it can be translated in vitro or synthetically synthesized, and it can spontaneously assemble into a functional complex. In addition, the modality of the channel can be changed; studies have shown that the sensor can be engineered to be sensitive to light, pH, and post-translational chemical modification as well as modulated by different heavy metals and redox. Hence, many studies have suggested its potential in nano-technological applications such as nano-scaled sensors in microchips and drug delivery systems. On the other hand, its large conductance may actually be limiting in some microchip applications, and even though some molecules pass through the MscL nanovalve, modifying its ionic preference could have advantages for vesicular release of charged compounds. Here we demonstrate that MscL can be molecular engineered to have altered conductance or ionic preference to better serve specific purposes. We found that constricting the cytoplasmic loops between the pore and a C-terminal cytoplasmic helical bundle of the channel by bridging cysteines, or coordinating heavy metals with histidines, can decrease the channel conductance as much as 50%; in both instances, the change is reversible. In addition, we found that the ionic preference of the channel can be modified by altering residues near the pore; changing the ionic preference of MscL towards anionic alters the permeability of spermidine, a polycationic organic compound. In summary, our results demonstrate that the conductance and ionic preference of the MscL nanovalve can be modified, and thus designed for specific applications. Keywords: MscL; channel conductance; ionic preference; Nanotechnology.