cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Standardized intermediates” for oligosaccharide synthesis. Precursors of β-linked, interior d-galactopyranose units having chain extension at position 4, or positions 4 and 2

Abstract Allyl 6- O -benzyl-3,4- O -isopropylidene-α-d-galactopyranoside (1) was used to prepare a series of 2- O -benzoyl-3,6-di- O -benzyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl halides carrying either a second benzoyl group (11, 17a) or a selectively removable, temporary protecting group (17b-d) at position 4. In one synthetic scheme, the 2-butenyl (crotyl) group was used for the transient protection of position 2, and the 2- O -benzoyl group was incorporated by selective acylation of a 2,4-diol (6) . In a more direct scheme, the 2- O -benzoyl group was introduced at the first step (1→12) . Selective benzylation of O-3 was accomplished by the action of α-bromotoluene on 3,4- O -dibutylstannylene derivatives (4 and 14) . Benzoyl, allyl, tert -butyldimethylsilyl, and tetrahydro-2-pyranyl groups, respectively, were incorporated at position 4 by derivatization of the otherwise fully substituted 1-propenyl glycoside 7 , or its precursor 15 . The fully substituted propenyl glycosides (8a-d) were converted into the 1-hydroxy compounds (9a-d) by mercuric ion-catalyzed hydrolysis, and thence directly into the chlorides (17a-d) by rection with hexamethylphosphorous triamide-carbon tetrachloride. The 2,4-di- O -benzoylated bromide 11 was made from 8a by a conventional sequence. On coupling to the 2-amino-2-deoxyglucoside 18 , it gave the disaccharide β-d-Gal p -(1→4)-d-GlcNAc in fully substituted form (19) .
A rapid nitric‐perchloric acid digestion method for multi‐element tissue analysis

Abstract A procedure has been developed for multi‐element analysis of nitric‐perchloric tissue digests. Both plant and animal tissues appear to be quantitatively digested. The recommended procedure is rapid, requires a minimum of glassware manipulation and reagent addition. Analysis of National Bureau of Standards reference material, SRM 1571 (Orchard Leaves) and SRM 1577 (Bovine Liver) was satisfactory for all elements sought.
An intersubunit zinc binding site in rat P2X2 receptors

P2X receptors are ATP-gated ion channels made up of three similar or identical subunits. It is unknown whether ligand binding is intersubunit or intrasubunit, either for agonists or for allosteric modulators. Zinc binds to rat P2X2 receptors and acts as an allosteric modulator, potentiating channel opening. To probe the location of this zinc binding site, P2X2 receptors bearing mutations of the histidines at positions 120 and 213 were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Studies of H120C and H213C mutants produced five lines of evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the residues in these positions bind zinc. Mixing of subunits containing the H120A or H213A mutation generated receptors that showed zinc potentiation, even though neither of these mutant receptors showed zinc potentiation on its own. Furthermore, expression of trimeric concatamers with His --> Ala mutations at some but not all six positions showed that zinc potentiation correlated with the number of intersubunit histidine pairs. These results indicate that zinc potentiation requires an interaction across a subunit interface. Expression of the H120C/H213C double mutant resulted in the formation of ectopic disulfide bonds that could be detected by changes in the physiological properties of the receptors after treatment with reducing and oxidizing agents. Immunoblot analysis of H120C/H213C protein separated under nonreducing conditions demonstrated that the ectopic bonds were between adjacent subunits. Taken together, these data indicate that His120 and His213 sit close to each other across the interface between subunits and are likely to be key components of the zinc binding site in P2X2 receptors.
An efficient and accurate alternative to subincrementation for elastic-plastic analysis by the finite element method

Abstract In this paper a new and efficient alternative to subincrementation is developed for analysis of solid media with rate independent elastic-plastic material behavior. This alternative method is not unlike the subincrementation procedure in that it represents an Euler integration of the nonlinear constitutive equations. However, it takes advantage of the fact that the Euler integration procedure assumes proportional loading steps so that when the uniaxial stress-strain curve is idealized as a piecewise linear relation very large forward integration steps give accurate results. The new procedure, which we call the ζ method, is equally appropriate for cyclic loading with combined isotropic and kinematic hardening. However, due to the nonuniqueness of the monotonic uniaxial stress-strain relation in rate dependent media, the method is not appropriate for use in viscoplastic media. Although the algorithm deals only with the evaluation of a classical plasticity based constitutive law, numerical results are reported herein for an assortment of problems by the finite element method. It is shown via these results that the ζ method discussed herein provides not only accuracy which is superior to the subincrementation method, but the resulting algorithm also shows improved numerical efficiency.
Inhibition of the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of ras p21 by aluminium ion

In an effort to understand the biochemical mechanisms of aluminum-induced neurotoxicity, we investigated the effects of aluminum ion, Al3+, on the Mg2+ - and nucleotide-dependent protein, ras p21. Picomolar Al3+ concentrations inhibited the GTPase activity of ras p21 in an Mg2+-dependent manner, consistent with an Al3+/Mg2+ competition mechanism. GTPase activity was inhibited by 60% in the presence of 100 μM Mg2+ and 2.9 × 10−10 M Al3+. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the mode of Al3+-induced inhibition of ras p21 GTPase activity changed from competitive to mixed non-competitive as the number of ras p21 turnovers increased. Further dissection of the ras p21 cycle revealed that Mg2+-dependent GDP/GTP exchange was the Al3+-sensitive step.
Calcium Antagonists and Hormone Release. II. Effects of Verapamil on Basal, Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormoneand Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone-Induced Pituitary Hormone Release in Normal Subjects

Although it has been well established that Ca2+ plays an essential role in the release of several hormones, very little is known of the interactions between Ca2+ and secretagogues in the process of pituitary hormone release. One possible way of studying the mechanism of action of hypothalamic releasing hormones is to study how organic calcium antagonist$ affect their action. Consequently, we infused the commonly used calcium antagonist, verapamil, into 20 normal subjects (10 men and 10 women; aged 19–37 yr) and studied its effects on both basal pituitary hormone levels and augmented hormonal release induced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and TRH. Verapamil, infused at a rate of 5 mg/h for 3 h, induced a significant and marked suppression of circulating LH and FSH levels in both men and women. By the end of the infusion, the suppression of release was greater for LH (60%) than for FSH (54%). After the termination of the infusion, plasma gonadotropin concentrations returned progressively to basal ...
Stabilizing influence of calcium and magnesium ions on the decameric structure of chiton hemocyanins.

Abstract The stabilizing effects of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions on the decameric structure of hemocyanins from two representative chitons, Stenoplax conspicua and Mopalia muscosa were investigated by light-scattering molecular weight measurements, ultracentrifugation, absorbance, and circular dichroism methods. The dissociation profiles at any given pH resulting from the decrease in divalent ion concentration, investigated at a fixed protein concentration of 0.1 g · liter −1 , could be fitted by a decamer-to-dimer-to monomer scheme of subunit dissociation. The initial decline in the light-scattering molecular weight curves required one or two apparent binding sites per hemocyanin dimer formed as intermediate dissociation product, with apparent dissociation constants ( k D ,2 ) for Ca 2+ ions of 0.7 to 7 × 10 −4 m , not very different from the value of 2.5 × 10 −4 m obtained by Makino by equilibrium dialysis for the hemocyanin of the opistobranch, Dolabella auricularia . The binding of Mg 2+ ion to S. conspicua and M. muscosa hemocyanins appears to be both weaker than the binding of Ca 2+ and more pH dependent, with k D ,2 values ranging from the 3 × 10 −4 to 4 × 10 −2 m at pH 8.5 to 9.5. The dissociation the decameric hemocyanin species (sedimentation coefficient ca. 60 S) is also observed in the ultracentrifugation with the initial appearance of 18–20 S dimers, followed by a shift in equilibrium to monomeric species of lower sedimentation rates of 11–12 S as the divalent ion concentration is reduced below 1 × 10 −4 m Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ . The dissociation of dimers to monomers in the second step of the reaction is characterized by one or two binding sites per subunit and a somewhat stronger affinity for divalent ions, indicated by apparent dissociation constants ( k D ,1 ) of 0.7 × 10 −4 to 3 × 10 −3 m . Circular dichroism and absorbance measurements at 222 and 346 nm suggest no significant changes in the conformation of the hemocyanin subunits produced by the different stages of subunit dissociation.
A direct selection strategy for shotgun cloning and sequencing in the bacteriophage M13

A new cloning strategy is described which utilizes direct selection of recombinants for shotgun sequencing in the filamentous bacteriophage M13. Direct selection is accomplished by insertional inactivation of the M13 gene X protein, a powerful inhibitor of phage-specific DNA synthesis when overproduced. An extra copy of gene X was inserted into the intergenic region of M13 and placed under the control of the bacteriophage T7 gene 10 promoter and RBS. Random fragments are cloned into the EcoRV cloning site of the new gene X cistron and recombinants are selected in an E. coli male strain producing T7 RNA polymerase. Cloning efficiencies obtained with M13-100 or phosphatase-treated M13mp19 vector are comparable. The direct selection capability of M13-100 was demonstrated to have the following advantages: (a) consistently achieved high ratios of recombinants to religated vector in the libraries, averaging about 500:1 (0.2% background), and (b) the elimination of the need for phosphatase treatment of the vector to reduce background. The direct selection strategy significantly improves the efficiency of shotgun library construction in M13, and should therefore facilitate the cloning aspects of large scale sequencing projects.
Positional analysis of isovaleroyl triglycerides using proton magnetic resonance with Eu (fod) 3 and Pr (fod) 3 shift reagents: I. Model compounds.

The proton magnetic resonance spectra of isomeric triglycerides of isovaleric and palmitic acids in the presence of the downfield and upfield chemical shift reagents Eu(fod)3 and Pr(fod)3 were studied. The resonance profiles of the γ-protons on the isovaleroyl chains are distinctive for each of the four possible triglyceride isomers at low shift reagent/triglyceride ratios. With either reagent, the well defined γ-methyl isovalerate doublets can be used to identify 2-isovaleroyl and 1,3-isovaleroyl structures and to analyze isomeric mixtures. This technique will be useful for positional analysis of natural cetacean triglycerides containing isovaleric acid.
US export competitiveness: 1962–77

(1984). US export competitiveness: 1962–77. Applied Economics: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 461-473.
Comparisons of methods for calculating retention and separation of chromatographic peaks

The accuracy and precision of calculating retention times from means and peak maxima have been examined using an exponentially modified Gaussian as a model for tailed chromatographic peaks. At different levels of random noise, retention times could be determined with nearly the same precision using either the mean or maximum. However, the accuracies and precisions of the maxima were affected by the number of points used in the digital smooth and by the number of points recorded per unit of standard deviation. For two peaks of similar shape, consistency in the selection of points should usually permit differences in retention to be determined accurately and with approximately the same precision using maxima, means, or half-heights on the leading side of the peak.
The Caseworker as a Source for Program Information: Understanding the Importance of the Work Environment

The need to ensure that welfare recipients receive accurate information regarding the interactions of child support and welfare participation is critical to the economic well-being of low-income, single-parent families. This study draws on observations of caseworker and client interactions at four Wisconsin welfare agencies to examine the information that caseworkers provided to their clients and how the provision of that information was related to the caseworker work environment. The results of this study provide support for the importance of considering the caseworker work environment and how this consideration can help inform future policy innovation and implementation.
Increase in Dopamine Metabolites in Murine Striatum After Oral Exposure to Inorganic But Not Organic Form of Selenium

Selenium (Se) is an essential as well as a toxic trace element. Se intoxication has been reported in both livestock and humans. The central nervous system is sensitive to Se poisoning; exposure to Se causes blind staggers in cattle, poliomyelomalacia in pigs, and nervous system disorders in humans. Differences in neurotoxicity between inorganic and organic Se have been demonstrated. In this study, groups of five male BALB/c mice each were administered sodium selenite or selenomethionine in drinking water ad libitum at 0, 1, 3, and 9 ppm as Se for 14 days. At the end of Se exposure, their brains were removed and dissected into different regions. The concentration of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), serotonin (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined in each brain region. Food and water consumption and body weight gain were significantly decreased in the group treated with the highest concentration of sodium selenite. In mice administered sodium selenite at 3 and 9 ppm, DOPAC was significantly higher in the striatum than in the control group. The striatal HVA was also increased in the group treated with 3 ppm Se; the DA showed a similar pattern, but the increase was not statistically significant. No alterations of NE, 5-HT, or 5-HIAA levels were detected in any brain region of mice treated with sodium selenite. No significant differences in any parameter among the groups treated with selenomethionine were observed indicating that inorganic Se was more neurotoxic than organic Se via drinking water. The alterations of DA metabolites by inorganic Se in DA-rich striatum suggested a Se-specific increased neural activity of dopaminergic pathways. Results may be useful in further elucidation of neurotoxicity of Se and in establishing a safe level of intake for this element.
Sleep Disturbance in Elderly Caregivers of Dementia Patients

Although it has been widely reported in the clinical literature that sleep disturbanceis a signifcant problem among dementia caregivers, there has been little research to document this phenomenon or to clarify its correlates in a caregiving population. The current study examined interview and self-report data available on 136 caregivers between the ages of 50 and 89 (48 male, 88 female). Patient interviews and caregiver self-reports provided data on caregiver and patient sleep quality and quantity, depression, and patient cognitive, functional, and behavioral status. Sixty-eight percent of elderly caregivers reported some form of sleep disturbance three or more nights per week during the past month, including problems with sleep initiation (14%), sleep maintenance (51%), and daytime fatigue (34%). Twenty-two percent of caregivers stated that their patient awakened them regularly. Older caregivers reported greater frequency of mid-night awakenings with inability to return to sleep and more daytime naps. To...
Is Mating Different in Monogamous Species? The Midas Cichlid Fish as a Case Study

Monogamous species are typically sexually isomorphic, pair well before spawning is imminent, take much time to pair, are discerning about pairing, and appear to weigh multiple sources of information about species, sex, and quality of mate. The monogamous and polychromatic Midas cichlid ( Cichlasoma citrinellum ) distinguished between its own and a highly similar heterospecific behind a one-way mirror only when visual and chemical cues matched. Likewise, recognition of sex was hindered when interaction was precluded, even in the presence of chemical cues. Female choice of mate was most strongly influenced by the “normal, ” primitive, color and to a lesser degree by color of parents and siblings, making it difficult to account for positive color-assortative mating in the field. Females also selected the largest and the most aggressive males; size predicted a good defender of territory, and aggressiveness foretold effective protection of the young. Males, however, were not choosy. Pair formation features much aggression between the large male and smaller female, and gold-colored morphs (G) dominate normal (N) ones. That made it difficult for an N female to pair with a G male; using an N female the same size as the G male, however, resulted in the usual proportion of successful pairings. I propose three testable models of pair compatibility: complementarity, parity, and maximum male aggressiveness.
Event related potentials of brain (CNV and P300) in a paired associate learning paradigm.

Cortical electrical activity as reflected by CNV and P300 was examined in paired associate learning and discriminative reaction time paradigms. The CNV amplitude following the first of a pair of trigrams showed an inverse relationship to acquisition; P300 amplitude increased monotonically. Amplitude of both waveforms was larger in the central-parietal area than the frontal area in the paired associate learning paradigm, while in the discriminative reaction time paradigm CNV was maximal in the frontal area and P300 was maximal in the parietal area. The CNV data are interpreted as reflecting early arousal and attentional processes, whereas P300 may reflect the subject's decision about the relevance of the stimulus.
Structure of RNA and DNA chains in paused transcription complexes containing Escherichia coli RNA polymerase

RNA polymerases pause conspicuously at certain positions on a DNA template. At the well-studied pause sites in the attenuation control regions that precede the trp and his operons, both formation of secondary structure in the nascent transcript and the DNA sequence immediately downstream contribute to pausing. The mechanisms of these effects are unknown. We report here studies on the structure of the RNA and DNA strands in purified trp and his paused transcription complexes in comparison to ten elongation complexes halted by nucleoside triphosphate deprivation. A 14 to 22 nucleotide region of the DNA strands was accessible to modification by KMnO4 or diethylpyrocarbonate in both the paused and halted transcription complexes. However, the region in front of the nucleotide-addition site was reactive only in some halted complexes. In both types of complexes, approximately eight nucleotides on the template strand immediately preceding the 3' end were protected from modification. We also examined the sensitivity of the nascent transcript to RNase A and found that the 3'-proximal eight nucleotide region could be cleaved without complete loss of the potential for elongation. However, a model RNA:DNA hybrid designed to mimic a hybrid in the transcription complex could also be cleaved under similar conditions. Together, the results suggest that the 3'-proximal eight nucleotides of transcript may pair with the DNA template and that this structure is not disrupted by hairpin formation at a pause site. Rather, pausing may result from distinct interactions between RNA polymerase and both the pause RNA hairpin and the downstream DNA sequence.
Interpretation of Puerto Rican Elder Research Findings: A Community Forum of Research Respondents:

Research projects focused on Latino communities face tremendous challenges in reaching groups that may be isolated and highly suspicious of "outsiders. " Consequently, it is essential for researchers to develop methods that systematically involve these communities in all aspects of the process. Community involvement increases in importance when quantitatively derived data raise puzzling questions. This article reports on the use of a community forum of Puerto Rican elders to help interpret results from a survey study in a large New England city. Puerto Rican elders have a high rate of disability and are encountering significant barriers to receiving assistance. A series of recommendations are made to assist researchers and organizations in using this qualitative method with Latino elders.
Semiconductor surface and crystal physics studied by MBE

Abstract A review is presented of semiconductor surface and crystal physics studies carried out with the use of molecular beam epitaxial growth techniques. The studies reviewed are related to an understanding of the various aspects of the growth process. Examples are drawn from a variety of semiconductors, but special emphasis is given to GaAs related results.
Evidence of Confinement of Solar-energetic Particles to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Lines

We present new observations of solar-energetic particles (SEPs) associated with impulsive solar flares that show evidence for their confinement to interplanetary magnetic field lines. Some SEP events exhibit intermittent intensity dropouts becausemagnetic field lines filledwith and empty of particle flux mix together. The edges of these dropouts are observed to be very sharp, suggesting that particles cannot easily move from a filled to an empty field line in the time available during their transport from the Sun. In this paper, we perform high time-resolution observations of intensity fall-off at the edges of observed SEP dropouts in order to look for signatures of particle motion off field lines. However, the statistical study is dominated by one particularly intense event. The inferred length scale of the intensity decay is comparable to the gyroradii of the particles, suggesting that particles only rarely scatter off magnetic field lines during interplanetary transport.
HPLC Characterization of Ag+ and Cu+ Metal Exchange Reactions with Zn- and Cd-Metallothioneins†

Anion exchange HPLC methods were developed to study the metal exchange reactions of ZnMT and CdMT with Ag+ and Cu+. The kinetics of these reactions revealed the existence of a slow interprotein metal redistribution process that follows initial rapid displacement of metal from Zn7MT or Cd7MT by Ag+ or Cu+. Kinetically-favored products of the reaction of Ag+ with Zn7MT in the presence of Chelex resin include Zn4Ag6MT and Ag12MT. Subsequent slow reaction between Zn7MT and Ag12MT leads to the thermodynamically-favored product, Zn4Ag6MT. Analogous behavior was observed for Cd7MT titrated with Ag+ and Zn7MT with Cu+. The use of Chelex resin to remove unbound metal ions was found to influence the reactions of Zn7MT and Cd7MT with Ag+. Upon addition of Ag+ to Zn7MT in the absence of Chelex, a Ag18MT species forms as the kinetically-favored product in addition to Zn4Ag6MT and Ag12MT. Subsequently, Ag18MT was found to donate Ag+ to Zn7MT and Zn4Ag6MT via slow interprotein metal exchange reactions. Chelex resin infl...
Bridge Instrumentation and Monitoring for Structural Diagnostics

Diagnostic instrumentation and monitoring of bridges are essential for reliable structural condition assessment and performance evaluation. This management step applies particularly to structurally deficient bridges that cannot be accurately evaluated by inspection and/or analysis alone. Reliable evaluation is an economic and engineering requirement before any decision-making for preventive action. Thus, field diagnostic capabilities are indispensable tools to enable evaluation and support field-calibrated modeling, analysis, identification, and load rating. The reliability of structural evaluation for objective bridge management is determined by the dependable performance of all the system components. Although instrumentation and monitoring procedures appear to be well established, some misconceptions still keep recurring critically in practice. To improve the state-of-practice of structural diagnostics, available field systems and methods need re-evaluation of their instrumentation and monitoring perfor...
Novice understanding of program analysis tool notifications

Program analysis tools are available to make developers' jobs easier by automating tasks that would otherwise be performed manually or not at all. To communicate with the developer, these tools use notifications which may be textual, visual, or a combination of both. Research has shown that these notifications need improvement in two areas: expressiveness and scalability. In the research described here, I begin an investigation into the expressiveness and scalability of existing program analysis tools and potential improvements in expressiveness and scalability in and across these tools for novice and expert developers. I begin with novices because I have conducted research with expert developers which found that both expressiveness and scalability play a part in an expert's ability to effectively use a subset of program analysis tools.
Response Surface Based Cost Model for Onshore Wind Farms Using Extended Radial Basis Functions

This paper develops a cost model for onshore wind farms in the U.S.. This model is then used to analyze the influence of different designs and economic parameters on the cost of a wind farm. A response surface based cost model is developed using Extended Radial Basis Functions (E-RBF). The E-RBF approach, a combination of radial and non-radial basis functions, can provide the designer with significant flexibility and freedom in the metamodeling process. The E-RBF based cost model is composed of three parts that can estimate (i) the installation cost, (ii) the annual Operation and Maintenance (O&M) cost, and (iii) the total annual cost of a wind farm. The input parameters for the E-RBF based cost model include the rotor diameter of a wind turbine, the number of wind turbines in a wind farm, the construction labor cost, the management labor cost and the technician labor cost. The accuracy of the model is favorably explored through comparison with pertinent real world data. It is found that the cost of a wind farm is appreciably sensitive to the rotor diameter and the number of wind turbines for a given desirable total power output.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Repair in phage and bacteria inactivated by light from fluorescent and photo lamps.

Abstract Phage P22 of Salmonella typhimurium were inactivated by light from a variety of household fluorescent and photo lamps. The damage (presumably to DNA) was repaired when phage were grown in hcr + cells (host cell reactivation), but not in hcr − cells. UV germicidal wavelengths (ca. 2537 A) produced the same killing effect on phage as that from wavelengths in the visible (above 4000A) ranges. However, unlike phage, when various bacterial mutants were irradiated, the effects from visible and germicidal lamps were quite different from each other. We conclude that visible and near-visible wavelengths can produce two kinds of damage: (1) directly on DNA, presumably pyrimidine dimerization, and (2) an alteration other than dimerization.
Response of Lactating Dairy Cows to Abomasal Infusion of Amino Acids

Essential amino acids most limiting for milk production and/or secretion of milk protein were determined in five trials involving infusion of amino acids into the abomasum of lactating Holstein cows. Cows were fed corn-based rations containing 10.7 to 11.5% crude protein (dry matter basis) which exceeded standard allowances for energy. All trials were Latin-square designs with 9-day periods. The abomasal infusion of methionine had no effect on secretion of milk, milk protein, or milk fat. Lysine infusion resulted in 16% of the total response in yield of milk protein that was obtained with either the 10 essential amino acids or sodium caseinate while infusion of lysine and methionine together accounted for 43% of the total response. This suggested that lysine and methionine were first and second limiting, or co-limiting, for secretion of milk protein when rations consisting primarily of corn, corn silage, and alfalfa-grass hay were fed. The primary effect was on content of milk protein rather than milk yield. In general, amino acid infusions had no effect on feed intake, milk fat, and nonprotein nitrogen content of milk. Little change occurred in concentrations in plasma of other amino acids when lysine and methionine were infused together. When concentrations were lowered, indicating increased protein synthesis, changes were too small to be statistically significant.
The on-premise laundry in the United States: basic engineering and operational considerations prior to installation

Abstract Most of the articles on the subject of on-premise laundries address the issue of whether or not to have such a facility. Numerous trade publications have dealt analytically and subjectively with this problem, focusing either on cost-saving considerations or on such matters as quality and inventory control, efficiency of operation, dependability of outside contracts, or linen investment costs. This article has a different purpose; it provides a summary of the reasons for having an in-house laundry, and criteria for small property owners to use in developing in-house laundries, based on American experience.
An economic analysis of regulating security investments in the Internet

Regulating the ISPs to adopt more security measures has been proposed as an effective method in mitigating the threats of attacks in the Internet. However, economic incentives of the ISPs and the network effects of security measures can lead to an under-investment in their adoption. We study the potential gains in a network's social utility when a regulator implements a monitoring and penalizing mechanism on the outbound threat activities of autonomous systems (ASes). We then show how freeriding can render regulations futile if the subset of ASes under the regulator's authority is smaller than a threshold. Finally, we show how heterogeneity of the ASes affect the responses of the ISPs and discuss how the regulator can leverage such information to improve the overall effectiveness of different security policies.
Towards a Map of the Current Critical Debate about Latin American Cultural Studies

In his paper, "Towards a Map of the Current Critical Debate about Latin American Cultural Studies," Julio Ortega surveys the shifting disciplinary, critical, and methodological paradigms used to study Latin American culture in both the United States and Latin America. Describing the post-theoretical period as a moment when grand analytical models are abandoned in favor of microanalyses, Ortega sees great potential in this new paradigm shift. In his paper, Ortega pays particular attention to the ways that the field of cultural studies has emerged and transformed in Latin American academic inquiry and he considers the disavowal of master critical models to open up spaces for dialogue and critical exchange. Nevertheless, the practice of cultural studies in Latin America and the U.S. has not always indicated emancipatory politics or liberating critical readings. In order for cultural study to be heterogeneous, fluid and dialogic, scholarly work must take care to negotiate the prevailing discourses of power. Ultimately, Ortega points to the emerging field of Trans-Atlantic Studies as an exemplary case of new critical practice and he describes the field as a dynamic and open-ended area of study that does not require a traditional canon or disciplinary configuration. Julio Ortega, "Towards a Map of the Current Critical Debate about Latin American Cultural Studies" page 2 of 7 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 4.2 (2002):
Comparative Study of Machine-Learning and Chemometric Tools for Analysis of In-Vivo High-Throughput Screening Data

High-throughput screening (HTS) has become a central tool of many pharmaceutical and crop-protection discovery operations. If HTS screening is carried out at the level of the intact organism, as is commonly done in crop protection, this strategy has the potential of uncovering a completely new mechanism of actions. The challenge in running a cost-effective HTS operation is to identify ways in which to improve the overall success rate in discovering new biologically active compounds. To this end, we describe our efforts directed at making full use of the data stream arising from HTS. This paper describes a comparative study in which several machine learning and chemometric methodologies were used to develop classifiers on the same data sets derived from in vivo HTS campaigns and their predictive performances compared in terms of false negative and false positive error profiles.
The violent patient.

Encounters with violent behavior are an inevitable part of working in emergency departments. By adoption of a cohesive, multidisciplinary approach to behavioral decompensation, as is done in preparation for airway compromise, the risk for injury to patients and staff is minimized. As with airway compromise, anticipation of and preparation for deterioration can avoid the necessity of the most invasive measures and can ensure a calm, positive outcome. With the appropriate knowledge, teamwork, and skills, even patients requiring the most intensive intervention can be treated safely and professionally.
Effect of porcine circovirus type 2 infection and replication on activated porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro

The goal of this study was to examine the effect of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection and replication on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the presence of mitogens, concanavalin A (ConA) or pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in vitro. The level of PCV2 replication and the impact of infection on PBMC proliferation, viability and the level of apoptosis in the presence or absence of mitogen stimulation were assessed. Mitogen stimulation increased viral replication in PBMCs as measured by the amount of spliced capsid mRNA (Cap mRNA). However, cell proliferation alone had no significant impact on PCV2 replication as the level of Cap mRNA in ConA or PWM stimulated PBMCs was not increased in proliferating cells compared to non-proliferating cells. No significant differences were observed in the level of PCV2 replication product in PBMCs stimulated with ConA for 12, 36, and 72 h prior to infection. Infection with PCV2 did not affect the ability of PBMCs to proliferate in response to ConA or PWM stimulation in vitro. Increased apoptosis was associated with PCV2 infection in PWM stimulated PBMCs. Interestingly, a significantly lower apoptotic index was observed in PCV2 infected PBMCs compared to mock-infected cells in the absence of mitogens. This study determined that the rate of PCV2 replication increases with cell stimulation and apoptosis is increased following PCV2 infection under certain stimulation conditions. These results further suggest that PCV2 requires a specific stimulation or trigger for increased viral replication, which is independent of cell proliferation.
A Role for Compromise: Synaptic Inhibition and Electrical Coupling Interact to Control Phasing in the Leech Heartbeat CPG

How can flexible phasing be generated by a central pattern generator (CPG)? To address this question, we have extended an existing model of the leech heartbeat CPG’s timing network to construct a model of the CPG core and explore how appropriate phasing is set up by parameter variation. Within the CPG, the phasing among premotor interneurons switches regularly between two well-defined states - synchronous and peristaltic. To reproduce experimentally observed phasing, we varied the strength of inhibitory synaptic and excitatory electrical input from the timing network to follower premotor interneurons. Neither inhibitory nor electrical input alone was sufficient to produce proper phasing on both sides, but instead a balance was required. Our model suggests that the different phasing of the two sides arises because the inhibitory synapses and electrical coupling oppose one another on one side (peristaltic) and reinforce one another on the other (synchronous). Our search of parameter space defined by the strength of inhibitory synaptic and excitatory electrical input strength led to a CPG model that well approximates the experimentally observed phase relations. The strength values derived from this analysis constitute model predictions that we tested by measurements made in the living system. Further, variation of the intrinsic properties of follower interneurons showed that they too systematically influence phasing. We show further that a combination of inhibitory synaptic and excitatory electrical input interacting with neuronal intrinsic properties can flexibly generate a variety of phase relations so that almost any phasing is possible.
Compact boiling refrigerant-type cooling unit using multi-stacked radiator cores for automobiles

We have developed a new closed two-phase loop thermosyphon with multi-stacked radiator cores and a new flow controller which forms refrigerant circulation. The features are: (1) more compact and lighter weight than heat pipe cooling units, (2) cooling performance can be easily adjusted by the number of radiator cores according to heat dissipation quantity. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 29(8): 634–647, 2000
Automized interactive mesh generators applicable as preprocessors of numerical models simulating flow systems and structural elements

Abstract Mathematical modelling of large and geometrically complex systems in fluid mechanics or structural analysis are solved with appropriate numerical methods which in turn require automized mesh generators. Three simple computer programs are described which work interactively as mesh generators/preprocessors for finite difference, finite element (triangularization only) and integrated finite volume schemes.
Altered protein hypothesis of mammalian ageing processes—I. Thermal stability of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in C57BL/6J mouse tissue

Abstract Relative enzymatic activity and thermal stability were determined for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase obtained from five tissues of C57BL/6J female mice as a function of age. Tissues studied were brain, spleen, liver, kidney and lung, and measurements were taken up to three-quarters the maximum lifespan (young, 170 days; old, 750 days). Relative enzyme activity increased in all organs by approximately 60 per cent on either an activity per organ or per weight basis. Per cent thermolabile enzyme increased from approximately 0–5 per cent for young to 10–15 per cent for old animals. A starvation period of 40 hr for old animals resulted in lowering the per cent thermolabile G-6-PD for brain, spleen and liver tissues (0–5 per cent thermolabile protein remaining). These results are consistent with the altered protein hypothesis as an important primary ageing process and of protein degradation as a possible effective means to reduce altered proteins in vivo.
Nutritional status of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation: time trends and impact on survival

Alcoholic cirrhotics evaluated for liver transplantation are frequently malnourished or obese. We analyzed alcoholic cirrhotics undergoing transplantation to examine time trends of nutrition/weight, transplant outcome, and effects of concomitant hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nutrition and transplant outcomes were reviewed for alcoholic cirrhosis with/without HCV/HCC. Malnutrition was defined by subjective global assessment. Body mass index (BMI) classified obesity. A total of 261 patients receiving transplants were separated (1988-2000, 2001-2006, and 2007-2011) to generate similar size cohorts. Mean BMI for the whole cohort was 28 ± 6 with 68% classified as overweight/obese. Mean BMI did not vary among cohorts and was not affected by HCV/HCC. While prevalence of malnutrition did not vary among cohorts, it was lower in patients with HCV/HCC (P < 0.01). One-year graft/patient survival was 90% and not impacted by time period, HCV/HCC, or malnutrition after adjusting for demographics and model end-stage liver disease (MELD). Alcoholic cirrhotics undergoing transplantation are malnourished yet frequently overweight/obese. Among patients selected for transplantation, 1-year post-transplant graft/patient survival is excellent, have not changed over time, and do not vary by nutrition/BMI. Our findings support feasibility of liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhotics with obesity and malnutrition.
Employment and Parenting Among Current and Former Welfare Recipients

Abstract This two-wave longitudinal study investigated whether low-wage employment predicts improvements in depressive symptoms and parenting style in a sample of 178 current and former single-mother welfare recipients with a preschooler at Time 1 and an early-elementary school-age child at Time 2. Findings suggest that participation in employment is associated with improvements in single mothers' psychological well-being and parenting style over time. However, in this study, employment at Time 1 (baseline) was more beneficial with respect to psychological and parenting outcomes than was employment (and earning more) at Time 2, except for mothers who were not employed at Time 1 and who became employed by Time 2. For these mothers, employment at Time 2 predicted a decrease in depressive symptoms and, through the latter, less negative parenting style. Mothers with higher educational attainment were more likely to be employed at Time 1 (which predicted higher levels of employment and pay at Time 2) and, amon...
Comparing Regressions When Some Predictor Values Are Missing

The sample multiple correlation coefficient is often used to compare sets of independent variables with respect to how well they predict the future values of a dependent variable, Y. If the data are partially missing, the comparison often should reflect not only how correlated the predictors are with Y but also how likely they are to be observed. Thus, an independent variable that is highly correlated with Y but also is often missing is not as useful a predictor of future Y values as a less correlated but always observed independent variable. A generalization of the multiple correlation coefficient is defined which is appropriate when there are missing values but is identical to the multiple correlation coefficient when there are no missing values. An example of its use is presented.
Laboratory studies on the remediation of mercury contaminated soils

Mercury, in contrast to other toxic metals, cycles between the atmosphere, land, and water. During this cycle, it undergoes a series of complex chemical and physical transformations. Because of these transformations, it is found in the environment not only as simple inorganic and organic compounds, but also as complex compounds. As a result, it is difficult to remediate mercury contaminated materials. Laboratory studies were conducted with a mercury contaminated complex waste from an industrial site to evaluate the ability of extractants such as H2O2, H2SO4 and Na2S2O3 to decontaminate the waste. Up to 87 percent of the total mercury present in the waste was extracted. Mercury was recovered as insoluble mercury sulfide by adding Na2S solution to the combined filtrates from the H2O2 + H2SO4 and Na2S2O3 treatment steps. The technique described in this article is capable of recovering mercury in a usable form and can be used as a pretreatment to remediate mercury contaminated waste before laud disposal.
Leave-in-Time: a new service discipline for real-time communications in a packet-switching network

Leave-in-Time is a new rate-based service discipline for packet-switching nodes in a connection-oriented data network. Leave-in-Time provides sessions with upper bounds on end-to-end delay, delay jitter, buffer space requirements, and an upper bound on the probability distribution of end-to-end delays. A Leave-in-Time session's guarantees are completely determined by the dynamic traffic behavior of that session, without influence from other sessions. This results in the desirable property that these guarantees are expressed as functions derivable simply from a single fixed-rate server (with rate equal to the session's reserved rate) serving only that session. Leave-in-Time has a non-work-conserving mode of operation for sessions desiring low end-to-end delay jitter. Finally, Leave-in-Time supports the notion of delay shifting, whereby the delay bounds of some sessions may be decreased at the expense of increasing those of other sessions. We present a set of admission control algorithms which support the ability to do delay shifting in a systematic way.
Enabling professional activities for the motor-impaired with the Assistant system

The Assistant computer interface, a system which can help disabled individuals to perform competitively in the labor market through its support for various input devices, productivity enhancements, and applications is described. The hardware configuration, user interface, software configurability, and application support of the system are discussed. >
Sonographic Discovery of Leriche Syndrome and the Development of Collaterals

Leriche syndrome, also referred to as aortoiliac occlusive disease, is complete occlusion of the infrarenal aorta and bilateral common iliac arteries. The development of collateral pathways allows reconstitution of arterial blood flow to the lower extremities, preventing limb ischemia. Patients typically present with a triad of symptoms, which include intermittent claudication of the buttocks and thighs, decreased or absent femoral pulses, and impotence in men. Sonography may play a significant role in diagnosing Leriche syndrome, particularly in cases with contraindications to other more invasive tests. Knowledge of the presentation of aortoiliac occlusion along with recognition of developing collateral pathways assists with the diagnosis and management of this disease.
Magnetization transfer and adiabatic T1ρ MRI reveal abnormalities in normal-appearing white matter of subjects with multiple sclerosis:

Background:Diffuse abnormalities are known to occur within the brain tissue of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients that is “normal appearing” on T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images.O...
AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF RELATIONSHIP MAGNITUDE

This paper investigates the effect of the level of relationship magnitude on relationship type and on the perception of value from the relationship in interorganizational relationships. It is hypothesized that relationship magnitude, a second-order construct composed of trust, commitment and dependence, affects relationship type, which affects the perception of value of the relationship. The results of a survey analyzed through structural equation modeling support these hypotheses. These findings provide an empirically tested theoretical foundation from which to conduct future research on interorganizational relationship structure.