cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of tem-induced damage to postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis of the mouse during early embryogenesis. II. Cytological investigations.

After treatment of postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis of the mouse with TEM (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg), dose- and stage-of-spermatogenesis-dependent frequencies of cytogenetic aberrations can be observed in early embryos. The frequencies of first-cleavage metaphases exhibiting structural aberrations (all of the chromosome type), the frequencies of 2 cell embryos and of 4--8 cell embryos containing nuclei accompanied by micronuclei or nuclei connected by bridges show a close correlation to frequencies of preimplantation loss of embryos recorded in a dominant lethal test. The frequencies of morulae/blastulae exhibiting blastomeres with micronuclei show a close correlation to the frequencies of total (pre- and post-implantation) loss of embryos. This indicates delayed expression of TEM-induced chromosomal damage which could persist undetected in very early stages of embryogenesis.
Laboratories of Bigotry? Devolution of the Immigration Power, Equal Protection, and Federalism

In this Article, Professor Michael Wishnie addresses the current pressing problem of denial of benefits to legal immigrants under the 1996 Welfare Reform Act in the context of a deeper inquiry into the very heart of immigration law: From where does the federal government derive the power to regulate its borders? Can Congress devolve this power to the states? Looking deeply into jurisprudence and textual sources, as well as history, he ascertains that this authority always has been exclusively federal and that to permit devolution would be to contradict the entire notion of sovereignty. Thus, Professor Wishnie concludes that any devolution of authority over immigration to the states, such as that contained in the 1996 welfare reforms, may not receive the judicial deference traditionally granted to federal immigration law. Instead, any state exercise in the immigration arena, even pursuant to Congress's explicit approval, must be evaluated under thirty years of precedent subjecting state discrimination against permanent resident aliens to heightened scrutiny.
Properties of the Cholera Exo-Enterotoxin: Effects of Dispersing Agents and Reducing Agents in Gel Filtration and Electrophoresis

Initial studies, by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), led to the attractive hypothesis that the cholera exo-enterotoxin (choleragen) consisted of two noncovalently linked peptides of 56,000 and 28,000 molecular weight. The spontaneous toxoid (choleragenoid) appeared to be identical with the 56,000 molecular weight piece. The results appeared to be very similar to those obtained recently with diphtheria toxin. However, they did not agree with earlier studies which indicated that both the toxin and the toxoid consisted of subunits of approximately 14,000 molecular weight. More extensive investigation, by using gel filtration with 3H-labeled toxin, ultracentrifugation, and immunologic studies, failed to support the observations of SDS-gel electrophoresis, suggesting the existence of a 28,000 molecular weight fragment which is unique to the toxin. The results were more compatible with our earlier observations regarding subunit composition. It is concluded that these proteins are relatively resistant to dissociation by SDS and need to be unfolded by prior treatment for more complete dissociation into subunits. Indirect evidence suggests that the 28,000 fragment may be a dimer, or larger aggregate, of a smaller subunit which can be integrated in the formation of choleragenoid. It is also evident that caution should be exercised in the interpretation of results, however pleasing, obtained only by SDS-gel electrophoresis. Images
The role of space in determining the occupations of black and white workers

Abstract An extensive literature exists that explores the spatial mismatch within metropolitan areas between employment opportunities and residential locations. There is another spatial dimension that we explore in this paper, namely, the effect of characteristics of work locations on the occupations held by black and white workers. We address three aspects of this issue. First, are higher quality jobs disproportionately located in areas where whites, rather than blacks, work? Second, do blacks encounter less consumer discrimination, but possibly greater employer discrimination, in employment areas where a larger fraction of the population is black? Third, do locational differences in the mix of jobs between the public and private sectors differentially influence the race-gender specific probability that an individual has a job in a higher wage occupation? Results obtained using the 1980 Public Use Micro-Sample offer no support for the first question. However, the results do suggest that the racial composition of an employment area affects the kind of job a black worker holds, and that blacks and females have a higher probability of having a higher quality job if they work in areas where a larger percentage of the jobs is in the public sector.
Have state caps on malpractice awards increased the supply of physicians

ABSTRACT: Twenty-seven states have laws that cap payments for noneconomic damages in malpractice cases. In this study we examined whether these laws have increased the supply of physicians, using c...
Hydrogen kinetics of peptide amide protons at the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor protein-solvent interface.

Hydrogen exchange rate constants of the 25 most rapidly exchanging peptide amide protons in bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor have been determined over a range of pH that spans pHmin, the pH of minimum rate. Most of these are on the protein surface, exposed to solvent and not hydrogen bonded in the crystal structure. Contrary to commonly held assumptions, the exchange kinetics of surface NH groups are not equivalent to the kinetics of NH groups in peptides in the extended configuration. All surface NH groups exchange more slowly than NH groups in model peptides, with rate constants distributed over a range of more than two orders of magnitude. In addition, their pHmin values vary widely. For most of the surface NH groups, pHmin is lower than in model compounds and, for several, pHmin is < 1. These results indicate that the local environment of the surface peptide groups when the exchange event occurs is very different from that of extended peptides. Analysis based on consideration of an O-protonation mechanism for acid catalysis and of electrostatic effects on exchange kinetics further indicates (see the accompanying paper) that, in general, exchange of surface NH groups occurs from a conformation of the protein approximated by the crystal structure. The 1H-2H exchange rate constants were measured from 300 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in which assigned surface N1H resonances are resolved by the use of partially deuterated protein samples. A marked pH dependence of the chemical shifts observed in the pH range 1 to 4.5 for several surface NH groups reflects the titration of nearby carboxyl groups.
Production of α-galactosidase fromAspergillus awamori: Properties and action on para-nitrophenyl α-D-galactopyranoside and galacto-Oligosaccharides of soy milk

Soybean products including soy milk can provide needed protein for human consumption. Soybean flour contains raffinose and stachyose considered responsible for flatulence often associated with soy products. A partially purified preparation of α-galactosidase and invertase, prepared fromAspergillus awamori NRRL 4869 cultured on wheat bran, hydrolyzes the oligosaccharides of soy milk. The α-galactosidase exhibited its maximum activity at pH 5.0 and was stable in that pH range. The optimum temperature was 50 C; however, 8% of α-galactosidase activity was lost after 15 min at 55 C., and complete inactivation was observed after 14 min at 70 C. Parachloromercuribenzoate, AgNO3, HgCl2, and iodine exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the enzymes. Km values of the α-galactosidase with melibiose and raffinose as substrates were 3.0 and 3.6 × 10−2 M, respectively, and the molecular weights of both enzymes were estimated to be about 130,000 on the basis of Sephadex and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Deviant causal chains and non-basic action

(1984). Deviant causal chains and non-basic action. Australasian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 265-282.
Mineralized and unmineralized calderas in Spain; Part I, evolution of the Los Frailes Caldera

The Cabo de Gata volcanic field of southeastern Spain contains several recently-recognized calderas. Some of the calderas are mineralized with epithermal gold, alunite, and base metal deposits, and others are barren, and yet they formed under generally similar conditions. Comparison of the magmatic, geochemical, and physical evolution of the Los Frailes, Rodalquilar, and Lomilla calderas provides insight into the processes of caldera evolution that led to precious-metal mineralization. The Los Frailes caldera formed at 14.4 Ma and is the oldest caldera. It formed in response to multiple eruptions of hornblende dacite magma. Following each eruption, the area collapsed and the caldera was invaded by the sea. Dacite domes fill the lower part of the caldera. Pyroxene andesites were erupted through the solidified core of the caldera and were probably initially responsible for magma generation. The Los Frailes caldera did not evolve to rhyolites nor was it subjected to the amount of structural development that the younger, mineralized Rodalquilar and Lomilla calderas were.
First-principles study of band gap engineering via oxygen vacancy doping in perovskite A B B ′ O 3 solid solutions

Oxygen vacancies in perovskite oxide solid solutions are fundamentally interesting and technologically important. However, experimental characterization of the vacancy locations and their impact on electronic structure is challenging. We have carried out first-principles calculations on two Zr-modified solid solutions, Pb(Zn${}_{1/3}$Nb${}_{2/3}$)O${}_{3}$ and Pb(Mg${}_{1/3}$Nb${}_{2/3}$)O${}_{3}$, in which vacancies are present. We find that the vacancies are more likely to reside between low-valent cation-cation pairs than high-valent cation-cation pairs. Based on the analysis of our results, we formulate guidelines that can be used to predict the location of oxygen vacancies in perovskite solid solutions. Our results show that vacancies can have a significant impact on both the conduction and valence band energies, in some cases lowering the band gap by $\ensuremath{\approx}0.5$ eV. The effects of vacancies on the electronic band structure can be understood within the framework of crystal field theory.
The human connexin gene family of gap junction proteins: Distinct chromosomal locations but similar structures

Connexins are protein subunits that constitute gap junction channels. Two members of this gene family, connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin32 (Cx32), are abundantly expressed in the heart and liver, respectively. Human genomic DNA analysis revealed the presence of two loci for Cx43: an expressed gene and a processed pseudogene. The expressed gene (GJA1) was mapped to human chromosome 6 and the pseudogene (GJA1P) to chromosome 5. To determine whether Cx32 was linked to Cx43, somatic cell hybrids were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and hybridization, resulting in the assignment of the gene for Cx32 (GJB1) to the X chromosome at Xp11----q22. Comparison of the structures of connexin genes suggests that members of this multigene family arose from a single precursor, but evolved to distinct chromosomal locations.
Studies on the mechanism of erythrocyte aging and destruction. II. Membrane fragmentation in rat erythrocytes after in vitro treatment with lysophosphatides: scanning electron microscope studies.

Abstract Rat red blood cells of differing ages were separated according to density by Ficoll gradient centrifugation. Cells from the top, middle and bottom fractions were incubated with sublytic concentrations of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) or lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The surface transformations of these red cells were observed with a scanning electron microscope. In the presence of low concentrations of LPE, normal red blood cells with their characteristic biconcave-disc shape become irregular with large bulges on the surface. As the concentrations of LPE increase these bulges elongate as pseudopod-like protuberances which transform into narrow spicules. A small globular tip forms at the end of each spicule as a result of the pinching-in of the membrane. Continuing constriction leads to the detachement of the small fragment at the tip and membrane fragmentation occurs. Microfragmentation of the red cell membrane induced by LPE or LPC is an irreversible phenomenon. In the presence of a given concentration of LPE, the red cells from the top fractions of the Ficoll gradient are more resistant than cells from the middle fractions; cells from these latter fractions are in turn more resistant than those from the bottom fractions of the gradient. The sequence of membrane transformation produced by lysophosphatides in vitro can satisfactorily explain most of the in vivo age-dependent changes found in red blood cells.
Neonatal lupus syndromes.

The neonatal lupus syndromes (NLS), while quite rare, carry significant mortality and morbidity in cases of cardiac manifestations. Although anti-SSA/Ro-SSB/La antibodies are detected in .85% of mothers whose fetuses are identified with congenital heart block (CHB) in a structurally normal heart, when clinicians applied this testing to their pregnant patients, the risk for a woman with the candidate antibodies to have a child with CHB was at or below 1 in 50. While the precise pathogenic mechanism of antibody-mediated injury remains unknown, it is clear that the antibodies alone are insufficient to cause disease and fetal factors are likely contributory. In vivo and in vitro evidence supports a pathologic cascade involving apoptosis of cardiocytes, surface translocation of Ro and La antigens, binding of maternal autoantibodies, secretion of profibrosing factors (e.g., TGFb) from the scavenging macrophages and modulation of cardiac fibroblasts to a myofibroflast scarring phenotype. The spectrum of cardiac ...
Bradykinin stimulates c-fos expression, AP-1-DNA binding activity and proliferation of rat glomerular mesangial cells

An important role for bradykinin (BK) in nephrogenesis has been suggested based on impairment of renal growth in developing rats treated with a kinin antagonist. However, direct effects of BK on renal cell mitogenesis have not been reported. In the present study, we examined the mitogenic effects of BK on cultured rat mesangial cells. Transcripts encoding BK-B2 receptors were detected in quiescent and proliferating mesangial cells by reverse transcription-coupled polymerase chain reaction. In quiescent mesangial cell cultures (0.5% FCS for 48 hr), BK (10(-9) to 10 (-7)M) caused a significant increase in DNA synthesis (3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA) and cell number. BK-induced DNA synthesis was preceded by activation of c-fos gene expression and both of these effects were inhibited by Hoe-140, a specific BK-B2 antagonist. Electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays revealed enhanced binding of AP-1 complexes to a consensus AP-1 DNA sequence in BK-stimulated cells. Gel supershift assays confirmed that the AP-1 complexes contained the fos protein. These data document a direct mitogenic effect of BK, acting on B2 receptors, on mesangial cells.
X-ray crystal structure of the yeast Kar3 motor domain complexed with Mg.ADP to 2.3 A resolution.

The kinesin family of motor proteins, which contain a conserved motor domain of ∼350 amino acids, generate movement against microtubules. Over 90 members of this family have been identified, including motors that move toward the minus or plus end of microtubules. The Kar3 protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a minus end-directed kinesin family member that is involved in both nuclear fusion, or karyogamy, and mitosis. The Kar3 protein is 729 residues in length with the motor domain located in the C-terminal 347 residues. Recently, the three-dimensional structures of two kinesin family members have been reported. These structures include the motor domains of the plus end-directed kinesin heavy chain [Kull, F. J., et al. (1996) Nature 380, 550−555] and the minus end-directed Ncd [Sablin, E. P., et al. (1996) Nature 380, 555−559]. We now report the structure of the Kar3 protein complexed with Mg·ADP obtained from crystallographic data to 2.3 A. The structure is similar to those of the earlier kinesin fami...
Allergy to ragweed antigen E: effect of specific immunotherapy on the reactivity of human T lymphocytes in vitro.

Abstract Purified populations of human T lymphocytes were used for in vitro studies of the immune response to Ragweed Antigen E (AgE). T lymphocyte proliferation to AgE, assessed by 3 H-thymidine incorporation, was detected in AgE-sensitive but not in AgE nonsensitive individuals. The T cell response to AgE was biphasic, with maxima at AgE concentrations of 20–50 μg/ml and 0.01–0.10 μg/ml. Specific immunotherapy markedly decreased the T cell response at high AgE concentrations and virtually abolished the response at low AgE concentrations.
AI-2-dependent gene regulation in Staphylococcus epidermidis

Background Autoinducer 2 (AI-2), a widespread by-product of the LuxS-catalyzed S-ribosylhomocysteine cleavage reaction in the activated methyl cycle, has been suggested to serve as an intra- and interspecies signaling molecule, but in many bacteria AI-2 control of gene expression is not completely understood. Particularly, we have a lack of knowledge about AI-2 signaling in the important human pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis.
A comparison of Cox proportional hazards and artificial neural network models for medical prognosis

Abstract Modelling survival of populations and establishing prognoses for individual patients are important activities in the practice of medicine. For patients with diseases that may extend for several years, in particular, accurate assessment of survival probabilities is essential. New methods, such as neural networks, have been used increasingly to model disease progression. Their advantages and disadvantages, when compared to statistical methods such as Cox proportional hazards, have seldom been explored in real-world data. In this study, we compare the performances of a Cox model and a neural network model that are used as prognostic tools for a set of people living with AIDS. We modeled disease progression for patients who had AIDS (according to the 1993 CDC definition) in a set of 588 patients in California, using data from the ATHOS project. We divided the study population into 10 training and 10 test sets and evaluated the prognostic accuracy of a Cox proportional hazards model and of a neural network model by determining sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values for an arbitrary threshold (0.5), and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves that utilized all possible thresholds for intervals of 1 yr following the diagnosis of AIDS. There was no evidence that the Cox model performed better than did the neural network model or vice versa, but the former method had the advantage of providing some insight on which variables were most influential for prognosis. Nevertheless, it is likely that the assumptions required by the Cox model may not be satisfied in all data sets, justifying the use of neural networks in certain cases.
The isolation of sucrose from tung kernels

A non-reducing disaccharide has been isolated from the kernels of tung (Aleurites fordi Hemsl.) and identified as sucrose.
Gradient-based contour encoding for gray-scale character recognition

We present a fast new algorithm for grayscale character recognition. By operating on grayscale images directly, we attempt to maximize the information that can be extracted. Traditional recognition based on binarization of images is also avoided. Previous work using gradient-based contour encoding was used in a restricted domain where objects were size- invariant and fewer patterns had to be distinguished; a simpler feature set sufficed, in this domain. In character recognition, a feature-extractor has to handle character images of arbitrary size. Our algorithm extracts local contour features based on the pixel gradients present in an image. A gradient map, i.e., gradient magnitude and direction at every pixel, is computed; this map is thresholded to avoid responses to noise and spurious artifacts, the map is then partitioned coarsely. Character contours are encoded by quantizing gradient directions into a few representative direction bins. This method does not require that images be normalized to a fixed grid-size before feature extraction. Features extracted by this method have been used to train a 2-layer neural network classifier. Experiments with machine-printed numeric (10-class), and alphanumeric & punctuation (77-class) character images, captured at 300 ppi from mailpiece images, have been conducted. Currently, 99.4% numerals and 93.4% from 77-class images were recognized correctly from a testing set of 5420 numeric and 24,988 character images. When shape and case confusions are allowed, the recognition performance improves to 97.5%. A similar experiment with binarized 77-class images resulted in 92.1% correctly recognized test images. This method is being extended to handwritten characters recognition.
Monitoring engineered remediation with borehole radar

The success of engineered remediation is predicated on correct emplacement of either amendments (e.g., vegetable-oil emulsion, lactate, molasses, etc.) or permeable reactive barriers (e.g., vegetable oil, zero-valent iron, etc.) to enhance microbial or geochemical breakdown of contaminants and treat contaminants. Currently, site managers have limited tools to provide information about the distribution of injected materials; the existence of gaps or holes in barriers; and breakdown or transformation of injected materials over time.
Unique vascular relationship in the human umbilical cord.

THE reactivity of both perfused and isolated segments of human, umbilical vessels to various pharmacological agents has already been reported1–5. Without exception, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) has been found to be a potent constricting agent of both umbilical artery and vein. In porfusion studies, however, arteries and vein were generally not perfused simultaneously or, in cases where they were, drugs were administered only to the arterial perfusing fluid.
Galanin-Binding Sites in the Female Rat Brain Are Regulated across Puberty yet Similar to the Male Pattern in Adulthood

The neuropeptide galanin (GAL) has been implicated in a variety of neuroendocrine functions and has been shown to be regulated by gonadal hormones in several brain regions. We have used slice binding
Centroid-moment tensor solutions for January–March 1987

Abstract Centroid-moment tensor solutions are presented for 203 earthquakes that occurred during the first quarter of 1987. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical Earth structure.
How do inhibitory phosphatases work

We present a hypothesis regarding the mode of induction of the inhibitory phosphatases SHP-1 and SHIP in hematopoietic cells. One mode is a general one in which the phosphatase regulates but does not abort signal transduction and biology. Regulator phosphatases are induced by directly or indirectly engaging the amino acid motifs present in the activating receptor, and act to control the biochemical and biological output. The other mode of induction is a specific one, which critically involves paired co-clustering of activating and inhibitory receptors. Phosphatases working in this way act only under conditions of paired co-clustering of activating and inhibitory receptors, and directly bind amino acid motifs present in the inhibitory receptor. However, this mode of induction is apparently more efficient, as cellular activation is completely aborted. This review presents several examples of each mode of inhibition and speculates on their mechanisms.
The direct and sensitized photo-oxidation of hexachlorocyclopentadiene

Abstract Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (C5Cl6) is an intermediate in the production of cyclodiene pesticides and flame retardants. To test the treatability in a chemical production waste stream, hexachlorocyclopentadiene was tested as a substrate for direct photolysis and for sensitized photo-oxidation in this laboratory study. The initial hexachlorocyclopentadiene concentration was 100 mg/l in aqueous buffers. Direct photolysis experiments were at pH values 5, 7.4, 9.2, and 11. Riboflavin and methylene blue were used as sensitizers. Samples in batch reactors were exposed to Durotest Vitalite® lights in the laboratory and the hexachlorocyclopentadiene concentration decreased in all samples. Based on first order kinetic rates for the photodegradation of hexachlorocyclopentadiene, riboflavin at 5 mg/l was the best removal treatment, with an average photodegradative half-life of 47 min after light exposure in the laboratory compared to a 100 min half-life for direct photolysis after light exposure in the laboratory. This corresponds to quantum yields of 0.76 and 0.49, respectively. Four photoproduct peaks were identified by GC/MS analysis of methylene chloride extracts. The major photoproduct in the direct photolysis samples and in the riboflavin sensitized samples was hexachlorocyclopentenone (C5Cl6O). The major photoproduct in the methylene blue sensitized samples was a compound containing C4Cl4, either tetrachlorobutadiene (C4H2Cl4) or tetrachlorobutyne (C4Cl4).
Improved detection of fluorogold-labeled neurons in long-term studies

Fluorogold (FG) is a widely used neuroanatomical tracer. However, because FG-labeled neurons become undetectable over time, its use has been limited in long-term studies. We investigated whether the detection of FG in retrogradely labeled neurons in long-term studies can be improved by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using an antibody to FG. We performed intraperitoneal injections of a FG solution to retrogradely label all parasympathetic preganglionic neurons (PPNs) and motoneurons (MNs) in the S1 spinal cord segment in adult rats. At 1, 6, and 12 weeks after the tracer injection, sections were immunohistochemically processed for FG and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), an endogenous marker for all PPNs and MNs. Stereological counts demonstrated no cell loss of FG-labeled PPNs and MNs at 6 and 12 weeks. Cell size measurements showed that FG-immunolabeled neurons were smaller at 12 weeks, but not at 6 weeks. However, it is likely that there was no neuronal atrophy, but loss/degradation of the dye at a timepoint between 6 and 12 weeks, as ChAT-immunolabeled neurons showed no cell size reduction at 12 weeks. Our results suggest that the use of an antibody against FG improves the detection of FG for reliable neuronal counts and that the dye is not toxic to the retrogradely labeled neurons. We conclude that FG-labeling is a useful tool to determine neuronal counts in long-term studies, but should be used cautiously for neuronal size measurements.
Precision of Estimated Ages of Lake Trout from Five Calcified Structures

Abstract Precisions of estimated ages from vertebrae, cleithra, opercular bones, otoliths, and scales were measured in replicated trials on samples from lake trout Salvelinus namaycush from interior Alaska. Ages from all structures were similar for sexually immature lake trout. For mature lake trout, estimated ages from otoliths and from opercular bones were the most precise, although ages from opercular bones were significantly younger by a year than ages from otoliths. Estimated ages from cleithra and whole vertebrae were, respectively, too imprecise and too low for these structures to be useful in age validation studies. On this basis, otoliths and opercular bones can be used in age validation studies and scales can be used to estimate the age of immature lake trout.
Colorimetric determination of molybdenum with disodium-1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonate

Abstract A procedure for the colorimetric determination of molybdenum with disodium-1, 2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonate (Tiron) has been presented. The maximum absorbancy of the yellow colored complex is at 390 mμ the optimum pH range is 6.6-7.5; and the Tiron concentration is 1.5-2%. The color reaction conforms to Beer's law and has a practical sensitivity of 0.1 p.p.m. molybdenum. The color formation is instantaneous and stable for at least three weeks. There is no temperature effect over the range of 15° — 40° C. The tolerances of the colored complex to many diverse ions have been established. The separation of molybdenum from interfering ions is accomplished by precipitation of the former with α-benzoinoxime. Molybdenum and tungsten are separated photometrically. The colorimetric determination of molybdenum with Tiron was successfully applied to a variety of steels and other materials.
TRANSFORMATION OF CHLORINATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS BY IRON AND MANGANESE POWDERS IN BUFFERED WATER AND IN LANDFILL LEACHATE

Abstract Tetrachloroethylene was transformed by iron powder (4.1g/L) in oxygen-free, HEPES-buffered (pH 7) water at 50°C with a half-life of 20 days. The only products observed were the reactive intermediate, trichloroethylene, and ethene and ethane. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene were transformed by iron at room temperature in both autoclaved buffered water and in two non-autoclaved landfill leachates. The pattern and degree of removal were similar in all cases. Dichloromethane, 1,1-dichloroethane, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene were also tested, but were not removed from any of the systems. If manganese rather than iron was used, the substrates transformed depended upon the aqueous phase. Some biological transformations were seen in Leachate 2, but the activity was reduced by manganese and completely suppressed by iron.
Photoabsorption cross section of acetylene in the EUV region

The measurement of the absolute photoabsorption cross sections of C2H2 in the 175-740 A region by means of a double ionization chamber is reported. The continuum background source is the synchrotron radiation emitted by the Wisconsin 240 MeV electron storage ring. It is found that the cross sections range from 2 to a maximum of 36 Mb. Two new Rydberg series are identified and the cross section data are applied in the analysis of various sum rules. From the rules, it is shown that the data of C2H2 in the 580-1088 A range may be too low, while the measured ionization transition moment may be too high.
Are unshifted distributional models appropriate for response time

Van Breukelen (this issue) provides an approach to using both response time (RT) and accuracy for (1) measuring latent abilities of participants even when they may trade speed for accuracy, and for (2) providing insight into the psychological processes underlying task performance. In this commentary, I focus on the second of these aims and assess how useful this approach is for exploring cognition. The approach is based on formulating statistical rather than substantive models on accuracy and RT. I focus here on the appropriateness of the RT component model. This RT model joins a family of recent statistical approaches to RT including those of Glickman, Gray, and Morales (in press); Peruggia, Van Zandt, and Chen (2002); Rouder, Lu, Speckman, Sun, and Jiang (in press); Schnipke and Scrams (1997); and Wenger and Gibson (2004). The advantage of these statistical rather than substantive models is robust estimation and sound inference when data are collected across disparate individuals and items. It is not hard to see how these statistical developments will lead to better substantive theory testing and development in cognitive psychology. Van Breukelen’s model for the ith participant’s RT to the j th item is given by:
The Intolerance Multiplier A Diagram

If prejudice divides and weakens the working class, then capital owners can impose more inequality without fearing unified resistance. Frustrated workers turn on each other as scapegoats, blaming their economic hardship on diversity (in terms of race, religion, ethnicity, immigration status, age, gender, education, sexual preference, and so on). If a demagogue shifts the intolerance curve upward, a multiplier process ensues: intolerance causes inequality, and inequality causes intolerance. Religious nationalism, right-wing control of the media, or a facade of democracy will shift the resistance curve rightward. Under fascism, hate speech is reinforced by police power, so both curves shift. Liberal arts education and exposure to cultural diversity may counter these shifts.
Cardiovascular and hemodynamic effect of polyethylene glycol in rats.

Abstract Background Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is a solvent and used in a wide range of biomedical applications. Many fatty-acid-based molecules cannot be administered without a solvent in vivo. PEG can be used to dissolve compounds to make them water soluble. However, the effect of PEG on the cardiovascular system has not been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effect of PEG on the cardiovascular system in rat models. Methods Twenty male Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 250–300 g were used in this study. The control group (10 rats) were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 ml of 5% D/W in normal saline and the second group (10 rats) with PEG 400, 2 ml/kg ip, twice a day for 1 week. After 4 weeks, the rats underwent general anesthesia and a 1.4 French ultra miniature pressure volume catheter (Millar catheter) was placed in the left ventricle via the right carotid artery to measure comprehensive hemodynamic data. The data were analyzed with PVAN pressure–volume analysis software. Results All the systolic and diastolic parameters were similar in both groups except for the effective arterial elastance ( E a ), which was decreased in the PEG group. There were no significant differences in maximum (d p /d t max ) and minimum (d p /d t min ) development of pressure stroke work, cardiac output, ejection fraction, end systolic volume ( V es ), and end diastolic volume. Conclusions We have demonstrated that PEG, as a solvent, decreases E a in rats in comparison to a placebo. Therefore, PEG as a solvent should be used cautiously in the cardiovascular research.
Irradiation dose and temperature dependence of fracture toughness in high dose HT9 steel from the fuel duct of FFTF

Abstract To expand the knowledge base for fast reactor core materials, fracture toughness has been evaluated for high dose HT9 steel using miniature disk compact tension (DCT) specimens. The HT9 steel DCT specimens were machined from the ACO-3 fuel duct of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), which achieved high doses in the range of 3–148 dpa at 378–504 °C. The static fracture resistance (J-R) tests have been performed in a servohydraulic testing machine in vacuum at selected temperatures including room temperature, 200 °C, and each irradiation temperature. Brittle fracture with a low toughness less than 50 MPa √m occurred in room temperature tests when irradiation temperature was below 400 °C, while ductile fracture with stable crack growth was observed when irradiation temperature was higher. No fracture toughness less than 100 MPa √m was measured when the irradiation temperature was above 430 °C. It was shown that the influence of irradiation temperature was dominant in fracture toughness while the irradiation dose has only limited influence over the wide dose range 3–148 dpa. A slow decrease of fracture toughness with test temperature above room temperature was observed for the nonirradiated and high temperature (>430 °C) irradiation cases, which indicates that the ductile–brittle transition temperatures (DBTTs) in those conditions are lower than room temperature. A comparison with the collection of existing data confirmed the dominance of irradiation temperature in the fracture toughness of HT9 steels.
A position sensitive high-efficiency NaI(Tl) photon-detection system for use with intermediate energy radioactive ion beams

Abstract We have built an array of position-sensitive NaI(Tl) photon detectors for use in radioactive beam experiments at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University. The array consists of 38 cylindrical NaI(Tl) detectors oriented co-axially in three concentric rings around the particle-beam axis. Each crystal has a diameter of 5 cm, is 17 cm long and is read out by two photomultiplier tubes, one at each end of the crystal. Because of the position-dependent attenuation of the scintillation light in the crystal it is possible to determine both the photon energy and the interaction point of the photon in the detector. This photon detection system is very well suited for the investigation of exotic nuclei which, at the NSCL, are produced in fragmentation reactions. Exotic beams produced by this method have high velocities and potentially low particle rates. Both of these properties are addressed in the described setup. The Doppler shift due to the large beam velocities is corrected on an event-by-event basis using the known interaction positions of the photons in the detector. Low particle rates can be accommodated with particle–γ coincidence measurements and the high efficiency of the array.
Local differences in the amount of early cell death in neocortex predict adult local specializations

The amount of early cell loss in five neocortical areas was inversely related to adult numbers of neurons in those areas. Differential cell death predicted particularly the thickness of the upper cortical laminae; it was not related to neuron numbers in the lower laminae. Cell loss thus determines some features of local neocortical differentiation.
Synthetic Methodology for Asymmetric Ferrocene Derived Bio-conjugate Systems via Solid Phase Resin-based Methodology

Early detection is a key to successful treatment of most diseases, and is particularly imperative for the diagnosis and treatment of many types of cancer. The most common techniques utilized are imaging modalities such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Topography (PET), and Computed Topography (CT) and are optimal for understanding the physical structure of the disease but can only be performed once every four to six weeks due to the use of imaging agents and overall cost. With this in mind, the development of "point of care" techniques, such as biosensors, which evaluate the stage of disease and/or efficacy of treatment in the clinician's office and do so in a timely manner, would revolutionize treatment protocols.1 As a means to exploring ferrocene based biosensors for the detection of biologically relevant molecules2, methods were developed to produce ferrocene-biotin bio-conjugates described herein. This report will focus on a biotin-ferrocene-cysteine system that can be immobilized on a gold surface.
A conceptual description of heat exchanger for programming

This paper presents a conceptual description of heat exchangers based on modern software concepts. Relationships between software components associated with heat exchangers have been developed. The general requirements for each software component have been detailed. A heat transfer zone physical model is proposed for programming. The strategies to deal with different heat exchangers and different methodologies in calculations are proposed. Also some issues related to software components and legacy codes are discussed.
Ask Suicide-Screening Questions to Everyone in Medical Settings: The asQ'em Quality Improvement Project

Background Suicide in hospital settings is a frequently reported sentinel event to the Joint Commission (JC). Since 1995, over 1,000 inpatient deaths by suicide have been reported to the JC; 25% occurred in non-behavioral health settings. Lack of proper "assessment" was the leading root cause for 80% of hospital suicides. This paper describes the "Ask Suicide-Screening Questions to Everyone in Medical Settings (asQ'em)" Quality Improvement Project. We aimed to pilot a suicide screening tool and determine feasibility of screening in terms of prevalence, impact on unit workflow, impact on mental health resources, and patient/nurse acceptance. Methods We piloted the asQ'em two-item screening instrument that assesses suicidal thoughts and behaviors, designed specifically for nurses to administer to medical patients. Educational in-services were conducted. A convenience sample of adult patients, 18 years or older, from three selected inpatient units in the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, participated. Results A total of 331 patients were screened; 13 (4%) patients screened "positive" for suicide risk and received further evaluation. No patient had acute suicidal thoughts or required an observational monitor. Screening took approximately 2 minutes; 87% of patients reported feeling comfortable with screening; 81% of patients, 75% of nurses, and 100% of social workers agreed that all patients in hospitals should be screened for suicide risk. Discussion Nurses can feasibly screen hospitalized medical/surgical patients for suicide risk with a two-item screening instrument. Patients, nurses, and social workers rated their experience of screening as positive and supported the idea of universal suicide screening in the hospital.
Formulating context-dependent similarity functions

Tasks of information retrieval depend on a good distance function for measuring similarity between data instances. The most effective distance function must be formulated in a context-dependent (also application-, data-, and user-dependent) way. In this paper, we present a novel method, which learns a distance function by capturing the nonlinear relationships among contextual information provided by the application, data, or user. We show that through a process called the "kernel trick," such nonlinear relationships can be learned efficiently in a projected space. In addition to using the kernel trick, we propose two algorithms to further enhance efficiency and effectiveness of function learning. For efficiency, we propose a SMO-like solver to achieve O(N2) learning performance. For effectiveness, we propose using unsupervised learning in an innovative way to address the challenge of lack of labeled data (contextual information). Theoretically, we substantiate that our method is both sound and optimal. Empirically, we demonstrate that our method is effective and useful.
Noninfectious papilloma virus–like particles inhibit HIV-1 replication: implications for immune control of HIV-1 infection by IL-27

Human papilloma virus (HPV)–like particles (VLPs) have been used as a vaccine to prevent HPV infection. Recent studies demonstrate that VLPs bind to dendritic cells and induce the expression of antiviral cytokines such as interferon-α (IFN-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IFN-γ. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of VLPs on HIV-1 replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), CD4+ T cells, and macrophages. Here, we show that VLPs suppress the replication of both X4 and R5 HIV-1 without affecting the expression of CD4, CXCR4, and CCR5. Soluble factor(s) released by PBMCs and macrophages on VLPs treatment inhibited HIV-1 replication. To determine the inhibitory factors, DNA microarray analysis was performed using VLP-treated PBMCs and macrophages. VLPs induced the genes associated with IFN induction, immune responses, and antiviral responses, among with the recently described cytokine IL-27. Subsequently, IL-27 was found to be a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 replication in PBMCs, CD4+ T cells, and macrophages. Taken together, our studies identify a novel role of IL-27 in restricting HIV-1 replication and suggest that further examination of the inhibitory property of IL-27 may pave the way for a novel therapy for HIV-1 infection.
Optics Demonstrations with the Overhead Projector

The idea for these demonstrations occurred when while preparing a demonstration for a course, I realized that I was reinventing the overhead projector. Because the projector is so readily available, I undertook to see how much could be done with it using additional inexpensive and readily available materials. No fundamental novelty is claimed, since projectors have been around for at least 300 years, and people have probably tried most everything. Moreover, most of these demonstrations are variations on classics that can be done in many ways. The purposes of this work are to point out just how much can be done so easily on the projector, to provide guidance in optimizing the demonstrations, and to provide information on vendors and useful materials. Most important, I hope to encourage people to do demonstrations. The projector is obviously ideal for many demonstrations of human vision, but I have not undertaken these, leaving them to specialists in the field.
Promising survival with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Purpose : Local failure is a major obstacle to the cure of locally advanced non small-cell lung cancer. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-DCRT) selects optimal treatment parameters to increase dose to tumor and reduce normal tissue dose, potentially representing an enhancement of the therapeutic ratio of radiation therapy for lung cancer. We performed this analysis of 45 non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with 3-DCRT alone, to evaluate the ability of computer derived lung dose volume histograms to predict serious pulmonary toxicity, to assess the feasibility of this approach, and to examine the resulting survival. Methods : There were 28 males (62%) and 17 females (38%). The median age was 65 (range: 38–82). Tumor stage was Stage I/II in 13%, IIIa in 42%, and IIIb in 44%. The histology was squamous in 44%, adenocarcinoma in 36%, and other non-small cell histologies in the others. Only 47% of patients, had combined favorable prognostic factors (i.e. KPS ≤ 80, and ≤5% wt. loss). The median dose of radiation to gross disease was 70.2 Gy (range: 52.2–72 Gy) delivered in fractions of 1.8 Gy, 5 days per week. Results : Seven patients did not complete 3-DCRT due to disease progression outside the port. Follow-up data are mature: the median follow up of the 6 survivors is 43.5 months (35–59). Thoracic progression occurred in 46%. Median survival (all 45 patients.) is 15.7 months and survival is 32% at 2 years and 12% at 59 months. Pulmonary toxicity ≥grade 3 occurred in 9% of patients. Dose volume histograms were available in 31 patients and showed a correlation between risk of pulmonary toxicity and indices of dose to lung parenchyma. Grade 3 or higher pulmonary toxicity occurred in 38% (38) of patients with > 30% of lung volume receiving ≥25 Gy, versus 4% (123) of patients with ≤30% lung receiving ≥25 Gy ( P = 0.04). Grade 3 or higher pulmonary toxicity occurred in 29% (414) of patients with a predicted pulmonary normal tissue complication probability of 12% or higher versus 0% (0/17) in patients with a predicted probability of less than 12% ( P = 0.03). Conclusions : Despite adverse prognostic criteria median survival is encouraging and may be higher than some combined modality approaches. Dose volume histogram parameters may be useful to determine the maximum dose for individual patients and thereby permit avoidance of toxicity.
I can do text analytics!: designing development tools for novice developers

Text analytics, an increasingly important application domain, is hampered by the high barrier to entry due to the many conceptual difficulties novice developers encounter. This work addresses the problem by developing a tool to guide novice developers to adopt the best practices employed by expert developers in text analytics and to quickly harness the full power of the underlying system. Taking a user centered task analytical approach, the tool development went through multiple design iterations and evaluation cycles. In the latest evaluation, we found that our tool enables novice developers to develop high quality extractors on par with the state of art within a few hours and with minimal training. Finally, we discuss our experience and lessons learned in the context of designing user interfaces to reduce the barriers to entry into complex domains of expertise.