cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hyaluronic Acid-Binding, Anionic, Nanoparticles Inhibit ECM Degradation and Restore Compressive Stiffness in Aggrecan-Depleted Articular Cartilage Explants

Joint trauma results in the production of inflammatory cytokines that stimulate the secretion of catabolic enzymes, which degrade articular cartilage. Molecular fragments of the degraded articular cartilage further stimulate inflammatory cytokine production, with this process eventually resulting in post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). The loss of matrix component aggrecan occurs early in the progression of PTOA and results in the loss of compressive stiffness in articular cartilage. Aggrecan is highly sulfated, associates with hyaluronic acid (HA), and supports the compressive stiffness in cartilage. Presented here, we conjugated the HA-binding peptide GAHWQFNALTVRGSG (GAH) to anionic nanoparticles (hNPs). Nanoparticles conjugated with roughly 19 GAH peptides, termed 19 GAH-hNP, bound to HA in solution and increased the dynamic viscosity by 94.1% compared to an HA solution treated with unconjugated hNPs. Moreover, treating aggrecan-depleted (AD) cartilage explants with 0.10 mg of 19 GAH-hNP restored the cartilage compressive stiffness to healthy levels six days after a single nanoparticle treatment. Treatment of AD cartilage with 0.10 mg of 19 GAH-hNP inhibited the degradation of articular cartilage. Treated AD cartilage had 409% more collagen type II and 598% more GAG content than untreated-AD explants. The 19 GAH-hNP therapeutic slowed ECM degradation in AD cartilage explants, restored the compressive stiffness of damaged cartilage, and showed promise as a localized treatment for PTOA.
Relations among general intelligence (g), aptitude tests, and GPA: Linear effects dominate

Abstract This research examined linear and nonlinear (quadratic) relations among general intelligence ( g ), aptitude tests (SAT, ACT, PSAT), and college GPAs. Test scores and GPAs were obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth ( N = 1950) and the College Board Validity Study ( N = 160670). Regressions estimated linear and quadratic relations among g , based on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, composite and subtest scores of aptitude tests, and college GPAs. Linear effects explained almost all the variance in relations among variables. In contrast, quadratic effects explained trivial additional variance among variables (less than 1%, on average). The results do not support theories of intelligence (threshold theories or Spearman's Law of Diminishing Returns), which predict that test scores lose predictive power with increases in ability level or at a certain threshold.
Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease in immunocompetent patients

Mycobacterium avium complex is becoming increasingly recognized as one of the most common mycobacterial pathogens in humans. It is rapidly becoming a significant cause of pulmonary disease even in those with an intact immunity. In 1997, the American Thoracic Society published recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of nontuberculous mycobacteria. On the basis of the authors' clinical experience of the myriad presentations of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease in an immunocompetent host, a clinical classification is proposed. The current data are summarized, and a practical approach to management of the various pulmonary forms of the disease is provided.
A nonhereditary, host-induced variation of bacterial viruses.

In this article, Luria reported that some bacteria, when infected with phage, would modify the phage in such a way so that it cannot reproduce in that particular bacteria type. However, the variation gives the phage the ability to infect a different bacterial species, in this instance Shigella. This is the first instance of the phenomenon of restriction and modification that would soon after be explained by the discovery of restriction enzymes in bacteria. Luria's work with Human, which described bacterial restriction-modification systems, eventually led to the discovery of restriction enzymes.
Whatever Floats the 'Reasonable Observer's' Boat: An Examination of Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach, Florida and the Supreme Court's Ruling that Floating Homes Are Not Vessels

Local and state legislatures have taken active steps in developing a workable code of laws and regulations that apply specifically to floating homes. However, because these homes are on top of navigable waters and are physically capable of being towed across the high seas, there was a valid argument that such structures fall under maritime law and are therefore governed by federal admiralty statutes. The term “vessel” is defined in Section 3 of the U.S. Code as “every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.” This definition is the threshold question that courts must answer before applying any federal law affecting vessels to a particular watercraft. The case law that developed since Section 3’s enactment has helped refine that broad definition into a more useable standard. This Note provides a comprehensive overview of Section 3’s place in admiralty law, from its codification in the late nineteenth century, throughout its evolution over the generations, leading to the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach, Fla., where it held that floating homes are not “vessels” as contemplated by federal statutes. Section II of this Note begins by introducing the parties and establishing the history involved in Lozman, a case that decided the question of whether a Florida resident’s floating home was a vessel subject to admiralty laws and federal jurisdiction. Historical case law and subsequent evaluations of maritime precedent, upon which both the Lozman Court and the parties relied, is detailed in Section III. This Note dissects the Lozman opinion in Section IV, discussing the Court’s reasoning for why it held that the floating home was not a “vessel” for jurisdictional purposes under Section 3. Section V then provides an analysis of the decision, examining the way the Court utilized precedent and incorporated traditional admiralty law tests. Lastly, Section VI lays out various policy concerns existing in the underpinnings of admiralty and property law that point in favor of the Supreme Court’s decision to exclude floating homes from federal regulation.
Specific activity of radiolabeled hexosamines in metabolic labeling experiments.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a widely applicable method for measuring the specific radioactivity of the hexosamines incorporated into complex carbohydrates, when labeled glucosamine is used as the metabolic precursor. The method is based on the use of a second, reference radioisotope, [ 35 S]sulfate, and on isolation of the chemically defined monosulfated disaccharides derived from chondroitin lyase digests of labeled chondroitin/dermatan sulfate. Several examples are discussed in the chapter that show the utility of this parameter in experimental situations. In principle, the most straightforward method to determine the specific activity of hexosamine in metabolically radiolabeled molecules would be to allow sufficient time for the exogenous labeled glucosamine to equilibrate with the UDP-N-acetylhexosamine pool, isolate this pool, release the hexosamines by hydrolysis, and determine both the chemical amounts and radioactivities in the hexosamines using an appropriate analytical procedure.
Effects of hemoglobin C and S traits on eight glycohemoglobin methods

Glycohemoglobin (gHb) is a marker of long-term glycemic control that has been shown to correlate with complications of diabetes mellitus (1). The National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) was established to standardize gHb results so that clinical laboratory results are comparable to those reported by the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (2)(3). Previous studies have shown that some gHb methods yield inaccurate results with samples heterozygous for hemoglobin (Hb) C or Hb S (4)(5)(6). At least 10% of black Americans have either Hb C or S trait, and there were 19 million black Americans over age 19 in 1990 (7)(8)(9)(10). The prevalence of diabetes is estimated to be 5.1% of the adult population, with the rate for non-Hispanic blacks being 1.6-fold higher than that of non-Hispanic whites (11). It is therefore probable that at least 150 000 Americans with diabetes have Hb C or S trait. Here, we investigate the measurement of gHb in specimens containing Hb C or S trait using eight gHb methods currently in clinical use. Whole blood samples from individuals homozygous for Hb A (n = 43) and heterozygous for Hb C or S (n = 43 and 61, respectively) were collected in EDTA tubes. Hb variants were identified by their characteristic Variant A1c HPLC chromatograms (Bio-Rad Laboratories). Aliquots of these samples containing between 4% and 14% Hb A1c (NGSP Hb A1c evaluation range) were stored refrigerated (2–8 °C) and analyzed within 10 days of collection. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Utah. The CLC 330 gHb analyzer (Primus Corporation) was operated at the University of Missouri. This method was chosen as the comparison method for this study because results from boronate affinity chromatography should not …
Blocking intrahepatic deletion of activated CD8+ T cells by an altered peptide ligand.

Abstract Background Activated CD8 + T cells are retained by the healthy liver where the majority undergo apoptosis. The intrahepatic apoptosis of activated CD8 + T cells is enhanced by the presence of SIINFEKL peptide. It is of great interest to identify strategies for maintaining intrahepatic T cell number and function in the presence of SIINFEKL peptides. Aim Our aim was to test if low affinity peptides can block SIINFEKL peptide induced T cell deletion. Methods We used an in vivo model of intrahepatic CD8 + T cell deletion with peptides of different affinities. Results and discussion We show that the intrahepatic deletion of CD8 + T cells by SIINFEKL peptide results in loss of in vivo cytotoxic T lymphocyte function. In contrast we show that a low affinity peptide (G4) does not result in intrahepatic deletion of CD8 + T cells. High concentrations G4 peptide can however block intrahepatic deletion of activated CD8 + T cells, and prevent loss of in vivo cytotoxicity due to SIINFEKL peptide. This is the first demonstration of blocking of SIINFEKL peptide induced CD8 + T cell deletion in the liver, with enhancement of in vivo cytotoxicity.
Researches on New Fault Diagnosis Method for Process Industry Based on Improved SVM Reduction Algorithm

Once faults happened in the process industry, it will bring on heavy casualties and fatal property losses, even lead to irreclaimable pollution. Combining the large-scale sample set reduction strategy with SVM, this paper proposed a new improved support vector machine (SVM) training algorithm based on support vectors to solve the difficulty of fault diagnosis of process industry. A new reduction algorithm is presented to reduce large-scale sample set. The constraint threshold is introduced in the new algorithm. The new training algorithm can eliminate the samples correspond to non-support vectors so that poor generation ability caused by large-scale training sample set is solved. A new evaluating indicator of large-scale sample set reduction strategy is also proposed in this paper. The improved SVM algorithm proposed is applied to two typical fault diagnosis of process industry. The results of experiments show that the improved SVM algorithm not only reduces greatly the cost of SVM learning but also markedly increases the speed of classification, and at one time the accuracy of fault diagnosis is not debased.
The effect of host constitution on the development of Plasmodium floridense.

SYNOPSIS More than 15,000 lizards from South Georgia were examined over a period of 16 years. Five percent of Sceloporus undulatus and 36% of Anolis carolinensis were found to harbor Plasmodium floridense. Development of 28 natural new infections was followed in detail as soon as they became patent and comparisons in the 2 host species made of intensity and duration of infections and of merozoite means during the periods of acute rise and decline. During the acute rise, the merozoite mean in Sceloporus was 10.6 ± 0.11 (8,495 segmenters counted), compared with 13.44 ± 0.15 in Anolis (3,805 counted); during the decline, the merozoite means were 8.55 ± 0.13 (3,305 counted) and 10.28 ± 0.09 (6,772 counted), respectively. It took an average of 150 (100–253) days for the infection to run its course in Sceloporus, compared with the average of 71 (60–90) days in Anolis; the peak of parasitemia in Sceloporus was 11,600 parasites/10,000 red cells, compared with 1,600 in Anolis. Both lizard genera produced 5–10% gametocytes.
Robust design of assembly and machining tolerance allocations

Tolerancing is one of the most important tasks in product and manufacturing process design. The allocation of design tolerances between the components of a mechanical assembly and manufacturing tolerances in the intermediate machining steps of component fabrication can significantly affect a product's quality and its robustness. This paper presents a methodology to maximize a product's robustness by appropriately allocating assembly and machining tolerances. The robust tolerance design problem is formulated as a mixed nonlinear optimization model. A simulated annealing algorithm is employed to solve the model and an example is presented to illustrate the methodology.
Contribution of damage by multiple crack growth to the strain-rate sensitivity of a polycrystalline alumina at elevated temperatures

The strength of a polycrystalline aluminium oxide measured in four-point bending at elevated temperatures over a range of displacement-controlled loading rates was observed to exhibit an unusually high strain-rate dependence. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that at the lower values of strain-rate, failure was accompanied by the formation of a number of additional macrocracks adjacent to the plane of fracture. Separate measurements of specimens deformed to approximately 75% of the fracture strain indicated that, at these lower values of strain rate, the effective Young's modulus was decreased by as much as a factor of two. It is suggested that the high strain-rate sensitivity was the direct result of a strain-rate dependent decrease in Young's modulus and associated effect of “strain-softening” for conditions of displacement-rate controlled mechanical loading. The validity of this hypothesis was verified by a fracture-mechanics analysis of a mechanical model subjected to displacement-controlled tensile loading, with elastic behaviour expressed in terms of the effect of cracks on continuum elastic properties.
Astrocytes regulate developmental changes in the chloride ion gradient of embryonic rat ventral spinal cord neurons in culture

1. Embryonic rat ventral spinal cord neurons were dissociated at day 15 and grown on: (i) poly-D-lysine (PDL); (ii) a confluent monolayer of type I astrocytes; or (iii) PDL in astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) to examine the influence of astroglia on the regulation of GABAA receptor/Cl- channel properties. 2. Potentiometric oxonol dye recordings of intact cells indicated that embryonic neurons were uniformly depolarized by muscimol. The depolarizing effects disappeared in cells dissociated during the early postnatal period and recovered in culture for 24 h. Similar recordings using the calcium-imaging dye fura-2 AM revealed that GABA or muscimol triggered a sustained rise in cytosolic Ca2+ (Ca2+c ) in embryonic neurons that was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, blocked by bicuculline and nifedipine and sensitive to changes in extracellular chloride. The incidence and amplitude of the Ca2+ response decreased with time in vitro and was accelerated in neurons cultured on astrocytes compared with those on PDL. 3. Perforated patch-clamp recordings revealed that GABA depolarized neurons in a Cl--dependent and bicuculline-sensitive manner. Both the resting membrane potential and the GABA equilibrium potential became more hyperpolarized with time in vitro. 4. Astrocytes and ACM accelerated the transformation of GABAergic potential responses from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing. The change occurred over the first 4 days in co-culture or in ACM but took more than 2 weeks in neurons cultured on PDL alone. 5. The intrinsic, elementary properties of GABAA receptor/Cl- channels including open time and unitary conductance changed independently of the presence of astrocytes or ACM. Mean open time of the dominant kinetic component decreased and conductance increased with time in vitro. 6. In sum, astrocytes accelerate the developmental change in the Cl- ion gradient extrinsic to GABAA receptor/Cl- channels, which is critical for triggering Ca2+ entry, without influencing parallel changes in the intrinsic properties of the channels.
Small Perturbation Harmonic Coupling in Nonlinear Periodicity Preservation Circuits

Nonlinear systems and circuits, while required for many applications, presently require a design procedure that is often complex. In many cases, the design process is either based upon measurements or complex nonlinear models. This paper presents periodicity preservation (PP) and time invariant PP (TIPP) system theory as a simple way to characterize behavior for a significant class of nonlinear systems. PP systems preserve signal periodicity and are conducive to modeling harmonic coupling. When linearized to small perturbations, the harmonic coupling is described by the Jacobian about the operating point. The harmonic coupling weights, which are elements of the Jacobian, can be measured experimentally. For some TIPP systems such as LTI systems and memoryless nonlinearities, a single experiment suffices to determine the harmonic coupling weights. Other PP systems, including mixing and linear time variant systems, require more experimental queries. TIPP system theory is foundational to the theory of X-parameters®, S-functions and polyharmonic distortion.
Adolf Stoecker's Rationale for Anti-Semitism

Studies dealing with the perplexing problem of anti-Semitism, especially the nineteenth and twentieth century varieties, have generally either emphasized the complex interplay of economic, social, political, and intellectual forces which help us to under stand why anti-Semitism appeared in its new virulent form or they attempt to explain the varieties themselves, i.e., racial, eco nomic, political, cultural, etc.1 Great strides in scholarship have been made in these two areas, but, unfortunately, we still know very little about why people hate or fear Jews with such intensity. Obviously, the irrationality of anti-Semitism, like other similar forms of prejudice, has been an almost overwhelming challenge to the scholar. All too often the question is ignored or some less than satisfactory psychohistorical approach is attempted. This article on Adolf Stoecker has been written with the assumption that it is possible to try to fathom an individual's rationale for
Completion of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer and catheter-related complications

Abstract Objective Combination intravenous/intraperitoneal (IV/IP) chemotherapy has been shown in three randomized trials to be superior to IV therapy alone in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer with respect to overall survival (OS). We sought to evaluate the effect of dose modification of IP therapy on completion rates. Methods From November 1999 until August 2008, all optimally debulked, advanced stage ovarian cancer patients who received adjuvant IP chemotherapy at a single institution were reviewed. The primary endpoint was completion of 6 cycles of IP chemotherapy. This rate was compared to published results from GOG 172. A secondary analysis evaluated completion of chemotherapy based on IP catheter type. Statistical analysis was performed with a chi square test with a significance level of p Results One hundred and three patients received IP chemotherapy during this period. Seventy-five patients received the modified IV/IP chemotherapy regimen. Sixty-two patients (83%) completed all 6 cycles in our cohort compared to 119 patients (42%) reported in GOG 172 ( p =0.0001). Fifty-five patients had a fenestrated catheter (F) and 48 had a non-fenestrated (NF) catheter. Eight patients in each cohort discontinued treatment, for a completion rate of 85.5% in NF and 82.3% in F ( p =0.79). Conclusions The dose modifications utilized in this study allowed for completion of 6 cycles of adjuvant IP chemotherapy in 83% of patients. Choice of catheter type did not affect completion rates. Continued monitoring of outcomes is planned to compare PFS and OS. The high completion rate may increase acceptance of IP chemotherapy in the community setting.
Optimal reduced-order observer-estimators

An optimal reduced-order filter (in the sense of minimum error variance) which can provide a full vector of state estimates for systems where the dimension of the measurement vector is smaller than that of the state vector and no measurements are noise-free is presented. The optimal reduced-order filter is constructed using two-step L-K transformations for optimization. In step one, a K-transformation is utilized to construct an optimal-observer-type subfilter with order of n-m. An L-transformation is then used to build an optimal complementary subfilter with order m. The L and K matrices are determined to minimize the estimate error variances at each step. The order of the optimal reduced-order filter which combines two subfilters is max(n-m,m). When the dimension of the measurement vector is the same as that of state vector. the optimal reduced-order filter is then the Kalman filter (full order). Since two subfilters can be implemented by two processors in parallel, the proposed filter is computationally efficient. >
Graphite Nanofibers as an Electrode for Fuel Cell Applications

The potential of graphite nanofiber supported platinum catalysts as an electrode for fuel cell applications was investigated using the electrochemical oxidation of methanol at 40 °C as a probe reac...
Post‐thaw aging affects activity of lactate dehydrogenase

Freeze-thawing is routinely used to study freezing-induced irreversible protein denaturation in the formulation characterization and development of lyophilized proteins. In most cases, the temperature profiles of the samples are not fully monitored during freeze-thawing and therefore, the sample thermal histories are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to develop experimental protocols for the study of isothermal protein degradation using a temperature-step apparatus. Freeze-thaw experiments were performed at a freezing rate of 10 degrees C/min and various thawing rates (0.5-3.3 degrees C/min) using a temperature-step apparatus. In our efforts to design validation studies, we encountered anomalies in the recovered enzyme activity data of an enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase at the end of freeze-thawing. The effect of thawing rate was studied to explain the variability in the data. In addition, post-thaw "aging" of freshly frozen and thawed samples was performed at 5 degrees C to reduce the variability in the recovered enzyme activity. Results from these experiments implicate the use of aging of dilute multimeric enzymes at the end of freeze-thawing to control the variability in enzyme assays.
Fossil fuel addiction and the implications for climate change policy

Abstract This paper applies a behavioral economics model of cigarette addiction to the issue of fossil fuel usage and climate change. Both problems involve consumption of a currently beneficial product that causes detrimental effects in the distant future and for which current reductions in usage induces an adjustment cost. The paper argues that because fossil fuel control requires solving an international public goods problem as well as an addiction-like problem, breaking it will be more challenging. Using insights from the model, it also suggests that fossil fuel addiction, like cigarette addiction, may generate a long period of time in which people express sincere desire to convert to clean energy, but accomplish little to achieve that outcome. Finally the paper examines the history of the international anti-smoking campaign to draw insights for the campaign against global climate change. The analogy suggests that policies to reduce the present cost of non-carbon energy sources to induce voluntary adjustments in energy usage, or, policies that induce cleaner usage of fossil fuels, or geo-engineering policies that work to reverse the warming effects of higher CO 2 concentrations, may be more viable than policies that raise the cost of current fossil fuel consumption.
Förster resonance energy transfer measurement from a gold coated upconverting nanophosphor

Core-shell nanoparticles with an upconverting phosphorescent, lanthanide core and plasmonic gold shell are employed for Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). FRET is demonstrated from a highly efficient upconverting fluoride nanoparticle doped with Ytterbium (Yb) and Erbium (Er) ions to Streptavidin conjugated with Tetramethyl rhodamine fluorophore.
Some caveats about the ‘Atlantic’ paradigm

Atlantic history is becoming increasingly fashionable. For colonial North American history in particular, this new perspective has proven genuinely liberating. It has allowed historians to escape the traditional teleological narratives of the nation. The colonial history of what would later be the United States has long been cast in rather narrow conceptual and geographical terms. Narratives exploring the vicissitudes and exploits of European settlers, as they allegedly went about creating the foundations of the new nation somewhere on the northeast coast, had crowded the field. This paradigm has come tumbling down as scholars now study developments in areas well beyond the British continental colonies. Historians currently maintain that the territories that came together to form the original union were part of a much larger Atlantic, namely, colonial British, French, Dutch, and Spanish worlds, each made up of a multitude of historical actors. This change of perspective, to be sure, is most welcome.
Antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts: uses and limitations.

Abstract With recent developments in the field of mycology, such as increased incidence of fungal infections, the introduction of newer, safer antifungals, and the emergence of resistance, the need for clinically relevant antifungal susceptibility testing methods is obvious. Studies performed over the past decade have allowed the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards Subcommittee on Antifungal Testing to achieve consensus on a new standardized broth dilution method for in vitro susceptibility testing of yeasts (NCCLS M27-A). Once the reproducibility of the M27-A document was established, tentative breakpoints for fluconazole and itraconazole were derived. The availability of a standardized procedure for determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antifungal agents is an important tool in drug discovery and development. In addition, it provides means for detection of resistant strains and, in the case of oropharyngeal candidiasis, means for patient management.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the head and neck.

Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) of the head and neck is a rare, locally infiltrative, low-grade sarcoma. This study defines the clinical behavior of DFSP, evaluates the role of frozen section analysis, and identifies factors that predict local control.
Metric Accuracy Improvements of Space-Based Visible Using Spacecraft Attitude Drift Corrections

TheMidcourseSpaceExperiment satellite, sponsoredbytheBallisticMissileDefenseOrganization,was launched in April 1996 into an 898-km altitude, near sun-synchronous orbit. One of the principal sensors onboard the spacecraft is the Space-Based Visible, a visible-band, electro-optical camera designed to perform the  rst technical and functional demonstration of space-based space surveillance. The principal task of the Space-Based Visible is to gather metric and photometric information on a wide variety of resident space objects. To assess the metric performance of the sensor, routine on-orbit metric calibration is performed. In addition, a complete independent error assessment was made using actual  ight data. The goal of producing 4-arc-s (1-sigma) observations of resident space objects was set during design, and results show that this goal is being met. A method is presented that improves the metric observations of resident space objects to better than 2-arc-s (1-sigma) by estimating the drift of the spacecraft attitude during staring events and removing the effect from the observations. Compensating for this error source brings into agreement the results of on-orbitcalibrationand the independenterror assessment.
A new method for solving perturbation equations

A new, generally applicable technique is described for constructing solutions of a coupled linear system of partial differential equations when a decoupled equation has been derived. This method has already yielded an extremely simple derivation of perturbation formulas given by Cohen and Kegeles and by Chrzanowski as well as new formulas for the complete solutions of the coupled Einstein-Maxwell equations describing Reissner-Nordstrom perturbations. It is hoped that it will prove valuable for many other applications.
Designer channels: site-directed mutagenesis as a probe for structural features of channels and receptors

Abstract Site-directed mutagenesis is a powerful technique for determining structure—function relations in proteins. The problems addressed can range from the role of glycosylation of a single amino acid in receptor-channel complex assembly to the mechanism of ion selectivity in the Na + channel. As the questions become more complicated, it is unlikely that a single amino acid substitution can provide sufficient information; rather, a series of mutations will be required. As more becomes known about the relevant structural features of individual ion channels and receptors, general principles may emerge which will aid in understanding how other, less well-known, channels work.
The cycloaddition reactions of unsaturated esters with cyclopentadiene on γ-alumina

Abstract The Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene (CP) with methyl acrylate (MA), dimethyl maleate (DMM), and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on alumina of varying activity has been examined. The diastereoselectivity of the reaction of CP with MA is markedly dependent on the activity of the alumina. Two factors account for these changes: (1) the nature and number of the catalytic sites on the surface, and (2) the observed reversibility of the Diels-Alder reaction on the more activated alumina. The reaction of CP with MA has been used to measure the Ω value of the surface of unactivated alumina.
Bayesian Efficiency Tests for Commodity Futures Markets

The study of asset price behavior and asset market efficiency began with Fama's analysis of stock prices. Since then a multitude of studies have investigated the restrictions on asset price dynamics implied by economic notions of arbitrage and efficient markets. The basic issue investigated in asset market efficiency studies is whether the future price of an asset can be predicted accurately enough to earn a forecaster/ investor a risk-adjusted economic profit. If yes, the asset market is not efficient; if no, the market is efficient as all currently available information has been incorporated into asset prices in a manner that prevents profitable arbitrage opportunities achieved through accurate forecasting. In the majority of studies, the null hypothesis of an efficient market is equated to the statistical relationship that asset prices follow a unit root data generating process (also referred to as a random walk). Such a process cannot be predicting in any profitable way because the optimal forecast of future prices is simply the current price. The alternative is a stationary data generating process, implying the time series of prices tends to revert toward its mean. Such mean reversion excludes market efficiency because investors observing price deviating from its mean can appropriately buy or sell the asset in anticipation of realizing a profit when the asset price moves back toward its mean. The present paper follows this tradition and tests for market effi-
Off-road tire modeling and the multi-pass effect for vehicle dynamics simulation

Abstract Off-road operations are critical in many fields and the complexity of the tire-terrain interaction deeply affects vehicle performance. In this paper, a semi-empirical off-road tire model is discussed. The efforts of several researchers are brought together into a single model able to predict the main features of a tire operating in off-road scenarios by computing drawbar pull, driving torque, lateral force, slip-sinkage phenomenon and the multi-pass behavior. The approach is principally based on works by Wong, Reece, Chan, and Sandu and it is extended in order to catch into a single model the fundamental features of a tire running on soft soil. A thorough discussion of the methodology is conducted in order to highlight strengths and weakness of different implementations. The study considers rigid wheels and flexible tires and analyzes the longitudinal and the lateral dynamics. Being computationally inexpensive a semi-empirical model is attractive for real time vehicle dynamics simulations. To the best knowledge of the authors, current vehicle dynamics codes poorly account for off-road operations where tire-terrain interaction dominates vehicle performance. In this paper two soils are considered: a loose sandy terrain and a firmer loam. Results show that the model realistically predicts longitudinal and lateral forces providing at the same time good estimates of the slip-sinkage behavior and tire parameters sensitivity.
Thermodynamic model for surface reconstruction based on surface stress effects

A thermodynamic model for surface reconstruction based on the effects of surface stress is presented. The energetics associated with the relaxation of a surface layer that is allowed to elastically strain and lose coherence with the bulk are analyzed. A simple criterion for an instability leading to surface reconstruction is developed and compared with experimental observation of surface reconstruction behavior displayed by fcc metals.
Effects of ultraviolet radiation on the primary production of natural phytoplankton assemblages in Lake Michigan

Abstract Inhibition of primary production of offshore Lake Michigan phytoplankton assemblages by solar ultraviolet radiation (SUVR) was observed from April to October in 1986 during in situ incubations in special Plexiglas chambers. Inhibition of primary production by SUVR was observed to a depth of 6 m and at intensities which were approximately 1% of the UV-B intensity at the lake surface. Significant inhibition of primary production by SUVR was restricted to the top third of the euphotic zone. The order of relative sensitivities of offshore Lake Michigan phytoplankton assemblages during different seasons to inhibition by SUVR were spring (ED50 = 17.6 kJ/m2 UV-B) > fall (ED50 = 30.5 kJ/m2 UV-B) > summer (ED50 = 131.6 kJ/m2 UV-B). A hazard assessment model predicted a significant reduction (13%) in areal (total water column) primary production for offshore Lake Michigan due to current SUVR intensities. Concern about possible increased reduction of primary production in the North American Great Lakes due to depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer appears to be unwarranted.
Impact of pregnancy and vaginal delivery on the passive and active mechanics of the rat vagina

Remodeling of vaginal extracellular matrix and smooth muscle likely plays a critical role in reducing the risk of maternal injury during vaginal delivery by altering the mechanical properties to increase distension and reduce stress. Long-Evans rats were divided into five groups to examine the passive mechanical and active contractile properties throughout pregnancy and postpartum: virgin (n = 17), mid-pregnant (Day 14–16, n = 12), late-pregnant (Day 20–22, n = 14), immediate postpartum (0–2 h after delivery, n = 14), and 4 week postpartum (n = 15). Longitudinal sections of vaginal tissue were loaded to failure uniaxially for passive mechanical or active contractile properties were examined. For passive mechanics, the tangent modulus decreased 45% by mid-pregnancy and immediately postpartum (p < 0.001). The ultimate strain continuously increased up to 43% higher than virgin animals (p = 0.007) in the immediate postpartum group. For active mechanics, the maximal contractile force was 36–56% lower through immediate postpartum animals, and was significantly more sensitive to K+ throughout pregnancy and postpartum (p = 0.003). The changes observed in the passive and active properties of the rat vagina are consistent with what would be expected from a tissue that is remodeling to maximize its ability to distend at the time of vaginal delivery to facilitate passage of the fetus with minimal injury.
H-2-linked recessiveIr gene regulation of high antibody responsiveness to TNP hapten conjugated to autogenous albumin

The antibody response to the hapten 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) conjugated to autogenous mouse serum albumin (MSA) is regulated by anIr gene(s) located within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Both the qualitative and quantitative ability of congenic strains to produce TNP-specific antibodies are functions of theH-2 haplotype. Thus, mouse strains may be classified as high (H-2d), intermediate (H-2b,H-2s), and low responders (H-2a,H-2k,H-2n,H-2p,H-2q). Antibody responses, as measured by antigen-binding capacities in modified Farr assays, were compared among strains carrying recombinantH-2 haplotypes and their hybrid progenies. Distinct high- and low-responder phenotypes were evident throughout the time course of both primary and secondary antibody responses. The gene locus controlling specific responsiveness to TNP-MSA, now designatedIr-6, was mapped within theI-B subregion of theH-2 complex. Recessive inheritance of high responsiveness was confirmed in hybrid progenies of three different low × high-responder crosses.
Hierarchy and Egalitarianism in Islamic Thought

Introduction Part I. Sources for Islamic Social Ideals: 1. Egalitarianism and the growth of a pious opposition 2. The Muslim reception of Greek ideas 3. The Muslim reception of Iranian social models Part II. THE TAMING OF ISLAMIC EGALITARIANISM: 4. The disassociation of egalitarianism and opposition 5. The didactic literature of the courts 6. Rationalisations of inequalities 7. Hierarchies of occupations Conclusion.
Cultural Control of Overwintering Bollworm and Tobacco Budworm

Listing, disking, and relisting the land with modern tractor-mounted equipment following cotton harvest plus a preplanting irrigation gave 100% control of overwintering bollwoms, Heliothis zea (Boddie) and tobacco budworms, H. virescens (F.). In a pepper field, emergence of bollworm moths from diapausing pupae was reduced about 55% by listing the land. About 73% of the tobacco bud worms emerged in March, and about 65% of the bollworms in April.
Reconstruction and Morphometric Analysis of the Nasal Airway of the Dog (Canis familiaris) and Implications Regarding Olfactory Airflow

The canine nasal airway is an impressively complex anatomical structure, having many functional roles. The complicated branching and intricate scrollwork of the nasal conchae provide large surface area for heat, moisture, and odorant transfer. Of the previous anatomical studies of the canine nasal airway, none have included a detailed rendering of the maxilloturbinate and ethmoidal regions of the nose. Here, we present a high-resolution view of the nasal airway of a large dog, using magnetic resonance imaging scans. Representative airway sections are shown, and a three-dimensional surface model of the airway is reconstructed from the image data. The resulting anatomic structure and detailed morphometric data of the airway provide insight into the functional nature of canine olfaction. A complex airway network is revealed, wherein the branched maxilloturbinate and ethmoturbinate scrolls appear structurally distinct. This is quantitatively confirmed by considering the fractal dimension of each airway, which shows that the maxilloturbinate airways are more highly contorted than the ethmoidal airways. Furthermore, surface areas of the maxilloturbinate and ethmoidal airways are shown to be much different, despite having analogous physiological functions. Functionally, the dorsal meatus of the canine nasal airway is shown to be a bypass for odorant-bearing inspired air around the complicated maxilloturbinate during sniffing for olfaction. Finally, nondimensional analysis is used to show that the airflow within both the maxilloturbinate and ethmoturbinate regions must be laminar. This work has direct relevance to biomimetic sniffer design, chemical trace detector development, intranasal drug delivery, and inhalation toxicology.
In situ strain and temperature measurement and modelling during arc welding

AbstractExperiments and numerical models were applied to investigate the thermal and mechanical behaviours of materials adjacent to the weld pool during arc welding. In the experiment, a new high temperature strain measurement technique based on digital image correlation (DIC) was developed and applied to measure the in situ strain evolution. In contrast to the conventional DIC method that is vulnerable to the high temperature and intense arc light involved in fusion welding processes, the new technique utilised a special surface preparation method to produce high temperature sustaining speckle patterns required by the DIC algorithm as well as a unique optical illumination and filtering system to suppress the influence of the intense arc light. These efforts made it possible for the first time to measure in situ the strain field 1 mm away from the fusion line. The temperature evolution in the weld and the adjacent regions was simultaneously monitored by an infrared camera. Additionally, a thermal–mechanic...
The management of autonomy in adolescent diabetes: a case study of triadic medical interaction.

The transfer of responsibility for diabetes management from parent to child has been seen as a central challenge for the clinical care of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Research is needed to bet...
A 40 kb chromosomal fragment encoding Salmonella typhimurium invasion genes is absent from the corresponding region of the Escherichia coli K-12 chromosome.

Summary Many Salmonella typhimurium genes are required for bacterial entry into host cells. P22 transduction analysis has localized several invasion loci near minute 59 on the S. typhimurium chromosome. To further characterize the 59–60 min chromosomal region, we determined the physical and genetic map of 85 kb of S. typhimurium DNA between srl and cysC. It was previously shown that some of the invasion genes from this region are not present in Escherichia coli K-12. We examined whether other S. typhimurium genes on the 85 kb of DNA were similarly absent from E. coli We found that a contiguous 40 kb fragment of the S. typhimurium chromosome which encodes invasion genes is absent from the corresponding region of the E. coli K-12 chromosome and may represent a pathogenicity island. We speculate that acquisition of the 40 kb region must have significantly advanced the evolution of Salmonella as a pathogen.
Multiresolution approach to identification of recurring signal patterns

Manufacturing processes are generally monitored by observing uniformly sampled process signals collected from application specific sensors. Effective process monitoring and control requires identification of different types of variations, including recurring patterns, in process variables. From the process control view point, any repeating patterns in the process measurements will warrant an investigation into potentially assignable causes. In order to devise an effective process control scheme, a novel method for identifying the repeated occurrence of patterns in process measurements is described in this paper. First the sampled process signal is decomposed into signals of different resolution using a wavelet transform. Next, a frequency index is assigned to every sampling point of the process signal at every resolution level to improve the pattern recognition. Recurring patterns are first detected at different resolutions and are then integrated to arrive at the final results. The experimental results show that the method used in this work accurately detects a broader family of recurring patterns even in the presence of noise.
The impact of advertising message strategy – fair labour v. sexual appeal – upon Gen Y consumers' intent to patronize an apparel retailer

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine Gen Y consumers' responses to American Apparel's use of two advertising message strategies – fair labour and sex appeal, using the theory of reasoned action to predict intent to patronize American Apparel and comparing the utility of the classic reasoned action model with an extended model that included variables external to the theory.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was administered to 425 consumers, who were randomly assigned to one of four advertisement exposure groups. Group 1 evaluated an American Apparel ad (Ad No. 1) that promoted fair labour practices. Groups 2, 3, and 4 evaluated Ad No. 1 as well as one of three additional ads that featured messages employing sex appeal of varied intensities.Findings – Participants' attitudes toward American Apparel were more positive when they were exposed to the fair labour message, only, than when they were exposed to the fair labour message in conjunction with one of the three sex appeal messages...
Monte Carlo study of vacancy-mediated impurity diffusion in silicon

We present a kinetic lattice Monte Carlo study of the behavior of a dopant flux driven by a vacancy gradient, associated with the diffusion of substitutional impurities via a vacancy mechanism in silicon. Recent ab initio results are used for a quantitative description of the impurity-vacancy interaction. We find a dopant flux smaller than, but in the same direction as, that predicted by the pair diffusion model, with the deviation greatest at high temperatures.
Shock Wave from a Release of Gas at 110 km Altitude

AT evening twilight on May 25, 1965, 4.5 kg of gaseous nitrogen dioxide was released at a height of 110 km from the Australian Aero-High sounding rocket. Two new observations are reported here. There was a visible glow cloud and, very surprisingly, a wave was observed expanding outwards from the glow. This wave is shown in Fig. 1, which is reproduced from a photograph taken by the Baker–Nunn camera at Woomera 13 sec after release of the nitrogen dioxide. At this time, the diameter of the wave was 11.8 km.
Conservation of mechanism in three chorismate-utilizing enzymes.

Chorismate is the end-product of the shikimate pathway for biosynthesis of carbocyclic aromatic compounds in plants, bacteria, fungi, and some parasites. Anthranilate synthase (AS), 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate synthase (ADCS), and isochorismate synthase (IS) are homologous enzymes that carry out the initial transformations on chorismate in the biosynthesis of tryptophan, p-aminobenzoate, and enterobactin, respectively, and are expected to share a common mechanism. Poor binding to ADCS of two potential transition state analogues for addition of a nucleophile to C6 of chorismate implies that it, like AS and IS, initiates reaction by addition of a nucleophile to C2. Molecular modeling based on the X-ray structures of AS and ADCS suggests that the active site residue K274 is the nucleophile employed by ADCS to initiate the reaction, forming a covalent intermediate. The K274A and K274R mutants were shown to have 265- and 640-fold reduced kcat values when PabA (the cognate amidotransferase) + glutamine are used a...