cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE SOURCE IDENTIFICATION OF MARINE HYDROCARBONS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract The basis of a method for the source identification of oil spills by gas chromatographic analysis (‘fingerprinting’) is described. Characteristic compositional parameters for eight different crude oils are given. The environmental degradation of oil by evaporation, dissolution, and bacterial decomposition is discussed. Distinguishing compositional features are still recognisable after more than eight months of weathering. The applicability of the method is demonstrated by the tentative source identification of two samples of beach tar.
Exposure to 56Fe irradiation accelerates normal brain aging and produces deficits in spatial learning and memory

Abstract Previous studies have shown that radiation exposure, particularly to particles of high energy and charge (HZE particles) such as 56 Fe, produces deficits in spatial learning and memory. These adverse behavioral effects are similar to those seen in aged animals. It is possible that these shared effects may be produced by the same mechanism. For example, an increased release of reactive oxygen species, and the subsequent oxidative stress and inflammatory damage caused to the central nervous system, is likely responsible for the deficits seen in aging and following irradiation. Therefore, dietary antioxidants, such as those found in fruits and vegetables, could be used as countermeasures to prevent the behavioral changes seen in these conditions. Both aged and irradiated rats display cognitive impairment in tests of spatial learning and memory such as the Morris water maze and the radial arm maze. These rats have decrements in the ability to build spatial representations of the environment, and they utilize non-spatial strategies to solve tasks. Furthermore, they show a lack of spatial preference, due to a decline in the ability to process or retain place (position of a goal with reference to a “map” provided by the configuration of numerous cues in the environment) information. These declines in spatial memory occur in measures dependent on both reference and working memory, and in the flexibility to reset mental images. These results show that irradiation with 56 Fe high-energy particles produces age-like decrements in cognitive behavior that may impair the ability of astronauts, particularly middle-aged ones, to perform critical tasks during long-term space travel beyond the magnetosphere.
Cross-reactivities in memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte recognition of heterologous viruses

Analyses of the relationships between different viruses and viral proteins have focused on homologies between linear amino acid sequences, but cross-reactivities at the level of T cell recognition may not be dependent on a conserved linear sequence of several amino acids. The CTL response to Pichinde virus (PV) and vaccinia virus (VV) in C57BL/6 mice previously immunized with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) included the reactivation of memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) specific to LCMV. Limiting dilution assays (LDA) demonstrated that at least part of this reactivation of memory cells in LCMV-immune mice related to cross-reactivity at the clonal level, even though acute infections with these viruses in nonimmune mice elicited CTL responses that did not cross-react in conventional bulk CTL assays. Precursor CTL (pCTL) to LCMV were generated in splenic leukocytes from LCMV-immune mice acutely infected with PV or VV when stimulated in vitro with only the second virus but not with uninfected peritoneal exudate cells (PECs). Cytotoxicity mediated by LCMV-specific CTL clones activated by PV infection was greatly inhibited by anti-CD8 antibody, suggesting that these memory CTL clones recognizing LCMV-infected targets were of low affinity. LCMV-immune splenocytes stimulated in vitro with PV or VV demonstrated a low but significant precursor frequency (p/f) to the heterologous viruses, and splenocytes from PV- or VV-immune mice when stimulated in vitro against LCMV generated a low but significant p/f to LCMV. Short-term CTL clones cross-reactive between LCMV and PV were derived from splenic leukocytes from LCMV-immune mice acutely infected with PV. To distinguish whether the cross-reactivity was directed against a viral peptide or a virus-induced endogenous cellular neoantigen, we demonstrated that a pCTL frequency to PV about 1/4-1/7 that of the frequency to LCMV could be generated from LCMV-immune splenic leukocytes stimulated with the immunodominant LCMV NP peptide. A partially homologous PV peptide generated from the equivalent site to the LCMV NP peptide did not sensitize targets to lysis by either LCMV- or PV-specific CTLs, suggesting that the cross-reactivity in killing was not due to evolutionarily conserved equivalent sequences. Experiments also indicated that prior immunity to one virus could modulate future primary immune responses to a second virus. Elevated pCTL frequencies to PV were seen after acute PV infection of LCMV-immune mice, and elevated pCTL frequencies to LCMV were seen after acute LCMV infection of PV- and VV-immune mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Long-term stability of the anti-influenza A compounds—amantadine and rimantadine

Abstract Amantadine and rimantadine hydrochloride were tested for stability after storage at different temperatures and under different conditions for extended periods of time. Both compounds were quite stable after storage for at least 25 years at ambient temperature; they both retained full antiviral activity after long-term storage or after boiling and holding at 65–85°C for several days. Thus, amantadine and rimantadine could be synthesized in large quantities and stored for at least one generation without loss of activity in preparation for the next influenza A pandemic in humans.
Variation in temperature and dietary nitrogen affect performance of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.)

. . The independent and interactive effects of temperature and dietary nitrogen content on performance of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) were examined. In long-term feeding trials, larvae were reared from egg hatch to pupation on low (1.5%) and high (3.7% dry weight) nitrogen diets, under three temperature regimes. Short-term feeding trials with fourth instars and the same treatments were conducted in order to calculate nutritional indices. Higher temperatures did not influence larval survival and marginally increased final pupal weights, but strongly decreased long-term development rates. They also accelerated short-term growth and consumption rates, and tended to improve food processing efficiencies. High concentrations of dietary nitrogen increased survival rates and final pupal weights markedly, but decreased long-term development rates only marginally. A high content of dietary nitrogen also accelerated short-term development and growth rates, reduced consumption rates, and improved food digestibility. Insects responded to low nitrogen-content diets primarily by eating faster, rather than by altering efficiency of nitrogen use. In the short-term feeding trials, thermal regime and dietary nitrogen interacted to influence growth rates, overall food processing efficiencies and nitrogen consumption rates. No interactive effects were observed in long-term studies. This research demonstrates that small changes in thermal regime and ecologically relevant variation in dietary nitrogen content can strongly affect gypsy moth performance. Moreover, various performance parameters are differentially sensitive to the direct and interactive effects of temperature and diet.
Nonanalytic terms in the slow-motion expansion of a radiating scalar field on a Schwarzschild background

We demonstrate that when slow-motion infinities arise in an assumed power-series expansion of a time-varying scalar field, they signal the occurrence of terms of logarithmic order in the slow-motion expansion parameter. Previous approximation techniques used in general relativity have assumed that all quantities could be expanded in powers of the small parameter(s). This paper provides the first example, within general relativity, of perturbative effects whose order of magnitude is not a power, but a nonanalytic function of a small parameter. Several previous slow-motion derivations of gravitational radiation damping contained divergent integrals. We first show how an inappropriate expansion method produces divergent integrals in scalar perturbations on a Schwarzschild background. We then use matched asymptotic expansions to discover the aforementioned logarithmic terms. We employ the method of strained coordinates to seek a wave-zone expansion that is uniformly valid at very large distances. We also find that an unexpectedly large, time-odd term in the near zone, which arises via matching to the lowest wave-zone order, is canceled when higher wave-zone orders are considered. No divergent integrals occur. These same techniques will be used in a future paper on the much more complicated gravitational problem.
The experimental and calculational thermochemistry of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride : Is this 10 π multiring species aromatic?

The standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpy of formation of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride in the gaseous phase, −826.8 ± 3.1 kJ mol-1, was derived from the standard molar enthalpy of combustion, in oxygen, at T = 298.15 K, measured by static bomb combustion calorimetry and the standard molar enthalpy of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, measured by Calvet microcalorimetry. In addition, density functional theory calculations have been performed with the B3LYP, MPW1B95, and B3PW91 density functionals and the cc-pVTZ basis set for 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic diimide. Nucleus-independent chemical shifts calculations show that the aromaticity is restricted to the benzenic ring in both compounds even though they are formally 10 π polynuclear species.
Enhancing Participant Recruitment in Studies of Sensitive Topics

Recruiting participants in studies involving sensitive topics can be challenging.OBJECTIVEThis article examines whether a modified application of the Dillman method for enhancing survey response ra...
Triquark-diquark models of a Θ(1540)?

The enhancement in the flavour exotic NK channel seen by a number of experiments has been interpreted as a resonant pentaquark state, the Θ+(1540). Theoretical efforts to understand its structure, with the aim of explaining both the low mass and small decay width, have thrown up the possibility of a triquark-diquark P-wave correlation. We will discuss the constituent quark model study of Karliner and Lipkin and suggest that their P-wave excitation energy is an underestimate, a more plausible value raising the Θ mass in this model to more than 1700 MeV. We also propose on rather general grounds that these correlated quark models give rise to not only exotic baryon states, but also exotic meson states, in particular the strangeness +2, isoscalar + which will decay to K+K0.
Inhibition of deacylation and improvement in N-hydroxysuccinimide ester modification of phenylalanyl-tRNA by dimethyl sulfoxide

We have found that dimethyl sulfoxide significantly inhibits deacylation of Phe-tRNA. This allows a high pH in N-hydroxysuccinimide ester reactions while maintaining a high level of aminoacylated tRNA, improving the overall yield of the Phe-tRNA modification reaction.
CONCERNING THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ANTIBODY FOR THE TETANOPHILE RECEPTOR OF ERYTHROCYTES: A RECEPTOR STUDY

The treatment of washed erythrocytes of the guinea-pig by a heated immune hemolytic serum derived from the rabbit, and of washed erythrocytes of the sheep by a similar serum derived from the goat, renders the erythrocytes more or less resistant to the subsequent action of tetanolysin. If all the serum is removed from corpuscles treated in this manner, it can be determined that some of the protection is due to the agglutination of the cells. A certain amount of the protection afforded by agglutination is referable to the physical barrier which the agglutinated mass of cells offers to the uniform distribution and diffusion of the tetanolysin. It is probable that none of the protection obtained is due to the mere union of agglutinin or of hemolytic amboceptors with their respective cell-receptors; such union would appear to leave the tetanophile receptors still unoccupied. If a residuum of serum is left with the corpuscles which have been treated as indicated, the added protection which is acquired against the subsequent action of tetanolysin may reasonably be referred to antitoxin which is present in the residual serum. The possibility of the dissociation of a union between the tetanophile receptor and its antibody, occasioned by the dilution incident to washing away the serum, may not be entirely ignored, but has not been susceptible to determination. The same may be said of the possibility that tetanolysin, having a stronger affinity for the tetanophile receptor than has the antibody, is able to displace the latter from its union with the receptor. Hence treating corpuscles with the immune serums does not allow one to determine the presence or absence of an antibody for the tetanophile receptor, the experiments being formulated on the supposition that such an antibody would unite with the tetanophile receptors and thereby prevent subsequent binding of tetanolysin.
Gamma-ray emission probabilities of the daughters of 238U

A wealth of decay data has been obtained and reported in recent years, much of it in “Decay Data of the Transactinium Nuclides”. IAEA Technical Reports Series No. 261 (1986). The decay data for the daughters of 238U have been notable by their absence in such compilations and, since there is a need for such data, a set of experiments has been performed to measure their gamma-ray emission probabilities. Uranium samples of known mass and isotopic concentration were dissolved in aqueous solution, and analyzed with a high-purity germanium gamma-ray spectrometer. Some of these samples also contained multi-line calibration nuclides with well-known relative emission probabilities and the well-known emission probabilities of the 235U gamma rays were also used to provide an absolute emission probability reference. Since self-absorption of the sample was included in the effective detector efficiency, there was no need for a separate calculation of this absorption. Gamma-ray emission probabilities for the energy range 63 to 1937 keV are reported, and sources of error are discussed, including those in the efficiency curve.
Tax concepts and their importance in the undergraduate curriculum

Abstract Accounting and tax education groups have stressed the need to teach the undergraduate tax courses in a more conceptual manner. However, no conceptual framework for the taxation system has been developed. This exploratory study was conducted to survey the opinions of tax professionals regarding tax concepts and their general acceptance. The concepts identified in this study should serve as the foundation of an orderly theoretical structure for taxation. Finally, the results revealed that the normative concepts are stressed by tax educators in teaching the basic tax course, although in varying degrees of emphasis.
The Typhoons of October 1970 in the South China Sea: Intensification, Decay and Ocean Interaction.

Abstract In October 1970 the South China Sea experienced three typhoons. Meteorological and oceanographic data were examined in an attempt to explain why the typhoons underwent intensity changes while over the South China Sea. The clearest relationship was found with troughs in the upper tropospheric westerlies—intensification accompanied development of a middle and high cloud plume streaming northeastward from the storm area.
Heat transfer across a two-fluid-layer region

Utilisation de la methode de Landau pour calculer le transfert de chaleur par conversion a travers un systeme compose de 2 couches de fluide
Motion of gunite masses in the nozzles of tuyeres for flame guniting

When Gunite mass is supplied through the nozzle of a tuyere into the cavity of a metallurgical assembly, there is a significant spread in the values of the velocities of individual fractions of the polydispersed gas suspension. The greater the density of the particles of polydispersed gas suspensions, the smaller the spread of velocities among the individual fractions of the component.
Relating Perceived Web Page Complexity to Emotional Valence and Eye Movement Metrics

Initial impression of visual complexity has major significance for both consumer and enterprise web page designs. Research is still needed, however, before complexity assessment methods can become part of the usability tool arsenal. In this regard, a study was conducted to compare subjective ratings, eye tracking, JPEG-compressed file size, and emotional valence measures. Professional enterprise users conducted search tasks, then judged the complexity of web pages. Multivariate factor analysis was followed by ordinal logistic regressions on subjective ratings. Subjective ratings of page complexity were driven in part by self-perception of search difficulty, and in part by page density. Fixation durations increased and search area decreased with lower complexity ratings. Aggregated emotional valence, from facial analysis, also increased with higher ratings of page clarity. Overall, both pre-attentive eye tracking and emotional valence measures were related to conscious subjective judgments of complexity. F...
The normal coordinate analysis and infrared spectrum of bis(glycinamido)copper(II)monohydrate

Abstract The infrared spectra of bis(glycinamido)copper(II) monohydrate and its N-deuterated analog have been measured from 4000 to 200 cm −1 . In order to compare the strength of CuN(amido) and the CuN (amino) bonds, a normal coordinate analysis has been carried out on the 1:1 (metal-ring) model. The results indicate that the stretching force constants of the CuN(amido) and CuN(amino) bonds are 1.02 and 0.88 mdyn/ A, respectively. It has been shown in general that the CuN bond becomes stronger as the net negative charge on the nitrogen atom increases.
The Air-Side Thermal-Hydraulic Performance of Flat-Tube Heat Exchangers With Louvered, Wavy, and Plain Fins Under Dry and Wet Conditions

The air-side thermal-hydraulic performance of flat-tube aluminum heat exchangers is studied experimentally for conditions typical to air-conditioning applications, for heat exchangers constructed with serpentine louvered, wavy, and plain fins. Using a closed-loop calorimetric wind tunnel, heat transfer and pressure drop are measured at air face velocities from 0.5 m/s to 2.8 m/s for dry- and wet-surface conditions. Parametric effects related to geometry and operating conditions on heat transfer and friction performance of the heat exchangers are explored. Significant differences in the effect of geometrical parameters are found for dry and wet conditions. For the louver-fin geometry, using a combined database from the present and the previous studies, empirical curve-fits for the Colburn j- and f-factors are developed in terms of a wet-surface multiplier. The wet-surface multiplier correlations fit the present database with rms relative residuals of 21.1% and 24.4% for j and f multipliers, respectively. Alternatively, stand-alone Colburn j and f correlations give rms relative residuals of 22.7% and 29.1%, respectively.
The isostatic compensation of the Colorado Plateau-Basin and Range transition zone in central Utah

Abstract The western margin of the Colorado Plateau in central Utah is similar in tectonic style to the adjacent Basin and Range Province and appears to be a transition between the two provinces. It is important to understand the isostatic compensation of the topography, the source of the associated gravity anomalies, and the regional mechanical structure since these variations can be linked to the mechanism controlling the uplift of the Colorado Plateau and adjacent regions. In this paper the isostatic response function (admittance function) technique is used to study the isostatic compensation of the Colorado Plateau-Basin and Range transition zone in central Utah and determine the applicability of this technique in the study of small geologically complex areas. The observed admittance, determined from the topography and free air gravity anomaly, had small errors for the long wavelength estimates, small (nearly zero) phase angles, and high coherence. This suggests that most of the energy in the power spectrum of the free air anomaly is correlated with the gravity fields of the topography and its compensation. The residual gravity anomaly based on the observed admittance is small except in the region of the Wasatch Front where the presence of a fairly symmetric high-low-high trend suggests compensated crustal or lithospheric structures not correlated to the topography. The observed admittance function is compared to three simple isostatic models: a surface loaded continuous elastic plate, a subsurface loaded continuous elastic plate, and a Pratt model of local compensation. It was found that the best fit elastic plate models defined similar results in spite of differing assumptions as to the form of the loading. These models both had best fit effective flexural rigidities of 10 20 Nm and Moho depths of approximately 35 km. The calculated residual gravity anomalies based on these models are nearly identical to the residual anomaly of the Pratt model with a compensation depth of 65 km. The residual anomaly of all three models reproduced the trends and magnitude of the residual anomaly based on the observed admittance. It is suggested that this local compensation is due to subsurface laterally varying thermal density anomalies. These results differ from previous isostatic rebound studies of ancient Lake Bonneville, which give larger magnitude effective flexural rigidities. These differences can possibly be attributed to differing time scales of loading between Lake Bonneville and the long term thermal loading of the Basin and Range extension and associated volcanism or the overall simplicity of the considered models. Care should be exercised in the interpretation of admittance functions determined across transition zones between adjacent tectonic provinces. Depths of compensation and flexural rigidities can represent averaged values. All additional geophysical and geologic information should be considered in the interpretations.
Psychopathology in hospitalized, adopted children.

Abstract Of 763 consecutive admissions to a children's psychiatric hospital, 66 (8.7%) were adopted. The adopted subjects had a higher frequency of personality disorder diagnosis, a difference accounted for by an increased frequency of personality disorder diagnosis in the girls. The not-adopted subjects had more frequent diagnoses of separation anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Adopted boys had more concentration symptoms and hyperactivity symptoms than not-adopted boys and adopted girls had fewer anxiety symptoms than not-adopted girls.
Determining the Transition-State Structure for Different SN2 Reactions Using Experimental Nucleophile Carbon and Secondary α-Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effects and Theory

Nucleophile (11)C/ (14)C [ k (11)/ k (14)] and secondary alpha-deuterium [( k H/ k D) alpha] kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were measured for the S N2 reactions between tetrabutylammonium cyanide and ethyl iodide, bromide, chloride, and tosylate in anhydrous DMSO at 20 degrees C to determine whether these isotope effects can be used to determine the structure of S N2 transition states. Interpreting the experimental KIEs in the usual fashion (i.e., that a smaller nucleophile KIE indicates the Nu-C alpha transition state bond is shorter and a smaller ( k H/ k D) alpha is found when the Nu-LG distance in the transition state is shorter) suggests that the transition state is tighter with a slightly shorter NC-C alpha bond and a much shorter C alpha-LG bond when the substrate has a poorer halogen leaving group. Theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory support this conclusion. The results show that the experimental nucleophile (11)C/ (14)C KIEs can be used to determine transition-state structure in different reactions and that the usual method of interpreting these KIEs is correct. The magnitude of the experimental secondary alpha-deuterium KIE is related to the nucleophile-leaving group distance in the S N2 transition state ( R TS) for reactions with a halogen leaving group. Unfortunately, the calculated and experimental ( k H/ k D) alpha's change oppositely with leaving group ability. However, the calculated ( k H/ k D) alpha's duplicate both the trend in the KIE with leaving group ability and the magnitude of the ( k H/ k D) alpha's for the ethyl halide reactions when different scale factors are used for the high and the low energy vibrations. This suggests it is critical that different scaling factors for the low and high energy vibrations be used if one wishes to duplicate experimental ( k H/ k D) alpha's. Finally, neither the experimental nor the theoretical secondary alpha-deuterium KIEs for the ethyl tosylate reaction fit the trend found for the reactions with a halogen leaving group. This presumably is found because of the bulky (sterically hindered) leaving group in the tosylate reaction. From every prospective, the tosylate reaction is too different from the halogen reactions to be compared.
Characterizations of multihead finite automata

We give characterizations of multihead two-way finite automata in terms of multihead reversal-bounded pushdown automata and restricted checking stack automata. In particular, we show that a language is accepted by a 2 k -head two-way finite automaton if and only if it is accepted by a k -head two-way pushdown automaton which makes one reversal on its stack. We also show that a 2-head two-way deterministic finite automaton is equivalent to a simple type of two-way deterministic checking stack automaton. This is in contrast to a previously known result which shows that simple two-way nondeterministic checking stack automata are equivalent to nondeterministic linear bounded automata.
Maudsley reactive and nonreactive rats in the forced swim test: Comparison in fresh water and solied water

Maudsley reactive (MR) and nonreactive (MNRA) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were tested for their immobility response in the forced swim test when the water was fresh or soiled by a rat of the same or other strain. For all strains, rats tested in soiled water were less immobile than rats in fresh water. The three strains did not differ as producers of soiling substance, but did differ in their response to it. The MR strain was least responsive, whereas the MNRA and SD did not differ from one another. These results support a previous study suggesting that MR rats are more immobile than MNRA rats in the forced swim test. The interpretation of these findings regarding the use of the Maudsley rat strains as an animal model for studying anxiety and/or depression is discussed.
Assessing Differential Item Validity of the AIDS-Related Social Skills Questionnaire among African Adolescents☆

Abstract Using differential item validity (DIV) methodology, this study investigated whether the items of the AIDS-Related Social Skills (ASAS) questionnaire had the same interpretation by gender and country. Polytomous logistic regression was used to test if the coefficients for individual items were the same by gender and country. The subjects ( n = 1133) were Black Anglophone African 10th-grade students from Nigeria ( n = 396), Kenya ( n = 280), Zimbabwe ( n = 319), and Sierra Leone ( n = 138). The analyses showed that many items had significant DIV. Because 12 of the 30 test items (i.e., 40%) showed significant DIV, it suggested that the ASAS may not be internally valid by gender and across countries. Further qualitative work is needed to understand the extensive DIV that was statistically found in this study.
New advances in coenzyme Q biosynthesis

Coenzyme Q (or ubiquinone) is the product of two distinct biosynthetic pathways: the lipid “tail” of coenzyme Q is formed via the isoprene biosynthetic pathway, and the quinone ring derives from the metabolism of either shikimic acid or tyrosine. In general, eukaryotic organisms use the classical mevalonate pathway to form isopentenyl- and dimethylallyl-diphosphate, the five carbon building blocks of the polyisoprenoid tail, and prokaryotes use 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate, formed via the Rohmer pathway. The quinone ring precursor is 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, which is formed directly from chorismate inSaccharomyces cerevisiae andEscherichia coli, or from tyrosine in animal cells. Ring modification steps including prenylation, decarboxylation, and successive hydroxylation and methylation steps form the fully substituted benzoquinone ring of coenzyme Q. Many of the genes and polypeptides involved in coenzyme Q biosynthesis have been isolated and characterized by utilizing strains ofE. coli andS. cerevisiae with mutations in theubi andCOQ genes, respectively. This article reviews recent progress in characterizing the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q inE. coli, S. cerevisiae, and other eukaryotic organisms.
Back-arc spreading: Trench migration, continental pull or induced convection?

Abstract Mechanisms of the opening of back-arc systems are analyzed. Limited focal mechanisms of intraplate earthquakes are used to determine the stress regime of an overriding plate. Preliminary analyses show that compressive deviatoric stresses exist in the plate except near the spreading center. Based on this observation “trench suction” does not appear to be the primary force that drives back-arc spreading, since it will result in tensional deviatoric stresses within the overriding plate. Even though “continental pull” is able to satisfy the stress requirements, it does not appear to be a likely mechanism either because of the initiation and subsequent symmetric spreading difficulty associated with such a mechanism. The mechanism we favor is the one that involves the induced convective current in the mantle wedge immediately above the slab. Calculations show that the induced flow is able to generate sufficient stress to break up the overriding lithosphere if the tectonic stresses of the region are favorable. Both trench suction and continental pull may help to provide such a favorable tectonic stress regime.
Twins With Schizophrenia: Genes or Germs?

High concordance for schizophrenia in monozygotic (MZ) twins is often cited as evidence for the etiological influence of genetics; however, even if twins are separated at birth, MZ twin concordance is influenced by the shared prenatal environment. Study of the placentation status of MZ twins provides a way to investigate some prenatal influences, including the possible role of viral infections. The probability of shared infections is likely to be greater in monochorionic MZ twin pairs than in dichorionic pairs because of shared fetal circulation in the monochorionic pairs. We drew from published twin studies and used reported concordance for handedness as a retrospective marker of placentation status. We found that MZ twin pairs with opposite-hand preferences were concordant for psychosis in 9 of 15 cases (60%), while only 18 of 56 twin pairs (32%) with same-hand preferences were concordant for psychosis. These results suggest that shared prenatal viral infection may account for much of the high concordance for schizophrenia in identical twins.
Sperm capacitation assay in superovulated rabbits with uterine or oviducal inseminations.

SummaryRabbits which had been superovulated with FSH and HCG were compared with rabbits ovulated with HCG to assay sperm for capacitation. Inseminations with freshly ejaculated sperm 0 to 13 hr after an ovulating injection of HCG were compared with inseminations with capacitated sperm 13 hr after HCG. Superovulation increased the number of recovered ova from 8 to 22 and depressed percentage of ova recovery, but did not influence fertility significantly. Site of insemination did not influence ova recovery, but uterine inseminations resulted in higher fertility than oviducal inseminations whether they were performed with freshly ejaculated or with capacitated sperm. Inseminations with freshly ejaculated sperm at the time of injection of HCG resulted in more advanced ova development 34 hr after HCG than inseminations with capacitated sperm 13 hr after HCG. The data indicate that sperm may be assayed for capacitation with oviducal or with uterine inseminations into superovulated test rabbits. Lower fertility ...
Dissecting the Role of Insulin Resistance in the Metabolic Syndrome

Purpose of Review—Over twenty years ago, insulin resistance was postulated to play a central role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. However, this has been difficult to prove, leading to a great deal of controversy within the field. Recent studies in mice and humans with genetic defects in insulin signaling have allowed us, for the first time, to dissect which features of the metabolic syndrome can be caused by insulin resistance. Recent Findings—Mice with liver specific knockout of the insulin receptor (LIRKO) show that hepatic insulin resistance can produce (1) hyperglycemia; (2) increased Apob secretion and atherosclerosis; and (3) increased biliary cholesterol secretion and cholesterol gallstones. Many of these changes may be due to dis-inhibition of the transcription factor, FoxO1. Yet, neither LIRKO mice nor humans with insulin receptor mutations develop the hypertriglyceridemia or hepatic steatosis associated with the metabolic syndrome. Conclusion—These data point to a central role for insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome, as hyperglycemia, atherosclerosis, and cholesterol gallstones can all be caused by insulin resistance. However, hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis are not due directly to insulin resistance, and should be considered pathogenically distinct features of the metabolic syndrome.
Reliability studies of the skew-normal distribution and its application to a strength-stress model

The skew-normal distribution proposed by Azzalini [1] is suitable for the analysis of data exhibiting a unimodal empirical distribution function but having some skewness present, a structure often occurring in data analysis. In this paper we study the skew-normal distribution from a reliability point of view. More specifically, we obtain the failure rate, the mean residual life function (MRLF) and the reliability function of the skew-normal distribution. We also compare it with the normal distribution with respect to certain stochastic orderings and prove that the failure rate of the skew-normal distribution is increasing, a property enjoyed by the normal distribution. Appropriate machinery is developed to obtain the reliability in the strength-stress model where the variables involved follow the skew-normal distribution. Finally, data from Roberts [2] is analyzed to illustrate the results.
Proteomic identification of dopamine-conjugated proteins from isolated rat brain mitochondria and SH-SY5Y cells

Dopamine oxidation has been previously demonstrated to cause dysfunction in mitochondrial respiration and membrane permeability, possibly related to covalent modification of critical proteins by the reactive dopamine quinone. However, specific mitochondrial protein targets have not been identified. In this study, we utilized proteomic techniques to identify proteins directly conjugated with (14)C-dopamine from isolated rat brain mitochondria exposed to radiolabeled dopamine quinone (150 microM) and differentiated SH-SY5Y cells treated with (14)C-dopamine (150 microM). We observed a subset of rat brain mitochondrial proteins that were covalently modified by (14)C-dopamine, including chaperonin, ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1, glucose regulated protein 75/mitochondrial HSP70/mortalin, mitofilin, and mitochondrial creatine kinase. We also found the Parkinson's disease associated proteins ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 and DJ-1 to be covalently modified by dopamine in both brain mitochondrial preparations and SH-SY5Y cells. The susceptibility of the identified proteins to covalent modification by dopamine may carry implications for their role in the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.
Risk management in the Alaska Arctic offshore: wicked problems require new paradigms

The Alaska Arctic offshore is a “wicked” project environment because it is unique, socially and technically complex, has changing requirements and constraints to solutions, and involves multiple stakeholders who have different views and values about project risks related to resource development. Analysis of stakeholder conceptual approaches to risk, risk attitudes and data sources explain how and why risk perceptions vary. The data are 22 presentations from a seminar series on defining risk in Arctic offshore resource development, including perspectives of regulatory agencies, oil companies, consultants, local governments, environmental NGOs and academics. Discussion addresses the limitations of traditional risk management for complex projects, provides a case study of the Alaska Arctic offshore and suggests a unique combination of strategies for navigating wicked projects, including systems thinking, risk leadership, participatory process, problem structuring and norms and practices of high reliability o...
Nτ-Methylhistidine content of mixed proteins in various rat tissues

Abstract In order to use N τ -methylhistidine (3-methylhistidine) excretion in the urine as a measure of muscle protein breakdown, it is necessary to demonstrate that other tissues are not important sources of this protein constituent. Accordingly, the concentration of N τ -methylhistidine in blood serum and in the mixed proteins of heart, brain, lung, kidney, diaphragm, spleen, testis, stomach, liver and hind leg skeletal muscle was measured in male rats of approx. 400 g body weight. The free N τ -methylhistidine concentration of rat serum was less than 2 nmol per ml. In contrast, measurable amounts of N τ -methylhistidine were found in the mixed proteins of all tissues and organs examined. The highest concentration was found in skeletal muscle (658 nmol/g tissue). Assuming muscle mass to be 45% of body weight, it has been estimated that the muscle contains more than ten times the total amount of this amino acid present in all of the other organs analyzed, which together account for about 20% of total body weight. These findings indicate that skeletal muscle is likely to be the major source of urinary N τ -methylhistidine and the latter is, in consequence, a reflection of myofibrillar protein breakdown in skeletal muscle.
Columnar-thin-film acquisition of fingermark topology

Fingerprint visualization obtained from physical evidence taken from crime scenes for subsequent comparison typically requires the use of physical and chemical techniques. One physical technique to visualize or develop sebaceous fingerprints on various surfaces employs the deposition of metals such as gold and zinc thereon. We have developed a different vacuum technology: the conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation technique to deposit dense columnar thin films (CTFs) on latent fingerprints on different types of surfaces. Sample fingerprints, acting as nonplanar substrates, deposited on different surfaces were placed in a vacuum chamber with the fingerprint side facing a boat containing an evaporant material such as chalcogenide glass. Thermal evaporation of the solid material led to the formation of a dense CTF on the fingerprint, thereby capturing the topographical texture with high resolution. Our results show that it is possible to acquire the topology of latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces. Additionally, deposition of CTFs on overlapping fingerprints suggested ours may be a technique for elucidating the sequence of deposition of the fingerprints at the scene.
Good high-rate π-rotation LDPC codes based on novel puncturing techniques

In this paper we introduce puncturing techniques to produce high-rate π-rotation low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The techniques rely on symmetry considerations to maintain simple description and to achieve excellent performance. We also extend the bounds on the minimum <?2 for the high-rate codes.
Georges Rouault and the Rhetoric of Expressionism

Endorsing the artist's statements, Georges Rouault's admirers have repeated and helped sustain the myth of the painter as an isolated, solitary genius. Although there are many points of intersection between Rouault's work and German Expressionism (an emphasis on process and visual distortion, thematic affinities such as religious imagery, a fascination with self-portraiture, as well as with clowns and prostitutes), any potential connection with this movement has either been ignored or cursorily mentioned in the literature. This essay will explore the extent and depth of this relationship, as well as provide a critical assessment of the strikingly similar rhetorical strategies Rouault and the Expressionists employed to valorize their work.
No Strength in Numbers: The Failure of Big-City Bills in American State Legislatures, 1880–2000

Do big cities exert more power than less populous ones in American state legislatures? In many political systems, greater representation leads to more policy gains, yet for most of the nation's history, urban advocates have argued that big cities face systematic discrimination in statehouses. Drawing on a new historical dataset spanning 120 years and 13 states, we find clear evidence that there is no strength in numbers for big-city delegations in state legislatures. District bills affecting large metropolises fail at much higher rates than bills affecting small cities, counties, and villages. Big cities lose so often because size leads to damaging divisions. We demonstrate that the cities with the largest delegations—which are more likely to be internally divided—are the most frustrated in the legislative process. Demographic differences also matter, with district bills for cities that have many foreign-born residents, compared with the state as a whole, failing at especially high rates.
A toolkit for the analysis and visualization of free volume in materials

A suite of tools is presented which enable analysis of free volume in terms of accepted standard metrics. The tools are extensible through the use of standard UNIX tools to be useful for output of many standard simulation packages. The tools also include utilities for rapid development of visual output not available in other packages. The tools are also extensible and modifiable for other types of spatial data.
Prospective, Randomized Comparison of Effect of Long-Term Treatment With Metoprolol or Carvedilol on Symptoms, Exercise, Ejection Fraction, and Oxidative Stress in Heart Failure

Background —With β-blocker use becoming more prevalent in treating chronic heart failure (CHF), the choice of drugs raises important theoretical and practical questions. Although the second-generation compound metoprolol is β1-selective, the third-generation compound carvedilol is β-nonselective, with ancillary pharmacological properties including α-blockade and antioxidant effects. A prospective comparison of these 2 agents can address the issue of optimal adrenergic blockade in selecting agents for therapy in CHF. Methods and Results —Sixty-seven patients with symptomatic stable heart failure were randomly assigned to receive either carvedilol or metoprolol in addition to standard therapy for CHF. Measured variables included symptoms, exercise, ejection fraction, and thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances (TBARS) as an indirect marker of free radical activity. Metoprolol and carvedilol were well tolerated, and both patient groups showed beneficial effects of β-blocker therapy in each of the measured parameters, with no between-group differences. Ejection fraction increased over 6 months from 18±6.3% to 23±8.7% ( P <0.005) with metoprolol and from 19±8.5% to 25±9.9% ( P <0.0005) with carvedilol ( P =NS between groups). With metoprolol, TBARS values decreased from 4.7±0.9 nmol/mL at baseline to 4.2±1.5 nmol/mL at month 4 to 3.9±1.0 nmol/mL at month 6 ( P <0.0001). With carvedilol, there was a parallel decline from 4.7±1.4 to 4.2±1.3 to 4.1±1.2 nmol/mL over the same time frame ( P <0.025), with no between-group difference in these changes. Conclusions —Carvedilol and metoprolol showed parallel beneficial effects in the measured parameters over 6 months, with no relevant between-group differences in this heart failure population.
China's role in Asia: implications for the United States

Abstract The rise of China in Asia (and the world) is one of the principal challenges facing U.S. foreign policy. The multiple roles China now plays in Asia have been felt in a number of areas—diplomatically, economically, culturally, militarily, and multilaterally. These roles and the issues they present for Washington have been hotly debated in the United States. A consensus has emerged that there are both cooperative as well as competitive dimensions to the Sino-American regional relationship in Asia. This article explores these various dimensions by asking seven questions concerning the impact of China's roles on American interests. Concerning these seven key strategic questions, the author concludes that China is not trying to push the United States out of Asia; China is not undermining bilateral U.S. relations in the region; Beijing's multilateral diplomacy is a challenge to the U.S. regional role; China's economic strength is important but still small compared with the United States and Japan; Beij...
Vector Computer Memory Bank Contention

A number of recent vector supercomputer designs have featured main memories with very large capacities, and presumably even larger memories are planned for future generations. While the memory chips used in these computers can store much larger amounts of data than before, their operation speeds are rather slow when compared to the significantly faster CPU (central processing unit) circuitry in new supercomputer designs. A consequence of this speed disparity between CPU's and main memory is that memory access times and memory bank reservation times (as measured in CPU ticks) are sharply increased from previous generations.
THE LABORATORY AS AN AID TO MODERN LANGUAGE TEACHING

Author's Summary.— The purpose of this article is to outline a very practical application of scientific fact and principles to the teaching of language without specific reference to the data involved.
Infection in bone marrow transplant recipients

Infection in marrow transplant recipients is determined primarily by the evolving immunologic milieu of each patient. Profound neutropenia and disruption of anatomic barriers are the most important risk factors for bacterial and fungal infections in the initial period after transplant. After this period, the occurrences of acute and then chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are the most important influences on the risk of infection. Major infections after the period of initial engraftment include viral infections (especially cytomegalovirus), fungal infections (due to Aspergillus and Candida), and rarely protozoal infections. GVHD appears to increase both the incidence and severity of cytomegalovirus infection. Bacterial infections also continue to occur, due predominantly to coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, as in the neutropenic period. Patients with chronic GVHD have continued abnormalities of host defenses, which may be further suppressed by treatment for GVHD. Major efforts have been directed toward preventing infection. In the neutropenic period, these include use of the protective environment, which has also been associated with a lower incidence of acute GVHD among patients who received transplants for aplastic anemia. The use of seronegative blood products is highly effective in preventing primary cytomegalovirus infection among seronegative patients. Among patients being treated for chronic GVHD, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis has been associated with a lower risk of infection.