cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of ectomycorrhizal mat soils on lignin and cellulose degradation

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Hysterangium setchellii (Fisher) forms extensive hyphal mats at the soillitter interface with the roots of the host tree Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii [(Mirb.) Franco]. Microbial biomass, and lignin and cellulose decomposition rates were measured seasonally for 1 year, using 14C techniques in ectomycorrhizal mat soils and adjacent non-mat soils in a second-growth Douglas fir forest. The microbial biomass and cellulose degradation rates were 3–6 times higher in ectomycorrhizal mat soils than in adjacent nonmat soils. Lignin degradation rates were higher in ectomycorrhizal mat soils than adjacent non-mat soils. Our data suggest that the ectomycorrhizal fungus H. setchellii provides a microenvironment with increased microbiological activity which results in faster lignin and cellulose decomposition.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase variation enhances effect of pesticides associated with Parkinson disease

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether environmental and genetic alterations of neuronal aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes were associated with increased Parkinson disease (PD) risk in an epidemiologic study. Methods: A novel ex vivo assay was developed to identify pesticides that can inhibit neuronal ALDH activity. These were investigated for PD associations in a population-based case-control study, the Parkinson9s Environment & Genes (PEG) Study. Common variants in the mitochondrial ALDH2 gene were genotyped to assess effect measure modification (statistical interaction) of the pesticide effects by genetic variation. Results: All of the metal-coordinating dithiocarbamates tested (e.g., maneb, ziram), 2 imidazoles (benomyl, triflumizole), 2 dicarboxymides (captan, folpet), and 1 organochlorine (dieldrin) inhibited ALDH activity, potentially via metabolic byproducts (e.g., carbon disulfide, thiophosgene). Fifteen screened pesticides did not inhibit ALDH. Exposures to ALDH-inhibiting pesticides were associated with 2- to 6-fold increases in PD risk; genetic variation in ALDH2 exacerbated PD risk in subjects exposed to ALDH-inhibiting pesticides. Conclusion: ALDH inhibition appears to be an important mechanism through which environmental toxicants contribute to PD pathogenesis, especially in genetically vulnerable individuals, suggesting several potential interventions to reduce PD occurrence or slow or reverse its progression.
Maternal psychosocial predictors of pediatric health care use: Use of the common sense model of health and illness behaviors to extend beyond the usual suspects

Determinants of pediatric health care use extend beyond the health status of the child and economic and access considerations. Parental factors, particularly those associated with the mother, are critical. The common sense model of health and illness behaviors, which was developed to account for adult health care use, may constitute a framework to study the role of mothers in determining pediatric health care use. In the common sense model, the person’s cognitive representations of and affective reactions to bodily states influence health care decision-making. There is a growing literature that points to the importance of maternal psychopathology (reflecting the affective component of the common sense model) and maternal parenting self-efficacy (reflecting the cognitive component of the model) as important contributors to pediatric health care use. The implications of this conceptualization for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
Magnetic reversal in nanoscopic ferromagnetic rings

We present a theory of magnetization reversal due to thermal fluctuations in thin submicron-scale rings composed of soft magnetic materials. The magnetization in such geometries is more stable against reversal than that in thin needles and other geometries, where sharp ends or edges can initiate nucleation of a reversed state. The two-dimensional ring geometry also allows us to evaluate the effects of nonlocal magnetostatic forces. We find a ``phase transition,'' which should be experimentally observable, between an Arrhenius and a non-Arrhenius activation regime as magnetic field is varied in a ring of fixed size.
Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics of Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Using Multireference Perturbation Theory†

We present the first calculations of excited-state dynamics using ab initio molecular dynamics with a multireference perturbation theory description of the electronic structure. The new AIMS-CASPT2 method is applied to a paradigmatic excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer reaction in methyl salicylate, and the results are compared with previous ultrafast spectroscopic experiments. Agreement of AIMS-CASPT2 and experimental results is quantitative. The results demonstrate that the lack of an observed isotope effect in the reaction is due to multidimensionality of the reaction coordinate, which largely involves heavy-atom bond alternation instead of proton transfer. Using the dynamics results as a guide, we also characterize relevant minima on the ground and first singlet excited state using CASPT2 electronic structure theory. We further locate an S1/S0 minimal energy conical intersection, whose presence explains experimental observations of a sharp decrease in fluorescence quantum yield at excitation energies more than 1300 cm -1 above the excitedstate origin.
Linking online course design and implementation to learning outcomes: A design experiment

Abstract This paper reports on preliminary findings from ongoing design-based research being conducted in the fully online Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership (MTL) program at a small, Midwest public university. Researchers are using the Quality Matters (QM) and Community of Inquiry (CoI) frameworks to guide the iterative redesign of core courses in the program. Preliminary results from the redesign of one course suggest that such approach can improve student learning outcomes. Results also support the efficacy of the QM and CoI theoretical frames, and the usefulness of design-based approaches in online learning.
T-violation in nuclear interactions: An overview

We discuss time-reversal-violation in the nucleon-nucleon interaction, both parityconserving and with simultaneous parity violation, and consider its effects in some low-energy nuclear processes.
Thymosin in the early diagnosis and treatment of high risk homosexuals and hemophiliacs with AIDS-like immune dysfunction.

The adnormal levels of thymosin alpha 1 in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients depressed T-cell function thymus pathology and the restoration of T-cell function by thymosin fraction 5 (TF5) lend support to the hypothesis that the thymus plays a central role in AIDS. The thymosin alpha 1 assay may provide a means of identifying symptomatic carriers of AIDS. This paper summarizes the current status of diagnostic studies with thymosin alpha 1 in AIDS and reports the 1st clinical trial with thymosin in subjects with AIDS-like immune dysfunction. Serum samples from intravenous drug abusers homosexuals and Haitians with AIDS have revealed thymosin alpha 1 levels at least 2 standard deviations from the mean of controls without AIDS. Preliminary data from a pilot study in homosexuals and hemophiliacs at high risk for AIDS suggest that the administration of TF5 may be effective in reconstituting some T-cell mediated specific immune functions including cell-medicated lympholysis (CML) and the mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) and enhancing the lectin-induced production of T-cell growth factor. On the other hand TF5 has failed to have any effects on the T4/T8 ratio absolute lymphocyte counts or natural killer cell activity.
Microbial ecology: Human gut microbes associated with obesity

Two groups of beneficial bacteria are dominant in the human gut, the Bacteroidetes and the Firmicutes. Here we show that the relative proportion of Bacteroidetes is decreased in obese people by comparison with lean people, and that this proportion increases with weight loss on two types of low-calorie diet. Our findings indicate that obesity has a microbial component, which might have potential therapeutic implications.
A Man Out of Place: Herbert Spencer Jennings at Johns Hopkins, 1906–1938

Herbert Spencer Jennings (1868–1947) succeeded W. K. Brooks as Director of the Zoological Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in 1910. His scientific work in the next two decades included experimental genetics of protozoa and mathematical analysis of the linear arrangement of chromosomes. At the same time, Jennings was involved in philosophical discussions of the nature of biological thought. His point of view expressed the biologist's awareness of diversity and historical process, against both the excesses of vitalism and of the modern reductionist methods of physico-chemical biology. These philosophical discussions are seen against the background of his difficulty in building up the zoological laboratory at Johns Hopkins in the 1920s, when the university tried unsuccessfully to return to the ideal of pure research which had guided it under its first president. Moreover, Jennings faced strong competition for resources from within the university itself, especially at the medical school. His position illustrates the predicament of the modern general biologist in an environment increasinglydominated by the medical sciences
Energy Absorption of Composite Materials.

Results of a study on the energy absorption characteristics of selected composite material systems are presented and the results compared with aluminum. Composite compression tube specimens were fabricated with both tape and woven fabric prepreg using graphite/epoxy (Gr/E), Kevlar (TM)/epoxy (K/E) and glass/epoxy (Gl/E). Chamfering and notching one end of the composite tube specimen reduced the peak load at initial failure without altering the sustained crushing load, and prevented catastrophic failure. Static compression and vertical impact tests were performed on 128 tubes. The results varied significantly as a function of material type and ply orientation. In general, the Gr/E tubes absorbed more energy than the Gl/E or K/E tubes for the same ply orientation. The 0/ + or - 15 Gr/E tubes absorbed more energy than the aluminum tubes. Gr/E and Gl/E tubes failed in a brittle mode and had negligible post crushing integrity, whereas the K/E tubes failed in an accordian buckling mode similar to the aluminum tubes. The energy absorption and post crushing integrity of hybrid composite tubes were not significantly better than that of the single material tubes.
Copper(II) halide complexes with deprotonated N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine

This thesis reports the synthesis and characterization of two new copper(II) halide complexes with deprotonated N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine behaving as a bidentate. The magnetic properties of the new copper(II) complexes were studied from room temperature to liquid nitrogen temperatures. The magnetic data show that both complexes exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions with a singlet ground state and a thermally accessible triplet excited state. Magnetic data and infrared spectra indicate the complexes are halogenbridged. Deprotonation at an amine nitrogen is based on the presence of a hydroxyl stretching band in the infrared spectra. Electronic spectra and infrared spectra indicate the complexes are square planar. Elemental analyses, infrared spectra, electronic spectra, electron spin resonance spectra, and magnetic data are reported and discussed.
Identity of the fungal species present in the homes of asthmatic children.

SummaryBackground Fungal exposures are believed to play an important role in the development of asthma and atopy, accounting for increased asthmatic symptoms and severe asthma exacerbation. Indoor fungal species vary both in taxa and concentration in different residences and in different regions. Objectives We explored the fungal species spectrum in 88 homes with at least one asthmatic child in the Middle West region of the United States mostly during late spring and fall season in comparison with 85 homes that did not contain an asthmatic child during flu season. Methods The average fungal spore counts per cubic metre of air in the bedroom of the enrolled child, the main living spaces and outdoor environments, and the culturable fungal colony-forming units per cubic metre of air samples in the main living space from each home were measured. Results The results indicated that Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Basidiospores, Epicoccum and Pithomyces were found in more asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child or existed in higher concentration in asthmatic homes than in homes without an asthmatic child even after adjusting outdoor spore concentration. The results for culturable fungal species confirmed most of these findings even after adjusting for seasonal factors. Although Alternaria was commonly found in both kinds of homes, there was no significant difference in detection rate or concentration of Alternaria between asthmatic homes and homes without an asthmatic child by either spore counting or culturable airborne detection. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Since many allergens have been identified in these fungal species, identifying and controlling these fungal species in asthmatic homes might be expected to improve asthma care and benefit asthmatic children.
Survival, Neurologic Response, and Prognostic Factors in Dogs with Pituitary Masses Treated with Radiation Therapy and Untreated Dogs

Background: Pituitary masses in dogs are not uncommon tumors that can cause endocrine and neurologic signs and, if left untreated, can decrease life expectancy. Hypothesis: Dogs with pituitary masses that received radiation therapy (RT) have more favorable neurologic outcomes and longer survival times compared with untreated dogs. Animals: Nineteen dogs with a pituitary mass identified on CT or MR imaging were irradiated with 48 Gy given in 3 Gy daily-dose fractions. Twenty-seven untreated control dogs had pituitary masses. Methods: Medical records of dogs with pituitary masses were retrospectively reviewed for clinical signs, mass size, and outcome. Results: Median survival time was not reached in the treated group. Mean survival time in the treated group was 1,405 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 1,053–1,757 days) with 1-, 2-, and 3-year estimated survival of 93, 87, and 55%, respectively. Median survival in the nonirradiated group was 359 days (95% CI, 48–916 days), with a mean of 551 days (95% CI, 271–829 days). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year estimated survival was 45, 32, and 25%, respectively. Dogs that received RT for their pituitary tumors had significantly longer survival times than untreated dogs (P = .0039). Treated dogs with smaller tumors (based on maximal pituitary-to-brain height ratio or area of tumor to area of brain) lived longer than those with larger tumors (P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: When compared with untreated dogs, RT increased survival and controlled neurologic signs in dogs with pituitary masses.
Laparoscopic evaluation of intestinal ischemia using fluorescein and ultraviolet light in a porcine model.

Background: The laparoscopic use of fluorescein and ultraviolet light may be a useful diagnostic tool that potentially could reduce the time until diagnosis and the subsequent mortality of mesenteric ischemia. Methods: Eight pigs were subjected to a pneumoperitoneum pressure of 7 mmHg, and another eight pigs were exposed to a pressure of 14 mmHg. A segment of small bowel was devascularized. Two filters were used to create ultraviolet light. Pigs from each pressure group were given various intravenous fluorescein doses. The ischemic segment of the small intestine and other structures were inspected laparoscopically with the filters attached. A videotape was evaluated by resident and attending surgeons. Results: Ischemic bowel was seen as a darkened silhouette against the viable fluorescent tissue. Overall, the results show that the use of ultraviolet light and fluorescence in the laparoscopic model is adequate for allowing the identification of ischemic bowel. Conclusions: The laparoscopic use of ultraviolet light combined with intravenous fluorescein dye is an effective diagnostic tool for evaluating mesenteric ischemia in pigs.
METHODS OF COMPUTING VERTICAL MOTION IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Abstract The theory of a number of different techniques for the computation of vertical motion in the atmosphere is discussed. A comparison of two independent techniques shows that both usually yield vertical velocities of the correct sign and order of magnitude.
Behavior of feral horses in response to culling and GnRH immunocontraception

Abstract Wildlife management actions can alter fundamental behaviors of individuals and groups, which may directly impact their life history parameters in unforeseen ways. This is especially true for highly social animals because changes in one individual's behavior can cascade throughout its social network. When resources to support populations of social animals are limited and populations become locally overabundant, managers are faced with the daunting challenge of decreasing population size without disrupting core behavioral processes. Increasingly, managers are turning to fertility control technologies to supplement culling in efforts to suppress population growth, but little is quantitatively known about how either of these management tools affects behavior. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is a small neuropeptide that performs an obligatory role in mammalian reproduction and has been formulated into the immunocontraceptive GonaCon-B™. We investigated the influences of this vaccine on behavior of feral horses ( Equus caballus ) at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, USA, for a year preceding and a year following nonlethal culling and GnRH-vaccine treatment. We observed horses during the breeding season and found only minimal differences in time budget behaviors of free-ranging female feral horses treated with GnRH and those treated with saline. The differences observed were consistent with the metabolic demands of pregnancy and lactation. We observed similar social behaviors between treatment groups, reflecting limited reproductive behavior among control females due to high rates of pregnancy and suppressed reproductive behavior among treated females due to GnRH-inhibited ovarian activity. In the treatment year, band stallion age was the only supported factor influencing herding behavior ( P P P =0.02). There was no difference between the mean body condition of control females (4.9 (95% CI=4.7–5.1)) and treated females (4.8 (95% CI=4.7–4.9)). Band fidelity among all females increased 25.7% in the year following vaccination and culling, despite the social perturbation associated with removal of conspecifics. Herding behavior by stallions decreased 50.7% following treatment and culling ( P P P
Effects of Videogame Distraction and a Virtual Reality Type Head-Mounted Display Helmet on Cold Pressor Pain in Young Elementary School-Aged Children

Objective This study examined the effects of videogame distraction and a virtual reality (VR) type headmounted display helmet for children undergoing cold pressor pain. Methods Fifty children between the ages of 6 and 10 years underwent a baseline cold pressor trial followed by two cold pressor trials in which interactive videogame distraction was delivered via a VR helmet or without a VR helmet in counterbalanced order. Results As expected, children demonstrated significant improvements in pain threshold and pain tolerance during both distraction conditions. However, the two distraction conditions did not differ in effectiveness. Conclusions Using the VR helmet did not result in improved pain tolerance over and above the effects of interactive videogame distraction without VR technology. Clinical implications and possible developmental differences in elementary school-aged children’s ability to use VR technology are discussed.
Pascal's Wager as an Argument for Not Believing in God

Can Pascal's wager for the existence of God be turned against the religious believer and used as an argument for not believing in God? Although such an argument has been very briefly sketched by others its details have remained undeveloped. In this paper this argument is worked out in detail in the context of decision theory and is defended against objections. The result is a plausible argument for atheism.
Ecology, Speciation, and Adaptive Radiation: The Long View

Review of: How and Why Species Multiply: The Radiation of Darwin's Finches. Peter R. Grant and B. Rosemary Grant, 2007. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, xvii + 272 pp. HB $35.00, ISBN 978-0-691-13360-7. We owe a debt of grati tude to those who have the foresight and fortitude to pursue long term studies, foremost among them Peter Grant and Rosemary Grant. It is unusual enough to pursue a research program for years on end, learning from the research subjects what questions to ask and dauntlessly pursuing the answers. It is even more impressive when this has required returning to the field for 34 years, mostly on the small island of Daphne Minor, a dry, hot, unremittingly windy cinder cone lacking shade, water, even level ground except for a small spot near the crest, where the Grants set their tent and subsisted on supplies unloaded from rowboats on pitching seas (D. Schluter, pers. comm.). Here, together with their students and other collaborators, they tracked the life of every individual bird and its descendants. The Grants planned and assiduously carried out an extraordinary array of studies, which they here summarize and weave together in a book written "to capture the essentials and the highlights for an intended audience of students" (p. xvii). With inspiring acknowledgment that we build on the insights and work of our predecessors, they dedicate the book to the memory of David Lack, who doubtless would have been deeply satisfied to see some of his conclusions supported and other explorations he probably could not have imagined. This book is at once a compact summary of the Grants' re search and a fine teaching tool, as they intended: it is an ideal study, for undergraduate or graduate student alike, of how evolutionary and ecological hypotheses can be tested by observation and ex periment, of how initial questions lead to deeper questions still, of how diverse strands of information and theory?from geologi cal and phylogenetic history to genetics, development, population ecology and behavior?can and must be woven into a tapestry of explanation, and how questions and further research yet remain even after so long and comprehensive effort. It is also, for those mo e widely read, a portrait of a stage in the history of a question in evolutionary biology and its attempted answer. As recently as 15 years ago, few people seem to have realized that there ex isted almost no strong evidence that speciation?the evolution of reproductive isolation?is caused by divergent ecological selec tion, even though this hypothesis was widely held. Since then, "ecological speciation" (Rundle and Nosil 2005) has come to center stage in speciation studies and has acquired considerable evi ence (Schluter 2000; Funk et al. 2006; Funk and Nosil 2008). Among the most prominent leaders of this movement have been the Grants and their students (see Schluter 2000; Price 2008), and their students' students in turn (e.g., Rundle 2002). Some of the e rliest and perhaps most influential evidence of ecological spe ciation came from the Grants' studies of Darwin's finches. As I
Simultaneous Textured Image Decomposition and Discrimination Preserving Large-Scale Structure

In their pioneering paper on image decomposition, Vese and Osher (2003) used the auxiliary texture components g1 and g2 for the purposes of texture discrimination. This was done sequentially - first decomposition was performed, after which either |g 1| or |g2| was used for the discrimination phase, which utilized active contours without edges (T. Chan and L. Vese, 1999). With the new simultaneous discrimination and decomposition scheme introduced in the present paper, fewer iterations are required for both the discrimination and decomposition processes, with improved quality of results. In accomplishing this parallel solution of the two problems, we also introduce an active contour model which is robust to noise and which relies both on region and local edge information
Relational Goods and Resolving the Paradox of Political Participation

Relational goods provide a theoretical explanation for the puzzling fact that rational individuals engage in collective action, including political participation. Relational goods facilitate provision of public goods, although they are not public goods themselves. A relational good only exists when non-anonymous others share the good, the «identity» characteristic, but these might not be specific individuals in direct contact. «Indirect» relational goods, shared with persons of a certain type, such as a certain social identity, can also increase participation. It remains theoretically problematic how well-defined the «other» must be for a relational good to exist. The indirect relational goods provide key opportunities for elites to mobilize participation. Support for the role of relational goods in collective action comes from substantial empirical work (using survey data and field experiments) examining the roles of publicity, group identification, and mobilization in increasing political participation.
Driftwood: an alternative habitat for macroinvertebrates in a large desert river

Driftwood was an important substratum for macroinvertebrates in the Colorado River, a desert river in southwestern U.S.A. with high suspended sediments and limited cobble substrata. Higher light availability and reduced abrasion on driftwood substrata resulted in a significantly higher ash-free dry mass (AFDM) of biofilm when compared to cobbles. Overall mean mass of biofilm on driftwood was 3.76 g m-2 AFDM (SE ±0.19) compared to 2.45 g m-2 AFDM (±0.15) on cobbles. Total macroinvertebrate AFDM was not significantly different between cobble and driftwood substrata. However, there were differences in the Ephemeroptera assemblage on the two substrata which were attributed to the type of food resources available in each habitat. Driftwood was dominated by the scraper/collector Heptagenia elegantula (Eaton), while the filterer/collector, Traverella albertana (McDunnough) dominated cobbles. Twenty taxa were found on driftwood substrata. This habitat expands the types of niches available to macroinvertebrates in lotic systems with high suspended sediments. We calculated that 4.4 m2 of driftwood substratum passed our sample station each minute during a 12-h sampling period on the rising limb of the hydrograph. River impoundments limit the supply and transport of driftwood, which may have negative implications on macroinvertebrate communities in desert rivers with high suspended sediment. Studies in turbid desert rivers that do not sample driftwood may underestimate both the total standing mass/energy of the system and taxon richness.
Spatial Clustering of the Curlin Secretion Lipoprotein Requires Curli Fiber Assembly

Gram-negative bacteria assemble functional amyloid surface fibers called curli. CsgB nucleates the major curli subunit protein, CsgA, into a self-propagating amyloid fiber on the cell surface. The CsgG lipoprotein is sufficient for curlin transport across the outer membrane and is hypothesized to be the central molecule of the curli fiber secretion and assembly complex. We tested the hypothesis that the curli secretion protein, CsgG, was restricted to certain areas of the cell to promote the interaction of CsgA and CsgB during curli assembly. Here, electron microscopic analysis of curli-producing strains showed that relatively few cells in the population contacted curli fibers and that curli emanated from spatially discrete points on the cell surface. Microscopic analysis revealed that CsgG was surface exposed and spatially clustered around curli fibers. CsgG localization to the outer membrane and exposure of the surface domain were not dependent on any other csg-encoded protein, but the clustering of CsgG required the csg-encoded proteins CsgE, CsgF, CsgA, and CsgB. CsgG formed stable oligomers in all the csg mutant strains, but these oligomers were distinct from the CsgG complexes assembled in wild-type cells. Finally, we found that efficient fiber assembly was required for the spatial clustering of CsgG. These results suggest a new model where curli fiber formation is spatially coordinated with the CsgG assembly apparatus.
Enhanced spectral resolution in RNA HCP spectra for measurement of (3)J(C2'P) and (3)J(C4'P) couplings and (31)P chemical shift changes upon weak alignment.

The `out-and-back' 3D HCP experiment, using gradient- and sensitivity-enhanced detection, provides a convenient method for assignment of the 31P NMR spectra and accurate measurement of the 31P chemical shifts of ribonucleic acids. The 13C resolution in such spectra can be doubled, at the cost of a 50% reduction in sensitivity, by combining 13C evolution during the 13C-\31P\ de- and rephasing periods. The multiple connectivities observable for a given 31P, including correlations to the intranucleotide C5′H2 and C4′H groups, and the C2′H, C3′H and C4′H groups of the preceding nucleotide, permit independent measurements of the 31P shift. The 13C spectrum of these groups is typically crowded for an RNA molecule in isotropic solution and overlap becomes more problematic in media used to achieve partial alignment. However, many of these correlations are resolvable in the combined-evolution HCP spectrum. The difference in 31P chemical shift between isotropic solution and a medium containing liquid crystalline Pf1 provides information on the orientation of phosphate groups. The intensities measured in the 3D HCP spectrum, obtained for an isotropic sample, yield values for the 3JC2′P and 3JC4′P couplings, thereby providing important restraints for the backbone torsion angles e and β. The experiments are illustrated for a uniformly 13C-enriched, 24-residue stem-loop RNA sequence, and results for the helical stem region show close agreement between observed Δδ(31P) values and those predicted for a model A-form RNA helix when using a uniform 31P CSA tensor. This confirms that Δδ(31P) values can be used directly as restraints in refining nucleic acid structures.
Combined convection and radiation in participating laminar flow inside a parallel-plate duct with flux boundary conditions

Abstract The interaction of radiation and forced convection in hydrodynamically developed, thermally developing steady laminar forced flow of a gray fluid between two infinite parallel plates with the prescribed heat flux boundary conditions is investigated. The implicit finite difference scheme is applied to solve the energy equation, while high order P N method is used to solve the radiation part of this problem. The effects of the conduction-to-radiation parameter, the single scattering albedo, the optical thickness, the surface reflectivity of the plates and the inlet temperature on the surface temperature and local Nusselt number are studied.
NetFPGA—An Open Platform for Teaching How to Build Gigabit-Rate Network Switches and Routers

The NetFPGA platform enables students and researchers to build high-performance networking systems using field-programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware. A new version of the NetFPGA platform has been developed and is available for use by the academic community. The NetFPGA platform has modular interfaces that enable development of complex hardware designs by integration of simple building blocks. FPGA logic is used to implement the core data processing functions while software running on an attached host computer or embedded cores within the device implement control functions. Reference designs and component libraries have been developed for the CS344 course at Stanford University, Stanford, CA, and taught at a series of tutorials held in the United States, United Kingdom, India, China, Australia, and Europe. The open-source Verilog, C, Perl, and Java reference design is available for download from the project website.
Denitrification in a clearcut Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation in the southeastern US

We examined denitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) production in intact soil cores removed from a clearcut southern pine site subjected to different harvest, site preparation, and herbicide treatments. Rates of N2O production in structurally intact soil cores incubated with acetylene showed that clearcutting stimulated denitrification but that rates varied by sample date and post-harvest site treatment. The site was harvested in December 1980. In September 1982 denitrification was greater in sheared, piled and disked (SPD) plots than in chopped or reference (uncut) plots; the following May, rates were higher in seven of the eight treatment plots than in the reference plot, and were highest in three of the four herbicide-treated plots. On both sample dates denitrification rates were correlated with nitrification potentials and nitrate pool sizes in the plots, and nitrate added to cores from all treatments significantly stimulated denitrification. Nitrate supply thus appeared to regulate denitrification at this site. Relative to harvest or site preparation losses of nitrogen, denitrification is not a major vector of N loss at this coniferous site; under post-harvest conditions, however, denitrification may be of the same magnitude as leaching losses.
Size of the physiologic cup of the optic nerve head. hereditary and environmental factors.

This study provides a quantitative assessment of heritability of size of the normal physiologic cup when estimated as a continuous variable. A horizontal cupdisc ratio was estimated clinically among a sample of 37 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) and 26 pairs of like-sexed dizygotic (DZ) twins. Differences in intrapair variance and intraclass correlation coefficient between the MZ and the DZ samples were large and highly significant, and suggest that inheritance plays a major role in determining diameter of the normal physiologic cup. Values of heritability index (HI, an estimate of the proportion of variance within pairs explained by genetic factors) ranged from 0.60 to 0.80 by various computational methods employed.
Mortgage loan securitization and personal consumption smoothening

In this paper we examine the extent to which personal consumptions are sheltered from state-specific economic shocks because of banks’ mortgage loan securitizations. We posit that securitization contributes to personal consumption smoothening due to securitizations’ positive effect on banks’ credit supply, which reduces consumers’ consumption constraints during economic shocks. Using data for U. S. banks’ mortgage loan securitizations from 1989 to 2008, we show that personal consumption smoothening is positively related to securitization. The finding of a significant relationship between loan securitizations and consumption smoothening contributes to the continuing debate on the role of financial innovation in real economy.
Renal protective effect of chronic inhibition of COX-2 with SC-58236 in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

The induction of renal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in diabetes has been implicated in the renal functional and structural changes in models where hypertension or uninephrectomy was superimposed. We examined the protective effects of 3 mo treatment of streptozotocin-diabetic rats with a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor (SC-58236) in terms of albuminuria, renal hypertrophy, and the excretion of TNF-α and TGF-β, which have also been implicated in the detrimental renal effects of diabetes. SC-58236 treatment (3 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) of diabetic rats resulted in reduced urinary excretion of PGE(2), 6-ketoPGF(1α), and thromboxane B(2), all of which were increased in the diabetic rat compared with age-matched nondiabetic rats. However, serum thromboxane B(2) levels were unchanged, confirming the selectivity of SC-58236 for COX-2. The renal protective effects of treatment of diabetic rats with the COX-2 inhibitor were reflected by a marked reduction in albuminuria, a reduction in kidney weight-to-body weight ratio, and TGF-β excretion and a marked decrease in the urinary excretion of TNF-α. The protective effects of SC-58236 were independent of changes in plasma glucose levels or serum advanced glycation end-product levels, which were not different from those of untreated diabetic rats. In an additional study, the inhibition of COX-2 with SC-58236 for 4 wk in diabetic rats resulted in creatinine clearance rates not different from those of control rats. These results confirm that the inhibition of COX-2 in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat confers renal protection and suggest that the induction of COX-2 precedes the increases in cytokines, TNF-α, and TGF-β.
Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity to breast cancer targets despite inhibitory KIR signaling.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells express killer immunoglobulin-like (KIR) inhibitory receptors, which recognize certain HLA class I molecules (KIR ligands), and stimulatory receptors such as FcARIII. The purpose of this study was to test the possible influence of inhibitory KIR signaling on antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by allogeneic NK cells against breast cancer targets. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxic activity of volunteer donor NK cells against the cell lines SKBR-3, T47D and MCF-7, which have high, low and no HER2 gene amplification, respectively, were studied. Both cell lines and donors were assigned to the C1 or C2 superfamily, defined by the structure of the HLA-Cw molecule. Results: It was found that ADCC mediated by allogeneic NK cells occurred despite combinations of NK cells and breast cancer targets predicted to trigger inhibitory KIR signaling. Conclusion: We suggest that adoptive immunotherapy with allogeneic NK cells and trastuzumab may be an effective combination against breast cancer targets. NK cells express inhibitory receptors (killer immuno- globulin-like receptors or KIRs) that recognize certain HLA class I molecules (KIR ligands) and down-regulate NK cell function. If NK cells' KIR receptors fail to recognize KIR ligands on tumor cells, the inhibitory signal is absent and NK cell activation proceeds. The clinical importance of absent NK inhibitory signals was most clearly demonstrated in haploidentical transplantation for leukemia. In this situation, mismatch between donor and recipient KIR
Zero-Based Racial Politics: An Evaluation of Three Best-Case Arguments on Behalf of the Nonwhite Underclass

Addresses the question: In a society with two dominant political groups or parties, one conservative and one liberal, which one is the more likely source of aid for the nonwhite poor? Analyzes best-case arguments on behalf of the poor for each of the two groups and concludes that the impoverished should withhold automatic loyalty toward either, but, rather, force both to compete for their support and votes. In particular, the poor and marginalized should be open to the possibility that the right may offer them more value than the moderate left.
Poly(pyrazolyl)aluminate complexes containing aluminum-hydrogen bonds.

The treatment of LiAlH4 with 2, 3, or 4 equiv of the 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles Ph2pzH or iPr2pzH afforded [Li(THF)2][AlH2(Ph2pz)2] (97%), [Li(THF)][AlH(Ph2pz)3] (96%), [Li(THF)4][Al(Ph2pz)4] (95%...
Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography assessment of an epiretinal membrane with axoplasmic stasis from nerve fiber layer traction.

Purpose To report a case of visible axoplasmic stasis on fundus examination correlating with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings of nerve fiber layer traction. Methods Case report. Results Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images show nerve fiber layer traction and distortion at the sites where visible cotton wool spot-like changes were seen on examination. These visible changes are likely because of axoplasmic stasis from the severe traction on the nerve fiber layer. Conclusion Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography demonstrates that cotton wool spot-like changes may be caused by nerve fiber layer traction in some epiretinal membranes. This is of interest in understanding the pathophysiology of these changes.
Consequences of lead exposure, and it’s emerging role as an epigenetic modifier in the aging brain

Lead exposure has primarily been a concern during development in young children and little attention has been paid to exposure outcomes as these children age, or even to exposures in adulthood. Childhood exposures have long term consequences, and adults who have been exposed to lead as children show a host of cognitive deficits. Lead has also been shown to induce latent changes in the aging brain, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's Disease, and Parkinson's. Recent research has shown that lead has the ability to alter DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNA expression in experimental models, and in humans. These findings implicate epigenetics in lead induced toxicity, and long term changes in individuals. Epigenetic modification could potentially provide us a mechanism by which the environment, and toxic exposures contribute to the increased susceptibility of adult neurodegenerative disease.
Nanocrystalline Structure and Thermoelectric Properties of Electrospun NaCo2O4 Nanofibers

High-efficiency thermoelectric oxide materials are promising for the conversion of waste heat directly into electricity, and nanostructure engineering is effective in enhancing thermoelectric figure of merit through phonon scattering at grain boundaries and interfaces. In this work, we report a sol−gel-based electrospinning technique to synthesize thermoelectric NaCo2O4 nanofibers with grain size as small as 10 nm, orders of magnitude smaller than that of NaCo2O4 powders processed by conventional sol−gel techniques. A series of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) studies are carried out to measure the electric conduction in a single NaCo2O4 nanofiber, and the thermoelectric effect of a single NaCo2O4 nanofiber is also characterized using a novel thermal probing technique that induces a large temperature gradient in the nanofiber. Sintering of nanocrystalline nanofibers into bulk NaCo2O4 ceramics for thermoelectric energy harvesting is also discussed.
Mitigation Strategies for Optical Nonlinearities in Kilowatt-class Narrow-linewidth Fiber Amplifiers

We discuss mitigation strategies for optical nonlinearities in high-power fiber amplifiers suitable for coherent or spectral beam combining. The optical nonlinearities include SBS, SRS, XPM and modal instability. Both conventional and microstructured amplifiers are considered.
Longitudinal vibrational absorption modes of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride thin films

We have identified longitudinal and transverse optical modes of Si-N bond in vibrational absorption spectrum of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride thin films. The locations of longitudinal optical resonances coincide with transverse mode of Si-O and closely neighbor bending modes of N-H, Si-H2 bond. Furthermore, the conventionally assigned asymmetric and symmetric stretching modes of Si-N bond are merely transverse modes of Si-N bond. Features of pure longitudinal vibrational modes can be revealed by subtracting appropriately scaled transverse mode components from the vibrational absorption spectrum. Analysis of the longitudinal spectrum indicates that, in addition to their association with Si-N bond, the density of the peak located at about 1215 cm-1 is also well correlated to hydrogen and nitride content in the film, while the density of the peak located at about 880 cm-1 is closed related to silicon density in the film. Peak located at about 1040 cm-1 is the longitudinal mode associated with Si-N bond.
Outcome of Charnley total hip replacement across a single health region in England

Sir, The article in the July 1999 issue by Fender, Harper and Gregg 1 entitled ‘Outcome of Charnley total hip replacement across a single health region in England’ was so interesting that I am stimulated to point out some of its implications and also request some amplification. American subscribers to the Journal are now faced with revolutionary changes in, and evolving plans for, health care. They bear directly on the subject. There were 1198 ‘Charnley’ total hip replacements (THR). Were other types of THR performed? Of these patients 19% were under 60 years of age. How many were aged 55 to 60 years? Charnley’s large series included those in that age group. How many were under the age of 30 years since nowadays THR is carried out, even if only occasionally, in the young adult? Did the 1198 include any primary THRs in elderly patients with acute fractures? What was the prevalence of THR in the Trent population? Is there in Trent a ‘specialist hospital’ as mentioned in Table V? It should be recalled that Charnley in his first decade of success with THR reported that “osteoarthritis was the commonest indication for THR with a minority of about 20 percent comprising rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.” 2 He also reported that “nearly all” of his thousands of patients operated on between 1960 and 1970 were over 55 years of age. Does this mean that under the NHS in the UK there has been little expansion of the application of THR (as in the USA) to other diagnoses and younger individuals? Charnley also reported a success rate of 90% while the authors record a lower rate of 73% if the hip score is the parameter. Exactly what does this mean? Is it that Charnley’s overall regimen only included better prospects? Orthopaedic surgeons in the USA are beset with existing restrictions on health care in general and on THR in particular. They would be well served if there was on record good evidence, in more detail than is provided in the cited article, of the epidemiological aspects of THR as illustrated in the questions asked above (and other analagous queries). While the authors are to be commended for initiating and completing this study, I would urge
Are Suspects Who Resist Arrest Defiant, Desperate, or Disoriented?

Objectives:We examine three reasons why suspects resist arrest: (1) defiance of police authority by suspects from lower-status groups, (2) risky decisions resulting from aversion to sure losses, and (3) impairment due to mental illness and substance use.Methods:We use nationally representative survey data from about 17,000 state and federal inmates who were asked whether they resisted arrest when they committed the crime that led to their incarceration.Results:Suspects’ resistance is unrelated to their race/ethnicity, education, or unemployment. On the other hand, suspects are more resistant when they are carrying contraband (e.g., illegal weapons, drugs, stolen property) or are under community supervision (i.e., parolees, probationers, or escapees). Resistance is also positively related to mental illness, illicit drug use, and alcohol intoxication.Conclusions:Our results do not support the idea that resistance is an expression of defiance from lower-status suspects. They are consistent with prospect theo...
Race, empire, and English language teaching: creating responsible and ethical anti-racist practice

In Race, Empire, and English Language Teaching, Suhanthie Motha draws from an extensive body of research on globalization, race, gender, and critical language studies to cogently upset traditional ...