cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The iscS Gene in Escherichia coli Is Required for the Biosynthesis of 4-Thiouridine, Thiamin, and NAD

IscS, a cysteine desulfurase implicated in the repair of Fe-S clusters, was recently shown to act as a sulfurtransferase in the biosynthesis of 4-thiouridine (s(4)U) in tRNA (Kambampati, R., and Lauhon, C. T. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 16561-16568). In frame deletion of the iscS gene in Escherichia coli results in a mutant strain that lacks s(4)U in its tRNA. Assays of cell-free extracts isolated from the iscS(-) strain confirm the complete loss of tRNA sulfurtransferase activity. In addition to lacking s(4)U, the iscS(-) strain requires thiamin and nicotinic acid for growth in minimal media. The thiamin requirement can be relieved by the addition of the thiamin precursor 5-hydroxyethyl-4-methylthiazole, indicating that iscS is required specifically for thiazole biosynthesis. The growth rate of the iscS(-) strain is half that of the parent strain in rich medium. When the iscS(-) strain is switched from rich to minimal medium containing thiamin and nicotinate, growth is preceded by a considerable lag period relative to the parent strain. Addition of isoleucine results in a significant reduction in the duration of this lag phase. To examine the thiazole requirement, we have reconstituted the in vitro biosynthesis of ThiS thiocarboxylate, the ultimate sulfur donor in thiazole biosynthesis, and we show that IscS mobilizes sulfur for transfer to the C-terminal carboxylate of ThiS. ThiI, a known factor involved in both thiazole and s(4)U synthesis, stimulates this sulfur transfer step by 7-fold. Extracts from the iscS(-) strain show significantly reduced activity in the in vitro synthesis of ThiS thiocarboxylate. Transformation of the iscS(-) strain with an iscS expression plasmid complemented all of the observed phenotypic effects of the deletion mutant. Of the remaining two nifS-like genes in E. coli, neither can complement loss of iscS when each is overexpressed in the iscS(-) strain. Thus, IscS plays a significant and specific role at the top of a potentially broad sulfur transfer cascade that is required for the biosynthesis of thiamin, NAD, Fe-S clusters, and thionucleosides.
Forecaster Characteristics and Forecast Outcomes

Abstract Panel data drawn from The Wall Street Journal’s survey of economic forecasts were used to assess the impact of a forecaster’s institutional setting and professional experience on forecast accuracy and bias. Regression results indicate differences in forecaster characteristics have little effect on accuracy, but significantly affect the direction of bias in forecasting interest rates, the inflation rate, real GDP growth and the yen/dollar exchange rate.
Examining the links between animal abuse and human violence

Empirical research has increasingly found evidence for the coexistence of animal abuse and various forms of interpersonal violence. Some researchers have even argued for a specific version of this relationship, namely, that individuals tend to move from violence toward animals, particularly in childhood, to subsequent violence toward humans. Others have suggested that the evidence for this graduation or progression hypothesis is weak and inconsistent, and that an approach to animal abuse that focuses on the link is misguided. This article begins by reviewing the research on the connections between animal abuse and interhuman violence. Then it critically assesses the evidence for and against the link, and discusses the issues and challenges facing future research in this area.
Breast carcinoma following radiotherapy of metastatic Wilms' tumor

A 22-year-old woman developed breast cancer 15 years after radiotherapy to the lung for metastatic Wilms' tumor. Her 32-year-old mother died of bilateral breast cancer, suggesting a genetic predisposition to radiogenic cancer. Recent improvements in the survival of children with certain cancers necessitate long-term surveillance for iatrogenic neoplasia, particularly when familial susceptibility is evident.
A Successful Meteorological Drifting Buoy

The development of a successful meteorological drifting buoy has been undertaken. Buoys which measure sea surface temperature and barometric pressure have been built, tested and successfully deployed. A description of this buoy is given, with details of the sub-systems.
Carbonized common filter paper decorated with Sn@C nanospheres as additive-free electrodes for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are, arguably, one of the most promising candidates for post-lithium ion battery era. The success of sodium-ion batteries is dependent on electrode materials developed. We reported here the facile preparation of carbonized filter paper decorated with Sn@C nanospheres as negative electrode materials for SIBs. The carbonized filter paper decorated with Sn@C nanospheres were obtained by in-situ carbonization of the cellulose paper fibers and the reduction of SnO2 to metallic Sn which were encapsulated with carbon sheaths by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Particularly, both the carbon sheaths and the encapsulated Sn cores are spherical. The formation mechanism of the spherical Sn@C nanospheres was proposed based on unique properties of molten tin with high surface tension forming spherical droplets. The carbonized filter paper decorated with Sn@C nanospheres in the form of slices can be directly assembled into electrochemical cells without any further treatment or additives. Higher capacities and better Coulombic efficiencies than that of bare carbonized filter paper were achieved. The mechanism of capacity fading was investigated systematically by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and post-test analysis. This understanding will be helpful to design better Sn based electrodes for SIBs.
A new look at particle statistics in laser-anemometer measurements

Many algorithms have been proposed and evaluated for dealing with laser-anemometer measurements in low particle densities since the original paper of McLaughlin & Tiederman (1973). All of them describe the effect of making a measurement whenever a particle is visible to the measurement instrument. However, in many circumstances, one wishes to sample the velocity at a constant rate–for instance, in measurement of velocity fluctuation spectra. It is shown here that the measurement statistics for this case are different from those previously discussed in the literature. The product of the particle density and the sample interval is the controlling parameter for the statistical description of the measurements. The asymptotic forms for low and high particle density-sample time products are derived.
Simple symmetry breaking and decays of charmed mesons

We calculate the effects of simple symmetry breaking on the decay rates of charmed mesons using a chiralU4 effective Lagrangian to describe the mesons. We find that the D+, unlike the F+ and D0, has no relatively large two-body decay into pseudoscalar mesons. Neutrino-induced μ−e+ events contain hints of these radically different decays of the D0 and D+.
Prevalence of mild hyperhomocysteinaemia and association with thrombophilic genotypes (factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A) in Italian patients with venous thromboembolic disease.

Mild hyperhomocysteinaemia is an established risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT); few data concerning its potential interaction with thrombophilic genotypes are available at the present time. We investigated 121 thrombosis-free individuals and 111 patients with at least one objectively confirmed episode of DVT. A thrombophilic condition (deficiency in antithrombin, protein C and S, factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A) was detected in 25.2% of the patients; mutant factor V or prothrombin genotypes were present in 6.6% of the controls. Hyperhomocysteinaemia was found in 14.4% of patients and 3.3% of the controls, with a 3.7-fold increase in risk for DVT (95% CI 1.1–12.3). Adoption of different cut-off levels for definition of hyperhomocysteinaemia did not substantially change the magnitude of the risk. Carriership of both hyperhomocysteinaemia and factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A was detected in 2.7% of patients for each combination and in none of the controls. An approximate estimate of 30-fold increased risk in carriers of both hyperhomocysteinaemia and factor V Leiden and 50-fold increased risk in carriers of both hyperhomocysteinaemia and prothrombin G20210A was calculated, suggesting a synergistic interaction between hyperhomocysteinaemia and such thrombophilic genotypes. Yet statistical analysis is highly unstable due to the small number of individuals with combined defects. Further investigations on large series of patients are needed.
Metabolic studies of crytobiosis in encysted embryos of Artemia salina

Abstract 1. 1. The concentration of trehalose, glycerol and glycogen, and the viability of encysted ambryos of Artemia salina stored in the dry state for periods up to 28 yr have been determined. 2. 2. The decrease in viability of these aged embryos which occured with length of storage was not paralleled by a decrease in the levels of these carbohydrates. 3. 3. Using 14C2 as a precursor, the distribution of radioactivity incorporated into various fractions of these embryos has been followed during incubation in the hydrated state, as desiccation occurred, and during extended periods of desiccation up to 150 days. 4. 4. Estimates of the extent and rate of water loss from hydrated embryos over CaCl2 at 105°C and under reduced pressure have been made by weight loss measurements. 5. 5. The results are discussed in relation to the degree of cryptobiosis exhibited by these embryos.
ERP data archiving – a critical analysis

ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems run on top of database systems, like Oracle, SQL Server and DB2. The longer these systems are in place within organizations the larger the databases are. Some sources estimate that corporate databases double or triple in size every year. As these databases grow, performance, the time it takes to complete transactions, is adversely affected. This implies that limiting the amount of data stored on an ERP system is an essential element of proper storage and data management. However, removing data from an ERP system can be a complex and risky task. Archiving ERP data is an area of academic and professional research that has had minimal attention. This paper examines the issues and provides insight into solutions associated with archiving ERP data. The issues are explored by summarizing the limited background and research in the archiving area, followed by an overview of the methodology used to arrive at the case study approach used to gather the data. Case data are presented from three different large corporate environments and the results of the data are used to recommend an archiving strategy that other companies can follow. A discussion of the implications of the proposed archiving strategy for future use and research concludes the paper.
An alternative measure of random walk components in time series

Abstract A measure of random walk components in time series having unit root components is proposed to correct some undesirable features of those used in the literature. The quarterly US real GNP from 1947.1 to 1986.2 contains about 27% of random walk component according to this measure.
Performance of bilingual and monolingual Hispanic children on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised and the McCarthy Perceptual Performance Scale

This study evaluated the receptive vocabulary ability and nonverbal cognitive ability of 20 monolingual (Spanish-speaking) and 11 bilingual (Spanish/English-speaking) Mexican-American preschool children, ages 45 to 65 months. The children obtained significantly lower scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) than on the Perceptual Performance Scale of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. On both measures, the bilingual group obtained significantly higher scores than did the monolingual group. The results support prior recommendations that the PPVT-R not be used to estimate the intelligence level of Hispanic children.
Bridging the Gap between SCF and Ubiquitin Transfer

The first crystal structure of a core SCF complex has been determined to 3.2 A. Together with previous data obtained for RING E3-E2 and Skp1-Skp2 adaptor complexes, the structure provides substantial insight into SCF-mediated protein modification by ubiquitin, a process that regulates protein modification and degradation in systems ranging from cell cycle progression to transcription.
Blood loss following orthognathic surgery varies widely and sometimes transfusions are needed.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Blood loss in orthognathic surgery: a systematic review. Pineiro-Aguilar A, Somoza-Martin M, Gandara-Rey JM, Garcia-Garcia A. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2011;69(3):885-92. Reviewer Thomas B. Dodson, DMD, MPH Purpose/Question To determine the range of information available to help surgeons better prepare themselves, their patients, and the auxiliary support for orthognathic surgery and transfusion requirements Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Systematic review Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade C: Consensus, disease-oriented evidence, usual practice, expert opinion, or case series for studies of diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or screening
Blogging and Internet Filters in Schools

Success in today's global market requires students to attain numerous 21st-Century skills, including collaborative and communication skills, and knowledge of how to use technology to both locate and create information. The use of instructional blogging in the classroom is one way to help students develop such skills. The Children's Internet Protection Act, or CIPA, requires many public schools and libraries to use filtering software in order to fulfill funding restrictions, leaving many schools without access to blogging sites. Such filtering software is not only ineffective, but also violates the rights of Internet users and the principles of library media education. Communication between educators, administrators, students, and parents can help facilitate a compromise regarding the use of Internet filters in schools, and expand Internet access so that instructional blogging may occur.
4.3.1 Meeting the Challenge of Knowledge‐Creating Systems

Many systems help us increase our knowledge of the world in one way or another. Business application systems help managers understand the marketplace and how best to address market needs. Military systems provide command and control capabilities so we can have better battlefield awareness so we can fight to win. Chemical processing facility systems help us gain awareness of what is happening all along the processing chain. If all these systems help us gain knowledge of the world, does SE have the tools to analyze the knowledge-creation capacity of our systems? This paper will explore that question.
Critical Current Fluctuations in Disordered Superconducting Wire Networks Carlos Bonetto

We report results of an investigation of magnetic-field dependent critical currents in artificially disordered superconducting Al wire networks well below Tc. Aperiodic but reproducible variations with field are found, in sharp contrast with the periodic oscillations observed close to Tc. Critical currents also exhibited strong variations on cycling the current at low fields reflecting variations in frozen-in metastable vortex patterns. Both the variations in field and on cycling vanished above a critical field set by the disorder strength.
Cytopathologic analysis of paraspinal masses: a study of 59 cases with clinicoradiologic correlation

Paraspinal masses (PSM) are uncommon and present a wide spectrum of differential diagnoses on fine-needle aspiration (FNA). We analyzed 59 cases of PSM on FNA in a 15-yr period, in the context of clinicoradiologic correlation. Radiologic findings, clinical data, and tissue biopsies were reviewed. Patients were 14-83 yr of age (mean 54.7) with a M:F ratio of 1.36:1. Of the 59 cases, 39 (66%) were deemed diagnostic. Of these, 8 (21%) revealed nonneoplastic lesions and 31 (79%) yielded neoplasms: 2 (6%) benign and 29 (94%) malignant. Of the malignant cases, 22 (76%) were metastatic tumors from various sites, while 7 (24%) were cancers from local spread, which included non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL, 5) and myeloma (2). Benign neoplasms were nerve sheath tumors. Metastatic tumors consisted of adenocarcinoma, 9; squamous-cell carcinoma, 3; renal-cell carcinoma, 1; and non-small-cell carcinoma/not otherwise specified (NOS), 9. Twenty-four (41%) cases received further studies: immunoperoxidase (IPOX) alone, 17 (71%); special stains for microorganisms, 2 (8%); IPOX/other special stains, 4 (17%); and flow cytometry analysis, 1 (4%). Eight (14%) cases received follow-up biopsies. Half of these biopsies added information to previously "nondiagnostic" FNAs. Of the previously "diagnostic" FNAs, tissue biopsy yielded no additional information. Cytopathologic diagnoses were consistent with the pre-FNA radiology analyses in 13 (39%) cases. In instances of radiologic and cytopathologic discrepancy (4 cases, 12%), diagnoses made by FNA reversed the initial radiologic impression of neoplasm to infection, and vice versa. PSMs are rare lesions (0.26% of total FNAs done in 15 yr at our institution). The most common lesion encountered is metastatic adenocarcinoma, followed by NHL. Ancillary studies are helpful in difficult cases. In cases of radiologic/cytopathologic discrepancy, FNA diagnoses are more accurate and decisive for patient management. The sensitivity and specificity of a PSM FNA are 88% and 75% respectively.
Purification by Immunoadsorbtion Chromatography of the Normal and a Mutant Form of the B2 Subunit of Escherichia coli Tryptophan Synthase

Columns containing immobilized immunoglobulin G fractions from normal and immunized animals were used to purify the wild-type β component of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase, formula α2β2, and a mutant form of the β component. The procedure yielded proteins with no detectable contaminants as measured by analytical acrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and immunodiffusion against proteins subject to sodium dodecylsulfate acrylamide electrophoresis. After elution from the antibody column at pH 11 the normal β component, by dialysis against pyridoxal phosphate at pH 7.5, could be restored to the enzymatically-active β2 dimer with a specific activity of 1700 enzyme units/mg protein. This compares with reported values of 2500—3000 enzyme units/mg when the β2 dimer is purified by conventional means.
INTACT ORGAN CULTURE OF MURINE METANEPHROS

A murine metanephric whole-organ culture system is described which maintains normal structural relationships of epithelial and mesenchymal elements and undergoes advanced organotypic differentiation in vitro. Manipulation of the culture conditions permits study of the developmental, immunologic, and biochemical aspects of normal and abnormal renal organogenesis.
A Theory Attributing Optical Diffuse Interstellar Absorption Bands, “Unidentified Infrared” Emission Bands, and Cloud Reddening to H2 Nonlinear Absorption

A theory is described that attributes the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIBs) to coherently driven two-photon absorption by H2 molecules present in sheetlike clouds located near hot stars. Results from three-level nonlinear spectroscopy are used to argue that vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons from the star impinging on the H2-containing cloud will be primarily absorbed in simultaneous two-photon (Raman-type) transitions, resulting in the build-up of coherent VUV Stokes-wave radiation in the "plane" of the H2-containing cloud on the transitions [Cn X0; P(2) and P(3) ; n = 0–5] and on some of the transitions [Bn X0 , P(2) and P(3)]. Via this in-plane VUV Stokes-wave radiation, para-hydrogen molecules in the (X0, J'' = 2) level and ortho-hydrogen molecules in the (X0, J'' = 3) level are coherently excited to levels [Cn(Πu+); J' = 1 and 2 ; n = 0–5] and [Bn, J' = 1 and 2], which thus serve as the intermediate states in resonantly enhanced, coherently driven, two-photon absorption. The DIBs result from visible light from the star being simultaneously absorbed in "second step" transitions from the coherently excited (C, B)-state levels to various singlet gerade state levels.In-plane coherent VUV Stokes-wave radiation at [Cn X0; P(2) and P(3); n = 1 − 5] can also act to produce in-plane coherent IR radiation via stimulated Raman scattering processes terminating on various EF singlet gerade levels. Striking coincidences are shown to exist between frequencies of IR Stokes-wave transitions expected to be strong and those of the so-called unidentified infrared emission bands (UIBs). Assuming a common identity, assignments are offered for most of the known UIBs.More than 70 sharp DIBs are assigned to transitions from B- and C-state levels to levels of singlet gerade states. On the basis of in-plane four-wave mixing of VUV and IR-Stokes-waves radiation (i.e., four-wave parametric generation), the most prominent features seen in the emission spectrum of the Red Rectangle are also explained. It is furthermore indicated that cloud reddening should be an additional manifestation of the presence of intense, in-plane, VUV Stokes-wave radiation.
Patients' benefit from contact dermatitis evaluation: Results of a follow-up study*1

Objective: The purpose of this study was to follow up patients seen in a contact dermatitis clinic to assess patient benefit from the evaluation. Methods: Four hundred sixteen consecutive contact dermatitis clinic patients were sent a standard questionnaire 2 months after their visits to evaluate their experience, clinical improvement, effect on job status, and understanding of their diagnosis and management. One hundred seventy-one patients (41.1%) responded to the survey. We reviewed all responder and nonresponder charts and analyzed various factors, including patch test results, presence or absence of other skin disease, job modification after testing, and overall outcome. Results: Before the review, positive, neutral, and negative outcomes were defined based on change in dermatitis and patient education. Of the 171 responders, 152 charts were available for review. One hundred four of 152 (68.4%) had a positive outcome of the patch test evaluation, 41 of 152 (27.0%) had a neutral outcome, and 7 of 152 (4.6%) had a negative outcome. Of the 103 nonresponders who had follow-up available by chart review, outcomes showed a similar trend. Job change occurred for a minority of patients (12.9%), and job modification, where it was applicable, was implemented for 61.9% of patients. Conclusion: Our results indicate that contact dermatitis evaluation, including patch testing, had a positive impact for the majority of patients in terms of improvement of the dermatitis, identification of allergens to avoid, education about irritant factors, protective measures, and/or therapeutic expectations.
Results of permanent dual-chamber pacing in symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Because dual-chamber (DDD) pacing has been shown to be of benefit regarding symptoms, rest and pacing hemodynamics, and exercise duration in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC), the effect of DDD pacing was assessed in patients with nonobstructive HC who were significantly symptomatic despite medical management. Echocardiography, treadmill exercise testing, thallium-201 scintigraphy, radionuclide angiography, and invasive measurement of rest and semi-erect bicycle exercise hemodynamics were performed in 12 patients before and approximately 4 months after permanent DDD pacing. One patient died 3 months after pacemaker implantation, because of worsening diastolic heart failure. Of the remaining 11 patients, 10 improved regarding symptoms, and treadmill exercise duration was longer during DDD pacing than during the baseline study in sinus rhythm (6.8 ± 2.8 to 8.5 ± 2.8 minutes; p 3 ; p 2 ; p 2 ; p 2 ; p = 0.097). No change in peak heart rate, cardiac or stroke volume index, mean blood pressure, or pulmonary artery or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure occurred with peak exercise during DDD pacing as compared with the initial exercise study in sinus rhythm. Furthermore, repeat exercise thallium-201 scintigraphy during DDD pacing in 9 patients showed no consistent change due to pacing. Of 10 patients >1 year after pacemaker implantation, cardiac medications have been reinitiated in 6, and DDD pacing was discontinued in 1, because of persistent or worsening symptoms. Thus, although DDD pacing in patients with nonobstructive HC was associated with improvement in symptoms and effort tolerance, there was absence of objective evidence of hemodynamic benefit, and a common need for reinitiation of medical therapy. Currently, chronic DDD pacing cannot be recommended for routine use in the management of patients with nonobstructive HC who are symptomatic despite medical management.
MODELING EROSION FROM INSLOPING LOW-VOLUME ROADS WITH WEPP WATERSHED MODEL

Low-volume roads can be a major source of sediment to streams in forest watersheds. For soil erosion from roads to be economically mitigated, the processes that cause erosion need to be understood. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), a physically based erosion and sedimentation model, was used for predicting erosion from forest roads that can be described as hillslopes. Watershed applications of WEPP predicted erosion and sedimentation values for insloping roads that can be described as microwatersheds. How well WEPP models insloping roads through a sensitivity analysis and validation process using two studies in the Oregon Coast Range is discussed.
Restoration of intracellular ATP production in banked red blood cells improves inducible ATP export and suppresses RBC-endothelial adhesion.

Transfusion of banked red blood cells (RBCs) has been associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Storage-induced alterations in RBC glycolytic flux, attenuated ATP export, and microvascular adhe...
Simultaneous multi-element detection of metal ions bound to a Datura innoxia material.

Abstract An on-line detection scheme has been developed for the determination of metal ion affinities for binding to a plant-based substrate. This involves monitoring the effluent of a column packed with cell-wall fragments from the plant Datura innoxia for 27 different elements simultaneously by coupling the column to an ICP emission spectrometer. Previously accepted procedures for removing native metal ions from biological materials by washing the material with a pH 2 solution were found to be insufficient for this material. Measurable amounts of Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ba, Sr, and Si were all detected in an effluent from the introduction of 1.0 M HCl following washing the material in a pH 2 solution. Metal ion breakthrough curves for Cd 2+ , Zn 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , and Pb 2+ were found to exhibit an affinity order of Pb 2+ >Cu 2+ ⪢Zn 2+ ≅Cd 2+ >Ni 2+ for an equimolar mixture of these metal ions. This configuration also enabled the displacement of metal ions to be detected as the breakthrough curve for a subsequent metal ion was monitored. Comparison of Ni and Zn binding indicates a simple ion exchange model is insufficient to explain sequential binding of these metal ions.
Personal breathalysers may give false reassurance to drivers, research shows

Researchers who tested three types of personal breathalysers on drinkers in bars in Oxford city centre found widely different levels of accuracy that they say “could have catastrophic safety implications for drivers” who rely on the devices to decide whether they are fit to drive after drinking. The researchers, from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, tested the diagnostic accuracy of two single use disposable breathalysers and one multi-use digital device against results obtained from a Home Office approved breathalyser used by police for roadside testing. In a paper published today on BMJ Open the researchers reported that the relative accuracy of the three breathalysers varied from 26% to 95%, which in the case of the worst performing device meant that as many as “three people in four . . . are falsely reassured when over the limit.” 1 Earlier this month Dorset Police advised motorists not to rely on personal breathalysers, after county trading standards officers tested 14 devices and found that nine falsely assured users that they were safe to drive. Ivan Hancock, trading standards service manager for Dorset County Council, said, “Drivers would be extremely foolish to rely on the readings they get from one of these cheap devices.”2 The Oxford findings are particularly relevant at this time of year, at the height of the police’s seasonal drink driving campaigns—and even more so in Scotland, where on 5 December the drink driving limit was reduced from 80 mg to 50 mg of alcohol in every 100 mL of blood, bringing the country into line with the rest of Europe. The researchers set out to test the devices in a “real world situation, representing one possible application …
Analytical approach to very large benzenoid polymers

We consider rigorous evaluation of conjugated-circuit resonance energies for families of structurally related benzenoid hydrocarbons of increasing size. Local and global aromatic properties of such molecules are investigated with particular interest in modeling high polymers. Using the algebra of large numbers, exact formulas for contributions from individual benzene rings of polymers with up to 25,000 repeating units (close to half a million carbon atoms) were derived. All arithmetic procedures were carried out in terms of whole numbers retaining all digits, of which there were sometimes more than 105. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Further Investigations of Gravity Modeling on Surface-Interacting Vehicle Simulations

A vehicle simulation is "surface-interacting" if the state of the vehicle (position, velocity, and acceleration) relative to the surface is important. Surface-interacting simulations perform ascent, entry, descent, landing, surface travel, or atmospheric flight. The dynamics of surface-interacting simulations are influenced by the modeling of gravity. Gravity is the sum of gravitation and the centrifugal acceleration due to the world s rotation. Both components are functions of position relative to the world s center and that position for a given set of geodetic coordinates (latitude, longitude, and altitude) depends on the world model (world shape and dynamics). Thus, gravity fidelity depends on the fidelities of the gravitation model and the world model and on the interaction of the gravitation and world model. A surface-interacting simulation cannot treat the gravitation separately from the world model. This paper examines the actual performance of different pairs of world and gravitation models (or direct gravity models) on the travel of a subsonic civil transport in level flight under various starting conditions.
Die laparoskopische Splenektomie: Neue Techniken und Indikationen

Im Laufe der letzten Jahre wurde die laparoskopische Splenektomie zum bevorzugten operativen Verfahren bei Erkrankungen, bei denen die Milz entfernt werden muss. Zunachst war die laparoskopische Splenektomie auf Milzen kleiner Grose und benigne hamatologische Erkrankungen beschrankt; mittlerweile ist diese Methode auf eine Vielzahl anderer Indikationen ausgeweitet worden. Auch vergroserte Milzen konnen bereits laparaskopisch entfernt werden, obwohl dies nach wie vor eine Herausforderung fur den Chirurgen darstellt. Zwei Faktoren haben die laparoskopische Splenektomie vereinfacht und so zu der steigenden Akzeptanz und Attraktivitat dieser Technik beigetragen: 1. Abwandlung der ursprunglichen laparoskopischen Technik durch veranderte Lagerung des Patienten in Rechtsseitenlage mit einem postero-lateralen Zugang. 2. Die Entwicklung von neuen Schneide- und Dissektionstechniken, wie z. B. das Ultraschallmesser (Ultracision) und laparoskopische Linearstapler. In dieser Ubersichtsarbeit stellen wir sowohl die gegenwartigen Indikationen zur laparoskopischen Splenektomie als auch die neue Operationstechnik und die dafur benotigten Instrumente dar.
Temperature‐dependent oligomerization of hsp85 in vitro

The failure of conventional subcellular fractionation methods to identify interactions between the bulk of hsp85 and other cellular structures suggested that critical stress protein interactions might be detectable only at elevated temperatures. This was confirmed by showing that incorporation of hsp85 and grp95 into sedimentable complexes in Triton X-100 extracts of L929 cells increased progressively over the 30 degrees C-43 degrees C temperature range. Whereas several other proteins, including hsp110 and hsp69, became sedimentable under these conditions, this effect required temperatures of approximately 43 degrees C and was only partially detergent-dependent. In contrast, hsp85 became sedimentable at temperatures as low as 33 degrees C, and this effect was highly detergent-dependent. Temperature-dependent conversion of purified hsp85 to a sedimentable form was shown to result from limited oligomerization of the protein, which occurred in the presence of detergent. Since the detergent requirement could be met by a variety of compounds, including sphingosine, these findings suggest that hsp85 oligomerization may occur when intact cells are exposed to elevated temperature.
Activation of peripheral cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors suppresses the maintenance of inflammatory nociception: a comparative analysis

Background and Purpose: Effects of locally administered agonists and antagonists for cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors on mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity were compared after the establishment of chronic inflammation. Experimental approach: Carrageenan was administered unilaterally to the rat hindpaw on day 1. Prophylactic efficacy of locally administered CB1- and CB2-selective agonists −arachidonyl-2-chloroethylamide (ACEA) and (R,S)-(2-iodo-5-nitro-phenyl)-[l-(l-methyl-piperidin-2-ylmethyl)-lH-ubdik-3-yl]-methanone ((R,S)-AM1241), respectively− on mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity were compared on day 2. Pharmacological specificity was evaluated using locally administered CB1 and CB2-selective antagonists −N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamidehydrochloride (SR141716A) and N-[(1S)-endo-1,3,3-trimethyl bicycle [2.2.1] heptan-2-yl]-5-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR144528), respectively. Key Results: Administration of either ACEA or AM1241 to the inflamed but not noninflamed paw suppressed the maintenance of carrageenan-evoked mechanical hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia and attenuated thermal hyperalgesia. The ACEA-induced suppression of mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity was blocked by local injection of SR141716A but not SR144528. AM1241 suppressed mechanical hypersensitivity with the reverse pharmacological specificity. The AM1241-induced suppression of thermal hyperalgesia was blocked by SR144528 and to a lesser extent by SR14176A. Co-administration of ACEA with AM1241 in the inflamed paw increased the magnitude but not the duration of thermal antihyperalgesia compared to intraplantar administration of either agonist alone. Conclusions and Implications: Cannabinoids act locally through distinct CB1 and CB2 mechanisms to suppress mechanical hypersensitivity after the establishment of chronic inflammation, at doses that produced modest changes in thermal hyperalgesia. Additive antihyperalgesic effects were observed following prophylactic co-administration of the CB1- and CB2-selective agonists. Our results suggest that peripheral cannabinoid antihyperalgesic actions may be exploited for treatment of inflammatory pain states. British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 153–163. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706984
Human-robot interaction in the wild: Land, marine, and aerial robots at Fukushima and Sendai

Summary form only given. TMA was established in 1997 as an R&D software outsourcing company, and has grown from a small group of 6 engineers in 1997, to over 1000 people today, serving many large customers around the world. In 2009, when TMA celebrated the first 12-year cycle, as part of the development strategy for the next cycle, we embarked on a new imitative to set up an R&D center to leverage the human and financial capital we have accumulated from R&D outsourcing, and the infrastructure we have built, to research and develop IT-enabled applications. The emphasis is on applications, based on ideas from ourselves, and from our partners around the world. This presentation will share with you the achievements, the lessons learned, and the call for collaboration.
Performance and filtration characteristics of non-woven membranes used in a submerged membrane bioreactor for synthetic wastewater treatment

Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the performance and filtration characteristics of a submerged non-woven membrane bioreactor system. The results showed that an activated sludge system with a submerged tubular non-woven membrane module could be operated until the mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) reached about 11,000 mg/L. In studying the filtration characteristics of our submerged non-woven membrane bioreactor system, the factors under investigating included pore size, initial flux, aeration intensity and MLSS effect. It was found that suspended floc particles of activated sludge were the main contributor for membrane fouling. The filtration behaviors of the submerged non-woven membrane bioreactor system were different from those of conventional microporous membrane bioreactor systems, especially operating at high aeration intensity and high MLSS concentration.
WEAK LOCALIZATION IN THIN CS FILMS

Thin, quench condensed films of Cs change their resistance and Hall effect dramatically when covered with surface impurities. In this paper we investigate the quantum interference corrections to the resistance (weak localization) and determine the inelastic dephasing rate of the conduction electrons. The dephasing rate is proportional to the temperature-dependent resistance. For pure Cs films the magnetoresistance curves show a rather poor agreement with the theory, which is exceptional for quench condensed metal films. In particular, at 4.5 K a linear magnetoresistance is observed at large magnetic fields, which defies explanation. Sandwiches of AgCs yield a much better agreement between the experimental results and the theory. However, the dephasing rate of Cs in Ag/Cs and Au/Cs sandwiches has only half the value of that in pure Cs films with the same thickness and mean free path.
Connection Between the Relativistic and Nonrelativistic Form of the Nucleon-Nucleon Amplitude

The connection between the nonrelativistic (Wolfenstein-Ashkin) and the relativistic (Goldberger-Grisaru-MacDonald-Wong) amplitudes of the nucleon-nucleon scattering is obtained using a two-component form of the latter. This connection involves simple functions of $E$ and $cos\ensuremath{\theta}$. It is then possible to translate the analysis of scattering and polarization experiments in terms of one set of amplitudes into the other.
Density of solid argon at the triple point and concentration of vacancies

Abstract A density value, ϱ = 1.616 ± 0.004 g/cm3, for solid argon at the triple point, derived from PVT-measurements on solid and liquid argon, is reported.
High-resolution 3D OCT imaging with a MEMS scanning endoscope

Three-dimensional imaging is achieved by optical coherence tomography (OCT) integrated with a two-axis MEMS scanner to enable noninvasive volume imaging of biological tissues. The longitudinal scan is obtained by optical coherence interferometry. The transverse scan is obtained by tilting the two-axis MEMS mirror to scan the optical beam across the target. High-resolution OCT imaging has enabled in vivo observation of tissue architectural layers and differentiation of normal from tumor lesions within the human gastrointestinal tract. MEMS scanner based catheters with distal beam scanning can image with higher speed, precision, and repeatability than conventional linear scanning catheters. In this work, a 1-mm diameter MEMS scanning mirror with collimator and focusing optics is integrated into a compact 5-mm diameter package that is compatible with limited space in the endoscope. A large fill factor mirror provides high aperture over large scan angle and frequencies of hundreds of Hz in both axes. Using a broadband femtosecond laser light source, high axial image resolution of ~5 um is achieved at 1.06 um wavelength. Transverse resolution of ~ 12-um is demonstrated for cross-sectional image with the endoscope.
PEG-400 Partitioning in the HCCD/PEG Process for Cs and Sr Recovery

Abstract The properties of the chloro-protected cobalt bis(dicarbollide) anion in the acidic form (HCCD), and in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG-400), are well known for the recovery of Cs and Sr from acidic radioactive streams. In the early development of HCCD/PEG extraction processes, questions were raised regarding the ability to control the concentration of PEG-400 in the organic phase due to its high solubility in the aqueous process solutions relative to HCCD or the diluent. The purpose of this study was to quantify the partitioning behavior of PEG-400 under a wide variety of relevant process conditions. PEG distribution ratios (D PEG ) were measured by equilibrium batch contacts between the organic and aqueous phases over a wide range of conditions using radiometric techniques with 14C labeled PEG-400 to monitor the behavior of the bulk material. The results vary dramatically from 0.1 < DPEG < 50, indicate that the PEG phase transfer kinetics are rapid, and that the aqueous phase nitric ac...
NEW EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE BASIC PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF AEROSOL SAMPLERS

The study of the basic physical performance characteristics of aerosol samplers, like those used in the occupational hygiene setting, will provide insights to enable the improved development of new instruments and cost-effective testing procedures. These will be required as the new particle size-selective sampling criteria become the basis of new occupational exposure standards. A new body of work is being conducted, in which the factors influencing sampler performance are being investigated using idealized samplers of spherical shape in small wind tunnels. By the experimental methods described, a large amount of performance data can be acquired in a very short time. The results for wide ranges of particle size, wind speed, sampling flow rate, and sampler orientation conditions show that there are strong trends as functions of these variables. Those trends are very complicated. But it is encouraging that they are broadly consistent with recent semi-empirical models, suggesting that extensions of that type...
Induced Motion as a Function of the Speed of the Inducing Object, Measured by Means of Two Methods:

Induced motion is illustrated by the apparent motion imparted to a stationary disc by the horizontal motion of an enclosing frame. The present study examined the effect of frame speed, with a constant extent of frame motion, on the magnitude of induced motion for average frame speeds varying from 0·17 to 2·85 deg s−1. The induced motion was measured by two methods. (i) The observer adjusted the horizontal distance between comparison posts to indicate the extent of the horizontal induced motion in a physically stationary disc. (ii) The observer adjusted the slant of a comparison rod to indicate the apparent path of motion of the disc physically moving straight up and down in phase with the horizontal motion of the surrounding frame. The latter method requires the observer to integrate two apparent components of motion of the disc, one from its physical vertical motion and the other from its induced horizontal motion. The results from both methods show that substantial amounts of induction occurred at all o...
Cluster-Based Hybrid Scheduling Mechanisms for Workflow Applications on the Grid

Thanks to advances in wide-area network technologies and the decreasing cost of computing resources, Grid computing is now a viable computational paradigm. However, many aspects of successfully using the Grid remain research topics. Among them, we identify scheduling of workflow applications as a key problem. While there is much work on static scheduling approaches for workflow applications in parallel environments, little work has been done on a real-world Grid environment. In this paper, we launch four model workflow applications with different configurations on a multi-cluster Grid testbed. By observing the applications' performance, we propose a new cluster-based hybrid scheduling mechanism that dynamically executes a top-down static scheduling algorithm using the real-time feedback from the execution monitor. Our experimental results show that this approach achieves the best performance among all the scheduling approaches we implemented on both reserved resources and those with external loads.
Photoacoustic measurement of low-level absorptions in solids

Small repetitively pulsed lasers can be used with a photoacoustic detection method to obtain linear absorption measurements on optical thin films with a 5 × 10−5 sensitivity using an acoustic-coupling procedure and with a 1 × 10−5 sensitivity using a liquid–transducer procedure.
A two-scale differential SAR interferometry approach for investigating earth surface deformations

This paper presents a DIFSAR approach that allows us to detect and follow the temporal evolution of surface deformations at different spatial scales. In particular, our solution extends the capability of the algorithm referred to as small baseline subsets (SBAS) technique (Berardino et al., 2002), and allows us to investigate large scale deformation phenomena as well as displacements of single buildings or structures. The proposed technique relies on small baseline DIFSAR interferograms only, in order to mitigate the decorrelation phenomena, and requires two different sets of data generated at low (multi-look) and high (single-look) spatial resolution, respectively. The algorithm has been tested with the data acquired by the European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellites which are relative to the city of Napoli (Italy) and surroundings; the results have been validated by using geodetic data.
Sexual Behaviors of Hispanic Emerging Adults: Examining the Immigrant Paradox

The current study examined the immigrant paradox regarding risky sexual behaviors of Hispanic emerging adults from a social learning perspective, theorizing that the immigrant paradox could partially be explained by the sexual lyrical content contained in music. Participants included 173 Hispanic emerging adults from South America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America, and Mexico. The current study examined sexual lyrical content along with gender, generational status, family structure, economic hardship, and religiosity. Participant gender was associated with age at first date, with male participants engaging in unsupervised dating activities earlier than female participants, and number of dating partners, with female participants reporting more dating partners than male participants. Results from hierarchical regression analyses indicated that sexual lyrical content in music could partially explain the immigrant paradox regarding risky sexual behaviors of Hispanic emerging adults.