cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY AND THE HYDROPHOBIC SITE OF LIVER ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE (L-ADH)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the substrate specificity and the hydrophobic site of liver alcohol dehydrogenase (L-ADH). Horse L-ADH has a very broad specificity for primary, secondary and cyclic alcohols, as does ADH from a variety of sources such as rat and human. The hydrophobic nature of the substrate binding site has been confirmed in the present study by the use of n-alkyl substituted aminoethanols, compounds which are known to be incorporated into liver and brain phospholipids. These substrates show higher reactivity as the groups around the n-alkyl substituted base become more hydrophobic. As observed with ethanol as substrate, formation of ternary abortive complexes of enzyme-NADH-amino-ethanol are seen at high concentrations of aminoethanols. The lipophilic nature of the association of aminoethanols with the binary enzyme-NADH and enzyme-NAD complexes has been studied and compared with the substrate analogue inhibitors, amides, and acids. As with acids and amides as inhibitors, the association of aminoethanol substrates with the binary complexes increases as the number and size of the substituted n-alkyl group increases.
Human-Robot Mutual Trust in (Semi)autonomous Underwater Robots

It is envisioned that a human operator is able to monitor and control one or more (semi)autonomous underwater robots simultaneously in future marine operations. To enable such operations, a human operator must trust the capability of a robot to perform tasks autonomously, and the robot must establish its trust to the human operator based on human performance and follow guidance accordingly. Therefore, we seek to i model the mutual trust between humans and robots (especially (semi)autonomous underwater robots in this chapter), and ii) develop a set of trust-based algorithms to control the human-robot team so that the mutual trust level can be maintained at a desired level. We propose a time series based mutual trust model that takes into account robot performance, human performance and overall human-robot system fault rates. The robot performance model captures the performance evolution of a robot under autonomous mode and teleoperated mode, respectively. Furthermore, we specialize the robot performance model of a YSI EcoMapper autonomous underwater robot based on its distance to a desired waypoint. The human performance model is inspired by the Yerkes-Dodson law in psychology, which describes the relationship between human arousal and performance. Based on the mutual trust model, we first study a simple case of one human operator controlling a single robot and propose a trust-triggered control strategy depending on the limit conditions of the desired trust region. The method is then enhanced for the case of one human operator controlling a swarm of robots. In this framework, a periodic trust-based control strategy with a highest-trust-first scheduling algorithm is proposed. Matlab simulation results are provided to validate the proposed model and control strategies that guarantee effective real-time scheduling of teleoperated and autonomous controls in both one human one underwater robot case and one human multiple underwater robots case.
A practical protocol for measurements of spinal cord functional connectivity

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to study human brain function for over two decades, but only recently has this technique been successfully translated to the human spinal cord. The spinal cord is structurally and functionally unique, so resting state fMRI methods developed and optimized for the brain may not be appropriate when applied to the cord. This report therefore investigates the relative impact of different acquisition and processing choices (including run length, echo time, and bandpass filter width) on the detectability of resting state spinal cord networks at 3T. Our results suggest that frequencies beyond 0.08 Hz should be included in resting state analyses, a run length of ~8–12 mins is appropriate for reliable detection of the ventral (motor) network, and longer echo times – yet still shorter than values typically used for fMRI in the brain – may increase the detectability of the dorsal (sensory) network. Further studies are required to more fully understand and interpret the nature of resting state spinal cord networks in health and in disease, and the protocols described in this report are designed to assist such studies.
Multi-Institutional Validation of a Knowledge-Based Planning Model for Patients Enrolled in RTOG 0617: Implications for Plan Quality Controls in Cooperative Group Trials.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a single-institution, knowledge-based planning (KBP) model as a dosimetric plan quality control (QC) for multi-institutional clinical trials. The efficacy of this QC tool was retrospectively evaluated using a subset of plans submitted to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study 0617. Methods and Materials A single KBP model was created using commercially available software (RapidPlan; Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) and data from 106 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who were treated at a single institution. All plans had prescriptions that ranged from 60 Gy in 30 fractions to 74 Gy in 37 fractions and followed the planning guidelines from RTOG 0617. Two sets of optimization objectives were created to produce different trade-offs using the single KBP model predictions: one prioritizing target coverage and a second prioritizing lung sparing (LS) while allowing an acceptable variation in target coverage. Three institutions submitted a high volume of clinical plans to RTOG 0617 and provided data on 25 patients, which were replanned using both sets of optimization objectives. Model-generated, dose-volume histogram predictions were used to identify patients who exceeded the lung clinical target volume (CTV) V20Gy >37% and would benefit from the LS objectives. Overall plan quality differences between KBP-generated plans and clinical plans were evaluated at RTOG 0617–defined dosimetric endpoints. Results Target coverage and organ at risk sparing was significantly improved for most KBP-generated plans compared with those from clinical trial data. The KBP model using prioritized target coverage objectives reduced heart Dmean and V40Gy by 2.1 Gy and 5.2%, respectively. Similarly, using LS objectives reduced the lung CTV Dmean and V20Gy by 2.0 Gy and 2.9%, respectively. The KBP predictions correctly identified all patients with lung CTV V20Gy > 37% (5 of 25 patients) and significantly reduced the dose to the lung CTV by applying the LS optimization objectives. Conclusions A single-institution KBP model can be applied as a QC tool for multi-institutional clinical trials to improve overall plan quality and provide decision-support to determine the need for anatomy-based dosimetric trade-offs.
Histomorphological Effects of Cottonseed Oil on Testes in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Cottonseed oil is an extract from the seeds of cotton plant, that is rich in protein, carbohydrate and fiber. The objective of the research was to study the effect of cottonseed oil on the histology of the testis. Materials and methods. Twelve adult male Wistar rats weighing 200 – 250g, were randomly sorted into four groups (I - IV), each containing three animals. Cottonseed oil was administered orally to the experimental animals by means of an orogastric tube. The rats in Group I (the control group) received standard rat pellet and oral normal saline ad libitum only. The animals in Groups II, III, and IV received 0.2 ml, 0.6 ml and 1.0 ml of cotton seed oil per body weight respectively. On the 21st day, the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The testes were excised and, then, fixed with appropriate fixatives for routine tissue processing. Results. The results revealed an increase in the luminal diameter of seminiferous tubules, a decrease in the Leydig cell population, the disorientation of spermatogenic series and their detachment from the germinal epithelium. Conclusions. The present study demonstrated that oral administration of cottonseed oil to male rats displayed a deleterious effect on their testis by disrupting spermatogenesis and the histological architecture of the testis.
Stakeholder Perspectives on the Value of Marine Spatial Planning Towards Advancing Offshore Wind in the U.S.

The United States contributes only 0.2% of the 18,814 MW of global installed offshore wind capacity. Lack of development has been attributed in part to a cumbersome regulatory process that includes the evaluation of environmental impacts. Assessments are based on biological, social, and technical data that are often incomplete. Marine spatial planning (MSP) may help fill data gaps. We conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants to understand (1) whether a lack of biological data impedes offshore wind environmental assessments, (2) whether MSP could mitigate these impediments, and (3) whether MSP could advance offshore wind development in the U.S. in other ways. Most informants stated that a lack of biological data in offshore wind environmental assessments was problematic due to incomplete data, uncertainty of data, and mismatched scales. Data issues may be mitigated by creation of data products and increased communication, outcomes of MSP that may benefit the regulatory process by increasing data availability, resolving conflicts among users, and providing a common operating picture. Challenges remain in integrating MSP into the processes of siting and permitting offshore wind, but it provides a strategic framework for the systematic identification, collection, collation, analyses, application, and management of data in the offshore wind environmental regulatory process.
Assessment of end-of-life care quality indicators in veterans with cancer.

e18327Background: Many cancer patients (pts) receive aggressive medical care at the end-of-life (EOL) . The objective of this study was to assess quality of EOL (qEOL) care in cancer pts at our VA ...
P40 Smart Snacks in College: How Do They Match Up to Popular Alternatives?

Background Snacking has been increasing for decades, and snacks are often high in solid fats and added sugars. College campuses provide numerous and overwhelming snacking options that may factor into college weight gain such as vending machines. The Social Cognitive Theory postulates that many factors drive health behaviors. The food environment can strongly influence snacking behaviors of students. Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the nutritional impact of a healthy snack intervention on a southern college campus. Study Design, Settings, Participants This quasi-experimental study took place in a southern college campus and is part of a larger study evaluating the efficacy of a healthy snack initiative in four residential halls. Half of vending snacks were substituted with snacks complying with federal Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards for K-12 schools. Smart Snacks must meet caloric, fat, sodium, and sugar guidelines. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Data collected in fall 2017 included sales, waste, and stock of snacks in 12 vending machines. Descriptive statistics were computed from the sales data and nutrition information collected through manufacturer's websites.. Results Average sales per week were 427 Smart Snacks and 775 standard non-compliant snacks. On average, each Smart Snack sold offered a reduction of 122 calories, 135.7 mg of sodium, 3.4 g saturated fat, and 8.6 grams of sugar and an increase of 1.1 grams of fiber. Despite overall lower sales of Smart Snacks relative to non-compliant counterparts, 14.9 caloric pounds, calculated from calorie differences, were saved each week in vending sales over a semester-long 50% Smart Snacks intervention. Conclusion The potential nutritional benefit with even a 50% Smart Snack replacement is promising. There are many comparable snacks for vendors to consider that mimic the mouthfeel, taste, and appearance of their original full-fat, full-sodium, and full-sugar counterparts. A vending machine snack adaptation to healthier snack choices may be a viable option for universities to transform the campus eating environment. Funding None.
Understanding photoacid generator distribution at the nanoscale using massive cluster secondary ion mass spectrometry

Background: The homogeneity of photoacid generator (PAG) is a critical factor influencing the resolving capability and the sidewall roughness of a photoresist, yet fundamental understanding of the PAG homogeneity lacks at the nanoscale. Aim: We present a methodology, massive cluster secondary ion mass spectrometry (MC-SIMS), to determine PAG homogeneity on a 10- to 15-nm scale at the photoresist film surface. Approach: MC-SIMS bombards the sample with a sequence of massive Au400 + 4 nanoprojectiles, each separated in time and space, collecting and mass analyzing the coemitted secondary ions from each impact. Each sample is analyzed with one million individual projectile impacts. Analysis of coemission of these independent more than one million mass spectra allows for identification of colocalized molecules within nanodomains ∼10- to 15-nm diameter and ∼10 nm in depth from the film surface, therefore revealing spatial molecular distributions at the nanoscale. Results: About 85% to 95% of the measurements showed PAG–PAG coemission and over 90% showed polymer–PAG coemission. Ion-exchanging additive increases polymer–PAG coemission. Conclusions: The majority of PAG molecules exist as small aggregates that are
Pions in hot dense matter and their astrophysical implications

We study the role of pions in hot dense matter encountered in astrophysics. We find that strong interactions enhance the number density of negatively charged pions and that this enhancement can be calculated reliably for a relevant range of density and temperature by using the virial expansion. We assess the influence of pions and muons on the equation of state (EOS) and weak-interaction rates in hot dense matter. We find that thermal pions increase the proton fraction and soften the EOS. We also find that charged current weak reactions involving pions and muons ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}+{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}$ and ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ make an important contribution to the opacity of muon neutrinos. This could influence the dynamics of core-collapse supernovae and neutron-star mergers. Finally, we note that pion-nucleon reactions can alter the evolution of the proton fraction when weak interactions are not in equilibrium.
Cultural influence on mindful eating: traditions and values as experienced by Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white parents of elementary-school children:

Objective:To examine perceptions of mindful eating and mindful food parenting among parents of elementary school children.Methods:Four focus groups were conducted with 19 Mexican-American parents a...
Surgical excision of a free floating ascending aortic thrombus.

Background A 73-year-old female presented with leg claudication and chest pain. A mobile mass in the ascending aorta was found. Results The mass was removed through a transverse aortotomy on circulatory arrest via sternotomy. Conclusion Free-floating ascending aortic thrombus is a rare source of peripheral embolization. We advocate for emergent surgical resection to prevent further embolization and stroke.
Materials Characterization Using Calculated Control

This paper discusses new solutions to a variety of materials tests that were previously difficult and time-consuming to perform. Digital controllers now give the researcher or test engineer tremendous versatility in test control. The ability of the digital controller to perform user-defined, real-time control calculations using physical inputs from the test system gives previously unequaled performance in a variety of testing applications. Furthermore, software that allows these calculations to be quickly and easily defined improves system friendliness. This capability is applicable to a wide variety of tests, including thermal-mechanical fatigue, true stress control, inelastic and true strain control, and geomechanics applications. The authors will discuss some specific uses of this capability.
Strategic Targeting: The Islamic State and Use of Violence in Iraq and Syria

What explains the specific location of Islamic State attacks in Syria and Iraq? We consider how both ethnic and economic factors shape the group’s decision-making about where to attack. We explore ...
Selective laser melting and tempering of H13 tool steel for rapid tooling applications

Abstract H13 components with a relative density of ∼99% were additively manufactured using the selective laser melting (SLM) process. The highest density part (relevant density 99%) with the lowest level of porosity (
Factors Influencing Optimism for Degree Attainment in Latino First-Generation College Students

Latino first-generation college students face a unique set of challenges that are not part of the college experience of their non-first-generation counterparts. Nonetheless, many Latinos remain optimistic about overcoming barriers that might impede their educational pursuits. The present study was aimed at exploring factors that contribute to Latino students’ positive expectations for degree attainment. Utilizing data from a large online survey administered at a four-year Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), we found that competency beliefs and persistent determination to overcome challenges significantly influences students’ optimism. In addition, strong connections with institutional agents (largely, faculty and student affairs staff) emerged as significant contributing factors. Students who reported having close relationships with their parents also reported a greater degree of optimism about postsecondary success. Implications for programs and services to improve the college experiences of Latino first-generation student, enhance optimism, and increase retention are discussed.
Brief preoperative mind-body therapies for total joint arthroplasty patients: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT Although knee and hip replacements are intended to relieve pain and improve function, up to 44% of knee replacement patients and 27% of hip replacement patients report persistent postoperative joint pain. Improving surgical pain management is essential. We conducted a single-site, 3-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial conducted at an orthopedic clinic, among patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of the hip or knee. Mindfulness meditation (MM), hypnotic suggestion (HS), and cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation (cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation) were each delivered in a single, 15-minute group session as part of a 2-hour, preoperative education program. Preoperative outcomes-pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, pain medication desire, and anxiety-were measured with numeric rating scales. Postoperative physical functioning at 6-week follow-up was assessed with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function computer adaptive test. Total joint arthroplasty patients were randomized to preoperative MM, HS, or cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation (n = 285). Mindfulness meditation and HS led to significantly less preoperative pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and anxiety. Mindfulness meditation also decreased preoperative pain medication desire relative to cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation and increased postoperative physical functioning at 6-week follow-up relative to HS and cognitive-behavioral pain psychoeducation. Moderation analysis revealed the surgery type did not differentially impact the 3 interventions. Thus, a single session of a simple, scripted MM intervention may be able to immediately decrease TJA patients' preoperative clinical symptomology and improve postoperative physical function. As such, embedding brief MM interventions in surgical care pathways has the potential to improve surgical outcomes for the millions of patients receiving TJA each year.
Epilogue: Neurobiological Roots and Neuroethological Sprouts

Kenneth Roeder was one of the role models in my graduate student days at Berkeley in the 1930’s, along with C.L. Prosser and C.A.G. Wiersma — all the more important because they were not so remote in time or space as many other authors concerned with the physiology of the nervous system of lower animals in behavioral contexts, like C.F.A. Pantin, S.O. Mast, H.S. Jennings, H.J. Jordan, James Gray and Jacques Loeb. I corresponded with Professor Roeder and finally met him about 1940. From time to time he sent me excellent students like Robert K. Josephson and Lawrence Goldman. I am delighted to join in this celebration.
Nuage condensates: accelerators or circuit breakers for sRNA silencing pathways?

Nuage are RNA-rich condensates that assemble around the nuclei of developing germ cells. Many proteins required for the biogenesis and function of silencing small RNAs (sRNAs) enrich in nuage, and it is often assumed that nuage is the cellular site where sRNAs are synthesized and encounter target transcripts for silencing. Using C. elegans as a model, we examine the complex multi-condensate architecture of nuage and review evidence for compartmentalization of silencing pathways. We consider the possibility that nuage condensates balance the activity of competing sRNA pathways and serve to limit, rather than enhance, sRNA amplification to protect transcripts from dangerous run-away silencing.
P20 Understanding the link between transportation service delivery and utilization in Nigeria: A case study of Delta State

Abstract Background Transportation is important in developing any society. Many Nigerians lack effective and efficient transportation service delivery despite the advances in technological know-how in the world. There is absence of a system for effective communication between the transport service providers and users. This study focuses on public road transportation and attempts to understand the link between transport service delivery and its utilization, relative to establishing a ‘direct call services system’ for transportation services in Nigeria. The objectives of this study are to determine the prospect of a model transport service scheme in Nigeria that links transport service providers and users; and to determine the major challenges encountered by transport service providers and users. Methods This qualitative cross-sectional study adopted focus group discussions for gathering information and the stratified purposeful sampling technique was used to get the sample. Questions were administered in a discussion format to transport service providers, and transport service users separately, each comprising two groups of participants. Results Eighteen road transport users were involved in this study, 8 and 10 persons in the first and second focus groups respectively. Overall, 14 (77.78%) participants were willing to use the services while 4 (22.22%) were not. There were 14 road transport providers, 7 in each focus group, and all participants were willing to provide services through the scheme if available. The study showed that both transport service providers and users are likely to be interested in an innovative scheme involving the operations of a call center that could link them together. The major transportation challenges mentioned include: bad roads, poor road network, inefficient vehicles, drivers exploiting passengers, inexperienced drivers, restriction to cabs, insecurity, fuel scarcity, unreliable motor parks, high cost of transportation, poor financing of the transport industry, disturbance by law enforcement agents, touts and local government officials, and difficulty with vehicle maintenance. Conclusions Transportation planning and application of information and communication technologies system can enhance transportation service delivery in Nigeria. A good understanding of transport economics in relation to consumer behavior can drive innovative ideas to develop the transport service industry and improve quality of life of the public.
Effects of Phenobarbital Administration on Rates of Ethanol Clearance and on Ethanol-Oxidizing Enzymes in Man

Abstract The effects of phenobarbital administration on rates of ethanol disappearance from the blood and on the hepatic activities of the ethanol-oxidizing enzymes were determined in 4 male chronic alcoholic patients without significant clinical evidence of liver disease. Phenobarbital administration resulted in significant increases, both in the rates of ethanol disappearance from the blood and in the concentration of protein per gram of liver wet weight; however, no changes were observed in the activities of either alcohol dehydrogenase or the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent ethanol-oxidizing system determined in liver homogenates. On the other hand, the urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid, an index of hepatic enzyme induction, was increased. While this study demonstrates an enhancement of ethanol clearance from the blood after phenobarbital administration, the mechanism for this enhancement remains uncertain.
Topology of the Neurospora plasma membrane H+-ATPase: Localization of a transmembrane segment

The Neurospora plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase is a polytopic integral membrane protein. To localize transmembrane segments, mutants were constructed that contained the amino and carboxyl termini of the H(+)-ATPase with putative transmembrane segment. A stretch of amino acid residues from yeast invertase that has three consensus N-linked glycosylation sites was placed carboxyl terminal of the putative transmembrane segment. RNA transcripts of these mutants were translated in a Neurospora in vitro system that was supplemented with microsomes from Neurospora. By the criteria of glycosylation of the polypeptide chain, resistance to extraction at pH 11.5, and protection from proteinase K digestion, only one transmembrane segment could be identified within the amino acid residues 272-314 of the primary sequence of the H(+)-ATPase.
Neural Representations of Unconditioned Stimuli in Basolateral Amygdala Mediate Innate and Learned Responses

Stimuli that possess inherently rewarding or aversive qualities elicit emotional responses and also induce learning by imparting valence upon neutral sensory cues. Evidence has accumulated implicating the amygdala as a critical structure in mediating these processes. We have developed a genetic strategy to identify the representations of rewarding and aversive unconditioned stimuli (USs) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and have examined their role in innate and learned responses. Activation of an ensemble of US-responsive cells in the BLA elicits innate physiological and behavioral responses of different valence. Activation of this US ensemble can also reinforce appetitive and aversive learning when paired with differing neutral stimuli. Moreover, we establish that the activation of US-responsive cells in the BLA is necessary for the expression of a conditioned response. Neural representations of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli therefore ultimately connect to US-responsive cells in the BLA to elicit both innate and learned responses.
Airway somatosensory deficits and dysphagia in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) often experience substantial impairment of swallow control, and are typically unaware of the presence or severity of their impairments suggesting that these individuals may also experience airway sensory deficits. However, the degree to which impaired swallow function in PD may relate to airway sensory deficits has yet to be formally tested. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine whether airway sensory function is associated with swallow impairment in PD. METHODS Eighteen PD participants and 18 healthy controls participated in this study and underwent endoscopic assessment of airway somatosensory function, endoscopic assessment of swallow function, and clinical ratings of swallow and disease severity. RESULTS PD participants exhibited abnormal airway somatosensory function and greater swallow impairment compared with healthy controls. Swallow and sensory deficits in PD were correlated with disease severity. Moreover, PD participants reported similar self-rated swallow function as healthy controls, and swallow deficits were correlated with sensory function suggesting an association between impaired sensory function and poor self-awareness of swallow deficits in PD. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that control of swallow is influenced by airway somatosensory function, that swallow-related deficits in PD are related to abnormal somatosensation, and that swallow and airway sensory function may degrade as a function of disease severity. Therefore, the basal ganglia and related neural networks may play an important role to integrate airway sensory input for swallow-related motor control. Furthermore, the airway deficits observed in PD suggest a disintegration of swallow-related sensory and motor control.
Brownian motions on a half line

‘Numbering (in italics). (1) means formula 1 in the present section; (2.1) means formula (1) of Section 15.2, etc.’
Organo-phosphorus compounds—IV: The preparation of isomeric tetra-alkyldiphosphines and tetra-alkyldiphosphine monosulphides, a new class of phosphorus compounds

Abstract Organic substituted diphosphine disulphides are reduced by tributylphosphine, when heated in the ratio 1:2 to give excellent yields of tetra-alkyldiphosphines. In this reaction, tetra-alkyldiphosphine disulphides of the type RR′P(S)-(S)PRR′ yield two isomeric diphosphines, the structure of which has been proved without question by nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) and chemical reactions. It is believed this to be the first time that such isomerism has been observed with triply connected phosphorus compounds. If tetra-alkyldiphosphine disulphides are caused to react with tributylphosphine in the ratio 1:1 at elevated temperatures a new class of phosphorus compounds, the tetra-alkyldiphosphine monosulphides are produced. The structures and some of the chemical reactions of these compounds are discussed. A number of new n.m.r. chemical shifts are reported.
The Japanese Colony in Peru

In 1941–42 Dr. Robert B. Hall, professor of geography at the University of Michigan, investigated Japanese settlements throughout Latin America. Since his survey was made in the months just before and after Pearl Harbor, when Japan was winning successive victories, Professor Hall found the Japanese at a high peak of morale which sometimes bordered on arrogance. Subsequently, as the Allies gained the upper hand, the total situation of the Japanese underwent a marked decline. Under these circumstances it seemed likely that a postwar study might provide a valuable insight into several aspects of sociocultural change. Plans for a follow-up of Dr. Hall's work by the writer were discussed in 1947, and a decision was made to concentrate on Peru.
Crystal growth mechanisms in miarolitic cavities in the Lake George ring complex and vicinity, Colorado

The Crystal Peak area of the Pikes Peak batholith, near Lake George in central Colorado, is world-renowned for its crystals of amazonite (the blue-green variety of microcline) and smoky quartz. Such crystals, collected from individual microlitic pegmatites, have a remarkably small variation in crystal size within each pegmatite, and the shapes of plots of their crystal size distributions (CSDs) are invariably lognormal or close to lognormal in all cases. There observations are explained by a crystal growth mechanism that was governed initially by surface-controlled kinetics, during which crystals tended to grow larger in proportion to their size, thereby establishing lognormal CSDs. Surface-controlled growth was followed by longer periods of supply controlled growth, during which growth rate was predominantly size-independent, consequently preserving the lognormal shapes of the CSDs and the small size variation. The change from surface- to supply controlled growth kinetics may have resulted from an increasing demand for nutrients that exceeded diffusion limitations of the system. The proposed model for crystal growth in this locality appears to be common in the geologic record, and can be used with other information, such as isotopic data, to deduce physico-chemical conditions during crystal formation.
Asthma in the Elderly: Cockroach Sensitization and Severity of Airway Obstruction in Elderly Nonsmokers

Study objectives To test the hypothesis that the presence of sensitization to indoor allergens is associated with increased severity of airway obstruction in elderly subjects with asthma. Design Cohort study of subjects enrolled in a public hospital asthma clinic. Setting Asthma clinic in a municipal public hospital serving an indigent population in New York City. Patients Subjects aged ≥ 60 years with asthma who were enrolled in the Bellevue Hospital Asthma Clinic. Total serum IgE and allergen-specific IgE measurements were performed in a cohort of elderly never-smokers who had asthma (45 patients) who had undergone spirometry before and after bronchodilator (BD) therapy. Measurements and results The results of radioallergosorbent tests demonstrated that most subjects ( ie , 60%) were sensitized to at least one allergen, with many sensitized to at least one indoor allergen. Cockroach (CR) was the most common allergen to which subjects were sensitized, with 47% displaying an elevated serum-specific IgE level. Fewer subjects were sensitized to dust mite, cat, dog, or ragweed. Subjects sensitized to CR (CR+) had greater reductions in airflow compared to subjects not sensitized to CR (CR−) [64 ŷ 4.4% predicted vs 77.1 ŷ 4.1% predicted FEV 1 , respectively; p 1 compared to 58% of CR− subjects. Lung volume measurements differed between CR+ and CR− subjects, with a greater elevation of functional residual capacity in CR+ subjects. Conclusion In a population of elderly urban patients with asthma, the presence of CR-specific serum IgE is associated with more severe asthma, as reflected by an increase in airway obstruction and hyperinflation.
Biocatalytic nerve agent detoxification in fire fighting foams.

Current events across the globe necessitate rapid technological advances to combat the epidemic of nerve agent chemical weapons. Biocatalysis has emerged as a viable tool in the detoxification of organophosphorus neurotoxins, such as the chemical weapons VX and sarin. Efficient detoxification of contaminated equipment, machinery, and soils are of principal concern. This study describes the incorporation of a biocatalyst (organophosphorus hydrolase, E.C. 3.1.8.1) into conventional formulations of fire fighting foam. The capacity of fire fighting foams to decrease volatilization of contained contaminants, increase surface wettability, and control the rate of enzyme delivery to large areas makes them useful vehicles for enzyme application at surfaces. The performance of enzyme containing foams has been shown to be not only reproducible but also predictable. An empirical model provides reasonable estimations for the amounts of achievable surface decontamination as a function of the important parameters of the system. Theoretical modeling illustrates that the enzyme-containing foam is capable of extracting agent from the surface and is catalytically active at the foam–surface interface and throughout the foam itself. Biocatalytic foam has proven to be an effective, “environmentally friendly” means of surface and soil decontamination. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 62: 659–665, 1999.
A natural limit to the containment and removal of oil spills at sea

Abstract A simple statistical model is developed to investigate the effect of turbulence in removing oil from the sea surface. The relationship and importance of vertical turbulent transport to oil spill containment and clean-up operations is emphasized. In its final form, the model allows a tentative conclusion to be made concerning the probable succedd of such operations, with wind speed and oil type being the governing parameters.
Bouncing Back: Plant-Associated Soil Microbes Respond Rapidly to Prairie Establishment

It is well established that soil microbial communities change in response to altered land use and land cover, but less is known about the timing of these changes. Understanding temporal patterns in recovering microbial communities is an important part of improving how we assess and manage reconstructed ecosystems. We assessed patterns of community-level microbial diversity and abundance in corn and prairie plots 2 to 4 years after establishment in agricultural fields, using phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers. Principal components analysis of the lipid biomarkers revealed differing composition between corn and prairie soil microbial communities. Despite no changes to the biomass of Gram-positive bacteria and actinomycetes, total biomass, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biomass, and Gram-negative bacteria biomass were significantly higher in restored prairie plots, approaching levels found in long-established prairies. These results indicate that plant-associated soil microbes in agricultural soils can shift in less than 2 years after establishment of perennial grasslands.
Inorganic Arsenic-induced cellular transformation is coupled with genome wide changes in chromatin structure, transcriptome and splicing patterns

Arsenic (As) exposure is a significant worldwide environmental health concern. Low dose, chronic arsenic exposure has been associated with a higher than normal risk of skin, lung, and bladder cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. While arsenic-induced biological changes play a role in disease pathology, little is known about the dynamic cellular changes resulting from arsenic exposure and withdrawal. In these studies, we sought to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the biological changes induced by arsenic exposure. A comprehensive global approach was employed to determine genome-wide changes to chromatin structure, transcriptome patterns and splicing patterns in response to chronic low dose arsenic and its subsequent withdrawal. Our results show that cells exposed to chronic low doses of sodium arsenite have distinct temporal and coordinated chromatin, gene expression, and miRNA changes consistent with differentiation and activation of multiple biochemical pathways. Most of these temporal patterns in gene expression are reversed when arsenic is withdrawn. However, some gene expression patterns remained altered, plausibly as a result of an adaptive response by cells. Additionally, the correlation of changes to gene expression and chromatin structure solidify the role of chromatin structure in gene regulatory changes due to arsenite exposure. Lastly, we show that arsenite exposure influences gene regulation both at the initiation of transcription as well as at the level of splicing. Our results show that adaptation of cells to iAs-mediated EMT is coupled to changes in chromatin structure effecting differential transcriptional and splicing patterns of genes. These studies provide new insights into the mechanism of iAs-mediated pathology, which includes epigenetic chromatin changes coupled with changes to the transcriptome and splicing patterns of key genes.
Fundamental studies of hydrogen interaction with supported metal and bimetallic catalysts

The thesis is divided into 3 parts: interaction of H with silica supported Ru catalysts (high pressure in situ NMR), in situ NMR study of H interaction with supported Ru-group IB bimetallic catalysts, and in-situ NMR study of H effects on silica-supported Pt, Rh and Ru catalysts.
Defining the Canon: a Response To Arnal and Gill's "Approaches To the Study of Religion"

In issue 11-2 of MTSR (1999), both William E. Arnal and Sam D. Gill offer excellent examples of how they pedagogically approach the study of religion with their first-year graduate students. Arnal designs a fairly straight-forward course by combining Daniel Pals' Seven Theo ries of Religion (1996), with Brian Morris' Anthropological Studies of Religion (1987), and a reader. Gill, on the other hand, takes a broadly com prehensive and intentionally ritualistic approach to his course. Gill utilizes the first half of the term to demonstrate historical links be
Microwave integrated circuit technology

Today's microwave engineers have been confronted with a bewildering array of claims for the use of new materials and unique physical configurations to reduce size and improve types and performance of microwave components. The various technologies associated with the fabrication of hybrid and monolithic integrated circuits using lumped and/or distributed elements will be reviewed and evaluated. A number of industry points-of-view will also be explored.
Different Neural Patterns Are Associated with Trials Preceding Inhibitory Errors in Children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with difficulty inhibiting impulsive, hyperactive, and off-task behavior. However, no studies have examined whether a distinct pattern of brain activity precedes inhibitory errors in typically developing (TD) children and children with ADHD. In healthy adults, increased activity in the default mode network, a set of brain regions more active during resting or internally focused states, predicts commission errors, suggesting that momentary lapses of attention are related to inhibitory failures. Method Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging and a go/no-go paradigm were used to explore brain activity preceding errors in 13 children with ADHD and 17 TD controls. Results Comparing pre-error with pre-correct trials, TD children showed activation in the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex and parahippocampal and middle frontal gyri. In contrast, children with ADHD demonstrated activation in the cerebellum, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and basal ganglia. Between-group comparison for the pre-error versus pre-correct contrast showed that children with ADHD showed greater activity in the cerebellum, DLPFC, and ventrolateral PFC compared with TD controls. Results of region-of-interest analysis confirmed that the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex are more active in TD children compared with children with ADHD. Conclusions These preliminary data suggest that brain activation patterns immediately preceding errors differ between children with ADHD and TD children. In TD children, momentary lapses of attention precede errors, whereas pre-error activity in children with ADHD may be mediated by different circuits, such as those involved in response selection and control.
Systematic bias in basis material decomposition applied to quantitative dual-energy x-ray imaging

Basis material decomposition represents dual‐energy x‐ray attenuation measurements in terms of the attenuation coefficients or thicknesses of two standard materials which, when combined, produce attenuation equivalent to the object being measured. In tomographic imaging, the reconstructed attenuation coefficient is calculated in terms of the attenuation coefficients of the basis materials, while in projection imaging, the thicknesses of two materials can be specified in terms of the basis materials. This analysis shows that basis material decomposition is exact in a dual‐monoenergetic system, but for broad spectra, x‐ray beam hardening introduces a bias into quantitative measurements. The error is small enough that it can be ignored when dual‐energy imaging is used primarily to enhance the contrast of one material over another. The magnitude of the error in quantitative measurements depends on the details of the specific application including the energy of the x‐ray beam, and the composition and thickness of the materials included in the object. The magnitude of the error for dual‐energy bone densitometry has been analyzed using a first‐order propagation of error analysis and the calculations verified by computer simulation. This analysis shows that the magnitude of the systematic error can be as high as 3% for 1 g/cm2 of bone mineral when aluminum and acrylic basis materials are used for the calibration. This systematic error is eliminated when the basis materials are the same as the materials that are being quantified (i.e., bone mineral and water).
Configurational entropy in the organic conductor quinolinium (tetracyanoquinodimethane)2

Abstract The thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements as a function of temperature and concentration of defects are reported on neutron irradiated organic quasi-one-dimensional conductor Qn(TCNQ)2. The temperature dependence of the TEP suggests a freezing out of the entropy due to short range interactions, while the concentration dependence is shown to be due to the change in configurational entropy.
Resistive heating of emitter wires for field desorption and ionization: A theory

Abstract The temperature distribution across various field desorption (FD) emitters is accurately predicted by computer programs that solve the differential equation describing the flow of heat in a rod electrically heated in vacuo. The program were approved by comparing experimentally-known emitter temperatures to the calculated result. Key finding are that: (1) long emitters produce hotter central temperatures than short emitter; (2) at any given heating current a pure tungsten wire is hotter than a carbon emitter which is hotter than a cobalt emitter, all of similar size and shape: (3) long dendrites cool the wire more than short dendrites: (4) cooling along the dendrite axis is slight: and (5) for accurate comparison of emitter temperatures from the literature it is important to know and report FD emitter length. heating current, and dendrite length, density and composition.
An efficiently solvable case of the minimum weight equivalent subgraph problem

Given a directed graph G(,), the problem of finding a minimum cardinality subset υ ⊆ such that the subgraph, G(,), preserves the reachability properties of G(,) is well known to be difficult. In this article, we consider a generalization which seeks a minimum weight subset υ satisfying the stated conditions where the weights of arcs in are assigned arbitrary integer values. A polynomial-time algorithm is given for the case where the underlying, undirected graph is series-parallel. Naturally, the stated algorithm subsumes the cardinality case on such graphs as well.
Obtaining self–consistent wave functions which satisfy the virial theorem

The virial theorem has played an important role in applying quantum mechanics to chemical problems. It has served as one criterion of a satisfactory wave function and its consequences on chemical bonding, molecular structure, and substituent effects have been analyzed extensively. A common method of gaining compliance with the virial theorem is to introduce a “scale” factor which adjusts all distances by a factor η. Optimizing the scale factor through the variational principle produces a wave function satisfying the virial theorem. In the present paper it is shown that when this “scaling” procedure is applied to self-consistent wave functions, the virial theorem can be satisfied, but self-consistency is lost. Scaling generally has a small effect on the total energy, but the effects on the energy components (T, Vne, Vee, Vnn) can be two to three orders of magnitude larger and in the range of tens to hundreds of kcal. Consequently, for applications where the energy components are useful, it is highly desirable to obtain wave functions which satisfy the virial theorem and are self-consistent. In the present paper, a simple, inexpensive extrapolation technique is reported which requires one integral evaluation and two SCF cycles to achieve convergence. Applications to atoms and small molecules are reported.