cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amberg, The New Road: I-26 and the Footprints of Progress in Applachia

Take a drive on any stretch of interstate through western North Carolina and you will observe dozens of locations where large swaths of mountainsides have been carved away to accommodate the road. ...
Discovery of Fully Human Anti-MET Monoclonal Antibodies with Antitumor Activity against Colon Cancer Tumor Models In Vivo

The receptor tyrosine kinase MET is a major component controlling the invasive growth program in embryonic development and in invasive malignancies. The discovery of therapeutic antibodies against MET has been difficult, and antibodies that compete with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) act as agonists. By applying phage technology and cell-based panning strategies, we discovered two fully human antibodies against MET (R13 and R28), which synergistically inhibit HGF binding to MET and elicit antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Cell-based phosphorylation assays demonstrate that R13 and R28 abrogate HGF-induced activation of MET, AKT1, ERK1/2, and HGF-induced migration and proliferation. FACS experiments suggest that the inhibitory effect is mediated by “locking” MET receptor in a state with R13, which then increases avidity of R28 for the extracellular domain of MET, thus blocking HGF binding without activating the receptor. In vivo studies demonstrate that the combination of R13/28 significantly inhibited tumor growth in various colon tumor xenograft models. Inhibition of tumor growth was associated with induction of hypoxia. Global gene expression analysis shows that inhibition of HGF/MET pathway significantly upregulated the tumor suppressors KLF6, CEACAM1, and BMP2, the negative regulator of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH-kinase PIK3IP1, and significantly suppressed SCF and SERPINE2, both enhancers of proliferation and invasiveness. Moreover, in an experimental metastasis model, R13/28 increased survival by preventing the recurrence of otherwise lethal lung metastases. Taken together, these results underscore the utility of a dual-antibody approach for targeting MET and possibly other receptor tyrosine kinases. Our approach could be expanded to drug discovery efforts against other cell surface proteins.
Use of External Radical Sources in Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis to Facilitate Cyclodehydrogenation Reactions in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

A new process to facilitate the cyclodehydrogenation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) using an external radical source is described. Using hexanes as an external radical source the conversion of various PAHs to their cyclodehydrogenated products is vastly increased. Various other volatile organic compounds were also examined to determine their ability to act as external radical sources in FVP.
Modeling of neurotransmitter effects in olfactory bulb

The sense of smell, called olfaction, involves the detection and perception of different odors, and allows identifying food, mates, predators, danger etc. For both humans and animals, it is one of the important means by which they communicate with the environment. This odor-detecting system is called olfactory bulb and is located in the limbic region of the brain. Its functionality is based on neurons, primarily mitral and granule cells, and communication among them. This process is very complex and involves different types of neurotransmitters. The basic function of neurotransmitters is the realization of communication processes between neurons. Additionally, they are responsible for the efficient and accurate processing of the information, as well as for the generation of cellular changes, which corresponds to the memory functionality. In our work, we simulate the main types of chemicals of the olfactory bulb using spiking neuron model: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxi-5-methylisoxasole-propionionate (AMPA). In this relatively unexplored area of research (from computing prospective), we design an architecture and experimentally analyze simulation results referring to available biological research and established biophysiological data. We provide the description of different neurotransmitters and their dynamics. The main focus of our work is to analyze the neurotransmitter effects based on the computational simulations corresponding to the biological environment in the olfactory bulb. The results of our work agree with the biological description of the simulated neurotransmitters as well as with experimental results in the biophysiological area.
Particles migration in laminar boundary layer flow

Abstract The behavior of a suspension of neutrally buoyant solid particles in the moderate relative velocity region (close to the leading edge) in a laminar boundary layer along a flat plate, is investigated. The velocity fields of both the fluid and the solid particles and the density distribution of the solid particles are simultaneously obtained by the use of the Laser-Doppler technique. It is shown that in this longitudinal region of the two-phase suspension boundary layer, the solid particles which initially lead the fluid decelerate as they move downstream, until at a certain vertical distance they lag the fluid. Clearly defined one-way transverse migration of particles directed away from the plate is characteristic of this region.
Technology Rules- The Other Side of Technology Dependent Code

The major objectives of a rules-driven, technology independent DA system are:-Faster support for new technologies-Reduced development effort-Better utilization of skills-Fewer programs to maintainHowever, if not designed properly, the result could be an unnecessarily complex, expensive system, which does not fully utilize the technology capability.Some of the key decisions are:(a) Which technology parameters are to be fixed (hard coded) vs. rule-defined?(b) What is the interface between programs and rules?(c) What is the relative priority of product cost vs. DA development cost?(d) Should rules be defined in a high-level language and then compiled, or should they be coded in a format directly accessed by the programs?(e) What methods can be used to allow program improvements and additions without obsoleting the existing rule library?
The segmental structure of faces and its use in gender recognition.

What is the relationship between object segmentation and recognition? First, we develop a feature segmentation method that parses faces into features and, in doing so, attempts to approximate human performance. This segmentation-based approach allows us to build featural representations that make explicit the part-whole structure of faces and removes a priori assumptions from the equation of how objects come to be divided into features. Second, we examine the utility and the psychological plausibility of this representation by applying it to the task of facial gender recognition. Featural information from the segmentation process is shown to support relatively high accuracy levels with automatic gender categorization. The diagnosticity of featural information, in particular color information as encoded by the three perceptual color channels, is traced to the different patterns of feature contrast across Caucasian male and female faces. Results with human recognition suggest the visual system can exploit this information, however, there are open questions regarding the contribution of color information independent of luminance. More generally, our approach allows us to clarify and extend the notion of “configural” representations to multiple cues (i.e., not only shape) by considering relations between features independent of cue domain.
Stress and Anxiety Scores in First and Repeat IVF Cycles: A Pilot Study

Background The role of stress in reproduction, particularly during treatment for infertility, has been of considerable interest; however, few studies have objectively measured stress and anxiety over the course of the IVF cycle or compared the experience of first-time and repeat patients. Methods This prospective cohort pilot study enrolled 44 women undergoing IVF at a university-based clinic to complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale (ISES) at three time points prior to ovarian stimulation (T1), one day prior to oocyte retrieval (T2), and 5–7 days post embryo transfer (T3). Results Mean STAI State scores were significantly elevated at all three time points (p<0.01). STAI State and PSS mean values did not change over time and did not differ in first-time vs. repeat patients. Self-efficacy (ISES) scores declined over time, with a greater decline for repeat patients. Of the 36 women who completed a cycle, 15 achieved clinical pregnancy. Using logistic regression modeling, all scores at T2 were correlated with pregnancy outcome with lower scores on the STAI State and PSS and higher scores on the ISES associated with higher pregnancy rates. Conclusions Stress and anxiety levels remained elevated across all cycles. Women with lower stress and anxiety levels on the day prior to oocyte retrieval had a higher pregnancy rate. These results emphasize the need to investigate stress reduction modalities throughout the IVF cycle.
The bromide-permeability quotient in mongolism and epilepsy

The bromide-permeability quotient of mongoloids is, as a class, lower than that of normal individuals. Among epileptics the quotient tends to decrease with age while among normal children it tends to increase.
Learning dominance relations in combined search problems

Dominance relations are used to prune unnecessary nodes in search graphs, but they are problem-dependent and cannot be derived by a general procedure. The authors identify machine learning of dominance relations and the applicable learning mechanisms. A study of learning dominance relations using learning by experimentation is described. This system has been able to learn dominance relations for the 0/1-knapsack problem, an inventory problem the reliability-by-replication problem, the two-machine flow shop problem, a number of single-machine scheduling problems, and a two-machine scheduling problem. It is considered that the same methodology can be extended to learn dominance relations in general. >
Is mainstreaming always the answer? The social and economic development of service user communities

The community placement of people with serious mental illness has focused on assimilation. The broad community, however, seems largely unwilling to support and include them. The result is programmes to help people maintain their community lives mainly through the support of formal mental health services. The social and economic development of ‘identity communities’ of people with serious mental illness is an alternative model to assimilation. An identity community consists of people with shared interests, beliefs, experiences or needs which affect the identity of the participants and the cohesiveness of the group. Such communities can be economically sustainable and offer members more ways of having meaningful lives. Examples of this recovery-friendly approach are provided as a viable way of enhancing community support without additional expense.
The photovoltaic Performance Modeling Collaborative (PVPMC)

Sandia National Laboratories is forming the PV Performance Modeling Collaborative (PVPMC). This effort is aimed at improving confidence in PV performance model predictions by bringing traceability and transparency to the modeling process and encouraging third party validation of existing algorithms. Activities currently being pursued in this collaborative include: (1) developing a website (http://pvpmc.org), (2) developing a Matlab™ PV Performance Modeling Toolbox (PV_LIB), and (3) sponsoring periodic PV performance modeling workshops and events. Contributions are welcomed from stakeholders in PV or related industries.
Effect of Ammonia Treatment on Pt Catalyst Used for Low-Temperature Reaction

Platinum based catalysts are well known as the most active ones among noble metals for oxidation of hydrocarbons as well as hydrogen. Microcombustion experiments using bare Pt foil catalyst have shown that hydrocarbon fuels (e.g. propane) can be oxidized at low-temperature (< 60 °C) and ignited (< 90 °C) by treating the catalyst surface by burning propane-air mixtures with ∼ 5% of the propane replaced by ammonia for half an hour. This NH3 pre-treatment etches the catalyst surface and creates surface structures on the scale of few μms, completely unlike those without NH3 treatment. This change in structure with NH3 treatment is noteworthy in that it increases the performance of the catalyst by a factor of 3, but only for low Re, corresponding to conditions with low maximum reaction temperatures characteristic of microcombustors. However, no similar such low-temperatures were found without NH3 pre-treatment, even for catalytic reactions. This is not merely a surface area effect, since increasing bulk catalyst area had almost no effect on combustion performance. Nevertheless, it may be possible to further extend reaction and ignition to even lower temperatures by examining alternative hydrocarbon fuels and catalysts. Self-starting fuels and catalysts are highly desirable, especially for the micro-combustors used for MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) power generators, because it would eliminate the need for glow plugs, supplemental battery, electronics, etc. associated with active ignition systems.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Matrix isolation study of the 1:1 complexes of TiCl4 with sulfur-containing bases

Abstract The matrix isolation technique has been employed to isolated intermediate 1:1 molecular complexes of TiCl 4 with H 2 S, CH 3 SH and (CH 3 ) 2 S. Each complex was subsequently characterized by infrared spectroscopy, and distinctive vibrational modes characteristic of complex formation were identified. These include two Ti–Cl stretching modes at low energy, and one or more vibrational modes of the coordinated base. In addition, hydrogen bonded complexes of each of these bases with HCl were observed, due to the presence of residual HCl in samples of TiCl 4 . Merged jet copyrolysis experiments were then conducted for each pair of reagents. In contrast to the analogous oxygen bases, no new intermediates were observed with pyrolysis temperatures as high at 375°C, although indirect evidence of further reaction was obtained. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Comparison of Raw Dairy Manure Slurry and Anaerobically Digested Slurry as N Sources for Grass Forage Production

We conducted a 3-year field study to determine how raw dairy slurry and anaerobically digested slurry (dairy slurry and food waste) applied via broadcast and subsurface deposition to reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) affected forage biomass, N uptake, apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR), and soil nitrate concentrations relative to urea. Annual N applications ranged from 600 kg N ha−1 in 2009 to 300 g N ha−1 in 2011. Forage yield and N uptake were similar across slurry treatments. Soil nitrate concentrations were greatest at the beginning of the fall leaching season, and did not differ among slurry treatments or application methods. Urea-fertilized plots had the highest soil nitrate concentrations but did not consistently have greatest forage biomass. ANR for the slurry treatments ranged from 35 to 70% when calculations were based on ammonium-N concentration, compared with 31 to 65% for urea. Slurry ANR calculated on a total N basis was lower (15 to 40%) due to lower availability of the organic N in the slurries. No consistent differences in soil microbial biomass or other biological indicators were observed. Anaerobically digested slurry supported equal forage production and similar N use efficiency when compared to raw dairy slurry.
New developments in X-ray microscopy

Abstract X-ray microscopy is a major beneficiary of high brightness sources. This paper provides a brief survey of recent developments in instrumentation designed to provide greater speed, higher resolution, better contrast, and additional information about the specimen.
The Agonist-Induced Phosphorylation of the Rat Follitropin Receptor Maps to the First and Third Intracellular Loops

Previous results from this laboratory have shown that the rat FSH receptor (rFSHR) becomes phosphorylated on S/T residues upon stimulation of transfected cells with human (h)FSH and that a truncation of the C-terminal tail that removes 12 of the 25 intracellular S/T residues does not affect phosphorylation. Based on the results of phosphopeptide-mapping experiments we analyzed three new mutants. rFSHR-1L and rFSHR-3L were constructed by mutating the S/T residues in the first intracellular loop or the third intracellular loop, respectively. rFSHR-(3L+CT) was constructed by mutating all the S/T residues in the third loop as well as S624, the only C-terminal tail residue that was not previously eliminated as a potential phosphorylation site. All mutants were biologically active. The agonist-induced phosphorylation of rFSHR-3L and rFSHR-(3L+CT) were partially reduced, while that of rFSHR-1L was almost completely lost. The agonist-induced uncoupling of rFSHR-1L and rFSHR-3L are retarded to about the same exten...
Fracture Resistance Behavior of Highly Anisotropic Silicon Nitride

The R-curve behavior was characterized by the Vickers indentation flaw technique, for highly anisotropic silicon nitride, a silicon nitride whose fibrous grains are highly aligned. The measured crack lengths ranged from 30 to 500 μm. The fracture resistance of a conventional self-reinforced silicon nitride was determined for comparison using the same procedures. While in the self-reinforced material several hundred micrometers of crack extension were required to obtain a high fracture toughness, the highly anisotropic material exhibited a high toughness from the beginning of the measured crack length range with little increase in the following range. It is suggested that the toughness of the highly anisotropic material steeply rises in a very short crack extension, which is advantageous in avoiding catastropic fractures.
Who is WHO in myelodysplastic syndromes? Clinical implications of the WHO classification

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of neoplastic clonal stem cell diseases characterized by dysplastic morphologic features with a varying percentage of leukemic blasts and clinical bone marrow failure. The French-American-British (FAB) system served as the gold standard of MDS classification for more than two decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification, built on the backbone of the FAB classification, is an attempt to further improve the prognostic value of MDS classification as well as to establish its clinical utility as a tool to select different treatments. In this article we highlight the major differences between the FAB classification and the WHO MDS classification. We discuss in more detail the experience of using the new WHO classification since its publication and review the studies that have tried to validate the prognostic value of the new classification or apply it to predict clinical responses to various treatments.
Postpartum endometrial cytology in beef cows

Abstract The objectives were to characterize postpartum endometrial cytology and to determine the prevalence of subclinical endometrial inflammation and its impact on reproduction in beef cows. Samples for endometrial cytology (low-volume uterine lavage) were obtained from 135 of 137 Angus cows (2–87d postpartum) in northern Minnesota, 26d before breeding started. Agreement between examiners for subjective inflammation scores was very high (kappa=0.971); the correlation between these scores and PMN counts was high ( r =0.83; P P P >0.10). Although inflammation later in the postpartum period apparently impaired subsequent reproduction in dairy cows, in cows >50 d postpartum at sample collection in the present study, no cytological parameter significantly predicted final pregnancy status or day of conception. Previous twinning increased the risk of subclinical endometritis ( P =0.02), but not the probability of becoming pregnant ( P =0.14). In conclusion, we inferred that beef cows had the ability to clear uterine inflammation after resumption of ovarian cyclicity.
Conjugation of metallothionein to a murine monoclonal antibody.

Abstract A method of conjugation of the metal-binding protein, metallothionein, to an anticarcinoma murine monoclonal antibody, B72.3, and its F(ab′) 2 fragment has been developed utilizing the heterobifunctional crosslinking reagent, succinimidyl 4-( N -maleimidomethyl)-cyclohexane 1-carboxylate. This crosslinking reagent is first reacted with the free amines on the immunoglobulin. After removal of unreacted crosslinker, conjugation is affected through a sulfhydryl group on metallothionein. Under the conditions employed all immunoglobulin aggregates contained metallothionein. The degree of undesired aggregation is directly proportional to the number of metallothioneins attached to the immunoglobulin. This aggregation can be controlled by the amount of crosslinker and metallothionein presented to the immunoglobulin. The immunoglobulin conjugate retains full immunoreactivity and can be readily purified from the unreacted metallothionein and high molecular weight aggregates. The metallothionein-B72.3 conjugate functions as an efficient and stable chelator of radiometals. Thus metallothionein-monoclonal antibody conjugates have potential utility in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Single-Molecule Dendrimer-Hydrocarbon Interaction

We report our single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and molecular dynamics simulation studies on the in- teraction of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer and squalane hydrocarbon in aqueous solution. Our spectrophotometry meas- urements indicate that this interaction increases with the pH of the solvent. Our simulations show that squalane resides primarily on the perimeter of the dendrimer at low to neutral pH, but becomes encapsulated by the dendrimer at high pH. Using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, we have identified that the binding between PAMAM and squalane is reversible. At a pH value of 8, the approaching, binding, and characteristic times of a single fluorescently-labeled den- drimer to squalane are 0.5 s, 7.5 s, and 0.5 s, respectively. Both our spectrophotometry measurements and simulations show that the interaction between PAMAM and squalane is stronger for lower generation dendrimers. This study facili- tates our understanding of using dendritic and hyperbranched polymers for gas hydrate prevention in the petroleum indus- try.
An investigation of jeopardy effects in store choice

Abstract This study examines double jeopardy effects in store choice and explores the phenomenon of triple jeopardy in the same context. Analysis of IRI household panel data revealed modest evidence that relative to large stores, small stores, ie those with low sales volumes, have fewer customers who visit them less often (double jeopardy) and spend less per visit (triple jeopardy). Asymmetry of familiarity, generally offered as an explanation for double jeopardy, cannot explain triple jeopardy. A partial explanation for both jeopardy effects in the context of store choice may lie instead in the relatively small range of product offerings at small stores. Managerial implications of these findings are offered.
Alteration of hepatocellular structure and function by thallium chloride ultrastructural morphometric and biochemical studies

Abstract The effects of thallium chloride (TlCl3•4H2O) on hepatocyte structure and function were studied in male rats at 16 hr following treatment by ip injection with doses of 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. Ultrastructural examination of hepatocytes from thallium-treated rats showed a dose-related loss of ribosomes from the endoplasmic reticulum and proliferation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum segment. Generalized mitochondrial swelling and increased numbers of electron-dense autophagic lysosomes were also observed. Morphometric analysis of hepatocytes from thallium-treated rats disclosed a 3-fold increase in the volume density of the lysosomal compartment and a 1.3-fold increase in the volume density of mitochondria. Surface density measurements of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum membranes showed dose-related increases in the surface density of both inner and outer mitochondrial membranes as well as of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. These structural changes were associated with pronounced increases in the specific activities of the mitochondrial membrane-associated enzymes monoamine oxidase and ferrochelatase to 145 and 144% of control values, respectively, and a 42% decrease in the activity of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthetase. Similarly, structural alteration of the endoplasmic reticulum in thallium-treated rats was associated with concomitant impairment of the microsomal enzymes NADPH cytochrome c (P-450) reductase, aniline hydroxylase, and aminopyrene demethylase to a maximum of 49, 43, and 77% of activities seen in untreated controls, respectively. In contrast, the non-membrane-bound enzymes malate dehydrogenase, ALA dehydratase, and uroporphyrinogen I synthetase were unaltered in vivo following thallium treatment at any doses. These results indicate that thallium-induced alteration of hepatic biochemical processes may arise from physical disruption of the membranal integrity of subcellular organelles with which those processes are functionally associated. These findings are consistent with those from previous studies in demonstrating a positive quantitative correlation between metal-induced subcellular organelle membrane structural injury and impairment of associated biological functions in vivo.
A partitioning algorithm for distributed software systems design

Abstract One complication in using distributed computer systems is the increased complexity of developing distributed software systems. These software systems are composed of asynchronously executing components which communicate via message passing. Current software design techniques are not adequate for use in the design of distributed software systems. New design methods which explicitly address the problem of system partitioning are needed. An overall distributed software design approach is presented. The key to the design approach is the presentation of a distributed processing component (DPC) partitioning algorithm for clustering functional modules in order to derive a set of distributed processing components. The design approach is oriented towards producing a software system which is hierarchical, which exploits potential concurrency that exists between functional modules, and which avoids nonprofitable message traffic.
Scripts creation training

Purpose – To explain some of the dynamics of scripts creation as used in training, to offer a sequence of events to use in creating a performance script, and to offer some examples of how script creation is applied in training activities.Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains in detail and demonstrates the general processes of script creation for training uses. The design of the paper is to present, in sequence, a generalized script creation process, and evidence of the efficacy of script creation.Findings – While there is not a lot of research available to practitioners about script creation uses in training, the research that does exist gives credible support for script creation applications. There is a body of research in cognition and cognitive processes that tangentially treats script behavior. However, that body of research is highly technical and esoteric and not of practical value to most practitioners.Practical implications – The script creation processes and supporting information give...
ROSAT Observations of VRO 42.05.01

We present the first X-ray images and spectra of the unusual supernova remnant VRO 42.05.01, based on a 22,680 s observation of the remnant with the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC). The overall shape of the X-ray remnant is similar to that of the radio remnant, but the X-ray morphology differs from the radio morphology in that the X-ray emission is not edge-brightened. The X-ray data are consistent with an isothermal remnant with variations in absorbing column density across the remnant that probably account for some of the observed structure. The remnant has an X-ray temperature of approximately 8.5 x 10(exp 6) K and an absorbing column of a few times 10(exp 21)/sq cm. This absorbing column is surprisingly small for the nominal distance of 5 kpc, and requires a low mean density along this line of sight.
Reduction in toxicity of organic priority pollutants by pilot-scale conventional wastewater treatment process

Static acute toxicity tests with fathead minnows,Daphnia magna, and rainbow trout were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of a pilot-scale conventional wastewater treatment system in detoxifying a raw municipal wastewater that continuously received a mixture of 22 organic priority pollutants. Wastewater from the City of Cincinnati (Ohio) was added to two parallel pilot-scale (control and experimental) conventional activated-sludge wastewater treatment systems. The effect of chlorination on the acute toxicity of effluent from the experimental system was also investigated. The system typically reduced the organic priority pollutants by 89 to >99%, and both systems provided excellent treatment of conventional pollutants. Even though toxicity reduction as high as 90% was achieved, significant toxicity was present in the experimental effluent. The study clearly supports the premise that organism responses should be considered, in addition to chemical and conventional pollutant characterization, to determine the quality of a wastewater discharge.
Women leaders—challenges, successes, and other insights from the top

The reasons for the persistent lag of women as leaders are complex. Attrition is an issue for women for many reasons, including traditional gender roles that may affect how women are perceived and the choices they have available (or they make), a lack of role models, the undervaluing of women's traditional communication and leadership styles, and organizational culture. Within medicine (clinical environments) and academic medicine (medical school and clinical environments), it is clear that the lack of women in leadership positions is more than a pipeline or a labyrinth problem. We undertook this case study to better understand the current challenges experienced by women aspiring to leadership positions in medicine and academic medicine. What types of challenges do women face as they move up in an academic or medical environment? And which challenges impact more than others in attaining leadership roles in these organizations: race and ethnicity, differences in leadership style and skills, mentorship and network, life experiences and family responsibilities, organizational culture, or gender? Our study addresses a gap in the literature by examining the leadership experiences of eight successful women in the fields of medicine and academic medicine. The emerging insights from these leaders may be useful for women from diverse backgrounds aspiring to be senior leaders in the future.
A model for oxygen storage by hemoglobin

An oxygen store based on the reversible combination of oxygen with hemoglobin or related hemoproteins could be of considerable value to organisms or tissues faced with intermittent hypoxia or anoxia. It would be of interest, therefore, to know the physical and chemical requirements and limitations of useful storage. A model is presented which predicts storage time from physical, chemical, and geometric properties of the store. Storage time is arbitrarily defined as the time for 50% of the stored O 2 to diffuse from a fully-loaded store when the store is exposed to a zero O 2 environment. Results are presented in the form of simple approximate equations and in graphical form and indicate that: (1) a wide range of storage times can be obtained with reasonable biological parameters; (2) storage times approaching 1000 s can be achieved even with stores of microscopic dimension; (3) biological O 2 storage is predominantly diffusion-limited, although reaction-limited behavior is not impossible; and (4) the major effect of co-operativity appears to be on the form of O 2 release: hemoglobins without co-operativity release O 2 at a constantly declining rate, whereas those with high co-operativity release O 2 at a constant rate. The model is applicable not only to hemoglobin-based O 2 storage, but also to any reaction-diffusion system in which one substance can be “stored” by reversible combination with some other substance which acts as the store.
Retained carbide distribution in intercritically austenitized 52100 steel

Two 52100 steels, one containing 0.009 pct P, the other 0.023 pct P, were homogenized at 1150 °C, slowly cooled to form proeutectoid carbides and pearlite, partially spheroidized, austenitized at 850 °C for one hour, oil quenched, and tempered at 200 °C. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of carbon extraction replicas showed that cementite particles were retained as three different morphologies in the fine-grained austenite formed during the 850 °C intercritical austenitizing treatment. The morphologies are characterized as follows: (1) closely spaced intragranular carbides most of which are less than 0.25 μm in diameter, (2) carbides about 1 μm in diameter, located on austenite grain boundaries, and (3) branched proeutectoid carbides arranged in networks corresponding to the coarse, 130 μm diameter austenite grains formed during homogenizing. The major effect of high phosphorus content was to retard the spheroidization of the retained carbides.
Exploiting multiple levels of parallelism in Molecular Dynamics based calculations via modern techniques and software paradigms on distributed memory computers

Abstract Modern Molecular Dynamics methods are employed to study quantum manybody systems, chemically reactive systems including explicit electronic degrees of freedom, and combinations thereof, as well as large classical biomolecular systems. Thus, complex problems such as isotope effects on enzymatic reactions can now be examined, routinely. In this article, modern molecular dynamics methods are reviewed and their application to quantum manybody systems and electronic structure calculations described. The resulting methodology, however, while powerful, is computationally intensive. Therefore, the mathematical structure of the techniques has been exploited to develop distributed memory parallel algorithms employing multiple levels of discretization. These multilevel-parallel methods are efficient and permit the large complex systems, such as enzyme catalysis, to be treated easily. In addition, it is shown how modern object oriented programming paradigms can be employed to implement multilevel parallel algorithms in a large computational package rapidly and efficiently. Finally, results and timings obtaining using the PINY_MD package developed by the authors are given for a variety of novel systems.
Direct force measurement between hydrophobic glass sphere and covellite electrode in potassium ethyl xanthate solutions at pH 9.2

Abstract An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to conduct direct surface force measurements between covellite (CuS) and glass sphere. Molecularly smooth surfaces of covellite were obtained by cleaving the mineral along the {0001} direction. The glass sphere was hydrophobized by octadecyltrichlorosilane so that its water contact angle was 109°, while the hydropobicity of the covellite surface was controlled by adsorbing potassium ethyl xanthate (KEX) from solution. The results may provide information relevant to the bubble–particle interactions occurring during flotation, assuming that air bubbles are hydrophobic. The xanthate adsorption on covellite was controlled by control of the electrochemical potential of the mineral electrode. It has been found that the hydrophobic forces measured in KEX solutions at pH 9.2 are strongly dependent on the electrochemical potentials of the covellite electrode. The potential region at which strong hydrophobic forces are observed corresponds to that where the flotation of covellite reaches a maximum.
A Primer of Middle Eastern Leadership Culture

It is natural for someone looking in on a foreign culture from the outside to interpret what they see and frame their reactions based on their own background and assumptions. With cultures as a different as those of the Middle East and the West, the potential for blunders increases dramatically, made worse by the high political, diplomatic, military, and commercial stakes involved. Leadership culture in this region has been shaped over centuries through a variety of factors, such as reputation, family, and religion, which continue to influence decision making. The present study posits that an understanding of these factors and how they work is crucial for intelligence analysts, policy and decision makers, strategists, and scholars who must find their way through a very unfamiliar cultural landscape in the Middle East. It is hoped that this discussion will in some way assist in the creation of more effective interaction, policies, and analysis associated with the Middle East. This article is available in Journal of Strategic Security: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol5/iss4/12 Journal of Strategic Security Volume 5 Issue 4 2012, pp. 99-118 DOI: 10.5038/1944-0472.5.4.7 Journal of Strategic Security (c) 2012 ISSN: 1944-0464 eISSN: 1944-0472 99 A Primer of Middle Eastern Leadership Culture Sheldon Greaves Henley-Putnam University
Biomechanics on the Half Shell: Functional Performance Influences Patterns of Morphological Variation in the Emydid Turtle carapace

This study uses the carapace of emydid turtles to address hypothesized differences between terrestrial and aquatic species. Geometric morphometrics are used to quantify shell shape, and performance is estimated for two shell functions: shell strength and hydrodynamics. Aquatic turtle shells differ in shape from terrestrial turtle shells and are characterized by lower frontal areas and presumably lower drag. Terrestrial turtle shells are stronger than those of aquatic turtles; many-to-one mapping of morphology to function does not entirely mitigate a functional trade-off between mechanical strength and hydrodynamic performance. Furthermore, areas of morphospace characterized by exceptionally poor performance in either of the functions are not occupied by any emydid species. Though aquatic and terrestrial species show no significant differences in the rate of morphological evolution, aquatic species show a higher lineage density, indicative of a greater amount of convergence in their evolutionary history. The techniques employed in this study, including the modeling of theoretical shapes to assess performance in unoccupied areas of morphospace, suggest a framework for future studies of morphological variation.
Effect of transplant container volume and growing season length on field performance of micropropagated potatoes

Micropropagation is a tissue culture technique adapted for the rapid multiplication of disease-free seed stocks. Procedures for propagating potatoes in the laboratory and acclimating plantlets in the greenhouse are available, but information on cultural practices for maximizing tuber yield of plantlets when transplanted to the field is lacking. Centennial Russet and Russet Burbank plantlets were transferred from culture jars to three sizes of transplant containers for establishment under greenhouse conditions before transplanting to the field. Length of field growing season was varied by using two transplant dates and two vine kill dates. Survival of field transplanted plantlets was above 95 percent in both 1983 and 1984. Cultural practices significantly affected the tuber yield of plantlets of both cultivars. Total yield and yield of tubers larger than 35 mm in diameter increased with increasing transplant container volume. Transplant container volume had no effect on the yield of tubers less than 35 mm in diameter. Highest total yields and tuber production per plantlet for both Centennial Russet and Russet Burbank were obtained from the longest growing season (early transplant date with late vine kill). Yield of Russet Burbank plantlets increased more in response to a longer growing season than did Centennial Russet.
Comparing nematode and earthworm communities under combinations of conventional and conservation vegetable production practices.

Abstract Although reduced tillage, organic inputs and diverse cropping rotations are often promoted as practices that facilitate greater abundance and diversity of soil biota, rarely have these management systems been examined in concert to investigate their individual and cumulative long-term effects on soil invertebrates. This study investigated two key functional groups of soil invertebrates, nematodes and earthworms, after 10 years in a field experiment investigating three types of agricultural management practices. Agricultural management treatments were tillage (moldboard plow vs. strip tillage), inputs (synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fumigation vs. inputs approved for organic production) and crop rotation (continuous tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) vs. diverse vegetable rotation). The experiment was established in western NC (United States) on a fine-sandy loam (FAO: Acrisol). Nematode sampling and earthworm extractions were performed in spring and fall of 2004. The rotation effect on nematode and earthworm populations was generally non-significant. Averaged over sampling dates and other treatments, total nematode counts for synthetic input treatments were 59% of organic input treatments; likewise, plow treatments were 52% of strip till treatments. The strip till organic treatment combination (strip tillage with organic inputs) resulted in over four times as many nematodes as the plow synthetic treatment combination (moldboard plow with synthetic inputs). These data demonstrate that while nematode abundance responds sensitively to tillage and input practices individually, combinations of treatments displayed consistently greater nematode abundance when organic inputs and strip tillage were applied together. Long-term strip tillage increased earthworm populations 31-fold compared to plowed treatments. Organic inputs resulted in more earthworms than synthetic inputs in spring, but not fall. Strip tillage increased earthworm populations far more effectively than organic inputs. Even so, earthworms also displayed the positive combination effect of strip tillage and organic inputs; on average, 24 earthworms m−2 were extracted from strip till organic treatments vs. 15 from strip till synthetic and just one from plow organic treatments. We conclude that the data support our hypothesis; there is a positive combination effect resulting in greater nematode and earthworm abundance when strip tillage and organic inputs are used together in agricultural production systems. These results confirm the long-term benefits of conservation practices observed in agricultural ecosystems and we suggest that the principle of compounded benefits from combinations of conservation practices extend to all managed ecosystems. We recommend that agricultural researchers consider both tillage and agricultural inputs when interpreting or predicting soil biological responses to agricultural management decisions.
Morphology of Liberian Negro deciduous teeth I. Odontometry.

An odontometric study of the deciduous teeth of 21 Liberian Negro children is reported. These data were obtained from dental casts alone. Statistical comparisons were made of the mesiodistal diameter alone with two American White populations and the three Japanese populations. Maxillary teeth, with the exception of the cuspids were larger in the Negro sample, while only the Negro mandibular molars were significantly wider. This situation resulted in an alteration of Negro maxillary tooth size order. Comparisons were made with other populations reported in the literature which led us to stress the fact that, as yet, no satisfactory sample of deciduous tooth measurements are available for any population. A discussion of tooth form differences stresses the point that teeth differ in both attributes of form, i.e., in shape as well as in size between the several major racial groups. The processes by which these shape differences are brought about were discussed and it was suggested that differing relative growth rates may well be one cause. An allometric analysis of fetal molar tooth growth showed, again, that a sharp interphase occurs in all teeth, with a subsequent decrease in specific growth rate. This interphase corresponds to the initiation of cuspal calcification.
Effect of sex hormones on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in rat levator ani muscle

Abstract We studied the influence of sex hormones using the hormone-sensitive levator ani muscle as a model tissue and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase as an indicator of hormone action. Injection of testosterone or estradiol caused a 50% increase in the specific activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The effect was dose-dependent, and was maximal at a dose of 2.5 mg/100g body weight. Estradiol increased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase as early as 8 h after injection, while testosterone required 12h. Injection of estradiol on 2 successive days increased enzyme activity by 80%. The effect of estradiol was abolished by actinomycin D, suggesting enzyme induction. The results indicate a direct effect of estrogen on striated muscle.
Crosseolidae, a New Family of Skeneiform Microgastropods and Progress Toward Definition of Monophyletic Skeneidae

Preliminary review of 130 available genus-group names for the notoriously polyphyletic group of skeneiform microgastropods has revealed a concentration of biodiversity in Australasia, primarily on the shelf and on or in clastic substrates. Forty-four of the names are based on type species from Australia or New Zealand, and some of the most speciose genera are abundantly represented and well preserved in the Cenozoic fossil record. Many skeneiform species were not illustrated at the time of description, and remain unillustrated except by inadequate line drawings. Features observed in scanning electron micrographs are used to define a set of new shell characters and to name and diagnose a new vetigastropod family Crosseolidae. Diagnostic features are the shallow anterior canal at the base of the columellar lip, a prominent umbilical keel, and a pseudumbilicus between the umbilical keel and the sharply defined inner lip. The shell of the type species of Crosseola, C. concinna (Angas, 1868), is illustrated with SEM for the first time, along with variation in shells of Crosseola striata (Watson, 1883). Three additional genera are assigned to the family: Conjectura Finlay, 1927, Conradia A. Adams, 1860, and Crossea A. Adams, 1865. Dolicrossea Iredale, 1924 is excluded on external anatomical evidence that the type species is a rissooidean caenogastropod. Intraspecific variation in crosseolids is partly a consequence of terminal growth features: adult variciform thickening of the outer lip, descending suture, and modifications of the columella and umbilical region. A restrictive definition of Skeneidae is provided along with examples of Australasian genera that can be allocated confidently to other families. Three predominantly Australasian groups of Cenozoic skeneiform taxa are identified for intensified study and potential allocation to new families. The constituency of vetigastropod family-groups and inferences of their relationships are too poorly resolved at this time to warrant the use of superfamily names.
Preference and information about the time and the occurrence of shock delivery

Rats given the option to choose between a signaled-shock condition, in which all signals were followed by shock, and one in which extra signals occurred showed no preference for either condition. In contrast, when all signals were followed by shock, rats showed a strong preference for a condition in which shock followed the signal by a fixed, rather than a variable, time duration. The latter result indicates that some types of information about aversive events may be reinforcing.