cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communicative Action in Practice: Intersubjectivity and New Social Movements

Critical theory has two distinct aims: the analysis and critique of particular existing oppressions, and the more emancipatory or reconstructive method or goal needed to move beyond current conditions. But often critical theory is too preoccupied with the first moment to consider the second. This essay examines the evolution of the notion of communicative action and a number of current debates surrounding especially Habermas's theory. It then examines two existing social change movements which incorporate aspects of communicative action into their everyday practices–the Alternative Dispute Resolution movement and the Direct Action movement–and illustrates how certain theoretical dilemmas are actually played out. The argument is that the practices of communicative action can help illuminate academic debates. Critical practice is not only an expression of critical theory, but can be used as an ongoing reflective guide for that theory.
Electromagnetic probes of molecular motors in the electron transport chains of mitochondria and chloroplasts

We report on measurements of harmonics generated by whole cells, mitochondria, and chloroplasts in response to applied sinusoidal electric fields. The frequency- and amplitude-dependence of the induced harmonics exhibit features that correlate with physiological processes. Budding yeast (S. cerevisiae) cells produce numerous harmonics, the amplitudes of which depend strongly on frequency. When the second or third harmonic amplitude is plotted vs. applied frequency, we observe two peaks, around 3 kHz and 12 kHz, which are suppressed by respiratory inhibitors. We observe similar peaks when measuring the harmonic response of B. indicas, a relative of the mitochondrial ancestor. In uncoupled mitochondria, in which most of the electron transport chain is active but the ATP-synthase molecular turbine is inactive, only one (lower frequency) of the two peaks is present. Finally, we find that harmonics generated by chloroplasts depend dramatically on incident light, and vanish in the absence of light.
ZDOCK and RDOCK performance in CAPRI rounds 3, 4, and 5

We present an evaluation of the results of our ZDOCK and RDOCK algorithms in Rounds 3, 4, and 5 of the protein docking challenge CAPRI. ZDOCK is a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-based, initial-stage rigid-body docking algorithm, and RDOCK is an energy minimization algorithm for refining and reranking ZDOCK results. Of the 9 targets for which we submitted predictions, we attained at least acceptable accuracy for 7, at least medium accuracy for 6, and high accuracy for 3. These results are evidence that ZDOCK in combination with RDOCK is capable of making accurate predictions on a diverse set of protein complexes.
Severe muscular rigidity at birth: malignant hyperthermia syndrome?

A case of severe muscular rigidity in a premature male infant born by Caesarean Section under general anaesthesia is described. A probable diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia was supported by the clinical symptoms of muscular rigidity and cyanosis, a creatinine phosphokinase of 24,630 I.U. (Normal 0--100) and a urinary myoglobin of 248 mg/l (normal 6--35). The muscle tone and laboratory values slowly returned to normal over a period of days. Anaesthetic management for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt performed at seven weeks of age included pre and postoperative treatment with dantrolene. No crisis occurred at this time. The parents, who have normal CPK and a negative family history, were advised to treat the child as if he had malignant hyperthermia until such time as a definitive diagnosis can be made.
Theoretical Determination of Sequent Depths in Closed Conduits

To predict hydraulic jump characteristics for channel design, jump height may be determined by calculating the subcritical sequent depth from momentum theory. In closed conduits, however, a hydraulic jump may fill the conduit entirely before the expected sequent depth is reached. This paper reviews momentum theory as applicable to closed-conduit hydraulic jumps and presents general solutions to the sequent depth problem for four commonly shaped conduits: rectangular, circular, elliptical, and pipe arch. It also provides a numerical solution for conduits of any shape, as defined by the user. The solutions assume (1) the conduits are prismatic, fairly horizontal, and relatively frictionless within the jump length; (2) the pressure is hydrostatic and the velocity is uniform at each end of the jump; (3) the effects of air entrainment and viscosity are negligible; and (4) atmospheric conditions exist at the entrance. The implications of these assumptions are discussed briefly. In practice, the derived solution...
A Note on Computer Graphics In Network Evacuation Studies

What Would the Traffic Patterns Look Like as People Fled a Nuclear Plant Accident? This Computer Model and Its Graphics Output Provide Some Answers.
Timing of surficial process changes down a Mojave Desert piedmont

Abstract We measured 10 Be and 26 Al in 29 sediment samples to infer the history and millennial-scale rates of change down a low-gradient piedmont, a common but enigmatic landform that dominates the Mojave Desert. Nuclide data suggest that a large volume of sediment was deposited on the proximal East Range Road piedmont in Fort Irwin, California, ∼ 75,500 yr ago. Since then, this material has been stable or eroding slowly. In contrast, on the distal piedmont (3.5 km from the upland source basins) soil stratigraphy suggests that there have been alternating periods of surface stability, erosion, and deposition over the last 70,000 yr. Nuclide data from samples amalgamated along cross-piedmont transects suggest that long-term average down-gradient sediment speeds range from 9 cm yr − 1 near the uplands to 22 cm yr − 1 6 km down-piedmont. These speeds are similar to 10 Be-estimated sediment speeds down three other piedmonts in the Mojave Desert, suggesting that piedmont surface morphologies dominated by shallow migrating channels have similar sediment transport rates. The timing of surface process change down the East Range Road piedmont is determined by a combination of sediment available in the source basins, sediment transport rates, and the size of the piedmont.
Reliability of the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) Scale Across Different Age Groups in Adults.

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is the tendency of the foot to 'give way'. Identification of Functional Ankle Instability questionnaire (IdFAI) is a newly developed questionnaire to detect whether individuals meet the minimum criteria necessary for inclusion in an FAI population. However, the reliability of the questionnaire was studied only in a restricted age group. Aim: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the reliability of IdFAI across different age groups in adults. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty participants in the age group of 20-60 years consisting of 30 individuals in each age group were asked to complete the IdFAI on two occasions. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1 ). Results: The study revealed that IdFAI has excellent test-retest reliability when studied across different age groups. The ICC 2,1 in the age groups 20-30 years, 30-40 years, 40-50 years and 50-60 years was 0.978, 0.975, 0.961 and 0.922, respectively with Cronbach's alpha >0.9 in all the age groups. Conclusion: The IdFAI can accurately predict if an individual meets the minimum criterion for FAI across different age groups in adults. Thus, the questionnaire can be applied over different age groups in clinical and research set-ups.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and Involuntary Infertility: Prospective Pilot Observations

Objective: We prospectively evaluated the rate of adverse reproductive outcomes following pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in a small cohort of American women. Methods: We enrolled 28 patients having either salpingitis confirmed by laparoscopy or endometritis confirmed by endometrial biopsy. The follow-up was maintained by clinic visits and telephone contact. Results: A median of 15.4 months of follow-up was accomplished for 82.1% of these women. Fifty-two percent (13/25) had unprotected sexual activity without conception for at least 6 months. Fully 55.6% (10/18) of the cohort were involuntarily infertile after at least 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion: In the first prospective cohort study of the reproductive outcomes of American women having had PID, high rates of infertility at 1 year of follow-up were experienced by these women.
A DESIGN DECISION SUPPORT MODEL FOR ESTIMATING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND COSTS IN MANUFACTURING

Many companies desire to be more environmentally friendly while also striving for cost competitiveness in the manufacture of their products. Contributing heavily to manufacturing cost and environmental performances by driving process selection and operation, geometric and dimensional tolerancing decisions made in product design are typically made without quantitative knowledge of their effects in manufacturing. Better decision support relating these decisions to effects in manufacturing is needed if attempts to improve cost and environmental performances of a product in its manufacture are to be made through its upfront design. In this work a design decision support model is developed to estimate cost and environmental performances of manufacturing processes required to achieve part designs. The uncertainty of parameters associated with operations and machinery is captured through the use of probability density functions and Monte Carlo simulation is performed. Simulation results provide insight into the uncertainty of model outputs and the risks associated with ensuing decision making. This model may be used by product designers to support decision making efforts in product design related to cost and environmental consciousness in manufacturing.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Answering Keyword Queries on XML Using Materialized Views

Answering queries using materialized views has been well studied in the context of structured queries and has shown significant performance benefits. Despite the popularity of keyword search over XML data, it is an open problem whether materialized views can be leveraged for query evaluation. In this paper, we investigate this problem and present techniques for answering keyword queries using a minimal number of materialized views. Experimental evaluation demonstrates the efficiency of the proposed techniques.
Photoemission studies of the initial adsorption and growth of Ag and Au on Ge and Si

High-resolution core-level and valence-band photoemission studies have been performed to investigate the initial phases of growth of Ag on Si(111)-(7 x 7) and Ge(111)-c(2 x 8), and Au on Ge(111)-c(2 x 8). These systems were also studied with electron diffraction. Upon the deposition of various amounts of Ag or Au on the Si and Ge substrates, the photoemission spectra exhibited selective modifications of surface states and individual core-level components corresponding to different atomic sites. The results establish correlations between the electronic and structural properties of the substrate surfaces and have implications for possible growth models of Au and Ag upon them.
Urinary incontinence secondary to brain neoplasm

Abstract The recommendation for vesicourethropexy is often made without adequate preoperative evaluation. The necessity to demonstrate urinary leakage during an increase in intra-abdominal pressure is fundamental to recommending this particular operative procedure. This report is of a woman complaining of continuing incontinence who had been advised to undergo vesicourethropexy by several urologists. Preliminary investigation did not reveal the typical findings of stress incontinence, and neurologic evaluation confirmed the presence of a brain neoplasm. The circumstances which led to the correct diagnosis and to incontinence caused by neoplasms of the central nervous system are discussed.
TIME-RESOLVED STUDIES OF RAPID SOLIDIFICATION IN HIGHLY UNDERCOOLED MOLTEN SILICON.

A KrF (248nm) pulsed laser was used to melt 90-, 190-, and 440nm thick amorphous silicon layers produced by Si ion implantation into (100) crystalline Si substrates. Time-resolved reflectivity measurements at two different probe wavelengths (633 nm and 1.15 ..mu..m) and post-irradiation TEM measurements were used to study the formation of an undercooled liquid Si phase and the subsequent solidification processes. The time-resolved measurements provide new experimental information about the nucleation of fine-grained Si crystallites in undercooled liquid Si, at low laser energy densities (E/sub l/), and about the growth of large-grained Si in the near-surface region at higher E/sub l/. Measurements with the infrared probe beam reveal the presence of a buried, propagating liquid layer at low E/sub l/. Model calculations indicate that this liquid layer is generated in part by the release of latent heat associated with the nucleation and growth process. 8 references, 4 figures.
Chief nurse executives: creating nursing's future with IT

Healthcare mirrors the society in which it is practiced. Therefore, an examination of demographic, social, and economic trends in the United States provides valuable insight into the healthcare systems evolving to support a changing nation. This article examines the implications for healthcare of several key societal trends and suggests how information technology can help the chief nurse executive drive nursing's evolution to the health system of the future.
The Production of Transforming Growth Factor-β Activity by Rat Granulosa Cell Cultures

We have examined whether granulosa cells (GC) secrete transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta)-like activity using cell cultures prepared from diethylstilbestrol-primed female rats. Our results indicate that a significant level of active as well as latent TGF beta activity is found in defined GC culture medium as assessed by 1) potentiation of FSH-induced differentiation of rat GC, 2) neutralization of its activity by anti-TGF beta immunoglobulin, 3) inhibition of DNA synthesis in mink lung epithelial cells (CCl 64), and 4) activation of latent TGF beta activity by either acid or heat treatment. TGF beta production was more pronounced when the cells were seeded on fibronectin-coated plates. There was no difference in the level of TGF beta secretion by GC preparations derived from either diethylstilbestrol-primed immature or normal immature rats or adult rats. Furthermore, rat GC-conditioned medium contained much more TGF beta activity than medium from normal rat kidney cells (NRK 49-F), human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells (PC-3), or porcine GC. Rat thecal/interstitial cell culture medium contained activity comparable to that of GC medium. We conclude that rat GC preparations secrete a high level of TGF beta activity in vitro. Taken together with previous results, this indicates the possibility that TGF beta may be an autocrine regulator as well as a paracrine one within the ovarian follicle. Moreover, because of the high level of TGF beta activity produced, the rat GC culture system appears to be a useful experimental model for further exploring relationships between TGF beta production and its action.
Early life sun exposure, vitamin D-related gene variants, and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Purpose It has been hypothesized that vitamin D mediates the inverse relationship between sun exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk reported in several recent studies. We evaluated the association of self-reported sun exposure at ages <13, 13–21, 22–40, and 41+ years and 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 4 candidate genes relevant to vitamin D metabolism (RXR, VDR, CYP24A1, CYP27B1) with NHL risk.
Impact Evaporation and Thin Film Growth in a Glow Discharge

Publisher Summary This chapter describes in detail the impact evaporation, or cathode sputtering, process and discusses the important parameters of this process with respect to thin film nucleation and growth in a glow discharge environment. Most of the work published on films prepared by impact evaporation, however, has been done in a glow discharge environment, even though an accurate description of conditions prevailing in the glow discharge system is fraught with additional complexities. The most recent Russian contribution comes from Veksler, who studied the energy spectra of “reflected” and emitted positive ions obtained by bombarding Mo and Ta targets with Cs + ions with energies up to 2200 ev. Thompson irradiated a thin gold foil, whose grains had been oriented by rolling, with a proton beam of such energy that the beam penetrated the foil emerging with an average energy of 300 kev. The chapter states that fair success in growing films of many compounds, such as oxides, sulfides, nitrides, and hydrides, has been achieved by a semiempirical approach, without the benefit of a more profound insight into the reaction kinetics in a glow discharge.
Management of gastroesophageal junction tumors.

Tumors of the gastroesophageal junction have historically been treated as either gastric or esophageal cancer depending on institutional preferences. The Siewert classification system was designed to provide a more precise means of characterizing these tumors. In general, surgical treatment of Siewert 1 tumors is via esophagectomy. Siewert 2 and 3 tumors may be treated with either esophagectomy with proximal gastrectomy or extended total gastrectomy provided negative margins are obtained. All but the earliest stage tumors should be considered for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
Load-shedding Strategies for Preventing Cascading Failures in Power Grid

Abstract Load shedding has always been a commonly adopted method in emergency situations to maintain power system reliability. Several load-reduction strategies have been suggested in the past, but most are complex and not scalable. This article proposes and thoroughly investigates three load-shedding strategies to prevent cascading failures in the power grid. The first strategy is a baseline case called the homogeneous load-shedding strategy. It homogeneously reduces load in all of the buses of the system. This strategy is extremely simple and fast, and these properties motivate its use in some specific scenarios in spite of its inefficiencies. Next, to accurately find the location and amount of load shedding, a polynomial complexity optimization formulation is proposed, which is much more efficient in overall load shedding in the system. A novel tree heuristic is proposed to overcome the drawbacks of the optimization, namely fairness and scalability. The tree heuristic is linear and very simple to imple...
Brain expansion and rotation during hominid evolution

The question of how an endocast (or brain) is oriented within a skull that is positioned in the Frankfurt plane is investigated for African great apes, early hominids STS 71, KNM-ER 1813 and KNM-ER 1470, and modern humans using a 3SPACE digitizer. Our results suggest that, rather than being positioned in the orientation in which isolated brains (endocasts) are conventionally illustrated, brains within skulls that are oriented in the Frankfurt plane tend to be inclined so that the frontal pole is higher than the occipital pole, especially inHomo. These preliminary findings have implications for interpreting early hominid endocasts such as that of AL 162-28.
Emerging phenotype of duplication (7p) (a report of three cases and review of the literature)

Here we report on three patients with dup (7p) and review the previously published 17 cases. Characteristic manifestations include severe/profound psychomotor retardation, dolicho-cephaly or microbrachycephaly, gaping fontanels and wide sagittal and metopic sutures, hypertelorism, large apparently low-set ears, micrognathia, choanal atresia/stenosis, hyper-extensible joints subject to dislocation, joint contractures, and a high rate of cardiac septal defects. Our analysis suggests that dup(7p) is associated with a recognizable characteristic phenotype.
Dupoux and Jacob's moral instincts: throwing out the baby, the bathwater and the bathtub.

We agree with Dupoux and Jacob (DJ) [1] that human moral capacities are, in ways yet to be understood, grounded in our biology. However, we disagree with DJ's outright rejection of the linguistic analogy (LA). Fully cognizant that our present understanding of the moral faculty is no better, and perhaps is worse, than the state of affairs in linguistics circa 1950, we believe that it has opened up new and exciting research questions for scientists and moral philosophers alike, with empirical work emerging apace [2–4].
Effects of epinephrine and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors on the glycogen synthetic pathway and glucose content in skeletal muscle

Abstract The actions on carbohydrate metabolism of epinephrine and the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors, theophylline and SQ 20009, were studied using rat hemidiaphragms incubated in vitro . The inhibition of glucose uptake produced by epinephrine was almost equal to the decrease in the incorporation of [ 14 C]glucosc into glycogen, while incorporation into lactate of 14 C from labeled glucose was not influenced by the hormone. Although epinephrine decreased total tissue glycogen, it had relatively little effect on the removal of radioactive glucose incorporated into glycogen during a preincubation in the absence of hormone when the tissue was subsequently incubated with nonradioactive glucose. This indicates that the decrease in the net incorporation of [ 14 C]glucose into glycogen produced by the hormone in vitro is caused predominantly by an inhibition of glycogen synthesis and cannot be accounted for by an increase in the turnover rate of glycogen. Theophylline and SQ 20009 produced a dose-dependent inhibition of glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis, similar to that of epinephrine. Incubation of hemidiaphragms with epinephrine or cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the presence of glucose led to an increased intracellular accumulation of glucose. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed. The uptake of the nonmetabolizable sugar. 3- O -methylgucose, by skeletal muscle was not affected by epinephrine, indicating that the hormone influences only the uptake of the natural substrate, glucose, which can be incorporated into glycogen. The alterations in muscle metabolism described here were associated with increases in the tissue content of cyclic AMP and it was concluded that an important action of epinephrine in resting muscle is a cyclic AMP-mediated inhibition of the glucose-to-glycogen synthetic pathway.
Developing a Multicultural Organizational Code of Ethics Rooted in the Moral Obligations of Citizenry

The increasing globalization of business and boundary-spanning government alliances has created a clash of values that can prevent effective working relationships. Given that each country wants to be considered an equal partner, this clash can strike at the core of effective communication. Various solutions posed to date have been unable to resolve this impediment. This treatise suggests a framework for establishing a shared set of values across cultures by focusing not on the ethics of business, but instead on the ethics of citizenship. A set of socio-ethical tenets is proposed as the basis for developing organizational ethics across cultures.
RELATION OF CERTAIN ENDOCRINE DISTURBANCES TO SUSCEPTIBILITY OF GOLDEN SYRIAN HAMSTER TO EXPERIMENTAL POLIOMYELITIS

Alterations in susceptibility of the Syrian hamster to poliomyelitis virus (MEF1) inoculated intracerebrally appeared closely related to seasonal changes and experimental disturbances in the adreno-testes equilibrium. Enhanced susceptibility coincided with seasonal enlargement of adrenals, followed cortisone and DOCA treatment and appeared during the initial postorchiectomy period. Increased resistance occurred incidentally to adrenalectomy, seasonal diminution in adrenal weight, testosterone overdosage, and testicular hypertrophy induced by treatment with GTH or chorionic gonadotrophin. The effect of certain hormonal interactions, the interference of conditioning factors and the role of compensatory reactions are discussed.
Central impurity toroidal rotation in ICRF heated Alcator C-Mod plasmas

Central impurity toroidal rotation has been observed in Alcator C-Mod ICRF heated plasmas, from the Doppler shifts of argon X ray lines. Rotation velocities of up to 1.3 × 105 m/s in the co-current direction have been observed in H mode discharges with no direct momentum input. There is a strong correlation between the increase in the central impurity rotation velocity and the increase in the plasma stored energy, induced by ICRF heating, although other factors may be involved. This implies a close association between energy and momentum confinement. Co-current rotation is also observed during purely ohmic H modes. In otherwise similar discharges with the same stored energy increase, plasmas with lower current rotate faster. For hydrogen minority (D(H)) heating, plasmas with the highest rotation have an H/D ratio between 5 and 10% and have the resonance location in the inner half of the plasma, i.e. in the same conditions that are conducive to the best ICRF absorption and heating. Comparisons with neoclassical theory indicate that the ion pressure gradient is an unimportant contributor to the central impurity rotation and the presence of a substantial core radial electric field is inferred during the ICRF pulse. An inward shift of ions induced by ICRF waves could give rise to a non-ambipolar electric field in the plasma core.
Outer medium effects and fracture nucleation sites in model experiments to mimic fracture surface features of metallic glasses

Abstract Model experiments have been conducted in order to simulate the fracture morphology of metallic glasses at low temperatures or high strain rates. The effects of specimen geometry, stress state, and external pressure on the fracture surface features in model grease systems has been investigated. It is shown that the fracture surface feature size decreases with increasing viscosity of the viscous layer. Increasing the external pressure via testing samples submerged in media with different viscosities similarly produces decreases in the fracture surface feature sizes. Results on the model systems have been compared to metallic glass fracture surfaces.
Measurement of Very Low Optical Absorption Coefficients in Bulk Materials

Abstract The measurement of very low optical absorption coefficients in bulk materials is described with emphasis on adiabatic laser calorimetry with long rod samples. Bulk absorption coefficients lower than 10 -5 cm -1 have been achieved in both crystals and glasses using this technique. At extremely low levels, both sensitivity and discrimination between surface and bulk sources of absorption is required. The technique described is perhaps the best way at the present time of studying such low level absorptions. I. Introduction A need by man for transparent materials stems from the earliest days of civilization. Perhaps blocks of ice served as one of the first transparent window materials. At some later time, glass was discovered and in various improved forms still remains one of the most useful transparent window materials. However, crystals have also been important window and optical element materials, especially in the infrared and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. All of these applications have merely required window material of reasonable transparency such that most of the incident radiation will be transmitted. Only a few specialized applications have required materials of such extremely high transparency so that only fractions of a percent of the incident radiation would be absorbed. Two of these applications have emerged to positions of importance during the past decade. These are fiber optics and cw high power infrared laser windows. In the case of fiber optics, low absorption (and scattering) is required in order to transmit light over long distances (kilometers). In the case of cw laser windows, low absorption is needed over short distances
Fluorous Synthesis of Substituted Sclerotigenin Library

A fluorous linker-assisted synthetic protocol has been developed for preparation of sclerotigenin-type benzodiazepine-quinazolinone library containing 144 analogues. Amide coupling of fluorous trimethoxybenzyl (TMB)-protected amino esters with anthranilic acids followed by base-promoted cyclizations afforded 4-benzodiazepine-2,5-diones. Further derivatization of benzodiazepinediones by reacting with azidobenzoyl chlorides, cyclization, and fluorous linker cleavage afforded the desired compound library. The reaction intermediates were purified by fluorous solid-phase extraction (F-SPE) and final products were further purified by prep-HPLC.
Selective, reversible, reagentless maltose biosensing with core-shell semiconducting nanoparticles.

Reagentless and reversible maltose biosensors are demonstrated using ZnS coated CdSe (CdSe@ZnS) nanoparticle emission intensities. This method is based on electron transfer quenching of unimolecular protein–CdSe@ZnS nanoparticle assemblies, which is provided by a protein-attached RuII complex. This RuII complex is presumed to reduce a valence band hole of the CdSe@ZnS excited state by tunneling through the ZnS overcoating. The RuII complex mediated quenching of CdSe@ZnS nanoparticle emission was only decreased 1.2-fold relative to the CdSe nanoparticle systems. While four different RuII complex attachment sites provided different amounts of nanoparticle emission quenching (1.20 to 1.75-fold decrease), all of these attachment sites yielded maltose-dependent intensity changes (1.1 to 1.4-fold increase upon maltose addition). Maltose dissociation constants for these four biosensing systems range from 250 nM to 1.0 µM, which are similar to the maltose–maltose binding protein dissociation constant that these sensors are based on. The increased fluorescence intensity was found to only occur in the presence of maltose. Furthermore, the ability of these reagentless protein–nanoparticle assemblies to perform maltose biosensing reversibly is demonstrated with the addition of α-glucosidase. Three 50 µM maltose additions after α-glucosidase addition showed increases of 2.2 µM, 600 nM, and 150 nM maltose. This result demonstrates a fluorometric method for examining α-glucosidase activity. Using maltose binding protein to control RuII complex interactions with CdSe@ZnS nanoparticle surfaces provide a novel class of highly fluorescent, photostable biosensors that are selective for maltose.
Research Agenda for Cardiovascular Aging: Humans to Molecules.

Clinical manifestations of specific cardiovascular diseases, e.g., atherosclerosis and hypertension, that lead to heart failure and stroke likely become altered in older persons of advanced age because interactions occur between age-associated cardiovascular changes in health and specific pathophysiologic mechanisms that underlie cardiovascular diseases. The interactions result in a lower threshold for clinical symptoms, and greater severity and poorer prognosis of these diseases in older vs. younger persons. In this regard, cardiovascular changes that occur during aging in health ought not to be considered to reflect a "normal process"; rather these specific age-associated changes must be construed as specific "risk factors" for the aforementioned cardiovascular diseases and ought to become targets of interventions designed to prevent the epidemic of cardiovascular disease in later life. Such a strategy would thus advocate preventive treatment for what is now considered to be "normal cardiovascular aging." Effective and efficient prevention of the "risks" associated with cardiovascular aging in apparent health requires a fundamental understanding of these changes ranging in scope from humans to molecules. An opinion regarding specific directions for research aimed toward the achievement of this understanding is provided. (c) 2000 by CVRR, Inc.
Severe Self-induced Beam Distortion in Laboratory Simulated Laser Propagation at 10.6 μ

Precision irradiance profiles have been determined for horizontally slewing high power laser beams through stationary absorbing gaseous media for the case of strong beam–medium interaction coupled with strong heating. Results are compared with the predictions of existing theoretical models concerning thermally induced lens effects in the presence of cross winds. Bending of the beam into the wind by beam slewing and intensification is found in reasonable agreement with the theory; for the observed overall beam spread, induced flow, turbulent tail, and concomitant beam breakup, no satisfactory theoretical treatment is available.
Solar and Temporal Effects on Escherichia coli Concentration at a Lake Michigan Swimming Beach

Studies on solar inactivation of Escherichia coli in freshwater and in situ have been limited. At 63rd St. Beach, Chicago, Ill., factors influencing the daily periodicity of culturable E. coli, particularly insolation, were examined. Water samples for E. coli analysis were collected twice daily between April and September 2000 three times a week along five transects in two depths of water. Hydrometeorological conditions were continuously logged: UV radiation, total insolation, wind speed and direction, wave height, and relative lake level. On 10 days, transects were sampled hourly from 0700 to 1500 h. The effect of sunlight on E. coli inactivation was evaluated with dark and transparent in situ mesocosms and ambient lake water. For the study, the number of E. coli samples collected (n) was 2,676. During sunny days, E. coli counts decreased exponentially with day length and exposure to insolation, but on cloudy days, E. coli inactivation was diminished; the E. coli decay rate was strongly influenced by initial concentration. In situ experiments confirmed that insolation primarily inactivated E. coli; UV radiation only marginally affected E. coli concentration. The relationship between insolation and E. coli density is complicated by relative lake level, wave height, and turbidity, all of which are often products of wind vector. Continuous importation and nighttime replenishment of E. coli were evident. These findings (i) suggest that solar inactivation is an important mechanism for natural reduction of indicator bacteria in large freshwater bodies and (ii) have implications for management strategies of nontidal waters and the use of E. coli as an indicator organism.
Effects of changes in adsorbed polyacrylic acid conformation on alumina flocculation

Abstract Conformational changes of adsorbed polyacrylic acid induced by changes in such properties as pH can cause flocculation or stabilization of colloidal suspensions. In this study, conformation of adsorbed polyacrylic acid on alumina fines was monitored along with electrokinetic and flocculation responses at different polyacrylic acid concentration. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to measure the polyacrylic acid coiling/stretching on the particles. Upon raising the pH of an alumina/polyacrylic acid system, originally at pH 4, at the low polymer dosage flocculation increased, while at the higher dosage flocculation increased up to pH 6 and then decreased markedly leading to stabilization above pH 10. These trends are explained here on the basis of changes in conformation of adsorbed polyacrylic acid and zeta potential of the particles. At the low polymer concentration (i.e., low surface coverage), increase in pH caused coiled polyacrylic acid on the surface to stretch out resulting in better bridging of the particles by the polymer and hence enhanced flocculation, whereas at the higher concentration (i.e., at high surface coverage) adsorbed polyacrylic acid exhibited less stretching with opposite flocculation effects. Zeta potential of the particles played a role in promoting flocculation at least up to pH 10 at the low polymer dosage, and between pH 4 and 6 at high polymer dosage.
Nuclear hydrodynamics for ellipsoidal shapes

Abstract The liquid-drop model is used to study the dynamics of nuclear matter confined to an ellipsoidal shape of constant volume. The equations of motion for the two degrees of freedom of the shape are solved for irrotational, incompressible hydrodynamic fluid flow with hydrodynamic shear viscosity as the means of energy dissipation. Angular-momentum effects are approximated by means of a centrifugal pseudopotential. Non-axially symmetric shapes are found to be crucial in the intermediate stages of a nuclear collision, where elongation of the compound nucleus may occur either at right angles to or along the original line of centers, depending on the collision energy and the amount of dissipation. Scattering of identical heavy nuclei is considered in a simple model with qualitative and approximate quantitative predictions made for deflection functions and differential cross sections at low energies. A new inelastic peak in the differential cross section is found which is dependent on the hydrodynamic assumption and may provide an experimental observable which can distinguish between short- and long-mean-free-path models of nuclear matter flow. Equilibrium configurations for the ellipsoid are also presented and a comparison is made to the results of more general parametrizations.
CT characterization of myocardial substrate in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We present a case that demonstrates myocardial fibrosis detected on a cardiac computed tomography study performed for the evaluation of chest pain in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We describe the correlation between echocardiographic strain imaging, quantitative positron emission tomography, and computed tomographic evidence of fibrosis and its implications in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The Politics of Literacy Teaching: How “Research” Shaped Educational Policy

In this paper we trace the use of a “consensus” white paper as part of a successful educational advocacy campaign that reframed early literacy educational policies in two states. In addition we contrast the specific instructional recommendations offered in this white paper with the findings of the program of research that was purportedly “synthesized” in developing the recommendations. The successful use of this white paper as a policy lever is considered from both the “agenda-setting” and “political use of expertise” frameworks.
Reactions to aggression-related stimuli following reinforcement of aggression.

Summary Twenty-four male subjects were reinforced for aggressing with verbal approval from the experimenter, or not reinforced, then presented nine verbs previously scaled for aggressiveness associations as cues for further aggressive responses. Subjects who received approval from the experimenter increased their level of aggressiveness over reinforced trials, whereas nonreinforced subjects did not. Reinforced subjects also reacted with greater aggressiveness to words having strongly aggressive connotations than did nonreinforced subjects, but were no more aggressive than the latter when words having weaker connotations for aggression served as eliciting cues.
Clinical characteristics of myocardial infarction following Kawasaki disease: report of 11 cases.

Between 1979 and 1984, 11 patients with myocardial infarction following Kawasakl disease were seen in our hospital. There were seven boys and four girls, aged from 3 months to 6 years. This cardiovascular complication developed in the early stage, from 19 days to 6 months of illness, in all but three patients. Significant clinical symptoms were recognized in only five patients. Two patients died, the conditions of two are well controlled with anticongestive therapy, and the remaining patients are asymptomatic. The diagnosis of myocardial infarction was confirmed by the following clinical findings: typical ECG patterns (10/11), abnormality of the left ventricular wall movement by serial two-dimensional echocardiography (9/10), elevated value of cardiac enzymes (6/6), perfusion defect by thallium 201 myocardial scintigraphy (6/8), and coronary artery occlusion or ventricular aneurysm by angiocardiography (9/9). All patients had markedly dilated and multiple coronary aneurysms during the course of the illness. Because myocardial infarction is frequently associated with the rapidly dilating coronary artery during the acute stage, ECG monitoring, preparation of resuscitation equipment, and use of antithrombotic agents are recommended for those high-risk patients. When a myocardial infarction has been diagnosed, measures including cardiac monitoring, use of vasodilators, inotropic agents, and urokinase may be valuable.
An integrated science portal for collaborative compute and data intensive protein structure studies

The SBGrid Science Portal provides multi-modal access to computational infrastructure, data storage, and data analysis tools for the structural biology community. It incorporates features not previously seen in cyberinfrastructure science gateways. It enables researchers to securely share a computational study area, including large volumes of data and active computational workflows. A rich identity management system has been developed that simplifies federated access to US national cyberinfrastructure, distributed data storage, and high performance file transfer tools. It integrates components from the Virtual Data Toolkit, Condor, glideinWMS, the Globus Toolkit and Globus Online, the FreeIPA identity management system, Apache web server, and the Django web framework.
Linking chronosequences with the rest of the world: predicting soil phosphorus content in denuding landscapes

Results from chronosequences from the arctic to the tropics show that phosphorus (P) availability, total P, and the fraction of bedrock-derived P remaining in soil diminishes as soils age. Thus we predict that ecosystems mantling old substrates are likely to have low available P. Yet there are myriad examples in the biogeochemical literature where the results from chronosequences are used to argue the reverse, and ecosystems observed to be P poor are assumed to mantle an old substrate. This premise is difficult to test, for while the concept of substrate age is useful on uneroded surfaces that formed at a particular time, it becomes obscured in denuding landscapes, where substrate ages instead reflect the rates of rock weathering, denudation and mixing of dust into soil. Here we explore this premise as it relates to one of the most ubiquitous assumptions in the biogeochemical literature: that the differences in nitrogen (N) and P cycling between temperate and tropical regions are driven by gradients in substrate age. We build a conceptual framework for quantifying the fraction of parent material P remaining in soil ([SoilP]/[RockP]), by estimating P inputs (rock weathering and dust deposition) and outputs (P leaching). We parameterize our model with spatially explicit (0.5°) estimates of global denudation, weathering zone thickness, and P deposition. To test the assumption that latitudinal gradients in P status are the result of soil age, we apply a single P loss rate, derived from a humid tropical system in the Hawaiian Islands, to our spatially explicit map of soil residence times. Surprisingly, in this formulation, we find only a modest latitudinal gradient in soil P depletion, with mean depletion values in the humid tropics <2× greater than in the previously unglaciated humid temperate zone. This small latitudinal gradient in P depletion is unlikely to be sufficient to drive the observed differences in tropical vs. temperate ecosystem stoichiometry (e.g. trends in foliar and litter N:P). Thus our results suggest that, to the extent P depletion is greater in the tropics, the appropriate conceptual model for attributing causation may not be one of a chronosequence where time is the primary driver of P loss. We hypothesize that the covariation of inferred P availability with latitude may be strongly controlled by latitudinal changes in rates of P leaching and occlusion, rather than gradients in substrate age.
Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Dystrophin Splice Site Mutation

Abstract Background Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders, posing significant diagnostic challenges. Genetic etiologies underlie an important subset of DCM, including 20 genes and 5 X-linked disorders to date. We report a family with a rare dystrophin gene alteration, identified after evaluation of asymptomatic children whose extended family history included cardiomyopathy, premature cardiac death, or cardiac transplantation. Methods and Results Record review, clinical evaluations, and DNA samples were obtained from members of a 5-generation pedigree with early onset DCM. Five of 6 affected males experienced death or cardiac transplant in their second or third decades. No affected individuals had skeletal muscle weakness before acute cardiac decompensation. Dystrophin gene analysis of an affected family member revealed sequence alteration at the conserved 5′ splice site of exon 1 of the muscle-specific isoform of dystrophin (IVS1 +1 G>T) and co-segregated with cardiac disease in this family. Conclusions Young males presenting with apparent isolated cardiomyopathy or acute myocarditis may harbor dystrophin mutations without overt skeletal muscle pathology. The etiology of familial risk was not evident in this pedigree before retrospective cardiovascular genetics assessment, highlighting ongoing diagnostic challenges and limitations of standardized screening panels (which do not include dystrophin) in patients with “idiopathic” DCM.
Enantioselective cholesteric liquid crystalline membranes characterized using nonchiral HPLC with circular dichroism detection

Abstract Novel porous membranes for optical resolution consisting of cholesteric liquid crystalline (LC) phases (mixtures of 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl – 5CB – and cholesteryl oleyl carbonate – COC) impregnated in porous cellulose nitrate supports were prepared, and their permeability and selectivity for 1-phenylethanol were studied. The 5CB/COC membranes exhibited 1-phenylethanol enantiomer selectivities between 1.02 (isotropic phase) and 1.27 (cholesteric phase), and increased permeability and stability of operation compared to other sorption enantioselective membranes. Significantly decreased activation energies for diffusion were observed at temperatures above the cholesteric–isotropic phase transition, indicating reduced interactions between diffusing molecules and the LC-coated pore walls in the absence of an ordered helical LC phase. Higher activation energy for permeation was observed for S-1-phenylethanol than R-1-phenylethanol, consistent with increased interactions between the S-enantiomer and the cholesteric LC phase. Membranes produced with the undoped nematic phase of 5CB exhibited higher permeabilities than the 5CB/COC membranes and no chiral selectivity. The feasibility of using circular dichroism (CD) detection in combination with non-chiral HPLC separation (non-chiral HPLC-CD) to monitor the concentrations and ratios of enantiomers transported through enantioselective membranes was demonstrated. Non-chiral HPLC-CD has previously been used as an assay for drug purity and to monitor enantioselective syntheses but has not previously been reported for the characterization of enantioselective separations. The non-chiral HPLC-CD system was able to determine the compositions of 1-phenylethanol enantiomers on the receiving side of the permeation cell with detection limits of 0.07 mg/ml for the CD signal and 0.005 mg/ml for the UV signal.