cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conversion of 4-γ,γ-dimethylallyltryptophan to clavicipitic acid. Some properties of the enzyme

Abstract The particle-bound enzyme catalysing the conversion of dl -4-γ,γ-diinethylallyltryptophan into clavicipitic acid in Claviceps purpurea PRL 1980 has been solubilised. The K m value and pH optimum were determined and the substrate specfficity of the enzyme and the effect of inhibitors were studied. The racemisation of l -tryptophan in the culture medium was investigated.
Analysis Of Media Campaign Promoting Smoking Cessation Suggests It Was Cost-Effective In Prompting Quit Attempts

The American Legacy Foundation's national EX® campaign, which ran on radio and television in 2008, was designed to promote smoking cessation among adult smokers. The incremental societal cost of EX, in 2009 dollars, was $166 million. Data from eight designated media market areas studied indicate that in a hypothetical nationwide cohort of 2,012,000 adult smokers ages 18-49, EX resulted in 52,979 additional quit attempts and 4,238 additional quits and saved 4,450 quality-adjusted life-years. Incremental cost-utility estimates comparing EX to the status quo-that is, the situation that would have existed in the eight markets with no campaign and no change in cessation behavior-ranged from a cost of $37,355 to $81,301 per quality-adjusted life-year, which suggests that the campaign was cost-effective. These findings bolster previous evidence that national mass media campaigns for smoking cessation can lower smoking prevalence in a cost-effective manner, among both adults and young adults ages 18-24 who are smokers.
Efficient and stable expression of recombinant fibronectin polypeptides

Abstract We describe retroviral expression vectors containing cDNAs encoding part of fibronectin preceded by the signal and "pro" sequences of parathyroid hormone. The recombinant retroviruses were used to generate NIH 3T3 cell lines stably producing functionally active fragments of fibronectin. The recombinant fibronectins (deminectins) are processed and secreted by the cells and form disulfide-bonded dimers with themselves and with endogenous fibronectin subunits. The fibronectin-deminectin heterodimers are incorporated into the extracellular matrix. We describe cell lines producing six variant forms of deminectin corresponding to variant forms of fibronectin produced by alternative splicing. In constructing fibronectin cDNAs encoding the six variant forms, we also made use of the ability of retroviral vectors to generate cDNAs by accurate splicing of cloned genomic segments. These constructs should be valuable in analyses of the structure-function relationships of fibronectins.
A Novel Omni-Directional Vision Sensing Technique for Traffic Surveillance

During the past decade, numerous research projects have been carried out in traffic surveillance. A variety of algorithms and techniques have been developed, primarily for observing vehicles from stationary rectilinear cameras mounted near roadways. Various applications include extracting traffic information such as average traffic speed, flow, and density. However, less research has been carried out in observing lane-level vehicle activity operating around specific vehicles in the traffic stream. In this research, we describe a unique orthogonal omni-directional vision system (OODVS) that has been developed to observe lane-level activity surrounding a vehicle, as well as the surrounding roadway geometry. This vision system uses a special catadioptric mirror providing a 360 degree orthogonal view of the environment. It is different from other catadioptric mirror-based omnidirectional vision systems in that it directly provides an orthogonal image without the need of warping a polar-coordinate based image to a perspective view. Based on this unique OODVS, a roadway traffic surveillance system has been designed and implemented. It consists of three major parts: 1) lane-level surrounding vehicle detection; 2) roadway lane information detection; and 3) localized traffic parameter estimation. Further, relationships can be established between the traffic parameters obtained from the probe vehicle with the embedded infrastructure sensors for complementary data fusion. Combined with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that provides approximately 2-3 meters spatial resolution, this traffic surveillance system can be applied in several lane-level traffic applications such as detailed roadway geometry acquisition, and lane-level navigation tasks.
Developing point of care and high-throughput biological assays for determining absorbed radiation dose

Abstract Background and purpose Systems are being developed to assess radiation exposure based on leukocyte mRNA levels obtained by finger-stick sampling. The goal is to provide accurate detection of dose exposures up to 10Gy for up to 1week following exposure. We previously showed that specific mRNA sequences increase expression within an hour of exposure, and some genes continue to show elevated expression for at least 24h. Full duration and dose-dependence of this persistence remain to be determined. In the present study, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to determine changes in gene expression. qPCR can rapidly analyze small blood samples and could be adopted into a field-portable instrument that provides a radiation dose readout within 30min. Materials and methods From previous microarray analysis of 21,000 genes expressed in human lymphoblastoid cells 4h post-irradiation (0–4Gy), 118 genes were selected for evaluation by qPCR of gene expression in the leukocytes of human blood irradiated in vitro with doses of 0–10Gy from a Co-60 gamma source at a dose rate of 30cGy/min. Results Blood from 20 normal healthy human donors yielded many mRNA sequences that could be used for radiation dosimetry. We observed four genes with large and persistent responses following exposure: ASTN2, CDKN1A, GADD45A, and GDF15. Five genes were identified as reliably non-responsive and were suitable for use as endogenous controls: DPM1, ITFG1, MAP4, PGK1, and SLC25A36; of these, ITFG1 was used for the analyses presented here. A significant dose-responsive increase in expression occurred for CDKN1A that was >16-fold at 10Gy and 3-fold at 0.5Gy compared to pre-irradiation values. Conclusions These data show large, selective increases in mRNA transcript levels that persist for at least 48h after single exposures between 0.5 and 10Gy. Stable, non-responsive mRNA sequences for use as endogenous controls were also identified. These results indicate that following further study to establish the most reproducible gene and dose–response models under a wide range of conditions in vivo , rapid real-time qPCR on blood samples could potentially be used to establish biologically-effective dosimetry from either accidental irradiation or clinical radiotherapy.
Identities and urban social spaces in little tokyo, los angeles: japanese americans in two ethno‐spiritual communities

Abstract.Ethnic identities are expressed and articulated in particular places. These mutable identities are crucial sources of meaning in the lives of social actors. This article seeks to elucidate just how the contexts of specific institutions in an urban enclave will impact upon patterns of conflict and cooperation among different subgroups practising two religious traditions. Historical discourses of ethnic community and ‘race’, shifts in migration patterns and the changing nature of the Little Tokyo enclave provide the formative patterns of social spaces, in which ethnic actors seek to create lives of spiritual and material meaning and security. Barth's concept of the social organization of cultural difference encourages analysis of ethnic identities as a dynamic and mutable enterprise. Because the maintenance of boundaries is crucial to identities, the manner in which a group seeks to maintain difference is intermeshed with the social terrain of particular places. Through qualitative methods of semi‐...
Net Present Value and Rate of Return: Implicit and Explicit Reinvestment Assumptions

ABSTRACT This paper introduces generalized net present value and rate of return indices which allow the analyst to specify a reinvestment rate. Conventional net present value and internal rate of return indices do not accomodate an independent reinvestment rate and thus do not allow the analyst to assume a common reinvestment rate when comparing investment alternatives. The indices introduced
Synthesis and Characterization of Soluble, High Temperature 3-Phenylethynyl Aniline Functionalized Polyimides via the Ester-Acid Route

The synthesis of soluble imide oligomers of controlled molecular weight endcapped with the 3-phenylethynyl aniline endcapping agent is described. The 3-phenylethynyl aniline was employed to afford a higher curing temperature (380–420°C) which widens the processing window compared to commercially available acetylene endcapped polyimides. The polyimides were synthesized via solution imidization techniques, using the ester-acid of various dianhydrides and various aromatic diamines. The “one pot” procedure utilizes NMP as the solvent and o-dichlorobenzene as the azeotroping agent, and reproducibly exhibit fully imidized soluble polyimides with % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqr1ngB % PrgifHhDYfgasaacH8srps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8qqaqFr0x % c9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qqQ8fr % Fve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeaaeaaakeaadaWcga % qaamaanaaabaGaaeytaiaabEhaaaaabaWaa0aaaeaacaqGnbGaaeOB % aaaaaaaaaa!3B6E! $${{\overline {{\text{Mw}}} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\overline {{\text{Mw}}} } {\overline {{\text{Mn}}} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\overline {{\text{Mn}}} }}$$ values of ~2.0 determined by gel permeation chromatography. Thermally cured samples display good solvent resistance and exhibit glass transition temperatures comparable to their high molecular weight linear analogs. These polyimides show excellent thermal stability at 700°F aged in air up to 100 hours. Mechanical testing has been performed on a pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and a phosphine oxide-based system. The flow properties have been studied by parallel plate rheology and the cure cycle has been monitored using 13C NMR.
Outcomes of trophectoderm biopsy on cryopreserved blastocysts: a case series

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an increasingly common adjunct to IVF. The information gained from PGD may be used to reduce the incidence of chromosomally abnormal pregnancies and augment the current selection process of embryos. As such, patients may choose to utilize PGD in either fresh or cryopreserved IVF cycles. It is a common practice to cryopreserve excess embryos at the blastocyst stage. In these cases, trophectoderm biopsy is the only technique available for PGD. This articles reports this study centre's experience with trophectoderm biopsies of cryopreserved blastocysts in 12 patients who underwent 13 cycles of PGD. The implantation rate per embryo transferred was 46% and the ongoing pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was 63%. The results from this case series demonstrate that trophectoderm biopsy on cryopreserved blastocysts to perform PGD is logistically feasible. In addition, the rate of implantation and ongoing pregnancy were maintained within a reasonable range to justify the procedure. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an increasingly common adjunct to IVF and is used to evaluate the genetic makeup of the embryo prior to transfer of the embryo into the uterus. The information gained from PGD may be used to identify single-gene disorders that result in genetic disease, reduce the incidence of chromosomally abnormal pregnancies and/or augment the selection process of embryos to be transferred. In order to perform PGD, a biopsy of the embryo is the performed and cells are removed for testing. PGD may be performed in either fresh or frozen (cryopreserved) IVF cycles. Patients who have cryopreserved embryos remaining in storage from a previous fresh cycle may wish to have these embryos tested with PGD. Many embryos are frozen on day 5 of development, referred to as the blastocyst stage. At this stage of development, embryo biopsy is performed via a technique known as 'trophectoderm biopsy', in which 1-3 of the cells destined to become the placenta are removed from the embryo for chromosomal testing. We report our experience with trophectoderm biopsy of frozen blastocysts in 12 patients who underwent 13 cycles of PGD. The implantation rate per embryo transferred was 46% and the ongoing pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was 63%. The results from this case series demonstrate that trophectoderm biopsy on cryopreserved blastocysts to perform PGD is logistically feasible. In addition, the rate of implantation and ongoing pregnancy were maintained within a reasonable range to justify the procedure.
A charge-remote allylic cleavage reaction: Mechanistic possibilities

The collision-induced allylic cleavage reactions of deuterium-labeled [M − H + 2Li)+ and [M − H]- ions of monounsaturated fatty acids were investigated. Three concerted mechanistic possibilities were considered for this process: a l,4-elimination of a vinylic H, a retro-ene reaction, and a l,4-conjugate elimination. A fourth mechanistic possibility, a two-step radical version of the retro-ene and l,4-conjugate elimination reactions, was also considered. The radical reactions are in accord with the isotopic labeling results and offer certain mechanistic consistencies for cleavage of both C-C allyl bonds; they are expected, however, to have large activation energies. The lower-energy concerted alternatives, the retro-ene reaction for cleavage of the proximal and the l,4-conjugate elimination for cleavage of the distal C-C allyl bond, are also consistent with experimental results. The alternative of two different concerted mechanisms for cleavage of the two allyl bonds, however, is at odds with the charge-remote concept.
On preaching the commandments of proper research: A rejoinder

In our recent article (Hardyck, Dronkers, Chiarello, & Simpson, 1983, we examined the effect of prolonged exposure durations on visual halffield presentation. Moscovitch (1987) has taken exception to our conclusions, and his rejoinder has taken the form of citing some of the commandments of good research, such as proper controls, adequate numbers of subjects, etc. One commandment that seems to have been overlooked, both in recitation and in observation, is the necessity for thorough review of the relevant literature. There are errors both of fact and of interpretation in Moscovitch (1987), as well as what we consider a fundamental misunderstanding of the intent of our report. In his review of the paper, Moscovitch states that “In the baseline condition the stimulus appears once in the LVF or RVF for 25 msec.”
Tolerability of fluoxetine in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Purpose: In response to earlier reports that raised concerns about the tolerability of fluoxetine in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study was conducted to systematically delineate treatment-emergent symptoms (TES) associated with fluoxetine treatment of PTSD. Methods: Sixty-five patients with PTSD enrolled in one of two identical-protocol, 12-week studies and received double-blind fluoxetine or placebo. TES data were obtained using a patient-rated checklist, Severity of Symptoms Scale (SOSS). Results: Only a single patient discontinued treatment due to medication side effects. Compared to placebo, only three statistically significant TES (nausea, diarrhea, and thirst) occurred more frequently in fluoxetine subjects. Fluoxetine was not associated with any statistically significant activating effects. There were no statistically significant associations between the total number of TES experienced and treatment, gender, or comorbid depressive or panic disorders. Conclusions: This systematic assessment of TES indicated that PTSD patients tolerated fluoxetine well without pronounced activating side effects.
Inhibition of chloroplast ribosome formation by N,N-bis(phosphonomethyl)glycine

Abstract Foliar application of an experimental plant growth regulator, N,N-bis(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosine) caused chlorosis of emerging leaves of maize seedlings. These bleached leaf segments had reduced levels of chloroplastic 70-S ribosomes and chloroplastic ribosomal RNA. In the same segments, there was no effect on the level of 80-S cytoplasmic ribosomes. Ultrastructural studies showed that chloroplasts in these tissues had reduced levels of grana stacking. Glyphosine had no effects on the light-induced electron transport and phosphorylation activities of isolated chloroplasts.
On uniqueness of prime bipartite factors of graphs

Abstract It has long been known that the class of connected nonbipartite graphs (with loops allowed) obeys unique prime factorization over the direct product of graphs. Moreover, it is known that prime factorization is not necessarily unique in the class of connected bipartite graphs. But any prime factorization of a connected bipartite graph has exactly one bipartite factor. Moreover, empirical evidence suggests that any two prime factorings of a given connected bipartite graph have isomorphic bipartite factors. This prompts us to conjecture that among all the different prime factorings of a given connected bipartite graph, the bipartite factor is always the same. The present paper proves that the conjecture is true for graphs that have a K 2 factor. (Even in this simple case, the result is surprisingly nontrivial.) Further, we indicate how to compute all possible prime factorings of such a graph. In addition, we show how the truth of the conjecture (in general) would lead to a method of finding all distinct prime factorings of any connected bipartite graph. To accomplish this, we prove the following preliminary result, which is the main technical result of the paper: Suppose A × B is connected and bipartite, and B is the bipartite factor. If A × B admits an involution that reverses partite sets, then B also admits such an involution.
Absence of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase in the brains of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A majority of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-α-infected-individuals manifest a plethora of central nervous system (CNS) diseases unrelated to opportunistic infections, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-dementia complex (ADC), encephalitis, and various other disorders of the CNS. A series of devastating clinical conditions in the CNS of certain HIV-1-infected-individuals may be caused by infection of cells in the brain parenchyma. ADC is characterized by cognitive dysfunction, motor difficulties, coordination abnormalities and other neurological signs and symptoms, which develop in many HIV-1-infected-individuals. The precise molecular mechanisms leading to AIDS dementia remain incompletely explained. Various mechanisms including cytokine dysregulation, toxic effects of viral proteins and release of certain toxic substances from macrophages, especially nitric oxide, have been implicated as pathogenic mediators in the development of ADC. We have examined post mortem CNS tissues ...
Mobile computer systems – security considerations

The number of workers using computers away from the office is increasing, particularly for engineers, accountants, salesmen and consultants, and those called nomadic users. The increasing use necessitates the need for security considerations by the users and their supervisors. Companies’ sensitive data are usually available on the mobile computers. Therefore, serious consideration must be given to the security aspect of these mobile computers. Data security involves considering issues of integrity, availability and confidentiality. The type of organization, the acceptability of restrictions on the users, the risk involved and the cost of the security are some of the factors that need serious attention when discussing security for mobile computers. We propose minimum security measures taking into account the minimum security needs already identified. Various situations were examined to determine the appropriate measures applicable to each of them. Principal requirements for security solutions such as implementing software‐base access control at the beginning of the hard disk and the role of encryption were also discussed.
Octopamine influences division of labor in honey bee colonies

Forager honey bees have higher brain levels of octopamine than do bees tending larvae in the hive. To test the hypothesis that octopamine influences honey bee division of labor we treated bees orally with octopamine or its immediate precursor tyramine and determined whether these treatments increased the probability of initiating foraging. Octopamine treatment significantly elevated levels of octopamine in the brain and caused a significant dose-dependent increase in the number of new foragers. This effect was seen for precocious foragers in single-cohort colonies and foragers in larger colonies with more typical age demographies. Tyramine treatment did not increase the number of new foragers, suggesting that octopamine was exerting a specific effect. Octopamine treatment was effective only when given to bees old enough to forage, i.e., older than 4 days of age. Treatment when bees were 1–3 days of age did not cause a significant increase in the number of new foragers when the bees reached the minimal foraging age. These results demonstrate that octopamine influences division of labor in honey bee colonies. We speculate that octopamine is acting in this context as a neuromodulator.
Field measurement of albedo for limited extent test surfaces

A new method is introduced for field measurement of surface albedo. This method consists of the use of a cylindrical shade ring made of opaque fabric with a known (low) albedo placed over a test surface. The albedo measurement is accomplished using two small pyranometers situated so that the downward-facing pyranometer receives radiation only from the test surface and the shade ring. The upward-facing pyranometer simultaneously records the incoming solar radiation. The radiation received by the downward-facing pyramometer is a combination of reflected radiation from shaded and unshaded portions of these two surfaces, requiring detailed accounting of the resulting view factor geometries. The method presented here improves upon past approaches by allowing for smaller sample sizes, minimizing errors associated with reflective properties of the surroundings, and allowing for accurate measurements even under partially cloudy skies. In addition to these methodological improvements we introduce an approach for estimating the uncertainty in the resulting albedo measurements. Results from field measurements are presented to validate the measurement protocol, and to compare its accuracy with the accuracy of a published standard.
Identification of an immunoreactive glycoprotein in the urine of sarcoma patients.

Tumor-associated antigens (TAA) can be detected in the urine of sarcoma patients by a variety of assays. This study was designed to correlate antigen activity in three assays: complement fixation assay (CFA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot (WB). This study identifies the antibody class responsible for TAA identification in these assays and characterizes the nature of the antigen. One hundred eighty-nine urine samples from eight sarcoma patients with known levels of TAA in CFA were tested in ELISA and WB. Allogeneic anti-TAA containing sera (1° antibody) from a sarcoma patient was reacted with urine samples followed by detection with alkaline phosphatase-linked goat anti-human IgG and IgM (2° antibody in both assays). Reactivity in CFA correlated to IgM reactivity in ELISA and WB (χ2 test, P < 0.001). No correlation was found to IgG reactivity in either assay. Reactivity in WB vs ELISA was also highly correlated for IgM (P < 0.001). TAA was visualized in WB as a distinct pattern of repeating bands, with most bands being detected in the range 30,000–60,000 Da. The separation between bands approximated 2500–3000 Da, suggesting a molecule composed of repeating subunits. This study suggests that the antigen is glycoprotein in nature, and that the detecting antibody is of the IgM class.
Dynamics of Supersonic Droplets of Volatile Liquids

T HE breakup and vaporization of liquid droplets in supersonic flow is an interesting research problem with potentially important implications for supersonic combustion ramjets (scramjets). Noncryogenic, liquid hydrocarbons have substantial benefits as scramjet fuel [1], including higher energy density, lower cost, and ease of handling compared to liquid hydrogen fuel. The complications and time associated with the atomization and vaporization of liquid hydrocarbon scramjet fuel can, in principle, be avoided by injecting the fuel in the vapor phase. In some situations, however, such as a “cold start” in which the fuel is not preheated, hydrocarbon fuel may necessarily be injected while still in liquid phase. In this case, the rates and physical mechanisms associated with the disruption and vaporization of liquid droplets under supersonic flow conditions become critical issues to scramjet combustor performance. One possible technique to increase the dispersion of liquid fuels is to exploit the accelerated vaporization made possible by superheating the liquid. Investigation of the vaporization of superheated droplets and sprays have to date been largely confined to incompressible flows [2,3], with the physics of superheated liquid droplet disruption and vaporization in supersonic flow not yet well established. Studies of droplet disruption in compressible flows that have been conducted [4–6] have generally not considered the effects of superheating. The numerical study of Joseph et al. [7] did suggest a flash vaporization mechanism in the disruption of liquid drops in steady, supersonic flow, arguing that superheating may occur over small regions of the droplet surface due to a local combination of low pressure and frictional heating. The disruption of droplets in high-speed flow has often been studied by the sudden application of aerodynamic loads though the use of shock tubes [4,6,8–10]. Though this technique can produce liquid droplets under locally supersonic conditions, this is accomplished only after the passage of a shock wave through the droplets. Other droplet disruption studies have been conducted at subsonic speeds [11,12], for example, by droplets falling across a high-speed gas jet [13], droplet-bearing jets in cross flow [14], and in drop tubes [15]. In any case, these techniques do not typically result in the droplets achieving a significant degree of superheating. The research presented here investigated the dynamics of droplets consisting of volatile fluid smoothly accelerated to supersonic Mach numbers without passage of shock waves through the droplet. This was accomplished over a range of liquid vapor pressures using a compact, underexpanded supersonic jet configuration. This is an extension of a previous study of superheated droplet disruption with compressible, but subsonic, flow relative to the droplets [16]. One challenging aspect in the study of liquid drops in high-speed airstreams is the measurement of the drop velocity and acceleration [17]. Double-pulsed, planar laser imaging was employed here to determine the velocity of the droplets for various test fluids.
A note on the exact number of two- and three-way tables satisfying conjoint measurement and additivity axioms

Abstract A technique for enumerating and counting the number of two- and three-way tables which satisfy polynomial conjoint measurement test and additivity tests is presented. The counting technique reveals that the number of tables which satisfy all the constraints is very small relative to the number or possible tables.
The Superintendency: Characteristics of Access for Men and Women

Access to the superintendency was examined for 10 men and 10 women who are or have been school superintendents in metropolitanarea school districts with pupil enrollments of 1,000 to 7,000. The qua...
A Simple and Practical Spreadsheet-Based Method to Extract Single-Molecule Dissociation Kinetics from Variable Loading-Rate Force Spectroscopy Data.

A simple, practical, and model-free method is presented, by which kinetic data can be extracted from variable loading-rate single molecule dynamic force spectroscopy experiments. The constant sampling rate of digital acquisition facilitates the sorting of multiple force curves into histograms that reflect the collective force−time history of the bonds of interest. Combining the force−time history with similar histograms of force-induced events, in particular bond rupture, gives a direct measure of rate vs applied force. The utility of the method is demonstrated through its application to simulated data.
Hydrological and chemical input to fir trees from rain and clouds during a 1-month study at Clingmans Peak, NC

Abstract Wet deposition inputs were measured at Clingmans Peak, NC, during August–September of 1986. Rain, cloud water and throughfall were collected in an attempt to determine total wet inputs to this high elevation spruce-fir ecosystem. Previous reports have suggested that cloud interception provides as much moisture to the canopy as rain. In this study the cloud interception rate was determined based on the throughfall volume collected beneath the trees, after accounting for losses in the canopy. The cloud interception rate in the canopy was only 0.5 mm water day −1 compared to a rainfall rate of 6.8 mm water day −1 . The pH of cloud water ranged from 3.1 to 5.1 compared to a range of 4.1–5.2 for rain water. Other species were 6–33 times more concentrated in clouds than rain water. Throughfall had higher levels of Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + and SO 4 2− than the sum of cloud and rain inputs, but lower levels of NH 4 + and NO 3 − , indicating N uptake by the canopy. It has been suggested that the trees on Clingmans Peak are receiving large doses of pollutants due to heavy rainfall, high cloud interception and high ion concentrations in the clouds. However, the wet inputs to the canopy during this study were comparable to those measured at low elevation sites throughout the northeastern U.S.A. In contrast, a single exposed tree on the summit intercepted 10 times more cloud water and received 6 times higher wet deposits from rain and clouds than trees in the canopy. It is unclear whether the atmospheric loadings received by exposed trees, such as trees standing alone, trees on the edge of the canopy, or trees on the summit, are sufficient to result in forest decline.
Tracking Earth’s Energy: From El Niño to Global Warming

The state of knowledge and outstanding issues with respect to the global mean energy budget of planet Earth are described, along with the ability to track changes over time. Best estimates of the main energy components involved in radiative transfer and energy flows through the climate system do not satisfy physical constraints for conser- vation of energy without adjustments. The main issues relate to the downwelling longwave (LW) radiation and the hydrological cycle, and thus the surface evaporative cooling. It is argued that the discrepancy is 18% of the surface latent energy flux, but only 4% of the downwelling LW flux and, for various reasons, it is most likely that the latter is astray in some calculations, including many models, although there is also scope for precipitation estimates to be revised. Beginning in 2000, the top-of-atmosphere radiation measurements provide stable estimates of the net global radiative imbalance changes over a decade, but after 2004 there is ''missing energy'' as the observing system of the changes in ocean heat content, melting of land ice, and so on is unable to account for where it has gone. Based upon a number of climate model experiments for the twenty-first century where there are stases in global surface temperature and upper ocean heat content in spite of an identifiable global energy imbalance, we infer that the main sink of the missing energy is likely the deep ocean below 275 m depth.
Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs

Cannabinoids are a group of compounds that mediate their effects through cannabinoid receptors. The discovery of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as the major psychoactive principle in marijuana, as well as the identification of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands, has led to a significant growth in research aimed at understanding the physiological functions of cannabinoids. Cannabinoid receptors include CB1, which is predominantly expressed in the brain, and CB2, which is primarily found on the cells of the immune system. The fact that both CB1 and CB2 receptors have been found on immune cells suggests that cannabinoids play an important role in the regulation of the immune system. Recent studies demonstrated that administration of THC into mice triggered marked apoptosis in T cells and dendritic cells, resulting in immunosuppression. In addition, several studies showed that cannabinoids downregulate cytokine and chemokine production and, in some models, upregulate T-regulatory cells (Tregs) as a mechanism to suppress inflammatory responses. The endocannabinoid system is also involved in immunoregulation. For example, administration of endocannabinoids or use of inhibitors of enzymes that break down the endocannabinoids, led to immunosuppression and recovery from immune-mediated injury to organs such as the liver. Manipulation of endocannabinoids and/or use of exogenous cannabinoids in vivo can constitute a potent treatment modality against inflammatory disorders. This review will focus on the potential use of cannabinoids as a new class of anti-inflammatory agents against a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that are primarily triggered by activated T cells or other cellular immune components.
A method for rapidly transferring a substance on paper to the origin of a chromatogram.

In the issue of 4 Feb. one line of the affiliation was inadvertently omitted from the heading to the article "A method of rapidly transferring a substance on paper to the origin of a chromatogram" by Garold F. Gregory. Mr. Gregory's address is Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa.
"John Thinks That Mary Feels …" False Belief in Children Across Affective and Physical Domains

Children aged 5-8 years (N = 64) were given 3 first- and 3 second-order tasks testing their ability to represent false beliefs about physical facts, positive emotions, and negative emotions. The children were also asked to justify their responses to the test questions. Older children were more successful than younger children at both answering the test questions correctly and justifying their responses. On the first-order problems, performance was better on the physical fact task than on the emotions tasks; the reverse was true for the second-order problems. Children primarily used situational explanations to explain correct judgments on the physical problems, whereas mentalistic explanations were more common than situational explanations on 3 of the 4 emotions tasks. The results extend knowledge of false belief beyond the simple forms studied at the preschool level.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of manzamine analogues.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of analogues of manzamine A, representing partial structures of the pentacyclic ABCDE diamine core, is described. All new compounds were screened against Plasmodium falciparum and demonstrated attenuated antimalarial activity relative to that of manzamine A.
An investigation of a Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction in homogeneous supercritical CO2 and under subcritical and splitphase reaction conditions

Abstract This study investigates the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of triphenylmethanol with methoxybenzene (anisole) in supercritical and subcritical carbon dioxide, and under two-phase (gas/liquid) reaction conditions at moderate pressures and temperatures. The reaction was initiated using trifluoroacetic acid to produce triphenylmethlycarbocation as the reaction intermediate. Isolated product yields of the Friedel-Crafts product, p -methoxytetraphenylmethane, are reported.
Management and Prevention of Prosthetic Joint Infection

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) that can negatively affect functional status and quality of life. This article examines the epidemiology of PJI and reviews current diagnostic, treatment, and management strategies. Diagnosis can be challenging because presenting symptoms are often nonspecific and there is no simple gold standard diagnostic test. Successful treatment of PJI requires a combination of medical and surgical strategies. Given the devastating nature of PJI and the increasing numbers of TJAs performed, prevention efforts remain critical.
A semiempirical model for the two-center repulsion integrals in the NDDO approximation

A self-consistent formalism is proposed for the two-center electron repulsion integrals in the NDDO approximation, based on their expansion in terms of multipole-multipole interactions and free from adjustable parameters.
The taphonomic fidelity of seed size in fossil assemblages: A live-dead case study

Trends in the size distributions of fossil seed assemblages over geologic time have been interpreted as evidence of fundamental changes in the structure of terrestrial ecosystems. It is not clear, however, how accurately fossil seed assemblages reflect the original flora. As a case study, the seed-size distribution of a living hardwood forest and a salt marsh community in Maryland was compared to that of its potential fossil assemblage, seeds extracted from sediment cored in the adjacent tidal estuary. Results indicated that the death assemblage was significantly different from the source community, lacking most of the smaller-seed morphotypes. The biased accumulation was not driven solely by over- or underrepresentation of plants of a particular dispersal mode or growth form. Although there was a sedimentological gradient along the transects, there was no correlation between grain size and seed-size distributions within the cores. The difference appears to be primarily an issue of transport: 45% of morphotypes identified in the death assemblage were present in the life assemblage, and only 33% identified in the life assemblage were also in the death assemblage. These results indicate that (1) estuarine deposits capture a partial representation of the local seed flora with significant regional influences, and (2) fossil seed assemblages should not be compared directly to seed-size distributions documented in living communities.
Pancreatic Stents for Prevention of Post–Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis

Placement of pancreatic stents is a relatively new and increasingly adopted approach to reduce the risk of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis. Evidence for the efficacy of pancreatic stents in reducing post-ERCP pancreatitis continues to accumulate. Routine use of pancreatic stents in high-risk cases at advanced centers has changed the complexion of ERCP, reducing the incidence and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis to a more acceptable level, and eliminating some of the fear factor surrounding previously prohibitively risky settings, such as treatment of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). On the other hand, the adoption of prophylactic pancreatic stenting into some practices has been sporadic. Problems with pancreatic stent placement include technical difficulty with placement, need for follow-up evaluation to ensure passage or removal, and potential for inducing pancreatic ductal injury. There remain many challenges and unanswered questions which will be addressed in this review, including which patients are at risk for post-ERCP pancreatitis, how might pancreatic stents reduce risk, what is the evidence supporting efficacy of pancreatic stenting in reducing risk; and based on those data, which ERCPs are at sufficiently high risk to warrant a stent; at what point in an ERCP should a pancreatic stent be placed; how long pancreatic stents need to remain in place to be effective, the risk of inducing pancreatic duct injury by placement of a stent; the frequency and consequences of failure at attempted stent placement, and effectiveness of pancreatic stent placement in the hands of those with limited experience. Current recommendations for use of pancreatic stents and areas requiring further investigation are discussed.
Pilot Safety Trial of Deferiprone in 10 Subjects With Superficial Siderosis

Background and Purpose—Superficial siderosis is a neurodegenerative disease caused by toxic accumulation of hemosiderin on the surface of the brain and spinal cord for which there is no known effective treatment. Methods—Oral deferiprone, a lipid-soluble iron chelator with ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, at a dose of 30 mg/kg per day was tested for safety in an open pilot study in 10 subjects with superficial siderosis. Results—Over a 90-day period, deferiprone had no significant adverse effects on hematologic, liver, or neurological function. Ad hoc MRI assessments of the brain indicated a reduction in hemosiderin deposition in some subjects. Conclusions—Deferiprone proved safe in this small population of superficial siderosis subjects. There was MRI evidence of reduced hemosiderin deposition with deferiprone. Prospectively designed efficacy studies are necessary to determine the clinical efficacy of deferiprone in superficial siderosis.
Solid-State Solvation and Enhanced Exciton Diffusion in Doped Organic Thin Films under Mechanical Pressure

Direct modification of exciton energy has been previously used to optimize the operation of organic optoelectronic devices. One demonstrated method for exciton energy modification is through the use of the solvent dielectric effects in doped molecular films. To gain a deeper appreciation of the underlying physical mechanisms, in this work we test the solid-state solvation effect in molecular thin films under applied external pressure. We observe that external mechanical pressure increases dipole–dipole interactions, leading to shifts in the Frenkel exciton energy and enhancement of the time-resolved spectral red shift associated with the energy-transfer-mediated exciton diffusion. Measurements are performed on host:dopant molecular thin films, which show bathochromic shifts in photoluminescence (PL) under increasing pressure. This is in agreement with a simple solvation theory model of exciton energetics with a fitting parameter based on the mechanical properties of the host matrix material. We measure no...
The effects of urea on solubility and electrophoretic characteristics of protein from the eye lens nucleus of four shark species and a teleost

Abstract 1. 1. Some adult sharks, like some teleost, have little soluble protein in the lens nucleus. An improved procedure for the extraction of albuminoid from shark lens nuclei was developed, which increased resolution obtained with cellulose acetate electrophoresis. 2. 2. The method involved extracting the lens nuclei in 0·14 g% NaCl and 0·05 M urea and dialyzing the lens macerate and fluid against 0·018 g% NaCl. For the teleost (mullet) the best extracting fluid contained 0·1 M urea and dialysis was unnecessary, confirming Smith (1969). 3. 3. Electrophoretic separation of the solubilized nuclear lens protein produced patterns that demonstrated intraspecific and species specific variation among adult sharks.
Glia mechanisms in mood regulation: a novel model of mood disorders.

Recent evidence in clinical and preclinical studies has implicated glutamate neurotransmissions in pathophysiology of mood disorders. The regulation of amino acid neurotransmission, i.e., glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) involves coordinated mechanisms of uptake and transport within a tripartite synaptic system that includes neurons and glia. Newly appreciated role of the glia, more specifically astrocytes on neuronal functions combined with reported postmortem abnormalities of glia in patients with mood disorders further supports the role of glia in mood disorders. This report presents some of our preliminary results utilizing glia-selective toxins and other pharmacological tools to suppress glial function within the limbic system to study the resulting behavioral abnormalities, and thus, elucidate glial involvement in the development of mood disorders. We demonstrate that chronic blockade of glutamate uptake by a glial/neuronal transporter antagonist l-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) within the amygdala, a key area implicated in mood regulation, results in dose-dependent reduction in social exploratory behavior and disrupts circadian activity patterns consistent with symptoms of mood disorders. Similarly, the selective astrocytic glutamate transporter type 1 (GLT-1) blocker dihydrokainic acid (DHK) injected into the amygdala also results in reduced social interaction that is blocked by selective glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) type receptor antagonist AP5. The results are discussed in the context of glial and glutamate mechanisms in mood disorders and potential therapeutic avenues to address these mechanisms.
Terrorism, Globalization, and the Forces of (Dis) Order in the Islamic World

We live in a troubled and tumultuous era. September 11 and its aftermath, the financial meltdown of 2008 and its aftermath, have littered the landscape with new obstacles that must be identified and surmounted. As of this writing, the events in Central Asia and the Middle East are cause for the devil himself to dance. The catastrophic impacts of global warming and of general environmental degradation seem to be on our doorstep, and it does appear as if the world may be heading into a depression, measured both in spirit and in hard currency. Achieving success and security, peace and justice in life remains a great challenge, and the bar has been raised of late due to recent events that are seemingly careening out of control. While the basic principles of progress and success remain the same, their operational application now needs to be adjusted so as to properly respond to the unique dynamics of the new and ever changing social, political, and economic environments in which we function. The valiant among us remain undaunted by the new challenges and move forward relentlessly, implacably, perseveringly and unyielding in heart and in mind. This trek of discipline carries a hefty tuition but offers much to those who pay the price.
Tribocorrosion of stainless steels (Review)

The tribocorrosion behavior of stainless steels in corrosive media is analyzed. Urgent problems of promising investigations in this direction are formulated.
The Potential Impact of Palestinian Education on a Palestinian State

Education is an important element in every society. Today, as in the past, the social structures, values, national feelings and military power of any society are influenced by the educational system. In the past, both the methods and the goals of this system were simple. The aims of the traditional educational system were to maintain the status quo and to transmit accepted values and ways of life to the younger generations. The goal of modern education in the Arab world, on the other hand, should not be the mere mechanical transmission of traditional values. Its objective is to prepare the younger generation for accepting and implementing new ideas and changes. The aim of the present study is to examine the educational situation among the Palestinian Arabs, the kind of education the Palestinian child receives and the potential impact of this education on a Palestinian state in the future. Regarding the lack of adequate statistics, not only about Palestinian education, but about the Palestinians in general, it must be remembered that the majority of Palestinians live outside their place of origin, scattered in the surrounding territory and countries. Consequently, almost no statistics exist which treat them as Palestinians, and those statistics which do contain relevant information about them were not compiled by the Palestinians