cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Flexible Stereospecific Synthesis of Polyhydroxylated Pyrrolizidines from Commercially Available Pyranosides

Nitrogen-containing sugar analogues, known as azasugars or iminosugars, such as polyhydroxylated piperdines, pyrrolidines, pyrrolizidines, and indolizidines, have the potential to become important therapeutic agents due to their ability to inhibit glycosidases. Synthetic pathways that are able to systematically produce a variety of these azasugars are eagerly sought after, since even minute structural or stereochemical changes often significantly alter the degree of inhibition. The synthesis of tetrahydroxylated pyrrolizidines 40 and 41 starting from methyl α-d-glucopyranoside is described and will be used as a template to develop syntheses of all the stereoisomers of polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidine 9 as well as other analogous bicyclic polyhydroxylated iminosugars. The key steps in this synthesis involve a one-pot conversion of a halopyranoside to a divinylamine by employing a simultaneous Zn reduction and reductive amination of the resulting aldehyde. After protection of the amine, a ring-closing metathe...
Bone status of senescent female rats: Chemical, morphometric, and biomechanical analyses

The bone status of female rats, 6, 12, and 24 months of age was examined. Femur Ca, Pi, and osteocalcin contents, as well as biomechanical properties, were measured and correlated to physical indices and serum chemistry. Diaphyseal Ca, Pi, and osteocalcin did not change significantly with increasing age. Serum Ca and Pi concentrations were not altered in the aged rat. Immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels increased significantly with age, when analyzed by linear regression. Serum osteocalcin decreased progressively from 6 to 12 months (-21%) and from 12 to 24 months (-23%). Maximum breaking force required to fracture femurs at midshaft did not change with senescence. Hence, the strength of the femurs as an intact organ was not compromised in aging. However, ultimate stress, a parameter that normalizes for differences in bone geometry and size, decreased 14% from 12 to 24 months. Changes in other biomechanical parameters, including yield and ultimate deformation, strain, and modulus of elasticity, were relatively small, but statistically significant, or were negligible. Morphometric measurements indicated a progressive age-related increase in second moment of area and cortical area. Medullary area did not change with age. Therefore, strength of the intact femur was maintained by architectural compensations, although normalized tissue strength decreased in senescence. The bone status and Ca/Pi homeostasis of the female rat were compared to similar findings, reported previously, for the male animal. The results suggest that bone status and mineral metabolism were compromised in the aged female rat, but the magnitude of change was less than that found for the senescent male rat.
The influence of neonatal health on weaning weight of Colarado, USA beef calves

Abstract The effect of morbidity during early life on the weaning weight of calves in Colorado beef herds was investigated as part of a prospective longitudinal observational study. A total of 2609 calves born in nine participating herds during the 1990 and 1991 calving seasons were monitored for disease events and subsequently weighed at weaning as a measure of performance. Morbidity outcomes of interest and their observed incidence rates were: general neonatal (to 45 days) morbidity, 2.6%; neonatal diarrhea, 1.0%; neonatal respiratory disease, 1.0%; and mothering problems/weak calves, 0.4%. Mean calf weaning weight was 244±46 kg. Weaning weight data were adjusted by multiple regression for the effects of the herd, year, age of the calf, age of the dam, calf sex, frame size of the dam, and twin birth. General morbidity during the neonatal period resulted in a 15.9 kg reduction (P
The effects of mathematics task performance on math self-efficacy and task interest☆

Abstract This study explores the effects of task performance i.e., success or failure, on level and strength of task self-efficacy, task interest, and self-evaluations of performance. One hundred twenty subjects were randomly assigned to a success or failure condition and attempted to solve a series of easy or difficult incomplete number series. Results indicated that changes in self-efficacy expectations as a result of task success or failure were in accordance with predictions from self-efficacy theory; subjects decreased their ratings of self-efficacy and interest as a result of the failure experience and the same ratings increased as a result of the success experience. A significant repeated measures × gender interaction was found for self-efficacy strength, with women rating themselves significantly lower than men on the first post-test. Finally, women in the success condition were significantly more likely than men to rate luck as the cause of their successful performance, while women in the failure condition were significantly more dissatisfied than men with their performance. Implications of these results for counseling and future research are discussed.
Deep Sea Diver

From 2005 to 2009, Danny Lyon made several visits to Shanxi Province in northeast China, making pictures of locals that reveal the daily lives of industrial China. The images that follow are excerpted from Deep Sea Diver, a facsimile travel journal and photo book that showcases the black-and-white silver gelatin images Lyon shot with his vintage Leica cameras. Lyon's photo exhibition, This World Is Not My Home: Danny Lyon Photographs at the Menil Collection in Houston's Museum District, runs through July 29, 2012. Deep Sea Diver: An American Photographer's Journey in Shanxi, China, 136 pages, 85 black-and-white illustrations, Phaidon Press (2011) ISBN: 0714861049. Limited Edition. $200. To see more of Danny Lyon's work, visit his website at http://www.bleakbeauty.com and his blog at dektol.wordpress.com.
Social Class and Public Policy for the Elderly

This article hypothesizes that public policy targets benefits to three classes of elderly: (a) the poor or marginal elderly, (b) the middle-and lower-middle-class downwardly mobile elderly, and (c) the middle-and upper-middle-class high-income elderly. It is suggested that public policy for the elderly serves as an intervening variable or mechanism which helps to ensure status maintenance in old age. It is argued, in conclusion, that public policy for the elderly must be redirected to emphasize a redistribution of benefits from an elite of high-income elderly to the poor and near-poor elderly.
Employment and education: African American teenage males, 1970–1990

The labor force participation of African American teenage males declined substantially during the 1970s, while that of their white counterparts rose. This pattern caused great concern among policy makers and analysts. This paper demonstrates that the observed patterns may be explained predominantly by increased school attendance and graduation for the African Americans.
Hydrogenation of benzene and toluene over size controlled Pt/SBA-15 catalysts: Elucidation of the Pt particle size effect on reaction kinetics

Vapor-phase hydrogenation of benzene and toluene over a size-dependent (1.5–5.2 nm) series of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer and supported in SBA-15 mesoporous silica was investigated at ambient pressure between 343 K and 398 K. Under these conditions, both reactions exhibit a moderate structure sensitivity evidenced by changes in their turnover rate (TOR), apparent activation energy (EA), pre-exponential factor ln(r0), and deactivation rate parameters with Pt particle size. For instance, the 2.4–3.1 nm Pt NPs showed the highest TOR for both reactions as compared to NPs of either smaller or larger sizes. Also, the EA and ln(r0) factor values were larger for smaller Pt particle sizes, and the rates of catalyst deactivation were more pronounced for catalysts with larger Pt particle sizes. However, the reaction orders on H2 and hydrocarbon were independent of particle size.
A new design for non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF) with a large effective area over 100 μm2 and low bending and splice loss

A new design for large-effective-area non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF) for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is presented. The Gaussian approximation method is used for calculating electrical field distribution for the designed refractive index profile. The designed fiber has a dispersion about 4 ps/nm/km and dispersion slope about 0.06 ps/nm2/km at 1.55 μm operating wavelength, which can be used to avoid four-wave mixing (FWM). In addition, our calculation also shown that the designed fiber not only has a large effective area over 100 μm2 but also has low bending loss (<1.3×10−3 dB with 30 mm bending radius and 100 turns) and low splice loss (<6.38×10−3 dB) with conventional fiber. The manufacturing tolerance of the fiber is found to be compatible with other types of known profile large-effective-area fibers. Thus, this newly designed fiber may be a good candidate for the long-haul DWDM fiber optic communications.
Income Smoothing and Discretionary R&D Expenditures of Japanese Firms*

During the recent recession (1991 to present), Japanese firms decreased their spending on R&D for the first time since World War II. The decreases have raised concerns that Japanese managers may be making suboptimal allocations to R&D. We test whether Japanese managers adjust R&D based on short-term performance. Our results show that Japanese firms in several industries adjust their R&D budgets to smooth profits. Interestingly, adjustments to R&D are larger in expansion years. These results, similar to those documented with U.S. managers, point to myopic decision making by Japanese managers.
Infrared hyperspectral imaging Fourier transform and dispersive spectrometers: comparison of signal-to-noise-based performance

We compare the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) based performance of scanning dispersive and staring (Michelson interferometer based) Fourier transform spectrometer approaches to hyperspectral infrared imaging. The information collected by the focal planes of these two spectrometer types is very different. In the scanning dispersive spectrometer, the 2-D focal plane array (FPA) collects spatial information in one direction and spectral information in the other, while the second spatial dimension is swept out in time by the scanning mechanism. The Fourier transform spectrometer 2-D focal plane array acquires 2-D spatial information while the spectrum (interferogram) is swept out in time. The formation of the signal and propagation of noise from the focal plane data collection to the final hyperspectral data cube are significantly different for each type of instrument, and distinct signal and noise models apply to each. Using the noise equivalent spectral radiance (NESR)as a figure of merit, we compare the performance of the two types of instrument with the same optical system, equal spatial resolution, image area, spectral resolution, spectral span, and imaging time. Under photon noise limited conditions (for each instrument), which are made possible by the proper design of modern infrared focal plane arrays, the traditional multiplex (Fellgett) and throughput (Jacquinot) advantages associated with non-imaging Fourier transform spectrometers vanish for reasons that will be made clear in the paper. We discuss 2-D focal plane array characteristics for each instrument, such as frame rate, dynamic range, etc. and show why they are so different (by design) between these two instruments. Finally, the consequences of the signal processing requirements implied by the two instruments are summarized.
Rubber Elasticity in Highly Crosslinked Polyesters.

Three unsaturated polyesters were crosslinked with different amounts of styrene, and for the resulting polymers the 10-sec. shear modulus was measured as a function of temperature. It was observed that the polymers have well defined glassy, transition, and rubbery regions. The equation for the shear modulus from the theory of rubber elasticity was applied for the plateau regions of the polymers.
Computable categoricity for pseudo-exponential fields of size ℵ1

Abstract We use some notions from computability in an uncountable setting to describe a difference between the “Zilber field” of size ℵ 1 and the “Zilber cover” of size ℵ 1 .
Disrupted human-pathogen co-evolution: a model for disease.

A major goal in infectious disease research is to identify the genetic variants—both human and pathogenic—that explain the observed differences in human response to microbial pathogenesis. Neither pathogenic strain nor human genetic variation in isolation has proven adequate to explain the heterogeneity of disease pathology. We suggest that disrupted coevolution between a pathogen and its human hosts can explain variation in disease outcomes, and that genome-by-genome interactions should therefore be incorporated into genetic models of disease caused by infectious agents. Genetic epidemiological studies that fail to take both the pathogen and host into account can lead to false and misleading conclusions about disease etiology. We discuss our model in the context of three pathogens, Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Human papillomavirus, and generalize the conditions under which it may be applicable.
Noninvasive assessment of surgical systemic to pulmonary artery shunts by range-gated pulsed Doppler echocardiography

Suprasternal range-gated pulsed Doppler echocardiography was used to evaluate surgical shunt patency in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and right ventricular outflow obstruction following systemic artery to pulmonary artery anastomoses. Normal patients had laminar Doppler auditory signals and time interval histogram flow patterns because right pulmonary artery turbulence was not present during systole or diastole. Patients with pulmonary valvar stenosis had turbulence during systole only. In all nine postoperative patients with surgical shunts, turbulent systolic and diastolic time interval histograms and abnormal auditory signals were present. A typical shunt murmur was not audible to auscultation in six of the postsurgical patients at the time of the study. Suprasternal range-gated pulsed Doppler echocardiography affords an accurate, safe and simple noninvasive bedside means for confirming shunt patency in patients who have undergone surgical systemic artery to pulmonary artery anastomoses.
Transfer in the W1-R2 verbal discrimination paradigm as a function of instructions

The W1-R2 verbal discrimination transfer paradigm was found to produce pronounced positive transfer, relative to a nonspecific control, when subjects were explicitly informed of the interlist relationship. The instructional variable was suggested as important in reconciling discrepancies in previous literature.
Optimized Approaches for Quantification of Drug Transporters in Tissues and Cells by MRM Proteomics

Drug transporter expression in tissues (in vivo) usually differs from that in cell lines used to measure transporter activity (in vitro). Therefore, quantification of transporter expression in tissues and cell lines is important to develop scaling factor for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of transporter-mediated drug disposition. Since traditional immunoquantification methods are semiquantitative, targeted proteomics is now emerging as a superior method to quantify proteins, including membrane transporters. This superiority is derived from the selectivity, precision, accuracy, and speed of analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Moreover, LC-MS/MS proteomics has broader applicability because it does not require selective antibodies for individual proteins. There are a number of recent research and review papers that discuss the use of LC-MS/MS for transporter quantification. Here, we have compiled from the literature various elements of MRM proteomics to provide a comprehensive systematic strategy to quantify drug transporters. This review emphasizes practical aspects and challenges in surrogate peptide selection, peptide qualification, peptide synthesis and characterization, membrane protein isolation, protein digestion, sample preparation, LC-MS/MS parameter optimization, method validation, and sample analysis. In particular, bioinformatic tools used in method development and sample analysis are discussed in detail. Various pre-analytical and analytical sources of variability that should be considered during transporter quantification are highlighted. All these steps are illustrated using P-glycoprotein (P-gp) as a case example. Greater use of quantitative transporter proteomics will lead to a better understanding of the role of drug transporters in drug disposition.
Early Overnutrition Results in Early-Onset Arcuate Leptin Resistance and Increased Sensitivity to High-Fat Diet

Childhood obesity increases the risk of adult obesity and diabetes, suggesting that early overnutrition permanently programs altered energy and glucose homeostasis. In the present studies, we used a mouse model to investigate whether early overnutrition increases susceptibility to obesity and insulin resistance in response to a high-fat diet (HFD). Litters from Swiss Webster dams were culled to three [chronic postnatal overnutrition (CPO)] or 10 (control) pups and then weaned onto standard chow at postnatal day (P) 23. At 6 wk of age, a subset of mice was placed on HFD, and glucose and insulin tolerance were examined at 16-17 wk of age. Leptin sensitivity was determined by hypothalamic phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 immunoreactivity at P16 and adulthood after ip leptin. CPO mice exhibited accelerated body weight gain and hyperleptinemia during the preweaning period but only a slightly heavier body weight and normal glucose tolerance in adulthood on standard chow diet. Importantly, CPO mice exhibited significant leptin resistance in the arcuate nucleus, demonstrated by reduced activation of phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription-3, as early as P16 and throughout life, despite normalized leptin levels. In response to HFD, CPO but not control mice displayed insulin resistance in response to an insulin tolerance test. In conclusion, CPO mice exhibited early and persistent leptin resistance in the arcuate nucleus and, in response to HFD, rapid development of obesity and insulin resistance. These studies suggest that early overnutrition can permanently alter energy homeostasis and significantly increase susceptibility to obesity and insulin resistance.
Elliott Carter's Late Music

As we celebrate his centennial year, perhaps it is now reasonable to speak of Elliott Carter's ‘late music’, but I doubt it. The Double Concerto – written more than 45 years ago – was once described as the culmination of Carter's mature style. And who could have predicted that the Concerto for Orchestra – completed in 1969, when Carter was sixty – would eventually join his Depression-era ballet Pocahontas in the first quarter of his total output. Every piece that once seemed to be the capstone of Carter's illustrious career has turned out instead to be a milestone that marks the beginning of another new path. Since he completed his first opera What Next? ten years ago, Carter has composed more than three dozen new pieces, comprising nearly a third of his life's work to date, all of it composed since his 90th birthday!
Anapole dark matter

Abstract We consider dark matter (DM) that interacts with ordinary matter exclusively through an electromagnetic anapole, which is the only allowed electromagnetic form factor for Majorana fermions. We show that unlike DM particles with an electric or magnetic dipole moment, anapole dark matter particles annihilate exclusively into fermions via purely p-wave interactions, while tree-level annihilations into photons are forbidden. We calculate the anapole moment needed to produce a thermal relic abundance in agreement with cosmological observations, and show that it is consistent with current XENON100 detection limits on the DM-nucleus cross-section for all masses, while lying just below the detection threshold for a mass ∼ 30 – 40 GeV .
Macrophage-secreted factors induce adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance.

Macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue increases with obesity, a condition associated with low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance. We investigated the direct effects of macrophage-secreted factors on adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance. 3T3-L1 adipocytes incubated with media conditioned by RAW264.7 macrophages (RAW-CM) showed dramatically increased transcription of several inflammation-related genes, greater nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity, and enhanced binding of U937 monocytes. All of these effects were prevented by co-incubation with pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, an NF-κB inhibitor. Adipocytes incubated with RAW-CM also released more non-esterified fatty acids and this increased lipolysis was not suppressed by insulin. In addition, RAW-CM treatment decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes. Taken together, these results indicate that macrophage-secreted factors induce inflammatory responses and reduce insulin responsiveness in adipocytes. These effects of macrophage-secreted factors on adipocytes may contribute significantly to the systemic inflammation and insulin resistance associated with obesity.
The novel non-heme vanadium bromoperoxidase from marine algae: Phosphate inactivation

Vanadium bromoperoxidase is a naturally occurring vanadium-containing enzyme isolated from marine algae. V-BrPO catalyzes the oxidation of halides by hydrogen peroxide which can result in the halogenation of organic substrates. Bromoperoxidase activity is measured by the halogenation of monochlorodimedone (2-chloro-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dimedone, MCD). In the absence of an organic substrate, V-BrPO catalyzes the halide-assisted disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide yielding dioxygen. The dioxygen formed is in the singlet excited state (1O2). V-BrPO is quite stable to thermal denaturation and denaturation by certain organic solvents which makes V-BrPO an excellent candidate for industrial applications. The stability of V-BrPO in the presence of strong oxidants and in the presence of phosphate is reported. Incubation of V-BrPO in phosphate buffer (1–100 mM at pH 6; 2–10 mM at pH 5) inactivates the enzyme. The inactivity can be fully restored by the addition of vanadate if excess phosphate is removed. The inactivation of V-BrPO by phosphate can be prevented by the presence of H2O2 (4–40 mM). We are currently investigating the mechanism of V-BrPO inactivation by phosphate. V-BrPO was not inactivated by HOCl (1 mM) nor H2O2. In addition V-BrPO was not inactivated under turnover conditions of 1 mM H2O2 with 0.1–1 M Cl− at pH 5 nor 2 mM H2O2 with 0.1 M Br−.
An Exploratory Analysis of Culture, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, and Internet Acceptance: The Case of Jordan

ABSTRACT This study examined the impacts of cultural dimensions, perceived ease of use (PEOU), and perceived usefulness (PU) of managers' intentions to use the Internet. Based on data collected from 507 Jordanian managers, findings suggested that while two cultural dimensions, power distance (PD) and collectivism (CO) had significant positive impacts on managers' intentions to use the Internet the other two cultural dimensions, uncertainty avoidance (UA) and femininity (FE) had no impact. Additionally, both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use had significant positive impact on managers' intentions. The results showed that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use mediated the relationship between cultural dimensions and managers' intentions. Findings should assist organizations to understand the influence of cultural values on computer-technology acceptance by integrating societal and cultural values into their technological diffusion. Finally, implications and suggestions for future resea...
Excited levels of 133Ba from the decay of 133La

Abstract Energy levels of 133 Ba populated in the decay of 133 La have been studied. An energy level diagram incorporating six new levels and many new transitions is proposed on the bases of high resolution γ-spectra, γ-γ coincidence experiments and previously reported data. Spin and parity assignments are made from log ft values for β-decay to these levels and multipole order determinations of transitions de-exciting them. A comparison with the energy levels of 135 Ba is reported.
Application of multi-component biopolymer layers to improve the freeze–thaw stability of oil-in-water emulsions: β-Lactoglobulin–ι-carrageenan–gelatin

Abstract This study examines the influence of interfacial composition on the freeze–thaw stability of oil-in-water emulsions. Three 5% w/w oil-in-water emulsions (5 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.0) were prepared using the layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition method that had different interfacial compositions: (i) primary emulsion (β-Lg); secondary emulsion (β-Lg–ι-carrageenan); (iii) tertiary emulsion (β-Lg–ι-carrageenan–gelatin). The primary, secondary and tertiary emulsions were subjected to from one to three freeze–thaw cycles (−20 °C for 22 h, +40 °C for 2 h) in the absence or presence of sucrose (10% w/w), and then their stability was assessed by ζ -potential, particle size, microstructure and creaming stability measurements. In the absence of sucrose, the primary and secondary emulsions were highly unstable to droplet aggregation and creaming after three freeze–thaw cycles, whereas the tertiary emulsion was stable, which was attributed to the relatively thick biopolymer layer surrounding the oil droplets. In the presence of 10% w/w sucrose, all of the emulsions were much more stable, which can be attributed to the ability of sucrose to increase the amount of non-frozen aqueous phase in the emulsions. The interfacial engineering technology used in the study could therefore lead to the creation of food emulsions with improved stability to freezing and thawing.
Spontaneous Hemopneumothorax. Report of Two Cases

Summary 1)Two cases of spontaneous hemopneumothorax illustrate how the treatment for the same condition can vary. 2)Emphasis is placed on the prompt evacuation of blood from the pleural cavity to enhance the expansion of the lung, and the use of whole blood transfusions to combat the lowered blood volume.
Substituent effects in the double diastereotopic differentiation of α-diazophosphonates via intramolecular cyclopropanation

Abstract The investigation of substituent effects in the double diastereotopic differentiation of substituted α-diazophosphonates using intramolecular cyclopropanation catalyzed by Rh 2 (OAc) 4 is reported. Carbene facial selectivity in these transformations is dictated by substrate control in either of two ways: (i) exploitation of ( R ) - pantolactone as an auxiliary incorporated into the carboester functionality while probing olefinic substituent effects, or (ii) utilization of chiral, non-racemic allylic alcohols incorporated into the phosphonate moiety.
Anaerotolerant strain of Chlamydomonas moewusii selected using extended anaerobiosis

Abstract A wild-type strain of Chlamydomonas moewusii was subjected to repeated periods of anaerobiosis, CO 2 deprivation, and illumination with visible light. Following a 144-h period of anaerobic stress, surviving cells were recovered during aerobic growth. The frequency of viable cell recovery following the first stress period indicated that a putative mutant was isolated rather than the selection of a subpopulation of anaerotolerant (i.e. viable under strict anaerobiosis) cells. Upon exposing the new strain to further cycles of anaerobic stress, complete cell viability was observed by the third stress cycle. The anaerotolerant phenotype was also stable in the absence of selection pressure. When the H 2 - and O 2 -evolving ability of the new strain was compared to the parent, the anaerotolerant strain displayed greater stability in H 2 evolution with comparable rates of production. These results suggest that appropriate application of physiological stress is an effective means of selecting stable variants with predefined phenotypes .
STUMPED BY TREES? A GENERALIZED NULL MODEL FOR PATTERNS OF ORGANISMAL DIVERSITY

Evolutionary biologists increasingly have become interested in the factors determining the structure of phylogenetic trees. For example, highly asymmetric trees seem to suggest that the probability of extinction and/or speciation differs among lineages. Before looking for the cause of such differences, one must establish that the structure of the trees differs significantly from results of an appropriate null model. A commonly invoked null model assumes that speciation is equally probable along all branches of a diversifying tree and predicts that highly asymmetric trees are not unexpected. However, this model of diversification assumes more than equality of rates among lineages. We demonstrate theoretically and via simulations that relaxation of the hidden assumptions that speciation is essentially instantaneous and occurs independently in separate lineages leads to qualitatively different expectations concerning the expected phylogenetic topology. In particular, highly asymmetric trees are considerably ...
Performance Analysis of Multi-Microprocessor Systems

The high-speed and low-cost microprocessor has stimulated the interest of using multiprocessors in industrial electronics applications to achieve better reliability, higher availability, and greater performance. Example applications include machine-tool control, voice recognition, computer-aided manufacturing, and sophisticated military embedded computer systems. A major problem in designing systems with a large number of processors is that the existing speed-performance analysis tools may be inadequate. The systems are often too complex to cost effectively simulate and often violate conditions needed to employ analytic queueing network techniques.
Effects of food deprivation on sleep and wakefulness in the rat.

The effects of prolonged total food deprivation on paradoxical sleep (PS), slow-wave sleep (SWS), and wakefulness were studied in male albino rats. Analysis of sleep and waking patterns was based on daily 3-hr recordings of EEG, EOG, and EMG activity. The amount of wakefulness increased monotonically in a positively accelerating curve as a function of deprivation, while the amount of sleep declined reciprocally. After 6–11 days of food deprivation virtually all sleep had disappeared, with PS always disappearing before SWS. Animals that did not eat spontaneously when offered food ad libitum after the disappearance of sleep died within the next 24 hr. SWS declined gradually during the first few days of food deprivation and then rapidly declined toward zero. On the other hand, PS significantly increased in amount on the first day of deprivation and then stayed at approximately control level until 2 days before it disappeared completely. On the day after the return to ad libitum food, PS increased substantially above control level while SWS remained below control.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Knockout Mice Are Resistant to Diet-Induced Loss of Gut Barrier Function and Intestinal Injury

Loss of gut barrier function has been documented to occur in animals receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and certain liquid diets. However, the mechanisms responsible for diet-induced gut barrier dysfunction remain to be fully determined. Thus we tested the hypothesis that increased intestinal nitric oxide production contributes to this phenomenon. To test this hypothesis, iNOS-deficient (iNOS -/-) mice and their wild-type littermates (iNOS +/+) were fed either chow or TPN solution for 14 days. Subsequently they were killed and gut barrier function was assessed by measuring bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) complex. Additionally, intestinal bacterial population levels, gut morphology, plasma and intestinal nitric oxide levels, as well as intestinal levels of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes cNOS and iNOS, were measured. Bacterial translocation occurred in the iNOS +/+ but not the iNOS -/- mice receiving oral TPN solution. Oral TPN-induced bacterial translocation was associated with increased intestinal bacterial population levels as well as morphologic evidence of intestinal injury. Plasma and intestinal levels of the nitric oxide products, nitrite/nitrate, were increased in the iNOS +/+ mice fed the TPN solution but not in the chow-fed groups or the iNOS -/- mice receiving TPN solution. Last, intestinal iNOS, but not cNOS, activity was increased in the iNOS +/+ oral TPN-fed mice. These results implicate a role for increased intestinal nitric oxide production, through iNOS, in the pathogenesis of oral TPN-induced gut barrier dysfunction and injury.
Polymeric microcapsule arrays

Abstract : Immobilized enzymes are used in bioreactors and biosensors. Current methods for immobilizing enzymes include adsorption or covalent attachment to a support, microencapsulation and entrapment within a membrane/film or gel. The ideal enzyme immobilization method would (1) Employ mild chemical conditions; (2) Allow for large quantities of enzyme to be immobilized; (3) Provide a large surface area for enzyme/substrate contact within a small total volume; (4) Minimize barriers to mass transport of substrate and product and (5) Provide a chemically and mechanically robust system. This report describes a new method for enzyme immobilization that satisfies all of these criteria. We have developed a template-based synthetic method that yields hollow polymeric microcapsules of uniform diameter and length. These microcapsules are arranged in a high density array in which the individual capsules protrude from a surface like the bristles of a brush. We have developed procedures for filling these microcapsules with high concentrations of enzymes. The enzyme-loaded microcapsule arrays function as enzymatic bioreactors in both aqueous solution and organic solvents.
The Polymorphic Pseudokinase ROP5 Controls Virulence in Toxoplasma gondii by Regulating the Active Kinase ROP18

Secretory polymorphic serine/threonine kinases control pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii in the mouse. Genetic studies show that the pseudokinase ROP5 is essential for acute virulence, but do not reveal its mechanism of action. Here we demonstrate that ROP5 controls virulence by blocking IFN-γ mediated clearance in activated macrophages. ROP5 was required for the catalytic activity of the active S/T kinase ROP18, which phosphorylates host immunity related GTPases (IRGs) and protects the parasite from clearance. ROP5 directly regulated activity of ROP18 in vitro, and both proteins were necessary to avoid IRG recruitment and clearance in macrophages. Clearance of both the Δrop5 and Δrop18 mutants was reversed in macrophages lacking Irgm3, which is required for IRG function, and the virulence defect was fully restored in Irgm3−/− mice. Our findings establish that the pseudokinase ROP5 controls the activity of ROP18, thereby blocking IRG mediated clearance in macrophages. Additionally, ROP5 has other functions that are also Irgm3 and IFN-γ dependent, indicting it plays a general role in governing virulence factors that block immunity.
Determinants of credit spreads: The role of ambiguity and information uncertainty

Abstract This paper is a survey of the theoretical and empirical literature on the determinants of credit spreads. In particular I discuss whether some observations on credit spreads can be related to information risk and ambiguity about the probabilistic structure of the process driving the fundamental value of credit securities. Corporate bond yield spreads are a compensation for the various sources of risk such as default, liquidity, taxes and systematic factors. Empirical studies show that corporate bond yield spreads are still larger than can be explained by these known determinants of credit spreads. I intertwine the literature on information risk premia and ambiguity premia and argue that some observations can possibly be related to such risks.
Sociospatial knowledge networks: Appraising community as place

This article introduces a new theory of geographical analysis, sociospatial knowledge networks, for examining and understanding the spatial aspects of health knowledge (i.e., exactly where health beliefs and knowledge coincide with other support in the community). We present an overview of the theory of sociospatial knowledge networks and an example of how it is being used to guide an ongoing ethnographic study of health beliefs, knowledge, and knowledge networks in a rural community of African Americans, Latinos, and European Americans at high risk for, but not diagnosed with, type 2 diabetes mellitus. We believe that the geographical approach to understanding health beliefs and knowledge and how people acquire health information presented here is one that could serve other communities and community health practitioners working to improve chronic disease outcomes in diverse local environments.
The effect of chemical composition on selected physical properties of linear polymers

A review of the data available in the literature and new data reported in this paper show that in any homologous series of condensation polymers there is a uniform change in the melting point as the hydrocarbon content of the polymer is increased. If all such series are treated as copolymers of the simplest modifying element and polyethylene and the composition expressed on a mole fraction basis, the data when presented graphically show that the melting points of any such series passes through a minimum at some intermediate composition. The position of the minimum as well as the depth of the minimum is dependent on the polarity of the modifying group. This survey has included aliphatic polyesters, aromatic polyesters, polysulfides, cellulose derivatives, and polyamides. Some of the series are complete enough to show a definite minimum with compositions on either side of the minimum with higher melting points. In some compositions based on the very highly polar groups, such as amides, the series is not complete enough to establish the complete shape of the curve, but the indications are strong that the minimum does exist.
The Anthropologist as Expert Witness in Death Penalty Mitigation

I was busy teaching classes one fall semester when I read an e-mail from a mitigation specialist with the Federal Public Defender appealing for help with a death penalty case. She was defending a client who she said was the direct descendent of Devil Anse Hatfield and Ellison Hatfield (of Hatfield and McCoy feud fame). In trying to determine how to use the client's cultural background as mitigation, she said she "didn't have a clue" if his being related to the Hatfield's was good or bad. The client had lived around coal mines his entire life, and they were researching the environmental effects of coal impoundment methods on well water. However, she wrote, "I am stuck when it comes to understanding how his cultural background (growing up in Appalachia) impacts his thinking and therefore his perspective on life." She asked for my help. Having experience as a cultural expert witness in previous death penalty cases, I volunteered to assist the defense team in making the case for life (as opposed to death) for...
Specificity of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (CANP) inhibitors for human μCANP and mCANP

We investigated the relative inhibition of purified human μCANP and mCANP by five cysteine proteinase inhibitors including N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-nor-leucinal (C-I) and N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-methioninal (C-II), calpeptin, E64, and leupeptin. Based on IC50 measurements, calpeptin and C-I were stronger inhibitors by one to two orders of magnitude than C-II, leupeptin or E64. None of the five inhibitors, however, exhibited greater specificity for human μCANP or mCANP. These results indicate that, although the inhibition of a given cellular event by these compounds may suggest CANP involvement, effects on μCANP cannot be discriminated from those on mCANP.
Neutron-diffraction study of reduced and reoxidized YBa2(Cu0.90Co0.10)3O7 − δ

Abstract Three samples of YBa 2 (Cu 0.90 Co 0.10 ) 3 O 7 − δ were prepared by different heat treatments and studied by both neutron- and high- resolution X-ray diffraction. Standard samples, prepared using sintering temperatures up to 950°C in flowing oxygen, were superconducting with a midpoint near 30 K. About 0.75 formular unit of oxygen was removed by heating in flowing argon near 830°C, producing a non-superconducting reduced material. Reoxidized samples were prepared by heating the latter in flowing oxygen near 400°C. These regained the lost oxygen, but are not superconducting above 5 K. High-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction demonstrated the tetragonal structures of the standard and reduced specimens, as well as the orthorhombic structure of the reoxidized material. Portions of each sample were used for neutron powder diffraction studies, and the data were analyzed with the Rietveld technique. Structural parameters, including the Co occupancies on the two copper sites, were refined. The results are evaluated with respect to other neutron-diffraction, X-ray absorption fine structure, and Mossbauer data. The implications of these results in terms of a physical basis for the shift from tetragonal to orthorhombic symmetry are explored. We feel that oxygen reordering in the chain layers is the underlying reason for the lowering of the crystal symmetry.
Secondary ischemic tolerance improved by administration of L-NAME in rat flaps

Nitric oxide (NO) under basal conditions is an important regulator of vascular tone. Under ischemic conditions, however, NO can combine with superoxide anion to produce the damaging hydroxyl free radical. The current project observes the effect of inhibiting NO production (L-Nitro-amino-methyl-arginine, L-NAME) on flaps rendered ischemic by secondary (2 degrees) venous obstruction. Eighty rats had 3 x 6 cm skin flaps based on the epigastric vessels. Primary (1 degree) ischemia was produced by arteriovenous occlusion for 2 hours; (2 degrees) venous ischemia was induced by clamping the vein, alone for either 3 or 5 hours. Thirty minutes prior to 2 degrees ischemia, rats received either L-NAME (30 mg/kg) or saline buffer. Flap survival was assessed 7 days later and Chi-square analysis was used. At 3 hours of ischemia, treatment improved survival from 55% to 85% (P < 0.05). Treatment also improved survival at 5 hours of ischemia from 5% to 35% (P < 0.04). Although under resting conditions, NO is a potent vasodilator, during 2 degrees venous obstruction it may contribute to flap necrosis.
Emotionality ratings and open-field behavior

A correlational analysis of presurgery data from the study of Corman, Meyer, & Meyer (1967) reveals the independence of emotionality rating scores and open-field behaviors in intact Ss.
High-frequency Voronoi noise reduced by smoothed-mesh motion

We describe a technique for improving the performance of hydrodynamics codes which employ a moving Voronoi mesh. Currently, such codes are susceptible to high-frequency noise produced by rapid adjustments in the grid topology on the smallest scales. The treatment for this grid noise is simple; instead of moving the mesh-generating marker points with the local fluid velocity, this velocity field is smoothed on small scales, so that neighboring marker points generally have similar velocities. We demonstrate significant improvement gained by this adjustment in several code tests relevant to the physics which moving-mesh codes are designed to capture.
A Multi-Station Rolling/Sliding Tribotester for Knee Bearing Materials

Total joint replacements traditionally employ ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a bearing material due to its desirable material properties and biocompatibility. Failure of these polyethylene bearings can lead to expensive and risky revision surgery, necessitating a better understanding of UHMWPE's tribological properties. A six-station rolling/sliding machine was developed to study the behavior of accelerated-aged UHMWPE in cylinder-on-cylinder contact. The normal load and sliding/rolling ratio in the oscillatory contacts can be controlled separately for each test station, as can the liquid test environment. Fatigue tests were run on the machine with UHMWPE versus cobalt-chrome cylinders in a distilled water environment at normal contact pressures of approximately 20 MPa. All specimens failed by subsurface cracking during tribotesting on the machine, and the failures were similar to those that occur in-vivo. The fatigue behavior of the polymer was analyzed to determine its relationship to oxidation and stress state in the rolling/sliding cylinder. At the 20 MPa test load, the number of cycles to fatigue failure by subsurface cracking was inversely proportional to the oxidation level. Analysis of the stress levels through the bulk of the polyethylene specimens and their relationship to the material properties provide insight as to why cracks initiate and propagate subsurface.
High speed rotating vacuum seal

Abstract A high-speed, rotating vacuum seal has been developed that has a relatively long life and a low leak rate, and is oil-free and easy to maintain. The seal has a 2.5″ dia. opening and an operating speed of 1100 rpm. Typical seal life has been 1000 h between replacement of sealing parts.
Surgical management of stress ulcerations in childhood: Report of five cases

Abstract Gastroduodenal ulcerations secondary to "stress" are a serious and often lethal lesion in infants and children. The ulcers are usually few in number and are in the stomach or duodenum. They are easily treated surgically, since multiple ulcerations or erosions are unusual in childhood. Early aggressive surgery is advocated in those patients with perforation or with massive hemorrhage. Five "stress" gastroduodenal ulcerations in children with extremely serious underlying conditions were all treated by surgical attack on all bleeding points. One or two ulcers were found in each child. All survived and are well.
The Left, Labour, and the Future of U.S. Radicalism: The Struggle for Immigrant Rights

This paper first explores the decline and current state of the U.S. left, with a particular emphasis on the proliferation of progressive campaigns, causes, and coalitions that are relatively isolated from each other, as well as the labour movement, and have little capacity to shape public debate or policy. The second part examines this tendency through a case study of one of the left's most promising initiatives: the immigrant rights movement.
Routing and Scheduling for Variable Bandwidth Advance Reservation

Emerging elastic applications generate voluminous datasets, which are often required to be transferred across the network irrespective of flow level bandwidth guarantees. The primary concern in efficient transfers of such bulk data is to minimize the net transfer time. Variable bandwidth advance reservation (VBAR) can efficiently support such applications by reserving time variant bandwidth over the duration of a connection in advance. In this work, we address the routing and bandwidth scheduling problem in VBAR with the objective of minimizing the data transfer time. We propose three heuristic algorithms, and evaluate their performance for a single request under a given network state. We also evaluate the performance of the heuristics in a network under a dynamic traffic scenario. We demonstrate that VBAR outperforms conventional standard advance reservation and immediate reservation approaches in terms of delay, blocking probability, and network throughput. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed heuristic outperforms existing solutions in the dynamic traffic scenario with significantly lower time and storage complexities.