cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluorescence emission sensing in coatings: Method for defects detection in coated surfaces of structural elements

We suggest a method for detecting defects in coated surfaces by utilizing fluorescence emission. Fluorescent material was added to the coating layer prior to the curing stage. The fluorescent material used was characterized experimentally to measure absorption coefficient and observe the absorption and emission wavelength range. The tests were then made for fluorescence emission in coated layers prepared either by draw down blade or sprayed with an airless spray gun. The concentration of fluorescent material in a coated layer is the main parameter studied. Fluorescence emission is suggested as a probe to enhance the visual inspection of coated layers because it has a distinctive emission signal. It was found that for a homogeneous distribution of fluorescent material within a layer of coating, the emission increased up to a certain concentration limit. This limit was found to be around 0.5 wt%; further increase of fluorescent material leads to emission signal decrease due to self absorption phenomenon.
“Community perception of casino gambling's effect on crime in new gambling jurisdictions”

Despite the growth of the gambling industry in the U.S., casinos tend to be viewed as injurious to the social fabric of the community. To determine if residents have accurate perceptions of the effect of casinos on crime in their communities, telephone interviews were conducted with 2,768 residents of eight new casino jurisdictions. Results indicate that respondents tend to over‐estimate the negative impact of casinos on over‐all crime, delinquency, fear of crime, and on specific offenses. The authors relate the residents’ perceptions to the view of casinos as “hot spots” where the activities in casinos lead at least some participants to engage in socially disruptive behaviors.
Wounded bonds: A review of the social work literature on gay, lesbian and bisexual military service members and veterans

SummaryThe repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) allows people who identify as gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) to serve openly in the U.S. Military. Military officials are taking great efforts to ...
The microwave behavior of an anisotropic negative index medium

Free space microwave measurements are reported for a split ring and post type metamaterial which exhibits negative refraction in a frequency band between 13.5 and 14.5 GHz. Varying azimuthal angles and magnitudes are achieved by changing the polarization of the transmitter and receiver relative to each other and to the anisotropic axes of the material. The amplitude of the cross- polarized transmission has been measured at 50% of the co- polarization level. The maximum amplitude was achieved at a polarization angle of 20 degrees relative to the initial polarization. This polarization conversion indicates there are other losses besides ohmic losses.
Some Cracks in the Empire of Chance (Flaws in the Foundations of Reliability)

Summary Making quantified statements about the uncertainty associated with the lifelength of an item is one of the most fundamental tasks of reliability assessment. Most practitioners routinely do this using one of the several available statistical techniques. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. The first is to give the user an overview of the key tenets of two of the most commonly used parametric approaches. The second is to point out that these commonly used approaches involve strategies that are either ad hoc, or are in violation of some of the underlying tenets. A method that is devoid of logical flaws can be proposed, but this method is difficult to implement.The user must therefore resign to using that technique against which the fewest objections can be hurled.
Interleukin-2 is Present in Human Blood Vessels and Released in Biologically Active Form by Heparanase

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a multifaceted cytokine with immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive properties. Our laboratory recently demonstrated that the availability of IL-2 is regulated, in part, by association with perlecan, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Given the abundance of perlecan in blood vessels, we asked whether IL-2 is present in vessel walls. Our results indicate that IL-2 is associated with endothelial and smooth muscle cells within the human arterial wall. This IL-2 is released by heparanase, and promotes the proliferation of an IL-2-dependent cell line. Given the presence of IL-2 in human arteries, we asked whether the large vessels of IL-2-deficient mice were normal. The aortas of IL-2-deficient mice exhibited a loss of smooth muscle cells, suggesting that IL-2 may contribute to their survival. In their entirety, these results suggest a here-to-fore unrecognized role of IL-2 in vascular biology, and have significant implications for both the immune and cardiovascular systems.
Key fish species, northern fur seals, Callorhinus ursinus, and fisheries interactions involving walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, in the eastern Bering Sea

The recent decline of the northern fur seal population breeding on the Pribilof Islands has not yet been explained. This study estimates the amounts and sizes of walleye pollock (the fur seal's main prey) removed by predatory fish, fur seals and commercial fisheries in the main fur seal feeding area in the eastern Bering Sea during summer 1985. Fur seals relied primarily on age-1 pollock during 1985, while predatory fish consumed pollock mainly of ages 0-1. The fishery took pollock older than age-3. This indicated no direct effect of fishery removal on fur seal prey abundance, at least during the study period. In the short term, the 1985 pollock fishery may have indirectly affected fur seal prey abundance in a positive manner by removing adult pollock that compete with fur seals for age-1 pollock.
A task-oriented interface to a digital library

In this paper we describe an interface to a heterogeneous digital library. The interface is designed with the following goals in mind: to support user tasks, to smoothly integrate the results of many services, to handle services of widely- varying time scales, to be extensible, and to support sharing and reuse. We discuss each of these goals, and then describe a working prototype interface.
Relative advantages of low temperature versus ambient temperature scanning electron microscopy in the study of mite morphology

Abstract Low temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) is an effective technique for studying the morphology of Acari. This study evaluates results from two approaches: ambient temperature scanning electron microscopy (ATSEM) and LTSEM. Four preparation techniques for ATSEM were evaluated. The advantages and disadvantages of the preparation procedures of ATSEM and LTSEM are discussed. In general, LTSEM was found to be superior to ATSEM in the study of mites.
Fast counting with NaI spectrometers

Abstract A fast counting system designed for large NaI(Tl) scintillator detectors allows counting rates forty times higher than conventional double-delay-line amplifiers, without utilizing pile-up rejection. The operation of the system is based upon a rational compromise between energy resolution and permissible counting rates.
Minimally Invasive MitralValve Surgery: Mini-Sternotomy With Extended Transseptal Approach

A partial upper sternotomy and an extended transseptal incision provide excellent exposure for mitral valve surgery. From March 1997 to December 1998, 462 patients had mitral valve surgeries using this minimally invasive approach. Eighty-seven percent had mitral valve repair, and 13% had mitral valve replacement. Thirteen patients (3%) required conversion to full sternotomy, and all other patients had the procedure completed using the initial approach. Forty-eight percent of patients were extubated within 6 hours of surgery, and 47% of patients spent less than 24 hours in the intensive care unit (ICU). Mean hospital length of stay was 7.2 ± 5.4 days. Eighty-six percent of patients received no blood products. There was 1 hospital death (0.2%). Morbidity included reexploration for bleeding (4%), respiratory insufficiency (1%), stroke (1%), myocardial infarction (0.2%), and wound infection (0.2%). We conclude that virtually all mitral valve procedures, including complicated repairs, can be accomplished via partial upper sternotomy with an extended transseptal incision. This approach provides excellent exposure of the mitral valve and results in a low rate of wound complications, low transfusion requirements, and excellent cosmesis.
Cavity surface wave patterns and general appearance

Observations were made of the appearance of hydrodynamic cavities behind a series of axisymmetric headforms. Among the phenomena investigated was the transition of the interfacial or separated boundary layer on the cavity surface. The first stage of this process, namely the spatial growth of instability waves could be distinguished by means of high-speed photography. Comparison is made with a theoretical instability analysis.
H-atom product channels in the photodissociation of CH3F and CH3Cl: a density functional theory and high level ab initio study

Abstract From previous experimental investigations of the H-atom product channels in methyl halides, the reliability of decomposition enthalpies as calculated by modern widely used ab initio methods (i.e. CBS-Q, CBS-QB3, G3, G3B3) are made. Also, the B3LYP density functional theory method with a 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis set was used for purposes of comparison. In many cases the calculations yielded excellent correlation with the experimental data available. In addition to this the ionization potentials of both methyl fluoride and methyl chloride are presented.
Exposure to predator odor stress increases efflux of frontal cortex acetylcholine and monoamines in mice: Comparisons with immobilization stress and reversal by chlordiazepoxide.

Psychogenic stress may be associated with the development of mood disorders and schizophrenia. The frontal cortex (FC) regulates stress responses, and its dysfunction contributes to certain neuropsychiatric disorders. We tested the effects of exposure to predator odor stress (POS), a psychogenic stressor, on the concurrent efflux of four major neurotransmitters within the FC in mice in comparison to immobilization stress (IMS), a physical/systemic stressor. POS and IMS significantly increased efflux of acetylcholine (ACh), serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA), but not norephinephrine, within the FC. POS produced a somewhat longer-lasting efflux of 5-HT, as compared to IMS. The effects of POS and IMS on ACh, 5-HT and DA were blocked by chlordiazepoxide. Overall, we demonstrate a novel method to measure the effects of distinctly different stress modalities on FC neurotransmission and suggest that FC responsivity to stressors may be an important marker for evaluating anxiolytic drugs.
Location, location, location: Interdistrict and intercircuit variation in sentencing outcomes for federal drug-trafficking offenses

Research on sentencing has made clear that factors beyond case and offenders' attributes influence court decisions. Environmental and procedural characteristics also significantly affect the sentences of criminal courts. Yet, while state-level studies regularly control for such factors, most research on modern federal determinate sentencing has neglected jurisdictional attributes and variation as sources of extralegal sentence disparity. Using the organizational context and social worlds theoretical perspectives with a multilevel analytical approach, this study assessed how district and circuit of adjudication affect case-level lengths of sentences for federal drug-trafficking offenses, finding that both significantly affect sentencing outcomes and their predictors.
Encoding and decoding of biphoton wavepackets

We demonstrate orthogonal spectral coding of entangled photons for the first time. Applying one code to the signal photon spreads and scrambles the biphoton; only by properly decoding the idler is the original biphoton recovered.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HEMOGLOBIN A1C (HBA1C) AND CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS IN HEALTHY ADULTS: DATA FROM NATIONAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY 1999-2004

Cardiovascular fitness is an important predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has been shown to be an adverse predictor for cardiovascular health. We aimed to determine the relationship between low cardiovascular fitness and HbA1c. Pooled data from NHANES 1999-
On the radial oscillations of incompressible, isotropic, elastic and limited elastic thick-walled tubes

Abstract The finite amplitude, free radial oscillations of a thick-walled circular cylindrical tube are studied for an arbitrary incompressible, isotropic and homogeneous rubber-like material having limiting molecular chain extensibility. First, based on classical results for hyperelastic tubes, some results for thick-walled Mooney-Rivlin tubes are described graphically in the phase plane. Then the periodicity of the finite amplitude, free oscillations of a general limited elastic, thick-walled tube is studied; and some analytical results for the Gent model are illustrated in several numerical examples. Results for thick-walled Gent tubes are compared with those for corresponding Mooney-Rivlin tubes; and the motion of thin-walled Gent tubes is illustrated in the phase plane. Physical conclusions are presented. The period of small amplitude oscillations of an arbitrary elastic or limited elastic tube is derived from relations obtained by a linearization of a general class of equations of which the tube problem is a special case. Classical results of the linear theory are thereby recovered and compared with results for Mooney-Rivlin and Gent tubes.
Phytoplankton Biomass and Species Composition In Lake Erie, 1970 to 1987

Phytoplankton were collected at offshore sites during 33 cruises in the spring, summer, and autumn from 1983 to 1987. Forty-nine common species and varieties accounted for 83.3% of the total abundance and 83.1% of the biomass. Over the 5-year study period, the phytoplankton biomass (mean ± S.E.) of the western, central and eastern basins averaged 1.88 ± 0.12 g/m3, 1.04 ± 0.075 g/m3, and 0.63 + 0.071 g/m3, respectively. Depending on the basin, a 52 to 89% reduction in mean weighted algal biomass had occurred in the offshore waters of Lake Erie between 1970 and 1983-87. The historically highly productive western basin had a consistent decrease in biomass from 1958 to 1987. In general, occurrences of common species in 1970 and 1983-87 were similar. However, dramatic decreases in the abundances of many nuisance and eutrophic species were evident. A 70 to 98% reduction in biomass of Stephanodiscus binderanus, S. niagarae, S. tenuis, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, and Rhodomonas minuta was observed. The decrease in biomass of the nuisance and eutrophic indicator species, the reappearance of mesotrophic species, such as Asterionella formosa and Rhizosolenia eriensis, common in the 1940s and 1950s, and the decrease in total phytoplankton biomass suggest a major improvement in the offshore waters of Lake Erie.
Eulerian adaptive finite-difference method for high-velocity impact and penetration problems

Owing to the complex processes involved, faithful prediction of high-velocity impact events demands a simulation method delivering efficient calculations based on comprehensively formulated constitutive models. Such an approach is presented herein, employing a weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) method within an adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) framework for the numerical solution of hyperbolic partial differential equations. Applied widely in computational fluid dynamics, these methods are well suited to the involved locally non-smooth finite deformations, circumventing any requirement for artificial viscosity functions for shock capturing. Application of the methods is facilitated through using a model of solid dynamics based upon hyper-elastic theory comprising kinematic evolution equations for the elastic distortion tensor. The model for finite inelastic deformations is phenomenologically equivalent to Maxwell's model of tangential stress relaxation. Closure relations tailored to the expected high-pressure states are proposed and calibrated for the materials of interest. Sharp interface resolution is achieved by employing level-set functions to track boundary motion, along with a ghost material method to capture the necessary internal boundary conditions for material interactions and stress-free surfaces. The approach is demonstrated for the simulation of high velocity impacts of steel projectiles on aluminium target plates in two and three dimensions.
Heteroepitaxial growth of polar semiconductors on non-polar substrates

Abstract In this article we try to develop a critical overview of the field of heteroepitaxial growth of polar (compound) semiconductors on non-polar (elemental) semiconducting substrates. We emphasize both those areas which are well understood and controlled (few) and those areas which are poorly understood and largely uncontrolled (many). We move from a discussion of the ideal structures to a description of the processes and mechanisms of growth to a brief comparison of specific material systems.
Effects of leukotrienes B4, C4, and D4 on rat mesenteric microcirculation

Arachidonic acid is metabolized to leukotriene (LT) B4, C4, D4, and E4 by lipoxygenase. LTB4 is a chemotactic agent while LTC4 and LTD4 stimulate smooth muscle fibers to contract. Mesenteric vessels have the capacity to release leukotrienes. The possibility that leukotrienes might be responsible for or contribute to mesenteric ischemia during mesenteric low flow, embolism, and thrombosis prompted us to investigate their action on mesenteric vessels. LTB4, C4, and D4 were applied topically on small bowel mesentery of 22 Sprague-Dawley rats in sequentially increasing concentrations. Mesenteric arterioles with diameters of 8-20 microns were observed through a microscope and vessel diameters were measured using a video shear monitor. LTB4 had no effect on diameter, but doses as low as 3 X 10(-8) M induced white blood cell adherence to venular endothelium, reflecting the potent chemotactic properties of this compound. LTC4 and D4 had no effect on systemic blood pressure or white blood cell adherence. Applications of 6.4 X 10(-9), 3.2 X 10(-8), and 6.4 X 10(-8) M LTC4 decreased mesenteric arteriolar diameter to 85.3* +/- 4.7% (mean +/- SD), 75.7* +/- 7.5%, and 66.8* +/- 6.1% of baseline, and 4 X 10(-9), 2 X 10(-8), and 4 X 10(-8) M LTD4 decreased diameter to 84.9* +/- 6.1%, 75.1* +/- 4.2%, and 64.1* +/- 5% of baseline, respectively (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hydra of Hawaii: phylogenetic relationships with continental species

The presence of freshwater hydra in the Hawaiian Islands, over 3,700 km from the nearest continental margin, provokes the question of how these animals could reach the islands. We examined three islands for hydra and found two species (the brown hydra, Hydra vulgaris Pallas 1766, and green hydra, H. viridissima Pallas 1766) present at multiple locations on Oahu and Kauai, and at a single site on Hawaii. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions of ribosomal DNA indicates that all collected strains of brown hydra were closely related to each other—consistent with a single introduced origin. The analysis also shows that all sampled Hawaiian brown hydra fall within a specific clade of H. vulgaris. This clade is sister to a North American clade and nested within a deeper North/Central America clade. The clade with all the Hawaiian brown hydra includes also individuals from Southern California, suggesting a Californian origin for the brown Hawaiian hydra. Hawaiian hydra were probably transported to the islands by man.
Temporal Integration of Seismic Traveltime Tomography

Time-lapse geophysical measurements and seismic imaging methods in particular are powerful techniques for monitoring changes in reservoir properties. Traditional time-lapse processing methods treat each dataset as an independent unit and estimate changes in reservoir state through differencing these separate inversions. We present a general least-squares approach to jointly inverting time-varying property models through use of spatio-temporal coupling operators. Originally developed within the medical imaging community, this extension of traditional Tikhonov regularization allows us to constrain the way in which models vary in time, thereby reducing artifacts observed in traditional time-lapse imaging formulations. The same methodology can also accommodate changes in experiment geometry as a function of time thus allowing inversion of incremental or incomplete surveys. In this case, temporal resolution is traded for improved spatial coverage at individual timesteps. We use seismic traveltime tomography as a model problem although almost any geophysical inversion task can be posed within this formalism. We apply the developed time-lapse inversion algorithm to a synthetic crosswell dataset designed to replicate a CO2 sequestration monitoring experiment.
Contribution of Hydrophobic Interactions to Protein Stability

Our goal was to gain a better understanding of the contribution of hydrophobic interactions to protein stability. We measured the change in conformational stability, Δ(ΔG), for hydrophobic mutants of four proteins: villin headpiece subdomain (VHP) with 36 residues, a surface protein from Borrelia burgdorferi (VlsE) with 341 residues, and two proteins previously studied in our laboratory, ribonucleases Sa and T1. We compared our results with those of previous studies and reached the following conclusions: (1) Hydrophobic interactions contribute less to the stability of a small protein, VHP (0.6±0.3 kcal/mol per -CH(2)- group), than to the stability of a large protein, VlsE (1.6±0.3 kcal/mol per -CH(2)- group). (2) Hydrophobic interactions make the major contribution to the stability of VHP (40 kcal/mol) and the major contributors are (in kilocalories per mole) Phe18 (3.9), Met13 (3.1), Phe7 (2.9), Phe11 (2.7), and Leu21 (2.7). (3) Based on the Δ(ΔG) values for 148 hydrophobic mutants in 13 proteins, burying a -CH(2)- group on folding contributes, on average, 1.1±0.5 kcal/mol to protein stability. (4) The experimental Δ(ΔG) values for aliphatic side chains (Ala, Val, Ile, and Leu) are in good agreement with their ΔG(tr) values from water to cyclohexane. (5) For 22 proteins with 36 to 534 residues, hydrophobic interactions contribute 60±4% and hydrogen bonds contribute 40±4% to protein stability. (6) Conformational entropy contributes about 2.4 kcal/mol per residue to protein instability. The globular conformation of proteins is stabilized predominantly by hydrophobic interactions.
Constant and diurnally-varying temperature regimes lead to different temperature sensitivities of soil organic carbon decomposition

Abstract In a 122-day incubation experiment with two soil types under four temperature treatments, we examined whether the temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition differed between constant and diurnally-varying soil temperature regimes. We calculated the Q 10 values after accounting for changes in substrate availability and quality among treatments over time. The Q 10 values under constant temperature regime were consistently and significantly higher than those under diurnally-varying temperature regime, particularly in the later stages of decomposition (by up to 30%). This result indicated that different temperature regime was one of the important factors causing the current controversy about the temperature sensitivity of SOC decomposition in published reports.
Alphasphere as a successful ocular implant in primary enucleation and secondary orbital implant exchange.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To describe the surgical technique for a novel poly-HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacralate)[PHEMA] implant (Alphasphere, Addition Technology, Des Plaines, IL) in primary enucleation and placement of secondary orbital implant.Methods: Retrospective chart review of all patients receiving an Alphasphere implant for primary enucleation or secondary implant exchange from October 2009 to 2011. Interval follow-up was performed again on January 2013. Patient demographics, indications for surgery, and post-operative complications were reviewed.Results: Twelve patients received an Alphasphere implant for primary enucleation (n = 10) or secondary exchange (n = 2), with follow-up that ranged from 2 weeks to 14 months. The study included 9 adult and 3 pediatric patients with a mean age of 40 years, range 8–82 years. The indication for enucleation included: painful blind eye (n = 9), enophthalmos with difficult prosthesis fit in cases of secondary implant exchange (n = 2), and prophylaxis for sympathetic op...
Longitudinal follow-up of reproductive and metabolic features of valproate-associated polycystic ovarian syndrome features: A preliminary report.

Background In the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder, we showed that valproate is associated with new-onset menstrual-cycle irregularities and hyperandrogenism in 10.5% of 86 women. We now determine whether polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) features reverse on valproate discontinutation. Methods Women with valproate-associated PCOS and those at risk for PCOS (valproate use ≤6 months) were re-evaluated for PCOS. Results Follow-up (mean 17 months) assessments were completed in 14 women (5 with treatment-emergent PCOS, 9 on valproate ≤6-month). Of seven women who developed valproate-associated PCOS, PCOS reproductive features remitted in three of four discontinuing valproate and persisted in all 3 continuing valproate. Menstrual-cycle irregularities improved among valproate-discontinuers whose PCOS features remitted (p = 0.01). There was a trend toward lower serum testosterone (p = 0.06). Body-weight and polycystic ovarian morphology did not change. Conclusions In the first longitudinal bipolar-disorder study of valproate-associated PCOS, most valproate-discontinuers had improved reproductive features of PCOS despite static body-weight.
The potential role of epigenomic dysregulation in complex human disease

One of the major challenges in genetics today is to understand the causes of complex genetic diseases. The genes involved in these disorders are thought to interact with poorly-defined environmental factors to exert their phenotypic effects. An emerging view is that epigenetics also plays a role in complex diseases. Here we review the evidence that epigenetic regulatory mediators can be influenced by several environmental factors, that variability of the epigenome can cause variation in phenotypes, and that epigenetic dysregulation can be heritable across generations. Assays that map epigenetic regulatory patterns across the whole genome have recently become available, which enable us to explore the epigenomic influences on complex diseases, thus offering new avenues for diagnostic biomarker development and therapeutic strategies.
Using Computer-Tagged Linguistic Features to Describe L2 Writing Differences

Abstract This study examined the extent to which a computerized tagging program was able to capture proficiency level differences of second language (L2) learners' essays. A sample of 90 Test of Written English ( TWE ) essays, written at three levels of proficiency as defined by TWE ratings, were tagged for features of essay length, lexical specificity (type/token ratio and average word length), lexical features (e.g., conjuncts, hedges), grammatical structures (e.g., nouns, nominalizations, modals), and clause level features (e.g., subordination, passives). The results indicate that computerized tagging can be used to reveal detailed differences among proficiency levels, but that additional coding into the program or tagging by hand is necessary to gain a more complete picture of differences in L2 students' writing.
Interference of electric-dipole and magnetic-dipole interactions in conduction-electron-spin resonance in InSb.

The contributions of the electric-dipole and magnetic-dipole matrix elements to conduction-electron-spin resonance in zinc-blende crystals are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Using time-dependent perturbation analysis, we show that these contributions interfere at the resonance condition, resulting in an anomalous dependence of the resonance intensity on the sign of either the dc magnetic field B${\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}_{0}$ or the wave vector q\ensuremath{\rightarrow} of the photon. In the context of macroscopic dielectric response, it is shown that the above interference can be represented by time-reversal symmetry associated with the wave vector. The effects of electric-dipole--magnetic-dipole (EDMD) interference at spin resonance have been studied experimentally by far-infrared (FIR) magnetotransmission in a series of InSb samples with various orientations and electron concentrations. Experiments were performed in magnetic fields up to 60 kG in both Voigt and Faraday geometries, at FIR wavelengths 96.5, 118.8, 163, and 251.1 \ensuremath{\mu}m, in the temperature range between 2 and 35 K. Measurements of the absorption coefficient as a function of orientation of B${\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}_{0}$ in (100), (110), (111), and (112) planes, and as a function of the sign of B${\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}_{0}$ and q\ensuremath{\rightarrow}, are in excellent agreement with the predictions of the theory. These experiments provide an elegant method for determining the inversion-asymmetry parameter ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}$, yielding a value of 56 a.u. (3.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}34}$ erg ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$). In addition to the EDMD interference, the FIR magnetotransmission spectra also conclusively demonstrate that the dominant mechanism allowing electric-dipole-excited spin resonance in InSb is inversion asymmetry.
Derivatives of speract are associated with the eggs of Lytechinus pictus sea urchins

Abstract Two peptides associated with the eggs of the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus , which stimulate L. pictus but not Arbacia punctulata sperm respiration rates, were purified and their amino acid sequences determined. The peptides (Gly-Phe-Asp-Leu-Thr-Gly-Gly-gly-Val-Gln and Phe-Asp-Leu-Thr-Gly-Gly-Gly-Val-Gln) were found to be structurally similar to the peptide, speract (Gly-Phe-Asp-Leu-Asn-Gly-Gly-Gly-Val-Gly). Chemical synthesis of the two peptides confirmed their ability to activate sperm respiration. The peptides had equivalent biological activity with half-maximal stimulation of respiration rates and of cyclic nucleotide concentrations occurring at 60 pM and 700 pM, respectively. Addition of the peptides to intact spermatozoa resulted in the rapid appearance of a newly-stained protein on Na·dodecyl·SO 4 polyacrylamide gels (M r =140,000); one-half maximal formation of the M r 140,000 protein occurred at about 20–100 nM peptide.
Acute phase mediated change in glycosylation of rat α1-acid glycoprotein in transgenic mice

Transgenic mouse lines carrying the gene for rat alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) express the protein in the plasma at concentrations equal to or exceeding that of acute phase rats. Owing to the high basal level, these transgenic mice represent a unique experimental system for defining the largely unknown function of AGP. Since the carbohydrate moiety of AGP has been found to be changed during acute phase and the oligosaccharide structure to be important for immunomodulating activity of the protein, the rat AGP in transgenic mice was characterized by lectin-affinity immuno-electrophoresis. Unlike in the rat, the AGP in the transgenic mouse plasma consisted primarily of strongly concanavalin A-reactive forms. Acute phase mediated a several-fold increase in the total plasma concentration of AGP concomitant with a shift toward moderately concanavalin A-reactive forms. A similar change in concanavalin A-reactive forms was observed for the endogenous acute phase plasma protein haptoglobin. To define the role of inflammatory factors in AGP production, primary cultures of hepatocytes were prepared. In contrast to in vivo, the AGP recovered from tissue culture medium represented primarily the concanavalin A-non-reactive form. Treatment of the cells with recombinant human interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and dexamethasone stimulated the production of concanavalin A-reactive AGP forms. The data indicate that the glycosylation pattern of plasma-resident AGP is modulated by acute phase, but that the profile of AGP forms does not coincide with that secreted by hepatocytes in tissue culture. This finding demands an assessment of which of the possible glycosylated forms of AGP is functionally significant in vivo.
Utilization of chitosan biopolymer to enhance fly ash-based geopolymer

This paper investigates the enhancement of fly ash-based geopolymer with chitosan biopolymer. Unconfined compression and split tensile tests were carried out to investigate the effect of addition of small amount of N-carboxymethyl chitosan (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 wt% of fly ash) on the mechanical performance of fly ash-based geopolymer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging was also conducted to study the microstructure of the chitosan enhanced fly ash-based geopolymer. The results indicated that the inclusion of N-carboxymethyl chitosan led to slight increase of the unconfined compressive strength and substantial increase of the tensile strength, the displacement at the peak tensile load and the pre-peak toughness, with the maximum increases at 0.1 wt% chitosan content. The SEM imaging indicated that the added N-carboxymethyl chitosan biopolymer coated and bridged the (geopolymerized) fly ash particles and led to the formation of a more condensed geopolymer network structure, thus enhancing the mechanical behavior of the geopolymer–biopolymer composite. However, when too much N-carboxymethyl chitosan was used, the excessive coating and encapsulation of un-reacted and partially hydrolyzed fly ash particles hindered their geopolymerization and adversely affected the mechanical behavior of the geopolymer–biopolymer composite.
The role of the epigenetic factor in valvulogenesis in zebrafish in vivo

Abstract In this study, we focused on wall shear stress as an epigenetic factor to initiate valve formation. Fast or oscillatory flow is induced in an embryonic zebrafish vessel to mimic the flow in atrioventricular canal (AVC). By creating an environment similar to AVC in non-cardiac region in vivo, we propose to seek a better understanding of the mechanisms associated with the induction of valvulogenesis signaling pathways. Polydimethylsiloxane is injected at the vessel wall of embryonic zebrafish, creating fast or oscillatory flow, therefore modulating local wall shear stress (WSS). Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique is used to measure blood flow velocity. Whole mount in situ hybridization is performed to detect kruppel-like factor 2a (klf2a) expression. Klf2a is used as a marker gene since it responds to shear stress and is crucial for valve formation. Using PIV, WSS is calculated. In situ hybridization showed klf2a expression in the vessel as a result of either high WSS or oscillatory WSS. Klf2a is not expressed in the vessel during normal embryonic development. With a new gel injection technique, local WSS in the zebrafish vessel has changed, inducing expression of klf2a, an important gene for the initiation of valve formation. Expression of different genes such as TGF-β family that are involved in valve formation will be studied further to establish an innovative model to explore valvulogenesis in vivo.
Degradation of long chain fatty acids by activated sludge

Abstract Monod kinetic constants were obtained for the degradation of common long chain fatty acids by activated sludge. Results indicate that solubility limits the degradation of the 16 and 18 carbon saturated acids. All unsaturated fatty acids responded similarly, being degraded about 5 times more rapidly than stearic and palmitic acids. The temperature correction factor, θ, was found to be a function of the substrate concentration for these substrates between 20° and 30°C.
Topdressing turf with composted manure improves soil quality and protects water quality

Compost can improve soil properties when incorporated into soil; however, little information is available regarding impacts of compost topdressing. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects that topdressing composted dairy manure onto Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) has on: (i) soil physical properties, (ii) soil chemical properties, (iii) soil nitrate (NO 3 -N) and P concentrations below the rootzone, (iv) total runoff and sediment losses, and (v) N and P concentrations in runoff. Plots were topdressed with compost at 0, 33, 66, and 99 m 3 ha -1 . Saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, water retention, and soil nutrient levels were measured. A rainfall simulation was conducted, and runoff was collected and analyzed for total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N), ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 -N), total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved P (TDP), and orthophosphate (OP). Compost application of 99 m 3 ha -1 reduced bulk density, and increased water retention and P, K, Fe, and Mn concentrations in the surface soil. Compost applications of 66 m 3 ha -1 or greater raised soil electrical conductivity (EC); however, this increase in soil EC did not negatively impact turf quality. Rates of runoff and erosion and concentrations of TN, NO 3 -N, TP, TDP, and OP in runoff were not different among treatments. However, all compost treatments did increase NH 4 -N concentrations in runoff. There were no differences in soil NO 3 N or available P levels below the root zone. Topdressing composted manure onto established turf improved soil physical properties and nutrient concentrations without increasing nutrient runoff, with the exception of increased NH 4 -N levels in runoff.
The Institutions of Fiscal Federalism

Federal and decentralized political systems vary in the extent to which sub-central governments enjoy policy authority, political independence from the center, and taxation powers. The institutionalist view of fiscal federalism holds that sub-central governments’ fiscal powers are meaningful and self-enforcing only when the central government cannot undermine regional authority. Most recent empirical research on fiscal federalism has ignored the institutional foundations of the system, with adverse consequences for measurement and interpretation. A new, institutional measure of fiscal federalism is proposed. Cross-national tests using this measure for thirty-nine democracies find that more fiscally federal countries, especially those with many competing jurisdictions, have smaller government consumption and government share of gross domestic product, while expenditure decentralization increases government size, findings consistent with widely accepted institutionalist theories.
“I” value competence but “we” value social competence: The moderating role of voters' individualistic and collectivistic orientation in political elections

Abstract This investigation distinguishes interpersonally oriented social competence from intrapersonally oriented competence. It examines the influence of voters' individualism and collectivism orientation in affecting the roles of these two dimensions in predicting electoral outcomes. Participants made judgments of personality traits based on inferences from faces of political candidates in the U.S. and Taiwan. Two social outcomes were examined: actual election results and voting support of the participants. With respect to actual electoral success, perceived competence is more important for the candidates in the U.S. than for those in Taiwan, whereas perceived social competence is more important for the candidates in Taiwan than for those in the U.S. With respect to subjective voting support, within cultural findings mirror those found cross-culturally. Competence is valued more among voters who are more individualistic, and social competence is valued more among voters who are more collectivistic. These results highlight important omissions in the social perception/judgment literature.
Effect of Density Gradients on Dimensional Tolerance During Binder Removal

The present work utilized X-ray computed tomography (CT) and in situ laser dilatometry to correlate internal structural changes with dimensional variation during thermally driven binder removal. Nonuniform agglomerate arrangement and deformation introduced during compaction provide density gradients that drive binder migration. Simultaneously, density undergoes a slight decrease accompanied by a 1.0% loss in dimensional tolerance. This loss and CT difference images show that capillary forces generated during binder melting can change internal density distribution. This change in density has important implications for the binder removal process.
Purification and characterization of the higher plant enzyme L-canaline reductase.

Abstract A newly discovered enzyme, L-canaline reductase (NADPH:L-canaline oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6-), has been isolated and purified from 10-day-old leaves of the jack bean Canavalia ensiformis (Leguminosae). This higher plant is representative of a large number of legumes that synthesize L-canavanine, an important nitrogen-storing nonprotein amino acid. Canavanine-storing legumes contain arginase, which hydrolyzes L-canavanine to form the toxic metabolite L-canaline. Canaline reductase, having a mass of approximately 167 kDa and composed of 82-kDa dimers, catalyzes a NADPH-dependent reductive cleavage of L-canaline to L-homoserine and ammonia. This is the only enzyme known to use reduced NADP to cleave an O-N bond. Canaline reductase performs at least three important functions for canavanine-synthesizing legumes. First, it detoxifies canaline. Second, it increases by one-half the overall yield of ammoniacal nitrogen released from canavanine. Third, it permits the carbon skeleton of canavanine, a secondary plant metabolite, to support vital primary metabolic reactions.
Synergistic effect of exercise and statins on femoral strength in rats.

Abstract It is now widely recognized that in order to optimize bone health in the later years, bone healthy behaviors should begin at a young age and continue throughout life. Prescribed orally to lower lipid levels in adults of all ages, statins have also been shown to stimulate bone formation in vitro by promoting bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) activity and to stimulate bone formation in vivo. Weight bearing exercise is well known to stimulate bone formation through a mechanism whereby mechanical loading is ‘sensed’ by the mechano-sensors leading to a cascade of events involving the activation of osteoblasts. For individuals with high cholesterol levels, both of these interventions are recommended throughout adult life. Since statins and exercise stimulate bone formation via different mechanisms, we hypothesized that exercise in combination with oral simvastatin synergistically increases bone mineral density and strength. Mature adult female, Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: control (n = 9), statin only (n = 8), exercise only (n = 11), and statin plus exercise (n = 11). Simvastatin was given to the two groups at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day in standard rat chow for the entire 5 week period. All rats ate the same mass of food. The two exercise groups ran on a treadmill with progressively greater speeds and time, ending on week 5 at 30 m/min for 60 min. After 5 weeks, rats were euthanized, and excised femurs were scanned for areal bone mineral density (BMD) and tested by three point bending to obtain the following performance measures: maximum force (strength), stiffness, and work-to-fracture. Only the group treated with statins and exercise showed a positive effect on the biomechanical performance of the femurs. Compared to controls, this group had increased maximum force, stiffness, moment of inertia, and BMD. Linear regression analysis revealed that the increased performance was related to increased BMD. We conclude that the combination of oral statins and appropriate exercise increases bone strength better than either individual treatment and may provide optimal protection against osteoporosis.
Group composition and group performance of structured and unstructured tasks

Abstract Twelve 3-man groups performed on an unstructured problem-solving task and on a structured role-following task. Half of the groups contained more abstract members than concrete members, the other half the reverse. Some of the groups were homogeneous on both abstractness (Abs) and dominance (Dom), others were homogeneous on one and heterogeneous on the other, or heterogeneous on both. Groups of intermediate heterogeneity (homo-geneous: Abs; heterogeneous: Dom) performed most poorly on the structured task and best on the unstructured task while displaying the least amount of group structuring on both. Groups in which abstract subjects predominated outperformed groups predominantly of concrete subjects on the unstructured task; no differences occurred on the structured task. It was concluded that the effects of group composition are both additive and interactive, and are mediated by task demands as well.
Expression and purification of recombinant proteins by fusion to maltose-binding protein

The pMAL vectors provide a method for purifying proteins from cloned genes by fusing them to maltose-binding protein (MBP, product of malE), which binds to amylose. The vectors use the tac promoter and the translation initiation signals of MBP to give high-level expression of the fusion, and an affinity purification for MBP to isolate the fusion protein. The pMAL polylinkers carry restriction sites to insert the gene of interest, and encode a site for a specific protease to separate MBP from the target protein after purification. Vectors with or without the malE signal sequence can be used, to express the protein cytoplasmically for the highest level of production or periplasmically to help in proper folding of disulfide-bonded proteins.
2-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzoxazole from 2,5-anhydro-d-allonoimidate, and 1,3-dimethyl-8-β-d-ribofuranosylxanthine from 2,5-anhydro-d-allono-thioimidates and -dithioates

Abstract The ability of imidates, thioimidates, and dithioates to react with o -aminophenol ( 2 ) and 5,6-diamino-1,3-dimethyluracil ( 6 ) was studied, using non-saccharide model compounds, as well as saccharide derivatives. All of the model compounds gave 2-methylbenzoxazole, but only ethyl dithioacetate gave a purine derivative with 6 . Methyl 2,5-anhydro- d -allonoimidate hydrochloride reacted with 2 to yield 2-β- d -ribofuranosylbenzoxazole, but failed to react with compound 6 . On reaction with compound 6 such fully acylated thioimidates as ethyl and benzyl 2,5-anhydrotri- O -benzoyl- or tri- O - p -toluoyl- d -allonothiomidate hydrochloride yielded amidines that underwent aromatization of the furanose ring. Such monoacylated thioimidates as ethyl or benzyl 2,5-anhydro-6- O -benzoyl-- d -allonothioimidate hydrochloride yielded, with compound 6 , 8-(5- O -benzoyl-β- d -ribofuranosyl)-1,3-dimethylxanthine, without aromatization. Such dithioates as benzyl 2,5-anhydro-6- O -benzoyl- d -allonodithioate and ethyl 2,5-anhydrotri- O -benzoyl- d -allonodithioate were obtained by treating the corresponding thioimidate with H 2 S in pyridine. With compound 6 , the first yielded 8-(5- O -benzoyl-β- d -ribofuranosyl)-1,3-dimethylxanthine, which afforded the free C -nucleoside 1,3-dimethyl-8-β- d -ribofuranosylxanthine on treatment with methanolic ammonia.