cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Placental Alkaline Phosphatase in Maternal Serum during Normal and Abnormal Pregnancy

THE activity of serum alkaline phosphatase increases during the last trimester of pregnancy. Results of studies employing heat stability1, differential inhibition2 and starch gel electrophoresis3 have suggested that the increase in the last trimester is a consequence of the appearance in the serum of the placental phosphatase isoenzyme. Other studies in humans have suggested that the increase is caused by the appearance of foetal4 or maternal osseous phosphatase5. We have used an immunochemical method suitable for specific and quantitative measurement of individual organ specific alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes from mixtures of isoenzymes6,7. By this method it was possible to determine the level of placental phosphatase activity in venous samples from the maternal circulation during each trimester of both normal and abnormal pregnancies. We report here evidence that the placental phosphatase is present in the maternal circulation during the first trimester of pregnancy and increases during gestation. In abnormal pregnancy, including death in utero, placental phosphatase does not increase proportionally.
To be, or not to be: is that the question?

To elaborate on my paraphrase of the famous line of the Danish prince, I suggest that we pause to consider (perhaps reconsider) the proposed exercise in simulation language standardization. My intent is not to be obstructive, and I beg the indulgence of those of you who are already muttering about "the same old tired arguments against standardization." My purpose is to identify three fundamental questions regarding language standardization, to share with you my answers to these questions, and to explore the rationale emanating from these answers. If the questions are irrelevant, inappropriate, or inconsequential, please accept my apologies. If the questions are relevant, appropriate, and of consequence and, more important, the answers seem meaningful, then perhaps we can perceive clearer directions toward the improvement of simulation methodology.
Alfven wave transport effects in the time evolution of parallel cosmic-ray-modified shocks

Some of the issues associated with a more complete treatment of Alfven transport in cosmic ray shocks are explored qualitatively. The treatment is simplified in some important respects, but some new issues are examined and for the first time a nonlinear, time dependent study of plane cosmic ray mediated shocks with both the entropy producing effects of wave dissipation and effects due to the Alfven wave advection of the cosmic ray relative to the gas is included. Examination of the direct consequences of including the pressure and energy of the Alfven waves in the formalism began.
Structural Transformations in the Nio-Containing Anode of Ceramic Fuel Cells in the Course of its Reduction and Oxidation

We study the role of structural transformations in the nickel phase under the action of reducing and oxidizing high-temperature (600°С) gaseous atmospheres in the formation of the levels of strength and electric conductivity of NiO-containing materials for the anodes-substrates of ceramic fuel cells. By using the cyclic redox treatment (redox cycling) of NiO oxide, which includes the stages of heating in a vacuum up to a fixed temperature (600°С), reduction of the heated material in a Ar–5 vol.% H2 gaseous mixture, degassing, and oxidation in air at the same temperature, we managed to form a structure guaranteeing the improved physicomechanical characteristics of YSZ–Ni and ScCeSZ–Ni composites.
Effects of multiple antibody layers on Arbacia eggs.

Abstract Antibodies formed in rabbits against homogenized sea urchin eggs (R × SU) caused a marked wrinkling of the egg surface and an inhibition of fertilization. Papain digested, univalent antibodies failed to produce these effects. Other bivalent antibodies caused alterations in structure and decreased fertilizability even when displaced by one or two complementary ‘layers’ of univalent antibody, e.g., the sequence: univalent R × SU + bivalent sheep anti-rabbit (S × R) γ globulin; or univalent R × SU + univalent S × R + bivalent rabbit anti-sheep (R × S) γ globulin. The percentage of eggs which could be fertilized following treatment with bivalent antibody never exceeded 10, even when displaced by two ‘layers’ of univalent antibody, while greater than 85% of the control or univalent antibody (one or even two ‘layers’) treated eggs were routinely fertilized. 125Iodine and fluorescein labelling confirmed the association of R × S γ globulin with the sea urchin egg. These data indicate that cross-linking of egg antigens by bivalent antibody directly (R × SU), secondarily (univalent R × SI + bivalent S × R) or tertiarily (univalent R × SU + univalent S × R + bivalent R × S) produces wrinkling of the surface and fertilization inhibition.
Nanoparticle-mediated cytoplasmic delivery of proteins to target cellular machinery.

Despite recent advances in nanomaterial-based delivery systems, their applicability as carriers of cargo, especially proteins for targeting cellular components and manipulating cell function, is not well-understood. Herein, we demonstrate the ability of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles to deliver proteins, including enzymes and antibodies, to a diverse set of mammalian cells, including human cancer cells and rat stem cells, while preserving the activity of the biomolecule post-delivery. Specifically, we have explored the delivery and cytosolic activity of hydrophobically functionalized silica nanoparticle−protein conjugates in a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and rat neural stem cells (NSCs) and elucidated the mechanism of cytosolic transport. Importantly, the proteins were delivered to the cytosol without extended entrapment in the endosomes, which facilitated the retention of biological activity of the delivered proteins. As a result, delivery of ribonuclease A (RNase A) and the antibody to phosp...
Utilizing Multimedia Tools in Undergraduate Thermodynamics

It is well known that the thermodynamics is one of the most complicated subjects for students in the mechanical engineering curriculum. The new web-based Guided Self-Assessment Tool (GSATool) developed at the University of Toledo enables students to become actively engaged in the process of learning, to receive immediate feedback, to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses with the course material, and to better gauge their own learning levels and needs. The present paper describes the GSATool, its specifics and applications.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The conceptual reality of selected distinctive features.

An experiment was conducted in which a large group of subjects was asked to categorize speech stimuli. In each subexperiment, two groups of 10 subjects categorized, with immediate feedback, 90 stim...
Male life-course persistent antisocial behavior: A review of neurodevelopmental factors

Life-course-persistent antisocial behavior, which is almost exclusively male, is arguably the single most important child clinical problem. The neurodevelopmental factors which contribute to this markedly male predominance stem from the greater male vulnerability to inherited and acquired neurodevelopmental impairments which increase the risk for antisocial behavior. The factors that contribute to this greater male vulnerability are discussed, and implications for prevention are presented.
Observation of quantum frequency conversion

Quantum frequency conversion, a process with which an input beam of light can be converted into an output beam of a different frequency while preserving the quantum state, is experimentally demonstrated for the first time. Nonclassical intensity correlation (\ensuremath{\simeq}3 dB) between two beams at 1064 nm is used as the input quantum property. When the frequency of one of the beams is converted from 1064 to 532 nm, nonclassical intensity correlations (\ensuremath{\simeq}1.5 dB) appear between the up-converted beam and the remaining beam. Our measurements are in excellent agreement with the quantum theory of frequency conversion. The development of tunable sources of novel quantum light states seems possible.
Extracorporeal photopheresis in patients with refractory bronchiolitis obliterans developing after allo-SCT

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been shown to be a promising treatment for chronic graft-versus-host disease; however, only a few case reports are available that examine the effectiveness of ECP for bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) after allo-SCT. Because of the poor response to traditional therapies, ECP has been explored as a possible therapeutic option for severe BO after allo-SCT. Nine patients received ECP between July 2008 and August 2009 after a median follow-up of 23 months (range 9-93 months) post transplant. The primary indication for ECP was the development of BO in patients who had failed prior multidrug regimens. The median number of drugs used for BO management before ECP was 5 (range 2-7); this included immunosuppressive therapy. Six of nine (67%) patients responded to ECP after a median of 25 days (range 20-958 days). No ECP-related complications occurred. ECP seemed to stabilize rapidly declining pulmonary function tests in about two-thirds of patients with severe and heavily pretreated BO that developed after allo-SCT. This finding supports the need for a larger prospective study to confirm the impact of ECP on BO, and to consider earlier intervention with ECP to improve the outcome of BO after allo-SCT.
Prevention of Anastomotic Thrombosis by Botulinum Toxin B After Acute Injury in a Rat Model

Purpose Revascularized or replanted digits may fail because of vessel thrombosis. Off-label use of botulinum toxin type A injected subcutaneously has been used successfully in limited case series to treat vasospastic disorders. Botulinum toxin type B (BTX-B) is thought to have an earlier onset of action than type A in certain settings. We used a rat model to determine the ability of BTX-B to decrease vasospasm and prevent thrombosis after acute vessel division and anastomotic repair. Methods We transected and immediately repaired the bilateral femoral arteries and veins of 25 rats via microscopic technique. We measured each vessel's diameter before transection. Each rat had 1 leg randomly assigned to receive BTX-B; the contralateral side received normal saline. We separated the animals into 5 groups. Each group underwent vasospastic stress at a different time point (12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 h) after the anastomoses and treatment with BTX-B or saline. Vasospastic stress included a lower extremity cold temperature challenge and systemic treatment with phenylephrine. After vasospastic stress, we reopened the wounds and recorded vessel thrombosis and diameter. Results Vessel thrombosis rate was lower in the BTX-B–treated group of vessels compared with those receiving placebo. Thrombosis rate was 8% for BTX-B–treated arteries versus 68% for saline-treated arteries. Thrombosis rate was 20% for BTX-B–treated veins versus 76% for saline-treated veins. Overall vessel thrombosis rate was significantly lower for BTX-B at all time points except at 120 hours when no thrombotic events occurred for either group. Average increase in diameter for BTX-B–treated vessels was significantly greater than that for the controls regardless of patency. Conclusions BTX-B prevented or reduced the incidence of thrombosis after acute vessel anastomosis in this rat model at all time points less than 120 hours compared with placebo. The average final vessel diameter throughout the series of BTX-B–treated vessels was significantly larger than in the control group. Clinical relevance The use of BTX-B may improve the success rate of microvascular anastomoses by being protective against vasospastic stress and subsequent thrombosis.
Nitrate in the Mississippi River and Its Tributaries, 1980 to 2008: Are We Making Progress?

Changes in nitrate concentration and flux between 1980 and 2008 at eight sites in the Mississippi River basin were determined using a new statistical method that accommodates evolving nitrate behavior over time and produces flow-normalized estimates of nitrate concentration and flux that are independent of random variations in streamflow. The results show that little consistent progress has been made in reducing riverine nitrate since 1980, and that flow-normalized concentration and flux are increasing in some areas. Flow-normalized nitrate concentration and flux increased between 9 and 76% at four sites on the Mississippi River and a tributary site on the Missouri River, but changed very little at tributary sites on the Ohio, Iowa, and Illinois Rivers. Increases in flow-normalized concentration and flux at the Mississippi River at Clinton and Missouri River at Hermann were more than three times larger than at any other site. The increases at these two sites contributed much of the 9% increase in flow-nor...
A discussion on nocturnal temperature profiles

Observations of the nocturnal temperature profile up to 500 m and of the surface micrometeorological variables were obtained at Philippsburg (F.R.G.) in the frame of the Mesoklip experiment. This data set forms the experimental basis for this work. Our main aims are: the validation of the analytical model due to Anfossi et al., 1976 (Q. Jl R. met. Soc. 102,173–180) with data collected in a complex terrain; the verification of a new method suggested by Surridge, 1986 (Atmospheric Environment20, 803–806) to improve the forecast of the cited model; to state which measured temperature fall (at ground or at screen height) better fits the lower boundary condition imposed to the heat diffusion equation in order to derive our solution; to evaluate the ability of the model to estimate the nocturnal ground level temperatures.
Perforant pathway lamination in the dentate gyrus is unaffected by prenatal ethanol exposure.

The entorhinal (perforant path) projection to the dentate gyrus was labeled with an anterograde horseradish peroxidase method to test whether prenatal exposure to ethanol affected the normal development of afferent lamination. Mean ethanol consumption of the ethanol-consuming dams was 12.7 g/kg±0.3 g per day during days 1–21 of gestation. Adult offspring of normal and pair-fed controls as well as ethanol-exposed rats were analyzed. Computer-assisted image analysis of the entorhinal terminal field organization revealed no permanent changes in the development of the afferent lamination pattern in the dentate gyrus molecular layer in spite of the heavy in utero ethanol exposure.
Kinetic reactions of calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions at the enamel surface-solution interface.

Surfaces of tooth enamel were interfaced with recirculating solutions containing calcium and phosphate. The kinetic interfacial reactions of calcium, phosphate, fluoride, and hydrogen ions were determined in solutions of constant fluoride ion concentrations (0.012, 0.025, 0.050, 0.250, or 0.500 mM/l) and /or constant pH (6.8, 7.0, 7.2, or 7.4). The rates of the calcium, phosphate, fluoride, and hydrogen ion reactions at the solid-solution interface increased under the following conditions: (1) increase of the enamel surface area; (2) increase of the rates of solution flow to the interface; (3) increase of solution pH; and (4) increase of the solution fluoride ion concentration. The nearly proportional rates of the concurrently measured reactions indicated the formation of apatitic minerals on the enamel surfaces throughout the time of solid-solution interface.
Connecting to Students: Launching Instant Messaging Reference at Binghamton University

Abstract Binghamton University Libraries implemented an IM reference service using the Trillian client to monitor multiple IM accounts at two distinct reference service points. This paper addresses the process and practical considerations of implementing the service including selection of the appropriate software, creation of IM accounts for each service, development of a staffing schedule, and training of reference staff. Also included is an outline of future plans for improving IM services for students and academic library users.
Mapping equivalence under iterative dynamics for symbolic sequences

In order to employ powerful tools in signal processing to analyze symbolic sequences, a mapping is commonly applied first to transform the symbolic sequences to numerical sequences. Therefore it is important to investigate the role of the mapping in the final analysis results. The concepts of mapping equivalence and related theory have been proposed previously for the case where the data is processed by an operator for only once. However, many operators such as de-noising filter, smoothing filter and certain algorithm may be utilized multiple times. In this paper, we extend the concepts of mapping equivalence to the case of iterations of operators. We provide various theoretical results on determining the equivalence of two mappings. We also establish the connection of analysis robustness to the proposed mapping equivalence concepts. We provide numerical examples to illustrate and justify our theoretical results.
HPLC Determination of a Metoclopramide and Ondansetron Mixture in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection

Abstract A high performance liquid chromatography procedure has been developed for the assay of a metoclopramide and ondansetron mixture in 0.9% sodium chloride injection. The separation and quantitation are achieved on a base deactivated octylsilane column at ambient temperature using a mobile phase of 77:23 v/v 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 4-acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with detection of analytes at 273 nm. The separation is achieved within 15–20 min with sensitivity in the ng/mL range for each analyte. The method showed linearity for metoclopramide and ondansetron in the 12.5–50 and 5–20 μ/mL ranges, respectively. Accuracy and precision were in the 1–2% and 0.3–1.3% ranges, respectively, for both drugs. The limits of detection for metoclopramide and ondansetron were 49 and 20 ng/mL, respectively, based on a signal to noise ratio of 3 and a 20 μL injection.
A scripting framework for automated flight SW testing: Van Allen Probes lessons learned

This paper summarizes the lessons learned from implementing and utilizing an automated flight software test framework for the Van Allen Probes mission. This includes a recommended list of features/characteristics that a test framework should support. This paper also presents two test scripting design patterns that are useful for constructing an automated regression test suite. These design patterns are intended for non-object-oriented scripting environments - which is typical of space mission ground systems. A process flow is described for developing and utilizing an automated test scripting framework for future missions based upon the design patterns presented herein.
Should we delete the elite from cooperative learning? A response to VanTassel-Baska, Landrum, and Peterson

Cooperative learning is effective with high achievers. Many studies comparing cooperative and traditional methods have tested for pretest by treatment interactions, and have found none (see Slavin, 1990a). One recent study (Slavin, 1991a) analyzed the results of a two-year experiment in suburban elementary schools according to students' pretest levels. On standardized tests of reading and math, students in the top 10% and top 5% of their grades learned more in the cooperative schools than in the comparison schools. The cooperative learning approaches used, Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition, or CIRC (Stevens, Madden, Slavin, & Famish, 1987) and Team Assisted Individualization, or TAI (Slavin, 1985) allow for acceleration within the heterogeneous classroom. The idea that high achievers must be separated out for instruction or cannot profit from cooperative learning is simply not supported by any evidence. In a recent article in this journal, VanTassel-Baska, Landrum, and Peterson (1992) critique articles by myself (Slavin, 1991b) and by Cosden & Haring (1992) on the basis that the value of cooperative learning for gifted students is questionable. They do not define "gifted," but I will assume that they mean students in the top 3-5% of the achievement distribution. I'll further define "high achiever" as a student in the top 33% in a given subject. VanTassel-Baska et al. are correct in stating that there is
An assessment of female university students’ attitudes toward screening technologies for ovarian reserve

Objective To assess female university students' attitudes toward screening technologies for ovarian reserve and their potential influence on career and family planning decisions. Design Online survey. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Respondents from 4 universities in Northern California. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Proportion with interest in screening technologies for ovarian reserve. Result(s) Of the 328 respondents, 79% were interested in learning about the current status of their ovarian reserve. Hypothetically, if informed that ovarian reserve was very low, 53% would consider oocyte cryopreservation (even when informed that it is experimental); however, only 29% would consider stopping educational or professional pursuits to focus on conceiving. Participants also demonstrated gaps in knowledge, believing that the decline in ovarian reserve starts later than it actually does, that diet and nutrition can preserve ovarian reserve, and that infertility treatments are highly effective regardless of how severe the depletion of the egg supply is. Conclusion(s) Women attending universities are interested in assessing their own ovarian reserve. Gaps in knowledge about ovarian reserve exist among these reproductive-aged women.
Benefit of the Wardecker Waterer to Colonies of Honey Bees During Stress and Nonstress Situations

The Wardecker watering device was beneficial to colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera L., stressed by confinement, heat, and lack of water in the desert southwest. The benefits included larger populations of adult bees, more sealed brood, less mortality of unsealed brood, and no mortality of queens or colonies. Colonies in the northern Rocky Mountain area where such stress did not occur did not benefit from the waterer, and those without it generally had more bees, brood, and honey.
A Stable Energy Saving Adaptive Control Scheme for Building Heating and Cooling Systems

This paper presents a stable, nonlinear, adaptive control scheme for building heating and cooling systems. The proposed controller utilizes the principle of adaptive one step ahead control and aims at reducing the energy consumed for heating or cooling a building. The design steps are discussed in details and a proof of global stability is also provided. Also, the performance of the proposed controller is demonstrated on a simulated building thermal model.
International Trade under Inconvertible Paper

I. Introductory, 360. — The purchasing-power-parity doctrine; objections to it, 361. — II. The foreign exchange markets, 364. — General method; basic assumptions, 367. — The principal media of international payment, 368. — Mechanism of the exchange market; equilibrium tendencies, 369. — The formula for media of payment; for the exchange rate, 376. — The short-run par of exchange under paper, 379. — III. The commodity markets, 383. — The relations between prices of media of payment and of commodities, 385. — The formula for exports and imports; nature of the equilibrium tendencies, 389. — Changes in the volume of commodity movements, 392. — Mechanism of the exchange and commodity markets in a specific case of disturbance, 394. — Summary of results to this point, 398. — IV. Long-run aspects, 399. — Long-run results of the specific disturbance previously examined, 400. — Relations between domestic and international prices, 404. — The business cycle, 408. — The paper par of exchange, 410. — Conclusion, 411.
Comment on Eskenazi et al.

I enjoyed the hypothesis of Eskenazi et al. regarding the possible fitness promoting effects of mutant alleles in Huntington disease [1]. As Eskenazi et al. point out, the mutant Huntington disease allele is a plausible candidate for an antagonistically pleiotropic genetic effect as postulated by Williams in his famous proposal regarding the origins of senescence [2]. This is not, however, a novel idea [3,4]. Eskenazi et al. deserve credit for proposing a specific mechanism of enhanced early fitness – increased activity of p53 and consequent better health. In the industrialized world, however, mutant Huntington disease allele carriers do not enjoy better health. The universal clinical experience with these unfortunate individuals is that they actually experience early mortality in part because they suffer more severe consequences of routine chronic illnesses. Huntington disease victims are terrible patients; they miss appointments for preventative medical and dental care frequently and don’t take prescribed medications appropriately. Physicians are also less likely to diagnose and treat other medical problems in Huntington disease victims. This latter fact may account for Sorensen et al. describing less cancer mortality in Danish Huntington disease victims [5]. Nonetheless, the idea that some human genetic diseases are examples of antagonistic pleiotropy is intriguing and should be pursued.
A possible zebrafish model of polycystic kidney disease: knockdown of wnt5a causes cysts in zebrafish kidneys.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common causes of end-stage kidney disease, a devastating disease for which there is no cure. The molecular mechanisms leading to cyst formation in PKD remain somewhat unclear, but many genes are thought to be involved. Wnt5a is a non-canonical glycoprotein that regulates a wide range of developmental processes. Wnt5a works through the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway that regulates oriented cell division during renal tubular cell elongation. Defects of the PCP pathway have been found to cause kidney cyst formation. Our paper describes a method for developing a zebrafish cystic kidney disease model by knockdown of the wnt5a gene with wnt5a antisense morpholino (MO) oligonucleotides. Tg(wt1b:GFP) transgenic zebrafish were used to visualize kidney structure and kidney cysts following wnt5a knockdown. Two distinct antisense MOs (AUG - and splice-site) were used and both resulted in curly tail down phenotype and cyst formation after wnt5a knockdown. Injection of mouse Wnt5a mRNA, resistant to the MOs due to a difference in primary base pair structure, rescued the abnormal phenotype, demonstrating that the phenotype was not due to “off-target” effects of the morpholino. This work supports the validity of using a zebrafish model to study wnt5a function in the kidney.
High-temperature dynamic mechanical testing of ceramic fibers: Apparatus and preliminary results

A test apparatus is described for the dynamic testing of single ceramic fibers from room temperature to 1600°C using forced vibration sine wave displacements from 0.1 to 25 Hz. Both storage (elastic, real or in-phase) and loss (dissipative, imaginary or out-of-phase) components of the dynamic modulus are obtained. The deconvolution equations required to extract isothermal data from a non-uniform (parabolic) temperature distribution are presented. Preliminary data on sapphire filaments and CVD silicon carbide fibers are discussed. The results show the validity of the testing method and data, which are in good agreement with available literature data on similar materials.
NMDA receptor modulation of incidental learning in Pavlovian context conditioning.

Rats exposed to a footshock show conditional fear when reexposed to the shock context. Immediate presentation of shock after placement in the context significantly reduces this fear. Preexposure to the context in the absence of shock, coupled with a minimum preshock interval during training, overcomes this immediate shock deficit. Because rats learn about the context during preexposure and express that learning after being reinforced, the context preexposure effect is an aversive analogue of latent learning. The authors examined the effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphovalerate (APV) on the facilitatory effect of context preexposure. Rats were preexposed to a chamber after APV administration. The next day they were placed in the same chamber without drug and received shock 35 s later. APV blocked the facilitatory effect of preexposure. Therefore, NMDA receptors are important for contextual latent learning.
The vertebroplasty affair: the mysterious case of the disappearing effect size.

For instance, in 1997, an early report on the treatment of 47 osteoporotic compression fractures with the new vertebroplasty technique [1] found that patients who had severe pain did well, incredibly well. In fact, 90% had pain relief within 24 hours. In short order, another group reported ‘‘complete pain relief’’ in 78% of patients with osteoporotic compression fractures treated with vertebroplasty [2]. Not to be outdone, a third group in 1998 reported ‘‘immediate . complete relief of symptoms’’ in 90% of 80 patients with osteoporosis treated with vertebroplasty [3]. Onward and upward, an arms race for more and more fantastic results, no control groups need apply. Within a short period of time, vertebroplasty for osteoporotic compression fractures had become extremely common. Podium presentations, including those at North American Spine Society (NASS)’s annual meeting, sometimes described thousands of vertebroplasties performed; comically good results were confidently proclaimed amid a stroboscopic flashing of radiographs depicting expertly placed cement; brief, blurred slides causally confirmed complications so rare that venipuncture seemed more hazardous. Impressive case series abounded. Superior outcomes were claimed to last for 6 months or moredperhaps 1 year or may be 2 years [4]? Spin-off products, such as kyphoplasty, reportedly improved on the practically perfect. Societies and governing bodies praised the clever innovation, sounded the trumpet, and, sotto voce, both
Network tomography using genetic algorithms

Wide Area Network monitoring has become increasingly important to deliver QoS demanded by customers of Skype, Facebook, Twitter etc or to detect/prevent attacks on networks carrying out sensitive tasks e.g. SCADA networks controlling the electrical grid. Unfortunately the task of monitoring paths becomes increasingly prohibitive as the size of the network increases. Fortunately, recent research has devised interesting approaches for Network Tomography using dimensionality reduction to first simplify the scope of the problem by choosing vital network parameters that must be monitored and then applying statistical techniques to make accurate prediction for unmonitored network parameters from monitored; thus making the problem of monitoring large networks scalable. The latter part of network parameter prediction falls in the domain of optimization problems. Recent work on biologically inspired genetic approaches to solving such optimization problems offers much flexibility in finding an optimal solution. We investigate the feasibility on using genetic algorithms for the network tomography problem.
Nkrumahism as an Ideological Embodiment of Leftist Thought Within the African World

One of the most serious deficiencies facing the African World today is its apparent lack of ideological clarity and unity. This grave weakness leaves the African masses without that most effective weapon to harness their energies throughout the world in an effort to guide them toward collective action in the pursuit of common aims and objectives. This problem, nay crisis, is especially distressing in light of the abundance of historical evidence that substantiates the supposition that Africans on the mainland and those in the diaspora have been suffering from and responding to a common historical experience in a manner that has not been qualitatively different from one region of the world to another (Padmore, 1931; James, 1969; DuBois, 1970). That this common historical experience has been shaped by centuries of political-economic domination resulting from European insufficiency and expansionism is without question.
Educational approaches for discouraging plagiarism

Suggested approaches to reduce the occurrence of plagiarism in academia, particularly among trainees. These include (1) educating individuals as to the definition of plagiarism and its consequences through written guidelines, active discussions, and practice in identifying proper and improper citation practices; (2) distributing checklists that break the writing task into more manageable steps, (3) requiring the submission of an outline and then a first draft prior to the deadline for a paper; (4) making assignments relevant to individual interests; and (5) providing trainees with access to software programs that detect plagiarism.
Decreased Npc1 Gene Dosage in Mice Is Associated With Weight Gain

A recent genome-wide association study has determined that the Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) gene is associated with early-onset and morbid adult obesity. However, what effects of the nonsynonymous variation in NPC1 on protein function result in weight gain remains unknown. The NPC1 heterozygous mouse model (Npc1+/−), which expresses one-half the normal amounts of functional Npc1 protein compared to the homozygous normal (Npc1+/+) mouse, was used to determine whether decreased Npc1 gene dosage was associated with weight gain when fed either a low-fat (10% kcal fat) or high-fat (45% kcal fat) diet beginning at 4 weeks of age until 20 weeks of age. The results indicated that Npc1+/− mice had significantly increased weight gain beginning at 13 weeks of age when fed a high-fat diet, but not when fed a low-fat diet, compared to the Npc1+/+ mice fed the same diet. With respect to mice fed a high-fat diet, the Npc1+/− mice continued to have significantly increased weight gain to 30 weeks of age. At this age, the Npc1+/− mice were found to have increased liver and inguinal adipose weights compared to the Npc1+/+ mice. Therefore, decreased Npc1 gene dosage resulting in decreased Npc1 protein function, promoted weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet consistent with a gene–diet interaction.
Isolation and characterization of cellulose-degrading bacteria from the deep subsurface of the Homestake gold mine, Lead, South Dakota, USA.

The present study investigated the cultivable mesophilic (37°C) and thermophilic (60°C) cellulose-degrading bacterial diversity in a weathered soil-like sample collected from the deep subsurface (1.5 km depth) of the Homestake gold mine in Lead, South Dakota, USA. Chemical characterization of the sample by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy revealed a high amount of toxic heavy metals such as Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Molecular community structures were determined by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences retrieved from enrichment cultures growing in presence of microcrystalline cellulose as the sole source of carbon. All phylotypes retrieved from enrichment cultures were affiliated to Firmicutes. Cellulose-degrading mesophilic and thermophilic pure cultures belonging to the genera Brevibacillus, Paenibacillus, Bacillus, and Geobacillus were isolated from enrichment cultures, and selected cultures were studied for enzyme activities. For a mesophilic isolate (DUSELG12), the optimum pH and temperature for carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) were 5.5 and 55°C, while for a thermophilic isolate (DUSELR7) they were 5.0 and 75°C, respectively. Furthermore, DUSELG12 retained about 40% CMCase activity after incubation at 60°C for 8 h. Most remarkably, thermophilic isolate, DUSELR7 retained 26% CMCase activity at 60°C up to a period of 300 h. Overall, the present work revealed the presence of different cellulose-degrading bacterial lineages in the unique deep subsurface environment of the mine. The results also have strong implications for biological conversion of cellulosic agricultural and forestry wastes to commodity chemicals including sugars.
Sugar creates a sticky business: round up the usual suspects.

In Humphrey Bogart’s classic movie, Casablanca, Claude Rains gives orders to round up the usual suspects. In the movie, the effort is intended to be futile. In many complex diseases such as diabetes mellitus, the variety of suspects is bewildering. For diabetes those accused include serum factors such as glucose, insulin, advanced glycation end products, 1 lipids, and lipoproteins; leukocytes and the molecules that control their activation and adhesiveness; 2 growth factors and cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), insulin-like growth factor, and connective tissue growth factor; 3-6 intracellular mediators such as mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases, Akt, nuclear factor κB, polyADP ribose polymerase, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, protein kinase C, and aldose reductase; 7,8 vasoactive substances such as endothelin and nitric oxide; 9 and oxygen radicals such as superoxide and the enzymes that control their synthesis. While the medical community’s desire to control these potentially nefarious participants in the pathogenesis of diabetes is sincere, the effort to find a ringleader has been elusive. In this issue of the The American Journal of Pathology, Joussen et al 10 in the laboratory of Anthony Adamis suggest that angiopoietin-1 may have the capability to corral many of these evildoers simultaneously.
Properties of stimuli eliciting vergence eye movements and stereopsis.

Abstract In order to examine how information concerning retinal disparity might be detected by the human visual system, a quantitative examination was made of the limits within which the stimuli imaged on disparate retinal locations may differ for the two eyes in either form, spatial position, luminance or contrast, or in temporal onset, and yet permit appropriate horizontal vergence eye movements to be elicited. In response to brief stimulus presentations, vergence eye movement responses were seen to stimuli so different for the two eyes that they could not be subjectively fused. Moreover, images as dissimilar as these would not permit the eye movement to be completed. Further experiments, performed concurrently, indicated that the limiting image dissimilarities within which vergence eye movement responses can be initiated, were similar to those that permit the images to be subjectively localized in depth.
Trajectories of Symptom Reduction During Treatment for Behavior Problems in Pediatric Primary-Care Settings

We examined trajectories of symptom reduction during the course of on-site treatment for behavior problems in pediatric primary-care settings for a subset of children from a larger clinical trial. Participants (N = 80) were children (ages 6-11) referred for treatment due to moderate elevations (≥75th percentile) on the externalizing subscale of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17). The sample was recruited from six pediatric practices in an urban setting. The treatment (Protocol for an Office-based Nurse-administered Intervention; PONI) was administered on-site by trained nurses over the course of 3-6 months. Overall, symptom reduction from the first session to last session was moderate (ES = 0.61) and gradual. Roughly two-thirds (72%) of symptom reduction took place over the first 8 weeks of treatment. The average trajectory of symptom reduction was characterized by a negative slope that flattened over time, consistent with a quadratic growth model. Initial symptom severity predicted final symptom severity (r = .36, P < .01), even though patients with greater initial symptom severity remained in treatment for a significantly greater number of sessions (r = .24, P < .05). The implications of these findings for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of treatment are discussed.
The Enzymic Synthesis of Dihydropteroate and Dihydrofolate by Plasmodium berghei

SYNOPSIS. Cell-free extracts of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei synthesized dihydropteroate (H2pteroate) and dihydrofolate (H2folate) from 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropteridine (hydroxymethyldihydropteridine) and p-aminobenzoate (pAB) or p-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG). The reaction was demonstrated also in extracts of Plasmodium gallinaceum, Plasmodium lophurae and Plasmodium knowlesi, by the use of a microbiologic assay method and pABG as cosubstrate. Some of the properties of the enzymes involved were investigated in P. berghei preparations, utilizing a radioactive assay which measures the conversion of [7-14C]pAB to [14C]H2pteroate. Apparent Km values of 0.28 μM for [7-14C]pAB, 0.037 mM for pABG and 0.8 μM for hydroxymethyldihydropteridine were obtained. The reaction had absolute requirements for ATP and Mg++, and was stimulated by dithiothreitol. The enzymes required for the reaction were eluted together from Sephadex G-200 columns in a molecular weight range of 200,000–250,000. In bacteria hydroxymethyldihydropteridine is converted 1st by a pyrophosphokinase to pyrophosphorylmethyldihydropteridine, and this compound is then condensed with pAB to form H2pteroate by H2pteroate synthetase. Both enzymic activities were demonstrated in P. berghei preparations and separated by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. The enzymic synthesis of H2pteroate by P. berghei is inhibited by several sulfonamides and diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). The latter compound is shown to be competitive with pAB, with a Ki value of 0.38 μM; pABG is also a competitive inhibitor. These data establish an enzymic basis of support for the evidence obtained in vivo which indicate that malaria synthesize their folate cofactors de novo. It is suggested that the antimalarial action of sulfonamides and DDS is due to their inhibition of plasmodial H2pteroate synthetase.
Optical theorem for acoustic non-diffracting beams and application to radiation force and torque.

Acoustical and optical non-diffracting beams are potentially useful for manipulating particles and larger objects. An extended optical theorem for a non-diffracting beam was given recently in the context of acoustics. The theorem relates the extinction by an object to the scattering at the forward direction of the beam’s plane wave components. Here we use this theorem to examine the extinction cross section of a sphere centered on the axis of the beam, with a non-diffracting Bessel beam as an example. The results are applied to recover the axial radiation force and torque on the sphere by the Bessel beam.
Space infrared detectors from IRAS to SIRTF

This paper presents a brief review of mid and long-wavelength (6 micrometers - 200 micrometers ) infrared detector technology used on space borne astronomical missions. Examples of the focal plane designs from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), and the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) are presented. The major technical innovations considered are low background photoconductors, self-heated amplifiers, Impurity Band Conduction (IBC) detectors, large format arrays, and true cryogenic readout electronics. The impacts of the changing technology base on the kinds of scientific investigations possible are discussed.
Non-pungent functional food components in the water extracts of hot peppers.

Abstract Bhut Jolokia, the hottest pepper in the world, Scotch Bonnet and Jalapeno are hot Capsicum spp. with 1001,304, 250,000–300,000 and 5000 Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), respectively. The SHU is also an indication of varying concentrations of lipid-soluble capsaicinoids present in these hot peppers. However, our studies using lipid peroxidation (LPO) and cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and -2) enzyme assay with the water extracts of these peppers showed similarity in inhibitory activities. Also, chromatographic analyses of water extracts of these hot peppers showed identical profiles except for the capsaicinoids. This prompted us to investigate the water-soluble compounds in these pepper extracts with LPO and COX enzyme inhibitory activities. A bioassay-guided investigation of the water extract of Scotch Bonnet pepper afforded compounds 1 – 6 , also common in Jalapeno and Bhut Jolokia water extracts. Compounds 1–6 inhibited LPO by 73%, 45%, 20%, 43%, 16% and 72%, respectively, and COX-1 and -2 enzymes by 14–72% and 30–31%. Most of these compounds showed higher COX-1 inhibitory activity similar to aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. However, compound 5 showed higher COX-2 enzyme inhibition similar to Celebrex, a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug. Compound 1 is novel; 2 , 3 , 5 and 6 were isolated from genus Capsicum for the first time .
Identification by Mutagenesis of Conserved Arginine and Tryptophan Residues in Rat Liver Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase I Important for Catalytic Activity

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I catalyzes the conversion of long-chain acyl-CoA to acylcarnitines in the presence of l-carnitine. To determine the role of the conserved arginine and tryptophan residues on catalytic activity in the liver isoform of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (L-CPTI), we separately mutated five conserved arginines and two tryptophans to alanine. Substitution of arginine residues 388, 451, and 606 with alanine resulted in loss of 88, 82, and 93% of L-CPTI activity, respectively. Mutants R601A and R655A showed less than 2% of the wild type L-CPTI activity. A change of tryptophan 391 and 452 to alanine resulted in 50 and 93% loss in carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity, respectively. The mutations caused decreases in catalytic efficiency of 80-98%. The residual activity in the mutant L-CPTIs was sensitive to malonyl-CoA inhibition. Mutants R388A, R451A, R606A, W391A, and W452A had no effect on the K(m) values for carnitine or palmitoyl-CoA. However, these mutations decreased the V(max) values for both substrates by 10-40-fold, suggesting that the main effect of the mutations was to decrease the stability of the enzyme-substrate complex. We suggest that conserved arginine and tryptophan residues in L-CPTI contribute to the stabilization of the enzyme-substrate complex by charge neutralization and hydrophobic interactions. The predicted secondary structure of the 100-amino acid residue region of L-CPTI, containing arginines 388 and 451 and tryptophans 391 and 452, consists of four alpha-helices similar to the known three-dimensional structure of the acyl-CoA-binding protein. We predict that this 100-amino acid residue region constitutes the putative palmitoyl-CoA-binding site in L-CPTI.
Accounting for Emissions Trading: How Allowances Appear on the Financial Statements Could Influence the Effectiveness of Programs to Curb Pollution

Cap-and-trade programs to curb carbon emissions frequently rely on the use of tradeable emissions credits known as "allowances." To date, companies' presentations of their usage of these allowances on their financial statements has not been uniform. Cap-and-trade programs will be most effective when presentation of allowances on financial statements is standardized, since all companies will be forced to be transparent about their methods of compliance with carbon emissions trading systems. Therefore, the FASB and the IASB should implement standards for the presentation of allowances on the financial statements.
Diagnosis, Intervention, and Cure: The Illness Narrative in the Discourse of the Failed State:

Failed-states discourse rests on an illness narrative. As the failing state battles against invasion by the terrorism “virus,” the United States serves as physician, diagnosing, treating, and sometimes “curing” the patient. The well state exists in a dominant power relationship vis-a-vis the sick state and the sick state has no voice in decision making regarding its future. Just as sick people have less autonomy than those who are well, sick states have less sovereignty than healthy ones. An uncooperative patient may be deemed incompetent and treated without his consent. Constructivist and feminist analyses of the medical process can shed light on and help in our creation of a revisionist/feminist analysis of the failed-state paradigm.