cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autonomic patterns during respiratory suspensions: possible markers of Transcendental Consciousness.

In two experiments, we investigated physiological correlates of transcendental consciousness during Transcendental Meditation® sessions. In the first, experimenter-initiated bells, based on observed physiological patterns, marked three phases during a Transcendental Meditation session in 16 individuals. Interrater reliability between participant and experimenter classification of experiences at each bell was quite good. During phases including transcendental consciousness experiences, skin conductance responses and heart rate deceleration occurred at the onset of respiratory suspensions or reductions in breath volume. In the second experiment, this autonomic pattern was compared with that during forced breath holding. Phasic autonomic activity was significantly higher at respiratory suspension onset than at breath holding onset. These easily measured markers could help focus research on the existence and characteristics of transcendental consciousness.
Response Differences between Human CD4+ and CD8+ T-Cells during CD28 Costimulation: Implications for Immune Cell-Based Therapies and Studies Related to the Expansion of Double-Positive T-Cells during Aging

Since CD28 costimulation is critical for T-cell activation, there is great interest in CD28 as a target for immuntherapeutic approaches. We show that stimulation of human CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells differs in their responsiveness to stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28-coated beads, as surrogate antigen-presenting cells. While the CD4(+) subset responded with sustained proliferation, CD8(+) T-cells grew for a limited period only and failed to produce IL-2 beyond the first few days in culture. This decrease is accompanied with an increased rate of apoptosis in CD8(+) T-cells despite Bcl-x(L) expression. The CD8(+) but not the CD4(+) subset developed a reversible double-positive phenotype during CD28 costimulation. This finding may have some bearing on the appearance of double-positive T-cells in human peripheral blood. This double-positive subset was shown to undergo a statistically significantly increase during aging in humans. Taken together, the above data have important implications for immunotherapy and immune senescence.
Simulation of ground-penetrating radar waves in a 2-D soil model

We have developed a pseudospectral forward modeling algorithm for ground-penetrating radar (GPR) based on an explicit solution of the 2-D lossy electromagnetic wave equation. Complex soil structures can be accommodated with heterogeneous spatial distributions of both wave velocity and electrical conductivity. This algorithm uses a Gaussian line source with uniform directivity, and there are conductive buffer regions surrounding the soil model to approximate absorbing boundary conditions. Three soil models are used to illustrate different aspects of radar wave propagation. The first model is lossless with homogeneous layers imbedded in a homogeneous background medium, the second model has the same lossless layers in a lossy background medium, and the third model is lossless and uses a nonsaturated water flow simulation to create a complex spatial velocity distribution. Two separate simulations with different source frequencies are presented for each soil model. Results indicate that higher frequency GPR will produce a sharper wavelet and can map soil layering structures with high resolution. In a conductive soil, however, higher frequencies attenuate more rapidly and the radar may not detect deeper layers.
An anomaly concerning ties in lotto-like games

Abstract Consider the following game: Each of the n players independently picks a number from 1 through m according to a given probability distribution, and the winner is the player who selected the lowest of the n numbers. A tie occurs if two or more players both selected the lowest number. Surprisingly, contrary to intuition for certain distributions (including one which arises in a version of Bingo, the probability of a tie does not increase montonically. However, as we show the tie probability does increase monotonically when the probability distribution is monotonically non-increasing.
Shock-tube measurements of end-wall radiative heat transfer in air.

Measurements of radiative heat transfer to the end wall of a shock tube are presented for incident shock velocities from 6.5 to 9.5 mm/jusec and an initial driven tube pressure of 1-mm Hg. A thin film heat- transfer gage, mounted behind a sapphire window at the end of an arc driven shock tube, was used to measure the radiative flux behind reflected shock waves in air and in the wavelength region of 0.17 to 6 jit. Radiative heating rates in excess of 150 kw/cm2 were observed. For the conditions of the experiment, it is shown that equilibrium radiation dominates the end- wall heat transfer, and the experimental data are compared with equilibrium air radiation calculations for a transparent, homogeneous gas. For the higher shock velocities, the data are found to be factors of 2 or more lower than this prediction. Calculations are also presented to show the importance of radiative cooling and self- absorption. These calculations are compared with the data and the importance of these phenomena are discussed.
Extraction of prodigiosin from blood plasma and body tissues and its measurement by spectrophotometric analysis.

Satisfactory methods have been developed to extract prodigiosin from samples of blood plasma and various body tissues. They depend on the preferential solubility of the dye in petroleum ether or in acid chloroform over that in blood plasma or in tissue fluids. The concentration of prodigiosin in these extracts may be measured accurately by spectrophotometric analysis, using the appropriate wave lengths of the absorption band of the dye in the solvents Amounts as small as 0.1 micrograms per milliliter may be detected in a reproducible manner.
A technique for designing flat lenses using artificially engineered materials

In this work, we present a new systematic technique for the design of a flat lens using modified commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) materials, as opposed to metamaterials that are often required in lens designs based on the Transformation Optics (TO) approach. While lens designs based on Ray Optics (RO) do not suffer from the above drawback of having to use metamaterials, they still require dielectric materials that may not be precisely available off-the-shelf. This paper describes a systematic procedure for realizing the desired materials by modifying the COTS types, and illustrates its application with a practical example.
Superconductivity and magnetic ordering in YBa 2 (Cu 1- x Fe x ) 3 O 7

Transverse-and zero-field μSR measurements have been made for YBa2(Cu1−x Fe x )3O7 withx=0.04, 0.08 and 0.12. The temperature range studied was from approximately 7.5 K to 100 K. The onset of magnetic ordering commences at about 7.5 K forx=0.04, 10 K forx=0.08 and 20 K forx=0.12. The Gaussian depolarization parameter, σ ofG x (t) = exp(−σ2 t 2/2), is depressed by a factor of about 0.6 forx=0.04, but for thex=0.08 sample σ is depressed by a factor of 10 and increasing suppression is seen as the temperature is lowered below 45 K. This decrease in σ is interpreted in terms of decreasing electronic mean free paths.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE DESIGN, CONTROL AND OPERATION OF FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS.

The roles of the supervisor in computerized process control and computerized discrete part manufacturing are compared. Research strategies aimed at understanding the decision processes of the operator in supervising flexible manufacturing systems are outlined and methodologies for assessing the optimal allocation of functions between the human and computer in flexible manufacturing systems are discussed.
Phylogenetic relationships among North American Toads, genus Bufo☆

Abstract Relationships among 14 species of North American Bufo were studied using the quantitative immunological technique of micro-complement fixation. Separate antisera to serum albumins of five North American Bufo and one Central American Bufo were used as probes of phylogenetic relationships. A cladogram for these species constructed with the albumin data was compatible with phylogenetic interpretations based on morphological analyses and hybridization studies. Using albumin as a molecular dating device radiations within the B. americanus, B. cognatus and B. boreas species groups were each estimated to be Pleistocene events. Separation of North and Central American lineages is estimated to have occurred as early as the upper Oligocene.
Algorithms for automatic interpretation of high resolution mass spectra.

Automated interpretation of high-resolution mass spectra in a reliable and efficient manner represents a highly challenging computational problem. This work aims at developing methods for reducing a high-resolution mass spectrum into its monoisotopic peak list, and automatically assigning observed masses to known fragment ion masses if the protein sequence is available. The methods are compiled into a suite of data reduction algorithms which is called MasSPIKE (Mass Spectrum Interpretation and Kernel Extraction). MasSPIKE includes modules for modeling noise across the spectrum, isotopic cluster identification, charge state determination, separation of overlapping isotopic distributions, picking isotopic peaks, aligning experimental and theoretical isotopic distributions for estimating a monoisotopic peak’s location, generating the monoisotopic mass list, and assigning the observed monoisotopic masses to possible protein fragments. The method is tested against a complex top-down spectrum of bovine carbonic anhydrase. Results of each of the individual modules are compared with previously published work.
Theory of activator systems in luminescent solids

The theory of localized activator systems in ionic phosphors is reviewed. The monovalent thallium and divalent manganese activator systems are treated quantitatively in detail. The importance of the nonspherical symmetry of the electron distribution of excited Tl+ and Mn2+ is emphasized. The excitation and emission spectra are evaluated both classically and quantum mechanically from the energies of the accessible atomic configurations of the activator system in the ground and emitting states, respectively. The origin of the fine structure of emission of the tetravalent manganese activator systems is discussed. Modifications in the theory are proposed for covalent luminescent solids such as the zinc sulphide phosphors.
The Difference that Class Makes: Neoliberalization and Non-Capitalism in the Fishing Industry of New England

: Fishing economies are typically represented as pre-capitalist and as a barrier to capital accumulation rather than as an alternative economy with its own potentials. Privatization (and capitalism) appears logical and inevitable because “there is no alternative” described or given. The class analysis presented here focuses on questions of property and subjectivity and describes fishing as a non-capitalist and community-based economy consonant with both a tradition of common property and an image of “fishermen” as independent and interested in fairness and equity. While the latter is associated with a neoliberal subject aligned with the capitalist economy, a class analysis of fishing repositions “fishermen” as community subjects aligned with a community economy.
Diverse Urban Youth's Nature: Implications for Environmental Education

Diverse urban youth are a priority for environmental education. This project focused on urban youth's perceptions of nature and suggestions for environmental education. A mixed-methods approach addressed urban youth through (1) informal discussions and questionnaires, (2) an autophotography project, and (3) interviews. This effort supported previous research, extended current literature, and generated ideas to enhance environmental education. Effective environmental education should center education on flora, present nature as a system, include interactive activities, and create programs from the youth's perspective.
MOVING DOWN THE ROAD: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY

This study examines the relationship between 34 personal, demographic, and environmental characteristics of community college transfer students and their academic performance over a 2‐year period. The subjects for the study were 267 transfer students admitted to a research university during a fall semester. Data on the characteristics were collected through a survey and analyzed in relation to first and second semester GPAs and second year GPAs. Five characteristics showed a consistent statistical relationship with three or more GPA measures. A multiple regression analysis was used to identify which of these characteristics were useful in predicting the GPAs of the transfer students based on their previous backgrounds and attitudes.
The pathophysiology of stress ulcer disease

Stress ulcers are superficial mucosal lesions located predominantly in the fundus of the stomach. They occur mainly in the victims of severe trauma and sepsis and are to be clearly distinguished from Cushing's ulcers, ulcers induced by drugs and from activation of a preexistent ulcer. It is generally agreed that mucosal ischemia is the major inciting event in the pathogenesis of acute stress ulceration of the stomach and that the presence of luminal acid and pepsin are required for overt ulceration to develop. Back-diffusion of acid occurs in the absence of overt disruption of the gastric mucosal barrier, is closely related to the formation of ulcers, and may be enhanced by reflux of duodenal content into the stomach and by diffusion of blood urea into the stomach. Severe acidosis and base deficit together with depression of acid secretion and consequent lowering of alkaline tide are important contributing factors. A differential energy deficit in fundic mucosa as a result of ischemia probably contributes to mucosa damage by interfering with anion exchange (HCO 3 − for Cl−). The exact role of steroids and prostaglandins is controversial.
Characteristics of partially purified nerve growth factor receptor

: Receptors for the nerve growth factor protein (NGF) have been isolated from three cell types [embryonic chicken sensory neurons (dorsal root sensory ganglia; DRG), rat pheochromocytoma (PC 12) and human neuroblastoma (LAN-1) cells] and have been shown to be similar with respect to equilibrium dissociation constants. The present results demonstrate that there are multiple molecular weight species for NGF receptors from DRG neurons and PC 12 cells. NGF receptors can be isolated from DRG as four different molecular species of 228, 187, 125, and 112 kilodaltons, and PC 12 cells as three molecular species of 203, 118, and 107 kilodaltons. The NGF receptors isolated from DRG show different pH-binding profiles for high-and low-affinity binding. High-affinity binding displays a bell-shaped pH profile with maximum binding between pH 7.0 and 7.9, whereas low-affinity binding is constant between pH 5.0 and 9.1, with a twofold greater binding at pH 3.6. At 22°C, the association rate constant was found to be 9.5 ± 1.0 ± 106M-1 S-1. Two dissociation rate constants were observed. The fast dissociating receptor has a dissociation rate constant of 3.0 ± 1.5 ± 10-2 S-1, whereas the slow dissociating receptor constant was 2.4 ± 1.0 ± 10-4S-1. The equilibrium dissociation constants calculated from the ratio of dissociation to association rate constants are 2.5 ± 10-11M for the high-affinity receptor (type I) and 3.2 ± 10-9M for the low-affinity receptor (type II). These values are the same as those determined by equilibrium experiments on the isolated receptors. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that there are at least two different receptors for NGF.
cis Acrolein: Mixing of the S0 and S1 electronic states by the (a″) skeletal torsional vibration

Abstract Large effects of vibronic coupling upon vibrational levels of the ground (1A′) and first excited (1A″) singlet electronic states of cis acrolein (2-propenal) are successfully modeled. Some implications for CH2CHCHO spectroscopy and photophysics are discussed briefly.
The zener relaxation in ternary Au-Ag-Zn alloys

Abstract Well-formed Zener damping peaks have been observed in ternary alloys of gold, silver and zinc. The relaxation strength across the ternary along a line of constant zinc concentration of 15 at.% goes through a maximum at about an equal ratio of gold to silver. This maximum is large, being nearly 3 times what might have been expected by averaging the effects of the two binaries. The relaxation strength at low concentration of zinc for an alloy of equal ratio of gold to silver increases as the square of the zinc concentration, as is true for binary alloys.
Preliminary investigations on the effects of dietary lipid on the spawning performance and egg quality of black sea bass Centropristis striata L.

Adult black sea bass Centropristis striata broodstock (N=162) were fed three different dietary treatments: two commercially prepared diets with 45% protein and two different lipid levels (12% and 20%) (diets 1 and 2), and a diet of frozen Atlantic silversides Menidia menidia (SS, diet 3). Broodstock were held under controlled photothermal conditions and induced to spawn with an LHRHa pellet (72 μg kg⁻¹ bw). Dietary lipid had pronounced effects on spawning performance and egg quality. Diet 3 (SS) produced a significantly (P<0.05) higher fertilization success (22.4%) than diets 1 (0.6%) and 2 (4.8%). The hatching success of fertilized eggs was similar in all diets (range=40-58.6%), but only two spawns from diet 1 (12% lipid) yielded viable yolk-sac larvae (YSL). Diet 3 (SS) also produced significantly more YSL per female (21.8 x 10³) than the diet 1 (0.3 x 10³). Eggs from diet 3 (SS) contained a significantly greater proportion of n-3 series fatty acids, with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as the largest fraction. Eggs from commercially prepared dietary treatments contained significantly more n-6 fatty acids. The poor spawning performance of fish fed diet 1 (12% lipid) may be related to higher levels of linoleic acid and lower levels of DHA in the diet.
The effect of column length on separation in thermogravitational thermal diffusion columns

A series of experiments was designed to test the phenomenological theory of thermogravitational thermal diffusion columns by obtaining data on the steady state separation and approach to equilibrium in a batch column as a function of column length. Data were obtained on the separation of an equimolar n-heptane-benzene solution at five different values of column length varying from 14.5 in. to 6 ft. All measurements were made in one concentric cylinder column in which the effective length was varied by controlling the liquid level in the annulus. Helium gas was used to displace the air in the annulus above the liquid in order to provide even temperature distribution throughout the column. The data were found to substantiate the effect of length predicted by application of the phenomenological theory and to be in very good agreement with other aspects of the theory.
Degree Sum Conditions for Hamiltonicity on k-Partite Graphs

One of the earliest results about hamiltonian graphs was given by Dirac. He showed that if a graph G has order p and minimum degree at least $$\frac{p} {2}$$ then G is hamiltonian. Moon and Moser showed that if G is a balanced bipartite graph (the two partite sets have the same order) with minimum degree more than $$\frac{p} {4}$$ then G is hamiltonian. Recently their idea is generalized to k-partite graphs by Chen, Faudree, Gould, Jacobson, and Lesniak in terms of minimum degrees. In this paper, we generalize this result in terms of degree sum and the following result is obtained: Let G be a balanced k-partite graph with order kn. If for every pair of nonadjacent vertices u and v which are in different parts $$d(u) + d(v) > \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {\left( {k - \frac{2} {{k + 1}}} \right)n} & {if k is odd} \\ {\left( {k - \frac{4} {{k + 2}}} \right)n} & {if k is even} \\ \end{array} } \right.,$$ then G is hamiltonian.
Current microbiology of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube (PEG tube) insertion site infections in patients with cancer

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is frequently used to provide enteral access in cancer patients who are unable to swallow. Infection is an important complication in this setting. Current microbiological data are needed to guide infection prevention and treatment strategies. The microbiological records of our institution (a 550-bed comprehensive cancer center) were retrospectively reviewed over an 8-month study period in order to identify patients who developed PEG tube insertion site infections, and review their microbiological details and susceptibility/resistance data. Fifty-eight episodes of PEG tube insertion site infections were identified. Of these, 31 (53%) were monomicrobial, and the rest were polymicrobial. The most common organisms isolated were Candida species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All infections were local (cellulitis, complicated skin, and skin structure infections including abdominal wall abscess) with no cases of concomitant bacteremia being documented. Most of the organisms isolated were susceptible to commonly used antimicrobial agents, although some quinolone-resistant and some multidrug-resistant organisms were isolated. This retrospective study provides descriptive data regarding PEG tube insertion site infections. These data have helped us update institutional guidelines for infection prevention and treatment as part of our focus on antimicrobial stewardship.
Problem-solving group therapy: two inpatient models based on level of functioning.

I thank the staff of Harris County Psychiatric Center for their support of the groups, and Alan Pollack for manuscript review.Hospitalized psychiatric patients frequently have deficits in their problem-solving abilities. An inpatient problem-solving group provides a therapeutic experience in which patients learn and apply the problem-solving process to practical and interpersonal difficulties they are presently experiencing. Two problem-solving group models, derived from cognitive-behavior theory, are suggested to accommodate diverse levels of inpatient functioning. Implications for nursing practice and recommendations are addressed.
Production, purification, and characterization of human recombinant IL-8 from the eucaryotic vector expression system baculovirus.

Abstract The cDNA for the human chemotactic interleukin, IL-8, was subcloned from a bacterial source into the eucaryotic vector expression system baculovirus. Recombinant human IL-8 (rhIL-8) was synthesized and secreted from Sf 9 cells derived from Spodoptera frugiperda following infection of a recombinant virus harboring the full-length IL-8 structural gene. Infected Sf9 cells produced rhIL-8 in a range from 0.5 to 2.0 mg of rhIL-8/liter of postinfection cell culture media. The recombinant interleukin was purified (>600-fold) to homogeneity using preparative HPLC. rhIL-8 retained all of the physical, immunological, and biochemical properties observed for the natural product, monocyte-derived IL-8. rhIL-8 was assessed for biological efficacy by three criteria: (a) ability to induce chemotaxis in human neutrophils, (b) ability to induce oxygen burst metabolism, and (c) ability to be recognized by purified rabbit antibody generated against monocyte-derived IL-8. Antibody generated against monocyte-derived IL8 recognized rhIL-8 isolated during all stages of the purification protocol. rhIL-8 was strongly chemotactic for human neutrophils and exhibited a chemotactic index comparable to that reported for other strong chemotactic peptides. rhIL-8 was identified following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a single silver-stained band having an estimated molecular weight of 9.2 kDa and displayed amino acid residue molar abundance homology predicted for the mature form of the interleukin. Baculovirus vector expression coupled to preparative HPLC proved to be a very efficient method for large-scale recombinant interleukin production.
Estimation for a one-parameter exponential model.

Abstract An estimation procedure, called the “partial totals” method, is presented, illustrated and evaluated for the model y = exp(-pt)+e when the values of t are equally spaced. Tables of estimates using this estimation procedure are given for the case where the smallest value of t is zero. The evaluation consists of an analytical investigation of the large sample properties of the partial totals estimator and a report on a comparative study of its small sample properties relative to three other estimators based on Monte Carlo results where it is assumed either that y is a binomial proportion or that y is a proportion with variance proportional to a binomial variance. It is shown that the partial totals estimator is asymptotically normal and consistent (but it is not asymptotically efficient). On the basis of the Monte Carlo study, the partial totals estimator is compared with the maximum likelihood, least squares (on the logarithms) and weighted least squares (on the logarithms) estimators. The compari...
Biosynthesis of the Sesquiterpene Botrydial in Botrytis cinerea. Mechanism and Stereochemistry of the Enzymatic Formation of Presilphiperfolan-8β-ol

Presilphiperfolan-8β-ol synthase, encoded by the BcBOT2 gene from the necrotrophic plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea, catalyzes the multistep cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate (2) to the tricyclic sesquiterpene alcohol presilphiperfolan-8β-ol (3), the preursor of the phytotoxin botrydial, a strain-dependent fungal virulence factor. Incubation of (1R)-[1-2H]farnesyl diphosphate (2b) with recombinant presilphiperfolan-8β-ol synthase gave exclusively (5R)-[5α-2H]-3b, while complementary incubation of (1S)-[1-2H]FPP (2c) gave (5S)-[5β-2H]-3c. These results established that cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate involves displacement of the diphosphate group from C-1 with net inversion of configuration and ruled out the proposed intermediacy of the cisoid conformer of nerolidyl diphosphate (9) in the cyclization. While not a mandatory intermediate, (3R)-nerolidyl diphosphate was shown to act as a substrate surrogate. Cyclization of [13,13,13-2H3] farnesyl diphosphate (2d) gave [14,14,14-2H3]-3d, thereby establish...
Rotational and translational dispersion of fibres in isotropic turbulent flows

The rotational and translational motions of fibres in fully developed isotropic turbulence are simulated for a range of turbulence Reynolds numbers. Equations for fibre motion based on the leading-order slender-body theory relate the fibre's translational and rotational velocities to zeroth and first moments of the fluid velocity along the fibre length. The translational and rotational motions of fibres with lengths that exceed the size of the smallest eddies are attenuated by the filtering associated with these spatial averages. The translational diffusivity of the fibres can be predicted using a simple theory that neglects any coupling between fibre orientation and the local direction of the fluid velocity. However, the coupling of fibre orientation with the axes of extension and rotation is found to greatly reduce the amplitude of the rotary motions and the rotational dispersion coefficient. The rotary dispersion coefficient is found to be on the order of the inverse integral time scale. However, its variation with Reynolds number suggests that the rotary dispersion is influenced by all the scales of turbulence over the limited range of Reynolds numbers explored in our simulations.
Long-term Oral Anticoagulant Therapy: Update on Indications, Therapeutic Ranges, and Monitoring

Oral anticoagulant therapy is used extensively in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis-pulmonary embolism and prevention of systemic thromboembolism. Adoption of the International Normalized Ratio system for the laboratory monitoring of therapy has solved the problems encountered with the variable sensitivities of the available thromboplastins in North America. Although in recent years the recommended intensity of treatment has been reduced for many indications, bleeding remains the most common side effect of long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. Several drugs interact with warfarin sodium, the most commonly used oral anticoagulant drug, and potentiate its effect, thereby increasing the risk of bleeding. However, awareness of potential drug interactions and careful monitoring to maintain patients within the recommended therapeutic ranges can minimize the risk of bleeding and lead to its safe use in most patients.
The Local Structure of Triphenyl Phosphite Studied Using Spallation Neutron and High-Energy X-ray Diffraction

Spallation neutron and high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments have been performed to investigate the local structural changes in triphenyl phosphite (TPP) in the crystalline, glacial, glassy, and supercooled liquid phases. The hydrogen/deuterium first-order difference method shows a large increase in intensity due to additional hydrogen correlations in the crystalline spectra compared to the glass and supercooled liquid at ∼3.0 and 3.4 A. These features are shown to be largely due to inter-phenyl ring H−C/H interactions, which are probably associated in part with the formation of weak intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The high-energy X-ray diffraction data show a decrease in correlations at 3.12 A which is attributed to changes in C−O/P intramolecular interactions between the glacial and crystalline forms. The structural evolution of the glacial state was also measured over time using total neutron diffraction. The largest structural differences between the early glacial and crystalline states are observe...
Rana-pipiens -The Changing Paradigm

Only a most truthful systematist would be likely to admit that he went about the busi? ness of describing nature and seeking order within it solely because such knowledge and order are, of themselves, pleasing. This justification may have been sufficient in preDarwinian days, but during the past cen? tury, classification has usually been re? garded as an essential first step in the study of some more important biological prob? iem. If we are to interpret biological obser? vations properly, a correct name for the organism and an understanding of its relationships are as necessary as the correct name for the chemicals used by a physiologist in studying the functioning of the organism. And for both organism and molecule the name is assumed to stand for a
Use of a rep-PCR system to predict species in the Aspergillus section Nigri

article i nfo The Aspergillus niger aggregate within the A. section Nigri is a group of black-spored aspergilli of great agro- economic importance whose well defined taxonomy has been elusive. Rep-PCR has become a rapid and cost- effective method for genotyping fungi and bacteria. In the present study, we evaluated the discriminatory power of a semi-automated rep-PCR barcoding system to distinguish morphotypic species and compare the results with the data obtained from ITS and partial calmodulin regions. For this purpose, 20 morphotyped black-spored Aspergillus species were used to create the A. section Nigri library in this barcoding system that served to identify 34 field isolates. A pair-wise similarity matrix was calculated using the cone-based Pearson correlation method and the dendrogram was generated by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), illustrating four different clustered groups: the uniseriate cluster (I), the As- pergillus carbonarius cluster (II), and. the two A. niger aggregate clusters (named III.A and III.B). Rep-PCR showed higher resolution than the ITS and the partial calmodulin gene analytical procedures. The data of the 34 unknown field isolates, collected from different locations in the United States, indicated that only 12% of the field isolates were N95% similar to one of the genotypes included in the A. section Nigri library. However, 64% of the field isolates matched genotypes with the reference library (similarity values N90%). Based on these results, this barcoding procedure has the potential for use as a reproducible tool for identifying the black-spored aspergilli. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Separation of plasma protein fractions by continuous-flow paper electrophoresis using a volatile buffer

Abstract A method is described for use of a volatile triethylamine-acetic acid buffer for continuous-flow paper electrophoresis of human plasma. Separation is excellent and contamination is minimal. The properties of the buffer are well suited for additional analytical studies.
A Dynamic, Globally Diversified, Index Neutral Synthetic Asset Allocation Strategy

An investor with the ability to assess the prospective return and risk structure of the global capital markets can construct portfolios that, over time, will not only outperform actively or passively managed domestic asset portfolios but will also outperform passively managed global portfolios. A Bayesian approach to dynamic seemingly unrelated regression DSUR is a robust and effective means to forecast the one-step ahead, conditional distribution of asset returns. This approach recognizes the time-varying nature of the global capital markets. The predictive moments are used to derive a single-factor return model once an index portfolio is specified. The index portfolio represents an investor's underlying portfolio. Given the factor model that assesses the relative attractiveness and risk of the assets in relation to the index, an index neutral portfolio is constructed as an overlay to enhance the returns of the index portfolio. This portfolio is mean-variance optimal, is notional neutral i.e., the sum of the asset exposures is zero, and has returns that are designed to be uncorrelated with the returns of the index portfolio. The implementation of such an index neutral portfolio using derivative securities is simulated over the period January 1988 to December 1993.
Experiments in technology forcing: Comparing the regulatory processes of US automobile safety and emissions regulations

Technology forcing is a strategy where a regulator mandates a standard that cannot be met with existing technology to internalise external costs associated with the production and/or use of a product. We argue that the implementation process for these policies has a pronounced effect on how regulations affect the development and diffusion of new technologies. To examine this proposition, we look at two case studies of technology forcing policies targeting US automakers: The 1969 Department of Transportation airbag mandate and the 1970 Clean Air Act emissions requirements for new vehicles by 1975. The results of these two mandates were quite different. EPA successfully forced the adoption of catalytic converters, while airbags did not become compulsory for nearly 20 years. We demonstrate that these results did not stem from differences in complexity or costs of adopting the technologies, but instead were a product of political and regulatory variables that influenced the implementation process.
Improving Creep-Fatigue Design Methodology for Advanced Ferritic-Martensitic Steels

Advanced materials are a critical element in the development of advanced sodium-cooled fast reactors. High temperature design methodology of advanced materials is an enabling reactor technology. Removal of unnecessary conservatism in design rules could lead to more flexibility in construction and operation of advanced sodium-cooled fast reactors. Developing mechanistic understanding and predictive models for long-term degradation phenomena such as creep-fatigue are essential to the extrapolation of accelerated laboratory data to reactor environments with high confidence, and to improve the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code rules. This paper examines the cyclic softening and stress relaxation responses and associated plastic damage accumulation for Grade 91 ferritic-martensitic steel. Creep-fatigue experiments were conducted at 550°C in strain-controlled mode under various types of creep-fatigue loading conditions. Constitutive models were developed to describe the creep-fatigue interaction in G91.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Kautilya on law, economics and ethics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the status of economic analysis of laws relating to property and contracts during ancient times in India.Design/methodology/approach – Modern research tools are used to present Kautilya's ideas on contracts and property.Findings – Kautilya implicitly proposes a labor theory of property. He devised economic laws related to contracts, property and tort, which promoted economic efficiency and encouraged ethical behavior.Research limitations/implications – Current approaches ignore the role of ethics in designing legal rules for promoting economic efficiency.Practical implication – Unless laws are designed to encourage and promote ethical conduct optimum economic efficiency is unlikely to be achieved.Originality/value – Kautilya advocated a contract theory (between the ruler and the ruled), which was utilitarian in nature, however, unlike Bentham, he still appealed to the moral motivation.
The flip-angle effect: a method for detection of sodium-23 quadrupole splitting in tissue.

A method is presented for the detection of quadrupole splitting in tissue, where the spectral line splittings are typically unobservable. The method used is a study of the rate of rotation of the flip angle as a function of radiofrequency (rf) amplitude. Our results with samples of skeletal muscle and cat brain indicate the absence of quadrupole splitting. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.
Cognitive Performance in Montessori and Nursery School Children

AbstractCognitive performance was measured in fourteen pairs of children, matched in social class, CA, sex and IQ, selected from a Montessori and from a “traditional” nursery school. No differences were found between the parents in these schools on such measures of social and parental attitudes and behavior as: achievement orientation, traditional family ideology, dogmatism, anomie, parental control behavior, or task oriented vs. person oriented values. The nursery school children were significantly more creative on a measure of non-verbal creativity, were more socially oriented, and less task oriented than the Montessori children.Style of approach to tests was felt to be a critical outcome of the two educational environments. The Montessori children used significantly more physical characteristics to describe commonplace objects, whereas significantly more functional terms were used by the nursery school children in their descriptions. Montessori children’s drawings had people present significantly less ...
Development of a tandem cyclization mediated by samarium(II) iodide: sequential intramolecular conjugate addition/nucleophilic acyl substitution

Abstract The development of a one-pot tandem intramolecular conjugate addition/nucleophilic acyl substitution using samarium(II) iodide is reported. The reaction relies on the reagent’s unique ability to mediate both radical and anionic pathways, which are likely integral to the mechanism of this transformation. The tricyclic hemiacetal product was formed in good yield, with excellent diastereoselectivity, and its structure was verified by X-ray crystallographic analysis.
Retinal ganglion cell type, size, and spacing can be specified independent of homotypic dendritic contacts

In Brn3b(-/-) mice, where 80% of retinal ganglion cells degenerate early in development, the remaining 20% include most or all ganglion cell types. Cells of the same type cover the retinal surface evenly but tile it incompletely, indicating that a regular mosaic and normal dendritic field size can be maintained in the absence of contact among homotypic cells. In Math5(-/-) mice, where only approximately 5% of ganglion cells are formed, the dendritic arbors of at least two types among the residual ganglion cells are indistinguishable from normal in shape and size, even though throughout development they are separated by millimeters from the nearest neighboring ganglion cell of the same type. It appears that the primary phenotype of retinal ganglion cells can develop without homotypic contact; dendritic repulsion may be an end-stage mechanism that fine-tunes the dendritic arbors for more efficient coverage of the retinal surface.
Ground-state term intervals in multiply ionized zinc (Zn v, Zn vi) and gallium (Ga v, Ga vi, Ga vii)

Preliminary analyses of zinc and gallium spectra have yielded ground-state term intervals for Zn v, Zn vi, Ga v, Ga vi, and Ga vii. These values are presented, together with a discussion of a discrepancy between previously published analyses of Ga v.
Hemopoietic stem cell proliferation and migration following Bordetella pertussis vaccine.

The ability of a single injection of killed, intact bacteria to effect an increase in the proliferative rate of hemopoietic stem cells was studied. The total numbers of colony forming units in bone marrow, spleen and peripheral blood as well as the proportion of CFU in cycle was assessed. Splenic CFU were observed to rise exponentially due initially to in situ proliferation and later to proliferation in bone marrow with migration via the blood to the spleen. The results are discussed in the light of current concepts of stem cell regulation.
Charge-Induced Luminescence Quenching in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

We use charge modulation spectroscopy (CMS) in model holes-only devices to address the reason for decreasing quantum efficiency with increasing drive current in organic light-emitting diodes based on Alq3 doped with the red dye DCJTB. We are able to measure the density of DCJTB+ and correlate it with the diminution of the photoluminescence. The magnitude and DCJTB+ density dependence of the photoluminescence reduction are roughly consistent with quenching of the singlet-excited-state of DCJTB via Forster energy transfer to DCJTB+. At low DCJTB+ densities, the quenching is stronger than theory would predict and we propose that singlet energy transport among DCJTB molecules extends the distance over which quenching by DCJTB+ is effective. Since the Forster mechanism can be responsible for charge-induced PL quenching as large as 70% even though DCJTB+ is very weakly absorbing where DCJTB singlets fluoresce, it may be difficult to avoid quenching by electrically generated species.
Literacy in Theory and Practice: Challenges and Debates Over 50 Years

In this article, as I draw upon articles in Theory Into Practice (TIP) over the past 50 years, I highlight the tension between different theoretical perspectives on the learning of literacy and actual practice in classrooms, and associated with this, the shift in definitions of literacy over time. I conclude by pointing to the future of literacy, particularly with respect to how these themes might be dealt with as new literacies, including those associated with the web and internet, become a greater part of children's repertoire.
Quantitative relationship between synonymous codon usage bias and GC composition across unicellular genomes

Codon usage bias has been widely reported to correlate with GC composition. However, the quantitative relationship between codon usage bias and GC composition across species has not been reported. Based on an informatics method (SCUO) we developed previously using Shannon informational theory and maximum entropy theory, we investigated the quantitative relationship between codon usage bias and GC composition. The regression based on 70 bacterial and 16 archaeal genomes showed that in bacteria, SCUO = -2.06 * GC3 + 2.05*(GC3)2 + 0.65, r = 0.91, and that in archaea, SCUO = -1.79 * GC3 + 1.85*(GC3)2 + 0.56, r = 0.89. We developed an analytical model to quantify synonymous codon usage bias by GC compositions based on SCUO. The parameters within this model were inferred by inspecting the relationship between codon usage bias and GC composition across 70 bacterial and 16 archaeal genomes. We further simplified this relationship using only GC3. This simple model was supported by computational simulation. The synonymous codon usage bias could be simply expressed as 1+ (p/2)log2(p/2) + ((1-p)/2)log2((l-p)/2), where p = GC3. The software we developed for measuring SCUO (codonO) is available at http://digbio.missouri.edu/~wanx/cu/codonO .
System modelling and analysis for design and development of a lean exhaust after-treatment system:

A comprehensive system-level modelling methodology for vehicle exhaust and atter-treatment system development is presented. within the constraints required for a development vehicle equipped with a lean-burn direct-injection gasoline engine, system-level analysis was extensively applied to guide the design of the after-treatment system. The size and location of the lean nitrogen oxide (NO x ) after-treatment device was determined to achieve the best trade-off between engine back pressure, catalyst light-off, and acceptable thermal ageing under high-speed and high-load conditions. In addition, various after-treatment architecture and layout concepts were efficiently evaluated and screened, requirements for after-treatment components and exhaust thermal management devices were defined, and promising technologies were recommended for further development and testing. Beyond immediate implementation in the development vehicle, several exhaust thermal management strategies (electrically heated converter, lambda split control, engine stop-start, and multiple warm-up) were explored. These technologies have been assessed individually and in combination to formulate effective thermal management strategies under fuel penalty constraints. While the specific applications described in this paper are for a lean-burn gasoline direct-injection development vehicle, the methodology is equally applicable to advanced powertrains with one or more after-treatment devices (diesel engines, alternative fuels, hybrid vehicles, etc.).
Generic Impossibility of Partial Ex Post Implementation with General Utility Functions

This paper examines possibility of partial ex post implementation under general utility functions which is not necessarily differentiable or quasi-linear with respect to money. We deal with an interdependent-value model in which there are two agents, two alternatives and each agent receives more than two dimensional private signal. The main result of this paper is that under generic utility functions, a public decision rule must be almost constant if it can be ex post incentive compatible with some transfer rule.
TEM studies of as-grown, irradiated and annealed InN films

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy was applied to study structural changes of InN films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on c-sapphire substrates with a GaN buffer layer. The films were studied as-grown and also following by rapid thermal annealing, irradiation with 2 MeV He + ions, and annealing after irradiation. Defects formed after each procedure were discussed. The results of these studies show that randomly distributed extended defects, formed upon irradiation, can come to uniform distribution throughout the samples upon annealing. An irradiation by 2 MeV He + ions followed by thermal annealing at 425 and 475 °C leads to the unusual increase of the electron mobility of these films. Annealing at 500 °C led to the formation of In clusters and delamination of the film from the substrates.
A New Virulent Human Coronavirus: How Much Does Tissue Culture Tropism Tell Us?

of the most exciting consequences of the epidemic has been an explosion of information about CoVs, with an extensive exploration of the biology of the SARSCoV, as well as the discovery of 2 new human CoV species, NL63 and HKU1. Both of these latter viruses are relatively mild respiratory pathogens, infect commonly individuals of all ages, and behave more like the original human CoVs 229E and OC43 than like SARS-CoV.