cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A predictor-corrector method for graphing level curves

Present techniques used in graphing level curves mainly involve time-consuming numerical methods which are repeated until the desired accuracy is reached. A predictor-corrector method is developed to determine points on a level curve given the partial derivatives of a function. While this method is proven for level curves of constant curvature, it is demonstrated to be useful for all continuous curves which have uniform curvature within a small neighborhood of any point on that curve.Conceptually, this method uses the gradient of the function to determine two points close to the level curve that passes through a starting point. A third point lying on the level curve is geometrically determined. This point is then used as a new starting point, thereby tracing a series of segments of a level curve.This technique is demonstrated with a Pascal program which graphs level curves of various functions and a second Pascal program fragment which graphs equipotential lines of electric fields.
The thiamine content of herbs and medicinal plants

By means of a photofluorometric assay technique, eliminating the elution phase, devised to investigate the thiamine content of plant material ranging from rhizomes and roots to barks, leaves, and flower tops, the thiamine concentration in herbs and medicinal plants was determined. A spot check analysis of 41 genera belonging to 20 distinct and separate botanical families showed a thiamine range from 125 to 2880 micrograms per 100 Gm. of dried substance. This vitamin B1 content was postulated as a possible modus operandi of the many infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs prescribed in cases of anorexia, dyspepsia, general debility, and nervousness.
Comparison of Land–Precipitation Coupling Strength Using Observations and Models

Abstract Numerous studies have attempted to address the land–precipitation coupling, but scientists’ understanding remains limited and discrepancies still exist from different studies. A new parameter Γ is proposed here to estimate the land–precipitation coupling strength based on the ratio of the covariance between monthly or seasonal precipitation and evaporation anomalies (from their climatological means) over the variance of precipitation anomalies. The Γ value is easy to compute and insensitive to the horizontal scales used; however, it does not provide causality. A relatively high Γ is a necessary—but not sufficient—condition for a relatively strong land–precipitation coupling. A computation of Γ values using two global reanalyses (ECMWF and NCEP), one regional reanalysis [North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR)], and observed precipitation along with Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC)-derived evaporation data indicates that the land–precipitation coupling is stronger in summer and weaker in win...
On the power-divergence statistic in sparse multinomial models requiring parameter estimation

Abstract It will be shown that the power-divergence family of goodness-of-fit statistics for completely specified parameters and nuisance parameter, under the sparseness assumption, have the same asymptotic normal distribution under a sequence of local alternatives. Hence, these tests have such low efficiency that they can not distinguish between the known and unknown parameters. Although it seems unlikely that the test statistics with and without estimated nuisance parameters have the same asymptotic behavior, there is a simple intuitive explanation for this phenomenon. The case in which the number of nuisance parameters tends to infinity is addressed.
Caesium-137 in Edible Freshwater Fish

KNOWLEDGE of radioactivity in fish is largely limited to determinations made of the strontium-90 occurring in certain ocean species and to some attempts at the evaluation of caesium-137 content (137Cs) of the same or similar specimens. Hasanen and Miettinen1 found concentrations of the order of nanocuries of caesium-137 per kilogram (nc./kg) in freshwater fish. These were taken from lakes in Finland during 1962 and 1963 in the course of an investigation into sources of caesium-137 other than caribou and reindeer meat in the Laplander's diet. This finding could have been predicted from the earlier work of Pendleton and Hanson2, which demonstrated the rapid accumulation of caesium-137 by various aquatic forms through several trophic levels in a freshwater pond contaminated with caesium-137. Caesium-137 in these organisms was found to reach concentrations several orders of magnitude greater than those found in the surrounding water.
High-pressure phase transformations in a natural crystalline diopside and a synthetic CaMgSi2O6 glass

Abstract A phase transformation study has been carried out on a natural crystalline diopside and a synthetic CaMgSi 2 O 6 glass at pressures of up to 34.5 GPa and 30 GPa, respectively, at ∼1000°C in a diamond-anvil cell in conjunction with a YAG laser-heating system. On the basis of X-ray diffraction data obtained from samples under in situ pressure conditions and those quenched and unloaded to the ambient conditions, we found that the crystalline diopside breaks down into Mg 2 SiO 4 (spinel) + SiO 2 (stishovite) + CaSiO 3 (perovskite) at ∼17 GPa; at higher pressures, while the CaSiO 3 (perovskite) remains stable, the Mg 2 SiO 4 (spinel) and SiO 2 (stishovite) recombine to form MgSiO 3 (ilmenite) at ∼22 GPa which, in turn, transforms into an orthorhombic MgSiO 3 (perovskite) at pressures above 24 GPa. We have also found that the CaMgSi 2 O 6 glass is transformed directly into cubic (Ca,Mg)SiO 3 -perovskite at pressures higher than 13 GPa. These experimental results demonstrate that a different starting material (crystalline or glassy) used in a high pressure and temperature study indeed leads to different high pressure phase(s), thus reconciling the existing controversy on the phase transformation in diopside. On the basis of the pressure-volume data obtained for the cubic (Ca,Mg)SiO 3 perovskite, it is also suggested that the cubic (Ca,Mg)SiO 3 perovskite, although kinetically favorable to form from the CaMgSi 2 O 6 glass, is not a thermodynamically stable phase with respect to the assemblage of the orthorhombic MgSiO 3 and the cubic CaSiO 3 perovskites at pressures between 10 and 30 GPa. Another interesting finding in this study is that in the case of the natural diopside, stishovite is present with mMgSiO 3 (ilmenite) + CaSiO 3 (perovskite) at 22–24 GPa, and with MgSiO 3 (perovskite) + CaSiO 3 (perovskite) at pressures above 24 GPa. In view of the previous results on pure synthetic diopside in which no stishovite was observed at pressures above 22 GPa, this intriguing result is most likely due to the trace amount of other cations (i.e. Fe, Mn, Na, Al, and Ti) present in the sample. The mechanism of precipitating the stishovite phase from ilmenite or perovskite(s), or both, is yet unknown, but the results suggest positively that MgSiO 3 (ilmenite or perovskite) or CaSiO 3 perovskite, or both, are non-stoichiometric and deficient in silica.
Efficient protein structure alignment algorithms under the MapReduce framework

Currently, cloud computing has been applied to share computing resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale similar to a utility over a network. Hadoop is an widely-used open-source cloud computing environment that implements the Google MapReduce framework. Many bioinformatics tools have been developed to provide cloud services by using Hadoop. This paper proposes approaches in providing a pairwise 3D protein structure alignment; our web service takes advantage of the MapReduce paradigm as means of management and parallelizing tools under massive number of protein pairs examined under the experiment. It shows that our previously proposed sequential combinatorial algorithms are well parallelized under the map/reduce platform. These methods are tested on the real-world data obtained in from the RCSB PDB data set; the computation efficiency can be effectively improved proportional to the number of processors being used.
Effects of polyphenolic bioactive compounds (pterostilbene, resveratrol, curcuminoids, quercetin, and hydroxypterostilbene) on pro-inflammatory cytokine production in vitro

s / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33 (2013) 321-399 343 could be reduced. Furthermore, because growing horses use P differently than mature horses, there might be a difference in P digestibility due to age. This study was designed to examine the availability of dietary P in growing horses and mature horses. Four long yearling geldings (19 1 mo; 478 58.9 kg) and 4 mature geldings (10.5 7.5 yr; 541 45.9 kg) were fed a diet of timothy cubes, alfalfa cubes, and concentrate without added P. The diet contained 0.26% P (dry matter basis) and 29% of that P occurred as phytate-P. The diet was formulated to be close to each horse’s P requirement. The concentrate contributed 50% of the total P and the forage cubes contributed 50%. There was a 14 d diet adaptation period during which feed intake was adjusted to minimize orts and horses were accustomed to wearing fecal collection harnesses. Total fecal collections were then conducted for a 4 d period. Fecal and feed samples were used to determine P and dry matter digestibility. P was measured using a gravimetric assay. Dry matter digestibility for both age groups was 53.93 3.13% and was not different between ages (P > 0.05). Apparent P digestibility was not different (P > 0.05) between the two groups. True digestibility was calculated using published values for endogenous losses (NRC, 2007). Estimated true P digestibility (27.63 12.70%) was not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). One mature horse had a very low P digestibility, and the data were re-analyzed without the values from this horse. However, even without including this horse in the data set, age did not affect apparent or true P digestibility (P > 0.05). Long yearlings and mature horses have the same ability to digest P, thus a similar P digestibility can be used for both age groups when formulating diets. Effects of polyphenolic bioactive compounds (pterostilbene, resveratrol, curcuminoids, quercetin, and hydroxypterostilbene) on pro-inflammatory cytokine production in vitro M.H. Siard, K.E. McMurry, D.W. Horohov, and A.A. Adams M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington,
MIRAGE: storage provisioning in large data centers using balanced component utilizations

This paper presents MIRAGE, an architecture for data center storage provisioning that takes the approach of maintaining storage services for applications by ensuring well-balanced utilizations in all internal components of the storage infrastructure. We implemented MIRAGE on our local storage infrastructure and observed the sensitivity of the MIRAGE load-balancing algorithm to a combination of performance and heterogeneity skews. We also evaluated MIRAGE by deploying it on a financial data center. We reduced the service times of resource-constrained storage pools by an average of 68%.
Ab initio study of the electronic states of BS including spin-orbit coupling

Abstract The entire 30 Ω states generated from the 12 valence and two Rydberg Λ–S states of the BS radical have been studied at the MR-CISD + Q level of theory for the first time. The effects of spin–orbit coupling and the avoided crossing rule between electronic states of the same symmetry were analyzed. Spectroscopic constants of several excited states that have never been observed in experiment were obtained. The transition properties of several low-lying bound excited states to ground state transitions, including the transition dipole moments and the Franck–Condon factors, were also calculated, from which the corresponding single-channel radiative lifetimes were derived.
DC negative corona discharge in atmospheric pressure helium: transition from the corona to the ‘normal’ glow regime

Direct current (dc) negative corona discharges in atmospheric pressure helium are simulated via detailed numerical modeling. Simulations are conducted to characterize the discharges in atmospheric helium for a pin plate electrode configuration. A self-consistent two-dimensional hybrid model is developed to simulate the discharges and the model predictions are validated with experimental measurements. The discharge model considered consists of momentum and energy conservation equations for a multi-component (electrons, ions, excited species and neutrals) gas mixture, conservation equations for each component of the mixture and state relations. A drift–diffusion approximation for the electron and the ion fluxes is used. A model for the external circuit driving the discharge is also considered and solved along with the discharge model. Many of the key features of a negative corona discharge, namely non-linear current–voltage characteristics, spatially flat cathode current density and glow-like discharge in the high current regime are displayed in the predictions. A transition to the 'normal' glow discharge from the corona discharge regime is also observed. The transition is identified from the calculated current–voltage characteristic curve and is characterized by the radial growth of the negative glow and the engulfment of the cathode wire.
H-2 gene complex and corticosteroid responsiveness: evidence that the corticosteroid hormone signal transduction pathway in the adult mouse lung is not associated with haplotype-specific responses to corticosteroids

Abstract Differential responsiveness to corticosteroids (CORT) has been shown to be related to HLA haplotype. A strong association between the mouse homolog to the human HLA complex, the H-2 complex, and intrauterine responses to CORT have also been demonstrated; haplotype differences alter CORT-induced susceptibility to cleft palate and temporal differences in lung maturation. Since variation in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is associated with tissue specific responses to CORT, we hypothesize that haplotype-specific CORT responsiveness may be regulated by H-2 associated modification of GR expression and/or function. Given that H-2 congenic mice are genetically identical except at the H-2 complex on mouse chromosome 17 and the GR structural gene is encoded on chromosome 18, the GR gene is identical in these mice. However, any step in the GR signal transduction pathway may be regulated by gene(s) at or near the H-2 complex and result in haplotype-specific differences in CORT responsiveness. We have investigated differences in qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the adult B10 (H-2b) and B10.A (H-2a) pulmonary GR by Scatchard analysis, immunochemical and biochemical assays. No differences in the GR binding parameters (BMAX and Kd), receptor form and level, or ligand-GR complex binding to glucocorticoid response element (GR-GRE) were detected, leading us to conclude that H-2 associated factors do not regulate the relative intrauterine responses to CORT by modulating the adult GR. Evaluation of heat shock proteins (hsp90 and hsp70), probable regulators of GR function shown to be linked to the H-2 complex, has indicated that variation in hsp90 and hsp70 does not play a functional role in differential CORT responsiveness between H-2 congenic mice. (Steroids 58: 400–406, 1993)
Mechanism of Reductive Elimination of Methyl Iodide from a Novel Gold(III)−Monomethyl Complex

Oxidation of (Idipp)AuMe (Idipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) with I2 gives a monomethyl Au(III) complex, (Idipp)AuI2Me, which decomposes cleanly to MeI and (Idipp)AuI. Kinetics experiments show that this transformation occurs primarily via three-coordinate, cationic [(Idipp)AuIMe]+, which undergoes intramolecular reductive elimination rather than nucleophilic attack by external I−.
The autopsy as a performance measure and teaching tool

A survey of pathology training programs about current operations and attitudes revealed that the autopsy is underused in medical student and pathology resident teaching, is inadequately reported, often does not have a dedicated faculty, is not championed by pathologists or clinicians, is not valued as a performance measure, and is barely used as a resource for medical research. The autopsy can be reestablished as a teaching tool and performance measure, but this will require that the autopsy be recognized as a credible and valuable medical procedure. The autopsy must then be funded; and new sources of both volume and funding, such as incorporating autopsies into payment schedules, into clinical trials, and in pay-for-performance initiatives, must be solicited. Once there is reimbursement for autopsies, pathologists, clinicians, and health care administrators will embrace the autopsy as a new source of revenue and as a valid measure of physician, hospital, and health system performance. Pathologists and the pathology specialty societies must take the lead in the reestablishment of the autopsy and must, at the same time, encourage innovations such as centralization, greater use of Pathology Assistants, and application of molecular techniques. New tools for using the autopsy in medical student teaching should be embraced, and the role of the autopsy in pathology residency programs must be reevaluated.
Filamentous networks in crane-fly spermatocytes: osmotic lysis of cell monolayers attached to poly-L-lysine-derivatized coverslips.

Spermatocytes of the crane fly, Nephrotoma suturalis, were prepared as monolayers by centrifuging cell suspensions onto glass coverslips to which poly- l -lysine had been bound covalently using a water-soluble crosslinking reagent. Cells attached to coverslips were osmotically lysed under conditions that preserve the integrity of actin filaments. Lysed spermatocyte remnants then were examined using scanning electron microscopy. While the morphology of the remnants was variable, all were observed to contain filamentous networks that appeared similar to actin-containing cortical networks observed in other types of nonmuscle cells. The organization of networks also resembled that of critical point dried F-actin. SDS—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis used in conjunction with DNase-I affinity chromatography showed a twofold enrichment of actin in remnants in comparison to whole cells. These methods may be applicable to combined structural and biochemical studies on other types of cells that do not attach naturally to glass surfaces.
Pseudo-Raman broad band of stacked benzene molecules

Abstract The broad band displayed by pilled-up benzene molecules in Raman-like scale has the same nature as the one produced by chain polymers as BSA and PGA.
Congressional Position Votes in the Truman Administration, 1947–52: A View from the White House

Scholars have routinely overlooked Harry Truman in analyses of presidential position votes in Congress. The principal data source for longitudinal studies of executive-legislative relations, Congressional Quarterly, did not regularly begin compiling presidential position votes until 1953. Yet position votes for the Truman administration do exist. Archival research at the Harry Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri, revealed that the president commissioned his White House staff to undertake an analysis of position votes spanning the 80th, 81st, and 82nd Congresses (1947–52). This research note analyzes Truman's success rate on this set of domestic and foreign policy votes and provides details on the 83 House and 99 Senate position votes for future use by researchers.
Effects of live animal performance and hemoglobin level on special-fed veal carcass characteristics

Growth and carcass characteristics were measured on 975 Holstein bull calves raised on four commercial veal farms (nine feeding groups). Average values for blood hemoglobin (Hb), live weight and gain, dressing percentage (DP; hide-on and hide-off), visual muscle color score, rib-eye-area (REA), and carcass conformation score were 7.8 g/dl, 187.1 kg, 1.46 kg/d, 67.4%, 60.4%, 1.42, 42.0 sq cm, and 11.7, respectively. Carcass weights averaged 127.6 and 112.4 kg for hide-on and hide-off, respectively. There were few significant correlations of Hb with growth performance, carcass weight or DP. Pre-slaughter Hb was correlated 0.54 (P < 0.01) with flank muscle color score. Calves which were either heavier or which gained weight more rapidly tended to have slightly lower muscle color scores, larger REA and higher carcass conformation scores. Results from this study suggest that pre-slaughter Hb levels are higher than previously reported in specialfed veal, and there is no apparent relationship of Hb value, red blood cell count or mean corpuscular hemoglobin with growth performance traits. Although final Hb values were moderately predictive of muscle color score (accounting for 29% of the within-group variance), apparently there are other factors both within and between farms which influence muscle color in special-fed veal carcasses.
Isocitrate lyase and malate synthase activities of Coccidioides immitis

Abstract The saprophytic phase of the fungal pathogen Coccidioides immitis contains both of the enzymes unique to the glyoxylate cycle (isocitrate lyase, EC 4.1.3.1, and malate synthase, EC 4.1.3.2) when grown in a variety of media regardless of whether or not glucose is present in those media. Significantly higher levels of each enzyme are found in cells grown in defined media. Enzyme activity varied as a function of growth, being higher during the germination phase than the exponential phase of growth. C. immitis arthroconidia do not germinate in medium containing glucose as the sole carbon source, but will germinate in this same medium with acetate as the carbon source. Glucose alone does not support vegetative growth and acetate is utilized preferentially over glucose when both are present in defined minimal medium. An inhibitor of isocitrate lyase, itaconic acid, inhibits germination and vegetative growth of C. immitis in all growth supporting media tested. Itaconic acid acts synergistically with amphotericin B to inhibit arthroconidia germination and growth.
Category regions as new geometrical concepts in Fuzzy-ART and Fuzzy-ARTMAP

In this paper we introduce novel geometric concepts, namely category regions, in the original framework of Fuzzy-ART (FA) and Fuzzy-ARTMAP (FAM). The definitions of these regions are based on geometric interpretations of the vigilance test and the F2 layer competition of committed nodes with uncommitted ones, that we call commitment test. It turns out that not only these regions have the same geometrical shape (polytope structure), but they also share a lot of common and interesting properties that are demonstrated in this paper. One of these properties is the shrinking of the volume that each one of these polytope structures occupies, as training progresses, which alludes to the stability of learning in FA and FAM, a well-known result. Furthermore, properties of learning of FA and FAM are also proven utilizing the geometrical structure and properties that these regions possess; some of these properties were proven before using counterintuitive, algebraic manipulations and are now demonstrated again via intuitive geometrical arguments. One of the results that is worth mentioning as having practical ramifications is the one which states that for certain areas of the vigilance-choice parameter space (p,a), the training and performance (testing) phases of FA and FAM do not depend on the particular choices of the vigilance parameter. Finally, it is worth noting that, although the idea of the category regions has been developed under the premises of FA and FAM, category regions are also meaningful for later developed ART neural network structures, such as ARTEMAP, ARTMAP-IC, Boosted ARTMAP, Micro-ARTMAP, Ellipsoid-ART/ARTMAP, among others.
How do DNA repair proteins locate potential base lesions? a chemical crosslinking method to investigate O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases.

Abstract O 6 -alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases directly reverse the alkylation on the O 6 position of guanine in DNA. This group of proteins has been proposed to repair the damaged base in an extrahelical manner; however, the detailed mechanism is not understood. Here we applied a chemical disulfide crosslinking method to probe the damage-searching mechanism of two O 6 -alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases, the Escherichia coli C-Ada and the human AGT. Crosslinking reactions with different efficiency occur between the reactive Cys residues of both proteins and a modified cytosine bearing a thiol tether in various DNA probes. Our results indicate that it is not necessary for these proteins to actively flip out every base to find damage. Instead they can locate potential lesions by simply capturing a lesioned base that is transiently extrahelical or sensing the unstable nature of a damaged base pair.
Comparative toxicities of 14-hydroxydihydromorphinone (oxymorphone) and other narcotic analgesic compounds

Abstract 14-Hydroxydihydromorphinone (oxymorphone: Numorphan) possesses a relative toxicity when measured according to the acute fatalities (LD 50 ) it produced in mice after intraperitoneal administrations, that is: 1.6 times that of morphine, 1.6 times that of 14-hydroxydihydrocodeincne, 1.5 times that of codeine, 0.8 times that of meperidine, 0.65 times that of alphaprodine, and 0.38 times that of methadone.
Über den mechanismus des katalytischen wasserstoff-peroxidzerfalls an aktiven blanken platinelektroden in alkalischer lösung

Zusammenfassung Der katalytische Zerfall von H2O2 verlauft nach einem Mechanismus, der durch chemisorbierte OH-Radikale ausgelost wird, die sich an einer oxidbedeckten Pt-Elektrode mit grosser Geschwindigkeit durch dissoziative Chemisorption von H2O2 bilden.
Influence of temperature and salinity on routine metabolic rate and growth of young Atlantic menhaden

The experiments dealt primarily with routine metabolic rates of schooling juvenile Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe), in flowing-water respirometers and were designed to obtain baseline data for energy flow models and studies on the effects of sublethal stresses. The relationship of body weight to oxygen consumption as well as the effect of temperature (10–25°C), salinity (low, 5–10 p.p.t. and high, >28 p.p.t.), time since last fed and darkness on the routine metabolic rate was examined. The effect of salinity on growth of menhaden larvae into juveniles was also measured.
Can Moral Flaws Count as Aesthetic Virtues

The relationship between moral and aesthetic value can only be understood by understanding its component parts. We need to understand if and when moral flaws and virtues are aesthetically relevant, and when a moral flaw or virtue can enhance or detract from the aesthetic value of a work. All of the parties to the discussion about the relationship between moral and aesthetic value refer to moral or ethical flaws or defects in works of art. However, many of them have simply assumed that their intuitive understanding of the notion of a moral flaw is the notion that is adopted by the others who discuss the issue. Unfortunately this is not the case, and the assumption has succeeded in muddying the waters of this discussion significantly. Using a broader or narrower definition of ‘‘moral flaw’’ in a work can influence ideas about how a moral flaw can affect the aesthetic value of a work. For this reason, it is particularly important to be clear about how we use the term. In addition, philosophers discussing this issue have failed to acknowledge that the relationship between the moral features of a work and the moral convictions of its audience may differ from the relationship between the moral features of the work and the moral landscape or the sum of the moral facts of the actual world. A work has a moral flaw when it represents the moral facts in the world of the work in such a way that the representation results in a conflict, either with the beliefs of the members of the audience about the moral landscape of the actual world or with the moral facts of the actual world themselves. There are two types of moral
Streamlined Strategies for Faster, Less Traffic-Disruptive Highway Rehabilitation in Urban Networks

The need for faster, less traffic-disruptive rehabilitation for aging highway infrastructure is an emerging concern for many state highway agencies. In response to this concern, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) launched the Long-Life Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies (LLPRS) program in 1998 to rebuild 2,800 lane kilometers of high-volume urban freeway with premium pavements that will last 30+ years and require minimal maintenance over their service life. This paper presents innovative strategies and technologies for achieving faster project completion with less traffic disruption as applied on three experimental LLPRS projects. The research team and the Caltrans project team used Construction Analysis for Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies (CA4PRS) software from the initial planning and design stages to implement the most economical rehabilitation strategies for the projects. The postconstruction analysis of all three LLPRS projects, made with data collected during construction, rev...
Accurate computation of 2-machine stability

TWO-MACHINE stability problems can be solved more accurately by utilizing composite general circuit constants.1 These permit the inclusion of losses, intermediate loads, transformer taps, and so forth, without an excessive amount of labor. The only restriction on their use is that loads must be represented as constant impedances; but this is a conventional assumption for stability studies. In addition this method makes it possible to include the inertia of both machines without approximation.
Solid-phase synthesis of 5,6-dihydropyrimidine-2,4-diones

Abstract A series of 1,3-disubstituted-5,6-dihydropyrimidine-2,4-diones 1 are prepared by solid phase organic chemistry using a cyclization-cleavage strategy from readily available amines and isocyanates. An acrylate ester of Wangs resin is treated with primary amines to afford N-substituted β-aminoesters followed by treatment with isocyanates to afford β-ureido ester 4 . Cyclization-cleavage of the bound ureido ester under acidic conditions gave direct formation of 5,6-dihydropyrimidinedione 1 .
How media were made: chromolithography in Belle Époque France

From the spread of Renaissance humanist ideas and expansion of universities to the Reformation and the emergence of the bourgeois public sphere, the impact of the printing press on Western society ...
Retinal pigment epithelial tear with vitreomacular attachment: a novel pathogenic feature.

Background: The development of tears of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has classically been described with or without choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or after laser treatment. Tangential shear forces within the RPE or CNV are usually considered to cause the dehiscence. Methods: Three patients with CNV and spontaneous RPE tear and additional vitreomacular traction were examined by fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and kinetic ultrasound. Results: From the pre-tear to the tear stage a sudden decrease in vision was observed. Fluorescein angiographic images demonstrated RPE-tear formation with blocked filling in the area of the contracted RPE and a well-demarcated hyperfluorescence in the bed of the torn RPE. OCT-scans demonstrated vitreomacular traction at the foveal area in all three cases. Kinetic ultrasound revealed vitreous attachments at the optic disc and fovea. Conclusion: Magnitude, variation of mechanical forces, and the continuous shear stress of the aged vitreous gel transmitted across vitreoretinal attachments may cause a chronic stimulus to retina and RPE. Vitreomacular traction may contribute to the subsequent formation of RPE tears via mechanical or cell mediator pathways.
Insufficient Sleep and Weight Status in High School Students: Should We Be Focusing on the Extremes?

The relation between insufficient sleep and weight status among adolescent populations has yielded equivocal findings. This study investigated the relation between length of sleep and weight status by analyzing data from 9,321 high school students on the 2007 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Findings indicate that insufficient sleep was associated with higher odds of being categorized as obese in only the most extreme range (5 hr or less of sleep on an average night). Differences in the sleep–weight relation emerged when examined by gender and race/ethnicity. The implications of the results for prevention and intervention programs that address sleep and weight status among adolescents are considered.
Cell cycle regulation of the human Six1 homeoprotein is mediated by APC(Cdh1).

The Six1 homeoprotein is an important mediator of normal development, where it is critical for the proliferation of precursor cell populations that ultimately constitute the muscle, kidney and inner ear, among other organs. Interestingly, its overexpression has been observed in numerous cancers, where it contributes to the proliferative and metastatic ability of the cancer cells. Here we show that Six1 not only regulates the cell cycle, but is itself regulated throughout the cell cycle via ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. The protein is present from the G1/S boundary until mitosis, when it is degraded via the anaphase-promoting complex (APC) with its activating subunit Cdh1. However, unlike most identified APCCdh1 targets, Six1 does not contain functional destruction or KEN box motifs that are necessary for its degradation. Instead, the Six1 protein contains multiple, as yet undefined, sequences within its N- and C-termini responsible for its degradation, including an N-terminal region that binds to Cdh1. Cell cycle regulation of Six1 occurs both transcriptionally and post-translationally via phosphorylation; therefore, this study demonstrates a third and novel mechanism of cell cycle-specific regulation of Six1, underscoring the importance of confining its activity to a defined cell cycle window from the G1/S boundary to early mitosis.
Temporally and spatially regulated expression of a candidate G‐protein‐coupled receptor during cerebral cortical development

Genes expressed in layer-specific patterns in the mammalian cerebral cortex may play a role in specifying the identity of different cortical layers. Using PCR-differential display, we identified a cDNA that encodes rCNL3, a gene cloned previously by sequence homology to G-protein-coupled receptors. rCNL3 is expressed predominantly in layers 2–4 of the young rat cortex and in the developing and adult striatum. Cortical expression of rCNL3 begins postnatally at P3 and continues at high levels until around P15, while striatal expression begins at E20 and continues through adulthood. rCNL3 expression is not detectable in the ventricular zone precursors that generate the neurons of layers 2–4. The expression pattern of rCNL3 in the developing cortex suggests that rCNL3 is not involved in the initial specification of laminar fate, but rather may be involved with later differentiation events within the superficial cortical layers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 46: 167–177, 2001
Distinct contributions of human hippocampal theta to spatial cognition and anxiety

Current views of the hippocampus assign this structure, and its prominent theta rhythms, a key role in both cognition and affect. We studied this duality of function in humans, where no direct evidence exists. Whole-head magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data were recorded to measure theta activity while healthy participants (N = 25) navigated two virtual Morris water mazes, one in which they risked receiving aversive shocks without warning to induce anxiety and one in which they were safe from shocks. Results showed that threat of shock elevated anxiety level and enhanced navigation performance as compared to the safe condition. MEG source analyses revealed that improved navigation performance during threat was preferentially associated with increased left septal (posterior) hippocampal theta (specifically 4-8 Hz activity), replicating previous research that emphasizes a predominant role of the septal third of the hippocampus in spatial cognition. Moreover, increased self-reported anxiety during threat was preferentially associated with increased left temporal (anterior) hippocampal theta (specifically 2-6 Hz activity), consistent with this region's involvement in mediating conditioned and innate fear. Supporting contemporary theory, these findings highlight simultaneous involvement of the human hippocampus in spatial cognition and anxiety, and clarify their distinct correlates.
Genital tract growth factors from a moth, the tobacco budworm,Heliothis virescens

Development and maturation of the genital tract of the moth,Heliothis virescens, takes place within a few days in the pupal stage. The insect steroid hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), essential during this period, stimulated testis sheath and fat body tissue to secrete factors that, in turn, stimulated growth and development of pupal spermducts and genital imaginal discs in vitro. Factors could be extracted in aqueous solution from tissues incubated for 24 h in media containing 1000pg/µl 20E, and partially purified by chromatography on polyacrylamide gels. Ten active molecular weight fractions were separated from testis sheath extracts, and 9 from fat body extracts. Most fractions were labile to protease, although the activity of six of the fractions was also destroyed by lipase. Testis sheath, fat body tissue, and active fractions, caused partial development of the genital tract in vitro, as well as increased incorporation of [3H]methionine into precipitable protein and [3H]thymidine into nuclear material.
Efflux of sucrose from minor veins of tobacco leaves.

Mature leaves import limited amounts of nutrient when darkened for prolonged periods. We tested the hypothesis that import is restricted by the apoplast-phloem loading mechanism, ie., as sucrose exits the phloem of minor veins it is retrieved by the same tissue, thus depriving the mesophyll of nutrient. When single, attached, mature leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants were darkened, starch disappeared from the mesophyll cells, indicating that the supply of solute to the mesophyll was limited. Starch was synthesized in mesophyll cells of darkened tissue when sucrose was applied to the apoplast at 0.1–0.3 mM concentration. Efflux from minor veins was studied by incubating leaf discs on [14C]sucrose to load the minor veins and then measuring subsequent 14C release. Efflux was rapid for the first hour and continued at a gradually decreasing rate for over 13 h. Net efflux increased when loading was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzene-sulfonic acid, anoxia, isotope-trapping, or reduction of the pH gradient. Neither light nor potassium had a significant effect on the rate of labeled sucrose release. The site of labeled sucrose release was investigated by measuring efflux from discs in which sucrose had previously been loaded preferentially by either the minor veins or mesophyll cells. Efflux occurred primarily from minor veins.
Dating stratified settlement sites at Kom K and Kom W: Fifth millennium BCE radiocarbon ages for the Fayum Neolithic

Abstract The earliest evidence of the use of domesticated plants, a traditional hallmark of Neolithic societies in the ancient Near East, first appears in Egypt in archaeological sites in the Fayum depression. Due to wind erosion often resulting in deflation of sediments in this region, stratified sites containing organic materials are rare and the depositional contexts of some earlier 14C measurements on Fayum Neolithic materials are not precisely documented. We report the results of 29 AMS-based 14C determinations on charcoal recovered from stratified contexts in two Fayum Neolithic village sites, Kom K and Kom W. These data assign a mid-5th millennium BCE age to these sites and permit an estimate of the length of their occupation to be approximately three centuries.
Relative amounts of newly synthesized poly(A)+ and poly(A)- messenger RNA during development of Xenopus laevis.

Abstract The relative amounts of newly synthesized poly(A) + and poly(A) − mRNA have been determined in developing embryos of the frog Xenopus laevis . Polysomal RNA was isolated and fractionated into poly(A) + and poly(A) − RNA fractions with oligo(dT)-cellulose. In normal embryos the newly synthesized polysomal poly(A) + RNA has a heterodisperse size distribution as expected of mRNA. The labeled poly(A) − RNA of polysomes is composed mainly of rRNA and 4S RNA. The amount of poly(A) − mRNA in this fraction cannot be quantitated because it represents a very small proportion of the labeled poly(A) − RNA. By using the anucleolate mutants of Xenopus which do not synthesize rRNA, it is possible to estimate the percentage of mRNA which contains poly(A) and lacks poly(A). All labeled polysomal RNA larger than 4S RNA which does not bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose in the anucleolate mutants is considered presumptive poly(A) − mRNA. The results indicate that about 80% of the mRNA lacks a poly(A) segment long enough to bind to oligo(dT). The poly(A) + and poly(A) − mRNA populations have a similar size distribution with a modal molecular weight of about 7 × 10 5 . The poly(A) segment of poly(A) + mRNA is about 125 nucleotides long. Analysis of the poly(A) − mRNA fraction has shown that it lacks poly(A) 125 .
Deformation history of the Roanoke recess, Appalachians, USA

The evolution of the Roanoke recess is controversial because agreement is lacking about the timing and continuity of deformation increments; because it may or may not have behaved like an adjacent salient and recess; because while many salients have been investigated, few recesses have; and because the role of blind thrusts is unclear. To gain insight into these controversies, we estimated shortening directions, shortening magnitudes and relative timing in the recess from map-scale folds, outcrop-scale stylolites, and grain-scale solution structures and twins. The key results from combining these new data with previous work are as follows. (1) The deformation history around the Roanoke recess is most simply described as temporally continuous with deformation migrating northeastward while the primary shortening direction rotated counterclockwise from N-directed to almost W-directed. (2) Consequently, the Roanoke recess did not deform in the symmetrical manner of the adjacent Pennsylvania salient nor with the two-step history of the Kingston recess further to the north in the Appalachians. (3) The timing and magnitude of shortening increments are sufficient to necessitate a blind thrust under the present surface rocks of the inner recess throughout the deformation history.
Isolation and characterization of Entomophaga maimaiga sp. nov., a fungal pathogen of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, from Japan

Abstract A Japanese zygomycete pathogen from the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), is described as Entomophaga maimaiga sp. nov. (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae). This fungus belongs to the Entomophaga aulicae species complex. Isolates from the E. aulicae species complex were tested for infectivity and pathogenicity toward larvae of the gypsy moth, and only those isolates from gypsy moths were pathogenic to gypsy moth larvae. Electrophoretic studies of isoenzymes indicated that the Japanese gypsy moth isolates differed from other Japanese and North American strains of the E. aulicae species complex. Among the isolates of E. maimaiga from Japan, ARSEF 1400 appeared most promising for biological control use; it caused 90–95% mortality in third instar larvae after an average of 5.2 days and can be cultured in both protoplast and mycelial vegetative stages. In host range trials, ARSEF 1400 infected only a few of the lepidopteran species tested. Among these alternate hosts, mortality was the greatest (92.5%) for the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata, another economically important lymantriid.
Applications of terpene analysis in forest genetics

Terpenoid substances in forest trees are versatile biochemical systems for use as genetic markers and for studying genetic regulation at the biochemical level. Univariate, multivariate and correlative data analyses from numerous studies on different coniferous species are presented. These data indicate that fitness values for most terpenes examined are probably so low as to be unmeasurable except in long evolutionary time spans. Variation patterns for monoterpenes often closely parallel racial differentiation for morphological traits and reflect the migratory history of species and species-complexes. Random drift and gene flow are likely the major influences on genetic organization of terpene variability. Mutation in regulatory genes may be responsible for quantitative variation within major gene systems for terpenes. The mono-, sesqui- and diterpene systems in conifers offer good opportunities for research on the nature of gene regulation in plants and its evolutionary significance.
A computationally intelligent maximum torque per ampere control strategy for switched reluctance machines

While currently occupying only a niche role in industrial applications, the switched reluctance machines (SRM) unique operational characteristics could prove useful for additional engineering sectors given that inherent drawbacks are addressed. Phase winding isolation of SRMs provides greater fault tolerance when compared to the industrial standard, pulse width modulation driven induction machines. Furthermore, they may remain in a locked rotor position safely without concern of faulting and have higher speeds than many other electrical machines, i.e. contributing to greater overall robustness. When compared to other electrical machines, the SRM has higher currents requirements, creates greater acoustic noise and torque ripple, and requires more advanced controls for effective operation. Such drawbacks alienate the SRMs commercial and industrial popularity, ultimately limiting its full potential from being exploited. Since SRM torque production is typically non-linear, various techniques have been developed in order to maximize the torque output per unit current excitation, i.e. maximum torque per ampere (MTA). The “conventional” strategy, while simplistic, assumes a constant excitation over a symmetric period of the machine. This increases copper and iron losses while not effectively mitigating the current requirements or inherent torque ripple. By using particle swarm optimization (PSO), a stochastic search technique based on evolutionary algorithms, phase current MTA profiles may be obtained that optimize such conditions. This work presents a novel MTA SRM control strategy based on the PSO technique that obtains the optimum phase current profiles of a 4-phase, 8/6 pole SRM such that copper losses and torque ripple are minimized while achieving the desired torque at specific rotor positions.
Virtue Epistemology and the Relevant Sense of “Relevant Possibility”

L'A. defend une approche de possibilites pertinentes contre le scepticisme et affirme que l'epistemologie de la vertu peut etre la base theorique de la solution proposee