cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biochemical genetics of the truei and boylei groups of the genus Peromyscus (Rodentia)

1. 1. Electrophoretic patterns of 13 proteins encoded by 15 genetic loci were examined from chromosomally distinct populations representing two karyotypic forms of Peromyscus truei, two karyotypic forms of P. difficilis, three karyotypic forms of P. boylei, and the monomorphic species,P. pectoralis, P. polius, and P. attwateri. 2. 2. Analysis of electrophoretic data would indicate karyotypic forms within P. truei and P. difficilis represent separate gene pools, while karyotypically differing populations in P. boylei are members of a common gene pool. 3. 3. A phylogeny of the boylei group and the truei group is presented utilizing Rogers' coefficient of genetic similarity. In addition, divergence time for members of both species groups is calculated and indicates the two groups diverged during the Illinoian glaciation about 240,000 years B.P., with evolution of chromosomal types occurring during the Wisconsin glacial.
Space-time relationships in the UV markings on Venus

A group of geometrically rectified composite pictures taken with the Mariner 10 television cameras is presented which shows the temporal development of UV markings at various locations on Venus over the last seven days of the television experiment. The pictures are of two types: one in which the development of a marking is followed in a reference frame that moves with the apparent motion of the atmosphere and a second in which the development of the markings at fixed angular distances from the subsolar meridian can be seen. By comparing these composites with Mercator projections of single Mariner frames, it is shown that: (1) large-scale markings between + and - 45 deg latitude have lifetimes in excess of four days and move en masse with the apparent motion at the equator; (2) smaller-scale markings have lifetimes between 1.5 and 4 days; (3) the polar ring, bowlike waves, circumequatorial belts, and cellular features all exhibit rapid growth, modulation, or propagation characteristics; and (4) a single dark horizontal Y-shaped marking encircles the planet. It is suggested that both the Y and the polar ring are visible manifestations of propagating waves.
Seafarer Cross-Generational Competence Skills

It was mentioned that the ability to establish a positive relationship between the members of international crews is an urgent issue. This ability influences not only the safety of navigation, but the mental health of seafarers as well. Foreign language competence is essential for the resolution of this problem. Successful everyday communication of seafarers depends on a number of factors: the awareness of cross-cultural, religious and cross-generational differences will help establish a friendly communication onboard a ship with an international crew. This paper presents a study on cross-generational communication of future seafarers. The study empirically proved that the ability of mutual communication between different age groups facilitates the establishment of friendly relationships onboard a ship. A psychological insight into the peculiarities of different generations helped the author see the process of communication of seafarers in a new light. The author outlined the main values of different generations, allowing the students to learn the preferred topics of everyday communication. In the author's opinion, the results of this study may be used by lecturers of maritime educational establishments in the scope of the course Psychology and English language.
Properties of silica gels prepared from high-acid hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane

Abstract The gelation behavior and properties of silica gels prepared by hydrolytic polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with large amounts of nitric acid as the catalyst have been studied. The molar compositions were TEOS:H 2 O:HNO 3 = 1:10: x ( x =0·1−1·0). The effects of the acid content, drying temperature and mixing rate were investigated. It was found that the gelation time decreased with increasing amount of acid and increasing gelling temperature. In the presence of a large amount of nitric acid, the gels had higher specific surface areas and higher pore volumes as the drying temperature increased from 45°C to 60°C. A higher drying temperature at 120°C led to an increase in pore volume, whereas it led to a decrease in specific surface area and density with an increase in acid content. Increasing the drying temperature is more effective than increasing the acid content in order to increase pore size.
A Cooperative Reading Plan Starts from Within, Involves Entire School.

The cooperative plan this writer introduces is a method for involving the entire school in providing a meaningful reading program for all students.
On the determination and construction of E-optimal block designs in the presence of linear trends

Abstract In this paper we consider experimental situations in which v treatments are to be applied to experimental units arranged in b blocks of size k = 3 and where there may be unknown or uncontrollable linear trends (possibly different) within blocks. Methods are given here for determining and constructing E-optimal designs for such situations.
A study of the electrostatic behavior of carpets containing conductive yarns

Abstract This paper describes experiments to characterize the role of triboelectric charging in developing static charge as people walk on carpets and further experiments to quantify the role of corona ionization to minimize static charge accumulation. The Modified Inclined Plane test, a test currently gaining acceptance in the electronics industry, was used to measure triboelectric charging effects. Results indicate that this test was not a good predictor of static charge accumulation as measured by the body voltage on a person after a standard walk test. A test was developed to measure the effectiveness of corona discharge ionization caused by conductive filaments in carpet for limiting static charge accumulation. Results of this test have shown that, for carpets with good static charge dissipation properties, charge reduction via corona occurs on a time scale of about 0.1 s and that conductive latex greatly enhances the corona effect. Another test was developed to investigate the corona discharge properties of the conductive yarns themselves, without being incorporated into the carpet. Results of this test have shown that the corona voltage to initiate corona discharge depends largely on conductive fiber geometry and, that the conductivity vs. applied across the series combination of conductive yarn and air gap deviates significantly from Ohm's law behavior.
Integration of pump storage hydro with wind energy

Renewable energy has significant advantages as it does not contribute to Greenhouse Gases (GHG). Wind energy is a renewable energy alternative that is being installed worldwide. However, wind energy is unpredictable and thus, unavailable as compared to conventional generation. The availability of wind energy compared to conventional power plants is a cause of contention. Currently, the rate of wind energy availability is ∼50%. The thermal unit reliability rate is ~90%. For comparison, standardising the availability of wind energy and the reliability of thermal unit into equivalent unit, 'available-capability', is necessary. It is desirable to construct the available-capability of wind energy to be equivalent with thermal unit. Therefore, the conversion of electrical energy produced by the wind into another form is necessary. This paper introduces a decision analysis based solution of incorporating the wind energy with either hydro plants or financial contract hedging. This energy technology integration increases the available-capability of wind energy to be as effective as thermal unit.
Point defects in Al2O3 and their impact on gate stacks

We consider Al"2O"3 as a possible gate-stack material, and study defects in the low density @k-phase. The choice of the @k-Al"2O"3 phase is based on the similarity of its density to that of amorphous Al"2O"3. We analyze native point defects such as vacancies, self-interstitials, and antisites. Our first-principles calculations are based on density functional theory in the local density approximation. Hybrid functionals were utilized as a means of overcoming the band-gap problem. This approach allows us to accurately assess the positions of defect levels. We use calculated band offsets to make predictions about the location of these defect levels with respect to the band edges of relevant semiconductors used as channel materials. We will discuss which defects may impede the optimal performance of devices.
Conserved eukaryotic transposable elements and the evolution of gene regulation

Multiple remnants of transposable elements preserved in cis-regulatory modules may represent a record of mutations that were critical to the evolution of gene regulation and speciation.
Quantification of changes in oxygen release from red blood cells as a function of age based on magnetic susceptibility measurements

This study extends the in vitro understanding of the RBC storage lesion by serially analyzing the RBC's magneophoretic mobility, a property dependent on the content and oxygenation or oxidation state of hemoglobin (Hb) iron, during storage. Four prestorage leukoreduced, AS-5 preserved RBC units were stored between 1 and 6 °C for 42 days. Weekly starting on storage day 7, each unit was sampled, divided into 3 aliquots, each subjected to different reactions: one aliquot was exposed to room air to produce oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb), another aliquot was mixed with sodium nitrite to produce methemoglobin (metHb), while the third aliquot was desaturated of oxygen (deoxyhemoglobin, deoxyHb) using nitrogen gas. These aliquots were placed into a cell tracking velocimetry (CTV) apparatus which measured both the settling velocity (us) of the RBCs as well as their magnetically induced velocity (um). The um/us ratio depends on the oxygenation state of the hemoglobin and the quantity of iron within the RBC. The RBC density was measured by percoll centrifugation. There was a significant reduction in the um/us ratio for the deoxyHb RBC aliquot as storage time elapsed, with a smaller but still significant reduction in the um/us ratio for the metHb aliquot. The average RBC density decreased very slightly during storage, as determined by the percoll centrifugation technique, although the average settling velocity (another measure of cell density) seemed to fluctuate during storage. The decrease in magnetophoretic mobility of the deoxyHb portion is explicable either by Hb's increased affinity for oxygen during storage, or else a loss of iron from the cells.
Synthesis and antimicrobial properties of 17β-amino-4-aza-5α-androstane and derivatives

To develop further structure-activity relationships relative to antimicrobial activity in 4-azasteroids, 17β-amino-4-aza-5α-androstane and derivatives were synthesized. While using the Leuckart-Wallach reductive amination to place a β-amine function in the 17-position, the 5-double bond of the 4-aza-5-en-3-one system was reduced stereospecifically and a dimethylaminoethyl group was eliminated from the 4-nitrogen in the same system. These observations should give insight into the mechanism of the Leuckart-Wallach reaction. Antimicrobial studies showed that the 17β-amino grouping almost completely abolishes activity.
A New, Crystalline High Melting Bis(hydroxymethyl)polycarbonate and Its Acetone Ketal for Biomaterial Applications

Hydroxypolycarbonates (HPC) offer to the biomedical area hydroxyl functional polymers not now readily available to bind drugs, proteins, or carbohydrate polymers chemically or via hydrogen bonding to facilitate drug delivery and utility with subsequent biodegradibility to acceptable byproducts. The cyclic carbonate (CC) from the monoketal diol of pentaerythritol polymerized in CHCl3 at 60 °C with Et2Zn catalyst in CHCl3 at 60 °C in 4 h to a quantitative yield of high molecular weight, crystalline polymer (PCC), melt peak 199 °C and Tg of 99 °C. PCC is readily hydrolyzed with 80% acetic acid to the water-insoluble but water-swollen HPC, poly[5,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxan-2-one], with Mw = 3.1 × 104. HPC degrades completely in vitro in <16 h in PBS-1X buffer (pH 7.4, 37 °C) to pentaerythritol and presumably CO2. This rapid degradation rate is decreased with random copolymers of HPC with CC, e-caprolactone, or l-lactide. HPC and PCC may have important biomaterial applications as is and as the copolymers ...
A Simple Heuristic Model of Nutrient Cycling in an Estuary

Abstract Three decades of discussion and study have not resolved the apparent discrepancy between N-limitation of primary production and the ability of marine ecosystems to fix N. We use a simple model as a heuristic tool to examine controls on nutrient cycling in a shallow estuary, with Tomales Bay, California as the prototype. The model is a steady-state, one-box model with inputs and losses of nutrients and organic matter, and terms representing N-fixation and denitrification. The physical description of the system is deliberately kept simple to permit a focus on the key biogeochemical reactions. Growth of autotrophs in the model can be limited either by dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) or dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP). Nitrogen-fixation is controlled by the availability of DIP or limited by excess amounts of DIN. Model results demonstrate that, for a system with a long residence time, autotroph biomass and total organic matter are controlled primarily by the rate of delivery of P to the system, either as DIP or in organic matter. Increasing the delivery rate of DIN raises autotroph biomass slightly but has little effect on total organic matter. This is because the rates of input of P as DIP or organic matter control the N-fixation rate, and denitrification limits the build-up of DIN in the system. Thus, denitrification and N-fixation act as opposing negative feedbacks, insuring that the supply of N remains roughly commensurate with that of P. When exchange with the ocean is increased, reducing residence time, the relative importance of DIN input increases relative to that of DIP.
Utilizing laboratory and field studies to determine physiological responses of cattle to multiple environmental stressors

Abstract Heat stress studies are often conducted using controlled laboratory exposures or field exposures. Each approach has limitations and provides a partial understanding of complex interactions between simultaneous environmental stressors. The question is how similar the responses are in each situation. Several physiological measures of thermal status were used to compare heat stress responses of cattle in controlled chamber stress tests and fluctuating field conditions. Angus steers (N=23; 318±8 kg BW) were first placed on either endophyte-infected or -uninfected tall fescue pastures for the field exposure, followed by a controlled heat challenge, which exacerbates the condition known as fescue toxicosis. During the controlled heat challenge, steers were assigned to diets of either 0 or 40 μg ergovaline/kg/d to maintain the treatment states. Respiration rate (RR) was measured via flank counting and telemetric temperature transmitters in the rumen of each animal monitored core temperature (Trum). Linear regression fit models for RR, Trum, and air temperature (Ta) were utilized to compare relationships between field and chamber exposure. Correlation coefficients for RR were similar during both chamber (R=0.69) and field exposures (R=0.72). Respiration rate showed greater responsiveness to change in Ta under field conditions having twice the slope (4.40 versus 1.75 bpm/°C) and a lower Y-intercept (−42.14 versus +30.97 bpm) compared to the chamber run. Ruminal temperature was consistent between exposures showing a similar slope (0.04 versus 0.03 °C Trum/°C Ta) and Y-intercept (38.40 versus 39.30 °C) for its relationship with Ta. Despite respiration rate being the more sensitive indicator of heat stress, ruminal temperature proved to be the most consistent between environments.
The genetic impact of Aztec imperialism: ancient mitochondrial DNA evidence from Xaltocan, Mexico.

In AD 1428, the city-states of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan formed the Triple Alliance, laying the foundations of the Aztec empire. Although it is well documented that the Aztecs annexed numerous polities in the Basin of Mexico over the following years, the demographic consequences of this expansion remain unclear. At the city-state capital of Xaltocan, 16th century documents suggest that the site's conquest and subsequent incorporation into the Aztec empire led to a replacement of the original Otomi population, whereas archaeological evidence suggests that some of the original population may have remained at the town under Aztec rule. To help address questions about Xaltocan's demographic history during this period, we analyzed ancient DNA from 25 individuals recovered from three houses rebuilt over time and occupied between AD 1240 and 1521. These individuals were divided into two temporal groups that predate and postdate the site's conquest. We determined the mitochondrial DNA haplogroup of each individual and identified haplotypes based on 372 base pair sequences of first hypervariable region. Our results indicate that the residents of these houses before and after the Aztec conquest have distinct haplotypes that are not closely related, and the mitochondrial compositions of the temporal groups are statistically different. Altogether, these results suggest that the matrilines present in the households were replaced following the Aztec conquest. This study therefore indicates that the Aztec expansion may have been associated with significant demographic and genetic changes within Xaltocan.
Studying Extreme Ultraviolet Wave Transients with a Digital Laboratory: Direct Comparison of Extreme Ultraviolet Wave Observations to Global Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations

In this work, we describe our effort to explore the signatures of large-scale extreme ultraviolet (EUV) transients in the solar corona (EUV waves) using a three-dimensional thermodynamic magnetohydrodynamic model. We conduct multiple simulations of the 2008 March 25 EUV wave (~18:40 UT), observed both on and off of the solar disk by the STEREO-A and B spacecraft. By independently varying fundamental parameters thought to govern the physical mechanisms behind EUV waves in each model, such as the ambient magneto-sonic speed, eruption free energy, and eruption handedness, we are able to assess their respective contributions to the transient signature. A key feature of this work is the ability to synthesize the multi-filter response of the STEREO Extreme UltraViolet Imagers directly from model data, which gives a means for direct interpretation of EUV observations with full knowledge of the three-dimensional magnetic and thermodynamic structures in the simulations. We discuss the implications of our results with respect to some commonly held interpretations of EUV waves (e.g., fast-mode magnetosonic wave, plasma compression, reconnection front, etc.) and present a unified scenario which includes both a wave-like component moving at the fast magnetosonic speed and a coherent driven compression front related to the eruptive event itself.
Apprehension to engagement in the classroom: perceptions of Black males in the community college

This study presents selected findings drawn from a larger investigation of Black male students in the community college. In the larger study, qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 Black males attending a public two-year college in the southwestern United States. The focus of the larger study was on identifying factors which, from the perspectives of students, affected their academic success. Academic success referred primarily to students’ grade point averages or achievement and secondarily to continuation towards students’ self-proclaimed collegiate goals. A large portion of Black male participants in this study indicated that academic disengagement served to negatively affect their achievement in the community college. Students discussed academic disengagement as a reluctance to fully engage as active agents in their own academic development through necessary interactions.
Stimulation of the expression of osteogenic and chondrogenic phenotypes in vitro by osteogenin.

Abstract Osteogenin was recently purified and the amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides were determined. Osteogenin in conjunction with insoluble collagenous bone matrix induces cartilage and bone formation in vivo. To understand the mechanism of action of osteogenin, we examined its influence on periosteal cells, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and bone marrow stromal cells in vitro. Osteogenin stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis in periosteal cells. The cAMP response to parathyroid hormone in periosteal cells was increased by osteogenin. In primary cultures of calvarial osteoblasts, osteogenin stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity, the cAMP response to parathyroid hormone, and the synthesis of collagenous and noncollagenous proteins; however, cell proliferation was not affected. Osteogenin increased the production of sulfated proteoglycans in fetal rat chondroblasts and in rabbit articular chondrocytes. The present experiments demonstrate the significant influence of osteogenin in the stimulation of osteogenic and chondrogenic phenotypes in vitro.
Design considerations for low-power receiver front-end in high-speed data links

This paper presents different design considerations for the receiver front-end (RXFE) in low-power, high-speed data links. Specifications for the RXFE are defined and explained in detail, including their impact on the overall link performance. Based on these specifications, low-power RXFE topologies are then analyzed to illustrate the design and performance tradeoffs. Techniques to properly characterize and measure the RXFE specifications are also provided, supplemented with measurement results from three different low-power links operating at 10Gb/s, 16Gb/s and 20Gb/s.
Rhodococcus L-phenylalanine dehydrogenase: kinetics, mechanism, and structural basis for catalytic specificity.

Phenylalanine dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible, pyridine nucleotide-dependent oxidative deamination of L-phenylalanine to form phenylpyruvate and ammonia. We have characterized the steady-state kinetic behavior of the enzyme from Rhodococcus sp. M4 and determined the X-ray crystal structures of the recombinant enzyme in the complexes, E.NADH.L-phenylalanine and E.NAD(+). L-3-phenyllactate, to 1.25 and 1.4 A resolution, respectively. Initial velocity, product inhibition, and dead-end inhibition studies indicate the kinetic mechanism is ordered, with NAD(+) binding prior to phenylalanine and the products' being released in the order of ammonia, phenylpyruvate, and NADH. The enzyme shows no activity with NADPH or other 2'-phosphorylated pyridine nucleotides but has broad activity with NADH analogues. Our initial structural analyses of the E.NAD(+).phenylpyruvate and E.NAD(+). 3-phenylpropionate complexes established that Lys78 and Asp118 function as the catalytic residues in the active site [Vanhooke et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 2326-2339]. We have studied the ionization behavior of these residues in steady-state turnover and use these findings in conjunction with the structural data described both here and in our first report to modify our previously proposed mechanism for the enzymatic reaction. The structural characterizations also illuminate the mechanism of the redox specificity that precludes alpha-amino acid dehydrogenases from functioning as alpha-hydroxy acid dehydrogenases.
Malignant retroperitoneal paragangliomas

The authors reviewed the clinical features of 13 cases of malignant retroperitoneal paragangliomas reported in the English literature and report the 14th case. The reported case represents the first such tumor occurring in the familial form of the disease. Good response to combination chemotherapy in the reported case emphasizes the need to study the role of chemotherapy in the management of this neoplasm.
Do identical activity patterns in fast and slow motor axons exert the same influence on the twitch time of cat skeletal muscle

1. The fast-twitch flexor digitorum (the lateral head; equivalent to the flexor hallucis longus) and slow-twitch soleus muscles of the cat were denervated, and the two nerves immediately reunited to one or the other muscle. Contraction times of the dually reinnervated muscle were examined 9 weeks post-operatively in response to separate stimulation of its own and the foreign nerve. Over a 5 week period before the terminal experiment, a variety of artificial activity patterns was imposed on the two nerves. 2. Following the dual-union operation, the flexor digitorum muscle was preferentially reinnervated by its own nerve. In contrast, the soleus muscle showed no evidence of preferential reinnervation. 3. When neural activity was not artificially modified, the dually reinnervated flexor digitorum or soleus muscle showed faster contractions in response to stimulation of the flexor digitorum nerve than to stimulation of the soleus nerve. 4. Following a 5 week period in which neural activity was virtually eliminated by cord transection or in which the two nerves were stimulated at the same frequency, the contraction times of the dually reinnervated soleus muscle were the same in response to stimulation of either nerve. 5. In contrast, under the experimental conditions described above (cord transection or nerve stimulation), the dually reinnervated flexor digitorum muscle showed a significantly faster contraction in response to stimulation of its own nerve than to stimulation of the soleus nerve. 6. It is concluded that, when neural activity is absent or identical in pattern, motoneurones normally innervating the fast- or slow-twitch muscles exert the same influence on contraction times of the soleus muscle. 7. The dependence of contraction times of the dually reinnervated flexor digitorum muscle upon the type of the innervating motoneurone may be explained either by selective reinnervation of a particular group of muscle fibres or by different trophic substances emanating from the motoneurones.
Investment in Energy Efficiency: Do the Characteristics of Firms Matter?

The literature on energy efficiency provides numerous examples of apparently profitable technologies that are not universally adopted. Yet according to the standard neoclassical theory of investment, profit-maximizing firms should undertake all investments with a positive net present value. The standard theory also holds that the discount rate for computing the present value of a project should be the return available on other projects in the same risk class, and therefore should not depend on characteristics of the firm. This model as applied to energy-saving investments is tested by examining whether firms'characteristics influence their decision to join the Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary Green Lights program. A discrete choice regression is estimated over a large sample of participating and nonparticipating firms. Missing values in the data matrix are replaced with multiple imputations from a distribution estimated using the expectation—maximization algorithm. The results show that (1) sub...
Kinetic and cellular characterization of novel inhibitors of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase

S-Nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) is an alcohol dehydrogenase involved in the regulation of S-nitrosothiols (SNOs) in vivo. Knock-out studies in mice have shown that GSNOR regulates the smooth muscle tone in airways and the function of β-adrenergic receptors in lungs and heart. GSNOR has emerged as a target for the development of therapeutic approaches for treating lung and cardiovascular diseases. We report three compounds that exclude GSNOR substrate, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) from its binding site in GSNOR and cause an accumulation of SNOs inside the cells. The new inhibitors selectively inhibit GSNOR among the alcohol dehydrogenases. Using the inhibitors, we demonstrate that GSNOR limits nitric oxide-mediated suppression of NF-κB and activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. Our findings reveal GSNOR inhibitors to be novel tools for regulating nitric oxide bioactivity and assessing the role of SNOs in vivo.
USE OF SARALASIN IN THE DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF HYPERTENSION IN CHILDREN

Saralasin (S), a competetive antagonist of angiotensin II, has been used to evaluate renin-angiotensin dependent hypertension in adults. The purposes of this study were to determine 1) if S might be useful in the evaluation of hypertension in children and 2) if it would provide information about the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system in various forms of hypertension in the young. An IV infusion of S (0.4 to 0.8mg/min) was given to 21 children (4 to 18 years) with sustained hypertension (mean admission BP=162/114). All pats had complete diagnostic evaluation including renal arteriography. Pats were divided into 3 groups: hypertension secondary to renal parenchymal disease (RPH), reno-vascular hypertension (RVH) and essential hypertension (EH). The S test was considered to be positive when systolic BP decreased 10mmHg and diastolic BP decreased 6mmHg. A positive S test was obtained in 4 of 8 pats with RPH, 4 of 7 pats with RVH and 1 of 6 pats with EH. All pats with a positive S test had increased peripheral renin activity (PRA). Two pats with EH and 1 with RVH had increased PRA but negative S tests.. Four pats with RPH (3+ and 1-S test) and all 7 pats with RVH have had a surgical procedure to help control their hypertension. These results suggest that S may be useful in the diagnostic evaluation of hypertension in children. More experience and time are required to determine whether S can help predict surgical success for RVH and RPH in the young.
Overdetermined Systems of Linear Partial Differential Operators with Normal Principal Symbols

Elliptic complexes, made up of certain linear partial differential operators D1, …, Dd with C∞ coefficients, are constructed. The local solvability problem for the nonhomogeneous equations Dpu=f(p∈{1, …, d}) and the local integrability problem for the homogeneous equation D1u=0 are solved.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Noviose Replacements on Novobiocin that Manifest Anti-proliferative Activity.

Structural modifications to the coumarin core and benzamide side chain of novobiocin have successfully transformed the natural product from a selective DNA gyrase inhibitor into a potent inhibitor of the Hsp90 C-terminus. However, no structure−activity relationship studies have been conducted on the noviose appendage, which represents the rate-limiting synthon in the preparation of analogues. Therefore, a series of sugar mimics and nonsugar derivatives were synthesized and evaluated to identify simplified compounds that exhibit Hsp90 inhibition. Evaluation against two breast cancer cell lines demonstrated that replacement of the stereochemical complex noviose with simplified alkyl amines increased antiproliferative activity, resulting in novobiocin analogues that manifest IC50 values in the midnanomolar range.
An Approach to Assessing Freeway Lane Management Hot Spots

This research presents a procedure for capitalizing on the trade-off between urban freeway managed lanes and general purpose lanes that compete for limited road space. The basic goal of the procedure is to provide policy guidance for sharing any excess lane capacity on a timely and efficient basis. Potential operating policy options for these two types of lanes are categorized as "do nothing," "lane management," and "more than lane management." The "lane management" condition recognizes the extent and duration of a "hot spot" as defined by underutilized managed lanes with congested general purpose lanes, or vice versa. Four major and three minor lane management hot spots are deterministically and stochastically captured along a 24-mi freeway stretch in California. The major hot spots account for 8.3% of the total time-space set. The approach, which can also be applied to predict upcoming hot spots, generates satisfying accuracy. Finally, strategies are proposed to prevent the hot spots, and the effects of lane management are estimated. The application of this approach is useful especially for managed lanes with limited access points that prohibit arbitrary lane changing.
Electrophoretic Migration of Submicron Polystyrene Latex Spheres in Solutions of Linear Polyacrylamide

The electrophoretic migration of highly cross-linked carboxylated polystyrene latex spheres of 55, 140, and 215 nm radius (R) in solutions of linear polyacrylamide of 0.4 × 106, 0.6 × 106, and 1 × 106 molecular weight, in the 0.1−1% concentration range, was studied by capillary zone electrophoresis. The electric field strengths applied ranged from 40 to 530 V/cm. At the ionic strength used, these particles must be considered “large”, exhibiting κR ≥ 13 where κ-1 is the thickness of electric double layer. In the semidilute polymer concentration regime, the radius of the particles severalfold exceeds the average mesh size, ξ, in the polymer network. It was found that particle retardation (expressed as μ/μ0 where μ and μ0 are particle electrophoretic mobilities in polymer solution and buffer alone) at a given polymer concentration decreases with both increasing particle size and electric field strength but increases with polymer molecular weight. The dependence of retardation on polymer concentration, c, fol...
Comparing traditional measures of academic success with emotional intelligence scores in nursing students.

Objective: Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth. EI is increasingly discussed in healthcare as having a potential role in nursing. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the causal relationship between EI scores and the traditional academic admission criteria (GPA) and evaluation methods of a baccalaureate nursing program. Methods: The sample included second semester upper division nursing students (n = 85). EI was measured using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Results: The results of the statistical analysis (MANOVA, ANOVA and Pearson correlational coefficient) found no significant relationships or correlations with the current methods of evaluation for admission to nursing school or the evaluation methods used once students are in the nursing program. Conclusions: These results imply that assessing a nursing student's EI is measuring a different type of intelligence than that represented by academic achievement. Based on the findings of this study and the current state of nursing education, EI abilities should be included as part of the admission criteria for nursing programs.
Role of leptin in the neuroendocrine response to fasting

A total deficiency in or resistance to the protein leptin causes severe obesity. As leptin levels rise with increasing adiposity in rodents and man, it is proposed to act as a negative feedback 'adipostatic signal' to brain centres controlling energy homeostasis, limiting obesity in times of nutritional abundance. Starvation is also a threat to homeostasis that triggers adaptive responses, but whether leptin plays a role in the physiology of starvation is unknown. Leptin concentration falls during starvation and totally leptin-deficient ob/ob mice have neuroendocrine abnormalities similar to those of starvation, suggesting that this may be the case. Here we show that preventing the starvation-induced fall in leptin with exogenous leptin substantially blunts the changes in gonadal, adrenal and thyroid axes in male mice, and prevents the starvation-induced delay in ovulation in female mice. In contrast, leptin repletion during this period of starvation has little or no effect on body weight, blood glucose or ketones. We propose that regulation of the neuroendocrine system during starvation could be the main physiological role of leptin.
In the eye of the beholder: a visualization-based approach to information system security

Computer system security is traditionally regarded as a primarily technological concern; the fundamental questions to which security researchers address themselves are those of the mathematical guarantees that can be made for the performance of various communication and computational challenges. However, in our research, we focus on a different question. For us, the fundamental security question is one that end-users routinely encounter and resolve for themselves many times a day--the question of whether a system is secure enough for their immediate needs.In this paper, we will describe our explorations of this issue. In particular, we will draw on three major elements of our research to date. The first is empirical investigation into everyday security practices, looking at how people manage security as a practical, day-to-day concern, and exploring the context in which security decisions are made. This empirical work provides a foundation for our reconsideration of the problems of security to a large degree as an interactional problem. The second is our systems approach, based on visualization and event-based architectures. This technical approach provides a broad platform for investigating security and interaction, based on a set of general principles. The third is our initial experiences in a prototype deployment of these mechanisms in an application for peer-to-peer file sharing in face-to-face collaborative settings. We have been using this application as the basis of an initial evaluation of our technology in support of everyday security practices in collaborative workgroups.
A synthetic bandwidth measurement system for acoustic remote sensing of geoacoustic properties of bottom sediments

A series of narrowband acoustic transmissions may be combined into an equivalent broadband signal - with a corresponding increase in resolution in the time domain. This procedure is called synthetic bandwidth processing. If ray methods are used in combination with inverse theory to determine the otacoustic properties of bottom sediments, the increased time resolution aids in the identification of arrivals which are closely spaced in time. This, in turn, permits improved estimates of the spatial distribution of properties and more accurate otacoustic models. Signal processing techniques and guidelines for synthesizing multioctave broadband pulse-like signals are presented. Also described is the instrumentation used to implement the technique in real ocean environments. >
Constrained mathematics evaluation in probabilistic logic analysis

Abstract A challenging problem in mathematically processing uncertain operands is that constraints inherent in the problem definition can require computations that are difficult to implement. Examples of possible constraints are that the sum of the probabilities of partitioned possible outcomes must be one, and repeated appearances of the same variable must all have the identical value. The latter, called the ‘repeated variable problem’, will be addressed in this paper in order to show how interval-based probabilistic evaluation of Boolean logic expressions, such as those describing the outcomes of fault trees and event trees, can be facilitated in a way that can be readily implemented in software. We will illustrate techniques that can be used to transform complex constrained problems into trivial problems in most tree logic expressions, and into tractable problems in most other cases.
Monophyly of Endosymbiont Containing Trypanosomatids: Phylogeny versus Taxonomy

To obtain additional information on the phylogenetic relationships within the family Trypanosomatidae (order Kinetoplastida), we have sequenced the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes from the endosymbiont containing species Herpetomonas roitmani TCC080, Herpetomonas sp. TCC263, Crithidia oncopelti ATCC 12982 and a partial large subunit rRNA gene from H. roitmani. The small subunit sequences in the two isolates of Herpetomonas are very similar but not identical, and so are their restriction digest profiles of kinetoplast DNA. The size of minicircles in both isolates is 4.2 kilobases. The inferred ribosomal RNA phylogenetic trees shows the genera Herpetomonas and Crithidia as polyphyletic. Endosymbiont-bearing herpetomonads cluster with the endosymbiont-bearing crithidias and a blastocrithidia to form a monophyletic clade, whereas the endosymbiont-free members of these genera are found elsewhere in the tree. These data support the hypothesis of a monophyletic origin of endosymbiosis in trypanosomatid evolution and also suggest that a taxonomic revision is needed in order to better describe the natural affinities in this family.
Posterolateral neck dissection: preoperative considerations and intraoperative technique

Posterolateral neck dissection has become the standard operative technique in the surgical management of metastatic adenopathy among patients with cutaneous malignancies of the posterior neck and scalp. This technique has been used in both the staging and therapeutic settings but is reserved today primarily for oncological resection of clinical disease. This dissection includes removal of lymph node levels II through V along with the suboccipital, retroauricular, and nuchal nodes, which are common sites of spread for cutaneous malignancies of the posterior scalp, suboccipital region, retroauricular region, and posterosuperior neck. The most common indication is for metastatic cutaneous malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma, although soft-tissue sarcomas can present in this region and necessitate regional dissection. The aim of this review is to delineate the preoperative evaluation and intraoperative considerations of the posterolateral neck dissection.
On the role of substrate loss tangent in the cavity model theory of microstrip patch antennas

The effective loss tangent (/spl delta//sub eff/) plays an important role in the improved cavity model of microstrip patch antennas. It is calculated using an iterative procedure. Results are presented here showing that the final value of /spl delta//sub eff/ is quite sensitive to the value chosen at the start of the iterative process, i.e., the substrate loss tangent (tan /spl delta/). Since the input impedance depends on /spl delta//sub eff/, it is important to specify the value of tan /spl delta/ in any comparison with experiment. >
Predicting Abolition: A Cross-National Survival Analysis of the Social and Political Determinants of Death Penalty Statutes:

Cross-national research on the determinants of criminal penalties has generally recognized that the amount of crime is an insufficient explanation for the use of punishment. Some research supports conflict explanations, reporting that economic inequality and the presence of ethnic minorities threatens elites who respond by advocating increased punishments largely aimed at minority groups. Other research reports that democratized nations in which citizens enjoy many civil liberties have lower levels of punishment. This study uses event history and logistic analyses to identify the social and political factors that shape the existence of the death penalty in 92 nations over a 23-year period. The results largely support conflict explanations for the existence of this punishment by finding that nations with high-income inequality and large ethnic minority populations have the lowest likelihood of abolition.
MRI and x-ray CT study of spatial distribution of core breakdown in 'Conference' pears.

Two non-destructive tomographic techniques, X-ray CT imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were applied to study the development of core breakdown disorder in ‘Conference’ pears (Pyrus communis cv. Conference). This disorder, which is characterized by brown discoloration of the tissue and development of cavities, is induced by elevated CO2 and decreased O2 levels during controlled atmosphere storage. Tomographic images of pears stored for 10 months under disorder inducing conditions, were acquired with both techniques and compared to the actual slices. Both X-ray and MRI were able to differentiate between unaffected tissue, brown tissue and cavities. A simple image-processing program, based on threshold values, was developed to determine the area percentage of affected and unaffected tissue as well as the cavity and core area per slice. For all three imaging techniques the area percentage brown tissue per slice increased with the diameter of the pear, but was systematically underestimated by 12% and 6% for, respectively, X-ray and MRI, compared to the actual slices. The area percentage cavity corresponded very well for all techniques. It was also found that the contours of the brown tissue were parallel to the fruit boundaries, suggesting a relation between the disorder symptoms and gas diffusion properties of the fruit. It was concluded that MRI is the most appropriate technique to study the development of core breakdown disorder during postharvest storage in future experiments.
The Role of Scientists in Conservation Planning on Private Lands

The nexus of advocacy and science has been a recurring discussion theme since the earliest days of the Society for Conservation Biology. When Michael Soule defined conservation as a “mission-oriented discipline,” he succinctly captured the issue. He and others have asked whether biologists on a mission to save ecosystems, ecological communities, species, and populations can provide the value-free and independent science that conservation planning requires. Should conservation biologists be required to check their philosophy and morals at the door when entering an arena fraught with political angst and economic implications? Does a commitment to saving biological diversity necessarily obviate a scientist’s opportunities to contribute his or her professional skills to land and resource planning when objectives other than conservation are included? Although this dilemma has not been solved, the debate has taken a different turn. Some conservation biologists question whether their colleagues can provide value-neutral science to land-use planning and resource management where private lands, land developers, resource extraction, and compensated consultation are involved. In the context of inescapable trade-offs, can conservation biologists be trusted to deliver professional judgment without bias? Can they be anything but accomplices to the loss of habitats where species will be taken and bulldozers will roll? We think conservation biologists can and should participate in land-use planning. Nevertheless, based on our involvement in a number of the most controversial conservation planning efforts in the United States, we recognize that acknowledgement and incorporation of tradeoffs can be accompanied by significant professional condemnation. Where conservation planning is adjunct to land development and extractive activities (e.g., timber harvest, mining, grazing), participating scientists are often viewed as simply providing scientific input that meets the expectations of private interests facing restrictive poli-