cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of IL-5 cytokine production and in vivo IgE levels in infants and parents.

Background Total IgE in human subjects tracks strongly from birth onward through unknown mechanisms. Regulation of IgE might occur in relation to adaptive immune cytokine production. In vitro studies have assessed the role of individual cytokines in regulating IgE production in human subjects. Objective: We sought to investigate the association between IgE levels in vivo and the capacity of the individuals to produce adaptive immune cytokines. Methods Blood samples from participants in the Tucson Infant Immune Study (children at birth and at 3 and 12 months of age, fathers, and mothers before and after delivery) were assessed for percentage of eosinophils and plasma total IgE levels. IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10 levels were measured in supernatants of mitogen-stimulated PBMCs and examined cross-sectionally for relation to cytokine production by using simple regression, multiple regression with cytokines only and with other known predictors of IgE levels, and longitudinally by means of random effects modeling. Results After adjusting for eosinophils and other predictors, IL-5 production (but not that of other cytokines) was associated directly with total IgE levels in children at 3 months ( P = .009) and 12 months ( P = .011) of age but not at birth. The IL-5/IgE association was present also in fathers ( P = .040) and in mothers, both during pregnancy ( P P = .030). Conclusions This study indicates that mitogen-stimulated IL-5 production is associated with in vivo total IgE levels, independent of the production of other cytokines and circulating eosinophils. Clinical implications Understanding the regulation of IgE in vivo might help elucidate the development of allergic responses in individuals.
Phylogeny of extant nephilid orb‐weaving spiders (Araneae, Nephilidae): testing morphological and ethological homologies

The Pantropical spider clade Nephilidae is famous for its extreme sexual size dimorphism, for constructing the largest orb-webs known, and for unusual sexual behaviors, which include emasculation and extreme polygamy. We synthesize the available data for the genera Nephila, Nephilengys, Herennia and Clitaetra to produce the first species level phylogeny of the family. We score 231 characters (197 morphological, 34 behavioral) for 61 taxa: 32 of the 37 known nephilid species plus two Phonognatha and one Deliochus species, 10 tetragnathid outgroups, nine araneids, and one genus each of Nesticidae, Theridiidae, Theridiosomatidae, Linyphiidae, Pimoidae, Uloboridae and Deinopidae. Four most parsimonious trees resulted, among which successive weighting preferred one ingroup topology. Neither an analysis of an alternative data set based on different morphological interpretations, nor separate analyses of morphology and behavior are superior to the total evidence analysis, which we therefore propose as the working hypothesis of nephilid relationships, and the basis for classification. Ingroup generic relationships are (Clitaetra (Herennia (Nephila, Nephilengys))). Deliochus and Phonognatha group with Araneidae rather than Nephilidae. Nephilidae is sister to all other araneoids (contra most recent literature). Ethological data, although difficult to obtain and thus frequently missing for rare taxa, are phylogenetically informative. We explore the evolution of selected morphological and behavioral characters, discuss and redefine the homology of palpal sclerites, disprove semientelegyny in spiders, trace the newly interpreted evolution of the orb web, and show that nephilid genital morphologies coevolve with sexual behaviors and extreme sexual size dimorphism. Phylogenetic interpretations of behavior suggest new insights into spider biology and avenues for future research. © The Willi Hennig Society 2007.
The esthetic metal-ceramic margin: a comparison of techniques

Metal-ceramic crowns with all-porcelain labial margins may have esthetic and biologic advantages. Several techniques for making these restorations have been described in the prosthodontic literature. The authors used all the techniques and compared the results in terms of quality and degree of difficulty in construction. Clinically acceptable results can be achieved with all described techniques. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are summarized in Table I.
Novel Studies on a “Silent” High Affinity Mutant Hemoglobin (San Diego, β 109 Val ⇒ Met)

A patient with a “silent” mutant hemoglobin characterized by high oxygen affinity and erythrocytosis is described. A novel approach was used to identify the mutant chain. Functionally active α and β chains were prepared from hemolysates of the patient and a normal control. Hybrid tetramers of patient's α chain with normal β chain and normal α chain with patient's β chain were prepared. Functional studies revealed that the patient's β chains had a higher oxygen affinity (P50. 1.1 torr) than normal β chains (P50, 1.7 torr) and the hybrid containing the patient's β chains had a P50 similar to the patient's “stripped” hemolysate. It was assumed Therefore that the mutation was in the β chain; structural studies using cyanogen bromide cleavage revealed that the patient had Hb San Diego, β 109 Val⇒ Met, and that the patient's cells contained approximately 50 percent mutant hemoglobin.Functional studies were performed on a. series of mixtures of patient's hemolysate diluted with varying amounts of normal hemo-lys...
Managing pain has become a pain

Pain recognition, assessment, and management in older persons, particularly those in nursing homes who may have cognitive impairment and limitations in their ability to communicate pain, has always been challenging. Over the past few months, it has become downright painful. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) new F309 Pain Management Guidance became effective March 31, 2009 during a time when geriatric practitioners are deluged with the emergence of analgesic drug recalls, new boxed warnings, and other safety concerns. There are few safe pharmacologic options, appropriate for the frail elderly. This article reviews emerging safety concerns and offers suggested alternatives to help optimize pain management in accordance with F309 requirements.
Nucleotides and Adenosine Monophosphate Deaminase Activity of Muscle in Primary Hypokalæmic Periodic Paralysis

Nucleotides and Adenosine Monophosphate Deaminase Activity of Muscle in Primary Hypokalaemic Periodic Paralysis
Performance of double exposure solar still

A solar still of double exposure is theoretically analyzed and experimentally tested. It is compared experimentally with other identical stills without modification (ordinary L-type) during a complete year. The concept of planer reflectors is introduced in this modification. It is found theoretically that the double exposure still gained much more daily energy than that of the ordinary one in winter and summer. Experimentally, it is found that the double exposure solar still has 82.6% more daily yield than that of the ordinary one in winter time, and about 22% in summer time.
Cytotoxic effects of myelin basic protein-reactive T cell hybridoma cells on oligodendrocytes.

Abstract Cells of a rat/mouse T cell hybridoma reactive to the encephalitogenic peptide of myelin basic protein (MBP) was found to be cytotoxic to 51 Cr-labelled rat oligodendrocytes (oligos) inducing 52±5% 51 Cr release vs. 28±2% spontaneous 51 Cr release from replicate oligos. The hybridoma cells were not toxic for rat astrocytes or concanavalin A-stimulated lymphoblasts. Hybridoma T cells reactive to an experimental allergic encephalomyelitis-irrelevant antigen (ovalbumin) were not cytotoxic to oligos. The cytotoxic reaction required cell-cell contact but did not require the in vitro presence of antigen-presenting cells MBP. The target antigen on the oligos is not yet defined. These studies suggest that MBP-reactive T cells can be directly cytotoxic to oligos in the absence of other cell populations.
Breakage of Human Chromosomes 4, 19 and Y in G0 Cells Immediately after Exposure to γ-rays

One of several possible explanations for the fact that the initial number of ionizing radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (dsbs) per cell per Gy appears to be approximately 5-10 times greater than the number of excess fragments produced in prematurely condensed chromosomes (PCCs) is that dsbs in DNA tightly associated with protein, such as might be the case for heterochromatin, are held together and not expressed as discontinuities in the PCC assay. To test this idea the breakage frequencies in chromosome 4, 19 and the heterochromatic and more euchromatic portions of the Y chromosome of non-cycling human fibroblasts were measured and compared over a wide range of doses by inducing PCC immediately after irradiation with Cs-137 gamma-rays. Even for doses up to 400 Gy no evidence was seen that Y heterochromatin or large fragments of it remained unbroken. The only significant deviation from the expected initial breakage frequency per Gy per unit length of chromosome, in the dose range where a genome average for all chromosomes could be obtained, was that observed for the euchromatic portion of the Y chromosome (Y p + cen-->q11.2) where breakage was nearly twice that expected. There was no correlation between breakage per unit length and the (A + T)/(G + C) ratio for these chromosomes or regions.
Therapy with recombinant human antithrombin, heparin and tissue plasminogen activator improves survival and reduces ventilation days in a long-term ovine model of cutaneous burn and smoke inhalation injury

In this study we investigated the long-term effects of a combined therapy with recombinant human antithrombin (rhAT), heparin (hep) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in our established model of acute lung injury, resulting from burn and smoke inhalation injury (BSII). We hypothesised that this triple therapy decreases the requirement of ventilation, reduces ventilation days and improves survival.
Perceptions of sexual harassment as a function of sex of rater and incident form and consequence

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in perceptions of two “severity dichotomies” present in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Guidelines on sexual harassment. Alale and female undergraduates (N = 198), from a predominately white midwestern university, were given one of four statements based on these guidelines, varying “form” (physical/verbal) and “consequence” (economic injury/hostile environment) of the behavior. Analysis of variance results showed females rated the incident as more definitely sexual harassment and as affecting perfonnance more than did males. Participants reading “economic injury” statements rated them as having more effect on the victim’s job status than did those reading “hostile environment” statements. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant “consequence” and “sex” effects on several factors: A significant three-way interaction showed that males rated statements less negatively than did females, especially when the statement described “physical” behavior with “hostile environment“ consequences. Cluster analysis results are also presented.
A new multivariate technique for top quark search

Abstract We present a new multivariate event classifier, the PDE classifier, which can be used to identify rare signals in the presence of large backgrounds. The classifier is based on a discriminant function which uses kernel density estimates of the signal and background event densities. The PDE method offers the flexibility of a neural network but is conceptually simpler, theoretically better understood, and easier to optimize in practice. The technique is tested on Monte Carlo data using processes t t → e + E t + jets as signal and W + jets → e + Et + jets as background. The performance of the PDE classifier is similar to that of a neural network. Both methods outperform conventional analysis.
Aggression and the use of coercive power

That body of social psychological literature typically subsumed under the concept of aggression is reinterpreted as a compendium of different processes and functional relationships including equity, reciprocity, and self-defense. An evaluation of this literature leads to the conclusion that social psychological researchers have concentrated their efforts in studying retaliatory behaviors whereas "aggression" commonly refers to harm doing initiated by some transgressor. A reconceptualization based on the concept of coercive power leads to a clearer understanding of harm-doing actions and allows researchers to classify and distinguish initiated harm-doing actions from those that are retaliatory. Having made this distinction, a set of propositions related to the initiation of harm doing isspelled out, and the implications for the social control of such behavior are considered. Language: en
Forest response to climatic change : effects of parameter estimation and choice of weather patterns on the reliability of projections

Computer projections suggest that forests may respond dramatically and rapidly to global warming, with significant and readily observable changes in forests of mid-latitudes occurring by the turn of the century or shortly thereafter. These results raise the question: how reliable are the projections? Sensitivity analyses reported in this paper suggest that projections of forest response to global warming will be generally insensitive to errors of 10% in parameter estimation. Even where projections are sensitive quantitatively, they are not changed in timing. Projections are insensitive to the choice of baseline weather records, unless the warmest or coldest decades of the 20th century are used as baselines.
Evidence of impaired smooth pursuit eye movement performance in crack cocaine users

A recent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain imaging study of heavy cocaine abusers in their second week of abstinence reported a high frequency of focal perfusion abnormalities involving inferoparietal, temporal, and anterofrontal cortices and basal ganglia (Holman et al 1991). As the brain areas with perfusion detects described in this SPECT study are regarded as important in mediating various voluntary eye movements (Leichnetz and Goldberg 1988), the fbllowing study was carried out to compare the smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) performance of cocaine-dependent individuals to the SPEM performance of patients with schizophrenia as well as a population of normal subjects. Measurable SPEM disturbance is quite common in schizophrenia (Clementz and Sweeney 1990).
A field study of illuminance reduction

Abstract Many offices are illuminated at levels much higher than necessary for office tasks. Lowering ambient illuminance, while maintaining task illuminance, i.e., task-ambient lighting, can save energy without impairing visual performance. A downside of task-ambient lighting is rooms appear dark and gloomy. Maintaining brightness perception is the key to success in task-ambient lighting. To examine the practicality of brightness-enhanced task-ambient lighting for illuminance reduction a field study was conducted in a modern office setting. This study examined office workers’ responses to approximately one-third lower ambient illuminance than the initial illuminance and two measures designed to enhance brightness perception: higher correlated color temperature lamps (6500 K) and sparkle elements. Surveys showed that after an initial adaptation period, office workers were generally satisfied with the lower level of ambient lighting. They did increase their use of task lighting at their desks but this had little impact on overall energy consumption. The 6500 K lamp was effective at increasing perceptions of brightness in offices with the lower ambient light level. Over a longer period, the sparkle elements used did not significantly change workers’ perceptions of gloom.
A Sensitivity Based Approach to Determining Non-Cooperative Solutions in Nash and Stackelberg Games

A sensitivity based approach is presented to determine Nash solution(s) in multiobjective problems modeled as a non-cooperative game. The proposed approach provides an approximation to the rational reaction set (RRS) for each player. An intersection of these sets yields the Nash solution for the game. An alternate approach for generating the RRS based on design of experiments (DOE) combined with response surface methodology (RSM) is also explored. The two approaches for generating RRS are compared on three example problems to find Nash and Stackelberg solutions. It is seen that the proposed sensitivity based approach (i) requires less computational effort than a RSM-DOE approach, (ii) is less prone to numerical errors than the RSM-DOE approach, (iii) is able to find all Nash solutions when the Nash solution is not a singleton, (iv) is able to approximate non linear RRS, and (v) is able to find better a Nash solution on an example problem than the one reported in the literature.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Intracellular localization of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, and glutamic Acid dehydrogenase in green leaf tissue.

Greenhouse grown seedlings of corn (Zea mays L.) and foxtail (Setaria faberii Herrm.) were used as source material in determining the intracellular localization of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, and glutamic acid dehydrogenase, Nonaqueous and aqueous isolation techniques were used to establish that nitrite reductase is localized within the chloroplasts, but that nitrate reductase and glutamic acid dehydrogenase are not. Nonaqueous isolation gives distribution patterns of nitrite reductase which are the same as those observed for NADP-dependent 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase but which differ drastically from the patterns observed for pyruvic acid kinase. The distribution patterns for nitrate reductase are the same as those of pyruvic acid kinase. The techniques used do not eliminate the possibility that nitrate reductase and pyruvic acid kinase are localized on the external chloroplast membrane.The data obtained establish that glutamic acid dehydrogenase of green leaves is localized within the mitochondria.
Reassessment of pore shapes in microstructurally equilibrated rocks, with implications for permeability of the upper mantle

[1] With the goal of constraining fluid and melt transport rates in the upper mantle and lower crust, various permeability–porosity relations have been proposed for deep-seated, microstructurally equilibrated rocks. Two relations that are in close agreement include one that is based on numerical modeling for an idealized rock and another that is based on direct measurement of permeability on synthetic quartzite analogs. Each relation describes a continuous increase in permeability as a function of porosity, raised to some power. The empirical relation is displaced to lower permeabilities, reflecting the more complex (nonuniform) pore geometry of the quartzites, which resembles that expected in natural, deep-seated rocks. Despite differences, the numerical models assume, and the quartzites display, a similar pore geometry that is consistent with thermodynamic equilibria: grain boundaries are “dry,” with pores largely confined to joins of three or more grains. In contrast, a fundamentally different pore microstructure, in which most of the melt occupies grain boundaries, has been proposed for partially molten dunite. This has led to the suggestion of a unique, noncontinuous, or “threshold” permeability relation for upper mantle melts. A more critical analysis of pore microstructure in dunite indicates, however, that pore shapes had been misinterpreted: very little melt is present along grain boundaries. Melt instead occupies a triple-junction network closely resembling that of the quartzite analog. Consequently, a relation similar to that for synthetic quartzites can describe upper mantle grain-scale permeabilities, because permeability is a function of pore geometry alone.
Design of antennas with an Iso-flux Pattern to achieve suppression of radiation along zenith

This paper describes a technique for realizing an Iso-flux Pattern Antenna (IPA) suitable for operation in the Ka band, although the proposed design methodology is general and equally applicable to other frequencies as well. The IPA is designed to radiate at a specific elevation angle, while suppressing radiation along the zenith. The electrical performance of the designed antenna has been verified in terms of the magnitude and phase of the field distribution as well as the far-field pattern radiated by the aperture distribution.
A Winnicottian Approach to Intimacy in the Therapeutic Alliance

Abstract This paper applies the Winnicottian conceptualization of the intersubjectively inherent in the parent-infant model of personality development to the clinical relationship. Explored from a developmental and a clinical, postmodern perspective are the true and false self, object use and object relating, and transitional phenomena. A detailed case discussion of a therapeutic transference-countertransference resolution highlights the central role of aggression, in Winnicottian theory, as paradoxically linked to interpersonal intimacy and true self development.
Scaling IR Theory: Geography’s Contribution to Where IR Takes Place1

This article re-engages international relations’ (IR) longest debates on “where” and “why” global politics happens: the levels-of-analysis debate and the agent-structure debate. It argues for the continuing relevance of the conceptual questions contained in these debates, but critiques the inadequacy of current iterations of those debates in the international relations literature. In it, I introduce to political scientists political geographers’ concept of scales and scalar processes to replace levels, agents, and structures. I outline the benefits of such an approach for the substance and method of IR’s studies of global politics. I then formalize a scalar approach to global politics in six principles, modeled after Morgenthau’s six principles of political realism. The article concludes with suggested directions for a scalar approach to IR, focusing on reformulations of IR’s approaches to the study of the War on Terror.
The Dark Side of the Protestant Ethic: A Comparative Analysis of Welfare Reform

This article examines the impact of the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism on the recent welfare reform movement and the 19th-century campaign to abolish outdoor relief. Contemporary advocates of welfare reform adopted the 19th-century model of charity organization and reform as their exemplar. The welfare reform movement focused on the morals of the poor and “welfare dependence,” while the 19th-century movement attempted to eliminate the distribution of aid outside the poorhouse and to discourage “indiscriminate almsgiving”“ on the part of individuals. We argue that the Protestant ethos represents a uniquely Anglo-American variety of Calvinist Puritanism. We also show that while this ethos is a fairly constant component of American culture it has under certain conditions produced severe retrenchments in aid to the poor that is welfare reform and the abolition of outdoor relief. These conditions include the presence of a tight labor market and political mobilization by advocates of reform. Draw...
Structural changes induced by addition of a hydrocarbon to water/amphiphile mixtures

The phase conditions in a system of water, hexadecane, sodium dodecyl sulphate, and di-ethylene glycol dodecyl ether showed theW/O microemulsions to be obtained first after destabilization of a liquid crystalline phase by addition of the hexadecane. The original lamellar liquid crystalline phase was moved towards higher surfactant/cosurfactant ratios and a new phase with inverse amphiphile cylinders in a hexagonal packing appeared.
Complications of facial plating

Summary Plating systems for the management of facial trauma have been a tremendous advance over the previous methods that were available such as intermaxillary fixation and suspension wires. Not only do patients recover more quickly with plates, they usually have a more accurate and stable reduction. Complications can arise with the use of plating systems, but they are becoming rarer as the plates improve and more surgeons are fully trained in their use. In experience obtained at our institution a complication related to plating can be traced to a technical error on our part and these are continuing to decrease as the plating systems improve and experience is gained.
Variation in life history and genetic traits of Hawaiian mosquitofish populations

Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were collected from 17 reservoirs on three islands in Hawaii, USA. Genetic and life history traits for adult females from these populations were used to evaluate hypotheses concerning short-term evolutionary divergence of populations recently established from a common ancestral source. The effects of founder events and drift on genetic variability and population differentiation were also examined. Significant differences in life history characteristics, allele frequencies, and multi-locus heterozygosities (H) were found among fish populations collected from different reservoirs and between reservoirs classified as stable or fluctuating on the basis of temporal fluctuation in water level. Females from stable reservoirs exhibited greater standard length (35.1 vs 32.8 mm), lower fecundity (11.9 vs 15.2 embryos), lower reproductive allocation (18.2% vs 22.8%), but larger mean embryo size (1.95 vs 1.67 mg) than females from fluctuating reservoirs. Consistency in means among replicates of each reservoir class and concordance in direction and magnitude of differences reported here and results of sampling conducted from these same locations 10 years previously (Stearns, 1983a) suggest that ecological factors intrinsic to these two environments are important in determing population life history traits. Females from stable reservoirs exhibited lower heterozygosity than females from fluctuating reservoirs (0.134 vs 0.158, respectively). Levels and direction od differences in heterozygosity, the high proportion of polymorphic loci and lack of fixation of alternative alleles argue against a purely stochastic explanation for genetic and life history variation among reservoir populations. Levels of genetic variability and interpopulation differentiation were similar to those observed in mainland populations of this species. A high proportion of the genetic diversity was apportioned between populations and within populations due to differences between juveniles and adults. Significant genotypic differences between adult and juvenile age classes suggest that the genetic divergence of local populations may occur over short periods of time.
Pain does not follow the boxcar model: temporal dynamics of the BOLD fMRI signal during constant current painful electric nerve stimulation.

Abstract The temporal dynamics of the blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) signal, especially for painful stimulations, is not completely understood. In this study, the BOLD signal response to a long painful electrical stimulation (a continuous painful stimulation of 2 minutes) is directly compared to that of a short painful stimulation (four 30-second periods of painful stimulation interleaved with 30-second rest) in an effort to further probe the relationship between the temporal dynamics of the BOLD signal during constant-intensity pain stimulation. Time course analysis showed that both stimulation protocols produced 3 similarly timed peaks in both data sets, suggesting an early and delayed BOLD response to painful stimulation initiation, and a response related to stimulus termination. Despite the continuous stimulation, the BOLD signal returned to baseline in the 2-minute task. Even with this signal discrepancy, however, the activation maps of the 2 pain tasks differed only slightly, suggesting that the bulk of the activation is determined by the sharp rise in BOLD signal with stimulus onset. These findings imply that the BOLD signal response time course is not directly reflective of pain perception. Perspective This article demonstrates that the BOLD signal for a painful stimulation contains multiple peaks and does not maintain the constant level during stimulation that is assumed in typical analysis. Although these dynamics should be accounted for in future studies because of their ability to confound results, their presence did not significantly alter the overall group maps.
A New Technique for Monitoring Heart Signals-Part I: Instrumentation Design

A new noninvasive method for obtaining the human electrocardiogram is investigated in this paper. The proposed technique uses a composite conductive medium formed by the patient's body and the external liquid medium such as tap water in a bathtub. In this Part I of a two part paper, the emphasis is on the instrumentation design. An in-depth study of the frequency characteristics of the liquid medium interface with the sensing electrodes and the electronic instrumentation system is also presented. Filtering and amplifying circuitry is designed to obtain ECG signals from the noisy bathtub signals. This improves the signal-to-noise ratio from approximately -20 to about 40 dB while amplifying the signal level from 0.1 mV to 1 V. In Part II, signal processing techniques are developed to extract the standard orthogonal leads from the bathtub signals.
Premedication with intramuscular midazolam: effect on induction time with intravenous midazolam compared to intravenous thiopentone or ketamine.

Our study sought to determine whether premedication with intramuscular midazolam would decrease the time to induction of anaesthesia with intravenous midazolam, and if so whether induction of anaesthesia would be as rapid as with thiopentone or ketamine, intravenously. Eighty-nine patients, ASA physical status I or II, receivedmidazolam0.2 mg · kg-1, thiopentone 3.0 mg · kg-1, or ketamine 2.0 mg · kg-1 intravenously 60–90 min after intramuscular injection of either midazolam 0.07 mg · kg-1 or matching placebo. Time to induction of anaesthesia or the dose required to induce anaesthesia with intravenous midazolam was not decreased by midazolam premedication. Both with or without premedication, midazolam induction time was longer than with thiopentone or ketamine. Midazolam induction was associated with a lower incidence of blood pressure increase than with ketamine induction, and a lower incidence of apnea than that with either thiopentone or ketamine.
Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole)-modified emitter electrode for substitution of homogeneous redox buffer agent hydroquinone in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The electrolysis inherent to the operation of the electrospray ionization (ESI) source used with mass spectrometry (MS) is a well-known attendant effect of generating unipolar spray droplets and may affect the analysis of the analyte of interest. Undesirable electrolysis of an analyte may be prevented by limiting the emitter electrode current and/or the mass transport characteristics of the system. However, these ways to avoid analyte electrolysis may not be applcable in all ESI-MS experiments. For example, in the case of specific nanospray systems (e.g. the wire-in-a-capillary bulk-loaded or chip-based tip-loaded nanospray configurations), the solution flow rate is fixed in the 50-500 nL/min range and the electrode surface to volume ratio is large presenting a very effcient analyte to electrode mass transport configuration. In these situations, control over the interfacial potential of the working electrode via homogeneous or traditional heterogeneous (sacrificial metal) redox buffering is a possible way to prevent analyte electrolysis. However, byproducts of these redox buffering approaches can appear in the mass spectra and/or they can chemically alter the analyte. For example, the main reason for using hydroquinone as a homogeneous redox buffer, in addition to its relatively low oxidation potential, is that neither the original compound nor itsmore » oxidation product benzoquinone can be detected directly by ESI-MS. However, benzoquinone can alter analytes with thiol functional groups by reacting with those groups via a 1,4-Michael addition.« less
Courtship behaviour in male red-backed salamanders: the ESS dating game

Abstract Social interactions in red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus are complex and often depend upon the sex and reproductive status of individuals. In the population at Mountain Lake Biological Station, Virginia, adult males outnumber sexually active (gravid) females by approximately 2:1, because males court annually while females accept mates only biennially. Field observations of male P. cinereus suggest that males maintain feeding territories and allow non-gravid (not sexually active) females access to their territories for foraging, whereas they defend their territories against intrusion by males. We used a game-theoretic analysis of models of male fitness to examine conditions that would favour the evolution of this ‘permissive’ behaviour. Under a series of increasingly realistic behavioural assumptions, we found that the critical factor in the evolution of male permissive behaviour is female preference for permissive males. If non-gravid females are more likely to return to mate with a male that allows access to his territory, then permissive behaviour is likely to evolve. Furthermore, the evolution of permissive behaviour is facilitated when energetic losses due to territorial defence exceed those due to allowing females to forage.
A test method for determining adhesion forces and Hamaker constants of cementitious materials using atomic force microscopy

article i nfo Article history: Received 25 February 2011 Accepted 18 July 2011 A method for determining Hamaker constant of cementitious materials is presented. The method involved sample preparation, measurement of adhesion force between the tested material and a silicon nitride probe using atomic force microscopy in dry air and in water, and calculating the Hamaker constant using appropriate contact mechanics models. The work of adhesion and Hamaker constant were computed from the pull-off forces using the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts and Derjagin-Muller-Toropov models. Reference materials with known Hamaker constants (mica, silica, calcite) and commercially available cementitious materials (Portland cement (PC), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS)) were studied. The Hamaker constants of the reference materials obtained are consistent with those published by previous researchers. The results indicate that PC has a higher Hamaker constant than GGBFS. The Hamaker constant of PC in water is close to the previously predicted value C3S, which is attributed to short hydration time (≤45 min) used in this study.
Regioselective Preparation of Difluoromethyl Allenes [1]

Abstract The difluoromethylcadmium reagent reacts with primary, secondary, and tertiary propargyl chlorides and tosylates regioselectively to give difluoromethyl allenes in good yields.
Review of methods to assign the nuclear magnetic resonance peaks of reductively methylated proteins.

Abstract Reductive methylation of lysyl side-chain amines has been a successful tool in the advancement of high-resolution structural biology. The utility of this method has continuously gained ground as a protein chemical modification, first as a tool to aid protein crystallization and later as a probe in protein nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. As an isotope-labeling strategy for NMR studies, reductive methylation has contributed to the study of protein–protein interactions and global conformational changes. Although more detailed structural studies using this labeling strategy are possible, the hurdle of assigning the NMR peaks to the corresponding reductively methylated amine hinders its use. In this review, we discuss and compare strategies used to assign the NMR peaks of reductively methylated protein amines.
Sucrose and overexpression of trehalose biosynthetic genes (otsBA) increase desiccation tolerance of recombinant Escherichia coli

Survival after desiccation was highest for recombinant strains of E. coli engineered to produce ethanol (KO11 and LY163) and lactate (TG106) when sucrose was provided as the fermentable sugar. Desiccation tolerance was lower with glucose and xylose. Further improvements in desiccation tolerance with sucrose were obtained by combining this with increased expression of otsBA genes encoding trehalose biosynthesis, removal of products from metabolism by resuspending in fresh medium, and harvesting cells prior to the end of log phase. With sucrose and otsBA expression, survivals of 20%–80% were readily achieved. Fermentation tests with EM2L, a derivative of LY163 expressing ostBA, demonstrated that ethanol production from seed fermentations begun with desiccated cells is equivalent to that of an undesiccated control.
Measurement of magnetic nanoparticle relaxation time.

Purpose: Nanoparticle relaxation time measurements have many applications including characterizing molecular binding, viscosity, heating, and local matrix stiffness. The methods capable of in vivo application are extremely limited. The hypothesis investigated by the authors was that the relaxation time could be measured quantitatively using magnetic spectroscopy of nanoparticle Brownian motion (MSB). Methods: The MSB signal (1) reflects the nanoparticle rotational Brownian motion, (2) can be measured from very low nanoparticle concentrations, and (3) is a function of the product of the drive frequency and the relaxation time characterizing Brownian motion. To estimate the relaxation time, the MSB signal was measured at several frequencies. The MSB signal for nanoparticles with altered relaxation time is a scaled version of that for reference nanoparticles with a known relaxation time. The scaling factor linking the altered and reference MSB measurements is the same factor linking the altered and reference relaxation times. The method was tested using glycerol solutions of varying viscosities to obtain continuously variable relaxation times. Results: The measured relaxation time increased with increasing viscosity of the solution in which the nanoparticles resided. The MSB estimated relaxation time matched the calculated relaxation times based on viscosity with 2% average error. Conclusions: MSB can be used to monitor the nanoparticle relaxation time quantitatively through a scale space correlation of the MSB signal as a function of frequency.
The properties of radio frequency sputtered transparent and conducting ZnO:F films on polyethylene naphthalate substrate

Abstract We report on the properties of ZnO:F films deposited by RF sputtering on polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrates and compared them with films deposited on glass. Detailed and systematic investigations of various properties of films were deposited on PEN substrates were carried out as functions of thickness and annealing ambient. The films were deposited at room temperature and annealed at 150 °C in either Ar or 7% H2/Ar ambients. These films exhibited carrier concentrations between 2 × 1018/cm3 and 9.5 × 1019/cm3, mobility between 3 and 11 cm2/V-s, and resistivity between 10− 1 and 10− 2 Ω-cm. Hall mobility variation with concentration has been explained assuming ionized impurity and lattice scattering to be the dominant mechanisms. The transmission of the films varied from 68 to 80% with increasing thickness and the absorption edge was limited by the absorption of the PEN substrate. The mechanical flexibility of the films was measured in terms of its critical radius of bending which was determined from the onset of a sharp increase in electrical resistance. The critical radius varied between 6.5 and 17 mm for film thicknesses varying from 20 to 200 nm. The thickness dependence of critical strain and critical radius can be explained by Griffith defect theory.
Sulfur and oxygen isotope analysis of sulfate at micromole levels using a pyrolysis technique in a continuous flow system

The discovery of a mass-independent isotopic composition (Δ17O = (δ17O − 0.512 * δ18O) ≠ 0) in aerosol sulfate and the identification of its origin (aqueous-phase oxidation by O3 and H2O2) have renewed interest in measuring the oxygen isotopic content of sulfate. In this paper, we present a new method to measure both δ17O and δ18O in SO4, with the possibility of sulfur isotope analysis on the same sample. The technique takes advantage of the easy pyrolysis of Ag2SO4 to SO2, O2, and Ag metal in a continuous flow system. Because the technique is not quantitative in oxygen (yield ∼ 45% for O2), a calibration is needed. Correction factors of +0.87 and + 0.44‰ were obtained for δ18O and δ17O, respectively. A technique to convert micromole levels of sulfate in any form to silver sulfate is described. To reach this goal, a solid electrolyte (Nafion membrane) is used in an electrolysis apparatus. Reproducibilities for micromole sample sizes are (1σ) 0.5, 0.3, and 0.1‰ for δ18O, δ17O, and Δ17O, respectively. No me...
The aging of the middle ear in 129S6/SvEvTac and CBA/CaJ mice: measurements of umbo velocity, hearing function, and the incidence of pathology.

Measurements of umbo velocity and auditory brainstem response (ABR) were made on two different strains of mice, 129S6/SvEvTac (129S6) and CBA/CaJ (CB), within three different age ranges. The velocity measurements were made with a laser Doppler vibrometer using a semiclosed sound delivery system; the frequency range of accurate velocity measurements is from 1 to 21 kHz. The visual detection threshold of the ABR was determined at selected frequencies between 2 and 32 kHz. The velocity results suggest a small but significant change in umbo velocity with age in both strains, between the youngest (1.5–3 months) and mid-aged (12–14 months) groups. There is also a clear difference in the umbo velocity in the youngest animals of the two strains, with the 129S6 having more sensitive middle-ear function than the CB. These results support the existence of a small age-related loss in middle-ear sensitivity in the mouse that was first described in the BALB/6J strain. The age-related changes in middle-ear function observed in both CB and 129S6 are much smaller than the age-related decreases in ABR. Our results also describe a statistically significant increase in the incidence of middle-ear pathology with age in the 129S6.
Rao's score test in spatial econometrics

Abstract Rao's score test provides an extremely useful framework for developing diagnostics against hypotheses that reflect cross-sectional or spatial correlation in regression models, a major focus of attention in spatial econometrics. In this paper, a review and assessment is presented of the application of Rao's score test against three broad classes of spatial alternatives: spatial autoregressive and moving average processes, spatial error components and direct representation models. A brief review is presented of the various forms and distinctive characteristics of RS tests against spatial processes. New tests are developed against the alternatives of spatial error components and direct representation models. It is shown that these alternatives do not conform to standard regularity conditions for maximum likelihood estimation. In the case of spatial error components, the RS test does have the standard asymptotic properties, whereas Wald and Likelihood Ratio tests do not. Direct representation models yield a situation where the nuisance parameter is only identified under the alternative, such that a Davies-type approximation to the significance level of the RS test is necessary. The performance of both new RS tests is illustrated in a small number of Monte Carlo simulation experiments.
Establishment of accuracy limits and standards for comparative thermal conductivity measurements

New techniques have been developed for reducing thermal conductivity data from thermal comparative measurements. The first of these techniques is based on making a Taylor-series expansion of the stack centerline temperature profile. The result is an expression giving the ratio of sample to reference conductivities at any temperature as a function of measured quantities, the stack thermocouple readings and stack element thicknesses. The conventional formula presently used to reduce comparative conductivity data is shown to be a special result of the general analysis. A second technique involves the use of linear least-squares (LS) techniques to derive both the sample and the reference conductivities from the measured data. The LS technique provides the coefficients for a polynomial temperature expansion of the reference and sample conductivities directly. Use of the new techniques is illustrated in a reduction of some comparative data on the conductivities of Pyrex 7740 and Pyroceram 9606. It is shown that a highly self-consistent pair of conductivity functions can be derived for these two commonly used reference materials if the conductivity vs temperature relation for Pyrex is modified slightly from its recommended value. The Pyroceram conductivity results from the comparative measurements are in good agreement with a conductivity derived from pulse diffusivity and differential scanning calorimetry measurements and also in good agreement with the recommended Pyroceram conductivity function.
Isolation and structural characterization of three isoforms of recombinant consensus α interferon

Recombinant DNA-derived consensus alpha interferon was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Isoelectric focusing of this purified protein indicated the presence of three isoelectric subforms of pI 6.1, 6.0, and 5.7. These three subforms were preparatively separated by isoelectric focusing using Immobiline polyacrylamide gel and did not exhibit apparent differences in biological activity and tertiary structure. The pI 5.7 subform could also be separated from the pI 6.1 and 6.0 subforms by reverse-phase HPLC. Automated N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the pI 6.1 and 6.0 subforms yielded sequences corresponding to the methionyl and des-methionyl forms of the protein, respectively. Sequence analysis of the pI 5.7 subform indicated that its N terminus is blocked. To further determine the structure of the blocking moiety in the pI 5.7 subform, a blocked N-terminal tryptic peptide was isolated from HPLC peptide mapping of the S-carboxymethylated derivative. Results obtained from mass spectroscopic and amino acid analyses of this peptide suggest that it is blocked with an acetyl group at the N-terminal cysteine residue.
Thermal conductivity of geomaterial foams based on silica fume

Porous materials have been prepared from a solution containing sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide with the addition of silica fume. Kaolin and diatomite were also tested as additives to the initial formulation. This method yields consolidated geomaterial foams without requiring thermal treatment above $$50\,{}^{\circ}\hbox{C}$$ . The influence of chemical composition on the thermal conductivity was studied. The choice of raw materials was found to play an important role. The accuracy of thermal conductivity measurements was evaluated by comparing the steady state heat flow method with the laser flash technique for five different reference materials giving values within 6%. Using the steady state heat flow method, a value of $$0.12 \pm 0.01\,{\rm W}\,{\rm m}^{-1}\,{\rm K}^{-1}$$ was then obtained for consolidated foams, made with kaolin as the precursor, containing approximately 70% of porosity.