cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The metabolic syndrome and the immediate antihypertensive effects of aerobic exercise: a randomized control design.

The metabolic syndrome (Msyn) affects about 40% of those with hypertension. The Msyn and hypertension have a common pathophysiology. Exercise is recommended for their treatment, prevention and control. The influence of the Msyn on the antihypertensive effects of aerobic exercise is not known. We examined the influence of the Msyn on the blood pressure (BP) response following low (LIGHT, 40% peak oxygen consumption, VO2peak) and moderate (MODERATE, 60% VO2peak) intensity, aerobic exercise. Subjects were 46 men (44.3 ± 1.3 yr) with pre- to Stage 1 hypertension (145.5 ± 1.6/86.3 ± 1.2 mmHg) and borderline dyslipidemia. Men with Msyn (n = 18) had higher fasting insulin, triglycerides and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and lower high density lipoprotein than men without Msyn (n = 28) (p < 0.01). Subjects consumed a standard meal and 2 hr later completed one of three randomized experiments separated by 48 hr. The experiments were a non-exercise control session of seated rest and two cycle bouts (LIGHT and MODERATE). BP, insulin and glucose were measured before, during and after the 40 min experiments. Subjects left the laboratory wearing an ambulatory BP monitor for the remainder of the day. Repeated measure ANCOVA tested if BP, insulin and glucose differed over time among experiments in men without and with the Msyn with HOMA as a covariate. Multivariable regression analyses examined associations among BP, insulin, glucose and the Msyn. Systolic BP (SBP) was reduced 8 mmHg (p < 0.05) and diastolic BP (DBP) 5 mmHg (p = 0.052) after LIGHT compared to non-exercise control over 9 hr among men without versus with Msyn. BP was not different after MODERATE versus non-exercise control between Msyn groups (p ≥ 0.05). The factors accounting for 17% of the SBP response after LIGHT were baseline SBP (β = -0.351, r2 = 0.123, p = 0.020), Msyn (β = 0.277, r2 = 0.077, p = 0.069), and HOMA (β = -0.124, r2 = 0.015, p = 0.424). Msyn (r2 = 0.096, p = 0.036) was the only significant correlate of the DBP response after LIGHT. Men without the Msyn respond more favorably to the antihypertensive effects of lower intensity, aerobic exercise than men with the Msyn. If future work confirms our findings, important new knowledge will be gained for the personalization of exercise prescriptions among those with hypertension and the Msyn.
Impact of alternative introductory courses on programming concept understanding

Computer science has long debated what to teach in the introductory course of the discipline, and leaders in our field have argued that the introductory course approach is critical to student development. We investigated the impact of alternative approaches to introductory computing by considering the questions of what students bring to their second class in computing and how the outcomes differ depending on the students' alternative first course. Our study showed significant differences in understanding of introductory concepts, such as iteration, conditionals, and arrays, at the beginning of the second course. However, by the end of the second course their understanding had converged.
Maturation State-Dependent Alterations in Meniscus Integration: Implications for Scaffold Design and Tissue Engineering

The knee meniscus is a crucial component of the knee that functions to stabilize the joint, distribute load, and maintain congruency. Meniscus tears and degeneration are common, and natural healing is limited. Notably, few children present with meniscus injuries and other related fibrocartilaginous tissues heal regeneratively in immature animals and in the fetus. In this work, we evaluated fetal, juvenile, and adult bovine meniscus properties and repair capacity in vitro. Although no changes in cell behavior (migration and proliferation) were noted with age, drastic alterations in the density and distribution of the major components of meniscus tissue (proteoglycan, collagen, and DNA) occurred with development. Coincident with these marked tissue changes, the in vitro healing capacity of the tissue decreased with age. Fetal and juvenile meniscus formed a robust repair over 8 weeks on both a histological and mechanical basis, despite a lack of vascular supply. In contrast, adult meniscus did not integrate over this period. However, integration was improved significantly with the addition of the growth factor transforming growth factor-beta 3. Finally, to evaluate engineered scaffold integration in the context of aging, we monitored cellular infiltration from native tissue into engineered nanofibrous constructs. Our findings suggest that maturation processes that enable load bearing in the adult limit endogenous healing potential and identify new metrics for the development of tissue-engineered meniscus implants.
The Chaotic Obliquity of Mars

Numerical integration of the rotation of Mars shows that the obliquity of Mars undergoes large chaotic variations. These variations occur as the system evolves in the chaotic zone associated with a secular spin-orbit resonance.
Effect of Epinephrine on the Corneal Endothelium

Intracameral epinephrine has been advocated for treatment of iris bleeding and inadequate pupillary dilatation during intraocular surgery. Commercial epinephrine 1:1000 with its preservative sodium bisulfite damaged corneal endothelial function and ultrastructure in rabbit and monkey eyes with sodium bisulfite the source of the damage. Endothelial damage can be prevented with a 1:5000 dilution of commercially available epinephrine in 0.1% sodium bisulfite or freshly prepared epinephrine bitartrate 1:1000 with a bicarbonate Ringers.
Developing a Web 2.0-Based System with User-Authored Content for Community Use and Teacher Education.

We report on an investigation into the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of an informational and instructional Website in order to generate guidelines for instructional designers of read/write Web environments. We describe the process of design and development research, the problem addressed, the theory-based solution, and the evaluation and testing of that solution. Based on our experience, we then identify sixteen guidelines for future designers and developers of read/write Web-based learning environments. The study demonstrates how read/write Web technologies can be used to address general problems that have intrinsic societal importance; examines implementation of a read/write technology in a real-life context, thereby testing distributed cognitions learning theory; informs the design of similar environments; and provides grounded theory for the design and development of read/write Web learning environments.
US intelligence in the Cuban missile crisis

(1998). US intelligence in the Cuban missile crisis. Intelligence and National Security: Vol. 13, Intelligence and the Cuban Missile Crisis, pp. 18-63.
The oxidation of [Co(edta)]2− by [Co(phen)3]3+

Abstract [(Co(phen)3][(Sb(R, R)-tartrate)2] · 8H2O, C44H44N6O20CoSb2, crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3221 (No. 154) with Z = 3, a = 18.861(4), c = 11.917(3) A and R = 0.035 for 1800 reflections. The structure has been determined and the absolute configuration of (+)589-[Co(phen)3](ClO4)3 · 2H2O formed from the compound by Cl2 oxidation is confirmed as Λ. Reduction of [Co(phen)3]3+ by [Co(edta)2− is outer-sphere with a second-order rate constant of 9.6 x 10−3 M−1 s−1 at 25 °C and 0.10 M ionic strength. When Λ-[Co(phen)3]3+ is used as oxidant, chiral induction is observed and the [Co(edta)]− product shows a enantiomeric excess of 20% of the Λ isomer. This homochiral (ΛΛ) preference contrasts with the heterochiral (ΔΛ) preference found previously for reactions of [Co(edta)]2− with [Fe(phen)3]3+ and [Os(phen)3]3+. Interpretation of the results is aided by 1H NMR relaxation studies of the ion pair {[Co(phen)3]3+, [Co(edta)]−}.
Assembly of the brush border cytoskeleton: Changes in the distribution of microvillar core proteins during enterocyte differentiation in adult chicken intestine

The assembly of the intestinal microvillus cytoskeleton was examined during the differentiation of enterocytes along the crypt-villus axis in adult chicken duodenum using light and electron microscopic immunolocalization techniques. Using antibodies reactive with villin, fimbrin, and the heavy chain (hc) of brush border (BB) myosin I (110K-calmodulin complex) and rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin as a probe for F-actin, we determined that while actin, villin, and fimbrin were all localized apically along the entire axis, BB myosin I (hc) did not assume this localization until the crypt-villus transition zone. In addition to their localization at the BB surface, all four proteins were present at significant levels along the lateral margins of enterocytes along the entire crypt-villus axis, suggesting that these proteins may be involved in the organization and function of the basolateral membrane cytoskeleton as well. The pattern of expression of the microvillar core proteins along the crypt-villus axis in the adult was comparable to that seen in the intestine of the late stage chicken embryo and suggests that a common program for brush border assembly may be used in both modes of enterocyte differentiation.
The Weibull–Pareto Composite Family with Applications to the Analysis of Unimodal Failure Rate Data

The Weibull distribution is composited with Pareto model to obtain a flexible, reliable long-tailed parametric distribution for modeling unimodal failure rate data. The hazard function of the composite family accommodates decreasing and unimodal failure rates, which are separated by the boundary line of the space of shape parameter, gamma, when it equals to a known constant. The least square and maximum likelihood parameter estimation techniques are discussed. The advantages of using the proposed family are demonstrated and compared by illustrating well-known examples: guinea pigs survival time data, head and neck cancer data, and nasopharynx cancer survival data.
A model-based approach for the construction of design spaces in quality-by-design

An algorithm is proposed for the characterization of the set of allowable real parametric uncertainties that achieve output specifications for nonlinear systems. The approach first expands the system output by a multivariate polynomial or rational function of perturbations of the real parameters, which is then written as a linear fractional transformation. Bounds on the uncertainty set are computed for the expansion using the skewed structured singular value. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated to be effective for the tracking problem of determining the allowable speed and angle for throwing a ball to land within a target and for a pharmaceutical crystallization in which an alternative solution method is available.
Initiation of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes.

Abstract DEAF-Sephadex column chromatography of crude rabbit liver transfer RNA (tRNA) gives rise to three peaks of methionine acceptor activity (met-tRNAMI, met-tRNAMIL , and met-tRNAF).Only one of these species (met-tRNAF) could be charged by E. coli synt hetase and formylated by E coli formylase (1,2). In a cell-free protein synthesizing system obtained from rabbit reticulocytes, [14C] met-tRNAF transfers radioactivity to the N-terminal position of the polypeptide chain in response to native messenger RNA. In a similar experiment, [14C] met-tRNAMII transfers radioactivity mainly into the internal positions of the synthesized polypeptide chains.
Pattern discrimination perimetry in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension

We compared the results of the pattern discrimination perimeter to the program 30-2 on the Humphrey Field Analyzer (Humphrey, Inc., San Leandro, California) in 93 consecutive patients with ocular hypertension and glaucoma and 30 control patients. In 20 patients with ocular hypertension, a significantly greater number of glaucomatous defects were noted on pattern discrimination perimetry (ten patients) than on the program 30-2 (two patients) (P
Correlation between collagen solubility and skin optical clearing using sugars.

Background and Objective Light scattering from collagen within skin limits light-based therapeutics while increasing the risk of epidermal thermal injury. Specific chemicals show the ability to reduce light scattering by reversibly altering the optical properties of skin. This study examines the correlation between collagen solubility and the optical clearing potential (OCP) of sugars and sugar-alcohols using in vitro rodent skin. Materials and Methods Collagen solubility in dextrose, fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol was measured using near-UV spectroscopy. Light transmittance, reflectance, and rodent skin thickness were measured (giving skin reduced scattering coefficient) before and after exposure of the dermal surface to sugars and sugar-alcohols. OCP was calculated as the ratio of reduced scattering coefficients before and after exposures. Results Dextrose, fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol had at least twice the collagen solubility and twice the OCP as compared to glycerol. In general, collagen solubility correlated with each agent's ability to optically clear rodent skin. Conclusion These results demonstrate that sugar and sugar–alcohol interaction with collagen are a primary event in tissue optical clearing. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:140–144, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Statistics and Methodology Courses: Interdepartmental Variability in Undergraduate Majors' First Enrollments

Transcripts of 784 psychology alumni from 4 universities revealed that students' timing of first enrollments in a statistics or methodology course was the result of an interaction between personal preferences and differences in program requirements. Where only a single methodological course was mandatory, first enrollments were especially late in students' careers. In departments having multiple methodological requirements, negative correlations between the timing of first method course versus first content course (e.g., clinical, developmental) indicated that the precedence of 1 category meant a delay for the other. We offer recommendations for increasing students' direct early exposure to scientific methodology in psychology.
Early Invasive Versus Initial Conservative Treatment Strategies in Octogenarians with UA/NSTEMI

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated improved outcomes with an early invasive strategy in patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI). However, there are limited data for patients ≥80 years of age in these studies. Methods We used the 2003-2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify all patients ≥80 years of age (octogenarians) with UA/NSTEMI. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital outcomes in octogenarians with UA/NSTEMI undergoing early invasive (coronary angiography within 48 hours of admission, with or without revascularization) versus initial conservative treatment. Results Among 968,542 octogenarians with UA/NSTEMI, 806,902 (83.3%) were managed using an initial conservative approach and 161,640 (16.7%) using an early invasive strategy. Patients in the early invasive group were more likely to be younger, men, white, and had a higher prevalence of smoking, dyslipidemia, obesity, hypertension, known coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in octogenarians in the early invasive group (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.78). Early invasive strategy was associated with lower rates of acute ischemic stroke (adjusted OR 0.63; 95% CI, 0.60-0.66), intracranial hemorrhage (adjusted OR 0.60; 95% CI, 0.510.70), gastrointestinal bleeding (adjusted OR 0.63; 95% CI, 0.60-0.65), and shorter average length of stay (5.3 vs 5.8 days, P Conclusion Compared with an initial conservative approach, an early invasive strategy in octogenarians with UA/NSTEMI was associated with lower in-hospital mortality, acute ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and shorter length of stay, but higher cardiogenic shock and total hospital cost.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 Serves as a Pro-Viral Factor by Regulating Viral RNA Synthesis and Nuclear Export of Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complex upon Influenza Virus Infection

Influenza continues to pose a threat to humans by causing significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is imperative to investigate mechanisms by which influenza virus manipulates the function of host factors and cellular signal pathways. In this study, we demonstrate that influenza virus increases the expression and activation of sphingosine kinase (SK) 1, which in turn regulates diverse cellular signaling pathways. Inhibition of SK suppressed virus-induced NF-κB activation and markedly reduced the synthesis of viral RNAs and proteins. Further, SK blockade interfered with activation of Ran-binding protein 3 (RanBP3), a cofactor of chromosome region maintenance 1 (CRM1), to inhibit CRM1-mediated nuclear export of the influenza viral ribonucleoprotein complex. In support of this observation, SK inhibition altered the phosphorylation of ERK, p90RSK, and AKT, which is the upstream signal of RanBP3/CRM1 activation. Collectively, these results indicate that SK is a key pro-viral factor regulating multiple cellular signal pathways triggered by influenza virus infection.
Identification of GPR99 Protein as a Potential Third Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor with a Preference for Leukotriene E4 Ligand

The cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs), leukotriene C4 (LTC4), a conjugation product of glutathione and eicosatetraenoic acid, and its metabolites, LTD4 and LTE4, are lipid mediators of smooth muscle constriction and inflammation in asthma. LTD4 is the most potent ligand for the type 1 cys-LT receptor (CysLT1R), and LTC4 and LTD4 have similar lesser potency for CysLT2R, whereas LTE4 has little potency for either receptor. Cysltr1/Cysltr2−/− mice, lacking the two defined receptors, exhibited a comparable dose-dependent vascular leak to intradermal injection of LTC4 or LTD4 and an augmented response to LTE4 as compared with WT mice. As LTE4 retains a cysteine residue and might provide recognition via a dicarboxylic acid structure, we screened cDNAs within the P2Y nucleotide receptor family containing CysLTRs and dicarboxylic acid receptors with trans-activator reporter gene assays. GPR99, previously described as an oxoglutarate receptor (Oxgr1), showed both a functional and a binding response to LTE4 in these transfectants. We generated Gpr99−/− and Gpr99/Cysltr1/Cysltr2−/− mice for comparison with WT and Cysltr1/Cysltr2−/− mice. Strikingly, GPR99 deficiency in the Cysltr1/Cysltr2−/− mice virtually eliminated the vascular leak in response to the cys-LT ligands, indicating GPR99 as a potential CysLT3R active in the Cysltr1/Cysltr2−/− mice. Importantly, the Gpr99−/− mice showed a dose-dependent loss of LTE4-mediated vascular permeability, but not to LTC4 or LTD4, revealing a preference of GPR99 for LTE4 even when CysLT1R is present. As LTE4 is the predominant cys-LT species in inflamed tissues, GPR99 may provide a new therapeutic target.
Effects of animacy and noun-phrase relatedness on the processing of complex sentences

Previous work has suggested that syntactically complex object-extracted relative clauses are easier to process when the head noun phrase (NP1) is inanimate and the embedded noun phrase (NP2) is animate, as compared with the reverse animacy configuration, with differences in processing difficulty beginning as early as NP2 (e.g., The article that the senator . . . vs. The senator that the article . . .). Two eye-tracking-while-reading experiments were conducted to better understand the source of this effect. Experiment 1 showed that having an inanimate NP1 facilitated processing even when NP2 was held constant. Experiment 2 manipulated both animacy of NP1 and the degree of semantic relatedness between the critical NPs. When NP1 and NP2 were paired arbitrarily, the early animacy effect emerged at NP2. When NP1 and NP2 were semantically related, this effect disappeared, with effects of NP1 animacy emerging in later processing stages for both the related and arbitrary conditions. The results indicate that differences in the animacy of NP1 influence early processing of complex sentences only when the critical NPs share no meaningful relationship.
Identification of the substrate radical intermediate derived from ethanolamine during catalysis by ethanolamine ammonia-lyase.

Rapid-mix freeze-quench (RMFQ) methods and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy have been used to characterize the steady-state radical in the deamination of ethanolamine catalyzed by...
Detection of linear errors via domain testing

Domain testing attempts to find errors in the numeric expressions affecting the flow of control through a program. Intuitively, domain testing provides a systematic form of boundary value testing for the conditional statements within a program. Several forms of domain testing have been proposed, all dealing with the detection of linear errors in linear functions.Perturbation analysis has been previously developed as a measure of the volume of faults, from within a selected space of possible faults, left undetected by a test set. It is adapted here to errors and error spaces. The adapted form is used to show that the different forms of domain testing are closer in error detection ability than had been supposed. They may all be considered effective for finding linear errors in linear predicate functions. A simple extension is proposed, which allows them to detect linear errors in nonlinear predicate functions using only a single additional test point.
Creep deformation of whisker-reinforced alumina

Abstract The creep behavior of alumina reinforced with SiC whiskers was studied under different loading geometries and test ambients. Deformed microstructures were examined and characterized to ascertain mechanisms of deformation and damage, and to understand better the causes of the measured creep response. The composites undergo creep by grain boundary sliding that is generally accomodated by diffusion, although high stresses and temperatures lead to increasing degrees of creep damage in the form of cavitation at interfaces and grain boundaries. Creep rates decrease with increasing whisker volume fraction as whiskers increasingly inhibit grain boundary sliding. In aerobic test atmospheres, the composites undergo a thermal oxidation reaction that generates glassy films at internal boundaries and carbon monoxide gas, both of which facilitate cavitational damage. Systematic study of the thermal oxidation reaction in the absence of stress shows that oxidation occurs at interfaces, generating silica glass and graphitic carbon via a “carbon-condensed” oxidation displacement reaction.
Bordetella pertussis PCR: Simultaneous targeting of signature sequences

The absence of analytical controls for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic tests for Bordetella pertussis limits their clinical utility. In this study, multiplex PCR simultaneously targeted two specific Bordetella pertussis sequences, the chromosomal repeated insertion sequence IS481 (IS) and the pertussis toxin promoter region (PT). A multi-target hybridization-EIA (Hyb-EIA) method in a 96-well microtiter-plate format was used to detect amplicons. Forty-seven (15%) of the 318 nasopharygeal specimens tested positive for at least one DNA target of B. pertussis by PCR, including the 10 known positive samples by culture and/or direct fluorescent antibody (DFA). Forty-six of the 47 PCR positive samples were considered positive for B. pertussis using the consensus interpretation criteria. Simultaneous detection of multiple chromosomal regions may identify false-positive and -negative results due to analytical variations or potential sequence polymorphism, and uncover a wider range of pathogenic strains.
Finite parts of singular and hypersingular integrals with irregular boundary source points

Abstract The subject of this paper is the evaluation of finite parts (FPs) of certain singular and hypersingular integrals, that appear in boundary integral equations (BIEs), when the source point is an irregular boundary point (situated at a corner on a one-dimensional plane curve or at a corner or edge on a two-dimensional surface). Two issues addressed in this paper are: an unified, consistent and practical definition of a FP with an irregular boundary source point, and numerical evaluation of such integrals together with solution strategies for hypersingular BIEs (HBIEs). The proposed formulation is compared with others that are available in the literature and interesting connections are made between this formulation and those of other researchers.
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To . . .

Ii had been struggling with this, my first editorial, for some time, and had just about arrived at a version that suited me. However, before attempting to put the finishing touches on it, I decided to get in the proper frame of mind by taking one of my frequent early morning bicycle rides. That ride was never completed. While cranking along a bike lane just outside Tucson, I was crunched from the rear by-of all things-a pickup truck belonging to a porta-potty company. My beautiful gold bike was completely trashed, and ended up with a fractured left scapula, multiple contusions and abrasions, and a lot of road rash. In addition, I was pretty badly bruised and scraped. I do seem to be mending, though, and hope to be riding again within a couple of months. So much for the war stories.
Review of Daniel J. Hruschka’s Friendship: Development, Ecology, and Evolution of a Relationship (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2010)

Although a ubiquitous feature of human social life, and commensurate with kinship and marriage in importance, friendship has received much less systematic inquiry from anthropologists. Many important questions therefore remain unanswered: What is a friend? Do friendships differ from relationships anchored by kinship or sexual attachment? How do we learn to make friends? Do people in all societies form friendships in the same way? Daniel Hruschka tackles these questions in his excellent review, Friendship, which is organized around five themes: (1) the behaviors and emotions that characterize friendships; (2) the differences between friendships and other social relationships; (3) the ontogeny of friendship; (4) the responsiveness of friendships to social and ecological variation; and (5) the evolutionary origins and consequences of friendship. Drawing on a diverse literature, Hruschka demonstrates that the traditional, Western notion of friendship (e.g., a relationship that simply involves caring and sharing) is woefully inadequate for describing the variety of friendships found across the world and the functions they play. Moreover, popular evolutionary theories of friendship also fall short. Evolutionary accounts of social relationships are typically grounded on three foundations: reciprocity, kinship, and mating. Friendship, Hruschka demonstrates, is not adequately accounted for solely by these principles. Because friendships occur among non-kin and among same-sex individuals, many theorists have argued that friendships are a form of reciprocal altruism—you scratch my Hum Nat (2013) 24:348–350 DOI 10.1007/s12110-013-9175-y
Characterization of Cell Association and Heat Treatment Using Iron Oxide Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have intrinsic advantages over other NPs for various biomedical applications. These advantages include visualization under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), heating with Radiofrequency (RF), and movement in a magnetic field. There are now numerous efforts to expand the applications of these particles for non-invasive drug and adjuvant delivery, cellular imaging and in vitro cell sorting and purification. In the present study, we describe methods to (i) assess and quantify NP cell association (ii) facilitate NP heat destruction of cells after association with RF and laser. First, we show that (i) the cell association of iron oxide NPs is dependent on the surface coating (surfactant greater than dextran), time, cell-type and extracellular NP concentrations (saturation with concentration and time). Furthermore, the association fits a simple enzyme Michealis-Menten model. Second, (ii) improved heat destruction of cells can be achieved after laser irradiation compared to traditional RF treatment for similar NP associations. These results and assays show promise for cell sorting and purification applications.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
CO 2 emission accompanying the fracture of calcite

Time resolved mass spectroscopy of the emissions accompanying the fracture of calcite (rhombohedral CaCO3) show that the principle volatile product, CO2, is released in bursts milliseconds after the fracture event. Similar measurements during the abrasion of calcite and during low temperature thermal decomposition of pulverized calcite show similar CO2 bursts. We argue that the observed bursts reflect localized decomposition of the calcite during the relaxation of reversible plastic deformation created by fracture and abrasion. This implies that mechanical, non-thermal processes play an important role in producing the observed decomposition products.
Conservation of Momentum in Electrical Conductivity

In the theory of the electrical conductivity of metals, the conservation theorem of Peierls establishes the invariance of the sum of the electron wave numbers and a function of the lattice vibrations. This is shown to be accompanied by other related conservation theorems based on the periodicity of the system. One of these refers to the difference between Peierls' integral and the total momentum of the system. The connection between Peierls' integral and the integral of momentum has usually been obscured by the use of electron states that do not represent a definite value of the momentum. When the system is treated as a whole it can be shown that the transfer of momentum from the electrons to the lattice need not be a process involving one electron at a time, but may involve a large number. One can say that the umklapprozesse involve a whole group of electrons rather than a single one. As a result one can understand the establishment of a steady state in a conducting metal without considering the umklapprozesse of single electrons as introduced by Peierls.
A bonded joint finite element for a symmetric double lap joint subjected to mechanical and thermal loads

SUMMARY A bonded joint finite element (FE) for a symmetric double lap joint is developed that is capable of predicting field quantities in the lap region. The element is a hybrid method and incorporates features of classical analytical and numerical methods. The element stiffness and load vector formulations have unique, load dependent, non-linear shape functions based on an analytical solution. The adaptive shape functions are formulated in terms of the dimensionless mechanical load fraction ( ¯ P) and total load ( ¯ tot) and are capable of predicting the thermal and mechanical load response. The bonded joint element has been implemented as a user element in the Abaqus R � commercial FE code. A comparison of the stress predictions for the bonded joint element and a conventional 2D FE model is presented and are found to be in good agreement. Therefore, the element provides a computationally efficient and mesh-independent stress prediction. The single element reproduces the analytical solution with minimal analyst input and can be easily incorporated into early design and sizing studies. Copyright q 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative psychology is still alive but may be losing relevance

Greenberg et al., in their perspective on the current state and fate of comparative psychology, present convincing data that the field is viable and that comparative psychologists are making important contributions to the research literature. The central feature of the field is its emphasis upon evolution. This is also its weakness since advances in genetic techniques permit researchers to create laboratory animals that have no counterpart in the natural world, and thus have no evolutionary history. These "unnatural" animals are widely used in behavioral, biological, and medical studies, but the findings cannot be interpreted within a comparative psychology framework. As the use of these preparations expand, the relevance of comparative psychology diminishes.
Celecoxib exposures reported to Texas poison control centers from 1999 to 2004.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of celecoxib. This study described the pattern of exposures involving only celecoxib (isolated exposures) reported to Texas poison control centers from 19...
IRON EFFICIENCY IN KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS NOT RELATED TO PHYTOSIDEROPHORE RELEASE

Some Kentucky bluegrass (KBG; Poa pratensis L.) is susceptible to iron (Fe)-deficiency chlorosis. Under Fe-deficiency stress, phytosiderophore is produced and released by the roots of many grasses to solubilize soil Fe and enhance uptake. In other species, quantifying phytosiderophore screens for Fe-deficiency resistant cultivars. A hydroponic study was conducted at 1 and 10 μM solution Fe to variously stress ‘Baron’, ‘Award’, ‘Limousine’, and ‘Rugby II’ KBG cultivars. One μM Fe solution produced more Fe-deficiency stress in all cultivars compared to 10 μM, resulting in greater chlorosis and phytosiderophore release but reduced shoot and root Fe concentrations and shoot weight. Of the four cultivars, Baron was the most susceptible to Fe deficiency and exhibited severe Fe chlorosis and low shoot Fe but, surprisingly, produced the most phytosiderophore. These results imply that Fe-deficiency susceptibility in KBG may be less related to phytosiderophore release and more related to inefficient uptake or utili...
The CRF domain defines cytokinin response factor proteins in plants.

Background: Cytokinin Response Factors (CRFs) are a small subset of AP2/ERF transcription factor genes shown in Arabidopsis to regulate leaf development as part of the cytokinin signal transduction pathway. This study examines the phylogenetic distribution of CRF genes in other plant species, and attempts to identify the extent of sequence conservation and potential gene function among all CRF genes. Results: We identified CRF genes in representatives of all major land plant lineages, including numerous flowering plant taxa in addition to the model systems in which ERF genes have been catalogued. Comparative analysis across this broader sampling has identified strongly conserved amino acid motifs other than the AP2/ERF domain for all CRF proteins as well as signature sequences unique to specific clades of CRF genes. One of these motifs, here designated as the CRF domain, is conserved in and unique to CRF proteins distinguishing them from related genes. We show that this novel domain of approximately 65 amino acids is found in CRF proteins from all groups of land plants and only in CRF genes. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the evolution of CRF genes has included numerous duplication events. In this phylogenetic context we examine protein evolution including the gain and loss of accessory domains, correlate these molecular evolutionary events with experimental data on cytokinin regulation and speculate on the function and evolution of the CRF domain within AP2/ERF transcription factor proteins. We also tested a prediction drawn from the phylogenetic analyses that four CRF domain containing genes from Tomato, previously unexamined for cytokinin response, are transcriptionally inducible by cytokinin, supporting the link between CRF genes, CRF-specific domains and cytokinin regulation. Conclusion: CRF genes can be identified in all lineages of land plants, as a distinct subset of AP2/ERF proteins containing a specific and unique CRF domain. The CRF domain can be used to identify previously unclassified predicted genes or genes identified only as members of the AP2/ERF protein family. CRF domain presence and phylogenetic relatedness to known Arabidopsis CRF genes predicts gene function to some extent.
Effect of a micro-grooved fin surface design on the air-side thermal-hydraulic performance of a plain fin-and-tube heat exchanger

Abstract In this study, the effectiveness of plain fin-and-tube heat exchangers constructed using anisotropic, micro-patterned aluminum fins has been explored. These fins which can more completely drain the condensate that forms on the heat transfer surface during normal operation were selected with the aim of improving the thermal-hydraulic performance of the heat exchanger. This study presents and critically evaluates the efficacy of four full-scale heat exchangers by measuring and comparing dry/wet air-side pressure drop and dry/wet air-side heat transfer data. The prototype fin surfaces were shown to reduce the wet air-side pressure drop from 9.3% to 53%, while at the same time having a negligible effect on the sensible heat transfer coefficient under both dry and wet conditions. That is to say, this novel fin surface design has shown the ability, through improved condensate management, to enhance the performance of the heat exchanger. Data pertaining to the durability of the alkyl silane coating used in this work are also presented.
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Analysis of the Hydrolytic Ring-Opening of the Malondialdehyde−Deoxyguanosine Adduct, 3-(2‘-Deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)- pyrimido[1,2-α]purin-10(3H)-one

3-(2'-Deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-alpha]purin-10(3H)-one (M1dG) is the major reaction product of deoxyguanosine with malondialdehyde or base propenals. M1dG undergoes hydrolytic ring-opening to N2-oxopropenyl-deoxyguanosine (N2OPdG) under basic conditions. We report that ring-opening of M1dG as a nucleoside or in oligonucleotides is a reversible second-order reaction with hydroxide ion. NMR and UV analysis revealed N2OPdG(-) to be the only product of M1dG ring-opening in basic solution. The rate constant for reaction of M1dG with hydroxide is 3.8 M(-1) s(-1), and the equilibrium constant is calculated to be 2.1 +/- 0.3 x 10(4) M(-1) at 25 degrees C. Equilibrium constants determined by spectroscopic analysis of the reaction end-point or by thermodynamic analysis of rate constants determined over a range of temperatures yielded a value 2.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) M(-1). Kinetic analysis of ring-opening of M1dG in oligonucleotides indicated the rate constant for ring-opening is decreased 10-fold compared to that in the nucleoside. Flanking purines or pyrimidines did not significantly alter the rate constants for ring-opening, but purines flanking M1dG enhanced the rate constant for the reverse reaction. A mechanism is proposed for ring-opening of M1dG under basic conditions and a role is proposed for duplex DNA in accelerating the rate of ring-opening of M1dG at neutral pH.
Effect of cyclic analogues of valproic acid on glutamic acid decarboxylase activity as determined by different methods

Abstract In order to study the anticonvulsant activity of cyclic analogues of valproic acid, the effects of sodium valproate, sodium spiro (4:6) undecane-2-carboxylate, and sodium spiro (4:6) undecane-2-acetate were observed on the L -glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity of E. coli and C. welchii by radioisotopic, volumetric, and gravimetric methods. The results indicated that these compounds potentiated enzyme activity at low concentrations but higher concentrations exhibited an inhibitory effect. Fifty percent enzyme inhibition ( ID 5O ) ranges were 200–250 μg/ml, 50–75 μg/ml, and 150–200 μg/ml, for the three compounds respectively as determined by the radioisotopic method. While the radioisotopic was used as a conventional method, the microvolumetric and microgravimetric methods were developed for the first time and found to be applicable in determining the effect of the compounds on enzyme activity. The advantages of the latter two methods are that they are simple, safe, and inexpensive as compared to the radioisotopic method. The results by these methods indicated that the second compound was the strongest inhibitor of GAD activity.
D-amino acids in higher plants

Abstract Although there appear to be no exceptions to the rule that proteins are composed solely of the L-isomers of amino acids, D-amino acids and derivatives of them do occur rather widely in living organisms. In some cases they have well-understood functions, but in other cases their occurrence raises interesting questions. Several peptide antibiotics contain D-amino acids (1). The peptido-glycans of Gram-positive bacterial cell walls contain D-glutamic acid, D-alanine, and D-asparagine (2). D-amino acids are also found in animals, chiefly annelids and insects (3). In this paper some aspects of D-amino acids in higher plants will be reviewed.
Host gall size and oviposition success by the parasitoid Eurytoma gigantea

Abstract. 1. Eurytoma gigantea Walsh is a specialist parasitoid of the tephritid gallmaker Eurosta solidaginis (Fitch). 2. In the natural environment the incidence of parasitism by Eurytoma is greater in small galls than in large ones. 3. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that small galls are not more frequently discovered; however, oviposition attempts on small galls were more likely to be successful. 4. Eurytoma spends much time probing galls too big to penetrate; this leads to a decrease in foraging efficiency when many large galls are present. 5. The chance of successfully penetrating a gall depends on the thickness of the gall wall and the length of the parasitoid's ovipositor. 6. A simulation model was constructed which shows that a gallmak-er's chance of being parasitized depends on gall size, the number of parasitoids that discover the gall, and their ovipositor lengths.
The intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain of thymidylate synthase targets the enzyme to the ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation pathway.

The ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation pathway is increasingly being recognized as important in regulation of protein turnover in eukaryotic cells. One substrate of this pathway is the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS; EC 2.1.1.45), which catalyzes the reductive methylation of dUMP to form dTMP and is essential for DNA replication during cell growth and proliferation. Previous work from our laboratory showed that degradation of TS is ubiquitin-independent and mediated by an intrinsically disordered 27-residue region at the N-terminal end of the molecule. In the current study we show that this region, in cooperation with an α-helix formed by the next 15 residues, functions as a degron, i.e. it is capable of destabilizing a heterologous protein to which it is fused. Comparative analysis of the primary sequence of TS from a number of mammalian species revealed that the N-terminal domain is hypervariable among species yet is conserved with regard to its disordered nature, its high Pro content, and the occurrence of Pro at the penultimate site. Characterization of mutant proteins showed that Pro-2 protects the N terminus against Nα-acetylation, a post-translational process that inhibits TS degradation. However, although a free amino group at the N terminus is necessary, it is not sufficient for degradation of the polypeptide. The implications of these findings to the proteasome-targeting function of the N-terminal domain, particularly with regard to its intrinsic flexibility, are discussed.
Proactive or Reactive: An Analysis of the Effect of Agent Style on Organizational Decision-making Performance

This paper addresses the issue of agent style-proactive and reactive-from a theoretical perspective. The results show that agent style, though often considered key in decision making, only affects the organization's performance when the organization is under moderate time pressure. Further, the effect of agent style depends on the type of training given to organizational agents and the internal condition under which the organization operates. This research suggests that, when resources are scarce, organizations should spend these resources on organizational design and on increasing the accuracy of incoming information rather than on altering the agents' style.
Seen but unseen: Part-time faculty and institutional surveillance and control

This article examines surveillance techniques utilized by several metropolitan community colleges to manage part-time faculty. We find that with the increased use of part-time faculty, administrators at these organizations are relying less on direct, personal supervision of these instructors and are instead using more “remote” surveillance practices to certify that “acceptable educational standards” are being maintained. The use of these practices not only signals a decline in the professional status of college instructors, but also points to differences in social control techniques used in “productive” institutions versus those used in “disciplinary” institutions. We find that while surveillance techniques employed at these community colleges make the education process visible and controllable, they simultaneously render part-time faculty invisible but controlled.
Investigation by EPR and ENDOR Spectroscopy of the Nickel(I) Form of Cofactor F4301 of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum and of Nickel(I) Octaethylisobacteriochlorin

The terminal step in methane generation by the archaeon Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum is catalyzed by the enzyme S-methyl coenzyme M reductase (methylreductase). This enzyme contains a Ni(II) tetrapyrrole cofactor, F430, at the active site in the resting state. A Ni(I) state (NiIF430) has been proposed as the active form of the cofactor. Nickel isobacteriochlorins have been used to model F430. We have investigated both NiIF430 and NiIOEiBC using CW and pulsed EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy at X-band and Q-band microwave frequencies. In agreement with a previous X-band EPR and ESEEM study, at Q-band, the g tensor of NiIF430 appears axial and 1,2H ENDOR of NiIF430 in H2O versus D2O solvent shows no evidence for strongly coupled, solvent-exchangeable hydrogens, and this indicates that there is no water axially coordinated to Ni(I) in contrast to the Ni(II) resting state. Both NiIF430 and NiIOEiBC give 14N ENDOR signals arising from the four pyrrole nitrogen ligands to Ni(I). Previous EXAFS studies of NiIO...
Isothermal and Nonisothermal Fatigue Behavior of a Metal Matrix Composite

The isothermal and nonisothermal fatigue resistance of a metal matrix composite (MMC) consisting of Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn (Ti-15-3) matrix reinforced by 33 vol pct continuous SiC fibers was investigated. The fibers were nominally oriented parallel to the specimen axis. Isothermal fatigue tests were performed in air at 300 and 550 C. The MMC had good isothermal fatigue resistance at low cyclic stress, with fatigue cracks initiating from fiber-matrix interfaces and foil laminations. At high cyclic stresses, stress relaxation in the matrix reduced isothermal composite fatigue resistance at 550 C. Nonisothermal fatigue loading substantially degraded composite fatigue resistnce. This degradation was produced by a thermomechanical fatigue damage mechanism associated with the fiber-matrix interfaces.
The 3-year longitudinal course of suicidality and predictive factors for subsequent suicidality in youths with major depressive disorder

This study followed the course of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youths 7 to 17 years of age who recently experienced an episode of major depression. Suicidal was expressed by 72% of the youths at some time during the study. These predominantly outpatient youths tended to be suicidal on multiple occasions, but their severity of suicidality did not increase over time. Three variables at presentation predicted later suicidality: severity of initial suicidality, anger, and age. These results suggest that milder forms of suicidality represent a feature of depression rather than characterizing a subgroup of high-risk depressed youths. The results also suggest that suicidality and anger may mark a predominantly irritable form of depression as youths mature.