cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of High Pressure on Bacterial Spores

High pressures (50 to 800 MPa) were found to inactivate spores many years ago. The killing of spores by pressure is unusual in that very high pressures are often less effective than are lower pressures. The initial germination may be essential for efficient spore killing by pressure, since germinated spores are much more sensitive to stress factors, in particular, heat, than are dormant spores. Consequently, in order to fully understand the effects of high pressures on spores, it is essential to first understand (i) the structure of dormant spores, (ii) some of the factors that contribute to spore resistance, and (iii) the normal mechanism(s) for germination of bacterial spores, as high-pressure germination uses some components of normal spore germination pathways. Spores of Bacillus and Clostridium species have a structure very different from that of growing cells, with a number of layers unique to spores and many spore-specific macromolecules. The nutrients that trigger germination vary in a species- and strain-specific manner, but common ones are L-amino acids, D-sugars, and purine nucleosides. Bacillus subtilis spores have three functional germinant receptors. The GerA receptor responds to L-alanine, while the GerB and GerK receptors together trigger germination with a mixture of L-asparagine (or L-alanine), D-glucose, D-fructose, and K+ ions. Dipicolinic acid (DPA) and other ions that are released early in germination comprise ~25% of the spore core’s dry weight. Germination of spores of some strains, in particular, some Bacillus megaterium strains, is triggered by inorganic salts such as KBr.
Bile salt alteration of colonic electrolyte transport: role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

Previous studies of the mechanism of bile salt stimulation of electrolyte secretion in the colon resulted in the suggestion that cyclic AMP may be the intracellular mediator of bile salt-induced secretion. In these studies, cyclic AMP levels were measured and the effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on sodium transport was determined. Colonic mucosal cyclic AMP levels in the rat increased by 54% after in vivo incubations with taurochenodeoxycholic acid. Taurocholic acid, which neither induces fluid secretion nor increases short circuit current at concentrations at which taurochenodeoxycholic acid will increase both fluid secretion and short circuit current, does not alter mucosal cyclic AMP. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP decreased net sodium absorption and increased short circuit current; findings which were qualitatively identical to those produced by taurochenodeoxycholic acid. These studies support the proposal that bile salts stimulate colonic electrolyte secretion by increasing mucosal cyclic AMP.
3 The Components in the Basic Optical Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the component of the basic optical systems. The performance of the individual components is explained to help the reader to select the appropriate type of lens to use in a laboratory setup for trying out as a prototype of a new instrument. Most of the designs shown were designed for a particular requirement, so any change of it may require a new optimized design. However, some requirements are not lens-limited so they may be usable as they are. A good example of a terrestrial telescope is the optics in a pair of prism binoculars. The optics found in binoculars has been made in large numbers, and many shops have the capability of making this kind of optics. Surplus lenses can be found at reasonable prices. Eyepieces with apparent fields up to 45° have been made using an aspheric surface. The aspheric surface is used mainly to correct the spherical aberration in the position of the exit pupil. The projection lenses and condensers is discussed. The chapter discusses the lens systems for laser systems.
Service Responsibility Tables: A New Tool for Analyzing and Designing Systems

Initiatives related to the proposed development of “services science” created a challenge for further development of the work system method, a systems analysis method designed for business professionals: Would it be possible to develop a version of the method that specifically addressed services? Although that research is on-going, thinking about services as a special type of work system led to the development of a simple but flexible tool that could be useful in describing, analyzing, and designing most systems in organizations. Service responsibility tables (SRTs) are simplified, two-column swimlane diagrams that identify specific step-wise responsibilities of service providers and service customers. SRTs can be used regardless of whether the customers are internal or external. The form of SRTs reflects the two-sided “co-production” of services by providers and customers that is cited in the marketing and service literature. SRTs may contain optional columns for selected analysis or design topics such as problems and issues, performance gaps, and information created or used by each activity. SRTs can be used to clarify the scope of the system and the problems and issues at hand. SRTs with various optional columns can also be used throughout the analysis and to clarify and sanity check recommendations.
Bacterial Degradation of Biotin III. METABOLISM OF 14C-CARBONYL-LABELED BIOTIN

Abstract Radioactive bisnorbiotin, α-dehydrobisnorbiotin, tetranorbiotin, urea, and uracil have been isolated from culture filtrates of a pseudomonad grown on a biotin-salts medium to which 14C-carbonyl-labeled biotin was added. These findings establish that the side chain of biotin is degraded by β-oxidation with loss of 2 acetate units, and that after the complete degradation of the side chain of biotin, oxidation of both carbons bridging the ureido to thiophane rings occurs, producing urea which is degraded to CO2 and NH3 by urease. The relatively high radioactivity found in uracil may indicate not only the participation of carbamyl phosphate from the CO2 and NH3 produced from urea, but an additional direct cyclization of a catabolite which retains the ureido function.
‘It is Our Choices that Show What We Truly Are’: Moral Choice in the Harry Potter Novels

This paper delves into the age-old debate over free will and determinism as raised in the work that held popular culture transfixed for the better part of a decade: the Harry Potter novels. Though the final book was published in 2007, thus revealing the outcome of the series’ cliffhanger, this paper (written in 2006) argues that the books embody a Catholic moral theology and sensibility. The central figure through which those ideas are most fully expressed is not the title character, whose moral sense remains less than completely developed throughout the first six novels, but through another major figure in the series. That character’s mysterious past is whimsically explored here and tied to author J.K. Rowling’s larger purpose: to make the book a vivid object lesson in the power of love, forgiveness, and redemption – all essential elements of the Augustinian notion of free will.
Social Competence and Substance Use Among Rural Youth: Mediating Role of Social Benefit Expectancies of Use

The present study examined the mechanisms by which social competence may be associated with substance use during early adolescence. The sample consisted of rural youth (N = 1,568) attending 36 junior high schools in a midwestern state. Structural equation modeling indicated that social competence had a direct protective association with substance use in that those youth who were more socially confident, assertive, and had better communication skills reported less smoking and drinking. Further analyses revealed that the relationship between social competence and substance use was fully mediated by social benefit expectancies of use. These findings suggest that poorly competent youth turn to smoking and alcohol use because they perceive that there are important social benefits to doing so, such as having more friends, looking grown up and “cool,” and having more fun. Prevention programs that teach youth interpersonal skills may reduce the initiation of substance use by improving social competence and providing youth with more adaptive means of gaining approval from peers.
Geodesic image interpolation: parameterizing and interpolating spatiotemporal images

We develop a practical, symmetric, data-driven formulation, geodesic image interpolation (GII), for interpolating images with respect to geometric and photometric variables. GII captures, in implementation, the desirable properties of symmetry that comes from the theory of diffeomorphisms and Grenander’s computational anatomy (CA). Geodesic diffeomorphisms are a desirable transformation model as they provide a symmetric deforming path connecting images or a series of images. Once estimated, this geodesic may be used to (re)parameterize and interpolate image sets in approximation of continuous, deforming dynamic processes. One may then closely recover the original continuous signal from a few samples. The method, based on our work in symmetric diffeomorphic image registration, generalizes the concept of point set reparameterization to the case where point sets are replaced by image sets. This problem differs from point reparameterization in that a variational image correspondence problem must be solved before resampling. Our image reparameterization method is applied to solve similar problems to point reparameterization: dense interpolation, matching and simulation of dynamic processes are illustrated.
B. Randall Tufts (1948–2002)

Randy Tufts, an explorer who made major discoveries on Earth and beyond, died on 1 April. The date surprised no one who knew him. Nationally known for his model of environmental stewardship, which stemmed from his co-discovery of Kartchner Caverns in Arizona, Tufts more recently had turned to planetary exploration and conducted path-breaking research into the geology and geophysics of Jupiter's moon Europa. Tufts began spelunking as a high school student, and he vowed to friends that one day he would discover a cave. As with everything he did, he committed himself completely to reaching that goal. He majored in geology at the University of Arizona and combed the region for undiscovered caves through maps, fieldwork, analysis, and of course schmoozing old-time desert rats.
Direct Image Plane Deblurring

We describe here a digital image restoration technique for image data degraded by an a-priori known blur function. To be more specific, we are interested in processing digital image data, obtained using coherent illumination (either optical or microwaves), that has been degraded by a known blur factor, The complex valued image i (amplitude) is related to the measured blurred data i by i = i * b, where * denotes convolution and b is a known complex-valued blur function. An inverse filtering technique is traditionally used in the Fourier domain. But, for some image analysis applications, a more direct, deblurring approach in the image domain may be more desirable. An illustrative possible scenario is given by an image interpreter looking at a small portion of some blurred image. In this case a direct deblurring method applied to the selected image area might be more flexible. We present here a direct image plane deconvolution method using reasonably short length convolution kernels. In the more specific case of quadratic phase-type blurs, a direct image plane Fresnel transform approach is also discussed.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Decreased serglycin proteoglycan size is associated with the platelet alpha granule storage defect in Wistar Furth hereditary macrothrombocytopenic rats. Serglycin binding affinity to type I collagen is unaltered

The Wistar Furth (WF) rat has a hereditary defect in platelet formation that resembles gray platelet syndrome of man with a large mean platelet volume and platelet alpha granule deficiency. The alpha granule abnormality is suggestive of a defect in granule packaging and/or stability. Proteoglycans are hypothesized to play a role in granule packaging. Therefore, we have analyzed the structure of the platelet proteoglycan, serglycin, in platelets of WF and normal Wistar rats. Normal and Wistar Furth rats were injected with 35S-sulfate to label platelet proteoglycans via synthesis by the megakaryocytes, and platelets were isolated 3 days later. We found that WF rat platelets have only one-third of the normal proteoglycan mass per unit platelet volume, and the proteoglycans are smaller in hydrodynamic size with shorter glycosaminoglycan chains than those of Wistar rats. However, WF rat platelet proteoglycans showed no defect in binding to collagen on affinity coelectrophoresis gels. We conclude that the structure of WF rat platelet proteoglycans is abnormal, and speculate that this abnormality may contribute to abnormal packaging of the alpha granule contents. Leakage of alpha granule contents into the marrow by platelets and megakaryocytes could perturb the marrow matrix, and promote the development of myelofibrosis noted in gray platelet syndrome. J. Cell. Physiol. 172:87–93, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A new approach to nonlinear partial differential equations

Abstract The author's decomposition method for the solution of operator equations which may be nonlinear and/or stochastic is generalized to multidimensional cases.
Differential expression of messenger ribonucleic acids encoding insulin-like growth factors and their receptors in human uterine endometrium and decidua

During the menstrual cycle, the endometrium undergoes characteristic changes in response to circulating sex steroids. Intense mitotic activity of glands and stroma occurs in the proliferative (estradiol-dominant) phase, and glandular secretion and stromal differentiation in the secretory (progesterone-dominant) phase. The insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) promote cellular growth and differentiation and have been proposed to participate in these cyclic endometrial events, acting as mediators of steroid hormones. The objective of this study was to determine whether the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding the IGF peptides and the type I and type II IGF receptors are differentially expressed in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. A solution hybridization ribonuclease protection assay, using 32P-labeled riboprobes for IGF-I, IGF-II, and beta-actin (control), revealed IGF-I gene expression primarily in proliferative and early secretory endometrium and abundant IGF-II ge...
Mass spectrometry data for tris- and bis(N,N-dialkyldithiocarbomato) complexes of chromium, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium and thallium

Abstract The mass spectra of a series of tris(N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamato)metal complexes of chromium, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium and thallium have been investigated. The fragmentation patterns of these and related compounds are discussed. The major decomposition pathways involve loss of the dithiocarbamate ligand radical and loss of S, S2 and SCNR2 groups from tris- and bis(dithiocarbamato)metal complex ions. The parent molecular ions are present in the mass spectra of most of these complexes but with relative abundances which vary greatly. In complexes of the type LFe(S2CNR2)2 where L = Cl or S2C2(CF3)2, neutral dithiolene and chlorine atom elimination are the major decomposition reactions under electron impact. The parent molecular ions for these complexes are virtually absent and dithiocarbamate ligand radical loss from the parent molecular ion is not observed.
ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENS IN URBAN AIR PARTICULATES.

A bioassay capable of detecting carcinogenic substances that are associated with the elevated incidence of cancer in the urban environment would be important for epidemiologic and environmental analyses. The feasibility of using the Salmonella mutagenesis system developed by Ames for this purpose has been tested by analyzing Chicago air paniculate samples. Active material, as evidenced by enhanced rates of mutation, both in the presence of microsomes and in their absence, is readily extractable from samples of air particulates. Dose‐response curves have been obtained from such extracts of 15 successive samples, taken at intervals during 1975 from a sampling site in South Chicago. A method for analyzing such data in order to evaluate the relative mutagenic activity of different samples is described. The presence of a number of mutagenic constituents has been demonstrated by means of thin‐layer chromatography of particularly active samples, in which the active material is located by mutagenic analysis of su...
Effect of cryopreservation and sperm concentration on lipid peroxidation in human semen.

Abstract Objectives To assess (1) the effect of increased lipid peroxidation on sperm membrane damage that occurs during the freeze-thaw process of cryopreservation; (2) the effect of sperm concentration on lipid peroxidation in normal fertile men; and (3) the relation between sperm motility, morphology, and lipid peroxidation. Methods Lipid peroxidation was measured as levels of malonaldehyde by the thiobarbituric acid method. Malonaldehyde levels in fresh and frozen-thawed semen specimens from normal donors (n = 20) were compared at a sperm concentration of 20 × 10 6 mL Sperm concentrations of 5, 10, 20, and 40 × 10 6 /mL were used to assess the effect of sperm concentration on malonaldehyde levels in frozen specimens. A computerassisted semen analyzer was used to analyze sperm concentrations and motility. Comparison of the effect of TEST-yolk buffer, glycerol, and Ham's F-10 buffer on lipid peroxidation was studied in fresh semen from normal fertile men (n = 5). Results Malonaldehyde levels did not differ between fresh and cryopreserved semen specimens ( P = 0.99). There was no difference in malonaldehyde levels from TEST-yolk buffer, glycerol, and Ham's F-10 buffer. As sperm concentrations increased, so did malonaldehyde levels, from 1.21 ± 0.05 nM/hr at 5 × 10 6 /mL to 3.50 ± 0.46 nM/hr at 40 × 10 / mL ( P = 0.000007). Sperm motility, morphology, and malonaldehyde levels in freeze-thaw specimens were not correlated before or after removal of the cryoprotective medium. Conclusions Malonaldehyde levels do not differ between fresh and frozen semen in normal men. Cryopreservation-induced membrane damage is not related to lipid peroxidation but may be associated with stress induced during freezing and thawing. Malonaldehyde levels increase as sperm concentrations increase. There is no correlation between sperm motility, morphology, and malonaldehyde levels.
Pilot comparative effectiveness study of surface perturbation treadmill training to prevent falls in older adults

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults. Exercise programs appear to reduce fall risk, but the optimal type, frequency, and duration of exercise is unknown. External perturbations such as tripping and slipping are a major contributor to falls, and task-specific perturbation training to enhance dynamic stability has emerged as a promising approach to modifying fall risk. The purpose of this pilot study was 1) to determine the feasibility of conducting a large pragmatic randomized trial comparing a multidimensional exercise program inclusive of the surface perturbation treadmill training (SPTT) to multidimensional exercise alone (Standard PT); and 2) to assess fall outcomes between the two groups to determine whether an effect size large enough to warrant further study might be present. A randomized pilot study at two outpatient physical therapy clinics. Participants were over age 64 and referred for gait and balance training. Feasibility for a larger randomized trial was assessed based on the ability of therapists to incorporate the SPTT into their clinical practice and acceptance of study participation by eligible patients. Falls were assessed by telephone interview 3 months after enrollment. Of 83 patients who were screened, 73 met inclusion criteria. SPTT was successfully adapted into clinical practice and 88% of eligible subjects were willing to be randomized, although 10% of the SPTT cohort dropped out prior to treatment. The SPTT group showed fewer subjects having any fall (19.23% vs. 33.33% Standard PT; p < 0.227) and fewer having an injurious fall (7.69% vs. 18.18%; p < 0.243). These results were not statistically significant but this pilot study was not powered for hypothesis testing. Physical therapy inclusive of surface perturbation treadmill training appears clinically feasible, and randomization between these two PT interventions is acceptable to the majority of patients. These results appear to merit longer-term study in an adequately powered trial. clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01006967
A useful approximate analysis of the EM scattering by a rectangular antenna cavity containing an array of dominant mode waveguide loaded slots

An efficient, approximate but accurate method is presented for predicting the electromagnetic plane wave scattering from a dielectric filled antenna cavity recessed in a ground plane backed by an array of slots which are loaded by dominant mode rectangular waveguides. As in the earlier companion paper [1], the scattered fields are found via a Multiple Scattering Method (MSM) based formulation whereby the antenna cavity is broken up into three isolated regions. The three junctions which define these different regions are located at the cavity opening, the cavity back wall containing the waveguide array, and the loads terminating each of the dominant mode guides of the array. In [1] the scattering matrices associated with the first two junctions, namely the open end junction and the slot array junction, are determined via a Moment Method (MM) based solution of the integral equations for the unknown aperture electric fields pertaining to each of these junctions. In the present paper, it is shown that the eff...
The agouti gene: turned on to yellow

Abstract The agouti locus was first identified as a result of its effects on the type and temporal deposition of coat color pigments in mammals. Many mutations at the murine agouti locus have now been found, some of which not only affect coat color, but also interfere with diverse biological processes leading to diabetes, obesity, tumor susceptibility and embryonic letbality. Correlations between the genotype and phenotype of agouti mutants, as well as reasons for the pleiotropy of effects caused by agouti mutations, have begun to unfold with the molecular cloning of the agouti gene and its surrounding genomic region.
Pharmacotherapy Considerations in Diabetes and Obesity: Setting Patients up for Success

The causal relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been acknowledged over the past few decades and is frequently expressed by the term diabesity. It is predicted that the number of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes will continue to rise, with obesity placing people at increased risk for diabetic complications and comorbidities. Therefore, an individualized, patient-centered care approach is needed to optimally treat and manage the obese patient with DM. With 11 classes of medications available to lower blood glucose levels, 2 new agents for weight loss, and various surgical procedures, the clinician and the patient have numerous options from which to choose. In an effort to promote optimal disease management, clinicians should work with their obese patients to select appropriate pharmacotherapy combinations that will enable the patients to successfully manage DM. The current clinical recommendations and guidelines emphasize the need to consider the weight effects of the various DM agents as monotherapy and in combination. Additionally, with the approval of 2 new weight loss medications, the clinician must be aware of the place of the medications in therapy and their appropriate use in combination with DM pharmacotherapy.
Dynamic path selection along branched faults: Experiments involving sub‐Rayleigh and supershear ruptures

Building upon previous laboratory earthquake experiments of dynamic shear rupture growth taking place along faults with simple kinks, new and complex fault geometries involving cohesively held fault branches are studied. Asymmetric impact at the specimen boundaries controls the incoming shear ruptures, which are manipulated to propagate at either sub-Rayleigh or supershear velocities. High-speed photography and dynamic photoelasticity are used with a model material, Homalite-100, to monitor incoming and outgoing rupture propagation, acceleration, deceleration, or arrest at the vicinity of the branch location. Differences and similarities of rupture velocity history between cases involving faults with either simple kinks or branches, on the one hand, and sub-Rayleigh and supershear incoming ruptures, on the other, are highlighted and explained. Results of the experiments show a clear general bias toward large branch inclination, smaller branch angles appearing to be overshadowed and suppressed by the stress field associated with the main fault. Of great interest, also, is the sustenance of rupture propagation along a branch by the Mach cone, when the initial rupture is supershear driven. Generally, higher rupture speeds favors larger arrays of branching angles to be triggered. A companion analysis by Templeton et al. (2009) featuring detailed numerical simulations of these experiments provides further insight into the observed phenomena.
Resolution of Acanthamoeba castellanii chromosomes by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and construction of the initial linkage map.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis has been used to resolve chromosome-sized DNA molecules in fungi and parasites but has not yet been used successfully to examine the chromosomes of other lower eukaryotes used extensively for biochemical research such as Acanthamoeba, Physarum, and Dictyostelium. Here we show an electrophoretic karyotype of the protozoan Acanthamoeba castellanii using orthogonal field alternating gel electrophoresis (OFAGE). There are about 20 small chromosomes ranging in size from 220 kb to >2 Mb. We have assembled initial linkage groups assigning all of the cloned Acanthamoeba genes to chromosome-sized DNA molecules. Actin, suggested to have three or more non-allelic genes, maps to at least eight distinct chromosome bands. Two myosin II genes localize to two different chromosomal bands while myosin IB and 18S rRNA map to unresolved larger chromosomes.
Acanthoma Fissuratum Cutis: Report of a Case and a Review of Previous Cases

Acanthoma fissuratum cutis is a benign cutaneous lesion apparently caused by constant minor trauma. In the case here reported it seemed to have been caused by poorly fitting spectacles. Since a lesion of this type may be mistaken for a basal-cell epithelioma, its accurate diagnosis will spare the patient needless surgery and expense.
The meaning and making of childhood in the era of globalization: Challenges for social work

Abstract Little attention has been paid in social work literature to the ways in which forces of globalization are shaping understandings of childhood, policies affecting children and youth, and the everyday lives of young people. The authors argue that this lack of attention is problematic given the growing evidence of the effects of globalization on the experiences of children and youth and the implications for social work practice with young people in the U.S. The authors explore the relationship between childhood and globalization, paying particular attention to the social construction of childhood and the logic and practices of neoliberalism. Five distinct yet interrelated processes through which globalizing forces affect children's lives are put forth and addressed: marketization, marginalization, medicalization, militarization, and mobilization. The authors argue that these processes shape not only the experiences of children and youth but also social work policies and practices. They offer diverse examples of ways in which these forces play out and consider the implications for contemporary social work practice.
A theoretical and experimental investigation of the hypersonic turbulent boundary layer subject to normal and longitudinal pressure gradients and cross flow along a windward plane of symmetry.

A theoretical and experimental investigation for the hypersonic turbulent boundary layer undergoing both normal and longitudinal pressure gradients and cross flow along the plane of symmetry on the windward side of a body of revolution is presented. The purpose of this investigation is to provide a method for calculating boundary layers that occur on the centerline of symmetry of an inlet. The three-dimensional compressible integral equations are written along the symmetry plane and integrated numerically, and the effect of the cross flow on the behavior of the boundary layer is also studied. The experiments were performed at Mach number 6 and Reynolds number of 44,000,000/ft for the axisymmetric case and for the case with cross flow. The velocity profiles and the boundary layer parameters agree relatively well with theoretical values with and without cross flow effects. The presence of the cross flow alters significantly the value of the profiles. Total temperature-velocity correlations deviate from the linear Crocco distribution. Heat transfer rates agree with theoretical values and values obtained by the flat plate reference enthalpy method. Cross flow influence on the heat transfer rates is of minor relevance.
Reconstruction and time reversal in thermoacoustic tomography in acoustically homogeneous and inhomogeneous media

The paper starts with a comparative discussion of features and limitations of the three types of recent approaches to reconstruction in thermoacoustic/photoacoustic tomography: backprojection formulae, eigenfunction expansions and time reversal. The latter method happens to be the least restrictive. It is then considered in more detail, e.g. its relation to trapping properties of the medium. The time reversal method is exact only in the case of a constant sound speed in odd dimension, due to validity of the Huygens' principle. The next best case is of non-trapping speed in odd dimensions. The authors provide 2D examples and discuss the features of numerical reconstructions for constant and variable (both non-trapping and trapping) speeds, showing that this technique works surprisingly well even under the most unfavorable circumstances (variable, and even trapping sound speed in 2D). In particular, a 'limited view' effect due to trapping is observed and explained. Finally, an initial consideration of the problem of sound speed recovery is also provided.
Li+, Na+, and K+ Binding to the DNA and RNA Nucleobases. Bond Energies and Attachment Sites from the Dissociation of Metal Ion-Bound Heterodimers

The alkali metal ion (M+ = Li+, Na+, K+) affinities of the common DNA and RNA nucleobases are determined in the gas phase by investigating the dissociation of metal ion-bound heterodimers [nucleobase + B]M+, in which B represents a reference base of known affinity (kinetic method). The dimer ion decompositions are assessed at two different internal energies, namely from metastable precursor ions and after collisional activation. This approach makes it possible to deconvolute entropy from enthalpy and, therefore, leads to more accurate affinity (i.e. enthalpy or bond energy) values. For the nucleobases studied, viz. guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymine, and uracil, the corresponding M+−nucleobase bond energies are (kJ mol-1) as follows: 239, 232, 226, 215, and 211 with Li+; 182, 177, 172, 144, and 141 with Na+; and 117, 110, 106, 102, and 101 with K+. The method used also provides quantitative information about the overall entropy change occurring upon the dissociation of the heterodimers; this change is m...
Diagnosis of organic and functional pain patients with the MMPI.

There are contradictory findings regarding the use of the MMPI to discriminate between patients with organic and functional pain. The MMPI was administered to patients, 43 with organic and 39 with functional pain, at a university hospital pain clinic. Multivariate analyses were nonsignificant, strongly suggesting that the clinical usefulness of this scale to differentiate between patients with organic and functional pain is highly questionable.
TESTING FRONTIER ORBITAL CONTROL : KINETICS OF OH WITH ETHANE, PROPANE, AND CYCLOPROPANE FROM 180 TO 360K

We test the hypothesis that the barrier to a gas-phase radical−molecule reaction is controlled by an avoided curve crossing of ground and ionic states of the reactants and products. We focus on the competing role of orbital overlap and energy difference on the delocalization energy of the transition state, comparing the reactions OH + ethane, OH + propane, and OH + cyclopropane using experimental data and theoretical analysis. These reactions constitute a homologous series in which the spatial extent and energy of interacting orbitals change dramatically, providing for an examination of the relative importance of energy and overlap on barrier height control. In addition, contrasting pictures of barrier height control, either by molecular properties or by bond properties of the reactants and products, are evaluated. Our kinetic data, obtained in a high-pressure flow system, cover a suppressed temperature range (180 − 360K) in order to isolate the lowest barrier pathway. The results for ethane and propane a...
β-Hydroxydecanoylthioester dehydrase: A rapid, convenient, and accurate product distribution assay

High-performance liquid chromatography on silica gel has been used to separate the products from incubation of substrates with beta-hydroxydecanoylthioester dehydrase (Escherichia coli). Peaks are detected by their absorbances at 230 nm. Following correction for differences in extinction coefficients, comparison of the peak areas reveals the relative amounts of beta-hydroxydecanoate, E-2-decenoate, and Z-3-decenoate thioesters of N-acetylcysteamine.
Moment preserving adaptive particle weighting scheme for pic simulations

The ratio of computational to physical particles is a key factor in determining the statistical scatter and accuracy in particle-based simulation. This is particularly true for problems characterized by wide ranges of number density such as those found in spacecraft electric propulsion plumes as well as ionizing discharges, where populations of electrons and excited states can grow exponentially. A particle management method must then be devised which balances statistical accuracy requirements with prevention of runaway computational costs. The standard approach of splitting and merging of particles [1], however, cannot guarantee simultaneous conservation of mass, momentum and energy using pair-wise coalescence (2∶1 ratio), due to the insufficient degrees of freedom. As a result, various sophisticated models have been designed to minimize or internally store the error resulting from these merges (e.g. [2,3]). Some of these involve the interpolation of particle weights onto a grid, a procedure which can be costly and which may introduce diffusion. Instead, we have devised a simpler method [4] which relies on the generation of two particles, providing the required freedom to conserve all moments up to 2nd order exactly. Thus, pair-wise reduction is obtained through an equivalent ratio of 4∶2, but particle merges of arbitrary ratios (n+2)∶2 can be obtained with similar conservation properties. Furthermore, the method can be seen to conserve electrostatic energy using the additional available particle position degrees of freedom. The present work extends this exact moment-preserving merge through an octree-based adaptive mesh in velocity space to ensure that merging partners are relatively close in phase space. This mitigates artificial thermalization due to merging of particles with large opposite velocities such as those found in beam-beam interactions. An analogous particle split method is also described for re-populating depleted VDFs that result from the particle merging. The combined fully-adaptive particle weighting scheme is then applied to several test-problems, e.g. collisionless thermal beams in a potential well, gas breakdown problem by an ionizing beam, etc., which are designed to characterize and test the limits of the method. Results are also compared to fixed particle weight and simple random 4∶2 merging solutions. Extension of the method to higher-order moment conservation is also considered.
Acrolein, a product of lipid peroxidation, inhibits glucose and glutamate uptake in primary neuronal cultures

Abstract Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Increased lipid peroxidation, decreased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and increased levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), F2-isoprostanes, and F4-neuroprostanes are present in the brain in patients with AD. Acrolein, an α,β-unsaturated aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation has been demonstrated to be approximately 100 times more reactive than HNE and is present in neurofibrillary tangles in the brain in AD. We recently demonstrated statistically significant elevated concentrations of extractable acrolein in the hippocampus/parahippocampal gyrus and amygdala in AD compared with age-matched control subjects. Concentrations of acrolein were two to five times those of HNE in the same samples. Treatment of hippocampal cultures with acrolein led to a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in cell survival as well as a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular calcium. In cortical neuron cultures, we now report that acrolein causes a concentration-dependent impairment of glutamate uptake and glucose transport in cortical neuron cultures. Treatment of cortical astrocyte cultures with acrolein led to the same pattern of impairment of glutamate uptake as observed in cortical neuron cultures. Collectively, these data demonstrate neurotoxicity mechanisms of arolein that might be important in the pathogenesis of neuron degeneration in AD.
Adolescent Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids: Aggression and Anxiety During Exposure Predict Behavioral Responding During Withdrawal in Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

In the U.S. and worldwide anabolic/androgenic steroid use remains high in the adolescent population. This is concerning given that anabolic/androgenic steroid use is associated with a higher incidence of aggressive behavior during exposure and anxiety during withdrawal. This study uses pubertal Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) to investigate the hypothesis that an inverse behavioral relationship exists between anabolic/androgenic steroid-induced aggression and anxiety across adolescent exposure and withdrawal. In the first experiment, we examined aggression and anxiety during adolescent anabolic/androgenic steroid exposure and withdrawal. Adolescent anabolic/androgenic steroid administration produced significant increases in aggression and decreases in anxiety during the exposure period followed by significant decreases in aggression and increases in anxiety during anabolic/androgenic steroid withdrawal. In a second experiment, anabolic/androgenic steroid exposed animals were separated into groups based on their aggressive response during the exposure period and then tested for anxiety during exposure and then for both aggression and anxiety during withdrawal. Data were analyzed using a within-subjects repeated measures predictive analysis. Linear regression analysis revealed that the difference in aggressive responding between the anabolic/androgenic steroid exposure and withdrawal periods was a significant predictor of differences in anxiety for both days of testing. Moreover, the combined data suggest that the decrease in aggressive behavior from exposure to withdrawal predicts an increase in anxiety-like responding within these same animals during this time span. Together these findings indicate that early anabolic/androgenic steroid exposure has potent aggression- and anxiety-eliciting effects and that these behavioral changes occur alongside a predictive relationship that exists between these two behaviors over time.
Measurements of Circulation and Vorticity in the Leading-Edge Vortex of a Delta Wing

The present cross-wire measurements of the flowfield above a 75-deg flat-plate delta wing have yielded distributions of velocity, axial vorticity, and circulation which exhibit strongly conical behavior upstream of the breakdown region and away from the apex and trailing edge regions. The conical character of these properties is most pronounced over the central portion of the planform, away from the apex and trailing-edge regions. This behavior is further documented by the roughly linear increase in vortex strength with distance from the apex over the forward area of the wing.
Transcriptional regulation during T-cell development: the α TCR gene as a molecular model

Abstract The regulation of gene expression during lymphocyte differentiation is a complex process involving interactions between multiple positive and negative transcriptional regulatory elements. In this article, transcriptional regulation of the archetypal T-cell-specific gene, α TCR, is discussed. Major recent developments, including the identification of novel families of transcription factors that regulate multiple T-cell genes during thymocyte ontogeny and T-cell activation, are described.
Changes in pulmonary function response to a 10-week controlled exercise program in sedentary elderly adults.

This randomized clinical trial was aimed to assess whether pulmonary function would change in sedentary elderly people after a controlled exercise program. 45 participants over 75 yr. of age (M age...
Bolivian Neocorynura (Hymenoptera: Halictidae): A new species and preliminary key to the fauna

A new species of the diverse and complicated augochlorine bee genus Neocorynura Schrottky (Augochlorini: Augochlorina) is described and figured. Neocorynura faceta sp. n. is described and figured from the Andes of Bolivia and is most similar to the more northern Andean species, N. papallactensis Engel from Ecuador and N. iguaquensis Smith-Pardo & Gonzalez from Colombia, but can be distinguished on the basis of integumental sculpturing and coloration. A preliminary key to the species of Neocorynura known to occur in Bolivia is provided.
Apple-CAMAC Data Acquisition Systems

Apple microcomputers have been combined with CAMAC to produce data acquisition systems used for a variety of applications at the Princeton Cyclotron Laboratory. Two specific implementations are discussed: a general one or two parameter MCA system and a specific eleven parameter system. A multiplicity of off-line experiments led to the need for these systems having data manipulation and control ability beyond that of low cost systems available commercially. A serial communications port allows for data transfer to our main computer for more complete analysis.
Center-surround organization of auditory receptive fields in the owl

The spinal receptive fields of specialized auditory units in the midbrain of the barn owl (Tyto abla) contain two functionally antagonistic areas: an excitatory center and an inhibitory surround. The response of these units represents the balance of acoustic activation of the two areas, which in turn depends upon the location, intensity, and spectral content of the sound stimulus.
Dual-Circular-Polarized High-Efficiency Antenna for Ku-Band Satellite Communication

A multilayer dual-port dual-circularly-polarized (CP) antenna was designed for Ku-band operation. The design is based on a truncated corner square-ring slot configuration with planar multilayer circuit board technology. High isolation is achieved between orthogonal ports while maintaining axial ratio lower than 3 dB for both senses of circular polarization. Highly efficient dual-CP operation makes this design attractive as a building block for passive and active array feeds for reflector antennas used in satellite communication applications.
Complex Rayleigh waves resulting from deep sedimentary basins

Abstract Two earthquakes in northern Mexico recorded by TriNet stations in southern California show complex surface wave propagation through the Salton Trough. Stations contained in a narrow corridor extending from the Salton Trough north towards the Central Valley, California show recorded waveforms with two Rayleigh wave arrivals. The time separation between the Rayleigh wave arrivals is nearly constant beyond the northern edge of the Salton Trough. We are able to reproduce both arrivals with a simple 1-D model of a low velocity, deep basin in the Salton Trough. The slower Rayleigh wave is propagating within the sediments of the basin, while the faster Rayleigh wave propagates mainly in faster, basement rock. Further, we reproduce the constant time separation through the implementation of a simple 2-D model. This 2-D model has a low velocity, deep basin near the source and a crust without a basin at distances greater than 200 km.
COMPARISON OF THE SENSORY PROPERTIES OF ULTRA-HIGH-TEMPERATURE (UHT) MILK FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Shelf-stable milk, also known as ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk is the most common form of milk in many parts of the world. This study compared the differences in flavor and texture of 37 commercially available UHT and sterilized milk samples including whole, 2% reduced-fat and low-fat milk obtained from markets in seven countries: France (n = 2), Italy (n = 11), Japan (n = 1), Korea (n = 2), Peru (n = 3), Thailand (n = 13) and the U.S.A. (n = 5). Five highly trained panelists used flavor and texture profiling to describe the sensory properties of each milk sample. Data were analyzed by principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Higher levels of processed, chalky, brown and cooked flavor notes generally corresponded to lower levels of fresh dairy flavor characteristics. In general, samples did not vary consistently within a country. Fat content did not correlate with dairy fat flavor or with viscosity. This research suggests that companies' manufacturing processes for UHT milk may have more impact than country or fat content in determining sensory properties of UHT milk. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Sensory properties of UHT milk from different countries developed in this study could be used by the dairy industry to understand the similarities and differences of UHT milk characteristics from different regions and to modify UHT milk characteristics to meet consumers' criteria or expectation. The study suggests that manufacturers who want to improve quality of UHT milk by modify flavor and texture properties should focus on improvements to the manufacturing processes.
Evaluation of the hydrogen storage behavior of a LiNH2 + MgH2 system with 1:1 ratio

Abstract A one-to-one molar ratio of LiNH 2 to MgH 2 was ball milled and characterized to evaluate the proposed hydrogen storage reaction: LiNH 2 + MgH 2 ⇔ LiMgN + 2H 2 . The pressure–composition isotherm shows that less than 3.4 wt.% H 2 is released at a plateau pressure near 20 atm at 210 °C. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction show that the products of the reaction include Li 2 Mg 2 (NH) 3 rather than LiMgN. Combined thermogravimetric and residual gas analyses reveal that large quantities of ammonia are released from the system.
Change in self-efficacy partially mediates the effects of the FRESH START intervention on cancer survivors' dietary outcomes.

This study examined change in self-efficacy as a mediator of the effects of a mailed print intervention on the dietary and exercise practices of newly diagnosed breast and prostate cancer survivors (N = 519). Results indicated that changes in self-efficacy for fat restriction and eating more fruits and vegetables were significant mediators of the intervention’s effects on dietary outcomes at 1-year follow-up. The intervention did not significantly affect self-efficacy for exercise; however, a significant, positive relationship was found between self-efficacy for exercise and exercise duration at follow-up. Findings are largely consistent with Social Cognitive Theory and support the use of strategies to increase self-efficacy in health promotion interventions for cancer survivors.