cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmental variation and quantitative genetic parameters in the feral pigeon, Columba livia

The estimation of quantitative genetic parameters and modes of selection in natural populations can provide critical information concerning both past and current evolution of mean phenotypes. We examine the influence of environmental variation on the genetic variance-covariance matrix (G) of external morphological traits in feral pigeons, and the degree of correspondence between phenotypic (rp) and genetic correlations (rg) of these characters. Our results suggest that adverse environmental conditions affect heritability, and that the correspondence between seasonal estimates of G based on midparent scores is low. There is, however, a strong correspondence between rp and rg. We suggest that, if environmental variation is relatively common, estimates of quantitative genetic parameters for prospective selection studies must be undertaken at each selection episode.
Corticotropin-releasing factor modulates dietary preference in nutritionally and physically stressed rats.

In order to evaluate the action of central nervous system Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) in the control of feeding behavior the present studies employed a dietary self-selection task sensitive both to overall appetite as well as preferential intake of familiar versus unfamiliar foods. Prior to the diet selection test, one group of nutritionally stressed animals was fed a protein deficient diet in order to increase the preference for unfamiliar foods relative to nutritionally replete subjects. Both CRF (0.05 and 0.5 µg ICV) and physical restraint (30 min) attenuated selectively the consumption of a novel food choice by deficient animals without affecting concurrent intake of familiar food. Further, CRF administration did not alter water intake or consumption of either diet by the replete control group suggesting that the peptide produced a stress dependent, enhanced response to novelty without a general effect on appetite. The CRF antagonist,α-helical CRF9–41 (1, 5 and 25 µg ICV), increased familiar diet consumption in nutritionally deficient subjects without affecting the self-selection pattern or replete controls. Chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg) also increased selectively the intake of familiar food suggesting that this action is the anxiolytic complement of the effect of stress in this paradigm. The CRF antagonist (5 and 25 µg) reversed the anorexia produced by CRF (0.5 µg) as well as that induced by restraint stress. These results favor a direct role for endogenous CRF systems in coordinating the behavioral responses to dietary stress.
The effect of parental instruction-giving on child compliance

This study investigated the effects of parental instruction-giving on child compliance. Twenty-seven mother-child pairs were randomly assigned to one of three parent-training groups: (1) command training, (2) command plus time-out training, and (3) placebo training. Command training consisted of teaching parents to issue specific, single instructions followed by a 5-sec interval in which the parent did not physically interfere or verbally interrupt her child. Pre- and postmeasures of child compliance indicated that command training resulted in increased child compliance. Parents in the command plus time-out group obtained even greater improvement in child compliance.
LIGHT-INDUCED REACTIONS OF CYTOCHROMES AND CAROTENOIDS IN RHODOMICROBIUM VANNIELII.

Irradiation of either aerobic or anaerobic bacteria with high intensity far red light (λ-800 mμ) causes the oxidation of cytochromes and a red shift in the carotenoid absorption bands. The carotenoid reaction reaches half saturation at an intensity of about 1×10 −4 w./cm 2 . The cytochrome oxidation can be subdivided into three reactions which reach half saturation at about the following intensities, respectively: 3×10 −7 , 5×10 −6 , and 1×10 −3 w./cm 2 . The quantum efficiency of cytochrome oxidation at low light intensity is about 0.10–0.15 in both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Oxygen causes oxidation in the dark of the cytochrome system most sensitive to light in addition to other cytochromes not affected by light. Most of the cytochrome present in the cells, however, is not affected by oxygen.
IR–Microwave Double Resonance Studies of Tunneling Frequencies in the ν1and ν3States of Ammonia

Abstract Infrared laser-microwave double resonance spectroscopy has been used to observe tunneling transitions in the ν 1 and ν 3 hydrogen stretching states of NH 3 . Inversion frequencies in 15 rotational states of ν 1 and 6 rotational states of ν 3 were measured to accuracies of ±25 kHz. Comparisons between ground state and v 1 = 1 data indicate that x–y Coriolis interactions are responsible for much of the angular momentum dependence of the ν 1 inversion splittings. The J , K rotational quantum number dependence for tunneling in ν 3 is very different from that in either the ground state or ν 1 .
THEORY OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: THE UNIFICATION OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

European football is in a spiral of intra-league and inter-league polarization of talent and wealth. The invariance proposition is revisited with adaptations for win-maximizing sportsman owners facing an uncertain Champions League prize. Sportsman and champion effects have driven European football clubs to the edge of insolvency, and polarized competition throughout Europe. Revenue revolutions and financial crises of the Big Five leagues are examined and estimates of competitive balance are compared. The European Super League completes the open-market solution after Bosman. A thirty-team Super League is proposed based on the National Football League.
Divalent metal phosphonate coordination polymers constructed from a dipiperidine-based bisphosphonate ligand

The ligand 4,4′-dipiperidine-N,N′-bis(methylenephosphonic acid), H4L, has been reacted with divalent metal salts under solvothermal conditions to yield seven new metal phosphonate coordination polymers. The compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses and their structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Zn22(L)(H22O)22 and Co22(L)(H22O)22 have (different) layered structures, while Mn22(L)(H22O)33 has a chain motif. In these compounds, the N atoms of the ligand bind to the metal ions. α-Co22Cl22(H22L), formed from CoCl2·6H2O and H4L in ethanol, is also layered but the N atoms of the ligand are protonated. The Co atoms are tetrahedral, coordinated by three phosphonate oxygen atoms and a chloride ion. A polymorph of this compound, β-Co22Cl22(H22L), was obtained from a mixed ionic liquid under microwave irradiation. The primary difference between the polymorphs is the orientation of the phosphonate group relative to the dipiperidine. When reacted hydrothermally with SnIIC2O4, H4L partially decomposes, producing phosphate ions which are incorporated into the structure of Sn66O22(H22L)(PO44)22·4H22O. In this compound, the N atoms of the ligand are protonated, and two oxide anions are incorporated for charge balance. A second phase is obtained from the same reaction, which was determined to be Sn77O(L)33. This compound has a layered structure which contains relatively large voids within the inorganic portion of the layer. These structures are discussed, as well as factors influencing the state of protonation in the final compounds. The choice of solvent and temperature were found to have a significant influence on the type of structure obtained.
LEGAL ISSUES IN EVALUATION RESEARCH

Using a 1978 evaluation of a defensible space project which was published in the Social Science Quarterly, and later challenged by the originator of the project being evaluated this article explores the legal issues and considerations for those reporting evaluations and the journals which publish the evaluation reports. Serow outlines the information gathered in interviews with several practicing attorneys, a university press, two law school professors, a political science professor, an attorney in a University Legal Counsel's office and from a review of relevant legal references. She concludes the article with five recommendations for evaluators reporting their research.
The design of triplet anastigmat lenses of the Taylor type.

Equations and methods are developed for computing the lens powers, separations, and lens shapes of preliminary thin lens designs of Taylor-type triplets. The three lens powers and two spaces are determined by specified values of equivalent power, Petzval sum, longitudinal chromatic aberration, lateral chromatic aberration, and spherical aberration. The three lens shapes are determined by desired values of the three Seidel sums relating to coma, astigmatism, and distortion. Procedures for replacement of thin lenses by equivalent thick lenses and for final trigonometric adjustment are outlined. The methods given are not limited to the case of the infinitely distant object, but may be used to determine a system for any specified magnification and having any moderate values of the eight independent variables.
Pathogenetic elements of hepatitis E and animal models of HEV infection

The pathogenesis of HEV infection responsible for liver pathology and clinical disease is not well understood. The main target for the virus is the hepatocyte, where it replicates and is released to bile and gastrointestinal tract. Viremia is regularly seen during the virus replication. The exact mechanism of hepatocytic death is uncertain. In experimentally infected non-human primates, the peak of liver lesions, measured by alanine aminotransferase activity elevation, is concordant with the virus disappearance from stool at the time of dynamic humoral immune response; the role of cellular immunity has not been researched adequately, especially HEV-specific immune response in the liver. Non-human primates (chimpanzees, rhesus and cynomolgus macaques) are most widely used animal models for the study of HEV infection, its pathogenesis and vaccine trials. Several other animal models including pigs, rabbits and chickens have recently been established for the study of various aspects of HEV infection. Infectivity studies in susceptible primates were of significance in molecular studies of the virus itself. Preclinical vaccine trials with the use of various recombinant HEV capsid proteins and viral DNA established basic platform for formulation of HEV vaccine applied in HEV-endemic regions (China, Nepal).
Surgical management of chronic otitis media: beyond tympanotomy tubes

The term chronic ear disease encompasses a wide range of clinical entities, including chronic otitis media, chronic suppurative otitis media (with and without cholesteatoma), chronic mastoiditis, tympanosclerosis, and cholesterol granuloma. The most common clinical presentation of these disorders is persistent, painless otorrhea and hearing loss; rarely, secondary symptoms of otalgia, ipsilateral facial weakness, and vertigo are also present. Initial medical management may include antibiotic ear drops and systemic antibiotics. Myringotomy with installation of pressure-equalization tubes is usually attempted as the initial mode of surgical therapy. Failure of medical management and conservative surgery may lead to more aggressive surgical intervention. The basic procedures for chronic ear disease include tympanoplasty, atticotomy, intact canal wall tympanomastoidectomy, modified radical mastoidectomy, and radical mastoidectomy. This article presents an overview of surgery for chronic ear disease, focusing on perioperative considerations and surgical options and techniques.
Abstract 1122: Tetrandrine induces expression of growth/differentiation factor-15 and promoted terminal differentiation of PCa cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Tetrandrine (Tet) is a naturally derived bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, from S tenrandra, a herb that has been used in Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory, immunologic and antiallergenic effects. Results from our laboratory show that Tetrandarine blocks prostate cancer growth, promotes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis in a time and concentration dependent manner. In the present study we performed un-biased gene expression analysis of LNCaP cells following treatment with Tet. Analysis of gene expression revealed that GDF-15 was one of the most highly expressed cytokines following treatment of LNCaP cells with Tet. The gene expression results were further confirmed in relative quantitative PCR and Real time PCR assays, as was protein expression of GDF-15 confirmed by Western blot analysis. Our results, in light of the role of GDF-15 as a macrophage inhibitory factor as well as prostate epithelial differentiating factor, suggest that Tet may serve as a useful agent to promote prostate epithelial differentiation and inhibit tumor macrophage infiltration. Additional studies revealed that Treatment of PCa cells with Tet inhibited cell migration and invasion and suppressed EMT. Taken together we conclude that Tet by regulating GDF-15 expression may serve as an inhibitor of Prostate cancer cell progression and metastasis. (Financial Support: Supported in part by NIH/NCI R01CA161880 (PI:H.Koul); VA Merit Award 01BX001258 (PI:H.Koul); Carroll W. Feist endowed Cahir and LSUHSC Chair Commitment Funds) Citation Format: Sweaty Koul, Hari K. Koul. Tetrandrine induces expression of growth/differentiation factor-15 and promoted terminal differentiation of PCa cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1122. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1122
Growth of staggered InGaN quantum well light-emitting diodes emitting at 520-525 nm employing graded temperature profile

Staggered InGaN quantum wells (QWs) are analyzed as improved active media based on a 6-band k•p method taking into account the valence band mixing, strain effect, and spontaneous and piezoelectric polarizations as well as the carrier screening effect. The growths of staggered InGaN QW emitting at green regime were conducted by employing graded temperature profile. The electroluminescence measurement shows a significant enhancement of the output power of the staggered InGaN QW LED as compared to that of the conventional InGaN QW LED.
Correlates of sex without serostatus disclosure among a national probability sample of HIV patients

We examined potential correlates of sex without HIV disclosure within a sample of 875 participants from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study. Interviews with each participant assessed sexual activities with up to six recent partners, and this study included both respondent and partnership characteristics. Compared with marriage and/or primary same-sex relationsips, occasional partnerships and one-time encounters were associated with sex with disclosure, and shorter relationships were more likely to involve sex without disclosure. Knowledge of partner scrostatus was also associated with sex without disclosure. Women were less likely to have sex without disclosure than men having sex with men. We found an association between the perceived duty to disclosure to all partners and sex without disclosure, while we found no association in multivariate analyses between outcome expectancies and sex without disclosure.
Online Technical Support: How It Works and Why It Fails?

Online communities and discussion forums have become focal points for recent research. The online communities exist in many disciplines, and the use of forums is increasing rapidly in education, the workplace, and pursuits such as online gaming. Research has shown that one ultimate goal of online communities is to help members solve software problems. This paper explores support forums in open source software (OSS) communities in an effort to determine just how the forums help solve problems - if they really do. By understanding problem-solving in online communities, members may be able to provide better support for their participants. Additionally, lessons learned may be used to further forum use in education and the workplace. Two qualitative studies became the basis for the examination of problem-solving in these communities. The results indicate that only about half of the problems presented in an open source forum are solved.
Recent research on enhancement of damping in polymer composites

Vibration damping is becoming increasingly important for improved vibration and noise control, dynamic stability, and fatigue and impact resistance in advanced engineering systems. There is a particularly strong need for information on methods for improvement of damping in lightweight structural composite materials so that they may be more effectively used in the design of high performance structures and machines. This paper summarizes some recent analytical and experimental results regarding the improvement and optimization of damping in polymer composite materials at both the macromechanical and micromechanical levels. Also included is a relevant review of the recent developments in experimental techniques for measuring damping in composite materials. The basic objective of this paper is to review some of the most recent results and solutions for damping improvement and optimization in composites, and to offer recommendations regarding future research.
A method for estimating pore water drainage from marsh soils using rainfall and well records

Abstract Rainfall events during low tide exposure cause the water table in marshes to rise. If one has long time series of both rain events and water levels in wells along transects from creek bank to marsh interior, one can correlate well response with rain amount. In cases examined so far the well response is found to be a linear function of rain amount. As it is reasonable to assume that the amount of tidal infiltration required to restore the water table to the elevation of the marsh surface is equal to the amount of rain that would be required to do so, one can estimate the annual drainage of pore water from a well site by dividing the mean drawdown of the water table at low tide by the slope of the response versus rain regression and then multiplying the result by the number of tidal drawdowns in a year. Integration of such results along the transect then gives an estimate of the total annual drainage. An example of the use of this method is given for two well transects in a Typha and a Spartina marsh at the Plum Island Estuary Long Term Ecological Research (PIE-LTER) site in Massachusetts, USA. Both transects yielded pore water drainage rates of about 160 m3 year−1 per meter of channel length. Although the annual volume of pore water drainage is small compared to the annual volume of the tidal prism, its impact on nutrient budgets in the estuary could be large because of the high concentrations of nutrients in marsh pore waters. We also discuss the possible effects of the capillary fringe, air entrapment and tidal forcing during rain events on these results.
Land use and land cover tools for climate adaptation

Land use and land cover interact with atmospheric conditions to determine current climate conditions, as well, as the impact of climate change and environmental variability on ecological systems. Such interactions are ubiquitous, yet changes in LULC are generally made without regard to their biophysical implications. This review considers the potential for LULC to compound, confound, or even contradict changes expected from climate change alone. These properties give LULC the potential to be used as powerful tools capable of modifying local climate and contributing significantly to the net impact of climate change. Management practices based modifications of LULC patterns and processes could be applied strategically to increase the resilience of vulnerable ecological systems and facilitate climate adaptation. These interventions build on the traditional competencies of land management and land protection organizations and suggest that these institutions have a central role in determining the ecological impact of climate change and the development of strategies for adaptation. The practical limits to the use of LULC-based tools also suggest important inflection points between manageable and dangerous levels of climate change.
Alteration of MICE L-tryptophan metabolism by the organophosphorous acid triester diazinon

Abstract Diazinon [O,O-diethyl O-(2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate] altered the formation of several l -tryptophan metabolites associated with the l -kynurenine pathway in mice. Liver kynurenine formamidase was inhibited almost completely by diazinon (10 mg/kg). The enzyme inhibition resulted in reduced l -kynurenine biosynthesis in livers with a concomitant accumulation of N- formyl - l - kynurenine . In contrast to the liver, plasma l -kynurenine increased up to 5-fold in diazinon-treated mice. Consequently, the urinary excretion of xanthurenic acid and kynurenic add was raised 5- to 15-fold. The revelation of this novel mechanism of diazinon action is an important piece of information needed for a better understanding of the noncholinergic toxicity of organophosphorous add triesters and methylcarbamates.
Concentration‐dependent viscoelastic scaling models for polydimethysiloxane melts with dissolved carbon dioxide

Recent measurements of the viscosity of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) melts swollen with dissolved carbon dioxide at 50 and 80°C by Gerhardt et al. have shown that classical viscoelastic scaling factors can be employed to superpose the viscosity curves for CO2-swollen melts onto the viscosity curve for pure PDMS at the same temperature and pressure. Here a free volume expression for the viscosity of a diluted polymer melt is combined with equation-of-state theories for the volumetric properties of PDMS-CO2 mixtures to develop models for the CO2 concentration-dependent viscoelastic scaling factors. Both the Sanchez-Lacombe and Panayiotou-Vera equations-of-state are investigated for this purpose. The predicted viscoelastic scaling factors are found to be in very good agreement with the data of Gerhardt et al. The model predictions show that mixing of gaseous carbon dioxide into the swollen PDMS phase is highly non-ideal, and that significant free volume is added to the melt upon carbon dioxide dissolution. The free volume added to the melt by dissolved carbon dioxide is the principal mechanism for viscosity reduction, relative to pure PDMS, in this system. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1911–1918, 1998
A Generalized Method for Image Coding Using Fractal-Based Techniques

A new general method is proposed for image coding which exploits similarities, possibly with scaling, among different parts of the image. The coding is performed by approximating each image block with a linear combination of blocks selected from a library of blocks. This library is made up of (1) a set of fixed library blocks, (2) a set of blocks taken from the filtered, subsampled image, and (3) a set of blocks taken from the image without any change of scale. When the last two sets are selected causally, the decoding process is noniterative with no constraints on the coefficients of the library blocks. The index of the selected library blocks and their corresponding coefficients make the code for each range block. Methods are proposed for making the library and selecting blocks from the library.
Generating formulas for the number of trees in a graph

Abstract A general approach is given for generation of formulas for the total number of trees of a finite unoriented connected linear graph. The concept of generic factors is introduced for deletion (or addition) of sets of branches from (to) a complete graph. Great insight and flexibility is derived from a new binary complementing operation. This permits one to obtain formulas for almost any desired combination of branches to be deleted from a complete graph of the appropriate number of nodes. The results are also generalized to include consideration of deletion (or addition) of sets of branches of arbitrary multiplicity from (to) full graphs defined by the author in an earlier paper in connection with derivation of the generalized Cayley formula. Examples are included.
Plutonium—an Element Never at Equilibrium

The relentless deposition of energy from the α-particle decay of plutonium damages its crystal lattice and transmutes plutonium into other elements over time (principally, helium, americium, uranium, and neptunium). At cryogenic temperatures (4 K), lattice damage causes significant volume expansion of pure plutonium and contraction of face-centered-cubic stabilized alloys, and both appear to lose crystallinity at long irradiation times. At room temperature, much of the lattice damage is annealed out because defects produced by self-irradiation are sufficiently mobile. Nevertheless, plutonium’s delicate balance of stability with changes in temperature, pressure, or chemistry may be affected by self-irradiation. For example, at room temperature the lattice of fcc plutonium alloys expands and exhibits nanoscale bubbles at irradiation levels <0.1 displacements per atom (dpa). In addition to self-irradiation damage, it is now generally agreed that most fcc alloys previously believed to be thermodynamically stable at room temperature are in fact metastable. They undergo eutectoidal decomposition to α-plutonium, plus the nearest intermetallic compound. However, for most practical purposes, the kinetics of phase decomposition are too slow to be of concern. So, although plutonium may not be “far” from equilibrium, it is never at equilibrium because of the very nature of its radioactive decay. Surface reactions in plutonium can be increased catastrophically by the presence of moist air or hydrogen.
Neuregulins and neuregulin receptors in neural development

The neuregulins are a family of closely related proteins that play important roles in neural and cardiac development, as well as in mammary carcinogenesis. The pleiotropic activities of these molecules are transduced by a set of receptor protein tyrosine kinases that exhibit structural similarity to the receptor for epidermal growth factor. Recent results have demonstrated essential roles for the neuregulins and their receptors in regulating cell number, determining cell fate, and establishing pattern in the developing central and peripheral nervous systems.
Business-to-Business Approaches to Marketing to and Through Associations: A Descriptive Analysis and Research Issues

ABSTRACT We provide a descriptive analysis of the current state of marketing to and through associations, and suggest avenues for research, particularly in the business-to-business domain. At the outset, we describe how marketing to and through associations has achieved tremendous success, and has accomplished breakthrough results in terms of marketing effectiveness and efficiency in a wide range of industries, and discuss the benefits to all stakeholders in the process. Subsequently, a framework is proposed for identifying research opportunities at different levels of analysis in understanding this phenomenon. A case study involving AARP is used to illustrate the myriad of B2B transactions involving associations. A goal is to support additional research efforts in the area of business-to-business marketing to and through associations.
Optical-Model Potential for Nucleons Scattered by Nuclei

The Serber model of high-energy nuclear interactions permits one to express the "optical-model" potential for nucleons in terms of nucleon-nucleon scattering amplitudes. The potential is written in terms of four well-depth parameters in the form ${\mathcal{U}}_{C}=\ensuremath{-}[{V}_{\mathrm{CR}}+i{V}_{\mathrm{CI}}]\ensuremath{\rho}(r)+[{V}_{\mathrm{SR}}+i{V}_{\mathrm{SI}}]{\left(\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}}{\ensuremath{\mu}c}\right)}^{2}\frac{1}{r}\frac{d\ensuremath{\rho}}{\mathrm{dr}}\ensuremath{\sigma}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}1,$ and experiments necessary to determine the four parameters ${V}_{\mathrm{CR}}$, ${V}_{\mathrm{CI}}$, ${V}_{\mathrm{SR}}$, and ${V}_{\mathrm{SI}}$ are discussed. The explicit relations between the parameters and nucleon-nucleon scattering amplitudes are given and existing experimental data are reviewed.
Inducing a Lifshitz Transition by Extrinsic Doping of Surface Bands in the Topological Crystalline Insulator Pb 1-x Sn x Se

The narrow gap semiconductor ${\mathrm{Pb}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{x}\mathrm{Se}$ was investigated for topologically protected surface states in its rocksalt structural phase for $x=0.45$, 0.23, 0.15, and 0. Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of intrinsically $p$-doped samples showed a clear indication of two Dirac cones, eccentric about the time-reversal invariant point $\overline{X}$ of the surface Brillouin zone for all but the $x=0$ sample. Adsorption of alkalies gradually filled the surface bands with electrons, driving the $xg0$ topological crystalline insulator systems through Lifshitz transitions, and from a holelike to electronlike Fermi surface. The electron-doped bands in $xg0$ samples exhibited the full configuration of the Dirac cones, also confirming electron-hole symmetry of the surface bands.
UDP-galactopyranose mutases from Leishmania species that cause visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Abstract Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne, neglected tropical disease caused by parasites from the genus Leishmania. Galactofuranose (Galf) is found on the cell surface of Leishmania parasites and is important for virulence. The flavoenzyme that catalyzes the isomerization of UDP-galactopyranose to UDP-Galf, UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM), is a validated drug target in protozoan parasites. UGMs from L. mexicana and L. infantum were recombinantly expressed, purified, and characterized. The isolated enzymes contained tightly bound flavin cofactor and were active only in the reduced form. NADPH is the preferred redox partner for both enzymes. A kcat value of 6 ± 0.4 s−1 and a Km value of 252 ± 42 μM were determined for L. infantum UGM. For L. mexicana UGM, these values were ∼4-times lower. Binding of UDP-Galp is enhanced 10–20 fold in the reduced form of the enzymes. Changes in the spectra of the reduced flavin upon interaction with the substrate are consistent with formation of a flavin-iminium ion intermediate.
The structure of Rh(111)(2 × 2)-3CO from LEED intensities: Simultaneous bridge and near-top adsorption in a distorted compact hexagonal CO overlayer

The first Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) intensity analysis of molecular adsorption in multiple sites is presented. A 34 monolayer CO overlayer on Rh(111) is found to involve one bridge site and two near-top sites in each unit cell, which supports the bridge and top assignment based on earlier High-Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (HREELS) data. The near-top site is asymmetrical, with the CO axis close to the surface normal (but possibly tilted about 5°), yielding a bent Rh-C-O species. The near-top CO molecules are forced sideways from the ideal top site by ~ 0.53 A due to bridge-bonded CO molecules located at a distance of 2.85 A. This short CO-CO separation is somewhat smaller than corresponding intermolecular separations found in metal carbonyl clusters and crystalline CO and CO2. The resulting CO overlayer has a hexagonal geometry that is distorted both parallel and perpendicular to the surface due to the strong metal-CO bonding. The Zanazzi-Jona and Pendry R-factors for the best structure are 0.25 and 0.47, respectively. The LEED analysis exhibits the use of different levels of approximation in the multiple scattering theory in order to show the value of approximate but fast calculations in preliminary structural searches. A new algorithm to obtain experimental I–V curves from digitized images of LEED patterns is described.
Evaluation of a Phoswich Detector for the in Situ Analysis of 90Sr

A Phoswich detector system which employs a 3.45 mm thick by 12.5 cm diameter CaF2(Eu) crystal coupled to a 6.4 cm thick NaI(Tl) crystal was evaluated for the detection of 90Sr(90?) in the presence of 106Ru (106Rh) and 137Cs and for its ability to measure 238pu, 239pu, 241Am and 244Cm. The radioactive species were studied, both as surface contamination and contamination distributed in sediments, as a function of overburden thickness for different materials. The CaF2(Eu) crystal detects beta or low energy photon emissions while the NaI(Tl) crystal only detects higher energy photons from radionuclide decay or bremsstrahlung radiation. As little as 9 d/m/cm2 of 90Sr as surface contamination can be measured in a 1000 second counting period in the presence of comparable concentrations of 137Cs and 106Ru. The Phoswich system is specifically designed for the measurement of 90Sr(90?) and does not detect the transuranic species well. The operating parameters and use of the Phoswich system for identification of specific radionuclides in shallow land waste burial environments are discussed.
Photophysical, spectroscopic, and computational studies of a series of Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes containing 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide and 5- and 6-derivatized phenanthroline ligands.

The ligand 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide (CNx) forms six complexes of the formula [Re(CO)3(CNx)(L)]+, where L = 1,10-phenanthroline (1), 5-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline (2), 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (3), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4), 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5), and 1,10-phenanthrolinopyrrole (6). The lowest-energy absorption peaks of the complexes red-shift in the order 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < 5 < 6. The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and conductor-like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) computed singlet excited states in ethanol deviate by 1000 cm-1 or less from the experimental UV−vis peaks. The complexes undergo reversible reductions and irreversible oxidations. The electronic energy gap increases in the order 3 < 2 < 1 < 4 < 5 < 6, which is the order of increasing electron-donating power of the phen substituents. The reduction potentials linearly correlate with the B3LYP calculated LUMO energies for 1−6. The complexes emit at room temperature and at 77 K except 3, which emits on...
Prediction of Turbulent Forced Plumes Issuing Vertically Into Stratified or Uniform Ambients

A finite difference calculation method is used to solve the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy in differential form for a buoyant turbulent forced plume discharging vertically into both a uniform and a stratified quiescent ambient. This flow configuration is of interest relative to the discharge of thermal or sewage effluents into the ocean and the discharge of effluents from chimneys and cooling towers into a still atmosphere. The effects buoyancy on the turbulent transport model are discussed. The predictions, including the predicted maximum height of rise for the stratified ambient case, are compared with available experimental data and the results of other prediction methods.
Cr-doped Li2MnSiO4/carbon composite nanofibers as high-energy cathodes for Li-ion batteries

Li2MnSiO4 with an extremely high theoretical capacity of 332 mA h g−1 has recently gained tremendous interest. However, only around half of this capacity has been realized in practice and the cycling performance is also poor due to the low intrinsic conductivity and unsatisfactory structure stability. In this study, Li2Mn(1−x)CrxSiO4/carbon composite nanofibers are prepared by the combination of electrospinning and Cr doping. The electrospinning process leads to the formation of a conductive carbon nanofiber matrix, which provides fast ion transport and charge transfer. Cr doping further improves crystal structure stability by increasing the unit cell volume and inducing defects in the lattice. The resultant Li2Mn(1−x)CrxSiO4/carbon composite nanofibers exhibit a high discharge capacity of 314 mA h g−1 at the 5th cycle and stable cycling performance.
Fluoride in drinking water and diet: the causative factor of chronic kidney diseases in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka

A significant number of people in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka suffer from chronic kidney diseases (CKD), and the author revisits existing literature related to CKD to find its causative factor. There is a direct connection between high fluoride levels in drinking water and kidney disease, and there are unhealthy levels of fluoride in the groundwater in Sri Lanka’s CKD-affected areas. Based on the following observations, the author believes with confidence that excess fluoride in drinking water and in the locally grown food in the affected areas are the culprits of CKD in Sri Lanka.
The Perception of Flicker and Glare on Computer CRT Displays

Twenty-one subjects rated their discomfort due to direct glare, reflected glare, and flicker while viewing a CRT display under various conditions of ambient illuminance, video luminance, and video polarity. The angle away from the CRT at which the subjects first noticed flicker was also measured. Levels of these design and environmental variables which minimize discomfort are suggested. Video luminance was shown to have the greatest impact on comfort. Methods of reducing glare and flicker are discussed.
Prediction of vertical deflections for a long-span prestressed concrete bridge structure

This paper presents the results of a bridge monitoring program after nine years of data collection. The North Halawa Valley Viaduct on the Hawaiian island of Oahu was instrumented extensively during construction in 1994. The objective of the instrumentation program was to monitor both short-term and long-term behavior of the viaduct. The primary instruments used for vertical deflection, span shortening, and concrete strain monitoring are described. Short-term vertical deflections and bending strains measured during a load test of the structure are compared with analytical predictions using a commercial finite element analysis program. Close agreement is observed for both deflection and strain predictions. Long-term deformations of the viaduct are compared with analytical predictions using a finite element computer program specially developed for use with segmental construction of prestressed concrete bridge structures. Theoretical predictions based on the original design parameters do not agree with the measured vertical deflections. Improved creep and shrinkage material properties were determined using recently developed creep and shrinkage models adjusted by means of short-term creep and shrinkage data. The modified material property data provide considerable improvement in the prediction of viaduct response. A procedure is proposed for prediction of upper and lower bounds for the long-term response of long-span prestressed concrete bridges.
The role of herpes simplex virus secreted glycoproteins in herpetic keratitis.

Abstract We have demonstrated that, in herpetic stromal disease, the clinical manifestation of the disease depends on the presence of herpes virus (HSV) antigens in the stromal layer. In the work reported here, we have shown that the three major groups of HSV glycoproteins were secreted by F, Shealy, E-43, and RE strains, and that glycoprotein C was the major constituent of the secreted proteins. The amount of each glycoprotein secreted varied with the virus strain and the cell line used (VERO, HEp-2, SIRC or RK-13). The stromal disease-producing viruses (RE and Shealy) secreted larger amounts of glycoproteins than the epithelial disease-producing viruses (F and E-43). Our data indicated that there was a correlation between the appearance of stromal or epithelial disease and the amount of glycoproteins secreted. In addition, the manifestations of virus-induced stromal disease were reproduced by the injection of these secreted glycoproteins into the rabbit cornea. We think that the presence of these glycoproteins in the stromal layer at the time of virus growth in the epithelium is an important factor in the induction of herpetic stromal disease.
An approach to single image automatic orientation and point determination by using ortho-images and a DTM

On presente dans cet article une methode pour orienter automatiquement une image isolee et en determiner des points georeferences, en utilisant un MNT et des ortho-images existantes. On fait part egalement de l'experience acquise au cours de la mise en œuvre de cette methode. Le processus en question extrait et apparie automatiquement les points de diverses details situes dans des zones regulierement reparties sur des images aeriennes et des ortho-images. On obtient ainsi un nombre considerable de determinations sur ces images (allant jusqu'a plusieurs milliers) et on les injecte dans un relevement dans l'espace bien conforme de facon a determiner les parametres d'orientation de l'image aerienne. Lorsqu'il s'agit de determiner des points sur une image isolee, on a instruit une methode qui integre l'interpolation dans le MNT et le relevement dans l'espace, de sorte que les coordonnees-terrain en 3D des points de cette image sont alors obtenue a partir d'un modele mathematique unique. Les essais realises et leur analyse ont montre que ce nombre considerable de mesures automatiques sur l'image allege les conditions requises par les methodes precises mais sophistiquees d'appariement et d'extraction des elements. Les points au sol, obtenus a partir d'une image isolee ainsi traitee, ont une precision planimetrique d'environ 1 pixel, ce qui suffit pour effectuer la mise a jour d'une ortho-image. La precision altimetrique depend essentiellement de la qualite du MNT disponible et de la methode d'interpolation qui lui est appliquee.
Histochemical Studies of Papillary Hyperplasia of the Palate: Enzyme Histochemistry of Papillary Hyperplasia and Normal Palatal Mucosa

Representative enzymes from four enzyme groups, which have been related to premalignant or malignant activity, were studied histochemically. Tissues from patients with papillary hyperplasia, normal denture-wearing patients, and normal non-denture-wearing patients were examined. No differences were noted in the distribution of the enzymes in the different tissues that could be related to premalignant or malignant change.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of ondansetron, metoclopramide, and promethazine in adults.

Abstract Objectives The objective of the study was to assess whether ondansetron has superior nausea reduction compared with metoclopramide, promethazine, or saline placebo in emergency department (ED) adults. Methods This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded superiority trial was intended to enroll a convenience sample of 600 patients. Nausea was evaluated on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and 30 minutes after treatment. Patients with a minimum preenrollment VAS of 40 mm were randomized to intravenous ondansetron 4 mg, metoclopramide 10 mg, promethazine 12.5 mg, or saline placebo. A 12-mm VAS improvement in nausea severity was deemed clinically important. We measured potential drug adverse effects at baseline and 30 minutes. Patients received approximately 500 mL of saline hydration during the initial 30 minutes. Results Of 180 subjects who consented, 163 completed the study. The median age was 32 years (interquartile range, 23-47), and 68% were female. The median 30-minute VAS reductions (95% confidence intervals) and saline volume given for ondansetron, metoclopramide, promethazine, and saline were −22 (−32 to −15), −30 (−38 to −25.5), −29 (−40 to −21), and −16 (−25 to −3), and 500, 500, 500, and 450, respectively. The median 30-minute VAS differences (95% confidence intervals) between ondansetron and metoclopramide, promethazine, and saline were −8 (−18.5 to 3), −7 (−21 to −5.5), and 6 (−7 to 20), respectively. We compared the antiemetic efficacy across all treatments with the Kruskal-Wallis test ( P = .16). Conclusions Our study shows no evidence that ondansetron is superior to metoclopramide and promethazine in reducing nausea in ED adults. Early study termination may have limited detection of ondansetron's superior nausea reduction over saline.
Push–pull training reduces foveal sensory eye dominance within the early visual channels

A push-pull training protocol is applied to reduce sensory eye dominance in the foveal region. The training protocol consists of cueing the weak eye to force it to become dominant while the strong eye is suppressed when a pair of dichoptic orthogonal grating stimulus is subsequently presented to it (Ooi & He, 1999). We trained with four pairs of dichoptic orthogonal gratings (0°/90°, 90°/0°, 45°/135° and 135°/45° at 3cpd) to affect the interocular inhibitory interaction tuned to the four trained orientations (0°, 45°, 90° and 135°). After a 10-day training session, we found a significant learning effect (reduced sensory eye dominance) at the trained orientations as well as at two other untrained orientations (22.5° and 67.5°). This suggests that the four pairs of oriented training stimuli are sufficient to produce a learning effect at any other orientation. The nearly complete transfer of the learning effect across orientation is attributed to the fact that the trained and untrained orientations are close enough to fall in the same orientation tuning function of the early visual cortical neurons (∼37.5°). Applying the same notion of transfer of learning within the same feature channel, we also found a large transfer effect to an untrained spatial frequency (6cpd), which is 1 octave higher than the trained spatial frequency (3cpd). Furthermore, we found that stereopsis is improved, as is the competitive ability between the two eyes, after the push-pull training. Our data analysis suggests that these improvements are correlated with the reduced sensory eye dominance after the training, i.e., due to a more balanced interocular inhibition. We also found that the learning effect (reduced SED and stereo threshold) can be retained for more than a year after the termination of the push-pull training.
Sex Bias in Job Evaluation: The Effect of Sex on Judgments of Factor and Level Weights

Job evaluation instruments have recently been the subject of a number of critical reviews. In these reviews, job evaluation methods have been criticized for sex bias in the selection and weighting of factors. The present work investigated whether males and females differed in their ratings of importance on ten job evaluation factors and whether different weighting techniques would result in different wage structures. The results indicated that rater gender explained little of the variation in the ratings of the job evaluation factors.
Velocity, stroke rate and distance per stroke during elite swimming competition

The mean velocity of 9 out of 10 women's events during the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials was greater in 1984 as compared to 1976. Three of the 10 men's events showed improvement. In 9 out of these 12 events, the increased velocity was accounted for by increased distance per stroke (range, -3 to -13%). In the women's 100-m butterfly and 100-m backstroke, increased velocity was due solely to faster stroke rates. The finalists in each event were compared to those whose velocities were 3-7% slower. In almost all events and stroke styles, the finalists achieved greater distances per stroke than did the slower group. In the men's events increased distance per stroke was associated with decreased stroke rate, except in the backstroke, in which both were increased for the finalists. Although the faster women swimmers generally had greater distances per stroke, they were more dependent than men on faster stroke rates to achieve superiority. The profile of velocity for races of 200 m and longer indicated that as fatigue developed the distance per stroke decreased. The faster swimmers compensated for this change by maintaining or increasing stroke rate more than did their slower competitors. This study indicates that improvements and superiority in stroke mechanics are reflected in the stroke rate and distance per stroke used to swim a race.