cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass with Concentrated Alkaline Solution to Organic Acids

Degradation of polysaccharide materials such as starch, cellulose and cellulosic materials such as rice straw, corn cobs and sawdust in concentrated alkaline solution uniquely promotes the production of glycolic and oxalic acids. Conversion of starch at 240°C in an alkaline solution with a water/NaOH ratio of 1.28 (16N NaOH) and a NaOH/starch ratio of 16 produced yields of 46% glycolic acid and 24% oxalic acid. Comparable yields from celluose are 41% glycolic acid and 13% oxalic acid. Yields of glycolic and oxalic acids from cellulosic materials such as rice straw are also high, and reflect conversion of non-cellulose components to these organic acids also. Decreasing the NaOH/starch or NaOH/cellulosic material ratios in these reaction systems while maintaining the water/NaOH ratio decreases the yields of glycolic and oxalic acids based on starting starch or cellulosic weight. However, the yields based on reactor volume or alkali weight are increased sufficiently to consider using NaOH/starch or NaOH/cellulosic material ratios as low as 2 or 3.
Influence of cold storage prior to and after ripening on quality factors and sensory attributes of ‘Hass’ avocados ☆

Abstract Partially-ripened avocados are often held in cold storage in an attempt to enable the consistent delivery of ripe fruit to food service or retail outlets. It is also common to hold fruit without any prior ripening for a few days to several weeks prior to ethylene treatment and final ripening. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of these practices on ripening time and subsequent fruit quality. ‘Hass’ avocados were harvested from three different orchards on six harvest dates and placed at either 5 °C or 12 °C immediately after harvest or after ripening to average firmness values of either 80 N (partially ripe) or 19 N (near ripe). After storage the fruit were then ripened to eating firmness (4.4–6.7 N) and evaluated for quality parameters. A portion of the fruit at harvest firmness were stored for 0 d, 7 d, 14 d or 28 d and then treated with ethylene to ripen the fruit. Continual softening during storage resulted in fruit that had been ripened prior to storage being nearly at eating firmness at the end of 14 d, especially those stored at 12 °C. Stem end rot, body rot and pink staining of the vascular tissue occurred more frequently in the previously-ripened fruit after 14 d, the severity being greatest at 12 °C where the incidence exceeded 50% for both stem end rot and pink staining. Both harvest date and orchard influenced the amount of pink staining observed. Storage of firm fruit prior to ethylene treatment resulted in higher levels of both stem end rot and pink staining only when the storage time exceeded 14 d. In an additional study to assess the impact of the storage of partially-ripened fruit on both quality and sensory characteristics, ‘Hass’ avocados were harvested six times at monthly intervals, ripened to approximately 16 N firmness at 20 °C and then placed at either 1 °C or 5 °C for 7 d or 14 d. Following storage the fruit were ripened to eating firmness and evaluated. The occurrence of fruit quality defects was not affected by the timing of ripening. Sensory panelists liked fruit ripened prior to or after cold storage equally well and there were no differences among the ripening treatments, within a storage time, in the level of rich, nutty or grassy attributes that composed the fruit flavor. There were statistically-significant differences in the degree of textural creaminess among the ripening treatments, although these differences were inconsistent and slight. Storing partially ripe ‘Hass’ avocados for up to 4 d at either 1 °C, 5 °C or 12 °C does not greatly alter avocado quality, while storage for longer periods, such as 14 d, may be problematic due to enhanced development of decay and pink staining, especially at higher temperatures. Holding unripe avocados for longer than 14 d prior to ethylene treatment may predispose the fruit to the development of pink staining.
Poorly differentiated Sertoli–Leydig tumor with heterologous, high-grade, sarcomatoid features: A case report

•Treatment of sex-cord stromal tumors with carboplatin and taxane is both feasible and safe.•FOXL2 mutations account for approximately 50% of these tumors.•Carboplatin and taxane may afford a favorable outcome.
Protected shared libraries: a new approach to modularity and sharing

Protected Shared Libraries, or PSLs, are a new type of support for modularity that form a basis for building flexible library-based operating system services. PSLs extend the familiar notion of shared libraries with protected state and data sharing across protection boundaries. Protected state information allows PSLs to be used to implement sensitive operating system services. Sharing of data across protection boundaries yields significant performance benefits. These features make PSLs a viable basis on which a complete operating system can be built largely as a set of dynamically loadable libraries without compromising protection or sacrificing performance. PSLs also allow highly flexible implementations of new functionality to be added to current commercial operating systems. A prototype PSL implementation has been built into AIX 3.2.5 and early performance results are encouraging.
Spatial cues in 3d visualization

The ever-increasing power and complexity of available hardware and software has enabled the development of a wide variety of visualization techniques that allow the ever more concise presentation of data. Associated with this trend is the challenge to condense and convey ever-increasing amounts of useful information into smaller and smaller spaces. Depicting computer-generated visualizations in three dimensions (3D), similar to how we perceive the real world, is one approach to condense these visual presentations of information. However, there is an inherent dilemma in this approach; the visual medium on which the vast majority of 3D imagery is displayed is inherently two dimensional (2D): a flat computer monitor. Although there are some immersive or ‘true 3D devices' on the market, such as the fishbow rotating display, the LCD layered 3D monitor, and 3D displays marketed by companies such as SeeReal Technologies, most of these devices are either too small or too expensive for the average user.
Predictive modeling of elastic properties of particulate-reinforced composites

The Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of isotropic composites made of particulate glass fillers in a BISGMA/TEGDMA resin matrix are determined using an axisymmetric spherical cell finite-element model developed by Guild and co-authors for modeling the elastic properties of rubber particles/epoxy composites with volume fractions of less than 0.5. Here, we have used this method to calculate the elastic properties of particulate-filled composites with a range of filler volume fractions, including those with filler fractions above 0.5, which are of primary interest for dental clinical applications. We have also conducted modeling studies on the influence of imperfect interfaces and thin interlayers on the elastic properties of composites with low and high filler volume fractions. Finally, we have conducted experimental tensile tests in order to compare theoretical predictions with experimental data. The predictions from the current model agree well with the test results for a range of volume fraction up to 0.53.
Apolipoprotein-lipid association in oxidatively modified HDL and LDL

Abstract We investigated the effect of Cu2+ catalyzed peroxidation on the status of tryptophan (Trp) in protein moieties in HDL and LDL together with its effect on apolipoprotein-lipid association. Incubation of HDL with Cu2+ resulted in a rapid decrease of Trp fluorescence intensity with time with a concomitant increase in Trp maximum emission wavelength (λmax). LDL incubated with Cu2+ also showed a rapid decrease in Trp fluorescence intensity with time, but with no associated increase in λmax. The status of apo HDL and apo LDL was investigated after 4 h oxidation (4h-oxHDL and 4h-oxLDL respectively). With 4h-oxHDL, the shift in λmax was not associated with protein dissociation but rather with protein crosslinking and formation of larger HDL species. Progressive increase in λmax was observed in 4h-oxHDL with increase in guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) concentration; this was not due to protein dissociation. Although oxidation of LDL did not produce an increase in λmax, a significant increase in wavelength was observed when 4h-oxLDL was exposed to increasing concentration of GuHCl. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the 4h-oxLDL indicated formation of smaller molecular weight protein fragments that were still associated with LDL. Ultracentrifugation of oxidized LDL in the presence and absence of GuHCl showed no dissociated protein. In summary, these data indicate the following: (a) lipid peroxidation has a direct effect on Trp residues in both HDL and LDL, (b) oxidation of HDL is associated with conformational change in apo HDL, crosslinking and formation of larger particles, (c) oxidized HDL have a more stable apolipoprotein-lipid association than native HDL, (d) oxidation of LDL is associated with changes in apo B, that by fluorescence are apparent only in presence of GuHCl and results in fragmentation of apo B without dissociation of protein or change in particle size, and (e) stability of apolipoprotein-lipid association is comparable in oxidized and native LDL.
Inhibition of Na+-coupled solute transport by calcium in brush border membrane vesicles

Intracellular Ca++ is known to influence Na+ flux in luminal membranes. Abnormally elevated Ca++ levels in some cells is believed to be the primary pathophysiologic defect in cystic fibrosis (CF). This in turn is thought to alter Na+ transport which accounts for certain clinical manifestations of this disease. Two Na+-dependent intestinal transport mechanisms have been reported to be suppressed or missing in CF. To examine whether alterations in cell Ca++ may account for these findings, studies were performed to examine the influence of Ca++ on Na+-solute co-transport across intestinal luminal membranes. Purified brush border membrane vesicles prepared from rat small bowel were preincubated in either Ca++-free buffer or buffer containing 2.5 mM CaCl2. Ca++ loaded vesicles showed marked inhibition of Na+ co-transport of taurocholic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, glucose and valine when compared to controls. The uptake of Na+ was also significantly reduced by intravesicular Ca++. These data demonstrate that intravesicular Ca++ inhibits Na+-coupled solute transport as well as Na+ influx across intestinal brush border membranes. These data suggest that intracellular Ca++ may suppress Na+-dependent solute absorption in the intestine. Results presented here further support the theory that elevated intracellular Ca++ may account for intestinal malabsorption and other altered transport phenomena reported in CF.
Natural heartbeat patterns of six ascidians and environmental effects on cardiac function in Clavelina huntsmani

Abstract 1. 1. The bidirectional hearts of the tunicates Ascidia ceratodes, Ciona intestinalis , and Clavelina huntsmani showed preferred directionality in number, rate. and period of beating. 2. 2. Each species tested demonstrated a characteristic reversal pattern, but there were large individual variations from the species averages. 3. 3. Temperature affected both rate and period of beating, but it did not affect number of beats per period. 4. 4. Salinity changes and injury had significant effects on the cardiac function of Cluvelina huntsmani , Changes in pH had no effect. 5. 5. Heart rate slowed just before reversal in all six species tested. 6. 6. There are at least five different types of heartbeat reversal. 7. 7. An endogenous counting mechanism seems to be a major means of regulating reversal.
The Racial Digital Divide: Motivational, Affective, and Cognitive Correlates of Internet Use1

The indisputable existence of a racial digital divide calls into question the democratizing potential of the Internet. Beyond issues of access to the technology are psychological factors that may influence Internet use. A survey of 787 college undergraduates—630 European Americans and 157 African Americans—who have similar access to the Internet was used to examine motivational, affective, and cognitive factors that may influence Internet use and contribute to the racial digital divide. Racial differences in Internet use were obtained, but were limited to e-mail use. A model of Internet use is offered that considers motivational, affective, and cognitive antecedents and consequences of use.
Retinal disease in Rpe65-deficient mice: comparison to human leber congenital amaurosis due to RPE65 mutations.

PURPOSE To quantify the retinal disease in Rpe65-deficient mice across a wide age span and compare the results to those in humans with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) caused by RPE65 mutations. METHODS Full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded from wild-type (C57BL/6; Rpe65(+/+)) and Rpe65(-/-) mice at ages ranging from ∼1 month to 2 years. A physiologically based model of rod phototransduction activation was used to determine photoreceptor (P3) cell components of ERG photoresponses. A bipolar (P2) cell component was also derived. Photoreceptor and inner retinal thickness measurements were made by using optical coherence tomography in human RPE65-LCA. RESULTS Age-related declines in ERG photoreceptor and bipolar amplitudes were present in the Rpe65(-/-) mouse. The loss of photoresponse amplitude with age in the mutant mice paralleled reported losses of photoreceptor nuclear layer thickness over the same age range. Unexpectedly, the early activation phase of photoresponses in Rpe65(-/-) mice accelerated with age as amplitude decreased; this was not a feature of Rpe65(+/+) mice. Inner retinal dysfunction increased with age in the mutant mice. Human RPE65-LCA patients had retinal degeneration and loss of photoreceptors in the first decade of life. Unlike the mouse model, there were no examples of a normal photoreceptor complement. Abnormal thickening of the inner retina occurred with increasing loss of photoreceptors. CONCLUSIONS The differences in time course of murine and human RPE65-deficiency diseases suggests that preclinical efficacy testing of therapeutic modalities would be most informative when the murine disease becomes comparable to early human disease, toward the end of the first year of life in Rpe65(-/-) mice.
Association between Inadequate Sleep and Insulin Resistance in Obese Children

Objective To analyze the relationships between sleep duration, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and markers of insulin resistance in obese children. Study design Forty obese children were evaluated for sleep-related complaints. Each child underwent a polysomnogram, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and fasting lipid panel tests. Indices of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR and WBISI) and insulin secretion (IGI) were calculated based on the results of the OGTT. Markers of insulin resistance were compared among groups categorized according to polysomnogram results. Results Subjects with shorter sleep duration had higher fasting insulin, peak insulin, and HOMA-IR levels and lower WBISI levels, findings suggestive of insulin resistance. In contrast, differences in body mass index z scores were not observed. Subjects with OSAS (32 of 40 children) had higher triglyceride levels and HOMA-IR values than those without OSAS, but did not differ in sleep duration. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that HOMA-IR was significantly correlated with age, sleep duration, and percentage of rapid-eye-movement sleep. Conclusions Insulin resistance in obese children is associated with short sleep duration and OSAS.
Mastopathy in insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus

Diabetic mastopathy is a recently described collection of histopathological features found in dense fibrous breast masses in insulin-requiring diabetics. Fifty-seven breast biopsy specimens showing nonspecific benign disease were examined in a blinded fashion from 21 diabetics (seven insulin-requiring, 14 non-insulin-requiring), 30 age-matched controls and six patients with thyroid disease. Five diabetics had the constellation of extensive keloidal fibrosis, mononuclear perivasculitis, and mononuclear ductitis and/or lobulitis, whereas none of the controls or patients with thyroid disease had all of these features. All five patients with diabetic mastopathy were insulin-requiring (two type I, three type II). Epithelioid fibroblasts in the stroma, a previously described component of this constellation, were present in three of the five cases but do not appear to be essential in making the diagnosis. Four of the five diabetics were hypertensive, and three had secondary diabetic complications. The mean duration of diabetes in the five patients was greater than 13 years. Based on a previous report and the current study, this constellation of histological features appears to be relatively specific for insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus. The single clinical factor common to all patients with diabetic mastopathy in this article and in a previous study was exogenous insulin use.
Fast optimization of survivable WDM mesh networks based on multiple self-healing rings

As widely recognized, Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) allows to practically harness a considerable portion of the huge transmission capacity offered by the optical fiber. Among the several advantages offered by WDM, the lightpath concept - or wavelength routing - is perhaps the most revolutionary one. To make lightpaths reliable in presence of system faults, protection techniques are necessary directly in the optical layer. Protection against faults in the optical layer can be achieved by means of various schemes. A promising one is based on Multi-Wavelength division multiplexed Self-Healing Ring, or Multi-WSHR for short. However, minimizing the system cost while providing this protection scheme in a general mesh network, e.g., choosing the multi-ring cover, routing the lightpaths and for each lightpath choosing the protecting ring(s), is not a trivial problem. In fact, the optimum solution of this problem may require several hours of CPU time already in networks with few dozens of nodes. This paper presents a fast approach to interactively designing optimal resilient WDM mesh networks based on an optimization engine that, given the network layout, the lightpath demands and the cost function, sub-optimally selects a ring cover and, for each lightpath demand, the route and the protecting rings. The three selections are made jointly as it has been demonstrated that a 15% cost reduction can be achieved in this way when compared to a sequential selection. The optimization engine, based on Simulated Annealing (SA), yields satisfactory solutions with CPU times ranging from seconds to few minutes, thus allowing user interactive design of the system. In addition, the inherent flexibility of SA allows us to minimize the system cost under various Multi-WSHR protection schemes, including Dedicated-Path-switched WSHR (DP-WSHR) and Shared-Line-switched WSHR (SL-WSHR). A last feature of the proposed approach is the capability to handle network designs in which, due to particular network layout and/or technology constraints, not all the lines of the mesh can be protected. Under these circumstances, the lightpath demands routed on the unprotected lines are minimized.
Structural properties of vesicles produced from a new bipolar lipid

Abstract Symmetric vesicles are obtained from aqueous dispersions of a bipolar lipid, ( R, S )-3,25,(26)-bis(β- d -glucopyranosylthio)-1,6,23,28-tetraoxacyclotetratetracontan-2,5,24,27-tetrone (G44T), upon sonication and ultracentrifugation. Vesicles are produced also from mixed aqueous dispersions of G44T with diheptanoylphosphatidylcholine (DHPC). Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light-scattering techniques give similar results for the vesicular diameter. The stability of these vesicles in time, temperature, and upon addition of DHPC is investigated.
Validation Study of the Psychotic Inpatient Profile

Validity data on the Psychotic Inpatient Profile (PIP), a revision of the Psychotic Reaction Profile, were obtained by comparing ratings of closed- (locked) ward versus open-ward patients and admissions versus releases. Discriminant analyses differentiated the groups in each comparison at the .01 level. Correct classification was obtained for 84.2% of the patients in the closed versus open comparison and for 75.5% in the admissions versus releases comparison. Univariate tests indicated that all 12 PIP scales discriminated between groups in the expected direction in at least one of the two comparisons made.
T‐Antigen does not induce cell mediated immunity in patients with breast cancer

A total of 80 subjects with benign and malignant breast disease and healthy controls were studied for reactivity to T-antigen, MN-antigens and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) using the lymphocyte blastogenesis assay. No differences were detected between controls and patients with benign or malignant breast disease in reactivity to T- and MN-antigens. Moreover, there was no differential response to T- and MN-antigens among patients with breast cancer. PHA reactivity, although similar between groups as a whole, was diminished in patients with advanced carcinoma. These findings indicate that T-antigen fails to induce cell mediated immunity in patients with breast cancer.
Physician decision making for colorectal cancer screening in the elderly.

BACKGROUND Although individualized decision making is recommended to appropriately screen for colorectal cancer (CRC) in older adults, it is unclear whether physicians solicit input from older patients before making a recommendation for or against CRC screening.
Low-dose ketamine vs morphine for acute pain in the ED: a randomized controlled trial☆ , ☆☆

Abstract Objectives To compare the maximum change in numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores, in patients receiving low-dose ketamine (LDK) or morphine (MOR) for acute pain in the emergency department. Methods We performed an institutional review board–approved, randomized, prospective, double-blinded trial at a tertiary, level 1 trauma center. A convenience sample of patients aged 18 to 59 years with acute abdominal, flank, low back, or extremity pain were enrolled. Subjects were consented and randomized to intravenous LDK (0.3mg/kg) or intravenous MOR (0.1mg/kg). Our primary outcome was the maximum change in NRS scores. A sample size of 20 subjects per group was calculated based on an 80% power to detect a 2-point change in NRS scores between treatment groups with estimated SDs of 2 and an α of .05, using a repeated-measures linear model. Results Forty-five subjects were enrolled (MOR 21, LDK 24). Demographic variables and baseline NRS scores (7.1 vs 7.1) were similar. Ketamine was not superior to MOR in the maximum change of NRS pain scores, MOR=5 (confidence interval, 6.6-3.5) and LDK=4.9 (confidence interval, 5.8-4). The time to achieve maximum reduction in NRS pain scores was at 5minutes for LDK and 100minutes for MOR. Vital signs, adverse events, provider, and nurse satisfaction scores were similar between groups. Conclusion Low-dose ketamine did not produce a greater reduction in NRS pain scores compared with MOR for acute pain in the emergency department. However, LDK induced a significant analgesic effect within 5 minutes and provided a moderate reduction in pain for 2 hours.
External Influences on Hurricane Intensity. Part I: Outflow Layer Eddy Angular Momentum Fluxes.

Abstract Outflow layer winds were objectively analyzed every 12 h for 6 days during the life cycle of Hurricane Elena (1985). A high correlation was found between angular momentum fluxes by azimuthal eddies at large radii and central pressure changes in the storm 27–33 h later. Momentum flux by eddies exceeded that by the azimuthal mean outside the 800 km radius, while vortex spinup by the eddies reached instantaneous magnitudes as large as 25 m s−1/day. Outflow maxima and minima repeatedly appeared more than 1000 km from the hurricane center and tracked inward with time. The results provide evidence of significant environmental control on the behavior of the storm. After reaching hurricane strength, Elena experienced a major secondary intensification associated with a large inward cyclonic eddy momentum flux produced by the passage of a middle latitude trough north of the hurricane. An outflow maximum appeared radially inside of the eddy momentum source, consistent with balanced vortex theory, and tracke...
Quantitative assay for carbamazepine serum levels by gas-liquid chromatography.

Abstract A gas-liquid Chromatographic method for determining carbamazepine serum levels from 0.5 to 10.0 μg/ml is presented. Carbamazepine was chromatographed directly; its absorption and decomposition were minimized by masking and neutralization of the column solid support and by use of a solvent of low dielectric constant. Acidic anticonvulsants were separated from carbamazepine by solvent partition, reextracted, and chromatographed separately as their N -methyl derivatives.
Diagnosis of Obstructive Coronary Disease by Maximal Exercise and Atrial Pacing

The reliability of graded maximal exercise treadmill testing and right atrial pacing in diagnosing significant obstructive coronary artery disease was evaluated in 74 consecutive patients referred to a cardiac unit with chest pain consistent with angina pectoris. The results of maximal exercise testing and right atrial pacing, with regard to the presence or absence of the patient's characteristic chest pain or discomfort and ischemic ST segment depression, were compared with the findings determined by selective coronary arteriography. Ischemic ST segment depression was defined as a downward displacement of one full mm or more of a horizontal or downward sagging ST segment. Forty-nine of the 74 patients studied were found to have significant coronary arteriographic obstruction, i.e., greater than 75% obstruction of one major coronary artery. The occurrence of the patient's characteristic chest pain or discomfort during maximal exercise testing or right atrial pacing is an excellent indicator of the presenc...
Imaging spectrometer based on acousto-optic tunable filter

Characterization of an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is performed by measuring the filter's laser line response, tuning relationship, and diffraction efficiency. An imaging spectrometer that utilizes the filter is described. The system is comprised of an optical system, AOTF filer, dual focal plane CCD camera, and a control computer. Data from the system is presented.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Accelerated protein damage in brains of PIMT+/− mice; a possible model for the variability of cognitive decline in human aging

Isoaspartate formation is a common type of protein damage normally kept in check by the repair enzyme protein-L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT). Mice with a knockout of the gene (Pcmt1) for this enzyme (KO, -/-) exhibit a pronounced neuropathology with fatal epileptic seizures at 30-60 days. Heterozygous (HZ, +/-) mice have 50% of the PIMT activity found in wild-type (WT, +/+) mice, but appear normal. To see if HZ mice exhibit accelerated aging at the molecular level, we compared brain extracts from HZ and WT mice at 8 months and 2 years with regard to PIMT activity, isoaspartate levels, and activity of an endogenous PIMT substrate, creatine kinase B. PIMT activity declined modestly with age in both genotypes. Isoaspartate was significantly higher in HZ than WT mice at 8 months and more so at 2 years, rising 5× faster in HZ males and 3× faster in females. Creatine kinase activity decreased with age and was always lower in the HZ mice. These findings suggest the individual variation of human PIMT levels may significantly influence the course of age-related central nervous system dysfunction.
Induction of analgesia by central administration of ORG 2766, an analog of ACTH4-9

Abstract Dose-dependent analgesia was produced by microinjection of ORG 2766 into the periaqueductal gray (PAG). This analgesia was found to be potent and long-lasting and occurred at doses which were equimolar to those necessary for morphine analgesia. The same doses failed to produce analgesia by the cerebroventricular route, suggesting that the PAG was the site of action of this effect. Naloxone failed to reduce the analgesia and morphine tolerance did not diminish the effect significantly. Additionally, ORG 2766 at concentrations up to 10 μM failed to inhibit binding of [ 3 H]naloxone to brain opiate receptors in vitro. These results suggest a non-opiate mechanism of action and are discussed in terms of a proposed α-MSH or ACTH receptor.
Ab initio theory of the polarizability and polarizability derivatives in H2S

Abstract Ab initio finite-perturbation self-consistent-field (SCF) and configuration interaction (CI) calculations utilizing an extensive basis of cartesian gaussian orbitals are reported for the electric dipole polarizability tensor, α, and the polarizability derivative tensor, α′, of H2S. Particular attention was devoted to the selection of an appropriate molecular orbital basis and configuration expansion for determining electron correlation contributions to the polarizability. The common practice of truncating configuration expansions based on a perturbation theory correction to the energy is shown to be inadequate for this property. Contrary to the predictions of such an approach, we conclude that electron correlation has little effect on α and α′ in H2S. Our calculation yielded a nearly isotropic polarizability tensor, whose trace, α , is ca. 5% below the experimental result. The magnitude of the derivative ( α ′) along the symmetric stretch is also in good agreementwith experiment. It is positive and roughly an order of magnitude larger than the components along the other two modes. The derivative anisotropy parameter is found to be positive for all three normal modes. Theoretical dipole moment derivatives have also been evaluated and are compared to those determined from the infrared spectrum. Recent data from Rayleigh and Raman scattering experiments on H2O are discussed in light of our results for H2S.
Management of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Different Views of the Same Disease

Excerpt More than a century and a half after the first clinical descriptions of the condition now known as the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a large number of mutually confirmatory observations o...
Sequence and characterization of the sperm‐specific protein φ3 from Mytilus californianus

We have shown that the sperm-specific protein O3 from Mytilus californianus (Conrad) exhibits compositional microheterogeneity. For the first time, we have isolated and characterized the three major components of this protein. These fractions display different electrophoretic mobilities on Triton/urea/acetic acid polycrylamide gels. However, they have a very similar molecular mass of 5±0.1 kDa as measured by sedimentation equilibrium in the analytical ultracentrifuge. All of them show a marked trend toward aggregation. We have also established the sequence for each of these three fractions. The sequencing data suggest an even greater extent of microheterogeneity for this protein. The predicted secondary structure from the sequences, as well as infrared analyzes carried out on the native protein, suggest an structure organization into an α helix.
Traditional and Pioneer Working Mothers.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to attempt to discriminate between college-educated working mothers who were employed in traditional female occupations (Traditionals) and those who had careers in male-dominated occupations (Pioneers). There were 20 subjects in each group. Three instruments-projective, questionnaire, and attitude scale-were constructed to measure the variables of female role perception, attitudes toward career and career-related variables, and biographical information. Pioneers were found to be more career-committed than Traditionals and to have more successfully integrated the roles of homemaker and worker. Some aspects of family background also differentiated between the two groups.
The Role of Integrated Curriculum in Music Teacher Education

Curricular integration has become an increasingly important component of many school reform initiatives, particularly at the elementary school level. Despite the important philosophical and politic...
Exercising Power from the Bottom Up: Co-Creating the Conditions for Development with Youth at an Urban High School:

Young people in poor urban communities often feel powerless in the face of degradation, crumbling buildings, failing school systems, and ways of being related to that suggest little hope for the fu...
Extending the role of bias in probabilistic theory revision

Abstract Theory revision is the process of making corrections to a flawed or incomplete knowledge base on the basis of examples that expose those problems. The PTR algorithm is a theory revision algorithm that makes use of explicit bias to guide the detection of flawed knowledge base elements. In this paper, we examine the effectiveness of PTR's bias scheme in identifying flawed knowledge base elements, and we propose extensions to the PTR algorithm that support the use of additional bias to guide the process of correcting a flawed element once it has been located.
Feeding ecology of the bat Eptesicus fuscus: ‘preferred’ prey abundance as one factor influencing prey selection and diet breadth

Factors influencing prey selection by insectivorous bats are poorly understood but may be related to interspecific differences in echolocation call structure. The diet of Eptesicus fuscus was compared with prey abundance across a foraging season to examine prey selection by a bat species which has an echolocation call dominated by a frequency-modulated (FM) component. Guano samples were collected on 18 occasions from a single colony between May and September 2000. Abundance of aerial insects was measured using a black-light trap on nights when guano was collected. Regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses that E. fuscus: (1) does not take prey in proportion to their relative abundance; (2) forages preferentially for beetles in a manner predicted by foraging theory. Relative abundance (= proportion in relation to other prey types) of prey in trap samples was not a good predictor of prey in the diet across periods or within periods, which suggests selective foraging. Beetles (42–96% of the diet by per cent volume) were consistently eaten in higher proportions than their relative abundance. The absolute abundance of beetles (= abundance irrespective of the abundance of other prey types) explained 60% of the variation in beetle use with more beetles eaten when they were abundant. Absolute beetle abundance explained 66%, 53% and 47% of the variation in the use of three other prey types, with more of these prey eaten when beetle abundance was low. Finally, absolute beetle abundance explained 60% of the variation in diet breadth, which increased when beetle abundance was low. Our results agree with predictions derived from foraging theory and support the hypothesis that E. fuscus forages selectively for beetles, consuming a wider variety of prey when beetle abundance is low. These results are similar to those found for the greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum which has an echolocation call dominated by a constant-frequency (CF) component, and suggest that some FM bats may discriminate among prey taxa, at least at the ordinal level.
Tsirelson superspaces and lp

Abstract By modifying what “admissible” means in the construction of T, a unified way of obtaining the spaces, T, lp, and reflexive spaces not isomorphic to their Cartesian square are obtained. For these spaces S, the “strict” and “modified” norms are equivalent (2-equivalent for T). For each S, there is a p so that S satisfies an upper lp-estimate and lower lr-estimates for each r > p. Each S shares many of the blocking properties of lp and T. Norming trees turn out to be the main tool here.
A study to determine the efficacy of treatments for hydrofluoric acid burns

Hydrofluoric acid burns are characterized by progressive tissue destruction and severe pain. Fluoride ion chelators, such as salts of calcium and magnesium, have been used to treat these burns. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of several treatment methods that involve the use of these salts. Standard hydrofluoric acid burns were produced on the shaved hindquarters of rats. After being rinsed with water, the chemical burns were treated by one of seven experimental methods. The progress of the chemical burn damage was observed for 1 week by measuring the surface areas of the burns. Calcium gluconate burn jelly, 20% calcium gluconate in water, and 50% aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide did not significantly slow the spread of the burn area. However, subcutaneous injections of calcium gluconate or magnesium sulfate and topical applications of calcium gluconate in a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide significantly slowed the progress of the burns during the first 24 hours and enhanced tissue recovery for the remainder of the observation period. These results indicate that subcutaneous injections of magnesium or calcium salts appear to be more effective than conventional topical applications in the treatment of hydrofluoric acid burns. More significantly, topically applied calcium gluconate combined with a penetration enhancer, such as dimethyl sulfoxide, is as effective as injection treatments in reducing damage caused by hydrofluoric acid.
Assisted Evolution Enables HIV-1 to Overcome a High TRIM5α-Imposed Genetic Barrier to Rhesus Macaque Tropism

Diversification of antiretroviral factors during host evolution has erected formidable barriers to cross-species retrovirus transmission. This phenomenon likely protects humans from infection by many modern retroviruses, but it has also impaired the development of primate models of HIV-1 infection. Indeed, rhesus macaques are resistant to HIV-1, in part due to restriction imposed by the TRIM5α protein (rhTRIM5α). Initially, we attempted to derive rhTRIM5α-resistant HIV-1 strains using two strategies. First, HIV-1 was passaged in engineered human cells expressing rhTRIM5α. Second, a library of randomly mutagenized capsid protein (CA) sequences was screened for mutations that reduced rhTRIM5α sensitivity. Both approaches identified several individual mutations in CA that reduced rhTRIM5α sensitivity. However, neither approach yielded mutants that were fully resistant, perhaps because the locations of the mutations suggested that TRIM5α recognizes multiple determinants on the capsid surface. Moreover, even though additive effects of various CA mutations on HIV-1 resistance to rhTRIM5α were observed, combinations that gave full resistance were highly detrimental to fitness. Therefore, we employed an ‘assisted evolution’ approach in which individual CA mutations that reduced rhTRIM5α sensitivity without fitness penalties were randomly assorted in a library of viral clones containing synthetic CA sequences. Subsequent passage of the viral library in rhTRIM5α-expressing cells resulted in the selection of individual viral species that were fully fit and resistant to rhTRIM5α. These viruses encoded combinations of five mutations in CA that conferred complete or near complete resistance to the disruptive effects of rhTRIM5α on incoming viral cores, by abolishing recognition of the viral capsid. Importantly, HIV-1 variants encoding these CA substitutions and SIVmac239 Vif replicated efficiently in primary rhesus macaque lymphocytes. These findings demonstrate that rhTRIM5α is difficult to but not impossible to evade, and doing so should facilitate the development of primate models of HIV-1 infection.
The influence of external resistance on the moving striations of the positive column

The dependence of the frequency and other parameters of moving striations in low pressure gas discharge on the magnitude and kind of external limiting element was studied. The experimental conditions are described. The results show that the magnitude of the external limiting ohmic resistance affects the amplitude of light intensity oscillation of the moving striations and its speed and wavelength. However, the frequency is not affected. The frequency is affected by the presence of the inductive part of external limiting element. (J.S.R.)
Natural and anthropogenic radionuclide distributions in the northwest Atlantic Ocean

We have used in-situ pumps which filter large volumes of sea water through a 1 μm cartridge prefilter and two MnO2-coated cartridges to obtain information on dissolved and particulate radionuclide distributions in the oceans. Two sites in the northwest Atlantic show subsurface maxima of the fallout radionuclides137Cs,239,240Pu and241Am. Although the processes of scavenging onto sinking particles and release at depth may contribute to the tracer distributions, comparison of predicted and measured water column inventories suggests that at least 35–50% of the Pu and241Am are supplied to the deep water by advection. The depth distributions of the naturally occurring radionuclides232Th,228Th and230Th reflect their sources to the oceans.232Th shows high dissolved concentrations in surface waters, presumably as a result of atmospheric or riverine supply. Activities of232Th decrease with depth to values ⩽ 0.01 dpm/1000 l.228Th shows high activities in near surface and near bottom water, due to the distribution of its parent,228Ra. Dissolved230Th, produced throughout the water column from234U decay, increases with depth to ∼ 3000 m. Values in the deep water (> 3000 m) are nearly constant (∼ 0.6–0.7 dpm/1000 l), and the distribution of this tracer (and perhaps other long-lived particle-reactive tracers as well) may be affected by the advection inferred from Pu and241Am data. The ratio of particulate to dissolved activity for both230Th and228Th is ∼ 0.15–0.20. This similarity precludes the calculation of sorption rate constants using a simple model of reversible sorption equilibrium. Moreover, in mid-depths228Th tends to have a higher particulate/dissolved ratio than230Th, suggesting uptake and release of230Th and228Th by different processes. This could occur if228Th, produced in surface water, were incorporated into biogenic particles formed there and released as those particles dissolved or decomposed during sinking.230Th, produced throughout the water column, may more closely approach a sorption equilibrium at all depths.230Th,241Am and239,240Pu are partitioned onto particles in the sequence Th > Am > Pu with ∼ 15% of the230Th on particles compared with ∼ 7% for Am and ∼ 1% for Pu. Distribution coefficients (Kd) are 1.3–1.6 × 107 for Th, 5–6 × 106 for Am and 7–10 × 105 for Pu. The lower reactivity for Pu is consistent with analyses of Pu oxidation states which show ∼ 85% oxidized (V + VI) Pu. However, theKd value for Pu may be an upper limit because Pu, like228Th, may be incorporated into particles in surface waters and released at depth only by destruction of the carrier phase.
Renal Angiography in the Evaluation of Renal Parenchymal, Traumatic, and Neoplastic Diseases Causing Secondary Hypertension

Renal arteriography is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of renal parenchymal disease and for discovery of associated renal arterial occlusive lesion. Traumatic renal lesions accompanying hypertension should be evaluated by arteriographic studies after an excretory urogram. Secondary hypertension is rarely encountered in renal neoplastic disease, and angiography with renal vein renin assay is diagnostic.
Sexual Maturity in Male American Alligators in Southwest Louisiana

Abstract. Very little is known about the attainment of puberty in reptiles. In the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) males are assumed to be sexually mature at about 1.8 m in total length, but it is not clear at what size they produce testosterone, spermatozoa and mate successfully. We re-examined this question by studying plasma testosterone levels in blood samples from a large sample of alligators (∼1,500) collected every month of the year and ranging in size from approximately 61 cm (2 ft) to 360 cm (11.5 ft). Testosterone values ranged from 0.05–115.41 ng/mL. All size classes of alligators exhibited a seasonal cycle in testosterone levels, but the concentrations were size-dependent: the larger the alligator the higher the testosterone. In all size-classes testosterone reached a peak in the breeding season (March–May). Mean testosterone in the largest size-class during breeding was 75 ng/mL whereas in the smallest size-class peak testosterone was less than 3 ng/mL. The smallest size-class...
Is ocean thermohaline circulation linked to abrupt stadial/interstadial transitions?

Abstract Are the abrupt stadial/interstadial (S/IS) climate transitions observed in the Greenland ice cores also seen in marine climate records? Literature which shows that the S/IS events have a large footprint in ocean surface marine properties encompassing the entire Northern Hemisphere has been reviewed. Whether this influence extends to the deep circulation is more equivocal on most recent evidence. Several of the “Heinrich” ice rafting debris events are clearly associated with elimination of North Atlantic source waters from the deep Atlantic. But most cores studied do not resolve the other S/IS events, except for one new record from the Bermuda Rise which shows all of the major S/IS cycles in benthic foraminiferal. Deep-sea corals can tell us how rapid these events are in the deep sea.
A new parametric nonrigid image registration method based on Helmholtz's theorem

Helmholtz's theorem states that, with suitable boundary condition, a vector field is completely determined if both of its divergence and curl are specified everywhere. Based on this, we developed a new parametric non-rigid image registration algorithm. Instead of the displacements of regular control grid points, the curl and divergence at each grid point are employed as the parameters. The closest related work was done by Kybic where the parameters are the Bspline coefficients of the displacement field at each control grid point. However, in Kybic's work, it is very likely to result in grid folding in the final deformation field if the distance between adjacent control grid points (knot spacing) is less than 8. This implies that the high frequency components in the deformation field can not be accurately estimated. Another relevant work is the NiRuDeGG method where by solving a div-curl system, an intermediate vector field is generated and, in turn, a well-regularized deformation field can be obtained. Though the present work does not guarantee the regularity (no mesh folding) of the resulting deformation field, which is also suffered by Kybic's work, it allows for a more efficient optimization scheme over the NiRuDeGG method. Our experimental results showed that the proposed method is less prone to grid folding than Kybic's work and that in many cases, in a multi-resolution fashion; the knot spacing can be reduced down to 1 and thus has the potential to achieve higher registration accuracy. Detailed comparison among the three algorithms is described in the paper.
Effect of mnemonic encoding techniques on immediate and delayed serial learning.

60 undergraduates participated in a serial learning task comparing three instructional strategies: the story and pegword mnemonic techniques (which both stress order relationships between test item...