cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing Anti-Icing Airfield Runways Using Conductive Concrete with Renewable Energy

Snow, ice, and slush runway conditions significantly impact aircraft landing and takeoff safety. Although airport operators do an excellent job in maintaining runway safety during winter conditions, snow removal is costly and significantly impacts aircraft scheduling. This article presents using an alternative approach for snow removal with solar energy coupled with conductive concrete to develop an anti-icing airfield runway. By maintaining the runway slab surface at an above-freezing temperature, snow and ice accumulation are prevented. An anti-ice runway slab was developed during this Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) study at the University of Arkansas Engineering Research Center by supplying direct current (DC) energy from a photovoltaic energy system to a conductive concrete pavement overlay. The conductive concrete mix used for the overlay was developed during this study and is presented in this article. Experiments were conducted by supplying energy to test panels and investigating surface temperature changes. The article identifies the difficulties in developing an anti-icing system that incorporates solar energy and conductive concrete.
Thin-Film Composite Polyamide Membranes Functionalized with Biocidal Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

Fouling of membranes by microorganisms is a major limiting factor in membrane separation processes. Novel strategies are therefore required to decrease the extent of bacterial growth on membranes. In this study, we confer strong antimicrobial properties to thin-film composite polyamide membranes by a simple graphene oxide surface functionalization. Using amide coupling between carboxyl groups of graphene oxide and carboxyl groups of the polyamide active layer, graphene oxide is irreversibly bound to the membrane. Surface binding of graphene oxide is demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Direct contact of bacteria with functionalized graphene oxide on the membrane surface results in 65% bacterial inactivation after 1 h of contact time. This bactericidal effect is imparted to the membrane without any detrimental effect to the intrinsic membrane transport properties. Our results suggest that functionalization of thin-film composite membranes with graphene oxide nanosheets is a ...
FT-IR Analysis of the Laser-Induced Dissociation of Methylphosphonic Difluoride

The output of a continuous-wave carbon dioxide laser was used successfully for the dissociation of methylphosphonic difluoride. End product analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the phosphorus-to-carbon bond was cleaved, yielding the products methane, ethene, ethyne, hydrophosphoryl difluoride, and a mixture of phosphorus compounds. These results are presented and discussed. The dissociation was optimized. A reaction mechanism of the dissociation is suggested.
CD47 Deficiency Protects Mice From Diet-induced Obesity and Improves Whole Body Glucose Tolerance and Insulin Sensitivity

CD47 is a transmembrane protein with several functions including self-recognition, immune cell communication, and cell signaling. Although it has been extensively studied in cancer and ischemia, CD47 function in obesity has never been explored. In this study, we utilized CD47 deficient mice in a high-fat diet induced obesity model to study for the first time whether CD47 plays a role in the development of obesity and metabolic complications. Male CD47 deficient and wild type (WT) control mice were fed with either low fat (LF) or high fat (HF) diets for 16 weeks. Interestingly, we found that CD47 deficient mice were protected from HF diet-induced obesity displaying decreased weight gain and reduced adiposity. This led to decreased MCP1/CCR2 dependent macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue and reduced inflammation, resulting in improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. In addition, CD47 deficiency stimulated the expression of UCP1 and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b (CPT1b) levels in brown adipose tissue, leading to increased lipid utilization and heat production. This contributes to the increased energy utilization and reduced adiposity observed in these mice. Taken together, these data revealed a novel role for CD47 in the development of obesity and its related metabolic complications.
From Chaos to a New Order: Rebellion and Ethnic Regulation in Late Qing Inner Mongolia

In November 1891, Jindan, Zaili, and Wushengmen sectarians rose up in revolt in eastern Inner Mongolia, a region where Mongols and Han lived interspersed. The Chinese rebels attacked Mongol banner offices and burned Catholic churches during the month-long rebellion. This uprising is best understood in the context of Qing policies that differentiated between Mongol and Han subjects, privileging the Mongol banner organizations that enjoyed near-exclusive control over land and resources in the area. While the uprising was orchestrated by popular religious sects, the social tensions resulting from Qing administrative practice should be considered the underlying cause of the revolt. Following the rebellion, the Qing court readdressed its policies in the region, with the result that Mongol banner privileges were constrained in favor of Han interests; these changes foreshadowed the reforms of the New Policies period.
A faint object spectrometer for the infrared

A cryogenic astronomical spectrometer for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility is described. This spectrometer will employ an array of at least 20 detectors and provide a resolving power of 100 to 1500 at 1–5 μm. The resolving power will be adjustable by changing gratings.
Assessment of scientific image quality using wavelet packet browse images

An approach to assessing the quality of large scientific images prior to full retrieval is presented. In one mode, the assessment depends upon a visual perusal of wavelet packet subbands, especially those of low frequency content. In the other mode, appropriate for very large numbers of images, the approach involves an automatic algebraic screening of images for a site of interest. The effectiveness of the screening depends upon the extraction of identifying features from subregions of images of the site. An indexing method is presented which shows promise in providing these identifying features.
Retrieving the Baby from the Bathwater: Slum Upgrading in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Drawing on project experiences over a thirty-year period and academic literature, this paper focuses on the question: what has worked in slum upgrading in Africa? We find that efforts to regularize...
Neural adaptive control strategy for hybrid electric vehicles with parallel powertrain

Many theoretical control strategies have been proposed for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) during the past decade. Some of these theoretical control strategies are not suitable for real-time applications mainly because of their sensitivity to vehicle parameter variations and different driving habits of the drivers. The computation times of such algorithms are also long because of their high accuracy demand. In this paper, the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is used and a faster solution algorithm is proposed to decrease the computation time while keeping the same accuracy. In addition, a neural adaptive network is proposed to decrease the sensitivity of the algorithm to drive cycle variations with drive cycle recognition.
Quantum graphic dynamics

A discrete quantum mechanics is developed and used to construct models for discrete space-time and for the internal dynamics of elementary particles. This dynamics is given in terms of particles performing a quantum random walk on a multigraph.
Line intensities in vibration-rotation bands of diatomic molecules

Abstract The expression for the transition probability for a rotating Morse or Pekeris oscillator obtained by Herman and Rubin has been simplified considerably for numerical calculation. The details of the simplification are presented. In its reduced form, the transition probability consists of the product of the transition probability of a non-rotating Morse oscillator obtained by Heaps and Herzberg and a rotational correction factor which is termed the F -factor. We have calculated F -factors for the 1-0, 2-1, 2-0, and 3-0 vibration-rotation bands of HF, HCl, and CO. The F -factors for the fundamental band of a rotating Morse oscillator are shown to be in excellent agreement with the corresponding F -factors for a rotating anharmonic oscillator obtained by Herman and Wallis.
Is hyperglycemia associated with cardiovascular disease? The Framingham Study

The association of nonfasting blood glucose levels with CVD incidence was determined prospectively in 1382 men and 2094 women aged 45 to 84 years participating in the Framingham Heart Study. For this study, all patients were classified in 1970 as diabetic or nondiabetic. Every 2 years they were examined, categorized according to causal blood glucose samples obtained at the clinic visit, reclassified for development of CVD and diabetes mellitus, and followed 10 years for CVD. During the follow-up period, 350 men and 369 women developed CVD. Age-adjusted CVD rates were positively associated with glucose levels in nondiabetic women who did not develop diabetes during follow-up. No such associations were seen in men. Multivariate analyses confirmed the independent association of blood glucose levels with later CVD in nondiabetic women. This study shows that hyperglycemia in the original Framingham cohort is an independent risk factor for CVD in nondiabetic women, but not among men.
Linear Token Passing based Bus Interface Unit for a Fault Tolerant Multiprocessor Testbed

The Flight Control Division of the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory is producing an inhouse testbed based upon the concepts developed in the Advanced Multiprocessor Control Architecture Development (AMCAD) project. This paper will address the design of the Bus Interface Unit (BIU) used to connect each processing module to a linear token passing bus based network. This network is comprised of four independent busses and is implemented using the MC68824 IEEE 802.4 bus controller chips. The concepts of the AMCAD project, as well as the functional composition of the BIU design, will be described.
Electronic properties of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1H-tetrazole-5(4H)-thiones: An experimental and theoretical study

Abstract The syntheses of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-methyl-1 H -tetrazol-5(4 H )-thione 1a , 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1 H -tetrazole-5(4 H )-thione 1b , 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1 H -tetrazol-5(4 H )-thione 1c , 1-methyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1 H -tetrazol-5(4 H )-thione 1d were carried out and their electronic absorption spectra were obtained in cyclohexane, THF, and acetonitrile. The UV spectra of 1a – d showed a modest dependence on the polarity of the solvent. The change of substituent on the tetrazolethione ring from a strongly electron donating group ( p -C 6 H 4 OMe, 1a ), to a moderately electron donating (C 6 H 5 , 1b ) to a weakly electron withdrawing group ( p- C 6 H 4 Cl, 1c ) also produced minimal effect on the electronic properties of 1a – c . However, the presence of a strongly electron withdrawing group ( p- C 6 H 4 NO 2 , 1d) on the heterocyclic ring produced a marked change in the UV spectrum. Time-dependent density functional calculations revealed that all the bands result from π → π* excitations with some degree of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) within the molecules. Our studies further showed that as the acceptor strength is increased in the order: 1a ( p -C 6 H 4 OMe) 1b (C 6 H 5 ) 1c ( p- C 6 H 4 Cl) 1d ( p- C 6 H 4 NO 2 ), the ICT also increases. In accordance with the experimental observations, the calculated transitions also showed modest dependence on the polarity of the solvent.
Committed precursors of B and T lymphocytes in chick embryo bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and bone marrow

Lymphocyte precursors in bursa of Fabricius, thymus and bone marrow (BM) of chick embryos were studied at different stages of incubation over 12–21 days, and for their state of commitment to B or T cell lines of development. Cell suspensions were fractionated on albumin gradients to remove nonlymphoid cells and incubated in vitro with bursopoietin, a specific inducer of B cells, or crude chicken thymus extract, a specific inducer of T cells, or ubiquitin, a nonspecific inducer. Precursors were identified by increases in numbers of cells bearing surface alloantigens as determined by immunofluorescence, either Bu-1 (specific to B cells) or Th-1 (specific to T cells). Precursors inducible to Bu-1+ cells were found in bursal cells and BM cells from all age groups but not in thymic cells. Precursors inducible to Th-1+ cells were found in thymic preparations and BM cells at all ages, but in significant numbers in bursa on day 12 only. Because B and T precursors were never found together in bursa or thymus, or only in very unequal amounts, it was concluded that precursors in these organs were not multipotential but were separately committed to one or other line of development. This argument did not apply to BM cells, for which other evidence was obtained. Bu-1+ cells were specifically induced in BM cells with bursopoietin and then removed by complement-dependent cytolysis with anti-Bu-1 antiserum. When the remaining cells were incubated with ubiquitin, only Th-1+ cells were induced, showing that Bu-1 and Th-1 precursors were separately committed. Surface IgM was never induced on either bursal or BM lymphocytes. The Ia (or B-L) antigen was inducible on 12- to 21-day bursal cells, but could not be generated on BM cells until day 14 onwards. The pattern of occurrence of committed lymphocyte precursors in the developing chick embryo suggests that these cells are released into the circulation from both central lymphoid organs at their respective times of high lymphopoietic activity, and accumulate in the BM at least up to the time of hatching. Moreover, the presence of committed B precursors in bursa and committed T precursors in thymus at times and in quantities appropriate to the known features of avian lymphopoiesis leads us to conclude that in vitro induction is analogous to a true stage of in vivo B and T cell differentiation.
Long-term test–retest reliability of delayed reward discounting in adolescents

Delay discounting (DD), a decline in subjective value of a reward with increasing temporal delay in receipt of that reward, is an established behavioral indicator of impulsivity. Preference for smaller-immediate over larger-delayed rewards has been implicated in the basic neurobehavioral mechanisms of risk for addictive disorders and related externalizing psychopathology. Establishing long-term stability of DD in adolescence is a necessary step towards its validation as an intermediate phenotype, or marker of risk, in neurobiological and genetic studies. Previous studies have demonstrated moderate to high test-retest reliability of DD, however, these studies utilized adult samples and examined relatively short retest intervals. Due to continuing development of brain and behavior, stability of temporal discounting behavior in adolescence may differ from that in adulthood. Here, two cohorts of adolescents aged 16 (n=126) and 18 (n=111) were administered a computerized test of DD and re-tested two years later. DD rate showed a modest but significant decrease with age, suggesting a reduction in overall impulsivity from middle to late adolescence. Significant test-retest correlations were observed in both cohorts (.67 and .76, respectively, p<.001) indicating longitudinal stability of individual differences in decision-making behavior during middle and late adolescence. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: insert SI title.
Physical and genetic interactions of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase with other gluconeogenic enzymes.

A truncated form (ΔnMDH2) of yeast cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH2) lacking 12 residues on the amino terminus was found to be inadequate for gluconeogenic function in vivo because the mutant enzyme fails to restore growth of a Δmdh2 strain on minimal medium with ethanol or acetate as the carbon source. The ΔnMDH2 enzyme was also previously found to be refractory to the rapid glucose-induced inactivation and degradation observed for authentic MDH2. In contrast, kinetic properties measured for purified forms of MDH2 and ΔnMDH2 enzymes are very similar. Yeast two-hybrid assays indicate weak interactions between MDH2 and yeast phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1) and between MDH2 and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1). These interactions are not observed for ΔnMDH2, suggesting that differences in cellular function between authentic and truncated forms of MDH2 may be related to their ability to interact with other gluconeogenic enzymes. Additional evidence was obtained for interaction of MDH2 with PCK1 using Hummel-Dreyer gel filtration chromatography, and for interactions of MDH2 with PCK1 and with FBP1 using surface plasmon resonance. Experiments with the latter technique demonstrated a much lower affinity for interaction of ΔnMDH2 with PCK1 and no interaction between ΔnMDH2 and FBP1. These results suggest that the interactions of MDH2 with other gluconeogenic enzymes are dependent on the amino terminus of the enzyme, and that these interactions are important for gluconeogenic function in vivo.
Fertilizer, Tillage, and Dairy Manure Contributions to Nitrate and Herbicide Leaching

Few studies have examined the water quality impact of manure use in no-tillage systems. A lysimeter study in continuous corn (Zea mays L.) was performed on Maury silt loam (fine, mixed, semiactive, mesic Typic Paleudalf) to evaluate the effect(s) of tillage (no-till [NT] and chisel-disk [CD]), nitrogen fertilizer rate (0 and 168 kg N ha -1 ), and dairy manure application timing (none, spring, fall, or fall plus spring) on NO 3 -N, atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine), and alachlor [2-chloro-2'-6'-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl) acetanilide] concentrations in leachate collected at a 90-cm depth. Herbicides were highest immediately after application, declining to less than 4 μg L -1 in about two months. Manure and manure timing by tillage interactions had little effect on leachate herbicides; rather, the data suggest that macropores rapidly transmitted atrazine and alachlor through the soil. Tillage usually did not significantly affect leachate NO 3 -N, but no-tillage tended to cause higher NO 3 -N. Manuring caused higher NOj-N concentrations; spring manuring had more impact than fall, but fall manure contained about 78% of the N found in spring manure. Nitrate under spring only fertilizer treatment exceeded 10 mg L -1 38% of the time, compared with 15% for spring only manure treatment. After three years, manured soil leachate NO 3 -N exceeded that for soil receiving only N fertilizer. Soil profile (90 cm) NO 3 -N after corn harvest exceeding 22 kg N ha ' was associated with winter leachate NO 3 -N greater than 10 mg N L -1 . Manure can be used effectively in conservation tillage systems on this and similar soils. Accounting for all N inputs, including previous manure applications, will be important.
Binding of [3H]phencyclidine to membranes from housefly thoracic muscles

The binding of [3H]phencyclidine ([3H]PCP) to a preparation of housefly thoracic muscle membranes was studied. Specific [3H]PCP binding saturated with both time and at concentrations of the radiolabeled ligand greater than 20 nM. One binding site with a KD of 10.7 nM and a Bmax of 3.9 pmol/mg protein was observed. Specific [3H]PCP binding was also readily reversible with a half-time of dissociation (t1/2) of 13.8 min and varied proportionately with tissue concentration. Of the drugs tested, specific [3H]PCP binding was inhibited by PCP analogs, antipsychotics, antidepressants, Ca2+ channel antagonists, and K+ channel blockers. [3H]PCP binding was unaffected by addition of carbamylcholine or L-glutamate in absence or presence of ATP, GTP, cAMP, or cGMP. Though the identity of the [3H]PCP binding protein in housefly muscle membranes is still unclear, it is more likely to be an ionic channel such as K+ or Ca2+ channels than a neurotransmitter receptor.
The Structural Determinations of the Leucine Zipper Coiled-Coil Domains of the cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Iα and Its Interaction with the Myosin Binding Subunit of the Myosin Light Chains Phosphase

Physiologic relaxation of vascular smooth muscle is induced by the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)- dependent protein kinase Iα enzyme (cGKIα), which activates myosin phosphatase (MLCP). This activation process is thought to occur through the interaction involving both N- and C-terminal leucine zipper coiled-coil (LZCC) domains of the kinase enzyme (cGKIα) with the myosin binding subunit (MBS) of MLCP. In this review, I summarize how to define the LZCC domains in both N-terminal cGKIα(1-59) and C-terminal MBS proteins using predictive and experimental methods, how to make a rapid and accurate structure determination of a cGKIα(1-59) molecule using NMR's residual dipolar coupling (RDC) measurements, and how to indentify the existence of a weak protein interaction between N-terminal LZCC domain (cGKIα(1-59)) and a LZCC domain (MBSCT42) within the C-terminal MBS. In addition, the location and orientation of the residues in LZCC proteins can be readily visualized using a novel diagram, the so-called "wenxiang diagram", which is more advantageous than traditional helical wheel diagrams in analyzing LZCC protein structures and their action mechanisms. Using the composed wenxiang diagrams, we have characterized the interaction between cGKIα(1- 59) and another LZCC molecule (MBSCT42), and deduced that the most affected residues of these two LZCC molecules might be at the positions d, a, e and g. These studies and findings are also covered in this review. It is intriguing to see that the successful incorporation of wenxiang diagrams and NMR spectroscopy in the LZCC structural and functional studies may provide some insights into protein-protein interaction mechanisms.
Postoperative rehabilitation of the multiple-ligament reconstructed knee

Abstract Rehabilitation following multiple-ligament reconstruction continues to evolve although basic scientific principles continue to form the foundation for all current protocols. The protocols presented have been implemented following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)/posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), ACL/PCL/posterolateral complex (PLC), ACL/PCL/medial cruciate ligament (MCL), and ACL/PLC reconstructive procedures. They are designed to allow for optimal healing during the maximum and moderate protection phases, and to restore mobility and function during the final stage. These protocols should serve as guidelines only, and modifications may be necessary based on graft selection, presence of articular cartilage involvement, and surgeon preference.
Delayed neutrophil apoptosis in patients with unstable angina: relation to C-reactive protein and recurrence of instability

Aims To investigate spontaneous polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) apoptosis in unstable angina (UA) and its association with recurrence of instability. Methods and results We compared PMNs apoptotic rate at 4 and 24 h in patients with UA, stable angina (SA), and controls (H) with two different protocols by flow cytometry. We measured apoptotic rate of isolated PMNs (Protocol 1) in 30 UA patients, 13 SA patients, and 34 H; and apoptosis of PMNs in whole blood culture (Protocol 2) in further 10 UA patients, 7 SA patients, and 6 H. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was also measured. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils of UA patients showed a decreased apoptotic rate compared with SA patients and H at 4 h in Protocol 1 (both P < 0.01), and at 24 h in Protocol 2 ( P < 0.05 and <0.01, respectively). In overall population, a negative correlation was found between apoptotic rate at 4 h and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels ( P < 0.01). Six among 40 patients with UA had early recurrence of symptoms and their apoptotic rate was significantly reduced compared with UA patients without recurrence of symptoms ( P = 0.024). Conclusions Our study demonstrates delayed PMN apoptosis in UA. This alteration might be involved in the persistence of inflammatory activation and affects recurrence of instability.
The influence of resin characteristics on the high speed melt spinning of isotactic polypropylene. I. Effect of molecular weight and its distribution on structure and mechanical properties of as‐spun filaments

The fine structures and tensile mechanical properties were characterized for high speed melt spun filaments prepared from three polypropylenes with melt flow indices in the range 12–300. It was found that spinnability and the resulting structure and properties are affected by both the weight average molecular weight and the polydispersity of the polymer. Higher tenacities, with consequent lower percent elongation to break, could be achieved by spinning the narrow molecular weight distribution polymers at high spinning speeds. This effect was associated with the development of higher birefringence in these samples. Modulus did not correlate with birefringence in the present study, but it was found to be controlled by the nature and level of crystalline order developed in the filaments.
The nouvelles ecclésiastiques and the French revolution, 1789–1793

(1989). The nouvelles ecclesiastiques and the French revolution, 1789–1793. History of European Ideas: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 405-415.
Resolving Thiessen polygons

Abstract We have developed an automated computer forecast package for Lake Superior, North America, that uses near real-time meteorological data to produce operational outlooks of basin runoff for improving lake-level regulations. The data collection network changes frequently as stations are added or dropped or fail to report from time to time. Therefore, forecasts depend on semi-automatic updating of meteorological data, requiring efficient computations of Thiessen weights. Various methods of computing Thiessen weights either have large computational overheads or provide unacceptable approximations. A new algorithm is presented for quickly computing Thiessen weights for all stations in a collection network for each of several watersheds of interest. The algorithm determines weights by finding first the edges of the Thiessen polygons and then the intersections of the polygons with watershed areas. It makes use of the fact that Thiessen polygons are convex sets of points. Considerable computational savings result by defining polygons by their edges instead of by their areal extent. Although comparisons of methods depend on particular network configurations, an example application to 18 stations covering 22 watersheds, represented on a 760 × 516-km map at 1-km2 resolution (392,160 cells), requires only 10.0 CPU-seconds on a VAX® 11 780 minicomputer (2 CPU-seconds on a CDC® 750). This represents a 93% savings in computational time with no loss of accuracy when compared to conventional computer methods.
Inducing Nanoscale Morphology Changes of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate Using a Heated Atomic Force Microscope Cantilever

Controlling the morphology of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is an important aspect in the nanodetonics research area. Detonation properties are highly dependent on surface area and morphology of PETN. For the first time we show that changes in morphology can be modified at the nanoscale by using a heated atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever. At temperatures of ∼ 65°C, faceting of PETN islands is observed, whereas at higher temperatures (∼ 124°C) the height of the islands decrease by an order of magnitude.
Slug stability is dynamically regulated during neural crest development by the F-box protein Ppa

The neural crest is a population of stem-cell-like precursors found only in vertebrates. Slug, a member of the Snail family of zincfinger transcriptional repressors, is a critical regulator of neural crest development and has also been implicated in the acquisition of invasive behavior during tumor progression. Despite its central role in these two important processes, little is known about the mechanisms that control the expression and/or activity of Slug. We demonstrate that Slug is a labile protein whose stability is positively reinforced through activation of the neural crest regulatory program. We identify Partner of paired (Ppa) as the F-box component of a modular E3 ligase, and show that it is expressed in neural crest-forming regions, and that it binds to and promotes ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of Slug. Misexpression of Ppa inhibits the formation of neural crest precursors, and Slug mutants in which Ppa binding has been abrogated rescue this inhibition. These results provide novel insight into the regulation of Slug, a protein that plays a central role in neural crest precursor formation, as well as in developmental and pathological epithelial to mesenchymal transitions.
Perfusion chromatography purification of a 15 kDa rice prolamin.

Prolamin extracted from rice flour using 55% n-propanol contained protein impurities. Reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a perfusion column R2/H was used to separate rice prolamin from other proteins in less than 5 min. Prolamin eluted as the major peak. The isolated prolamin migrated as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a 4−12% Bis-Tris gel. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry identified the rice prolamin as a 15 013 Da protein. The surface hydrophobicity (So) of the HPLC-separated protein fractions was measured using the hydrophobic fluorescent probe PRODAN. A comparison was made with the surface hydrophobicity (So) of corn prolamin and bovine serum albumin. Surface hydrophobicity values and solubility in 90% ethanol assisted in rice prolamin identification from other chromatographic peaks. The advantage of perfusion chromatography in purifying rice prolamin from other rice proteins included the reduced ...
A Response To Gerstenberger

Professor Gerstenberger has now published a reflective summary of his long preoccupation with religious questions in the Old Testament, with particular reference to sociological issues. His five-fold sociological typology that stretches from the family to the state is by now a familiar one that he has developed over time and long championed. But here he works matters out in detail. Gerstenberger has opened up new vistas of interpretive possibility that put to rest the run of monolithic and, therefore, reductionist interpretations that have long dominated the discipline of Old Testament theology. His accent on pluralism and contextualism is enormously important, and my primary response to his work is one of immense appreciation for a publication that is in many respects daringly experimental. What follows is an attempt to raise issues in a collegial way that are in the context of an overriding appreciation, with congratulations to him for what he has written.
The xenograft antigen bound to Griffonia simplicifolia lectin 1-B(4). X-ray crystal structure of the complex and molecular dynamics characterization of the binding site.

Abstract The shortage of organs for transplantation into human patients continues to be a driving force behind research into the use of tissues from non-human donors, particularly pig. The primary barrier to such xenotransplantation is the reaction between natural antibodies present in humans and Old World monkeys and the Galα(1–3)Gal epitope (xenograft antigen, xenoantigen) found on the cell surfaces of the donor organ. This hyperacute immune response leads ultimately to graft rejection. Because of its high specificity for the xenograft antigen, isolectin 1-B4 fromGriffonia simplicifolia (GS-1-B4) has been used as an immunodiagnostic reagent. Furthermore, haptens that inhibit natural antibodies also inhibit GS-1-B4 from binding to the xenoantigen. Here we report the first x-ray crystal structure of the xenograft antigen bound to a protein (GS-1-B4). The three-dimensional structure was determined from orthorhombic crystals at a resolution of 2.3 A. To probe the influence of binding on ligand properties, we report also the results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on this complex as well as on the free ligand. The MD simulations were performed with the AMBER force-field for proteins augmented with the GLYCAM parameters for glycosides and glycoproteins. The simulations were performed for up to 10 ns in the presence of explicit solvent. Through comparison with MD simulations performed for the free ligand, it has been determined that GS-1-B4recognizes the lowest energy conformation of the disaccharide. In addition, the x-ray and modeling data provide clear explanations for the reported specificities of the GS-1-B4 lectin. It is anticipated that a further understanding of the interactions involving the xenograft antigen will help in the development of therapeutic agents for application in the prevention of hyperacute xenograft rejection.
RACIAL–ETHNIC INTOLERANCE AND SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: A CROSS‐NATIONAL COMPARISON*

This article tests cross-nationally the minority group threat thesis that public sentiments toward repressive crime-control policies reflect conflicted racial and ethnic relations. Using multiple data sets representing France, Belgium, the Netherlands, East and West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Canada, Ireland, and Portugal, we examine whether racial and ethnic intolerance—animus, resentments, or negative sentiments toward minorities—predicts greater support for the death penalty. Our results reveal that the respondents were significantly more likely to express support for capital punishment if they were racially or ethnically intolerant while controlling for other covariates of public opinion. These findings indicate that the link between support for capital punishment and racial and ethnic animus may occur universally in countries with conflicted racial and ethnic relations.
Optimal admission pricing policies for M/Ek/1 queues

This paper extends the Low-Lippman M/M/1 model to the case of Gamma service times. Specifically, we have a queue in which arrivals are Poisson, service time is Gamma-distributed, and the arrival rate to the system is subject to setting an admission fee p. The arrival rate λ(p) is non-increasing in p. We prove that the optimal admission fee p* is a non-decreasing function of the customer work load on the server. The proof is for an infinite capacity queue and holds for the infinite horizon continuous time Markov decision process. In the special case of exponential service time, we extend the Low-Lippman model to include a state-dependent service rate and service cost structure (for finite or infinite time horizon and queue capacity). Relatively recent dynamic programming techniques are employed throughout the paper. Due to the large class of functions represented by the Gamma family, the extension is of interest and utility.
Forgiveness as a moderator of the association between anger expression and suicidal behaviour

Anger is often associated with poor physical and mental health, including suicidal behaviour. Anger expression is typically conceptualised as inward or outward-directed, with each mode of expression having potentially different aetiologies and health manifestations. Individual characteristics such as religion or spirituality may buffer against the effects of anger. One such characteristic, forgiveness, is the voluntary process of changing ones’ beliefs, behaviours, and emotions towards a transgressor from negative to positive. We examined forgiveness of self, forgiveness of others and feeling forgiven by God as moderators of the relationship between anger expression and suicidal behaviours in a sample of 372 ethnically diverse college students. In independent and full models, we found that forgiveness of self was a significant moderator of the association between inward and outward anger and suicidal behaviour. Interventions targeting anger via the promotion of forgiveness may be useful in the prevention ...
Growth and solute accumulation in 3‐week‐old seedlings of Agropyron elongatiun stressed with sodium and potassium salts

Agropyron elongatum [Host. (Beauv.)] [cv. Arizona Glendale, was grown in liquid medium salinized with either NaCl, KCI, or a 50:50 mixture of these two salts at osmotic potentials ranging from 0 to –1.6 MPa. The amount of growth in 21 days was measured, and extracts were made of the shoots at this time. The extracts were assayed for low-molecular-weight organic compounds (glucose, fructose, sucrose, be-taine, proline) and inorganic solutes (Na+, K+, Cl−, P.). The purpose was to determine if there was any correlation between the harmful effect of salinity on growth and the concentrations of solutes in tissues. Growth inhibition of A. elongatum was roughly proportional to the osmotic potential of the growth medium and was independent of the ionic composition of the salinizing salts. Total monovalent cation (the sum of Na+ and K+) concentrations and the ratio of these two cations in leaves were mainly a function of the ionic compostion of the salt in growth media, and, to a lesser degree, of osmotic potentials. F At an osmotic potential of –0.2 MPa, total monovalent cation in leaves was the same as in non-stressed plants. However, if the salinizing salt contained NaCl, there was an increase in foliar Na+ with a balancing decrease in K+. At stress levels between –0.4 and –1,6 MPa, and, if the media were salinized with either 100% NaCl or a 50:50 mixture of NaCl and KCI, total monovalent cation concentrations remained constant at a value that was twice that in non-stressed plants. Although total monovalent cation concentrations were equal in plants grown under these two salinity conditions, the K+/Na+ ratios shifted from a value of 1:2 in plants grown in 100% NaCl to 3:1 in plants subjected to the 50:50 mixture. If 100% KCI was used to salinize media, total monovalent cation was 80% of its concentration in NaCl-treated plants in the range of –0.4 to -1.2 MPa. At –1.6 MPa due to 100% KCI, total monovalent cation was double that in plants subjected to -0.4 MPa. In the range of osmotic potentials from–0.2 to –1.2 MPa, the chloride:cation ratio was 1:2. At –1.6 MPa the ratio changed to 3:4. Proline started accumulating in leaves of A. elongatum when the tissue concentration of total monovalent cation exceeded 200 μ (g fresh weight)−1. Above this threshold value of total monovalent cation, the proline concentration of leaves was 6% of the amount of total monovalent cation that exceeded 200 umol (g fresh weight)1.
A within-species warning function for an aposematic signal

Aposematic, or warning, signals are generally interspecific in form: one species advertises noxiousness to a predator or parasite species. In a study of the pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor), we show that a pattern of colouration in the caterpillars that is considered to be aposematic in the context of attack by natural enemies also deters oviposition by conspecific females. In field and laboratory assays, females avoided oviposition on plants bearing live conspecific larvae. Females avoided oviposition on plants bearing artificially constructed models identical to larvae in shape, size and colour pattern. Finally, oviposition on plants harbouring a model bearing the larval colour pattern was reduced relative to plants bearing a leaf-green model, suggesting that the larval colour pattern was essential for avoidance. We discuss how intraspecific and interspecific processes might interact in the evolution of an aposematic signal.
Attitudes toward heroic and nonheroic physical risk takers as mates and as friends

Abstract Several hypotheses about attitudes toward risk takers, derived from costly signaling theory (CST), were tested. Male and female participants evaluated the attractiveness of risk takers compared with risk avoiders as potential mates, and as potential same-sex friends, in 21 different scenarios. Both females and males preferred heroic physical risk takers as mates, with the preference being stronger for females. Contrary to predictions, for nonheroic physical risks (such as risky sports), both males and females preferred risk avoiders over risk takers as mates. However, for same-sex friends, males significantly preferred nonheroic physical risk takers, whereas females preferred risk avoiders. It was concluded that insofar as nonheroic risk taking by males is a costly signal, the signal is directed more toward fellow males than toward females. Preferences for risk takers were positively correlated with reported self risk-taking tendencies, but the correlation was significantly higher for friends than for mates for both heroic and nonheroic physical risks. In a second study, both males and females accurately predicted the opposite sex's preferences for heroic risk takers as mates. However, males failed to predict females' preferences for nonheroic physical risk avoiders. Both males and females underestimated the opposite sex's preferences for drug risk avoiders.
Resistance to Benomyl and Thiophanate-methyl in Didymella bryoniae from South Carolina and New York

An initial collection of 7 isolates of Didymella bryoniae were grown on media amended with 0, 1, 3.2, 10, 31.2, or 100 mg benomyl per liter. Four isolates grew at all five concentrations of benomyl, but the other 3 isolates did not grow at concentrations > 1 mg/liter. Colony diameter of the four resistant isolates was reduced by 50% at 33.1 mg benomyl per liter, relative to growth on nonamended medium. Of 394 isolates tested, 182 isolates were resistant to benomyl; 178 of these resistant isolates were from South Carolina, 1 was from New York, and 3 were from Florida. Of 196 isolates grown on medium amended with 100 mg/liter thiophanate-methyl, 95 were sensitive and 101 were resistant. Essentially all isolates that were resistant to benomyl were resistant to thiophanate-methyl. In greenhouse tests, watermelon plants were sprayed with 0, 1.5, 15, 150, or 1,500 mg benomyl per liter and inoculated 1 day later with either a sensitive or a resistant isolate of D. bryoniae. Relative percent leaf area diseased was greater (P≤0.02) for the resistant isolate than for the sensitive isolate at ≥1.5 mg benomyl per liter. The occurrence of pathogenic, benzimidazole-resistant D. bryoniae in the eastern United States may reduce the effectiveness of benzimidazole fungicides for gummy stem blight management.
Fast and robust sixth-order multigrid computation for the three-dimensional convection-diffusion equation

We present a sixth-order explicit compact finite difference scheme to solve the three-dimensional (3D) convection-diffusion equation. We first use a multiscale multigrid method to solve the linear systems arising from a 19-point fourth-order discretization scheme to compute the fourth-order solutions on both a coarse grid and a fine grid. Then an operator-based interpolation scheme combined with an extrapolation technique is used to approximate the sixth-order accurate solution on the fine grid. Since the multigrid method using a standard point relaxation smoother may fail to achieve the optimal grid-independent convergence rate for solving convection-diffusion equations with a high Reynolds number, we implement the plane relaxation smoother in the multigrid solver to achieve better grid independency. Supporting numerical results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the sixth-order compact (SOC) scheme, compared with the previously published fourth-order compact (FOC) scheme.
Climate change alters seedling emergence and establishment in an old-field ecosystem.

Background: Ecological succession drives large-scale changes in ecosystem composition over time, but the mechanisms whereby climatic change might alter succession remain unresolved. Here, we asked if the effects of atmospheric and climatic change would alter tree seedling emergence and establishment in an old-field ecosystem, recognizing that small shifts in rates of seedling emergence and establishment of different species may have long-term repercussions on the transition of fields to forests in the future. Methodology/Principal Findings: We introduced seeds from three early successional tree species into constructed old-field plant communities that had been subjected for 4 years to altered temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric CO2 regimes in an experimental facility. Our experiment revealed that different combinations of atmospheric CO2 concentration, air temperature, and soil moisture altered seedling emergence and establishment. Treatments directly and indirectly affected soil moisture, which was the best predictor of seedling establishment, though treatment effects differed among species. Conclusions: The observed impacts, coupled with variations in the timing of seed arrival, are demonstrated as predictors of seedling emergence and establishment in ecosystems under global change.
Encouraging Spontaneous Speech in the Audiolingual Classroom

Abstract Most conversational foreign language classes in American high schools and colleges adhere to some audiolingual format. Although the advantages of the audiolingual approach are many, particularly in the modified form in which it is used today, it lacks seriously in one regard: it does not provide opportunity for spontaneous speech. With its emphasis on pattern drills and dialogue memorization, it often acts as a deterrent. In this paper the author shows why the audiolingual method does not encourage spontaneous speech, and offers suggestions, in the form of oral exercises and games, to compensate for this lack.
c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase (JNK)1 and JNK2 Signaling Pathways Have Divergent Roles in CD8+ T Cell–mediated Antiviral Immunity

c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK) play important roles in T helper cell (Th) proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of Th1/Th2 polarization. To determine whether JNKs are involved in antiviral T cell immunity, and whether JNK1 and JNK2 bear biological differences, we investigated the immune responses of JNK1-deficient and JNK2-deficient mice to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). After LCMV infection, wild-type (JNK+/+) mice had a 5- to 10-fold increase in splenic CD8+ T cells. In contrast, infected JNK1−/− mice showed a significantly lower virus-specific CD8+ T cell expansion. However, JNK1−/− mice cleared LCMV infection with similar kinetics as JNK+/+ mice. Splenic T cells from LCMV-infected JNK1−/− animals produced interferon γ after stimulation with viral peptides. However, fewer JNK1−/− T cells acquired an activated phenotype (CD44hi) and more JNK1−/−CD8+CD44hi cells underwent apoptosis than JNK+/+ cells at the peak of the primary response. In contrast, LCMV-infected JNK2−/− mice generated more virus-specific CD8+ T cells than JNK+/+ mice. These results indicate that JNK1 and JNK2 signal pathways have distinct roles in T cell responses during a viral infection. JNK1 is involved in survival of activated T cells during immune responses, and JNK2 plays a role in control of CD8+ T cell expansion in vivo.