cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid plasmid DNA isolation from mucoid gram-negative bacteria.

Exopolysaccharides interfere with the isolation and characterization of plasmid DNA from gram-negative bacteria. To repress capsular polysaccharide production, bacteria were cultured in medium containing bismuth nitrate and sodium salicylate. Rapid removal of other contaminating bacterial surface components was achieved by mild acidic zwitterionic detergent extraction. After treatment, bacterial cells were more readily lysed in alkaline detergents. The resulting plasmid preparations contained virtually no capsular polysaccharide and relatively small quantities of lipopolysaccharide and protein, yet they produced yields of nucleic acids similar to those of conventional plasmid preparations. Conventional preparations from encapsulated organisms were largely insoluble and appeared as smears following agarose gel electrophoresis, with indefinite plasmid banding. Plasmids prepared by the new method were highly soluble in conventional buffers and exhibited high-resolution plasmid banding patterns in agarose gels. Plasmids as large as 180 kbp could be isolated and visualized, without apparent nicking, and were readily digested by restriction endonuclease enzymes. The method proved effective with encapsulated or mucoid strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter anitratus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Enterobacter species. The complete method for plasmid isolation was not suitable for Pseudomonas aeruginosa because of the inhibitory effects of bismuth. Thus, removal of contaminating bacterial surface structures enabled the rapid isolation and characterization of plasmids from mucoid clinical isolates, without the use of organic solvents, CsCl gradients, or expensive, disposable columns. Images
A model for control structures for artificial intelligence programming languages

Newer programming languages for artificial intelligence extend the class of available control regimes beyond simple hierarchical control. In so doing, a key issue is using a model that clearly exhibits the relation between modules, processes, access environments, and control environments. This paper presents a model which is applicable to diverse languages and presents a set of control primitives which provide a concise basis on which one can define almost all known regimes of control.
DNA synthesis in the development of resistance to ultraviolet irradiation in T2-infected E. coli.

Abstract Escherichia coli cells infected with the coliphage T2 showed a marked increase in resistance to ultraviolet irradiation during the first 9 minutes after infection. This increase in resistance still occurred, although at slower rate, if chloramphenicol was added as early as 4 minutes after infection. Cells infected with T4 mutants containing two closely linked markers were irradiated at either 0, 6, or 9 minutes after infection. Their progeny had the same percentage of recombinants independent of the time of irradiation. These results support the view that the genetic information of the phage remains in DNA during the course of the infection.
Double-Blind comparison of haloperidol and thioridazine in treatment resistant psychoneurotic outpatients

There has been considerable debate regarding the use of major tranquilizers in psychoneurotic disorders. While such groups as the Council on Drugs of the American Medical Association and the Food and Drug Administration have not flatly rejected their use in this area, they have actively discouraged it in numerous statements.! The most recent critics of the use of neuroleptics in such patients generally cite the high degree of effectiveness and low incidence of major side effects seen with the benzodiazepine minor tranquilizers, and it is certainly true that these agents have become the drugs of choice for the initial treatment of psychoneurotic patients.2 .3 It is probably fair to say, on the basis of years of experience by many investigators, that of the general neurotic population seeking medical treatment, approximately one-third respond to psychotherapy alone, and an additional one-third to the combination of psychotherapy and minor tranquilizers or daytime sedatives, while the final one-third respond to neither. The reasons for treatment failure, like the reasons for treatment success are often multiple and not always clear-cut. There are some patients in whom minor tranquilizers are either ineffective, poorly tolerated, or subject to abuse and a development of tolerance. The willingness of the patient to regularly take the prescribed treatment, changes in his life situation, and the overall physician-patient relationship can also be important factors. Additionally, it is likely that at least some of these
Modal correspondence for models

This paper considers the correspondence theory from modal logic and obtains correspondence results for models as opposed to frames. The key ideas are to consider infinitary modal logic, to phrase correspondence results in terms of substitution instances of a given modal formula, and to identify bisimilar model-world pairs.
Design, fabrication, and characterization of nanometer-scale ridged aperture optical antennae

We investigate light concentration and field enhancement in nanometer-scale ridged aperture antennae. Resent numerical simulations have shown that nanoscale ridged apertures can concentrate light into nanometer domain. Most importantly, these ridge apertures also provide an optical transmission enhancement several orders of magnitude higher compared to regularly shaped nanoscale apertures. We employ the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to design these apertures and fabricate them in thin metal films. A home-built near field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) is used to map the near-field intensity distribution of the light transmitted through these apertures. It is shown that the ridged apertures can produce a concentrated light spot far beyond the diffraction limit, with transmission enhancement orders of magnitude higher than regularly shaped apertures. Nanolithography applications of these nanoscale ridged aperture antennae are demonstrated.
Moon Phases and Crisis Calls: A Spurious Relationship:

The relationship between phases of the moon and emergency calls to a 24-hr. telephone crisis intervention service was investigated. The frequency and types of calls were compared for the dates of t...
Misspecification in random coefficient regression models: A Monte Carlo simulation

A particularly useful approach for analyzing pooled cross-sectional and time series data is Swamy's random coefficient regression (RCR) model. This paper examines the performance of estimators and tests associated with this model under the assumptions that a) all coefficients are random and b) some or all of the coefficients are fixed. The latter case is a misspecification of the pure random coefficient model. Performance of the RCR model is examined in both cases and recommendations are made from the results of the analyses. Comparisons are made with a classical pooling technique.
NOISE REDUCTION ASSESSMENTS AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN IMPLICATIONS FOR A FUNCTIONALLY-SILENT AIRCRAFT

Aircraft noise is a major inhibitor of the growth of air transport. Airports in key locations are operating at full capacity and the noise in the vicinity of airports is so intrusive that local communities object to any further expansion. A functionallysilent aircraft is aimed at reducing airframe and propulsion system noise by as much as 30 dB. Silent in this context means sufficiently quiet that the aircraft noise is less than that of the background noise in a typical well populated environment. There are two technical aspects to be dealt with in reducing aircraft community noise: propulsion system noise and airframe noise. The work presented focuses on both aspects for noise during take-off, approach and landing. The main objectives of this paperare to (1)investigatethe technologicalbarriersand requirements for a functionally-silent aircraft, (2) assess the potential noise reductions of selected low-noise concepts for such aircraft, and (3) delineate design implications and airframe/propulsion system configurations for a silent aircraft. The theme of the technical approach is based on a systems view rather than an individual component view of the airframe and interacting propulsion system. Simple analytical modeling and existing semi-empirical noise prediction methods and scaling laws are used to predict the acoustic signature of low-noise airframe and propulsion system concepts envisioned for a silent aircraft. A noise reductionassessment frameworkis developedto explore the necessary technologies. The design study and acoustic analysis is based on an aerodynamically clean blended-wingbody type airframe configuration. Results from the noise assessment studies are discussed and preliminary design implications for a silent aircraft are given. 1 Introduction - Vision & Goals Where airports serving desirable regions in Europe and the UnitedStates havesought to relievecapacity constraints andease delays through expansion, local communities have resisted, citing the disruptive intrusions and economic dislocations caused by aircraft noise. The term Silent Aircraft refers to an aircraft sufficiently quiet that, outside of the airfield perimeter, the contribution of aircraft noise to the general noise environment of a well-populated community is less than other sources. Such aircraft would enable an expansion in air transportation by creating opportunity for new airports and allowing increases in operating hours at existing sites.
The capacity of Jamaican mine spoils, agricultural and forest soils to nodulate Myrica cerifera, Leucaena leucocephala and Casuarina cunninghamiana

Soils from seven sites on the island of Jamaica were assayed for the symbiotic diazotrophs Frankia and Rhizobium using serial dilutions. Most probable number and least squares regression methods were used to estimate each soil's capacity to nodulate native Myrica cerifera, exotic Leucaena leucocephala and exotic Casuarina cunninghamiana. The sample sites included a montane forest, a slash-and-burn agricultural site, reclaimed bauxite mining areas, abandoned sugar cane fields, and a garden plot. None of the host plants used in the bioassay were present on the sites sampled except for scattered L. leucocephala on one site. Frankia capable of nodulating M. cerifera, which is native to Jamaican highlands, occurred at all sites sampled. No C. cunninghamiana-infective Frankia was detected in soils sampled. Only soils from one site on the tropical coastal plain harbored rhizobia able to nodulate L. leucocephala (37 nodulation units cm−3 of soil). A subset of nodulated M. cerifera and L. leucocephala reduced acetylene to ethylene indicating nitrogenase activity. The slash-and-burn agricultural site, which was situated at an elevation of 200 m and possessed both high natural fertility and high soil moisture-supplying capacity, had significantly greater Myrica infectious capacity (1 000 nodulation units cm−3 of soil) than the other sites (7−207 nodulation units cm−3 of soil). A planned, paired comparison revealed that a recently cultivated sugar cane field and a recently reclaimed bauxite mining site together had significantly less Myrica-infective Frankia (4 nodulation units cm−3 of soil) than a corresponding pair of sites consisting of a sugar cane field abandoned for 25 years and a bauxite mining site reclaimed 20 years before sampling (118 nodulation units cm−3 of soil). Results indicate that Myrica-infective Frankia is widespread in Jamaica, that the number of Myrica-infective Frankia units vary from site to site in accordance with soil type and soil history, that Jamaican sites sampled lack soil Frankia populations capable of nodulating a casuarina host, that rhizobial symbionts capable of nodulating L. leucocephala may be geographically restricted to lowlands in Jamaica, and that the occurrence of Frankia in these soils is independent of host plant presence.
Conformational Properties of a Peptide Model for Unfolded α-Helices

Models of protein folding often hypothesize that the first step is local secondary structure formation. The assumption is that unfolded polypeptide chains possess an intrinsic propensity to form these local secondary structures. On the basis of this idea, it is tempting to model the local conformational properties of unfolded proteins using well-established residue secondary structure propensities, in particular, R-helix forming propensities. We have used spectroscopic methods to investigate the conformational behavior of a host-guest series of peptides designed to model unfolded R-helices. A suitable peptide model for unfolded R-helices was determined from studies of the length dependence of the conformational properties of alanine-based peptides. The chosen host peptide possessed a small, detectable, R-helix content. Substituting various representative guest residues into the central position of the host peptide at times changed the conformational behavior dramatically, and often in ways that could not be predicted from known R-helix forming propensities. The data presented can be used to rationalize some of these propensities. However, it is clear that secondary structure propensities cannot be used to predict the local conformational properties of unfolded proteins.
Assessing the Potential of Internet Political Participation in the United States A Resource Approach

An emerging scholarly consensus asserts that patterns of Internet political participation will merely imitate the established patterns of participatory inequality in the United States. Because those from advantaged backgrounds access the medium at higher rates, the opportunities to participate via the Internet should disproportionately extend to high-resource individuals. I argue that the focus on access has important theoretical limitations. If one accepts the future possibility of near-equal access, then explorations of the Internet’s participatory potential should include theoretical guidance about what types of individuals would most likely participate if equal Internet access were achieved. Drawing on diverse literature, two expectations develop; one predicts the reinforcement of existing participation patterns, and the other suggests a change in those patterns to include new types of individuals. I empirically test these competing claims, concluding that given equalized access, the Internet shows ge...
Postoperative complications of salvage total laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND The objectives of the current study were to report the incidence of postoperative complications for salvage total laryngectomy (STL) compared with primary total laryngectomy (PTL) and to identify patient and tumor-related factors predictive of postoperative complications. METHODS A sample of 183 patients who had received a total laryngectomy were identified from an existing database of 662 patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. PTL and STL were performed in 113 and 70 patients, respectively. Initial therapy in the patients who required salvage surgery included radiotherapy (RT) in 32 (46%) and chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) in 38 (54%). Postoperative complications were recorded for each group and categorized into local, swallowing, airway, and systemic complications. Postoperative complication rates for STL after RT and CTRT were compared with those after PTL by univariate analysis. Patient and tumor-related predictors of complications were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS The overall mortality rate was 0.5%. Forty percent of all patients developed a postoperative complication after total laryngectomy. Local complications, which were the most frequent, occurred in 52 (28%) patients. Pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred in 31 (17%) patients. Statistical analysis showed that there was a greater number of patients with local wound (45% vs. 25%, P = 0.02) and fistula complications (32% vs. 12%, P = 0.012) in the STL-CTRT group compared with the primary laryngectomy group. Multivariate analysis showed that primary CTRT was an independent predictor of local complications and pharyngocutaneous fistula. CONCLUSIONS Salvage laryngectomy was more frequently associated with postoperative complications after CTRT compared with PTL. Problems related to local wound healing, especially the development of pharyngocutaneous fistula, constituted the most common postoperative complication in these patients. Multivariate analysis showed that primary CTRT was an independent predictor of local wound complications and pharyngocutaneous fistula. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Evaluating and Implementing 3-Level Control Charts

Some quality measures may use three or more discrete levels to classify a product characteristic. An earlier study referred to this classification scheme as a multi-level product quality measure and used it to evaluate and implement 3-level acceptance s..
The effect of withdrawal of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers prior to coronary angiography on the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy

Background The effect of continuing or discontinuing chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy prior to coronary angiography on the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is not clear. We undertook a randomized trial to evaluate the effect of withdrawing ACEIs or ARBs 24 h prior to coronary angiography on the incidence of CIN associated with coronary angiography.
A two-layer turbulence model for simulating indoor airflow. Part I. Model development

Abstract Energy efficient buildings should provide a thermally comfortable and healthy indoor environment. Most indoor airflows involve combined forced and natural convection (mixed convection). In order to simulate the flows accurately and efficiently, this paper proposes a two-layer turbulence model for predicting forced, natural and mixed convection. The model combines a near-wall one-equation model [J. Fluid Eng. 115 (1993) 196] and a near-wall natural convection model [Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 41 (1998) 3161] with the aid of direct numerical simulation (DNS) data [Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 18 (1997) 88].
Preferential increase of IL-2R+ CD4+ T cells and CD45RB- CD4+ T cells in the central nervous system in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Abstract We examined lymphocytes isolated from the spinal cord (SC), peripheral blood (PB) and lymph nodes (LN) draining the immunization site of Lewis rats with acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Cells were analysed for T cell subset markers CD4 (mAb W3/25) and CD8 (mAb OX8), for IL-2R (mAb OX39), and for high molecular mass leukocyte common antigen (LCA, CD45RB) expression (mAb OX22). T cells expressing high (CD45RB+) or low (CD45RB−) molecular mass LCA are of different maturational stages and/or separate lineages. CD4+ T cells were more predominant in SC than in PB and LN; CD8+ T cells were scarce in SC but common in PB and LN. Activated CD4+ T cells (IL-2R+) were common in the SC and LN but infrequent in blood. CD4+ T cells that were CD45RB+ were scarce in the SC. In contrast, the majority of CD4+ T cells in the PB and LN were CD45RB+. The preferential accumulation of IL-2R+ CD4+ T cells and of CD45RB− CD4+ T cells in the central nervous system (CNS) indicates that a selective mechanism directs cell egress into CNS lesions in EAE.a
Quality of life in central cities and suburbs

This study shows that there has been a statistically significant shift in the quality of life (QOL) in central cities of the 25 largest metro areas relative to their suburbs since 1980. This follows actual improvement of central cities in the ‘50s, followed by steady degradation in the ‘60s and ‘70s. These conclusions are based on a statistical analysis of key variables derived from a revealed preference conception of QOL. This is an important methodological advance, since relevant variables for directly constructing hedonic measures of QOL normally are unavailable for central cities. The basic Census data used in the analysis also indicate that the observed “turnaround” is evident without respect to size of metro area within the set of 25 largest and without respect to region of the country.
Effect of fiber-aspect ratio and orientation on the stress-strain behavior of aligned, short-fiber-reinforced, ductile epoxy

In the study of complex short-fiber-reinforced plastics behavior, it is helpful to begin with a well-aligned short-fiber system. This study isolates the effects of fiber-aspect ratio and orientation distributions on the tensile stress- strain behavior and failure mechanisms for a system containing 50 vol% E-glass fiber bundles in a ductileepoxy matrix. Using a system wherein the fiber orientation distribution was well-characterized, it is shown that the fibers reinforced as bundles rather than as individual fibers. As the bundle-aspect ratio varied from 185 to 557 for samples tasted in the longitudinal majoralignment direction, the modulus rose from 85 to 99 percent of the value for a continuous fiber system, while the strength rose only to about 60 percent of the continuous-fiber system. The ductility of the matrix had no effect on the modulus or the longitudinal strengths, but the off-axis strengths were significantly higher than has been reported for a comparable brittle-matrix system. The effects of fiber orientation on modulus and strength were successfully fit with the Leknitskii and Azzi-Tsai equations, respectively. SCanning electron micros-copy showed excellent adhesion and no fiber brekage, except at the highest bundle-aspect ratio. Even at off-axis angles below 15°, a mixed mode failure mechanism occurs because of the fiber orientation distribution.
Integral contact process in submicron technology

in the down-scaling of DRAM (dynamics random access memory) cell size, feature size control becomes a severe problem. Usually we define +/- I 0% of minimum feature size for its process window, e.g., for O.5trn process, its variation should be well controlled within O.O5tm to guarantee production reliability.
De Haas-van Alphen effect and Fermi surface of ordered alloys of the β brass type

The de Haas-van Alphen effect has been measured in the three ordered alloys $\beta'$-CuZn, $\beta'$-AgZn and $\beta'$-PdIn (caesium chloride structure) by the pulsed field method. The results reveal a remarkable similarity between the Fermi surfaces of AgZn and PdIn; CuZn also fits into the general pattern, and there is in general good agreement with the results of band structure calculations on CuZn and AgZn. The Fermi surface consists of a hole sheet in the first band and a multiply connected electron sheet in the second band, in qualitative agreement with the empty lattice model. A feature of the experimental observations common to AgZn and PdIn has remained unexplained.
The correlation of rate coefficients for H‐atom abstraction by HO radicals with CH bond dissociation enthalpies

For H-atom abstraction reactions by HO radicals it has been shown that If Di is taken as the CH bond dissociation enthalpy at 298 K, then a = 0.323 and D0is obtained from the empirical formula where D0 is in kcal/mol and T is in K. Thisrelationship is valid for T between 200 and 400 K. Finally empiricalrelationships are given to help estimate Di.
Fibronectin, As Well As Other Extracellular Matrix Proteins, Mediate Human Keratinocyte Adherence

During the reepithelialization of cutaneous wounds, the migratory epidermis transits over a provisional matrix of fibronectin and fibrin in the absence of laminin and type IV collagen as well as ultrastructurally identifiable basement membrane. Since significant quantities of fibronectin occur at these sites of reepithelialization, we surmised that fibronectin is a suitable substrate for keratinocyte adherence and therefore undertook the in vitro investigations reported here. Purified human plasma fibronectin precoated on bacteriologic microtiter wells was demonstrated to mediate human keratinocyte adherence when concentrations greater than 10 μg/ml fibronectin were used. Maximal keratinocyte adherence was obtained in wells precoated with 100 μg/ml fibronectin and when cells were incubated with substrate for 60 min or longer at 37°C. Both primary and second-passaged human keratinocytes adhered as well or better to fibronectin than to types I and III collagen, laminin, or type IV collagen under both high- and low-Ca ++ culture conditions. However maximal adherence to all substrates occurred when second- passaged keratinocytes were assayed in low-Ca ++ medium. Under these latter culture conditions, keratinocyte phenotype resembles the phenotype of cells in the migrating epidermis. To determine specificity of these adherence reactions, antifibronectin antibodies were shown to block keratinocyte adherence to fibronectin but not to laminin substrates. Conversely, antilaminin antibodies blocked adherence to laminin but not fibronectin substrates. Thus, human keratinocytes demonstrate specific adherence to fibronectin in a time- and dose-dependent fashion and this adherence relies on de novo protein synthesis. We take these observations to support our hypothesis that the provisional fibronectin matrix observed beneath the migrating epithelium during tissue repair plays a functional role in the reepithelialization process.
Non-Rutherford elastic backscattering for light element cross section enhancement

Abstract It has been shown that higher helium ion energies than required for Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) may for the light elements C, N and O produce enhancement of the elastic scattering cross section through nuclear interaction. A search has been conducted for bombarding ion energies in the range of 4.2–7.2 MeV that will produce a smoothly varying cross section to permit profiling of these elements. The special requirements for the standard samples needed to quantify the ratio of the nuclear elastic cross section to that of the electrostatic cross section (ratio of Rutherford) are described and appropriate bombarding ton energies identified. This elastic backscattering spectrometry (EBS) technique has proved to be suitable for profiling C, N and O simultaneously over a reasonable depth range while maintaining Rutherford scattering conditions for most heavier elements, thus permitting the profiling of these light elements in the presence of heavier elements.
Mutation induction by 125iodoacetylproflavine, a DNA-intercalating agent, in human cells.

SummarySurvival and the induction of mutations at the hprt and tk loci were measured in TK6 human lymphoblastoid cells following treatment with the DNA-intercalating agent 125iodoacetylproflavine (125IAP). 125IAP was readily taken up into the cells, was localized to the nucleus, and was released rapidly following resuspension of the cells in fresh medium. Treatment with 125IAP for 24 h yielded a D0 of 110 decays/cell and an induced mutant fraction of 0·13 × 10−6 per decay at the hprt locus and 0·4 × 10−6 per decay at the tk locus. Molecular analyses of 125IAP-induced hprt mutants by Southern blot revealed a high proportion of large-scale changes at this locus. When these results are compared with those observed with 125IdUrd, 125IAP shows a reduced effectiveness per decay, related perhaps to the non-covalent nature of intercalator binding, resulting in reduced energy deposition in the DNA.
Serre's modularity conjecture: The level one case

We prove the level one case of Serre's conjecture. Namely, we prove that any continuous, odd, irreducible representation ρ:GQ→GL2(Fp) which is unramified outside p arises from a cuspidal eigenform in Sk(SL2(Z)) for some integer k≥2. The proof relies on the methods introduced in an earlier joint work with J.-P. Wintenberger [31] together with a new method of weight reduction
Quasiparticle interference and the interplay between superconductivity and density wave order in the cuprates

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) is a useful probe for studying the cuprates in the superconducting and pseudogap states. Here we present a theoretical study of the Z-map, defined as the ratio of the local density of states at positive and negative bias energies, which frequently is used to analyze STS data. We show how the evolution of the quasiparticle interference peaks in the Fourier transform Z-map can be understood by considering different types of impurity scatterers, as well as particle-hole asymmetry in the underlying bandstructure. We also explore the effects of density wave orders, and show that the Fourier transform Z-map may be used to both detect and distinguish between them.
Correlation of surface segregation with bulk diffusion for binary metal alloys

Abstract Previous treatments of surface segregation in metal alloys have all failed in some systems, due either to inadequacies in the theories or in the thermochemical data. A new model is proposed here using only alloy diffusion data. Predicted surface compositions agree quantitatively with ISS measurements and qualitatively AES results.
‘Don't Throw Yourself Away to the Dark Continent’: Shi'i Migration to West Africa and the Hierarchies of Exclusion in Lebanese Culture

The Shi'i Lebanese diaspora in West Africa has played a key role in the construction of Lebanese Shi'i sectarian identity in the Twentieth century. This article provides some perspective and insight on the relationships among race, sect and colonialism in Africa and the Middle East through the lens of transnational Shi'i networks. Travel narratives written by Lebanese Shi'is who visited French West Africa during the 1930s indicate certain cultural hierarchies and racial modes of thinking. Moreover, some Lebanese internalised elements of colonial discourse while others, in a kind of inversion, re-deployed them towards black Africans. These Lebanese travel diaries, therefore, constitute a unique primary source for the history of the Lebanese Shi'i mahjar (diaspora) in West Africa and its relationship with the watan (homeland); they also illuminate cultural hierarchies embedded in Shi'i consciousness. Such stereotypes about Africa have persisted well into the late 20th- and early 21st-century in Lebanon.
Dynamic smart material and structural systems

Basic research in smart materials and structural systems and their development have demonstrated great potential for enhancing the functionality, serviceability and durability of civil and mechanical infrastructure systems and, as a result, offer the potential for significant contributions to the improvement of every nation's productivity, efficiency and quality of life. The intelligent renewal of aging and deteriorating civil and mechanical infrastructure systems includes efficient and innovative use of high performance sensors, actuators, materials, mechanical and structural systems. In this paper some examples of NSF-funded projects and research needs as well as some initiatives are presented.
Intelligence quotient is associated with epilepsy in children with intellectual disability in India.

Background: Epilepsy is a disorder that is commonly found in people with intellectual disability (ID). The prevalence of epilepsy increases with the severity of ID. The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between intelligence quotient (IQ) and epilepsy in children with ID. Materials and Methods: A total of 262 children, aged 3-18 years, with ID were identified as part of a community-based rehabilitation project. These children were examined for epilepsy and diagnosed by a psychiatrist and physicians based on results of electroencephalogram tests. A Spearman's correlation (ρ) was used to determine if there was an association between IQ scores and the occurrence of epilepsy. X 2 statistics used to examine the relationship of epilepsy with gender, socioeconomic status, population type, severity of ID, family history of mental illness, mental retardation, epilepsy, and coexisting disorder. Results: Spearman's rho -0.605 demonstrates inverse association of IQ with epilepsy. X 2 demonstrates statistically significant association ( P Conclusions: Lower IQ score in children with ID has association with occurrence of epilepsy. Epilepsy is also found highly associated with male gender and lower age.
A TRUNCATED RECOMBINANT INTERCELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE-1 INHIBITS ADHESION OF LEUKEMIC CELL LINES TO UPREGULATED ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, a member of the immunoglobulin supergene family, is the ligand for the integrin lymphocyte function associated antigen-1. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 binding interactions mediate leukocyte adherence and migration. Previous work has shown that the adherence of lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 is directed to the first immunoglobulinlike domain of the endothelial cell surface protein intracellular adhesion molecule-1. We have constructed a truncated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene encoding the first 185 amino acids from the amino terminus and overexpressed it in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified from insoluble inclusion bodies and refolded into an active conformation by a denaturation/renaturation cycle. The identity of the protein was confirmed by microsequencing and by Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antibody to ICAM-1. We have demonstrated that this soluble region of the otherwise membrane-bound ligand is an inhibitor of Molt or HL-60 cell adhesion to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells.
A centrally-mediated effect of morphine to diminish hepatocellular glutathione.

Abstract Morphine administration has been associated with a decrease in hepatic glutathione (GSH) and an increase in the hepatotoxicity of compounds dependent upon GSH for detoxification. In this study, intraperitoneal administration of 100 mg/kg morphine in mice resulted in approximately a 25% decrease in hepatic GSH. The same magnitude of GSH depletion was also observed following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of 100 μg of morphine, but no effect was observed when 100 μg of morphine was administered intravenously. Pretreating animals with either yohimbine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or prazosin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) resulted in a partial blockade of i.c.v. morphine-induced change in hepatic glutathione concentrations. Adrenalectomy prior to i.c.v. morphine treatment completely prevented morphine-induced changes in hepatic GSH concentrations; however, the morphine response was restored in adrenalectomized mice supplemented with hydrocortisone (2.5 mg/kg). No effect on the ability of i.c.v. morphine to diminish GSH concentrations in the liver was observed following pretreatment with either propranolol (20 mg/kg, i.p.), atropine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), hexamethonium (15 mg/kg, s.c.), or destruction of peripheral adrenergic nerve terminals with 6-hydroxydopamine (30 mg/kg, i.p.). It is concluded that hepatocellular GSH concentrations may be diminished as a consequence of a central action of morphine. The response by liver GSH to this action does not appear to be mediated through adrenal medullary release of catecholamines or by autonomiC stimulation of the liver. While corticosteroids are a necessary component of this response, their role is probably permissive. The ability of both prazosin and yohimbine to antagonize the effect of i.c.v. morphine on hepatic GSH, coupled with the apparent absence of a peripheral catecholaminergic mechanism, suggests that the adrenergic interaction with the i.c.v. morphine effect is also of central origin. Thus, the results of this study show that the central effects of morphine can result in a decrease in hepatic GSH, and that this effect is not mediated by a peripheral catecholaminergic mechanism.
A Landscape Ecology Approach to Assessing Development Impacts in the Tropics: A Geothermal Energy Example in Hawaii

Geographic information systems (GIS) are increasingly being used in environmental impact assessments (EIA) because GIS is useful for analysing spatial impacts of various development scenarios. Spatially representing these impacts provides another tool for landscape ecology in environmental and geographical investigations by facilitating analysis of the effects of landscape pattern on ecological processes and examining change over time. Landscape ecological principles are applied in this study to a hypothetical geothermal development project on the Island of Hawaii. Some common landscape pattern metrics were used to analyse dispersed versus condensed development scenarios and their effect on landscape pattern. Indices of fragmentation and patch shape did not appreciably change with additional development. The amount of forest to open edge, however, greatly increased with the dispersed development scenario. In addition, landscape metrics showed that a human disturbance had a greater simplifying effect on patch shape and also increased fragmentation than a natural disturbance. The use of these landscape pattern metrics can advance the methodology of applying GIS to EIA.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography with Single-Balloon Enteroscopy Is Feasible in Patients with a Prior Roux-en-Y Anastomosis

The purpose of this study is to describe the feasibility of using single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients who had a prior Roux-en-Y (RY) anastomosis. This case series describes four patients, one with RY gastric bypass, two with RY due to bile duct injury, and one with RY after liver transplantation, who underwent ERCP with SBE. Cholangiography was successful in three of the four patients. In the procedure that was not successful, the enteroenterostomy site could not be located. The successful procedures ranged from 65-91 min in duration. Medication doses were higher than with typical ERCPs. No procedural complications occurred. SBE for ERCP is a feasible option for endoscopic access to the biliary tree in patients with prior RY anastomoses. Limitations of this technique include the time requirement, delay in identification of the enteroenterostomy site, potential learning curve, and immature technology lacking accessories.
On ideals whose adic and symbolic topologies are linearly equivalent

Abstract Ideals whose adic and symbolic topologies are linearly equivalent are characterized in terms of analytic spread and u-essential prime divisors. Using this characterization, under certain conditions on a Noetherian ring R and an ideal I of R it is shown that the I-adic and the I-symbolic topologies are linearly equivalent iff gr(I,R)red is a domain, and locally unmixed rings are characterized as those rings in which the adic and the symbolic topologies of every ideal of the principal class are linearly equivalent.
Spatially Referenced Educational Achievement Data Exploration: A Web-Based Interactive System Integration of GIS, PHP, and MySQL Technologies.

Effective exploration of spatially referenced educational achievement data can help educational researchers and policy analysts speed up gaining valuable insight into datasets. This article illustrates a demo system developed in the National Office for Research on Measurement and Evaluation Systems (NORMES) for supporting Web-based interactive exploration of state-wide educational achievement data. The spatially referenced statistical summaries are presented in thematic maps that are generated using the Geographic Information System (GIS). Visual analysis of the thematic maps can help the educational policy analysts to “see” complex spatial relationships and to detect patterns easily. Linking among GIS maps allows the educators to interactively “drill down” through a hierarchy of geopolitical levels and to visualize statistical graphics and tables which are dynamically generated using Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) script language. Through building up the relationships between maps, graphs, and databases, t...
Storage retrogradation behavior of sorghum, maize and rice starch pastes related to amylopectin fine structure

Storage retrogradation behavior and properties of sorghum, maize, and rice starches were compared to better understand the relationship of amylopectin fine structure to quality issues. Long-term changes in texture of starch gels were attributed to amylopectin retrogradation. In starch pastes aged 7 days at 4 °C, change in the storage modulus (ΔG′ΔG′) during heating (representing intermolecular associations) was highly and positively correlated (r = 0.93, p < 0.01) with the proportion of fraction I (FrI) long chains from debranched amylopectin. One sorghum cultivar, Mota Maradi, showed a dramatic increase in the storage modulus (G′) over the 7 day storage period that was related to its high proportion of FrI. Pastes/gels made from starches with normal (20–30%) amylose content and higher proportions of FrI long chains from debranched amylopectin tended to become firmer with more syneresis during extended storage. Both degree of polymerization measurements and previous models for amylopectin structure indicate that FrI represents long B chains of amylopectin. Cereal cultivars having amylopectin structures with lower proportion of long B chains were speculated to give improved quality products with lower rates of retrogradation and staling. This is particularly an issue in sorghum foods where products generally lack storage stability and tend to stale relatively quickly.
Effect of β-blockade on dobutamine stress echocardiography

Dobutamine is an effective pharmacologic stress used in conjunction with echocardiography because of its beta-agonist properties. Concurrent beta-blockade might alter this effectiveness; however, current clinical experience has been variable. The purpose of this study is to determine whether concurrent beta-blockade alters the ability of a dobutamine stress echocardiogram to detect a fixed coronary stenosis by preventing the onset of a wall motion abnormality or by altering the dose at which the wall motion abnormality appears. Paired dobutamine stress tests with and without beta-blockade (esmolol 500 microgram/kg initial bolus, 100 microg/kg/min infusion) were performed in a canine model (n = 8) with a fixed single-vessel coronary stenosis. Heart rate, systolic pressure, proximal left anterior descending coronary flow, myocardial thickening (by sonomicrometry), and left ventricular area change (by epicardial echocardiography) were monitored. Simultaneous beta-blockade resulted in (1) a delayed and diminished increase in hemodynamic parameters (peak heart rate 164.1 +/- 22.3 without beta-blockade vs 110.1 +/- 28.9 beats/min with beta-blockade, p < 0.001, and peak systolic blood pressure 137.9 +/- 26.8 mm Hg without beta-blockade vs 107.3 +/- 15.3 mm Hg with beta-blockade, p = 0.01), (2) an elimination of the physiologic effects of low-dose (5 and 10 microg/kg/min) dobutamine (-0.7 percent +/- 16.7 percent change in myocardial thickening from baseline with beta-blockade, p = NS), and (3) an elimination or alteration in timing of inducible wall motion abnormalities caused by severe coronary artery stenoses (mean termination dose 28.8 +/- 9.9 with beta-blockade vs 15.6 +/- 6.1 microg/kg/min without beta-blocker, p < 0.01). The findings in this canine model suggest that the competitive antagonist markedly attenuates the ability of dobutamine stress echocardiography to detect a significant coronary lesion and may alter its ability to detect viable myocardium at low-dose testing. Further clinical studies to determine the sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography in the presence of beta-blockers and to establish protocol standards are necessary.
Fluorinated benzamide neuroleptics--2. Synthesis and radiosynthesis of (S)-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-5-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-3- substituted-2-methoxybenzamides.

Abstract Synthesis of a fluorinated benzamide neuroleptic, ( S )- N -[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-5-(3-fluoropropyl)-2,3-dimethoxybenzamide starting from 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanol in 20–25% overall yield is reported. Radiosynthesis of ( S )- N -[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-5-(3[ 18 F]fluoropropyl)-2-methoxybenzamide([ 18 F]FPHB) and ( S )- N -[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-5-(3[ 18 F]fluoropropyl)-2,3-dimethoxybenzamide([ 18 F]FPHB) was carried out by nucleophilic substitution reaction of ( S )- N -[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl-5-(3-tosyloxypropyl)-2-methoxybenzamide and ( S )- N -[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-5-(3-tosyloxypropyl)-2,3-dimethoxybenzamide respectively, with no carrier added [ 18 F]fluoride. Both, [ 18 F]FPHB and [ 18 F]FPHB were obtained in approx. 20–30% yields (EOS/EOB, decay corrected). Specific activities of 900–1700 Ci/mmol for [ 18 F]FPHB and 800–1400 Ci/mmol for [ 18 F]FPMB were obtained by reverse phase HPLC purification. Total synthesis and purification time required for either [ 18 F]FPHB or [ 18 F]FPMB was 120 min from EOB.
URINARY CYCLIC 3′, 5′-ADEN0SINE MONOPHOSPHATE LEVELS IN DIABETES MELLITUS BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT

ABSTRACT Urinary cyclic AMP excretion was studied in a group of 8 patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus before and after treatment with insulin. Blood glucose, urinary cyclic AMP and creatinine were measured before and after treatment. Total cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP/creatinine ratios were both significantly higher in the diabetic patients before treatment compared with values after treatment. Urinary cyclic AMP/creatinine ratios were significantly higher in the diabetic patients before treatment compared to ratios in 8 normal subjects and treatment consistently returned these to normal. Total cyclic AMP excretion tended to be higher in the uncontrolled diabetics compared with that in normal subjects but differences were not significant. These studies reveal still another clinical disorder characterized by aberrations in cyclic AMP metabolism.
Temperature effects on the 27Al NMR spectra of polymeric aluminum hydrolysis species

Abstract 27 Al NMR studies at 39.10 MHz of highly hydrolyzed, concentrated aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) solutions ( n = [ OH ]/[ Al ] = 2.50 , “Al 2 (OH) 5 Cl”) from 2.5 to 0.2 M Al in various supporting electrolytes at room temperature (RT) and 82°C are reported. The complex 27 Al NMR resonance features for ACH solutions, attributed to two unique polymeric species of unknown structure, are dependent upon concentration, temperature, and the nature and concentration of the supporting electrolyte anion. Major differences are observed in the 27 Al NMR of fresh and “aged” 1.0 M ACH solutions obtained at RT, at 82°C, and at RT following temperature elevation to 82°C. These latter NMR spectra exhibit dramatic and irreversible resonance changes in comparison with RT NMR data obtained for fresh ACH solutions prior to elevation to 82°C. These 27 Al NMR results, together with gel filtration chromatography data, provide evidence for the irreversible depolymerization of large molecular weight polycationic species to intermediate sized molecular weight polymeric species following dilution, aging, or temperature elevation. This depolymerization reaction is concentration, temperature, and anion dependent and provides a clearer understanding of the kinetic processes occurring for the polymeric aluminum species in ACH solutions.
Interleukin-8 expression by mammary gland endothelial and epithelial cells following experimental mastitis infection with E. coli

Epithelial and endothelial cells play a pivotal role in initiating and controlling the movement of leukocytes into tissues during inflammation through the production of cytokines and chemokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8). In situ hybridization with an IL-8 riboprobe was used to determine IL-8 mRNA expression by mammary gland epithelial and endothelial cells in cows with experimental Escherichia coli mastitis. Epithelial cells of the gland, especially surrounding the alveoli, had increased IL-8 mRNA levels at all time points at which tissue samples were collected (8, 12, and 24 h) after E. coli challenge. Levels of IL-8 expression in the epithelial cells decreased at 24 h post-infection. IL-8 expression by mammary gland endothelial cells was low, but did increase slightly at 24 h post-infection. Both epithelial and endothelial cells of the mammary gland can contribute to the production of IL-8 that is typically seen in coliform mastitis.