cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of fipronil metabolites by time-of-flight mass spectrometry for application in a human exposure study

Fipronil is a phenylpyrazole insecticide commonly used in residential and agricultural applications. To understand more about the potential risks for human exposure associated with fipronil, urine and serum from dosed Long Evans adult rats (5 and 10mg/kg bw) were analyzed to identify metabolites as potential biomarkers for use in human biomonitoring studies. Urine from treated rats was found to contain seven unique metabolites, two of which had not been previously reported-M4 and M7 which were putatively identified as a nitroso compound and an imine, respectively. Fipronil sulfone was confirmed to be the primary metabolite in rat serum. The fipronil metabolites identified in the respective matrices were then evaluated in matched human urine (n=84) and serum (n=96) samples from volunteers with no known pesticide exposures. Although no fipronil or metabolites were detected in human urine, fipronil sulfone was present in the serum of approximately 25% of the individuals at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 4ng/mL. These results indicate that many fipronil metabolites are produced following exposures in rats and that fipronil sulfone is a useful biomarker in human serum. Furthermore, human exposure to fipronil may occur regularly and require more extensive characterization.
Glacial and deglacial seafloor methane emissions from pockmarks on the northern flank of the Storegga Slide complex

The Storegga Slide complex is a multi-stage slope failure on the Norwegian continental margin where the most recent major event occurred 8.1 ka b.p. (calendar years before present). Its northern flank contains pockmark features that are commonly inferred to be related to the historical and modern venting of methane-bearing fluids. Three jumbo piston cores (JPC), one from a pockmark and two background cores at variable distances from this site (proximal, 5 km, and distal, 15 km) on the northern flank of the slide (806–1,524 m water depths), were sampled at 10 cm resolution to assess the geologic record of methane venting in the Nyegga pockmark field. Six down-core radiocarbon measurements on mixed planktonic foraminifer species reveal ages of 9.4–16.4 ka b.p. Bathymodiolus mussel shell horizons, indicators of methane-rich environments, have been dated at 15.8–17.6 and ~22 ka b.p. in the pockmark core. Stable isotope analyses on planktonic (Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral) and benthic (Islandiella norcrossi, Melonis barleeanum) Foraminifera reveal δ18O values indicative of a clear glacial/deglacial transition (−1.5‰ shift in planktonic species). Both planktonic and benthic δ13C signatures record multiple excursions, interpreted to reflect the influence of methane in the environment; these δ13C excursions occur in the pockmark core and also in the distal background core. While authigenic calcite formation on the seafloor may play an important role in producing such excursions, these data together suggest the influence of methane seepage within the pockmark field over the past 25 ka, whereby seepage was particularly active between 13 and 15 ka. This is consistent with previously inferred regional increases in porewater pressure associated with glacial loading and higher sedimentation rates, which can cause gas hydrate and slope instability.
The Cultural and Behavioral Impact of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill on the Native Peoples of Prince William Sound, Alaska

Abstract This paper explores the impact of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and its aftermath on Tatitlek and Chenega Bay, two small predominantly Alu’utiq Native communities in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Specific topics discussed include: real and perceived contamination of traditional food resources, disruption of traditional subsistence practices, beach treatment and attempts at cleaning-up the oil, litigation of claims for spill-related damage, and oil spill restoration under the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council including habitat acquisition. The effects of the spill are contrasted with those of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake on the same communities.
Soil-sampling alternatives and variable-rate liming for a soybean-corn rotation

Precision agriculture technologies can be used to manage soil pH. This study compared soil-sampling schemes for pH and evaluated variable-rate (VR) liming for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and corn (Zea mays L.). Global positioning systems and yield monitors were used in two fields. Soils were Typic Hapludolls, Aquic Hapludolls, and Typic Endoaquolls. Treatments were a control and a fixed-rate (FR) or VR liming based on a 0.2-ha soil-sampling scheme. Soil pH (15-cm depth) ranged from 5.4 to 8.4, and most subsoils were calcareous. Treatments were applied before soybean to long and replicated strips. Grain yield and soil pH were measured during 3 yr in one field and 2 yr in the other. Initial pH; canopy photos; and soil survey, elevation, and electrical-conductivity maps were used to simulate sampling schemes based on larger cells or zones. Liming increased (P ≤ 0.05) corn yield in one site-year (230 kg ha -1 ), and liming methods did not differ. The VR method applied less lime (56-61%) and reduced pH variability in one field. The lack of response was explained by high subsoil pH and high small-scale variation of topsoil pH. Sampling schemes based on 0.7-ha cells or zones identified smaller add and alkaline areas than schemes based on small cells. Results suggest that yield response from lime is not likely when calcareous subsoils are present and topsoil pH is as low as 5.5. A VR liming method would apply less lime than a FR method in soils similar to those in this study.
Rapid transfer of controllers between UAVs using learning-based adaptive control

Commonly used Proportional-Integral-Derivative based UAV flight controllers are often seen to provide adequate trajectory-tracking performance, but only after extensive tuning. The gains of these controllers are tuned to particular platforms, which makes transferring controllers from one UAV to other time-intensive. This paper formulates the problem of control-transfer from a source system to a transfer system and proposes a solution that leverages well-studied techniques in adaptive control. It is shown that concurrent learning adaptive controllers improve the trajectory tracking performance of a quadrotor with the baseline linear controller directly imported from another quadrotor whose inertial characteristics and throttle mapping are very different. Extensive flight-testing, using indoor quadrotor platforms operated in MIT's RAVEN environment, is used to validate the method.
The nature and basis of inalienable rights

This paper has two purposes. One is primarily (but not exclusively) conceptual and the other is normative. The first aim is to say what inalienable rights are. To explain this, inalienable rights are contrasted with the notions of forfeitable rights and absolute rights. A recent novel analysis of inalienable rights by Feinberg is explained and criticized. The first task is concluded by discussing what duties inalienable rights imply. The second aim is to see what moral principles, if any, justify designating some rights as inalienable. The claim of Nozick and others that inalienable rights must be paternalistically grounded is examined and rejected. After a brief critical discussion of the Lockean and Hobbesean accounts of the basis of inalienable rights, it is argued that the harm principle can serve as an adequate ground for categorizing at least the right to life (and perhaps other rights) as inalienable.
Gunshot injuries: pathophysiology and treatments

The increase in gun ownership and shootings of dogs and cats in urban and rural areas has made it important for veterinarians to be familiar with the treatment of gunshot injuries. The damage inflicted on the soft tissues and bone depends on the type of firearm used and the range at which it was fired. Proper initial evaluation and management are critical in the treatment of these injuries. Fractures caused by gunshots are contaminated and can often be stabilized with external fixation. Complications and special considerations of these fractures and associated soft tissue injuries are discussed.
Toxicity and disposition of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (4PeCDF) in the Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The toxicity and disposition of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (4PeCDF), a ubiquitous and acutely toxic environmental contaminant, was examined in three adult male Rhesus monkeys administered a single iv dose of 34 micrograms (0.1 mumol)/kg. Within 20 min, 4PeCDF was eliminated from the blood and was distributed to the liver, skin, adipose, and muscle tissues. Excretion occurred primarily via the feces with a minimum whole body half-life approximately 38 days. Within 7-14 days after administration, the packed cell volume and serum triglyceride and bile acid concentrations were significantly increased while serum cholesterol, protein, and albumin concentrations were decreased relative to pretreatment levels. Thyroid hormone levels were also altered with an increase in TSH and a decrease in T3 and T4 concentrations. After 28 days, two monkeys began exhibiting alopecia, hyperkeratinization of the toe and finger nails, facial chloracne-like lesions, and loss of body weight. They subsequently died 40 and 48 days after treatment. Similar symptoms of toxicity were observed in the third animal 58 days after 4PeCDF administration, but this animal appeared to fully recover and was administered 4PeCDF orally and (3H)1,2,3,7,8-pentachloro-dibenzofuran (1PeCDF) dermally 238 days after the initial iv dose. In this animal, approximately 2% of an oral dose of (14C)-4PeCDF wasmore » absorbed from the stomach and small intestine in 6 hr and was distributed mainly to the muscle and skin and less than 99% of a dermal dose of 1PeCDF remained at the site of application. Pathological findings in the monkeys that died indicated hyperplastic and metaplastic changes in the gastric mucosa, the Meibomian glands of the eyelid, and the ceruminous glands of the ear. Regression of these lesions was present in the surviving animal.« less
Pharmacologically distinct actions of serotonin on single pyramidal neurones of the rat hippocampus recorded in vitro.

1. The actions of serotonin (5-HT) on pyramidal cells of the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus were characterized using intracellular recording in in vitro brain slices. 2. 5-HT typically evokes a biphasic response consisting of a hyperpolarization which is followed by a longer-lasting depolarization. These effects on membrane potential are accompanied by a decrease in the calcium-activated after-hyperpolarization (a.h.p). 3. Detailed analysis using 5-HT antagonists and agonists indicates that the hyperpolarization is mediated by a 5-HT1A receptor. Spiperone is the most effective antagonist of the response and the selective 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OHDPAT, behaves as a partial agonist at this receptor. In agreement with the distribution of 5-HT1A binding sites, responses to 5-HT were most prominent in the stratum radiatum. 4. The hyperpolarizing response is associated with a decrease in input resistance, is blocked by extracellular barium and intracellular caesium, is unaffected by the chloride gradient, and its reversal potential shifts with the extracellular concentration of potassium as predicted for a response mediated by a selective increase in potassium permeability. 5. The depolarizing response and reduction in the a.h.p. could be studied in isolation by blocking the hyperpolarizing response with either pertussis toxin or spiperone. The pharmacology of these responses did not correspond to that of any of the 5-HT binding sites reported in C.N.S. tissue. Although the depolarization and blockade of the a.h.p. have the same time course it is unclear if they are mediated by the same or different receptors. 6. The depolarization most likely results from a decrease in resting potassium conductance. However, neither a blockade of the M current nor the a.h.p. current can account for the depolarization. 7. Blockade of phosphodiesterase activity by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) did not enhance the depressant action of 5-HT on the a.h.p., making it unlikely that this action is mediated by cyclic AMP. 8. Blockade of the a.h.p. by 5-HT reduces spike frequency adaptation and counteracts the inhibitory action of 5-HT on 5-HT1A receptors. This excitatory action outlasts the hyperpolarizing action. 9. In summary 5-HT acts on at least two distinct receptors on hippocampal pyramidal cells, one coupled to the opening of potassium channels and a second coupled to a decrease in a resting potassium conductance and a decrease in the a.h.p.
1570 HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE, AMILORIDE AND TOLMETIN IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES INSIPIDUS OF BRATTLEBORO RATS

1570 HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE, AMILORIDE AND TOLMETIN IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES INSIPIDUS OF BRATTLEBORO RATS
Microbiological, ultrastructural and spectroscopic analyses of the anti-tooth-plaque properties of fluoride compounds in vitro

Abstract The growth of bacteria on enamel in vitro was used to investigate the effect on plaque formation of 1 min, twice daily exposure to various fluoride treatments. After 2 days, microbial quantitation of the number of adherent Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis or Actinomyces viscosus cells showed that in all cases SnF 2 at 100 or 250 parts/10 6 F − significantly reduced the bacteria, whereas NaF (100 parts/10 6 F − ), SnCl 2 (Sn equimolar to SnF 2 at 100 part/10 6 F − ) and Na 2 SnF 6 (100 parts/10 6 F − ) produced no significant change. Electron microscopy of the Strep, mutans specimens exposed to SnF 2 (250 parts/10 6 ) revealed bacterial separation from the enamel and several morphological alterations of the cells themselves. Electron-dense granules, identified as tin by electron microprobe, were also noted in the bacteria exposed to SnF 2 . Atomic-absorption spectrophotometry of similarly processed specimens revealed high levels of tin in plaque samples treated with SnF 2 but not with SnCl 2 . These findings support the view that SnF 2 has anti-plaque properties and that its action may be due to the accumulation of tin in the bacteria.
Proton NMR and Dynamic Studies of Hydrous Ruthenium Oxide

A series of hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuO2·xH2O) samples annealed at different temperatures have been studied by solid-state 1H NMR spectroscopy. The proton dynamics of the RuO2·xH2O samples was characterized for the first time through variable-temperature 1H spin−lattice relaxation time (T1) measurements. For the RuO2·xH2O samples annealed at temperatures lower than 100 °C and higher than 200 °C, a high proton activation energy was obtained, implying that the proton dynamics/diffusive motion is relatively restrained, whereas the samples annealed at temperatures between 100 and 200 °C exhibited relatively low proton activation energies, indicating that the protons can easily diffuse into the bulk of the material. Therefore, the proton activation energy correlates strongly with the hydrogen transfer and storage ability of the proton-conducting materials. In combination with electrochemical measurements, our NMR data also suggest that the coexistence of the Ru2+, Ru3+, and Ru4+ valency states in the local st...
Blood-Based Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease

There is a pressing need for biomarkers to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD), assess disease severity, and prognosticate course. Various types of biologic specimens are potential candidates for identifying biomarkers--defined here as surrogate indicators of physiological or pathophysiological states--but blood has the advantage of being minimally invasive to obtain. There are, however, several challenges to identifying biomarkers in blood. Several candidate biomarkers identified in other diseases or in other types of biological fluids are being pursued as blood-based biomarkers in PD. In addition, unbiased discovery is underway using techniques including metabolomics, proteomics, and gene expression profiling. In this review, we summarize these techniques and discuss the challenges and successes of blood-based biomarker discovery in PD. Blood-based biomarkers that are discussed include α-synuclein, DJ-1, uric acid, epidermal growth factor, apolipoprotein-A1, and peripheral inflammatory markers.
Ultra-violet absorption of oxygen in organic solvents.

IT has been found that, in a number of organic solvents, dissolved oxygen gives rise to absorption in the far ultra-violet. This absorption is completely eliminated when oxygen is removed by boiling, or by bubbling nitrogen or other gases through the solvent.
Irreducible modules for the quantum affine algebra Uq(g) and its Borel subalgebra Uq(g)⩾0

Abstract Let g be an affine Kac–Moody Lie algebra, and let U q ( g ) be its quantized universal enveloping algebra. Let the Borel subalgebra U q ( g ) ⩾ 0 of U q ( g ) be the nonnegative part of U q ( g ) with respect to the standard triangular decomposition. Suppose e ∈ { − 1 , 1 } n , where n is the number of simple roots of g . We construct a bijection between finite-dimensional irreducible U q ( g ) ⩾ 0 -modules of type e and finite-dimensional irreducible U q ( g ) -modules of type e. In particular: (i) Let V be a finite-dimensional irreducible U q ( g ) ⩾ 0 -module of type e. Then the action of U q ( g ) ⩾ 0 on V extends uniquely to an action of U q ( g ) on V. The resulting U q ( g ) -module structure on V is irreducible and of type e. (ii) Let V be a finite-dimensional irreducible U q ( g ) -module of type e. When the U q ( g ) -action is restricted to U q ( g ) ⩾ 0 , the resulting U q ( g ) ⩾ 0 -module structure on V is irreducible and of type e.
In situ analysis of changes in telomere size during replicative aging and cell transformation

Telomeres have been shown to gradually shorten during replicative aging in human somatic cells by Southern analysis. This study examines telomere shortening at the single cell level by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). FISH and confocal microscopy of interphase human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) demonstrate that telomeres are distributed throughout the nucleus with an interchromosomal heterogeneity in size. Analysis of HDFs at increasing population doubling levels shows a gradual increase in spot size, intensity, and detectability of telomeric signal. FISH of metaphase chromosomes prepared from young and old HDFs shows a heterogeneity in detection frequency for telomeres on chromosomes 1, 9, 15, and Y. The interchromosomal distribution of detection frequencies was similar for cells at early and late passage. The telomeric detection frequency for metaphase chromosomes also decreased with age. These observations suggest that telomeres shorten at similar rates in normal human somatic cels. T-antigen transformed HDFs near crisis contained telomere signals that were low compared to nontransformed HDFs. A large intracellular heterogeneity in telomere lengths was detected in two telomerase-negative cell lines compared to normal somatic cells and the telomerase-positive 293 cell line. Many telomerase-negative immortal cells had telomeric signals stronger than those in young HDFs, suggesting a different mechanism for telomere length regulation in telomerase-negative immortal cells. These studies provide an in situ demonstration of interchromosomal heterogeneity in telomere lengths. Furthermore, FISH is a reliable and sensitive method for detecting changes in telomere size at the single cell level.
Synthesis of oxygen‐18 isotope labeled amino acids and dipeptides and its effects on carbon‐13 NMR

Oxygen-18 isotope labeled at the carboxyl group of glycine, L-alanine and L-proline were synthesized by acid catalyzed exchange or acid hydrolysis of respective methyl ester derivatives of amino acids in HC1/H218O. Quantitative enrichment of glycine was achieved by the acid hydrolysis of amino acetonitrile in H218O. In order to conserve the isotopic enrichment [18O] dipeptides were synthesized by solid phase method. [18O] isotope effects on [13C] NMR of carboxylic carbon of amino acids and carbonyl carbon of peptides was observed. The [18O] isotopic shifts observed for the carboxylic carbon of singly and doubly [18O] labeled amino acids showed that the [18O] isotope effect is additive.
Time to Diagnosis and Performance Levels during Repeat Interpretations of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Preliminary Observations

Rationale and Objectives To compare time to interpretation and diagnostic performance levels during repeat readings of full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in a retrospective study. Materials and Methods Three experienced radiologists twice interpreted 125 selected examinations, 35 with verified cancers and 90 negative for cancer during a period of 22 months using FFDM alone followed by a combined FFDM + DBT mode. Changes in time to “review and rate” these examinations as well as in diagnostic performance levels where assessed. A fixed-effect analysis accounting for cross-correlation due to the review of the same examinations by the same readers was performed. Results The total (combined) time to review and rate an examination increased on average by 33% between the first and second readings of the same examinations (P Conclusion DBT-based breast imaging may ultimately result in a substantial increase in performance; however, without efficiency improvements DBT may take longer to interpret. Addition of “false-positive recalls” was most strongly associated with increase in interpretation time while elimination of “false-positive recalls” did not require longer interpretation time.
Voice Tone and Persuasion

An experiment was performed to test the hypothesis that the outcome of a vocal nonverbal attempt at persuasion can be affected by the participants' skills in nonverbal communication. Subjects' vocal sending or vocal decoding abilities were pretested. Senders and decoders were agents and recipients, respectively, of social influence in a field experiment in which social influence took the form of the senders' ability to elicit differing degrees of hypothetical willingness on the part of the recipients to serve as participants in psychological research. Senders attempted to do this by varying their vocal nonverbal cues while reading a prepared script. There was a strong effect of recipients' decoding skill on influence such that better decoders complied with the experimental manipulation, and the poorer decoders did the reverse. Sending ability by itself was not related to social influence, but the greatest degree of positive influence occurred in dyads composed of better senders and better decoders. Analysis of ratings of the senders' voices while they engaged in the attempt at persuasion suggested that good and poor decoders might have different affective responses to affectively toned communication.
Association between collagen and glycosaminoglycans is altered in dermal extracellular matrix of fetal Steel (Sld/Sld) mice.

Altered extracellular matrix produced by Steel mutant fetuses affects the pigmentation of neural crest cells in vitro (K. Morrison-Graham, L. West-Johnsrud, and J.A. Weston, 1990, Dev. Biol. 139). Here, we demonstrate that collagen bundle morphology and hyaluronidase sensitivity of the glycosaminoglycans associated with the collagen fibrils differ between normal and mutant dermis. Although no differences were detected in the amounts of collagen or glycosaminoglycans produced in vitro or present in vivo, hyaluronic acid was more readily extracted from Sld/Sld than from normal skin. We suggest that the Steel mutation alters the organization of collagen bundles and associated hyaluronic acid within the extracellular matrix.
Age differences in the perception of new co-worker benevolence

Purpose – Large numbers of older workers are remaining in the global workforce, raising questions concerning age-related differences in perception and behavior. The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay between employee age, gender and ethnicity on benevolence perceptions of new co-workers. Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained through scenario methods from a sample of 215 full-time, team-based employees across nine North American business organizations. Participants evaluated three provocative scenarios depicting initial meetings with new colleagues. Findings – Workers of greater age perceived significantly less benevolence in all three scenarios. In evaluating a new boss, women perceived lower benevolence than men, and gender moderated the relationship between age and perceived benevolence, where aging was associated with significantly lower levels of perceived benevolence only among men. Research limitations/implications – Deeper understandings are needed concerning the behaviora...
Water Oxidation Catalysis by Co(II) Impurities in Co(III)4O4 Cubanes

The observed water oxidation activity of the compound class Co4O4(OAc)4(Py–X)4 emanates from a Co(II) impurity. This impurity is oxidized to produce the well-known Co-OEC heterogeneous cobaltate catalyst, which is an active water oxidation catalyst. We present results from electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance line broadening analysis, and electrochemical titrations to establish the existence of the Co(II) impurity as the major source of water oxidation activity that has been reported for Co4O4 molecular cubanes. Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry is used to characterize the fate of glassy carbon at water oxidizing potentials and demonstrate that such electrode materials should be used with caution for the study of water oxidation catalysis.
Approximation algorithms for constrained generalized tree alignment problem

In generalized tree alignment problem, we are given a set S of k biologically related sequences and we are interested in a minimum cost evolutionary tree for S. In many instances of this problem partial phylogenetic tree for S is known. In such instances, we would like to make use of this knowledge to restrict the tree topologies that we consider and construct a biologically relevant minimum cost evolutionary tree. So, we propose the following natural generalization of the generalized tree alignment problem, a problem known to be MAX-SNP Hard, stated as follows: Constrained Generalized Tree Alignment Problem [S. Divakaran, Algorithms and heuristics for constrained generalized alignment problem, DIMACS Technical Report 2007-21, 2007]: Given a set S of k related sequences and a phylogenetic forest comprising of node-disjoint phylogenetic trees that specify the topological constraints that an evolutionary tree of S needs to satisfy, construct a minimum cost evolutionary tree for S. In this paper, we present constant approximation algorithms for the constrained generalized tree alignment problem. For the generalized tree alignment problem, a special case of this problem, our algorithms provide a guaranteed error bound of 2-2/k.
Some perceptions of highly regarded doctoral programs in speech communication

A survey of perceived quality of doctoral programs was conducted among two samples of speech communication professionals—one random and one composed of authors in the field. The survey was a partial replication of a previous study conducted in 1976. The results are presented for each sample separately and are broken down according to various specialities within the field of speech communication.
The Effect of Melt Composition on the Wetting Angle Between Silicate Melts and Olivine

The wetting angle between silicate melts containing Ca, Li, Na, or K and olivine single crystals have been measured as part of an investigation of the dependence of the solid-liquid interfacial energy on melt composition and olivine orientation. The wetting angle increases with increasing silica content of the melt on (100) surfaces, but decreases with increasing silica content on (010) and (001) surfaces. For a given silica content, the wetting angle on (100) decreases in going from Ca to Li to Na to K, while the wetting angle on (010) and (001) increases in going from Ca to K-bearing melts. Based on published values for liquid-vapor interfacial energies, the observed changes in wetting angle with changes in melt composition indicate that the solid-liquid interfacial energy increases with increasing silica content of the melt for the (100) surface. However, for (010) and (001) surfaces, the variation of the solid-liquid interfacial energy with silica content depends upon whether Ca or K is present in the melt. In addition, the solid-liquid interfacial energy depends upon the orientation of the olivine in the following manner: γ sl (010) ⩽γ sl (001) <γ sl (100) .
Creep of directionally solidified alumina/YAG eutectic monofilaments

Abstract Multi-phase—single crystal oxide fibers offer the best choice for reinforcing oxide matrix composites because they have superior creep resistance up to 1700 °C without significant strength loss at moderate temperatures due to growth of processing flaws. In this work, Directionally Solidified Al2O3–YAG eutectic fibers were grown at various rates by the Edge-defined, Film-fed Growth (EFG) method and their microstructure, microstructural stability and creep properties were studied. A methodology was developed in order to determine if the creep behavior of a fiber was affected by any heterogeneous coarsening defects. The creep behavior could be rationalized using a threshold stress concept with activation energy of 1100 kJ/mol K. TEM analysis of the crept fibers suggested that the Sapphire phase was deforming by a dislocation mechanism, while the YAG phase deformed by a diffusional mechanism. A creep model was developed which contained geometrical factors for describing the microstructure. Analysis of the data showed that the creep resistance would increase to single crystal values as the phase aspect ratio increased. Further, these two phases—single crystal structures exhibit a flaw-independent strength and are suggested to have a decrease in slow crack growth rate as the transverse phase size decreases.
Kinlsq: A Program for Fitting Kinetics Data with Numerically Integrated Rate Equations and Its Application to the Analysis of Slow, Tight-Binding Inhibition Data

Kinlsq, a Matlab-based computer program for the least-squares fitting of parameters to kinetics data described by numerically integrated rate equations, is described, and three applications to the analysis of enzyme kinetics data are given. The first application was to the analysis of a simple bimolecular enzyme plus inhibitor binding curve. The kinlsq fit to these data was essentially identical to that obtained with the corresponding analytically integrated rate equation, validating kinlsq. The second application was to the fit of a numerically integrated Michaelis-Menten model to the progress curve for dipeptidyl peptidase IV-catalyzed hydrolysis of Ala-Pro-p-nitroanilide as a demonstration of the analysis of steady-state enzyme kinetics data. The results obtained with kinlsq were compared with the results obtained by fitting this time course with the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation, and with the results obtained by fitting the (S,dP/dt) transform of the data with the Michaelis-Menten equation. The third application was to the analysis of the inhibition of chymotrypsin by the slow, tight-binding inhibitor MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-boroPhe, data not readily amenable to other methods of analysis. These applications demonstrate how kinlsq can be used to fit rate constants, equilibrium constants, steady-state constants, and the stoichiometric relationships between components.
Siderophores are not involved in Fe(III) solubilization during anaerobic Fe(III) respiration by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 respires a wide range of anaerobic electron acceptors, including sparingly soluble Fe(III) oxides. In the present study, S. oneidensis was found to produce Fe(III)-solubilizing organic ligands during anaerobic Fe(III) oxide respiration, a respiratory strategy postulated to destabilize Fe(III) and produce more readily reducible soluble organic Fe(III). In-frame gene deletion mutagenesis, siderophore detection assays, and voltammetric techniques were combined to determine (i) if the Fe(III)-solubilizing organic ligands produced by S. oneidensis during anaerobic Fe(III) oxide respiration were synthesized via siderophore biosynthesis systems and (ii) if the Fe(III)-siderophore reductase was required for respiration of soluble organic Fe(III) as an anaerobic electron acceptor. Genes predicted to encode the siderophore (hydroxamate) biosynthesis system (SO3030 to SO3032), the Fe(III)-hydroxamate receptor (SO3033), and the Fe(III)-hydroxamate reductase (SO3034) were identified in the S. oneidensis genome, and corresponding in-frame gene deletion mutants were constructed. ΔSO3031 was unable to synthesize siderophores or produce soluble organic Fe(III) during aerobic respiration yet retained the ability to solubilize and respire Fe(III) at wild-type rates during anaerobic Fe(III) oxide respiration. ΔSO3034 retained the ability to synthesize siderophores during aerobic respiration and to solubilize and respire Fe(III) at wild-type rates during anaerobic Fe(III) oxide respiration. These findings indicate that the Fe(III)-solubilizing organic ligands produced by S. oneidensis during anaerobic Fe(III) oxide respiration are not synthesized via the hydroxamate biosynthesis system and that the Fe(III)-hydroxamate reductase is not essential for respiration of Fe(III)-citrate or Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as an anaerobic electron acceptor.
Optimizing Givens' algorithm for multiprocessors

Lo, Philippe, and Sameh have presented a version of Givens' bisection algorithm for the symmetric tridiagonal eigenvalue problem, addressed to the case in which the number of eigenvalues to be found is significantly more than the number of processors. The algorithm combines multisection and bisection, and uses a secant method to accelerate convergence. We compare it to an approach in which multisection is avoided and the acceleration is done by strict linear interpolation on an appropriate root of the magnitude of the determinant, and indicate why this earlier approach may be preferred in certain cases.
Evaluation of the effect of azapropazone on neutrophil migration in regional myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits.

Abstract 1. The purpose of the present study was to determine the myocardial cytoprotective efficacy of azapropazone (AZA) and its potential site of action on neutrophil infiltration into reperfused/ischaemic myocardium with or without in vivo activation of neutrophils in rabbits. 2. AZA, 100 mg kg-1, was administered i.v. 10 min after occlusion of the left circumflex (LCX) artery in rabbits with and without pretreatment with phorbol myristate acetate ester (PMA). The LCX occlusion was then released at 10 min after AZA administration. Haemodynamic parameters (heart rate, LV pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and dp/dt) were monitored throughout the experiment. After 60 min reperfusion, the area at risk was delineated and the heart was then excised and divided into epi- and endocardial pieces for analysis of myeloperoxidase activity. 3. AZA inhibited neutrophil infiltration into the reperfused/ischaemic rabbit myocardium with and without PMA treatment. The inhibition of neutrophil infiltration was more apparent in the epicardium than in the endocardium. Additionally, AZA inhibited to a similar extent the in vivo PMA-stimulated neutrophil migration into the epicardium and endocardium area at risk. AZA had no significant effect on the haemodynamic parameters as compared to control. 4. AZA administered in an anaesthetized rabbit model of LCX occlusion/reperfusion resulted in the reduction of infarct size. 5. It is concluded that AZA has significant inhibitory effects on neutrophil migration which might contribute to its myocardial cytoprotective effect.
Cognitive dysfunction associated with antiepileptic drug therapy.

Summary: Epilepsy is frequently associated with cognitive dysfunction. However, the reasons for this correlation are unclear. Possible influential factors include patient age; duration, frequency, etiology, and type of seizures; hereditary factors; psychosocial issues; and antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Whereas many of these factors are beyond the physician's control, AED therapy is one element that can be addressed in treatment decisions by recognizing the potential cognitive effects of particular AEDs. For example, phenobarbital impairs memory and concentration; phenytoin affects attention, problem solving ability, and performance of visuomotor tasks. In contrast, carbamazepine may affect concentration, while valproate would appear to have minimal effects on cognition. Moreover, cognitive effects of AEDs are amplified with coadministration of multiple anticonvulsants (polytherapy). A review of studies on the cognitive effects of monotherapy with AEDs, as opposed to those of polytherapy, provides evidence that drug-related cognitive dysfunction can be reversed if patients are switched to a simpler therapeutic regimen. Future research should be directed toward developing reliable measures for assessing and monitoring cognition, and understanding the particular cognitive side effects of each AED. Physicians also need to revise their opinions about which side effects are “tolerable” for epileptic patients.
A theory of utility and privacy of data sources

The problem of frequent private information “leakage” from the myriad large centralized searchable data repositories in use today drives the need for an analytical framework that quantifies unequivocally how safe private data can be (privacy) while still providing measurable benefit (utility) to multiple legitimate information consumers. Rate distortion theory is shown to be a natural choice to develop such a framework which includes modeling of data sources, developing application independent utility and privacy metrics, quantifying utility-privacy tradeoffs irrespective of the type of data sources or the methods of providing privacy, and developing a side-information model for dealing with questions of external knowledge.
Nalidixic Acid-Induced Protein Alterations in Escherichia coli

Abstract The effect of nalidixic acid on pulse-labeled protein patterns was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. The drug was found to alter protein patterns in a drug-sensitive strain but not in the isogenic drug-resistant strain of Escherichia coli. The drug-induced alteration of protein patterns was demonstrated by the appearance of some and the disappearance of other pulse-labeled peptides elicited by the drug.
Did Incomes for Most of the Population Fall from 1923 Through 1929

This paper uses independent real wages, earnings, labor force data, and an examination of Kuznet's 1953 data to explore the recent contention that real per capita incomes for most of the American population declined from 1923 through 1929. It concludes that there is little evidence to support this contention.
Effective hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived oxygenates into unsaturated hydrocarbons by MoO3 using low H2 pressures

Effective hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived oxygenates is achieved with MoO3 to produce unsaturated hydrocarbons, converting linear ketones and cyclic ethers to olefins, and cyclic ketones and phenolics to aromatics with high yields. The catalyst is selective for C–O bond cleavage and operates using low H2 pressures (≤1 bar). We show that deactivation can be minimised by tuning hydrogen partial pressure, that original activity can be recovered by calcination, and that catalytic activity can be maintained in the presence of water. Theoretical calculations are used to elucidate reaction pathways and highlight the role of oxygen vacancies in the deoxygenation process.
Identifying high-status foods in the archeological record

More than providing simply nutritive value, food in human societies can be endowed with great social weight. Aspects of any given food system inform, and are informed by, a variety of social, economic, religious, historical, ecological, cultural, and political processes. Moreover, food systems are often intentionally designed and executed to communicate key aspects of a consumer’s identity including class or social status. The manipulation of food systems on the part of socio-political elites or high status individuals is but one example of this phenomenon, the appearance of which is a correlate of increased socio-political hierarchy. As food can come to be used by elites as a socio-political tool in stratified societies, the temptation to use archeologically recognizable differences in foodways as a means of understanding the origin, nature, and functioning of processes of stratification is strong. The obvious difficulty lies in developing theoretically informed methods that reckon food system differences in ways that enable scholars to identify those foods that may have been particularly imbued with social meaning. In this paper, we propose a metric for the identification of elite foods (or, indeed, socially valued foods) using the types of data typically available to archeologists. Based on these proposed criteria, we attempt to unravel the complex and politically charged food system of the stratified societies of the pre-Columbian Greater Antilles with an eye towards refining our understanding of the development and maintenance of prestige and institutionalized power therein.
Hemodynamic effects and onset time of increasing doses of vecuronium in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization.

Study objectives were (1) to compare the hemodynamic effects of increasing doses of vecuronium, given as a bolus during induction of anesthesia using high-dose fentanyl, in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization; and (2) to determine whether increasing the dose of vecuronium would decrease the onset time to maximal depression of twitch response. Forty patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass surgery were randomly assigned to four equal groups to receive either 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, or 0.4 mg/kg of vecuronium. Hemodynamic measurements and neuromuscular blockade were recorded at five time points: A, awake state; B, anesthetized state after the administration of fentanyl, 10 μg/kg; C, 2 minutes after vecuronium bolus; D, 5 minutes after vecuronium bolus; and E, after intubation. Increasing the dose of vecuronium from 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg decreased the onset time from 3.8 ± 0.3 minutes to 1.8 ± 0.2 minutes (P < 0.05). However, higher doses of vecuronium (0.3 or 0.4 mg/kg) did not result in further decreases in onset time. There were no significant differences in any hemodynamic parameter measured among the four groups in the anesthetized baseline state. Compared with the anesthetized state, the administration of vecuronium resulted in few alterations in hemodynamics within the groups studied. There were no changes in any hemodynamic parameter at 2 and 5 minutes following administration of 0.4 mg/kg of vecuronium. There were also no dose-related changes in any hemodynamic parameter. Thus, high doses of vecuronium of up to 0.4 mg/kg may be administered to patients with coronary artery disease with few hemodynamic changes. In addition, the onset time of neuromuscular blockade was significantly reduced by increasing the dose of vecuronium from 0.1 mg/ kg to 0.2 mg/kg.
IGFBP-5 Promotes Fibrosis Independently of Its Translocation to the Nucleus and Its Interaction with Nucleolin and IGF.

Background Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-5 levels are increased in systemic sclerosis (SSc) skin and lung. We previously reported that IGFBP-5 is a pro-fibrotic factor that induces extracellular matrix (ECM) production and deposition. Since IGFBP-5 contains a nuclear localization signal (NLS) that facilitates its nuclear translocation, we sought to examine the role of nuclear translocation on the fibrotic activity of IGFBP-5 and identify IGFBP-5 binding partners relevant for its nuclear compartmentalization.
Human language technology: opportunities and challenges

In recent years, there has been dramatic progress in both speech and language processing, in many cases leveraging some of the same underlying methods. This progress and the growing technical ties motivate efforts to combine speech and language technologies in spoken document processing applications. This paper outlines some of the issues involved, as well as the opportunities, presenting an overview of the special double session on this topic.
Coloring the Academic Landscape: Faculty of Color Breaking the Silence in Predominantly White Colleges and Universities

This article, based on a larger, autoethnographic qualitative research project, focuses on the first-hand experiences of 27 faculty of color teaching in predominantly White colleges and universities. The 27 faculty represented a variety of institutions, disciplines, academic titles, and ranks. They identified themselves as African American, American Indian, Asian, Asian American, Latina/o, Native Pacific Islander, and South African. This article reports on the predominant themes of the narratives shared by these faculty of color: teaching, mentoring, collegiality, identity, service, and racism. These themes, consonant with findings from the research literature, can be used to offer suggestions and recommendations for the recruitment and retention of faculty of color in higher education.
How gesture input provides a helping hand to language development

Children use gesture to refer to objects before they produce labels for these objects and gesture-speech combinations to convey semantic relations between objects before conveying sentences in speech--a trajectory that remains largely intact across children with different developmental profiles. Can the developmental changes that we observe in children be traced back to the gestural input that children receive from their parents? A review of previous work shows that parents provide models for their children for the types of gestures and gesture-speech combinations to produce, and do so by modifying their gestures to meet the communicative needs of their children. More importantly, the gestures that parents produce, in addition to providing models, help children learn labels for referents and semantic relations between these referents and even predict the extent of children's vocabularies several years later. The existing research thus highlights the important role parental gestures play in shaping children's language learning trajectory.
The "we of me": Carson McCullers as lesbian novelist.

Abstract Although Carson McCullers camouflaged her love for women in her fiction, gay and lesbian themes are inarguably present in her work. The loneliness that her characters face takes on allegorical intensity, and it is even more potent due to her own sexual confusion and alienation. Married twice to the same man and falling in love repeatedly with both women and men, McCullers wrestled with bisexu-ality throughout her personal and literary life. Her deepest attachments were to her husband Reeves McCullers; David Diamond, a musician-composer in love with both McCullers and her husband; and Anne-marie Clarac-Schwarzenbach, a Swiss writer. All three of these love interests required that McCullers deal with complicated and ultimately destructive triangles. Given that fact, it is no surprise that she created fictional worlds peopled with characters engaged in three-way relationships. In her novels, Mick (The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter), Frankie (The Member of the Wedding), Miss Amelia (The Ballad of the Sad ...
Immigration and self-determination

This article asks whether states have a right to close their borders because of their right to self-determination, as proposed recently by Christopher Wellman, Michael Walzer, and others. It asks t...