cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transport and interaction of arsenic, chromium, and copper associated with CCA-treated wood in columns of sand and sand amended with peat.

Laboratory column leaching experiments were conducted to investigate the transport and interaction of As, Cr, and Cu associated with CCA-treated wood in sand with and without peat amendment. Results showed that leaching behavior of As, Cr, and Cu in these substrates were totally different. Substrate characteristics and microorganism activity posed distinct effects on the transport and transformation of these three elements. Arsenic was rapidly leached out from the columns with or without the amendment of peat, while Cr remained in all columns during the entire experimental period (215 days). Copper was leached out only in the substrate column without peat. The presence of microorganism clearly facilitated the transport of As, while it did not show obvious effects on the transport of Cr and Cu. Interactions among these three elements were observed during the processes of adsorption and transport. The adsorption of Cu on soil was enhanced with the adsorption of As, likely caused by a more negatively charged soil surface because of As adsorption. The adsorption of Cr on soil increased the adsorption of As due to the additional As binding sites induced by Cr adsorption. These results suggest that As concentrations in the soil affected by CCA-treated wood could largely exceed predictions based on soil adsorption capacity for As. The evaluation of the impact on human health associated with CCA-treated wood should take consideration of the distinct transport characteristics of three elements and their interactions in soils.
Angiotensin II associated cardiac myocyte necrosis: role of adrenal catecholamines

Objective: Cardiac myocyte necrosis is associated with an endogenous increase in angiotensin II or a subpressor dose of angiotensin II. In each case, raised plasma angiotensin II, together with aldosterone, results in cardiac myocyte necrosis followed by scarring. Arterial hypertension is non-contributory. The aim of this study was to determine whether myocyte necrosis is induced directly by angiotensin II, or indirectly by catecholamines or aldosterone released from adrenal glands in response to angiotensin II. Methods: Right and left ventricular myocardium was examined over a two week period in rats receiving a subpressor yet cardiotoxic dose of angio- tensin II (150 ng·min−1·kg−1 subcutaneously) alone or together with total adrenalectomy, bilateral medullectomy, or the aldosterone receptor antagonist spironolactone (150-200 mg·d−1kg−1). Findings were compared to unoperated age/sex matched controls. Coronal sections obtained from the base, equator and apex of the heart were stained with antifibronectin antibody to detect myocyte injury, picrosirius red for fibrillar collagen, or haematoxylin and eosin. Results: In both right and left ventricles (a) fibronectin labelling was distributed within injured cardiac myocytes and adjacent interstitium of both ventricles in rats receiving angiotensin II or angiotensin II plus spironolactone; (b) fibronectin labelling of myocytes was markedly diminished or absent in the ventricles of rats with total adrenalectomy or bilateral medullectomy; and (c) there was microscopic scarring of both ventricles after two weeks of either angiotensin II or angiotensin II plus spironolactone, but not in medullectomised or adrenalectomised animals. Conclusions: In the presence of increased circulating levels of angiotensin II, bilateral medullectomy and total adrenalectomy (in contrast to spironolactone) reduced myocyte injury and scarring of the right and left ventricular myocardium, suggesting that the cytotoxic effect of angiotensin II is largely indirect and related to circulating catecholamines released by the adrenal medulla. Cardiovascular Research 1994; 28 :684-690
JAK-STAT signaling in asthma

The past two decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the prevalence of asthma worldwide (1). Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by variable airway obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and airway inflammation and remodeling. Histological studies show that airways of asthmatic patients contain a chronic inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, eosinophils, and mast cells. This infiltrate is usually accompanied by desquamation of the bronchial epithelial layer, goblet cell hyperplasia, and thickening of the submucosa. In most cases, the asthmatic inflammatory process results from inappropriate immune responses to common environmental antigens in a genetically susceptible individual (2). These inappropriate immune responses are orchestrated by a subset of CD4+ T helper cells termed T helper 2 (Th2) cells. Cytokines play a pivotal role in the development of asthma by regulating the expansion of Th2 cells and by mediating many of the Th2 effector functions that underlie the pathogenic events of an asthmatic response. Much effort has recently been placed in elucidating the pathways used by cytokines to mediate their actions. These studies have revealed that cytokine-mediated signals are primarily transduced by the Jak-Stat signaling cascade (3). In this review we will highlight the recent advances made in dissecting the roles of this signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Oscillator strengths for electronic spectra of conjugated molecules from transition gradients III. Polyacenes

Transition dipole moments for theN - V 1 andN - V 2 transitions of eight polyacenes calculated from transition gradients, rather than the more conventional transition moments, are in good agreement with experiment. Integration over the complete experimental absorption curve yields a quantity relatively independent of overlapped bands, “intensity stealing”, configuration interaction (CI) etc. Use of this integrated intensity shows unambiguously that the transition gradient is to be preferred over the transition dipole if simple π-electron wave-functions are to be used for calculating absorption strength.
Role of interleukin‐8 in PiT‐1 expression and CXCR1‐mediated inorganic phosphate uptake in chondrocytes

Objective The proinflammatory chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) induces chondrocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, chondrocyte hypertrophy develops in situ in osteoarthritic (OA) articular cartilage and promotes dysregulated matrix repair and calcification. Growth plate chondrocyte hypertrophy is associated with expression of the type III sodium-dependent inorganic phosphate (Pi) cotransporter phosphate transporter/retrovirus receptor 1 (PiT-1). This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that IL-8 promotes chondrocyte hypertrophy by modulating chondrocyte PiT-1 expression and sodium-dependent Pi uptake, and to assess differential roles in this activity. Methods The selective IL-8 receptor CXCR1 and the promiscuous chemokine receptor CXCR2 were used. Human knee OA cartilage, cultured normal bovine knee chondrocytes, and immortalized human articular chondrocytic CH-8 cells were transfected with CXCR1/CXCR2 chimeric receptors in which the 40–amino acid C-terminal cytosolic tail domains were swapped and site mutants of a CXCR1-specific region were generated. Results Up-regulated PiT-1 expression was detected in OA cartilage. IL-8, but not IL-1 or the CXCR2 ligand growth-related oncogene α, induced PiT-1 expression and increased sodium-dependent Pi uptake by >40% in chondrocytes. The sodium/phosphate cotransport inhibitor phosphonoformic acid blocked IL-8–induced chondrocyte hypertrophic differentiation. Signaling mediated by kinase Pyk-2 was essential for IL-8 induction of PitT-1 expression and Pi uptake. Signaling through the TSYT346–349 region of the CXCR1 cytosolic tail, a region divergent from the CXCR2 cytosolic tail, was essential for IL-8 to induce Pi uptake. Conclusion Our results link low-grade IL-8–mediated cartilaginous inflammation in OA to altered chondrocyte differentiation and disease progression through PiT-1 expression and sodium-dependent Pi uptake mediated by CXCR1 signaling.
Ultraviolet-gas phase and -photocatalytic synthesis from CO and NH3.

Ammonium cyanate is identified as the major product of the photolysis of gaseous NH3-CO mixtures at 206.2 or 184.9 nm. Lesser amounts of urea, biurea, biuret semicarbazide, formamide and cyanide are observed. A series of 18 reactions underlying the formation of photolysis products is presented and discussed. Photocatalytic syntheses of C-14-urea, -formamide, and -formaldehyde are carried out through irradiation of (C-14)O and NH3 in the presence of Vycor, silica gel, or volcanic ash shale surfaces. The possible contributions of the relevant reactions to the abiotic synthesis of organic nitrogen compounds on Mars, the primitive earth, and in interstellar space are examined.
Accurately computing the optical pathlength difference for a Michelson interferometer with minimal knowledge of the source spectrum

Astrometric measurements using stellar interferometry rely on precise measurement of the central white light fringe to accurately obtain the optical pathlength difference of incoming starlight to the two arms of the interferometer. One standard approach to stellar interferometry uses a channeled spectrum to determine phases at a number of different wavelengths that are then converted to the pathlength delay. When throughput is low these channels are broadened to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Ultimately the ability to use monochromatic models and algorithms in each of the channels to extract phase becomes problematic and knowledge of the spectrum must be incorporated to achieve the accuracies required of the astrometric measurements. To accomplish this an optimization problem is posed to estimate simultaneously the pathlength delay and spectrum of the source. Moreover, the nature of the parameterization of the spectrum that is introduced circumvents the need to solve directly for these parameters so that the optimization problem reduces to a scalar problem in just the pathlength delay variable. A number of examples are given to show the robustness of the approach.
Comparison of the isozyme variation in tall fescue parents and their somaclones

This study was conducted using the isozymes ACP-1, ADH-1, GOT-2, GOT-3, MDH, 6-PGD-1 and PGI-2 to: a) compare isozyme banding patterns of tall fescue somaclones with parents and b) correlate tissue culture-induced chromosome abnormalities with variant banding patterns. The 174 somaclones were grouped into seven categories based on their meiotic analyses and time of regeneration from culture. Differences in isozyme frequency between categories compared by chi-square tests were greatest for MDH, 6-PGD-1 and PGI-2, and least for ACP-1. The most significant differences in frequency were found between somaclones and parents. In comparisons of somaclone categories, the most different isozyme distributions were between the early vs. late regenerated somaclones. No significant differences in isozyme frequencies were found between all 42-chromosome somaclones vs. aneuploid somaclones and the three somaclone groups (42-normal, 42-abnormal, aneuploid) compared to each other. This study suggests that culture-induced isozyme variation alters the distribution of the isozyme phenotypes, but is not directly correlated with chromosome abnormalities.
Audit cultures, labour, and conservative movements in the global university

I want to use this essay – basically a commentary – as a context for some political reflections on what is happening to the governance and the labour processes at universities internationally. In the process, in addition to my critical reflections on the neoliberal impulses affecting universities, I want to do two other things. First, I shall expand the range of work and workers that need to be considered if our analyses are to be true to the range and depth of these transformations. And second, I also want to complicate the usual critical analyses of what is happening in higher education by broadening the discussion to include movements that include but go beyond the class-based models that are often employed. Thus, in a later part of this essay, I urge us to pay closer attention to conservative religious movements and institutions that are having an increasing impact on the politics of knowledge at universities in a number of countries.
Teaching practices and strategies to involve inner-city parents at home and in the school.

Abstract Few studies have observed what teachers actually do in the classroom to encourage parental involvement in their children’s education. Over the school year, the various teaching practices and strategies of two teachers in an inner-city elementary school that has had public recognition in its efforts to involve parents were gathered through interviews and observations. The five main teaching practices and strategies to engage parents are practicing parent outreach, establishing relationships with the parents, creating a positive classroom climate, teaching to involve parents, and making the community–school connection. This study offers insights into teachers’ classroom practices that are connected to various specific strategies to involve parents.
Structure and function of amylases. I. The subunit structure of porcine pancreatic -amylase.

Abstract The isozymes of porcine pancreatic α-amylase were reduced with dithiothreitol to two enzymatically active subunits which had molecular weights of 25,000 daltons each. These subunits could be isolated and separated from each other by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Subsequent treatment of the subunits with EDTA, DTT, and iodoacetamide gave derivatives that emerged in identical elution volumes from DEAE-cellulose columns and that migrated very rapidly and identically on disc-gel electrophoresis. These latter experiments suggested that the subunits might have similar primary structures. This hypothesis was tested by preparing tryptic peptide maps of the subunits. The results indicated that the subunits had very similar, if not identical, primary structures. It was concluded that the porcine pancreatic α-amylase molecule is composed of two very similar peptide subunits held together by intermolecular disulfide linkages and that the differences between the subunits might be attributable to differences in their tertiary structures.
The stochastic nature of electronucleation

Abstract We have derived the probability density function for the number of electronucleation events in the time interval (0, t ). This function formally accounts for the effects of site saturation on nucleation kinetics. The expected number of particles is exactly that found by a deterministic analysis. It is shown that both Poisson and binomial distributions agree well with the available data. It is pointed out that there must exist two or more nucleation site types when the total number of nucleation sites depends on overvoltage. A stochastic model for this situation is presented.
Effects of hypertrophy and heart failure on [Na+]i in pressure-overloaded guinea pig heart

Intracellular free sodium levels ([Na+]i) were assessed with 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in isolated, Langendorff-perfused normal, compensated hypertrophied, and hypertrophied failing guinea pig hearts under several conditions. Baseline [Na+]i measured with a shift reagent was significantly greater than normal in the compensated hypertrophied hearts (12.8 +/- 1.2 mmol/L v 6.4 +/- 0.7 mmol/L, means +/- SEM, P < .01), but not in the hypertrophied failing hearts (8.7 +/- 1.9 mmol/L, P = N.S.). Moreover, the highest levels of [Na+]i were seen just 3 to 4 weeks after aortic constriction. [Na+]i was inversely related to both time after aortic constriction (R = -0.71, P < .03) and to the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy (R = -0.79, P < .01), suggesting that the hypertrophied failing heart is capable of maintaining relatively normal [Na+]i. In addition, triple quantum filtered NMR measurements were made to assess changes in [Na+]i subsequent to altered perfusion or loading conditions. In hypertrophied failing hearts, but not normal hearts, low coronary perfusion pressure (60 cm H2O) was associated with relatively higher [Na+]i (ANOVA, P < .05), suggesting greater sensitivity of hypertrophied failing hearts to hypoperfusion. On the other hand, when all hearts were perfused at 90 cm H2O and intraventricular balloon volume was increased from 100 microL to 300 microL, [Na+]i increased significantly only in the normal guinea pig hearts (12.3 +/- 1.8%, P < .01). These findings suggest complex changes in the expression or modulation of proteins involved in Na+ regulation. Interpretation regarding the physiological significance of these changes depends on the specific mechanism(s) proposed. Previous work in this and other models of hypertrophy suggest that changes in the number or activity of both Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange proteins are involved.
Wideband antenna array for Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) applications

A wideband antenna array for Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) applications is presented. The design is comprised of a ring array of TEM horns, and a monocone at the array's center. When the array is phased with the first order circular mode, it is isolated from the monocone. Thus, the array may be used in reception while the monocone is used in transmission, or vice versa. The array and monocone both produce quasi-omnidirectional patterns in the azimuthal planes. Simulations suggest that the design operates across an 8.4 : 1 bandwidth. This wide bandwidth is possible through the use of a novel capacitive feed employed in the TEM horn array.
Determination of aromatic and aliphatic CH groups in coal by FT-i.r.: 2. Studies of coals and vitrinite concentrates

Abstract Various methodologies used to determine the aliphatic and aromatic CH contents of coal are discussed. The problems associated with equation i.r. band intensities to elemental hydrogen are examined in some depth. The equations used to determine absorption coefficients (defined here in terms of ‘conversion factors’) are classically ill-conditioned, so that a range of solutions are obtained. However, for bituminous coals these encompass and are close to the values obtained by calibrating with the results of proton n.m.r. studies of coal extracts. Values of aromatic to aliphitic hydrogen ratios are reported and compared to those published previously.
EXPERIMENTAL TRANSMISSION OF INFLUENZA VIRUS INFECTION IN MICE I. THE PERIOD OF TRANSMISSIBILITY

An experimental model has been developed for the reproducible transmission of influenza virus infection from experimentally infected mice to uninfected cage mates. Infector mice transmit influenza virus infection most readily during the period 24 to 48 hours after initiation of their infection. This restricted period of transmission is not due to declining titers of infective virus in the nose, trachea, or lungs of infector mice after 48 hours of infection, since peak titers in these tissues are maintained for another 48 hours. A mouse-adapted strain of A2 virus was found to be more readily transmitted than the mouse-adapted CAM strain of influenza A1 virus, although the CAM strain induced higher pulmonary virus titers and more extensive lung lesions.
Network dysfunction during associative learning in schizophrenia: Increased activation, but decreased connectivity: An fMRI study

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is characterized by disordered activation and disordered connectivity, yet few fMRI studies have convergently investigated both. Here, we compared differences in activation and connectivity between SCZ and controls (HC). Twenty-two subjects (18≤age≤35yrs) participated in a paired-associative learning task, a behavioral domain particularly dependent on fronto-hippocampal connectivity and of relevance to the schizophrenia diathesis. Activation differences were assessed using standard approaches. Seed-based connectivity differences were compared using Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) with a hippocampus-based seed. SCZ evinced significantly increased activation, but significantly decreased connectivity with the hippocampus across a cortical-striatal learning network. These results assess potentially complementary patterns of network dysfunction in schizophrenia: increased activation suggests inefficient responses relating to functional specialization; decreased connectivity suggests impaired integration of functional signals between regions. Inefficiency and dysconnection appear to collectively characterize functional deficits in schizophrenia.
Space Oblivious Compression: Power Reduction for Non-Volatile Main Memories

Power consumption of main memory has become a critical concern and has led to proposals to employ emerging non-volatile memories (NVMs) to replace or augment DRAM. This paper proposes Space Oblivious COmpression (SOCO), an in-place lightweight compression mechanism particularly designed for reducing NVM-based main-memory energy rather than saving space. SOCO can significantly reduce the number of bits written to save considerable energy for NVM-based main memories. By relaxing the goal of a conventional compression, the proposed approach practically eliminates memory addressing and management overheads incurred by compression techniques designed to save space. Our experiments show that SOCO provides more than 50% reduction in bits written, resulting in 23% and 34% energy savings for Spin-transfer Torque (STT)-MRAM and Phase Change Memory (PCM), respectively.
Condensation in a vertical tube bundle passive condenser – Part 1: Through flow condensation

Abstract An experimental study and a boundary layer analysis were performed for the steam condensation in a vertical tube bundle passive condenser operating in a through flow mode. Four condenser tubes were submerged in a water pool and the heat from the condenser tube was removed through boiling. Experimental data were obtained for various system pressures (100–170 kPa), inlet steam flow rates (15–47 g/s) and non-condensable gas concentration (0–15%). The experimental results showed substantial deterioration in condensation when non-condensable gas was present. With increase in steam flow rate and system pressure the condensate rate increased. The boundary layer thickness and non-condensable gas concentration increased along the condenser tube length.
Calbindin-D28k immunoreactivity and selective vulnerability to ischemia in the dentate gyrus of the developing rat

Hippocampal dentate granule cells normally express the calcium-binding protein calbindin-D28k and, in the adult, are the hippocampal neurons least vulnerable to an ischemic insult. We evaluated hippocampal structure 2-3 days after hypoxic/ischemic insult at postnatal day 7-10, and discovered that, unlike adult granule cells, developing granule cells were irreversibly injured. Localization of calbindin-D28k-like immunoreactivity (LI) revealed that the vulnerable cells were the immature granule cells at the base of the cell layer that were not yet calbindin-immunoreactive. Adjacent granule cells that did not die in response to the hypoxic/ischemic insult were calbindin-immunoreactive. Whether the lack of calbindin-LI in immature granule cells is causally related to their vulnerability, or is a coincidental reflection of cellular immaturity, remains to be determined.
Multiple soliton solutions and rational solutions for the (2+1)-dimensional dispersive long water–wave system

Abstract In this work we study the (2+1)-dimensional dispersive long water–wave system. We employ the Painleve–Backlund transformation and the simplified Hirota's method to derive multiple soliton solutions. We also determine a variety of traveling wave solutions and rational solutions of distinct physical structures.
SIMPLE MEASUREMENTS OF SOIL SURFACE MICRORELIEF CHARACTERISTICS

: Soil surface roughness and the topographic orientation of microrelief influence runoff and water storage. Distances measured following the surface of the microrelief and horizontally across the area with the microrelief can be used with the number of microridges or microhills to estimate the average cross-sectional areas of the depression, the microslope angles, and crest heights. Microridge sideslope angles which effect the rate of runoff were estimated reasonably well in field plots by the method.
Neutron scattering and magnetic studies of ferrihydrite nanoparticles

Magnetic properties of two-line ferrihydrite $(\mathrm{FeOOD}\ensuremath{\cdot}n{\mathrm{D}}_{2}\mathrm{O})$ nanoparticles with an average size \ensuremath{\simeq}4 nm are investigated using neutron scattering and magnetometry. Comparison of the neutron scattering and x-ray diffraction patterns identifies the (002) peak at $Q=1.3{\AA{}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ as predominantly magnetic. The intensity of this peak, measured from 10 to 450 K, decreases almost linearly with temperature until 350 K, becoming temperature independent above 350 K. From this, ${T}_{N}\ensuremath{\simeq}350\mathrm{K}$ is identified to be the ordering temperature of the core spins of the nanoparticles. The width of the line is temperature independent, yielding a magnetic coherence $\mathrm{length}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\simeq}}\mathrm{particle}$ size. The temperature variations (5--300 K) of the initial susceptibility \ensuremath{\chi} for the field-cooled (FC) and zero-field-cooled (ZFC) cases yield a peak at ${T}_{p}(m)\ensuremath{\simeq}65\mathrm{K},$ below which $\ensuremath{\chi}(\mathrm{FC})g\ensuremath{\chi}(\mathrm{ZFC}).$ For $Tg{T}_{p}(m),$ the variation of ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ vs T is analyzed in terms of the model of El-Hilo et al., involving particle-size distribution and interparticle interactions, and substantial interparticle interactions are inferred. Following the observations in ferritin, the field dependence of the magnetization M for $Tg{T}_{p}(m)$ is analyzed in terms of the modified Langevin variation: ${M=M}_{o}\mathcal{L}({\ensuremath{\mu}}_{p}H/kT)+{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{a}H,$ where ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{p}$ is the magnetic moment/particle. The fit at 100 K yields ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{p}\ensuremath{\simeq}250{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B},$ consistent with the theoretical estimates based on uncompensated surface spins of ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}.$
Identification and characterization of human endometase (Matrix metalloproteinase-26) from endometrial tumor.

Abstract We report the discovery, cloning, and characterization of a novel human matrix metalloproteinase 26 (MMP-26) (matrixin) gene, endometase, an endometrial tumor-derivedmetalloproteinase. Among more than three million expressed sequence tags sequenced, the endometase gene was only obtained from human endometrial tumor cDNA library. Endometase mRNA was expressed specifically in human uterus, not in other tissues/cells tested, e.g. testis, heart, brain, lungs, liver, thymus, and melanoma G361. Endometase protein has a signal peptide, a propeptide domain, and a catalytic domain with a unique “cysteine switch” propeptide sequence, PHCGVPDGSD, and a zinc-binding motif, VATHEIGHSLGLQH. Endometase is 43, 41, 41, and 39% identical to human metalloelastase, stromelysin, collagenase-3, and matrilysin, respectively. The zymogen was expressed and isolated from Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies with a molecular mass of 28 kDa. The identity and homogeneity of the recombinant protein was confirmed by protein N-terminal sequencing, silver stain, and immunoblot analyses. The pro-enzyme was partially activated during the folding process. Endometase selectively cleaved type I gelatin and α1-proteinase inhibitor; however, it did not digest collagens, laminin, elastin, β-casein, plasminogen, soybean trypsin inhibitor, or Bowman-Birk inhibitor. It hydrolyzed peptide substrates of matrixins and tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme. Endometase may selectively cleave extracellular matrix proteins, inactivate serpins, and process cytokines.
Disintegration of ureteral calculi by ultrasound

Abstract Ultrasonic vibrations were used to disintegrate a ureteral calculus. This is the first case reported in which this technique has been successfully employed. A ureteral catheter containing an ultrasonic probe is passed cystoscopically up the ureter until contact is made with the stone and verified by x-ray film. Irrigating fluid is pumped through the catheter and the ultrasonic probe activated, causing disintegration of the stone. No gross pathologic changes secondary to ultrasound were observed in the dog's ureter. Microscopic mucosal trauma was minimal. In vitro animal and cadaver studies demonstrate that the main problems associated with this method are heat production and bypassing the stone with the probe tip. These problems can be controlled. This procedure, instead of ureterolithotomy, may be used eventually in selected cases.
Productivity and industrial development in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract This paper considers the current state and prospects for efficient development of the large-scale industrial sector in sub-Saharan Africa. It is argued that the liberalization of the international trade regime is unlikely to be sufficient for successful development unless the technological ability of firms is increased to allow an elastic supply response. Alternate modes for improving supply responsiveness are considered.
Arkose: reusing informal information from online discussions

Online discussions such as a large-scale community brainstorming often end up with an unorganized bramble of ideas and topics that are difficult to reuse. A process of distillation is needed to boil down a large information space into information that is concise and organized. We take a system-augmented approach to the problem by creating a set of tools with which human editors can collaboratively distill a large amount of informal information.Two design principles, which we will define as incremental diagenesis and incremental summarization, help editors flexibly distill the informal information. Our system, Arkose, is built as a demonstration of these principles, providing the necessary tools for distillation. These tools include a number of visualization and information retrieval mechanisms, as well as an authoring tool and a navigator for the information space. They support a gradual increase in the order and reusability of the information space and allow various levels of intermediate states of a distillation.
Reverse time-restricted shortest paths: Application to air traffic management

In this paper, we consider a particular class of network flow problems that seeks a shortest path, if it exists, between a source node s and a destination node d in a connected digraph, such that we arrive at node d at a specified time τ while leaving node s no earlier than a lower-bounding time LB, and where the availability of each network link is time-dependent in the sense that it can be traversed only during specified intervals of time. We refer to this problem as the reverse time-restricted shortest path problem (RTSP), and it arises, for example, in the context of generating flight plans within air traffic management approaches under severe convective weather conditions. We show that this problem is NP-hard in general, but is polynomially solvable under a special regularity condition. A pseudo-polynomial time dynamic programming algorithm is developed to solve Problem RTSP, along with an effective heap implementation strategy. Computational results using real flight generation test cases as well as random simulated problems are presented.
14‐3‐3 Proteins

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of multifunctional regulators in eukaryotic organisms. Through binding to over 200 client proteins, 14-3-3 proteins regulate numerous cellular functions, which include metabolic pathways, molecular trafficking, and cell-cycle progression. Most 14-3-3 interactions are mediated by defined phosphoserine/threonine motifs within the target protein sequence. The presence of these phosphorylated motifs allows for integration of 14-3-3 interactions with client proteins into a diverse cellular signaling network, through the actions of various protein kinases and phosphatases. As evidence of its vital role in cell function, 14-3-3 has been implicated in human diseases, such as cancer and neuronal disorders. Thus, development of small-molecule 14-3-3 modulators will allow the continued discovery of the critical importance of 14-3-3 in normal physiology and lead to future use as targeted therapies in human disease.
Characterization and improvement of three-dimensional imaging performance of GRIN-lens-based two-photon fluorescence endomicroscopes with adaptive optics

Inherent aberrations of gradient index (GRIN) lenses used in fluorescence endomicroscopes deteriorate imaging performance. Using adaptive optics, we characterized and corrected the on-axis and off-axis aberrations of a GRIN lens with NA 0.8 at multiple focal planes. We demonstrated a rotational-transformation-based correction procedure, which enlarged the imaging area with diffraction-limited resolution with only two aberration measurements. 204.8 × 204.8 µm2 images of fluorescent beads and brain slices before and after AO corrections were obtained, with evident improvements in both image sharpness and brightness after AO correction. These results show great promises of applying adaptive optical two-photon fluorescence endomicroscope to three-dimensional (3D) imaging.
The prism-free planar graphs and their cycles bases

Dirac (1962) showed that the planar graphs with no prism minor are the graphs obtainable by 2-sums from bonds, cycles, wheels and K5&n92;e's. We give a new characterization of these graphs in terms of an optimization problem defined on the cycle bases of a graph.
Dove Habitat Association Based on Remotely Sensed Land Cover Types in South Texas

Abstract We tested whether presence of white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) and mourning doves (Z. macroura) in South Texas, USA, was associated with any of the land cover types recorded in the 2001 National Land Classification Database. We used the point-transect method to conduct presence–absence surveys for both species at 236 points encompassing 744 observations. Within predefined land cover types surrounding each survey point, we used Geographic Information Systems to determine the proportions of each land cover type present. We used randomization tests to compare proportions of land cover types present at points with and without doves. We used Program DISTANCE to estimate dove densities at survey points and to test whether certain land cover types were associated with greater dove densities. Our results indicated white-winged dove occurrence in South Texas was positively associated with urban land and cropland, whereas mourning dove occurrence was positively associated with cropland. For land cover...
A hybrid architectural style for distributed parallel processing of generic data streams

Immersive, interactive applications grouped under the concept of Immersipresence require on-line processing and mixing of multimedia data streams and structures. One critical issue seldom addressed is the integration of different solutions to technical challenges, developed independently in separate fields, into working systems, that operate under hard performance constraints. In order to realize the Immersipresence vision, a consistent, generic approach to system integration is needed, that is adapted to the constraints of research development. This paper introduces SAI, a new software architecture model for designing, analyzing and implementing applications performing distributed, asynchronous parallel processing of generic data streams. SAI provides a universal framework for the distributed implementation of algorithms and their easy integration into complex systems that exhibit desirable software engineering qualities such as efficiency, scalability, extensibility, reusability and interoperability. The SAI architectural style and its properties are described. The use of SAI and of its supporting open source middleware (MFSM) is illustrated with integrated, distributed interactive systems.
Psychiatric Implications of Alcoholism and Traumatic Brain Injury

The authors examined the synergism between pathologic patterns of alcohol consumption and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its implications for psychiatric practice. The information that forms the basis of this review was identified by a computer-assisted search of the English-language literature for appropriate articles. The literature suggests that alcohol abuse/dependence can precipitate behavior resulting in head trauma and that chronic alcohol abuse potentiates the mechanical and neurochemical processes involved in TBI, often resulting in a subsequent dual diagnosis of alcohol dependence and organic mental disorder. The magnitude of clinical morbidity, as documented by a broad range of epidemiologic studies associated with this topic, is considerable, and the authors hope it may be significantly reduced with increased education of health care professionals and with the education and psychiatric treatment of patients who are at risk for this condition.
Numerical simulations of the ultrasimple ultrashort-laser-pulse measurement technique, GRENOUILLE

Our simulations show that accurate GRENOUILLE measurements are easily obtained. The FROG algorithm further improves performance because it "sees through" distortions. We also obtain GRENOUILLE's spectral response, allowing spectral deconvolution for even better performance.
Comparison of the Subjective and Amnestic Effects of Diazepam and Amobarbital in Healthy Young Men

Changes in subjective responses and a test of immediate free-recall ivere evaluated in a sample of 10 healthy young men following challenges with placebo, intravenous diazepam, and intravenous sodium amobarbital. Both central nervous system depressants produced significant impairment on the memory task; however only diazepam did so in a dose-dependent manner. Despite producing nearly identical subjective effects, diazepam administration led to significantly greater impairment on the free-recall test than did amobarbital across both dose ranges. These findings suggest that at doses that cause similar subjective effects, diazepam may have a greater amnestic potential than amobarbital.
Effect of RF or VHF Plasma on Nanocrystalline Silicon Thin Film Structure: Insight from OES and Langmuir Probe Measurements

Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and Langmuir Probe were used to characterize RF and VHF plasma properties under conditions leading to nanocrystalline silicon film deposition. Films deposited by RF plasma at low pressure (3 Torr), even with high crystalline volume fraction, show weak X-ray diffraction signals, suggesting small grain size, while RF films at higher pressure (8 Torr) and VHF films at both high and low pressure have larger grain sizes. The preferential growth orientation is controlled by the H2/SiH4 ratio with RF plasma, while the film deposited by VHF shows primarily (220) orientation independent of H-dilution ratio. Langmuir Probe measurements indicate that the high energy electron population is reduced by increasing pressure from 3 Torr to 8 Torr in RF plasma. Compared with RF plasma, the VHF plasma shows higher electron density and sheath potential, but lower average electron energy, which may be responsible for the larger grain size and crystal orientation. The growth rate and crystalline volume fraction of the film is correlated with OES intensity ratio of SiH* and Hα/SiH* for both RF and VHF plasmas.
An empirical model for electrostatic interactions in proteins incorporating multiple geometry-dependent dielectric constants.

Here we introduce an electrostatic model that treats the complexity of electrostatic interactions in a heterogeneous protein environment by using multiple parameters that take into account variations in protein geometry, local structure, and the type of interacting residues. The optimal values for these parameters were obtained by fitting the model to a large dataset of 260 experimentally determined pKa values distributed over 41 proteins. We obtain fits between the calculated and observed values that are significantly better than the null model. The model performs well on the groups that exhibit large pKa shifts from solution values in response to the protein environment and compares favorably with other, successful continuum models. The empirically determined values of the parameters correlate well with experimentally observed contributions of hydrogen bonds and ion pairs as well as theoretically predicted magnitudes of charge-charge and charge-polar interactions. The magnitudes of the dielectric constants assigned to different regions of the protein rank according to the strength of the relaxation effects expected for the core, boundary, and surface. The electrostatic interactions in this model are pairwise decomposable and can be calculated rapidly. This model is therefore well suited for the large computations required for simulating protein properties and especially for prediction of mutations for protein design. Proteins 2003;51:360–377. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Application of a Walking Suitability Assessment to the Immediate Built Environment Surrounding Elementary Schools

This study examines the usefulness of applying a walking suitability assessment to a specific geographic area surrounding elementary schools. Streets within a 0.25-mile radius were measured to create a summary walking suitability score for seven schools from high-busing strata and seven from low-busing strata. Summary walking suitability scores were calculated for each school. A Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to determine any differences in scores between the high- and low-busing schools. The median walking suitability score was 3.7 (a good rating); the 25th percentile score was 2.9 (very good), and the 75th was 22.3 (poor). No statistical differences existed between busing strata. Walking suitability is an important consideration when examining the feasibility of walk-to-school programs within school settings; however, it might not be the main factor limiting children's active commuting to school. Several aspects of the environment were captured that researchers, practitioners, school personnel, and transportation experts may deem useful.
Can Aortography Precipitate Mesenteric Infarction in Patients With Chronic Intestinal Ischemia? Case Studies

Three patients with symptoms suggesting chronic mesenteric ischemia underwent diagnostic aortography. All three patients were well-hydrated before, during and after the procedure, and no technical or physiologic mishaps occurred during the performance of the aortogram. The arteriograms demonstrated occlusion of two mesenteric vessels and severe stenosis of the remaining vessel in each patient. Bowel infarction occurred shortly after the radiographic procedure in all three patients.Angiographic contrast agents are hyperosmolar and can induce both localized and systemic hypovolemic states. These dyes also induce changes in the blood cells and vessel walls, especially in areas distal to critical stenoses, that tend to shift the ratio of prostacyclin to thromboxane in favor of thromboxane. It is recommended that operative intervention be planned soon after arteriographic confirmation of the diagnosis of chronic mesenteric ischemia because the radiographic contrast agent may induce changes that cause bowel inf...
Asymptotic noise analysis of high dimensional consensus

The paper studies the effect of noise on the asymptotic properties of high dimensional consensus (HDC). HDC offers a unified framework to study a broad class of distributed algorithms with applications to average consensus, leader-follower dynamics in multi-agent networks and distributed sensor localization. We show that under a broad range of perturbations, including inter-sensor communication noise, random data packet dropouts and algorithmic parameter uncertainty, a modified version of the HDC converges almost surely (a.s.) We characterize the asymptotic mean squared error (m.s.e.) from the desired agreement state of the sensors (which, in general, vary from sensor to sensor) and show broad conditions on the noise leading to zero asymptotic m.s.e. The convergence proof of the modified HDC algorithm is based on stochastic approximation arguments and offers a general framework to study the convergence properties of distributed algorithms in the presence of noise.
VERIFICATION OF LEWISITE EXPOSURE BY THE ANALYSIS OF 2-CHLOROVINYL ARSONOUS ACID IN URINE

Verification of lewisite (L) exposure aids in the proper medical treatment of personnel who have come into contact with this vesicant. The purpose of this study was to develop a method for the detection of 2-chlorovinyl arsonous acid (CVAA) in theurine of guinea pigs exposed toL. Guinea pigs weresubcutaneously (sc)injected at 500 mug/kg with L in sesame seed oil. Urine samples were collected and analyzed at 8-h intervals for 40 h. CVAA is the hydrolysis product that retains most of L's structure. Two gas chromatographic methods of detection, mass spectrometry (MS) and atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), were employed to detect CVAA derivatized with ethanedithiol (EDT). CVAA-EDT was more amenable to gas chromatographic separation than was CVAA. Samples of urine were extracted with C-18 solid-phase cartridges, eluted with methanol, dried, derivatized with EDT, and analyzed. CVAA-EDT was detected at 3-mug/mL concentrations in 0- to 8-h samples and 100-ng/mL concentrations in 16- to 24-h samples. Results indi...
Posttranscriptional Control of the Salmonella enterica Flagellar Hook Protein FlgE

Previous work suggested that the FlgE (flagellar hook subunit) protein in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was posttranscriptionally regulated in response to the stage of flagellar assembly. Specifically, the FlgE protein could be detected in flagellar mutants defective at the stages of assembly before or after rod assembly but not in rod assembly mutants, yet flgE mRNA levels were unaffected. To elucidate posttranscriptional mechanisms involved in the coupling of flgE gene expression to hook assembly, the RNA sequences at the 5' and 3' ends of the flgE-containing mRNA processed from the large flgBCDEFGHIJKL operon were determined by rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and secretion of the FlgE protein in different flagellar assembly mutant strains was analyzed. The sequences 5' and 3' of the flgE gene where RNA processing occurred was within 15 bases upstream of the flgD stop codon and at bases 145 to 147 downstream of the flgF start codon, respectively. The ribosome binding site of the flgD gene was found to be inhibitory to flgE translation in strains deleted for the upstream flgD gene, unless the region 15 bases upstream of the flgD stop codon was present. Secretion of FlgE into the periplasm was monitored using beta-lactamase (Bla) fusions as a periplasm-specific reporter, which conferred resistance to ampicillin when FlgE-Bla was secreted into the periplasm. Using this assay, we found that the effect of rod assembly mutants on FlgE levels was due to FlgE turnover in the periplasm and that the FliE rod component protein was required for efficient FlgE-Bla secretion.
Expanding Students' Conceptions of the Arithmetic Mean.

The arithmetic mean is the most commonly used measure of central tendancy; nevertheless, many students who can add all the elements of a data set and then divide that sum by the number of elements do not truly understand the concept of mean. This article presents four activities designed to help elementary and middle school students develop a concept of mean. To bring about a desirable level of understanding, all computational formulae and algorithms in mathematics should be preceded by experience emphasizing conceptual understanding. Since that is not the normal instructional sequence for the arithmetic mean, the activities presented in the article assume previous exposure to the computational algorithm for the arithmetic mean.