cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ergosteroids VII: perchloric acid-induced transformations of 7-oxygenated steroids and their bio-analytical applications—a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric study ☆

Abstract Sulfate esters of 7-oxo-Δ5-steroids can be selectively and quantitatively hydrolyzed to the corresponding free steroids in the presence of carboxylic acid esters by solvolysis with perchloric acid in ethyl acetate at room temperature. Sulfates as well as carboxylic acid esters, methyl ethers, and ketals can be quantitatively converted to the corresponding 3,5-diene-7-one derivatives by heating with perchloric acid in methanol at 65 °C. The dienes have a strong UV absorption with maximum centered around 284 nm. These reactions have been used for the characterization and structural elucidation of 7-oxygenated-Δ5-steroids that are present in complex biomatrices and can also be used for the quantitative estimation of total 7-oxo-Δ5-steroids (free as well as conjugated) in biological matrices.
Increased Hypothalamic Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Phosphorylation after Hindbrain Leptin Injection

Reduction of food intake and body weight by leptin is attributed largely to its action in the hypothalamus. However, the signaling splice variant of the leptin receptor, LRb, also is expressed in the hindbrain, and leptin injections into the fourth cerebral ventricle or dorsal vagal complex are associated with reductions of feeding and body weight comparable to those induced by forebrain leptin administration. Although these observations suggest direct hindbrain action of leptin on feeding and body weight, the possibility that hindbrain leptin administration also activates the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling in the hypothalamus has not been investigated. Confirming earlier work, we found that leptin produced comparable reductions of feeding and body weight when injected into the lateral ventricle or the fourth ventricle. We also found that lateral and fourth ventricle leptin injections produced comparable increases of STAT3 phosphorylation in both the hindbrain and the hypothalamus. Moreover, injection of 50 ng of leptin directly into the nucleus of the solitary tract also increased STAT3 phosphorylation in the hypothalamic arcuate and ventromedial nuclei. Increased hypothalamic STAT3 phosphorylation was not due to elevation of blood leptin concentrations and the pattern of STAT3 phosphorylation did not overlap distribution of the retrograde tracer, fluorogold, injected via the same cannula. Our observations indicate that even small leptin doses administered to the hindbrain can trigger leptin-related signaling in the forebrain, and raise the possibility that STAT3 phosphorylation in the hypothalamus may contribute to behavioral and metabolic changes observed after hindbrain leptin injections.
The nursing minimum data set, standardized language, and health care quality

Providers and consumers of health care have been attempting to define quality for the past several decades. The article describes one of nursing's contributions to the multidisciplinary health care quality revolution: its ability to provide a more complete and holistic picture of the consumer (patients/clients). Nursing's focus on responses to health care problems, not just illness events in isolation, provides insight into causes and effective management strategies for health problems. The Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS) documents patient/client responses, interventions, patient-sensitive outcomes, and resource consumption. By implementing the NMDS, nursing collaborates with other health care professionals to identify the needs of patient populations as well as the needs of individual patients. The article examines the relationship of the NMDS to other health care databases used in quality measurement, describes the integral role of standardized language in implementing the NMDS, provides examples of NMDS data analyses to address specific aspects of quality measurement, and outlines a methodology for using nonstandardized data.
Regional NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase activity in Alzheimer’s disease ☆

Converging evidence supports the role of oxidative stress in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This notion is further supported by recent findings of increased NAD(P)H:quinone oxidodreductase (NQO1) activity, a potent antioxidant system, in association with hippocampal AD pathology. If increased NQO1 activity is truly related to the AD process, however, we would expect to see regional co-localization of NQO1 activity with AD pathology throughout affected brain regions and the absence of NQO1 activity in regions unaffected by AD. We examined this hypothesis by measuring NQO1 enzymatic activity and NQO1 immunohistochemical staining in regions commonly affected by the AD process such as frontal cortex and compared this to regions generally unaffected by the AD process such as occipital cortex, cerebellum, and substantia nigra for a group of AD patients and controls. The ratio of frontal to cerebellar NQO1 enzymatic activity was significantly increased in patients with AD (2.07 +/- 1.90) versus controls (0.60 +/- 0.31; P < 0.03). Moreover, regional immunohistochemical staining revealed specific localization of NQO1 staining to astrocytes and neurites surrounding senile plaques. The extent of immunohistochemical staining also closely correlated with the extent of local AD pathology across the various brain regions examined. Neuronal NQO1 staining seen in frontal cortex of AD patients was absent in frontal cortex of controls, but was found to the same extent in neurons of the substantia nigra of both AD patients and controls. We conclude that NQO1 activity co-localizes closely with AD pathology supporting a presumed role as an antioxidant system upregulated in response to the oxidative stress of the AD process. The antioxidant role for NQO1 is further supported by finding increased neuronal NQO1 activity in substantia nigra neurons of both AD patients and controls as this neuronal population is known to be under constant oxidative stress. While requiring further study, these findings, in conjunction with previous work, suggest that increased NQO1 activity may be neuroprotective, may offer novel insights into the pathophysiology of AD and may also provide possible avenues for future treatment.
Becoming Visible: Shifting Teacher Practice to Actively Engage New Immigrant Students in Urban Classrooms

This article documents what happened when a teacher in an urban school shifted classroom practice through changing participation structures to incorporate digital technology and multiple modalities into a fifth grade literacy curriculum. This shift in teacher practice provided opportunities for immigrant students to become more visible in the classroom. Through a description of the new participation structures, composing processes, and content of student narratives documented over 4 years, we show how multimodal storytelling provided openings for students who had been previously overlooked by their teachers or disconnected from the academic curriculum to actively participate in academic learning. We conclude that the introduction of multiple modalities and a set of assignments that focused on integrating students’ home and community lives into their work shifted the center of the classroom instruction away from mandated texts to student narratives. With the introduction of the multimodal project, immigrant students whose experiences were at the periphery of the classroom discourse, found space to add their voices to the classroom community. As a result, they were able to attain a participatory presence in the classroom.
Performance Analysis and Optimization of Remanufacturing Systems With Stochastic Returns

This paper considers a modular product assembly and inventory planning and control problem in a remanufacturing environment. The return process of end-of-life product is a stochastic process in terms of arriving time, quality and quantity. We investigate the returned module reassembly policies in an assemble-to-order strategy. A threshold policy is considered to control the admission of the product returns and its effect on the trade-off between excessive inventory and stock out. We study how the control parameters in these strategies relate to the average inventory level and stock out level of the remanufacturable modules. Starting with a single quality grade problem, we extend the analysis to a multiple quality grade problem and derive exact expression of the system performance measures as function of the control parameters. Main objective of this paper is to provide managerial insights into decision-making for stochastic remanufacturing systems.Copyright © 2012 by ASME and General Motors
Economic Indicator Research Using Reuters: Analyzing Hospitality Trends

The possibility to predict economic peaks and downturns is always attractive to business people because of the opportunity to make wise decisions and rational investments. This article applies the concept of environmental scanning to determine those economic indices that are most relevant and important for managers to keep an eye on for proper business decisions in restaurants and hotels. Three initial indicators of the U.S. economy were determined for the analyses are gross domestic product, personal income, and unemployment rate. These indicators are used as dependent variables to be correlated to both the Dow Jones US Food and Beverage Index and the Dow Jones US Hotel Index. Furthering the notion of examining indicators, the study proceeds to examine the three initial indicators in relation to two corporations, Darden Restaurants and Marriott International. The study was conducted utilizing Reuters 3000Xtra. The results indicate the importance of developing strategic methods for forecasting the industr...
Synthesis of polycarbonate containing in-chain 4-N,N-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene via ring-opening polymerization

We have successfully synthesized a new NLO chromophore based on 4-N,N-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene which contains bisphenol functionality for polycarbonate preparation. Chromophore-4 was used to make macrocyclic carbonate oligomers and the oligomers were converted to polycarbonate via ring-opening polymerization in solution.
Analysis of constructed treatment wetland hydraulics with the transient storage model OTIS

Abstract The model one-dimensional transport with inflow and storage (OTIS) was calibrated to results from tracer experiments conducted in the Orlando Easterly Wetland in order to quantify short-circuiting of the treatment volume and temporary storage of tracer in isolated, low-flow regions. OTIS was found to fit experimental data very well for both steady and unsteady flow conditions. The model calibrations indicate the presence of three different hydraulic ‘zones’ of the wetland. The first zone is the actively flowing main channel; the second, a temporary storage zone where water and constituents are exchanged with the main flow channel; and the third, completely isolated, ‘dead’ water. The uncertainty of storage zone parameters was determined to be low due to the experimental Damkohler number that quantifies intra-zone mass transfer processes. The appropriateness of the use of a one-dimensional model for treatment wetlands is also addressed.
Plexiform neurofibroma involving the genitourinary tract in children: Case reports and review of the literature

We report extensive genitourinary neurofibroma in two children who presented with massive bilateral hydroureteronephrosis and a thick-walled bladder. The best radiologic technique to stage the disease and determine treatment is magnetic resonance imaging. Management of extensive genitourinary neurofibroma is controversial. Based upon our experience and a review of the literature, aggressive surgery should be approached cautiously.
Fast algorithms for erasures and error correction in redundant residue number systems

In this work, we extend the coding theory approach to error control in redundant residue number systems (RRNS). The concept of erasure correction capability in RRNS is introduced. We derive the relationship between the minimum distance and the error detection and error/erasure correction capability. New computationally efficient algorithms are derived for simultaneously correcting single errors and multiple erasures and detecting multiple errors. These algorithms reduce the computational complexity of the previously known algorithms by at least an order of magnitude. Another attractive feature of the algorithms is that all the arithmetic operations are modulo operations. Consequently, the need to process large valued integers is avoided.
Both an altered DNA structure and cellular proteins are involved in protecting a triplex forming an oligopurine-rich sequence from dam methylation inE. coli

When the 4-bp Dam recognition sequence was placed between two d(GA)7 tracts, it became severely undermethylated in JM101Escherichia coli cells compared to other Dam sequences in the same plasmid DNA. This site specific undermethylation was also detected on supercoiled moleculesin vitro. Mutational analysis indicated that undermethylation is related to the capacity of the oligopurine tract to adopt the H-DNA conformation. In addition, chemical probing of the cells was consistent with a cellular protein bound to the DNA. Therefore it is likely that the combination of altered DNA conformation and a cellular protein leads to Dam-site protection. We also found that the site-specific undermethylation is detectable in certainE. coli strains only.
Growth temperature and action of lysozyme on Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes Scott A grown at 37°C were 1.8–2.5 fold more resistant to lytic action of lysozyme than cells grown at 19, 12, or 5°C. Results suggest that lysozyme may be an effective preservative for controlling L. monocytogenes in refrigerated foods.
Boarding Schools and Capital Benefits: Implications for Urban School Reform

ABSTRACT The author discusses the boarding school model as a schooling alternative to improve life chances for disadvantaged youth, particularly African American youth, by positively meeting their social and educational needs. Bourdieu, Coleman, and other social scientists purported that these needs can be better met by exposing students to social and cultural capital. In this qualitative study, the environment of a boarding school is studied to determine to what extent they increase students’ exposure to social, cultural, and education capital (Bourdieu, 1977, 1993, 1996). Findings indicate that the boarding school model is successful at increasing students’ exposure to social, cultural, and education capital. Implications include implementing successful practices from boarding schools into traditional day schools.
Overexpression of Phex in osteoblasts fails to rescue the Hyp mouse phenotype

Inactivating mutations of Phex, a phosphate-regulating endopeptidase, cause hypophosphatemia and impaired mineralization in X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and its mouse homologue, Hyp. Because Phex is predominantly expressed in bone and cultured osteoblasts from Hyp mice display an apparent intrinsic mineralization defect, it is thought that reduced expression of Phex in mature osteoblasts is the primary cause of XLH. To test this hypothesis, we studied both targeted expression of Phex to osteoblasts in vivo under the control of the mouse osteocalcin (OG2) promoter and retroviral mediated overexpression of Phex inHyp-derived osteoblasts (TMOb-Hyp) in vitro. Targeted overexpression of Phex to osteoblasts of OG2 Phex transgenic Hyp mice normalizedPhex endopeptidase activity in bone but failed to correct the hypophosphatemia, rickets, or osteomalacia. OG2 Phextransgenic Hyp mice did exhibit a small, but significant, increase in bone mineral density and dry ashed weight, suggesting a partial mineralization effect from restoration of Phexfunction in mature osteoblasts. Similarly, retroviral mediated overexpression of Phex in TMOb-Hyp osteoblasts restored Phex mRNA levels, protein expression, and endopeptidase activity but failed to correct their intrinsic mineralization defect. In addition, we failed to detect thePhex substrate FGF-23 in osteoblasts. Taken together, thesein vivo and in vitro data indicate that expression of Phex in osteoblasts is not sufficient to rescue the Hyp phenotype and that other sites ofPhex expression and/or additional factors are likely to be important in the pathogenesis of XLH.
Genetic analysis of the cell surface: association of human chromosome 5 with sensitivity to diphtheria toxin in mouse-human somatic cell hybrids

Abstract Diphtheria toxin inhibits protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells by catalyzing inactivation of elongation factor 2. The 10,000-fold greater sensitivity in vitro to diphtheria toxin of human cells as compared to mouse cells seems to be attributable to a difference at the level of the cell membrane. Mouse-human cell hybrids are as sensitive to diphtheria toxin as human cells. We have shown that the sensitivity of the hybrid cells is due to a gene or genes located on human chromosome 5. Mouse-human hybrid cells in which chromosome 5 is present are as sensitive to the toxin as human cells, which hybrids without chromosome 5 are as resistant as mouse cells. Entry of toxin into cells seems to be a two-step process involvin, (1) binding of toxin to the cell surface and (2) endocytotic uptake of toxin. The difference in sensitivity between human and mouse cells and between hybrid cells with and without chromosome 5 does not appear to be due to a difference in endocytotic activity and may be due to presence or absence of toxin-specific receptor.
Recent advances in the molecular simulation of adsorption

This special issue is a selection of 17 papers reflecting the new developments in the molecular simulation of adsorption. The topics discussed in this issue can be divided into three main categorie...
Effectiveness of a social relations intervention program for aggressive and nonaggressive, rejected children.

A sample of 52 Black aggressive, rejected and nonaggressive, rejected children were randomly assigned to receive a social relations intervention or to be in a nonintervention control group. The school-based intervention for fourth-grade children focused on positive social skill training and cognitive-behavioral strategies to promote deliberate, nonimpulsive problem solving. At both the post-treatment and the 1-year follow-up assessments, the social relations intervention was found to be effective only with the aggressive, rejected children. Implications for the importance of assessing subtypes of rejected children are discussed. Language: en
The role of the interferon regulatory factors, IRF-1 and IRF-2, in LPS-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in vivo and in vitro.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) exists as two isoforms: COX-1, which is constitutively expressed in most cell types; and COX-2, which is inducible by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines in a variety of cell types. Although previous studies have implicated two DNA binding proteins, interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 and IRF-2, in the regulation of LPS- and IFN- g-induced COX-2, their effects in vivo and in vitro are not well-defined. Using real-time PCR, COX-2 gene expression in the livers and lungs of mice challenged in vivo and in macrophages stimulated with LPS in vitro was investigated in wild-type and in IRF-1 and IRF-2 knockout mice. In response to 35 mg/kg LPS, IRF-1-, but not IRF-2-deficient mice, exhibited much poorer induction of COX-2 gene expression in both the livers and lungs. In vitro, COX-2 mRNA levels were also poorly induced in IRF-1-deficient macrophages, while IRF-2deficient macrophages exhibited higher levels than in normal macrophages. IRF-1 and IRF-2 were confirmed to activate and repress expression of the COX-2 promoter, respectively, in a transient transfection system and the role of specific DNA binding sites confirmed by site-specific mutagenesis. Collectively, these data provide evidence for an important role for IRF-1 in vivo and in vitro and for IRF-2 in vitro in the regulation of COX-2 expression by LPS.
Circadian activity rhythms in the spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus

Circadian locomotor rhythms were examined in adult common spiny mice, Acomys cahirinus. Spiny mice demonstrated nocturnal activity, with onset of activity coinciding promptly with onset of darkness. Re-entrainment to 6-h delays of the light-dark cycle was accomplished faster than to 6-h advances. Access to running wheels yielded significant changes in period and duration of daily activity. Novelty-induced wheel running had no effect on phase of activity rhythms. Circadian responses to light at various times of the circadian cycle were temporally similar to those observed in other nocturnal rodent species. No gender differences were observed in any of the parameters measured.
Myocardial Perfusion Imaging With Contrast Ultrasound

This report reviews the development and clinical application of myocardial perfusion imaging with myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). This includes the development of microbubble formulations that permit the detection of left ventricular contrast from venous injection and the imaging techniques that have been invented to detect the transit of these microbubbles through the microcirculation. The methods used to quantify myocardial perfusion during a continuous infusion of microbubbles are described. A review of the clinical studies that have examined the clinical utility of myocardial perfusion imaging with MCE during rest and stress echocardiography is then presented. The limitations of MCE are also discussed.
Exotic matter: Another dimension for anyons.

Non-Abelian anyons are hypothesized particles that, if found, could form the basis of a fault-tolerant quantum computer. The theoretical finding that they may turn up in three dimensions comes as a surprise.
Thermal history and early magmatism in the moon.

Lunar heat-flow calculations are carried out for a model moon in which (1) near-surface initial temperatures are very high (as the occurrence of a surface anorthositic layer seems to require), and (2) heat-generating radionuclides are transported upward when melting occurs. Near-surface regions are found to cool and then experience a resurgence of high temperature, as radionuclide-rich magmas from the lunar interior accumulate near the surface. This peaking of near-surface temperature can be brought into correspondence with the episode of vulcanism that gave rise to the basalts represented in the Apollo samples, if we assume relatively high lunar temperatures in early times (due to high initial temperatures, or a high content of radioactive elements, or both).
NURBS-based surface grid redistribution and remapping algorithms

Algorithms to redistribute, refine, remap, and optimize structured surface grids utilized in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations involving complex regimes are presented. The non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) representation is utilized for defining parametric surfaces. A semi-automatic remapping algorithm presented here results in a simplified surface grid generation process with significant reduction in generation labor time for surfaces involving holes, gaps and interior objects. A hermite transfinite interpolation method and elliptic generation systems are enhanced to optimize (in view of orthogonality and smoothness) surface grids. Computational examples are presented to demonstrate the success of these methodologies.
Explaining the patterns of Japanese foreign direct investment in China

Using Chinese and Japanese data, this paper shows that Japanese foreign direct investment (FDI) has been under‐represented in China since 1980, but especially before 1992, compared with Japanese FDI in some other East and Southeast Asian countries, and with FDI in China from other major international investors. The under‐representation of Japanese FDI in China, and its important patterns cannot be simply dismissed as being a result of China's poor investment environment. This paper proposes an alternative explanation by repositioning Japanese FDI in China into a larger historical, political and strategic framework. It argues that the growth of Japanese FDI in China has been shadowed by the lingering historical experiences of the two nations since 1895, and has been disrupted by a series of political incidents between the two countries during the previous 17 years.
Progesterone-facilitated lordosis of estradiol-primed mice is attenuated by knocking down expression of membrane progestin receptors in the midbrain

Abstract Evidence is emerging of the role of membrane progestin receptors (referred to as mPRs herein: members of Progestin and AdipoQ Receptor (Paqr) family) as a novel brain target in mammals, such as rats. In the present study, the role of mPRs in mice was assessed to further elucidate the conservation of this mechanism across species. The brain target investigated was the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) given its described role for rapid actions of progestins for reproduction. Studies tested the hypothesis that if mPRs are required for progestin-facilitated lordosis through actions in the VTA, then knockdown of mPRs in the VTA will attenuate lordosis. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice were subcutaneously injected with estradiol (E 2 ) and progesterone (P 4 ), and infused with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) to mPRα (Paqr7) and/or mPRβ (Paqr8) or vehicle to the lateral ventricle or VTA. Mice were assessed for reproductive behavior (lordosis and aggression/rejection quotients) in a standard mating task. Results supported our hypothesis. E 2 + P 4 -facilitated lordosis was significantly reduced, and aggression/rejection increased, with infusions of mPRα, mPRβ, or mPRαβ AS-ODNs to the lateral ventricle, compared to vehicle. E 2 + P 4 -facilitated lordosis was significantly decreased, and aggression/rejection increased, with mPRβ or mPRαβ AS-ODNs to the VTA of C57/BL6 mice. Both mPRɑ and mPRβ AS-ODNs reduced lordosis, and increased aggression/rejection, of wildtype (C57/BL6x129) mice, but not nuclear PR knockout mice. Thus, mPRs may be a novel target of progestins for reproductive behavior of mice.
Norplant use by adolescents: viewpoints of three stakeholder groups

Purpose: In the months following FDA approval of Norplant, discussions of the controversies surrounding its introduction took place largely in newspaper and magazine articles detailing interviews with legal and health professionals and scientists who developed the device. This qualitative study brings the viewpoints of selected groups of consumers, reproductive health care workers, and local policy makers to the public discussions of Norplant. This article explores one of several themes raised by study participants—Norplant use by adolescents. Methods: Eighteen different focused group interviews were conducted in California between November 1991 and November 1992. A total of 146 individuals attended—63 consumers, 44 health care providers, and 39 policy makers. Participants included consumers identified as so-called "targets" of Norplant use, individuals providing reproductive health services, and individuals in policy and decision-making roles. Results: Participants in all the focus groups agreed that Norplant should not be used to accomplish social goals or viewed as the answer to society's pressing social and economic problems. There was no agreement, however, on the issue of Norplant use by adolescents. Study participants argued persuasively on both sides of the question, expressing ambivalence concerning the incidence of teenage pregnancies, the longterm health effects of Norplant use on adolescents, and the threat of increased risk of STDs and HIV/AIDS among adolescents using Norplant. Conclusions: Study findings highlight a critical need for ongoing dialogue among key stakeholder groups to develop an understanding of the diverse values informing the debate. Participants' responses reinforced that decision-making in public health need not only be the jurisdiction of policy makers, elected officials, and others. Ordinary citizens can be part of the task as well by offering insights for practical and ethical solutions to some of our most pressing social issues.
Joint block motion estimation in H.264/AVC

Traditionally, block-based motion estimation (ME) searches for the best motion vector (MV) for one block at a time based upon a pre-defined ME cost. The ME cost is often a function of the best MV and its predictor (MVP). In H.264/AVC, MVP of a block is calculated from MVs of its neighboring blocks in the past. Therefore, the ME decision of a current block is affected by the neighboring blocks in the past, and in turn, it also affects the ME results of the neighboring blocks in the future. In this paper, we propose a joint ME process that searches for the best MVs for a group of blocks, which takes the interdependence of MVs into account. The proposed method smoothes MV fields and improves coding efficiency.
Response network analysis of differential gene expression in human epithelial lung cells during avian influenza infections

The recent emergence of the H5N1 influenza virus from avian reservoirs has raised concern about future influenza strains of high virulence emerging that could easily infect humans. We analyzed differential gene expression of lung epithelial cells to compare the response to H5N1 infection with a more benign infection with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). These gene expression data are then used as seeds to find important nodes by using a novel combination of the Gene Ontology database and the Human Network of gene interactions. Additional analysis of the data is conducted by training support vector machines (SVM) with the data and examining the orientations of the optimal hyperplanes generated. Analysis of gene clustering in the Gene Ontology shows no significant clustering of genes unique to H5N1 response at 8 hours post infection. At 24 hours post infection, however, a number of significant gene clusters are found for nodes representing "immune response" and "response to virus" terms. There were no significant clusters of genes in the Gene Ontology for the control (Mock) or RSV experiments that were unique relative to the H5N1 response. The genes found to be most important in distinguishing H5N1 infected cells from the controls using SVM showed a large degree of overlap with the list of significantly regulated genes. However, though none of these genes were members of the GO clusters found to be significant. Characteristics of H5N1 infection compared to RSV infection show several immune response factors that are specific for each of these infections. These include faster timescales within the cell as well as a more focused activation of immunity factors. Many of the genes that are found to be significantly expressed in H5N1 response relative to the control experiments are not found to cluster significantly in the Gene Ontology. These genes are, however, often closely linked to the clustered genes through the Human Network. This may suggest the need for more diverse annotations of these genes and verification of their action in immune response.
Shell filling of artificial atoms within density-functional theory

The electronic structures of three-dimensional quantum dots described by parabolic and nonparabolic confinements are calculated using spin-density-functional theory. For representative cases we determined the electron-number-dependent capacitive energy, the energy required to add an additional electron to a quantum dot, by self-consistent solution of the equations using a finite difference method with preconditioned conjugate gradient minimization. Shell-filling and spin configuration effects are identified, as found in electronic structure of the atoms. The peak positions of the capacitive energy at the number of electrons $N=2$, 6, and 12 for the cylindrical symmetric quantum dot are in good agreement with experimental data.
Introduction: Honoring the Contributions of Beatrice B. Whiting

Beatrice Whiting influenced psychological anthropology and the social scientific study of culture and human development through her lifelong commitment to comparative studies of children, families and communities throughout the world. She taught and influenced three generations of scholars in these fields. She pioneered the use of comparative ethnographic and quantitative methods in the study of children's social behavior, and she directed, with John Whiting, three major international comparative studies of human development: the Six Culture Study (Whiting 1963; Whiting and Whiting 1975); the Child Development Research Program in East Africa (Whiting and Edwards 1988, Whiting and Edwards, eds. in press); and the Harvard Comparative Adolescence Project (Whiting and Whiting 1987; 1991). Whiting always focused on the complex effects of change on children and families, particularly the changing roles of women (Whiting 1973; 1977). She discovered dimensions of everyday routines and settings across cultures (such as the age and gender composition of children's peer groups, the kinds of tasks children were responsible for, and the cultural goals of parents managing the domestic world) which shaped patterns of social interaction involving children (Whiting 1983; Whiting and Edwards 1973). Beatrice Whiting always worked to integrate multiple levels of analysis, combining theory and data in biology, personality, cognition, social interaction, culture, and ecology. When speaking to anthropologists, she did not fail to push them beyond an exclusively cultural theory of child development and family life, towards integrating some conception of human nature into both theory and empirical work (Whiting 1965, 1980). When speaking to developmental psychologists and the other social scientists, she strove for a much deeper infusion of cultural understanding into studies of childhood and family life, and for attention to comparative data, theory and systematic fieldwork methods (Whiting 1983; Whiting and Whiting 1960).
Evaluating the treatment performance of a full scale Activated Sludge Plant in Islamabad, Pakistan

In this study, the performance of wastewater treatment plant located at sector I-9 Islamabad, Pakistan, was evaluated. This full scale domestic wastewater treatment plant is based on conventional activated sludge process. The parameters which were monitored regularly included total suspended solids (TSS), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). It was found that the biological degradation efficiency of the plant was below the desired levels in terms of COD and BOD. Also the plant operators were not maintaining consistent sludge retention time (SRT). Abrupt discharge of MLSS through the Surplus Activated sludge (SAS) pump was the main reason for the low MLSS in the aeration tank and consequently low treatment performance. In this study the SRT was optimized based on desired MLSS concentration between 3,000–3,500 mg/L and required performance in terms of BOD, COD and TSS. This study revealed that SRT is a very important operational parameter and its knowledge and correct implementation by the plant operators should be mandatory.
Classical collision spectrum of O + CO.

The work of Noid et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 1977, 67, 404] has shown that sharp molecular spectra can be obtained through a Fourier transform of the autocorrelation function of a classical trajectory. In the present work, we extend this idea to obtain a spectrum by Fourier transform of the dipole moment function of collision product trajectories. We show that this “classical collision spectrum” (CCS) is related to the cross section for creating the product times an Einstein A factor. As a test case, we analyze product CO trajectories obtained from O + CO collisions at 8 km/s and focus on the spectral resolution of the CCS. The CCS of these trajectories shows rich quantum-like features, including well-separated vibrational overtones and rotational band heads, which become more pronounced with particular trajectory weighting methods. For polyatomic cases, the hope is that the CCS can be deconvolved into ro-vibrational specific probabilities and cross sections for quasi-periodic trajectories, which would otherwi...
Data Driven Feedforward Transient Fueling Controller Identification for Spark Ignition Engines

Presented in this paper is a feedforward fueling controller identification methodology for the transient fueling control of spark ignition (SI) engines. The proposed transient feedforward controller is identified and executed in the crank angle domain, and operates in tandem with a steady state fueling controller. The hypothesis is that the feedforward fueling control of SI engines can be separated into steady state and transient phenomena, and that the majority of the nonlinear behavior associated with engine fueling can be captured with nonlinear steady state compensation. The proposed transient controller identification process is built from standard nonparametric identification techniques using spectral density functions where crank angle serves as the independent variable. Two separate system identification problems are solved to identify the air path dynamics and the fuel path dynamics. The transient feedforward controller is then calculated as the ratio of the air path-over-the fuel path dynamics so that the fuel path dynamics match the air path dynamics. Consequently fueling is coordinated with the fresh air charge during transient conditions. It will be shown that a linear transient feedforward-fueling controller operating in tandem with a nonlinear steady state fueling controller can achieve air-fuel ratio (AFR) regulation comparable to a production controller without the extensive controller calibration process. The engine used in this investigation is a 1999 Ford 4.6L V-8 fuel injected engine.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Critical entry pressure for liquids in hydrophobic membranes

Abstract Porous membranes made from a hydrophobic polymer have a minimum entry pressure for water and for some liquids with a contact angle less than 90°. A model was developed to account for this behavior by treating the membrane as a square array of intersecting cylindrical fibers. Experimental data for air-liquid systems in polytetrafluoroethylene membranes showed good agreement with the model, but some liquid-liquid systems gave anomolously low entry pressures.
An experimental vaccine that targets staphylococcal virulence.

rarely causes problems in other-wise healthy people, it is common-ly associated with infections ofprosthetic devices and surgicalwounds, bacteremia, endocarditisand pneumonia in hospitalized pa-tients. Because there is currently nolicensed vaccine for use in humansto prevent staphylococcal disease,clinicians treat these infectionswith antibiotics. However, in manylarge hospitals, 40–60% of staphylo-coccal isolates are resistant to mul-tiple antibiotics, including methi-cillin. Glycopeptide antibiotics,such as vancomycin, remain theonly drugs effective against thesemultidrug-resistant staphylococci.Recent reports of
Recent developments in ultra thin oxynitride gate dielectrics

Abstract This paper reviews recent developments in N 2 O- and NO-based oxynitride gate dielectrics for CMOS ULSI applications. These dielectrics are extremely attractive due to their process simplicity, thickness controllability, and excellent electrical characteristics. In this paper, several issues like thickness scaling, growth kinetics, chemical composition, electrical properties, hot-carrier reliability, and EEPROM applications of these dielectrics are discussed.
Comparative uptake of a pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticide by selected aquatic insects

Numerous reports have shown that aquatic insects are highly sensitive to insecticide poisoning based on the extremely low concentrations (often less than 1 ppb) that produce toxic effects (Coats et al 1989). This is especially true of pyrethroid insecticides where acute toxicity to both aquatic invertebrates and fish has restricted their applications in areas adjacent to aquatic environments. A number of studies have evaluated the effects of pyrethroids on stream invertebrates in laboratory (Muirhead-Thomson 1977; Mulla et al. 1980; Anderson 1982; 1989; Friesen et al. 1983; Coats et al. 1989; Sibley and Kaushik 1991), and field (Kreutzweiser and Kingsbury 1987; Kreutzweiser and Sibley 1991) experiments. Results of these studies indicate that aquatic insects are highly sensitive to pyrethroid insecticides. However, most of these accounts concern acute toxicity tests where the insects have been exposed to insecticides diluted in water and measurements of toxicity are expressed as lethal concentrations. Actual doses of insecticides are unknown, and comparisons with other organisms are therefore difficult to make.
Evaluation of the Single Kernel Characterization System (SKCS) for Measurement of Sorghum Grain Attributes

ABSTRACT The single kernel characterization system (SKCS) has been widely used in the wheat industry, and SKCS parameters have been linked to end-use quality in wheat. The SKCS has promise as a tool for evaluating sorghum grain quality. However, the SKCS was designed to analyze wheat, which has a different kernel structure from sorghum. To gain a better understanding of the meaning of SKCS predictions for grain sorghum, individual sorghum grains were measured for length, width, thickness (diameter), and weight by laboratory methods and by the SKCS. SKCS predictions for kernel weight and thickness were highly correlated to laboratory measurements. However, SKCS predictions for kernel thickness were underestimated by ≈20%. The SKCS moisture prediction for sorghum was evaluated by tempering seven samples with varying hardness values to four moisture levels. The moisture contents predicted by SKCS were compared with a standard oven method and, while correlated, SKCS moisture predictions were less than moistur...
Transmission characteristics of a twisted nematic liquid-crystal layer*

An approximate analytical expression is calculated for the transmission of thin twisted nematic layers situated between a polarizer/analyzer pair. The approximation assumes that the twist angle of the nematic liquid crystal is smaller than the maximum retardation of the cell. The direction of the incident light is assumed to be parallel to the normal of the electrode. This configuration is analyzed for a general arrangement of polarizer and analyzer; the general result is evaluated for the case of the polarizer parallel and analyzer perpendicular to the liquid-crystal optical axis on the input and output electrodes, respectively. The results show that in the case of a thin twisted nematic layer the transmission depends on the thickness of the layer, on the birefringence of the liquid crystal, and on the wavelength of the light. This is a departure from the well-known independence of the transmission on these parameters for a thick twisted nematic layer.
Noradrenergic terminal excitability: effects of opioids.

Abstract The local infusion of morphine or d -Ala 2 ,Met 5 -enkephalinamide into the frontal cortical terminal fields of noradrenergic neurons of the nucleus locus coeruleus resulted in a decrease in the excitability of the axon terminal regions to direct electrical stimulation. These effects were concentration dependent and could be blocked or partially reversed by the local infusion of naloxone. Some evidence was obtained for a differential antagonizing effect of naloxone upon the effects of morphine and d -Ala 2 , Met 5 -enkephalinamide. These results are discussed with respect to an effect of opioids on the polarization and/or ionic conductance of the terminal fields of locus coeruleus neurons, and to the possible regulation of neurotransmitter release by presynaptic opiate receptors.
Performance of a single-input multiple-output decision feedback equaliser for polarisation mode dispersion compensation

To compensate the performance degradation induced by polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) in high-speed optical transmission, a single-input multiple-output (SIMO) decision feedback equaliser (DFE) technique is proposed to combat all orders of PMD-induced distortion. The scheme is based on a new SIMO PMD channel model which utilises information embedded in both polarisation states. The performance analysis of the proposed PMD SIMO DFE scheme is provided along with explicit expressions for the filter coefficients. The analysis results show that the new scheme provides a significant improvement over using a first-order optical compensator and conventional DFE.
Elongation Properties of Vaccinia Virus RNA Polymerase: Pausing, Slippage, 3' End Addition, and Termination Site Choice †

We have analyzed the elongation properties of vaccinia virus RNA polymerase during a single round of transcription in vitro. RNA-labeled ternary complexes were halted at a unique template position located upstream of a T-run (TTTTTTTTT) in the nontemplate strand; this element encodes an RNA signal for factor-dependent transcription termination at distal sites on the template. The halted ternary complexes were purified and allowed to resume elongation under a variety of conditions. We found that the T-run constituted a strong elongation block, even at high nucleotide concentrations. The principal sites of pausing were at a C position situated two nucleotides upstream of the first T in the T-run and at the first three to four T positions within the T-run. There was relatively little pausing at the five downstream Ts. Intrinsic pausing was exacerbated at suboptimal nucleotide concentrations. Ternary complexes arrested by the T-run at 10 microM NTPs rapidly traversed the T-run when the NTP pool was increased to 1 mM. Limiting GTP (1 microM) resulted in polymerase stuttering at the 3' margin of the T-run, immediately prior to a templated G position; this generated a ladder of slippage synthesis products. We found that vaccinia ternary complexes remained intact after elongating to the very end of a linear DNA template and that such complexes catalyzed the addition of extra nucleotides to the 3' end of the RNA chain. The 3' end addition required much higher concentrations of NTPs than did templated chain elongation. Finally, we report that factor-dependent transcription termination by vaccinia RNA polymerase downstream of the T-run was affected by nucleotide concentration. Limiting UTP caused the polymerase to terminate at sites closer to the UUUUUNU termination signal. This is consistent with the kinetic coupling model for factor-dependent termination.
Water, Food, and Energy Security: An Elusive Search for Balance in Central Asia

The development and use of water resources in the Amu Darya Basin remain under debate in the face of increasing population and associated scarcities in water, food, and energy. The upstream riparian, the mountain nation of Tajikistan, wishes to develop its hydropower potential. Three downstream states wish to sustain or increase their economic benefits from water used for irrigation. Growing tensions among the riparian countries on the Vakhsh River, a tributary of Amu Darya, have halted development of Tajikistan’s proposed Rogun Dam. This paper examines the potential for mutually beneficial water development and allocation of water resources to sustain demands for water, food, and energy. Using long-term data on the Basin’s energy potential, water supplies, irrigated land, and crop water demands, this paper analyzes total economic welfare for a future 20-year time horizon. Two water supply scenarios for each of two policy choices are examined. Results show that a constrained economic optimization operation of the Dam has the potential to increase farm income for each riparian country, while producing considerable benefits in hydropower for Tajikistan. Political negotiation among the riparian states and much better data will be needed to discover and implement potential gains indicated by this study.