cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biogas Production from Exhausted Pomace after Polyphenol Recovery

Italy ranks second in Mediterranean basin as for production and export of olive oil. Oil production means proportional volumes of organic waste that need to be disposed of. Assuming that to be sustainable in the long term a production process must have a circular flow of energy and raw material, a system has been studied for organic waste valorization so to create a technical cycle where waste of olive production is used to a) extract polyphenols, b) produce energy through anaerobic digestion (AD), c) use organic residual from AD as a fertilizer for olive grove. The study was based on the assumption that the vegetation waters and the exhausted pomace have a high content of polyphenol molecules with high value added potential. The polyphenols, however, if left in the exhausted pomace give it bactericidal capacity which prevents extensive use as soil fertilizer as it interferes with soil microbiome. For the same bactericidal activity the exhausted pomace could show difficulty in AD for the production of biogas. For these reasons, at present a common destination for depleted pomace is incineration with consequent loss of organic matter and energy. Both for economic and environmental reasons the study was developed to manage the exhausted pomace in a circular economy perspective: extraction of polyphenols and subsequent anaerobic digestion of residual pomace with energy and digestate production. Data used in the study refer to an olive treatment plant of average medium/small dimensions. Results demonstrate the possibility to put in place an economically sustainable production cycle.
An Empirical Study of the Downstream Reliability of Pre-Trained Word Embeddings.

While pre-trained word embeddings have been shown to improve the performance of downstream tasks, many questions remain regarding their reliability: Do the same pre-trained word embeddings result in the best performance with slight changes to the training data? Do the same pre-trained embeddings perform well with multiple neural network architectures? Do imputation strategies for unknown words impact reliability? In this paper, we introduce two new metrics to understand the downstream reliability of word embeddings. We find that downstream reliability of word embeddings depends on multiple factors, including, the evaluation metric, the handling of out-of-vocabulary words, and whether the embeddings are fine-tuned.
Three-dimensional Neuromorphic Computing System with Two-layer and Low-variation Memristive Synapses

Three-dimensional Integrated Circuits (3D-ICs) is a cutting-edge design methodology of placing the circuitry vertically aiming for a high-speed and energy-efficient system with the smallest design area. In this paper, a novel 3D neuromorphic system is proposed and analyzed, which utilizes the fabricated two-layer memristor as the electronic synapses in a spiking neural network (SNN). The two-layer structure of the memristors leads to a significant improvement in the design area (2×), power consumption (1.48 ×), and latency (2.58×), compared to the traditional one-layer configuration. Meanwhile, the heat dissipation layers are added to our memristors reducing 30% cycle-to-cycle switching variation. Our memristive synapses are utilized for storing the exported weights of the SNNs that have threshold function as the activation function. The proposed neuromorphic system is evaluated using a hardware-software co-design approach importing the weights of SNNs into NeuroSIM. The simulation results demonstrate the significant improvement of memristive synapses on design area, power consumption, and latency, compared with the SRAM (Static Random-access Memory) and other state-of-the-art memristive synapses (10% to 66%).
An Accurate Low-Cost Method for Q-Factor and Resonance Frequency Measurements of RF and Microwave Resonators

A new technique for measurement of the resonant frequency and Q-factor of resonators is presented. In this technique, the derivative of the insertion phase with respect to frequency of resonators are measured and used for the calculation of their resonance frequency and Q-factor. A slow-rate chirp signal is passed through a resonator, and the output signal is amplified and equally divided into two signals which are delayed by different amounts. The two delayed signals are fed to a phase detector measuring their phase difference. The derivative of the insertion phase with respect to frequency of the resonator can be simply found from the phase difference between the two delayed signals. The proposed measurement technique is realized using low-cost components and utilized for measuring the resonant frequency and Q-factor of several L-band resonators. Compared with the resonators' performance measured by a vector network analyzer, the introduced approach measures the resonant frequency and Q factor by less than 0.6% and 4% error, respectively.
Thermodynamic Theory of Silicon Chemical Vapor Deposition

Silicon chemical vapor deposition via silane is determined with classical thermodynamics. Drastic assumptions are used, such as the hydrogen carrier gas does not interact with the silicon thin film...
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma induce inflammasome-mediated corneal endothelial cell death.

Abstract Purpose Chronic corneal endothelial cell (CEC) loss results in corneal edema and vision loss in conditions such as pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK), Fuchs’ dystrophy, and corneal graft failure. Low CEC density has been associated with an elevation of intraocular pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (INF)-γ. These cytokines are capable of triggering pyroptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism mediated by the inflammasome, prompting the activation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β, the perpetuation of inflammation, and subsequent damage of corneal endothelial tissue. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the deleterious contribution of the inflammasome and pyroptosis to CEC loss. Methods CECs from human donor corneas were treated ex vivo with TNF-α and IFN-γ for 48 h. Levels of caspase-1 and IL-1β were then assayed by ELISA, and the expression of caspase-1 and gasdermin-D (GSDM-D) were confirmed by immunofluorescence. Endothelial cell damage was analyzed by a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, and oxidative stress was determined by measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the culture media. Results Inflammasome activation and oxidative stress were elevated in CECs following exposure to TNF-α and IFN-γ, which resulted in cell death by pyroptosis as determined by LDH release which was inhibited by the caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-cmk. Conclusion CEC death is induced by the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ, which contribute to inflammasome activation. Moreover, the inflammasome is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic CEC loss.
CRISPRclassify: Repeat-Based Classification of CRISPR Loci

Detection and classification of CRISPR-Cas systems in metagenomic data have become increasingly prevalent in recent years due to their potential for diverse applications in genome editing. Traditio...
The Risk of Large-Artery Atherosclerotic Stroke is Proportionally Greater than Cardioembolic Stroke in HIV-Infected Individuals Compared to HIV-Uninfected Controls (I10-1.003)

OBJECTIVE: To compare the distribution of mechanisms for ischemic stroke among HIV-infected individuals and uninfected controls within an urban safety net hospital clinic setting. BACKGROUND: Although recent studies have shown an increased risk of stroke with HIV infection, the mechanism for this risk remains unclear. DESIGN/METHODS: We identified 60 HIV-infected cases and 60 HIV-uninfected controls with first-ever ischemic stroke from among patients followed within an urban safety net hospital clinic setting between 2000 and 2012 using validated ICD-9 codes. Demographics, stroke risk factors, health-related behaviors and medications were abstracted from medical records. The mechanism of each stroke was classified using the TOAST criteria. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate associations between HIV status and stroke subtype after adjustment for selected stroke risk factors. RESULTS: The mean age for HIV-infected cases was 50.1 years (SD +/- 8.3 years) compared with 60.0 years (SD +/- 12.0 years) for controls. The frequency of stroke subtype in HIV-infected cases compared with controls was: large artery atherosclerosis 23% vs. 22%, small vessel disease 20% vs. 33%, cardioembolism 17% vs. 40%, stroke of other determined etiology (e.g., infectious meningitis) 13% vs. 2% and stroke of undetermined etiology 23% vs. 3%. After adjustment for age, hypertension and coronary artery disease, there were no significant differences by HIV status for large artery, small vessel or cardioembolic stroke subtypes. However, HIV infection was associated with a greater relative risk (RR) for stroke of undetermined etiology compared with cardioembolic stroke (RR ratio 14.1, 95% CI 2.24-88.6, p=0.005). Among virally suppressed HIV-infected individuals and controls, HIV infection was associated with a 5.42-fold higher RR (95% CI 1.11-26.5, p=0.04) of large artery atherosclerotic versus cardioembolic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected individuals with well-controlled infection may be at proportionally greater risk for large artery atherosclerotic versus cardioembolic stroke compared to uninfected individuals. Additional studies are warranted to confirm this association and explore potential mechanisms underlying this difference, including the role of chronic inflammation. Disclosure: Dr. Price has received personal compensation for activities with Abbott Laboratories as a speaker. Dr. Hsue has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kim has received research support from SanBio, Inc.
A Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C Regulates Activation of p42/44 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Human Alveolar Macrophages

This study uses human alveolar macrophages to determine whether activation of a phosphatidylcholine (PC)-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) is linked to activation of the p42/44 (ERK) kinases by LPS. LPS-induced ERK kinase activation was inhibited by tricyclodecan-9-yl xanthogenate (D609), a relatively specific inhibitor of PC-PLC. LPS also increased amounts of diacylglycerol (DAG), and this increase in DAG was inhibited by D609. LPS induction of DAG was, at least in part, derived from PC hydrolysis. Ceramide was also increased in LPS-treated alveolar macrophages, and this increase in ceramide was inhibited by D609. Addition of exogenous C2 ceramide or bacterial-derived sphingomyelinase to alveolar macrophages increased ERK kinase activity. LPS also activated PKC ζ, and this activation was inhibited by D609. LPS-activated PKC ζ phosphorylated MAP kinase kinase, the kinase directly upstream of the ERK kinases. LPS-induced cytokine production (RNA and protein) was also inhibited by D609. As an aggregate, these studies support the hypothesis that one way by which LPS activates the ERK kinases is via activation of PC-PLC and that activation of a PC-PLC is an important component of macrophage activation by LPS.
Functional Analysis of Iα Promoter Regions of Multiple IgA Heavy Chain Genes

The 13 nonallelic IgA H chain genes of rabbit are differentially expressed in vivo. They can be grouped into those expressed at high levels (Calpha4, Calpha5, Calpha6, Calpha9, Calpha10, Calpha12, and Calpha13), those expressed at low levels (Calpha1, Calpha2, Calpha7, and Calpha11), and those that are not expressed (Calpha3 and Calpha8). We tested whether the differential in vivo expression is due to differential responses of the Ialpha promoters to TGF-beta stimulation. We stimulated the rabbit B cell line 55D1 with TGF-beta and, using single-cell RT-PCR, found that expression of germline (GL) transcripts of alpha3 and alpha8 could not be induced. By luciferase reporter gene assay and EMSA we found that the promoters of the unexpressed isotypes Calpha3 and Calpha8 are defective, thereby explaining the absence of IgA3 and IgA8 in vivo. When comparing the promoter activities of the other isotypes we found that the activities did not reflect the degree of in vivo expression. Instead, the promoters of the isotypes expressed at high or low levels promoted expression of the luciferase gene to a similar degree, except for the Ialpha4 promoter, which had much higher activity. Also the degree to which TGF-beta induced GL expression of the various isotypes in 55D1 B cells did not reflect in vivo expression. However, most of the TGF-beta-stimulated cells expressed GL mRNA of multiple isotypes; no isotype was expressed preferentially. These results suggest that the final switch to a single isotype is regulated in a step subsequent to GL transcription, rather than by induction of GL transcripts by the Ialpha promoter.
Reflections on the State and Future of Commercial Arbitration: Challenges, Opportunities, Proposals

Commercial arbitration systems addressing business disputes are in a process of dynamic evolution that presents distinct challenges as well as manifold opportunities for business users and for those who provide services as counselors, advocates, arbitrators and institutional arbitration providers. At the invitation of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, Professor Stipanowich prepared this assessment of the current "state" of commercial arbitration as experienced and perceived in the United States and internationally, a consideration of apparent barriers to the use of arbitration and countervailing opportunities for tailoring arbitration to serve business goals, and prospects for the future of arbitration — and arbitrators — in an increasingly globalized and technology-driven world. Drawing on data from the first broad-based survey of experienced arbitrators, conducted in 2013 by the Straus Institute, and other empirical studies, this article offers new information and insights on many different aspects of commercial arbitration practice in the U.S. and in international disputes. Topics include the habits and attitudes of business users and their attorneys, and barriers to making effective choices regarding arbitration; standards for arbitrator decision making and methods of managing perceived risks in arbitration; the variety of proactive approaches now employed to promote economy and efficiency in arbitration; issues of diversity in arbitration tribunals (including the gender and the professional background of arbitrators); party-appointed arbitrators on tripartite panels; the dramatic growth in the ranks of self-described "dispute resolution professionals"; the education, training and credentialing of arbitrators; legal advocacy in arbitration; arbitrators and settlement; the impact of mediation on arbitration and arbitrators; the growing emphasis on early evaluation or case assessment; the impact of technology; and the insights drawn from behavioral science and "big data."
Realistic Driving Trips For Location Privacy

Simulated, false location reports can be an effective way to confuse a privacy attacker. When a mobile user must transmit his or her location to a central server, these location reports can be accompanied by false reports that, ideally, cannot be distinguished from the true one. The realism of the false reports is important, because otherwise an attacker could filter out all but the real data. Using our database of GPS tracks from over 250 volunteer drivers, we developed probabilistic models of driving behavior and applied the models to create realistic driving trips. The simulations model realistic start and end points, slightly non-optimal routes, realistic driving speeds, and spatially varying GPS noise.
AMERICA'S CITIES AND THE 1980s: The Legacy of the Reagan Years

This study examines the implications of President Reagan’s domestic agenda, the New Federalism, for America’s cities. The finance officers of all U.S. cities with populations more than 50,000 were ...
A computer code for lattice Weyl-Wigner simulations of transport in circular cylindrical nanostructures

We have constructed a code that generalizes the Buot-Jensen algorithm to the calculation of electron transport in two-dimensional circular-cylindrically symmetric structures. The code differs significantly from the one-dimensional version in two aspects. First, the code is to be run on a Beowulf-class cluster to obtain the benefits of parallelization, but data movement between processors is of concern. The processors each handle one or more radial slices, hence the exchange of the Wigner function data is needed for a straightforward calculation of radial drift. We are presently evaluating the exchange of a limited number of moments of the Wigner distribution and its subsequent approximate reconstruction. The approximations employed in the calculation of the four-dimensional convolution integral of the Wigner function and the potential will be exhibited. Even with the rough approximations we presently use, this portion is computationally the most expensive, so that improvements, while desirable, are a challenge to implement efficiently.
Localization of sites modified during inactivation of the bovine heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase by quinacrine mustard using [3H]aniline as a probe.

Abstract The aziridinium of purified quinacrine mustard at 50 microM inactivates the bovine heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase with a pseudo-first order rate constant of 0.07 min-1 at pH 7.0 and 23 degrees C. An apparent Kd of 27 microM for the enzyme-reagent complex was estimated from the dependence of the rate of inactivation on the concentration of quinacrine mustard. The pH inactivation profile revealed that deprotonation of a group with a pKa of about 6.7 is necessary for inactivation. The amount of reagent incorporated into the protein increased linearly with the extent of inactivation. Complete inactivation was estimated to occur when 3 mol of reagent were incorporated/mol of F1. Enzyme, in which steady state ATPase was inactivated by 98% by quinacrine mustard, hydrolyzed substoichiometric ATP with zero order kinetics suggesting that residual activity is catalyzed by F1 in which at least one beta subunit is modified. By exploiting the reactivity of the aziridinium of covalently attached reagent with [3H] aniline, sites modified by quinacrine mustard were labeled with 3H. Isolation of radioactive cyanogen bromide peptides derived from F1 inactivated with the reagent in the presence of [3H]aniline which were identified by sequence analysis and sequence analyses of radioactive tryptic fragments arising from them have revealed the following. About two thirds of the radioactivity incorporated into the enzyme during inactivation is apparently esterified to one or more of the carboxylic acid side chains in a CNBr-tryptic fragment of the beta subunit with the sequence: 394DELSEEDK401. The remainder of the radioactivity is associated with at least two sites within the cyanogen bromide peptide containing residues 293-358 of the beta subunit. From these results it is concluded that inactivation of F1 by the aziridinium of quinacrine mustard is due, at least in part, to modification of one or more of the carboxylic acid side chains in the DELSEED segment of the beta subunit and possibly also to modification of unspecified amino acid side chains between residues 302-356 of the beta subunit.
Armenia's Public Finance System: A Comparison of Fiscal Burden with Other Former Soviet Republics

This paper presents a brief overview of Armenia's public finance system and compares it to the public finance systems of 160 other countries and to the public finance systems of the other 14 former Soviet republics. Fiscal burden is discussed as a factor that affects foreign investment.
Development of Columnar Topography in the Excitatory Layer 4 to Layer 2/3 Projection in Rat Barrel Cortex

The excitatory feedforward projection from layer (L) 4 to L2/3 in rat primary somatosensory (S1) cortex exhibits precise, columnar topography that is critical for columnar processing of whisker inputs. Here, we characterize the development of axonal topography in this projection using single-cell reconstructions in S1 slices. In the mature projection [postnatal day (P) 14-26], axons of L4 cells extending into L2/3 were confined almost entirely to the home barrel column, consistent with previous results. At younger ages (P8-11), however, axonal topography was significantly less columnar, with a large proportion of branches innervating neighboring barrel columns representing adjacent whisker rows. Mature topography developed from this initial state by targeted axonal growth within the home column and by growth of barrel columns themselves. Raising rats with all or a subset of whiskers plucked from P8-9, manipulations that induce reorganization of functional whisker maps and synaptic depression at L4 to L2/3 synapses, did not alter normal anatomical development of L4 to L2/3 axons. Thus, development of this projection does not require normal sensory experience after P8, and deprivation-induced reorganization of whisker maps at this age is unlikely to involve physical remodeling of L4 to L2/3 axons.
De Novo metabolic engineering and the promise of synthetic DNA.

The uncertain price and tight supply of crude oil and the ever-increasing demand for clean energy have prompted heightened attention to the development of sustainable fuel technologies that ensure continued economic development while maintaining stewardship of the environment. In the face of these enormous challenges, biomass has emerged as a viable alternative to petroleum for the production of energy, chemicals, and materials owing to its abundance, inexpensiveness, and carbon-neutrality. Moreover, the immense ease and efficiency of biological systems at converting biomass-derived feedstocks into fuels, chemicals, and materials has generated renewed interest in biotechnology as a replacement for traditional chemical processes. Aided by the ever-expanding repertoire of microbial genetics and plant biotechnology, improved understanding of gene regulation and cellular metabolism, and incessantly accumulating gene and protein data, scientists are now contemplating engineering microbial cell factories to produce fuels, chemical feedstocks, polymers and pharmaceuticals in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. This goal resonates with that of metabolic engineering – the improvement of cellular properties through the intelligent design, rational modification, or directed evolution of biochemical pathways, and arguably, metabolic engineering seems best positioned to achieve the concomittant goals of environmental stewardship and economic prolificity.
Do Gasoline Prices Respond Asymmetrically to Cost Shocks? The Confounding Effect of Edgeworth Cycles

Asymmetric price cycles which look similar to Edgeworth Cycles are appearing in increasingly many retail gasoline markets in the U.S. and worldwide. The cycles can give the appearance of asymmetric price responses to cost shocks under traditional methodologies. This article shows how to remove the confounding effect of the cycles and test for any true underlying asymmetry in price responses. Designing the correct counterfactual is key. The methodology is demonstrated for one strongly cycling market and some asymmetry to cost shocks is found. Covert collusion is unlikely, but the ability to coordinate cyclical price increases may play a role. Consumers can still reduce expenditures on gasoline up to 7.7% with simple timing rules of thumb.
Viewpoint: An extended class of instrumental variables for the estimation of causal effects

We examine how structural systems can yield observed variables instrumental in identifying and estimating causal effects. We provide an exhaustive characterization of potentially identifying conditional exogeneity relationships and demonstrate how structural relations determine exogeneity and exclusion restrictions that yield moment conditions supporting identification. This provides a comprehensive framework for constructing instruments and covariates. We introduce notions of conditioning and conditional extended instrumental variables (XIVs). These permit identification but need not be traditional instruments, as they may be endogenous. We distinguish between observed XIVs and proxies for unobserved XIVs. A main message is the importance of sufficiently specifying causal relations governing the unobservables. Les auteurs examinent comment des systemes structurels peuvent engendrer des variables observees instrumentales dans l'identification et l'estimation d'effets de causalite. On fournit une caracterisation exhaustive des relations d'exogeneite conditionnelle potentiellement porteuses d'identification, et on demontre comment des relations structurelles determinent les restrictions d'exogeneite et d'exclusion qui engendrent les conditions de moment qui supportent l'identification. Cela fournit un cadre comprehensif pour construire instruments et covariables. On introduit des notions de variables instrumentales etendues conditionnantes et conditionnelles (XIVs). Celles-ci permettent l'identification, mais n'ont pas aetre des instruments traditionnels, parce qu'elles peuvent etre endogenes. On distingue entre les XIVs observees et les variables concomitantes avec les XIVs non-observees. Un message central est l'importance de suffisamment specifier les relations causales qui gouvernent les non-observables.
N,N-Dimethylsphingosine conjugates of poly-L-glutamic acid: synthesis, characterization, and initial biological evaluation.

Abstract Poly- l -glutamic acid (PGA) has previously been demonstrated to be an effective backbone for creating a hydrophilic prodrug of the established anti-tumor agent, paclitaxel, the active agent in Taxol; this approach has obviated the need for the toxic Cremophor excipient, used to enhance the solubility of paclitaxel in the clinical formulation. In order to form hydrophilic prodrugs of the hydrophobic pro-apoptotic sphingolipid, N,N -dimethylsphingosine (DMSP), PGA was condensed with DMSP, previously modified with coumarin to allow spectroscopic detection during conjugate synthesis, to yield PGA–DMSP. Conjugates with different loadings of DMSP were prepared and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against two human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines. Time- and loading-dependent expression of cytotoxicity was observed, such that endpoints essentially equivalent to those observed with free-DMSP were achieved, but in a more protracted manner, consistent with prodrug behavior. PGA–DMSP was initially evaluated for toxicity in female nude mice, and administration of high net levels of DMSP, exceeding those achievable with free-DMSP, was well-tolerated. We propose that PGA–DMSP conjugates merit evaluation for anti-tumor efficacy in pre-clinical tumor models.
Comparison of Visual Function Studies in Two Cases of Senile Macular Degeneration

In this paper two relatively early cases of senile macular degeneration are compared by making use of a number of tests of visual function, some relatively new, coupled with observation of the fundus and analysis by fluorescein angiography. The functional tests include visual acuity, the sustainedlike and transientlike functions which are believed to test inner retinal receptive field properties and to have origin in the inner and outer plexiform layers, the Stiles-Crawford function which reflects the directional sensitivity and orientation of photoreceptors, and increment threshold curves. In one case there was evidence of inner retinal involvement at the time the tests were conducted, but, because the Stiles-Crawford function remained essentially normal, it is assumed that the receptors were not disturbed relative to their orientation. In this case (as in many others), the zone or area exhibiting functional change does not necessarily match the area exhibiting anatomical change as observed by examination of the fundus, fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography. In the second patient there is evidence of both anomalous inner retinal function and disturbance in receptor alignment. The later suggests disorientation of the receptor bed. These findings correlated with the fundus observation and fluorescein angiographic evidence of a leak, resulting in the presence of serous fluid beneath the neurosensory retina. With resolution of this fluid there was a return of the functional tests toward normal. At this time, it is not possible to determine whether, in the two cases, the functional changes are proceeding on a parallel course, but are at different stages, or whether they are the expression of somewhat different anomalies.
The Mast Cell and Theophylline in Asthma

Mast cells are central to the development of bronchial inflammation and thus to bronchial hyperreactivity, the cardinal feature of asthma. Inflammation is due to the concerted action of mast cell-dependent vasoactive/spasmogenic mediators, chemotactic factors, and enzymes. Adenosine, a newly synthesized mast cell mediator (from adenosine triphosphate), is one of the important inflammatory mediators capable of causing bronchospasm and, by interacting with mast cell membrane receptors, of augmenting mediator release induced by antigen. These inflammatory and pro-asthmatic actions of adenosine can be inhibited by concentrations of theophylline achievable in humans that are insufficient to alter cyclic adenosine monophosphate metabolism. Thus, a new therapeutic consideration in the use of xanthine drugs is their ability to inhibit adenosine binding to cell surface receptors and thereby inhibit the effects of this purine nucleoside.
Morphological changes in the rat sertoli cell induced by the microtubule poison carbendazim

Early morphological changes in the rat Sertoli cell induced by the fungicide carbendazim (methyl-2-benzimidazole carbamate; MBC), a metabolite of benomyl, were examined. Adult rats were treated with single doses of MBC (400 mg/kg) or vehicle and examined by light and electron microscopy at 3 hr post-treatment. Sloughing of elongating spermatid clusters was observed in all stages of spermatogenesis, except for Stages III-V. Cleavage occurred near the apical region of the seminiferous epithelium where cytoplasmic processes of the Sertoli cell surround the heads of elongating spermatids. The cleaved cytoplasm remained attached to the sloughed spermatids and ectoplasmic specializations remained undamaged. Intact microtubules were observed in the apical Sertoli cell cytoplasm (including sloughed tissues) but were decreased in the body region, where aggregates of mitochondria were found. Cytoplasm near the cleavage site exhibited rarefaction, which was associated with swollen cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum. It appears that the mechanism of germ cell sloughing induced by MBC treatment involves the disruption of microtubules in the body region of the Sertoli cell, the retraction of cytoplasmic organelles and the swelling of endoplasmic reticulum.
Radical chemistry in the thermal decomposition of anisole and deuterated anisoles: an investigation of aromatic growth.

The pyrolyses of anisole (C6H5OCH3), d3-anisole (C6H5OCD3), and d8-anisole (C6D5OCD3) have been studied using a hyperthermal tubular reactor and photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Gas exiting the reactor is subject to an immediate supersonic expansion after a residence time of approximately 65 μs. This allows the detection of highly reactive radical intermediates. Our results confirm that the first steps in the thermal decomposition of anisole are the loss of a methyl group to form phenoxy radical, followed by ejection of a CO to form cyclopentadienyl radical (c-C5H5); C6H5OCH3 → C6H5O + CH3; C6H5O → c-C5H5 + CO. At high temperatures (Twall = 1200 °C − 1300 °C) the c-C5H5 decomposes to propargyl radical (CH2CCH) and acetylene; c-C5H5 → CH2CCH + C2H2. The formation of benzene and naphthalene is demonstrated with 1 + 1 resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. Propargyl radical recombination is a significant benzene formation channel. However, we show the majority of benzene is fo...
Development Management versus Third World Bureaucracies: A Brief History of Conflicting Interests

This article investigates the impacts on, and responses of, third world bureaucracies (more specifically those operating in the poorer parts of the third world), in the context of the changing demands of development management. These include efforts at debureaucratization, by calling for a radically different kind of civil service; at localization and training; at circumvention, through relying on semi-autonomous public enterprises; at re-orientation, by altering civil servants' attitudes and incentives; at decentralization; and at privatization and pressure. For these governments, this last mentioned approach proved more demanding and demoralizing than any of the previous notions they had confronted. Today, under the rubric of governance, there appears to be some acknowledgement that the anti-state emphasis of the structural adjustment era may have gone too far, and the call is for the more effective bureaucracies to be accountable. The danger in many poor countries, however, is that the real and relative salaries, the morale and ethics of the bureaucracy, and public trust in the bureaucracy, have all plummeted so far, that it may be too late to turn these trends around. The daunting challenge today is how to break out of this ‘box’ of bureaucratic decline, the four corners of which are formed and connected by lack of resources, incentives, public service and legitimacy.
Pituitary calcium channel modulation and regulation of prolactin gene expression.

The dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel modulators (-) Bay K 8644 (R5417) and nimodipine were used to study the role of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the regulation of PRL gene transcription in GH3 cells. Fusion constructs containing 5′-flanking sequences from the rat PRL gene linked to either the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene or the firefly luciferase gene were transiently expressed in GH3 cells and the transcriptional response to Ca2+ channel modulators was assessed. The Ca2+ channel agonist R5417 enhanced the transcription of a PRL-CAT fusion gene containing 2.5 kilobase (kb) pairs of the 5′-flanking sequence. This response was completely blocked by the Ca2+ channel blocker nimodipine demonstrating that sequences in the PRL 5′-flanking region confer response to Ca2+. Transfection with PRL-CAT constructs containing 2.5 kb to 0.6 kb pairs of 5′-flanking sequence were responsive to Ca2+, although those which contained the distal enhancer region (positions -1765 to -1495) had much higher...
Neurofibromatosis 2 gene in human colorectal cancer

Colon cancers commonly have allelic losses of chromosome 22q, which suggests the presence of a tumor suppressor gene on 22q. The candidate tumor suppressor gene on 22q is the neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) gene. Using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, we screened 24 pairs of colorectal cancer and adjacent normal mucosa, as well as 10 colon cancer cell lines from non-NF2 patients, for mutations in the coding sequence of the NF2 gene. Two SSCP variants, one in exon 14 and another one in exon 16, were detected in two of the sporadic colorectal cancers, but not in adjacent normal mucosa samples. Sequencing of these variants in one tumor detected an A-to-G transition in bp 1459 of the NF2 cDNA, resulting in the change of Ile to Val at codon 487 of merlin, the NF2 protein product. The other tumor showed a 2-bp (CT) deletion in the intronic sequence of the alternatively spliced exon 16. These results suggest that the NF2 gene is probably involved in some colorectal tumors, but is not the critical chromosome 22q tumor suppressor gene involved in colon tumorigenesis.
The effects of rehearsing analyzed information upon the retrieval of unanalyzed information

Ss were required to recall unanalyzed information whilst in the process of remembering an analyzed sequence of items. Remembering the analyzed sequence by use of rehearsal did not reduce the availability of unanalyzed information. The data were discussed with respect to theoretical interpretations of rehearsal and a model was proposed emphasizing the separation of analyzed and unanalyzed information stores.
BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR PATHOLOGICAL GAMBLING IN PERSONS WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY

The present investigation examined a behavior-analytic clinical treatment package designed to reduce the pathological gambling of 3 individuals with acquired brain injury. A prior history of pathological gambling of each patient was assessed via caregiver report, psychological testing, and direct observation of gambling behavior. Using an 8-week one-on-one client-patient format, a treatment program was developed in which the patient learned about the antecedents, consequences, and motivating operations that controlled the emission of gambling behavior. Data were collected on both self-report of gambling urges and behavior following therapy and during in situ gambling opportunities. The therapy program reduced urges to gamble and actual gambling for all patients. The potential of behavior-analytic therapy for reducing the pathological gambling of patients with and without brain injury is discussed.
Activated Boron Nitride Derived from Activated Carbon

An activated carbon template substitution reaction has been used to synthesize activated boron nitride (BN). The resulting material is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and surface area analysis. The activated BN microstructure is similar to that of the starting activated carbon template. The specific surface area, total pore volume, and average pore radius of template-derived activated BN are 168 m2/g, 0.27 cm3/g, and 32.2 A, respectively.
Spontaneous decompression of syringomyelia: magnetic resonance imaging findings. Case report.

✓ The case of a 30-year-old woman with Chiari I malformation and a cervicothoracic syrinx is presented. The patient was followed clinically over a 2½-year period. Spontaneous and complete resolution of the syrinx, as documented by serial magnetic resonance studies, was accompanied by only a minimal change in objective symptomatology.
Europa, tidally heated oceans, and habitable zones around giant planets.

Tidal dissipation in the satellites of a giant planet may provide sufficient heating to maintain an environment favorable to life on the satellite surface or just below a thin ice layer. Europa could have a liquid ocean which may occasionally receive sunlight through cracks in the overlying ice shell. In such a case, sufficient solar energy could reach liquid water that organisms similar to those found under Antarctic ice could grow. In other solar systems, larger satellites with more significant heat flow could represent environments that are stable over an order of eons and in which life could perhaps evolve. A zone around a giant planet is defined in which such satellites could exist as a tidally-heated habitable zone. This zone can be compared to the habitable zone which results from heating due to the radiation of a central star. In this solar system, this radiatively-heated habitable zone contains the earth.
Single bead-based electrochemical biosensor

A simple, robust, single bead-based electrochemical biosensor was fabricated and characterized. The sensor's working electrode consists of an electrochemically etched platinum wire, with a nominal diameter of 25 microm, hermetically heat-fusion sealed in a pulled glass capillary (micropipette). The sealing process does not require any epoxy or glue. A commercially available, densely functionalized agarose bead was mounted on the tip of the etched platinum wire. The use of a pre-functionalized bead eliminates the tedious and complicated surface functionalization process that is often the bottleneck in the development of electrochemical biosensors. We report on the use of a biotin agarose bead-based, micropipette, electrochemical (Bio-BMP) biosensor to monitor H(2)O(2) concentration and the use of a streptavidin bead-based, micropipette, electrochemical (SA-BMP) biosensor to detect DNA amplicons. The Bio-BMP biosensor's response increased linearly as the H(2)O(2) concentration increased in the range from 1 x 10(-6) to 1.2 x10(-4)M with a detection limit of 5 x 10(-7)M. The SA-BMP was able to detect the amplicons of 1pg DNA template of B. Cereus bacteria, thus providing better detection sensitivity than conventional gel-based electropherograms.
An Inquiry into Schon's Epistemology of Practice: Exploring Links between Experience and Reflective Practice.

This article describes a qualitative study that documented the use of reflection-in-action by adult educators in problematic situations. The focus of the study was to explore aspects of Schon's theory. The results supported the basic assumption of Schon's theory that reflecting practitioners use a constructivist decision-making perspective while non-reflecting educators use an instrumental problem-solving approach. The findings demonstrated that reflecting educators, whether novice or experienced, use reflecting-in-action and reflecting-on-action as a means to develop expertise. The presence of experienced educators exhibiting minimal reflection and presence of one highly reflective novice indicates that experience alone is not the "master teacher" of the reflective process.
Modeling flows with curved detonation waves

Abstract The nonzero width of a curved detonation front has a significant effect on its propagation. Physically, the curvature effect is a small but important correction. In numerical simulations, the curvature effect tends to be greatly exaggerated due to an artificially large width of an underresolved wave. In the context of reactive fluid flow, a detonation wave consists of a lead shock followed by a thin reaction zone. The curvature effect is determined by the dynamics within the reaction zone; in particular, the competition between a source term for the rate of chemical energy release and a geometric source term due to front curvature. When the width of the reaction zone is small compared with the radius of curvature of the front, the reaction zone can be approximated as quasi-steady and be modeled locally by a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in which the front curvature enters as a parameter. Front curvature breaks the Galilean invariance and the quasi-steady approximation is only valid in a distinguished frame determined by both the front curvature and the tangential velocity divergence ahead of the front. The quasi-steady ODEs determine the reaction zone profile to leading order and can be viewed as an extension of the ZND model. However, the source terms in the ODEs lead to modified Hugoniot jump conditions that take into account front curvature and reaction zone width. When the reaction zone is underresolved, a calculation in effect reduces to a “capturing algorithm” in which the burn model plays an analogous role for detonation waves as artificial viscosity does for shock waves. In particular, the reaction zone has an unphysically large width that is proportional to the cell size. As a consequence of the modified jump conditions, the numerical reaction zone width gives rise to an artificial curvature effect. This causes numerical solutions to depend on the cell size and orientation of a detonation front relative to the grid. Two algorithms that eliminate numerical curvature effects are discussed, detonation shock dynamics and front tracking.
24-Hour Academic Libraries: Adjusting to Change

The purpose of this study was to explore the adaptive measures that academic libraries perform when implementing and operating a 24-hour schedule. Five in-depth interviews were conducted with current managerial-level librarians at 24-hour academic libraries. The exploratory interviews revealed similar measures for security, budgeting, employee duties, building access, information access, and maintaining professional levels of service. Variations involved staffing, revealing differences by employment level, benefits offered, work experience, and workforce. The found similarities provide an important insight into the framework of a 24-hour library operation. Findings were consistent with previous research detailing patron needs, budget concerns, and service response.
Differential effects of cholesterol and budesonide on biophysical properties of clinical surfactant

Differential effects of cholesterol and budesonide on biophysical properties of clinical surfactant
NITRATE MEASUREMENTS IN THE PRESENCE OF HIGH NITRITE CONCENTRATIONS1

Most accepted analytical procedures for nitrate in sea water become increasingly unreliable as tho nitrite concentration increases. We have developed an ozonation technique whereby nitrite is quantitatively oxidized to nitrate. In addition, we have formulated an equation to be used with the Mullin-Riley (1955) reduction method when nitrite and nitrate are both present. This equation, unlike other recommended corrections, is based on demonstrated recoveries from known mixtures of nitrate and nitrite. In the ozone method the amount of nitrate produced is compared with the initial amount of nitrite. The difference in nitrogen, as determined by the two analyses, provides a method for estimating the quantity of nitrate originally present. Both the ozonation and numerical solutions appear particularly suited for studying nitrogen physiology of algal or bacterial cultures. Such studies often require analytical estimates for dissolved nitrate in the presence of high nitrite concentrations.
Segmental modeling of changing immunologic response for CD4 data with skewness, missingness and dropout

In clinical practice, the profile of each subject's CD4 response from a longitudinal study may follow a ‘broken stick’ like trajectory, indicating multiple phases of increase and/or decline in response. Such multiple phases (changepoints) may be important indicators to help quantify treatment effect and improve management of patient care. Although it is a common practice to analyze complex AIDS longitudinal data using nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) or nonparametric mixed-effects (NPME) models in the literature, NLME or NPME models become a challenge to estimate changepoint due to complicated structures of model formulations. In this paper, we propose a changepoint mixed-effects model with random subject-specific parameters, including the changepoint for the analysis of longitudinal CD4 cell counts for HIV infected subjects following highly active antiretroviral treatment. The longitudinal CD4 data in this study may exhibit departures from symmetry, may encounter missing observations due to various reasons...
A simple continuous-flow toxicity test system for microscopic life stages of aquatic organisms

Abstract This paper describes a flow-through toxicity testing system utilizing a new exposure chamber designed for microscopic organisms. Typically, flow-through testing is conducted with either a serial or proportional diluting system. While generally relying on gravity to drive water flow, as different amounts of toxicant and diluent are combined in glass or plexiglass mixing cells, they are almost always open to the surrounding atmosphere. In contrast, the system described here is based on a simple exposure design utilizing premixed stocks representing each exposure concentration. While the system is entirely closed to the surrounding atmosphere, for testing of volatile organic mixtures in addition to nonvolatile inorganic toxicants, the delivery manifold may be aerated for toxicants of low volatility and high BOD. The system incorporates flexible Teflon gas sampling bags for stock preparation and storage (thus avoiding need for a headspace), and digital unified-drive peristaltic pumps for controlled toxicant delivery. To reduce surface partitioning of toxicants, all system components are constructed of chemically inert materials (Teflon, glass and silicone).