cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of divalent metal ions on the synthesis of oligosaccharide side chains of Neurospora crassa glycoproteins

Abstract Neurospora crassa membrane preparations incorporated mannose from GDP-mannose-[ 14 C] in the presence of Mg 2+ into a polyprenol lipid and side chains of protein acceptor(s), which are labile on hydrolysis in weak base. The addition of Mn 2+ to the reaction mixtures does not affect mannosyl lipid synthesis but it stimulates the transfer of mannose to larger oligosaccharide chains resistant to β-elimination and the transfer of a second mannosyl unit to form an O -glycosidically linked mannobiosyl side chain. Incubation of particulate preparations with polyprenol-mannose-[ 14 C] in the presence of Mg 2+ and Mn 2+ also results in the transfer of a single mannose to the protein. When non-radioactive GDP-mannose is added to this reaction mixture, however, β-elimination yields mannobiose. The mannobiose is labeled in the reducing sugar only. These results indicate that the first mannose of this mannobiosyl side chain is transferred via a lipid intermediate, but the second mannose is transferred directly from GDP-mannose. In the presence of Mg 2+ and Mn 2+ , mannose apparently is also transferred from polyprenol-mannose-[ 14 C] to side chains which are resistant to hydrolysis.
Comments and Reflections on Chinese Business History

In reading over the articles by Professors Hao and Chan, I would make several general observations. First, historical studies necessarily reflect the particular time and place in which they are written. In the 1950s, the nations of East Asia, China in particular, were poverty stricken, and no economic miracle was in sight. The Soviet model appeared a viable rival to capitalism as a strategy for economic development. As Yen-p'ing Hao notes in his article, dominant issues of much early scholarship dealt with explaining "China's failure to modernize," the limitations of family firms, and the weaknesses of Chinese entrepreneurship. We have, for instance, Feuerwerker's classic study that discusses the "tardy" nature of Chinese development by focusing on the limitations of the guandu shangban form of business organization.1
Chemical and Physical Stability of Protein and Gum Arabic‐Stabilized Oil‐in‐Water Emulsions Containing Limonene

An important flavor component of citrus oils is limonene. Since limonene is lipid soluble, it is often added to foods as an oil-in-water emulsion. However, limonene-containing oil-in-water emulsions are susceptible to both physical instability and oxidative degradation, leading to loss of aroma and formation of off-flavors. Proteins have been found to produce both oxidatively and physically stable emulsions containing triacylglycerols. The objective of this research was to determine if whey protein isolate (WPI) could protect limonene in oil-in-water emulsion droplets more effectively than gum arabic (GA). Limonene degradation and formation of the limonene oxidation products, limonene oxide and carvone, were less in the WPI- than GA-stabilized emulsions at both pHs 3.0 and 7.0. These data suggest that WPI was able to inhibit the oxidative deterioration of limonene in oil-in-water emulsions. The ability of WPI to decrease oxidative reactions could be due to the formation of a cationic emulsion droplet interface at pH 3.0, which can repel prooxidative metals, and/or the ability of amino acids in WPI to scavenge free radical and chelate prooxidative metals.
Tax Policy Coordination, Vertical Externalities, and Optimal Taxation in a System of Hierarchical Governments

Abstract Tax policies of two levels of government (state and federal) with overlapping tax bases are considered. This overlap leads to “vertical” fiscal externalities are considered when several different commodities are in the tax base and the tax bases of the two levels of government may not be identical. When the governments share a tax base, the mix of combined taxes is optimal. With different tax bases, combined taxes are no longer optimal as federal tax rates are adjusted to reflect state public service levels. When grants are available, a welfare-maximizing mix of taxes and public services is obtained.
Methane absorption coefficients for the jovian planets from laboratory, Huygens, and HST data

Abstract We use 11 data sets of methane transmission measurements within 0.4–5.5 μm wavelength to model the methane transmission for temperature and pressure conditions in the jovian planets. Eight data sets are based on published laboratory measurements. Another two data sets come from two spectrometers onboard the Huygens probe that measured methane absorption inside Titan’s atmosphere ( Tomasko et al., 2008b, PSS 56, 624 ), and we provide a refined analysis. The last data set is a set of new Jupiter images by the Hubble Space Telescope to measure atmospheric transmission with Ganymede as the light source. Below 1000 nm wavelength, our resulting methane absorption coefficients are generally close to those by Karkoschka (1998, Icarus 133, 134) , but we add descriptions of temperature and pressure dependence. One remaining inconsistency occurs between 882 and 902 nm wavelength where laboratory data predict larger absorptions in the jovian atmospheres than observed. We present possible explanations. Above 1000 nm, our analysis of the Huygens data confirms methane absorption coefficients by Irwin et al. (2006, Icarus 181, 309) at their laboratory temperatures. Huygens data also confirm Irwin’s model of extrapolation to Titan’s lower pressures. However, their model of extrapolation to Titan’s lower temperatures predicts absorption coefficients up to 100 times lower than measured by Huygens. For each of ∼3700 wavelengths, we present a temperature dependence that is consistent with all laboratory data and the Huygens data. Since the Huygens data probe similar temperatures as many observations of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Titan, our methane model will allow more reliable radiative transfer models for their atmospheres.
CORR insights®: Does vitamin D improve osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled pilot trial

The increased prevalence of osteoarthritis in Western countries is due, in part, to an aging and gradually more obese population. Obesity is a major risk factor for knee and to a lesser extent, hip osteoarthritis. The rates of disease are rising faster than can be explained by aging and obesity. This increase may be ascribed to sports-related injury or an unwillingness of patients to accept even modest joint pain that in the past probably did not trigger medical care [7]. Rates of knee replacement are rising rapidly. Effective nonsurgical treatments are desperately needed, but no treatments for osteoarthritis have been consistently shown to slow the course of disease, and there are few symptom modifying treatments considered effective — most, like exercise treatment, come with compliance issues. Vitamin D has promise as treatment for osteoarthritis, especially among those who are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D receptors are present on chondrocytes, the cells within cartilage. Through these receptors, vitamin D may regulate matrix metalloproteinases [8]. Vitamin D deficiency inhibits bone remodeling, which may affect the bone changes that evolve with osteoarthritis. Also, deficiency may augment pain sensitivity [4] and contribute to muscle weakness. With this background, epidemiologic cohort studies [3, 5] examined the relationship of blood levels of 25-OH vitamin D, the major storage form of the vitamin, to osteoarthritis. While the initial studies suggested that vitamin D deficiency accelerated osteoarthritis disease progression [5], a later study [3] showed mixed or even negative results.
Evidence that the messenger RNA for collagen is monocistronic.

Summary Polysomes synthesizing Type I and II procollagens were isolated from rat calvaria and from a murine chondrosarcoma respectively. All collagenase sensitive polypeptides synthesized in vitro , as well as the collagen specific immunoprecipitated materials were smaller than β components. Polysomes contained nascent peptides consistently smaller than α chains. In low K + (10mM) nonspecific adsorption of collagen to polysomes and aggregation of polysome were observed. Such effects were reversed in the presence of 250mM K + . We find no evidence supporting the polycistronic mRNA hypothesis for collagen and suggest rather that large polysomal aggregates are artifacts generated at low K + . We propose that collagen is synthesized on polysomes as a precursor polypeptide smaller than 185,000.
Fusion enzymes containing HSV-1 thymidine kinase mutants and guanylate kinase enhance prodrug sensitivity in vitro and in vivo

Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVTK) with ganciclovir (GCV) is currently the most widely used suicide gene/prodrug system in cancer gene therapy. A major limitation in this therapy is the inefficient activation of GCV by HSVTK to its active antimetabolites. We described earlier two strategies to overcome this limitation: (1) generation of HSVTK mutants with improved GCV activation potential and (2) construction of a fusion protein encoding HSVTK and mouse guanylate kinase (MGMK), the second enzyme in the GCV activation pathway. As a means to further enhance GCV activation, two MGMK/HSVTK constructs containing the HSVTK mutants, mutant 30 and SR39, were generated and evaluated for their tumor and bystander killing effects in vitro and in vivo. One fusion mutant, MGMK/30, shows significant reduction in IC(50) values of approximately 12 500-fold, 100-fold, and 125-fold compared with HSVTK, mutant 30 or MGMK/HSVTK, respectively. In vitro bystander analyses show that 5% of MGMK/30-expressing cells are sufficient to induce 75% of tumor cell killing. In an xenograft tumor model, MGMK/30 displays the greatest inhibition of tumor growth at a GCV concentration (1 mg kg(-1)) that has no effect on wild-type HSVTK-, MGMK/HSVTK-, or mutant 30-transfected cells. Another fusion construct, MGMK/SR39, sensitizes rat C6 glioma cells to GCV by 2500-fold or 25-fold compared with HSVTK or MGMK/HSVTK, respectively. In vitro analyses show similar IC(50) values between cells harboring SR39 and MGMK/SR39, although MGMK/SR39 seems to elicit stronger bystander killing effects in which 1% of MGMK/SR39-transfected cells result in 60% cell death. In a xenograft tumor model, despite observable tumor growth inhibition, no statistical significance in tumor volume was detected between mice harboring SR39- and MGMK/SR39-transfected cells when dosed with 1 mg kg(-1) GCV. However, at a lower dose of GCV (0.1 mg kg(-1)), MGMK/SR39 seems to have slightly greater tumor growth inhibition properties compared with SR39 (P< or =0.05). In vivo studies indicate that both mutant fusion proteins display substantial improvements in bystander killing in the presence of 1 mg kg(-1) GCV, even when only 5% of the tumor cells are transfected. Such fusion mutants with exceptional prodrug converting properties will allow administration of lower and non-myelosuppressive doses of GCV concomitant with improved tumor killing and as such are promising candidates for translational gene therapy studies.
Determination of combined benzidine in FD&C yellow no. 6 (sunset yellow FCF)

Samples from 67 manufactured lots of FDC Colour Index No. 15985) were analysed for combined benzidine. These samples were selected from those submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration for certification between October 1991 and December 1992 by 13 dye distributors. Dithionite was used to reduce any combined benzidine present in the form of azo or disazo dyes to free benzidine. This reduction was followed by extraction, diazotization and coupling with 2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic acid disodium salt (R salt). The total benzidine was quantified as benzidine-R salt disazo dye by HPLC with detection at 540 nm and a quantification limit of 10 ng benzidine/g FD&C Yellow No. 6. Of the 67 samples analysed, 34 were found to contain more than 10 ng combined benzidine/g. Of these, 30 samples were from one manufacturing company, including three of its subsidaries. The level of combined benzidine found ranged from 11 to 104 ng/g, except for one sample containing 941 ng/g.
A prospective study of urinary ligandin in patients at risk of renal tubular injury.

The urinary excretion of ligandin, a proximal tubular enzyme and binding protein, was measured by radioimmunoassay in eight normals, six patients receiving radiocontrast media, and six patients in a critical care unit who were considered at high risk for acute renal failure. Ligandinuria was found to occur normally at rates under 5 μg/hr. In the patients receiving radiocontrast media, abnormal rates of ligandinuria were found in four patients. In 102 ligandin measurements in the critically ill patients, rates of ligandinuria exceeded normal only once (after contrast media exposure) despite 13 identifiable expisodes of potentially nephrotoxic circumstances and two episodes of acute renal failure. Ligandinuria appears more sensitive as a marker for tubular injury from contrast media than from other renal insults.
Impaired phagocytosis in chronic renal failure is mediated by secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Impaired phagocytosis in chronic renal failure is mediated by secondary hyperparathyroidism. Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) display impaired phagocytosis by the polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL), and these cells have elevated basal levels of cytosolic calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) and reduced ATP content. It has been suggested that these changes in PMNL metabolism and function are mediated by the state of secondary hyperparathyroidism of CRF. To examine the role of excess PTH in these derangements of PMNL, we studied [Ca 2+ ] i , ATP and phagocytic ability of PMNL in five groups of rats including: CRF, CRF normocalcemic parathyroidectomized (CRF-PTX), CRF and normal animals treated with verapamil (CRF-V), and normal-V, respectively. The level of [Ca 2+ ] i in the PMNL of CRF rats (149 ± 2.7 nM) was significantly (P 6 PMNL) significantly lower (P 6 PMNL), CRF-PTX (103 ± 2.9 nM; 9.2 ± 0.19 nmol/5 × 10 6 PMNL), CRF-V (107 ± 2.2 nM; 9.0 ± 0.2 nmol/5 × 10 6 PMNL) and normal-V (106 ± 1.8 nM; 9.2 ± 0.2 nmol/5 × 10 6 PMNL), despite sustained elevation in blood PTH in the CRF-V group. Phagocytosis was significantly (P 7 PMNL/min) but was normal in CRF-PTX (9.3 ± 0.21 µg oil/10 7 PMNL/min) and CRF-V (9.5 ± 0.22 µg oil/10 7 PMNL/min) rats. The values of phagocytosis in normal and normal-V rats were 9.6 ± 44 and 9.6 ± 0.18 µg oil/10 7 PMNL/min, respectively. The data indicate that excess PTH in CRF is a major factor underlying the metabolic and functional derangements in PMNL and that these abnormalities are prevented by either reducing the blood levels of PTH or by blocking its action on PMNL by verapamil.
An improved extended corresponding states method for estimation of viscosity of pure refrigerants and mixtures

Abstract The extended corresponding states method for calculating the viscosity of pure refrigerants and mixtures is investigated. The accuracy of pure fluid viscosity values is significantly improved by introducing a third shape factor evaluated using available pure fluid viscosity data. A modification to the method of Huber and Ely (Fluid Phase Equilibria, 1992, 80 , 45–46) is proposed for estimation of the viscosity of mixtures; this modification eliminates the possibility of discontinuities at the critical point, ensures that the pure component viscosity is provided in the limit of a component mole fraction approaching 1, and improves the overall accuracy of the method. The method has been applied to 12 pure refrigerants including three hydrocarbons and mixtures. The average absolute deviations between the calculated and experimental viscosity values are within 4% for all of the pure fluids and most of the mixtures investigated.
Malignant melanoma of the head and neck

Sixty-nine patients with head and neck melanoma were prospectively evaluated from 1971 to 1977. Patients presenting for initial therapy underwent wide excision of their primary tumor, and those with deeply invasive melanoma also underwent regional lymphadenectomy, whether their nodes were clinically positive or negative. The results suggest that the prognosis of this tumor is similar to that of melanoma arising at other sites. Clinical stage and primary-tumor histopathologic microstage both correlated with disease recurrence. At 1 to 75 months, patients with clinical Stage I disease had a 13% recurrence rate, while 58% of those with Stage II disease developed recurrence. Patients with superficially invasive melanoma had a 10% recurrence rate, while 17%-33% of those with deeply invasive disease developed recurrence. However, the presence of node metastases, rather than the microstage of the primary tumor, appeared to be the dominant indicator of outcome. Radical excision of the primary tumor may reduce the incidence of local disease recurrence. We believe that regional lymphadenectomy is indicated for deeply invasive melanoma.
Measurements and modeling of cloud point behavior for polypropylene/n-pentane and polypropylene/n-pentane/carbon dioxide mixtures at high pressure

Abstract The phase behavior of polypropylene (PP) in n -pentane and n -pentane/carbon dioxide solvent mixtures has been studied using a high-pressure variable volume view cell. Cloud point pressures for polypropylene ( M w =50,400) in near-critical n -pentane were studied at temperatures ranging from 432 to 470 K for polymer concentrations of 1 to 15 mass%. Furthermore, cloud point pressures for polypropylene ( M w =95,400) in near-critical n -pentane were studied at temperatures ranging from 450 to 465 K for polymer concentrations of 1 to 8 mass%. Cloud point pressures were also measured for PP ( M w =200,000, 3 mass%) in n -pentane at temperatures ranging from 450 K to 465 K. The cloud point pressures for PP ( M w =50,400) in n -pentane/CO 2 mixtures were determined for PP concentrations of 3.0 mass% and 9.7 mass% with CO 2 solvent concentrations ranging from 12.6 mass% to 42.0 mass% at temperatures ranging from 405 K to 450 K. All of the experimental cloud point isopleths were relatively linear with approximately the same positive slope indicating LCST behavior. The experimental cloud point pressures were relatively insensitive to the concentration and molecular weight of polypropylene. At a given temperature, the cloud point pressure of the PP/ n -pentane/carbon dioxide system increased almost linearly with increasing carbon dioxide solvent concentration (for carbon dioxide concentrations less than 30 mass%). The Sanchez–Lacombe (SL) equation of state was used to model the experimental data.
Partial functional linear regression

It is frequently the case that a response will be related to both a vector of finite length and a function-valued random variable as predictor variables. In this paper, we propose new estimators for the parameters of a partial functional linear model which explores the relationship between a scalar response variable and mixed-type predictors. Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established and finite sample behavior is studied through a small simulation experiment.
DFT study of the active site of the XoxF-type natural, cerium-dependent methanol dehydrogenase enzyme.

Rare-earth metal cations have recently been demonstrated to be essential co-factors for the growth of the methanotrophic bacterium Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV. A crystal structure of the rare-earth-dependent methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) includes a cerium cation in the active site. Herein, the Ce-MDH active site has been analyzed through DFT calculations. The results show the stability of the Ce(III)-pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) semiquinone configuration. Calculations on the active oxidized form of this complex indicate a 0.81 eV stabilization of the PQQ(0) LUMO at cerium versus calcium, supporting the observation that the cerium cation in the active site confers a competitive advantage to Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV. Using reported aqueous electrochemical data, a semi-empirical correlation was established based on cerium(IV/III) redox potentials. The correlation allowed estimation of the cerium oxidation potential of +1.35 V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE) in the active site. The results are expected to guide the design of functional model complexes and alcohol-oxidation catalysts based on lanthanide complexes of biologically relevant quinones.
Stability of polar frosts in spherical bowl-shaped craters on the Moon, Mercury, and Mars

Following Svitek (Martian Water Frost: Control of Global Distribution by Small-Scale Processes, Ph.D Thesis, California Institute of Technology, 1992), analytic solutions are presented for the effective albedo, the effective emissivity, and the radiative equilibrium temperature in the shadowed portions of a spherical bowl-shaped crater. The model assumes that the surface is a Lambert scatterer with visual albedo and infrared emissivity each independent of wavelength across their respective spectral ranges. Absorption, emission, and multiple scattering from the walls of the crater are treated rigorously to all orders. For airless bodies whose surfaces are in radiative equilibrium, all shadowed portions of any individual crater have the same temperature, whose value depends on four quantities: the insolation (product of the solar constant and the sine of the solar elevation angle), the depth/diameter ratio of the crater, the visual albedo, and the infrared emissivity. As long as the crater is deep enough to have shadows, the lowest temperatures are for the shallowest crater—those with the smallest depth/diameter ratio. The model is applied first to the Moon and Mercury using a depth/diameter ratio of 0.2, which is typical of the lunar highlands according to Pike (Geophys. Res. Lett. 1, 291–294 (1974); in Impact and Explosion Cratering (Roddy et al., Eds.), pp. 489–509, Pergamon, New York, 1977). For Mercury and the Moon, temperatures in shadows in polar craters are below 102 K, so the sublimation rate of water ice calculated according to the model of Watson et al. (J. Geophys. Res. 66, 3033-3015 (1961)) is less than 1 cm per byr. The latitudinal extent of the cold zone on the Moon is greater than that on Mercury, although temperatures at the poles of the two planets are similar. The other application is to polar frosts on Mars. Illuminated water frosts in radiative equilibrium grow rougher, because the average temperature of a depression is greater than that of flat ground. Subliming CO_2 frosts, which are always at the same temperature, grow rougher at low solar elevation angles because the heat flux absorbed by a depression is greater than that for a flat surface. At high insolation rates (high Sun near perihelion) the average heat flux to a depression is less than for a flat surface. The latter evaporates faster, which makes the average surface smoother and leads to a high average albedo. This behavior helps explain the fact that the south CO_2 cap, which receives its greatest insolation near perihelion, has a higher effective albedo and therefore can survive the summer, whereas the north CO_2 cap has a lower effective albedo and disappears each year around summer solstice.
Pentobra: A Potent Antibiotic with Multiple Layers of Selective Antimicrobial Mechanisms against Propionibacterium Acnes.

Although antibiotics are a common treatment for acne, the difficulties inherent to effective antimicrobial penetration in sebum and selective antimicrobial action in the skin are compounded by increasing resistance of Propionibacterium acnes clinical isolates. To address these problems, we engineered Pentobra, a peptide–aminoglycoside molecule that has multiple mechanisms of antibacterial action and investigated whether it can be a potential candidate for the treatment of acne. Pentobra combines the potent ribosomal activity of aminoglycosides with the bacteria-selective membrane-permeabilizing abilities of antimicrobial peptides. Pentobra demonstrated potent and selective killing of P. acnes but not against human skin cells in vitro. In direct comparison, Pentobra demonstrated bactericidal activity and drastically outperformed free tobramycin (by 5–7 logs) against multiple P. acnes clinical strains. Moreover, electron microscopic studies showed that Pentobra had robust membrane activity, as treatment with Pentobra killed P. acnes cells and caused leakage of intracellular contents. Pentobra may also have potential anti-inflammatory effects as demonstrated by suppression of some P. acnes–induced chemokines. Importantly, the killing activity was maintained in sebaceous environments as Pentobra was bactericidal against clinical isolates in comedones extracts isolated from human donors. Our work demonstrates that equipping aminoglycosides with selective membrane activity is a viable approach for developing antibiotics against P. acnes that are effective in cutaneous environments.
Angular spectrum detection instrument for label-free photonic crystal sensors

An angular spectrum analysis system was demonstrated to monitor the optical resonant mode of a photonic crystal (PC) sensor comprised of a one-dimensional grating structure. Exposed to solutions with different refractive indices or adsorbed with biomaterials, the PC sensor exhibited changes of the optical resonant modes. The developed detection system utilized a focused laser beam to detect shifts of the resonant angle, and thereby allowed a kinetic analysis of chemical absorption. Such a detection apparatus offers an adjustable angular resolution and a tunable detection range for a wide variety of refractometric sensing applications. A limit of detection of 6.57×10−5 refractive index unit has been observed. The instrument also offers an imaging capability of rapidly characterizing low-contrast samples deposited on the PC surface with a spatial resolution of 10 μm.
SU-GG-I-176: Issues Related to a Digital Portable X-Ray Iin a Clinical Setting

With the advancement of new Digital Portable x‐ray machines in digital/Pacs environment while the dose reduction is obvious, other clinical and technical issues need to be addressed. To understand it better, this study will evaluate Film‐screen, CR and DR using abdomen pelvic phantom images made with grid and non‐grid techniques. This study will evaluate the necessity of using a grid with a DR portable in Trauma situations. Further, positioning issues using a grid with DR portables will be explored. It will also address whether quality is sacrificed in case of Hip, Pelvis or AP spine portable examinations using a DR portable with and without a grid. Clinically significant detail, contrast and over‐all density will be evaluated by clinicians. Medical physicist will evaluate the technique factors. In conclusion the practical and useful nature of the study will determine the positioning issues, scatter issues and technical factor issues that everyone must be aware of while using the digital portable x‐ray equipments.
In-place decomposition for robustness in FPGA

The programmable logic block (PLB) in a modern FPGA features a built-in carry chain (or adder) and a decomposable LUT, where such an LUT may be decomposed into two or more smaller LUTs. Leveraging decomposable LUTs and underutilized carry chains, we propose to decompose a logic function in a PLB into two subfunctions and to combine the subfunctions via a carry chain to make the circuit more robust against single-event upsets(SEUs). Note that such decomposition can be implemented using the decomposable LUT and carry chain in the original PLB without changing the PLB-level placement and routing. Therefore, it is an in-place decomposition (IPD) with no area and timing overhead at the PLB level and has an ideal design closure between logic and physical syntheses. For 10 largest combinational MCNC benchmark circuits with a conservative 20% utilization rate for carry chain, IPD improves MTTF (mean time to failure) by 1.43 and 2.70 times respectively, for PLBs similar to those in Xilinx Virtex-5 and Altera Stratix-IV.
Some autecological data on the Urodeles of Sardinia

In the spring of 1984 an ecological investigation on the endemic salamanders Hydromantes genei flavus and Euproctus platycefihalus was carried out in eastern Sardinia. The investigation was focussed on natural population sizes and densities. The Sardinian cave salamander was found to occur in two clearly distinct habitats, viz. humid holm oak forests and limestone caves. The density found in the forests was 300/ha and 98 ± 7 individuals were found in one cave. The Sardinian brook salamander was found in a habitat not reported before, viz. a stagnant mountain lake. There the animals were rather robust, and a neotenic specimen was captured.
The stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alkene dipeptide isosteres

Abstract A diastereo- and enantio-selective synthesis of the ( E )-alkene dipeptide isostere of l -Ala- l -Ala from l -alanine has been developed which proceeds via stereocontrolled addition of a ( Z )-vinyllithium reagent followed by a [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement. The synthesis proceeds in seven steps overall from l -alanine methyl ester. It is believed that this approach will provide a fairly general and convenient route to isosteres of a number of different dipeptides.
Perturbation of embedded eigenvalues by operators of finite rank

In this classical paper of 1948, K. 0. Friedrichs considered an example of a self-adjoint operator T,, having a point eigenvalue embedded in its continuous spectrum which disappears under a perturbation EL’ of rank 2 [l, Sections 6-8 and Section IO]. Friedrichs analyzed the perturbed operator T, = TO $EV, and showed that although there was no eigenvalue of T, the density function of the spectral measure of T, was peaked, for small positive E, near the solution h, of the formal perturbation equations-an example of the “spectral concentration” phenomenon, which has been discussed by several authors for isolated eigenvalues. (See [2], [3, Chapt. VIII] and [4].) In the present paper, as a first step toward a general analysis of the problem, we shall consider the case of a perturbation Y of arbitrary finite rank. First, we shall give sufficient conditions under which an embedded eigenvalue h, of T,, of simple multiplicity vanishes under perturbation by I’ (Theorem I). These conditions state essentially that (a) except for the point mass at /\a , the spectral measure of To is rather smooth near ha, and (b) there is, in a certain sense, no “degeneracy” of I’ at h, . Under these conditions, the part of T,, on the orthogonal complement of the eigenspace of A,, is absolutely continuous near ha and is unitarily equivalent near h, to the perturbed operator T = T,, + I? The main tool in the proof of this, and the subsequent theorems is the formula (1.6) for the inverse of the Weinstein-Aronszajn matrix W(z). We do not employ the contour integral techniques used by Friedrichs [I]. Secondly, we shall consider the asymptotic properties of the family of operators T, = T,, + EV as E -+ 0 + . We shall give sufficient conditions that Theorem 1 apply for all sufficiently small positive e (Theorem 1), and -__* This work was supported by NSF Institutional Grant GU-1978,
Nitric oxide control of steroidogenesis: endocrine effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine and comparisons to alcohol.

Abstract Recent studies suggest that nitric oxide (NO) may regulate hormone biosynthesis and secretion. This was tested by treating male rats with N G -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, and measuring serum and testicular interstitial fluid testosterone and serum corticosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL). The effect of N G -nitro-L-arginine (NA), a less-soluble form of the same NO synthase inhibitor, on the reproductive suppressant actions of alcohol was also examined. NAME increased testosterone and corticosterone secretion dose-dependently without affecting LH and PRL secretion. The alcohol-induced suppression of testosterone or LH secretion was not altered by treatment with NA. Although effects of NAME and NA on other systems may be involved, these results indicate that testicular and adrenal steroidogenesis are negatively regulated by endogenos NO and that NO does not regulate LH and PRL secretion or inhibit the testicular steroidogenic pathway in the same way as alcohol.
Time-Dependent Study of Vacuum-Ultraviolet Emission in Argon

A 250-keV pulsed electron accelerator was constructed for the excitation of noble gases, so that resonance radiation and continuous emission could be studied under conditions of good geometry with vacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopic techniques. For argon gas, time-dependent studies were carried out at the wave lengths of the $^{1}P_{1}$ resonance line, the $^{3}P_{1}$ resonance line, the 1100-\AA{} continuum, and the 1250-\AA{} continuum over a wide range of gas pressures. The $^{1}P_{1}$ resonance line decays exponentially with a lifetime which seems to be governed by the escape of resonance radiation to the walls of the apparatus and by three-body destruction of resonance states. The 1100-\AA{} continuum, on the other hand, decays exponentially with a lifetime more characteristic of two-body Franck-Condon collisions. The main continuum near 1250 \AA{} reaches a maximum well after the pulse of exciting electrons is terminated and then decays with a lifetime which is very long at low pressure but decreases to a constant value of 2.8 \ensuremath{\mu}sec at high pressures(about 1000 torr). From the data we suggest that the $^{1}P_{1}$ states, which are richly populated with charged particles, are converted to argon metastable molecules and these in turn are converted by collisions to a molecule which radiates the 1250-\AA{} continuum with the 2.8-\ensuremath{\mu}sec lifetime. Better fitting to the time-dependent emission at 1250 \AA{} is obtained by also including the known channel starting with $^{3}P_{2}$ metastable atoms which are converted to a radiating molecule by three-body collisions.
Noncanonical Hamiltonian Density Formulation of Hydrodynamics and Ideal Magnetohydrodynamics.

A new Hamiltonian density formulation of a perfect fluid with or without a magnetic field is presented. Contrary to previous work the dynamical variables are the physical variables, $\ensuremath{\rho}$, $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{v}}$, $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{B}}$, and $s$, which form a noncanonical set. A Poisson bracket which satisfies the Jacobi identity is defined. This formulation is transformed to a Hamiltonian system where the dynamical variables are the spatial Fourier coefficients of the fluid variables.
A Radiation-Hard Silicon Gate Bulk CMOS Cell Family

A radiation-hardened silicon gate CMOS two-port standard cell family utilizing a linear array layout topology with six to seven micron design rules and guardbanded n-channel devices has been developed. The process, structure, performance, and applications of this Expanded Linear Array (ELA) technology are described.
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome: a rare cause of unilateral cryptorchidism

Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare syndrome and sometimes the cause of a common problem in paediatric and surgical practice, namely undescended testes. PMDS is a recessive disease in which there is a defect in anti-Mullerian hormone secretion or receptor activity resulting in persistence of Mullerian structures such as a uterus or fallopian tubes with otherwise normal virilisation. Here the authors present a case of a 1½-year-old boy who was referred to their hospital because of unilateral cryptorchidism. During laparoscopic surgery, two gonads were present joined together by a uterus-like structure. Additional investigations showed a normal male karyotype and biopsies of the gonads revealed infantile testis parenchyma making the diagnosis PMDS likely.
Logical Signal Processing With Optically Connected Threshold Gates

The characteristic features of deterministic and nondeterministic optical threshold logic gates are reviewed. Analog, binary, multiple-valued, multiple-class, and polynomial threshold gates are considered. Threshold synthesis techniques are outlined. Bulk optical and integrated optical implementations of reconfigurable threshold gates are discussed. Examples of deterministic logic operations involving binary addition and digital picture processing are presented. Applications to nondeterministic operations such as pattern recognition and heteroassociative processing are considered. The sensitivity of deterministic and nondeterministic mul-tiple-input optical threshold gates to physical errors is analyzed. The particular advantages of optically connected threshold gates with respect to electronic threshold gates are discussed.
Validating a Building Prototype: A Post‐Occupancy Evaluation of a Women's Medical Center

OBJECTIVE: The validity of new building prototypes must be confirmed to support the design process for comparable future projects. This project involved a post-occupancy study at a new women's health center that provides single-room (labor, delivery, recovery, postpartum [LDRP]) maternity care. The evaluation had three objectives: (a) to test whether the intentions of the designers were effectively executed, (b) to provide feedback to the hospital about the new facility, and (c) to provide design guidelines. RESEARCH DESIGN: Questionnaire, interview, and behavior mapping methodologies were utilized to collect data for this study. ANALYSIS: Issues-oriented questions were analyzed to address design features such as patient-centered LDRPs and an open plan neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Behavior mapping studies were analyzed to examine nursing station use and staff/family behavior in the NICU. KEY FINDINGS: The LDRP unit was reviewed favorably, although specific improvements were suggested, such as providing footwall storage in the patient rooms and re-examining the use of decentralized nurse stations. The open plan NICU was also positively received by staff. Design guidelines were developed. CONCLUSION: Most of the design decisions were appropriate and can be emulated safely with a few exceptions. The LDRP model was well-received by staff with minor modifications suggested. Decentralized nursing was most effective when it was combined with a central staff gathering place. Maximizing storage at the baby stations in the NICU will permit staff to spend more time with infant patients.
Pd(PBu 3 t ) Adducts of Os 3 (CO) 12 . Synthesis and Structures of Pd 2 Os 3 (CO) 12 (PBu 3 t ) 2 and Pd 3 Os 3 (CO) 12 (PBu 3 t ) 3

Two new compounds Pd2Os3(CO)12 $$\hbox{(PBu}^{t}_{3})_{2}$$ , 13 and Pd3Os3(CO)12 $$\hbox{(PBu}^{t}_{3})_{3}$$ , 14 have been obtained from the reaction of $$\hbox{Pd(PBu}^{t}_{3})_{2}$$ with Os3(CO)12 at room temperature. The products were formed by the addition of two and three $$\hbox{Pd(PBu}^{t}_{3})$$ groups to the Os–Os bonds of Os3(CO)12. Compounds 13 and 14 interconvert between themselves by intermolecular exchange of the $$\hbox{Pd(PBu}^{t}_{3})$$ groups in solution. Compounds 13 and 14 have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.
Metastasis of sarcomatous lesion in regional lymph node.

This is a retrospective study of 390 patients with early sarcoma admitted over a 13-year period. There were 182 bone lesions, 173 soft tissue sarcomas, and 35 visceral sarcomas. Two hundred ninety-two patients had surgical resections, and 77 had specimens of lymph node(s) examined histologically. Among the latter group, 6 of 47 patients with non-osseous sarcomas (13%) had metastasis in the regional node initially (subtypes include fibrohistiocytoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma; synovial, anaplastic, and Kaposi sarcoma). Another two patients developed nodal metastasis subsequently (rhabdomyosarcoma). Among the 30 patients with skeletal sarcomas who had lymph nodes removed during resection, one case with osteogenic sarcoma and one chondrosarcoma had nodal metastasis initially (7%). During follow-up, one patient with Ewing's sarcoma and another with chondrosarcoma developed regional lymphadenopathy. Our findings are discussed and compared with incidences of metastatic sarcomatous lesion in lymph node reported in the literature.
A parallel, incremental and concurrent GC for servers

Multithreaded applications with multi-gigabyte heaps running on modern servers provide new challenges for garbage collection (GC). The challenges for "server-oriented" GC include: ensuring short pause times on a multi-gigabyte heap, while minimizing throughput penalty, good scaling on multiprocessor hardware, and keeping the number of expensive multi-cycle fence instructions required by weak ordering to a minimum. We designed and implemented a fully parallel, incremental, mostly concurrent collector, which employs several novel techniques to meet these challenges. First, it combines incremental GC to ensure short pause times with concurrent low-priority background GC threads to take advantage of processor idle time. Second, it employs a low-overhead work packet mechanism to enable full parallelism among the incremental and concurrent collecting threads and ensure load balancing. Third, it reduces memory fence instructions by using batching techniques: one fence for each block of small objects allocated, one fence for each group of objects marked, and no fence at all in the write barrier. When compared to the mature well-optimized parallel stop-the-world mark-sweep collector already in the IBM JVM, our collector prototype reduces the maximum pause time from 284 ms to 101 ms, and the average pause time from 266 ms to 66 ms while only losing 10% throughput when running the SPECjbb2000 benchmark on a 256 MB heap on a 4-way 550 MHz Pentium multiprocessor.
Social determinants of secondary forests in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract This paper presents models of secondary forests (“regrowth”) in the Brazilian Amazon using social indicators as explanatory factors. We draw on a spatially explicit data set containing satellite-based estimates of secondary growth, matched to census-based social indicators for municipalities in the region. The models overcome several shortcomings in previous efforts: they use smaller units of analysis to capture local heterogeneity; they include a conceptually broad range of measures to reduce omitted variable bias; they allow for estimation of separate coefficients and error terms for three distinct subregions to observe variable effects across the region and manage heteroskedasticity; and they incorporate spatial information to account for spatial autocorrelation and obtain unbiased estimates of coefficients. The findings indicate that longstanding settlement and traditional activities have positive effects on the extent of secondary forests, but in-migration and non-traditional land use exert growing influences on forest regrowth as well, especially in frontier areas of the Amazon.
Preisach modeling of hysteresis for piezoceramic actuator system

Abstract Smart materials such as piezoceramics are being widely used as actuators and sensors to achieve micro-positioning and active control purposes. However, a major limitation of piezoceramic actuators is their lack of accuracy due to hysteresis. The Preisach model is one of the most useful models to handle hysteresis and has recently been applied to the piezoceramic material systems. Since most of the previous applications of the Preisach model are in the ferromagnetic area, the developed identification and numerical implementation approaches are based on the ferromagnetic material properties. In order to successfully model the hysteresis for piezoceramic actuator system, modifications on the identification and numerical implementation methods of the Preisach model are needed due to the differences in the hysteresis behavior between the magnetic and piezoceramic materials systems. This paper discusses the adaptation of the Preisach model to describe the hysteresis behavior of piezoceramic actuator system and presents a modified geometric interpretation and numerical implementation method for the Preisach model especially for the hysteresis modeling of piezoceramic actuator system. The demagnetized state which refers both input and output equal zero states and the generalized demagnetized state are used as the basis of Preisach model rather than the saturation states. Experiments on the hysteresis behavior of a piezoceramic actuator were carried out and the experimental measurements are compared to the hysteresis predictions. The comparison results verify the application of the modified Preisach model to piezoceramic material system.
Digital Computer Calculation of the Potential and Its Gradient of a Twin Cylindrical Conductor

A knowledge of the electric field is required to estimate the onset voltages of corona breakdown for extra-high voltage lines with bundle conductors. A method is described for computing the potential and electric field in the gap between unipolar twin- bundle conductors and ground based on a charge simulation technique and the principle of images. In this method the charge on the conductors is represented by several lumped charges. Boundary conditions on the conductor's surface allow formulation of simultaneous equations, whose digital solution yields the assumed lumped charges, from which the potential and electric field are directly computed. The digital computer program provided values of the potential and electric field, magnitude, and direction, anywhere in the gap with an accuracy of 0.1 percent. The results of a sample calculation for an actual 345-kV conductor are given for varying parameters.
Clinical review of patients treated for atypical claudication: a 28-year experience.

Abstract Purpose This article describes patient demographic data, as well as diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic lower extremity claudication that has no apparent vascular or orthopedic cause. Methods A retrospective review was performed of records for 843 patients who received surgical treatment between 1975 and 2003. All patients had a detailed history, and underwent physical examination and selected noninvasive vascular testing. Noninvasive popliteal entrapment screening tests and compartment pressure measurements for isolated superficial muscle pain were routine. Duplex scanning or arteriography were used only when arteriovenous disease or popliteal entrapment syndrome was suspected. Results The study population included 549 female patients (65%) and 294 male patients (35%). Their mean age was 29 years (range, 12-71 years). The most common symptoms were isolated lower extremity muscle cramping (100%), foot paresthesia (20%), and medial tibial bone pain (1%). Causes of symptoms included chronic compartment syndrome (796 patients, 94%), functional popliteal entrapment syndrome (33 patients, 4%), and medial tibial syndrome (14 patients, 2%). Pathologic findings included overuse injury (756 patients, 89%), blunt limb trauma (60 patients, 7%), or gait anomaly (34 patients, 4%). Surgery for compartment release included fasciotomy (100 patients, 12%) or fasciectomy (696 patients, 88%). Surgery for functional popliteal entrapment included excision of the plantaris muscle and soleal band (33 patients). Medial tibial release included soleal and transverse fasciectomy, with periosteal cautery of the tibial insertions. Complete symptomatic relief was achieved in 92% of compartment release procedures, 100% of popliteal entrapment release procedures, and 80% of medial tibial release procedures. Conclusion Atypical claudication represents a collection of syndromes that can be permanently and effectively treated with surgical intervention.