cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observed metabolic asymmetry within soybean root nodules reflects unexpected complexity in rhizobacteria-legume metabolite exchange.

In this study, the three-dimensional spatial distributions of a number of metabolites involved in regulating symbiosis and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) within soybean root nodules were revealed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). While many metabolites exhibited distinct spatial compartmentalization, some metabolites were asymmetrically distributed throughout the nodule (e.g., S-adenosylmethionine). These results establish a more complex metabolic view of plant–bacteria symbiosis (and BNF) within soybean nodules than previously hypothesized. Collectively these findings suggest that spatial perspectives in metabolic regulation should be considered to unravel the overall complexity of interacting organisms, like those relating to associations of nitrogen-fixing bacteria with host plants.
Wrapping Mathematical Tools

This paper discusses the problem of making mathematical tools more usefully available to a heterogeneous modelling environment. The goal is to make explicit both the knowledge embodied in existing programs and their styles of use. The approach is to “wrap” each existing program with an expert system that contains a description of the knowledge of the program, so that other components of the environment can interact usefully with the wrapped program. The wrapping is a kind of smart interface filter that allows a computational program to be a component of the environment. It contains a large amount of self-description, including what the component does; reasons for using this component instead of others; constraints on acceptable problem specifications; rules for default values; what this component needs from its environment in the way of problem statements, auxiliary data, and computation; and other knowledge about how to use the component. This paper defines wrapping and discusses its importance, and presents some of the issues that arise when existing computational programs are wrapped.
Evolution among Antibiotic Resistance Plasmids in the Hospital Environment

Plasmid mediated resistance to antibiotics was first discovered about 25 years ago in Japan because of the unexpected appearance of multiple drug resistance during an outbreak of bacillary dysentery (1). Ever since this time the unexpected appearance of a new or unusual drug resistance marker or an unusual pattern of multiple drug resistance has been a clue that plasmids might be involved as carriers of the resistance genes, and in many cases the ‘epidemic strain’ of the pathogen involved in the outbreak has been found to contain one or more resistance plasmids. Spectacular examples of this are the extensive epidemic of bacillary dysentery due to Shigella dysenteriae Type I in Central America and southern Mexico during 1969–70, investigated by Mata, et al. (2) and the somewhat smaller but still dramatic epidemic of typhoid fever which occurred in and around Mexico City in 1972, investigated by Olarte et al. (3). In both instances the epidemic strain was found to contain a plasmid which conferred resistance to multiple antibiotics. On a smaller scale, many outbreaks of hospital-associated infection have been shown to be due to a particular strain of a gram-negative organism which contains one or more plasmids.
Allogenic stem cell transplant in patients over the age of 70, including octogenarians, with hematologic malignancies: A single institution experience.

e18538Background: Patient age is an important factor when considering allogenic stem cell transplant (aSCT) as a treatment modality for hematologic malignancies. Previous series exploring older age...
Dynamic Assortment Planning Without Utility Parameter Estimation

We study a family of stylized dynamic assortment planning problems, where for each arriving customer, the seller offers an assortment of substitutable products and customer makes the purchase among offered products according to a discrete choice model. This paper considers two popular choice models --- the multinominal logit model (MNL) and nested logit model. Since all the utility parameters of customers are unknown, the seller needs to simultaneously learn customers' choice behavior and make dynamic decisions on assortments based on the current knowledge. The goal of the seller is to maximize the expected revenue, or equivalently, to minimize the worst-case expected regret. Although dynamic assortment planning problem has received an increasing attention in revenue management, most existing policies require the estimation of mean utility for each product and the final regret usually involves the number of products N. However, when the number of products N is large as compared to the horizon length T, the accurate estimation of mean utilities is extremely difficult. To deal with the large N case that is natural in many online applications, we propose new policies which completely avoid estimating the utility parameter for each product; and thus our regret is independent of N. In particular, for MNL model, we develop a dynamic trisection search algorithm that achieves the optimal regret (up to a log-factor). For nested logit model, we propose a lower and upper confidence bound algorithm with an aggregated estimation. There are two major advantages of the proposed policies. First, the regret of all our policies has no dependence on N. Second, our policies are almost assumption free: there is no assumption on mean utility nor any "separability'' condition on the expected revenues for different assortments. We also provide numerical results to demonstrate the empirical performance of the proposed methods.
International Laws and Norms and Intervention in Syria and Yemen

This chapter investigates the legal basis for discussing the various ways states are reacting to the conflicts in Syria and Yemen. It focuses on three different explanations for differing state actions in the two countries, including the international laws and norms on intervention by invitation, international laws and norms on intervention for international peace and security, and international laws and norms on intervention for humanitarian purposes. The chapter concludes that international legal frameworks for humanitarian intervention are not frequently invoked in either conflict despite the humanitarian need. It also points to limitations in the international legal framework in instances when the Security Council does not act in situations that involve humanitarian crises.
Linking Water Quality to Aedes aegypti and Zika in Flood-Prone Neighborhoods

The ability of ecosystems to regulate water quality and flood events has been linked to health outcomes, including mosquito-borne illnesses. In the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed of Puerto Rico, habitat alterations and land-use development have disrupted watershed hydrology, exacerbating wastewater discharges and subjecting some neighborhoods to frequent flooding events. In 2016, the mosquito-borne illness Zika became a new cause for concern. We hypothesized that nutrient-enriched flood water could provide pulses of supplemental nutrients to local mosquito populations. We conducted a field study in six neighborhoods adjacent to the estuary to assess whether environmental variability of nutrient inputs could be linked to breeding habitat containers, Aedes aegypti larvae and adults, and the acquisition of Zika virus by adult mosquitoes. The most frequently flooded neighborhood had consistently higher levels of nitrogen in estuary water, leaf detritus, containers, and adult mosquitoes compared to other neighborhoods. Adult body nitrogen was significantly related to both nitrogen content of containers and leaf detritus from the local trapping area. Disseminated Zika concentration in adult Ae. aegypti tended to decrease as body carbon and nitrogen increased. Our study provides preliminary evidence that environmental variability in nutrient inputs can influence viral acquisition by mosquito vectors. This suggests that management actions to reduce flooding and improve water quality should go hand-in-hand with more traditional vector control methods, such as aerial spraying, to help control spread of vector-borne diseases.
Understanding Ca Electrodeposition and Speciation Processes in Nonaqueous Electrolytes for Next-Generation Ca-Ion Batteries.

Electrochemical and analytical techniques were utilized to study Ca electrodeposition in nonaqueous electrolytes. Linear sweep voltammograms obtained at Au and Pt ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) exhibi...
The Status of Provision of Standard Outpatient Dialysis for US Undocumented Immigrants with ESKD.

A great deal of attention is being paid to the plight of immigrants in the United States, particularly those who are undocumented and gain entry to the United States on our southern border. If undocumented immigrants become ill in the United States, there is a dilemma and often, difference of
Evaluation of clinical criteria to determine the need for cervical spine imaging in victims of blunt assault

Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of clinical criteria, specifically the NEXUS Criteria, in determining the need for cervical spine imaging in victims of blunt assault to head and face. CT results from victims of blunt assault to the head and face were compared with presenting clinical findings. The presence or absence of cervical spine injury was correlated with positive NEXUS criteria to determine if the clinical criteria appropriately risk stratified patients in this population. Incidence of c-spine injury was 1.09% (7/641). For clinically significant injury, the incidence dropped to 0.16% (1/641). PPV of NEXUS criteria in blunt assault to the head and face for any injury in our study was 1.4% (95% CI: 0.6%–2.6%) compared to 2.7% (95% CI: 2.6%–2.8%) in the NEXUS validity study. PPV of NEXUS criteria in blunt assault to the head and face for significant injury in our study was 0.2% (95% CI: 0%–0.9%) compared to 1.9% (95% CI: 1.8%–2.0%) in the NEXUS validity study. The findings demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the PPV of NEXUS criteria in victims of blunt assault to the head and face when compared to all blunt trauma in the NEXUS validity study. This suggests that the clinical criteria do not adequately stratify this low risk population, leading to imaging over-utilization. Limited use of cervical spine imaging in victims of blunt assault will decrease radiation exposure and healthcare costs and will strengthen the validity of clinical risk stratification for more high-risk groups.
Tasting toxicity: bodies, perplexity, and the fraught witnessing of environmental risk in Sri Lanka’s dry zone

In Sri Lanka’s dry zone, a mysterious form of chronic kidney disease has inspired myriad interventions to improve rural health. Chief among these are strategies to promote more ‘healthy’ consumptio...
Structural basis of cell surface signaling by a conserved sigma regulator in Gram-negative bacteria

Cell-surface signaling (CSS) in Gram-negative bacteria involves highly conserved regulatory pathways that optimize gene expression by transducing extracellular environmental signals to the cytoplasm via inner-membrane sigma regulators. The molecular details of ferric siderophore-mediated activation of the iron import machinery through a sigma regulator are unclear. Here, we present the 1.56 A resolution structure of the periplasmic complex of the C-terminal CSS domain (CCSSD) of PupR, the sigma regulator in the Pseudomonas capeferrum pseudobactin BN7/8 transport system, and the N-terminal signaling domain (NTSD) of PupB, an outer-membrane TonB-dependent transducer. The structure revealed that the CCSSD consists of two subdomains: a juxta-membrane subdomain, which has a novel all-β-fold, followed by a secretin/TonB, short N-terminal subdomain at the C terminus of the CCSSD, a previously unobserved topological arrangement of this domain. Using affinity pulldown assays, isothermal titration calorimetry, and thermal denaturation CD spectroscopy, we show that both subdomains are required for binding the NTSD with micromolar affinity and that NTSD binding improves CCSSD stability. Our findings prompt us to present a revised model of CSS wherein the CCSSD:NTSD complex forms prior to ferric-siderophore binding. Upon siderophore binding, conformational changes in the CCSSD enable regulated intramembrane proteolysis of the sigma regulator, ultimately resulting in transcriptional regulation.
Distanced Self-Talk Enhances Goal Pursuit to Eat Healthier:

Attempts to make healthier food choices often fail, particularly for people who are actively trying to diet. Distanced self-talk—using one’s name and non-first-person-singular pronouns (vs. first-p...
Interaction of calmodulin and ophiobolin A, a fungal phytotoxin

Calmodulin has been isolated from the root of Zea mays. It activates the bovine brain calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and has electrophoretic mobility very similar to that of bovine brain calmodulin. Ophiobolin A, a fungal toxin, interacts with the maize calmodulin. The interaction is not reversed by dilution or denaturation in SDS and results in the loss of ability of the calmodulin to activate the phosphodiesterase. The inhibition is much 2+ faster in the presence than in the absence of Ca . The electrophoretic mobility of ophiobolin A-treated calmodulin is less than that of untreated calmodulin. Several similarities are found between the inhibition of maize calmodulin by ophiobolin A m vitro and the effects of ophiobolin A on excised roots. Both are irreversible and timedependent. The concentration of ophiobolin A for half-maximal inhibition of calmodulin in the phosphodiesterase assay is similar to that for phytotoxicity. In both cases, ophiobolin A derivatives behave similarly, i.e., 18-bromo-19-methoxyophiobolin A is as potent as ophiobolin A, while 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A and 6-epi-ophiobolin A are less potent. A smaller amount of active calmodulin was measured in the extract from ophiobolin A-treated roots than in those from untreated roots. The present study suggests that calmodulin is a target molecule in the root for the toxicity of ophiobolin A.
TurboID-Based Proximity Labeling for In Planta Identification of Protein-Protein Interaction Networks.

Proximity labeling (PL) techniques using engineered ascorbate peroxidase (APEX) or Escherichia coli biotin ligase BirA (known as BioID) have been successfully used for identification of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in mammalian cells. However, requirements of toxic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in APEX-based PL, longer incubation time with biotin (16–24 h), and higher incubation temperature (37 °C) in BioID-based PL severely limit their applications in plants. The recently described TurboID-based PL addresses many limitations of BioID and APEX. TurboID allows rapid proximity labeling of proteins in just 10 min under room temperature (RT) conditions. Although the utility of TurboID has been demonstrated in animal models, we recently showed that TurboID-based PL performs better in plants compared to BioID for labeling of proteins that are proximal to a protein of interest. Provided here is a step-by-step protocol for the identification of protein interaction partners using the N-terminal Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein family as a model. The method describes vector construction, agroinfiltration of protein expression constructs, biotin treatment, protein extraction and desalting, quantification, and enrichment of the biotinylated proteins by affinity purification. The protocol described here can be easily adapted to study other proteins of interest in Nicotiana and other plant species.
The Use of Eculizumab in Tacrolimus-Induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy:

Drug-induced thrombotic microangiopathy (DITMA) is a secondary cause of thrombotic microangiopathy and a potentially fatal inflammatory disease. DITMA has been attributed to a variety of drugs, particularly chemotherapeutic and immunosuppressive agents. Prompt diagnosis is critical for survival and treatment necessitates withdrawal of the offending drug; however, many cases require further treatment including plasmapheresis, immunosuppression, and anticoagulation. In this article, we report a cutaneous biopsy-proven case of tacrolimus-induced DITMA, which was successfully treated with eculizumab after failing the conventional standard of care.
Skipped Over: Tuning Natural Killer Cells Toward HIV Through Alternative Splicing.

Natural killer (NK) cells provide some of the earliest immune responses to infection, but when viruses manipulate or perturb the immune environment to alter NK cell function, this places the host a...
Fetal head and neck tumors

Imaging plays a leading role in detection and diagnosis of fetal head and neck lesions. These lesions comprise a heterogeneous group of congenital tumors and malformations. Complementary imaging modalities that can be used in prenatal medicine are ultrasound and MRI. The authors discuss imaging characteristics of fetal lesions, assessment of potential complications and pregnancy management options for the most common pathology of the fetal head and neck.
Abstract PO-081: Studying MYC's contribution to replication stress at the nuclear pore

Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer which promotes oncogenic mutations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), leading to more aggressive tumors with greater potential for drug resistance. Deregulation of the master transcription factor, MYC, is found in virtually all PDAC tumors and promotes genomic alterations by increasing replication stress, augmenting DNA repair pathways, and promoting cell survival. To resolve replication stress, stalled forks are trafficked to the nuclear pores where the necessary machinery accumulates. Activated MYC is spatially reorganized to the nuclear pores as well, a mechanism that is exacerbated in cancer. Whether MYC activity at the nuclear pores contributes to resolving replication stress in PDAC remains to be known. To investigate this mechanism, we are creating genomic and proteomic tools to determine MYC’s function at the nuclear pores during replication stress induced by olaparib treatment in PDAC cells. We found that olaparib significantly increases MYC accumulation at the nuclear pore in low-passage cell lines we established from PDAC patient tumors. Furthermore, we showed that MYC interacts with the nuclear pore resident SUMO protease, SENP1, which plays a key role in resolving stalled forks. Our preliminary data suggest a role for MYC resolving replication stress at nuclear pores, and could indicate MYC activity as a therapeutic target in olaparib-resistant PDAC. Citation Format: Gabriel M. Cohn, Colin J. Daniel, Daniel F. Liefwalker, Rosalie C. Sears. Studying MYC9s contribution to replication stress at the nuclear pore [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-081.
Problem management: Neglected elements in decision support systems

Abstract:The majority of current decision support systems (dss) have concentrated on managing solutions rather than on managing the full range of problem-solving events. As a result, certain critical functions have been neglected. The authors define problem management in terms of problem finding, problem representation, information surveillance, solution generation, and evaluation. They propose a set of functional requirements for dss that actively aids decision makers in each of these processes. Elements of a dss architecture are presented to demonstrate the potential for support of these activities.
From Idol to Icon: The Politics of Mourning

This paper is an overview and condensed synopsis of some selected previous publications that have taken as their focus the problematics of mourning on both the personal (intraspychic and relational) levels as well as on the level of the collective at decisive historical moments. It takes as a framework for this investigation the concepts of idol and of icon as ways to exemplify modes of mourning. Mourning through the idol becomes problematic for the transformations of the inner economy of loss, while mourning through the icon is facilitative of psychic change. In this context, themes that are examined include: the parental loss of a child; the motif of the face; the failure to mourn the events of 9/11; religious fundamentalism; shame and violence; and dreaming as a processing system for unthinkable loss. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Role of Riparian Zones in Steep Mountain Watersheds

The riparian zone encompasses the strip of land between the stream channel and the hillslope and is sometimes referred to as the valley floor, near-stream zone (Cirmo and McDonnell 1997), floodplain (Bates et al. 2000), or buffer zone (Lowrance et al. 1985). Riparian zones have been differentiated from upslope zones by unique hydrology, topography, vegetation, and soils (Hill 1996). Characteristics such as anoxic zones, gleyed soils, distinct soil color, high organic content, breaks in slope, and near-surface water tables often distinguish riparian zones from adjacent hillslopes. Because of their location, riparian zones have significant potential to regulate the movement of water and elements in surface and subsurface runoff that flows from upslope areas to the stream (Hill 1996).
Marital Types and Quality of Life: A Reexamination of a Typology

ABSTRACT This research examined three marital types proposed by Scanzoni. Data from 112 couples were analyzed to develop profiles of equal-partner, junior-partner, and head-complement marriages using demographic characteristics, equity in earning and housekeeping. Those in equal and junior-partner marriages were most advantaged. Equal financial responsibility was less important in sustaining well-being for women than work itself. When husbands held more constricted views of work roles of women, but felt inequity in earning, wives had the lowest self-esteem. The typology differentiated quality of life. In contrast to some earlier research, both spouses and a range of ages were studied in a multivariate analysis.
Supervisor, Self- and Subordinate Ratings of Performance and Satisfaction with Supervision

This study investigated the relationship between self- (n = 107), supervisor (n = 107), and subordinate (n = 495) ratings of supervisory effectiveness and subordinate satisfaction with supervision. Five dimensions of managerial effectiveness and two dimensions of satisfaction with supervision were identified through factor analyses. Stepwise regression analyses indicated significant correlations between several supervisory effectiveness variables and both measures of satisfaction with supervision for each of the three rating sources. The managerial effectiveness variables found to be related to satisfaction with supervision were very similar for the three rating sources. Moreover, the relative importance of the managerial effectiveness variables and the magnitude of the R2 values held on cross validation for each of the rating sources. Finally, it was found that the relationship between managerial effectiveness and subordinate satisfaction with supervision was moderated by the definition of subordinate sa...
Bringing Teach for America into the Forefront of Teacher Education: Philanthropy Meets Spin

This study examines the practices utilized by TFA from its inception in 1990 to create its brand and how these practices have transformed TFA into a cultural icon within the national landscape of teacher education. Well-funded through both philanthropic foundations, corporate sponsorships, and federal monies, TFA’s use of its organizational and political networks, as well as the media, has enabled it to position itself discursively as a leader in the preparation of teachers in the U.S, resulting not only in transforming state and national discussions about teacher preparation, but in establishing a network of elites with a particular ideology of schooling for poor students.
String duality and nonsupersymmetric strings

In recent work Kachru, Kumar, and Silverstein introduced a special class of nonsupersymmetric type II string theories in which the cosmological constant vanishes at the first two orders of perturbation theory. Heuristic arguments suggest the cosmological constant may vanish in these theories to all orders in perturbation theory leading to a flat potential for the dilaton. A slight variant of their model can be described in terms of a dual heterotic theory. The dual theory has a nonzero cosmological constant which is nonperturbative in the coupling of the original type II theory. The dual theory also predicts a mismatch between Bose and Fermi degrees of freedom in the nonperturbative D-brane spectrum of the type II theory.
Some aspects of perfect elimination orderings in chordal graphs

Abstract This paper studies properties of perfect elimination orderings in chordal graphs. Specific connections to convex subsets and quasiconcave functions in a graph are discussed. Several new schemes for generating all perfect elimination orderings are investigated and related to existing schemes.
Optical Enhancement of Photomultipliers at Ultraviolet Wavelengths

Optical enhancement of photomultipliers extended to UV wavelengths, using suprasil and spectrosil fused silica with high flat transmission curves as optical materials
Abstract B91: Functional polymorphisms in endogenous antioxidant defense genes and oxidative stress levels in women: A genotype-phenotype study

Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase are the primary endogenous antioxidant defense enzymes that provide protection against reactive oxygen species — molecules that are known to cause damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins. The genes that encode these antioxidant enzymes are polymorphic, and three common single nucleotide polymorphisms — MnSOD Val16Ala, GPX1 Pro198 Leu, and CAT −262 C>T -yield enzymes that display altered activity. These variants have been linked with risks of cancer at multiple sites, either directly or indirectly through interactions with dietary intakes of antioxidant nutrients or antioxidant-rich foods. Although it is generally presumed that these polymorphisms influence cancer risk by altering the host9s ability to combat toxic free radicals, very few studies have directly tested this hypothesis in non-diseased individuals. We therefore evaluated whether urinary concentrations of 8-isoprostane F2 (8-iso-PGF2α) — the most sensitive indicator of lipid peroxidation, a biomarker for oxidative stress — vary across the aforementioned antioxidant defense genotypes in 87 young, healthy women randomized to the control arm of the Diet and Hormone Study — a low fat, high fruit and vegetable dietary intervention trial. 8-iso-PGF2α was measured in pre-randomization 24-hour urine samples by liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry, and genotypes were determined in DNA extracted from buffy coat using the Taqman assay. 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations were significantly higher in overweight women, in those who were less well educated, and among participants with low serum β-carotene levels or high dietary intakes of γ-tocopherol or iron. Lipid peroxidation levels did not vary with age, race, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, or vitamin supplement use. In multiple linear regression models, there was no evidence of a trend in urinary 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations across the MnSOD Val16Ala or GPX1 Pro198 Leu genotypes (for MnSOD val/val, ala/val, and ala/ala genotypes, mean 8-iso-PGF2α = 173, 213, and 193 pg/mL, respectively, p-trend = 0.63; for GPX1 Pro/Pro, Leu/Pro, and Leu/Leu genotypes, mean 8-iso-PGF2α = 185, 263, and 190 pg/mL, respectively, p-trend = 0.18). Contrary to expectation, urinary 8-iso-PGF2α concentrations decreased across the CAT −262 C>T genotypes such that carriers of the homozygous (less active) TT genotype exhibited the lowest lipid peroxidation levels (for CC, TC, and TT genotypes, mean 8-iso-PGF2α = 232, 179, and 93 pg/mL, respectively, p-trend=0.07). These results indicate that functional polymorphisms in endogenous antioxidant defense genes do not correspond with higher lipid peroxidation levels in young, healthy women. Ongoing analyses will determine whether urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxydeoxguanosine — a biomarker of DNA damage — vary across these antioxidant defense genotypes. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):B91.
The Influence of Calcium on the Binding of Antithrombin by Antithrombin Inhibitor.

Summary and Conclusions1. The reaction between antithrombin and inhibitor has a quantitative requirement for calcium. 2. Calcium is not the inhibitor of antithrombin. 3. Calcium is not required for neutralization of thrombin by antithrombin.
Sub-Doppler frequency-modulation spectroscopy of I 2

Frequency-modulation spectroscopy has been employed to monitor the absorption and dispersion changes induced by the optical saturation of nonzero velocity groups of ${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$ molecules. The use of a high modulation frequency markedly increases the sensitivity of this form of saturation spectroscopy and allows convenient access to molecular velocities well above the thermal average.
Where do the Apollo objects come from

The orbital evolutions of 1-45 km-diameter Apollo and Amor bodies generated by asteroid belt collisions interior to 2.6 AU are presently traced by Monte Carlo calculations. About 3 percent of the asteroidal fragments of this type and size that are ejected with velocities of 100 m/sec are perturbed into earth-crossing orbits by the 3:1 Jovian commensurability resonance at 2.5 AU, as well as a secular resonance in the innermost asteroid belt. While the initial earth-crossing orbits of these bodies are concentrated near 1 AU, their steady-state orbital distribution is widely dispersed. Additional objects that may be characterized as inactive comets are inferred from strongly suggestive data.
Asphaltenic aggregates are polydisperse oblate cylinders

Abstract Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has proven to be very useful for deducing the sizes and morphologies of asphaltenic aggregates in solution. A wide variety of intra-particle structure factors have previously been applied to SANS scattering spectra, but the studies often provided limited information concerning the quality of the fits and the Q range over which the models were applied. Selection of an appropriate form factor that closely approximates the structure of asphaltenic aggregates is important for determining the properties of asphaltenic aggregates, such as the radius of gyration ( R G ), molar mass, and apparent fractal dimension. This study evaluates various mono- and polydisperse intra-particle structure factor models as applied to four asphaltene scattering spectra. Agreement of the model fit parameters ( I 0 and R G ) with those obtained from Guinier analyses suggests that such a form factor model is physically reasonable. Reduced χ 2 values for each non-linear least squares fit indicates how well a given model fits to the entire Q range studied for the scattering intensity distribution. In the polydispersity analyses, an analytical function is introduced to model the scattering behavior of oblate cylinders with a Schultz distribution of radii. Results indicate that the polydisperse radius oblate cylinder model best approximates the shape of asphaltenic aggregates.
Pseudopotentials for centroid molecular dynamics: Application to self-diffusion in liquid para-hydrogen

Abstract The path integral centroid formulation of quantum Boltzmann statistical mechanics is employed to obtain temperature dependent pairwise effective pseudopotentials for use in centroid molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations of liquid para-hydrogen at 25 and 14 K. The self-diffusion constants calculated from these simulations are in good agreement with experiment, and with the results of more time consuming calculations based on the same theory. The CMD with pairwise centroid pseudopotential approach is therefore demonstrated to provide an extremely efficient and straightforward method for including quantum dynamical effects within a classical simulation framework.
Strategies for Promoting Healthier Food Choices

Between 1960 and 2004, the proportion of Americans meeting standard criteria for obesity increased from 13 percent to 31 percent (Katherine M. Flegal et al. 2002), and it has been proposed that, if this trend is not reversed, obesity may soon overtake smoking as the leading preventable cause of death (Ali H. Mokdad et al. 2004). Consequently, obesity is now one of the major causes of rising health care costs (Eric A. Finkelstein, Christopher J. Ruhm, and Katherine M. Kosa 2005). Empirical analyses suggest that an increase in caloric intake, rather than a change in calorie expenditure, is responsible for much of the trend (David M. Cutler, Edward L. Glaeser, and Jesse M. Shapiro 2003). The main policy response to what is often referred to as the “obesity epidemic” has been to enhance access to information. The most prominent example of such a policy is the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (United States Food and Drug Administration 1994), but, recently, the tactic has been receiving more attention after New York City required restaurants with 15 or more outlets to post the caloric content of each food item next to its price on menu boards. Lawmakers and independent companies alike are now following New York City’s lead (Kim Severson 2008). However, there is little evidence that information alone does much to improve diet (Jayachandran N. Variyam and AQ 1 The Psychology of food consumPTion †
Water composition and loss by body color and form mutants of the German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Body water composition and rates of water loss were determined for adult males of five body color or form mutants of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). Body water content ranged from 68.4% for a yellow body strain to 74.7% for the balloon wing strain. Dark body strains (black and black×orange) contained less water than lighter color strains (orange and yellow). There were no differences in whole-body lipid content among the strains. Cuticular permeability at 30°C ranged from 18.44 to 24.8 μg cm-2 h-1 mmHg-1 for black body and balloon wing strains, respectively; dark body strains had lower cuticular permeabilities than light body strains. Brief, whole-body extraction with hexane increased cuticular permeability from 5.6-fold for the balloon strain to 8.3-fold for the orange body strain. Cuticular permeabilities of hexane-extracted dark body strains again had lower cuticular permeabilities than those of light body strains, indicating that differences in permeability were due to the cuticle itself and not differences in the amount or composition of epicuticular lipids. Measurements of cuticle water content indicated that light body strains contained significantly more water than dark body strains. Rate of percent original mass and percentage of total body water lost increased linearly with time. Implications of cuticular water content to cuticular permeability are discussed.
Incremental finite element equations for thermomechanical response of elastomers : effect of boundary conditions including contact

The present investigation concerns the solution of nonlinear finite element equations by Newton iteration, for which the Jacobian matrix plays a central role. In earlier investigations [1], [2], a compact expression for the Jacobian matrix was derived for incremental finite element equations governing coupled thermomechanical response of near-incompressible elastomers. A fully Lagrangian formulation was adopted, with three important restrictions: (a) the traction and heat flux vectors were referred to theundeformed coordinates; (b) Fourier's law for heat conduction was expressed in terms of theundeformed coordinates; and (c) variable contact was not considered. In contrast, in the current investigation, the boundary conditions and Fourier's law of heat conduction are referred to thedeformed coordinates, and variablethermomechanical contact is modeled. A thermohyperelastic constitutive equation introduced by the authors [3] is used and is specialized to provide a thermomechanical, near-incompressible counterpart of the two-term Mooney-Rivlin model. The Jacobian matrix is now augmented with several terms which are derived in compact form using Kronecker product notation. Calculations are presented on a confined rubber O-ring seal submitted to force and heat.
Dependence of self diffusivity on P and T in molten NaAlSi2O6 : Comparison of laboratory and molecular dynamics experiments

We have used molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate ionic self-diffusivity in NaAlSi2O6 melts and glasses at pressures of 3–58 GPa and temperatures of 2500–5000 K, to evaluate the effectiveness of a two-body potential in reproducing pressure and temperature dependence of tracer self-diffusivities. For each species, self-diffusivity increased with increasing temperature; with increasing pressure up to ∼15 GPa, the self-diffusivity of O, Si, and Al increased, while mobility of Na decreased. An Arrhenian fit to self-diffusivity data collected from simulations at temperatures above the kinetic glass transition (up to 15 GPa) gives: Species Ea Va log D* (kJ/mol) (×106m³/mol) (m²/s) Na 81±14 3.5±0.5 −6.8±0.17 Al 306±31 −5.6±1.1 −6.5±0.35 Si 294±23 −6.1±0.9 −6.9±0.26 O 302±23 −5.9±0.8 −6.6±0.26 for activation energy (Ea) and activation volume (Va). The MD-derived Ea,o and Va,o agree with laboratory results of 275±10 kJ/mol and −6.2±0.6 cm³/mol for Ea,o and Va,o respectively [Shimizu and Kushiro, 1984] measured in experiments at 1673 to 1923 K and 0.5 to 2 GPa. Agreement with the pre-exponential factor (D*) is poorer, with MD result of ∼10−6.6 for O and laboratory value ∼10−4.7. From ∼15 GPa–25 GPa, Va is ∼0 m³/mol for O, Si, and Al; these species have a positive Va for pressures above 25 GPa (Va,o is ∼ +1 cm³/mol). For pressures ∼15 GPa the majority of the network cations are in 5- or 6- fold coordination, and more than 20% of the O is in 3-fold coordination. With increasing pressure, 4-fold Si and Al decrease monotonically, while 6-fold Si and Al increase monotonically. Pentahedral Si and Al maximize at nearly the same pressure as O self-diffusivity.
Biochemical properties and hormonal regulation of barley nuclease

The amino acid composition and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of barley nuclease (EC 3.1.30.2) were determined. The amino acid composition is similar to that of mung bean nuclease, and therefore the biochemical properties of barley nuclease were characterized and compared with those of mung bean and other plant nucleases. The 3′-nucleotidase activity of barley nuclease is greater for purine than for pyrimidine ribonucleotides. The enzyme has little activity towards ribonucleoside 2′ and 5′-monophosphates, and deoxyribonucleoside 3′ and 5′-monophosphates, and is also inactive towards the 3′-phosphoester linkage of nucleoside cyclic 2′,3′ and 3′,5′-monophosphates. The enzyme hydrolyzes dinucleoside monophosphates, showing strong preference for purine nucleosides as the 5′ residues. Barley nuclease shows significant base preference for homoribonucleic acids, catalyzing the hydrolysis of polycytidylic acid > polyuridylic acid > polyadenylic acid ≫ polyguanylic acid. The enzyme also has preference for single-stranded nucleic acids. Hydrolysis of nucleic acids is primarily endonucleolytic, whereas the products of digestion possess 5′-phosphomonoester groups. Nuclease activity is inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and zinc is required for reactivation. Secretion of nuclease from barley aleurone layers is dependent on the hormone gibberellic acid [Brown, P. H. and Ho, T.-h. D. (1986) Plant Physiol. 82, 801–806]. Consistent with these results, gibberellic acid induces up to an eightfold increase in the de novo synthesis of nuclease in aleurone layers. The secreted enzyme is a glycoprotein having an apparent molecular mass of 35 kDa. It consists of a single polypeptide having an asparagine-linked, high-mannose cligosaccharide. The protein portion of the molecule has a molecular mass of 33 kDa.
Actinic EUVL mask blank defect inspection system

Recent experimental results from an actinic EUVL mask blank defect inspection system are presented. Bright-field and dark-field scans from various programmed defect samples are reported. Our results show that the current system can detect defects as small as 0.2 micrometers . Substrate roughness is identified as the limitation to the detection sensitivity. A preliminary defect counting experiment is reported and future improvements for practical defect counting are discussed.
Electron diffraction experiments on argon clusters nucleated in helium using laval nozzle beams

A cluster beam-electron diffraction machine has been modified with a low-temperature (T0 = 100 K), Laval nozzle source to nucleate noble gases as a small mole fraction (χ0 to 0.01) in helium carrier gas. The use of specific nozzle contours, plus the variables above, allows one to nucleate clusters which have as narrow a size distribution as possible and which are colder (10 K) than clusters formed in pure-gas expansions. These features simplify, in principle, the interpretation of diffraction patterns and tend to form cluster structures which are in minimum-energy configurations. Electron diffraction experiments are carried out on argon clusters and show a transition from fcc to a non-crystalline structure over the size range from 3500 to 1500 atoms per cluster. A relaxed icosahedral cluster model produces diffraction patterns consistent with the experiments. Model diffraction patterns reveal that the height of the knee on the (111) peak is an excellent parameter for the size determination of icosahedral clusters.
Whither Trial Consulting? Issues and Projections

Trial consulting is fast becoming de rigeur in major litigation. This article first reviews the growth of the field and its most common applications. Coinciding with the growth, however, have been mounting concerns. Is trial consulting truly effective? Does it impair the impartiality of the jury? Is it fair for only one side to have a trial consultant? Even if not outcome determinative, does consulting undermine the public perception of jury trial legitimacy? Further, notwithstanding their claims of behavioral science expertise and the hefty cost of their services, trial consultants are not required to be licensed. There are no meaningful or binding ethical standards governing the consultant's relations with clients, the court or prospective jurors. This article examines these issues and considers the prospects of various responsive proposals for reform.
An electro-mechanical contact analysis of a three-dimensional sinusoidal surface against a rigid flat

Abstract All engineering surfaces have roughness that obstructs the flow of electrical current between two contacting surfaces. The peaks of roughness on the surface are modeled using the single asperity concept. In this work a semi-analytical model is developed for a sinusoidal asperity in contact and conducting electrical current. Also to verify the accuracy of the semi-analytical model, a finite element electro-mechanical three-dimensional perfectly elastic sinusoidal asperity in contact with rigid body is modeled. These results could be used in rough surface contact models that are based on sinusoidal shaped asperities.
Predictive role of prenasal thickness and nasal bone for Down syndrome in the second trimester.

Abstract Objective To assess the efficacy of prenasal thickness (PNT) and nasal bone (NB) for prediction of Down syndrome (DS) fetuses in the second trimester ultrasound examination. Study design PNT was measured from stored two-dimensional fetal profile images taken at 15–23 weeks in 242 fetuses with normal karyotype (Group 1) and 24 fetuses with DS (Group 2). It was measured as the shortest distance from the anterior edge of the lowest part of the frontal bone to the skin. The efficacy of PNT, NB, PNT/NB and biparietal diameter (BPD)/NB was evaluated for prediction of DS. Results PNT values increased with gestational age in normal fetuses. PNT measurement was ≥95th percentile in 54.2% (13/24) of the DS cases and 2.9% of the normal cases. Receiver operator curve analysis showed that PNT/NB ratio had the best area under the curve with a detection rate of 80% for a false positive rate of 5% at a cut-off value of 0.76. Conclusions PNT is increased in fetuses with DS as compared to normal fetuses. PNT/NB ≥0.76 in the second trimester is a better predictor of DS than the use of PNT or NB alone.
Identification of novel genes expressed during metanephric induction through single-cell library screening

Identification of novel genes expressed during metanephric induction through single-cell library screening. Background Development of the mature kidney is dependent on a series of inductive events between a portion of the epithelial bud at the distal end of the nephric duct and a neighboring domain of committed metanephric mesenchyme. Several genes have been identified to date that are critical in the inductive process. For example, the deletion of Bmp7 from the mouse genome results in dysgenesis or agenesis of the kidney. These findings suggest that Bmp7 controls the expression of genes important for nephrogenesis, but the identity of these genes has remained largely undetermined. Methods Single cells were isolated from mouse metanephric mesenchyme during the time of induction (between E11.0 and E11.5) and cDNA libraries constructed from induced and uninduced tissue. Subtractive hybridization was performed to isolate genes that were expressed during E11.5 but not E11.0. Results Using this approach, we identified eight previously known genes, three of which were known to be involved in metanephric induction, thus validating our approach, and nine novel genes. Eight of these genes were completely novel, whereas one was similar to a member of the yeast Anaphase Promoting Complex. Conclusions Through subtractive hybridization of mouse E11.0 and E11.5 metanephric mesenchyme single-cell cDNA libraries, we have identified novel genes that are candidates for involvement in nephrogenesis through their up-regulation during the inductive process.
Hey Coach, Does This Stuff Work? What to Know When Discussing Dietary Supplements

On any given day, any number of young athletes in schools and on the playing fields are holding up advertise-ments for dietary supplements and asking, "Hey coach, does this stuff work" How physical and sports educators answer that question could mean the difference between sound advice and finding a good lawyer. Even though a number of sports stars such as Mark McGwire and John Elway can be found extolling the benefits of dietary supplements, recommending or advising these products can have potential legal, medical, and ethical consequences.
Effects of punishment‐attenuating drugs on deprivation‐induced drinking: Implications for conflict procedures

Various drugs which increase the rates of punished operant responding were studied for their effects on deprivation-induced drinking of water. Chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, lorazepam, pentobarbital, amobarbital, phenobarbital, and SQ-20,009 increased deprivationinduced drinking. Drugs which did not increase drinking include ethanol, cyproheptadine, methysergide, and baclofen. This grouping of drugs as to their effects on deprivation-induced drinking is similar to the grouping of drugs on punishment procedures using deprivationinduced drinking, rather than punishment procedures using operant responding. This suggests that the effects of drugs on punished drinking reveal more about the effects of drugs on deprivation-induced drinking than they do about the effects of drugs on punished behavior in general.
Experimental Analysis of Double Unbalances

Double unbalances in 3-phase electric power networks may be analyzed experimentally on the network ``calculating board'' by applying the method of symmetrical components 2 such methods of analysis are presented in this paper. Although intended primarily for use with the a-c calculating board, some of the material is applicable to the d-c board and to the purely mathematical solution of networks.