cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Twentieth Century U.S. Racial Inequalities in Mortality: Changes in the Average Age of Death and the Variability in the Age of Death for White and non-White Men and Women, 1900-2002

This paper develops a new theoretical and empirical approach to studying historical trends in social inequalities in mortality. The author describes how within group inequality in mortality (e.g. IQRo) can be used to identify the timing and pace of epidemiological transitions, and she relates differences between population groups in IQRo to theory on social inequalities in mortality. Using data on mortality for U.S. white and non-white men and women over the period 1900-2002 and decomposing the patterns of change in IQRo, she finds that mortality declines have been later, slower, and have involved more irregular age-composition among non-whites than whites. As a result, racial differences in IQRo have dynamically diverged and converged while there has been a century of convergence in eo. These findings show that IQRo provides information about mortality differences that are concealed by eo and they provide insight into the theoretical trends in mortality associated with economic development, diffusion of innovations, institutional changes, and social stratification.
Low Frequency High Amplitude Temperature Oscillations in Loop Heat Pipe Operation

This paper presents a theory that explains low frequency, high amplitude temperature oscillations in loop heat pipe (LHP) operation. Oscillations of the CC temperature with amplitudes on the order of tens of degrees Kelvin and periods on the order of hours have been observed in some LHPs during ambient testing. There are presently no satisfactory explanations for such a phenomenon in the literature. It is well-known that the operating temperature of an LHP with a single evaporator is governed by the compensation chamber (CC) temperature, which in turn is a function of the evaporator heat load, sink temperature, and ambient temperature. As the operating condition changes, the CC temperature will change during the transient but eventually reach a new steady temperature. Under certain conditions, however, the LHP never really reaches a true steady state, but instead displays an oscillatory behavior. The proposed new theory describes why low frequency, high amplitude oscillations may occur when the LHP has a low evaporator power, a low heat sink temperature (below ambient temperature), and a large thermal mass attached to the evaporator. When this condition prevails, there are some complex interactions between the CC, condenser, thermal mass and ambient. The temperature oscillation is a result of the large movement of the vapor front inside the condenser, which is caused by a change in the net evaporator power modulated by the large thermal mass through its interaction with the sink and CC. The theory agrees very well with previously published test data. Effects of various parameters on the amplitude and frequency of the temperature oscillation are also discussed.
Sexuality: ancient Andean South America

The Andean region is known for its representational ceramic traditions and explicit sexual iconography. In prehistoric Ecuador, ideas about gender and the body were expressed in Valdivia, Machalilla, and Chorerra figurine traditions. The succeeding Tolita and Jama-Coaque traditions shifted emphasis to gender and status or occupation. In Peru, the Chavin Horizon style and vagina dentata motif influenced the development of regional traditions, promoting ideologies of dualism and male–female complementarity. Paracas and Nasca ceramics focused on the mouth and the vulva as generative spaces. The Moche tradition emphasized penetrative oral and anal intercourse involving humans, animals, supernatural beings, and the dead. Under the Inca, male–female complementarity was embodied in the incestuous union of the Inca ruler and his sister-wife. Imperial control of (re)production was expressed through sacrifice of nubile girls, management of the virginal acllas, and deployment of women in political alliances. Keywords: Andes; Chavin; dualism; Ecuador; Inca; Moche; Nasca; Peru; Valdivia
Automorphic $L$\snug-functions, intertwining operators, and the irreducible tempered representations of $p$\snug-adic groups

We give an expository account of the theory of intertwining operators for connected reductive $p$--adic groups, and their connection with automorphic $L$--functions. Our purpose is to illustrate the relation between harmonic analysis and arithmetic. In particular, we describe how the theory of Plancherel measures allows us to compute certain local Langlands $L$--functions. In order to be more self contained, we give a brief introduction to the Langlands program. The theory of $R$--groups and elliptic representations is treated here as well. Finally, we give an example which illustrates how the theory of twisted endoscopy plays a crucial role in determining the poles of both the intertwining operators and the local Langlands $L$--functions in question. A version of this manuscript, in revised form, will appear as a chapter in the proceedings of the conference ``Teoria de Representaciones de Groupos Algebraicos Sobre Cuerpos Locales y Applicationes'' (C. Bushnell, P. Kutzko, J. Pantoja, J. Soto Andrade eds.).
Statistical construction of 3-D microstructures from 2-D exemplars collected on oblique sections

Abstract Material internal structure (generally referred as microstructure) is known to play an important role in controlling the properties/performance characteristics of the material. Most commonly employed methods of microstructure characterization result in 2-D (two dimensional) sampling of the inherently 3-D microstructure. This is because the available methods of 3-D characterization incur several orders of magnitude larger time and effort compared to the well-established and validated 2-D characterization protocols. However, if one accepts the fundamental hypothesis that the microstructure in a hierarchical material system need only be quantified rigorously in a statistical framework for establishing the desired correlations with bulk (effective) properties of the material, then it raises the potential of whether or not one can build statistically equivalent 3-D microstructures from the low-cost 2-D exemplars collected from oblique (non-parallel) sections on the sample. This paper develops and discusses a suitable framework to explore such an approach, and demonstrates its viability and utility through selected case studies.
Advantages and Liabilities of the Therapeutic Community

More than a decade of experience with therapeutic communities in hospital settings makes it appropriate for me to evaluate them. I have been in a position to observe the therapeutic effectiveness and the potential damaging effects of the treatment methods. The therapeutic community has deeply transformed the more traditional types of hospital milieu treatment, opened new roads to the inpatient treatment of severe character pathology, and shed new light on the optimal administrative requirements for psychiatric hospitals. Some of these new insights were not only unforeseen, but unintended.
Intermediate-Scale Investigation of Enhanced-Solubilization Agents on the Dissolution and Removal of a Multicomponent Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) Source

The presence of multicomponent nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) source zones in the subsurface can significantly complicate remediation efforts, transport predictions, and the development of accurate risk assessments. A series of flow-cell experiments was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of two different enhanced-solubilization agents for the removal of a multicomponent dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source zone from homogeneous porous media. The source zone consisted of an equal 1:1:1 mole mixture of cis-1,2-dichloroethene (DCE), trichloroethene (TCE), and tetrachloroethene (PCE) with NAPL saturation (Sn) targeted between 8 and 14 %. Solutions (5 wt%) of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were flushed through the flow-cell system until nearly complete contaminant removal was achieved. Analysis of elution curves indicate that SDS was approximately 10 times more efficient at removing all three components from the system compared to HPCD. Although enhancement factor magnitudes vary for each specific contaminant component and enhanced-solubilization agent, the lowest-solubility contaminant component (i.e., PCE) consistently experienced the greatest relative solubility enhancement during flushing. SDS was generally superior when evaluated on a recovery basis; however, HPCD outperformed SDS for all contaminant components when compared based on moles-contaminant to moles-reagent removal efficiency analysis. Contaminant mass flux reduction analysis showed that enhanced-solubilization flushing (HPCD and SDS) resulted in general inefficient contaminant removal behavior. Raoult’s Law could be used to successfully predict aqueous contaminant concentrations from the multicomponent DNAPL source zone, indicating that dissolution processes were relatively ideal during both HPCD and SDS enhanced-solubilization flushing. These findings suggest that multicomponent NAPL source dissolution and removal depend upon the flushing agent itself and of the solubility and properties of the individual components of the NAPL mixture. The selection of a particular enhanced-flushing agent should be evaluated carefully prior to remediation as the dissolution, removal, and mass flux behavior of each component can vary significantly.
The semiconductor-to-metal transition in n-type silicon

Abstract A synthesis is given of the experimental evidence concerning the nature of the transition from semiconducting to metallic behavior in n-type silicon as impurity concentration is varied. Two stages in the transition are described; first, the delocatization transition and a second distinct change associated with movement of the Fermi level into the conduction band of the host silicon.
Familial multiple sclerosis: clinical, histocompatibility, and viral serological studies

Evaluation of presumed "multiple sclerosis families" and comparison with recently reported families has led us to the following observations: (1) Seven of our original fourteen presumptive multiple sclerosis families had to be eliminated after personal clinical evaluation of family members failed to confirm the diagnosis in a second close relative. (2) No segregation of HLA type was noted between affected and unaffected individuals in our seven bona fide multiple sclerosis families, and no consistent segregation was noted in the twenty-eight families reported elsewhere. This supports other genetic evidence that there is not a single, major gene mapping in the HLA complex which predisposes to multiple sclerosis. (3) The DW2 antigen was increased in frequency among affected members of our families, and the A3 B7 haplotype was more frequent among affected members of other families reported. But unaffected members also tended to have an increased frequency of these same antigens. (4) No relationship was noted between HLA type and antimeasles antibody titer within our families.
Induction of malformations by actinomycin D at mid-pregnancy in the rat and protection by L-thyroxine.

SummaryThe embryolethal and teratogenic effects of actinomycin D were studied in Long-Evans rats. Subcutaneous administration extended the teratogenic time range of the drug beyond that previously identified by intraperitoneal injections; a single dose (200 μg/kg body weight) given on day 12 of pregnancy caused club foot, generalized edema, exomphalos, and growth retardation in 14% of surviving young. When equal amounts of L-thyroxine were injected concurrently with actinomycin D on day 12 of development, the effects of actinomycin on the mothers were ameliorated and abnormalities in the young were strikingly reduced. When injected one day previous to treatment with actinomycin D, thyroxine prevented fetal malformations. These results may be interpreted on the hypothesis that the hormone forms a harmless complex with actinomycin D.
Nuclear genes that alter assembly of the chlorophyll a/b light-harvesting complex in Zea mays

The major chlorophyll a/b light harvesting complex (LHCII) of mesophyll chloroplasts is normally assembled late during chloroplast morphogenesis. LHCII occurs at greatly reduced levels in bundle sheath chloroplasts of maize. In order to understand the normal regulatory mechanisms we are examining nuclear maize mutants that alter either (1) the assembly timing or (2) the steady state level of LHCII in mature mesophyll thylakoids. We have found a delayed greening mutant, v24 (on chromosome arm 2L), that unmasks a second unlinked locus, Mof*, that can mediate LHCII assembly timing. The polypeptides of LHCII are encoded by the nuclear multigene cab family. We find that two alleles at Mof* regulate the steady state level of cab mRNA in parallel to their effect on LHCII assembly timing: The genotype Mof*-1 Mof*-1 v24 v24 corresponds to reduced cab mRNA and late LHCII assembly timing, while Mof*-2 Mof*-2 v24 v24 corresponds to reduced cab mRNA and late LHCII assembly timing. A second group of mutations (Oy-700, pg11 and pg12 reduces LHCII levels in mesophyll thylakoids. This is the first report that pg11 and pg12) reduce the LHCII of mesophyll thylakoids. The basis of pg11 and pg12 is unknown. Mutations at the Oy locus block the chlorophyll biosynthetic enzyme, protopor-phyrin IX Mg-chelatase. Heterozygotes of the codominant mutation Oy-700 with the normal allele (Oy) have reduced LHCII. We have defined genetic backgrounds that suppress and those that do not suppress the Oy-700 Oy phenotype under certain conditions: (1) reduced light intensities (200 μE cm−2 sec−1) and/or (2) plant maturity.
Inactivation and reactivation of phosphoprotein phosphatase

The catalytic subunit of phosphoprotein phosphatase (Mr = 35 000) is inactivated by phosphate compounds such as trimetaphosphate, PPi, and ATP. The inactivation of phosphoprotein phosphatase by these phosphate compounds is time- and concentration-dependent, is not reversed by dilution or gel filtration and is protected by Pi. A dissociation constant for the enzyme-trimetaphosphate complex and a rate constant for the reaction were calculated to be 4.6 × 10−4 M and 0.29 min 1, respectively. The inactivation of phosphatase by PPi and ATP shows more complex kinetics than that by trimetaphosphate. The addition of EDTA to PPi and ATP exhibits more potent inactivation, even though EDTA alone does not inactivate phosphatase. This phosphoprotein phosphatase is not labeled by [γ-32P]ATP. The inactivation of phosphatase by PPi or ATP can only be reversed by Mn2+ or Co2+, among all other metals or cationic compounds tried. The reactivation also requires sulfhydryl compounds. The effectiveness of sulfhydryl compounds follows the order: dithioerythritol > mercaptoethanol > cysteine. Glutathione was without effect. Metal analysis of the catalytic subunit did not reveal any significant amounts of Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Sn, or Zn. Phosphoprotein phosphatase activity from zinc-deficient rat livers also eliminated the possibility of this phosphatase being a zinc metalloenzyme. Inactivation does not seem to be due to a loss of a critical metal ion. Other mechanisms for inactivation are presented.
Vascular Regeneration in a Basal Chordate Is Due to the Presence of Immobile, Bi-Functional Cells

The source of tissue turnover during homeostasis or following injury is usually due to proliferation of a small number of resident, lineage-restricted stem cells that have the ability to amplify and differentiate into mature cell types. We are studying vascular regeneration in a chordate model organism, Botryllus schlosseri, and have previously found that following surgical ablation of the extracorporeal vasculature, new tissue will regenerate in a VEGF-dependent process within 48 hrs. Here we use a novel vascular cell lineage tracing methodology to assess regeneration in parabiosed individuals and demonstrate that the source of regenerated vasculature is due to the proliferation of pre-existing vascular resident cells and not a mobile progenitor. We also show that these cells are bi-potential, and can reversibly adopt two fates, that of the newly forming vessels or the differentiated vascular tissue at the terminus of the vasculature, known as ampullae. In addition, we show that pre-existing vascular resident cells differentially express progenitor and differentiated cell markers including the Botryllus homologs of CD133, VEGFR-2, and Cadherin during the regenerative process.
TR-MUSIC: a robust frequency estimation method in impulsive noise

Sinusoidal frequency estimation has been studied for many years. The MUSIC method represents a class of super-resolution methods based on subspace decomposition. However, the MUSIC method has poor performance in impulsive noise environments due to the prevalence of outliers and very large noise variance. A more robust method called trimmed correlation based-MUSIC (TR-MUSIC) method is proposed in this paper. Through a trimming operation, outliers in the samples participating in the correlation calculation are discarded, yielding a correlation sequence that is closer to the true underlying correlation. The amount of trimming is determined by the Mahalanobis distance in which robust estimates of location and scale are utilized to compensate for outlier effects. Frequency estimation results from the eigendecomposition of the trimmed correlation matrix. In the simulations, we take α-stable noise (α > 1) as an example of impulsive noise. The proposed method is very robust and performs better than the conventional MUSIC and other robust methods. Furthermore, it can be applied to real signals as well as complex signals.
A New Simplified Microassay for the Quantitation of Theophylline in Serum by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract An improved, rapid and simplified HPLC method is presented for the quantitation of theophylline in serum. The internal standard, beta-hydroxypropyl theophylline (20 ul of a 100 ug/ml solution) is added to 50 ul of serum. Serum proteins are precipitated by the addition of 30 ul of 20% trichloroacetic acid solution. The mobile phase consists of a sodium acetate buffer with 8% acetonitrile. Chromatogram run time is 8 minutes. The sensitivity limit is 0.10 ug/ml. This method is interference free from the major metabolites of theophylline and other drugs commonly coadministered with theophylline.
How to spread adversarial nodes?: rotate!

In this paper we study the problem of how to keep a dynamic system of nodes well-mixed even under adversarial behavior. This problem is very important in the context of distributed systems.More specifically, we consider the following game: There are n white pebbles and e n black pebbles for some fixed constant e
Astronomy: Recasting the heavens

Dava Sobel mixes fact and fiction to great effect in her biography of Copernicus, finds Owen Gingerich.
Trucking Organization and Mental Health Disorders of Truck Drivers.

There are over 3 million truck drivers employed in the commercial transportation and material moving occupations, one of the largest occupational groups in the United States. Workers in this large and growing occupational segment are at risk for a range of occupational health-induced conditions, including mental health and psychiatric disorders due to high occupational stress, low access and use of health care, and limited social support. The purpose of this study was to explore male truck drivers' mental health risks and associated comorbidities, using a cross-sectional and quantitative design. Data were collected from a random sample of 316 male truckers between the ages of 23 and 76 at a large truck stop located within a 100-mile radius of Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, using a self-administered 82-item questionnaire. Surveyed truckers were found to have significant issues affecting their mental health, such as loneliness (27.9%), depression (26.9%), chronic sleep disturbances (20.6%), anxiety (14.5%), and other emotional problems (13%). Findings have potential to help researchers develop interventions to improve the emotional and occupational health of truck drivers, a highly underserved population. Mental health promotion, assessment, and treatment must become a priority to improve the overall trucking environment for truckers, the transportation industry, and safety on US highways.
Diffusion-based Microfluidic PCR for "One-pot" Analysis of Cells

Genetic analysis starting with cell samples often requires multi-step processing including cell lysis, DNA isolation/purification, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays. When conducted on a microfluidic platform, the compatibility among various steps often demands a complicated procedure and a complex device structure. Here we present a microfluidic device that permits a "one-pot" strategy for multi-step PCR analysis starting from cells. Taking advantage of the diffusivity difference, we replace the smaller molecules in the reaction chamber by diffusion while retaining DNA molecules inside. This simple scheme effectively removes reagents from the previous step to avoid interference and thus permits multi-step processing in the same reaction chamber. Our approach shows high efficiency for PCR and potential for a wide range of genetic analysis including assays based on single cells.
What is OpenAccess

OpenAccess is a community effort to enable interoperability among IC design tools through an open source standard data access interface (API) and Reference Implementation of that API. Today, many design flows use common data formats (Verilog, DEF, GDSII, SPEF) to exchange information between tools. Unfortunately, this collection of data files often represents an incomplete and inconsistent view of the design. In contrast, the OpenAccess information model is more complete and unambiguous. The API is object-oriented, written in C++. It was built from the start for open community use. Consistency was emphasized during the design of the API, in order to make it easier to understand and use. It also has extensive online documentation.The OpenAccess information model covers a large portion of the EDA domain. It represents both logical and physical hierarchy and connectivity, as well as an occurrence model which relates the two. It includes custom geometry, routing topology and floor planning information, parameterized cells, and technology information. It also provides a parasitic network API which enables access to parasitics on a per-net or even per-subnet basis, to minimize memory usage. Finally, the API supports definition of extensions to most objects, which can optionally be saved.The API has been designed to support typical application access to EDA data. Various collections are supported, with filters for different types of usage. The API supports efficient searches, utilities such as Region Query, and name mapping capabilities. Multiple Design Management (DM) implementations are possible via a plug-in mechanism. The Reference Implementation has been tuned for improved performance and memory efficiency. Information and relationships are cached on the fly, depending on application access. An initial version of a Tcl binding to the C++ API is also available for use.The OpenAccess Coalition of companies interested in promoting interoperability through OA now numbers more than thirty. The current version of OpenAccess, OA 2.2, is supported by a number of products from both large and small EDA companies, and usage at IC design companies is growing. Universities such as UC Berkeley, CMU and University of Michigan are using OA to build tools and perform research in Design Automation.For more information on the OpenAccess Coalition, see http://www.si2.org/?page=69, and for how to download OpenAccess code and documentation, go to http://www.openeda.si2.org. To learn about the OA Gear project coordinated by Cadence Berkeley Labs visit http://openedatools.si2.org/projects/oagear.
Primary hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands as a cause of hyperparathyroidism

Abstract Primary hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands is a distinct pathologic entity. Twenty-two cases have been collected from the literature; the morphologic and clinical aspects of these and four additional cases seen at the Mayo Clinic have been discussed. Primary hyperplasia must be differentiated from parathyroid adenoma composed of clear cells, from metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the thyroid and from secondary parathyroid hyperplasia. The question of hypertrophy versus hyperplasia has been discussed; evidence is given for assuming that both are present but that the latter predominates. The clinical implications of primary hyperplasia are discussed. In twenty-one of twenty-six patients primary hyperplasia was accompanied by primary hyperparathyroidism; it is probable that the condition always represents primary parathyroid hyperfunction.
Dose-dependent retrograde facilitation of verbal memory in healthy elderly after acute oral lorazepam administration

Retrograde facilitation (RF) refers to a paradoxical phenomenon in which recall of information presented before acute administration of agents generally associated with anterograde amnestic and sedative effects, such as benzodiazepines, is enhanced relative to a placebo condition. However, it is unclear whether this effect occurs in elderly individuals and if it is influenced by plasma drug levels, baseline cognitive function, or genetic factors such as the APOE e-4 allele, that may modulate drug-induced cognitive toxicity. To determine if acute oral doses of lorazepam (0.5 mg, 1 mg) produced RF in elderly individuals exposed to interference tasks, and the variables associated with RF. Sixty-four cognitively intact and highly educated (>12 years) older adults (mean age, 66.09 years) participated in a placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study. The Buschke Selective Reminding Test was used to assess RF and amnestic effects for verbal memory. Self-ratings of mood states were also obtained. Lorazepam administration resulted in significant dose-dependent RF, i.e., better recall of pre-drug word lists compared to placebo [F(1,63)= 15.358; p<0.001 and F(1,63)= 46.163; p<0.001 for 0.5 and 1 mg lorazepam, respectively]. Also, more of the pre-drug words were recalled in the 1.0-mg-lorazepam condition relative to the 0.5-mg-lorazepam condition [F(1,63)=29.498; p<0.001]. In both the 0.5 and 1 mg lorazepam conditions, participants who exhibited high RF experienced significantly greater lorazepam-induced memory impairments over time [F(3,61)=2.901; p<0.05; F(3,61)=2.698; p<0.05; 0.5 and 1 mg lorazepam, respectively]. Also, in the 1-mg-lorazepam condition, participants who exhibited high RF reported significantly greater drowsiness relative to participants who showed less RF [t(62)=−2.521; p<0.05]. RF was not significantly associated with age, the APOE ɛ4 allele, years of education, global cognitive status, vocabulary scores, or a memory index score. In healthy elderly, acute oral lorazepam administration resulted in dose-dependent RF, which was associated with greater anterograde amnestic and sedative effects.
Minor and trace sterols in marine invertebrates 55. the isolation, structure elucidation and synthesis of ergosta-5,24 (28),25-trien-3β-ol

The isolation, structure determination and synthesis of ergosta-5, 24(28), 25-trien-3 beta-ol, as well as the synthesis of its 28-14C analog--a possible biosynthetic precursor of several marine sterols--is described.
Development and Implementation of Lighting and Shading Control Algorithms in an Airport Building

This paper presents the development and implementation of shading and lighting control schemes in an airport building. The airport has several perimeter zones with large glass facades that receive excessive solar gains throughout the year. Starting from a large southwest zone, illuminance sensors were installed in strategic positions and interior daylight levels were monitored under various sky conditions and shade positions. Analysis of the results allowed derivation of reliable correlations between ceiling and work plane illuminances, which were used to develop control schemes for shading and lighting operation. After successful implementation, the project moved to the next phase, which included all the perimeter zones in the airport. In this phase, only one sensor was installed on the ceiling of each zone, and illuminance levels were predicted using simulation models and validated with a few manual measurements. The developed control schemes were implemented in all perimeter zones of the airport. The study also includes simulation results for the potential energy savings owing to reduced lighting and cooling energy demand.
Tharsis volcanoes: Separation distances, relative ages, sizes, morphologies, and depths of burial

Network analysis indicates the separation distances of the Tharsis volcanoes to be 700 to 900 km; this is considered to be the thickness of the Tharsis thermal lithosphere or 'tectosphere' which has thickened with time. Although as a whole the Tharsis volcanoes exhibit a random distribution, preferential alignments emerge when the history of the region is divided into separate periods. The preferential alignments mimic those of fractures in the surrounding terrain. Photogeologic and morphometric data indicate that the volcanoes fall into four distinct classes: montes, tholi, paterae, and a class whose sole representative is Alba Patera. The volcanoes have been buried by lava up to about 4 km in thickness. The sizes of the volcanoes directly correlate with their separation distances from their nearest neighbors. It is concluded that the greater the lithosphere thickness, the larger will be the volcano and the greater its separation distance from its nearest neighbor.
Serotonin, impulsivity, and alcohol use disorders in the older adolescent: a psychobiological study.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) among adolescents are associated with a high prevalence of conduct disorder (CD), much as type II alcoholism in adults is associated with impulsive-aggressive behavior and antisocial personality traits. Adults with impulsive personality disorders and AUD demonstrate diminished central serotonergic responsiveness to serotonergic agonists. Dysregulation of central serotonergic function may contribute to a vulnerability to impulsive-aggressive behavior, CD, and AUD. We studied older adolescents, both male and female, to examine the relationships between sex, dispositional impulsivity, aggressivity, CD, and responsiveness to serotonergic challenge with d,l fenfluramine (FEN) early in the development of AUD. METHODS: Thirty-six adolescents between the ages of 16 and 21 years were assessed for DSM-IV AUD and other Axis I disorders by using the Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM III-R, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version, and CD interviews. Impulsivity and aggressivity were assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Lifetime History of Aggression, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, Eysenck Impulsiveness Questionnaire, Youth Self Report, and Multidimensional Personality Questionnaires. FEN was administered as 0.8 mg/kg to a maximum of 60 mg, and blood was sampled at fixed intervals for prolactin, cortisol, fenfluramine, and norfenfluramine levels. RESULTS: Eighteen adolescents (12 male, 6 female) with AUD scored significantly higher on all measures of impulsivity and aggressivity compared with 18 healthy controls (12 male, 6 female). There were no significant differences between groups in peak prolactin or cortisol responses (minus baseline), or area-under-the-curve determinations (AUC); however, 9 subjects with AUD and comorbid CD had significantly elevated cortisol AUC levels compared with subjects with AUD and no CD or with normal controls. In the total sample, cortisol AUC was associated positively with measures of aggression. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with early-onset AUD are characterized by impulsivity and aggressivity compared with healthy peers but do not demonstrate the diminished prolactin or cortisol responses to FEN characteristic of adult alcoholics with impulsive-aggression. Language: en
Stereoselective reactions of N-acyl-N,O-acetals with 2-(trimethysilyloxy)furan

Abstract Reactions of acyclic chiral N-acyl-N,O-acetals with 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)furan and BF 3 ·Et 2 O produces 4- (aminoalkyl)-2-buten-4-olides in 30% to 62% yield and variable diastereomeric excesses of the syn (threo) stereoisomer. Selectivity is dependent on the structure of N-acyl-N,O-acetal used.
Queering the Language of the Heart: Romantic Letters, Genre Instruction, and Rhetorical Practice

While romantic letters are usually understood as unstudied and natural expressions of heartfelt love, I argue they are learned through genre instruction and crafted through rhetorical practice. In the nineteenth-century United States, manuals taught generic conventions for epistolary address, pacing of exchange, and rhetorical purpose, embedding within this instruction a heteronormative conception of romantic relations. Yet these same conventions were susceptible to queer adaptation, particularly in the epistolary practices of writers composing same-sex relations. Addie Brown and Rebecca Primus were African American women who learned but reinvented the conventions by negotiating category-crossing forms of address, timing exchange with urgency rather than restraint, and repurposing the romantic letter to erotic and even political ends. Analyzing Brown and Primus's letters alongside manuals thus underscores the dynamic ways both instruction and practice shape romantic letters and life.
Achieving the first best in small economies

Abstract It is shown in the context of a simple example with a small two-class population, that the first best utilitarian allocation can sometimes be achieved as a dominant strategy equilibrium, even though leisure is a normal good. This occurs because person's optimal lump-sum tax depends both on his own announced ability and the distribution of announced abilities. It is also demonstrated that, in a wider class of cases, the first best can be achieved as a Bayes-Nash equilibrium.
A phylogeny of Darwin's finches based on microsatellite DNA length variation

Allele length variation at 16 microsatellite loci was used to estimate the phylogeny of 13 out of the 14 species of Darwin's finches. The resulting topology was similar to previous phylogenies based on morphological and allozyme variation. An unexpected result was that genetic divergence among Galapagos Island populations of the warbler finch (Certhidea olivacea) predates the radiation of all other Darwin's finches. This deep split is surprising in view of the relatively weak morphological differentiation among Certhidea populations and supports the hypothesis that the ancestor of all Darwin's finches was phenotypically similar to Certhidea. The results also resolve a biogeographical problem: the Cocos Island finch evolved after the Galapagos finch radiation was under way, supporting the hypothesis that this distant island was colonized from the Galapagos Islands. Monophyletic relationships are supported for both major groups, the ground finches (Geospiza) and the tree finches (Camarhynchus and Cactospiza), although the vegetarian finch (Platyspiza crassirostris) appears to have diverged prior to the separation of ground and tree finches. These results demonstrate the use of microsatellites for reconstructing phylogenies of closely related species and interpreting their evolutionary and biogeographic histories.
Estimation of global SCS curve numbers using satellite remote sensing and geospatial data

The Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS CN) method is an efficient and widely used method for determining the direct runoff (effective rainfall) from a storm event for flood disaster assessment (rainfall-runoff modelling). The CN can be estimated based on the area's hydrologic soil group (HSG), land use/cover, and hydrologic condition. The two former factors are of greater importance in determining the CN value. This study reports an attempt to derive a global CN map. First, HSG was classified from digital soil maps. Second, CN was estimated as a function of HSG, land-cover classification, and hydrologic conditions according to USDA (1986) and NEH-4 (1997) standard lookup tables. Potential applications of this CN map may include real-time global flood assessment by incorporating an operational multisatellite precipitation estimation system (e.g. http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov).
Content-Based Indexing of Spatial Objects in Digital Libraries

Digital libraries are being built upon internet-based systems of heterogeneous information bases which contain texts, images, audio, video, and graphics. A relatively unexplored but important research area for digital libraries is the indexing of spatial objects and 3-D geometric information. This paper provides some new content-based approaches to this area. Experience gained from building a digital molecular biology library including spatially indexed biological objects is described.
Assessing the natural variability in crop composition.

The number of evaluations of the nutrient composition of food and feed crops has increased over the past 15 years due to the introduction of new crops using the tools of modern biotechnology. The composition of these crops has been extensively compared with conventional (non-transgenic) controls as an integral part of the comparative safety assessment process. Following guidelines outlined in the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Consensus Documents, most of these studies have incorporated field trials at multiple geographies and a diverse range of commercially available varieties/hybrids that are analyzed to understand natural variability in composition due to genetic and environmental influences. Using studies conducted in the US, Argentina and Brazil over multiple growing seasons, this report documents the effect of geography, growing season, and genetic background on soybean composition where fatty acids and isoflavones were shown to be particularly variable. A separate investigation of 96 different maize hybrids grown at three locations in the US demonstrated that levels of free amino acids, sugars/polyols, and molecules associated with stress response can vary to a greater degree than that observed for more abundant components. The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) crop composition database has proven to be an important resource for collecting and disseminating nutrient composition data to promote a further understanding of the variability that occurs naturally in crops used for food and feed.
Determination of two-time dependent coefficients in a parabolic partial differential equation by homotopy analysis method

In this paper the solution procedure in obtaining two times - dependent coefficients in a one dimensional partial differential equation and the temperature distribution is discussed and solved. We use the homotopy analysis method to obtain the solution of both the unknown coefficients and the temperature distribution. The solutions to the unknown coefficients are obtained by reducing our problem to a system of equations at every time step. There are advantages to using HAM, firstly it is independent of small/large physical parameters, there is flexibility on the choice of base function and initial guess of solution and lastly there is great generality. The results obtained from this method shows high accuracy, computational efficiency and a strong rate of convergence.
The neurobehavioral effects of subchronic manganese exposure in the presence and absence of pre-parkinsonism

Recent studies have implicated chronic elevated exposures to environmental agents, such as metals (e.g., manganese, Mn) and pesticides, as contributors to neurological disease. In particular, there is a concern that sensitive subpopulations such as the aged may be at increased risk for the onset of neurologic disorders because elevated exposures to Mn is associated with increased incidence of parkinsonism. Here, we utilized a rat model of pre-parkinsonism to investigate the effects of Mn exposure on neurotoxicity and the exacerbation of parkinsonism. A pre-parkinsonism state was induced using a unilateral intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), followed 4 weeks later by Mn exposure (4.8 mg Mn/kgx3 intraperitoneal injections/week) for 5 weeks. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=44) were divided among the following treatments: (A) control, saline/vehicle; (B) Mn only; (C) 6-OHDA only; and (D) 6-OHDA+Mn. Brain Mn levels were measured by ICP-MS. Neurobehavioral function was assessed following Mn exposure using a functional observational battery (FOB) consisting of 10 neurobehavioral tests. Unilateral 6-OHDA lesions produced significant ipsilateral vs. contralateral striatal dopamine depletions (60-70%), but no measurable impairment of neurobehavioral function, thereby substantiating this pre-parkinsonism (i.e., subthreshold) model. In contrast, Mn exposure resulted in significant impairment of neurobehavioral function for eight of the 10 FOB tests. No effects of Mn exposure on striatal dopamine depletion were detected, despite the 3.4-fold increase in brain Mn levels over controls. Notably, Mn exposure in the presence of a pre-parkinsonism state significantly exacerbated the neurobehavioral impairment in the reactivity to handling (P<.049) and hopping contralateral rear limb (P<.033) FOB tests. While the persistence and Mn dose-response relationship of these neurobehavioral effects were not evaluated here, these results nonetheless suggest that chronic Mn exposure may increase the risk of neurobehavioral impairment in subpopulations that are in a pre-parkinsonism state.
ATP Binding Induced Conformational Change in RecQ Helicase

RecQ helicases are a family of DNA helicases critical for DNA replication, repair, and recombination. These enzymes catalyze DNA strand separation via the binding and hydrolysis of ATP and are essential for resolving complex DNA structures such as double Holliday junctions and D-loops. Mutations in three human RecQ family proteins have been identified in several disorders linked to premature aging and a high predisposition to cancer. Studies of the structural dynamics of RecQ helicases are necessary to fully understand the mechanism of this important class of proteins.The RecQ family contains a highly conserved core consisting of two RecA-like helicase domains, a zinc binding domain, and a dsDNA-binding winged helix domain. Crystal structures of E. coli RecQ and human RecQ1 indicate that the enzyme binds ATP in the cleft between the two RecA-like domains. This structural detail is consistent with the nucleotide binding motif of other SF2 family helicases, in which ATP hydrolysis drives translocation along ssDNA. However, it is not currently known how the binding and hydrolysis of ATP is coupled to ssDNA translocation in RecQ. Using single molecule fluorescence and molecular dynamics simulations, we have investigated the ATP-dependent dynamics of the core of E. coli RecQ. We show that binding of ATP induces a conformational change in the protein that has implications for its DNA-binding state. Fluorescence experiments on RecQ dynamics using ATP analogues reveal further details of the role of binding, hydrolysis, and release. These studies provide insight into the mechanism of RecQ's ATP-dependent activity.
Enhancing Intensity and Refractive Index Sensing Capability with Infrared Plasmonic Perfect Absorbers

An infrared refractive index sensor based on plasmonic perfect absorbers for glucose concentration sensing is experimentally demonstrated. Utilizing substantial absorption contrast between a perfect absorber (∼98% at normal incidence) and a non-perfect absorber upon the refractive index change, a maximum value of figure of merit (FOM*) about 55 and a bulk wavelength sensitivity about 590 nm/RIU are achieved. The demonstrated sensing platform provides great potential in improving the performance of plasmonic refractive index sensors and developing future surface enhanced infrared spectroscopy.
Effects of Subsurface Drainage on Evapotranspiration for Corn and Soybean Crops in Southeastern North Dakota

AbstractA field experiment was conducted during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons to determine the effect of subsurface drainage (SSD) on evapotranspiration (ET) and crop coefficients (Kc) for a farm field in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. The total area of the field was 44 ha, half of which had subsurface drainage installed in the fall of 2002 at an approximate depth of 1.1 m and a spacing of 18.3 m. Corn (Zea mays) was planted in 2009 and soybean (Glycine max) in 2010. Evapotranspiration rates were measured in both the SSD and surface drained [or undrained (UD)] by using the eddy covariance (EC) method. The changes in water table and soil moisture content were monitored continuously in both fields. The Kc for corn and soybean was developed by using the ET measured by the EC system, and the reference ET was estimated by using the American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental and Water Resources Institute alfalfa reference method. As expected, the use of SSD affected the ET in a seasonal patter...
Enumeration of chlorine-stressed organisms with acridine orange 2-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride (AOINT)

Direct microscopic enumeration ofEnterobacter cloacae with the acridine orange 2-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(p-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride technique (AOINT) was compared with spread plate counts on nonselective media to establish the usefulness of the former technique in the enumeration of chlorine-stressed cells. Results indicate that the techniques are comparable when the organisms are not stressed. However, AOINT is more sensitive than are plate counts in the detection of chlorine-stressed cells.
BMP ligand-receptor interactions contribute to experimental tracheoesophageal fistula

Abstract Introduction: The mechanism of formation of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) remains unclear. Previously, we demonstrated that the fistula tract develops from a trifurcation of the embryonic lung bud. The fistula tract then grows caudally without branching, unlike the bronchi, which branch normally. Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling is critical to lung branching. We hypothesized that defects in BMP signaling may be causative in EA/TEF. Methods: Adriamycin was administered to pregnant rats to induce TEF. Foregut microdissection was performed at E13 and E17. Tissues were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for BMP ligands (BMP2, BMP4, BMP7) and receptors (BMPRIA, BMPRIB, BMPRII). Results: All three BMP ligands were present at E13, specifically on the luminal side of the esophageal mucosa, but not in fistula or lung. By E17 the ligands were present in the mucosa of esophagus and fistula, but remained absent in lung. At E17 all BMP receptors also were localized to only the luminal surface of esophagus and fistula. In lung, only BMPRII was present. Conclusions: Proper BMP signaling necessitates heterodimerization of type II receptor and type I receptors. Heterodimerization appears feasible in both fistula tract and esophagus at E17, but not in lung, where the type I receptor is absent. In addition, early intestinalization of the lung bud in the region of the fistula is possible because both type I and type II receptors are present on the luminal surface with BMP ligands locally.