cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Snakeskin-Inspired Elastomers with Extremely Low Coefficient of Friction under Dry Conditions

Soft elastomers are critical to a broad range of existing and emerging technologies. One major limitation of soft elastomers is the large friction of coefficient (COF) due to inherently large adhesion and internal loss. In applications where lubrication is not applicable, such as soft robotics, wearable electronics, and biomedical devices, elastomers with inherently low dry COF are required. Inspired by the low COF of snakeskins atop soft bodies, this study reports the development of elastomers with low dry COF by growing a hybrid skin layer with a strong interface with a large stiffness gradient. Using a solid-liquid interfacial polymerization (SLIP) process, hybrid skin layers are imparted onto elastomers, which reduces the COF of the elastomers from 1.6 to 0.1, without sacrificing the bulk compliance and ductility of elastomer. Compared with existing surface modification methods, the SLIP process offers spatial control and ability to modify flat, prepatterned, curved, and inner surfaces, which is essential to engineer multifunctional skin layers for emerging applications.
Tropical sprue

Tropical sprue (TS) is a clinical entity of unknown etiology characterized by an acquired chronic diarrheal illness and malabsorption that affects indigenous inhabitants and expatriates, either long-term residents or short-term visitors, in the tropical countries. The exact pathogenetic sequence of TS remains incompletely characterized. Bacterial overgrowth, disturbed gut motility, and hormonal and histopathologic abnormalities contribute to the development of TS in a susceptible host. Treatment with tetracycline and folate is effective in some patients, although relapses after treatment are common. Research in the areas of microbial factors, pathogenesis, immunogenetics, and hormonal and immune regulation, using modern diagnostic techniques, may be able to settle some of the unanswered issues and open new venues for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of tropical sprue.
Predictors of heart failure symptoms in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patients with hepatic arteriovenous malformations.

Hepatic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients are most commonly hepatic artery to hepatic venous shunts which can result in high-output heart failure. This condition can be debilitating and is a leading cause of liver transplantation in HHT patients. However, it is not known what characteristics can discriminate between asymptomatic patients and those who will develop heart failure symptoms. 176 patients with HHT were evaluated with computed tomography angiography (CTA) between April 2004 and February 2019 at our HHT Center of Excellence. 63/176 (35.8%) patients were found to have hepatic AVMs on CTA. 18 of these patients were excluded because of the presence of another condition which could confound evaluation of heart failure symptoms. In the remaining 45 patients included in our cohort, 25/45 (55.6%) patients were classified as asymptomatic and 20/45 (44.4%) were classified as symptomatic, and these groups were compared. In symptomatic patients, mean common hepatic artery (CHA) diameter was significantly higher (11.1 versus 8.4 mm) and mean hemoglobin levels were significantly lower (10.7 vs 12.6 g/dL). A stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that both CHA diameter and hemoglobin level were independent predictors of heart failure symptoms with ORs of 2.554 (95% CI 1.372–4.754) and 0.489 (95% CI 0.299–0.799), respectively. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve of our analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.906 (95% CI 0.816–0.996), sensitivity 80.0% (95% CI 55.7–93.4%), and specificity 75.0% (95% CI 52.9–89.4%). CTA is an effective and easily reproducible method to evaluate hepatic involvement of HHT. Utilizing CTA, clinical, and laboratory data we determined CHA diameter and hemoglobin level were independent predictors of heart failure symptoms.
Phytoestrogens (Resveratrol and Equol) for Estrogen-Deficient Skin—Controversies/Misinformation versus Anti-Aging In Vitro and Clinical Evidence via Nutraceutical-Cosmetics

The overarching theme for this review is perspective. Superfoods (a marketing term for fruits and vegetables, etc.) have a positive connotation, while many superfoods contain phytoestrogens, a term that is alarming to the public and has a negative connotation because phytoestrogens are endocrine-disruptors, even though they are strong antioxidants that have many health benefits. To understand phytoestrogens, this paper provides a brief summary of the characteristics of: (a) estrogens, (b) estrogen receptors (ER), (c) estrogen-deficient skin, (d) how perspective(s) get off track, (e) phytoestrogen food sources, and (f) misconceptions of phytoestrogens and food safety, in general, that influence person(s) away from what is true. Finally, a brief history of cosmetics to nutraceuticals is covered plus the characteristics of phytoestrogens, resveratrol and equol on: (g) estrogen receptor binding, (h) topical and oral dosing, and (i) in vitro, molecular mechanisms and select clinical evidence, where both phytoestrogens (resveratrol and equol) demonstrate promising applications to improve skin health is presented along with future directions of nutraceuticals. Perspective is paramount in understanding the controversies associated with superfoods, phytoestrogens, and endocrine-disruptors because they have both positive and negative connotations. Everyone is exposed to and consumes these molecules everyday regardless of age, gender, or geographic location around the world, and how we understand this is a matter of perspective.
Lifting solutions to perturbing problems in C*-algebras

Introduction Part I. Rings and $C^*$-algebras: $\sigma$-unital $C*$-algebras Order and factoring Generators and relations Basic perturbation Push-outs and pull-backs Matrix algebras Multipliers Part II. Lifting: Easy lifting Multiplier algebras Projectivity Properties of projective $C^*$-algebras Heavy lifting Part III. Perturbing: Inductive limits Stable relations Applications Extensions Part IV. Almost Normal: Normals, limits Almost normal elements Almost normal matrices Bibliography Index.
Building babies: Primate development in proximate and ultimate perspective

Preface.- I. CONCEPTION & PREGNANCY.- 1. Inflammation, reproduction, and the Goldilocks Principle.- 2. The primate placenta as an agent of developmental and health trajectories across the lifecourse.- 3. Placental development, evolution, and epigenetics of primate pregnancies.- 4. Nutritional ecology and reproductive output in female chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): variation among and within populations.- II. FROM PRE- TO POST-NATAL LIFE.- 5. Prenatal androgens affect development and behavior in primates.- 6. Navigating transitions in HPA function from pregnancy through lactation: implications for maternal health and infant brain development.- 7. Genome-environment coordination in neurobehavioral development.- 8. Building Marmoset Babies: Trade-offs and Cutting Bait.- III. MILK: COMPLETE NUTRITION FOR THE INFANT.- 9. Lactational programming: mother's milk predicts infant behavior and temperament.- 10. Do bigger brains mean better milk? .- 11. Infant gut microbiota: developmental influences and health outcomes.- IV. MOTHERS AND INFANTS: THE FIRST SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP.- 12. Maternal influences on social and neural development in rhesus monkeys.- 13. Behavioral Response of Mothers and Infants to Variation in Maternal Condition: Adaptation, Compensation and Resilience.- 14. The role of mothers in the development of tool-use in chimpanzees.- V. THE EXPANDING SOCIAL NETWORK.- 15. Reproductive strategies and infant care in the Malagasy primates.- 16. When dads help: male behavioral care during primate infant development.- 17. Ontogeny of social behavior in the genus Cebus and the application of an integrative framework for examining plasticity and complexity in evolution.- VI. TRANSITIONS TO JUVENILITY AND REPRODUCTIVE MATURITY.- 18. Identifying proximate and ultimate causation in the development of primate sex-typed social behavior.- 19. Future adults or old children? Integrating life history frameworks for understanding primate positional patterns.- 20. Quantitative genetic perspectives female macaque life histories: heritability, plasticity, and trade-offs.- 21. Cultural evolution and human reproductive behavior.- CONCLUSION 22. The ontogeny of investigating primate ontogeny.
Lidocaine inhibits granulocyte adherence and prevents granulocyte delivery to inflammatory sites.

Incubation of whole blood or PMNs in saline with 10–2 or 10–4 molar concentrations of lidocaine causes a reversible inhibition of granulocyte adherence. A single bolus dose of lidocaine, 2.5 mg/kg, given intravenously inhibits adherence in rabbits by 55.4% at 5 min, with return to normal by 15 min after dose. When the bolus dose is followed by an infusion of lidocaine, 0.3 mg/kg/min, adherence stays at less than 50% of control values for the duration of the infusion. Plasma from animals given lidocaine inhibits adherence of normal granulocytes, and the inhibiting factor is removed completely by dialysis of the plasma against modified Hanks’ solution for 24 hr. Lidocaine infusion prevents delivery of PMNs to sites of inflammation: normal rabbits given sterile peritonitis developed exudates in 6 hr containing a mean of 19,280 PMN/cu mm compared to 388/cu mm in lidocaine-infused rabbits (2% of control). By comparison, methylprednisolone-treated animals developed exudate PMN counts 40% of control. When peritonitis was induced by staphylococci, 5 of 6 lidocaine-infused animals died, whereas only 1 of 6 noninfused animals died. Pathologic examination of experimentally infected skin showed that control animals developed an inflammatory reaction characterized by edema and pronounced PMN infiltration 12 hr after intracutaneous injection of live staphylococci. In contrast, biopsies from lidocaine-infused animals showed only edema, with virtually no PMN infiltration. Thus, lidocaine inhibits granulocyte adherence in vitro and in vivo and markedly suppresses delivery of PMNs to sites of inflammation.
Stimulation of Energy Intake and Growth by Saccharin in Rats

Rats fed wet diets containing saccharin consumed 12-14% more energy and gained 24-55% more weight than rats fed the same diets without saccharin. Saccharin-induced stimulation of intake was usually not so pronounced during the first week as during subsequent weeks of each experiment. Similar results were obtained using diets high in starch and fat. However, these effects could be obliterated by simply exposing the rats to unsweetened (plain) diet or to saccharin in water for several days before the sweetened diets were introduced. Furthermore, although stimulation of intake by saccharin was observed with diets containing 80% water, no such effect was observed with a diet containing 60% water. Rats given low-energy sweetened water in addition to their 80% water diet consumed substantially more fluid but not more or less energy than rats given unsweetened water. Preference tests suggest that saccharin increases diet palatability only very slightly; this finding is one of several observations suggesting that stimulation of intake by saccharin cannot be interpreted in terms of increased diet palatability. These results suggest that dietary hyperphagia results from the interaction between innate and learned responses to the taste of foods. Osmotic factors did not seem to exert a major influence in these experiments.
Using log files to track students' model-based inquiry

We report on the Modeling Across the Curriculum Project (mac.concord.org), a 5-year study funded by the IERI program (IERI # 0115699). In this project we are using qualitative model-based tools for inquiry in three science domains (Genetics, Gas Laws, & Newtonian Mechanics) to promote scientific literacy on a broad scale, namely, content knowledge, process skills, and epistemologies of science (Perkins, 1986). The process skills we focus on in this project are model-based inquiry skills; epistemological constructs of interest here are students' epistemologies of models as a subset of epistemology of science (Gobert & Discenna, 1997; Schwartz & White, 1999). Our technological infrastructure, Pedagogica™ (Horwitz & Burke, 2002) logs all students' interactions with our hypermodels (Horwitz & Christie, 1999). We use students' log files as performance assessments of model-based inquiry on inquiry tasks called "hot spots" and track changes in inquiry skills over time both within and across domains.
Privacy, Dependency, Discegenation: Toward a Sexual Culture for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Monica and David, (Alexandra Codina 2010), Girlfriend (Justin Lerner 2010), and Me Too [Yo tambien] (Antonio Naharro and A lvaro Pastor, 2009) are recent films that explore the need for companionship, intimacy, and sexual expression among people with intellectual disabilities. They break ground in showing people with intellectual disabilities as capable of sexual agency as well as sustaining committed, mutually satisfying relationships. However they also consider the meaning of sex in the context of dependency. More challenging still, they probe the taboo of "discegenation," sex in which only one partner is disabled. In doing so, they raise complicated questions about consent, desire, and privacy in all sexual encounters.
Self-Care Practices Used by Older Men and Women to Manage Urinary Incontinence: Results from the National Follow-up Survey on Self-Care and Aging

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the extent to which self-care practices are employed by older adults with urinary incontinence (UI); to determine how demographic and functional status measures are associated with self-care practice use; and to explore the relationship between contacting a doctor and disposable pad use. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of a national probability sample using multiple logistic regression. SETTING: Responses of subjects with UI (n = 787) from the 1993-1994 National Follow-up Survey on Self-Care and Aging, a follow-up survey of older Medicare beneficiaries living in the community within the contiguous United States drawn in 1990-1991 MEASURES: Subject responses about UI, fecal incontinence, dressing, eating, bathing, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Mobility Activities of Daily Living (MADL), age, gender, place of residence, race, education, proxy response to the survey, and self-reported medical conditions. RESULTS: Self-care practices used by more than 25% of respondents with UI included using disposable pads, limiting trips, and limiting fluids. Among older adults with incontinence, more women used disposable pads (44.5%; 95% CI, 36.9-52.1) and performed exercises (14.2%; 95% CI, 9.7-18.9) than did men (15.1%; 95% CI, 8.1-22.1; and 4.3%; 95% CI, 1.0-7.7, respectively). Bi-variate analysis showed respondents with severe UI or fecal incontinence reported greater use of self-care practices. In multivariate models of the three most commonly used self-care practices, measures of UI severity were not always associated independently with self-care practice use, whereas ADL measures of functional status were. Disposable pad use was positively independently associated (OR 3.36; 95% CI, 2.01-5.63) in multivariate models with contacting a doctor about incontinence, even after controlling for age, gender, demographics, and self-reported medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Use by older adults of self-care practices to manage urinary incontinence is predicted independently in multivariate models by measures of functional status such as dressing, eating, bathing, IADLs or MADLs, but not by all UI measures. Disposable pad users had increased odds of contacting a doctor, suggesting that self-care practices and formal medical care are not always inversely related.
Absence of Borrelia burgdorferi–specific immune complexes in chronic fatigue syndrome

Article abstract Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and Lyme disease often share clinical features, especially fatigue, contributing to concern that Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the cause of Lyme disease, may underlie CFS symptoms. We examined 39 CFS patients and 40 healthy controls with a Bb immune complex test. Patients and controls were nonreactive. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–defined CFS patients lacking antecedent signs of Lyme disease—erythema migrans, Bell’s palsy, or large joint arthritis—are not likely to have laboratory evidence of Bb infection.
What Is Inside a Nonionic Reverse Micelle? Probing the Interior of Igepal Reverse Micelles Using Decavanadate

The interiors of reverse micelles formed using nonionic surfactants to sequester water droplets in a nonpolar environment have been investigated using the decavanadate molecule as a probe. Chemical shifts and line widths of the three characteristic signals in the 51V NMR spectrum of decavanadate, corresponding to vanadium atoms in equatorial peripheral, equatorial interior, and axial locations, measure the local proton concentration and characteristics of the reverse micellar interior near the decavandate probe. All samples investigated indicate deprotonation of the vanadate probe in the reverse micelle environment. However, the relative mobility of the decavanadate molecule depends on the reverse micellar components. Specifically, the 51V NMR signals of the decavandate in reverse micelles formed using only the Igepal CO-520 surfactant display sharp signals indicating that the decavandate molecule tumbles relatively freely while reverse micelles formed from a mixture of Igepal CO-610 and -430 present a more viscous environment for the decavanadate molecule; the nature of the interior of the nonionic reverse water pool varies significantly depending on the specific Igepal. The 51V NMR spectra also indicate that the interior core water pool of the reverse micelles is less acidic than the bulk aqueous solution from which the samples were created. Together, these data provide a description that allows for a comparison of the water pools in these different nonionic reverse micelles.
Conducting Design Experiments to Support Teachers' Learning: A Reflection From the Field

This article focuses on 3 conceptual challenges that we sought to address while conducting a design experiment in which we supported the learning of a group of middle school mathematics teachers. These challenges involved (a) situating teachers' activity in the institutional setting of the schools and district in which they worked, (b) developing an interpretive framework that enabled us to document the collective learning of teacher groups, and (c) reconceptualizing the relations between teachers' activity in professional development sessions and in their classrooms. For each challenge, we describe both the initial approach that we developed while preparing for the experiment and the modifications that we found it necessary to make once the experiment was in progress. Our goal in sharing these reflections from the field is to contribute to the task of extending the design experiment methodology to investigate the learning of groups of practicing teachers rather than groups of students.
The decision-to-delivery interval for emergency caesarean section: is 30 minutes a realistic target?

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether a 30-minute decision-to-delivery interval is a realistic target for emergency caesarean section. Design An audit of all emergency caesarean sections over five separate periods. Setting A district general hospital. Participants Five groups of women (343 women) with an indication for emergency caesarean section. Methods Following an initial survey, a structured time sheet was introduced, followed by four other surveys to complete the audit cycle. Main outcome measure The proportion of caesarean sections where the decision-to-delivery interval measures was achieved within 30 minutes. The reasons for delay. Results In the first survey of 73 emergency caesarean sections, the time to deliver the infant exceeded 30 minutes in 47 women (64%). The main sources of delay were transferring the women to the operating theatre and starting the anaesthetic. After the introduction of a structured time sheet, there was an improvement with each survey, but the target of 30 minutes was reached in only 71% of caesarean sections in the final survey. Conclusions The introduction of a time sheet can improve the decision-to-delivery interval for emergency caesarean section; however, a universal standard of 100% in 30 minutes is unrealistic.
Designing In-Service Training

Abstract This article assesses various options for providing in-service training and explores some emerging trends. Traditional delivery strategies such as on-site visits, workshops, and the materials model are discussed along with experiments in the use of cable television and teletraining. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed. Potential sources of training are identified, with special attention to community college systems. The use of a state training network is explored as a coordinating mechanism. Factors which motivate child care workers to participate in training are also analyzed.
Rapid detection of microbial DNA by a novel isothermal genome exponential amplification reaction (GEAR) assay.

Abstract In this study we report the development of a simple target-specific isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique, termed genome exponential amplification reaction (GEAR). Escherichia coli was selected as the microbial target to demonstrate the GEAR technique as a proof of concept. The GEAR technique uses a set of four primers; in the present study these primers targeted 5 regions on the 16S rRNA gene of E. coli. The outer forward and reverse Tab primer sequences are complementary to each other at their 5′ end, whereas their 3′ end sequences are complementary to their respective target nucleic acid sequences. The GEAR assay was performed at a constant temperature 60 °C and monitored continuously in a real-time PCR instrument in the presence of an intercalating dye (SYTO 9). The GEAR assay enabled amplification of as few as one colony forming units of E. coli per reaction within 30 min. We also evaluated the GEAR assay for rapid identification of bacterial colonies cultured on agar media directly in the reaction without DNA extraction. Cells from E. coli colonies were picked and added directly to GEAR assay mastermix without prior DNA extraction. DNA in the cells could be amplified, yielding positive results within 15 min.
The elastic constants of a particulate‐filled glassy polymer: Comparison of experimental values with theoretical predictions

Calculation of the elastic constants of a participate composite material in terms of the elastic constants of the filler and the matrix is discussed. The theories of Kerner or Hashin and Shtrikman, the equivalent theories of Budiansky and Hill, and a generalized van der Poel type theory are presented and discussed. Data from several sources are compared with the predictions of these theories. The van der Poel theory provides the best agreement and gives good values for volume fractions of filler up to 0.35.
Idoxuridine and Bacterial Corneal Infection

Corneas of 20 rabbits were treated with idoxuridine or a bland ointment before and after their inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus. The rabbit corneas treated with idoxuridine had a significantly more severe keratitis and yielded significantly greater numbers of S. aureus on culture than the rabbit corneas treated with the bland ointment.
Rhetorical interpretations of the American Civil War

ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE SECOND AMERICAN REVOLUTION. By James M. McPherson. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1990; pp. xiii + 167. AMERICA IN 1857: A NATION ON THE BRINK. By Kenneth M. Stampp. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1990; pp. ix +388. HALF SLAVE AND HALF FREE: THE ROOTS OF CIVIL WAR. By Bruce Levine. New York: Hill and Wang, 1992; pp. viii + 292. LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG: THE WORDS THAT REMADE AMERICA. By Garry Wills. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992; pp. 315. THE ROAD TO DISUNION: SECESSIONISTS AT BAY, 1776–1854. By William W. Freehling. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1990; pp. xii + 640.
Association between a positive flow cytometry crossmatch and the development of chronic rejection in primary renal transplantation

Objectives. With the current repertoire of immunosuppressants available, the results of organ transplantation are now very good in the short term. However, many grafts continue to be lost in the long term because of chronic rejection. This study examined the effect of kidney transplantation against a positive flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) on the subsequent development of chronic rejection and graft failure. Methods. We examined 187 primary renal transplantations performed at our institution between 1993 and 1996. All of these patients had a negative cytotoxicity crossmatch. All had a pretransplant FCXM, and patients were divided according to the results of the FCXM into three categories: FCXM negative, FCXM class I positive, and FCXM class II positive. Results. We found that a positive FCXM at the time of transplantation was strongly associated with the ultimate development of chronic rejection. In FCXM-negative individuals, 16.9% developed chronic rejection compared with 80% of those with an HLA class I (T and B-cell) reaction and 40.9% of those with a class II (B-cell-only) reaction (P <0.001). The 3-year graft survival rate was 93% for FCXM-negative patients compared with 86% for FCXM class II positive and 80% for FCXM class I positive patients (P = 0.001). Conclusions. A strong association between a positive FCXM and subsequent development of chronic rejection was identified. This finding raises the possibility that more aggressive treatment of patients with a positive FCXM might ultimately result in a lower incidence of chronic rejection and improve overall graft survival.
Recent experience in "Flipping" the kinematics classroom

In teaching kinematic analysis of mechanisms, there are few formulas but much that can be called “process.” To convey process in a static set of lecture notes can be very difficult. Therefore, in this paper, a more dynamic method of kinematics education is presented, which involves using screen-capture software to record the audio and visual process of the instruction as it takes place on a touch-enabled or tablet computer. This allows dynamic instruction to be asynchronous; it can occur in class, be archived for after class, and be prerecorded for so-called “flipping” of the classroom. Recent experiences using this method to flip the kinematics classroom are presented and preliminary outcomes summarized.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Uterine estrogen sulfatase may play a more important role than the hepatic sulfatase in mediating the uterotropic action of estrone-3-sulfate

The estrogenic activity of sulfonated estrogens results from the release of active estrogens via desulfonation (hydrolysis) catalyzed by estrogen sulfatase. In this study, the relative importance of uterine or hepatic estrone (E1)-3-sulfatase in mediating the uterotropic action of E1-3-sulfate is evaluated by comparing its hormonal potency in animals that have comparable uterine E1-3-sulfatase activity but markedly different hepatic enzyme activity. Liver microsomes from immature or adult female Sprague-Dawley rats contained 12-or 55-fold higher E1-3-sulfatase activity, respectively, than the liver microsomes from immature or adult female CD-1 mice. In contrast, uterine whole homogenates from immature female Sprague-Dawley rats contained approx twofold higher E1-3-sulfatase activity than was detected in the uterine whole homogenates from immature female CD-1 mice. It is estimated that the total E1-3-sulfatase activity in the liver of an immature female rat or mouse is approx 1080-or 260-fold higher, respectively, than the activity in the uterus. The ED50 values for the uterotropic effect of E1-3-sulfate and E1 in immature female CD-1 mice were 240 and 8 pmol/g body wt, respectively, and the corresponding ED50 values in immature female Sprague-Dawley rats were 840 and 60 pmol/g body wt, respectively. The difference in the ratios of the uterotropic ED50 for E1-3-sulfate over that for E1 in immature rats and mice (14 and 30, respectively) is 1.14-fold, which correlates very closely with their difference in the uterine E1-3-sulfatase activity (approx twofold), but not their difference in the hepatic sulfatase activity (approx 12-fold). The results of this study provide evidence suggesting that E1-3-sulfatase in the uterus (an estrogen target organ) may play a more important role than the hepatic sulfatase in mediating the uterotropic action of sulfonated estrogens.
The Energy Dynamics of an Expanding Power Generating System

We have developed a computer program to study the magnitude and time dependence of the net power and net energy generated by an expanding system of identical power plants. Application of the program to several expansion modes over a range of values for the rate of expansion, the net energy generated by an individual plant, and the construction time for each plant has led to some interesting results concerning the impact of the expanding system on the overall energy picture. In particular, during a rapid expansion phase, the system of power plants may be a better means of energy storage than of energy generation.
Ionic conductivity of SmxNdyCe0.9O2−δ codoped ceria electrolytes

Abstract Codoping ceria with rare earth elements has been shown to enhance grain ionic conductivity above that of singly doped materials. However, our recent work using a codoping scheme with Sm3+ and Nd3+ showed that 1:1 codoping results in conductivity intermediate between the respective singly doped samples, with Nd-doped ceria being higher than Sm- and Gd-doped. More recent studies have shown that small amounts (2–3%) of a second dopant can significantly enhance conductivity. Here we apply this scheme to the SmxNdyCe0.9O2−δ system with varying x/y codopant ratio. Samples were prepared using solid state reactions and conductivity measurements were done using two-point ac electrochemical impedance spectroscopy from 250–700 °C. Activation energy values were calculated from Arrhenius plots and increase as dopants shift from pure Sm3+ to pure Nd3+ in agreement with literature and the effective index. More importantly, the results of this study conclude that codopant ratio (x/y) variations within the SmxNdyCe0.9O2−δ system does not lead to significant conductivity changes and thus it constitutes a versatile system impervious to potential performance degradation due to preferential dopant segregation and redistribution.
Superrenormalizability in a model with supersymmetry breaking.

A well-known model, due to Zanon, which exhibits dynamical supersymmetry breaking at large N is reexamined. The breaking is known to be pathological because the Goldstone fermion has negative norm. Here the two-loop corrections to the large-N effective potential are computed, and it is seen that the effect of the negative-norm state is to soften ultraviolet divergences beyond what is found in perturbation theory, rendering the model superrenormalizable in the loop expansion.
Arterial blood gas control in the upright versus recumbent Asian elephant

Abstract In the elephant, there is concern that lateral recumbency (LR) impairs respiratory muscle and lung function resulting in clinically significant arterial hypoxemia. Using healthy adult female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus, n=6), the hypothesis was tested that, given the O2 binding characteristics of elephant blood, substantial reductions in arterial O2 pressure (PaO2) in LR could be tolerated without lowering arterial O2 content appreciably. Fifteen minutes of LR decreased PaO2 from 103±2 (upright, U) to 77±4 mmHg (P
Electronic structure of alkali-intercalated graphite studied by soft-x-ray emission spectroscopy.

Carbon K soft-x-ray emission spectra of ${\mathrm{LiC}}_{6}$, ${\mathrm{KC}}_{8}$, and ${\mathrm{CsC}}_{8}$ are presented. An absolute value for the charge transfer from the alkali metal to the carbon \ensuremath{\pi} band is obtained. A model fit to the data reveals similar effects on both spectral shape and threshold energy, independent of the choice of the alkali-metal intercalant, and provides a measure of departures from the rigid-band approximation. An enhancement of the soft-x-ray emission spectrum near ${E}_{\mathrm{F}}$ is reported.
DIGOXIN AND DIGITOXIN CLEARANCE IN THE HUMAN FETUS

In an accompanying abstract, we offer evidence that maternally administered digoxin does not readily cross the placenta of fetuses with cardiac disease. We have now administered digoxin and digitoxin to a fetus i.m. with supraventricular tachycardia in the late second trimester after maternally administered digoxin, verapamil, and procainamide failed. Fetal blood specimens were obtained by percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Despite a sustained maternal digoxin concentration > 1.8 ng/ml, the maximum fetal digoxin (FD) was 0.86 ng/ml. 25 mcg of digoxin was placed into the fetal thigh q 8h x 3. The FD level 8h post load was below baseline. A reload of 50 mcg IM q 6h x 4 doses resulted in a FD of 1.51 ng/ml and a normal sinus rate. A second sample obtained 7.3h later was 1.1 ng/ml. The kel was calculated to be 0.0434h x 10-1 and the t½ B was 15.9h. The Vd, estimated assuming a time 0 concentration of 1.9 ng/ml, was 487 ml/kg. Based on the Vd and clearance, a maintainance dose of 80 mcg q 12h was calculated to give a peak of 2.2 ng/ml and a trough of 1.4 ng/ml (actual measured trough was 1.2 ng/ml). In hopes of prolonging the dosing interval, we changed to digitoxin (DT). A 40 mcg load resulted in DT of 5.3 ng/ml and 2.9 ng/ml at 4.25h and 9.25h postdose. The calculated t½ B was 5.8h. Serial measurement of fetal serum and amniotic fluid digoxin/digitoxin suggest some recirculation occurred. This is the first study of human fetal digoxin and digitoxin clearance in a continuing pregnancy after direct fetal administration. Our findings indicate that clearance is strikingly more rapid than in the newborn.
Thermodynamics of solution of lysozyme crystals.

Abstract The solubility of crystalline hen egg white lysozyme in 1.7 m (10%) NaCl has been studied in the pH range 2.6–5.0 and at temperatures of 21.7, 29.5, and 42.7 °. The pH dependence of solubility can be used to evaluate the difference between the number of protons bound by a lysozyme molecule in the crystal and in solution. Differences were observed which do not appear to be due to intermolecular protein-protein interactions. These differences may indicate structural differences between enzyme in the crystal and in solution. Temperature dependence of solubility data were used to evaluate enthalpies and entropies of solution for the crystal. It can be shown that there is a negative contribution to the entropy of solution when a crystal goes into solution. This suggests that crystalline phase solvent may be less ordered than bulk solvent in the solution phase.
Maximum Entropy for Sums of Symmetric and Bounded Random Variables: A Short Derivation

Let X1,..., Xn be n independent, symmetric, random variables on the interval [-1, 1]. Ordentlich (2006) showed that the differential entropy of Sn= Sigmai=1 n Xi is maximized when Xi, i = 1,...,n-1 are symmetric Bernoulli random variables and Xn is uniform (-1, 1). We give a short derivation of this result via an alternative proof of a key lemma of Ordentlich (2006).
Secure countermeasures to data aggregation attacks on sensor networks

In this work we discuss, problems associated with aggregating data within a sensor network. Clearly, if one or more sensors are faulty, their data is questionable. In situations where data is aggregated together to form information, the accuracy of the information will also be questionable if some of the data is faulty. We briefly discuss some “simple statistical functions”, which may need to be computed using sensor data. We construct some approximation methods for aggregated statistical functions within a sensor network.
Improved vehicle classification from dual-loop detectors in congested traffic

Abstract Vehicle classification is an important traffic parameter for transportation planning and infrastructure management. Length-based vehicle classification from dual loop detectors is among the lowest cost technologies commonly used for collecting these data. Like many vehicle classification technologies, the dual loop approach works well in free flow traffic. Effective vehicle lengths are measured from the quotient of the detector dwell time and vehicle traversal time between the paired loops. This approach implicitly assumes that vehicle acceleration is negligible, but unfortunately at low speeds this assumption is invalid and length-based classification performance degrades in congestion. To addresses this problem, we seek a solution that relies strictly on the measured effective vehicle length and measured speed. We analytically evaluate the feasible range of true effective vehicle lengths that could underlie a given combination of measured effective vehicle length, measured speed, and unobserved acceleration at a dual loop detector. From this analysis we find that there are small uncertainty zones where the measured length class can differ from the true length class, depending on the unobserved acceleration. In other words, a given combination of measured speed and measured effective vehicle length falling in the uncertainty zones could arise from vehicles with different true length classes. Outside of the uncertainty zones, any error in the measured effective vehicle length due to acceleration will not lead to an error in the measured length class. Thus, by mapping these uncertainty zones, most vehicles can be accurately sorted to a single length class, while the few vehicles that fall within the uncertainty zones are assigned to two or more classes. We find that these uncertainty zones remain small down to about 10 mph and then grow exponentially as speeds drop further. Using empirical data from stop-and-go traffic at a well-tuned loop detector station the best conventional approach does surprisingly well; however, our new approach does even better, reducing the classification error rate due to acceleration by at least a factor of four relative to the best conventional method. Meanwhile, our approach still assigns over 98% of the vehicles to a single class.
The electric dipole moment of the neutron in the Kobayashi-Maskawa model

Abstract A possible mechanism for producing a neutron electric dipole moment to order GF2 in the Kobayashi-Maskawa model is proposed; the consequent order of magnitude of the dipole moment would be 10−30 cm in units of the electric charge.
MECHANISM OF ACTION OF EUKARYOTIC DNA TOPOISOMERASE I AND DRUGS TARGETED TO THE ENZYME

DNA topoisomerase I is essential for cellular metabolism and survival. It is also the target of a novel class of anticancer drugs active against previously refractory solid tumors, the camptothecins. The present review describes the topoisomerase I catalytic mechanisms with particular emphasis on the cleavage complex that represents the enzyme's catalytic intermediate and the site of action for camptothecins. Roles of topoisomerase I in DNA replication, transcription and recombination are also reviewed. Because of the importance of topoisomerase I as a chemotherapeutic target, we review the mechanisms of action of camptothecins and the other topoisomerase I inhibitors identified to date.
Characterization of the unusual basic proteins of cricket spermatid nuclei on the basis of their molecular weights and amino acid compositions

Abstract Typical somatic cell type histones are lost from the nucleus during late spermiogenesis in the house cricket; they are replaced by unusual basic proteins specific to the spermatid. We wish to characterize these proteins because they appear to determine the unusual chromatin structures of the spermatid. Molecular weights of the unusual basic proteins were estimated by chromatographing them on Bio-Gel A 0.5 M agarose columns eluted with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. Two proteins named TH1 and TH2 have molecular weights in the range spanned by the somatic histones. The molecular weight of TH1 is 17 500 and that of TH2 is 15 500. Three additional spermatid proteins were also analyzed by molecular weight determination. They are called here protamines A, B and C, and they have molecular weights in the range typical of protamines. That of A is 6200, of B is 5500 and of C is 3800. They span the range from the large protamines typical of mammalian sperm to the small protamines of salmonid fish. The molecular weights of the TH proteins were also examined by electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Amino acid compositions determined for TH1 and TH2 show that both are basic proteins rich in arginine relative to lysine. Their compositions are histone-like, but they appear to be distinct histone types rather than variant forms of the somatic histones.
Number of phases required to determine a quantum state in optical homodyne tomography.

We show that the dimension of the density matrix in Fock representation is equal to the number of phases needed for accurate state reconstruction in optical homodyne tomography. We also derive a simple method for estimating the errors if the actual dimension is larger than the number of phases. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Developing an electronic information resources collection development policy

Electronic resources are becoming increasingly important to libraries of all types and sizes. Addresses the development of an electronic information resources collection development policy to guide the librarians at Penn State Harrisburg in the selection of electronic reference resources. Instead of focusing on how well a given item fits into or supports the collection, the policy gives general guidance on the selection of electronic resources. The general collection development guidelines for electronic information resources include relevance and potential use of the information, redundancy of the information contained in the product, demand for the information, ease of use of the product, availability of the information to multiple users, stability of the coverage of the resource, longevity of the information, cost of the product, predictability of pricing, equipment needed to provide access to the information, technical support, and availability of the physical space needed to house and store the information or equipment.
The effect of hydroxylamine, mercaptans, divalent metals and chelators on (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. A possible control mechanism

Abstract In the absence of Ca2+, 20 mM hydroxylamine activates and in the presence of 20 μM Ca2+ it inhibits the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3). Mn2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ can substitute for the Ca2+-induced hydroxylamine inhibition at concentrations below 10 μM. Ba2+, Sn2+, Sr2+, and Fe2+ have no Ca2+-like effect. This result is obtained in the presence of ethylene-bis-(oxyethylenenitrolo)-tetraacetic acid, a chelator with a high stability constant fr Ca2+. If 8-hydroxyquinoline, a chelator with a low stability constant for Ca2+, but a high stability constant for Cu2+, is used instead of ethylene-bis-(oxyethylenenitrilo)-tetraacetic acid, Ca2+ has no effect on the hydroxylamine-(Na+ + K+)-ATPase. However, Cu2+ at concentrations of 1 μM will induce inhibition of the hydroxylamine-(Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the presence of 8-hydroxyquinoline. Hydroxylamine in the presence of Ca2+ does not split the acylphosho intermediate of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, but rather prevents the Na+-dependent phosphorylation of the enzyme. The mercaptans, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol and 2-mercaptoethanol have a biphasic effect on (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. They inhibit at low concentrations (10–100 μM) and activate at high concentrations (above 1 mM). The inhibition is increased in the presence of 30 μM Ca2+. Both mercaptans reverse the Ca2+-induced hydroxylamine inhibition at concentrations above 1 mM. N-ethylmaleimide reverses the Ca2+-induced hydroxylamine inhibition between 10–100 μM, if it reaches the enzyme before hydroxylamine. The reactivation apparently is due to alkylation of a sulfhydryl group different from the sulfhydryl group by which N-ethylmaleimide inhibits the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. The results are interpreted by assuming a heavy metal intrinsic to the enzyme and bound to a storage site. Hydroxylamine may decrease the affinity of the storage site for this heavy metal so it can bind to an inhibitory site. The latter site has no function by itself, but when it forms a complex with the intrinsic heayv metal, it acts
Association of ribosomes with in vitro assembled microtubules.

Microtubules were purified from unfertilized eggs of the sea urchins Arbacia punctulata, Lytechinus pictus, Lytechinus variegatus, and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Numerous densely stained particles (24 × 26 nm) are associated with microtubules isolated from each of these sea urchins. The most striking aspect of this structure is an extended, slightly curved arm that appears to attach the particles to the microtubule. Morphologically similar particles are associated with microtubules of the isolated first cleavage mitotic apparatus. The particles are attached to the microtubules by ionic interactions and contain large amounts of extractable RNA. Based upon their size and density, RNA and protein composition, and sedimentation in sucrose gradients, the microtubule-associated particles are identified as ribosomes.
The crystal structure of dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)(norbornadiene)ruthenium

Abstract Passing norbornadiene in Ar over a solution of RuCl 2 [P(C 6 H 5 ) 3 ] 4 in Ch 2 Cl 2 results in slow deposition of single crystals of the extremely insoluble title compound. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P 2 1 / c with unit cell constants a 14.213(3), b 14.486(2), c 17.079(2) A, β 97.13(1)°, and π c 1.50 g mc −3 for Z = 4. Full-matrix least-squares refinement has led to a final R 1 value of 0.057 based on 2460 independent observed ( I ⩾ 3σ( I )) reflections. The molecule attains an approximately octahedral geometry with cis -chlorine and trans -phosphine ligands. The norbornadiene ligand bonds symmetrically to the metal with long CC bonds of 1.408(12) and 1.415(120 A. The average values of some other important bond distances are: RuCl 2.440 ± 0.006 A; RuP 2.479 ± 0.003 A; RuC 2.21 ± 0.02 A.
Interaction of Deoxyinosine 3′-Endonuclease from Escherichia coli with DNA Containing Deoxyinosine

By using a band mobility shift assay, deoxyinosine 3'-endonuclease, an Escherichia coli enzyme which recognizes deoxyinosine, AP site, urea residue, and base mismatches in DNA, was shown to bind tightly to deoxyinosine-containing oligonucleotide duplexes. Two distinct protein-DNA complexes were observed, the faster migrating complex (complex I, Kd = 4 x 10(-9) M) contained one molecule of deoxyinosine 3'-endonuclease, while the slower migrating complex (complex II, Kd = 4 x 10(-7) M) contained two molecules of the protein bound to every molecule of duplex DNA. The endonucleolytic activity of deoxyinosine 3'-endonuclease paralleled the formation of the complex I. Interestingly, deoxyinosine 3'-endonuclease exhibited similar affinities for both the substrate and the nicked duplex product and thus remained bound to the DNA after the cleavage reaction. The formation of a stable complex required the presence of a duplex structure 5' to the deoxyinosine residue. DNase I footprinting revealed that deoxyinosine 3'-endonuclease protected 4-5 nucleotides 5' to the deoxyinosine, and when complex II was formed, at least 13 nucleotides 3' to deoxyinosine were protected. Based on these results, a model is proposed for the interaction of deoxyinosine 3'-endonuclease with DNA containing deoxyinosine.