cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of drinking water treatment process parameters on biological removal of manganese from surface water.

Abstract Soluble manganese (Mn) presents a significant treatment challenge to many water utilities, causing aesthetic and operational concerns. While application of free chlorine to oxidize Mn prior to filtration can be effective, this is not feasible for surface water treatment plants using ozonation followed by biofiltration because it inhibits biological removal of organics. Manganese-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) readily oxidize Mn in groundwater treatment applications, which normally involve pH > 7.0. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for biological Mn removal at the lower pH conditions (6.2–6.3) often employed in enhanced coagulation to optimize organics removal. Four laboratory-scale biofilters were operated over a pH range of 6.3–7.3. The biofilters were able to oxidize Mn at a pH as low as pH 6.3 with greater than 98% Mn removal. Removal of simulated organic ozonation by-products was also greater than 90% in all columns. Stress studies indicated that well-acclimated MOB can withstand variations in Mn concentration (e.g., 0.1–0.2 mg/L), hydraulic loading rate (e.g., 2–4 gpm/ft 2 ; 1.36 × 10 −3 –2.72 × 10 −3 m/s), and temperature (e.g., 7–22 °C) typically found at surface water treatment plants at least for relatively short (1–2 days) periods of time.
Role of PPARα in mediating the effects of phthalates and metabolites in the liver

Phthalate esters belong to a large class of compounds known as peroxisome proliferators (PP). PP include chemicals that activate different subtypes of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family. The ability of phthalate esters and their metabolites to activate responses through different PPAR subtypes is not fully characterized. We investigated the ability of two phthalate esters di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and selected metabolites to activate PPAR (alpha, beta/delta, gamma) using a transient transfection assay. The monoester of DEHP, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) activated all three subtypes of PPAR, but preferentially activated PPARalpha. A second metabolite of DEHP, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHXA) was a weaker activator of all three subtypes. DBP, but not the primary metabolite mono-n-butyl phthalate weakly activated all three PPAR subtypes. MEHP and DBP but not DEHP and MBP interacted directly with human PPARalpha and PPARgamma as determined by scintillation proximity assays. Both DEHP and DBP activated expression of PP-inducible gene products in wild-type but not PPARalpha-null mice suggesting that both of these phthalates exert their effects by activation of PPARalpha in vivo. The preferential activation of PPARalpha by phthalate ester metabolites suggests that these phthalates mediate their toxic effects in rodent liver in a manner indistinguishable from other PP.
Elementary solutions of the transport equation and their applications

Abstract A new method of treating problems involving the transport equation is discussed. Starting from Van Kampen's observation that it is sufficient that “solutions” be distributions, the elementary solutions of the homogeneous equation are considered. These are found to have completeness and, in some cases, orthogonality properties which lead to the solution of more interesting problems by a conventional eigenfunction expansion. While the method is illustrated here with the simplest examples of neutron diffusion, it seems to be generally applicable.
Electrically actuated, pressure-driven liquid chromatography separations in microfabricated devices

Electrolysis-based micropumps integrated with microfluidic channels in micromachined glass substrates are presented. Photolithography combined with wet chemical etching and thermal bonding enabled the fabrication of multi-layer devices containing electrically actuated micropumps interfaced with sample and mobile phase reservoirs. A stationary phase was deposited on the microchannel walls by coating with 10% (w/w) chlorodimethyloctadecylsilane in toluene. Pressure-balanced injection was implemented by controlling the electrolysis time and voltage applied in the two independent micropumps. Current fluctuations in the micropumps due to the stochastic formation of bubbles on the electrode surfaces were determined to be the main cause of variation between separations. On-chip electrochemical pumping enabled the loading of pL samples with no dead volume between injection and separation. A mobile phase composed of 70% acetonitrile and 30% 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 5.45) was used for the chromatographic separation of three fluorescently labeled amino acids in 3000 theoretical plates in a 2.5 cm-long channel. Our results demonstrate the potential of electrochemical micropumps integrated with microchannels to perform rapid chromatographic separations in a microfabricated platform. Importantly, these devices represent a significant step toward the development of miniaturized and fully integrated liquid chromatography systems.
Auto-regulation of Retinoic Acid Biosynthesis through Regulation of Retinol Esterification in Human Keratinocytes *

In this report, we describe an auto-regulatory loop in human keratinocytes, whereby all-trans retinoic acid (retinoic acid) regulates its own biosynthesis from all-trans retinol (retinol) through regulation of retinol esterification. Retinol esterification activity was low in normal proliferating human keratinocytes, cultured in retinoid-free media. Treatment of keratinocytes with retinoic acid induced retinol esterifying activity (8-fold). Induction of retinol esterifying activity was blocked by either actinomycin D or cycloheximide. Based on substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity, lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) was identified as the retinoic acid-inducible retinol esterifying enzyme. Induction of LRAT by retinoic acid reduced conversion of retinol to retinoic acid by 50%. This reduction in retinoic acid synthesis resulted from sequestration of retinol as retinyl esters, since inhibition of LRAT restored retinoic acid synthesis to control levels. In normal human skin, undifferentiated keratinocytes, in the lowest cell layer, esterified retinol 4 times greater, than differentiating keratinocytes, in upper cell layers, reflecting an induced state, under conditions of retinol sufficiency. Regulation of LRAT activity by retinoic acid provides a novel mechanism through which retinoic acid can regulate its own level by controlling availability of retinol for conversion to retinoic acid. In human skin in vivo, retinyl esters synthesized in basal keratinocytes could undergo hydrolysis during differentiation and thus serve as a source of retinol for keratinocytes in upper layers of skin.
Catching lightning for alternative energy

The article reviews the current literature related to lightning and makes a case for using lightning as an alternative source of energy. Objections to using lightning as an alternative source of energy are listed. Current literature is reviewed and articles are suggested as useful for building a tower, or using rockets or lasers to target a strike, or for quantifying a lightning strike.
The HOP1 gene encodes a meiosis-specific component of yeast chromosomes.

Abstract The HOP1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is important for meiotic chromosomal pairing, because hop1 diploids fall to form synaptonemal complex during meiosis and are defective in crossing over between, but not within, chromosomes. We demonstrate here that the HOP1 gene is transcriptionally regulated during sporulation and that the HOP1 protein is situated along the lengths of meiotic chromosomes. Furthermore, the HOP1 protein contains a Cys 2 /Cys 2 zinc finger motif. A mutation within this motif that changes a cysteine to serine results in the hop1 phenotype, consistent with the possibility that the HOP1 gene product acts in chromosome synapsis by directly interacting with DNA. These observations demonstrate that HOP1 encodes a component of meiotic chromosomes, perhaps serving as a constituent of the synaptonemal complex.
Consulting Course Design: Theoretical Frameworks and Pedagogical Strategies

Educators need to be more proactive in expanding course offerings to respond to the academic needs of university students. Draum by excellent pay and prospects of gaining valuable experience, more college graduates are pursuing employment in consulting. With consulting skills growing in importance for many of our students in the 21st century, business communication scholars are particularly well posi tioned to help students develop these requisite skills and knowledge. Offering a course dedicated to the topic of consulting, or including consulting experience in a standard business communication course prepares students for engaging in consult ing activities, including research, assessment, training and development, facilita tion, and evaluation. Our course foregrounds instructional frameworks and serv ice learning to assist students in systematically assessing organizational problems and designing and implementing organizational interventions.
Controlled Drinking by Alcoholics? New Findings and a Reevaluation of a Major Affirmative Study

Controlled drinking has recently become a controversial alternative to abstinence as an appropriate treatment goal for alcoholics. In this study we reexamine the evidence underlying a widely cited report by Sobell and Sobell of successful controlled drinking by a substantial proportion of gamma (physically dependent) alcoholic subjects in a behavior therapy experiment. A review of the evidence, including official records and new interviews, reveals that most subjects trained to do controlled drinking failed from the outset to drink safely. The majority were rehospitalized for alcoholism treatment within a year after their discharge from the research project. A 10-year follow-up (extended through 1981) of the original 20 experimental subjects shows that only one, who apparently had not experienced physical withdrawal symptoms, maintained a pattern of controlled drinking; eight continued to drink excessively--regularly or intermittently--despite repeated damaging consequences; six abandoned their efforts to engage in controlled drinking and became abstinent; four died from alcohol-related causes; and one, certified about a year after discharge from the research project as gravely disabled because of drinking, was missing.
Electrophysiological Mechanisms of Spontaneous Termination of Sustained Monomorphic Reentrant Ventricular Tachycardia in the Canine Postinfarction Heart

Background The electrophysiological mechanisms of spontaneous termination of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT), in the postinfarction heart, generally considered secondary to a reentrant mechanism, have not been fully investigated. Method and Results Epicardial activation maps of spontaneous termination of 20 different episodes of SMVT (lasting 30 seconds to 10 minutes) from 8 dogs, 4 to 5 days after one-stage ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, were analyzed with the use of 254 bipolar electrode recordings with high density (2.5 to 2.8 mm between bipolar electrodes) in the ischemic zone. All ventricular tachycardias (VTs) were due to circus movement reentry with a characteristic figure-8 configuration. Termination always occurred when the two circulating wave fronts blocked in the central common pathway (CCP). Two basic mechanisms of spontaneous termination were observed: (1) In 15 episodes, acceleration of conduction occurred in parts of the reentrant circuit and...
Internal Surface Modification of MFI-Type Zeolite Membranes for High Selectivity and High Flux for Hydrogen

MFI-type zeolite membranes were modified by depositing molecular silica at a small number of active sites in the internal surface by in situ catalytic cracking of silane precursor. The limited silica deposition reduced the effective size of the zeolitic channels that dramatically enhanced the H(2) selectivity without causing a large increase in H(2) transport resistance. The modified zeolite membrane achieved an extraordinary H(2)/CO(2) permselectivity of 141 with a high H(2) permeance of 3.96 x 10(-7) mol/m(2) x s x Pa at 723 K. The effect of pore modification on the gas transport behavior was studied on the basis of single gas permeation data.
Adsorption of viologen-based polyelectrolytes on carboxylate-terminated self-assembled monolayers

The adsorption of viologen-containing polyelectrolytes on the surface of carboxylate-terminated, self-assembled monolayers was investigated by voltammetric methods. The two polyelectrolytes used had either butyl (VC4) or undecyl (VC11) linkages between the repeating viologen (4,4‘-bipyridinium) subunits. Both polyelectrolytes were found to adsorb at neutral pH on monolayers prepared by the self-assembly of either 3-mercaptopropionic (HSC2COOH) or 8-mercaptooctanoic (HSC7COOH) acids on gold. However, the adsorption was optimized by using the more hydrophobic polyelectrolyte (VC11) and the longer thiol (HSC7COOH). The gradual deprotonation of the HSC7COOH monolayer in the pH range 6−11 enhances the adsorption of the VC11 polyelectrolyte. From these data, an apparent pKa of ∼8 for the monolayer −COOH groups was obtained. The overall degree of packing of the viologen subunits at the monolayer−solution interface was found to be rather poor. The combined monolayer−polyelectrolyte interfacial structures did not ...
Structure and Physical Properties of Trigonal Monopyramidal Iron(II), Cobalt(II), Nickel(II), and Zinc(II) Complexes

A series of trigonal monopyramidal complexes of the tripodal ligand tris((N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)methyl)aminato, [1But]3-, have been synthesized and characterized. The structures of [Co1But]-, [Zn1But]-, and [Ni1But]- confirm that trigonal monopyramidal coordination geometry occurs in these complexes where the three amidate nitrogens are arranged in the trigonal plane and the amine nitrogen is bonded apically to the metal ions. The solid-state structures of [Co1But]-, [Zn1But]-, and [Ni1But]- are nearly identical indicating that the trigonal ligand [1But]3- enforces the trigonal monopyramidal structure in these metal ions. Crystal data: K[Co1But]·0.5DMF crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, with cell dimensions a = 18.844(4) A, b = 9.809(3) A, c = 28.715(13) A, β = 102.70°, and Z = 8; (NEt4)[Zn1But]·THF crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with cell dimensions a = 13.244(3) A, b = 11.285(5) A, c = 25.625(3) A, β = 104.45(1)°, and Z = 4. The 1H NMR spectrum of the diamagnetic [Zn1Bu...
CONTRASTING RATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF POLITICAL CHOICE

We contrast the rational theory of choice in the form of expected utility theory with descriptive psychological analysis in the form of prospect theory, using problems involving the choice between political candidates and public referendum issues. The results showed that the assumptions underlying the classical theory of risky choice are systematically violated in the manner predicted by prospect theory. In particular, our respondents exhibited risk aversion in the domain of gains, risk seeking in the domain of losses, and a greater sensitivity to losses than to gains. This is consistent with the advantage of the incumbent under normal conditions and the potential advantage of the challenger in bad times. The results further show how a shift in the reference point could lead to reversals of preferences in the evaluation of political and economic options, contrary to the assumption of invariance. Finally, we contrast the normative and descriptive analyses of uncertainty in choice and address the rationality of voting.
Lay Health Advisors: Promoting Cancer Screening and Reducing Disparities

Cancer health disparities between racial and ethnic minorities have led to the use of lay health advisors to educate minority populations about cancer and promote cancer screening and other healthy behaviors. This article discusses the benefits of using lay health advisors to increase cancer awareness and screening in African American, Vietnamese, and Hispanic women in the United States.
Anesthetic-ion channel interactions: The effect of lidocaine on the stability and transport properties of the membrane-spanning domain of band 3

Abstract The influence of a local anesthetic on the structure and function of an ion channel was examined, using the membrane-spanning domain of the erythrocyte anion transport protein, band 3, as the model system. The effect of lidocaine on the channel's structure was monitored in situ by highly sensitive differential scanning calorimetry. The influence of lidocaine on the channel's transport function was assayed by following the rate of H35SO4− exchange across the erythrocyte membrane. The results demonstrate that concentrations of lidocaine which inhibit ion transport also destabilize channel structure. While the uncharged form of lidocaine was a potent perturbant of both ion transport and channel stability, the cationic form of the anesthetic was ineffective in both respects. Based on empirical equations relating the calorimetric and transport properties of the anion channel to lidocaine concentration, the following structure-function relationship was derived: κ κ 0 = 1 1 + 0.06( Δ T c ) 1.6' where ΔTc is the change in the channel's denaturation temperature observed upon addition of sufficient lidocaine to lower the rate constant of anion transport from κ0 (control) to κ. With this expression, the rate of transport in the presence of lidocaine can be predicted from an analysis of the stability of the channel in situ.
Linking sub-pore scale heterogeneity of biological and geochemical deposits with changes in permeability

Abstract Subsurface geochemical and biological transformations often influence fluid flow by altering the pore space morphology and related hydrologic properties such as porosity and permeability. In most coupled-processes models changes in porosity are inferred from geochemical and biological process models using mass-balance. The corresponding evolution of permeability is estimated using (semi-) empirical porosity–permeability functions such as the Kozeny–Carman equation or power-law functions. These equations typically do not account for the heterogeneous spatial distribution and morphological irregularities of the geochemical precipitates and biomass. As a result, predictions of permeability evolution are generally unsatisfactory. In this communication, we demonstrate the significance of pore-scale precipitate distribution on porosity–permeability relations using high resolution simulations of fluid flow through a single pore interspersed with crystals. Based on these simulations, we propose a modification to the Kozeny–Carman model that accounts for the shape of the deposits. Limited comparison with published experimental data suggests the plausibility of the proposed conceptual model.
A Bandpass Filter for the Enhancement of an X-Ray Reconstruction of the Tissue in the Spinal Canal

In this communication, a new bandpass reconstruction filter is developed to partially remove the low spatial frequencies of the bone and the soft tissue in an X-ray reconstruction of a lumbar spine. This partial removal of the low frequencies suppresses the bony vertebral body and the soft tissue components within the projections of actual clinical data. It also has the effect of enhancing the sharp edges of the fatty tissue surrounding the spinal cord region. The intent of this effort is to directly visualize the spinal cord without the need for water-soluble contrast (e.g., metrizamide) to be installed through lumbar punctures.
Research and Solutions: Making Biodiesel from Recycled Cooking Oil Generated in Campus Dining Facilities

Made from vegetable oil, waste oil, or animal fats, biodiesel fuel is renewable and nearly carbon neutral; it requires little engine modification, and over time can reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil. Over the past few decades, the production of biodiesel has increased significantly. Here at the University of Cincinnati (UC), biodiesel is being generated from fryer oil from campus dining halls to reduce diesel use and enhance sustainability on the campus. A secondary goal is to use this process as a real world classroom for students, K-12 teachers, and interested community members wishing to optimize conversion of waste cooking oil to biodiesel. The production of biodiesel at the UC is accomplished via transesterification, whereby waste fryer oil and methanol are converted, with the aid of the catalyst sodium hydroxide, to methyl esters, or biodiesel, and glycerol. The pretreatment, titration/pilot test, full-scale production, and purification processes are quantitatively described here, ...
The Genomic Relationships Among Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc., G. max (L.) Merr. and ‘G. gracilis’ Skvortz.

The objective of this study was to establish genomic relationships among G. sojii, G. max, and ‘G. gracilis’ based on cytogenetic analyses. All three species hybridized readily, though pod set was low (2.2 %—5.3 %); seeds produced viable, vigorous and totally fertile F, plants which were normal in meiotic pairing. This suggests that all three species-belong to one gene pool and should be considered as forms of one species.
When may endometrial cancer be considered cured

To assess when a woman may be considered cured following treatment for endometrial cancer, two methods have been used. First, using the relative survival ratio, the mortality of 761 women treated for endometrial cancer was compared to that of the general population; in the fourth and fifth years after treatment, the annual relative survival ratio was 98%. After 7 years, the ratio was 100%, i.e., subsequent mortality did not differ from that of the general population of the same age. Second, the causes of death of women who died 5 or more years after treatment were reviewed. Among 478 women who survived to the seventh anniversary and were not known to have clinical recurrence at that time, there were at most 15 deaths that could have been attributable to the initial cancer. In none of these late deaths was there autopsy evidence that uterine cancer was, in fact, a contributing cause of death.
3.6 YEARS OF DIRBE NEAR-INFRARED STELLAR LIGHT CURVES

The weekly averaged near-infrared fluxes for 2652 stars were extracted from the cold and warm era all-sky maps of the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE). Since the DIRBE program only archived the individual Calibrated Infrared Observations for the 10 month cold era mission, the weekly averaged fluxes were all that were available for the warm era. The steps required to extract stellar fluxes are described as are the adjustments that were necessary to correct the results for several systematic effects. The observations are at a cadence of once a week for 3.6 years (~1300 days), providing continuous sampling on variable stars that span the entire period for the longest fundamental pulsators. The stars are divided into three categories: those with large amplitude of variability, smaller amplitude variables, and sources whose near-infrared brightness do not vary according to our classification criteria. We show examples of the results and the value of the added baseline in determining the phase lag between the visible and infrared.
Toward Genolelectronics: Nucleic Acid Doped Conducting Polymers

New biocomposite materials, based on the incorporation of nucleic acid dopants within an electronically conducting polypyrrole network, are described. The growth patterns and ion-exchange properties of these electropolymerized polypyrrole−oligonucleotide (PPy/ODN) films are characterized using an in situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). The EQCM and corresponding voltammetric data indicate that nucleic acids can serve as the sole charge-compensating counterions during the film formation. While the incorporation of ODNs is similar to that of small inorganic anions, such large nucleic acid dopants could not be readily expelled from the PPy network. As a result, the electrochemistry is dominated by the movement of the electrolyte cation: Various parameters, such as the ODN length or concentration and the potential range, have a marked effect on the properties of the new conducting biomaterials. Very favorable growth patterns are observed for biocomposites containing 20−30-mer long ODNs, wh...
Interstitial fluid drainage is impaired in ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease mouse models

The interstitial fluid (ISF) drainage pathway has been hypothesized to underlie the clearance of solutes and metabolites from the brain. Previous work has implicated the perivascular spaces along arteries as the likely route for ISF clearance; however, it has never been demonstrated directly. The accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides in brain parenchyma is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD), and it is likely related to an imbalance between production and clearance of the peptide. Aβ drainage along perivascular spaces has been postulated to be one of the mechanisms that mediate the peptide clearance from the brain. We therefore devised a novel method to visualize solute clearance in real time in the living mouse brain using laser guided bolus dye injections and multiphoton imaging. This methodology allows high spatial and temporal resolution and revealed the kinetics of ISF clearance. We found that the ISF drains along perivascular spaces of arteries and capillaries but not veins, and its clearance exhibits a bi-exponential profile. ISF drainage requires a functional vasculature, as solute clearance decreased when perfusion was impaired. In addition, reduced solute clearance was observed in transgenic mice with significant vascular amyloid deposition; we suggest the existence of a feed-forward mechanism, by which amyloid deposition promotes further amyloid deposition. This important finding provides a mechanistic link between cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer disease and suggests that facilitation of Aβ clearance along the perivascular pathway should be considered as a new target for therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
Latent equine herpesvirus-1 in trigeminal ganglia and equine idiopathic headshaking

Background Trigeminal neuralgia or neuropathic pain has been regarded as a putative cause of idiopathic headshaking in horses. Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection and resultant postherpetic pain have been suggested as a possible cause of such neuropathic pain. Hypothesis/Objectives To determine the presence of EHV-1 in the trigeminal ganglia of horses with idiopathic headshaking. Animals Nineteen horses: control (n = 11, 9 geldings, 2 mares, median age 11 years) and headshaking (n = 8, all geldings, median age 11.5 years) horses were sourced from the equine research herd and caseload at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Methods Prospective study to determine the presence of EHV-1 latency in trigeminal ganglia of horses with idiopathic headshaking by real-time PCR detection of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene and the DNA polymerase (ORF 30) gene of EHV-1 in the absence of detectable late structural protein gene (gB gene) mRNA. Control horses were used for comparison. A house keeping gene (equine GAPDH) and positive and negative samples for EHV-1 were used for quality control. Results All samples from control horses and 7 of 8 headshaking horses were negative for EHV-1. One headshaking horse tested positive for a single copy of EHV-1 gene. Conclusions and Clinical Importance This study does not support a role for EHV-1 infection and presumed postherpetic pain in the etiopathogenesis of equine headshaking.
Frontal sinus hamartomas

Abstract Objective To review the entity of respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma of the paranasal sinuses using an illustrative case example of frontal sinus hamartoma. Methods Case report with review of the literature. Results Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma represents a benign process that is generally cured with conservative surgical resection of the involved area. Nevertheless, as shown in our case example, this can be a locally aggressive process that can lead to significant morbidity if left untreated. Conclusion Hamartomas of the paranasal sinuses represent a rare entity, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of expansile sinonasal lesions. Treatment of choice is surgical resection. Frontal sinus involvement may extend into the surrounding orbit and intracranial cavities, which may need to be addressed with standard skull base surgery techniques.
Molecular genetics of rotifers: preliminary restriction mapping of the mitochondrial genome of Brachionus plicatilis

Methods are presented to extract and purify mitochondrial DNA from the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. The mtDNA obtained is of sufficient purity for digestion with restriction endonucleases. EcoR I restriction patterns are presented for 4 geographically separated clones. A restriction map based on digestion with 5 different restriction enzymes is included for one of these clones. Finally, use of mtDNA analysis for studies on the population structure and biogeography of rotifers is discussed.
Simpler Mass Production of Polymeric Visual Decoys for the Male Emerald Ash Borer (AgriAgrilus planipennis)

Polymeric visual decoys of beetle of an invasive species called the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, are highly efficacious in luring and trapping EAB males. Although industrially scalable, the bioreplication process to fabricate these decoys involves several operational steps. In a simpler bioreplication process devised by us, a multi-cavity negative die of nickel is made from an array of several EAB females. This die is used to fabricate multiple decoys simultaneously by casting and thermal curing of poly(dimethyl siloxane). Finally, the decoys are sprayed by first a black paint and then a metallic green paint. The new bioreplication process has considerably fewer operational steps than its predecessor and can be adopted by industry.
Combinations of Orthogonal Spectra to Estimate Component Spectra in Multicomponent Mixtures

A factor analysis of a set of spectra of multicomponent mixtures yields n orthogonal spectra where n is the number of components in the mixtures. Combinations of these orthogonal spectra, done so as to eliminate the contributions to the spectra from one of the components, yield a set of n – 1 linearly independent abstract spectra. Repetition of this process is used to estimate the spectrum of each of the components without identifying the range of the n-dimensional vector space in which the solution must fall. Several techniques for estimating the appropriate combinations of orthogonal spectra are compared.
Inhibition of ecdysis in Oncopeltus fasciatus by 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones

Abstract [1-(2-Pyridinyl)ethylidene]hydrazide of 1-pyrrolidinecarbothioic acid (AI3-63967) and seven similar thiosemicarbazones applied topically to Oncopeltus fasciatus were toxic or prevented ecdysis in fifth instars without the appearance of supernumerary nymphs. Treatments with AI3-63967 did not affect weight gain of the nymphs but delayed by 2 days the rise in hemolymph ecdysteroids and reduced their maximal titer by ca. 40%. Restoration of the ecdysteroid titer by injections of makisterone A or 20-hydroxyecdysone did not prevent the molting aberrations. Treated fourth instars exhibited incomplete ecdysis followed by death and treated adults died within 9 days post-treatment. Apparently, this group of thiosemicarbazones acts by a mechanism different from that of juvenile hormone mimics or chitin synthesis inhibitors.
Expression and sequence analysis of candidates for the 1p36.31 tumor suppressor gene deleted in neuroblastomas

Neuroblastomas are characterized by 1p deletions, suggesting that a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) resides in this region. We have mapped the smallest region of deletion (SRD) to a 2 Mb region of 1p36.31 using microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphisms. We have identified 23 genes in this region, and we have analysed these genes for mutations and RNA expression patterns to identify candidate TSGs. We sequenced the coding exons of these genes in 30 neuroblastoma cell lines. Although rare mutations were found in 10 of the 23 genes, none showed a pattern of genetic change consistent with homozygous inactivation. We examined the expression of these 23 genes in 20 neuroblastoma cell lines, and most showed readily detectable expression, and no correlation with 1p deletion. However, 7 genes showed uniformly low expression in the lines, and 2 genes (CHD5, RNF207) had virtually absent expression, consistent with the expected pattern for a TSG. Our mutation and expression analysis in neuroblastoma cell lines, combined with expression analysis in normal tissues, putative function and prior implication in neuroblastoma pathogenesis, suggests that the most promising TSG deleted from the 1p36 SRD is CHD5, but TNFRSF25, CAMTA1 and AJAP1 are also viable candidates.
Arecibo emission-absorption observations of Galactic OH

Observations of OH emission/absorption toward 19 low-Galactic-latitude background-continuum sources are reported. Data obtained at 1.665 and 1.667 GHz using the 12-m radio telescope at Arecibo Observatory during February-March 1984, are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail, with reference to theoretical models. A total of 11 OH absorption features were detected toward nine of the sources, with an average of one feature of optical depth 0.02 or greater per 5 kpc of path length and an average column density of 1.6 x 10 to the 12th/sq cm (corrected to b = 90 deg).
The variation of periodicity of magnetic structure with dilution and temperature for the heavy rare earth metals

Several possible mechanisms proposed to account for the variation of periodicity of magnetic structure with dilution and temperature for Tb, Dy, Er, Tm, and Ho are discussed. It is proposed that the best explanation for the observed magnetic structures seems to lie in having terms in the energy linking three or four localized f shells, that is, terms in which the conduction electrons linking two given sites scatter off one or more intervening sites. (C.E.S.)
Rhizobium Mutants Defective in Lipopolysaccharide and Infection

One modulation phenotype accounts for half of the isolated mutants of Rhizobium phaseoli CFN42 defective in symbiosis with bean. The phenotype is to elicit small, white nodules that are obviously not completely developed and lack nitrogen-fixing activity (Noel et al, 1984). One mutant class with this phenotype (Ndv-) has been described previously (VandenBosch et al, 1985). These mutants induce early stages of nodule development without infection thread formation; in minimal agar culture they are not stained by Calcofluor, a β-1,4-glycan stain. Another major class is described below. Mutants of this second class elicit an abortive infection thread with abnormal morphology; they are defective in lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Role of self-efficacy (SE) and anxiety among pre-clinically disabled older adults when using compensatory strategies to complete daily tasks.

A B S T R A C T Classic developmental theory suggests that aging is associated with using compensatory strategies to prolong independence. While compensatory strategies are typically considered positive adaptations, they also signify an early phase in the disablement process — commonly known as pre-clinical disability. To build a better understanding of psychological constructs related to these early signs of disability, we examined the contribution of SE and state anxiety on using compensatory strategies among preclinically disabled older adults. Compensatory strategies were observed during performance of daily activities in 257 pre-clinically disabled older adults (67.6 7.04), and SE and state anxiety were evaluated prior to performing each task. In univariate models, lower SE and higher anxiety were associated with more compensation (Spearman correlations: 0.15–0.48, p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that low SE [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.70; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.40–2.08) and high anxiety (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.10–1.63) were positively associated with using 6 compensatory strategies – a level signifying substantial compensation. When considered jointly with SE, the association with anxiety was reversed — higher anxiety demonstrated a lower likelihood of using compensation (OR: 0.70–0.73; 95% CI: 0.50–0.99). The addition of SE might remove the self-defeating cognitions characterizing anxiety allowing the remaining arousal component to appear beneficial. In conclusion, lower SE and higher anxiety are associated with using compensation to complete daily tasks among pre-clinically disabled older adults. Such psychological constructs may contribute to the use of compensatory strategies and represent future intervention targets to help reduce early signs of disability.
Electroporation followed by electrochemical measurement of quantal transmitter release from single cells using a patterned microelectrode

An electrochemical microelectrode located immediately adjacent to a single neuroendocrine cell can record spikes of amperometric current that result from exocytosis of oxidizable transmitter from individual vesicles, i.e., quantal exocytosis. Here, we report the development of an efficient method where the same electrochemical microelectrode is used to electropermeabilize an adjacent chromaffin cell and then measure the consequent quantal catecholamine release using amperometry. Trains of voltage pulses, 5–7 V in amplitude and 0.1–0.2 ms in duration, were used to reliably trigger release from cells using gold electrodes. Amperometric spikes induced by electropermeabilization had similar areas, peak heights and durations as amperometric spikes elicited by depolarizing high K+ solutions, therefore release occurs from individual secretory granules. Uptake of trypan blue stain into cells demonstrated that the plasma membrane is permeabilized by the voltage stimulus. Voltage pulses did not degrade the electrochemical sensitivity of the electrodes assayed using a test analyte. Surprisingly, robust quantal release was elicited upon electroporation in the absence of Ca2+ in the bath solution (0 Ca2+/5 mM EGTA). In contrast, electropermeabilization-induced transmitter release required Cl− in the bath solution in that bracketed experiments demonstrated a steep dependence of the rate of electropermeabilization-induced transmitter release on [Cl−] between 2 and 32 mM. Using the same electrochemical electrode to electroporate and record quantal release of catecholamines from an individual chromaffin cell allows precise timing of the stimulus, stimulation of a single cell at a time, and can be used to load membrane-impermeant substances into a cell.
The role of the hippocampus in trace conditioning: Temporal discontinuity or task difficulty?

It is well established that the hippocampal formation is critically involved in the acquisition of trace memories, a paradigm in which the conditioned (CS) and unconditioned stimuli (US) are separated by a temporal gap (Solomon et al., 1986). The structure is reportedly not critical for the acquisition of delay memories, where the CS and the US overlap in time (Berger & Orr, 1983; Schmaltz & Theios, 1972). Based on these results, it is often stated that the hippocampus is involved in "filling the gap" or otherwise associating the two stimuli in time. However, in addition to the presence of a temporal gap, there are other differences between trace and delay conditioning. The most apparent difference is that animals require many more trials to learn the trace task, and thus it is inherently more difficult than the delay task. Here, we tested whether the hippocampus was critically involved in delay conditioning, if it was rendered more difficult such that the rate of acquisition was shifted to be analogous to trace conditioning. Groups of rats received excitotoxic lesions to the hippocampus, sham lesions or were left intact. Using the same interstimulus intervals (ISI), control animals required more trials to acquire the trace than the delay task. As predicted, animals with hippocampal lesions were impaired during trace conditioning but not delay conditioning. However, when the delay task was rendered more difficult by extending the ISI (a long delay task), animals with hippocampal lesions were impaired. In addition, once the lesioned animal learned the association between the CS and the US during delay conditioning, it could learn and perform the trace CR. Thus, the role of the hippocampus in classical conditioning is not limited to learning about discontiguous events in time and space; rather the structure can become engaged simply as a function of task difficulty.
Packaging Cells Based on Inducible Gene Amplification for the Production of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors

Although vectors based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) offer several unique advantages, their usage has been hampered by the difficulties encountered in vector production. In this report, we describe a new AAV packaging system based on inducible amplification of integrated helper and vector constructs containing the simian virus 40 (SV40) replication origin. The packaging and producer cell lines developed express SV40 T antigen under the control of the reverse tetracycline transactivator system, which allows inducible amplification of chromosomal loci linked to the SV40 origin. Culturing these cells in the presence of doxycycline followed by adenovirus infection resulted in helper and vector gene amplification as well as higher vector titers. Clonal producer cell lines generated vector titers that were 10 times higher than those obtained by standard methods, with approximately 10(4) vector particles produced per cell. These stocks were free of detectable replication-competent virus. The lack of a transfection step combined with the reproducibility of stable producer lines makes this packaging method ideally suited for the large-scale production of vector stocks for human gene therapy.
A Multiple-Grid Adaptive Integral Method for Multi-Region Problems

A multiple-grid extension of the adaptive integral method (AIM) is presented for fast analysis of scattering from piecewise homogeneous structures. The proposed scheme accelerates the iterative method-of-moments solution of the pertinent surface integral equations by employing multiple auxiliary Cartesian grids: If the structure of interest is composed of K homogeneous regions, it introduces K different auxiliary grids. It uses the k th auxiliary grid first to determine near-zones for the basis functions and then to execute AIM projection, propagation, interpolation, and near-zone pre-correction stages in the k th region. Thus, the AIM stages are executed a total of K times using different grids and different groups of basis functions. The proposed multiple-grid AIM scheme requires a total of O(N nz,near+?k N k ClogN k C) operations per iteration, where N nz,near denotes the total number of near-zone interactions in all regions and N k C denotes the number of nodes of the k th Cartesian grid. Numerical results validate the method's accuracy and reduced complexity for large-scale canonical structures with large numbers of regions (up to ~106 degrees of freedom and ~103 regions). Moreover, an investigation of HF-band wave propagation in a loblolly pine forest model demonstrates the method's generality and practical applicability. Multiple-grid AIM accelerated simulations with various tree models show that higher fidelity models for the trunk material and branch geometry are needed for accurate calculation of horizontally-polarized field propagation while lower fidelity models can be satisfactory for analyzing vertically-polarized field propagation.
The "Dominant Bank Effect:" How High Lender Reputation Affects the Information Content and Terms of Bank Loans

Three large banks control over half of the U.S. commercial loan market by volume through the syndication process. Using attributes of a borrower’s location to instrument for lender‐ borrower matching, I show that the borrower stock price response to a loan announcement is more favorable if one of these dominant banks is the lender, especially if the borrower is “opaque.” I then show that these banks charge lower interest rates and are more likely to lend without the protection of a borrowing base. The results suggest that the dominant banks have a particularly high reputation for screening and monitoring borrowers. (JEL G21, L14)
An energy-efficient link layer protocol for reliable transmission over wireless networks

In multihop wireless networks, hop-by-hop reliability is generally achieved through positive acknowledgments at the MAC layer. However, positive acknowledgments introduce significant energy inefficiencies on battery-constrained devices. This inefficiency becomes particularly significant on high error rate channels. We propose to reduce the energy consumption during retransmissions using a novel protocol that localizes bit-errors at the MAC layer. The proposed protocol, referred to as Selective Retransmission using Virtual Fragmentation (SRVF), requires simple modifications to the positive-ACK-based reliability mechanism but provides substantial improvements in energy efficiency. The main premise of the protocol is to localize bit-errors by performing partial checksums on disjoint parts or virtual fragments of a packet. In case of error, only the corrupted virtual fragments are retransmitted. We develop stochastic models of the Simple Positive-ACK-based reliability, the previously-proposed Packet Length Optimization (PLO) protocol, and the SRVF protocol operating over an arbitrary-order Markov wireless channel. Our analytical models show that SRVF provides significant theoretical improvements in energy efficiency over existing protocols. We then use biterror traces collected over different real networks to empirically compare the proposed and existing protocols. These experimental results further substantiate that SRVF provides considerably better energy efficiency than Simple Positive-ACK and Packet Length Optimization protocols.
Space Transfer-Vehicle Concept for Deploying Solar-Power Satellites

A 200-kW-class solar-electric orbital transfer-vehicle concept, Swarm, for deploying elements of future, very large solar-power satellites, has been developed. Swarm is preintegrated with its payload on the ground and delivered into low Earth orbit aboard a reusable launch vehicle. The total mass initially deployed to an equatorial low Earth orbit is assumed to be 40 metric tons (mt)—divided roughly evenly between the transfer vehicle and its payload. The Swarm vehicle ferries the payload to geostationary orbit (GEO) in approximately 116 days using low-thrust Krypton thrusters powered by six large solar arrays. Once at GEO, the Swarm vehicle is disassembled to provide thrusters and propellant tanks for solar-power satellite station keeping. At an estimated mass of 20,000 mt per solar-power satellite and a nominal deployment rate of one satellite per year, over 1,000 one-way Swarm flights per year are required. Preliminary mass estimates for the Swarm transfer vehicle have been developed. A cost-estimating...