cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Construction of Metal-Organic Oxides from Molybdophosphonate Clusters and Copper-Bipyrimidine Building Blocks

A series of organic-inorganic hybrid materials of the copper(II)-molybdophosphonate family have been prepared using conventional hydrothermal conditions. The reactions of MoO(3), copper(II) acetate, bipyrimidine (bpyr), a phosphonic acid, and water at temperatures below 160 degrees C and in the presence of a mineralizer such as acetic acid or HF provided crystalline samples of materials of the general class {Cu(2)(bpyr)}(4+)/Mo(x)O(y)-phosphonate. The recurrent themes of the structures are the presence of the binuclear {Cu(2)(bpyr)}(4+) and pentanuclear {Mo(5)O(15)(O(3)PR)(2)}(4-) building blocks. For the alkylphosphonate-containing materials, [{Cu(2)(bpyr)(2)}Mo(5)O(15)(O(3)PCH(3))(2)].2.5H(2)O (1.2.5H(2)O) is two-dimensional and exhibits {Cu(bpyr)}(n)(2n+) chains, while [{Cu(2)(bpyr)(H(2)O)}Mo(5)O(15)(O(3)PCH(2)CH(3))(2)] (2) is three-dimensional. The diphosphonate series of materials {{Cu(2)(bpyr)}(4+)[Mo(5)O(15){O(3)P(CH(2))(n)PO(3)}](4-) with n = 2-6 (4, 5, 7-9) in all cases contain the characteristic [Mo(5)O(15){O(3)P(CH(2))(n)PO(3)}](n)(2n+) chains, linked through {Cu(2)(bpyr)}(4+) rods into three-dimensional frameworks. When n = 1, the three-dimensional phase [{Cu(2)(bpyr)}MoO(2)(HO(3)PCH(2)PO(3))(2)].2H(2)O (3.2H(2)O) is obtained, the exclusive example of a structure constructed from isolated {MoO(6)} polyhedra rather than pentamolybdate clusters. The Ni(II)-containing phase [{Ni(2)(bpyr)(H(2)O)(4)}Mo(5)O(15){O(3)P(CH(2))(3)PO(3)}].9H(2)O (6.9H(2)O) was also prepared and compared to the structure of the Cu(II) analogue, [{Cu(2)(bpyr)(H(2)O)(4)}Mo(5)O(15){O(3)P(CH(2))(3)PO(3)}].3H(2)O (5.3H(2)O). Magnetic susceptibility studies of the compounds revealed that the magnetic behavior was consistent in all cases with antiferromagnetically coupled dimers. However, the magnitude of the exchange coupling was clearly dependent on the orientation of the M(II) mean equatorial or basal planes relative to the bipyrimidine plane. Thus, when the metal and bipyrimidine planes are nearly coplanar, the J values are in the -77 to -87 cm(-1) range, while J values of -2 to -5 cm(-1) are observed for the compounds with out-of-plane orientations.
Pharmacology of Fibrinolysis

Fibrinolytic therapy has an expanding role in the treatment of many thromboembolic disorders. Four fibrinolytic drugs are currently marketed: streptokinase, anisoylated plasminogen-streptokinase activator complex, urokinase, and recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator. All 4 of these drugs activate the fibrinolytic system by converting plasminogen to the active enzyme, plasmin. Plasmin present in the confines of a thrombus degrades fibrin and dissolves the thrombus. Plasmin free in the circulation degrades fibrinogen and other coagulation factors. All 4 of the currently available fibrinolytic agents are capable of initiating thrombus dissolution and, at doses currently recommended, cause degradation of fibrinogen and predispose to bleeding complications. Differences in the mechanisms of plasminogen activation among the available agents provide a theoretical basis for postulating the superiority of one agent over another in clinical practice. However, the relative roles of these agents in treatment of thromboembolic disorders depend on the outcome of properly designed and executed clinical trials.
Antidote studies of vinorelbine-induced skin ulceration in the mouse

The new cantharanthine-modified vinca alkaloid vinorelbine (Navelbine) was administered intradermally (ID) to dehaired BALB/c mice. Dose-dependent skin lesions were produced over the range 0.01-0.5 mg/mouse, with complete healing after 9-35 days. Local (ID) injections of hydrocortisone and saline were ineffective at blocking vinorelbine-induced skin ulceration. Topical skin heating to 43 degrees C or cooling to 10 degrees C were also ineffective. In contrast, hyaluronidase, 15 Units ID, following vinorelbine significantly reduced skin lesions. These results show that vinorelbine is a vesicant and that inadvertent extravasations may be managed with subcutaneous injection of the spreading factor enzyme, hyaluronidase.
Instructional and Social Dimensions of Class Web Pages

THE REPORTED WORK is part of an ongoing qualitative study of faculty uses of the Internet at our institution. The goal of the present work is to categorize the functions of course Web sites from both researcher and faculty perspectives. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, we first analyzed the functions of 25 publicly accessible course Web sites. We then interviewed a subset of the sites’ authors. We found that all sites performed course management functions which were valued by instructors; that a small subset also demonstrated easily implemented, successful, and pedagogically interesting uses of the Web; and that pages in our sample conveyed implicit and explicit social information to students about the class and instructor through four primary channels. We describe these findings and discuss their implications for teaching practice and for further evaluation research.
Elevated Testosterone Levels During Rat Pregnancy Cause Hypersensitivity to Angiotensin II and Attenuation of Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Uterine Arteries

Elevated testosterone levels increase maternal blood pressure and decrease uterine blood flow in pregnancy, resulting in abnormal perinatal outcomes. We tested whether elevated testosterone alters uterine artery adaptations during pregnancy, and whether these alterations depend on endothelium-derived factors such as nitric oxide, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, and prostacyclin, or endothelium-independent mechanisms such as angiotensin II (Ang-II). Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with vehicle (n=20) or testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg per day from gestation day 15 to 19; n=20). Plasma testosterone levels increased 2-fold in testosterone-injected rats compared with controls. Elevated testosterone significantly decreased placental and pup weights compared with controls. In endothelium-intact uterine arteries, contractile responses to thromboxane, phenylephrine, and Ang-II were greater in testosterone-treated rats compared with controls. In endothelium-denuded arteries, contractile responses to Ang-II (pD2=9.1±0.04 versus 8.7±0.04 in controls; P<0.05), but not thromboxane and phenylephrine, were greater in testosterone-treated rats. Ang-II type 1b receptor expression was increased, whereas Ang-II type 2 receptor was decreased in testosterone-exposed arteries. In endothelium-denuded arteries, relaxations to sodium nitroprusside were unaffected. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was significantly lower in arteries from testosterone-treated dams (Emax=51.80±6.9% versus 91.98±1.4% in controls; P<0.05). The assessment of endothelial factors showed that nitric oxide-, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-, and prostacyclin-mediated relaxations were blunted in testosterone-treated dams. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase, small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel-3, and prostacyclin receptor expressions were significantly decreased in arteries from testosterone-treated dams. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, Ankrd37, and Egln were significantly increased in testosterone-exposed placentas. These results suggest that elevated maternal testosterone impairs uterine vascular function, which may lead to an increased vascular resistance and a decrease in uterine blood flow.
A technique for investigating the elimination and coarsening of model pore arrays

Model experiments for investigating the disappearance or coarsening of controlled-geometry intergranular pore arrays are described. Effects of pore size, shape, spatial distribution and spatial density can be evaluated. The potential for measuring lattice and grain boundary diffusivities and assessing the effects of interfacial reactions and dopants on kinetics are discussed.
Prevalence of urinary incontinence in female residents of american nursing homes and association with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is most common in older women. Methods: W e studied the prevalence of UI among female residents of nursing homes and the influence of associated neuropsychiatric problems on the rates of UI using the results of the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS). Results: Analysis shows that 37% of female nursing home residents are incontinent, especially those with dementia. Residents with depression or schizophrenia are also more likely to have UI whereas those with anxiety, paranoia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder have less UI rates. There are significant associations with neuropsychiatric disorders except for bipolar disease. Conclusions: We recommend prioritizing behavioral interventions and environmental manipulations for female residents with dementia, depression, and schizophrenia to increase the cost-effectiveness of UI management programs in nursing homes. doi:10.4021/jocmr2009.04.1232
Interactions of cellular glycosaminoglycans with plasma fibronectin and collagen.

Abstract The interactions of metabolically radiolabelled glycosaminoglycans, isolated from Swiss mouse 3T3 and SV3T3 cells, with plasma fibronectin and collagen were studied by affinity column chromatography in Hepes-buffered saline (150 mM NaCl in 10 mM Hepes buffer). Cell surface heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan bound to plasma fibronectin and to native calf skin collagen in the absence of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ with maximal binding at slightly acidic pH. Elution could be effected with elevated ionic strength. 3T3 and SV3T3 heparan sulfates coeluted when exposed to a salt concentration gradient. The core protein of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan did not bind to either fibronectin or collagen. Reference standard chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate had no effect upon heparan sulfate binding, whereas 90% of the heparan sulfate bound to fibronection or collagen was eluted with heparin and 60% removed from fibronectin with dermatan sulfate. Cell surface chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan bound only to collagen at acidic pH and no interaction was seen with fibronectin. Trypsin treatment of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan reduced the binding to collagen. Cell surface hyaluronic acid did not display any affinity for either fibronectin or collagen.
Survey of selected activities relevant to exposures to soils

In the summer and fall of 1996, a survey of randomly selected U.S. households was conducted by computer assisted telephone interview (CATI). The primary purpose of the survey, dubbed Soil Contact Survey (SCS-I), was quantification of behavioral patterns pertinent to dermal exposure to soil. Results of the survey and a follow-up (SCS-II) conducted in 1998 have been applied to estimation of a metric of dermal soil exposure termed the soil contact rate (SCR). Partial results have been presented elsewhere (Garlock et al., 1999; Wong et al., in press). The purpose of this paper is dissemination of selected data gathered in SCS-I that have not been formally incorporated in SCR estimation, but are of potential interest to exposure assessors. In SCS-I, respondents were questioned regarding multiple activities potentially relevant to evaluation of residential exposure to soil. Data presented here describe frequency of consumption of homegrown produce, frequency of shoe removal prior to residence entry, type of floor covering, indoor/outdoor pet ownership, occurrence of bare yard soil and residential proximity to vacant lots or fields. Ingestion of foods grown in home gardens is of concern because local soil contamination may lead to elevated exposures (USEPA, 1997a). Chemical contaminants in soil may be transferred to plant tissues by absorption or adsorption (McKone, 1994). Produce may also be a vehicle for ingestion of soil not washed from edible plant surfaces. A survey performed by the National Gardening Association reported that 34 million U.S. households (38 percent of the total) participated in vegetable gardening in 1986 (USEPA, 1997a). Tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, beans, carrots, and corn are the most commonly grown vegetables. EPA analysis of USDA Nationwide Food Consumption Survey
Efficacy of bifenthrin against pyrethroid-resistant and -susceptible populations of glasshouse whitefly in bioassays and using three spray application methods

Abstract Bioassays were performed using uniformly-sized drops to reflect exposure of pyrethroid-resistant and -susceptible populations of Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood to ultra-low-volume (ULV) spray deposits of bifenthrin. These assays provided good estimates of the optimum concentration of bifenthrin required to control each population when plots of whitefly-infested poinsettias were treated with ULV charged and uncharged sprays. In some assays the Ohio population was > 100 times more resistant to bifenthrin than the susceptible whitefly strain. Conventional high-volume (HV) spraying was as effective as both charged and uncharged ULV sprays against the resistant population, but none of the methods resulted in acceptable control at the maximum label rate. The charged spray was significantly more effective at controlling the susceptible strain than the other methods, causing 98% mortality at approximately one-half the minimum recommended rate. Although bifenthrin has been used on ornamentals in Ohio for only 2 years, there is already evidence that this pyrethroid is no longer effective against a local whitefly population. The bioassays and spray studies described here demonstrate that this lack of effect is attributable to resistance and not to poor application or ‘field failure’.
Holocene vegetation and fire reconstructions from the Aquarius Plateau, Utah, USA

Micropaleontological assemblages from two lakes located on the Aquarius Plateau in southern Utah were investigated to evaluate changes in vegetation, fire disturbance, and paleoclimate over the last 8600 years. This paper presents reconstructions of Holocene landscape conditions and wildfire dynamics in the subalpine zone of the Colorado Plateau. During the early Holocene, forests on the Aquarius Plateau were dominated by spruce and pine at upper elevations and mixed conifer forests at mid-elevation sites. Fire return intervals were the most frequent of the record, averaging 250 years between burning episodes. Proxy-based reconstructions of the middle Holocene suggest warmer climate conditions relative-to-present with variable moisture availability. During the middle Holocene, the forest zone on the Aquarius Plateau contracted where both lower and upper timberline retreated upslope and downslope, respectively. Fire frequency was similar to early Holocene though overall charcoal accumulations were reduced. In the late Holocene, forests in the subalpine zone became dominated by spruce, fir, and aspen while at mid-elevation forests dominated by Douglas fir, spruce, and pine established. The most striking result indicates that evidence of fire was essentially absent from the Aquarius Plateau during the late Holocene until the arrival of European settlers to the region c. 1850.
Quantitative morphological comparison of axon-targeting strategies for gene therapies directed to the nigro-striatal projection.

Quantitative morphological comparison of axon-targeting strategies for gene therapies directed to the nigro-striatal projection
The effect of adrenalectomy, surgical trauma, and ether anesthesia upon the capillary resistance of the albino rat.

CAPILLARY leakage associated with widespread vascular dilatation has long been considered as a typical change after adrenalectomy. The regular finding of hemoconcentration (Athanasiu and Gradinesco, 1909) and of increased protein in the lymph (Cope, Brenizer and Polderman, 1942), and furthermore the observation that spreading of intradermally injected India ink is augmented after adrenalectomy in the mouse (Opsahl, 1949), have been regarded as evidence for the increased capillary permeability. That adrenalectomy may affect the capillary resistance as well was shown recently by Eichholz, Staab and Taugner(1951). Studying the blood pressure and the capillary resistance of rats during the first twoweeks following adrenalectomy these authors found a decrease of the resistance from 76 to 46 cm. Hg as early as the third day. It is of interest that the change in the capillary resistance preceded the fall of the blood pressure by 1–2 days, and that both, hypotension and decreased resistance
Underworked and overpaid: Elevated entitlement in Men's self-pay

Abstract Women often show evidence of depressed entitlement by paying themselves less than men pay themselves for the same work. In two studies, we demonstrated that this occurs for difficult (i.e., self-threatening) but not for easy tasks. Both studies also provided evidence of mediation. Women's level of self-pay was largely mediated by how well they thought they performed a task. In contrast, men's level of self-pay was related to their global feelings of self-worth, not their perceived performance. In Study 2, men also overestimated the quality of their work relative to women. Finally, in Study 2 we assessed the hourly wages of participants who were currently employed. Regardless of gender, people employed in low-paying jobs showed evidence of depressed entitlement when working on a difficult task. Based on these findings, we suggest that depressed entitlement among women can be reinterpreted as elevated entitlement among men. Finally, we discuss proximal and distal causes of gender differences in self-pay.
High growth rate homoepitaxial diamond deposition on off-axis substrates

Abstract High rate homoepitaxial diamond growth by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) was studied. At a gas pressure of 200 mbar and a methane concentration of 10% a maximum growth rate of 30 μm/h was obtained. High pyramidal hillocks with pronounced step bunching on the side faces develop during growth on (001) oriented Ib substrate crystals. The peak of the pyramids is formed by non-epitaxial particles. Using (001) oriented crystals with a vicinal angle greater than the typical inclination angle of the pyramids' side faces is an efficient strategy to suppress the non-epitaxial crystals completely. The characteristic morphological changes on the surface can be explained by the dynamics of nucleation of new lattice planes and their consumption. Homoepitaxial layers with a thickness of up to 1.3 mm were successfully grown in this way. After removal of the nitrogen containing Ib substrate one sample showed a full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.0043° in high resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) measurements. Most of them were in the range between 0.01° and 0.03°. In Raman spectra, the measured diamond line was extraordinarily narrow with a typical FWHM of about 1.63 cm−1. In addition, the low luminescence background in photoluminescence (PL) spectra excited with the 488 nm line of an Ar+ ion laser proved the excellent quality of the samples.
Suppression of gastric acid secretion by intracisternal bombesin does not require the ventromedial hypothalamus

Abstract Intracisternal administration of the tetradecapeptide peptide bombes in suppresses gastric acid release. Other studies have shown that the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) may have an inhibitory role in gastric regulation. To determine if the inhibition of gastric acid secretion by intracisternally administered bombes in is mediated by the ventromedial hypothalamus, bombes in was injected intracisternally in rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions. Neither anterior nor posterior VMH lesions altered the effects of bombesin on gastric acid, concentration, volume, total output, or on serum gastrin. The bombesin-induced rise in gastric pH was very mildly attenuated by both lesions. The previous finding of enhanced gastric acid secretion after anterior VMH lesions was confirmed. The results suggest that the VMH is not crucial in the bombesin-induced inhibition of acid secretion.
Immunochemistry of some artificial human hemoglobins.

Abstract The preparation of globin complexes with zinc metaloporphyrin, protoporphyrin IX and ferriheme dipyrid-4-ylpropyl ester is described and their physicochemical properties investigated. Reconstitution of hemoglobin from globin and resynthesized heme (i.e. from ferric iron and protoporphyrin IX) gave a preparation having conformational parameters and immunochemical behavior identical with those of the native protein. Hemoglobin derivative prepared with protoporphyrin IX showed a great increase in the Stokes radius which was accompanied by an enhancement of the antigenic reactivity of the derivative (relative to native hemoglobin). Similar increase in antigenic reactivity was obtained with hemoglobin containing heme dipyrid-4-ylpropyl ester, altough only relative slight changes in conformational paramaters were observed. The Stokes radius of the hemoglobin derivative prepared with zinc metalloporphyrin was greatly increased and reacted poorly with antisera to hemoglobin.
Aspects of gay male couples' sexual agreements vary by their relationship length

Few HIV-preventing interventions exist for gay male couples in the USA, yet estimates indicate that between one- and two-thirds of US men who have sex with men acquire HIV while in a primary relationship (e.g., gay male couples). In response to these statistics, research has been conducted to better understand gay male couples' relationships, including their sexual agreements. Many gay male couples in the USA establish a sexual agreement, which is an explicit mutual understanding between two main partners about what sexual and other behaviors they agree to engage in and with whom while in the relationship. Although some research about sexual agreements has been conducted, little is known on whether aspects of gay male couples' sexual agreements (e.g., establishment, type, and adherence) vary as a function of their relationship length. The present study aimed to fulfill this gap of knowledge, which may lead to a better understanding of how agreements can be used for developing HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention interventions. A national, cross-sectional, Internet-based study was used to collect dyadic data from 361 US gay male couples. Men in each couple completed the questionnaire independently. All analyses were employed at the couple level. Our findings showed that the longer the couples had been in their relationship, the more likely they would concur about having a sexual agreement. As relationship length increased, the proportion of couples who disagreed about their current agreement type increased. No direct trend was found for recent adherence to an agreement; however, the likelihood of ever breaking an agreement increased as relationship length increased. Findings from this study indicate there is a need to help gay male couples' establish and maintain their agreements, particularly for those who are in their early formative stages, as well as, for those who are experiencing challenges and/or changes in their relationships.
A comparison of clinical electrophysiologic studies in different institutions.

Abstract Although electrophysiologic studies have been used to evaluate tachyeardia and AV conduction for over 10 years, there are no data comparing measurements obtained on the same patient studied in two inatitutions. We compared the records of 27 patients who underwent electrophysiologic studies at two different institutions and one patient studied twice in the same institution by two different investigators. We sought to determine if basic intervals, observed tachycardia, and diagnoses were comparable. We found no significant difference between the reported sinus cycle length, atrial-His interval, and His-ventricular interval when the patients were evaluated as a group. However, there were important measurement differences between the two studies in individual patients. The cycle length of induced tachycardias having similar QRS morphology and AV relation was also similar for the group, but individual patients again demonstrated important differences between the two studies. The diagnosis of the tachycardia varied in four patients. This report suggests that intracardiac recordings and the diagnosis of observed tachycardias are comparable among institutions studying the same patient when the group results are compared. However, individual patients demonstrate important measurement differences between the two institutions.
Studies on the total synthesis of rifamycin. A method for the stereospecific synthesis of the carbonyl-conjugated 1,3-diene unit [C(15) to C(20)]

Abstract A new sterespecific process has been devised for the conversion of an aldehyde to a 5-substituted-2-methyl-2 Z , 4 E -pentadienoic acid. This methodology is relevant to the construction of the ansa bridge of the rifamycins.
Persistent hypoglossal artery: An anomaly leading to false-positive carotid duplex sonography

Duplex ultrasonography is becoming increasingly popular as the sole diagnostic test in the evaluation of carotid artery bifurcation disease. We present a patient with a persistent hypoglossal artery, a rare primitive internal carotid-basilar anastomosis, masquerading as an internal carotid artery stenosis on ultrasound. The operative management of this anomaly is reviewed.
Creating A Reform Environment: A Case Study In Community Corrections And Coalition Building

This article focuses on the environment of a criminal justice reform. Specifically, it examines the creation of an organizational climate. Such a climate precedes the actual implementation of a policy, and results from the coalitions formed during the phase of policy creation. Casper and Brereton (1984) state that original coalition structures must be examined to understand the process of reform implementation. This article therefore presents a descriptive case study of the conceptualization, context, and coalition building that preceded the implementation of a community corrections act. The article describes the odyssey of community corrections in Missouri, from its initial introduction into the state by a group of reformers, through its passage by the state legislature, to the beginning of its implementation. To aid in understanding these processes, a perspective from organizational theory is adopted.
The Friedman Rule and the Zero Lower Bound

We explain why central banks rarely implement the Friedman rule by studying the properties of a simple New Keynesian dynamic macroeconomic model that is generalized to incorporate the zero lower bound on nominal interest rates. We show that two long-run equilibria exist, one stable and the other unstable, and we characterize the conditions under which the economy plunges into a deflation-induced depression following a contractionary demand shock. As long as the sum of the inflation rate and the natural real interest rate stays positive, the economy converges back to the long-run stable equilibrium, even when the zero lower bound is initially binding. On the other hand, a deflationary spiral starts when the sum of the inflation rate and the natural rate of interest becomes negative. The Friedman rule, which calls for a small dose of anticipated deflation, takes the sum of the inflation rate and the natural real interest rate uncomfortably close to zero and thereby raises the probability of the economy plunging into a depression. Our theoretical results also shed light onto the different correlation values between inflation and economic growth in the data.
Legacies and Diversity: Postgathering Reflections on Minnowbrook III

(2009). Legacies and Diversity: Postgathering Reflections on Minnowbrook III. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 112-115.
Islanding feasibility considering reactive power in the subtransmission systems

Nowadays, the penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in electrical networks is growing significantly. In spite of many problems it introduces, the connection of RES in the subtransmission systems also gives the opportunity of exploiting them for the benefit of the network. In this paper, this is done for islanding conditions and a Genetic Algorithm (GA) based procedure to make a stable islanded operation is proposed. The results are evaluated successfully by tests carried out on a real system.
Production and pelagic dissolution of biogenic silica in the Southern Ocean

Vertical distributions of particulate silica, and of production and dissolution rates of biogenic silica, were determined on two N-S transects across the Pacific sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current during the austral spring of 1978. Particulate silica profiles showed elevated levels in surface water and near the bottom, with low (35–110 nmol Si · 1−1) and vertically uniform values through the intervening water column. Both the particulate silica content of the upper 200 m and the production rate of biogenic silica in the photic zone increased from north to south, reaching their highest values near the edge of the receding pack ice. A significant, but variable, fraction (18–58%) of the biogenic silica produced in the surface layer was redissolving in the upper 90–98 m. Net production of biogenic silica in the surface layer (production minus dissolution) was proceeding at a mean rate of ca. 2 mmol Si · m−2 · day−1. This is ca. 4 times greater than the most recent estimate of the mean accumulation rate of siliceous sediments beneath the ACC. We estimate, based on mass balance, that the mean dissolution rate of biogenic silica in subsurface water column in the Southern Ocean is 1.2–2.9 mmol Si · m−2 · day−1.
Cardiovascular Comorbidities of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Defining the Potential of Glucagonlike peptide–1-Based Therapies

The global epidemic of diabetes mellitus (~95% type 2 diabetes) has been fueled by a parallel increase in obesity and overweight. Together, these metabolic disease epidemics have contributed to the increasing incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease. The accumulation of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes--risk factors that may exacerbate one another--complicates treatment. Inadequate treatment, treatment that fails to achieve goals, increases the risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. From a clinical perspective, type 2 diabetes is a cardiovascular disease, an observation that is supported by a range of epidemiologic, postmortem, and cardiovascular imaging studies. Vascular wall dysfunction, and particularly endothelial dysfunction, has been posited as a "common soil" linking dysglycemic and cardiovascular diseases. Vascular wall dysfunction promoted by environmental triggers (e.g., sedentary lifestyle) and metabolic triggers (chronic hyperglycemia, obesity) has been associated with the upregulation of reactive oxygen species and chronic inflammatory and hypercoagulable states, and as such with the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP)-1, an incretin hormone, and synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonists represent promising new areas of research and therapeutics in the struggle not only against type 2 diabetes but also against the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes. In a number of small trials in humans, as well as in preclinical and in vitro studies, both native GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor agonists have demonstrated positive effects on a range of cardiovascular disease pathologies and clinical targets, including such markers of vascular inflammation as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and brain natriuretic peptide. Reductions in markers of dyslipidemia such as elevated levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids have also been observed, as have cardioprotective functions. Larger trials of longer duration will be required to confirm preliminary findings. In large human trials, GLP-1 receptor agonists have been associated with significant reductions in both blood pressure and weight.
Reaction 13C(n,p)13B at 118 MeV.

Cross sections at six angles between 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 19\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the center-of-mass system have been measured for the ground-state transition in the reaction $^{13}\mathrm{C}$(n,p${)}^{13}$B at ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{n}}$=118 MeV. The 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} cross section gives a value of 186\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}25 MeV ${\mathrm{fm}}^{3}$ for the volume integral of the spin-isospin component of the central part of the effective N-N interaction. The theoretical value is 161 MeV ${\mathrm{fm}}^{3}$ at 100 MeV. A distorted-wave impulse-approximation calculation for the angular distribution of the ground-state transition, (1/${2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$,1/2) to (3/${2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$,3/2), compares well with the measurement. The 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} measurement is compared with other (n,p) and (p,n) measurements on $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, and $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ to test the universal proportionality of these cross sections to the inverse \ensuremath{\beta} decay. A falloff in the proportionality constant in going to low energy is confirmed. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Reaching for Mechanistic Consensus Across Life Kingdoms: Structure and Insights into Catalysis of the myo-Inositol-1-phosphate Synthase (mIPS) from Archaeoglobus fulgidus

myo-Inositol-1-phosphate synthase (mIPS) catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of L-myo- inositol-1-phosphate. We have solved and refined the structure of the mIPS from the hyperthermophilic sulfate reducer Archaeoglobus fulgidusat 1.9 A resolution. The enzyme crystallized from poly(ethylene glycol) in the P1 space group with one tetramer in the asymmetric unit and provided a view of the entire biologically active oligomer. Despite significant changes in sequence length and amino acid composition, the general architecture of the archaeal enzyme is similar to that of the eukaryotic mIPS from Saccharomyces cereVisiae and bacterial mIPS from Mycobacterium tuberculosis . The enhanced thermostability of the archaeal enzyme as compared to that from yeast is consistent with deletion of a number of surface loops that results in a significantly smaller protein. In the structure of the A. fulgidus mIPS, the active sites of all four subunits were fully ordered and contained NAD + and inorganic phosphate. The structure also contained a single metal ion (identified as K + ) in two of the four subunits. The analysis of the electrostatic potential maps of the protein suggested the presence of a second metal-ion-binding site in close proximity to the first metal ion and NAD + . The modeling of the substrate and known inhibitors suggests a critical role for the second metal ion in catalysis and provides insights into the common elements of the catalytic cycle in enzymes from different life kingdoms.
Concluding Remarks: American Natural History and Biology in the Nineteenth Century

SYNOPSIS. This symposium has illustrated the important role that amateur naturalists played in preparing the groundwork for professional science in the west. Like their eastern counterparts, these naturalists popularized science to the public, created impressive collections of natural history artifacts, formed a network of fellow enthusiasts, and initiated the establishment of organizations and publications to further their interests. This heritage was critical to the development of the professional biology community in America and must be emphasized in the history of American biology in order to understand the unique development of the biology community in the United States.
Exploration for hemorrhage following laparoscopic renal surgery: intraoperative findings.

Purpose: Bleeding after surgery is a rare but potentially life threatening complication. We reviewed operative and postoperative clinical features in patients who required surgical exploration secondary to hemorrhage following laparoscopic renal procedures.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients undergoing laparoscopic renal surgery between January 1996 and September 2004. Nine of 1,123 patients (0.8%) underwent early exploration for bleeding within 5 days of surgery.Results: Two groups were identified. Group 1 consisted of 4 patients who underwent early exploration at less than 10 hours after surgery and had arterial bleeding. Group 2 consisted of 5 patients who underwent exploration a mean 38 hours after surgery and in whom no bleeding source was identified. Group 1 patients had pronounced hypotension with systolic blood pressure 70 to 79 mm Hg and hematocrit decreases (mean 10.5%) in a short time course before repeat exploration (mean 4.5 hours). Arterial bleeding was...
Experimental manipulation of head posture

Variations in natural head position have been noted by previous workers to be associated with both dentoalveolar and craniofacial skeletal morphologic features. The determinants of cranial posture are as yet not known. Three experiments are described, dealing with the influence of (1) total nasal obstruction, (2) visual feedback deprivation, and (3) a combination of (1) and (2) on the posture of the cranium measured relative to a gravity-defined true vertical reference plane. The results indicate that total nasal obstruction results in all cases in an extended head position. Visual deprivation produces adaptation of a smaller magnitude and unpredictable direction. Combination of both experimentally induced conditions indicates a dominance of the respiratory adaptation in terms of postural response to these stimuli.
Quantification of petroleum-type hydrocarbons in avian tissue

Abstract Methods were developed for the analysis of 16 hydrocarbons in avian tissue. Mechanical extraction with pentane was followed by clean-up on Florisil and Silicar. Residues were determined by gas—liquid chromatography and gas—liquid, chromatography—mass spectrometry. The method was applied to the analysis of liver, kidney, fat, and brain tissue of mallard ducks ( Anas platyrhynchos ) fed a mixture of hydrocarbons. Measurable concentrations of all compounds analyzed were present in all tissues except brain. Highest concentrations were in fat.
Effect of 1-butanol on the surface structure of ionic micelles and location of its solubilization site: Electron spin echo modulation study with x-doxylstearic acid spin probes

Abstract Electron spin echo modulation studies with a series of x-doxylstearic acids (x = 5, 7, 10, 12, and 16) have been carried out for sodium- and tetramethylammonium dodecylsulfate and dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride frozen micellar solutions containing protiated and perdeuterated 1-butanol. Modulation effects due to nitroxide interactions with deuterium in water and butanol have been measured versus doxyl group position. The effect of 1-butanol on the micellar surface and internal micellar structure has been evaluated and the average location of 1-butanol in these micelles has been deduced to be in the outer annulus of the micelle core.
Experimental Studies on the Current-Carrying Capacity of Niobium-Zirconium Wires under Conditions of Fixed and Swept Magnetic Field

Experimental studies have been carried out with the object of obtaining information on the difference between the current-carrying capacity of short lengths of NbZr wire in a magnetic field and the current-carrying capacity of long lengths of NbZr wire In coils, and of obtaining Information on coil design. Specimens of NbZr wire, which have either been copper-coated, thermally insulated, or left with no coating have been tested for current-carrying capacity in the superconducting state under conditions of fixed and swept magnetic field.
Observations of four-wave mixing processes in barium vapour

Abstract Emission at fifty discrete wavelengths is observed when Ba I is excited by two laser beams, a dye laser tuned to the λ 7911 A intercombination line, 6s21S0-6s6p 3P1 and a ruby laser. The wavelengths range from 2312 A to 8027 A. Most of the emission lines can be attributed to four-wave mixing processes in barium.
The Use of X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy for Detection of Metal-Metal Interactions. Application to Copper-Containing Enzymes

Abstract The use of the extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) technique for the identification of metal-metal distances in biomacromolecules is discussed. The Cu EXAFS data for a number of structurally characterized copper-containing bi-nuclear complexes are analyzed to determine the viability of detecting a Cu[sbnd]M (M=Cu, Fe) scattering interaction at ∼3 A in the presence of Cu[sbnd]C interactions at approximately the same distance (deriving from the outer-shell atoms of heterocyclic ligands). The techniques developed are then applied to the oxidized and reduced forms of the copper-containing enzyme dopamine β-hydroxylase. Although in principle the EXAFS technique has the ability to distinguish C from M scatterers, based on differences in the backscattering amplitude and phase, in the absence of a priori knowledge of the distribution of C atoms about the Cu site, often no unambiguous determination of the presence or absence of a Cu[sbnd]M interaction can be made. It is suggested that caution...
Optimal Decisions from Probabilistic Models: The Intersection-over-Union Case

A probabilistic model allows us to reason about the world and make statistically optimal decisions using Bayesian decision theory. However, in practice the intractability of the decision problem forces us to adopt simplistic loss functions such as the 0/1 loss or Hamming loss and as result we make poor decisions through MAP estimates or through low-order marginal statistics. In this work we investigate optimal decision making for more realistic loss functions. Specifically we consider the popular intersection-over-union (IoU) score used in image segmentation benchmarks and show that it results in a hard combinatorial decision problem. To make this problem tractable we propose a statistical approximation to the objective function, as well as an approximate algorithm based on parametric linear programming. We apply the algorithm on three benchmark datasets and obtain improved intersection-over-union scores compared to maximum-posterior-marginal decisions. Our work points out the difficulties of using realistic loss functions with probabilistic computer vision models.
Cyclosporine affects central nervous system opioid activity via direct and indirect means

It is demonstrated that cyclosporine (CsA), a novel fungal-derived immunosuppressive agent, attenuates naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in an unusual dose-dependent manner following direct intracerebroventricular (icv) administration. However, comparison and contrast of this effect of CsA following icv versus ip administration demonstrates that although CsA does alter the severity of withdrawal by a direct effect within the CNS, the agent is most effective when given systemically. It is also demonstrated that CsA alters the electrophysiologic properties of discrete brain nuclei both when given alone and when given concomitant with morphine and naloxone.
Epidermal growth factor selectively enhances functional enterocyte adaptation after massive small bowel resection

After massive small bowel resection, the intestine adapts to compensate. In addition to proliferation, enterocytes also undergo selective functional adaptation. In this study we examined the effect of intraperitoneal administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the expression of the brush border dissacharidase sucrase, the sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT1), and the sodium-potassium ATPase pump (NaK ATPase) by enterocytes in the remnant intestine after massive small bowel resection. Adult Lewis rats underwent either ileal transection or 70% proximal intestinal resection. These animals were subdivided into groups that received either saline or EGF intraperitoneally for 1 week. Ilea from each group were harvested 4 weeks postoperatively. Enterocytes were separated from these segments by calcium chelation. The total protein from the isolated cells was subjected to Western blot analysis. Administration of EGF to animals that underwent transection did not significantly alter the expression of sucrase, SGLT1, or NaK ATPase. After intestinal resection, the expressions of sucrase and SGLT1 were significantly increased. The combination of EGF administration and intestinal resection resulted in a further increase in SGLT1 expression. The intraperitoneal administration of EGF selectively enhanced the expression of SGLT1 by enterocytes after massive small bowel resection. Administration of EGF to sham-operated animals did not have similar effects. These results suggest that EGF augments the adaptive response and may therefore have a therapeutic role in the management of patients with short bowel syndrome.
Tropical-Extratropical Geopotential Height Teleconnections during the Northern Hemisphere Winter

Abstract Simultaneous and lagged correlation statistics have been calculated between time series of seasonal height anomalies at selected stations and extratropical grid-point anomalies in both hemispheres. The tropical stations in two major tropical precipitation zones, the Indo-China maritime continent and Africa, are well correlated with each other. These stations are also correlated with stations in the North Pacific and Australia, but the coefficients are smaller. The correlations between height anomalies at any of these stations and Northern Hemisphere height anomalies show a well-defined global pattern. Depending upon the location of the stations, the pattern is either a Pacific North American (PNA), a Tropical Northern Hemisphere (TNH) pattern or a mixed pattern having both elements. All three patterns, PNA, TNH and WPO (Western Pacific Oscillation), have been linked to tropical variations. The correlations between height anomalies at these well-correlated stations and the Southern Hemisphere heig...
Study of Molecular Trapping Inside Gold Nanofinger Arrays on Surface-Enhanced Raman Substrates

The binding of trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)-ethylene (BPE) molecules on substrates arrayed with flexible gold nanofingers has been studied by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS). On the basis of the SERS and XPS results, BPE molecules are found to interact with the gold nanofingers through the lone pair electrons of pyridyl nitrogens, not through delocalized π electrons. Furthermore, after comparing the AR-XPS spectra of finger arrays preclosed before exposure to BPE with the spectra of arrays that closed after exposure to BPE, we observed in the latter case, at grazing takeoff angles, an increase in the component of the nitrogen photoelectron peak associated with pyridyl nitrogen atoms residing on bridging sites. These results demonstrate that a small percentage of BPE molecules was trapped between the neighboring gold finger tips during the finger closing process. However, because these trapped BPE molecules coincidently resided in the hot ...
Compressive sensing: To compress or not to compress

In this paper, we consider the compressive sensing scheme from the information theory point of view and derive the lower bound of the probability of error for CS when length N of the information vector is large. The result has been shown that, for an i.i.d. Gaussian distributed signal vector with unit variance, if the measurement matrix is chosen such that the ratio of the minimum and maximum eigenvalues of the covariance matrices is greater or equal to 4 over M over K + 1, then the probability of error is lower bounded by a non-positive value; which implies that the information can be perfectly recovered from the CS scheme. On the other hand, if the measurement matrix is chosen such that the minimum and maximum eigenvalues of the covariance matrices are equal, then the error is certain and the perfect recovery can never be achieved.