cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Language policy and the foundations of democracy: an African perspective

Since 1990 the political landscape in Africa has been undergoing sorne change as autocratic regimes have increasingly come under pressure from the popular momentum for political pluralism. The question that concerns us in this essay is whether language can, in fact, be planned to help in preempting a reversal to an autocratic political order and in guiding Africa in its path toward democracy. Do certain language choices have greater Potential than others inpromoting a democratic tradition? Democracy itself can be seen as bullt on four interrelated foundations: systemic, material, social, and cultural. A discussion ofthe nature ofeach of these foundations leads us to the conclusion that, ultimately, democracy would develop on a firmer base if African nations pursued language policies that reduced dependency on Western languages and sought to consolidate the use and develop· ment of some oftheir local languages of wider communication.
A β2 Adrenergic Receptor Signaling Complex Assembled with the Ca2+ Channel Cav1.2

The existence of a large number of receptors coupled to heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) raises the question of how a particular receptor selectively regulates specific targets. We provide insight into this question by identifying a prototypical macromolecular signaling complex. The β2adrenergic receptor was found to be directly associated with one of its ultimate effectors, the class C L-type calcium channel Cav1.2. This complex also contained a G protein, an adenylyl cyclase, cyclic adenosine monophosphate–dependent protein kinase, and the counterbalancing phosphatase PP2A. Our electrophysiological recordings from hippocampal neurons demonstrate highly localized signal transduction from the receptor to the channel. The assembly of this signaling complex provides a mechanism that ensures specific and rapid signaling by a G protein–coupled receptor.
Laser Fabrication of Sharp Conical Microstructures on Si Thin Films by Nd:YAG Laser Single Pulse Irradiation

Conical microstructures with nanoscale sharpness form on silicon films as a result of single-pulse, localized UV irradiation using a solid-state, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Projection imaging of pinhole apertures was employed to obtain micron-sized irradiation spots on the surface of silicon-on-insulator samples. The formation of these structures requires melting of the silicon film and was followed at different laser fluence levels and irradiation spot sizes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the structures. After fabricating small arrays of such micro-cones, the silicon top layer was selectively etched away in order to understand the role of the underlying silicon oxide. AFM images of such etched samples revealed that the topography of the oxide material below the cones had been significantly modified: bumps with heights that represent a significant fraction of the original Si cone height have formed. This suggests that substrate melting plays an important role in the mechanism of formation of the silicon cones.
Acetylene spectra with a tunable diode laser: (ν4 + ν5)0+−ν41f Q branches of 12C2H2 and 12C13CH2

Abstract The rotational structure of the Q branches of the ( ν 4 + ν 5 ) 0+ − ν 4 1 f bands of 12 C 2 H 2 and 12 C 13 CH 2 at 13.7 μm has been observed in a natural sample of acetylene by using a tunable diode laser as a source in a high-resolution infrared grating spectrometer equipped with a precision grating drive. Altogether 23 lines from J = 6 to 28 for 12 C 2 H 2 and 15 lines from J = 6 to 20 for 12 C 13 CH 2 have been identified. The observed full width at half maximum of the resolved lines of these Q branches is very close to the calculated Doppler width. Molecular constants ν 0 + B ″, B ′ − B ″ − 2 D ″, D ′ − D ″, and H ′ − H ″ have been derived from the measured line positions of the rotational structure.
Comparison of the intraretinal b-wave and d.c. component in the area centralis of cat retina

Abstract The local electroretinogram (LERG) was recorded with microelectrodes from the area centralis of cat retina. Evidence is presented that supports the separation of the d.c. component and b -wave based upon differences in their sensitivity to qualities of the stimulus. The d.c. component occurred at a lower threshold, survived light adaptation, and summated within a smaller retinal area when compared to the b -wave. Vitreal injections of xylocaine hydrochloride (2 per cent), near the microelectrode tip, differentially affected the b -wave and d.c. component. It is suggested that the d.c. component probably originates in bipolar cells and that the b -wave requires the excitation of a more widely convergent input, to the same or different bipolar cells.
Population Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Effects of Development on the Elderly

This paper describes the demographic trends in the elderly population in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1960 to 2020 using United Nations data and projections. The largest increases in the number of elderly in the 1980 to 2000 period will occur in South Asia and Africa. Each area is expected to increase approximately 87% in the number of persons aged 60 and over. During this period, Sub-Saharan Africa's elderly population will increase 82%, and is expected to increase 93% between 2000 and 2020, surpassing the total population increase during the latter period. Following the four perspectives Treas and Logue (1986) identified that may influence development policies and programs in developing countries, the Sub-Saharan African situation was analyzed in regard to social security, pension schemes, government policy, and institutional changes in the economy, education, health, and the family. Implications are discussed.
Viewpoint: My sons and me and ABC costing

Activity‐based costing (ABC) has received considerable attention in recent years. In fact, some have portrayed it as a cure‐all for all kinds of problems. Presents a father‐son debate on this issue (the father as the consultant and the son as the entrepreneur). Argues that ABC may not apply in many situations, and that common costs remain common, no matter how meticulously we attribute them to certain cost drivers for allocation purposes. Furthermore, if considerable facility and capacity costs remain unidentifiable with individual cost objects, the problem of not knowing the true product cost remains unresolved. The non‐accountant son wins most of the arguments in this real debate. Laments our getting on someone’s bandwagon too quickly in confirming or rejecting a concept or an approach to doing things. Aims to shed some light on this interesting issue.
Paradoxical role of programmed death‐1 ligand 2 in Th2 immune responses in vitro and in a mouse asthma model in vivo

Programmed death-1 ligand 2 (PD-L2) is a ligand for programmed death-1 (PD-1), a receptor that plays an inhibitory role in T cell activation. Since previous studies have shown up-regulation of PD-L2 expression by Th2 cytokines, and asthma is driven by a Th2 response, we hypothesized that PD-L2 might be involved in regulation of the immune response in this disease. We have found that lungs from asthmatic mice had sustained up-regulation of PD-1 and PD-L2, with PD-L2 primarily on dendritic cells. Although addition of PD-L2-Fc in vitro led to decreased T cell proliferation and cytokine production, administration of PD-L2-Fc in vivo in a mouse asthma model resulted in elevated serum IgE levels, increased eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, higher number of cells in the draining lymph nodes, and production of IL-5 and IL-13 from these cells. Although PD-1 was expressed on regulatory T cells, PD-L2-Fc did not affect regulatory T cell activity in vitro. This study provides in vivo evidence of an exacerbated inflammatory response following PD-L2-Fc administration and indicates a potential role for this molecule in Th2-mediated diseases such as asthma.
Minisci reactions: Versatile CH-functionalizations for medicinal chemists

The addition of a radical to a heteroaromatic base is commonly referred to as a Minsici reaction. Such reactions constitute a broad-set of selective CH-functionalization processes. This review describes some of the major applications of Minisci reactions and related processes to medicinal or biological chemistry, and highlights some potential developments within this area.
Diesel particulate extracts in bacterial test systems

Abstract The Ames bacterial mutagenicity test system was used to evaluate parameters which may affect the mutagenic activity of diesel particulate extracts. The optimal extraction conditions, extractability of mutagens by simulated biological fluids and the effect of collection method were investigated. The role of solvent was examined by extracting diesel particles with methanol, acetone, cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, n -hexane, dichloromethane, benzene and a benzene-ethanol mixture. Of these, the dichloromethane extract exhibited the highest activity in the Ames test, although methanol yielded the largest extractable mass. Diesel particles were also extracted by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and four other simulated biological fluids for 48 h at 25, 37, and 45°C to study the effects of temperature. The mutagenic activity of the DMSO extract began to decline at temperatures higher than 37°C after 8 h of incubation. Fetal calf serum was the only simulated biological fluid which eluted mutagenic activity from the particles. No activity was detected in the 0.5% bovine serum albumin, simulated lung surfactant and saline extracts. Diesel particles collected by electrostatic precipitation (ESP) and filtration were studied. The mutagenic activities of both extracts were comparable when expressed as revertants per mg of particle. After the extracts were separated into nine fractions by a solvent partitioning scheme, the majority of the activity was found in the neutral-nonpolar II, neutral polar, strong acid and weak acid fractions. The acid salt fraction from the ESP sample was inactive. These results demonstrate that differences in the extraction conditions can result in differences in the mutagenic activity of diesel particulate extract. Since the mutagens in the extracts are not readily extractable by simulated biological fluids, the question of bioavailability of mutagens in diesel particles must be considered in the final assessment of their potential effects in biological systems and organisms.
Localization of the replicase recognition site within brome mosaic virus RNA by hybrid-arrested RNA synthesis.

3′ terminal fragments of BMV RNA as short as 153 bases in length serve as efficient templates in vitro for BMV-specific RNA polymerase. Template activity of such fragments or of native BMV RNA is abolished when cDNA fragments as short as 39 bases are hybridized to their 3′ termini. Hybridization of cDNa fragments to regions of BMV RNA 200 or more bases distal to the 3′ end has no discernible effect on initiation and little effect on elongation. We conclude that BMV RNA polymerase initiates binding with an RNA template through a mechanism mediated by the tRNA-like 3′ end of BMV RNA, requiring at least some of the last 39, but no more than the last 153 bases.
Spatial Hearing in Children with Visual Disabilities

A study is reported of the effect of early visual experience on the development of auditory space perception. The spatial hearing of thirty-five children with visual disabilities (twenty-two with congenital total blindness) was compared with that of eighteen sighted children and seventeen sighted adults. The tests provided a comprehensive assessment of spatial-hearing ability, including psychophysical estimates of spatial resolution in the horizontal, vertical, and distance dimensions, as well as measures of reaching and walking to the locations of sound sources. The spatial hearing of the children with visual disabilities was comparable to or some-what better than that of the sighted children and adults. This pattern held even when the group with visual disabilities was restricted to those children with congenital total blindness; in fact, some of those children had exceptionally good spatial hearing. These findings imply that the developmental calibration of human spatial hearing is not dependent on a h...
Changes in the protein profile of Streptomyces griseus during a cycloheximide fermentation.

The production of the antifungal agent cycloheximide by Streptomyces griseus is typical of many antibiotic fermentations. In the initial stage of the fermentation, cell growth is extensive, while little antibiotic is produced. After roughly 24 hours, the biomass concentration remains relatively constant and accumulation of product in the fermentation broth begins. It has been shown that production of cycloheximide is feedback regulated and that extracellular cycloheximide is degraded.' One approach to alleviating the problems of feedback regulation and product degradation is to continuously remove the product from the fermentation broth. In the case of cycloheximide, both the rate of production and the total amount of cycloheximide produced are dramatically increased when the antibiotic is adsorbed from the fermentation broth using neutral polymeric resin (FIGURE I).' In order to gain insight into the types of metabolic changes that occur with continuous product extraction, this study will focus on elucidating the mechanism of feedback regulation in this system. In the first part of this work, a computer model of the fermentation will be used to examine the effects of different modes of feedback regulation. In the second portion, Two-Dimensional Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis will be used to directly examine the amount and type of cellular proteins as a function of time.
Michelson interferometer-based interleaver design algorithm based on IIR filter model

The Michelson interferometer based interleaver has been widely used in dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) systems. It possesses advantages such as compact size, low material costs, etc. However, the Michelson interferometer based interleaver can not be designed as a constant group delay filter due to its infinite impulse response filter nature. In this article, a Michelson interferometer design algorithm based on all-pass filter phase approximation is proposed. It is demonstrated that, with the proposed algorithm, it is straightforward to design an interleaver with respect to different requirements such as bandwidth utilization, isolation, etc. More importantly, it is also demonstrated that, with the proposed algorithm, the group delay variation of the Michelson interferometer based interleaver can be minimized while given magnitude spectrum specifications are satisfied.
Effect of Sodium Pyruvate on the Rate of Metabolism of Ethyl Alcohol.

ConclusionsStudies on 6 dogs show that the administration of sodium pyruvate by stomach tube or intravenously has no influence on the rate of metabolism of ethyl alcohol.
Assessing normal and abnormal personality functioning: strengths and weaknesses of self-report, observer, and performance-based methods

Assessing personality characteristics; distinguishing the boundaries between normal and abnormal functioning; identifying impairment in the domains of work, interpersonal relationships, and emotional state due to maladaptive personality traits; and translating these findings into effective, appropriate treatment interventions is a complicated endeavor. Valid, reliable conclusions about an individual's personality functioning and adjustment cannot be reached unless one has accurate information about that person's patterns of behavior, cognitions, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. I discuss strengths and weaknesses of assessment approaches utilizing explicit assessment methods, such as self-report measures and clinical interviews; information obtained from knowledgeable observers; and performance-based, implicit assessment methods such as the Rorschach Comprehensive System (Exner, 2003). In contrast to explicit methods of assessment, implicit methods can provide salient information about a personality construct whether or not individuals have accurately conceptualized that construct, have weighed how the construct describes them, are self-aware, and are willing to openly provide information relevant to that construct. I propose that the accuracy of conclusions about an individual's personality style, problems in adjustment, and treatment needs may be improved if conclusion are based on a multimethod assessment approach that incorporates information gathered using explicit assessment methods, information provided by significant others, and data from performance-based or implicit measures of personality.
Kinetic evidence for different mechanisms of acetylcholinesterase inhibition by (1R)- and (1S)-stereoisomers of isomalathion.

Abstract Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by isomalathion has been assumed to proceed by expulsion of diethyl thiosuccinyl to produce O,S -dimethyl phosphorylated AChE. If this assumption is correct, AChE inhibited by (1 R )- or (1 S )-isomalathions should reactivate at the same rate as AChE inhibited by configurationally equivalent ( S )- or ( R )-isoparathion methyl, respectively, which are expected to inhibit AChE by loss of 4-nitrophenoxyl to yield O,S -dimethyl phosphorylated AChEs. Previous work has shown that rat brain AChE inhibited by (1 R )-isomalathions reactivates at the same rate as the enzyme inhibited by ( S )-isoparathion methyl. However, although rat brain AChE inhibited by ( R )-isoparathion methyl reactivates at a measurable rate, the enzyme inhibited by (1 S )-isomalathions is intractable to reactivation. This surprising finding suggests the hypothesis that (1 R )- and (1 S )-stereoisomers of isomalathion inhibit AChE by different mechanisms, yielding enzymatic species distinguishable by their postinhibitory kinetics. The present study was carried out to test this hypothesis by comparing kinetic constants of reactivation ( k +3 ) and aging ( k +4 ) of hen brain AChE and bovine erythrocyte AChE inhibited by the four stereoisomers of isomalathion and the two stereoisomers of isoparathion methyl. Both AChEs inhibited by either (1 R ,3 R )- or (1 R ,3 S )-isomalathion had comparable corresponding k +3 values (spontaneous and oxime-mediated) to those of AChEs inhibited with ( S )-isoparathion methyl. However, spontaneous and oxime-mediated k +3 values comparable to those of ( R )-isoparathion methyl could not be obtained for AChEs inhibited by (1 S ,3 R )- and (1 S ,3 S )-isomalathion. Comparison of k +4 values for hen brain AChE inhibited by each stereoisomer of isomalathion and isoparathion methyl corroborated that only the (1 S )-isomalathions failed to produce the expected O,S -dimethyl phosphoryl-conjugated enzymes. The results for (1 R )-isomalathions suggest that the mechanism of inhibition of AChE by these isomers is the expected one involving diethyl thiosuccinyl as the primary leaving group. In contrast, the results for (1 S )-isomalathions are consistent with an alternative mechanism of inhibition by these isomers implicating loss of thiomethyl as the primary leaving group.
J Dependence in the (He 3 ,α) Reaction

The reactions ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{56}({\mathrm{He}}^{3},\ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{Fe}}^{55}$ and ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{60}({\mathrm{He}}^{3},\ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{Ni}}^{59}$ have been studied with particular attention to the dependence of the angular distribution on the total angular-momentum transfer. Distinct differences in phase were observed in the angular distributions corresponding to $l=3$ neutron pickup to states of different spins. Less pronounced differences were observed for $l=1$ transitions. All angular distributions showed oscillations about an exponential decrease in cross section with increasing angle. This lack of distinct character in the angular distributions may limit the usefulness of the (${\mathrm{He}}^{3},\ensuremath{\alpha}$) reaction as a spectroscopic tool.
Viability of a FRET dual binding technique to detect calpastatin.

Abstract We have been investigating a fluorescence dual binding biosensor to detect calpastatin. Calpastatin is a protein found in meat and it is a regulator of meat tenderness. The ability to accurately predict the calpastatin concentration of beef with a biological sensor at the time of grading would lead to a more accurate assessment of the overall palatability of beef when it reaches the consumer. Meat can then be labeled as tender or tough, which would greatly enhance meat processors’ ability to grade meat, allowing them to recover lost revenue. The biosensor technique utilized the chemical transduction principle of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET requires the use of two fluorophores, termed a donor and acceptor. In this study, the donor fluorophore was conjugated to the protein, μ-calpain, while the acceptor fluorophore was conjugated to a monoclonal antibody. The results showed that in the presence of calpastatin, the labeled μ-calpain and antibody would bind to calpastatin, reducing the distance between the two proteins and eliciting a measurable change in fluorescence. The FRET dual binding technique was tested in heated and unheated meat extract, and a limit of detection for calpastatin was 120 ng/ml in diluted heated meat extract with no significant response in the unheated meat extract. Stable response times were achieved within 5 min. The proof-of-principle of utilizing a FRET dual binding technique to detect calpastatin in heated meat extract has been established.
Pseudorhombodinium lisbonense gen. et sp. nov., a new dinoflagellate fossil from the Lisbon formation (middle Eocene), Little Stave Creek, Alabama

Abstract Specimens of Pseudorhombodinium lisbonense gen. et sp. nov., the type species of the new fossil dinoflagellate genus Pseudorhombodinium gen. nov., were recovered from an outcrop of the lower part of the Lisbon Formation (middle Eocene) in Little Stave Creek, Clarke County, Alabama. The sample containing P. lisbonense gen. et sp. nov. is a calcareous glauconitic sand bed located approximately 104 ft above the Jackson Fault, the reference datum for the base of the Paleogene section exposed in Little Stave Creek. Whether Pseudorhombodinium gen. nov. is a dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) or the remains of a thecate, motile dinoflagellate is uncertain. However, for convenience it will be treated as a dinocyst in this paper. Pseudorhombodinium is established to accommodate organic‐walled, subrhombic to subpentagonal shaped, circumcavate dinocysts with a hexa paratabulation style and 2a intercalary archeopyle, Type Ia/Ia. The periarcheopyle is iso‐deltaform, the endoarcheopyle is eury‐deltaform, and the o...
Hepatitis C virus in the human liver transplantation model

Hepatitis C virus-related liver failure is the single leading indication for liver transplantation, and the study of HCV in the transplant setting has enhanced the understanding of the natural history of disease and putative mechanisms by which HCV causes liver injury. In a subset of patients, allograft cirrhosis develops within a few years after transplantation, and recent findings suggest these individuals are immunologically impaired compared with individuals with mild HCV recurrence at long-term follow-up. Fig. 9 shows a conceptual paradigm of mechanisms potentially involved in shaping HCV outcome after transplantation. It is possible that relative antiviral control by innate and adaptive immune responses (to maintain HCV replication below a certain threshold) prevents direct cytopathic injury and induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis of cells. Additional phenomena that may contribute to induction of apoptosis (eg, genetic polymorphisms within the donor organ. CMV coinfection, and ischemic-preservation injury) may augment the initial cascade of liver injury. Recruitment to the allograft of nonspecific cells may decrease viral replication by way of noncytolytic mechanisms or augment viral replication (eg, Th2 phenotype) and direct cytopathic injury. The immune response is likely insufficiently vigorous to keep viral replication under control, but may maintain chronic liver injury. The liver transplant model is unique in that distinct phenotypic outcomes can be observed over a short period of time. A consideration of the temporal evolution of different mechanisms is also important, because mechanisms that initially predominate may become less important over time, and conversely, as suggested with the inverse correlation between viral load at 5 years and allograft fibrosis, new immune responses may emerge that modify the host-virus interaction. Prospective characterization of the immunoregulatory and virologic mechanisms involved in the liver transplantation model hopefully will help unravel the causal basis of reported associations, lead to the development of highly specific therapeutic strategies, and ultimately diminish the rate of graft loss from recurrent disease.
Powder Selection in Cosintering Multi-layered Ceramic Functionally Graded Materials Based on the Densification Kinetics Curves

In the cosintering process to fabricate a multi-layered ceramic functionally graded material (FGM), the difference in the sintering behaviors among the layers can cause cracks or camber to form. One way to reduce the likelihood of cracks or camber in the FGM is to use powders with similar transient densification kinetics for a given set of sintering conditions. In this study, the densification kinetics characteristics of several alumina powder mixtures and zirconia powder mixtures were investigated using a thermomechanical analyzer (TMA). By comparing the densification data for the alumina and zirconia powder mixtures, a set of mixtures that exhibits a similar transient densification kinetics was found. Using this set of powders, a three-layered alumina/alumina+zirconia/ zirconia FGM was successfully fabricated without cracks or camber.
Investigation of turbulence generated pressure fluctuations in some interior flows

Theoretical predictions of the cross section averaged pressure fluctuations in turbulent pipe flow are made and compared with the wall pressure speqtrum. Needed correlations of axial velocity fluctuations are obtained experimentally as are the required acoustic impedances. The pressure spectrum is obtained as the sum of a local turbulent part and a propagational acoustic part. Transverse variation of the turbulent pressure fluctuations is also considered. The theory is extended to include pipe flow with the entire mass injected from the side walls. Preliminary experimental results are reported upon using an apparatus with side injection. A a f g g, h C
Ultrasonic modulation of diffuse light in turbid media

Continuous-wave ultrasonic modulation of laser light has been used to image objects buried in tissue-simulating turbid media. The ultrasonic wave focused into the turbid media modulated the laser light passing through the ultrasonic field. The modulated laser light collected by a photomultiplier tube reflected primarily the local mechanical and optical properties in the focal zone. Modulated signal was estimated using diffusion theory. The dependence of the ultrasound-modulated optical signal on the off-axis distance of the detector from the optic axis was studied. The mechanisms of ultrasonic modulation of light were discussed.
Health Literacy Predicts Morbidity and Mortality in Rural Patients With Heart Failure.

Abstract Background Patients hospitalized with heart failure are often readmitted. Health literacy may play a substantial role in the high rate of readmissions. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of health literacy with the composite end point of heart failure readmission rates and all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure living in rural areas. Methods and Results Rural adults (n = 575), hospitalized for heart failure within the past 6 months, completed the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (STOFHLA) to measure health literacy and were followed for ≥2 years. The percentage of patients with the end point of heart failure readmission or all-cause death was different (P = .001) among the 3 STOFHLA score levels. Unadjusted analysis revealed that patients with inadequate and marginal health literacy were 1.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43–2.63; P Conclusions Inadequate or marginal health literacy is a risk factor for heart failure rehospitalization or all-cause mortality among rural patients with heart failure.
Ground-state quadrupole moments of 155, 157Gd determined with muonic X-rays☆

Abstract The ground-state quadrupole moments of 155 Gd and 157 Gd were determined by measuring the quadrupole hyperfine-splitting energies of the M X-rays of muonic Gd atoms. The results are Q = 1.30 ± 0.02 eb for 155 Gd and Q = 1.36 ± 0.02 eb for 157 Gd.
Large-scale preparation and preliminary characterization of human thrombin.

Abstract 1. 1. A method is described for preparing large amounts of human thrombin (EC 3.4.4.13) from Cohn Fraction III paste. Approx. 250 mg of thrombin were recovered per kg of paste, corresponding to one-third the original prothrombin content, with a 300-fold overall purification. Recovered thrombin displayed specific activities of 3000–4000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) equivalent units/mg and migrated as a single electrophoretic component. 2. 2. After 24 h at room temperature in pH 8.6 buffer or upon prolonged storage, thrombin preparations converted into mixtures of several electrophoretic components, suggesting autolysis. 3. 3. Amino acid compositions of human thrombin summed to 259 residues with molecular weight of 31 000 and showed few differences when compared with those of bovine thrombin. These results imply close structural relationships among thrombins of other species.
K-SYSTEMS VERSUS CLASSICAL MULTIVARIATE SYSTEMS

K-systems exist in general systems theory for the study of the relationships between parts and wholes. We show here that K-systems analysis can be used to solve problems in classical multivariate analysis, and solve them more effectively than existing methods. To demonstrate this, we take on “the analysis of variance” in this paper. The analysis of variance is the most important and powerful technique in the field of statistical inference (quoted from Probability and Statistics by Hines and Montgomery). We apply K-systems analysis to the analysis of variance problem, and we compare the two techniques. We see that K-systems analysis can provide more information. But the major difference is that the analysis of variance guesses a model for the data whereas K-systems analysis uses “the” model that is true and correct for the data. Further, K-systems theory delivers a surprising and important insight: it is generally incorrect to use any model where effects and interactions are represented statically over sub...
Mechanical property development in reactively sputtered tantalum carbide/amorphous hydrocarbon thin films

Hardness, elastic modulus, and stress directly influence the ability of tantalum carbide/amorphous hydrocarbon (TaC/a-C:H) thin films to enhance the wear-resistance of steel tribological component surfaces. Designed factorial experiments enabled an evaluation of the effects of acetylene flow rate (QC2H2), direct current bias voltage level (Vb), and substrate rotation rate (ωRot) during deposition on the mechanical properties of reactively sputtered TaC/a-C:H films. Significant relationships were found between compressive stress level and Vb, whereas hardness and elastic modulus were dependent primarily on Vb and secondarily on QC2H2 within the studied parameter space. It is proposed that effects of ion bombardment on the a-C:H phase during growth are responsible for property dependencies on Vb. Decreases in hardness and elastic modulus with increasing QC2H2 are attributed to increased hydrogen concentration and a concomitant decreased volume fraction of TaC crystallites in the films.
Electrocatalytic oxidation of DNA-wrapped carbon nanotubes.

The electrical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) are of intense interest due to applications in nanoelectronics. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry have been used to explore the Ru(bpy)32+ electrocatalytic oxidation of DNA-solubilized carbon nanotubes. Dramatic current enhancements are observed with the addition of a CNT wrapped in an oligonucleotide sequence containing no oxidizable guanines. The current enhancement observed is solely due to the oxidation of the CNT by electrogenerated Ru(III) and subsequent recycling of the metal complex redox reaction. The chronoamperometric (CA) response is biphasic, and rate constants derived from the CA response were used to develop digital simulations of the cyclic voltammograms collected at the same CNT concentrations. Ten successive C‘ reactions were required to account for all of the observed signal. The oxidation of the CNT is a multielectron process, and this effect arises from the multiple electron donor sites in the carbon nanotube as ...
Constitutional Rights and Democracy in the U.S.A.: The Issue ‐of Judicial Review

. The first section takes up some main details of American constitutional history. At the end of that section and in section two, we concentrate on one constitutional doctrine in particular, judicial review. We argue that this doctrine rests, traditionally, on the foundational idea of a permanent tension between democratic institutions and basic rights. In section three, we deal with the problem just raised, by suggesting an alternative view of the relationship that exists between these fundamental constitutional elements. Here we attempt to show that there is an essential principled harmony between basic constitutional rights and democratic majority rule. And we try to locate judicial review within this alternative conception. Then in section four and in the conclusion we discuss the institutional arrangements for the practice of judicial review in the light of this alternative conception.
A prospective study of lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: Several studies have shown that men with lower urinary tract symptoms are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction. All except 1 of these studies were cross-sectional, limiting inferences about whether lower urinary tract symptoms precipitate erectile dysfunction.Materials and Methods: The association between lower urinary tract symptoms and incident erectile dysfunction was examined prospectively in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Lower urinary tract symptoms were assessed biennially by the American Urological Association symptom index, which captures symptoms of frequency, urgency and force of urinary stream. Severe lower urinary tract symptoms was defined as a symptom score of 20 points or greater and no lower urinary tract symptoms was defined as a score of 7 points or less in men not treated for lower urinary tract symptoms. In 2000 the men were asked to rate erectile function for several periods. Erectile dysfunction was defined as poor or very poor function, or erectile dys...
Regulation of Adrenal Renin Messenger Ribonucleic Acid by Dietary Sodium Chloride

Zona glomerulosa (ZG) and zona fasciculata (ZF/M) poly(A)+ RNA were isolated from the adrenals of bilaterally nephrectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats and hybridized to a full-length 32P-labeled 1423-base pair (bp) renin cDNA as well as a 698-bp renin cDNA Kpnl segment (corresponding to amino acids 92-325) by the dot blot procedure using Bio-Rad Zeta Probe membranes. Extensive hybridization was observed with ZG mRNA, and only slight binding was seen with ZF/M mRNA. These results extend earlier reports from this laboratory indicating that the enzymic activity for renin is predominantly localized in ZG cells. Hence, high message levels account for the high enzymic activity. Adrenal ZG poly(A)+ RNA was also isolated from rats maintained on normal and sodium-deplete diets for 15 days and was hybridized to the radiolabeled 698-bp renin probe. Essentially twice the amount of probe was bound to the message from salt-deplete ZG tissue compared to message from normal ZG per μg mRNA. Hybridization was proportional...
Numerical Study of the Influence of Central Mountain Ranges in Taiwan on a Cold Front

The numerical simulations were performed to study the intrusion of a shallow cold front along the China coastal mountain range, and the deformation of the front by the Central Mountain Range (CMR) in Taiwan during the IOP-9 (1600 UTC June 14-1700 UTC June 15, 1987) of the Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment (TAMEX). The essential features of the observed front, such as the faster movement of the eastern part of the front than the western part, were well reproduced. The control and sensitivity simulations suggested that the frontal deformation in Taiwan was caused by the dynamical interaction between the front and the underlying topography. As the cold air approached northern Taiwan from the north, a relative high pressure with anticyclonic circulation built up on the windward side. More oncoming flow was diverted to the northeast of Taiwan than to the northwest and caused the difference of the frontal speed between the eastern and western parts of the front. The dynamics of the frontal movement along southeast China was similar to the dynamics of coastally trapped mesoscale ridges, or orographical jet. The momentum budget equation showed that the contribution of the nonlinear advection, ageostrophic forcing, and friction were equally important to the local change of the wind just behind the front. This might indicate that the dynamics of the front was more complicated than that described by the density current theory derived from an irrotational fluid. The invicid sensitivity simulation revealed a faster propagating front, and a stronger wind behind its leading edge in comparison with the control simulation. The front bears no dynamical resemblance to either an orographically trapped density current or a Kelvin wave, because the major forces in the momentum budget are the pressure gradient force, Coriolis force and advection terms.
Different Tastes of Enantiomorphic Hexoses

Studies of synthetic iron sulfides formed from aqueous solution at 25 degrees C and atmospheric pressure have revealed the existence of a new phase, tetragonal FeS. This phase is formed as the initial corrosion product of metallic iron or steel in solutions of hydrogen sulfide. It has been discovered as an iron corrosion product in the sediments of the Mystic River at Boston, Massachusetts.
Rapid inactivation of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor by neutrophil specific leukolysin/membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase 6.

Abstract Leukolysin/MT6-MMP is a GPI-anchored matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) primarily expressed by neutrophils. It is stored in intracellular granules at resting state, but rapidly discharged upon stimulations into the extracellular milieu, presumably to promote tissue remodeling or destruction. The proteolytic targets for leukolysin at the inflammatory sites remain unknown. Here, we show that alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor, or α1-PI, a known protective shield against destructive serine proteinases, is a physiological target for leukolysin. We show that α1-PI failed to accumulate in media conditioned by cells co-expressing α1-PI and leukolysin. Purified leukolysin cleaves α1-PI efficiently at the Phe376Leu and Pro381Met bonds and the cleaved α1-PI lost its anti-proteolytic activity against human neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G (CatG) and proteinase 3 (PR3). In fact, leukolysin preferentially cleaves α1-PI when co-incubated with other extracellular molecules such as laminin and gelatin. Kinetically, leukolysin is more active than two known neutrophil MMPs, MMP8 and MMP9, in cleaving and inactivating α1-PI. Taken together, these results suggest that neutrophils may mediate tissue destruction by deploying leukolysin to weaken the α1-PI protective shield at inflammatory sites.
Upper Albian ammonites from ODP Leg 171B off northern Florida

ODP Leg 171B investigated the sediments of the Blake Plateau off northern Florida and recovered 36 Upper Albian ammonites — one from Site 1050C, the others from Site 1052E. This unusually large number of specimens from an ODP site permits the dating of the interval between 668 to 621 m below sea-floor at Site 1052E as late Late Albian, Stoliczkaia (S.) dispar ammonite zone. This zone is indicated by the genera Mortoniceras and Stoliczkaia (S.). Site 1050C (Interval 171B-1050C-31R-3, 0.80–0.86 m) cannot be dated more precisely than Late Aptian to Mid Cenomanian by ammonites. The fauna is cosmopolitan. Tetragonites jurinianusPuzosia mayoriana are widely distributed forms. Kossmatella muhlenbecki was thought to be restricted to a fairly small area around the Mediterranean, but the record off northern Florida presented here, indicates that it is not an endemic species; this is also true for Hemiptychoceras subgaultinum in the Albian. The event-like character of the ammonite-bearing interval at Site 1052E is unique. It is overlain by a laminated claystone succession; the top of this sequence is considered to represent maximum flooding (Oceanic Anoxic Event, OAE 1d). Ammonites perhaps profited from an increased nutrient supply derived from flooded coastal plains during a continuous transgression.
Effect of near-surface hydrology on soil strength and mobility

Abstract History has repeatedly demonstrated the potentially negative influence of near-surface hydrology on military mobility. Increased moisture and saturation in soil results in a transition from solid to somewhat liquid states. As soil approaches the liquid state, the shear strength available for supporting traffic of ground vehicles or aircraft diminishes. Historical engagements elucidate the importance for armies to recognize soil conditions that could compromise manoeuvre. Since World War II, the US Army has pursued research aimed at equipping soldiers with the tools and knowledge needed to account for the impact of near-surface hydrology on mobility. Significant portions of the research have been focused on characterizing soil trafficability as a controlling factor in ground vehicle mobility and on developing methods for rapidly assessing soil conditions to ensure adequate bearing capacity for expediently constructed roads and airfields. In contrast, hydrological conditions can also produce extremely dry soil with potential for surface layers to break down under ground vehicle and aircraft traffic loadings, resulting in a propensity for extreme dust generation, an entirely different problem for military mobility that the research has also been addressing. Mobility problems associated with these adverse soil conditions have not been eliminated, but the research has produced significant advancements.
Impact of the intramitochondrial enzyme organization on fatty acid oxidation.

The enzymes of mitochondrial β-oxidation are thought to be organized in at least two functional complexes, a membrane-bound, long-chain-specific β-oxidation system and a matrix system consisting of soluble enzymes with preferences for medium-chain and short-chain substrates. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that the inactivation of long-chain 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase by 4-bromotiglic acid (4-bromo-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid) causes the complete inhibition of palmitate β-oxidation even though 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, which acts on 3-ketopalmitoyl-CoA, remains partly active. The observed substrate specificities of long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) and very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase prompt the suggestion that LCAD is a functional component of the long-chain-specific β-oxidation system. Altogether, a view is emerging of the organization of β-oxidation enzymes in mitochondria that supports the idea of intermediate channelling and explains the apparent absence of true intermediates of β-oxidation from mitochondria.
XPS studies of carbon supported films formed by the resistive deposition of manganese

Abstract The surface and subsurface speciation of carbon-supported vapor-deposited films, prepared by resistively heating manganese chips in the sample chamber of an HP 5950A ESCA spectrometer, have been studied using XPS and argon ion etching. It is shown that the oxide formed in poor vacuum is MnO. Under improved experimental conditions, a mixture of Mn metal and MnO is obtained, but the metal is very reactive to oxygen. For very thick films formed in poor vacuum, the oxide covers a layer of manganese metal. The oxide is no longer evident after 60 h of etching. For the layer of manganese remaining, we have found that the Mn3s multiplet splitting is smaller than that reported in the literature. The present result is shown to be consistent with magnetic susceptibility measurements on α-Mn. For discontinuous MnO films, argon ion etching causes the Mn2p binding energy to shift to higher energy. This is inconsistent with reduction to Mn metal, as the binding energy would shift to a lower value for this case.
Lnk inhibits erythropoiesis and Epo-dependent JAK2 activation and downstream signaling pathways

Erythropoietin (Epo), along with its receptor EpoR, is the principal regulator of red cell development. Upon Epo addition, the EpoR signaling through the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) activates multiple pathways including Stat5, phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI-3K)/Akt, and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The adaptor protein Lnk is implicated in cytokine receptor signaling. Here, we showed that Lnk-deficient mice have elevated numbers of erythroid progenitors, and that splenic erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-e) progenitors are hypersensitive to Epo. Lnk-/- mice also exhibit superior recovery after erythropoietic stress. In addition, Lnk deficiency resulted in enhanced Epo-induced signaling pathways in splenic erythroid progenitors. Conversely, Lnk overexpression inhibits Epo-induced cell growth in 32D/EpoR cells. In primary culture of fetal liver cells, Lnk overexpression inhibits Epo-dependent erythroblast differentiation and induces apoptosis. Lnk blocks 3 major signaling pathways, Stat5, Akt, and MAPK, induced by Epo in primary erythroblasts. In addition, the Lnk Src homology 2 (SH2) domain is essential for its inhibitory function, whereas the conserved tyrosine near the C-terminus and the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of Lnk are not critical. Furthermore, wild-type Lnk, but not the Lnk SH2 mutant, becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated following Epo administration and inhibits EpoR phosphorylation and JAK2 activation. Hence, Lnk, through its SH2 domain, negatively modulates EpoR signaling by attenuating JAK2 activation, and regulates Epo-mediated erythropoiesis. (Blood. 2005; 105:4604-4612)
First observation of intra-5f fluorescence from an actinyl center: Np(VI) near-IR emission in Cs2U(Np)O2Cl4

Fluorescence from an excited 5f state of Np(VI) has been observed in the doped impurity system Cs{sub 2}U(Np)O{sub 2}Cl{sub 4}. This is the first intra-5f fluorescence transition that has been detected at room temperature in a condensed-phase system with an actinyl (An(VI)O{sub 2}{sup 2+}) core, and it is a rare example of fluorescence of any kind from non-uranyl ions of this type. The emission originates from an excited state approximately 6890cm{sup -1} above the ground state. Its emission spectrum and fluorescence lifetime at 295K will be discussed. Vibronic structure in the emission spectrum is assigned based on comparison with the detailed analysis of the absorption spectra published by Denning et al.