cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amino Acid Aminotransferases in an Amino Acid-producing Bacterium, Brevibacterium flavum

Five aminotransferases, TA-A, -B, -T, -PI, -PII, which might participate in the biosyntheses of aspartate, branched-chain amino acids, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, respectively, were separated from one another in Brevibacterium flavum, and examined for their keto-acid substrate specificities and the apparent Michaelis constants (Km′) for their main substrates. TA-A specifically reacted with oxalacetate, among the keto-acids tested, and accounted for 90% of the total activity in the cellular extracts. TA-B was found to be the only aminotransferase that reacted with branched-chain keto-acids, and also showed some activity with prephenate and phenylpyruvate but having a much larger Km′ than the other enzymes. TA-T specifically reacted with prephenate and oxalacetate, among the keto-acids tested, and accounted for 80 and 2% of the total activities of the cellular extracts, respectively, but showed a much larger Km′ for oxalacetate than did TA-A. TA-PI and -PII showed similar substrate-specificities and Km′s t...
Idealized dynamic grid computation of physical systems

The construction and utility of an idealized computational space for finite-difference computation of physical systems are considered. All computations are performed in tau space, which at any instant represents the dynamic grid of a subject physical system appropriately stretched into a uniform, orthogonal grid. A strain field model of physical system is described, including the sample computation of strain density fields. Dynamic grid generation using invariant-mapping is addressed, and the tau computational space is considered, including a grid dynamism constraint, a grid orthogonality constraint, and a grid smoothness constraint. The detailed tau computational space method is presented and illustrated with two sample problems.
Generating extreme ship responses using non-uniform phase distributions

Modified Gaussian phase distributions are used to generate short time series containing a specific extreme value of a ship response. The corresponding incident wave train is calculated via linear systems theory. Sample response and wave time series are compared to the expected time series as calculated by probabilistic analysis. The average of the sample response time series compares favorably to the expected time series, but the average of the sample wave trains does not, in general, match the expected wave train. These comparisons show the danger in estimating extreme ship responses considering only extreme waves. A sample analysis for a Great Lakes bulk carrier is included for illustration.
Metabolizable Energy of Feed-Grade and Pet Food-Grade Poultry By-Product Meals

Abstract Wide variations in amino acid composition and proximate components between pet food-grade and feed-grade poultry by-product meals (PBM) have been reported from this laboratory. Four samples of pet food-grade and feed-grade PBM were evaluated for TMEn and proximate composition. The TMEn values for feed-grade PBM ranged from 2,775 to 3,555 kcal/kg, whereas pet food-grade PBM varied from 3,316 to 3,401 kcal/kg.
Analyses of large quasistatic deformations of inelastic bodies by a new hybrid-stress finite element algorithm: Applications

A new hybrid-stress finite element algorithm suitable for analyzing large quasistatic deformations of inelastic solids is presented and its feasibility and performance are demonstrated with examples. The algorithm provides extremely accurate bifurcation analysis which is stable with respect to variation in the finite element mesh, so long as the same type of element is used in every mesh. When the mesh element is varied, the result changes in a predictable manner. The method does not necessarily lead to an upper or lower bound for the critical load. An explicit forward gradient scheme is used to improve stability and is shown to be useful also for elongation-dominated deformations. The application of the method to the onset of necking in plane extension and to deformation and stress in plane extension of an elasticoviscous fluid with an array of cylindrical voids is given in detail.
Computed tomographic diagnosis of a “midline package” of abdominal trauma: Two illustrative cases

A “midline package” of abdominal injuries may occur when the anterior mid-abdomen suffers direct blunt trauma. This package may include lacerations of the left lobe of the liver, pancreatic lacerations or fractures, and bowel injuries; if high in location, it may also be associated with sternal fractures and cardiac injuries. A common cause is motor vehicle accidents in which the driver suffers anterior abdominal compression from striking the steering wheel or steering column. Two cases are illustrated that were correctly diagnosed by abdominal computed tomography. The authors recommend an awareness of abdominal injury mechanisms and a knowledge of the expected combinations of abdominal injuries that may result.
Interruption of the aortic arch: experience in 17 infants.

Abstract Between April, 1965, and August, 1982, 17 children ranging in age from 2 days to 4 years were identified as having interruption of the aortic arch and operated on at our institution. There were eight type A interruptions, eight type B interruptions, and one type C interruption. Associated intracardiac anomalies were present in all but 3 patients. These 3 children, who all had type A interruption, underwent repair by mobilization of the aorta and end-to-end reconstruction. The other 14 children had initial palliative operations. The 2 patients in Group 1 had type A interruption with associated ventricular septal defect (VSD), and underwent subclavian artery-aorta anastomosis. In Group 2, the palliative procedure consisted of placement of a Dacron tube graft in 1 patient with type A interruption and associated VSD, and placement of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft, division of the patent ductus arteriosus, and banding of the pulmonary arteries in 11 patients—2 with type A, 8 with type B, and 1 with type C interruption. Ten children (71%) survived initial palliation, 1 of the 2 in Group 1 and 9 of the 12 in Group 2. In Group 2, 5 children had interruption of the aortic arch (4, type B; 1, type C) with associated VSD; among the 4 who survived palliation, 3 subsequently have had successful closure of the VSD and 1 is awaiting closure. Among the patients who had palliative procedures, there are 6 long-term survivors (43%). In the total series, there are 9 long-term survivors (53%). We conclude that children with isolated type A interruption can undergo repair with mobilization of the aorta and end-to-end reconstruction, while children with interruption of the aortic arch and associated intracardiac anomalies can be palliated initially with PTFE reconstruction of the aorta, division of the patent ductus arteriosus, and pulmonary artery banding. Total repair is dependent on the severity of the associated anomaly. Patients with less complicated intracardiac anomalies, such as isolated VSD, have excellent long-term survival.
Excitatory amino acid-evoked membrane currents and excitatory synaptic transmission in lamprey reticulospinal neurons.

The characteristics of excitatory amino acid-evoked currents and of excitatory synaptic events have been examined in lamprey Muller neurons using voltage clamp and current clamp recording techniques. Application of glutamate evoked depolarizations associated with a decrease in input resistance. The reversal potential of the responses was -35 mV. Under voltage clamp conditions, a series of excitatory amino acid agonists evoked inward currents associated with little or no increase in baseline current noise. The order of potency of the excitatory amino acid agonists was quisqualate greater than kainate greater than glutamate greater than aspartate, while N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) was inactive. Inward currents evoked by glutamate, as well as by kainate and quisqualate were attenuated reversibly by 1 mM kynurenic acid (KYN). In contrast, glutamate-evoked currents were not affected by 100 microM D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), a selective NMDA antagonist. Spontaneously occurring and stimulus-evoked excitatory postsynaptic events were antagonized reversibly by 1 mM KYN. At this concentration, KYN had no effect on membrane potential, input resistance, or excitability of the cells. In contrast, excitatory postsynaptic currents were unaffected by APV. It is concluded that both glutamate responses and excitatory synaptic transmission in lamprey Muller neurons are mediated by non-NMDA-type receptors and that these receptors are associated with ionic channels with a low elementary conductance. The combined pharmacological and biophysical characteristics of these responses are therefore different from those previously reported in other preparations. Spontaneous (but not stimulus-evoked) inhibitory synaptic events in Muller neurons were blocked reversibly by 1 mM KYN but not by 100 microM APV, suggesting that excitation of interneurons inhibitory to Muller cells was also mediated by non-NMDA receptors.
Relationships Between Stiffness of Human Distal Tibia, Distal Radius, Proximal Femur, and Vertebral Body Assessed by HR-pQCT and cQCT Based Finite Element Analyses

High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) is a promising clinical tool that permits separate measurements of trabecular and cortical bone compartments at the distal radius and tibia. It has an isotropic voxel size of 82 μm, which is high enough to assess the fine microstructural details of trabecular architecture. HR-pQCT images can also be used for building microstructural finite element (μFE) models to estimate the mechanical competence of whole bone segments. Melton et al. showed that derived bone strength parameters (axial rigidity and fall load to failure load ratio) are additional to BMD and bone geometry and microstructure as determinants of forearm fracture risk prediction [1]. Boutroy et al. found that the proportion of the load carried by trabecular bone versus cortical bone is associated with wrist fracture independently of BMD and microarchitecture [2]. These clinical studies demonstrate that HR-pQCT based μFE analyses can provide measurements of mechanical properties that independently associate with fracture risk. However, microstructure of one skeletal site may be different from that of another site. It is unclear whether and to what extent these peripheral measurements reflect the bone strength of the proximal femur and vertebral bodies, the sites of frequent osteoporotic fractures. Currently, central quantitative computed tomography (cQCT) is the most commonly used clinical imaging modality to quantify the structural and mechanical properties of the proximal femur and lumbar spine. We therefore evaluated relationships between the stiffness of the distal radius and tibia estimated by HR-pQCT-based FEA with that of the proximal femur and lumbar spine which was estimated from cQCT-based FEA in the same human subjects.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The ideal amount of lumbar foraminal distraction for pedicle screw instrumentation.

Study Design A cadaveric study was performed to analyze the changes of foraminal dimensions of the lumbar spine and also to estimate the amount of foraminal distraction, achieved with pedicle screw instrumentation, that will create the greatest improvement in foraminal dimensions. Objectives To establish the ideal amount of lumbar foraminal distraction using pedicle screw instrumentation and to investigate the changes of adjacent segments and lumbar lordosis with distraction maneuvers. Summary of Background Data In patients undergoing fusions and instrumentation for foraminal stenosis, distraction of the lumbar spine may improve the dimensions of the intervertebral foramen. Results of previous studies have shown that anterior interbody distraction of the lumbar spine significantly increased the space in the lumbar foramen. No previous study has assessed the ideal amount of distraction, changes in the adjacent segments, or the effect on lumbar lordosis using posterior pedicle screw instrumentation. Methods Six fresh frozen human cadaveric spines from T5 to the sacrum were used. The ISOLA instrumentation system (Acromed Inc., Cleveland, OH) was applied using pedicle screws at L4, L5, and S1. L4-L5 and L5-S1 rods were contoured to the same degree of lumbar lordosis as in the specimen. The spine was potted in the upright position with the sacrum secured in the mold, and an axial load of 40 pounds was applied to the specimen. Radiographs were used to measure the posterior disc height, foraminal height, foraminal area, and lumbar lordosis. Two mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm of single level distraction were added to L4-L5 and L5-S1. The dimensions of the specimen were digitized and calculated after each distraction. Results The posterior disc height, foraminal height, and foraminal area increased with distraction. The greatest incremental change in the foraminal area was noted at 6 mm of distraction. The L4-L5 foraminal area increased 22.6% at 6 mm of L4-L5 distraction, and the L5-S1 foraminal area increased 39.2% at 6 mm of L5-S1 distraction. With distraction above 6 mm, the foraminal change plateaued. The greatest decrease in lumbar lordosis was only 4.6° and occurred at 10 mm of distraction. There was no significant effect of distraction on the foramina of adjacent levels. Conclusion Posterior distraction using pedicle screws increased foraminal dimensions. The ideal amount of distraction on the rod, or the minimal amount of distraction necessary for improving foraminal dimensions, may be 6 mm using pedicle screw instrumentation.
Head Circumference in Young Children With Autism The Impact of Different Head Circumference Charts

The hypothesis that the presence of macrocephaly might vary with the specific growth chart used was tested by using the Nellahus, CDC, and recent Rollins et al revision head circumference charts to plot the head circumferences of 253 children with neurodevelopmental disorders and with ages between 12 to 36 months; of these children, 59 had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The CDC and Rollins et al head circumference charts identified more cases of macrocephaly and fewer cases of microcephaly than did the older Nellhaus chart but did not significantly differ in their identification of macrocephaly in children with autism.
Targeting Histones and Proteasomes: New Strategies for the Treatment of Lymphoma

Our ever-increasing understanding of cancer cell biology has begun to provide a variety of new, and potentially drugable targets for the treatment of many forms of cancer. Nowhere else is this more apparent than in the treatment of the lymphomas. A rapidly emerging experience in gene expression profiling has begun to suggest that we can define different subtypes of lymphoma on the basis of unique molecular signatures. These signatures can define important signaling pathways that may help account for the biology of different subsets of lymphoma, and are teaching us that the lymphomas are truly a heterogeneous set of diseases. What remains equally as interesting is the idea that empiric observations of novel targeted drugs in select subtypes of lymphoma can teach us much about the biology of different lymphomas. A priori assumptions about the anticipated activity of novel targeted agents in select subtypes of lymphoma have been turned upside down. Two pathways that have emerged recently as potentially important targets for new agents in lymphoma include the ubiquitin proteasome pathway and the biochemical reactions that control histone acetylation. New classes of drugs that affect these targets, such as bortezomib, depsipeptide, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, and a host of other compounds, though affecting a unique target in the cell, are associated with a remarkable panoply of different downstream biologic effects. In this article, we will review some of the prevailing theories about how these novel targeted drugs affect lymphoma biology, and how these compounds are changing the face of lymphoma therapy.
Double-Coated Poly (Butylcynanoacrylate) Nanoparticulate Delivery Systems for Brain Targeting of Dalargin Via Oral Administration

The aim of this study is to evaluate oral administration of poly (butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticulate delivery systems (PBCA-NDSs), double-coated with Tween 80 and poly (ethylene) glycol (PEG) 20000 for brain delivery of hexapeptide dalargin, an anti-nociceptive peptide that does not cross blood-brain barrier (BBB) by itself. Studies have proven the brain uptake of Tween 80 overcoated nanoparticles after intravenous administration, but studies for brain delivery of nanoparticles after oral administration had been limited due to reduced bioavailability of nanoparticles and extensive degradation of the peptide and/or nanoparticles by gastrointestinal enzymes. To address this problem, dalargin-loaded PBCA-NDS were successively double-coated with Tween 80 and PEG 20000 in varied concentrations of up to 2% each. Measurement of in vivo central anti-nociceptive effect of dalargin along with a dose response curve was obtained by the tail flick test following the oral administration of PBCA-NDSs to mice. Results from the tail flick test indicated that significant dalargin-induced analgesia was observed from PBCA-NDSs with double-coating of Tween and PEG in comparison with single-coating of either Tween or PEG. Hence, it could be concluded that surface coated PBCA-NDS can be used successfully for brain targeting of dalargin or other peptides administered orally. However, further studies are required to elucidate the exact transport mechanism of PBCA-NDSs from gastrointestinal tract to brain.
Normalization of shortening in Rana pipiens sartorius muscle.

Abstract Normalization of biological variables is extensively used to reinforce the confidence of experimental observations by indication of “reproducibility”. Shortening time courses of two identical muscles should be coincidental. If two muscles differ in length, the shortening time courses are different. Normalization of the variables can then be employed to coincide the two curves determined by the mechanics of contraction.
A single nucleotide polymorphism in the proximal IFN-gamma promoter alters control of gene transcription.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is an important cytokine that regulates cellular immune responses to intracellular pathogens and neoplasia. Regulation of IFN-γ expression is stringently controlled at the transcriptional level. In this report we describe two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); one, at −179 in the promoter, occurs in 4% of African Americans. This SNP represents a guanidine to thymidine transition and creates a potential AP-1 binding element. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis reveals a unique complex binding to an oligonucleotide containing the variant −179T but not to the −179G using nuclear extracts from human peripheral blood T cells. In reporter gene assays, T cell lines transfected with the variant −204(179T) IFN-γ promoter show a six to 13-fold induction of luciferase activity in response to TNF-α over the common −204(179G) construct. The −179T allele identified in the proximal IFN-γ promoter confers TNF-α inducibility and may prove important in human immune disorders and responsiveness to pathogens.
Chlorine NQR spectra of chloronorbornanes and chloronorbornenes

Abstract Cl 35 nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectra are reported for a number of chloronorbornanes and chloronorbornenes and assignments suggested. The NQR “chemical shifts” seem to be additive functions of structure, suggesting that measurements of this kind may be of value in determining the structures of such compounds.
Using semantic knowledge for transaction processing in a distributed database

This paper investigates how the semantic knowledge of an application can be used in a distributed database to process transactions efficiently and to avoid some of the delays associated with failures. The main idea is to allow nonserializable schedules which preserve consistency and which are acceptable to the system users. To produce such schedules, the transaction processing mechanism receives semantic information from the users in the form of transaction semantic types, a division of transactions into steps, compatibility sets, and countersteps. Using these notions, we propose a mechanism which allows users to exploit their semantic knowledge in an organized fashion. The strengths and weaknesses of this approach are discussed.
The role of annealing twins during recrystallization of Cu

The texture and grain boundary structure of recrystallized materials are dependent upon the character of the deformed matrix and the selective nucleation and growth of crystallites from the deformation structure. Annealing twin boundary formation in materials of low to medium stacking fault energy is not only a product of the recrystallized structure, but also plays an important role in the recrystallization process itself. In situ and ex situ recrystallization experiments were performed on pure copper (99.99% pure) previously deformed by equal channel angular extrusion. Intermittent characterization of the structure on the surface of bulk specimens was accomplished using electron backscatter diffraction. The character of the structure where nucleation preferentially occurs is presumed to be in heavily deformed regions as nuclei were first observed in such microstructures as viewed from the specimen surface. Grain growth is observed to be heavily dependent upon twinning processes at the low temperatures used for in situ experiments, with twinning occurring to aid the recrystallization process. It is shown at these temperatures that the slowest growing grains obtain the highest fraction of twin boundaries as the new twin orientations presumably increase the boundary energy at positions where there is insufficient driving force to continue growth.
Relaxation as principal treatment for excessive cigarette use and caffeine ingestion by a college female.

A female graduate student with diagnosed tachycardia was the subject in an experiment to reduce consumption of caffeine and use of cigarettes. The relaxation procedure described by Benson was used as the principal treatment. Reinforcement cards for nonsmoking and elimination of caffeine were also used. The subject was successful in reducing her caffeine intake and completely extinguished use of cigarettes. She reported that she was still practicing the relaxation procedure 1 yr. later. Apparently these procedures can be helpful in modifying use of cigarettes and caffeine.
Intention-related activity in the posterior parietal cortex: a review

Over the last few years it is becoming increasingly apparent that an important role of the posterior parietal cortex is to process sensory information for the purpose of planning actions. We review studies showing that a large component of neural activity in area LIP is related to planning saccades and activity in a nearby parietal reach region (PRR) to reaches. This intention related activity dominates the delay period in delayed movement tasks, and also comprises a substantial component of the transient response. These findings, along with additional anatomical and physiological evidence, lends support to the idea that different cortical areas within the PPC represent plans for different actions. We also found strong modulation of activity when movement plans were changed without changes in the locus of attention. This result suggests that PPC, which has been postulated to play a role in shifting attention, may also play a role in changing movement intentions. Sensory related activity was also present in these tasks and may be related to the stimulus or to attention. These experiments show that there are intention and sensory related activities in the PPC consistent with its proposed role in sensory-motor transformations. These studies also show that care must be taken to measure intention-related signals and not assume that all task dependent modulation in the PPC reflects attention.
Experimental measurements of orthogonal mixed convection in a partial enclosure

Abstract Measurements of local heat transfer coefficients and results of flow visualization experiments are presented for orthogonal mixed convection in a partial enclosure with uniformly heated side walls and adiabatic top and bottom walls. In this study, experiments using water as a test fluid are conducted in a small scale test section with different inlet and outlet configurations. The flow and heating conditions are chosen to simulate the high Rayleigh number (1010–1011) and low to moderate Reynolds number (0–9000) typically encountered in building heat transfer applications. As the flow rate through the enclosure increases, the enhancement of heat transfer above that for natural convection alone also increases. The local enhancement is as large as a factor of 7 for some flow situations. The variation of local heat transfer coefficient over the heated surface is found to be strongly affected by the recirculation of portions of the forced flow within the enclosure as well as the impingement on or separation of flow from the side walls in some regions. Mean heat transfer coefficients for the side walls are also reported here, which are determined by averaging the measured local values over the heated surface. The highest average enhancement is a factor of 2.6 at Ra = 1.6 × 1010 and Re = 8740 for a staggered orientation of the inlet and exit apertures. Correlations for the mean heat transfer coefficient and a flow regine map for different enclosure geometries are also proposed.
Disoriented chiral condensates

Abstract Measurements of disoriented chiral condensates in heavy ion collisions can yield fundamental information on the nature of the QCD phase transition. I review theoretical efforts to understand the evolution of the condensate and explore the conditions under which the nascent RHIC experiments can distinguish dcc signals from heavy ion backgrounds.
Percentage points of the joint distribution of the extreme roots of the random matrix S1(S1+S2)−1

Abstract : Let S(1) and S(2) be independently distributed as central Wishart matrices with n(1) and n(2) degrees of freedom respectively. Also, let theta sub 1 and theta sub p be the smallest and largest roots of S(1)(S(1) + S(2)) sup(-1). In this report, the authors give tables for the exact values of A for p = 2 (1) 10, alpha = 0.10,0.05, 0.025, 0.01, r = 0 (1) 5,7,10,15, n = 5 (1) 10 (2) 20 (5) 50 where r = (n(1)- p - 1)/2, n = (n(2)- p - 1)/2 and P(1 - A<or=(theta sub 1)<or=(theta sub p)<or=A = (1 - alpha). (Author)
The Social Contagion Model: Exploring the Role of Public Opinion on the Diffusion of Antismoking Legislation across the American States

Scholars have offered two primary explanations for the influence that neighboring states have on policy diffusion: state officials learn by observing the outcomes of policies and states seek an economic advantage over other states. Both models contend that decision making occurs laterally as state officials learn from or react to the policy decisions of other elites; the public has a minor role. I offer an additional explanation, the social contagion model, which suggests that state residents react to neighboring policies by changing their aggregate opinions on that policy. If state opinion becomes supportive, state officials respond by enacting similar policies in the home state or risk being ousted from office. Using both individual and aggregate data on antismoking legislation, I find empirical support for the social contagion model. The results reorient theories of policy diffusion to the public and, consequently, open up new avenues for future research.
Development of a Neural Network Based Real Time Control for Laser Welding

This paper describes the development of an adaptive control scheme for automated laser fusion welding applications, based on a software module capable of quickly recognizing weld cavity features indicated by sensor data without need for computation. Sensor data arrives to system in a high bandwidth stream, necessitating a quick recognition method in order to attain real time control. The method achieves speed through rigorous offline work within the actual system development. An iterative training procedure is exeuted in order to produce a software module capable of reliably recognizing prescribed weld puddle conditions within complex sensor data. The system is trained to mimic the classifications made by a metallurgical engineer between infrared sensor status and defect presence. Research will thereby attempt to automate existing metallurgical engineering knowledge relating causal relationships between particular states of sensor parameters and a limited set of defect types. The ability of these relationships to support a viable industrial control scheme will be assessed. Also, the required performance (speed, reliability) of the controllers primary component (the neural network) will be assessed. Research leaves the development of a computed reaction to such assessed condition to other research (some of which has been performed earlier at IITRI)
Conscience as a design benchmark for social robots

For humanlike robots to behave like human beings, they would have to be designed to perform as the latter would in ethical relationships. This, however, is more than an engineering question. According to the phenomenological approach explored in this paper, every relationship is an existential relationship in which each person confirms the existence of the other as just that type of entity that can be in an ethical relationship in the first place ? quite unlike, say, the relation one may hold with a rock. This paper investigates the merits of conscience as a design primitive for social robots and proposes that for social robots to function in real social relationships with human beings, it is necessary to understand the nature of human beings themselves from beyond an engineering perspective of objects of a certain kind. For an android to have a conscience, it will have been necessary for its human creators to appreciate the ontological requirements of the concept in the first place.
Size-exclusion HPLC of protein using a narrow-bore column for evaluation of breadmaking quality of hard spring wheat flours.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate whether a narrow-bore column (NBC) (300 × 4.5 mm, i.d.) improved analyses of unreduced proteins in flour by size-exclusion HPLC (SE-HPLC) and subsequent evaluation of breadmaking quality of hard spring wheat flours. Total protein extracts and SDS buffer extractable and unextractable proteins were analyzed by SE-HPLC. NBC separated proteins in 10 min at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min with similar resolution to a regular column (300 × 7.8 mm, i.d.) which took 30 min. SE-HPLC absorbance area (AA) data obtained from an NBC showed comparable or superior repeatability and correlations with flour breadmaking characteristics when compared with those of a regular column. AA values of total protein that were calculated by adding AA values of SDS extractable and unextractable proteins showed greater repeatability and correlations with quality characteristics than those of actual total protein extracts. The improvements including employment of an NBC in SE-HPLC provi...
Plio-Pleistocene climate change and timing of Peninsular Ranges uplift in southern California: Evidence from paleosols and stable isotopes in the Fish Creek-Vallecito basin

article i nfo Abundant Plio-Pleistocene paleosols in the Fish Creek-Vallecito basin record the effects of late Neogene global climate change on inland southern California. Analysis of 82 paleosol horizons ranging in age from 3.9 to 0.7 Ma reveals two primary populations: vertic paleosols with abundant mud cracks and calcic paleosols with pronounced calcite accumulation zones. Vertic paleosols are dominant in older deposits but disappear from the stratigraphic record by 2.8 Ma, after which point calcic paleosols are nearly the only paleosol type present. Pedogenic carbonate nodules from 47 horizons were analyzed for oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions. In late Pliocene time carbonate δ 13 C values become depleted, from an average of �5.1‰ between 3.9 and 3.5 Ma to �7.3‰ (VPDB) between 2.75 and 2.25 Ma, recording an increase in C3 plants at the expense of C4 grasses. This finding suggests that summer precipitation decreased in the study area from 3.8 to 2.5 Ma, possibly due to a weakening of the summer monsoon. The absence of vertic paleosols in post-2.8 Ma deposits supports this hypothesis. The increase in abundance of calcic paleosols through time suggests a long-term increase in aridity. A gradual enrichment of about 2‰ in δ 18 O values from 3.9 to 0.7 Ma also likely resulted from increased aridification and evaporative enrichment of soil water. Our findings suggest that global cooling in late Pliocene time resulted in increased aridity in southern California due to decreased monsoonal activity and the end of persistent El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean. The observed enrichment in δ
Characteristics of Each Bonded Layer of a Polymer-Based Magnetic Tape Using Rule-of-Mixtures and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

A rule-of-mixtures approach is used with dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to determine the viscoelastic characteristics of individual layers of a fourth-generation advanced magnetic tape used for archival storage. Such tapes are comprised of three layers: a 0.92 µm thick poly(ester-urethane)-based front coat that binds the magnetic particles together, a 5.00 µm thick poly(ethylene naphthalate) substrate, and a protective 0.64 µm thick back coat with cellulose nitrate as a constituent. The storage modulus, loss modulus, and loss tangent determined for each layer are discussed in terms of their influence on magnetic tape properties and characteristics.
Role of two-photon states in nonlinear optical dye chromophores

The critical role of two-photon (pi) -electron excited states in third order optical processes in squaraine dyes is described. The discussion is based on recently completed femtosecond measurements of the excited state absorption spectrum of a typical centrosymmetric squaraine. The new experimental data agree well with the earlier theoretical description and quantum many-electron calculations reported for the dye chromophores.
Computer simulation of the glass pressing process: a review

Numerical simulation of glass pressing has been an active research area for many years. This paper reviews the research and development in numerical simulation of glass pressing. It organises prior studies into three categories, namely, glass flow, heat transfer, and residual stresses. Based on the research progress to date, this paper suggests that the coupled and integrated simulation considering material, mould and process, the use of empirical models and soft computing techniques to complement the numerical simulation, and small scale experiments are the three most important areas for further advancement.
GERMINAL MATRIX HEMORRHAGE (GMH) LOCATION IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) NEONATES. † 1166

GERMINAL MATRIX HEMORRHAGE (GMH) LOCATION IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) NEONATES. † 1166
Client-nurse interaction: Testing for its impact in preoperative instruction

This study tests for the impact of client-nurse interaction, an essential element lacking in earlier research on preoperative instruction. An experimental design compared the effects of three models of intervention: Facilitator, Informational and Routine Treatment on postoperative pain and anxiety in 91 cholecystectomy patients. Planned comparisons showed that subjects in both experimental conditions reported significantly less postoperative anxiety than subjects who received the routine treatment. There were no differences in anxiety levels between the two experimental groups or in pain scores among the three groups. Refinements in the facilitator model are recommended to enhance the problem-solving nature of the interaction and to strengthen future research. The findings support the importance of providing the patient with sensation information and postoperative exercise instruction.
Transport mechanisms and densification during sintering: I. Viscous flow versus vacancy diffusion

Abstract Different materials transport mechanisms lead to distinctly different morphological evolution during the sintering of ceramic particles. These behaviors are analyzed using meso-scale, finite-element models based on rigorous formulations of coupled equations for continuum transport and interfacial phenomena. While such two-particle models are simplistic with respect to a real powder compact, they nevertheless provide important mechanistic understanding of the sintering behavior of different systems. Calculations clearly show how viscous flow mechanisms for glassy particles produce simultaneous shrinkage and neck growth due to the global nature of materials transport. In contrast, results for crystalline systems without grain boundaries show that the more localized nature of diffusive transport leads to neck growth with very little densification until late stages of sintering. Surprisingly, surface vacancy diffusion leads to system elongation before densification occurs. Changes caused by the presence of a grain boundary are discussed in a companion paper [Djohari, H., Derby, J.J., 2009. Transport mechanisms and densification during sintering: II. Grain boundaries. Chem. Eng. Sci., in press doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2009.05.022 ].
Hypertension in the 21st century: the tide is rising; our daze must end.

Epidemiologists can sometimes mesmerize with numbers that, while important, seem inanimate, distant, and impersonal. Not this time. Dr Larry Fields et al have brought the growing hypertension epidemic to life in this issue of Hypertension .1 The clarion call has been sounded; the tide is rising. Whereas the US population grew 13.2% from 1990 to 2000, the estimated number of hypertensives rose 30%, which is more than twice the rate of population growth. As the authors note, factors contributing to the disproportionately faster growth of hypertension include an aging population with an expanding girth. Improvements in medical care for hypertensive patients leading to longer survival also appear to increase the opportunity for an individual to become …
Linear Equations for Estimating a Person's Occupational Adjustment, Based on Information on Occupational Profiles.

Summary. There are broadly two models for vocational guidance, estimating respectively the ‘efficiency’ of the individual against a performance criterion and ‘belongingness or adjustment’ based on similarity to the typical member. The former has attractions of positiveness, but data for the latter are easier to get. It is shown in this paper that, with certain reasonably acceptable assumptions, mean occupational profile data can be used via the point-biserial to get regression equations permitting the more convenient usage of the ‘efficiency’ approach (though the criterion is still ‘adjustment’). An illustrative example is worked, discussion is given of how the proposed ‘adjustment score’ functions, and a tentative decision rule is stated.
Parameter estimation for constrained context-free language models

A new language model incorporating both N-gram and context-free ideas is proposed. This constrained context-free model is specified by a stochastic context-free prior distribution with N-gram frequency constraints. The resulting distribution is a Markov random field. Algorithms for sampling from this distribution and estimating the parameters of the model are presented.
Engineered human cardiac tissue.

The human heart is the first organ to develop during embryogenesis and is arguably the most essential organ for life. However, after birth, the heart has very little capacity to repair malformations such as congenital heart defects or to regenerate after an injury such as myocardial infarction. Cardiac tissue engineering addresses the need for a therapeutic biologic implant to restore cardiac structure and muscle mass. This review highlights current research in cardiac tissue engineering that uses human cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells. Other human cell sources are discussed because future human therapies will benefit from novel techniques using human-induced pluripotent stem cells and cardiomyocytes derived from direct reprogramming of somatic cells. Furthermore, this review examines the main approaches to creating engineered cardiac tissue with synthetic scaffolds, natural scaffolds, or no exogenous scaffold (i.e., “scaffold free”). The choice of scaffold and cells ultimately depends on the goals of the therapy, so the review considers how congenital heart defects define the design parameters for cardiac tissue engineering needed for surgical repair in pediatric cardiac patients.
Identification of gene clusters associated with fusaric acid, fusarin, and perithecial pigment production in Fusarium verticillioides

The genus Fusarium is of concern to agricultural production and food/feed safety because of its ability to cause crop disease and to produce mycotoxins. Understanding the genetic basis for production of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites (SMs) has the potential to limit crop disease and mycotoxin contamination. In fungi, SM biosynthetic genes are typically located adjacent to one another in clusters of co-expressed genes. Such clusters typically include a core gene, responsible for synthesis of an initial chemical, and several genes responsible for chemical modifications, transport, and/or regulation. Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most common pathogens of maize and produces a variety of SMs of concern. Here, we employed whole genome expression analysis and utilized existing knowledge of polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, a common cluster core gene, to identify three novel clusters of co-expressed genes in F. verticillioides. Functional analysis of the PKS genes linked the clusters to production of three known Fusarium SMs, a violet pigment in sexual fruiting bodies (perithecia) and the mycotoxins fusarin C and fusaric acid. The results indicate that microarray analysis of RNA derived from culture conditions that induce differential gene expression can be an effective tool for identifying SM biosynthetic gene clusters.
Non-targeted effects induced by ionizing radiation: mechanisms and potential impact on radiation induced health effects.

Abstract Not-targeted effects represent a paradigm shift from the “DNA centric” view that ionizing radiation only elicits biological effects and subsequent health consequences as a result of an energy deposition event in the cell nucleus. While this is likely true at higher radiation doses (>1 Gy), at low doses (
Reaction Kinetics in the Ionic Liquid Methyltributylammonium Bis(Trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. Pulse Radiolysis Study of •CF3 Radical Reactions

The reactions of trifluoromethyl radicals with pyrene, phenanthrene, crotonic acid, and 2-propanol (2-PrOH) in the ionic liquid methyltributylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (R4NNTf2) are studied by pulse radiolysis. Radiolysis of R4NNTf2 leads to formation of solvated electrons and organic radicals, including •CF3. The solvated electrons do not react rapidly with the solvent and are reacted with CF3Br to produce additional •CF3 radicals. The rate constants for addition of •CF3 radicals to pyrene and phenanthrene are determined to be (1.1 ± 0.1) × 107 L mol-1 s-1 and (2.6 ± 0.4) × 106 L mol-1 s-1, respectively. By competition kinetics, the rate constant for reaction of •CF3 radicals with crotonic acid is determined to be (2.7 ± 0.4) × 106 L mol-1 s-1, and the reaction is predominantly addition to the double bond. Competition kinetics with 2-PrOH in the absence of CF3Br gives a rate constant of (4 ± 1) × 104 L mol-1 s-1 for H-abstraction from 2-PrOH, but in the presence of CF3Br, the rate consta...
Acute Electrocardiographic ST Segment Elevation May Predict Hypotension in a Swine Model of Severe Cyanide Toxicity

Cyanide causes severe cardiac toxicity resulting in tachycardia, hypotension, and cardiac arrest; however, the clinical diagnosis can be difficult to make. A clinical finding that may precede or predict cyanide-induced hypotension may be a trigger to provide treatment earlier and improve outcomes in cyanide toxicity. Our primary objective was to determine if there is a clinically significant change in ST segment deviation measured on ECG during intravenous cyanide infusion that may predict cyanide-induced hypotension. As part of a larger study comparing antidotes for cyanide-induced shock, 30 swine were anesthetized and monitored and then intoxicated with a continuous cyanide infusion until severe hypotension (50 % of baseline mean arterial pressure) occurred. ECGs were obtained at baseline, every 5 min during infusion, and at the development of hypotension. Repeated measures of analysis of variance were used to determine significance. The mean weight for the 30 swine at baseline was 48 kg (range 45–52), pulse rate 86 beats/min (range 55–121), and systolic blood pressure 109 mmHg (range 90–121). The mean time to hypotension was 31 min (range 16–39). The mean amount of cyanide infused was 5 mg/kg (range 2.5–6.3 mg/kg). All animals (30/30) had ECG changes in repolarization or depolarization during cyanide infusion. Significant rhythm, repolarization, and conduction changes from baseline were observed prior to severe hypotension (p < 0.05). Normal sinus rhythm and sinus tachycardia were the most common rhythms preceding hypotension. We observed ST segment elevation in leads V3, V4, III, and aVF and ST segment depression in leads aVL and aVR. The most pronounced ST segment elevation was observed in leads V3 and V4. We also detected significant changes with increased pulse rate, prolonged PR interval, and shortened QTc interval. Other significant changes were increased T axis and reduced QRS axis. We detected ST segment deviations occurring just before the onset of cyanide-induced hypotension in our swine model. Leads V3 and V4 had the most pronounced with ST elevation, but we also detected electrocardiographic ST elevation inferiorly. Shortening of the QTc and lengthening of the PR interval were also detected before hypotension.
Excitation-emission-lifetime analysis of multicomponent systems—II. Synthetic model data

Abstract To determine the efficacy of three-dimensional principal component factor analysis (PCFA) for extracting non-exponential decay parameters from multicomponent data, we have constructed synthetic data matrices which mimic the possible outcomes of experiments in the nanosecond time domain with copper porphyrins. Our results demonstrate that PCFA is capable of determining non-exponential time decay in systems with two and three emitting species. The accuracy of the rate constants determined by this method is limited by the accuracy of the non-linear Marquardt algorithm that we have used for the final fits. Although extremely overlapped components have been resolved using this method, degeneracy in one of the dimensions is problematic.
Narrative disclosures in annual reports

Abstract This paper explores a methodology for evaluating the content of narrative data. The method is applied to the president's letter and management analysis portions of annual reports in three industries. Comparisons of the narrative themes identified by the method are made to economic factors of sample firms that could alter perception of management performance. Results confirm hypothesized linkages between performance and narrative disclosure consistent with attribution theory.
Water-Soluble Narrow-Line Radicals for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

The synthesis of air-stable, highly water-soluble organic radicals containing a 1,3-bis(diphenylene)-2-phenylallyl (BDPA) core is reported. A sulfonated derivative, SA-BDPA, retains the narrow electron paramagnetic resonance linewidth (<30 MHz at 5 T) of the parent BDPA in highly concentrated glycerol/water solutions (40 mM), which enables its use as polarizing agent for solid effect dynamic nuclear polarization (SE DNP). A sensitivity enhancement of 110 was obtained in high-field magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR experiments. The ease of synthesis and high maximum enhancements obtained with the BDPA-based radicals constitute a major advance over the trityl-type narrow-line polarization agents.