cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating a Survival Curve when New Is Better Than Used

Let F be a distribution function on 0, ∞, and let S = 1-F be its corresponding survival function. F is New Better than Used NBU if SxSy â¥ Sx + y for all x and y. Let Snx be the empirical survival function based on a random sample of size n from an NBU distribution function F. This paper studies the estimator Anx defined as sup{Snx + y/Sny}, where the supremum is taken over all y for which Sny > 0. We show that An is an NBU survival curve, and that it is strongly uniformly consistent for S when the underlying distribution has compact support for example, when sampling is subject to type I censoring. Moreover, in such problems, we show that the rate of convergence of An is optimal.
The development of wind damage bands for buildings

Abstract The past decade in the United States was marked by a tremendous loss in properties attributed to wind damage, generating in the process, an enormous awareness to the twin problems of wind damage mitigation and storm prediction. This paper proposes a new approach to hurricane wind damage prediction using the concept of wind damage bands. The damage band prediction methodology employs an objective weighting technique driven by building component cost factors, component fragilities, and location parameters to obtain upper and lower bounds to building damage thresholds. Damage bands are developed for 1–3 story (low-rise) buildings as well as 4–10 story (mid-rise) buildings. The damage bands reveal that the wind damage response of individual 1–3 story buildings is most easily distinguished in the 43–60 m/s (sustained one-min mean) wind regime and that above 73 m/s sustained one-minute wind speed, 1–3 story buildings experience near-total destruction of their superstructures, with the damage response of the most wind-resistant and least wind-resistant building approaching each other. In contrast, the damage response of individual mid-rise buildings is most easily distinguished in the 60–81 m/s wind regime, and continues to depend largely upon the components and connections. Wind damage bands form the basis for new methods of wind damage prediction of individual buildings and groups of buildings, wind damage mitigation, and emergency management planning.
Potent Peroxisome Proliferators Inhibit β-Oxidation in the Isolated Perfused Rat Liver☆

It is unknown whether peroxisome proliferators decrease hepatic fatty acid oxidation via uncoupling of respiration or if they inhibit extramitochondrial fatty acyl CoA synthesis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine both processes simultaneously using the isolated perfused liver, a whole cell preparation where enzymes and biochemical processes can be monitored continuously under nearly physiological conditions. Accordingly, ketone body formation (beta-hydroxybutyrate + acetoacetate) from lipid metabolism and oxygen uptake, which is increased by uncoupling agents, were monitored at the same time. 2-Bromooctanoate, a known inhibitor of acyl CoA synthetase, decreased ketone body formation in a dose-dependent manner without altering cellular respiration (half-maximal inhibition, approximately 25 microM) and concomitantly increased protein kinase C nearly fourfold also in a dose-dependent fashion. Ketogenesis was also blocked maximally 50-66% with mono(ethylhexyl)phthalate, 4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidino)-2-pyrimidinylthio acetic acid (WY-14,643), and nafenopin, potent peroxisome proliferators and tumor promoters. These compounds also increased protein kinase C three- to fourfold without altering oxygen uptake significantly. Thus, lipid metabolism appears to be the prime target of potent peroxisome proliferators most likely on actions via acyl CoA synthetase rather than oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, weak peroxisome proliferators and tumor promoters, di(ethylhexyl)phthalate and 2-ethylhexanol, did not affect ketogenesis, oxygen consumption, or protein kinase C at similar concentrations. Additionally, octanoate increased ketone body formation in the presence of nafenopin. Because octanoate is metabolized by mitochondrial acyl CoA synthetase independent of carnitine acyltransferase, these results indicate that nafenopin does not inhibit mitochondrial beta-oxidation. Taken together, it is concluded that potent peroxisome proliferators preferentially block ketogenesis without altering cellular respiration in the liver. This phenomenona, which occurs due to inhibition of acyl CoA synthetase, leads to an elevation of free fatty acids that stimulates protein kinase C and promotes cell proliferation.
The Nramp1 antimicrobial resistance gene segregates independently of resistance to virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Nramp1 is a recently cloned gene that is involved in resistance of mice to infection with certain microbial pathogens, including the attenuated bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) strain of Mycobacterium bovis, as well as certain other mycobacteria. With a view to determining whether Nramp1 influences resistance of mice to infection with virulent M. tuberculosis, BALB/c mice homozygous for the susceptibility allele of Nramp1, and DBA/2 mice homozygous for the resistance allele, as well as their F1 and F2 progeny, were typed according to their possession of these alleles using a 'hot start' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure. As assessed by the ability of the mice to survive infection, the results show that Nramp1 plays no discernible role in resistance to tuberculosis.
Revisiting Prospects for an Unconventional Presidency

Various polls indicate that prejudices held by Americans against a variety of “unconventional” presidential candidates including females, blacks, Catholics, and Jews slowly dissipated between the 1930s and the 1990s, while prejudices against either atheistic or homosexual candidates remained palpable. Nonetheless, the chances that the American public gives to an unconventional candidate of actually winning a race for the White House in the near future is undetermined. Moreover, how might members of these politically disadvantaged groups view the chances of one of their own winning the presidency? Using data from a survey of Californians, we explore individuals' openness to voting for any of a variety of unconventional presidential candidates—for females, African Americans, Hispanics, homosexuals, and atheists—as well as their views on the probability that any such candidate will be elected to the White House within the next 50 years. Our findings shed light on political tolerance in America and reveal potential obstacles for the likelihood of an unconventional presidency in the near future.
Improving the Quality and Continuity of Relationships in Two Inner-City Schools

Abstract Children who have not had good object relations may exhibit increasing behavior difficulties and academic failure when they enter a school setting that is too divergent from their home experiences. Teacher frustration may aggravate the conflicted relationship between child and teacher. A multiple intervention program designed to improve staff-community, intrastaff, and staff-student relationships was therefore instituted. Improvement in the quality of relationships in the school, and increasing the period of contact between teacher and child to two years, appeared to be the most important components that resulted in improved behavior and task performance in the child.
Drug abuse in women with eating disorders

Objective: Drug abuse in women with eating disorders has received relatively little attention. The frequency of drug use disorder (DUD) by specific drug type was examined in the current longitudinal study. Method: In a prospective study, women diagnosed with either anorexia nervosa (AN; n = 136) or bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 110), were interviewed and assessed for research diagnostic criteria (RDC) DUD every 6–12 months over 8.6 years. Results: Forty-two (17%) women in the current longitudinal study had a lifetime history of DUD, with 19 prospective onsets over the course of the study (9 AN and 10 BN). The most commonly abused illicit drugs were amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana, and rates of DUD did not differ between intake diagnoses of AN and BN. Conclusion: Drug abuse in women with eating disorders is an area of clinical concern and should be monitored routinely throughout the treatment process. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006.
Enzymatic and detrital influences on the structure, function, and dynamics of spatially-explicit model ecosystems

We developed agent-based models patterned after the equation-based models developed by Schimel and Weintraub (Soil Biol Biochem 35:549–563, 2003) to explore the influence of microbial-derived extracellular enzymes on carbon (C) dynamics. The models featured spatial arrangements of detritus as either randomly-spaced particles (rain) or as root-like structures (root), detritus input intervals (continuous vs. pulsed) and rates (0–5,000 units in 500 unit intervals), trophic structures (presence or absence of predators preying on microbes), and extracellular enzymes with different half-lives (1, 10, 100, and 1,000 time steps). We studied how these features affected C dynamics and model persistence (no extinctions). Models without predators were more likely to persist than those with predators, and their C dynamics could be explained with energetics-based arguments. When predators were present, two of the four model configurations—root-continuous and rain-pulsed—were more likely to persist. The root-continuous models were more likely to persist at lower detritus input rates (500–3,500 units), while the rain-pulsed models were more likely to persist at intermediate detritus input rates (2,000–3,500 units). For both these model configurations, shorter extracellular enzyme half-lives increased the likelihood of persistence. Consistent with the results of Schimel and Weintraub (Soil Biol Biochem 35:549–563, 2003), C dynamics was governed by extracellular enzyme production activity and loss. Our results demonstrated that extracellular enzyme control of C dynamics depends on the spatial arrangement of resources, the input rate and input intervals of detritus and trophic structure.
Molecular-Level Theoretical Model for Electrostatic Interactions within Polyelectrolyte Brushes: Applications to Charged Glycosaminoglycans

In this paper, we set forth a general theoretical framework to predict the nanoelectromechanical behavior of polyelectrolyte brushes and then apply it to a model system of negatively charged chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan (CS-GAG) chains. We used a Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) based approach to calculate the electrostatic component of the interaction forces between polyelectrolyte molecules in a brush and to better understand how changes in polyelectrolyte fixed charge distribution affect these forces. The applicability and accuracy of three increasingly refined models were examined via a quantitative comparison with high-resolution force spectroscopy experimental data on a model CS-GAG brush system. In the first model, the polyelectrolyte brush was represented as a uniform, flat constant surface charge density. The second model approximated the polyelectrolyte brush as a uniform volume charge density. The third model represented the time-average space occupied by individual polyelectrolyte macromolecules in the brush as cylindrical rods of uniform volume charge density and finite height. This rod model approximates additional aspects of polymer molecular geometry and nonuniform molecular charge distribution inside the brush. Although the total polyelectrolyte charge was the same in all three models, both the rod and volume charge models, which accounted for the height of the brush, predicted much higher forces than the surface charge model at any given separation distance. The comparison between measured and theoretically predicted forces showed that the rod model gave better agreement with the force data over the widest range of separation distance D and for reasonable best-fit values of the brush height and rod radius. Therefore, in the framework of the PB theory, it appears that molecular-level changes in the charge distribution inside polyelectrolyte brush layers as manifested in the rod model can significantly change the magnitude and the shape of the resulting force profile.
Circumsolar radiation and the International Pyrheliometric Scale.

Issue is taken with the ascription of the 2% discrepancy in values of solar irradiance at the surface of the earth, found between the measurements performed by the absolute radiometers of Kendall and Wilson and those obtained by Eppley-Angstrom pyrheliometers, to the possibility that the two types of instruments might collect different amounts of circumsolar radiation. It is shown that this explanation is very unlikely.
Dihydroorotase from the Hyperthermophile Aquifiex aeolicus Is Activated by Stoichiometric Association with Aspartate Transcarbamoylase and Forms a One-Pot Reactor for Pyrimidine Biosynthesis

In prokaryotes, the first three enzymes in pyrimidine biosynthesis, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS), aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATC), and dihydroorotase (DHO), are commonly expressed separately and either function independently (Escherichia coli) or associate into multifunctional complexes (Aquifex aeolicus). In mammals the enzymes are expressed as a single polypeptide chain (CAD) in the order CPS-DHO-ATC and associate into a hexamer. This study presents the three-dimensional structure of the noncovalent hexamer of DHO and ATC from the hyperthermophile A. aeolicus at 2.3 A resolution. It is the first structure of any multienzyme complex in pyrimidine biosynthesis and is a possible model for the core of mammalian CAD. The structure has citrate, a near isosteric analogue of carbamoyl aspartate, bound to the active sites of both enzymes. Three active site loops that are intrinsically disordered in the free, inactive DHO are ordered in the complex. The reorganization also changes the peptide bond betwe...
Zionism in anti-semitic thought in imperial Germany

The question of continuity versus discontinuity in modern German history since 1871 has been a dominant theme among historians in the post-World War II era. It has naturally been generated by the unique character and horror of the Third Reich. The inclination to firmly establish, temper or, in some cases, to simply refute the immediate origins in Imperial Germany of the militarism, imperialism, authoritarianism and racism/anti-Semitism of Nazi Germany has explicitly or implicitly formed the basis of much of the scholarship on the Third Reich; at the same time, much of the scholarship on the Second Reich has been cast with an eye toward the failure of the Weimar Republic and the establishment and nature of Hitler’s tyranny. Just as this has been especially true for historians of the Third Reich in their work on anti-Semitism, on Jewish policy during the 1930s and on the mass-murder of European Jews during the Second World War, so too has this tendency characterised the literature on anti-Semitism in its various forms in Imperial Germany between 1871 and 1918. As George Mosse has concluded in his history of European racism: ‘The holocaust has passed. The history of racism which we have told has helped to explain the final solution’.’ Usually with National Socialism and the Holocaust in mind, the literature on anti-Semitism in Imperial Germany has addressed the complex web of political, economic, social, cultural and traditional religious sentiment that formed the basis of hostility toward Jews. The rather tortuous reading of the works of prominent anti-Semitic theorists reveals a high degree of consensus about the nature of the problem, i.e. about the characteristics of alleged Jewish inferiority and depravity and their negative impact on German society. Fantasies about biological inferiority coexisted or were fused with lingering traditional religious myths and biases regarding Judaism and Jewish religious practices. Most saw the Jews as a distinct people rather than a religious community, as historically unwilling and unable to assimilate, as a state within a state, and as determined to carry out their conspiracy to undermine, dominate and exploit the ‘aryan’ world. They deplored the process of Jewish emancipation in the nineteenth century and saw the Jews as alien and as the embodiment of evil in an unsuspecting world. Such reading also reveals differences and, in large measure, confusion and contradictions among anti-Semites, at least on the surface, regarding the best solutions to the so-called Jewish Question. In a recently published essay, Donald Niewyk divides anti-Semites in Germany into three groups in terms of possible solutions: ‘integrationists’ are defined as those who held that Jews simply had to cease being Jews in every way and assimilate completely; ‘segrationists’ were those who wanted to limit or reverse entirely the process of
Structural Control of Photoinduced Energy Transfer between Adjacent and Distant Sites in Multiporphyrin Arrays

A family of diphenylethyne-linked porphyrin dimers and trimers has been prepared via a building block approach for studies of energy-transfer processes. The dimers contain Mg and Zn porphyrins (MgZnU); the trimers contain an additional free base porphyrin (MgZnFbU). In both the dimers and trimers, sites of attachment to the Mg porphyrin (at the meso- or β-position) and diphenylethyne linker (at the para- or meta-positions) were varied, producing four Mg porphyrin−Zn porphyrin arrangements with the following linker configurations: meso-p/p-meso, meso-m/p-meso, β-p/p-meso, and β-m/p-meso. All four trimers employ a meso-p/p-meso Zn porphyrin−Fb porphyrin connection. The ground- and excited-state properties of the porphyrin dimers and trimers have been examined using static and time-resolved optical techniques. The rate of energy transfer from the photoexcited Zn porphyrin to the Mg porphyrin decreases according to the following trend: meso-p/p-meso (9 ps)-1 > β-p/p-meso (14 ps)-1 > meso-m/p-meso (19 ps)-1 ...
Home and school connections in schools of the future: Implications of research on parent involvement

(1985). Home and school connections in schools of the future: Implications of research on parent involvement. Peabody Journal of Education: Vol. 62, Planning the School of the Future, pp. 18-41.
A Scale-Dependent Model for Multi-Asperity Contact and Friction

As loading forces decrease in applications such as MEMS and NEMS devices, the size of the asperity contacts which comprise the real contact area tend to decrease into the nano scale regime. This reduction in size of the contacts is only partially offset by the nominally increased smoothness of these contacting surfaces. Because the friction force depends on the real area of contact, it is important to understand how the material and topographical properties of surfaces contribute to friction forces at this nano scale. In this investigation, the single asperity nano contact model of Hurtado and Kim is incorporated into a multi-asperity model for contact and friction which includes the effect of asperity adhesion forces using the Maugis-Dugdale model. The model spans the range from nano-scale to micro-scale to macro-scale contacts. Three key dimensionless parameters have been identified which represent combinations of surface roughness measures, Burgers vector length, surface energy, and elastic properties. Results are given for the friction coefficient versus normal force, the normal and friction forces versus separation. and the pull-off force for various values of these key parameters.
The "Africa and the Rest of the World Evolutionary Hypotheses": An Exercise in Scientific Epistemology

The consensus of the majority of researchers in evolutionary anthropology and paleontology is that the biological species Homo originated in the general area consisting of the eastern and southern portions of what is now known as Africa. It is also recognized by some researchers, the multiregionalists, that migratory Homo subspecies defined as Homo erectus migrated from Africa's northeast quadrant to populate other parts of the globe now defined as the continents of Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. This migratory enterprise would have taken place at least 1 million years (ya) with novel evolutionary forces pushing Homo erectus to attain the sapiens level in situ in the continents of Europe and Asia. Other researchers claim that critically important migration out of Africa took place at
A possible cause for the differing responses of the luteinizing hormone surge mechanism of ovariectomized rats to short term exposure to estradiol.

Subcutaneous placement of Silastic implants of 17β-estradiol (E2) for 33 h induces a surge of LH on only 1 day in rats acutely ovariectomized (ovx) on the morning of placement but produces daily surges of LH in rats ovx 14 days previously. A possible explanation for this difference in response of acute and long term ovx rats to E2 challenge is provided in this study. Rats which were exposed to endogenous levels of E2 on diestrus-2 (day 0) and progesterone (P) on proestrus (day 1) were ovx on the following diestrus-2 (day 4). The surge of LH in response to sc implantation of E2 for 33 h on day 4 or 8 was limited to a single day (days 5 and 9, respectively) and did not return on subsequent days. However, sc implantation of E2 for 33 h on day 12 induced daily surges of LH on days 13, 14, and 15. Long term (≥14 days) ovx rats received sc implants of E2 from 0800 h on day 0 (simulated diestrus-2) to 1700 h on day 1 (simulated proestrus) and implants of P from 1400 h on day 1 until 0300 h on day 2 (simulated es...
Durability of Pacific Northwest Instream Structures Following Floods

Abstract The durability of 3,946 instream structures in 94 streams that had floods with return intervals exceeding 5 years were assessed. Overall structure durability (defined as the degree to which a structure remained at its original location) was high; less than 20% of the sampled structures had been removed from the site of original placement. The magnitude of flood events had a significant effect on structure durability with higher magnitude floods reducing durability. Stream order also affected structure durability; structures in large streams were 20 times more likely to have been removed from the site of original placement than structures in small streams. Other conditions that affected structure durability included location of the structure within the stream channel, whether the structure was anchored or not, structure material, and upslope landslide frequency. Instream structures are most appropriate when used as short-term tools to improve degraded stream conditions while activities that caused...
Dissociation of doublecortin expression and neurogenesis in unipolar brush cells in the vestibulocerebellum and dorsal cochlear nucleus of the adult rat.

Abstract We have previously shown expression of the protein doublecortin (DCX) in unipolar brush cells (UBCs) in the dorsal cochlear nucleus and vestibulocerebellum of the adult rat. We also saw DCX-immunoreactive elements with the appearance of neuroblasts around the fourth ventricle. Expression of DCX is seen in newborn and migrating neurons and hence considered a correlate of neurogenesis. There were two interpretations of the expression of DCX in UBCs. One possibility is that there might be adult neurogenesis of this cell population. Adult neurogenesis is now well-established, but only for the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. The other possibility is that there is prolonged expression of DCX in adult UBCs that may signal a unique role in plasticity of these neurons. We tested the neurogenesis hypothesis by systemic injections of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analog, followed by immunohistochemistry to examine the numbers and locations of dividing cells. We used several different injection paradigms, varying the dose of BrdU, the number of injections and the survival time to assess the possibility of neuronal birth and migration. We saw BrdU-labeled cells in the cerebellum and brainstem; cell division in these regions was confirmed by immunohistochemistry for the protein Ki67. However, neither the numbers nor the distribution of labeled nuclei support the idea of adult neurogenesis and migration of UBCs. The function of DCX expression in UBC’s in the adult remains to be understood.
Differential phase contrast tomosynthesis imaging

The development of differential phase contrast imaging using conventional x-ray tubes has spurred great interest in the medical imaging community. It has been shown to provide higher contrast than absorption imaging in some cases, and in this work we translate these advantages to tomosynthesis imaging. A general framework for reconstruction of images from differential phase contrast projection data has been proposed and implemented using data from a grating-based x-ray phase contrast tomosynthesis system. Reconstructed tomosynthesis images from differential phase contrast data are shown, using both a direct backprojection (BP) technique and a filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction method. From the results it is seen that phase contrast tomosynthesis can separate superimposed phase objects while providing complementary information to absorption tomosynthesis.
Geomorphology and Geodynamics of the Cook-Austral Island-Seamount Chain in the South Pacific Ocean: Implications for Hotspots and Plumes

Among Pacific hotspot tracks, the Cook-Austral island-seamount chain is distinctly anomalous in geodynamic behavior, exhibiting repetitive episodes of volcanism at multiple sites, uplift of selected islands long after initial immersion by subsidence, and multiple alignments of volcanic edifices. Cook-Austral islands include a variety of disparate geomorphic types: volcanic islands without reefs, with fringing reefs, and with barrier reefs enclosing shallow lagoons, low-lying atolls; and makatea islands composed of volcanic cores surrounded by annular limestone tablelands. Neogene hotspot volcanism along the chain, built across Cretaceous-Paleogene seafloor, has occurred above three different mantle source regions, now located near its southeastern end, center, and northwestern end. Each hotspot has given rise to a separate age trend of volcanism along the same broad hotspot track, as the Pacific plate drifted over them, and each was initiated by eruption through the same region of lithosphere now located ...
16. Methylene blue infusion for treatment of traumatic brain injury-associated neuroinflammation and depressive-like behavior

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces immediate neuroinflammation that contributes to impaired functional recovery and long-lasting deficits, including depression. We hypothesized that treatment with methylene blue (MB), a blood brain barrier permeable antioxidant, would ameliorate TBI-induced inflammation and depressive-like behavior. To address this hypothesis, young adult male mice received a sham operation or moderate TBI. After 15–30 min mice were injected intravenously with vehicle or 2 mg/kg MB. After 24 h, mice that received a TBI had an increased percentage of inflammatory myeloid cells in circulation corresponding to increased edema in the cortex and inflammatory gene expression (e.g., CD14, IL-1b) in the hippocampus. These TBI-associated effects, however, were markedly reduced in mice treated with MB. Moreover, MB treatment significantly attenuated TBI-induced inflammatory gene expression in microglia, whereas anti-inflammatory gene expression (i.e., IL-10) was exaggerated in TBI-MB mice compared to all other groups. Although MB did not improve nest building or motor coordination during the first week after injury, MB did attenuate TBI-associated depressive-like behavior at seven days post injury. Together these results indicate that early intervention with MB selectively reduced inflammatory gene expression while promoting anti-inflammatory gene expression and attenuated TBI-associated complications including edema and depressive-like behavior. Thus, MB treatment could reduce immediate life-threatening complications increasing survival after TBI while also promoting long-lasting neurological and behavioral improvements making it a promising candidate for clinical trial.
Growth hormone and carbohydrate tolerance in adrenalectomized rat.

SummaryGrowth hormone in a dose which regularly leads to hyperglycemia and glycosuria in normal tube-fed rats has no such effect in saline or DOCA maintained tube-fed adrenalectomized rats. Treatment with sub-diabetogenic doses of cortisol restores the hyperglycemic response to growth hormone in adrenalectomized rats. These results are compared to previous studies of growth hormone effects in adrenalectomized cats and dogs.
Modeling transport effects of perfluorinated and hydrocarbon surfactants in groundwater by using micellar liquid chromatography.

Abstract The effects of hydrocarbon and perfluorinated surfactants, above their critical micelle concentration (CMC), on the transport of neutral environmental pollutants are compared. Reversed-phase micellar liquid chromatography is used to model the groundwater system. The octadecylsilica stationary phase serves to simulate soil particles containing organic matter, whereas the aqueous surfactant mobile phases serve to simulate groundwater containing a surfactant at varying concentrations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate and lithium perfluorooctane sulfonate are used as representatives of the hydrocarbon and perfluorinated surfactants, respectively. Benzene, mono- and perhalogenated benzenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are used as models for environmental pollutants. Transport effects were elucidated from the retention factor, k , and the equilibrium constant per micelle, K eq , of the model pollutants in the individual surfactants. Based on k values, the transport of the model pollutants increased in both surfactant solutions in comparison to pure water. As the concentration of the surfactants increased, the transport of the pollutants increased as well. Notably, the K eq values of the pollutants in the perfluorinated surfactant were at least an order of magnitude less than those in the hydrocarbon surfactant. Overall, these results suggest that the presence of a perfluorinated surfactant, above its CMC, increases the transport of pollutants in a groundwater system. However, the perfluorinated surfactant exhibits a lesser transport effect than the hydrocarbon surfactant.
Polymorphisms in the large intergenic spacer of the nuclear ribosomal repeat identify Laccaria proxima strains

A simple method for identifying strains of Laccaria proxima is presented which uses the poly- merase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the large in- tergenic spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal re- peat. The large intergenic spacer region of L. proxi- ma is approximately 4000 base pairs long and is vari- able enough to permit clear identification of individual strains after digestion with restriction en- donucleases. This has only been partially possible with other published PCR-based identification meth- ods which use conserved primers. The method has the potential to be adapted for use in identifying iso- lates directly from roots and avoids the use of labeled probes needed for identifying Laccaria strains with techniques which are not PCR-based.
Multiphoton double ionization of barium with intense picosecond pulses

The authors have observed the production of Ba2+ from neutral Ba by intense picosecond laser pulses in the range 560-650 nm. Several new features have been observed, which were not observed with nanosecond pulses. Most of the strong resonances in Ba2+ production can be attributed to Ba+ transitions originating in the 6s1/2 or 5dj states, suggesting that the dominant process in double ionization in this intensity and wavelength regime is sequential removal of electrons. However, there are several resonances which cannot be attributed in this manner, evidence for possible alternative ionization mechanisms. Ba2+ production is strong throughout the region studied, at times comparable to that of Ba+. The authors have also looked for Ba2+ production in the range 280-325 nm, but no Ba2+ signal was observed in this part of the ultraviolet.
Perceived use of evaluative statements in developing, stable, and deteriorating relationships with a person of the same or opposite sex

This study concerned the perceived use of three levels of evaluativeness (offering no opinion, description; offering ones own opinion, evaluation; and offering an opinion of the other's opinion, evaluative other) in developing, stable, and deteriorating relationships with a person of the same or opposite sex. Current theory was used to predict that as relationships developed evaluativeness would increase, that when relationships were stable evaluativeness would be stable, and that evaluativeness would decrease in deteriorating relationships. These expectations were confirmed in the developing and stable conditions, but were not confirmed in the deteriorating condition. A sex related hypothesis was also advanced but was not confirmed. The paper ends with a consideration of the implications of these results for current theory and research.
Plant genotype differences in the uptake, translocation, accumulation, and use of mineral elements required for plant growth

Plant genotypes differ in their uptake, translocation, accumulation, and use of mineral elements. Examples of genotype differences to iron, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, and molybdenum are discussed. Current knowledge is sufficient to indicate that many crop plants can be improved for the efficient use of mineral elements and better adaptation to mineral stress conditions.
The goldfish electroretinogram: Relation between photopic spectral sensitivity functions and cone absorption spectra1

Abstract Spectral sensitivity of the intact goldfish eye was measured by electroretinography. Experiments with the dark-adapted eye and experiments investigating the effect of flicker rate on spectral sensitivity both suggest that a comparatively large fraction of the goldfish ERG originates from the photopic system. Flicker stimulation was used to measure photopic spectral sensitivity. These data were analysed with regard to the absorption spectra of the goldfish cones. The photopic curve was not adequately derived from a conventional additive model and it therefore is suggested that a more complex mode of interaction may be operative. A special method was used to determine the action spectrum of a red-sensitive photopic mechanism. This action spectrum seems to be highly correlated with the absorption spectrum of the red-sensitive cones.
Equity Valuation Using Multiples

The valuation of equity using multiples of comparables is a highly popular technique that depends critically on two factors: the multiple that is used, and the comparables that are chosen. Recent research investigates which type of multiples produce the greatest valuation accuracy, but there is so far no extensive examination of the accuracy of alternative comparable firm classifications. The examination here finds that Dow Jones and Value Line provide significantly greater accuracy than more popular classifications such as the SIC codes.
Future computer developments in the hospitality industry based upon the American experience

Abstract The advent of powerful and inexpensive computers has created discernible trends within the hospitality industry of the United States. Some trends, such as the use of information management systems for operational and financial control, are progressing in predictable fashion. Others, such as the use of simulations and expert systems are less predictable. Regardless of the trends, computers will remain as tools which do not change the fundamental nature of hospitality.
Imaging a Boa Constrictor—The Incomplete Double Aortic Arch Syndrome

Incomplete double aortic arch is a rare anomaly resulting from atresia rather than complete involution in the distal left arch resulting in a non-patent fibrous cord between the left arch and descending thoracic aorta. This anatomic anomaly may cause symptomatic vascular rings, leading to stridor, wheezing, or dysphagia, requiring surgical transection of the fibrous cord. Herein, we describe an asymptomatic 59 year-old man presenting for contrast-enhanced CT angiography to assess cardiac anatomy prior to radiofrequency ablation, who was incidentally found to have an incomplete double aortic arch with hypoplasia of the left arch segment and an aortic diverticulum. Recognition of this abnormality by imaging is important to inform both corrective surgery in symptomatic patients, as well as assist in the planning of percutaneous coronary and vascular interventions.
Mother-infant separation in squirrel monkeys living in a group

Two female and 3 male infant squirrel monkeys were separated from their mothers at a mean age of 169 days. All had been group reared. The experiment entailed three 5 day periods: (1) preseparation; (2) separation; and (3) reunion. During the experiment, each infant was observed for 10 min per day. Frequency and duration measures were recorded for activity play, locomotion, object manipulation, and disturbance. Social behaviors recorded were contact play, mixed play, competition play, sex play, affiliation, display, and aggression. Changes noted during separation were depression of activity play, contact play, mixed play, object manipulation, and sex play. Affiliative behaviors and locomotion increased during separation. After reunion, locomotion and affiliation returned to baseline levels while contact play, mixed play, and object manipulation remained depressed.
Crystal Structure of the Botulinum Neurotoxin Type G Binding Domain: Insight into Cell Surface Binding

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) typically bind the neuronal cell surface via dual interactions with both protein receptors and gangliosides. We present here the 1.9-A X-ray structure of the BoNT serotype G (BoNT/G) receptor binding domain (residues 868-1297) and a detailed view of protein receptor and ganglioside binding regions. The ganglioside binding motif (SxWY) has a conserved structure compared to the corresponding regions in BoNT serotype A and BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B), but several features of interactions with the hydrophilic face of the ganglioside are absent at the opposite side of the motif in the BoNT/G ganglioside binding cleft. This may significantly reduce the affinity between BoNT/G and gangliosides. BoNT/G and BoNT/B share the protein receptor synaptotagmin (Syt) I/II. The Syt binding site has a conserved hydrophobic plateau located centrally in the proposed protein receptor binding interface (Tyr1189, Phe1202, Ala1204, Pro1205, and Phe1212). Interestingly, only 5 of 14 residues that are important for binding between Syt-II and BoNT/B are conserved in BoNT/G, suggesting that the means by which BoNT/G and BoNT/B bind Syt diverges more than previously appreciated. Indeed, substitution of Syt-II Phe47 and Phe55 with alanine residues had little effect on the binding of BoNT/G, but strongly reduced the binding of BoNT/B. Furthermore, an extended solvent-exposed hydrophobic loop, located between the Syt binding site and the ganglioside binding cleft, may serve as a third membrane association and binding element to contribute to high-affinity binding to the neuronal membrane. While BoNT/G and BoNT/B are homologous to each other and both utilize Syt-I/Syt-II as their protein receptor, the precise means by which these two toxin serotypes bind to Syt appears surprisingly divergent.
Evapotranspiration measurement in controlled environment chambers : A comparison between time domain reflectometry and accumulation of condensate from cooling coils

The measurement of water fluxes from canopy and soil surfaces is performed in sunlit controlled environment chambers by measuring condensate draining from cooling coils in a constant humidity environment. This provides a direct measure of evapotranspiration (ET). However, in growth chambers with soilbins, this does not give information on soil water status or root activity. The objective of this study was to compare ET measurements from the condensate system with ET calculated from measurements of water content by TDR. Data from an irrigation x carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) study on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were used for this study. The soil water contents in the growth chamber soilbins were monitored once an hour at five vertical depths with three measurement locations per depth using an automated TDR system. The correspondence between daily ET rates for the two systems was good. Maximum daily ET rates were near 6.1 to 7.1 mm cm -2 d -1 (7-8 L d -1 on a chamber basis) and differences were on the order to 0.89 to 1.8 mm cm -2 d -1 . (1-2 L d -1 ). At the higher daily ET rates, the daily values from the two methods were closer. The correspondence between hourly measurements of ET measured from the condensate system and calculated from TDR water contents was poor due to instrument and soil variability. A significant source of error was vertical variation in water content in the soil between horizontally placed TDR probes, especially during irrigation events. Evapotranspiration estimates from TDR measurements were much more robust for calculation of water use over a period of time. Data from the condensate system were most useful for quantification of diurnal transpiration rates and were better correlated with radiation.
Fluorometric determination of amphetamines with 3-carboxy-7-hydroxycoumarin.

A fluorometric method of analysis for amphetamines based on the interaction between aliphatic and/or cyclic amines and 3-carboxy-7-hydroxycoumarin to yield highly fluorescent coumarinamine salts was investigated. The procedure was applied to the analysis of several amphetamines and amphetamine mixtures. Comparison of the coumarin method to other existing fluorometric methods for amines in the analysis of amphetamines was performed.
Structure-Activity Relationships of Several Cardiotonic Steroids with Respect to Inhibition of Ion Transport in Frog Muscle

Cesium uptake by sodium-loaded frog sartorius muscles was inhibited 100% by 10-6 M ouabain and 10-6 M cymarin. The doses for 50% inhibition of cesium uptake by five cardiotonic aglycones were 1.5 x 10-6 M for strophanthidin, 2 x 10-7 M for telocinobufagin, 1.6 x 10-6 for digitoxigenin, 2.4 x 10-6 M for periplogenin, and 6.3 x 10-6 M for uzarigenin. Because of the limited solubility of sarmentogenin the maximum concentration studied was 2 x 10-6 M which inhibited cesium uptake about 36%. Inhibition of cesium uptake by cymarin was not reversed during a 3.5 hr incubation in fresh solution while the muscles treated with ouabain and strophanthidin recovered partly during this time. Cymarin was a more potent inhibitor of sodium efflux than strophanthidin and periplogenin was less potent. Increased cesium ion concentration in the external solution decreased the strophanthidin inhibition of cesium uptake but 25 mM cesium did not overcome the inhibition by 10-8-10-6 M strophanthidin. Increased potassium ion concentration in the external solution decreased but did not completely overcome inhibition of sodium efflux by strophanthidin. It is concluded that potassium or cesium ions do not compete with these drugs for a particular site on the ion transport complex. The same structural features of the drugs are necessary for inhibition of ion transport in frog muscle as are required for inhibition of ion transport in other tissues, inhibition of sodium-potassium-stimulated ATPases, and toxicity to animals.
Complexity Estimation of the H.264 Coded Video Bitstreams

The emerging H.264 video coding standard offers a flexible coding algorithm for use in a range of applications from broadcast TV to low bitrate mobile applications. The flexibility comes with complexity. The H.264 video coding algorithm is complex and requires substantial amount of resources for encoding and decoding. The resources required to decode an H.264 video varies depending upon the encoding options used. Understanding the resources required to play the video at the receiver is especially important for mobile devices with limited amount of resources. In this paper, we present an overview of the H.264 video coding standard, complexity analysis of H.264 video, and its implications for resource management and adaptive coding for mobile devices. We examine high level bitstream characteristics and its suitability for estimating the bitstream complexity and receiver resource consumption. We show that high level metrics can be used to estimate receiver resource consumption with reasonable accuracy.
The neurobiology of temporal lobe epilepsy: too much information, not enough knowledge

Although there are many types of epilepsy of both genetic and acquired forms, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with hippocampal sclerosis is probably the single most common human epilepsy, and the one most intensely studied. Despite a wealth of descriptive data obtained from patient histories, imaging techniques, electroencephalographic recording, and histological studies, the epileptogenic process remains poorly understood. Progress toward understanding the etiology of an acquired neurological disorder is largely dependent on the degree to which experimental animal models reflect the human condition. Recent observations suggest that significant disparities exist between the features of human TLE with hippocampal sclerosis and those of animal models that involve prolonged status epilepticus to initiate the epileptogenic process. TLE most commonly involves patients with focal seizures who exhibit limited and often asymmetrical brain damage, did not experience status epilepticus prior to the onset of epilepsy, and who appear relatively normal on neurological examination. Conversely, animals subjected to prolonged status epilepticus exhibit severe brain damage, behavioral abnormalities, and frequent generalized seizures. In addition, although many TLE patients exhibit an atrophic hippocampus that may, or may not, be a source of spontaneous seizures, hippocampal damage in animals subjected to status epilepticus is an inconsistent and often minor part of a much greater constellation of damage to other brain structures. Furthermore, many patients exhibit developmental structural abnormalities that presumably play a role in the clinical etiology, whereas most animal models involve severe insults in initially normal laboratory rats. Although much has been learned using the current animal models, the available data suggest the need for a critical reappraisal of the assumptions underlying their use, and the need to develop experimental preparations that may more closely model the human epileptic state. To cite this article: R.S. Sloviter, C. R. Biologies 328 (2005).
The complement components C8 and C9 in sera and urines of patients with chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Hemolytic C8 and C9 were measured in sera and urines of 22 patients with CMPGN (chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis). Serum C8 was found to be decreased in 15 patients and showed a correlation of P < 0.05 to CH50 and hemolytic C3. In 78% of the patients, C9 remained within normal limits or the hemolytic activity of C9 was found to be increased. No significant correlation existed between CH50 and hemolytic C9 and C3 and C9, respectively. Hemolytic C8 and C9 can be measured regularly in unconcentrated urine of patients with proteinuria and the determination of C8C9 index provides a reliable tool to detect low selectivity in cases with proteinuria.