cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aqueous ion partitioning in Nafion: Applicability of Manning's counter-ion condensation theory

Abstract Nafion is a well-studied polymer of significant interest as a fuel cell membrane due to rapid transport of protons, which is often ascribed, at least in part, to its phase-separated morphology. The literature detailing ion sorption and transport in Nafion diverges considerably from that of water purification membranes, with contrasting analyses and models. To help bridge these gaps and facilitate comparisons of membranes with various structures, this study presents measurements of ion activity coefficients and sorption in Nafion 117 equilibrated with aqueous solutions of NaCl, MgCl2, and Na2SO4, which are relevant to water purification. The experimental data are compared to a theoretical framework based on Manning's counter-ion condensation theory and Donnan theory. Good agreement between the model and data is observed for NaCl and MgCl2, using no adjustable parameters. However, the model significantly underpredicts Na2SO4 solubility, which is attributed to ion pairing effects. The results highlight the general applicability of counter-ion condensation theory to highly charged polymers, including those exhibiting nanoscale ordering, while revealing fundamental limitations related to ion pairing.
Chemical structure in relation to biological activities of vitamin B6.

Publisher Summary This chapter examines some of these questions with respect to vitamin B6. The problem can be considered from three points of view: (1) what are the structural features required for vitamin B6 activity in living organisms, (2) what structural features determine the ability of a compound to serve as a coenzyme for vitamin B6-dependent enzymes, and (3) apart from ability to combine with its conjugate apoenzymes, what chemical features determine the ability of the coenzyme to participate in catalysis of the reactions for which it is essential? These questions can be profitably considered in reverse order because unless the chemical prerequisites for participation in catalysis are present, a compound obviously will be of no value as a coenzyme, however closely it may resemble the coenzyme in other respects. By the same token, it cannot serve as a vitamin, the sole function of which is to serve as a precursor for coenzyme formation.
Gas Phase Studies of Chemical Exchange Processes

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Equilibrium Constants of Chemical Exchange Processes 3 Gas Phase Kinetics of Chemical Exchange Processes 4 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
TH‐CD‐BRA‐09: Quality Assurance of Scanned Proton Beams with a Volumetric Liquid Scintillator Detector

Purpose: To develop a volumetric scintillation detector capable of quickly and accurately measuring the range, lateral profile, and lateral position of scanned proton beams. Methods: A volumetric scintillation detector was constructed, consisting of a tank of liquid scintillator imaged on two sides by CCD cameras. The cameras measured orthogonal projections of the emitted light in cine mode at frame rates of 1 frame/s or 37 frames/s, depending on the proton beam delivery rate. Proton beams with 60 energies ranging from 72.5 to 168.8 MeV were measured in a single delivery sequence, requiring less than 3 minutes of beam time to measure the range and lateral profile. The measured range and lateral profile width were compared with the nominal beam ranges and the lateral profiles measured with an ionization chamber. A 3×3 grid of proton beams with 5 cm spacing at 5 different energies was also measured, and the lateral position of each beam was compared with its nominal position. Results: The mean difference between the measured and nominal beam ranges was 0.1 mm (σ=0.1 mm), with a maximum difference of 0.3 mm. The differences between the measured and nominal lateral beam positions ranged from 0.22 mm to 2.64 mm, with the errors increasing with distance from the center of the detector. The lateral beam profile widths were systematically 1 mm narrower than reference measurements using an ionization chamber. Conclusion: The detector described in this study can provide fast, high-resolution measurements of the range, lateral profile, and lateral position for scanned proton beams. The ability of the detector to rapidly measure proton beam characteristics at multiple energies makes it particularly promising as a tool for scanned proton beam quality assurance.
Run-time checking of data access in Pascal-like languages

Until it becomes possible to rigorously prove the correctness of programs of substantial size, careful and thorough run-time checking will play an essential role in the development and maintenance of reliable software. We believe that typed pointers and discriminated unions are fundamental data abstractions which are of great use in a wide variety of programming languages and programming endeavors. It then follows that efficient, thorough and optimizable checks which monitor them at run-time are an essential adjunct to their use. Certainly our experience with PASCAL has convinced us of their utility. Although run-time checks are often held in disrepute, we should not ask ourselves, “Can I afford them?” but rather “Can I afford to be without them?”.
Non-linear control of an uncertain hypersonic aircraft model using robust sum-of-squares method

In recent years, sum-of-squares (SOS) method has attracted increasing interest as a new approach for stability analysis and controller design of non-linear dynamic systems. In this study, the authors present a robust SOS/robust LMI method to design a non-linear controller for longitudinal dynamics of a hypersonic aircraft model with parametric uncertainties. To this end, the control design problem is first formulated as a robust SOS problem. Then, an LMI representation of the robust SOS problem is derived using a proposed algorithm and is solved via a stochastic ellipsoid method. As the simulation results show, the designed robust controller is capable of stabilising the aircraft and following pilot commands under up to 50% variation in aerodynamic coefficients.
Enhanced image contrast with delocalized near‐field excitation

For Tip Enhanced Near-field Optical Microscopy (TENOM) utilizing detection of fluorescence or Raman emission, signal to noise amplification is highly desirable for higher resolution imaging. This goal may be achieved by amplifying the signal produced by the probe at the sample through a highly resonant geometry and/or by filtering out the unwanted signal of the excitation source through the addition of an aperture in the collection optical pathway. Making highly resonant tip geometries via nanofabrication can be a difficult process, while the aperture method is a much easier method. With this technique, even tips with undesirably low resonance can be utilized for imaging. We demonstrate the concept through the use of a low field enhancement probe by showing the spatial separation of the excitation and field enhancement locations. We also are able to predict this effect using finite difference time domain modeling of the potential geometries for a desired wavelength.
TU-E-213-03: Tools for Ensuring Quality and Safety

Purpose: To develop the first 4D robust optimization (RO) method accounting for respiratory motion and evaluate its potential to improve plan robustness and optimality compared to 3D RO and PTV-based optimization. Methods: A set of 4D CT images are used to track respiratory motion and deformation of tumors and organs. For each of 10 respiration phases, dose distributions for nine different uncertainty scenarios including the nominal one, those incorporating ±5mm setup uncertainties long x, y and z directions and ±3.5% range uncertainties are calculated. All 90 dose distributions are simultaneously optimized to achieve full dose coverage of 10 CTVs and sparing of normal structures. ITV-based 3D RO and PTV-based optimization based on the average CT are also carried for the same patient using same dose volume constrains. After optimization, 4D robustness evaluation was performed for all resulting plans. The CTV coverage and the sparing of normal tissue in 10 phases are evaluated and compared among the three methods. The widths of DVH bands represent the robustness of dose distributions in the structures. Results: For one patient studied so far, the worst case CTV coverage by the prescription dose among all 90 scenarios is: 99% for 4D RO; 88.9% for 3D RO, and 85.2% for PTV based optimization. 4D RO also results in best robustness with the narrowest DVH’ bandwidths for the CTV. 4D and 3D RO have similar organ sparing while PTV based optimization results in worst organ sparing. Conclusion: 4D robust optimization which accounts for anatomy motion and deformation in the optimization process, significantly improves plan robustness and achieves higher quality treatment plans for lung cancer patients. The method is being evaluated for multiple patients with different tumor and motion characteristics.
The waning of emancipation. Jewish history, memory, and the rise of fascism in Germany, France, and Hungary

In recent scholarship on the violent history of twentieth-century Europe, the focus is slowly shifting to in-depth analyses of the viewpoints and responses of those who experienced the destruction ...
Sick Euthyroid Syndrome

Critical illness causes multiple alterations in thyroid hormone concentrations in patients who have no intrinsic thyroid disease. These effects are nonspecific, and they relate to the severity of illness. Because a wide variety of illnesses tend to result in the same changes in serum thyroid hormone levels, such alterations in thyroid hormone indexes has been termed the sick euthyroid syndrome. These changes are rarely isolated, and they are often associated with alterations in other endocrine systems. Similar changes in endocrine function has been shown experimentally by administration of cytokines from the interleukin and interferon families, as well as tumor necrosis factor-α. Thus, the sick euthyroid syndrome should not be viewed as an isolated pathological event, but as part of a coordinated systemic reaction to illness that involves both the immune and the endocrine systems. Recovery from the illness usually results in resolution of the alterations in thyroid hormone parameters. Supplemental thyroid...
Gene conversion, linkage, and the evolution of multigene families

The evolution of the probabilities of genetic identity within and between the loci of a multigene family is investigated. Unbiased gene conversion, equal crossing over, random genetic drift, and mutation to new alleles are incorporated. Generations are discrete and nonoverlapping; the diploid, monoecious population mates at random. The linkage map is arbitrary, and the location dependence of the probabilities of identity is formulated exactly. The greatest of the rates of gene conversion, random drift, and mutation is epsilon much less than 1. For interchromosomal conversion, the equilibrium probabilities of identity are within order epsilon [i.e., O(epsilon)] of those in a simple model that has no location dependence and, at equilibrium, no linkage disequilibrium. At equilibrium, the linkage disequilibria are of O(epsilon); they are evaluated explicitly with an error of O(epsilon 2); they may be negative if symmetric heteroduplexes occur. The ultimate rate and pattern of convergence to equilibrium are within O(epsilon 2) and O(epsilon), respectively, of that of the same simple model. If linkage is loose (i.e., all the crossover rates greatly exceed epsilon, though they may still be much less than 1/2), the linkage disequilibria are reduced to O(epsilon) in a time of O(-ln epsilon). If intrachromosomal conversion is incorporated, the same results hold for loose linkage, except that, if the crossover rates are much less than 1/2, then the linkage disequilibria generally exceed those for pure interchromosomal conversion.
Approximate reconstruction of continuous spatially complex domain motions by multialignment NMR residual dipolar couplings.

NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful techniques for studying the internal dynamics of biomolecules. Current formalisms approximate the dynamics using simple continuous motional models or models involving discrete jumps between a small number of states. However, no approach currently exists for interpreting NMR data in terms of continuous spatially complex motional paths that may feature more than one distinct maneuver. Here we present an approach for approximately reconstructing spatially complex continuous motions of chiral domains using NMR anisotropic interactions. The key is to express Wigner matrix elements, which can be determined experimentally using residual dipolar couplings, as a line integral over a curve in configuration space containing an ensemble of conformations and to approximate the curve using a series of geodesic segments. Using this approach and five sets of synthetic residual dipolar couplings computed for five linearly independent alignment conditions, we show that it is theoretically possible to reconstruct salient features of a multi-segment inter-helical motional trajectory obtained from a 65 ns molecular dynamics simulation of a stem-loop RNA. Our study shows that the 3-D atomic reconstruction of complex motions in biomolecules is within experimental reach.
A generalization of Artin-Mazur completion and rigid completion functors in homotopy theory

Abstract A generalization of the definition of the pro-category Pro- C for a category C is introduced, by taking Grothendieck's ‘double limit’ formula as the definition of morphisms in Pro- C even where the index categories are no longer cofiltered. Using this, a generalized Artin-Mazur completion is defined starting with an arbitrary functor K : C → D . It is shown that the shape category of K can be identified with a full subcategory of Pro- C . Finally, a ‘rigid’ Artin-Mazur completion is obtained by taking D (resp. C ) to be the category of pointed CW complexes (resp. pointed CW complexes which have finite homotopy groups) and pointed continuous maps.
Algorithms for Computing Numerical Optimal Feedback Motion Strategies

The authors address the problem of computing a navigation function that serves as a feedback motion strategy for problems that involve generic differential constraints, nonconvex collision constraints, and the optimization of a specified criterion. The determination of analytical solutions to such problems is well beyond the state of the art; therefore, the authors focus on obtaining numerical solutions that are based on discretization of the state space (although they do not force trajectories to visit discretized points). This work improves classical optimal control techniques for problems of interest to the authors. By introducing a simplicial complex representation, the authors propose a novel interpolation scheme that reduces a key bottleneck in the techniques from O(2n) running time to O(n lg n), in which n is the state space dimension. By exploiting local structure in the differential constraints, the authors present a progressive series of three improved algorithms that use dynamic programming con...
Delineation of an evolutionary salvage pathway by compensatory mutations of a defective lysozyme

Model-free approaches (random mutagenesis, DNA shuffling) in combination with more "rational," three-dimensional information-guided randomization have been used for directed evolution of lysozyme activity in a defective T4 lysozyme mutant. A specialized lysozyme cloning vector phage, derived from phage lambda, depends upon T4 lysozyme function for its ability to form plaques. The substitution W138P in T4 lysozyme totally abolishes its plaque-forming ability. Compensating mutations in W138P T4 lysozyme after sequential random mutagenesis of the whole gene as well as after targeted randomization of residues in the vicinity of Trp138 were selected. In a second stage, these mutations were randomly recombined by the recombinatorial PCR method of DNA shuffling. Shuffled and selected W138P T4 lysozyme variants provide the hybrid lambda phage with sufficient lysozyme activity to produce normal-size plaques, even at elevated temperature (42 degrees C). The individual mutations with the highest compensatory information for W138P repair are the substitutions A146F and A146M, selected after targeted randomization of three residues in the neighborhood of Trp138 by combinatorial mutagenesis. The best evolved W138P T4 lysozymes, however, accumulated mutations originating from both randomly mutagenized as well as target-randomized variants.
The life of things: therapy and the soul of the world

In We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy and the World is Getting Worse (HarperCollins, 1993), James Hillman suggests that therapy, far from having a beneficial effect upon humanity, is actual...
Correlated responses to selection for large body size in oMt1a-oGH transgenic mice: organ traits

The objective of the present study was to compare correlated responses in liver, spleen, kidney, heart and testis absolute weights and as a percentage of 8-week body weight following selection for large 8-week body weight in twice-replicated nontransgenic and transgene-carrier lines of mice from two genetic backgrounds. The transgene was an ovine metallothionein 1a-ovine growth hormone (oMt1a-oGH) construct, which was activated by adding 25 mM ZnSO4 to the drinking water. Lines NM and NC were nontransgenic lines derived from a high-growth and randomly selected background, respectively. Lines TM and TC were transgene-carrier lines formed from the respective genetic backgrounds. Line CC was a nontransgenic control from the randomly selected background. At weaning, male mice from each line were assigned to either zinc supplemented or control drinking water. Toe-clips were assayed by PCR for the presence or absence of the transgene. Correlated responses of absolute weights of all organs in nontransgenic lines indicated moderately high genetic correlations of organ weights with body weight, but on a percentage of body weight basis, the correlated responses were much lower. The correlated responses in visceral organ weights were lower in the presence of the inactivated oMt1a-oGH transgene than in its absence. The presence of the activated oMt1a-oGH combined with the effects of selection for growth increase had a greater impact on increasing the size of the splanchnic organs than did selection for large body weight in the absence of the transgene.
Cost-effectiveness assessment of interferon alfa-2b as adjuvant therapy of high-risk resected cutaneous melanoma

The use of interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha 2b) as adjuvant therapy of high-risk resected cutaneous melanoma was recently found to significantly improve relapse-free and overall survival in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial 1684 (E1684). However, treatment toxicities and costs may limit its widespread use. A cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analysis of this therapy was conducted using a hypothetical cohort of patients as if they had entered E1684. Survival and recurrence rates were calculated at 7 and 35 years for typical 50-year-old melanoma patients based on the clinical results of E1684 and natural history databases. Costs included all treatment-related costs (i.e. drug acquisition and administration, monitoring and treatment-related toxicity) and the costs of treating recurrences. Estimated utility values were assigned based on data from other oncology trials. The model predicted that IFN-alpha 2b provided an extra 0.52 years of life compared with observation at 7 years; however, at 35 years, the survival benefit of IFN-alpha 2b increased almost 4-fold to nearly 2 years. At 7 years, the cost per year of life gained was U.S. $32,600 and the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained was U.S. $43,200. At 35 years, these costs decreased to U.S. $13,700 and $15,200, respectively. These costs are comparable with those of other well-established medical interventions. Although these results require confirmation in a prospective study, it appears that the use of high-dose IFN-alpha 2b for patients with high-risk melanoma is cost-effective.
The Good Life: A Defense of Attitudinal Hedonism

What makes a life go well for the one who lives it? Hedonists hold that pleasure enhances the value of a life; pain diminishes it. Hedonism has been subjected to a number of objections. Some are (a) based on the claim that hedonism is a form of “mental statism”. Others are (b) based on the claim that some pleasures are base or degrading. Yet others are (c) based on the claim that when a bad person enjoys a pleasure, his receipt of that pleasure seem not to make the world better. It is important to keep in mind that hedonism is a theory about the value of a person's life for the person who lives it, and not for the world or for others. It is also important to distinguish between sensory hedonism and attitudinal hedonism. “Desert Adjusted Intrinsic Attitudinal Hedonism” appears to be immune to objections (a) and (b). A variant appears to be immune to all of them. Perhaps it is the answer to the question about the value of a life.
LC/MS and LC/MS/MS Determination of protein tryptic digests

Tryptic digests were analyzed by means of online microbore liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for some common proteins. Following conventional enzymatic digestion with trypsin, the freeze-dried residues were dissolved in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) eluent and subjected to gradient reversed-phase microbore HPLC separation with mass spectrometric detection. The latter was done in the full-scan single or tandem (MS/MS) mass spectrometry mode. The formation of gas-phase ions from dissolved analytes was accomplished at atmospheric pressure by pneumatically assisted electrospray (ion spray) ionization. This produced field-assisted ion evaporation of dissolved ions, which could then be mass-analyzed for molecular mass or structure. In the full-scan LC/MS mode, the masses for the peptide fragments in the tryptic digests can be determined as either their singly or multiply charged ions. When the molecular weights of the peptides lie outside the mass range of the mass spectrometer, the multiply charged feature of these experimental conditions still provides reliable molecular weight determinations. In addition, collision-activated dissociation (CAD) on selected peptide precursor ions provides online LC/MS/MS sequence information for the tryptic fragments. Results are shown for the tryptic digests of horse heart cytochrome c, bovine β-lactoglobulin A, and bovine β-lactoglobulin B.
Terminations for component-simulation-type SC ladder filters

A circuit for simulating the termination resistances of component-simulation-type SC ladder filters using LDI transformation is described.
Survival of Edwardsiella ictaluri in Pond Water and Bottom Mud

Abstract Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of enteric septicemia of catfish, is involved in about one-third of all disease cases in diagnostic laboratories where channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is the predominant species examined. Edwardsiella ictaluri causes disease primarily when water temperatures range from 18°C to 28°C; these temperatures prevail during May and June and again in September and October in southern USA where catfish are cultured. This investigation was undertaken to confirm earlier reports that E. ictaluri does not survive in water and to determine if it could survive in bottom muds of ponds. Survival of E. ictaluri was determined in pond water at 5°C and 25°C, and in bottom mud at 5°C, 18°C, and 25°C. In mud incubated at 25°C, E. ictaluri maintained itself at densities of 106.5 cells/mL for 95 d; at 18°C the organism maintained approximately 10-fold higher densities for 40 d. However, E. ictaluri survived for less than 10 d in water at 25°C and for less than 15 d in wate...
Kinematic synthesis of adjustable RRSS mechanisms for multi-phase motion generation

This paper presents a new technique for synthesizing RRSS mechanisms to achieve phases of coupler positions using the same hardware. This paper considers two- and three-phase problems with constant and adjustable crank and follower lengths. By specifying the joint axes of the RRSS mechanism, the constant length condition becomes the only design constraint. Coupler body positions are then selected with respect to the specified joint axes. These positions are incorporated in the constraint equation and the RRSS mechanism joint variables calculated.
Systemic Mast Cell Disease Without Associated Hematologic Disorder: A Combined Retrospective and Prospective Study

Objective To study clinicopathologic correlations and identify prognostically important variables in patients with systemic mast cell disease (SMCD) who have no associated hematologic disorders. Patients and Methods We identified 40 adult patients with SMCD without associated hematologic disorders. Clinical, laboratory, and bone marrow (BM) histologic findings at the time of referral were evaluated (November 1980-February 2001) for possible correlations with a history of aggressive systemic mastocytosis (retrospectively analyzed) as well as survival (prospectively analyzed). Results The median follow-up time from diagnosis was 108 months and from BM examination was 24 months. A history of aggressive systemic mastocytosis correlated significantly with increased BM mast cell (MC) content, unfavorable MC infiltration pattern, BM eosinophilia, and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) level, but not with BM angiogenesis, reticulin fibrosis, or levels of MC mediators. Of these factors, increased BM MC content and elevated SAP level were also associated with shortened survival from time of referral. Conclusions This study suggests that the BM MC burden, BM eosinophilia, and SAP level are prognostically important in SMCD without associated hematologic disorders. In contrast, BM angiogenesis, reticulin fibrosis, and levels of MC mediators showed no prognostic relevance.
The Relationship Between Fetal Hemoglobin and Disease Severity in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia

A study was conducted in a sample of 140 children with sickle cell anemia to evaluate the relationship between hematological variables (%HbF, %HbA2, %Hb, and mean cell volume) and disease severity. A patient’s severity status was determined by whether hetshe was hospitalized, had a transfusion, andlor had a pain crisis at 2 evaluation periods; the first was based on a patient’s history taken at the initial assessment visit to the Wayne State Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the second was based on a 1-3 year follow-up at the center. Fetal hemoglobin was a strong predictor of a patient’s hospitalization and transfusion status. A decrease in %HbF of 4.76% (one SD of %HbF) was associated with a 3.58 fold (95% confidence interval, 1.18-7.28) greater odds of being hospiialized both prior to initial assessment and on foilow-up, compared to not being hospitalized at either evaluation. Similarly, a decrease in %HbF of 4.76% was associated with a 5.56 fold (95% confidence interval, 1.67-18.96) greater odds of having a transfusion both prior to initial assessment and on follow-up compared to not having a transfusion at either evaluation. Patients who were both hospitalized and transfused at initial assessment and on follow-up (n = 12) had a mean %HbF of 7.59%, while patients who were not hospitalized or transfused at either evaluation (n = 19) had a mean %HbF of 13.61%. Fetal hemoglobin was not a significant predictor of pain cris,es in this sample of patients. None of the other hematological variables were significant predictors of disease severity in this study. The strong relationship between %HbF and disease severity identified in this study suggests that a single %HbF measurernent may be useful in predicting important aspects of the clinical course of children with sickle cell anemia.
Impact of the technological environment on programmer/analyst job outcomes

Recent research has shown that key DP/IS personnel job outcomes (e.g., turnover, organizational commitment, job satisfaction) are affected by job design, leadership characteristics, and role variables. This study investigates another class of variables, the technological environment faced by DP/IS personnel, that might impact these job outcomes. The technological environment includes (1) development methodologies employed, (2) project teams and reporting relationships, and (3) work characteristics. Variables from all classes were found to impact DP/IS job outcomes. Over 11 percent of the variance in DP/IS job satisfaction is explained by these variables.
HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF BOVINE CORPORA LUTEA.

Abstract Corpora lutea removed at various times during the estrous cycle were studied after no treatment, treatment with oxytocin, oxytocin and HCG, oxytocin and bovine LH, and with HCG alone. These studies supported a hypothesis that luteal cells are derived from both granulosa and theca interna layers of the follicle. The granulosa-derived luteal cells develop into functioning luteal cells by about Day 4 of the estrous cycle, after which they undergo no further divisions. Therefore, granulosa-derived cells have limited potential. However, the smaller luteal cells derived from the theca interna respond to plasma luteotropin, multiply and grow into large luteal cells. These are mainly responsible for growth of the corpus luteum following Day 4. There was luteinization of the theca interna and granulosa layers of the follicles shortly before ovulation and in anovulatory (cystic) follicles. The collapse of the follicle and growth of the corpus luteum were described, with special emphasis on the patterns of mitotic activity before and after stimulation with exogenous luteotropin and on progesterone concentrations and contents. Growth and degeneration of a luteal cell were described.
Renewal Systems, Sharp-Eyed Snakes, And Shifts Of Finite Type

(2002). Renewal Systems, Sharp-Eyed Snakes, and Shifts of Finite Type. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 109, No. 3, pp. 258-272.
Nematode population changes under crop rotation sequences: consequences for potato production.

Soils of the Klamath basin of northeast California and southeast Oregon that are used for a potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping system are frequently infested with Meloidogyne chitwoodi (Golden, O'Bannon, Santo & Finley) and Pratylenchus neglectus (Filipjev & Schuurmans-Stekhoven). These studies were conducted over a 7-yr period to determine nematode population changes under crop rotation sequences, and the impact of those changes on potato crop yield and quality. The surface blemish rating of a summer-grown potato crop has a log-linear relationship with the population level of M. chitwoodi measured either the previous fall, or with lower reliability, in the spring before potato planting [...]
Studies on the charge isomers of arylsulfatase A.

Abstract Human liver arylsulfatase A was resolved into six fractions by narrow pH range preparative isoelectric focusing. Analytical isoelectric focusing revealed that most enzyme fractions were composed of two adjacent charge isomers. Nevertheless, there was considerable enrichment of charge species which allowed a comparative study of selected properties. Except for the most cationic fraction, neuraminidase treatment converted enzyme in all fractions to the three most cationic species. The most electronegative enzyme species had the highest molecular mass being made up of 64-kDa subunits. As electronegativity decreased, there was concomitant decrease in molecular mass and increase in complexity of subunit composition. Two subunits—61 and 55 kDa—prevailed with increasing proportions of the smaller unit with loss of electronegativity. There was also an increasing amount of a 26-kDa fraction which became a substantial component of the most cationic subfraction. Only enzyme in the two fractions containing the largest and most anionic species were taken up by cultured fibroblasts at higher efficiency than unfractionated enzyme. It is suggested that processing or maturation of arylsulfatase A incurs stepwise removal of charge groups and/or peptide segments leading to smaller, less-charged enzyme species.
RADIO FREQUENCY ABLATION OF RENAL CELL CARCINOMA VIA IMAGE GUIDED NEEDLE ELECTRODES

An 84-year-old man was diagnosed with a solid renal mass and he refused open surgery. Computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated mass enhancement with iodinated contrast material, consistent with solid renal cell carcinoma (fig. 1). Three years later the mass had enlarged to 3.5 cm. The patient continued to refuse surgery but he consented to per­ cutaneous radio frequency ablation. Institutional review board permission was obtained before the procedure. The patient underwent conscious sedation with 2 mg. mi­ dazolam and 150 mg. fentanyl given intravenously as well as 1% lidocaine given subcutaneously. Immediately before ab­ lation percutaneous needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. A 17 gauge, internally cooled radio frequency needle electrode was placed percutaneously under real-time ultrasound guidance into the center of the lesion. Goldberg1 and Solbiati2 et al have shown that these elec­ trodes induce large volumes of coagulation necrosis in liver tumors. The tumor was heated to 90C for 1 minute, followed by deposition of 1,200 mA. for 12 minutes. Ultrasonography revealed progressive hyperechogenicity enveloping the lesion during treatment. After ablation temperatures remained at greater than 60C for 3.5 minutes. The electrode was removed without incident.
Political Issues and the Dynamics of Vote Choice in 2008

Abstract The 2008 American presidential contest occurred amidst economic conditions unlike any seen in decades. Media assessments have often attributed Barack Obama's victory to the faltering economy, particularly the financial crisis that erupted just seven weeks before election day. In this article we assess the role of the economy and other political issues on vote choice, and find that the impact of the economic crisis is more nuanced than is often assumed. We find that while the economy did matter for the general election, so too did social issues. More interestingly, the collapse itself seemed to have only a minor impact because so many people had already made up their minds before the collapse. Finally, we show that while Obama benefited from the economy in the general election, it may have actually worked against him in the primary phase of the contest.
Dosage compensation of the X chromosome and Turner syndrome

Abstract Turner patients have a karyotype of 45,X, while normal females are 46,XX and normal males are 46,XY. In order to understand Turner syndrome, it is important to understand how gene dosage of the X chromosome is regulated. In this review, we address sex chromosome evolution and the two forms of X chromosome dosage compensation: X upregulation and X inactivation. Recent microarray analyses have provided evidence for two-fold X upregulation in males and females. This equalizes gene dosage between the X chromosome and the autosomes. Inactivation of one of the two X chromosomes in females occurs to prevent functional tetrasomy and to equalize gene dosage between the sexes. However, 15–25% of human X-linked genes escape X inactivation. These escape genes are thought to contribute to the phenotype of Turner patients. Expression of escape genes is tissue-specific, suggesting that their role in Turner phenotypes is tissue-dependent. Recent data support a role for CTCF and chromatin structure in the regulation of genes that escape X inactivation.
Drone & me: an exploration into natural human-drone interaction

Personal drones are becoming popular. It is challenging to design how to interact with these flying robots. We present a Wizard-of-Oz (WoZ) elicitation study that informs how to naturally interact with drones. Results show strong agreement between participants for many interaction techniques, as when gesturing for the drone to stop. We discovered that people interact with drones as with a person or a pet, using interpersonal gestures, such as beckoning the drone closer. We detail the interaction metaphors observed and offer design insights for human-drone interactions.
A spontaneous subcutaneous tumor in C57BL/6 mice that metastasizes to the liver.

A malignant tumor that arose spontaneously in the subcutaneous tissue of the back of a C57BL/6 female mouse was found to metastasize spontaneously to the liver. The primary and metastatic tumors, SML (spontaneous metastasis to the liver) 1 and SML 2, were establishedin vitro in long-term cell suspension culture and were passaged 10 timesin vivo for 18 months. When 100 000 cells were injected subcutaneously in the orthotopic position, tumor growth appeared in 60% of the SML 1 mice and 100% of the SML 2 mice. SML 1 did not grow when injected in the footpad, while SML 2 did. The median survival was 47 days for SML 1 and 48.5 days for SML 2 (P = 0.013). The pattern of metastasis was similar for both tumor cell lines, irrespective of intravenous or subcutaneous injection routes. Spontaneous metastasis of the SML 2 line occurred from both the orthotopic and heterotopic sites, while the SML 1 metastasized spontaneously from the orthotopic site only. Liver metastasis appeared in >90% of the mice for both SML 1 and SML 2. Metastasis to the spleen occurred in about half the mice. Other sites of metastasis were the ovaries (36% and 52%, respectively, for SML 1 and SML 2), the kidneys (≈ 15%) and the small bowel (very rarely). Metastasis to the lungs did not occur except very rarely in the later passages of the SML 2 line. Histologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies showed a histiocytic tumor with macrophage characteristics. The cells exhibited chemotaxis toward liver extracellular matrix and reduced motility toward collagen IV, laminin and fibronectin compared to the B16-F10 melanoma line. This spontaneously occurring tumor should prove useful for the study of organ-specific metastasis to the liver.
On the theory of high-velocity particles: A comment

An argument claiming to prove two familiar consequences of special relativity, starting from the wave-particle duality of L. de Broglie, is found to be circular.
IS male-sterility in plants related to lack of cyanide-resistant respiration in tissues?

Abstract Cyanide-resistant (alternative) respiration by tissues of 7 male-sterile lines from 4 species ( Glycine max (L.), Helenium amarum (Raf.) H. Rock., Plantago lanceolata L. and Zea mays L.) was compared with that of fertile tissues. Six of the 7 male-sterile lines lacked alternative respiration in the tissue assayed (leaf or root), while the corresponding fertile tissue displayed a typical alternative pathway equivalent to about 20% of the uninhibited respiratory rate. The exception to this pattern was the male-sterile maize line cytoplasmic male sterile (cms)-T, which had an alternative pathway equivalent to that of the fertile line. Mitochondria isolated from male-sterile cms-C maize were found to have an alternative pathway, but the capacity of this pathway was only one-half to two-thirds as large as that found in mitochondria from the male-fertile N line. Thus while no alternative pathway could be detected in intact cms-C tissue, it was found in the isolated mitochondria, suggesting that the pathway is somehow suppressed in the intact tissue. Since cytokinins are known to both inhibit the alternative pathway and affect floral development, they represent potential candidates for the suppressing agent involved. The lack of alternative respiration in the male-sterile lines might also serve to explain the commonly observed higher productivity and vigor of male-sterile plants compared to fertile ones.
Atmospheric waves break on the Moon's shadow

During a solar eclipse the Moon's passage overhead blocks out the majority of the Sun's light, casting a wide swath of the Earth into darkness. The land under the Moon's shadow receives less incoming energy than the surrounding regions, causing it to cool. In the early 1970s, researchers proposed that this temperature difference could set off slow moving waves in the upper atmosphere. They hypothesized that the waves, moving more slowly than the traveling temperature disparity from which they spawned, would pile up along the leading edge of the Moon's path—like slow moving waves breaking on a ship's bow. The dynamic was shown theoretically and in early computer simulations, but it was not until a total solar eclipse on 22 July 2009 that researchers were able to observe the behavior.
Adenylate cyclases in physarum polycephalum: inhibition of a nuclear enzyme by polyamines.

Abstract Two distinct adenylate cyclase enzymes have been found in Physarum polycephalum . One is derived from isolated nuclei and is potently inhibited by an equimolar combination of the three polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. The second enzyme is particulate, derived from the cytoplasmic compartment, and is insensitive to inhibition by the polyamines. These observations support a potential role for the polyamines in the control of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate synthesis in P. polycephalum nuclei.
Reaction of aspirin with amines. Potential mechanism for aspirin allergy

A possible explanation for the lack of hypersensitivity to salicylic acid by patients known to be allergic to aspirin is offered. It is shown that while aspirin reacts with amino acids to produce salicylamide derivatives, salicylic acid does not. This may be the mechanism by which aspirin combines with protein to form antigen.
Defect structures and three‐body potential of the mean force for nanoparticles in a nematic host

We have investigated the defect structures and potential of mean force (PMF) of three colloidal spheres immersed in a nematic liquid crystal (for linear and equilateral-triangular configurations), using a coarse-grained theory for the tensor order parameter. At large separations, each sphere is surrounded by an equatorial Saturn ring defect; at short separations, the theory predicts a drastic reorganization of the disclination lines: additional disclination rings are observed in planes perpendicular to the original ones. For both types of configurations, the PMF is attractive and always greater than a pairwise sum of binary PMFs. Comparing the PMFs of linear and equilateral-triangular configurations, we have found the triangular configuration to be more stable than the linear configuration. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1033-1040, 2005
DMFC electrode preparation, performance and proton conductivity measurements

A method that involves stenciling electrodes using dry powders for fuel cells is described and compared to anodes and cathodes prepared by the traditional spraying method using catalyst inks. Methods to determine the proton conductivity of the DMFC anode layer are also discussed. The stenciling method allows for the preparation of highly reproducible membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) utilizing little waste material. MEAs can be prepared in a controlled manner using the stenciling technique. The resulting morphology of the as-prepared electrodes is observed to be dependent on the preparation method, while the thickness of the once hot-pressed catalyst layers appears to be independent of the preparation method. Stenciled anodes of the same catalyst loading were found to show a lower proton resistance (Rp) than sprayed anodes. However, the lower Rp value was not sufficient to result in a measurable increase in the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC); as in fact, the average steady-state DMFC performance was found to be the same using sprayed or stenciled electrodes. The DMFC performance was found to be strongly dependent on the Nafion content and large increases in the Nafion content were needed to increase the DMFC performance measurably. Even though thick electrodes were prepared in this work, the Rp values of the stenciled anodes were found to be comparable to results reported in the literature for much thinner electrodes made using high metal catalyst loadings on carbon. This observation is most probably due to the higher Nafion content used in this work.
The thermal conductivity of alumina nanoparticles dispersed in ethylene glycol

The thermal conductivities of several nanofluids (dispersions of alumina nanoparticles in ethylene glycol) were measured at temperatures ranging from 298 to 411 K using a liquid metal transient hot wire apparatus. Our measurements span the widest range of temperatures that have been investigated to date for any nanofluid. A maximum in the thermal conductivity versus temperature behavior was observed at all mass fractions of nanoparticles, closely following the behavior of the base fluid (ethylene glycol). Our results confirm that additional temperature contributions inherent in Brownian motion models are not necessary to describe the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Our results also show that the effect of mass or volume fraction of nanoparticles on the thermal conductivity of nanofluids can be correlated using the Hamilton and Crosser or Yu and Choi models with one adjustable parameter (the shape factor in the Hamilton and Crosser model, or the ordered liquid layer thickness in the Yu and Choi model).
Two copies of a DNA element, 'Wendy', in the chloroplast chromosome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii between rearranged gene clusters

We have characterized two copies of a 2.4 kb DNA element that we call 'Wendy', in the chloroplast chromosome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The two copies of Wendy reside in different single-copy regions at opposite positions in the chloroplast genome. Like many mobile DNA elements, both copies of Wendy are bordered by inverted repeats and contain several additional degenerate copies of these repeat sequences in direct or inverted orientation. In addition, four basepairs are repeated in direct orientation. Two major open reading frames (ORFs) are predicted from the DNA sequence of Wendy I. These ORFs are co-transcribed from a promoter inside the element. The deduced amino acid sequence of the larger of these ORFs shares some weak similarities with sequence motifs of transposases and integrases of other mobile elements. Wendy II appears to be altered relative to Wendy I by point mutations and small deletions and insertions which destroy the ORFs. The leader sequence of the Wendy transcript is nearly identical with the leader sequence of the rbcL transcript of C. reinhardtii, but not of C. moewusii (where the complete Wendy was also undetectable). Furthermore, both copies of Wendy are bracketed by gene clusters that are separated in C. reinhardtii but are contiguous in C. moewusii where they exist in an inverted orientation compared with C. reinhardtii. Wendy was not found in any of the completely sequenced chloroplast genomes of rice, tobacco, pine, Euglena or Marchantia, nor in any other GenBank entry. Our results suggest that Wendy has invaded C. reinhardtii after divergence from other species. Subsequent Wendy-dependent illegitimate homologous or site-specific recombination events or both may have contributed to scrambling of the C. reinhardtii chloroplast genome relative to genomes of other species.
Species and Age Differences in Endogenous Nitric Oxide Production after Exposure to Endotoxin

Species and Age Differences in Endogenous Nitric Oxide Production after Exposure to Endotoxin
Three models of professionalism and professional obligation in dentistry

There is a renewed sense of urgency for reflection on what the dental profession is and what it ought to be.
International Tourism: An Assessment and Overview:

Marketers typically hail tourism as an economic panacea. This article provides an assessment of international tourism, with specific emphasis on the Third World. The analysis is based on a variant of world-systems theory in which the relative power imbalance between the developed core countries and less-developed periphery countries of the world brings about the dependence and de facto exploitation of the latter We conclude with a summary of the positive and negative effects of tourism on host cultures and a call for more careful and balanced consideration of these aspects of tourism, in both planning by developing nations and tourism research by marketing academics.