cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Next Generation Safeguards Initiative research to determine the Pu mass in spent fuel assemblies: Purpose, approach, constraints, implementation, and calibration

Abstract The Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) of the U.S. Department of Energy has funded a multi-lab/multi-university collaboration to quantify the plutonium mass in spent nuclear fuel assemblies and to detect the diversion of pins from them. The goal of this research effort is to quantify the capability of various non-destructive assay (NDA) technologies as well as to train a future generation of safeguards practitioners. This research is “technology driven” in the sense that we will quantify the capabilities of a wide range of safeguards technologies of interest to regulators and policy makers; a key benefit to this approach is that the techniques are being tested in a unified manner. When the results of the Monte Carlo modeling are evaluated and integrated, practical constraints are part of defining the potential context in which a given technology might be applied. This paper organizes the commercial spent fuel safeguard needs into four facility types in order to identify any constraints on the NDA system design. These four facility types are the following: future reprocessing plants, current reprocessing plants, once-through spent fuel repositories, and any other sites that store individual spent fuel assemblies (reactor sites are the most common facility type in this category). Dry storage is not of interest since individual assemblies are not accessible. This paper will overview the purpose and approach of the NGSI spent fuel effort and describe the constraints inherent in commercial fuel facilities. It will conclude by discussing implementation and calibration of measurement systems. This report will also provide some motivation for considering a couple of other safeguards concepts (base measurement and fingerprinting) that might meet the safeguards need but not require the determination of plutonium mass.
Testing for cryptic female choice in monarch butterflies

Although many studies have examined precopulatory female choice, it is increasingly clear that females may choose paternity after copulation with multiple males. Such cryptic female choice may be more common in species where females have limited precopulatory choice. We tested for cryptic female choice in the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), which has a male-coerced mating dynamic. We used a mating design consisting of female pairs mated to the same 2 males. Using microsatellite markers, we determined P2, the proportion of offspring fathered by the second male. In 3 treatments, we varied the relatedness of females and males and calculated P2 repeatability of the 2 females in a replicate. Assuming cryptic female choice, we predicted more repeatable P2 values for genetically related female pairs than unrelated pairs. Additionally, we predicted that females should favor paternity by unrelated males over brothers to avoid potential inbreeding depression. Our results revealed no P2 repeatability differences between treatments and no differences in paternity of brothers and unrelated males. These results suggest monarchs do not employ cryptic female choice and do not avoid inbreeding postmating. Moreover, we did not find significant sperm precedence; neither first nor second male obtained higher paternity. However, our results suggested that interactions between male and female lineages may slightly affect offspring paternity, suggesting genetic compatibilities may affect sexual selection in this species. We also found a bimodal paternity distribution, confirming that monarchs follow the lepidopteran pattern of paternity, despite precopulatory behavioral differences.
Nevi and melanoma in the pregnant woman

Multiple difficult questions arise when a pregnant woman presents to the dermatologist with a changing melanocytic nevus or melanoma. Our review of the literature provides some insight into these issues. We recommend that a changing pigmented lesion in the pregnant woman should be biopsied promptly and can be safely performed. Women who have dysplastic nevus syndrome require closer monitoring during pregnancy. For the pregnant woman with a confirmed, localized melanoma, prognosis does not appear to be affected by pregnancy. Likewise, limited data indicate that pregnancy before or after a diagnosis of melanoma does not affect prognosis. Wide local excision may be performed safely, but if sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy is indicated, the technique and safety of this procedure in the pregnant woman remains controversial. There appears to be no absolute contraindication to the prescription of oral contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy in someone who has been previously diagnosed with melanoma if no reasonable alternative exists.
US Drinking Water: Fluoridation Knowledge Level of Water Plant Operators

OBJECTIVES We determined the knowledge level of water plant operators who fluoridate drinking water, and we compared small and large water plants. METHODS A pretested survey was sent to 2,381 water plant operators in 12 states that adjust the fluoride concentration of drinking water. A z-test for proportion was used to test for statistical difference between small and large plants at alpha = 0.05. Small water plants were those treating less than 1 million gallons of water daily. RESULTS Eight hundred small and 480 large water plant operators responded, resulting in a response rate of 54 percent. Two-thirds of water plant operators correctly identified the optimal fluoride level, but more than 20 percent used a poor source for choosing the optimal level. Only one-fourth of operators were able to maintain the fluoride concentration to within 0.1 mg/L of the optimal concentration. A significantly greater proportion of operators at large water plants than at small water plants reported that they were able to maintain a fluoride concentration to within 0.1 mg/L of the optimal concentration (33.5% vs 21.3%, z = 4.74, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Although most operators correctly identified the optimal fluoride level, small water plant operators were less likely to use accurate reasoning for choosing that level and in maintaining fluoride concentrations within 0.1 mg/L of that level than large water plant operators.
Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods to Model Infant Feeding Behavior among Navajo Mothers

Anthropologists have long discussed the value and limitations of various methods of describing and understanding behavior. This article demonstrates that utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods can improve our understanding of complex behaviors. Ethnographic interviews were used to create a decision tree model of the choice of breastfeeding or formula feeding for Navajo women. This preliminary model was tested with reference to the initial feeding decisions of 250 post-partum women. Errors in the model and statistical analysis of correlates of feeding behavior were used to improve the decision model, which was subsequently tested on a new sample of 52 mothers. The final model accurately predicted the initial infant feeding behavior of 96% of women in the new sample. This combination of techniques proved useful in developing a breastfeeding promotion program which targeted specific groups for education and addressed local concerns and perceptions.
Analysis of Publication Bias in the literature for Distal Radius Fracture

Purpose Distal radius fractures are the most commonly treated fracture, and their management remains complex. We aimed to evaluate the presence of publication bias in the literature on distal radius fracture management and to identify specific study variables that may influence the reporting of positive outcomes. Methods We conducted a systematic review on all available journal articles to find primary articles reporting on the management of distal radius fractures. Data collected included the direction of study outcome (positive, neutral, and negative) and various study characteristics including sample size, geographic origin of the study, clinical setting, study design, type of treatment, analysis for statistical significance, evaluation of wrist function, presence of subjective outcome measures, mean follow-up time, adequacy of reduction, complications, mean patient age, and the presence of any extramural funding. Results We reviewed 215 journal articles and found that 70% of articles reported positive outcomes, 25% reported neutral outcomes, and 5% reported negative outcomes. Funnel plot analysis suggested the presence of publication bias depicted by the asymmetric distribution of studies. In addition, we found statistically significant differences between study outcomes with respect to treatment type, presence of external funding, reduction adequacy, hand/wrist functional assessment, and patient questionnaires for subjective assessment. Conclusions Publication bias likely exists in the literature for distal radius fracture management. Several study characteristics influence the reporting of positive outcomes, but whether the presence of these characteristics portends a greater chance of publication remains unclear. A standardized approach to measure and track results may improve evidence-based outcomes. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency human genome epidemiology review.

Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) is a tetrameric flavoprotein essential for the β-oxidation of medium chain fatty acids. MCAD deficiency (MCADD) is an inherited error of fatty acid metabolism. The gene for MCAD is located on chromosome one (1p31). One variant of the MCAD gene, G985A, a point mutation causing a change from lysine to glutamate at position 304 (K304E) in the mature MCAD protein, has been found in 90% of the alleles in MCADD patients identified retrospectively. There is a high frequency of MCADD among people of Northern European descent, which is believed to be due to a founder effect. MCADD is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Of patients clinically diagnosed with MCADD, 81% who have been identified retrospectively are homozygous for K304E, and 18% are compound heterozygotes for K304E. Clinical data on the probability of clinical disease indicates that MCADD patients are at risk for the following outcomes: hypoglycemia, vomiting, lethargy, encephalopathy, respiratory arrest, hepatomegaly, seizures, apnea, cardiac arrest, coma, and sudden and unexpected death. Long-term outcomes include developmental and behavioral disability, chronic muscle weakness, failure to thrive, cerebral palsy, and attention deficit disorder (ADD). Differences in clinical disease specific to allelic variants have not been documented. Factors that may increase risk for disease onset or modify disease severity are age when the first episode occurred, fasting, and presence of infection. Acute attacks must be treated immediately with appropriate intravenous doses of glucose. For those diagnosed, long-term management of the disease includes preventing stress caused by fasting and maintaining a high-carbohydrate, reduced-fat diet, and carnitine supplementation. Hospitalization costs attributable to morbidity and mortality from MCADD are unknown; MCADD is not a diagnosis in the International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codebook. Furthermore, the penetrance of the MCAD genotypes is unknown; there appears to be a substantial number of asymptomatic MCADD individuals and some uncertainty regarding which individuals will manifest symptoms and which individuals will remain asymptomatic. Several technologies are available to detect MCADD. Diagnostic technologies include DNA-based tests for K304E mutations using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the detection of abnormal metabolites in urine. Screening technologies include tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), which detects abnormal metabolites mostly in blood. State programs are beginning to offer screening in newborns for MCADD using MS/MS. In addition, a private company currently offers voluntary supplemental newborn screening for MCADD to birthing centers.
A mathematical model for the electrokinetic remediation of contaminated soil

We propose to develop a mathematical model for the electrokinetic remediation of contaminated soil. We assume that the contaminants are mostly heavy metals, water is in excess, the dissociation-association of water into hydrogen and hydroxyl ions is rapid, and that electroosmosis is insignificant when compared to electromigration as a transport mechanism. Steady-state solutions for the model are derived and results of the numerical simulations are given to show that heavy metals in the soil are removed by this method in the long run.
Effect of torsional potential on the predicted phase behavior of n-alkanes

Abstract The effect of torsional potential on the predictions of simulation for vapor–liquid equilibria of n -alkanes is determined. Calculations are performed with histogram-reweighting Monte Carlo simulations in the grand canonical ensemble. Decreasing the magnitude of energy barriers to dihedral rotation or allowing free rotation is found to have no effect on the predicted vapor–liquid equilibria. Restriction of the dihedral angles to a Gaussian distribution around the minimum energy conformation causes an under-prediction of the liquid densities and critical temperatures by a maximum of 7% and 2%, respectively, with discrepancies increasing monotonically with the number of dihedral angles present in a molecule. No significant deviation in vapor pressure is observed for any compound, regardless of torsional potential used. An analysis of the conformational behavior reveals that restriction of the dihedral sampling has a measurable effect on excluded volume of the molecule, and this change of conformational behavior is responsible for the reduction in the predicted saturated liquid densities observed in this work. Similar calculations for force fields employing reduced dihedral potentials or freely jointed chains show little change in the predicted excluded volume compared to the reference force field.
Triplet photosensitization in cyercene A and related pyrones

Mollusks of the Sacoglossa order contain a variety of polypropionate metabolites that are characterized by a pyrone chromophore, such as cyercene A and 9,10-deoxytridachione. Most often the pyrone is a 2-methoxy-γ-pyrone but occasionally is a 4-methoxy-α-pyrone or hydropyrone. Members of this class of metabolites have been shown to undergo photochemical reactions of biosynthetic importance. An example is the photochemical conversion of 9,10-deoxytridachione to photodeoxytridachione, which has been observed in several mollusks. In this report, a series of γ-pyrones and their α-pyrone analogs were synthesized and analyzed for photosensitizing activity. In all cases studied, the γ-pyrone was a more efficient triplet sensitizer than the corresponding α-pyrone. Included in this set of molecules was the Sacoglossan metabolite cyercene A and its α-pyrone isomer. When irradiated in the presence of oxygen, cyercene A produced singlet oxygen at significantly higher rate than the corresponding α-pyrone isomer. Furthermore, the photoisomerization of cyercene A was quenched by piperylene with concommitant isomerization of the piperylene indicating that the isomerization proceeded through a triplet excited state. In contrast, the isomerization of the α-pyrone analog was not quenched. The implications of these photochemical results in terms of the biosynthesis and biological activity of Sacoglossan polypropionate metabolites are discussed.
Rule learning and complexity in simulated reading

Abstract Three approaches (Rule, Higher-order Unit, Whole Word) to decoding in a simulated reading task were studied. Rule complexity was varied in three experiments employing symbols ($, @, etc.) as stimuli and numbers as responses. CAI was the experimental vehicle. The 110 fifth and sixth grade boys and girls from an inner-city school were randomly assigned to one of the 11 groups in the three experiments. When the rule was simple (one-to-one correspondence) the rule approach was superior, but when the rule was complex (simulation of the final e rule in reading) the higher-order unit approach was superior. Higher-order unit subjects studied examples composed of the fewest stimuli possible to illustrate the rule.
Breaks in care in the ambulatory care setting: the risks to patient safety.

During a 14-month period of care, a healthy 50-year-old woman reports episodes of rectal bleeding to one and later to a second internist. Absence of steps taken either to substantiate a diagnosis of hemorrhoids or to ensure that a colonoscopy is carried out leads to fatal results. A healthy 50-year-old teacher presents to her internist with a history of occasional bleeding from hemorrhoids over several years. The patient recalls being previously diagnosed with hemorrhoids during one of her pregnancies. On rectal exam, the internist notes normal tone without masses. A stool test is negative for occult blood and no mention is made of hemorrhoids on exam. The internist recommends suppositories and discusses the need to schedule a colonoscopy with the patient. Unfortunately, neither the patient nor the physician schedules the colonoscopy. Error occurs within systems. The system, the people, their interaction with each other, and the performance of procedures or lack thereof—all …
Character Traits Depicted in Newbery Medal Books from the 1920s Through the 2000s

Readers readily identify with characters in literature; therefore, educators must be acutely aware of the overt and underlying messages conveyed in Newbery Medal books. In this quantitative content analysis with a qualitative component, the researchers employed nonparametric measurements to examine Newbery Medal books from the 1920s to the 2000s to quantify the frequency of positive Biblical and negative opposite character traits exhibited through the thoughts and actions of characters in Newbery Medal books as well as the emergent moral themes of each book. A new system of classification for Newbery Medal books has been proposed to provide the American Library Association with an alternative method by which Newbery Medal books categorized.
Experimental and computational studies on the DNA translocation mechanism of the T4 viral packaging motor

Bacteriophage T4 is a double stranded DNA virus that infects E.coli by injecting the viral genome through the cellular wall of a host cell. The T4 genome must be ejected from the viral capsid with sufficient force to ensure infection. To generate high ejection forces, the genome is packaged to high density within the viral capsid. A DNA translocation motor, in which the protein gp17 hydrolyzes ATP and binds to the DNA, is responsible for translocating the genome into the capsid during viral maturation of T4. This motor generates forces in excess of 60 pN and packages DNA at rates exceeding 2000 base pairs/second (bp/s) 1 . Understanding these small yet powerful motors is important, as they have many potential applications. Though much is known about the activity of these motors from bulk and single molecule biophysical techniques, little is known about their detailed molecular mechanism. Recently, two structures of gp17 have been obtained: a high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structure showing a monomeric compacted form of the enzyme, and a cryo-electron microscopic structure of the extended form of gp17 in complex with actively packaging prohead complexes. Comparison of these two structures indicates several key differences, and a model has been proposed to explain the translocation action of the motor 2 . Key to this model are a set of residues forming ion pairs across two domains of the gp17 molecule that are proposed to be involved in force generation by causing the collapse of the extended form of gp17. Using a dual optical trap to measure the rates of DNA packaging and the generated forces, we present preliminary mutational data showing that these several of these ion pairs are important to motor function. We have also performed preliminary free energy calculations on the extended and collapsed state of gp17, to confirm that these interdomain ion pairs have large contributions to the change in free energy that occurs upon the collapse of gp17 during the proposed ratcheting mechanism.
EFFECT OF OLIGOSACCHARIDE (OS) CHAIN LENGTH, TERMINAL GROUP, AND HAPTEN LOADING ON THE SERUM ANTIBODY (Ab) RESPONSE OF 1-YR-OLD INFANTS TO H. INFLUENZAE B CAPSULAR ANTIGEN (PRP) CONJUGATED TO THE DIPHTHERIA PROTEIN CRM197

EFFECT OF OLIGOSACCHARIDE (OS) CHAIN LENGTH, TERMINAL GROUP, AND HAPTEN LOADING ON THE SERUM ANTIBODY (Ab) RESPONSE OF 1-YR-OLD INFANTS TO H. INFLUENZAE B CAPSULAR ANTIGEN (PRP) CONJUGATED TO THE DIPHTHERIA PROTEIN CRM197
Shifting modern identities in Madrid’s recent urban planning, architecture and narrative

Abstract Compared to some major urban centers in Spain that have successfully participated in the fierce competition over cultural capital since the 1980s (such as Barcelona, Seville, or Bilbao), Madrid seems not so much to look outward to the international community to sell its image but to more reflectively construct and critique life, on the periphery of what was previously the center of an extremely centralized state. The power to build and shape Madrid during the 1980s and 1990s often found inspiration in the more disposable and ephemeral forms of culture circulating in its immediate environment, just as cultural forms and cultural content drew directly from the desire to represent human reactions to this urban setting. The conservative Partido Popular has taken credit for the positive urban reforms of the Socialists and criticized them for the failures, while giving Madrid over to the car and abandoning the progressive social housing policies of earlier years, which were based on rational Modernist planning and the political possibility of the Modernist project. Much recent literature and film about Madrid focuses on the resulting ideological, political and economic shifts.
Specificity and variable region cDNA sequence of an isogeneic monoclonal antiidiotype to an anti-α(1 → 6)dextran

We have characterized a monoclonal isogeneic antiidiotype, IdB5.7, from a BALB/c mouse immunized with the anti-alpha(1----6)dextran C57BL/6 45.21.1. It defined a hapten-inhibitable idiotope expressed on four of the 2 myeloma and 37 hybridoma anti-alpha(1----6)dextrans tested. Sequence comparison of Id+ and Id- anti-alpha(1----6)dextrans suggested that two extra amino acids at VH 100A and 100B and different residues at VH 101 abolish the expression of the idiotope in the Id- anti-alpha(1----6)dextrans. Sequence analysis of the VH of IdB5.7 showed a CDR1 longer than usual and a D segment in CDR3 formed by the fusion of two D minigenes. The IdB5.7 V kappa uses the V kappa 1 germline gene K5.1 with a few substitutions. The D-D fusion in VH CDR3 is a feature which has been reported in several other antiidiotypic antibodies.
How membrane proteins sense voltage

The ionic gradients across cell membranes generate a transmembrane voltage that regulates the function of numerous membrane proteins such as ion channels, transporters, pumps and enzymes. The mechanisms by which proteins sense voltage is diverse: ion channels have a conserved, positively charged transmembrane region that moves in response to changes in membrane potential, some G-protein coupled receptors possess a specific voltage-sensing motif and some membrane pumps and transporters use the ions that they transport across membranes to sense membrane voltage. Characterizing the general features of voltage sensors might lead to the discovery of further membrane proteins that are voltage regulated.
Compensation for commutes in labor and housing markets

Abstract This paper estimates the effects of commuting time and housing characteristics on earnings of white male, white female, and black female employees of a single company. Within all three groups, earnings increase directly with commuting time. However, these increases are significantly smaller for employees commuting from census tracts with housing characteristics indicative of lower prices for housing services. Earnings premia for commuting time, net of the interactions between commuting time and housing characteristics are positive for almost all white males. However, they are negative for many white females and most black females. If locational constraints imposed by primary workers or residential segregation restrict the residential mobility of female employees, the employer may have monopsony power. That power may enable the employer to capture the housing market benefits of longer commutes for females.
Exploring the S4 and S1 Prime Subsite Specificities in Caspase-3 with Aza-Peptide Epoxide Inhibitors.

Caspase-3 is a prototypic executioner caspase that plays a central role in apoptosis. Aza-peptide epoxides are a novel class of irreversible inhibitors that are highly specific for clan CD cysteine proteases. The five crystal structures of caspase-3-aza-peptide epoxide inhibitor complexes reported here reveal the structural basis for the mechanism of inhibition and the specificities at the S1' and the S4 subsites. Unlike the clan CA cysteine proteases, the catalytic histidine in caspase-3 plays a critical role during protonation and subsequent ring opening of the epoxide moiety and facilitates the nucleophilic attack by the active site cysteine. The nucleophilic attack takes place on the C3 carbon atom of the epoxide and results in an irreversible alkylation of the active site cysteine residue. A favorable network of hydrogen bonds involving the oxyanion hole, catalytic histidine, and the atoms in the prime site of the inhibitor enhance the binding affinity and specificity of the aza-peptide epoxide inhibitors toward caspase-3. The studies also reveal that subtle movements of the N-terminal loop of the beta-subunit occur when the P4 Asp is replaced by a P4 Ile, whereas the N-terminal loop and the safety catch Asp179 are completely disordered when the P4 Asp is replaced by P4 Cbz group.
Lattice Model for Thermodiffusion in Polymer Solutions

When a temperature gradient is applied to a polymer solution, the polymer typically migrates to the colder regions of the fluid as a result of thermal diffusion (Soret effect). However, in recent thermodiffusion experiments on poly(ethylene-oxide) (PEO) in a mixed ethanol/water solvent it is observed that for some solvent compositions the polymer migrates to the cold side, while for other compositions it migrates to the warm side. In order to understand this behavior, a two-chamber lattice model for thermodiffusion in liquid mixtures and dilute polymer solutions has been developed. For mixtures of PEO, ethanol, and water, the compressibility and hydrogen bonding between PEO and water molecules are taken into account and Soret coefficients are calculated for a given temperature, pressure, and solvent composition. The sign of the Soret coefficient of PEO is found to change from negative (polymer enriched in warmer region) to positive (polymer enriched in cooler region) as the water content of the solution is increased, in agreement with experimental data. A close relationship between the solvent quality and the partitioning of the polymer between the two chambers is noted, which may explain why negative Soret coefficients for polymers are so rarely observed. The Soret effect in ethanol/water mixtures is also investigated and a change in sign of the Soret coefficient of water is found at high water concentrations, in qualitative agreement with experimental data.
A Bound For Image Registration Error

In the registration of two dimensional images that are obtained from two different sensors and from geometrically different locations there are distortions. These distortions can cause errors in the navigational systems that use them. In this paper a lower bound on the registration error is derived by using a model that treats the sensed and reference images as the two ends of a communication channel. Then rate distortion theory is applied to obtain a relationship between the registration error and the statistical properties of the images. The resulting bound can be used to predict the registration error, in the selection of the proper reference images, and in comparing the performance of the image registration systems.
Variation of Keratin 7 Expression and Other Phenotypic Characteristics of Independent Isolates of Cadmium Transformed Human Urothelial Cells (UROtsa)

This laboratory has shown that a human urothelial cell line (UROtsa) transformed by cadmium (Cd(2+)) produced subcutaneous tumor heterotransplants that resemble human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). In the present study, additional Cd(2+) transformed cell lines were isolated to determine if independent exposures of the cell line to Cd(2+) would result in malignantly transformed cell lines possessing similar phenotypic properties. Seven independent isolates were isolated and assessed for their doubling times, morphology, ability to heterotransplant subcutaneously and in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice, and for the expression of keratin 7. The 7 cell lines all displayed an epithelial morphology with no evidence of squamous differentiation. Doubling times were variable among the isolates, being significantly reduced or similar to those of the parental cells. All 7 isolates were able to form subcutaneous tumor heterotransplants with a TCC morphology, and all heterotransplants displayed areas of squamous differentiation of the transitional cells. The degree of squamous differentiation varied among the isolates. In contrast to subcutaneous tumor formation, only 1 isolate of the Cd(2+) transformed cells (UTCd#1) was able to effectively colonize multiple sites within the peritoneal cavity. An analysis of keratin 7 expression showed no correlation with squamous differentiation for the subcutaneous heterotransplants generated from the 7 cell lines. Keratin 7 was expressed in 6 of the 7 cell lines and their subcutaneous tumor heterotransplants. Keratin 7 was not expressed in the cell line that was able to form tumors within the peritoneal cavity. These results show that individual isolates of Cd(2+) transformed cells have both similarities and differences in their phenotype.
Optimization of absorption and scattering lengths in random lasers

The threshold and the slope efficiency in random lasers depend on the transport mean free path lt and absorption length la. We theoretically determine the range of parameters lt and la, which maximize the random laser output, and compare the results of the modeling with the experimental results.
Efficacy of Dermacor-X-100® Seed Treatment Against Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Rice

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), which attacks sugarcane, corn, sorghum, sudan grass and rice, is a major agronomic pest in the southeastern United States. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of different rates of Dermacor-X-100® (active ingredient, chlorantraniliprole) seed treatments on D. saccharalis in rice in the laboratory, greenhouse and field. In laboratory assays using cut stems, Dermacor-X-100® resulted in 40–50% more mortality than in the control, while in greenhouse intact plant assays Dermacor-X-100® resulted in approximately 70–80% higher mortality compared to controls. In the field study, Dermacor-X-100® seed treatment resulted in significantly lower numbers of borer entry and exit holes per plant. Results from this study suggest that Dermacor-X-100® seed treatment could be used as a valuable component of integrated pest management program for stem borers in Louisiana rice. As the boring behavior of larvae, life cycle and injury caused by most stem borers are generally similar, and because the active ingredient in Dermacor-X-100® is highly efficacious against lepidopteran pests, results for D. saccharalis may extend to management of other stem boring species as well.
Water-Soluble Tungsten Hydrides: Synthesis, Structures, and Reactions of (C5H4CO2H)(CO)3WH and Related Complexes

The water-soluble metal hydride (C5H4CO2H)(CO)3WH (1) was prepared and characterized. The crystal structure of this complex determined by X-ray diffraction shows it to be dimeric in the solid state, due to OH···O hydrogen bonds between the CO2H groups. The pKa of the W−H proton was determined to be 5.8 (±0.2) in water. While the CO2H site of (C5H4CO2H)(CO)3WH is more acidic than the W−H proton in water, the order of thermodynamic acidity is inverted in organic solvents. Deprotonation of (C5H4CO2H)(CO)3WH with KH in THF, followed by counterion exchange, gives [(C5H4CO2H)(CO)3W]-NBu4+ (2). This anion is also dimeric through intermolecular hydrogen bonding of the CO2H groups, as shown by X-ray crystallography. The reaction of PMe3 or P(OMe)3 with (C5H4CO2H)(CO)3WH gives substitution of a CO ligand and formation of (C5H4CO2H)(PR3)(CO)2WH (R = Me, OMe). Reaction of PTA (PTA = phosphatriazaadamantane) with (C5H5)(CO)3WH gives (C5H5)(PTA)(CO)2WH. This complex exists as an equilibrating cis/trans mixture in solut...
JP-8 Combustion Characteristics in a Small Diesel Auxiliary Power Unit

The US Army Single Fuel Forward policy mandates that deployed vehicles must be operable with aviation fuel JP-8. Therefore, an investigation into the influence of JP-8 on a diesel engine’s performance is currently in progress. The injection, combustion, and performance of JP-8, 20–50% by weight in diesel no.2 mixtures (J20-J50) produced at room temperature were investigated in a 77mm indirect injection, high compression ratio (23.5) diesel engine, in order to evaluate its effectiveness for application in Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) at 2000rpm continuous operation (100% load/BMEP 4.78 bar). Due to the viscosity requirements for proper injection the new fuel can contain as high as 100% JP-8 (J100). The blends had an ignition delay of 1.03ms regardless of the amount of JP-8 introduced. J50 and diesel no.2 exhibited similar characteristics of heat release, the premixed phase being combined with the diffusion combustion. The maximum combustion pressure remained relatively constant for all blends, 72.7bar for diesel and decreased slightly by 0.40bar for J50, with the peak pressure position being delayed by 0.5CAD for the J50. The instantaneous volume-averaged gas combustion temperature reached 2162K for diesel versus 2173K for J50; displaying a 1.2CAD delay in the position of the maximum temperature and retaining the higher temperature for a longer duration for J50. The heat flux in the engine cylinder exhibited comparable maximum values for all blends (diesel: 2.12MW/m2 , J50: 2.14MW/m2 ). The cylinder heat losses were at a minimum during combustion before TDC with increased convection losses at TDC for all fuels and the beginning of the power stroke. The heat losses associated with the system increased slightly with the addition of JP-8. The BSFC for diesel no.2 was 242(g/kW/hr) and increasing by only 0.7% for J50. The engine’s mechanical efficiency displayed similar values for all blends, 83% and decreasing by only 1% for J50. Taking into account each fuels’ corresponding density, the engine’s overall efficiency remained relatively constant at 29% with the addition of the JP-8. The engine investigation demonstrated that up to 50% JP-8 by weight in diesel can be injected and burnt in a small diesel engine with a combustion duration of approximately 5ms, while maintaining the engine overall efficiency. The study validates JP-8 as an excellent source for power generation in a diesel APU based on its combustion characteristics. The next stage of research shall be the full emissions investigation.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Environmental Degradation of Tire-Wear Particles

Four sample types (tire-wear particulate and tread rubber each in roadside soil and in glass beads) were analyzed periodically for total rubber content by thermogravimetric (TGA), pyrolysis-gas chromatography (GC), and extraction-pyrolysis-GC analyses. Results of the extraction analysis (the most reliable method) show that after 16 months, 52% of the polymer in tread-wear particulate was degraded in soil and only 36% in glass beads (possibly due to lack of soil microorganisms to degrade sulfur linkages in the vulcanized portion of the polymer). Fresh tread particles of the same size showed no degradation. Pyrolysis-GC results, although showing wide scatter, showed that the unsaturated bonds of polybutadiene undergo oxidative degradation more rapidly than the aromatic bonds of styrene units. These results strongly suggest that one important mode of degradation of tread-wear particles is atmospheric oxidation. TGA results show that biodegradation did not reduce the total carbon content of the wear particles in the 16 months, although more than half of the extender oil was oxidized sufficiently to increase its vaporization temperature to the polymer temperature range. Biooxidation may have detoxified some of the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon portion of the oil. The rate of environmental degradation was 0.15% per day, 22% of the total removal rate found in a California roadside study. Wind erosion and water run-off probably account for some removal.
Dielectric screening and zone-center phonons in Si

We present a microscopic calculation of the zone-center phonon frequencies of silicon. The electronic contributions to the phonons are fully incorporated into the dynamical matrix via the dielectric matrix ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{G}},\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{G}}}$. The acoustic sum rule is shown to be satisfied.
Primary hepatic lymphoma in an adolescent treated with hepatic lobectomy and chemotherapy.

A case of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, confined to the liver, in a 17-year-old boy is reported. The patient was treated with an extended left hepatectomy and combination chemotherapy: Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), vincristine, prednisone, and methotrexate (COMP). The patient remains disease free at 1 year. Cancer 65:2222-2226.1990, OST CASES of the primary hepatic lymphoma have M been reported in adults. ’ Only two cases have been reported in children.2 Both children received a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but died of disease within 7 months of diagnosis. We report a case of primary hepatic lymphoma in an adolescent boy that was successfully treated with a combination of partial hepatectomy and chemotherapy.
The Effect of Proline CIS Trans Isomerization on P53 MDM2 Binding

Proline is unique in that it is the only amino acid that adopts both cis and trans conformations in proteins. In spite of the importance of proline isomerization as a molecular switch in proteins, the effect on protein binding has not been thoroughly investigated, especially for intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). In this study, a potential of mean force method was used to calculate the absolute binding affinities for the disordered p53 and MDM2 when the proline in p53 is in both cis and trans conformations. To obtain converged affinity results it was necessary to apply conformational, axial, and orientational restraints to the protein internal coordinates. Our results give insight into how isomerization of a proline affects binding of an IDP to a structured protein.
The angiogenic properties of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus encoded G-protein coupled receptor are reduced by flavopiridol, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 9

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV8) has been identified as the etiologic agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), a multifocal highly vascularized neoplasm that is the most common malignancy associated with AIDS. Although highly active antiretroviral therapy has decreased the incidence of KS, it remains an incurable tumor for which there is no established treatment. Due to the vascular nature of KS, an anti-angiogenic therapeutic approach is attractive. The KSHV-encoded G-protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) is required and sufficient to initiate angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. Recent evidence suggests that inhibition of P-TEFb, a transcriptional elongation factor composed of cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and its regulatory partner cyclin T, is anti-angiogenic. We hypothesized that flavopiridol, a novel inhibitor of CDK9, would inhibit vGPCR-induced angiogenesis by downregulating expression of angiogenic growth factors and/or Bcl-2. To test this hypothesis, in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis assays were carried out using primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) transduced with either a control or a vGPCR-expressing retroviral vector and then treated with flavopiridol. Our results show that CDK9 activity is increased in vGPCR-expressing HUVECs and that pretreatment with 50 nM flavopiridol inhibited vGPCR-induced migration and capillary tubule formation. These results correlated with a significant decrease in expression of genes encoding the angiogenic factors VEGF-A and VEGF-C and the pro-survival factor Bcl-2. Initial studies to determine the molecular mechanisms by which CDK9 affects angiogenesis demonstrated that HUVECs treated with bFGF and VEGF had increased CDK9 activity as well as increased expression of the major isoform of Cdk942 and cyclin T. Although Cdk9 was described in the literature as a general transcription factor, we have observed that inhibition of CDK9 by flavopiridol decreased the expression of Bcl-2 but not p21 in HUVEC. Together these results suggest that CDK9 plays a role in mediating transcriptional regulation of vGPCR responsive genes and implicate CDK9 as a potential target to reduce vGPCR-enhanced endothelial cell survival, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis. Experiments are currently under way to determine whether CDK9 is directly activated upon vGPCR expression and whether inhibition of CDK9 activity suppresses KSHV-enhanced angiogenesis and tumorigenesis in vivo.
Getting in the Scrap: The Mobilization of American Children in World War II

L'A. rappelle que pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale le gouvernement americain a encourage les enfants a effectuer un certain nombre de tâches : vente de timbres, collecte de materiaux de recuperation etc.. Il souligne que cette decision a fait l'objet d'un large consensus. Il montre que les hommes politiques comme les professeurs ont encourage cette mobilisation. Il estime que cette derniere repond a des besoins psychologiques plus que materiels, en ce sens que l'engagement des enfants devait conforter le patriotisme. Il s'interesse plus particulierement a la collecte des metaux et etudie les procesus mis en place pour motiver les enfants
Mechanical stress effects on p-channel MOSFET performance and NBTI reliability

Because of the strong sensitivity to gate oxide processing it has been difficult to compare and correctly quantify the effect of pure mechanical stress on the MOSFETs with different level of device stress engineering. We report, for the first time, a detailed evaluation of the impact of mechanical compressive and tensile stress on device performance and NBTI reliability of p-MOSFET devices with identical gate oxide. These effects were investigated by exploiting the well known induced mechanical effects on devices placed in proximity to Through Silicon Vias (TSV) [1,2]. A detailed electrical device characterization at time-zero (pre-NBTI stress) confirms a p-MOSFET mobility modulation dependence on proximity to TSV, device channel orientation and device temperature, consistent with the underlying Cu directional tensile and compressive mechanical stress dependence on Si. It is found that the NBTI induced Threshold Voltage shift is not affected by the mechanical stress. On the contrary, it is found that the NBTI component contributing to mobility degradation is strongly dependent on the level of the applied mechanical stress. This finding gives some further insights on the nature of the NBTI damage.
Nano ZrO2 particles in nanocrystalline Fe–14Cr–1.5Zr Alloy Powders

Here we report on the formation of nano ZrO2 particles in Fe–14Cr–1.5Zr alloy powders synthesized by mechanical alloying. The nano ZrO2 particles were found uniformly dispersed in the ferritic matrix powders with an average size of about 3.7 nm, which rendered the alloy powders so stable that it retained nanocrystalline structure after annealing at 900 C for 1 h. The ZrO2 nanoparticles have a tetragonal crystal structure and the following orientation relationship with the matrix: (0 0 2)ZrO2//(0 0 2)Matrix and [0 1 0]ZrO2//[1 2 0]Matrix. The size and dispersion of the ZrO2 particles are comparable to those of Y–Ti–O enriched oxides reported in irradiation-resistant ODS alloys. This suggests a potential application of the new alloy powders for nuclear energy applications.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome induced by testosterone administration.

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a recently described clinical disorder that results from repetitive episodes of upper-airway occlusion during sleep.1 Since the syndrome occurs much more fre...
A Euclidean interpretation of Dynkin diagrams and its relation to root systems

A simple metric property satisfied by bases of (finite, not necessarily reduced) root systems is used to define sets in Euclidean space that provide models for Dynkin diagrams and their positive semidefinite one-vertex extensions. The theory of root systems can be founded on the study of these ‘Dynkin sets’, and conversely the Dynkin sets representing connected diagrams can be characterized as the bases and extended bases of root systems. (By an ‘extended base’, we mean a base together with the lowest root of a given length.) In this correspondence the role of nonreduced root systems is natural and important.
Isolation and Growth of Adult Human Epidermal Keratinocytes in Cell Culture

Human epidermal keratinocytes may be isolated in high yield from 0.1 mm keratotome sections of adult skin by short-term trypsin release. When plated on a collagen-coated plastic surface or on a collagen gel, keratinocytes attach with high efficiencies (>70%) and form confluent, stratified cultures. Cell populations of predominantly basal cells produce proliferative primary cell cultures while populations of basal cells and malpighian cells result in nonproliferative primary cultures. Both nonproliferative and proliferative primary cultures may be subcultured on collagen gels following dispersion by trypsin and EDTA. Methotrexate strongly inhibits proliferative keratinocytes at low concentrations (0.1 μ g/ml) but has no cytotoxic effect on non-proliferative cells. L-serine and dexamethasone increase the multiplication rate of both primary and subcultured human keratinocytes.
Classical appetitive conditioning in the pigeon

Pigeons were trained in an appetitive conditioning situation (CS paired with the presentation of food). The CS-US interval was 1 sec. for one group and 10 sec. for another. Stabilimetric measures of anticipatory activity showed better conditioning at the longer interval.
Lattice energies of calcite-structure metal carbonates III. Theoretical excess energies for solid solutions (Ca,M)CO3 [M=Cd, Mn, or Fe]

Abstract A theoretical method for calculating excess energy values ( H EX or G EX ) of calcite-structure solid solutions has been devised by extending the lattice energy calculation technique for pure carbonate minerals [3,5] . By determining Δ U as a function of composition (χ) for Ca χ Cd 1 - χ CO 3 (ss) , Ca χ Mn 1-χ CO 3 (ss) , and Ca χ Fe 1-χ CO 3(ss) , excess energies are found through the use of standard thermodynamic relations and the regular-solution model. Input data for these solid-solution, lattice-energy calculations includes experimental lattice parameters (as a function of χ), and end-member refractive indices. Computation of the refractive indices for intermediate compositions (i.e., 0 [9] . Hence, two sets of theoretical excess energy values are obtained for each of the three solid solutions under investigation. These results, when compared with experimentally reported excess energy values, generally reproduce the sign and compositional dependence of the appropriate excess energy function, except for one set of theoretical excess Gibbs energies for the (Ca,Fe)CO 3 system.