cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unity of Voice in Endangered Species Recovery

Povilitis ( 1994) discusses the philosophical rift between conservationists who advocate radical change and those who accept incremental progress in environmental policy, and points out the need for a "unity of voice" for advancement of needed policy changes. We must heed his advice and not limit the field of scientists and advocates who must speak together. Conservation biologists will fail in their critical agenda to advance science in the service of conservation (Noss 1993) if they speak only among themselves. Unfortunately, the uneasy marriage between conservation biologists and other naturalresource professionals, especially wildlife biologists, seems in danger of unraveling along with much of the cohesiveness of the conservation community. The impending divorce would serve neither the public nor our natural systems. This threat is most immediate in the conservation and recovery of large carnivores in the American West. One case, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilus), clearly demonstrates the dangers inherent in internecine conflict within the world of wildlife conservation and provides a good reminder of both the scientific and political value of unity, or at least tolerance in the face of disagreement. The grizzly has been at the center of controversy beginning with the termination of the Yellowstone garbage dumps (Craighead 1979), followed by its initial federal listing as threatened (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 1975), release of the initial recovery plan (USFWS 1982), and the injunction of sport hunting in Montana (U.S. District Court 1991 ). New heights of contention were reached with the release of the Revised Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan (USFWS 1993, 1994). Prominent scientists have forsaken traditional peer review and taken sides in a volley of public letters to federal officials that either herald the plan as a "scientifically sound document" (H. Salwasser and 16 others, letter of 1/31/94 to Secretary Bruce Babbitt and Director Mollie
Margules Equations Applied to PAH Solubilities in Alcohol−Water Mixtures

Solubilities of phenanthrene, pyrene, and perylene were determined in aqueous solutions containing either methanol, ethanol, or propanol at alcohol volume fractions ranging from zero to nearly 1, at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. These data, and data from the literature on naphthalene were compared to various forms of two- and three-suffix Margules equations and UNIFAC predictions. For each solute−solvent−cosolvent (i.e., PAH−water−alcohol) system examined, the solubility (S) of each PAH increased with increasing alcohol volume fraction (v3). The UNIFAC model poorly estimated solubilities at cosolvent volume fractions near 0.5. Analysis of the data with various forms of the Margules equations shows that, in addition to solute−solvent and solute−cosolvent interaction terms, inclusion of solvent−cosolvent (i.e., water−alcohol) and solute−solvent−cosolvent interaction terms in the model improves predic tions, particularly at cosolvent volume fractions near 0.5. A simplified three-suffix Margules model is pr...
Release of malaria circumsporozoite protein into the host cell cytoplasm and interaction with ribosomes

To date, the circumsporozoite (CS) protein has been implicated in guiding malaria sporozoites to the liver [Cerami et al., Cell 70, 1992, 1021-1033]. Here we show that shortly after invasion, P. berghei and P. yoelii sporozoites lie free in the invaded cell and release considerable amounts of CS protein into the cytoplasm. The intracytoplasmic deposition of CS protein begins during the attachment of the sporozoite to the host cell surface and reaches its peak during the first 4-6 h after invasion. Initially, the CS protein spreads over the entire cytoplasm of the infected cell where it interacts with cytosolic as well as endoplasmic reticulum-associated ribosomes. During the subsequent development of the parasites to exoerythrocytic forms, the CS protein binding becomes gradually restricted to ribosomes lining the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope of the host cell. The distribution pattern of the parasite-released CS protein in the host cell cytoplasm is independent of the permissiveness of the host cell for the development of the parasites to exoerythrocytic forms. It requires neither the host cell metabolism nor does it involve the endocytotic machinery. Recombinant P. falciparum CS protein interacts with RNAse-sensitive sites on endoplasmic reticulum-associated ribosomes as shown by microinjection and immunoelectron microscopy. The generalized interaction of the CS protein with host cell ribosomes suggests that the CS protein has an intracellular function during the hepatic phase in the life cycle of Plasmodium and may also explain the generation of a CD8+ T cell response in the course of rodent malaria infections.
Subunit dissociation and metal binding by Escherichia coli apo-manganese superoxide dismutase.

Abstract Metal binding by apo-manganese superoxide dismutase (apo-MnSOD) is essential for functional maturation of the enzyme. Previous studies have demonstrated that metal binding by apo-MnSOD is conformationally gated, requiring protein reorganization for the metal to bind. We have now solved the X-ray crystal structure of apo-MnSOD at 1.9 A resolution. The organization of active site residues is independent of the presence of the metal cofactor, demonstrating that protein itself templates the unusual metal coordination geometry. Electrophoretic analysis of mixtures of apo- and (Mn 2 )-MnSOD, dye-conjugated protein, or C-terminal Strep -tag II fusion protein reveals a dynamic subunit exchange process associated with cooperative metal binding by the two subunits of the dimeric protein. In contrast, (S126C) (SS) apo-MnSOD, which contains an inter-subunit covalent disulfide-crosslink, exhibits anti-cooperative metal binding. The protein concentration dependence of metal uptake kinetics implies that protein dissociation is involved in metal binding by the wild type apo-protein, although other processes may also contribute to gating metal uptake. Protein concentration dependent small-zone size exclusion chromatography is consistent with apo-MnSOD dimer dissociation at low protein concentration ( K D = 1 × 10 −6 M). Studies on metal uptake by apo-MnSOD in Escherichia coli cells show that the protein exhibits similar behavior in vivo and in vitro .
The Camino Compiler infrastructure

This paper introduces the Camino Compiler Infrastructure. Camino implements several types of profiling, including basic block counts, edge profiling, interprocedural path profiling, and a special technique that allows using a SimPoint-like methodology to do efficient and precise fine-grained power behavior characterization. It also supports a growing set of code placement optimizations such as branch alignment and pattern history table partitioning. In its current implementation, Camino works as a post-processor for the Gnu Compiler Collection (GCC). The goal of Camino is to serve as a testbed for various low-level performance optimizations as well as power and energy optimizations. It currently supports the x86 instruction set.
The germacradienolide isabelin from Zexmenia valerii: stereochemistry and conformation of scandenolide and deoxymikanolide☆

Abstract The isolation of the germacradienolide isabelin from Zexmenia valerii is reported. In contrast to isabelin, the closely related lactones deoxymikanolide and scandenolide exist in solution in one conformation only, which is similar to that of dihvdromikanolide in the solid state. The C-3 stereochemistry of scandenolide is revised.
Early interactions between infants and their postpartum depressed mothers

Early face-to-face play interactions in which mothers have been instructed to “look depressed” result in disorganized, distressed behavior on the part of the infants (Cohn & Tronick, 1983). During this manipulation the infants more frequently looked wary, gaze averted, protested, and attempted to elicit responses from the mother, much like the infant interacting with a still-face mother attempts to reinstate their normal interaction (Fogel, Diamond, Langhorst, & Demos, 1982; Stoller & Field, 1982; Trevarthen, 1977; Tronick, Als, Adamson, Wise, & Brazelton, 1978). The infants’ distressed behavior continued even after the mothers resumed their normal behavior. Although the Cohn and Tronick (1983) study was intended to be a simulation of interactions between depressed mothers and infants, it is possible that infants of naturally depressed mothers may be accustomed to depressed behavior and thus may not act distressed when she is invited to “look depressed.” In the present study we investigated whether infants of mothers who became depressed postpartum.would behave like infants of,nondepressed mothers who were invited to “look depressed.” Twenty-four mothers (12 depressed, 12 nondepressed) and their infants were videotaped during face-to-face interactions when the infants were three months old. The “depressed” mothers had been referred to us by the obstetric unit social worker because they looked depressed during the lying-in period. This group of mothers and a randomly selected group of mothers delivering on the same unit were invited to participate in the study when their infants were three months old. All mothers were given the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, 1969) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970). Only those mothers who received scores of 16 or above on the Beck Depression inventory (BDI) were recruited for the “depressed” mothers’ group. The group of nondepressed mothers (scores 14 on BDI) were then selected from the random sample to
Mismatch between occupation and schooling: A prevalence measure, recent trends and demographic analysis

This paper deals with the mismatch between occupation and schooling attainment, the imbalance between occupation-specific demand for labor and schooling-level-specific labor supply. A framework for measuring the prevalence of mismatch is given, and a simple index derived from it gives plausible results and robust inferences about differentials and time trend. This approach can be applied to existing data, yields comprehensive and current social indicators, and can be used with a minimum number of assumptions. Trends for the U.S. labor force over the 1969–1980 interval are examined. Results show that there has been a dramatic and general increase in mismatch prevalence. Various demographic explanations of mismatch trends are examined.
An Electrodeless Discharge at 60 Hz

Inductive glow discharges have been generated in argon at pressures between 0.6 and 3.0 Torr in an 80-mm wide toroidal tube that was threaded by a magnet core system of 400 cm2 cross section. The fields required to maintain the discharges were produced by exciting the core at 60 Hz. Starting was accomplished either by a capacitor discharge through auxiliary electrodes or in an electrodeless manner by exciting the core at 9600 Hz. Plasma currents at 1 Torr exceeded 100 A andc were slightly trailing the voltage. Mean electron densities at this condition were estimated to be 5 × 1013/cm3. Power dissipation in the discharge was between 0.5 and 1.9 kW at an average conversion efficiency of 60%.
Interactive data exploration using semantic windows

We present a new interactive data exploration approach, called Semantic Windows (SW), in which users query for multidimensional "windows" of interest via standard DBMS-style queries enhanced with exploration constructs. Users can specify SWs using (i) shape-based properties, e.g., "identify all 3-by-3 windows", as well as (ii) content-based properties, e.g., "identify all windows in which the average brightness of stars exceeds 0.8". This SW approach enables the interactive processing of a host of useful exploratory queries that are difficult to express and optimize using standard DBMS techniques. SW uses a sampling-guided, data-driven search strategy to explore the underlying data set and quickly identify windows of interest. To facilitate human-in-the-loop style interactive processing, SW is optimized to produce online results during query execution. To control the tension between online performance and query completion time, it uses a tunable, adaptive prefetching technique. To enable exploration of big data, the framework supports distributed computation. We describe the semantics and implementation of SW as a distributed layer on top of PostgreSQL. The experimental results with real astronomical and artificial data reveal that SW can offer online results quickly and continuously with little or no degradation in query completion times.
Temporal and spatial chaos in a van der Waals fluid due to periodic thermal fluctuations

The Mel'nikov technique is applied to prove the existence of deterministic chaos in two problems for a van der Waals fluid. The first problem shows that temporal chaos results as a result of small time periodic fluctuations about a subcritical temperature when the fluid is initially quenched in the unstable spinoidal region. The second problem shows that spatial chaos arises from small spatially periodic flunctions in an infinite tube of fluid if the ambient pressure is appropriately chosen.
Time-resolved spectroscopy of LiF:Mg,Cu,P

Time-resolved spectroscopy measurements of LiF:Mg,Cu,P luminescence are presented to obtain a better understanding of the emission characteristics of this material. The intensities and decay of the emission bands were studied as a function of annealing temperature and ionising radiation (gamma) dose. Two peaks in the emission were observed at 367 and 466 nm when excited by the 266 nm laser radiation. The luminescence spectrum under band-to-band X-ray excitation shows a dominant emission approximately 390-400 nm, which resembles the reported thermoluminescence emission and is clearly different from the spectrum obtained using the 266 nm pulsed laser excitation. Annealing of the material to 300 degrees C increases the intensity of the 367 and 466 nm emission bands by an order of magnitude as well as changes the relative intensity of the bands. Additional emission bands, which are not evident in the thermoluminescence emission spectra, are seen at longer wavelengths that also increase with dose. Possible explanations for the observed emission spectra are discussed in this paper.
Lithography and design integration — New paradigm for the technology architecture development

This paper proposes a new paradigm for coordination of lithography and design at advanced technology nodes. Growing complexity of technology without any lithography pitch reduction (knowing that we don't have any imminent lens NA or wavelength improvement) we need to challenge node to node scaling more than any time before. To achieve an appropriate scale factor for 20nm and beyond it is necessary to introduce double patterning. We are going to explain how we change our landscape.
Context Fusion: Dealing with Sensor Reliability

Context-aware applications sense, combine and reason about contextual information in order to determine and adapt to the current user's context. A very important problem associated with context is the inherent ambiguity and inaccuracy. Contextual information is typically pervaded with imperfect sensing (e.g., noise of sensor readings). A novel context fusion model that represents, determines and reasons about context based on the reliability on sensor readings is proposed. This model adopts dynamic Bayesian networks and fuzzy-set theory in order to deal with the reliability of contextual data at the context inference phase.
Teaching techniques and quality education/training for the “disadvantaged”

The unrelenting demands of parent groups for control of the public schools in their communities have generated increased attention concerning the quality of education received by the Black and Spanish-speaking youngster in his neighborhood school. That the public schools have been largely unresponsive to the needs of these students can be shown by the pinpointing of certain continuing inadequacies in the educational system.Often in a genuine effort to help, but occasionally for commercial reasons or simply to de-fuse and dissipate the burgeoning discontent of these communities, training programs for the “disadvantaged” minorities have sprung up. The data processing training program is a relatively recent component of the “Anti-Poverty” panacea.It is both curious and ironic that such programs, even when developed and administered by data processing professionals (who are equipped with the sophisticated techniques of systems and procedure analysis and supported by machines and software which make lunar exploration a present-day reality), merely duplicate the deficiencies of teaching techniques used in public schools.
Beta-D-glucosyl and alpha-D-galactosyl Yariv reagents: syntheses from p-nitrophenyl-D-glycosides by transfer reduction using ammonium formate.

Yariv β-d-glucosyl (4a) and Yariv α-d-galactosyl (4b) reagents are multivalent phenylglycosides. The β-d-glucosyl reagent is considered diagnostic for arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) to which it can reversibly bind, stain, and precipitate. The α-d-galactosyl reagent does not bind AGPs and is used as a control. In a new strategy, we accomplished the large scale synthesis of the Yariv reagents in one continuous step by a transfer reduction method and without a need for any specialized apparatus. As the starting material, p-nitrophenyl-d-glycosides (1) were reduced to p-aminophenyl-d-glycosides (2) using ammonium formate as the hydrogen donor. The excess formate was converted to formic acid and ammonia, which then were removed from the reaction by simple distillation. Without isolation, p-aminophenyl-d-glycosides were diazotized (3) and coupled to phloroglucinol to give the Yariv reagents in ∼40% yield. AGPs are a major component of gum arabic, an emulsifying agent widely used in the food and pharmaceutical ...
Esthetic and Functional Consideration in Restoring Endodontically Treated Teeth

The selection of the best restoration for an endodontically treated tooth in the aesthetic zone depends on strength and the ability to recreate the form, function, and aesthetics of the natural tooth. The increased use of all-ceramic materials is a result of improved ceramic materials and adhesive systems. However, the advent of the current variety of translucent ceramic systems makes the shade of the abutment important in achieving the desired aesthetic outcome. This article discusses the different types of posts used in the restoration.
Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: Trends in the Health of Americans During the 20th Century

The overall improvement in the health of Americans over the 20th century is best exemplified by dramatic changes in 2 trends: 1) the age-adjusted death rate declined by about 74%, while 2) life expectancy increased 56%. Leading causes of death shifted from infectious to chronic diseases. In 1900, infectious respiratory diseases accounted for nearly a quarter of all deaths. In 1998, the 10 leading causes of death in the United States were, respectively, heart disease and cancer followed by stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, accidents (unintentional injuries), pneumonia and influenza, diabetes, suicide, kidney diseases, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Together these leading causes accounted for 84% of all deaths. The size and composition of the American population is fundamentally affected by the fertility rate and the number of births. From the beginning of the century there was a steady decline in the fertility rate to a low point in 1936. The postwar baby boom peaked in 1957, when 123 of every 1000 women aged 15 to 44 years gave birth. Thereafter, fertility rates began a steady decline. Trends in the number of births parallel the trends in the fertility rate. Beginning in 1936 and continuing to 1956, there was precipitous decline in maternal mortality from 582 deaths per 100 000 live births in 1935 to 40 in 1956. Since 1950 the maternal mortality ratio dropped by 90% to 7.1 in 1998. The infant mortality rate has shown an exponential decline during the 20th century. In 1915, approximately 100 white infants per 1000 live births died in the first year of life; the rate for black infants was almost twice as high. In 1998, the infant mortality rate was 7.2 overall, 6.0 for white infants, and 14.3 for black infants. For children older than 1 year of age, the overall decline in mortality during the 20th century has been spectacular. In 1900, >3 in 100 children died between their first and 20th birthday; today, <2 in 1000 die. At the beginning of the 20th century, the leading causes of child mortality were infectious diseases, including diarrheal diseases, diphtheria, measles, pneumonia and influenza, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, typhoid and paratyphoid fevers, and whooping cough. Between 1900 and 1998, the percentage of child deaths attributable to infectious diseases declined from 61.6% to 2%. Accidents accounted for 6.3% of child deaths in 1900, but 43.9% in 1998. Between 1900 and 1998, the death rate from accidents, now usually called unintentional injuries, declined two-thirds, from 47. 5 to 15.9 deaths per 100 000. The child dependency ratio far exceeded the elderly dependency ratio during most of the 20th century, particularly during the first 70 years. The elderly ratio has gained incrementally since then and the large increase expected beginning in 2010 indicates that the difference in the 2 ratios will become considerably less by 2030. The challenge for the 21st century is how to balance the needs of children with the growing demands for a large aging population of elderly persons.
Passive Decomposition of Multiple Nonholonomic Mechanical Systems under Motion Coordination Requirements

We propose a novel framework, which, under a certain geometric condition, enables us to decompose the second-order Lagrangian dynamics of the multiple nonholonomic mechanical systems into two decoupled systems according to the two most fundamental aspects of the group behaviour: shape system describing the formation aspect (i.e. group's internal shape); and locked system abstracting the maneuver aspect (i.e. group's overall motion). By controlling these decoupled locked and shape systems individually, we can then control the formation and maneuver aspects separately without any crosstalk between them. Moreover, the framework enables us to do this while respecting/utilizing the Lagrangian structure/passivity of the system's open-loop dynamics. Due to this property, we call this framework nonholonomic passive decomposition. A control design example with numerical simulation is also given to highlight some properties of the proposed framework.
Freeze‐Thaw Stability of Illinois Soybean Beverage

The objective of this work was to study the effects of freezing conditions, processing and formulation variables on freeze-thaw (F-T) stability of Illinois soybean beverage. Objective and subjective evaluations were made on a sample before and after freezing. Total solids content of the supernatant from a centrifuged sample was used to calculate a F-T stability index. This index was below 35% for both plain base and plain beverage. The freeze-thaw stability was affected by freezing temperature, holding time before freezing, changing of temperature during frozen storage and desludging. However, length of frozen storage and homogenization pressure had no apparent effect. Addition of sugars and salt resulted in a beneficial effect on the stability. In order to prevent visible freeze damage, approximately 7% sucrose or 5% dextrose hydrate were required in a beverage containing 0.2% salt.
Structure of a mutant β toxin from Staphylococcus aureus reveals domain swapping and conformational flexibility.

The 3.35 A resolution crystal structure of a mutant form of the staphylococcal sphingomyelinase β toxin in which a conserved hydrophobic β-hairpin has been deleted is reported. It is shown that this mutation induces domain swapping of a C-terminal β-strand, leading to the formation of dimers linked by a conformationally flexible hinge region. Eight dimers are seen in the asymmetric unit, exhibiting a broad spectrum of conformations trapped in place by intermolecular contacts within the crystal lattice. Furthermore, the 16 monomers within each asymmetric unit exhibit a remarkable heterogeneity in thermal factors, which can be accounted for by the varying degrees to which each monomer interacts with other molecules in the crystal. This structure provides a unique example of the challenges associated with crystallographic study of flexible proteins.
The contact stress problem for an elastic sphere indenting an elastic cavity

Abstract An approximate solution is given for the contact stress problem of an elastic sphere indenting an elastic cavity. For this problem the usual assumption of a small contact region is not made and the subsequent results are compared with the solution as given by H. Hertz. Improvements to the Hertz theory that are within the framework of classical elasticity theory are discussed.
A new tibial coordinate system improves the precision of anterior-posterior knee laxity measurements: a cadaveric study using Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis.

Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) can be used to measure changes in anterior–posterior (A–P) knee laxity after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Previous measurements of A–P knee laxity using RSA have employed a tibial coordinate system with the origin placed midway between the tips of the tibial-eminences. However, the precision in measuring A–P knee laxity might be improved if the origin was placed on the flexion–extension axis of rotation of the knee. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a center-of-rotation tibial coordinate system with the origin placed midway between the centers of the posterior femoral condyles, which closely approximates the flexion–extension center-of-rotation of the knee, improves the precision in measuring A–P knee laxity compared to the tibial-eminence-based coordinate system. A–P knee laxity was measured using each coordinate system six times in three human cadaveric knees implanted with 0.8-mm diameter tantalum markers. For each laxity measurement, the knee was placed in a custom loading apparatus and biplanar radiographs were obtained while the knee resisted a 44 N posterior shear force and 136 N anterior shear force. A–P knee laxity was determined from the change in position of the tibia, with respect to the femur, resulting from the posterior and anterior shear forces. The precision for each coordinate system was calculated as the pooled standard deviation of A–P knee laxity measurements. The precision of the center-of-rotation coordinate system was 0.33 mm, which was about a factor of 2 better than the 0.62 mm precision of the tibial-eminence coordinate system (p = 0.006). The 0.33 mm precision with the center-of-rotation coordinate system suggests that an observed change of either 0.56 mm (i.e. 1.7 standard deviations) or greater in A–P knee laxity over time is a real change and not due to measurement error when the new tibial coordinate system is used and other factors contributing to variability are controlled as was done in this study. Accordingly, clinicians and researchers should consider the use of this alternate tibial coordinate system when making serial measurements of A–P knee laxity using RSA because the improved precision allows for the observation of smaller differences.
A pollen record of Holocene climatic changes from the Dunde ice cap, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Pollen preserved in ice cores from the Dunde ice cap provides a sensitive record of Holocene climatic changes and vegetational response in the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau at time scales ranging from millennia to centuries and decades. Pollen analysis of the annually resolvable ice layers for a 30 yr period (1957‐1986) suggests that total pollen concentration is correlated positively with summer precipitation and negatively with summer temperature; thus it is a sensitive indicator of moisture availability and vegetation density in the steppe and desert regions around Dunde. High pollen concentrations between 10 000 and 4800 yr B.P. suggest that the summer monsoon probably extended beyond its present limit to reach Dunde and westernmost Tibet in response to orbital forcing. The summer monsoon retreated time-transgressively across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during the middle Holocene. Relatively humid periods occurred at 2700‐2200, 1500‐800, and 600‐80 yr B.P., probably as a result of neoglacial cooling. Prominent pollen changes during the Medieval Warm Period (790‐620 yr B.P.) and the Little Ice Age (330‐80 yr B.P.) suggest that the vegetation in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau region is sensitive to abrupt, century-scale climatic changes, such as those anticipated in scenarios of greenhouse warming.
Benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide-I-DNA adduct formation in the epidermis and lung of SENCAR mice following topical application of crude coal tar

Abstract The levels of benzo[ a ]pyrene diol epoxide-I-deoxyguanosine (BPDE-I-dG) adduct formation in epidermis and lung of SENCAR mice following the topical application of benzo[ a ]pyrene (BP) alone, crude coal tar (CCT) alone, and the two combined were determined in an enzyme linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay using monoclonal antibodies. Topical application of two doses of BP (20 μg) at 72-h intervals, with sacrifice 24 h later resulted in the formation of 197 fmol and 205 fmol BPDE-I-dG adducts per mg DNA in epidermis and lung, respectively. Topical application of 0.5 ml CCT alone resulted in the formation of 278 fmol and 410 fmol BPDE-I-dG adducts per mg DNA in epidermis and lung, respectively. Simultaneous topical application of 20 μg BP and CCT (0.1–0.5 ml) resulted in substantially lower BPDE-I-dG adducts in the epidermis as well as in the lung. Our results suggest that CCT may contain inhibitors of carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and that topical application of CCT produces greater effects on DNA-adduct formation in lung than in epidermis. Thus the cancer-causing potency of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in CCT may be reduced by other anticarcinogenic constituents present in CCT and systemic absorption of carcinogenic PAHs in CCT applied to skin might have tumorigenic effects in other tissues.
Generalizations of the Arithmetic-Geometric Mean Inequality and a Three Dimensional Puzzle

(2003). Generalizations of the Arithmetic-Geometric Mean Inequality and a Three Dimensional Puzzle. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 280-282.
Oxidation and Temperature Effects on the Interfacial Shear Strength in SCS-6 Fiber-Reinforced Reaction-Bonded Silicon Nitride

The fiber/matrix interfacial shear strength of Textron SCS-6 SiC-fiber-reinforced reaction-bonded Si3N4 (RBSN) was studied as a function of temperature after oxidation for 24 h at 600°C. Fiber push-out experiments were conducted using a diamond indenter in a high-temperature micro-hardness tester under vacuum. The interfacial shear strength increased with temperature because of the relief of residual tensile stresses arising from the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the fiber and the matrix. Most of sublayer 2 of the fiber outer coating, which mainly consisted of carbon in the form of BSU (basic structure unit) aggregates, had disappeared after the heat treatment of the composite. Oxidation resulted in severe changes in the fiber outer coating and caused a lower interfacial shear strength with respect to that of the unoxidized composite.
Rainwater acidity measurement problems

Abstract An analysis is presented of the three currently-used methods for the determination of rainwater acidity. The published World Meteorological Organization 1974 and 1975 precipitation data show that the three methods result in mutually inconsistent values. The published results of two collaborative intercomparison laboratory studies on simulated rainwater show that adequate analytical reproducibility is not being attained.
Parkin is protective for substantia nigra dopamine neurons in a tau gene transfer neurodegeneration model

Parkin is a ubiquitin ligase involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Elevating parkin expression in cells reduces markers of oxidative stress while blocking parkin expression increases oxidative stress. In parkin gene knock down mouse and fly models, mitochondria function is deficient. Parkin is neuroprotective against a variety of toxic insults, while it remains unclear which of the above properties of parkin may mediate the protective actions. One of the models for which parkin is protective is overexpression of alpha-synuclein, a protein that self-aggregates in Parkinson disease. The microtubule-associated protein tau is another protein that self-aggregates in specific neurodegenerative diseases that also involve loss of dopamine neurons such as frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. We recently developed a tau-induced dopaminergic degeneration model in rats using adeno-associated virus vectors. In this study, we successfully targeted either a mixed tau/parkin vector or mixed tau/control vector to the rat substantia nigra. While there was significant loss of dopamine neurons in the tau/control group relative to uninjected substantia nigra, there was no cell loss in the tau/parkin group. We found no difference in total tau levels between tau/control and tau/parkin groups. Parkin therefore protects dopamine neurons against tau as it does against alpha-synuclein, which further supports parkin as a therapeutic target for diseases involving loss of dopamine neurons.
Response of left ventricular mechanoreceptors to changes in pressure and muscle length.

SummaryWe conclude that the increase in isovolumetrically developed intraventric-ular pressure is associated with an enhanced activity of cardiac sympathetic afferents traversing the left upper thoracic white rami communicantes, as reported by Hess et al. (8). Moreover, the sympathetic afferent nerve fibers respond to alteration in myocardial muscle length occurring in isobaric diastole and thus respond to a displacement stimulus as well as to a pressure stimulus.
IκBα (inhibitory κBα) identified as labile repressor of MnSOD (manganese superoxide dismutase) expression

Cytokines, phorbol esters, radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs up-regulate the expression of MnSOD (manganese superoxide dismutase). Using the VA-13 cell line, we studied the regulation of SOD2 upon treatment with PMA. Pre-treatment with CHX (cycloheximide) followed by PMA led to significantly higher levels of MnSOD mRNA compared with those with either agent alone, suggesting de novo synthesis of an inhibitory protein. PMA treatment modulates redox-sensitive transcription factors, therefore we evaluated the effects of this combination treatment upon AP-1 (activator protein 1) and NF-κB (nuclear factor κB), two trans-acting factors suggested to play a role in SOD2 regulation. Co-administration of CHX and PMA led to a time-dependent increase in the binding activity of NF-κB. Therefore we evaluated IκBα (inhibitory κBα) and found that co-administration decreased its steady-state level compared with either agent alone, suggesting that enhanced NF-κB activation is due to inhibition of IκBα synthesis. PMA activates PKC (protein kinase C) enzymes which phosphorylate IκBα, leading to its degradation, therefore we used GF109203X to inhibit PKC activity. Stable transfection utilizing a PMA-responsive element in the human SOD2 gene, showed a concentration-dependent decrease in luciferase and NF-κB-binding activity with GF109203X. Western blot analysis indicated the presence of several PKC isoforms in the VA-13 cell line; however, PMA pre-treatment specifically down-regulated α and βI, suggesting a role for one or more of these proteins in SOD2 induction. Taken together, these results indicate that the PKC pathway leading to SOD2 induction proceeds at least in part through NF-κB and that inhibition of IκBα synthesis might serve as a potential pharmacological approach to up-regulate MnSOD.
Applying Gadamer's Concept of Disposition to Science and Science Education.

In this paper, I recall previous arguments for a hermeneutic approach to science and claim that such an approach necessitates attention to the development of dispositions. I undertake an analysis of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics to identify and describe dispositions relevant to a hermeneutic approach to science. I then apply elements of Gadamer’s theory of education to the problem of fostering appropriate dispositions in science classrooms. In doing so, I offer a few suggestions for the cultivation and assessment of these dispositions in K-12 and college classrooms.
SU-E-J-87: Improvements to the Computational Environment for Radiotherapy Research

Purpose: To present new tools in CERR to analyze image registration, as well as other software updates and additions. Method: Two new features were added to CERR to evaluate the accuracy of image registration: (1) gamma‐based metric for comparing base and registered scans: All scan quantitative scan‐comparison methods rely on using image intensities. This means, these methods cannot quantify spatial misalignment between base and registered images. The gamma metric (similar to the ones used for dose comparisons) was modified for image‐comparisons. (2) a color‐coded mirror grid, based on mutual information or mean‐square‐error metrics: Color‐coding blocks within the grid help users focus on the well vs. poorly registered areas. In addition to these features, other noteworthy additions to CERR include (1) the ability to use colormaps for scans. This is an improvement over grayscale‐only scan display and is particularly useful for images produced in nuclear medicine. (2) the ability to change scan‐windowing by dragging the mouse along a view, similar to PACS viewers. Interactive windowing is particularly useful while delineating structures. (3) The ability to import Image‐annotations. The DICOM modality PR is used to store graphical and text annotations for images. These are widely used in diagnostic radiology and could be extracted from PACS. CERR can now imports these objects and store them under the planC{indexS.GSPS} element. Results: A 3‐d gamma metric was implemented in CERR for comparing image registration. It was evaluated on prostate cancer registration with criteria of 4mm and 50HU. The fused images were compared against the Gamma metric map. It was observed that the regions that matched up poorly had gamma value above 1. Conclusion: A novel gamma based approach to compare image registration allows for specification of acceptance criteria. Features added to CERR increase its utility in ART, registration, segmentation and collaboration.
Interactions of n-3 fatty acids with ion channels in excitable tissues.

In summary, we have shown that the conventional explanation for the site of action of a ligand which alters the conductance of a membrane ion channel is that the ligand interacts or binds with the ion channel protein, changing its conductance, is inadequate to explain the primary site of action of the antiarrhythmic n-3 PUFAs. We have shown that when a neutral asparagine is replaced by a positively charged lysine in the N406 amino acid site in the alpha-subunit of the human cardiac sodium channel, the n-3 fatty acids lose their inhibitory action on the sodium current. The inadequacy of this finding to explain the primary site of action of the n-3 PUFAs is demonstrated by the inhibitory effect on all other cardiac ion channels, so far tested. We show that ion channels, which share no amino acid homology with the PUFAs, have their conductance also reduced in the presence of the PUFAs, Thus a more general conceptual framework or paradigm is needed to account for the broad action of the PUFAs on diverse different ion channels lacking amino acid homology. We have been testing the membrane tension hypothesis of Andersen and associates. According to this hypothesis, the fatty acids are not acting directly on the ion channel protein but accumulating in the phospholipid membrane in immediate juxtaposition to the site in the membrane where the ion channel protein penetrates the membrane phospholipid bilayer. This alters membrane tensions exerted by the phospholipid membrane on the ion channel, which in turn causes conformational changes in the ion channel, altering the conductance of the ion channel. Our preliminary data seem to support this membrane tension hypothesis.
THE TRIAMINES OF COBALT[III]. II. INFRARED AND NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTRA OF SOME AZIDO COMPLEXES

Abstract Recent studies(1) have investigated the formation and properties of the geometrical facial and meridional isomers of the triamine complexes of cobalt[III]. While identification of the geometrical isomers of some cobalt[III] complexes with diethylenetriamine [dien] was possible using infrared spectroscopy(2,3), such was not the case with [Co[NH3]3[NO2]3] where proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy provided confirmation of structure. Attention was turned to the azido complexes of cobalt[III] where [Co[NH3]3[N3]3],(4) [Co[dien][N3]3],(5) and [Co[dpt][N3]3](6) [dpt = dipropylenetriamine] have been prepared. Linhard and Weigel reported their preparation of [Co[NH3]3[N3]3] to have meridional geometry based on chemical evidence. In the later two complexes, no structure was reported. This investigation was undertaken to determine if a facial isomer of either triazido-triamminecobalt[III] or triazidodiethylenetriaminecobalt[III] could be prepared. Identification by analysis of the infrared spectra of the...
Genome-wide high throughput analysis of DNA methylation in eukaryotes

Cytosine methylation is the quintessential epigenetic mark. Two well-established methods, bisulfite sequencing and methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) lend themselves to the genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation by high throughput sequencing. Here we provide an overview and brief review of these methods. We summarize our experience with MeDIP followed by high throughput Illumina/Solexa sequencing, exemplified by the analysis of the methylated fraction of the Neurospora crassa genome ("methylome"). We provide detailed methods for DNA isolation, processing and the generation of in vitro libraries for Illumina/Solexa sequencing. We discuss potential problems in the generation of sequencing libraries. Finally, we provide an overview of software that is appropriate for the analysis of high throughput sequencing data generated by Illumina/Solexa-type sequencing by synthesis, with a special emphasis on approaches and applications that can generate more accurate depictions of sequence reads that fall in repeated regions of a chosen reference genome.
Obscenity: Its frequency and context of usage as compared in males, nonfeminist females, and feminist females

The intention of this study was to determine, by the use of the Semantic Differential, male and female attitudes toward obscene language and the frequency of usage in both groups. In order to accurately assess if the feminist movement has any bearing on these attitudes, a third group of subjects was involved, females who are active members of feminist organizations. The male and female profiles of attitudes toward all three obscene words used in this study (“shit,” “fuck,” and “bastard”) support previous research in that, overall, women were found to react more strongly to obscene language than men.
Mouse sperm-egg interaction in vitro in the presence of neem oil.

Abstract In vitro evidence is presented showing toxicity of neem oil on sperm-egg interaction in mouse. Cumulus oophorus-enclosed ova, inseminated with capacitated spermatozoa, were cultured in 1 ml of in vitro fertilization (IVF) medium and overlayered by 1 ml of different concentrations of neem oil (1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100%) for IVF duration of 4h. At the end of incubation, ova were allowed to grow in neem oil-free culture medium and assessed for fertilization, first cleavage (2-cell formation) and blastocyst formation in vitro at 4–14h, 24h and 108h post-insemination respectively. The study showed that the presence of neem oil at concentrations of 10, 25 and 50% caused inhibition of IVF in a dose-dependent manner. The toxic effect of exposure of 25 and 50% neem oil was further carried over to the first cleavage of the resulting fertilized ova and the toxic effect of 5, 10, 25, and 50% was carried over to the blastocyst formation from the resulting fertilized ova when grown in neem-oil free culture medium. A total of 94.1% inhibition of 2-cell formation and 100% inhibition of blastocyst formation from the inseminated ova was observed in 50 and 25% neem oil-treated groups respectively. Neem oil at 100% concentration caused 100% degeneration of ova at 1h of sperm-ova coculture. The study showed a direct toxic effect of neem oil on sperm-egg interaction in vitro and encourages research investigations of this herbal product as a pre-coital contraceptive.
Effect of cortisol on norepinephrine-mediated contractions in ovine uterine arteries

Cortisol potentiated norepinephrine (NE)-mediated contractions in ovine uterine arteries (UA). We tested the hypothesis that cortisol regulated α1-adrenoceptor-mediated pharmacomechanical coupling ...
Potential Persons and Murder: A Reply to John Woods

In his book Engineered Death: Abortion, Suicide, Euthanasia and Senecide , John Woods uses an argument from analogy to establish the following conclusion: even if one grants that foetuses are not persons but only potential persons, killing foetuses is murder. Murder, according to Woods, is the defeasibly wrongful violation of the right to life ascribed to persons. If this argument is successful, it would of course have profound consequences for the ongoing philosophical debate over the morality of abortion. Whether or not they hold that foetuses are persons, philosophers would be forced to adopt the same moral attitude toward foeticide as they would adopt toward the killing of persons. That is, the killing of foetuses and the killing of persons would be defeasibly wrong in the same way; their wrongfulness could be defeated only in special and limited circumstances, perhaps like those suggested by Judith Thomson in her “Defense of Abortion”.
Influence of the Potato leafroll virus and virus-infected plants on the arrestment of the aphid, Myzus persicae.

A series of experiments was conducted using membrane sachets containing MP148 diet or phosphate-buffered sucrose with and without purified Potato leafroll virus to determine if direct encounter with the virus would arrest the aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera:Aphididae). In only two out of 36 tests were there significantly more aphids settled on sachets containing the virus. In all other tests, there were either significantly fewer aphids on sachets containing virus or there were no differences between virus treatments and control sachets without virus. In an experiment using excised Physalis floridana leaves, twice as many M. persicae settled on virus-infected leaves as on noninfected control leaves. Taken together, the results indicate that arrestment of M. persicae on potato leaf roll virus-infected plants may be due to enhanced nutritional qualities resulting from disease, but not from direct encounter with or detection of the virus.