cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of drug release properties of conventional solid dosage forms on the systemic exposure of highly soluble drugs.

This study was designed to theoretically investigate the influence of drug release properties, characterized by the disintegration of a solid dosage form and dissolution of drug particles, on the systemic exposure of highly soluble drugs in immediate release products. An absorption model was developed by considering disintegration of a solid dosage form, dissolution of drug particles, gastrointestinal transit flow, and intestinal absorption processes. The absorption model was linked to a conventional pharmacokinetic model to evaluate the effect of disintegration and dissolution on the peak exposure (Cmax) and total exposure of area under the curve (AUC). Numerical methods were used to solve the model equations. The simulations show that the effect of disintegration of a dosage form and dissolution of drug particles depend on the permeability of a drug, with a low-permeability drug having a greater effect. To provide similar exposure to an oral solution formulation, a solid dosage form containing a low-permeability drug would need to dissolve more rapidly than a solid dosage form containing a high-permeability drug. It was shown theoretically for poorly permeable drugs that the disintegration rate constant has to be greater than 9 hour−1 (equivalent to approximately 90% in 30 minutes) to make both AUC and Cmax ratios higher than .9, ensuring the confidence interval of .80 to 1.25. The rapid in vitro release requirement of at least 85% dissolved in 30 minutes is sufficient for highly soluble and highly permeable drugs. However, for highly soluble and poorly permeable drugs, the appropriate in vitro release requirement seems to be 90% dissolved in 30 minutes.
Mathematical and Physical Modeling Studies of Molten Aluminum Flow in a Tundish

Quantitative velocity and turbulence measurements that were obtained using laser Doppler velocimetry during the course of the physical modeling of the molten aluminum flow in a tundish are presented. Laser sheet and surface powder visualization techniques were also used to provide qualitative understanding of the complex three-dimensional (3-D) flow regimes encountered in the tundish. The experimental findings are compared to the results obtained by the finite-element computational simulation of the flow, showing favorable agreement between the two approaches. Nonintrusive laser Doppler measurements revealed asymmetric velocity and non-isotropic turbulence field near the nozzle exit. In the vicinity of the nozzle, the interaction of the impinging jet and the inclined walls gives rise to vortex structures. Downstream of the nozzle, two counter-rotating secondary cells diminish in strength. The experiments indicate that the turbulence structure near the bottom of the tundish is isotropic, whereas nonisotropy dominates near the free surface. As flow turns through the bend, a separation region is created. The flow heading into the closed duct is observed to be nonsymmetric.
Simultaneous determination and confirmation of melamine and cyanuric acid in animal feed by zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

We developed a new method to analyze animal feed and feed ingredients for melamine and cyanuric acid. The method is capable of extracting and detecting both melamine and cyanuric acid in a single procedure, whether present as free compounds or bound together as the melamine:cyanurate complex. A novel chromatographic system based on zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction chromatography (ZIC-HILIC) columns enables separation and detection of both compounds in one run. Samples are extracted with a strong aqueous acid which is then diluted to bring the concentration within the working range of the method. The method is applicable over the range of 0.5 to 50 micrograms/gram (microg/g). Samples at higher concentrations may be diluted into this range, which is equivalent to 3.6-360 ng/mL in the injection solvent. Analytes are detected using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The data confirm the presence of both compounds according to criteria recommended by the US FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. The LC/MS/MS method provides an alternative to derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for regulatory analysis of feed samples. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonsudorific skin potential level: current hypothesis and psychophysiological significance.

Skin potential level has two mechanisms of generation: that due to sweat gland activity (sudorific) and that due to other causes (nonsudorific). These mechanisms have, in the past, been frequently confounded. This paper addresses the importance of discriminating between the two mechanisms and describes two kinds of nonsudorific skin potentials. There is reason to except nonsudorific skin potential level to be an important factor in embryogenesis, tissue regeneration and atypical growth. Early work that associated these potentials with changes in consciousness (e.g., sleep and hypnosis) is inconclusive. The literature concerning physiological and psychological correlates of skin potential levels that have been attributed to nonsudorific mechanisms is reviewed, and the methodological problem of measuring these potentials is considered.
Ball lightning as a spherical plasma configuation of relevance to industrial plasma engineering

One of the most interesting spherical plasma configurations found in nature is ball lightning, which has been extensively observed in atmospheric air, usually in association with thunderstorms. Ball lighting has been observed to last as long as 90 seconds, to have diameters from one, centimeter to 1.5 pammeters meters. (Ref. 1). If the physical processes responsible for ball lightning were understood (they are not), this knowledge would have very interesting implications not only for fusion research (Ref. 1), but also for industrial plasma engineering. The ability to create a steady-state atmospheric glow discharge would allow many surface modification and other plasma processing applications to be carried out under atmospheric conditions, rather than in expensive vacuum systems wich enforce batch processing operations. The existence of ball lightning offers encouragement for the belief that a steady-state atmospheric glow discharge may be possible.
Synthesis of heteropolyribonucleotides by toluene-treated Escherichia coli cells.

Abstract Escherichia coli cells, made permeable to ribonucleoside-5′-diphosphates by treatment with toluene, efficiently promote the synthesis of homo- and heteropolynucleotides. This synthesis is catalyzed by polynucleotide phosphorylase because, among other things, it is inhibited by orthophosphate, and E. coli Q13, a mutant having a Mn2+-dependent polynucleotide phosphorylase, promotes polynucleotide synthesis in the presence of Mn2+ but not of Mg2+. Cells of E. coli B and E. coli MRE 600 (a mutant lacking ribonuclease I) are about equally active in promoting poly(A, U, G, C) synthesis. Sucrose density gradient and agarose gel electrophoretic analysis of the product show that it is polydisperse with sedimentation coefficients ranging between 4 S and 27 S. The synthesized polynucleotides can be translated by the toluene-treated cells.
Gender Inequality in Law: Problems of Structure and Agency in Recent Studies of Gender in Anglo-American Legal Professions

It is no surprise that the fate of women within the legal profession has attracted considerable attention in recent sociolegal scholarship. Women lawyers stand at the intersection of three major transformations in modem society: changes in the gender composition of traditionally male occupations, changes in the social organization of professional firms and the markets for professional services, and changes in the role of law as a vehicle for redressing social inequality. Women made up a tiny fraction of American lawyers in 1970 (Curran and Carson 1994). They now constitute roughly one quarter of all lawyers
Challenges and Considerations for the Retrofit of Existing Structures for Progressive Collapse

AbstractThe present paper discusses the challenges of retrofitting buildings to meet current progressive collapse guidelines. The knowledge of the structural capacity depends on the quality of information available. The existence of original drawings greatly facilitates the understanding of the design intent. However, drawings are not always available and information must be also obtained through on-site testing. A case study of the retrofit of a 5-story flat plate concrete structure is presented, where the floor slabs are hung from a new steel girder located above the roof using high strength steel rods. Neglecting the contributions of the existing structure, the failure mode of this system is ductile beam flexural mode. However, the analysis presented show that a brittle shear failure at the slabs can occur when the existing concrete column and its reinforcement are incorporated into the analysis.
Lymphocyte transformation and changes in leukocyte count: effects of anesthesia and operation.

The transformation of lymphocytes in response to phytohemagglutinin stimulation was investigated in 77 patients undergoing anesthesia with and without coincident surgical operation. A depression of lymphocyte transformation apparent immediately following major operations was related primarily to the
Day-4 myeloid dendritic cells pulsed with whole tumor lysate are highly immunogenic and elicit potent anti-tumor responses.

“Day-7” myeloid DCs are commonly used in the clinic. However, there is a strong need to develop DCs faster that have the same potent immunostimulatory capacity as “Day-7” myeloid DCs and at the same time minimizing time, labor and cost of DC preparations. Although “2 days” DCs can elicit peptide-specific responses, they have not been demonstrated to engulf, process and present complex whole tumor lysates, which could be more convenient and personalized source of tumor antigens than defined peptides. In this preclinical study, we evaluated the T-cell stimulatory capacity of Day-2, Day-4, and Day-7 cultured monocyte-derived DCs loaded with SKOV3 cell whole lysate prepared by freeze-thaw or by UVB-irradiation followed by freeze-thaw, and matured with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN)-gamma. DCs were evaluated for antigen uptake, and following maturation with LPS and IFN-gamma, DCs were assessed for expression of CD80, CD40, CD86, ICAM-1 and CCR7, production of IL-12p70 and IP-10, and induction of tumor-specific T-cell responses. Day-4 and Day-7 DCs exhibited similar phagocytic abilities, which were superior to Day-2 DCs. Mature Day-7 DCs expressed the highest CD40 and ICAM-1, but mature Day-4 DCs produced the most IL-12p70 and IP-10. Importantly, Day-4 and Day-7 DCs derived from ovarian cancer patients stimulated equally strongly tumor-specific T-cell responses. This is the first study demonstrating the highly immunogenic and strong T-cell stimulatory properties of Day-4 myeloid DCs, and provided important preclinical data for rapid development of potent whole tumor lysate-loaded DC vaccines that are applicable to many tumor types.
The interaction between Polynucleotide Kinase Phosphatase and the DNA Repair Protein XRCC1 is Critical for Repair of DNA Alkylation Damage and Stable Association at DNA Damage Sites

XRCC1 plays a key role in the repair of DNA base damage and single-strand breaks. Although it has no known enzymatic activity, XRCC1 interacts with multiple DNA repair proteins and is a subunit of distinct DNA repair protein complexes. Here we used the yeast two-hybrid genetic assay to identify mutant versions of XRCC1 that are selectively defective in interacting with a single protein partner. One XRCC1 mutant, A482T, that was defective in binding to polynucleotide kinase phosphatase (PNKP) not only retained the ability to interact with partner proteins that bind to different regions of XRCC1 but also with aprataxin and aprataxin-like factor whose binding sites overlap with that of PNKP. Disruption of the interaction between PNKP and XRCC1 did not impact their initial recruitment to localized DNA damage sites but dramatically reduced their retention there. Furthermore, the interaction between PNKP and the DNA ligase IIIα-XRCC1 complex significantly increased the efficiency of reconstituted repair reactions and was required for complementation of the DNA damage sensitivity to DNA alkylation agents of xrcc1 mutant cells. Together our results reveal novel roles for the interaction between PNKP and XRCC1 in the retention of XRCC1 at DNA damage sites and in DNA alkylation damage repair.
The normalized efficiency productivity index: a tool for intermodal comparisons

In the USA, the high percentage of petroleum consumption in transportation, and its use exclusively in aviation, has led to a number of studies which attempt to measure the energy efficiency of various transport modes. Such studies often omit such indirect factors such as initial energy investment, and mention is made of additional difficulties when quantifying energy use in intermodal comparisons. The need for a single measure which accurately reflects the energy efficiency is indicated, the importance of time productivity in energy studies is emphasised, and the need for its inclusion in studies of modal effectiveness. The authors present the means for partially solving this difficulty by creating the "normalized efficiency productivity index (nepi)" that combines both the fuel efficiency and the time productivity of each transportation mode. By using nepi, energy efficiency and productivity can be considered simultaneously when fuel and other material transportation policies are being formulated. (TRRL)
The Lacking of Moral Equivalency for Continuous Sedation and PAS

In “Is Continuous Sedation at the End of Life an Ethically Preferable Alternative to Physician-Assisted Suicide?” the authors operate under the assumption that continuous deep sedation (CDS) can be...
Particle sorting during sediment redistribution processes and the effect on 230Th-normalized mass accumulation rates

The 230Th method of determining mass accumulation rates (MARs) assumes that little to no fractionation occurs during sediment redistribution processes at the seafloor. We examine 230Th inventories in radiocarbon-dated multicore sediments from paired winnowed and focused sites at Cocos and Carnegie Ridges, Panama Basin. Radiocarbon-derived sand MARs, which likely represent the vertical rain of particles poorly transported by bottom currents, are similar at each of the paired sites but are different using 230Th normalization. 230Th-normalized MARs are about 60% lower at focused sites and likely underestimate vertical MARs, while the reverse is true for winnowed sites. We hypothesize that size fractionation occurs most frequently at lower current velocities, resulting in the coarse fraction being left behind and primarily the fine 230Th-rich grains being transported downslope. 230Th-normalization works well for recording fine-grained (detrital and opal), but not coarse-grained (carbonate), fluxes in regions that have undergone sediment redistribution.
Wall Boundary Effects of Wire-Wrapped Cylinders at High Reynolds Number

Introduction T HERE have been extensive studies on the effects of end conditions on the shedding frequency and spanwise coherency of smooth circular cylinders at low Reynolds numbers. These studies1i4 have shown that the discontinuity in the Strouhal– Reynolds number curve of a  nite aspect ratio cylinder has been attributed to end conditions, cylinder vibration, or nonparallel vortex shedding. In the absence of nonuniformity in the approaching  ow and cylinder vibration, two-dimensional shedding can be obtainedwith minimizing the wall boundaryeffect. The end plates and a novel method proposed by Hammache and Gharib5 are among methods used to control the wall boundary effects. If the aspect ratio is higher than 300, experiments have shown that the discontinuity in the Strouhal–Reynolds number curve is mostly the result of nonparallel vortex shedding. Williamson6 has shown that the curve can be made completely continuous if the Strouhal number is divided by cos μ , where μ is the oblique shedding angle. Further studies by Williamson have shown the direct in uence of the end conditionson the shedding frequency even for cylinders with large aspect ratios. At high Reynolds numbers, studies by Szepessy and Bearman have shown that, except for an aspect ratio of unity, the shedding across the span of a cylinder is not in phase. The problem of oblique shedding of circular cylinderswith  nite aspect ratios and the effects of end conditions as they relate to dislocations and cellular shedding are not fully explored. The present investigationis focusedon whether thewire-wrappingapproachcan be used to control the end wall boundary effect for cylinders with low aspect ratio, to promote parallel vortex shedding from these cylinders.
Sol-gel processing of SiO2: Structural implications from Cu(11) EPR

In this paper we report on the results of a study of the sol-gel processing of SiO 2 glass using the paramagnetic resonance of Cu(11) ions. The copper ions are purposefully introduced during the hydrolysis, and the EPR spectra have been followed during the complexation, condensation, drying and calcining steps. In this way the changes in the various structures local to the copper ions have been monitored. New structural information about the sol-gel process has been obtained: specifically three different regions in the gel have been identified and their interdependent changes during drying and calcining determined.
Survival of the ganglion cell population in the rabbit retina following neonatal visual cortex ablation

Unilateral visual cortex ablations in neonatal rabbits produced no detectable loss of ganglion cells in the contralateral retina following a survival period of 3, 4 or 8 months. Analysis of neuron size distributions and neuron densities from whole-mounted retinas indicate that transneuronal retrograde degeneration does not occur in the rabbit following neonatal visual cortex removal. The results support the hypothesis that axon collaterals play a role in retinal ganglion cell survival in neonatally operated animals. The paradoxical relationship between functional sparing and ganglion cell survival is discussed.
Actions of gastrin-releasing peptide and related mammalian and amphibian peptides on ion transport in the porcine proximal jejunum

Abstract The 27-amino acid peptide gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and the decapeptide neuromedin B (NMB) are structurally related to bombesin (BB) and exist within the mammalian small intestine. We examined the actions of porcine GRP and NMB on ion transport in the porcine proximal jejunum in vitro and compared their activities to those of their respective C-terminal amphibian homologs BB and ranatensin (RT). The 4 peptides transiently increased potential difference and short-circuit currrent (Isc) in jejunal mucosal sheets after their serosal administration in subnanomolar concentrations with an order of potency: GRP ≈ RT ≥ NMB > BB. BB and RT were more effective in elevating Isc than GRP and NMB; all peptides had variable effects on tissue conductance. Mucosal Isc responses to GRP (1 nM) were due in part to a stimulation of net Cl − secretion. GRP-induced Isc increases were halved by serosal furosemide (0.3 mM) and reduced by 65% and 90% in tissue bathing solutions lacking Cl − or Cl − and HCO 3 − , respectively. Tetrodotoxin reduced Isc responses to the peptide by 40%; GRP activity remained unaffected after blockade of gut muscarinic or nicotinic cholinergic receptors by atropine or hexamethonium, respectively. These results suggest that GRP and its natural homologs stimulate active electrogenic Cl − secretion in the porcine jejunum through interactions with GRP receptors located in the intestinal mucosa and submucosa.
Chemopreventive Effects of Licorice and Its Components

Cancer is still a major health issue worldwide and identifying novel but safe compounds for prevention and treatment is a high priority. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) is a perennial plant that is cultivated in many countries and has been reported to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. However, some components of licorice exert unwanted side effects and therefore identifying safer licorice components would be ideal. The anticancer activities of many of the licorice components appear to include cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and general antioxidant effects. Commonly reported indirect protein targets important in tumorigenesis include many cell cycle-related proteins, apoptosis-associated proteins, MMP proteins, COX-2, GSK-β, Akt, NF-κB, and MAP kinases. Importantly, several licorice components were reported to directly bind to and inhibit the activities of PI3-K, MKK4, MKK7, JNK1, mTOR, and Cdk2, resulting in decreased carcinogenesis in several cell and mouse models with no obvious toxicity. This review focuses on specific components of licorice for which a direct protein target has been identified.
Assignment of absolute configuration of a chiral phenyl-substituted dihydrofuroangelicin

A phenyl-substituted chiral dihydrofuroangelicin, 4-methyl-8-(2-E-phenylethenyl)-8,9-dihydro-2H-furo[2,3-h]-1-benzopyran-2-one, synthesized in racemic form, has been resolved by HPLC chiral separation, and its absolute configuration determined by the non-empirical exciton chirality method. The solution conformation has been investigated through NMR and molecular modeling methods: two minima found by molecular mechanics and DFT methods are in keeping with observed 1H–1H 3J coupling constants and NOE effects. The experimental CD spectrum for the second eluted enantiomer shows a positive couplet between 230 and 350 nm (amplitude A = + 15.7); by application of the exciton chirality method, the absolute configuration of this enantiomer at C8 is determined as (S). The experimental spectrum is in very good agreement with the one evaluated by means of DeVoe coupled-oscillator calculations, using the DFT calculated geometries.
Temporal variation of summertime denitrification rates in the Texas–Louisiana inner shelf region in the Gulf of Mexico: A modeling approach using the extended OMP analysis

Abstract The northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is well known for hypoxic water conditions (O2≤2 mg L−1), and is often referred to as the “Dead Zone”. The area of the Dead Zone has increased remarkably during the recent decades due to the increased coastal eutrophication. Under such conditions, denitrification process that removes “available nitrogen” from the system would likely become more active, and it needs to be better quantified to understand the nature of biogeochemical nitrogen cycles in the northern GOM. Despite its significance, few denitrification studies have been conducted for this area. We estimate the temporal variation of denitrification rates of the bottom waters at the northern Gulf of Mexico encompassing the “Dead Zone” during July of the 1985–2007 period (except for 1988–1990). We use historic hydrographic data and the extended Optimum Multi-Parameter analysis. Denitrification rates of the bottom waters in the region have gradually decreased from 1985 to 1997, and then increased to 2007. The water mass mixing composition of bottom waters on the Texas–Louisiana inner shelf has changed since ∼1997. The Texas–Louisiana Coastal Water part has increased and that of the Subtropical Underwater has decreased. This change appears to have influenced the denitrification rates in the study area. We suggest that denitrification rates of bottom waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico are controlled not only by biogeochemical factors (i.e. organic matter supply and remineralization), but also by physical factor (i.e. stratification and relative contributions from different water masses).
Taste sensitivity in infrahuman species: Use of a genetic model to test the validity of alternative measures

In a genetic analysis of PTC taste sensitivity of mice, Ss were presented tap water and a PTC solution in a two-choice situation. A preference index was used as a measure of taste sensitivity, assuming that ability to taste would lead to avoidance, i.e., negative preference. This assumption, however, lead to the rejection of seven Ss who preferred the test solution. Due to the undesirability of deleting Ss, the data were reanalyzed, using an alternative index of taste sensitivity that required no assumption concerning the hedonic quality of the test solution. Information regarding the inheritance of taste sensitivity to PTC provided the validating criterion for this measure.
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE MUELLER-LYER ILLUSION UNDER PROLONGED INSPECTION

This experiment partially repeated studies by Koehler and Fishback ( I ) , who found that the size of the Mueller-Lyer illusion decreased with prolonged inspection, and that fixation tended to hasten this disappearance. In the present study, a different apparatus, with luminous rather than illuminated figures, was used. Scheduling of inspection periods also was different. The apparatus consisted of a cardboard screen on which a fixation point and cut-outs forming the four arrowheads of the illusion were mounted. The lines of the arrowheads, at an angle of 60" to one another, were 3/g un. wide and 3% cm. long. These were separately illuminated from the rear by means of flashlight bulbs powered by dry-cell batteries. A calibrated scale, placed alongside the cut-outs on the rear of the screen, was used to measure the size of the illusion. The two outward-pointing arrowheads were placed near the top of the screen, with the left arrowhead adjustable horizontally. The two inward-pointing arrowheads were placed at a vertically adjustable distance below these, and slightly to the right. S was seated 6 ft. from the screen, and adjusted the apparatus by means of strings. The room was dark, except for a weak red light behind the screen, used to illuminate the controls and facilitate recording by E, who sat behind the screen and could not be seen. 6 Ss adjusted the illusion (horizontally) during a 2-min. pretest period while fixating. Ss 1, 2, and 3 were then exposed to the illusion for three 2-min. periods, during which they adjusted the lower figure to a given arbitrary vertical distance from the upper figure, while maintaining fixation. S 4 followed the same instructions, except that he was asked not to fixate. Ss 5 and 6 merely fixated the illusion for 3 2-min. periods, without making adjustments. After a 1-min. rest period, all Ss again adjusted the illusion to equality (horizontally) while fixating for a 2-min. period. Ss went through the procedure on a Monday, the next Wednesday, and again the following Monday. Despite such major changes In procedure and apparatus, our findings seemed similar to those of Koehler and Fishback. 5 of the 6 Ss (all but S 6, who showed an increase) demonstrated a clear reduction in the size of the illusion. Variations in fixation and adjustment did not, however, produce any appreciable
Impression Creep of a Sn-Pb Eutectic Alloy

Impression creep tests on a Sn-Pb eutectic alloy showed a hyperbolic sine stress dependence of impressing velocity and an activation energy of 55 kJ/mole which is independent of the punching stress. A finite element simulation showed that this phenomena could be explained by a constitutive law in which the creep rate is also a hyperbolic sine function of stress. This simulation also gives an impressing velocity which is proportional to the punch size for the same punching stress. Then by using lubrication theory, it is possible to relate this constitutive law to an interphase shearing mechanism in which the rate of interphase shear is a hyperbolic sine function of the shear stress. This theory gives a creep rate which depends inversely on the third power of grain size at low stresses.
Effect of midpassage gap, endwall misalignment, and roughness on endwall film-cooling

To maintain acceptable turbine airfoil temperatures, film cooling is typically used whereby coolant, extracted from the compressor, is injected through component surfaces. In manufacturing a turbine, the first stage vanes are cast in either single airfoils or double airfoils. As the engine is assembled, these singlets or doublets are placed in a turbine disk in which there are inherent gaps between the airfoils. The turbine is designed to allow outflow of high-pressure coolant rather than hot gas ingestion. Moreover, it is quite possible that the singlets or doublets become misaligned during engine operation. It has also become of interest to the turbine community as to the effect of corrosion and deposition of particles on component heat transfer. This study uses a large-scale turbine vane in which the following two effects are investigated: the effect of a midpassage gap on endwall film cooling and the effect of roughness on endwall film cooling. The results indicate that the midpassage gap was found to have a significant effect on the coolant exiting from the combustor-turbine interface slot. When the gap is misaligned, the results indicate a severe reduction in the film-cooling effectiveness in the case where the pressure side endwall is below the endwall associated with the suction side of the adjacent vane.
Impact of body mass index on neuronal fiber bundle lengths among healthy older adults.

Increased body mass index (BMI) has been linked to various detrimental health outcomes, including cognitive dysfunction. Recent work investigating associations between obesity and the brain has revealed decreased white matter microstructural integrity in individuals with elevated BMI, independent of age or comorbid health conditions. However, the relationship between high BMI and white matter fiber bundle length (FBL), which represents a novel metric of microstructural brain integrity, remains unknown. The present study utilized quantitative tractography based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the relationship between BMI and FBL in 72 otherwise healthy older adults (24 males, 48 females). All participants were between 51 and 85 years of age (M = 63.26, SD = 8.76). Results revealed that elevated BMI was associated with shorter FBL in the temporal lobe, independent of age (p < .01). In addition, increased age was associated with shorter frontal, temporal, and whole brain FBL (all p values < .01). These findings indicate that, while increased age is an important factor associated with reduced FBL, high BMI is uniquely associated with reduced FBL in the temporal lobe. These data offer evidence for additive adverse effects of high BMI on the brain, especially in areas already vulnerable to aging processes and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Further research is necessary to determine the physiological mechanisms associated with the shortening of FBL in individuals with high BMI.
A sensitive polyacrylamide disc gel method for detection of proteinases

Abstract To enable direct detection of proteinase activities subsequent to electrophoresis, a technique utilizing the incorporation or diffusion of protein substrates into polyacrylamide disc gels was developed. Denatured insoluble substrates, casein or hemoglobin, were added to acrylamide solutions prior to polymerization of the gel mixture. Alternatively, soluble protein substrates were diffused into gels after electrophoresis. In either case, an incubation period ensued at the pH optimum of the proteinases to allow for their detection. Classification of resolved proteinases was accomplished subsequent to electrophoresis by incubation of gels in media containing either synthetic substrates, as the naphthylamide derivatives, or specific inhibitors of the enzymes. Separation of purified trypsin from chymotrypsin, and proteinases in preparations of seminal plasma and mouse blastocysts homogenates demonstrated the efficacy of the method at the submicrogram enzyme level.
Projectile and target ionization in MeV u-1 collisions of Xe ions with N2

Experimental cross sections are presented for single and multiple electron stripping from Xe18+ projectiles in collisions with N2 at energies 2.0-9.3 MeV u-1. The data are compared to 2-30 MeV u-1 n-body classical trajectory Monte Carlo calculations that explicitly include electrons on both centres. Two-centre electron-electron (e-e) and electron-screened nuclear interactions contribute to the ionization reactions. The computations are in reasonable accord for the total stripping cross section but underestimate the higher stages of multiple electron loss. An energy deposition model gives improved agreement with experiment. The energy dependence of the total stripping cross section is close to E-0.5. Calculations are also presented for target ionization by Xe+, Xe8+ and Xe18+ at 10 and 20 MeV u-1. Projectile and target ionization cross sections are found to be comparable. Cross sections for projectile stripping by ionized targets are also calculated and found to be relatively insensitive to the ionization stage of the target. This latter observation is attributed to the compensating contributions between the two-centre e-e and electron-screened nuclear interactions.
Probing Functional Perfection in Substructures of Ribonuclease T1: Double Combinatorial Random Mutagenesis Involving Asn43, Asn44, and Glu46 in the Guanine Binding Loop †

Combinatorial random mutageneses involving either Asn43 with Asn44 (set 1) or Glu46 with an adjacent insertion (set 2) were undertaken to explore the functional perfection of the guanine recognition loop of ribonuclease T(1) (RNase T(1)). Four hundred unique recombinants were screened in each set for their ability to enhance enzyme catalysis of RNA cleavage. After a thorough selection procedure, only six variants were found that were either as active or more active than wild type which included substitutions of Asn43 by Gly, His, Leu, or Thr, an unplanned Tyr45Ser substitution and Glu46Pro with an adjacent Glu47 insertion. Asn43His-RNase T(1) has the same loop sequence as that for RNases Pb(1) and Fl(2). None of the most active mutants were single substitutions at Asn44 or double substitutions at Asn43 and Asn44. A total of 13 variants were purified, and these were subjected to kinetic analysis using RNA, GpC, and ApC as substrates. Modestly enhanced activities with GpC and RNA involved both k(cat) and K(M) effects. Mutants having low activity with GpC had proportionately even lower relative activity with RNA. Asn43Gly-RNase T(1) and all five of the purified mutants in set 2 exhibited similar values of k(cat)/K(M) for ApC which were the highest observed and about 10-fold that for wild type. The specificity ratio [(k(cat)/K(M))(GpC)/(k(cat)/K(M))(ApC)] varied over 30 000-fold including a 10-fold increase [Asn43His variant; mainly due to a low (k(cat)/K(M))(ApC)] and a 3000-fold decrease (Glu46Ser/(insert)Gly47 variant; mainly due to a low (k(cat)/K(M))(GpC)) as compared with wild type. It is interesting that k(cat) (GpC) for the Tyr45Ser variant was almost 4-fold greater than for wild type and that Pro46/(insert)Glu47 RNase T(1) is 70-fold more active than the permuted variant (insert)Pro47-RNase T(1) which has a conserved Glu46. In any event, the observation that only 6 out of 800 variants surveyed had wild-type activity supports the view that functional perfection of the guanine recognition loop of RNase T(1) has been achieved.
Control of Magnesium Containing Vanadium Mesoporous Materials

Magnesium containing vanadium mesoporous materials were synthesized using vanadium(V) oxide and magnesium nitrate as sources and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the mixture of CTAB and hexadecylamine (HDA) as templates. The effects of the Mg/V molar ratio and the surfactant concentration in the initial batches, the pH employed, and the length of aging time on the structural properties of the synthesized materials were investigated. Both CTAB alone and the mixture CTAB + HDA were effective in templating magnesium containing vanadium mesoporous materials, with a larger average pore size in the latter case. The degree of crystallinity of the mesoporous V−Mg−O was found to increase with increasing surfactant concentration in the initial batches. However, a too large amount of surfactant increased tremendously the viscosity of the system, generating difficulties in the preparation. At a given pH, the degree of crystallinity of the mesoporous materials increased with increasing Mg/V molar ratio in the...
Anisotropy of ductile fracture in hot-rolled steel plates-an application of the upset test

Upset testing of cylindrical specimens generates circumferential tensile stresses at the barreled surfaces. These stresses can be utilized in the same manner as the tensile stresses in the tension test to evaluate the ductility of materials. Using the upset test method, the anisotropy of ductile fracture in AISI 1045 hot-rolled steel plates was determined. Ductility parallel to the plane of inclusions is found to be ≈ 50 pet higher than that perpendicular to the inclusions. It is shown that the local surface strains at fracture in upset testing correlate well with the true zero-gage-length fracture strain in tension testing, provided the tensile stresses in the respective tests are in the same direction relative to the inclusion orientation. Thus, compression tests parallel to the inclusion direction, which generate tensile stresses perpendicular to the inclusions, can be utilized to measure ductility transverse to the fiber of wrought materials. This is particularly useful in determining the short transverse or through-thickness ductility in hot-rolled or forged materials having thin sections.
Gender, Identity, and Language Use in Teenage Blogs

This study examines issues of online identity and language use among male and female teenagers who created and maintained weblogs, personal journals made publicly accessible on the World Wide Web. Online identity and language use were examined in terms of the disclosure of personal information, sexual identity, emotive features, and semantic themes. Male and female teenagers presented themselves similarly in their blogs, often revealing personal information such as their real names, ages, and locations. Males more so than females used emoticons, employed an active and resolute style of language, and were more likely to present themselves as gay. The results suggest that teenagers stay closer to reality in their online expressions of self than has previously been suggested, and that these explorations involve issues, such as learning about their sexuality, that commonly occur during the adolescent years.
Oxidation state of plutonium in the Irish Sea

SEVERAL of the chemical parameters needed to understand the distribution and behaviour of plutonium in the aquatic environment have not been fully investigated in the field. We consider here two of the more fundamental of these parameters: (1) the oxidation state(s) of the plutonium present in seawater; and (2) the extent to which each oxidation state is associated with suspended particulate matter. A widely accepted analytical technique is adapted to separate the two oxidation states expected to show a high affinity for particulate matter, Pu(III) and Pu(IV), from the more soluble pair, Pu(V) and Pu(VI), and is applied to a series of seawater samples. It was found that in the area studied, generally >75% of the plutonium in solution, and <10% of the plutonium on particulate matter, was Pu(V + VI); consequently the distribution coefficients for Pu(III + IV) exceeded those for Pu(V + VI) by more than two orders of magnitude.
Pathogenic role of retinal microglia in experimental uveoretinitis.

Purpose To devise methods for unequivocal identification of activated retinal microglia in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) and to investigate their role in the development of EAU. Methods A group of Lewis rats underwent optic nerve axotomy with the application of N-4-(4-didecylaminostyryl)-N methylpyridinium iodide (4Di-10ASP) at the axotomy site. On days 3, 14, and 38 after axotomy, the rats were killed, the eyes were enucleated, and the retinas were stained for OX42. Another group of such axotomized rats were immunized with S-antigen peptide and were killed on days 7 through 12 after the injection with peptide. The enucleated eyes were stained for OX42 and examined by confocal microscope. After axotomy, bone marrow (Y-->X) chimeric rats were injected with S-antigen peptide and were killed on days 10 and 12 after injection. The retinas were evaluated by PCR with Y-specific primers. Finally, a group of axotomized rats was injected with the S-antigen peptide and killed on days 6, 8, 9, and 10 after injection. Their enucleated eyes were examined for microglial expression of TNFalpha and for generation of peroxynitrite. Results In the axotomized, non-EAU eyes, 4Di-10ASP-labeled ganglion cells were detectable on days 3 and 14, and 4Di-10ASP-containing OX42-positive cells (microglia) were found in the nerve fiber and other inner retinal layers on days 14 and 38. The S-antigen peptide-injected rats showed migration of the microglia (4Di-10ASP-positive and OX42-positive) to the photoreceptor cell layer on day 9, and these cells increased in number at this site on day 10. No macrophages (OX42-positive and 4Di-10ASP-negative) were present at this early stage of EAU, but such cells appeared in the retina on days 11 and 12. PCR of the chimeric EAU retinas showed an absence of the Y chromosome-amplified product on day 10, but the presence of this product was detected on day 12. The expression of TNFalpha and generation of peroxynitrite were noted in the migrated microglia at the photoreceptor cell layer on days 9 and 10 of EAU. Conclusions In the early phase of EAU, the microglia migrate to the photoreceptor cell layer where they generate TNFalpha and peroxynitrite. Such microglial migration and activation take place before infiltration of the macrophages. These findings indicate a novel pathogenic mechanism of EAU, in which retinal microglia may initiate retinitis with subsequent recruitment of circulation-derived phagocytes, leading to the amplification of uveoretinitis.
Evidence of Photo Manipulation in a Delusional Parasitosis Paper

Abstract: In 2004, an article in the Journal of the New York Entomological Society claimed that individuals with delusory parasitosis actually suffer from collembola infestations. The article has been critiqued for poor methodology and results that contradict all knowledge about collembolans. Less easily accounted for has been a figure in the article purporting to show a collembolan in a skin scraping. The image appears to have been altered using photo manipulation software to an unacceptable degree, and this paper demonstrates that to be the case. The altered figure represents creation of nonexistent data, a form of scientific misconduct. Whether the deception is deliberate or a product of an otherwise well-meaning author ignorant of the limits of acceptable image manipulation is unknown, but the result is peer-reviewed support for a conclusion that complicates patient treatment. In the current era of computers, even regional entomology journals must have detailed standards for what kind of images and im...
Software Architectural Reuse Issues in Service-Oriented Architectures

Many companies today are adopting service-oriented architecture (SOA). While SO A has the potential to offer significant benefits to companies, the architectural issues associated with this new architecture paradigm need to be explored. The goal of this paper is to explore software architectures and patterns for SOAs using unified modeling language (UML). Specifically, this paper addresses issues on composing applications from reusable services, differentiating between several services that are similar but not identical, and establishing a common data model.
Determination of Leaf Necrosis Caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori in Peanut as Measured by Loss in Total Chlorophyll1

Abstract Percent leaf necrosis can be used to assess severity of early leafspot caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Measurements of leaf necrosis (%), as determined by area, and the corresponding loss (%) in total chlorophyll content were made. Correlations were calculated using linear regression, and logarithmic curve fit analyses. High positive correlation values were obtained between leaf necrosis and loss in total chlorophyll. Therefore, this method is suggested for a reasonably accurate and fast assessment of leaf necrosis of peanut caused by C. arachidicola.
Effects of acclimation to human interaction on performance, temperament, physiological responses, and pregnancy rates of Brahman-crossbred cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate, over 2 consecutive years, the effects of acclimation to human interaction on performance, temperament, plasma concentrations of hormones and metabolites, and pregnancy rates of Brahman-crossbred cows. A total of 160 Braford and 235 Brahman x British cows were assigned to the 2-yr study. Approximately 45 d after weaning (August 2006) in yr 1, cows were evaluated for BW, BCS, and temperament (chute score, pen score, and exit velocity), stratified by these measurements in addition to breed and age, and randomly allocated to 14 groups (Braford = 8; Brahman x British = 6). Groups were randomly assigned to the control or acclimation treatment. In yr 2, cows were reevaluated within 45 d after weaning (August 2007) for BW, BCS, and temperament, stratified, and divided into 14 groups similarly as in yr 1, but in such a way that cows received the same treatment assigned in yr 1. Cows were acclimated to human interaction from August to January, and the acclimation process consisted of the same person visiting groups twice weekly and offering approximately 0.05 kg of range cubes per cow (as-fed basis). In January of both years, cow temperament, BW, and BCS were reassessed and cows were exposed to a 90-d breeding season. Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the acclimation period (August) and breeding season (January) for determination of plasma cortisol, IGF-I, and acute phase proteins. A treatment x breed interaction was detected during yr 1 (P < 0.01) for pregnancy analysis because acclimated Braford cows conceived earlier and at a greater percentage (P < 0.01) compared with control cows. According to values obtained at the beginning of breeding and pooled across treatments and breeds, IGF-I concentrations and BCS affected quadratically (P < 0.05), and concentrations of ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin decreased linearly (P < 0.05), the probability of pregnancy during both years. Temperament and cortisol concentrations decreased the probability of pregnancy linearly (P < 0.05) during yr 1 (only Braford cows for cortisol analysis) and affected the probability of pregnancy quadratically (P < 0.05) during yr 2. Results from this study indicate that acclimation did not affect cow temperament and physiological responses but did increase pregnancy rates of Braford cows during yr 1. Further, measurements and physiological responses associated with temperament influenced the probability of cows becoming pregnant during the breeding season.