cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformations of Silica-Bound (Pentafluorophenyl)propyl Groups Determined by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations

The conformations of (pentafluorophenyl)propyl groups (−CH2−CH2−CH2−C6F5, abbreviated as PFP), covalently bound to the surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), were determined by solid-state NMR spectroscopy and further refined by theoretical modeling. Two types of PFP groups were described, including molecules in the prone position with the perfluorinated aromatic rings located above the siloxane bridges (PFP-p) and the PFP groups denoted as upright (PFP-u), whose aromatic rings do not interact with the silica surface. Two-dimensional (2D) 13C−1H, 13C−19F and 19F−29Si heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) spectra were obtained with high sensitivity on natural abundance samples using fast magic angle spinning (MAS), indirect detection of low-γ nuclei and signal enhancement by Carr−Purcell−Meiboom−Gill (CPMG) spin−echo sequence. 2D double-quantum (DQ) 19F MAS NMR spectra and spin−echo measurements provided additional information about the structure and mobility of the pentafluorophenyl rings. Optimi...
A decision support system: Automated crime report analysis and classification for e-government

Abstract This paper investigates how text analysis and classification techniques can be used to enhance e-government, typically law enforcement agencies' efficiency and effectiveness by analyzing text reports automatically and provide timely supporting information to decision makers. With an increasing number of anonymous crime reports being filed and digitized, it is generally difficult for crime analysts to process and analyze crime reports efficiently. Complicating the problem is that the information has not been filtered or guided in a detective-led interview resulting in much irrelevant information. We are developing a decision support system (DSS), combining natural language processing (NLP) techniques, similarity measures, and machine learning, i.e., a Naive Bayes' classifier, to support crime analysis and classify which crime reports discuss the same and different crime. We report on an algorithm essential to the DSS and its evaluations. Two studies with small and big datasets were conducted to compare the system with a human expert's performance. The first study includes 10 sets of crime reports discussing 2 to 5 crimes. The highest algorithm accuracy was found by using binary logistic regression (89%) while Naive Bayes' classifier was only slightly lower (87%). The expert achieved still better performance (96%) when given sufficient time. The second study includes two datasets with 40 and 60 crime reports discussing 16 different types of crimes for each dataset. The results show that our system achieved the highest classification accuracy (94.82%), while the crime analyst's classification accuracy (93.74%) is slightly lower.
Cerebrovascular autoregulation among very low birth weight infants.

Despite advances in neonatal care, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) remain significant morbidities in very low birth weight infants. Disturbed cerebral hemodynamics may be a major contributor to the pathogenesis of these lesions.1, 2 A growing body of literature describes cerebral autoregulation among at-risk very low birth weight infants, including an eloquent study by Gilmore et al.,3 which describes the autoregulatory ability of preterm infants over the first 3 days of life—at the time they are most vulnerable to perinatal brain injury.
Processing Irrelevant Location Information: Practice and Transfer Effects in a Simon Task

How humans produce cognitively driven fine motor movements is a question of fundamental importance in how we interact with the world around us. For example, we are exposed to a constant stream of information and we must select the information that is most relevant by which to guide our actions. In the present study, we employed a well-known behavioral assay called the Simon task to better understand how humans are able to learn to filter out irrelevant information. We trained subjects for four days with a visual stimulus presented, alternately, in central and lateral locations. Subjects responded with one hand moving a joystick in either the left or right direction. They were instructed to ignore the irrelevant location information and respond based on color (e.g. red to the right and green to the left). On the fifth day, an additional testing session was conducted where the task changed and the subjects had to respond by shape (e.g. triangle to the right and rectangle to the left). They were instructed to ignore the color and location, and respond based solely on the task relevant shape. We found that the magnitude of the Simon effect decreases with training, however it returns in the first few trials after a break. Furthermore, task-defined associations between response direction and color did not significantly affect the Simon effect based on shape, and no significant associative learning from the specific stimulus-response features was found for the centrally located stimuli. We discuss how these results are consistent with a model involving route suppression/gating of the irrelevant location information. Much of the learning seems to be driven by subjects learning to suppress irrelevant location information, however, this seems to be an active inhibition process that requires a few trials of experience to engage.
Structural implications of transient X-, K- and W-band EPR spectra of deuterated and protonated reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26

Abstract We have reexamined the X-ray structural implications of reaction center proteins (bRCs) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 by simultaneous least-squares fitting of six different transient EPR spectra at three frequencies (X-, K- and W-band) for both deuterated and protonated bRCs. Several possible g -tensor orientations from X-ray structure are found to produce similar spectral features by a small change in the g factor. We have obtained the fitted principal g values that are slightly different from a previous report. No exchange coupling J between P + and Q − is needed for the fit.
A nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (L-NAME) reduces licking behavior and Fos-labeling in the spinal cord of rats during formalin-induced inflammation

Formalin injected subcutaneously into the hindpaw of the rat produces an animal model of inflammation that exhibits a phasic component and a tonic component of pain. We evaluated the effects of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, Nω-nitro- l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on a formalin-induced behavior, hindpaw licking, and on Fos-labeling of nuclei in the fifth lumbar spinal segment. Our results demonstrated that pretreatment with intrathecal doses of 0.3 and 1.0 mg of L-NAME significantly reduced licking behavior associated with injection of formalin into the left hindpaw of the rat. In addition, these same doses of L-NAME reduced formalin-induced Fos-labeling in the ipsilateral dorsal gray matter (as compared to the contralateral gray matter). Qualitative assessment suggested that the reduction in labeling occurred primarily in the superficial dorsal horn. The stereoisomer, D-NAME, administered at the same doses had little to no effect on either formalin-induced licking or Fos-labeling. Finally, our results revealed that total licking time was related to Fos-labeling. Rats that spent less time licking the hindpaw exhibited a smaller increase in Fos-labeling. Our results suggest that the production of nitric oxide is associated with licking behavior resulting from formalin injection into the hindpaw of rats. Our results also suggest that the production of nitric oxide and Fos are associated. Indeed, these substances may be involved in spinal pathways associated with nociception.
Multi-sheet structures in 7475 aluminum by friction stir welding in concert with post-weld superplastic forming

Abstract Diffusion bonding/superplastic forming (DB/SPF) is an established fabrication technology for titanium aerospace components. However, DB cannot be applied easily to aluminum alloys because of tenacious surface oxides. Friction stir welding may eliminate this problem and allow fabrication of multi-sheet structures via friction stir welding/SPF.
Sedimentation on a Passive Continental Margin (Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician), Central Appalachians: ABSTRACT

Environmental reconstruction of rocks of the Richmond slice, the tectonically highest slice at the eastern end of the Hamburg klippe in Pennsylvania, indicates that these rocks were deposited on a northwest-facing passive continental margin in Late Cambrian to Early Ordovician time. Detailed sedimentologic studies suggest that they can be divided into four main lithologic types, each bearing the imprint of one or more processes involved in its deposition. These include: (1) thin to thick-bedded, massive to graded, parallel and cross-laminated grainstone or calcarenite (high density turbidity currents; fluidized flows); (2) thin to medium-bedded, massive to structureless, graded and cross-laminated black lime mudstone and wackestone rhythmically interbedded with very thin o thin-bedded black limy mudstone and shale (low density turbidity currents and suspension); (3) thinly laminated graphitic black shale interlayered with irregular (lag) concentrations of fine sand and silt (redistribution of sediment by bottom currents); and (4) very thick-bedded, sand-matrix carbonate-clast conglomerate (gravelly high density turbidity currents and cohesive debris flows). The proposed depositional processes form a continuum of mechanisms that were in operation in the slope environment. Regional stratigraphic studies suggest that the carbonate rocks of the Richmond slice were deposited on a depositional margin or ramp characterized by a gentle slope (1 to 2°) that decreased in gradient basinward. Only the lower slope portion of the continental margin has been preserved. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1171------------
Economic Crisis and the Fiscal Challenge of the State

Here is a broadly argued article about how to revive the U.S. economy, beginning with what is now an old idea. Is there a tendency for the economy to stagnate? This idea, a version of which was espoused by Keynes, was essentially discarded by mainstream economists in the United States, but the author revives it. In the process, he produces a much needed analysis of the country's ills.
Building a Durable Relationship: Avoiding Catastrophe between the Therapeutic Team and the Patient with a New Spinal Cord Injury

An acute spinal cord injury, subsequent hospitalization, and the rehabilitative process are stressful to the patient, his or her family, and the therapeutic team. These stresses may create misunderstandings, anger, and other emotions that affect the therapeutic process. These emotions are commonly experienced but are not often addressed in the rehabilitative literature. A better understanding of these emotions may assist the staff in supporting patients and their families in the coping and adjustment process, thereby building a durable therapeutic relationship and avoiding interactional catastrophe during the treatment course.
Dynamic performance of Schottky-barrier field-effect transistors

The dynamic performance of Schottky-barrier field-effect transistors is discussed, with the aim of finding in a most simple way the physical parameters on which the dynamic properties of a FET depend, how strong they influence the dynamic qualities of FET'S, and what recommendations can be given as to proper choice of material or structure for FET'S with good high-frequency performance.
A 130 nm 1.2 V/3.3 V 16 Kb Spin-Transfer Torque Random Access Memory With Nondestructive Self-Reference Sensing Scheme

Among all the emerging memories, Spin-Transfer Torque Random Access Memory (STT-RAM) has demonstrated many promising features such as fast access speed, nonvolatility, excellent scalability, and compatibility to CMOS process. However, the large process variations of both magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) and MOS transistors in the scaled technologies severely limit the yield of STT-RAM chips. In this work, we proposed a new sensing scheme, named as nondestructive self-reference sensing, or NSRS, for STT-RAM. By leveraging the different dependencies of the high and low resistance states of MTJs on the cell current amplitude, the proposed NSRS technique can work well at the scenario when bit-to-bit variation of MTJ resistances is large. Furthermore, we proposed three combined magnetic- and circuit-level techniques, including R-I curve skewing, yield-driven cell current selection, and ratio matching, to further improve the sense margin and robustness of NSRS sensing scheme. The measurement results of a 16 Kb STT-RAM test chip show that our proposed nondestructive self-reference sensing technique can reliably readout all the measured memory bits, of which 10% read failure rate was observed by using the conventional sensing technique. The three enhancement technologies ensure a 20 mV minimum sense margin and the whole sensing process can complete within 15 ns.
Investigation of the mechanism of formation of a thiolate-ligated Fe(III)-OOH.

Kinetic studies aimed at determining the most probable mechanism for the proton-dependent [FeII(SMe2N4(tren))]+ (1) promoted reduction of superoxide via a thiolate-ligated hydroperoxo intermediate ...
SymChaff: exploiting symmetry in a structure-aware satisfiability solver

This article presents a new low-overhead framework for representing and utilizing problem symmetry in propositional satisfiability algorithms. While many previous approaches have focused on symmetry extraction as a key component, the novelty in the proposed strategy lies in using high level problem description to pass on symmetry information to the SAT solver in a simple and concise form, in addition to the usual conjunctive normal form formula. This information, comprising of the so-called symmetry sets and variable classes, captures variable semantics relevant to "complete multi-class symmetry" and is utilized dynamically to prune the search space. This allows us to address many limitations of alternative approaches like symmetry breaking predicates, implicit pseudo-Boolean representations, general group-theoretic methods, and zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams. We demonstrate the efficacy of our technique through a solver called SymChaff, which achieves exponential speedup over one of the best systematic SAT solvers on problems from both theory and practice, often by simply using natural tags or annotation in the problem specification.
What is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter

Allhof, Fritz; Lin, Patrick and Moore, Daniel, What is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter? , Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, 293 pages, US$35.50. ISBN 978-1405175456 Most anyone ...
Quantitative Analysis of Kaolinite and Gibbsite in Soils by Differential Thermal and Selective Dissolution Methods

CLAY FRACTIONS FROM FOUR SOILS WERE ANALYZED FOR KAOLINITE AND GIBBSITE BY DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS /DTA/ AND SELECTIVE DISSOLUTION ANALYSIS /SDA/. THE KAOLINITE VALUES BY THE TWO METHODS HAD A STANDARD DEVIATION OF PLUS AND MINUS 0.95 FOR THE 2-0.2 MU CLAY OF THE THREE MOST HIGHLY WEATHERED SOILS. APPARENTLY SOME KAOLINITE WAS DISSOLVED WITH AMORPHOUS MATERIAL IN THE 0.2-0.08 MU KAOLINITE STANDARD AND PROBABLY IN 0.2-0.08 MU SOIL CLAYS. ACCURACY OF KAOLINITE DETERMINATION FOR THE 0.2-0.08 MU SOIL CLAYS BY DTA WAS REDUCED BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY OF EXACT COMPOSITION OF THE STANDARD. PRESENCE OF MONTMORILLONITE IN SANGO SOIL CLAYS, PARTICULARLY THE 0.2-0.08 MU FRACTION, APPARENTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE ERROR IN KAOLINITE DETERMINATION BY SDA. MORE PRECISE VALUES FOR GIBBSITE WERE OBTAINED BY DTA THAN BY SDA BECAUSE OF THE DISSOLUTION OF ALUMINA FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN GIBBSITE. /AUTHOR/
Item bias in the CAGE screening test for alcohol use disorders

To explore potential item bias in the CAGE questions (mnemonic for cut-down, annoyed, guilty, and eyeopener) when used to screen for alcohol use disorders in primary care patients. Cross-sectional study, conducted in a university-based, family practice clinic, with the presence of an alcohol use disorder determined by structured diagnostic interview using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule. A probability sample of 1,333 adult primary care patients, with oversampling of female and minority (African-American and Mexican-American) patients. Unadjusted analyses showed marked differences in the sensitivity and specificity of each CAGE question against a lifetime alcohol use disorder, across patient subgroups. Women, Mexican-American patients, and patients with annual incomes above $40,000 were consistently less likely to endorse each CAGE question “yes”, after adjusting for the presence of an alcohol use disorder and pattern of alcohol consumption. In results from logistic regression analyses predicting an alcohol use disorder, cut-down was the only question retained in models for each of the subgroups. The guilty question did not contribute to the prediction of an alcohol use disorder; annoyed and eye-opener were inconsistent predictors. Despite its many advantages, the CAGE questionnaire is an inconsistent indicator of alcohol use disorders when used with male and female primary care patients of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds. Gender and cultural differences in the consequences of drinking and perceptions of problem alcohol use may explain these effects. These biases suggest the CAGE is a poor “rule-out” screening test. Brief and unbiased screens for alcohol use disorders in primary care patients are needed.
Characterizing the Relaxation Modulus Properties of HMA Mixes Based on the Uniaxial Strain-Controlled Testing

ABSTRACT Relaxation Modulus (RM) is one of the mechanical properties that can be utilized to model the visco-elastic behavior of Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) for various purposes including material response analysis, design, and performance prediction. In this study, the uniaxial static strain-controlled RM tests conducted at three temperatures of 10, 20, and 30 °C were used to characterize the time-dependent elastic relaxation modulus (E(t)) and stress relaxation rate (m) of various commonly used Texas HMA mixes. The effects of various mix-design parameters including asphalt-binder type, content, and modifier; aggregate type; and oxidative aging on both the E(t) and m parameters were also investigated and are discussed in this paper. A total of thirteen different HMA mixes were tested. Test data variability and consistency are also discussed including some suggestions for the RM test protocol improvements.
Comparison of Two Pain Assessment Tools in Nonverbal Critical Care Patients

It is recommended that patient's self-report of pain should be obtained as often as possible as the "gold standard." Unfortunately in critical care, many factors can alter verbal communication with patients, making pain assessment more difficult. Scientific advances in understanding pain mechanisms, multidimensional methods of pain assessment, and analgesic pharmacology have improved pain management strategies. However, pain assessment for nonverbal patients in critical care continues to present a challenge for clinicians and researchers. The purpose of this study was to compare the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) and the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) scores for assessment in nonverbal critical care patients. A descriptive, comparative, prospective design was used in this study. A convenience sample of 100 critical care, nonverbal, adult patients of varying medical diagnoses who required pain evaluation were assessed with the PAINAD and CPOT scales. Data were collected over a 6-month period in all critical care areas. Observations of pain assessments for nonverbal patients who required pain evaluation were recorded on the PAINAD and the CPOT successively. Internal consistency reliability for the PAINAD was 0.80 and for the CPOT 0.72. Limits of agreement indicated that there was no difference in PAINAD and CPOT scores for assessing pain in nonverbal patients in critical care. Further research in the area of pain assessment for nonverbal patients in critical care is needed.
MPEG-4 outer-inner lip FAP interpolation

This paper presents a novel inner-outer lip facial animation parameters (FAPs) interpolation within the framework of the MPEG-4 standard to allow for interpolation and realistic animation that can be accomplished at very low bit rates. The proposed technique applies Maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation to interpolate the inner lip FAPs given outer lip FAPs, or vice versa. The vectors of the lip FAPs along with the first order and the second order temporal derivatives over frames and the conditional probabilities of these vectors are modeled as Gaussian distributions. As a result, the MAP estimate of the inner lip FAPs can be obtained as a linear transformation of the outer lip FAPs, or vice versa. When data obtained from the training process are stored in the receiver, the inner (or outer) lip FAPs can be interpolated from the outer (or inner) lip FAPs, which are all that needs to be transmitted. Thus, without any increase in the amount of transmitted information, a more realistic talking animation that provides more visual information for speech reading can be achieved. Based on our experiments, the proposed technique reduces the Percentage Normalized Mean Error (PNME) error by half over the standard technique.
Development of a low charge-to-mass ratio injector for a RIB linac

A post-accelerator for rare isotopes (RIB linac) which must produce high-quality beams of radioactive ions over the full mass range, including uranium, at energies above the coulomb barrier is being developed for the U.S. RIA Facility. The linac will accept all ions in the 1+ charge state to provide the highest possible intensity of rare isotopes with masses from 6 to 240. A high-resolution separator to purify beams at the isobaric level precedes the RIB linac. Charge stripping in the linac takes place at two stages: helium gas stripping at 7 keV/u for masses below 132 and 22 keV/u for higher masses, and an additional foil stripping at ∼ 1.1-2.0 MeV/u for the heavier ions. Most of the accelerating voltage in the RIB linac is provided by superconducting resonators. A very-low-charge-state injector, which is needed for the first ∼ 9 MV of the accelerator, will be based on room temperature accelerating structures. This section consists of a pre-buncher followed by three sections of cw RFQ. The first section is a split-coaxial RFQ operating at 12 MHz. The following two sections are hybrid RFQs (H-RFQ) operating at 12 and 24 MHz. A 1:2 scale cold model of the 12 MHz H-RFQ has been built and studied, and has resulted in the development of final specifications for the construction of the full power 12 MHz H-RFQ. Economic design of the RFQs calls for three different types of resonant structures. This paper reports on the present status of the injector design including beam optics and studies of resonant structures.
A Guided Walking Trail to Explore the Martin Luther King Jr. National Voting Rights Walk and Selma Antebellum Historic District

Historical documents, original and archival photos, and MS Publisher software were used to develop and promote a two mile guided walking trail incorporating the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Voting Rights Walk, Selma Antebellum Historic District and Bloch Park. The aim is to promote learning about Alabama history while enhancing fitness, as a planned activity of a programme to prevent childhood obesity. Trail content features facts about prominent black and white Alabamians, safety tips while walking and philosophical quotations emphasizing basic human rights.
Cross-sex and cross-educational level performance in a color-word interference task

It has been found in previous studies that Ss can read words faster than colors, and that they can read only stimuli consisting of either words or colors faster than their mixture in a color-word interference task. Such studies have concerned themselves with Ss of roughly the same age, and sex performances have been rarely considered. The present research attempts to find out the difference in performance between: (1) females and males of specific age groups; (2) females and males of certain educational levels; (3) females and males across three different age and educational levels; and (4) trends in the male and female performance levels. Results indicated that there were significant differences between all elementary and high school Ss and between the elementary and college Ss. It was also found that although the females did show a constant trend of better performance than the males, the differences were not significant at the. 05 level.
Diagnosis-seeking at subspecialty memory clinics: trigger events.

Background Research has shown that dementia often goes unrecognized, and diagnostic assessment is often further delayed. Understanding families' decision to seek care at memory clinics is relevant to efforts to facilitate early diagnosis Objective To examine the population seeking care at two memory clinics and the triggers causing caregivers to seek diagnostic assessment for a family member. Method We surveyed a consecutive sample of caregivers who accompanied a patient to an assessment at two university memory disorders clinics. Caregivers (n=416) described events that led them to seek a memory assessment for the patient, as well as who first suggested an assessment and diagnosis received. Results Changes in the patient (cognitive, personality/behavioral, physical, or unspecified) accounted for 81% of 903 trigger events reported. Nearly half of the caregivers noting specific patient changes recorded some combination, rather than cognitive changes alone. Of the 338 respondents who noted a change in the patient as a trigger, 85% specified at least one cognitive change, while 40% specified at least one personality/behavioral change. Memory loss was most frequent trigger reported, followed by disorientation and recommendations (lay or professional). Caregivers themselves and non-specialist physicians were the most frequent sources of recommendations noted by all respondents. Conclusion A broad range of trigger events, beyond cognitive or symptomatic changes, caused caregivers to seek diagnosis at a memory clinic. Awareness of triggers significant to families may help physicians reduce the number and severity of events needed to convince caregivers a memory assessment is indicated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frog Dissection via the World Wide Web: Implications for Widespread Delivery of Instruction.

While valuable instructional products are available for development and distribution via a variety of media, the Internet provides one of the most effective delivery mediums to date. In this paper, we describe the design and development of a set of Internet-based instructional materials on frog dissection and anatomy, and report on the effectiveness of Internet delivery for encouraging high levels of use and user satisfaction.
THE FINE STRUCTURE OF VON EBNER'S GLAND OF THE RAT

The fine structure of von Ebner's gland was studied in untreated rats and rats stimulated to secrete by fasting-refeeding or injection of pilocarpine. Cytological features were similar to those reported for pancreas and parotid gland. Abundant granular endoplasmic reticulum filled the basal portion of the cell, a well-developed Golgi complex was located in the vicinity of the nucleus, and the apical portion of the cell was filled with dense secretory granules. Dense heterogeneous bodies resembling lysosomes were closely associated with the Golgi complex. Coated vesicles were seen in the Golgi region and also in continuity with the cell membrane. Granule discharge occurred by fusion of the granule membrane with the cell membrane at the secretory surface. Successive fusion of adjacent granules to the previously fused granule formed a connected string of granules in the apical cytoplasm. Myoepithelial cells were present within the basement membrane, and nerve processes were seen adjacent to acinar and myoepithelial cells. Duct cells resembled the intercalated duct cells of the major salivary glands.
Trends in hospitalisations associated with paediatric burns

Background In the United States, burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury death in children aged 1–14 years, accounting for more than 600 deaths per year in children aged 0–19 years. Objective To describe trends in paediatric burn hospitalisations in the United States and provide national benchmarks for state and regional comparisons. Methods Analysis of existing data (1993–2006) from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample—the largest, longitudinal, all-payer inpatient care database in the United States. Children aged 0–19 years were included. Main outcome measures: estimated national annual rates of burn-related hospitalisations, stratified by age, gender, and in-hospital mortality. Results From 1993 to 2006, the estimated annual incidence rate of paediatric hospitalisations associated with burns declined 40% from 27.3 (1993–94) to 16.1 per 100 000 (p Conclusion Paediatric hospitalisation rates for burns have decreased over the past 14 years. The study also provides national estimates of paediatric burn hospitalisations that can be used as benchmarks to further injury prevention effectiveness through targeting of effective strategies.
Role of different β‐turns in β‐hairpin conformation and stability studied by optical spectroscopy

Model β-hairpin peptides based on variations in the turn sequence of Cochran's tryptophan zipper peptide, SWTWENGKWTWK, were studied using electronic circular dichroism (ECD), fluorescence, and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. The trpzip2 Asn–Gly turn sequence was substituted with Thr–Gly, Aib–Gly, DPro–Gly, and Gly–Asn (trpzip1) to study the impact of turn stability on β-hairpin formation. Stability and conformational changes of these hairpins were monitored by thermodynamic analyses of the temperature variation of both FTIR (amide I′) and ECD spectral intensities. These changes were fit to a two-state model which yielded different Tm values, representing the folding/unfolding process, for hairpins with different β-turns. Different β-turns show systematic contributions to hairpin structure formation, and their inclusion in hairpin design can modify the folding pathways. Aib–Gly or DPro–Gly sequences stabilize the turn resulting in residual Trp–Trp interaction at high temperatures, but at the same time the β-structure (cross strand H-bonds) can become less stable due to constraints of the turn, as seen for DPro–Gly. The structure of the Aib–Gly turn containing hairpin was determined by NMR and was shown to be like trpzip2 (Asn–Gly turn) as regards turn and strand geometries, but to differ from trpzip1 (Gly–Asn turn). The Munoz and Eaton statistical mechanically derived multistate model, tested as an alternate point of view, represented contributions from H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions as well as conformational change as interdependent. Use of different spectral methods that vary in dependence on these physical interactions along with the structural variations provided insight to the complex folding pathways of these small, well-folded peptides. Proteins 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Involuntary unemployment and inventories: An exploratory model of equilibrium and pure competition

Abstract We build up a model where the combination of labor supervision costs and non-uniform tastes results in a perfect-foresight equilibrium with positive involuntary unemployment and inventories even when prices and wages are assumed to be perfectly flexible. We show that the model could explain a positive association between the real wage and the level of employment (contrary to the standard post-Keynesian model), and a negative one between inventories and employment.
Depth of penetration of nebulized substances in the respiratory tree.

Summary1. An attempt has been made to determine the depth of penetration, and the amount of deposition in the respiratory system of nebulized dilute Tndia ink, aqueous gentian violet solution and aqueous ferric ammonium sulfate solution in 2 mice, 11 rats, 2 rabbits and 1l dogs.The substances were found to be deposited in decreasing amounts in the oropharynx, larynx, bifurcation of the trachea, the bronchi and bronchioles of the animals. The amounts of deposited substances in the bronchi and bronchides were so small as to make microscopic detection difficult. In no case was any nebulized substance found to have reached the alveoli.3. There is no evidence to support the theory that pulmonary lesions can be treated by topical application with commercial nebulizers.
Redefining Pitch Proximity: Tessitura and Mobility as Constraints on Melodic Intervals

In descriptions of melodic structure, "pitch proximity" is usually defined as the tendency for small pitch intervals to outnumber large ones. This definition is valid as far as it goes; however, an alternative definition is preferable. The alternative defines pitch proximity in terms of two more basic constraints—a constraint on tessitura (or pitch distribution) and a constraint on "mobility" (or freedom of motion). This new definition offers several advantages. Whereas the usual definition predicts only interval size, the new definition predicts interval direction as well. The usual definition predicts small intervals generally, whereas the new definition predicts context- sensitive variations in interval size. Finally, if the new definition is given the first few notes in a melody, it can assign a probability to each of the pitches that could occur next. In sum, the new definition offers a more precise and detailed description of melodic structure.
Transgenic interleukin 2 secreted by CML dendritic cells stimulates autologous TH1 T cells

Background We investigated if dendritic cells (DC), derived from patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) could be modified by recombinant replication-defective adenoviruses to express functional interleukin 2 (IL-2). Such modification might confer onto antigen-presenting cells the ability to stimulate expansion of effector cells. Methods To quantify the infection efficiency of CML dendritic cells (CML-DC) by recombinant adenovirus, we measured the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene contained in the virus. In CML-DC infected with an adenovirus containing the IL-2 gene, we evaluated their ability to secrete IL-2 and stimulate proliferation of autologous T cells. Results UninfectedCML-DCand normalDCsecreted similaramounts of IL-12 and stimulated similarly efficient autologous mixed leukocyte reaction. Immature CML-DC infected by an adenovirus containing the gene for IL-2 secreted large amounts of IL-2 and stimulated proliferation of autologous T cells more efficiently than the corresponding CML-DC alone. High levels of interferon g, but not of IL-4, in cell culture supernates indicated that the proliferating cells were T H 1. Infected mature CML-DC were more effective than infected immature CML-DC, showing that Tcell stimulation by matureDC and by IL-2 was additive. Discussion CML-DC can be modified genetically and functionally by recombinant replication-defective adenoviruses, providing new possibilities for clinical trials in dendritic cell-based immunotherapy.
Evolution of Flood Frequency Analysis with Bulletin 17

The current methodology recommended for flood-frequency analyses by U.S. Federal agencies is presented in Bulletin 17B. Bulletin 17 was first published in 1976, minor corrections were made in 1977 resulting in Bulletin 17A, which was later succeeded by Bulletin 17B published in 1982. Bulletin 17B sought to resolve ambiguities in the recommended procedures, including the treatment of low outliers, and the use of both regional skew and historical flood information. As the 25th anniversary of the publication of Bulletin 17B approaches, this paper provides a discussion and evaluation of the procedures that document recommends. The fields of hydrology and flood frequency analysis have substantially evolved since Bulletin 17 was first published. New techniques are now available which should become part of these standard procedures. A comparison is provided which demonstrates how the standard and weighted Bulletin 17B quantile estimators perform relative to alternative LP3 quantile estimators that also make use ...
Resonance Raman spectra of chloroperoxidase

Resonant Raman spectra of native and reduced chloroperoxidase are presented and the principal features are tabulated. Comparisons are made with the spectra of other heme proteins. The correlation proposed for certain Raman “marker band” positions and spin or oxidation state is found not to hold for these spectra. Some pecularities in the chloroperoxidase spectra are shared with cytochrome P-450 and are attributed to an unusual active-site structure.
Flooding in Big Thompson River, Colorado, tributaries: Controls on channel erosion and estimates of recurrence interval

Channel erosion in tributaries of Colorado's Big Thompson River was studied following the 1976 flash flood. In two catchments, no measurable erosion occurred. Erosion in other catchments was intense (maximum observed sediment yield = 308 m3·ha−1). Relationships between “total” storm precipitation ( P t ) and sediment yield give values for the maximum potential sediment yield at a given storm magnitude. Sediment mobilization begins when P t = 140 to 150 mm or when short-term rainfall intensity = 140 to 170 mm·h−1. Qualitative and quantitative evidence suggests that a large, rare event is needed to modify the Big Thompson tributaries geomorphically. Catchment denudation values are used to estimate the recurrence interval of the 1976 event; the results suggest the possibility that previously estimated recurrence intervals may be too long by factors of 1.6 to 8.
Professor Delight: Cultivating Organizational Citizenship Behavior:

This article describes the rationale for and use of a class innovation the authors call “professor delight.” This inexpensive, high-yield concept allows students and professors to enact their under...
A quantitative study of factors affecting algal division synchrony measurements

Abstract A digital computer was used to simulate errors in algal cell number measurements used in synchrony index computations. Repeated simulations demonstrated that the resulting degrees of bias and variability in the measured synchrony index S R depend not only on the magnitude of error in cell number measurements, but also on the number of such measurements and the autospore yield at division. The simulations demonstrated that bias and variability in measured S R decrease with increases in autospore yield. The variability in measured S R increases with increasing frequency of periodic cell counts. Minimal bias of S R occurs at intermediate cell count frequencies.
Wavelength-division-multiplexing optical Benes-type networks with simultaneous space-wavelength switching

We propose new wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical interconnect architectures with simultaneous space-wavelength switching capability and reduced complexity. The proposed architectures improve over existing space-wavelength Benes networks, as these require the same number of stages and hardware components as a pure space Benes network. In addition, wavelength conversion in the proposed designs occurs only between two predefined wavelengths, eliminating the need for expensive wide-range wavelength converters used in most existing designs. We develop and characterize three families of WDM Benes networks with reduced complexity, and we present a typical architecture in each of the families. We also propose a routing strategy to establish connections over each of the proposed families. Finally, we present a comparative analysis of the properties of proposed architectures with respect to known WDM Benes networks. It is shown that the new designs require a smaller number of switching stages and space switches, and they have a smaller overall cost compared to most existing WDM Benes interconnects.
Palaeokarst in the Ordovician of the southern Great Basin, USA: implications for sea‐level history

Abundant and regionally unique dolostone lithoclast breccias occur throughout the shallow-marine, Lower to Middle Ordovician Pogonip Group in the Nopah Range and adjacent ranges in eastern California and southern Nevada. Breccia bodies display sharply cross-cutting relationships with host dolostone bedrock stratigraphy. They also show stratigraphic variability in size, shape and dolostone clast composition, but similarity in breccia matrix composition and framework texture and fabric. These characteristics are consistent with a palaeokarst origin. Upsection changes in breccia clast lithology as well as multiple occurrences of associated quartz sand-filled grikes (solution-widened fissures) indicate multiple episodes of carbonate platform exposure and karstification. Repeated karstification is also indicated by stratiform bodies of quartz sand and thin terra rossa palaeosols that locally truncate breccias and grike systems, thus bracketing karstified exposure surfaces. Facies successions and stacking patterns between recognized exposure surfaces are developed as transgressive–regressive cycles and thus show depositional sequence architecture. Hence, these breccias and other associated palaeokarst features are related to a succession of disconformities that provide a sequence-stratigraphic framework for assessing Ordovician relative sea-level history of the south-western Cordilleran margin of Laurentia.
Response of SMRT (Silencing Mediator of Retinoic Acid and Thyroid Hormone Receptor) and N-CoR (Nuclear Receptor Corepressor) Corepressors to Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase Cascades Is Determined by Alternative mRNA Splicing

The SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptor) and N-CoR (nuclear receptor corepressor) corepressors are important mediators of transcriptional repression by nuclear hormone receptors. SMRT is regulated by MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK) cascades that induce its release from its receptor partners, its export from nucleus to cytoplasm, and derepression of target gene expression. Intriguingly, the otherwise closely related N-CoR is refractory to MAPKKK signaling under the same conditions. However, both SMRT and N-CoR are expressed as a series of alternatively spliced protein variants differing in structure and function. We have now characterized the impact of this alternative mRNA splicing on the corepressor response to MAPKKK signaling. Whereas the SMRTalpha, SMRTtau, and SMRTsp2 splice variants are released from their nuclear receptor partners in response to MAPKKK activation, the SMRTsp18 variant, which resembles N-CoR in its overall molecular architecture, is relatively refractory to this kinase-induced release. Alternative splicing of N-CoR, in contrast, had only minimal effects on the resistance of this corepressor to MAPKKK inhibition. Notably, all of the SMRT splice variants examined redistributed from nucleus to cytoplasm in response to MAPKKK cascade signaling, but none of the N-CoR splice variants did so. Different tiers of the MAPKKK cascade hierarchy contributed to these different aspects of corepressor regulation, with MAP/ERK kinase kinase 1 and MAP/ERK kinase 1 regulating subcellular redistribution and ERK2 regulating nuclear receptor-corepressor interaction. We conclude that cells can customize their transcriptional response to MAPKKK cascade signaling by selective expression of the SMRT or N-CoR locus, by selective utilization of a specific corepressor splice variant, and by selective exploitation of specific tiers of the MAPK cascade.
Cyclic AMP decreases chemotaxis, invasiveness and lung colonization of H-ras transformed mouse fibroblasts.

We transfected mouse 10T1/2 fibroblasts with the H-ras oncogene and isolated lines expressing H-ras. One of the lines exhibited a highly malignant phenotype with the ability to produce large tumors and to colonize the lung after tail vein injection. In addition, the cells of this line showed increased collagenase IV production, directed migration and invasiveness, properties associated with the ability of tumor cells to metastasize. Since cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) is known to down-regulate ras expression, we exposed the malignant cells (Cl-1) to either N6, 2′,0-dibutyryl cAMP (DB-cAMP) or 8-bromo cAMP (8-Br-cAMP), either with or without a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. We found that these treatments reduced the expression of ras, chemotaxis, invasiveness, and lung colonization of the ras-transformed cells. We therefore postulate that the malignancy of some cells may be regulated by alterations in the intracellular cAMP levels by suppressing ras expression and/or by reducing other activities required for the dissemination of tumor cells.
Determination of Harmonic Levels in Nonlinear Networks by Computer Simulation

A method of accurately determining harmonic levels in nonlinear networks with periodic excitation is described. Timedomain omain transient analysis is combined with ac steady-state analysis using standard computer-simulation circuit-analysis programs to evaluate low levels of harmonic distortion with appreciably reduced numerical error. The technique is useful in a variety of applications such as mixers, rectifiers, power amplifiers, and switching power supplies.
Cultivar choice provides options for local production of organic and conventionally produced tomatoes with higher quality and antioxidant content

BACKGROUND: Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are widely consumed and well known for their health benefits, many of which have been associated with the high levels of antioxidants present in tomatoes. With a growing interest in local and organic foods, it would be helpful to determine whether farmers could naturally improve the quality and antioxidant content of tomatoes for sale in local markets. This study evaluated antioxidant properties, quality attributes, and yield for 10 tomato cultivars grown for 2 years using certified organic and conventional practices. RESULTS: Cultivar and year effects impacted (P < 0.05) all tests conducted, while growing method influenced (P < 0.05) yield, soluble solids content, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant radical scavenging capacity. Even when accounting for year-to-year variability, cultivars in the highest groups had 1.35- to 1.67-fold higher antioxidant levels than cultivars in the lowest groups. ‘New Girl’, ‘Jet Star’, ‘Fantastic’, and ‘First Lady’ were always in the highest groups, while ‘Roma’ and ‘Early Girl’ consistently had the lowest antioxidant content. CONCLUSION: Compared to production practices and environmental effects of years that are generally beyond the control of small-scale producers, choice of cultivar provides the simplest and most effective means of increasing antioxidant properties. Knowledge of tomato cultivars with naturally higher antioxidant levels could assist smaller-scale producers to grow fruit that may provide a competitive advantage and the opportunity to capitalize on the increasing popularity of locally grown, high-quality fresh produce. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Clozapine treatment of nonpsychotic rapid cycling bipolar disorder: a report of three cases.

Although clozapine's current indication is for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, recent reports suggest it may have significant mood-stabilizing properties in affectively ill patients with psychotic symptoms. We present three cases of severe, treatment refractory nonpsychotic rapid cycling bipolar I disorder that responded to clozapine