cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The bioavailability of ergothioneine from mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) and the acute effects on antioxidant capacity and biomarkers of inflammation.

Abstract Background Ergothioneine (ET) is a sulfur containing amino acid that functions as an antioxidant. Mushrooms are a primary source of ET containing from 0.4 to 2.0 mg/g (dry-weight). The bioavailability of ET from mushrooms in humans remains unclear. Objective We evaluated the bioavailability of ET in healthy men (n = 10) in a pilot study, using a randomized, cross-over, dose–response, postprandial time-course design, conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at Pennsylvania State University in 2009. Method ET was administered through a mushroom test meal containing 8 g and 16 g of mushroom powder. Postprandial red blood cell concentrations of ET were measured. Plasma glucose, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and total cholesterol also were monitored. Biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated using C-reactive protein and ORACtotal. Results ET was bioavailable after consuming mushrooms and a trend in the postprandial triglyceride response indicated that there was a blunting effect after both the 8 g and 16 g ET doses were compared with the 0 g dose. Despite ET's antioxidant properties, ORACtotal values decreased after the 8 g and 16 g mushroom meal. Conclusions Ergothioneine from A. bisporus mushrooms is bioavailable as assessed by red blood cell uptake postprandially, and consumption is associated with an attenuated postprandial TG response.
Composition of Guttation Fluid from Rye, Wheat, and Barley Seedlings

This work was undertaken to determine the kinds and amount of substances that would account for the previously demonstrated differential growth of Claviceps purpurea on guttation fluids from Rosen rye, Genesee wheat, and Traill barley seedlings. Chromatographic methods were used for determining amino acids and sugars, spot tests and spectrometric methods for inorganic materials, and microbiological methods for vitamins. Total sugar content is about equal in rye and barley fluids, but lower in wheat. Glucose is the principal sugar component of the rye and barley fluids and galactose highest in wheat. Most of the amino acid in all 3 fluids is aspartic acid or asparagine. Barley fluid is far higher than the other 2 in total amino acids, with wheat the lowest. Most inorganic elements are found to be highest in barley and lowest in wheat, with the exception of iron where rye is highest and barley lowest. Barley fluid is highest in choline, p -aminobenzoic acid, thiamine, and uracil, while rye is highest in inositol and pyridoxine. Wheat is much lower than the other 2 in choline and inositol.
DNA-mediated gene transfer as an indicator of DNA damage and its repair by recipient cells.

Abstract Preparations of plasmid containing the thymidine kinase gene (pHSV106) were treated with the alkylating agents methyl methanesulphonate or N -methyl- N -nitrosourea prior to transfection into thymidine kinase-deficient mouse L-cells using the DNA-calcium phosphate co-precipitation technique. Relative to transfection with unmodified plasmid, a reduced transformation efficiency was observed using alkylation-damaged plasmid, N -methyl- N -nitrosourea causing the greatest inhibition. Treatment of recipient cells with arabinosyl cytosine or dideoxythymidine during the expression period following transfection by the ‘damaged’ plasmid reduced transformation efficiency, suggesting that DNA repair 4–6 h post-transfection was required for gene expression.
Cretaceous Floral Sequences in Alaskan Arctic: ABSTRACT

The Albian to Maestrichtian plant sequence in northern Alaska is well documented stratigraphically and regionally, by megafossil assemblages from more than 250 localities through about 23,000 ft of strata (about 7,000 m), in 11 homoclinally-dipping sections, and from 7 study areas across more than 350 mi (about 600 km) of the North Slope. Common interbedding of marine and nonmarine units provides data for (1) inferring continuous coastal-plain environments for the Cretaceous vegetation, and (2) referring the floral records to European stages through marine fossil correlations. About 380 species have been recognized, but this total will undoubtedly increase as the detailed morphologic analyses continue. There are examples of species that appear to be widely ranging through time; but upon closer examination they are recognized as complexes of similar species, commonly occurring in stratigraphic sequence. Only a few of these complexes have been examined in detail, and such studies are currently in progress. The sequential plant records are divisible into 7 biostratigraphic zones based on proportional representation of general taxonomic categories: I (oldest) = pteridophyte-ginkgophyte-cycadophyte assemblages; II = pteridophyte-ginkgophyte-cycadophyte-coniferophyte assemblages; III = pteridophyte-ginkgophyte-cycadophyte-coniferophyte-dicotyledon assemblages; IV = coniferophyte-dicotyledon assemblages; V-VII = predominantly dicotyledon assemblages with coniferophytes subdominant. Certain taxonomic and morphologic data obtained at numerous levels are interpreted to indicate rapidly changing and widely fluctuating climates over the Cretaceous coastal plain during the Albian to Maestrichtian interval: (1) records of cycadophyte representation and of entire-margined dicots as warmer climate indicators; and (2) records of coniferophyte representation and of maximum size of Ginkgo leaves as cooler climate indicators. When plotted on stratigraphic charts, the cycadophyte-dicot peaks correspond to each other as well as to the stratigraphic positions of coniferophyte-Ginkgo troughs (warmer climate trends). The coniferophyte-Ginkgo peaks correspond to each other and to the cycadophyte-dicot troughs (cooler climate trends). On the basis of such data it is suggested that ater Mesozoic climates may have fluctuated as widely and as rapidly as those of later Cenozoic time; that is, at intervals of about 100,000-250,000 years. Warming trends appear to have peaked in the subtropical range with no evidence to indicate climates as warm as tropical. Cooling trends appear to have "bottomed-out" in the cool-temperate range with no evidence to indicate climates as cool as boreal. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2504------------
Criteria of constructibility for real numbers

The purpose of this paper is to prove two theorems and a conjecture (Conjecture II) announced in section 15 an earlier paper of the author's (cited as “ CT ”), and to compare them briefly with related results of Specker. Familiarity with both papers is assumed; the terminology of the former is used throughout. On two points however clarification of the usage of CT is in order, and to this chore we must first proceed. A half-section is the lower half of a Dedekind cut; if the cut is rational, the half section is to include the rational corresponding to the real defined by the cut. A whole-section is the relation which holds between any member of the lower and any member of the upper half of some Dedekind cut. If the cut is rational the corresponding rational is to be a member of both halves. A real number α is said to be approximate in K to any required number of decimal places if it is possible to define the predicates ‘ x α ’, ‘ x ≤ α ’, ‘ x > α ’, and ‘ x ≥ α ’ ( x rational ) in K . In view of section 7 of CT this will mean that every true inequation between α and a terminating decimal will be provable in K .
The use of antibody D8/17 to identify B cells in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Abstract Compared with healthy control subjects, individuals with childhood-onset obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) have been reported to have a higher percentage of B cells that react with the monoclonal antibody D8/17, a marker for rheumatic fever. This study sought to replicate these findings in adults with OCD. Double-blind analyses of blood samples from 29 consecutive adults with primary OCD and 26 healthy control subjects were conducted to determine the percentage of B cells identified by D8/17. Using a standard criterion of ≥12% labeled B cells to denote positivity, rates of D8/17 positive individuals did not significantly differ between the OCD (58.6%) and control (42.3%) groups. Early age of onset was not a predictor of D8/17 positivity in the OCD group. The percentage of B cells identified by the monoclonal antibody marker D8/17 did not distinguish adults with OCD from control subjects, nor did it distinguish a sub-group of adults with OCD who described pre-pubertal onset of their OCD symptoms.
A profissão de escritora no Brasil: uma leitura das crônicas de Clarice Lispector

Escritora profissional, pressionada por questoes financeiras, Clarice Lispector naoconsegue resistir a nao trabalhar na imprensa e nos legou um historico bastante razoavel detextos em jornais e revistas. Esta pesquisa se volta para as cronicas da autora publicadas entre1967 e 1973, no Jornal do Brasil, postumamente reunidas no livro A descoberta do mundo.Definida como genero hibrido, forma fronteirica entre jornalismo e literatura, a cronica,muitas vezes, constitui um espaco de grande relevância para encenar subjetividades e proporreflexoes metalinguisticas. Mesmo tratando do trivial e assumindo uma posturadespretensiosa, muitos desses textos constituem importante exercicio de critica e autocritica.No caso de Clarice Lispector, o carater transgressor presente em seus romances e contosencontra-se tambem nesses pequenos textos produzidos com hora marcada.
Control Issues of Digital Clay: Massive Hydraulic Actuator Array for Man-Machine Communication

fluidic driving system, and control system. Focus of this paper is the control of some of the special mechanisms of Digital Clay. Specifically, the Fluid Matrix Drive, Capacitive-Coupled Resistive Sensing technology for position feedback and the other control related issues are discussed. Analysis and testing results on these topics are provided based on a 5x5 actuator array prototype. Most of the topics discussed in this paper are widely applicable to other devices as well as Digital Clay.
Innovation, Regulation, and the FDA

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg outlines key events that have shaped the FDA, reviews recent legal cases challenging the authority of the FDA, and proposes an approach to decisions about drug safety and efficacy through the promotion of regulatory science.
Children and Youth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Toward An Integrated Developmental and Intervention Science

In this article, we discuss the need for and value of an integrated developmental intervention science in low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs), and the extent to which this integration of basic developmental science has influenced research on child and youth development interventions in these countries. We also consider how a global developmental science can be advanced by capitalizing on the opportunities provided by cross-cultural, interdisciplinary, experimental, and mixed methods approaches. We argue that designing and evaluating human developmental interventions in LAMICs present an opportunity for both research and policy. Testing contextualized developmental approaches through rigorously evaluated interventions yields the promise of finding more powerful and scalable solutions that can reach more children and youth worldwide. Moreover, a theoretically rich and methodologically rigorous understanding of how interventions effect change in diverse countries and contexts can contribute to the development of a truly global developmental science.
The SVD and reduced rank signal processing

Abstract The basic ideas of reduced-rank signal processing are evident in the original work of Shannon, Bienvenu, Schmidt, and Tufts and Kumaresan. In this paper we extend these ideas to a number of fundamental problems in signal processing by showing that rank reduction may be applied whenever a little distortion may be exchanged for a lot of variance. We derive a number of quantitative rules for reducing the rank of signal models that are used in signal processing algorithms.
Is double balloon enteroscopy the best initial imaging method for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

Diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is challenging for gastroenterologists. Capsule endoscopy has revolutionized examination of the small bowel in this setting, but has several limitations. Double balloon enteroscopy is a new technique that also allows for extensive evaluation of the small bowel. This Viewpoint examines the usefulness of these techniques in clinical practice.
Structural basis of γ-diketone neurotoxicity: Non-neurotoxicity of 3,3-dimethyl-2,5-hexanedione, a γ-diketone incapable of pyrrole formation☆

The chronic exposure to gamma-diketones results in the formation of giant neurofilament (NF)-containing axonal enlargements, followed by axonal degeneration in peripheral axons. Based on the specific ability of gamma-diketones to react with primary amino groups to form pyrroles, and the observation of such reaction with NF protein in vitro and with other proteins in vivo, it has been proposed that pyrrole formation at primary amino groups of NF protein is responsible for the neurotoxicity of gamma-diketones. We have tested this hypothesis through an investigation of the neurotoxicity in rats of 3,3-dimethyl-2,5-hexanedione (3,3-DMHD), a gamma-diketone which is incapable of forming pyrroles. 3,3-DMHD was found to produce only a slight alteration of axonal caliber and no clinical neurotoxicity after up to 12 weeks of administration, at a dose over 20 times that for which its isomer 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-hexanedione (3,4-DMHD) produced massive focal NF-containing axonal enlargements and complete paralysis in 4 weeks. These results support the view that the pyrrole-forming capability of gamma-diketones is the initial molecular event in the pathogenesis of gamma-diketone neurotoxicity.
Studies on African snake venoms. II. Differentiation between proteinase and amino-acid esterase activities of some African viperidae venoms.

Abstract The venoms of Bitis arietans , Bitis gabonica and Causus rhombeatus possess enzymic activity towards tosylarginine methyl ester. These activities can be separated from the main proteolytic activities of the venoms by gel-filtration. B. arietans venom also has a relatively high acetyltyrosine ethyl esterase activity.
Mechanism of ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2-230K: catalysis involving a thiol relay?

Covalent conjugation of ubiquitin to intracellular proteins is a signal for degradation by the 26S protease. Conjugation is usually accomplished by the sequential action of activating (E1), conjugating (E2), and ligase (E3) enzymes. Each of these enzymes forms a covalent thiol ester with ubiquitin as part of its catalytic cycle. In most cases, the apparent role of the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2) is to transfer ubiquitin from the E1 active site to the E3 active site. Ubiquitin is then delivered from E3 to the substrate lysine residue. An unusually large, reticulocyte-specific enzyme, known as E2-230K, is unique among the large family of E2 enzymes is being susceptible to inhibition by inorganic arsenite [Klemperer et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 6035−6041]. We show that phenylarsenoxides potently inhibit E2-230K, apparently by binding to vicinal Cys residues of the enzyme: bound aminophenylarsenoxide partially protects the enzyme against inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), and prior enzyme inacti...
Compact intraoperative imaging device for sentinel lymph node mapping

We have developed a novel real-time intraoperative fluorescence imaging device that can detect near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence and map sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). In contrast to conventional imaging systems, this device is compact, portable, and battery-operated. It is also wearable and thus allows hands-free operation of clinicians. The system directly displays the fluorescence in its goggle eyepiece, eliminating the need for a remote monitor. Using this device in murine lymphatic mapping, the SLNs stained with indocyanine green (ICG) can be readily detected. Fluorescence-guided SLN resection under the new device was performed with ease. Ex vivo examination of resected tissues also revealed high fluorescence level in the SLNs. Histology further confirmed the lymphatic nature of the resected SLNs.
DNA i-MOTIF Probed by Photoacoustic Calorimetry

The intercalated motif of DNA occurs in the C-rich strand of regulatory regions of the genome and in the human telomere, where it competes with the G-quadruplex and the DNA duplex. Its formation is strongly favored at acidic pH (<6). The folding rates for various forms of i-motif have been determined previously, but the initial steps of folding are not well characterized. Photoacoustic calorimetry (PAC) has been used in conjunction with a 2-nitrobenzaldehyde pH-jump technique to characterize thermodynamic and kinetic parameters associated with the protonation and initiation of the intramolecular i-motif folding' on fast timescales (∼50ns to 10μs). Two kinetic steps were resolved, corresponding to the intramolecular tautomerization of 2-nitrobenzaldehyde and cytosines protonation within 50 ns. This is followed by nucleation of i-motif folding with ∼300 ns lifetime. We determined ΔH and ΔV for the fast step to be −74.0 kcal mol−1 and −6.1 mL mol−1 in the range of 7 - 20°C; from 20-30°C the values are 99.7 kcal mol−1 and 25 mL mol−1. Photothermal beam deflection data indicate the absence of kinetic steps between ∼10 μs and 10 ms. In addition, the pKa and stability of the i-motif structure with respect to temperature have been probed by circular dichroism. At pH<7, the fraction of i-motif folded shows little temperature dependence in the range of 7-30°C, whereas at pH 7 the fraction folded decreases from 0.19 to 0.08. The temperature dependence of i-motif folding close to biological pH and temperature has potential implications for the role of i-motif in vivo.
A neural network approach to local downscaling of GCM output for assessing wind power implications of climate change

Abstract A methodology is presented for downscaling General Circulation Model (GCM) output to predict surface wind speeds at scales of interest in the wind power industry under expected future climatic conditions. The approach involves a combination of Neural Network tools and traditional weather forecasting techniques. A Neural Network transfer function is developed to relate local wind speed observations to large scale GCM predictions of atmospheric properties under current climatic conditions. By assuming the invariability of this transfer function under conditions of doubled atmospheric carbon dioxide, the resulting transfer function is then applied to GCM output for a transient run of the National Center for Atmospheric Research coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM. This methodology is applied to three test sites in regions relevant to the wind power industry—one in Texas and two in California. Changes in daily mean wind speeds at each location are presented and discussed with respect to potential implications for wind power generation.
On the Formability of Aluminum-Coated Steel Sheet

Abstract Mild steel sheet coated with aluminum was characterized in terms of mechanical behavior and formability. The layer of aluminum, 7μm - 10μm thick, was deposited by a relatively recently developed version of physical vapor deposition (PVD). The uniqueness of this particular deposition process comes from the use of a steered arc. The substrate chosen for the study was deep-drawing quality steel of the type used in the automotive industry. Tension tests provided information on ductility. strain, and strength. A forming limit diagram (FLD) was constructed and angular stretch bend tests carried out to assess the formability of coated sheet. This study found a 40% increase in the yield stress of coated material over uncoated material. Additionally. coated material has lower formability than uncoated sheet. The majority of the properties of the coated sheet are attributable to strain aging of the steel (diffusion of carbon atoms to dislocations) brought about by the coating process.
Design of a Random Quantum Spin Chain Paramagnet: Sr3CuPt0.5Ir0.5O6

A new class of magnetic behavior, random quantum spin chain paramagnetism, has been observed in the one-dimensional compound Sr 3 CuPt 1- x Ir x O 6 . A random quantum spin chain system has S = spins coupled by Heisenberg exchange interactions that are randomly ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic between neighbors along the chain. This condition was fulfilled by members of the solid solution Sr 3 CuPt 1- x Ir x O 6 ( x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1), whose end-members, Sr 3 CuPtO 6 and Sr 3 CuIrO 6 , are antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility data for the solid solution Sr 3 CuPt 1- x Ir x O 6 ( x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1) were collected and were found to be in excellent agreement with a theoretical model.
Performance of attachments used in implant-supported overdentures: review of trends in the literature

The purpose of this review is to examine the performance of attachments used in implant-supported overdenture (IOD) in both clinical and in vitro settings and report the compiled findings, comparisons, and trends in the research literature. Articles published in PubMed on IOD attachment systems and performance were reviewed. Non-original articles were excluded. For each article included, the type of study, number of implants, number of attachment systems, and study outcome were recorded. Of the 283 articles found, 158 met the inclusion criteria. Ninety-four articles were clinical studies and 64 articles were in vitro studies. Studies on retention were the most common for in vitro studies, and four or more attachment systems were compared in most articles with significant differences in outcome. A clinical outcome of one attachment system was most common for clinical studies, while most studies had neutral outcomes overall. Ball attachment was the most commonly tested IOD attachment system. The trend in the literature showed that there is a large discrepancy between the study designs and outcomes between the clinical and the in vitro studies for IOD. Further clinical studies that can validate in vitro research should be encouraged to address this discrepancy between the two areas.
Population Structure Mediates Sexual Conflict in Water Striders

Sexual conflict occurs when males and females act against each others’ interest, typically resulting in selection favoring harmful males. We performed laboratory experiments on sexual conflict that both confined individuals in isolated groups, which prevents selection acting counter to this conflict, and provided more naturalistic multigroup population structures. We show that in water striders, aggressive male mating behavior was strongly favored within groups but not favored in a multigroup population when individuals can freely disperse among groups. These observations explain the persistence of less-aggressive males within natural populations.
A facile one-pot synthesis of alkylarylcarbinols from α,α-dichloroarylmethanes and trialkylboranes in the presence of magnesium or lithium.

Abstract α-Chlorobenzylmagnesium chloride or α-chlorobenzyllithium generated from α,α-dichloroarylmethane and magnesium or lithium, reacts in situ with trialkylboranes in THF at room temperature to produce the corresponding alkylarylcarbinols in good yields after oxidation with sodium perborate.
IS THERE A POSTWAR GROWTH CYCLE

SUMMARY The existence of a quasi-periodic cycle in growth rates of major economic indicators has become one of the more popular stylized facts in interpreting postwar macro-dynamics. In this paper, we examine the statistical record of sixteen OECD countries over the 1950-1970 period to determine the degree of regularity in movements of annual growth rates in both GNP and several disaggregated components. The Wallis-Moore test is employed to establish the significance of the deviation of growth rate fluctuations from those of a purely random series. In only 13 of the 90 series investigated were these deviations statistically significant and in only two countries, Germany and Finland, were more than one growth series significantly non-random. These results suggest that there is little statistical significance to the growth cycle hypothesis from an annual perspective and that postwar macro-dynamics generally fail to reflect in the growth rate domain much of the regularity observed in the more traditional business cycle of the prewar period.
Redispersion of fly ash from a liquid nitrogen suspension

Abstract The generation of an aerosol from a powder often involves nebulizing a liquid suspension of the powder. Solubilization of some of the powder's components is a problem often encountered in this approach. To overcome this problem, liquid nitrogen (LN2) was chosen as the suspending medium. Fly ash collected from the final filter of a process development scale, atmospheric pressure fluidized bed coal combustor was partially disaggregated with an air grinding device, and further disaggregated by sonication in liquid nitrogen reduced to its freezing point (−200°C). The fly ash was maintained in suspension by stirring, and the mixture was sprayed under pressure into an evaporation chamber, where it was mixed with air. The liquid N2 rapidly evaporated leaving the particles airborne. Comparison of analyses made before and after LN2 reaerosolization indicated that no change occurred in the physical and chemical properties of the fly ash. The biological activity, as measured by the Ames test also remained unaffected.
Lessons from damage to steel buildings during the Northridge earthquake

One of the important overall surprises of the Northridge earthquake of 17 January 1994, was the widespread and unanticipated brittle fractures in welded steel beam-column connections. The economy, versatility and presupposed high plastic deformation capacity of welded steel moment-resisting frame (WSMF) buildings led to their common usage in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the US. No casualties or complete collapses occurred during the Northridge earthquake as a result of these connection failures, and WSMF buildings in areas of moderate shaking were not damaged at all. However, a wide spectrum of brittle connection damage did occur, ranging from minor cracking observable only by nondestructive testing to completely severed columns. This paper reviews the performance of steel buildings during the Northridge earthquake, and examines some of the results of studies undertaken as part of a project initiated by US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reduce the earthquake hazards posed by steel moment-resisting frame buildings. The objective of this project is to develop and verify reliable and cost-effective methods for the inspection, evaluation, repair, and rehabilitation of existing steel frame buildings and the construction of new ones. The project is conducted by the SAC Joint Venture, consisting of the Structural Engineers Association of California, the Applied Technology Council and the California Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering.
An In Situ, In Vivo Murine Model for the Study of Laryngotracheal Stenosis

Importance Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) lacks an ideal animal model to study its unique wound-healing pathophysiology and the effect of interventions. Objective To present an in vivo, in situ mouse model of LTS that can be used to investigate its pathophysiology, mechanisms, and interventions for treatment. Design, Setting, and Subjects Prospective controlled animal study performed at an academic animal research facility on 87 C57BL/6 mice. Interventions Experimental mice (n = 40) underwent bleomycin-coated wire-brush injury to the larynx and trachea, while mechanical injury controls (n = 32) underwent phosphate-buffered saline–coated wire-brush injury. Normal controls (n = 9) underwent no intervention, and mock surgery controls (n = 6) underwent anterior transcervical tracheal exposure only. Laryngotracheal complexes were harvested at days 7, 14, and 21 after injury. At the respective time points, mice in the chemomechanical and mechanical injury groups were killed, and their laryngotracheal complexes were harvested for histologic analysis. Normal and mock surgery controls were killed and then underwent histologic analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome measure was lamina propria thickness. Results The chemomechanical injury group maintained a significant increase in lamina propria thickness through day 21 compared with uninjured controls at day 7 (82.7 vs 41.8 μm;P Conclusions and Relevance Chemomechanical initiation of fibrosis in situ creates a viable mouse model of LTS that incorporates the physiologic circulatory supply and airflow. This small-animal model may be used to investigate the pathogenesis and inflammatory mechanisms of iatrogenic LTS and test therapeutic interventions to reverse or reduce the development of fibrosis.
Gaseous elemental mercury emissions and CO2 respiration rates in terrestrial soils under controlled aerobic and anaerobic laboratory conditions

Abstract Mercury (Hg) levels in terrestrial soils are linked to the presence of organic carbon (C). Carbon pools are highly dynamic and subject to mineralization processes, but little is known about the fate of Hg during decomposition. This study evaluated relationships between gaseous Hg emissions from soils and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) respiration under controlled laboratory conditions to assess potential losses of Hg to the atmosphere during C mineralization. Results showed a linear correlation ( r 2 = 0.49) between Hg and CO 2 emissions in 41 soil samples, an effect unlikely to be caused by temperature, radiation, different Hg contents, or soil moisture. Stoichiometric comparisons of Hg/C ratios of emissions and underlying soil substrates suggest that 3% of soil Hg was subject to evasion. Even minute emissions of Hg upon mineralization, however, may be important on a global scale given the large Hg pools sequestered in terrestrial soils and C stocks. We induced changes in CO 2 respiration rates and observed Hg flux responses, including inducement of anaerobic conditions by changing chamber air supply from N 2 /O 2 (80% and 20%, respectively) to pure N 2 . Unexpectedly, Hg emissions almost quadrupled after O 2 deprivation while oxidative mineralization (i.e., CO 2 emissions) was greatly reduced. This Hg flux response to anaerobic conditions was lacking when repeated with sterilized soils, possibly due to involvement of microbial reduction of Hg 2+ by anaerobes or indirect abiotic effects such as alterations in soil redox conditions. This study provides experimental evidence that Hg volatilization, and possibly Hg 2+ reduction, is related to O 2 availability in soils from two Sierra Nevada forests. If this result is confirmed in soils from other areas, the implication is that Hg volatilization from terrestrial soils is partially controlled by soil aeration and that low soil O 2 levels and possibly low soil redox potentials lead to increased Hg volatilization from soils.
EFFECT OF PARATHYROID EXTRACT ON BICARBONATE INDUCED HYPOCALCEMIA IN THE RAT

Hypocalcemia often follows NaHCO3 therapy for acidosis in premature infants. The correlation of this phenomenon with weight and gestational age suggests that functional hypoparathyroidism may permit a substantial shift of calcium to bone when H+ concentration falls. We find that rats injected with NaHCO3 show hypocalcemia inversely proportional to age. Post injection levels were 9.3 mg% in 350 gm rats, 8.3 mg% at 65 gm, and 7.6 mg% at 7 gm. Subcutaneous injection of parathyroid extract (PTE) prevented the hypocalcemic response to bicarbonate. This protective effect was present at 2, 4 and 8 hours after PTE injection but was gone by 16 hours. At the same intervals, rats receiving PTE but no NaHCO3 were not hypercalcemic. The ability of PTE to avert post-bicarbonate hypocalcemia is consistent with the view that bone is the site of calcium sequestration. The duration of PTE effect and the absence of hypercalcemia suggest the possibility that PTE may be clinically useful if the response of the human neonate proves to be analogous to thpt of the infant rat.
Minimizing the embedding impact in steganography

In this paper, we study the trade-off in steganography between the number of embedding changes and their amplitude. We assume that each element of the cover image is assigned a scalar value that measures the impact of making an embedding change at that pixel (e.g., the embedding distortion). Given the embedding impact profile of all pixels, we derive an analytic formula for the optimal number of pixels that should be used in combination with syndrome coding to minimize the overall embedding impact. We interpret the results and formulate several "rules of thumb" that should improve steganographic security. Contrary to what has been recommended in the literature before, our analysis implies that it is never optimal to only use the pixels with the smallest embedding impact. We also study q-ary embedding in the spatial domain and conclude that the smallest embedding impact is achieved for ternary schemes. This confirms some empirically derived facts previously published elsewhere.
Chemical Hieroglyphs: Abstract Depiction of Complex Void Space Topology of Nanoporous Materials

In general, most porous materials are so complex that structural information cannot be easily observed with 3D visualization tools. To address this problem, we have developed a special abstract 2D representation to depict all important topological features and geometrical parameters. Our approach involves reducing these structures based on symmetry and perceived building blocks to a compressed, graph representation that allows for quick structure analysis, classification, and comparison.
Fiber-tip plasmonic resonators for label-free biosensing

Abstract We report fabrication and implementation of fiber-tip probes with localized surface plasmon resonators for in situ biosensing applications. Gold nano-void arrays, which act as localized surface plasmon resonators were fabricated on ordinary glass coverslips and mounted on cleaved tips of multi-mode optical fibers. Plasmon resonance peak wavelength and depth are functions of gold nano-void array parameters. Array design parameters were optimized using numerical simulations to attain maximum resonance depth and peak in the near infra-red region of the optical spectrum. Sensitivity of the fiber-tip localized surface plasmon resonators to quantify change in refractive index is measured to be 535.2 nm/RIU. Proof-of-principle experimental results of biomolecular interaction analysis with functionalized fiber-tip resonators are presented.
The semiquantal theory of heavy particle inelastic collisions with neutral atoms and molecules. II. Thermal, intermediate and high-energy collisions

Abstract An expression for the internal energy-change suffered by an ion-pair via inelastic binary collisions with a neutral atom or molecule is formulated. On this basis, a semiquantal theory for neutral-neutral inelastic collisions is developed, and the derived cross sections satisfy the principle of detailed balance. The theory is applied to rotational transitions in molecular hydrogen arising from the resonant transfer at thermal energies of electronic energy of excited atoms and to the ionization of hydrogen and helium atoms by collision with hydrogen atoms at moderate and high energies of impact. 1. (a) Eq. (15) should read, cos Ψ ± = γ −2 {α(α + E f − E i ) ± β[γ 2 − (α + E f − E i ) 2 ] 1 2 } 2. (b) Delete; in Eq. (28a). 3. (c) The second line pr`eceding Eq. (61) should read: “to be Z1 and z2 for the case of excitation between two close levels and z1 and Z2…”. 4. (d) The last term of Eq. (65) is: −1 a[ π 1 2 /12λ 3 (3λ − 2μ) ] + … . 5. (e) The first term on the right side of (66) is: ( π 1 2 /6λ 3 ) erf (λ − μ) 1 2 .
Antineoplastic agents. 485. Isolation and structure of cribrostatin 6, a dark blue cancer cell growth inhibitor from the marine sponge Cribrochalina sp

Cribrostatin 6, a dark blue cancer cell growth inhibiting (P388 ED(50) 0.3 microg/mL) constituent of the Republic of Maldives marine sponge Cribrochalina sp., has been assigned structure 3 on the basis of a combination of HRMS, high-field (500 MHz, HMBC, and GOESY experiments) (15)N, (1)H, and (13)C NMR, and X-ray crystal structure analyses. Cribrostatin 6 also was found to inhibit the growth of a number of pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Alphavirus adsorption to mosquito cells as viewed by freeze fracture immunolabeling.

Sindbis Virus (SV), the prototype alphavirus in the family togaviridae, infects both mammalian and insect cells. The ability of SV to infect cells possessing significantly different biochemical environments suggests that there may be a common mode of entry into each cell type. Previous studies show that up to 4 h post infection cells are permeable to small ions and alpha sarcin suggesting that the plasma membrane is compromised as infection takes place. Thin-section electron microscopy has also shown SV to bind to the plasma membrane and lose its electron dense core through a pore like structure developed upon interaction of the virus with the cell surface. Using freeze-fracture replicas, thin-sections and antibody labeling the data presented herein show virus associated with intramembrane particles on mosquito cells. These data suggest that the intramembrane particles associated with SV may be part of the pore structure consisting of virus proteins and cell receptor.
Clinical features and basic mechanisms of quinidine-induced arrhythmias.

Quinidine therapy is one of the most common causes of the acquired long QT syndrome and the morphologically distinctive tachyarrhythmia torsade de pointes. Clinical data from our institution and others have revealed a number of characteristic features: quinidine plasma concentrations are generally low, marked QRS prolongation is absent, hypokalemia is frequent and abrupt heart rate slowing just before the initiation of a paroxysm is almost invariable. The lack of correlation between plasma quinidine concentrations and this adverse drug effect raises the possibility either that external factors (for example, hypokalemia) modulate the response to quinidine in vivo or that one or more unmeasured active metabolites play a role. Therefore, the effects of alterations in extracellular potassium and stimulation rate on the electrophysiologic effects of quinidine were examined in canine Purkinje fibers. It was found that a form of triggered automaticity, early afterdepolarizations, is reliably produced in the presence of quinidine when extracellular potassium is lowered and the stimulation rate is slowed. More recently, the effects of a number of quinidine metabolites, as well as the commonly found impurity dihydroquinidine, were characterized in canine Purkinje fibers in a similar fashion. Although quinidine was the most potent of the substances tested, both dihydroquinidine and 3-hydroxyquinidine prolonged action potential and produced early afterdepolarizations as did quinidine at long cycle lengths. Quinidine-induced torsade de pointes is a potentially lethal adverse drug effect, occurring in 1 to 3% of patients. Hypokalemia and slow heart rates are commonly observed in a clinical setting and, in the tissue bath, quinidine and several of its metabolites induce abnormal automatic behavior when extracellular potassium is lowered and stimulation rate is slowed. It is concluded that early afterdepolarizations, a form of triggered automaticity, may be responsible for induction of quinidineinduced arrhythmias in humans.
AN INTERSUBGENERIC HYBRID BETWEEN GLYCINE TOMENTELLA HAYATA AND THE SOYBEAN, G. MAX (L.) MERR.

The objective of the present paper is to provide information on the morphology and cytology of an intersub-generic hybrid (2n=59) between Glycine tomentellaHayata (2n=78) and G. max (L.) Merr. (2n=40) obtained through in vitro immature seed culture. The hybrid plant was slow in vegetative growth and twinning like the female parent but morphologically was intermediate between both parents for several traits. At metaphase I, the average chromosome associations and ranges for 25 cells were 44.0 I (37–51)+7.5 II (3–11). The plant was completely pollen and seed sterile. The present investigation suggests that wild perennial Glycine species can be exploited as either the male or female parent in wide hybridization programs with the soybean, G. max.
Delta opioid receptors regulate calcium-dependent, amphetamine-evoked glutamate levels in the rat striatum: an in vivo microdialysis study

Blockade of opioid receptors decreases amphetamine-induced behaviors and dopamine release in the striatum. Use of selective opioid receptor ligands has indicated that these effects are mediated by delta opioid receptors (DORs). However, the site of action of delta receptors and the influence of delta receptor antagonists on other neurotransmitters released by amphetamine are unknown. Therefore, the effect of reverse microdialysis of the selective delta opioid antagonist, naltrindole, on extracellular striatal glutamate levels evoked by amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was investigated. Naltrindole (10-100 microM) decreased amphetamine-evoked glutamate levels in a concentration-dependent manner. The selective delta agonist, [D-Pen(2,5)]-enkephalin (100, 500 microM), reversed the effect of naltrindole, confirming that delta receptors mediated this effect. The amphetamine-evoked increase in extracellular glutamate levels was determined to be 39% calcium-sensitive by lowering the calcium concentration in the perfusate. Under these conditions, naltrindole had no effect on the calcium-independent component of amphetamine-evoked glutamate levels. These data indicate that intrastriatal DORs modulate a calcium-dependent, amphetamine-evoked component of extracellular glutamate levels that may depend on activation of a transsynaptic basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop.
Tolerable Entertainment: Herman Melville and Professionalism in Antebellum New York

A fresh look at the social context of a great American writer In Tolerable Entertainment, Herman Melville's life and literary work serve as windows on the tumultuous world of antebellum New York City. Charting Melville's writings from Typee (1846) to Pierre (1852) as responses to his experience of living in the city, this book reveals the dramatic shifts in American life occurring at the time. Perhaps more than any other nineteenth-century writer, Melville has been read and understood in the context of his career, embodied in a narrative of the trajectory from immature emergence, through brilliant ascendance, to collapse into neglect. Moving beyond these stereotypes, John Evelev uses Melville's writings to place the concept of "career" within a historical framework, as part of the ideological project of a new middle-class professionalism. He describes a meritocratic ethos of competitive specialization and expertise that distanced itself from both the deskilling of industrialized labor and the older professional arrangement of elite patronage. By exploring the intersections of class and culture in antebellum America, Evelev offers a new perspective on Melville's literary career. Tolerable Entertainment reads Melville's life and work in relation to such cultural developments as the famous "high/low" theater riots at Astor Place and the rise of the lyceum circuit, a forum for celebrity lecturers to reach the new urban "middle-brow" audience. The book also considers such transformations in antebellum social attitudes as urban workers' protests against industrialization and the growth of the "self-culture" of the new urban middle class, with the emergence of vocational associations and professional specialization. Evelev's readings run against the grain of modern Melville scholarship by emphasizing not the values of individualism and democracy that have led critics to construe Melville's writings as central to the American canon, but rather the ambivalent cultural and vocational distinctions of the developing middle class to which Melville belonged.
The Influence of Compensation Method and Disclosure Level on Information Search Strategy and Escalation of Commitment

In this study we examined the extent to which compensation method and public disclosure influenced information search strategy and escalation of commitment. A laboratory experiment involving 182 student subjects employed a 3 (compensation: no-pay, salary, and contingent) by 2 (disclosure level: public and private) fully randomized, crossed design. Results show that in light of negative feedback concerning performance results of an investment portfolio, subjects whose initial allocation decisions were announced publicly reduced their search for prospective information, increased the search for retrospective information, and exhibited greater escalation of commitment than subjects who did not announce their initial investment strategy. The search for retrospective information and escalation of commitment was monotonically higher across the no-pay, salary, and contingent pay conditions respectively, while the search for prospective information decreased correspondingly. This study provides evidence that escalation of commitment is positively related to the search for retrospective information and negatively related to the search for prospective information. The results obtained from this experiment complement and extend prior work in the areas of accountability, cognitive dissonance and escalation of commitment. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An optimal brain can be composed of conflicting agents

Many behaviors have been attributed to internal conflict within the animal and human mind. However, internal conflict has not been reconciled with evolutionary principles, in that it appears maladaptive relative to a seamless decision-making process. We study this problem through a mathematical analysis of decision-making structures. We find that, under natural physiological limitations, an optimal decision-making system can involve “selfish” agents that are in conflict with one another, even though the system is designed for a single purpose. It follows that conflict can emerge within a collective even when natural selection acts on the level of the collective only.
A comparison of physiological and psychological measurements on anxious patients and normal controls.

Clinical, psychophysiological, and psychometric measurements were made on 20 normal controls and 30 anxious patients during rest and experimental stress. Resting forearm blood flow, a relatively new physiological index of anxiety, was found to correlate significantly with clinical and subjective ratings of anxiety, and with heart rate, number of spontaneous fluctuations of skin resistance, and amplitude of forearm EMG. It did not correlate significantly with any of the measures of depression. Resting forearm blood flow and heart rate were found to be better measures of arousal in this study than skin resistance, EMG, or cutaneous vasomotor status, since the latter did not show significant differences between anxious patients and normal controls. The psychological traits of the two groups were also assessed by the Maudsley Personality Inventory, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Zung Depression Scale; and their emotional state evaluated by the Clyde Mood Scale and Semantic Differential Scale. Twenty-one variables showed significant differences between the two groups. Some of these measures have subsequently been used, with advantage, to monitor emotional changes brought about by psychiatric treatment.