cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drug-Loaded, Bivalent-Bottle-Brush Polymers by Graft-through ROMP

Graft-through ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts has enabled the synthesis of bottle-brush polymers with unprecedented ease and control. Here we report the first bivalent-brush polymers; these materials were prepared by graft-through ROMP of drug-loaded polyethylene-glycol (PEG) based macromonomers (MMs). Anticancer drugs doxorubicin (DOX) and camptothecin (CT) were attached to a norbornene-alkyne-PEG MM via a photocleavable linker. ROMP of either or both drug-loaded MMs generated brush homo- and co-polymers with low polydispersities and defined molecular weights. Release of free DOX and CT from these materials was initiated by exposure to 365 nm light. All of the CT and DOX polymers were at least 10-fold more toxic to human cancer cells after photoinitiated drug release while a copolymer carrying both CT and DOX displayed 30-fold increased toxicity upon irradiation. Graft-through ROMP of drug-loaded macromonomers provides a general method for the systematic study of structure-function relationships for stimuli-responsive polymers in biological systems.
Computer administered treatment of psychiatric inpatients

Abstract Chronic schizophrenic patients have been found to have cognitive deficits similar to those found in organically impaired patients. Personal computers were used on an inpatient psychiatric ward at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center to administer cognitive rehabilitation to chronic psychiatric patients. Patient compliance with the program was surprisingly high with an attendance rate of more than 90%. Patients reported enjoying working with the computers and a number of benefits besides cognitive improvement were noted. The acceptance of computer administered interventions by chronic psychiatric patients indicates that computers could be used for a variety of therapeutic interventions.
Regulatory interactions between mitochondrial genes: exon and intron phenotypes observed in vivo can be expressed in vitro.

Abstract In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the mitochondrial gene responsible for the specification of apocytochrome b (cob-box) is believed to consist of both coding and intervening sequences. Mutations in the latter give rise to pleiotropic phenotypes in vivo, lacking not only cytochrome b but also subunit I of cytochrome oxidase, and producing sets of novel polypeptides. The experiments described here have examined 15 different mit− mutants in this region and demonstrate that these results are faithfully reproduced by isolated mitochondria in vitro. This inference also applies to other types of mutational lesions in coding segments of the cob-box gene and of the gene oxi3, responsible for the specification of subunit I.
Economic growth in developing countries: The role of human capital

Abstract The focus on human capital as a driver of economic growth for developing countries has led to undue attention on school attainment. Developing countries have made considerable progress in closing the gap with developed countries in terms of school attainment, but recent research has underscored the importance of cognitive skills for economic growth. This result shifts attention to issues of school quality and, in that area developing countries have been much less successful in closing the gaps with developed countries. Without improving school quality, developing countries will find it difficult to improve their long run economic performance.
Storm Flow from First-Flush Precipitation in Stormwater Design

Regulations for mitigating nonpoint source pollution from urban areas often include a requirement for treatment of a first-flush depth of stormwater. When the stormwater treatment technology requires specification of a design flow rate, the first-flush depth must be related to a first-flush flow rate. This paper describes a methodology to determine the relation between accumulated storm depth and corresponding flow to a treatment device for small, urban watersheds. The approach uses the rational method under the assumption that the time-of-concentration is small. Intensity–frequency relations, expressed in the form of return periods and associated intensities, were determined using a partial duration frequency analysis of regionalized precipitation data. The results of the method can be used to determine the flow rate to a treatment device that will meet a specified return period for a first-flush depth. The method is demonstrated using 13 years of 15-min data from seven Massachusetts precipitation stations.
Effects of modulation of hepatic glutathione on biotransformation and covalent binding of aflatoxin B1 to DNA in the mouse.

Abstract Relative to the rat and most other species tested, the mouse is resistant to the carcinogenic effets of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB). Previous in vestigations in our laboratory demonstrated that mouse liver cytosol has 52 times greater hepatic glutathione S -transferase (GST) activity toward the AFB-epoxide, compared with rat liver cytosol. To determine the importance of GST-mediated detoxification of the AFB-epoxide in the mouse in vivo , we examined the effects of glutathione (GSH) depletion on the covalent binding of AFB to hepatic DNA in control and 2(3)-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA)-treated mice. Male Swiss-Webster mice were fed control or 0.75% BHA diet for 14 days. Depletion of hepatic GSH was accomplished with d,l -buthionine- S -sulfoximine (BSO, 0.6 g/kg in saline) and diethyl maleate (DEM, 0.75 ml/kg), administered by ip injection at 2 and 1.5 hr, respectively, prior to administration of 3 H-AFB (0.25 mg/kg, ip in DMSO). The combined BSO-DEM treatment depleted hepatic GSH by 97 and 70% in control and BHA-treated mice, respectively. In mice receiving the control diet, GSH depletion was associated with a 30-fold increase in the covalent binding of AFB to hepatic DNA. AFB-DNA binding in mice treated with dietary BHA alone was reduced to 54% of control. In BHA-treated mice, BSO-DEM treatment increased AFB-DNA binding by 62%. Dietary BHA increased hepatic S-9 mediated activation of AFB to the AFB-epoxide by eightfold in both control and BSO-DEM mice. BHA also increased GST activity toward the AFB-epoxide by 52 and 68% in control and BSO-DEM mice, respectively. The BSO-DEM treatment alone had no significant effect on the in vitro biotransformation of AFB. These results support the hypothesis that GST is the pricipal determinant of species differences in susceptibility to AFB-induced hepatocarcinogenicity. The results also support the hypothesis that BHA may protect against the toxic and carcinogenic effects of xenobiotics in part by preventing the depletion of hepatic GSH.
Political Alienation: Behavioral Implications of Efficacy and Trust in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election

This research centers on three dimensions of political alienation – internal efficacy, external efficacy, and political trust. Multivariate analysis of the demographic determinants of political efficacy and trust suggests that females, blacks, and latinos were more like to exhibit feelings of internal and external efficacy, but trust is significantly higher only among the well-educated and strong partisans. We then examined the behavioral implications of these attitudes on voter turnout and candidate preference in the 2008 presidential election. Logit analysis of the 2008-2009 American National Election Study data suggests that internal efficacy increases turnout while external efficacy and trust are insignificant. With regard to candidate preference, those individuals exhibiting internal and external efficacy were more likely to vote for Barack Obama, while trust was insignificant.
Strategies to encourage adoption in multisite clinical trials

The goals of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network (CTN) are to test promising drug abuse treatment models in multisite clinical trials and to support the adoption of new interventions into clinical practice. Using qualitative research methods, we studied adoption in the context of two multisite trials, one outside the CTN and another within the CTN. Seventy-one participants representing eight organizational roles ranging from clinic staff to clinical trial leaders were interviewed about their role in the clinical trial, the trial's interactions with clinics, and intervention adoption. Drawing on the conceptual themes identified in these interviews, we report on strategies that could be applied in the planning, development, and implementation of multisite studies to better support the adoption of tested interventions in study clinics after trials had ended. Planning for adoption in the early stages of protocol development will enhance the integration of new interventions into practice.
Effectiveness and Tolerance to Highly Concentrated vs Conventional TPN Formulas

Conventional total parenteral nutrition regimens (TPN-C) involve concentrations of dextrose/protein which necessitate administration of 2.5-4 liters/day to meet target nutritional needs. Although this is frequently acceptable, certain clinical settings mandate a volume-restricted (VR) approach. This study compares a VR TPN regimen (TPN-VR) involving the use of 25% dextrose and 9.5% amino acid with D17.5 AA 5.0 (TPN-C). The two groups were compared for adequacy of nutritional delivery, balance, and tolerance. Twenty patients received the TPN-VR (Group 1) and 20 patients received TPN-C (Group 2). The groups were comparable in age, sex, injury severity, and APACHE 2 scores. Harris-Benedict (BEE) × 2 and 2 g/protein/kg of ideal body weight were delivered by the second day of TPN. A 27% reduction in administered fluid was achieved in Group 1 (P 0.20). SGPT and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher in Group 2 (P < 0.001). Group 2 received an average of 22% more carbohydrate than Group 1 and 45% required insulin compared to 25% in Group 1 (P < 0.01). In summary, TPN-VR is comparable to TPN-C in terms of effectiveness of delivery, nutritional balance, and tolerance.
A randomized phase II study of docetaxel with or without vandetanib in recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN).

Summary Objectives There are limited chemotherapeutic options for advanced recurrent or metastatic SCCHN. The efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel with or without vandetanib was investigated in these patients. Materials and Methods Patients with pathologically confirmed, recurrent or metastatic SCCHN who had progressed on platinum based therapy given as definitive or palliative treatment, were randomized in this open label, multicenter phase II study of docetaxel (75 mg/m2 IV Q3 weeks) with or without vandetanib (100 mg PO daily). The primary objective was response rate (RR) and secondary objectives were progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR) and duration of response (DOR). Results 29 analyzable patients were enrolled, 14 in docetaxel arm and 15 in combined arm. PR was achieved in 1 patient in the docetaxel arm and 2 patients in the combined arm. The objective RR was 7% (1/14) (95% CI 0.2–33.8%) in the single and 13% (2/15) (95% CI 1.6–40.4%) combined arm. The median PFS was 3.21 (95% CI 3.0–22.0) and 9 (95% CI (5.86–18.1) weeks; median OS was 26.8(95% CI 17.7–100.7+) and 24.1 (95% CI, 16.4–171.1+) weeks. Most common adverse events were fatigue, dysphagia, diarrhea or constipation, cytopenias and alopecia. Conclusions Although an initial benefit in response was noted and statistical criteria met there was only a minor trend towards improved PFS for the combined arm. The study was designed with low threshold for activity in each arm and results were deemed not to be of enough clinical significance in this group of patients to continue accrual.
Torts of necessity: A moral theory of compensation

Tort law is concerned in large part with compensation of those who have been wrongfully injured. When an actor inflicts a harm either intentionally or negligently, the wrongfulness of the actor's malice or failure to exercise due care gives rise to the victim's claim that her loss deserves compensation. On the other hand, principles of strict liability are applied to some harms which are neither maliciously nor negligently inflicted. Those cases are usually justified on the basis of efficient distribution of risks through liability insurance. But there is a class of cases in the law of torts in which compensation is made to an injured party despite an apparent lack of any wrongdoing on the part of the injurer, and despite a lack of any argument to show that risks have thereby been allocated to the party who can most efficiently distribute them. These are the "necessity" cases,' exemplified in law school casebooks by Vincent v. Lake Erie Transport. Co.2 In these cases, an actor is driven by an unforeseeable necessity to take or damage the property of another in order to avoid a much greater harm to himself. His actions are seen as entirely justified and reasonable, and yet most people's intuitions, and the law, agree that the innocent injured party is entitled to be compensated for her loss.
A DNA prime-protein boost vaccination strategy targeting turkey coronavirus spike protein fragment containing neutralizing epitope against infectious challenge

The present study was undertaken to determine immune response and protection efficacy of a spike (S) protein fragment containing neutralizing epitopes (4F/4R) of turkey coronavirus (TCoV) by priming with DNA vaccine and boosting with the recombinant protein from the corresponding DNA vaccine gene segment. Turkeys were vaccinated by priming with either one dose (G1-750DP) or two doses (G3-750DDP) of 750μg DNA vaccine expressing 4F/4R S fragment and boosting with one dose of 200μg 4F/4R S fragment. One dose of 100μg DNA vaccine mixed with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and sodium hyaluronate (HA) followed by one dose of 750μg DNA vaccine and one dose of 200μg 4F/4R S fragment were given to the turkeys in group G2-100DPH. After infectious challenge by TCoV, clinical signs and TCoV detected by immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay were observed in less number of turkeys in vaccination groups than that in challenge control groups. TCoV viral RNA loads measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR were lower in vaccinated turkeys than those in challenge control turkeys. The turkeys in G3-750DDP produced the highest level of TCoV S protein-specific antibody and virus neutralization (VN) titer. Comparing to the turkeys in G1-750DP, significantly less TCoV were detected by IFA in the turkeys in G2-100DPH receiving an extra dose of 100μg DNA mixed with PEI and HA. The results indicated that DNA-prime protein-boost DNA vaccination regimen targeting TCoV S fragment encompassing neutralizing epitopes induced humoral immune response and partially protected turkeys against infectious challenge by TCoV.
Analysis of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing modified components by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Abstract Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) has been used to confirm the synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides containing modified structures and to identify products of unstable oligomer degradation. Negative ion mass spectra of oligomers and dimethoxytrityl-protected oligomers exhibited a distribution of multiply charged molecular ions with few adduct ions present. Molecular masses may be determined from the array of peaks with excellent accuracy and serve to corroborate the synthetic sequence and the inclusion of a modified structure within the sequence. Incorporation of modified deoxynucleotides, stable isotopes, and other novel structures such as a terminal biotin moiety and a phosphorothioate linkage can be rapidly verified by ESI/MS. This technique has also proved useful for the identification of products of unstable oligomers formed during synthesis, deprotection, or purification, including the major products formed under basic conditions from 5′-dimethoxytrityl-protected oligomers containing 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine.
ON THE DEFORMATION OF DROPS AND BUBBLES WITH VARYING INTERFACIAL TENSION

In this paper the deformation of a translating fluid drop is examined in the limit of low Reynolds and capillary numbers. The general case of an arbitrarily varying interfacial tension is considered here. With the capillary number as a perturbation parameter, an expansion is carried out for small deformation to satisfy the normal stress condition. This leads to a rapidly converging Legendre series expansion for the deformation. This general result is applied to the special case of a translating drop with a stagnant cap of surfactant. An interesting feature of this special case is that although the shear stress at the interface has a square root singularity, the total normal stress is non-singular.
Vegetation responses to natural and salvage logged fire edges in Douglas-fir/hardwood forests

Abstract Natural edges created by fire are a common component of forest ecosystems with moderate-severity fire regimes and will continue to be important as the frequency of extreme fire events increases due to historical fire suppression throughout North America. The effect of high-severity fires, with and without salvage logging, on adjacent intact forest patches has not been studied. Fourteen years after a wildfire, we examined the structure and composition of vegetation along the gradient from burned stands into the adjacent forest interior at three salvage logged edges and three unsalvaged edges in Douglas-fir/hardwood forests of northwestern California. Natural, unsalvaged edges were characterized by an increase of native, ruderal species, rather than a reduction of forest interior species. Only two forest interior species reacted negatively to the edge environment, both at salvaged edges. Old-growth community types, identified by two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), occurred 30 m closer to the edge at unsalvaged sites, compared to salvaged sites. Twenty commonly observed species (>10% frequency) demonstrated significant responses to the edge environment; 11 species had a larger depth of edge influence (DEI) at salvaged edges, three had a larger DEI at unsalvaged edges, and six had an equal DEI. Our results suggest that, compared to unsalvaged stands, the removal of snags and subsequent broadcast burning of salvaged logged stands significantly altered plant composition and structure of the edge environment. By increasing the patch contrast between burned and intact forest stands, salvage logging increased the depth of edge influence of fire-created edges by 15–30 m.
An equation by any other name is still the same: on spatial econometrics and spatial statistics

Statistics is a branch of mathematics concerned with the collection, quantification, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of real-world data, and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters with these data. Spatial statistics is a subset of statistics that is concerned with handling the special problems associated with geographically distributed data, which include spatial point patterns, regional and lattice measurement aggregations, irregularly spaced site-specific measurements on a surface, and image analysis. Meanwhile, econometrics is concerned with the application of statistical methods to the study of economic data and problems. When coining the term spatial econometrics in 1979, Paelinck and Klaassen characterized it as a subset of econometrics that is concerned with the role of spatial dependence in regional economic model response and explanatory variables, asymmetries in spatial relationships, the specification of geographic structure governing spatial interactions, and the explicit modeling of space. We outline and discuss principal similarities (e.g., testing for the presence of spatial autocorrelation) and differences (e.g., map generalization) between spatial statistics and spatial econometrics. In doing so, our goal is to help clarify past, present, and future relationships between these two subfields.
Comparison of the prediction of extremely low birth weight neonatal mortality by regression analysis and by neural networks.

Abstract Aims : To compare the prediction of mortality in individual extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates by regression analysis and by artificial neural networks. Study design : A database of 23 variables on 810 ELBW neonates admitted to a tertiary care center was divided into training, validation, and test sets. Logistic regression and neural network models were developed on the training set, validated, and outcome (mortality) predicted on the test set. Stepwise regression identified significant variables in the full set. Regression models and neural networks were then tested using data sets with only the identified significant variables, and then with variables excluded one at a time. Results : The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for neural networks and regression was similar (AUC 0.87±0.03; p =0.31). Birthweight or gestational age and the 5-min Apgar score contributed most to AUC. Conclusions : Both neural networks and regression analysis predicted mortality with reasonable accuracy. For both models, analyzing selected variables was superior to full data set analysis. We speculate neural networks may not be superior to regression when no clear non-linear relationships exist.
Vapor-Phase-Mediated Phenomena Associated with High Temperature, High Water Content Oxidation of MCrAlX Bond Coats

Oxidation of MCrAlX (M = Ni and Co; X = Y or Re) bond coats was carried out at 1,125 °C in a range of N2–O2–H2O environments. A three-step process of (1) oxidation, (2) taper-polishing, and (3) re-oxidation was used to evaluate steady state development of thermally grown oxide (TGO). During initial oxidation, transient (Ni,Co)(Al,Cr)2O4 spinel formed above α-Al2O3. Following taper-polishing, no new spinel grew during 1–200 h of re-oxidation in any water vapor environment; spinel growth at the TGO surface by a steady state mechanism—owing to Al-depletion of the bond coat, as predicted elsewhere—was deemed unlikely. Observations of transient spinel volatilizing in wet environments were supported by measurements of nickel volatilizing from pre-fabricated NiAl2O4 spinel pellets as a function of humidity. In some cases, following volatilization, water promoted vapor phase-redeposition of spinel onto adjacent specimen surfaces. Spinel-related conclusions from past humid oxidation experiments for which volatilization phenomena were not considered—and especially for which Al-depletion of the bond coat is cited as the cause for spinel growth—should be reevaluated.
Development of silver nanorod array based fiber optic probes for SERS detection

Abstract The development of intrinsic SERS fiber optic sensors, i.e., fiber optical sensors that also serve as SERS active platforms, is challenging in that an easy, robust method that integrates the SERS active platform with fiber optics is still largely missing. There is a trade-off between implementing optimal morphology of SERS active nanostructures for best enhancement effect and preserving optical transparency that allows maximum transmission of the excitation radiation and the detected signals. In the present work, highly sensitive and reproducible silver nanorod arrays (AgNRs) have been integrated to a fiber optic probe for SERS detection. The films underlying the AgNR coating have been tailored to allow maximum light transmission while maintaining optimal SERS activity. The intense spectral background from the probe fiber core is largely eliminated by using a GRIN lens to produce a tight focus of the incident radiation at the AgNR coating. The performance of the AgNR fiber optic probes has been evaluated in a forward scattering optical configuration using BPE and adenine. The low detection limit of BPE and adenine is 10−7 M. Reproducibility and sampling methods are also discussed.
Genetic characterization of mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA)-negative mutants of Vibrio cholerae derived by Tn5 mutagenesis

Abstract El Tor biotype Vibrio cholerae strains express a cell-associated mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA) which is a putative attachment factor. Several MSHA-negative mutants from V. cholerae strain JBK70 were previously generated by Tn5 mutagenesis [Finn et al., Infect. Immun. 55 (1987) 942–946]. The chromosomal DNA regions containing the Tn5 insertions were isolated from eight strains for further analysis. Nucleotide sequencing of the insertional junctions and corresponding clones containing the intact chromosomal region from the parental strain revealed the presence of several contiguous ORFs. Only two ORFs of this region had received insertions, and these showed remarkable homology to genes involved in the general secretory pathway found in several Gram − bacterial species. Proteins corresponding to the observed ORFs were visualized with the T7 promoter/RNA polymerase expression system. Marker exchange mutagenesis was used to insert kanamycin-resistance cassettes and Tn phoA insertions into different locations of this region in the chromosome of wild-type V. cholerae strains. The phenotypes of these mutants showed that this DNA region is involved in MSHA production, but is not required for general extracellular protein secretion.
Transition temperatures in the sensitivity of Escherichia coli B/r to lysozyme.

Abstract Lysozyme attacked Escherichia coli B/r in the absence of EDTA or imposed osmotic shocks when the cells were rapidly cooled below specific temperatures. Cells subjected to lysozyme while being cooled to below 20°C began to lose ability to subsequently form colonies. This sensitivity increased with decreasing temperatures and almost all cells cooled to 0°C were affected. Slightly hypertonic solutions did not improve survival. Cells cooled first to as low as 5°C and then subjected to lysozyme while cool did not lose their ability to form colonies subsequent to rewarming. However, 70% of the cells cooled first to 0°C and subjected to lysozyme lost their colony-forming ability. Cell lysis also began when treated near 5°C, but even when treated at 0°C about 50% of the cells maintained their rod shape in the presence of lysozyme. These results are discussed in terms of a possible phase transition in a portion of the cell envelope and/or a transient osmotic swelling as a results of metabolic pumps failing at the low temperatures.
Investigation of the absorption mechanism of solubilized curcumin using caco-2 cell monolayers

Curcumin is a bioactive compound with poor oral bioavailability. Low water solubility and rapid metabolism are two known limiting factors, but the absorption mechanism of solubilized curcumin remains unclear. This study investigated the permeation mechanism of solubilized curcumin using an in vitro Caco-2 cell monolayer model. It was shown that curcumin permeated across the monolayers fairly rapidly [Papp(A–B) = (7.1 ± 0.7) × 10–6 cm/s] and the permeation mechanism was found as passive diffusion [Papp(B–A)/Papp(A–B) = 1.4]. Furthermore, the permeation rates of curcumin complexed with bovine serum albumin and in the bile salts–fatty acids mixed micelles were also determined as Papp(mixed micelle) > Papp(DMSO) > Papp(protein complex). These results suggested that solubilization agents play an important role in the permeation of solubilized curcumin, and stronger binding between the solubilization agents and curcumin may decrease the permeation rate. The results further suggest that lipid-based formulations,...
What Exactly Is an Endangered Species? An Analysis of the U.S. Endangered Species List: 1985–1991

Critics of the Endangered Species Act have asserted that is protects an inordinate number of subspecies and populations, in addition to full species, and that the scientific rationale for listing decisions is absent or weak. We reviewed all U.S. plants and animals proposed for listing or added to the endangered species list from 1985 through 1991 to determine the relative proportion of species, subspecies, and populations, and their rarity at time of listing. Approximately 80% of the taxa added to the list were full species, 18% were subspecies, and 2% were distinct populations segments of more widespread vertebrate species. The proportion of subspecies and populations was considerably higher among birds and mammals than among other groups. The median populations size at time of listing for vertebrate animals was 1075 individuals; for invertebrate animals it was 999. The median population size of a plant at time of listing was less than 120 individuals. Earlier listing of declining species could significantly improve the likelihood of successful recovery, and it would provide land managers and private citizens with more options for protecting vanishing plants and animals at less social or economic cost. Los criticos del Acta de Especies en Peligro de Extincion han afirmado que, ademas de proteger especies, esta proteje un numero excesivo de subespecies y poblaciones, y que la justification cientifica en el proceso de eleccion de las especies a listar esta ausente o es debil. Hemos revisado todas las plantas y animales de USA que fueron propuestos para listar o adicionados a la lista de especies en peligro de extincion entre 1985 y 1991 a los efectos de determinar la proporcion relativa de especies, subespecies y poblaciones, y su rareza en el momento del listado. Aproximadamente un 80 porciento de los taxones adicionados a la lista fueron especies; 18 porciento fueron subespecies y 2 porciento fueron segmentos poblacionales diferentes de las especies de vertebrados mas comunes. La proporcion de subespecies y poblaciones fue considerablemente mas alta entre pajaros y mamiferos que entre otros grupos. La mediana del tamano poblacional en el momento del listado fue de 1.075 individuos; para animales invertebrados fue de 999. La mediana del tamano poblacional de las plantas en el momento del listado fue menor que 120 individuos. Listados de especies en declinacion anteriores podrian mejorar significativamente la posibilidad de una recuperacion exitosa, y proveeria a los administradores de tierras y ciudadanos privados con mas opciones para proteger plantas y animales en proceso de desaparicion a un costo social o economico menor.
Stabilization of pH gradients formed by Ampholine

Abstract pH gradients formed by Ampholine (pI range 6–8) have been stabilized. Stability with time was achieved through equalization of the anolyte pH with the pH of the most acidic pI of the selected continuous pI range. When the anolyte pH was reduced below this value, the hitherto unavoidable cathodic drift of the pH gradient with time ensued. The pH of the catholyte appears of little if any consequence for the stability or drift of the pH gradient. An increase in the concentration of anolyte and catholyte stabilized pH gradients formed by Ampholine in the same fashion as noted previously with regard to pH gradients formed by buffers.
Escherichia coli RNA polymerase binding sites and transcription initiation sites in the transposon Tn3

Abstract We have identified the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase-binding sites and the transcription initiation sites in the transposon Tn3. Results from nitrocellulose filter-binding assays indicate that there are two regions within Tn 3 capable of forming stable binary complexes with RNA polymerase. The two regions are a 208-bp region containing the N-terminal coding sequence of the transposase ( tnpA ) and repressor ( tnpR ) genes, and a 332-bp region containing the N-terminal coding sequence for the β-lactamase ( bla ) gene. DNase I footprint analysis of the 208-bp and 332-bp fragments further defined an extended region of protection, approx. 110 bp long, located between the transposase and repressor coding regions, and an 80-bp region of protection near the N-terminal coding sequence of the β-lactamase gene. In vitro transcription studies with fragments containing these protected regions allowed us to determine the precise transcription initiation sites for the transposase, repressor, and β-lactamase mRNAs. The transposase and repressor mRNAs are transcribed divergently and their transcription initiation sites are separated by 80 bp. The −35 homology regions for the transposase and repressor promoters are separated by 10 bp and the −10 homology region of the transposase promoter is coincident with the recombination site ( res ) for the site-specific recombinase activity (resolvase) of the repressor protein, which is required for resolution of Tn 3 cointegrates. We discuss the significance of this complex divergently transcribed promoter region with respect to regulation of Tn3 transposition and we propose a model for coordinated regulation of the tnpA and tnpR genes. We also compare the Tn3 tnpA-tnpR intercistronic region with that of the closely related transposon γδ.
Accelerated axon loss in MOG35-55 experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in myelin-associated glycoprotein-deficient (MAGKO) mice

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) expressed by oligodendrocytes promotes the stability of axons but also impedes neural repair by inhibiting axon extension through lesioned white matter. We previously reported exacerbated axon losses in MAGKO as compared to wild type mice, 30days into experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE). Here, we report the time course of axon losses in EAE and show this occurs as early as 7days post-immunization, confirming MAG is protective against immune-mediated axon transection events. MAGKO mice also exhibit increased microglial activation prior to EAE, which is not seen in B4galnt1KO mice that also have axon loss, suggesting that the microglial activation may be a consequence of the loss of MAG inhibitory influence, and not a simple result of axonal degeneration.
Present And Future Rangefinder Technology

Present rangefinder technology status is discussed and future technology trends are presented. Specifically, well established existing technology, using neodymium laser cartridges, advanced integrated electronics and detectors, well established, will satisfy most medium range determination requirements. Implementation of the concept of modular standardized components and subsystems will permit low cost production and integration of rangefinder-functions in many optical systems. Mini-rangefinders for short ranges with low weight-size-cost factors are also technically oossible using integrated laser cavities and concomitantly miniaturized peripheral components. Base technology being actively pursued addresses mainly 2 micron eye-safe rangefinders (medium range class) and 10 micron rangefinders, commensurable with thermal imaging device requirements.
Theoretical basis for the uchida correlation for condensation in reactor containments

Correlations of data presented by Uchida et al. (1965) have been used extensively in the nuclear industry to predict condensation rates inside containment structures, where non-condensable gas effects are important. This work presents a theoretical basis for the form of the Uchida correlation. The good performance of this correlation is found to be an artifact of the method used to perform that and subsequent experiments. In the experiments, the initial inventory of non-condensable gas remained constant as the steam mass fraction was increased, so that the bulk non-condensable gas density remained constant. The theory presented here shows that the Uchida correlation can produce substantial error at other bulk gas densities, raising concern in situations in which non-condensable gas may be sequestered in subvolumes of a containment and for subatmospheric containments.
Model systems for single molecule polymer dynamics

Double stranded DNA (dsDNA) has long served as a model system for single molecule polymer dynamics. However, dsDNA is a semiflexible polymer, and the structural rigidity of the DNA double helix gives rise to local molecular properties and chain dynamics that differ from flexible chains, including synthetic organic polymers. Recently, we developed single stranded DNA (ssDNA) as a new model system for single molecule studies of flexible polymer chains. In this work, we discuss model polymer systems in the context of “ideal” and “real” chain behavior considering thermal blobs, tension blobs, hydrodynamic drag and force–extension relations. In addition, we present monomer aspect ratio as a key parameter describing chain conformation and dynamics, and we derive dynamical scaling relations in terms of this molecular-level parameter. We show that asymmetric Kuhn segments can suppress monomer–monomer interactions, thereby altering global chain dynamics. Finally, we discuss ssDNA in the context of a new model system for single molecule polymer dynamics. Overall, we anticipate that future single polymer studies of flexible chains will reveal new insight into the dynamic behavior of “real” polymers, which will highlight the importance of molecular individualism and the prevalence of non-linear phenomena.
Influenza Viral Manipulation of Sphingolipid Metabolism and Signaling to Modulate Host Defense System

Viruses attempt to create a distinctive cellular environment to favor viral replication and spread. Recent studies uncovered new functions of the sphingolipid signaling/metabolism during pathogenic virus infections. While sphingolipids such as sphingomyelin and ceramide were reported to influence the entry step of several viruses, sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes could directly alter viral replication processes. Influenza virus was shown to increase the level of sphingosine kinase (SK) 1 to promote virus propagation. The mechanism involves regulation of intracellular signaling pathways, leading to the amplification of influenza viral RNA synthesis and nuclear export of viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. However, bovine viral diarrhea virus inhibits SK1 to enhance the efficacy of virus replication, demonstrating the presence of virus-specific strategies for modulation of the sphingolipid system. Therefore, investigating the sphingolipid metabolism and signaling in the context of virus replication could help us design innovative therapeutic approaches to improve human health.
DISSIMILARITY ANALYSES OF LATE-QUATERNARY VEGETATION AND CLIMATE IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Plant formations different from any extant today apparently were widespread in North America and Europe during the last deglaciation, produced by the independent biogeographic responses of plant taxa to climate change. Dissimilarity analyses of modern and fossil pollen samples in eastern North America show that the unique plant associations centered around the Great Lakes at 14 000 calendar years before present (yr BP), with high dissimilarities during 17 000–12 000 yr BP. The late-glacial fossil pollen assemblages are characterized by (1) high abundances of boreal conifers such as spruce and larch relative to their Holocene values, (2) high abundances of herbaceous types (sedge, sage, and ragweed), (3) high abundances of broad-leaved deciduous types (ash, hornbeam, poplar, hazel, and willow), and (4) the low abundance or absence of pine, alder, and birch. When the fossil pollen samples are assigned to biomes using the affinity score technique, the late Pleistocene pollen samples are assigned to mixed parkland, a biome that is not extant in North America today. The fastest vegetational changes occurred 13 000–11 000 yr BP, when the late Pleistocene vegetation reorganized into the Holocene biomes, which have persisted to today. Simulations by the Community Climate Model, version 1 (CCM1), suggest that late-glacial climates were also unlike modern climates, featuring a “hypercontinental” mixture of colder-than-present winters, warmer-than-present summers, and lower-than-present precipitation. Dissimilarity analyses of the pollen data and CCM1 simulations for 21 000, 16 000, 14 000, 11 000, and 6000 yr BP show that (1) the temporal and spatial distribution of high dissimilarities in the vegetation (relative to present) coincide with dissimilarities in simulated climate, (2) the timing and spatial distribution of changes in the vegetation and simulated climate also agree, and (3) the largest climatic and vegetational changes follow the peak period of dissimilarity from present. Taken together, these three lines of evidence support the hypothesis that the no-analogue plant associations were in equilibrium with orbital- and millennial-scale climate change. Nonclimatic factors such as low atmospheric CO2 concentrations and the presence of now-extinct megafauna species may have increased the openness of the Pleistocene vegetation, but by themselves cannot explain the observed mixture of boreal, temperate, and herbaceous taxa in the no-analogue pollen assemblages, nor can they explain the prevalence of no-analogue pollen samples during the late glacial period.
Nonlinear flight control system with neural networks

In this study an adaptive critic based neural network controller is developed to obtain near optimal control1 laws for a nonlinear automatic flight control system. The adaptive critic approach consists of two neural networks. The first network, called the critic, captures the mapping between the states of a dynamical system and the co-states that arise in an optimal control problem. The second network, called the action network, maps the states of a system to the control. This study uses nonlinear aircraft models in the stall regions from a paper (Garrad and Jordan2^ to develop optimal neural controllers for an aircraft; we then compare the results with singular perturbation based nonlinear controllers developed in the literature. The results show that with the neural controllers the aircraft can operate in a broader region of angles of attack beyond stall as compared to other linear and nonlinear controllers.
Project intrex: A general review

Abstract A comprehensive review of the experimental information storage and retrieval system developed by Project Intrex is presented, together with a description of major results and conclusions that were derived through use of the system. Salient features of the Intrex system included an augmented catalog stored in an online interactive computer in combination with full-text storage on microfiche. Guaranteed access to full text at remote locations was provided through use of an automatic fiche storage and retrieval system that was computer-controlled. Discussed in the paper are the details of the catalog structure, user experiments, economic studies and information-system networking.
The incongruent effusion of ZnGa8S13(s)

Abstract The chemistry and thermodynamics of vaporization in a Knudsen effusion cell of the phase ZnGa8S13 was studied in the range 1115–1246 K where the vapor pressure ranged from 0.25 to 10.0 Pa. Samples prepared by sealed-tube methods and characterized by X-ray diffraction were studied by the simultaneous Knudsen and torsion (Volmer) effusion method. ZnGa8S13(s) effused incongruently in equilibrium with a saturated solid solution (sss) of ZnS in Ga2S3, Ga2S(g), Zn(g), and S2(g), always on the ZnSGa2S3 join. Ga2S3(sss) then effused with net loss of ZnS to the vapor until the composition of Ga2S3 was reached. Vapor analysis by combining measured rates of mass loss and momentum loss allowed analysis of the vapor and calculation of equilibrium constants of the effusion equations. Thermodynamic treatment by the third-law method yielded the ΔH° (298 K) of ZnGa8S13(s) with respect to those of ZnS(s) and 4Ga2S3(s), − 52 ± 22 kJ mol − 1.
The ultramicrodetermination of glycogen in liver. A comparison of the anthrone and reducing-sugar methods

Summary 1. Procedures are described for determining glycogen in liver samples sufficiently small that a biopsy specimen may also provide material for other analyses. 2. Conditions for the colorimetric determination with anthrone reagent were modified to be applicable to quantities as low as 1 μg. (as glucose). 3. The microgram reducing-sugar method using ferricyanide oxidation and ceric sulfate titration was simplified and compared with the anthrone method. 4. Evidence is presented to show that glycogen does not vary greatly from site to site within one lobe of liver.
Transformation from head-to shoulder-centered representation of target direction in arm movements

In a previous study (Soechting and Flanders 1990a) we suggested that subjects used a coordinate system centered at the shoulder while pointing to targets in extrapersonal space. In particular, we suggested that this coordinate system was used to define target location in terms of its distance and the direction from the shoulder. In this paper we examine this suggestion in more detail. We show that when subjects make errors in the distance of a pointing movement, the computed errors in direction will depend on the origin of the coordinate system chosen to measure direction. From an analysis of the computed error, we estimate the origin of each subject's coordinate system. We artificially induced large errors in pointing distance by asking subjects to point half-way to a target on a line from the shoulder or from the head, that is, in directions from two possible centers. The subjects' performance on both these tasks was comparable to the performance of subjects asked to point directly to the target. From this finding we argue that there exists both a head-centered and a shoulder-centered representation of target location within the central nervous system.
Cochannel speaker identification in anechoic and reverberant conditions

Speaker identification (SID) in cochannel speech, where two speakers are talking simultaneously over a single recording channel, is a challenging problem. Previous studies address this problem in the anechoic environment under the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) framework. On the other hand, cochannel SID in reverberant conditions has not been addressed. This paper studies cochannel SID in both anechoic and reverberant conditions. We first investigate GMM-based approaches and propose a combined system that integrates two cochannel SID methods. Second, we explore deep neural networks (DNNs) for cochannel SID and propose a DNN-based recognition system. Evaluation results demonstrate that our proposed systems significantly improve SID performance over recent approaches in both anechoic and reverberant conditions and various target-to-interferer ratios.
Respiratory Gas Transport Characteristics of Blood and Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is needed to supply the tissues with oxygen and to facilitate carbon dioxide transport in exchange; in addition, it acts as an important buffer in the extracellular compartment. Close interaction exists between oxygen and carbon dioxide binding and the buffering capacity. In this chapter, age-dependent differences and their physiological relevance will be discussed. Also, some clinical data will be used to put physiological data in perspective with perinatology. Chapters 6 and 11 provide supplemental information.
Algorithms for routing in a linear lightwave network

Routing algorithms are proposed for setting up calls on a circuit-switched basis in linear lightwave networks (LLN), i.e., networks composed only of linear components, including controllable power combiners and dividers, and possibly linear (non-regenerative) optical amplifiers. The overall problem is decomposed into three subproblems: (1) physical path allocation, (2) checking for violations of the special optical constraints on the allocated physical path, and (3) channel assignment. Only point to point connections are considered. The physical path allocation technique uses the K-shortest path algorithm and tries to minimize the number of sources potentially interfering with each other, as a result of the incoming call. A channel assignment heuristic that tends to spread out calls evenly among the available channels works better than one that tries to maximize channel reuse. >