cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activity and Durability of Iridium Nanoparticles in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Unsupported iridium (Ir) nanoparticles, a benchmark catalyst in acidic electrolyzers, are investigated for oxygen evolution activity in rotating disk electrode (RDE) half-cells. Mercury underpotential deposition, used to evaluate the electrochemical surface areas (ECAs) of Ir, produces similar values prior to and following oxygen evolution testing and irreversible surface oxidation; stable ECA measurements allow for the study of site-specific activities prior to and following accelerated stress tests. Durability testing results in increasing activity losses due to particle growth at moderate potential and Ir dissolution at higher potential. Although the prolonged formation of oxygen bubbles may destabilize the catalyst layer, accelerated stress tests in hydrogen peroxide and formic acid confirm that the losses are primarily potential dependent. This study establishes RDE testing protocols for Ir in oxygen evolution. The observed durability losses have significant implications on acidic electrolyzers, particularly at low Ir loadings.
Mammalian deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerases. I. Purification and properties of an -amanitin-sensitive ribonucleic acid polymerase and stimulatory factors from HeLa and KB cells.

Abstract A procedure is described for the purification of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II of the human tissue culture cell lines HeLa and KB. The enzyme has a molecular weight of approximately 500,000 and in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels invariably shows 3 subunits with molecular weights of 220,000, 140,000, and 35,000. In addition there perhaps is a fourth subunit of about 25,000 daltons or less in mass and a subunit of 170,000 daltons occurring in variable amounts. RNA polymerase II has a strong preference for single-stranded over double-stranded DNA as template and is most active in the presence of 1.5 to 3 mm Mn++ as divalent cation. We also describe the partial purification of two stimulatory factors (SF-A and SF-B) which specifically stimulate the activity of RNA polymerase II in the presence of double-stranded DNA as template.
Mechanisms of Cytochrome P450‐Mediated Reactions

Cytochrome P450 (P450) oxidations are the most common reactions involved in the metabolism of drugs. P450 oxidations consist of two phases, oxygen activation and substrate oxidation. The latter phase has a general inherent chemistry. However, owing to rearrangements during and after oxidation, the reactions catalyze diverse processes including carbon hydroxylation, heteroatom oxygenation and dealkylation, epoxidation, and a variety of other transformations. The course of reactions is considered not to be due to inherent chemistry associated with individual P450s but due to the juxtaposition of substrates within active sites. Keywords: cytochrome P450; electron transfer; oxygen activation; carbon hydroxylation; rearrangements
Chickpea variety and phenology affect acquisition of Pea enation mosaic virus, subsequent plant injury and aphid vector performance

Acquisition of Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) by chickpea (Cicer arietinum) when fed on by viruliferous pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) was tested for combinations of two chickpea varieties (‘Bronic’, a kabuli type and ‘Sierra’, a desi type) and three plant ages (14, 28 and 42 days after germination). It was determined whether inoculation with PEMV influenced plant growth and yield components, and the effect of variety × age combinations on the survival and fecundity of aphid vectors was evaluated. Three important findings emerged: (a) Acquisition of PEMV by chickpea depended on plant age. When inoculated at 14 or 28 days, most plants tested positive for PEMV at harvest, while rates of virus acquisition were reduced for 42 day-old plants. (b) Plant age at inoculation affected growth and yield parameters, and this effect differed between chickpea varieties. For both varieties, PEMV infection reduced plant height and biomass at harvest when plants were inoculated at 14 days. Only ‘Sierra’ exhibited significant reductions in plant height and biomass when inoculated at 28 days. Seed set was severely diminished for both varieties when plants were inoculated at 14 and 28 days after germination, but mature plants were not damaged in terms of growth or seed set. (c) The performance of pea aphid was influenced by both chickpea age and variety, with higher fecundities and longer lifespan when colonising 42 day-old plants as compared with younger plants, and better performance overall on ‘Sierra’. This study reveals that chickpea can acquire PEMV at all ages tested, but the most damaging effects for growth and yield parameters occur when plants are inoculated at early phenological stages. Chickpea is a poor host for A. pisum in general, but plants can support vector populations long enough for PEMV transmission and subsequent yield reduction to occur.
Subnuclear localization of the trans-activating protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type I.

Abstract Human T-cell leukemia virus type I is associated with human lymphoid malignancies. The p40xI protein encoded by the x gene of this virus is believed to play some role in virally mediated transformation. This gene is known to encode a transcriptional trans activator which previous studies have shown to be a nuclear protein. Further characterization of the intracellular kinetics of this protein showed that it migrated into the nucleus very soon after synthesis. Within the nucleus, p40xI was distributed almost equally between the nucleoplasm and the nuclear matrix. Given the proposed role of the nuclear matrix in RNA transcription, the association of p40xI with the matrix places it in an appropriate cellular compartment to exercise an effect on transcription.
Darkness’s Descent on the American Anthropological Association

In September 2000, the self-styled “anthropological journalist” Patrick Tierney began to make public his work claiming that the Yanomamo people of South America had been actively—indeed brutally—harmed by the sociobiological anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon and the geneticist-physician James Neel. Following a florid summary of Tierney’s claims by the anthropologists Terence Turner and Leslie Sponsel, the American Anthropological Association (AAA) saw fit to take Tierney’s claims seriously by conducting a major investigation into the matter. This paper focuses on the AAA’s problematic actions in this case but also provides previously unpublished information on Tierney’s falsehoods. The work presented is based on a year of research by a historian of medicine and science. The author intends the work to function as a cautionary tale to scholarly associations, which have the challenging duty of protecting scholarship and scholars from baseless and sensationalistic charges in the era of the Internet and twenty-four-hour news cycles.
Exponential Growth and Decay

The exponential function is one of the most important and widely occurring functions in physics and biology. We start with a gentle introduction to exponential growth and decay and show how to analyze exponential data using semilog and log-log plots. More advanced topics include variable rates, clearance, and multiple decay paths. A model for many processes is the combination of input at a fixed rate accompanied by exponential decay. The limits of exponential growth are explored using the logistic equation. The chapter closes with a description of power-law relationships and scaling, including Kleiber’s law relating the metabolic rate to body mass.
The Law Enforcement Surveillance Reporting Gap

Third party facilitated surveillance has become a routine tool for law enforcement agencies. There are likely hundreds of thousands of such requests per year. Unfortunately there are few detailed statistics documenting the use of many modern surveillance methods. As such, the true scale of law enforcement surveillance, although widespread, remains largely shielded from public view.Prior to the widespread adoption of the Internet and mobile phones, law enforcement agencies’ use of third party facilitated electronic surveillance was largely limited to real-time interception of communications content ("wiretapping") and non-content data (through the use of "pen register" and "trap and trace" orders). In order to increase its ability to perform effective oversight, Congress mandated that annual reports be created documenting the use of these surveillance powers. These reports are intended to enable policy makers as well as the general public to determine the extent to which such surveillance methods are used, and in the words of Senator Patrick Leahy, provide a "far more reliable basis than anecdotal evidence on which to assess law enforcement needs and make sensible policy in this area."The existing surveillance statistics might be sufficient if law enforcement agencies’ surveillance activities were limited to wiretaps and pen registers. However, over the last decade, law enforcement agencies have enthusiastically embraced many new sources of investigative and surveillance data for which there are no mandatory reporting requirements. As a result, most modern surveillance now takes place entirely off the books and the true scale of such activities, which vastly outnumber traditional wiretaps and pen registers, remains unknown. In this article, I examine the existing electronic surveillance reporting requirements and the reports that have been created as a result. Some of these have been released to public, but many have only come to light as a result of Freedom of Information Act requests or leaks by government insiders. I also also examine several law enforcement surveillance methods for which there are no existing legally mandated surveillance reports. Finally, I propose specific legislative reporting requirements in order to enable some reasonable degree of oversight and transparency over all forms of law enforcement electronic surveillance.
Evaluation of 20 Workload Measures Using a Psychomotor Task in a Moving-Base Aircraft Simulator:

The sensitivity and intrusion of 20 pilot workload assessment techniques were compared using a psychomotor loading task in a three degree-of-freedom moving-base aircraft simulator. The primary task was an instrument landing system approach and landing, with measures taken between the outer and middle markers. Three levels of psychomotor load were obtained by combined manipulation of random wind-gust disturbance level and pitch stability. Two rating scale measures and one control movement measure demonstrated sensitivity to all levels of load. Additionally, one time estimation measure and one pulse rate measure demonstrated sensitivity to some levels of load. No intrusion was found. The results of this experiment indicate that the sensitivities of workload estimation techniques vary widely, and that only a few techniques appear sensitive to psychomotor load.
Carbon-saturated monosulfide melting in the shallow mantle: solubility and effect on solidus

We present high-pressure experiments from 0.8 to 7.95 GPa to determine the effect of carbon on the solidus of mantle monosulfide. The graphite-saturated solidus of monosulfide (Fe0.69Ni0.23Cu0.01S1.00) is described by a Simon and Glatzel (Z Anorg Allg Chem 178:309–316, 1929) equation T (°C) = 969.0[P (GPa)/5.92 + 1]0.39 (1 ≤ P ≤ 8) and is ~80 ± 25 °C below the melting temperature found for carbon-free conditions. A series of comparison experiments using different capsule configurations and preparations document that the observed solidus-lowering is owing to graphite saturation and not an artifact of different capsules or hydrogen contamination. Concentrations of carbon in quenched graphite-saturated monosulfide melt measured by electron microprobe are 0.1–0.3 wt% in monosulfide melt and below the detection limit (<0.2 wt%) in crystalline monosulfide solid solution. Although there is only a small amount of carbon dissolved in monosulfide melts, the substantial effect on monosulfide solidus temperature means that the carbon-saturated monosulfide (Fe0.69Ni0.23Cu0.01S1.00) solidus intersects continental mantle geotherms inferred from diamond inclusion geobarometry at 6–7 GPa (~200 km), whereas carbon-free monosulfide (Fe0.69Ni0.23Cu0.01S1.00) solidus does not. The composition investigated (Fe0.69Ni0.23Cu0.01S1.00) has a comparatively low metal/sulfur (M/S) ratio and low Ni/(Fe + Ni), but sulfides with higher (M/S) and with greater Ni/(Fe + Ni) should melt at lower temperatures and these should have a broader melt stability field in the diamond formation environment and in the continental lithosphere. Low carbon solubility in monosulfide melt excludes the possibility that diamonds are crystallized from sulfide melt. Although monosulfide melt can store no more than 2 ppm C in a bulk mantle with 225 ppm S, melts with higher M/S could be a primary host of carbon in the deeper part of the upper mantle. For example, the storage capacity of C in sulfide melts in the deep upper mantle (~400 km) for a depleted mantle domain (MORB source, 120 ± 30 ppm S) is estimated to be $$57 \pm_{30}^{63}$$ ppm, and so all the C could be in a sulfide melt. In an enriched (OIB source, 225 ± 25 ppm S) mantle domain, the C stored in sulfide melt in the deep upper mantle is estimated to be $$86 \pm_{44}^{92}$$ ppm, which would amount to about half the available carbon.
Purification of the 110-kilodalton glycoprotein receptor for mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-A59 from mouse liver and identification of a nonfunctional, homologous protein in MHV-resistant SJL/J mice.

Abstract The receptor for mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59) is a 110- to 120-kilodalton (kDa) glycoprotein which is expressed in MHV-susceptible mouse strains on the membranes of hepatocytes, intestinal epithelial cells, and macrophages. SJL/J mice, which are highly resistant to MHV-A59, were previously shown to lack detectable levels of receptor by using either solid-phase virus receptor assays or binding of a monoclonal anti-receptor antibody (MAb) which blocks infection of MHV-susceptible mouse cells. This MAb was used for affinity purification of the receptor glycoprotein from livers of MHV-susceptible Swiss Webster mice. The MHV receptor and an antigenically related protein of 48 to 58 kDa were copurified and then separated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The first 15 amino acids of the receptor were sequenced, and a synthetic peptide of this amino acid sequence was prepared. Rabbit antiserum made against this peptide bound to the MHV receptor glycoprotein and the 48- to 58-kDa protein from livers of MHV-susceptible BALB/c mice and Swiss Webster mice and from the intestinal brush border of BALB/c mice. In immunoblots of intestinal brush border and hepatocyte membranes of MHV-resistant SJL/J mice, the antibody against the amino terminus of the receptor identified proteins that are 5 to 10 kDa smaller than the MHV receptor and the 48- to 58-kDa related protein from Swiss Webster or BALB/c mice. Thus, SJL/J mice express a protein which shares some sequence homology with the MHV receptor but which lacks virus-binding activity and is not recognized by the blocking anti-receptor MAb. These results suggest that resistance of SJL/J mice to MHV-A59 may be due to absence or mutation of the virus-binding domain in the nonfunctional receptor homolog in SJL/J mice.
Spatiotemporal Model Reduction of Inverter-Based Islanded Microgrids

Computationally efficient and scalable models that describe droop-controlled inverter dynamics are key to modeling, analysis, and control in islanded microgrids. Typical models developed from first principles in this domain describe detailed dynamics of the power electronics inverters, as well as the network interactions. Consequently, these models are very involved; they offer limited analytical insights and are computationally expensive when applied to investigate the dynamics of large microgrids with many inverters. This calls for the development of reduced-order models that capture the relevant dynamics of higher order models with a lower dimensional state space while not compromising modeling fidelity. To this end, this paper proposes model-reduction methods based on singular perturbation and Kron reduction to reduce large-signal dynamic models of inverter-based islanded microgrids in temporal and spatial aspects, respectively. The reduced-order models are tested in a modified IEEE 37-bus system and verified to accurately describe the original dynamics with lower computational burden. In addition, we demonstrate that Kron reduction isolates the mutual inverter interactions and the equivalent loads that the inverters have to support in the microgrid - this aspect is leveraged in the systematic selection of droop coefficients to minimize power losses and voltage deviations.
A study of the fatigue properties of small diameter wires used in intramuscular electrodes

Single and multi-strand stainless steel and cobalt-nickel alloy wires, with strand diameters from 26 to 46 microns, were fatigue tested using a modified rotating bending test to determine what factors are most important in controlling fatigue life. The relation between cyclic strain and cyclic life was determined for each material by cyclically straining test specimens at various strain ranges and recording the number of cycles to failure. The results show that (a) the fatigue curves of the 316LVM, MP35N, DBS, and Syntacoben wires are very similar and have many of the same fatigue characteristics of specimens of large cross section. (b) Multi-stranded wires have the same average fatigue life as their individual constituent strands, but the variance of that life is smaller. (c) Deformities in the wire, which are created during the manufacturing, appear to have the effect of shortening the fatigue life of these small section wires. (d) Observation of wire fracture surfaces show a relatively small crack propagation zone and a large fast fracture zone suggesting that most of the fatigue life of these small wires is in the original crack formation, which creates a large stress concentration and quickly leads to wire failure. (e) The size of the wire cross sectional area is of secondary importance compared to the amplitude of the maximum cyclic strain of the individual strands in determining fatigue life of the cable. To maximize the fatigue life of electrodes in vivo, the highest fatigue life for a given bending radius of curvature is desired. This suggests wire strands should be manufactured at the smallest diameter possible (without introducing structural flaws) to maximize service life.
Molecular Phylogeny and Proposed Classification of the Simian Picornaviruses

The simian picornaviruses were isolated from various primate tissues during the development of general tissue culture methods in the 1950s to 1970s or from specimens derived from primates used in biomedical research. Twenty simian picornavirus serotypes are recognized, and all are presently classified within the Enterovirus genus. To determine the phylogenetic relationships among all of the simian picornaviruses and to evaluate their classification, we have determined complete VP1 sequences for 19 of the 20 serotypes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A13, SV19, SV26, SV35, SV43, and SV46 are members of human enterovirus species A, a group that contains enterovirus 71 and 11 of the coxsackie A viruses. SA5 is a member of human enterovirus species B, which contains the echoviruses, coxsackie B viruses, coxsackievirus A9, and enterovirus 69. SV6, N125, and N203 are related to one another and, more distantly, to species A human enteroviruses, but could not be definitely assigned to a species. SV4 and SV28 are closely related to one another and to A-2 plaque virus, but distinct from other enteroviruses, suggesting that these simian viruses are members of a new enterovirus species. SV2, SV16, SV18, SV42, SV44, SV45, and SV49 are related to one another but distinct from viruses in all other picornavirus genera, suggesting that they may comprise a previously unknown genus in Picornaviridae. Several simian virus VP1 sequences (N125 and N203; SV4 and SV28; SV19, SV26, and SV35; SV18 and SV44; SV16, SV42, and SV45) are greater than 75% identical to one another (and/or greater than 85% amino acid identity), suggesting that the true number of distinct serotypes among the viruses surveyed is less than 20.
The treatment of premenstrual syndrome--forward into the past.

In 1847, Dr. Ernst F. von Feuchtersleben wrote that “The menses in sensitive women is almost always attended by mental uneasiness, irritability, and sadness.”1 Over the past 100 years, this identif...
A single-arm phase II trial of pazopanib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with non-squamous histology with disease progression on bevacizumab containing therapy

Objectives Platinum-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab is a standard therapy for patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with non-squamous (NS) histology. Mechanisms of resistance to bevacizumab include increased VEGF signaling or activation of VEGF receptors. Pazopanib is a multi-targeted VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase with single agent activity in NSCLC.
Toward a Cognitive Radio Architecture: Integrating Knowledge Representation with Software Defined Radio Technologies

The ultimate vision of cognitive radio technology encompasses many capabilities including autonomous execution of tasks that today require manual intervention. A conventional radio when operating in a particular communications mode always follows the same procedure and either succeeds or fails at a given task. A cognitive radio, by contrast, can have a knowledge-driven differential-response capability; that is, it can use knowledge of radio technology and policy, representations of the goals, and other contextual parameters to reason about a failed attempt to satisfy a goal and to identify alternative actions that would achieve the goal. We have built a prototype simulation framework for a cognitive radio that exhibits this capability in various scenarios. Based upon this experience, this paper proposes a general architecture that merges knowledge representation technologies (both ontologies and rules) with the processing structures of existing software defined radio technology to enable this capability as well as form a foundation for other cognitive abilities.
Disparity between whites and african-americans in knowledge and treatment of cholesterol

Abstract PURPOSE: Elevated cholesterol is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease and studies have demonstrated a decrease in myocardial infarctions and strokes in those treated with cholesterol-lowering medications. A statewide survey was conducted to determine knowledge and treatment of cholesterol in South Carolina residents. METHODS: In 1998, a random digit telephone survey was conducted of 1200 adults in South Carolina, including 28.2% African Americans (AA), using a 46-item instrument developed to quantify awareness, knowledge and treatment of cholesterol. RESULTS: Nearly 90% of both AA and Whites (W) believe high cholesterol levels can cause a “heart attack.” However, more AA (90.2%) than W (82.8%) believe that high cholesterol levels cause a “stroke” (p = 0.005). Though not statistically significant, 19.5% of W compared to 23.4% of AA reported not ever having their cholesterol checked (p = 0.066). Of those who had their cholesterol checked, less than half (47%) knew their most recent cholesterol or knew a “good” cholesterol level for an adult (41%). Fewer AA could recall their cholesterol level (p = 0.011), or knew a “good” cholesterol level for an adult (p CONCLUSIONS: The results of this population assessment suggest less knowledge about cholesterol among AA and racial disparity with regard to treatment with medications of elevated cholesterol levels.
THE ECONOMICS OF NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT

Abstract There is significant potential for natural gas to meet a growing share of developing countries' energy demands. The constraints to rapid gas development are not related to supply potential or cost but rather to the country-specific problem of evolving a gas-investment framework, in which producer and consumer prices play a central role, that is conducive to rapid and matched growth of gas supply and demand. The paper considers three linked questions. First, what gas-utilization patterns can be expected in developing countries and how will they differ from those in developed countries? Second, what principles should determine the price of gas for local use and how can they be applied in practice? Third, how can exploration agreements provide incentives for investors to explore in gas-prone areas? These questions are explored drawing on World Bank experience in lending for gas projects in developing countries.
Extracranial-intracranial bypass for Takayasu's arteritis: A case report☆

Abstract Objective Takayasu’s arteritis is a rare disease that often affects the great vessels at the origin as they branch from the aortic arch. There are numerous case series and case reports in the cardiothoracic literature describing carotid bypass to reestablish blood flow past the areas of stenosis. We present a rare case of thrombus forming in the distal ICA and occluding intracranial vessels, thus necessitating neurosurgical evaluation and intervention. Methods This is a case report of a 21-year-old right-handed female who presented with right-sided hemiplegia, facial weakness, and language impairment. Radiological imaging showed occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) and bilateral distal carotids. MR angiogram of the head and neck confirmed the above findings and also showed high-grade stenosis of the right vertebral artery at its origin. An EC–IC bypass was necessary to maintain perfusion to the left side of her cortex and to prevent further neurological deficits. Results At the 9 month follow-up, her overall neurological exam has improved from complete paralysis on the right side to more than antigravity in her motor strength assessment. The follow-up imaging showed that the bypass remained patent while the ICA remained occluded. Conclusion STA–MCA bypass to enhance cerebral blood flow in the setting of stroke symptoms due to Takayasu’s arteritis can serve as a bridge before definitive cardiothoracic treatment of the great vessels.
A single class II myosin modulates T cell motility and stopping, but not synapse formation

Upon encountering an antigen, motile T cells stop crawling, change morphology and ultimately form an 'immunological synapse'. Although myosin motors are thought to mediate various aspects of this process, the molecules involved and their exact roles are not defined. Here we show that nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA, or MyH9, is the only class II myosin expressed in T cells and is associated with the uropod during crawling. MyH9 function is required for maintenance of the uropod and for T cell motility but is dispensable for synapse formation. Phosphorylation of MyH9 in its multimerization domain by T cell receptor–generated signals indicates that inactivation of this motor may be a key step in the 'stop' response during antigen recognition.
Regulatory BC1 RNA and the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein: Convergent Functionality in Brain

Background: BC RNAs and the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) are translational repressors that have been implicated in the control of local protein synthesis at the synapse. Work with BC1 and Fmr1 animal models has revealed that phenotypical consequences resulting from the absence of either BC1 RNA or FMRP are remarkably similar. To establish functional interactions between BC1 RNA and FMRP is important for our understanding of how local protein synthesis regulates neuronal excitability. Methodology/Principal Findings: We generated BC12/2 Fmr12/2 double knockout (dKO) mice. We examined such animals, lacking both BC1 RNA and FMRP, in comparison with single knockout (sKO) animals lacking either one repressor. Analysis of neural phenotypical output revealed that at least three attributes of brain functionality are subject to control by both BC1 RNA and FMRP: neuronal network excitability, epileptogenesis, and place learning. The severity of CA3 pyramidal cell hyperexcitability was significantly higher in BC12/2 Fmr12/2 dKO preparations than in the respective sKO preparations, as was seizure susceptibility of BC12/2 Fmr12/2 dKO animals in response to auditory stimulation. In place learning, BC12/2 Fmr12/2 dKO animals were severely impaired, in contrast to BC12/2 or Fmr12/2 sKO animals which exhibited only mild deficits. Conclusions/Significance: Our data indicate that BC1 RNA and FMRP operate in sequential-independent fashion. They suggest that the molecular interplay between two translational repressors directly impacts brain functionality.
Determination of phonation instability pressure and phonation pressure range in excised larynges.

Purpose The present study was a methodological study designed to reveal the dynamic mechanisms of phonation instability pressure (PIP) using bifurcation analysis. Phonation pressure range (PPR) was...
Accountability Policy Implementation and the Case of Smaller School District Capacity: Three Contrasting Cases that Examine the Flow and Use of NCLB Accountability Data

The No Child Left Behind Act increases pressure on schools and districts to use standardized state test data. Seeking to learn about the process of turning accountability data into actionable information, this paper presents findings from three case studies of small to medium sized school districts. The study examines the flow of state science test data through the district central offices to schools and teachers, revealing how the data is used and how districts are adapting to increased pressures for data use. The findings show the importance of district central office capacity and the degree of centralization of curriculum management.
Sooting behaviors of n-butanol and n-dodecane blends

Abstract This work focuses on understanding the formation and oxidation of soot when adding n -butanol, an oxygenated fuel, to n -dodecane. A two-stage burner was used to characterize the oxidation of soot from different n -butanol blends, 10%, 30%, and 60 mol% in n -dodecane. The two-stage burner isolates the soot oxidation process from the formation process. Soot is formed in a first-stage premixed burner under fuel-rich conditions, while in a second stage, the soot is oxidized under slightly fuel-rich conditions. A scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) was used to measure the soot particle size distributions in the flame at different heights during oxidation. Results showed a decrease in particle mass concentration (g/cm 3 ) as the fraction of n -butanol increased, which indicates the capability of n -butanol to reduce soot particle number and mass. On the other hand, the results demonstrated that the increasing n -butanol reduces the difference between initial mass of soot particles entering and the final mass of soot particles leaving the second burner. This result implies that increasing the n -butanol concentration decreases the rate of soot oxidation. Two different fuel quality indicators are used to quantify our observations. The first one, “sooting tendency”, is calculated to show how the amount of soot formed in the flame is affected by using different n -butanol percentages. The second one, “sooting stability”, is defined for quantifying the stability of soot particles against oxidation. The results demonstrated that by increasing the n -butanol percentage, soot formation was suppressed. However, sooting stability increased with higher concentrations of n -butanol. The soot nanostructure was quantified by high-resolution electron microscopy and digital image processing. Image analysis revealed layer arrangement is in correlation with sooting stability. The results of interlayer spacing showed a decrease by increasing n -butanol at the same sampling height.
Role of the N terminus in DNA recognition by the v-erb A protein, an oncogenic derivative of a thyroid hormone receptor.

The v-erb A oncogene is a mutated derivative of a normal cellular locus (c-erb A alpha) encoding a thyroid hormone receptor. Although both the v-erb A protein and thyroid hormone receptor bind to DNA, the DNA sequence specificity of the viral oncoprotein is altered from that of the normal cellular receptor. Intriguingly, amino acid differences in both the zinc-finger domain and in a less-characterized N-terminal region of the v- and c-erb A polypeptides are jointly responsible for these differences in DNA specificity. We demonstrate here that this newly recognized N-terminal determinant of DNA specificity appears to function by restricting the DNA sequence repertoire manifested by the zinc-finger domain itself. The unique presence of a tyrosine in the N terminus of the thyroid hormone receptor acts to abrogate this restriction, thereby permitting this receptor to utilize response elements containing nonconsensus half-sites. The ability of the N terminus to modulate the DNA recognition properties of nuclea...
Energy Harvesting for Electronics with Thermoelectric Devices using Nanoscale Materials

Significant developments have occurred in the last few years in the area of nanoscale thermoelectric materials using superlattices and self-assembled quantum-dots. Thin-film thermoelectric (TE) devices employing these materials have been developed for many applications including energy harvesting. Thin-film TE devices, for a 1 mm3 of converter volume, are available that can produce well over 775 muW/mm3 with an external DeltaT of 9 K. Such modules can be packaged within conventional chip packages, unobtrusively, and provide valuable DC electric power in the range of 100 mW without the need for any DC-DC conversion using heat produced by ~10 to 20 Watt chips. Even larger power levels are harvestable in high power electronics such as IGBTs. It appears that the advanced TE modules can provide sufficient power, over the background requirements, to directly power electronics with temperature differentials as little as 1degC. Near-term candidate applications are in bio-implants, sensors, robotics and energy-limited electronics in thermally active environments. Miniature thermoelectric power harvesters can be integrated with other energy harvesting technologies such as photovoltaics and vibration energy harvesters to provide universal energy harvesting for autonomous systems.
Dental defects in hamsters infected with minute virus of mice.

Abstract Cementomas and odontomas were found in the jaws of 18-month-old hamsters which had been infected with minute virus of mice (MVM) at 5 days of age.
Role of MR spectroscopy in musculoskeletal imaging

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an imaging approach that allows for the noninvasive molecular characterization of a region of interest. By detecting signals of water, lipids, and other metabolites, MRS can provide metabolic information for lesion characterization and assessment of treatment response. Although MRS has been routinely used in the brain, clinical applications within the musculoskeletal system have only more recently emerged. The aim of this article is to review the technical considerations for performing MRS in the musculoskeletal system, focusing on proton MRS, and to discuss its potential roles in musculoskeletal tumor imaging and the assessment of muscle physiology and disease.
Cholinergic synaptic potentials in the supragranular layers of auditory cortex.

Receptive-field plasticity within the auditory neocortex is associated with learning, memory, and acetylcholine (ACh). However, the interplay of elements involved in changing receptive-fields remains unclear. Herein, we describe a depolariz- ing and a hyperpolarizing potential elicited by repetitive stimulation (20 -100 Hz, 0.5-2 sec) and dependent on ACh, which may be involved in modifying receptive-fields. These potentials were recorded, using whole cell techniques, in layer II/III pyramidal cells in the rat auditory cortex in vitro. Stimulation at low stimulus intensities can give rise to a hyperpolarizing response and stimulation at higher stimulus intensities can elicit a depolarizing response. The depolarizing response had a reversal potential of 235 mV, and was reduced by the combination of AMPA/kainate and NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists (AMPA/kainate: CNQX, DNQX, and GYKI 52466; NMDA: APV, MK-801) and by the muscarinic ACh receptor antagonist atropine. The hyperpolarizing response had a reversal potential of 273 mV and could be reduced by atropine, GABA A receptor antagonists (bicuculline and a Cl 2 channel blocker picrotoxin), and to a small extent a GABA B receptor antagonist (saclofen). This suggests that the hyperpolarizing response is likely to be mediated by ACh acting on GABAergic interneurons. Extracellular recordings, also made from layer II/III of cortical slices, yielded a negative-going poten- tial which was reduced by ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists (same as above) and by the ACh receptor antagonists atropine and scopolamine, suggesting that this potential was the extracellular representation of the depolarizing response. Synapse 41:118 -130, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Is Sialography Effective in Diagnosing the Salivary Component of Sjögren's Syndrome?

Parotid sialography has been used for many years as a means of assessing salivary glands in Sjogren's syndrome (SS), and it is occasionally used as a diagnostic criterion for the salivary component of SS. To assess its diagnostic effectiveness, we reviewed studies in which sialography was applied to patients with SS and control subjects for the purpose of estimating its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity or comparing it with other means of assessing salivary glands. Sialography appears to be diagnostically less sensitive but more specific than salivary flow rate measurement and more sensitive but less specific than labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy. Such calculations are based on the diagnosis of SS established in each study, but the various studies used widely different criteria to establish that diagnosis. Therefore, these calculations are not based on a consistent standard, and comparison between the calculations may be misleading, which underscores the need to develop internationally accepted diagnostic criteria for SS. Studies conducted so far have not shown that parotid sialography is either a sensitive indicator of the salivary component of SS or more closely associated than LSG biopsy with keratoconjunctivitis sicca, the only other component of primary SS with which ultimately to assess diagnostic specificity.
Supervision of Instruction: Dying or Dead.

Medical science, by using various mechanical devices, has learned to sustain life in a human body long after the body would normally have failed to function. Is the same approach being used in areas of education? Are we artificially maintaining the life of some concepts and practices which would naturally die without continued outside support? It would seem this analogy applies particularly well to the area of supervision in schools. The historical-and contemporary-goal of supervision in schools is the improvement of the teaching-learning task. When one asks teachers about the supervision of instruction in their schools, little evidence emerges that it is flourishing. Possibly the practice of supervision is dead and life signs are being maintained only through colleges, universities, and state departments of public instruction which still demand course work in supervision for certification requirements or for advanced degrees in education. To help determine the current status of supervision in professional education, teachers, professors of supervision, and state departments of education were asked to respond to a variety of questions. Replies came back from twentyfour state departments, seventy-six professors from sixty colleges, and 140 teachers from three midwestern states. The replies from each group give a provocative picture of the status of supervision.
Clustering in globally coupled inhibitory neurons

Abstract A model of a large population of identical excitable neurons with a global slowly decaying inhibitory coupling is studied and its patterns of synchrony are examined. In addition to converging to a homogeneous fixed point and a homogeneous limit cycle, the system exhibits cluster states, in which it breaks spontaneously into a few macroscopically big clusters, each of which is fully synchronized. A method for calculating the stability of cluster states is described and used for investigating the dynamical behavior of the network versus the parameters that describe the neurons and synapses. Effects of stochastic noise on the network dynamics are discussed. At large enough noise the system goes to a globally stationary state. Low levels of noise preserve the cluster-like neuron trajectories. In the regime where a noiseless system converges to a fully synchronized periodic state, relatively low noise levels cause neurons to burst only every two or more consecutive time periods.
X-Ray–Line Diagnostic of Magnetic Field Strength for High-Temperature Plasmas

An x-ray line diagnostic for use in magnetic field measurements in high-temperature plasmas has been identified. The intensity of the otherwise strictly forbidden $1{s}^{2}2{s}^{2}2{p}_{1/2}2{p}_{3/2}^{4}3{s}_{1/2}\text{ }\text{ }^{3}P_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1{s}^{2}2{s}^{2}2{p}^{6}\text{ }\text{ }^{1}S_{0}$ transition in neonlike ions is shown to depend on the magnetic field strength. The field dependence is illustrated between one and 3 T in the ${\mathrm{A}\mathrm{r}}^{8+}$ spectrum. The line is well resolved, bright, and close to reference lines, making it an experimentally simple to use diagnostic.
The first homotopy group of a finite H-space

Abstract Let X be a finite H -space with H ∗ ( X ; Z 2 ) associative. Then the first homotopy group of X occurs in degrees 1, 3 or 7. This result generalizes earlier results of Adams, Clark and Thomas. The proof uses secondary operations which factor primary operations of length 2 as well as a K -theory result due to Jeanneret.
Sorting through the recent controversies in breast cancer screening.

Despite the new US recommendations, we continue to recommend yearly mammograms for most women, starting at age 40.
Chromosome 13 restriction fragment length polymorphisms

The gene locus for hereditary retinoblastoma is on human chromosome 13, band q14. With this gene localization in mind, we cloned DNA fragments from this chromosome. Three of the fragments identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms. These three fragments are from the region 13q12–13q22, the chromosome region which contains the retinoblastoma locus. We expect that these restriction fragment length polymorphisms will be linked to the retinoblastoma locus, and that they will serve in certain retinoblastoma families as predictors of retinoblastoma gene carriers.They will also be useful in studies of other gene loci thought to be on chromosome 13.
Bismuth subsalicylate markedly decreases hydrogen sulfide release in the human colon

Abstract Background & Aims: Hydrogen sulfide is one of the main malodorous compounds in human flatus. This toxic gas also has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Therefore, a treatment that reduces colonic H 2 S levels could be clinically useful in the treatment of flatus odor and of ulcerative colitis. In this study the ability of bismuth subsalicylate, a compound that binds H 2 S, to reduce H 2 S release in the colon, was tested. Methods: Homogenates made from human and rat feces were incubated with and without bismuth subsalicylate, and gas production was measured. Fecal samples from 10 healthy subjects were analyzed before and after ingestion of bismuth subsalicylate (524 mg four times a day) for 3–7 days. Results: Fecal homogenates showed a dose-dependent relationship between the concentration of bismuth subsalicylate and H 2 S release. Treatment of subjects with bismuth subsalicylate produced a >95% reduction in fecal H 2 S release. Conclusions: The ability of bismuth subsalicylate to dramatically reduce H 2 S could provide a clinically useful means of controlling fecal and/or flatus odor and of decreasing the putative injurious effects of H 2 S on the colonic mucosa. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;114:923-929
The temporal pattern of economic evaluations and vote choice in Senate elections

Economics has long been thought to influence vote choice. Unfortunately, the temporal pattern of economic evaluations is little studied. Using the Senate elections of 1956 through 1988, this research presents an assessment of the role of retrospective and prospective evaluations on vote choice. The findings of this research support the argument that people look to the future when making the vote decision. Consequently, this research also argues that the simple reward/punishment view of voting does not reflect the richness of economic voting. Finally, a causal model is constructed to demonstrate that these prospective evaluations exert an influence on vote choice independent of both party identification and retrospective evaluations.
Blockade of dopamine (DA) receptors with pimozide and pituitary hormone release in response to intraventricular injection of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in conscious ovariectomized rats

Abstract To determine the role of dopamine in the action of intraventricular γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine receptors were blocked by s.c. injection of pimozide and the effect of intraventricular GABA was evaluated in ovariectomized, conscious female rats. Systemic injection of pimozide alone or the vehicle had no effect on plasma hormone levels except in the case of prolactin which was markedly elevated by pimozide. Similarly injection of 2 μl of saline into the third ventricle failed to alter any of the hormone levels. The elevation in LH and growth hormone induced in pimozide-treated rats by intraventricular injection of 4 μM of GABA in 2 μl of 0.9% NaCl was similar to that observed in animals not treated with pimozide in concurrent studies; however, the suppression of plasma TSH induced GABA in intact animals was completely blocked in the pimozide-treated rats. On the other hand, the elevation of prolactin which occurred in intact animals following intraventricular injection of this dose of GABA was reversed and a lowering of prolactin followed intraventricular injection of GABA in the pimozide-treated animals. It is concluded that dopaminergic systems are probably not involved in mediation of the effects of GABA on GH and LH release but that the inhibition of TSH release induced by GABA may be mediated by a stimulation of dopaminergic neurons which then inhibit TRH release. A speculative explanation is given for the ability of pimozide to reverse the action of GABA on plasma prolactin.
Effect of a density isomer on high-energy heavy-ion collisions

On the basis of conventional nuclear fluid dynamics, we study the sensitivity of high-energy heavy-ion collisions to a density isomer in the nuclear equation of state, as well as to a variation in the nuclear compressibility coefficient. Our equation of state is a new functional form which has the property that the speed of sound approaches the speed of light in the limit of infinite compression. The equations of relativistic nuclear fluid dynamics are solved numerically in three spatial dimensions by use of a particle-in-cell finite-difference computing method for the reaction /sup 20/Ne+/sup 238/U at a laboratory bombarding energy per nucleon of 393 MeV. By integrating over the appropriate ranges of impact parameter, we compute the double-differential cross section d/sup 2/sigma/dEd..cap omega.. corresponding both to all impact parameters and to central collisions constituting 15% of the total cross section. To within numerical uncertainties, the results for the various equations of state are very similar to one another except for central collisions at laboratory angle theta = 30/sup 0/ and for both central collisions and all impact parameters at theta = 150/sup 0/. In these cases, over certain ranges of energy, d/sup 2/sigma/dEd..cap omega.. is larger for the density isomer thanmore » for conventional equations of state. The results calculated for all impact parameters are compared with the experimental data of Sandoval et al. for outgoing charged particles.« less