cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of MHD effects and edge conditions on ITER helium ash accumulation and sustained ignition

Abstract Dilution of reacting species by build-up of helium ash and its effect on ignition in the ITER tokamak have been studied in a series of simulations with the one-dimensional BALDUR transport code. Thermal diffusivities, obtained from ITER scaling laws and with radial variations observed in JET, gave τE ≈ 2–4 s. Refuelling of deuterium and tritium maintained constant electron density, while carbon recycling was 100% and the helium ash recycling was varied from 1.0 to 0.5. Including MHD effects, specifically sawteeth and beta limits, we find that ignition can be sustained for 200 s with Rhelium = 0.95. These simulations, the only non-zero-dimensional, time-dependent simulations thus far made for ITER plasmas, emphasize that edge plasma conditions, MHD behavior, and helium particle transport are critical synergistic issues for sustained ignition.
Foreword: a special issue on turbulence and wind energy

To help achieve worldwide goals of reducing the cost of wind energy, the role of turbulence at various relevant length and time scales must be better understood. Turbulence plays important roles in blade performance within a single turbine as well as in interactions among turbines within arrays due to wakes. Other challenges, such as noise, effects of complex topography, variability, uncertainty, stratification, wind resource assessment, and the problem of wind farm underperformance, are all greatly affected by turbulence phenomena. Research synergies that integrate well-controlled experiments, computational fluid dynamics modeling, and theories are required to address such challenges. Such research has seen remarkable growth during the past several years, in various research laboratories around the world. Moreover, wind energy-related special sessions took place in recent years at various international meetings, in particular, at the Summer Meeting of the American Institute of Astronautic and Aeronautics (AIAA) in Honolulu in June 2011 and at the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting in Baltimore, in November 2011.
Some thermally stimulated current spectra from CdSe thin film transistors

Abstract Thermally stimulated current (TSC) spectra were obtained from thin film transistors (TFTs) where the semiconductor film is polycrystalline CdSe. The TSC peaks obtained are identified with the different groups of electron traps present in the TFT. An aging mechanism was detected which is caused by the application of a negative voltage to the gate electrode of the TFT. Aging results in a diminution of the density of traps within the bulk of the CdSe crystallites, an increase in the density of traps at the grain boundaries in the semiconductor film and an increase in the density of traps at the interface between the insulator and the semiconductor films.
CYSTEINE PROTEINASE INHIBITORS IN CULTURED RAT PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA, PC12, CELLS

PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells were found to contain and release into the culture medium cysteine proteinase inhibitors, cystatins. Inhibitory activities in cell extracts and in spent culture media were assayed by titration of papain using a sensitive fluorescent method. Partial purification of the inhibitors using gel-exclusion and ion exchange chromatography and immunoblotting indicated that PC 12 cells contain high and low molecular weight cystatins. The low molecular weight (14 to 17 kDa) cystatins reacted with antibody against human cystatin C. Using the same antibody, cystatin-like immunoreactive material was localized in the cytoplasm of PC12 cells. Treatment of PC12 cells with sodium butyrate (6 mM), which is known to induce chromaffin cell-type differentiation, inhibited cell proliferation and led to a significant increase in cystatin level. The data suggest that cystatins in PC 12 cells may be involved in differentiation processes. The well-characterized PC12 cells, capable of neuronal or chromaffin cell differentiation, will provide a useful cell type to study the regulation of cystatin gene expression and the physiologic role (s) of cystatins.
Hand-Schüller-Christian disease

Abstract This article has presented the classification of Hand-Schuller-Christian disease and discussed the use of a new antineoplastic drug (Velban) in its treatment. Also, the case of a 4-year-old boy with an extremely advanced mandibular lesion has been described.
A variationally-based variance reduction method for Monte Carlo neutron transport calculations

Abstract A new variationally-based Monte Carlo variance reduction (VVR) method is developed to improve the estimation of characteristic parameters for neutron shielding and criticality problems. The VVR method employs a variationally-motivated functional that processes “low-quality” global forward and adjoint flux estimates into “high-quality” characteristic parameter estimates, such as the transmitted current through a shield or an eigenvalue. The VVR functionals are more costly to evaluate than standard functionals used to obtain Monte Carlo estimates, but they are more accurate. In this paper we demonstrate that for mono-energetic 1-D shielding and eigenvalue test problems, the improvement in accuracy obtained from the VVR scheme outweighs the extra computational expense, yielding a significant gain in the figure of merit.
Two-centre tree topologies for metropolitan area networks

A two-centre binary tree (BT) can be constructed by linking the root nodes of two binary trees. Variations can also be constructed by making additional linkages within the two-centre binary tree. Three of these variations, referred to as the quaternary tree (QT), the X-tree (XT) and the ring tree (RT), are studied. Comparisons using performance measures of traffic flows and path reliabilities are made with respect to the BT and some popular topologies in the literature. Various implementations issues that take advantage of these tree networks are then proposed and discussed. The study indicates that the variants of the two-centre trees are viable topologies for the implementation of a metropolitan area network (MAN).
Age of the last major scabland flood of the Columbia Plateau in eastern Washington

Pumice layers of set S from Mount St. Helens can be correlated with certain ash beds associated with young flood deposits of the channeled scabland. The correlation points to an age of about 13,000 14C yr B.P. for the last major flood to have crossed the scabland. Until recently, the last major episode of flooding was thought to be closer to 20,000 yr B.P., an age inferred chiefly from the relation of the flood to glacial events of the northern Rocky Mountains. Several investigations within the last few years have suggested that the last major flood occurred well after 20,000 yr B.P. Tentative correlations of ash beds of the scabland with set S pumice layers, the relations of flood and glacial events along the northwestern margin of the Columbia Plateau, and a radiocarbon date from the Snake River drainage southeast of the plateau all indicate an age much younger than 20,000 yr. The postulated age of about 13,000 yr B.P. is further supported by a radiocarbon date in the Columbia River valley downstream from the scabland tract. Basal peat from a bog on the Portland delta of Bretz, which is a downvalley deposit of the last major scabland flood, has been dated as 13,080 ± 300 yr B.P. (W-3404).
Requirements on active (laser) tracking and imaging from a technology perspective

In the Science and Technology (S&T) community we frequently pursue technologies that are perhaps not mature enough for operational transition in a number of areas. The area of active tracking and active characterization of space objects is one of those areas. In this paper, we will lay out the requirements on such tracking and imaging systems from a pure technology perspective, including top level scenario-driven requirements and tracing down to camera-level requirements. That is, we will consider the various components of the tracking and imaging mission only from a performance standpoint and use that to derive some performance limitations on the system. The operational community will then have to decide whether such requirements are permissible in view of other constraints such as system cost.
Review: alpha-glucosidase inhibitors improve glycemic control but have uncertain effects on patient-important outcomes in type 2 diabetes

Van de Laar FA, Lucassen PL, Akkermans RP, et al . Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;(2):CD003639. Q In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, are α glucosidase inhibitors effective for improving glycaemic control? Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆ ### ![Graphic][1] Data sources: Medline (to April 2003), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (to April 2003), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 3, 2003), LILACS (to April 2003), databases of ongoing trials (all to April 2003), Current Contents (to December 2003), contacting experts and manufacturers, and bibliographies of relevant studies. ### ![Graphic][2] Study selection and assessment: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in any language with ⩾12 weeks’ duration that compared α glucosidase inhibitor monotherapy with any other intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes and included … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif
Classical genetic markers and DNA markers: A commensal marriage

In this paper, we present an overview of classical genetic markers in nonhuman primates and then contrast the discriminatory powers of these markers with DNA markers. We have restricted the scope of our discussion to genetic markers found in blood, since they have been studied most extensively over the past 30 years. For example, immunoglobulin allotypes, complement markers, transferrins, and other protein markers can be identified using serum or plasma. Lymphocytes carry the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) markers, which are very polymorphic in most nonhuman primates. Lymphocytes are also used as a source of DNA. Finally, red blood cells carry an enormous array of blood group as well as isozyme markers. Our discussion will be limited to three species: rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), baboons (Papio hamadryas), and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), although the principles are applicable to all nonhuman primates.
Association of humic acid with metal (hydr)oxide-coated sands at solid-water interfaces

Mineral-bound humic acid (HA) can significantly modify the physicochemical properties of the mineral surfaces and vice versa, thereby influencing the fate and transport of organic pollutants in the subsurface. The effect of various mineral surfaces on the adsorption–desorption of dissolved bulk, terrestrial HA was evaluated using three model sorbents [uncoated, α-FeO(OH)-coated, and Al2O3-coated sands] at two equilibrium pH values. The results of SEM/EDS and XPS analyses revealed relatively uniform and stable metal (hydr)oxide coatings on quartz surface and the presence of the HA coating. Strong hysteresis effects were observed for both metal (hydr)oxide-coated sands whereas a weaker hysteresis effect was observed for uncoated sand, suggesting that the adsorption–desorption of HA to model sorbents is dependent on the affinity of chemical interactions between the HA and surface composition of model sorbents. Adsorption of HA molecules onto metal (hydr)oxide-coated sands can be attributed to ligand exchange for lower molecular weight (MW) HA fractions and hydrophobic interaction for higher MW HA fractions, illustrating that both kinetic and fractional adsorption–desorption of HA subcomponents are important considerations.
Adaptive spatial-temporal error concealment with embedded side information

Error concealment (EC) is an important technique to recover the lost/damaged video data in transmitting video over error prone networks such as the Internet or wireless networks. Different EC strategies have their strength and weakness for different scenarios. Therefore an adaptive EC approach is desired. However, it is generally difficult for the decoder to figure out which strategy works the best for a specific case. This paper proposes to use data embedding to convey the necessary high level side information in a standard compliant way to help improve the decoder's EC performance. We show that the EC ''mode'' information (i.e., whether spatial EC or temporal EC should be used) is critical for a lightweight adaptive spatial-temporal EC approach. Experiments show that with such side information embedded in the standard compressed bitstream, significant quality improvement can be achieved in recovering the lost video packets.
Lead and polychlorinated biphenyls: effects on heme and drug metabolism.

(1979). Lead and Polychlorinated Biphenyls: Effects on Heme and Drug Metabolism. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 91-106.
Direct Acceleration Feedback Control of Shake Tables with Force Stabilization

This study presents a new strategy for shake table control that uses direct acceleration feedback without need for displacement feedback. To ensure stability against table drift, force feedback is incorporated. The proposed control strategy was experimentally validated using the shake table at the Johns Hopkins University. Experimental results showed that the proposed control strategy produced more accurate acceleration tracking than conventional displacement-controlled strategies. This article provides the control architecture, details of the controller design, and experimental results. Furthermore, the impact of input errors in shake table testing on the structural response is also discussed.
Selection for Acoustic Individuality Within the Vocal Repertoire of Wild Chimpanzees

Individual primates typically produce acoustically distinct calls. To investigate the factors that facilitate the evolution of individual vocal signatures, we examined two components of the call repertoire of chimpanzees: the pant hoot and pant grunt. Pant hoots are long-distance signals whose recipients can be several hundred meters away, while pant grunts are short-range calls given to conspecifics within close visual range. Given their markedly different contexts of emission, we predicted that natural selection would favor the elaboration of individually distinctive acoustic features in pant hoots compared with pant grunts. Analyses of nine acoustic features revealed that pant hoots are more stereotyped within-individuals and variable between-individuals than pant grunts. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that selection may act to encode varying degrees of individuality in different components of the vocal repertoire of a single species.
Treacher Collins Syndrome: the genetics of a craniofacial disease.

Abstract Objectives The molecular underpinnings of Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS) are diverse. This article codifies the most recent findings in this complex area of research to further current understanding of the disease process. Elucidating the genetic causes of the disorder can be useful in earlier detection and better treatment planning. Design Articles from 1991 to 2013 were selected and reviewed by five researchers utilizing the most recent literature of the genetics and pathophysiology of TCS. Results Mutations in TCOF1, POLR1C and POLR1D have all been implicated in causing TCS. The association of the TCOF1 gene product, Treacle, and gene products of POLR1C and POLR1D with ribosome biosynthesis suggests that a loss of function mutation in these genes disrupts ribosome biosynthesis in constituent neural crest cells and neuroepithelium leading to apoptosis. However, recent data illustrating that P53 heterozygosity is protective against TCS, and that P53 and TCOF1 hemizygous embryos do not affect ribosomal function, implicates P53 or elements downstream of P53 as playing a role in TCS pathogenesis. Conclusion Our study codified nascent findings of the molecular determinants of TCS. These findings add to a burgeoning database of TCS-associated mutations, and as such, can be used to establish TCS diagnosis and further clarify TCS pathogenesis.
Scopolamine's effect on passive avoidance*

Comparison in performance on active and passive retention tests was made for mice that had received scopolamine prior to a single passive-avoidance training trial. Control animals performed well with either retention test procedure, while the scopolamine group performed well for the active test but poorly for the passive test.
Oxidation of dicyano-bis 1,10 phenanthroline) iron(II) by compounds I and II of cytochrome c peroxidase

Abstract The apparent bimolecular rate constant for the oxidation of dicyanobis(1)10 phenanthroline) iron(II) by compound II of cytochrome c peroxidase (ferrocytochrome c ; hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase EC 1.11.1.5) has been measured over the pH range 2.5–11.0 at 0.1 M ionic strength, 25°C, by the stopped-flow technique. An ionizable group in the enzyme, with a p K a of 4.5, strongly influences the electron transfer rate between the ferrous complex and the oxidized site in the enzyme. The electron transfer is fastest when the group is protonated, with a rate constant of 2.9 · 10 5 M −1 ·s −1 . The rate constant decrease over three orders of magnitude when the proton dissociates. The apparent bimolecular rate constant for the oxidation of the ferrous complex by compound I of cytochrome c peroxidase was determined between pH 3.5 and 6. Under all conditions where this rate constant could be measured it was about three times larger than that for the oxidation by compound II.
Kantian Restorative Justice

Linda Radzik, Making Amends: Atonement in Morality, Law, and Politics (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009). For someone with sensibilities such as mine, Kantian ethical theory pulls in two ...
A Dual Function Gamma Monitor

A thallium-activated sodium iodide gamma monitor is described which utilizes both the ac and dc components of the anode current of a multiplier phototube. The dc component serves to monitor over a range of 104 the gross gamma activity of selected points in a solvent extraction plant for the processing of spent nuclear fuel. From the ac component a gamma energy analysis is obtained over an activity range of 102. The ac component also serves as a monitor on the multiplier phototube gain adjustment. The characteristics of the gamma monitor system are discussed.
Root resorption caused by orthodontic treatment: review of literature from 1998 to 2001 for evidence

Literature on apical root shortening that was published in the late 1990s until May 2001 was reviewed. Articles were placed into two categories: clinical reports and animal model studies. Previous investigations showed great variability for the causes of apical root shortening during orthodontic treatment. To date, a definitive explanation for orthodontically caused root resorption still eludes the practitioner.
Algebraic closure operators and strong amalgamation bases

Axioms for a closure operator are given and it is proved that, for suitable classes, a unique largest closure operator exists. Necessary and sufficient conditions in terms of closure properties are given for structures to be strong amalgamation bases.
8-Bromo-cyclic GMP abolishes TEA-induced slow actions potential in canine trachealis muscle

Abstract Using intracellular microelectrodes, we investigated whether 8-bromo-gaunosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) influenced the electromechanical effects of tetraethylammonium (TEA) on canine trache smooth muscle. We found that 20 mM TEA depolarized airway smooth muscle cells from −58±3 mV (means ± S.D.) to −44±2 mV and caused spontaneous action potentials (APs) to develop which were 31±2 mV in amplitude. These APs, and the phasic contractions electrically coupled to them, were totally abolished in buffer containing 0.1 mM cGMP. Our findings suggest that cGMP markedly affects the channels mediating TEA-induced APs in airway smooth muscle.
Addition of telomere-associated HeT DNA sequences “heals” broken chromosome ends in Drosophila

Abstract Stocks of D. melanogaster X chromosomes carrying terminal deletions (RT chromosomes) have been maintained for several years. Some of the chromosomes are slowly losing DNA from the broken ends (as expected if replication is incomplete) and show no telomere-associated DNA added to the receding ends. Two stocks carry chromosomes that have become "healed" and are no longer losing DNA. In both stocks the broken chromosome end has acquired a segment of HeT DNA, a family of complex repeats found only at telomeres and in pericentric heterochromatin. Although the HeT family is complex, the HeT sequence joined to the broken chromosome end is the same in both stocks. In contrast, the two chromosomes are broken in different places and have no detectable sequence similarity at the junction with the new DNA. Sequence analysis suggests that the new telomere sequences have been added by a specific mechanism that does not involve homologous recombination.
A modified bethe free energy approximation for codeword quantization

A novel codeword quantization algorithm based on message-passing using a low density generator matrix formulation is proposed and analyzed. The scheme is a seemingly subtle variant on a recently proposed “truthiness” propagation algorithm, but one which affords a more explicit connection to a modified Bethe free energy function. Applications to distributed coding in sensor networks are also included in the simulation examples, where the algorithm is observed to outperform conventional LDPC belief propagation decoding using side information, in a practical setting when the reliability of the side information diminishes.
Regulation of catechol O-methyltransferase expression in granulosa cells: a potential role for follicular arrest in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective To investigate the regulation of catechol O -methyltransferase (COMT) expression in granulosa cells and assess potential effects of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME 2 ) and COMT inhibitors on granulosa cell steroidogenesis and proliferation. Design and Setting Controlled experimental study in an academic research laboratory. Intervention(s) JC410 porcine and HGL5 human granulosa cell lines were used for in vitro experiments. Effects of 2-ME 2 and COMT inhibitor treatment on DNA proliferation and steroidogenesis were assessed by using Hoechst dye and p450SCC-luciferase reporter assays. Effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), insulin, and all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on COMT messenger RNA expression were investigated by using COMTP1 promoter–luciferase reporter and Northern blot. Main Outcome Measure(s) Granulosa cell steroidogenesis and proliferation following COMP inhibitor and 2-ME 2 treatment. Regulation of COMT expression with DHT, insulin, and ATRA. Result(s) 2-Methoxyestradiol had a dual effect on granulosa cell proliferation and p450SCC- luciferase activity; low doses were stimulatory and high doses were inhibitory. Catechol O -methyltransferase inhibitor was associated with up to a 65% increase in JC410 cell number and a maximal 5.6-fold increase in p450SCC-luciferase activity at 20 μmol/L. Dihydrotestosterone, insulin, and ATRA all induced a dose-dependent increase in COMTP1-luciferase transactivation, as well as up-regulated COMT messenger RNA expression in granulosa cells. Conclusion(s) Catechol O -methyltransferase expression in granulosa cells was up-regulated by insulin, DHT, and ATRA. Catechol O -methyltransferase product, 2-ME 2 , decreased, whereas COMT inhibitor increased granulosa cell proliferation and steroidogenesis. These data suggest that COMT overexpression with subsequent increased level of 2-ME 2 may lead to ovulatory dysfunction.
Diffusion of carbon and nitrogen in B.C.C. iron

Abstract It is well known that Arrhenius plots of the diffusivity of carbon in b.c.c. iron exhibit positive departures from linearity. It has been demonstrated that such an effect is shown by nitrogen but the strength of the deviation is only about one half that found for carbon. The theoretical models proposed to account for this effect have been discussed and it is tentatively concluded that there is a change in the intrinsic jump frequency of the diffusing species due to the change in that portion of the motion energy due to the magnetic exchange energy.
Dyson equation for magnons in the Heisenberg-Ising model

Abstract A Dyson equation of motion for magnons is derived. Contributions from kinematic effects are entirely included in the self-energy term. The existence of the solution for T ⩾ T C as well as T T C is discussed.
Some histochemical and biochemical observations on the lymphatic tissues of highly inbred white Leghorns

Lymphatic tissues of inbred lines of White Leghorn chickens and 20-day embryos (inbreeding coefficient exceeds 95%) were used in the experiments, e.g. line 6 was susceptible, line 7 was resistant, and line 15 I was intermediate in response to the virus. Enzyme reactions were studied in cryostat-cut sections of tissues and in tissue minces by colorimetric procedures. Numbers of isozymes and proteins of lymphatic tissues were resolved by disc gel electrophoresis. Colorimetric tests showed that intensities of lactate, malate, isocitrate and succinic dehydrogenase catalyzed reactions were higher in the bursae of 15 I 20-day embryos than they were in bursae of either line 6 or 7 embryos. Intensity of dehydrogenase reactions of the spleen (15 I embryos) exceeded that found in line 6 and 7 embryos. Intensity of diaphorase reactions in the spleen and thymus was fairly uniform in all lines of embryos. Intensity of DPN diaphorase reactions in the bursae of line 15 I embryos exceeds that found in either line 6 or 7 embryos. Intensity of enzyme reactions leveled off to become fairly uniform in lymphatic tissues of chickens 3–4 weeks post hatching with the exception that dehydrogenase reactions were less intense in the thymus of 15 I chickens. Photodensitometer scans of acrylamide gel columns showed that proteins of line 6 lymphatic tissues combined with less Amido black 10B than lymphatic proteins of either line 15 I or 7 embryos. There was fairly good agreement between concentrations of strong mobility (components 1–9) and weak mobility (components 10–16) in lymphatic tissues of all lines of embryos with the exception that strong mobility proteins were about twice as concentrated in line 15 I bursae. Variable numbers of lactate isozymes were found in the lymphatic tissues of 20-day embryos.
Flows in Rotating Cylinders With a Porous Lining

Flow and temperature fields in an annulus between two rotating cylinders have been examined in this study. While the outer cylinder is stationary, the inner cylinder is rotating with a constant angular speed. A homogeneous and isotropic porous layer is press-fit to the inner surface of the outer cylinder. The porous sleeve is saturated with the fluid that fills the annulus. The Brinkman-extended Darcy equations are used to model the flow in the porous layer while Navier-Stokes equations are used for the fluid layer. The conditions applied at the interface between the porous and fluid layers are the continuity of temperature, heat flux, tangential velocity and shear stress. Analytical solutions have been attempted. Through these solutions, the effects of Darcy number, Brinkman number, and porous sleeve thickness on the velocity profile and temperature distribution are studied.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Retaining the Hotelling Valuation Principle

Further testing of the Hotelling Valuation Principle (HVP) corroborates my initial assessment that the HVP cannot be rejected on the basis of the Cairns and Davis (1998) data set. This conclusion is also consistent with a number of previous studies.
Counterexample and correction to a result on robust Schur stability of a complex-coefficient polynomials set with coefficients in a diamond

Abstract In Ref. (1), Schur stability of a family of polynomials with transformed coefficients varying in a diamond has been studied. A necessary and sufficient condition was given for the stability of the entire family if a selected set of eight edge polynomials was stable. In this paper, we show via a counterexample that this result is not correct. It turns out that 16 (for n is even) or 32 (for n is odd) edges should be selected.
Targeting Conservation Action through Assessment of Protection and Exurban Threats

: Landscape-level assessments of biodiversity strive to guide land-use planning and conservation activities by providing information about areas of high biodiversity value and low protection status. I developed a methodology to assess the level of threat to conservation of biodiversity to help guide conservation action. This method incorporates socioeconomic indicators of risk, including developed and roaded areas, and measures the proportion of conservation lands affected by developed areas. In addition, I developed a metric called conservation potential to measure the degree of fragmentation of patches caused by development. As an illustration I applied this methodology to Colorado (U.S.A.). Protection levels were determined by examining land ownership, resulting in protected lands (status levels 1 and 2) and unprotected lands (status levels 3 and 4). Areas were considered threatened (at risk) if a land-cover patch had >20% roaded area, >15% developed area, or was highly fragmented. Although 24 of 43 natural land-cover types were unprotected (49% of the state), 9 additional types were threatened. Combining conservation-status protection levels with patterns of threat targets the geographic area where conservation action is needed, provides a way to determine where so-called protected areas are at risk, and allows conservation strategies to be better refined. Resumen: Las evaluaciones de biodiversidad a nivel de paisaje se esfuerzan por proporcionar informacion para la planificacion del uso del suelo y actividades de conservacion mediante datos sobre areas de alto valor de biodiversidad y bajo estatus de proteccion. Desarrolle una metodologia para evaluar el nivel de amenaza para la conservacion de la biodiversidad para ayudar a guiar acciones de conservacion. Este metodo incorpora indicadores socioeconomicos de riesgo, incluyendo areas desarrolladas y con caminos, y mide la proporcion de tierras de conservacion afectadas por areas desarrolladas. Adicionalmente, desarrolle una medida llamada potencial de conservacion para cuantificar el grado de fragmentacion debido al desarrollo. Como un ejemplo, aplique esta metodologia a Colorado (E. U. A). Los niveles de proteccion se determinaron examinando la propiedad, resultando en tierras protegidas (niveles 1 y 2) y no protegidas (niveles 3 y 4). Las areas se consideraron amenazadas (en riesgo) si tenian >20% de su superficie con caminos, >15% del area desarrollada o si estaban muy fragmentadas. Aunque 24 de los 43 tipos de cobertura natural no estaban protegidos (49% del estado), 9 mas estaban amenazados. La combinacion de estatus de conservacion y niveles de proteccion con patrones de amenazas identifica al area geografica donde se requieren acciones de conservacion, proporciona una forma de examinar donde estan en riesgo las llamadas areas protegidas y permite que las estrategias de conservacion sean mejor ajustadas.
Female Patrons of Porn

Although the proportion of women who patronize sexually oriented book-video-novelty stores appears to be growing, little is known about the phenomenon generally or about male–female differences. In the only studies of “female patrons of porn,” both Hefley (2007) and Berkowitz (2006) report that half of the customers that they observed entering two stores were women. Compared to men, women were less likely to enter alone. To further investigate this phenomenon, we observed customers entering 33 stores for 162 hours over a two-year period. Whereas the observations of Hefley (2007) and Berkowitz (2006) were limited to a few of the busiest hours, our observations span all seven weekdays and all hours. Seventeen percent of the patrons who entered the stores were women. This proportion varied over time and across the 33 stores. Women prefer to shop on weekend evenings in stores that provide visible security.
Spiniferomonas breakneckii, and new species of freshwater chrysophyceae

A new species of Spiniferomonas with a morphologically unique scale covering is described from a small, slightly humic and acidic lake in Connecticut, USA. The relationship of the new taxon to other Spiniferomonas species is discussed.
Comparison of proto oncogene expression in seven primate fibroblast cultures

Abstract In an interspecies comparison of seven primate species, the expression of the erbB proto oncogene was found to be higher in fibroblasts derived from three relatively longlived species, the human, gorilla, and chimpanzee than in cells from the orangutan, pygmy chimpanzee, squirrel monkey, or red-bellied tamarin. No significant difference was found in the expression of the ras-K, myc, or src proto oncogenes. The difference would not seem to be the result of age differences of the donor animals as we found little variation in the expression of the four proto oncogenes in human fibroblasts derived from donors ranging in age from newborn to 70 years old. In addition, we found little change in expression of the proto oncogenes during long term in vitro culturing, indicating that in vitro age of the individual cultures was not a significant factor in our results.
Ethics and computer security: cause and effect

Newspapers around the world carried this report of the West German hackers infiltration of the NASA computer network. The hackers were members of a computer club in Hamburg, Germany who called themselves CHAOS. The group founded in 1985 were mostly hobbyists, but many were good programmers. Each member had to qualify for acceptance in the group, and two of the members were systems managers [4]. During the summer of 1987, Garry Trudeau and his widely read “Doonesbury” carried a series of strips addressing the universal and unashamed practices of unethical conduct in high places. One of those strips went like this: … And you still feel no remorse, Phil? Remorse? What for? We're talking about a very grey area, Padre! 75% of the financial instruments available today didn't even exist when I was growing up! We've had to make up the rules as we go along! The insider trading rules in particular are very complex and ambiguous! Hell, I didn't even know I was breaking the law. But you were being paid in an alley. So I had a hunch. To help alleviate Phil's problem and others of this nature, Senators Donald Riegle a Democrat from Michigan and Alfonse D'Amato a Republican from New York introduced legislation to spell out for Wall Street speculators precisely what constitutes insider trading in stocks. In an associated press release, Riegle was quoted as follows: For those that want to obey the law, who are the overwhelming majority of people in the securities business, this puts in their hands the kind of knowledge and a body of understanding in a coherent way where they can carry out better policing operations within their own firms. It is time for data processing managers throughout the industry and academicians around the world to make this kind of definitive statement for all of those people in their realms of influence.
Optimum Test Schedule for SoC with Specified Clock Frequencies and Supply Voltages

Testing of a system-on-chip (SoC) consists of a schedule of test sessions. In each session, a subset of cores of the SoC is tested such that the peak power consumption of each core as well as that of the entire SoC remain under specified limits. In this work, we assume that each test session can be assigned its own clock frequency and VDD, which are related through the critical path delay constraint and together determine the power consumption. Integer linear programming (ILP) is used to find optimal test schedules with lower test time than was possible before. We show that the test time of ASIC Z, for which the best previously published time is 300 time units, is reduced to 155 units by optimally selecting the clock frequency and VDD for each session.
Peyronie’s Disease: A Review of Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management

Peyronie's Disease (PD) is a superficial fibrosing disorder of the penis resulting in plaque formation and penile deformity. Once considered rare, PD has more recently been found in up to 13% of men, and can negatively affect sexual and psychosocial function of both patients and their partners. While the etiology of PD is unclear, it is thought to result from an inciting traumatic event followed by aberrant fibrosis or dysregulated wound healing. The evaluation of men presenting with PD includes a detailed history and physical exam, focusing on the penis in both the flaccid and erect states. PD is often associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as several other comorbidities. Laboratory testing is not needed to diagnose PD, although given the associations between PD and systemic diseases including hypogonadism, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, screening and work-up for these conditions in men with PD may be warranted. Treatment modalities for PD are diverse and include oral, topical, intralesional, mechanical, and surgical therapies. Oral, topical, and mechanical therapies generally have little evidence supporting their efficacy. Several intralesional therapies, including interferon α2b and collagenase Clostridium hystiolyticum have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of PD. Surgical treatment, indicated in men with significant, stable deformity, includes plication of the tunica albuginea, plaque incision/excision and grafting, and placement of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) with or without additional maneuvers to achieve desired results, and has high success rates.
Selective modulation of T-cell immunity by intrathymic cellular transplantation

The allograft response represents an exceedingly complex phenomenon that involves multiple cellular and soluble mediators. Of central importance to the initiation as well as perpetuation of this response is the recognition by recipient T cells of donor-derived major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens expressed on the transplanted tissue. The recognition of allogeneic MHC antigens by recipient T cells is mediated by clonally restricted T-cell receptors (TcR) in conjunction with nonpolymorphic accessory molecules that regulate adhesion, signal transduction, and activation of the responding celU The TcR provides specificity to the response by interacting with the polymorphic regions of the MHC and, along with the associated CD3 complex, mediates cellular activation.
Structural determinants for the stereoselective hydrolysis of chiral substrates by phosphotriesterase.

Wild-type phosphotriesterase (PTE) preferentially hydrolyzes the RP enantiomers of the nerve agents sarin (GB) and cyclosarin (GF) and their chromophoric analogues. The active site of PTE can be subdivided into three binding pockets that have been denoted as the small, large, and leaving group pockets based on high-resolution crystal structures. The sizes and shapes of these pockets dictate the substrate specificity and stereoselectivity for catalysis. Mutants of PTE that exhibit substantial changes in substrate specificity and the ability to differentiate between chiral substrates have been prepared. For example, the G60A mutant is stereoselective for the hydrolysis of the RP enantiomer of the chromophoric analogues of sarin and cyclosarin, whereas the H254G/H257W/L303T (GWT) mutant reverses the stereoselectivity for the enantiomers of these two compounds. Molecular dynamics simulations and high-resolution X-ray structures identified the correlations between structural changes in the active site and the ...
The Relation Between Frequency of Binge Drinking and Psychological Distress Among Older Adult Drinkers

Objectives: The present study examined the relation between past year frequency of binge drinking and psychological distress among older adult drinkers. Method: Data were obtained from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Adults aged 60 and older who had consumed alcohol in the past year (n = 13,265) were analyzed. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler 6 (K6) scale. Multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results: A significant main effect of frequency of binge drinking was found in regression analyses, indicating that an increased frequency of binge drinking was significantly associated with increased psychological distress (B = .10, p < .001). Results from additional analyses showed that binge drinking was related to increased psychological distress when individuals were binge drinking more than once in the past year. Discussion: The results suggest that binge drinking frequently may be related to increased experiences of psychological distress among older drinkers. Research and clinical implications are discussed.
Themes and variations in riboswitch structure and function

The complexity of gene expression control by non-coding RNA has been highlighted by the recent progress in the field of riboswitches. Discovered a decade ago, riboswitches represent a diverse group of non-coding mRNA regions that possess a unique ability to directly sense cellular metabolites and modulate gene expression through formation of alternative metabolite-free and metabolite-bound conformations. Such protein-free metabolite sensing domains utilize sophisticated three-dimensional folding of RNA molecules to discriminate between a cognate ligand from related compounds so that only the right ligand would trigger a genetic response. Given the variety of riboswitch ligands ranging from small cations to large coenzymes, riboswitches adopt a great diversity of structures. Although many riboswitches share structural principles to build metabolite-competent folds, form precise ligand-binding pockets, and communicate a ligand-binding event to downstream regulatory regions, virtually all riboswitch classes possess unique features for ligand recognition, even those tuned to recognize the same metabolites. Here we present an overview of the biochemical and structural research on riboswitches with a major focus on common principles and individual characteristics adopted by these regulatory RNA elements during evolution to specifically target small molecules and exert genetic responses. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Riboswitches.
INHIBITION OF GROWTH OF Macrobrachium rosenbergii BY CALCIUM CARBONATE WATER HARDNESS

Slow growth of adult Macrobrachium rosenbergii in grow-out ponds having calcium water hardness of 305 to 638 mg/liter calcium carbonate was observed, as was frequent encrustation with Bryozoa sp. and Epistylus sp. Adult M. rosenbergii of ages 5, 13, and 14 months were held in calcium carbonate solutions of from 0.65 to 5.00 mM/liter Ca (65 to 500 mg/liter CaCO3) for up to 90 days. Average daily weight gain was found to be five times greater in the lowest calcium concentration for 5-month-old prawns compared with the high calcium group. A seven-fold difference was found in standard length gains. Lower differences were found for 13 and 14-month-old prawns, and a lengthening of the molt cycle in high calcium water was seen. Differences were also seen in post-molt hemolymph calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and refractive index but not sodium, potassium, chloride, or osmolarity.
A comparative study of 28 culture media for Trichomonas gallinae.

Abstract 1. 1. A study was made of the ability of 28 different culture media to support growth of 5 strains of Trichomonas gallinae with their normally associated bacteria. A standard inoculum of 50 protozoa was used, and the cultures were incubated at 35 °C. Based upon the number of positive cultures obtained, abundance of growth, and number of strains which grew in a given medium, the most satisfactory were Ringer-Loeffler serum, saline-Loeffler serum, and saline-serum. 2. 2. Pigeon serum used alone in a simple saline solution produced abundant growth and when added to other nutrients greatly enhanced the medium. Autoclaving of the serum appeared to have no effect on its growth promoting qualities. 3. 3. Neither egg yolk nor egg albumin alone appeared capable of supporting appreciable growth of T. gallinae . 4. 4. In general, the heavier the bacterial population supported by a medium the poorer the growth of T. gallinae . 5. 5. Strains of T. gallinae differ in their culturability. One strain grew in 82% of the media tested, another only in 43%.
Rapid formation and slow collapse of a carbocation-anion pair to a neutral molecule.

The 4,4‘,4‘ ‘-trimethoxytrityl cation (TMT+) was observed to react with acetate ion in acetic acid reversibly to give the corresponding ester (TMT-OAc). The rate of the reaction was found to be independent of [NaOAc] over a 25000-fold range. Similar results were observed in the presence of Bu4N+ in acetic acid as well as in HOAc/AN (1/1). It was concluded that {TMT+ (HOAc/AcO-)} is an ion pair that forms essentially completely from free TMT+ and HOAc/AcO- during the time of mixing under stopped-flow conditions. The process which was studied kinetically is the intramolecular collapse of the ion pair to TMT-OAc which takes place in two steps involving a kinetically significant intermediate. The remarkably close resemblance of this reaction to the Winstein scheme for solvolysis reactions is noted. In analogy to the Winstein scheme, it was proposed that the intermediate could be an intimate ion pair formed upon extrusion of solvent from the solvent separated ion pair. The product-forming step could then corre...
International Politics and the Disaggregation of Major-Power Trade, 1962–1997

Previous research indicates that a country's international commerce usually tracks the pattern of its diplomatic entanglements. As the evidence for this observation comes from overall trade statistics, however, analysts have had little ability to probe the sources of the linkage. This study uses major-power trade data from 1962 to 1997, disaggregated by economic sector, within an elaborated ‘gravity model’ that parses out some of the potential causal paths. Our results indicate that, while (1) commercial exchanges among major powers did ‘follow the flag’ (2) within all sectors during the period under study, not only those with immediately military value, (3) national traits that are causally prior to foreign relations, but often excluded from studies of international trade, also predicted trade in each sector, and (4) the major-power democracies did not show any particular favoritism to each other after these national differences in trade activity are considered.
Ire in Ireland

When Saints, Scholars and Schizophrenics: Mental Illness in Rural Ireland was published some 20 years ago, it was promptly made a classic of psychological and medical anthropology by academics in t...
Responding to ambiguity: HIV communication campaigns for gay and bisexual African Americans

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that "men of color account for nearly 35% of all AIDS cases diagnosed among men who have sex with men" (U.S. Conference of Mayors and the U.S. Conference of Local Health Officers, 1993). These rates are particularly high among rural populations in the South (Berry, 1993; Lam & Lui, 1994). The purpose of the following discussion is to analyze communication strategies that are being used to respond to these high percentages among African American men who sleep with men (MWSWM), including those who do and do not identify as gay. ~ Toward that end, this article will lay out the central communication issues important for HIV education designed for these target populations and report the findings of a research project that examined prevention programs throughout Alabama, a state that has a troubled history of race relations and public health and is currently experiencing disproportionately high rates of HIV/AIDS among African American MWSWM. Research on the state's efforts reveals that prevention programs for these communities are rare, and those that do exist are in early stages of development; this discussion concludes with a presentation of a well established, successful program in nearby Atlanta to illust rate a future direction for outreach to African American MWSWM in the South/