cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-reactions of polysaccharides of Lipomyces in antipneumococcal and other antisera

Abstract Cross-reactions of the extracellular polysaccharides of Lipomyces lipoferus and Lipomyces starkeyi are described, in some instances quantitatively. Non-reducing end-groups of D -glucuronic acid appear to account for most of the explicable reactions of the polysaccharide of L. lipoferus , whereas nonreducing end-groups of D -galactose account for many of those of L. starkeyi . Because of its strong cross-reaction in antipneumococcal type II serum, the polysaccharide of L. starkeyi is also presumed to have a portion of its D -glucuronic acid in the form of nonreducing end-groups.
Iodine monobromide (IBr) at low temperature: A superior protocol for diastereoselective cyclizations of homoallylic carbonates

Iodine monobromide (IBr) induces efficient electrophilic cyclizations of homoallylic t-butyl carbonates in toluene or methylene chloride at low temperature, affording significantly better diastereoselectivity than iodine (I2) in acetonitrile.
Numerical simulation of unsteady convective intrusions in a thermohaline stratification

The time-dependent development of convective intrusions in a thermohaline stratification is investigated using a composite grid method with local refinement. An imposed constant sidewall heat flux causes convective cells to form at the heated wall, which subsequently propagate into the bulk domain. For the composite grid computational method, a grid interface treatment based on strict local flux conservation alone allows arbitrary, nonphysical jumps in the temperature and salinity across block boundaries for certain boundary conditions. A revised treatment based upon a linear interpolation with conservative correction is employed to overcome this difficulty. Detailed features of the internal intrusion structure are captured and the sharp interfaces between neighboring intrusions are handled with fine resolution. Two classes of thermohaline intrusions corresponding to recently-obtained experimental results have been computed. Comparison with these results shows excellent agreement both qualitatively, in terms of the internal structure of the intrusions, and quantitatively, in terms of the physical size of the intrusions and the intrusion front propagation speeds. Fundamental differences in the merging processes for the two intrusion classes which were observed in the experiments have also been observed in the numerical results.
Reactions of C3H3 Ions with Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Alcohols and their Implications for an Ionic Model of Soot Formation

Abstract Ion/molecule reaction pathways and reaction rate coefficients for both cyclic (cyclo-propenylium) and linear (propargylium) C3H3 isomers reacting with aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, indene, naphthalene, 1 - and 2-methyl naphthalenes) and alcohols (methanol, ethanol, n-butanol) at low pressures and near room temperature have been determined using ion cyclotron resonance (icr) mass spectrometric techniques. Rate coefficients near the Langevin limit were found for reactions of the propargylium isomer with most of the aromatic hydrocarbons, with charge and hydride transfer reactions predominating. Somewhat lou,er rate coefficients were determined for reactions of the propargylium isomer with the three alcohols, with proton, hydride, and OH-transfer representing the major reaction channels. Implications of these results for an ionic soot formation mechanism are discussed.
Photoautotrophic growth of soybean cells in suspension culture. II. Optimization of culture medium and conditions

We have attempted to optimize the conditions under which a photoautotrophic soybean suspension culture line (SB-P; Horn et al. 1983) is grown. Magnesium, phosphate, and calcium concentrations were varied individually from one-tenth to five times the normal level found in the Murashige and Skoog (1962) recipe. After two subcultures, only phosphate at one-tenth the normal level caused the cells to show a substantial reduction in fresh and dry weight increase and chlorophyll level. Nitrate and ammonium levels were inversely varied in 20 millimolar increments of potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride. Neither N-source alone could support growth through two subcultures. A ratio of 40 millimolar potassium nitrate to 20 millimolar ammonium gave significantly better fresh and dry weight increases than did a ratio of 20:40 or 30:30 but the chlorophyll level was unchanged. The minor salts as a group resulted in a small improvement in growth when provided at twice the normal level.
Understanding and Reducing the Knowledge Effect: Implications for Writers

To be effective, writers must understand what knowledge they share with the audience and what they do not. Achieving this understanding is made difficult by the knowledge effect—a tendency of individuals to assume that their own knowledge is shared by others. Understanding the knowledge effect and methods for reducing it is potentially useful for understanding and teaching writing. In Study 1, we explored the impact of an individual's knowledge of technical terms on that person's ability to estimate other people's understanding of those terms. We assessed how individuals' familiarity with technical terms influenced their predictions that college freshmen and college graduates would understand those terms. Results indicate that familiarity with the meaning of technical terms leads to substantial overestimation of others' knowledge. In Study 2, we evaluated an online tutor designed to improve writers' predictions of other's word knowledge by providing them with feedback on the accuracy of their judgments.
Effectiveness of Cognitive/Behavioral Small Group Intervention for Reduction of Depression and Stress in Non-Hispanic White and Hispanic/Latino Women Dementia Family Caregivers: Outcomes and Mediators of Change

This study enrolled 184 middle-aged and older women (95 Non-Hispanic White and 89 Hispanic/Latino) who provided in-home hands-on care to an elderly relative with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Within ethnic group they were randomly assigned to either a CBT-based small group intervention program called “Coping with Caregiving” (CWC) that taught a variety of cognitive and behavioral skills to reduce stress and depression, or to a minimal telephone based control condition (TSC). Intervention lasted about 4 months; one post-treatment assessment was completed 6 months after baseline by interviewers blind to the intervention condition. Interviews and interventions were conducted in English or Spanish by trained staff. Results indicated that those in the CWC (regardless of ethnicity) showed greater improvement from pre to post intervention than those in the TSC on measures of depressive symptoms, overall life stress, and caregiving-specific stress. In order to investigate if these changes may have been related to one proposed mechanism of change in CBT (skill utilization), a new measure was constructed. Change in frequency of use and perceived helpfulness of adaptive coping skills were assessed in all caregivers. Results indicated that caregivers in CWC reported greater frequency of use, and greater perceived helpfulness, of these skills at post intervention compared to caregivers in the TSC. Improvement measured by dependent measures was correlated with an increase in these indices for those in the CWC. Tests for mediation suggest that effective skill utilization may mediate the effect of treatment on outcome. Implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations provided for future research.
Effect of boiling water aging on strength and fracture properties of chopped strand mat–polyester laminates

Four types of unsaturated polyesters and chopped strand mat laminates prepared from these resins were examined for their durability after immersion in boiling water. The boiling water aging of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) by use of a pressure cooker was found to be 3–4 times faster than boiling water immersion at atmospheric pressure. The weight gain of neat resins increased, and their tensile strength decreased with an increase in immersion time. No variation in the plane strain fracture toughness, KIc of the neat resins was observed after boiling water immersion. The elastic–plastic fracture toughness JIc of the immersed FRP was measured by a partial unloading procedure. Although JIc showed considerable scatter, on the whole, JIc of FRP was found to be independent of the four types of matrix resins and also was not effected by immersion in boiling water at 116°C for 24 h.
The precedence-assignment model for distributed databases concurrency control algorithms

We have developed a unified model, called the precedence-assignment model (PAM), of concurrency control algorithms in distributed database. It is shown that two-phase locking timestamp-ordering and other existing concurrency control algorithms may be modeled by PAM. We have also developed a new concurrency control algorithm under the PAM modeling framework, which is free from deadlocks and transaction restarts. Finally, a unified concurrency control subsystem for precedence-assignment algorithms is developed. By using this subsystem, different transactions may be executed under different concurrency control algorithms simultaneously.
Anxiety and sensitivity to ethanol and pentobarbital in alcohol withdrawal seizure-prone and withdrawal seizure-resistant mice.

Background: Withdrawal Seizure-Prone (WSP) and Withdrawal Seizure-Resistant (WSR) mice were selectively bred for high and low handling-induced convulsions, respectively, after chronic ethanol treatment. Withdrawal severity is one factor that may contribute to the development of alcoholism and/or substance abuse, and anxiety is another. We sought to explore whether these factors are genetically related. Methods: WSP and WSR mice of two replicate pairs of selected lines were tested for anxiety-related behaviors on the canopy stretched-attend-posture apparatus 20 min after intraperitoneal injection of ethanol (2 g/kg, 20% v/v), pentobarbital (20 mg/kg), or an equivalent volume of saline. Dependent measures of anxiety included number of stretched attend postures (SAP) and time spent in the exposed area of the apparatus. Number of line crossings, which measures overall activity, was also scored. Results: WSP mice given saline exhibited more SAP than WSR mice given saline, which indicated greater baseline anxiety. Ethanol and pentobarbital both reduced SAP and increased time spent in the exposed area of the apparatus, which indicated that both drugs exerted an anxiolytic effect. Despite baseline differences in SAP between selected lines, both anxiolytic drugs reduced SAP to similar levels in WSP and WSR mice. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that WSP mice are more sensitive than WSR mice to the anxiety-reducing effects of ethanol and pentobarbital. Some genes that influence this difference are likely to be the same as those that influence ethanol withdrawal severity. Thus, higher basal anxiety and greater genetic sensitivity to anxiolytic drug effects may relate to a greater genetic predisposition to the development of severe alcohol withdrawal signs.
Optimal price-controlled demand response with explicit modeling of consumer preference dynamics

This paper describes a new approach to modeling consumers' utility preferences in price-controlled demand systems, such as the demand for mobile service or electric energy. Relaxing the assumption that the consumer group size is infinite and individual utility preferences are static, we explicitly model their dynamics through a non-uniform and time varying probability distribution characterized by a well-defined dynamically changing parameter. This parameter is embedded into a stochastic dynamic programming problem used to solve for the optimal price policy. An analytic characterization of the optimal policy is derived based on the differential cost function which leads to an assisted value iteration approach that reduces computational complexity. Numerical results are provided to verify and elaborate that optimal policies conform to claims established in rigorous analytic investigations.
Interaction of Fe(II) with phosphate and sulfate on iron oxide surfaces

Sulfate and phosphate, oxoanions common in natural systems, affect iron oxide growth and dissolution processes, the adsorption behavior of divalent cations, and iron oxide phase transformations. These oxoanions may thus influence Fe(II) adsorption behavior and subsequently alter the mechanisms and products of Fe(II)-catalyzed Fe(III) oxide recrystallization processes, such as trace metal repartitioning. In this study, the macroscopic and molecular-scale effects of the coadsorption of Fe(II) and sulfate or phosphate onto Fe(III) oxide surfaces were investigated. Macroscopic adsorption edges show that both sulfate and phosphate increase Fe(II) adsorption and that Fe(II) increases sulfate and phosphate adsorption. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows that the cooperative adsorption behavior of oxoanions and aqueous Fe(II) likely results from a combination of ternary complexation and electrostatic interactions. Surface complexation modeling requires the inclusion of ternary complexes to simulate all conditions of the macroscopic data, further suggesting that these oxoanions and Fe(II) form ternary complexes on Fe(III) oxide surfaces. Despite clear evidence in previous research for Fe(II) oxidation upon adsorption on iron oxide surfaces, this work shows that Fe(II) also displays macroscopic and molecular-scale behaviors associated with divalent (i.e., non-oxidative) cation adsorption. Prior work has shown that metal release from iron oxides caused by ET-AE reactions is directly proportional to the macroscopically-determined Fe(II) surface coverage. Predicting the effects of sulfate and phosphate on processes controlled by ET-AE reactions at redox interfaces, such as mineral phase transformations and trace element repartitioning, may thus not require the explicit consideration of electron transfer processes.
The Soiling Characteristics of Textile Fibers: Part I

Methods are described for measuring the comparative soiling tendencies of textile fibers. It is shown that reflectance readings on soiled fibers measure an overall effect, part of which can be attributed to the weight and particle-size distribution of the retained soil, and part to the optical properties of the fibers themselves. It is suggested that the "effective soil content," which is defined as the weight of soil retained multiplied by the specific absorbance (of light) of that soil, is a more significant criterion of soiling than is either the weight of soil retained or the decrease in reflectance produced by the soil. Relative values for the effective soil content can be calculated from reflectance readings through use of the Kubelka-Munk equation. The soil retention of the fibers studied in creased in the following order: cotton, acetate, viscose rayon, nylon (variable, depending on soiling conditions), wool. The same order was maintained when the time of contact with the soil varied from 5 to 80 ...
Locus of Control in Drinking Driving Offenders and Non-Offenders

Abstract This study assesses the differences in locus of control among drinking driving offenders (DWI) when compared to non-drinking drivers (non-DWI) using Rotter's Internal External Locus of Control Scale (I-E) and the Drinking Related Locus of Control Scale (DRIE). DWI offenders demonstrated higher external scores than non-DWI group on both measures, however, on the DRIE, more internality was found for both groups.
Reliability Modeling of Large Wind Farms and Associateed Electric Utility Interface Systems

This paper is concerned with modeling the reliability characteristics in both probability and frequency of large electric utility application wind turbine generators together with their associated utility interface equipment. A computationally efficient algorithm is developed and applied to a wind farm with a special AC/DC/AC interface currently under design. The effects of various wind turbine/interface system component forced outage rates on the expected annual energy output of the farm is examined.
CHROMOSOME TRANSLOCATIONS INDUCED IN TRITICUM X AGROPYRON HYBRIDS BY X RAYS, PHOSPHORUS32, AND SULFUR33

THE PRESENT STUDY was intended both to measure cytogenetic effects of various radiation treatments on certain members of the Gramineae and to produce agronomically useful derivatives, if possible. The cytological facets are recorded here, while the "practical" aspects-the attempted translocation of desirable Agropyron genes onto synapsing Triticum chromosomes-are being transcribed for publication elsewhere. A few relative papers may be mentioned. Ehrenberg et al. (1949) placed kernels of barley and 4x and 6x wheat in 5' ml. of P32 solution, at 0.02 to 25.0 yc/grain, for 3 davs. A dose of 5 ,uc was generally lethal and yielded cytogenetic disturbances comparable to those from 25,000 r of X rays. Arnason et al. (1948) placed dormant kernels of 6x wheat, one per test-tube, in 0.1 ml. of Knop's solution with either 0.18 1tc or 0.018 ,uc of p32, for 13 days. "Both concentrations were effective in causing chromosome breakage and rearrangements." This same group (Spinks et al., 1948) treated 6x wheat with p32 by sprouting the grains in water 48 hr. and then putting them (one per container) in test-tubes with either 0.18 or 1.8 Mc in 0.1 ml. of solution for 2 to 4 days. The higher dose was lethal; with 80 per cent uptake (measured), each seedling received ca. 1.4 tc. Similar tests with other genera showed that 1.8 yc Of p32 or Sr90 consistently killed or severely inhibited seedlings. Barley caryopses were soaked by Thompson et al. (1950) for 96 hr. in Petri dishes containing 0.625 to 10.0 Mc Of p32 and 0.1 ml. of water per grain. One pc of absorbed p32 was found to give the same average mutation rate as 19,500 r of X rays, and it was concluded: "Radiophosphorus is highly mutagenic . . . [and] is expected to become very useful in mutation work and plant breeding . . ." Shebeski and Lawrence (1954) administered P32 to caryopses, seedlings, and pre-meiotic plants of
Simulating plasmaspheric field-aligned density profiles measured with IMAGE/RPI: Effects of plasmasphere refilling and ion heating

[1] The radio plasma imager (RPI) on board the IMAGE satellite measures electron density profiles along magnetic lines through radio sounding techniques. We simulate three density profiles measured by the RPI on 8 June 2001 using the field line interhemispheric plasma (FLIP) model and compare the modeled density profiles with observed profiles. While careful consideration of depletion of flux tubes followed by refilling over several days allows fair agreement between simulated and measured densities around the equator, the simulated densities in the off-equator regions remain significantly lower than those measured for all simulated flux tubes. It is shown that direct heating of ions in the plasmasphere during the plasmasphere refilling, in addition to heating through Coulomb collisions with hotter plasmaspheric electrons, can improve the agreement in the off-equator regions. The enhanced ion pressure in the high altitude part of magnetic field line due to the ion heating impedes the ionospheric inflow from both hemispheres toward the equator, giving rise to decreased transport of ionospheric ions into the equatorial region and thus increased density gradient along the magnetic field line.
Molecular Mechanism of Action of Fluoride on Bone Cells

Fluoride is an effective anabolic agent to increase spinal bone density by increasing bone formation, and at therapeutically relevant (i.e., micromolar) concentrations, it stimulates bone cell proliferation and activities in vitro and in vivo. However, the fluoride therapy of osteoporosis has been controversial, in large part because of a lack of consistent antifracture efficacy. However, information regarding the molecular mechanism of action of fluoride may improve its optimum and correct usage and may disclose potential targets for the development of new second generation drugs that might have a better efficacy and safety profile. Accordingly, this review will address the molecular mechanisms of the osteogenic action of fluoride. In this regard, we and other workers have proposed two competing models, both of which involve the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) mitogenic signal transduction pathway. Our model involves a fluoride inhibition of a unique fluoride-sensitive phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTP) in osteoblasts, which results in a sustained increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation level of the key signaling proteins of the MAPK mitogenic transduction pathway, leading to the potentiation of the bone cell proliferation initiated by growth factors. The competing model proposes that fluoride acts in coordination with aluminum to form fluoroaluminate, which activates a pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o protein on bone cell membrane, leading to an activation of cellular protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), which in turn leads to increases in the tyrosine phosphorylation of signaling proteins of the MAPK mitogenic signal transduction pathway, ultimately leading to a stimulation of cell proliferation. A benefit of our model, but not the other model, is that it accounts for all the unique properties of the osteogenic action of fluoride. These include the low effective fluoride dose, the skeletal tissue specificity, the requirement of PTK-activating growth factors, the sensitivity to changes in medium phosphate concentration, the preference for undifferentiated osteoblasts, and the involvement of the MAPK. Unlike fluoride, the mitogenic action of fluoroaluminate is not specific for skeletal cells. Moreover, the mitogenic action of fluoroaluminate shows several important, different characteristics than that of fluoride. Thus, it is likely that our model of a fluoride-sensitive PTP represents the actual molecular mechanism of the osteogenic action of fluoride.
Population growth and economic development

Abstract Much of the concern about the deleterious effect of a rapid growth of population on economic development is based largely on the view that either household fertility decisions are exogenous or, if endogenous, pervasive and significant externalities distort them. It is argued that this view is mistaken and that many of the alleged deleterious consequences result more from inappropriate policies and institutions than from rapid population growth. Thus policy reform and institutional change are called for, rather than policy interventions in private fertility decisions to counter these effects.
Universality class of a one-dimensional cellular automaton.

Recently, Bidaux, Boccara, and Chat\'e [Phys. Rev. A 39, 3094 (1989)], introduced a probabilistic cellular automaton whose one-dimensional version exhibits a continuous transition to an absorbing state. Steady-state simulations gave critical exponents different from those of directed percolation, a surprising result, as the universality class of directed percolation is known to be very robust. I have studied the nonequilibrium critical behavior of the one-dimensional model using time-dependent Monte Carlo simulations, and determined three dynamic critical exponents, all of which are in excellent agreement with directed percolation.
Sofic subshifts and piecewise isometric systems

We study the natural symbolic dynamics associated with piecewise continuous, non-invertible, dynamical systems. Our study is centered primarily on the relationship between the point-set topological properties of the partition of the system and the symbolic coding. We prove that for a class of maps locally preserving distances with regular partition, the associated symbolic dynamics cannot embed subshifts of finite type of positive entropy. Hence, in particular, almost sofic subshifts obtained from the symbolic dynamics have zero entropy. However, there are examples in Euclidean spaces of systems with non-regular partitions for which the coding maps can be surjective, particularly embedding all subshifts. For all such examples, the associated group of isometries is a subgroup of .
Is nanotechnology a PLT sandwich? (Key Lecture)

Decreasing feature sizes due to advances in nanotechnology place a premium on careful treatment of phase, length, and time in optics. All three quantities are intermeshed due to morphology at the nanometer length-scale. Speculation of nanotechnology for optics as a PLT sandwich has emerged from examining the characteristics of the responses of sculptured thin films to optical pulses and beams.
Trona in Nile Cone Late Quaternary sediments: Probable redepositional origin

Abstract Trona and thenardite, evaporites formed in arid terrestrial settings, are identified in Late Quaternary sediments cored on the outer Egyptian Shelf and the Rosetta Fan of the Nile Cone, eastern Mediterranean. The distinct spatial—temporal distribution of these minerals suggests emplacement by resedimentation rather than an authigenic or artifact origin. Trona probably was eroded from saline deposits on the subaerially exposed continental margin during the last major eustatic low stand when the Nile Delta migrated northward toward the outer shelf (from about 23,000 to 18,000 years B.P.); evaporites then were transported downslope and rapidly buried with fine-grained terrigenous sediment in deep marine environments. Trona in some younger sections (at about 5000 and 2500–3000 years B.P.) may record Late Holocene changes in climate or of paleoceanography, but more likely can be attributed to slumping and downslope displacement of some outershelf evaporite-bearing sections.
Characterization of oil components from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico using fluorescence EEM and PARAFAC techniques

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) were used to characterize oil components and to examine their fate and transformation processes during the unprecedented Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Water samples were collected during two cruises in May and June 2010 soon after the spill began. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectra of seawater samples strongly resemble those of crude oil from the Macondo well and weathered oil collected from Gulf surface waters. This indicates the influence of oil on marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) which yielded elevated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, higher UV–vis absorbance, and higher optically inferred molecular weight DOM in the water column. Two major types of DOM were found in the water column: one with low abundance but high optical activity and the other with high mass concentration yet low optical activity. Higher specific UV absorbance but lower spectral slope values observed for deep-water samples indicates the presence of less degraded or fresher crude oil in deep waters. Results of PARAFAC modeling revealed three oil-related components corresponding to crude and weathered oil in the water column: the most prominent one (namely C1) centered on Ex/Em 226/340 nm and the other two components (C2 and C6) centered on 236/360 and 252/311 nm, respectively. In addition, there is another DOM component (C3), partially representing chemically dispersed oil. Interestingly, the oil component ratios, an intensive property, varied with time and the degradation status of oil. We hypothesize that C2 (236/360 nm) is mostly a degraded product while C6 (252/311 nm) is a crude oil component with lower molecular weight, but at the same time, could be derived from oil degradation. Changes in fluorescence component ratios can thus be used as a compelling index to track the fate and transport of oil in marine environments.
ANCA positive vasculitis in a patient with nodular Graves' disease caused by carbimazole

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive vasculitis is an uncommon and infrequently recognized adverse event with thionamide drugs. It is most commonly reported with propylthiouracil (PTU) and rarely with carbimazole (CBZ). We report a male patient who presented with arthralgias, fever, and other symptoms of hyperthyroidism who was on CBZ treatment on and off for the past 14 years. His laboratory evaluation revealed a diagnosis of ANCA positive vasculitis. CBZ was stopped and prednisolone was started in tapering doses while he underwent radioiodine ablation for control of hyperthyroidism. This treatment leads to clinical improvement in the patient. This is the second case report from India.
Bubble Formation from Wall Orifice in Liquid Cross-Flow Under Low Gravity

Two-phase flows present a wide variety of applications for spacecraft thermal control systems design. Bubble formation and detachment is an integral part of the two phase flow science. The objective of the present work is to experimentally investigate the effects of liquid cross-flow velocity, gas flow rate, and orifice diameter on bubble formation in a wall-bubble injection configuration. Data were taken mainly under reduced gravity conditions but some data were taken in normal gravity for comparison. The reduced gravity experiment was conducted aboard the NASA DC-9 Reduced Gravity Aircraft. The results show that the process of bubble formation and detachment depends on gravity, the orifice diameter, the gas flow rate, and the liquid cross-flow velocity. The data are analyzed based on a force balance, and two different detachment mechanisms are identified. When the gas momentum is large, the bubble detaches from the injection orifice as the gas momentum overcomes the attaching effects of liquid drag and inertia. The surface tension force is much reduced because a large part of the bubble pinning edge at the orifice is lost as the bubble axis is tilted by the liquid flow. When the gas momentum is small, the force balance in the liquid flow direction is important, and the bubble detaches when the bubble axis inclination exceeds a certain angle.
The Identification of the Endogenous Ligands of Natural Killer T Cells Reveals the Presence of Mammalian α-Linked Glycosylceramides

Glycosylceramides in mammalian species are thought to be present in the form of β-anomers. This conclusion was reinforced by the identification of only one glucosylceramide and one galactosylceramide synthase, both β-transferases, in mammalian genomes. Thus, the possibility that small amounts of α-anomers could be produced by an alternative enzymatic pathway, by an unfaithful enzyme, or spontaneously in unusual cellular compartments has not been examined in detail. We approached the question by taking advantage of the exquisite specificity of T and B lymphocytes and combined it with the specificity of catabolic enzymes of the sphingolipid pathway. Here, we demonstrate that mammalian immune cells produce constitutively very small quantities of α-glycosylceramides, which are the major endogenous ligands of natural killer T cells. Catabolic enzymes of the ceramide and glycolipid pathway tightly control the amount of these α-glycosylceramides. The exploitation of this pathway to manipulate the immune response will create new therapeutic opportunities.
Marangoni Dryer Integrated High Performance Cleaner for Cu/Low k Post Strip Clean for 45nm Technology Node and Beyond

To address the water mark issue from hydrophobic film drying, and the stringent particle removal requirements for the 45nm technology node and beyond, we developed a cleaner with an innovative single wafer Marangoni dryer. The single wafer Marangoni dryer design features and process characterization data are presented in this paper. The major results can be summarized as: (1) With the immersion type Marangoni dryer, as the wafer is lifted out of a DIW bath, a stable and uniform meniscus can be easily maintained, making the single-wafer Marangoni dryer ideal for drying hydrophilic, hydrophobic or hydrophobic/hydrophilic mixed patterned wafers; (2) The new Marangoni dryer leaves ~14nm [1] water film on the wafer after drying, therefore any dissolved or suspended materials contained inside the water film, and potentially left on the wafer surface after water evaporation, is less than 14nm in diameter. This feature is critical for the 45nm technology node and beyond because 23nm particle could be killer defects at these nodes [2]; (3) Because of the strong Marangoni flow effect, high aspect ratio features can be completely dried without leaving any water droplets inside the trenches; therefore copper corrosion can be prevented; (4) The Marangoni dryer uses N2 as the carrier gas, so when a wafer is lifted out of the degasified DIW bath through the N2/IPA spray zone, it is thoroughly dried in an oxygen-free environment before exposure to the ambient environment; (5) The Marangoni dryer is free of electrostatic charge and centrifugal force because of the slow (2mm/s~20mm/s) wafer linear lifting speed compared to linear speed at wafer edge during SRD.
Trypsin-binding IgG in cystic fibrosis

CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder with a frequency of about 1/1,600 among newborn infants of European descent. In spite of extensive investigation its primary molecular abnormality remains unknown. It has been observed that most CF patients lack an α2 macroglobulin–protease complex1 and that binding of trypsin and other proteases to α2 macroglobulin (α2M) is lower in plasma of CF patients than in that of normal controls2. We therefore decided to study the interaction of trypsin with plasma proteins of CF patients. Here we report that trypsin-binding IgG (TbIgG) is present in 80% of CF patients and in 30% of their mothers, but not in 97% of normal controls or in other relatives of CF patients. Experimental evidence supports the antibody nature of TbIgG, which is presumably produced against the porcine trypsin ingested by CF patients as pancreatic extracts for substitutive enzyme therapy.
Physical parameters for brian uptake: optimizing log P, log D and pKa of T H A

Abstract Two positions on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA), have been identified which can be modified to vary log P, log D and pKa values. Most importantly, these changes can be carried out without altering its AChE activity.
Metal Complexes of fluorophospines XII .A novel heterobimetallic fluorophosphine metal carbonyl complex

Abstract Reaction of P[N(C 6 H 5 )PF 2 3 with excess Fe 2 (CO) 9 in boiling diethyl ether results in complexation of the uncomplexed phosphorus atom to give the heterobimetallic complex (OC) 4 FeP[N(C 6 H 5 )PF 2 ] 3 Mo(CO) 3 .
Two-dimensional optical measurement of wave slope.

Presentation d'une nouvelle methode de mesure combinant le concept de l'enregistrement de pente en lumiere transmise avec des sondes modernes a couplage de charge, des methodes d'enregistrement video et de traitement par ordinateur. On obtient un systeme a hautes performances pour mesurer les spectres d'ondes a 2 dimensions, la vitesse de phase, et les interactions entre ondes courtes et ondes longues
Response to Garcia et al.

The letter by Garcia et al. (2012) suggests our conclusions that (1) TCRα chain pairing can modify the TCRβ chain binding reaction with MHC and (2) by pairing with a different TCR Vα domain, a TCRβ loop conformation changed and created an altered pMHC binding mode are not supported by the data presented in our recent Immunity article (Stadinski et al., 2011). Below we summarize the question, model system, and the findings of the article to show how we justify these conclusions.
Eating Disorders and Health Insurance

Eating disorders are being diagnosed and managed by an increasing number of pediatricians and practitioners of adolescent medicine. These physicians are increasingly discovering the power and importance of their patients' health insurance status in the management of these conditions because the lack of appropriate insurance may often pose obstacles and barriers to care. This article provides an analysis of this situation through brief case presentations followed by a discussion and recommendations. EATING DISORDERS Eating disorders involve a series of conditions that include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and nonspecific eating disorders that are often of long duration, sometimes life threatening, and in many instances chronic and/or with frequent relapses. They need to be treated from a biomedical perspective by a variety of professionals (physicians, nurses, nutritionists), yet this is usually insufficient. Behavioral and mental health treatment need to be provided as well, including input from professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social
Making historical sign language materials accessible: A prototype database of early ASL

In the last few years we have begun developing a database for studying the history of American Sign Language (ASL), and more generally as a prototype for making historical and contemporary sign language materials accessible to a variety of users. Our prototype began with a set of films, produced by the National Association of the Deaf, of master signers from the period 1910 to 1920. In addition to a digitized frame by frame version of these films, we have added a full transcription and a linguistic coding of each sign and sentence in the films. We are in the process of expanding these materials, adding further types of coding and representation of the items, and developing an interface permitting users to access parts of these materials in accord with their interests and needs. This paper describes our work thus far, and illustrates one possible use of these materials with an example of historical linguistic change.
The Porosity of Dark Meteorites and the Structure of Low-Albedo Asteroids

Abstract We report new measurements of the densities of dark CI, CM, CV, and CO carbonaceous chondrite and black ordinary chondrite meteorites. These meteorites are suggested as candidate materials for some low-albedo asteroids. The reported low bulk densities of Phobos, Deimos, and 253 Mathilde are substantially below all measured meteorites except for one sample of a water-rich CI meteorite. However, the absence of water features in the spectra of these objects rules out hydrated materials in their surface regions. Our bulk density measurements of anhydrous carbonaceous chondrites and shock-blackened ordinary chondrites show that these low-albedo meteorites have similar bulk densities that are substantially greater than those of the hydrated carbonaceous chondrites. For anhydrous objects, bulk density alone is not a diagnostic parameter for distinguishing between these possible analogues to C-asteroid compositions. However, these results strongly imply that anhydrous dark asteroids must be very porous. To match the observed bulk density of 234 Mathilde with any type of meteorite, the asteroid would have to have porosities greater than 40%.
Septic Arthritis of the Temporomandibular Joint: Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Background Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular (TM) joint is rare, but it is associated with high risk for significant morbidity.
Does decompressive surgery improve outcome in patients with metastatic epidural spinal-cord compression?

Does decompressive surgery improve outcome in patients with metastatic epidural spinal-cord compression?
Determination of trypsin and chymotrypsin with remazolbrilliant blue-hide.

Abstract The determination of trypsin and chymotrypsin with hide-substrates covalently labeled with Remazolbrilliant Blue R is described. Specific assay conditions and kinetic data for these two enzymes are presented and improvements in the preparation of Remazolbrilliant Blue-hide (RBB-hide) are reported. RBB-hide, in contrast to the synthetic substrate N- benzoyl- dl -arginine p- nitroanilide (BAPNA), is almost completely resistant to the action of α2-macroglobulin-bound trypsin in the presence of serum. Conversely, BAPNA appears to be resistant to the trypsin -α1- antitrypsin complex, but RBB-hide is hydrolyzed to a small extent. These findings are of significance in the study of tryptic activity of plasma, ascites, pleural effusions, etc. in various pathological conditions.
Distinctions among various modes of empathy-related reactions: A matter of importance in humans

Preston & de Waal minimized differences among constructs such as empathy, sympathy, and personal distress. However, such distinctions have been shown to relate differently to altruistic behavior. Moreover, although the authors discussed the role of regulation in empathy, they did not consider the possibility that sometimes empathy is not well-regulated and likely leads to personal distress rather than sympathy.
Partition Functions, Loop Measure, and Versions of SLE

We discuss the partition function view of the Schramm-Loewner evolution. After reviewing a number of known results in the framework of Brownian loop measures and scaling rules for partition functions, we give some speculation about multiply connected domains.
Tobacco hypersensitivity and environmental tobacco smoke exposure in a pediatric population

Background Skin testing and RAST have verified the existence of tobacco-specific IgE. However, published studies report conflicting results concerning the clinical significance of tobacco IgE. Previous studies have not focused on the role of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) as it relates to tobacco hypersensitivity (TH) in nonsmoking children. Objective We used nonsmoking pediatric patients to investigate the relationship between ETS and TH. Methods Children, ages 4 to 10 years, were prospectively enrolled. ETS exposure and smoke-triggered symptoms were recorded by questionnaire and physician history. Patients were given a skin test (ST) with a panel of aeroallergens plus tobacco extract. A ST reaction to at least one aeroallergen classified a patient as atopic; a ST reaction to tobacco classified a patient as TH. Results We enrolled 170 patients, mean age 7.2 years. We found 58 (34%) patients reported routine exposure to ETS and 78 (46%) patients reported ETS-induced symptoms. We found 121 (71%) atopic patients and 61 (36%) TH patients. TH was more common in atopic patients ( P P Conclusions We evaluated the clinical significance of TH in a nonsmoking patient population related to ETS exposure. We concluded that although TH is statistically related to atopy and ETS exposure, the low predictive values of skin testing for TH limit its clinical usefulness.
Molecular Specificity of Multiple Hippocampal Processes Governing Fear Extinction

Over many years, fear extinction has been conceptualized as one dominant process, new inhibitory learning, which serves to dampen previously acquired fear. Here we present an alternative view, that brain region-specific processing of representations, expectations and emotional attributes of the fear-provoking event, recruits unique mechanisms that interdependently contribute to the conditioning and extinction of fear. The co-occurrence of these mechanisms within the fear circuit can thus be tracked and differentiated at a molecular and cellular level. Among others, the transcriptional regulators cFos, cAMP-dependent response element binding protein (CREB), Zif268, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk) stand out as hippocampal nuclear markers signaling novelty, arousal, retrieval, and prediction error, respectively. Consistent with evidence from human studies, these findings indicate that, beyond inhibitory learning, fear extinction requires modification of the emotional attributes and expectations that define the threatening context. Given the likely dysregulation of one or more of these processes in anxiety disorders, a key research challenge for the future is the identification and enhancement of individual extinction mechanisms to target the specific components of fear. Environmental stimuli lacking affective properties (conditioned stimuli, CS) rapidly become threatening if presented with stressful events (unconditioned stimuli, US). Consequently, based on a CS-US association, the presentation of the CS triggers species-specific fear responses until the US consistently stops occurring. At that point, new learning takes place and the fear response declines, a phenomenon termed extinction. The view that extinction occurs because a new, inhibitory CS-noUS association gains control over behavior, has remained dominant in the field. The implications of impaired fear regulation in the development of anxiety disorders have stimulated intense research in this area. Rodent studies identified the circuits involved in the conditioning and extinction of fear of salient cues, generating data that were confirmed in humans with brain imaging approaches. Nevertheless, research with experimental animals has not fully taken advantage of human data in order to better interpret extinction mechanisms in the framework of learning, expectation and emotion governing fear-motivated behavior. The present article aims to summarize recent molecular evidence on fear extinction, focusing on hippocampal mechanisms and experimental models of contextual fear, and compare the results with other relevant fear paradigms and human imaging studies. Instead of conceptualizing extinction learning as one process, such as CS-noUS association or inhibitory learning, we propose that fear extinction reflects the behavioral output of several region-specific learning processes that modify different components of the conditioning memory. The significance of these findings is discussed in the framework of fear regulation and anxiety disorders.
Stability of alkali ion-conducting solid and liquid electrolytes; Thermodynamic aspects

Abstract Thermodynamic stability windows and decomposition reactions of a variety of low temperature ternary alkali electrolytes are discussed with integration of thermodynamic information, phase equilibria, and the composition dependence of electrode potentials. The question of stability of electrolytes versus alkali metals is considered in general terms. It is shown that low and possibly ambient temperature electrolytes exist - certain alkali organo-aluminum and organo-boron phases - that are truly stable versus alkali metals. Hydroxide electrolytes are found to have large potential stability windows, and some are stable at high alkali activities. Certain low melting halide electrolytes are also stable versus lithium and lithium alloys. Alkali amide salts are otherwise attractive, but have narrow stability ranges.
Influence of Race and Symptom Expression on Clinicians' Depressive Disorder Identification in African American Men

Studies show that depressed African Americans are more likely to be misdiagnosed than are depressed Caucasians. A randomized sample of 239 California licensed clinical social workers and licensed marriage and family therapists were shown experimentally designed clinical videos and asked to make diagnostic judgments. Clinicians were randomly assigned to view 1 of 4 videos of 2 young adult male actors, 1 African American and 1 Caucasian, playing the part of a depressed client engaging in a first-time therapy session. Each actor played 2 roles: a depressed man with classic symptoms of a major depressive disorder (MDD) and a depressed man displaying symptoms that meet the MDD criteria described in the literature as African American cultural expressions of depression. Results indicate statistically significant differences in the identification of mood disorder; licensed clinicians under diagnosed unipolar mood disorder more frequently when clients of either race presented with culturally expressed depression s...