cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial hyperoxidation signals residual intracellular dysfunction after global ischemia in rat neocortex.

Reperfusion after global ischemia (10–60 min in duration) in rat neocortex most commonly provoked transient hyperoxidation of mitochondrial electron carriers, tissue hyperoxygenation, and CBF hyperemia. These responses were normally accompanied by recovery of K+ homeostasis and EEG spike activity. Goals of this research were to understand putative relationships among these postreperfusion events with special emphasis on determining whether mitochondrial hyperoxidation results from intracellular changes that may modulate residual damage. The amplitude of postischemic mitochondrial hyperoxidation (PIMHo) did not increase when CBF increased above an apparent threshold during reperfusion, and tissue hyperoxygenation was not required for PIMHo to occur or to continue. These findings suggest that PIMHo is not merely a response to increased CBF and tissue hyperoxygenation; rather, PIMHo is modulated, at least in part, by residual intracellular derangements that limit mitochondrial electron transport. This sugges...
COMPUTER SUPPORTED INSTRUCTION IN STATISTICS: LONG RANGE IMPLICATIONS

This paper reports results of a study designed to measure the long-term impact of computer supported instruction in an introductory business statistics course. Very modest behavioral outcomes were found. Computer supported instruction led to strictly short-term positive attitudinal change toward computers and their value, strictly long-term positive attitudinal change toward quantitative methods and their value, and sustained positive attitudinal change toward computers as a teaching aid.
Novel biodegradable poly(disulfide amine)s for gene delivery with high efficiency and low cytotoxicity.

Novel biodegradable poly(disulfide amine)s with defined structure, high transfection efficiency, and low cytotoxicity were designed and synthesized as nonviral gene delivery carriers. Michael addition between N,N′-cystaminebisacrylamide (CBA) and three N-Boc protected diamines (N-Boc-1,2-diaminoethane, N-Boc-1,4-diaminobutane, and N-Boc-1,6-diaminohexane) followed by N-Boc deprotection under acidic condition resulted in final cationic polymers with disulfide bonds, tertiary amine groups in main chains, and pendant primary amine groups in side chains. Polymer structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, and their molecular weights were in the range 3.3−4.7 kDa with narrow polydispersity (1.12−1.17) as determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Acid–base titration assay showed that the poly(disulfide amine)s possessed superior buffering capacity to branched PEI 25 kDa in the pH range 7.4−5.1, which may facilitate the escape of DNA from the endosomal compartment. Gel retardation assay demonstrated that signi...
Modulation of the Heme Electronic Structure and Cystathionine β-synthase Activity by Second Coordination Sphere Ligands: The Role of Heme Ligand Switching in Redox Regulation

In humans, cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) is a hemeprotein, which catalyzes a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent condensation reaction. Changes in the heme environment are communicated to the active site, which is approximately 20A away. In this study, we have examined the role of H67 and R266, which are in the second coordination sphere of the heme ligands, H65 and C52, respectively, in modulating the heme's electronic properties and in transmitting information between the heme and active sites. While the H67A mutation is comparable to wild-type CBS, interesting differences are revealed by mutations at the R266 site. The pathogenic mutant, R266K, is moderately PLP-responsive while the R266M mutation shows dramatic differences in the ferrous state. The electrostatic interaction between C52 and R266 is critical for stabilizing the ferrous heme and its disruption leads to the facile formation of a 424nm (C-424) absorbing ferrous species, which is inactive, compared to the active 449nm ferrous species for wild-type CBS. Resonance Raman studies on the R266M mutant reveal that the kinetics of C52 rebinding after Fe-CO photolysis are comparable to that of wild-type CBS. EXAFS studies on C-424 CBS are consistent with the presence of two axial N/O low Z scatters with only one being a rigid unit of a histidine residue while the other could be a solvent molecule, an oxygen atom from the peptide backbone or a side chain nitrogen. The redox potential for the heme in full-length CBS is -350+/-4mV and is substantially lower than the value of -287+/-2mV determined for truncated CBS. A redox-regulated ligand change has the potential to serve as an allosteric on/off switch in human CBS and the second sphere ligand, R266, plays an important role in this transition.
Practical considerations for imputation of untyped markers in admixed populations

Imputation of genotypes for markers untyped in a study sample has become a standard approach to increase genome coverage in genome-wide association studies at practically zero cost. Most methods for imputing missing genotypes extend previously described algorithms for inferring haplotype phase. These algorithms generally fall into three classes based on the underlying model for estimating the conditional distribution of haplotype frequencies: a cluster-based model, a multinomial model, or a population genetics-based model. We compared BEAGLE, PLINK, and MACH, representing the three classes of models, respectively, with specific attention to measures of imputation success and selection of the reference panel for an admixed study sample of African Americans. Based on analysis of chromosome 22 and after calibration to a fixed level of 90% concordance between experimentally determined and imputed genotypes, MACH yielded the largest absolute number of successfully imputed markers and the largest gain in coverage of the variation captured by HapMap reference panels. Following the common practice of performing imputation once, the Yoruba in Ibadan, Nigeria (YRI) reference panel outperformed other HapMap reference panels, including 1) African ancestry from Southwest USA (ASW) data, 2) an unweighted combination of the Northern and Western Europe (CEU) and YRI data into a single reference panel, and 3) a combination of the CEU and YRI data into a single reference panel with weights matching estimates of admixture proportions. For our admixed study sample, the optimal strategy involved imputing twice with the HapMap CEU and YRI reference panels separately and then merging the data sets.
A generalized Kantorovich theorem for nonlinear equations based on function splitting

The Kantorovich theorem is a fundamental tool in nonlinear analysis for proving the existence and uniqueness of solutions of nonlinear equations arising in various fields. In the present paper we formulate and prove a generalized Kantorovich theorem that contains as special cases the Kantorovich theorem and a weak Kantorovich theorem recently proved by Uko and Argyros. An illustrative example is given to show that the new theorem is applicable in some situations in which the other two theorems are not applicable.
Novel process for the production of large, stable photosensitivity in glass films

Germanosilicate glasses exhibit a significant photosensitive response which has been linked to the presence of oxygen‐deficient germanium point defects in the glass structure. Based on this correlation, a process which produces highly photosensitive thin films without the use of hydrogen exposures, has been developed. This process, applicable to a wide range of desired xGeO2:bf>(1−x)SiO2 film composition, uses reactive atmosphere sputtering and allows extensive control of the degree of oxidation of the films during synthesis to produce dramatic demonstrations of photosensitivity. In preliminary tests, our films demonstrated ultraviolet‐induced refractive index perturbations (Δn) of up to −4×10−3 in the visible and −0.4×10−3 at 1.5 μm. Since no hydrogen exposure was necessary, this process yielded stable films which retained their predisposition for large photosensitivity for over one year of storage.
Markov Chain Design Problems

System design problems using Markov chains and denoted Markov chain design problems are introduced. It is assumed that the chains of the problem have transition matrices and one period conditional expected rewards which are differentiable functions of a vector parameter. A gradient algorithm for maximizing the sum of the discounted expected reward or the limit of the one period expected reward is presented. The algorithm uses approximate objective function values and approximate gradients at each stage. Numerical work on a simple one dimensional queueing model solved the design problem correctly and quickly even though minimal approximation accuracy was used. The convergence of the approximation is proven for an appropriately converging sequence of design parameter values.
Accounting for Environmental Assets

A country can cut down its forests, erode its soils, pollute its aquifers and hunt its wildlife and fisheries to extinction, but its measured income is not affected as these assets disappear. Impoverishment is taken for progress.
Optimum positioning of a servomechanism

The problem of optimum positioning (point-to-point motion) is posed for a coupled multiactuator system. After feedback decoupling is applied, the hierarchy of goals determines the strategy of the optimum control and the structure of a controller. The approach is applied to a multilink manipulator and several subproblems are solved linked with dynamics of the actuator and optimization with constraints on variables.
Palliative Care Consultation in the Process of Organ Donation after Cardiac Death

Palliative care consultation has been demonstrated to be useful in many situations in which expert symptom management, communication around sensitive issues, and family support may serve to enhance or improve care. The process of organ donation is an example of this concept, specifically the process of donation after cardiac death (DCD). DCD allows patients with severe, irreversible brain injuries that do not meet standard criteria for brain death to donate organs when death is declared by cardiopulmonary criteria. The DCD method of donation has been deemed an ethically appropriate means of organ donation and is supported by the organ procurement and medical communities, as well as the public. The palliative care (PC) team can make a significant contribution to the care of the patient and family in the organ donation process. In this paper we describe the controlled DCD process at one institution that utilizes the PC team to provide expert end-of-life care, including comprehensive medical management and f...
Acceptorlike behavior of nitrogen deep traps in GaAs : N

We report the observation of excited states of holes for acceptorlike excitons bound to isolated nitrogen impurities in $\mathrm{GaAs}:\mathrm{N}$ under high hydrostatic pressures. Appearance of a large absorption resonance $(5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K})$ in optical transmission and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopies leads to the identification of the $2S$ excited hole state associated with the ground-state nitrogen isoelectronic bound exciton---commonly known as the ${\mathrm{N}}_{X}$ state from earlier $\mathrm{GaAs}$-based alloy studies. Comparison with the well-established effective-mass theory of Baldereschi and Lipari for excited-state $S$-type spectra of acceptors in semiconductors provides good qualitative agreement with our data. We thus deduce at $26.9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kbar}$ the ground-state hole ionization energy as being $\ensuremath{\sim}19.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$, which in turn leads to a unique electron binding energy of $\ensuremath{\sim}10.3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ for isolated nitrogen traps in $\mathrm{GaAs}:\mathrm{N}$ at this pressure. These data and accompanying interpretations may provide for further understanding of the deep-level behavior of isoelectronic binding mechanisms in semiconductors.
Enzymatic and chemical reactivities of sym-monothiopyrophosphate

The synthesis of sym-monothiopyrophosphate (MTP) is described and the relative hydrolysis rate constants are reported for the dianion, trianion, and tetraanion in aqueous solution. The MTP-dianion undergoes hydrolysis at a rate 5 x 107-fold faster than the dianion of pyrophosphate (PPi) and the trianion undergoes hydrolysis 2.7 x 107-fold faster than PPi-trianion. The entropy of activation for the hydrolysis of MTP-trianion is 0.2 cal/deg/mol, and the enthalpy of activation is 19.7 kcal/mol. The hydrolysis appears to involve a dissociative transition state. The hydrolysis of the tetramethyl ester of MTP, in contrast, appears to involve an associative transition state. The Mg complex of MTP is a reasonable substrate for PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase and inorganic pyrophosphatase, despite its larger size relative to PPi. Therefore, MTP is tolerated within the active sites and in the transition states of enzymes that catalyze phosphoryl transfer from PPi to acceptor molecules. These observations are consistent with the transition states for these enzymes being dissociative in nature, although they do not prove that they are dissociative. MTP is, on the other hand, not a substrate for acetyl-CoA synthase, an enzyme that utilizes the Mg complex of PPi as a specific acceptor for the adenylyl group, an alkylphosphoryl group. Inasmuch as nonenzymatic reactions of this type involve associative transition states, it may be that the larger size of MTP relative to PPi undermines the catalytic process in the active site of acetyl-CoA synthase, which may catalyze adenylyl transfer through an associative transition state.
Books, puppets, and sharing: Teaching preschool children to share

This quasi-experimental study examined the change in a specific behavior in preschoolers, that of sharing, after treatment with bibliotherapy combined with puppetry. The study took place in a small preschool in southern Illinois and utilized six 3- to 5-year-olds as the subjects. The subjects were preobserved to obtain a frequency count of the number of times sharing occurred in a 10-minute period. Each child was observed for 10 minutes daily for one week. After preobservations were completed, the subjects received daily 30-minute treatments of bibliotherapy and puppetry for one week. These treatments entailed the reading of books to the subjects by the teacher/researcher. The books were selected because they had themes relevant to the topic of sharing. This was followed by the presentation of puppets by the teacher/researcher to role model the characters in the books. Afterwards, the children used the puppets to portray the characters in the books. Following the treatment period the subjects were postobserved using the same methods and procedures as in the preobservations. The results found that combined bibliotherapy and puppetry helped increase sharing behavior in preschoolers.
keV neutron capture in iron

Abstract Gamma ray intensities are given for capture of 15–80 keV neutrons in 54Fe, 56Fe and natural iron and for their variation with neutron energy. The results show a correlation with thermal capture and (d, p) results for low-lying final states in 55Fe and 57Fe thus suggesting that there is a considerable overlap of the configurations of the capturing and final states. However, reduced widths are not as large as would be expected for single-particle transitions. Limited evidence is observed of an anticorrelation between (d, p) and capture results, and the explanation in terms of possible doorway states can only apply to a small number of transitions. The observation of transitions to 5 2 − and 7 2 − final states is used to obtain evidence on the location of d-wave resonances in both 54Fe and 56Fe. Information on the isotopic allocation of resonances is also contained in the neutron energy spectra.
How square is the survival curve of a given species

An investigator-independent parameter, the prolate rectangularity index kappa for describing the so-called rectangularity of biological population survival curves, is introduced, developed, and applied to realworld survival datasets. This new rectangularity parameter is constructed using an intrinsic time scaling that places the intrinsic inflection point time at a value of unity so that species populations may be compared independently of their extrinsic life span distributions. The analytical expressions for the prolate rectangularity index of the theoretical Gompertz and Weibull continuous models are obtained, as are numerical values of this index for discrete experimental population survival data sets from two dissimilar species with orders of magnitude difference in extrinsic life span range. The values of the parameter are also compared for populations of a single species having differing dietary regimens, and for human demographic populations at decade intervals in extrinsic chronological time during the current century. It is found that scaling time, using the survival inflection point, appreciably collapses extrinsic survival profile dispersion among similar populations and allows a more meaningful comparison of profiles among dissimilar populations. Using this method of scaling, demographic populations within the United States are seen to have rectangularity parameter values that have been slowly drifting during this century toward values indicating a higher degree of rectangularity. In recent decades, however, the trend appears to be stabilizing with kappa values indicating no approach towards the theoretical maximum rectangularity. This apparent submaximal stabilization of kappa supports a hypothesis of no genetically pre-determined maximum life span in human populations. Or, if such a maximum exists, we are not currently near it.
Structural characterization of a polymer monolayer on a solid surface

Abstract A Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer of poly(octodecylmethacrylate) has been formed on a water surface and transfered to a solid substrate. The polymer was deposited onto a purified water subphase from a dilute (0.5-0.05 mg ml−1) solution in dichloromethane and the solvent allowed to evaporate. After several cycles of compressing the monolayer and allowing it to expand, the pressure-area isotherm was found to be completely reproducible up to a pressure of approximately 35 mN m−1. This comb-like polymer could be transferred to a solid hydrophilic surface as either a single monolayer with the polar heads down and aliphatic tails up, or as a multilayer structure. IR transmission, and reflection at grazing incidence, gave anisotropic spectra, indicating an orientation of the methacrylate and hydrocarbon side-chains relative to the surface. Bands attributable to backbone and side-chain vibrations have also been identified and were used to determine the orientation of the respective groups relative to the surface. All these results provide a molecular picture of the polymer topography.
Bayesian contour integration.

The process by which the human visual system parses an image into contours, surfaces, and objects—perceptual grouping—has proven difficult to capture in a rigorous and general theory. A natural candidate for such a theory is Bayesian probability theory, which provides optimal interpretations of data under conditions of uncertainty. But the fit of Bayesian theory to human grouping judgments has never been tested, in part because methods for expressing grouping hypotheses probabilistically have not been available. This paper presents such methods for the case ofcontour integration—that is, the aggregation of a sequence of visual items into a “virtual curve.” Two experiments are reported in which human subjects were asked to group ambiguous configurations of dots (in Experiment 1, a sequence of five dots could be judged to contain a “corner” or not; in Experiment 2, an arrangement of six dots could be judged to fall into two disjoint contours or one smooth contour). The Bayesian theory accounts extremely well for subjects’ judgments, explaining more than 75% of the variance in both tasks. The theory thus provides a far more quantitatively precise account of human contour integration than has been previously possible, allowing a very precise calculation of the subjective goodness of a virtual chain of dots. Because Bayesian theory is inferentially optimal, this finding suggests a “rational justification,” and hence possibly an evolutionary rationale, for some of the rules of perceptual grouping.
The first occurrence of the aetosaurParatypothorax andressi (Reptilia, Aetosauria) in the western United States and its biochronological significance

A partial skeleton of the aetosaurParatypothorax andressi from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, is the first documentation of this species in North America.Paratypothorax is one of the few tetrapod taxa that occur in both the Keuper of Germany and the Chinle Group of the western United States, but it is of limited biochronological utility, because it occurs in strata that range in age from late Carnian to middle Norian.
Clinical Use and Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Extract of Ginkgo biloba Leaves in Cardiovascular Diseases

Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest living tree species that has been referred to as a living fossil. Extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBE) is among the most commonly used herbal drugs and is popularized for its alleged tonic effect and possible curative and restorative properties. There is an increasing evidence of the potential role of GBE in treating cardiovascular diseases. We examined the history of GBE usage and reviewed the literature on its effects on the cardiovascular system. In the extensive studies involving cell cultures and animal models, GBE has been shown to exert its action through diverse mechanisms. GBE has been reported to have antioxidatant properties, to modify vasomotor function, to reduce adhesion of blood cells to endothelium, to inhibit activation of platelets and smooth muscle cells, to affect ion channels, and to alter signal transduction. In addition, relevant clinical trials with CBE are being carried out, particularly in the treatment of arterial and venous insufficiency and in the prevention of thrombosis. Finally, the controversial clinical findings and the possible adverse interactions between GBE and other drugs are discussed. This review underscores the potential benefits of Ginkgo biloba in cardiovascular diseases, highlights the gaps in our current research, and suggests the necessity for more rigorous systematic investigation of cardiovascular properties of CBE.
Reconciling 56Ni production in Type Ia supernovae with double degenerate scenarios

We combine the observed distribution of Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) ^(56)Ni yields with the results of sub-Chandrasekhar detonation and direct collision calculations to estimate what mass white dwarfs (WDs) should be exploding for each scenario. For collisions, the average exploding WD mass must be peaked at ≈0.75M_☉, significantly higher than the average field WD mass of ≈0.55–0.60M_☉. Thus, if collisions produce most SNe Ia, then a mechanism must exist that favours higher mass WDs. On the other hand, in old stellar populations, collisions would naturally result in low-luminosity SNe Ia, and we suggest these may be related to 1991bg-like events. For sub-Chandrasekhar detonations, the average exploding WD mass must be peaked at ≈1.1M_☉. This is similar to the average total mass in WD–WD binaries, but it is not clear whether double degenerate mergers would synthesize sufficient ^(56)Ni to match observed yields. If not, then actual ≈1.1M_☉ WDs would be needed for sub-Chandrasekhar detonations. Since such high-mass WDs are produced relatively quickly in comparison to the age of SN Ia environments, this would require either accretion on to lower mass WDs prior to ignition or a long time-scale between formation of the ≈1.1M_☉ WD and ignition.
Observations of tidal flux between a submersed aquatic plant stand and the adjacent channel in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

Dye injection studies and direct velocity and water-level measurements were made in macrophyte stands and adjacent channels in order to observe the effects of the macrophyte stand on flow and mass exchange in the tidal Potomac River. During the summer, dense stands of submersed aquatic plants cover most shoals <2 m deep. Continuous summertime water-level records within a submersed aquatic plant stand and in the adjacent channel revealed time-varying gradients in water-surface elevation between the two areas. Water-level gradients are created by differing rates of tidal water-level change in vegetated and unvegetated areas. Results were consistent with the idea that on a rising tide the water was slower to enter a macrophyte stand, and on a falling tide it was slower to leave it. Differences in water elevation between the stand and the open channel generated components of velocity in the stand that were at right angles to the line of flow in the channel. Seasonal differences in flow speed and direction over the shoals indicate substantial differences in resistance to flow as a result of the vegetation.
Targeting Tim-3 and PD-1 pathways to reverse T cell exhaustion and restore anti-tumor immunity

The immune response plays an important role in staving off cancer; however, mechanisms of immunosuppression hinder productive anti-tumor immunity. T cell dysfunction or exhaustion in tumor-bearing hosts is one such mechanism. PD-1 has been identified as a marker of exhausted T cells in chronic disease states, and blockade of PD-1–PD-1L interactions has been shown to partially restore T cell function. We have found that T cell immunoglobulin mucin (Tim) 3 is expressed on CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in mice bearing solid tumors. All Tim-3+ TILs coexpress PD-1, and Tim-3+PD-1+ TILs represent the predominant fraction of T cells infiltrating tumors. Tim-3+PD-1+ TILs exhibit the most severe exhausted phenotype as defined by failure to proliferate and produce IL-2, TNF, and IFN-γ. We further find that combined targeting of the Tim-3 and PD-1 pathways is more effective in controlling tumor growth than targeting either pathway alone.
Shifting tactics of intersubjectivity to align indexicalities: A case of joking around in Swahinglish

This article examines how a group of Tanzanian journalists employ various tactics of intersubjectivity to achieve mutual understanding during a conversation at work. The analysis focuses on one particularly challenging episode of talk wherein political figures and clothing styles from the early days of African independence are referenced, and an ensuing joke about body image is made using the phrase kumaintain figure ‘to maintain figure’ in reference to a male journalist. The joke arguably (re)appropriates the original meaning of the phrase and challenges the relevance of Western body aesthetics for Africans. All participants laugh at the joke, but the basis for their laughter is ambiguous. The participants' interpretations of the joke are examined through ethnographic methods within the framework of (re)entextualization (Silverstein & Urban 1996). The analysis shows that the participants have produced somewhat different indexical orders (Silverstein 2003) for the phrase and, therefore, have different reasons for finding it humorous.
The Response of Suspended Particulate Material to Upwelling and Downwelling Events in Southern Lake Michigan

ABSTRACT Time series measurements of water temperature, beam attenuation, and current velocity were made at three stations located in 28, 58, and 100 m of water off the east coast of Lake Michigan from late August until mid-October 1995. When combined with water intake records and wave measurements our observations show that local resuspension is not responsible for maintaining the benthic nepheloid layer (BNL) during the stratified period. Resuspension of bottom material by surface wind waves occurs in shallow water (13 m), but this material is not transported offshore into the BNL during downwelling events. During upwellings material may be transported onshore from the BNL into shallow water, but additional material is required to produce the concentrations observed at the inner stations. Resuspension by internal waves may be the source of this additional material. Changes in the vertical structure of the benthic nepheloid layer appear to account for most of the changes in suspended particulate material at the two offshore stations. These changes are probably due to a combination of internal wave action and regional changes in current patterns.
Norms and Habits: Brandom on the Sociality of Action

In this paper I argue against Brandom's two-ply theory of action. For Brandom, action is the result of an agent acknowledging a practical commitment and then causally responding to that commitment by acting. Action is social because the content of the commitment upon which one acts is socially conferred in the game of giving and asking for reasons. On my proposal, instead of seeing action as the coupling of a rational capacity to acknowledge commitments and a non-rational capacity to reliably respond to these commitments, we should see action as the coupling, or potential coupling, of a capacity to reason practically and a capacity to act on habits and bodily skills. In putting forward this alternative model of action, I aim to replace Brandom's rationalist brand of Pragmatism with a more classical kind, one that will let us see action as social not only at the level of reasons but also at the level of bodily habits and skills.
A cytochemical study of GERL in cultured human fibroblasts

Abstract Cultured human skin fibroblasts contain an extensive GERL network. The GERL consists of acid phosphatase-positive polygonal tubules and tuberous thickenings which are adjacent to the Golgi cisternae. It often surrounds lucent vacuoles and rarely lipid bodies. Cultures examined at various intervals after subculturing, passages in culture and at different ages of the source of the primary fibroblasts demonstrate no significant morphologic variation in GERL. However, the network appears to fragment in mitotic fibroblasts. Cultured fibroblasts from patients with lysosomal storage diseases exhibit a normal GERL. Exposure of fibroblasts to non-toxic levels of chloroquine and ammonium chloride result in increasing dilatation of the GERL and the resultant formation of large cytoplasmic vacuoles. These observations support the previously proposed theory that this network is a special form of lysosome packaged to contain a large membrane pool.
Light localization and label-free colorimetric sensing with deterministic aperiodic photonic structures

We theoretically investigate light localization and local density of states manipulation in aperiodic photonic structures and discuss their applications as pseudo-random lasers and label-free optical biosensors.
Posttraumatic Growth Among HIV/AIDS Patients1

Correlates (n= 835 at Time 1) and predictors (n= 434 at Time 2) of posttraumatic growth (PTG; perceiving positive life changes stemming from diagnosis) over 1.6 years were examined among a diverse sample of HIV/AIDS patients. PTG was common–59% of participants reported to have experienced at least moderate positive changes since diagnosis. At Time 1, PTG had significant negative associations with age, alcohol use, depression, and pessimism; and positive associations with African American ethnicity (vs. White), female gender, eating a healthy diet, and optimism. At Time 2, religiosity was positively associated with PTG. The process of experiencing PTG over time was associated with lower levels of depression over time. Although the underlying process of PTG remains unclear, these results suggest that PTG is worthy of intervention focus.
BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS SEROVARIETY ISRAELENSIS AND BACILLUS SPHAERICUS FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL

Since the discovery of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) serovariety israelensis de Barjac (Bti) and efficacious isolates of Bacillus sphaericus Neide, formulations of these bacteria have become the predominant non-chemical means employed for control of mosquito larvae at several locations in the United States and other countries. An overview of developments in the past 20 years is presented in this chapter regarding the toxins of Bti and B. sphaericus, their modes of action, efficacy and factors that affect larvicidal activity, development of resistance, safety, and their roles in integrated mosquito control. The efficacy of Bti formulations has been demonstrated in a variety of habitats against a multitude of species of mosquitoes. B. sphaericus formulations have been utilized predominantly in organically enriched habitats against Culex species, but they are also active in a variety of habitats having low organic enrichment, against numerous species, and across several genera. Stegomyia spp. are not susceptible to practical doses of B. sphaericus formulations. B. sphaericus has been shown to persist longer than Bti in polluted habitats and, under certain circumstances, can recycle in larval cadavers. A disadvantage of B. sphaericus has been the development of resistance in certain populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus Say and Cx. pipiens Linnaeus. Biotic and abiotic factors that influence the larvicidal activity of Bti and B. sphaericus include species of mosquito and their respective feeding strategies, rate of ingestion, age and density of larvae, habitat factors (temperature, solar radiation, depth of water, turbidity, tannin and organic content, presence of vegetation, etc.), formulation factors (type of formulation, toxin content, how effectively the material reaches the target, and settling rate), storage conditions, production factors, means of application and frequency of treatments. Due to their efficacy and relative specificity, both Bti and B. sphaericus can be ideal control agents in integrated programs especially where other biological control agents, environmental management, personal protection and the judicious use of insecticides are combined.
Fabrication of a Novel Conductometric Biosensor for Detecting Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis Antibodies.

Johne's disease (JD) is one of the most costly bacterial diseases in cattle. In the U.S., economic losses from the disease have been estimated to exceed $1,500,000,000 per year, mainly from the effects of reduced milk production. Current diagnostic tests for JD are laboratory based and many of those tests require specialized equipment and training. Development of rapid and inexpensive diagnostic assays, which are adapted for point-of-care applications, would aid in the control of JD. In this study, a polyaniline (Pani)-based conductometric biosensor, in an immunomigration format, was fabricated for the detection of serum antibody (IgG) against the causal organism of JD, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Immobilized Mycobacterium avium purified proteins in the capture membrane were used to detect MAP IgG, previously bound with Pani/anti-bovine IgG* conjugate in the conjugate membrane. After detection, the Pani in the sandwiched captured complex bridges an electrical circuit between the silver electrodes, flanking the capture membrane. The electrical conductance, caused by Pani, was measured as drop in electrical resistance. Testing of the biosensor with known JD positive and negative serum samples demonstrated a significant difference in the mean resistance observed between the groups. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that a conductometric biosensor could detect MAP IgG in 2 minutes. The biosensor's speed of detection and the equipment involved would, among other things, support its application towards the various point-of-care opportunities aimed at JD management and control.
Binary-symmetric-channel error effects on PCM color-image transmission

This paper considers the effects of channel errors on the digital transmission of color images. In the transmission system analyzed, each picture element of a color image is represented by three color components. Two cases are considered: the tristimulus representation and the luminance and chromaticity representation. Each color component is coded with a constant-word-length PCM code and passed through a binary symmetric channel. Channel errors are related to chromaticity and luminance errors in a reconstructed image by the use of color space diagrams. Statistical characteristics of image errors are determined for various color representations. It has been found that if the tristimulus values of a color are transmitted over the channel, the effects of channel errors are to desaturate ali colors toward a mid-gray. For luminance/chromaticity representations, channel errors tend to shift the hue of transmitted colors toward cyan, magenta, or yellow.
Information fusion for intrusion detection

Intrusion detection is to monitor and capture intrusions into computer and network systems that attempt to compromise the security of computer and network systems. Different intrusion detection techniques exist to evaluate the likelihood of observed activities as a part of an intrusion. When applied to the same observed activities of computer and network systems, different intrusion detection techniques yield different evaluation results. An information fusion technique is required to fuse different results of various intrusion detection techniques for producing a composite value of intrusion likelihood. This paper examines three information fusion techniques based on artificial neural network, linear regression, and logistic regression. These information fusion techniques are compared with respect to their performance.
A novel magnetic silica support for use in chromatographic and enzymatic bioprocessing.

A limited number of support matrices have so far been developed for use in magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB) applications. We have developed a versatile magnetic silica support which can be derivatized readily for both adsorption chromatography and enzyme immobilization by well-known techniques. A magnetic pellicular bead is prepared by electrostatically depositing alternating layers of colloidal silica and cationic polymer onto macroscopic nickel core particles. The polymer is then burned out and the silica partially sintered to yield a porous shell with 5-80 m 2 /g of surface area. This magnetic composiste was tested as a support for immobilizing invertase. Sucrose was continuously converted to its component monosaccharides with nearly constant activity over the first 8 days and retention of 50% of initial activity after 25 days.
MEMBRANE POTENTIAL DEPENDENT BINDING OF SCORPION TOXIN TO THE ACTION POTENTIAL SODIUM IONOPHORE. STUDIES WITH A 3‐(4‐HYDROXY 3‐[125I] IODOPHENYL) PROPIONYL DERIVATIVE

— A polypeptide toxin purified 80-fold from the venom of the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus enhances activation of the action potential Na+ ionophore by the alkaloid neurotoxins veratridine, batrachotoxin and aconitine in electrically excitable neuroblastoma cells. The purified toxin can be labelled with [125I] by reaction with N-succinimidyl 3-(4-hydroxy 3-[125I] iodophenyl) propionate. The [125I] labelled toxin obtained from carboxymethyl Sephadex ion exchange chromatography appears homogeneous by gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. The [125I] labelled toxin binds to a single class of saturable binding sites and also activates the action potential Na+ ionophore in electrically excitable neuroblastoma cells showing identical concentration dependence for both the binding and the activation effects. The labelled toxin does not show any saturable binding or activation of the action potential Na+ ionophore in variant neuroblastoma clones that specifically lack the action potential Na+ ionophore. The results indicate that scorpion toxin binds specifically to the action potential Na+ ionophore. The binding sites have a mean equilibrium dissociation constant of 3 IIH, a mean binding capacity of 46fmol toxin per mg cell protein and a mean density of 24 sites per μm2 of cell surface membrane. A single action potential Na+ ionophore transports 1 × 108 ions per min and has a conductance of 3 psiemens at physiologic ion concentrations. Depolarization of cells by elevated K+ concentration inhibits the saturable binding. Depolarization of cells by incubation in high Na+ medium (130mm-Na+, 5mm-K+) with gramicidin A or batrachotoxin also inhibits the saturable toxin binding. These results suggest that scorpion toxin binds specifically to a regulatory component (gate) of the Na+ ionophore. whose conformation is dependent on membrane potential.
Fundamental issues in intelligent transportation systems

In this paper, the author reviews the principles and issues associated with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). A discussion is also presented regarding motivations for further research into the modelling, simulation, and visualization of ITS.
Geometrische Veranschaulichung der Funktionen durch Strecken am Einheitskreise

Alle trigonometrischen Werte eines beliebigen Winkels lassen sich in sehr einfacher Weise durch Strecken veranschaulichen. In Abb. 3 sei α der gegebene Winkel; wir schlagen um den Scheitel A einen Kreisbogen mit der Langeneinheit als Halbmesser, den Einheitskreis, und ziehen in den Punkten D und G die Tangenten.
Participatory Governance as Deliberative Empowerment: The Cultural Politics of Discursive Space

This article argues that there is a need to enrich the theory of citizen participation and the design of deliberation practices through greater attention to the cultural politics of deliberative space. The article focuses on the ways the social valorization of political space influences basic discursive processes such as who speaks, how knowledge is constituted, what can be said, and who decides. From this perspective, decentralized design principles are necessary but insufficient requirements for deliberative empowerment. The point is illustrated through an analysis of the Science for the People movement in Kerala, India, a prominent example of deliberative empowerment. The discussion shows how the movement employed cultural and pedagogical strategies to facilitate an empowered participation of local citizens in the deliberative planning process. These experiences demonstrate the importance of a deeper understanding of cultural meaning and political identity in the theory of democratic deliberation and the practice of participatory governance.
A Comparative Analysis of Twenty-Eight Transition Economies in Europe and Asia

Two senior World Bank economists provide a broad comparative overview of transition economies, covering the former Soviet Union, East Central Europe, China, and Vietnam. In the process, they assess the experience of each of the 20 European and 8 Asian countries up to 1996, focusing on the wide variation in exposure to economic and political liberalization and distinguishing growing and recovering economies from the lagging. Based on recent measures of key macroeconomic indicators, the authors' classification and analysis embrace the impact of specific factors (e.g., different duration and intensity of reforms; exposure to regional tensions) on economic growth and inflation. Also included in the study is a comparison of inter-industry linkages and macroeconomic feedback in Russia and China. 9 figures, 8 tables, 25 references. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: P21, P41, P51, P52.
Storm Event Monitoring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Baseline stream water pH in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is generally good, however, over 95% of the streams have alkalinity less than 10 mg/L as CaCO3 making them susceptible to large pH drops during acidic storm events. Recent stream monitoring has given a better understanding of how stream water quality responds to storm events. Four multi-parameter water quality loggers or sondes and three colocated auto-samplers were installed along a stream reach in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The sondes recorded pH, conductivity, turbidity (three sondes), temperature, and stage every 15 minutes. The data have showed pH drops to as low as 4.0 which is consistent with the precipitation pH in the region. This poor water quality in storm events is suspected to be partly to blame for extirpation of native brook trout. Water samples representative of various portions of a storm hydrograph were analyzed for alkalinity, pH, major ions, and a suite of trace metals including aluminum, copper, and zinc. Metals analyses of storm event samples showed increases in some trace toxic metals (Al, Cu, and Zn) during storm events and exceedences of water quality criteria. Concentration-duration-frequency curves of pH and turbidity sonde were constructed to show how frequently the pH is below a given level and for how long. Copyright ASCE 2005 EWRI 2005
Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization of Diesel Fuels Using Air in a Two-Step Approach

This study presents a novel approach to fuel desulfurization in two steps where air is used as oxidant for the in situ generation of hydroperoxides from aromatics in diesel fuel and then the sulfur compounds are oxidized by the hydroperoxides to sulfones. Bulk and supported CuO based catalysts were examined for oxidation of surrogate and real diesel fuels for generation of hydroperoxides in situ using air. Among bulk CuO, CuO/Al2O3, CuO/SiO2, CuO/TiO2, and CuO-ZnO/Al2O3 tested, CuO/Al2O3 gave the highest conversion, but the highest yield and selectivity for hydroperoxide was obtained on bulk CuO catalyst for liquid phase air oxidation of isopropylbenzene. H2-Temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) revealed the presence of dispersed CuO phase on supported catalysts with bulk CuO as the dominant phase on the unsupported catalyst. Three real diesel fuels were tested for liquid phase air oxidation at 120 °C in the presence of bulk CuO catalyst which revealed different levels of hydroperoxides generation. Th...
Rapid Ether and Alcohol C–O Bond Hydrogenolysis Catalyzed by Tandem High-Valent Metal Triflate + Supported Pd Catalysts

The thermodynamically leveraged conversion of ethers and alcohols to saturated hydrocarbons is achieved efficiently with low loadings of homogeneous M(OTf)n + heterogeneous Pd tandem catalysts (M = transition metal; OTf = triflate; n = 4). For example, Hf(OTf)4 mediates rapid endothermic ether ⇌ alcohol and alcohol ⇌ alkene equilibria, while Pd/C catalyzes the subsequent, exothermic alkene hydrogenation. The relative C–O cleavage rates scale as 3° > 2° > 1°. The reaction scope extends to efficient conversion of biomass-derived ethers, such as THF derivatives, to the corresponding alkanes.
Some Physicochemical and Biological Properties of High Molecular Weight γ and β Globulins in Chicken Sera.

Summary1. Agglutination of latex particles and other particulate bodies by chicken sera has been shown to be due to presence of certain high molecular weight gamma and β globulins. This technic promises to be a simple reliable tool to study some of the properties of these proteins. 2. It has been shown that these proteins are active only in their native state and not following depolymerization. 3. Agglutination is inhibited by prior addition of other proteins, especially those with a basic charge. This is probably due to prior coating of the particle by these proteins.