cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PARENTAL CARE IN THE NEOTROPICAL HARVESTMAN PHAREICRANAUS CALCARIFERUS (OPILIONES, CRANAIDAE)

Abstract Parental care in harvestmen may take several forms including egg hiding, egg guarding, egg transport and young guarding. In most species, one adult, usually the female, performs guarding of the young. From 9 July–3 August 2005, we made observations of parental care by adults of the Neotropical cranaid harvestman Phareicranaus calcariferus (Simon 1879) in northern and central Trinidad. Nine observations involved an adult female and young while three appeared to include both an adult female and male with young. The number of young present was inversely related to the size of the young, indicating that parental care in this species may occur over an extended period of time.
Boson permutation and parity operators: Lie algebra and applications

Abstract We show that dichotomic permutation and parity operators for a two-dimensional boson system form an su ( 2 ) algebra with a unitary operator that relates, in quantum optics, to a balanced beamsplitter. The algebra greatly simplifies the input–output transformations of states through quantum nonlinear systems such as the Kerr interferometer or the kicked top.
Peptide separation by pH-zone-refining countercurrent chromatography

Peptides without protecting groups have been successfully separated by pH-zone-refining countercurrent chromatography (CCC) using an ion-pair reagent, di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA), as a modifier in the stationary phase. Preliminary studies indicated that two parameters, i.e., the DEHPA concentration in the stationary phase and hydrophobicity of the solvent system should be adjusted according to the hydrophobicity of the analytes. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups of dipeptides were each separated under optimized conditions. The method was successfully applied to gram-quantity separations of bacitracin complex and bovine insulin.
Spectroscopic characterization of poly(Glu-Ala).

Abstract Infrared linear dichroism and ultraviolet circular dichroism speetroscopy have been used to distinguish four conformational forms of the ionizable sequential polypeptide poly(Glu-Ala). Two of these conformations, the α helix and the β form, were observed for the unionized polypeptide in solution. The α helix appeared immediately upon neutralization of the side-chain carboxyl functions, whereas the β form was observed after the neutralized solution had been standing for several days. The β form was also observed for films cast from either high or low pH solutions. Ionization of the glutamyl residues resulted in a circular dichroism spectrum which has previously been observed for charged homopolymers and appears to result from an extended helical conformation. Further, heating either the α helical or the charged extended helix resulted in a transition to a disordered chain. These results are consistent with the results of conformational calculations presented elsewhere.
Social factors related to risk for violence and sexually transmitted infections/HIV among Asian massage parlor workers in San Francisco

Asian women who work at massage parlors in San Francisco have high levels of risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and being victims of violence, which jeopardizes their health and wellbeing. On the basis of mapping, the targeted districts in San Francisco where massage parlors were located, 23 massage parlors were identified where commercial sex activity took place. Using snowball-sampling methods, 43 Asian female massage parlor workers were recruited for focus groups; 21 participants were Vietnamese and 22 were Thai. Qualitative analyses revealed frequent exposure to violence including verbal or physical abuse from customers and gang members, as well as persistent HIV risk behaviors associated with multiple daily sex partners, inconsistent condom use with customers, and forced sex. Social factors related to gender, immigration status, and socioeconomic status appeared to be closely tied to the health and wellbeing of Asian masseuses. Study findings suggest that individualized as well as community-level interventions are necessary to improve these women's health and decrease their prolonged exposure to risks for STIs and violence.
A 160-GHz f/sub T/ and 140-GHz f/sub MAX/ submicrometer InP DHBT in MBE regrown-emitter technology

We report a 0.7/spl times/8 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ InAlAs-InGaAs-InP double heterojunction bipolar transistor, fabricated in a molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) regrown-emitter technology, exhibiting 160 GHz f/sub T/ and 140 GHz f/sub MAX/. These initial results are the first known RF results for a nonselective regrown-emitter heterojunction bipolar transistor, and the fastest ever reported using a regrown base-emitter heterojunction. The maximum current density is J/sub E/=8/spl times/10/sup 5/ A/cm/sup 2/ and the collector breakdown voltage V/sub CEO/ is 6 V for a 1500-/spl Aring/ collector. In this technology, the dimension of base-emitter junction has been scaled to an area as low as 0.3/spl times/4 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ while a larger-area extrinsic emitter maintains lower emitter access resistance. Furthermore, the application of a refractory metal (Ti-W) base contact beneath the extrinsic emitter regrowth achieves a fully self-aligned device topology.
Absorption spectra of some sunscreens for sunburn preparations

About 90 compounds which have been suggested by various workers for use in sunburn preventive preparations are tabulated with references to the literature. The structural formulas are given for the nuclei of the major families of compounds and the absorption spectra of 25 compounds are figured. The extinction coefficients at λ 2970 A., which is at the maximum of the erythema action spectrum, have been calculated and are given in a table.
Rural service centres in Iran: a case study

Abstract In order to serve small farmers, Rural Service Centres have been established in Iran since 1980. A case study has been made to investigate the achievements and problems of the program in 11 centres of Marvdasht townships, Fars Province. The study reveals that Rural Service Centres have provided some essential services to farmers but have not had a significant impact on resource productivity. To increase the impact of service centres, more financial resources, more competent personnel and a strengthening of the employees' incentive to work in rural areas are required.
The Aplysia FMRFamide gene encodes sequences related to mammalian brain peptides.

We have characterized a precursor protein which gives rise to the neuropeptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide (FMRFamide) by determining the nucleotide sequence of a genomic and five cDNA clones. The 597-am...
Surgical treatment of recurrent transient ischemic attacks and hemoptysis in a young man with multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

against heparin and platelet factor. Desensitization is not a therapeutic option for acute or delayed HIT. Cases have been reported in which alternative drugs, such as bovine heparin, ancrod, and argatroban, have been used in place of heparin when anaphylactoid reactions are suspected; however, their efficacy has been anecdotal and needs further investigation. Two reports exist in the literature in which desensitization for heparin allergy was attempted before cardiopulmonary bypass. Until more experience is gained with the use of alternative anticoagulation agents for cardiopulmonary bypass, we advocate the use of heparin desensitization as successfully performed in this case. References 1. Bernstein IL. Anaphylaxis to heparin sodium; report of a case, with immunologic studies. JAMA. 1956;161:1379-81. 2. al-Eryani AY, al-Momen AK, Fayed DF, Allam AK. Successful heparin desensitization after heparin-induced anaphylactic shock. Thromb Res. 1995;79:523-6. 3. Bottio T, Pittarello G, Bonato R, Fagiolo U, Gerosa G. Life-threatening anaphylactic shock caused by porcine heparin intravenous infusion during mitral valve repair. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;126:1194-5. 4. Smith RE, Townsend GE, Berry BR, Bowen T. Enoxaparin for unstable angina and ancrod for cardiac surgery following heparin allergy. Ann Pharmacother. 1996;30:476-80. 5. Patriarca G, Rossi M, Schiavino D, et al. Rush desensitization in heparin hypersensitivity: a case report. Allergy. 1994;49:292-4.
Effect of proton donor adsorption on the magnetic moment of particulate chromium dioxide

Abstract XPS analysis is used to investigate the loss of magnetic moment of chromium dioxide particles that are refluxed in polar proton donor liquids such as water and ethanol. The loss of magnetic moment could be caused by a disturbance of the cation-anion- cation interaction responsible for ferromagnetism.
Marginal leakage of cast gold crowns luted with zinc phosphate cement: An in vivo study

Marginal gaps of cast restorations are filled with luting agents that are soluble in intraoral fluids. This study investigated the marginal openings in eight extracted teeth with cast crowns that had been intraoral for 20 years or more. These teeth were extracted either because of periodontal disease or to facilitate insertion of a removable partial denture. Initially, the roots of the teeth were sealed with two coats of fingernail polish within 2 mm of the crown-tooth interface. Next, the teeth were immersed in a 0.05% aqueous solution of basic fuchsin die for 24 hours. Finally, each tooth was sectioned at four locations 1 mm apart. At each of these four sections, cement film thickness between tooth and casting, and microleakage were determined. The results of this study showed a mean cement film thickness of 74 microns on the mesial surface and 57 microns on the distal surface. Mean microleakage values were 432 microns on the mesial surface and 274 microns on the distal surface.
Noncustodial Fathers Following Divorce

Noncustodial fathers are men whose parental rights and obligations have been altered through judicial action, usually accompanying marital separation and divorce. In the majority of divorces, physical and legal custody of children is taken from fathers and reassigned to mothers only. Despite the curtailment of their decision-making authority and despite the limitations imposed on their day-to-day presence in their childrens lives, in the majority of divorces fathers retain the duty to provide economic support for their minor children. The bulk of quantitative research on the post-divorce involvement of men as noncustodial fathers is structured by explora- tion of the interrelationships among these parameters: child custody awards, visitation privileges and performance, child support awards and compliance, and child well-being. The documentation of important linkages between child support compliance and child outcome have focused both social science and legislative attention on means to foster greater pat...
Ethics in Rehabilitation Counselor Supervision

This article is an exploration of some of the ethical issues facing rehabilitation counselors who provide clinical supervision. Ethical issues related to competence, evaluation and due process, dual relationships, confidentiality, and informed consent are discussed.
WEIRD: an approach to concept-based information retrieval

WEIRD is an automatic document retrieval system designed and implemented at Syracuse University, which attempts to advance the art of computerized retrieval from word-matching to judging conceptual similarity. WEIRD uses a vector space model to represent the relations among terms and documents. Items in the space are located according to their “meaning”, which is their proximity to all other items in the data base as measured by co-occurrence frequencies. This is done without manipulating large matrices. The dimensions of the space are not used to define relations; items are defined solely by their position relative to the other items. Retrieval is determined by Euclidean distance from the plotted query. In the first section of the paper the basic characteristics of WEIRD are described. Second, the results of a preliminary evaluation are reported. Alternatives for further development of WEIRD are then considered.
Laser beam smoothing caused by the small-spatial-scale B integral

Smoothing, caused by the small-spatial-scale B integral, was measured on the OMEGA laser (a high-power, solid-state laser used for inertial confinement fusion research) without applied bandwidth. The intrinsic nonuniformity of laser irradiation [i.e., irradiation without smoothing by spectral dispersion] was determined from fluence distributions in equivalent-target-plane images of beams with phase plates. These data are compared with simulations that include both small-spatial-scale and whole-beam B integrals. The nonuniformity decreases with increasing average intensity. High-intensity beams can acquire bandwidth as a result of the intensity-dependent phase accumulated in the laser chain. The far-field speckle pattern produced by a phase plate can shift as the near-field phase front changes, which decreases the nonuniformity. The far-field power spectrum is affected mainly in the high spatial frequencies, where it is not expected to mitigate hydrodynamic instabilities.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Ethical Dilemmas in Problem-Solving Group Facilitation

Facilitators of problem-solving groups, because they serve the interests of multiple constituencies (management, the group, individual members, and themselves), face numerous ethical dilemmas. Thes...
Analyticity Versus Fuzziness

The last decade has produced a long series of articles criticizing a variety of precise definitions in philosophy on the grounds that they do not correspond to distinctions made in ordinary usage. We are told that all distinctions in ordinary languages are fuzzy. There are no sharp borderlines to be found in nature, and all attempts to impose them by the analytical philosopher are bound to lead to violations of ordinary usage. These points have been made, most eloquently, by a number of distinguished philosophers.
Nanosecond and picosecond nonlinear absorption studies of a highly nonlinear organic liquid for optical limiting application

Nonlinear transmission and optical limiting of picosecond and nanosecond laser pulses in an organic fiber core liquid are investigated. The measured effective absorption coefficients and other limiting characteristics are analyzed using a model that accounts for linear, two-photon, intermediate, and excited-state absorptions. In the picosecond regime, two-photon absorption process is the dominant mechanism. On the other hand, in the nanosecond and longer time scale, other processes such as excited state absorption and nonlinear scattering contribute significantly, giving rise to an effective nonlinear absorption coefficient that can be two orders of magnitude larger than the picosecond counterpart.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Two-photon detection of light from a degenerate parametric oscillator

Abstract Photocount statistics of light emitted by a degenerate parametric oscillator (DPO) are analyzed using a two-photon detection scheme in the limit where the counting interval is much shorter than the correlation time of the light field. Results are compared to the usual one-photon detection scheme. Counting distributions for the DPO are also compared with those of thermal light and laser light.
Review of the 47V→47Ti beta decay

Abstract The gamma activity following the bombardment of 47 Ti with 4.5 MeV protons has been investigated by means of a 17 cc Ge(Li) detector. The following gamma transitions have been attributed to the 31 min decay of 47 V and fitted into a decay scheme: 160.9±3.0, 1391.4±1.2, 1552.3±2.4, 1794.9±0.8 and 2163.0±1.2 keV. Transition strengths have provided new spectroscopic information about the 47 Ti level scheme. Results are discussed in view of the new 3 2 − spin-parity assignment to the 47 V ground state.
Radiation from an Array of Gray Circular Fins of Trapezoidal Profile

A numerical method is developed to calculate the temperature distribution and radiation heat transfer for an annular fin and tube radiator, with fins having trapezoidal profiles. All surfaces are assumed gray and to emit and reflect diffusely. Radiative interactions between adjacent fins and between the fins and tube are included. The thermal conductivity of the fin material may vary linearly with temperature. Results of a parametric study of the special case of circular fins of triangular profile having constant thermal conductivity are presented and used to optimize a fin array with respect to minimum weight.
Spinal projections from the medullary reticular formation of the North American opossum: Evidence for connectional heterogeneity

Retrograde and orthograde transport techniques show that the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars ventralis and the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis project the entire length of the spinal cord. Double-labelling methods show that some of the neurons in each area innervate both cervical and lumbar levels. There is evidence, however, that neurons in the lateral part of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars ventralis and the dorsal extreme of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis project mainly to cervical and thoracic levels. The autoradiographic method shows that the above nuclei supply direct innervation to somatic and autonomic motor columns as well as to laminae V–VIII and X. The nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis pars ventralis provides additional projections to lamina I and the outer part of lamina II. Several areas of the medullary reticular formation project mainly, and in some cases exclusively, to cervical and thoracic levels. These areas include the nucleus reticularis parvocellularis, the nucleus reticularis lateralis, the nucleus retrofacialis, the nucleus ambiguus, the nucleus lateralis reticularis, caudal parts of the nuclei reticularis medullae oblongatee dorsalis and ventralis, and the nucleus supraspinalis. Autoradiographic experiments reveal that neurons in the ventrolateral medulla, particularly rostrally (the nucleus reticularis lateralis and neurons related to the nucleus lateralis reticularis), innervate sympathetic nuclei. Our results indicate that spinal projections from bulbar areas of the reticular formation are more complicated than previously supposed. Axons from separate areas project to different spinal levels and in some cases to different nuclear targets. These data are in conformity with the evolving concept of reticular heterogeneity.
Intelligent bias of network structures in the hierarchical BOA

One of the primary advantages of estimation of distribution algorithms (EDAs) over many other stochastic optimization techniques is that they supply us with a roadmap of how they solve a problem. This roadmap consists of a sequence of probabilistic models of candidate solutions of increasing quality. The first model in this sequence would typically encode the uniform distribution over all admissible solutions whereas the last model would encode a distribution that generates at least one global optimum with high probability. It has been argued that exploiting this knowledge should improve EDA performance when solving similar problems. This paper presents an approach to bias the building of Bayesian network models in the hierarchical Bayesian optimization algorithm (hBOA) using information gathered from models generated during previous hBOA runs on similar problems. The approach is evaluated on trap-5 and 2D spin glass problems.
An Experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of cross-media cues in computer media

We present the motivation for and design of an experiment to evaluate the usefulness of cross-media cues, phrases such as 'See Figure 1'.
Electrochemical storage of hydrogen in nanotubular TiO2 arrays

Abstract Vertically oriented nanotubular TiO2 arrays were formed by a simple anodization process. Hydrogen storage studies were carried out on the TiO2 nanotubular arrays having different diameters by charging and discharging hydrogen with potentiostatic/galvanostatic control. The hydrogen storage capacities of the nanotubes were only marginally affected by the tube diameter. Concentration of oxygen vacancies as defects influenced the hydrogen storage of the nanotubes. Annealing of the TiO2 nanotubes in argon atmosphere increased the defect density and decreased the hydrogen discharge during initial charge–discharge cycles. Hydrogen storage studies through electrochemical route did not show significant storage capacity of TiO2 nanotubes. Diffusion of hydrogen as protons and interference of the double layer capacitance of nanotubes could be attributed to the lower hydrogen storage capacity.
Ultrafast Degenerate Four Wave Mixing Studies of Third-Order Nonlinearities in Conjugated Organic Polymers Containing Azo Groups and Alkynyl Linkages in the Polymer Backbone

The first series of conjugated organic polymers with the formula {1,4-[2-(RO)-5-(R‘O)C6H2]NNC6H4C⋮C−}n, where R = methyl, R‘ = hexyl (7a) and R = hexyl, R‘ = SiMe2-t-Bu (8), were produced in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling and homocoupling reactions of selected bis(bromo) and bis(alkynyl) azo monomers. The molecular weights (Mn) for the conjugated polymers ranged from 5500 to 22 000. Degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) with 780 nm femtosecond pulses was used to investigate electronic third-order nonlinearities for azo monomer 3a and conjugated azo polymer 7a. Both compounds had ultrafast nonlinearities with τ1 = 100 fs response time. The real part of 7a second hyperpolarizability, γ7a, is negative, Re γ7a = −(4.3 ± 0.3) × 10-46 m5 V-2. Polymer 7a's second hyperpolarizability also has an imaginary component, Im γ7a = (1.7 ± 0.3) × 10-46 m5 V-2. Calculated per repeat unit, polymer |γ7a| = (4.6 ± 0.5) × 10-46 m5 V-2 and is about 780 times larger than that for monomer 3a. γ7a was analyzed with the three-lev...
Design and piloted simulation of integrated flight/propulsion controls for STOVL aircraft

An integrated flight/propulsion control system has been designed for operation of short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft over the low-speed, powered-lift flight envelope. The control system employs command modes for attitude, flight path angle, and flight path acceleration during transition, and translational velocity command for hover and vertical landing. In this paper, only the longitudinal modes of control are discussed. Piloted evaluations of the control system have been conducted on Ames Research Center's Vertical Motion Simulator. Results indicate that level 1 flying qualities are achieved during transition and vertical landing over a wide range of wind, atmospheric turbulence, and visibility conditions.
Photographing the physically abused child. Principles and practice.

• Photographic documentation of significant findings is an important part of any child abuse evaluation. High-quality photographs of significant physical findings may be important in helping courts to adjudicate whether child abuse has taken place. The physician evaluating abused children should ensure adequate photographic documentation of visible lesions. Physicians who care for abused children should be familiar with the basic principles and techniques of clinical photography. These include good equipment, adequate lighting, and planned composition. Equally important is a working knowledge of camera equipment, film procedure, and medicolegal implications. This review outlines for the practicing physician the basic concepts and techniques of photographing abused children. ( AJDC . 1991;145:275-281)
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of betamethasone for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome at 24 to 28 week's gestation

Previous randomized controlled studies of corticosteroids for the reduction of respiratory distress syndrome have failed to demonstrate benefit in very early premature gestational age groups. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of betamethasone given to mothers with intact membranes and threatened premature delivery between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy was conducted. Thirty-six patients were randomized to receive betamethasone, two doses of 12 mg, 24 hours apart, and 41 received placebo. No difference was found in the overall incidence of respiratory distress syndrome between the two groups (betamethasone vs placebo 0.55 vs 0.66) or in the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in babies delivered between 1 and 7 days after the first dose of drug (betamethasone vs placebo 0.78 vs 0.88). Nor were there any differences observed in any measure of severity of respiratory distress syndrome between the groups. The neonatal death rates were also similar (betamethasone vs placebo 0.25 vs 0.24). The only difference seen was an unexpected reduction in the betamethasone group in the incidence of grades 3 and 4 intraventricular hemorrhage (betamethasone vs placebo 1/31 vs 9/36, p = 0.01). Therefore this study was unable to demonstrate any beneficial effect of corticosteroids in reducing respiratory distress syndrome at less than 28 weeks' gestation in spite of a sample size that had an 80% likelihood of detecting a 50% reduction in the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome with p = 0.05, which is the minimum reduction seen in virtually all randomized trials in other gestational age groups.
Coordinated 2-halo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane ligands. II: Syntheses and 13C, 31P and 95Mo NMR and IR spectroscopic characterization of some Cr and Mo pentacarbonyl complexes of 2-substituted-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes

Abstract A study of the reactions of M(CO)5(P(OCH2CH2CH(Me)O)Cl) (M=Cr, Mo) with a variety of nucleophiles of the type HER (E=NH, O, S; R=H, alkyl, aryl) is reported. The 13C, 31P and 95Mo NMR and IR spectral data for the M(CO)5(P(OCH2CH2CH(Me)O)ER) complexes is presented and compared to that previously reported for some Mo(CO)5(P(OCH2CMe2CH2O)ER) complexes. This comparison provides insight into the manner in which variations in the metal and in the substitution on the 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane ring affect the electron density distribution within these complexes. The results from a study of the rates of chloride substitution by n-propylamine in the M(CO)s(P(OCH2CH2CH(Me)O)Cl) complexes are also presented. These rates are compared with those previously reported for chloride substitution by n-propylamine in the Mo(CO)5(P(OCH2CMe2CH2O)Cl) and Mo(CO)5(Ph2PCl) complexes. These comparisons, in conjunction with the NMR and IR studies, suggest that both the position of the Me groups on the phosphorinane ring and the amount of electron density on the P have significant effects upon the rate of chloride substitution in these complexes.
A Review of Angus Deaton's The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality †

This book explores the relationship between the material standard of living and health, both across countries and over time. Above all, Deaton is interested in the question of whether income growth contributes significantly to better health. His answer is no: saving lives in poor countries is not expensive, and there are many episodes of massive health improvements in the absence of income growth. As an alternative, he argues that the cross-sectional correlation between health and income is induced by variation in institutional quality, while over time, parallel improvements in income and health have been a result of advancing knowledge.
Correlation of ovarian cholesterol levels with changes in delta glucuronidase activity of reproductive tract during the estrous cycle and pregnancy.

PROFOUND alterations in mass and composition of the uterus and associated structures during reproductive cycles in the rodent are well established. Relatively little attention has, however, been directed toward analysis of these processes at the metabolic level. The association of changes in β-glucuronidase activity of certain tissues with both fluctuations in hormonal environment (Fishman, 1947) as well as active proliferation (Levvy, Kerr and Campbell, 1948; Kerr, Campbell and Levvy, 1949, 1950) has been pointed out. The events accompanying the estrous cycle and pregnancy would appear to provide the appropriate circumstances required to test this dual hypothesis of the physiological significance of the enzyme. Accordingly, a portion of the present study is concerned with the determination of β-glucuronidase activity of the uterus, preputial and mammary glands and liver in the rat in the course of the stages of the estrous cycle and at intervals during gestation.
Hydrogen Peroxide in Erythrocytes

Exposure of rats to 5.0 ppm of ozone, and of mice to 6.7 ppm of ozone, for 90 minutes results in a significant decline in erythrocyte catalase levels in animals pretreated with the catalase inhibitor, aminotriazole (ATZ). As ATZ inhibits catalase only after the enzyme has first reacted with hydrogen peroxide, this decline in catalase activity indicates the presence of hydrogen peroxide within erythrocytes during ozone inhalation. Exposure to lower levels of ozone did not produce detectable levels of hydrogen peroxide within erythrocytes. In vitro evaluation of this technique suggests that, as in the human, catalase is not the major enzyme detoxifying hydrogen peroxide in rat erythrocytes. The ATZ-catalase method is therefore limited in its ability to detect the ozone-induced presence of hydrogen peroxide beyond the pulmonary endothelium.
Total-transfer, valve-based comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Abstract Valve-based comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) is one of the most compact, robust, and inexpensive GC × GC instrument designs. The major drawback of a valve-based modulation configuration lies in diminished detection sensitivity. This loss in sensitivity is because under typical operating conditions the fraction of the first column (i.e., column 1) effluent transferred to the second column (i.e., column 2) is likely to be ∼5–10%. To address this loss in sensitivity, we report the development of a unique total-transfer (i.e., 100%) valve-based GC × GC, without adding complexity to the instrumentation. The new instrument design relies upon simply blocking one of the appropriate ports of the high-speed six-port diaphragm valve that is used as the modulator between columns 1 and 2. The modulation period and difference in head pressure between columns 1 and 2 are found to be the two primary variables that are controlled to provide good detection sensitivity and 100% mass transfer from column 1 to column 2. The detection sensitivity is better with a longer the modulation period. A limit of detection of 0.03 ng/μl was obtained for octane. This sensitive GC × GC configuration is also shown to provide acceptable separation peak capacity, with good separations achieved for real complex samples: gasoline and Eucalyptus oil, where compounds were spread out over much of the two-dimensional separation space. In principle, this total-transfer, valve-based GC × GC is more portable and less expensive than currently available GC × GC instrumentation.
Nonlinear Optical Studies of the Agricultural Antibiotic Morantel Interacting with Silica/Water Interfaces

It is now known that the untreated discharge of pharmaceuticals into the environment can impact human health and development and lead to increased drug resistance in biota. Here, we present the first direct interface-specific studies that address the mobility of the widely used agricultural antibiotic morantel, which is commonly present in farm runoff. Surface-bound morantel was spectroscopically identified using second harmonic generation (SHG) via a two-photon resonance of its n−π* transition and in the C−H stretching region by vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG). Resonantly enhanced SHG adsorption isotherm measurements carried out at the silica/water interface between 6 × 10-7 and 5 × 10-5 M morantel concentration result in a free energy of adsorption of 42(2) kJ/mol at pH 7. Finally, real-time tracking of morantel interaction with the silica/water interface shows that the binding events are fully reversible, consistent with its high mobility in silica-rich soil environments. This work thus ind...
Complete integrability of the reduced Maxwell—Bloch equations with permanent dipole

Abstract We obtain the Lax pair, hierarchy of commuting flows and Backlund transformations for a reduced Maxwell–Bloch (RMB) system. This system is of particular interest for the description of unipolar, nonoscillating electromagnetic solitons (also called “electromagnetic bubbles” ).
Holographic frequency resolved optical gating for spatio-temporal characterization of ultrashort optical pulse

We introduce a novel method for characterizing the spatio-temporal evolution of ultrashort optical field by recording the spectral hologram of frequency resolved optical gating (FROG) trace. We show that FROG holography enables the measurement of phase (up to an overall constant) and group delay of the pulse which cannot be measured by conventional FROG method. To illustrate our method, we perform numerical simulation to generate holographic collinear FROG (cFROG) trace of a chirped optical pulse and retrieve its complex profile at multiple locations as it propagates through a hypothetical dispersive medium. Further, we experimentally demonstrate our method by retrieving a 67 fs pulse at three axial locations in the vicinity of focus of an objective lens and compute its group delay.
Bounds on eigenvalues and chromatic numbers

We give new bounds on eigenvalue of graphs which imply some known bounds. In particular, if T(G) is the maximum sum of degrees of vertices adjacent to a vertex in a graph G, the largest eigenvalue ρ(G) of G satisfies ρ(G)⩽T(G) with equality if and only if either G is regular or G is bipartite and such that all vertices in the same part have the same degree. Consequently, we prove that the chromatic number of G is at most T(G)+1 with equality if and only if G is an odd cycle or a complete graph, which implies Brook's theorem. A generalization of this result is also given.
Exploring the effectiveness of a modified comprehensive mind-body intervention for medical and psychologic symptom relief.

Background Chronic illnesses are a major current health concern associated with elevated stress and increased health care costs. Objective The objective of this study was to describe the preliminary effectiveness of a modified, multimodal 8 week mind-body intervention on reducing physical and psychological symptoms in patients with chronic physical, mental and comorbid health issues. Methods Two hundred and twenty six adults enrolled in a mind-body group program and completed pre and post program assessments (63% completer rate), including the Medical Symptoms Checklist (MSCL), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II), and Symptom Checklist 90R (SCL-90R). Results Significant improvement was found on 9 of 23 medical symptoms (p Conclusions These results indicate that a multimodal mind-body intervention might be useful as a complementary or adjunct therapy for treatment of chronic medical symptoms. Future research is needed to test the intervention using a randomized controlled trial.
Community ecology and the evolution of molecules of keystone significance.

Molecules of keystone significance are vital in structuring ecological communities. Select bioactive compounds can cause disproportionately large effects by connecting such seemingly disparate processes as microbial loop dynamics and apex predation. Here, we develop a general theory and propose mechanisms that could lead to the evolution of keystone molecules. Introduced into a respective community by one, or only a few, autotrophic or microbial species, these compounds often originate as chemical defenses. When co-opted by resistant consumer species, however, they are used either in chemical defense against higher-order predators or as chemosensory cues that elicit courtship and mating, alarm, and predatory search. Requisite to these multifunctional properties, biosynthetic capacity evolves along with mechanisms for resistance and/or toxin storage in primary producers. Subsequently, consumers acquire resistances or tolerances, and the toxins are transferred through food webs via trophic interactions. In ...
Oxidation state of chromium associated with cell surfaces of Shewanella oneidensis during chromate reduction

Employing electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we demonstrate that in both aerobic and anaerobic culture Shewanella oneidensis cells are capable of chromate reduction. No Cr(VI) or Cr(V) species were identified at the cell surfaces in Cr 2p3/2 core photoelectron spectra. More chromium was associated with cell surfaces recovered from anaerobic medium than aerobic. Multiplet-splitting models derived for Cr(III) and Cr(IV) were employed to determine contributions from each ion to Cr 2p3/2 photopeaks collected from the various cell treatments. Whilst in all cases Cr(III) was the major ion associated with cell surfaces, a significant contribution was identified due to Cr(IV) in anaerobically grown cells. The Cr(IV) contribution was far less when cells were grown aerobically. Moreover, when anaerobically grown cells were exposed to oxygen very little re-oxidation of Cr-precipitates occurred, the precipitates were again identified as a mixture of Cr(III) and Cr(IV). A positive relationship was observed between amounts of chromium and phosphorous associated with cell surfaces resulting from the various treatments, suggesting the precipitates included Cr(III)-phosphate. The fact that Cr(IV) remained associated with precipitates following re-oxidation suggests that under anaerobic conditions the intermediate ion is afforded sufficient stability to be incorporated within the precipitate matrix and thus conferred a degree of protection from oxidation. # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Coercion, Peace, and the Issue of Jihad

This essay analyzes different perspectives on the issue of jihad; based on this analysis, it sheds light on the contemporary application and understanding of the word in the Muslim world.
Market incentives, plan choice, and price increases.

ABSTRACT: The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) has attracted considerable interest for its ability to control health care costs. We examine the impact of the FEHBP's maximum dollar contribution on incentives to select low-cost plans and the growth in insurance premiums over time. Unless the maximum dollar contribution is pegged to a low-price plan, few enrollees select such plans. Moreover, premiums rise at least five percentage points per year faster among plans below this fixed subsidy level than they do in plans above it. Our results have important implications for the design of similar market-based approaches.
Very high-order compact finite difference schemes on non-uniform grids for incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

This article presents a family of very high-order non-uniform grid compact finite difference schemes with spatial orders of accuracy ranging from 4th to 20th for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The high-order compact schemes on non-uniform grids developed in Shukla and Zhong R.K. Shukla, X. Zhong, Derivation of high-order compact finite difference schemes for non-uniform grid using polynomial interpolation, J. Comput. Phys. 204 (2005) 404] for linear model equations are extended to the full Navier-Stokes equations in the vorticity and streamfunction formulation. Two methods for the solution of Helmholtz and Poisson equations using high-order compact schemes on non-uniform grids are developed. The schemes are constructed so that they maintain a high-order of accuracy not only in the interior but also at the boundary. Second-order semi-implicit temporal discretization is achieved through an implicit Backward Differentiation scheme for the linear viscous terms and an explicit Adam-Bashforth scheme for the non-linear convective terms. The boundary values of vorticity are determined using an influence matrix technique. The resulting discretized system with boundary closures of the same high-order as the interior is shown to be stable, when applied to the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, provided enough grid points are clustered at the boundary. The resolution characteristics of the high-order compact finite difference schemes are illustrated through their application to the one-dimensional linear wave equation and the two-dimensional driven cavity flow. Comparisons with the benchmark solutions for the two-dimensional driven cavity flow, thermal convection in a square box and flow past an impulsively started cylinder show that the high-order compact schemes are stable and produce extremely accurate results on a stretched grid with more points clustered at the boundary.
Identification and analysis of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase inhibitors using nucleic acid binding assays

Typical assays used to discover and analyze small molecules that inhibit the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 helicase yield few hits and are often confounded by compound interference. Oligonucleotide binding assays are examined here as an alternative. After comparing fluorescence polarization (FP), homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF; Cisbio) and AlphaScreen (Perkin Elmer) assays, an FP-based assay was chosen to screen Sigma’s Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC) for compounds that inhibit NS3-DNA complex formation. Four LOPAC compounds inhibited the FP-based assay: aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) (IC50 = 1.4kM), suramin sodium salt (IC50 = 3.6kM), NF 023 hydrate (IC50 = 6.2kM) and tyrphostin AG 538 (IC50 = 3.6kM). All but AG 538 inhibited helicase-catalyzed strand separation, and all but NF 023 inhibited replication of subgenomic HCV replicons. A counterscreen using Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) revealed that none of the new HCV helicase inhibitors were specific for NS3h. However, when the SSB-based assay was used to analyze derivatives of another non-specific helicase inhibitor, the main component of the dye primuline, it revealed that some primuline derivatives (e.g. PubChem CID50930730) are up to 30-fold more specific for HCV NS3h than similarly potent HCV helicase inhibitors.
Exclusion of male mitochondria and plastids during syngamy in barley as a basis for maternal inheritance

It is known from genetic analyses that maternal inheritance of cytoplasmic organelles is the rule among plants and animals. Although recognized as one of several possible mechanisms for strictly maternal cytoplasmic inheritance, exclusion of sperm cytoplasm at the time of gametic fusion has remained poorly documented for the flowering plants. In the present investigation, enucleated, cytoplasmic bodies approximately the size of intact, prefusion sperm cells have been observed within degenerated synergids and adjacent to recently fertilized egg cells. A complete series of ultrathin sections (68 sections) through such a cytoplasmic body revealed 59 mitochondria, 3 plastids, 7 dictyosomes, and a large vacuole with no limiting membrane. This structure is interpreted as the entire male cytoplasm that was left outside the egg during fusion between egg and sperm. The observation of only one cytoplasmic body per embryo sac may indicate a preliminary fusion between sperm cells or, more likely, the existence of a fundamentally different mechanism of fertilization between the second sperm and the central cell.
LSPR: an integrated periodicity detection algorithm for unevenly sampled temporal microarray data

Summary: We propose a three-step periodicity detection algorithm named LSPR. Our method first preprocesses the raw time-series by removing the linear trend and filtering noise. In the second step, LSPR employs a Lomb–Scargle periodogram to estimate the periodicity in the time-series. Finally, harmonic regression is applied to model the cyclic components. Inferred periodic transcripts are selected by a false discovery rate procedure. We have applied LSPR to unevenly sampled synthetic data and two Arabidopsis diurnal expression datasets, and compared its performance with the existing well-established algorithms. Results show that LSPR is capable of identifying periodic transcripts more accurately than existing algorithms. Availability: LSPR algorithm is implemented as MATLAB software and is available at http://bioinformatics.cau.edu.cn/LSPR
Systems analysis of the CO2 concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria with a unique CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM), enhancing carbon fixation. Understanding the CCM requires a systems level perspective of how molecular components work together to enhance CO2 fixation. We present a mathematical model of the cyanobacterial CCM, giving the parameter regime (expression levels, catalytic rates, permeability of carboxysome shell) for efficient carbon fixation. Efficiency requires saturating the RuBisCO reaction, staying below saturation for carbonic anhydrase, and avoiding wasteful oxygenation reactions. We find selectivity at the carboxysome shell is not necessary; there is an optimal non-specific carboxysome shell permeability. We compare the efficacy of facilitated CO2 uptake, CO2 scavenging, and HCO3− transport with varying external pH. At the optimal carboxysome permeability, contributions from CO2 scavenging at the cell membrane are small. We examine the cumulative benefits of CCM spatial organization strategies: enzyme co-localization and compartmentalization. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02043.001
How Not to Institutionalize Civilian Control: Kenya's Coup Prevention Strategies, 1964-1997:

Kenya is on the short list of African states that have not experienced military rule. In a continent known for rampant praetorianism, this means only that the coup prevention strategies implemented...
Using attachment theory in medical settings: Implications for primary care physicians

Mental health researchers, clinicians and clinical psychologists have long considered a good provider–patient relationship to be an important factor for positive treatment outcomes in a range of th...
Neutrophils Confer T Cell Resistance to Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell–Mediated Suppression To Promote Chronic Inflammation

Low-grade chronic inflammation can persist in aging humans unnoticed for years or even decades, inflicting continuous damage that can culminate later in life as organ dysfunction, physical frailty, and some of the most prominent debilitating and deadly age-associated diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Despite the near universal acceptance of these associations, the mechanisms underlying unresolved inflammation remain poorly understood. In this study, we describe a novel inducible method to examine systemic chronic inflammation using susceptible animal models. Induced inflammation results in unresolved innate cellular responses and persistence of the same serum proinflammatory molecules used as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for chronic inflammation in humans. Surprisingly, we found long-term persistence of an inflammation-associated neutrophil cell population constitutively producing the proinflammatory IFN-γ cytokine, which until now has only been detected transiently in acute inflammatory responses. Interestingly, these cells appear to confer T cell resistance to the otherwise potent anti-inflammatory function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, revealing a novel mechanism for the maintenance of chronic inflammatory responses over time. This discovery represents an attractive target to resolve inflammation and prevent the inflammation-induced pathologies that are of critical concern for the well-being of the aging population.