cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling Building-Block Interdependency

The Building-Block Hypothesis appeals to the notion of problem decomposition and the assembly of solutions from sub-solutions. Accordingly, there have been many varieties of GA lest problems with a structure based on building-blocks. Many of these problems use deceptive fitness functions to model interdependency between the bits within a block. However, very few have any model of interdependency between building-blocks; those that do are not consistent in the type of interaction used intra-block and inter-block. This paper discusses the inadequacies of the various lest problems in the literature and clarifies the concept of building-block interdependency. We formulate a principled model of hierarchical interdependency that can be applied through many levels in a consistent manner and introduce Hierarchical If-and-only-if (H-1FF) as a canonical example. We present some empirical results of GAs on H-1FF showing that if population diversity is maintained and linkage is tight then the GA is able to identify and manipulate building-blocks over many levels of assembly, as the Building-Block Hypothesis suggests.
Climate Change and Armed Conflict: Hot and Cold Wars

1. The Climate Change War 2. A Brief History of Climate Change and Conflict 3. Climate Change and Conflict Trends 4. Scenarios of Climate Change and Conflict 5. Politics and Choices
Pulsar Turn-On and Secondary Evaporation in the PSR 1957 + 20 Binary

A millisecond pulsar spun up in an accreting low mass X-ray binary is expected to turn on suddenly when the mass accretion rate falls below a critical value (~ 1016 gs-1). The consequent energetic radiation from the pulsar can completely evaporate a very light compnion and ultimately result in a solitary millisecond radiopulsar. The secondary’s evaporative wind would interact with the pulsar’s Khz dipole radiation to form a bow shock and wake that can assymetrically eclipse the radiopulsar’s microwave beam. This scenario has been suggested for PSR 1957 + 20.
Keeping our Students Safe: Teacher’s Responsibility

During their lunch period, a second grade student began choking on his sandwich. A teacher noticed the student choking and walked with him to the office on the other side of the school. When the student and teacher got to the office, the school secretary performed CPR but the student had already passed out. 911 was called while the secretary continued to perform CPR. When the ambulance arrived, the EMTs also performed CPR and the student was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. When interviewed by the police and district personnel, the teacher who had escorted the student to the office said she did not perform the Heimlich maneuver because she had just discovered she was pregnant.
Effect of backrest position on intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures in traumatically brain-injured adults

Background Backrest positioning for brain-injured adults is variable. Some data support using a flat backrest to optimize cerebral perfusion pressure; other data support elevating the head of the bed at least 30 degrees to reduce intracranial pressure. Objective To determine whether a flat backrest position or a backrest elevation of 30 degrees provides both optimal cerebral perfusion pressure and optimal intracranial pressure in adults with brain injuries. Methods A randomized crossover experimental design was used to collect data on 8 adults 18 to 45 years old who had nonvascular, closed-head, traumatic brain injury. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Results Overall, compared with use of a flat/horizontal position, use of a backrest elevation of 30 degrees resulted in significant and clinically important improvements in both intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures. None of the subjects experienced adverse clinical changes in either intracranial pressure or cerebral perfusion pressure with either backrest position. Conclusion The results strengthen the research foundation for raising the backrest position for adults, 18 to 45 years old, who have nonvascular, nonpenetrating, severe brain injuries.
The gas-phase reaction of hydrazine and ozone: A nonphotolytic source of OH radicals for measurement of relative OH radical rate constants

The homogeneous gas-phase reaction of N2H4 with O3 in air atmospheric pressure has been used to generate OH radicals in the dark, allowing the determination of relative OH radical rate constants for compounds which photolyze rapidly. This technique was first validated by determining the OH radical rate constant ratios for n-butane/cyclohexane and methanol/dimethyl ether, both of which are in excellent agreement with the literature values. The rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with methyl nitrite at 300 ± 3 K was then determined relative to those for the reaction of OH radicals with n-hexane and dimethyl ether. The resulting rate constant of 1.8 × 10−13 cm3/molecule·s is about seven times lower than those of previous measurements which employed a different nonphotolytic relative rate method.
Methyl Transfer to Mercury Thiolates: Effects of Coordination Number and Ligand Dissociation.

The complexes [(CH3)4N]2[Hg(SC6H5)4] and [(C4H9)4N][Hg(SC6H5)3] demethylate (CH3O)3PO as revealed by 1H, 31P{1H}, and 199Hg{1H} NMR spectroscopy in DMSO-d6 solution. The products of the [(CH3)4N]2[Hg(SC6H5)4] reaction are CH3SC6H5, (CH3O)2PO2-, and [Hg(SC6H5)3]-, whereas [Hg(SC6H5)3]- demethylates (CH3O)3PO to yield CH3SC6H5 and {Hg(SC6H5)2[(CH3O)2PO2]}-. Kinetic and solution studies of [(CH3)4N]2[Hg(SC6H5)4] reveal a rapid equilibrium between bound and free thiolate. The dissociated thiolate is the nucleophile active toward (CH3O)3PO. These results imply that the metal center of the inactive mercury derivative of the Escherichia coli Ada DNA alkylation repair protein may comprise a three-coordinate [Hg(S-cysteine)3]- moiety and an unbound, protonated cysteine (HS-Cys69).
Selective Functionalization of Independently Addressed Microelectrodes by Electrochemical Activation and Deactivation of a Coupling Catalyst

We demonstrate selective functionalization of independently addressed microelectrodes by electrochemical activation and deactivation of a coupling catalyst. 1,2,3-Triazole formation between terminal acetylenes and organic azides is efficiently catalyzed by copper(I) complexes (a Sharpless “click” reaction), while the oxidized copper(II) complexes are inactive. By electrochemically activating or deactivating the catalyst by switching its redox state, we demonstrate control over triazole formation between surface-immobilized azides and ethynylferrocene. The reaction proceeds on the time scale of minutes using submicromolar concentration of reactants and catalyst, requires mild potentials for catalyst activation and deactivation, and works in aqueous and mixed aqueous−organic solvents. By appropriate biasing of each electrode, we selectively modify one of two chemically identical 10-μm-wide electrodes separated by 10 μm in an interdigitated array. The ability to switch on or off the reaction by electrical ad...
Framing Regent Park: the National Film Board of Canada and the construction of ‘outcast spaces’ in the inner city, 1953 and 1994

In 1953 and 1994, the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada produced two documentary films about Toronto’s Regent Park, the country’s first and largest low-income housing project. Farewell to Oak Street charted the dramatic ‘before’ and ‘after’ effects of public housing on the family, social and cultural life of the innercity dwellers whose ‘slum housing’ was demolished in the 1940s and early 1950s to make way for the pioneering housing scheme. In 1994 the NFB made Return to Regent Park. This time round, the film centred on the abject failure of Toronto’s steamrolling urban renewal plans and the efforts of activists to combat drugs, crime and the physical/social stigma of the project. This article argues that both NFB portrayals of the project contributed to the powerful moral and territorial stigmatization of inner-city workers and public housing tenants in the city.
Preparation of Ge (100) Substrates for High-Quality Epitaxial Growth of Group IV Materials

We compare various wet chemical treatments, in preparing high-quality Ge (100) surfaces suitable for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Various surface treatments are explored such as UV-ozone treatment followed by exposure to chemical solutions such as de-ionized (DI) water, hydrofluoric acid (HF), or hydrochloric acid (HCl). Chemical treatments to remove the oxide are performed in a nitrogen environment to prevent further formation of surface oxide prior to surface analysis. Following chemical treatments, in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) analysis is performed to observe the surface evolution as a function of temperature. In a separate chamber, we analyze each sample, before and after chemical treatment by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to directly determine the oxide desorption following each chemical treatment. Our results of this comparative study, the effectiveness of each chemical treatment, and the stability of the passivated surface suggest that UV ozone cleaning, followed by 10% HCl is the best choice for removing most of the oxide. Furthermore, we present evidence of high quality epitaxial growth of SnxGe1−x on wafers prepared by our method.
Remote delivery of congenital cardiac magnetic resonance imaging services: a unique telemedicine model.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is increasingly utilized in the management of patients with congenital heart disease. Unfortunately, the expertise to perform and interpret these studies is not universally available, despite an increasing population of congenital heart survivors. This retrospective analysis describes our experience providing on-site CMRI services compared with providing the same services over a geographic distance of 250 miles. There were 83 local scans with both physician and patient on-site compared with 91 scans controlled by a physician geographically remote from the patients. The patients were well-matched for age, sex, study duration, scan type, and history of prior cardiac intervention. There was no difference in use of deep sedation or diazepam for anxiolysis, or use of atropine for arrhythmia suppression. There were no patient safety issues and there was satisfaction on the part of the referring physicians who were able to obtain more timely studies, as well as the remote-scanning physicians who had a workflow comparable with the local scans, but no lost travel time. This experience suggests that remote delivery of cardiac MRI services for the congenital heart population is feasible and can be done with comparable success and safety to a traditional “local” model. We also suggest the configuration to provide such remote CMRI services with commercially available hardware and software.
Transport and Reactivity of Lactate-Modified Nanoscale Iron Particles for Remediation of DNT in Subsurface Soils

AbstractNanoscale iron particles (NIP) can be used for in situ remediation of a variety of organic contaminants in the subsurface. NIP can effectively degrade contaminants due to their large reactive surface area. NIP transport in subsurface soils is hindered due to their agglomeration and sedimentation, and surface-modified NIP are suggested to enhance the transport. This study investigated the transport and reactivity of bare NIP and lactate-modified NIP (LMNIP) in field sand spiked with 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT at 740 mg/kg), a representative nitroaromatic organic compound found at munitions waste sites. Column tests were conducted using NIP and LMNIP at two different concentrations (1 and 4 g/L) and two different flow velocities (0.75 and 1.2 cm/min). During the testing, changes in the magnetic susceptibility (MS) values across the soil column were measured and effluent was collected and its volume was measured at different time periods. After the end of the testing period, the soil was extruded and...
Review of recent research on interior noise of propeller aircraft

Publications on the topics of propeller source noise, airborne noise transmission, and passenger comfort response to noise and vibration are reviewed. Of the 187 publications referenced, 140 have appeared since 1978. Examples of research accomplishments are presented to illustrate the state of the art. Emphasis is on comparisons of theoretical and measured results, but the description of the theories is left to the references. This review shows that substantial progress has been made in understanding the characteristics of propeller noise, airborne noise, and passenger response, and in the development of prediction methods. Application of the technology to cabin noise control and possible future research directions are discussed.
Role of solvent in determining conformational preferences of alanine dipeptide in water.

Evidence from a variety of spectroscopic probes indicates that (φ, ψ) values corresponding to the left-handed polyproline II helix (PII) are preferred for short alanine-based peptides in water. On the basis of results from theoretical studies, it is believed that the observed preference is dictated by favorable peptide−solvent interactions, which are realized through formation of optimal hydrogen-bonding water bridges between peptide donor and acceptor groups. In the present study, we address this issue explicitly by analyzing the hydration structure and thermodynamics of 16 low-energy conformers of the alanine dipeptide (N-acetylalanine-N‘-methylamide) in liquid water. Monte Carlo simulations in the canonical ensemble were performed under ambient conditions with all-atom OPLS parameters for the alanine dipeptide and the TIP5P model for water. We find that the number of hydrogen-bonded water molecules connecting the peptide group donor and acceptor atoms has no effect on the solvation thermodynamics. Inst...
MEASURING BELIEFS, PERCEIVED SOCIAL PRESSURES, AND DECISIONS ABOUT HAVING CHILDREN: A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH

Summary.-A factor analysis of adolescents' responses to a 35-item inventory yielded four independent factors. The findings of this study lend strong support to the hypothesis that there are several orthogonal dimensions of beliefs, perceived social pressures, and decisions involved in 240 adolescents' statemenrs about how many children they expect, plan, or hope to procreate and rear during their lifetimes. The implications of these findings are discussed in the several contexts of their social consequences.
Centromere analysis of micronuclei induced by 2‐aminoanthraquinone in cultured mouse splenocytes using both a gamma‐satellite DNA probe and anti‐kinetochore antibody

We have tested 2-aminoanthraquinone (2-AAQ) as a potential aneugen in a cytokinesis-blocked mouse splenocyte micronucleus (MN) assay. Binucleated cells (BNC) were evaluated for MN, and the MN were further probed with two indicators of centromere presence: an anti-kinetochore autoantibody and a DNA probe for the mouse gamma-satellite locus. A dose-dependent increase in the frequency of BNC with MN was observed. At the highest 2-AAQ concentration (10 micrograms/ml), the frequency of BNC containing MN was increased greater than 10-fold over background. Both centromere-positive and centromere-negative MN were significantly increased. At least 62% of MN at all 2-AAQ doses were positive for the gamma-satellite DNA probe, while 30-53% were labeled with the antikinetochore antibody. In contrast with the 2-AAQ results, after treatment with the aneugen demecolcine (positive control), greater than 80% of MN labelled positive with both probes. This discordance in the results with the two probes after 2-AAQ exposure suggests that the mode of action of this chemical may be as an aneugen by disruption of the kinetochore proteins, as a clastogen with a preferential cleavage site at or near the gamma-satellite locus, or both. Our results also suggest that the use of either of these probes individually may not be an adequate measure of centromere presence. Nevertheless, positive results for both markers provides strong evidence that 2-AAQ is aneugenic.
Humanin, a Cytoprotective Peptide, Is Expressed in Carotid Artherosclerotic Plaques in Humans

Objective The mechanism of atherosclerotic plaque progression leading to instability, rupture, and ischemic manifestation involves oxidative stress and apoptosis. Humanin (HN) is a newly emerging endogenously expressed cytoprotective peptide. Our goal was to determine the presence and localization of HN in carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Methods and Results Plaque specimens from 34 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were classified according to symptomatic history. Immunostaining combined with digital microscopy revealed greater expression of HN in the unstable plaques of symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients (29.42±2.05 vs. 14.14±2.13% of plaque area, p<0.0001). These data were further confirmed by immunoblot (density of HN/β-actin standard symptomatic vs. asymptomatic 1.32±0.14 vs. 0.79±0.11, p<0.01). TUNEL staining revealed a higher proportion of apoptotic nuclei in the plaques of symptomatic patients compared to asymptomatic (68.25±3.61 vs. 33.46±4.46% of nuclei, p<0.01). Double immunofluorescence labeling revealed co-localization of HN with macrophages (both M1 and M2 polarization), smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and dendritic cells as well as with inflammatory markers MMP2 and MMP9. Conclusions The study demonstrates a higher expression of HN in unstable carotid plaques that is localized to multiple cell types within the plaque. These data support the involvement of HN in atherosclerosis, possibly as an endogenous response to the inflammatory and apoptotic processes within the atheromatous plaque.
Outcomes after physical examination-indicated cerclage in twin gestations

Objective To compare outcomes of physical examination-indicated cerclage in women with twin gestations to those with singleton gestations and to identify whether risk factors for extremely preterm birth (before 28 weeks) differ between these 2 groups. Study Design This is a single institution retrospective cohort study of women who underwent a physical examination-indicated cerclage between Jan. 1, 1980, and Aug. 15, 2012. Differences in characteristics and outcomes were compared between women with twin and singleton gestations. A multivariable analysis was performed to examine whether twin gestation was independently associated with delivery before 28 weeks and whether any effect modification was present between risk factors for preterm birth and the presence of a twin gestation. Results Of the 442 women who underwent a cerclage during the period of study, 104 (23.5%) had twins. Mean gestational age and digital cervical length at placement did not differ by plurality. Although twins were more likely to deliver at a slightly earlier median gestation than singletons (31.9 weeks; interquartile range, 24.9–35.1 vs 32.7 weeks; interquartile range, 24.6–38.3; P = .015), the frequency of delivery before 28 weeks did not differ between these 2 groups (33.7% vs 35.8%, P = .69). Greater cervical dilation and prolapsing membranes were identified as risk factors for birth Conclusion Women with a twin pregnancy who received a physical examination-indicated cerclage had similar risk factors for extreme preterm birth and may experience similar obstetric outcomes as women with singleton gestations.
Human immune toxicity.

This review examines xenobiotic toxicity to the immune system, stressing in particular those aspects of most relevance to humans. Immunotoxicity is examined especially from three points of view: by what immunological component is affected, by classes of foreign agents that adversely affect the human immune system and by critical evaluation of human case reports and epidemics. Mechanisms by which xenobiotics interrupt cytokine networks are emphasized. The concept that microbial agents, both environmental as well as infectious, may act as immunotoxicants, either alone or in synergism with conventional agents is introduced. Instances of human immunotoxicology are critically evaluated in terms of clinical relevance, i.e. whether increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections or tumor emergence takes place in the affected individuals.
The accumulation of iron by rat liver cell suspensions.

Abstract The accumulation of iron by rat liver cell suspensions appears to be a diffusion controlled process. Activation energies are considerably lower than those characteristic of metabolically mediated processes. Inhibitor studies indicate that this process is independent of the cell's respiratory energy. Experiments with surfactants and freeze-thaw procedures demonstrate that the membrane is not the rate limiting barrier to the entry of iron. Iron appears to be sorbed onto an entity within the cell. This entity is saturable and may be similar to the ferritin heretofore suggested as the iron binding component. Initial iron accumulation involves the nucleus which was identified by staining and radioautographic procedures as the initial site for the greatest iron incorporation.
Effectiveness of EUS in drainage of pelvic abscesses in 25 consecutive patients (with video)

Background Preliminary evidence suggests that EUS is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery and percutaneous techniques for drainage of pelvic abscesses. The EUS 2008 Working Group identified the technique as a priority for research and recommended its validation in a larger cohort of patients. Objective To evaluate the rates of technical and treatment success, rate of recurrence, and complications of EUS-guided drainage of a pelvic abscess in a large cohort of patients. Study design Observational study. Setting Academic tertiary referral center. Patients Consecutive patients referred for EUS-guided drainage of a pelvic abscess that was not amenable to drainage under US or CT guidance. Methods In patients with an abscess that measured less than 8 cm in size, two 7F transrectal stents were deployed. In patients with an abscess that measured 8 cm or more in size, an additional 10F drainage catheter was deployed. All patients underwent follow-up CT at 36 hours to assess response to therapy. If the abscess had decreased in size by more than 50%, the drainage catheters were discontinued and patients were discharged from the hospital. The stents were then retrieved by sigmoidoscopy at 2 weeks. Main Outcome Measurements We evaluated the rates of technical and treatment success, rate of recurrence, and complications of the EUS-based approach. Technical success was defined as the ability to drain the abscess under EUS guidance. Treatment success was defined as symptom relief in association with complete resolution of the abscess on follow-up CT at 2 weeks. Recurrence was defined as the need for repeat EUS-guided drainage of a pelvic abscess within 90 days after the stent retrieval. Results The procedure was technically successful in all 25 patients (100%) in whom it was attempted, and no complications were encountered. Mean size of the abscess was 68.5 × 52.4 mm. In addition to transrectal stents, a drainage catheter was deployed in 10 patients. Treatment was successful in 24 (96%) of 25 patients. The mean duration of the postprocedure hospital stay was 3.2 days. At a mean follow-up of 189 days (range 93-817), all 24 patients were doing well without abscess recurrence. Conclusions EUS is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective technique that affords long-term benefit for patients undergoing pelvic abscess drainage.
Adaptable platform-based engineering: Key enablers and outlook for the future

Platform-Based Engineering (PBE) is a cost-effective, risk-mitigated system development approach that employs a common structure from which high-quality derivative products can be developed rapidly. PBE is especially effective in decreasing development cost, risks, and lead times while increasing product quality. Appropriately scoped, platforms simplify and accelerate the development of families of systems for a particular problem domain. They encompass domain-specific components and services that reflect the commonalities of systems in the domain (which can be configured as reusable physical or informational components), and variabilities across the domain (which need to be individually developed to achieve a domain product line), along with interface conventions that ensure that they can plug-and-play with the domain infrastructure and common components. However, PBE has a potential downside. Locking into a platform strategy for the long term can severely limit an organization's ability to evolve a product. It is this recognition that spurred the development of the adaptable PBE paradigm. Adaptable PBE offers the customary benefits of PBE without compromising the long-term evolvability of the system. This paper presents the game changing technologies under the adaptable PBE rubric, and discusses the key concepts and advances needed to make adaptable PBE an enabler of evolvable systems. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Computer Interface for Efficient Zero-Crossing Interval Measurement

A technique is described which makes use of a hardware computer interface to efficiently extract zero-crossing interval information from continuous time signals. Each zero-crossing of the input waveform causes the contents of a clock register to be transferred into a clock buffer register simultaneously with the generation of a computer interrupt. Following this, the clock register is restarted and further zero-crossings are prohibited from affecting the device for a set length of time. This length of time is preset to disallow the interruption of the computer until the present zero-crossing interval can be processed. The interrupted computer may read the clock buffer register which represents the elapsed time between the previous two zero-crossings. Since this method results in the measurement of zero-crossing interval information with a minimum computer involvement, a given computer can spend a maximum amount of time processing zero-crossing interval data. An implementation of the technique for use with a PDP-8/L computer is discussed.
Multiple ionization and capture in relativistic heavy-ion atom collisions

Abstract We show that in relativistic heavy-ion collisions the independent electron model can be used to predict cross sections for multiple inner-shell ionization and capture in a single collision. Charge distributions of 82- to 200-MeV/amu Xe and 105- to 955-MeV/amu U ion beams emerging from thin solid targets were used to obtain single- and multiple-electron stripping and capture cross sections. The probabilities of stripping electrons from the K, L, or M shells were calculated using the semiclassical approximation and Dirac hydrogenic wave functions. For capture, a simplified model for electron capture was used. The data generally agree with theory.
Term structure effects on default risk premia and the relationship of default-risky tax-exempt yields to risk-free taxable yields — a note

Abstract The behavior of the default risk premium on bonds has caught the attention of many researchers. Some researchers have analyzed how default risk premia may vary with maturity. It has been suggested that default risk premia are independent of maturity; however, recent research by Rodriguez (1988) shows this to not hold for nonpar taxable bonds. This research shows that the shape of the underlying term structure affects default risk premia for even par bonds in a systematic way. Furthermore, the maturity-dependent variation in equilibrium tax rates has a strong impact upon default risk premia behavior where equilibrium tax rates are derived from comparisons of taxable and tax-exempt bonds. The inclusion of the shape of the underlying term structure also has very important implications for the relation between taxexempt yields and taxable yields. The slope and intercept terms of the relation between taxexempt and taxable yields are clearly dependent upon maturity, a fact which has not been recognized before.
Effect of sweeteners and stabilizers on selected sensory attributes and shelf life of ice cream

Guar and locust bean gums were combined with sucrose, 36 DE corn syrup and/or 42 high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in a minimum fat (10%) ice cream formulation. A total of 27 combinations were evaluated for sweetness, iciness, chewiness and vanilla intensity. Replacing 50% of the sucrose with 42 HFCS did not significantly affect sweetness or vanilla intensity. Chewiness was enhanced when high corn syrup levels were combined with a high guar to locust bean gum ratio. Storage study data showed that ice creams containing high levels of HFCS became objectionably icy earlier than ice creams containing low levels or no HFCS. With a high guar to locust bean gum ratio ice creams became both detectably and objectionably icy sooner than if a low ratio of these gums was used.
Increased Arabinitol Levels in Experimental Candidiasis in Rats: Arabinitol Appearance Rates, Arabinitol/Creatinine Ratios, and Severity of Infection

Renal colony counts, total arabinitol appearance, and the arabinitol/creatinine ratios in the serum and urine of rats with lethal candidiasis were measured. Total arabinitol appearance and the arabinitol/creatinine ratios increased significantly after infection. The serum arabinitol/creatinine ratio was high (2 SD above the mean value in normal animals) in five of six infected rats at 24 hr, in eight of eight at 48 hr, and in none of the control animals. The urinary arabinitol/creatinine ratio was high in 14 of 19 infected rats by 24 hr, in 11 of 11 by 48 hr, and in none of the control animals. Total arabinitol appearance and the arabinitol/creatinine ratios were highly correlated with renal colony counts. Arabinitol production in vitro was sufficient to account for the increased arabinitol appearance observed in vivo in 12 of 14 rats. Thus it is concluded that the excess arabinitol that appeared in vivo was produced by the infecting fungus and that arabinitol is a quantitative marker substance for candidiasis. Arabinitol is a major metabolite of several pathogenic species of Candida. It is produced in actively growing cultures in proportion to the number of yeasts [1]. We and other investigators have shown that serum concentrations of arabinitol are high in many patients with invasive candidiasis [2-5]. High arabinitol concentrations have also been reported in the serum of mice [5] and in the serum [5] and urine [6] of rabbits with candidiasis. Despite this considerable evidence that candidiasis is associated with high serum arabinitol levels, whether infection with an arabinitol-producing strain of Candida species causes elevation of the serum arabinitol concentration has not specifically
A note on walk entropies in graphs

Abstract The concept of walk entropy of a graph has been recently introduced in E. Estrada et al. (2014) [4] . In that paper the authors formulated two conjectures about walk entropies. In the present note we prove the first of these two conjectures and propose a stronger form of it.
Developing small-scale tests to predict explosivity

Materials which release significant heat upon decomposition are energetic materials. Some of these are also explosives. Seeking a correlation with detonability of large quantities of energetic materials, four laboratory tests were used. The characteristics considered indicative of detonability were ability to fragment a metal casing, when initiated by a detonator, and ability to produce large quantities of gas and heat. The best developed of these tests is differential scanning calorimetry. It has already been pioneered by other researchers. A limitation of this study is that large-scale detonability remains unknown for a number of materials examined; thus, it is difficult to sufficiently evaluate the success of the small-scale analyses.
Perceived Vulnerability and Control of Martial Arts and Physical Fitness Students

Anecdotal reports and limited research suggest that enrolling in self-defense courses can enhance feelings of control and reduce feelings of vulnerability; however, much self-defense is taught in the context of martial arts courses. To assess the effects of martial arts courses on perceptions of vulnerability and control, 83 students in physical fitness and 59 students in martial arts courses at 10 randomly chosen large universities responded to questionnaires. Martial arts students scored lower on control, higher on vulnerability, and higher on perceived likelihood of being injured than fitness students while enrolled in their courses. A year later, regardless of whether they had continued training, they scored higher on control and lower on vulnerability. Neither gender nor prior history of assault was related to responses. Enrolling in martial arts courses may not enhance people's feelings of control, at least in the initial stages of training.
Studies on the interaction between ferritin and ceruloplasmin.

We showed previously that ceruloplasmin associates with the H chain of rat liver ferritin during iron loading into ferritin such that the iron oxidized by ceruloplasmin was deposited into ferritin [S.-H. Juan et al. (1997) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 341, 280-286]. Three synthetic decapeptides derived from domains 2, 4, and 6 of ceruloplasmin, referred to CP-2, CP-4, and CP-6, were utilized to identify a possible binding site on ceruloplasmin for ferritin. Two of the peptides, CP-4 and CP-6, were found to inhibit iron loading into the recombinant ferritin H chain homopolymer (rH-Ft) by ceruloplasmin. The extent of inhibition of iron loading into ferritin by ceruloplasmin by CP-6, but not CP-4, varied with pH, whereas the inhibitory effect remained constant in increasing concentrations of NaCl. The addition of rH-Ft quenched the fluorescence emission of CP-4 and CP-6, but not CP-2. The quenching of fluorescence was used to estimate dissociation constants for the peptides. Iron loading into ferritin in Hepes buffer was not affected in the presence of these peptides. In addition, synthetic peptides corresponding to the BC loop of ferritin H and L chains were utilized to localize an interaction site on ferritin for ceruloplasmin. The BC loop of H chain but not L chain of ferritin stimulated the ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin. Only the BC loop of ferritin H chain decreased the amount of iron loading into ferritin by ceruloplasmin.
Magnetization reversal in particulate L10 nanostructures

Abstract Magnetization processes in particulate L1 0 FePt nanostructures are investigated by model calculations and numerical simulations. The systems considered include anisotropic nanograins embedded in non-magnetic matrix; randomly oriented nanoclusters embedded in a C matrix, and nanocomposites of FePt particles in a semi-hard matrix. The reversal mechanisms depend on both intra- and intergranular features. Quasi-coherent rotation dominates the reversal in weakly-coupled granular magnets, but interface imperfections yield a disproportionately strong coercivity reduction. Strong intergranular exchange leads to a transition to a discrete pinning regime, which is accompanied by a coercivity maximum.
Optical monitoring of polypropylene injection molding

We have constructed an optical fiber sensor for monitoring injection molding and we have developed a model to describe sensor behavior. The sensor consists of a sapphire window at the end of a sleeved ejector pin into which an optical fiber is inserted. The optical view with this sensor is through the thickness of the molded product. The measured optical signal was light that transmitted through the resin, reflected off the back wall of the mold, and retraced its path through the resin to the optical sensor, i.e., light transmitted through twice the thickness of the resin. While monitoring polypropylene during the packing and cooling phase of the molding cycle, we observed a decrease in light intensity due to scattering of light by the growing microcrystals. A characteristic minimum in the transmitted light intensity versus time curve is attributed to scattering by growing crystalline spherulites at the core of the molded product. Cavity pressure was also measured and was found to be an essential parameter in the process model. The model illustrates how temperature, pressure, and crystallinity affect the detected light intensity and clarifies the roles that temperature and pressure play in the crystallization process.
Rare earth elements in the water column of Lake Vanda, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Abstract We present data on the composition of water from Lake Vanda, Antarctica. Vanda and other lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are characterized by closed basins, permanent ice covers, and deep saline waters. The meromictic lakes provide model systems for the study of trace metal cycling owing to their pristine nature and the relative simplicity of their biogeochemical systems. Lake Vanda, in the Wright Valley, is supplied by a single input, the Onyx River, and has no output. Water input to the lake is balanced by sublimation of the nearly permanent ice cap that is broken only near the shoreline during the austral summer. The water column is characterized by an inverse thermal stratification of anoxic warm hypersaline water underlying cold oxic freshwater. Water collected under trace-element clean conditions was analyzed for its dissolved and total rare earth element (REE) concentrations by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Depth profiles are characterized by low dissolved REE concentrations (La, Ce,
Evanescent Wave Fiber Optic Chemical Sensor

Fiber Optic intensity sensors based on the interaction between an external medium and t he evanescent wave of unclad and tapered multimode and single mode fibers have been developed to measure refractive index, temperature and liquid level. Here we describe an intensity bio-chemical fiber optic sensor (BCFOS) where absorption of t he evanescent wave by a dye-labeled solution is used to modulate, attenuate, t he intensity of t he signal in t he core of the fiber. The fabrication and performance is described for laboratory prototype sensors using etched multimode and tapered single mode fibers.
Renal cell carcinoma with translocation (X;1) Further evidence for a cytogenetically defined subtype

Abstract A renal cell carcinoma from a 15-year-old male had a 49,Yt(X;1)(p11.2;g21), +der(X)t(X;1) (p11.2;q21), +5, −16, +17, +18 karyotype. This is the third report of a tronslocation involving a breakpoint at Xp11.2 in a renal cell carcinoma in a child. A total of nine cases of renal cell carcinoma involving Xp11, including this case, have been reported. Of the eight cases for which there are genetics reports, all are male. Patients with renal cell carcinoma with abnormalities at Xp11 appear to be younger than renal cell carcinoma patients overall.
Response of the coral reef benthos and herbivory to fishery closure management and the 1998 ENSO disturbance.

The hypothesis that herbivory is higher in areas without fishing and will increase the rate at which hard coral communities return to pre-disturbance conditions was tested in and out of the marine protected areas (MPA) of Kenya after the 1998 El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Herbivory was estimated by assay and biomass methods, and both methods indicated higher herbivory in fishery closures. Despite higher herbivory, the effect of the ENSO disturbance was larger within these closures, with reefs undergoing a temporary transition from dominance by hard and soft coral to a temporary dominance of turf and erect algae that ended in the dominance of calcifying algae, massive Porites, Pocillopora and a few faviids six years after the disturbance. The fished reefs changed the least but had a greater cover of turf and erect algae and sponge shortly after the disturbance. Higher herbivory in the fishery closures reduced the abundance and persistence of herbivore-susceptible erect algae and created space and appropriate substratum for recruiting corals. Nonetheless, other post-settlement processes may have had strong influences such that annual rates of coral recovery were low (∼2%) and not different between the management regimes. Recovery, as defined as and measured by the return to pre-disturbance coral cover and the dominant taxa, was slower in fishery closures than unmanaged reefs.
Development and validation of the Corrective Feedback Self-Efficacy Instrument

Abstract The authors present the Corrective Feedback Self-Efficacy Instrument (CFSI), which measures counselor trainees' self-efficacy for giving corrective feedback in counselor training groups. The CFSI consists of 16 Likert-type scale items in 2 factors: therapeutic efficacy and fears efficacy. The CFSI was developed through a process of replicated factor analysis. Convergent and discriminant validity of factor and total CFSI scores were investigated. Reliability of the CFSI also was established. Uses of the CFSI to increase awareness of counselor trainees' self-efficacy and to plan instruction in counselor training are discussed.
Fabrication of large-area gratings with submicron pitch using mold micromachining

In this work, we have applied mold micromachining and standard photolithographic techniques to the fabrication of parts integrated with 0.4 micron pitch diffraction gratings. In principle, the approach should be scaleable to considerably finer pitches. We have achieved this by relying on the thickness of deposited or grown films, instead of photolithography, to determine the grating pitch. The gratings can be made to extend over large areas and the entire process is compatible with batch processing. Literally thousands of parts can be batch fabricated from a single lot of six inch wafers. In the first stage of the process we fabricate a planarized silicon dioxide pad over which the silicon nitride wave guide runs. The grating is formed by first patterning and etching single crystalline silicon to form a series of trenches with well defined pitch. The silicon bounding the trenches is then thinned by thermal oxidation followed by stripping of the silicon dioxide. The trenches are filled by a combination of polysilicon depositions and thermal oxidations. Chemical mechanical polishing is used to polish back these structures resulting in a series of alternating 2000 angstroms wide lines of silicon and silicon dioxide. The thickness of the lines is determined by the oxidation time and the polysilicon deposition thickness. The silicon lines are selectively recessed by anisotropic reactive ion etching, thus forming the mold for the grating. The mold is filled with low stress silicon nitride deposited by chemical vapor deposition. A wave guide is then patterned into the silicon nitride and the mold is locally removed by a combination of deep silicon trench etching and wet KOH etching. This results in a suspended diffraction grating/membrane over the KOH generated pit.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Spin-independent and spin-dependent conductance anisotropy in layered colossal-magnetoresistive manganite single crystals

Results are reported for the conductance anisotropies in single crystals of the layered colossal magnetoresistive manganites. Well below the magnetic ordering temperatures, the zero-field anisotropy increases from \ensuremath{\sim}230 for ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.24}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1.76}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ to g10 000 for ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.4}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1.6}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7},$ consistent with a c-axis antiferromagnetic ground state in the latter, while the spin-independent conductivity anisotropy only increases from \ensuremath{\sim}230 to \ensuremath{\sim}300. Significant c-axis ferromagnetic fluctuations are seen in ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.4}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1.6}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7},$ but no evidence is found for the recently reported two-dimensional magnetic ordering transition at higher temperatures. Direct evidence suggests that spin-orbit coupling is weaker than any other possible sources of orbital ordering.
Peroxynitrite-Mediated τ Modifications Stabilize Preformed Filaments and Destabilize Microtubules through Distinct Mechanisms†

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive amnestic dementia typified by abnormal modifications of the microtubule (MT)-associated τ protein that promote its pathological self-assembly and displacement from the MT lattice. Previously, we showed that peroxynitrite (ONOO-) induces the oxidative 3,3‘-dityrosine (3,3‘-DT) cross-linking and site-selective nitration of τ monomers [Reynolds et al. (2005) Biochemistry 44, 1690−1700]. In the present study, we examined the effects of ONOO--mediated modifications on two key elements of τ pathobiology: (1) the stability of preformed τ filaments and (2) the ability of monomeric τ to promote tubulin assembly. Here, we report that treatment of synthetic τ filaments with ONOO- generates heat-stable, SDS-insoluble aggregates with a significantly reduced mobility by SDS−PAGE compared to that of nontreated filaments. Ultrastructurally, these aggregates appear to be cross-linked via interfilament bridges. Using LC−MS/MS and HPLC with fluorescent detection, we demonstrate tha...
Genotypic determinants of phenotype in North American patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is characterized by excess accumulation of protoporphyrin, which is due to deficient activity of the enzyme ferrochelatase (FECH). This results in photosensitivity and in some patients liver disease which may necessitate liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to delineate the abnormalities in the FECH gene which cause phenotypic expression in EPP. We identified 43 individuals from 25 North American families with EPP who were heterozygous for various FECH mutations, but the mutations did not adequately explain the variable phenotype. We also examined the presence of an intron polymorphism (IVS3-48c) in the FECH gene which was shown to cause the formation of aberrantly spliced FECH mRNA [1]. FECH DNA analysis demonstrated that 94% of 31 symptomatic individuals with FECH mutations were heterozygous for IVS3-48c, whereas 12 asymptomatic individuals with FECH mutations were homozygous for IVS3-48t. Haplotype analysis in four families showed that symptomatic members had the IVS3-48c polymorphism in the non-mutant FECH allele. Sequencing of the proximal FECH gene promoter showed no additional changes which might affect gene expression. The levels of normal FECH mRNA, measured by relative quantitative RT-PCR, and FECH enzyme activity were correspondingly lower in the cultured lymphoblasts of family members with the IVS3-48c polymorphism. These results indicate that symptomatic disease in most North American patients with EPP is explained by the inheritance of a mutation in one FECH allele which causes a structural alteration in the protein, together with a low expressing non-mutant FECH allele which is caused by the IVS3-48c polymorphism.