cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light chains of mammalian cytoplasmic dynein: identification and characterization of a family of LC8 light chains.

Cytoplasmic dynein is a large multisubunit motor protein that moves various cargoes toward the minus ends of microtubules. In addition to the previously identified heavy, intermediate, and light intermediate chains, it has recently been recognized that cytoplasmic dynein also has several light chain subunits with apparent molecular weights between 8–20 kDa. To systematically identify the light chains of purified rat brain cytoplasmic dynein, peptide sequences were obtained from each light chain band resolved by gel electrophoresis. Both members of the tctex1 light chain family, tctex1 and rp3, were identified in a single band. Only one member of the roadblock family, roadblock-2, was found. Two members of the LC8 family were resolved as separate bands, the previously identified LC8 subunit, and a second novel cytoplasmic dynein family member, LC8b. The tissue distribution of these two dynein LC8 subunits differed, although LC8b was the major family member in brain. Database searches found that both LC8a and LC8b were also present in several mammalian species, and a third mammalian LC8 sequence, LC8c was found in the human database. The amino acid sequences of both LC8a and LC8b were completely conserved in mammals. LC8a and LC8b differ in only six of the 89 amino acids. The amino acid differences between LC8a and LC8b were located near the N-terminus of the molecules, and most were in the outward facing α-helices of the LC8 dimer. When the mammalian LC8a sequence was compared to the LC8 sequences found in six other animal species including Xenopus and Drosophila, there was, on average, 94% sequence identity. More variation was found in LC8 sequences obtained from plants, fungi, and parasites. LC8c differed from the other two human LC8 sequences in that it has amino acid substitutions in the intermediate chain binding domain at the C-terminal of the molecule. The position of amino acid substitutions of the three mammalian LC8 family members is consistent with the hypothesis that they bind to different proteins. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 49:229–240, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Limitations of Leasehold Forestry for Poverty Alleviation in Nepal

Two leasehold forestry case studies reveal potential limitations in the poverty alleviation potential of Nepal's leasehold forestry program. First, even though the program is targeted toward the poorest, nonpoor households can find opportunities to enter leasehold forest user groups. Second, by not raising the incomes and living standards of all households in a group simultaneously, it is possible for leasehold forestry to simply redistribute poverty. These limitations may be problems of implementation, rather than design. If so, it is important for implementing officials to be cautious when forming leasehold forests.
The United Nations and Human Rights

Some writing about the UN may suggest that there are those who conceive of the elephant that is the United Nations largely in terms of its human rights programs. The allusion to the fabled task of the blind men is not intended to impugn the vision of those who concentrate on that significant United Nations activity. The United Nations is a multifaceted and incongruous body, and the broadest view would not permit seeing it whole and in detail at the same time. Aware of the inevitable distortion that concentration brings, I would on this occasion look at this particular limb, hoping not to lose sight of the fact that it is part of a living if strange beast in a real world.
Evaluating lifting tasks using subjective and biomechanical estimates of stress at the lower back

The objective of this study was to evaluate five different lifting tasks based on subjective and biomechanical estimates of stress at the lower back. Subjective estimates were obtained immediately after the subjects performed the lifting tasks. Rankings for different tasks were obtained according to the perceived level of stress at the lower back. A biomechanical model was used to predict the compressive force at the L5/S1 disc for the weight lifted considering link angles for the particular posture. The tasks were also ranked according to the compressive force loading at the L5/S1 disc. The weight lifted in these tasks for obtaining the subjective estimate of stress was the maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWOL). This was determined separately for each subject using a psychophysical approach. Subjective estimates of stress were obtained for infrequent lifting, specifically for a single lift, as well as for lifting at a frequency of four lifts per min. The results showed that a lifting task acceptable from the biomechanical point of view may not be judged as a safe or acceptable task by the worker based on his subjective perception. This may result in a risk of the worker not performing the recommended task or not following the recommended method.
Noninvasive monitoring of tissue hemoglobin using UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy: a pilot study

We conducted a pilot study on 10 patients undergoing general surgery to test the feasibility of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the visible wavelength range as a noninvasive monitoring tool for blood loss during surgery. Ratios of raw diffuse reflectance at wavelength pairs were tested as a first-pass for estimating hemoglobin concentration. Ratios can be calculated easily and rapidly with limited post-processing, and so this can be considered a near real-time monitoring device. We found the best hemoglobin correlations were when ratios at isosbestic points of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin were used, specifically 529/500 nm. Baseline subtraction improved correlations, specifically at 520/509 nm. These results demonstrate proof-of-concept for the ability of this noninvasive device to monitor hemoglobin concentration changes due to surgical blood loss. The 529/500 nm ratio also appears to account for variations in probe pressure, as determined from measurements on two volunteers.
Defending corporate identity on New Spain's northeastern frontier: San Esteban de Nueva Tlaxcala, 1780-1810.

In 1808, confronted with the latest in a lengthy series of legal challenges to its corporate landholdings, the municipal council of the Indian town of San Esteban de Nueva Tlaxcala, in the northeastern province of Coahuila in New Spain, dispatched a blistering note to its counterpart in the adjoining Spanish town of Saltillo. The question of the moment concerned the right of Saltillo residents Jose Miguel and Juan Gonzalez to route water they claimed in one place to property San Esteban had earlier allowed them to farm in another. But to do so meant that the water would be directed across lands belonging to San Esteban. When the Indian town denied them this right, the brothers protested vigorously. They contended that agriculture was, after all, the mainstay of the local economy. It benefited the public, the king, the church, and particularly the families of the pueblo itself. To deny these two farmers access to their water was to jeopardize agricultural production in the area. Further, they argued, San Esteban possessed much uncultivated arid land; perhaps the pueblo should consider renting some of the Gonzalezes' water as it flowed across the town's properties. Implicit in this suggestion was the assumption that San Esteban residents could not deal with what they had, that they were wasteful in utilizing their resources, and that Spaniards, in this particular case the brothers Gonzalez, were better equipped to exploit the resources of the community.
Retrospective Study Of The Effects Of Zinc Supplementation In An Elderly Institutionalized Population With Decubitus Ulcers

Abstract The present pilot study was a retrospective analysis of 70 institutionalized elderly (37F 33 M, mean age 81.7 + 8.3 years) with documented decubitus ulcers (stage II-IV). The study compared 26 patients who received 440 mg zinc sulfate/day (100 mg elemental zinc/day) for 30 days with 44 patients not receiving zinc sulfate. There were no significant differences between groups in age, sex, % ideal body weight, mobility, continence, or glucocorticoid use. Food intake was 2 =0.32). Some of the effects of the zinc sulfate supplement appeared to be modulated by multi-vitamin/mineral supplementation at RDA levels. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests several adverse effects related to zinc sulfate supplementation in excess (6 times) of the RDA. Further study is needed to substantiate these Findings. The maximal safe dose of zinc supplementation is not known. Findings from the present study emphasize the importance of carefully evaluating zinc supplementation practices.
Early mother–child separation, parenting, and child well-being in Early Head Start families

Drawing on theories of attachment and family instability, this study examined associations between early mother–child separation and subsequent maternal parenting behaviors and children's outcomes in a sample of 2080 families who participated in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, the vast majority of whom were poor. Multiple regression models revealed that, controlling for baseline family and maternal characteristics and indicators of family instability, the occurrence of a mother–child separation of a week or longer within the first two years of life was related to higher levels of child negativity (at age three) and aggression (at ages three and five). The effect of separation on child aggression at age five was mediated by aggression at age three, suggesting that the effects of separation on children's aggressive behavior are early and persistent.
Palynological evidence for 19th century grazing‐induced vegetation change in the southern Sierra Nevada, California, U.S.A.

Summary Aim Stratigraphic pollen records are used to assess historic vegetation changes that have transpired in a North American mountain meadow since the introduction of Old World livestock species in the middle 1800s. Location Monache Meadows is located on the Kern Plateau in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, California, U.S.A. It is situated along the upper reaches of the South Fork Kern River in the southernmost drainage basin of the Sierra Nevada. Methods Short core samples of meadow sediments were extracted from five locations throughout Monache Meadows. These five samples are classified according to topographic position within the meadow – two upper meadow sites and three lower meadow sites. Stratigraphic analyses of fossil pollen from each core were used to assess vegetation composition before the introduction of European livestock (pre1850) and throughout the historic period (1850–present). The historic period geochronology is based on 210Pb dating of selected strata from each core. ResultsRiccia was a dominant taxon in the upper meadow before the introduction of grazing; Salix seems to have been more abundant in the lower meadow. Both Riccia and Salix decreased dramatically by c.1900, coeval with marked increases in Artemisia (upper meadow) and Cyperaceae (upper and lower meadows). Main conclusions Changes in meadow vegetation occurring during the latter part of the 19th century at Monache Meadows are attributed primarily to the introduction of European livestock (sheep and cattle). Other factors that may have contributed to the observed shifts in composition and dominance include changes in native herbivore populations and decreased fire frequency as a result of 20th century fire suppression policies.
Structural Insights into the Novel Diadenosine 5′,5‴-P1,P4-Tetraphosphate Phosphorylase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

Rv2613c is a diadenosine 5',5‴-P(1),P(4)-tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) phosphorylase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Sequence analysis suggests that Rv2613c belongs to the histidine triad (HIT) motif superfamily, which includes HIT family diadenosine polyphosphate (Ap(n)A) hydrolases and Ap(4)A phosphorylases. However, the amino acid sequence of Rv2613c is more similar to that of HIT family Ap(n)A hydrolases than to that of typical Ap(4)A phosphorylases. Here, we report the crystal structure of Rv2613c, which is the first structure of a protein with Ap(n)A phosphorylase activity, and characterized the structural basis of its catalytic activity. Our results showed that the structure of Rv2613c is similar to those of other HIT superfamily proteins. However, Asn139, Gly146, and Ser147 in the active site of Rv2613c replace the corresponding Gln, Gln, and Thr residues that are normally found in HIT family Ap(n)A hydrolases. Furthermore, analyses of Rv2613c mutants revealed that Asn139, Gly146, and Ser147 are important active-site residues and that Asn139 has a critical role in catalysis. The position of Gly146 might influence the phosphorylase activity. In addition, the tetrameric structure of Rv2613c and the presence of Trp160 might be essential for the formation of the Ap(4)A binding site. These structural insights into Rv2613c may facilitate the development of novel structure-based inhibitors for treating tuberculosis.
Calculation of a flow of plasma in the vicinity of a profiled surface of an electric arc cathode

Some features are treated which are characteristic of a flow of arc plasma in the vicinity of a profiled cathode surface. Comparison of theoretical and experimental results leads one to assume that the formation of a plasma circulation zone in the vicinity of a profiled cathode surface contributes to reducing the erosion of the cathode material.
Multiscale Linear Solvers for Very Large Systems Derived from PDES

We present a novel linear solver that works well for large systems obtained from discretizing PDEs. It is robust and, for the examples we studied, the computational effort scales linearly with the number of equations. The algorithm is based on a wavelength decomposition that combines conjugate gradient, multiscaling, and iterative splitting methods into a single approach. On the surface, the algorithm is a simple preconditioned conjugate gradient with all the sophistication of the algorithm in the choice of the preconditioning matrix. The preconditioner is a very good approximate inverse of the linear operator. It is constructed from the inverse of the coarse grained linear operator and from smoothing operators that are based on an operator splitting on the fine grid. The coarse graining captures the long wavelength behavior of the inverse operator, while the smoothing operator captures the short wavelength behavior. The conjugate gradient iteration accounts for the coupling between long and short wavelengths. The coarse grained operator corresponds to a lower resolution approximation to the PDEs. While the coarse grained inverse is not known explicitly, the algorithm requires only that the preconditioner can be a applied to a vector. The coarse inverse applied to a vector can be obtained as the solution of another preconditioned conjugate gradient solver that applies the same algorithm to the smaller problem. Thus, the method is naturally recursive. The recursion ends when the matrix is sufficiently small for a solution to be obtained efficiently with a standard solver. The local feedback provided by the conjugate gradient step at every level makes the algorithm very robust. In spite of the effort required for the coarse inverse, the algorithm is efficient because the increased quality of the approximate inverse greatly reduces the number of times the preconditioner needs to be evaluated. A feature of the algorithm is that the transition between coarse grids is determined dynamically by the accuracy requirement of the conjugate gradient solver at each level. Typically, later iterations on the finer scales need fewer iterations on the coarser scales and the computational effort is proportional to N rather than N log N, where N is the number of equations. We have tested our solver on the porous flow equation. On a workstation we have solved problems on grids ranging in dimension over three orders of magnitude, from 103 to 106, and found that the linear scaling holds. The algorithm works well, even when the permeability tensor has spatial variations exceeding a factor of 109.
Prolonged ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring in the evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common problem that frequently presents with atypical complaints including nausea, hiccups, globus sensation, chest pain, hoarseness, coughing, or various pulmonary complaints. Diagnosis may be difficult, as these patients often do not have radiographic or endoscopic evidence of esophagitis. In these difficult cases, prolonged esophageal pH monitoring provides an accurate method of quantitating acid reflux parameters and correlating symptoms with reflux episodes in an out-patient setting. Current equipment is compact, durable, and not difficult to use or extremely expensive. Data analysis, with a particular emphasis on acid-exposure time (total, upright, supine), reliably discriminates between abnormal and normal subjects but it is not a perfect "gold standard" for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Indications for esophageal pH monitoring include: (1) atypical symptoms of acid reflux with normal endoscopy, (2) typical reflux symptoms unresponsive to medical therapy, and (3) the follow-up of reflux disease after either medical or surgical therapy. This test is currently performed primarily by gastroenterologists, but we believe many other groups may find this technology helpful. To meet these expanding applications, test refinements are necessary, particularly easier methods of placing the pH probe and better standards for defining abnormal pH parameters in older patients. The future for esophageal pH monitoring is bright. This technology has the potential to do for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease what endoscopy has done for the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease.
Dynamic analysis of an ePFC (enhanced Power Flow Controller) with conduction angle control

Majority of ongoing investigations in the field of power transmission systems are concerned with the use of naturally commutated, thyristor switched circuits such as Static VAr Compensators (SVC) and Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC). The enhanced Power Flow Controller (ePFC) is a distributed version of TCSC topology and is an improvement on Distributed Series Impedance (DSI) circuit. This paper addresses stability analysis of an ePFC which consists of a series connected Thyristor Controlled Reactor (TCR) with a fixed capacitor in parallel. This is a periodically controlled non-linear circuit and hence employing 1 st order (assumes sinusoidal voltage across compensation capacitor) and 2 nd order (assumes sinusoidal current in the transmission line) fundamental impedance model are shown to be inaccurate methods to analyze effective impedance inserted by ePFC. Instead, a new mathematical model that is based on sinusoidal voltage difference between two end buses is used that provides more accurate steady state impedance results. Likewise, to analyze the stability of this system, Poincare mapping of entire bus-to-bus system is employed and the resultant dynamic model of an ePFC is systematically derived in this paper. Finally, eigen values of this system are mapped as a function of conduction angle and regions of instability are identified for the enhanced Power Flow Controller which are in turn verified through computer simulations.
Expanding the effector CD4 T-cell repertoire: the Th17 lineage.

The Th1/Th2 paradigm has provided the framework for understanding CD4 T-cell biology and the interplay between innate and adaptive immunity for almost two decades. Recent studies have defined a previously unknown arm of the CD4 T-cell effector response — the Th17 lineage — that promises to change our understanding of immune regulation, immune pathogenesis and host defense. The factors that specify differentiation of IL-17-producing effector T-cells from naive T-cell precursors are being rapidly discovered and are providing insights into mechanisms by which signals from cells of the innate immune system guide alternative pathways of Th1, Th2 or Th17 development.
Crack spacing as a function of load for thin silica films on a polymeric substrate

This paper examines the spatial distribution of Vickers indentation-induced cracks in thin silica films of constant thickness on a compliant polymeric substrate. The mean indentation crack spacing in the film is described very well by the simple, nondimensional, empirical expression 〈Λ〉=χm, where 〈Λ〉 is a nondimensional function of mean crack spacing and χ is a nondimensional function of the applied load.
20 Drug-induced alterations in the intra-cellular distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat's brain

Abstract High-speed centrifugation of preparations of brain (rat) has permitted the separation of two forms of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin), “bound” and “free”, and the influence of drugs on these forms has been studied. Normally, about 30 per cent of the total endogenous 5-HT is found in the free form. Some drugs known to depress or tranquilize (such as reserpine, chlorpromazine, phenobarbital), irrespective of their effect on total cerebral 5-HT, produce significant increases in the proportion of free 5-HT. The hallucinogenic agent, LSD-25, and the anti-depressant drugs imipramine and β-phenyl iso propylhydrazine lead to an elevation in total 5-HT, which may be accounted for by greater increases in bound than free 5-HT. The anti-depressant drug, iproniazid, produces a rise in both forms of the amine with no significant change in distribution. Among the anti-depressants, only iproniazid completely prevents the release of granule-bound 5-HT which ordinarily is induced by reserpine. This action is not entirely related to inhibition of monoamine oxidase or to the high levels of 5-HT produced by iproniazid.
Effects of isoproterenol on cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in developing chick myocardium.

Abstract Embryonic chick (7–9 day) and newborn chick myocardia contain one major peak of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity as assessed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Evidence is presented that the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios (activity in absence of cyclic AMP/activity in presence of added cyclic AMP) of homogenates prepared with low ionicf strength buffer reflect the endogenous activation state of the enzyme. The cyclic AMP content of newborn chick myocardium is lower than that of 7–9-day embryonic chick myocardium; the baseline cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity is correspondingly reduced. Isoproterenol produces smaller elevations in cyclic AMP and in the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio in newborn chick as compared to embryonic chick myocardium. Differences in the ability of isoproterenol to elevate cyclic AMP in the different preparations are not accompanined by appropriate changes in the adenylate cyclase or phosphodiesterase activities of the corresponding broken cell preparations. Studies with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro 20 1724 indicate that the changes in the ability of isoproterenol to elevate cyclic AMP in the developing chick myocardium are due to changes in the metabolism of the cyclic nucleotide by phosphodiesterase.
Hyperspectral image classification based on Dirichlet Process mixture models

In this work, we propose a new density estimation method for hyperspectral image data based on Dirichlet Process Gaussian mixture models (also known as infinite Gaussian mixture models - IGMMs), which successfully captures the complex multi-modal (potentially non-Gaussian) statistical structure of hyperspectral data. The mixture model we get from this will then be applied to the classification problem. This IGMM based approach is a non-parametric Bayesian method helping circumvent the problem of model selection, which is unavoidable and often difficult when employing traditional parametric Gaussian mixture models (GMM). Inference model based on Gibbs sampling employed during the inference of model parameters. As a preprocessing step, we use Local Fisher's Discriminant Analysis (LFDA) for dimension reduction since we expect it to preserve the multi-modal non-Gaussian structure of the hyperspectral data, which will benefit much in the aspect of computation cost. We compared our proposed IGMM based classification method to the existing state-of-the-art classification methods using popular hyperspectral imagery datasets. The results of our experiments show that the proposed LFDA-IGMM method and GMM method have almost the same performance (sometimes outperforming LFDA-GMM), and they outperform the other commonly used classification approaches when there is a sufficient number of training samples.
Traumatic extrusion of posterior chamber lenses: Clinical and experimental correlations

Five cases of traumatic expulsion of posterior chamber intraocular lens implants are presented. The syndrome is characterized by expulsion of the lens, iris damage, and intraocular hemorrhage. In experiments with donor human eyes we were able to reproduce the syndrome with 0.68 joules of energy, which is well below that encountered in common environmental situations.
Estimation Using Multiyear Rotation Design Sampling in Agricultural Surveys

Abstract In the annual June Enumerative Surveys (JES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the area frame sampling involves multiyear rotation designs with 20% replacement of sample units each year. Currently, USDA uses the latest year sample data almost exclusively in its estimation procedure. We propose that the multiyear sample survey data should be used for estimation of crop acreages and livestock. We develop a multiyear estimation method based on an analysis of variance model that takes into account the successive sampling of units in the area frame from year to year. The proposed method is applied to estimate the 1989 hogs and soybean acreages using JES data for three years: 1987, 1988, and 1989. These estimates are compared with those obtained using the current USDA estimation method. We give relative efficiencies of the multiyear estimates compared to the single-year estimates, often showing a substantial improvement in precision. We also make an evaluation study of the proposed estimati...
Generalized Taylor-Aris moment analysis of the transport of sorbing solutes through porous media with spatially-periodic retardation factor

Taylor-Aris dispersion theory, as generalized by Brenner, is employed to investigate the macroscopic behavior of sorbing solute transport in a three-dimensional, hydraulically homogeneous porous medium under steady, unidirectional flow. The porous medium is considered to possess spatially periodic geochemical characteristics in all three directions, where the spatial periods define a rectangular parallelepiped or a unit-element. The spatially-variable geochemical parameters of the solid matrix are incorporated into the transport equation by a spatially-periodic distribution coefficient and consequently a spatially-periodic retardation factor. Expressions for the effective or large-time coefficients governing the macroscopic solute transport are derived for solute sorbing according to a linear equilibrium isotherm as well as for the case of a first-order kinetic sorption relationship. The results indicate that for the case of a chemical equilibrium sorption isotherm the longitudinal macrodispersion incorporates a second term that accounts for the eflect of averaging the distribution coefficient over the volume of a unit element. Furthermore, for the case of a kinetic sorption relation, the longitudinal macrodispersion expression includes a third term that accounts for the effect of the first-order sorption rate. Therefore, increased solute spreading is expected if the local chemical equilibrium assumption is not valid. The derived expressions of the apparent parameters governing the macroscopic solute transport under local equilibrium conditions agreed reasonably with the results of numerical computations using particle tracking techniques.
A One Dimensional Model to Predict Steady Flow Through a Collapsible Tube

Abstract Flow through tubes that can collapse during normal operation characterizes virtually every bodily fluid-carrying vessel. A MATLAB program was developed to solve a one-dimensional numerical model for steady state collapsible tube flow. The numerical results were then compared with experimental findings of Bertram [10]. The model included a novel polynomial-defined relationship between the Reynolds number and skin friction coefficient. The results are in strong agreement with experiment (r > 0.95). Further correlation analysis showed significance at the 0.025 level [r 14 = 0.986; r 17 = 0.975; r 15 = 0.990; r 15 = 0.956; r 19 = 0.943; p ≪ 0.001]. An average error of less than ten percent existed between computations and experiment.
Cellular and subcellular localization of δ opioid receptor immunoreactivity in the rat dentate gyrus

Abstract To study a potential locus of action of opioids in the rat dentate gyrus, we examined the localization of the δ opioid receptor (DOR) by immunocytochemistry. Two antisera raised to unique, non-overlapping peptide sequences located within the extracellular N-terminal sequence of DOR were used. By light microscopy, numerous neurons in the central hilar region were intensely labeled for DOR, while the granule cell layer contained light DOR immunoreactivity. To further characterize hilar neuron cell types which contained DOR, sections through the dentate gyrus were double labeled using immunofluorescence with antisera to DOR and either γ-aminobutyfc acid (GABA), neuropeptide Y (NPY), or somatostatin-28 antisera. Most DOR-labeled perikarya also contained GABA and NPY, while a subpopulation contained somatostatin. Electron microscopic examination of sections labeled for DOR revealed that the immunoreactivity was common in profiles which exhibited the morphological characteristics of granule cells, as well as those of non-granule cells. DOR immunoreactivity was located at postsynaptic sites within neuronal perikarya (2%), dendrites (27%), and dendritic spines (22%); as well as in presynaptic axon terminals (25%) and glia (23%) (n = 279). In dendrites and dendritic spines, DOR immunoreactivity was most often associated with the plasmalemmal surface near asymmetric synapses. In axon terminals, DOR immunoreactivity primarily surrounded small, clear vesicles, and was less consistently found on the plasmalemmal surface. The distribution of DOR-labeled profiles overlapped with, but was not restricted to regions known to contain enkephalin. These data suggest that opiates acting at the DOR can modulate both hilar neurons and granule cells both pre- and postsynaptically.
Environmental and microbiological problems arising from recalcitrant molecules.

A recalcitrant molecule is one that persists for extended periods in all environments tested, regardless of whether the compound is or is not inherently nonbiodegradable [1, 3]. In addition to the intrinsically long-lived chemicals, certain compounds are destroyed remarkably slowly in some localities but are readily metabolized in others. Considerable evidence suggests that the complete conversion of carbonaceous materials to inorganic products results mainly or solely from the activities of microbial communities of natural ecosystems, so that the very existence of molecules that endure for months, years, or decades suggests a microbial inadequacy, a failing that may be evident in all ecosystems owing to the inherent resistance of the substance or one that is observed in only some areas because the potentially active populations are unable to grow or to carry out the needed reactions.
Low-background Germanium spectrometry the bottom line three years later

Three years ago, state-of-the-art low-background germanium spectrometry was discussed, and speculations were advanced as to the origin of the remaining background. Some of those speculations have been shown to the incorrect. Contemporary lead shielding contains ≈ 100 Bq/kg of210Pb. Our 450-year-old lead was shown to contain <100 mBq/kg A high purity electroformed copper Marinelli shield was placed around the detector with no efffect on the background, which implied that the source is other than the 450-year-old shield. A new limit on the210Pb in this old lead shield is <9 mBq/kg. Electroformed copper components were found to contain226Ra and228Th contaminations at levels of 3500 and 110 μBq/kg, respectively. High purity H2SO4, recrystallized CuSO4, and a BaSO4 scavenge in the electroforming bath have reduced these contaminations to <25 and 9 μBq/kg, respectively. In copper, cosmic ray induced nuclear reactions are now the dominant source of raioactivity. For example,58Co can be readily measured after only a 24-hour exposure at sea level. A new germanium spectrometer containing 2150 grams of 87.44% enriched76Ge has been fabricated to mitigate the effect of cosmogenic68Ge in the background. Current background spectra are presented, and potential sources identified.
Letter from the Chair of the ACCWS.

Dear Colleagues, This is an exciting time for us at the American College of Certified Wound Specialists. As we continue to make our way toward increasing membership through our regional directors meetings, we are proud to announce the birth of our journal. As you enjoy reading our historic first issue of the Journal of the American College of Certified Wound Specialists in January 2009, I would like to acknowledge the efforts put in by our editor-in-chief, Dr. Steve Abraham, and our assistant editor-in-chief, Kari Madison Bechert, MPT. Without their dedication, this project wouldn't have been possible. Also, I would like to thank the review board members of the journal for their help in reviewing submitted manuscripts. Of course, many thanks go to the authors who contributed to this historic issue. I encourage you to send your interesting basic and clinical science papers related to wound care and wound healing in general to be reviewed for potential publication in our journal. We thank our publishing company, Elsevier, for their support throughout this long process. This journal will be considered for indexing at the end of the year 2009, and the papers previously published will be indexed in retrospect. We are determined to make this journal, your journal, the leading voice on wound care. Our goal is to present the latest advances in wound care to the providers, which will ultimately improve patient care and outcome. As previously mentioned, our regional directors continue to offer regional meetings to provide education to the wound care community and increase membership. Other educational courses on wound care are being offered nationwide. Continuing medical education credits and continuing education units are offered for these events. Please refer to the college Web site for more information on dates and locations of future events. Our third annual membership meeting, held in conjunction with the Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin and Wound Care, in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a complete success. It is our goal that in the near future we will hold our annual membership meetings independently. The American Academy of Wound Management is developing a board certification examination on wound care for physicians. The examination will be offered at nationwide locations for the first time during the year 2009. Our goal is to make board certification in wound care a requirement, as it is in all other specialties, with the goal of improving patient care, outcome, and safety. We will keep you updated on the progress of this process. I would like to congratulate and welcome to our family the five new board of directors members. Finally, I would like to thank you for your support to the College. The American College of Certified Wound Specialists is the only membership organization that represents a multidisciplinary group of certified wound specialists. Sincerely,
Formation and stability of metastable structures and amorphous phases in PU-V, PU-TA, and PU-YB systems with positive heats of mixing

The triode sputtering technique with a “split-target” arrangement was used to obtain metastable crystalline and amorphous phases in the Pu-V, Pu-Ta, and Pu-Yb systems. The proposed phase diagrams for these systems all exhibit liquid immiscibility. The heats of mixing are estimated to be highly positive, and the atomic radii of the component atoms differ by at least 10 pct. Extended amorphous and body-centered cubic (bcc) solid-solution regions were observed in the Pu-V and Pu-Ta systems. The corresponding lattice parameters appear to follow in each case an assumed Vegard’s Law extension. In the Pu-Yb system, no amorphous phase was obtained, but an extended face-centered cubic (fcc) solid-solution region (24 to 78 at. pct Yb) was observed with a large positive deviation of the lattice parameter (∼9 pct at 40 at. pct Yb) from a linear Vegard’s Law between the pure fcc components. The observed ranges of amorphous and metastable solid-solution phases have been interpreted in terms of predicated heats of formation for these phases using Miedema’s thermodynamic approximations that include chemical, elastic, and structural contributions. The effect of the high deposition rates on the formation of amorphous and metastable phases has also been considered. Thermal annealing of Pu-Ta amorphous alloys brings about a rapid diffusion of Pu to the free surface of the amorphous phase without crystallization of the remaining Ta-rich amorphous phase. Microhardness measurements indicate that amorphous Pu-V and Pu-Ta alloys are softer than the crystalline bcc solid-solution alloys in the same composition range. Several similarities in the formation of mixed phase regions (amorphous and solid solutions), microhardness, and resistance to decomposition on heating were noted between the Pu-Ta and Pu-V systems and the Cu-W system studied previously.
Compaction Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Uniaxially Pressed Bi-W Composites

Powder metallurgy is a useful route to forming particulate composite materials; however, the densification of hard and soft powder mixtures is usually inhibited by the more refractory phase. The Bi-W powder compacts were uniaxially pressed at room temperature and the compaction behavior and mechanical properties were evaluated. Pressing was performed in incremental steps from ~1 to 540 MPa. After each step, the pressure was relieved and the thickness and sound-wave transit time were measured in situ (in the die), in order to determine the density and sound-wave velocity in the compact. The data show that the unreinforced Bi powder compacts to ~98 pct density at 540 MPa. The W reinforcement inhibits the densification process, resulting in increased levels of residual porosity. The compaction behavior was evaluated using a modified Heckel equation, while the porosity dependence of the ultrasonically determined elastic modulus was described by a site percolation approach. Postcompaction sound-wave velocity and Vicker’s hardness measurements show <5 pct anisotropy between the axial (pressing) and radial directions. The mechanical characterization illustrates the competing effects of the W reinforcement and the associated residual porosity.
A comparative study of alpha and X-ray induced X-ray emission for elemental analysis

Abstract A variety of specimens have been prepared as thin homogeneous targets and analyzed by alpha induced X-ray emission and X-ray fluorescence. The sensitivities for these two modes of excitation were compared and a figure of merit obtained.
Software control of reaction time studies

A description of some problems encountered and solutions generated during the programming of two reaction time tasks is provided; a few examples of the software are listed. Some of the software methods are extendable to general-purpose reaction time algorithms.
A survey of earthquakes and injection well locations in the Barnett Shale, Texas

In August 2012, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published my article surveying two years of seismicity in the Barnett Shale of Texas. The data showed that virtually all well-located epicenters were situated within 3 km of high-volume injection wells. This article summarizes the results of that publication. Recently there has been concern about earthquakes possibly caused by the disposal of hydrofracture flowback fluids in injection wells. Most investigations of earthquakes caused by human activity take place only after an earthquake occurs that is severe enough to be felt by nearby residents and receive media attention. Such events usually have magnitudes ∼M3 or greater and occur in populated areas. Limiting research only to these events does not help us understand why some injection wells trigger seismic activity and others do not.
Insertion device activities for NSLS-II

National Synchrotron Light Source-II (NSLS-II) will be a medium energy storage ring of 3GeV electron beam energy with sub-nm.rad horizontal emittance and top-off capability at 500mA. Damping wigglers will be used not only to reduce the beam emittance but also used as broadband sources for users. Cryo-Permanent Magnet Undulators (CPMUs) are considered for hard X-ray linear device, and permanent magnet based elliptically polarized undulators (EPUs) for variable polarization devices for soft X-ray. 6T superconducting wiggler with minimal fan angle will be installed in the second phase as well as quasi-periodic EPU for VUV and possibly high-temperature superconducting undulator. R&D plans have been established to pursue the performance enhancement of the baseline devices and to design new types of insertion devices. A new insertion device development laboratory will also be established.
Shared pathways for rod and cone vision

We have used heterochromatic gratings falling on 10 deg temporal retina to measure the spatial contrast sensitivities of the isolated rod and cone systems in the mesopic range. As the level of illumination was raised within this range, the contrast sensitivity of the rod system increased, reaching a peak of about 50 (and providing an acuity of 6 c/deg) at 20 scot. td, whereupon the rod system began to saturate. Over most of the mesopic range the sensitivity of the cone system was lower than that of the rod system, although it provided better acuity (up to 15 c/deg). Within the range of spatial frequencies capable of exciting both rod and cone systems, a grating that excited only rods was indistinguishable from a grating of the same spatial frequency that excited only cones. Moreover, contrast adaptation to gratings that excited either rods or cones raised threshold for gratings that excited rods or cones. From these results we conclude that signals from rods and cones travel together in pathways subserving the detection of low spatial frequencies, while only signals from cones travel in pathways subserving the detection of high spatial frequencies.
Capital punishment in tribal Montenegro: Implications for law, biology, and theory of social control

Abstract Clan execution among feuding tribal societies is proposed as a significant precursor to modern law. This form of ostracism is examined with respect to its social control functions and the indigenous assumptions about behavior, genes and demography that guide the behavior. It is suggested that there are very close parallels between modern legal systems and nonliterate ones based on "self-help", when capital punishment is used by normal decision groups in the name of "national security".
An assessment of methods for training parents in the use of time-out

Abstract The purpose of the investigation was to determine the relative effectiveness of three methods for teaching parents to use time-out. Twenty-four parents were randomly assigned to one of three types of training: a written take-home manual, a film plus written take-home manual, or individual modeling and rehearsal plus written take-home manual. Five parents were assigned to a no-treatment control group. Outcome was assessed through a multiple choice exam and a home assessment of parents' implementation of time-out one week after training. All training methods were superior to no-treatment on both outcome measures. However, in contrast to all the previous research in this area which has included a take-home manual, there were no significant differences among the three types of training. The importance of take-home materials for immediate reference by the parent is discussed.
Classroom Wikipedia participation effects on future intentions to contribute

One of the biggest challenges faced by social media sites like Wikipedia is how to motivate users to contribute content. Research continues to demonstrate that only a small percentage of users contribute to user-generated content sites. In this study we assess the results of a Wikimedia Foundation initiative, which had graduate and undergraduate students from 22 U.S. universities contribute content to Wikipedia articles as part of their coursework. 185 students were asked about their participation in the initiative and their intention to participate on Wikipedia in the future. Results suggest that intentions to continue contributing are influenced by the initial attitude towards the class, and the degree to which students perceived they were writing for a global audience.
The application of steric hindrance to the synthesis of selective reagents from the 2,4,6-trinitrophenols

Abstract Six 3 and 3,5 substituted trinitrophenols have been investigated as analytical reagents. A high degree of selectivity is shown by the highly hindered compounds.
Tube separation functionals

Abstract Separation functionals are computed for a class of manufactured object that include cylindrical and rectangular artifacts, bored tubes and parallel surfaces with variable diameter. The perfect forms applied in this analysis are spatial tubes generated from planar regular and convex polygons. The construction of the tube separation functional involves the computation of an “inner envelope” which is functionally dependent on several parameters. The inner envelope is a new construction which allows the visualization of the separation functional for a three-dimensional symmetrical artifact. Examples are used to illustrate the separation functionals associated with various manufactured artifacts.
The coordination chemistry of isoxazoles

Isoxazole-metal complexes are often postulated as intermediates in reactions of considerable synthetic utility, for example the reductive ring opening of isoxazoles. Several isoxazole-metal complexes have been reported and well characterized. However, an updated review of this chemistry is needed. Because the behaviour of isoxazoles as their metal complexes is of interest to the long-term goals of several of our own projects, it seemed expedient to conduct and report such a review at this time