cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An improved, large-scale synthesis of xanthothricin and reumycin†

Xanthothricin (toxoflavin) has been synthesized in high yield and on a large (over 100 g) scale; this was selectively demethylated at N-1 to produce reumycin (1-demethyltoxoflavin) employing an optimized purification protocol also amenable to large-scale production.
Growth and sporulation of Ustilago scitaminea, in vivo and in vitro.

Two hyphal forms of Ustilago scitaminea were observed in vivo: dikaryotic vegetative hyphae in the sugarcane stems and monokaryotic sporogenous hyphae in the peripheral layers of the whip, a sorus-bearing structure on infected stalks. The fungus was easily isolated from sugarcane tissue and cultured on six different media. A brown cerebriform colony was usually the first form to grow from tissue. A white mycelial colony commonly arose from the brown colony after 1–2 wk and grew rapidly over its surface. On a medium containing extracts of sugarcane, the fungus developed into black colonies in which teliospores were formed. Teliospore production was enhanced and development of black colonies prolonged if covered by a thin film of liquid medium. Without a moist covering, black colonies were commonly overgrown by white mycelium.
Coupling and Uncoupling of Tumor Immunity and Autoimmunity

Self-antigens, in the form of differentiation antigens, are commonly recognized by the immune system on melanoma and other cancers. We have shown previously that active immunization of mice against the melanocyte differentiation antigen, a tyrosinase-related protein (TRP) gp75TRP-1 (the brown locus protein) expressed by melanomas, could induce tumor immunity and autoimmunity manifested as depigmentation. In this system, tumor immunity and autoimmunity were mediated by autoantibodies. Here, we characterize immunity against another tyrosinase family glycoprotein TRP-2 (the slaty locus protein), using the same mouse model and method of immunization. As observed previously for gp75TRP-1, immunity was induced by DNA immunization against a xenogeneic form of TRP-2, but not against the syngeneic gene, and depended on CD4+ cells. Immunization against TRP-2 induced autoantibodies and autoreactive cytotoxic T cells. In contrast to immunization against gp75TRP-1, both tumor immunity and autoimmunity required CD8+ T cells, but not antibodies. Only autoimmunity required perforin, whereas tumor immunity proceeded in the absence of perforin. Thus, immunity induced against two closely related autoantigens that are highly conserved throughout vertebrate evolution involved qualitatively different mechanisms, i.e., antibody versus CD8+ T cell. However, both pathways led to tumor immunity and identical phenotypic manifestations of autoimmunity.
Psychological Sex Differences: Origins through Sexual Selection.

Men and women clearly differ in some psychological domains. A. H. Eagly (1995) shows that these differences are not artifactual or unstable. Ideally, the next scientific step is to develop a cogent explanatory framework for understanding why the sexes differ in some psychological domains and not in others and for generating accurate predictions about sex differences as yet undiscovered. This article offers a brief outline of an explanatory framework for psychological sex differences--one that is anchored in the new theoretical paradigm of evolutionary psychology. Men and women differ, in this view, in domains in which they have faced different adaptive problems over human evolutionary history. In all other domains, the sexes are predicted to be psychologically similar. Evolutionary psychology jettisons the false dichotomy between biology and environment and provides a powerful metatheory of why sex differences exist, where they exist, and in what contexts they are expressed (D. M. Buss, 1995).
The kinetics of reduction of iron oxides at moderate temperatures

The rates of reduction of wustite with hydrogen were measured in the temperature range 511 to 690 K. The wustite specimens were prepared by oxidizing thin iron foils, 50μm thick. These were reduced in a Cahn electrobalance under isothermal conditions and the weight loss sustained was continuously monitored. The effect of the phase transformation of wustite on the reduction kinetics was investigated. By using thin oxide specimens and a rapid flow of reducing gas, the respective influences of pore diffusion and “film” mass transfer were rendered insignificant. The reduction of the oxides, in the temperature range investigated, appears to be chemically controlled. The fractional reduction (α)time(t) plots are sigmoid shaped and exhibit three distinct features: incubation, acceleratory and decaying periods. The rate constantk s was evaluated from the middle region of the α-t plots. Its temperature dependence may be expressed by: % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGabm4Aayaara% WaaSbaaSqaaiaadohaaeqaaOGaeyypa0JaaGimaiaac6cacaaIYaGa% aGOnaiaaiodacaGGOaGaeyySaeRaaGimaiaac6cacaaIWaGaaGinai% aaiEdacaGGPaGaciyzaiaacIhacaGGWbWaamWaaeaadaWcaaqaaiab% gkHiTiaaiEdacaaIXaGaaiilaiaaiwdacaaI1aGaaGimaiabgglaXk% aaiMdacaaIWaGaaGimaaqaaiaadkfacaWGubaaaaGaay5waiaaw2fa% aGqaaiaa-DgacaWFGaGaeS4JPFMaiGjG-fgacGaMa+hDaiacyc4FVb% GaiGjG-1gacaWFGaGaa83taiaa-9cacaWFJbGaa8xBamaaCaaaleqa% baGaa8Nmaaaakiabl+y6NjacWc4FZbGamqnGl+y6Njaa-bcacaWFGa% Gaa8xyaiaa-rhacaWFTbaaaa!7140! $$\bar k_s = 0.263( \pm 0.047)\exp \left[ {\frac{{ - 71,550 \pm 900}}{{RT}}} \right]g atom O/cm^2 s atm$$ g· atom o/cm2 · s · atm. The experimental data was interpreted by means of a nucleation and growth model.
Coulomb-phase effects in electron-ion scattering

Inclusion of the Coulomb phase in the calculation of the scattering amplitude is important. Previous calculations of the resonance fluorescence polarization of the Be II $2p\ensuremath{-}2s$ decay after electron excitation omitted the phase and are shown to be incorrect. Differential cross sections for the Mg II $3s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3p$ transition are also presented, which also exhibit peculiar effects caused by the Coulomb phase.
SOME EMPIRICAL RESULTS RELATED TO THE STABILITY OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN DYER'S STUDENT CHANGE MODEL OF AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Dyer, et al. (1967) have proposed a model for school system evaluation. The usefulness of the indices obtained from this model depend on the reliability or stability of the indices. This study presents evidence related to the stability of these indices when pupils and factors related to time are considered as sources of error.
Alteration of the intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes during total parenteral nutrition.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may cause increased rates of bacterial translocation (BT), possibly due to a loss of epithelial integrity. Cultured epithelial cells have been shown to lose tight junction integrity with interferon gamma (INF-gamma) an action which may be blocked by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Because intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are a rich source of these cytokines in the epithelium, we hypothesized that changes in the IEL, while mice were receiving TPN, may be responsible for the mediation of such cytokine responses. C57BL/6 mice were randomized to a Control group which received intravenous saline and mouse chow, or a TPN group which received intravenous TPN with no oral feeding. At 7 days mice were assessed for BT. Isolated IEL were stained for CD4, CD8, and CD44 (as a marker for memory T-cells) and flow cytometry was performed. mRNA was extracted from remaining IEL for cytokine expression. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect TGF-beta1 and INF-gamma mRNA expression. Densities were standardized to beta-actin expression. The incidence of BT to mesenteric lymph nodes was 40 and 12.5%, for the TPN and Control groups, respectively. TPN led to statistically significant decreases in the CD4+, CD8-; CD4+, CD8+; and the CD8+, CD44+ IEL subpopulations (P < 0.05). mRNA expression for INF-gamma was increased by 53% (P < 0.05), and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression was decreased by 75% (P = 0.1) in the IEL of TPN mice when compared with Controls. TPN led to significant changes in the IEL. Such alterations of the IEL phenotype and function may be a critical mechanism by which epithelial integrity is lost.
Spatial regulation of the exocyst complex by Rho1 GTPase

Spatial regulation of membrane traffic is fundamental to many biological processes, including epithelial cell polarization and neuronal synaptogenesis. The multiprotein exocyst complex is localized to sites of polarized exocytosis, and is required for vesicle targeting and docking at specific domains of the plasma membrane. One component of the complex, Sec3, is thought to be a spatial landmark for polarized exocytosis. We have searched for proteins that regulate the polarized localization of the exocyst in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we report that certain rho1 mutant alleles specifically affect the localization of the exocyst proteins. Sec3 interacts directly with Rho1 in its GTP-bound form, and functional Rho1 is needed both to establish and to maintain the polarized localization of Sec3. Sec3 is not the only mediator of the effect of Rho1 on the exocyst, because some members of the complex are correctly targeted independently of the interaction between Rho1 and Sec3. These results reveal the action of parallel pathways for the polarized localization of the exocytic machinery, both of which are under the control of Rho1, a master regulator of cell polarity.
Probability distributions for the strength of composite materials II: A convergent sequence of tight bounds

A sequence of convergent upper bounds is developed for the probability distribution of strength of composite materials. The analysis is based on the well-known chain-of-bundles model, and local load sharing is assumed for the nonfailed fiber elements in each bundle. The bounds are based on the occurrence ofk or more adjacent broken fibers in a bundle, an event which is necessary but not sufficient for the failure of the material. However, we find that given the loadL on the composite, some value ofk denotedk*(L) is critical in that a group of failed elements once reaching sizek*(L) will catastrophically increase in size with virtual certainty. IfL happens to be approximately the median strength of the composite, then the bound based onk =k*(L) adjacent breaks is virtually identical to the true probability distribution of composite strength; indeed, the convergence of the sequence of bounds becomes virtually complete ask exceedsk*(L). We show that the strength distribution for the composite essentially has weakest link structure in terms of a characteristic distribution functionW(x),x ≧ 0 which depends on the load sharing and on the probability distribution for fiber element strength. Typical cases are considered under a Weibull distribution for fiber strength and under a double version which has the effect of putting a ceiling on fiber strength. We show that in typical situations, predictions using the double Weibull distribution are not as one might guess, and its use is unjustified in many cases.
Expression of collagenase and IL-1α in developing rat hearts

During development, extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules are thought to play a major role in regulating the formation of the heart. The change in the heart from a simple tube to a complex, four-chambered organ requires the modification of both the cellular components as well as the surrounding ECM. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), which include collagenases, are enzymes present in the ECM that have the potential to modify the existing ECM during the development of the heart. Using both monoclonal and polyclonal antisera against collagenase, specific temporal and spatial patterns have been documented during critial periods of heart development. The cytokine interleukin 1α (IL-1α), a potent inducer of the MMP expression, was also shown to have a similar staining pattern in the developing heart. The monoclonal anti-rat collagenase (Mab) intensely stained the surfaces of the myocytes in the trabeculae and the ventricular and atrial walls of the 11.5 or 12.5 embryonic day (ED) rat hearts. In contrast, the polyclonal anti-human collagenase (Pab) stained not only the cardiomyocytes but also the hypertrophic endocardial cells. Pab appeared to stain the leading edge of the mesenchymal cells that migrate into the cardiac jelly of the 11.5 or 12.5 ED hearts. Immunohistochemical staining showed IL-1α on the endocardial endothelium and the surface of cardiomyocytes near the cardiac jelly just before or coincident with the appearance of migrating cells. IL-1α was detected on the endocardial endothelium, cardiomyocytes in the trabeculae, and the ventricular and atrial walls, as well as in the myocardial basement membrane of the truncal or atrioventricular region. However, no staining could be detected on the migrating cells in the cardiac cushions. These results indicate the presence of collagenase and IL-1α on the surface of cardiomyocytes and mesenchymal cells at times when the heart is undergoing acute remodeling during septation and trabeculation. These data suggest a role for collagenase/cytokine interaction in tissue remodeling during critical stages of cardiac embryogenesis where modification of the ECM is essential to cardiac morphogenesis. © 1992 Wiley Liss, Inc.
2,2'-Pyridylisatogen tosylate antagonizes P2Y1 receptor signaling without affecting nucleotide binding.

The effect of 2,2′-pyridylisatogen tosylate (PIT) on the human P2Y1 receptor and on other recombinant P2Y receptors has been studied. We first examined the modulation by PIT of the agonist-induced accumulation of inositol phosphates. PIT blocked 2-methylthio-ADP (2-MeSADP)-induced accumulation of inositol phosphates in 1321N1 astrocytoma cells stably expressing human P2Y1 receptors in a non-competitive and concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 for reduction of the maximal agonist effect was 0.14 μM. In contrast, MRS2179, a competitive P2Y1 receptor antagonist, parallel-shifted the agonist concentration–response curve to the right. PIT also concentration-dependently blocked the P2Y1 receptor signaling induced by the endogenous agonists, ADP and ATP. A simple structural analogue of PIT was synthesized and found to be inactive as a P2Y1 receptor antagonist, suggesting that the nitroxyl group of PIT is a necessary structural component for P2Y1 receptor antagonism. We next examined the possible modulation of the binding of the newly available antagonist radioligand for the P2Y1 receptor, [3H] MRS2279. It was found that PIT (0.01–10 μM) did not inhibit [3H] MRS2279 binding to the human P2Y1 receptor. PIT (10 μM) had no effect on the competition for [3H] MRS2279 binding by agonists, ADP and ATP, suggesting that its antagonism of the P2Y1 receptor may be allosteric. PIT had no significant effect on agonist activation of other P2Y receptors, including P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y6, P2Y11 and P2Y12 receptors. Thus, PIT selectively and non-competitively blocked P2Y1 receptor signaling without affecting nucleotide binding.
Carbonization of petroleum feedstocks I: Relationships between chemical constitution of the feedstocks and mesophase development

Abstract The relationships between the chemical constitution of the petroleum feedstocks and the mesophase development were investigated. A range of coker feedstocks that were characterized by solvent fractionation, elemental analysis, and FT-IR were carbonized in conventional tubing bomb reactors. The solid carbonization products were examined by polarized-light microscopy. In general, a direct relationship was observed between the degree of aromaticity of the feedstocks and the extent of mesophase development. The separate carbonization of the asphaltene and maltene fractions of the feedstocks indicated that the asphaltenes dominated in determining the optical textures of the semicokes produced from the petroleum feedstocks.
Nonparametric measurement of productive efficiency in the presence of regulation

Abstract During the late 1970s and 1980s, volatility in the demand for natural gas in the United States created havoc in the industry's transmission sector. Managers of firms were presented with the task of improving productive efficiency in an uncertain and regulated industry. We measure the relative performance of 20 pipelines, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to produce a regulation constrained minimum cost frontier. With the results we construct a Fisher Productivity Index (FPI). Results show that despite productive efficiency decline for most years, most firms experienced improvement in technical efficiency and technical progress in most years. Most of the productive efficiency decline was due to scale diseconomies.
An Experimental Study of Heat Transfer During Forced Air Convection

Cast aluminum alloys are usually subject to solution treatment, quenching, and aging hardening for improved mechanical properties. Cooling rate during quenching plays an important role in residual stress, distortion, and mechanical property distributions in the resultant cast aluminum components. As the cooling rates of work pieces heavily depend on the interfacial heat transfer coefficient (HTC) between work pieces and quenchants, it is important to understand how HTC varies with different quenching conditions so that optimal quenching process can be achieved. In this study, a quenching system and an experimental procedure of obtaining HTC are presented. A series of experiments have been conducted to study the variations of HTC with respect to air temperature, air humidity, air velocity, and part orientation.
Impact of Protein/Protein Interactions on Global Intermolecular Translocation Rates of the Transcription Factors Sox2 and Oct1 between DNA Cognate Sites Analyzed by z-Exchange NMR Spectroscopy

Oct1 and Sox2 synergistically regulate developmental genes by binding to adjacent sites within promoters. We have investigated the kinetics of global intermolecular translocation of Sox2 and Oct1 between cognate sites located on different DNA molecules by z-exchange NMR spectroscopy. In the Hoxb1 promoter, the Sox2 and Oct1 sites are immediately adjacent to one another, and the intermolecular translocation rates are too slow to be measured by z-exchange spectroscopy. By introducing a 3-bp insertion between the Sox2 and Oct1 sites to mimic the spacing in the FGF4 enhancer, the interprotein contact surface is reduced, and the translocation rates are increased. Interaction between Sox2 and the POU-specific domain (POU(S)) of Oct1 does not affect the translocation mechanism but modulates the rates. Translocation involves only jumping (dissociation and reassociation) for Sox2, but both jumping and direct intersegment transfer (no dissociation into free solution) for Oct1. The dissociation (k(off) ∼1.5 s(-1)) and association (k(on) ∼5.1 × 10(9) m(-1)s(-1)) rate constants for Sox2 are reduced 4-fold and increased 5-fold, respectively, in the presence of Oct1. k(off) (∼3.5 s(-1)) for Oct1 is unaffected by Sox2, whereas k(on) (∼1.3 × 10(9) m(-1)s(-1)) is increased ∼13-fold. The direct intermolecular translocation rate (k(inter) ∼1.8 × 10(4) m(-1)s(-1)) for the POU(S) domain of Oct1 is reduced 2-fold by Sox2, whereas that for the POU homeodomain (POU(HD)) of Oct1 (k(inter) ∼ 1.7 × 10(4) m(-1)s(-1)) remains unaltered, consistent with the absence of contacts between Sox2 and POU(HD). The data suggest a model for the sequence of binding events involved in synergistic gene regulation by Sox2 and Oct1.
Risks of Using Internal Thoracic Artery Grafts in Patients in Chronic Hemodialysis via Upper Extremity Arteriovenous Fistula

Background— In patients in chronic hemodialysis via upper extremity arteriovenous fistula in whom ipsilateral internal thoracic artery graft was used for myocardial revascularization, hemodynamic interference between the fistula and the graft during dialysis can be hypothesized. Methods and Results— In 5 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis via upper extremity arteriovenous fistula, ipsilateral to an internal thoracic to left anterior descending graft mammary flow was studied by means of transthoracic echo-color Doppler at baseline and during hemodialysis. Flow in the contralateral mammary artery was used as control. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in concomitance with flow evaluation to assess eventual modifications of left ventricular segmental wall motion. Immediately after hemodialysis pump start there was a marked reduction of peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities and time average mean velocity and flow in the ITA ipsilateral to the fistula, whereas no substantial hemodynamic mo...
Exploring risk containment among Big 4 firms through credit derivatives

We define risk containment in this study as the practice of retaining or attracting low business risk clients and dropping high business risk clients for revenue growth and litigation minimisation. We conduct a comprehensive study of the risk containment by the Big–4 accounting firms based on two market measures: (a) credit default swap (CDS) spread and (b) delisting ratios of their clients. We predict that the average risk of one Big–4 accounting firm's client portfolio is lower than that of the other three Big–4 firms. Results from a sample in 2002–2007 lend support to our prediction and are consistent with the notion that one Big–4 firm has better risk management practices than others. Further robustness tests still generate similar results. We further test our hypothesis with the delisting percentage of the Big–4 clients. The diverging trend after 2006 is consistent with our prediction too.
Belief in discourse representation theory

I hope I have convinced the reader that DR theory offers at least some exciting potential when applied to the semantics of belief reports. It differs considerably from other approaches, and it makes intuitively acceptable predictions that other theories do not. The theory also provides a novel approach to the semantics of other propsitional attitude reports. Further, DR theory enables one to approach the topic of anaphora within belief and other propositional attitude contexts in a novel way, thus combining the semantics developed here with one of the theory's original motivations (Kamp, 1981a). However, these are unfortunately topics that I must reserve for another time.
Glutathione and adenosine triphosphate content of in vivo and in vitro matured porcine oocytes

Glutathione (GSH) content in mature porcine oocytes is correlated with subsequent fertilization and developmental success. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an important energy source for maintaining cellular activities and protein synthesis. The objective of this study was to compare GSH and ATP concentrations of in vivo and in vitro matured porcine oocytes. Ovulated, in vivo matured oocytes were frozen at -80 degrees C in groups of 10-20 (GSH) or 5-10 (ATP). In vitro oocytes were matured in either tissue culture medium-199 (TCM199) supplemented with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or hyaluronic acid (MAP5), or North Carolina State University-23 (NCSU23) supplemented with porcine follicular fluid (pFF) and frozen as described, or fertilized and cultured. GSH content was determined by the dithionitrobenzoic acid-glutathione disulfide (DTNB-GSSG) reductase recycling assay. ATP content was determined by using the Bioluminescent Somatic Cell Assay Kit. Oocytes matured in vitro in defined TCM199 with PVA or hyaluronic acid, or NCSU23 with pFF had significantly lower concentrations (P < 0.05) of GSH (n = 207, 9.82 +/- 0.71 pmol/oocyte; n = 104, 9.73 +/- 0.81 pmol/oocyte; n = 108, 7.89 +/- 0.66 pmol/oocyte, respectively) compared to in vivo matured oocytes (n = 217, 36.26 +/- 11.00 pmol/oocyte). Concentrations of ATP were not different between treatments (in vivo, n = 70, 0.97 +/- 0.07 pmol/oocyte; TCM-PVA, n = 117, 0.81 +/- 0.13 pmol/oocyte; TCM-MAP, n = 107, 1.02 +/- 0.18 pmol/oocyte; NCSU-pFF, n = 134, 0.71 +/- 0.08 pmol/oocyte). Intracellular ATP content does not appear to be related to developmental potential in porcine oocytes. Low intracellular GSH may be responsible, in part, for lower developmental competence observed in in vitro matured porcine oocytes.
Rice Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Gene Family and Its Role in Biotic and Abiotic Stress Response

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is an important signaling module that transduces extracellular stimuli into intracellular responses in eukaryotic organisms. An increasing body of evidence has shown that the MAPK-mediated cellular signaling is crucial to plant growth and development, as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. To date, a total of 17 MAPK genes have been identified from the rice genome. Expression profiling, biochemical characterization and/or functional analysis were carried out with many members of the rice MAPK gene family, especially those associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this review, the phylogenetic relationship and classification of rice MAPK genes are discussed to facilitate a simple nomenclature and standard annotation of the rice MAPK gene family. Functional data relating to biotic and abiotic stress responses are reviewed for each MAPK group and show that despite overlapping in functionality, there is a certain level of functional specificity among different rice MAP kinases. The future challenges are to functionally characterize each MAPK, to identify their downstream substrates and upstream kinases, and to genetically manipulate the MAPK signaling pathway in rice crops for the improvement of agronomically important traits.
MODEL OF WEAK AND ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS.

We present here a model of weak and electromagnetic interactions of leptons and hadrons based on the spontaneously broken gauge symmetry O(3) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} O(2). The advantages of the model are the following: (1) The universality of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ and $\ensuremath{\mu}$ decays emerges naturally; (2) there appears only positively charged heavy leptons, and no neutral heavy leptons which might affect the muon ($g\ensuremath{-}2$) factor adversely; (3) a neutral current shows up only as a short-range weak parity violation in electromagnetism, and nowhere else.
Examining Time Demands and Work–Family Conflict on Psychological Distress

Building on the conservation of resources model, the notion of cognitive appraisal, and common models of stress effects, the authors test the effects of exposure to stressors (both initially and over time) using cross-sectional and longitudinal data, respectively. Data were collected from 280 U.S. Army soldiers at three time points over six months. Results showed that role overload contributes to work–family conflict more so than work hours and has synchronous effects on work–family conflict. Also, work–family conflict has synchronous effects on psychological distress. These robust effects were replicated on three separate occasions.
Evidence that the accuracy of self-reported lead emissions data improved: A puzzle and discussion

We investigate the accuracy of facility-reported data both within and across emissions and off-site transfer inventories of lead (Pb) in time. We build on recent work using Benford’s Law to detect statistical anomalies in large data sets. Our application exploits a regulatory experiment to test for systematic changes in firm behavior triggered by the 2001 implementation of the Final Rule, a major regulatory change governing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) oversight of lead emissions. Statistical results show that the EPA’s Final Rule functioned to significantly improve the accuracy of facility-reported lead data. This finding is surprising because abatement requirements increased and both the probability of firm audit and expected penalties for misreporting apparently decreased in the post-Final Rule period. To explain this counterintuitive result we develop a reporting model for the firm. We argue that organizational investments made in response to specific requirements of the Final Rule, as well as rising public awareness of the risks of lead, may have induced firms to report more accurately.
Analgesia and hyperreactivity following morphine microinjection into mouse brain

Analgesia and a paradoxical hyperreactivity to stimuli of sudden onset have recently been reported following the microinjection of morphine into the periacqueductal gray matter of rats. These effects have not been systematically investigated in other species. In the present study, both analgesia and hyperreactivity were observed as dose dependent effects of morphine microinjection into the periacqueductal gray matter of several strains of mice. Analgesia alone was produced by low doses of morphine while at higher doses analgesia was accompanied by hyperreactivity. Strain differences were noted with B6D2F1 mice being more susceptible to the hyperreactivity following morphine than BALB/c mice.
The Origins of the South Atlantic War

The most widely-accepted views of the origins of the South Atlantic War contend that it arose either out of the Argentine junta's need to divert attention away from a worsening economy or from misperceptions in both London and Buenos Aires. This article argues that the ‘demobilisation’ of Argentine civil society removed the need for a diversionary war; and that the lengthy crisis bargaining that followed in the wake of the ‘grab’ of the Falklands/Malvinas Islands substantially mitigated the impact of any misperceptions. This article advances an alternative to existing theories that explains the outbreak of this war by reference to both structural and organisational factors. A fast decreasing gap in relative power between Argentina and Britain may have encouraged the junta more seriously to consider the possibility of initiating a war between the two. Thereafter, however, the organisational pathologies of the Argentine military led to a suboptimally timed preemptive invasion, intransigent diplomacy and a ‘hedged’ approach to deployments that severely undermined Argentina's military effectiveness, allowing Britain to undertake reconquest of the islands with a very reasonable chance of success.
THE EFFECT OF ESTIMATION RISK IN PERFORMING STOCHASTIC DOMINANCE EFFICIENCY TESTS

In many applications involving the construction of efficient sets, the parameters of the alternatives are estimated using small examples. As a result, inefficient alternatives may be included in the sample efficient set and efficient alternatives left out. This paper investigates the effects of estimation risk when there are more than two alternatives and limited information. The study reveals that estimation risk is a severe handicap to the practical implementation of stochastic dominance and mean-variance efficiency analysis.
Oxyanions in metalliferous sediments: tracers for paleoseawater metal concentrations?

Abstract The concentration of carbon, Fe, Mn, S, P, V, Cr, As, Mo, Cd, U, and Re were determined in sediment core Y-71-7-53P near an active hydrothermal location on the southern East Pacific Rise crest (10°S). The goal was to determine the usefulness of hydrothermal iron oxides as carriers of elemental tracers of seawater concentrations. The sediments are 70% carbonate and about 1.3% detrital material, with the remainder having a hydrothermal origin. Rhenium concentrations are at detrital levels suggesting little anaerobic diagenesis beyond manganese remobilization; however, U, Cd, and Mo concentrations all indicate alteration after deposition. Oxyanion/Fe ratios of P, V, and As in surface sediments are lower than the ratios in plume particles and covary with Fe content downcore. The probable explanation for these variations is variable efficiency of incorporation of these metals during iron oxide formation or early diagenetic processes after deposition. The P/Fe ratio in the core sediment is about half that in the plume particles. Among the oxyanion ratios, only the V/As ratio in the sediments is relatively constant at the present plume particle ratio during the past 60–70 kyr. Changes in sediments older than this could reflect variability in the incorporation efficiency or changes in V/As ratio in seawater. This study demonstrates the difficulties of using hydrothermal sediment element enrichments as tracers of past seawater chemistry changes. In this core it appears that all oxyanion ratios change for reasons other than seawater metal concentration changes, with the possible exception of the V/As ratio.
Impact of Unilateral Denervation on Transdiaphragmatic Pressure

The diaphragm muscle (DIAm) has a large reserve capacity for force generation such that in rats, the transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) generated during ventilatory behaviors is less than 50% of maximal Pdi (Pd(imax)) elicited by bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation. Accordingly, we hypothesized that following unilateral denervation (DNV), the ability of the contralateral DIAm to generate sufficient Pdi to accomplish ventilatory behaviors will not be compromised and normal ventilation (as determined by arterial blood gas measurements) will not be impacted, although neural drive to the DIAm increases. In contrast, we hypothesized that higher force, non-ventilatory behaviors requiring Pdi generation greater than 50% of Pd(imax) will be compromised following DIAm hemiparalysis, i.e., increased neural drive cannot fully compensate for lack of force generating capacity. Pdi generated during ventilatory behaviors (eupnea and hypoxia (10% O2)-hypercapnia (5% CO2)) did not change after DNV and arterial blood gases were unaffected by DNV. However, neural drive to the contralateral DIAm, assessed by the rate of rise of root mean squared (RMS) EMG at 75 ms after onset of inspiratory activity (RMS75), increased after DNV (p<0.05). In contrast, Pdi generated during higher force, non-ventilatory behaviors was significantly reduced after DNV (p < 0.01), while RMS75 was unchanged. These findings support our hypothesis that only non-ventilatory behaviors requiring Pdi generation greater than 50% of Pd(imax) are impacted after DNV. Clinically, these results indicate that an evaluation of DIAm weakness requires examination of Pdi across multiple motor behaviors, not just ventilation.
Hydrology of Poorly Drained Coastal Watersheds in Eastern North Carolina

A 10,000 ha lower coastal plain land near Plymouth in eastern North Carolina has been intensively monitored since 1996 to measure hydro-meteorological parameters including outflows and quality of water drained from fields and subwatersheds with varying land management practices. This study summarized the data for a six-year period (1996-2001) for a 2950 ha forested, a 710 ha agricultural subwatershed and a 8140 ha watershed comprised of agricultural, forested, and riparian lands. The period covered a wide range of weather conditions from a dry year with annual rainfall of 775 mm in 2001 to a wet year with 1512 mm of rain in 1996 with two hurricanes. While 1998 with 1242 mm of annual rain experienced a wet winter and a prolonged dry summer-fall, the conditions were opposite in 1999 (1302 mm of rain) with a dry winter-spring and three hurricanes in the summer and fall. A near normal rainfall (1219 mm of rain) was observed in year 2000. The average annual PET for the site was estimated to be 1000 mm. Variability in annual rainfall was found to have greater effect than the land use type on annual outflows drained from these three watersheds. The average annual runoff/rainfall ratio for the managed pine forest watershed was the lowest compared to two other watersheds. Both the magnitude and frequency of peak flow rates were highest for the agricultural watershed, as expected. Average annual ET, calculated as difference of rainfall and outflow, was 922mm, 714 mm, and 727 mm for forested, agricultural and mixed land use watersheds, respectively. Annual ET estimated by the method suggested by Zhang et al. (2001) were in close agreement with the water balance for all six years when a plant-available water coefficient value of 3.0 was used for the managed pine forest. However, further tests of this ET model are suggested in other watersheds. These results will be valuable for estimating nutrient exports from the watershed as well as verifying watershed scale hydrologic and water quality models.
Possible role of Na+-K+-ATPase in the regulation of human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle contractility by nitric oxide

1. This study was designed to determine the role of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase) in the regulation of human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle contractility by nitric oxide (NO). In addition, we determined if the modulation of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity by NO is dependent on the increase in intracellular cyclic GMP concentration. 2. The effect of NO donors, sodium-nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-glutathione (S-NO-Glu), and a permeable cyclic GMP analogue, 8-bromo-cyclic GMP, on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity (measured as ouabain-sensitive 86Rb-uptake) was studied in human cultured corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (HCCSMC). In addition, the effect of the cyclic GMP lowering agent, methylene blue, on NO-induced increase in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity was studied. 3. SNP (1 microM) caused time-dependent increases in ouabain-sensitive Rb-uptake (33-72%) over 2-20 min in HCCSMC. The stimulation of ouabain-sensitive Rb-uptake by SNP was concentration-dependent (30 and 102% with 0.1 and 1 microM SNP, respectively). Similarly, significant increases in ouabain-sensitive Rb-uptake were obtained with 1 and 10 microM S-NO-Glu. In contrast, incubation of HCCSMC with 8-bromo-cyclic GMP (100 microM) did not increase ouabain-sensitive Rb-uptake. 4. S-NO-Glu induced-increase in intracellular cyclic GMP synthesis, but not the increase in ouabain-sensitive Rb-uptake, was completely inhibited by methylene blue in HCCSMC. 5. The Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, ouabain, caused a concentration-dependent increase in tension (0.5 to 2 fold) in tissues contracted with 15 mM KCl. SNP and S-NO-Glu caused a concentration-dependent relaxation (concentration required to cause half maximal relaxation (ED50) = 0.04 and 0.2 microM, respectively) of HCC strips contracted with 15 mM K+. Ouabain (0.1 to 10 microM) inhibited the response to SNP and S-NO-Glu by shifting the concentration-response curves to the right and preventing full smooth muscle relaxation.6. These results indicate that the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase modulates the contractility of HCC smooth muscle, and that NO stimulates Na+-K+-ATPase activity in HCCSMC independently of its ability to increase the intracellular cyclic GMP concentration. They also suggest that stimulation of Na+-K+-ATPase activity plays an important role in NO-induced relaxation of HCC smooth muscle
GIANT RESONANCES BUILT ON HIGHLY EXCITED STATES

The properties of giant dipole resonances built on excited nuclear states are reviewed, with emphasis on recent results. Nonstatistical (p,γ) reactions in light nuclei, and statistical complex-particle reactions in light and heavy nuclei are discussed.
The effects of overburden stress on the specific storage and hydraulic conductivity of artesian aquifers

Abstract A mathematical algorithm is developed to determine the depth-dependent profiles of specific storage and hydraulic conductivity resulting from overburden stress in horizontally isotropic artesian aquifers. Vertical variations in the void ratio of the aquifer matrix brought about by overburden stresses determine the pore-volume compressibility and matrix permeability at specific depths within the aquifers which, in turn, determine the depth-dependent profiles of specific storage and hydraulic conductivity. Time-drawdown curves are obtained for two sands subjected to different overburden stresses. For shallow artesian aquifers with low overburden stress and high aquifer matrix compressibility, noticeable vertical gradients in specific storage occur. These vertical gradients cause deviations from the classical time-drawdown curves defined by the Theis solution. These deviations are negligible for deep artesian aquifers.
Challenging Liberalism: Feminism as Political Critique. By Lisa H. Schwartzman

In her book, Lisa H. Schwartzman engages several liberal theorists as well as some “postmodernists” from a feminist perspective. She makes use of a number of feminist thinkers to assist her in developing her arguments and clarifying her theoretical alliances. The author agrees with some liberal feminists that liberalism may be able to accommodate many feminist claims. However, she argues that even a reformed liberalism cannot meet the higher standard of being able to root “out problems that stem from systems of oppression” (p. 161). Schwartzman does not find that postmoderism, as she understands it, can meet this test adequately either. She claims, therefore, to offer an alternative method for a liberally informed feminist theory that seeks to end the structural domination of women based in the concrete experiences of women themselves. The book is tightly written and coherently argued. Each chapter is well organized and the prose is clear.
Clenbuterol prevents epinephrine from antagonizing insulin-stimulated muscle glucose uptake.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of chronic clenbuterol treatment on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the presence of epinephrine in isolated rat skeletal muscle. Insulin (50 μU/ml) increased glucose uptake in both fast-twitch (epitrochlearis) and slow-twitch (soleus) muscles. In the presence of 24 nM epinephrine, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was completely suppressed. This suppression of glucose uptake by epinephrine was accompanied by an increase in the intracellular concentration of glucose 6-phosphate and a decrease in insulin-receptor substrate-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (IRS-1/PI3-kinase) activity. Clenbuterol treatment had no direct effect on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. However, after clenbuterol treatment, epinephrine was ineffective in attenuating insulin-stimulated muscle glucose uptake. This ineffectiveness of epinephrine to suppress insulin-stimulated glucose uptake occurred in conjunction with its inability to increase the intracellular concentration of glucose 6-phosphate and attenuate IRS-1/PI3-kinase activity. Results of this study indicate that the effectiveness of epinephrine to inhibit insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is severely diminished in muscle from rats pretreated with clenbuterol.
Older Women’s Clothing Fit and Style Concerns and Their Attitudes Toward the Use of 3D Body Scanning

The research explores older women's clothing fit and style concerns and their attitudes toward 3D body scanning. A film of the 3D body scanning process was developed as an information source and sh...
Native and Introduced Ecosystem Engineers Produce Contrasting Effects on Estuarine Infaunal Communities

Cordgrasses in the genus Spartina are good examples of ecosystem engineers that modify habitat structure in estuaries throughout the world. In San Francisco Bay, California, USA, marshes containing native California cordgrass (Spartina foliosa) are being invaded by a hybrid (S. alterniflora × S. foliosa) formed after introduction of S. alterniflora. This study compared vegetation, sediment structure, and infaunal invertebrates in native and invaded marshes. We hypothesized that differences in the physical structure between S. foliosa and hybrid Spartina would be reflected in differences in density, biomass, diversity, and taxonomic composition of infauna. Hybrid Spartina modifies habitat structure more than S. foliosa by producing taller stems, and greater plant biomass both above- and belowground while occupying a much wider tidal range, thereby transforming open mudflats to a vegetated habitat. In general, S. foliosa areas contained significantly higher densities of benthic infauna than adjacent mudflats, while hybrid Spartina areas never contained greater infaunal densities than mudflats. This is because S. foliosa produces a moderate level of structure that can facilitate benthic invertebrates, whereas hybrid Spartina produces so much structure, particularly belowground, that it actually excludes invertebrates. Therefore, we suggest that these two closely related species both act as ecosystem engineers, but with opposing effects on invertebrate communities.
THE FOREBRAIN OF GNATHOSTOMES : IN SEARCH OF A MORPHOTYPE

A morphotype of the forebrain of gnathostomes, i.e. those characters that must have been present in the forebrain of ancestral gnathostomes, was generated by using out-group analysis to identify the s
Student Nurse Perceptions of Effective Medication Administration Education

Nursing faculty strive to educate students in a manner that prevents errors, promoting quality, patient-centered care. This endeavor is dependent upon meaningful and effective education that incorporates educational experiences reflective of the service sector. Anecdotal reports from clinical faculty and student nurses suggest that academic medication administration education may not optimally prepare students for safe entry into clinical practice. The aim of this phenomenologic qualitative research is to understand student nurse perceptions regarding teaching strategies and learning activities that prepared them for safe medication administration in acute care clinical settings. Focus group interviews resulted in two broad themes that are identified as Effective Education and Gaps in Education. Within these broad themes, findings revealed that students value faculty demonstrations, peer-learning opportunities, and repetitive practice with timely feedback. Study findings also pointed to educational gaps. Students reported needing to learn communication and conflict resolution strategies that would help them manage real-world interruptions, distractions, and computer generated alerts. Study findings recommend implementing relevant decision-support technology within academic lab learning activities.
Nitric oxide accelerates seed germination in warm-season grasses.

The nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) significantly promoted germination of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. cv Kanlow) in the light and in the dark at 25°C, across a broad range of concentrations. SNP also promoted seed germination in two other warm-season grasses. A chemical scavenger of NO inhibited germination and blocked SNP stimulation of seed germination. The phenolic (+)-catechin acted synergistically with SNP and nitrite in promoting seed germination. Acidified nitrite, an alternate NO donor also significantly stimulated seed germination. Interestingly, sodium cyanide, potassium ferricyanide and potassium ferrocyanide at 200 μM strongly enhanced seed germination as well, whereas potassium chloride was without effect. Ferrocyanide and cyanide stimulation of seed germination was blocked by an NO scavenger. Incubation of seeds with a fluorescent NO-specific probe provided evidence for NO production in germinating switchgrass seeds. Abscisic acid (ABA) at 10 μM depressed germination, inhibited root elongation and essentially abolished coleoptile emergence. SNP partially overcame ABA effects on radicle emergence but did not overcome the effects of ABA on coleoptile elongation. Light microscopy indicated extension of the radicle and coleoptiles in seeds maintained on water or on SNP after 2 days. In contrast, there was minimal growth of the radicle and coleoptile in ABA-treated seeds even after 3–4 days. These data indicate that seed germination of warm-season grasses is significantly influenced by NO signaling pathways and document that NO could be an endogenous trigger for release from dormancy in these species.