cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbial biomass and viral infections of heterotrophic prokaryotes in the sub-surface layer of the central Arctic Ocean

Abstract Seawater samples were collected for microbial analyses between 55 and 235 m depth across the Arctic Ocean during the SCICEX 97 expedition (03 September–02 October 1997) using a nuclear submarine as a research platform. Abundances of prokaryotes (range 0.043–0.47×109 dm−3) and viruses (range 0.68–11×109 dm−3) were correlated (r=0.66, n=150) with an average virus:prokaryote ratio of 26 (range 5–70). Biomass of prokaryotes integrated from 55 to 235 m ranged from 0.27 to 0.85 g C m−2 exceeding that of phytoplankton (0.005–0.2 g C m−2) or viruses (0.02–0.05 g C m−2) over the same depth range by an order of magnitude on average. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we estimated that 0.5% of the prokaryote community on average (range 0–1.4%) was visibly infected with viruses, which suggests that very little of prokaryotic secondary production was lost due to viral lysis. Intracellular viruses ranged from 5 to >200/cell, with an average apparent burst size of 45±38 (mean±s.d.; n=45). TEM also revealed the presence of putative metal-precipitating bacteria in 8 of 13 samples, which averaged 0.3% of the total prokaryote community (range 0–1%). If these prokaryotes are accessible to protistan grazers, the Fe and Mn associated with their capsules might be an important source of trace metals to the planktonic food web. After combining our abundance and mortality data with data from the literature, we conclude that the biomass of prokaryoplankton exceeds that of phytoplankton when averaged over the upper 250 m of the central Arctic Ocean and that the fate of this biomass is poorly understood.
Online medical symbol recognition using a Tablet PC

In this paper we describe a scheme to enhance the usability of a Tablet PC's handwriting recognition system by including medical symbols that are not a part of the Tablet PC's symbol library. The goal of this work is to make handwriting recognition more useful for medical professionals accustomed to using medical symbols in medical records. To demonstrate that this new symbol recognition module is robust and expandable, we report results on both a medical symbol set and an expanded symbol test set which includes selected mathematical symbols.
Concurrent turbulent flame spread

The rate of flame spread over the surface of thick PMMA sheets has been measured as a function of the velocity and turbulence intensity of a forced air flow concurrent with the direction of flame propagation. It is shown that the flow turbulence has a strong influence on the flame spread process. For all turbulence intensities, the flame spread rate increases monotonically with the flow velocity, although the rate of increase is smaller for larger turbulence intensities. For a given flow velocity, the spread rate decreases as the turbulence intensity is increased, the effect being more pronounced for larger flow velocities. These effects appear to be due to a strong influence of the turbulence intensity on the flame length, which decreases as the turbulence intensity is increased, thus reducing the net heat flux from the flame to the unburnt combustible. The flame spread rate measurements are correlated well with an expression for the pyrolysis front rate of spread that is deduced from a simple solid phase energy analysis, which verifies the above observations and confirm the conclusions from previous works that heat transfer from the flame to the solid fuel is the controlling mechanism in this mode of flame spread. The results are significant because the prediction of the flame length and spread rate as a function of the problem parameters are improtant factors in the development of room fire models, and the establishment of material flammability tests.
Hannah Arendt and the ideological structure of totalitarianism

Analyse de l'ouvrage de H. Arendt Les origines du totalitarisme (1949-1951), premiere tentative d'examen du totalitarisme a la fois d'un point de vue historique et phenomenologique
Tonk, Plonk and Plink

A. N. Prior has recently discussed 2 the connective tonk, where tonk is defined by specifying the role it plays in inference. Prior characterizes the role of tonk in inference by describing how it behaves as conclusion, and as premiss: (1) A ├ A-tonk-B, and (2) A-tonk-B ├ B (where we have used the sign ‘├’ for deducibility). We are then led by the transitivity of deducibility to the validity of A ├ B, “which promises to banish falsche Spitzfindigkeit from Logic for ever.”
Bacillus cereus 569/H penicillinase serine-44 acylation by diazotized 6-aminopenicillanic acid

Penicillinase from Bacillus cereus 569/H was purified to homogeneity. Its active site was probed by use of an affinity label generated in situ by the diazotization of 6-aminopenicillanic acid, a catalytically poor substrate for this enzyme. The loss of activity arising during the inactivation is dependent upon pH and the penicillin:sodium nitrite ratio used. Optimal inactivation was obtained at pH 4.7 and reactivation could be prevented if subsequent purification and manipulations were performed at low pH. Inactivation by diazotized 6-aminopenicillanic acid was characterized further by tryptic and chymotryptic digestion of the inactivated enzyme and peptide mapping of the resulting digests. Amino acid analysis of the chymotryptic labeled peptide yielded a composition which corresponds to residues 41–46 (Ala-Phe-Ala-Ser-Thr-Tyr) in the published partial sequence of the enzyme (Thatcher, D. (1975) Biochem. J. 147, 313–326). Further digestion of this chymotryptic peptide with carboxypeptidase A reveals that serine-44 is modified in this affinity labeling procedure. Mass spectral analysis of the modified serine residue and alkali-released label, and comparison with spectra of model compounds indicates that the inactivation occurs with rearrangement of the β-lactamthiazolidine structure to a dihydrothiazine.
Knocking down Disease with siRNAs

Knocking down expression of disease-related genes using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) has potential for treating a variety of illnesses. This Essay will examine the opportunities for harnessing RNA interference (RNAi) for therapy, as well as the obstacles and possible ways to circumvent them.
Alcoholics' Recovery from Cerebral Impairment as a Function of Duration of Abstinence.

There is clear evidence in the literature for permanent cerebral impairment due to prolonged alcohol abuse. Observation also suggests that there is a component of this cerebral impairment that is found immediately subsequent to heavy drinking and that is reversible. This study examined the time-course of recovery from this temporary impairment and delineated more specifically the neuropsychological functions that participate in the recovery. Four groups (N = 87) of hospitalized male alcoholics were tested after 6, 15, 21, and 110 days of abstinence using the Raven Progressive Matrices, the Trail-Making Test, the Memory for Designs, and the following subscales of the WAIS: Arithmetic, Digit Span, Block Design, Similarities, and Digit Symbol. The results indicated that significant improvement occurred during the third week of abstinence (between 15 and 21 days) on the Digit Span, Block Design, Similarities, Memory for Designs, Raven, and Trail-Making tests, but not on the Arithmetic and Digit Symbol tests. These results suggest that treatment programs that use a preliminary "drying-out" period should consider lengthening this period to 3 weeks to insure that patients are maximally responsive to psychotherapy.
Screening methodology for coal-derived organic contaminants in water

A screening methodology designed to detect the presence of organic materials that leach into water from coal deposits was developed and evaluated. Analytical objectives included the ability to detect 16 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at the lowest practical levels, capability for fingerprint analysis of other compounds, and ease of use under remote field conditions. The approach developed involved drawing 1 L water samples through a styrene divinylbenzene-based solid-phase extraction cartridge by suction, elution of the cartridge with tetrahydrofuran/hexane, evaporative concentration of the eluent, and reconstitution in acetonitrile, followed by analysis using high-pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence detectors. The method was found to be easy to use under field conditions, providing generally acceptable recoveries and, in most cases, lower detection limits than current regulatory methods. The ability to detect PAHs and other organic compounds in simulated ...
Where Did They Go? Market Share Trends of Business Student Enrollment at Public, Not-for-Profit, and For-Profit Institutions From 1996 to 2008

The author presents the trends in market share of business student enrollment at public, not-for-profit, and for-profit 4-year-and-above institutions from 1996 to 2008. Although each sector of the institutions has experienced growth in overall enrollments, the relative market share of public and not-for-profit institutions has dropped, whereas the market share held by for-profit institutions has increased to 20% of business students at 4-year-and-above institutions by 2008. The key player institutions in the enrollment of business students in 2008 are presented. The author gives an explanation for the shift in market share and discusses the implications and strategies for response to the changes.
Proof of distributed algorithms: an exercise

It is generally assumed that formal proofs of programs are considerably longer and more tedious than their informal counterparts. Informal proofs employ a form of common sense reasoning whereby “obvious” facts are often omitted and the proof steps rely upon the intuition of the reader. Typically informal proofs are operational; arguments consist of the properties of program executions as they unfold over time. Our goal in this paper is to suggest, by means of an example, that formal proofs can be made as concise as the informal ones. This argument rests upon two observations: (1) informal proofs tend to be long and difficult (in addition to being error-prone) when there are many interleaved execution sequences to consider, as is the case in multiprocess programs, and (2) formal proofs can be made concise by employing a logic that is appropriate for the problem domain and whose operators possess a number of useful properties that can be exploited in proofs. In recent years, we have developed a programming and proof theory, called UNITY, Chandy and Misra [1988]. Our experience in using the UNITY proof theory on a wide range of problems has led us to believe that formal proofs need not be outrageously long or tedious. In this paper, we apply the UNITY proof theory to a problem in distributed computing—termination detection. We specify the problem and develop a correctness proof of a solution without relying upon the operational aspects of program execution. Use of our logic allows us to eliminate arguments about a program’s execution sequences. We believe strongly that formal proofs cannot be made concise as long as they mimic the arguments in the informal proofs. Most of this paper is about UNITY theory and specification of message communicating processes; only sections 4 and 6 contain the proof of the termination detection algorithm. The paper is selfcontained: no familiarity with UNITY or termination detection is assumed.
Short-term immunoisolation of incompatible xenografts in a snail, Biomphalaria glabrata.

Hearts of the snails Physa virgata and Biomphalaria glabrata were implanted into the hemocoel of B. glabrata. Implants either were microencapsulated in 2.5% agarose or were unencapsulated. Unencapsulated xenografts from P. virgata underwent complete necrosis within 3 days post-implantation (DPI), whereas allografts were still alive at 7 DPI. In the case of microencapsulated implants, both allografts and xenografts were alive at 3 DPI, showing 4.8 and 14.9% pyknosis among myofiber nuclei, respectively. These results suggest that direct cytotoxicity by hemocytes, rather than toxic plasma factors or donor–recipient physiological incompatibility, is responsible for rapid xenograft death. However, both types of microencapsulated grafts were necrotic at 7 DPI. This necrosis may have resulted from oxygen deprivation brought about both by the agarose and by the heterotopic implantation site, inasmuch as microencapsulated allografts and xenografts cultured in saline for 7 days showed only 1.98 and 30% pyknosis, respectively.
Effects of potential environmental interferents on kinesin-powered molecular shuttles

Biomolecular motor-powered active transport represents an alternate means for analyte processing in nanoscale biosensors and bioanalytical devices. For example, a prototype “smart dust” biosensor has recently been reported in which the motor protein kinesin processes antibody-functionalized microtubules (MTs) to capture and separate optically tagged protein analytes. A potential limitation of this technology, however, involves the inhibition of transport function by interfering compounds that may be present in raw samples. Here we characterized the response of kinesin–MT transport to a range of potential interferents including solvents, acids, oxidizers, and environmental contaminants. The results of kinesin motility assays suggest that, among the tested interferents, only acetic acid and sodium hypochlorite adversely affected MT transport, primarily due to depolymerization of MT filaments. While negative effects were not observed for the remaining compounds tested, enhancement in motility was observed in the presence of acetone, antifreeze, and organic matter. Overall, the data suggest that kinesin–MT transport is resilient against a variety of common interferents, but primarily susceptible to failure due to significant changes in pH or the presence of an oxidizer.
Parallel algorithms for real-time tracking

In a previous paper, the authors described a real time approach for tracking of parametric objects. The system proposed used coordinate trees that enabled the accurate and efficient calculation of the projection calculus in real time. Frame to frame coherence constraints were provided for by ensuring incremental movements between scenes, that is, the change in the perceived view of projected object boundaries from one instance of motion to another. This requirement can be directly translated into geometric constraints that can be enforced in parallel. This paper provides necessary implementation details for the parallel aspects of the algorithm and further extends the algorithm to apply to the cases of a moving viewer.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A massively parallel adaptive finite element method with dynamic load balancing

The authors construct massively parallel adaptive finite element methods for the solution of hyperbolic conservation laws. Spatial discretization is performed by a discontinuous Galerkin finite element method using a basis of piecewise Legendre polynomials. Temporal discretization utilizes a Runge-Kutta method. Dissipative fluxes and projection limiting prevent oscillations near solution discontinuities. The resulting method is of high order and may be parallelized efficiently on MIMD computers. The authors demonstrate parallel efficiency through computations on a 1024-processor nCUBE/2 hypercube. They present results using adaptive p-refinement to reduce the computational cost of the method, and tiling, a dynamic, element-based data migration system that maintains global load balance of the adaptive method by overlapping neighborhoods of processors that each perform local balancing.
SIMPLE RELATIVISTIC CALCULATION OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FORM FACTORS OF THE DEUTERON.

A simple method of extracting anomalous singularities from the electromagnetic vertex function of bound states is proposed. The method has been applied to the electromagnetic form factors of the deuteron and its relevance has been proven by a thorough comparison with the experimental data.
Motional Correlation Time of Dilute 111Cd Impurities in Se-Rich Liquid Se-Te Alloys.

The motional correlation time, τ c , in liquid Se and Se-rich Se-Te alloys has been investigated between 500 and 900°C using time differential perturbed angular correlations of y-rays from dilute 111 Cd impurities. In all alloys we find τ c ∝ exp (E 0 /kT) at low T where E 0 = 0.36 eV. τ C deviates from this relation at high T. At low T, τ C is tentatively identified as the lifetime of a Cd to host molecule bond, and at high T as the average lifetime of bonds in the host molecule.
Presenilin-1 deficiency impairs glutamate-evoked intracellular calcium responses in neurons

Abstract Presenilin 1 (PS1) plays a critical role in cleaving amyloid precursor protein (APP) to produce amyloid-β (Aβ), the primary proteinaceous component of the senile plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. In addition to mediating the cleavage of APP and a number of other proteins, a growing body of evidence suggests that PS1 also regulates intracellular endoplasmic reticulum calcium levels. Such findings suggest that PS1 activity may modulate neuronal excitability, as well. To address this issue we examined cytosolic intracellular calcium responses in PS1-deficient neurons stimulated by the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter, glutamate. We found that glutamate-induced intracellular calcium levels were markedly reduced in neurons lacking PS1 (−/−) compared with heterozygous (+/−) and wild-type (+/+) neurons. To prove that PS1 was sufficient to mediate normal glutamate-induced calcium responses, we used a Semliki-forest virus (SFV) vector to express wild-type PS1 in PS1 knock-out neurons. We found that heterologous PS1 expression restored glutamate-evoked calcium responses in PS1-deficient neurons to levels matching non-infected wild-type cells. PS1-deficient neurons infected with SFV directing expression of β-galactosidase failed to rescue the wild-type phenotype. These results support the idea that normal PS1 activity regulates neuronal responses to neurotransmitter stimulation.
Effect of excessive insulin on the pancreatic islets of young rats.

Hypertrophy of the pancreatic islets in diabetes mellitus is usually explained as a compensation resulting from hypoinsulinism. In the thyroid gland experimental evidence has been obtained by Loeb1 and his associates that excess hormone is inhibitory. Such observations lend strength to the idea that cell regeneration is a response to functional need.By the method previously used by one of us2 the mitotic activity of the islet cells was determined in serial sections of the chrome-formol fixed tissue. The results in detail are shown in the table. The injections were made at 1 or 2 day intervals with the last and largest dose about 18 hours before autopsy. Usually the pancreases from the 2 or 3 animals were mounted together and from 100 to 800 islets were enumerated. The controls were rats of the same age and they often were litter mates. The insulin treatment inhibited the proliferative activity of the islet cells although the growth of the animals continued normal and their weights were sometimes greater t...
Tropoelastin gene expression in the rat pulmonary vasculature: a developmental study.

ABSTRACT: The elastic laminae in a vessel provide resilience to its wall. In perinatal and adult rats, we used in situ hybridization to localize the mRNA for tropoelastin (TE) in endothelial cells, medial smooth muscle cells, and adventitial fibroblasts of pulmonary arteries and veins to determine the contribution of these cells to laminae formation. We found that 1) all three cell types are elastogenic but for each the ontogenic pattern is different, 2) signal in the artery is strongest in the late fetal lung, 5) postnatally TE expression decreases first in the outer medial smooth muscle cells, and 4) the pattern of expression in arteries differs from that in veins. In the d 19 fetus, the signal for TE mRNA was higher in arteries than in veins. In the immediate postnatal period, the arterial signal declined, whereas the signal in veins increased. By postnatal d 21, the arterial TE signal per cell had significantly decreased to an intensity lower than that in veins. In the adult rat lung, no TE mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization. The reciprocal alterations in TE expression in pulmonary arteries and veins may suggest a response to the postnatal change in pulmonary blood pressure. We speculate that because all three cell types are potentially elastogenic they may all play a role in the remodeling that occurs after vascular injury.
Systemic sporotrichosis: Diagnosis through biopsy of epididymal mass

Abstract The diagnosis of systemic sporotrichosis was established after an epididymal biopsy. The case and literature are reviewed.
Distribution and metabolic syndrome correlates of plasma C-reactive protein in biracial (Black-White) younger adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Purpose The association between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, and the metabolic syndrome is well recognized. However, information is scant regarding the component of metabolic syndrome that is critical in modulating CRP levels in younger adults. Methods This aspect was examined in a biracial (Black-White) community based sample of 1083 younger adults (mean age: 36.1 years, 71% white, 45% male) enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Plasma CRP along with metabolic syndrome variables was measured. Results CRP levels showed a significant race (black>white) and gender (female>male) differences; and relates to measures of obesity (BMI and waist circumference), blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure), lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio), glucose homeostasis (insulin, glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index [HOMA-IR]), and uric acid, after adjusting for age, race, gender and cigarette smoking. Further, CRP levels increased with increasing number of metabolic syndrome risk factors, as defined by National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III, regardless of race and gender ( p for trend, Conclusion CRP levels differ among race and gender groups, and correlates to metabolic syndrome variables. In addition, these findings strongly suggest that although obesity and insulin resistance are the underlying features of the metabolic syndrome, the former appears to be the mediator of CRP levels.
Collagen and prolyl hydroxylase levels in lungs of beagles exposed to air pollutants.

Abstract Beagles were exposed to raw and photochemically reacted auto exhaust, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, alone and in combination, for over five years after which they were placed in atmospheric air for 2 1 2 to 3 years. After sacrifice, the collagen content and prolyl hydroxylase levels of portions of the left lungs were determined. The latter was used as an estimate of the ability of the lungs to synthesize collagen. No significant difference was seen in the collagen concentration of the lungs in the nonexposed vs the exposed animals. There was a pronounced difference in prolyl hydroxylase levels between control lungs and lungs exposed to irradiated exhaust, high oxides of nitrogen, and irradiated exhaust plus oxides of sulfur. Exposure to low oxides of nitrogen and to oxides of sulfur, alone and in combination with and to nonirradiated exhaust, produced smaller differences in the enzyme level.
Placental Perivascular Cells for Human Muscle Regeneration

Perivascular multipotent mesenchymal progenitors exist in a variety of tissues, including the placenta. Here, we suggest that the abundant vasculature present in the human placenta can serve as a source of myogenic cells to regenerate skeletal muscle. Chorionic villi dissected from the mid-gestation human placenta were first transplanted intact into the gastrocnemius muscles of SCID/mdx mice, where they participated in muscle regeneration by producing myofibers expressing human dystrophin and spectrin. In vitro-cultured placental villi released rapidly adhering and migratory CD146+CD34⁻CD45⁻CD56⁻ cells of putative perivascular origin that expressed mesenchymal stem cell markers. CD146+CD34⁻CD45⁻CD56⁻ perivascular cells isolated and purified from the placental villi by flow cytometry were indeed highly myogenic in culture, and generated dystrophin-positive myofibers, and they promoted angiogenesis after transplantation into SCID/mdx mouse muscles. These observations confirm the existence of mesenchymal progenitor cells within the walls of human blood vessels, and suggest that the richly vascularized human placenta is an abundant source of perivascular myogenic cells able to migrate within dystrophic muscle and regenerate myofibers.
Treatment of giant omphalocele by enlargement of the abdominal cavity with a tissue expander

Abstract Even in the absence of major associated anomalies, treatment of giant omphaloceles is difficult primarily because of the disproportion between the large volume of the omphalocele and the small volume of the intraabdominal cavity. The case of a child is presented in whom conservative treatment had to be abandoned. Reduction of the omphalocele contents and closure of the defect was successfully accomplished after a 19-day period of enlargement of the abdominal cavity by means of an intraabdominally placed tissue expander.
Failure to transmit human nonbacterial gastroenteritis to cats.

SummaryAliquots of supernates prepared from stools of volunteers with induced afebrile (Marcy) and febrile (FS) nonbacterial gastroenteritis and capable of inducing human disease were administered by stomach tube to cats. No recognizable disease was produced.
Full stability-exponent placement in chaotic systems.

We present an algorithm to allow full placement of all stability exponents (Poincar\'e or Lyapunov) in a controlled chaotic system. The linear quadratic regulator of classical control theory is recast to allow specification of the controlled system Lyapunov exponents and initial and final principal dynamical directions. In the process, a positive definite functional of the control is minimized. The boundary value problem that must be solved is linear, and converges in one iteration. Successful results are reported, applying the method to the Duffing oscillator, the Lorenz system, and the restricted problem of three bodies, for both periodic orbits and general trajectories. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Sustained reduction of intraocular pressure in humans with the calcium channel blocker verapamil.

We investigated the effect of the calcium channel blocker verapamil on intraocular pressure in human volunteers. In the initial trial, 15 subjects with untreated ocular hypertension were tested. After a baseline measurement was obtained with applanation tonometry, a 40-μ1 drop of verapamil, 1.25 mg/ml, was instilled in one eye. After 30 minutes, a second reading was taken. In a subsequent trial of 12 untreated ocular hypertensive subjects, the duration of action was determined using the same dose and method of delivery. Results showed that verapamil elicited a mean ± S.E.M. change in intraocular pressure of -3.8 ± 0.900 mm Hg in the treated eye, and -1.6 ± 0.400 mm Hg in the untreated eye. This reduction was statistically different in both eyes (treated eye, P = .0007; untreated eye, P = .005). This decrease in intraocular pressure remained statistically significant when compared to predrug baseline values for up to ten hours.
Comparison of effects of LSD and amphetamine on midbrain raphe units.

D-Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) given pareriterally produces a reversible cessation of the spontaneous activity of neuronal units in the midbrain raphe nuclei of the rat1. Threshold doses of LSD required to produce this effect are extremely small in relation to those typically used in rats (10–20 µg/kg, intravenously). Substances the behavioural effects of which are similar to those of LSD (for example, N,N-dimethyltryptamine and mescaline) also inhibit raphe units, although none is as potent as LSD2. A variety of other types of drugs (for example, atropine, phencyclidine, chlorpromazine) do not affect the activity of raphe units2. The inhibitory effect of LSD is specific for units in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei; in other mid-brain areas (for example, reticular formation), the drug either has no effect or accelerates unit activity1. According to the fluorescence histochemical method the midbrain raphe nuclei are comprised of serotonin-containing neurones3. Axons of the raphe neurones supply the principal serotonin input to the forebrain4. Large doses of LSD induce a prolonged inhibition of the serotonin-containing neurones1; this inhibition may account for the reduced metabolism of brain serotonin observed after injections of LSD5–8.
Ionic transport in nanocapillary membrane systems

Species transport in nanocapillary membrane systems has engaged considerable research interest, presenting technological challenges and opportunities, while exhibiting significant deviations from conventionally well understood bulk behavior in microfluidics. Nonlinear electrokinetic effects and surface charge of materials, along with geometric considerations, dominate the phenomena in structures with characteristic lengths below 100 nm. Consequently, these methods have enabled 3D micro- and nanofluidic hybrid systems with high-chemical selectivity for precise manipulation of mass-limited quantities of analytes. In this review, we present an overview of both fundamental developments and applications of these unique nanocapillary systems, identifying forces that govern ion and particle transport, and surveying applications in separation, sensing, mixing, and chemical reactions. All of these developments are oriented toward adding important functionality in micro-total analysis systems.
Can the identity of a behavior setting be perceived through patterns of joint action? An investigation of place perception.

“Behavior settings” are generated by joint actions of individuals in conjunction with the milieu features (or affordances) that are available. The reported research explores the hypothesis that the identity or meaning of a behavior setting can be perceived by means of the patterns of action collectively generated by the setting’s participants. A set of computer animations was created based on detailed observation of activities in everyday settings. Three experiments were conducted to assess whether perceivers could extract “structure from motion” (in this case, collective actions) that was specific to the particular behavior setting displayed by way of the animations. Two experiments assessed whether individuals could accurately perceive the identity of the behavior settings with such displays, and a third experiment indirectly examined this possibility by evaluating whether setting possibilities and constraints were recognized. The results offered some support for the hypothesis, and suggested several refinements in how to conceptualize a typology of behavior settings. An ecological approach to place perception is also discussed.
Cloning and functional expression of a gene encoding a P1 type nucleoside transporter from Trypanosoma brucei.

Abstract Nucleoside transporters are likely to play a central role in the biochemistry of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, since these protozoa are unable to synthesize purinesde novo and must salvage them from their hosts. Furthermore, nucleoside transporters have been implicated in the uptake of antiparasitic and experimental drugs in these and other parasites. We have cloned the gene for a T. brucei nucleoside transporter, TbNT2, and shown that this permease is related in sequence to mammalian equilibrative nucleoside transporters. Expression of theTbNT2 gene in Xenopus oocytes reveals that the permease transports adenosine, inosine, and guanosine and hence has the substrate specificity of the P1 type nucleoside transporters that have been previously characterized by uptake assays in intact parasites.TbNT2 mRNA is expressed in bloodstream form (mammalian host stage) parasites but not in procyclic form (insect stage) parasites, indicating that the gene is developmentally regulated during the parasite life cycle. Genomic Southern blots suggest that there are multiple genes related in sequence to TbNT2, implying the existence of a family of nucleoside transporter genes in these parasites.
Three-dimensional vision system for peanut pod maturity

A 3D Vision System for Peanut Pod MaturityE. Jay Williams and Stephen D. AdamsUSDA-ARS, Crop Systems Research UnitCoastal Plain Experiment StationTifton, Georgia 31793ABSTRACTA machine vision system was designed.for determining the peanut pod ripenesscolor after the outer hull layer of the pod had been removed. Pods were fed from avibratory bowl feeder through a singulation chute to a measurement chamber wherethey entered free-fall. An IR detector sensed the presence of the peanut podleaving the singulation chute and triggered a B/W CCD camera to capture the image.A ring strobe surrounding the camera lens illuminated the peanut. Algorithms weredeveloped to determine the pod ripeness color for three views of the pod.1. INTRODUCTIONDetermination of maturity and the best date for digging the crop are criticalmanagerial decisions in the peanut industry. Peanuts may gain from 300 to 500pounds and 1 to 2 percent in grade within the week and a half period before optimumripeness occurs. This translates into $70 to $120 per ha in grower profitabilityand greatly enhanced quality for the consumer (3 ,
‘From blood to blood’: de‐differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors to stem cells

Recent studies have reported that fibroblasts or differentiated pluripotent cells can be reprogrammed with transcription factors (TFs) into cells with hematopoietic potential. A study published in Cell now suggests that committed blood precursors may provide a source for blood stem cell transplantation after reprogramming (Riddell et al, 2014). The authors report that a combination of eight TFs reprogram murine committed blood progenitors into long-term engrafting and serially transplantable hematopoietic stem cells with a molecular signature similar to their endogenous counterparts.
Latent tuberculosis: mechanisms of host and bacillus that contribute to persistent infection

Most people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis contain the initial infection and develop latent tuberculosis. This state is characterised by evidence of an immune response against the bacterium (a positive tuberculin skin test) but no signs of active infection. It can be maintained for the lifetime of the infected person. However, reactivation of latent infection occurs in about 10% of infected individuals, leading to active and contagious tuberculosis. An estimated 2 billion people worldwide are infected with M tuberculosis--an enormous reservoir of potential tuberculosis cases. The establishment and reactivation of latent infection depend on several factors, related to both host and bacterium. Elucidation of the host immune mechanisms that control the initial infection and prevent reactivation has begun. The bacillus is well adapted to the human host and has a range of evasion mechanisms that contribute to its ability to avoid elimination by the immune system and establish a persistent infection. We discuss here current understanding of both host and bacterial factors that contribute to latent and reactivation tuberculosis.
Ability to Pay

Among the stated objectives of the Catholic Economic Association are “to discuss scientifically problems of economic policy, the solution of which requires a knowledge both of economic science and ...
Durkheim, individualism and homicide rates re‐examined

Heretofore, Durkheim's proposition on individualism has been neglected by students of homicide. In a recent study, Messner (1982b) derives the claim from Durkheim's Division of Labor ([1893]1933) that in the absence of social equality—or when social equality is held constant—individualism causes homicide rates to increase. Our interpretation of Durkheim's proposition on individualism indicates, however, that individualism should lead to lower homicide rates, the exact opposite of what Messner predicted. Based on data from 148 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs), regression analysis shows that, consistent with our interpretation of Durkheim's proposition, individualism leads to lower homicide rates. Further analysis does indicate that the effect of individualism on the rate of nonhomicide crimes is in the direction predicted by Messner.
On the Level

A “level” is a carpenter’s tool which simply and elegantly compares the orientation of an object to the horizon. The correct term for a measurable quantity of a substance in a specified volume or mass of a specimen is “concentration.” It is common in colloquial speech to discuss the level of an analyte in a specimen (e.g., “Let’s check the acetaminophen level.”); however, when writing about the outcome of the laboratory analysis, authors should use concentration to denote the finite result. Example 1 (incorrect): “The acetaminophen level was 220 mcg/mL.” Example 2 (correct): “The acetaminophen concentration was 220 mcg/mL.” This distinction is analogous to that between “fewer” and “less” (the former referring to a finite, measurable quantity, and the other referring to an indefinite amount) [1]. If authors will use level less often, editors and reviewers will make fewer suggestions to use concentration.
Oral Health and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes — What's Next?

Studies on the link between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcome have gone through several phases. The epidemiological studies predominantly support a positive association between these wide-affecting diseases. During the intervention phase, a few small-scale, single-center studies reported improvement of birth outcome following periodontal treatment, whereas the large-scale multi-center studies did not demonstrate efficacy. Many questions arise with regard to patient population, disease type, and therapy. In addressing these questions, it is crucial that one understands the mechanism underlying the link between these diseases. Two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses exist. In the first, periodontal disease is believed to affect the maternal and fetal immune responses systemically, leading to premature labor. Alternatively, evidence is accumulating that oral bacteria may translocate directly into the pregnant uterus, causing localized inflammation and adverse pregnancy outcome in the presence or absence of clinical periodontitis. The oral-uterine transmission is not limited to the well-recognized periodontal pathogens, but instead may also involve the commensal species. Future studies should investigate these mechanisms, to understand the host susceptibility to oral-uterine transmission. Only when a thorough understanding of the mechanism is achieved can meaningful intervention studies be designed utilizing effective therapies, targeting appropriate populations, and measuring relevant outcomes.
Depolymerization of nylon 6: some kinetic modeling aspects

Depolymerization reactions of nylon 6 [poly(ϵ-caprolactam)] have been modeled based on an existing mechanism for reversible polymerization reactions. The method of moments proposed by Min has been used together with kinetic and equilibrium constants for polymerization reactions to simulate depolymerization reactions. Simulation results thus obtained for batch and semibatch processes compare well with the corresponding experimental results.
Metastatic chordoma to the left ventricle: A case report

Abstract Chordoma is a rare neoplasm of bone that develops from the remnants of the primitive notochord. We present a 78-year-old woman with metastatic chordoma to the left ventricle. She had been diagnosed with sacral chordoma 5 years earlier, and chordoma gradually spread to numerous muscles, the ankle joint of the left leg, bilateral lungs, and the brain, despite repeated surgical excisions and carbon heavy-ion radiotherapy. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed an abnormal accumulation in the heart, with features similar to the other metastatic lesions. Transthoracic echocardiography could not provide a clear view of the heart, but multidetector computed tomography revealed that a giant abnormal mass was attached to the apical inferior segment of the left ventricle. The patient stated that she did not want to undergo surgical resection for the cardiac mass. The chordoma has been slowly increasing in size, but she has remained asymptomatic without cardiovascular events for more than a year since the diagnosis of cardiac metastasis. Learning objective: Multidetector computed tomography provided information not only about the structure morphology of the left ventricular mass, but also about the pathological features using the attenuation values of computed tomography, enabling us to make a diagnosis of a metastatic lesion to the left ventricle from sacral chordoma.>
Life Cycle Assessment of Modern Wind Power Plants

Power generation for the existing electrical grid is largely based on the combustion of fossil fuels. Global concerns have been raised regarding the environmental sustainability of the system due to life cycle impacts, including land losses from fuel extraction and impacts of combustion emissions. An approach to reduce carbon emissions of fossil fuel-based energy employs the conversion of wind energy to electrical energy. The work presented describes modern wind power plants and provides an environmental assessment of a representative wind park from a life cycle perspective. The empirical analysis uses commercially available data, as well as information from an existing wind power plant. The life cycle assessment (LCA) study for a modern wind farm in the northwestern U.S. found that environmental benefits of avoiding typical electricity production greatly outweigh the impacts due to wind turbine construction and maintenance. Effects of component reliability, varying capacity factors, and energy portfolio are explored.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Psychological distress and fair/poor health among adults with arthritis: state-specific prevalence and correlates of general health status, United States, 2007.

Objectives: To: 1) estimate U.S. state-specific prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD) and fair/poor health status (FPH), and 2) identify correlates of FPH among adults with arthritis (ARTH+).
Microfinance among the Maya: tracking the progress of borrowers.

Microfinance has become an increasingly widespread tool for fostering economic growth among the poor in developing countries. This study tracks the progress of 239 borrowers in a Guatemalan microfinance institution from 1994-99. Results from the study show that rapid gains in employment within the sample enterprises after initial credit access were followed by a protracted period of stagnation in employment growth. Other results highlight gender differences in response to credit access showing--surprisingly--that the long-run growth in hired labor for female entrepreneurs was slightly greater than that for male entrepreneurs. (authors)
Optimal Policies for Production/Inventory Systems with Finite Capacity and Markov-Modulated Demand and Supply Processes

In many production/inventory systems, not only is the production/inventory capacity finite, but the systems are also subject to random production yields that are influenced by factors such as breakdowns, repairs, maintenance, learning, and the introduction of new technologies. In this paper, we consider a single-item, single-location, periodic-review model with finite capacity and Markov modulated demand and supply processes. When demand and supply processes are driven by two independent, discrete-time, finite-state, time-homogeneous Markov chains, we show that a modified, state-dependent, inflated base-stock policy is optimal for both the finite and infinite horizon planning problems. We also show that the finite-horizon solution converges to the infinite-horizon solution.
Conjugates of steroids and anti-cancer agents. III. The synthesis of estrynamine and certain derivatives.

Abstract Propargyl amine was protected by condensing it with 2,5-hexanedione to give 2,5-dimethyl-N-(2'-propyn-l1-yl)pyrrole ( 2 ). The latter was converted to the corresponding Grignard reagent with ethylmaqnesium bromide, and then condensed with estrone tetrahydropyranyl ether to give 17α-[31-(2″,5″-dimethyl-1″-pyrryl)-1'-propyn-1'-yl)-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3, 17β-diol 3-tetrahydropyranyl ether ( 3 ), in 85% yield. Acetic acid and methanol cleaved the tetrahydropyranyl ether group, and hydroxylamine and sodium bicarbonate cleaved the pyrrole ring to give 17α-(3'-amino-1'-propyn-1'-yl)-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3,17β-diol ( 1 ), estrynamine. Several derivatives and analogs of 1 were also synthesized. Estrynamine binds to estrogen receptor with an RBA of 0.0045 (estradiol = 1.0), Several of the compounds, including estrynamine, are weak estrogens (stimulation of prolactin synthesis).
The role of feedback in management training settings

This study investigated the role of feedback in nine formal management training settings in a British government agency. This survey-based study suggests that participants sought information about their performance frequently and from a variety of sources and also indicates that feedback seeking is an important aspect in the process of management training. Implications of the findings for further research and the practice of management training are discussed. &copy 2000 Jossey-Bass, A Publishing Unit of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Continuous wave Doppler cardiac output: use in pediatric patients receiving inotropic support.

Doppler estimates of cardiac output have been shown to correlate closely with invasive measurement of cardiac output in hemodynamically stable adults and children. However, this method has not been validated in hemodynamically unstable pediatric patients. To assess the accuracy of continuous wave Doppler echocardiography in pediatric patients with unstable hemodynamics, we performed 27 simultaneous Doppler and thermodilution comparisons in 12 pediatric patients receiving inotropic support and afterload-reducing agents. Doppler cardiac output was calculated using aortic diameter measured from long-axis two-dimensional echocardiograms at three different sites: the aortic valve anulus, the aortic root at the sinuses of Valsalva, and the ascending aorta. For all measurements, there was a close correlation between Doppler and thermodilution techniques. However the site of measurement of aortic diameter had a significant impact on the strength on the correlation and the variability between Doppler and thermodilution. The best correlation and least variability were obtained using the aortic valve anulus diameter (r=0.94). On serial determinations, percent change in Doppler stroke volume correlated well with thermodilution stroke volume (r=0.87) and was useful in detecting both direction and magnitude of change in thermodilution stroke volume. Despite the administration of positive inotropic and afterload-reducing agents, Doppler cardiac output is a useful method for estimating cardiac output in hemodynamically unstable pediatric patients.
Epitaxical nucleation of polycrystalline silicon carbide during chemical vapor deposition

Polycrystalline silicon carbide was deposited from methyltrichlorosilane in cold-walled and hot-walled reactors, on (100) SiC surface layers that were formed on (100) Si wafers. The initial stages of the process were studied by electron microscopy after relatively short deposition times. Submicron surface features nucleated with a specific crystallographic orientation with respect to the substrate, where h111j planes in th—SiC substrate coincided with h0001j planes in the a–SiC features. These a–SiC features occurred only at twins on h111j planes of the b–SiC substrate. This demonstrates that nucleation under these conditions is controlled by defects in the substrate. Surface contamination and the reactor configuration also had substantial effects on nucleation.