cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Malignant phaeochromocytoma: clinical, biochemical and scintigraphic characterization.

SUMMARY We have evaluated thirty patients with malignant metastatic phaeochromocytoma with regard to clinical features, indices of catecholamine secretion, histology of lesions and a number of imaging procedures including scintigraphy with the recently developed sympathetic tissue-seeking radiopharmaceutical 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG). The primary tumour was extraadrenal in 13 cases. The commonest site of metastases was the axial skeleton (20 cases), followed by liver (four cases), lymph nodes (four cases), peritoneum (two cases) and lung (three cases). The malignancies were indolent, the mean time following the initial diagnosis was 9·18 years (range 0 to 33 years) and the mean duration of known metastases 3·71 years (range 0 to 18 years). There was a wide range of abnormalities in plasma and urinary catecholamines which did not correlate with the extent of tumour spread, histological pattern (mitotic index, Zellballen pattern, capsular or vascular invasion pleomorphism or necrosis) or 131I-MIBG uptake by tumour deposits. 131I-MIBG scintigraphy was found to be a useful technique for determining the extent of metastatic disease in most cases (26 of 30) and in some patients (16 of 30) was more sensitive than other radiological procedures. No false positive scans were encountered.
Sleep-related growth hormone secretion is persistently suppressed in women with recurrent depression: A preliminary longitudinal analysis

Growth hormone secretion was monitored during sleep in a group of 43 women with recurrent major depression who were participating in a 3-year maintenance therapy program. Patients were studied before acute treatment, after complete remission, and at 3-month intervals during maintenance treatment and the data generated were compared to those obtained in a control group of 14 age-matched healthy women studied once under identical conditions. When compared to the control group, the depressed patients secreted significantly less growth hormone before treatment. This reduction in growth hormone secretion, which was confined to the first half of the sleep period, persisted across the length of the maintenance study regardless of whether the subjects completed three years of therapy or experienced a recurrence.
Energy Landscape for DNA Rotation and Sliding through a Phage Portal

Molecular motors involved in the packaging of DNA in tailed viruses are among the strongest known. The mechanism by which the motors operate has long been speculated to involve a coupling between rotation of the portal pore (the gate through which DNA passes upon its packaging or ejection), and translation of DNA. Recent experimental evidence rules out portal rotation with a substantial degree of certainty. We have created an atomistic model for the interaction between DNA and the portal of the bacteriophage SPP1, on the basis of cryo-electron microscopy images and of a recently solved crystal structure. A free energy surface describing the interaction is calculated using molecular dynamics simulations, and found to be inconsistent with a mechanism in which portal rotation drives DNA import. The low-energy pathways on the surface are used to advance a hypothesis on DNA import compatible with all available experiments. Additionally, temperature-dependent kinetic data are used to validate computed barriers to DNA ejection.
Platinum (II) and palladium (II) 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) complexes as intramolecular hydroamination catalysts in aqueous and organic media

Abstract Complexes of the general formula cis-[MX2(PTA)2] (M = Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Br, I; PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) were used to study the catalytic intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization of 4-pentyn-1-amine into 2-methyl-pyrroline in water, methanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Kinetic data were measured via 1H NMR under homogeneous conditions at 50 °C and showed the following trends in rate: (i) Fastest rates were observed in D2O. (ii) The Pd complexes of this study produced faster rates than the Pt complexes. (iii) The identity of the halide had no effect on the catalytic rate. Cyclization by the catalytic precursor cis-[PdCl2(PTA)2] (4) in D2O was zero-order in substrate and first-order in metal complex with ΔH‡ = 20.0 ± 2.1 kcal/mol, ΔS‡ = −7.4 ± 6.3 cal/mol K, and Ea = 20.6 ± 2.1 kcal/mol. The acetylide complex, trans-[Pt(C C(CH2)3NH2)2(PTA)2] (6) precipitated from a catalytic mixture involving cis-[PtBr2(PTA)2] (2). Spectroscopic and kinetic studies indicated that 6 and its cis analog, 7, were the predominant species in solution and that they were both active catalysts for the cyclization reaction. These data, in conjunction with the rate trends, indicated that the mechanism of the Pd(II) and Pt(II) catalyzed hydroamination of terminal alkynylamines in aqueous solution followed a unique mechanism with cyclization of an acetylenic-amine ligand being rate determining.
Representational bias in phytoliths from modern soils of central North America: implications for paleovegetation reconstructions

Abstract Understanding localized patterns and community compositions of vegetation in an environment is critical to the reconstruction of climatic and ecological conditions across all spatiotemporal scales. One of the most accurate and useful ways to characterize vegetation, and therefore to describe the climatic and ecological conditions of a location, is through the plant fossil record. Phytoliths (plant silica microfossils) are often preserved in the absence of other paleobotanical data and are becoming more widely used for deep-time vegetation reconstructions. Significant work has been done to standardize the analytical methodology of phytolith extraction, statistical analysis, and interpretation, but more detailed investigations are needed to understand how well a given soil assemblage represents the actual aboveground plant biomass for a given ecosystem. We present results from paired soil phytolith assemblages and local vegetation assemblages across the central United States, including temperate forest, grassland, and rangeland/scrubland ecosystems. Phytolith assemblages obtained via extractions from soil A-horizons were compared to percent cover of species and plant biomass estimates obtained via in situ field observations and aerial estimates of tree cover to analyze differences in the relative abundance of forest/woody vegetation vs. grasses. Soil phytolith assemblages from all sites average a 29% bias toward the grass morphotypes as compared to actual aboveground biomass observations, and comparisons to percent cover yielded broadly comparable bias figures. Percent bias estimates do not show significant correlations to most environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, local elevation), however, an extremely strong correlation (p
S -matrix treatment of many overlapping resonances

We present a general $S$-matrix approach to the phenomenological treatment of scattering problems which involve many overlapping resonances in the presence of a constant background. The problem is treated systematically using the analyticity and unitarity of $S(E)$, and $\mathrm{CPT}$ and $T$ invariance. We derive the possible factorization properties of the resonance residues for first-order and higher-order poles, the restriction imposed by $\mathrm{CPT}$ invariance, the restrictions imposed by $\mathrm{CPT}$ and $T$, and the constraints on the residues imposed by unitarity. The nature of the contraints is investigated in detail for overlapping first-order resonances, and in less detail for higher-order resonances. The results are illustrated by several examples, including the case of a single dipole resonance in the presence of background.
Lithium mimics dexamethasone in stimulating DNA synthesis by WI-38 cells.

Abstract Lithium interferes with the responses of neural and secretory cells to calcium-mobilizing agonists by blocking the generation of phospholipase C-dependent second messengers. However, the mechanism by which lithium stimulates the proliferation of other cells in response to agonists that do not activate phospholipase C remains obscure. We investigated the pathways that mediate the mitogenic action of lithium on WI-38 cells in a defined, serum-free medium. Lithium, like dexamethasone (Dex), potentiated DNA synthesis in response to the combination of insulin + epidermal growth factor (EGF) (+50%), but not in response to either growth factor alone or with Dex. As in the case of Dex, lithium could be added as late as 8 h following stimulation of quiescent cells by insulin + EGF without loss of potentiating activity. While DNA synthesis in control cultures was essentially complete by 24 h, lithium and Dex stimulated “late” DNA synthesis (24–30 h) 10-fold and 5-fold, respectively. The potentiating activity of Dex, but not that of lithium, was blocked by the specific glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU486. Both lithium and Dex stimulated log-phase growth, but only Dex increased saturation density. These data indicate that both lithium and Dex recruit into the cell cycle a subpopulation of cells with a longer mean prereplicative phase (G 1 ). The effect of lithium on DNA synthesis in WI-38 cells may be mediated by the glucocorticoid response pathway at some point distal to activation of the glucocorticoid receptor, or by an independent mechanism that can be switched on late in G 1 .
Enhancement of frame-shift mutation by the overproduction of msDNA in Escherichia coli.

A minor population of wild Escherichia coli strains contain retroelements called retrons, which produce a peculiar satellite DNA, multicopy single-stranded DNA (msDNA). It has been reported that mismatched base pairs in the secondary structure formed in msDNA are mutagenic in E. coli [Maas et al. (1994) Mol. Microbiol. 14,437–441; Maas et al. (1996) Mol. Microbiol. 19, 505–509]. We reexamined this proposal by converting mismatched base pairs to matched base pairs using a single msDNA species, msDNA-Ec86, or by deleting mismatched regions using msDNA-Ec73. We also examined the effect of reverse transcriptases (RT) without msDNA production on mutagenesis. All the constructs are under the lppllac promoter-operator control so that their mutagenic effects can be tested in the absence and the presence of a lac inducer. It was found that when the production of msDNA-Ec86 or Ec73 was induced, reversion frequencies from Lac− to Lac+ significantly increased in the case of a Lac− mutation caused by a frame-shift mutation, but much less by a substitution mutation. The removal of mismatched base pairs eliminated the high mutation frequencies, and the inducible expression of RT alone was not mutagenic. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of Maas and his associates that mismatched base pairs in msDNA sequester a cellular mismatch repair system, resulting in the increase of frame-shift mutations.
Causes of Reduced Visual Acuity on Long-term Follow-up After Cataract Extraction in Patients With Uveitis and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

We reviewed the long-term follow-up on a consecutive series of 16 eyes from ten patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated cataracts that were removed by using pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy. All patients had prominent cataracts, chronic uveitis, posterior synechiae, and vitreitis preoperatively, and had at least 12 months of follow-up postoperatively. The median length of follow-up was 51 months (range, 12 months to ten years). In the early postoperative period, a visual acuity of 20/70 or better was obtained in 13 of 16 eyes (81%). With longer follow-up, the final visual acuity was 20/70 or better in only nine of 16 eyes (56%). The primary categories of delayed visual loss in these cases were glaucoma and macular disease (chronic cystoid macular edema, macular hole, hypotony maculopathy, and recurrent macular pucker). Despite these limitations in maintaining good visual acuity, a pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy approach is effective for cataracts in these patients with uveitis.
Fluorophore localization algorithms for super-resolution microscopy

Super-resolution localization microscopy methods provide powerful new capabilities for probing biology at the nanometer scale via fluorescence. These methods rely on two key innovations: switchable fluorophores (which blink on and off and can be sequentially imaged) and powerful localization algorithms (which estimate the positions of the fluorophores in the images). These techniques have spurred a flurry of innovation in algorithm development over the last several years. In this Review, we survey the fundamental issues for single-fluorophore fitting routines, localization algorithms based on principles other than fitting, three-dimensional imaging, dipole imaging and techniques for estimating fluorophore positions from images of multiple activated fluorophores. We offer practical advice for users and adopters of algorithms, and we identify areas for further development.
Adverse influence of younger age on outcome in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (nsclc) treated with radiation therapy (rt) alone

Abstract Treatment outcome of 63 patients younger than 50 years of age initiated on a course of once-daily definitive radiation therapy without concurrent or preirradiation chemotherapy for clinical Stages I–III unresected non-small cell lung carcinoma from 1978 to 1988 was compared to the outcome of 695 patients over the age of 50. Follow-up ranged from 24–110 months with follow-up until death in 88% of patients. The actuarial overall survival rate for all patients was 22% at 2 years with a median survival time of 11.5 months. Patients p = .005). Ninety-four percent of younger patients and 86% of older patients had clinical stage III disease ( p = NS). Survival was significantly worse for patients who were younger than 50 years old ( p = .05), with a median survival time of 7.8 months. Median survival time for those patients 50 years of age or older was 12.4 months. Poorer survival outcome among young patients was most pronounced among patients with unfavorable characteristics of poor performance status (≥2) or weight loss (> 5%) ( p = .002). Distant failure ( p = .029) and brain failure ( p = .003) as initial site of relapse was more common among younger patients. Among young patients, poor histologic grade was associated with both distant failure ( p = .003) and brain metastasis ( p = .002). The difference in distribution of histologic grade, incidence of distant failure, particularly in the brain, and poorer survival outcome among patients
Psychosocial Issues and Mental Health Treatment Recommendations for Patients With Hepatitis C

Background Mental health needs of patients with HCV are increasingly being addressed in medical contexts. Objective The authors review the psychosocial issues relevant to patients with hepatitis C and provide mental health treatment recommendations. Findings Patients with HCV are faced with a number of challenges, including adjustment to a chronic medical illness, management of symptoms and treatment side effects, and making and maintaining lifestyle changes. Given these issues, mental health clinicians have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to patient care. Conclusion After reviewing the relevant research on these psychosocial issues, the authors have identified areas in which clinicians can intervene; these include adjustment to having a chronic medical illness, coping with stigma and relationship changes, management of side effects, and implementing healthy lifestyle changes.
Diagnosis and incidence of diseases associated with a decline of sweet cherry trees in California orchards

Abstract In recent years, a heavy loss of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) trees has occurred in California. During 1985 and 1986, several orchards were examined and the findings revealed that several biotic agents and abiotic disorders, all capable of causing tree decline or nonproductiveness, were represented in affected orchards. Confirmation of disease identification for a representative number of symptomatic trees was accomplished by a variety of test procedures including DNA hybridisation assay for the X-disease MLO.
STUDIES ON THE TRANSFER OF LYMPH NODE CELLS : IV. EFFECTS OF X-IRRADIATION OF RECIPIENT RABBITS ON THE APPEARANCE OF ANTIBODY AFTER CELL TRANSFER

Cells of the popliteal lymph node were teased 3 days after the injection of Shigella paradysenteriae into the hind foot pads of rabbits. These cells were transferred to normal and x-irradiated recipients. It was noted that the serum titers of dysentery agglutinins in irradiated recipients were higher than in normal recipients. This was represented both in a higher peak: titer and a tendency to remain higher for a longer period than in normal animals. Recipients were x-irradiated within 1 hour after receiving cells of the lymph node prepared as indicated above. The serum titers of these recipients were markedly reduced in comparison with those of non-irradiated control animals. If the irradiation of the recipients followed the transfer of cells by a day, however, this difference was much smaller and in the case of a 2 day interval after the transfer of the lymph node cells the irradiation appeared to have no effect on the resulting serum titer.
Alterations of the trabecular pattern of the jaws in patients with osteoporosis.

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the morphologic features of the trabecular bones of the maxilla and mandible differ between patients with osteoporosis and normal controls. Study Design. Periapical radiographs, obtained from dentists of 11 patients with osteoporosis and 12 control subjects, were digitized at 600 dpi. A custom computer program measured morphologic features of the trabecular architecture. The mean values for each feature were determined for the osteoporotic and control groups and compared by anatomic site. Results. Twenty-four morphologic features of the trabeculae and marrow regions were examined in each anatomical site. A principal components analysis summarized these predictors to four. The Hotelling T 2 test found that patients with osteoporosis had significantly altered morphologic pattern in the anterior maxilla (P = .019) and the posterior mandible (P = .013) in comparison with the controls. A classification tree analysis separated all subjects into 2 groups with 92% accuracy. Conclusions. The data support the hypothesis that patients with osteoporosis have an altered trabecular pattern in the jaws in comparison with normal subjects. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1999;88:628-35)
Connective tissue spectrum abnormalities associated with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks: a prospective study.

We aimed to assess the frequency of connective tissue abnormalities among patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in a prospective study using a large cohort of patients. We enrolled a consecutive group of 50 patients, referred for consultation because of CSF leak. All patients have been carefully examined for the presence of connective tissue abnormalities, and based on findings, patients underwent genetic testing. Ancillary diagnostic studies included echocardiography, eye exam, and histopathological examinations of skin and dura biopsies in selected patients. We identified nine patients with heritable connective tissue disorders, including Marfan syndrome, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and other unclassified forms. In seven patients, spontaneous CSF leak was the first noted manifestation of the genetic disorder. We conclude that spontaneous CSF leaks are associated with a spectrum of connective tissue abnormalities and may be the first noted clinical presentation of the genetic disorder. We propose that there is a clinical basis for considering spontaneous CSF leak as a clinical manifestation of heritable connective tissue disorders, and we suggest that patients with CSF leaks should be screened for connective tissue and vascular abnormalities.
Numerical Analysis of the Effects of Solid Metal Fuel Particle Characteristics on the Combustion Process

Combustion using aluminum particles as fuel is an attractive energy source where high energy densities are desired. Very little experimental literature or computational results are available for metal combustion in high-pressure chambers, as most experimental and computational work has been done on chamber operating at near atmospheric pressures. This paper attempts to improve our understanding of metal-fueled combustion chambers at pressures above atmospheric. A numerical model of solid Aluminum fuel particle combustion is developed to investigate the effects of radiation and fuel particle size on the combustion process. Of specific interest are particle specific burn rate, residence time, combustion efficiency, coupled radiation effects, and flame characteristics. This computational model is applied to a linear-type dump combustor. The effects of a range of particle sizes are investigated using mono-dispersed and poly-dispersed particle distributions. Combustion efficiency and characterization of the combustion process are addressed by studying particle ignition delay, surface combustion time, and particle flame radiation intensity as a function of particle diameter and mass fraction. The computational results of this detailed theoretical combustor reveal fundamental physics relating particle sizes and distributions to the variables commonly used to define the effectiveness and performance of the combustion process. The computational models include nonisotropic turbulence models, empirically derived ignition criteria and reaction rates, as well as convective and radiant heat transfer. The numerical results were compared with test data with reasonable agreement.
Interfacial structure of dimethylsulfoxide at Ag electrodes from surface enhanced Raman scattering and differential capacitance

Abstract Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and differential capacitance have been used to study interfacial structure in LiBr-containing dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at Ag electrodes. The potential-dependent orientation of this solvent is driven by interactions of the O atoms with the Ag surface at positive potentials and by interactions of the S atoms with the surface at negative potentials. Significant spectral changes are observed at potentials in the vicinity of the pzc indicating reorientation of interfacial solvent molecules. Evidence for unique potential-dependent interactions of Li + and Br − with DMSO and trace amounts of H 2 O in the electrochemical interface have been uncovered on the basis of their spectral signatures. Potential-dependent molecular pictures of the interface in this system are proposed.
Isolation, transmission and purification of the High Plains virus.

Abstract The wheat curl mite ( Aceria tosichella Keifer) often simultaneously transmits the High Plains virus and Wheat streak mosaic virus under field conditions, resulting in doubly infected plants. In this study, a pure culture of the High Plains virus (isolate HPV95ID), which was infected with both High Plains virus and Wheat streak mosaic virus , was mechanically transmitted from barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) to maize ( Zea mays L.) by vascular puncture inoculation. Different water temperatures and durations for soaking kernels at pre-inoculation and different incubation temperatures and durations at post-inoculation on transmission of High Plains virus were studied. Transmissions of the High Plains virus were significantly different for post-inoculation incubations at 11, 21, or 30 °C after a 2 h pre-inoculation soaking at 30 °C and post-inoculation incubations of kernels for 1 day versus 2 days. Use of Cs 2 SO 4 in a partial purification protocol resulted in infectious final fractions. Bioassays, serological assays, analyses by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and examinations by electron microscopy confirmed isolation of a pure culture of High Plains virus from infectious final partially purified fractions. We demonstrate infectivity of the final fractions and associate it with the High Plains disease symptoms, the 32 kDa protein and double membrane bodies and discuss this evidence to support the viral nature of High Plains virus.
Substitution of Tyrosine for Phenylalanine in Fibrinopeptide A Results in Preferential Thrombin Cleavage of Fibrinopeptide B from Fibrinogen

Phenylalanine at residue 8 in the Aα chain of fibrinogen is a highly conserved amino acid that is believed to be critical for binding and catalysis by the serine protease thrombin. We have examined the requirement for Phe at this position by constructing a variant recombinant fibrinogen with a conservative substitution of tyrosine for phenylalanine, Aα F8Y fibrinogen. We found that the variant fibrinopeptide A (F8Y 1−16) was cleaved by thrombin, in contrast to the lack of cleavage of an Aα 1−23 peptide and an Aα 1−50 fusion protein with the same substitution. This result indicates that fibrinogen residues other than Aα 1−50 participate in thrombin binding and fibrinogen proteolysis. We found, for the first time, that thrombin-catalyzed lysis of the fibrinogen Bβ chain preceded lysis of the Aα chain, such that fibrinopeptide B (FpB) was released prior to F8Y 1−16. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that F8Y 1−16 was a very poor substrate for thrombin, with a specificity constant 280-fold lower than normal fibri...
Mentored and inspired by Mimo: A tribute to Erminio Costa

Throughout his long productive scientific career, Erminio Costa demonstrated several scholarly traits that illustrate a pattern for paths of successful achievement that should guide young scientists. Not only did he seek excellent training, he got and gave good mentoring. That guidance allowed him to ask important questions and to develop the methods necessary to obtain definitive answers by pursuing those questions in depth. Without question, he blazed trails in neuropharmacology that have been an inspiration to many others and me. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Trends in neuropharmacology: in memory of Erminio Costa'.
Oscillations in dynamic correlations of binary liquids

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed for a binary liquid mixture (α + β) to measure, among others, the collective velocity auto-correlation function Zm(t) and the time correlation function of the concentration fluctuations Fm(t). Both α-α and β-β pairs of molecules interact through the same Lenard-Jones potential, but α-β pairs interact only through the repulsive part of the potential. From the results for the relaxation time of Fm(t), we estimate the mutual diffusion coefficients. All measurements probing the individual molecular motions indicate that the molecules execute randomly diffusing motions both at T > TC and T TC, the results are as expected from those of the individual motions. At T < TC, the results indicate cooperative behavior which is not evident in the individual motions. Most importantly, we observe an oscillatory mode of collective motions which is analogous to the optical phonons in two-component crystals.
Polymorphism in subdivided populations characterised by a major and subordinate demes.

Subdivided populations where one deme plays a major role and the other demes play subordinate roles are studied. The models are appropriate for socially structured and age structured populations (including plant species with seed pools) as well as spatially subdivided populations. Concise sufficient criteria as well as tractable necessary and sufficient criteria assuring the maintenance of a polymorphism are given. The incorporation of temporal variation is included, and appropriate concepts of environmental heterogeneity are discussed.
OPTIMIZATION APPROACH TO HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMING

A procedure is developed for optimal allocation of highway safety improvement funds. The approach minimizes the total number of crashes in a study area during an analysis period within the constraints of funding resources. The uniqueness of the model lies in its flexibility for considering the effectiveness of safety improvement projects in future years. The model can consider carryover of unspent funds from previous years. The effect of errors involved in estimation of initial investment costs, annual maintenance costs, crash reduction rates, and additional traffic growth factors can be studied. The application of the model is illustrated. The effect of funding level on the effectiveness of the safety improvement program is studied through sensitivity analysis.
Evaluation of precision tilt sensors for measuring telescope position

This report describes a method for using precision tilt-sensors to measure the position of an equatorial telescope relative to the local horizontal plane. Unlike conventional systems which measure the telescope position using position encoders coupled to the telescope axes, this method avoids many sources of non-repeatable error, such as hysteresis in the telescope structure due to inelastic flexure of the fork or yoke, or random slippage in the couplings between the position encoders and the telescope axes. In this respect, it shares many of the advantages of optical gyros, but achieves these at much lower cost. We present a design for a compact and relatively inexpensive dual-axis tilt-table whose frame is rigidly attached to the telescope's primary mirror cell. The table contains two precision tilt-sensors, aligned orthogonally with the tilt axes of the table. The sensors are used as nulling devices to close a servo loop which keeps the table level at all times. This provides a precise and stable reference against which the telescope position is measured. A high resolution incremental encoder is directly coupled to each tilt-table axis and measures the angle by which that axis rotates to keep the table level. A mathematical transform converts these two encoder readings into local hour angle and declination. Preliminary tests of the tilt sensors and of a single-axis prototype tilt-table are reported, and future plans described. The use of tilt-tables for measuring the positions of non-equatorial telescopes is also briefly examined.
Excitation mechanisms of and transitions in U82+ through U89+

Abstract A model based on detailed calculations of the electron-impact excitation of n = 2 electrons was developed to interpret and explain measurements on EBIT (Electron Beam Ion Trap). While only considering the direct excitation process provided a good model for the electric dipole (E1) transitions, it was necessary for the magnetic dipole (M1) spectrum to include various additional excitation processes in the model. In particular, the model was expanded to include electron-impact excitation of n = 3 levels followed by radiative cascades. Moreover, excitation by the ionization of 2 s 1 2 , 2 p 1 2 , and 2 p 3 2 electrons and by radiative capture of beam electrons into excited levels was added. The new model demonstrates that the dipole-forbidden lines are almost exclusively produced by indirect excitation processes.
Magnetic field calculations of a permanent magnet insertion device for the advanced photon source

The magnetic fields of a hybrid undulator for the 7-GeV Advanced Photon Source (APS) were calculated. The 2-D geometries of the regular poles and the undulator's end pole were chosen after finite-element analysis using the PANDIRA and PE2D codes. The field distributions in 3-D geometry were calculated using the TOSCA code. It is shown that the undulator dimensions should be chosen such that, that field integral along the z-axis for the operating gap of the undulator should be zero for the requirements of net zero positron beam deflection. It is noted that the TOSCA calculations in the 2-D limit agreed remarkably well with the results of PANDIRA and PE2D codes. >
Gobiatherium (Mammalia: Dinocerata) from the Middle Eocene of Asia: Taxonomy and biochronological significance

GobiatheriumOsborn & Granger 1932 is a highly distinctive genus of dinoceratan known from Eocene strata in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan, and Nei Mongol and Henan, People’s Republic of China. Autapomorphies ofGobiatherium among uintatheriids are: skull long, narrow and shallow with a flat sagittal region; nasals strongly arched with bony septum connecting their anterior ends to the premaxillae; zygomatic arches broad and flare outward in region of glenoid fossae; lower jaw long and shallow with tall ascending ramus and without an inframandibular flange; no upper canines; lower canines greatly reduced; P2 has prominent cingular cusp on its anterolabial corner; metacarpals relatively long and slender. Two species ofGobiatherium are valid, the type speciesG. mirificumOsborn & Granger 1932 (=G.? major Qi 1987) and the much smaller and poorly knownG. minutumCheng & Ma 1990. G.?monolobotum Qi 1987 is a junior subjective synonym of the coryphodontid pantodontEudinoceras mongoliensisOsborn 1924. The distribution ofGobiatherium supports recognition of an Arshantan land-mammal ‘age’ (LMA) older than the Irdinmanhan LMA. The Arshantan LMA is redefined as the time interval between the first appearance datum (FAD) of the coryphodontid pantodontEudinoceras and the FAD of the brontotheriid perissodactylProtitan. Gobiatherium is one of several index taxa that allow mammalian assemblages of Arshantan age to be identified in China, Mongolia, Kazakstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Growth and characterization of silicon ribbons by the Inverted Stepanov process using pyrolytic boron nitride die

Abstract Silicon ribbon growth in the Inverted Stepanov (IS) configuration is described, in which non-wetting shape guides (or dies) are used. Silicon ribbons, 2 cm wide and 0.05 cm thick were grown reproducibly using a pyrolytic BN die. The contact angle of liquid silicon on BN is 110°. Silicon ribbons were heavily boron doped (5 × 10 19 /cm −3 ) due to the contamination from the die. Crystalline defects were investigated by X-ray topography and chemical etching. The efficiency of solar cells made in the epitaxial silicon on IS ribbons was typically 8%.
Algorithms for computing generalized U(N) Racah coefficients

Algorithms are developed for computing generalized Racah coefficients for the U(N) groups. The irreducible representations (irreps) of the U(N) groups, as well as their tensor products, are realized as polynomials in complex variables. When tensor product irrep labels as well as a given irrep label are specified, maps are constructed from the irrep space to the tensor product space. The number of linearly independent maps gives the multiplicity. The main theorem of this paper shows that the eigenvalues of generalized Casimir operators are always sufficient to break the multiplicity. Using this theorem algorithms are given for computing the overlap between different sets of eigenvalues of commuting generalized Casimir operators, which are the generalized Racah coefficients. It is also shown that these coefficients are basis independent.
Do culturally distant partners choose different types of joint ventures

Abstract Studies of international joint ventures yield conflicting results when looking at the role played by cultural distance. We argue that managers understand the problems associated with cultural distance and seek to mitigate its impact by selecting certain types of joint ventures. Using Das and Teng's [Das, T. K., & Teng, B.-S. (2001). A risk-perception model of alliance structuring. Journal of International Management, 7(1): 1–30] typology of unilateral and bilateral alliances to categorize a sample of ventures based on their strategic focus, our results indicate that greater cultural distance is associated with an increased probability that a marketing or supplier alliance will be formed and a lower probability that an innovation-oriented alliance will be formed.
Genomic organization and expression analysis of mouse kynurenine aminotransferase II, a possible factor in the pathophysiology of Huntington's disease.

Decreased levels of the endogenous neuroprotectant kynurenic acid (KYNA) have been observed in the brain of Huntington's Disease (HD) patients and may be related to neuronal loss in this disorder. This reduction may be caused by a dysfunction of kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II), the major enzyme responsible for the synthesis of KYNA in the brain. Towards understanding the role of KAT II in HD, we isolated and characterized the cDNA sequence and determined the genomic organization of mouse KAT II (mKat-2). The full length mKat-2 cDNA is 1812 bp, encoding 425 amino acids, and shares 89.9% amino acid similarity with the rat Kat-2 sequence. The gene for mKat-2 is composed of 13 exons divided by 12 intronic sequences. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that mKat-2 mRNA is mainly expressed in kidney and liver. RT-PCR showed mKat-2 expression in the brain starting from at least d11 of embryonic development. An alternative isoform mKat-2β, derived from the usage of novel exons, shows a different expression pattern from mKat-2. Western blot analysis of various mouse tissues shows a 40-kDa protein in brain, heart, kidney, and liver. In the kidney and liver an additional 45-kDa isoform was detected. Use of the BSS chromosomal mapping panel from The Jackson Laboratory indicates that the mKat-2 gene co-segregates with polymorphic markers D8Mit129 and D8Mit128 on mouse Chr 8. Knowledge of the genomic organization, the isoform tissue-specific expression patterns, the chromosomal localization of mKat-2, and the reagents generated here, will provide the tools for further studies and allow generation and characterization of mice that are nullizygous for mKat-2.
End-user tools for debugging e-commerce

One of the biggest unaddressed challenges for the digital economy is what to do when electronic transactions go wrong. Consumers are frustrated by interminable phone menus and long delays to problem resolution. Businesses are frustrated by the high cost of providing quality customer service.We believe that many simple problems, such as mistyped numbers or lost orders, could be easily diagnosed if users were supplied with end-user tools for e-commerce problem solving. Working analogously to tools for software debugging, these tools show the history of actions and data and allow the user to explore hypotheses about what went wrong.
Director Human Capital, Information Processing Demands, and Board Effectiveness

Research on human capital as a source of competitive advantage has focused largely on firm employees. In this article, we argue that outside directors’ general human capital can also be a source of competitive advantage. Firm performance is likely to benefit from directors’ human capital—that is, their prior experience and education—because such human capital is likely to make them more effective at monitoring management and providing advice. Drawing on insights from research on individuals’ cognitive limitations, we further argue that the extent to which the firm is able to benefit from this human capital can be severely limited by the demands for information processing that directors face from their other board positions. Consequently, we find that the benefit of directors’ human capital is contingent upon the information processing load placed upon them from their other board appointments. We find support for our hypotheses using data on over 5,700 directors from 650 firms sampled from the Fortune 1000...
Residual Effects of Leaf Mulch on Sweet Corn and Rye

When municipal shade tree leaves (MCST-leaf) are used as mulch the residues impact soil fertility for crops in the rotation. Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), grown near Pittstown, New Jersey, using leaf mulch, was followed in the next year by sweet corn (Zea mays L.) and by a fall-seeded rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop. A 15 cm layer of MCST-leaf mulch adds an estimated 448 kg ha−1 of N organically bound within 45 Mg ha−1 of leaf dry matter. Because of the high C/N ratio, little of this N becomes available in the first growing season as was apparent from the N immobilization and N deficiency temporarily observed when the land was initially cropped to pumpkin. Sweet corn ear size was increased on amended soil compared to unamended soil. Crop responses with both sweet corn and rye indicated that significant amounts of nitrogen became plant available from leaf mulch decomposition. Leaf mulch improves soil fertility for several years after incorporation but in ways not apparent through soil nitrate testing. Be...
Natural epistemic defects and corrective virtues

Cognitive psychologists have uncovered a number of natural tendencies to systematic errors in thinking. This paper proposes some ways that intellectual character virtues might help correct these sources of epistemic unreliability. We begin with an overview of some insights from recent work in dual-process cognitive psychology regarding ‘biases and heuristics’, and argue that the dozens of hazards the psychologists catalogue arise from combinations and specifications of a small handful of more basic patterns of thinking. We expound four of these, and sketch how they conspire to produce the myriad biases, heuristics, and illusions. We then offer accounts of two character virtues—self-vigilance and intellectual vitality—and explain how these virtues could help correct our error-prone thinking. The self-vigilant person appreciates her vulnerability to natural epistemic defects, is on the watch for cues to the working of these possible error-makers, and intelligently acts to correct for them. The intellectually vital person is naturally or has learned to be energetic, active, alert, attentive, and inquisitive, contrary to the natural tendency to cognitive laziness. We suggest that these intellectual virtues, like the moral virtues, will cluster in the personality, and will tend to be mutually reinforcing and mutually recruiting, even as each has its own corrective function.
Entry of pathogens into the central nervous system

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by the tight junctions of the cerebral capillary endothelium and the choroid plexus epithelium. The molecular anatomy of the tight junction resembles that of a polarized, transporting epithelium, suggesting some model cell culture systems can provide insight into traffic into the central nervous system. Pathogens target both the endothelium, causing encephalitis, and the choroid plexus, leading to meningitis. Routes of entry are diverse including paracellular and transcellular penetration. In addition, circulating microbial products can induce loss of BBB function. Understanding the heterogeneous molecular interactions between pathogens and the BBB may provide avenues to interrupt the devastating neurological sequelae that accompany central nervous system infections.
Use of Salsalate to Target Inflammation in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives: Chronic subacute inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Salicylates were shown years ago to lower glucose and more recently to inhibit NF-κB activity. Salsalate, a prodrug form of salicylate, has seen extensive clinical use and has a favorable safety profile. We studied the efficacy of salsalate in reducing glycemia and insulin resistance and potential mechanisms of action to validate NF-κB as a potential pharmacologic target in diabetes. Methods and Results: In open label studies, both high (4.5 g/d) and standard (3.0 g/d) doses of salsalate reduced fasting and postchallenge glucose levels after 2 weeks of treatment. Salsalate increased glucose utilization during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps, by approximately 50% and 15% at the high and standard doses, respectively, and insulin clearance was decreased. Dose-limiting tinnitus occurred only at the higher dose. In a third, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial, 1 month of salsalate at maximum tolerable dose (no tinnitus) improved fasting and postchallenge glucose levels. Circulating free fatty acids were reduced and adiponectin increased in all treated subjects. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that salsalate improves in vivo glucose and lipid homeostasis, and support targeting of inflammation and NF-κB as a therapeutic approach in type 2 diabetes.
Carbon-isotopic analysis of individual pollen grains from C3 and C4 grasses using a spooling-wire microcombustion interface

Pollen grains from grasses using the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways have distinct ranges of d 13 C values that may be used to estimate their relative abundance in paleorecords. We evaluated a spooling-wire microcombustion device interfaced with an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer (SWiM-IRMS) for d 13 C analysis of individual grass-pollen grains. Pollen from four C3 and four C4 grass species was isolated through micromanipulation and analyzed as single grains suspended in water. A carbon yield greater than the 2r range of the carbon content of blanks containing only water was used to distinguish samples containing pollen (‘‘pollen present’’) from those not containing pollen. This criterion resulted in the exclusion of � 45% of the 946 samples applied to the wire. The average d 13 C values (±1r) of the remaining samples were � 26.9‰ (±6.3‰) and � 11.5‰ (±9.6‰) for C3 grasses and C4 grasses, respectively, after blank-correcting the d 13 C data. These results suggest that the SWiM-IRMS system can be used to distinguish C3 from C4 grass pollen. The high variability in measured d 13 C values is likely caused by a combination of factors. These include natural isotopic variability among individual pollen grains; the relatively poor precision that can be obtained when determining d 13 C values of such small samples; and the uncertainty in the magnitude, isotopic composition, and stability of the analytical blank. Nonetheless, high percentages of individual pollen grains were correctly classified as being of either C3 or C4 origin. On average, 90% (range = 78–100%) of pollen grains from C3 grasses had d 13 C values more negative than the cutoff threshold of � 19.2‰; while 84% (range = 77–90%) of pollen grains from C4 grasses had d 13 C values more positive than � 19.2‰. Compared with analysis using an elemental analyzer interfaced with an IRMS (EA-IRMS), the number of pollen grains required for d 13 C-based evaluation of C3/C4 grass composition is many times lower with the SWiM-IRMS. Additionally, d 13 C data from the SWiM-IRMS does not need to be incorporated into a mixing model to derive estimates of the abundance of C3 and C4 grass pollen. Carbon-isotopic analysis of individual grass-pollen grains using the SWiM-IRMS system may help improve our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological significance of grass taxa in the paleorecord. � 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Dynamic Generation of Operationally Acceptable Reroutes

*† A method is proposed for generating operationally acceptable reroutes for air traffic management when a weather event is encountered. A decision support system that dynamically creates flight specific reroutes would aid traffic managers in efficiently maneuvering flights, but only if the reroutes provided were acceptable alternatives. A s such, this research proposes a methodology that captures, through the network definition and metric evaluations, properties of reroutes that are both flexible and operationally acceptable. The methodological approach is reviewed and details are provided on the modeling formulation and solution algorithm employed. The results of the implementation of a simple example problem are investigated to identify how the different metrics and associated weighting factors defining reroute operational acceptability impact reroute quality. ITH the anticipated increase in airspace demand, managing congestion, especially during weather events, requires improved methods for assisting decision makers and increasing operational efficiency. Hazardous weather requires traffic managers to reroute flights that plan to pass through the weather, while balancing demand through sectors with reduced capacity or increased traffic volumes (resulting from other flights deviated from their original routes). Today’s methods for rerouting traffic are mostly manual: air traffic managers employ their expertise to handle a single flight, or entire flows of traffic are rerouted using National Playbook routes 1