cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phanerozoic O2 variation, fire, and terrestrial ecology

Abstract Sedimentary evidence suggests that O2 levels have varied greatly in the Phanerozoic. Fire is sensitive to O2. The effects of fire on modern ecosystem structure and on plant morphology are reviewed and used as a basis for predicting how the fossil record might reflect high O2 fire regimes. It is observed that fire is a strong agent of natural selection, and that if O2 has been unstable, the waxing and waning of fire stress has probably been a major force in the evolution, ecology, and biogeochemistry of high O2 periods. The broad features of terrestrial ecology in the putative high O2 periods (the Late Cretaceous and the Carboniferous to Permian) are observed. Hints of agreement between the observed trends and the predicted effects of O2 history are found. Much stronger testing of the hypothesis of O2 variation can be done through the combination of experimental studies and focused observation of the fossil evidence.
High performance InP/InGaAs/InP DHBTs with patterned sub-collector fabricated by elevated temperature N+ implant

Abstract We have demonstrated InP/InGaAs/InP MBE-grown DHBTs fabricated with patterned sub-collector by elevated temperature 200 °C N+ implant and subsequent device material over growth. F t / F max > 250 GHz/300 GHz were obtained on DHBTs with 0.35 μm × 6 μm emitters from this process. Ring oscillators fabricated with this process showed good uniformity with 82% of yield on wafers and an average gate delay of 8 ps. Difference of surface morphology on re-grown DHBT layers over elevated temperature implanted and room temperature 22 °C implanted sub-collector was observed.
Virtual reality phacoemulsification training.

Sir, Virtual reality surgical simulation training improves resident performance as measured by the simulator itself and wet-lab performance.1, 2 However, there is little published data showing that simulators improve ‘real life' resident surgery performance.3 We performed a retrospective comparative consecutive study of resident surgical outcomes at our institution (approved by the Institutional Review Board of Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA) before and after the introduction of the Eyesi surgical simulator (VRmagic, Mannheim, Germany). The first 50 phacoemulsification cases of 20 residents (5 residents completing residency per academic year, 2007–2010) were studied. Simulator-group residents were required to complete at least 6 h of simulator training. All 20 residents received significant wet-lab training (24 h structured course, including 4 h of wet-lab phaco), and surgical case supervision and coaching. Both the simulator and the wet-lab were easily accessible for residents who wanted additional training. Outcome measures were the incidence of posterior capsule tears and operating time. The nonsimulator and simulator groups each comprised 500 cases with 40 and 35 posterior capsule tears, respectively. Analysis of the first 25 cases of each resident yielded complication rates of 8.8% and 10.0% for the nonsimulator and simulator groups, respectively, and 7.2% and 3.6% (P=0.11) for cases 26 through 50, respectively. The percentage of long cases (defined as >40 min) for cases 10 through 50 was 42.3% and 32.4% (P=0.005) for the nonsimulator and simulator groups, respectively (Figure 1). Figure 1 Bar graph of the percentage of resident cases with surgical time greater than 40 min. Each 10 cases for each of the 10 residents in the two groups (∼100 cases per group) are compared using the χ2 test.
STRUCTURE OF MULTIPLE-VACANCY (OXYGEN) CENTERS IN IRRADIATED SILICON.

Abstract Analysis of a new paramagnetic spin 1 spectrum, labeled Si-S1, indicates that it corresponds to the neutral charge state of the Si-B1 center in an excited spin-triplet state. An extension of this analysis to the Si-P1, -P2, -P3, -P4, and -P5 centers suggest that these centers comprise a family of defects which consist of a string of neighboring vacancies in a single (110) plane. In particular, it appears that the Si-P1 center is an odd ( 3)-vacancy defect; the Si-P2 center is a 2-vacancy, oxygen defect; the Si-P3 center is a 4-vacancy defect; the Si-P4 center is a 3-vacancy, oxygen defect of symmetry lower than C2v ; and the Si-P5 center is a 3-vacancy, oxygen defect having C2v symmetry.
Chemiluminescence in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of solid tumor cancer patients

Levels of chemiluminescence were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal subjects and from solid tumor cancer patients. Patients with advanced malignant disease were found to have significantly elevated baseline chemiluminescence activity in their ‘resting PBMC’ as compared to normal subjects or to cancer patients with, at most, minimum residual disease. Patients with either advanced disease or minimum residual disease, however, were found to exhibit significantly elevated activation of chemiluminescence by treatment of cells with phorbol myristic acetate (PMA). Treatment of surgically resected stage I lung cancer patients with Freund's complete adjuvant alone or emulsified with extracted lung cancer antigens was found to elevate chemiluminescence levels in patient PBMC. Serum from those vaccinated patients was found to elevate chemiluminescence levels of resting PBMC from normal subjects. That serum activity did net correlate with levels of immune complexes measurable in the Clq or Raji cell assay.
Postmenopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer

Given the magnitude of the older female population, the possibility that postmenopausal hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer is an issue of great public and individual importance. Epidemiologic evidence indicates the possibility of a slightly increased risk of breast cancer associated with long durations of postmenopausal estrogen use. However, in a review of the literature, it is apparent that the epidemiologic data are contradictory and do not yield uniform and consistent results. It is further apparent that adding a progestin to a postmenopausal hormone program does not alter the findings compared with the use of estrogen alone. Reasons for this disagreement and lack of definitive evidence are detailed, and it is suggested that any impact of postmenopausal hormone therapy on the risk of breast cancer is unlikely to be great. Finally, the question of whether a woman who has had breast cancer should use postmenopausal hormones is addressed.
Graphene Transistors on Mechanically Flexible Polyimide Incorporating Atomic-Layer-Deposited Gate Dielectric

Transistors are constructed using chemical vapor-deposited graphene on mechanically flexible polyimide and incorporate a low-temperature atomic-layer-deposited gate dielectric. Three-micrometer gate length transistors with Vds = 2.0 V have a drive current of >; 0.3 A/mm with a transconductance of >; 3 mS/mm. The peak hole and electron mobilities are 295 and 106 cm2/V · s, respectively. Subsequent to repeated flexing, the ambipolar characteristics and extremely low gate leakage remain intact with <; 15% reduction in the peak carrier mobility. Good agreement is obtained between the measured mobility and a physically based empirical model and is consistent with the mobility limited by impurity levels and surface roughness. Using graphene-on-polyimide transistors, radio-frequency functionalities, including signal amplification and phase shifting, are demonstrated, and routes for performance improvement are discussed. The results are important for the development of graphene-based electronics on mechanically flexible substrates.
Hypercalcemia and electrolyte disturbances in malignancy

Hypercalcemia and electrolyte abnormalities are common problems in patients with malignancy. In this article we discuss the pathophysiology, clinical features, and management of hypercalcemia, which is the most common metabolic abnormality. We also analyze the electrolyte disturbances that occur in association with malignancy, including hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, and hyperkalemia. Recognition and treatment of these disturbances are important parts of the management of patients with malignant disease.
Pitfalls in Dealing with Cancer Statistics, Especially as Related to Cancer of the Lung

SUMMARY The prime requisite of data assembled to elucidate any problem is that it be collected without prejudice. This requires that the same information be gathered from the group for which it is supposed that the data are pertinent, and from the control group. If exposure to sunlight is regarded as a potential source of skin cancer, the presence of such exposure must be inquired into not only in skin cancer cases, but in patients not having skin cancer. Failure to observe this rule will naturally produce biassed data. Forms in use by medical organizations for collecting information on possible causes of cancer of any specific organ ignore to a large extent this primary rule, asking for the presence of etiological agents where they are expected and failing to ask for the same agents in control groups, furnished by patients with cancers in organs other than the one supposed to be caused by the agent. This procedure confirms preconceived ideas, and militates against advancing new ones. The second point to be noted is that the control group should correspond as nearly as possible in all respects with the group under investigation, with the single exception of the etiologic factor being investigated. If silicosis is being considered as a causative agent in lung cancer, the control group should be as nearly like the experimental or observed group as possible in sex, age distribution, race, facilities for diagnosis, other possible carcinogenic factors, etc. The only point in which the control group should differ in an ideal study would be that they were not exposed to free silica, whereas the experimental group was. The incidence of lung cancer could then be compared in the two groups of patients. This necessity is often ignored; and a "random" control group is obtained for comparison on the assumption that any group taken at random is a good group for comparison. Fallacious results based on such studies are discussed briefly.
Coupled effects of colloidal deposition and salt concentration polarization on reverse osmosis membrane performance

Concentration of rejected salt at the membrane surface when colloidal particles were deposited on the membrane was determined experimentally based on measured salt permeability constant. This approach allowed for a clear identification of individual contributions of concentration polarization and colloidal fouling to the permeate flux decline. The observed transient behavior of permeate flux, salt rejection, mass of deposited colloids, and effective porosity of the deposited layer unequivocally pointed to the importance of the two-way coupling between salt concentration polarization and colloidal deposition. After the initial increase in the effective porosity of the fractal colloidal deposit, the porosity reached a maximum, and gradually decreased to a steady state value that depended strongly on the solution ionic strength. Both, the resistance of the colloidal deposit and osmotic pressure, which could be enhanced in the presence of colloids, contributed significantly to the permeate flux decline. A short term increase in salt rejection was observed upon introduction of colloidal particles into the feed in the absence of membrane channel spacer. This increase could be sustained over the long term in the presence of spacers and was attributed to the depolarization of the salt boundary layer due to the local mixing by the concentrated flowing layer of colloidal particles.
Moral Hazard, Adverse Selection and Reputation: A Synthesis

This paper investigates the extent to which the agency problems of moral hazard and adverse selection are ameliorated by agents' desire to build and maintain reputations in a multi‐period environment. We find that reputation effects will tend to ameliorate moral‐hazard‐type agency problems. In the case of adverse selection, however, we show that reputation building may actually compound the agency problem.
The Effect of Selected Anions of Potassium Salts on the Viscosities of Lambda‐Carrageenan Dispersions

SUMMARY Viscosity readings with three rates of shear for each of six time intervals were obtained for 0.5% dispersions of lambda-carrageenan in de-ionized water and in solutions of increasing concentrations of CH3COOK, KBr, K2CO3, KCl, K3C3H5O7, KNO3, K3C2O4, K3PO4, and K2SO4. The addition of any of these salts to the water in which lambda-carrageenan was dispersed caused a highly significant decrease in viscosity. Significant differences also occurred among the viscosity readings for lambda-carrageenan dispersed in different concentrations of one salt; however, the same concentrations of the different salts did not show comparable effects on the reduction of carrageenan viscosity. No significant differences occurred among viscosity readings for carrageenan dispersed in the various potassium salts at the 0.05N level of concentrations nevertheless, differences did occur at both the 0.10N and 0.20N levels of concentration. All solutions tested showed significant differences among viscosity readings due to rate of shear. Differences were minimal among viscosity values attributable to aging time of the dispersions.
Interactions of copper and lead with Nostoc muscorum

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of cell concentration, time of exposure, cellular activity and solution chemistry, on Pb (10−6 M) and Cu (10−5 M) uptake by the alga Nostoc muscorum. Surface equilibrium, with respect to aqueous metal levels, was established within an equilibration period of 8 h and maximum metal removal was observed in the pH range of 7.5 to 8.0. The observed removal of Cu and Pb from solution was similar to adsorption observed for inorganic surfaces at pH values less than 8.0. Removal of metallic ions decreased at pH values greater than 8.0 which was thought to be due aqueous complexation with organic extracellulair material. The extent to which the cells were able to remove trace metals from solution in the presence of citrate, sulfate, and Ca ion (10−3 M) was also evaluated. Additions of citrate and Ca ion mitigated metal uptake by algal suspensions. The presence of sulfate resulted in a reduction of Cu removal below pH values of 5.6 but enhanced the removal of Pb over the entire pH range. The chemical equilibrium model MINEQL was utilized to compare theoretical and observed phenomena so that possible mechanisms for metal-cell interactions could be assessed.
Acid soil tolerances of wheat lines selected for high grain protein content

Abstract Literature suggests that nitrogen (N) metabolism is involved in differential acid soil (Al) tolerances among wheat (Triticwn aestivum L. en Thell) genotypes. Atlas 66 wheat is characterized by acid soil and aluminum (Al) tolerance, nitrate (NO3 ‐) preference, pH increase of the rhizosphere, high nitrate reductase activity, and high protein in the grain. Atlas 66 has been used as a high protein gene donor in the development of new high protein wheat lines at Lincoln, NE. The objective of our study was to determine the acid soil tolerances of such lines and to relate such tolerances to their abilities to accumulate grain protein when grown on near‐neutral, non‐toxic soils. Twenty‐five experimental lines, nine cultivars not previously classified as Al‐tolerant or ‐sensitive and three cultivars previously classified according to acid soil tolerance, were grown for 28 days in greenhouse pots of acid, Al‐toxic Tatum subsoil. Relative shoot dry weight (pH 4.35/pH 5.41%) varied from 83.2% for Atlas 66 to...
Mutagen sensitivity in humans. A comparison between two nomenclature systems for recording chromatid breaks

Currently, there are two systems in use for recording chromatid breaks, either spontaneously occurring or induced by mutagens: The International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN) and the Chatham Barrs Inn Conference (CBIC) recommendation. The former system considers that a chromatid break is recognized only when the chromatid fragment is displaced to the other side of its sister chromatid, while all others, regardless of the distance between the two broken ends, are called chromatid gaps. The CBIC system recognizes a chromatid break when the intervening achromatic segment is longer than or equal to the diameter of the chromatid, whether the fragment is displaced or not. Minor lesions are called chromatid gaps. We conducted experiments using bleomycin treatment of human cells (primary cultures or lymphoblastoid cell lines) and read the chromatid lesions both ways. We conclude that the CBIC system appears to have more direct biologic relevance than the ISCN system.
Preparation of Imino and Amino N-15 Enriched 2-Aminopurine Deoxynucleoside

Abstract We report the synthesis of N-15 enriched 2-aminopurine-2′-deoxynucleoside (APdR). Both ring and 2-amino nitrogens were labelled via a Dimroth rearrangement of the free base. The corresponding deoxynucleoside was prepared enzymatically. Results of both proton and N-15 NMR studies show that the predominant tautomeric form of APdR is amino and the N1 position is shown to be the site of protonation.
High Tech and High Performance: Managing Appraisal in the Information Age

Information technology leaders recognize that the greatest impediments to success are often people related rather than information, technology, and systems related (Roepke et al., 2000). Obviously, the human component is a central concern when organizations introduce technology to the performance-management process. After all, combining people and technology successfully is critically important to firms. While the potential for accelerating positive HRM outcomes through various technology applications clearly exists, implementation that fails to consider trust, fairness, system factors, objectivity, personality, or computer literacy and training (among other concepts) has negative implications for an organization’s distinct and inimitable human component. Possible gains in efficiency, objectivity, or accuracy that a high technology approach to performance management produces could turn out to be costly for firms if they bring about user dissatisfaction leading to diminished job attitudes, poor performance, or increased turnover.
Analysis of synaptic integration using the laser photoinactivation technique

Crickets (and many other insects) have two antenna-like appendages at the rear of their abdomen, each of which is covered with hundreds of ‘filiform’ hairs resembling the bristles on a bottle brush. Deflection of these filiform hairs by wind currents activates mechanosensory neurons at the base of the hairs. The axons from these sensory neurons project into the terminal abdominal ganglion to form a topographic representation (or “map”) containing information about the direction, velocity and acceleration of wind currents around the animal. Information is extracted from this map by primary sensory interneurons that are also located within the terminal abdominal ganglion. In this paper, we review the progress that has been made toward understanding the mechanisms underlying directional sensitivity of an identified sensory interneuron in the cricket,Acheta domesticus. The response properties of the cell have been found to depend to a large extent upon the structure of its dendritic branches, which determines its synaptic connectivity with the sensory afferents in the map of wind space and the relative efficacy of its different synaptic inputs.
Mechanism of Membrane Permeation Induced by Synthetic β-Hairpin Peptides

Abstract We have investigated the membrane destabilizing properties of synthetic amphiphilic cationic peptides, MAX1 and MAX35, which have the propensity to form β -hairpin structures under certain conditions, and a control non- β -hairpin-forming peptide MAX8V16E. All three peptides bind to liposomes containing a mixture of zwitterionic POPC and negatively charged POPS lipids as determined by Zeta potential measurements. Circular dichroism measurements indicated folding of MAX1 and MAX35 in the presence of the POPC/POPS liposomes, whereas no such folding was observed with MAX8V16E. There was no binding or folding of these peptides to liposomes containing only POPC. MAX1 and MAX35 induced release of contents from negatively charged liposomes, whereas MAX8V16E failed to promote solute release under identical conditions. Thus, MAX1 and MAX35 bind to, and fold at the surface of negatively charged liposomes adopting a lytic conformation. We ruled out leaky fusion as a mechanism of release by including 2 mol % PEG-PE in the liposomes, which inhibits aggregation/fusion but not folding of MAX or MAX-induced leakage. Using a concentration-dependent quenching probe (calcein), we determined that MAX-induced leakage of liposome contents was an all-or-none process. At MAX1 concentrations, which cause release of ∼50% of the liposomes that contain small (R h β -hairpin MAX1 and MAX35 peptides are relatively more stable than MAX8V16E barrels in the bilayer, suggesting that barrels of this size are responsible for the peptides lytic action.
A test of the γ method for evaluating the periodicity of cyclical sediments

Abstract The γ method [1] uses thicknesses measured on facies in a set of cyclical sedimentary deposits to determine the facies' effective accumulation rates and time intervals of accumulation. To accomplish this, the assumption is made that every cycle was accumulated over exactly the same interval of time. The γ method has not been tested on a stratigraphic section where the correct answers were known a priori. In particular, the reliability of the γ method has not been determined when the assumption does not strictly hold. The test constructed here begins with a synthetic time-stratigraphic section of cyclical deposits and specified effective depositional rates for each facies, generates a thickness section from these parameters, and applies the γ method to the thickness section. The γ method should recover the original time section and accumulation rates, but it does not, even when the coefficient of variation of the accumulation intervals is only 15%.
Risk management, value and decision-making

Summary In over three decades of teaching at the Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York, the author has explored a number of organizing principles to synthesize the vast body of materials science encountered in the conservation of cultural property. Among these has been the concept of risk management as defined by various committees of the National Academy of Sciences. This led logically to the question of value and values. In the recent past, the author has engaged in interdisciplinary dialogue with economists, mathematicians and political scientists, considering mechanisms of decision-making in the preservation of cultural property. Using selected examples drawn from the assignments the author has given his students, the evolution in his teaching methods and the parallel evolution of the discipline of conservation are examined.
The natural history of atherosclerotic and fibrous renal artery disease

Individuals with atherosclerotic or fibrous renal artery disease may develop renovascular hypertension and/or renal dysfunction. Traditionally, the motivation for identifying patients with renal artery stenosis was the treatment of renovascular hypertension. However, recent interest has centered on the investigation of patients suspected of having renal artery stenosis that might account for progressive azotemia. While specific forms of fibrous and/or atherosclerotic renal artery disease can lead to a compromise in renal function, differences may exist in the age of presentation, predominat sex, angiographic appearance and overal natural history. Recognition of these differences is helpful in deciding on the most likely lesion type, appropriate workup and treatment. Since renal artery stenosis can lead to radiologic and functional alterations, clinical markers of progression, such as renal size and serum creatinine measurements, are helpful in identifying patients with advancing disease. The regulators of fibrous disease progression are less clear than those responsible for atherosclerotic progression in the renal artery. Uncontrolled systemic hypertension, intrarenal hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, and obesity all may potentially contribute to progressive atherosclerosis. Individuals identified with progressive azotemia due to renal artery stenosis may benefit from improved perfusion flow by renal revascularization or balloon angioplasty provided no significant parenchymal disease is present.
Client-caregiver-nurse coalition formation in decision-making situations during home visits.

Aims. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of an exploratory study designed to test a portion of the Theory of Collaborative Decision-Making in Nursing Practice for Triads by examining the relation between types of decisions and formation of coalitions during triadic interactions among older home healthcare clients, their caregivers and home healthcare nurses during seven admission visits for home health care. Background. Although home healthcare nurses include clients and family members in decision-making about care, few publications address the nature of interactions among triads of clients, caregivers and nurses in home health care and the association between decision-making and those interactions. Method. The data presented in this paper are a secondary analysis of data originally collected in 1994. The sample included 157 decision-making situations identified from interactions of seven triads of older home healthcare clients, their caregivers and nurses. Qualitative data were collected by participant observation and audio-recording of admission visit interactions among clients, caregivers and nurses. Content analysis, augmented by Ethnograph software, was used to analyse the data. Findings. Coalitions were evident in just eight of the 157 decision-making situations. All of the theoretically possible types of nursing care decisions (programme, operational control, agenda) were observed. Each coalition involved one nursing care decision; two coalitions formed in one triad. Seven coalitions formed between nurse and caregiver against client during two programme and five operational control decisions. One coalition formed between client and caregiver against nurse during an agenda decision. No coalitions formed between client and nurse against caregiver. Conclusions. Although the study sample was small, the findings expand understanding of the relation between types of decisions and formation of coalitions during triadic interactions in home health care, and provided empirical support for a portion of the Theory of Collaborative Decision-Making in Nursing Practice for Triads.
An investigation of dipeptides containing polar and nonpolar side groups by curie-point pyrolysis tandem mass spectrometry

Methionyl-leucine, leucyl-methionine, phenylalanyl-leucine, and leucyl-phenylalanine have been analyzed to determine dipeptide fragmentation mechanisms in Curie-point pyrolysis tandem mass spectrometry. Results show that fragmentations of dipeptides follow two general pathways, one involving direct cleavage of the dipeptide and the other involving cyclization of the dipeptide. Unique products and strong changes in relative mass spectral peak intensities arise, depending on constituent amino acid residues and their sequence. Also, the length and nature of the side groups strongly direct fragmentation. From these results, the major peaks in the spectra of eight other dipeptides could be readily explained; this suggests that a significant number of dipeptides follow the same general fragmentation mechanisms.
Knowing “What” and Knowing “When”

The ability to situate autobiographical memories accurately in the "time-line" of one's own life is a particular aspect of retrograde memory that has received little attention in well-controlled, systematic studies. Here, we addressed this issue by testing the hypothesis that patients with basal forebrain damage would be impaired in their ability to place various autobiographical memories accurately on a 'time-line' of their life. Seven such subjects were contrasted with 11 medial temporal lobe subjects, 8 brain-damaged comparison subjects, and 18 normal comparison subjects, using a procedure in which subjects placed autobiographical events on a time-line of their life. The basal forebrain group was very impaired in this task, relative to the other groups, and on average, misplaced events by more than five years. Although the basal forebrain group was also impaired in retrieving the contents of autobiographical memory, they did not differ statistically from the medial temporal lobe group in this regard (and the medial temporal lobe group did not have impaired time placement of memories). The results indicate an intriguing dissociation between "knowing what" and "knowing when," and suggest that the basal forebrain contains structures that are especially important for "knowing when." Our findings are compatible with the view that the basal forebrain participates critically in retrieval strategies important for memory chronology, which contrasts with the medial temporal lobe's critical role in relational memory per se.
Using the Flipped Classroom Model in Your Library Instruction Course

In the flipped classroom model, the pedagogical paradigm is reversed and the students learn the class lesson at home and do homework in class. Although much of the focus of the flipped model has been on the secondary education level, this model could be a viable way to teach library instruction sessions to college-level students as well as a way to preserve scarce class time. This article examines a project that was done at LIU Post, where an instructor of the Library Competency Workshop course flipped the classroom and compared test results to sections where the class was run in a traditional lecture classroom model as well as the experiences on how the instructor flipped the classroom.
High pressure X-ray and Raman study of ZnSe

Abstract ZnSe has been studied in a diamond anvil cell by energy dispersive X-ray diffraction with a synchrotron source to 120 GPa and by Raman spectroscopy to 11 GPa. An apparent anomaly in the equation of state, and discontinuity of the TO and LO Raman frequencies vs pressure was observed in the zinc blende phase at 5 GPa. A small structural distortion was observed in the rock salt phase between 12 and 47 GPa. The rock salt phase transformed to a simple hexagonal type structure at 55 ± 8 GPa.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ORDERED COMPLEXES FORMED BETWEEN POLYINOSINIC ACID, POLYCYTIDYLIC ACID AND THEIR DEOXYRIBO-ANALOGUES.

This paper describes studies on the physical and chemical properties of the helical structures obtained when polydeoxycytidylic acid (dC) or its polyribo-analogue (rC) interacts with polydeoxyinosinic acid (dI) or its polyribo-analogue (rI). At moderate concentrations of a monovalent cation (less than 0·5 M ) the four complexes dI :dC, dI :rC, rI:dC and rI :rC are formed. These appear to be bihelical structures with perfect base pairing between the hypoxanthine residues of one strand and the cytosine residues of the other. The hybrid structures differ markedly from one another and from the dI:dC and rI:rC helices with respect to several properties.
SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY AND DELINQUENCY: A LONGITUDINAL TEST

Hirschi's (1969) control theory has received much empirical support and, as a consequence, has become one of the dominant theories of delinquency. Virtually all tests of the theory, however, have been conducted with cross-sectional data. This is a serious problem since there is good reason to believe that delinquency may have a causal impact on social control. This paper describes a longitudinal test of Hirschi's theory using panel data from a national sample of adolescent boys. Data indicate that the social control variables explain only 1%-2% of the variance in future delinquency, suggesting that cross-sectional studies have exaggerated the importance of Hirschi's theory. Possible reasons for the small longitudinal effect of the control variables are discussed.
Formal Verification for Embedded System Designs

Embedded electronics today are becoming increasingly complex, which makes their design and analysis more and more difficult. In this paper, we focus on the formal verification of embedded system designs at multiple levels of abstraction, enabled by the Metropolis design environment. Based on the Metropolis framework and the model checker SPIN, a translation mechanism from a Metropolis design to a Promela description is presented and an automatic translator is developed accordingly. We discuss the challenges and solutions in semantically translating from an object-based system design language to a procedural verification language. To demonstrate the correctness and effectiveness of our approach for formal verification, we verify properties for both system level representations and refined representations, where the representations may contain system functions or abstract architectures.
Treacher Collins syndrome TCOF1 protein cooperates with NBS1 in the DNA damage response

The signal transduction pathway of the DNA damage response (DDR) is activated to maintain genomic integrity following DNA damage. The DDR promotes genomic integrity by regulating a large network of cellular activities that range from DNA replication and repair to transcription, RNA splicing, and metabolism. In this study we define an interaction between the DDR factor NBS1 and TCOF1, a nucleolar protein that regulates ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription and is mutated in Treacher Collins syndrome. We show that NBS1 relocalizes to nucleoli after DNA damage in a manner dependent on TCOF1 and on casein kinase II and ATM, which are known to modify TCOF1 by phosphorylation. Moreover, we identify a putative ATM phosphorylation site that is required for NBS1 relocalization to nucleoli in response to DNA damage. Last, we report that TCOF1 promotes cellular resistance to DNA damaging agents. Collectively, our findings identify TCOF1 as a DDR factor that could cooperate with ATM and NBS1 to suppress inappropriate rDNA transcription and maintain genomic integrity after DNA damage.
Denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) used in the detection of germline and somatic mutations

Denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) has been described recently as a method for screening DNA samples for single nucleotide polymorphisms and inherited mutations. Thirty-eight DNAs, 22 of which were heterozygous for previously characterized rearranged transforming gene (RET) or cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) mutations or polymorphisms, were examined using DHPLC analysis to assess the accuracy of this scanning method. Ninety-one per cent (20/22) of the PCR amplicons from specimens with heterozygous RET or CFTR sequence showed elution profiles distinct from corresponding homozygous normal patterns; whether the profiles for two amplicons containing heterozygous RET sequence were distinct from homozygous cases was equivocal. To investigate the usefulness of this method for detecting mutations in tumor DNAs, each of the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten gene (PTEN) exons were examined for mutations in 63 malignant gliomas. Seventeen PTEN PCR products from this series of brain tumors showed elution profiles indicating sample heterozygosity and in each instance conventional sequencing confirmed the presence of a mutation. PTEN amplicons containing exons 1, 3 and 5 were sequenced for each of the 63 tumor DNAs to determine whether any mutations may have escaped DHPLC detection, and this analysis identified one such alteration in addition to the eight mutations that DHPLC had revealed. In total, DHPLC identified 37 of 40 (92.5%) PCR products containing defined sequence variation and no alterations were indicated among 196 amplicons containing homozygous normal sequence.
THE INFLUENCE OF ALUMINA AND SILICA ON THE (K2O‐Na2O) Al2O3 SiO2 EUTECTIC1

A series of eight studies was made on the influence of Al2O3 SiO2 and (K2 Na2O) Al2O3-SiO2 eutectic. It was concluded that the reduction of silica lowers the deformation temperature of the KNaO-Al2O3-SiO2 eutectic. The reduction of Al2O3 makes little change. The problem must be studied as a three-component series consisting of definite end members.
A high-yield synthesis of chalcopyrite CuInS 2 nanoparticles with exceptional size control

We report high-yield and efficient size-controlled syntheses of Chalcopyrite CuInS2nanoparticles by decomposing molecular single source precursors (SSPs) via microwave irradiation in the presence of 1, 2-ethanedithiol at reaction temperatures as low as 100°C and times as short as 30 minutes. The nanoparticles sizes were 1.8nm to 10.8 nm as reaction temperatures were varied from 100°C to 200°C with the bandgaps from 2.71 eV to 1.28 eV with good size control and high yields (64%-95%). The resulting nanoparticles were analyzed by XRD, UV-Vis, ICP-OES, XPS, SEM, EDS, and HRTEM. Titration studies by 1H NMR using SSP 1 with 1, 2-ethanedithiol and benzyl mercaptan were conducted to elucidate the formation of Chalcopyrite CuInS2nanoparticles.
Structural adaptations to diverse fighting styles in sexually selected weapons

The shapes of sexually selected weapons differ widely among species, but the drivers of this diversity remain poorly understood. Existing explanations suggest weapon shapes reflect structural adaptations to different fighting styles, yet explicit tests of this hypothesis are lacking. We constructed finite element models of the horns of different rhinoceros beetle species to test whether functional specializations for increased performance under species-specific fighting styles could have contributed to the diversification of weapon form. We find that horns are both stronger and stiffer in response to species-typical fighting loads and that they perform more poorly under atypical fighting loads, which suggests weapons are structurally adapted to meet the functional demands of fighting. Our research establishes a critical link between weapon form and function, revealing one way male–male competition can drive the diversification of animal weapons.
Gαq cDNA Sequence from Human Platelets

G-proteins play a major role in cell signaling and specific abnormalities in these proteins have been implicated in some diseases. Although, two human Gαq coding sequences are published, they differ at functionally important regions. We have sequenced the human Gαq cDNA synthesized from normal platelet mRNA by reverse transcription. Our results showed that the penultimate amino acid leucine is conserved in the human Gαq sequence which has 94.4% identity in nucleotide sequence and 99.2% homology in amino acid sequence with murine sequence.
Alveolar hypoxia, alveolar macrophages, and systemic inflammation

Diseases featuring abnormally low alveolar PO2 are frequently accompanied by systemic effects. The common presence of an underlying inflammatory component suggests that inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of the systemic effects of alveolar hypoxia. While the role of alveolar macrophages in the immune and defense functions of the lung has been long known, recent evidence indicates that activation of alveolar macrophages causes inflammatory disturbances in the systemic microcirculation. The purpose of this review is to describe observations in experimental animals showing that alveolar macrophages initiate a systemic inflammatory response to alveolar hypoxia. Evidence obtained in intact animals and in primary cell cultures indicate that alveolar macrophages activated by hypoxia release a mediator(s) into the circulation. This mediator activates perivascular mast cells and initiates a widespread systemic inflammation. The inflammatory cascade includes activation of the local renin-angiotensin system and results in increased leukocyte-endothelial interactions in post-capillary venules, increased microvascular levels of reactive O2 species; and extravasation of albumin. Given the known extrapulmonary responses elicited by activation of alveolar macrophages, this novel phenomenon could contribute to some of the systemic effects of conditions featuring low alveolar PO2.
New records of nematomorph parasites (Nematomorpha: Gordiida) of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and camel crickets (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) in Washington State.

Abstract: From 1998 to 2003, beetles and crickets infected with hairworms were collected from 4 localities within the Hanford Nuclear Site and the Hanford Reach National Monument, located in a shrub-steppe region of Washington State along the Columbia River. Infected hosts comprised 6 species of carabid beetles within 5 genera and 2 camel crickets within 1 genus; all are newly documented insect–nematomorph associations. A large proportion of the infected hosts (48%) were collected from a single site during a single collecting period. Of the 38 infected hosts, 32 contained a single worm, 4 hosts contained 2 worms, and 2 hosts contained 3 worms. Five of the hosts with multiple infections contained at least 1 male and 1 female worm. Camel crickets were infected with Neochordodes occidentalis while carabids were infected with an undescribed species of Gordionus. As the majority of hairworms are collected in the post-parasitic adult phase, host data and hairworm–arthropod associations remain poorly documented ...
Family efficacy as a protective factor against immigrant adolescent risky behavior: A literature review

Research suggests that family efficacy-defined as a family's beliefs in its capability to manage different situations in order to achieve a desired outcome-is linked to a decreased likelihood of adolescents to engage in risky health behaviors. It is not clear, however, if this is true for immigrant families when they are encountering with increased challenges in their host countries. To provide holistic nursing care to immigrant families, it is important to know the sources of family efficacy particularly for immigrant adolescents when they are developing health behavior. This integrative review examined existing literature to learn about the sources of family efficacy among immigrant adolescents and how different domain of family efficacy is related to risky behaviors. We examined 22 studies on the topics of immigration, adaptation, risky adolescent behavior, and family function. Findings showed that multidimensional sources of family efficacies (specifically those in the relational, pragmatic, and value-laden domains) exert significant positive effects on immigrant adolescents' health behaviors.
Nature Versus Nurture in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Aortopathy More Evidence That Altered Hemodynamics May Play a Role

> There is no disease more conducive to clinical humility than aneurysm of the aorta.1 > > — William Osler Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac malformation affecting 1 to 2% of the population with a predilection for males.2 Although patients with BAV often develop aortic aneurysms requiring surgical intervention,3,4 the formation of aortic aneurysms is variable and there are currently no good predictors of aneurysm formation. Although studies have shown that patients with BAV have genetically inherited aortic disorders that predispose them to aneurysm development,5,6 there is ongoing controversy concerning the degree to which altered hemodynamics (nurture) and genetics (nature) interact. The study by Mahadevia et al7 in this issue of Circulation provides important additional support for the argument that altered flow patterns attributable to abnormal valve architecture do indeed play a role in BAV aortopathy. Article see p 673 Phase contrast MRI has been used to measure changes in blood velocity and flow with standard techniques measuring these parameters in 2 dimensions, or through plane. Four-dimensional (4D) MRI allows the speed and direction of aortic flow to be visualized and measured over time in all 3 dimensions, thereby providing not only informative images but an improved tool for the study of flow disturbances. One of the more active areas of research using 4D MRI has been in BAV aortopathy with the hope that understanding flow disturbances will give new insight into BAV-associated aneurysm formation. Prior studies8–10 using 4D MRI have demonstrated altered ascending aortic wall sheer stress (WSS) in patients with BAV and have suggested a mechanistic link between the alteration in aortic outflow caused by the fusion of BAV cusps and the development of ascending aortic aneurysms.8–13 However, these studies have focused …
Loss of identity in disaster: how do you say goodbye to home?

TOPIC: Hurricane Katrina was a disaster that affected the lives of many people from the Gulf Coast area. The hurricane affected their emotional and physical health, and devastated their financial and material status. PURPOSE: This article relates the lived experience of a Hurricane Katrina New Orleans evacuee who relocated to Texas permanently. CONCLUSION: The people who resided in these communities lost not only their homes but their culture and day-to-day life. One's culture and identity are developed and learned over time and cannot be easily replaced. A person may adopt another culture or identity, but the original self (much like the city of New Orleans) has been shattered and torn. Language: en
Naloxone fails to reverse pain thresholds elevated by acupuncture: acupuncture analgesia reconsidered.

Abstract We were unable to demonstrate the reversal of dental acupunctural analgesia following the injection of 0.4 mg naloxone using evoked potential methodology. Since our findings differed from those of Mayer, Price and Rafii who used pain threshold methods, we attempted to replicate their study. Subjects who demonstrated acupunctural analgesia during electrical stimulation of the LI-4 point on the hands received either 1.2 mg naloxone or normal saline under double blind conditions. Pain thresholds elevated by acupuncture failed to reverse when naloxone was given. Review of experimental design issues, other related human subjects research, and animal studies on acupunctural analgesia provided little convincing evidence that endorphins play a significant role in acupunctural analgesia. Because endorphins can be released in response to a Stressor, endorphin presence sometimes correlates with acupunctural treatment in animal studies and some human studies, especially those involving pain patients. The primary analgesia elicited by acupunctural stimulation seems to involve other mechanisms.