cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Detection of Anthralin-Derived Free Radicals in the Skin of Hairless Mice by Low-Frequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Free radicals were directly detected in viva in the skin of hairless mice by low-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy after topical application of anthralin under pertinent therapeutic conditions. The electron paramagnetic resonance signal intensity increased steadily, reaching a maximum after about 1 d and decreased slowly in the following days, probably because of desquamation of the skin. We conclude from the spectroscopic features (single line with a line width of 6 gauss; g=2.0036) and from the pharmacokinetic pattern that the observed signal arises from the final products of anthralin metabolism (ether-insoluble polymeric structures–"anthralin brown"). Two potential antioxidants, vitamin E and the spin trap tert-butylphenylnitrone, decreased the amount of the anthralin-derived radical that was formed. Neither vitamin E radicals nor tert-butylphenylnitrone spin adducts were observed. We suggest that electron paramagnetic resonance is a valuable tool for the noninvasive and direct in vivo monitoring of drug-induced radical formation in the skin under therapeutic conditions.
Heat flow and ground water flow in the great plains of the United States

Abstract Regional groundwater flow in deep aquifers adds advective components to the surface heat flow over extensive areas within the Great Plains province. The regional groundwater flow is driven by topographically controlled piezometric surfaces for confined aquifers that recharge either at high elevations on the western edge of the province or from subcrop contacts. The aquifers discharge at lower elevations to the east. The assymetrical geometry for the Denver and Kennedy Basins is such that the surface areas of aquifer recharge are small compared to the areas of discharge. Consequently, positive advective heat flow occurs over most of the province. The advective component of heat flow in the Denver Basin is on the order of 15 mW m−2 along a zone about 50 km wide that parallels the structure contours of the Dakota aquifer on the eastern margin of the Basin. The advective component of heat flow in the Kennedy Basin is on the order of 20 mW m−2 and occurs over an extensive area that coincides with the discharge areas of the Madison (Mississippian) and Dakota (Cretaceous) aquifers. Groundwater flow in Paleozoic and Mesozoic aquifers in the Williston Basin causes thermal anomalies that are seen in geothermal gradient data and in oil well temperature data. The pervasive nature of advective heat flow components in the Great Plains tends to mask the heat flow structure of the crust, and only heat flow data from holes drilled into the crystalline basement can be used for tectonic heat flow studies.
Immune response of channel catfish to ciliary antigens of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Channel catfish were rendered immune to the protozoan pathogen, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, by exposure to sublethal infections. Sera from test animals were then screened for antibodies against the parasite using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Ichthyophthirius cilia were blotted onto nitrocellulose filters and reacted with catfish sera, followed by rabbit anti-catfish Ig antibodies coupled to horseradish peroxidase. Subsequent color development revealed the presence of anti-ciliary antibodies in a number of fish tested. Reactions appeared to be highly specific; little cross-reactivity was seen in equivalent assays with heterologous cilia from Tetrahymena. Ciliary antigens were associated predominantly with a membrane polypeptide fraction isolated from intact cilia by phase separation in solutions of the nonionic detergent, Triton X-114. The relative levels of anti-ciliary antibodies in sera from individual fish were quantitated by photometric scanning of immunoblot assays. A strong correlation (P less than .03) was found between antibody levels and the ability of sera to agglutinate live parasites in vitro.
Biostratigraphy of the Ordovician chitinozoa of northwestern Saudi Arabia

Abstract Chitinozoans from water and exploratory wells located in northwestern Saudi Arabia have been investigated. A local biozonation is suggested, representing the Lower to Upper Ordovician interval in Arabia, and compared with that of the Northern Gondwana. In general, the chitinozoan faunas belong to the Gondwanan realm but latest Ordovician chitinozoans seem to have been distributed in a more cosmopolitan manner. Ranges of the species encountered have been established, and new forms are left under open nomenclature until a future publication. These microfossils provide a fairly good indication of the age of the investigated Lower Palaeozoic succession and, therefore, allow an accurate definition of the lithostratigraphic units, which has led to the revision of the chronostratigraphy of this area. These biostratigraphic data demonstrate the occurrence of an important stratigraphical gap in some areas at the end of the Ordovician.
Optimal dynamic path of effort on marriage: differences between arranged and love marriages

People benefit from good marriages. Thus, everyone is willing to put effort into marriage to improve the quality of marriage. However, effort is costly. Then everyone faces the same question: how much effort should I put into marriage? A dynamic optimal control model is used in trying to answer this question. The study shows that for arranged marriages that start with little love, an agent should devote a great deal of effort to marriage in the very beginning, and then reduce the effort until a steady state level. However, for love marriages that start with deep love, there is no need for an agent to devote as much effort as in the steady state. The agent should start to put low effort on marriage, high effort on other activities, and continuously increase the effort on marriage up to the steady state level.
Coherent scattering of photon beams and non-linear QED

Abstract The scattering initiated by high-intensity, coherent beams is reformulated. The case with GeV gamma rays and coherent beam scattering is also discussed. The possible enhancement of this process by considering Dirac-Kapitza mechanism, induced scattering and external field case is presented. The physical impact on the verification of this process is discussed at the end.
Birth outcomes following prenatal exposure to fluoxetine.

Abstract Background: Although pregnancy has frequently been described as a time of emotional well-being, some women experience significant antenatal depression that may require treatment with antidepressants. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relative effects of early and late trimester exposure to fluoxetine and perinatal outcome. Methods: Obstetric and neonatal records were reviewed for 64 mother–infant pairs where there was documented use of fluoxetine at some point during pregnancy. Differences in several measures of obstetrical outcome and neonatal well-being were examined in early trimester– and late trimester–exposed infants. Results: No differences in birth weight and acute neonatal outcome were evident across the two groups, though there was a higher frequency of special care nursery admissions for infants with exposure to fluoxetine late in pregnancy. Special care nursery admissions could not be attributed to any specific factor. Conclusions: Given the growing numbers of women who are treated with antidepressants, including fluoxetine, during pregnancy, and the strong association between depression during pregnancy and risk for postpartum depression, patients may be best advised to continue treatment with antidepressants through labor and delivery versus making any change in intensity of treatment during the acute peripartum period.
Connexin43 and the regulation of intercalated disc function.

Gap junctions mediate the passage of ions and small molecules between cells. In the adult working cardiac ventricles, gap junctions are formed predominantly by oligomerization of the 43 kDa protein connexin43 (Cx43). It is generally accepted that gap junction-mediated intercellular communication is modulated by changes in the intracellular environment. The activity of various kinases, the concentration of protons or calcium, or the association of Cx43 with other intracellular components, all converge to determine the filtering capabilities of intercellular channels. The most studied post-translational modification of Cx43 is the phosphorylation of amino acids in its C-terminal domain (see, e.g1,2). Additional studies have shown that Cx43 is also a substrate for Ne-lysine acetylation.3 Changes in the ionic intracellular milieu can also, directly or indirectly, regulate the conductive state of Cx43. These modulatory mechanisms are likely to be activated in various pathophysiological states.2 Given the key role of gap junctions in action potential propagation, Cx43 regulation is a subject of intense research, and it is seen as an important pharmacological target for the treatment and/or prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.3-6
Infrared, Raman and NMR spectra, conformational stability, and ab initio calculations of divinylmethoxyborane†

Abstract The infrared spectra (4000–50 cm −1 ) of gaseous and solid divinylmethoxyborane, (CH 2 =CH) 2 BOCH 3 , as well as the Raman spectra (3500–20 cm −1 ) of the liquid and solid have been recorded. Qualitative depolarization values have been obtained from the Raman spectrum of the liquid. All normal modes, except the torsions, have been assigned based on infrared band contours, depolarization values, group frequencies, and normal coordinate calculations. From a comparison of the spectra in the fluid and solid states, it is concluded that the molecule exists predominantly in a single conformation in all physical states. Frequencies and potential energy distributions for the normal modes have been calculated with the 3–21G basis set. A comparison of these calculated frequencies to the observed spectra is consistent with the predominant form having a “planar” heavy atom skeleton with C s , symmetry. From the variable low temperature 13 C NMR data, a barrier to rotation about the B-O bond of 10.1 ± 0.1 kcal mol −1 has been determined, which is in excellent agreement with a barrier of 8.5 kcal mol"1 obtained from ab initio calculations. Structural parameters, conformational stability, and barriers to internal rotation have been obtained from ab initio Hartree-Fock gradient calculations employing both the 3–21G and 6–31G * basis sets. The results are compared to the corresponding data for some similar organoboranes.
Complications of the combined spinal-epidural technique

The combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique, currently popular in both obstetric and surgical anesthesia, allows injection of intrathecal drug and placement of an epidural catheter for subsequent use. This article will discuss several real and potential complications of CSE. Greater cephalad spread of spinal anesthesia occurs if the spinal is immediately followed by injection of local anesthetic or saline through the epidural catheter. Dural puncture facilitates movement of both morphine and local anesthetic across the meninges; however, the increased drug spread rarely causes clinical problems. If intrathecal local anesthetic has been administered, one must wait until the spinal block has regressed at least two dermatomes before testing the epidural to rule out unintended intrathecal catheter location. One must pay close attention to the patient's vital signs during catheter threading and patient positioning, especially if the patient sits during the block placement. Epidural catheters can pass easily through dural holes larger than 18 gauge but cannot be inserted through single 25 gauge holes. Spinal and epidural anesthetics fail no more frequently with the combined than with separate techniques. The incidence of unintended dural puncture is lower with the combined technique than with epidural anesthesia, and the overall incidence of headache is the same with the two techniques. Passing a spinal needle through an epidural needle does not lead to neuraxial deposition of metal particles. Damage to spinal needle tips or previously placed epidural catheters has not been reported. Despite these potential problems, the technique usually works quite well and is beneficial in many clinical circumstances.
Using National Incident-Based Reporting System Murder Data to Evaluate Clearance Predictors A Research Note

One limitation with the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) is its failure to indicate whether a particular murder has been cleared. As a result, researchers using the SHR must rely on proxy measures to study clearance at the national level. Currently, the UCR Program is undergoing a large-scale conversion from its traditional summary system and SHR to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). One benefit of NIBRS is that it enables law enforcement agencies to report incident-level clearance information. Although NIBRS provides a new and important source of clearance information, researchers have largely ignored these data. The present study provides an initial examination of the NIBRS murder clearance data. Specifically, these data are used both to evaluate clearance predictors and to assess the validity of the proxy clearance measures previously used with the SHR.
Mechanisms of resistance of freshwater macrophytes to herbivory by invasive juvenile common carp

SUMMARY 1. Herbivory on freshwater macrophytes has been assumed to be insignificant and rare. More recent evidence suggests herbivory is common and the impact of invasive invertebrate herbivores can be substantial. However, little is known about consumption of macrophytes by fish. 2. We performed a series of feeding assays, based on the consumption by common carp (Cyprinus carpio), to determine if any mechanisms of resistance, structural or chemical, were present in five species of macrophytes (Stuckenia pectinata, Typha latifolia, Scirpus validus, Chara aspera and Ceratophyllum demersum). 3. Carp consumed more fresh whole plant tissue of C. aspera than any other macrophyte, suggesting a lack of structural or chemical deterrents. Typha latifolia, S. validus and C. demersum were consumed least as whole plants, but consumption increased when they were offered in pellet form suggesting structural defence. Crude chemical extracts from S. pectinata significantly reduced consumption of pellets by carp. Thus, plant chemistry and structure both deterred feeding by carp. 4. Experiments that focus on theory are common but their application to managing landscapes is substantially lacking. Our results provide a basis for recommending plants to be used in restoring larval habitat refugia with the aim of increasing the probability for long-term recovery of an endangered species. Thus, this paper is an example of how experiments that tie theory to application are important for practical applications and for continued testing of theory. 5. We suggest that macrophyte–herbivore interactions play an integral part in aquatic food webs and may be as important in freshwater communities as in marine and terrestrial systems.
Inactivation of Giardia lamblia Cysts by Cobalt-60 Irradiation

Cysts of Giardia lamblia can be a contaminant of water and food that can infect humans and cause the zoonotic disease giardiasis. Irradiation by a cobalt-60 source was investigated for its ability to inactivate cysts such that they would not be infective to gerbils. Cysts that received doses of radiation ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 kGy, with a recovery period of 6 hr or less, did not infect gerbils. Cysts that were irradiated at 0.25 kGy and allowed to recover at 23 C in water for 24 hr or longer were infective. Temperature had an effect on the ability of cysts to regain infectivity in that cysts allowed to recover at 4 C after irradiation were not infective. Therefore, recovery time and temperature are important parameters for determination of the doses that are necessary for inactivation of this pathogen. The ability of staining with propidium iodide to predict infectivity of cysts was tested. Cysts that were damaged by higher doses of radiation and were not infective to gerbils stained similarly to viable cysts that were infective. Thus, propidium iodide is not a reliable indicator of viability and infectivity of cysts that have been treated with gamma radiation.
Expanded experience with laparoscopic nephrectomy and autotransplantation for severe ureteral injury.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Complex injuries of the upper ureter with significant loss of length are difficult to manage. Traditional options include nephrectomy, bowel interposition and autotransplantation. The advent of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy has created a new option when preservation of functioning renal parenchyma is desirable. We update our experience with severe iatrogenic ureteral injuries requiring laparoscopic nephrectomy and autotransplantation.Materials and Methods: Seven patients with severe ureteral injuries were referred for definitive management. In all cases preoperative evaluation demonstrated comparable split renal function and anatomy not amenable to routine reconstruction. Transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy and autotransplantation to the ipsilateral pelvis were attempted.Results: Of the patients 5 had a history of nephrolithiasis with intervention resulting in the ureteral injury and 5 underwent prior endoscopic or open management of the defects. All cases were associated with dense...
Evaluation of T-lymphocyte subsets present in semen and peripheral blood of healthy donors: A report from the heterosexual transmission study

The purpose of this study was to accurately determine the T-lymphocyte subsets found in semen from health volunteers, to evaluate the impact of repeated ejaculation on the frequency or type of immune cells present in semen, and to compare subset analysis in semen to that in the peripheral blood. To accomplish this, a flow cytometric method was developed to identify and count immunophenotypically distinct cells present in semen. Fresh semen samples and peripheral blood were collected over three consecutive days from nine healthy donors. Donors had normal ejaculate volume, sperm count, sperm motility, morphology, and leukocyte count. No significant intra-donor differences were seen in these parameters over time. No significant differences were observed in the percentage of CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and the CD4:CD8 ratio in semen on consecutive days. However, within the CD4+ subset, when naive and memory CD4+ cells were measured, some day to day variability was suggested. No significant differences in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4/CD8 ratio, or naive and memory subsets were seen in the peripheral blood between sampling days. When semen was compared to peripheral blood some differences in immune subset values were observed, with an increase in the percentage of memory CD4+ cells in semen being the most striking. This finding may be relevant to HIV transmission, since others have shown that this cell may be preferentially infected with HIV and is the primary reservoir for virus in infected individuals. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The redistribution of power flow in cascading failures

Understanding the redistribution of power flow is crucial to understanding the dynamics of cascading failures. Such redistribution is complicated, with monotonicity being the exception rather than the norm. We study the monotonicity of a quadratic function of branch power flow with respect to link failure and load shedding, respectively. The quadratic function can be considered as a measure of the aggregate network loading. We show that the value of this measure increases when (more) link failure occurs. On the other hand, while arbitrary load shedding can increase the measure value, we establish the existence of load shedding that can guarantee its reduction. Utilizing these monotonicity properties, we show that the failure of a link will cause the power flow over its adjacent link to have a change in the same direction (away or towards their commonly incident bus) as the original flow over the failed link.
The role of the Conservation Reserve Program in controlling rural residential development

Abstract Rural population growth in the form of residential development frequently results in the loss of agricultural productive land as well as loss of adjacent open space that often characterizes rural communities. A land-use prediction model was used to determine what influence the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) may have on urban sprawl and rural community sustainability. The model demonstrated that the projected mean rural residential growth rate was almost half the growth rate with CRP as compared to without CRP in the local land management mix. In addition, ecosystem integrity on the land surrounding a rural community was sharply increased with the introduction of CRP. However, community economics and subsequent social character of the community may have been significantly impacted by CRP. In order to partially mitigate CRP-induced community impacts we propose future CRP guidelines support the establishment of within-production field scale ecological refuges. These refuges would satisfy the conservation requirements of the program, return a level of traditional agricultural production to the land management mix, and provide the adjacent community with aesthetic and recreational amenities that are frequently associated with modern rural economies.
Self-Actualization and Conceptual Structure

Many theorists have written about personality structures associated with positive mental health (2, 3). Conceptual systems theory provides one framework for identifying these structures (5). The purpose of this study was to replicate Wexler's finding that self-actualization is related to conceptual structure for 117 female undergraduates who completed four measures of conceptual structure and a measure of self-actualization not used in the original Wexler study, the Personal Orientation Inventory. The measures of conceptual structure included the Interpersonal Discrimination Test (I), the Wyer Integration Test (6), the Interpersonal Topical Inventory (4), and the Paragraph Completion Test.= The table presents the means and standard deviations for these instruments. The multiple correlation of .32 between the measures of conceptual structure and the Personal Orientation Inventory was significant (F,.1:2 = 3.19, P < .04). The regression
Pubic Osteomyelitis Resulting in Rectovaginal Fistula in an Adolescent Female

Abstract Background Pelvic osteomyelitis is a rare but serious condition that has the potential for systemic and muscular complications if left untreated. The diagnosis is difficult due to the relative rarity of the disease, the difficulty of localizing the site of the infection, and the tendency for the presentation to mimic other disease processes. Case A 13-year-old female who presented with complaint of severe right lower abdominal pain thought to be related to a hemorrhagic cyst but was found to have pubic osteomyelitis resulting in an abscess and vaginal fistula. Conclusion Although rare, pelvic osteomyelitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of pelvic pain.
Minimal degrees for polynomial reducibilities

The existence of minimal degrees is investigated for several polynomial reducibilities. It is shown that no set has minimal degree with respect to polynomial many-one or Turing reducibility. This extends a result of Ladner in which only recursive sets are considered. A polynomial reducibility ≤hT is defined. This reducibility is a strengthening of polynomial Turing reducibility, and its properties relate to the P = ? NP question. For this new reducibility, a set of minimal degree is constructed under the assumption that P = NP. However, the set constructed is nonrecursive, and it is shown that no recursive set is of minimal ≤ hT degree.
Postmenopausal obesity promotes tumor angiogenesis and breast cancer progression in mice

Obese postmenopausal women have a 50% higher risk of breast cancer than non-obese women. There is not an animal model that mimics postmenopausal obesity related to breast cancer progression. Using age-relevant C57BL/6 mice, this study determined whether postmenopausal obesity increases VEGF expression, tumor angiogenesis and breast tumor growth. Ovariectomy (OVX) was performed in 12 sixty week-old female mice, then followed by a low-fat (5%, LF, n = 6) or a high-fat (60%, HF, n = 6) diet for 12 weeks. In the eighth week of the dietary program, 106 E0771 (mouse breast cancer) cells were injected in the left fourth mammary gland. Tumor size was monitored for 4 weeks. Body weights were monitored weekly. At the end of the experiment, blood samples, visceral fat and tumors were collected for measuring VEGF expression using ELISA and intratumoral microvessel density (IMD) using CD31 immunochemistry. Body weight was significantly increased in OVX/HF mice, compared to OVX/LF group (55.3 ± 1.7 vs. 41.5 ± 1.5 g; p < 0.01). There was a two-fold increase in the ratio of visceral fat/BW in OVX/HF mice, compared to those in OVX/LF group (0.062 ± 0.005 vs. 0.032 ± 0.003; p < 0.01). Postmenopausal obesity significantly increased breast tumor weight over the control (4.62 ± 0.63 vs. 1.98 ± 0.27 g; p < 0.01) and IMD (173 ± 3.7 vs. 139 ± 4.3 IM#/mm2; p < 0.01). Tumor VEGF levels were higher in OVX/HF mice, compared to OVX/LF group (73.3 ± 3.8 vs. 49.5 ± 4.3 pg/mg protein; p < 0.01). Plasma VEGF levels (69 ± 7.1 vs. 48 ± 3.5 pg/ml) and visceral fat VEGF levels (424.4 ± 39.5 vs. 208.5 ± 22.4 pg/mg protein) were significantly increased in OVX/HF mice, compared to OVX/LF group, respectively (n = 6; p < 0.01). Interestingly, adipose tissue primary culture showed that subcutaneous fat released more VEGF, compared to visceral fat (6.77 ± 1.14 vs. 0.94 ± 0.16 pg/mg tissue; n = 6; p < 0.01). These findings support the hypothesis that postmenopausal obesity promotes tumor angiogenesis and breast cancer progression, possibly through increased adipose tissue mass and adipokines such as VEGF that could systemically and locally affect breast cancer progression.
THE WEALTH EFFECTS OF VOLUNTARY SELLOFFS: IMPLICATIONS FOR DIVESTING AND ACQUIRING FIRMS

Previous research examining the wealth effects of voluntary selloffs has shown positive stock price movements around the announcement date for divesting firms. Shareholders realize positive economic gains from selloffs. One recent study indicates that shareholders of acquiring firms also realize economic gains. This study examines the division of economic gains between divesting and acquiring firms and the impact of the firm's financial condition and relative selloff size on the level of economic gains. Significant positive price movements are observed for divesting firms immediately prior to and on the announcement date. Some evidence of positive, although not significant, price movements is found for acquiring firms. These results suggest shareholders of divesting firms realize economic gains from selloffs while shareholders of acquiring firms neither gain nor lose. Also, as divesting firms sell off larger portions of their total assets, their shareholders realize greater economic gains; the division of economic gains becomes more one-sided (in favor of divesting firms) as the relative size of the selloff increases.
Fully dynamic biconnectivity in graphs

The author presents an algorithm for maintaining the bi-connected components of a graph during a sequence of edge insertions and deletions. It requires linear storage and preprocessing time. The amortized running time for insertions and for deletions is O(m/sup 2/3/), where m is the number of edges in the graph. Each query of the form 'Are the vertices u and v biconnected?' can be answered in time O(1). This is the first sublinear algorithm for this problem. If the input is a planar embedded graph, the amortized running time for insertions and deletions drops to O( square root nlogn) and the worst case query time is O((logn)/sup 2/), where n is the number of vertices in the graph. The best previously known solution takes time O(n/sup 2/3/) per update or query. >
Effect of HER2 Status on Distant Recurrence in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

It has long been recognized in breast cancer that the effect of hormone receptor (HR) status on recurrence rates varies over time and with the site of recurrence. However, there is relatively little in the literature on the effect of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on recurrence patterns. We wanted to assess whether the effect of HER2 status on the risk of distant recurrence changed over time and/or with HR status and whether these relationships varied with site of recurrence. We retrospectively studied 11,011 women diagnosed with stage I, II, or III breast cancer after 1997 who had data on HR status and HER2 status. 20 % were HR negative and HER2 negative (so-called "triple-negatives"), 7 % were HR negative and HER2 positive, 64 % were HR positive and HER2 negative, and 10 % were HR positive and HER2 positive. The estimated overall cumulative incidence of developing distant metastases is 20 % at 4 years, 30 % at 8 years, and 36 % at 12 years. The 12-year cumulative incidence was 23 % for bone, 16 % for liver, 14 % for lung, 13 % for distant lymph node, 10 % for brain, and 8 % for pleura. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the nature of the effect of HER2 on recurrence rates was found to differ markedly across the sites of recurrence. For brain and pleura recurrences, the effect of HER2 depended on HR status in ways that significantly changed over time. For bone recurrences, the effect of HER2 did not depend on HR status, but did change significantly over time. For liver and distant lymph node recurrences, there was a significant effect of HER2 status that did not change with time or HR status. For lung recurrences, rates did not significantly vary with HER2 status.
Ab initio studies of structural features not easily amenable to experiment: Part 24. Molecular structures and conformational analyses of the methyl esters of formic acid, acetic acid and alanine

Abstract The molecular structures of four conformations of methyl formate, of two conformations, each, of methyl acetate and methyl alanate have been determined by ab initio force relaxation on the 4-21G level. Relative stabilities and some selected structural aspects are discussed.
Update on the MINOS Experiment at the Fermilab Main Injector

The results from several experiments studying atmospheric [2, 3, 4], and solar neutrinos [5, 6, 7, 8, 9] gives a strong indication that neutrinos must have mass and therefore must oscillate. Given that neutrinos have mass and that they interact only weakly with their surroundings, they represent a portion of the dark matter contained in our universe. While it is clear that neutrinos are not the major component of this dark matter, they do represent a segment of matter for which our knowledge is rather limited. The interest in investigating the properties of these particles in more detail has lead to the staging of several “long baseline” neutrino oscillation experiments. The NuMI(Neutrinos at the Main Injector) beam at Fermilab coupled with the MINOS(Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search) experiment focuses on just these issues. In this paper we will describe the NuMI/MINOS programs at Fermilab and present a status report on these activities.
Extraterrestrial exploration and the origin of life

The principal theory about the origin of life holds that life is the evolutionary culmination of processes involving the production of complex organic molecules from simple precursors (chemical evolution) and through increasing complexity, the eventual evolution of “living” systems and subsequent biological evolution. The beginning of this chain of events was the production of the elemental precursors (C, H, N, O, along with P and S) in the stars of the universe. Just how they were formed and distributed and what role they played in early planetary history is fundamental to our concept of the origin of life and the subject of this article.
Nonlinear Large Deflection-Small Strain Elastic Analysis of Beam-Column with Semirigid Connections

The nonlinear large deflection-small strain analysis of a slender beam-column of symmetrical cross section with semirigid connections under end loads (conservative and nonconservative), including the effects of axial load eccentricities and out-of-plumbness, is developed in a simplified manner. Timoshenko's stability functions are utilized in the proposed method which, although approximate, can be used in the stability and nonlinear large deflection-small strain elastic analyses of beam-columns with rigid, semirigid, and simple connections. The proposed method consisting of a single nonlinear equation can also be utilized in the large deflection-small strain inelastic analysis of beam-columns whose connections suffer from flexural degradation or, on the contrary, flexural stiffening. Load results from the proposed method are within 1.5% of the theoretical values up to very large transverse displacements (0.80 times the member span when the changes in the member cord length are taken into account, or 0.30 ...
On the Surplus Meanings of Numbers

For most people in most culti~res niunbers have more than quantitative significance. They are the bearers of surpli~s meanings-affective, religious, symbolic, or otherwise. That such is the case is manifest by the recurrence of certain numbers in religion, mythology, and folklore with their associated qualities of masculinity-femininity, friendliness-hostility, mystery-candor. Our own civilization is not rich in a tradition of explicit surplus meanings attaching to numbers, cho~igb we have, :o be sure, n pseudo-scientific science of numerology, and certain superstitions atcaching to numbers, i.e., 13 is unlucky, 7 is lucky, ecc. In ocher civilizations, howcver, numbers have been assigned profound and explicit metaphysical meanin~s. Contemporary literanire on the surplus meanings of numbers is scant. Most studies of numbers in the field of psychology have to do with the visual perception of figures or the teaching of mathematical computations. There have, however, been several articles (Fodor, 1947; Jeffreys, 1936; Karon, 1958) which deal with number symbolism from a psychoanalytic point of view. An experimental study by Hsu (1948) has sought to relate the spontaneous production of numbers to certain psychophysical hypotheses, but there appears to be no study in the literature comparable to that reported here. In the present instance we are concerned primarily with determining the non-quantitative attributes atcaching to the primary digits. Beyond this we shall seek to show the affinity of numbers in terms of these surplus meanings.
Symmetries of the Fokker-Type Relativistic Mechanics in Various Forms of Dynamics

The single-time nonlocal Lagrangians corresponding to the Fokker-type action integrals are obtained in arbitrary form of relativistic dynamics. The symmetry conditions for such Lagrangians under an arbitrary Lie group acting on the Minkowski space are formulated in various forms of dynamics. An explicit expression for the integrals of
Measurement of MOSFET constants

A method is described to electrically determine MOSFET channel length, mobility, gate-bias dependence and parasitic series resistance. These four quantities are obtained by curve fitting output resistance measurements over a range of gate biases and channel lengths. Measurements from two gate biases on each of two devices of different channel lengths are sufficient to obtain a full characterization. Thus, the method is well suited for automated testing because of its simplicity and efficiency.
Mass spectral characteristics of okadaic acid and simple derivatives.

Electron ionization (EI), chemical ionization (CI) and fast-atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of the marine toxin okadaic acid and its syntheticf methyi, pentafurobenzyl, and trimethylislyl ester and ether derivatives were generated. Several ionization conditions and-processing methods were used to obtain positive- and negative-ion conventional spectra and tandem (MS/MS) spectra. The EF and the positive-ion CI spectra provided fragment ions characteristic of the structure, and the negative-ion CI and FAB spectra provided molecular ions. The addition of alkali salts to the FAB matrix resulted in reduced fragmentation and the formation of intense alkali-metal-cationized molecules. Pentafluorbenzyle ester derivatives provided intense carboxylate ions under electron-captute ionization. Analytically useful MS/MS spectra obtained by low-energy collision-induced decomposition of the carboxylate anion produced from the tetrasilylated pentafluorobenzylokadaate.
Psychological Symptoms Are Associated with Both Abstinence and Risky Sex Among Men with HIV

Sexual abstinence is often deemed the “safest behavior” in HIV prevention, but is sometimes associated with psychological symptoms (e.g., depression) just as sexually risky behavior is. This study explored whether sexual abstinence and risky sexual behavior among men with HIV were associated with similar constellations of psychological symptoms. Prior research has not addressed this issue because abstinent people often are not included in the sample or, when data are analyzed, researchers combine abstinent people with sexually active people who practice safer sex. Past research also neglects the co-morbidity of psychological symptoms. A latent class analysis of the psychological symptoms (assessed with the Symptom Check List 90-R; Derogatis, 1994) of 140 men with HIV, mostly from rural New England, revealed three latent classes: men who were asymptomatic on all symptom domains (28.8 %), men who were symptomatic on all domains (34.1 %), and men who were symptomatic on internalizing domains (37.1 %), but were asymptomatic on the externalizing symptoms of hostility and paranoid ideation. Logistic regression showed that sexual behavior during the past 90 days of men in the all symptom class and the internalizing symptoms class was similar, with abstinence and risky sex predominating, and safer sex being relatively uncommon for both classes. The sexual behavior of men in the asymptomatic class differed, with safer sex being relatively more likely to occur compared to the symptomatic classes. These findings suggest that the psychological symptom profile of sexually abstinent people places them at risk for inconsistent condom use should they engage in sexual behavior.
Nonlinear dielectric spectroscopy of living cell suspensions

We report the results of nonlinear dielectric spectroscopy measurements of living cell suspensions. The experiments are carried out at low excitation frequency (kHz) and signal amplitude of several V/cm. Harmonics in the cell response are monitored after glucose is added.
Confronting Delinquency: Probations Officers' Use of Coercion and Client-Centered Tactics to Foster Youth Compliance

Youthful compliance with juvenile court mandates is a cornerstone of effective probation practice. Despite this, research has not examined probation strategies for encouraging and enforcing youthful compliance with probation conditions. This study describes the use of confrontational tactics and client-centered approaches reported by probation officers in their supervision of delinquent youths. The study was conducted with data from a Web-based survey of probation (N = 308). Results indicate that officers balanced confrontational approaches with client-centered approaches. Officers employed confrontational tactics more frequently than client-centered strategies for youths with substance use problems, with younger youths, and with African American females. Alternatively, officers reported more client-centered approaches with females who had higher histories of prior service utilization and with youths who were perceived by officers to be honest. These findings open new avenues for research on the effective...
Chemical vapor deposition of aluminum nitride thin films

The atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition of aluminum nitride coatings from hexakis(dimethylamido)dialuminum, Al2(N(CH3)2)6, and ammonia precursors is reported. The films were characterized by ellipsometry, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, and forward recoil spectrometry. The films were deposited at 100–500 °C with growth rates up to 1500 A/min. The films showed good adhesion to silicon, glass, and quartz substrates and were chemically inert. Rutherford backscattering analysis revealed that the N/Al ratio was 1.15 ± 0.05 for films deposited at 100–200 °C and 1.05 ± 0.05 for those deposited at 300–500 °C. Films deposited at 100–200 °C had refractive indexes in the range 1.65–1.80 whereas indexes for films deposited at 300–400 °C were 1.86–2.04. The films were transparent in the visible region. The optical bandgap varied from 5.0 eV for films deposited at 100 °C to 5.77 eV for those deposited at 500 °C. Films deposited at 100–200 °C were amorphous whereas those deposited at 300–500 °C were polycrystalline.
Ethics in the Hollow State: Distinguishing between nonprofit and for -profit agents of prisoner reentry

New public management, a reform movement that shifted the provision of public goods and services towards private institutions, is firmly entrenched in the United States. The Hollow State, a metaphor often used synonymously with contracting out, reflects the growing trend of using non-governmental networks–often nonprofits but also for-profit organizations–to deliver social services to vulnerable groups. This article, which draws from the author’s dissertation, examines differences in nonprofit and for-profit prisoner reentry agencies. The findings suggest that nonprofit/for-profit differences are eroding as the nonprofit sector becomes more competitive with the private sector for government contracts.
Are chickadees good listeners? Antipredator responses to raptor vocalizations

Many animals gather information about predators with a variety of cues, such as visual, acoustic, and olfactory. Several species of birds, including chickadees, are good at discriminating between species of raptors using visual cues, and they can encode information about the threat level in their alarm calls. Much less is known about how birds discriminate between the calls of different species of predators. We played back the calls of three species of raptors to black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus, mountain chickadees, Poecile gambeli, and chestnut-backed chickadees, Poecile rufescens, to determine whether they can discriminate between them using acoustic cues. We played the calls of two species of small, high-threat raptors, northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma, and sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus, which have very different hunting strategies (mainly sit-and-wait ambush predator versus very fast surprise attack flights). We also played a larger, lower-threat northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis. Black-capped and mountain chickadees responded much more to the calls of the two small, more dangerous raptors than to the northern goshawk; they also responded very differently to the calls of the two small raptors. Chestnut-backed chickadees did not respond differently to the calls of the three raptors. These results indicate that black-capped and mountain chickadees can make specific discriminations between the calls of these three raptors and that they encode information in their alarm calls in sophisticated ways.
Numerical investigation of near-wake characteristics of cavitating flow over a circular cylinder

A homogeneous mixture model is used to study cavitation over a circular cylinder at two different Reynolds numbers ( and 3900) and four different cavitation numbers ( , 1.0, 0.7 and 0.5). It is observed that the simulated cases fall into two different cavitation regimes: cyclic and transitional. Cavitation is seen to significantly influence the evolution of pressure, boundary layer and loads on the cylinder surface. The cavitated shear layer rolls up into vortices, which are then shed from the cylinder, similar to a single-phase flow. However, the Strouhal number corresponding to vortex shedding decreases as the flow cavitates, and vorticity dilatation is found to play an important role in this reduction. At lower cavitation numbers, the entire vapour cavity detaches from the cylinder, leaving the wake cavitation-free for a small period of time. This low-frequency cavity detachment is found to occur due to a propagating condensation front and is discussed in detail. The effect of initial void fraction is assessed. The speed of sound in the free stream is altered as a result and the associated changes in the wake characteristics are discussed in detail. Finally, a large-eddy simulation of cavitating flow at and is studied and a higher mean cavity length is obtained when compared to the cavitating flow at and . The wake characteristics are compared to the single-phase results at the same Reynolds number and it is observed that cavitation suppresses turbulence in the near wake and delays three-dimensional breakdown of the vortices.
Current Rectification for Transport of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids through Conical Nanopores

We studied the transport of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) through charged conical nanopores using a Landau–Ginzburg-type continuum model (Bazant et al. Phys. Rev. Lett 2011, 106, 046102) that takes steric effect and strong ion–ion correlations into account. When the surface charge is uniform on the pore wall, weak current rectification is observed. When the charge density near the pore base is removed, the ionic current is greatly suppressed under negative bias voltage while nearly unchanged under positive bias voltage, thereby leading to enhanced current rectification. These predictions agree qualitatively with prior experimental observations, and we elucidated them by analyzing the different components of the ionic current and the structural changes of electrical double layers (EDLs) at the pore tip under different bias voltages and surface charge patterns. These analyses reveal that the different modifications of the EDL structure near the pore tip by the positive and negative bias voltages ca...
Glutamine deamidation: an indicator of antiquity, or preservational quality?

Rationale Much credence has been given in the paleoproteomic community to glutamine deamidation as a proxy for the age of proteins derived from fossil and subfossil material, and this modification has been invoked as a means for determining the endogeneity of molecules recovered from very old fossil specimens. Methods We re-evaluated the relationship between glutamine deamidation and geologic time by examining previously published data from five recent mass spectrometry studies of archeaological fossils. Deamidation values recovered for fossils were graphed against their reported chronologic age using WebPlotDigitizer. Results The experimental data that has been produced from fossil material to date show that the extent of glutamine deamidation does not correspond to the absolute age of the specimens being examined, but rather show extreme variation between specimens of similar age and taxonomic affinity. Conclusions Because deamidation rates and levels can be greatly affected by numerous chemical and environmental factors, we propose that glutamine deamidation is better suited as an indicator of preservational quality and/or environmental conditions than a mark of the endogeneity or authenticity of ancient proteins. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.