cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biosynthetic diversity in plant triterpene cyclization.

Plants produce a wealth of terpenoids, many of which have been the tools of healers and chefs for millennia. Recent research has led to the identification and characterization of many genes that are responsible for the biosynthesis of triterpenoids. Cyclases that generate sterol precursors can be recognized with some confidence on the basis of sequence; several catalytically important residues are now known, and the product profiles of sterol-generating cyclases typically reflect their phylogenetic position. By contrast, the phylogenetic relationships of cyclases that generate nonsteroidal triterpene alcohols do not consistently reflect their catalytic properties and might indicate recent and rapid catalytic evolution.
Optical beamsteering using an 8 × 8 MEMS phased array with closed-loop interferometric phase control

We present a high-speed optical beamsteering system based on an 8x8 MEMS phased array. The system incorporates an in situ interferometer that provides a real-time, dynamic measure of the phase of each mirror in the array during beamsteering. A closed-loop phase-control algorithm results in <π/100 mirror phase accuracy and far field beam steering is shown. Stroboscopic measurement capabilities are demonstrated which allow us to show feedforward control to eliminate micromirror ringing.
731 PURINE NUCLEOSIDE PHOSPHORYLASE (PNP) DEFICIENCY WITH CELLULAR IMMUNE DEFICIENCY

Inherited deficiencies in purine metabolism can be associated with immunologic abnormalities. We report the 5th family deficient in PNP and cellular immunity. The proband, a 5-yr-old, had .08% of normal erythrocyte PNP. He presented at 3½-yrs with a history of mild increase in frequency of infections. He had a severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia and at 4½-yrs developed severe ataxia and tremor. He was lymphopenic (<300/mm3) had an absolute decrease in T- and B-lymphocytes and was unresponsive to phytohemagglutinin in vitro. Response to allogeneic cells was normal. IgG and IgM were increased and a monoclonal gammopathy (IgG4λ) was present. Other antibody functions were intact (non-reactive Schick test, normal isoagglutinins, and development of influenza antibodies after infection). Erythrocyte adenosine deaminase was normal. Serum uric acid was 1.9 mg/dl and plasma and urine inosine were increased (38 μM, 13.3 mmole/gm creatinine). Urine guanosine was also increased (4.15 mmole/gm creatinine). This patient confirms the role of purine catabolism in T-lymphocyte function. Also, the unusual neurological findings, monoclonal gammopathy and hemolytic anemia suggest that clinical manifestations of PNP deficiency may be more heterogenous than previously appreciated.
Alpha and beta adrenergic receptors in amygdala: reciprocal inhibitors and facilitators of punished operant behavior.

Abstract The decrease in the suppressant effects of punishment on operant behavior, caused by direct bilateral placement of 1-norepinephrine hydrochloride in the amygdala of male rats, was reduced significantly by direct bilateral pretreatment of the amygdala with phentolamine HCl (7–14 μg), an α-adrenergic receptor blocker. Such pretreatment with a β-adrenergic receptor blocker, LB-46, [dl-4-(2-hydroxy-3-isopropylaminopropoxy)-indole] failed to have this effect. This suggests that norepinephrine decreases the suppressant effects of punishment by occupation of α-adrenergic receptors in amygdala. At these sites, direct bilateral application of 10 μg of dl-isoproterenol HCl increased the suppressant effect of punishment on operant behavior. This treatment also suppressed total non-punished responses, however, only punished responses were affected during the early stages of isoproterenol's action. This selective punishment-enhancing effect suggests that occupation of β-adrenergic receptors in the amygdala may intensify the suppressant effects of punishment. Thus, α- and β-adrenergic receptors in the amygdala appear to have antagonistic effects on punished operant behavior.
Substituted Halogenated Arylsulfonamides: A New Class of σ Receptor Binding Tumor Imaging Agents

The discovery of a series of novel halogenated arylsulfonamides (HAS) as new σ receptor binding tumor imaging agents is described. Several substituted halogenated sulfonamides have been prepared and characterized. Target compounds were examined for their affinity for σ1 and σ2 receptor subtypes using guinea pig brain membranes and rat liver membranes, respectively. A number of substituted halogenated sulfonamides displayed subnanomolar affinities for σ1 sites and low nanomolar affinities for σ2 subtype receptors. A limited structure−activity relationship study of this chemical series is discussed. The radioiodination (I-125) of one congener member (4-[125I]iodo-N-[2-(1‘-piperidinyl)ethyl]benzenesulfonamide, 4-[125I]IPBS) was accomplished in high yields. The in vitro competition binding studies of 4-[125I]IPBS in guinea pig brain membranes with σ receptor binding ligands confirmed its σ pharmacology. The rank order of potency was BD1008 (N-[2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-N-methyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine...
Low-Level Graphics Cues For Solicit Image Interpretation

Several straightforward techniques for displaying arbitrary solids of the sort encountered in the life sciences are presented, all variations of simple three-dimensional scatter plots. They are all targeted for a medium cost raster display (an AED-5l2 has been used here). Practically any host computer may be used to implement them. All techniques are broadly applicable and were implemented as Master Degree projects. The major hardware constraint is data transmission speed, and this is met by minimizing the amount of graphical data, ignoring enhancement of the data, and using terminal scan-conversion and aspect firmware wherever possible. Three simple rendering techniques and the use of several graphics cues are described.
Analyses of meal patterns across dietary shifts.

Abstract The direct controls of meal size can be categorized into positive signals such as those from the oral cavity and negative signals such as postoral inhibitory cues. It follows that the relative contribution of these signals, and in turn meal pattern parameters, change across periods of high-energy diet exposure. Here, we compared daily intake and meal pattern analysis in male Sprague–Dawley rats presented a high-energy diet for 6 weeks then standard chow for ∼1 week (HE), with those of standard chow fed controls (CHOW). These measures allow for evaluation of (1) whether there are distinct dynamic and static phases of DIO and if so, how they are characterized, (2) how meal patterns change across short and long term HE experience, and (3) ingestive behavioral changes when HE-fed animals are returned to standard chow. The HE animals showed significantly higher intake primarily driven by an increase in meal size compared to CHOW controls. This was most pronounced during the first several days of high-energy diet exposure thus characterizing the dynamic phase. Intake and meal size decreased with longer exposure to the diet but remained significantly higher than those of CHOW. Increased meal size could be driven by enhanced orosensory stimulation and/or reduced sensitivity to postoral inhibitory feedback. Distribution curves derived from histogram plots of meal size revealed both larger average meal size (right shift) and spread (standard deviation) thus it is tempting to speculate that more than one type of mechanism influences increased meal size. Meal number decreased suggesting post meal inhibitory signaling is relatively intact. However, this increase was insufficient to compensate for the increased meal size. When HE animals were switched to standard chow, daily intake and meal size decreased and eventually returned to values comparable to those of the CHOW rats. Meal number remained lower suggesting altered physiological mechanism(s) that underlie the control of ingestive behavior as a function of previous high-energy diet exposure.
Grounding techniques for personnel and equipment protection

As an example of how information from various sources can be assembled into useful form for the operating engineer, a guide on system grounding techniques is presented. In addition to the initial establishment of grounds, a definite inspection and maintenance procedure which will assure adequate protection of personnel and equipment is recommended.
Social enterprises as consumer products: the case of vehicles for change

Purpose – This paper aims to describe how a social enterprise can use product innovation and management to succeed in its mission.Design/methodology/approach – The case describes an approach to new product development and management that is of value to social enterprises. The Vehicles for Change organization exists and operates in the USA.Findings – Provides information and action approaches to non‐profit organizations to increase their sustainability. Often non‐profits do not understand nor value business. Consequently, they elevate their mission to do good but sabotage their ability to succeed. Infusing business into non‐profits can lead to an entirely new organization, the social enterprise. Social enterprises use profit‐generating businesses to fund their charitable elements. This new form can be called a for benefits organization. That focus lends itself to using product development and management techniques to succeed. Their results offer implications for non‐profit organizations.Research limitation...
Stability of Milk Fat Emulsions. I. Preparation of Model Oil-in-Water Emulsions and Evaluation of Their Stability

Abstract A technique was developed for preparing model emulsions with a Branson Sonifier Cell Disruptor. Variables included sonication intensity and time, amounts of oil and emulsifier, and length of storage after sonication. Stability of the emulsions was determined by holding them in a special viewer for 24 h at 23 C. Stability was expressed as percent upper phase separation, or as a “stability index” based on percent total solids in the bottom half of the sample at 24 h, relative to percent total solids in the entire sample at 0 h. There was a high correlation between the two methods of determining stability. Standard conditions for the laboratory preparation and evaluation of emulsions are recommended. These procedures should be useful in studying the influence of different emulsifiers and emulsifying conditions on the stability of oil-in-water emulsions.
Reactions and wetting behaviour in the aluminium-fused silica system

Wetting of fused silica by molten aluminium at temperature of 800 to 1000° C and 3×10−5 Torr was dependent on the formation of a reaction zone by redox reactions. The reaction zone consisted of three layers. It was postulated that reactions proceeded by interdiffusion of Si2+, Al+, Al2+ and Al3+: the layer adjacent to the metal drop was primarily AlO stabilized by a solid solution of SiO; and adjacent to fused silica, a spinel of AlO and Al2O3 stabilized by SiO. On cooling these dissociated into Al, Si and θ-Al2O3 and/orα-Al2O3.
Multiscale simulations of silicon nanoindentation

Nanoindentation experiments are an excellent probe of micromechanical properties, but their interpretation is complicated by the multiple length scales involved. We report simulations of silicon nanoindentation, based on an extended version of the local quasicontinuum model, capable of handling complex crystal structures. This method embeds an interatomic force law within a finite element framework. We identify which features of the simulation are robust by investigating the effect of different interatomic force laws and different finite element meshes. We find that our simulations qualitatively reproduce the experimental load vs. displacement curves of indented silicon and provide information on the microscopic aspects of the phase transformations that take place during indentation. This information is linked to the macroscopic electrical resistance, providing a simple physical picture that gives a satisfactory explanation of experimental results.
Optofluidic biosensors: miniaturized multi-color flow cytometer and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (microFACS)

We report a portable, low-cost, and high-performance microfluidics based fluorescence-activated cell sorter (microFACS) system to isolate E.coli. cells in combination with a modified specific fluorescence labeling method called tyramide signal amplification-fluorescence in situ hybridization (TSA-FISH). One of the primary challenges in studying bacterial communities that elude cell culturing is to isolate of low abundance bacteria cell from heterogeneous microbial samples. The proposed TSA-FISH protocol is flow cytometry compatible and yields about 10-fold enhancement in fluorescence labeling intensity over widely used standard FISH staining methods. Teflon AF coated optofluidic waveguide and space-time coding with a matched filter algorithm enhance its detection sensitivity. The microFACS is also able to enrich TSA-FISH labeled E.coli. cells by a factor of 223 with an integrated piezoelectric actuator and realtime control electronics system. The microFACS in conjunction with the modified TSA-FISH technologies demonstrates a highly effective and low cost solution potentially for the genomic complexity of complex bacterial communities.
Calcium phosphate/calcium oxalate crystal association in urinary stones : Implications for heterogeneous nucleation of calcium oxalate

ABSTRACTPurpose: Most stones contain more than one type of crystals, and some combinations, such as calcium phosphate/calcium oxalate, are more common than others. Expitaxy between the crystals has been suggested to play a role in growth of such stones. The specific aim of this study is to investigate the involvement of calcium phosphate in crystallization of calcium oxalate.Materials and Methods: Twenty calcium oxalate stones or stone fragments were examined using various microscopic techniques, including scanning, transmission and back-scattered electron microscopy. Similarly, calcium oxalate stones induced on a plastic foreign body implanted inside urinary bladders of laboratory rats were also investigated. Examination of the interface between calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate crystals was emphasized.Results: Close association between crystals of calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate were found in both the human and rat stones. All crystals examined were associated with an organic matrix on the sur...
Repeat hepatic resection for recurrent colorectal cancer.

Recurrence in the liver following hepatic resection for meta- static colorectal carcinoma is a predictable phenomenon, occurring in about two-thirds of patients who develop recurrence. There are few data, however, about the value of repeated hepatic resection in patients who have a recurrence in the liver following initial resection of their hepatic metastases. We have reviewed our experience with 10 patients (of whom 9 were evaluable), culled from a series of 74 patients who had an initial hepatic resection for metastastic colorectal carcinoma. There were seven men and two women, mean age 52 (range 34-75 years). Duke's stages of the primary cancer were B1 in two patients, B2 in one patient, and C2 in six patients. Most of the patients had elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and constitutional symptoms as indications for the second-look procedure. There was one surgical death due to hepatic failure in a patient who required a trisegmentectomy. The average interval between thefirst and second hepatic resections was 21 months. The estimated 1- and 5-year actuarial survivals from the second liver resection were 78% and 23%, respectively. The median survival was 41 months from thefirst resection (range 14-100 months) and 16 months from the second resection (range 0-92 months). In conclusion, repeat hepatectomy for recurrent liver metastases is a viable option for the well selected patient. It is a low risk surgical procedure and may augment survival in the patient with well documented metastases limited to the liver. Colorectal carcinoma is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Approximately one-third of patients with colorectal carcinoma have liver involvement at some point in the course of their disease (1). Hepatic resection is currently the only potentially curative treatment available for patients with colorectal liver metastases. Even in such a selected group, recur- rence is seen in more than 60% of the patients, the liver being the most common location (2). About 20% to 30% of patients who had initial hepatic resection have liver-only recurrences (2-4). In these patients, the issue of performing a repeat liver resection remains controversial. Many reports have been published on this subject, and the consensus appears to favor repeat hepatic resec- tion in the well selected patient. Most reports contained fewer than 10 patients, making it difficult to draw any definitive conclu- sions from an individual study. We have reviewed our experience with 10 of 74 patients (14%) (of whom 9 were evaluable) who had repeat liver resections and compared our experience with the three largest series published in the English literature.
Pitfalls and limitations of testing the rectoanal inhibitory reflex in screening for Hirschsprung's disease

Problems in testing the absence or presence of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) were analyzed in 261 consecutive patients referred to confirm or exclude Hirschsprung's disease. Confident interpretation of the manometric record was possible in 89% of the cases. False results were observed in 9 patients (4%): false-negative tests (the presence of Hirschsprung's disease could not be identified) in 2 and false-positive tests (inability to induce a RAIR in patients who turned out not to have Hirschsprung's disease) in 7. In 11% the manometric result was equivocal. The value of anorectal manometry was most limited below the age of 1 month.
The Exile Mission: The Polish Political Diaspora and Polish Americans, 1939–1956.

The Exile Mission: The Polish Political Diaspora and Polish Americans, 1939–1956. By ANNA D. JAROSZYNSKA-KIRCHMANN, 2004 Athens: Ohio University Press xix + 368 pp. Illustrations, tables, notes, bi...
Effect of DNA bases and backbone on σ70 holoenzyme binding and isomerization using fork junction probes

Abasic substitutions in the non-template strand and promoter sequence changes were made to assess the roles of various promoter features in sigma70 holoenzyme interactions with fork junction probes. Removal of -10 element non-template single strand bases, leaving the phosphodiester backbone intact, did not interfere with binding. In contrast these abasic probes were deficient in promoting holoenzyme isomerization to the heparin resistant conformation. Thus, it appears that the melted -10 region interaction has two components, an initial enzyme binding primarily to the phosphodiester backbone and a base dependent isomerization of the bound enzyme. In contrast various upstream elements cooperate primarily to stimulate binding. Features and positions most important for these effects are identified.
Moisture management of polylactides: The effect of heat treatment

Abstract This paper explored how heat treatment affects moisture sorption in amorphous, semi-crystalline and end-capped polylactides. End-group modified polylactide was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization with palmityl alcohol as the initiator and acetic anhydride as the terminating agent. Water sorption in amorphous standard polylactide is insensitive to heat treatment conditions but decreases with increasing molecular weight. Water sorption increases with increasing heat treatment temperature in low molecular weight, semi-crystalline standard polylactide but there is a negligible change with heat treatment conditions in high molecular weight semi-crystalline standard polylactide. Water sorption in standard polylactide is strongly affected by the content of hydrophilic end in amorphous polylactide. In modified semi-crystalline polylactide, water sorption increased with increasing heat treatment temperatures or crystallinity. Water sorption in end-capped polylactide is influenced by morphology including crystallinity, microphase separation and amorphous phase composition produced by heat treatment conditions.
Regional variations in the uppermost 100 km of the Earth's inner core

[1] The structure of the uppermost 100 km of the inner core was examined from PKIKP and PKiKP waveforms in the distance range of 118°–140°. We found evidence of a low-velocity layer in the uppermost inner core in the equatorial region predominantly located between longitude 20°W to 140°E. In the latitudinal direction the anomaly is detectable from 35°S beneath the Indian Ocean to 60°N underneath Asia. The maximum thickness of the low-velocity layer inferred from waveform modeling is 40 km with velocity jump of about 3%. We speculate that this layer may represent newly solidified core in the area where vigorous compositional convection in the outer core coincides with new crystal growth in the inner core.
Power optimization for photovoltaic micro-converters using multivariable Newton-based extremum-seeking

Extremum-seeking (ES) is a real-time optimization technique that has been applied to maximum power point tracking (MPPT) design for photovoltaic (PV) micro-converter systems, where each PV module is coupled with its own DC-DC converter. However, most existing designs are scalar, i.e., employ one ES MPPT loop around each converter, and all current designs, whether scalar or mutivariable, are gradient-based. The convergence rate of gradient-based designs depends on the Hessian, which in turn is dependent on environmental conditions such as irradiance and temperature. Consequently, when applied to large PV arrays, the variability in environmental conditions and/or PV module degradation result in non-uniform transients in the convergence to the maximum power point (MPP). Using a multivariable gradient-based ES algorithm for the entire system instead of a scalar one for each PV module, while decreasing the sensitivity to the Hessian, does not eliminate this dependence. We present a recently developed Newton-based ES algorithm that simultaneously employs estimates of the gradient and Hessian in the peak power tracking. The convergence rate of such a design to the MPP is independent of the Hessian, with tunable transient performance that is independent of environmental conditions. We present simulation results that show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in comparison to multivariable gradient-based ES.
Acoustical Impedance of Sulfur Near the Polymerization Transition

The acoustical impedance of liquid sulfur has been measured for the first time for both longitudinal and shear sound waves over the frequency range from 5 to 25 MHz from the melting temperature to 180 °C. The experiment shows that sulfur is not a viscoelastic liquid either below or above the polymerization transition temperature.
Does an asexual endophyte symbiont alter life stage and long-term survival in a perennial host grass?

Asexual, seedborne endophytic fungi in perennial grasses are often viewed as strong mutualists because fitness of the symbiont and host grass are closely coupled. However, at least for some native grasses, the asexual endophyte, Neotyphodium, acts parasitically, yet remains at high frequencies in natural populations. Most previous studies of Neotyphodium effects on host survival have been short term relative to the long life span of the perennial grass host. We therefore tested the hypothesis that Neotyphodium alters the survival in various life stages and long-term survival of adult native Arizona fescue (Festuca arizonica). To test the former, we planted 40 infected (E+) and 40 uninfected (E−, endophyte removed) seeds from four different maternal plants in the field under ambient conditions. We followed survival of seeds, seedlings, and adult plants over a 5-year period. To test the latter, we determined the infection of 1633 adult plants and followed their survival over the next 5–7 years. E+ seeds did not differ from uninfected seeds in terms of overall survival from seed germination to seedling to adult. However, the shape of the survival curve differed, with E+ plants showing higher mortality in early life stages. E+ adult plants did not differ from E− plants in long-term survival. Survival was generally very high during the study, which included a severe and prolonged drought. Infection by asexual Neotyphodium does not increase survival in early life stages or that of adult plants. Because asexual, vertically transmitted symbionts are predicted by evolutionary theory to be strong mutualists, the persistence of high infection frequencies in natural populations without long-term benefits to the host remains enigmatic. One possible explanation is that the long life span of the perennial host and low seedling recruitment may obscure either the costs or benefits of endophyte infection.
A Chaotic Ring oscillator based Random Number Generator

True Random Number Generator (TRNG) circuits play an important role in hardware security. Traditional Ring Oscillator (RO) based TRNGs aim to amplify thermal noise and supply noise jitters. To increase randomness, traditional RO based TRNGs harvest random noise from large number of stages resulting in large area and power. We propose a Chaotic Ring oscillator based random number Generator (CRNG) for CMOS implementation. This circuit uses nonlinear elements which are straightforward to implement in CMOS to bring about chaotic behavior. We demonstrate that the proposed CRNG passes tests for randomness and are immune to modeling attacks. Albeit small in magnitude, the proposed CRNG also harvests physical noise which acts as a compounder over chaos. The proposed CRNG circuit is small in area, scales well with technology, operates at low voltages and does not require any special manufacturing process. The output bit stream of the proposed CRNG implemented in a 45 nm process was tested using the NIST test suite and it passes 11 tests. Results show that the proposed CRNG occupies an area of 93.1 μm 2 and has a throughput of 127 Mbps at a power of 1.1 mW. This compares very well against state of the art TRNGs.
A SiGe front-end prototype for the upgraded ATLAS liquid argon calorimeter

We have designed and fabricated a very low noise preamplifier and shaper to replace the existing ATLAS Liquid Argon readout for use at the Large Hadron Collider upgrade (SLHC). IBM's 8WL 130nm SiGe process was chosen for its radiation tolerance, low noise bipolar NPN devices, wide voltage range and potential use in other SLHC detector subsystems. Although the requirements for the final design have not been yet finalized, the prototype was designed to accommodate a 16 bit dynamic range. This was accomplished by using a single stage, low noise, wide dynamic range preamplifier followed by a dual range shaper. The low noise of the preamp is made possible by the low base spreading resistance of the silicon germanium NPN bipolar transistors. The relatively high voltage rating of the NPN transistors is exploited to allow a gain of 650V/A in the preamplifier which eases the input voltage noise requirement on the shaper. Each shaper stage is designed as a cascaded differential operational amplifier pair with a common mode operating point regulated by an internal feedback loop. Measurement of the fabricated circuits indicates their performance is consistent with the design specifications including the radiation tolerance targets.
Atmospheric corrosion of steels prepared from the magnetic fraction of urban refuse

Abstract The magnetic fraction of urban refuse was used as melting stock in the preparation of a high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel and a carbon steel. Product steels were made from incinerated steel can scrap, nonincinerated-nondetinned steel can scrap, nonincinerated-detinned steel can scrap, and dilutions of these scraps with No. 1 heavy melting scrap. In continuing tests, 101.6 x 152.4 x 3.2 mm panels of the product steels were exposed to industrial, rural, and marine environments to determine their atmospheric corrosion properties. Panels of the respective commercial steels were exposed at the same time to establish baseline data for the test sites. Weight-loss data are reported for atmospheric exposures of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.8 years. The marine environment was the most corrosive; the industrial environment was the least corrosive. The atmospheric corrosion resistance of the carbon steel was improved 25% by using incinerated scrap and nonincinerated-nondetinned scrap in the steelmaking process. In no case was the atmospheric corrosion resistance of the carbon steel degraded by using the magnetic fraction of urban refuse as melting stock. The residual elements responsible for improving the corrosion resistance of the carbon steel were identified as tin and copper. At the levels present in the product steels, chromium, nickel, and lead had no observable effect on the corrosion resistance of either the HSLA steel or the carbon steel.
A medical evaluation of the use of qat in North Yemen

The data presented in this paper examine the frequent statements that the regular use of the drug qat by the people of North Yemen is harmful to their health. The research strategy employed performance of blind physical examinations as well as extensive interviews with 335 females and 371 males in and around the cities of Sanaa, Taiz and Hodeida who had been selected using a quota sample. The sample was classified into heavy, light and non-chewers of the qat plant, and systematic comparisons were made. In general, few diseases or conditions occurred with enough frequency to permit detailed analysis and fewer yet were associated with qat-use. Where associations occurred, differences by sex were often strong. Conditions most strongly associated with use by both sexes were histories of gastritis and insomnia, and the general body system groupings of gastrointestinal disorders. In males the strongest associations were with the histories of anorexia, constipation, insomnia and headaches, as well as the general history of respiratory difficulties. In females strong associations were seen between qat-use and the diagnosis of acute gastritis, and histories of jaundice, bronchitis and hepatic diseases. When effects of age and residence were corrected for by Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios on these items, some of the associations were diminished even further. In general, remarkably few of the allegations regarding the direct effects of qat-use on health by Western visitors to Yemen were supported by this study.
HUMAN FACTORS GUIDANCE FOR CONTROL ROOM EVALUATION

The Human-System Interface Design Review Guideline (NUREG-0700, Revision 1) was developed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to provide human factors guidance as a basis for the review of advanced human-system interface technologies. The guidance consists of three components: design review procedures, human factors engineering guidelines, and a software application to provide design review support called the ``Design Review Guideline.'' Since it was published in June 1996, Rev. 1 to NUREG-0700 has been used successfully by NRC staff, contractors and nuclear industry organizations, as well as by interested organizations outside the nuclear industry. The NRC has committed to the periodic update and improvement of the guidance to ensure that it remains a state-of-the-art design evaluation tool in the face of emerging and rapidly changing technology. This paper addresses the current research to update of NUREG-0700 based on the substantial work that has taken place since the publication of Revision 1.
Spectroscopy of Hydrothermal Reactions 20: Experimental and DFT Computational Comparison of Decarboxylation of Dicarboxylic Acids Connected by Single, Double, and Triple Bonds

The kinetics and pathways of decarboxylation of aqueous acetylenedicarboxylic acid at pH = 0.97−8.02 were studied in situ at 80−160 °C and 275 bar by using an FT-IR spectroscopy flow reactor with sapphire windows. The first-order (or pseudo first-order) rate constants and corresponding Arrhenius parameters were obtained for the neutral acid, monoanion, and dianion. The decarboxylation rates are in the order: HO2CC⋮CCO2- > HO2CC⋮CCO2H > -O2CC⋮CCO2-. The decarboxylation mechanisms of these reactants and the propiolic acid product were analyzed by B3LYP/6-31+G(d) density functional theory. The transition state structures were found for the neutral acids and monoanions. In gas phase the transition state structure is a four-member ring involving C−C(O)−O−H. In aqueous solution a cyclic structure incorporating at least one water molecule forms. A comparison of transition state structures for the decarboxylation of β-saturated (succinic) and β-unsaturated (maleic, fumaric, and acetylenedicarboxylic) aliphatic d...
Latex-associated allergies and anaphylactic reactions

The recent reports of severe anaphylactic reactions and several fatalities caused by contact with latex-containing products raised concerns in the medical community. Although hypersensitivity to natural rubber has been widely reported in the literature, the prevalence and severity of reactions have rapidly increased in the last few years. Latex proteins, constituents of natural latex, appear to be responsible for the sensitization. Many investigators, including our laboratory, are focused on the identification of proteins in raw latex and latex products, specifically those responsible for the elicitation of allergic responses. This paper summarizes available information on the mechanism and epidemiology of latex sensitivity and reviews research efforts toward the identification of the antigen(s) responsible for the reactions. The questions of proper diagnosis and testing, heightening awareness, and prevention of reactions are also addressed.
Enhanced antitumor activity of irofulven in combination with thiotepa or mitomycin C.

Purpose: Irofulven (6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene, MGI 114, NSC 683863) is a semisynthetic derivative of illudin S, a toxin present in the Omphalotus mushroom. Irofulven has demonstrated activity against a broad range of solid tumors in both xenograft models and human trials. The potential application of administering irofulven in combination with aziridine-containing chemotherapeutic agents was evaluated in this study. Methods: Human lung carcinoma MV522 cells and BALB/c athymic mice bearing the human lung carcinoma MV522 xenograft were used to evaluate the activity of irofulven in combination with aziridine-containing drugs. Results: Irofulven in combination with either thiotepa or mitomycin C demonstrated a strong synergistic (supraadditive) activity both in vitro and in vivo, that exceeded results obtained with monotherapy at the same or higher doses of these agents. The majority of xenograft-bearing animals that received subtoxic doses of irofulven, and either thiotepa or mitomycin C, demonstrated a complete cure. In contrast, there was no detectable synergistic activity between irofulven and other aziridine-containing drugs, including AZQ and thiotepa metabolites such as TEPA or AZD. Conclusions: These results indicate that the therapeutic activity of irofulven is enhanced when combined with mitomycin C or thiotepa, and further evaluation of these combinations is therefore warranted.
Posttraumatic epilepsy in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans.

ABSTRACT Penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a well-established risk factor for post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). However, many veterans in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) who suffer from TBI do so from blast injury, and its consequences are not fully known. Two neurologists performed a chart review to describe patterns of injury and health care among all 16 OEF/OIF veterans at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System who were assigned an outpatient diagnosis of both epilepsy and TBI in 2008–2009. All Veterans were male, and the mean age was 30 years. Blast exposure was the most common mechanism of TBI (81%). Although all Veterans were assigned a diagnosis code of seizures, the diagnosis of PTE was clinically confirmed in only 3 veterans. On the other hand, the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder was confirmed in 81% of the sample and a diagnosis of nonepileptic seizures was suspected in 44% of the sample. Researchers who study PTE among the OEF/OIF popu...
Latest developments in the management of allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common chronic atopic disease, and it is associated with considerable costs and comorbidities. The management of AR includes environmental control measures, pharmacotherapy, and immunotherapy. This article discusses several developments and findings that have recently emerged in these three areas. The effectiveness of traditional methods of mitigating allergen exposure, such as the use of impermeable dust mite-proof bedding covers, has been rendered debatable. Exposure to environmental factors, such as household pets, is known to provoke exacerbation of allergic disease but now is proposed to have protective effects in certain settings. Changes in the choices of pharmacotherapy continue to occur as antileukotrienes and derivatives of certain antihistamines are added to the armamentarium against AR. However, a critical review of the clinical trials involving these drugs suggests that the changes are not necessarily incremental. Innovative methods of immunomodulation are currently being developed, with the objective of optimizing efficacy and safety. These include alternative routes or forms of delivering immunotherapy and other novel approaches in altering the pathobiology of AR.
Determinants of Murein Hydrolase Targeting to Cross-wall of Staphylococcus aureus Peptidoglycan

Cells of eukaryotic or prokaryotic origin express proteins with LysM domains that associate with the cell wall envelope of bacteria. The molecular properties that enable LysM domains to interact with microbial cell walls are not yet established. Staphylococcus aureus, a spherical microbe, secretes two murein hydrolases with LysM domains, Sle1 and LytN. We show here that the LysM domains of Sle1 and LytN direct murein hydrolases to the staphylococcal envelope in the vicinity of the cross-wall, the mid-cell compartment for peptidoglycan synthesis. LysM domains associate with the repeating disaccharide β-N-acetylmuramic acid, (1→4)-β-N-acetylglucosamine of staphylococcal peptidoglycan. Modification of N-acetylmuramic acid with wall teichoic acid, a ribitol-phosphate polymer tethered to murein linkage units, prevents the LysM domain from binding to peptidoglycan. The localization of LytN and Sle1 to the cross-wall is abolished in staphylococcal tagO mutants, which are defective for wall teichoic acid synthesis. We propose a model whereby the LysM domain ensures septal localization of LytN and Sle1 followed by processive cleavage of peptidoglycan, thereby exposing new LysM binding sites in the cross-wall and separating bacterial cells.
The relationship between parental factors at infancy and parent-reported control over children's eating at age 7

The objective of this study was to determine predictors of parental control over children's eating. Data were obtained from 135 children and their parents from the Stanford Infant Growth Study. Assessments were obtained from parents at their child's birth and age 7. Parental body dissatisfaction at their child's birth predicted pressure to eat for both sons and daughters. In addition, minority status, parent being born outside of the United States, and a mother's early return to work predicted parental pressure to eat for sons. For daughters, an early maternal pushy feeding style also predicted parental pressure to eat. Parental hunger, a parental history of eating disorders and parent being born outside of the United States predicted food restriction for daughters. There were no predictors of food restriction for sons. We concluded that parental control appears not always to be simply a reaction to a child's lack of self-control or overweight, but may be present before such issues arise, particularly with the presence of certain cultural factors.
Reliability study of onshore and offshore wind generation and impact of location

In this paper, reliability study of potential wind generation in Texas has been conducted with the objective of providing some insights into issues that one faces in making various choices. Through comparison between potential onshore and offshore wind farm sites, offshore wind farms prove to have slightly lower reliability due to higher variation of wind patterns. The study also includes the impact of wind farm location, which could be of importance in making operational and planning decisions.
A Simple Geometry of Income Elasticities.

This note provides an explanation of how a few straight lines added to the familiar graphical analysis of the income and substitution effects of a price change will show not only whether each of the goods is inferior or normal, but also whether either of the goods is superior.
Ionospheric Irregularities caused by Acoustic Waves

THIS communication presents some observational evidence for ionospheric irregularities being formed because of the propagation of acoustic waves. The acoustic waves themselves are believed to have been associated with an earthquake experienced at College, Alaska. During the past few years several studies have been devoted to the problem of the generation of acoustic and acoustic-gravity waves by an earthquake. Many of these studies followed in the wake of the Alaskan earthquake of 1964 (refs. 1–4). A number of travelling ionospheric disturbances were observed at different places after the earthquake and these disturbances are believed to be a manifestation of the propagating acoustic-gravity waves5,6. Here we do not intend to explore the problem of the excitation of acoustic waves by an earthquake, and implicitly assume the existence of acoustic waves associated with an earthquake. This assumption seems to be justified in view of the earlier studies and also from our own observations.
A new clinical-anatomic staging system for evaluating prognosis and treatment of prostatic cancer.

Abstract Because the existing systems of staging for prostatic cancer depend exclusively on the extent of anatomic spread, the stages do not demarcate distinctive patterns of survival, particularly in patients with extremely good or poor prognoses. In this research, we demonstrate that the evaluation of prognosis and therapy can be improved if anatomic staging is augmented by various features of the patients' clinical severity. In 280 patients with prostatic cancer, we first created rating scales for severity of three distinct clinical variables: symptoms referable to cancer; host factors unrelated to cancer; and overall level of function. In univariate analysis each of these clinical variables substantially affected 5-year survival for patients with similar anatomic stages, but in multivariate analysis, only the first two (symptoms and host factors) remained impressive. Retaining the anatomic stages and adding the two most important clinical variables, we then created a composite new staging system, containing four clinical-anatomic (C-A) categories. The new C-A categories were statistically more distinctive than conventional anatomic stages, and demarcated patients with more extreme high (91%) and low (8%) 5-year survival rates. In addition to the increased prognostic precision, the new C-A staging system demonstrated an important distinction in treatment. Although radical radiotherapy seemed superior to palliative therapy within conventional anatomic stages, the survival differences disappeared within the C-A stages.
The Majority of Simian Immunodeficiency virus/mne Circle Junctions Result From Ligation of Unintegrated Viral DNA Ends That Are Aberrant for Integration

SIV/Mne circle junctions were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned in a bacterial plasmid. Sequence analysis of clones isolated from 11 independent PCRs reveals that the start site for plus DNA synthesis is 5' ACTG. . ., and thus an asymmetric cleavage must occur during viral integration. In addition, most of the sequences found resulted from the ligation of aberrant proviral DNA ends that were apparently generated by priming errors, primer removal errors, or integrase processing errors. The results suggest that in this virus, as in Moloney murine leukemia virus, two good ends may be required for efficient integration.
Error analysis of the fast inhomogeneous plane wave algorithm for 2D free-space cases

The fast inhomogeneous plane wave algorithm is another approach of the diagonal factorization of the Green's function which is represented by the infinite integration. In this paper, we discuss the error analysis in terms of the truncation of the integration path and the indispensable extrapolation process. Finally, this algorithm will be shown to be error controllable. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 300–304, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11043
Metabolism of limonene-1,2-epoxide in the rat.

1. The metabolism of limonene-1,2-epoxide was studied following intraperitoneal injection in rats and in rat liver homogenates.2. Limonene-1,2-glycol was the only neutral metabolite detected. Major limonene metabolites, β-mentha-2,8-dien-1-α and -β-ol and β-mentha-1,8-dien-6-α and -β-ol were not observed.3. Limonene-1,2-epoxide is not a major intermediate in limonene metabolism in the rat.
Sudomotor activity as affected by the thermal status of the skin in a warm environment.

SummaryWith experiments conducted in a warm environment it has been shown that the temperature of the skin exerts a consistent influence on the sweating activity in man. Skin temperature, both below and above 33° acts locally on the sweat glands. In addition, it also acts through the reflex neural pathways. The local effect could be demonstrated even when the driving force of the internal temperature was in the opposite direction. The peripheral influence of skin temperature on sweat glands was present when the glands were stimulated by carbon dioxide inhalation. The local effect of skin temperature did not appear to involve any reflex arc; nor could it be ascribed to changes in physical phenomena like diffusion and aqueous vapor tension on the skin surface. The interaction of intracranial and cutaneous temperatures on sudomotor activity appeared to be multiplicative in nature.
Effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on pulmonary immune response in infant monkeys

Background Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in early life has adverse effects on lung development and increases asthma incidence and susceptibility to infection. We have previously reported that perinatal and postnatal exposure to ETS in infant monkeys leads to an impaired T H 1 immune response in peripheral blood. Objective Determine whether ETS exposure during the perinatal period alters pulmonary immune maturation in the neonatal lung. Methods Nonhuman primates were exposed to ETS from gestation day 50 to 13 months postnatal age (perinatal ETS) or from 6 to 13 months (postnatal ETS). Control animals were only exposed to filtered air. T H 1 and T H 2–related cytokines, chemokines, and their corresponding receptors as well as transcription factors were analyzed in lung tissues at 13 months. Results Animals exposed to ETS beginning in utero exhibited more profound alterations in T H 1 factors compared with animals exposed to ETS beginning at 6 months postnatal age. In perinatal ETS-exposed monkeys, mRNA for IFN-γ, IL-2, IFN-γ–inducible protein 10, monokine induced by IFN-γ, IFN-γ–inducible T-cell chemoattractant, CXC chemokine receptor 3, IL-12 bioactive p70 subunit, and T-bet were significantly downregulated, whereas in postnatal ETS-exposed monkeys, only IFN-γ, CXC chemokine receptor 3, and IL-12p70 were significantly downregulated. ETS effects on T H 2 factors were less apparent and more variable: mRNA for thymus and activation-regulated chemokine was increased, and IL-10 protein was reduced. Conclusions Environmental tobacco smoke exposure during early life enhances a local T H 2 immunity by impairing normal pulmonary T H 1 immune maturation. This effect was greater in animals beginning ETS exposure in utero .