cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A heartwood pigment in Dalbergia cell cultures.

Abstract In an extensive survey of the genera Baphia, Caesalpinia, Dalbergia, Haematoxylon, and Pterocarpus , we have identified a number of species whose cell cultures accumulated pigments similar to those in heartwood. Thirteen rosewood ( Dalbergia ) species produced a purple quinonemethide pigment in the callus that was apparently identical between the species. The pigment was first purified from D. retusa cell culture and its structure was elucidated by mass, infrared, and detailed 1 H and 13 C NMR and NOE spectroscopic studies including 2D experiments (COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC). Retusapurpurin A ( 1a ) is a C 30 isoflavan of novel skeleton whose formation can be rationalized to occur via regioselective oxidative coupling of an isoflavan to 4,4′-dihydroxy-2′-methoxychalcone. Retusapurpurin A was also isolated from D. parviflora heartwood and cell culture indicating that stress metabolism pathways that are shared with heartwood-type secondary metabolism subpathways are initiated in Dalbergia cell cultures. Therefore, Dalbergia cell cultures afford a good model system for studying heartwood-type metabolic differentiation.
SU‐E‐T‐723: Pencil Beam Depth‐Dose Distributions in the Astroid TPS

Purpose: To describe the commissioning of a database of depth‐dose distributions for the dose calculation in Astroid. Methods: A database of Bragg peaks with zero energy width is generated by GEANT4 Monte Carlo. The Bragg peak distributions are smeared with a Gaussian in energy and tuned to match relative dose distributions measured with a Bragg peak chamber (BPC). BPC values are corrected for dose deposited outside of the chamber from scattered and secondary radiation in the pencil beam halo. Individual relative Bragg peaks are calibrated to match the absolute dose measured with a Markus ionization chamber. The uncertainty introduced by this halo correction is minimized by selecting a depth for calibration with the Markus chamber that minimizes the size of the correction. A Faraday cup gives the delivered dose per gigaproton. An SOBP is constructed from the database and the absolute dose in the plateau region is verified with an Exradin T1 ionization chamber. Results: The energy RMS spread decreases with energy from 0.9 to 0.2%. The correction for dose deposited outside the Bragg peak chamber is less than +/−4%. The uniformity of SOBPs generated between 10 to 30 g/cm2 is 2% with a global scaling factor of 1.01 to give the best agreement with the measured dose. Conclusions: It is important to have the correct Range, dose, and relative shape of Bragg peaks, otherwise the delivered SOBPs can be tilted or do not match the expected dose.Dose distributions in Astroid agree well with measurements in water. The simulated database with zero energy spread is renormalized per gigaproton following the same procedure and could simplify commissioning at different facilities. In the future one needs only the energy spread, a list of available proton Ranges, and a calibrated ionization chamber measurement to commission treatment planning depth‐dose distributions at other facilities.
Electrochemical Mitigation of Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking in Boiling Water Reactors

Abstract The fundamental understanding and practical application of electrochemical mitigation of intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) of structural materials in a boiling water reactor (BWR) is described. Controlling the electrochemical property of the surface, e.g., catalytic or insulating nature, alters the electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) of structural materials and subsequently affects the IGSCC susceptibility in high-temperature water. It is evident that the presence of noble metals on the oxide surface dramatically improves the hydrogen oxidation kinetics and thus enhances the catalytic recombination efficiency of hydrogen (H2) to oxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to form water (H2O). The enhancement in the catalytic nature on Type 304 (UNS S30400) stainless steel (SS) surface doped with noble metals results in the thermodynamically lowest ECP value when a stoichiometric or higher amount of hydrogen is present in the water. It is also observed that an insulated protective...
Bioavailability and Analytical Measurement of Copper Residuals in Sediments

Analytical measurements are commonly used to screen for toxicity or lack of toxicity from sediment-associated copper. Comparisons of analytical measurements with toxicological responses can be useful for determining the practicality of analytical measurements for assessing the toxicity of copper in sediments. The purpose of this research was to determine the utility of method detection limits (MDLs; i.e., minimum concentration of an analyte such as copper that can be measured with 99 % confidence with a specific analytical method and matrix) to predict the bioavailability of copper in five different sediments. The specific objectives of this research were to (1) select and characterize five sediments with different characteristics, (2) amend and measure a range of copper concentrations in the five sediments to determine MDLs and bioavailability of copper amendments in those sediments, (3) discern relationships with sediment characteristics to MDLs and bioavailability of copper in the five sediments, and (4) compare MDLs and observed toxicity to Hyalella azteca Saussure as an indicator of copper bioavailability in the five sediments. The lowest copper concentrations that elicited an observable adverse effect ranged from 15 to 550 mg Cu/kg, and the MDLs ranged from 1.5 to 6 mg Cu/kg. The MDLs and measured copper concentrations were not adequately predictive of the bioavailability and toxicity of copper in the five sediments. No adverse effects were observed for H. azteca exposed for 10 days to the sediment from California with simultaneously extractable metals > acid-volatile sulfides. Since the lowest observed effects concentrations of copper in the five sediments ranged two orders of magnitude, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration screening values (threshold and probable effect levels) were not predictive of H. azteca responses to the copper-amended sediments.
The worldwide transfer of ants: geographical distribution and ecological invasions

Summary AimThis is the first comprehensive account of the biogeography of ants transferred and at least temporarily established outside their native habitat. LocationUsing museum and literature records, I established the distributions of transferred ant species. MethodsI used taxonomic and functional groups to assess how geographical spread as a transferred species is affected by taxonomy and life history. Results147 ant species in forty-nine genera have been recorded outside of their native habitat. The proportion of transferred ants is similar to the number of genera and species in each subfamily. The species-rich subfamily Myrmicinae contains nearly 50% of all transferred species, while many of the species-poor subfamilies have absolutely no transferred species. A disproportionate high number of transferred ants originate from the Neotropical and Oriental biogeographic regions. The Pacific Islands are the recipients of the most transferred ant species. Most transferred ants belong to the CRYPTIC, OPPORTUNIST, and GENERALIZED MYRMICINE functional groups, while there are no recorded transfers of army ants or leaf-cutting ants. Both invasive and human commensal ‘tramp’ ant species are nonrandom subsets of transferred ants. Main conclusions‘Tramp’ species and invasive species tend to have widespread geographical distributions, and share life history characteristics including queen number, nest structure, and foraging behaviour. Combining observations of functional groups and biogeography may lead to a better understanding of the factors contributing to the spread of transferred species.
Characterizing the superconducting-to-normal transition in Mo/Au transition-edge sensor bilayers

We are developing arrays of Mo/Au bilayer transition-edge sensors (TES’s) for future X-ray astronomy missions such as NASA’s Constellation-X. The physical properties of the superconducting-to-normal transition in our TES bilayers, while often reproducible and characterized, are not well understood. The addition of normal metal features on top of the bilayer are found to change the shape and temperature of the transition, and they typically reduce the unexplained ‘excess’ noise. In order to understand and potentially optimize the properties of the transition, we have been studying the temperature, widths and current dependence of these transitions. We report on the characterization of devices both deposited on silicon substrates and suspended on thin silicon nitride membranes. This includes key device parameters such as the logarithmic resistance sensitivity with temperature α, and the logarithmic resistance sensitivity with current β, and their correlation with excess noise.
Properties of ibogaine and its principal metabolite (12-hydroxyibogamine) at the MK-801 binding site of the NMDA receptor complex.

Abstract The putative anti-addiction alkaloid ibogaine and its principal metabolite 12-hydroxyibogamine appear to act at the (+)-5 methyl-10,11-dihydro-5 H -dibenzo[ a,d ]cycloheten-5–10-imine maleate (MK-801) binding site in the N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-receptor cation channel. This conclusion is based on findings that both compounds competitively displaced specific [ 3 H]MK-801 binding to membranes from postmortem human caudate and cerebellum and from frog spinal cord. Ibogaine was 4–6 fold more potent than its metabolite and both compounds were less potent (50–1000-fold) than MK-801 binding to the NMDA receptor. In addition, ibogaine (100 μM) and 12-hydroxyibogamine (1 mM) blocked (85–90% of control) the ability of NMDA (100μM, 5 s) to depolarize frog motoneurons in the isolated frog spinal cord. The prevention of NMDA-depolarizations in frog motoneurons showed use-dependency and was very similar to the block produced by MK-801. In view of the abilities of MK-801 to affect the responses to addictive substances in pre-clinical investigations, our results are compatible with the idea that the ability of ibogaine and 12-hydroxyibogamine to interrupt drug-seeking behavior may, in part, result from their actions at the MK-801 binding site.
The Political Economy of Social Problems: From the Sixties to the Seventies

Social problems should be viewed in the broad context of political economy rather than in personalistic or even labeling perspectives. To support this view, the cost-free liberalism of the 60's and the re-capitalizing capitalism strategy of the 70's are analyzed. The misinterpretation of the 60's and the economic difficulties of the 70's are producing an approach to social problems that restricts public expenditures to deal with them and advocates punitive action against those who have succumbed to them. The paper speculates about the likely effects of the emerging political-economic strategy on the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of social problems. A political-economy approach can help provide the needed awareness of the society that shapes social problems. I believe we are at a turning point in this country, both in the interpretation of social problems and in the conduct of social policies. My theoretical point in this paper is very simple: economic pressures and political stresses mold the emergence and treatment of social problems. We should be more aware of this influence. Our analysis of problems and policies should not remain so narrow. They should include consideration of broader structural forces which shape general ideas and actions on social problems, recognition of common issues underlying many particular problems, and identification of concerns not currently being regarded as social problems. The practical implications illustrated in the paper may be more disturbing: we seem to be moving from a national emphasis in the 60's on what might be called political liberalism at low (economic) cost, to one in the 70's on economic conservatism at high (social) cost, and an uncertain price in political liberty. The New Frontier and then the Great Society faded away, from internal decay and as the old soldiers sent more and more new ones to Vietnam. Now we seem to have a national strategy of business expansion, governmental contraction, and harsh retribution for those who "irresponsibly" suffer and who struggle against the new superbusiness strategy. In the 70's, it seems, Calvin Coolidge lives again. A new conservative doctrine is emerging to assert that more is less: that the more money Washington spends, the greater a social problem becomes; that government employees are on the dole, like the unemployed who could obtain work if they had reasonable and responsible views about what is a living wage; and that no social policy works, so retribution is the action of choice even if it does not deter undesired behavior.
The atypical Spitz tumor of uncertain biologic potential: a series of 67 patients from a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Atypical Spitz tumors (AST) are rare spitzoid melanocytic proliferations with an uncertain malignant potential. ASTs have overlapping features of both Spitz nevi and spitzoid melanoma, and consequently generate controversy with diagnosis and management. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been proposed as a possible means to gain additional insight into the true biologic potential of these tumors; however, previous reports on the use of SLNB in ASTs have been limited by small numbers of patients and short durations of follow-up. METHODS: The authors extracted data from their institution’s prospective melanoma database, collected between 1994 and 2007, for all patients with ASTs of uncertain biologic potential. They reviewed the clinical features of these patients, including the sentinel lymph node status, and the histological features of the tumors. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients with ASTs were identified, with a median age of 23.7 years. The mean depth was 2.4 mm. Of these, 57 had a SLNB performed, with 27 (47%) having a positive sentinel lymph node. SLNB-positive cases had a significantly lower mean age than SLNB-negative cases (17.9 vs 28.7 years; P ¼ .013); however, no other significant differences were observed. All 27 patients with a positive SLNB were alive and disease free with median follow-up of 43.8 months. One patient who did not receive a SLNB developed recurrent disease with regional and distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: ASTs do not appear to behave like conventional melanoma. There is a high incidence of microscopic lymph node deposits in SLNBs, but despite this finding, patients have a favorable prognosis. Our findings raise several questions regarding the malignant potential of ASTs, and the role of SLNB in their management. Cancer 2009;115:631–41. V C 2009 American Cancer Society.
The initiation and continuation of plastic strain in NiAl and Ni3Al studied by anisothermal creep and stress relaxation experiments

Abstract The initiation and continuation of plastic strain in NiAl and Ni3Al single crystals have been studied by anisothermal creep tests and stress relaxation tests coupled with in situ electrical resistance measurement. Anisothermal creep tests of NiAl single crystals in the “dislocation-free” [001] orientation show that the plastic strain is initiated at a well-defined critical temperature. In Ni3Al, the development of dislocation density during stress relaxation is monitored with in situ electrical resistance measurement. Below the yield strength peak, where the yield strength increases anomalously with temperature, the dislocation density decreases with relaxation plastic strain. Above the yield strength peak, where the yield strength of Ni3Al exhibits a normal decrease with temperature, the dislocation density increases with the relaxation plastic strain.
Declarative processing for computer games

Most game developers think of databases as nothing more than a persistence solution. However, database research is concerned with the wider problem of declarative processing. In this paper we demonstrate how declarative processing can be applied to computer games. We introduce the state-effect pattern, a design pattern that allows game developers to design parts of their game declaratively. We present SGL, a special scripting language which supports this design pattern and which can be compiled to a declarative language like SQL. We show how database techniques can process this design pattern in a way that improves performance by an order of magnitude or more. Finally, we discuss some design decisions that developers must make in order to adopt this pattern effectively.
Substrate electric dipole moment exerts a pH-dependent effect on electron transfer in Escherichia coli photolyase.

Transient absorption spectroscopy is used to demonstrate that the electric dipole moment of the substrate cyclobutane thymine dimer affects the charge recombination reaction between fully reduced f...
Study of early laser-induced plasma dynamics: Transient electron density gradients via Thomson scattering and Stark Broadening, and the implications on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy measurements

Abstract To further develop laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as an analytical technique, it is necessary to better understand the fundamental processes and mechanisms taking place during the plasma evolution. This paper addresses the very early plasma dynamics (first 100 ns) using direct plasma imaging, light scattering, and transmission measurements from a synchronized 532-nm probe laser pulse. During the first 50 ns following breakdown, significant Thomson scattering was observed while the probe laser interacted with the laser-induced plasma. The Thomson scattering was observed to peak 15–25 ns following plasma initiation and then decay rapidly, thereby revealing the highly transient nature of the free electron density and plasma equilibrium immediately following breakdown. Such an intense free electron density gradient is suggestive of a non-equilibrium, free electron wave generated by the initial breakdown and growth processes. Additional probe beam transmission measurements and electron density measurements via Stark broadening of the 500.1-nm nitrogen ion line corroborate the Thomson scattering observations. In concert, the data support the finding of a highly transient plasma that deviates from local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) conditions during the first tens of nanoseconds of plasma lifetime. The implications of this early plasma transient behavior are discussed in the context of plasma–analyte interactions and the role on LIBS measurements.
Discriminating among word senses using McQuitty's similarity analysis

This paper presents an unsupervised method for discriminating among the senses of a given target word based on the context in which it occurs. Instances of a word that occur in similar contexts are grouped together via McQuitty's Similarity Analysis, an agglomerative clustering algorithm. The context in which a target word occurs is represented by surface lexical features such as unigrams, bigrams, and second order co-occurrences. This paper summarizes our approach, and describes the results of a preliminary evaluation we have carried out using data from the SENSEVAL-2 English lexical sample and the line corpus.
Endothelial laminins underlie the tip cell microenvironment

The role of basement membrane laminin 411 in specifying tip cell behaviour during angiogenesis is described in this issue of EMBO reports. Here, these findings are contextualized with the rest of the players in the tip cell microenvironment.
Study of the effect of calcium, phosphate, fluoride and hydrogen ion concentrations on the remineralization of partially demineralized human and bovine enamel surfaces.

Abstract Increases of calcium, phosphate and hydroxyl ion concentrations, and addition of 1 ppm fluoride to remineralizing solutions increased the rate of enamel remineralization. Fluoride ions lowered the solution concentrations of calcium, phosphate and hydroxyl ions required for demineralization-remineralization equilibrium. The ionic strength of the remineralizing solutions (0.075 to 0.225 M NaCl) was without effect on enamel remineralization, but prevented spontaneous precipitation of the mineralizing solutions. Remineralized enamel was as resistant to dissolution by weak acids as natural mineralized enamel, and enamel remineralized in solutions containing 1 ppm fluoride was more resistant than naturally mineralized enamel.
Incentives, Employment, and the Division of Labor in Teams

We develop a theory of incentives, wages, and employment in the context of team production. A central insight is that specialization and division of labor not only improve productivity but also increase effort and the sensitivity of effort to incentives under moral hazard. We show that incentives and employment are complements for the principal when the positive effects of specialization and division of labor outweigh the negative effects of increased idiosyncratic risk and are substitutes otherwise. We provide new characterizations of the partnership, the firm, and the role of the budget-breaker that are quite different from the classical literature.
High pressure phase transformation studies of the system Pd1−xRhxTe2

Abstract The system Pd1−xRhxTe2 (0⩽0.4) was found to crystallize at ambient pressure with the cadmium iodide structure. Reactions carried out with a high pressure belt apparatus at 1000°C and 60 kbars pressure resulted in a complete transformation to the pyrite structure for x⩾0.6.
Fungicides for forest trees, shade trees and forest products.

Intensive control measures for forest tree diseases are generally impracticable, and for shade trees are limited in scope by the large size of the plants and the small number ordinarily under a single management. Forest pathology has therefore lagged behind orchard and crop plant pathology in direct control measures, and has contributed little to the number of fungicides usable on living plants or to techniques of application. Helione orange reported successful in medication against a trunk infection (perhaps by antitoxic action rather than as a fungicide) (22), phenyl mercury nitrate found to be a safe antiseptic for asphalt woundpaints (51), acids and aluminum and ferrous sulfates used for soil treatment against damping off of conifers (8) are among the few contributions to useful fungicides from tree disease investigations. In the field of forest products the situation is quite different. Fungicides, using the term in a broader sense than that of Roberts (33), were in large-scale use on wood before they became established for the protection of plants or products of any other crop. Creosote, zinc and mercury salts, and the chlorinated phenols and phenates first reached the stage of large-scale fungicidal use on wood.
Self-injurious behavior as a separate clinical syndrome

The field of clinical psychology may benefit from adopting a deliberate self-injury syndrome as a distinct disorder for representation in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The phenomenological and empirical data supporting a deliberate self-injury syndrome are reviewed, and arguments for and against the adoption of a distinct syndrome are explored.
Synthesis of chiral ADMET polymers containing repeating d-chiro-inositol units derived from a biocatalytically prepared diene diol

Several chiral hydroxylated polymers have been prepared, via ADMET techniques, from the diene diol derived from bromobenzene, obtained by means of whole-cell fermentation with Escherichia coli (JM109 pDTG601).
Fetal dexamethasone exposure sensitizes neonatal rat brain to hypoxia: effects on protein and DNA synthesis.

Abstract Fetal exposure to glucocorticoids is known to produce long-term alterations in cell development within the central nervous system. The current study examines whether some of the adverse effects of prenatal dexamethasone treatment on brain development represent sensitization to hypoxia-induced damage. Pregnant rats were given 0.2 or 0.8 mg/kg of dexamethasone on gestational days 17, 18 and 19 and their offspring were challenged by exposure to 7% O 2 on postnatal days 1 and 8. In control rats at 1 day of age, hypoxia evoked an acute decrease in protein synthesis, assessed by [ 3 H]leucine incorporation, in both the midbrain + brainstem and forebrain. The decrease was also seen in animals receiving the low dose of dexamethasone, but was of smaller magnitude in the midbrain + brainstem than in the control cohort. At the higher dose of dexamethasone, hypoxia failed to evoke a decrease in protein synthesis; instead, protein synthesis was significantly increased. By 8 days of age, the animals receiving the lower dose of dexamethasone also displayed the anomalous increment in [ 3 H]leucine incorporation during hypoxic challenge, whereas the effect in the high dose group was less notable. Similarly, parallel examination of incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine into DNA on postnatal day 1 indicated that control animals would reduce their macromolecule synthetic rate in a hypoxic environment, but that animals exposed to the high dose of dexamethasone would not; unlike the case with protein synthesis, however, the dexamethasone group never showed an increase in DNA synthesis during hypoxia. By 8 days of age, the interaction between the high dose of dexamethasone and hypoxia was no longer apparent for DNA synthesis. A reduction in macromolecule synthesis represents a conservative strategy for cell survival during restricted energy availability, and thus the repercussions of fetal dexamethasone exposure are maladaptive and likely to contribute to increased cell death during hypoxia. The selective enhancement of protein synthesis seen in dexamethasone-treated animals exposed to hypoxia, as opposed to the more moderate effects on DNA synthesis, suggests that specific proteins are being induced, perhaps those involved in the cellular shock response or programmed cell death.
Upregulation of endothelin-1 production by lysophosphatidic acid in rat aortic endothelial cells.

Abstract Addition of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) to rat aorta-derived endothelial cells significantly induced preproendothelin-1 (preproET-1) mRNA expression. PreproET-1 mRNA levels reached a plateau within 1 h after the addition of 0.5 μM LPA and declined after 2 h. The induction was superinduced by cycloheximide and was blocked by actinomycin D. Suramin, an LPA receptor antagonist, abolished the induction of preproET-1 mRNA by LPA. Protein kinase C inhibitors, H7 and bisindolylmaleimide, were able to block the induction. Transient transfection experiment revealed that the elevated preproET-1 mRNA was a result of the activation of ET-1 gene activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that LPA stimulated the binding of AP-1. The secreted level of ET-1 was elevated 2.3-fold after 12 h of stimulation with LPA. Our results suggest that the upregulation of preproET-1 by LPA may serve to augment and prolong the vasoconstriction action of LPA.
The growing role for the cyclin kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 in renal disease

Keywords: cell cycle regulatory proteins, nuclear proteins, CDK, p27, cyclin, kidney, hypertrophy
Cohering of multiple polariton lasers for sensing applications

Active modelocking of multiple polariton lasers mediated by real time sensing offers novel capabilities for optically based sensing. We outline a strategy based in part on short range polariton-polariton interactions and in part on an actively managed external optical field coherent with each of the individual polariton lasers. This actively managed coherent optical field is required to establish long range coherence between multiple spatially distinct polariton lasers. Polariton lasers offer nonlinear behavior at excitation levels of a few quanta of the optical field, time constants of picoseconds or less, and optical wavelength dimensions of individual lasers. Achievement of useful long range, hundreds of meters, polariton based optical sensing appears useful, but to require active cohering of arrays of polariton lasers. Continuous metrology and active control of the system coherence offer unique opportunities for sensing approaching quantum limited operation. We consider strategies and capabilities of sensing systems based on such arrays of spatially distinct, but collectively coherent, polariton lasers. Significant advances in a number of technical areas over decades appear needed to achieve such systems.
Second-Sphere Contributions to Substrate-Analogue Binding in Iron(III) Superoxide Dismutase

A combination of spectroscopic and computational methods has been employed to explore the nature of the yellow and pink low-temperature azide adducts of iron(III) superoxide dismutase (N(3)-FeSOD), which have been known for more than two decades. Variable-temperature variable-field magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) data suggest that both species possess similar ferric centers with a single azide ligand bound, contradicting previous proposals invoking two azide ligands in the pink form. Complementary data obtained on the azide complex of the Q69E FeSOD mutant reveal that relatively minor perturbations in the metal-center environment are sufficient to produce significant spectral changes; the Q69E N(3)-FeSOD species is red in color at all temperatures. Resonance Raman (RR) spectra of the wild-type and Q69E mutant N(3)-FeSOD complexes are consistent with similar Fe-N(3) units in all three species; however, variations in energies and relative intensities of the RR features associated with this unit reveal subtle differences in (N(3)(-))-Fe(3+) bonding. To understand these differences on a quantitative level, density functional theory and semiempirical INDO/S-CI calculations have been performed on N(3)-FeSOD models. These computations support our model that a single azide ligand is present in all three N(3)-FeSOD adducts and suggest that their different appearances reflect differences in the Fe-N-N bond angle. A 10 degrees increase in the Fe-N-N bond angle is sufficient to account for the spectral differences between the yellow and pink wild-type N(3)-FeSOD species. We show that this bond angle is strongly affected by the second coordination sphere, which therefore might also play an important role in orienting incoming substrate for reaction with the FeSOD active site.
Toughness Properties of Nodular Iron

The German government recently certified ductile iron for construction of nuclear waste transport containers. This approved use of ductile iron for such a critical application represents the culmination of ten years worth of research bringing to light the surprising toughness of ductile iron. This article explains how modern fracture mechanics and microstructure/property relationships have altered the stereotype of ductile iron as a low toughness material.
Circadian variations in chronic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Patients with airway obstruction of all types show circadian variation of airflow. This article reviews the results of studies that suggest both possible mechanisms for this phenomenon and strategies for its treatment. The strategies discussed include the use of sustained-release beta-agonists and a once-a-day theophylline preparation, Uniphyl tablets, that is especially effective in asthmatic patients when administered in the evening. Also presented is a summary of future directions in the planning and implementation of individualized therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced chronic obstructive airways disease.
Alteration of mouse cytochrome P450coh substrate specificity by mutation of a single amino-acid residue.

AS a family of structurally-related enzymes, cytochrome P450 (P450) monooxygenases exhibit paradoxical characteristics: although collectively the enzymes display a broad range of substrate specificities, individually they are characterized by a high degree of substrate and product selectivity. Mouse P45015α, and P450coh, for example, which are expressed in female liver and male kidney cells1,2, catalyse 15α-hydroxylation of Δ4 3-ketone steroids, such as testosterone and 7-hydroxylation of coumarin, respectively3–6. In spite of their divergent catalytic activities, however, these enzymes differ by only 11 amino acids within their 494 residues5. To determine the structural basis of the different substrate specificities of P45015α and P450coh we therefore altered each of these 11 residues by site-directed mutagenesis, expressing the mutant cytochromes in COS-1 cells. We report that the activities of both cytochromes depend critically on the identities of the amino acids at positions 117, 209 and 365 and, moreover, that a single mutation in which Phe 209 is substituted by Leu is sufficient to convert the specificity of P450coh from coumarin to steroid hydroxylation.
A telemedicine model for emergency care in a short-term correctional facility.

The primary objectives of this research were to determine the effectiveness of a personal computer-based telemedicine system for semi- and non-urgent complaints at a short-term correctional facilit...
Dynamic Domain Decomposition and Error Correction for Reduced Order Models

The use of reduced order models based on Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) has been demonstrated to be of practical use for modeling low-speed aerodynamics. However, the use of such techniques for transonic flows with the presence of shocks has been more limited. This is because the reduced order model will only be able to represent a shock in a given location if one of the snapshots used to build the model has a discontinuity at that same location. Lucia et. al. proposed domain decomposition as a means of overcoming this limitation. This technique uses a reduced order model over the majority of the computational domain while solving the full governing equations in a small region which would otherwise require an unacceptably high number of snapshots to achieve sucient accuracy of the approximate solution. In this work, we extend the concept of domain decomposition as a dynamic, a posteriori verification and if necessary, correction of the approximate solution. Given an approximate solution with unknown accuracy generated with a set of POD basis functions the error is estimated by augmenting the POD basis with top hat basis functions and computing the first order change in the solution due to the additional basis functions. By comparing the results from a solution of known accuracy, such as one of the snapshots used to generate the POD basis, with the results for a solution of unknown accuracy the need for domain decomposition and its spatial extent can be determined. Once the boundaries of the domain decomposition have been determined, a POD solver coupled with a full order solver can be used to generate solutions of a coupled system. Results for 2-D transonic flow show that this method can generate good approximate solutions for flows with significant shock movement. Application to a sample drag minimization problem indicate that this type of variable fidelity model would be a good candidate for use in a multilevel optimization framework.
THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT AND NITROGEN ON GROWTH, PIGMENT CONTENT, AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GRACILARIA FOLIIFERA V. ANGUSTISSIMA (GIGARTINALES, RHODOPHYTA)1

The combined effects of light intensity and nitrogen (NO3−) on growth rate, pigment content, and biochemical composition of Gracilaria foliifera v. angustissima (Harvey) Taylor was investigated using outdoor continuous cultures. Growth of Gracilaria increased linearly with increasing light to 0.43 doublings d−1 at high light levels (383 ly d−1 of in situ light), suggesting that light may often limit growth of this plant in nature. Chlorophyll a and phycoerythrin contents were inversely proportional to light level and growth rate. However, pigment content did not affect the growth capacity of Gracilaria. There was no increase in growth or pigment content with increasing additions of nitrogen. The low nitrogen treatment was unenriched seawater that had higher NO3− levels than most coastal waters (influent = 8.61 μM; residual = 0.94 μM). When growing near its maximum rate under high light intensities, Gracilaria had a significantly (P < 0.001) lower phycoerythrin: chlorophyll a ratio (phyco: Chl a) than did Gracilaria growing more slowly under lower light (Phyco:Chl a of 2.8 ± 0.2 vs. 3.8 ± 0.3). Faster growing plants also had C:N ratios above 10, indicating N- limitation. In addition to harvesting light the phycobiliproteins of Gracilaria may store nitrogen. Growth rates of Gracilaria correlated negatively with ash (r =–0.85) and positively with the carbon: phycoerythrin ratio (r = 0.85), suggesting that these two indices can be used to estimate growth in the field.
Aortic aneurysm sac pressure measurements after endovascular repair using an implantable remote sensor: initial experience and short-term follow-up

The purpose of this single-center study was to report our initial experience with an implantable remote pressure sensor for aneurysm sac pressure measurement in patients post-endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) including short-term follow-up. A pressure sensor (EndoSure, Atlanta, GA) was implanted in 12 patients treated with different commercially available aortic endografts for EVAR. Pressure was read pre- and post-EVAR in the operating room. One-month follow-up (30 days+/-6 days) was performed including sac pressure readings and IV contrast CT scans. Variables were compared using the paired Student's t test. An intraprocedure type-I endoleak and a type-III endoleak were successfully treated resulting in decreasing sac pressures. In all patients, post-EVAR systolic sac pressure decreased by an average of 33% (P <or= 0.005) compared to pre-EVAR measurements. One-month follow-up demonstrated a 47% decrease in systolic sac pressure (P <or= 0.05). On follow-up CT scans, the average maximum aneurysm diameter pre-EVAR was 6.3+/-1.6 cm and post-EVAR 6.0+/-1.7 cm (P<or=0.05). The diameter of the aneurysm sac was larger only in one patient with a type-III endoleak. Remote sac pressure measurement may provide important information in addition to imaging and may help to reduce the number of follow-up CT scans.
Application of a group contribution method for predicting adsorbability on activated carbon

Donnees theoriques sur la prevision de l'adsorption de composes organiques, dans un liquide, sur du charbon actif
Radiochemical constraints on the crustal residence time of submarine hydrothermal fluids: Endeavour Ridge

The 210Pb/Pb and 228Ra/226Ra ratios measured in fluids and particles venting from the Endeavour Ridge are used to constrain the crustal residence time of the converting hydrothermal fluid from the initiation of basalt alteration where Mg+2 loss from seawatcr results in rapidly falling pH conditions, to termination at seafloor venting. The 210Pb/Pb ratios of hot, low Mg fluids are close to that of the basalts, suggesting a residence time of no greater than ten years. Particles associated with these vents have slightly higher ratios which may in part be due to scavenging of seawater 210Pb. The 228Ra/226Ra ratios of the fluids and an associated Ba-rich particle sample were also close to the basalt ratio, futher constraining the residence time to 3 years or less. These estimates indicate that the mass of fluid interacting with newly formed crust at any one time is less than 9 × 1013kg. if the axial heat flux is to be no greater than 30% of the total advective heat loss from the oceanic crust.
Thermodynamic regulation of ocean warming by cirrus clouds deduced from observations of the 1987 El Niño

Observations made during the 1987 El Nino show that in the upper range of sea surface temperatures, the greenhouse effect increases with surface temperature at a rate which exceeds the rate at which radiation is being emitted from the surface. In response to this 'super greenhouse effect', highly reflective cirrus clouds are produced which act like a thermostat, shielding the ocean from solar radiation. The regulatory effect of these cirrus clouds may limit sea surface temperatures to less than 305 K.
THE ROLE OF PODOCYTE INJURY IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF FOCAL SEGMENTAL GLOMERULOSCLEROSIS

The podocyte has diverse functions including glomerular filtration, biosynthesis and maintenance of the glomerular capillary architecture. It discharges these functions by virtue of a unique morphology, an intimate relationship with the capillary wall, and diverse synthetic and membrane specializations. Despite the complex role that it plays in glomerular function, the clinical manifestations of podocyte dysfunction are limited to proteinuria and renal insufficiency. Recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in renal transplants provides a unique opportunity to study the pathogenesis of FSGS in human beings, because the patients are monitored carefully to identify the onset of disease, the recurrence is presumed to have the same etiology as the primary disease, renal biopsy is a tool to study the pathogenesis of the lesion, and therapeutic intervention provides a mechanism to test pathogenesis. Pathologic studies have identified a proliferative lesion of the podocytes as the first sign of recurrent disease. The glomerular lesions evolve to form segmental glomerular scars with time. These findings and studies in experimental models of FSGS implicate podocyte injury in the pathogenesis of the recurrent disease. The cellular lesion (similar to the proliferative lesion of podocytes in recurrent FSGS), seen early in the course of primary FSGS suggests that the pathogenic sequence in recurrent FSGS also applies to primary FSGS. A soluble circulating factor that increases glomerular permeability and correlates with recurrence of FSGS has been identified in the pretransplant serum of patients with end-stage FSGS, but the mechanism of podocyte injury by this factor remains speculative. In any case, podocytes in the cellular lesion undergo morphologic changes and lose specialized functions seen in the normal mature cell, and these structural and functional abnormalities cause the permeability changes associated with proteinuria and destruction of glomerular filtration surface by scarring associated with loss of glomerular function.
Sediment oxygen demand techniques: A review and comparison of laboratory and in situ systems

Abstract Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) measurement techniques are reviewed and suggestions offered for improving their performance, including an experimental approach toward standardizing the SOD methodology. Five principal analytical systems are used to evaluate SOD. These are conveniently classified as: (1) batch (laboratory and in situ ); (2) continuous flow; (3) manometric; (4) electrolytic and (5) dehydrogenase activity. Comparison of SOD methods requires establishing certain criteria which should be met for a given method to be considered acceptable. These criteria are: (1) consistency; (2) reproducibility and (3) efficiency. Laboratory techniques can meet the acceptability criteria more easily than in situ techniques. A SOD reaction chamber used in our laboratory provided reproducible data for replicate analyses of stream and lakes sediments and met our acceptability criteria.
Characterization of a mixed methanotrophic culture capable of chloroethylene degradation

A consortium of methanotrophs cultured from the St. Joseph's aquifer in Schoolcraft, MI, was found to exhibit similar methane consumption rates as pure cultures of methanotrophs. The methanotrophic consortium resides within a portion of the aquifer contaminated with a mixed waste plume of perchloroethylene (PCE) and its reductive dechlorination products from natural attenuation, trichloroethylene (TCE), cis-dichloroethylene (c-DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC). Oxidation kinetics for TCE, c-DCE, and VC were measured for the mixed methanotroph consortium and compared to reported rate parameters for degradation of these chloroethylene compounds by pure methanotrophic cultures. The results demonstrate that the kinetics of chloroethylene oxidation by the Schoolcraft methanotroph population mimic the degradation rates of pure methanotrophic cultures that primarily express particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO). Molecular and biochemical analyses confirmed that sMMO was not being expressed by these cells. Rather,...
Initial ultrastructural abnormalities at the motor end plate produced by a cholinesterase inhibitor.

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that paraoxon, an organophosphorous cholinesterase inhibitor, produces a progressive myopathy in diaphragm and leg muscles of the rat within 24 h after subcutaneous injection. Electrophysiological studies revealed augmented transmitter release and rapid spontaneous nerve activity in diaphragm muscles within 30 min after paraoxon. In the present study we examined the ultrastructural changes taking place at motor end plates of diaphragm and soleus muscles during this period of increased neuromuscular activity. Thirty minutes after paraoxon, disorganized cytoarchitecture occurred beneath the motor end plates of diaphragm muscles. This consisted of dilated mitochondria and expanded sarcoplasmic reticulum. The average distance that the pathology extended from the nerve terminal membrane was 8.0 μm. Six hours after paraoxon the first lesions were observable at the light microscopic level. All endplates revealed some subsynaptic disorganization with widely varying severity. Nerve terminals contained accumulations of coated vesicles. Subsynaptic folds were wider and often contained membrane-bound vesicles. The most severely affected end plates were associated with necrotic fibers. End plates of soleus fibers were less severely affected, and no lesions were observed at the light microscopic level at this time. In diaphragm fibers the subsynaptic disorganization continued to expand to 13.5 μm from the nerve terminal 24 and 72 h after paraoxon. Coated vesicles, fold width, and cleft vesicles continued to increase during this time. Reactivation of acetylcholinesterase with pyridine-2-aldoxime methiodide prevented end-plate abnormalities and fiber degeneration if administered 10 min after paraoxon. A delay of 2 h made the aldoxime much less effective. These data indicate that paraoxon produces its initial myopathic effects at the motor-end plate, and that the myopathy can be prevented by reactivation of acetylcholinesterase. The subsynaptic disorganization progresses from the motor end plate, and fiber necrosis may be linked to these subsynaptic abnormalities.
Effects of vertebrate insulins upon serum FFA and phospholipid levels in the goldfish, Carassius auratus Linnaeus.

Abstract 1. 1. Normal serum lipid levels and responses to various vertebrate insulins were studied in goldfish ( Carassius auratus L.) maintained under constant environmental conditions. 2. 2. Normal serum FFA and phospholipid level stability rapidly decreased (15 min-12 hr) with sham-injection and/or handling procedures, but hematocrits were not affected. 3. 3. Serum FFA levels were lowered significantly (30 min-12 hr) following bovine, bonito, tuna, ratfish and shark insulins (1 U/kg) or glucose (750 mg/kg) administration. Both serum FFA and serum glucose levels after administration of Protopterus insulin were lowered. 4. 4. Total serum phospholipid levels decreased (30 min-12 hr) following insulin. 5. 5. Insulin-induced decreases in serum FFA and phospholipid levels were accompanied by decreases in hematocrit values. 6. 6. Both the magnitude of the lipid alterations and the rapid temporal response to insulin suggest that control of lipid metabolism may be a primary function of insulin in this species.
Genetic resources—use, don't lose

Abstract Biotechnology and Plant Genetic Resources: Conservation and Use edited by J.A. Callow, B.V. Ford-Lloyd and H.J. Newbury CAB International, 1997. £49.95/$90.00 hbk (xii+308 pages) ISBN 0 85199 142 4