cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Saudi Arabia's engagement in, and interaction with, the UN human rights system: an analytical review

The purpose of this article is to examine the way in which Saudi Arabia has engaged in, and interacted with, the UN human rights system along with its declaratory, promotional, and monitoring mechanisms. This article argues that Saudi Arabia has participated in the creation of the international human rights project and has shown, especially in the last few years, signs of greater adherence to the internationally-recognised human rights standards. An analytical review demonstrates that Saudi Arabia has moved from a limited involvement to a tendency to be part of the international human rights arrangements, as of the mid-1990s. It concludes by making suggestions and posing questions on the influence of the UN human rights system in enhancing progress in human rights in a country like Saudi Arabia.
Photosubstitution of (Fulvalene)tetracarbonyldiruthenium by Alkenes and Alkynes: First Observation of Alkyne Coupling on Fulvalene Dimetals and Synthesis of a (Fulvalene)dimetallacyclopentadiene(alkene) Complex

Irradiation (λmax = 300−375 nm) of FvRu2(CO)4 (1, Fv = η5:η5-bicyclopentadienyl) or (μ2-η1:η5-cyclopentadienyl)2Ru2(CO)4 (2) with dimethyl cis- or trans-butenedioate resulted in FvRu2(η2-trans-CHRCHR)(CO)3 (3, R = CO2CH3). Prolonged irradiation of 1−3 provided FvRu2(η2-trans-CHRCHR)2(CO)2 (4a, R = CO2CH3) and FvRu2(η2-cis-CHRCHR)(η2-trans-CHRCHR)(CO)2 (4b, R = CO2CH3). Photocatalytic isomerization of cis to trans alkene occurred in the presence of 1−4. Irradiation of 1−3 with dimethyl butynedioate produced FvRu2(μ2-η2-dimethyl butynedioate)(CO)3 (5). Prolonged irradiation of 1−5 with the alkyne afforded FvRu2(μ2-η2:η4-CRCRCRCR)2(CO) (6, R = CO2CH3). Irradiation of a THF solution of 6 generated FvRu2(μ2-η2:η4-CRCRCRCR)2(THF) (7, R = CO2CH3). Photochemical alkyne cyclotrimerization was observed in the presence of 1−7. In the presence of CO, 7 reverted to 6 thermally. Heating 7 in the presence of dimethyl cis-butenedioate, thiophene, PPh3, or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) afforded FvRu2(μ2-η2:η4-CRCRCRCR)2(L) (8...
Key word signing: perceived and acoustic differences between signed and spoken narratives.

Key-word-sign (KWS) and speech-only programs differ in the results they achieve with nonspeaking individuals. This difference might be traced to suprasegmental aspects of speech. In an earlier stud...
Network of C-H...O interactions in 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin benzyl ether).

The title aldehyde, C15H14O3, crystallized in the centrosymmetric space group P2(1)/c with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Six significant intermolecular C-H...O interactions have C...O distances ranging from 3.405 (2) to 3.802 (2) A and C-H...O angles ranging from 121 to 162 degrees. These six intermolecular interactions link a molecule directly to six neighbors and form a three-dimensional network. The dihedral angle between the best-fit planes of the benzene rings within a molecule is 78.1 (1) degrees. The dihedral angle between the carboxaldehyde-group plane and the best-fit plane of the ring to which it is attached is 3 (1) degrees.
Identification of renal calculi by computerized infrared spectroscopy

A method is described for the assessment of renal calculi by means of a computerized IR spectrometer. A preliminary reference library of IR spectra of 34 different renal calculi of known composition has been created. The reference library used in the operation of a computerized search program indicates the closest matches in the reference library data with the IR spectrum of an unknown sample. The computerized method of characterizing renal calculi has the advantage that it greatly reduces the likelihood of introducing errors because of operator bias in the subjective interpretation of spectral data.
Cluster analysis for directional data

To date, cluster analysis for directional data has received little attention in the literature. Motivated by an application in meteorology, a statistic is presented here along with a graphical tool that assesses the significance of clustering in a univariate directional data set. The methodology is illustrated on a sample of wind directions.
Crack tip energy release rate for a piezoelectric compact tension specimen

Abstract A theoretical fracture mechanics for brittle piezoelectric materials is summarized consistent with standard features of elasticity and dielectricity. The influence of electric field and mechanical loading is considered in this approach and a Griffith style energy balance is used to establish the relevant energy release rates. Finite element results are given for a compact tension specimen having properties consistent with the piezoelectric material PZT-4. The influence of the crack opening displacement on the electric field adjacent to the crack is considered. Observations of fracture behavior in a compact tension specimen composed of PZT-4 obtained by Park and Sun (J. Amer. Ceram. Soc. 1995;78:1475–1480) are used to assess the relevance of the theoretical results.
The crystal and molecular structure of μ-imidazolatobis [bis (1–10 phenanthroline)copper(II)] nitrate

Abstract [Cu2(phen)4(im)](NO3)3·3H2O·2CH3OH crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 (#2) with a = 13.803(10) A , b = 16.844(8) A , c = 13.395(9) A , α = 111.1(2)°, β = 116.8(1)°, γ = 89.6(1)° and Z = 2 . The structure consists of the dimeric [Cu2(phen)4(im)]+3 ion with the imidazolate ion bridging the two Cu(phen)2 moieties. The lattice contains three water molecules and two methanol molecules of solvation as well as the nitrate anions. The two [CuN4(im)] chromophores are distorted square pyramidal with one of the cis phenanthroline ligands asymmetrically coordinated to the axial (Cu-Nphen = 2.232(9) A and 2.24(1) A) and equatorial (Cu-Nphen = 2.016(9) A and 2.020(9) A) sites. The remaining equatorial sites are occupied by the second phen ligand on each Cu and the bridging imidazolate ion. The relationship between the structure and the antiferromagnetic behavior of the cation is discussed.
A Temporarily Resurrected Dog and Other Wonders: Thomas of Margā and Early Christian/Muslim Encounters

In the mid-ninth century, the east Syrian bishop Thomas of Margā composed a lenghy monatic history now known as The Book Of Governors . Amidst Thomas’s numerous anecdotes concerning the exploits of Christian holy men, appear over a dozen stories involving Muslim characters. A critical examination of these tales focusing on issues of word choice, characterization, and narrative assumptions provides important data for the development of Christian depictions of Muslims, as well as for the early history of Christian/Muslim relations. Despite their value, modern scholarship has almost completely neglected Syriac monastic histories such as The Book Of Governors . A recognition of how useful these texts can be for medieval history forces us to rethink modern genre distinctions and argues against a sharp delineation between the often used categories of history and hagiography.
Background and Applications of Astrodynamics for Space Missions of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

: This paper describes astrodynamic techniques applied to develop special orbital designs for past and future space missions of the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) of Johns Hopkins University, and background about those techniques. The paper does not describe the long history of low Earth-orbiting missions at APL, but rather concentrates on the astrodynamically more interesting high-altitude and interplanetary missions that APL has undertaken in recent years. The authors developed many of their techniques in preparation for, and during, the Third International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE-3) halo orbit mission while they worked for the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) of NASA during the 1970s and 1980s. Later missions owed much to the ground breaking work of the trajectory designs for ISEE-3 (later known as the International Cometary Explorer, or ICE). This experience, and other new ideas, were applied to the APL near Earth asteroid rendezvous (NEAR) and comet nucleus tour (CONTOUR) discovery missions, as well as to APL's future MESSENGER, STEREO, and New Horizons missions. These will be described in the paper.
A strategically designed small molecule attacks alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in tumor cells through a redox process

Targeting cancer cell metabolism is recognized as a promising arena for development of cancer chemotherapeutics. Moreover, redox metabolism is also systematically altered in tumor cells. Indeed, there is growing reason to believe that tumor-specific alteration of redox control of metabolism will be central to understanding and attacking malignancy. We report here that lipoate analog CPI-613 attacks a gate-keeping, lipoate-using metabolic enzyme, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH), by a redox mechanism selectively in tumors cells. CPI-613 inhibited KGDH function strongly and rapidly, selectively in tumor cells. Moreover, CPI-613 induced a correspondingly rapid, powerful redox signal in tumor cell mitochondria. This signal was associated with redox modification of KGDH (including extensive enzyme glutathionylation and redox blockage of enzyme lipoate sulfhydryls), correlating with KGDH inactivation. The source of this tumor-specific mitochondrial redox modulatory signal was not electron transport complexes (I or III), but was largely or entirely the E3 (dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase) component of dehydrogenases, including KGDH. Finally, we demonstrated that KGDH activity was redox regulated (in tumor cells), as expected if a tumor-specific redox process (auto)regulates KGDH. Our data demonstrate that lipoate analog CPI-613 attacks redox control of KGDH activity in tumor cells, perhaps by modulation of an existing lipoate-sensitive allosteric process normally governing tumor cell KGDH activity. Together with its previously reported, mechanistically distinct (non-redox) effects on the other major, lipoate-using mitochondrial metabolic enzyme, pyruvate dehydrogenase, CPI-613’s KGDH effects indicate that this agent simultaneously attacks multiple central, essential components of tumor cell metabolic regulation.
Pharmacokinetic Considerations in the Treatment of CNS Tumours

Despite aggressive therapy, the majority of primary and metastatic brain tumour patients have a poor prognosis with brief survival periods. This is because of the different pharmacokinetic parameters of systemically administered chemotherapeutic agents between the brain and the rest of the body. Specifically, before systemically administered drugs can distribute into the CNS, they must cross two membrane barriers, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier (BCB). To some extent, these structures function to exclude xenobiotics, such as anticancer drugs, from the brain. An understanding of these unique barriers is essential to predict when and how systemically administered drugs will be transported to the brain. Specifically, factors such as physiological variables (e.g. blood flow), physicochemical properties of the drug (e.g. molecular weight), as well as influx and efflux transporter expression at the BBB and BCB (e.g. adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporters) determine what compounds reach the CNS. A large body of preclinical and clinical research exists regarding brain penetration of anticancer agents. In most cases, a surrogate endpoint (i.e. CSF to plasma area under the concentration-time curve [AUC] ratio) is used to describe how effectively agents can be transported into the CNS. Some agents, such as the topoisomerase I inhibitor, topotecan, have high CSF to plasma AUC ratios, making them valid therapeutic options for primary and metastatic brain tumours. In contrast, other agents like the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib, have a low CSF to plasma AUC ratio. Knowledge of these data can have important clinical implications. For example, it is now known that chronic myelogenous leukaemia patients treated with imatinib might need additional CNS prophylaxis. Since most anticancer agents have limited brain penetration, new pharmacological approaches are needed to enhance delivery into the brain. BBB disruption, regional administration of chemotherapy and transporter modulation are all currently being evaluated in an effort to improve therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, since many chemotherapeutic agents are metabolised by the cytochrome P450 3A enzyme system, minimising drug interactions by avoiding concomitant drug therapies that are also metabolised through this system may potentially enhance outcomes. Specifically, the use of non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs and curtailing nonessential corticosteroid use may have an impact.
Harm reduction practices in outpatient drug-free substance abuse settings

Objective: In the United States, drug-free (non-drug substitution) substance abuse treatment practices are informed by an abstinence-only model that has been criticized as hindering service retention and utilization. The public health paradigm of harm reduction offers alternative treatment practice ideas, yet little is known about how they are viewed by front-line practitioners in these settings.Methods: Using semi-structured interviewing, this qualitative study explored support for and use of harm reduction amongst a sample of 15 practitioners from 9 outpatient drug-free substance abuse agencies.Results: Respondents identified personal, professional, contextual and client factors as indicating or contraindicating harm reduction. Support for specific practices (tapering plans, non-abstinence treatment goals and substance use management) was limited, although harm reduction was supported as a guiding practice philosophy and in non-substance using areas of clients' lives. Specific concerns were articulated ...
Human Evolutionary Genetics: Origins, Peoples and Disease.

This is an absolutely superb book! I have been recommending it enthusiastically to professional colleagues, graduate students, and even the occasional highly motivated undergraduate student ever since it was published last year, and the response to the book has been overwhelmingly positive. Not only is the book unique in terms of topical coverage, but it is also extremely well executed. In fact, it is one of the best textbooks on any subject that I have read. It belongs on the shelves of everyone interested in the genetic aspects of human evolution. There is also much of value in it for paleoanthropologists, historical linguists, archaeologists, and human biologists (biological anthropologists), as well as for geneticists with various complementary specialties and interests.
A combined non-denaturing and denaturing gel electrophoretic analysis of the subunit composition of a membrane protein: The skeletal muscle L-type calcium channel

Abstract Using a non-denaturing digitonin-based polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoretic system we identified the dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channel from skeletal muscle as a high molecular weight protein of > 700 kDa. When this protein was excised from the native gels and re-electrophoresed into SDS gels, it dissociated into the α1, α2, β, γ and δ peptides previously suggested to be putative subunits of these Ca2+ channels. The stoichiometry of the α1:α2:β:γ peptides was 1:1:1:1. The presence of the α1 and α2 peptides in the high molecular weight native complex was directly demonstrated with anti-α1 and anti-α2 antibodies. The apparent specific association of the peptides was demonstrated by the finding that the previously separated α1 and α2 peptides did not co-migrate with the native complex in non-denaturing gels. The results of this previously untried analysis support the concept that the skeletal muscle Ca2+ channels are multisubunit proteins. The combined non-denaturing and denaturing gel analyses may be of general utility for the analysis of other membrane proteins.
Use of splines in creating flexible virtual environments

Three-dimensional virtual environments can be tedious to create and change. Road networks and their associated terrain can be particularly difficult to model and modify because they are often defined using static elements which must be changed manually. We have implemented a roadway/terrain system based on 3-D splines. The splines can be turned into ribbons that represent roadways [Willesmsen, 2000]. These ribbons can be annotated with lane markings and roadway signs. The terrain can be decorated with vegetation. Changing the positions of spline control points changes the entire environment. Ribbons are associated with the terrain by using a height map as described below.
Anionic and Neutral Complexes of Uracil and Water

Several isomeric structures of the uracil−water complex and its covalent-bound anion were calculated ab initio with second-order, many-body, perturbation theory and the 6-311++G** basis set. In all neutral complexes, water forms two hydrogen bonds with uracil. In each of the conventional anionic forms, a single, but stronger and shorter, hydrogen bond is found. All complexes are nonplanar, but ring-puckering is less pronounced in neutrals than in anions. Several isomers of the anionic uracil−water complex have positive adiabatic electron-detachment energies. The existence of multiple anionic isomers with vertical electron-detachment energies between 0.30 and 0.90 eV accounts for the broad photoelectron spectrum. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the neutral complex at the geometry of the anionic complex provides a simple explanation for the structural and energetic consequences of electron attachment.
Clinical care map for the ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy patient.

Abstract Shortened hospital stays, expectations of quick recovery, and rapid turnaround times in surgical services challenge perioperative nurses to be creative and innovative providers of essential and appropriate patient education. Nurses need approaches that enable them to meet these challenges. One such approach is the adaptation of a clinical care map to the development of a perioperative patient care guide. This article describes the rationale behind the use of this approach and its application to the education of the patient undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Steps in the process are described. Nurses can use these steps to develop patient care guides suited to their specific practice setting.
The phosphorylase kinase activity of hearts from phosphorylase kinase-deficient mice.

In an assay measuring radioactive incorporation from γ-[32P]ATP into phosphorylase b, cardiac muscle extracts from mice with the phosphorylase kinase deficiency mutation showed significant, calcium-dependent phosphorylase kinase activity that was 10 to 15% of that of Swiss mice, the control strain. Isoproterenol stimulated significant phosphorylase a accumulation in both isolated atria and right ventricular strips of phosphorylase kinase-deficient mice, and the drug-stimulated increases in phosphorylase a activity and the contractile responses of right ventricular strips were similar in Swiss and phosphorylase kinase-deficient mice.
Frequency and directional reversal of equity ownership change in international joint ventures

Changes in equity ownership between international joint venture (IJV) partners over an IJV life-course represent an important behavioral manifestation of relational dynamics. We examine each occurrence of equity ownership change for two salient temporal properties: frequency (how often ownership change occurs) and directional reversal (when a partner buys and then sells, or vice versa, equity shares from another partner). Building on social exchange theory, we propose that initial partner equity imbalance and partners’ country’s individualism-collectivist culture has an imprinting effect on the likelihood of ownership change for both temporal properties. We developed a data set consisting of all equity changes in 200 Japanese automotive suppliers’ IJVs and found support for our hypotheses while controlling for transaction cost explanations. Our findings contribute to IJV research by shedding light on temporal aspects of equity ownership change over an IJV’s life course as well as the underlying exchange dynamics and the stability of IJV equity ownership distribution among partners.
Anuran gender identification by fecal steroid analysis

This study tested the hypothesis that steroid hormone metabolites can be measured in anuran feces and their concentrations used to identify the sex of adults. Fecal samples from American toads, Bufo americanus, and boreal toads, B. boreas boreas, were extracted using ethyl acetate, and the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone metabolites were measured by enzyme immunoassays with antibodies commonly used to evaluate steroid hormone concentrations in mammalian species. In American toads, mean testosterone metabolite concentrations (P<0.05) between males (224.3±15.5 ng/g feces) and females (80.7±10.6 ng/g), but estradiol and progesterone metabolite concentrations did not. In contrast, estradiol immunoreactivity differed (P<0.05) between male (19.0±1.8 ng/g) and female (48.3±6.3 ng/g) boreal toads. Progesterone and testosterone metabolite concentrations did not differ. Fecal hormone metabolite analysis offers a promising noninvasive approach to gender identification in anuran amphibians. However, the group of metabolites differentiating gender may not be consistent among species. Zoo Biol 0:1–12, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Coherent Terahertz Echo of Tunnel Ionization in Gases

We study tunnel ionized electron wave packet dynamics during the initial transition from a gas to a plasma by detecting the terahertz radiation emitted in the process. Experimental and theoretical results show that much of the observed radiation is due to coherent buildup of bremsstrahlung released during the first electron-atom collision. Coherent control of the tunnel ionization process combined with ab initio modeling provides a real-time view of the initial stages of the formation of a laser-induced plasma and allows us to fully understand this important source of terahertz radiation.
THE IMPACT OF UNDERGRADUATE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING EDUCATION ON ADVANCING CASE TOOLS

The fundamental rationale for the increase in the use of CASE tools by both large and medium enterprises is the belief that CASE tools facilitate and enhance improved productivity and system quality. The development of CASE environments has evolved over several years. Users are demanding high-level, domain-specific interfaces to applications, easy-to-use systems, systems that offer increases in productivity/cost ratios, flexibility in multiparadigm tools usage, and systems which are modular, portable, and robust. To meet such far ranging needs, software engineering research has become a large-scale endeavor. Thus, CASE development has become the concerted effort of academia, government, and industry. In this paper, the academic research effort on CASE development is discussed. Specifically, the perspective of the paper is on the effect that Undergraduate Software Engineering (USE) education has had and can have on the ability to develop timely and quality software tools. The focus of the paper is dichotomized as follows: (1) the impact of USE education on current techniques for developing CASE tools and a measurement of current CASE technology transfer and (2) the qualitative component(s) of USE education which will help in advancing tools development in the next decade.
Spectrometer study of phi-meson electroproduction

We report measurements of the electroproduction of phi mesons from hydrogen at Q/sup 2/ values of 0.23, 0.43, and 0.97 GeV/sup 2/ with vertical-bartvertical-bar varying from 0.125 to 1.3 GeV/sup 2/ at each Q/sup 2/ point. The data show no evidence for a Q/sup 2/ dependence of the slope of the t distribution, the forward cross section falls with increasing Q/sup 2/ as the square of the phi propagator, the decay angular distributions agree with the predictions of s-channel helicity conservation, and the ratio of the longitudinal to the transverse component increases linearly with Q/sup 2/.
Long-term outcome of fetal cell transplantation on postinfarction ventricular remodeling and function

Abstract Objectives. – The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term outcome of fetal cell transplantation into myocardial infarction on left ventricular (LV) function and remodeling. Background. – While neonatal cell transplantation improved function for acute myocardial infarction, long-term data on the effects of cell-transplant therapy using a more primitive cell on ventricular remodeling and function are needed. Methods. – Therefore, we injected 4 × 10 6 Fischer 344 fetal cardiac cells or medium into 1-week old infarcts in adult female Fischer rats to assess long-term outcome. Results. – Ten months after transplantation histologic analysis showed that cell implants were readily visible within the infarct scar. Infarct wall thickness was greater in cell-treated at 0.69 ± 0.05 mm ( n = 11) vs. medium-treated hearts at 0.33 ± 0.01 mm ( n = 19; P = 0.0001). Postmortem LV volume was 0.41 ± 0.04 ml in cell-treated vs. 0.51 ± 0.03 ml in medium-treated hearts ( P n = 16) vs. 0.33 ± 0.02 in medium-treated hearts ( n = 24; P Conclusion. – Over the course of 10 months, fetal cardiac cell transplantation into infarcted hearts increased infarct wall thickness, reduced LV dilatation, and improved LV ejection fraction. Thus, fetal cell-transplant therapy mitigated the longer-term adverse effects of LV remodeling following a myocardial infarction.
A global goodness-of-fit test for receiver operating characteristic curve analysis via the bootstrap method

Objective. Medical classification accuracy studies often yield continuous data based on predictive models for treatment outcomes. A popular method for evaluating the performance of diagnostic tests is the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The main objective was to develop a global statistical hypothesis test for assessing the goodness-of-fit (GOF) for parametric ROC curves via the bootstrap.Design. A simple log (or logit) and a more flexible Box-Cox normality transformations were applied to untransformed or transformed data from two clinical studies to predict complications following percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and for image-guided neurosurgical resection results predicted by tumor volume, respectively. We compared a non-parametric with a parametric binormal estimate of the underlying ROC curve. To construct such a GOF test, we used the non-parametric and parametric areas under the curve (AUCs) as the metrics, with a resulting p value reported.Results. In the interventional cardiology example, logit and Box-Cox transformations of the predictive probabilities led to satisfactory AUCs (AUC = 0.888; p = 0.78, and AUC = 0.888; p = 0.73, respectively), while in the brain tumor resection example, log and Box-Cox transformations of the tumor size also led to satisfactory AUCs (AUC = 0.898; p = 0.61, and AUC = 0.899; p = 0.42, respectively). In contrast, significant departures from GOF were observed without applying any transformation prior to assuming a binormal model (AUC = 0.766; p = 0.004, and AUC=0.831; p = 0.03), respectively.Conclusions. In both studies the p values suggested that transformations were important to consider before applying any binormal model to estimate the AUC. Our analyses also demonstrated and confirmed the predictive values of different classifiers for determining the interventional complications following PCIs and resection outcomes in image-guided neurosurgery.
Heterogeneities from the first 100 million years recorded in deep mantle noble gases from the Northern Lau Back-arc Basin

Abstract Heavy noble gases can record long-lasting heterogeneities in the mantle, because Ne, Ar, and Xe isotopes are produced from extant (U, Th, K) and extinct ( 129 I and 244 Pu) radionuclides. However, the presence of ubiquitous atmospheric contamination in basalts, particularly for ocean island basalts (OIBs) that sample the Earth's deep mantle, have largely hampered precise characterization of the mantle source compositions. Here we present new high-precision noble gas data from gas-rich basalts erupted along the Rochambeau Rift (RR) in the northwestern corner of the Lau Basin. The strong influence of a deep mantle plume in the Rochambeau source is apparent from low 4 He/ 3 He ratios down to 25,600 ( 3 He/ 4 He of 28.1 R A ). We find that the Rochambeau source is characterized by low ratios of radiogenic to non-radiogenic nuclides of Ne, Ar, and Xe (i.e., low 21 Ne/ 22 Ne, 40 Ar/ 36 Ar, and 129 Xe/ 130 Xe) compared to the mantle source of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs). High-precision xenon isotopic measurements indicate that the lower 129 Xe/ 130 Xe ratios in the Rochambeau source cannot be explained solely by mixing atmospheric xenon with MORB-type xenon; nor can fission-produced Xe be added to MORB Xe to produce the compositions seen in the Rochambeau basalts. Deconvolution of fissiogenic xenon isotopes demonstrate a higher proportion of Pu- fission derived Xe in the Rochambeau source compared to the MORB source. Therefore, both I/Xe and Pu/Xe ratios are different between OIB and MORB sources. Our observations require heterogeneous volatile accretion and a lower degree of processing for the plume source compared to the MORB source. Since differences in 129 Xe/ 130 Xe ratios have to be produced while 129 I is still alive, OIB and MORB sources must have been processed at different rates for the first 100 million years (Myr) of Solar System history, and subsequent to this period, the two reservoirs have not been homogenized. In combination with recent results from the Iceland plume, our noble gas observations require the formation and preservation of less-degassed, early-formed (pre-4.45 Ga) heterogeneities in the Earth's deep mantle. Consequently, the primitive noble gas reservoir sampled by mantle plumes cannot be created solely through sequestration of recycled slabs or undegassed melts at the base of the mantle during the past 4.4 Ga. Finally, if the more primitive, less degassed heterogeneities reside in the Large Low Shear Wave Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), then LLSVPs must be long-lasting features of the deep mantle and are not composed exclusively of recycled material.
Engineering Ascorbate Peroxidase Activity into Cytochrome c Peroxidase

Cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) have very similar structures, and yet neither CCP nor APX exhibits each other's activities with respect to reducing substrates. APX has a unique substrate binding site near the heme propionates where ascorbate H-bonds with a surface Arg and one heme propionate (Sharp et al. (2003) Nat. Struct. Biol. 10, 303-307). The corresponding region in CCP has a much longer surface loop, and the critical Arg residue that is required for ascorbate binding in APX is Asn in CCP. In order to convert CCP into an APX, the ascorbate-binding loop and critical arginine were engineered into CCP to give the CCP2APX mutant. The mutant crystal structure shows that the engineered site is nearly identical to that found in APX. While wild-type CCP shows no APX activity, CCP2APX catalyzes the peroxidation of ascorbate at a rate of approximately 12 min (-1), indicating that the engineered ascorbate-binding loop can bind ascorbate.
Modeling nonlinear effects in 2D optical metamagnetics

Abstract We use a previously developed approach to study stationary TM-type waves propagating in two-dimensional nonlinear optical metamagnetics, pertinent to a separate class of metamaterials with a significant magnetic response at optical frequencies. Since an implicit equation for the nonlinear dielectric functions should be resolved, the TM-type waves within the standard E-field formulations of nonlinear optics cannot be treated using a purely scalar H-field context. We use the optically controlled isotropic Kerr-type nonlinearity to illustrate the proposed approach, while analyzing the performance of an optically tunable metamagnetic. The simulation results prove the expected tuning of the magnetic resonance within a 100-nm band around the center wavelength of 1.55 μm.
The Internet Jurisdiction Risk of Cloud Computing

Businesses currently use cloud-computing services with the uncertainty of jurisdiction, should legal action be initiated. Jurisdiction is the authority of a court to hear and decide a specific legal action. While standards, treaties and case law are developing worldwide, there currently is no simple test to determine jurisdiction for internet activities in the United States (US) or internationally, necessitating businesses to take the initiative to address cloud computing jurisdiction risk. Based upon our analysis of the applicable legal theories, we present recommended approaches for businesses to address cloud computing risks.
Spin trapping of polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived peroxyl radicals: reassignment to alkoxyl radical adducts

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) peroxyl radicals play a crucial role in lipid oxidation. ESR spectroscopy with the spin-trapping technique is one of the most direct methods for radical detection. There are many reports of the detection of PUFA peroxyl radical adducts; however, it has recently been reported that attempted spin trapping of organic peroxyl radicals at room temperature formed only alkoxyl radical adducts in detectable amounts. Therefore, we have reinvestigated spin trapping of the linoleic, arachidonic, and linolenic acid-derived PUFA peroxyl radicals. The slow-flow technique allowed us to obtain well-resolved ESR spectra of PUFA-derived radical adducts in a mixture of soybean lipoxygenase, PUFA, and the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). However, interpretation of the ESR spectra was complicated by the overlapping of the PUFA-derived alkoxyl radical adduct spectra. In order to understand these spectra, PUFA-derived alkoxyl radical adducts were modeled by various alkoxyl radical adducts. For the first time, we synthesized a wide range of DMPO adducts with primary and secondary alkoxyl radicals. It was found that many ESR spectra previously assigned as DMPO/peroxyl radical adducts based on their close similarity to the ESR spectrum of the DMPO/superoxide radical adduct, in conjunction with their insensitivity to superoxide dismutase, are indeed alkoxyl radical adducts. We have reassigned the PUFA alkylperoxyl radical adducts to their corresponding alkoxyl radical adducts. Using hyperfine coupling constants of model DMPO/alkoxyl radical adducts, the computer simulation of DMPO/PUFA alkoxyl radical adducts was performed. It was found that the trapped, oxygen-centered PUFA-derived radical is a secondary, chiral alkoxyl radical. The presence of a chiral carbon atom leads to the formation of two diastereomers of the DMPO/PUFA alkoxyl radical adduct. Therefore, attempted spin trapping of the PUFA peroxyl radical by DMPO at room temperature leads to the formation of the PUFA alkoxyl radical adduct.
Effects of alcohol intoxication on self-focused attention.

Objective: Self-focused attention has been associated with many cognitive, affective and behavioral consequences. Although Self-Awareness Theory predicts that alcohol intoxication reduces self-focused attention, empirical support for this effect has been inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to provide a critical test of the conditions under which alcohol intoxication will reduce self-focused attention. Consumption of alcohol and exposure to a mirror were independently manipulated to evaluate the effects of alcohol intoxication on self-focused attention both in the presence and the absence of situational cues that maintain self-focus. Method: Subjects were 47 male volunteers; 24 consumed alcohol and 23 consumed a placebo beverage. Approximately one-half of each group sat in front of a mirror while completing a sentence completion task, a situational manipulation previously shown to enhance self-focus. Results: Manipulation checks indicated that all subjects believed that they had consumed alcohol, a...
Equidecomposable and weakly neighborly polytopes

A polytope is equidecomposable if all its triangulations have the same face numbers. For an equidecomposable polytope all minimal affine dependencies have an equal number of positive and negative coefficients. A subclass consists of the weakly neighborly polytopes, those for which every set of vertices is contained in a face of at most twice the dimension as the set. Theh-vector of every triangulation of a weakly neighborly polytope equals theh-vector of the polytope itself. Combinatorial properties of this class of polytopes are studied. Gale diagrams of weakly neighborly polytopes with few vertices are characterized in the spirit of the known Gale diagram characterization of Lawrence polytopes, a special class of weakly neighborly polytopes.
Propranolol for Infantile Hemangiomas

Hemangiomas are common vascular birthmarks that usually present a predictable pattern of proliferation and ultimate involution. Most do not require any treatment. When intervention is clinically indicated, medical and surgical options exist. Historically, corticosteroids have been used and have been shown to slow or stop the growth of a majority of hemangiomas; however, growth concerns and infectious complications have complicated their use. In 2008, a letter to the editor in The New England Journal of Medicine described another serendipitous observation of the effect of the nonselective beta-blocker, propranolol, on hemangiomas in 9 cases. This finding has been expanded by the authors of this original observation as well as others.
Update in Dermatology

The authors highlight and discuss 10 articles from the past 2 years that illustrate progress in dermatologic areas of interest to the internist. Topics include hepatitis C virus infection, herpes s...
Bridging Guidelines and Practice: Toward a Grounded Care Ethics in Youth Participatory Action Research

Based on youth participatory action research with Colombian street girls, I illustrate discrepancies between human subjects protection guidelines and practice in youth research, providing guidance for operationalizing federal Office of Human Research Protection regulations in geographic research. I problematize taken-for-granted human subjects definitions including childhood, vulnerability, protection, and consent, all of which rely on context-specific assumptions that do not hold across all places and circumstances. Through the enactment of a care ethics practice in fieldwork, I suggest that geographers can move toward more truly critical research praxis by making socially responsible action in the field the driving force of “subject” protection.
Operator splitting and adaptive mesh refinement for the Luo-Rudy I model

We apply second-order operator splitting to the Luo-Rudy I model for electrical wave propagation in the heart. The purpose of the operator splitting is to separate the nonlinear but local reaction computations from the linear but globally coupled diffusion computations. This approach allows us to use local nonlinear iterations for the stiff nonlinear reactions and to solve global linear systems for the implicit treatment of diffusion. For computational efficiency, we use dynamically adaptive mesh refinement (AMR), involving hierarchies of unions of grid patches on distinct levels of refinement. The linear system for the discretization of the diffusion on the composite AMR grid is formulated via standard conforming finite elements on unions grid patches within a level of refinement and aligned mortar elements along interfaces between levels of refinement. The linear systems are solved iteratively by preconditioned conjugate gradients. Our preconditioner uses multiplicative domain decomposition between levels of refinement; the smoother involves algebraic additive domain decomposition between patches within a level of refinement, and Gauss-Seidel iteration within grid patches. Numerical results are presented in 1D and 2D, including spiral waves.
Identification of SHIP-1 and SHIP-2 homologs in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.

Abstract Src homology domain 2 (SH2) domain-containing inositol 5′-phosphatases (SHIP) proteins have diverse roles in signal transduction. SHIP-1 and SHIP-2 homologs were identified in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , based on sequence homology to murine and human SHIP sequences. Full-length cDNAs for catfish SHIP-1 and SHIP-2 (IpSHIP-1 and IpSHIP-2) were obtained using 5′ and 3′ RACE protocols. Catfish SHIP molecules share a high degree of sequence identity to their respective SHIP sequences from diverse taxa and both are encoded by single copy genes. IpSHIP-1 and IpSHIP-2 transcripts were expressed in all catfish tissues analyzed except for skin, and IpSHIP-1 message was more abundant than IpSHIP-2 message in lymphoid tissues. Catfish clonal B, cytotoxic T, and macrophage cell lines also expressed message for both molecules. IpSHIP-1 and IpSHIP-2 SH2 domains were expressed as recombinant proteins and were both found to be bound by cross-reacting rabbit anti-mouse SHIP-1 pAb. The anti-mouse SHIP-1 pAb also reacted with cell lysates from the cytotoxic T cell lines, macrophages and stimulated PBL. SHIP-1 is also phosphorylated at a conserved tyrosine residue, as shown by immunoprecipitation studies.
AC clean fog tests on nonceramic insulating materials and a comparison with porcelain

AC clean fog tests were performed on nonceramic materials used for outdoor high voltage insulators, namely, room and high temperature vulcanizing (RTV and HTV) silicone rubber, and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), with porcelain used as the reference. The steam input rate was varied upwards from the value standardized for porcelain insulators. Results indicate that higher steam input rates produce a significant reduction in the flashover voltage of silicone rubber family materials, although it is always higher than that obtained for EPR and porcelain. For EPR, the reduction is less and is similar to that established for porcelain. The mechanisms involved have been examined. The trend in the results is found to be consistent for different formulations and insulator geometries of the generic polymer (e.g. silicone rubber, EPR) evaluated. A new, simple method for consistently applying uniform contamination on silicone rubber (both RTV and HTV) is described, without the use of extensive physical or chemical treatments, or prior conditioning by dry band arcing. >
Partial rootzone drying and deficit irrigation of ‘Fuji’ apples in a semi-arid climate

The effects of deficit irrigation (DI) and partial rootzone drying (PRD) on apple (Malus domestica Borkh. Cv. ‘Fuji’) yield, fruit size, and quality were evaluated from 2001 to 2003 in the semi-arid climate of Washington State. PRD and DI were applied from about 40 days after full bloom until just before (2001, 2002) or after (2003) harvest and compared to a control irrigation (CI). Irrigation was applied once a week using two micro-sprinklers per tree. Soil-water content in CI was maintained above 80% of field capacity using micro-sprinklers on both sides of a tree. The DI and PRD were irrigated at about 50% (2001–2002) and 60% (2003) of the CI, but differed in placement of irrigation. For DI both micro-sprinklers were operated whereas PRD was irrigated using only one micro-sprinkler wetting half the rootzone compared to CI and DI. Wetting/drying sides of PRD trees were alternated every 2–4 weeks (2001, 2002) or when soil-water content on the drying side had reached a threshold value (2003). Seasonal (1 May–31 October) potential evapotranspiration (ET0) was 967, 1002, and 1005 mm for 2001, 2002, and 2003, and rainfall totaled 58, 39, and 21 mm, respectively. Irrigation amounts applied were 596, 839, and 685 mm in the CI; 374, 763, and 575 mm in the DI; and 337, 684, and 513 mm in the PRD for the 2001, 2002, and 2003 seasons. Higher irrigation volumes in 2002 were due to excessive (177–324 mm) irrigations after harvest. No significant differences were found in yield and fruit size among treatments in 2001 and 2003. In 2002, DI had significantly lower yield than CI, while the yield of PRD did not differ from CI and DI. Fruit from DI and PRD were firmer and had higher concentrations of soluble solids than fruit from CI, both at harvest and following short-term storage at 20°C, but differences to CI were significant in 2002 only. Treatment effects on fruit titratable acidity were inconsistent. Additional water was preserved in the soil profile under PRD compared to DI in 2001 and 2003, but no statistical differences were found between PRD and DI in 2002. Approximately 45–50% of irrigation water was saved by implementing newly developed DI and PRD irrigation strategies without any significant impact on fruit yield and size with PRD. However, apple yield was reduced by DI compared to CI in the second year.
Analysis of the voltage drop arising from a collision-dominated sheath

Voltage drops associated with the collisional sheath of nonemitting, MHD electrodes are investigated. The problem is described by a set of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations which are solved by finite differencing in a computer. The sheath and ambipolar regions form in a self‐consistent way obviating the need to match boundaries. A two‐dimensional model with periodic active sites on a flat plate is used. The current constricts at these sites in order to satisfy the controlling equations for frozen charge flow. The effects of a magnetic field as well as of Joule heating are included in the model; convection can be shown to be negligible in the sheath. Joule heating is assumed to have no effect on the bulk temperature of the gas. Changes in the current‐voltage characteristics due to Joule heating are small since the effect is extremely localized; the presence of a magnetic field has a slight influence on the size of the sheath but alters noticeably the current‐voltage characteristics.
Fast and Selective Modification of Thiol Proteins/Peptides by N -(Phenylseleno)phthalimide

We previously reported that selenamide reagents such as ebselen and N-(phenylseleno)phthalimide (NPSP) can be used to selectively derivatize thiols for mass spectrometric analysis, and the introduced selenium tags are useful as they could survive or removed with collision-induced dissociation (CID). Described herein is the further study of the reactivity of various protein/peptide thiols toward NPSP and its application to derivatize thiol peptides in protein digests. With a modified protocol (i.e., dissolving NPSP in acetonitrile instead of aqueous solvent), we found that quantitative conversion of thiols can be obtained in seconds, using NPSP in a slight excess amount (NPSP:thiol of 1.1–2:1). Further investigation shows that the thiol reactivity toward NPSP reflects its chemical environment and accessibility in proteins/peptides. For instance, adjacent basic amino acid residues increase the thiol reactivity, probably because they could stabilize the thiolate form to facilitate the nucleophilic attack of thiol on NPSP. In the case of creatine phosphokinase, the native protein predominately has one thiol reacted with NPSP while all of four thiol groups of the denatured protein can be derivatized, in accordance with the corresponding protein conformation. In addition, thiol peptides in protein/peptide enzymatic digests can be quickly and effectively tagged by NPSP following tri-n-butylphosphine (TBP) reduction. Notably, all three thiols of the peptide QCCASVCSL in the insulin peptic digest can be modified simultaneously by NPSP. These results suggest a novel and selective method for protecting thiols in the bottom-up approach for protein structure analysis.