cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Third Industrial Revolution

In this exclusive essay for E&T, Jeremy Rifkin, one of the world's top authorities on climate change, talks about a new energy agenda for the 21st century and the next phase of European integration.
Bringing UAVs to the fight: recent army autonomy research and a vision for the future

The Unmanned Autonomous Collaborative Operations (UACO) program was initiated in recognition of the high operational burden associated with utilizing unmanned systems by both mounted and dismounted, ground and airborne warfighters. The program was previously introduced at the 62nd Annual Forum of the American Helicopter Society in May of 20061. This paper presents the three technical approaches taken and results obtained in UACO. All three approaches were validated extensively in contractor simulations, two were validated in government simulation, one was flight tested outside the UACO program, and one was flight tested in Part 2 of UACO. Results and recommendations are discussed regarding diverse areas such as user training and human-machine interface, workload distribution, UAV flight safety, data link bandwidth, user interface constructs, adaptive algorithms, air vehicle system integration, and target recognition. Finally, a vision for UAV As A Wingman is presented.
Electrochemical oxidations of various indenyl—iron complexes

Abstract The preparation of several diindenyliron and cyclopentadienyl(indenyl)iron species is reported, and their relative eases of oxidation is determined by cyclic voltammetry to be: Ind 2 Fe > (Ind)(Cp)Fe > Cp 2 Fe; and (1,3-Me 2 Ind) 2 Fe > (1-MeInd) 2 Fe > Ind 2 Fe.
HUMAN ANTI-HAPTEN ANTIBODY DIVERSITY DERIVES FROM COMBINATORIAL MECHANISMS EMPLOYING FEW VH GENES AND SEVERAL JH GENES

Human B cells hybridomas were produced by in vitro stimulation of normal human B cells with the p-azophenylarsonate (ARS) haptan coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin followed by fusion with the HAT sensitive human B cell line LICR-LON-HMy2. ARS specific hybridomas were cloned and analyzed for VH and JH gene usage. Southern blot analysis of hybridoma DNA using a human JH probe demonstrated limited variability of restriction fragment size suggesting that few germline VH genes are involved in the human anti-ARS response exhibited in these cell lines. Sequential hybridization analysis of DNA from several hybridomas using JH1+2, JH3, JH4, JH1-5 and JH variation appears to be a major contributor to diversity in the human anti-ARS response. These findings are in direct contrast to the well studied murine anti-ARS response in which a single VH gene and a single JH gene is responsible for the majority of the response and diversity derives from junctional, n-segment and somatic mutational mechanims. Mechanisms for generating diversity appear to be used to different extents in the human versus the murine anti-ARS response.
Does public education improve rail–highway crossing safety?

Improvements in rail-highway grade crossing safety have resulted from engineering, law enforcement, and educating the public about the risks and the actions they should take. The primary form of the latter is a campaign called Operation Lifesaver which started in the 1970s. This paper uses a negative binomial regression to estimate whether variations in Operation Lifesaver activity across states and from year-to-year in individual states are related to the number of collisions and fatalities at crossings. Annual data on the experience in 46 states from 1996 to 2002 are used. The analysis finds that increasing the amount of educational activity will reduce the number of collisions with a point elasticity of -0.11, but the effect on the number of deaths cannot be concluded with statistical certainty.
Proteoglycan gene expression is decreased in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background.Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are characterized by both increases in proteolysis and changes in the biosynthesis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Proteoglycans are important components of the ECM, particularly the small proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin. Biglycan and decorin regulate cell proliferation and collagen assembly. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to quantify the levels of mRNA for biglycan and decorin in normal aorta (NA) and AAA. Materials and methods.Northern blot hybridization and competitive polymerase chain reaction using gene-specific external standards were used to quantify mRNA levels of bigylcan and decorin in RNA derived from AAA and NA. Results are expressed as a percentage of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase or normalized to ribosomal RNA content and compared using the unpairedttest. Results.A statistically significant 15-fold decrease in biglycan mRNA expression was observed in AAA compared to NA (176.9% vs 11.8%,P< 0.001). In contrast to biglycan, the decorin mRNA expression is unchanged in AAA compared to NA. Conclusions.The marked decrease in biglycan mRNA levels is unique to aneurysmal disease of the aorta. In atherosclerosis and restenosis, biglycan expression is increased in comparison with normal artery. This decrease in biglycan expression may reflect important regulatory changes specific for the AAA. Furthermore, a decrease in biglycan gene expression and biosynthesis could have a broad impact on the physiology and matrix architecture of the aorta.
The effect of chemical reaction on diffusion

Abstract The perturbation of the velocity distribution of a reactant by a chemical reaction and the subsequent alteration of the diffusion rate are analyzed within the framework of a modified BGK equation. An intuitive explanation of the process giving rise to non-equilibrium corrections to the diffusion coefficient is presented. The effects of perturbed internal-state populations, which are more important than velocity perturbations for most chemical reactions, are also qualitatively discussed.
Divergent Selection for Vegetative Phase Change in Maize and Indirect Effects on Response to Puccinia sorghi

In maize (Zea mays L.), some experiments have indicated that early vegetative phase transition is associated with increased resistance to disease, insects, and stalk lodging. The sweet corn population Minn11 was selected over three cycles of divergent recurrent selection for early-phase transition and late-phase transition. Objectives were to determine the effectiveness of divergent recurrent selection and if the divergent selection program was associated with resistance to common rust (Puccinia sorghi). Selection resulted in a significant linear response for last leaf with juvenile wax in both the early and late directions of selection. The third cycle in the late direction (C3L) had two more leaves with juvenile wax than cycle zero (CO). The third cycle in the early direction (C3E) had 1.5 fewer leaves with juvenile wax than CO. To determine the effects of divergent selection for vegetative phase change on response to common rust the populations were inoculated with rust at three developmental times, vegetative stage (v) 5, v10, and v15, and rust damage was rated on leaves 7 through 13 individually, resulting in 21 potential responses for each direction of selection. Among the 21 leaf by developmental stage combinations, there were 9 significant linear trends in the late direction of selection. Most of the linear trends were detected in leaves 7 through 9. Selection for early transition did not affect response to common rust. The amount of leaf area damaged by rust in C3E never differed from the amount in CO.
Recrystallization study of high-energy electron-irradiated P(VDF-TrFE) 65/35 copolymer

Electron-irradiated poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] copolymer exhibits a very high electromechanical performance that is attractive for many applications. A study of recrystallization of irradiated P(VDF-TrFE) 65/35 mol % copolymer is reported in this paper. The structure and morphology of the recrystallized samples were determined using DSC and X-ray diffraction, and the polarization behavior of the recrystallized samples was studied. The nonpolar phase content of the recrystallized samples was much lower than that of the irradiated samples. For irradiated samples that exhibited the best electromechanical performance, the corresponding recrystallized material had a high polar phase content, with a correspondingly high remanent polarization. For samples irradiated with higher doses, although the polarization level was low immediately after irradiation, after recrystallization the material exhibited a much higher polarization level with a very small remanent polarization, an attractive combination for many electromechanical applications.
Semiclassical Casimir energies at finite temperature

We study the dependence on the temperature T of Casimir effects for a range of systems, and, in particular, for a pair of ideal parallel conductors, l 1 × l 2 , separated by a vacuum to a distance l 3 apart, with l 1 »l 3 and l 2 »l 3 . We find the Helmholtz free energy AT combining Matsubara's formalism in which the temperature T appears as a periodic Euclidean fourth dimension of circumference l T =∞c/k B T, with the semiclassical periodic orbital approximation of Gutzwiller. The approximation was shown to be exact for parallel plates at T=0. By inspecting the known semiclassical results for the Casimir energy at T=0 in two cases of a rectangular parallelepiped, (l 1 »l 3 and l 2 »l 3 , and l 1 »l 2 and l 1 »l 3 ). one is led to guess at the expression for A l of two ideal parallel conductors without performing any calculation. The result, A T = -(2∞cl 1 l 2 l 3 /π 2 )Σ ∞ n 3 = 1 Σ t n T = - ∞ L - 4 (n 3 ,n T ), where L(n 3 ,n T )=[(2n 3 l 3 ) 2 +(n T l T ) 2 ] 1 / 2 is the length of a classical periodic path on a two-dimensional cylinder section, has been derived previously hut never via periodic paths. At T=0 the semiclassical approach provides a finite and systematic approximation scheme in terms of classical paths, which is useful when the normal modes of the cavity cannot be determined either explicitly or implicitly. Slightly extending the domain of applicability of Gutzwiller's semiclassical periodic-orbit approach, we here evaluate the free energy at T>0 in terms of periodic classical paths in a four-dimensional cavity, which is the tensor product of the original cavity and a circle. The validity of this approach is at present restricted to particular systems.
Assessment of Dietary Intake and Food-related Behaviors of Gatekeepers in Homeless Families in Hawaii

Abstract We assessed diet quality and documented food-related behaviors of gatekeepers in homeless families with children in Hawaii. The dietary intake of gatekeepers residing in shelters (n = 44) was compared to that of gatekeepers living at beach parks (n = 13).The gatekeeper completed a 24-hour diet recall and answered questions about demographics and food-related behaviors. Diets were low in fiber, calcium, and vitamin A, did not vary significantly with shelter status, and were consistent with the diets of Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) participants in Hawaii. We concluded that both homeless groups would benefit from educational efforts similar to those used with EFNEP clients, with a greater focus on food safety, alternate food resources, and appropriate cooking methods.
125I-LH binding to rat testes at various ages and posthypophysectomy.

Binding of 125I-LH by the rat testes was investigated during various stages of sexual maturation and in mature animals following hypophysectomy. Hormone binding per mg testicular tissue increased with age and was shown to be due to larger receptor concentration rather than greater binding affinity. This observation cannot be accounted for by changes in the relative number of Leydig cells and suggests, therefore, that Leydig cells acquire additional receptors during sexual maturation.Binding of 125I-LH to mature testes declined after hypophysectomy. Three days following pituitary removal the LH-receptor concentration decreased to one half of normal control value, then remained unchanged until the 37th post-operation day. Replacement therapy with LH, FSH or testosterone propionate failed to maintain 125I-LH binding at prehypophysectomy level.
Differentiation plasticity of hematopoietic cells.

During the past few years an avalanche of papers describing the conversion of transplanted bone marrow cells into skeletal muscle, heart, liver, brain, and various epithelial tissues suggested a surprising degree of hematopoietic stem cell plasticity. For the clinician they raised the expectation
Electrophysiologic testing in patients who respond acutely to intravenous amiodarone for incessant ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Abstract The outcome of patients who receive intravenous amiodarone for suppression of incessant ventricular tachyarrhythmia has not been studied conclusively. We conducteda prospective study in which all patients who responded acutely to intravenous amiodarone and went on to receive a subsequent oral loading dose were subjected to electrophysiologictesting before hospital discharge to determine whether additional or alternative therapy would be required. Among 18 patients (17 with ischemic heart disease) who entered the protocol, 16 had a clinical response to intravenous amiodarone alone (12 patients) or in combination withe another antiarrhythmic drug (4 patients) and survived to study. Of these, 10 had monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) when first seen, five had polymorphous VT or ventricular fibrillation (VF), and three had both. In seven patients sustained monomorphic VT was inducible (group 1), and in nine it was not (group 2). The only clinical factor that distinguished group 1 from group 2 was age (group 1 > group 2). Five patients in group 1 and one in group 2 received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator; one patient in group 1 had a successful endocardial resection. During a mean follow-up period of 11 months, four patients in group 1 have had appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharges, whereas only one patient in group 2 has had a clinical event (sudden death). We conclude that intravenous amiodarone is a highly effective drug used alone or in combination to suppress spontaneous incessant VT/VF. Predischarge electrophysiologic testing, even in patients who have polymorphous VT, has predictive value over and above the observed clinical response. These preliminary results favor predischarge testing and aggressive device treatment in this cohort.
Wheat Gluten Swelling and Partial Solubility with Potential Impact on Starch-from-Gluten Separation by Ethanol Washing

ABSTRACT Swelling of wheat gluten may be a contributing factor in washing or displacement separation of gluten and starch using cold ethanol. To test this hypothesis, dissolution and swelling (settled volume or mass absorption) of a commercial gluten are reported here for the first time as a function of both temperature and ethanol solution concentration. In this test system, instant and substantial volumetric swelling was observed over most of the range of ethanol concentrations but not at 100%, v/v, ethanol. Settled volume reached a maximum of 50–70%, v/v, ethanol, and this was up to 3.5× the volume in absolute ethanol at 22°C and 2× the volume at −15°C. This maximum closely corresponds to the maximum dissolution of whole gluten and prior literature reports of full dissolution of gliadin. The reduction of settled volume at low temperature reflects the possible role of undissolved, gliadin-class proteins in reinforcing the gluten structure and limiting the ultimate swelling. The data suggest gluten-swell...
Radiation-induced increase in H3-valine incorporation by the chromosomes of Vicia faba

Abstract Germinating seeds of Vicia faba were divided into three groups. Group 1 was irradiated with 1000 R of X-rays while immersed in an H3-valine solution and remained in the isotopic solution during the post-irradiation period in which chromosomal restitution is known to occur. Group 2 was irradiated with an equal dose while immersed in water and transferred to an H3-valine solution after the restitution period. Group 3 served as a control and was immersed in tritiated valine for a period of time equal to the restitution period but was not irradiated. Grain counts were made over interphase nuclei before the initiation of cell divisions in the primary root tip and compared between irradiated and non-irradiated cells. Grain counts over the chromosomes and over the cytoplasm were scored at the first mitotic divisions (X1) of the cells of the primary root and compared among the three treatments. Germinating seeds were also irradiated with X-ray doses ranging from 300 to 1000 R while immersed in H3-valine and remained in the isotopic solution during the restitution period. Grain counts over X1 metaphase chromosomes were scored and a dose response curve was constructed. Chromosomes from tissue irradiated with 1000 R while immersed in the tritiated valine solution and which remained immersed during the restitution period (Group 1) showed an approximately 2·5 times greater labelling than those from non-irradiated controls (Group 3). Grain counts over chromosomes from tissue irradiated with 1000 R and transferred to the H3-valine solution after the restitution period (Group 2) were not significantly different from the non-irradiated controls. The level of cytoplasmic labelling did not change significantly after irradiation with 1000 r of X-rays. Grain counts over chromosomes from tissue exposed to doses ranging from 300 to 1000 R increased exponentially with dose.
Diffusion-engineered single-photon spectrometer for UV/visible detection

Keywords: Photon detector ; Tunnel junction ; Backtunnelling Reference LMIS1-ARTICLE-2007-013doi:10.1016/j.nima.2003.11.332 Record created on 2007-03-12, modified on 2016-08-08
Periodontal Therapy is Associated With Decreased Risk of Developing End-stage Renal Disease – A Study Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database

Article Title and Bibliographic information Surgical treatment for patients with periodontal disease reduces risk of end-stage renal disease: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study. Lee C-F, Lin C-L, Lin M-C, Lin S-Y, Sung F-C, Kao C-H. J Periodontol 2014;85(1):50-6. Reviewer Ronald G. Craig, DMD, PhD Purpose/Question This retrospective study used claims data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database to ask whether surgical periodontal therapy, defined as root planing or flap surgery, was associated with a reduced risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) when compared to periodontal disease without surgical periodontal therapy. Source of Funding Government: Taiwan Department of Health Clinical Trial and Research Center (DOH102-TD-B-111-004), Taiwan Department of Heath Cancer Research Center (DOH102-TD-C-111-005) and International Research Intensive Centers of Excellence in Taiwan (i-RICE) (NSC101-2911-1-002-303) Type of Study/Design Retrospective cohort study Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Prediction of the lowest melting point eutectic in the Fe−Cr−Mo−V−C system

Abstract In ternary systems, the liquidus surface is often represented by a group of constant temperature contours projected onto a composition plane, i.e. the liquidus projection. In such a diagram, the variation with temperature of the liquid corner of three phase tie-triangles appears as a series of univariant lines that intersect at eutectics and peritectics. These univariant lines can be projected onto a temperature vs. composition plane, too, regardless of the number of components, and from intersections of the lines on the projection the lowest melting point eutectic can be readily identified. In the present work, the lowest melting point eutectic in the FeCrMoVC system was investigated using univariant line projections predicted by Thermo-Cale software. The analysis covered the quinary system as well as the related binaries, ternaries and quaternaries.
Genetic Activation of Bk Currents using a Gain-Of-Function Subunit Alters Neuronal Activity

K+ channels play key roles in dampening excitability in many types of tissues. In neurons, the large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel inhibits excitability by participating in the fast afterhyperpolarization and limiting neurotransmitter release. Paradoxically, BK currents have also been recently linked to enhancing excitability and seizures. Using a transgenic approach, the dual nature of BK's influence on excitability was investigated. In vivo expression of a gain-of function BK channel alpha subunit (R207Q) recapitulates aspects of both the excitatory and inhibitory influence of BK currents. The direction of influence is dependent upon the relative expression level of wildtype and mutant subunits, the resulting BK current activation kinetics, and interaction with other fast-gated K+ currents.
High-speed fault detection and classification with neural nets

This paper introduces a new neural net (NN) approach for automated fault disturbance detection and classification. The NN design and implementation are aimed at high-speed processing which can provide selective real-time detection and classification of faults. The approach is extensively tested using the Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) simulations of two quite complex transmission system configurations. The results indicate that the speed and selectivity of the approach are quite adequate for a number of different transmission and distribution monitoring, control, and protection applications.
In vitro selection of phage RB69 RegA RNA binding sites yields UAA triplets

Abstract The SELEX method of in vitro selection was used to isolate RNAs that bind the RB69 RegA translational repressor protein immobilized on Ni-NTA agarose. After five rounds of SELEX, the pool of selected RNA displayed striking sequence uniformity: UAAUAAUAAUAAUA was clearly enriched in the 14 nucleotides that underwent selection. Individual, cloned molecules displayed a repeating (UAA) sequence, with only two RNAs having a 3′ AUG. Removing the 3′ AUG slightly reduced binding in gel shift assays, moving the AUG 5′ proximal of the (UAA) slightly improved binding, but (UAA)4 alone still bound the purified protein. Dissociation constants showed that RNA shortened to (UAA)3 and (UAA)2 also retained binding, whereas cytosine clearly prevented binding by RB69 RegA. Scanning of RB69 gene starts and ends with an RB69 RegA SELEX information weight matrix yielded 21 sequences as potential RegA sites. One site, on the mRNA for the pentameric (4:1) phage gp44/62 DNA polymerase clamp loader complex, has the RB69 gene 44 stop codon and 3′-adjacent gene 62 initiation codon in a sequence (GAAAUAAUAUG) that is similar to in vitro selected RNA and was shown to bind RB69 RegA. Sequences between the Shine–Dalgarno and initiation codon, which frequently contain a UAA stop codon of a 5′-adjacent gene, appear to be preferred RB69 RegA binding sites.
Tissue localization of phytochrome in dark-grown barley leaves

Abstract Phytochrome was spectrophotometrically determined to be differentially concentrated among separated tissues of dark-grown, norflurazon-treated barley l
Entrainment of riparian gravel and cobbles in an alluvial reach of a regulated canyon river

Many canyon rivers have channels and riparian zones composed of alluvial materials and these reaches, dominated by fluvial processes, are sensitive to alterations in streamflow regime. Prior to reservoir construction in the mid-1960s, banks and bars in alluvial reaches of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon National Monument, Colorado, USA, periodically were reworked and cleared of riparian vegetation by mainstem floods. Recent interest in maintaining near-natural conditions in the Black Canyon using reservoir releases has created a need to estimate sediment-entraining discharges for a variety of geomorphic surfaces composed of sediment ranging in size from gravel to small boulders. Sediment entrainment potential was studied at eight cross-sections in an alluvial reach of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon in 1994 and 1995. A one-dimensional water-surface profile model was used to estimate water-surface elevations, flow depths, and hydraulic conditions on selected alluvial surfaces for discharges ranging from 57 to 570 m3/s. Onsite observations before and after a flood of 270 m3/s confirmed sediment entrainment on several surfaces inundated by the flood. Selective entrainment of all but the largest particle sizes on the surface occurred at some locations. Physical evidence of sediment entrainment, or absence of sediment entrainment, on inundated surfaces generally was consistent with critical shear stresses estimated with a dimensionless critical shear stress of 0.030. Sediment-entrainment potential over a range of discharges was summarized by the ratio of the local boundary shear stress to the critical shear stress for d50, given hydraulic geometry and sediment-size characteristics. Differing entrainment potential for similar geomorphic surfaces indicates that estimation of minimum streamflow requirements based on sediment mobility is site-specific and that there is no unique streamflow that will initiate movement of d50 at every geomorphically similar location in the Black Canyon. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Should radioimmunotherapy be an initial treatment option in advanced-stage follicular lymphoma?

Should radioimmunotherapy be an initial treatment option in advanced-stage follicular lymphoma?
In vivo ATP synthesis rates in single human muscles during high intensity exercise

1. In vivo ATP synthesis rates were measured in the human medial gastrocnemius muscle during high intensity exercise using localized 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS). Six-second localized spectra were acquired during and following a 30 s maximal voluntary rate exercise using a magnetic resonance image-guided spectral localization technique. 2. During 30 s maximal voluntary rate exercise, ATPase fluxes were predominantly met by anaerobic ATP sources. Maximal in vivo glycogenolytic rates of 207 +/- 48 mM ATP min-1 were obtained within 15 s, decreasing to 72 +/- 34 mM ATP min-1 by the end of 30 s. In contrast, aerobic ATP synthesis rates achieved 85 +/- 2 % of their maximal capacity within 9 s and did not change throughout the exercise. The ratio of peak glycolytic ATP synthesis rate to maximal oxidative ATP synthesis was 2.9 +/- 0.9. 3. The non-Pi, non-CO2 buffer capacity was calculated to be 27.0 +/- 6. 2 slykes (millimoles acid added per unit change in pH). At the cessation of exercise, Pi, phosphomonoesters and CO2 were predicted to account for 17.2 +/- 1.5, 5.57 +/- 0.97 and 2.24 +/- 0.34 slykes of the total buffer capacity. 4. Over the approximately linear range of intracellular pH recovery following the post-exercise acidification, pHi recovered at a rate of 0.19 +/- 0.03 pH units min-1. Proton transport capacity was determined to be 16.4 +/- 4.1 mM (pH unit)-1 min-1 and corresponded to a maximal proton efflux rate of 15.3 +/- 2.7 mM min-1. 5. These data support the observation that glycogenolytic and glycolytic rates are elevated in vivo in the presence of elevated Pi levels. The data do not support the hypothesis that glycogenolysis follows Michealis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km for [Pi] in vivo. 6. In vivo -measured ATP utilization rates and the initial dependence on PCr and glycolysis were similar to those previously reported in in situ studies involving short duration, high intensity exercise. This experimental approach presents a non-invasive, quantitative measure of peak glycolytic rates in human skeletal muscle.
Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis mimicking neurosarcoidosis.

The approach to a patient presenting with multiple cranial europathies is complex given the diverse number of causes includng neoplastic, vascular, traumatic, infectious, autoimmune and nflammatory etiologies. In cases where imaging reveals thickened ura with enhancement around multiple cranial nerves and no priary cause can be found, the diagnosis of idiopathic hypertrophic achymeningitis (IHP) is given [1–3]. Here we present the case of a atient with multiple worsening cranial neuropathies who underent extensive evaluation consistent with neurosarcoidosis, but hose dural biopsy revealed IHP.
Formation of Cyclic Acetals from Allylic Hydroxy Phosphonates via Intramolecular Oxymercuration

Treatment of allylic hydroxy phosphonates in aldehyde solution with mercuric trifluoroacetate, followed by the reduction of the organomercurial intermediate, afforded the cyclic acetal derivatives. The reaction displays high diastereo- and regio-selectivity. 31 P NMR studies showed the formation of an intermediate hemiacetal and rapid formation of the organomercurial upon addition of mercuric trifluoroacetate. However, the oxymercuration was reversible, and attempts to remove the excess aldehyde often led to recovery of the starting material. Fortunately, reduction of the organomercurial intermediate with sodium cyanoborohydride in the presence of the aldehyde led to more reproducible yields.
Self-propelled screen-printable catalytic swimmers

A highly versatile 2D screen-printing fabrication of nature-inspired fish swimmers is described. The new screen-printing approach offers large-scale cost-effective fabrication of efficient multi-functional chemically-powered motors. Diverse fish architectures, consisting of several predesigned printed layers, including the mid-body, head, tail, and an entire fish, are achieved by printing different functional inks through the corresponding patterned stencils. The 2D fish-printing approach allows fine control of the shape, size, functionality and performance of the resulting fish swimmers. In particular, different functionalities can be incorporated at specific areas by sequential printing of specific layers based on different modified inks. For example, printing of catalytic tails containing various Pt loadings has been used to prepare fish with different propulsion efficiencies. Inks based on activated carbon powder have been used for accelerated removal of chemical pollutants. Nickel-containing carbon ink has been used for magnetic control of the fish directionality. This screen-printing fabrication route can be readily extended for incorporating other functional materials into one swimmer structure. Such a versatile, simple, scalable, fast, and cost-effective approach holds considerable promise for creating biomimetic swimmers with different properties for diverse practical applications.
Arginine Residue 384 at the Catalytic Center Is Important for Branching Enzyme II from Maize Endosperm

Branching enzyme (BE) belongs to the amylolytic family which contains four highly conserved regions. These regions are proposed to play an important role in catalysis as they are thought to be necessary for catalysis and/or binding the substrate. Only one arginine residue was found to be conserved in a catalytic center at the same position in all known sequences of BEs from various species as well as in the alpha-amylase enzyme family. In mBEII, a conserved Arg residue 384 is in catalytic region 2. We have used site-directed mutagenesis of the Arg-384 residue in order to study its possible role in BE. Previous chemical modification studies (H. Cao and J. Preiss, 1996, J. Prot. Chem. 15, 291-304) suggest that it may play a role in substrate binding. Replacement of Arg-384 by Ala, Ser, Gln, and Glu in the active site caused almost total inactivation. However, a conservative mutation of the conserved Arg-384 by Lys resulted in some residual activity, approximately 5% of the wild-type enzyme. The kinetics of the purified mutant R384K enzyme were investigated and no large effect on the Km of the substrate amylose for BE was observed. Thus, these results suggest that conserved Arg residue 384 in mBEII plays an important role in the catalytic function of BEs but may not be directly involved in substrate binding.
An unusual dehalogenating peroxidase from the marine terebellid polychaete Amphitrite ornata

The terebellid polychaete Amphitrite ornata produces no detectable volatile halogenated secondary metabolites, but frequently inhabits coastal marine sediments heavily contaminated with anthropogenic or biogenic haloaromatic compounds. This animal contains high levels of two very unusual enzymes, dehalogenating peroxidases. We have purified and partially characterized one of these dehaloperoxidases, DHP I. DHP I is a heme enzyme (Mr = 30,790) composed of two identical subunits (Mr = 15,529) and is very rich in the amino acids aspartic acid (+ asparagine) and glutamic acid (+ glutamine). The enzyme converts trihalogenated phenols, such as 2,4,6-tribromophenol, into dihalogenated quinones. The optimum pH for this reaction is 5.0. DHP I is also active against di- and monohalogenated phenols and will oxidize bromo-, chloro-, and fluorophenols. We have identified similar dehaloperoxidase activities in other infaunal polychaetes, including halometabolite-producing species.
Interferometric phase reconstruction by nonuniform shifting of the reference beam

A method for phase measurement in common-path interferometers, believed to be novel, is presented. We use the property of phase reconstruction algorithms, such as the Carre and Hariharan algorithms, that do not require uniform phase across the reference beam. Only the ratio of the phase steps must be the same at each pixel. We show phase measurement and reconstruction in a common-path interferometer by shifting either the tilt or the focus of the reference wave front. We present a theoretical explanation of phase measurement using this property. We also present results from a proof-of-principle experiment using a scatterplate interferometer, in conjunction with the tilt phase-shifting technique, to measure the reflected phase of a test optical element. Furthermore, we present a computer simulation to demonstrate the mathematical validity of this measurement technique using defocus shifting, rather than tilt shifting, in the reference wave front.
Energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials and high voltage scavenging circuitry

Piezoelectric transducers are increasingly being used to harvest energy from environmental vibrations in order to power remote sensors or to charge batteries that power the sensors. In this paper, two modifications have been analyzed and tested to increase the harvested electrical power from a vibrating piezoelectric material. First, the voltage inversion method, which has recently been used in piezoelectric-based energy harvesting, and that shapes the voltage to be in phase with current in order to increase the harvested power is reviewed. By injecting additional current, a new voltage inversion scheme, referred as voltage compensation scheme, is introduced. This new scheme provides more than 14% increase in harvesting power over the parallel inversion method (parallel SSHI) alone and more than 50% in the case of series inversion method (series SSHI) alone. Second, the tapered cantilever beams were shown to be more effective in generating a uniform strain profile over rectangular and trapezoidal beams if they are precisely shaped. Using this modification, it is shown that a 300% increase in harvested power over available methods in the literature is obtainable.
The Influence of Temperature on Toxicity

Our understanding of the effects of temperature on toxic response has seen resurgence in the past several decades, with the development of better methods to study the integration of autonomic and behavioural thermoregulatory responses in rodents and other species. Radiotelemetry provides researchers with the best tool to study the thermoregulatory responses in undisturbed rodents exposed chronically or acutely to toxic chemicals. The thermoregulatory response to acute exposure to many toxic chemicals involves a regulated hypothermic response, characterized by an increase in autonomic thermoeffectors to increase heat loss and a behavioural preference for cooler temperatures. This thermoeffector response is quickly manifested by a marked drop in the core temperature in rodents. However, in humans and other large mammals, the hypothermic response is meagre due to their large thermal inertia. A combination of exposure to cool temperatures and a moderate hypothermic response has been found to benefit survival with a variety of toxic agents. Thus, the integrated thermoregulatory response of rodents to lower their core temperature seems to be an adaptive response. On the other hand, fever or hyperthermia is often seen in humans and other large mammals exposed to various toxicants. A fever is also seen in rodents provided that core temperature is monitored without disturbing the animal (e.g. telemetry). The universal effects of temperature on chemical toxicity calls for researchers to have a better understanding of the thermoregulatory effects of environmental toxicants. Keywords: thermoregulation; autonomic; behavioural; radiotelemetry; thermal stress; organophosphate insecticides; fever
Radial Diffusivity Predicts Demyelination in ex-vivo Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Cords

Objective Correlation of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with histochemical staining for demyelination and axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) ex vivo human cervical spinal cords.
Vehicle Suspension Measurements: Evaluation of the Benefits of Dynamic over Quasistatic Kinematics and Compliance Testing3

Abstract Vehicle dynamics packages can be used to simulate handling or braking maneuvers that would otherwise need to be performed outdoors. Many of the parameters for these types of vehicle models...
Evaluating initial spine trauma response: Injury time to trauma center in PA, USA ☆

Historical perceptions regarding the severity of traumatic spinal cord injury has led to considerable disparity in triage to tertiary care centers. This article retrospectively reviews a large regional trauma database to analyze whether the diagnosis of spinal trauma affected patient transfer timing and patterns. The Pennsylvania Trauma database was retrospectively reviewed. All acute trauma patient entries for level I and II centers were categorized for diagnosis, mechanism, and location of injury, analyzing transportation modality and its influence on time of arrival. A total of 1162 trauma patients were identified (1014 blunt injuries, 135 penetrating injuries and 12 other) with a mean transport time of 3.9 hours and a majority of patients arriving within 7 hours (>75%). Spine trauma patients had the longest mean arrival time (5.2 hours) compared to blunt trauma (4.2 hours), cranial neurologic injuries (4.35 hours), and penetrating injuries (2.13 hours, p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant correlation between earlier arrivals and both cranial trauma (p = 0.0085) and penetrating trauma (p < 0.0001). The fastest modality was a fire rescue (0.93 hours) or police (0.63 hours) vehicle with Philadelphia County (1.1 hour) having the quickest arrival times. Most trauma patients arrived to a specialty center within 7 hours of injury. However subsets analysis revealed that spine trauma patients had the greatest transit times. Present research trials for spinal cord injuries suggest earlier intervention may lead to improved recovery. Therefore, it is important to focus on improvement of the transportation triage system for traumatic spinal patients.
Resource effects on denitrification are mediated by community composition in tidal freshwater wetlands soils

Accurate prediction of denitrification rates remains difficult, potentially owing to complex uncharacterized interactions between resource conditions and denitrifier communities. To better understand how the availability of organic matter (OM) and nitrate (NO3 (-) ), two of the resources most fundamental to denitrifiers, affect these populations and their activity, we performed an in situ resource manipulation in tidal freshwater wetland soils. Soils were augmented with OM to double ambient concentrations, using either compost or plant litter, and fertilized with KNO3 at two levels (low: ∼ 5 mg l(-1) NO3 (-) -N and high: ∼ 50 mg l(-1) NO3 (-) -N) in a full factorial design. Community composition of nirS-denitrifers (assessed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) was interactively regulated by both NO3 (-) concentration and OM type, and the associated shifts in community composition were relatively consistent across sampling dates (6, 9 and 12 months of incubation). Denitrification potential (pDNF) rates were also strongly affected by NO3 (-) fertilization and increased by ∼ 10-100-fold. Path analysis revealed that the influence of resource availability on pDNF rates was largely mediated through changes in nirS-denitrifier community composition. These results suggest that a greater understanding of denitrifier community ecology may enable more accurate prediction of denitrification rates.
Watching sex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of sexual Behavior

Background. Early sexual initiation is an important social and health issue. A recent survey sug- gested that most sexually experienced teens wish they had waited longer to have intercourse; other data indicate that unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are more common among those who begin sex- ual activity earlier. The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested that portrayals of sex on entertainment television (TV) may contribute to precocious adolescent sex. Approximately two-thirds of TV programs contain sexual content. However, empirical data examining the relationships between exposure to sex on TV and adoles- cent sexual behaviors are rare and inadequate for ad- dressing the issue of causal effects. Design and Participants. We conducted a national longitudinal survey of 1792 adolescents, 12 to 17 years of age. In baseline and 1-year follow-up interviews, partic- ipants reported their TV viewing habits and sexual ex- perience and responded to measures of more than a dozen factors known to be associated with adolescent sexual initiation. TV viewing data were combined with the results of a scientific analysis of TV sexual content to derive measures of exposure to sexual content, depictions of sexual risks or safety, and depictions of sexual behav- ior (versus talk about sex but no behavior). Outcome Measures. Initiation of intercourse and ad- vancement in noncoital sexual activity level, during a 1-year period. Results. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that adolescents who viewed more sexual content at base- line were more likely to initiate intercourse and progress to more advanced noncoital sexual activities during the subsequent year, controlling for respondent characteris- tics that might otherwise explain these relationships. The size of the adjusted intercourse effect was such that youths in the 90th percentile of TV sex viewing had a predicted probability of intercourse initiation that was approximately double that of youths in the 10th percen- tile, for all ages studied. Exposure to TV that included only talk about sex was associated with the same risks as exposure to TV that depicted sexual behavior. African American youths who watched more depictions of sexual risks or safety were less likely to initiate intercourse in the subsequent year. Conclusions. Watching sex on TV predicts and may hasten adolescent sexual initiation. Reducing the amount of sexual content in entertainment programming, reduc- ing adolescent exposure to this content, or increasing references to and depictions of possible negative conse- quences of sexual activity could appreciably delay the initiation of coital and noncoital activities. Alternatively, parents may be able to reduce the effects of sexual con- tent by watching TV with their teenaged children and discussing their own beliefs about sex and the behaviors portrayed. Pediatricians should encourage these family discussions. Pediatrics 2004;114:e280 -e289. URL: http: //www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/114/3/e280; con- doms, media, sex, television.
Effects of plant-community composition on the vectorial capacity and fitness of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae.

Dynamics of Anopheles gambiae abundance and malaria transmission potential rely strongly on environ- mental conditions. Female and male An. gambiae use sugar and are affected by its absence, but how the presence or absence of nectariferous plants affects An. gambiae abundance and vectorial capacity has not been studied. We report on four replicates of a cohort study performed in mesocosms with sugar-poor and sugar-rich plants, in which we measured mosquito survival, biting rates, and fecundity. Survivorship was greater with access to sugar-rich plant species, and mortality patterns were age-dependent. Sugar-poor populations experienced Weibull mortality patterns, and of four pop- ulations in the sugar-rich environment, two female and three male subpopulations were better fitted by Gompertz functions. A tendency toward higher biting rates in sugar-poor mesocosms, particularly for young females, was found. Therefore, vectorial capacity was pulled in opposing directions by nectar availability, resulting in highly variable vectorial capacity values.
Process and Outcome Expectations for the Dialectical Inquiry, Devil's Advocacy, and Consensus Techniques of Strategic Decision Making:

This study examined expectations of cognitive conflict, social conflict, decision confidence, and postdecision group affect in the dialectical inquiry, devil's advocacy, and consensus decision-making techniques. Expectations show some congruence with the affective, but not objective, outcomes found in prior empirical studies. Expectations were found to discriminate among dialectical inquiry, devil's advocacy, and consensus.
The Photosynthesis and Cell Shape Rhythms can be Naturally Uncoupled from the Biological Clock in Euglena gracilis

Lonergan, T. A. 1986. The photosynthesis and cell shape rhythms can be naturally uncoupled from the biological clock in Euglena gracilis.—}. exp. Bot. 37: 1334-1340. A naturally occurring population of Euglena (Klebs strain Z) cells, with unusual biological clock properties, has been isolated. The photosynthesis reactions, which are usually controlled by the biological clock, are uncoupled from the clock in the new population. The rate of oxygen evolution is influenced predominantly by the environmental growth parameters instead of the biological clock. In addition, the rhythm in cellular shape has a different timing from the control population and can be temporarily uncoupled from the clock by lowering the light intensity used for growth. Key words—Biological clock, photosynthesis, Euglena. Correspondence to: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans—Lakefront, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, U.S.A.