cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Pinal Schist: an early Proterozoic quartz wacke association in southeastern Arizona

Abstract At the type locality near Globe, Arizona the Pinal Schist of early Proterozoic age is comprised largely of quartz wacke turbidites which appear to have been deposited as a submarine fan. Sand grains are principally monocrystalline and polycrystalline quartz, derived chiefly from plutonic sources with a minor contribution from low-grade metamorphic sources. The subrounded to rounded shapes of quartz sand and the sparsity of detrital feldspar indicate a significant pre-turbidite erosional history. Felsic volcanic fragments also comprise variable proportions of the clasts. QFL modal parameters indicate a source for Pinal sediments comprised chiefly of granites and felsic volcanics, representing a recycled terrane. Major and trace element contents of Pinal sediments also suggest that they are largely quartz wackes and that none are graywackes. REE elements exhibit typical Phanerozoic shale patterns and reflect the importance of granite or rhyolite with negative Eu anomalies in the source area. High U, Th, Rb, and Hf contents and high Rb/Sr, La/Th and K/Na ratios also favor a source of dominantly granite and rhyolite. An arc setting is clearly unacceptable for the Pinal sediments. Geochemical and petrographic results favor either a continental ridt or collisional orogen. A model is proposed in which Pinal turbidites accumulate in an inundated continental rift. Granite and felsic volcanic sources lay to the east and represent older uplifted segments of the rift. Intense erosion in an intertidal zone may have rounded quartz grains and selectively removed feldspars prior to turbidity-current transport.
Heart rate, breathing and voluntary diving of the elephant trunk snake, Acrochordus Javanicus

Abstract 1. 1. The elephant trunk snake (Acrochordus javanicus)is highly adapted morphologically for aquatic life. 2. 2. Unrestrained snakes spent the day resting quietly on the bottom of their tank; breathing was infrequent and accompanied by pronounced tachycardia. 3. 3. At night snakes swam continuously; breathing was more frequent and respiratory tachycardia was reduced. 4. 4. Snakes heated faster than they cooled when moved between water temperatures of 15 and 35°C because swimming at the higher temperature facilitated convective heat transfer. 5. 5. The heart rate at a given body temperature was the same whether snakes were heating or cooling in air or in water. 6. 6. Acrochordus' major adaptations for aquatic life are behavioral and morphological.
Use of organometallic chemistry for hydrotreatment catalyst development

This paper describes our use of organometallic chemistry to develop enhanced hydrotreatment catalysts. The approach involves (1) identifying the most active catalytic metals, (2) choosing precursors that will be easily activated into these materials under mild conditions, and (3) then increasing the surface area to provide a highly active catalyst. We describe our efforts in studying hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) reactions, including homogeneous reaction chemistry of the CN bond, development of enhanced HDN catalysts for coal liquids, and some applications of organometallic chemistry towards coal liquefaction.
Negative inotropic effects of cytokines on the heart mediated by nitric oxide

The direct effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the contractility of mammalian heart were studied. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-2 inhibited contractility of isolated hamster papillary muscles in a concentration-dependent, reversible manner. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) blocked these negative inotropic effects. L-Arginine reversed the inhibition by L-NMMA. Removal of the endocardial endothelium did not alter these responses. These findings demonstrate that the direct negative inotropic effect of cytokines is mediated through a myocardial nitric oxide synthase. The regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and myocardial nitric oxide synthase may provide new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cardiac disease.
High‐Field Carrier Transport in Inhomogeneous Semiconductors

The carrier transport in inhomogeneous solids is reevaluated in respect to the differences between a built-in field within a space charge region and an external field, and related to differences in carrier redistribution and carrier heating, resulting in a different field-dependence of the mobility. With the assistance of electrostatic and electrochemical potential distributions the regions of substantial carrier heating can be identified as regions in which the current is carried by diffusion only (DO), or by drift only (DRO) in forward (or low reverse), and in high reverse bias respectively, and are distinguished from the region of a major electrostatic potential drop (Boltzmann region) in which the net current is small compared to drift and diffusion. In junction devices major carrier heating does only occur in DO- and DRO regions, and only for minority carriers. Ladungstransport in Inhomogenen Halbleitern bei hohen Feldstarken Unter Berucksichtigung des Unterschieds zwischen einem internen Feld in einem Raumladungsgebiet und einem externen Feld wird der Ladungstragertransport im inhomogenen Festkorper unter Beachtung der Moglichkeiten der Ladungstragerumverteilung oder -erwarmung, die zu einer unterschiedlichen Feldstarkenabhagigkeit der Beweglichkeit fuhren, behandelt. Mit Hilfe von elektrostatischen und elektrochemischen Potentialverteilungen konnen die Gebiete intensiver Ladungstragererwarmung als solche identifiziert werden, in denen der Strom nur aus entweder einer Diffusionskomponente (DO) bei treibender oder auch kleiner Gegenspannung oder einer Driftkomponente (DRO) bei hoher Gegenspannung besteht, und die verschieden von Gebieten mit einem wesentlichen elektrostatischen Potentialabfall (Boltzmannbereich) sind, in welchem der Nettostrom klein, ist im Vergleich zu Drift und Diffusion. In Ubergangsbereichen tritt wesentliche Ladungstragererwarmung nur in DO- und DRO-Gebieten und nur an Minoritatsladungstragern auf.
A study of the histopathology of gingival hyperplasia in mental patients receiving sodium diphenylhydantoinate.

T he remarkable effect of sodium diphenylhydantoinate (commonly called d-Dilantin or Epanutin) on grand ma1 seizures has promoted extensive use of the drug in many related mental cases.l While most side actions can be controlled by other pharmacologic agents, the gingival hyperplasia produced by Dilantin persists, regardless of parallel treatments. Numerous att,empts with antihistamines and vitamin C rendered no positive results, and the literature still reflect,s a state of conflict.2-s For details on the historical survey, the reader is referred to the excellent reviews by Reader9 and by Gardner and co11eagues.1” Insofar as the microscopic appearance of the lesion is concerned, the appearance of the epithelium, the proliferation of underlying connective tissue elements, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells have been described. However, many of the histopathologic observations made in the past have been supplementary to clinical observations.lOp I1 In this article we will attempt to describe a comprehensive picture of histopathologic changes in forty-eight mental patients who have been under regular treatment with sodium diphenylhydantoinate.
Photodegradable plastics: end-of-life design principles

Abstract Photochemically degradable polymers and plastics are reviewed with an emphasis on the environmental and molecular factors that control the onset of degradation and the rate of degradation. A number of principles are beginning to emerge for the design of viable photochemically degradable plastics. Among the principles discussed are those relating to the effects of chromophores, initiators, antioxidants, temperature, oxygen diffusion into the plastic, polymer crystallinity, tensile and compressive stress, and the absorbed light intensity on the plastic. To obtain a plastic with a controlled lifetime and a specific rate of degradation, many of these parameters can be controlled or adjusted in the design stage of the plastic.
MODIFICATION OF CONDITIONS AT THE WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF FRESH-MARKET TOMATOES

Previous studies suggested that modification of storage temperatures at the wholesale warehouse could sufficiently retard ripening to permit harvest of fresh-market tomatoes at a later maturity, thus allowing for greater flavor development on the vine. Tomatoes (cvs ‘Celebrity’ and ‘Sunny’) were harvested either at the breaker or pink stages of maturity. Simulated wholesale storage was conducted by holding breaker fruit for 3 days at 12°C or 21°C and pink fruit for 3 days at 5°C or 37°C. Short-term low- and high-temperature storage of pink tomatoes delayed ripening sufficiently to maintain acceptable color and firmness during retail and consumer storage at 21°C for 7 days. Flavor characteristics of tomatoes harvested at the pink stage of maturity were not significantly superior to those of fruit harvested at the breaker stage. Thus, although ripening can be delayed in pink tomatoes during postharvest handling, delaying harvest from the breaker to the pink stage does not offer the flavor advantage to warrant a change in the handling system.
Hyperpolarizing responses to application of glutamate in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.

Abstract Micropressure injection of glutamate onto the apical dendrites of hippocampal CA 1 pyramidal cells usually produces a fast rising, brief depolarization. However, hyperpolarizing responses with longer durations (300–500 ms) can be produced over a range of drug electrode locations. These hyperpolarizations can be reversed with intracellular injection of hyperpolarizing current. Localized application of glutamate in the stratum radiatum produces a depolarizing response in intracellularly recorded CA 1 interneurons. Previous studies have shown that the dendrites of GABA-ergic basket cell interneurons extend into the stratum radiatum and are involved in mediating feedforward inhibition of pyramidal neurons. The glutamate-induced hyperpolarizations observed in pyramidal neurons are probably due to direct excitation of dendrites of interneurons, which in turn produce a synaptic inhibition in pyramidal cells.
Reconsidering Automated Feedback: A Test-Driven Approach

Writing meaningful software tests requires students to think critically about a problem and consider a variety of cases that might break the solution code. Consequently, to overcome bugs in their code, it would be beneficial for students to reflect over their work and write robust tests rather than relying on trial-and-error techniques. Automated grading systems provide students with prompt feedback on their programming assignments and may help them identify where their interpretation of requirements do not match the instructor's expectations.However, when automated grading systems help students identify bugs in their code, the systems may inadvertently discourage students from thinking critically and testing thoroughly and instead encourage dependence on the instructor's tests. In this paper, we explain a framework for identifying whether a student has adequately tested a specific feature of their code that is failing an instructor's tests. Using an implementation of the framework, we analyzed an automated grading system's feedback for programming assignments and found that it often provided hints that may discourage reflective testing.
Nonproductive Events in Ring-Closing Metathesis Using Ruthenium Catalysts

The relative TONs of productive and nonproductive metathesis reactions of diethyl diallylmalonate are compared for eight different ruthenium-based catalysts. Nonproductive cross metathesis is proposed to involve a chain-carrying ruthenium methylidene. A second more-challenging substrate (dimethyl allylmethylallylmalonate) that forms a trisubstituted olefin product is used to further delineate the effect of catalyst structure on the relative efficiencies of these processes. A steric model is proposed to explain the observed trends.
Learning fundamental mechanics relationships using inquiry-based learning activities

Inquiry-based learning activities (IBLAs) consist of presenting teams of students with a physical situation and asking them to predict what will happen. The students collaboratively experiment with physical hardware that becomes the "authority", thus forcing students to confront any misconceptions. Several variations of the activity are presented, requiring students to examine and reformulate their thinking on the mechanics concepts involved. We have developed four IBLAs to date, focused on the principles of mass and acceleration relationships, work energy, and gyroscopic motion. Initial results have been very promising for the IBLAs, with increased performance on the Dynamics Concept Inventory and on subsequent transfer questions. In order to improve upon IBLA implementation, including when to intervene with explanations, we are recording talk-alouds with individual students. Sessions from the first IBLA, which involves hanging different masses on pulleys and predicting accelerations, have indicated that students can often predict and explain the first two iterations of the activity, but struggle when presented with a slightly different version of the concept. Our future work involves measuring engagement and motivation during the IBLAs, determining when and why an "aha" moment occurs, and developing best practices for developing, implementing, and assessing IBLAs.
Reactions of O2H− and its hydrates with CH3CN, CO2 and SO2

Abstract Gas-phase hydrated anions O2H− (H2O)n = 0 − 2 are produced by a simple discharge ionization method, and their reactivities are studied in a fast flow reactor at room temperature. Rate constants for the reactions of O2H− and its hydrates with CH3CN, SO2 and CO2 are measured, and reaction mechanisms are proposed to account for the findings. In the case of CH3CN, dominant reaction channels for O2H− are proton transfer to form CH2CN− and a more complicated mechanism to form CN−; association and switching evidently may occur for reactions with O2H− (H2O)n = 1,2. For SO2 and CO2, the major reaction pathways are switching reactions leading to the formation of HCO−3 (H2O)n, HSO−3 (H2O)n and HSO−4 (H2O)n. The effect of solvation, and some possible applications to atmospheric chemistry are also discussed.
Flexible Energy Efficient Density Control on Wireless Sensor Networks

In dense wireless sensor networks, density control is an important technique for prolonging the network's lifetime while providing sufficient sensing coverage. In this paper, we develop three new density control protocols by considering the tradeoff between energy usage and coverage. The first one, Non-Overlapping Density Control, aims at maximizing coverage while avoiding the overlap of sensing areas of active sensors. For the ideal case, a set of optimality conditions are derived to select sensors such that the sensing space is covered systematically to maximize the usage of each sensor and minimize the coverage gap. Based on theoretical optimality conditions, we develop a distributed protocol that can be efficiently implemented in large sensor networks. Next, we present a protocol called Non-Overlapping Density Control Based on Distances that does not require location information of the nodes. This protocol is more flexible and easier to implement than existing location-based methods. Finally, we present a new range-adjustable protocol called Non-Overlapping Density Control for Adjustable Sensing Ranges. It allows heterogenous sensing ranges for different sensors to save energy consumption. Extensive simulation shows promising results of the new protocols.
Survival Analysis in Clinical Trials: Past Developments and Future Directions

The field of survival analysis emerged in the 20th century and experienced tremendous growth during the latter half of the century. The developments in this field that have had the most profound impact on clinical trials are the Kaplan-Meier (1958, Journal of the American Statistical Association 53, 457-481) method for estimating the survival function, the log-rank statistic (Mantel, 1966, Cancer Chemotherapy Report 50, 163-170) for comparing two survival distributions, and the Cox (1972, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B 34, 187-220) proportional hazards model for quantifying the effects of covariates on the survival time. The counting-process martingale theory pioneered by Aalen (1975, Statistical inference for a family of counting processes, Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley) provides a unified framework for studying the small- and large-sample properties of survival analysis statistics. Significant progress has been achieved and further developments are expected in many other areas, including the accelerated failure time model, multivariate failure time data, interval-censored data, dependent censoring, dynamic treatment regimes and causal inference, joint modeling of failure time and longitudinal data, and Baysian methods.
Exploring the Achievement Gap Between White And Minority Students in Texas

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) has been used to document and track an achievement gap between white and minority students in Texas. Some educators have credited the TAAS with fueling a drive to close the achievement gap while others suggest that TAAS scores may be misleading because of factors such as score inflation and a possible ceiling effect. The purpose of this study was to analyze the gap in mathematics achievement for eighth grade students. The study compared TAAS and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test results to determine if the achievement gap between white, Hispanic, and African-American Students had narrowed between 1996 and 2000. Results indicate that TAAS mean scores increased significantly for all three ethnic groups between 1996 and 2000. Comparison of the TAAS test score frequency distributions for each ethnic group indicated that white students' scores shifted from the middle to the upper portion of the test score range while minority students' scores shifted from the lower to the middle and higher score range. Both white and minority students' TAAS test score distributions were significantly more negatively skewed in 2000 than in 1996. Comparisons between white and minority students' TAAS scores showed that white students had significantly higher scores than either Hispanic or African-American students in both 1996 and 2000. Comparison of mean score differences in 1996 and 2000 indicated that the achievement gap between white and minority students had narrowed. NAEP scores increased significantly from 1996 to 2000 for Hispanic students, but not for white or African-American students. However, test score distribution patterns showed small positive changes for all three ethnic groups. Comparisons between ethnic groups indicated that there were significant differences between white and minority students' scores in both 1996 and 2000. Comparison of mean score differences in 1996 and 2000 indicated that the achievement gap between Hispanic white students had narrowed slightly but that there was no change in the achievement gap between white and African-American students. Analysis of the TAAS test score distribution patterns indicated the likelihood that a ceiling effect had impacted students' scores. The evidence for a ceiling effect was strongest for white students. In 2000, 60.4% of white students had a TAAS score that fell in the top 10% of the score range. In contrast, there was no evidence of a ceiling effect for the NAEP. Mean score gains on the TAAS are only partially substantiated by the NAEP data. Furthermore, there is a very strong possibility that a ceiling effect artificially restricted the 2000 TAAS scores for white students and created the illusion that the achievement gap between minority and white students had been narrowed.
Structural health assessment at a local level using minimum information

Abstract A novel structural health assessment (SHA) technique is presented in this paper. It is a finite element-based time-domain nonlinear system identification technique. It can assess structural health at the element level using only a limited number of noise-contaminated responses and without using information on input excitation. It assesses the location and severity of defect(s) by tracking the changes in the stiffness properties of individual elements from their expected values. The procedure integrates an iterative least squares technique and the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) concept. The integrated procedure significantly improves the basic UKF concept. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedure, the health of a relatively large structural system under single and multiple excitations is assessed. Small and relatively large defects are introduced at different locations in the structure and the capability of the method to detect the health of the structure is examined. The optimum number and location of measured responses are investigated. It is demonstrated that the method is capable of identifying defect-free and defective states of the structures using minimum information. Furthermore, it can locate defect spot within a defective element. It is also demonstrated that the proposed method, denoted as UKF-UI-WGI, is superior to the extended Kalman filter-based procedures for SHA developed by the team earlier.
CLIMATE MODE COVARIABILITY AND CLIMATE SHIFTS

It has previously been shown from the collective behavior of a network of observed climate indices that this network synchronized several times in the period 1900–2000. Further, it has been found that in those cases where the synchronous state was followed by a steady increase in the coupling strength between the indices, the synchronous state was destroyed, after which a new climate state emerged. These shifts are associated with significant changes in global temperature trend and in El Nino/Southern Oscillation variability. Subsequently, the evidence for such type of behavior has been found to occur in three climate simulations using state-of-the-art models as well as in the observed data in the 21st century. This was the first time that this mechanism, which appears consistent with the theory of synchronized chaos, has been discovered in a physical system of the size and complexity of the climate system. Here we extend this approach to consider proxy data for climate modes going back several centuries. While noise in the proxy data in some cases masks the mechanism, we find significant coherence between both synchronization and coupling and global temperature. These results provide further support that the above mechanism for climate shifts is a robust feature of the climate system.
Recent History: Varieties of Youthful Experience: The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920's, by Paula S, Fass; Loose Change: Three Women of the Sixties, by Sara Davidson

(1977). Recent History: Varieties of Youthful Experience: The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920's, by Paula S, Fass; Loose Change: Three Women of the Sixties, by Sara Davidson. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning: Vol. 9, No. 9, pp. 58-59.
Inhibition of Interleukin-1β Converting Enzyme Family Proteases (Caspases) Reduces Cold Injury-Induced Brain Trauma and DNA Fragmentation in Mice:

The authors examined the effect of z-VAD.FMK, an inhibitor that blocks caspase family proteases, on cold injury-induced brain trauma, in which apoptosis as well as necrosis is assumed to play a role. A vehicle alone or with z-VAD.FMK was administered into the cerebral ventricles of mice 15 minutes before and 24 and 48 hours after cold injury. At 24 hours after cold injury, infarction volumes in the z-VAD.FMK-treated animals were significantly smaller than infarction volumes in the vehicle-treated animals, and were further decreased at 72 hours (0.92 ± 1.80 mm3, z-VAD.FMK-treated animals; 7.46 ± 3.53 mm3, vehicle-treated animals; mean ± SD, n = 7 to 8). The amount of DNA fragmentation was significantly decreased in the z-VAD.FMK-treated animals compared with the vehicle-treated animals, as shown by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine 5′-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling staining and DNA gel electrophoresis. By Western blot analysis, both the proform and activated form of interleukin-1β converting enzyme (caspase 1) were detected in the control brain, and the activated form showed moderate reduction after cold injury-induced brain trauma. These results indicate that caspase inhibitors could reduce cold injury-induced brain trauma by preventing neuronal cell death by DNA damage. The caspase family proteases appear to contribute to the mechanisms of cell death in cold injury-induced brain trauma and to provide therapeutic targets for traumatic brain injury.
Connect 2 congress: visual analytics for civic oversight

Strong representative democracies rely on educated, informed, and active citizenry to provide oversight of the government. We present Connect 2 Congress (C2C), a novel, high temporal-resolution and interactive visualization of legislative behavior. We present the results of focus group and domain expert interviews that demonstrate how different stakeholders use C2C for a variety of investigative activities. The evaluation provided evidence that users are able to support or reject claims made by candidates and conduct free-form, low-cost, exploratory analysis into the legislative behavior of representatives across time periods.
Rheometric study of particle–particle interactions in suspensions

Gillespie's development of the Goodeve impulse theory of suspension viscosity leads to a relationship that explicitly gives the particle–particle interaction energy as a function of a number of variables. Studies with a concentric cylinder rotational viscometer have demonstrated the usefulness of this theory in providing quantitative insight into the roles played by the dispersed phase, the solvent phase, and the interface in the aggregation behavior of suspensions. Silica suspensions in dibutyl phthalate, hexadecane, mineral oil, ethylene glycol, and mixtures of these solvents have been investigated with and without varying amounts of different surface-active agents, including water. In some cases, the data have been correlated with the sedimentation behavior of the suspensions.
Apathy is associated with white matter abnormalities in anterior, medial brain regions in persons with HIV infection

Apathy is a relatively common psychiatric syndrome in HIV infection, but little is known about its neural correlates. In the present study, we examined the associations between apathy and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices in key frontal white matter regions in the thalamocorticostriatal circuit, which has been implicated in the expression of apathy. Nineteen participants with HIV infection and 19 demographically comparable seronegative comparison subjects completed the Apathy subscale of the Frontal Systems Behavioral Scale as a part of a comprehensive neuropsychiatric research evaluation. When compared to the seronegative participants, the HIV+ group had significantly more frontal white matter abnormalities. Within HIV+ persons, and as predicted, higher ratings of apathy were associated with greater white matter alterations in the anterior corona radiata, genu, and orbital medial prefrontal cortex. The associations between white matter alterations and apathy were independent of depression and were s...
Optimal exact least squares rank minimization

In multivariate analysis, rank minimization emerges when a low-rank structure of matrices is desired as well as a small estimation error. Rank minimization is nonconvex and generally NP-hard, imposing one major challenge. In this paper, we consider a nonconvex least squares formulation, which seeks to minimize the least squares loss function with the rank constraint. Computationally, we develop efficient algorithms to compute a global solution as well as an entire regularization solution path. Theoretically, we show that our method reconstructs the oracle estimator exactly from noisy data. As a result, it recovers the true rank optimally against any method and leads to sharper parameter estimation over its counterpart. Finally, the utility of the proposed method is demonstrated by simulations and image reconstruction from noisy background.
Taxonomic and biochronological significance of specimens of the Triassic dicynodontDinodontosaurus Romer 1943 in the Tübingen collection

Two species of the dicynodontDinodontosaurus from the Middle Triassic interval of the Santa Maria Formation in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil,D. tener (von Huene 1935) andD. turpior (von Huene 1935), are based on undiagnostic lectotypes and thus arenomina dubia. The oldest valid, available name for a species ofDinodontosaurus isD. oliveirai Romer 1943, the type species of the genus. (The unused senior subjective synonymDiodontosaurus pedroanum Caldas, 1936 has been suppressed by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature).Chanaria platyceps Cox 1968 andDinodontosaurus brevirostris Cox 1968 are junior subjective synonyms ofD. oliveirai Romer 1943.Dinodontosaurus thus is a monospecific genus known from the Santa Maria Formation and the Ischichuca (= Chanares) Formation of northwestern Argentina. This dicynodont and associated tetrapods characterize the Chanarian land-vertebrate faunachron, which is of Middle Triassic age, probably Ladinian.
The origin of protein bodies in developing soybean cotyledons: a proposal

The biogenesis of protein bodies is examined in cotyledons of soybean (Glycine max, Merr) at the time when reserve protein is beginning to accumulate in the cotyledons. Reserve protein is deposited in the central vacuoles of parenchyma cells and new protein bodies arise from the central vacuole by pinching-off small masses of reserve protein surrounded by a portion of the tonoplast.
Review: Endothelial dysfunction: A potential tool in gender related cardiovascular disease:

The overwhelming importance of distinctive cardiovascular disease profile in women has stimulated enormous efforts to disclose its cause. In this review, we discuss vascular endothelium as a potential phenotypic marker for the genetic difference. As it is a potentially modifiable factor for cardiovascular disease, every effort should be made to detect it, either directly or indirectly, at the earliest in females who are at risk, so that the future cardiovascular events might be prevented.
Stereoselective sulphate conjugation of racemic terbutaline by human liver cytosol.

1. The enantioselectivity of the sulphation of racemic terbutaline by phenolsulphotransferases was examined in vitro using cytosol from human livers (n = 3) and [35S]-3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate (PAP35S) as the sulphate donor. 2. The radioactive sulphate conjugate formed was isolated by h.p.l.c. and its enantiomers were separated intact by h.p.l.c. after chiral derivatization. 3. Sulphation of racemic terbutaline occurred with the same apparent Km value for both enantiomers (270 microM). The extent of sulphation of the (+)-enantiomer was double that of the (-)-enantiomer, solely due to a difference in their apparent Vmax values. 4. Sulphation of racemic prenalterol, a structural analogue of terbutaline, also showed a two-fold preference for the (+)-enantiomer. 5. These findings suggest that enantioselective sulphate conjugation of chiral phenolic sympathomimetic amine drugs may lead to enantioselective pharmacokinetics that should be considered in the clinical use of these drugs.
Genetic and developmental relationships between two alkaline phosphatases inDrosophila melanogaster

The locus, Aph,for a third-instar larval alkaline phosphatase, 1-Aph, in Drosophila melanogasterhas been placed at 47.3 on the third chromosome. A new and fourth allele, Apha,is described. Another alkaline phosphatase, p-Aph, is characteristic of the pupal stage. Developmental studies show that 1-Aph begins to disappear 9.5 hr after prepuparium formation at 25 C, and that p-Aph appears as 1-Aph disappears. Each of the four Aph alleles produces a p-Aph variant distinguishable by electrophoresis. Except for the one produced by Apha,the electrophoretic properties of these p-Aph variants parallel those of the 1-Aph's produced by the same allele. Three sources of evidence support the conclusion that p-Aph variation is attributable to the Aphlocus: (1) In experiments where Aphalleles segregate, corresponding segregation of p-Aph variants is observed. (2) The linkage relationships of p-Aph are the same as those of Aph.(3) In experiments capable of detecting with a probability of 0.99 a recombination event between two loci 0.0006 centimorgans apart, no recombination is observed between 1-Aph and p-Aph. It is suggested that the Aphlocus either consists of one cistron which is responsible for both 1-Aph and p-Aph, or that it consists of two cistrons, one for 1-Aph and one for p-Aph. Implications for the structure of these alkaline phosphatases and for the nature of the developmental shift which they exhibit are discussed.
THE PATH OF CARBON IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS. XXXI. THE ROLE OF LECTINS

Radish (Raphanus sativus) and Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris) seedlings, grown hydroponically, exhibited significantly greater increases in height and weight in medium containing α-mannoside supplemented with calcium and manganese salts, than in control treatments lacking one or more of those components. Furthermore, seeds sown on medium containing α-mannoside plus Ca2+and Mn2+showed accelerated germination. Calcium and manganese are necessary to maintain the protein conformation of mannose-binding lectins. In the presence of those cations, glycosides displace specific sugars bound to lectins, making them available to support plant growth.
A survey of microwave power-measurement techniques employed at the National Bureau of Standards

The bolometric technique of power measurement is an important part of the microwave art. The paper describes certain refinements and extensions of this basic method which have been developed at the Boulder Laboratories of the National Bureau of Standards and which provide the basis for a microwave power-calibration service. The attendant problems may be divided into three categories: (i) measurement of the substituted or bolometric bias power, (ii) evaluation of the d.c. r.f. substitution error, and (iii) determination of the bolometer mount efficiency. In the first area, the Laboratory has developed precise and automatic d.c. instrumentation which permits an accuracy of 0.1% to be realized on a routine basis. In the second and third areas, microcalorimetric techniques enable a determination of the total microwave power dissipated within the bolometer mount; this, when compared with a simultaneous bolometric measurement, determines the combined effect of the substitution error and mount efficiency. Another interesting tool for evaluating bolometer-mount efficiency is provided by the Kerns impedance method. The implementation of this technique has always proved a real challenge, but recent applications of modified reflectometer techniques to the problem have resulted in improved accuracy. Consistent agreement, within a half per cent, with microcalorimetric determinations has been realized at X-band frequencies. Because a bolometer completely absorbs the power being measured, the problem of comparing or calibrating a bolometer mount in terms of a second mount is inherently more difficult than that of comparing two voltmeters or ammeters where simultaneous observations of the same quantity are possible. This problem has, in fact, been a major limitation to the accuracy so far achieved in the art. Two methods of dealing with this problem have been developed which employ directional couplers and related techniques.
Oxidant injury increases cell surface receptor binding of angiotensin II to pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an environmental oxidant, is known to activate phospholipase A1 and modulate the plasma membrane structure of porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. We evaluated the effects of exposure to NO2, purified phospholipase B (which acts as phospholipase A1 and A2), or phospholipase A2 on 125I-angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor binding, internalization, or both in pulmonary endothelial cells. Exposure to 5 ppm NO2 for 48 hr at 37°C or 0.075 U each of phospholipase B or A2 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 30 min at 24°C resulted in an increase in total Ang II binding (i.e., cell surface bound and internalized) by 45% (p <0.05), 50% (p <0.05), and 85% (p <0.001), respectively, compared to controls. An Ang II receptor antagonist, [Sar1 IIe8] Ang II, competitively displaced Ang II binding to control, NO2-, phospholipase B-, and phospholipase A2-exposed cells. Dissociation of bound Ang II in the presence of PBS was <1% of total bound Ang II in control, NO2-, and phospholipase B-exposed cells and was 50% of total bound Ang II in phospholipase A2-exposed cells. In the presence of isotonic acetic acid/NaCl, in excess of 90% of cell surface-bound Ang II was dissociated from control, NO2-, and phospholipase B-exposed cells, and there was <2% of Ang II detectable when acid-treated cells were subjected to NaOH solubilization. In cells exposed to phospholipase A2, acetic acid treatment did not release cell-bound Ang II, and the remaining Ang II was recovered in the NaOH solubilized fraction. These results demonstrate that NO2 exposure results in increased cell surface receptor binding and not internalization of Ang II and that phospholipase B-but not phospholipase A2-induced modulation of the membrane structure mimicked the effect of NO2 on Ang II binding in pulmonary endothelial cells.
Association between mutation spectra and stable and unstable DNA adduct profiles in Salmonella for benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene.

Abstract Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP) are two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that exhibit distinctly different mutagenicity and carcinogenicity profiles. Although some studies show that these PAHs produce unstable DNA adducts, conflicting data and arguments have been presented regarding the relative roles of these unstable adducts versus stable adducts, as well as oxidative damage, in the mutagenesis and tumor-mutation spectra of these PAHs. However, no study has determined the mutation spectra along with the stable and unstable DNA adducts in the same system with both PAHs. Thus, we determined the mutagenic potencies and mutation spectra of BP and DBP in strains TA98, TA100 and TA104 of Salmonella, and we also measured the levels of abasic sites (aldehydic-site assay) and characterized the stable DNA adducts (32P-postlabeling/HPLC) induced by these PAHs in TA104. Our results for the mutation spectra and site specificity of stable adducts were consistent with those from other systems, showing that DBP was more mutagenic than BP in TA98 and TA100. The mutation spectra of DBP and BP were significantly different in TA98 and TA104, with 24% of the mutations induced by BP in TA98 being complex frameshifts, whereas DBP produced hardly any of these mutations. In TA104, BP produced primarily GC to TA transversions, whereas DBP produced primarily AT to TA transversions. The majority (96%) of stable adducts induced by BP were at guanine, whereas the majority (80%) induced by DBP were at adenine. Although BP induced abasic sites, DBP did not. Most importantly, the proportion of mutations induced by DBP at adenine and guanine paralleled the proportion of stable DNA adducts induced by DBP at adenine and guanine; however, this was not the case for BP. Our results leave open a possible role for unstable DNA adducts in the mutational specificity of BP but not for DBP.
Continental shelf geomorphic features off Portuguese Guinea, Guinea, and Sierra Leone (West Africa)

Abstract A variety of geomorphic features occurs on the continental shelf from Portuguese Guinea to Sierra Leone. On the north the Bissagos Delta, an ancient but active delta, reaches the shelf edge. pre-Holocene drowned subparallel channels are associated with two relict shelf edge deltas in the central portion but lead directly into submarine canyons on the south. A pre-Holocene drowned spit (St. Ann's Shoal) trends northwest from the Sierra Leone coast to the outer shelf. Major pre-Holocene and Holocene stillstands are indicated by remnant barrier spits, barrier island-lagoon complexes, and sea cliffs at −90, −80, −55, −45, −35, and −25-m levels. Irregular “V” shaped shelf edge features, the tops of which lie at the general depths of −90 and −80 m, appear to represent remnant lithified shoreline forms capped with calcareous algal accretions on favored exposures. An 18,750-year B.P. coral Porites bernardi ( Gravier ) contained in an algal rock broken from a 103–111 m exposure on the seaward slope of a shelf edge feature grew during the pre-Holocene regression or after an early advance of the Holocene transgression.
Prognosis and treatment decisions in patients with breast cancer without axillary node involvement.

Background. Every month, treatment decisions must be made for more than 6000 patients with breast cancer without axillary node involvement in the United States. Approximately 70% of these patients will survive more than 10 years after surgery and/or radiation treatment without additional systemic adjuvant therapy. If we had good methods to identify patients who are destined to have a recurrence of their disease, only those patients should receive adjuvant therapy. Methods. The authors reviewed the literature supporting the use of currently available prognostic factors for patients with node-negative breast cancer, and formulated a framework on which prognostic factor information can be based to help make these treatment decisions
Metabolic intermediates in the biological oxidation of lanosterol to eburicoic acid

Abstract Eburicodiol and eburical as well as previously reported eburicol have been isolated from the neutral chloroform extracts of Formes officinalis . A triterpenic acid, identified as sulphurenic acid, has also been isolated.
Economic impacts on cotton production due to land degradation in the Gediz Delta, Turkey

Abstract Soil salinity and waterlogging and other forms of land degradation reduce the agricultural productivity and farm income, while threatening the sustainability of agriculture in many areas. The purpose of the study is to estimate the economic impacts of land degradation on cotton production in the Gediz Delta, Turkey, where salinization and waterlogging threaten the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. Salinity and waterlogging have developed over time in the region, due to unfavorable use of irrigation water and inadequate drainage. We use data collected in a survey of farmers in the region to estimate regression models for cotton production on degraded and non-degraded soils. We conclude that cotton yields are reduced by 34.4% and gross margins are reduced by $860.2/ha, as a result of land degradation.
FGF-2 promotes neurogenesis and neuroprotection and prolongs survival in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease

There is no satisfactory treatment for Huntington's disease (HD), a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that produces chorea, dementia, and death. One potential treatment strategy involves the replacement of dead neurons by stimulating the proliferation of endogenous neuronal precursors (neurogenesis) and their migration into damaged regions of the brain. Because growth factors are neuroprotective in some settings and can also stimulate neurogenesis, we treated HD transgenic R6/2 mice from 8 weeks of age until death by s.c. administration of FGF-2. FGF-2 increased the number of proliferating cells in the subventricular zone by ≈30% in wild-type mice, and by ≈150% in HD transgenic R6/2 mice. FGF-2 also induced the recruitment of new neurons from the subventricular zone into the neostriatum and cerebral cortex of HD transgenic R6/2 mice. In the striatum, these neurons were DARPP-32-expressing medium spiny neurons, consistent with the phenotype of neurons lost in HD. FGF-2 was neuroprotective as well, because it blocked cell death induced by mutant expanded Htt in primary striatal cultures. FGF-2 also reduced polyglutamine aggregates, improved motor performance, and extended lifespan by ≈20%. We conclude that FGF-2 improves neurological deficits and longevity in a transgenic mouse model of HD, and that its neuroprotective and neuroproliferative effects may contribute to this improvement.
PTK6 inhibition promotes apoptosis of Lapatinib-resistant Her2+ breast cancer cells by inducing Bim

Introduction Protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that is highly expressed in Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2+ (Her2+) breast cancers. Overexpression of PTK6 enhances anchorage-independent survival, proliferation, and migration of breast cancer cells. We hypothesized that PTK6 inhibition is an effective strategy to inhibit growth and survival of Her2+ breast cancer cells, including those that are relatively resistant to Lapatinib, a targeted therapy for Her2+ breast cancer, either intrinsically or acquired after continuous drug exposure.
Universal power management IC for small-scale energy harvesting with adaptive impedance matching

In this paper, we present a universal power management IC for small-scale energy harvesting with adaptive impedance matching. A non-inverting buck-boost converter is adopted to accommodate a wide input voltage range from different energy sources and varying environmental conditions. The circuit dynamically performs the resistive matching to harvest the maximum power. The circuit is fabricated in 0.18-µm CMOS. Simulation and measurement results of the IC verify the operation of the power stage and the function of controller circuit.
Characterization of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 Sakai GadE Regulon

Integrating laterally acquired virulence genes into the backbone regulatory network is important for the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli O157:H7, which has captured many virulence genes through horizontal transfer during evolution. GadE is an essential transcriptional activator of the glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) system, the most efficient acid resistance (AR) mechanism in E. coli. The full contribution of GadE to the AR and virulence of E. coli O157:H7 remains largely unknown. We inactivated gadE in E. coli O157:H7 Sakai and compared global transcription profiles of the mutant with that of the wild type in the exponential and stationary phases of growth. Inactivation of gadE significantly altered the expression of 60 genes independently of the growth phase and of 122 genes in a growth phase-dependent manner. Inactivation of gadE markedly downregulated the expression of gadA, gadB, and gadC and of many acid fitness island genes. Nineteen genes encoded on the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), including ler, showed a significant increase in expression upon gadE inactivation. Inactivation of ler in the gadE strain reversed the effect of gadE deletion on LEE expression, indicating that Ler is necessary for LEE repression by GadE. GadE is also involved in downregulation of LEE expression under conditions of moderately acidic pH. Characterization of AR of the gadE strain revealed that GadE is indispensable for a functional GAD system and for survival of E. coli O157:H7 in a simulated gastric environment. Altogether, these data indicate that GadE is critical for the AR of E. coli O157:H7 and that it plays an important role in virulence by downregulating expression of LEE.