cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study of the gas-phase chemistry of RDX - Experiments and modeling

The objectives of this work were to identify the species produced during the CO2 laser-induced decomposition of 1,3,5-trinitrohexahydro-s-triazine (RDX) and to obtain species profiles in the gas-phase during laser-assisted combustion for comparison to a one-dimensional model of the flame. In the experiments, a microprobe/mass spectrometer system was used to measure quantitative gas-phase species profiles and a high-magnification video system was used to observe surface behavior and flame structure. Gas-phase species evolved from the surface and also inside a bubble were measured. The species identified at the surface were HCN, NO2, H2O, NO, CO, N2O, N2, and H2; no CO2 was found at the surface. Formaldehyde may have been present, but it could not be unambiguously identified. Species mole fractions measured at 1.0 atm and a heat flux of 400 W/cm were used as input to a one-dimensional model along with a temperature profile obtained from the literature for similar experimental conditions. In order to obtain reasonable agreement between the model and the experiments for stable species, RDX vapor had to be added to the initial species for the model calculations. However, even with this addition, the profiles for OH and NH did not match data available in the literature.
Ethanol-induced swelling in neonatal rat primary astrocyte cultures.

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that astrocytes swell in response to ethanol (EtOH) exposure. The experimental approach consisted of an electrical impedance method designed to measure cell volume. In chronic experiments, EtOH (100 mM) was added to the culture media for 1, 3, or 7 days. The cells were subsequently exposed for 15 min to isotonic buffer (122 mM NaCl) also containing 100 mM EtOH. Subsequently, the cells were washed and exposed to hypotonic buffer (112 mM NaCl) containing 100 mM mannitol. Chronic exposure to EtOH led to a marked increase in cell volume compared with control cells. Specific anion cotransport blockers, such as SITS, DIDS, furosemide, or bumetanide, when simultaneously added with EtOH to hyponatremic buffer, failed to reverse the EtOH-induced effect on swelling. In acute experiments, confluent neonatal rat primary astrocyte cultures were exposed to isotonic media (122 mM NaCl) for 15 min, followed by 45-min exposure to hypotonic media (112 mM NaCl, mimicking in vivo hyponatremic conditions associated with EtOH withdrawal) in the presence of 0–100 mM EtOH. This exposure led to a concentration-dependent increase in cell volume. Combined, these studies suggest that astrocytes exposed to EtOH accumulate compensatory organic solutes to maintain cell volume, and that in response to hyponatremia and EtOH withdrawal their volume increases to a greater extent than in cells exposed to hyponatremia alone. Furthermore, the changes associated with EtOH are osmotic in nature, and they are not reversed by anion cotransport blockers.
Using Project-Based Data in Physics to Examine Television Viewing in Relation to Student Performance in Science

Mass media, particularly television, influence public conceptions and attitudes toward learning science. The discovery of an original method that does not rely on self-reported viewing habits to measure the impact of television on students’ performance in science arose from a study of a unit on electricity in a Physics course. In determining the number of television sets at home and the number of hours of operation, data emerged that allowed an investigation of associations between each of these variables and student performance in physics. A negative impact on performance was found in its consistent decrease as both the number of sets and the time the sets are on increase. These results provide dramatic independent confirmation of the negative impact of television viewing on achievement determined through meta-analysis of many studies, and are also consistent with those in the literature at large, particularly from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Furthermore, the totally ‘blind’ participation of the subjects lends a degree of authenticity rarely found in a classically designed study. The findings impact scientific literacy, since performance in science and conceptions of science and scientists, are all inextricably linked.
One-pot Synthesis of Pt Catalysts Supported on Al-modified TiO2

A facile, industrially viable, one-pot synthesis of 0.5-8 wt% Pt supported on 22 mol% Al-modified ana-tase with high surface area and thermal stability is presented. Four pathways were studied to deter-mine the effects of support properties on catalyst dispersion, and the highest dispersions were observed for high surface area materials containing 5-coordinate anatase. Systematic study of preparation vari-ables shows that low drying temperatures, slow calcination ramp rates, and slow reduction ramp rates further increased Pt dispersion and resulted in a more uniform Pt size distribution. Pt dispersions as high as 54% have been obtained using the one-pot method and 59% for Pt catalysts synthesized by dry impregnation. Statistically designed studies are needed to more completely determine the effects of synthesis variables and to optimize the dispersion and reduction of Pt supported on Al-modified ana-tase. Results presented in this paper show that this one-pot method and dry impregnation method us-ing our Al-modified anatase support are promising syntheses of highly dispersed Pt supported on stabi-lized titania. Our results demonstrate that the alumina-stabilized anatase support is superior to other anatase supports for (1) obtaining high Pt dispersions, i.e. more efficiently utilizing this expensive pre-cious metal, and (2) processes in which thermal stability is important due to its constant phase and pore structures at high temperatures. © 2014 BCREC UNDIP. All rights reserved Received: 20th April 2014; Revised: 14th May 2014; Accepted: 10th June 2014 How to Cite : Olsen, R.E., Bartholomew,C.H., Enfield, D.B., Woodfield, B.F. (2014). One-pot Synthesis of Pt Catalysts Supported on Al-modified TiO2. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis , 9 (3): 156-167. (doi:10.9767/bcrec.9.3.6734.156-167) Permalink/DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.9.3.6734.156-167
Baclofen withdrawal and neuropsychiatric symptoms: a case report and review of other case literature.

Abstract Baclofen (β-4-chlorophenyl-γ-amino butyric acid), an analog of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), is useful in spasticity of spinal origin, 1 trigeminal neuralgia, 2 and trunkal tardive dyskinesia. 3 In patients without a psychiatric history, baclofen appears to be well-tolerated. In fact, abrupt withdrawal or rapid reduction of baclofen has been reported to produce a variety of severe psychiatric symptoms within a few days of its reduction or discontinuation. 4–8 All case reports suggest that these symptoms subside equally rapidly when baclofen is restarted. Such a case report of acute paranoid psychosis with a variety of hallucinations is reported here with a tabular review of existing cases in the literature. Mechanisms of action of baclofen in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms are discussed.
The structure of the NF-κB p50:DNA-complex a starting point for analyzing the Rel family

The Rel family comprises a group of structurally related, eukaryotic transcription factors. The similarity extends over about 300 amino acid residues, the Rel homology region, which is responsible for DNA binding and dimerization. Two independently determined structures of homodimeric NF-κB p50 bound to DNA show the Rel homology regions and the DNA target sites. The protein consists of two β-barrel domains connected by a short linker. Five loops per monomer contact the DNA. Different half-site spacings in the two structures lead to different relative orientations of N- and C-terminal domains.
Selectivity in the phototoxicity of 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-diphenylthiophene

Abstract The title compound was known to be a powerful acaricide. Its activity is light-dependent, but unlike most other phototoxic molecules, it displays significant selectivity. For example, it is extremely active against first-instar larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti , but not against fathead minnows or eggs of Drosophila melanogaster , and very little against Escherichia coli . Damage to cell membranes was demonstrated in human erythrocytes in vitro . The phototoxicity is oxygen dependent. The formation of singlet oxygen takes place easily in ethanol, but not in water, where the formation of superoxide anion was observed. Electron transfer reactions from the excited sensitizer could also be demonstrated in alcohol, but only in the absence of oxygen.
Molecular composites via in situ polymerization: Poly(phenylene terephthalamide)–nylon 3

All-polyamide molecular level composites composed of rigid rod and flexible coil polymers were prepared using an in situ polymerization process in which the anion of the rigid rod poly-(phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) was used as the initiator for the anionic polymerization of acrvlamide to form the nylon 3 matrix. The rigid aramid component then serves as the reinforcing agent. This polymerization resulted in both graft and homo-nylon 3 formation. Composite films prepared using in situ processing showed greatly improved strength and modulus over unmodified nylon 3 with no loss of flexibility. The composites showed aggregation and phase separation of PPTA fibrils at PPTA weight fractions of > 30% as indicated by wide angle X-ray scattering and electron microscopic analysis. The structure of the PPTA formed is that produced from swelled liquid crystalline solutions, indicating that the in situ process involves polymerization in the liquid crystalline state.
Quality Improvement Opportunities to Prevent Preterm Births

Quality improvement initiatives have been successfully employed in many areas of medicine, but few have been implemented in preventing prematurity (or preterm birth), which continues to be one of the most common complications in obstetrics, and the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Due to the complex nature of the causes of prematurity, developing and instituting a quality improvement program to prevent prematurity can be challenging. However, using proven quality improvement principles and techniques, along with institutional will and commitment, are invaluable in rapidly implementing evidence-based initiatives for the prevention of preterm births.
Risk factors for border malaria in a malaria elimination setting: a retrospective case-control study in Yunnan, China

A retrospective case-control study was conducted to identify risk factors for border malaria in a malaria elimination setting of Yunnan Province, China. The study comprised 214 cases and 428 controls. The controls were individually matched to the cases on the basis of residence, age, and gender. In addition, statistical associations are based on matched analyses. The frequencies of imported, male, adult, and vivax malaria cases were respectively 201 (93.9%), 194 (90.7%), 210 (98.1%), and 176 (82.2%). Overnight stay in Myanmar within the prior month was independently associated with malaria infection (odds ratio [OR] 159.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 75.1-338.9). In particular, stays in lowland and foothill (OR 5.5, 95% CI 2.5-11.8) or mid-hill (OR 42.8, 95% CI 5.1-319.8) areas, or near streamlets (OR 15.3, 95% CI 4.3-55.2) or paddy field or pools (OR10.1, 95% CI 4.4-55.8) were found to be independently associated with malaria. Neither forest exposure nor use of vector control measures was associated with malaria. In conclusion, travel to lowland and foothill or mid-hill hyperendemic areas, especially along the waterside in Myanmar, was found to be the highest risk factor for malaria. In considering the limitations of the study, further investigations are needed to identify the major determinants of malaria risk and develop new strategies for malaria elimination on China-Myanmar border.
The border pedagogy revisited

Border pedagogy is a multicultural educational approach utilized in multicultural settings to help students understand their histories and experiences and how it affects their identities and cultures. The approach seeks to produce intellectuals that transcend physical and metaphysical boundaries. The goal of border pedagogy is to remove cultural and political barriers to attain a greater conceptualization of the human experience. This paper will discuss border pedagogy in the contemporary Mexican/American border region.
Metal (As, Cd, Hg, and CH3Hg) bioaccumulation from water and food by the benthic amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus.

Benthic invertebrates may be exposed to metals in pore water, overlying water, ingested sediments, and other food particles. Rates and routes of metal exposure have important implications for predicting toxicity and interpreting toxicity test results. For the standard test amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus, radiotracer techniques were used to quantify rates of Cd, As, Hg(II), and CH3Hg bioaccumulation from water and from suspension feeding on labeled microalgae. Measured parameters were incorporated into a bioaccumulation model to predict steady-state metal concentrations in L. plumulosus and to evaluate the relative importance of aqueous and dietary uptake pathways across a range of ingested particle types and ingestion rates. Results indicate that ingested particles contribute strongly to metal bioaccumulation and that feeding plasticity could strongly influence metal exposure. As L. plumulosus switches from suspension feeding to deposit feeding or selectively feeds on particles for which it has a high assimilation efficiency, metal exposure and body burden will increase. At ingestion rates previously reported for deposit feeding (3 g/g/d), dietary metal sources dominate metal bioaccumulation and can be responsible for greater than 90% of metal bioaccumulated, regardless of metal partitioning or ingested particle type. These results suggest that more research on L. plumulosus feeding behavior is needed to produce a more complete mechanistic understanding of metal bioaccumulation. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010; 29:1755–1761. © 2010 SETAC
A hard X-ray imaging instrument for solar and cosmic sources

A hard X-ray imaging instrument is described which is capable of high-resolution imaging of solar and cosmic hard X-ray sources between 2 and 80 keV during Shuttle sortie flights. The properties of solar burst sources and the resulting instrument requirements are discussed. The instrument envelope of 1.2 x 1.2 x 3.0 meters includes a tungsten multigrid collimator which has 4-arcsec resolution, a 40-arcmin response envelope and a point-source effective area of 26 sq cm. A combination of periodic fan beams and nonperiodic pencil beams enables a unique deconvolution to be achieved within a 128 x 128 arcsec field without mechanical scanning. The detector system is a set of direct-readout 40 atm-cm xenon-filled proportional counters designed to minimize background. The instrument is capable of refurbishment to optimize the collimator configuration for specific solar or cosmic scientific objectives, to upgrade the angular resolution, or to extend the high-energy response.
Electron microscopy of wheat streak mosaic virus particles in infected plant cells

Typical rod-shaped particles of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) were observed in transverse and tangential section in the cytoplasm of cells of infected wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), but not in cells. Particles were randomly scattered or arranged in the following types of aggregates: loose, loose with some lateral association, or organized with a definite parallel arrangement. No virions were detected in or associated with pinwheel inclusions.
Reaction of titanium tetrachloride with some ketones

Abstract Titanium tetrachloride reacts exothermally with acetone, 2-butanone, acetophenone and benzophenone to yield 1:1 solid addition complexes. The acetophenone complex containing two moles of acetophenone to one mole of titanium tetrachloride reported by Susz 1 was not obtained.
Improving SOC accuracy using collective estimation for Lithium Ion battery cells in series

This paper presents new methods for improving state of charge (SOC) estimation accuracy for Lithium Ion battery cells connected in series. The methods benefit from the fact that the cells share a common current trajectory. These methods extend previously studied techniques for SOC estimation, like the Extended Kalman Filter. While the existing literature focuses on estimating SOC for individual cells separately, we consider the cells in a series string collectively. We show that estimation accuracy is increased for cells in series both when they are balanced and un-balanced. We validate these methods against a control case using Monte Carlo simulation.
Charge pumping in thin film transistors

Abstract Charge pumping (CP) has been used to study defects in p-channel poly-crystalline silicon thin film transistors (TFTs). At high frequencies (>∼1 kHz), we observe anomalous CP behavior in TFTs due to (a) the high resistivity of, and/or slow electron trapping in, the poly-Si channel and (b) the existence of a TFT drain offset region. At low frequencies, the CP technique still appears to provide a useful measure of the TFT grain boundary defect density.
Deprivation, importation, and prison suicide: Combined effects of institutional conditions and inmate composition

Previous research on suicide in United States prisons focused on the characteristics of inmates who commit suicide while largely ignoring the prison context surrounding these suicides. The following analyses used national data on 1,082 state prisons in the United States to examine how prison conditions (deprivation) and inmate composition (importation) predict prison suicide. Results of a negative binomial regression model showed that the number of suicides was significantly increased in supermaximum and maximum security prisons (relative to minimum), under conditions of overcrowding and violence, and in prisons where a greater proportion of inmates received mental health services. Although deprivation variables were overwhelmingly predictive of suicide, the results pointed to the combined effects of institutional conditions and inmate composition on prison suicide.
Vibrationally resolved anion photoelectron spectra of the low-lying electronic states of GaP2-, Ga2P-, and Ga2P3-

Anion photoelectron spectra of GaP2-, Ga2P-, and Ga2P3- have been taken at photodetachment wavelengths of 266 nm (4.657 eV), 355 nm (3.493 eV), 416 nm (2.977 eV), and 498 nm (2.491 eV). Using this variety of wavelengths has allowed us to vibrationally resolve the low-lying electronic states of these species. We report electron affinities, term values, and vibrational frequencies of the corresponding neutral and anion states where possible. Results are in qualitative agreement with current ab initio studies.
The Scaling-Up of Assessment in One Institution.

Abstract Given increasing emphasis on assessment and accountability across the globe in higher education, it is clear that individual institutions must take action and provide evidence in response to these concerns. This article provides an example of how one university has developed a central office for assessment, facilitated the development of an assessment process across the university and in departments and programmes, and provides assessment services to the institution that include both academic and administrative areas.
An Introduction to Foreign Language Learning and Teaching 2nd ed. by JOHNSON, KEITH

The article reviews the book "An Introduction to Foreign Language Learning and Teaching," 2nd. ed., by Keith Johnson.
Impact of the 2012 American Urological Association vasectomy guidelines on post-vasectomy outcomes.

Purpose: The 2012 American Urological Association (AUA) vasectomy guidelines recommend the finding of rare nonmotile sperm, representing 100,000 or fewer nonmotile sperm per ml, as a metric of post-vasectomy success. At our institution success was previously defined as 2 sequential azoospermic centrifuged semen pellets. The criteria change of including rare nonmotile sperm as a success end point may simplify post-vasectomy followup and decrease the number of post-vasectomy semen analyses required to assure occlusive success.Materials and Methods: In the context of the new 2012 guidelines we retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the records of 972 of the 1,740 vasectomies (55.9%) performed between January 2000 and June 2012 after which at least 1 post-vasectomy semen analysis was done.Results: A total of 1,919 post-vasectomy semen analyses were obtained from 972 patients with a mean ± SE age of 39.7 ± 0.2 years. Occlusive success was evident in 337 azoospermic men (36.4%), while 514 (52.9%) underwent 2 or ...
On the complexity of the multivariate Sturm--Liouville eigenvalue problem

We study the complexity of approximating the smallest eigenvalue of [email protected]+q with Dirichlet boundary conditions on the d-dimensional unit cube. Here @D is the Laplacian, and the function q is non-negative and has continuous first order partial derivatives. We consider deterministic and randomized classical algorithms, as well as quantum algorithms using quantum queries of two types: bit queries and power queries. We seek algorithms that solve the problem with accuracy @?. We exhibit lower and upper bounds for the problem complexity. The upper bounds follow from the cost of particular algorithms. The classical deterministic algorithm is optimal. Optimality is understood modulo constant factors that depend on d. The randomized algorithm uses an optimal number of function evaluations of q when [email protected]?2. The classical algorithms have cost exponential in d since they need to solve an eigenvalue problem involving a matrix with size exponential in d. We show that the cost of quantum algorithms is not exponential in d, regardless of the type of queries they use. Power queries enjoy a clear advantage over bit queries and lead to an optimal complexity algorithm.
Ceramic Patterns, Social Interaction, and the Olmec: Neutron Activation Analysis of Early Formative Pottery in the Oaxaca Highlands of Mexico

Abstract The distribution of greyware decorated with distinctive motifs and white pottery throughout Early Formative Mesoamerica signals interaction between distant regions. The interaction represented by these ceramics is investigated in the Oaxaca Highlands by examining patterns of pottery production and exchange. Pottery from five sites in the region was chemically characterized by neutron activation analysis (NAA). The results suggest differences in the production and exchange patterns of greywares decorated with the motifs and white pottery, and that the motifs were not controlled by any particular group of people.
Guidelines for early admission to elementary school

An early admission procedure is the first step in adjusting formal educational programming to meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of intellectually advanced children. In view of the benefits to the child and potential benefits to society of meeting the intellectually advanced child's needs, it is important that school systems establish early admission policies. This article presents 12 guidelines for processing an early admission applicant.
Metabolic studies with TCDD (dioxin) treated rats.

Female Wistar rats treated orally with a single dose (100μg/kg) of TCDD showed a biphasic decline in body weight with a cessation of food and water consumption and urine production. The first phase started immediately after dosing and lasted 7 to 10 days. There was a cessation of food and water consumption with a loss of 15 to 30% of their body weight. During the next 4 to 6 days, the rats ate and drank and regained 10 to 15% of their initial body weight. This was followed by the second phase in which food and water consumption decreased and there was another loss of body weight. Daily administration of water, electrolyte solution, or a balanced liquid diet did not alter or reverse the pattern of weight loss. Mitochondria from TCDD-treated rats were assayed and no effects were found on oxidative phosphorylation or ADP∶O ratios.
Oxytocin and social cognition in rhesus macaques: Implications for understanding and treating human psychopathology

Abstract Converging evidence from humans and non-human animals indicates that the neurohypophysial hormone oxytocin (OT) evolved to serve a specialized function in social behavior in mammals. Although OT-based therapies are currently being evaluated as remedies for social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders, precisely how OT regulates complex social processes remains largely unknown. Here we describe how a non-human primate model can be used to understand the mechanisms by which OT regulates social cognition and thereby inform its clinical application in humans. We focus primarily on recent advances in our understanding of OT-mediated social cognition in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), supplemented by discussion of recent work in humans, other primates, and rodents. Together, these studies endorse the hypothesis that OT promotes social exploration both by amplifying social motivation and by attenuating social vigilance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin and Social Behav.
Functional and pharmacological properties of GABAρ1Δ51 receptors

Gamma-aminobutyrate is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate brain, and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit GABArho1delta51 is an alternatively spliced form of the GABArho1 receptor that was recently isolated from human retina cDNA libraries. The rho1delta51 receptor subunit lacks 17 amino acids in the extracellular N-terminal domain and, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, forms functional homomeric GABA receptors. Unexpectedly, even after a such a big deletion, the fundamental properties of the deleted variant receptors are very similar to those of the complete GABArho1 receptors. For example, both types of receptors are bicuculline resistant, desensitize very little, and are negatively modulated by Zn2+ and positively modulated by La3+. In spite of such similarities, the GABArho1delta51 receptors are more sensitive to GABA, to the specific GABA(C) antagonist (1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid and to Zn2+, than the complete GABArho1 receptors. The GABArho1delta51 receptors extend the variety of inhibitory receptors in the retina. Their functional significance still remains to be determined.
4-Pyridone-terephthalic acid-water (2/1/2) and bis(3-hydroxypyridinium) terephthalate.

4-Hy­droxy­pyridine and terephthalic acid cocrystallize as a hy­drate, 4-pyridone–terephthalic acid–water (2/1/2), 2C5H5NO·C8H6O4·2H2O, from a methanol–water solution. The mol­ecules form a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network resulting in sheets of hydrogen-bonded mol­ecules that lie parallel to the (10\overline 2) plane. In contrast, 3-hy­droxy­pyridine and terephthalic acid form the salt bis­(3-hy­droxy­pyridinium) terephthalate, 2C5H6NO+·C8H4O42−, giving rise to two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded sheets extending through the lattice parallel to the (10\overline 2) plane.
Head field measurements in three dimensions

A method is described for obtaining all three components of the field produced by a magnetic recording head. The perpendicular component of the field, H/sub y/, is measured in the plane of the air-bearing surface, and from this the three components, H/sub x/, H/sub y/, and H/sub z/, are calculated in the region below the surface. An example is presented of the field distribution for a thin-film head, and a comparison is made with both analytic and three-dimensional finite-element calculations. >
Molecular Configuration and Flow Performance of Al3+ Cross-linked Polymer

Abstract According to the difference in compositions of Al3+ cross-linked polyacrylamide gel, there are two types of cross-linked reactions. One is the intramolecular cross-linked reaction that takes place in different chains of the same polymer molecule, and the other is the intermolecular cross-linked reaction, which takes place among different polymer molecules. Through changing the compositions of the cross-linked polymer and gelling environment, thorough research on the critical conditions and flow performance of intramolecular cross-linked polymer is carried out. The results show that the viscosity of the intramolecular cross-linked polymer almost remains the same over time, but during the flow performance experiments, the resistance factor and residual resistance factor are higher, and the residual resistance factor is larger than the resistance factor. The higher the salinity of solvent, the easier the intramolecular cross-linked polymer forms. In the scope of concentration of cross-linking agent,...
Limitations and trade-offs in gene expression due to competition for shared cellular resources

Gene circuits share transcriptional and translational resources in the cell. The fact that these common resources are available only in limited amounts leads to unexpected couplings in protein expressions. As a result, our predictive ability of describing the behavior of gene circuits is limited. In this paper, we consider the simultaneous expression of proteins and describe the coupling among protein concentrations due to competition for RNA polymerase and ribosomes. In particular, we identify the limitations and trade-offs in gene expression by characterizing the attainable combinations of protein concentrations. We further present two application examples of our results: we show that even in the absence of regulatory linkages, genes can seemingly behave as repressors, and surprisingly, as activators to each other, purely due to the limited availability of shared cellular resources.
Impact of dam operations on hyporheic exchange in the riparian zone of a regulated river

Dam operations commonly cause large, frequent fluctuations in river stage, which persist for long distances downstream. The stage fluctuations force river water into and out of the banks, defining lateral hyporheic exchange paths. To evaluate the penetration distance and rates of dam-induced hyporheic exchange, we monitored water-table elevation, temperature, and specific conductivity along a transect perpendicular to the Colorado River (Austin, Texas, USA), 15 km downstream of the Longhorn dam. Stage fluctuates daily by almost a metre. The daily hyporheic exchange volume per metre of bank is 1·0 m 3 . Dam-induced hyporheic exchange penetrates several metres into the riparian aquifer, while water-table fluctuations propagate 30 m into the riparian aquifer. Water chemistry and temperature fluctuate near the channel in response to the flow oscillations. In the absence of dam operations, groundwater would flow steadily through the riparian aquifer towards the river, laterally limiting hyporheic exchange and stabilizing temperatures and water chemistry near the channel. Therefore, dam operations fundamentally change the hydrological, thermal, and geochemical dynamics of riparian aquifers and their hyporheic zones.
Inhomogeneous Monte Carlo simulations of dermoscopic spectroscopy

Clinical skin-lesion diagnosis uses dermoscopy: 10X epiluminescence microscopy. Skin appearance ranges from black to white with shades of blue, red, gray and orange. Color is an important diagnostic criteria for diseases including melanoma. Melanin and blood content and distribution impact the diffuse spectral remittance (300-1000nm). Skin layers: immersion medium, stratum corneum, spinous epidermis, basal epidermis and dermis as well as laterally asymmetric features (eg. melanocytic invasion) were modeled in an inhomogeneous Monte Carlo model.
A full complement of receptors in immune complex diseases

In this issue of the JCI, Shushakova et al. (1) describe experimental results that provide a direct link between the C5a anaphylotoxin and the IgG Fc receptors (FcγRs) in mediating immune complex–triggered (IC-triggered) inflammatory disease. Using a murine lung model of IC-induced inflammation, the authors demonstrate that C5a, acting through the C5a receptor (C5aR), exacerbates inflammation in part by altering the ratio of activation to inhibitory FcγR expression on alveolar macrophages, enhancing the former and suppressing the latter, thereby optimizing the ability of alveolar macrophages to respond to ICs and trigger cyto-kine release and neutrophil chemo-taxis. C5a now joins the ranks of other regulators of FcγR expression, such as IFN-γ and intravenous im-munoglobulin (IVIG), in modulating IC-induced inflammation by acting on the primary IC targets, the FcγRs. What makes this observation worthy of comment is the historical context of IC-mediated inflammation and the confusion that has surrounded the basic mechanism of this fundamental immunological reaction, the Arthus reaction.
Learning curves in hip fracture surgery

The aim of this study was to identify and characterise learning curves in hip fracture surgery. Operating times were collected and related to the number of procedures done by residents performing closed reduction and internal fixation using cannulated screws for intracapsular fractures of the hip and cephalomedullary nailing for trochanteric fractures, as well as hemiarthroplasty for displaced intracapsular fractures. The mean operating times decreased significantly for all four procedures studied, though at different rates. For cannulated screws, the mean duration of surgery decreased from 47.8 minutes to 30.1 minutes for procedures 21–25. For cephalomedullary nailing without distal locking, the mean operating time decreased from 73.3 minutes to 36.3 minutes. For cephalomedullary nailing with distal locking, the mean operating time decreased from 81.7 minutes to 56.9 minutes. The mean operating time for hemiarthroplasty decreased from 97.3 minutes to 66.0 minutes. Mean operating times decreased significantly for all procedures studied, though at different rates, indicating a unique learning curve for each procedure.
Effects of metabolic perturbation on plasma homovanillic acid in schizophrenia. Relationship to prefrontal cortex volume.

Objective: Several recent hypotheses suggest that deficits in normal prefrontal cortical inhibition of subcortical dopamine activity result in dysregulated dopamine function and may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. These effects seem to be more consistently demonstrable during stressful perturbation of the dopamine system, as opposed to during the resting state. We have developed a novel paradigm involving infusion of the glucose analog, 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), to examine the effects of perturbation on the dopamine metabolite, plasma homovanillic acid (HVA), in schizophrenics and healthy controls. Design: Pharmacologic doses of 2DG (50 mg/kg) and placebo were infused in a double-blind manner. 2-Deoxyglucoseinduced effects on plasma HVA were related to magnetic reasonance imaging-derived prefrontal cortex volumes. Subjects: Schizophrenic outpatients (N=18) and healthy volunteers (N=11) participated in the study. Results: Schizophrenic patients, as compared with controls, had significantly greater 2DG-induced plasma HVA elevations. These effects were observed in subgroups of neuroleptic-free and neuroleptic-treated patients. Other neuroendocrine (plasma cortisol), physiologic (heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, temperature) and behavioral (selfratings of stress, fatigue) variables were significantly effected by 2DG but did not differentiate schizophrenics and controls suggesting that the effects on plasma HVA may be relatively specific. Magnetic resonance imagingderived volumes of the prefrontal cortex were significantly and inversely correlated to 2DG-related peak changes in plasma HVA levels in the schizophrenics. Conclusion: These data support the hypothesis that schizophrenia is associated with abnormal regulation of dopamine and that this deficit may be related to reduced frontal cortical inhibitory influences.
Is inactivation of potassium conductance involved in slow postsynaptic excitation of sympathetic ganglion cells? Effects of nicotine.

Abstract In untreated or curarized B cells of frog ganglia, the effects of conditioning polarization on the S-EPSP are dual and opposite in the early vs. later phases of the S-EPSP. An actual “reversal” of polarity of S-EPSP with conditioning hyperpolarization was seen only in nicotinized B cells, but even this cannot be regarded as a true reversal of a PSP; only the initial phase is reversed and it has a reduced latency. Nicotine depresses the normal S-EPSP in rabbit ganglia; the residual muscarinic depolarizing response has different characteristics, which resemble the response in nicotinized frog ganglia. On the basis of all available evidence it is proposed: (1) that inactivation of g K (potassium conductance may contribute to the early phase of the orthodromic response in nicotinized and/or somewhat depolarized ganglion cells, though little or none to that of non-nicotinized cells at normal membrane potentials; and (2) that the normal S-EPSP of mammalian ganglion cells as well as the slower-developing orthodromic depolarizing response (“actual” S-EPSP) in frog cells, is generated by a mechanism that does not involve inactivation of g K .
Class II antigen expression in peripheral neuropathies

The expression of class II antigen was studied in sural nerve biopsies from patients with peripheral neuropathies. These included patients with chronic demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), non-immune mediated neuropathies of diverse etiologies and controls without evidence of neuropathy. The major finding in CIDP was a marked increase in class II expression on Schwann cells. Endoneurial Schwann cell staining to the same degree as in CIDP was seen in diabetic symmetric proximal motor neuropathy, neuropathies associated with monoclonal gammopathies and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1. In the control nerves and the other non-immune mediated neuropathies class II expression was mainly restricted to endothelial and perineurial cells. Increased endoneurial expression of class II antigen was found to correlate with elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein levels but not with other clinical variables or demyelination as defined by electrophysiologic criteria or teased fiber analysis. The increased expression of class II antigen on Schwann cells may be indicative of a breakdown in immunological tolerance but should not be used as a diagnostic marker for dysimmune neuropathies due to overlap with non-immune mediated neuropathies.
Role of Collagen in Adherence of Streptococcus uberis to Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

We reported previously that pre-incubation of Streptococcus uberis with collagen induced expression of S. uberis surface proteins. In a subsequent study, we showed that incubation of S. uberis with extracellular matrix proteins, particularly collagen, increased adherence and internalization of S. uberis to mammary epithelial cells. In the present report, the potential mechanism by which S. uberis exploits the presence of collagen to enhance adherence to bovine mammary epithelial cells was evaluated. Adherence assays were conducted with S. uberis pre-treated with and without collagen and co-cultured in medium supplemented with or without collagen. Pre-incubation with collagen followed by co-culture in medium containing collagen up-regulated ligands that enhanced adherence of S. uberis to mammary epithelial cells. Collagen-up-regulated ligand(s) also increased adherence of S. uberis to mammary epithelial cells in the absence of collagen, but adherence was lower than when collagen was present during the adherence assay. Chloramphenicol was added to the culture medium to inhibit bacterial protein synthesis. Adherence decreased significantly in chloramphenicol-treated S. uberis pre-treated or co-cultured in the presence of collagen. These results suggest that S. uberis expresses ligands with affinity for collagen that are up-regulated by collagen. We hypothesize that these ligands increase adherence by using collagen as a bridge between the bacterium and host cell and/or by direct interaction with host cell receptor(s).
A note on efficiency and productivity growth in the Korean Banking Industry, 1992–2002

Abstract In this paper we present estimates of Korean bank inefficiency and productivity change for the period 1992–2002 that are derived from the directional technology distance function. Our method controls for loan losses that are an undesirable by-product arising from the production of loans and allows the aggregation of individual bank inefficiency and productivity growth to the industry level. Our findings indicate that technical progress during the period was more than enough to offset efficiency declines so that the banking industry experienced productivity growth.
A New Twist on Pincer Ligands and Complexes

A new class of palladium pincer complexes bearing m-terphenyl scaffolds have been synthesized and structurally characterized. As a result of integrating phenyl rings into the chelating arms of m-xylyl type pincer ligands, highly twisted and rigid structures have been achieved.
FTIR spectroscopy of synechocystis 6803 mutants affected on the hydrogen bonds to the carbonyl groups of the PsaA chlorophyll of P700 supports an extensive delocalization of the charge in P700

P700, the primary electron donor of photosystem I is an asymmetric dimer made of one molecule of chlorophyll a' (P(A)) and one of chlorophyll a (P(B)). While the carbonyl groups of P(A) are involved in hydrogen-bonding interactions with several surrounding amino acid side chains and a water molecule, P(B) does not engage in hydrogen bonding with the protein. Light-induced FTIR difference spectroscopy of the photooxidation of P700 has been combined with site-directed mutagenesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to investigate the influence of these hydrogen bonds on the structure of P700 and P700(+). When the residue Thr A739, which donates a hydrogen bond to the 9-keto C=O group of P(A), is changed to Phe, a differential signal at 1653(+)/1638(-) cm(-1) in the P700(+)/P700 FTIR difference spectrum upshifts by approximately 30-40 cm(-1), as expected for the rupture of the hydrogen bond or, at least, a strong decrease of its strength. The same upshift is also observed in the FTIR spectrum of a triple mutant in which the residues involved in the three main hydrogen bonds to the 9-keto and 10a-carbomethoxy groups of P(A) have been changed to the symmetry-related side chains present around P(B). In addition, the spectrum of the triple mutant shows a decrease of a differential signal around 1735 cm(-1) and the appearance of a new signal around 1760 cm(-1). This is consistent with the perturbation of a bound 10a-ester C=O group that becomes free in the triple mutant. All of these observations support the assignment scheme proposed previously for the carbonyls of P700 and P700(+) [Breton, J., Nabedryk, E., and Leibl, W. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 11585-11592] and therefore reinforce our previous conclusions that the positive charge in P700(+) is largely delocalized over P(A) and P(B).
Model-based hardware design

Ever shrinking design cycles, ever increasing design complexities, ever changing design standards, high NRE and design re-spin costs are a few of the major challenges in system-level design. In such an design environment, clock frequency, silicon footprint and power profile are no longer the sole design considerations. To this, we would have to add re-usability, platform re-targetability, testability, verifiability, standards compliance check-ability and design cycle time as first-order constraints. This paper presents model-based hardware design to address these challenges. It is a design methodology that bridges the world of system designers, software programmers, hardware engineers and verification engineers to increase productivity and produce correct-by-construction designs that match the system specification. We describe the various components of the methodology and present hard evidence of the realization of these ideals as cited by several real world case studies. In almost all cases, designers cite massive shrinkage of their design cycle time without sacrificing design quality.
Second derivatives for approximate spin projection methods

The use of broken-symmetry electronic structure methods is required in order to obtain correct behavior of electronically strained open-shell systems, such as transition states, biradicals, and transition metals. This approach often has issues with spin contamination, which can lead to significant errors in predicted energies, geometries, and properties. Approximate projection schemes are able to correct for spin contamination and can often yield improved results. To fully make use of these methods and to carry out exploration of the potential energy surface, it is desirable to develop an efficient second energy derivative theory. In this paper, we formulate the analytical second derivatives for the Yamaguchi approximate projection scheme, building on recent work that has yielded an efficient implementation of the analytical first derivatives.
Generation of a time-reversed replica of a nonuniformly polarized image-bearing optical beam.

We demonstrate the generation of the time-reversed replica of an incident monochromatic image-bearing optical beam that is nonuniformly polarized. A form cf degenerate four-wave mixing in liquid CS2 of beams at 532 nm is employed. We discuss sources of distortion in the vector replica using standard theory of nonlinear beam interaction.
Anti-Analgesic Effect of the Mu/Delta Opioid Receptor Heteromer Revealed by Ligand-Biased Antagonism

Delta (DOR) and mu opioid receptors (MOR) can complex as heteromers, conferring functional properties in agonist binding, signaling and trafficking that can differ markedly from their homomeric counterparts. Because of these differences, DOR/MOR heteromers may be a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of pain. However, there are currently no ligands selective for DOR/MOR heteromers, and, consequently, their role in nociception remains unknown. In this study, we used a pharmacological opioid cocktail that selectively activates and stabilizes the DOR/MOR heteromer at the cell surface by blocking its endocytosis to assess its role in antinociception. We found that mice treated chronically with this drug cocktail showed a significant right shift in the ED50 for opioid-mediated analgesia, while mice treated with a drug that promotes degradation of the heteromer did not. Furthermore, promoting degradation of the DOR/MOR heteromer after the right shift in the ED50 had occurred, or blocking signal transduction from the stabilized DOR/MOR heteromer, shifted the ED50 for analgesia back to the left. Taken together, these data suggest an anti-analgesic role for the DOR/MOR heteromer in pain. In conclusion, antagonists selective for DOR/MOR heteromer could provide an avenue for alleviating reduced analgesic response during chronic pain treatment.