cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Products of heme-catalyzed transformation of the arachidonate derivative 12-HPETE open S-type K+ channels in Aplysia

In Aplysia mechanosensory neurons, the neuropeptide FMRFamide increases the opening of the background S-K+ channel. This action is mediated by activation of arachidonic acid metabolism. Arachidonic acid in Aplysia nervous tissue is transformed through the 12-lipoxygenase pathway to 12-HPETE, which undergoes further metabolism. In intact sensory cells, 12-HPETE simulates the FMRFamide response, raising the question of whether 12-HPETE is the messenger molecule ultimately acting on the S-K+ channel. Here we show that in cell-free (inside-out) patches from sensory cells, 12-HPETE fails to modulate the S-K+ channel, but in the presence of hematin (which catalyzes 12-HPETE metabolism), it triggers sharp increases in the channel opening probability. We also found that SKF-525A, an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450, reduces the response to FMRFamide, arachidonic acid, and 12-HPETE in intact cells. We conclude that a heme-catalyzed transformation of 12-HPETE is necessary and sufficient to promote the opening of the S-K+ channel and a heme-containing enzyme such as cytochrome P450 might play this key role.
CEO EQUITY PORTFOLIO INCENTIVES AND LAYOFF DECISIONS

CEOs with higher equity-based compensation are widely believed to be more likely to act in shareholders' interests. Unlike less common acquisitions, voluntary liquidations, or seasoned equity offerings, layoffs are comparatively common elements of firms' operating strategies. We find that CEOs with at least one year of tenure who possess greater incentives from portfolios of restricted stock and stock option grants are more likely to announce layoffs, and that these layoffs create shareholder value. We conclude that accumulated portfolios of restricted stock and stock option grants encourage CEOs to adopt operating strategies that improve operating profits and stock performance.
Effect of Channel Geometry Variations on the Performance of a Constrained Microscale-Film Ammonia-Water Bubble Absorber

An experimental study of the absorption of ammonia vapor in a constrained thin film of ammonia-water solution is presented. A large aspect ratio microchannel with one of its walls formed of a porous material is used to constrain the thickness of the liquid film. Experiments are performed at a pressure of 2.5 bar absolute and 4 bar absolute and at a fixed weak solution inlet temperature. Weak solution flow rates are varied from 10 g/min to 30 g/min (corresponding to the weak solution Reynolds number, Re, from 15 to 45), inlet mass concentrations are varied from 0% to 15%, and gas flow rates are varied between 1 g/min and 3 g/min (corresponding to the vapor Re from 160 to 520). Six geometries, including three smooth-bottom-walled channels of differing depths and three channels with structured bottom walls, are considered. Results indicate that, for identical rates of vapor absorption, the overall heat transfer coefficient of the 400 μm absorber is in most cases significantly larger than that of other absorbers. For the 150 μm and 400 μm absorbers, a trade-off between the high overall heat and mass transfer coefficients is achieved for the highest vapor to solution flow rate ratio.
Identification of Journal Bearing Force Coefficients under High Dynamic Loading Centered Static Operation

Lightly damped rotor bearing systems experience large amplitudes of vibration when traversing critical speeds. Bearing linearized force coefficients, strictly valid for minute motions about an equilibrium position, may not be reliable for design or troubleshooting in rotordynamics predictive analyses. Experiments assessing the dynamic forced response of a plain journal bearing undergoing large orbital motions due to single-frequency excitation forces were conducted in a test rig. The short test bearing of slenderness ratio L/D = 0.25 has a nominal radial clearance of 0.127 mm (5 mils). Tests were conducted at three rotor speeds (900, 1800, and 2700 rpm), three feed pressures (1, 3, and 6 psig), and three excitation frequencies (15, 30, and 45 Hz). Baseline bearing motions due to shaft runout are recorded and subtracted in the parameter identification procedure. The forces exerted on the bearing induce large orbital motions with peak amplitudes exceeding 50% of the nominal bearing clearance. Identified cro...
Surface enhanced raman spectroscopy of cyanide complexes on silver surfaces

Abstract Silver samples electrochemically treated with cyanide exhibit surface enhanced Raman spectra of silver cyanide complexes when examined in air. Surface enhancement is observed from [Ag(CN) 3 ] 2− before rinsing and [Ag(CN) 3 ] − after rinsing. A bulk overlayer of [Ag(CN) 2 ] − is removed by the rinse. All lines are red-shifted when Na + counter ions are replaced by K + .
Video game habits: a reasoned action approach

This paper describes research done in the domain of habit as it pertains to habitual video game play. A reasoned action understanding of habit is provided to illustrate a potential research perspective.
4‐Phenoxy‐3,5‐dinitrobenzoylpolyethyleneglycol: Reversible attachment of cysteine‐containing polypeptides to polymers in aqueous solutions

Polyethyleneglycol of molecular weight 6000 was treated with 4-phenoxy-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride in warm toluene. The product of this reaction is a white crystalline solid containing 0.1–0.2 mmol of labile phenoxy groups per gram of polymer derivative. In aqueous buffers of pH 7, the phenoxydinitrobenzoyl polymer reacts rapidly with side-chain sulfhydryl groups of cysteine, but very slowly with other functional groups found in polypeptides, yielding peptide-polymer compounds in which the peptide and polymer are linked by a thiol-sensitive dinitrophenylene bridge. Both small synthetic peptides and the B-chain of bovine insulin thus linked to polyethylene glycol are soluble in water and in some organic solvents. An arginine-containing peptide bound to the polymer was hydrolyzed by trypsin at the arginyl bond, indicating that the linear polyethyleneglycol support does not restrict access of enzymes to bound peptides. Release of peptides from the polymer is rapidly accomplished by treatment with thiols at pH 7 in aqueous solutions.
Effect of steroids on immunoglobulin-induced eosinophil degranulation.

Abstract Because glucocorticoids are a mainstay in the treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases, we tested the effect of various steroid hormones on secretory IgA- and IgG-induced eosinophil degranulation in vitro. Human normodense eosinophils were purified by discontinuous Percoll density gradient, and hypodense eosinophils were obtained by culture of normodense cells with recombinant human interleukin (rIL)-5. Eosinophils were incubated with various steroids, including dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, estradiol, or dihydrotestosterone at concentrations from 10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L. Sepharose 4B beads coupled to ovalbumin, secretory IgA, or IgG were added as targets of degranulation and incubated at 37 ° C for 4 hours. In some experiments, rIL-5 was added to eosinophils before addition of beads to activate the cells. The release of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin was measured by radioimmunoassay as an index of degranulation. Dexamethasone (10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L), hydrocortisone (10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L), estradiol (10 −9 to 10 −7 mol/L), and dihydrotestosterone (10 −9 to 10 −4 mol/L) had no effect on normodense eosinophil degranulation. Methylprednisolone, 10 −5 mol/L, inhibited degranulation of normodense eosinophils up to 20%, whereas 10 −4 mol/L inhibited degranulation of hypodense eosinophils, up to 30%, Overall, no difference in inhibition by steroids was observed between normodense and hypodense eosinophils. rIL-5 enhanced immunoglobulin-induced eosinophil degranulation, but this effect of rIL-5 was not blocked by any of the steroids tested. These results suggest that eosinophil degranulation and rIL-5-mediated eosinophil activation are not direct targets of glucocorticoids and that the beneficial effects of glucocorticoids on allergic inflammation in vivo are not likely due to direct effects on eosinophil degranulation.
The re-formation of the epidermis of embryonic Rana pipiens following treatment with ultrasound

Abstract The hypothesis is tested that mitotic activity is responsible for epidermal stratification by increasing the density of cells in a cell layer and thereby promoting cell migration out of this layer. The stratification process was observed in the epidermis of Rana pipiens embryos following treatment with ultrasound which causes the shedding of the periderm; the single layer of residual cells gives rise to two cell layers by the end of the first day after this treatment. The density of epidermal cells was observed in whole mounts of tail epidermis. The epidermal cell density of sonicated animals decreased during the first day so that the cells in both layers were only half as densely packed as those in the control epidermis. Changes in the cell density, therefore, could not be responsible for peridermal re-formation. Equations for the total number of epidermal cells on one side of the tail as a function of time were derived by multiplying corresponding functions for cell density by those for the surface area of one side of the tail. The rates at which cells were added to the epidermal cell population by mitosis were calculated from the mitotic index divided by the duration of mitosis and were used to estimate the percentages of cells added by mitosis during the first day. Only one-third of the tail epidermal cells of sonicated animals divided during the first day. Since there were about as many cells in the periderm as in the basal layer at that time, at least 33% of the new peridermal cells had migrated out of the basal layer without having been replaced there by cell division. Cell division, therefore, could not be responsible for peridermal re-formation. The hypothesis is thus rejected. Epidermal cells evidently migrated into two layers from the original single layer of residual cells irrespective of the cell density and of cell division.
Influence of fungal-soil water interactions on phytophthora root rot of alfalfa

Phytophthora root rot of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a serious problem in wet soils. This disease is caused by Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. medicaginis. The influence of soil-water interactions with P. megasperma f. sp. medicaginis and other factors on the severity of phytophthora root rot of mature alfalfa plants (10–12 weeks) was studied in greenhouse experiments. Severe and reproducible root rot was produced by subsurface (3–4 cm) placement of mycelial suspension. Soil saturation 3 days prior to inoculation followed by alternating 3-day wet (soil saturation) and 4-day dry (surface watering once a day) moisture regimes (for 30–40 days following inoculation) resulted in severe root damage.
A Note on the Testing of Homogeneity of Large-Aperture Parallel Plates of Glass

Testing of optical homogeneity of large-aperture parallel plates of glass, and discussion of spherical aberration, refractive index and optical thickness
Self‐organized spiral and circular waves in premixed gas flames

A diffusive‐thermal high Lewis number (Le) gas‐phase oscillator has been observed in premixed flames using a lean mixture of butane and oxygen diluted with helium (Le≊3.0). This reactive‐diffusive system exhibits both propagating radial pulsations and rotating spiral waves perhaps analogous to those observed in other excitable media such as the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction.
Hyperphagia and the control of ingestion in the female mosquito, Culiseta inornata (Williston) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Hyperphagia resulted in all females of Culiseta inornata that were fed 1 M sucrose after the ventral nerve cord was severely damaged or severed in either abdominal segment I, II, or III. Hyperphagia also occurred in 42% of females fed successive higher concentrations of sucrose ranging from 0.25–2.0 M. The conclusions are: (1) Signals from receptors in the anterior abdominal segments limit the intake of sugary liquids; (2) this type of receptor is absent from the ventral diverticulum; and (3) excitatory input from oral receptors may dominate inhibitory input from abdominal stretch receptors.
The rate equation method applied to relaxation effects in Mössbauer spectra

Abstract Relaxation phenomena in Mossbauer spectra are frequently interpreted by a set of phenomenological rate equations. These equations are derived here from simple first principle considerations. In addition, it is proved that they are mathematically equivalent to equations derived from Anderson's theory of motional narrowing.
A Lagrangian formulation for continuous media

Abstract The Lagrangian formulation for continuous media is derived from variational principles for perfectly general mechanical systems. The basic conservation laws for such systems are generated from first principles and these are all referred to general curvilinear coordinates. Specific results are catalogued for spherical and cylindrical coordinate systems. The equilibrium equations for isotropic, homogeneous, and incompressible elastic media are recovered as are some previous results of Bland.
Effects of changes in stimulus contingency on visual extinction

Left visual field (LVF) extinction during double simultaneous stimulation (DSS) is common in patients with right cerebral lesions. A postulate is that during DSS, the intact left hemisphere9s limited attentional capacity is directed to right hemispace, resulting in LVF extinction. External cueing may help direct attention to the LVF and improve performance. In the present study, we varied patterns of unilateral stimulation preceding DSS in an attempt to redirect attention through expectancy. Nine patients (7 stroke, 2 tumor) with right hemisphere lesions each had 40 DSS trials with the distribution of unilateral stimulation trials systematically varied. Mean extinction percentages on DSS trials were 17% following 5 right unilateral trials, 30% following 1 right unilateral trial, 52% following 1 left unilateral trial, and 63% following 5 left unilateral trials. These findings indicate that the probability of extinction decreases following unilateral stimulation to the right visual field and increases following unilateral stimulation to the LVF. These results suggest that expectancy alters the attentional bias which mediates extinction.
INTERACTION OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN AND NEAR-UV LIGHT CAUSES MUTATION AND CYTOTOXICITY IN MAMMALIAN CELLS

The interaction of near-UV light and a photosensitizer, 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), was studied in the Chinese hamster ovary cell/hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase system; cell survival (cloning efficiency) and mutation induction (resistance to 6-thioguanine) were quantified. Exposure of cells to either 8-MOP up to 20 μg/ml (93 μM) or near–UV light up to 40000 J/m2 had no effect on either survival or mutation frequency. Preincubation of cells with 8–MOP from 5 to 120 min prior to irradiation with various fluences did not affect cell survival or mutation frequency. Survival decreased and mutation frequency increased linearly when either the 8-MOP concentration or fluence was increased while the other factor was held as a constant. Mutation frequency appears to show reciprocity relative to the product of 8-MOP concentration times fluence of near–UV light [(μg/ml)·(J/m2)] throughout a range apparently limited by high cell lethality. The observed pooled data on mutation, f(x), as a function of (μg/ml)·(J/m2), x, fit a linear dose–response line, f(x) = (34.2 + 0.05 x) × 10-6. Cell survival, however, does not appear to exhibit such reciprocity.
Serum Creatine Phosphokinase Activity in Newly Admitted Psychiatric Patients: Part II

Serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity was determined in 726 patients and correlated with psychiatric diagnosis. Eighty-three of 209 acutely psychotic patients (39.7%) had increased serum CPK activity. The incidence of increased CPK levels in those patients with symptoms of less than two weeks' duration (65.1%) was significantly higher than in those whose symptoms were dated to more than two weeks prior to hospitalization (10.3%). The median increase was four to five times the upper limit of normal. Increases were present in patients with the whole range of acute psychotic syndromes not previously attributed to physical conditions. Few nonpsychotic and chronically psychotic patients had elevated serum CPK levels. Some patients with alcoholic psychoses or cerebral arteriosclerosis had elevated serum CPK activity. The determination of serum CPK activity may be of some use for diagnostic purposes.
Approximately matching context-free languages

Abstract Given a string w and a pattern p, approximate pattern matching merges traditional sequence comparison and pattern matching by asking for the minimum difference between w and a string exactly matched by p. We give an O(PN2(N + log P)) algorithm for approximately matching a string of length N and a context-free language specified by a grammar of size P. The algorithm generalizes the Cocke-Younger-Kasami algorithm for determining membership in a context-free language. We further sketch an O(P5N88p) algorithm for the problem where gap costs are concave and pose two open problems for such general comparison cost models.
Increased parasitization of California red scale in the field after exposing its parasitoid, Aphytis melinus, to a synthetic kairomone

The introduced parasitoid, Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), utilizes a kairomone, O-caffeoyltyrosine, to recognize California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Homoptera: Diaspididae). Wasps used in augmentative release programs for California red scale on California citrus are reared on oleander scale, Aspidiotus nerii Bouche (Homoptera: Diaspididae), themselves reared on squash. Previous laboratory studies demonstrated that wasps reared on oleander scale but exposed to O-caffeoyltyrosine before bioassay more readily accepted California red scale covers for probing than wasps reared similarly but not exposed to O-caffeoyltyrosine. The goal of this study was to determine if wasps reared on oleander scale but exposed to O-caffeoyltyrosine actually parasitized a greater number of field-reared California red scale than unconditioned wasps. In order to distinguish between progeny of conditioned and unconditioned wasps in the field, we utilized two A. melinus strains that carried different electrophoretically distinguishable alleles. In half of the releases, Strain ‘A’ was conditioned to O-caffeoyltyrosine and Strain ‘B’ served as the control, while this pattern of conditioning was reversed for the remaining releases. Although there were differences in the rates of population growth of the two strains, whichever strain was the conditioned strain left a greater than expected number of progeny compared to the control strain in all comparisons. Exposure of A. melinus reared in commercial insectaries to O-caffeoyltyrosine prior to release may be a means to improve the effectiveness of such wasps in augmentative release programs to control California red scale.
A survey of statistical packages on microcomputers

The results of a survey of statistical packages for microcomputers are presented. Questionnaires were sent to known statistical software producers, and completed questionnaires were obtained on 26 packages. This information is presented along with partial information on 32 other known packages. A brief listing of packages available on larger microcomputer systems is also presented. Finally, we also stress the need for reviews of the microcomputer statistical packages.
Boiling flow simulations on adaptive octree grids

Abstract Boiling flow simulations are conducted on adaptive octree grids. A phase change model consistent with the mixture formulation, in conjunction with the Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) model, is used to track the liquid–vapor interface. Test cases including Rayleigh Taylor instability and bubble growth in a uniform superheat are conducted to validate the phase change model on adaptive grids. The validated model is then used to conduct film boiling simulations on both two-dimensional and three-dimensional adaptive grids. The average wall Nusselt number agrees well with the widely accepted correlations of Berenson (1961) and Klimenko (1981) and Klimenko and Shelepen (1982) for film boiling on a horizontal surface. For the test cases presented, the efficiency of the adaptive technique, as measured by the adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) efficiency, is mostly in the range of 50–80%. Although this efficiency is a function of the nature and dimensionality of the problem, this range of efficiency is comparable to those obtained in the simulations of primary jet atomization conducted by Fuster et al. (2009) . This work opens the prospect of conducting more realistic (three-dimensional) multi-modal boiling flow simulations, and problems of similar complexity, in an efficient manner.
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF LARVAE OF THE GRANARY WEEVIL, SITOPHILUS GRANARIUS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE), ON NATURAL AND MERIDIC DIETS

A procedure is described for obtaining free eggs and first-stage larvae of Sitophilus granarius (L.) and rearing the larvae to the adult stage on whole wheat, corn, and rice flours and on diet 2, a casein–starch-based meridic diet.Larval growth rates of males and females reared at 29 °C and 65% R.H. on whole wheat flour were comparable although males attained a higher maximum mean weight. Days to 50% adult emergence (eclosion) were 25.5 and 26.5 for females and males, respectively.Larval growth rates on whole wheat flour were comparable with those on whole corn flour but were better than the rates obtained on whole rice flour; however, growth on diet 2 was improved compared with that on whole wheat flour. The mean weights of 14-day-old larvae were 2.51 ±.40 mg and 1.25 ±.16 mg for those reared on diet 2 and wheat flour, respectively. Similarly, survival to the adult stage was slightly greater (79%) on diet 2 than on wheat (70%). On diet 1, a casein–glucose-based meridic diet, no larvae developed to the pupal stage.
Numerical Modeling of Axisymmetric and Three-Dimensional Flows in Microelectromechanical Systems Nozzles

A numerical study of three-dimensional effects on the performance of a micronozzle fabricated from e at silicon wafers is performed by use of both continuum and kinetic approaches. The nozzle operates in a low-Reynoldsnumber regime, and viscous effects dominate the gas expansion. Thrust losses occur because the shear on the wall is greater in a e at nozzle cone guration than in an axisymmetric conical nozzle. Therefore, the prediction of the micronozzle performance based on axisymmetric or two-dimensional modeling can lead to signie cant design errors.Comparisonofsimulationwithrecentdatashowsgood agreementintermsofthrustpredictionsforcold-gas thrusters at Reynolds numbers of approximately 2 ££ 102.
Transmission Efficiency of Two Flea Species ( Oropsylla tuberculata cynomuris and Oropsylla hirsuta ) Involved in Plague Epizootics among Prairie Dogs

Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is an exotic disease in North America circulating predominantly in wild populations of rodents and their fleas. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are highly susceptible to infection, often experiencing mortality of nearly all individuals in a town as a result of plague. The fleas of black-tailed prairie dogs are Oropsylla tuberculata cynomuris and Oropsylla hirsuta. We tested the efficiency of O. tuberculata cynomuris to transmit Y. pestis daily from 24 to 96 h postinfection and compared it to previously collected data for O. hirsuta. We found that O. tuberculata cynomuris has over threefold greater transmission efficiency (0.18 infected fleas transmit Y. pestis at 24 h postinfection) than O. hirsuta (0.05 fleas transmit). Using a simple model of flea-borne transmission, we combine these laboratory measurements with field data on monthly flea loads to compare the seasonal vectorial capacity of these two flea species. Coinciding with seasonal patterns of flea abundance, we find a peak in potential for flea-borne transmission in March, during high O. tuberculata cynomuris abundance, and in September–October when O. hirsuta is common. Our findings may be useful in determining the timing of insecticidal dusting to slow plague transmission in black-tailed prairie dogs.
Resonance structure in kink-antikink interactions in φ4 theory

Abstract We present new numerical and theoretical results concerning kink-antikink collisions in the classical (nonintegrable) φ 4 field model in one-dimensional space. Earlier numerical studies of such collisions revealed that, over a small range of initial velocities, intervals of initial relative velocity for which the kink and antikink capture one another alternate with regions for which the interaction concludes with escape to infinite separation. We describe the results of a new high-precision computer simulation that significantly extends and refines these observations of escape “windows”. We also discuss a simple theoretical mechanism that appears to account for this structure in a natural way. Our picture attributes the alternation phenomenon to a nonlinear resonance between the orbital frequency of the bound kink-antikink pair and the frequency of characteristic small oscillations of the field localized at the moving kink and antikink centers. Our numerical simulation also reveals long-lived small-scale oscillatory behavior in the time dependence of kink and antikink velocity following those collisions that do not lead to capture. We account for this fine structure in terms of the interaction between kink (and antikink) motion and small amplitude “radiation” generated during and after the collision. We discuss possible implications of our results for physical systems.
Growth and Characterization of Chemically Vapor Deposited Beta-Sic Epilayers on 6H Alpha-Sic Substrates

High quality, β-SiC (111) monocrystalline films have been epitaxially grown via chemical vapor deposition at 1683K on hexagonal 6H αc-SiC (0001) using a (SiH4 + C2H4)/(H2) gas flow rate ratio of 1:3000. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy showed almost no line or planar defects at the film/substrate interface and a low density within the bulk of the film. Furthermore, high resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed a coherent β-SiC/α-SiC interface. Secondary ion mass spectrometry indicated that the diffusion of the Al in the substrate into the as-grown film was negligible. Unintentionally doped films are n-type with the carrier concentrations virtually always in the range of 1016-1017cm3, as determined by capacitance-voltage measurements. A gold-β-SiC Schottky diode having an ideality constant of approximately 1.6 was fabricated on the β-SiC epilayer.
Value Added Tax And Consumer Spending: A Graphical Descriptive Analysis

The US has been considering introducing a National Consumption Tax federally. This would be in addition to the states’ sales taxes. Since a consumption tax would be an added cost to the consumer, it would be expected that there could be some behavioral change by consumers. This paper uses graphs to describe and analyze whether consumers in the UK and Canada altered their behavior when those countries introduced their Value Added Tax (or Goods and Services Tax). Both retail volume and the percentage change from the prior year (on a monthly basis) were used in the graphic depictions. It was found that there was no or little major behavioral change when the new taxes were introduced. However, when the tax rates were changed substantially, consumers did adapt their behavior to take advantage of the changes by engaging in arbitrage behavior. US consumers are likely to act in a similar manner as UK and Canadian consumers.
Stable-isotopic composition of soil carbon dioxide in the Tucson basin, Arizona, U.S.A.

Abstract Most models to correct 14C groundwater ages require the δ 13C-value of soil CO2 in the recharge areas of the aquifer at the time of recharge. Ninety-one soil gas samples were collected at three long-term sites in the Tucson area from July 1980 to June 1981 to determine the extent of seasonal variations and the influence of vegetation on the δ 13C and CO2 concentration of soil gases. Variations were observed in both δ 13C and CO2 concentrations. The highest CO2 concentrations, up to 1.3% at 60-cm depth, were observed during March and April; the lowest, 0.1% CO2 at 12-cm depth, were observed during the winter months. The δ 13C-values varied by ~ 5‰ during the sampling period. The lowest 13C contents were found in early spring and summer. Part of the δ 13C variation is due to exchange with atmospheric CO2. Other causes could be decomposition of organic matter with different isotopic composition and different decay rates and/or to a seasonal displacement of the period of maximum activity among different varieties of plants. The mean δ 13C for samples at the long-term sites was ~ −18‰. In addition, fifteen soil gas samples were collected in the bottom of washes which are the assumed recharge areas of the Tucson aquifer. Both CO2 and 13C concentrations showed changes with time and location. High concentrations of CO2 of up to 4.8% were found. The mean δ 13C for these samples was ~ −20‰. A major source of CO2 in the riverbeds is believed to be decomposition of organic matter carried out by the runoff water during the periodic flooding of the washes.
Effect of column degradation on the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of peptides and proteins.

Abstract Many reversed-phase separations of proteins and peptides are currently performed in acidic mobile phases, e.g., 0.1% trifluoroacteic acid in water (pH 2) with organic modifiers. Such conditions are known to promote the cleavage of the silane from the silica in bonded-phase columns, especially for monomeric stationary phases. The stability of some columns commonly used for proteins and peptides has been examined, and it has been shown by both chromatographic and elemental analysis that degradation occurs very rapidly with fresh, “totally covered” column materials. Despite the loss of over half of the bonded phase in some cases, certain columns still exhibit adequate chromatographic performance, although reproducibility can be affected. The implications of these results with respect to both bonded-phase synthesis and mechanistic interpretation of chromatographic data is discussed.
Economic and health effects of fruit and vegetable advertising: Evidence from lab experiments

Abstract This study investigates consumer response to various types of advertising for fruits and vegetables—a food category which health officials uniformly agree is significantly under-consumed in the United States. Using an adult, non-student subject pool of 271 participants in an economic experiment, consumers’ response to different types of fruit and vegetable advertising is measured empirically. This study finds that broad-based advertising, which is generic advertising for the entire fruit and vegetable category, increases consumer willingness to pay by an average of 24.6%. The simulation model shows that broad-based advertising for fruits and vegetables, either alone or as a hybrid with individual commodity-specific campaigns (e.g., apple advertising), would reduce average caloric intake per person by approximately 1800 kcal per year. The results of this study may contribute to new public policy initiatives that aim to reduce diet-related illnesses and obesity, which have become increasingly prevalent in the United States.
The Effects of Neonatal Hydrocortisone on Rat Cerebellar Development

The development of the cerebellar cortex was studied in rats treated neonatally (days 1–4) with hydrocortisone. Effects on the external granular layer (EGL) and development of the cerebellar laminae in
Decreased interleukin-1 production in aplastic anemia.

Purpose Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a monocyte factor, plays a central role in the regulation of the immune response; recent data have suggested that IL-1 is the same molecule as hemopoietin-1, a growth factor acting on the multipotent hematopoietic stem cell. IL-1 affects hematopoiesis (1) in vitro , by inducing the release of colony-stimulating factors and regulating early hematopoietic progenitor cells, and (2) in vivo , by stimulating stem cell recovery in irradiated or chemotherapy-treated mice. Several lines of evidence suggest that aplastic anemia may be mediated by cells of the immune system. We address the issue of abnormal IL-1 production in severe aplastic anemia and attempt to correlate normalization of the levels with response to anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) therapy. Patients and methods We studied IL-1 production by monocytes from 21 patients with aplastic anemia using a bioassay for IL-1 activity. Fifteen patients were evaluated before ATG therapy. Eight patients were studied before and three months after ATG. In addition, five patients were evaluated only after ATG treatment. One patient did not respond to ATG but did respond to intravenous acyclovir, and was studied before and after acyclovir therapy. Twenty patients with other hematologic disorders requiring transfusions and 30 normal healthy volunteers were also assessed. Results IL-1 production was markedly decreased in 75 percent of patients with aplastic anemia when compared with that in normal control subjects (p Conclusion These observations represent the first evidence of monocyte dysfunction and deficient hematopoietic growth factor production in aplastic anemia. Decreased IL-1 production may have a pathologic role in some cases of aplastic anemia.
Self-organizing wireless sensor networks for structural health monitoring

A smart sensor node has been developed which has (a) the ability to sense strain of the structure under observation, (b) process this raw sensor data in cooperation with its neighbors and (c) transmit the information to the end user. This network is designed to be self organizing in the sense of establishing and maintaining the inter node connectivity without the need for human intervention. For the envisioned application of structural health monitoring, wireless communication is the most practical solution for node interconnectivity not only because they eliminate interconnecting cables but also for their ability to establish communication links even in inaccessible regions. But wireless nework brings with it a number of issues such as interference, fault tolerant self organizing, multi-hop communication, energy effieiciency, routing and finally reliable operation in spite of massive complexity of the sysetm. This paper addresses the issue of fault tolerant self organiing in wireless sensor networks. We propose a new architecture called the Redundant Tree Network (RTN). RTN is a hierarchical network which exploits redundant links between nodes to provide reliability.
Polyisobutylene supports—a non-polar hydrocarbon analog of PEG supports

Synthetic routes to terminally functionalized polyisobutylene oligomers useful as supports in synthesis and catalysis are discussed and described. Such hydrocarbon polymers serve as highly soluble non-polar analogs of well known poly(ethylene glycol) supports for synthesis and catalysis with the difference that they are separated after a reaction by an extraction with alkane solvent.
Climate and Human Evolution

Did climate change shape human evolution? This question has old, deep roots ( 1 , 2 ), but in recent decades, the fossil record of hominin evolution and behavior has improved, although it remains incomplete, and great progress has been made in the quality and number of African paleoclimate records from land and ocean sediments ( 3 ). A recent National Research Council (NRC) report ( 4 ) examines emerging faunal and paleoclimate evidence underlying the hypothesis that past climate changes may have influenced our evolution.
The role of alkyl substitution on the spin distribution in the radical cation of alkyl-cyclohexane: An electron-spin-resonance study

The role of alkyl substitution on the electronic structure of cyclohexane radical cation was investigated with low-temperature matrix ESR and semiempirical MO calculations. It was found that the unpaired electron, which is originally delocalized throughout the cyclohexane ring, tends to be confined to one of the CC σ-bonds in the ring at the position of the alkyl substitution. When the alkyl chain is longer (NC⩾4), the unpaired electron tends to flow out from the ring to the side chain. Based on these findings, the difference between the alkyl-substitution effects on the electronic structures of an aliphatic and an aromatic Jahn-Teller active cyclic cation is discussed.
K-aggravated myotonia mutations at residue G1306 differentially alter deactivation gating of human skeletal muscle sodium channels.

Fast inactivation and deactivation gating were compared between wild-type human voltage-gated skeletal muscle sodium channel (hNaV1.4) and potassium-aggravated myotonia (PAM) mutations G1306A, G1306E, and G1306V. Cell-attached macropatches were used to compare wild-type and PAM-gating properties in normal extracellular K+ (4 mM), decreased K+ (1 mM), and increased K+ (10 mM). G1306E/A increased the apparent valence of the conductance (g(V)) curve. Compared to hNaV1.4, the steady-state inactivation (h ∞) curve was depolarized for G1306E/A but hyperpolarized by G1306V, and this mutation increased apparent valence. G1306A/E slowed the rate of current rise towards peak activation. G1306V slowed open-state deactivation, inactivated-state deactivation, and recovery from fast inactivation. G1306A/E abbreviated open-state deactivation at negative commands. These mutants slowed open-state deactivation at more positive commands, at voltages for which fast inactivation might influence tail current decay. G1306E abbreviated recovery delay without affecting recovery rate. Low K+ increased peak current in hNaV1.4 and in G1306V. For G1306E, low K+ increased the rate of entry into fast inactivation, hyperpolarized the g(V) and h ∞ curves, and increased recovery delay. Biophysical underpinnings of PAM caused by mutations of G1306 thus vary with the specific mutation, and hyperkalemic exacerbation of effects of mutations at this residue are not direct.
Icebergs and Sea Ice Detected with Inverted Echo Sounders

AbstractA 1-yr experiment using a pressure-sensor-equipped inverted echo sounder (PIES) was conducted in Sermilik Fjord in southeastern Greenland (66°N, 38°E) from August 2011 to September 2012. Based on these high-latitude data, the interpretation of PIESs’ acoustic travel-time records from regions that are periodically ice covered were refined. In addition, new methods using PIESs for detecting icebergs and sea ice and for estimating iceberg drafts and drift speeds were developed and tested. During winter months, the PIES in Sermilik Fjord logged about 300 iceberg detections and recorded a 2-week period in early March of land-fast ice cover over the instrument site, consistent with satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. The deepest icebergs in the fjord were found to have keel depths greater than approximately 350 m. Average and maximum iceberg speeds were approximately 0.2 and 0.5 m s−1, respectively. The maximum tidal range at the site was ±1.8 m and during neap tides the range was ±0.3 m, ...
Control of Mites in Laboratory Cultures of the Eye Gnat, Hippelates Collusor (Townsend)

Two mite species, one belonging to the genus Anoetus (Anoctidae) and the other to the family Pyemotidae, appeared in a laboratory colony of the eye gnat, Hippelates Collusor (Townsend). The hypopi or deutonymphs of the Anoetus species attached themselves to the emerging gnats and made the laboratory-reared guats worthless for breeding, biological, and toxicological studies. Similarly, the adults of the Pyemotid species, by parasitizing the gnats, rendered them unfit for experimental purposes. Several acaricides were tested for the purpose of controlling these mites without doing appreciable damage to the gnats. Tedion, at a dosage of 50 gm. of 0.1% dust per cage of the larval medium, was the only acaricide among those tested that gave the desired results.
Carbonic anhydrase in the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Abstract Carbonic anhydrase studied by electrometric methods in Acheta domesticus is found in the foregut, midgut, testes, salivary glands, fat body, and possibly in the foregut contents, thoracic muscles, and hindgut. The enzyme was not found in the central nerve cord, ovaries, Malpighian tubes, trachea, eggs, or blood. Apis mellifera has carbonic anhydrase in the thoracic muscles but not in the tracheal sacs. The significance of the enzyme in each organ and in the respiratory processes of the whole insect is discussed.
Nonlinear extension of Bode's integral based on an information-theoretic interpretation

Abstract For linear systems, we show that the constraint known as Bode's sensitivity integral has an information-theoretic interpretation in terms of the difference in the entropy rates between the input and output of the systems. For nonlinear system, we use this interpretation to show that, if the open loop system is globally exponentially stable and has fading memory, this difference is zero. For nonlinear systems that are not stable, we investigate the method to calculate this difference using new results on the inner/outer factorization of nonlinear systems.
Role of the cathode and anode in heat generation of Li-ion cells as a function of state of charge

Abstract Thermal stability of Li-ion cells (from two different manufacturers, A and B) and their cathodes and anodes were evaluated as a function of state of charge (SOC) using accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). Cell A was rated at 750 mAh and consisted of Sn-doped LiCoO 2 cathode and meso-carbon micro-fiber (MCMF) anode. Cell B was rated at 790 mAh and was comprised of a cathode and an anode made of LiCoO 2 and graphite. The electrolytes in cells A and B were mixtures of EC:EMC + 1MLiPF 6 and EC:EMC:DMC + 1MLiPF 6 , respectively. ARC results indicated that between 50 and 125% SOC, the total heat generated by cell A is mostly dominated by self-heating of the cathode, while between 125 and 200% SOC the total heat generated by the cell was dominated by the anode. The total heat generated in cell B, however, was dominated by self-heating of the graphite anode, over the entire 50–200% SOC range. Also, the self-heating in cell B was higher than that for cell A. Heat generation of the LiCoO 2 increases with increasing SOC, and the Sn-LiCoO 2 heat generation reaches a maximum near 125% SOC. At low SOC, the temperature of the onset of chemical reaction ( T OSCR ) for cell A was higher than that for the cell B. For both cells, at higher SOC, T OSCR decreased with a sharp drop between 100 and 150% SOC. Overall results show that cell A offers a higher thermal stability than cell B. Also, the ARC test is more suitable than differential scanning calorimetry for correlation of cathode and anode heat generations to the thermal performance of full Li-ion cells.
Myosin Va and Myosin VI Engage in a “Tug of War” on Actin Tracks while Transporting Cargoes in vitro

Myosin Va (myoVa) and myosin VI (myoVI) are processive molecular motors that transport cargo in opposite directions on actin tracks. Since myoVa and myoVI may colocalize to the same cargo in vivo, these motors may undergo a tug of war. Therefore, we sought to characterize the stepping dynamics of single myoVa and myoVI motors in vitro as they mechanically interact when linked together by a Qdot cargo. Expressed myoVa-HMM with an N-terminal biotin tag were labeled with streptavidin-Qdots (565nm) while expressed dimerized myoVI-HMM were Qdot(655nm)-labeled on an exchanged calmodulin. The effective tug of war on actin filament tracks (25mM KCl, 2mM ATP, 22°C) was observed in TIRF with 6nm resolution, allowing individual steps to be detected. MyoVa won ∼80% of the time and regardless of which motor won, its stepping rate was reduced ∼50% below its unloaded value due to the resistive load of the opposing motor. Interestingly, as the winning motor stepped forwards (myoVa, 73nm; myoVI, 56nm) the opposing motor stepped backwards (myoVa, 68nm; myoVI, 65nm) at the same rate, although myoVI appeared to be dragged at times. Why does myoVa dominate when its stall force is similar to myoVI? Given the probability that both myoVa and myoVI take occasional backsteps and experience a 2-3-fold reduction in stepping rate when winning, we estimate based on optical trapping data (Altman et al., 2004; Kad et al., 2008) that myoVa exerts a 50% greater resistive load compared to myoVI, providing a potential advantage to myoVa. Differences in the length of the myoVa and myoVI constructs could lead to each motor experiencing different vectorial force components, the potential that this may influence the outcome of the tug of war is being investigated.
Average and complete incompressibility in the finite element method

The constraint of incompressibility is incorporated into the finite element method for plane strain through the use of a Lagrange multiplier. Depending on the approximating function chosen for this multiplier, the constraint condition can be satisfied everywhere within the element or only in an average sense for the entire element. A study of these two approaches from the point of view of rate of convergence and computer time is presented.
Lipids in the Structure, Folding, and Function of the KcsA K+ Channel†

Lipid molecules surround an ion channel in its native environment of cellular membranes. The importance of the lipid bilayer and the role of lipid protein interactions in ion channel structure and function are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that the bacterial potassium channel KcsA binds a negatively charged lipid molecule. We have defined the potential binding site of the lipid molecule on KcsA by X-ray crystallographic analysis of a complex of KcsA with a monoclonal antibody Fab fragment. We also demonstrate that lipids are required for the in vitro refolding of the KcsA tetramer from the unfolded monomeric state. The correct refolding of the KcsA tetramer requires lipids, but it is not dependent on negatively charged lipids as refolding takes place in the absence of such lipids. We confirm that the presence of negatively charged lipids is required for ion conduction through the KcsA potassium channel, suggesting that the lipid bound to KcsA is important for ion channel function.
Portable knowledge sources for machine translation

In this paper, we describe the acquisition and organization of knowledge sources for machine translation (MT) systems. It has been pointed out by many users that one of the most annoying things about MT systems is the repeated occurrence of identical errors in word sense and attachment disambignuation. We show the limitations of a conventional user-dictionary method and explain how our approach solves the problem.