cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DISENTANGLING THE EFFECTS OF GENDER AND INTIMACY ON VICTIM PRECIPITATION IN HOMICIDE

Research indicates that incidents in which women kill their husbands are more likely to involve victim precipitation than incidents in which men kill their wives. Formulating a causal interpretation of this finding, however, is complicated because the observed pattern may reflect gender differences in violence rather than any special dynamics between husbands and wives. In this research, we introduce and illustrate a framework for disentangling the effects of intimacy and gender on violence. We examine the additive and multiplicative effects of the gender of the offender, the gender of the victim, and the relationship between the offender and victim on victim precipitation. For the most part, the pattern of victim precipitation in homicide reflects the fact that males tend to be more violent than females. However, we find some evidence of special dynamics for intimate partner homicides: Men who are killed by their partners tend to have more violent records than men who are killed in other circumstances.
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against rat glandular kallikrein.

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies can be produced in large amounts, are homogenous and can be highly purified. A specific monoclonal antibody against glandular kallikrein could be very usefule in studies of the kallikrein-kinin system, both in vivo and in vitro. Two monoclonal antibodies against rat glandular kallikrein (rgKK) were produced by immunized mouse spleen and lymph node fusion with myeloma Ag8.653. Both antibodies, named 2E9.8 and 2E9.9, bound active 125 I-kallikrein and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF)-inactivated 125 I-kallikrein. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed with each of the antibodies using rabbit anti-mouse gamma globulin to separate bound from free 125 I-rgKK. The standard curve (range 10–1000 ng/tube) was curved even when subjected to logit-log transformation. Using 3% polyethylene glycol (PEG) to assist separation of bound from free, the standard curve became straight for 2E9.8 and the RIA was more sensitive, with a binding range of 0.35–2.4 ng/tube. Both antibodies were specific for rgKK since they had negligible cross-reaction with purified proteases from the submandibular gland of the rat (tonin, esterases B and E). They did not cross-react with mouse nerve growth factor, epidermal growth factor, nor with pig pancreatic kallikrein. Antibody 2E9.9 did appear to bind some human kallikrein when tested with high concentrations of this enzyme, while 2E9.8 did not. When preincubated with purified rgKK, both antibodies prevented the enzyme from releasing kinins from semi-purified dog kininogen and from cleaving [ 3 H]tosyl- l -arginine methyl ester ( 3 H-TAME). These results suggested that both antibodies bind an epitope near to, and maybe including, the active site of the enzyme. Monoclonal antibody 2E9.8 appears to be specific for rgKK, can be used in a sensitive RIA, and is capable of inhibiting the enzymatic activity of kallikrein. It should prove to be useful in vivo for examining the role of kallikrein in physiological processes.
Using a resolution function to regulate parameterizations of oceanic mesoscale eddy effects

Abstract Mesoscale eddies play a substantial role in the dynamics of the ocean, but the dominant length-scale of these eddies varies greatly with latitude, stratification and ocean depth. Global numerical ocean models with spatial resolutions ranging from 1° down to just a few kilometers include both regions where the dominant eddy scales are well resolved and regions where the model’s resolution is too coarse for the eddies to form, and hence eddy effects need to be parameterized. However, common parameterizations of eddy effects via a Laplacian diffusion of the height of isopycnal surfaces (a Gent–McWilliams diffusivity) are much more effective at suppressing resolved eddies than in replicating their effects. A variant of the Phillips model of baroclinic instability illustrates how eddy effects might be represented in ocean models. The ratio of the first baroclinic deformation radius to the horizontal grid spacing indicates where an ocean model could explicitly simulate eddy effects; a function of this ratio can be used to specify where eddy effects are parameterized and where they are explicitly modeled. One viable approach is to abruptly disable all the eddy parameterizations once the deformation radius is adequately resolved; at the discontinuity where the parameterization is disabled, isopycnal heights are locally flattened on the one side while eddies grow rapidly off of the enhanced slopes on the other side, such that the total parameterized and eddy fluxes vary continuously at the discontinuity in the diffusivity. This approach should work well with various specifications for the magnitude of the eddy diffusivities.
OCCURRENCE OF RICHELIA INTACELLULARIS (CYANOPHYTA)WITHIN THE DIATOMMMS HEMIAULUS HAUKII ADN H. MEMBRANACEUS OFF HAWAII1

The presence of nitrogen–Fixing cyanobacterial endophytes, such as Richelia intracellularis Schmidit commonly observed within several species of Rhizosolenia, in nitrogen-limited oceanic waters has obvious implications both for the host organism(s) and for the entire planktonic assemblage. Recently, epi-fluorescent examination of pllankton samples collected off Oahu, Hawaii, in september 1982 revealed R. intracellularis within the diatoms Hemiaulus membranaceus Cleve and H. hauckii Grunow as well as its expected presence within Rhizosolennia spp. Richelia intracellularis coccurred with within Hemiaulus spp. at frequenccies (ca.80%)comparable to those noted for Rhizosolenia spp. Standard bright field or phaseconrast microsocopy could not reliably distinguish the cyanobacteria within Hemiaulus spp. If this association is common, the occurrence of R.intracellularis (and its significance in the nitrogen dynamics of the ocean)may have been greatly underestimated in previous studies.
Herbivory alters resource allocation and compensation in the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia

. 1. Plants may compensate for the effects of herbivory, especially under favourable growing conditions, limited competition, and minimal top-down regulation. These conditions characterise many disturbed wetlands dominated by introduced plants, implying that exotic, invasive weeds in these systems should exhibit strong compensatory responses. 2. The Australian native Melaleuca quinquenervia is highly invasive in the Florida Everglades, U.S.A., where it experiences limited competition or herbivory from native species, making it a likely candidate for compensation. The introduced biological control agent Oxyops vitiosa feeds exclusively on the seasonal flushes of developing foliage at branch apices, which represents ≈15% of the total foliar biomass. 3. The hypothesis that M. quinquenervia compensates for folivory by O. vitiosa was tested in a series of field-based experiments. Trees experiencing folivory over four consecutive years maintained similar levels of foliar biomass after attack yet possessed twice the number of leaf-bearing terminal stems as undamaged trees. The biomass of these stems was similar among attacked and unattacked trees, indicating that herbivore-damaged trees produce greater quantities of smaller terminal branches. However, undamaged trees were 36 times more likely to reproduce than herbivore-damaged trees. 4. In a separate herbivore exclusion study, a single bout of herbivory on previously undamaged M. quinquenervia trees caused an 80% reduction in reproductive structures the following season. Herbivore-damaged trees also possessed 54% fewer fruits than undamaged trees. An increase in the herbivory frequency (two bouts per year) or magnitude (100% simulated herbivory) did not result in a further reduction in fitness. 5. It has been concluded that M. quinquenervia partially compensates for herbivory by producing new stems and replacing foliage, but this compensation results in a substantial reduction in reproduction.
Diamond a sorting method for vector machines

A method for parallel sorting in vector machines is described. It is shown that it has complexityO(N(logN)2).
Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) activation protects neurons from NMDA excitotoxicity

Abstract A growing body of evidence indicates that the transcription factor PPARγ plays a beneficial role in various neurological diseases. The postulated principal mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of PPARγ is due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, PPARγ exists in neurons where it may provide additional effects that regulate neuronal vulnerability. In the present study, we employed in vitro and in vivo models of excitotoxic neuronal injury to test hypothesis on the neuroprotective role of PPARγ. The endogenous PPARγ ligand, 15d-Δ 12,14 -Prostaglandin J 2 (15d-PGJ 2 ), and a selective thiazolidinedione PPARγ agonist, ciglitazone, significantly reduced neuronal death in response to glutamate and NMDA-mediated, but not kainate-mediated toxicity. This neuroprotective effect of 15d-PGJ 2 and ciglitazone was linked to increased PPARγ DNA binding activity as it was fully reversed by the pretreatment of neurons with selective PPARγ antagonists and anti-PPARγ antibody. It was not due to the blockade of NMDA-receptor-mediated Ca ++ entry. Our data demonstrate that PPARγ activation may represent a potential target for treatment of numerous acute and chronic neurological diseases with pathologies that involve excitotoxic damage.
Transposition of flower height by bumble bee foragers (Bombus impatiens)

Honeybees learn visual characteristics of reinforced and non-reinforced flowers in differential conditioning experiments (i.e., experiments that require subjects to choose between a reinforced and non-reinforced flower). In this study bumble bee foragers (Bombus impatiens) were trained in a transposition paradigm to determine if the relational properties of flowers also influence choice behavior. Subjects in one group (group A) were trained with repeated choices between a medium-height flower replete with sucrose solution and an empty tall flower until the medium-height flower was sampled preferentially in five consecutive trials. A second group (group B) was trained on the medium height flower alone for five trials. In a single test trial subjects were given a choice between the medium-height flower and a short flower, each filled with water. A control group showed no preference in this test. Group B subjects showed a significant preference for the medium-height flower and group A subjects that exhibited flower constancy (i.e., sampled only the medium-height flower in training trials) showed an identical pattern of choice. Subjects in group A that sampled both flowers during training, in contrast, transposed flower height and preferred the short flower. These results suggest that the choice behavior of bumble bee foragers is influenced by relational and absolute properties of flowers. The flower characteristics learned by foragers appear to depend on the difficulty of the discrimination problem and the context in which flowers are sampled. Patches of flowers limited in phenotypic variability may produce simple associative learning and flower constancy by foragers.
Advances of genomic science and systems biology in renal transplantation: a review

The diagnosis of rejection in kidney transplant patients is based on histologic classification of a graft biopsy. The current “gold standard” is the Banff 97 criteria; however, there are several limitations in classifying rejection based on biopsy samples. First, a biopsy involves an invasive procedure. Second, there is significant variance among blinded pathologists in the interpretation of a biopsy. And third, there is also variance between the histology and the molecular profiles of a biopsy. To increase the positive predictive value of classifiers of rejection, a Banff committee is developing criteria that integrate histologic and molecular data into a unified classifier that could diagnose and prognose rejection. To develop the most appropriate molecular criteria, there have been studies by multiple groups applying omics technologies in attempts to identify biomarkers of rejection. In this review, we discuss studies using genome-wide data sets of the transcriptome and proteome to investigate acute rejection, chronic allograft dysfunction, and tolerance. We also discuss studies which focus on genetic biomarkers in urine and peripheral blood, which will provide clinicians with minimally invasive methods for monitoring transplant patients. We also discuss emerging technologies, including whole-exome sequencing and RNA-Seq and new bioinformatic and systems biology approaches, which should increase the ability to develop both biomarkers and mechanistic understanding of the rejection process.
The treatment of hypogonadism in men of reproductive age.

Objective To review the mechanisms of T replacement therapy's inhibition of spermatogenesis and current therapeutic approaches in reproductive aged men. Design Review of published literature. Setting PubMed search from 1990–2012. Patient(s) PubMed search from 1990–2012. Intervention(s) A literature review was performed. Main Outcome Measure(s) Semen analysis and pregnancy outcomes, time to recovery of spermatogenesis, serum and intratesticular T levels. Result(s) Exogenous T suppresses intratesticular T production, which is an absolute prerequisite for normal spermatogenesis. Therapies that protect the testis involve hCG therapy or selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators, but may also include low-dose hCG with exogenous T. Off-label use of selective ER modulators, such as clomiphene citrate (CC), are effective for maintaining T production long term and offer the convenience of representing a safe, oral therapy. At present, routine use of aromatase inhibitors is not recommended based on a lack of long-term data. Conclusion(s) Exogenous T supplementation decreases sperm production. Studies of hormonal contraception indicate that most men have a return of normal sperm production within 1 year after discontinuation. Clomiphene citrate is a safe and effective therapy for men who desire to maintain future potential fertility. Although less frequently used in the general population, hCG therapy with or without T supplementation represents an alternative treatment.
Base pairing between hepatitis C virus RNA and 18S rRNA is required for IRES-dependent translation initiation in vivo

Degeneracy in eukaryotic translation initiation is evident in the initiation strategies of various viruses. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) provides an exceptional example—translation of the HCV RNA is facilitated by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that can autonomously bind a 40S ribosomal subunit and accurately position it at the initiation codon. This binding involves both ribosomal protein and 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) interactions. In this study, we evaluate the functional significance of the rRNA interaction and show that HCV IRES activity requires a 3-nt Watson–Crick base-pairing interaction between the apical loop of subdomain IIId in the IRES and helix 26 in 18S rRNA. Mutations of these nucleotides in either RNA dramatically disrupted IRES activity. The activities of the mutated HCV IRESs could be restored by compensatory mutations in the 18S rRNA. The effects of the 18S rRNA mutations appeared to be specific inasmuch as ribosomes containing these mutations did not support translation mediated by the wild-type HCV IRES, but did not block translation mediated by the cap structure or other viral IRESs. The present study provides, to our knowledge, the first functional demonstration of mRNA–rRNA base pairing in mammalian cells. By contrast with other rRNA-binding sites in mRNAs that can enhance translation as independent elements, e.g., the Shine–Dalgarno sequence in prokaryotes, the rRNA-binding site in the HCV IRES functions as an essential component of a more complex interaction.
Longitudinal component of aperture electric field in weakly-excited broadwall slot

For longitudinal slots cut in rectangular waveguides, the longitudinal component of the aperture electric field is found to be significant when the offset is small even for narrow slots. Ignoring the E-longitudinal component can introduce substantial error in the computed scattering parameters for weakly excited slots.
Pioglitazone is as effective as dexamethasone in a cockroach allergen-induced murine model of asthma.

While glucocorticoids are currently the most effective therapy for asthma, associated side effects limit enthusiasm for their use. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) activators include the synthetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs) which exhibit anti-inflammatory effects that suggest usefulness in diseases such as asthma. How the ability of TZDs to modulate the asthmatic response compares to that of glucocorticoids remains unclear, however, because these two nuclear receptor agonists have never been studied concurrently. Additionally, effects of PPAR-γ agonists have never been examined in a model involving an allergen commonly associated with human asthma. We compared the effectiveness of the PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone (PIO) to the established effectiveness of a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, dexamethasone (DEX), in a murine model of asthma induced by cockroach allergen (CRA). After sensitization to CRA and airway localization by intranasal instillation of the allergen, Balb/c mice were challenged twice at 48-h intervals with intratracheal CRA. Either PIO (25 mg/kg/d), DEX (1 mg/kg/d), or vehicle was administered throughout the period of airway CRA exposure. PIO and DEX demonstrated similar abilities to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, pulmonary recruitment of inflammatory cells, serum IgE, and lung levels of IL-4, IL-5, TNF-α, TGF-β, RANTES, eotaxin, MIP3-α, Gob-5, and Muc5-ac. Likewise, intratracheal administration of an adenovirus containing a constitutively active PPAR-γ expression construct blocked CRA induction of Gob-5 and Muc5-ac. Given the potent effectiveness shown by PIO, we conclude that PPAR-γ agonists deserve investigation as potential therapies for human asthma.
Circulant graph imbeddings

Abstract An algebraic characterization is given for those Cayley graphs for cyclic groups in which the neighborhood of any vertex is a cycle. A triangular imbedding is obtained for each such graph, either in the sphere, the torus, or the Klein bottle. The automorphism groups of these graphs are determined, and necessary and sufficient conditions are given for two such graphs to be isomorphic.
Fabrication of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) field-effect transistors by dip-coating

Abstract We report the influence of dip-coating speed and concentration of the polymer solution on the characteristics of field-effect transistors (FETs) fabricated in the bottom-contact structure with regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) as the active semiconducting material. For each concentration of the polymer in solution, there is an optimum dip coating speed for film deposition with highest field effect mobility; for example, with chloroform as solvent the optimum speed is 0.5 mm/min for a solution containing 1.0 mg/ml and 1.0 mm/min for a solution containing 2.5 mg/ml. Based upon AFM studies of the resulting film morphology, we conclude that the formation of a “rod-like” morphology is the origin of the improved carrier transport in the FET channel.
Atomic Potential Wells and the Periodic Table

The trend of various atomic properties (e.g., electron potentials, binding energies, scattering phase shifts) along the periodic system is examined utilizing available evidence from experiments and computations. Properties that depend primarily on different layers of the atomic structure are seen to attain extreme values at different columns of the periodic table. From this plausible connection, one can see where and how to search for additional striking variations of properties from one element to the next; e.g., experiments on elastic scattering of slow electrons are thus indicated. The analysis also contributes to the interpretation and correlation of various atomic properties.
Bayesian Complex Amplitude Estimation and Adaptive Matched Filter Detection in Low-Rank Interference

We propose a Bayesian method for complex amplitude estimation in low-rank interference. We assume that the received signal follows the generalized multivariate analysis of variance (GMANOVA) patterned-mean structure and is corrupted by low-rank spatially correlated interference and white noise. An iterated conditional modes (ICM) algorithm is developed for estimating the unknown complex signal amplitudes and interference and noise parameters. We also discuss initialization of the ICM algorithm and propose a (non-Bayesian) adaptive-matched-filter (AMF) signal detector that utilizes the ICM estimation results. Numerical simulations demonstrate the performance of the proposed methods
Polymorphism of HLA in the Romanian population

: We have investigated the HLA-class I and class II polymorphism in a population of 83 Romanians using conventional serology together with PCR amplification and oligonucleotide typing of HLA-class II genes. Romanians show a higher frequency of HLA-A11, B13, B18, B37, B39, B51 and DR2 than other European populations. HLA-DRB1*1501 and 1601 account for the high frequency of the serologic specificity DR2. In Romanians, HLA-DR2 is in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B18 and HLA-Bw52 rather than with HLA-B7 as is the case in other Europeans. Unexpected HLA-DR2 haplotypes include HLA-DRB1*1502, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0601; HLA-DRB1*1602, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0502. Other unusual haplotypes include HLA-DRB1*0405, DQA1*03, DQB1*0302; HLA-DRB1*1305, DQA1*0103, DQB1*0603; and HLA-DRB1*1405, DQA1*0101, DQB1*05032. Analysis of the genetic distance between Romanians and other Europeans who have been studied serologically are consistent with the hypothesis that Romanians descend from Roman ancestors who colonized Dacia between the 1st century B.C. and 1st century A.D.
Particle emission from a black hole on a tense codimension-2 brane

We calculate analytically greybody factors of Schwarzschild black holes localized on a 3-brane of finite tension and codimension 2. We obtain explicit expressions for various types of particles emitted in the bulk as well as on the brane in both the low- and high-frequency regimes. In the latter case, we obtain expressions which are valid for an arbitrary number of extra dimensions if the brane tension vanishes.
Can the Media Affect Us? Social Comparison, Self-Discrepancy, and the Thin Ideal:

The current study explored body image self-discrepancy as moderator and social comparison as mediator in the effects on women from thin-ideal images in the media. Female undergraduates (N = 112) with high and low body image self-discrepancy were exposed to advertisements either with thin women (thin ideal) or without thin women (neutral-advertisement control). Exposure to thin-ideal advertisements increased body dissatisfaction, negative mood, and levels of depression and lowered self-esteem. In addition, social comparison processes mediated the relationship between exposure to thin-ideal advertisements and negative self-directed effects. Notably, self-discrepancy moderated this mediation. Women with high levels of body image self-discrepancy were more likely to engage in social comparison from exposure to thin-ideal advertisements, as well as more likely to have those comparison processes induce self-directed negative consequences. This research provides support for an individual difference variable (bod...
Asymptotic approximation for the dispersion relation of a hot magnetized plasma

Une expression asymptotique pour le tenseur dielectrique e d'un plasma magnetise chaud a ete obtenu en utilisant la methode de la plus grande pente, par la transformation des composantes de e en leur representation integrale. Discussion de la relation de dispersion de Bernstein electrostatique pour la propagation oblique et perpendiculaire
Fast, on-line failure recovery in redundant disk arrays

The authors describe and evaluate two algorithms for performing online failure recovery (data reconstruction) in redundant disk arrays. An implementation of disk-oriented reconstruction, a data recovery algorithm that allows the reconstruction process to absorb essentially all the disk bandwidth not consumed by the user processes, is presented, and this algorithm is compared to a previous-proposed parallel stripe-oriented approach. The disk-oriented approach yields better overall failure-recovery performance. Performance is evaluated via detailed simulation on two different disk array architectures: the RAID level five organization and the declustered parity organization. The benefits of the disk-oriented algorithm can be achieved using controller or host buffer memory no larger than the size of three disk tracks per disk in the array. The tradeoffs involved in selecting the size of the disk accesses used by the failure recovery process are also investigated.
Modulation of the light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna size in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by TLA1 gene over-expression and RNA interference

Truncated light-harvesting antenna 1 (TLA1) is a nuclear gene proposed to regulate the chlorophyll (Chl) antenna size in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The Chl antenna size of the photosystems and the chloroplast ultrastructure were manipulated upon TLA1 gene over-expression and RNAi downregulation. The TLA1 over-expressing lines possessed a larger chlorophyll antenna size for both photosystems and contained greater levels of Chl b per cell relative to the wild type. Conversely, TLA1 RNAi transformants had a smaller Chl antenna size for both photosystems and lower levels of Chl b per cell. Western blot analyses of the TLA1 over-expressing and RNAi transformants showed that modulation of TLA1 gene expression was paralleled by modulation in the expression of light-harvesting protein, reaction centre D1 and D2, and VIPP1 genes. Transmission electron microscopy showed that modulation of TLA1 gene expression impacts the organization of thylakoid membranes in the chloroplast. Over-expressing lines showed well-defined grana, whereas RNAi transformants possessed loosely held together and more stroma-exposed thylakoids. Cell fractionation suggested localization of the TLA1 protein in the inner chloroplast envelope and potentially in association with nascent thylakoid membranes, indicating a role in Chl antenna assembly and thylakoid membrane biogenesis. The results provide a mechanistic understanding of the Chl antenna size regulation by the TLA1 gene.
Addition reactions of translationally hot fluorine atoms as a probe of long-range migration in crystalline argon: F+CO

Abstract Reactions of F atoms were studied in freestanding crystals (FSC) of argon doped with F2 and CO. Laser photolysis of the F2 at 355 nm produces stabilized FCO radicals by addition of translationally excited F atoms to isolated CO molecules. The yield of FCO in FSC is more than ten times higher than observed previously in F2:CO:Ar matrices prepared by vapor deposition. The difference is attributed to a mean migration length for translationally hot F atoms of at least 8 nm in FSC compared with ∼0.7 nm in vapor-deposited argon matrices, which have a high density of lattice defects.
The Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor (IP3R) and Its Regulators: Sometimes Good and Sometimes Bad Teamwork

In both nonexcitable and excitable cells, the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R) is the primary cytosolic target responsible for the initiation of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) signaling. To fulfill this function, the IP(3)R depends on interaction with accessory subunits and regulatory proteins. These include proteins that reside in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), such as chromogranin A and B and ERp44, and cytosolic proteins, such as neuronal Ca(2+) sensor 1, huntingtin, cytochrome c, IP(3)R-binding protein released with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, Homer, and 4.1N. Specific interactions between these modulatory proteins and the IP(3)R have been described, making it clear that the controlled modulation of the IP(3)R by its binding partners is necessary for physiological cell regulation. The functional coupling of these modulators with the IP(3)R can control apoptosis, intracellular pH, the initiation and regulation of neuronal Ca(2+) signaling, exocytosis, and gene expression. The pathophysiological relevance of IP(3)R modulation is apparent when the functional interaction of these proteins is enhanced or abolished by mutation or overexpression. The subsequent deregulation of the IP(3)R leads to pathological changes in Ca(2+) signaling, signal initiation, the amplitude and frequency of Ca(2+) signals, and the duration of the Ca(2+) elevation. Consequences of this deregulation include abnormal growth and apoptosis. Complex regulation of Ca(2+) signaling is required for the cell to live and function, and this difficult task can only be managed when the IP(3)R teams up and acts properly with its numerous binding partners.
Natural, cost‐effective, and sustainable alternatives for treatment of aircraft deicing fluid waste

The waste generated by aircraft deicing operations represents a threat to the environment arising from the high biological oxygen demand of propylene and ethylene glycols and the toxicity associated with some of the additives, such as the corrosion inhibitor benzotriazole. To date, there have not been any reports of wastewater treatment alternatives that completely degrade the toxic triazole components in the deicing waste. Constructed wetlands and land application can potentially take advantage of vegetation in two different ways: enhancement of biodegradation of glycols by the root-bacteria symbiosis and transformation of benzotriazoles by plant enzymatic activities. In a plant treatment system, phytotransformation of the triazoles can follow a conventional biological wastewater treatment, which can be used for glycol degradation. This paper reviews the main aspects of aircraft deicing waste treatment, outlines the results from successful applications of constructed wetlands to treat glycol-rich waste, and summarizes the experimental basis that demonstrates the benefits of using vegetation for decontamination of the main components of deicing waste. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2005
Some comparisons of linear stability theory with experiment at supersonic and hypersonic speed

The utility of stability theory in the prediction of transition at supersonic and hypersonic speeds has come to be widely accepted during the past few decades. The first compressible stability theory results to be obtained by direct numerical computation were produced during the late 1950s, and the work by Mack [1] and by others continues to evolve. Two principal results obtained early in the development were that for supersonic flow those waves (first mode) which are the counterpart of Tollmien-Schlichting waves in incompressible flow are more unstable when oblique than when two-dimensional, and that above a certain Mach number, there arises an acoustic mode (second mode) which can be highly amplified especially for a 2-D orientation. Supersonic and hypersonic stability experiments were reported by 1960 but were judged invalid for test of theory because the disturbance wave-fronts were of undetermined obliquity. The wave-front waxpage problem was subsequently overcome by use of an improved disturbance-generator and by operating the tunnel such as to avoid eddy Mach-wave radiation from the wall boundary layers [2].
Salivary Gland Thrombostasin Isoforms Differentially Regulate Blood Uptake of Horn Flies Fed on New Zealand White Rabbits

Thrombostasin (TS) is a previously characterized anticlotting protein with multiple isoforms found in the saliva of horn flies. In this report, the effect of TS isoforms on blood feeding was assessed using individual flies that carried corresponding ts allelles. Laboratory studies of horn fly blood feeding were conducted using colony-reared flies fed on New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. After timed 20-min feeding periods, each fly was characterized for gender, blood volume uptake, and ts genotype. The results showed that mean blood volumes obtained by individual flies were not related to fly gender but were correlated to the ts genotype(s) carried by each fly. A fly having one or both ts alleles coding for the TS9 isoform took less blood than those possessing one or both ts alleles coding for the TS10 isoform. These results confirm the significant role that TS plays in horn fly feeding and highlight the differential impact of TS protein isoforms that vary by as few as three amino acids.
Simulating Structural Design Evolution of Software

Software designers frequentlynd the need to refactor existing code to improve the structure of their design. Typical examples include the application of design patterns or splitting large modules into smaller ones. The problem lies in the difficulty in evaluating the effect of such restructuring before developers implement their newly proposed design ideas. Such experimental implementation can be expensive because it may include potential con icts or cause unnecessary source code branching to occur. It can be even more expensive if the designer needs to compare multiple design alternatives. In this paper, we propose to demonstrate the possibility of simulating structural design changes based on Baldwin and Clark's modular operators. This simulation permits designers to explore the design space and validate ideas for software changes without having to implement them concretely.
Covalently Linked Trimer of the AcrB Multidrug Efflux Pump Provides Support for the Functional Rotating Mechanism

Escherichia coli AcrB is a proton motive force-dependent multidrug efflux transporter that recognizes multiple toxic chemicals having diverse structures. Recent crystallographic studies of the asymmetric trimer of AcrB suggest that each protomer in the trimeric assembly goes through a cycle of conformational changes during drug export (functional rotation hypothesis). In this study, we devised a way to test this hypothesis by creating a giant gene in which three acrB sequences were connected together through short linker sequences. The "linked-trimer" AcrB was expressed well in the inner membrane fraction of DeltaacrB DeltarecA strains, as a large protein of approximately 300 kDa which migrated at the same rate as the wild-type AcrB trimer in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The strain expressing the linked-trimer AcrB showed resistance to some toxic compounds that was sometimes even higher than that of the cells expressing the monomeric AcrB, indicating that the linked trimer functions well in intact cells. When we inactivated only one of the three protomeric units in the linked trimer, either with mutations in the salt bridge/H-bonding network (proton relay network) in the transmembrane domain or by disulfide cross-linking of the external cleft in the periplasmic domain, the entire trimeric complex was inactivated. However, some residual activity was seen, presumably as a result of random recombination of monomeric fragments (produced by protease cleavage or by transcriptional/translational truncation). These observations provide strong biochemical evidence for the functionally rotating mechanism of AcrB pump action. The linked trimer will be useful for further biochemical studies of mechanisms of transport in the future.
SR 4233 (Tirapazamine): a new anticancer drug exploiting hypoxia in solid tumours

SR 4233 (3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide, WIN 59075, tirapazamine) is the lead compound in a new class of bioreductive anticancer drugs, the benzotriazine di-N-oxides. It is currently undergoing Phase I clinical testing. The preferential tumour cell killing of SR 4233 is a result of its high specific toxicity to cells at low oxygen tensions. Such hypoxic cells are a common feature of solid tumours, but not normal tissues, and are resistant to cancer therapies including radiation and some anticancer drugs. The killing of these tumour cells by SR 4233, particularly when given on multiple occasions, can increase total tumour cell killing by fractionated irradiation by several orders of magnitude without increasing toxicity to surrounding normal tissues. Topics covered in this review include the rationale for developing a hypoxic cytotoxic agent, the cytotoxicity of SR 4233 as a function of oxygen concentration, the mechanism of action of the drug and its intracellular target and the in vivo evidence that the drug may be useful as an adjunct both to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Finally, the major unanswered questions on the drug are outlined.
Green Nanotechnology from Brassicaceae: Development of Broccoli Phytochemicals–Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles and Their Applications in Nanomedicine

The interaction of cocktail of phytochemicals from broccoli with gold salt results in dual reduction and surface capping to produce well-defined stable and biocompatible gold nanoparticles (B-AuNPs). Broccoli phytochemicals–coated gold nanoparticles (B-AuNPs) have been fully characterized. Detailed in vitro stability in various biological fluids and affinity and selectivity for tumor cells have been investigated. The B-AuNPs showed significant in vitro cytotoxic effects against various cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, PC-3, U266, SkBr3, and T47D) as confirmed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometry apoptosis assays. Surface encapsulation of cocktail of broccoli phytochemicals on AuNPs facilitates the cellular internalization, thereby validating the in vitro therapeutic effects of these nanoparticles. Detailed analyses performed by combination of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) have confirmed the ...
Accumulation of [3H]-ouabain in functionally different canine cardiac tissues: differential Rb+ uptake.

1 In order to understand tissue-specific differences in sensitivity to ouabain, the distribution of [3H]-ouabain was investigated in seven functionally different, canine cardiac tissues. 2 Specialized cardiac tissues (e.g., pacemaker or conducting tissues) accumulate much less ouabain than do the contractile tissues such as the left ventricle or the papillary muscle. 3 This study confirms a greater Rb+ uptake in the Purkinje fibre than in the contractile tissue. 4 The results disprove the hypothesis that a high accumulation of ouabain in the Purkinje fibre is responsible for the well-known sensitivity to ouabain in this tissue.
A Multistate Outbreak of Serratia marcescens Bloodstream Infection Associated with Contaminated Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate from a Compounding Pharmacy

Background In contrast to pharmaceutical manufacturers, compounding pharmacies adhere to different quality-control standards, which may increase the likelihood of undetected outbreaks. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received reports of cases of Serratia marcescens bloodstream infection occurring in patients who underwent cardiac surgical procedures in Los Angeles, California, and in New Jersey. An investigation was initiated to determine whether there was a common underlying cause. Methods A matched case-control study was conducted in Los Angeles. Case record review and environmental testing were conducted in New Jersey. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention performed a multistate case-finding investigation; isolates were compared using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis. Results Nationally distributed magnesium sulfate solution (MgSO(4)) from compounding pharmacy X was the only significant risk factor for S. marcescens bloodstream infection (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-38.3) among 6 Los Angeles case patients and 18 control subjects. Five New Jersey case patients received MgSO(4) from a single lot produced by compounding pharmacy X; culture of samples from open and unopened 50-mL bags in this lot yielded S. marcescens. Seven additional case patients from 3 different states were identified. Isolates from all 18 case patients and from samples of MgSO(4) demonstrated indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. Compounding pharmacy X voluntarily recalled the product. Neither the pharmacy nor the US Food and Drug Administration could identify a source of contamination in their investigations of compounding pharmacy X. Conclusions A multistate outbreak of S. marcescens bloodstream infection was linked to contaminated MgSO(4) distributed nationally by a compounding pharmacy. Health care personnel should take into account the different quality standards and regulation of compounded parenteral medications distributed in large quantities during investigations of outbreaks of bloodstream infection.
Light environment and the impacts of foliage quality on herbivorous insect attack and bird predation

Theory predicts that variation in plant traits will modify both the direct interactions between plants and herbivores and the indirect impacts of predators of those herbivores. Light has strong effects on leaf quality, so the impacts of herbivores and predators may differ between plants grown in sun and shade. However, past experiments have often been unable to separate the effects of light environment on plant traits and herbivory from direct effects on herbivores and predators. We first manipulated light availability in an open habitat using a shade cloth pre-treatment to produce oak saplings with different leaf qualities. Leaves on plants exposed to high light were thicker and tougher and had lower nitrogen and water contents, and higher carbon and phenolic contents than leaves on plants under a shade cloth. Then, in the main experiment, we moved all plants to a common shade environment where bird predators were excluded in a factorial design. We measured insect herbivore abundance and leaf damage. Herbivores were significantly more abundant and caused greater leaf damage on sun trees, although these leaf characteristics are usually associated with low-quality food. Bird exclusion did not change herbivore abundance but did increase leaf damage. Contrary to our predictions, the effects of birds did not differ between trees grown in sun and shade conditions. Thus, differences in effects of predators on herbivores and plants between light habitats, when observed, might be due to variation in predator abundance and not bottom-up effects of host plant quality.
The Political Psychology of Personal Narrative: The Case of Barack Obama

Guided by theories of narrative identity, racial identity development, andFreire's (1970)notion of conscientizacao, this paper presents an interpretive analysis of Barack Obama's personal narrative. Obama's narrative represents a progressive story of self-discovery in which he seeks to develop a configuration of identity (Erikson, 1959; Schachter, 2004) that reconciles his disparate contexts of development and the inherited legacy of racism and colonialism. A major theme of his story centers on his quest to discover an anchor for his identity in some community of shared practice. Ultimately, he settles on a distinctly cosmopolitan identity in which he can foster conversation across axes of difference both within himself and among diverse communities. I discuss the extent to which election of a candidate with this personal narrative of cosmopolitan identity reflects a shifting master narrative of identity politics within the United States, as well as implications for Obama's policy platform and governance style.
Strength Analyses of FE2O3+Al Nanocomposites Using Classical Molecular Dynamics

Classical molecular dynamics (CMD) simulation is an important technique for analyzing custom-designed nanostructured materials and nano-sized systems such as nanowires and nanobelts. This research focuses on analyzing the strength of Fe2 O3 +Al energetic nanocomposites using CMD. A generic potential form is used to describe the behavior of the Fe+Al+Fe2 O3 +Al2 O3 system. The potential is able to describe bulk single crystal behavior of Fe, Al, Fe2 O3 , Al2 O3 as well as interfacial transitions among them. The nanostructures analyzed include polycrystalline Aluminum, Fe2 O3 as well as their composites with two different volume fractions (0.6/0.4 and 04/0.6). The polycrystalline structures are generated using voronoi tessellation. Quasi-static strength analyses are carried out using a massively parallel CMD code for both tension and compression. The analyses reveal that reverse Hall-Petch (H-P) effect is operative for polycrystalline Al under both tension and compression. However, for polycrystalline Fe2 O3 reverse H-P effect is operative under tension only. Compression still shows direct H-P effect. This effect transcends into the strength of both composites at all grain sizes. In addition, we also observe tension-compression strength asymmetry in the all polycrystalline systems. This framework offers an important tool for nanoscale design of advanced nanocomposite materials.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Recent Insights into Manganese Oxides in Catalyzing Oxygen Reduction Kinetics

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) limit the efficiency of numerous oxygen-based energy conversion devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Among earth abundant catalysts, manganese-based oxides have the highest activities approaching that of precious metals. In this Review, we summarize and analyze literature findings to highlight key parameters that influence the catalysis of the ORR on manganese-based oxides, including the number of electrons transferred as well as specific and mass activities. These insights can help develop design guides for highly active ORR catalysts and shape future fundamental research to gain new knowledge regarding the molecular mechanism of ORR catalysis.
A Subset-Continuous-Updating Transformation on GMM Estimators for Dynamic Panel Data Models

The two-step GMM estimators of Arellano and Bond (1991) and Blundell and Bond (1998) for dynamic panel data models have been widely used in empirical work; however, neither of them performs well in small samples with weak instruments. The continuous-updating GMM estimator proposed by Hansen, Heaton and Yaron (1996) is in principle able to reduce the small-sample bias but it involves high-dimensional optimizations when the number of regressors is large. This paper proposes a computationally feasible variation on the standard two-step GMM estimators by applying the idea of continuous-updating on the autoregressive parameter only, given the fact that the absolute value of the autoregressive parameter is less than unity for a dynamic panel data model to be stationary. We show that our subset-continuous-updating transformation does not alter the asymptotic distribution of the two-step GMM estimators and it therefore retains consistency. Our simulation results indicate that the transformed GMM estimators signicantly outperform their standard two-step counterparts in small samples.
Racialized and Gendered Mass Deportation and the Crisis of Capitalism

By the time President Obama leaves the Oval Office there will have been 3 million deportations from the United States during his eight years in office. This sum is 50 percent more than the total number of all deportations prior to 1997, and far more than any previous U.S. president. I argue in this essay that the confluence of four factors in recent years has created the conditions for mass deportation from the United States: (1) nearly all deportees are Latin American and Caribbean men; (2) the rise of a politics of fear in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; (3) the global financial crisis; and (4) the potential that mass deportation creates for corporate profit-making. I place this argument in the larger context of race and ethnicity in the capitalist world-system.