cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arboreal vegetation, coarse woody debris, and disturbance history of mature and old-growth stands in a coniferous forested wetland1

Abstract Forrester, J. A. (SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210-2778), T. E. Yorks (Environmental Studies Program, Cazenovia College, 22 Sullivan Street, Cazenovia, NY 13035) and D. J. Leopold (SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210-2778). Arboreal vegetation, coarse woody debris, and disturbance history of mature and old-growth stands in a coniferous forested wetland. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 132: 252–261. 2005.—We quantified the forest age and tree size structure of an old-growth and mature stand in a coniferous forested wetland in central New York, USA. We also determined the volume and decay class distribution of standing and downed coarse woody debris. The old-growth stand contains eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) > 400 years old and other species > 200 years old. Live tree basal area in the old-growth area (36 m2·ha−1) was dominated by approximately equal amounts of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.)...
Effects of Cryptococcus neoformans-specific suppressor T cells on the amplified anticryptococcal delayed-type hypersensitivity response.

Abstract Cell-mediated immunity is an important host resistance mechanism against Cryptococcus neoformans, the etiological agent of cryptococcosis. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that the anticryptococcal cell-mediated immune response as measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) is down-regulated by a cascade of antigen-specific T suppressor (Ts) cells. Recently, we have identified a population of CD4 T cells that up-regulate the anticryptococcal DTH response (Tamp cells). The Tamp cells are found in the spleens of donor mice at 6 days after immunization with cryptococcal antigen, and they amplify the anticryptococcal DTH response when transferred to syngeneic recipients at the time of immunization of the recipients. In this study, we determined the effects of C. neoformans-specific Ts cells on the induction of the Tamp cells in the Tamp cell-donor mice and on the induction and expression of the amplified anticryptococcal DTH response in the Tamp cell-recipient mice. When cryptococcal-specific Ts1 cells were given at the time of immunization of the Tamp cell-donor mice, induction of Tamp cells was inhibited. In contrast, when Ts1 cells were given at the time of adoptive transfer of Tamp cells, the recipients displayed amplified DTH responses, indicating that Ts1 cells do not affect the Tamp cells' function once the Tamp cells have been produced. C. neoformans-specific Ts2 cells given at the time of either immunization or footpad challenge of the Tamp cell-recipient mice did not alter, to any measurable extent, the amplified DTH response. These results indicate that in addition to amplifying the anticryptococcal DTH response, Tamp cells may protect the anticryptococcal TDH cells from suppression by C. neoformans-specific Ts cells, much like contrasuppressor cells do in other systems. However, further characterization of the Tamp cells revealed that they are not adherent to Viscia villosa lectin, indicating that the anticryptococcal Tamp cells do not have this characteristic in common with contrasuppressor cells of other antigen systems.
Cognitively Based Assessment of Research and Inquiry Skills: Defining a Key Practice in the English Language Arts

Current educational standards call for students to engage in the skills of research and inquiry, with a focus on gathering evidence from multiple information sources, evaluating the credibility of those sources, and writing an integrated synthesis that cites evidence from those sources. Opportunities to build strong research skills are critical, yet empirical research demonstrates that students from Grades K–16 struggle with inquiry tasks, particularly in online environments. There is a need to create models that will support teachers in developing students' research skills and can be used to develop reliable and valid assessments of such skills while aligning with standards. Under the CBAL™ research initiative, we have developed a model of conducting research and inquiry as a key literacy practice in the English language arts (ELA). In this paper, we draw on literature from the cognitive and learning sciences—including work in discourse processing, science education, educational technology, and information literacy—to provide the theoretical background for this key practice. We identify a set of activities and skills that are critical for participating in research; each skill is accompanied by a set of provisional learning progressions, which outlines tentative predictions about the qualitative changes in a skill that develop over time with appropriate instruction. These learning progressions and their relation to the key practice can be leveraged in the design of cognitively based assessments of research and inquiry that are sensitive to students' developmental level. We conclude, with an example design for such an assessment to illustrate how key practices and learning progressions can be integrated to support measurement of research and inquiry skills.
Injury and the role of alcohol: county-wide emergency room data

The purpose of this study is to describe variables associated with injury in an emergency room (ER) sample that is representative of an entire U.S. county. A probability sample (n= 3717) of ER patients from the county hospital, 3 of the 0 community hospitals, and the three health maintenance organization hospitals in a single Northern California county were breathalyzed and interviewed at the time of the ER visit. Injured were most likely to consume only 1 or 2 drinks within el hr of injury occurrence. Twenty-three percent reported feeling drunk at the time of the event, and of these, 45% felt the event would not have happened if they had not been drinking. Breathalyzer reading, feeling drunk at the time of the event, and quantity-frequency (Q-F) of usual drinking were found to be predictive of admission to the ER with an injury, whereas breathalyzer reading, Q-F, and being injured in someone's home were predictive of reporting drinking prior to injury. Although feeling drunk at the time of the event and usual drinking patterns are predictive of injury occurrence, drinking prior to the event may not entail large quantities of alcohol consumed, but relatively small amounts consumed in close proximity to the injury event. These alcohol consumption variables may vary, however, depending on the type, cause, and severity of injury.
Metabolism of Bovine Semen. VI. Effect of Fructose and Arabinose on the Uptake and Metabolic Utilization of Glycerol-1-C14 by Bovine Spermatozoa,

Summary The addition of 1.25% fructose to a saline–1% glycerol diluent resulted in less glycerol-1-C 14 utilization by twice-washed bull spermatozoa than when fructose was omitted. Arabinose reduced glycerol utilization slightly. Significant quantities of fructose and arabinose disappeared during incubation of spermatozoa under nitrogen for 3 hr. at 37° C. No lactic acid was produced from arabinose, whereas fructose utilization resulted in the production of large amounts of lactate. Glycerol reduced anaerobic glycolysis of bull spermatozoa. Less sugar was utilized when 1% glycerol was added to saline, saline-fructose, and saline-arabinose diluents than when glycerol was omitted. Glycerol addition resulted in greater lactic acid production in saline and saline-arabinose diluents. However, in saline-fructose diluent less lactate accumulated when glycerol was added.
Coincidental Hemochromatosis and Viral Hepatitis

A 35-year-old woman presented with liver failure, hepatic iron overload, and secondary amenorrhea due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. She had chronic inflammatory hepatitis which was considered to be due to post-transfusional viral hepatitis. Her hepatic iron overload was considered to be due to hemochromatosis. Her premature menopause was thought to be due to the severity of her liver disease, but her iron overload also could have contributed to gonadotrophin deficiency. She underwent liver transplantation and 5 months later, she experienced return of menstrual function. The distinction between hepatitis as a cause of iron loading, hemochromatosis as a cause of hepatic inflammation, the small influence of alcohol on increased iron stores, and other features of her history, physical examination, and laboratory evaluation are discussed.
A Numerical Study of Stress Controlled Surface Diffusion During Epitaxial Film Growth

A two-dimensional numerical simulation is performed to model the morphological evolution of a strained film growing heteroepitaxially on a substrate under simultaneous action of vapor deposition and surface diffusion. To facilitate numerical implementation, a continuum boundary layer model is proposed to account for the influence of film/substrate interface on the film growth pattern. Discussions are focused on the Stranski-Krastanow growth mode, although our model is capable of explaining Frank-van der Merwe and Volmer-Weber growth modes as well. Both first-order perturbation and numerical results are developed to demonstrate that the film surface tends to remain flat during the initial stage of growth and that surface roughening occurs once the film thickness exceeds a critical value, in consistency with experimentally observed patterns of S-K growth. Numerical results further show that, depending on the deposition rate, the surface evolution could lead to a steady state morphology, unstable cusp formation, or growing islands with flattened valleys.
Abdominal vascular injuries.

Every surgeon carries about him a little cemetery, in which from time to time he goes to pray, a cemetery of bitterness and regret, of which he seeks the reason for certain of his failures. (Rene Leriche [1879–1955])
Inactivation of an invertebrate acetylcholinesterase by sulfhydryl reagents: the roles of two cysteines in the catalytic gorge of the enzyme.

We have used site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling to investigate the inactivation of an invertebrate acetylcholinesterase (AChE), ChE2 from amphioxus, by the sulfhydryl reagents 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), creating various mutants, including C310A and C466A, and the double mutants C310A/C466A and C310A/F312I, to assess the relative roles of the two cysteines and a proposal that the increased rate of inactivation in the F312I mutant is due to increased access to Cys310. Our results suggest that both cysteines may be involved in inactivation by sulfhydryl reagents, but that the cysteine in the vicinity of the acyl pocket is more accessible. We speculate that the inactivation of aphid AChEs by sulfhydryl reagents is due to the presence of a cysteine homologous to Cys310. We also investigated the effects of various reversible cholinergic ligands, which bind to different subsites of the active site of the enzyme, on the rate of inactivation by DTNB of wild type ChE2 and ChE2 F312I. For the most part the inhibitors protect the enzymes from inactivation by DTNB. However, a notable exception is the peripheral site ligand propidium, which accelerates inactivation in the wild type ChE2, but retards inactivation in the F312I mutant. We propose that these opposing effects are the result of an altered allosteric signal transduction mechanism in the F312I mutant compared to the wild type ChE2.
Prevention of developmental disabilities: A model for organizing clinical activities

Prevention of developmental disabilities receives widespread support, however, a comprehensive approach involving federal and local governments, major professional groups, and the general public has yet to be defined and implemented. Three major issues appear to impede a coordinated approach: (a) prevention's image problem; (b) the complexity surrounding prevention efforts; and (c) the absence of consistent evaluation methods. The University of California, Irvine-University Affiliated Program has developed a model for prevention activities in response to these issues. This model is interdisciplinary, promotes reasoned cooperative efforts, and provides a basis for evaluation and research. This paradigm can be helpful to policy makers in prioritizing prevention activities. The model is composed of five major and functional approaches to prevention with a central core devoted to ethical considerations. The model emphasizes the variety, scope and interdisciplinary nature of prevention/intervention activities, as well as the necessity for a longitudinal approach.
A Microprogrammed Computer Simulator

A software educational tool (ET) has been developed that enables students of computer architecture to simulate a wide variety of computers on a fixed microprogram-organized-hardware (MOH). The user defines a computer by using ET to enter the appropriate microprogram. Machine language programs (macroprograms) may then be entered and a simulation made of their execution on the computer defined by the microprogram. While the simulated run is occurring, the state of the underlying machine may be observed at any point of execution. A microstep/graphics run mode may also be used to present a color display of the data path section of the MOH after each microinstruction is executed. In this paper, the ET simulation program, the MOH machine, and a simple example of how ET is used are presented.
Geographically Overlapping Alzheimer's Disease Registries: Comparisons and Implications:

In the medical and epidemiologic literature, a registry denotes a data base in which registrants share some common characteristic such as disease category. One criticism of registries is that they frequently collect subjects in a haphazard fashion and, hence, are "nonrepresentative of the population purportedly being represented." In this report, we compare two registries: an incident-based Alzheimer's Disease Patient Registry (ADPR) recruiting subjects for epidemiologic studies from a large health maintenance organization; and an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) registry recruiting subjects for phenomenologic, biologic, and pharmacologic studies. While these registries share personnel, overlap geographically, and use similar diagnostic procedures, they differ substantially in their missions and resulting recruitment strategies. We compared these registries with respect to demographic characteristics and cognitive features at subject entry. Subjects enrolled in the incident-based registry are older and report shorter time between symptom onset and recruitment. They are less demented and mirror the general population demographically more closely than do subjects in the other registry. The ADRC registry contains a much greater proportion of subjects with higher educational attainment.
A diffusion model for arsenic in silicon

It is proposed that double acceptor-level vacancies are responsible for arsenic diffusion into silicon. A computer program, which combines this diffusion mechanism with the formation of arsenic clusters and an internal electric field induced by the impurity gradient, is used to calculate arsenic diffusion profiles in wide ranges of diffusion temperatures and surface impurity concentrations. The calculated diffusion profiles are in good agreement with the measured profiles.
Distance-based Skills Training for Depressed Dementia Family Carers

This article briefly outlines the literature on the needs of dementia family carers, with a focus on psychosocial interventions to reduce distress in this population. A distance-based intervention is described that is appropriate for use with rural and other carers who have limited transportation. Depressed female carers are provided with a 10-part video series, workbook, and 12 weekly telephone coaching sessions that are focused on reducing depression and upset following difficult patient behaviors. A case study is provided to illustrate the benefits of the program.
Direct Transmission of Pullorum Disease Among Adult Fowls

Abstract MUCH stress has been laid on the susceptibility of young chicks to infection with pullorum disease by direct association with affected birds. This danger exists for chicks hatched and brooded by hens. It likewise exists for chicks that are hatched in incubators (Bunyea and Hall, 1930) or mechanically brooded. Those interested in the production of pullorum-disease-free chicks have come to know that their only avenue of success lies in the competent application of the agglutination test for pullorum disease to the breeding stock, and the rigid culling of reactors, prior to assembling breeding units for the production of hatching eggs. Comparatively little emphasis, however, has been placed on the possibility that pullorum disease might also spread from infected to non-infected adult fowls through ordinary flock association. This possibility suggests several practical considerations to the poultryman. In the first place, if the disease is lurking in his flock, even to a . . .
The effect of environment on lactate dehydrogenase isozymes of cultured somatic cells.

The lactate dehydrogenases of HeLa cells grown in an anaerobic environment with either glucose or L-lactate have a higher ratio of A to B sub-units than do the same cells grown in an aerobic environment. This ratio is decreased when the anaerobic environment is made aerobic during cell growth, or when the cells are cultured for the entire growth period in aerobic conditions.
Invariant natural killer T cells from rhesus macaque spleen and peripheral blood are phenotypically and functionally distinct populations

BACKGROUND Natural killer T cells (NKT) possess dual functions of innate and adaptive immune systems, controlling viral infections and regulating autoimmune diseases. Non-human primates (NHP) are penultimate models for advancing therapeutic immunoregulatory strategies for translational application in humans, though, little is known about NHP NKT cells. Here we characterized rhesus macaque NKT cells ex vivo. METHODS The frequency, phenotype and intracellular cytokine production of V alpha 24+ 6B11+ invariant NKT (iNKT) cells were analyzed by multi-color flow cytometry. V alpha 24J alpha Q mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS The frequencies of peripheral blood (PB) and spleen V alpha 24+ 6B11+ iNKT cells were not significantly different. The iNKT cell subset in spleen was significantly increased for CD4+ CD8+ and CD3+ CD56+ co-expression as well as intracellular interleukin-4 production, which was rarely observed in circulating PB. CONCLUSION Spleen iNKT cells in rhesus macaques are Th2 biased and display phenotypically and functionally distinct profiles from their PB counterpart.
The nature of renal cell injury

The nature of renal cell injury. The main functional change in patients with acute renal failure (ARF) is a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The virtual complete recovery of renal function in those patients who survive ARF, as well as the minimal renal histological abnormalities during ARF when the GFR is less than 10 ml/min, suggest that a major component of the renal tubular cell injury is sublethal or reversible. Experimental models of acute tubular necrosis frequently have placed the emphasis on irreversible proximal tubular cell death. The nature of the renal tubular cell injury in ischemic acute renal failure, however, includes not only cell death (necrosis or apoptosis) but also sublethal injury causing cell dysfunction. The role of intracellular calcium, the calcium-dependent enzymes calpain, phospholipase A2 and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), in the pathophophysiology of this renal tubular cell injury during hypoxia/ischemia is described. The effects of calpain and nitric oxide (NO) on the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion are discussed. Potential mechanisms whereby tubular injury leads to a profound fall in GFR, including increased tubuloglomerular feedback and increased distal tubular obstruction, in ischemic acute renal failure are proposed.
Fas-mediated apoptosis in T cells involves the dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein by type 1 protein phosphatases.

Abstract Apoptosis is triggered by a number of different stimuli including the activation of Fas antigen, a member of the TNF family, by the Fas ligand. The signal transduction events implicated in apoptosis are complex and remain only partially understood. In this study, we used calyculin A, a potent inhibitor of serine/threonine (ser/thr) phosphatases types 1 and 2A, to investigate the role of ser/thr phosphatases in Fas-induced apoptosis. We showed that calyculin A inhibited Fas-induced DNA fragmentation and cytolysis in Jurkat cells and that this inhibition was not due to the modulation of Fas. Okadaic acid also inhibited Fas-induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells, but at much higher concentrations (μM level), thus implicating that type 1 phosphatases rather than type 2A are inhibited at nM concentrations. Cross-linking Fas led to the dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma gene product (Rb) within 5 min, and to PARP cleavage within 2 h. Both events were inhibited by calyculin A indicating that apoptotic death triggered by Fas cross-linking involves the activation of type 1 ser/thr phosphatases.
Peri-Watchdog: Hunting for hidden botnets in the periphery of online social networks

In order to evade detection of ever-improving defense techniques, modern botnet masters are constantly looking for new communication platforms for delivering C&C (Command and Control) information. Attracting their attention is the emergence of online social networks such as Twitter, as the information dissemination mechanism provided by these networks can naturally be exploited for spreading botnet C&C information, and the enormous amount of normal communications co-existing in these networks makes it a daunting task to tease out botnet C&C messages. Against this backdrop, we explore graph-theoretic techniques that aid effective monitoring of potential botnet activities in large open online social networks. Our work is based on extensive analysis of a Twitter dataset that contains more than 40million users and 1.4billion following relationships, and mine patterns from the Twitter network structure that can be leveraged for improving efficiency of botnet monitoring. Our analysis reveals that the static Twitter topology contains a small-sized core sugraph, after removing which, the Twitter network breaks down into small connected components, each of which can be handily monitored for potential botnet activities. Based on this observation, we propose a method called Peri-Watchdog, which computes the core of a large online social network and derives the set of nodes that are likely to pass botnet C&C information in the periphery of online social network. We analyze the time complexity of Peri-Watchdog under its normal operations. We further apply Peri-Watchdog on the Twitter graph injected with synthetic botnet structures and investigate the effectiveness of Peri-Watchdog in detecting potential C&C information from these botnets. To verify whether patterns observed from the static Twitter graph are common to other online social networks, we analyze another online social network dataset, BrightKite, which contains evolution of social graphs formed by its users in half a year. We show not only that there exists a similarly relatively small core in the BrightKite network, but also this core remains stable over the course of BrightKite evolution. We also find that to accommodate the dynamic growth of BrightKite, the core has to be updated about every 18days under a constrained monitoring capacity.
Sex Differences in the Association Between Proinsulin and Intact Insulin With Coronary Heart Disease in Nondiabetic Older Adults The Rancho Bernardo Study

Background— Insulin or insulin resistance is considered a coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factor, but proinsulin may have a stronger association with CHD than insulin. The role of sex differences in this association is unclear. We examined the cross-sectional association of proinsulin and insulin with CHD in older men and women without diabetes. Methods and Results— A cross-sectional study of community-dwelling men (n=554) and women (n=902), 50 to 97 years of age, without diabetes by history or oral glucose tolerance test, was done between 1992 and 1996; plasma levels of intact insulin, proinsulin, and C-peptide were measured by radioimmunoassay. Based on questionnaire, medical history, or ECG abnormalities, 25% of men (n=136) and 24% of women (n=214) had prevalent CHD. All insulin variables were positively correlated with CHD risk factors. Compared with those without CHD, men and women with CHD had significantly higher levels of proinsulin. Women but not men with CHD also had higher levels of C-peptide...
The Forgotten Fifth: African Americans in the Age of Revolution – By Gary B. Nash

Based on the author's Nathan I. Huggins Lectures in 2004, this book focuses on African Americans’ experiences in the American Revolution, on an examination as to whether slavery could have been abo...
Heat transfer, fluid flow and interface shapes in floating-zone crystal growth

Abstract Computer simulation was carried out to study heat transfer and fluid flow in the melt zone in floating-zone crystal growth. A high Prandtl-number material, i.e., NaNO 3 , and a low Prandtl-number material, i.e., Si, were considered. The unknown shapes of the melt/gas, melt/crystal and melt/feed interfaces were calculated for each of the following three cases: (1) conduction, (2) natural convection and (3) thermocapillary and natural convections. The effects of the growth rate, gravity and feed/crystal diameter ratio were demonstrated. It was observed that in both NaNO 3 and Si thermocapillary convection dominates over natural convection, at least for the conditions examined in the present study. This thermocapillary convection tends to reduce the stability of the melt zone, increase the convexity of the melt/crystal interface and reduce the maximum surface temperature. The effect of thermocapillary convection is significantly more pronounced in NaNO 3 than in Si, even though thermocapillary convection in Si is far stronger. The dynamic effect of convection on the shape of the melt/gas interface is very small.
A domain-specific marker for the hepatocyte plasma membrane. III. Isolation of bile canalicular membrane by immunoadsorption

Previous immunolabeling studies (Roman, L.M., and A.L. Hubbard, 1983, J. Cell Biol., 96:1548-1558; Roman, L.M., and A.L. Hubbard, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 98:1488-1496, companion paper) established leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) as a specific marker for the bile canalicular (BC) domain of the rat hepatocyte plasma membrane (PM). In this study, we have isolated membrane from a sonicated PM vesicle fraction using anti-LAP-coated Staphylococcus aureus cells as a solid-phase immunoadsorbent. The extent and specificity of the immunoadsorption were assessed by following the behavior of LAP (the BC marker) and 32P-labeled membrane phospholipids (a uniform membrane marker). The BC fraction obtained was significantly enriched in LAP (yield: greater than 70% of PM-LAP). Alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, and a 110,000-dalton glycoprotein, HA-4, were enriched in the BC fraction to the same extent as LAP (enzyme or antigen/LAP = 1.0). However, alkaline phosphodiesterase I was not enriched to the same degree (enzyme/LAP = 0.5). Contamination of this BC fraction by membrane derived from the sinusoidal domain and endoplasmic reticulum, as determined from the distribution of the asialoglycoprotein receptor and NADH cytochrome c reductase, respectively, was small (less than 13%).
Spin-orbit coupled Fermi liquid theory of ultracold magnetic dipolar fermions

We investigate Fermi liquid states of the ultracold magnetic dipolar Fermi gases in the simplest two-component case including both thermodynamic instabilities and collective excitations. The magnetic dipolar interaction is invariant under the simultaneous spin-orbit rotation but not under either the spin or the orbit one. Therefore, the corresponding Fermi liquid theory is intrinsically spin-orbit coupled. This is a fundamental feature of magnetic dipolar Fermi gases different from electric dipolar ones. The Landau interaction matrix is calculated and is diagonalized in terms of the spin-orbit coupled partial-wave channels of the total angular momentum $J$. The leading thermodynamic instabilities lie in the channels of ferromagnetism hybridized with the ferronematic order with $J={1}^{+}$ and the spin-current mode with $J={1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, where $+$ and $\ensuremath{-}$ represent even and odd parities, respectively. An exotic propagating collective mode is identified as spin-orbit coupled Fermi surface oscillations in which spin distribution on the Fermi surface exhibits a topologically nontrivial hedgehog configuration.
Latent tuberculosis: models, mechanisms, and novel prospects for eradication.

Abstract Latent tuberculosis (TB) infects one-third of the world. We present evidence for the existence of a latent state of TB in humans, cite new approaches to diagnosis and treatment, and identify several models that attempt to mimic the latent state. Persistent infection in mice and in vitro systems of microaerophilic and/or anaerobic growth and nutrient starvation have been the most productive models in yielding insights into the host and mycobacterial pathways involved in the latent state. These pathways may serve as targets for better diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of latent TB in man. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
The syntheses, spectra, and some reactions of 2-phthalimidyl- and 2-phthalimidyl-4.5-dichloro-5-azabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane

Abstract Cyclobutene has been prepared by an improved method. The reaction ofN-aminophthalimide with cyclobutene or cis -3,4-dichlorocyclobutene in the presence of lead tetraacetate gives 2-phthalimidyl- ( 5 ) or 2-phthalimidyl-4,5-dichloro-5-azabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane ( 6 ), respectively. The NMR spectra of 6 showed the presence of exo ( 9 ) and endo ( 10 ) isomers. The effect of ring size on the chemical shift of the bridgehead hydrogen absorption in a series of azabicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes was examined. Several reactions of 5 and 6 and alternative syntheses of the azabicyclo[2.1.0]pentane system were investigated.
A Novel Compliant Mechanism for Converting Reciprocating Translation Into Enclosing Curved Paths

This paper introduces a novel contact-aided compliant mechanism that uses intermittent contacts to convert a single translatory reciprocating input into two output curves, which intersect to enclose a two dimensional region. Contact interactions endow contact-aided compliant mechanisms with enhanced kinematic and kinetostatic capabilities. The mechanism described in this paper is designed to undergo large deformations repeatedly, without yielding by avoiding flexural joints and by using contacts to obtain the desired deformation. A single-material, joint-free and planar design makes the mechanism easy and economical to fabricate at the macro or micro scales. The design is validated experimentally by manufacturing and testing macro scale prototypes. Two potential applications that motivated this mechanism are also noted.
Distinct kynureninase and hydroxykynureninase enzymes in an actinomycin-producing strain of Streptomyces parvulus.

Abstract Extracts of Streptomyces parvulus ATCC 12434 contain enzyme activity which converts kynurenine and hydroxykynurenine to anthranilate and hydroxyanthranilate, respectively. The ratio of activity towards each substrate is variable depending on the age of the culture; kynurenine is preferentially hydrolysed by extracts from younger (zero h) mycelium whereas hydroxykynurenine is more readily hydrolysed by extracts from older (48 h) mycelium. Sephadex G-200 chromatography of a mixture of partially purified extracts from mycelium of both ages revealed a peak of activity toward kynurenine with a molecular weight of 82 000 and a peak of activity toward hydroxykynureninase possessing a molecular weight of 56 000. Thus, it is concluded that distinct kynureninase ( l -kynurenine hydrolase, EC 3.7.1.3) and hydroxykynurenine enzymes are produced by this organism. Both enzymes are induced by the presence of tryptophan in the growth medium. However, just prior to the onset of actinomycin synthesis (in the absence of added tryptophan) only hydroxykynureninase activity increases significantly (50–60-fold) and high levels are subsequently maintained throughout the antibiotic production period. Growth in the presence of glucose or glycerol represses both antibiotic synthesis and the increase in hydroxykynureninase activity. A mutant unable to synthesize actinomycin D displays only a small and transient increase in this activity. It is concluded that hydroxykynureninase is a functional component of the actinomycin biosynthetic system.
What predicts breast cancer rates? Testing hypotheses of the demographic and nutrition transitions

Modern demographic and nutritional transitions have been implicated in global epidemiological transitions intensifying over the last 60 years. These transitions include steadily declining fertility rates, improving nutritional indicators, and increasing incidence rates of chronic diseases such as breast cancer. This research draws on the well established pathways linking individual reproductive and nutritional profiles to breast cancer risk, in order to test the links among demographic, nutritional, and epidemiological transitions on a global scale. We propose two hypotheses that test the reproductive and nutritional pathways that are suggested to increase breast cancer risk at the population level. We use total fertility rate (TFR) to test the reproductive behaviour hypothesis, and we use average height and the percentage of the population that is overweight for the nutritional hypothesis; these indicators are compared to breast cancer incidence rates for 2008. Accounting for national wealth and expenditures on healthcare, we found that both hypotheses were significantly associated with breast cancer incidence, although TFR appears to have a more consistent association with incidence. Drawing on our regression model, we explain trends in breast cancer incidence in selected countries, as well as making predictions about shifting breast cancer incidence rates over the next several decades. These data suggest that greater attention should be paid to the unintended health consequences of transitions that are largely considered to bring improvements in quality of life. Our findings suggest that greater investments in screening and treatment are particularly needed in regions undergoing transitions in fertility rates, particularly those areas experiencing super-low fertility.
Illness representations and coping of women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore how women recognize and respond to symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). FRAMEWORK: The Common Sense Model by Leventhal provided the theoretic framework for the study. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative design was used. SAMPLE: The study sample included 21 women enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation programs. FINDINGS: The causes and consequences of COPD were these women's most prominent representations. They struggled not only with dyspnea and fatigue, but with depression, loss of social support and intimacy, and stigma. Breathing techniques, medication, rest, and avoidance measures were the most frequently used coping strategies. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Because dyspnea is the central symptom, nurses must continue to teach methods to control it, as well as to search for new interventions to relieve the symptoms. Optimal levels of rest and the effect on outcomes deserve close attention. Devising ways to deal with social and psychologic isolation would also enhance coping with COPD.
Structure and mechanical properties of Fe−Cr−C−Co steels

As part of a continuing program concerning the microstructures and mechanical properties of steels in which particular attention is given to transformation substructures, the present work is concerned with martensite and bainite in Fe−Cr−C steels with and without cobalt. Although cobalt raises theM s temperature it does not affect the extent of twinning for the same carbon level and so M s temperature alone does not control transformation substructure. Thus cobalt is not effective in retaining dislocated martensite as carbon is increased and in this regard cobalt is not beneficial to toughness. TheM s temperatures of the steels were relatively high and hence isothermal transformation yielded mixtures of bainites and tempered martensite depending on the temperature of transformation. The mechanical properties of the isothermally transformed steels were inferior to those of the tempered steels due to the interference of upper bainite or (tempered) martensite during the isothermal transformation. Thus, in the steels having highM s temperatures the twinning tempered martensitic structure had relatively better mechanical properties compared to the isothermally transformed steels. Attempts to produce desirable autotempered structures by air cooling (single heat treatments) were not successful and did not improve the mechanical properties since the structure consisted of a mixture of bainite and martensite.
Redox function of tetrahydrobiopterin and effect of L-arginine on oxygen binding in endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)), not dihydrobiopterin or biopterin, is a critical element required for NO formation by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). To elucidate how BH(4) affects eNOS activity, we have investigated BH(4) redox functions in the endothelial NOS (eNOS). Redox-state changes of BH(4) in eNOS were examined by chemical quench/HPLC analysis during the autoinactivation of eNOS using oxyhemoglobin oxidation assay for NO formation at room temperature. Loss of NO formation activity linearly correlated with BH(4) oxidation, and was recovered by overnight incubation with fresh BH(4). Thus, thiol reagents commonly added to NOS enzyme preparations, such as dithiothreitol and beta-mercaptoethanol, probably preserve enzyme activity by preventing BH(4) oxidation. It has been shown that conversion of L-arginine to N-hydroxy-L-arginine in the first step of NOS catalysis requires two reducing equivalents. The first electron that reduces ferric to the ferrous heme is derived from flavin oxidation. The issue of whether BH(4) supplies the second reducing equivalent in the monooxygenation of eNOS was investigated by rapid-scan stopped-flow and rapid-freeze-quench EPR kinetic measurements. In the presence of L-arginine, oxygen binding kinetics to ferrous eNOS or to the ferrous eNOS oxygenase domain (eNOS(ox)) followed a sequential mechanism: Fe(II) Fe(II)O(2) --> Fe(III) + O(2)(-). Without L-arginine, little accumulation of the Fe(II)O(2) intermediate occurred and essentially a direct optical transition from the Fe(II) form to the Fe(III) form was observed. Stabilization of the Fe(II)O(2) intermediate by L-arginine has been established convincingly. On the other hand, BH(4) did not have significant effects on the oxygen binding and decay of the oxyferrous intermediate of the eNOS or eNOS oxygenase domain. Rapid-freeze-quench EPR kinetic measurements in the presence of L-arginine showed a direct correlation between BH(4) radical formation and decay of the Fe(II)O(2) intermediate, indicating that BH(4) indeed supplies the second electron for L-arginine monooxygenation in eNOS.
Excitatory amino acid analogs evoke release of endogenous amino acids and acetyl choline from chick retina in vitro

Abstract There is mounting evidence that excitatory amino acids may play a role in retinal synaptic neurotransmission. In this study, we demonstrate the release of endogenous amino acids and acetylcholine from isolated chick retina in vitro evoked by three excitatory amino acid analogs, kainic acid (K.A). quisqualic acid (Quis), and N -methyl- d,l -aspartic acid (NMDA). The release is dose-dependent and involves putative transmitters from both inner and outer retina. Release from the inner retina is partially Ca 2+ -dependent, while release from the outer retina is Ca 2+ -independent and Na + -dependent. Release experiments carried out in the presence of specific excitatory amino acid blocking agents suggest that the release is mediated by two receptors, the kainate receptor and the NMDA receptor. These results are supportive of a role for excitatory amino acids in synaptic neurotransmission in both inner and outer retina.
Microfluidic Combinatorial Screening Platform

We propose a microfluidic droplet-based platform that accepts an unlimited number of sample plugs from a multi-well plate, performs splitting of these sample droplets into smaller daughter droplets and subsequent synchronization-free, reliable fusion of sample daughter droplets with multiple reagents simultaneously. This system consists of two components: 1) a custom autosampler which generates a linear array of sub-microliter plugs in a microcapillary from a multi-well plate and 2) A microfluidic chip with channels for sample plug introduction, reagent merging and droplet incubation. This novel system generates large arrays of heterogeneous droplets from hundreds to thousands of samples while concurrently screening these arrays against a large array of reagents. This high throughput system minimizes sample and reagent consumption and can be applied to a gamut of biological assays, ranging from SNP detection to forensic screening.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Purification and characterization of phosphofructokinase from rhodotorula glutinis

Abstract Phosphofructokinase has been identified and purified from extracts of Rhodotorula glutinius . Kinetic studies of the enzyme indicated high cooperativity with respect to fructose 6-phosphate. The kinetics for ATP shows no cooperativity as indicated by the hyperbolic behavior of the enzyme. The enzyme is inhibited by ADP. Citrate and phosphate have no effect on the enzyme activity. The role of ATB, fructose 6-phosphate, and ADP is discussed.
Impact of an Early Reading First program on the language and literacy achievement of children from diverse language backgrounds

Abstract This study used an age-cutoff regression discontinuity design to examine the impact of a well-resourced Early Reading First prekindergarten program designed to foster the language and literacy development of 4-year-old children from low-income homes. A special challenge for the application of the language-rich curriculum and professional development package implemented in this study was the presence of a large proportion of ELL children in essentially English-speaking classrooms. We, therefore, sought to determine whether the program was effective for improving English language and literacy outcomes for English-language learners as well as native English speakers. There were large and significant differences between treatment and control groups on literacy outcomes for all students. On the literacy tasks, ELL students in the treatment groups performed nearly as well or better than non-ELL students at the beginning of kindergarten, and reached national norms on standardized tests. There were also significant program impacts on some language outcomes for all students. ELL students who received the intervention significantly outperformed ELL students in the control groups on English receptive and expressive vocabulary. On the more complex oral comprehension skills, preschool did not have a significant impact for ELL students. Intervention effects on receptive vocabulary and oral comprehension for native speakers were found only for the third cohort and were not found for expressive vocabulary. These results provide evidence that, given material supports, coaching, professional development, and the use of a language and literacy-focused curriculum, prekindergarten classrooms can enable low-SES children from diverse language backgrounds to enter kindergarten with literacy skills at or near national norms and can significantly impact some language skills. While non-native speakers of English continued to score lower on language measures than their native-speaking peers, results show that 1 year of preschool can put all children on a positive trajectory for long-term success in school.
Restricted annealing of random Ising models

Previous work has shown that the annealed bond Ising model provides a good approximation to the quenched bond Ising model when all the interactions have the same sign. A restricted form of annealing is developed which leads to even better agreement with the quenched model. By placing more and more restrictions on the annealing, successively better approximations to the quenched model can be developed. One of these schemes leads to an exact solution of the quenched problem on triangular cacti.
Comparison of Pipeline Failure Prediction Models for Water Distribution Networks with Uncertain and Limited Data

AbstractThis paper addresses the problem of specifying, estimating, and validating Weibull hazard rate models for water distribution networks under incomplete data. The most notable advantages of the proposed model are the ability to incorporate expert opinion and the spatial analysis of break histories in order to improve the predictive performance of the model with respect to identifying the highest risk cohorts of pipe. The methodology was demonstrated on a large utility in the southeast United States. The expert opinion of utility professionals was elicited to fill in data gaps associated with pipe material; categorical variables were introduced to account for the bias associated with such data imputing. Additionally, a kriging model was used to estimate the spatial distribution of pipe break rates on subsets of the network, and the resulting break rate parameter was added to the Weibull model. Validation metrics showed that including both the parameter estimates and break rate parameter increased the...
Fusion-cast periclase-spinel materials for granular structured refractories

On etudie la fusion au four electrique et le moulage par coulee de refractaires de periclase-spinelle, ainsi que la composition chimique et mineralogique et la microstructure des produits obtenus
Energy lost to ionization by 254-eV Ge-73 atoms stopping in Ge

A 1-${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ Ge(Li) $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detector was placed directly in a beam of thermal neutrons where the $^{72}\mathrm{Ge}(n, \ensuremath{\gamma})^{73}\mathrm{Ge}$ reaction produced 254-eV $^{73}\mathrm{Ge}$ recoil atoms in the detector. The primary capture $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays from the reaction were detected in a 7.6-cm \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 7.6-cm NaI(Tl) detector placed at 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to the incident beam. In addition to singles measurements a coincidence between the primary capture $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray and the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray or conversion electrons from the decay of the 68.75-keV $^{73}\mathrm{Ge}$ third excited state was used to search for directional effects in the stopping and to check the value of the recoil energy deduced from the feeding of the 68.75-keV level. The level energy was remeasured and a value of 68.755 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.005 keV was found, which when combined with the results of previous work gives a value of 68.7535 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0043 keV. The amount of energy lost to ionization in the stopping of the 254-eV $^{73}\mathrm{Ge}$ atom is found from the energy shift in the peak position for the 68.75-keV level. Our measurement of this shift gives a value of 39.2 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 5.5 eV, which is then the energy loss to ionization by the stopping of the 254-eV $^{73}\mathrm{Ge}$ recoil atom. This result is (27 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 3)% higher than the theoretical estimate made from an extrapolation of the Lindhard theory to this energy region. An attempt to observe a dependence of the ionization loss on the recoil direction in the Ge crystal was made, but no positive effect was observed.