cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prostanoid inhibition of canine parietal cells: Mediation by the inhibitory guanosine triphosphate-binding protein of adenylate cyclase

Abstract We have investigated the mechanisms underlying prostaglandin inhibition of histamine-stimulated parietal cell function. Enzyme-dispersed canine parietal cells were enriched by elutriation. The accumulation of the weak base [ 14 C]aminopyrine was used as an index of parietal cell function and cyclic adenosine monophosphate content was measured by radioimmunoassay. Step density gradients of the elutriator-enriched parietal cell fractions indicated that parietal cells accounted for the histamine stimulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate production and inhibition by the prostaglandin E analogue Enprostil. Pertussis toxin adenosine diphosphate-ribosylates a subunit with a molecular weight of 41,000, thereby inactivating the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding protein of adenylate cyclase. Pertussis toxin treatment of parietal cells in over-night suspension culture was used to determine if inhibitory guanosine triphosphate-binding protein mediated prostanoid inhibition. In control cultured cells, prostaglandin E 2 and Enprostil markedly inhibited forskolin- and histamine-stimulated aminopyrine accumulation. In parietal cells treated with pertussis toxin (300 ng/ml) for 18 h, stimulation of parietal cell function by histamine, isobutylmethyl-xanthine, and forskolin was unaltered compared with control cells, whereas prostaglandin E 2 and Enprostil inhibition was markedly reduced. In pertussis toxin-treated cells, histamine-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate generation was unaltered, whereas Enprostil inhibition of histamine-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate production was markedly reduced. Pertussis toxin treatment of membranes from control, but not from pertussis toxin-treated, cells induced the [ 32 P]adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation of a membrane protein with a molecular weight of 41,000, presumably the α-subunit of inhibitory guanosine triphosphate-binding protein. We conclude that prostanoids inhibit parietal cell function by receptor-mediated interaction with the inhibitory guanine nucleotidebinding protein of adenylate cyclase.
Applications of agent-based simulation for human socio-cultural behavior modeling

Agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) has gained wide attention over the past few years. ABMS is a powerful simulation modeling technique that has a number of applications, including applications to real-world business problems [1]. This modeling technique has been used by scientists to analyze complex system-level behavior by simulating the system from the bottom up. The major application of ABMS includes social, political, biology, and economic sciences. This paper provides an overview of ABMS applications with the emphasis on modeling human socio-cultural behavior (HSCB).
The MMPI-2 and Closed-Head Injury: Effects of Litigation and Head Injury Severity

Abstract This study examined Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) profile configurations in a sample of closed-head injury (CHI) patients with mild head injury/concussion (n = 55) or moderate to severe closed-head injuries (n = 57). Fifty of these patients were involved in litigation related to their injury at the time of this evaluation, 62 were not. Head injury severity in non-litigating subjects was inversely related to profile elevations on MMPI-2 scales 1, 2, 3, and 7. Patients with less severe head injuries (concussions, with or without loss of consciousness, and mild closed-head injury) demon strated elevations of the magnitude previously reported in the MMPI and CHI literature, whereas patients with more severe closed-head injuries did not demonstrate elevations on these scales. Patients involved in litigation demonstrated elevations on these MMPI-2 scales independent of head injury severity. These findings suggest that the current methods of MMPI-2 profile neurocorrection may be...
Evaluating the Triple Bottom Line Using Sustainable Return on Investment

A sustainable return on investment (sROI) analysis is a quantitative approach that captures the economic, environmental, and social impacts of an investment strategy in monetary terms—today and into the future. By providing a broader accounting of the benefits and costs, sROI provides a framework for optimal decision making. sROI is a nonproprietary methodology based on economic principles and includes an uncertainty analysis to demonstrate the likelihood of realizing costs and benefits. This approach provides a more comprehensive picture of projects and supports the selection of investment strategies that are defensible and transparent. sROI can provide the framework and metrics for the evaluation and selection of remediation projects. A demonstration study of a DuPont remediation project illustrates the process and outcome of an sROI analysis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dynamics and nanolevel structure in an ionomer blend of two polymers with widely separated glass transitions

A new ionomer blend of zinc-neutralized sulfonated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-pheny]ene oxide) and an amino silicone copolymer was prepared. The blend precipitates as a gel from dilute solution and forms a coherent film. Magic angle spinning carbon-13 spectra indicated coordination of the amine of the amino silicone copolymer by the zinc ion. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical spectra show a smearing out of the glass transition over the more than 300 deg temperature separation of the glass transitions of the component polymers. Solid-state proton NMR line shapes indicate narrowing commences at -115 °C, but then the line remains a composite of a narrow Lorentzian line and a broad Gaussian line for at least the next 200 deg, in agreement with the dynamic mechanical data. Goldman-Shen proton spin diffusion measurements give a domain size of the order of 30 A, corresponding to the more mobile protons contributing to the Lorentzian line shape component. Silicon-29 chemical shift anisotropy line shapes demonstrate the onset of mobility for some of the siloxane units beginning at -115 °C, but complete line shape collapse does not occur even after a 200 deg temperature rise. This again indicates an extended glass transition process even when considering just one component of the blend.
Quantitative evaluation of soft error injection techniques for robust system design

Choosing the correct error injection technique is of primary importance in simulation-based design and evaluation of robust systems that are resilient to soft errors. Many low-level (e.g., flip-flop-level) error injection techniques are generally used for small systems due to long execution times and significant memory requirements. High-level error injections at the architecture or memory levels are generally fast but can be inaccurate. Unfortunately, there exists very little research literature on quantitative analysis of the inaccuracies associated with high-level error injection techniques. In this paper, we use simulation and emulation results to understand the accuracy trade-offs associated with a variety of high-level error injection techniques. A detailed analysis of error propagation explains the causes of high degrees of inaccuracies associated with error injection techniques at higher levels of abstraction.
Calpain-1 cleaves and activates caspase-7

Caspase-7 is an executioner caspase that plays a key role in apoptosis, cancer, and a number of neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanism of caspase-7 activation by granzyme B and caspase-3 has been well characterized. However, whether other proteases such as calpains activate or inactivate caspase-7 is not known. Here, we present that recombinant caspase-7 is directly cleaved by calpain-1 within the large subunit of caspase-7 to produce two novel products, large subunit p18 and p17. This new form of caspase-7 has a 6-fold increase in Vmax when compared with the previously characterized p20/p12 form. Zymography revealed that the smaller caspase-7 product (p17) is 18-fold more active than either the caspase-3-cleaved product (p20) or the larger calpain-1 product of caspase-7 (p18). Mass spectrometry and site-directed mutagenesis identified the calpain cleavage sites within the caspase-7 large subunit at amino acid 36 and 45/47. These proteolysis events occur in vivo as indicated by the accumulation of caspase-7 p18 and p17 subunits in cortical neurons undergoing Ca2+ dysregulation. Further, cleavage at amino acid 45/47 of caspase-7 by calpain results in a reduction in nuclear localization when compared with the caspase-3 cleavage product of caspase-7 (p20). Our studies suggest the calpain-activated form of caspase-7 has unique enzymatic activity, localization, and binding affinity when compared with the caspase-activated form.
Multimode metal-insulator-metal waveguides: Analysis and experimental characterization

The analysis and experimental characterization of the propagation constants and attenuation coefficients of surface plasmon (SP) modes in planar multimode metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides are presented. The experimental characterization is based on determining the width of the reflection angular spectrum in the attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration. Due to its transverse character, the ATR configuration provides a more straightforward and simpler way to determine the propagation constants and attenuation coefficients of plasmonic modes in MIM structures, compared to using tapered end-couplers with multiple waveguide samples or near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). In this paper, the propagation constants and attenuation coefficients of multimode MIM structures are investigated, and MIM waveguide structures with 730 and 1460 nm ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ cores and Au claddings are fabricated and experimentally characterized. The measurement results indicate that the absorption of Au is responsible for the high attenuation in MIM plasmonic modes, while scattering loss is another source of attenuation for higher-order modes (smaller zigzag angles). To the best of the authors' knowledge, the present work represents the first time the attenuation coefficient and propagation constant of each mode in a multimode MIM waveguide have been individually measured.
Role of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Complexes in Capsaicin Mediated Oxidative Stress Leading to Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

We evaluated the mechanism of capsaicin-mediated ROS generation in pancreatic cancer cells. The generation of ROS was about 4–6 fold more as compared to control and as early as 1 h after capsaicin treatment in BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells but not in normal HPDE-6 cells. The generation of ROS was inhibited by catalase and EUK-134. To delineate the mechanism of ROS generation, enzymatic activities of mitochondrial complex-I and complex-III were determined in the pure mitochondria. Our results shows that capsaicin inhibits about 2.5–9% and 5–20% of complex-I activity and 8–75% of complex-III activity in BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells respectively, which was attenuable by SOD, catalase and EUK-134. On the other hand, capsaicin treatment failed to inhibit complex-I or complex-III activities in normal HPDE-6 cells. The ATP levels were drastically suppressed by capsaicin treatment in both BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells and attenuated by catalase or EUK-134. Oxidation of mitochondria-specific cardiolipin was substantially higher in capsaicin treated cells. BxPC-3 derived ρ0 cells, which lack mitochondrial DNA, were completely resistant to capsaicin mediated ROS generation and apoptosis. Our results reveal that the release of cytochrome c and cleavage of both caspase-9 and caspase-3 due to disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly blocked by catalase and EUK-134 in BxPC-3 cells. Our results further demonstrate that capsaicin treatment not only inhibit the enzymatic activity and expression of SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase but also reduce glutathione level. Over-expression of catalase by transient transfection protected the cells from capsaicin-mediated ROS generation and apoptosis. Furthermore, tumors from mice orally fed with 2.5 mg/kg capsaicin show decreased SOD activity and an increase in GSSG/GSH levels as compared to controls. Taken together, our results suggest the involvement of mitochondrial complex-I and III in capsaicin-mediated ROS generation and decrease in antioxidant levels resulting in severe mitochondrial damage leading to apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.
An Investigation of the Factor Structure of a Scale for the Measurement of Children's Attitudes toward Handicapped Peers within Regular Music Environments.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure of a newly developed survey instrument for the measurement of children's attitudes toward severely handicapped (retarded) peers integrated into music school and recreational environments. An Acceptance Within Music Scale (AMS) was developed to parallel items on a general Acceptance Scale (AS) that has demonstrated validity and reliability (Meyer, 1981). Factor analysis was used to explore the structure of the AMS and to determine whether the dimensions found are similar to those dimensions being assessed by the AS (i.e., social contact willingness, actual contact-wheelchair, name calling, and deviance consequation). Both the AS and AMS were administered to 136 public school students in an elementary school specifically selected as a low-contact school. No severely or moderately retarded students were enrolled in the school. Results suggest that there are four dimensions assessed by the AMS. Based on factor-loadings and item-by-item comparisons, th...
Wind Noise Reduction for Outdoor Measurement Microphones With Windscreens

In this study, effects of windscreen material property on wind noise reduction are investigated at different frequencies of incoming wind turbulence. The properties of porous materials used for the windscreen are represented by flow resistivity. Computational techniques are developed to study the detailed flow around the windscreen as well as flow inside the windscreen that uses a porous material as the medium. The coupled simulation shows that for low-frequency turbulence, the windscreens with low flow resistivity are more effective in noise reduction. Contrarily, for high-frequency turbulence, the windscreens with high flow resistivity are more effective.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Lead Free Flip Chip Reliability for Various Package Types

Flip Chip (FC) technology has now become the mainstream solution for high performance packages. From commercial gaming machines to high reliability servers, the FC package is gaining more market share over traditional packaging technologies, such as wire bond. Extensive research has been carried out to make the flip chip more robust, smaller foot prints, and excellent performance. FC packages are fabricated typically in two main configurations. Bare die FC packages leave the non active side of the die exposed. This allows the customer to apply their preferred heat dissipation scheme during board level attach. Lidded FC packages use a metallic lid attached to the die. Bare die package can be further subdivided into bare die underfilled package and bare die flip chip molded ball grid array (FCm BGA) package. Each of these packaging configurations has advantages as well as disadvantages. FCm BGA uses molding compound or EMC instead of capillary underfill, to protect FC die, and eliminate the need for a lid. Package warpage reduced a lot by adding a lid with the bare die FC package. However, the package and board level reliability for the above package types are still debatable. In this study test vehicles with three package types with bumps and BGAs are daisy chain to measure in situ data during accelerated tests. Impact of standard vs. low CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) core substrate, accelerated temperature cycle conditions (temperature cycle condition “B”, “H”, and “J” according to JEDEC), and package level vs. package mounted on the board level reliability will be investigated. Comprehensive reliability data will help to select the right package type for next generation large die large body flip chip application.© 2011 ASME
Living in context with the survival factor BAFF.

In this issue, Gardam et al. (2008) show that BAFF, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member, promotes B cell survival by hindering interactions between TNF-receptor-associated factors, blocking their negative regulation of nonclassical NF-κB activity.
A bipolar ECL static RAM using polysilicon-diode loaded memory cell

A 1 K*1 bipolar ECL (emitter-coupled logic) static RAM using polysilicon-diode loaded memory cell is realized in a single-poly bipolar process technology. The use of the polysilicon diode as the load element for the memory cell is made possible by the fact that its I-V characteristics exhibit an ideality factor of two. The hold voltage for the memory cell is larger than 240 mV over a wide range of cell currents with the lower bound residing in the submicroampere range. Results show extremely stable operation against row-select sensitivity. A 1.5-ns row address access time has been obtained from the test circuit. >
The Effect of the Leaving Group in the Acylation of α-Chymotrypsin byN-Acylimidazoles: The Reaction ofN-(3,3-Dimethylbutyryl)-4(5)-nitroimidazole

Abstract The kinetic and mechanistic effects of substitution in the leaving group of N -acylimidazoles in α-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis reactions have been investigated. The values of k 2 / K m have been determined for acylation of the enzyme by a series of N -(3,3-dimethylbutyryl)-4(5)-substituted imidazoles at 30°C. The plot of log k 2 / K m vs pH for acylation by N -(3,3-dimethylbutyryl)-4(5)-nitroimidazole has regions of slope 1.0 and 0 with a p K app of 6.5, in contrast with the nearly pH-independent profiles for N -acylimidazoles without electron-withdrawing substituents in the leaving group. The effect of electron withdrawal is to lower the p K a of the conjugate acid of the N -acylimidazole, which thereby restricts the acylation reaction of that species. The pH independence of the acylation reactions of N -acylimidazoles without electron withdrawal in the leaving group must reflect reactions of the neutral and protonated species that proceed with similar rate constants. The p K app of 6.5 is constant through wide structural variations and is therefore not due to the kinetics of the reaction, but is very likely the p K a of the conjugate acid of His-57. There is only a small effect of the p K a of the leaving group in the acylation reactions with β 1g = −0.3. Therefore, there can only be moderate C–N bond breaking in the critical transition state. A plot of log k 2 / K m vs σ m , the Hammett substituent constant for meta substituents, is linear with a slope, ρ, of 2.6 ( r = 0.98). When para substituent constants are employed the ρ value is 2.1. The effect of substitution in the leaving group is nearly identical in the enzymatic acylation reaction and in the OH − -catalyzed hydrolysis of these compounds in regard to the values of ρ and β 1g . Thus, the transition states in the two reactions must be similar in regard to the extent of C–N bond breaking and C–O bond formation with the nucleophile. The transition state very likely resembles the reactants.
Effect of An Educational Inpatient Diabetes Management Program on Medical Resident Knowledge and Measures of Glycemic Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of an Inpatient Diabetes Management Program (IDMP) on physician knowledge and inpatient glycemic control.Methods: Residents assigned to General Internal Medicine inpatient services were randomized to receive the IDMP (IDMP group) or usual education only (non-IDMP group). Both groups received an overview of inpatient diabetes management in conjunction with reminders of existing order sets on the hospital Web site. The IDMP group received print copies of the program and access to an electronic version for a personal digital assistant (PDA). A Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) was administered at baseline and at the end of the 1-month rotation. The frequency of hyperglycemia among patients under surveillance by each group was compared by using capillary blood glucose values and a dispersion index of glycemic variability. IDMP users completed a questionnaire related to the program.Results: Twenty-two residents participated (11 in the IDMP group and 11 in the non-IDMP gr...
Beach changes in the Oceanside Littoral Cell

The Oceanside Littoral Cell, extending about 80 km southward from Dana Point in Southern California to Point La Jolla, is one of the most extensively studied coastal regions in the world and among the first to be investigated regionally. It is clearly defined by prominent rocky headlands at either boundary with evidence that there is little sediment exchange with neighboring cells. It is maintained by episodic river borne sediment inputs and erosion from the bluffs that back the majority of the beaches. It also suffers episodic losses of sand from the flushing of a submarine canyon near its southern boundary. The cell contains several coastal lagoons, some with jettied entrances and some connected to the sea episodically, hi addition to these jetties, a system of jetties and breakwater extensions was constructed to protect an artificial harbor at the city of Oceanside, roughly in the middle of the cell. With the exception of these entrances, the cell consists of continuous beaches throughout its length. The paper describes the Oceanside cell geography, the near-coast geology that impacts the beach and the physical forces that result in beach changes. It then discusses the background variability of beach volumes and the positive and negative impacts of human activities on the variations. To accomplish this analysis, the cell is divided into a small number of subregions with similar characteristics and histories. There is limited use of conventional profiles in the discussion. Emphasis is placed on changes to the recreational beach asset, that which is exposed at low tide. Seasonal, long-term and human-induced changes are separated to the extent possible for each of the subregions. Maps and aerial photography are utilized to illustrate the significant attributes.
Electron pencil-beam redefinition algorithm dose calculations in the presence of heterogeneities

The electron pencil-beam redefinition algorithm (PBRA) is currently being refined and evaluated for clinical use. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of PBRA-calculated dose in the presence of heterogeneities and to benchmark PBRA dose accuracy for future improvements to the algorithm. The PBRA was evaluated using a measured electron beam dose algorithm verification data set developed at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The data set consists of measurements made using 9 and 20 MeV beams in a water phantom with air gaps, internal air and bone heterogeneities, and irregular surfaces. Refinements to the PBRA have enhanced the speed of the dose calculations by a factor of approximately 7 compared to speeds previously reported in published data; a 20 MeV, 15×15 cm 2 field electron-beam dose distribution took approximately 10 minutes to calculate. The PBRA showed better than 4% accuracy in most experiments. However, experiments involving the low-energy (9 MeV) electron beam and irregular surfaces showed dose differences as great as 22%, in albeit a small fractional region. The geometries used in this study, particularly those in the irregular surface experiments, were extreme in the sense that they are not seen clinically. A more appropriate clinical evaluation in the future will involve comparisons to Monte Carlo generated patient dose distributions using actual computed tomography scan data. The present data also serve as a benchmark against which future enhancements to the PBRA can be evaluated.
The anuran superficial reticular nucleus: evidence for homology with nuclei of the lateral lemniscus

The superficial reticular nucleus (SR) of ranid frogs is part of a lateral cell column extending from the isthmus to the rostral tegmentum. The caudal part of this nucleus receives input from lower brainstem auditory nuclei and projects bilaterally to the torus semicircularis. On the basis of its position, connections, and sensitivity to acoustic stimuli, the caudal SR appears to be homologous to all or part of the mammalian nuclei of the lateral lemniscus.
Global and local obstacle avoidance technique for an autonomous vehicle

The Center for Self-Organizing and Intelligent Systems (CSOIS) is engaged in developing autonomous ground vehicles. A significant problem for such vehicles is obstacle detection and avoidance. After studying various methods of detection, a scanning laser system was chosen that can detect objects at a distance of up to thirty feet while traveling between five and ten miles per hour. Once an object is detected, the vehicle must avoid it. The project employs a mission-level path planner that predetermines the path of a vehicle. One avoidance scheme is to inform the path planner of the obstacle and then let it re-plan the path. This is the global approach to the problem, which allows the use of existing software for maneuvering the vehicle. However, replanning is time consuming and lacks knowledge of the entire obstacle. An alternative approach is to use local avoidance, whereby a vehicle determines how to get by an obstacle without help from the path planner. This approach offers faster response without requiring the computing resource of the path planner. The disadvantage is that during local avoidance the vehicle ignores the global map of known obstacles and does not know to turn control back to the path planner if mission efficiency is adversely affected. This paper will describe a method for combining the current global path planner with a local obstacle avoidance technique to efficiently complete required tasks in a partially unknown environment.
Carotid Endarterectomy: A Comparison of Regional versus General Anesthesia in 500 Operations

< 0.008) and more frequent use of postoperative vasoactive drugs to control blood pressure (40.4 vs. 26.1%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, anesthesia time, operative time, and frequency of shunt use were significantly greater in the general anesthesia group (p < 0.03).
Monodisperse thermoresponsive microgels of poly(ethylene glycol) analogue-based biopolymers.

Monodisperse microgels of P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA) have been synthesized by using free radical polymerization. Microgels with a variety of particle radii ranging from 82 to 412 nm have been obtained with different surfactant concentrations. The particle size distribution is extremely narrow and even better than that for PNIPAM microgels. Pure MEO2MA microgels have an LCST of about 22 °C. The LCSTs corresponding to the molar ratio of OEGMA to MEO2MA at 10 and 20% are 31 and 37 °C, respectively. Microgels in water self-assemble into various phases, including a crystalline phase with iridescent colors, which are the result of Bragg diffraction from differently oriented crystalline planes. Considering that PEG is nontoxic and anti-immunogenic as proven by the FDA, thermoresponsive P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA) microgels may have many exciting biomedical applications.
Qualitative Research on Educational Technology: Philosophies, Methods and Challenges

This paper reviews qualitative research in the field of educational technology through the lens of ontology, epistemology and methodology. A definition of educational technology research is followed by a discussion on how basic research in this field fails to render progress in academic achievement and the potential of qualitative inquiry to promote learning and teaching. Different ontological and epistemological assumptions behind such two research methodologies are also summarized and discussed. The paper then identifies three qualitative research methods that are prevalent in the field of educational technology: ethnography, case study and design-based research. The characteristics, strengths and limitations of those three methods are analyzed using examples from the literature within the past three decades.
Phase transformations and structure-property relationships in a rapidly solidified Ni-Al-Mo alloy

An Ni-Al-Mo-V-Re alloy was melt-spun at 30 m s−1 to produce a completely solutionized metastable solid solution. The phase transformation sequences on subsequent ageing of this material over a range of temperatures from 650 to 800°C were studied using transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the transformation behaviour was independent of the ageing temperature over the range studied, but with increased transformation kinetics on increasing the temperature. A complex transformation sequence was found involving spinodal ordering, precipitation of metastable phases and discontinuous transformation. In addition, while equilibrium Ni3Mo phase was involved in the transformation sequence, the δ (NiMo) phase was not observed for the heat treatment range studied. The results of the phase transformation sequence of this alloy are correlated with the corresponding physical and mechanical properties of the material in Part II.
Evaluation of polyesters and their blends with bisphenol-A-polycarbonate

Abstract A new polyester, poly(2-ethyl-2-methylpropylene terephthalate) (PEMPT), as well as poly(1,5-pentylene terephthalate), poly(1,7-heptylene terephthalate) and poly(1,9-nonylene terephthalate), have been synthesized and characterized with respect to specific criteria including phase behaviour studies with bisphenol-A-polycarbonate (PC). Binary blends of the four polyesters with PC ( 50 50 wt% ) all exhibit two amorphous phases when an inhibitor is present to prevent transreactions. When prepared without inhibitor, the same blends are single phase, indicating that transreaction has occurred between blend components. Additionally, thermal analysis shows that PEMPT is amorphous and has improved thermal stability compared to the other aliphatic-aromatic polyesters studied. These characteristics are attributed to ethyl-methyl substitution of the propylene group in PEMPT.
Lithium-induced teratogenesis in frog embryos prevented by a polyphosphoinositide cycle intermediate or a diacylglycerol analog.

Microinjection of LiCl into prospective ventral blastomeres of the 32-cell Xenopus embryo gives rise to duplication of dorsoanterior structures such as the notochord, neural tube, eyes, and cement gland. We report here that this teratogenic effect of Li+ is prevented by coinjection of equimolar myo-inositol, an intermediate of the polyphosphoinositide cycle. In contrast, epi-inositol, a nonbiological positional isomer of inositol not employed in this cycle, is ineffective at rescuing Li+-injected embryos. Treatment of embryos at stage 7 with the tumor promoter, phorbol myristate acetate (an analog of the polyphosphoinositide cycle-derived second messenger, diacylglycerol), also prevents dorsoanterior duplication of Li+ embryos, while the nontransforming analog, phorbol myristate acetate-4-O-methyl ether, is without effect. Both of these rescuing agents are without obvious effects on development when administered alone (i.e., without Li+). Li+-selective microelectrode measurements demonstrate that intracellular Li+ levels are identical when Li+ is injected with or without myo-inositol. Clonal analysis shows that blastomeres injected with Li+ plus myo-inositol make a normal contribution of progeny to the later embryo. Because Li+ is a well-established inhibitor of the polyphosphoinositide cycle and can thereby have profound effects on cellular myo-inositol and diacylglycerol levels, these observations concerning inositol-mediated rescue suggest a role for altered polyphosphoinositide cycle activity in lithium-induced teratogenesis.
Differential effects of actinomycin D on nucleic acid and protein synthesis in rat liver.

Abstract Levels of actinomycin D which block up to 90% of RNA synthesis in liver inhibit protein synthesis by 40%. A 50% inhibition of RNA synthesis is accompanied by less than a 5% inhibition of protein synthesis. These results indicate that the effects of actinomycin D on protein synthesis may be only partially related to the antibiotic effects on RNA synthesis.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON VIBRATES BILL IN WATER TO ATTRACT FISH

Abstract A Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) was observed bill-vibrating, a foraging behavior in which the heron submerged its bill tip in the water and rapidly opened and closed its mandibles creating a disturbance of the water surface. This fish-luring behavior has previously been reported once for a Black-crowned Night-Heron, and for several other heron species. This behavior may be used when algal growth or other water obscuring agents interferes with a heron's vision making visual foraging techniques problematic, and may have enhanced effectiveness because the algae make the predator less likely to be seen.
A technique for laparoscopic repair of herniation of the anterior abdominal wall using a composite mesh prosthesis.

Abstract Improved laparoscopic techniques have engendered many new gastrointestinal and other intracavity abdominal procedures. Groin hernias have also been repaired with the assistance of the laparoscope via both transperitoneal and properitoneal approaches, but less emphasis has been placed upon repair of hernias of the anterior abdominal wall. A technique for the transperitoneal, laparoscopic repair of anterior abdominal wall hernias using a composite mesh prosthesis is presented. The technique is appliable to hernias in many locations.
Experience in Expert Estimation of Probabilities and Correlations for Rail Line Construction

To counteract cost escalation and delays in infrastructure construction, an estimation model has been developed that simulates project uncertainty with probability distributions, correlations, and disruptive events. When applied to a new rail line project, three model inputs were not available from the designers: time distributions, cost correlations, and probability of occurrence and cost/time impacts of disruptive events. Experts in the field of tunnel-, viaduct-, and earthwork construction were asked to estimate the unavailable information. This paper presents a brief overview of biases that occur when experts estimate probabilities, the calibration steps taken to prevent the experts from being affected by such biases, and example questions from the questionnaire, followed by an in-depth discussion of findings. Unexpectedly, the experts followed radically different estimation techniques: the tunnel expert recalled values from past projects, the viaduct expert calculated the required values, while the earthwork expert estimated the mode value, and from it, the extreme values. Depending on estimation technique, a bias influences or cannot influence an expert. It was also observed that experts not familiar with probability theory encountered major difficulties in correlation estimation, despite concept explanation and visualization. Thus, for a successful correlation estimation it is paramount that experts be acquainted with probability theory in addition to being knowledgeable in their fields.
Glycolytic pathway, redox state of NAD(P)-couples and energy metabolism in lens in galactose-fed rats: effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor

PURPOSE. The present study was aimed at evaluating early changes in glycolysis, the redox state of free cytosolic NAD(P)-couples, and the adenine nucleotide system in lens in both control and 50% galactose-fed rats, with the possibility of preventing these with an aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI). METHODS. Experiments were performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats fed the galactose diet for 2–14 days. The levels of glucose, galactose, glycolytic intermediates, a-glycerophosphate, malate, NAD, ATP, ADP, AMP were assayed spectrofluorometrically in individual lenses by enzymatic procedures, while galactitol and myo -inositol were quantified by GC-MS. Free cytosolic NAD + /NADH, NADP + /NADPH, and ATP/ADP × P i (phosphate potential) were estimated from lactate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and triose phosphate isomerase-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase-3-phosphoglycerate kinase systems. Lactate and pyruvate production by lenses of both control and galactose-fed rats was measured in a set of in vitro incuba...
Evolutionary Relationships and Systematics of the Alphaviruses

Partial E1 envelope glycoprotein gene sequences and complete structural polyprotein sequences were used to compare divergence and construct phylogenetic trees for the genus Alphavirus. Tree topologies indicated that the mosquito-borne alphaviruses could have arisen in either the Old or the New World, with at least two transoceanic introductions to account for their current distribution. The time frame for alphavirus diversification could not be estimated because maximum-likelihood analyses indicated that the nucleotide substitution rate varies considerably across sites within the genome. While most trees showed evolutionary relationships consistent with current antigenic complexes and species, several changes to the current classification are proposed. The recently identified fish alphaviruses salmon pancreas disease virus and sleeping disease virus appear to be variants or subtypes of a new alphavirus species. Southern elephant seal virus is also a new alphavirus distantly related to all of the others analyzed. Tonate virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus strain 78V3531 also appear to be distinct alphavirus species based on genetic, antigenic, and ecological criteria. Trocara virus, isolated from mosquitoes in Brazil and Peru, also represents a new species and probably a new alphavirus complex.
Ternary Porphyrinato Hf(IV) and Zr(IV) - Polyoxometalate Complexes.

We report a facile, high-yield synthesis and characterization of discrete, ternary porphyrin–metal–polyoxometalate (por–M–POM) complexes where a group IV transition-metal ion is bound both to the porphyrin core and to the lacunary site of a Keggin POM, PW11O39–7. The remarkably robust complexes exploit the fact that HfIV and ZrIV are 7–8 coordinate and reside outside the plane of the porphyrin macrocycle, thus enabling the simultaneous coordination to meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (tpp) or meso-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (tpyp) and to the defect site in the Keggin framework. The physical properties of the (tpp)Hf(PW11O39)[tba]5, (tpyp)Hf(PW11O39)[tba]5, and (tpp)Zr(PW11O39)[tba]5 complexes are similar because the metal ions have similar oxidation states and coordination chemistry. This architecture couples the photonic properties of the porphyrin to the POM because the metal ion is incorporated into both frameworks. Thus, the ternary complexes can serve as a basis for the characterization of HfIV and ZrIV porphyrins bound to oxide surfaces through the group IV metal ions. The Hf(por) and Zr(por) bind strongly to TiO2 nanoparticles and indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces, but significantly less binds to crystalline SiO2 or TiO2 surfaces. Together, the strong binding of the metalloporphyrins to the POM, nanoparticles, and the ITO surfaces, and paucity of binding to crystalline surfaces, suggests that the three-to-four open coordination sites on the Hf(por) and Zr(por) are predominantly bound at surface defect sites. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Proctolaelaps deleoni, a new species of Ascidae from decaying Citrus in Florida (Acari: Mesostigmata)

ABSTRACT Proctolaelaps deleoni n. sp. was collected from fallen decaying oranges in Lake Alfred, Polk County, Florida. The adult female and male of this species are described and illustrated.
Precipitation kinetics of niobium carbide and copper in a low carbon, chromium-free steel

Abstract Co-precipitation of niobium carbide and BCC copper is being investigated as a basis for making a high strength, easily weldable, low carbon, chromium-free structural steel as an alternative to tempered martensite. Theoretical curves were calculated for the nucleation and growth rates of NbC and BCC Cu precipitates in ferrite as a function of temperature for various austenizing temperatures. Calculated nucleation and growth rates for NbC in ferrite were significantly influenced by austenizing temperature while Cu precipitation kinetics were not effected. Nucleation and growth rate curves for copper and the nucleation rate curve for NbC showed the typical inverse “C” type behavior. For all austenizing temperature, the BCC Cu nucleation rate was orders of magnitude faster than NbC. Aging treatments selected on the basis of the computed curves are in approximate agreement with them.
SN2 reactions in the gas phase. Alkyl group structural effects

The gas phase heats and entropies of SN2-like association of bromide ions with a series of alkyl bromides are reported. Comparison of this data with published data for the same reactions in solution suggests that the alkyl group structural effects on SN2 reactivity in solution are controlled entirely by the solvent.
Changes in Accounting Education: Improving Principles Content for Better Understanding

Abstract Since the FASB replaced the APB in 1972, over 130 new pronouncements have been affecting the way we practice and teach accounting. Women are now on the verge of dominating the accounting workplace. Litigation has become ever present, and the 150-hour requirement has been adopted in most states. A call has been issued for a better educated accounting graduate, and information in accounting areas such as history, ethics, international applications, and computers is exploding. Meanwhile, classroom hours in the first accounting courses have shrunk by 40% at most universities. This article offers suggestions for more effective teaching of the “first course in accounting” through visual aids and use of the concepts approach.
Fluorescence depletion measurements in various experimental geometries provide true emission and absorption anisotropies for the study of protein rotation.

Abstract Use of fluorescence depletion methods for measuring slow protein rotational diffusion has been limited by failure to obtain, from depletion data, well-defined anisotropy functions dependent on the distribution of either fluorophore emission or absorption transition dipoles, but not both. Such anisotropies would be directly comparable to those obtained from phosphorescence emission or triplet absorption measurements. We now describe such procedures applicable to cuvet and microscope experimental geometries, together with supporting experimental results. In cuvet measurements, the pump and probe beams are colinear and fluorescence is collected at 90° to this axis. The data analysis procedure for this geometry has been suggested by Wegener (Biophys. J., 46 (1984) 795) and permits calculation of the absorption and emission anisotropies and the interdipole angle. In microscope experiments, fluorescence emission is collected along the pump/probe beam axis. For microscope measurements, a new experimental procedure permits evaluation of absorption and emission anisotropies when the interdipole angle is independently known. In either case multiple depletion measurements are required, each with different relative orientations of the probe beam polarization, pump beam polarization and emission polarizer axis. We have used these methods to calculate the time-dependent anisotropies for eosin-derivatized BSA rotation in glycerol solutions in both experimental geometries. These data correspond well with those obtained from time-resolved phosphorescence anisotropy measurements.
Pulmonary gangrene in a child followingaspiration of timothy grass

Summary 1. A case of pulmonary gangrene following aspiration of timothy grass is presented. 2. A discussion of the foreign body and a brief review of the literature isincluded. 3. The pathologic and bacteriologic pattern is briefly discussed.
Equilibrium shape and heterogeneous nucleation barrier at spherical interfaces

Abstract The conditions for the equilibrium shape of a second-phase particle nucleating either on a spherically curved substrate or at a spherical interphase boundary are derived under the assumption that the spherical interfacial structure has a torque of an appropriate strength. The results are then incorporated into the modified Gibbs-Wulff construction in order to demonstrate a graphical representation of both the equilibrium shape and the free energy barrier for heterogeneous nucleation. The finite curvature associated with the nucleation site causes a geometrical compatibility condition between the radius of the nucleation site and the radius of a critical nucleus, but the compatibility condition vanishes as the ratio of the two radii approaches infinity. Comparison of the free energy barriers for heterogeneous nucleation shows that the free energy of formation, ΔG ∗ , for a critical nucleus on a concave spherical substrate increases with an increase in the radius of the substrate, approaching that of a planar substrate case when the substrate radius becomes infinite. For a spherical interphase boundary, the effect of the curvature is also to decrease ΔG ∗ as the radius of the curvature decreases. On the other hand, ΔG ∗ for the convex spherical substrate case increases as the substrate radius decreases, becoming identical to that of a homogeneous nucleation case when the substrate radius vanishes. However, the condition of a complete wetting, i.e., the condition for a zero ΔG ∗ , remains unaffected by the presence of the finite curvature associated with the nucleation sites.
Stability of organic matter in landfill leachates

Abstract Samples of grossly polluted groundwater and of leachate collected from wells or underdrains near solid waste disposal sites were subjected to extensive organic analyses. The soluble organics were concentrated, separated and characterized by membrane ultrafiltration, gelpermeation chromatography and analysis for functional groups and specific organics. Free volatile fatty acids represented the largest group of organics, and this fraction showed a rapid decrease with increasing age of the fill. The most stable group of organics with increasing age was a fulvic-like material with a relatively high carboxyl and aromatic hydroxyl group density. Increasing stability was further noted for carbohydrates, hydrolyzable amino acids and aromatic hydroxyl compounds in that order. Only leachate from a recently generating fill can be treated successfully by microbial processes because of its large biodegradable organic content; leachate from stabilized landfills is best treated by physical-chemical processes.
The Impact of Cognitive Demands on Attention to Facial versus Situational Cues When Judging Emotions

What information guides how perceivers evaluate people’s emotional experiences? Some regard expressive fa- cial cues to be the critical source of information whereas others argue that situational cues exert the decisive im- pact. This research explored an alternative view suggesting that both information sources are of consequence and that cognitive demands placed on perceivers play a pivotal role in determining what information they use. To test this view, perceivers were given discrepant combinations of facial and situational information about peo- ple’s emotional experiences and identified what emotions they felt. Facial information influenced perceivers’ judgments most often when demands were placed on their cognitive resources. In contrast, situational information had the greatest impact when cognitive demands were minimized. These findings shed light on the debate surrounding the issue of facial versus situational dominance and the process by which emotion judgments are made.