cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potent chemopreventive/antioxidant activity detected in common spices of the Apiaceae family in vitro

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 4986 Epidemiological data suggest an association of elevated levels of estrogens with breast cancer development. In particular, the natural female hormone, 17β-estradiol (E2), and its major metabolite, 4-hydroxy-17β-estradiol (4E2), produced selectively at the target site, have been implicated in the cancer development, and it is believed that these substances cause free radical-mediated, direct and/or indirect DNA damage. In attempts to discover new agents of natural origin, we have examined common spices of the Apiaceae family for bioactivity in reducing this damage. Besides their use in numerous cuisines, the Apiaceae spices have long been used in folklore medicine, as digestive, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic agents. In this study, we report efficacy of aqueous and non-aqueous extracts of six Apiaceae spices (anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, dill and fennel) for free radical-scavenging activity and activity to inhibit cytochrome P450 in two separate reactions, involving: i) E2, rat liver microsomes, co-factors, DNA and CuCl2; and ii) 4E2, DNA and CuCl2. The spices, extracted thrice in water and in acetonitrile were pooled and reconstituted respectively. Oxidative DNA adducts resulting from redox cycling of 4E2 were analyzed by 32P-postlabeling. Compared with vehicle treatment, both the aqueous (72% - 96%) and non-aqueous (82% - 94%) extracts substantially inhibited adduct formation in the microsomal reaction. However, in the non-microsomal reaction, only the aqueous extracts showed the inhibitory activity (82% - 96%). At 5-times lower concentrations, aqueous extracts of cumin and dill still elicited significant adduct inhibition (60% - 73%). By comparison, the well-known antioxidants, β-carotene and ellagic acid (300 µM) showed about 30% and 90% adduct inhibition, respectively in the non-microsomal reaction. These results suggests the presence of two groups of chemicals in the spices - polar compounds (water soluble) that have free radical-scavenging activity, and lipophilic compounds (soluble in acetonitrile) that selectively inhibit P450 activity associated with estrogen metabolism. Because of their wide-spread use with no known toxicity, potent antioxidant activity, ability to inhibit P450s and other previously known actions (e.g., anti-inflammatory), the Apiaceae spice phytochemicals may be potentially useful to inhibit estrogen-mediated breast cancer and other hormonal cancers (Supported in part from Agnes Brown Duggan funds).
Accurate Transposable Element Annotation Is Vital When Analyzing New Genome Assemblies

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements with the ability to replicate themselves throughout the host genome. In some taxa TEs reach copy numbers in hundreds of thousands and can occupy more than half of the genome. The increasing number of reference genomes from nonmodel species has begun to outpace efforts to identify and annotate TE content and methods that are used vary significantly between projects. Here, we demonstrate variation that arises in TE annotations when less than optimal methods are used. We found that across a variety of taxa, the ability to accurately identify TEs based solely on homology decreased as the phylogenetic distance between the queried genome and a reference increased. Next we annotated repeats using homology alone, as is often the case in new genome analyses, and a combination of homology and de novo methods as well as an additional manual curation step. Reannotation using these methods identified a substantial number of new TE subfamilies in previously characterized genomes, recognized a higher proportion of the genome as repetitive, and decreased the average genetic distance within TE families, implying recent TE accumulation. Finally, these finding-increased recognition of younger TEs-were confirmed via an analysis of the postman butterfly (Heliconius melpomene). These observations imply that complete TE annotation relies on a combination of homology and de novo-based repeat identification, manual curation, and classification and that relying on simple, homology-based methods is insufficient to accurately describe the TE landscape of a newly sequenced genome.
Rearing of Oriental Fruit Flies: a Need for Wheat Germ in Larval Diet Containing Bagasse, a Non-Nutritive Bulking Agent

When powdered sugarcane bagasse was substituted for wheat shorts in the larval diet of the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae), satisfactory development of larvae (compared with the Hawaii standard diet) was obtained only when the yeast level was increased from 3–9% and when at least 3% wheat germ was added. Insufficient wheat germ caused decreasing of yields of pupae and eggs in each of 3 successive generations. Fecundity and fertility were increased by adding wheat germ oil to the enzymatic protein hydrolysate of yeast in the adult diet.
Absorption, Translocation, and Distribution of Phorate in Loblolly Pine Seedlings

Phorate was readily absorbed by the roots of loblolly pine seedlings and translocated throughout the plants. Control of adult pales weevils, Hylobius pales (Herbst), and adult pine aphids, Cinara watsoni Tissot, for 480 days following application of the toxicant to the soil indicates that this insecticide could be used to protect pine seedlings from excessive insect attacks in forest tree nurseries and outplantings.
Effects of Chlorpyrifos and Lambda- and Gamma-Cyhalothrin on Suppression of Aster Leafhoppers, Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Spring Wheat1

ABSTRACT Unexpected outbreaks of the aster leafhopper, Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in wheat in the spring of 2012 across the Northern Plains of the U.S. prompted extensive applications of insecticides to suppress their populations. Aster leafhoppers are infrequent pests of wheat in the Northern Plains early in the spring, and data on insecticide efficacy for aster leafhoppers in wheat were unavailable at the time of the outbreak. Thus, our goal was to test several insecticides commonly used against key pests in wheat for their efficacy against aster leafhoppers. We examined the effects of chlorpyrifos and lambda- and gamma-cyhalothrin in greenhouse and field. These insecticides are not currently registered for suppression of aster leafhoppers in wheat, but they are used frequently to control potato leafhoppers in alfalfa. We found that all insecticides reduced numbers of aster leafhoppers four days after application (DAA) in the field, but not seven and 14 DAA, likely due ...
Design of Measurement and Control Software for Electro-hydraulic Servo Load System Based on Multithread Mechanism

According to the electric structure and the working principle of the electro-hydraulic servo load system for one type of unpiloted airplane,a multithread host computer measure and control software based on the LabWindows/CVI and Windows API was designed,which was proved reliable and effective by practice.
Optimal parameters for CO2 laser reconstruction of urethral tissue using a protein solder.

Abstract This study was designed to determine the optimal laser parameters for welding urethral tissue and to develop further understanding of the welding process. A partial transection of the pendulous rat urethra was repaired using laser powers of 80, 120, and 160 milliwatts with shutter speeds of 50 milliseconds, 100 milliseconds, and in a continuous wave mode. Repairs were made using the laser alone and the laser plus a protein solder. Measurements of intraluminal bursting strength, percentage stricture and histology were performed. The highest bursting strength with the least amount of tissue damage was achieved using a power of 120 milliwatts with 100 milliseconds pulses and the addition of a protein solder. The average percentage stricture was lowest with the laser plus solder repair (4.2%) when compared to laser only repair (14%). Intraluminal bursting strength was similar in both types of repairs. Histology demonstrated marked changes in collagen organization after laser application in all models.
Pregnancy outcomes following Tompkins metroplasty

Eighteen patients with poor reproductive histories and 2 patients with primary infertility underwent Tompkins metroplasty for a septate uterus. There were 19 pregnancies within 2 years of surgery, and 11 patients had at least 1 viable pregnancy, for an overall success rate of 55%. One of the infertile patients conceived and delivered. The average fecundability rate for the first 24 months was 0.078 (normal, 0.20). The cumulative pregnancy rate at 27 months was 94% by the life-table method. The group of patients ( n = 14) with two or more losses and no other major risk factors for reproductive failure had higher fecundability and a better success rate (71%). The Tompkins metroplasty is a technically simple procedure with a success rate similar to that of the Jones procedure.
Induction of Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Europium by Amino Acid Based Ionic Liquids.

Materials that emit circularly polarized light have application in several important industries. Because they show large optical activity and emit sharp visible light transitions, europium complexes are often exploited in applications that require circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Chiral and coordinating ionic liquids based on prolinate, valinate, and aspartate anions are used to induce CPL from a simple achiral europium triflate salt. The sign of the induced CPL is dependent on the handedness (l vs d) of the amino acid anion. Comparison of the CPL spectra in ionic liquid with proline and valine vs aspartate shows that the number of carboxylate groups in the amino acid anion influences the europium coordination environment. DFT calculations predict a chiral eight-coordinate Eu(Pro)4– structure in the prolinate ionic liquid and a chiral seven- or eight-coordinate Eu(Asp)33– structure in the aspartate ionic liquid.
Cumulative Absolute Velocity as a Local Damage Indicator of Instrumented Structures

This paper addresses the critical issue of localized damage detection in structural health monitoring. It evaluates the application of cumulative absolute velocity (CAV) as a local damage indicator...
The Indoleamine Afferent Axons to the Cerebellum

This chapter will deal with the elucidation of the origins, course, synaptic connections, and cytology of a large system of axons from various sites in the brain stem to the cerebellar cortex and nuclei. The systems share a transmitter in common, the indoleamine serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). In attempts to learn about serotonin axons, an extensive series of experiments was executed including lengthy infusions of radioactive transmitter molecules into the ventricular system, local injections of radioactive transmitters into the cerebellum, and local injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In addition to light and electron microscopy on conventional material and autoradiograms, fluorescence microscopy for endogenous amines was also carried out. The results were corroborated by means of experiments with metabolic precursors of serotonin and with neurotoxic serotonin analogs.
Partnerships for Active Children in Elementary Schools: Outcomes of a 2-Year Pilot Study to Increase Physical Activity During the School Day.

Purpose:To evaluate the impact of the pilot study Partnerships for Active Children in Elementary Schools on the percentage of children achieving the Institute of Medicine guideline of 30 minutes of...
Mother Before “Time”: Pregnancy, Sexuality, and Oppression in Taslima Nasrin’s Getting Even

Motherhood, fertility, and sterility are some of the primary material conditions that significantly contribute to women’s embodied experiences in the Indian subcontinent. The socioeconomic and cult...
Solvent exchange in a metal–organic framework single crystal monitored by dynamic in situ X-ray diffraction

Understanding the processes by which porous solid-state materials adsorb and release guest molecules would represent a significant step towards developing rational design principles for functional porous materials. To elucidate the process of liquid exchange in these materials, dynamic in situ X-ray diffraction techniques have been developed which utilize liquid-phase chemical stimuli. Using these time-resolved diffraction techniques, the ethanol solvation process in a flexible metal–organic framework [Co(AIP)(bpy)0.5(H2O)]·2H2O was examined. The measurements provide important insight into the nature of the chemical transformation in this system including the presence of a previously unreported neat ethanol solvate structure.
FEM based modeling of tunable BAW resonators with Ba 0.8 Sr 0.2 TiO3

In this paper, a finite element method and multiphysics based 3D modeling of tunable ferroelectric thin film resonator taking the advantages of electrostrictive and piezoelectric effects of Ba 0.8 Sr 0.2 TiO 3 thin film. DC electrical field dependency of the dielectric permittivity and elasticity coefficients can control the resonances in the thin film. The resonator has a series resonant frequency of 4.33 GHz and parallel resonance at 4.43 GHz with applied DC voltage of 2 V. The electromechanical coupling coefficient is measured at 5.4% and increased to be 8% with the biasing voltage at 8V.
Long-Term Fragility of Y Chromosomes Is Dominated by Short-Term Resolution of Sexual Antagonism

The evolution of heteromorphic sex chromosomes has fascinated biologists, inspiring theoretical models, experimental studies, and studies of genome structure. This work has produced a clear model, in which heteromorphic sex chromosomes result from repeated fixations of inversions (or other recombination suppression mechanisms) that tether sexually antagonistic alleles to sex-determining regions, followed by the degeneration of these regions induced by the lack of sex chromosome recombination in the heterogametic sex. However, current models do not predict if inversions are expected to preferentially accumulate on one sex-chromosome or another, and do not address if inversions can accumulate even when they cause difficulties in pairing between heteromorphic chromosomes in the heterogametic sex increasing aneuploidy or meiotic arrest. To address these questions, we developed a population genetic model in which the sex chromosome aneuploidy rate is elevated when males carry an inversion on either the X or Y chromosome. We show that inversions fix more easily when male-beneficial alleles are dominant, and that inversions on the Y chromosome fix with lower selection coefficients than comparable X chromosome inversions. We further show that sex-chromosome inversions can often invade and fix despite causing a substantial increase in the risk of aneuploidy. As sexual antagonism can lead to the fixation of inversions that increase sex chromosomes aneuploidy (which underlies genetic diseases including Klinefelter and Turner syndrome in humans) selection could subsequently favor diverse mechanisms to reduce aneuploidy—including alternative meiotic mechanisms, translocations to, and fusions with, the sex chromosomes, and sex chromosome turnover.
Genesis of Strong Brønsted Acid Sites in WZr-KIT-6 Catalysts and Enhancement of Ethanol Dehydration Activity

Using a one-pot synthesis technique, tungsten and zirconium were simultaneously incorporated into an ordered mesoporous KIT-6 framework. A series of such materials, denoted WZr-KIT-6, were synthesized with W and Zr loadings ranging from 0 to 10 mol % each. At sufficiently high Zr loadings, ssNMR spectra of neat as well as pyridine-adsorbed catalyst confirm that the fresh WZr-KIT-6 materials exhibit both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites of high strength, resulting in correspondingly high ethylene yields during ethanol dehydration. Such yields surpass those observed on Wx-KIT-6 and Zry-KIT-6 materials with W and Zr loadings identical with those of WxZry-KIT-6. Interestingly, air regeneration of the spent WZr-KIT-6 catalyst further enhances ethanol dehydration activity, with ethylene yields approaching those reported with HZSM-5 and SAPO-34 catalysts under similar operating conditions. This enhancement correlates with ssNMR evidence of the formation of additional strong Bronsted acid sites following the regener...
Cellular Fabrication: Branch Technology, 2014–Present

Design Miami Entry Pavilions (Flotsam & Jetsam). Project designed in partnership with SHoP Architects for Design Miami/Art Basel 2016. Photo Credit: Robin Hill.Throughout the late 1930s and early 1...
Effects of Ion Resonance Tuned Magnetic Fields on N-18 Murine Neuroblastoma Cells

Numerous experiments by various laboratories have demonstrated that the effects of ELF magnetic fields on living systems may be dependent upon resonance effects. Bawin and Adey (1976) and Blackman, et. al. (1984) observed such responses for calcium efflux from chick brains. Dutta, et. al. (1984) saw similar effects in neuroblastoma cells. Liboff (1985) suggested that these effects might be due to cyclotron resonance effects on transmembrane movement of ions. Since then, the theory has been expanded and refined a number of times, and the interested reader is directed to one of the recent theoretical papers by Liboff and McLeod (e.g. 1988) for an analytical discussion. In sum, the theory states that transport will be affected if the combined ac and static magnetic fields satisfy the cyclotron resonance conditions for a particular ion as given by the formula: \(2\pi {{\rm{f}}_{\rm{c}}} = ({\rm{q}}/{\rm{m}})({\rm{B}})\), where; fc = fundamental resonance frequency in Hz q/m = charge (Coulombs) to mass (Kg) ratio of the ion B = static magnetic field (Tesla {1 T = 1 × 104 Gauss})
Control of Microorganisms of Public Health Concern in Water

The concept of microbial barriers in water supply and wastewater treatment involves a variety of processes other than disinfection. Many of these treatment processes have evolved from the enhancement of some factors associated with natural self-purification (sedimentation, aeration, nutrient limitations, water pH, etc.). Utilizing the multiple barrier concept in treatment of wastes before discharge to receiving waters and the further refinement possible by natural self-purification processes in the stream are beneficial in optimizing the quality of this raw water resource prior to further processing into drinking water supplies. A flow diagram based on typical percent removals in various treatment processes illustrates how water contaminated with fecal wastes can be improved in quality to protect downstream users from microbial hazards.
Design of a soft robophysical earthworm model

Soft-bodied organisms accomplish their locomotor tasks in complex environments based primarily on changes in the dimensions of their body segments. Inspired by the morphology and behavior of the earthworm, we designed a multi-segmented soft worm robot and tested its performance experimentally through three locomotion tests: forward/backward motion, turning motion and sideways motion on a hard surface.
The role of educational factors in the development of lexical splits

Abstract While variationist literature on sound change has mostly focused on chain shifts and mergers, much less is written about splits (Labov, 1994, 2010). Previous literature shows that the acquisition of splits is unlikely unless motivated by social factors (Labov, 1994). The current study presents an apparent time analysis on the development of two phonemic splits, the initial /s/-/ʂ/ contrast and the initial /ɻ/-/l/ contrast, in Xiamen Mandarin, a contact variety of Putonghua, the official language in China. Statistical results showed similar patterns for both variables: younger speakers and female speakers are leading the change; the distinction between two phonemes are more distinct in wordlist than in the sociolinguistic interview. By examining the sociolinguistic situation in Xiamen, the paper discusses two potential factors that have led to these sound changes: the regional campaign for Putonghua and the emphasis of Pinyin, a phonetically-based orthography, in the education system.
Percutaneous epicardial cryoablation of idiopathic premature ventricular contractions near the left anterior descending artery

Idiopathic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) occur in structurally normal hearts and can be treated by ablation. Although most PVCs are ablated via an endocardial approach, some may have an epicardial origin which may require ablation via the coronary venous system or using a pericardial
Redirecting Malware’s Target Selection with Decoy Processes

Honeypots attained the highest accuracy in detecting malware among all proposed anti-malware approaches. Their strength lies in the fact that they have no activity of their own, therefore any system or network activity on a honeypot is unequivocally detected as malicious. We found that the very strength of honeypots can be turned into their main weakness, namely the absence of activity can be leveraged to easily detect a honeypot. To that end, we describe a practical approach that uses live performance counters to detect a honeypot, as well as decoy I/O on machines in production. To counter this weakness, we designed and implemented the existence of decoy processes through operating system (OS) techniques that make safe interventions in the OS kernel. We also explored deep learning to characterize and build the performance fingerprint of a real process, which is then used to support its decoy counterpart against active probes by malware. We validated the effectiveness of decoy processes as integrated with a decoy Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) server, and thus discuss our findings in the paper.
From the Vaults: Teenyboppers, Groupies, and Other Grotesques: Girls and Women and Rock Culture in the 1960s and early 1970s

I like to boast that the first record I ever bought was the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” single on the Apple label. Or, I tell the story about the Christmas of 1969, when my mother, nervous about opening Pandora’s box (which, as it turned out, she should have been), and annoyed by a sulking daughter
Success Anxiety in Women: A Constructivist Interpretation of Its Source and Its Significance.

Georgia Sassen examines the distinctly competitive definition of success which has fostered the popular notion that women are afraid to succeed. In analyzing women's anxiety in the face of competitive success, Sassen argues that recent research reveals that it is the climate of competition which arouses the anxiety, not success itself. Drawing upon a constructivist-developmental concept of anxiety, she points out that the "success anxiety" attributed to women might well be a reflection of their essentially female way of constructing reality, as elaborated in recent feminist theory. Sassen concludes by questioning the idea of removing women's success anxiety by training them to compete; she calls instead for a restructuring of institutions so that competition is not the only avenue to success.
Case-based discussions in onco-nephrology:

Onco-nephrology encompasses a wide range of complex problems including nephrotoxicity from traditional chemotherapy and targeted therapies, paraneoplastic kidney diseases, tumor- or treatment-relat...
Electrically Conductive 3D Metal-Organic Framework Featuring π-Acidic Hexaazatriphenylene Hexacarbonitrile Ligands with Anion-π Interaction and Efficient Charge-Transport Capabilities.

Semiconducting metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) show great potential to foster myriad advanced electronics and energy technologies, but they must possess adequate charge-carrier concentration and ef...
Probabilistically correct secure arithmetic computation for modular conversion, zero test, comparison, MOD and exponentiation

When secure arithmetic is required, computation based on secure multiplication (MULT) is much more efficient than computation based on secure Boolean circuits. However, a typical application may also require other building blocks, such as comparison, exponentiation and the modulo (MOD) operation. Secure solutions for these functions proposed in the literature rely on bit-decomposition or other bit-oriented methods, which require O(l) MULTs for l-bit inputs. In the absence of a known bit-length independent solution, the complexity of the whole computation is often dominated by these non-arithmetic functions. In this paper, we resolve the above problem for the case of two-party protocols against a malicious adversary. We start with a general modular conversion, which converts secret shares over distinct moduli. For this, we propose a probabilistically correct protocol with a complexity that is independent of l. Then, we show that when these non-arithmetic functions are based on secure modular conversions, they can be computed in constant rounds and O(k) MULTs, where k is a parameter with an error rate of 2−Ω(k).
The anion exchanger PAT-1 (Slc26a6) does not participate in oxalate or chloride transport by mouse large intestine

The membrane-bound transport proteins responsible for oxalate secretion across the large intestine remain unidentified. The apical chloride/bicarbonate (Cl-/HCO3-) exchanger encoded by Slc26a6, known as PAT-1 (putative anion transporter 1), is a potential candidate. In the small intestine, PAT-1 makes a major contribution to oxalate secretion but whether this role extends into the large intestine has not been directly tested. Using the PAT-1 knockout (KO) mouse, we compared the unidirectional absorptive ([Formula: see text]) and secretory ([Formula: see text]) flux of oxalate and Cl- across cecum, proximal colon, and distal colon from wild-type (WT) and KO mice in vitro. We also utilized the non-specific inhibitor DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid) to confirm a role for PAT-1 in WT large intestine and (in KO tissues) highlight any other apical anion exchangers involved. Under symmetrical, short-circuit conditions the cecum and proximal colon did not transport oxalate on a net basis, whereas the distal colon supported net secretion. We found no evidence for the participation of PAT-1, or indeed any other DIDS-sensitive transport mechanism, in oxalate or Cl- by the large intestine. Most unexpectedly, mucosal DIDS concurrently stimulated [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] by 25-68% across each segment without impacting net transport. For the colon, these changes were directly proportional to increased transepithelial conductance suggesting this response was the result of bidirectional paracellular flux. In conclusion, PAT-1 does not contribute to oxalate or Cl- transport by the large intestine, and we urge caution when using DIDS with mouse colonic epithelium.
Dynamics of U.S. State Cigarette Consumption: Evidence from Panel Error Correction Modeling

This study uses state-level data for nearly four decades to study the dynamic demand for cigarettes, focusing especially on the long-run equilibrium relationship between cigarette consumption and its determinants as well as the short-run and long-run causal dynamics. We find the presence of cointegration with the long-run equilibrium, indicating the price elasticity of cigarette demand to be negative and inelastic, the income elasticity is positive and the border smuggling effects are significant, with substantial variations across individual states. Of the various smoking control policies considered, questions remain as to the effectiveness of aggregate anti-smoking initiatives that treat all states alike. Furthermore, the causal dynamics reveal bi-directional causality between cigarette consumption and its determinants. Some policy implications are discussed.
Selbstverständnis, Organisation, Machtmißbrauch: Porträt der lateinamerikanischen Polizei

Die lateinamerikanische Polizei ist eine kaum erforschte Institution1. Dies erklart sich u.a. aus den politischen Verhaltnissen in zahlreichen Staaten des Subkontinents. Wahrend der Phase der Militardiktaturen, d.h. in den 60er, 70er und fruhen 80er Jahren, galt die allgemeine Aufmerksamkeit den Streitkraften. Die polizeilichen Sicherheitsdienste ruckten nur gelegentlich, in ihrer Rolle als Helfershelfer militarischer Repressionsmasnahmen, starker ins Blickfeld. Mit dem Ruckzug der Generale von den Schalthebeln politischer Macht hat sich diese Situation geandert. Der Ubergang zu demokratischen Regierungsformen hat ein nachlassendes politisches und wissenschaftliches Interesse an den Streitkraften mit sich gebracht, verbunden mit einer vermehrten Beachtung der den hoheitlichen Zwang im Alltag verkorpernden Polizei.
Preparation of (S)-3,3'-Bis-morpholinomethyl-5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol

Paraformaldehyde Morpholine Morpholinomethanol (S)-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-Octahydro-1,1′bi-2-napthol [(S)-H8BIBOL] (S)-3,3′-Bismorpholinomethyl 5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol Keywords: 1,1-Bi-2-napthol derivatives; asymmetric catalysis; BINOL; diaryl zinc addition; aldehydes; alkyne addition; waste disposal
Binding of dyes to polycations. 3. Characterization of histone fractions by their interaction with anionic dyes.

Abstract Histone, nucleohistone and four histone fractions were titrated spectrophotometrically with Biebrich scarlet and spectrophotofluorometrically with tetraphenylporphinesulfonate. Histone and histone fractions showed essentially similar results under all conditions. Calculated dye polymer interaction parameters were not significantly different. It is concluded that certain features of tertiary and secondary structure are equivalent in these preparations. Results with nucleohistone indicate the complete unavailability of cationic binding sites for interaction with the dyes.
Expecting the unexpected: Fast and reliable detection of missing RFID tags in the wild

RFID systems have been deployed to detect missing products by affixing them with cheap passive RFID tags and monitoring them with RFID readers. Existing missing tag detection protocols require the tag population to contain only those tags whose IDs are already known to the reader. However, in reality, tag populations often contain tags with unknown IDs, called unexpected tags, and cause unexpected false positives i.e., due to them, missing tags are detected as present. We take the first step towards addressing the problem of detecting the missing tags from a population that contains unexpected tags. Our protocol, RUN, mitigates the adverse effects of unexpected false positives by executing multiple frames with different seeds. It minimizes the missing tag detection time by first estimating the number of unexpected tags and then using it along with the false positive probability to obtain optimal frame sizes and number of times Aloha frames should be executed. RUN works with multiple readers with overlapping regions. It is easy to deploy because it is implemented on readers as a software module and does not require modifications to tags or to the communication protocol between tags and readers. We implemented RUN along with four major missing tag detection protocols and the fastest tag ID collection protocol and compared them side-by-side. Our experimental results show that RUN always achieves the required reliability whereas the best existing protocol achieves a maximum reliability of only 67%.
Testing 3G mobile network infrastructures

This paper discusses requirements and solutions for testing today's early 3G UMTS networks and provides an outlook for the challenges of the years to come.
Ethnicity as a mediator of pharmacists' labour supply

Objective Explore the extent to which ethnic identification is associated with the way in which pharmacists respond to determinants of the number of hours worked (i.e. labour supplied). Methods Separate labour supply functions were estimated for non-Hispanic white, black and Hispanic pharmacists in South Florida. The labour supply determinants included in the equations were the wage rate, human capital variables (age, academic degree, gender and number of children) and job-related preferences (practice site, satisfaction with the profession, workload, stress, advancement opportunities and flexibility). Key findings The empirical results showed that all coefficients in the non-Hispanic white equations were statistically significant, but several coefficients in the black and Hispanic equations lacked significance. Even in those instances in which the coefficients were significant for one or both minority groups, cultural differences were manifested in the direction and/or magnitude of impact of the covariates. Conclusions The findings suggest that minorities in the pharmacist workforce may deviate from dominant standards established by the nonminority group. The labour supply behaviour of minorities seemed to be associated with institutional factors that hinder the observed effects of the wage rate from conforming to expectations.
Multiple paternity in a salamander with socially monogamous behaviour

In the majority of birds and mammals, social monogamy is not congruent with genetic monogamy. No research to date has compared social and genetic monogamy in amphibians. We analysed paternity in clutches of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), a species in which social monogamy has been demonstrated in the laboratory, and 28% of individuals in the forest are found in male-female pairs in the noncourtship season. We collected 16 clutches of eggs of P. cinereus in the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and collected tail clippings from attending mothers. We genotyped embryos and adults at five microsatellite loci in order to analyse paternity of clutches. Most clutches (84.6%) had multiple sires, with two to three sires per clutch. In this study, 25% of clutches had males in addition to females attending eggs. None of the mothers of these clutches were genetically monogamous. All attending males sired some of the offspring in the clutch that they attended (between 9% and 50%) but never sired a majority in that clutch. We conclude that, at least in this population, social monogamy in P. cinereus is not concomitant with genetic monogamy.
Rapid kinetics of G protein subunit association: A rate-limiting conformational change?

G protein subunit association and dissociation are thought to play an important role in signal transduction. We measured a@7 heterocom- plex formation using resonance energy transfer. Fluorescein-labelled @F-a) emission was quenched _ 10% on mixing with eosin-labelled /37(E$7). Unlabelled b7 did not quench F-a fluorescence. Stopped-flow kinetics showed a t In ranging from 2.5 s to 0.25 s for 50 nM to 1200 nM E-jI7. The rate saturated at high E-p7 concentrations consistent with a two-step mechanism. We report the first rapid-mix studies of G protein subunit association kinetics which suggest that a and /I7 combine by a two-step process with a maximal rate of 4.1 + 0.4 s-'.
A note on the maximal coefficients of squares of Newman polynomials

Abstract In a recent paper [G. Yu, An upper bound for B 2 [ g ] sets, J. Number Theory 122 (1) (2007) 211–220] Gang Yu stated the following conjecture: Let { p i } i = 1 ∞ be an arbitrary sequence of polynomials with increasing degrees and all coefficients in { 0 , 1 } . If we denote by ( # p i ) the number of non-zero coefficients of p i , and let M ( p i 2 ) be the maximal coefficient of p i 2 , then (∗) Q : = lim inf i → ∞ deg ( p i ) M ( p i 2 ) ( # p i ) 2 ⩾ 1 , as long as ( # p i ) = o ( deg p i ) , as i → ∞ . We give an explicit example that shows why this last condition is necessary, and we investigate some open questions it suggests.
Dendritic spine density of NADPH diaphorase reactive neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat

Abstract The density of spines has been calculated over the processes of NADPH diaphorase reactive neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat. Quantitative data indicate that diaphorase reactive dendrites ranged from being virtually aspiny to possessing moderate numbers of spine (0.66 ± 0.23 spines/μm; mean ± S.D.). The size and shape of dendritic spines varied from long thin ‘drum sticks’ (the most frequent type) to short stubby protrusions.
Tectonic environments of ancient civilizations in the eastern hemisphere

The map distribution of ancient civilizations shows a remarkable correspondence with tectonic boundaries related to the southern margin of the Eurasian plate. Quantification of this observation shows that the association is indeed significant, and both historical records and archaeoseismological work show that these civilizations commonly suffered earthquake damage. Close association of ancient civilizations with tectonic activity seems to be a pattern of some kind. In the hope that dividing the civilizations into subsets might clarify the meaning of this relation, primary and derivative civilizations were compared. Derivative civilizations prove to be far more closely related to the tectonic boundaries. Similarly, the civilizations that endured the longest (and that have been described as most static) are systematically the farthest from plate boundaries. It is still unclear how the relation actually worked in ancient cultures, i.e., what aspects of tectonism promoted complexity. Linkages to water and other resources, trade (broadly construed), and societal response seem likely. Volcanism appears not to be involved. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Computational study of ion distributions at the air/liquid methanol interface.

Molecular dynamic simulations with polarizable potentials were performed to systematically investigate the distribution of NaCl, NaBr, NaI, and SrCl2 at the air/liquid methanol interface. The density profiles indicated that there is no substantial enhancement of anions at the interface for the NaX systems, in contrast to what was observed at the air/aqueous interface. The surfactant-like shape of the larger more polarizable halide anions, which is part of the reason they are driven to air/aqueous interfaces, was compensated by the surfactant nature of methanol itself. These halide anions had on average an induced dipole of moderate magnitude in bulk methanol. As a consequence, methanol hydroxy groups donated hydrogen bonds to anions where the negatively charged side of the anion induced dipole pointed, and methyl groups interacted with anions where the positively charged side of the anion-induced dipole pointed. Furthermore, salts were found to disrupt the surface structure of methanol. For the neat air/l...
Common knowledge, communication, and convergence of beliefs

Abstract A conceptual framework is established for the analysis of common knowledge and communication when information structures are represented by sigma-algebras instead of partitions. It involves construction of Boolean sigma-algebras of ‘generalized events’, events which are identified only up to addition or subtraction of null sets. If all agents' posterior expectations of a random variable are common knowledge, then they are almost surely identical. If the posterior expectations are communicated back and forth, then they converge almost surely to a consensus expectation. If the posterior distributions of a random variable are communicated back and forth, then they will almost surely converge weakly to a consensus distribution.
Premature Ejaculation Revisited—2005:

Although premature ejaculation is an ancient, not uncommon sexual problem, an acceptable definition remains controversial. Although highly treatable, the symptom has been clinically neglected; the patient is usually medically checked, has a rectal examination, and is told he is normal without further direction. Education, guidance, and support can significantly lessen the patient’s performance anxiety and prevent erectile dysfunction and loss of desire, which are known to follow the symptom. In resistant cases, there are now effective medications, as discussed.
Modification of Chromatin Structure by the Thyroid Hormone Receptor

Pioneering experiments and recent observations have established the thyroid hormone receptor as a master manipulator of the chromosomal environment in targeting the activation and repression of transcription. Here we review how the thyroid hormone receptor is assembled into chromatin, where in the absence of thyroid hormone the receptor recruits histone deacetylase to silence transcription. On addition of hormone, the receptor undergoes a conformational change that leads to the release of deacetylase, while facilitating the recruitment of transcriptional coactivators that act as histone acetyltransferases. We discuss the biological importance of these observations for gene control by the thyroid hormone receptor and for oncogenic transformation by the mutated thyroid hormone receptor, v-ErbA.
Does the amount of thyroglobulin antigen influence the severity and genetic control of murine autoimmune thyroiditis

Abstract The development of murine autoimmune thyroiditis, induced by immunization with thyroglobulin emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant, is controlled by the H -2 region; there are high and low responder strains of mice with respect to their response to immunization with thyroglobulin. Various amounts of thyroglobulin (5–500 μg) were used to immunize low (DBA/2 and C57BL/6) and high (AKR) responder mice to observe the possible role of different thyroglobulin epitopes (or of their density) on the development of thyroiditis, to determine whether the H -2 control is observed for various amounts of antigen, and to find the optimum amount of thyroglobulin which best shows the genetic control of this disease. The H -2 control of autoimmune murine thyroiditis was clearly observed regardless of the dose of antigen used for immunization. Small amounts of thyroglobulin elicited low titers of thyroglobulin antibodies in low responders and higher titers in high responders. In all strains tested, the highest amount of thyroglobulin (500 μg) induced less thyroid damage than an intermediate (100 or 200 μg) amount of this antigen.
Urban Regimes in Comparative Perspective: The Politics of Urban Development in Britain

Until now urban regime analysts focused almost entirely on cities in the United States. In this article the authors broaden the definition of urban regimes to fit the British urban experience, then seek to trace the formation of regimes in Birmingham and Bristol during the 1980s. The formulation and implementation of specific economic development strategies and policies for each of these two cases is detailed, and finally, an evaluation of regime capacity for each is explored.
Antimicrobial Activity and Functionality of Reduced Sodium Chloride and Potassium Sorbate in Uncured Poultry Products

Uncured turkey and chicken breast meat products, formulated with NaCl (0.65 and 1.30%) and potassium sorbate (0 and 0.26%), were tested for antimicrobial activity and functional properties. The chopped products were inoculated (Clostridium sporogenes, 10/g) in cans and in packages and abused at 20°C. Microbial growth and gas production were rapid at both NaCl levels tested. Inclusion of potassium sorbate in the formulation delayed initiation and rate of microbial growth and gas production. Potassium sorbate also reduced (P<0.05) weight losses during cooking of the low NaCl turkey product. Rates of gas production were similar in canned and vacuum packaged products. Differences in microbial growth and gas production between chicken and turkey products were minor.
Modeling neuronal nicotinic and GABA receptors: important interface salt-links and protein dynamics.

Protein motions in the Cys-loop ligand-gated ion receptors that govern the gating mechanism are still not well understood. The details as to how motions in the ligand-binding domain are translated to the transmembrane domain and how subunit rotations are linked to bring about the cooperative movements involved in gating are under investigation. Homology models of the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) and β2α1γ2 GABA receptors were constructed based on the torpedo neuromuscular-like nicotinic receptor structure. The template constructed for the full electron microscopy structure must be considered more reliable for structure-function studies due to the preservation of the E45–R209 salt-link. Many other salt-links are seen to transiently form, including switching off of the E45–R209 link, within a network of potential salt-links at the binding domain to the transmembrane domain interface region. Several potentially important intersubunit salt-links form in both the nAChR and GABAR structures during the simulation and appear conserved across many subunit combinations, such as the salt-link between α4.E262 and β2.K255 in nAChR (β2.E262 and α1.K263 in GABAR), at the top of the pore-lining M2 helices, and the intersubunit link of R210 on the M1-linker to E168 on the β8-sheet of the adjacent subunit in the GABA receptor (E175–K46 being the structurally equivalent link in the nAChR, with reversed polarity). A network of other salt-links may be vital for transmitting the cooperative gating motions between subunits that become biased upon ligand binding. The changes seen in the simulations suggest that this network of salt-links helps to set limits and specific states for the conformational changes involved in gating of the receptor. We hope that these hypotheses will be tested experimentally in the near future.
Decay of gamma particles in germinating zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii.

The breakdown and disappearance of γ particles was followed by electron microscopy on synchronously germinating populations of B. emersonii zoospores. The sequence of morphological changes, unaffected by the method used to induce germination, was divided into four stages. Initially, the γ particle's surrounding unit membrane becomes amorphous and buds off vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane. Simultaneously, ca. 80 mμ vesicles are visible either partially embedded in, or lying free along, the inner surface of the electron dense matrix. These small vesicles seem to originate from a newly detected membrane system in the electron dense γ matrix. In the next stage, γ particles characteristically adhere to various organelles, especially the nuclear cap. In subsequent stages the γ particles continue to decay by releasing 80 mμ vesicles from their matrices and by budding off vesicles from their surrounding membranes. Often, multivesicular bodies are formed when the 80 mμ vesicles become enclosed by the γ particle's budding outer membrane. In the final stage, the surrounding membranes of the different particles fuse and produce large vacuoles containing many of the electron dense matrices which, though by now partially fragmented, continue to release 80 mμ vesicles. The relationship of the above events to the formation of the cell wall is discussed.
A MECHANICAL MODEL FOR POST‐MORTEM STRIATED MUSCLE

. A mechanical model for post-mortem striated muscle is proposed. It is based on a combination of a 4-element viscoelastic model with either the Voigt or the Maxwell muscle models. Its applicability was verified by making stress relaxation tests on quadricep muscles from white male rats. The tests were conducted on an Instron Universal Testing Machine equipped with an environmental chamber allowing the specimen to be submerged in Krebs-Ringer solution and maintained at a constant temperature of 38°C.
Black box multigrid for systems

This paper extends to systems the black box multigrid method, in which one provides a (logically rectangular) matrix problem and in which the coarser problems necessary to achieve a multigrid solution are automatically derived. The extension is straightforward if the components of the vector solution of the system are defined at the same grid locations. Otherwise, as in the case of staggered grids, the situation is less satisfactory.