cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-performance liquid chromatographic separation and quantitation of cyanide as the dicyanobis(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) complex

Abstract The separation and quantitation of cyanide at trace levels by high-performance liquid chromatography as the dicyanobis(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) complex is described. Cyanide is determined in the 10–200 ppm range using photometric detection at 548 nm and down to 0.10 ppm using photometric detection at 262 nm or with electrochemical detection. The effect of various experimental variables on the quantitative formation of the dicyano complex is described.
Countergradient variation in locomotor performance of two sympatric Polynesian skinks (Emoia impar, Emoia cyanura).

AbstractPhysiological function in ectotherms is tightly linked to body temperature. As a result, the thermal sensitivity of physiological function may evolve to optimize fitness across different thermal environments. One hypothesis for the evolution of thermal sensitivity, coadaptation, predicts that optimal temperatures for performance should evolve to match the temperatures that an organism experiences in nature. Another hypothesis, countergradient variation, posits that genetic variation can compensate for decreased performance in cool environments, leading to physiological phenotypes that do not track environmental temperatures. On Mo’orea, French Polynesia, thermal ecology and physiology were studied in two morphologically similar skinks that differ in habitat use. Previous studies show that Emoia impar tends to inhabit closed-canopy and interior habitats that are cooler compared to those inhabited by Emoia cyanura, but these differences had not been quantified on Mo’orea. The goal of this study was ...
Proslavery and Antislavery Politics in Rhode Island's 1842 Dorr Rebellion

Bringing race back into the history of the Dorr Rebellion, this article, grounded in deep archival research, demonstrates that Providence attorney Thomas Wilson Dorr's attempt at extralegal reform ...
Interrelationships between water and metabolism in Artemia cysts—III. Respiration

Abstract 1. The initiation of respiration in hydrating and prehydrated cysts of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina has been examined by manometric and polarographic methods. 2. No oxygen consumption was detected by either method below cyst-hydration levels of 0·45 g H2O/g CaSO4-dried cysts, whereas above 0·65 g/g cysts an active respiration was apparent. 3. The hydration level required for the onset of respiration most likely occurs within the range of 0·5–0·6 g/g cysts.
Adsorption of CO and C2H4 on Rh-loaded thin-film dysprosium oxide

Abstract A dysprosium oxide thin film was deposited on Ru(0 0 0 1) by vapor depositing Dy in 2 × 10−7 torr O2 while the Ru was at 700 K. The film was ca. 5 nm thick and produced a p(1.4 × 1.4) LEED pattern relative to the Ru(0 0 0 1) substrate. The adsorption and reaction of CO and C2H4 adsorbed on Rh supported on the Dy2O3 film were studied by TPD and SXPS. The CO initially reacted with loosely bound oxygen in the substrate to produce CO2. After the loosely bound oxygen was removed, the CO adsorbed non-dissociatively in a manner similar to what is seen on Rh(1 1 1). C2H4 adsorbed on the Rh particles and underwent progressive dehydrogenation to produce H2 during TPD. The C from the C2H4 reacted with the O in Dy2O3 to produce CO. CO dissociation on the Rh particles could be promoted by treating the Dy2O3 with C2H4 before CO exposure.
Ethnomedical Beliefs, Health Education, and Malaria Eradication in Ethiopia

It has been widely recognized that worldwide efforts to eradicate malaria have generally failed because they were largely based on biotechnological interventions while neglecting the human factor. WHO's Primary Health Care orientation emphasized the importance of situating disease eradication programs within the context of the medical beliefs, values, and needs of the target community. This study presents the results of a survey conducted in a rural Southern Ethiopian community on malaria-related beliefs and practices. The findings show that ethnomedical beliefs prevailed in the causational conceptualization of the disease. The majority of the respondents failed to acknowledge the Anopheline mosquitoes as a potential source of ill-health. This lack of vector awareness is discussed in relation to the need for community health education programs. Various organizational and infrastructural innovations introduced by the 1974 Ethiopian Socialist Revolution could be successfully utilized to disseminate basic me...
Kinetic Controls on Cu and Pb Sorption by Ferrihydrite

Metal partitioning in ferrihydrite suspensions may reach equilibrium only after a long reaction time. To determine key factors controlling the kinetics, we measured Cu and Pb uptake as a function of ferrihydrite morphology, reaction temperature, metal competition, and fulvic acid concentration over a period of 2 months. X-ray microscopy, which was used to probe ferrihydrite morphology in suspension, showed that drying irreversibly converted the gellike structure of fresh precipitate into dense aggregates. These dense aggregates sorbed Cu and Pb much slower than the gel. Temperature had a more pronounced effect on the kinetics of metal uptake by ferrihydrite gel than by dense ferrihydrite. Independently of treatment and time, Cu and Pb were bound to the ferrihydrite surface by formation of edge-sharing inner-sphere sorption complexes as confirmed by X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. This invariable binding mechanism, together with the observed effects of morphology and temperature, are i...
Polymeric nanoparticles as immunomodulatory vaccine adjuvants for atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis, defined as the buildup of lipid-rich plaques in arterial walls, is triggered by a low-level immune response to oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL). Current strategies target the hepatic synthesis of LDL and lack the ability to actually treat the cause of the disease, which is the body's response to the oxLDL. In this study, we have identifiied a new class of nanoparticle- (NP) based vaccine adjuvants capable of modulating the body's immune response. The degree of NP internalization and its effect on surface expression of several key markers in immune modulation, CD40, CD86, CD80, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ, were evaluated in primary human dendritic cells (DCs). The results suggest that M 12 PEG, T L 12 PEG, T D 12 PEG, and T Meso 12 PEG were the most successful NP formulations at modulating a non-specific immune response (adjuvant capacity) in dendritic cells. These studies provide a promising strategy for the design and development of amphiphilic NP adjuvants for potential use as an atherosclerosis vaccine.
Non-Eckersley-law Whistlers observed at Equatorial Latitudes with Satellite Injun 3

THIS communication reports two new whistlers discovered in the very-low-frequency radio noise data from Injun 3 satellite. This satellite carried a very-low-frequency receiver with a magnetic loop antenna oriented so as to detect the component of the wave magnetic field which is propagating perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. The pass band of the very-low-frequency receiver was about 0.5–7 kc/s. Altitudes ranging from 237 km to 2,785 km are covered by the Injun 3 very-low-frequency data.
An assessment of carburization-decarburizatton behaviour of Fe-9Cr-Mo steels in a sodium environment

Abstract A critical assessment is made of the carburization-decarburization kinetics of Fe-9Cr-Mo steels exposed to a sodium environment, using the available information on carbide phase morphology, chromium activity in a ferrite matrix, chromium carbide activity in mixed carbides, carbon solubility in Cr-Mo ferritic steels, and activity-concentration relationships based on α-phase/M 6 C or M 23 C 6 carbide equilibrium. Experimental data are presented on the decarburization of Fe-5Cr-Mo and Fe-9Cr-Mo steels at 973 K in a sodium environment to ascertain the long-term behaviour of these steels. The analysis shows that the decarburization of ferritic steels is largely dependent on the chemical reaction at the carbide/α interface and that at carbon activities 6 C carbides.
The homing ability of the neotropical bat Phyllostomus hastatus, with evidence for visual orientation

Summary o 1. The neotropical bat Phyllostomus hastatus studied in Trinidad, West Indies, showed a superior homing performance to any previously reported for bats of temperate latitudes. In one night 94 per cent of seventy-four returned from 3 to 6 miles, 57 per cent of 257 from 7 to 21 miles, and 26 per cent of 112 at 25–33 miles. None of fifty returned the first night from 39 to 40 miles, but 12 per cent were observed over the next several days. 2. On one occasion two out of five bats returned from 6 miles within 1 hr and after some releases at 15–20 miles 40 per cent of the bats returned within 3–4 hr. The homing performance was not significantly affected by intervening mountains of 2000–3000 ft or by up to 10 miles of open water. Bats released 1 mile apart homed as well or better than those released in groups. 3. Blindfolded P. hastatus flew normally and appeared to live normal lives for several days. From distances of 5–8 miles a considerable number of blindfolded bats homed during the first night. The data do not suffice to demonstrate whether or not there was a significant difference in homing performance from these distances between blindfolded bats and controls equipped with goggles similar to the blindfolds except for clear plastic windows over the eyes. But at 15 to 20 miles none of thirty-six blindfolded bats returned in one night with their eyes effectively covered, even though half those equipped with goggles did so. 4. It thus seems likely that within familiar territory these bats can find their way without the need for vision, but that at 15–20 miles they are severely handicapped if deprived of visual orientation. One simple explanation would be use of the northern range of mountains for visual piloting.
Titanium Nanosurface Modification by Anodization for Orthopedic Applications

Titanium is broadly used in orthopedic and dental applications mainly because of its optimal mechanical properties in load-bearing applications. However, insufficient new bone formation is frequently observed on titanium which sometimes leads to implant loosening and failure. For this reason, the objective of the present in vitro study was to modify the surface of conventional titanium to include nanostructured surface features that promote the functions of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells). This study focused on creating nanostructured titanium surfaces since bone itself has a large degree of nanostructured roughness that bone cells are accustomed to interacting with. In this study, the surface of titanium was modified by anodic oxidation techniques. The electrolyte used for anodization was hydrofluoric acid. Depending on acid concentration and anodization time, two kinds of different nano-architectures, either particulate or tube-like structures, were formed on the titanium surface. X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the titanium oxide formed on the surface of titanium was amorphous. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the surface morphology. Cell adhesion studies showed that the anodized nanostructured titanium surface promoted osteoblast adhesion compared to non-anodized titanium. This result indicated that anodization may be a simple method to modify the surface of titanium implants to enhance bone-forming cell function thereby increasing orthopedic implant efficacy.
Intelligence Tests and School Psychology: Predicting the Future by Studying the Past.

The best way to try to predict the future of IQ testing for school psychologists is to explore the past, in this case a colorful past that extends back to the 19th century, to visionaries such as Esquirol, Seguin, Galton, and Binet. From the very beginning, issues concerning schools and practitioners were the guiding forces in shaping the development and use of IQ tests. Wechsler's impact was far more than the tests he developed, as this master practitioner and clinician introduced the clinical approach to intellectual assessment. Throughout its history IQ tests have been at the center of controversy, and that role continues to the present. The future of IQ testing for school psychology probably rests on the resolution of these controversies as well as on the ultimate interface of clinical assessment and computer technology. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Uniform asymptotic expansions of solutions of an inhomogeneous equation

Abstract We treat a class of equations given by e 2 u ″ ( x ) = u ( x ) ( q ( x , e ) − u ( x ) ) , u ( − 1 ) = α − , u ( 1 ) = α + , and obtain rigorous uniform asymptotic expansions of the solutions as e → 0 . A key tool is a new formula of variation of constants that works for such quadratic equations. Included are solutions with one or more spikes. One example of this class of problems is a famous problem studied by Carrier and discussed formally by Bender and Orszag in the book “Advanced Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers”. In this paper we give the first rigorous derivation for the well-known asymptotics for that problem. Another more applied example is also covered by our theory.
A comparison of the beta-blocking activities of practolol, sotalol, and propranolol in human and guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle

Abstract Beta adrenergic blockade was studied in vitro with hitman tracheal muscle strips and guinea pig tracheal chains. It was shown in isolated smooth muscle from both man and guinea pig that the order of potency for the three beta-blocking agents studied was: propranolol > sotalol > practolol. Under the conditions of this study, propranolol was about 30,000 times and sotalol about 30 times as potent as practolol. The order of potency suggests that the nature of adrenergic blockade induced by practolol on tracheal smooth muscle is only weakly beta 2 -relative to the blocking effects of propranolol and sotalol. Beta adrenergic blockade by propranolol, sotalol, and practolol produced different degrees of increased histamine lethality in mice. Whereas both propranolol at 0.01 mg/kg and sotalol at 1.0 mg/kg resulted in 100% histamine-induced lethality, practolol at 50 mg/kg resulted in only 50% histamine-induced lethality. These data, when added to those from our previous studies, suggest that the mechanisms responsible for resistance to the effects of histamine in untreated mice are at least partially mediated by the beta 2 -adrenergic system. Thus, in three different tissues, the blocking activity of practolol was shown to be less than that of sotalol or propranolol.
Efficacy and complications of argon plasma coagulation for hematochezia related to radiation proctopathy

Abstract Background: Endoscopic treatments effectively control bleeding caused by radiation proctopathy. The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy and side effects of argon plasma coagulation in the treatment of this type of bleeding. Methods: Records of 21 consecutive patients in whom argon plasma coagulation was used to treat hemorrhagic radiation proctopathy were reviewed. Results: Pharmacologic measures had been unsuccessful in 12 patients. Endoscopic treatment had been unsuccessful in 5 patients. All patients were anemic and 4 had received blood transfusions. The mean number of treatment sessions was 1.7, and 10 patients were successfully treated in single session. Rectal bleeding resolved within 1 month of the last treatment in 19 patients, usually on the day of the last procedure. Bleeding resolved 2 months after cessation of therapy in another patient. Short-term side effects occurred in 3 (14%) patients (rectal pain, tenesmus, and/or abdominal distention); long-term complications (rectal pain, tenesmus, diarrhea) developed in 4 patients (19%). Conclusions: Hematochezia caused by radiation proctopathy is effectively controlled by argon plasma coagulation, in some cases after a single treatment session. Treatment may result in protracted bowel symptoms. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:70-4.)
Ultrastructural ontogeny of leaf cavity trichomes in Azolla implies a functional role in metabolite exchange

Anabaena azollae is associated with two types of multicellular epidermal trichomes inAzolla leaf cavities, the simple and branched hairs. The observation of transfer cell ultrastructure in some hair cells led to speculation that the cavity hairs might participate in metabolite exchange between the symbionts. The developmental ontogeny of cavity trichomes is described here, using transmission electron microscopy, with a goal of improving our understanding of possible functions of these structures in the symbiosis. The observations have established that all cells of simple and branched hairs develop the structural characteristics of transfer cells, but not simultaneously. Rather, there is an acropetal succession of transfer cell ultrastructure beginning in terminal cells, moving to body cells where present, and ending in stalk cells. The transfer cell stage is followed immediately by senescence in all hair cells. The timing of transfer cell differentiation, considered together with information from other studies, suggests that branched hairs may be involved in exchange of fixed nitrogen between the symbionts, while simple hairs may participate in exchange of fixed carbon fromAzolla toAnabaena.
Dysphagia and soft-tissue swelling after anterior cervical surgery: a radiographic analysis.

Abstract Background context Dysphagia is common in the early postoperative period after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Several mechanisms, including soft-tissue swelling, have been implicated as a cause of postoperative dysphagia. Purpose To determine whether anterior soft-tissue swelling is greater in patients with postoperative dysphagia. Study design Prospective cohort study. Patient sample Forty-three patients. Outcome measures Validated dysphagia questionnaire, lateral cervical spine radiographs. Methods Patients undergoing one- or two-level ACDF using allograft bone and anterior instrumentation were enrolled. Baseline patient demographic characteristics and history were recorded. A dysphagia questionnaire, including a dysphagia numeric rating scale (DNRS; range, 0–10), was administered preoperatively and 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Lateral cervical radiographs were obtained preoperatively and 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. The anterior cervical soft-tissue shadow width was measured at each level. Patients were divided into groups based on the 2-week dysphagia questionnaire: Group 1 (no symptoms/mild dysphagia) and Group 2 (moderate/severe dysphagia). Anterior soft-tissue shadow width at each level was compared between groups. Correlation was used to assess the relationship between DNRS and anterior soft-tissue swelling. Results Forty-three patients (24 females; average age, 47.9) were enrolled. Fifteen patients had one-level and 28 patients had two-level ACDF. The anterior soft-tissue shadow width increased significantly from preoperative values at all levels except C1 at 2 and 6 weeks and C2 at 6 weeks. At 2 weeks, 18 patients had no symptoms/mild dysphagia (Group 1) and 25 patients had moderate/severe dysphagia (Group 2). The average DNRS was 1.1 for Group 1 and 5.3 for Group 2 (p Conclusions There is a significant increase in anterior cervical soft-tissue swelling after ACDF. The width of prevertebral soft-tissue does not correlate with postoperative dysphagia.
Neural plasticity and emotional memory.

Posttraumatic stress disorder is the pathological replay of emotional memory formed in response to painful, life-threatening, or horrifying events. In contrast, depression is often precipitated by more social context-related stressors. New data suggest that different types of life experiences can differentially impact biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, and behavior at the level of changes in gene expression. Repeated separation of neonatal rat pups from their mother results in many long-lasting alterations in biology and behavior paralleling that in depression, including hypercortisolism. The role of the amygdala in modulating emotional memory is highlighted, as well as some of its unique properties such as metaplasticity (i.e., the differential direction of long-term adaptation, either potentiation or depression) in response to the same input as a function of the prior history of stimulation. The implications of these emerging data on the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying emotional memory emphasize the particular importance of prevention and early intervention.
Durkheim Scholarship and Suicidology: Different Ways of Doing Research in History of Social Thought, and Different Interpretations of Durkheim's Suicide

Steven Stack has argued that we failed to do an adequate review of the relevant literature. Our paper (Breault and Barkey, 1982) was not a review article. We used what we thought were the most relevant materials, and materials that we believed had significantly advanced research in the field. We deliberately ignored a tradition in the Durkheim literature which is overly concerned with indirect tests of Durkheim's theory. (One theory in this general tradition is status integration theory [Gibbs and Martin, 1964]). At its worst, this tradition has interpreted Durkheim's variables incorrectly; has employed indicators that only poorly correspond to the variables used; has assumed that in order for Durkheim's theory to be tested, it must first be transformed; and has argued that Durkheim's theory fails to "explain" suicide in a logical sense. Stack's work is far too dependent upon the assumptions of this older tradition. Most of the work we cited (e.g., Danigelis and Pope, 1979; Krohn, 1978; Marshall, 1981; Pope and Danigelis, 1981; Stark et al. 1983) suggest that direct tests of Durkheim's theory are feasible in a methodological sense and that this is the most useful approach in terms of Durkheim scholarship. In the present forum, we will discuss some of the work of this other tradition. Appropriately, we focus on three of Stack's papers. In Stack's (1979) article on Durkheim's fatalistic suicide, he tests Durkheim's theory with indicators of totalitarianism and finds support for Durkheim's theory. This enterprise represents a failure on the part of Stack to understand the role of fatalistic suicide in Durkheim's work. Durkheim argued that fatalistic suicide is rare in modern society (is "said to have historical interest" and "little contemporary importance" [Durkheim, 1966:276]), and that modern society is characterized by anomie and egoism. Moreover, rather than fatalism being the typical reaction to oppression in modem society, Durkheim argued that the common mode of expression is anomic protest. Any test of fatalistic suicide with modern data, then, is wholly illegitimate-if, that is, one is testing Durkheim's theory. Turning to Stack's (1981) paper on religion and suicide, the work of Pope and Danigelis (1981) and Stark et al. (1983) brings out (as Stack fails to do) the important finding that the thrust of Durkheim's theory is correct: religion
Concurrent aerostructural topology optimization of a wing box

This paper presents a novel multidisciplinary framework for performing shape and topology optimization of a flexible wing structure. The topology optimization is integrated into a multidisciplinary algorithm in which both the aerodynamic shape and the structural topology are optimized concurrently using gradient-based optimization. The optimization results were compared with the results of a sequential procedure in which the aerodynamic shape was optimized separately and then used as a fixed design feature in a subsequent structural optimization. The results show that the concurrent approach offers a significant advantage, as this design achieved 42% less drag than the sequentially optimized wing.
A Bernstein-type estimator for decreasing density with application to p-value adjustments

The nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (NPMLE) is a popular approach to estimating decreasing densities, i.e., f(s)>=f(t),[email protected]?t. A less ideal feature of NPMLE is its step-function form. In this paper, we propose two nonparametric density estimators based on the Bernstein-type polynomials of the NPMLE. The proposed estimators have relatively simple forms and easy implementation. They have satisfactory smoothness as well as estimation efficiency. Numerical examples demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed estimators compared to existing methods. Decreasing densities have been applied in simultaneous inference to estimate the proportion of true null hypotheses and the local false discovery rate. We applied the proposed estimators to conduct simultaneous tests for a gene expression data set.
A computational study of operating regimes for poloidal divertors

Abstract We have identified three theoretical operating regimes for poloidal divertors. These regimes are determined by the geometry of the divertor and the input energy and particle fluxes, and are characterized by the divertor plasma density and temperature. A fully self-consistent two-dimensional model for the plasma and neutral atom and molecule transport [1,2] was used to study poloidal divertor operation. Extensions of our previous calculations [2] important to this study were the inclusion of parallel electron and ion thermal conduction. We find that the key physics in divertor operation is the neutral recycling near the neutralizer plate. This can be parametrized by R = Γ p Γ 0 , the ratio of particle flux striking the neutralizer plate to the particle flux entering the divertor. Values of R ~ 1 can be produced by large pumping rates near the neutralizer plates resulting in low neutral recycling and a high temperature, low density divertor plasma. By decreasing the pumping near the neutralizer plate, R can be raised to an intermediate value of 5–10, the plasma temperature lowered by the same factor, and the density raised by a factor of 10–30. In this regime, escape of the neutrals back to the main plasma is virtually blocked. By further restricting the pumping, R can be raised to twenty or more, thereby lowering the temperature by a factor of twenty or more and raising the density by a factor of ninety or more. Such high density regimes have been observed on D-III [3] and appear to offer the most promise for impurity control and particle control on large reactor experiments such as INTOR or FED. In this paper, we explore the range 3
Confronting the Fermi Line with LHC data: an Effective Theory of Dark Matter Interaction with Photons

We describe an effective theory of interaction between pairs of dark matter particles and pairs of photons. Such an interaction could accommodate $\ensuremath{\chi}\overline{\ensuremath{\chi}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ processes, which might be the cause of the observed feature in the FermiLAT spectrum, as well as ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}/Z\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\chi}\overline{\ensuremath{\chi}}$ processes, which would predict excesses at the LHC in the $\ensuremath{\gamma}+{\overline{)E}}_{T}$ final state. We reinterpret an ATLAS $\ensuremath{\gamma}+{\overline{)E}}_{T}$ analysis and the observed Fermi feature in the parameter space of our new effective theory to assess their consistency.
Effects of oxygen on kynurenine-3-monooxygenase activity.

AbstractKynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KM), the third enzyme in the kynurenine (KYN) pathway from tryptophan to quinolinic acid (QA), is a monooxygenase requiring oxygen, NADPH and FAD for the catalytic oxidation of L-kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine and water. KM is innately low in the brain and similar in activity to indoleamine oxidase, the rate-limiting pathway enzyme. Accumulation in the CNS of QA, a known excitotoxin, is proposed to cause convulsions in several pathologies. Thus, we theorized that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) induced convulsions arise from increased QA via oxygen Km effects on this pathway [Brown OR, Draczynska-Lusiak. Oxygen activation and inactivation of quinolinate-producing and iron-requiring 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid oxidase: a role in hyperbaric oxygen-induced convulsions? Redox Report 1995; 1: 383–385]. To complement prior studies on the effects of oxygen on pathway enzymes, in this paper we report the effects of oxygen on KM. Brain and liver KM enzyme are not known to be identical,...
The distribution of sulfur compounds in hydrotreated jet fuels: Implications for obtaining low-sulfur petroleum fractions

Abstract The mechanism by which jet fuels are hydrotreated to reduce sulfur levels has some important implications in terms of the species and distribution of sulfur compounds remaining in the fuel. The species of sulfur that are most difficult to remove by hydrotreating, such as benzothiophenes and methyl- and dimethyl-benzothiophenes, are concentrated in the higher-boiling fraction of the fuel. Consequently, the lower-boiling fractions of the fuel contain much less sulfur. It may be possible, therefore, to obtain petroleum fractions that contain low levels of sulfur simply by distillation of the jet fuel into low-boiling and high-boiling fractions. A multi-element simulated distillation procedure according to ASTM D-2887, standard test method for boiling range distribution of petroleum fractions by gas chromatography, was coupled with atomic emission detection (GC-AED) and was used to estimate the sulfur concentration in various fractions of jet fuel, namely 20, 50, and 60%. The estimations of sulfur concentration were verified by comparing them to analyzed sulfur concentrations in several fractions of physical distillations of the jet fuels according to a modified ASTM D-86, standard test method for distillation of petroleum products at atmospheric pressure. Sulfur analyses showed that for all fuels analyzed, the initial 20% boiling fraction of the fuel contained no more than approximately 5% of the total sulfur concentration. The initial 50% boiling fraction of the fuel contained no more than 25% of the total sulfur concentration, and in most cases contained significantly less (8–16%). The total concentration of sulfur in the jet fuels tested ranged from 260 to 1380 μg/g, and there did not appear to be a direct relationship between total sulfur concentration and percentage of sulfur in each jet fuel boiling fraction.
Health, wellness and the allure of spices in the Middle Ages

Abstract Ethnopharmocological relevance During the European Middle Ages aromatic products imported from Asia and Africa were credited with both preventive and curative medical properties. In addition spices provided an image of wellness and as they were expensive and had many uses in cuisine and fragrance, they functioned as prestige consumer goods. Materials and methods This is an effort to look historically at a social and cultural phenomenon for the period roughly A.D. 1200–1500. Sources of information about the demand for and uses of spices include lists of materia medica, medical treatises, cookbooks, religious writings, descriptions of banquets and court ceremonial and literary works showing what might be called aspirational lifestyles. Results It is important to focus on the demand side of the spice trade rather than simply assuming a consistent demand and looking only at the supply (prices, routes, for example). Conclusions The demand for spices must be understood in terms of their attributed medical and wellness powers, but these in turn are related to the mysterious Eastern origins of spices that enhanced their image as elite consumer products and their association with spiritual as well as medical healing.
Future battlegrounds for conservation under global change.

Global biodiversity is under significant threat from the combined effects of human-induced climate and land-use change. Covering 12% of the Earth's terrestrial surface, protected areas are crucial for conserving biodiversity and supporting ecological processes beneficial to human well-being, but their selection and design are usually uninformed about future global change. Here, we quantify the exposure of the global reserve network to projected climate and land-use change according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and set these threats in relation to the conservation value and capacity of biogeographic and geopolitical regions. We find that geographical patterns of past human impact on the land cover only poorly predict those of forecasted change, thus revealing the inadequacy of existing global conservation prioritization templates. Projected conservation risk, measured as regional levels of land-cover change in relation to area protected, is the greatest at high latitudes (due to climate change) and tropics/subtropics (due to land-use change). Only some high-latitude nations prone to high conservation risk are also of high conservation value, but their high relative wealth may facilitate additional conservation efforts. In contrast, most low-latitude nations tend to be of high conservation value, but they often have limited capacity for conservation which may exacerbate the global biodiversity extinction crisis. While our approach will clearly benefit from improved land-cover projections and a thorough understanding of how species range will shift under climate change, our results provide a first global quantitative demonstration of the urgent need to consider future environmental change in reserve-based conservation planning. They further highlight the pressing need for new reserves in target regions and support a much extended ‘north–south’ transfer of conservation resources that maximizes biodiversity conservation while mitigating global climate change.
Nanosphere Lithography: A Versatile Nanofabrication Tool for Studies of Size-Dependent Nanoparticle Optics

Nanosphere lithography (NSL) is an inexpensive, simple to implement, inherently parallel, high throughput, materials general nanofabrication technique capable of producing an unexpectedly large variety of nanoparticle structures and well-ordered 2D nanoparticle arrays. This article describes our recent efforts to broaden the scope of NSL to include strategies for the fabrication of several new nanoparticle structural motifs and their characterization by atomic force microscopy. NSL has also been demonstrated to be well-suited to the synthesis of size-tunable noble metal nanoparticles in the 20−1000 nm range. This characteristic of NSL has been especially valuable for investigating the fascinating richness of behavior manifested in size-dependent nanoparticle optics. The use of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy to probe the size-tunable optical properties of Ag nanoparticles and their sensitivity to the local, external dielectric environment (viz., the nanoenvironment) is discussed in...
A, B, H antigens in transitional cell tumors of the urinary bladder. Correlation with the clinical course

The A, B, H blood group antigens can be detected in normal transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder by the red cell adherence (RCA) test. We examined the possibility that the reactivity for these antigens is lost or decreased in transitional cell carcinomas and that such a change may reflect the future evolution of these tumors. We studied several bladder biopsies from 60 patients who presented with noninvasive transitional cell carcinomas and were followed for at least 5 years or until muscle invasion was histologically demonstrated. Eighty-one percent of patients whose tumors were RCA positive in the initial biopsy did not subsequently develop invasive tumors and 27% of these patients had no recurrences. All 34 patients whose tumors were negative in the initial biopsy experienced recurrences and 62% of them developed invasive lesions. In 81% of patients, the recurrent tumors retained the same pattern of RCA reactivity for blood group antigens on serial biopsies. These results suggest that the presence of readily detectable A, B, B antigens correlates with a favorable prognosis whereas their absence denotes an aggressive potential.
Atomic spectroscopy: Rubidium on a chip

The demonstration of a fingertip-sized optical vapour cell on a silicon chip could ultimately lead to compact devices capable of performing sophisticated optical-signal-processing tasks using only a few photons.
Transcription regulation by initiating NTP concentration: rRna synthesis in bacteria

The sequence of a promoter determines not only the efficiency with which it forms a complex with RNA polymerase, but also the concentration of nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) required for initiating transcription. Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA (rrn P1) promoters require high initiating NTP concentrations for efficient transcription because they form unusually short-lived complexes with RNA polymerase; high initiating NTP concentrations [adenosine or guanosine triphosphate (ATP or GTP), depending on the rrn P1 promoter] are needed to bind to and stabilize the open complex. ATP and GTP concentrations, and therefore rrn P1 promoter activity, increase with growth rate. Because ribosomal RNA transcription determines the rate of ribosome synthesis, the control of ribosomal RNA transcription by NTP concentration provides a molecular explanation for the growth rate-dependent control and homeostatic regulation of ribosome synthesis.
Hairpin versus Extended DNA Binding of a Substituted β-Alanine Linked Polyamide

A series of α-substituted β-alanine (β*) linked polyamides (DbaPyPyPy-β*-PyPyPy) were prepared and examined. This resulted in the observation that while most substituents disrupt DNA binding, (R)-α-methoxy-β-alanine (β(R)-OMe) maintains strong binding affinity and preferentially adopts a hairpin versus extended binding mode, providing an alternative hairpin linker to γ-aminobutyric acid (γ). A generalized variant of a fluorescent intercalator displacement assay conducted on a series of hairpin deoxyoligonucleotides containing a systematically varied A/T-rich binding site size was developed to distinguish between the extended binding of the parent β-alanine 1 (DbaPyPyPy-β-PyPyPy) and the hairpin binding of 3 (DbaPyPyPy-β(R)-OMe-PyPyPy).
Selective adrenal necrosis and apoplexy induced by 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene.

Invariably in every normal rat a single dose of 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, by mouth or injected in a vein, was found to cause apoplexy and massive necrosis in the inner zones of the adrenal cortex; the zona glomerulosa, the adrenal medulla, and a small region of cortex adjacent to the great adrenal vessels were spared from damage. DMBA caused these selective lesions in females and in males of 2 strains of rats. Hemorrhage and necrosis were observed in no organ other than the adrenal gland. Whereas adrenal glands were heavily damaged by DMBA, pituitary and ovary escaped injury by the compound. A single huge but sublethal feeding of o, p '-DDD caused degenerative changes of minor magnitude in the adrenals and only in a small percentage of rats; the property of inducing adrenal damage was not shared by other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons which were investigated, including strong carcinogens. Presence of adrenal medulla is not a prerequisite to damage of the adrenal cortex by DMBA. The adrenal damage occurred in rats, given DMBA, from which the pituitary had been removed but the lesions were smaller in extent and less in incidence as post-hypophysectomy atrophy of the adrenal cortex progressed. The entire DMBA molecule was necessary to induce adrenal damage; fragments of this molecule did not induce adrenal lesions. Two components which are of cardinal importance in this specific damaging effect are: ( a ) electronic factor; ( b ) steric factor. The level of isocitric dehydrogenase in adrenal is modified considerably by presence or absence of estradiol-17s.
Versatile stable isotope technique for the measurement of amino acids and keto acids: comparison with radioactive isotope and its use in measuring in vivo disposal rates.

Tracer methods using both carbon-13 and -14 have been utilized for determination of ovine fetal amino acid disposal and the results compared in seven animals. We infused [1-13C]leucine simultaneously with [1-14C]leucine into the fetal circulation of pregnant sheep chronically catheterized during late gestation. Radio-active and stable isotope enrichments of leucine (Leu) and stable isotope enrichments of ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) in the umbilical artery and vein and the maternal artery and uterine vein were measured. Stable isotope enrichments and concentrations of both Leu and KIC were determined from a single 0.2-ml sample by the use of internal standards and electron ionization GCMS analysis after a simple isolation and derivatization procedure. The KICLeu enrichment ratio was measured for the first time in fetal arterial plasma and was 0.66 ± 0.05 (SE). Fetal leucine disposal rate was 9.0 ± 0.5 (SE) μm/min/kg. Disposal rates determined by stable isotopes were not different from those determined by radioactive isotopes. The GCMS stable isotope method provided higher precision in both leucine concentration and enrichment measurements and has been shown to be a general method for the determination of concentration and isotopic enrichment of other amino acids and their corresponding keto acids. Furthermore, this method is ideally suited to clinical studies where large numbers of samples of rather small volume can easily be studied with a short turnaround time.
Comparison of Scattering Series Solutions For Acoustic Wave And Electromagnetic Diffusion Equations

Inverse scattering series (ISS) is a tool for the interpretation of geophysical data that theoretically does not require a priori knowledge about the target of an experiment. The ISS method has been applied to seismic exploration, in particular to velocity estimation and multiple suppression. Compared to seismic exploration, electromagnetic methods are characterized by rapid spatial decay of the probing field and strong perturbation of the medium parameters. As a prototype for the convergence of the forward and inverse scattering series, we analyze the 3D Green function for homogeneous media. The analysis suggests that for parameters representing geophysical exploration of hydrocarbon reservoirs, the convergence speed of scattering series solutions for electromagnetic diffusion is faster than that for acoustic wave propagation. The model tests also show that for the diffusion equation, one can improve the convergence of the inverse scattering series by choosing a reference medium that is less conductive than the actual medium is. This research provides insights into the convergence requirements of the ISS method and guidelines for further applications of the ISS method to the interpretation of field data.
Neck Linker Length Determines the Degree of Processivity in Kinesin-1 and Kinesin-2 Motors

Defining the mechanical and biochemical determinates of kinesin processivity is important for understanding how diverse kinesins are tuned for specific cellular functions. Because transmission of mechanical forces through the 14-18 amino acid neck linker domain underlies coordinated stepping, we investigated the role of neck linker length, charge, and structure in kinesin-1 and kinesin-2 motor behavior. For optimum comparison with kinesin-1, the KIF3A head and neck linker of kinesin-2 were fused to the kinesin-1 neck coil and rod. Extending the 14-residue kinesin-1 neck linker reduced processivity, and shortening the 17-residue kinesin-2 neck linker enhanced processivity. When a proline in the kinesin-2 neck linker was replaced, kinesin-1 and kinesin-2 run lengths scaled identically with neck linker length, despite moving at different speeds. In low-ionic-strength buffer, charge had a dominant effect on motor processivity, which resolves ongoing controversy regarding the effect of neck linker length on kinesin processivity. From stochastic simulations, the results are best explained by neck linker extension slowing strain-dependent detachment of the rear head along with diminishing strain-dependent inhibition of ATP binding. These results help delineate how interhead strain maximizes stepping and suggest that less processive kinesins are tuned to coordinate with other motors differently than the maximally processive kinesin-1.
Navajo Adolescents Scores on a Primary Language Questionnaire, the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) and the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS): A Correlational Study:

One hundred twenty-four Navajo 14, 15, and 16 year-old regular classroom adolescents from schools in Arizona and New Mexico were administered three instruments: a Primary Language Questionnaire, the Raven Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) and the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS). Correlations between the RSPM scores and CTBS achievement levels ranged from the upper .30's to the upper .40's, and all were significant at the .01 level. Correlational data indicated that the agreement between RSPM and CTBS scores was higher for female than for male students. Norms were established for this sample of Navajo adolescents on the Raven. Interpretations of the findings include implications for educators and psychometricians working with Navajo adolescents. Also included is a discussion of these findings as they relate to cultural sensitivity in testing, and research questions for future exploration.
The growth of scholarship: An online bibliometric comparison of dissertations in the sciences and humanities

Abstract TheDissertation Abstracts database was searched online to study patterns in the growth of scholarship from 1880–1984. The total number of degrees granted per year as well as the number of degrees granted per year in the hard sciences, social sciences, and library science seems to be leveling off; the number in fine arts and literature has begun to decline; and the number in information science, computer science, and the health sciences continues to grow. SearchingDissertation Abstracts online offers an efficient and relatively inexpensive way to obtain quantitative data for trend analysis.
Prooxidant actions of bisphenol A (BPA) phenoxyl radicals: implications to BPA-related oxidative stress and toxicity.

AbstractWe investigated the prooxidant effects of bisphenol A (BPA) phenoxyl radicals in comparison with the phenoxyl radicals of 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA), 2,6-di-tert-butyl-methylphenol (BHT) and 4-tert-butylphenol (TBP). The phenoxyl radicals, generated in situ by 1-electron oxidation of the corresponding phenol, were allowed to react with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and rifampicin. The antioxidant activity of various phenols was examined based on the reduction of 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). It was found that the prooxidant activity of BPA phenoxyl radicals far exceeded those of BHA and BHT of phenoxyl radicals. Unlike Trolox, BPA showed minimal DPPH scavenging activity. The strong prooxidant properties of BPA phenoxyl radicals propelled us to study the markers of cellular oxidative stress in GT1-7 hypothalamic neurons exposed to BPA. It was observed that neuronal cells exposed to BPA had increased generation of intracellular peroxides and mi...
Functionalized polyolefins prepared by the combination of borane monomers and transition metal catalysts

This paper summarizes the new developments in the functionalization of polyolefins by borane monomers and transition metal catalysts. It is becoming clear that the borane groups are stable to transition metal catalysts and borane groups in polyolefins are valuable intermediates which not only can be quantitatively converted to a wide range of functional groups but also can be used as initiator for free radical graft-from copolymerizations. Some interesting functionalized polymers, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropene (PP) with -OH, -NH2 and halide groups, and graft copolymers of polypropene-graft-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PP-g-PMMA), polypropene-graft-polycapolactone (PP-g-PCL) and PE-g-PMMA, have been synthesized with controllable compositions and molecular microstructures. Most of them would be otherwise very difficult to prepare by the other existing methods.