cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of hydrogen bonding and moisture cycling on the compressive performance of poly-pyridobisimidazole (M5) fiber

A clear correlation between the degree of intermolecular hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) and axial compressive strength of pyridobisimidazole (M5) as-spun fiber specimens subjected to varying annealing conditions has been established by means of Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy and single fiber elastica loop testing. As the water initially contained in the as-spun fiber is removed by heat treatment, improvements in polymer chain orientation promote the formation of intermolecular H-bonds, leading to enhanced fiber compressive strength values. M5 fiber specimens with the highest degree of intermolecular H-bonding of 96 ± 1% are found to have a compressive strength of 1.72 ± 0.09 GPa. Moisture cycling experiments of M5 annealed specimens have provided direct evidence of partial H-bond reversibility in this material, as saturation of M5 annealed fiber resulted in the reduction of the degree of intermolecular H-bonding from 93 to 64%. Upon drying the fiber at 120 °C in an inert atmosphere, the degree of H-bonding returned to the original value of 93%. However, repeated fiber moisture cycling resulted in a monotonic reduction in the degree of H-bonding in both the saturated condition (53%) and dry state (62%). The compressive strength of saturated and dried specimens after moisture cycling was found to be statistically equivalent at a reduced level of 1.29 GPa. The original degree of H-bonding and compressive strength could be recovered by re-annealing the fiber under tension.
Performance analysis of CNFET based circuits in the presence of fabrication imperfections

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of CNT fabrication imperfections on the performance of multichannel Carbon Nanotube FET (CNFET) -based devices. In particular, we introduce a methodology for stochastically estimating the impact of spacing between adjacent tubes and the impact of its variation. This enables accurate prediction of the reduction in drive current due to the removal of tubes, the increase in spacing between adjacent tubes, and variations in tube diameter and spacing. In multichannel CNFETs, when the number of channels (CNTs) is greater than eight, our experiments show that variations in tube diameter and inter-tube spacing result in less than 8% performance variation. Monte Carlo simulation results, however, show that the removal of tubes increases variation in I ON from 13% to 26% due to larger variation in inter-tube spacing. The presented realistic analysis and the proposed methodology can be extremely useful in variation-tolerant CNFET-based circuit design.
Mechanism of NO-Induced Oxidation of Myoglobin and Hemoglobin†

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated as mediator in a variety of physiological functions, including neurotransmission, platelet aggregation, macrophage function, and vasodilation. The consumption ...
Exciting New Targets in Lung Cancer Therapy: ALK, IGF-1R, HDAC, and Hh

The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor crizotinib will become an integral addition to the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring genetic ALK translocations. The insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) monoclonal antibody figitumumab, while initially promising, appears to increase toxicity and death in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with NSCLC of squamous histology; therefore, clinical development of this class of agents will need to proceed with caution. The histone deacetylation (HDAC) inhibitor vorinostat did not demonstrate an improvement in overall survival (OS) compared with placebo in a large randomized trial, but other agents in this class may have greater selectivity and efficacy. Inhibitors of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathways have some early clinical promise in both NSCLC and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and larger studies using these agents are eagerly anticipated.
The effects of physostigmine on discrimination learning

Two different discrimination learning experiments, the first using rats and the second cats, provide clear support for facilitation of acquisition rate by physostigmine injections. The results suggest that facilitating effects of physostigmine may be limited to a small dose range (.025–.075 mg/kg), although such facilitatory effects may be limited to discrimination learning.
RESPONSE TO CRITIQUES OF RELIGION IN AN AGE OF SCIENCE

L'A. repond aux critiques de Nancey Murphy, Sallie McFague, Robert John Russel et John Cobb concernant la place de la religion dans l'âge de la science, en analysant la construction sociale de la science, les implications metaphysiques et theologiques de l'espace et de la relativite, ainsi que le role et l'action de Dieu dans les systemes quantiques
Clarendon and the Caroline Myth of Peace

The origins of the Civil War are apparent from the outset of the History of the Rebellion: "he who shall diligently observe the distempers and conjunctures of the time," Clarendon contends, "will find all this bulk of misery to have proceeded, and to have been brought upon us, from the same natural causes and means which have usually attended kingdoms swoln with long plenty, pride, and excess, towards some signal mortification, and castigation of Heaven."' The relationship between prosperity and calamity is, of course, commonplace in classical as well as seventeenth-century chronicles of civil conflict, but both the sections of the History written in 1646 and those added some twenty years later insist that "the like peace and plenty and universal tranquillity for ten years was never enjoyed by any nation" (I, 84).2 Although he modifies his praise of this peaceful era in The Life ofEdward Earl of Clarendon, claiming that "England enjoyed the greatest Measure of Felicity that it [and not, as he earlier said, any nation] had ever known,"3 this view of Caroline prosperity remains extreme. Clarendon likens the years of Charles's personal rule to a golden age. Without specifically invoking the classical tradition of the halcyon calm or the return of Astraea, his recollection of the 1630s gives central importance and new immediacy to a well-established Caroline myth of peace.4 Modern historians have generally found much amiss in the decade of Charles's personal rule, and they have naturally questioned Clarendon's
Seeing Sound: Perhaps Love, YouTube, and Hong Kong's Cultural Convergence

Here I explore the relations between aural production, visuality and being, as they connect to the new identities that are formed through Hong Kong's production of Mandarin Chinese-language music, films and music videos. To explore these issues I focus on the movie Perhaps Love (Ruguo Ai) [P. Chan 2005] and YouTube music videos relating to that film. Hong Kong has a long-standing historical symbiosis between its music and movie industries. Perhaps Love includes a range of cultural metaphors that include Buddhist allegory as well as the interplay of cultural understandings of gender and geographical space. Seeing Hong Kong productions is both a form of knowing and of creative appropriation—for the movie makers, for the audience, and for fans who create their own narratives with the new tools that are available to them.
Information Systems Security Assurance Management at Municipal Software Solutions, Inc.

Based on an actual company, this case focuses on Business Continuity Planning issues for a small but growing software company, Municipal Software Solutions, Inc. (MSS). The firm experienced a catastrophic fire which completely eliminated all aspects of the information systems infrastructure, including the software product code repository, the client access infrastructure, the hardware operations center, and the software design facility. Fortunately, no one was harmed, and the firm survived despite the fact that it did not have a formal disaster recovery plan in place. MSS was very lucky. The case can be used in conjunction with coverage of risk assessment concepts in the context of the availability component of systems reliability and trust of services management. Accordingly, it is appropriate for use in courses covering information systems security, accounting information systems, or IT audit.
Synthesis of (N−O)-Ligated Palladium(II) Complexes and Their Use in Ethene Homopolymerization and Norbornene Copolymerizations

Cyclic olefin copolymers are an important class of polymeric materials. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of several (N−O)-ligated palladium(II) complexes and their use in ethene homopolymerization, as well as ethene/norbornene and carbon monoxide/norbornene copolymerizations. Most notably, these catalysts show relatively high activity toward ethene/functional norbornene copolymerizations, and a high level of incorporation of the norbornene derivative was observed. The molecular weight of the copolymers can be controlled by adjusting the ethene/norbornene feed ratio. The ethene/nonpolar functional norbornene copolymerizations have the characteristics of a “living” polymerization at low ethene/norbornene feed ratios. Finally, the successive stepwise insertions of carbon monoxide and norbornene into a preformed palladium−carbon bond were observed by NMR spectroscopy.
Hair cell and supporting cell density and distribution in the normal and regenerating posterior crista ampullaris of the pigeon.

Abstract The numbers of supporting cells and the numbers and types of hair cells in three distinct longitudinal regions through the posterior canal cristae of control and streptomycin-treated pigeons were determined using stereological techniques. For control cristae, type I (3758) and type II (3517) hair cells occurred in approximately equal numbers. However, the proportions varied in different longitudinal zones: Zone I (peripheral region) had four times more type II hair cells (2083) than type I (483), while Zone II (intermediate region) had almost seven times more type I (2517) than type II (367) hair cells and Zone III (central region) had relatively equal numbers of type I (758) and type II (1067) hair cells. Novel findings included the following: (1) immediately after the post-injection sequence (PIS) of streptomycin, there was a significant reduction in both hair cells (−93%) and supporting cells (−45%); (2) by 70 days after the PIS, the population of type I hair cells returned to control values (however, the normal complement of complex calyces took 1 year to recover); (3) during the first 143 days after the PIS, the number of type I and type II hair cells across all zones returned linearly with about the same slope (46 and 43 cells per day, respectively), although the rate of return differed significantly in different zones; (4) there was a massive overproduction of hair cells (+150%) and supporting cells (+120%) during the first 5 months of recovery; and (5) during the first year after the PIS, both hair cells and supporting cells increased and their increases in numbers were correlated ( r =0.88, P
Non-rigid symmetry groups of molecular trimers and three-rotor molecules

Abstract A simple geometrical model is used to derive symmetry operators and symmetry groups for molecules with three internal rotors and for homomolecular and heteromolecular trimers. Operators are defined in terms of isometric substitutions and permutation-inversion operations. The non-rigid molecular symmetry groups were derived explicitly for molecules in which any of three internal rotors has one-, two-, or threefold periodicity. These groups are applicable also to molecular trimers in which none of the monomer units has molecular symmetry other than C n , C s , or C nv ( n ≤3). The symmetry groups are characterized as semidirect products and, where possible, by factorization into direct products. Among those which cannot be factored are two whose character tables are given, two which are already known, and a few for which no simple examples exist. Symmetry groups of molecules in which internal motions are restricted to concerted gearing or antigearing motions are derived for some examples but not investigated systematically.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in combustion residues from 1,3-butadiene

Abstract Residues from combustion of 1,3-butadiene in vapor and pool fires under normal air were extracted and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Typical chromatograms showed some 60 major resolved peaks, about 145 minor peaks, and unresolved mixtures. Resolved compounds included aromatic (e.g., C2-benzenes, indene, C1- and C2-indenes) and PAH compounds from 2 to 6 rings along with extended PAH series containing five membered rings (e.g., benzoindenes, cyclopentaphenanthrenes, acephenanthrylene, acepyrene, cyclopentapyrenes, indenopyrene). These PAHs were primarily unsubstituted. The presence of labile pentacyclic rings in prominent compounds suggested that low temperature (400–500°C) pyrolytic processes were operating in the butadiene flames. On the other hand, assemblages of ortho-peri condensed PAHs (mass 202 −276; e.g., pyrene, benzopyrenes, perylene) with limited amounts of alkyl substitution indicated a higher temperature provenance (> 750 °C). Measurements indicated significant thermal gradients (430 °C to > 900 °C) in the vapor flames. The concentration of benzo(a)pyrene generated per gram butadiene burned in vapor fires was estimated between 20 – 58 μg. Total concentration for all resolved compounds was c. 9000 μg PAHs/g butadiene burned. The pool fire PAH yields were 50% - 70% of those observed for the vapor fires but the measured flame temperatures were lower (350 – 500 oC). Nevertheless the PAH compound distributions were similar in many ways to those of the vapor fire, including the presence of the “high temperature” PAHs identified in the vapor fires. These and other compositional features of residues from both flames suggested that Diels-Alder reaction mechanisms were important and that relative flame temperatures did not fully account for observed PAH distributions.
Point-to-point wireless communication using partially coherent optical fields

Coherent light launched into an atmospheric channel experiences substantial degradation in spatial coherence as it traverses the channel, resulting in beam wander and intensity scintillation at the receiver. Launching partially coherent light with well-defined 'beam-like' properties into the channel may exploit the spatial and frequency diversity properties of the atmospheric path so that acceptably low levels of system bit error rate performance can be obtained at fiber-optic data rates. To better understand the properties of partially coherent light in an atmospheric channel, here we develop an analytic expression for the second moment of a partially coherent lowest-order Gaussian beam propagating in the presence of isotropic, homogenous atmospheric turbulence. From the second moment equation expressions for the average intensity, beam size, complex degree of coherence, and lateral coherence length are derived. These results are valid for any beam type: focused, collimated, divergent, and the limiting cases of the plane and spherical wave. Expressions obtained here exactly reduce to the diffractive equivalents for a fully coherent beam when full coherence and the absence of turbulence are assumed. In addition, results correspond to expressions obtained previously for a partially coherent collimated beam in the absence of turbulence.
The effect of issuing preferred stock on common and preferred stockholder wealth

Abstract Generally, utilities issue straight fixed-rate preferreds, industrials issue convertible fixed-rate preferreds, and financials issue adjustable-rate preferreds. The corresponding announcement-period common stock abnormal returns are economically insignificant for utilities, negative and significant at the 0.05 level for industrials, and positive and significant at the 0.10 level for financials. Information effects explain the cross-sectional results for industrial firms, but tax benefits and/or regulatory conditions are more likely explanations of the results documented for financial corporations and utilities. Returns to preferred stockholders support neither the wealth redistribution- hypothesis nor the price-pressure hypothesis.
The First Principles of Latin Neoplatonism: Augustine, Macrobius, Boethius

Abstract This essay attempts to provide more evidence for the notions that there actually is a Latin (as opposed to a Greek) Neoplatonic tradition in late antiquity, that this tradition includes a systematic theory of first principles, and that this tradition and theory are influential in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The method of the essay is intended to be novel in that, instead of examining authors or works in a chronological sequence and attempting to isolate doctrines in the traditional manner, it proceeds by identifying certain philosophemes (a concept borrowed from structuralist and post-structuralist thought and here signifying certain minimal units from which philosophical “systems” can be constructed), and then studying the combination and re-combination of these philosophemes consciously and unconsciously by a selection of important medieval writers. These philosophemes occur in Augustine, De Genesi ad Litteram; Augustine, De Trinitate; Augustine, De Vera Religione; Augustine, De Musica; Macrobius, Commentarius in Somnium Scipionis; and Boethius, De Consolatione Philosophiae. The sampling of medieval authors who use these philosophemes includes Eriugena, William of Conches, Thierry of Chartres, and Nicholas of Cusa.
Effect of setting on the reinforcing and subjective effects of ethanol in social drinkers

The reinforcing and subjective effects of two doses of ethanol [0.5 g/kg (LOW) and 0.8 g/kg (HIGH)] were evaluated under two conditions, a social condition (SOC), in which subjects were tested with two or three other subjects, and a socially isolated condition (ISO), in which subjects were tested alone. Forty-one social drinkers participated in a double-blind, seven-session choice procedure. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups: SOC-LOW, SOC-HIGH, ISO-LOW, or ISO-HIGH. On the first four sessions, subjects sampled ethanol (0.5 or 0.8 g/kg) on two occasions and placebo on the other two occasions. On the three remaining sessions, subjects selected and consumed whichever of the two previously sampled substances they preferred. The number of sessions on which they chose ethanol was the primary measure of the reinforcing effects of ethanol. Standardized self-report questionnaires and a psychomotor test were used to measure subjective and objective drug effects. Subjects in the SOC condition chose ethanol over placebo on significantly more sessions than subjects in the ISO condition. Ethanol produced positive subjective effects (e.g., increased ratings of drug liking and euphoria) for subjects in the SOC condition, but for subjects in the ISO condition, it produced apparently negative effects (e.g., increased ratings of dysphoria). These results extend previous reports that the behavioral effects of ethanol depend upon the social condition in which it is consumed.
Age-dependent regulation of glucokinase and tyrosine aminotransferase activities of rat liver in vivo by adrenal, pancreatic and pituitary hormones.

The time required to initiate adaptive increases in the activities of hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase and glucokinase following administration of glucose or adrenocorticotropic hormone, respectively, increases as rats age from 2- to 18- or 24 months. In contrast, no agedependence is demonstrable for these enzyme inductions in response to injection of hormones which interact directly with liver to stimulate their rate of synthesis; insulin for glucokinase and cortisol, insulin or glucagon for tyrosine aminotransferase. Consequently, the age-dependence may reflect an altered responsiveness in the generation of insulin and corticosteroid. Adaptive responsiveness in vivo both of glucokinase and tyrosine aminotransferase to glucose or adrenocorticotropic hormone, respectively, requires insulin and intact adrenal function. In turn, these complex hormonal interactions are susceptible to pituitary control. Localization of an age-dependent step is indicated subsequent to administration of adrenocorticotropic hor...
IgA Response to Symbiotic Bacteria as a Mediator of Gut Homeostasis

Summary Colonization of germ-free mice with a normal gut microbiota elicits bacteria-specific IgA antibody responses. The effects of these responses on microbial and host biology remain poorly defined. Therefore, we developed a gnotobiotic mouse model where the microbiota is reduced to one bacterial species, and the antibody repertoire to a single, monoclonal IgA against the bacterium's capsular polysaccharide. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron was introduced into germ-free wild-type, immunodeficient Rag1 −/− , or Rag1 −/− mice harboring IgA-producing hybridoma cells. Without IgA, B. thetaiotaomicron elicits a more robust innate immune response and reacts to this response by inducing genes that metabolize host oxidative products. IgA reduces intestinal proinflammatory signaling and bacterial epitope expression, thereby balancing suppression of the oxidative burst with the antibody's negative impact on bacterial fitness. These results underscore the adaptive immune system's critical role in establishing a sustainable host-microbial relationship. Immunoselection of bacterial epitope expression may contribute to the remarkable strain-level diversity in this ecosystem.
Mutual-intensity lensless imaging system

I describe a lensless imaging system in which the image is formed by the mutual-intensity function instead of by a conventional intensity distribution. Both theoretical and experimental results are given.
Effect of oral dose size on hydralazine kinetics and vasodepressor response.

Levels of hydralazine in blood are log-linearly related to its vasodepressor effect. We examined the effect of oral dose size on the proportion of hydralazine that reaches systemic circulation. Nine subjects with hypertension were given hydralazine in oral doses in the therapeutic range. Blood hydralazine levels, effective liver blood flow, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured. As the hydralazine dose increased, the ratios of the AUC of hydralazine to hydralazine dose and of peak blood hydralazine concentration to hydralazine dose increased, indicating an increase in the proportion of the dose in blood. Liver blood flow tended to increase (maximum 40%) as dose increased above 0.5 mg/kg. Vasodepressor response and degree of tachycardia increased disproportionately with increasing hydralazine dose. There were strong log-linear relationships between peak hydralazine levels and both vasodepressor response and tachycardia that did not change with increasing hydralazine dose. Thus blood hydralazine and vasodepressor response increase disproportionately with increasing hydralazine doses in hypertension. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1984) 36, 595–600; doi:10.1038/clpt.1984.227
Quantum corrected drift-diffusion simulation for prediction of CMOS scaling

As the sizes of MOSFETs become smaller, the role of TCAD tools has increased significantly. Among TCAD tools, drift-diffusion (DD) simulators have been useful in providing insights into the operational principles of MOSFETs. DD simulators are fast due to a low computational burden compared to more sophisticated simulation methods such as full-band quantum transport simulators which cannot handle the volume of the bulk devices. However, as the device sizes become smaller, quantum mechanical (QM) effects render the DD results inaccurate. These QM phenomena are the ballistic resistance, the ballistic transport, the source-to-drain (SD) tunneling and the quantum confinement effects. In this work, these QM effects except the SD tunneling are dealt with such that DD tools can extend their use in modern nanoscale MOSFETs.
Process for Improving Design of Transportation Curriculum Materials with Examples

Student-centered learning is presented as an alternative to the traditional lecture-based approach commonly used in transportation engineering education. Student-centered learning includes an array of pedagogical approaches, such as active learning, cooperative learning, problem-based learning, guided discovery, applied critical thinking, and open-ended labs, each promoting deeper levels of understanding. Two methods of curriculum development that support student-centered learning are presented. Three examples of transportation curricula based on these two methods are offered: the Highway Capacity Manual Applications Guide, mobile signal timing training, and the Transportation Education Development Pilot Project Arterial Traffic Signal Operations course. Each example is evaluated according to criteria that support the curriculum development methods. Conclusions from this evaluation and suggested future research directions are presented.
Effect of changes of pHi on intracellular calcium in a smooth muscle-like cell line

The effect of changes of pHi on Cai were studied using fluorescent dyes in cells of the cultured smooth muscle-like line, BC3H-1. Resting Cai in these cells was 182 ± 12 nM (n = 74) at pHo of 7.4. Upon exposure to NH4Cl, which rapidly alkalinized cells, a transient increase of Cai to 349 ± 55 nM (n = 29) was observed. The peak of the transient occurred within 30 s of exposure to NH4Cl and returned to baseline within 1 minute. Two other procedures which resulted in rapid cellular alkalinization also caused a transient rise in Cai: exposure to and then removal of CO2 (Cai increased from 182 ± 22 to 248 ± 28 nM; n = 8); and exposure to and then removal of Na propionate (Cai increased from 242 ± 32 to 456 ± 71 nM; n = 9). The NH4Cl-induced Cai transient was eliminated by exposure to 0.2 mM TMB8 and to Ca-free solutions, but not by exposure to 0.5 mM LaCl3. Sustained changes of pHi can be induced by varying pHo. When pHo was lowered to 6.9, Cai fell by 49 ± 11 nM but increased by 203 ± 51 nM (n = 6) when pHo was raised to 7.9. These data indicate that rapid alkalinization of BC3H-1 cells results in a rapid transient rise of Cai. This transient is most likely due to the release of Ca from intracellular stores but may also involve an increase of Ca influx. Steady state values of Cai are positively correlated with steady state pHi. These data may have implications for the contractile state of smooth muscle during periods of acid/base disturbances and relate to the role of elevated pHi in cells from hypertensive animals.
Brief research report: age factors affecting the believability of repressed memories of child sexual assault.

Two experiments investigated how mock jurors react to testimony involving claims of a repressed memory in a case involving child sexual assault. Participants read a fictional civil trial summary presented in one of three conditions: (a) immediate condition—the alleged victim testified immediately after the incident; (b) repressed condition—the alleged victim reported the assault 1–39 years later, after remembering it for the first time; or (c) not-repressed condition—the alleged victim reported the assault 1–39 years later, but the memory of the assault had been present for those years. When there was any type of delayed reporting, either the age of the alleged victim at the time of the assault was constant and her age at reporting varied (Experiment 1) or the age of the alleged victim at the time of the assault varied and her age at reporting remained constant (Experiment 2). The results showed that (1) a delay in reporting an incident adversely affected believability of the alleged victim and led to fewer rulings in support of the plaintiff compared to reporting it immediately, (2) longer delays in reporting generally led to lower alleged victim believability and fewer decisions in support of the plaintiff than shorter delays, (3) the age of the alleged victim at the time of the incident was a critical variable in determining belief of the alleged victim, and (4) men generally rated believability of the alleged victim lower and ruled in favor of the plaintiff less often than women. The results are discussed in terms of the psychosocial factors affecting the perception of delayed reporting in a child sexual assault trial.
Continuous particle sorting using three dimensional insulator based dielectrophoresis

Low frequency insulator based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) is a promising technique to study cell surface dielectric properties. To date, iDEP has been exploited to distinguish, characterize, and manipulate particles and bacteria based on their size and general cell phenotype (e.g. gram positive vs. gram negative). However, separation of bacteria with diverse surface phenotypes but similar sizes sets a much higher demand on separation sensitivity, necessitating improvement in channel structure design in order to increase the electrical field gradient. In this work, a three dimensional insulator based dielectrophoresis (3DiDEP) microdevice is designed to achieve continuous particle sorting based on their size and, more importantly, on their surface dielectric properties. A 3D constriction is fabricated inside Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) channels using a micromilling technique. By controlling the channel geometry at the 3D constriction area, a nonuniform electric field with a large intensity gradient perpendicular to the local particle flow direction results in transverse particle deflection, driving particles into different outlet streams. With both simulation and experiments, we will show that a diverse array of particles and cells can be distinguished by 3DiDEP. This 3DiDEP sorter can be used in multiple applications in which the surface properties of cells or particles are of special interest.
Nontarget Effects of Transgenic Insecticidal Crops: Implications of Source-Sink Population Dynamics

Widespread planting of transgenic insecticidal (TI) crops for pest control has raised concerns about potential harm to nontarget arthropods. Because the first generation of TI crops produce single Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins causing little or no harm to most nontarget arthropods, they are not likely to cause such negative effects. However, varieties of transgenic crops with multiple Bt toxins or novel toxins might be more harmful to nontarget arthropods. Field studies assessing nontarget effects typically compare the relative abundance of nontarget arthropods in TI crop fields to non-TI crop fields. However, for nontarget arthropods that are killed by TI crops, such analyses may miss important effects. Results from simulations of a spatially explicit population dynamics model show that large-scale planting of TI crops could cause three types of negative effects on nontarget arthropods that suffer mortality caused by TI crops: (1) lower abundance in TI fields than non-TI fields with little or no effect on abundance in non-TI fields, (2) lower abundance in TI fields than non-TI fields and decreased abundance in non-TI fields, and (3) loss of the arthropod from TI and non-TI fields. Simulation results show that factors increasing the potential for negative effects of TI crops on nontarget arthropods in non-TI fields are low reproduction, high emigration, high adoption of TI crops, high mortality in TI fields, insecticide sprays, and rotation of TI and non-TI fields. The results suggest that risk assessment should consider the regional distribution of transgenic crops and the life history traits of nontarget arthropods to identify the most vulnerable regions and nontarget species.
Fluctuation of the order parameter in a superconductor with magnetic impurities

Abstract Using the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation for the order parameter in a superconductor with magnetic impurities, we have calculated the effect of the fluctuation of the order parameter on the conductivity. We have found that the excess conductivity due to the fluctuation, “paraconductivity”, increases with the strength of depairing.
Soil Mining by Pocket Gophers along Topographic Gradients in a Mima Moundfield

To account fully for the pattern of translocation of soil by pocket gopher activity in Mima moundfields, I investigated soil mining in relation to location along the mound—intermound topographic gradient. From September 1986 to November 1987, at Miramar Mounds National Landmark in coastal San Diego County, California, the total soil mined by pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae) was estimated by measuring the mass of soil deposited in surface heaps and counting the number of plugged surface—access tunnels on mound and intermound zones associated with 10 Mima—type mounds. Surface heap deposition was greatest in late fall and early winter, whereas the digging of surface—access tunnels was most frequent in spring and early summer. Both the mass of soil in surface heaps per unit area and the number of surface—access tunnels per unit area tended to decrease with distance from the center of mounds. When the areas of concentric zones at increasing distance from the mound center were taken into account, however, the t...
Good turnover and bad turnover: Barriers to business and productivity

Entrepreneurship, as reflected in industry turnover rates, is a central force behind output and productivity growth. However, cross country comparisons suggest that turnover rates are remarkably independent of barriers to business: Singapore, one of the most entry-friendly countries in the world, has the same industry turnover rate as Uzbekistan, a country where entry is considerably more difficult. In this paper, I suggest the solution to this apparent puzzle lies in the effect of survival barriers, which, like entry barriers, are higher in Uzbekistan than in Singapore. In other words, with similar turnover rates, Singapore is characterized by “good” turnover, whereas Uzbekistan is characterized by “bad” turnover.
Monomeric complex of human orphan estrogen related receptor-2 with DNA: a pseudo-dimer interface mediates extended half-site recognition.

While most nuclear receptors bind DNA as homo or heterodimers, the human estrogen related receptors (hERRs) are members of a subfamily of orphan receptors that bind DNA as monomers. We have determined the solution structure of the DNA binding domain (DBD) of hERR2 bound to its cognate DNA. The structure and base interactions of the core DBD are similar to those of other nuclear receptors. However, high-affinity, sequence-specific DNA binding as a monomer necessitates formation of additional base contacts outside the core DBD. This is accomplished using a modified guanosine-binding "AT-hook" within the C-terminal extension (CTE) flanking the DBD, which makes base-specific minor groove interactions. The structure of the CTE is stabilized both by interactions with the DNA and by packing against a region of the core DBD normally reserved for dimerization. This pseudo-dimer interface provides a basis for the expansion of DNA recognition and suggests a mechanism through which dimerization may have evolved from an ancestral monomeric receptor.
SAMPLING ON SEVERAL SUCCESSIVE OCCASIONS WITH EQUAL AND UNEQUAL PROBABILITIES AND WITHOUT REPLACEMENT1

SUMMARY The applicability of the technique of controlled selection with equal probabilities proposed by the authors, Avadhani and Sukhatme (1965, 1968), and that of unequal probability sampling suggested by Rao et al. (1962) to sampling on several successive occasions is investigated in this paper. Appropriate recurrence formulae for the optimum replacement fraction and the corresponding weight are also derived.
An oral examination of the psychiatric knowledge of medical housestaff: assessment of needs and evaluation baseline.

Abstract To assess the psychiatric knowledge of medical housestaff, the authors devised an oral examination based on two simulated clinical encounters and administered it to 26 medical residents. The case material embodied those psychiatric problems known to be common in medical populations, namely depression, delirium, dementia, and “psychogenic” pain. The stan-dardized simulations were punctuated by standardized “open” questions with followup probes. A panel of experienced clinicians developed rating criteria for each question such that responses could be categorized as “good,” “adequate,” “inadequate,” or “poor,” in terms of “what an internist needs to know,” Blind raters of the exam achieved an interrater reliability of 0.88. The results indicated major deficits in the knowledge needed for assessment and treatment of these common problems. Only 16% of answers were “good,” whereas 42% were “inadequate” or “poor.” For example, 88% of the doctors could not name three factors that help distinguish organic from “functional” psychosis, and 88% could not list three side-effects of tricyclic antidepressants. The doctors' level of experience was not correlated with test scores, either overall or question by question. These results, together with measures of attitude and skill, have been used to develop a needs-based liaison psychiatry curriculum and to evaluate the effectiveness of that curriculum.
Untersuchungen zur zuverlässigkeit quantitativer immunglobulinbestimmungen (igg, iga, igm) durch einfache radiale immundiffusion

Zusammenfassung Es wird uber Untersuchungen zur Zuverlassigkeitskontrolle quantitativer Immunglobulin-Bestimmungen (IgG, IgA, IgM) durch einfache radiale Immundiffusion berichtet. Die Normalbereiche (n = 79) zeigten eine gute Ubereinstimmung mit denen anderer Autoren. Die Methode zeichnet sich durch eine befriedigende Prazision sowie eine hohe Empfindlichkeit aus. Die Priifung der Richtigkeit ergab eine nahezu vollstandige Ubereinstimmung zwischen erwarteten und gefundenen Immunglobulin-Konzentrationen. Der Nachweis der Spezifitat der im Agargel inkorporierten Antikorper erfolgte durch immunelektrophoretische Analysen. Zusatzversuche iiber den Einfluss der Tiefkiihilagerung von Probandenseren auf den Immunglobulin-Gehalt zeigten, dass lediglich die IgM-Konzentrationen mit zunehmender Lagerdauer abnehmen. Daruber hinaus wurde festgestellt, dass unterschiedliche Fullungsvolumina, Diffusionszeiten und Inkubationstemperaturen den Durchmesser der Prazipitate erheblich verandern. Der Einfluss dieser Parameter auf die Qualitat der Analysen ist durch Standardisierung der Versuchsbedingungen zu beseitigen.
Exploration and determination of the redox properties of the pseudopterosin class of marine natural products

We describe herein the redox chemistry of the pseudopterosin class of marine natural products. Known for their anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties, their chemistry has largely gone unexplored. Details of both voltammetric and preparative scale experiments are provided and speculation is provided concerning the potential role of electron transfer chemistry in the expression of pseudopterosin bioactivity.
A relative risk index for prioritization of inactive underground storage tanks

Abstract A relative risk index (RRI) is proposed for ranking the relative health risk potential of mixed liquid wastes in underground storage tanks (USTs) that are scheduled for remedial action. The RRI is defined as the number of reference volumes in the liquid volume of a tank. A reference volume is the amount of liquid a person must ingest over a lifetime to incur either a 10 −6 lifetime cancer risk or a noncarcinogenic reference dose level exceeding one. The RRI accounts for contaminant concentration, contaminant toxicity, and the tank's liquid volume. The higher the number of reference volumes in a tank, the higher the relative risk potential of the tank. The RRI may be incorporated into any of the existing hazard ranking systems used for UST remediation.
Xanthohumol decreases Notch1 expression and cell growth by cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines.

Abstract Objective. Notch1 signaling is active in ovarian cancer and is a promising pathway for new therapies in ovarian cancer. We have previously detected high Notch1 expression in ovarian tumors. Xanthohumol has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and invasion, including Kaposi's sarcoma, which also highly expresses Notch1. We hypothesized that the Notch1 signaling pathway is targeted by xanthohumol leading to decreased ovarian cancer cell growth. Methods. SKOV3 andOVCAR3 cells were utilized. MTT growth assays were conducted following treatment with xanthohumol. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were conducted to assess Notch1 down-regulation. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to assess functional down-regulation of Notch1. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. Results. Significant growth inhibition and down-regulation of Notch1 transcription and protein expression were found following xanthohumol treatment. In addition, xanthohumol increased Hes6 transcription and decreased Hes1 transcription, known downstream targets of Notch 1. These observations were associated with cell cycle inhibition as demonstrated by an increase in p21 expression and S and G2/M cell cycle arrest confirmed by an increase in phosphorylated cdc2. Furthermore, an increase in the apoptotic markers, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP were observed. Conclusion. Xanthohumol was a potent inhibitor of ovarian cancer cell growth, and our results suggest that xanthohumol may be influencing the Notch1 pathway. These findings suggest that xanthohumol could be useful as a therapeutic agent in ovarian cancer.
Mouse embryonic stem cells lacking p38α and p38δ can differentiate to endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and epithelial cells

Abstract The p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (p38) are important signaling molecules that regulate various cellular processes. Four isoforms of p38 family, p38α, p38β, p38γ, and p38δ, have been identified in mammalian cells. Previous studies have shown that p38α knockout is embryonic lethal in mice. At the cellular level, p38α is abundantly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), but p38α knockout (p38α-/-) ESCs can differentiate to endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and neurons. We speculate that the lost function of p38α in p38α-/- ESCs may be compensated for by the redundant function of other isoforms. To test this hypothesis, we used siRNA approach to knock down the expression of p38δ, the second abundant isoform in ESCs. ESCs stably expressing p38δ siRNA were established from p38α-/- ESCs, resulting in 80% reduction of p38δ mRNA expression. However, these ESCs, deficient of both p38α and p38δ, could still differentiate into ECs and SMCs. We extended our investigation to test if these cells can differentiate into epithelial cells in which p38δ has been shown to regulate epidermis differentiation. Our results demonstrate again that ESC differentiation to epithelial cells is independent of p38α and p38δ. We conclude that p38α and p38δ are not essential for ESC differentiating into ECs, SMCs, or epithelial cells although numerous studies have shown that the two kinases regulate various cellular activities in aforementioned cells. Our results highlight the possibility that p38 MAP kinases may play less significant roles in ESC differentiation than in the regulation of cellular activities of fully differentiated somatic cells.
Structure–pharmacokinetic relationship of in vivo rat biliary excretion

Accurately measuring and predicting biliary excretion would be extremely valuable in evaluating the contribution of biliary excretion to the total systemic clearance, understanding potential mechanisms of hepatobiliary toxicity as well as potentials for drug-drug interactions in drug discovery. In this study, in vivo rat biliary excretion of drug-like molecules was measured using bile duct cannulated rats. Literature biliary excretion data with similar experimental conditions were collected. A predictive quantitative structure-pharmacokinetic relationship (QSPR) model was developed using genetic algorithm guided principal component regression analysis and 2D molecular descriptors. In the derived model, hydrophobicity expressed with calculated distribution coefficients (cLogD) is the most important molecular property correlating biliary excretion. The derived model has been validated using literature data, and should be useful in estimating biliary excretion potentials of molecules in drug discovery.
Electrophysiology and behavior converge in human extrastriate cortex.

Muller and colleagues provide behavioral, physiological and neuroanatomical correlates of our ability to rapidly allocate attention to different regions of visual space.
Security Issues for Cloud Computing

In this paper, the authors discuss security issues for cloud computing and present a layered framework for secure clouds and then focus on two of the layers, i.e., the storage layer and the data layer. In particular, the authors discuss a scheme for secure third party publications of documents in a cloud. Next, the paper will converse secure federated query processing with map Reduce and Hadoop, and discuss the use of secure co-processors for cloud computing. Finally, the authors discuss XACML implementation for Hadoop and discuss their beliefs that building trusted applications from untrusted components will be a major aspect of secure cloud computing.
Does the processing fluency of a syllabus affect the forecasted grade and course difficulty

Processing fluency is known to affect a variety of cognitive assessments, but most research has not examined such effects in the context of a real-life experience. In the first experiment, college ...
Russian wheat aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) reproduction and development on five noncultivated grass hosts

The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov), is a small grains pest of worldwide economic importance. The Russian wheat aphid is polyphagous and may encounter differential selective pressures from noncultivated grass hosts. Aphid biotypic diversity can disrupt the progress of plant breeding programs, leading to a decreased ability to manage this pest. The goal of this research was to quantify Russian wheat aphid biotype 2 (RWA2) reproductive and development rates on five common noncultivated grass hosts to gain information about host quality, potential refuges, and sources of selection pressure. First, RWA2 reproduction was compared on crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum, (L.) Gaertn.), intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia, (Host) Nevski), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus, (Link) Gould ex Shinners), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithi, (Rydb.) A. Love), and foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum, (L.) Tesky) at 18–24°C. Second, RWA2 reproduction was compared on intermediate and crested wheatgrass at three temperature regimes 13–18°C, 18–24°C, and 24–29°C. At moderate temperatures (18–24°C), the intrinsic rate of increase values for all five hosts ranged from 0.141 to 0.199, indicating the possibility for strong population sources on all tested hosts. Aphids feeding on crested and intermediate wheatgrass at the 13–18°C temperature had lower fecundity, less nymph production days, longer generational times, and lower intrinsic rate of increase than aphids feeding at the 18–24°C temperature regime. Aphids feeding at 24–29°C did not survive long enough to reproduce. The positive intrinsic rates of increase in Russian wheat aphid on the wheatgrasses suggest that these grasses can support aphid populations at moderate to low temperatures.
Villain or scapegoat? Nationalism and the outbreak of World War I

(1992). Villain or scapegoat? Nationalism and the outbreak of World War I. History of European Ideas: Vol. 15, No. 1-3, pp. 377-381.
Aflaxtoxin B1: The kidney as a site of action in the mouse

Abstract A single, lethal dose (60 mg/kg body weight) of aflatoxin B1 to mice caused, within three hours, a 50% suppression of precursor incorporation into total RNA of the kidneys, and the inhibition lasted beyond 72 hours. RNA polymerase activities were inhibited and RNA ratios decreased in kidney nuclei two hours after the same treatment. Neither effect was evident in the liver, which is the primary target organ of the toxin in other species.