cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vanadium-phosphorous-oxygen industrial catalysts for C4 hydrocarbon selective oxidation to maleic anhydride

Vanadium-phosphorus-oxygen (V-P-0) catalysts prepared in alcohol solution with P-to-V ratios from 0.9 to 1.2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a strong effect of P-to-V synthesis ratio on catalyst structure, catalyst morphology, vanadium oxidation state, and reactivity in n-butane selective oxidation to maleic anhydride was observed. A slight "excess" of catalyst phosphorus (P/V =1.1 catalyst) was found to stabilize a (VO)21*2^7 phase which was active and selective in n-butane oxidation. A larger "excess" of phosphorus was found to enhance selectivity of the (VO)2P2^j phase at the expense of catalyst activity. Used V-P-0 catalysts without "excess" phosphorus contained the active but nonselective a-VOPO^ phase.
Spread Spectrum Receiver Using Surface Acoustic Wave Technology

In this paper, various potential implementations of spread spectrum systems using surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices are discussed and experimental results for a phase-shift keyed (PSK) signal embedded in unwanted interference is presented. An overview of acoustic surface wave technology as it applies to signal processing in spread spectrum communication systems is presented. The ability to implement most of the basic elements of such systems using SAW devices is discussed, with emphasis on the space charge coupled convolver and Fourier transformer. SAW implementation of a fairly general block diagram applicable to a variety of signal and interference situations is described, and the relative advantages of SAW technology with respect to other technologies such as charge coupled devices is discussed.
Coherence, power laws, and the negative polarization surge

We develop a second-order ray-tracing model that includes the constructive interference of reciprocal rays and Fresnel reflections from an inverse gamma-type distribution function of path length to predict the negative polarization branch seen in some astronomical bodies. We expect that such a path-length distribution might resemble the path lengths undertaken by rays incident upon some astronomical bodies. The resulting negative polarization is largely wavelength independent and depends primarily on the power law in the path-length distribution, which coincides with some observations.
Genetic evidence for the tetramer structure of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Es wurden beiXiphophorus maculata undXiphophorus helleri zwei Isozyme von Glyceraldehyd-3-phosphat-Dehydrogenase nachgewiesen. Die biochemisch-genetischen U Untersuchungen deuten auf eine Tetrameren-Struktur.
Influence of membrane partitioning on inhibitors of membrane-bound enzymes

Membrane–water partitioning of inhibitors of acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) governs the concentration of inhibitor that ACAT is exposed to and determines the corresponding extent of cholesterol esterification inhibition. Partitioning of the ACAT inhibitors CI-976, CL 277,082, and SaH 58-035 into rat liver microsomes containing ACAT was detected by shifts in the level of inhibition that were independent of inhibitor concentration but inversely dependent on microsome membrane concentration. The equilibrium distribution of the ACAT inhibitors between aqueous and membrane phases was derived directly from these data by application of a previously described method of linear analysis. The accuracy of membrane partitioning analysis based on kinetic data was verified for CI-976 by direct measurements of [14C]CI-976 partitioning into phospholipid membranes. The results show that the ACAT inhibitors are highly partitioned into membranes by factors exceeding 1 × 106. This result is consistent with the far greater influence of membrane content over aqueous volume on inhibitor activity. The results demonstrate that the size of the membrane phase in aqueous suspension must be taken into account to obtain accurate and reproducible kinetic characterizations of membrane-active molecules. Analyses of the membrane-dependent shifts in activity can be used to calculate the membrane–water partitioning coefficient of membrane-active molecules such as ACAT inhibitors. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1859–1867, 2001
Programmed cell death of daylily petals: Activities of wall-based enzymes and effects of heat shock

Abstract Flowers of the daylily ( Hememcallis hybrid cv Stella d'Oro) provide an excellent system for the study of events related to cell death. The petals exhibit a highly predictable programme of senescence that occurs over a 24 h period after the flowers open. As petal cells age, they undergo large alterations in size, shape and cell-to-cell attachment. Specific activities of cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4) and pectin methylesterase (EC3.1.1.11) are highest before flower opening, and specific activities of polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) and β-galactosidase (EC3.2.1.23) increase after flower opening. Addition of an enzyme preparation that hydrolyzes wall materials accelerates senescence, as indicated by increases in peroxidized lipid and the onset of ion leakage. A 3 h heat shock administered 9 h before the flowers open induces two different classes of heat shock proteins and delays events that occur during senescence, such as increases in fresh weight, total protein, reducing sugars, protease activity, lipid peroxidation and ion leakage. Heat shock accelerates the decrease in cellulase activity and retards the increase in polygalacturonase activity. Possible roles for wall-based enzyme activity in ageing of daylily petals are presented.
A continuous fluorescence assay for sulfhydryl oxidase.

Abstract Flavin-dependent sulfhydryl oxidases represent a newly discovered family of proteins with a range of cellular locations and putative roles. The avian and mammalian proteins can catalyze the direct oxidation of protein cysteine residues to disulfides with the reduction of dioxygen to hydrogen peroxide. Although thiols interfere with the peroxidase-mediated quantitation of hydrogen peroxide, a very sensitive, continuous fluorescence assay of the sulfhydryl oxidases can be devised with careful selection of thiol substrate concentration and fluorogen. Purified avian enzyme (or crude chicken egg white) was used for these experiments. Homovanillic acid was found to be a suitable fluorogen in the presence of 300 μM thiols from either dithiothreitol or reduced ribonuclease A. High concentrations of horseradish peroxidase minimized the effects of contaminating catalase in biological samples. Using fluorescence microcells, the assay could detect 15 fmol of avian sulfhydryl oxidase and the rates were linearly dependent on enzyme concentration up to 6 nM. Aspects of the interaction among thiols, homovanillic acid, and peroxidase are discussed which limit the sensitivity of the assay and require that care is exercised in the application of this new procedure. Finally, the assay is used to show that there is sulfhydryl oxidase activity in a number of secretory fluids including human tears.
Effects of the 5-HT3 antagonist, ondansetron, on the behavioral and physiological effects of pentagastrin in patients with panic disorder and social phobia

Pentagastrin, a cholecystokinin (CCK) agonist, produces anxiety and panic in patients with panic disorder and social phobia. Preclinical data suggests that pentagastrin-induced anxiogenesis may be mediated via 5-HT3 receptors. In the present study, 14 patients with panic disorder or social phobia underwent pharmacological challenge in three conditions: (1) pretreatment with saline followed by pentagastrin infusion; (2) pretreatment with ondansetron followed by pentagastrin infusion; and (3) pretreatment with saline followed by saline infusion. As expected, pentagastrin administration led to increased anxiety, physical symptoms of panic attacks, pulse, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol. Pentagastrin's behavioral effects were not blocked by ondansetron, and in fact, tended to be exaggerated. Ondansetron pretreatment did not alter the pentagastrin-induced cortisol increase but significantly prolonged the pentagastrin-induced increase in ACTH. These findings suggest that pentagastrin's behavioral effects are not mediated by 5HT3 receptors. Mechanisms by which peripherally administered CCK agonists lead to anxiety remain to be elucidated.
Specific volumes and viscosities of the Ni–Zr alloys and their correlation with the glass formability of the alloys

Abstract The specific volumes and viscosities of the Ni–Zr liquid alloys as a function of temperature are determined by employing a digitizing technique and numerical analysis methods applied to the optical images of the electrostatically levitated liquid alloys. The results show that the specific volume of the NiZr 2 alloy is significantly smaller than that of an ideal mixture of the constituent metals, thereby indicating the presence of the associated species in the form of NiZr 2 . The presence of NiZr 2 species can account for the observed properties; the specific volume anomaly above the melting point under a moderate cooling rate and a relatively small undercooling level prior to crystallization. The results also show that the viscosities of the compound forming alloys are larger than those of the eutectic alloys, thereby indicating the presence of the NiZr and NiZr 2 species. The associated species are stable and exist at temperatures well above their melting points. It is concluded that a small specific volume or a large viscosity resulting from the presence of the associated species primarily facilitates the glass formation of the Ni–Zr alloys by slowing down the growth of the crystalline phases.
Chemotherapy of thyroid cancer. An evaluation of experience with 37 patients.

Thirty-seven patients who were treated with antineoplastic drugs for metastatic thyroid carcinoma were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of chemotherapy in this disease. All cell types were included in the series, but there was a predominance of the spindle and giant cell and medullary types. Three patients had no treatment prior to the chemotherapy, with the remainder having been treated previously by surgery,131I, and radiotherapy, either separately or in combination. A wide variety of drugs were used. Five of 37 patients had partial remission of their disease. The median duration of response is now 3+ months, with two patients still responding. Three of the five responders were treated with the new antitumor antibiotic, adriamycin. The preliminary results with this drug have encouraged us to use it as a drug of choice in a prospective protocol for the treatment of metastatic thyroid cancer, and to explore its use earlier in the course of treatment.
NEUROLOGICAL DISRUPTION PRODUCED IN HENS BY TWO ORGANOPHOSPHATE ESTERS

A histological and enzymatic examination was made of the neurological disruption produced in hens by two organophosphate esters. Intraperitoneal administration of DEF (tributyl phosphorotrithiolate) and Merphos (tributyl phosphorotrithioite) produced central and perpheral nervous system lesions accompanied by clinical signs of ataxia similar to those seen following administration of tri-o-cresyl phosphate. Histological examination (utilizing the Marchi stain) showed the occurence of spinal cord disruption before the onset of clinical ataxia. Oral administration of DEF and Merphos did not induce signs of peripheral weakness. However, severe lesions in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve were prominent. A discussion of the occurrence of central and peripheral nerve disruption either in the presence or absence of clinical ataxia is presented. Enzymatic examination of the effect of DEF on spinal cord and brain esterases at various intervals following administration showed a pattern of esterase inhibition similar to that found after tri-o-cresyl phosphate, dyflos and other organophosphates. Some prolonged inhibition is believed due to the extent of initial involvement rather than to selective prolonged inhibition.
The feasibility of global democracy: understanding ICANN’s at‐large election

Stages global elections held in 2000 by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), provide opportunities to test claims of the sceptics of global democracy, and those elections cast doubt on the strong claims of critics. Suggests that analysis shows that democracy in ICANN works well enough to merit an investment of resources to make it better. Concludes ICANN’s global elections starkly manifested the value of democratic governance.
Hallan Çemi Tepesi: High-ranked Game Exploitation alongside Intensive Seed Processing at the Epipaleolithic-Neolithic Transition in Southeastern Turkey

Starkovich B.M. & Stiner M.C. 2009. — Hallan Cemi Tepesi: High-ranked Game Exploitation alongside Intensive Seed Processing at the Epipaleolithic-Neolithic Transition in Southeastern Turkey. Anthropozoologica 44(1): 41-61.
Suppression of murine virus leukaemogenesis by thioglycollate, a bacteriological culture medium that affects macrophage peroxidase.

INFECTION of mice with an oncornavirus such as Friend leukaemia virus (FLV) results in splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, blood cell dyscrasia and eventually death1–3. Such leukaemias can often be prevented or suppressed by either specific immunisation with a vaccine prepared from the virus or leukaemic cells4–5, by treatment with non-specific enhancers of immune responsiveness such as bacterial lipopolysaccharides or polynucleotides6–8, or by an interferon inducer like statalon9, 10. Activated macrophages are thought to be the cells of the reticuloendothelial system primarily involved in nonspecific anti-tumour immunity. Since enhanced metabolic activity of phagocytes has been associated with wide spectrum microbicidal ability, it was interesting to determine whether thioglycollate treatment of mice would stimulate their macrophages and thereby affect FLV-induced leukaemogenesis. In vitro studies revealed that phagocytosis causes stimulation of peroxidase activity and H2O2 production by phagocytic cells from different sources12. It is well established that the combination of peroxidase, H2O2 and a halide such as chloride or iodide exerts a potent antimicrobial affect at acidic pH13–16. We now report marked inhibition of FLV-induced leukaemogenesis in mice injected with thioglycollate; this inhibition could possibly be related to increased peroxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities of peritoneal exudate (PE) cell macrophages in the treated animals.
Aortic Saddle Embolus From a Mestastatic Cardiac Tumor: Report of a Case

A case of urinary tract carcinoma metastatic to the endocardial surface of the left ventricle resulted in an aortic saddle embolus in a 51-year-old man with congenital hypogammaglobu linemia. Aortic saddle embolism is a rare complication of tumor metastatic to the heart.
An exchange format for representing dynamic information generated from High Performance Computing applications

High Performance Computing (HPC) systems tend to be complex to debug and analyze due to the large number of processes they involve and the way they communicate with each other to perform specific tasks. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of tools to help software engineers analyze the behavior of HPC applications. These tools provide several features that facilitate the understanding and analysis of the information contained in inter-process communication traces generated from running an HPC application. They, however, use different formats to represent traces, which hinders interoperability and sharing of data. In this paper, we address this by proposing an exchange format called MTF (MPI Trace Format) for representing and exchanging traces generated from HPC applications based on the MPI (Message Passing Interface) standard, which is a de facto standard for inter-process communication for high performance computing systems. The design of MTF is validated against well-known requirements for a standard exchange format, with an objective being to lead the work towards standardizing the way MPI traces are represented in order to allow better synergy among tools. We have also developed an MTF toolkit that supports the generation of MTF traces equipped with a query engine to facilitate the retrieval of data from MTF traces. Finally, we show how MTF can carry a large trace generated using a commercial off the shelf MPI trace analysis tool.
Emerging concepts on the epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of the Kiss1 gene

Kisspeptin and its receptor have been implicated as critical regulators of reproductive physiology, with humans and mice without functioning kisspeptin systems displaying severe pubertal and reproductive defects. Alterations in the expression of Kiss1 (the gene encoding kisspeptin) over development, along with differences in Kiss1 expression between the sexes in adulthood, may be critical for the maturation and functioning of the neuroendocrine reproductive system and could possibly contribute to pubertal progression, sex differences in luteinizing hormone secretion, and other facets of reproductive physiology. It is therefore essential to understand how Kiss1 gene expression develops and what possible regulatory mechanisms govern the modulation of its expression. A number of recent studies, primarily in rodent or cell line models, have focused on the contributions of epigenetic mechanisms to the regulation of Kiss1 gene expression; thus far, mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and histone methylation have been investigated. This review discusses the most recent findings on the epigenetic control of Kiss1 expression in adulthood, the evidence for epigenetic factors affecting Kiss1 expression during puberty and development, and findings regarding the contribution of epigenetics to the sexually dimorphic expression of Kiss1 in the hypothalamus.
Lack of homology between the alliin lyases of garlic and onion

Abstract The genus Allium contains a number of important food plants whose characteristic flavours and odours are produced by the action of the enzyme alliin lyase (EC 4.4.1.4) on endogenous non-protein S-containing amino acids. Previous studies had shown great differences in the purified enzyme from onion (A. cepa) and garlic (A. sativum). The present study examined the degree of homology of the enzyme protein from these two sources based on its immunological cross-reaction with polyclonal antibodies produced by homogeneous enzyme from each species. The results show no cross-reaction of the garlic enzyme antibodies with the onion enzyme, and an inconsistent amount of cross-reaction of the garlic enzyme with onion antibodies. In addition N-terminal amino acid analysis shows a large difference between the purified enzyme from these two sources.
Pin Versus Disk Punch Measurements of Frankfurter Texture

Puncture measurements were made of frankfurter texture using either a pin (straight-sided shaft) or a disk (narrow shaft) punch. The forces resisting pin punch puncture were compression, tension, and friction, whereas no frictional forces were involved when the disk punch was used. Within a given set of samples, both pin and disk measurements gave the same value (avg. = 413.6 ± 1.9) for the maximum force at the yield points when extrapolated to zero penetration distance. For heterogeneous samples from a previous study, the values ranged from 34.7 to 574.9g. Negative force increments in puncture measurements are explained on the basis of deformation of the gel.
Optimal foraging by firemouth cichlids, Cichlasoma meeki, in a social context

Abstract Pairs of juvenile firemouth cichlids, Cichlasoma meeki , were allowed to feed on Tubifex worms for 5 min. In the experiment, the worms were distributed so as to simulate a patchy resource with two levels of average abundance. The dominant member of each ichlid pair exhibited feeding behaviour consistent with expectations from optimal foraging theory, i.e. it fed primarily in the most profitable patch initially. When food was relatively abundant, the subordinate fish fed predominantly in the second most profitable patch. In this way it minimized the costs associated with agonistic activity. This study illustrates the usefulness of a multivariate approach in the study of foraging behaviour.
Pathogenesis of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

For the foreseeable future, Pneumocystis cannu pneu­ monia is likely to remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Our knowledge of the pathogenesis of P. carinii pneumonia has grown during the past several years, and yet the basic mechanisms that per­ mit P. carinii to survive and replicate within the alveolar spaces are poorly understood. As an example, despite 25 years of intensive effort, many aspects regarding the life cycle of P. carinii have eluded in­ vestigators. Certainly, it has been known for some time that P. carinii exist as 5- to 7-p,m encysted organisms and as 1-to ft-p,m trophozoites (independent forms released from the cysts). Surprisingly, little is known regarding the intermedi­
Use of simulated evaporation to assess the potential for scale formation during reverse osmosis desalination

The tendency of solutes in input water to precipitate efficiency lowering scale deposits on the membranes of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination systems is an important factor in determining the suitability of input water for desalination. Simulated input water evaporation can be used as a technique to quantitatively assess the potential for scale formation in RO desalination systems. The technique was demonstrated by simulating the increase in solute concentrations required to form calcite, gypsum, and amorphous silica scales at 25°C and 40°C from 23 desalination input waters taken from the literature. Simulation results could be used to quantitatively assess the potential of a given input water to form scale or to compare the potential of a number of input waters to form scale during RO desalination. Simulated evaporation of input waters cannot accurately predict the conditions under which scale will form owing to the effects of potentially stable supersaturated solutions, solution velocity, and residence time inside RO systems. However, the simulated scale-forming potential of proposed input waters could be compared with the simulated scale-forming potentials and actual scale-forming properties of input waters having documented operational histories in RO systems. This may provide a technique to estimate the actual performance and suitability of proposed input waters during RO.
Observation of magnetic field-induced contraction of fission yeast cells using optical projection microscopy

The charges in live cells interact with or produce electric fields, which results in enormous dielectric responses, flexoelectricity, and related phenomena. Here we report on a contraction of Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast) cells induced by magnetic fields, as observed using a phase-sensitive projection imaging technique. Unlike electric fields, magnetic fields only act on moving charges. The observed behavior is therefore quite remarkable, and may result from a contractile Lorentz force acting on diamagnetic screening currents. This would indicate extremely high intracellular charge mobilities. Besides, we observed a large electro-optic response from fission yeast cells.
Probing Energetics of Aβ Fibril Elongation by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Using replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations and an all-atom implicit solvent model, we probed the energetics of Aβ10–40 fibril growth. The analysis of the interactions between incoming Aβ peptides and the fibril led us to two conclusions. First, considerable variations in fibril binding propensities are observed along the Aβ sequence. The peptides in the fibril and those binding to its edge interact primarily through their N-termini. Therefore, the mutations affecting the Aβ positions 10–23 are expected to have the largest impact on fibril elongation compared with those occurring in the C-terminus and turn. Second, we performed weak perturbations of the binding free energy landscape by scanning partial deletions of side-chain interactions at various Aβ sequence positions. The results imply that strong side-chain interactions—in particular, hydrophobic contacts—impede fibril growth by favoring disordered docking of incoming peptides. Therefore, fibril elongation may be promoted by moderate reduction of Aβ hydrophobicity. The comparison with available experimental data is presented.
A Survey as to the Content of the Introductory POM Course

Academicians and practitioners were surveyed as to what should be taught in the introductory Production/Operations Management (POM) course. Study results indicate practitioners feel that the course...
Expression and Function of a Mislocalized Form of Peroxisomal Malate Dehydrogenase (MDH3) in Yeast

The malate dehydrogenase isozyme MDH3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was found to be localized to peroxisomes by cellular fractionation and density gradient centrifugation. However, unlike other yeast peroxisomal enzymes that function in the glyoxylate pathway, MDH3 was found to be refractory to catabolite inactivation, i.e. to rapid inactivation and degradation following glucose addition. To examine the structural requirements for organellar localization, the Ser-Lys-Leu carboxyl-terminal tripeptide, a common motif for localization of peroxisomal proteins, was removed by mutagenesis of the MDH3 gene. This resulted in cytosolic localization of MDH3 in yeast transformants. To examine structural requirements for catabolite inactivation, a 12-residue amino-terminal extension from the yeast cytosolic MDH2 isozyme was added to the amino termini of the peroxisomal and mislocalized "cytosolic" forms of MDH3. This extension was previously shown to be essential for catabolite inactivation of MDH2 but failed to confer this property to MDH3. The mislocalized cytosolic forms of MDH3 were found to be catalytically active and competent for metabolic functions normally provided by MDH2.
Cost-effectiveness opportunities for new antibiotics.

Antibacterial drugs account for between 6 and 21% of the drug market in various countries, or between 3 and 25% of the total prescriptions. Given the high usage of these agents, they are appropriate candidates for economic appraisal in the near future.
Adverse effects of Escherichia coli infection of turkeys were not alleviated by supplemental dietary vitamin E

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary vitamin E on the response of young male turkeys to Escherichia coli infection. A complete factorial arrangement of two concentrations of supplemental dietary vitamin E (12 or 300 IU/kg as dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) and infection or no infection of turkeys with E. coli was used in both experiments. In Experiment 1, each dietary treatment was fed to four pens of turkeys from 1 to 28 d of age. At 28 d, turkeys in two pens per dietary treatment received an injection of 3.0 x 10(7) E. coli cells into the left and right thoracic air sacs. All turkeys were necropsied 7 d after E. coli injection and the incidence and severity of lesions in air sacs, lungs, pericardium, and liver were determined. The same dietary vitamin E treatments were used in Experiment 2. Each diet was fed to eight pens of turkeys from 1 to 47 d of age. At 47 d, turkeys in four pens per dietary treatment received an injection of 3.0 x 10(7) cells of the same E. coli used in Experiment 1 into the left and right thoracic air sacs. All turkeys were necropsied as in Experiment 1 at 54 d of age. Weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization were impaired markedly by E. coli infection during the 7 d after injection. Livability also was decreased by E. coli infection in Experiment 1 but not in Experiment 2. Adverse effects of E. coli on performance and livability were not affected by dietary vitamin E concentration. Lesions observed in turkeys that received E. coli injection ranged from mild to severe, with the most severe lesions observed in air sacs. Lung lesions were observed frequently but were less severe than in air sacs. Dietary concentration of vitamin E had no effect on incidence or severity of lesions in air sacs or lungs. Overall, the results of these experiments show that adding 300 IU of vitamin E/kg of diet did not alleviate the adverse effects of E. coli infection in young turkeys.
Free Energy of Multicomponent Systems Employing Partial NNPDF's

A new scheme analogous to that employed for the determination of the free energy of classical single-component systems, with arbitrary many-body interaction potentials at arbitrary densities and temperatures, is extended to classical multicomponent systems. Self-consistency of the scheme has been shown for some limiting conditions, including the noninteraction limit. Thermodynamic expressions are obtained which are natural extensions of those for the single-component case and readily reduce to their correct forms in the single-component limit. Application to the simple case of low-density mixtures of hard particle gases in 3-D is outlined. It is expected (as in the single-component case) that progressive application to more complex systems (such as quantum mixed systems) will be done under a single mathematical framework, as provided in this paper.
The potassium concentration of frog Ringer's solution.

Pour etre certain que le degagement et l'absorption du potassium sont exactement compenses dans un muscle de grenouille etudiein vitro dans la solution de Ringer, il faut adapter la concentration du potassium de cette solution aux conditions particulieres de l'experience et tenir compte du fait que le degre de concentration requis varie d'un muscle a l'autre.
Procedures for Tandem Mass Spectrometry on an Ion Trap Storage/Reflectron Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer

In this work, we demonstrate tandem mass spectrometry on an ion trap storage-reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (IT/reTOFMS). Ion isolation and activation were achieved by resonant excitation using multi- and single-frequency waveforms generated from an analog circuit. Product-ion spectra of small polypeptides are obtained, which are comparable in fragmentation to those acquired on sector or hybrid mass spectrometers. Several important parameters governing the tandem mass spectrometry process, including the activation tickle voltage, type of collision gas, activation period and cooling period after the fragmentation were optimized using leucine-enkephalin as a model. Although the limited energy deposition from collisional activation in our experiments does not allow efficient fragmentation of large singly charged polypeptides with m/z higher than 1000, the problem may be partially solved by taking advantage of fragmenting the multiply charged ions produced from the electrospray ionization source as demonstrated for a synthetic polypeptide of molecular weight 2782. Compared to the singly charged form, the reduced m/z of multiply charged forms experience a greater trapping force as described by the pseudopotential well-depth model. Increased pseudopotential well-depths for multiply charged species permit the use of greater fragmentation energy at lower RF potentials. These conditions facilitate the fragmentation of large polypeptides, yet are suitable for trapping singly charged fragments. These experiments indicate that the high efficiency associated with ion dissociation and fragment-ion collection in the trap and the storage capability for detection of ions using the non-scanning mode of the IT/ reTOF analyzer may provide an alternative means for acquiring sequence-specific information of polypeptides at low picomol levels of sensitivity.
DEAPspace: transient ad hoc networking of prevasive devices

Abstract The rapid spreading of mobile computerized devices marks the beginning of a new computing paradigm characterized by ad hoc networking and spontaneous interaction, taking place transparently to the human user. The DEAPspace project described in this paper aims at providing a framework for interconnecting pervasive devices over a wireless medium. It supports the development of new proximity-based collective distributed applications. In this paper we discuss the motivation of the project and describe possible new application scenarios from which requirements for both the supporting framework and the underlying wireless medium are derived. Central research issues such as a new push-model-based approach to fast and resource efficient service discovery, and encoding and match-making of compact service descriptions, are elaborated in more detail. The paper also describes some related work and concludes with a critical review of existing wireless communication technologies, followed by a description of the current state of our project and an outlook on future research directions.
Aerosol Vaccination Induces Robust Protective Immunity to Homologous and Heterologous Influenza Infection in Mice

Live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) delivered by large droplet intranasal spray is efficacious against infection. However, many of the large droplets are trapped in the external nares and do not reach the target nasal airway tissues. Smaller droplets might provide better distribution yielding similar protection with lower doses. We evaluated 20 and 30 micron aerosol delivery of influenza virus in mice. A 15 second aerosol exposure optimally protected against homologous and heterologous influenza infection and induced a robust immune response. These results demonstrate the feasibility of nasal vaccination using aerosolized particles, providing a strategy to improve vaccine efficacy and delivery.
Characterization of the nutritional endoderm in the direct developing frog Eleutherodactylus coqui

Unlike Xenopus laevis, Eleutherodactylus coqui develops without a tadpole. The yolk-rich vegetal region of the embryo forms a transient nutritive tissue, the nutritional endoderm (NE). The definitive endoderm (DE) in E. coqui comes from cells closer to the animal pole in contrast to its vegetal origin in X. laevis. RNA important for initiating the endoderm specification network is absent in presumptive NE cells, raising the question whether signaling occurs in them. We explored the nature of NE and asked how differences between NE and DE cells arise. We identified differences between NE and DE that first become evident at gastrula, when NE cells become multinucleated. Nuclear β-catenin, an essential cofactor of sox 17, important for endoderm formation in X. laevis, is present in NE and DE at gastrula but remains in NE long after it is not seen in DE. We cloned E. coqui homologs of TGFβs activin b and derriere and provide evidence for their maternal expression. We also detected activin b and derriere RNAs in NE at gastrula and show that NE possesses some mesoderm-inducing activity, but it is delayed with respect to DE. Our findings indicate that altered development of NE begins at gastrula. RNAs important for mesendoderm induction and some mesoderm-inducing activity are present in NE.
A Thick Anger Camera for Gamma-Ray Astronomy

The NaI(Tl) Anger camera is a natural candidate for a position sensitive detector in imaging of astrophysical ?-ray sources. Here we present laboratory measurements of the response of a relatively thick (5.1 cm) NaI(Tl) Anger camera designed for coded aperture imaging in the 50 keV to 2 MeV energy range. We obtained a position resolution of 10.5 mm FWHM at 122 keV and 6.3 mm FWHM at 662 keV. The energy resolution was 7% FWHM at 662 keV. We discuss the ability of the detector to resolve the depth of the ?-ray interaction and the use of this depth resolution to reduce back-incident and internal background.
Responsibility-centred budgeting: an emerging trend in higher education budget reform

Higher education institutions in the United States are entering a new era in budgeting. Therefore, institutions are actively engaging in dialogues about the budgeting tools that will most effectively assist them in achieving institutional goals and objectives within their strategic plans and being accountable for the use of scarce resources, as allocated by State appropriations and/or received through student tuition fees. This paper introduces commonly used budgeting tools for higher education institutions and provides an expanded overview of one specific budgeting tool, responsibility-centred budgeting (RCB). Two public institutions that have adopted the RCB model are compared, and there is an overview of the development of the ‘Allocation Framework’ utilised by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Geometric effects in applied-field MPD thrusters

Three applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster geometries were tested with argon propellant to establish the influence of electrode geometry on thruster performance. The thrust increased approximately linearly with anode radius, while the discharge and electrode fall voltages increased quadratically with anode radius. All these parameters increased linearly with applied-field strength. Thrust efficiency, on the other hand, was not significantly influenced by changes in geometry over the operating range studied, though both thrust and thermal efficiencies increased monotonically with applied field strength. The best performance, 1820 sec I(sub sp) at 20 percent efficiency, was obtained with the largest radius anode at the highest discharge current (1500 amps) and applied field strength (0.4 Tesla).
Christian Ethics and Corporate Culture: A Critical Review on Corporate Responsibilities

When it comes to loving God and your neighbour and doing good and avoiding evil—the core principles of Christian ethics—the corporate world is invariably at the receiving end of criticism and criti...
Lithographically Cut Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Controlling Length Distribution and Introducing End-Group Functionality

Single-walled carbon nanotubes are efficiently cut to precise submicrometer lengths and very narrow length distributions. Chemical functional groups are placed selectively only at the ends without the nanotube walls being modified or damaged. The new methodology includes lithography to place protective photoresist patterns over the nanotubes and reactive ion etching to remove the unprotected nanostructure. This approach enables critical dimensional and chemical control for integrated nanodevice manufacturing based on chemical self-assembly under ambient conditions.
Comments on "FIR digital filter design techniques using weighted Chebyshev approximation"

The history of the FIR filter approximation problem, as recently presented by Rabiner, McClellan, and Parks, is deficient in some areas and misleading in others. Some corrections are suggested. In addition to a brief discussion of different approaches to the design of FIR digital filters, areas into which present methods can be readily extended are outlined. The relationship between the parks and McClellan method and the upper and lower function method is presented.
Impact of racial macro- and microaggressions in black women's lives: A preliminary analysis

Most studies on perceived racial discrimination do not differentiate between macroaggressions (i.e., overt, purposeful discrimination) and microaggressions (i.e., subtle, typically unconscious disc...
Young adult female fragile X premutation carriers show age- and genetically-modulated cognitive impairments

The high frequency of the fragile X premutation in the general population and its emerging neurocognitive implications highlight the need to investigate the effects of the premutation on lifespan cognitive development. Until recently, cognitive function in fragile X premutation carriers (fXPCs) was presumed to be unaffected by the mutation. Here we show that young adult female fXPCs show subtle, yet significant, age- and FMR1 gene mutation-modulated cognitive impairments as tested by a quantitative magnitude comparison task. Our results begin to define the neurocognitive endophenotype associated with the premutation in adults, who are at risk for developing a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the fragile X premutation. Results from the present study may potentially be applied toward the design of early interventions wherein we might be able to target premutation carriers most at risk for degeneration for preventive treatment.
The Atmospheric Chemistry and Canopy Exchange Simulation System (ACCESS): model description and application to a temperate deciduous forest canopy

Abstract. Forest canopies are primary emission sources of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and have the potential to significantly influence the formation and distribution of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass. Biogenically-derived SOA formed as a result of emissions from the widespread forests across the globe may affect air quality in populated areas, degrade atmospheric visibility, and affect climate through direct and indirect forcings. In an effort to better understand the formation of SOA mass from forest emissions, a 1-D column model of the multiphase physical and chemical processes occurring within and just above a vegetative canopy is being developed. An initial, gas-phase-only version of this model, the Atmospheric Chemistry and Canopy Exchange Simulation System (ACCESS), includes processes accounting for the emission of BVOCs from the canopy, turbulent vertical transport within and above the canopy and throughout the height of the planetary boundary layer (PBL), near-explicit representation of chemical transformations, mixing with the background atmosphere and bi-directional exchange between the atmosphere and canopy and the atmosphere and forest floor. The model formulation of ACCESS is described in detail and results are presented for an initial application of the modeling system to Walker Branch Watershed, an isoprene-emission-dominated forest canopy in the southeastern United States which has been the focal point for previous chemical and micrometeorological studies. Model results of isoprene profiles and fluxes are found to be consistent with previous measurements made at the simulated site and with other measurements made in and above mixed deciduous forests in the southeastern United States. Sensitivity experiments are presented which explore how canopy concentrations and fluxes of gas-phase precursors of SOA are affected by background anthropogenic nitrogen oxides (NOx). Results from these experiments suggest that the level of ambient NOx influences the pathways by which SOA is formed by affecting the relative magnitudes and fluxes of isoprene oxidation products emitted from the canopy. Future versions of the ACCESS model are planned to be multiphase, including gas- and aerosol-phase chemical and physical processes, to more fully explore these preliminary results.
Age-related changes in neural activity during performance matched working memory manipulation

A long-standing assumption in the cognitive aging literature is that performance on working memory (WM) tasks involving serial recall is relatively unaffected by aging, whereas tasks that require the rearrangement of items prior to recall are more age-sensitive. Previous neuroimaging studies of WM have found age-related increases in neural activity in frontoparietal brain regions during simple maintenance tasks, but few have examined whether there are age-related differences that are specific to rearranging WM items. In the current study, older and younger adults' brain activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as they performed WM tasks involving either maintenance or manipulation (letter–number sequencing). The paradigm was developed so that performance was equivalent across age groups in both tasks, and the manipulation condition was not more difficult than the maintenance condition. In younger adults, manipulation-related increases in activation occurred within a very focal set of regions within the canonical brain WM network, including left posterior prefrontal cortex and bilateral inferior parietal cortex. In contrast, older adults showed a much wider extent of manipulation-related activation within this WM network, with significantly increased activity relative to younger adults found within bilateral PFC. The results suggest that activation and age-differences in lateral PFC engagement during WM manipulation conditions may reflect strategy use and controlled processing demands rather than reflect the act of manipulation per se.
Finding common ground between evolutionary biology and continental philosophy

This article identifies already existing theoretical and methodological commonalities between evolutionary biology and phenomenology, concentrating specifically on their common pursuit of origins. It identifies in passing theoretical support from evolutionary biology for present-day concerns in philosophy, singling out Sartre’s conception of fraternity as an example. It anchors its analysis of the common pursuit of origins in Husserl’s consistent recognition of the grounding significance of Nature and in his consistent recognition of animate forms of life other than human. It enumerates and exemplifies five basic errors of continental philosophers with respect to Nature, errors testifying to a philosophical fundamentalism that distorts the intricate interconnections and relationships of Nature in favor of a preferred knowledge rooted in ontological reductionism. It shows that to discover and appreciate the common ground, one must indeed study “the things themselves.”
The Role of Letter Names in Children's Learning of Phoneme-Grapheme Relations.

Three studies were performed to explore the role of letter names in children's learning of correspondences between phonemes and graphemes. Some preschoolers and kindergartners were found to spell initial /w/ as y. They made this error because the name of y, /wai/, begins with /w/. Kindergartners in another study often said that y makes the sound /wdoubt/, even after they had been taught otherwise. Other results suggested that children benefit from letter-name knowledge to spell phonemes such as /b/, which occur at the beginning of a consonant-vowel letter name. Letter-name knowledge is less helpful for phonemes such as /1/, which occur at the end of a vowel-consonant letter name. Our findings suggest that children use their knowledge of letter names and their phonological segmentation skills when they learn the correspondences between phonemes and graphemes. They do not memorize these links in a rote, paired-associate manner.
Analyzing the spectral dimensionality of outdoor visible and near-infrared illumination functions

The spectral properties of outdoor illumination functions can vary significantly, owing to atmospheric conditions and scene geometry. Using a statistical analysis of a comprehensive physical model, we show that the variation in outdoor illumination functions over both the visible range (0.33–0.7 µm) and the visible/near-infrared range (0.4–2.5 µm) can be represented accurately by use of seven-dimensional linear models. The physical model includes solar and scattered radiation as well as the effects of atmospheric gases and aerosols. The modtran 3.5 code was employed for computing radiative transfer aspects of the model. We show that the new model has strong agreement over the visible wavelengths with the empirical study of Judd [J. Opt. Soc. Am.54, 1031 (1964)]. We also demonstrate the accuracy of the model over the 0.4–2.5-µm spectral range, using measured outdoor illumination functions.