cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acetate-based methane production.

This chapter explores the microbiology and biochemistry of acetate conversion to methane, a key component of biomethanation. It provides a fundamental background appropriate for stimulating advances to improve the process that will ensure biomethanation among the competitive alternatives to fossil fuels. Biomethanation of organic matter in nature occurs in diverse habitats such as freshwater sediments, rice paddies, sewage digesters, the rumen, the lower intestinal tract of monogastric animals, landfills, hydrothermal vents, coastal marine sediments, and the subsurface. Methanosarcina species synthesize tetrahydrosarcinapterin (H4SPT) which serves the same function as tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT). The aceticlastic and CO2 reduction pathways generate primary sodium and proton gradients that are the only possible driving forces for ATP synthesis. The production of acetate from complex biomass by fermentative and acetogenic anaerobes and the subsequent conversion of acetate to methane by aceticlastic methanogens are of primary importance in the biomethanation process. Aceticlastic methanogenesis is the major factor controlling the rate and reliability of the process; thus, a comprehensive understanding of these methanogens is paramount for developing an efficient process for biomethanation of renewable and waste biomass for use as a biofuel. Although the enzymology of reactions leading from acetate to methane by Methanosarcina species is fairly well understood, there have been only a few investigations reported on the mechanism of energy conservation and regulation of gene expression. Further, global proteomic and microarray analyses have identified a host of proteins and genes in Methanosarcina species, many with unknown functions, that may be important or essential.
Pathways through the macrophage vacuolar compartment

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the various pathways through the vacuolar compartment. The essential route through the vacuolar compartment consists of three component activities: entry, transit and recycling. Entry that includes the processes of phagocytosis, pinocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis, occurs when plasma membrane invaginates to enclose extracellular molecules or particles into intracellular vesicles. Subsequent membrane fusion and fission reactions typically deliver the contents of these vesicles to endosomes and then to lysosomes, where most macromolecules are degraded by acid hydrolases. The exchange of membrane and content that occurs en route to lysosomes, and the mechanisms that reestablish compartment identities, allow some internalized membrane and solutes to recycle to the cell surface. The net effect is that extracellular solutes and particles are delivered efficiently to lysosomes through a series of compartments whose distinct identities are maintained even as the exogenous passengers move through them. The chapter also describes a model to explain pathways dynamics. The aim is to describe the general flow of membrane, solutes, water, and macromolecules into and through the macrophage.
Allosteric regulation of mouse brain serine racemase.

Serine racemase, purified from mouse brain, consisted of two isoforms. They had similar enzymatic properties and had molecular weights of about 55 kDa based on size exclusion chromatography. This is about twice that reported from its electrophoretic mobility on SDS gels or from the amino acid sequence of the recombinant enzyme. In addition to the previously reported requirements for pyridoxal phosphate and reducing agents, we found that both forms of the enzyme required Mg2+ and were strongly stimulated by yeast extract. The yeast extract could be replaced by ATP, GTP, or ADP and, to a lesser extent, by other nucleotides. In the presence of 1 mM ATP, the Km for l-serine decreased from 13 mM to 1.8 mM with little change in V max, indicating an allosteric mechanism for nucleotide activation. In addition to acting as a serine racemase, the enzyme has been reported to act on l-serine O-sulfate as a dehydratase. When measured by HPLC, after derivatization with 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine, we found, as expected, a very rapid formation of pyruvate from this substrate. l-serine was also converted to pyruvate at about twice the racemization rate. l-serine O-sulfate dehydration was inhibited by ATP, while l-serine dehydration, like racemization, was activated by nucleotides, indicating that, for l-serine, dehydration and racemization take place at the same site.
Understanding Complexity: Dynamic Analysis of Combat Vehicle Accidents

Dozens of U.S. soldiers are killed each year as a result of both combat and motor vehicle accidents. The objective of this study is to look beyond the events and symptoms of accidents which normally indicate human error, and instead study the complex and poorly understood upper-level organizational processes and problems that may constitute the actual root causes of accidents - this is particularly challenging because the causes often involve nonlinear dynamic phenomena and have behaviors that are counter-intuitive to normal human thinking, these are often called wicked problems. After reviewing the available literature, a System Dynamics model was created to provide an analytical model of this multifaceted system that allows for extensive simulation. The results of these simulations suggest that high-level decisions that balance mission rate and operations tempo with troop availability, careful management of the work-rest cycle for deployed troops, and improvement of the processes for evaluating the lessons learned from accidents, will lead to a reduction in Army combat and motor vehicle accidents.
Before and after WOWCS: a literature survey, a list of papers we wish had been submitted

The Workshop on Organizing Workshops, Conferences, and Symposia for Computer Systems (WOWCS) was organized to "bring together conference organizers (past, present, and future) and other interested people to discuss the issues they confront." In addition to the position papers submitted to the workshop, the WOWCS program committee has collected a bibliography of previous publications in this area. We also list some topics about which we wish we had received submissions, but did not; these could be good topics for future articles.
F-region plasma distribution seen from TIMED/GUVI and its relation to the equatorial spread F activity

[1] The OI 135.6-nm nightglow images from GUVI on board the TIMED satellite provide a unique opportunity to investigate the global plasma distribution in the F region. We report that there exist large seasonal-longitudinal variations in the F-region plasma density which may explain some aspects of the equatorial spread F (ESF) morphology. We suggest that an occurrence of high plasma density is responsible for the strong ESF activity during equinox periods at most longitudes, whereas an occurrence of low plasma density is responsible for the suppressed ESF activity during northern summer in the American-Atlantic sector.
Vibrio vulnificus infection after raw oyster ingestion in a patient with liver disease and acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related complex.

Abstract Sepsis, peritonitis, and gastroenteritis developed in a 45-yr-oJd homosexual man 1 day after ingestion of raw oysters. The patient had chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis with hepatitis B virus and δ-infection. He also had persistent generalized lymphadenopathy associated with HTLV-III antibody positivity. Vibrio vulnificus was isolated from the patient's blood and peritoneal fluid as well as from the same batch of oysters at the restaurant where the patient had visited. To our knowledge, this is the first report relating direct microbiologic and clinical evidence that the infection is acquired through the gastrointestinal tract by consuming raw seafood containing the pathogen. This is also the first reported case of peritonitis associated with sepsis and gastroenteritis from this organism. Patients with liver disease and other immunocompromised states should be warned about such life-threatening infections and complications associated with the consumption of raw oysters or other undercooked seafoods.
Circuit analysis software testing

Before introducing new circuit analysis software packages into design courses, it is advisable to verify their quality and limitations. The market is currently supplied with several popular and inexpensive, sometimes public domain, software packages allowing analysis of relatively complex circuits. The popular analysis tools applied in introductory and advanced courses of electronic circuit analysis and design are PC versions of Berkeley Spice2. For example, PSpice (MicroSim Corp.), B/sup 2/Spice (Beige Bag Corp.), and IsSpice (Intusoft Corp.) all fit into this category. This paper describes the methods in which some features of these three software packages are tested, and how circuits are chosen to investigate certain limitations. >
The Gateway to Inner Space: Sacred Plants, Mysticism and Psychotherapy

The Gateway to Inner Space: Sacred Plants, Mysticism and Psychotherapy. Festschrift in Honor of Albert Hofmann. edited by Christian Ratsch, Bridport and Dorset, England: Prism Press. 1989. 258 pp. ISBN 1-85327-037-7. $10.95 (paper).
G. K. Gilbert, on laccoliths and intrusive structures

Abstract G. K. Gilbert’s report on the Henry Mountains is classic for its contribution to knowledge of igneous structures, especially laccoliths, for its contributions to the understanding of certain geomorphic processes, and as an example of excellent technique in geologic reporting and writing. Present day Ph.D. candidates, and many of their faculty supervisors, as well as other geologists, would do well to adopt Gilbert’s technique. His accomplishments are especially impressive when viewed in the perspective of the hazards accompanying his fieldwork and the status of geologic knowledge at the time he did his work. His conclusions, seemingly elementary today, were received with skepticism by many of his comtemporaries, and were not fully accepted for about a quarter of a century. Modern surveys have confirmed his principal conclusions.
Some implications of TCM for optical direct-detection channels

Consideration is given to the optical direct-detection channel, and it is shown how simple trellis-coded modulation (TCM) can be used to improve performance or increase throughput (in bits per second) without bandwidth expansion or performance loss. In fact, a modest performance gain can be achieved. Although the approach can be used with other signal constellations, the authors concentrate on signals derived from the pulse-position modulation (PPM) format by allowing overlap. Theoretical motivation for using this signal set, known as overlapping PPM (OPPM), was recently given by I. Bar David and G. Kaplan (1984), who showed a capacity gain when overlap is introduced. >
Quantitative determination of methylindoles.

Abstract A method is described for the quantitative determination of methylindoles, which have a free C 3 , in the presence of tryptophan and methyltrytophans. The method, applicable also to indole, is particularly useful in the study of enzymic reactions.
Recognition of tachistoscopically presented verbal and non-verbal material after unilateral cerebral damage.

Abstract Three groups of S 's were examined in order to study the effects of unilateral brain-damage on recognition rates for verbal and non-verbal stimuli in the lateral visual fields. Patients with damage in the region of the middle cerebral artery of the left or right hemisphere and neurologically intact individuals were asked to identify verbal and non-verbal stimuli presented tachistoscopically in each field. The results indicate superior recognition for both types of stimuli in the visual field contralateral to the intact hemisphere. The effect is greater for non-verbal material with right hemisphere injury and greater for verbal material with left hemisphere injury. A significant superiority of recognition in the nasal field of each eye is found to interact with the effect of the side of lesion and type of material.
Sugar-sweetened and diet beverages in relation to visceral adipose tissue.

Frequent sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake has been consistently associated with increased adiposity and cardio-metabolic risk, whereas the association with diet beverages is more mixed. We examined how these beverages associate with regional abdominal adiposity measures, specifically visceral adipose tissue (VAT). In a cross-sectional analysis of 791 non-Hispanic white men and women aged 18-70 we examined how beverage consumption habits obtained from a food frequency questionnaire associate with overall and abdominal adiposity measures from MRI. With increasing frequency of SSB intake we observed increases in waist circumference (WC) and the proportion of visceral to subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (VAT%), with no change in total body fat (TBF %) or BMI. Greater frequency of diet beverage intake was associated with greater WC, BMI and TBF %, but was not associated with variation in visceral adiposity We conclude that increased frequency of SSB consumption is associated with a more adverse abdominal adipose tissue deposition pattern.
The stationary boiling front in liquid film cooling of a vertical heated rod

Abstract One process of transient rewetting has been experimentally characterized by the advance of a boiling front whose length is small with respect to the rod dimensions and whose rate of advance is nearly constant in time. With suitable coordinate transformations, the rewetting rate has been satisfactorily described by one (or two) dimensional heat conduction in the rod, coupled to the heat removal in the falling film by an average heat transfer coefficient and an assumed maximum temperature at the boiling front. To resolve present uncertainty in the choice of the coupling heat transfer coefficient and the maximum wetting front temperature, experiments were carried out in which detailed temperature profiles were obtained throughout all regions of a stationary boiling front on a vertical rod. Analysis of these experimental data show that for unconfined sputtering on a vertical rod, the maximum temperature at the boiling front is that associated with the point of DNB. This suggests that the boiling front may be modelled by assuming a nucleate boiling process. Based on this concept, one- and two-dimensional heat conduction effects are compared and a simplified one-dimensional model is illustrated and verified.
Catalytic properties of early transition metal nitrides and carbides: n-butane hydrogenolysis, dehydrogenation and isomerization

Abstract Phase-pure early transition metal nitrides and carbides were prepared via the temperature programmed reaction of metal oxides with NH3 or a CH4/H2 mixture. The nitrides and carbides were mostly mesoporous with surface areas up to 81 m2/g. Their gravimetric butane conversion rates were generally higher than those for a Pt–Sn/Al2O3 catalyst. Activities for the nitrides and carbides ranged from 0.4×1012 to 10×1012 molecules/cm2 s at 723 K and decreased as follows: γ-Mo2N>W2C≈WC>β-W2N≈WC1−x>β-Mo2C>VN≈V8C7≫NbC≈Nb4N3.92. The metal atom type had the most significant effect on the activity and selectivity. The Group VI metal nitrides and carbides were much more active than the Group V metal compounds. In general, the Group VI metal compounds catalyzed butane hydrogenolysis and dehydrogenation with similar selectivities while the vanadium compounds had dehydrogenation selectivities in excess of 98%. The β-W2N catalyst also catalyzed butane isomerization possibly as a consequence of the presence of oxygen on the surface. The effect of lattice structure was significant and obvious for the tungsten carbides where WC (hex) was almost twice as active as WC1−x (fcc) despite having similar C/W ratios. Nitrides and carbides of the same metal and lattice structure had similar activities suggesting that the effect of the non-metal atom type was small. We believe variations in the catalytic properties of the nitrides and carbides were the result of differences between their electronic structures.
Intracardiac Calcification in a Child

A and lateral chest roentgenograms (Fig 1 and 2) were obtained of this 3%-year-old white boy who had symptoms of a mild upper respiratory illness. He had dered significant birth hypoxia with resultant cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, and mental retardation. At birth, large cavernous hemangiomas covered most of his thorax. Congestive heart failure appeared during the neonatal period and was thought to be secondary to high output through the hemangiomas and a patent ductus arteriosus. During the first year of life, the patent ductus closed spontaneously and the hemangiomas resolved after radiation therapy. There had been no evidence of cardiopulmonary disease since the age of one. The physical examination on this admission was entirely normal from a cardiopulmonary standpoint. Blood count, routine chemistries and electrocardiogram were all within normal limits.
Piezoelectric ceramics and composites via rapid prototyping techniques

Reviews the inherent advantages, i.e. design flexibility and processing, of manufacturing piezoelectric ceramics and composites with numerous architectures via rapid prototyping techniques. Reports on processing in which piezoelectric ceramics and composites with novel and conventional designs were fabricated using rapid prototyping techniques. Fused deposition of ceramics, fused deposition modeling, and Sanders prototyping techniques were used to fabricate lead‐zirconate‐titanate ceramics and ceramic/polymer composites via, first, direct fabrication and, second, indirect fabrication using either lost mold or soft tooling techniques.
Intracellular plasminogen activator activity in growing and quiescent cells

Intracellular plasminogen activator (PA) was examined in 3T3 and transformed 3T3 cells under various growth conditions to determine whether expression of this activity changes with the growth state. During exponential growth, SV40 and benzpyrene (BP) transformed 3T3 cells exhibited 3- to 5-fold more intracellular PA activity than untransformed 3T3 cells. This relationship changed as the cells exhausted serum factors and arrested in G1. The specific activity of intracellular PA in cells that have retained a serum-sensitive restriction point in G1 (G0) (3T3 and BP 3T3) increased 200- and 20-fold, respectively, at this time, while the level in cells that have lost most growth control mechanisms (SV3T3) remained constant. At confluency, 3T3 cells had considerably more PA than either of their transformed counterparts. Sparse cultures of 3T3 and BP3T3 cells arrest at G1 following serum depravation, and also accumulate high intracellular PA activity. The addition of serum or purified epidermal growth factor to these cultures initiated cell proliferation and resulted in a rapid, actinomycin D-sensitive loss of this activity. Less than 50% of the original activity remained 30 minutes after growth stimulation. This loss of intracellular PA activity did not appear to result from the presence of serum or cellular inhibitors. Intracellular PA activity remained low following growth stimulation. It increased again as the cells traversed through G1. These findings indicate that intracellular PA activity fluctuates with the growth state of cells, and may be related to the cell cycle. Culture conditions which place cells, whether normal or transformed, in G1 arrest lead to increased intracellular PA, while factors that initiate growth again result in a rapid loss of this activity. This behavior is lacking in cells not subject to density-dependent inhibition of growth. Like many other correlates of transformation, comparison of intracellular PA in normal and transformed cells must be defined in terms of the growth state of the cells in question.
Assessment of coronary artery aneurysm after stent placement for myocardial infarction: evaluation by multidetector computed tomography.

A 34 year-old man with a history of myocardial infarcion presented for assessment of coronary artery disease CAD). His medical history was significant for an inferior yocardial infarction that occurred 6 years before and was reated with percutaneous intervention. He experienced no schemic symptoms or events since. The patient expressed oncern over the extent of his CAD and underwent 64etector row computed tomography coronary angiography CCTA). CCTA showed a stent in the right coronary artery RCA) (Fig. 1A–D). The proximal portion of the stent was ccluded within a thrombosed outpouching of the vessel 1.5 cm diameter) most consistent with a thrombosed cornary artery aneurysm (Fig. 1E). Patency of the native RCA as apparent adjacent to the proximal portion of the stent.
Plasma aldosterone concentration in the patient with diabetes mellitus Rapid Communication

Plasma aldosterone concentration in the patient with diabetes mellitus. Background Vascular injury at the microvascular and macrovascular levels plays a crucial role in the patient with diabetes mellitus. Evidence for renin-system activation in many patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus has raised the possibility that aldosterone—widely recognized as a contributor to vascular injury—could play a role. Methods We examined the state of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in 58 subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 64 age-matched normal control subjects. All studies were performed on a fixed sodium (200mmol/day) and potassium (100mmol/day intake), and samples were drawn at 8:00 a.m. to avoid the influence of circadian rhythms. Results The patient with diabetes mellitus showed an increase in plasma renin activity (PRA) ( P P P Conclusion Pharmacologic interruption of the effects of aldosterone at the tissue level could be especially useful in patients with diabetes mellitus. The dose of agents that block the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) should be adjusted to maximize the fall in plasma aldosterone concentration.
Laser-Raman spectra, sulfhydryl groups, and conformation of the cystine linkages of β-lactoglobulin

Laser-Raman spectra of P-lactoglobulin have been reported by several authors,lX2 but the region where S-H stretching vibrations are expected has not been examined. S-H stretching bands of cysteine residues have been observed around 2580 cm-l for eye lens proteins, which are relatively rich in cysteine residues, and have been used to measure the sulfhydryl content of the intact Native bovine 0-lactoglobulin A occurs as a dimer with a molecular weight of 36,724, composed of two identical spherical monomers, each of which has only one free sulkydryl group and two cystine bridges.5 We investigated the S-H stretching region of this protein to ascertain if Raman spectroscopy can be used to determine the presence and follow the reactions of sulfhydryl groups in proteins with a very low cysteine content. The high-resolution x-ray crystallographic structure of P-lactoglobulin has not been determined, but it is known from circular dichroism studies6 and from infrared studies? that it has a relatively high content of antiparallel chain pleated-sheet structure (@-structure) for a globular protein, ca. 45-50%.6.7 X-ray data a t 0.6-nm resolution8 indicate that the free sulfhydryl group is near the surface of the molecule, but precise information on the backbone structure and the conformation of the cystine linkages is lacking. New information concerning the conformation of the two disulfide bridges5 would therefore substantially add to an overall understanding of the structure of this protein. Such information can be obtained by a careful study of the S-S and C-S stretching frequencies which occur in the 500-700-cm-1 spectral region.9-16 The Raman data available in the literature are not sufficiently detailed for such a study. We therefore reinvestigated the Raman spectra of 0-lactoglobulin in this spectral region as well. The results suggest that both cystine bridges have a gauche-gauche-gauche conformation.
Estrous synchrony: modulation of ovarian cycle length by female pheromones

Airborne chemosignals from different phases of the rat's estrous cycle had opposing effects on the timing of the estrous cycle which were consistent with a coupled oscillator model of ovarian synchrony. Preovulatory odors shortened or phase advanced the ovarian cycle, whereas ovulatory odors lengthened or phase delayed the cycle.
Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Breast Cancer in a Phase I Clinic: The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Experience

Abstract Purpose Patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) refractory to standard therapy have a poor prognosis. We assessed prognostic factors and clinical outcomes for patients with MBC referred to a phase I clinic focused primarily on targeted agents. Patients and Methods We reviewed the medical records of sequential patients with MBC who presented to our phase I clinic between September 2004 and May 2008 to assess baseline patient characteristics, overall survival (OS), and clinical benefit. Results A total of 92 patients were identified, with a median age of 53 years (range, 28–83 years). The median number of previous therapies was 5 (range, 1–16 therapies). Of 92 patients, 78 were eligible for and offered ≥ 1 phase I clinical trial. With a median follow-up of 7.4 months, the median OS was 6.7 months (95% CI, 5.2–9.7). In multivariate analysis, independent factors predicting shorter survival were ≥ 10 previous treatments (vs. P = .008), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 2/3 (vs. 0/1; HR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.28–6.66; P = .01), and albumin level 3.5 g/dL; HR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.41–5.89; P = .004). Conclusion Patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer referred for our phase I studies had a median survival of 6.7 months. Heavily pretreated disease, poor ECOG PS, and/or low albumin levels were associated with significantly shorter survival in a multivariate analysis.
Selective use of extended criteria deceased liver donors with anatomic variations.

BACKGROUNDS An ongoing shortage of organs for liver transplantation has led surgeons to continually modify criteria for organ acceptance, which are now defined as extended criteria. The organ shortage becomes more problematic in retransplantation, in which the use of a limited resource such as a liver graft with anatomic variation must be weighed against the risk of a more difficult operation. CASE REPORTS We report 2 peculiar anatomic variations discovered in deceased donors for whole liver transplantation and confirmed at the back table: 1 with a huge biliary enlargement of the common hepatic duct and 1 with a celiac trunk aneurysm. In the first variation, any potential biliary reconstruction was thought to be at high risk of difficult outflow. The vascular anomaly did not preclude successful performance of a liver retransplantation. CONCLUSIONS We briefly report the use of 2 liver grafts from deceased donors with rare anatomic variations, which is relevant to increasing the liver donor pool. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of this biliary anomaly. In certain specific settings, strategies based on the appropriate donor-recipient match have allowed the use of grafts that otherwise would have been discarded due to celiac aneurysm.
Integration of Diffuse Optical Technology into Clinical Settings for Breast Health Applications

Diffuse optical techniques have been used in several clinical trials for breast health management. Issues regarding integration of these devices into a clinical setting such as operation by clinic personnel and patient-acceptance are addressed.
Nonlocal variational theory and optimal control problems

Abstract This paper seeks to portray the nonlocal variational theory as a variational framework of sufficient generality to encompass a broad class of optimal control problems. A general constrained nonlocal variational problem is posed. For this problem, a sufficient condition for an absolute minimum is obtained in a simple manner. This condition yields a uniform formalism for solving a wide class of constrained variational problems. The resulting formalism is such that it embodies the nonlocal analogues of the well known Weyl-Hamilton-Jacobi and Lagrange formalisms. A similar formalism is then constructed to cover problems wherein the constraints are specified by a set of inequalities. The results of this paper subsume many of the recent results pertaining to sufficiency theory. The sufficient conditions developed are then specialized to a number of optimal control problems 1associated with distributed systems. The problems include certain unorthodox optimal control problems which have spurred a great deal of interest in recent years. The analysis shows that the recent results obtained in the optimal control theory by function space methods can also be obtained formally, in a more direct manner, by the usual tool of the calculus of variations.
Calculation of K, L, M and N binding energies and K X-rays for elements from Z = 96–120

Abstract Atomic parameters should be of great help in identifying the new superheavy nuclei, since X-rays resulting from internal conversion and electron capture are characteristic of the daughter element; and the energies of internal conversion electrons are dependent on the atomic binding energies. Therefore, the inner-shell binding energies and K X-ray energies for the heavy and superheavy elements have been calculated from solutions of relativistic Hartree-Fock-Slater atomic wave functions employing a finite nuclear size. After adding a small semi-empirical correction, we believe that the final results for X-ray energies are accurate to the order of 0.1%.
Decreased Levels of Interleukin-12 are not Correlated with Leukocyte Concentration and Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Semen of Infertile Men

The interleukin (IL)-12 levels and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined in the seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men with or without leukocytospermia by ELISA. The IL-12 levels differed significantly among the fertile and infertile groups, with the infertile groups showing lower levels that were not modulated by leukocytospermia. The SOD activity did not differ significantly among the fertile and infertile groups and was not correlated with the IL-12 levels. The positive correlation with sperm concentration suggests that IL-12 may have a direct or indirect role in male fertility/infertility and that its levels are not modulated by the presence of leukocytes in the semen.
Group Therapy for Substance Use Disorders: What Do We Know?

Although group therapy is the most prevalent treatment modality for substance use disorders, an up-to-date review of treatment outcome literature does not exist. A search of the literature yielded 24 treatment outcome studies comparing group therapy to other treatment conditions. These studies fell into one of six research design categories: (1) group therapy versus no group therapy; (2) group therapy versus individual therapy; (3) group therapy plus individual therapy versus group therapy alone; (4) group therapy plus individual therapy versus individual therapy alone; (5) group therapy versus another group therapy with different content or theoretical orientation; and (6) more group therapy versus less group therapy. In general, treatment outcome studies did not demonstrate differences between group and individual modalities, and no single type of group therapy reliably demonstrated greater efficacy than others. Unique methodological and logistical hurdles encountered in research on group therapy for substance use disorders, as well as considerations for future research, are also discussed.
IDENTIFICATION OF ARGININE RESIDUES IN THE PUTATIVE L-ASPARTATE BINDING SITE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ADENYLOSUCCINATE SYNTHETASE

Three arginine residues in the putative aspartate binding site of Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthetase were changed to leucines by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant enzymes R303L, R304L, and R305L were purified to homogeneity on the basis of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and characterized by CD spectrometry and initial rate kinetics. CD spectral analysis indicated no differences in secondary structure between the mutants and the wild-type enzyme in the absence of substrates. The Km values for GTP and IMP for the mutants and the wild-type enzyme were comparable. However, the mutant enzymes exhibited 50-200-fold increases in their values of Km for the substrate aspartate relative to the wild-type enzyme. Although the kcat values for the mutant enzymes decreased, the changes were not as dramatic as those observed for the Km of aspartate. The modeling of aspartate in the crystal structure of the complex of adenylosuccinate synthetase with IMP and MgGDP-1 is consistent with the results of mutagenesis, placing the alpha- and beta-carboxylates of aspartate near the side chains of Arg-131, -303, and -305.
Comment on “Atmospheric Pco2 Perturbations Associated with the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province”

Schaller et al . (Research Article, 18 March 2011, p. 1404) proposed that carbon dioxide (CO2) released by the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province eruptions over periods of about 20,000 years led to substantial increases of up to 2000 parts per million (ppm) in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide ( P co2) near the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. Use of an atmosphere-ocean model coupled to a carbon-cycle model predicts P co2 increases of less than 400 ppm from magmatic volatiles, with only a small climatic impact.
Analyst's forecasts as earnings expectations

Abstract I examine three composite analyst forecast of earnings per share as proxies for expected earnings. The most current forecast weakly dominates the mean and median forecasts in accuracy. This is evidence that forecast dates are more relevant for determining accuracy than individual error. Consistent with previous research, I find analysts more accurate than time-series models. However prior knowledge of forecast errors from a quarterly autoregressive model predicts excess stock returns better than prior knowledge of analysts' errors. This is inconsistent with previous research, and is anomalous given analysts' greater accuracy.
Density-Velocity Relations for Rocks

Summary Experimental data of Birch for rocks at 10 kilobars are found to fit an empirical relationship between scaled velocity and scaled density. The scaling factors are functions of the representative atomic number. An empirical relationship is found connecting the representative atomic number and the mean atomic weight.
Application of Low-Temperature Glassy Carbon Films in Solid-Phase Microextraction

Low-temperature glassy carbon (LTGC) films were investigated as a sorbent coating for solid-phase microextraction because of its uniquely selective adsorptive characteristics. The selectivity of these coatings is primarily controlled by shape characteristics of the solute molecule and the final processing temperature used to form the LTGC, demonstrating unique adsorptive characteristics compared to commercial phases. The LTGC films were prepared by first coating porous silica particles with a diethylnyl oligomer precursor and then heat curing at temperatures between 300 and 1000 °C to form the LTGC. Then, using a sol−gel process, the LTGC-coated silica particles were immobilized onto stainless steel fibers and subsequently used for headspace and liquid extractions followed by GC-FID analysis. The selectivity of the LTGC is demonstrated by the extraction of a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons as well as the taste and odor contaminants geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol, and 2,4,6-trichloroanisole commonly found in...
Toric Newton method for polynomial homotopies

Abstract This paper defines a generalization of Newton’s method to deal with solution paths defined by polynomial homotopies that lead to extremal values. Embedding the solutions in a toric variety leads to explicit scaling relations between coefficients and solutions. Toric Newton is a symbolic-numeric algorithm where the symbolic pre-processing exploits the polyhedral structures. The numerical stage uses the additional variables introduced by the homogenization to scale the components of the solution vectors to the complex unit circle. Toric Newton generates appropriate affine charts and enables one to approximate the magnitude of large solutions of polynomial systems.
Activation of nitrosomorpholine and nitrosopyrrolidine to bacterial mutagens.

Abstract We have shown that nitrosomorpholine and nitrosopyrrolidine are metabolized by rat liver homogenates to mutagens active on Salmonella typhomurium . The resulting mutations seem to have been caused by base-pair substitutions and therefore are believed to be due to alkylations.
Die Rolle von Mangan bei neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen

Zusammenfassung Mangan (Mn) ist ein ubiquitares essenzielles Spurenelement, das fur normales Wachstum, Entwicklung und zellulare Homoostase erforderlich ist. Exposition gegenuber hohen Mengen an Mn verursacht eine klinische Storung, die durch extrapyramidale Symptome gekennzeichnet ist und dem idiopathischen Parkinson-Syndrom (IPS) ahnelt. Der vorliegende Ubersichtsartikel konzentriert sich auf die Rolle verschiedener Transporter bei der Aufrechterhaltung der Mn-Homoostase im Gehirn sowie die aktuellen methodologischen Fortschritten bei der Echtzeitbestimmung des intrazellularen Mn-Gehalts. Wir geben auserdem einen Uberblick uber die Rolle von Mn beim IPS, diskutieren die Ahnlichkeiten (und Unterschiede) zwischen Manganismus und IPS und den Zusammenhang zwischen α-Synuclein und Mn-bedingter Proteinaggregation sowie zwischen mitochondrialen Funktionsstorungen, Mn und PS. In weiteren Abschnitten des Ubersichtsartikels behandeln wir den Zusammenhang zwischen Mn und der Huntington-Krankheit (HK) mit Schwerpunkt auf der Funktion von Huntingtin und der moglichen Rolle einer veranderten Mn-Homoostase und der Toxizitat von Mn bei HK. Wir schliesen mit einer kurzen Ubersicht uber die mogliche Rolle von Mn bei der Entstehung der Alzheimer-Krankheit (AK), der Amyotropen Lateralsklerose (ALS) und von Prionenerkrankungen. Wann immer moglich besprechen wir die mechanistischen Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen Mn-induzierter Neurotoxizitat und neurodegenerativen Storungen.
SMC protein complexes and higher-order chromosome dynamics

The structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) family of proteins represents an expanding group of chromosomal ATPases that are highly conserved among Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. During the past year, significant progress has been made towards understanding the cellular functions and molecular activities of this new class of proteins. Emerging evidence suggests that eukaryotic SMC proteins form large protein complexes with non-SMC subunits and act as key components for a wide variety of higher-order chromosome dynamics.
Iterating bonferroni bounds

Abstract A general method is presented for generating improved Bonferroni bounds whenever an improvement on Booles inequality holds.
DMC1: a meiosis-specific yeast homolog of E. coli recA required for recombination, synaptonemal complex formation, and cell cycle progression.

Abstract DMC1 is a new meiosis-specific yeast gene. Dmc1 protein is structurally similar to bacterial RecA proteins. dmc1 mutants are defective in reciprocal recombination, accumulate double-strand break (DSB) recombination intermediates, fail to form normal synaptonemal complex (SC), and arrest late in meiotic prophase. dmc1 phenotypes are consistent with a functional relationship between Dmc1 and RecA, and thus eukaryotic and prokaryotic mechanisms for homology recognition and strand exchange may be related. dmc1 phenotypes provide further evidence that recombination and SC formation are interrelated processes and are consistent with a requirement for DNA-DNA interactions during SC formation. dmc1 mutations confer prophase arrest. Additional evidence suggests that arrest occurs at a meiosis-specific cell cycle "checkpoint" in response to a primary defect in prophase chromosome metabolism. DMC1 is homologous to yeast's RAD51 gene, supporting the view that mitotic DSB repair has been recruited for use in meiotic chromosome metabolism.
Signaling, mitogenesis and the cytoskeleton: Where the action is

Stimulation of mitogenesis by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) operates through a pathway involving the receptor, the small G-protein Ras and protein kinases of the MAP kinase cascade. It is proposed that two of the critical steps of that pathway utilize localization of components to the plasma membrane where Ras is located: recruitment of the nucleotide exchange protein Sos to the phosphorylated EGF receptor via a complex with the SH2/SH3-containing protein Grb2 and recruitment of the protein kinase Raf to activated Ras. Moreover, it is then proposed that Raf associates with the cytoskeleton at the membrane as it is being activated. Other signaling elements, including class I receptor kinases, nonreceptor tyrosine kinases and tyrosine phosphatases, are known to function at specific cellular sites. These observations have led us to propose that localization of signaling components, and particularly sites at membrane-microfilament interfaces, play critical roles in cellular regulation.
The symmetry of martensites

Abstract The symmetry of martensite is usually less than that of the related equilibrium phase—being a subgroup of both the parent crystal and the transformation strains. The attainment of the fuller symmetry is prevented by local or long-range ordering in the parent phase. Shuffles are necessary, but may not be sufficient, for increased symmetry (supergroup formation) in cases where there is more than one atom per unit cell.
The Dysfunctional Federally Mandated Proficiency Test in Cytopathology : A Statistical Analysis

Proficiency testing in cytopathology and in other disciplines should be based on firm statistical and scientific foundations, because test theory in general is a heavily statistical subject. Statistical considerations have demonstrated that the design of "short" proficiency tests in cytopathology, including the current federally mandated test, fundamentally is unsound because of the lack of sufficient validity and reliability. Examinees too frequently are misclassified by such short-format tests: Competent examinees fail the test in surprisingly high numbers, whereas most of the examinees who have insufficient cytologic skills eventually pass the test after the allowed retakes. Only dichotomous tests are suitable for accurate computation of the effects of test design on reliability, but the statistical conclusions also are generalizable to nondichotomous tests. In conclusion, the current federally mandated proficiency test cannot reliably measure the level of expertise of cytologists and, thus, cannot assure that only adequately skilled individuals evaluate Papanicolaou test samples. To render the test suitable for its intended purpose, the authors believe that complete redesign of the test, with the participation of experts in modern test theory, would be advisable.
Microemulsions as reaction media. Self‐organizing assemblies in an environmental cleanup problem

A microemulsion system has been developed that simultaneously destroys three environmental contaminants by combined oxidative/hydrolytic pathways. The method is rapid, cheap, and mild. No special equipment (stirrer, heater, photolyzer, etc.) is required. Self-organization converts a seemingly intractable 8-component mixture into a useful system, a tactic discovered by living cells long ago.
Discovery, confirmation, and incorporation of causal relationships from a large time-oriented clinical data base: the RX project.

Abstract The objectives of the methods and computer implementation presented here are (1) to automate the process of hypothesis generation and exploratory analysis of data in large nonrandomized, time-oriented clinical data bases, (2) to provide knowledgeable assistance in performing studies on large data bases, and (3) to increase the validity of medical knowledge derived from nonprotocol data. The RX computer program consists of a knowledge base (KB), a discovery module, a study module, and a clinical data base. Utilizing techniques from the field of artificial intelligence, the KB contains medical and statistical knowledge hierarchically organized, and is used to assist in the discovery and study of new hypotheses. Confirmed results from the data base are automatically encoded into the KB. The discovery module uses lagged, nonparametric correlations to generate hypotheses. These are then studied in detail by the study module which automatically determines confounding variables and methods for controlling their influence. In determining the confounders of a new hypothesis the study module uses previously “learned” causal relationships. The study module selects a study design and statistical method based on knowledge of confounders and their distribution in the data base. Most studies have used a longitudinal design involving a multiple regression model applied to individual patient records. Data for system development were obtained from the American Rheumatism Association Medical Information System.
Transverse quasielastic electron scattering from the deuteron

Transverse quasielastic electron scattering cross sections have been measured for the deuteron at 180/sup 0/ for incident electron energies of 220, 270, and 320 MeV. At the quasielastic peak the four-momentum transfers squared varied from 3.4 to 6.3 fm/sup -2/. The measured spectra include the region from the elastic peak through the entire quasielastic peak. Results are compared with recent calculations incorporating meson-exchange currents and isobar configurations. At large neutron-proton separation energies, the data support the need for the inclusion of large isobar configuration components in the cross section.
Hidden Innovation: A Reconsideration of ‘Old Economy’ Industries within ‘New Economy’ Regions

This article will explore the role of ‘old economy’ manufacturing sectors in ‘new economy’ technology regions of advanced industrial economies. In the early 21st century, attention has increasingly shifted away from protectionist concerns about loss of manufacturing industries in regional and national economies. Attention has instead focused on globalization and the offshoring of a wide array of service and technology-oriented industries and jobs. Yet, what is missing in this paradigm shift is an examination of the critical role that manufacturing sectors play in these ‘new economy’ regions, by spurring innovation spillover and generating economic and employment multiplier effects. This article will review the literature pertaining to linkages between advanced technology regions and more traditional, blue-collar industrial production industries. In conclusion, the article calls for broadening the current focus on job loss in the highly skilled service and technology sectors to an integrated vision of production, knowledge and service sector activity.
The Production of Water from Geothermal Reservoirs: Some Economic Considerations

: Liquid dominated geothermal systems are expected to account for most of the growth in geothermal energy production in the coming decades. Production of water from such systems could significantly augment fresh water supplies. The feasibility of water exploitation is clouded by potential problems related to seismic impacts, land subsidence and the composition of geothermal brines. If these problems can be overcome at little cost, desalination of brines may be feasible. Estimates of water production costs are presented for a variety of desalination technologies, plant sizes and brine water compositions. These estimates show that production costs will range from $139.10/A.F. to $436.00/A.F. at the plant boundary. Economies of scale and brine composition are important determinants of cost. Production costs are substantially in excess of the value of water in alternative uses. However, in certain unique situations, it may be efficient to desalt brines for use in upgrading the quality of municipal water, industrial process water and irrigation water. Unique situations aside, geothermal brines are not likely to provide an economical source of fresh water in the absence of striking changes in the patterns of supply and demand for water.