bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic muscle characterization using QEMG: Application to neuropathic muscle
Authors: Pino L.J. , Stashuk D.W. , Boe S.G. , Doherty T.J.
Published: September 2009

Clinicians who use electromyographic (EMG) signals to help determine the presence or absence of abnormality in a muscle often, with varying degrees of success, evaluate sets of motor unit potentials (MUPs) qualitatively and/or quantitatively to characterize the muscle in a clinically meaningful way. The resulting muscle characterization can be improved using automated analysis. As such, the intent of this study was to evaluate the performance of automated, conventional Means/Outlier and Probabilistic methods in converting MUP statistics into a concise, and clinically relevant, muscle characterization. Probabilistic methods combine the set of MUP characterizations, derived using Pattern Discovery (PD), of all MUPs detected from a muscle into a characterization measure that indicates normality or abnormality. Using MUP data from healthy control subjects and patients with known neuropathic disorders, a Probabilistic method that used Bayes' rule to combine MUP characterizations into a Bayesian muscle characterization (BMC) achieved a categorization accuracy of 79.7% compared to 76.4% using the Mean method (P> 0.1) for biceps muscles and 94.6% accuracy for the BMC method compared to 85.8% using the Mean method (P< 0.01) for first dorsal interosseous muscles. The BMC method can facilitate the determination of “possible,” “probable,” or “definite” levels for a given muscle categorization (e.g., neuropathic) whereas the conventional Means and Outlier methods support only a dichotomous “normal” or “abnormal” decision. This work demonstrates that the BMC method can provide information that may be more useful in supporting clinical decisions than that provided by the conventional Means or Outlier methods. Muscle Nerve, 2010
Plakins in striated muscle
Authors: Boyer Justin G. , Bernstein Marija A. , Boudreau‐Larivière Céline
Published: September 2009

Striated muscle cells contain numerous architectural proteins that contribute to the function of muscle as generators of mechanical force. Among these proteins are crosslinkers belonging to the plakin family, namely plectin, microtubule‐actin crosslinking factor (ACF7/MACF1), bullous pemphigoid antigen 1 (Bpag1/dystonin), and desmoplakin. These plakin family members, in particular plectin and Bpag1/dystonin, exist as several isoforms. The domain organization of these plakin variants dictates their subcellular location and the proteins with which they interact. Several studies suggest that plakins exert unique functions within various compartments of the muscle cell including the sarcolemma, the sarcomere, both neuromuscular and myotendinous junctions in skeletal muscle, and the intercalated discs in cardiac muscle. Plakins may also regulate the cellular placement and function of specific organelles, notably the nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and sarcoplasmic reticulum. Here we review and summarize our current knowledge of the function of plakins in striated muscle cells. Muscle Nerve, 2009
Site characterization model using least‐square support vector machine and relevance vector machine based on corrected SPT data (Nc)
Authors: Samui Pijush , Sitharam T. G.
Published: September 2009

Statistical learning algorithms provide a viable framework for geotechnical engineering modeling. This paper describes two statistical learning algorithms applied for site characterization modeling based on standard penetration test (SPT) data. More than 2700 field SPT values (N) have been collected from 766 boreholes spread over an area of 220 sqkm area in Bangalore. To get N corrected value (Nc), N values have been corrected (Nc) for different parameters such as overburden stress, size of borehole, type of sampler, length of connecting rod, etc. In three‐dimensional site characterization model, the function Nc=Nc (X, Y, Z), where X, Y and Z are the coordinates of a point corresponding to Nc value, is to be approximated in which Nc value at any half‐space point in Bangalore can be determined. The first algorithm uses least‐square support vector machine (LSSVM), which is related to a ridge regression type of support vector machine. The second algorithm uses relevance vector machine (RVM), which combines the strengths of kernel‐based methods and Bayesian theory to establish the relationships between a set of input vectors and a desired output. The paper also presents the comparative study between the developed LSSVM and RVM model for site characterization. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subdomain radial basis collocation method for heterogeneous media
Authors: Chen Jiun‐Shyan , Wang Lihua , Hu Hsin‐Yun , Chi Sheng‐Wei
Published: September 2009

Strong form collocation in conjunction with radial basis approximation functions offer implementation simplicity and exponential convergence in solving partial differential equations. However, the smoothness and nonlocality of radial basis functions pose considerable difficulties in solving problems with local features and heterogeneity. In this work, we propose a simple subdomain strong form collocation method, in which the approximation in each subdomain is constructed separately. Proper interface conditions are then imposed on the interface. Under the subdomain strong form collocation construction, it is shown that both Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions should be imposed on the interface to achieve the optimum convergence. Error analysis and numerical tests consistently confirm the need to impose the optimal interface conditions. The performance of the proposed methods in dealing with heterogeneous media is also validated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gendered giving: the influence of social norms on the donation behavior of men and women
Authors: Croson Rachel T. A. , Handy Femida , Shang Jen
Published: September 2009

We study if men and women are subject to different influences when determining their level of charitable giving. In particular, we examine differential sensitivities to social norms among donors to a public radio station. Our survey of 975 donors finds that male donors are more likely than female donors to use social norms to inform their own behavior. We conduct a laboratory experiment to investigate the influence of social information on social norm formation and giving. Our results suggest that temporarily created social norms influence giving by men significantly more than by women. This result replicates and establishes the causal relationship between social norms and donations suggested by our field findings. We conclude with a discussion of theoretical and practical implications of these results.

Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, characterization, and swelling behaviors of chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol) semi‐IPN superabsorbent hydrogels
Authors: Liu Jianghua , Wang Wenbo , Wang Aiqin
Published: September 2009

A series of granulated semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) superabsorbent hydrogels composed of chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid) (CTS‐g‐PAA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by solution polymerization using ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. The effects of reaction conditions such as the concentration of MBA, the weight ratio of AA to CTS, and the content of PVA on water absorbency were investigated. Infrared (IR) spectra and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses confirmed that AA had been grafted onto CTS backbone, and PVA semi‐interpenetrating into CTS‐g‐PAA networks. SEM analyses indicated that CTS‐g‐PAA/PVA has improved porous surface and PVA was uniformly dispersed in CTS‐g‐PAA network. The semi‐IPN hydrogel containing 10 wt% PVA shows the highest water absorbency of 353 and 53 g g−1 in distilled water and 0.9 wt% NaCl solution, respectively. Swelling behaviors revealed that the introduction of PVA could improve the swelling rate and enhance the pH stability of the superabsorbent hydrogel. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of cooling rate on the surface resistivity of polymer/multi‐walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites
Authors: Lim Geon‐Oh , Min Kyoung‐Tae , Kim Gue‐Hyun
Published: September 2009

In this study, ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and polystyrene (PS) were melt‐mixed with multi‐walled carbon nanotube (CNT) (MWCNT), respectively. The effect of mixing time, rotor speed, and cooling rate on surface resistivity was investigated. EVA/MWCNT and PS/MWCNT nanocomposites with percolation threshold <1 wt% of MWCNT were prepared using conventional melt‐compounding method. When fast cooling was applied for these nanocomposites, a surface resistivity of 106 Ω/square was obtained at around 7 wt% of MWCNT for EVA and 105 Ω/square at around 3.5 wt% of MWCNT for PS. However, when slow cooling was applied, a surface resistivity of 106 Ω/square was obtained at 0.75 wt% of MWCNT for EVA and 105 Ω/square at around 0.5 wt% of MWCNT for PS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report which recognizes the importance of cooling rate on the surface resistivity of polymer/MWCNT nanocomposites. This finding may be potential to the commercialization of the CNT‐based polymer nanocomposites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
New dithiacrown–ether butadienyl dyes: synthesis, structure, and complex formation with heavy metal cations
Authors: Vedernikov Artem I. , Ushakov Evgeny N. , Kuz'mina Lyudmila G. , Churakov Andrei V. , Strelenko Yuri A. , Wörner Michael , Braun André M. , Howard Judith A. K. , Alfimov Michael V. , Gromov Sergey P.
Published: September 2009

Benzothiazole type butadienyl dyes containing a dithia‐15‐crown‐5 (2a) or dithia‐18‐crown‐6 ether (2b) moieties were synthesized. The structures of dyes 2a,b and their complexes with Ag+ and Pb2+ were studied by an X‐ray crystallography. It was found that the conformations of dithiacrown–ether moieties of dyes 2a,b are unfavorable for complex formation and change significantly upon binding of Ag+ or Pb2+. The complexation of 2a,b with Ag+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ in water–acetonitrile mixtures with different contents of water (PW = 0–75%, v/v) was studied by 1H NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and polarography. In anhydrous acetonitrile, the stability constants of 1:1 complexes change in the sequence Cd2+ < Pb2+ ≤ Ag+ << Hg2+ in the case of 2a and in the sequence Cd2+ < Ag+ < Pb2+ << Hg2+ in the case of 2b. As PW increases, the thermodynamic stability of Ag+ complexes increases. The opposite effect is observed for the complexes with Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+. When PW ∼ 50%, the stability constants of complexes with Cd2+ and Pb2+ become too small to be measured. The selectivity of ligands 2a,b toward Hg2+ versus Ag+ is very high at any PW values (selectivity coefficients > 104). The complexation of 2a,b with Hg2+ at PW ≤ 50% is accompanied by a substantial hypsochromic effect. This allows dithiacrown‐containing butadienyl dyes to be used as selective optical molecular sensors for heavy metal ions, in particular, in aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and multiparameter sensor properties of the crown‐containing thiophene derivatives
Authors: Fedorova Olga , Lukovskaya Elena , Mizerev Artem , Fedorov Yury , Bobylyova Alla , Maksimov Anton , Moiseeva Anna , Anisimov Aleksander , Jonusauskas Gediminas
Published: September 2009

A novel ditopic receptor was constructed as a combination of bisthiophene with pyridinylvinyl and crown‐containing styryl fragments. In the receptor, the pyridine residue was able to coordinate Fe2+, Cd2+, and Mg2+ metal cations, whereas the oxocrown ether moiety bound with the alkaline earth metal (Mg2+, Ca2+, and Ba2+) cations. 1H NMR, optical, electrochemical, and ESI‐MS results provided conclusive evidence of a complex formation through both the coordination centers of the molecule. The obtained results showed that cation complexation induces optical and electrochemical changes, particularly for each binding center. This type of multiparameter sensor provides interesting perspectives for the future design of unique sensors, promising different analytical techniques. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Healthcare expenditures for privately insured people with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Ouyang Lijing , Grosse Scott D. , Amendah Djesika D. , Schechter Michael S.
Published: September 2009

With improved survival and new therapies for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), updated information on medical care expenditures for those individuals is needed. We estimated medical care expenditures, including both insurance reimbursements and patient out‐of‐pocket expenses, for privately insured people with CF and investigated how those expenditures varied with certain complications of CF. From a private insurance claims database of people covered by health plans associated with large corporate employers, we identified people with CF who were currently receiving medical care for the disorder and characterized their medical expenditures during the period 2004–2006. We selected a matching group of people who did not have CF based on age, sex, and geographic area, and calculated incremental expenditures associated with CF. We also examined the effect of age and certain complications of CF on these expenditures. The annual medical care expenditure for a person with actively managed CF averaged $48,098 in 2006 dollars, which was 22 times higher than for a person without CF. This ratio is high relative to other chronic disorders. Outpatient prescription medications made up the largest component of total expenditures for people with CF (39%). Those who were recorded in claims data as having a liver or lung transplant, malnutrition, diabetes, or a chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection incurred much higher expenditures than people without these conditions. People with CF will incur high medical expenditures throughout their lifespan. These findings will assist in the development of economic evaluations of future CF screening and management initiatives. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:989–996. ©2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surface Coating of RDX with a Composite of TNT and an Energetic‐Polymer and its Safety Investigation
Authors: An Chong‐Wei , Li Feng‐Sheng , Song Xiao‐Lan , Wang Yi , Guo Xiao‐De
Published: September 2009

To improve the safety of RDX (hexogen), an energetic polymer (HP‐1) was introduced to coat RDX with 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT) by combining the solvent–nonsolvent and the aqueous suspension‐melting method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) were employed to characterize the samples, and the role of HP‐1 in the coating process was discussed. The impact sensitivity, friction sensitivity, and the thermal stability of unprocessed and coated RDX were investigated, and the explosion heat of samples was also estimated. Results indicate that HP‐1 improves the wetting ability of the liquid coating material on RDX surface and reinforces the connection between RDX and the coating material. By surface coating, the impact and friction sensitivity of RDX decrease obviously; the drop height (H50) is increased from 37.2 to 58.4 cm, and the friction probability is reduced from 92 to 38%. The activation energy (E) and the self‐ignition temperature increase by 10457.38 J⋅mol−1 and 1.8 K, respectively. The explosion heat is reduced merely by 0.93%.
The Microstructure of TATB‐Based Explosive Formulations During Temperature Cycling Using Ultra‐Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering
Authors: Willey Trevor M. , Hoffman D. Mark , van Buuren Tony , Lauderbach Lisa , Gee Richard H. , Maiti Amitesh , Overturf George E. , Fried Laurence E. , Ilavsky Jan
Published: September 2009

TATB (1,3,5 triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene), an extremely insensitive explosive, is used both in polymer‐bound explosives (PBXs) and as an ultra‐fine pressed powder (UFTATB). Many TATB‐based explosives, including LX‐17, a mixture of TATB and Kel‐F 800 binder, experience an irreversible expansion with temperature cycling known as ratchet growth. Additional voids, with sizes hundreds of nanometers to a few micrometers, account for much of the volume expansion. Measuring these voids is important feedback for hot‐spot theory and for determining the relationship between void size distributions and detonation properties. Also, understanding mechanisms for ratchet growth allows future choice of explosive/binder mixtures to minimize these types of changes, further extending PBX shelf life. This paper presents the void size distributions of LX‐17, UFTATB, and PBXs using commercially available Cytop M, Cytop A, and Hyflon AD60 binders during temperature cycling between −55 and 70 °C. These void size distributions are derived from ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering (USAXS), a technique sensitive to structures from about 2 nm to about 2 μm. Structures with these sizes do not appreciably change in UFTATB. Compared to TATB/Kel‐F 800, Cytop M and Cytop A show relatively small increases in void volume from 0.9 to 1.3% and 0.6 to 1.1%, respectively, while Hyflon fails to prevent irreversible volume expansion (1.2–4.6%). Computational mesoscale models combined with experimental results indicate both high glass transition temperature as well as TATB binder adhesion and wetting are important to minimize ratchet growth.
A Determination of the Hansen Solubility Parameters of Hexanitrostilbene (HNS)
Authors: Williams Darren L. , Kuklenz Karl D.
Published: September 2009

The temperature‐dependent solubility of hexanitrostilbene (HNS) [CAS# 20062‐22‐0] was determined in ten solvents and solvent blends using the Tyndall effect. Thermodynamic modeling of the data yielded Flory interaction parameters, the molar enthalpy of mixing, the molar entropy of mixing, and the molar Gibbs energy of mixing. All solutions exhibited endothermic enthalpies and positive entropies of mixing. The presence of water in some of the solvent blends made dissolution increasingly endothermic and disfavored solubility. The solubilities of HNS at 25 °C were used to determine the three‐component Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) (δD=18.6, δP=13.5, δH=6.1 MPa1/2) and the radius of the solubility sphere (R0=5.8 MPa1/2). The HSP determined for HNS using group‐additivity (δD=21.0, δP=13.3, and δH=8.6 MPa1/2) also correctly predicted the optimum solvents for this explosive.
NMR solution structures of actin depolymerizing factor homology domains
Authors: Goroncy Alexander K. , Koshiba Seizo , Tochio Naoya , Tomizawa Tadashi , Sato Manami , Inoue Makato , Watanabe Satoru , Hayashizaki Yoshihide , Tanaka Akiko , Kigawa Takanori , Yokoyama Shigeyuki
Published: September 2009

Actin is one of the most conserved proteins in nature. Its assembly and disassembly are regulated by many proteins, including the family of actin‐depolymerizing factor homology (ADF‐H) domains. ADF‐H domains can be divided into five classes: ADF/cofilin, glia maturation factor (GMF), coactosin, twinfilin, and Abp1/drebrin. The best‐characterized class is ADF/cofilin. The other four classes have drawn much less attention and very few structures have been reported. This study presents the solution NMR structure of the ADF‐H domain of human HIP‐55‐drebrin‐like protein, the first published structure of a drebrin‐like domain (mammalian), and the first published structure of GMF β (mouse). We also determined the structures of mouse GMF γ, the mouse coactosin‐like domain and the C‐terminal ADF‐H domain of mouse twinfilin 1. Although the overall fold of the five domains is similar, some significant differences provide valuable insights into filamentous actin (F‐actin) and globular actin (G‐actin) binding, including the identification of binding residues on the long central helix. This long helix is stabilized by three or four residues. Notably, the F‐actin binding sites of mouse GMF β and GMF γ contain two additional β‐strands not seen in other ADF‐H structures. The G‐actin binding site of the ADF‐H domain of human HIP‐55‐drebrin‐like protein is absent and distorted in mouse GMF β and GMF γ.
Electrical and optical properties of boron‐doped nanocrystalline silicon films deposited by PECVD
Authors: Li Zhe , Zhang Xiwen , Han Gaorong
Published: September 2009

Boron‐doped nanocrystalline silicon (nc‐Si:H) films were deposited by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). A variety of techniques, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering (RS), UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy and conductivity measurement were used to characterize the grown materials. Lightly B‐doped samples are well crystallized, while the undoped and heavily doped ones are amorphous. The optical bandgap decreases as the substrate temperature, radio‐frequency (RF) power density, and diborane concentration increase. The influence of many deposition parameters such as diborane concentration, substrate temperature, RF power and deposition pressure on electrical, optical properties, and deposition rate were systemically studied. The optimum combination of deposition parameters was suggested to obtain the appropriate boron‐doped nc‐Si:H thin films that can be applied as a p‐type layer or window‐layer material for silicon thin‐film solar cells.
Pr3+ luminescence center in Lu2Si2O7 host
Authors: Nikl M. , Begnamini A. M. , Jary V. , Niznansky D. , Mihokova E.
Published: September 2009

Pr3+‐doped Lu2Si2O7 (LPS:Pr) microcrystalline phosphor was prepared by the sol–gel method. We study the LPS:Pr luminescence properties under UV and X‐ray excitation within 80–500 K. The emission spectrum is dominated by fast 5d–4f band peaking at 261 nm having 16 ns decay time. By purely optical contactless methods we determine the energy barrier of 300 meV for thermal ionization of the Pr3+ 5d1 relaxed excited state in LPS host. The barrier is high enough to keep the room temperature quantum efficiency of the Pr3+ luminescence center close to unity. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
QSAR Investigation of New Cognition Enhancers
Authors: Dearden John C. , Hewitt Mark , Geronikaki Athina A. , Garibova Taissia L. , Macaev Fliur Z. , Voronina Tatiana A.
Published: September 2009

Increasing longevity means that there is an increased likelihood of loss of cognitive functions and of incidence of dementias. There is thus a greater demand for cognition‐enhancing (noötropic) drugs. Some such drugs are already available, but many display serious side‐effects. We have designed, synthesized and tested a number of novel chemical entities that are predicted by the PASS software to be potential noötropic agents. The results have been subjected to QSAR (quantitative structure–activity relationship) analysis, and good QSAR correlations, with external validation, have been obtained, which can be used predictively to guide design of additional potential cognition‐enhancers.
Modelling the association between patient characteristics and the change over time in a disease measure using observational cohort data
Authors: Harrison L. , Dunn D. T. , Green H. , Copas A. J.
Published: September 2009

In observational cohort studies we may wish to examine the associations between fixed patient characteristics and the longitudinal changes from baseline in a repeated outcome measure. Many biological and other outcome measures are known to be subject to measurement error and biological variation. In an initial analysis we may fit a regression model to all outcome measurements, accounting for all the identified sources of variability, and see how the characteristics are linked to the change for typical patients. However, the characteristics may also be linked to different distributions of the underlying outcome value at baseline, which itself may be correlated with the change over time. Therefore, if we wish to examine the change over time for patients of different characteristics but with the same underlying baseline value then the initial approach is confounded by the baseline values. Furthermore, if we attempt to remove this confounding by including the observed baseline measure as a covariate in a model for later measurements, then this may provide an approximate solution but is likely to introduce some bias. We propose a method based on first following the initial approach but then, applying a correction to the parameter estimates. This allows the predicted trajectories to be plotted and valid significance tests of association with characteristics. Our approach is compared with other methods and illustrated through a simulation study and an analysis of the association between HIV‐1 subtype and immunological response after starting antiretroviral therapy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alverno College
Authors: Wagner Virginia
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at Alverno College including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at Alverno College.
Frederick Community College
Authors: Haney L. Richard , McClellan Debralee
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at Frederick Community College including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at Frederick Community College.
Isothermal Community College
Authors: Jones Karen Kitchens
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at Isothermal Community College including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at Isothermal Community College.
John Carroll University
Authors: Dean Kathleen Lis , Rombalski Patrick , O'Dell Kyle
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at John Carroll University including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at John Carroll University.
Northern Arizona University
Authors: Butcher Michael F. , Saltonstall Margot , Bickel Sarah , Brandel Rick
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at Northern Arizona University including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at Northern Arizona University.
North Carolina State University
Authors: Zelna Carrie L.
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at North Carolina State University including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at North Carolina State University.
Oregon State University
Authors: Sanderson Rebecca A. , Ketcham Patricia L.
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at Oregon State University including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at Oregon State University.
The Pennsylvania State University
Authors: Burlingame Philip J. , Dowhower Andrea L.
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at the Pennsylvania State University including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at the Pennsylvania State University.
Texas A&M University
Authors: Osters Sandi
Published: September 2009

This chapter provides a glimpse of student affairs assessment at Texas A&M University including a specific example of assessment, tips to implementing assessment at your institution, and barriers encountered when implementing the process at Texas A&M University.
Shoeboxes and taxes: Integrated course design unleashes new creativity for a veteran teacher
Authors: Huber Marsha M.
Published: September 2009

The author used the integrated course design model to create new learning activities in her course on federal taxation. Although she is a veteran teacher, she found this new way of thinking about her courses unleashed her creativity and set her on a path of continuous learning.
Integrated design of a virology course develops lifelong learners
Authors: Mester Joseph C.
Published: September 2009

The students in a virology course helped set the learning goals, and the design and content of the exams, and they developed rubrics for individual and group projects. The result was that they learned how to direct their own learning.
Arsenic methylation capacity and its correlation with skin lesions induced by contaminated drinking water consumption in residents of chronic arsenicosis area
Authors: Li Xin , Li Bing , Xu Yuanyuan , Wang Yi , Jin Yaping , Itoh Toshihiro , Yoshida Takahiko , Sun Guifan
Published: September 2009

Chronic exposure to excess level of arsenic through contaminated drinking water is associated with many injuries, among which skin lesions are the most prominent. In this study, we measured the concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in the blood of the residents of arsenicosis area, who demonstrated different skin lesion grade from mild, moderate to advanced. We evaluated the individual methylation capacity by two indices of the first and secondary methylation ratio (FMR and SMR). We found that SMR of moderate and advanced groups were markedly lower than that of mild group. Significant negative correlation was found between SMR of all the subjects and the grade of skin lesion, with Spearman's correlation coefficient of −0.429 (P = 0.016). Moreover, blood MMA proportion of moderate and advanced groups was found to be significantly higher than that of the mild group. These results suggest that low secondary arsenic methylation capacity and high MMA proportion are associated with the severity of arsenic‐related skin lesions. Our findings evaluated by blood speciation is consistent with that evaluated by the generally accepted urinary arsenic speciation in the relationship between arsenic methylation capacity and arsenic‐related lesions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 26: 118–123, 2011.
Systems Biology and Physiome Projects
Authors: Popel Aleksander S. , Hunter Peter J.
Published: September 2009

This article is categorized under:

Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease
Controlled Growth of Carbon Spheres Through the Mg-Reduction Route
Authors: Shi Liang , Lin Hailin , Bao Keyan , Cao Jie , Qian Yitai
Published: September 2009

Hollow spheres, hollow capsules and solid spheres of carbon were selectively synthesized by Mg-reduction of hexachlorobutadiene at appropriate reaction conditions. X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectra reveal that the as-prepared materials have a well-ordered structure. A possible formation mechanism has been proposed.
Growth of InAs Quantum Dots on Germanium Substrate Using Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique
Authors: Dhawan Tanuj , Tyagi Renu , Bag RajeshKumar , Singh Mahavir , Mohan Premila , Haldar T , Murlidharan R , Tandon RP
Published: September 2009

Self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) were grown on germanium substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition technique. Effects of growth temperature and InAs coverage on the size, density, and height of quantum dots were investigated. Growth temperature was varied from 400 to 450 °C and InAs coverage was varied between 1.40 and 2.35 monolayers (MLs). The surface morphology and structural characteristics of the quantum dots analyzed by atomic force microscope revealed that the density of the InAs quantum dots first increased and then decreased with the amount of InAs coverage; whereas density decreased with increase in growth temperature. It was observed that the size and height of InAs quantum dots increased with increase in both temperature and InAs coverage. The density of QDs was effectively controlled by growth temperature and InAs coverage on GaAs buffer layer.
Changes in Oil Content of Transgenic Soybeans Expressing the Yeast SLC1 Gene
Authors: Rao Suryadevara S. , Hildebrand David
Published: September 2009

The wild type (Wt) and mutant form of yeast (sphingolipid compensation) genes, SLC1 and SLC1‐1, have been shown to have lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) activities (Nageic et al. in J Biol Chem 269:22156–22163, 1993). Expression of these LPAT genes was reported to increase oil content in transgenic Arabidopsis and Brassica napus. It is of interest to determine if the TAG content increase would also be seen in soybeans. Therefore, the wild type SLC1 was expressed in soybean somatic embryos under the control of seed specific phaseolin promoter. Some transgenic somatic embryos and in both T2 and T3 transgenic seeds showed higher oil contents. Compared to controls, the average increase in triglyceride values went up by 1.5% in transgenic somatic embryos. A maximum of 3.2% increase in seed oil content was observed in a T3 line. Expression of the yeast Wt LPAT gene did not alter the fatty acid composition of the seed oil.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Missed Monteggia fracture in children: Is annular ligament reconstruction always required?
Authors: Bhaskar Atul
Published: September 2009

Background

Missed radio-capitellar joint dislocation is one of the feared complications of Monteggia fractures, especially when associated with subtle fractures of the ulna bone. Many treatment strategies have been described to manage the chronic Monteggia fracture and the need for annular ligament reconstruction is not always clear. This study is an attempt to address the issue of annular ligament reconstruction in the surgical management of missed Monteggia fracture.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study was performed in 12 patients who presented with missed Monteggia fracture. All children underwent open reduction of the radio-capitellar joint. Five children (Group A) were treated with ulna angulation–distraction osteotomy and annular ligament reconstruction, and six cases required only an ulna angulation–distraction osteotomy without ligament reconstruction. The duration of missed dislocation was from 3 to 18 months (mean 9 months). Ten patients were classified as Bado I, and one each as Bado II and III, respectively.

Results

The mean follow up period was 22 months. All ulna osteotomies healed uneventfully. The mean loss of pronation was 15° in Group A and 10° in Group B. Elbow flexion improved from the preoperative range and no child complained of pain, deformity and restriction of activity. In one case (Group A), there was 3 mm of radiographic subluxation of the radial head, but this child was clinically asymptomatic. The elbow score was excellent in ten cases and good in two cases.

Conclusion

Distraction–angulation osteotomy of the ulna suffices in most cases of missed Monteggia fracture and the need for annular ligament reconstruction is based on the intra-operative findings of radial head instability.
Sin, Confession, and the Arts of Book- and Cord-Keeping: An Intercontinental and Transcultural Exploration of Accounting and Governmentality
Authors: Urton Gary
Published: September 2009

My objective is to examine an intriguing and heretofore unrecognized convergence in the history of bookkeeping. The story revolves around an extraordinary parallelism in the evolution of bookkeeping and the philosophical and ethical principles underlying the practice of accounting between southern Europe and Andean South America during the two centuries or so prior to the Spanish invasion of the Inka Empire in 1532. The event of the European invasion of the Andes brought these two similar yet distinct trans-Atlantic traditions of “bookkeeping” and accounting into violent confrontation.
Inbreeding depression and heterosis of litter size in mice
Authors: Bowman J. C. , Falconer D. S.
Published: September 2009

1. A random bred population of mice was subjected to inbreeding and the changes of litter size, measured as the number of live young in first litters, were followed.

2. The mean litter size declined at a rate of 0·56 young per 10% increase of the inbreeding coefficient.

3. Selection for large litters within the lines during the inbreeding did not effectively reduce the rate of decline.

4. Out of twenty lines at the beginning of the inbreeding seventeen were lost by the time the inbreeding coefficient reached 76%. Two more were lost later and one survived indefinitely. The three lines that survived longest started at a level below the mean and did not decline in litter size. The one that survived indefinitely reached 99% inbreeding without dropping below the non-inbred control.

5. The three lines surviving at 81% inbreeding were crossed and the litters produced by the crossbred progeny were larger than the non-inbred control by about two young per litter. This gain from heterosis is attributable to selection among the lines on their performance as inbreds. A second and third cycle of inbreeding and crossing yielded no further progress, and the level of the first cross was never regained. This is attributable to the ineffectiveness of the selection applied and to the previous restrictions of the population size.

6. The behaviour of the lines in the inbreeding and crossing point to simple dominance rather than over-dominance at the loci causing variation of litter size.

7. This experiment suggests that, as a means of improvement of farm animals, cyclical inbreeding and crossing does not look very hopeful.
Sexual dimorphism in mouse gametogenesis
Authors: Slizynski B. M.
Published: September 2009

Diplotene and diakinesis chiasma frequency in oöcytes of the mouse cannot be studied successfully with the present technique. Metaphase chiasmata have been examined in thirty-nine oöcytes. It is deduced that the total diplotene map length in females is about 2300 cM. compared with 1950 cM. in males. There is sexual dimorphism in the frequency of chiasmata, which is paralleled by similar dimorphism in frequencies of crossing-over, measured genetically.

The two sexes differ in the duration of various stages of meiosis. In adult males the pachytene stage, lasting for about 7 days, is directly followed by diplotene and diakinesis, after which the metaphase stage sets in. The sex bivalent in males develops visible chiasmata much earlier than do the autosomes and it precedes them in anaphase separation. Quick terminalization of chiasmata in it leads in a fair proportion of cases to precocious separation and in less than 1% of cases to cytologically detectable non-disjunction of sex chromosomes.

In females the pachytene stage appears in oöcytes of the embryo and is followed by the dictyotene stage, which last still ovulation, i.e. between 35–40 days and several months. Since in the oöcyte chiasmata are formed and move during the dictyotene stage, it follows that stainable materials of the chromosomes are not necessary for the formation and movement of chiasmata and are concomitant with pairing and anaphase separation. It follows also that the time for chiasma formation and movement is in females at least five to six times longer than in males. In old oöcytes in which time is available for maximum terminalization of chiasmata, non-disjunction may appear with detectable frequency. This mechanism may also operate in cases of Mongolism in man, where non-disjunction of an autosome has been recently cytologically established and higher frequency of incidence of the condition for old mothers has been known for some time.

It is possible that the differences in duration of various stages of gametogenesis are connected with the period at which gametic selection is operating: in spermatogenesis after the second meiotic division, in oögenesis prior to first meiotic metaphase.
The relation of reduplication, recombination, synapsis and chromosome coiling
Authors: Maguire Marjorie P.
Published: September 2009

It has long been believed that partially paired chromosomes observed at early meiotic prophase represent synapsis caught in the act and that crossing over must follow or accompany this stage. In contradiction to this it has often been suggested that certain observations (e.g. the occurrence of 3: 1 ratios from individual tetrads of yeast,NeurosporaandAspergillus) are most easily explained if it is assumed that crossing over occurs at the time of reduplication which in turn is now thought to occur during the premeiotic interphase (Taylor, 1957). Another phenomenon, which has been reported inNeurospora, Drosophilaand bacteriophage, and apparently must be fitted into any successful model of recombination, is localized negative interference.
Genic basis of the mate-killer trait inParamecium aurelia, stock 540
Authors: Gibson I. , Beale G. H.
Published: September 2009

1. Stock 540 ofParamecium aurelia(syngen or variety 1) contains two duplicate genesM1andM2, each of which is capable of supporting growth of mu particles in the cytoplasm, thus producing the mate-killer phenotype.

2. Of six sensitive stocks ofP. aureliasyngen 1, collected from widely separated localities, none contained eitherM1orM2.

3. One sensitive stock (544), though proved to contain both recessive genesm1andm2, gave aberrant ratios of mate-killers and sensitives following hybridization with stock 540. Evidence has been adduced consistent with the hypothesis that them1- andm2-bearing chromosomes are involved in a translocation, by comparison with stock 540.

4. There is a proportionality between numbers ofMgenes and speed of killing, and presumably therefore with the number of mu particles.

5. Loss of mu particles following substitution ofMgenes by their recessive alleles occurs at times varying between eight and fifteen fissions after change of genotype.
Modifying the sternopleural hair pattern in Drosophila by selection
Authors: Reeve E. C. R.
Published: September 2009

Two apparently very similar quantitative characters, the numbers of hairs on the sternopleural region and on the abdominal sternites of Drosophila melanogaster, show unexpected differences in their genetic behaviour. In particular, the amount of left-right asymmetry of the sternopleurals (i.e. the mean absolute difference in numbers of hairs on the two sides of the fly) tends to decline when inbred lines are intercrossed, and can be both increased and decreased by straightforward selection; the corresponding index for the sternite hairs—the uncorrelated variance between two sternites, or the mean absolute difference between the numbers of hairs on each—appears, on the other hand, to be susceptible neither to selection nor to change when inbred lines are crossed (Mather, 1953; Reeve & Robertson, 1954; Reeve, 1959).
Regular responses to selection I. Description of responses
Authors: Thoday J. M. , Boam T. B.
Published: September 2009

1. Several lines of Drosophila melanogaster have been selected for increase of sternopleural chaeta-number.

2. Three lines of the same origin, dp 1, dp 2 and dp 6, showed remarkably similar patterns of response involving an accelerated response from 24 to 28 chaetae and a plateau at about 30 chaetae. A line formed by crossing two of these was not responsive to selection, suggesting that the two parent lines were genetically similar.

3. A fourth line, vg 4, related to these others, showed a similar accelerated response but continued to respond beyond 30 chaetae, reaching a plateau at about 37 chaetae.

4. A further line, vg 6, set up by crossing two ‘improved’ lines, one with 30, the other with 22 chaetae, reached 46 chaetae and suggests there may sometimes be merit in selecting from the hybrids of ‘improved’ strains.

5. It is argued that the event making possible the accelerated response is probably a recombinational event.

6. The line vg 4 clearly demonstrates that some of the genes that may be exploited in a selection experiment have to be exploited in a particular order because of gene interactions.
Induced mitotic crossing-over inUstilago maydis
Authors: Holliday Robin
Published: September 2009

1. Two different methods of selection were used to obtain stable prototrophic solopathogenic strains ofUstilago maydisfrom haploids with different biochemical requirements. The strains were shown to be heterozygous diploids.

2. Two diploids which were examined in detail had four markers in common, but they were in different coupling and repulsion phases. Rare spontaneous segregation was detected in one of the diploids, but a high frequency of segregation was obtained in both after treatment with ultra-violet light. The proportion of segregants amongst the survivors increased with the dose. These auxotrophic segregants were detected by means of the replica plating technique.

3. The types of segregant which were obtained from both diploids were consistent with the view that they arose as a result of mitotic crossing-over. After low doses of radiation the reciprocal products of crossing-over were often detected. There was no evidence from the phenotypes of the segregants that haploidization was occurring. The diploidy of a sample of the segregants was confirmed by mating-type tests, and by the fact that they showed further segregation after another dose of radiation.

4. A slow-growing unstable segregant recovered after a high dose of radiation proved to be a monosomic strain which consistently reverted to a stable diploid homozygous for one chromosome. It was possible to use this auxotrophic diploid together with a haploid with different biochemical requirements, to synthesize a prototrophic triploid strain. The triploid was much less stable than the diploid strains.

5. By means of pathogenicity tests with certain segregants it was possible to distinguish the function of the two loci which control the mating system. Thealocus is responsible for the fusion of haploid sporidia and has no effect on the pathogenicity of the heterokaryon which is under the control of theblocus.

6. The effects of ultra-violet light on mitotic crossing-over do not seem to be easily compatible with a copy choice or similar mechanism of recombination.
Attachment of wild-typeFfactor to a specific chromosomal region in a variant strain ofEscherichia coliK12: the phenomenon of episomic alternation
Authors: Richter Alan
Published: September 2009

A variant strain ofEscherichia coliK12 (♂3) was obtained after ultra-violet irradiation. This strain differs from wild type in the possession of a preferred chromosomal site for theFfactor.

When wild-type females are infected with theFfactor they are converted toF+ males which carry theFfactor in the infectious state. TheseF+ males (standard) change with low frequency toHfrmales which carry theFfactor on the chromosome. When the variant female (♀3) is infected with theFfactor it is converted to anF+ male (state II) which changes with high frequency to a specificHfrmale (state I) which carries theFfactor at the preferred site (Hfr3).

Male strains carrying the preferred site alternate between the specificHfrstate and theF+ state. The mechanism of this alternation is the back-and-forth shift of theFfactor between its integrated state of multiplication at theHfr3locus and its autonomous state of multiplication. This process is termedepisomic alternation.

Episomic alternation offers a physical model for regular changes in state of the gene.

TheHfr3locus has two allelic forms, high rate of change and standard rate of change. The allele for high rate of change may be considered as a genetic system which occurs in two possible states, state I in which theFfactor is present atHfr3, and state II in which it is not.