cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public preferences for nontimber benefits of loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ) stands regenerated by different site preparation methods

T~~isstudyassessesplrblicp~~eferet~cesforr~or~tir~~berbe~tefitsoflobloli)~l~ine (Pinus taeda L)stat~ds regenerated 1.5 yr earlier using different site preparation treatments at nationalforest arid iJldustrialforestty sites. Treatments tested 011 the Tuskegee Natiorml Forest were none, chainsaw fellirlg, tree irljection, and soil-active herbicide. At the indirsrrial site, esperirnental treatments included cltop\Gng arid lxrnling. followed by 110 additional treatment, woody control, herbaceous control, and total control. Both sites were planted with loblolly pine seedlings. Two user nrn*eys emplvyirzg color photography were corrdticted ?o identify t!le resporidents ' ratings of the young stands in te/nu ojl"t.~~ei~~edr~vrrt~~~~berherre/jfs, !k'uding ae:~thetirs. picl:ickCtg, h!king~~S:iJaik~!~g~.~~ciilt~~, campitlg, huuting, bira' watclrirrg, wild!i& habitat. aJ:d biodivenity. Tlie si:e preparation treatmetus were ruted without consideratiorl of the treatment cost and its distribution. Results indicate that the respondents preferred the minimalorno treatmentoptions atbothstudysites . TIte respotldetlts'I~refereJlce.~~~~eresigtlificantlyaffectedby their age, education, income, employment status, and living distance from the experimental sites, but not gender. Respondents considered wildlife habitat as the most important benefit and hunting as the least important. Most of the respondents also felt that both nationalforests and industrialforests should be managedfor nontimber as well
NEURONAL REGULATION OF MUSCLE CELL ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTOR DISTRIBUTION, STABILITY AND CONCENTRATION

Publisher Summary Two salient features of the mature neuromuscular junction are the juxtaposition of pre-synaptic release sites with post-synaptic concentrations of acetylcholine receptors (AChR) and the increased stability of junctional AChR. It has been found that a factor produced specifically by neuronal cells increases the state of aggregation of AChR on cultured embryonic muscle cells. It has been proposed that during synaptogenesis, local concentrations of this factor at the developing neurite induce a local aggregation of muscle cell AChR. The factor is found in medium conditioned by neuronal cells and in the cytoplasmic fraction of embryonic tissue. Medium conditioned by neuronal cells also stabilizes the AChR in the membranes of cultured myotubes as shown by decreased rates of detergent extraction of AChR. This indicates that a factor produced by neurons promotes the attachment of AChR to the myotube cytoskeleton. This chapter presents preliminary data indicating that a factor produced by neurons slows the rate at which cultured myotubes degrade AChR and increases the rate at which new AChR is inserted into the myotube membrane. The net effect of the neuronal modulation of these two parameters of myotube AChR metabolism is an increase in the concentration of AChR in the myotube plasma membrane.
Perturbing the ground state of Dirac stars

Dirac stars are self-gravitating configurations of spin-$1/2$ fermions in which the fermions are described by the Dirac equation. After a detailed review of the derivation of the equations and their static solutions, we present an in-depth dynamical stability analysis of the ground state similar to previous studies for boson stars. We confirm that there exist both stable and unstable branches of static solutions and show that weakly perturbed Dirac stars from the unstable branch migrate to the stable branch. We also show that strongly perturbed Dirac stars from the stable branch migrate to the stable branch if their mass is below a critical value. If their mass is above the critical value they can migrate to the stable branch or collapse and form a black hole. For strongly perturbed Dirac stars from the unstable branch we show that the addition of even a small amount of mass leads to collapse, while if we decrease their mass they migrate to the stable branch.
Storm damages and inter-city trade

In a world of increasingly integrated supply chains, disasters have impacts far from where they hit. A new paper looks at how tropical-cyclone impacts propagate across cities, showing that indirect impacts become large for the most-destructive storms.
The Need for Franchising Curriculum to Deliver Value to Underrepresented Groups: An Abstract

For the fall of 2017, females were the majority with about 11.5 million attending colleges and universities compared to 8.9 million males (Institute of Education Sciences 2018). In addition, the enrollment of Hispanic and black students increased from 21.7% in 2000 to 36.6% in 2015 for Hispanics, and 30.5% to 34.9% for blacks for that same time period (Institute of Education Sciences 2018). With the expanding enrollment of female and minority students in higher education, colleges and universities have to discover new ways to market to and satisfy this varied demographic in order to survive in the competitive education marketplace (Penaloza and Gilly 1991). This is a challenge for many U.S. institutions who are not accessing and understanding the needs of the diverse market (Penaloza and Gilly 1991). Institutions must work towards developing a multidisciplinary curriculum that specifically benefits not only female and minority students but also provide benefits to businesses and industry (Mikitka and Stampfl 1994). We suggest a franchising curriculum as one such way to reach this goal.
Metabolic disturbances in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) during infection with Beet necrotic yellow vein virus

Abstract Rhizomania, caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) is an economically important disease of sugar beet. Management includes the use of single resistance (Rz) genes. However, strains with the ability to overcome the widely used Rz1 resistance gene have already been reported. The mechanisms associated with these genes are unknown, therefore increased understanding of the host defense response may lead to more durable sources of rhizomania resistance. Non-targeted metabolome profiling, coupled with targeted phytohormone quantification, was applied to characterize the metabolic and signaling pathways associated with BNYVV infections in sugar beet. Clear differences in metabolites were identified following pathogen infection independent of plant genotype particularly those associated with host lipid composition or other membrane associated functions.
Mechanical Support of the Failing Fontan Circulation

The Fontan is the final common pathway for most single ventricle lesions. It is not a durable circulation and many Fontan patients eventually present for advanced heart failure therapies including mechanical circulatory support. While there have been advancements in available durable devices, many pediatric patients have size, anatomical, and physiologic constraints that make placement of adult ventricular assist devices challenging. And, Fontan failure comes in different varieties, including failure with preserved systolic function. This subset of patients requires either a subpulmonary assist device or a total artificial heart. Unique operative maneuvers, including atrial cannulation and atrioventricular valve manipulation have allowed many failing Fontan patients to be bridged to transplant after recovery of end-organ dysfunction and improved nutrition. The Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network is a multicenter learning network of pediatric hospitals implanting, managing, and studying ventricular assist devices in children and adults with congenital heart disease. This network is advancing the knowledge of outcomes and approaches to mechanical circulatory support in those with congenital heart disease, including Fontans. The congenital heart disease community continues to work toward and hope for a smaller durable device that will help this complex cohort of patients.
A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Practices for Students with Learning Disabilities in Social Studies Classrooms

Progressing through schools may be challenging for some students, especially those with learning disabilities (LD). In social studies, for example, students grapple with increasingly complex texts,...
Kinetics of amyloid β from deep learning

Characterizing the aggregation of the peptide amyloid β is essential to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and to find potential targets for drug development. Deep neural networks make it possible to describe the kinetics of this peptide, opening the way for achieving this goal.
Generalized Hohmann, Bi-Parabolic and Bi-Elliptic Planar Impulsive Transfer Using Transformed Variables

The problem of planar optimal impulsive transfer between ellipses in a Newtonian gravitational field with the final time- free is approached through a transformation of variables. New necessary conditions for optimal Bi-Elliptic Transfers are presented in terms of these transformed variables. The work is applied to examples in which the apses of the ellipses are aligned. The Generalized Hohmann, Bi-Elliptic and Bi-Parabolic Transfers are discussed. An example is presented that shows that Bi-Elliptic Transfer cannot be optimal if the final time is free. The approach can also be applied to determine optimality of transfers for other aligned configurations. This project is then changed to a fixed final time minimization problem. For this problem, it is found that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the final time and the apogee of the transfer ellipse. It is shown from this fact that there can be optimal Bi-Elliptic Transfers if the final time is fixed.
Unpacking competitiveness of agricultural farms in Bulgaria

Abstract. Despite its importance and continouing debates, there is still no consensus on what is the competitiveness of farms, how to measure the competitiveness of different organizations in agriculture, what is the absolute and comparative competitiveness of different types of farms, which are the critical factors for increasing the competitiveness at the current stage of development, etc. This study tries to fill the existing gap by applying a holistic approach and assessing the competitiveness of Bulgarian farms as a whole and with different specializations. The multi-criteria assessment found that the level of competitiveness of farms in the country is at a good level, with low adaptive potential and economic efficiency to the greatest extent contributing to lower competitiveness. More than a third of all agricultural holdings have a low level of competitiveness. The most competitive are the farms specialised in the beekeeping, followed by field crops, mixed animal husbandry and mixed crops production, and the lowest for farms in grazing livestock. Most significant factors for increasing the competitiveness of Bulgarian farms are market conditions (supply and demand, prices, competition), direct government subsidies, access to knowledge, advice and counseling, participation in government support programs, available information , financial opportunities, and opportunities for benefits in the near future.Proposed approach should be improved and applied more widely and periodically, increasing accuracy and representativeness. The latter requires close cooperation with producer organizations, advisory service and other stakeholders, and improvement of the agricultural information collection system in the country. Keywords. Competitiveness, Agricultural holdings, Specialsiation, Bulgaria. JEL. Q12, Q13, Q15, Q18 .
Optimal cutoff values for visceral fat volume to predict metabolic syndrome in a Korean population.

ABSTRACT Previous studies have reported the association between visceral fat and metabolic syndrome (MS); however, just few studies have been conducted to evaluate the relationship between actual visceral fat volume (VFV) and MS. This study aimed to obtain 3 dimensional VFV and subcutaneous fat volume (SFV) using abdominal computed tomography (CT) and determine MS-predictive cutoff values.A total of 250 individuals, aged 27 to 80 years, who underwent health screening with abdominal CT between November 2019 and May 2020 were included. The subcutaneous (SFA) and visceral (VFA) fat areas were quantified using axial images obtained at the level of the lowest to the highest part of the umbilicus. The SFV and VFV were quantified from the highest level of the liver dome to the pelvic floor on axial CT images. The Aquarius iNtuition software program (TeraRecon, Foster City, CA) was used to calculate the SFA, VFA, SFV, and VFV. Subcutaneous fat mass and visceral fat mass (VFM) were measured using an adipose tissue density of 0.9 g/mL. We used the modified criteria of MS proposed by the Third National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults and waist circumference of ≥90 cm in men and ≥85 cm in women to define MS. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to compare the fat areas, volumes, and mass according to the presence of MS and sex. Additionally, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the cutoff values for VFV, SFV, VFM, subcutaneous fat mass, VFA, and SFA associated with MS.Of the assessed variables, VFV and VFM had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value for predicting MS in both men and women: 0.811 (95% confidence interval, 0.743-0.868) for men and 0.826 (95% confidence interval, 0.727-0.900) for women. The MS-predictive cutoff values were 4852 cm3 and 4366.8 g for men and 3101 cm3 and 2790.9 g for women, respectively. Further, large, population-based studies are needed to validate these cutoff values.
Investigating Pristine Inner Experience: Moments of Truth

You live your entire waking life immersed in your inner experiences (thoughts, feelings, sensations and so on) – private phenomena created by you, just for you, your own way. Despite their intimacy and ubiquity, you probably do not know the characteristics of your own inner phenomena; neither does psychology or consciousness science. Investigating Pristine Inner Experience explores how to apprehend inner experience in high fidelity. This book will transform your view of your own inner experience, awaken you to experiential differences between people and thereby reframe your thinking about psychology and consciousness science, which banned the study of inner experience for most of a century and yet continued to recognize its fundamental importance. The author, a pioneer in using beepers to explore inner experience, draws on his 35 years of studies to provide fascinating and provocative views of everyday inner experience and experience in bulimia, adolescence, the elderly, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome, virtuosity and more.
Understanding and Reducing Risks via Infection in LBT Women

Several infections are associated with increased risk of developing cancer. For example, persistent infection with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus causes cervical cancer. Our understanding of the association between infection and cancer in lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women is hampered by an absence of population-based data for LBT women. Formal epidemiologic studies of cancer, in general, and infection-associated cancer, in particular, among LBT individuals are lacking. This absence of robust epidemiologic data makes our understanding of infection-related cancer in the LBT women limited and speculative. This chapter attempts to summarize available epidemiologic data for infection-associated cancers in LBT women, highlight gaps in our knowledge, review interventions that have been used to reduce risk for infection-associated cancers in LBT women, and discuss challenges to research and policy that must be addressed in order prevent infection-associated cancers and reduce cancer disparities experienced by LBT women.
Chromosomal protein antigens formed in experimental hepatocarcinogenesis by azo dyes.

Publisher Summary This chapter examines chromosomal proteins immunologically during hepatocarcinogenesis in rats maintained on a diet containing azo dye. In this study, chromatin from several azo-dye hepatomas was pooled, dehistonized, and used to prepare heterogeneous antisera in rabbits. These antisera were then employed to assess various chromatins for the presence of antigens specific for neoplasia during induced carcinogenesis. All assays were performed using immunodetection of antigens, separated electrophoretically and transferred to nitrocellulose. The gradual development of neoplasia was accompanied by a chronological appearance of antigens until the complement of immunoreactive antigens characteristic of primary hepatomas was achieved. Examination of the Coomassie-stained gels of these chromatins showed that normal liver chromatin contained many polypeptides of similar mobility, but present in varying quantities with respect to that observed for the primary hepatomas. Mainly quantitative variations in nonhistone proteins with hepatocarcinogenesis have also been reported. However, the use of antibodies and the immunotransfer indicate that neoplasia may induce more extensive changes that are detectable immunologically. Fetal liver, regenerating liver, and several transplantable tumors were also examined in the study presented in the chapter. Fetal or regenerating liver chromatin showed more antigenic homology than normal liver or kidney chromatins, which may indicate that some of these antigens are associated with rapid cellular proliferation. In general, transplantable tumors contain more antigens than normal tissues.
Cell cycle oscillators. Temperature compensation of the circadian rhythm of cell division in Euglena

The effects of different constant temperatures ranging from 16 degrees to 32 degrees C on the free-running, circadian rhythm of cell division were examined in axenic, photoautotrophic batch cultures of the unicellular algal flagellate Euglena gracilis Klebs. A comparative study was undertaken on the wild-type (Z strain) and a diuron-(DCMU)-resistant (ZR) strain. Although the overall growth rate (g) of both strains was rather dependent on temperature, lengthening increasingly at temperatures both higher and lower than the optimum range (about 23 degrees-29 degrees C), the free-running period (tau) of the oscillator hypothesized to underlie the overt rhythmicity in the cell division cycle (CDC) was found to be temperature-compensated over at least a 10 degrees C range. The degree of temperature compensation was most striking in the Z strain (Q10 = 1.05) over the permissive temperature interval of 22 degrees-32 degrees C, where periodic growth could occur. This Z strain had a slightly faster growth rate and displayed a higher degree of synchrony than that observed in the ZR strain, whose circadian clock was not as well compensated (Q10 = 1.23) over the permissive temperature interval of 18 degrees-28 degrees C. These results imply that the CDC is regulated by a circadian oscillator sharing the same features as those generating the many other overt biochemical and physiological circadian periodicities that have been documented for Euglena.
Post-birth separation affects the affiliative behaviour of kin in a pitviper with maternal attendance

The relatedness of individuals can have pronounced effects on behavioural interactions, as engaging in mutually beneficial behaviours with kin can increase inclusive fitness. Parental care can be particularly important for kin discrimination in birds and mammals, but similar studies have not been conducted on species exhibiting more rudimentary forms of care. Maternal attendance of young is ubiquitous among viviparous temperate pitvipers, but the adaptive value of this behaviour has received little attention. We sought to determine if being deprived of a maternal attendance period as neonates altered how cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus Lacepede), a common North American pitviper, responded to kin vs. non-kin. We measured the affiliative behaviour of related and unrelated juvenile–juvenile and mother–juvenile pairs that had been allowed a maternal attendance period or had been separated since birth. We found that maternal attendance was not required for sibling or mother–offspring recognition, but did enhance female affiliative behaviour overall, and particularly that of sisters. In contrast, related juveniles that were separated at birth showed a reversal of the sex-specific affiliative behaviour observed in maternally attended juveniles. Post-birth separation had only a modest effect on mother–juvenile affiliative behaviour, and no effect on the strong affiliation between mothers and daughters. The patterns of affiliative behaviour observed in maternally attended snakes corresponded to patterns that have emerged from previous captive and field studies of pitvipers; however, the behaviour of juveniles separated at birth was atypical. Thus, it is possible that maternal attendance plays some role in the development of adaptive sex-specific and kin-directed affiliative behaviour in pitvipers.
Pragmatism, Democracy and the Necessity of Rhetoric, Robert Danisch

Robert Danisch's book, Pragmatism, Democracy, and the Necessity of Rhetoric, brings together the traditions of rhetoric, as it was practiced and theorized in Classical Greece, and pragmatism, as it...
Major features of protistan evolution: controversies, problems and a few answers

The major features of protist evolution are fraught with controversies, problems and few answers, especially in early Earth history. In general they are based on molecular data and fossil evidence that respectively provide a scaffold and details of eukaryotic phylogenetic and ecologic histories. 1. Their origin, inferred from molecular sequences, occurred very early (>3Ga). They are a chimera of different symbiont-derived organelles, including possibly the nucleus. 2. The initial diversification of eukaryotes may have occurred early in geologic time. Six supergroups exist today, each with fossils known from the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic. 3. Sex, considered an important development, may have been inherited from bacteria. 4. Precambrian protists were largely pelagic cyst-bearing taxa, but benthic forms were probably quite diverse and abundant. 5. Protists gave rise to animals long before 600 Ma through the choanoflagellates, for which no fossil record exists. 6. Acritarchs and skeletonized protists radiated in the Cambrian (544-530 my). From then on, they radiated and became extinct at all the major events recorded in the metazoan fossil record. 7. Protists dominated major environments (shelves and reefs) starting with a significant radiation in the Ordovician, followed by extinctions and other radiations until most died out at the end of the Permian. 8. In the Mesozoic, new planktic protozoa and algae appeared and radiated in pelagic environments. 9. Modern protists are important at all trophic levels in the oceans and a huge number terrestrial, parasitic and symbiotic protists must have existed for much of geologic time as well. 10. The future of protists is likely in jeopardy, just like most reefal, benthic, and planktic metazoans. An urgent need to understand the role of protists in modern threatened oceans should be addressed soon.
Combining Multiple True 3D Ultrasound Image Volumes through Re-registration and Rasterization

We present an accurate and efficient technique to combine and rasterize multiple 3D ultrasound (3DUS) image volumes originally presented in spherical coordinates into a single, 3D Cartesian image that uniformly samples the total field of view. To ensure the consistency of merged image content in overlapping regions, image re-registration was performed by maximizing mutual information (MI). The technique was applied to 22 3DUS image volumes obtained during five neurosurgical patient cases. The computational cost of the approach increases linearly with the number of images involved (average time to combine and rasterize one pair of 3DUS images was 1.5 sec). Interpolation was approximately 20% more accurate in overlapping regions when re-registration was performed before rasterization and minimized feature loss and/or blurring that was evident without re-registration. In addition, we report the average translational (35.2 mm) and rotational (38.5 o ) capture ranges for the MI re-registration of two volumetric 3DUS images. The technique is applicable in any clinical application in which volumetric true 3DUS is acquired.
The Regularity Lemma and Its Applications in Graph Theory

Szemeredi's Regularity Lemma is an important tool in discrete mathematics. It says that, in some sense, all graphs can be approximated by random-looking graphs. Therefore the lemma helps in proving theorems for arbitrary graphs whenever the corresponding result is easy for random graphs. In the last few years more and more new results were obtained by using the Regularity Lemma, and Mso some new variants and generalizations appeared. Komlos and Simonovits have written a survey on the topic [96]. The present survey is, in a sense, a continuation of the earlier survey. Here we describe some sample applications and generalizations. To keep the paper self-contained we decided to repeat (sometimes in a shortened form) parts of the first survey, but the emphasis is on new results.
Management Intelligence in Service-Level Reconfiguration of Distributed Network Applications

The paper is on generic service-level management tools that enable the reconfiguration of a distributed network application whenever there are resource-level changes or failures in the underlying network sub-systems. A network service is provided to applications through a protocol module, with the latter exercising network infrastructure resources in a manner to meet the application-level QoS specs. Application requests for a network service instantiate the protocol module with parameters specified at the service interface level, along with a prescription of critical properties to be enforced. At run-time, a management module monitors the service compliance to application-prescribed requirements, and notifies the application if a QoS degradation is detected. In our model, the management entity uses policy scripts and rules to coordinate the application-level reconfigurations and adaptations in response to the changes/outages in underlying network services. Our management model is independent of the specifics of problem-domain, which lowers the software development costs of distributed applications through `reuse' of the management module. The paper presents a case study of rate-adaptive video multicast over IP networks, to demonstrate the usefulness of our model.
The Influence of Tetraethylammonium Ion on the Reaction between Acetylcholinesterase and Selected Inhibitors

The values of the affinity constant ( Ka ) and the first-order inhibition rate constant ( k 2) of selected inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine hydrolase, EC [3.1.1.7][1]) were determined in the presence and absence of tetraethylammonium ion (TEA). Although TEA is believed to act as a purely competitive inhibitor toward cationic compounds, the present study reveals that this is not a general case. TEA did reduce the rate of inhibition by the organophosphate diisopropylphosphorylthiocholine in a purely competitive manner, but its effect on the rates of inhibition by two cationic carbamates was more complex. TEA at 0.5 mM reduced the apparent value of Ka , but increased the apparent k 2 value of neostigmine. At higher TEA concentrations anomalous curving was observed in the inhibition plots of dimethylcarbamylcholine. These results indicate that the inhibitors are bound simultaneously with TEA to the enzyme, and this suggests that TEA binds to an allosteric site. Similar studies on inhibitors that contained the smaller fluoride leaving group revealed that TEA acted as a purely competitive inhibitor toward diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate. On the other hand, it is estimated that TEA may increase the first-order sulfonation rate by methanesulfonyl fluoride from 72.5 min-1 to 2376 min-1. [1]: pending:yes
Education in the Moral Domain

This book brings together the results of 25 years of research on the domain theory of social cognitive development. On the basis of that research - which shows that morality is a domain distinct from other social values - the author provides concrete suggestions for creating a moral classroom climate, dealing with student discipline, and integrating moral values within the curriculum. Among questions addressed are: Is morality a set of rules we acquire like any other? Are there universal aspects to morality, or is it culture specific? Is there such a thing as moral character? How best can teachers make use of our knowledge about children's moral and social growth in their everyday classroom practices? Integrated answers to these questions result in a comprehensive approach that does not reduce moral education to a process of induction or inculcation, but rather harnesses children's intrinsic motivation to comprehend and master their social worlds.
The Linearity of the Charge Conversion Function for Cooied Lithium-Drifted Silicon Detectors in Response to X-Ray and Low Energy Gamma Ray Excitation

The linearity of the collected charge/keV has been determined as a function of energy between 4.9 and 75 keV for cooled lithium-drifted silicon detectors. Nonlinear effects for applied field intensities up to 1 kV/cm have been observed to extend to photon energies above 30 keV. Extrapolation to infinite fields does not remove the nonlinear effects for photon energies below 10 keV, indicating an intrinsic nonlinear response at low energies. The charge conversion factor appears to be independent of energy within 0.2% down to 10 keV.
Differences in attenuation among the stable continental regions

[1] There are systematic differences in the attenuation of damaging earthquake ground motions between different stable continental regions (SCRs). Seismic intensity and weak-motion data show that the attenuation in seismic waves for eastern North America (ENA) is less than for India, Africa, Australia, and northwest Europe. If ENA ground-motion attenuation relations are used in seismic hazard models for other SCRs, as is commonly done, then the estimated ground motions and resulting hazard may be too large. If an attenuation model that averages observations from ENA and the other SCRs is used to estimate the magnitudes of large historical earthquakes in ENA, as is the case for recent estimates of M for the 1811–1812 New Madrid, Missouri and the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina events, then the magnitude estimates for these events will be too large, as will be the resulting hazard.
Rotational dynamics of DNA from 10−10 to 10−5 seconds: Comparison of theory with optical experiments

Optical anisotropy data spanning a very wide time range are analyzed using a recently developed theory for filamentous macromolecules that can bend, twist, and also admit overdamped local libration (or wobble) of the chromophore. A rapid relaxation in the fluorescence polarization anisotropy (FPA) near 10−10 s is fitted well by superimposing isotropic wobble of the chromophore (7° rms polar and azimuthal amplitude) on the long-wavelength twisting and bending motions that characterize the relaxation at longer times but not by the latter alone. Moreover, the decay of the FPA from 0.5 to 150 ns cannot be satisfactorily fitted by chromophore wobble in an otherwise rigid DNA and must be assigned primarily to twisting, as noted previously. Data from 26 ns to 20 μs for 600 base-pair DNA are accurately fitted with only a single adjustable scaling factor when the tumbling correlation function is taken to be the empirical electric birefringence decay function of Elias and Eden. The Barkley-Zimm (BZ) tumbling correlation for very long filaments appears to decay too rapidly and results in significant overestimation of the depolarization for t ≤ 300 ns. In the range of the FPA experiments (t ≥ 150 ns), equally good fits with equally uniform torsion constants are obtained for long DNAs, whether one assumes the BZ tumbling correlation function or neglects tumbling entirely, but the best-fit torsion constant (actually the product of the torsion constant and friction factor) is increased by the factor 1.9 when the BZ result is used with a persistence length of a = 500 A. The BZ bending theory is compared with other experimental data, and also with a simulation at very short times with mixed results. Present uncertainties regarding the tumbling dynamics and the friction factor for azimuthal rotation allow the torsion constant to be as much as 3.8 times larger than the initial estimate of Thomas et al. Apparent torsion constants obtained from relative ligase kinetics measurements are also briefly discussed.
The viability of microorganisms in preservation solutions.

In 1988 the University of Wisconsin solution was introduced into clinical transplantation. This solution is unique in that it contains no glucose but rather raffinose, lactobionate, and hydroxyethyl starch. In addition, it contains two antibiotics, penicillin and bactrim. Prior studies have shown that other preservation solutions allow the transmission of bacterial contamination from organ donor to recipient. However, there are no data on whether UW solution, with its unique composition and extended preservation times, allows bacterial transmission. We undertook the present study to establish if bacteria remain viable in UW solution at extended preservation times. Cultures of both aerobic (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and anaerobic (Bacteroides fragilis) bacteria were suspended at 10(5), 10(4), 10(2), and 10(1) org./ml (calibrated from a .5 Macfarland turbidity standard) in both Eurocollins and UW preservation solutions. Samples were then stored in an ice bath to stimulate organ preservation. The organisms were removed and plated on blood and chocolate agar at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 hr postsuspension. The samples were then incubated at 37 degrees C and read for growth at 24-48 hr after plating. Our results showed growth of all organisms except S epi in both preservation solutions, at all dilutions and preservation times. S epi grew in the Eurocollins solution at all dilutions and preservation times but did not grow in the UW solution. When the experiment was repeated omitting penicillin from the UW solution, S epi grew at all dilutions and preservation times. These results demonstrate that in spite of the inclusion of two different antibiotics, the majority of the common bacterial contaminants of the organ donor remain viable in UW solution with extended preservation times. It may be possible therefore to omit these antibiotics from the UW solution and obtain similar results. It is also important to note that routine culturing remains an expensive but necessary part of organ procurement and preservation.
Generalized‐molecular‐orbital theory: Simple multiconfiguration self‐consistent‐field method

Even after completing a multiconfiguration self-consistent-field (MCSCF) calculation, one must often include additional configuration interaction (CI) to obtain quantitative or semiquantitative results. There is some question of whether the prior MCSCF calculation is worthwhile, if additional CI is needed later. We have developed a new MCSCF computational method, which, because of our assumptions about the nature of the configurations, yields one Fock-like operator for all the “filled” orbitals (high occupation numbers) and a second Fock-like operator for all the “virtual” orbitals (low occupation numbers). Since there are only two matrices to build, our method is considerably faster than other MCSCF approaches. Because of these similarities to standard molecular-orbital (MO) calculations, we have termed our approach generalized-molecular-orbital (GMO) theory. However, the “virtual” orbitals, unlike those of standard MO theory, are optimized to correlate the “filled” ones and can he used in a subsequent CI calculation. Results are presented for the correlation energy of H2O, the spectroscopic constants of N2, the singlet–triplet energy separations in CH2, and the nature of the chromium–chromium quadruple bond. Although these results are at a very low level of CI, the GMO approach appears to correct for the gross deficiencies of the single-determinant SCF procedure.
Apomixis and Sexuality in Eastern Gamagrass

(...) Megasporogenesis and embryo sac development were observed in ovules of eight eastern gamagrass genotypes : five diploid pistillate plants (2n = 2x = 36), two triploid (2n = 3x = 54) accessions, and one tetraploid (2n = 4x = 72) accession. The triploid and tetraploid accessions were apomictic. In these three, the megaspore mother cell enlarged : but rather than undergoing meiosis, the cell remained meiotically inactive (...)
An advanced dual incremental network algorithm

An extensive literature survey reveals that computational analyses of pure minimumcost-network algorithms do not address the use of dual incremental codes. Previous studies only compare dual-arc-infeasible-, primal-dual-, and primal-type network codes. Of these three types, the primal method has been shown to be computationally superior to the other methods. This paper surveys the historical development of the dual incremental method up to and including the code DUALINC. Following a comprehensive description of DUALINC, a computational comparison is made with three other recently publicized codes, two primal codes and a dual-arc-infeasible code. The results of this comparison reveal that the new dual incremental code is much more efficient than the dual-arc-infeasible code and that it is competitive with the primal codes.
Simulations of thermo-optic effects in beam propagation

The finite difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM) is an effective model for simulating a wide range of optical waveguide structures. We present results of simulations combining this method with finite element modeling of thermal effects using Comsol FEMLAB software. These simulations were developed and are used to examine propagation of optical signals in polymer waveguides in which inhomogeneous temperature profiles are induced using MEMS microheaters, for example, for use in switching applications. Thermal modeling combined with values of the thermo-optic nonlinearity yields three-dimensional refractive index profiles in the active regions of a variety of waveguide structures. The change in the refractive index profile of cladding induces mode deformations and transmission losses due to leakage at the core/cladding interface, in addition to phase shifts in the propagating beams. These effects are used to design thermo-optic switches in both multimode and single mode waveguides, and study the direct effect on propagation due to changes in the applied heater power. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of applying the method to assessing losses due to thermally induced inhomogeneities in planar lightwave circuits such as optical interconnects.
Interaction of human nuclear topoisomerase I with guanosine quartet-forming and guanosine-rich single-stranded DNA and RNA oligonucleotides.

Human nuclear DNA topoisomerase I (top1) plays a crucial role in DNA replication, transcription, and chromosome condensation. In this study, we show that intra- and intermolecular guanosine quartets (G-quartets) can inhibit top1-mediated DNA cleavage at a high affinity site. Top1-mediated DNA cleavage was also inhibited by a 16-mer single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) containing a G-rich sequence (G2T2G5TG2TG3) and by its RNA equivalent, neither of which form G-quartet structures. A comparison of various single-stranded ODN for their ability to inhibit top1-mediated DNA cleavage indicated that G-rich sequences containing repeats of 2 or 3 consecutive guanines interspaced with thymines specifically inhibited top1. We also found that both single-stranded and G-quartet-forming ODNs bind to top1 without being cleaved by the enzyme. These results demonstrate that either DNA or RNA G-rich single-stranded and G-quartet-forming oligonucleotides can bind to top1 and prevent cleavage of duplex DNA.
A Laboratory Method for Teaching Public Administration.

Few American political scientists have heard of the "Federal Labor Relations Commission," but to a small group of students at Stanford and Columbia Universities the Commission was very real. It is true that its work did not attract as much attention from the great metropolitan journals as did the operations of its rival, the National Labor Relations Board; but to the students who were members of its staff it provided a first-rate laboratory for the study of public administration. For that reason, a brief review of the Commission's operations may be of some interest to teachers of public administration. Political scientists have always been interested in teaching methods; and the war and the experience gained in having to train large numbers of men for the armed services seem to have stimulated-that interest. Articles which appeared in the June issue of this REVIEW were evidence of that concern. While these articles were directed primarily toward teaching methods in political science courses generally, many of the suggestions were particularly applicable to teaching public administration. Francis Wilcox's regret that "there is one problem in particular which should give us pause, our slowness to utilize laboratory methods in political science," is largely responsible for this article, since the operations of the Federal Labor Relations Commission were an attempt to provide such a laboratory. Reliance upon lectures alone is probably less satisfactory in the field of public administration than in any other area of political science. Students usually have not had much personal experience with the problems of public administration. Frequently they lack sufficient knowledge of what the government does to appreciate the size of governmental problems. Statistics in millions and billions of dollars or in hundreds of thousands of employees are so far beyond the grasp of imagination that they mean little. Arthur Macmahon used to say that if an instructor could simply make an undergraduate class in public administration appreciate the nature and complexity of governmental activities, a great deal would have been accomplished. The chief objection to the lecture method, however, is that it entirely omits one of the most important elements in administration, i.e., the factor of human relations. None of the struggles for power is present in the
Efficient solution of multi-dimensional flux-limited nonequilibrium radiation diffusion coupled to material conduction with second-order time discretization

Many algorithms for the second-order time evolution of the coupled radiation diffusion and material conduction equations have been published. Most of them are cumbersome to implement and much slower computationally than their first-order equivalent algorithms. This paper presents a simpler approach that is both computationally efficient and easy to implement. Second-order behavior can be achieved even when the iteration at each time step is incompletely converged. The test problem uses multiple materials and nonlinear heat capacities. Unexpectedly, details in the discretization of the gradient in the flux limiter significantly affect the spatial and temporal convergence of the solution.
Enhancing self-regulation as a strategy for obesity prevention in Head Start preschoolers: the growing healthy study

Nearly one in five 4-year-old children in the United States are obese, with low-income children almost twice as likely to be obese as their middle/upper-income peers. Few obesity prevention programs for low-income preschoolers and their parents have been rigorously tested, and effects are modest. We are testing a novel obesity prevention program for low-income preschoolers built on the premise that children who are better able to self-regulate in the face of psychosocial stressors may be less likely to eat impulsively in response to stress. Enhancing behavioral self-regulation skills in low-income children may be a unique and important intervention approach to prevent childhood obesity. The Growing Healthy study is a randomized controlled trial evaluating two obesity prevention interventions in 600 low-income preschoolers attending Head Start, a federally-funded preschool program for low-income children. Interventions are delivered by community-based, nutrition-education staff partnering with Head Start. The first intervention (n = 200), Preschool Obesity Prevention Series (POPS), addresses evidence-based obesity prevention behaviors for preschool-aged children and their parents. The second intervention (n = 200) comprises POPS in combination with the Incredible Years Series (IYS), an evidence-based approach to improving self-regulation among preschool-aged children. The comparison condition (n = 200) is Usual Head Start Exposure. We hypothesize that POPS will yield positive effects compared to Usual Head Start, and that the combined intervention (POPS + IYS) addressing behaviors well-known to be associated with obesity risk, as well as self-regulatory capacity, will be most effective in preventing excessive increases in child adiposity indices (body mass index, skinfold thickness). We will evaluate additional child outcomes using parent and teacher reports and direct assessments of food-related self-regulation. We will also gather process data on intervention implementation, including fidelity, attendance, engagement, and satisfaction. The Growing Healthy study will shed light on associations between self-regulation skills and obesity risk in low-income preschoolers. If the project is effective in preventing obesity, results can also provide critical insights into how best to deliver obesity prevention programming to parents and children in a community-based setting like Head Start in order to promote better health among at-risk children. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01398358
Cannabinoid modulation of dynorphin A: correlation to cannabinoid-induced antinociception.

Intrathecal administration of anandamide, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and (−)-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethyheptyl)ptyl)phenyl]-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-cicloexan-1-ol (CP55,940) induced spinal antinociception accompanied by differential κ-opioid receptor involvement and dynorphin A peptide release. Antinociception using the tail-flick test was induced by the classical cannabinoid THC and was blocked totally by 17,17′-bis(cyclopropylmethyl)-6′,6,7,7′-tetrahydro-4,5,4′5′-diepoxy-6,6′-(imino)[7,7′-bimorphinan]-3,3′,14,14′-tetrol (norbinaltorphimine) indicating a significant and critical κ-opioid receptor component. The endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide and the non-classical bicyclic cannabinoid, CP55,940, induced non-nor-BNI-sensitive effects. The N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-3-pyrazole-carboxamide (SR141716A)-mediated attenuation of spinal antinociception imparted by the various cannabinoids indicates cannabinoid CB1 receptor involvement. THC-induced an enhancement of immunoreactive dynorphin A release which coincided with the onset, but not duration antinociception. The release of dynorphin A was also attenuated by SR141716A suggesting it is cannabinoid CB1 receptor-mediated. These data indicate a critical role for dynorphin A release in the initiation of the antinociceptive effects of the cannabinoids at the spinal level.