cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endothelial implants provide long-term control of vascular repair in a porcine model of arterial injury.

Cell culture and animal data support the role of endothelial cells and endothelial-based compounds in regulating vascular repair after injury. We describe a long-term study in pigs in which the biological and immunological responses to endothelial cell implants were investigated 3 months after angioplasty, approximately 2 months after the implants have degraded. Confluent porcine or bovine endothelial cells grown in polymer matrices were implanted adjacent to 28 injured porcine carotid arteries. Porcine and bovine endothelial cell implants significantly reduced experimental restenosis compared to control by 56 and 31%, respectively. Host humoral responses were investigated by detection of an increase in serum antibodies that bind to the bovine or porcine cell strains used for implantation. A significant increase in titer of circulating antibodies to the bovine cells was observed after 4 days in all animals implanted with xenogeneic cells. Detected antibodies returned to presurgery levels after Day 40. No significant increase in titer of antibodies to the porcine cells was observed during the time course of the experiment in animals implanted with porcine endothelial cells. No implanted cells, Gelfoam, or focal inflammatory reaction could be detected histologically at any of the implant sites at 90 days. These data suggest that tissue-engineered endothelial cell implants may provide long-term control of vascular repair after injury, rather than simply delaying lesion formation and that allogeneic implants are able to provide a greater benefit than xenogeneic implants.
Field and laboratory validation of surface layer optical turbulence and off-axis irradiance

The effects of optical turbulence on high energy laser propagation have been well documented. The optical turbulence is typically characterized using the index of refraction structure parameter, C n 2 . The value and 3-D variation of C n 2 can be diagnosed for the surface boundary layer (lowest 50 m of the atmosphere) from values of temperature, pressure, humidity and wind velocity using meteorological similarity theory. Examples of such similarity theory C n 2 calculators include the Tunick model for overland applications and the Navy Surface Layer Optical Turbulence (NSLOT) model for ocean scenarios, both of which are implemented in the AFIT CDE's (Center for Directed Energy) HELEEOS (High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation) and LEEDR (Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference) models where they can be assessed from 400 nm to 8.6 m, continuously. The HELEEOS model further allows for the calculation of the irradiance from within a HEL beam that is scattered by molecules and particulates in the atmosphere to an off-axis observation point, while incorporating the spreading effects of the turbulence and thermal blooming. Field and laboratory experiments conducted at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio in summer 2009 allowed for validation measurements for the surface layer optical turbulence and off-axis algorithms to be collected. Turbulence strength measurements were made at a wavelength of 1.55 μm using a state of the art bistatic turbulence profiler for both horizontal and vertical paths. Pressure, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity and aerosol loading data were collected simultaneously with the C n 2 measurements. As part of the experiment, the profiler's beams were imaged offaxis with a calibrated camera array and the received irradiance of the off-axis scattering was quantified. Characterization of the aerosol distribution along the laser path and the path to the observer is accomplished by determining the visibility and climatological aerosols for southwestern Ohio. Comparisons between predicted and measured C n 2 and off-axis irradiance are made. Additionally an experimental technique to derive C n 2 measurements from weather radar is described and compared to the turbulence profiler data.
Comment on "From plant traits to plant communities: a statistical mechanistic approach to biodiversity".

Shipley et al . (Reports, 3 November 2006, p. 812) predicted plant community composition and relative abundances with a high level of accuracy by maximizing Shannon's index of information entropy (species diversity), subject to constraints on plant trait averages. We show that the entropy maximization assumption is relatively unimportant and that the high accuracy is due largely to a statistical effect.
Effects of pluronic F-68 on oxygen transport in an agitated, sparged bioreactor

The gassing out method was used to study the effect of Pluronic F-68 on oxygen transport in an agitated, sparged bioreactor. At a low air sparge rate (0.07 vvm), the addition of Pluronic F-68 had a minimal effect on KLa in both water and medium at low agitation rates. As the agitation rate was increased at this low sparge rate the relative inhibitory effect of Pluronic F-68 on KLa increased with increasing agitation rate. At an air sparge rate of 0.80 vvm, the addition of Pluronic F-68 resulted in a significant reduction in KLa at all agitation rates studied.
Social Effects of Integrated Classrooms and Resource Room/Regular Class Placements on Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities

The social status of elementary students with learning disabilities (LD) served by the Integrated Classroom Model (ICM) was compared to the social status of elementary students with learning disabilities served in a regular class with resource room support. The ICM serves elementary special education and non-special-education students (1:2) together as one class. The comparison group was composed of students with learning disabilities who received special education services outside of their regular classroom for a portion of their school day. Social status was determined by assessing interpersonal relationships among students, using a peer rating method. The results of analyses of various dimensions suggest that while special education students in both programs have significantly lower social status on average than their non-special-education peers, the children in the ICM have a better opportunity to blend successfully into the classroom than the children who go out to a resource room.
Effects of streamwise vorticity injection on turbulent mixing layer development

This paper investigates the effect of injected strong streamwise vorticity on the structure and development of a plane mixing layer originating from tripped boundary layers. The experiments were conducted in a mixing layer wind tunnel consisting of two separate legs which were driven individually by centrifugal blowers. It was found that, while the vorticity injection increased the growth rate in the near-field, the asymptotic growth rate was reduced by a factor of about two, together with the peak Reynolds stress levels. The result is attributed to the effect of the relatively strong and short wavelength streamwise vorticity in making the spanwise structures more three-dimensional and slowing down their pairing process, thus reducing entrainment, and hence growth.
COX-2 oxidative metabolite of endocannabinoid 2-AG enhances excitatory glutamatergic synaptic transmission and induces neurotoxicity.

Neuroinflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible enzyme converting arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandins, is the key player in neuroinflammation. It has been long thought that the COX-2-mediated neuronal injury/degeneration is attributed to the increased production of AA-derived prostaglandins. Recent studies show that endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is a natural substrate for COX-2, and it can be oxygenated by COX-2 to form prostaglandin glyceryl esters. In this study, we demonstrate that prostaglandin E2 glyceryl ester (PGE2-G), a major COX-2 oxidative metabolite of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, enhanced hippocampal glutamatergic synaptic transmission indicated by the increased frequency of miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents, and induced neuronal injury/death revealed by the terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining and caspase 3 activation. The actions of PGE2-G are not mediated via a cannabinoid receptor 1, but mediated through ERK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, IP3, and NF-κB signal transduction pathways. In addition, the PGE2-G-induced neurotoxicity is attenuated by blockade of the NMDA receptors. Our results suggest that the COX-2 oxidative metabolism of endocannabinoids is an important mechanism contributing to the inflammation-induced neurodegeneration.
Cylindrical ion trap array with mass selection by variation in trap dimensions

A mass spectrometer array is described in which each array element is a cylindrical ion trap (CIT) within which an approximately quadrupolar, time-varying, field is established. The individual traps are of different sizes, so that when the array is operated with a fixed rf potential, ions of different masses (or mass ranges) are stored in each trap. By choosing the dimensions of each CIT element in the array, a multiple ion monitoring experiment can be performed. For example, in a two-element array with elements having internal radii of 5 and 4 mm, the smaller trap selects for m/z 91 and the larger for m/z 57, corresponding to characteristic aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon ions. Ion storage using both rf/dc (apex) isolation and the stored waveform inverse Fourier transform method is demonstrated.The array reduces the complexity of the electronics needed to operate the ion trap, which should make it suitable for use in a miniature mass spectrometer system.
Antiphagocytic Effect of the Capsule of Streptococcus uberis

Summary Non-opsonized encapsulated and non-encapsulated strains of Streptococcus uberis were incubated with bovine mammary macrophages and the percentage of phagocytosis and intracellular killing were determined. Seventy-seven percent of macrophages ingested non-encapsulated organisms with a killing rate of 75 %. In contrast, 48 % of macrophages ingested encapsulated bacteria with a killing rate of 35 %. When strains were opsonized with homologous antiserum, differences were detected in the percentage of phagocytosis (84 % vs. 48 %) and intracellular killing (52 % vs. 35 %) of the encapsulated strain only. Effects were partially abolished when antiserum was absorbed with purified capsule, or when macrophages were pre-treated with purified capsular material. Electron microscopy of mammary macrophages incubated with the encapsulated strain of S. uberis showed the microorganism in contact with the macrophage cell membrane without signs of membrane activation. In contrast, the non-encapsulated strain induced formation of pseudopods and membrane ruffling. These results suggest that capsule may protect S. uberis from phagocytosis which may be due to a direct interaction of capsular material with macrophages.
Determination of 3-keto-4-ene steroids and their hydroxylated metabolites catalyzed by recombinant human cytochrome P450 1B1 enzyme using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with trimethylsilyl derivatization.

Abstract A protocol utilizing gas chromatography with selected ion monitoring mass spectrometric detection (GC–SIM-MS) using a simplified trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization protocol was developed and validated for the determination of hydroxylated metabolites of 3-keto-4-ene steroids such as testosterone, progesterone and androstenedione. Hydroxylated metabolites catalyzed by human CYP1B1 were extracted with methylene chloride and derivatized with BSTFA–10% TMCS. To get an optimal derivatizing condition, the effect of various incubation times and temperatures was evaluated. When the incubation temperature and time in the presence of the TMS derivatizing agent were increased, the 3-keto group became derivatized with TMS to form a 3-TMS derivative. To minimize the formation of the TMS ether on the 3-keto group, a reaction condition of 56 °C for 10 min was used for the routine measurement of the steroids and their hydroxylated metabolite. Performance studies including linearity of calibration curves, extraction efficiency and precision were performed. Linearity of the calibration curves was satisfactory from 0.125 to 5 μM for most compounds except 21-hydroxyprogesterone and 16α-hydroxyandrostenedione which deviated from linearity at the lower concentrations. Mean percentage extraction recoveries were greater than 80% for all compounds. Most compounds showed good precisions with C.V.s of within-day precision of less than 5% and C.V.s of between-day precision of less than 10%. The selected ion chromatograms from the recombinant human CYP1B1 incubations with testosterone, progesterone and androstenedione showed evidence of 6β-, 16α-, 2α-, and 15α-hydroxytestosterone, 6α- and 16α-hydroxyprogesterone and 6α- and 16α-hydroxyandrostenedione, respectively. There was no significant interference associated with Escherichia coli membrane extracts in detecting hydroxylated metabolites. This procedure provides a rapid and sensitive method for the evaluation of steroid hydroxylation by CYP isoenzymes.
Inhibition of NMDA-induced currents by conantokin-G and conantokin-T in cultured embryonic murine hippocampal neurons.

Conantokin-G (con-G) and conantokin-T (con-T) are small (17 and 21 amino acids, respectively) γ-carboxyglutamate (Gla) containing peptides derived from the venoms of marine cone snails that are potent and selective inhibitors of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. In this study, the effects of con-G and con-T on NMDA-evoked responses were evaluated in mouse primary hippocampal neuronal cultures using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Under equilibrium conditions, NMDA-induced currents were inhibited by con-G and con-T (10 nM–100 μM) in a dose-dependent manner while maintaining a holding potential of −70 mV. In the presence of saturating amounts of NMDA (100 μM) and glycine (1 μM), the IC50 values obtained were 487±85 nM for con-G and 1030±130 nM for con-T. NMDA (10 μM–1 mM) dose-response curves produced in the presence of con-G or con-T (1 or 3 μM) resulted in a downward shift of the current response at saturation with NMDA, without affecting the EC50. The maximum response obtainable in the absence of peptide could not be achieved by increasing concentrations of NMDA. The same effect was also observed for conantokin inhibition of spermine-potentiated responses. Association rate constants (kon) for the peptides were determined in the presence of NMDA and glycine, with and without the addition of spermine. Using a single binding site bimolecular model, kon values were 3.1±0.2×103 M−1 s−1 for con-G and 3.2±0.1×103 M−1 s−1 for con-T in the absence of spermine. The added presence of a saturating amount of spermine (300 μM) resulted in an approximate 60% increase in the kon values for both con-G and con-T. These results demonstrate that con-T and con-G inhibit NMDA-evoked currents, as well as the potentiation by spermine, in what appears to be a noncompetitive manner, and that spermine increases the rate of conantokin inhibition.
Inhibition of the Proestrous Surge of Prolactin in the Rat by Nicotine

Under controlled lighting conditions (14 hr light and 10 hr dark) female rats were injected with nicotine tartrate on the afternoon of proestrus, and periodic measurements were made of their circulating prolactin levels by radioimmunoassay. In rats bled by heart puncture nicotine treatment at 1200, 1400 and 1600 delayed the prolactin surge by at least 90 min. An additional injection of nicotine at 1700 delayed the rise in serum prolactin by at least another 2 hr. A majority of these rats ovulated that night. Extended studies employed intra—atrial cannulas, inserted on the morning of proestrus, through which successive blood samples could be withdrawn from the same animals without anesthesia. Under these conditions peaks of similar amplitude in plasma prolactin were observed at 1800, 1930 and 2130, respectively, in controls and rats treated with 3 and 4 injections of nicotine. The plasma prolactin curves of all 3 groups of rats, destined to ovulate that night, had returned to pre—surge levels by 2300. In s...
Adenosine A2A receptor activation reduces lung injury in trauma/hemorrhagic shock.

Objective Hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation trigger a global ischemia/reperfusion phenomenon, in which various inflammatory processes critically contribute to the ensuing tissue damage. Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside that is released during shock. Activation of adenosine A(2A) receptors can broadly inactivate inflammatory cascades. The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of A(2A) receptor activation on organ injury and inflammation in the setting of global ischemia/reperfusion elicited by trauma/hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. Design Prospective animal study with concurrent control. Setting Small animal laboratory. Subjects Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions The rats were subjected to a laparotomy (trauma) and 90 mins of hemorrhagic shock or trauma/sham shock. The selective A(2A) receptor agonist CGS-21680 (2-p-(2-carboxyethyl) phenethylamino-5'-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine; 0.5 mg/kg) or its vehicle was injected 30 mins before shock or immediately after resuscitation. At 3 hrs following resuscitation, animals were killed and tissue was harvested for analysis. Lung permeability and pulmonary myeloperoxidase levels were used to quantitate lung injury. Intestinal injury was determined by histologic analysis of terminal ileum. Red blood cell deformability was measured by a laser-assisted ektacytometer. In this assay, a decrease in the elongation index is a marker of decreased red blood cell deformability. Measurements and main results Pretreatment with CGS-21680 protected the lung but not the gut against shock-induced injury and prevented the shock-induced decrease in red blood cell deformability. Posttreatment with CGS-21680 ameliorated shock-induced lung injury but failed to prevent gut injury and preserve red blood cell deformability. Conclusion A(2A) receptor agonists may represent a novel therapeutic approach in preventing organ injury following trauma/hemorrhagic shock.
Preparation and characterization of uniform submicrometer metal niobate particles: Part II. Magnesium niobate and potassium niobate

Amorphous spherical particles of magnesium and potassium niobates were produced by homogeneous precipitation in solutions of magnesium and potassium salts, respectively, in the presence of polymeric niobium oxo-hydroxide ions. At pH 9 solids of definitive compositions were achieved and converted to crystalline powders of MgNb2O6 and KNbO3 on calcination. Chemical mechanisms for the formation and transformation of such colloidal particles are offered.
Bifurcation from higher eigenvalues in nonlinear elliptic equations: continua that meet infinity

On considere des problemes aux valeurs propres non lineaires pour des equations aux derivees partielles elliptiques: −Σ i,j=1 (a ij (x)U xd i)x j +q(x)u=f(λ,x,u) sur Ω, u=0 sur δΩ, Ω≤R n borne
Concordant variation in thermal tolerance and allozymes of the red shiner, Notropis lutrensis, inhabiting tailwater sections of the Brazos River, Texas

Critical thermal maxima (CTM) and genetic variation were compared for red shiners, Notropis lutrensis, from regulated and unregulated sites on the Brazos River in northcentral Texas. Tailwater fish acclimated to 25°C had significantly lower CTM's than those from a site upstream from the dam and unregulated downstream sites. Significantly different intrasite variances were observed, with two- and four-fold larger CTM variances in fish from within 1 km and 30 km of the dam. Genetic variation was determined from electrophoretic comparisons at 21 structural gene loci. Mean heterozygosity was greatest at regulated sites. Tests for locus heterogeneity at five variable loci indicated that regulated and unregulated populations are not homogeneous. Fish under regulation were genetically more similar to each other than they were to those not affected by regulation. The proportions of the gene variance attributable to habitat alteration were partitioned, and fully one-third of the gene variation was attributed to stream regulation. Patterns of variation in thermal tolerance and metabolic enzymes in the red shiner correlated closely with temperature regimes associated with hypolimnion release from the dam. These adaptive responses have occurred in less than 40 years.
Left handed β helix models for mammalian prion fibrils

We propose models for in vitro grown mammalian prion protein fibrils based upon left handed beta helices formed both from the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the proteinase resistant infectious prion core. The C-terminal threading onto a beta-helical structure is almost uniquely determined by fixing the cysteine disulfide bond on a helix corner. In comparison to known left handed helical peptides, the resulting model structures have similar stability attributes including relatively low root mean square deviations in all atom molecular dynamics, substantial side-chain-to-side-chain hydrogen bonding, good volume packing fraction, and low hydrophilic/hydrophobic frustration. For the N-terminus, we propose a new threading of slightly more than two turns, which improves upon the above characteristics relative to existing three turn beta-helical models. The N-terminal and C-terminal beta helices can be assembled into eight candidate models for the fibril repeat units, held together by large hinge (order 30...
The effect of averaging adjacent planes for artifact reduction in matrix inversion tomosynthesis.

Purpose: Matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS) uses linear systems theory and knowledge of the imaging geometry to remove tomographic blur that is present in conventional backprojection tomosynthesis reconstructions, leaving in-plane detail rendered clearly. The use of partial-pixel interpolation during the backprojection process introduces imprecision in the MITS modeling of tomographic blur, and creates low-contrast artifacts in some MITS planes. This paper examines the use of MITS slabs, created by averaging several adjacent MITS planes, as a method for suppressing partial-pixel artifacts. Methods: Human chest tomosynthesis projection data, acquired as part of an IRB-approved pilot study, were used to generate MITS planes, three-plane MITS slabs (MITSa3), five-plane MITS slabs (MITSa5), and seven-plane MITS slabs (MITSa7). These were qualitatively examined for partial-pixel artifacts and the visibility of normal and abnormal anatomy. Additionally, small (5 mm) subtle pulmonary nodules were simulated and digitally superimposed upon human chest tomosynthesis projection images, and their visibility was qualitatively assessed in the different reconstruction techniques. Simulated images of a thin wire were used to generate modulation transfer function (MTF) and slice-sensitivity profile curves for the different MITS and MITS slab techniques, and these were examined for indications of partial-pixel artifacts and frequency response uniformity. Finally, mean-subtracted, exposure-normalized noise power spectra (ENNPS) estimates were computed and compared for MITS and MITS slab reconstructions, generated from 10 sets of tomosynthesis projection data of an acrylic slab. The simulated in-plane MTF response of each technique was also combined with the square root of the ENNPS estimate to yield stochastic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) information about the different reconstruction techniques. Results: For scan angles of 20° and 5 mm plane separation, seven MITS planes must be averaged to sufficiently remove partial-pixel artifacts. MITSa7 does appear to subtly reduce the contrast of high-frequency “edge” information, but the removal of partial-pixel artifacts makes the appearance of low-contrast, fine-detail anatomy even more conspicuous in MITSa7 slices. MITSa7 also appears to render simulated subtle 5 mm pulmonary nodules with greater visibility than MITS alone, in both the open lung and regions overlying the mediastinum. Finally, the MITSa7 technique reduces stochastic image variance, though the in-plane stochastic SNR (for very thin objects which do not span multiple MITS planes) is only improved at spatial frequencies between 0.05 and 0.20 cycles/mm. Conclusions: The MITSa7 method is an improvement over traditional single-plane MITS for thoracic imaging and the pulmonary nodule detection task, and thus the authors plan to use the MITSa7 approach for all future MITS research at the authors’ institution.
The Rhetoric of Rebel Women: Civil War Diaries and Confederate Persuasion, by Kimberly Harrison

The historical actors at the center of Kimberly Harrison’s The Rhetoric of Rebel Women: Civil War Diaries and Confederate Persuasion are not easy figures to identify with, but they are worth studyi...
Selective Oxidation Of Hydrocarbons By Cobaltsubstituted Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves

The Co(III) form of cobalt-substituted aluminophosphate molecular sieves is found to be a selective oxidant for a variety of organic and inorganic compounds. At relatively low temperatures (20 to 100{degree}C), alcohols are converted to aldehydes and ketones, benzene becomes a dimer radical action, amines are transformed to imines, and NO is oxidized to NO{sup +}. There is also evidence that Co(III)APOs activate the C-H bonds of methane at higher temperatures (400--500{degree}C). Accompanying all of the reactions descried above was a clearly observable change of color from the yellow of the Co(III) form to the blue of the Co(II) form. 8 refs., 4 figs.
Inhibition of Candida albicans by Lactobacillus acidophilus

Candida albicans grew at pH 4.6 or above in nutrient broth containing 5% glucose but was retarded at pH 7.7 by filtrates of Lactobacillus acidophilus grown in casitone broth. Vaginal implantation of nonfermented acidophilus milk, yogurt, or low-fat milk for preventing recurrence of monilia vaginitis subsequent to treatment with Nystatin was studied with 30 women. Reinfections within 3 mo according to product received were: no milk product, 3; yogurt, 1; nonfermented acidophilus milk, 1; and low-fat milk, 0.
Poster: new features of the PAPI hardware counter library

The PAPI library has evolved from a cross-platform interface for accessing processor hardware performance counters to a component-based library for simultaneously accessing hardware monitoring information from various components of a computer system, including processors, memory controllers, network switches and interface cards, I/O subsystem, temperature sensors and power meters, and GPU counters. A GPU component is discussed. A new feature called user-defined events adds a layer of abstraction that allows users to define new metrics by combining previously defined events and machine constants and to share those metrics with other users. One current effort is the development of a PAPI interface for virtual machines, called PAPI-V, which will allow users to access processor and component hardware performance information from applications running within virtual machines. PAPI continues to be widely used by application developers and by higher level performance analysis tools such as TAU, PerfSuite, Scalasca, IPM, HPCtoolkit, Vampir, and CrayPat.
Human metapneumovirus in children tested at a tertiary-care hospital.

Background. Respiratory infections are the leading cause of outpatient visits in the United States, but the etiology of many of these infections is unknown. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently discovered virus that causes respiratory infections. Methods. Respiratory specimens obtained from patients ≤18 years old, between 1 October 2000 and 31 August 2002, were tested for hMPV. The results of testing for other viruses and epidemiological information were obtained from the hospital databases. A logistic regression model, including sex and age of the patient and year and season in which the specimen was obtained, was used to determine the factors associated with hMPV infection. Results. hMPV was detected in 6.2% of patients tested and was significantly more common among children 3-24 months old than in older or younger children. The seasonal occurrence of hMPV was similar to that of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus, with most cases occurring in the winter and spring. In this tertiary care-center population, patients with hMPV infection often had underlying chronic conditions. Conclusions. hMPV is common among young children with apparent respiratory infections, suggesting that it is a significant cause of symptomatic respiratory infections.
Contrasting bud bank dynamics of two co-occurring grasses in tallgrass prairie: implications for grassland dynamics

Because most shoot recruitment in perennial grasses occurs from belowground axillary buds, bud dynamics determine plant population dynamics and meristem limitation to population growth. Therefore, grassland vegetation responses to environmental change or disturbance may be influenced by interspecific differences in bud banks and the patterns and environmental controls of bud development and demography. We examined bud bank dynamics in Andropogon gerardii and Dichanthelium oligosanthes in tallgrass prairie by enumerating and classifying buds throughout 15 months to determine whether grass buds live for multiple years and accumulate; whether bud natality, dormancy and outgrowth are synchronous or variable; and whether bud bank dynamics differ between these co-occurring species. Andropogon gerardii (a C4 species) maintained a larger dormant bud bank, showed synchrony in bud development and transition to tiller, and its buds lived for multiple years. Thus, multiple previous years’ bud cohorts contributed to recruitment. By contrast, D. oligosanthes (a C3 species) maintained a smaller dormant bud bank, had asynchronous bud development with active buds present year-round, and its buds lived for 1 year. Buds played different roles in the dynamics of each species, allowing A. gerardii to over-winter and recruit new spring tillers and D. oligosanthes to survive and recruit new tillers following summer dormancy. These differences in bud bank age structure, phenology, and dynamics between these species suggest greater demographic buffering and time-lag effects in A. gerardii populations. Interspecific differences in bud bank structure and dynamics may explain and help predict grassland responses to environmental change.
No misuse of NSF grants found

National Science Foundation officials must have been breathing easier after General Accounting Office (GAO) investigators testified recently that few instances of misuse of federal funds by NSF grantees were found in a preliminary GAO investigation. The occasion was a September 24 hearing of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, chaired by Senator John Glenn (D-Ohio). Glenn opened the hearing by stating “we all want to make sure that our tax dollars budgeted for scientific research are used for that goal and not to renovate residences of university officials.”
The Neuropsychological Basis of Childhood Psychopathology.

A clear link exists between neurological dysfunction and psychopathology in children, as evidenced by research on the sequelae of developmental childhood brain impairment, the neuropsychological investigation of children with psychiatric disorders, and neuroimaging research. Understanding the neuropsychological basis of a disorder helps teachers, parents, and children better understand the etiology of the disorder and guide classroom interventions. Additionally, identifying morphological markers of childhood mental disorders may lead to earlier and more successful interventions. This article reviews the neuropsychological relationships between brain impairment and childhood mental disorders as well as investigates the biological basis for some common childhood disorders seen in the schools. Emphasis is placed upon the underlying neurological and neuropsychological deficits that constitute disorders, and implications for practitioners are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 503–512, 2006.
Properties of monolayer and multilayer Ni films on the Ru(0001) surface

The adsorption, growth and chemisorptive properties of ultra-thin Ni films ( < 10 monolayers (ML)) on the Ru(0001) surface were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and work function (φ) measurements. LEED studies show that submonolayer coverages of Ni at 100 K are dispersed and disordered, but form well ordered 2D islands pseudomorphic to the Ru(0001) substrate upon annealing to approximately 700 K. Above 1 ML, a layer-by-layer growth pattern is observed after annealing to approximately 700 K, but these layers show evidence of periodic strain and misfit dislocations. Annealing films thicker than 1 ML to 1100 K results in the formation of 3D islands leaving a large portion of the Ru(0001) surface covered only by the single pseudomorphic Ni layer. The work function change, Δφ, varies linearly with Ni coverage, reaching −410 meV at 1 ML. With additional Ni deposition, Δφ rises to −260 meV which is the difference in work function between bulk Ru(0001) and bulk Ni(111) surfaces. First-order desorption kinetics are observed for thermal desorption of Ni up to a coverage of 4 ML; coverages greater than 4 ML exhibit near-zero-order desorption kinetics. The activation energy for desorption increases from 76k cal/mol at low Ni coverages to 91 kcal/mol at 5 ML coverage. CO desorbs at a higher temperature from the pseudomorphic Ni ML than from either Ni(111) or Ru(0001) indicating considerable electronic perturbation of the Ni monolayer.
Understanding the role of immune regulation in wound healing

The immune system plays an integral role in successful wound healing. In addition to contributing to host defenses and inflammation, immune cells are critical regulators of wound healing through the secretion of cytokines, lymphokines, and growth factors. We review the mechanisms by which the immune system regulates wound healing.
Coordinated induction of multi-gene pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Bacterial operons are nature's tool for regulating and coordinating multi-gene expression in prokaryotes. They are also a gene architecture commonly used in the biosynthesis of many pharmaceutically important compounds and industrially useful chemicals. Despite being an important eukaryotic production host, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has never had such gene architecture. Here, we report the development of a system to assemble and regulate a multi-gene pathway in S. cerevisiae. Full pathways can be constructed using pre-made parts from a plasmid toolbox. Subsequently, through the use of a yeast strain containing a stably integrated gene switch, the assembled pathway can be regulated using a readily available and inexpensive compound-estradiol-with extremely high sensitivity (10 nM). To demonstrate the use of the system, we assembled the five-gene zeaxanthin biosynthetic pathway in a single step and showed the ligand-dependent coordinated expression of all five genes as well as the tightly regulated production of zeaxanthin. Compared with a previously reported constitutive zeaxanthin pathway, our inducible pathway was shown to have 50-fold higher production level.
Surgical Management of Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare but one of the most malignant endocrine tumors. This article reviews and summarizes the current knowledge about the treatment of ACC. The epidemiology and molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of ACC are briefly outlined. The different diagnostic tools to distinguish benign from malignant adrenocortical tumors, including biochemical analysis and imaging, are discussed. The surgical treatment of ACC has evolved in the last 2 decades. The different surgical alternatives for the treatment of ACC in the context of primary, recurrent, or metastatic disease are reviewed, and the remaining challenges and controversies are discussed.
THE PRODUCTION OF ANTIPNEUMOCOCCIC SERUM

In the production of immune serum for therapeutic purposes strict attention must be paid to the immunological specificity of the bacteria used for immunization. At present the only serum of which the therapeutic value has been proven is that effective against Type I pneumococcus infection. This serum should have agglutinating power for Type I pneumococcus and should have the power of protecting mice against large amounts of virulent culture. Experiments have shown that for producing the primary immunity most rapidly several series of small doses of dead cultures should be given, the injections being made daily for 6 to 7 days, followed by a week in which no injections are made. To produce the highest type of immunity probably living organisms are required. These should be given in moderate doses daily for 3 days, with an interval of a week between each series of injections. By following accurately the methods described, horses may be made to produce rapidly a high grade of specific serum. The observations so far made indicate the importance of employing small doses of culture frequently repeated in this form of immunization.
Live-Load Analysis of Posttensioned Box-Girder Bridges

This paper presents an evaluation of flexural live-load distribution factors for cast-in-place box-girder bridges. The response of a typical box-girder bridge was recorded during a static live-load test. This test involved driving two heavily loaded trucks across the instrumented bridge on selected load paths. The instruments used to record the response of the bridge were strain gauges, displacement transducers, and tilt sensors. The measured data were then used to calibrate a finite-element modeling scheme using solid elements. From this finite-element model, the theoretical live-load distribution factors and load ratings for the test bridge were determined and compared with the factors and ratings predicted in the AASHTO LRFD specifications. A parametric study of cast-in-place, box-girder bridges using the calibrated finite-element modeling scheme was then used to investigate how various parameters such as span length, girder spacing, parapets, skew, and deck thickness affect the flexural live-load distribution factors. Based on the results of the parametric study, a new equation, which more accurately predicts the exterior girder distribution factor, is proposed.
Value of mechanically extracted rape and safflower oilseed meals as protein supplements for growing lambs

Two metabolism studies and one growth trial were conducted to evaluate mechanically extracted rape (RSM) and safflower (SM) oilseed meals as protein supplements for growing lambs. Fifteen wether lambs were allotted randomly to one of five treatment groups in each metabolism study. In both studies, treatments consisted of a cottonseed meal (CSM) positive control, a urea (U) negative control and three test diets in which RSM or SM replaced 33, 66 or 100% (RSM) or 25, 50 and 75% (SM) of the CSM protein. In the growth trial, 72 ewe lambs (initial weight, 29 kg) were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments in which U, SM and RSM replaced all the CSM protein in a pelleted 14.0% crude protein diet. In both metabolism studies, the RSM and SM diets had significantly higher ether extract digestibility than the CSM diets. In the first trial, lambs fed on the U diet retained less (P<0.05) absorbed N than those fed on the CSM diet. However, in the second trial, there was no difference in N balance between treatment groups. In fact, the U pellet in the second metabolism study had a higher dry matter and gross energy digestibility than the CSM or SM pellets. Lambs fed on the CSM, U and SM pellets grew significantly faster than those fed on the RSM pellets. Lambs fed on the U pellets consumed significantly more dry matter than those fed on CSM or RSM pellets. These results suggest that U, CSM and mechanically extracted SM in a high-grain pellet are satisfactory sources of supplemental N for growing—finishing ewe lambs. It appears that the high glucosinolate concentration of RSM limits the amount that can be included in diets given to growing—finishing ewe lambs.
Prediction of Gate Dielectric Breakdown in the CDM timescale utilizing very fast transmission line pulsing

In this paper, prediction of Gate Oxide Breakdown (GOB) in the Charged Device Model (CDM) timeframe is performed. The prediction does not require lengthy low-voltage Constant Voltage Stress (CVS) measurements but instead utilizes short (less than 5 seconds per measurement) high-voltage CVS measurements as well as quick Ramped Voltage Stress (RVS) measurements to calculate a voltage to breakdown (V BD ) in the CDM timeframe as well as the dispersal of actual TDDBs for each oxide area and thickness. To this end, a modified form of the Power Law, called the Trapezoidal Power Law, is derived to simplify data processing and allow comparisons between RVS and CVS. The prediction methodology using the Trapezoidal Power Law is finally demonstrated to predict the exact voltage required to consistently damage the oxide within a single pulse.
Synchrotron white-beam X-ray topography of ribonuclease S crystals.

With careful experimental design, indexed synchrotron white-beam X-ray topographs of ribonuclease S crystals at ambient temperature could be recorded with a definition and contrast comparable to that of monochromatic beam topographs of other proteins reported in the literature. By excluding wavelengths longer than 1 A from the white beam with a filter, a radiation dose equivalent to that required to record about 18 topographs could be tolerated without appreciable radiation damage to the samples. Bragg angles of 0.5° or less were required to select low-index harmonically pure reflections with high intensities and extinction lengths only several times the sample's thickness. The resulting X-ray topographs in some cases showed topographic detail and in others showed the even featureless background that has been considered characteristic of a protein crystal of low mosaicity. The ribonuclease S crystals were well ordered single crystals of a quality comparable to other protein crystals that have been studied by X-ray topography.
COMPARISON OF SCORES FOR NORMAL PRESCHOOL CHILDREN ON THE PEABODY PICTURE VOCABULARY TEST-REVISED AND THE ACHIEVEMENT SCALES OF THE KAUFMAN ASSESSMENT BATTERY FOR CHILDREN

The newly available Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children is the first comprehensively standardized individual assessment device published for psychoeducational diagnosticians' use since the publication in 1974 of the WISC—R. Extant investigations on K—ABC concurrent validity are restricted to those described in the test's interpretive manual. This study compared 32 normal preschoolers' responses on the K—ABC Achievement subtests with their scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—Revised. The sample scored approximately one standard deviation above the K—ABC standardization sample on both the Peabody and K—ABC Achievement Scale standard scores. Comparability of item analysis across expressive and receptive vocabulary modes signaled superiority for reception. The K—ABC's Achievement subtest, Riddles, emerged as a moderate independent criterion of K—ABC's power in predicting skill in PPVT—R receptive vocabulary. Psychoeducational diagnosticians are cautioned that despite these tests' moderate inter-...
Learning Concepts and Categories Is Spacing the “Enemy of Induction”?

Inductive learning—that is, learning a new concept or category by observing exemplars—happens constantly, for example, when a baby learns a new word or a doctor classifies x-rays. What influence does the spacing of exemplars have on induction? Compared with massing, spacing enhances long-term recall, but we expected spac- ing to hamper induction by making the commonalities that define a concept or category less apparent. We asked participants to study multiple paintings by different ar- tists, with a given artist's paintings presented consecutive- ly (massed) or interleaved with other artists' paintings (spaced). We then tested induction by asking participants to indicate which studied artist (Experiments 1a and 1b) or whether any studied artist (Experiment 2) painted each of a series of new paintings. Surprisingly, induction profited from spacing, even though massing apparently created a sense of fluent learning: Participants rated massing as more effective than spacing, even after their own test performance had demonstrated the opposite.
$\hbox{In}_{0.7}\hbox{Ga}_{0.3}\hbox{As}$ Tunneling Field-Effect Transistors With an $I_{\rm on}$ of 50 $\mu\hbox{A}/\mu\hbox{m}$ and a Subthreshold Swing of 86 mV/dec Using $\hbox{HfO}_{2}$ Gate Oxide

Vertical In0.7Ga0.3As tunneling field-effect transistors are demonstrated with a high on-current of 50 μA / μm (in comparison to reported values) and a minimum subthreshold swing (SS) of 86 mV/dec using atomic-layer-deposited HfO2 gate oxide. The tunneling diodes exhibit the gate-bias-dependent Esaki diode behavior with a negative differential resistance under the forward diode bias at various temperatures, which confirms that the conduction mechanism is, indeed, band-to-band tunneling. The effects of equivalent oxide thickness scaling and various temperatures on the on-current and the SS are also investigated.
Enhanced metabolism of arginine and glutamine in enterocytes of cortisol-treated pigs

This study was designed to determine whether cortisol plays a role in arginine and glutamine metabolism in enterocytes and, more specifically, whether cortisol regulates metabolic changes in these ...
Control Strategies for the Invasive Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) in North American Wetlands: the Need for an Integrated Management Plan

Abstract Phalaris arundinacea L. (reed canarygrass) is one of the most noxious invasive species in North American wetlands, rivers, and lakes. As is true for many invasive species, detailed research may give insights into the ecological and evolutionary factors that promote reed canarygrass invasion. However, important insights into control strategies of reed canarygrass may be gleaned from a synthesis of all the relevant ecological and management studies. We assessed the control strategies previously applied to contain reed canarygrass invasions, the potential for new promising strategies, and the research that is still needed to improve its control in North America. We showed that no one method is sufficient, and that the most successful strategies require both physical and chemical methods, coupled with hydrological management. Moreover, subsequent restoration of the community structure and composition is needed to limit new infestations of reed canarygrass or other invaders. Biological control has not...
The Use of Biosensor and Microarray Techniques in the Rapid Detection and Identification of Salmonellae

The ever-present need for rapid and sensitive assay methods to detect foodborne pathogens, particularly the salmonellae, has led to increased incorporation of biosensor technology into microarray and other platforms. The use of mimetics and aptamers has been added to these procedures. Nanoparticles, particularly incorporating fluorophores and quantum dots into various procedures, have decreased the size of instrumentation while increasing automation, sensitivity, and rapidity of results. This article will deal mainly with assays involving the salmonellae.