cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Copper Deficiency Suppresses Effector Activities of Differentiated U937 Cells

Dietary copper (Cu) deficiency impairs both innate and acquired branches of immunity. Specific roles of Cu in the activation and effector activities of host-defense cells remain largely unknown. The effects of Cu status on effector activities of a monocytic cell line were investigated as an initial step in the elucidation of specific functions of Cu in phagocytic cells. Exposure of differentiating U937 human promonocytic cells to 5 micromol/L 2,3, 2-tetraamine (tet), a high affinity Cu chelator, for 4 d decreased cellular Cu by 62% without altering cellular Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, Zn content, mitochondrial activity and protein synthesis. In contrast, Cu deficiency suppressed the respiratory burst activity and markedly compromised the ability of U937 cells to kill Salmonella. Similarly, treatment of RAW264.7 murine macrophages with 5 micromol/L tet decreased cell Cu by 78% and Cu,Zn-SOD activity by 15% and increased bacterial survival by 180%. The tet-induced impairment of respiratory burst and bactericidal activities was blocked in cultures supplemented with Cu, but not Zn or Fe. In addition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced secretion of the inflammatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), was decreased by 30-60% in tet-treated U937 cells. Flow cytometric analysis of the surface antigens CD11b and CD71 showed that the suppressed activities of Cu-deficient cells were not due to an attenuation in the degree of differentiation or secondary iron deficiency. These data demonstrate that U937 cells provide a useful model for examining the biochemical roles of Cu in monocyte activity.
First-principles study of DX centers in CdTe, ZnTe, and Cd x Zn 1 − x Te alloys

Large lattice relaxation models for DX centers in CdTe, ZnTe, and ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$ Te alloys are examined through first-principles pseudopotential calculations. The calculated binding energies of DX centers for Al, Ga, In, Cl, Br, and I donor impurities in CdTe and their pressure and alloy dependence in ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Zn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$Te are in good agreement with experimental data. Three distinct types of DX-like structures characterized by either bond rupture or bond compression are found for column VII donors. The relative stability of these structures is impurity and pressure dependent.
The Application of a Family-Based Multi-Tiered System of Support

Early interventionists struggle with supporting parents to prepare their children to be socially successful. Systems of support in which parents matriculate through a series of progressively intensive interventions depending on their need have been identified as a potentially promising framework for delivering family support services (McIntyre & Phaneuf, 2007). A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a family-based Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) approach in an Early Head Start setting. A universal intervention was implemented with 30 families while 13 completed a targeted intervention and 4 participated in the most intensive level of support. This study offers the first known application of an MTSS within a family-based community agency. The results indicate participants were satisfied with the service delivery and may have experienced reduced levels of stress as a result of their participation. The implications of the findings and the limitations of the...
A novel approach for assessing protein synthesis in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus.

Abstract A comprehensive understanding of animal growth requires adequate knowledge of protein synthesis (PS), which in fish, has traditionally been determined by the flooding dose method. However, this procedure is limited to short-term assessments and may not accurately describe fish growth over extended periods of time. Since deuterium oxide ( 2 H 2 O) has been used to non-invasively quantify PS in mammals over short- and long-term periods, we aimed at determining if 2 H 2 O could also be used to measure PS in channel catfish. Fish were stocked in a 40-L aquarium with ~ 4% 2 H 2 O and sampled at 4, 8 and 24 h ( n = 6 at each time period) to determine 2 H-labeling of body water (plasma), as well as protein-free and protein-bound 2 H-labeled alanine. The labeling of body water reflected that of aquarium water and the labeling of protein-free alanine remained constant over 24 h and was ~ 3.8 times greater than that of body water. By measuring 2 H-labeled alanine incorporation after 24 h of 2 H 2 O exposure we were able to calculate a rate of PS: 0.04 ± 0.01% h − 1 . These results demonstrate that PS in fish can be effectively measured using 2 H 2 O and, because this method yields integrative measures of PS, is relatively inexpensive and accounts for perturbations such as feeding, it is a novel and practical assessment option.
Adaptive significance of nitrogen storage in Bistorta bistortoides, an alpine herb

Studies were conducted to examine the importance of nitrogen storage to seasonal aboveground growth in the alpine herb Bistorta bistortoides. Stored reserves accounted for 60% of the total nitrogen allocated to the shoot during the growing season. The stored nitrogen was equally partitioned between preformed buds of the shoot and the roots/rhizome. Reliance on stored N was similar in populations of a 105-day growing season site and of a 75-day growing season site. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, stored nitrogen reserves were not used to extend the growing season of this species into the late-spring when soils are still cold, and saturated with snow-melt water. The time at which stored nitrogen was used to initiate shoot growth coincided with the time of root initiation, rapid soil warming, and near maximum soil concentrations of NO inf3sup- and NH inf4sup+ . Thus, nitrogen demand and soil nitrogen supply were both high at the same time. The importance of nitrogen storage in this species appeared to be in satisfying the high demand of simultaneous vegetative and reproductive growth during the early-growing season after soils thawed. The initiation of rapid leaf and inflorescence growth occurred in mid-June in both sites. The maximum pool size of shoot nitrogen (maximum nitrogen demand) occurred only 12 days later in the long season site, and 28 days later in the short season site. The early-season utilization of nitrogen stores allows plants of this species to initiate reproductive allocation at the same time vegetative tissues are exhibiting maximal growth rates. By releasing vegetative and reproductive growth from competition for nitrogen, seeds could mature early in the alpine growing season, before the frost probability sharply increases in mid-August.
Poly[diaquabis(3-pyridylpropionato)copper(II)]

The title compound, [Cu(C8H8NO2)2(H2O)2]n, is a novel material consisting of a CuII atom bonded to two O and two N atoms from four distinct 3-pyridyl­propionate anions. The CuII atom lies on an inversion center. The connectivity gives rise to two-dimensional sheets in the (101) plane.
THE OCS TRIMER : ISOTOPIC STUDIES, STRUCTURE, AND DIPOLE MOMENT

The rotational spectra of (18OCS)3 and (O13CS)3 have been assigned using a pulsed-nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The data for these isotopic species have been combined with normal species data from a paper by Connelly et al. [Connelly, J. P., et al. Mol Phys. 1996, 88, 915] to determine the nine structural parameters of the trimer. The carbon atoms form a triangle with the axes of the monomer units roughly parallel to each other (barrel-like structure). The monomers have an antiparallel-like arrangement, with the dipole moment of one monomer opposing those of the other two monomers. The dipole moment of the complex has been measured, giving values of μa = 0.537(10) D, μc = 0.373(2) D, and μtotal = 0.653(8) D. The b component of the dipole moment was too small to determine from our data but is predicted to be about 0.02 D. The structure of (OCS)3 has been compared with similar trimers involving linear triatomic molecules and with the OCS dimer. Semiempirical calculations have been perform...
Treatment of retinal and choroidal degenerations and dystrophies: current status and prospects for gene-based therapy

Inherited retinal and choroidal degenerations account for a significant portion of blindness in children and young adults. This article reviews the current status and future prospects for the treatment of these disorders. Current treatment strategies include nutritional intervention for gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina with hyperornithinemia, abetalipoproteinemia, and Refsum's disease, as well as vitamin A supplementation for retinitis pigmentosa. Future therapeutic prospects include gene therapy for both recessive and dominant disease, secondary gene-based therapies, such as pharmaceutic gene product replacement and treatment with survival factors, anti-apoptotic agents, and calcium blockers, and, finally, stem cell therapy.
LINKING SYNTAX AND INDUCTIVE REASONING: CATEGORICAL LABELING AND GENERIC NOUN PHRASES

When a person is characterized categorically with a noun label (e.g., Linda is a feminist), people tend to think that the attributes associated with that person are central and long-lasting (i.e., labeling effect). This bias, which is related to category-based induction and social misattributions such as stereotyping, has been known to occur because we associate the person with prototypical attributes represented in the category. One experiment described in this article indicates that the labeling effect can occur separately from the attributes represented in the category. The experiment suggests that labeling bolsters not only the perception of prototypical attributes but also the awareness of unrelated or even irrelevant attributes. The results from the experiments suggest that some generic information inherent in noun labels play a crucial role in category-based reasoning.
Effects of vascular infusion with a solution of saccharides, sodium chloride, and phosphates with or without vitamin C on carcass traits, Warner-Bratzler shear force, flavor-profile, and descriptive-attribute characteristics of steaks and ground beef from Charolais cattle.

Abstract Two groups of 18 grain-finished steers were utilized. Nine from one group were infused via the carotid artery immediately after jugular vein exsanguination with an aqueous solution containing saccharides, NaCl, and phosphates (MPSC; MPSC, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN, USA). Nine steers served as non-infused controls (CON). An additional 18 steers were infused with either MPSC ( n =9) or MPSC plus 1000 ppm vitamin C (MPSC+C, n =9) solutions. Steers infused with MPSC had higher dressing percentages and organ weights than CON steers. Vascular infusion with MPSC had no effects on USDA yield or quality grade traits, descriptive-attribute sensory panel evaluations, or Warner–Bratzler shear force of longissimus lumborum and semitendinosus muscles. Vascular infusion with MPSC resulted in some significant, but inconsistent effects on flavor-profile characteristics of cooked beef. The addition of vitamin C to the MPSC solution did not provide any benefit.
Binding mode and transcriptional activation potential of high affinity ligands for the CBP KIX domain.

We recently described a pair of ligands, PPKID4P (4P) and PPKID6U (6U), which present the α-helical functional epitope found on helix B of the CREB KID activation domain (KIDP) on a pancreatic fold protein scaffold. 4P and 6U bind the natural target of KIDP, the KIX domain of the coactivator CBP, with equilibrium dissociation constants between 515 nM and 1.5 μM and compete effectively with KIDP for binding to CBP KIX (KIX).1 Here we present a detailed investigation of the binding mode, orientation, and transcriptional activation potential of 4P and 6U. Equilibrium binding experiments using a panel of well-characterized KIX variants support a model in which 4P binds KIX in a manner that closely resembles that of KIDP but 6U binds an overlapping, yet distinct region of the protein. Equilibrium binding experiments using a judiciously chosen panel of 4P variants containing alanine or sarcosine substitutions along the putative α- or PPII helix of 4P support a model in which 4P folds into a pancreatic fold stru...
When Firms Fail to Learn: Perpetuation of Discrimination in the Workplace

Scholarly and anecdotal evidence suggests that, despite many Americans' increasing tolerance for diversity, workplace discrimination is on the rise. This essay addresses the role that learning or, more specifically, barriers to learning play in the perpetuation of discrimination. We use several organizationally based learning theories to illustrate ways in which firms may fail to learn how to effectively manage diversity challenges such as a discrimination lawsuit. We conclude the essay with two relatively successful learning situations involving the Georgia Power Corporation and the Denny's restaurant chain, both of which have faced discrimination lawsuits in recent years. We use this discussion to highlight reactive versus reflective learning strategies and how each may lead to the successful resolution of discrimination lawsuits.
Raman sensitivity enhancement for aqueous protein samples using a liquid-core optical-fiber cell.

We have demonstrated a sensitivity enhancement factor of 500 in aqueous solutions using a liquid core optical fiber (LCOF) Raman cell made from Teflon-AF. We were able to collect a spectrum of 54 μM lysozyme with a signal-to-noise ratio of 31 in the LCOF Raman cell using 24 mW of laser power and 3 min of integration time. The lysozyme Raman intensity was only 1% of the background Raman intensity from water, but the water-subtracted lysozyme spectrum was still shot-noise-limited and essentially free of nonrandom noise. The lack of nonrandom noise indicates that it should be possible to collect good quality Raman spectra of proteins such as lysozyme at even lower concentrations. The 2.4-μL sample volume of the LCOF Raman cell is an added benefit when limited quantities of sample are available. This volume of a 54 μM lysozyme solution corresponds to only 13 nanomoles or 1.9 μg of lysozyme.
Escalating dose-binge stimulant exposure: relationship between emergent behavioral profile and differential caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens dopamine responses

Previous studies showed that treatment with high doses of amphetamine (8.0 mg/kg) administered according to an escalating dose-binge regimen, produced a unique behavioral profile that included a decrease in the duration of stereotypy and a pronounced increase in ambulation, characterized by a repeated bursting pattern of locomotion. This treatment regimen also resulted in differential dopamine response profiles in the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens: the dopamine response in the caudate-putamen exhibited a progressive within and between binge decline in peak levels, whereas the dopamine response in the nucleus accumbens was not significantly altered. The present study was designed to determine if this behavioral/dopamine response relationship was obtained under two additional conditions: first, in response to a relatively low dose amphetamine challenge (2.5 mg/kg) after withdrawal from escalating dose-binge treatment with either amphetamine or methamphetamine (6.0 mg/kg), and, second, during a lower dose (2.5 mg/kg amphetamine) escalating dose-binge regimen. Both the emergent behavioral profile and the regional differences in the dopamine response patterns were obtained under each set of conditions. These effects may be significantly implicated in the induction of stimulant psychosis, since the psychotogenic effects of amphetamine-like stimulants are most commonly associated with frequent, relatively high dose binge exposures.
Backscattering analysis for oxygen profiling using 16O(α, α)16O 3.05 MeV resonance parameters

The well-known 16O(α, α)16O scattering resonance near 3.05 MeV permits oxygen to be identified in the presence of heavy elements being analyzed by Rutherford backscattering. We investigate explicit use of published resonance parameters and the best presently available stopping powers to make computer simulations of backscattering energy spectra in order to make quantitative measurements of near surface oxygen profiles in bulk oxides and thin films. Simulations of bulk Al2O3, Y2O3, YBa2Cu3O7−ϵ, and thin films of ZrO2 on silicon are compared with actual data, and found to be generally in excellent agreement.
History in a Grain of Sand: Teaching the Historian's Craft.

One day in graduate school, my adviser suggested I read Phillip Shaw Paludan's Victims: A True Story of the Civil War as an inspiring example of how to make the most of limited evidence.1 Starting with a poorly documented massacre of twelve men and a boy in western North Carolina in January 1863, Paludan draws on the letters and memoirs of peripheral participants, oral histories of descendants, and modern social science to reveal the larger meaning of the Civil War in Appalachia and the conditions under which people commit atrocities in war. His compelling narrative draws in the reader and vividly shows how ordinary people experience history. As I read Paludan, I began to think about how well books of this genre lend themselves to teaching undergraduates the historian's craft. Because such works deal with past events in an immediate and emotional way, they easily capture students. Their small scale permits readers fully to grasp events and issues. Often based on limited primary evidence, they reveal more clearly than traditional monographs how historians combine primary and secondary sources. Most important, since they address large questions through small, discrete events, they help students understand that the essence of our craft lies in constructing perspective through context. Just as an oyster creates a pearl around a grain of sand by patiently surrounding it with successive layers of nacre, so historians create meaning by embedding their historical grains in a consideration of larger issues and events. While completing my graduate work, I wrote a proposal for an undergraduate course entitled "History in a Grain of Sand: Narrative History and the Historian's Craft," and my department supported the experiment. My goal was to introduce the students to a new and exciting way of studying and writing about the past and to expand their definitions of history. I organized the course around a close reading of six short, provocative books. Students also wrote papers, based on original research, about an ordinary event or person. In addition to Victims, I assigned Natalie Zemon Davis, The Return ofMartin Guerre; Carlo Ginzburg, The Cheese and the Worms; Judith C. Brown, Immodest Acts;
Why has wage inequality increased more in the USA than in Europe? An empirical investigation of the demand and supply of skill

During the past two decades the wage gap between high and low skill labour has increased more in the USA than in many European countries. In this paper, the correspondence between occupation and education is used to construct aggregates of skill supply, skill demand and unemployment by skill group that are comparable across countries. Using individual data for years 1983–1994, it is found that the relative demand for skilled labour has increased to a similar extent in the USA and in Europe and that wage inequality remained low in Europe partly because the European relative supply of skill increased much faster than in the USA, and partly because European relative wages were rigid, which caused an increase in unemployment among the low-skilled.
Effects of epinephrine and perfusion pressure on the peak aortic pressure development and glucose transport in the isolated perfused heart of normal and diabetic rats

The effects of increased perfusion pressure and epinephrine stimulation on the contractile parameters and glucose transport in the isolated perfused hearts of control and ketotic diabetic rats were studied. An increase in perfusion pressure from 60 mm Hg to 100 mm Hg resulted in increases in coronary flow and peak aortic pressure development in control and diabetic hearts. The responses of the diabetic heart were similar to the control. Epinephrine produced lower increments in peak aortic pressure development in control and diabetic hearts under the higher perfusion pressure. Glucose uptake, although stimulated about 4-fold in both control and diabetic hearts on increasing the perfusion pressure, was still lower in the diabetic heart. Epinephrine stimulated glucose uptake in both control and diabetic hearts at 60 mm Hg, but the control heart showed a greater response. At 100 mm Hg perfusion pressure, the stimulatory effect of epinephrine on glucose uptake was abolished in both control and diabetic hearts. The results of this study show that the contractile and glucose stimulatory effects of epinephrine were influenced by the perfusion pressure. Epinephrine did not correct the impairment in glucose transport in the diabetic heart.
Benchmarking – best practices: an integrated approach

The essence of benchmarking is the process of identifying the highest standards of excellence for products, services, or processes, and then making the improvements necessary to reach those standards – commonly called “best practices”. Various companies have adopted benchmarking and customized the methodology to suit their needs. A five‐step benchmarking model is suggested in this paper as a model to be used when undertaking a benchmarking study. Two case studies are enumerated and a comparison presented.
Reliability of self-report on basic health conditions in Mexican Americans Age 80 and older

Abstract Reliability of self-reports in survey research is important. Little is known about the reliability of self-reports in the very old (aged 80+). The objective of this study is to evaluate the level of reliability in self-reports by assessing the level of agreement between a “respondents” and their “informants” (children) as they rate the respondent's: hearing ability; vision capacity; and nine health conditions. Descriptive statistics, observed agreement, and kappa values are computed on 389 pairs using HEPESE Wave-7 data (2010–2011). Although further studies are required, there is evidence that self-reports on basic health conditions in the very old are reliable.
A unified approach to the chromatography-FTIR interface: GC-FTIR, SFC-FTIR, and HPLC-FTIR with subnanogram detection limits

The results described in this paper demonstrate that Identifiable FTIR spectra of components separated by gas, supercritical fluid, and liquid chromatography can be measured in real time using a common approach. The sensitivity of each Interface is comparable with that obtained by interfacing the corresponding technique with a bench-top mass spectrometer. The combination of these two spectroscopic techniques should lead to an even more powerful means of Identification of volatile, semi-volatile, and non-volatile components of mixtures.
The mass spectra of some α‐lactams

The electron-impact induced fragmentation of eight aziridinones has been studied by conventional as well as by high resolution mass spectrometry. All α-lactams exhibit a molecular ion. The major primary step, in the fragmentation, is the ejection of carbon monoxide from the molecular ion. Ions of the general formula R1NC and R2R3CO were found in the mass spectra of all α-lactams investigated. A skeletal rearrangement to rationalize these ions is proposed. The fragmentation of the molecular ion is affected by the N-substituent. Exact mass measurement and specific deuterium labeling indicate the absence of McLafferty rearrangement from either the N- or C-substituent.
Expression of photosynthesis genes in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: psaA-psaB and psbA transcripts accumulate in dark-grown cells.

We have cloned and sequenced thepsaA andpsaB genes from the unicellular cyanobacteriumSynechocystis sp. PCC 6803. These genes are arranged in tandem, are co-transcribed, and are highly homologous to thepsaA andpsaB genes previously characterized. RNA was isolated from light-grown cells, from cells put in total darkness with and without glucose, and from cells grown under light-activated heterotrophic growth (LAHG) conditions. Quantitation of hybridization to northern blots revealed only a slight decrease in the accumulation of thepsaA-psaB transcript in cells grown in complete darkness with glucose and in LAHG cells, relative to light-grown cells. Accumulation of thepsbA transcript steadily declines through dark incubation, with a steady-state level in LAHG cells 28% of that in light-grown cells. Transcripts frompsbD, psaD, andrbcLS accumulate in cells grown in complete darkness and in LAHG cells to approximately the same levels as in light-grown cells. Photosynthesis gene transcripts in cells grown in the dark without glucose were detected, but were highly degraded. Our data prove that transcripts from photosynthesis genes do accumulate in dark-grownSynechocystis 6803, which may allow for synthesis and assembly of photosystem (PS) I and PS II in the dark.
Stripping film technics for histological autoradiographs.

SummaryAn autoradiographic technic, using stripping film, is described by which back scattering, emulsion staining, chemical fogging, and photographic-developer damage to the tissue are eliminated; blood smear autographs can be made; histological bodies above intense collection of grain can be identified; and grain counting for quantitation is permitted.
Penetration of the Shell and Feeding on Gastropods by Octopus

The behavior of the octopus when feeding upon shelled molluscs is described in four steps: selection of prey, boring a hole in the shell, secreting into the borehole, and pulling out the body oC the mollusc and eating it. Selection of some gastropod prey is determined by a firm, deep, either partial or complete obstruction in the aperture of the shell. Selection of other prey, gastropods, pelecypods, and amphineurans, may be based upon resistance by the mollusc to the application of force by the octopus. Drilling of the hole is done by the radula. Since the octopus will drill and secrete into empty shells with obstructions in the apertures, metabolites from a live mollusc are unnecessary. This technique can be usedto collect the secretion. The frequency of occurrence and the eflect of the secretion are discussed. The hypothesis that the octopus first tries by force to pull out the body and, failing to do so, drills a hole in the shell is experimentally supported. The conditions under which the octopus drills or pulls out the body of the mollusc are incompletely understood. The octopus may drill two or more shells in succession without feeding upon the previously drilled and weakened snail. No two steps in the behavioral sequence are necessarily linked to each other. The drilling-feeding patterns are complex and plastic.
Solvent dependence of vibrational frequencies and linewidths of the υ1 mode in group iva methylmetal trichlorides

Abstract The polarized Raman spectra of the υ 1 (CH 3 str.) mode in 1,1,1-trichloroethylsilane (TMSi), 1,1,1-trichloromethylgermane (TMGe) and 1,1,1-trichloromethylstannane (TMSn) were recorded in a number of solvents. The vibrational peak frequency displacements in TMSi were approximately linearly dependent on solvent polarizability. However, the correlation was substantially lower for TMGe and TMSn, indicating that forces other than dispersion interactions contribute significantly to the net frequency shifts in the heavier members of the series. Isotropic linewidths in TMSi and TMGe were observed to remain approximately constant in non-polar solvents, but increased markedly in polar media, In contrast to the results of an earlier investigation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in solution, the isolated Binary Collision model of homogeneous dephasing does not correctly predict the experimental variations in linewidth. Therefore, it is concluded that vibrational linebroadening in these compounds is probably caused by inhomogeneous dipolar interactions.
Performance of an infrared sounder on several airborne platforms : the Scanning High Resolution Interferometer Sounder (S-HIS)

A comparison of S-HIS instrument performance on various airborne platforms, and during ground characterization is presented. Specific emphasis is placed on instrument improvements, 1998 to present day, and the engineering lessons learned. Also discussed is the ability to accurately validate high spectral resolution IR radiance measurements from space using comparisons with aircraft spectrometer observations. Aircraft comparisons of this type provide a mechanism for periodically verifying expected absolute calibration of spacecraft instruments with instrumentation for which the calibration can be carefully maintained on the ground. This capability is especially valuable for achieving the long-term consistency and accuracy of climate observations, including those from the NASA EOS spacecrafts (Terra, Aqua, Aura).
Dynamical changes in neurons during seizures determine tonic to clonic shift

A tonic-clonic seizure transitions from high frequency asynchronous activity to low frequency coherent oscillations, yet the mechanism of transition remains unknown. We propose a shift in network synchrony due to changes in cellular response. Here we use phase-response curves (PRC) from Morris-Lecar (M-L) model neurons with synaptic depression and gradually decrease input current to cells within a network simulation. This method effectively decreases firing rates resulting in a shift to greater network synchrony illustrating a possible mechanism of the transition phenomenon. PRCs are measured from the M-L conductance based model cell with a range of input currents within the limit cycle. A large network of 3000 excitatory neurons is simulated with a network topology generated from second-order statistics which allows a range of population synchrony. The population synchrony of the oscillating cells is measured with the Kuramoto order parameter, which reveals a transition from tonic to clonic phase exhibited by our model network. The cellular response shift mechanism for the tonic-clonic seizure transition reproduces the population behavior closely when compared to EEG data.
Ecosystem UV-B experiments in terrestrial communities: a review of recent findings and methodologies

Abstract Ecosystem-level UV-B experiments have revealed a variety of responses in terrestrial communities. These include decreases in the growth of some plant species (usually small changes but occasionally >25%), both decreases and increases in herbivory, occasional altered decomposition patterns, changes in populations of fungi and invertebrates, and morphological changes in the growth patterns of mosses. These field experiments have been pursued both with solar UV-B exclusion using selective filters and with supplementation of UV-B using lamps. For UV-B-exclusion studies it is critical that the UV-B-excluding and UV-B-transmitting filters pass the same amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm) and also infrared. Canopy photosynthesis models indicate that even small differences in PAR transmittance can, under many circumstances, have significant effects on plant carbon gain. It is also important that filters in UV-B-exclusion studies allow precipitation to pass uniformly to the plots unless there is some form of irrigation underneath the filters. For UV-B-supplementation studies with lamps, many factors are involved in the realism of the ozone depletion simulation. We believe the major lamp-system error is excessive supplementation of UV-B by timer-controlled lamps when weather conditions (primarily clouds) decrease ambient solar UV-B irradiance. The choice of biological spectral weighting functions (BSWF) used in adjusting lamp flux is also critical in determining the level of ozone depletion simulated. In addition, shading by the lamp arrays influences plant growth and becomes particularly important when BSWF with substantial weighting in the UV-A are employed.
Quantitation of parameters that determine the rate of ovalbumin synthesis.

Abstract The absolute rate of ovalbumin synthesis is controlled primarily by the cellular concentration of mRNA ov , although estrogen stimulates translational efficiency in a nondiscriminatory manner as well. The induction of ovalbumin synthesis, which reaches a level of 6 × 10 5 molecules/min/cell in estrogen-treated chicks, can be accounted for by a single ovalbumin gene per haploid genome being transcribed at about 35% of maximal efficiency. Compared to procaryotes, the most impressive eucaryotic adaptation that allows a high degree of specialization in the synthesis of a single protein is the stabilization of mRNA. For example, the half-life of mRNA ov is about 1000 times longer than the typical bacterial mRNA. In contrast, the differences in translational efficiency are only 3 fold (in favor of procaryotes), and the differences in transcriptional efficiency are about 10 fold (in favor of eucaryotes). Thus the overall difference in transcriptional yield is about 3000 fold. Transcriptional yield is defined as the number of polypeptides ultimately derived from the mRNAs released from one gene in 1 min. It is equivalent to transcriptional efficiency times translational yield. There is another aspect to the question of how the laying hen is capable of producing 3 × 10 19 molecules of ovalbumin per day that has been ignored in this review, and that is the 20,000 fold increase in oviduct cells after hatching. The steroidal control of this cellular proliferation, and tissue morphogenesis, is obviously just as essential for the production of gram amounts of ovalbumin as is the high transcriptional yield; however, the information on this subject is still very meager.
Exposure of an isotope effect by 3H-labeled fatty acids on silica-silver nitrate chromatography

Abstract A tritium isotope effect was observed during the chromatography of tritiated unsaturated fatty acids as their methyl esters on silica-silver nitrate columns. The results are interpreted in terms of the coordination complexes formed between olefinic bonds and silver ions.
Mechanical degradation and viscous dissipation in B2O3.

The Brillouin light scattering technique was used to determine the complex mechanical modulus, which describes the dynamic response of molecular structures, for ${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and binary alkali borate. The effects of temperature, alkali concentration, oxygen and water vapor partial pressures on the structural developments and on the thermal activation of dissipative processes were examined. The glass transition in these systems is characterized by a discontinuity in the temperature dependence of the elastic component of this modulus. Above ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{g}}$, the elastic modulus decreases with a faster rate, the higher the alkali concentration. The complete structural evolution from a room temperature glass to a liquid near the boiling point was found to involve several distinct mechanisms, which become gradually activated with increasing temperature. By using a mechanical relaxation formalism, the activation energies and preexponential time constants describing the mechanical degradation, as well as the molecular rearrangements associated with each mechanism were determined. For a given system, the initial network degradation is characterized by the smallest activation energy. The motion involved in this process is that of boron atoms oscillating between triangular and tetrahedral coordination, upon exchanging one of their oxygen neighbors. During this phase boroxol rings open, without the formation of nonbridging oxygens. At intermediate temperatures the motion of alkali cations between network segments is activated, and at very high temperatures complete network disintegration takes place, leaving ionic species whose motion occurs by complete dissociation from their immediate neighbors.
CD150− side population cells represent a functionally distinct population of long-term hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a self-renewing population of bone marrow cells that replenish the cellular elements of blood throughout life. HSCs represent a paradigm for the study of stem-cell biology, because robust methods for prospective isolation of HSCs have facilitated rigorous characterization of these cells. Recently, a new isolation method was reported, using the SLAM family of cell-surface markers, including CD150 (SlamF1), to offer potential advantages over established protocols. We examined the overlap between SLAM family member expression with an established isolation scheme based on Hoechst dye efflux (side population; SP) in conjunction with canonical HSC cell-surface markers (Sca-1, c-Kit, and lineage markers). Importantly, we find that stringent gating of SLAM markers is essential to achieving purity in HSC isolation and that the inclusion of canonical HSC markers in the SLAM scheme can greatly augment HSC purity. Furthermore, we observe that both CD150+ and CD150− cells can be found within the SP population and that both populations can contribute to long-term multilineage reconstitution. Thus, using SLAM family markers to isolate HSCs excludes a substantial fraction of the marrow HSC compartment. Interestingly, these 2 subpopulations are functionally distinct, with respect to lineage output as well as proliferative status.
Some politeness strategies in Japanese

(1983). Some politeness strategies in Japanese. Paper in Linguistics: Vol. 16, No. 1-2, pp. 127-145.
Language and identity: Haitians in New York City

Like other newcomers to American society, Haitians resettling in New York City have experienced conflicts over social identity and status. It is the contention of this article that Haitians express...
Anticoagulants for prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic events.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wishes to correct misleading statements published recently in Blood .[1-1][1] Dr David K. Cundiff asserts that several decision makers at FDA are “considering the withdrawal of the indication for anticoagulants (heparin, LMWH, and vitamin K antagonists) in
Use of Antimicrobial Metaphylaxis for the Control of Bovine Respiratory Disease in High-Risk Cattle

Despite research and increased availability of antimicrobials, the prevalence and challenges associated with BRD in stocker and feedlot operations remain. Preconditioned calves can better handle the transition from the origin ranch to the feedlot, yet there is incentive for buyers to purchase high-risk cattle at a reduced cost, and this is influenced by the proven efficacy and availability of antimicrobial metaphylaxis. The poor sensitivity of current BRD field diagnostic methods, typical pathogenesis of BRD, and labor issues are additional reasons to use metaphylaxis. Nevertheless, practitioners should consider comprehensive and novel approaches to judiciously guide decisions on metaphylactic use of antimicrobials.
Interaction of spironolactone and digitalis with the 5α dihydrotestosterone (DHT)1 receptor of rat ventral prostate

The aldosterone antagonist, spironolactone, has been shown to block the effects of exogenously administered androgen in rat. This suggests that interaction of the drug with androgen at the target tissues may occur. In this paper we have studied the possible interaction of spironolactone with the 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)1 receptor of rat ventral prostate. The competitive receptor assay used involves precipitation of the 105,000 X g supernatant of the homogenized tissue with protamine sulfate, removal of the unprecipitated cytosol, and incubation of the precipitate in the presence of the appropriate [3H]DHT steroid solution at 0 C for 18 hours. Using this method the Kd (dissociation constant) for DHT in the rat prostate was in the range of 1.9-4.0 X 10(-9)M and the binding capacity was 0.21 pmol/mg protein. Spironolactone was found to interfere with the binding of DHT to the precipitated cytosol and displayed an estimated Kd of 1.3-4.6 X 10(-8)M. Several digitalis preparations were similarly studied. Digitoxin and digitoxigenin also interfered with the binding of [3H]DHT and had an estimated Kd of 0.8-3.6 X 10(-8)M. Digoxin interacted less strongly and its estimated Kd was 10(-6)M. We believe these results suggest an interaction of spironolactone and digitalis with the DHT receptor and may help explain some of their antiandrogenic actions in the rat and in man.
Dispersive covariance codes for MIMO precoding

We present a new precoder designed to utilize channel covariance knowledge at the transmitter to simultaneously achieve high capacity and an optimized error performance. These dispersive covariance codes (DCCs) utilize the linear construction of linear dispersion codes (LDCs) to spread information-bearing symbols in the time and spatial domains. It is shown that the linear framework permits the design of capacity optimal codes with desirable performance properties. Since DCCs utilize only statistical channel information instead of instantaneous estimates, feedback overhead is low, and the simple linear encoder simplifies codebook characterization. The DCCs are constructed to satisfy a capacity optimality criterion in conjunction with a pairwise error probability (PEP) constraint to improve error performance. Through numerical simulation, a two-stage DCC design procedure is shown to utilize statistical channel knowledge to provide significantly improved capacity and bit error rate performance over LDC codes in the presence of channel correlations.
Numerical approximation of optimal control of unsteady flows using SQP and time decomposition

In this paper, we present numerical approximations of optimal control of unsteady flow problems using sequential quadratic programming method (SQP) and time domain decomposition. The SQP method is considered superior due to its fast convergence and its ability to take advantage of existing numerical techniques for fluid flow problems. It iteratively solves a sequence of linear quadratic optimal control problems converging to the solution of the non-linear optimal control problem. The solution to the linear quadratic problem is characterized by the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) optimality system which in the present context is a formidable system to solve. As a remedy various time domain decompositions, inexact SQP implementations and block iterative methods to solve the KKT systems are examined. Numerical results are presented showing the efficiency and feasibility of the algorithms. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Atypical Antipsychotic Agents, Retinopathy, Nephropathy, and Cardiovascular Disease

This is the seventh and final in a series of articles on presentations at the American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, 10–14 June 2005. ### Diabetes and atypical antipsychotic agents John Newcomer (St. Louis, MO) discussed changes in adiposity and insulin sensitivity with the atypical antipsychotic agents ziprasidone, risperidone, aripiprazole, quetiapine, clozapine, and olanzapine, addressing the diabetes risk seen during treatment. Among persons with schizophrenia, approximately half are obese, half to three-quarters smoke, 10–14% have diabetes, particularly with coexisting depression, and there are also increased prevalences of hypertension and dyslipidemia. Metabolic syndrome, Newcomer stated, is present in ∼40% of persons with schizophrenia. Persons with schizophrenia have increased rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The mortality due to myocardial infarction is 19% greater among persons with any mental illness and is 34% greater among persons with schizophrenia (1) than in a control population. CVD, then, is of similar importance to suicide as a cause of death in these patients, whose overall mortality is increased by half, leading to a 20% shorter lifespan than in persons without schizophrenia (2). A major issue is weight gain with the atypical antipsychotic agents. Although weight gain occurs with conventional antipsychotic agents such as haloperidol, greater weight gain definitely occurs with chlorpromazine, olanzapine, and clozapine and may occur with risperidone and quetiapine. A meta-analysis of weight change during randomized, controlled, 10-week trials showed that olanzapine and clozapine were associated with a 4-kg weight gain, while haloperidol and risperidone were associated with a 2-kg weight gain (3). Quetiapine leads to ∼4-fold and olanzapine ∼10-fold weight gain, while other antipsychotic agents give 2-fold greater rates of weight gain than those seen in nontreated schizophrenic persons. In 1-year studies, ziprasidone, risperidone, quetiapine, and olanzapine are associated with weight gains of ∼1, 2, 4, and 6 kg. The degree of weight gain appears to …
A review of the postconcussion syndrome

Objective:This review will focus on aspects of the postconcussion syndrome (PCS), including accompanying symptomatology, neuropsychological changes, brain imaging studies and treatment.Method:In each topic area, those research studies resulting in the most interpretable data are reported. Since there is little research in some aspects of the PCS, some studies of limited merit are described, with their limitations outlined, in lieu of not reporting any study. The section on psychopharmacology largely consists of opinions of recognized clinicians, since there is almost no research on the psychopharmacology of PCS.Results:Mild traumatic brain injury is a relatively frequent occurrence which often results in the postconcussion syndrome (PCS), consisting of complaints of irritability, fatigue, headache, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, and memory problems. Anxiety and depression are also frequently present, especially later in its course. Although the PCS has often been thought to reflect a psychological r...
Family Values and Coresidence with Married Children in Urban China

The high level of coresidence of parents with married children in China, as in much of East Asia, is generally understood as a manifestation of the persistence of traditional family values in this region. In urban China the opposite is true: coresidence is maintained in spite of a diversity of both traditional and nontraditional norms. Survey data gathered among parents aged 60 and older in nine Chinese cities are used to analyze people's preferences and actual living situation: Do they live (or prefer to live) with a married child? If so, do they live (or prefer to live) with a married son? A large share of parents do not have the living arrangement that they consider best, as they adapt their behavior to other circumstances. Even their preferences depend on their situation, including their housing space, needs for assistance, family size, and perceived family relations. We conclude that the Chinese family is "modern," in the sense that parents' family decisions represent strategic choices about how to live, not predetermined by a fixed cultural model. The East Asian extended family draws our attention because ties between parents and their grown children in that part of the world remain so strong, especially as evidenced by coresidence. It is well known that living together with a child is much more common in that region than in the West, as offspring often delay setting up an independent household even after marriage and parents often are reunited with them (in either their own or the child's household) in later life (Martin
Innovation Management Techniques: A Strategic Tool for SMEs in an Innovative Region

Innovation plays an important role in the process of regional development and even more in an Industrial and Manufacturing environment. This paper analyses the process of innovation and the models that proposed in the past to explain that process. Furthermore describes the development of a simple new model of the innovation process, which could become the base of the analysis of Innovation Management Techniques (IMTs), techniques which are a necessity to the manager of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well asLarge Companies in order to sustain the innovative edge of their business.