cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clozapine specifically alters the arachidonic acid pathway in mice lacking apolipoprotein D

Apolipoprotein D (apoD), a member of the lipocalin superfamily of lipid-binding proteins, exhibits abundant expression within the CNS of many species, including humans; however, its physiological role remains unclear. Treatment with atypical antipsychotic drugs, especially clozapine, results in elevation of apoD expression levels in rodent brain and in human plasma samples. In order to further explore the role of apoD in mechanisms of clozapine function, we have measured a panel of membrane fatty acids and membrane lipids in brain from drug-treated apoD knock-out mice. Mice received clozapine (10 mg/kg/day) in their drinking water for 28 days and forebrain samples were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography. We identified significant differences in the levels of membrane fatty acids in response to clozapine treatment specifically in the brains of apoD knock-out mice, but not wild-type (wt) mice. The most striking observations were decreases in the levels of fatty acids related to metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA), which is a known binding partner for apoD. These include the precursor to arachidonic acid, linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n6c), arachidonic acid itself (20:4n6) and the elongation product of arachidonic acid, adrenic acid (22:4n6). We further report increases in LA, eicosadienoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in apoD knock-out compared to wild-type mice. These findings implicate an important apoD/AA interaction, which may be necessary for clozapine function.
Effect of acidic seed on biogenic secondary organic aerosol growth

Abstract Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) growth in the presence of acid aerosols was studied in twin 500 l Teflon bags and in a 4 m flow reactor. In Teflon bags, isoprene, acrolein and α-pinene were all made to react individually with ozone and exposed to either acid or non-acid inorganic seed aerosols to determine the effect of acid-catalyzed heterogeneous reactions on SOA growth. α-Pinene and ozone were made to react in a flow reactor to assess the immediate effect of mixing an acid aerosol with SOA at high and low relative humidity levels. In all cases, exposure to acid seed aerosol increased the amount of SOA mass produced. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the SOA in acid systems confirmed the transformation of carbonyl functional groups through acid-catalyzed heterogeneous reactions when SOAs formed in acidic environments or were exposed to acidic aerosols. Organic products initially produced from ozonation in the gas phase partition onto the inorganic seed aerosol and react heterogeneously with an acid catalyst forming low vapor pressure products. These acid-catalyzed heterogeneous reactions are implicated in generating the increased SOA mass observed in acidic aerosol systems as they transform predominantly gas phase compounds of high volatility into low vapor pressure predominantly particle phase products.
Noninvasive quantification of in vitro osteoblastic differentiation in 3D engineered tissue constructs using spectral ultrasound imaging.

Non-destructive monitoring of engineered tissues is needed for translation of these products from the lab to the clinic. In this study, non-invasive, high resolution spectral ultrasound imaging (SUSI) was used to monitor the differentiation of MC3T3 pre-osteoblasts seeded within collagen hydrogels. SUSI was used to measure the diameter, concentration and acoustic attenuation of scatterers within such constructs cultured in either control or osteogenic medium over 21 days. Conventional biochemical assays were used on parallel samples to determine DNA content and calcium deposition. Construct volume and morphology were accurately imaged using ultrasound. Cell diameter was estimated to be approximately 12.5–15.5 µm using SUSI, which corresponded well to measurements of fluorescently stained cells. The total number of cells per construct assessed by quantitation of DNA content decreased from 5.6±2.4×104 at day 1 to 0.9±0.2×104 at day 21. SUSI estimation of the equivalent number of acoustic scatters showed a similar decreasing trend, except at day 21 in the osteogenic samples, which showed a marked increase in both scatterer number and acoustic impedance, suggestive of mineral deposition by the differentiating MC3T3 cells. Estimation of calcium content by SUSI was 41.7±11.4 µg/ml, which agreed well with the biochemical measurement of 38.7±16.7 µg/ml. Color coded maps of parameter values were overlaid on B-mode images to show spatiotemporal changes in cell diameter and calcium deposition. This study demonstrates the use of non-destructive ultrasound imaging to provide quantitative information on the number and differentiated state of cells embedded within 3D engineered constructs, and therefore presents a valuable tool for longitudinal monitoring of engineered tissue development.
The Enigma of Maternal Race and Infant Birthweight: A Population-Based Study of U.S.-Born Black and Caribbean-Born Black Women † 1315

The Enigma of Maternal Race and Infant Birthweight: A Population-Based Study of U.S.-Born Black and Caribbean-Born Black Women † 1315
Photoionization spectroscopy of NaAg

Abstract An electronic spectrum is observed for the heteronuclear metal dimer, AgLi, with resonant two-photon ionization. The dimer is produced in a pulsed supersonic molecular beam by laser vaporization of a silver rod containing lithium as an impurity. The electronic state origin is near 304 nm, where an extensive vibrational progression ( ω e ′ = 247.8 cm −1 ) is observed. ‘Hot bands’ originating from excited vibrational levels in the ground electronic state allow calculation of the spectroscopic constants for this state ( ω e ′′ = 389.0 cm −1 ). The bonding in AgLi is stronger than that in either Ag 2 or Li 2 .
Interactions of molecules with nucleic acids. III. Steric and electrostatic energy contours for the principal intercalation sites, prerequisites for binding, and the exclusion of essential metabolites from intercalation.

Based on steric and electrostatic considerations, the prerequisites for binding to DNA via the intercalation mechanism are proposed. Steric contour energy curves are presented to demonstrate the region inaccessible to an intercalant. They are calculated with a 6-n (n = 14) potential. This method is a soft potential analog of an excluded-volume approach. Electrostatic contours on the steric surface illustrate the relatively positive and negative regions of the binding site. The principal intercalation sites, predicted to fit into B-DNA via a tetramer-duplex unit, and the unconstrained dimer-duplex units, obtained in crystal structures, are examined. These contours illustrate the requirements of size, conformation, and net atomic charges necessary for intercalation and optimum binding. Based on the limited space available for intercalation by the presence of the backbone and the maximum base-pair separation of 8.25 A, an Essential Metabolite Exclusion Hypothesis is presented.
Aperture limitation due to random errors in superconducting magnets

Abstract The presence of the current carrying coils within the iron shield of superconducting magnets has the effect of making the magnetic field within the magnet aperture sensitive to coil block positioning errors. In high current devices where a substantial fraction of the magnet aperture is to be used to stack particle beams, criteria based on a multipole analysis at the magnet center are inadequate. An analysis of the effect of coil block errors taking proper account of the multipole variation across the beam aperture is given. The implications for current accumulation within a given magnet aperture are considered in terms of both the distortions introduced into the linear beam orbits and the induced non-linear resonances.
Effects of potassium channel openers on Na+ and K+ currents in rabbit sinus node and atrial myocytes

The effects of the potassium channel openers (KCOs) Cromakalim and Lemakalim on rabbit sinoatrial and atrial myocytes were examined by means of the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Lemakalin (up to 100 microM) had no effect on potassium current in sinoatrial cells. Both Lemakalim and Cromakalim (100 microM) displayed a two-fold action on atrial myocytes: (1) they increased an outwardly rectifying conductance at potentials positive to EK and, (2) they markedly decreased a TTX-sensitive Na+ current active in the voltage range -50/-30 mV. This novel action on TTX-sensitive currents is of particular interest since these two benzopyrans have been thought to specifically target potassium channels.
Competition between magnesium and guanidine for mitochondrial binding sites.

Abstract A number of recent, independent investigations have shown that the binding of Mg++ ( Brierley et al. , 1962 ), Ca++ ( Vasington and Murphy, 1962 ) and Mn++ ( Chappell et al. , 1962 ) to mitochondria share in common a characteristic concomitant binding of phosphate. It has been suggested by Brierley et al. (1962) that the known affinities of these metal ions for phosphate may be involved in the binding and indeed that actual intramitochondrial precipitation of insoluble phosphates is an integral part of the process. We wish to call attention to the similarity of these binding phenomena to that obtainable with guanidine and alkylguanidines ( Pressman, 1963 ). The present communication will extend the similarity by showing that the binding of guanidine shows a common pattern with that of Mg++ in response to various inhibitors, and furthermore, that guanidine and Mg++ are mutually competetive for mitochondrial binding sites.
Long-term Atmospheric Mercury Wet Deposition at Underhill, Vermont

Section 112(m) of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, referred to as the Great Waters Program, mandated an assessment of atmospheric deposition of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) to Lake Champlain. Mercury (Hg) was listed as a priority HAP and has continued to be a high priority for a number of national and international programs. An assessment of the magnitude and seasonal variation of atmospheric Hg levels and deposition in the Lake Champlain basin was initiated in December 1992 which included event precipitation collection, as well as collection of vapor and particle phase Hg in ambient air. Sampling was performed at the Proctor Maple Research Center in Underhill Center, VT. The range in the annual volume-weighted mean concentration for Hg in precipitation was 7.8–10.5 ng/l for the 11-year sampling period and the average amount of Hg deposited with each precipitation event was 0.10 μg/m2. The average amount of Hg deposited through precipitation each year from 1993 to 2003 was 9.7 μg/m2/yr. A seasonal pattern for Hg in precipitation is clearly evident, with increased Hg concentrations and deposition observed during spring and summer months. While a clear trend in the 11-year event deposition record at Underhill was not observed, a significant decrease in the event max-to-monthly ratio was observed suggesting that a major source influence was controlled over time. Discrete precipitation events were responsible for significant fractions of the monthly and annual loading of Hg to the forested ecosystem in Vermont. Monthly-averaged temperatures were found to be moderately correlated with monthly volume-weighted mean Hg concentrations (r2=0.61) and Hg deposition (r2=0.67) recorded at the Vermont site. Meteorological analysis indicated the highest levels of Hg in precipitation were associated with regional transport from the west, southwest, and south during the warmer months.
The oldest old: Red blood cell and plasma folate in African American and white octogenarians and centenarians in Georgia

Objective To determine the overall folate status of a population-based multi-ethnic sample of octogenarians and centenarians and the specific dietary, demographic and physiological factors associated with observed abnormalities.
Solitary wave interaction with a concentric porous cylinder system

Abstract Theoretical investigations on solitary waves interacting with a surface-piercing concentric porous cylinder system are presented in this paper. The outer cylinder is porous and considered thin in thickness, while the inner cylinder is solid. Both cylinders are rigidly fixed on the bottom. Following Isaacson's [Isaacson, Micheal de St. Q., 1983. Solitary wave diffraction around large cylinder. Journal of the Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering 109(1), 121–127.] approach, we obtained the solutions for free-surface elevation and the corresponding velocity potential in terms of Fourier integrals. Numerical results are presented to show the effects of incident wave condition, porosity of the outer cylinder and radius ratio on wave forces and wave elevations around the inner and outer cylinders.
Production of Experimental Endocarditis by Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci: Variability in Species Virulence

The abilities of 11 coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates of human origin to establish infective endocarditis in a rat model were compared. Seven of the strains were Staphylococcus epidermidis, the species most commonly causing endocarditis in humans. The other four strains were Staphylococcus hominis, an infrequent cause of endocarditis. Four of the seven strains of S. epidermidis and two of the four strains of S. hominis elaborated surface slime. With an inoculum of 10(7) colony-forming units, endocarditis was established in all of 77 rats injected with S. epidermidis but in only five (12.5%) of 40 animals injected with S. hominis (P less than .001). Strains of S. epidermidis were significantly more resistant to phagocytic killing in vitro than were strains of S. hominis. These data indicate that there are major differences in the virulence of various species of coagulase-negative staphylococci, both in vivo and in vitro, and that these differences are reflected in the observed incidence of disease caused in humans by the respective species.
Pituitary and testicular influenced sexual behavior in male frogs, Rana pipiens.

Under defined test conditions, injection of whole pituitary tissue, or implantation of testicular tissue from pituitary-treated frogs, consistently evoked clasping and courtship croaking behavior in adult male frogs, Rana pipiens. However, pituitary injection was ineffective in castrate males, indicating a probably direct dependence of male sexual behavior on a testicular hormone. The nature of the responsible testicular hormone remains obscure, however, since injection of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, or other pure hormonal steroids, including progesterone and corticoids, failed to evoke male sex behavior in Rana pipiens.
Static and dynamic penetration tests of soil

Abstract It has become generally agreed that pressure sinkage tests need to be made with quite large plates if the results are to have any reliance to vehicle sinkage, this normally requires heavy apparatus to provide the necessary force. The paper describes an alternative method whereby plates can be hammered into the soil. It is shown that a normal static pressure sinkage curve can be obtained by suitable analysis of the dynamic test data.
Turbulent flow pressure drop in various He II transfer system components

Pressure drop experiments in highly turbulent He II flow were performed in flow loops driven by either a centrifugal pump or a single-stroke bellows pump. Pressure drops in straight tubing, coiled tubing, bellows sections, valves and Venturi flow meters were measured over a range of flow rates and temperatures. Our pressure drop data are in general agreement with classical fluid correlations when the He II normal component viscosity is used in calculating the Reynolds number. Cavitation and, in some cases, metastable superheating were observed in pressure drop measurements with Venturis in both centrifugal and bellows pump flow circuits.
Excitation and Ionization Rates of Neon Ions in a Stellarator Discharge

The intensities of various resonance multiplets of neon ions, from Ne ii to Ne viii, emitted by an ohmically heated hydrogen discharge of the C stellarator, with about 3% neon added, were measured with a calibrated grazing-incidence monochromator. The electron densities (Ne∼1013 cm−3) were determined by means of 4-mm microwave interferometers, and the electron temperature (Te∼10–50 eV from the electrical conductivity of the plasma. The neon-ion concentrations at the different states of ionization were calculated from the light intensities by means of an assumed energy dependence for the excitation cross sections, the magnitude of the cross sections being adjusted to make the sum of the calculated ion concentrations agree with the known total neon concentration. Atomic oscillator strengths deduced from the excitation-rate coefficients thus obtained, were found to be in reasonable agreement with various calculations. Ionization-rate coefficients were deduced from the time behavior of the ion concentrations and the known particle-confinement time in the discharge. As compared with expected values, the measured rate coefficients appear to be increasingly too large with successive states of ionization. The most likely reason for the discrepancies is a possible deviation from Maxwellian electron-energy distribution in the discharge, to which these rate coefficients would be particularly sensitive.
Quantitation of biologically important primary amines as their isothiocyanate derivatives by gas chromatography using nitrogen detector and validation by selected ion monitoring.

Abstract A gas Chromatographic method for the quantitation of biologically important primary amines using nitrogen detector is described. The primary amines are converted to their isothiocyanate derivatives by reaction with carbon disulfide. Appropriate non-biological primary amines are used as internal standards. The usefulness of the method is illustrated by analysis of biological samples, such as plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and tissue samples and the results were validated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring.
Teaching students to write computer simulations in Java

Abstract A course is described in which students are taught how to write computer simulation programs of physical systems using Java. The advantages of Java include its excellent easy to use graphics capabilities, the simplicity and power of its interactive user interfaces, the fact that Java runs on many different hardware platforms without change, its ability to run multiple tasks simultaneously, the ability to write programs for the Web, and the fact that it is an object oriented language which encourages program abstraction. The pedagogical and scientific advantages of these features are also discussed.
Power lines: radar measurements and detection algorithm for polarimetric SAR images

Polarimetric radar backscattering measurements of a variety of powerline cables are presented. The objective of the first part of the investigation was to study the effect of braiding of the cables on the backscattering at skew incidence. The measurements were performed for four different actual size powerline samples at C-, X-, and Ka-band over a wide range of incidence angles. The data were collected over a 500 MHz bandwidth at C- and X-band with a 1.25 MHz increment and a 1 GHz bandwidth at Ka-band with a 2.5 MHz increment. Also the effect of nonuniform illumination and measurement in the near field of the cables were studied. Experimental data shows a significant radar backscatter for W-polarization (/spl sigma//sub /spl nu//spl nu//) at angles away from normal incidence. This backscatter is proportional to the number and diameter of the strands on the surface of the cables. There is also noticeable backscatter for the HH and VH components of the scattering matrices. Their magnitudes, relative to that of the W component, are proportional to the pitch angle of the helix. Since detection of these cables is an important safety issue for low-flying airplanes a detection algorithm using polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images was developed using the knowledge gleaned from the measurements. The detection algorithm was tested on a simulated image and worked well, detecting a power line whose backscatter power was 6 dB below the average background power. >
Oncocytic Lipoadenoma of the Salivary Gland: A Clinicopathologic Analysis of 7 Cases and Review of the Literature

Oncocytic lipoadenoma is an exceedingly uncommon neoplasm of the salivary gland composed of oncocytic epithelium and adipose tissue. Retrospective. Seven cases of oncocytic lipoadenoma were analyzed in order to further characterize the clinical and pathologic features of this rare tumor. The patients included six males and one female who ranged from 40 to 83 years of age (mean 62 years) at presentation. All tumors arose in the parotid gland. Grossly, the tumors were solitary, well circumscribed and had light brown to yellow cut surfaces. Histologically, the tumors were composed of an admixed population of oncocytes and adipocytes in varying proportions, with the lipomatous component ranging from 5 to 70 %. Other common features included the presence of serous acini, ductal elements, sebaceous glands, and a patchy chronic inflammation. Clinical follow up information, available in all cases, with a duration of 3–148 months (mean 57 months), showed no evidence of tumor recurrence. Due to its rarity, oncocytic lipoadenoma can pose problems in diagnosis, although the distinctive morphologic features of this neoplasm allow for separation from more commonly recognized oncocytic neoplasms of the salivary glands.
Air/water exchange of mercury in the Everglades II: measuring and modeling evasion of mercury from surface waters in the Everglades Nutrient Removal Project

Abstract During the period 1996–1998, and covering each of the four climatic seasons, we measured evasion of Hg using flux chambers over waters of the Everglades Nutrient Removal Project (ENR), a constructed wetlands. In situ water evasion fluxes of total gaseous mercury (primarily Hg°) measured at seven Everglades sites typically show low evasion rates ( −2 h −1 ), which are smaller on average than those measured in northern systems. Evasion exhibits a strong diel cycle, with the highest values during midday, and evasion rates are correlated with dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM), solar radiation, wind speed, and water temperature. A thin film model was adapted and applied to estimate evasion fluxes for these Everglades waters based on our measurements of DGM. The results suggest that the typical thin film model underestimates evasion for the Everglades waters, at least on a short time scale.
Esthetic enhancements in upper blepharoplasty

Traditional upper blepharoplasty typically involves resection of excess upper eyelid skin and muscle with or without fat excision. Well-established concepts in periorbital aging have been challenged by newer morphologic and histologic studies that have characterized the changes that occur in the various periorbital soft tissue components. Several modified or adjunctive techniques have recently emerged to improve esthetic outcomes in upper blepharoplasty. The authors review surgical technique in detail: nasal fat repositioning, orbicularis oculi preservation, increasing lateral upper eyelid fullness, lacrimal gland resuspension, internal brow elevation, and glabellar myectomy, along with complications and aftercare involved with procedures.
Prognostic value of human papillomavirus in the survival of head and neck cancer patients: An overview of the evidence

Despite improvements over the last decade, survival rates for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain around 50% and variable. Recently, a subset of HNSCC has been shown to contain human papillomavirus (HPV) and the presence of HPV in tumors constitutes a prognostic marker of disease. HPV-DNA in these tumors (overwhelmingly genotype 16, a high-risk type also found in cervical cancer) is present at high copy numbers, frequently integrated, and often transcriptionally active. In comparison with HPV-negative tumors, however, HPV-positive HNSCCs are more likely to be located within the oral cavity/pharynx and diagnosed at a late stage. Based on the epidemiological evidence to date, it is reasonable to hypothesize that HPV-positive and -negative HNSCC represent different lineages formed through diverse, though overlapping, mechanisms of multistage tumorigenesis. The introduction of prophylactic and therapeutic HPV vaccines could have important implications for the prevention and control of a substantial fraction of HNSCC.
Internal motion of supercoiled DNA: brownian dynamics simulations of site juxtaposition

Thermal motions in supercoiled DNA are studied by Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations with a focus on the site juxtaposition process. It had been shown in the last decade that the BD approach is capable of describing actual times of large-scale DNA motion. The bead model of DNA used here accounts for bending and torsional elasticity as well as the electrostatic repulsion among DNA segments. The hydrodynamic interaction among the beads of the model chain and the aqueous solution is incorporated through the Rotne-Prager tensor. All simulations were performed for the sodium ion concentration of 0.01 M. We first showed, to test our BD procedure, that the same distributions of equilibrium conformational properties are obtained as by Monte Carlo simulations for the corresponding DNA model. The BD simulations also predict with accuracy published experimental values of the diffusion coefficients of supercoiled DNA. To describe the rate of conformational changes, we also calculated the autocorrelation functions for the writhe and radius of gyration for the supercoiled molecules. The rate of site juxtaposition was then studied for DNA molecules up to 3000 bp in length. We find that site juxtaposition is a very slow process: although accelerated by a factor of more than 100 by DNA supercoiling, the times of juxtaposition are in the range of ms even for highly supercoiled DNA, about two orders of magnitude higher than the relaxation times of writhe and the radius of gyration for the same molecules. By inspecting successive simulated conformations of supercoiled DNA, we conclude that slithering of opposing segments of the interwound superhelix is not an efficient mechanism to accomplish site juxtaposition, at least for conditions of low salt concentration. Instead, transient distortions of the interwound superhelix, followed by continuous reshaping of the molecule, contribute more significantly to site juxtaposition kinetics.
Mutations in PRKCSH Cause Isolated Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Liver Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease (ADPLD) is a distinct clinical and genetic entity that can occur independently from autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). We previously studied two large kindreds and reported localization of a gene for ADPLD to an ∼8-Mb region, flanked by markers D19S586/D19S583 and D19S593/D19S579, on chromosome 19p13.2-13.1. Expansion of these kindreds and identification of an additional family allowed us to define flanking markers CA267 and CA048 in an ∼3-Mb region containing >70 candidate genes. We used a combination of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) heteroduplex analysis and direct sequencing to screen a panel of 15 unrelated affected individuals for mutations in genes from this interval. We found sequence variations in a known gene, PRKCSH, that were not observed in control individuals, that segregated with the disease haplotype, and that were predicted to be chain-terminating mutations. In contrast to PKD1, PKD2, and PKHD1, PRKCSH encodes a previously described human protein termed “protein kinase C substrate 80K-H” or “noncatalytic beta-subunit of glucosidase II.” This protein is highly conserved, is expressed in all tissues tested, and contains a leader sequence, an LDLa domain, two EF-hand domains, and a conserved C-terminal HDEL sequence. Its function may be dependent on calcium binding, and its putative actions include the regulation of N-glycosylation of proteins and signal transduction via fibroblast growth-factor receptor. In light of the focal nature of liver cysts in ADPLD, the apparent loss-of-function mutations in PRKCSH, and the two-hit mechanism operational in dominant polycystic kidney disease, ADPLD may also occur by a two-hit mechanism.
Fundamentals for the compounding of nanocomposites to enhance electrical insulation performance

Although it is undeniable that the promise of enhanced dielectric properties through the use of nanotechnology has generated worldwide interest in nanodielectrics in the last decade, study of the experimental literature indicates that there are numerous inconsistencies in the results obtained. In many instances, it is likely that this is due to a lack of quality control during the formulation of this new class of material. By examining several nanocomposite examples, this contribution seeks to shed some light on the likely causes for these inconsistencies. Through the paramount property of dielectric strength, it is confirmed that poor dispersion and/or agglomeration is often the cause of poor material performance. Examples are provided to show how this can be rectified through the use of particle functionalization and compatibilizers, the use of shear in compounding, and the careful control of moisture. However, good dispersion alone is not sufficient since some of the techniques used may also lead to microcavity formation and other undesirable phenomena. The optimization of nanocomposite compounding is intimately connected with the need to quantify the resulting structure. Consequently, the paper includes a brief discussion of the part played by thermogravimetric and thermal analyses as well as the use of the focused ion beam method to supplement scanning electron microscopy as a viable alternative to (the more difficult) transmission electron microscopy for the evaluation of dispersion and percolation.
Physiological features of the S- and M-cone photoreceptors of wild-type mice from single-cell recordings

Cone cells constitute only 3% of the photoreceptors of the wild-type (WT) mouse. While mouse rods have been thoroughly investigated with suction pipette recordings of their outer segment membrane currents, to date no recordings from WT cones have been published, likely because of the rarity of cones and the fragility of their outer segments. Recently, we characterized the photoreceptors of Nrl(-/-) mice, using suction pipette recordings from their "inner segments" (perinuclear region), and found them to be cones. Here we report the use of this same method to record for the first time the responses of single cones of WT mice, and of mice lacking the alpha-subunit of the G-protein transducin (G(t)alpha(-/-)), a loss that renders them functionally rodless. Most cones were found to functionally co-express both S- (lambda(max) = 360 nm) and M- (lambda(max) = 508 nm) cone opsins and to be maximally sensitive at 360 nm ("S-cones"); nonetheless, all cones from the dorsal retina were found to be maximally sensitive at 508 nm ("M-cones"). The dim-flash response kinetics and absolute sensitivity of S- and M-cones were very similar and not dependent on which of the coexpressed cone opsins drove transduction; the time to peak of the dim-flash response was approximately 70 ms, and approximately 0.2% of the circulating current was suppressed per photoisomerization. Amplification in WT cones (A approximately 4 s(-2)) was found to be about twofold lower than in rods (A approximately 8 s(-2)). Mouse M-cones maintained their circulating current at very nearly the dark adapted level even when >90% of their M-opsin was bleached. S-cones were less tolerant to bleached S-opsin than M-cones to bleached M-opsin, but still far more tolerant than mouse rods to bleached rhodopsin, which exhibit persistent suppression of nearly 50% of their circulating current following a 20% bleach. Thus, the three types of mouse opsin appear distinctive in the degree to which their bleached, unregenerated opsins generate "dark light."
Effect of Processing Parameters on Cerium Oxide Coating Deposition in Solution Precursor Plasma Spray

Solution precursor plasma spray was used to deposit cerium oxide coating. This study is to understand the coating deposition mechanism in solution precursor plasma spray for cerium oxide using a cerium nitrate liquid precursor. This study includes the effect of various processing parameters on coating micro structure, such as plasma power, standoff distance, and solution concentration. Single scan experiments were performed to better understand the single splat formation and unpyrolyzed precursor deposition. X-ray diffraction analysis was conducted to determine average crystallite size of the coating from different concentration and formation of single phase cerium oxide formation. Detailed microstructural characterizations of the coatings were carried out by scanning electron microscopy.
Iterative relative fuzzy connectedness for multiple objects with multiple seeds

In this paper we present a new theory and an algorithm for image segmentation based on a strength of connectedness between every pair of image elements. The object definition used in the segmentation algorithm utilizes the notion of iterative relative fuzzy connectedness, IRFC. In previously published research, the IRFC theory was developed only for the case when the segmentation was involved with just two segments, an object and a background, and each of the segments was indicated by a single seed. (See Udupa, Saha, Lotufo [15] and Saha, Udupa [14].) Our theory, which solves a problem of Udupa and Saha from [13], allows simultaneous segmentation involving an arbitrary number of objects. Moreover, each segment can be indicated by more than one seed, which is often more natural and easier than a single seed object identification.The first iteration step of the IRFC algorithm gives a segmentation known as relative fuzzy connectedness, RFC, segmentation. Thus, the IRFC technique is an extension of the RFC method. Although the RFC theory, due to Saha and Udupa [19], is developed in the multi object/multi seed framework, the theoretical results presented here are considerably more delicate in nature and do not use the results from [19]. On the other hand, the theoretical results from [19] are immediate consequences of the results presented here. Moreover, the new framework not only subsumes previous fuzzy connectedness descriptions but also sheds new light on them. Thus, there are fundamental theoretical advances made in this paper.We present examples of segmentations obtained via our IRFC based algorithm in the multi object/multi seed environment, and compare it with the results obtained with the RFC based algorithm. Our results indicate that, in many situations, IRFC outperforms RFC, but there also exist instances where the gain in performance is negligible.
Towards automatic experimentation of educational knowledge

We present a general automatic experimentation and hypothesis generation framework that utilizes a large set of users to explore the effects of different parts of an intervention parameter space on any objective function. We also incorporate importance sampling, allowing us to run these automatic experiments even if we cannot give out the exact intervention distributions that we want. To show the utility of this framework, we present an implementation in the domain of fractions and numberlines, using an online educational game as the source of players. Our system is able to automatically explore the parameter space and generate hypotheses about what types of numberlines lead to maximal short-term transfer; testing on a separate dataset shows the most promising hypotheses are valid. We briefly discuss our results in the context of the wider educational literature, showing that one of our results is not explained by current research on multiple fraction representations, thus proving our ability to generate potentially interesting hypotheses to test.
Energy: A Bridging Concept for Nursing Science:

A philosophical inquiry into the concept of energy revealed two ideas of energy across multiple disciplines. Analysis of the conceptual models of Nightingale, Levine, and Rogers supported the presence of two paradigmatic views of energy in nursing science that, while divergent, share a common theme. The outcome of this inquiry leads to the tentative belief that there is unity in diversity and may perhaps lead to refinement of existing nursing theory and a more congruent framework for scientific inquiry. This article specifically addresses the nursing theoretical implications related to ideas of energy arising from the inquiry.
All-vanadium redox photoelectrochemical cell: An approach to store solar energy

Abstract A highly-efficient all-vanadium photoelectrochemical storage cell has been demonstrated in this work. This storage cell takes advantage of fast electrochemical kinetics of vanadium redox couples of VO 2 + /VO 2 + and V 3 + /V 2 + , and appears as a promising alternative to photoproduction of hydrogen from water. Continuous photocharging for 25 h revealed a VO 2 + conversion rate of 0.0042 μmol/h and Faradaic efficiency of 95% without external voltage bias. The incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) at 350 nm light was calculated to be ~ 12%.
Transcriptional Activation of Human and Yeast Metallothionein Genes by Heavy Metal Ions

Organisms from yeast to mammals express low molecular weight metal binding, cysteine-rich proteins, the metallotheineins (MTs). The metal-dependent expression of MTs is controlled transcriptionally. Up to now no transacting factor conferring metal-inducibility upon mammalian MT-genes was isolated. Recently, however, the product of the yeast CUP2 gene was identified as a sequence specific Cu-dependent activator of the yeast MT, CUP1 gene. The N-terminal DNA-binding domain of CUP2 resembles CUP1 in its cystein-content and arrangement. Study of in vitro synthesized wild-type and mutant CUP2 proteins demonstrated the effect of metal-binding on specific DNA-affinity and the importance of single amino acid residues in this process.
Concatenated codes based on multidimensional parity-check codes and turbo codes

Turbo-codes provide communications near capacity when very large interleavers (and thus codeword lengths) are used. However, many military communication systems require packet lengths that are too short to exploit the full capability of these codes. We have previously shown that a rectangular parity-check code can be used as an outer code with a turbo code as an inner code in a serial concatenated coding scheme, and that this configuration significantly lowers the error floor and improves performance for packets of only a few thousand bits. In this research, we show that for short packets, the performance can be further improved by replacing the rectangular parity-check code by a multidimensional parity-check code that operates at a higher rate and has a higher minimum distance than the rectangular parity-check code. The new codes makes it possible to achieve very low error probabilities with even simple turbo codes and without the use of complicated interleaving schemes.
Mentorship and the socialization of underrepresented minorities into the professoriate: examining varied influences

This study examines the mentoring component of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation’s (CIC) Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP). The national initiative, implemented on various campuses throughout the United States, seeks to establish a diverse faculty by encouraging the enrollment and completion rates of minority doctoral candidates. Results from interviews with former and current undergraduate student participants suggest that mentorship influences the individual, interpersonal, extra‐programmatic, and to a lesser extent, collective realms of protege experiences. Study results emphasize the importance of faculty‐directed mentorship in preparing students of color for both graduate education and entrance into the professoriate.
Variability in Clinical Integration Achieved by Athletic Training Students Across Different Clinical Sport Assignments

Context: Clinical integration impacts athletic training students' (ATSs) motivation and persistence. Research has yet to elucidate the manner in which different clinical placements can influence cl...
Collaborative information assurance capacity building at a consortium of colleges and universities

The objective of this project was to investigate, build and develop Information Assurance (IA) capacity at consortium of colleges and universities. This primary objectives of this project were (i) develop Information Security (IS) modules that are geared towards lower level undergraduate courses; and (ii) incorporate early research experiences that are vital towards building a cadre of high quality graduates who would be able to apply this knowledge in their workplaces. To date, we have developed a comprehensive curriculum for IS at consortium. We have achieved the first level Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation and are working toward the second phase of this project.
Optimization of a Reusable Hollow-Fiber Ultrafilter for Simultaneous Concentration of Enteric Bacteria, Protozoa, and Viruses from Water

The detection and identification of pathogens from water samples remain challenging due to variations in recovery rates and the cost of procedures. Ultrafiltration offers the possibility to concentrate viral, bacterial, and protozoan organisms in a single process by using size-exclusion-based filtration. In this study, two hollow-fiber ultrafilters with 50,000-molecular-weight cutoffs were evaluated to concentrate microorganisms from 2- and 10-liter water samples. When known quantities (10(5) to 10(6) CFU/liter) of two species of enteric bacteria were introduced and concentrated from 2 liters of sterile water, the addition of 0.1% Tween 80 increased Escherichia coli strain K-12 recoveries from 70 to 84% and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis recoveries from 36 to 72%. An E. coli antibiotic-resistant strain, XL1-Blue, was recovered at a level (87%) similar to that for strain K-12 (96%) from 10 liters of sterile water. When E. coli XL1-Blue was introduced into 10 liters of nonsterile Rio Grande water with higher turbidity levels (23 to 29 nephelometric turbidity units) at two inoculum levels (9 x 10(5) and 2.4 x 10(3) per liter), the recovery efficiencies were 89 and 92%, respectively. The simultaneous addition of E. coli XL1-Blue (9 x 10(5) CFU/liter), Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts (10 oocysts/liter), phage T1 (10(5) PFU/liter), and phage PP7 (10(5) PFU/liter) to 10 liters of Rio Grande surface water resulted in mean recoveries of 96, 54, 59, and 46%, respectively. Using a variety of surface waters from around the United States, we obtained recovery efficiencies for bacteria and viruses that were similar to those observed with the Rio Grande samples, but recovery of Cryptosporidium oocysts was decreased, averaging 32% (the site of collection of these samples had previously been identified as problematic for oocyst recovery). Results indicate that the use of ultrafiltration for simultaneous recovery of bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens from variable surface waters is ready for field deployment.
Deoxynucleotide-polymerizing Enzymes of Calf Thymus Gland II. PROPERTIES OF THE TERMINAL DEOXYNUCLEOTIDYLTRANSFERASE*

Abstract The stoichiometry, equilibrium, and kinetic properties of a terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase isolated from calf thymus gland are described. The reaction catalyzed may be written dXTP + d(pY)m (Mg++)/→ d(pY)m(pX)n + nPPi and the ratio of polymer nucleotide to monomer at equilibrium (pH 7.0, 35°) is about 99 when X and Y = adenine. Purine deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate polymerizations proceed readily in 8 mm Mg++ at low buffer strengths (40 mm). For deoxyadenosine triphosphate, under these conditions, Km = 1.1 x 10-4 m and Vmax varies from about 0.03 to 0.30 µmole min-1 mg-1 with various oligodeoxynucleotide initiators. At a constant chain length, Km values for oligodeoxynucleotide decrease in the order cytosine g thymine g adenine g guanine g hypoxanthine. Within a homologous series, a limiting value of Km and a maximum value for Vmax are reached at the penta- to septanucleotide. Pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates polymerize best in the presence of 1 mm Co++ at higher buffer strengths (200 mm). Syntheses of polydeoxyadenylate, polydeoxyinosinate, polydeoxycytidylate, and polydeoxythymidylate in greater than 80% yield are achieved under optimal conditions. Preparation of random copolymers is also described.
Electrical conductivity based characterization of plain and coarse glass powder modified cement pastes

This paper describes the use of electrical conductivity to characterize plain and coarse glass powder modified cement pastes. It is observed that the glass powder addition facilitates improved hydration of the cement grains. For the proportions investigated in this study, and the particle size of glass powder, this advantage is negated by the reduced amount of hydration products, i.e., the dilution effect. The variation of electrical conductivity and its derivative with time can be related to the various phases in the microstructural development of the paste. It is observed from the time derivative of conductivity plots that the addition of glass powder results only in minor changes in the setting time of the pastes. Higher the glass powder content, higher the normalized conductivity (ratio of conductivity at a certain glass powder content to that of plain paste) at very early times, and then it falls to a value closer to or less than 1.0 at later times. A parallel model is used to represent effective conductivity as a function of the pore solution conductivity, porosity, and pore connectivity factor. The pore solution conductivity increases with increase in glass powder content. The porosity of the pastes reduces with increase in glass powder content at early ages and increases at later ages. A reduced pore connectivity factor is observed for pastes with higher glass powder content at later times. However, this does not imply increased volume of hydration products as is commonly interpreted for normal pastes, but the electrical conduction pathways are made more tortuous by the relatively large volume of un-reacted filler material in the pore structure.
Changing Partners: The Experience of Urban Economic Policy in West Central Scotland, 1980-90

The central argument in this paper is that the concept of partnership in urban economic policy, as it affected west central Scotland, significantly changed during the 1980s. In summary, the decade began with the public sector commonly taking the lead role, with more evidence of the rhetoric of private-sector involvement than the reality of genuine commitment from the business community. The shift that occurred as the decade progressed has been characterised as one of a simple redirection of responsibility and resources towards the private sector, in particular the transformation of the Scottish Development Agency into Scottish Enterprise and the private sector's control over the Local Enterprise Companies. Such an assessment potentially ignores the complexity of agencies and organisations that evolved during this decade; has the danger of underplaying the continuing role of different levels of government and of minimising the increasingly important part played by non-profit, community and voluntary organi...