cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of deposition rate on the properties of thick YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7–δ films

To investigate potential limits to the rate at which high-quality YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7{minus}{delta}} can be deposited, we have produced a series of 1 {mu}m thick films by pulsed laser deposition on single-crystal SrTiO{sub 3} substrates at average rates ranging from 2 {Angstrom}/s to 240 {Angstrom}/s. The critical current density of low-rate films was over 2MA/cm{sup 2} at 75 K, self field, but dropped linearly with rate to about 1MA/cm{sup 2} at the upper end of the range. In addition, the superconducting transition temperature, resistivity above the transition, and performance in an applied magnetic field were all degraded by increasing the deposition rate. A change in c-axis lattice parameter suggests that possible causes for this degradation are oxygen deficiency or cation disorder with the latter being the more likely. Annealing high-rate films at 790{degree}C for as little as 20 min improved critical current density to within 20{percent} of low-rate values, and resulted in dramatic improvements in other film properties as well. {copyright} {ital 1997 Materials Research Society.}
Concept Mapping as a Program Assessment Tool: Connecting Course and Program Objectives

University faculty are increasingly assuming responsibility for program assessment, with results being used in part to determine program quality. In some cases, results are being used to rationalize allocation of shrinking university resources. As a result, many faculty members are seeking simple and meaningful ways to prepare for and collect data for assessment purposes. Fashion Merchandising faculty at a medium-sized, southern university decided to experiment with concept mapping, a creative tool based on constructive learning theory, to plan for program assessment. The purpose of this paper is to explain the use of concept mapping in this context. Results show that concept maps have much to offer in assessment planning. Additional benefits of concept mapping are also discussed.
A Cyclic Antimicrobial Peptide Produced in Primate Leukocytes by the Ligation of Two Truncated α-Defensins

Analysis of rhesus macaque leukocytes disclosed the presence of an 18-residue macrocyclic, tridisulfide antibiotic peptide in granules of neutrophils and monocytes. The peptide, termed rhesus theta defensin-1 (RTD-1), is microbicidal for bacteria and fungi at low micromolar concentrations. Antibacterial activity of the cyclic peptide was threefold greater than that of an open-chain analog, and the cyclic conformation was required for antimicrobial activity in the presence of 150 millimolar sodium chloride. Biosynthesis of RTD-1 involves the head-to-tail ligation of two α-defensin–related nonapeptides, requiring the formation of two new peptide bonds. Thus, host defense cells possess mechanisms for synthesis and granular packaging of macrocyclic antibiotic peptides that are components of the phagocyte antimicrobial armamentarium.
Attenuation of positive and negative affect in men and women at increased risk for hypertension: A function of endogenous barostimulation?

We hypothesized that activation of endogenous baroreflexes would be associated with reduced responsivity to affective stimuli and that this effect would be enhanced in individuals at risk for hypertension. Images from the International Affective Picture System were presented during systolic and diastolic phases of the cardiac cycle. Affective responsivity was measured using electromyographic activity, skin conductance, and ratings of arousal and valence. Compared to offspring of normotensives, individuals with a parental history of hypertension showed reduced responsivity to both positive and negative affective stimuli; however, responsivity did not differ as a function of cardiac cycle phase. Although these findings do not support a barostimulation mechanism of affective dampening, it is premature to discount the baroreflex inhibition hypothesis given the limited affective reactions elicited by visual stimuli presented in the laboratory.
Pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in the human brain

Disturbances of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the brain can lead to hydrocephalus, a condition affecting thousands of people annually in the US. Considerable controversy exists about fluid and pressure dynamics, and about how the brain responds to changes in flow patterns and compression in hydrocephalus. This paper presents a new model based on the first principles of fluid mechanics. This model of fluid-structure interactions predicts flows and pressures throughout the brain's ventricular pathways consistent with both animal intracranial pressure (ICP) measurements and human CINE phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging data. The computations provide approximations of the tissue deformations of the brain parenchyma. The model also quantifies the pulsatile CSF motion including flow reversal in the aqueduct as well as the changes in ICPs due to brain tissue compression. It does not require the existence of large transmural pressure differences as the force for ventricular expansion. Finally, the new model gives an explanation of communicating hydrocephalus and the phenomenon of asymmetric hydrocephalus.
Measurement of smoothed Wigner phase-space distributions for small-angle scattering in a turbid medium

We study Wigner phase-space distributions W(x, p) in position (x) and momentum (p) for light undergoing multiple small-angle scattering in a turbid medium. Smoothed Wigner phase-space distributions are measured by using a heterodyne technique that achieves position and momentum resolution determined by the width and the diffraction angle of the local oscillator beam. The sample consists of 5.7-µm-radius polystyrene spheres suspended in a water–glycerol mixture. The momentum distribution of the transmitted light is found to contain a ballistic peak, a narrow diffractive pedestal, and a broad background. The narrow diffractive pedestal is found to decay more slowly than the ballistic peak as the concentration of scatterers is increased. The data are in excellent agreement with a simple theoretical model that explains the behavior of the narrow pedestal by including multiple diffractive scattering and treating large-angle scattering as a loss.
Subbarrel Patterns in Somatosensory Cortical Barrels Can Emerge from Local Dynamic Instabilities

Complex spatial patterning, common in the brain as well as in other biological systems, can emerge as a result of dynamic interactions that occur locally within developing structures. In the rodent somatosensory cortex, groups of neurons called “barrels” correspond to individual whiskers on the contralateral face. Barrels themselves often contain subbarrels organized into one of a few characteristic patterns. Here we demonstrate that similar patterns can be simulated by means of local growth-promoting and growth-retarding interactions within the circular domains of single barrels. The model correctly predicts that larger barrels contain more spatially complex subbarrel patterns, suggesting that the development of barrels and of the patterns within them may be understood in terms of some relatively simple dynamic processes. We also simulate the full nonlinear equations to demonstrate the predictive value of our linear analysis. Finally, we show that the pattern formation is robust with respect to the geometry of the barrel by simulating patterns on a realistically shaped barrel domain. This work shows how simple pattern forming mechanisms can explain neural wiring both qualitatively and quantitatively even in complex and irregular domains.
Transfer of Isolated Nuclei into Protoplasts of Trichoderma harzianum.

Abstract Protoplasts released from young hyphae of Trichoderma harzianum contained 0 to 10 nuclei per protoplast, and most (about 80%) contained from 4 to 6 nuclei. Most protoplasts were larger than 3 μm in diameter. Nuclei were isolated from protoplasts of an auxotrophic mutant of T. harzianum and transferred into protoplasts obtained from another auxotroph of the same strain. This intrastrain nuclear transfer gave rise to numerous progeny which were stable, prototrophic, and heterokaryotic. Interstrain transfers in which nuclei from a wild-type prototroph of one strain were transferred into protoplasts from a lysine-deficient auxotroph of a second strain were also done. Heterokaryotic progeny were recovered from these interstrain transfers when the regenerating protoplasts were provided with a low concentration of lysine 48 h after the initial plating. Heterokaryotic progeny contained 11 to 17% of donor-type nuclei. Progeny homokaryotic for donor-type nuclei were obtained as single-spore isolates. These homokaryotic isolates expressed the isozyme pattern and colony morphology phenotype of the nuclear donor. When regenerating protoplasts were provided with lysine 10 days after the initial plating, only a single progeny was obtained. However, single-spore subprogeny of this nuclear transfer were prototrophic and exhibited a wide range of unstable morphological phenotypes.
VeA Is Required for Toxin and Sclerotial Production in Aspergillus parasiticus

It was long been noted that secondary metabolism is associated with fungal development. In Aspergillus nidulans, conidiation and mycotoxin production are linked by a G protein signaling pathway. Also in A. nidulans, cleistothecial development and mycotoxin production are controlled by a gene called veA. Here we report the characterization of a veA ortholog in the aflatoxin-producing fungus A. parasiticus. Cleistothecia are not produced by Aspergillus parasiticus; instead, this fungus produces spherical structures called sclerotia that allow for survival under adverse conditions. Deletion of veA from A. parasiticus resulted in the blockage of sclerotial formation as well as a blockage in the production of aflatoxin intermediates. Our results indicate that A. parasiticus veA is required for the expression of aflR and aflJ, which regulate the activation of the aflatoxin gene cluster. In addition to these findings, we observed that deletion of veA reduced conidiation both on the culture medium and on peanut seed. The fact that veA is necessary for conidiation, production of resistant structures, and aflatoxin biosynthesis makes veA a good candidate gene to control aflatoxin biosynthesis or fungal development and in this way to greatly decrease its devastating impact on health and the economy.
Using context-aware computing to reduce the perceived burden of interruptions from mobile devices

The potential for sensor-enabled mobile devices to proactively present information when and where users need it ranks among the greatest promises of ubiquitous computing. Unfortunately, mobile phones, PDAs, and other computing devices that compete for the user's attention can contribute to interruption irritability and feelings of information overload. Designers of mobile computing interfaces, therefore, require strategies for minimizing the perceived interruption burden of proactively delivered messages. In this work, a context-aware mobile computing device was developed that automatically detects postural and ambulatory activity transitions in real time using wireless accelerometers. This device was used to experimentally measure the receptivity to interruptions delivered at activity transitions relative to those delivered at random times. Messages delivered at activity transitions were found to be better received, thereby suggesting a viable strategy for context-aware message delivery in sensor-enabled mobile computing devices.
Integrating Information Literacy into Blackboard: Building Campus Partnerships for Successful Student Learning

Learning management systems (LMS), such as Blackboard, make it possible to include information literacy in courses online. This survey assessed librarians' use of learning management systems. Results indicate that utilizing the LMS to enhance information literacy remains underdeveloped. The author recommends suggestions for campus-wide collaborations to improve student learning.
Technical Aspects of CO2 Injection

The almost depleted Altmark gas field was chosen by the owner and operator GDF SUEZ E&P Deutschland GmbH (GDF SUEZ) for an Enhanced Gas Recovery (EGR) project. GDF SUEZ took part in the joint research project CLEAN providing this site as a basis for the scientific work of the partners from academia and industry. In November 2007, GDF SUEZ filed the application for injection of up to 100,000 t of CO2 with the State Office for Geology and Mining of Saxony Anhalt. The permitting process came to a halt towards the end of 2008, because the responsible mining authority considered a national CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) law to be the only legal basis for approval. The national CCS law still has not been enacted in Germany. In January 2009, the erection of the interim CO2 storage and conditioning unit in Maxdorf was completed. New flow lines between the Maxdorf and the potential injection wells were fully planned but never build. Corrosion resistant re-completion of the injection wells did not take place either. Within the funding period of the CLEAN project (2008–2011), there was no injection of CO2.
Background of an inversion: the first gas laser

A description of the problems encountered in creating the first continuously oscillating laser (the helium-neon "optical maser") is given, together with some previously unpublished data taken by the author on the excitation transfer process between helium metastables and the upper laser levels in neon. Research on the helium-neon excitation transfer problem is traced back to a little-known paper by Headrick and Duffendack published in 1931. An interesting historical coincidence is noted in that most of the people who did pioneering work in the laser field had some connection with the Physics Department at Columbia University. That probability arose because Columbia was the birthplace of induced resonance experiments in physics during the 1930s.
Activation of TRAP/mediator subunit TRAP220/Med1 is regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent phosphorylation.

The TRAP/Mediator coactivator complex serves as a molecular bridge between gene-specific activators and RNA polymerase II. TRAP220/Med1 is a key component of TRAP/Mediator that targets the complex to nuclear hormone receptors and other types of activators. We show here that human TRAP220/Med1 is a specific substrate for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. We demonstrate that ERK phosphorylates TRAP220/Med1 in vivo at two specific sites: threonine 1032 and threonine 1457. Importantly, we found that ERK phosphorylation significantly increases the stability and half-life of TRAP220/Med1 in vivo and correlates with increased thyroid hormone receptor-dependent transcription. Furthermore, ERK phosphorylates TRAP220/Med1 in a cell cycle-dependent manner, resulting in peak levels of expression during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. ERK phosphorylation of ectopic TRAP220/Med1 also triggered shuttling into the nucleolus, thus suggesting that ERK may regulate TRAP220/Med1 subnuclear localization. Finally, we observed that ERK phosphorylation of TRAP220/Med1 stimulates its intrinsic transcriptional coactivation activity. We propose that ERK-mediated phosphorylation is a regulatory mechanism that controls TRAP220/Med1 expression levels and modulates its functional activity.
On a class of not ungrammatical constructions

Langendoen and Bever (1973) contended that both expressions in (1) are ungrammatical in English, despite the acceptability of the first to native speakers of English. (1) (a) a not unhappy person (b) a not sad person We came to this conclusion because we believed, first, that all grammars of natural languages should be subject to a constraint ‘M’ that no syntactic rule is able to make use of the morphological structure of lexemes (1973:402); and, second, that we had shown that no grammar that satisfies M can distinguish the grammaticality of(1a) from that of (1b). Our exact wording of M was as follows: ‘no syntactic transformational rule is permitted to make use of the internal morphological structure of lexical items’. Since the only syntactic rules of the standard theory, within which we were operating that are not transformations are base-categorial rules, which by definition make no use of the internal morphological structure of lexical items, the word ‘transformational’ in our formulation of M is unnecessary.
The Effects of Hedges in Persuasive Arguments: A Nuanced Analysis of Language

Drawing together research on persuasion and text comprehension, two experiments test the effects of hedge placement (Experiment 1) and hedge type (Experiment 2) on attitudes, source evaluations, and perceptions of argument strength. Participants read an editorial in support of implementing comprehensive exams at their university. Experiment 1 shows that hedges placed on data statements (and not interpretation statements) lead to negative perceptions of the policy, source, and argument. This is especially pronounced on source evaluations among individuals with more scientific training. Experiment 2 reveals that colloquial, but not professional, hedges placed on interpretation statements lead to more negative evaluations relative to no hedges. Data related to perceptions of the source are moderated by individual differences in scientific reasoning. This research suggests that hedges describing data statements and/or that use colloquial language can, but do not always, undermine persuasive attempts.
Runoff Curve Numbers for 10 Small Forested Watersheds in the Mountains of the Eastern United States

AbstractEngineers and hydrologists use the curve number method to estimate runoff from rainfall for different land use and soil conditions; however, large uncertainties occur for estimates from forested watersheds. This investigation evaluates the accuracy and consistency of the method using rainfall-runoff series from 10 small forested-mountainous watersheds in the eastern United States, eight annual maximum series from New Hampshire, West Virginia, and North Carolina, and two partial duration series from Georgia. These series are the basis to compare tabulated curve numbers with values estimated using five methods. For nine of 10 watersheds, tabulated curve numbers do not accurately estimate runoff. One source of the large uncertainty is a consistent decrease in storm-event curve numbers with increasing rainfall. A calibrated constant curve number is suitable for only two of 10 watersheds; the others require a variable watershed curve number associated with different magnitude rainfalls or probabilities...
Tetrahymena Genome Database Wiki: a community-maintained model organism database.

When funding for Tetrahymena Genome Database (TGD) ended in 2006, no further updates were made to this important community resource and the main database was taken offline in 2008. We have restored and updated this important resource for use by the Tetrahymena research community. We have also retooled the TGD website (now TGD Wiki) to allow members of the community to directly update the information presented for each gene, including gene names, descriptions and Gene Ontology annotations, from a web browser. Maintenance of genome annotations by the authors generating and publishing primary data, rather than dedicated scientific curators, is a viable alternative for the upkeep of genomes, particularly for organisms with smaller research communities. By combining simple, intuitive displays with the powerful search functions made possible by its underlying relational database, TGD Wiki has been designed to maximize participation by bench scientists in the development of their community bioinformatics resource. Database URL: http://ciliate.org
Optical properties of a two-dimensional nanodisk array with super-lattice defects

Surface plasmon resonance modes in a two-dimensional gold nanodisk array incorporated with super-lattice defects are investigated in this paper. Both transmission and absorption spectra of the super-lattice metal nanodisk array are calculated. The transmission spectrum exhibits an asymmetric Fano resonance lineshape and a narrow linewidth peak between two transmission dips. The electric field and polarization charge distributions at the transmission peak and dip wavelengths are also calculated. It is explained that the surface plasmon resonance modes associated with the large period nanodisks and small period nanodisks give rise to the Fano resonance lineshape and the anomalous transmission peak. We also retrieve the effective optical constants of the metal nanodisk array film. The effective optical constants exhibit strong chromatic dispersion and a small attenuation at the peak transmission wavelength. The strong dispersion and small attenuation can potentially be used for slow light.
Effects of changing glacial coverage on the physical and biogeochemical properties of coastal streams in southeastern Alaska

concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were typically low (0.5–3.0 mg C L 1 ) and showed a significant trend toward higher concentrations as watershed glacier coverage decreased. Concentrations of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen also increased significantly with decreasing glacial coverage. In contrast, concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus decreased with lower glacial coverage. Interestingly, we found that the DOC:DON ratio of stream water dissolved organic matter (DOM) decreased with increasing glacier coverage, suggesting that glaciers may be a source of N-rich DOM. During winter low flows (November–April) there were few differences in stream water physical and biogeochemical conditions across the six watersheds as glacial inputs diminished and streamflow was dominated by groundwater. Our findings suggest that in southeastern Alaska ongoing glacial recession and the associated land cover change will impact physical and biogeochemical conditions in coastal streams, with implications for salmon spawning habitat, aquatic ecosystem productivity, and fluxes of reactive nutrients to downstream nearshore marine ecosystems.
Effect of Therapeutic Moderate Hypothermia on Extracellular and CSF Intermediates of Secondary Brain Injury

In a group of 82 patients entered into our single-center therapeutic moderate hypothermia trial, we found significant improvement in 6-month outcome in those with an admission Glasgow Coma Scale score of 5–7 who were treated with therapeutic moderate hypothermia. We also found a significant decrease in intracranial pressure among those patients during the period of cooling. Of the molecular intermediates of secondary brain injury that we studied, we found that therapeutic moderate hypothermia caused a significant reduction in extracellular and CSF levels of glutamate during the period of cooling, and a significant and sustained reduction in the CSF levels of IL-Is. Extracellular levels of this cytokine could not be measured because of the technical limitations of the dialysis catheter (molecular weight cutoff too small for this larger molecule).
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in osteoblastic cells

In the present work we investigated the influence of vitamin D3 metabolites on Na(+)-dependent phosphate (Pi) transport in the clonal osteoblastic cell line UMR-106. The vitamin D3 metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] dose-dependently inhibited Pi transport with a half-maximal concentration of approximately 5 x 10(-11) M. The effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 was first observed after 8 h of preincubation period. Inhibition of phosphate uptake was relatively specific for the 1,25(OH)2D3 analogue of vitamin D3. The potency order was 1,25(OH)2D3 >> 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 > 25-[3H]hydroxyvitamin D3. Kinetically, 1,25(OH)2D3 decreased the maximal velocity of the phosphate uptake system, whereas the affinity for phosphate was unaffected. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in UMR-106 cells stimulated Na(+)-dependent Pi transport. Nonetheless, the inhibitory effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on Pi transport was not related to downregulation of PKC. Chemical determination of intracellular Pi showed a 50% reduction after 24-h preincubation with 10(-8) M 1,25(OH)2D3. We conclude that 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in osteoblastic cells. This in turn leads to intracellular Pi depletion. The physiological implication of this phenomenon on the effects of vitamin D on osteoblasts in situ is discussed.
Focus issue: Coherent optical communication.

It is an exciting time for the field of optical communication, in large part, due to the rebirth of coherent optical communication. Pre-amplified optical communication systems enabled by the invention of EDFA have been the mainstay for research and commercialization since the demise of coherent optical communication in the early 1990s. Advances in integrated circuits and digital signal processing technologies fortunately have brought coherent optical communication to the forefront again.
A historical reconsideration of the work of the National Society for the Study of Education’s Committee on Curriculum-Making

AbstractHistorical representations of the National Society for the Study of Education’s Committee on Curriculum-Making typically recount that the purpose of the committee was to assemble representatives from competing curriculum camps to achieve consensus on curriculum principles, depict the committee’s work as important, cast doubt on the consensus the committee achieved, overlook the principles proposed by the committee and ignore its call for deliberation. A historical reconstruction of the committee’s work in the USA during the 1920s reveals that the purpose of the committee changed from reviewing research to prescribing techniques and finally to proposing general curriculum principles, with the aim of fostering deliberation among curriculum workers. A review of the US curriculum literature reveals that, after some initial attention, the Twenty-Sixth Yearbook fell into relative obscurity, but was rediscovered in the 1960s. A new analysis of the committee members’ supplementary statements argues that t...
Two-Photon Absorption in Polybenzidine

Polymers of Benzidine were synthesized by hydrogen peroxide reaction catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase enzyme. The polymerization reaction was carried out at room temperature in a monophasic organic solvent with a small amount of water at pH 7.5. The technique of degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) with nanosecond and picosecond pulses was employed to measure the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ. The samples were studied in solution in Dimethyl sulfoxide:Methanol in volume ratio 4:1. The observed values are of order 10−9 to 10−8esu. Measurements on a thin film agree approximately with the extrapolated values fron solution measurements. Picosecond time resolved measurements indicate a pulse-width limited response followed by a small slow component. Investigation of the total energy transmission as a function of the incident intensity and fluence at 532 nm for pico- and nanosecond pulses indicates reverse saturable absorption. As we observe the nanosecond and picosecond curves to be superimposed for the intensity plot but not for fluence, we conclude that the nonlinearity is predominantly due to two-photon absorption. Numerical analysis of the data yields a value of 12.25 cm/GW for the two-photon absorption coefficient β. The imaginary component of χ obtained is 5 × 10−9esu. The material appears to be a good candidate for applications in optical power limiting and switching.
Aspects of Teliospore Germination in Some North American Smut Fungi. I.

The high germinability of some of the species studied suggests that others in which germination has not been attempted or demonstrated may be equally germinable. Attempts to germinate some species,...
EXPRESSIONS OF MEANING AND THE INTENTION OF THE TEXT

Over the past century or so, questions concerning the word ‘meaning’ have been understandably prominent in the field of the philosophy of language. There is, however, a historical aspect to the debate that is of especial interest to literary critics – the fact that verbs and expressions of meaning have been applied to different kinds of things in a number of languages spanning the western literary tradition. I shall introduce the topic by focussing on the Latin expression sibi uelle and on how Roman authors exploited its ambiguities for the purposes of humour (§§ I and II). I shall then move on to a discussion of a later Latin phrase familiar from the pages of the Virgilian commentator Servius, hoc uult dicere, and argue that the assumptions we have about expressions of meaning may lead us to adopt a particular interpretation of it (§§ III and IV). In the final part of the paper (§§ V, VI and VII) I shall proceed to a discussion of why it is important for modern literary critics to pay attention to how they use verbs such as ‘to mean’: I argue that the different functions of the verb facilitate a personification of the text that allows us to equivocate about the role of the author.
Strangeness in Quark–Gluon Plasma – 1982

It is argued that observation of the strange-particle abundance may lead to identification of the quark–gluon plasma and measurement of some of its properties. Approach to chemical equilibrium and competitive processes in the hadronic gas phase are discussed.
Diagnostic Value of Fluorescent Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumoniae in Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in children with MP pneumonia(MPP).Methods From Jun.2008 to Jan.2009,153 cases hospitalized with pneumonia were enrolled,and 30 cases without respiratory infection were enrolled as control group.Their respiratory secretion (including nasopharyngeal secretion,sputum,bronchialalveolar lavage fluid or pharyngeal swab) samples were collected for fluorescent quantitative PCR for MP.And their single or paired serums were collected for specific MP antibody detection.Results There were 123 cases confirmed with MPP by serology,among whom 114 cases were MP PCR positive.The quantitation of MP DNA was among 1.20×106-3.66×1010 gene copys/L. There were 30 cases with pneumonia negative with MP by the paired serum serology,among whom 2 cases were MP PCR positive,and the quantitation of MP DNA was (1.08-3.02)×107gene copys/L.All cases of control group were MP PCR negative.During the first and second weeks of the MPP onset,the sensitivity of MP-IgM from the first single blood samples were 66.7% and 83.9%,respectively.While the sensitivity and specificity of MP PCR were 92.7% and 93.3%,respectively.From the third week of the disease onset,the sensitivity of MP-IgM from the first single blood samples increased to 90.9%-100%.The clinical manifestations of MPP were nonspecific.Conclusions PCR is superior to serology for early diagnosis on MP infection.Combination of the 2 methods may be helpful to early and accurate diagnosis on MP infection.
Testing Landscape Theory for Biomolecular Processes with Single Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Although Kramers' theory for diffusive barrier crossing on a 1D free energy profile plays a central role in landscape theory for complex biomolecular processes, it has not yet been rigorously tested by experiment. Here we test this 1D diffusion scenario with single molecule fluorescence measurements of DNA hairpin folding. We find an upper bound of 2.5 μs for the average transition path time, consistent with the predictions by theory with parameters determined from optical tweezer measurements.
Effect of Carbon Black on the Rheological Properties of Styrene N-Butyl Methacrylate Copolymer Melt

Carbon black reinforcement in elastomers, as well as glassy polymers, has been the subject of an intense study for almost fifty years.1 Grades of carbon black are distinguished by surface area and bulkiness (dibutyl phthalate absorption), the latter being a function of the number and arrangement of particles within an aggregate. Carbon black surface area increase results in an increase in the elastic modulus at low amplitude of deformation because of the presence of interaggregate network.2 At higher amplitudes of deformation, there is breakage and reformation of this network. Aggregate bulkiness increases both the elastic and the viscous modulus without changing their ratios.3 Lobe and White4 have recently observed that rheological behavior of a molten filled polymer at 10–20% loading is that of a gel. They also found that viscosity does not level off at decreasing rates of deformation but continues to increase.
Kalo Fungicide/Adjuvant Trial

The objective was to compare the control of Dollar Spot caused by the fungi Sclerotinia homeocarpa on creeping bentgrass turf with seven commercial fungicides applied with and without Kalo’s KA-9107 experimental adjuvant.
Co-selection of Mercury and Multiple Antibiotic Resistances in Bacteria Exposed to Mercury in the Fundulus heteroclitus Gut Microbiome

The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria is currently one of the most serious challenges to human health. To combat this problem, it is critical to understand the processes and pathways that result in the creation of antibiotic resistance gene pools in the environment. In this study, we examined the effects of mercury (Hg) exposure on the co-selection of Hg and antibiotic-resistant bacteria that colonize the gastrointestinal tract of the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), a small, estuarine fish. We examined this connection in two experimental systems: (i) a short-term laboratory exposure study where fish were fed Hg-laced food for 15 days and (ii) an examination of environmental populations from two sites with very different levels of Hg contamination. In the lab exposure study, fish muscle tissue accumulation of Hg was proportional to food Hg concentration (R 2 = 0.99; P < 0.0001). In the environmental study, fish from the contaminated site contained threefold more Hg compared to fish from the reference site (P < 0.05). Further, abundance of the Hg resistance gene mercuric reductase was more than eightfold higher (P < 0.0001) in DNA extracts of ingesta of fish from the contaminated site, suggesting adaptation to Hg. Finally, resistance to three or more antibiotics was more common in Hg-resistant as compared to Hg-sensitive bacterial colonies that were isolated from fish ingesta (P < 0.001) demonstrating co-selection of Hg and antibiotic resistances. Together, our results highlight the possibility for the creation of antibiotic resistance gene pools as a result of exposure to Hg in contaminated environments.
What Does Debt Relief Do for Development? Evidence from India's Bailout for Rural Households

This paper studies the impact of debt relief, using a natural experiment arising from India's "Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme," one of the largest household-level debt relief initiatives in history. I find that debt relief has a substantial impact on household balance sheets, but does not affect savings, consumption and investment, as predicted by theories of debt overhang or balance sheet distress. Instead, debt relief leads to greater reliance on informal credit, reduced investment, and lower agricultural productivity. Consistent with moral hazard generated by the bailout, beneficiaries are significantly less concerned about the reputational consequences of future default.
Public Ritual and Cultural Hierarchy: Philadelphia's Civic Celebrations at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

IN THE CLOSING DECADES of the nineteenth century American city governments planned and subsidized giant public celebrations. Cities sponsored the public observance of not only national holidays such as July Fourth, but also Thanksgiving, New Year's, St. Patrick's Day, and the anniversaries of local historical events. St. Louis, Mem phis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Baltimore were among the cities in the 1880s and 1890s which promoted annual city-wide carnivals as both tourist attractions and public spectacle.1 Celebration planners incorporated diverse elements from popular commercial amusements and neighborhood street processions within comprehen sive holiday programs designed to appeal to the urban masses while insuring public order and retaining central control. The educational and hereditary elite within these cities, however, argued that municipal governments should plan and sponsor civic celebrations that would elevate public taste and morality, rather than merely pander to the lowest common denominator in their diverse constituencies.2 Genteel intellectuals who had been most active in the
JUN-Mediated Downregulation of EGFR Signaling Is Associated with Resistance to Gefitinib in EGFR-mutant NSCLC Cell Lines

Mutations or deletions in exons 18-21 in the EGFR) are present in approximately 15% of tumors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). They lead to activation of the EGFR kinase domain and sensitivity to molecularly targeted therapeutics aimed at this domain (gefitinib or erlotinib). These drugs have demonstrated objective clinical response in many of these patients; however, invariably, all patients acquire resistance. To examine the molecular origins of resistance, we derived a set of gefitinib-resistant cells by exposing lung adenocarcinoma cell line, HCC827, with an activating mutation in the EGFR tyrosine kinase domain, to increasing gefitinib concentrations. Gefitinib-resistant cells acquired an increased expression and activation of JUN, a known oncogene involved in cancer progression. Ectopic overexpression of JUN in HCC827 cells increased gefitinib IC50 from 49 nmol/L to 8 μmol/L (P < 0.001). Downregulation of JUN expression through shRNA resensitized HCC827 cells to gefitinib (IC50 from 49 nmol/L to 2 nmol/L; P < 0.01). Inhibitors targeting JUN were 3-fold more effective in the gefitinib-resistant cells than in the parental cell line (P < 0.01). Analysis of gene expression in patient tumors with EGFR-activating mutations and poor response to erlotinib revealed a similar pattern as the top 260 differentially expressed genes in the gefitinib-resistant cells (Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.78, P < 0.01). These findings suggest that increased JUN expression and activity may contribute to gefitinib resistance in NSCLC and that JUN pathway therapeutics merit investigation as an alternate treatment strategy. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(8); 1645-57. ©2017 AACR.
Photon detection with an ultra low noise and highly efficient amplification mechanism (Conference Presentation)

This Conference Presentation was recorded at SPIE Commercial + Scientific Sensing and Imaging 2017 held in Anaheim, California, United States.
Knowledge and Behavioral Impact of Adult Participation in Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: Evaluation of the Protecting God's Children Program.

ABSTRACTThis article presents findings from an evaluation of a popular adult training program (Protecting God’s Children) used in Catholic institutions, including schools, churches, and social service agencies. The study explores knowledge and behavior change based on pretest/posttest questionnaires administered to over 500 adults and follow-up questionnaires sent six months after the training. The participants in the training were compared to a control group of adults who did not participate in the program. The results indicate that participants arrive at the training with fairly high rates of preexisting knowledge but that the program increases knowledge across demographic groups. Follow-up surveys suggest that the new knowledge is retained over six months. The study indicates that the program is associated with an increase in participants talking to their own children about child sexual abuse. Participants also report sharing information with other adults and monitoring behavior around children more cl...
Molecular Imaging and Molecular Imaging Technologies

Molecular imaging has become an integral component of modern medicine. Defined by the molecular imaging center of excellence as “the visualization, characterization, and measurement of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level in humans and other living systems”, molecular imaging includes two- or three-dimensional noninvasive imaging as well as the quantification of acquired data over time [1]. Clinically, the importance of molecular imaging is paramount in the study and noninvasive diagnosis of diseases—based on molecular signatures rather than anatomic alterations—which in turn enables early detection of abnormalities and evaluation of new treatment approaches for improved survival rates. James and Gambhir summarized the main advantages of molecular imaging approaches: the possibility of studying cells in their natural environment without any disturbance from outside, the analysis of complex biological processes in real time, the investigation of signaling pathways in vivo, the gaining of information about drug delivery and pharmacokinetics, and the obtaining of multiple data sets in adequate resolution from the same patient over time [2].
Nuclear Transcription Factors in Cytochrome c and Cytochrome Oxidase Expression

A distinctive feature of eukaryotes is the compartmentalization of genetic systems for the replication and expression of nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplast genes. In vertebrate mitochondria, the compact circular genome is dedicated to the synthesis of 13 polypeptide subunits of the electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation systems (Attardi and Schatz, 1988). The genes for these subunits are interspersed with those encoding the rRNAs and tRNAs required for translation within the mitochondrial matrix. The mammalian mitochondrial genome, with its absence of introns, the minimization of intergenic and untranslated regions, and the expression of polygenic transcripts, represents a striking departure from nuclear genome organization and expression. Divergent promoters within a regulatory region, termed the D-loop, direct the synthesis of polygenic transcripts from both DNA strands. These transcripts are subsequently cleaved to yield the individual functional RNAs. DNA replication is bidirectional, but initiation from each strand proceeds asymmetrically from separate origins located about two thirds of the genome apart (Clayton, 1991). By contrast, plants and unicellular eukaryotes, such as Sac- charomyces cerevisiae, have larger genomes as well as more complex gene structures and arrangements (Tracy and Stern, 1995). Nevertheless, the polypeptide contribution of mitochondrial genomes to the respiratory apparatus is very similar among eukaryotes (Wolstenholme, 1992).
Integrating Sustainability Learning Outcomes into a University Curriculum: A Case Study of Institutional Dynamics.

Higher education institutions increasingly have gained momentum in integrating sustainability into university curricula. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the approval, implementation and management process of the new university-wide, general education requirement in sustainability at the University of Vermont (UVM). The intent is to provide a case study to inform other institutions seeking to create similar university-wide sustainability requirements.,The authors applied a process framework focused on institutional dynamics and values to analyze UVM’s success in instituting a sustainability requirement across the curriculum. These two frameworks can provide a more general application of this case study to other institutional contexts.,The case study suggests that in the context of a diverse disciplinary and administrative environment at a university, the strategic unfolding, approval and implementation of UVM’s university-wide, general education sustainability requirement can provide a general model for other universities seeking to embed sustainability across the curriculum.,It is uncommon for research universities with multiple professional schools to offer a university-wide requirement in sustainability. This case study analyzes the creation of a sustainability requirement at UVM by using a process framework to organize the complex, multi-stakeholder activities and events that eventually resulted in a successful curricular change. Thus, it is potentially instructive for institutions seeking to integrate a learning outcomes-based sustainability requirement into a university curriculum because it is generalizable to other institutions and pushes forward our understanding of institutional change.
Dopamine modulation of reunion behavior in short and long term Marmoset pairs

One major neurobiological substrate regulating social processes is dopamine (DA). DA is implicated in social behavior in species as diverse as fish and birds, and has an established role in regulating relationships between mates in socially monogamous rodents. Marmoset monkeys display traits associated with social monogamy including high rates of affiliation, biparental care, distress upon separation, and aggression toward strangers; several of these behavioral patterns change throughout the development of relationships. This temporal change may represent changing demands, as pairs are likely to jointly face new experiences (e.g., parenthood) throughout pairing. We investigated the role of DA and pairing length on social behavior during reunion after separation from the partner. Marmosets were removed from their home environment and treated with agonists and antagonists for the D1 and D2 receptor subtypes. They were exposed to a novel environment containing an opposite-sex stranger and the pair mate, and then reunited with their mate in the home enclosure. Marmosets in long term pairs exhibited higher levels of food sharing during reunion than marmosets in short term pairs, with females in long term pairs sharing food more than males; no sex difference were observed in short term pairs. Subjects in short term pairs spent more time grooming their mate than receiving grooming during reunion, while marmosets in long term pairs displayed similar amounts of both initiated and received grooming. DA treatment altered pair-level behavior. When females received either a D2 agonist or antagonist, short term pairs spent less time in proximity, compared to when males received the same treatments. In long term pairs, treatment of females with either a D1 agonist or antagonist resulted in pairs spending less time in social proximity than when males were treated. These findings suggest that the function of the DA system in mate behavior may be similar between rodents and primates, with the D1 system modulating the expression of behavior in long term pairs and the D2 system regulating behavior in short term pairs. Furthermore, these results supplement a large body of work suggestive of deep evolutionary roots of the DA system in regulating social behavior.