cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Skunk Rabies in California (1992–2003)—Implications for Oral Rabies Vaccination

Skunk-variant rabies is endemic in California (United States), and the development of oral vaccines and baits to vaccinate skunks is in progress. In 2003, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) began to quantify the impacts of skunk-variant rabies and to assess the feasibility of using oral rabies vaccination (ORV) as a containment measure. The CDPH rabies case data for skunks were spatially depicted and analyzed using a geographic information system. Statewide, rabid skunks (1992–2003) primarily occurred in seven physiographic regions: Central Coast, North Coast, North Sierra, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay and Delta, San Joaquin Valley, and South Sierra. Detailed analysis of rabid skunks in San Luis Obispo (SLO) and Santa Barbara (SB) counties showed that skunk rabies was endemic in the coastal plain of SLO County between 1992 and 2000, but only became epizootic in SB County during 2002. Despite the widespread distribution of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) throughout most of Califor...
The nature of internal speech in a patient with aphemia.

The nature of internal speech representation in a stroke patient with oral apraxia and a severe articulatory deficit was studied. Despite her total inability to speak, this patient, like normals, processed visually presented verbal material by transforming it into an acoustic-articulatory code, as shown by the nature of her errors in cancelling out or recalling printed letters. The results of visual rhyming tests demonstrated her ability to form and compare internal acoustic images of words. The findings are discussed with respect to the role kinesthetic feedback from the speech musculature has in the regulation of internal language.
Developing Effective Note-Taking Guides for Use in Mass Lecture Sections

The instructional benefits and limitations of using note-taking guides in mass lecture sections are outlined, and suggestions for developing and using note-taking guides are provided. For instructo...
Special Educators' Perceptions of Parental Participation in the Individual Education Plan Process.

Special educators were queried about their perceptions of parent involvement in the individual education plan (IEP) process. Specific research questions focused on parents' participation level and their role in the IEP process. One hundred forty-five special education teachers, of all disability categories and from 6 states, were surveyed. Results showed a diversity of opinion over practices, processes, and attitudes regarding the IEP process, despite their purported familiarity since the inception of PL 94-142.
Photocatalytic synthesis of organic compounds from CO and water: Involvement of surfaces in the formation and stabilization of products

14C-Formic acid and other14C-organic compounds are formed on surface materials when mixtures of14CO,12CO2 or N2 and water vapor are irradiated with ultraviolet light (UV) ofλ > 250 nm. The rate of organic formation is roughly proportional to the quantity of substratum irradiated. The available evidence suggests that14CO adsorbed to or in contact with the substratum is excited by the long wavelength UV and reacts with adsorbed H2O or surface hydroxyl groups yielding the organic products. Photodestruction of the14C-organics yields14CO2 and14CO. A steady state is attained when organic products reach a concentration such that the rate of photodestruction is equal to the rate of synthesis. The product accumulation is greater and the photodestruction is slower when N2 is used as diluent gas. Differences in the rates of synthesis, rates of photodestruction and amounts of product accumulation are observed with different silica and alumina substrata. The substrata with large surface areas are most effective for synthesis while maximum photoprotection of organics is afforded by substrata containing high concentrations of surface hydroxyl groups. The observation of the synthesis on a variety of substrata using realistic simulations of atmospheres and solar energies strengthens previous proposals that this process may occur on Mars and may have been important on the primitive Earth.
Influence of Fat Mobilization on Acetone Body Production

SummaryThe administration of stilbesterol produces a marked lipemia but does not influence the rate of acetone body production.
On reliability modeling of closed fault-tolerant computer systems

It is observed that a large number of closed fault-tolerant systems modeled by a continuous-time Markov model referred to as the ARIES model have repeated eigenvalues. It is proven that the rate matrix representing the system is diagonalizable for every closed fault tolerant system modeled by ARIES. Consequently, the Lagrange-Sylvester interpolation formula is applicable to all closed fault-tolerant systems which ARIES models. Since the proof guarantees that the rate matrix is diagonalizable, general methods for solving arbitrary Markov chains can be tailored to solve the ARIES model for the closed systems directly. >
FANTASTIC AT FORTY! THE NEW YOUNG WOMAN CONSUMER

This article examines what women consumers mean when they define themselves as either “young” or “middle‐aged.” A survey of women 30 to 69 shows that they consider it acceptable to be young at any chronological age. This article provides evidence debunking five common fables about women and negative age stereotypes. The reality, supported by this survey, is that women deny their chronological age, consider themselves young well beyond forty, and typically identify with a state of ageless youth. The marketing implications involve product development embodying youthful images and advertising campaigns using mature models, rather than teenagers, to appeal to mature women who define themselves as young at heart.
Interstate Bank Mergers: The Early Evidence

This study examines the wealth effects of interstate bank mergers to both the acquired and acquiring firms' shareholders. While the overall results are consistent with the findings of research on nonfinancial mergers — that acquired firms' shareholders gain and acquiring firms' shareholders break even — there is evidence that the acquiring banks cannot be considered a homogeneous group. Specifically, banks involved in relatively large acquisitions earn positive and statistically significant abnormal returns and significantly outperform those involved in relatively smaller mergers. The results suggest there are differential opportunities for gain from interstate mergers, dependent upon the relative size of the acquisition and the degree to which it expands the geographic market served by the bank.
The Relative UV Sensitizer Activity of Purified Advanced Glycation Endproducts

The oxidation products of ascorbic acid react with lens proteins to form advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) that are capable of generating reactive oxygen species when irradiated with UVA light. L-Threose, the most active of these oxidation products, was reacted with N-acetyl lysine and six AGE peaks were isolated by RP-HPLC. Each peak exhibited fluorescence and generated superoxide anion and singlet oxygen in response to UV light. Solutions of these AGE peaks (50 micrograms/mL) generated 5-10 nmol/mL of superoxide anion during a 30 min irradiation. This activity was 100-fold less than the superoxide anion generated by kynurenic acid and 400-fold less than riboflavin. Ultraviolet irradiation generated from 1.2 to 2.7 mumol/mL of singlet oxygen with the purified threose AGE compounds. This activity was similar to that seen with other purified AGE compounds (pentosidine, LM-1 and Ac-FTP) and with kynurenine and 3-OH kynurenine. This considerable singlet oxygen formation, however, was still 40-fold less than that obtained with kynurenic acid and 100-fold less than riboflavin under the same irradiation conditions. In spite of this lower sensitizer efficiency, the purified AGE generated 20-60-fold more singlet oxygen on a weight basis than either crude ascorbic acid glycated proteins or a preparation of water-insoluble proteins from aged normal human lenses. On a molar basis, therefore, AGE could account for the sensitizer activity in these protein preparations if they represented less than 1% of the total amino acids.
Contemporary aspects of drug abuse; an editorial view.

(1971). Contemporary Aspects of Drug Abuse; An Editorial View. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 119-127.
Insulin-Like Peptides and the Target of Rapamycin Pathway Coordinately Regulate Blood Digestion and Egg Maturation in the Mosquito Aedes aegypti

Background Mosquitoes are insects that vector many serious pathogens to humans and other vertebrates. Most mosquitoes must feed on the blood of a vertebrate host to produce eggs. In turn, multiple cycles of blood feeding promote frequent contacts with hosts and make mosquitoes ideal disease vectors. Both hormonal and nutritional factors are involved in regulating egg development in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. However, the processes that regulate digestion of the blood meal remain unclear.
Prevalence of serum lipid abnormalities in chronic hemodialysis.

Abstract Fasting levels of serum triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), apoprotein A-I, HDL cholesterol, and HDL triglyceride were measured in 94 uremic males receiving maintenance hemodialysis and 6 uremic males receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis. These patients had higher serum triglyceride levels ( p p
Listening and breaking down the walls.

At a time when walls seem to be rising higher inexorably between patients and clinicians, two strategies may stimulate change and lead to health care systems very different from those currently in place. The first is to bring organized, structured feedback systems into place, with patients and their families serving as expert witnesses to their care. The second is for patients and health professionals to join in designing, implementing, and monitoring new ways to improve quality and shared decision making. The challenge for patients and clinicians is to deal with the ongoing loss of both time and privacy, while preserving a reasonable professional and personal quality of life.
Attitudes toward the male role and their correlates

This study investigated relationships between college men's attitudes toward the male role and five theoretical concomitants of the role. It was expected that males endorsing traditional male-role norms would be more homophobic, more strongly support the Type A behavior orientation, support less self-disclosure to male and female friends, and approve of the maintenance of asymmetrical decision-making power with their intimate partner. Men from two liberal arts college in a New England metropolitan area (N=223) provided the data to test the hypotheses. Endorsement of the traditional role was associated with all predicted concomitants, expect the measure of disclosure to male friend. The results are discussed in terms of the pervasive nature of the antifemininity norm within the male role.
Human TAFII105 Is a Cell Type–Specific TFIID Subunit Related to hTAFII130

Abstract We previously characterized Drosophila and human TAF subunits that make up the core TFIID complex found in all cells. Here, we report that differentiated B cells contain a novel substoichiometric TAF of 105 kDa not found associated with TFIID isolated from other cell types. The cDNA encoding hTAF II 105 reveals a highly conserved C-terminal domain shared by hTAF II 130 and dTAF II 110, while the N-terminal coactivator domain has diverged significantly. All cells tested express TAF II 105 mRNA, but only B cells contain significant levels of protein associated with TFIID. Transient overexpression of hTAF II 105 selectively squelches the transcription of some genes in B cells. These properties suggest that TAF II 105 is a cell type–specific subunit of TFIID that may be responsible for mediating transcription by a subset of activators in B cells.
Modifying the helical structure of DNA by design: recruitment of an architecture-specific protein to an enforced DNA bend

Abstract Background: Proteins can force DNA to adopt distorted helical structures that are rarely if ever observed in naked DNA. The ability to synthesize DNA that contains defined helical aberrations would offer a new avenue for exploring the structural and energetic plasticity of DNA. Here we report a strategy for the enforcement of non-canonical helical structures through disulfide cross-linking; this approach is exemplified by the design and synthesis of an oligonucleotide containing a pronounced bend. Results: A localized bend was site-specifically introduced into DNA by the formation of a disulfide crosslink between the 5′ adenines of a 5′-AATT-3′ region in complementary strands of DNA. The DNA bend was characterized by high-resolution NMR structure determination of a cross-linked dodecamer and electrophoretic mobility assays on phased multimers, which together indicate that the cross-linked tetranucleotide induces a helical bend of ≈30° and a modest degree of unwinding. The enforced bend was found to stimulate dramatically the binding of an architecturespecific protein, HMG-D, to the DNA. DNase I footprinting analysis revealed that the protein is recruited to the section of DNA that is bent. Conclusions: The present study reports a novel approach for the investigation of non-canonical DNA structures and their recognition by architecture-specific proteins. The mode of DNA bending induced by disulfide cross-linking resembles that observed in structures of protein-DNA complexes. The results reveal common elements in the DNA-binding mode employed by sequence-specific and architecture-specific HMG proteins.
Second free tissue transfers in head and neck reconstruction

ObjectiveAs the era of free tissue transfer for head and neck reconstruction matures, more patients are requiring second resections and reconstructions. Our objective was to evaluate: patient characteristics, reconstructive options, flap survival, perioperative morbidity, and mortality.Study DesignRetrospective chart review.Subjects and MethodsSixty-five patients underwent a second free tissue transfer separate from the time of the primary flap.ResultsThe most common (53%) reason for a second flap was tumor recurrence. The most common flaps used were radial forearm and fibula in both the first and second reconstructions. Larger flaps were used in the second reconstruction. Inhospital mortality was 4.6 percent; medical complications occurred in 5 percent of patients. Flap survival was 97 percent; 13 percent of second flaps returned to the operating room for complications. Eight patients had a third free flap.ConclusionA second free tissue transfer is a viable resource in head and neck reconstruction. Accep...
Silver/Dendrimer Nanocomposites as Biomarkers: Fabrication, Characterization, in Vitro Toxicity, and Intracellular Detection

We have synthesized water-soluble, biocompatible, fluorescent, and stable silver/dendrimer nanocomposites that exhibit a potential for in vitro cell labeling. Amino-, hydroxyl-, and carboxyl-terminated ethylenediamine core generation 5 poly(amidoamine) dendrimers were utilized to prepare aqueous silver(I)−dendrimer complexes (with the molar ratio of 25 Ag+ per dendrimer) at the biologic pH of 7.4. Conversion of silver(I)−dendrimer complexes into dendrimer nanocomposites was achieved by irradiating the solutions with UV light to reduce the bound Ag+ cations to zerovalent Ag0 atoms, which were simultaneously trapped in the dendrimer network, resulting in the formation of {(Ag0)25−PAMAM_E5.NH2}, {(Ag0)25−PAMAM_E5.NGly}, and {(Ag0)25−PAMAM_E5.NSAH} dendrimer nanocomposites (DNC), respectively. The silver−DNCs were characterized by means of UV−vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light-scattering, zeta potential measurements, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectros...
Fibrinogen, Riboflavin, and UVA to Immobilize a Corneal Flap—Conditions for Tissue Adhesion

Purpose. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileus (LASIK) creates a permanent flap that remains non-attached to the underlying laser-modified stroma. This lack of permanent adhesion is a liability. To immobilize a corneal flap, a protocol using fibrinogen (FIB), riboflavin (RF), and ultraviolet (UVA) light (FIB+RF+UVA) was devised to re-adhere the flap to the stroma. Methods. A model flap was created using rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and shark (Squalus acanthias) corneas. Solutions containing FIB and RF were applied between corneal strips as glue. Experimental corneas were irradiated with long wavelength (365 nm) UVA. To quantify adhesive strength between corneal strips, the glue-tissue interface was subjected to a constant force while a digital force gauge recorded peak tension. Results. In the presence of FIB, substantive non-covalent interactions occurred between rabbit corneal strips. Adhesiveness was augmented if RF and UVA also were applied, suggesting formation of covalent bonds. Additionally, exposing both sides of rabbit corneas to UVA generated more adhesion than exposure from one side, suggesting that RF in the FIB solution catalyzes formation of covalent bonds at only the interface between stromal molecules and FIB closest to the UVA. In contrast, in the presence of FIB, shark corneal strips interacted non-covalently more substantively than those of rabbits, and adhesion was not augmented by applying RF+UVA, from either or both sides. Residual RF could be rinsed away within 1 hour. Conclusions. Glue solution containing FIB and RF, together with UVA treatment, may aid immobilization of a corneal flap, potentially reducing risk of flap dislodgement.
Blue Luminescence and Extended Red Emission: Possible Connections to the Diffuse Interstellar Bands

Blue luminescence (BL) and extended red emission (ERE) are observed as diffuse, optical-wavelength emissions in interstellar space, resulting from photoluminescence by ultraviolet(UV)-illuminated interstellar grains. Faintness and the challenge of separating the BL and ERE from the frequently much brighter dust-scattered continuum present major observational hurdles, which have permitted only slow progress in testing the numerous models that have been advanced to explain these two phenomena. Both the ERE, peaking near 680 nm (FWHM ~ 60 - 120 nm) and the BL, asymmetrically peaking at ~ 378 nm (FWHM ~ 45 nm), were first discovered in the Red Rectangle nebula. Subsequently, ERE and BL have been observed in other reflection nebulae, and in the case of the ERE, in carbon-rich planetary nebulae, H II regions, high-latitude cirrus clouds, the galactic diffuse ISM, and in external galaxies. BL exhibits a close spatial and intensity correlation with emission in the aromatic emission feature at 3.3 micron, most likely arising from small, neutral polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. The spectral characteristics of the BL also agree with those of fluorescence by PAH molecules with 13 to 19 carbon atoms. The BL phenomenon is thus most readily understood as the optical fluorescence of small, UV-excited aromatic molecules. The ERE, by contrast, though co-existent with mid-IR PAH emissions, does not correlate with emissions from either neutral or ionized PAHs. Instead, the spatial ERE morphology appears to be strictly governed by the density of far-UV (E ≥ 10.5 eV) photons, which are required for the ERE excitation. The most restrictive observational constraint for the ERE process is its exceptionally high quantum efficiency. If the ERE results from photo-excitation of a nano-particle carrier by photons with E ≥ 10.5 eV in a single-step process, the quantum efficiency exceeds 100%. Such a process, in which one to three low-energy optical photons may be emitted following a single far-UV excitation, is possible in highly isolated small clusters, e.g. small, dehydrogenated carbon clusters with about 20 to 28 carbon atoms. A possible connection between the ERE carriers and the carriers of DIBs may exist in that both are ubiquitous throughout the diffuse interstellar medium and both have an abundance of low-lying electronic levels with E ≤ 2.3 eV above the ground state.
An analysis of alternative conceptual models relating hyporheic exchange flow to diel fluctuations in discharge during baseflow recession

Diel fluctuations in stream flow during baseflow have been observed in many streams and are typically attributed to water losses from evapotranspiration (ET). However, there is no widely transferable conceptual model that explains how ET results in diel fluctuations in streamflow at the watershed outlet. For fluctuations to occur, two factors must be present: (1) some process must generate the fluctuations and transfer them to the stream channel, and (2) fluctuations must be accumulated and transported down the stream network in such a way that they arrive at a stream gauge as a coherent signal. We have previously shown how stream flow velocity affects the transport of diel fluctuations in discharge through a stream network. Here, we examined how riparian ET and hyporheic exchange flows generate diel fluctuations in discharge. We hypothesized that ET would cause a slight drawdown of riparian aquifers during the day, slightly increasing head gradients away from the stream and slightly reducing head gradients back to the stream. Thus, slightly more water would flow into the hyporheic zone than is returned to the stream, gradually reducing stream discharge. The process would be reversed at night. Using stream-tracer experiments and riparian water-level data, we tested two hypotheses related to this conceptual model—that the amplitude (H1) and time lag (H2) of diel aquifer drawdown would be constant over the summer. Neither hypothesis was supported by our data. We conclude that the processes that link watershed ET with streams include both local- and watershed-scale effects. Conceptual models attempting to explain diel fluctuations need to include the combined effects of ET on lateral inputs and hyporheic exchange flows, the redistribution of water within riparian aquifers, and the transport of ET signals from the whole stream network to the stream gauge. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oligonucleotide-directed single-base DNA alterations in mouse embryonic stem cells.

We have investigated the use of single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODN) to produce specific single-base alterations in episomal and chromosomal DNA in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Two different reporter genes, EGFP and LacZ, each with a single point mutation that inactivates reporter activity, were used. ssODN homologous to the target sequence, except for a single mismatch at the mutant base, were used to correct the mutant reporter genes. When tested in CHO-K1 cells, the ssODN showed correction rates of 0.5‐1.0%, consistent with prior reports. ssODN in the antisense orientation provided higher rates of gene conversion than those in the sense orientation for both reporter genes. Nuclear extracts from mouse ES cells exhibited nearly the same correction activity as extracts from CHO-K1 cells. ssODN corrected the mutant bases of both episomal and chromosomal mutant reporter genes in mouse ES cells. Although the efficiency of gene correction observed in ES cells is low, approximately 10 � 4 , these results demonstrate that ssODN can produce single-base alterations in the genomic DNA of mouse ES cells. As conversion efficiency is improved by the continued development of oligonucleotide structure and DNA delivery methods, ssODN could be used to produce ES cells with specific mutations in any gene in a single step. The targeted ES cells could in turn be used to create accurate mouse models of inherited diseases. Gene Therapy (2003) 10, 24–33. doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3301857
Stable isotope profiles from subtropical marine gastropods of the family Fasciolariidae: growth histories and relationships to local environmental conditions

Oxygen and carbon stable isotope profiles were constructed for two species of large subtropical gastropods of the family Fasciolariidae—Triplofusus giganteus and Fasciolaria tulipa—from the Florida Keys and the Baha- mas, to evaluate their life history and to assess their poten- tial as paleoenvironmental proxies. Oxygen isotope pro- files revealed T. giganteus and F. tulipa grew their shells for 6 and 3 respectively. Both mollusks show faster growth rates during the first half of their lifespan. Mean annual temperatures (Ma T) derived from oxygen iso- topes for T. giganteus were 26.5 °C and for F. tulipa were 26.7 °C, both matching instrumental Ma Ts of 26.7 and 26.5 °C for the Florida Keys. Both shells, however, failed to record entire mean annual temperature ranges (Mar T). Fasciolaria tulipa yielded a calculated Mar T of 5.6 °C compared with a measured Mar T of 9.3 °C, and T. gigan- teus showed a calculated Mar T of 6.9 °C compared with
Expression profiling of hypothetical genes in Desulfovibrio vulgaris leads to improved functional annotation

Hypothetical (HyP) and conserved HyP genes account for >30% of sequenced bacterial genomes. For the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, 347 of the 3634 genes were annotated as conserved HyP (9.5%) along with 887 HyP genes (24.4%). Given the large fraction of the genome, it is plausible that some of these genes serve critical cellular roles. The study goals were to determine which genes were expressed and provide a more functionally based annotation. To accomplish this, expression profiles of 1234 HyP and conserved genes were used from transcriptomic datasets of 11 environmental stresses, complemented with shotgun LC–MS/MS and AMT tag proteomic data. Genes were divided into putatively polycistronic operons and those predicted to be monocistronic, then classified by basal expression levels and grouped according to changes in expression for one or multiple stresses. One thousand two hundred and twelve of these genes were transcribed with 786 producing detectable proteins. There was no evidence for expression of 17 predicted genes. Except for the latter, monocistronic gene annotation was expanded using the above criteria along with matching Clusters of Orthologous Groups. Polycistronic genes were annotated in the same manner with inferences from their proximity to more confidently annotated genes. Two targeted deletion mutants were used as test cases to determine the relevance of the inferred functional annotations.
The Utility of Silos and Bunkers in the Evolution of Kinesiology

Silos and bunkers have been allies in the development of kinesiology for nearly 50 years. Silos of specialization allow us to go toe-to-toe with researchers in parent disciplines, compete for grants, and otherwise spread our academic wings. The bunkers of utility and generic movement provide an important degree of legitimacy for a subject matter that is often denigrated as mere play and games. Nevertheless, both silos and bunkers introduce problems that might well stand in the way of future development. Silos present practical problems related to fractionation, poor communication, and a lack of mutual respect. They also are grounded in a research paradigm that features subdisciplinary independence, a paradigm that is increasingly coming under attack. The bunker of utility might cause us to mistake one part of the value of movement for the whole and thereby produce a profile that is unduly health fixated, sober, and serious. Our tendency to abstract movement from the cultural forms of activity in which we ...
Using restriction mapping to teach basic skills in the molecular biology lab

Digestion of DNA with restriction enzymes, calculation of volumes and concentrations of reagents for reactions, and the separation of DNA fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis are common molecular biology techniques that are best taught through repetition. The following open-ended, investigative laboratory exercise in plasmid restriction mapping allows students to gain technical expertise while simultaneously exploring the utility of gel electrophoresis and restriction mapping. Because of its interpretive nature, this project also provides data suitable for a written report, and can thus be used to reinforce lessons on figure presentation and science writing skills.
Mutascope: sensitive detection of somatic mutations from deep amplicon sequencing.

Summary: We present Mutascope, a sequencing analysis pipeline specifically developed for the identification of somatic variants present at low-allelic fraction from high-throughput sequencing of amplicons from matched tumor-normal specimen. Using datasets reproducing tumor genetic heterogeneity, we demonstrate that Mutascope has a higher sensitivity and generates fewer false-positive calls than tools designed for shotgun sequencing or diploid genomes. Availability: Freely available on the web at http://sourceforge.net/projects/mutascope/. Contact: ude.dscu@ydnemsiraho Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Parenting Behaviors and Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment in China: An Indigenous Perspective

This study considered the measurement properties of two indigenous constructs assessing Chinese parenting and parent–child relationships. The study also examined whether the relationships between guanjiao, xiao, and adolescent psychosocial adjustment, as theorized in previous scholarly work, hold for contemporary families in mainland China. Data were collected from a sample of 144 early adolescents in a southern Chinese city. Results suggested that guanjiao was best represented by two indicators: guan, which assessed parental monitoring, and jiao, which assessed parental teaching and expectations. Moreover, only jiao was associated with adolescent depressive symptoms and misconduct. Xiao appeared to be an important mediator between parenting behaviors and adolescent outcomes and may play a key role in predicting Chinese early adolescents' adjustment.
Evaluation of methodologies for shunt VAr planning

Two methods are developed and evaluated for shunt VAr planning. These methods are capable of sizing and siting shunt VAr at optimum cost and with greater reliability. The methods utilize the generalized Benders decomposition (GBD) technique to decompose the VAr problem into two subproblems. The first level of the problem solves an optimal power flow problem by scheduling control variables including existing VAr sources. The two methods for the second-level discrete allocation process use a branch-and-bound enumeration technique and a mixed-integer linear programming technique. The constraints include security while minimizing the total investment cost. Tests on the IEEE 14-bus system have shown both algorithms to be robust and fast. >
Effects of Floods on Food Consumption and Production Rates of a Stream Brook Trout Population

Abstract Food consumption and production rates were estimated for a stream population of brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill, over a two-year period (1965–1966) in which four severe floods occurred. Two year classes were nearly eliminated as producing components of the population. Standing crops of older age groups were reduced as a result of a decrease in the stream's carrying capacity after sand and debris carried into the stream by flood waters filled pools and blanketed riffle areas. Invertebrate populations were also severely damaged by floods, reducing the food supply and causing an apparent decrease in growth rates in 1965 when three of the four floods occurred. Results of laboratory feeding experiments at four different temperature-season combinations were used to estimate food consumption rates of the brook trout in their natural environment. Maintenance requirement increased with increasing temperature in the spring and summer and decreased with decreasing temperature in the fall and win...
Lithium treatment alleviates impaired cognition in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by suppressed expression of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which results in intellectual disability accompanied by many variably manifested characteristics, such as hyperactivity, seizures and autistic-like behaviors. Treatment of mice that lack FMRP, Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice, with lithium has been reported to ameliorate locomotor hyperactivity, prevent hypersensitivity to audiogenic seizures, improve passive avoidance behavior and attenuate sociability deficits. To focus on the defining characteristic of FXS, which is cognitive impairment, we tested if lithium treatment ameliorated impairments in four cognitive tasks in Fmr1 KO mice, tested if the response to lithium differed in adolescent and adult mice and tested if therapeutic effects persisted after discontinuation of lithium administration. Fmr1 KO mice displayed impaired cognition in the novel object detection task, temporal ordering for objects task and coordinate and categorical spatial processing tasks. Chronic lithium treatment of adolescent (from 4 to 8 weeks of age) and adult (from 8 to 12 weeks of age) mice abolished cognitive impairments in all four cognitive tasks. Cognitive deficits returned after lithium treatment was discontinued for 4 weeks. These results show that Fmr1 KO mice exhibit severe impairments in these cognitive tasks, that lithium is equally effective in normalizing cognition in these tasks whether it is administered to young or adult mice and that lithium administration must be continued for the cognitive improvements to be sustained. These findings provide further evidence that lithium administration may be beneficial for individuals with FXS.
The distribution of gold and platinum in bituminous coal

Neutron activation analysis with subsequent radiochemical separation was used to determine gold and platinum in 65 low-temperature ash samples of western Kentucky No. 9 coal. Twenty-three additional elements were determined at an earlier stage for the corresponding whole coal sample of each low-temperature ash. In the whole coal samples, gold ranges from a high of 1.8 ppb to a sub-ppb level and platinum ranges from a high of 210 ppb to a low of a few ppb. Comparison of mean values for all samples to crustal abundances indicates gold is depleted by a factor of 125 and platinum is enriched by a factor of 18. The correlation matrix between these two metals, low-temperature ash, and the 23 other elements was calculated. The strong correlation between gold and bromine, potassium, and sodium hints that a significant quantity of gold might have been introduced as halogen complexes. Gallium was reported to occur in coal macerals as colloidal inorganic compounds. The strong correlation between platinum and iron and low-temperature ash suggest that platinum may be absorbed and retained as similar colloidal inorganic compounds. The inverse correlation between gold and platinum implies a possible replacement relationship or, alternatively, the inorganic affinity of gold and the apparent organic affinity of platinum. Higher platinum contents tend to relate to sampling sites with a higher K/Na ratio which are located in the lower or tributary element of the delta in Pennsylvanian time.
Stability analysis with quadratic Lyapunov functions: Some necessary and sufficient multiplier conditions

In this paper, we present several conditions which are both necessary and sufficient for quadratic stability of an uncertain/nonlinear system. These conditions involve multiplier matrices which characterize the uncertain/nonlinear terms in the system description. It is known that some of these conditions are sufficient for quadratic stability. One of the main contributions of this paper is to demonstrate that these conditions are also necessary conditions, hence, they are not conservative conditions for quadratic stability. By presenting multiplier matrices for many common types of uncertain/nonlinear terms, the paper also demonstrates the usefulness of the multiplier matrix approach in the analysis and control of nonlinear/time-varying/uncertain systems.
The runup of solitary waves

This is a study of the runup of solitary waves on plane beaches. An approximate theory is presented for non-breaking waves and an asymptotic result is derived for the maximum runup of solitary waves. A series of laboratory experiments is described to support the theory. It is shown that the linear theory predicts the maximum runup satisfactorily, and that the nonlinear theory describes the climb of solitary waves equally well. Different runup regimes are found to exist for the runup of breaking and non-breaking waves. A breaking criterion is derived for determining whether a solitary wave will break as it climbs up a sloping beach, and a different criterion is shown to apply for determining whether a wave will break during rundown. These results are used to explain some of the existing empirical runup relationships.
Nascent Esophagus, Sensory-Motor Physiology During Maturation

The incidence of feeding and airway-related disorders is high, particularly among those neonates that graduate from the intensive care units. Commonly noted neonatal feeding problems that are influenced by esophageal anatomical and pathophysiological considerations include swallowing disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, aspiration syndromes, congenital foregut anomalies, and chronic lung disease. The functions of esophagus can be classified into (1) deglutitive peristaltic functions and (2) esophageal protective functions. In contrast to what is known in adult human or animal models, unfortunately, not much is known about these functions relevant to the nascent esophagus. In this chapter, we will explain the developmental physiology of (1) esophageal motility and peristalsis, and (2) sensorymotor aspects of upper esophageal sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter and esophageal body protective reflexes. This chapter follows the pharyngeal functions in relation to deglutition, and therefore the reader should also refer to the former chapter for better understanding of embryology and anatomical considerations.
Different levels of Ras activity can specify distinct transcriptional and morphological consequences in early Drosophila embryos

The terminal portions of the Drosophila body pattern are specified by the localized activity of the receptor tyrosine kinase Torso (Tor) at each pole of the early embryo. Tor activity elicits the transcription of two ‘gap’ genes, tailless (tll) and huckebein (hkb), in overlapping but distinct domains by stimulating the Ras signal transduction pathway. Here, we show that quantitative variations in the level of Ras activity can specify qualitatively distinct transcriptional and morphological responses. Low levels of Ras activity at the posterior pole direct tll but not hkb transcription; higher levels drive transcription of both genes. Correspondingly, low levels of Ras activity specify a limited subset of posterior terminal structures, whereas higher levels specify a larger subset. However, we also show that the response to Ras activity is not uniform along the body. Instead, levels of Ras activity which suffice to drive tll and hkb transcription at the posterior pole fail to drive their expression in more central portions of the body, apparently due to repression by other gap gene products. We conclude that tll and hkb transcription, as well as the terminal structures, are specified by two inputs: a gradient of Ras activity which emanates from the pole, and the opposing influence of more centrally deployed gap genes which repress the response to Ras.
Asthma exacerbations: Looking back to the future.

The morbidity and mortality associated with asthma continues to be driven by asthma exacerbations. In recent years, our understanding of the mechanisms and triggers precipitating asthma exacerbations has greatly improved. However, this understanding has not been fully matched by our ability to accurately predict which patients are at greatest risk for these life-threatening events or determine whether there are seasonal differences between risk factors. Both the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines highlight the risk domain of asthma and outline accompanying strategies to both prevent and manage such acute events. Key to successful implementation of evidence-based asthma guidelines is the need to identify patients at risk. Two articles in this issue of the Journal contribute to our knowledge base in this regard, identifying host and seasonal risk factors for asthma exacerbations and proposing a simple risk score with the potential for widespread clinical use. The studies by Teach et al and Bateman et al both use retrospective analyses from well-regarded randomized controlled trials that have been previously published. The first cohort analyzed by Teach et al includes 400 patients aged 6 to 20 years who participated in one of 2 trials conducted by the Inner-City Asthma Consortium: the Asthma Control Evaluation trial and the Inner City Anti-IgE Therapy for Asthma Trial. The analytic cohort included participants in both trials who were allocated to the control group, which received guidelines-based asthma care. The cohort members were largely male (54.5%), minority (59% African American), and adolescent (median age, 13 years), residing in one of 10 large urban cities in the United States. Univariate and multivariate pooled analyses were applied to determine whether demographic and historical factors, allergic sensitization measures, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and spirometric measurements, asthma control measures, and asthma treatment requirements were associated with seasonal exacerbations (winter, summer, spring, and fall). Exacerbations in both the
Integrability and boundedness of local solutions to singular and degenerate quasilinear parabolic equations

Integral and supremum estimates are proven for local solutions of degenerate and singular quasilinear parabolic equations. This is done with the aid of a local energy inequality and estimates in L q spaces.
Schoolwide Positive Behavior Supports and Students With Significant Disabilities: Where Are We?

Although the number of schools implementing schoolwide positive behavior supports (SWPBS) has increased dramatically, the inclusion of students with severe disabilities in these efforts remains negligible. This article describes the evolution of positive behavior intervention and supports into the SWPBS approach used in many schools today, highlighting the impact on, and inclusion of, SWPBS on students with severe disabilities. In particular, implications for researchers are addressed, including the appropriateness, accessibility, and availability of SWPBS for students with severe disabilities, and the potential of SWPBS to facilitate inclusive schools.
Cereal Leaf Beetle Response to Wheat Trichome Length and Density

The effect of wheat trichome length was distinguished from the effect of density of trichomes by determining the oviposition and larval survival of Oulema melanopus (L.) on 9 wheat lines. The 3 densities and 3 lengths of the trichomes quantified 6 profiles that were defined as few-very-short, few-short, very-many-short, few-long, many-long, and very-many-long. Eggs per plant and percentage larval survival decreased in the same order. Trichome length is therefore an important resistance factor.
Heat of Reaction Measurements of Sodium Borohydride Alcoholysis

On-board hydrogen storage has been identified as one of the most challenging technical barriers to the transition from gasoline to hydrogen powered vehicles. The Hydrogen-On-Demand™ system patented by Millenium Cell Inc. uses sodium borohydride and water to generate hydrogen when needed. The system has many advantages over other types of storage methods such as compressed hydrogen, liquid hydrogen and metal hydrides. Nevertheless, the cost of making and regenerating sodium borohydride is too high. A recently filed patent indicates that sodium borohydride alcoholysis (e.g. using ethylene glycol) may offer some advantages over the aqueous system in terms of regeneration, which may significantly reduce the cost to regenerate sodium borohydride. To begin evaluating the energy efficiency of this new approach, this work experimentally characterizes the heat of reaction of sodium borohydride with ethylene glycol. The heat of reaction was measured to be approximately 220 kJ/mol (exothermic). For the sodium borohydride and water reaction, two different heat of reaction values have been reported in prior literature. The present work shows that the heats of reaction for both sodium borohydride hydrolysis and alcoholysis are both near 220 kJ/mol exothermically.© 2005 ASME
On the criteria of D. D. Anderson for invertible and flat ideals

Let R be an integral domain. It is proved that if a nonzero ideal I of R can be generated by n < ∞ elements, then I is invertible (i.e., flat) if and only if I(∩ Rai) = ∩ Iai for all { a1, . . ., a n﹜ ⊂ I. The article's main focus is on torsion-free R-modules E which are LCM-stable in the sense that E(Ra ∩ Rb) = Ea ∩ Eb for all a, b ∈ R. By means of linear relations, LCM-stableness is shown to be equivalent to a weak aspect of flatness. Consequently, if each finitely generated ideal of R may be 2-generated, then each LCM-stable R-module is flat. Finally, LCM-stableness of maximal ideals serves to characterize Prufer domains, Dedekind domains, principal ideal domains, and Bezout domains amongst suitably larger classes of integral domains.
Partially Coherent Quantitative Phase Retrieval for EUV Lithography

We present a phase recovery algorithm based on the Weak Object Transfer Function. The algorithm is iteratively extended to also apply to non-weak objects. We demonstrate the algorithm on an EUV multilayer defect imaged through-focus on SHARP with both a standard zone plate and a phase contrast zone plate.
USE OF ORAL STEROID AND ITS EFFECTS ON ATRIAL FIBRILLATION RECURRENCE AND INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES POST ABLATION - THE STEROID AF STUDY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

To evaluate the impact of pre-procedural oral prednisone on inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and IL-8) levels and outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in patients with paroxysmal AF. A total of 60 patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing AF ablation were randomized (
A Case of Primary Mammary Analog Secretory Carcinoma (MASC) of the Thyroid Masquerading as Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Potentially More than a One Off

We present the second reported mammary analog secretory carcinoma (MASC) apparently arising in the thyroid and propose a potential close relationship to ETV6-NTRK3 fusion papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient, a 36 year old woman, presented with a neck mass of 1 year's duration. Imaging studies showed a tumor involving most of the thyroid with enlarged regional lymph nodes. FNA biopsy yielded a diagnosis of "papillary thyroid carcinoma". Resection revealed a 4.5 cm infiltrative tumor. Final diagnosis was "papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) consistent with diffuse sclerosing variant" with positive lymph nodes (2+/4) and margins. Histologic features included mixed microcystic, solid, follicular and papillary architecture, prominent nucleoli, abundant nuclear grooves and rare nuclear pseudo-inclusions. Despite radioactive iodine, radiotherapy and multiagent chemotherapy, the patient progressed over 6 years with local recurrence and additional lymph node involvement finally developing widespread distant metastases. Prompted by the breast carcinoma-like histopathology of a metastasis, immunohistochemical staining was performed and revealed strong expression of GATA3 and mammaglobin with no reactivity for thyroglobulin or TTF-1. The original tumor was then tested and showed the same immunoprofile. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion consistent with a diagnosis of MASC. Our patient's clinical, imaging and morphologic features remarkably mimicked papillary thyroid carcinoma. At the molecular level, the ETV6-NTRK3 fusion in this patient involved exons reported in the rare "papillary thyroid carcinoma" with this translocation. Given the immunophenotype of this case, it is possible that at least some ETV6-NTRK3 fusion positive PTC are actually MASC masquerading as papillary thyroid carcinoma.