cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An alternative quark model with charm

Abstract We present a quark model for SU (4) group, where the charged quark carries a charge Q = − 4 3 . Various experimental consequences of this model are discussed and comparison with the model of Glashow et al., is made, specially with regard to the experimental features of the ψ (3105) resonance.
Parallelizing Alternating Direction Implicit Solver on GPUs

We present a parallel Alternating Direction Implicit (ADI) solver on GPUs. Our implementation significantly improves existing implementations in two aspects. First, we address the scalability issue of existing Parallel Cyclic Reduction (PCR) implementations by eliminating their hardware resource constraints. As a result, our parallel ADI, which is based on PCR, no longer has the maximum domain size limitation. Second, we optimize inefficient data accesses of parallel ADI solver by leveraging hardware texture memory and matrix transpose techniques. These memory optimizations further make already parallelized ADI solver twice faster, achieving overall more than 100 times speedup over a highly optimized CPU version. We also present the analysis of numerical accuracy of the proposed parallel ADI solver.
Genome DNA content and chromosome organization in Gossypium

The ascending genome size in Gossypium is assumed to be D, A, B, E and F, and C. Feulgen cytophotometry revealed that mean value of DNA content for each genome was D= 10.95, B = 13.88, F = 14.31, E = 18.24, A = 18.66, and C = 20.30, and that there is a close relationship of genomic chromosome size and DNA content. Evidence suggests that the five genomes with large chromosomes arose from a D genome-like progenetor by large scale, saltatory replication of repetitive DNA distributed uniformly through the ancestral genome. Corresponding adjustment in recombination units did not accompany the two-fold divergence in DNA value of the two homoeologous A and D genomes in the allotetraploid species.
Detection and Quantitation of Fallout Particles in a Human Lung

Portions of an adult human lung were studied by autoradiography in order to detect the presence of fallout particles. The radioactivity in the remainder of the tissue was determined with a gamma-ray spectrometer. Four particles were found and their activities were determined. From the measurement for total-fission-product activity in the lung tissue it was calculated that there were approximately 264 particles in the right lung at the time of death.
Lattice model for thermotropic liquid crystals. I. Derivation of the partition function.

A new lattice model for nematic and/or smectic liquid crystals with rigid (inflexible) molecular cores and semiflexible pendent tails is presented and an approximate expression for its canonical ensemble partition function is derived. The model system consists of N rodlike molecules on a face-centered-cubic (fcc) lattice of M sites; each molecule has a rigid central core of r segments and two semiflexible tails of f/2 segments each and occupies x=r+f contiguous sites on the lattice. Molecular cores are restricted to three mutually orthogonal orientations while each tail bond can have five possible orientations with respect to the preceding bond, corresponding (roughly) to five of the nine possible rotational-isomeric states of a pair of successive C-C bonds on a saturated molecular tail. In addition to hard-core exclusions, there are interactions between pairs of segments on different molecules separated by the first-, second-, and third-nearest-neighbor distances on the fcc lattice, and a positive energy is required to make each bend in a molecular tail. The canonical ensemble partition function is derived using the Bragg-Williams approximation to treat intermolecular interactions (other than hard-core exclusions) and an extension of the DiMarzio counting scheme to evaluate the number of ways to pack the molecules on the lattice. This model and statistical-mechanical approach are improvements over earlier lattice-model treatments of nematic and smectic liquid-crystal-forming substances in the following major respects: (1) The treatment of smectic positional order is much less approximate than the earlier treatment of Dowell. (2) The representation of the rotational-isomeric states of a molecular tail is considerably more realistic than was possible with previous lattice models. (3) Positional, orientational, and conformational order are all coupled. (4) The conformational statistics of the model molecular tails are treated exactly within the maximum-term approximation.
The dependence of primary production in the mixed layer of the eastern tropical Pacific on the vertical transport of nitrate

Abstract Primary production measured in the mixed layer of the eastern tropical Pacific around 10°N ranged from 0.24 to 3.49 μg C l−1 h−1. Regression of chlorophyll on productivity indicates that 89% of the variation in primary production can be attributed to variations in phytoplankton standing stock, suggesting that algal growth rates are relatively invariant. A calculated carbon:chlorophyll ratio of 86.6, when combined with a mean productivity index of 7.5 mg C mg Chl−1 h−1, results in an average growth rate of 1.0 d−1 (0.083 h−1), despite concentrations of nitrate and ammonium frequently below limits of analytical detection. Positive variation of algal growth rates with zooplankton standing stocks and algal standing stocks with nitrate supply rates are discussed in relation to analogous features of the steady-state continuous culture. It is concluded that primary production in the eastern tropical Pacific is not controlled by inorganic nitrogen concentrations, but rather by rates of nitrate supply by vertical mixing.
Formation and regional distribution of γ-hydroxybutyric acid in mammalian brain

Abstract Studies in vitro with rat brain cortical slices revealed that, similar to observations in vivo , γ-aminobutyric acid can serve as a precursor of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). Endogenous GHB had a discrete distribution in guinea pig brain with the highest concentration found in the hippocampus, midbrain and diencephalon and cerebellum. Subcellular investigations of sucrose homogenates of guinea pig brain demonstrated that very little GHB was found associated with the particulate fraction. Administration of ethanol, an agent known to alter tissue redox potentials, caused a marked increase in tissue levels of GHB, presumably by facilitating the reduction of succinic semialdehyde.
Clinically relevant technology in photodynamic therapy and photodynamic diagnosis

This presentation does not attempt to review the vast field of technology adapted for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The goal, which is rather more modest although not less ambitious, is to try to highlight different aspects of clinically relevant technological applications. We hope in this attempt to bridge the gap separating basic scientists, engineers, various high tech manufacturers, and clinicians and thus bring the benefits of photodynamic therapy closer to the patients. Arbitrarily then, we concentrate on three major aspects: (1) Energy sources and appropriate therapeutic wavelengths. (2) Delivery devices which include superficial, intercavitary, and intravascular applicators. (3) Dosimetry and more specifically the dosimetry of energy delivered, absorbed, and distributed in the tissues; the dosimetry of the photosensitizers in vivo as well as the relationship between the dosimetry of the delivered stimulating energy and the rate of photobleaching. We also briefly discuss the diagnostic fluorescence.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Spread of symptoms in idiopathic torsion dystonia

We reviewed the histories of 115 patients who had idiopathic dystonia and who were 21 years of age and younger at onset of symptoms and 472 patients with older than age 21. Patients with onset in the lower extremities tended to be younger at onset (mean age 8.4 years), have rapid spread of symptoms to other body parts, and to develop generalized dystonia. Patients with onset in the upper extremities tended to be older at onset (mean age 11.2 years) and were less likely to develop generalized dystonia, but were more likely to experience spread of symptoms many years after the disease began. Almost 20% of patients younger than age 22 began with torticollis, and 67% of these remained focal after a mean 14.9 years. In adults, dystonic symptoms remained focal in the majority, but ∼ 15–30% of patients presenting with blepharospasm, torticollis, laryngeal or brachial dystonia eventually experienced dystonia outside the initially involved segment. Almost 50% of children and adolescents with dystonia reported a family history of dystonia, compared with ∼ 10–13% of patients with torticollis, laryngeal or brachial dystonia. Less than 3% of patients with blepharospasm reported a family history of dystonia. There were only minor differences in the pattern of spread of dystonic symptoms between Jewish and non-Jewish patients. Although younger patients were more likely to report a family history of dystonia, patterns of spread were the same for familial and sporadic patients in the same age range.
Measurement of Hippocampal Levels of Cellular Second Messengers Following In Situ Freezing

The in situ freezing technique has been widely used to fix labile metabolites and cellular second messengers in cerebral cortex. In this study, we isolated specific brain regions at 0 degree C from coronal sections of frozen heads following in situ brain freezing and measured regional concentrations of labile metabolites and cellular messengers. These levels in the cortex were compared with those in cortical punches obtained at freezing temperature (less than -40 degrees C) from the same in situ frozen brains and those of cortex dissected from decapitated animals. In both isoflurane- and pentobarbital-anesthetized animals, we observed that the levels of lactate, free fatty acids, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and diacylglycerol, as well as the proportion of protein kinase C associated with the membrane fraction, were similar in cortical punches taken at freezing temperature and those dissected at 0 degree C. However, with animals decapitated at room temperature, cortical and hippocampal levels of lactate, free fatty acids, and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and the proportion of membrane protein kinase C were significantly higher than those of corresponding brain regions isolated at 0 degree C from in situ frozen brains (p < 0.05). These results indicate that dissection of cortex and hippocampus at 0 degree C following in situ freezing will eliminate decapitation-induced production of artifacts and changes in the levels of cellular second messengers such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, diacylglycerol, and protein kinase C. The present technique, used in conjunction with in situ freezing, will fix cellular second messengers and labile metabolites in several regions of brain and may facilitate accurate characterization of molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying CNS function.
Ku-band high efficiency high gain pseudomorphic HEMT

A 0.25μm gate length, 1600μm gate width, doubleheterojunction pseudomorphic HEMT with moderate output power and record power gain and efficiency is reported. At 15 GHz, output power is 575 mW with 12dB gain and 50% power-added efficiency.
p53 expression in brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine whether the p53 protein, a product of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, that has been associated with the 72kDa heat shock protein (hsp72), is expressed in ischemic brain. Adult Wistar rats (n=5) were subjected to 120 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Twelve hours after reopening the artery, brain tissue was analyzed to determine the extent of neuronal damage (hematoxylin and eosin), and the distribution of p53 and hsp72 (monoclonal antibodies). Our data demonstrate that p53 is expressed in regions of neuronal necrosis; in contrast, morphologically intact neurons express hsp72. The data suggest that the presence of p53 is associated with cell death and that hsp72 may regulate p53 function.
Causality Tests in Livestock Markets

Bivariate time-series models and related topics of exogeneity and Granger causal orderings have received much attention from economists over the last decade. Examples in the macroeconomic literature include relationships between money and income (Sims 1972, Feige and Pearce), money and interest rates (Pierce), and wages and prices (Geweke 1975). In agricultural markets, research in this area includes the sorting out of leads and lags between farm, wholesale, and retail prices (Heien, Miller), acreage allotments and acreage supply response (Weaver), and alternative price quotes for eggs (Bessler and Schrader). The methods used in these studies are empirical because they allow the data to specify the dynamic relationship between two variables. Economic theory is used only to suggest the variables to be related. Often theory is ambiguous on the explicit lead-lag relationships between important variables and the variables themselves. In such cases, one can (or must) rely on strictly empirical methods. (Burks discusses the complementary relationship between empirical and theoretical methods in scientific investigations.) Agriculturalists interested in explaining producer behavior and forecasting livestock price and quantity movements have long grappled with problems of leads and lags. Attempts to explain short-run movements in live cattle and hog inventories or slaughter levels using price variables have at times yielded unsatisfactory results. For example, shortrun quantity response to price change was found to be negative for cattle (Nelson and Spreen; Myers, Havlicek, Henderson); however, a positive relation begins to appear with longer lengths of run. The theory of optimal investment under risk explains this type of relationship. That is, treating cattle as both investment goods and as final products will generate the negative short-run response of quantity to price. Such theory, however, will not be explicit about the particular lead-lag relationships to be encountered. Most modern theories of decision making under risk suggest that such lags are dependent upon subjective probabilities of individual economic agents. If one is unwilling to accept the existence of a rational probability (following deFinetti), then he will not be able to specify, a priori, the explicit leads and lags in a particular investment problem. One must look at the data and infer such relationships. This paper examines the lead-lag relationships between livestock prices and various "causal" variables suggested by theory. It explicitly tests the exogeneity of cattle on feed, cattle slaughter, and income on live cattle prices and the exogeneity of sow farrowings, hog slaughter, and income on live hog prices. Although explicit dynamic multivariate models are not formulated, the paper's results do provide background evidence useful for their ultimate construction (Granger and Newbold 1977, chap. 7).
The kinetics of ACTH expression in rat leukocyte subpopulations

Abstract The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene encodes a family of peptides originally identified in the pituitary gland. An important POMC-derived peptide hormone, corticotropin (ACTH), is also produced by leukocytes and modulates in vitro immune functions. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the kinetics and cellular distribution of ACTH immunoreactivity (ACTH-ir) in vitro in rat splenic leukocyte subpopulations. Cells were cultured with Concanavalin A (ConA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or media alone. ACTH-ir was identified with a specific antiserum raised against ACTH 1–24. Double indirect-immunofluorescence was done at 0, 21, and 48 h for B, T-helper (Th), and T-cytotoxic (CTL) cells. Initial kinetic studies demonstrated peak ACTH-ir in all cell types at 18–21 h for both ConA and LPS treatments. A few leukocytes (1–2%) expressed ACTH-ir at 0 h and these were found to be macrophages (MO). Lymphocyte ACTH-ir is 0% at 0 h and rises to 90 ± 5% and 75 ± 6% at 21 h with ConA and LPS, respectively. This sharply contrasts with 9 ± 4% of each cell type positive in media alone at 21 h. The percent immunoreactivity among the three lymphocyte subpopulations did not significantly differ at any single treatment at a single time point. However, there were significant differences in the intensity levels among the subpopulations. At 48 h of ConA or LPS treatment only 10 ± 4% of B, Th and Tc were positive, while none were positive in media alone. Stimulated peritoneal MO also increase positivity for ACTH-ir (85 ± 5%). These results indicate that rat splenic B, CTL, and Th lymphocytes can be immunologically stimulated to express the peptide hormone ACTH and that basal ACTH expression in macrophages is distinct from that in lymphocytes. Thus, lymphocyte-derived ACTH may be a paracrine or autocrine regulator of immune function.
Modular interprocedural pointer analysis using access paths: design, implementation, and evaluation

In this paper we present a modular interprocedural pointer analysis algorithm based on access-paths for C programs. We argue that access paths can reduce the overhead of representing context-sensitive transfer functions and effectively distinguish non-recursive heap objects. And when the modular analysis paradigm is used together with other techniques to handle type casts and function pointers, we are able to handle significant programs like those in the SPECcint92 and SPECcint95 suites. We have implemented the algorithm and tested it on a Pentium II 450 PC running Linux. The observed resource consumption and performance improvement are very encouraging.
Gastric Sensorimotor Functions and Hormone Profile in Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obese People

Background & Aims: Peptide YY (PYY) levels are reported to be decreased in obesity. The relation between gastric functions, satiation, and gut hormones in obesity is incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to compare gastric volumes, emptying, maximum tolerated volumes, postchallenge symptoms, and selected gut hormones in normal, overweight, or obese healthy volunteers. Methods: In 73 nonbulimic normal, overweight, or obese participants weighing less than 137 kg, we measured gastric emptying of solids and liquids by scintigraphy (gastric emptying half-time [GE t1/2]); gastric volumes by single-photon emission computed tomography; maximum tolerated volumes and symptoms by satiation test; and plasma leptin, ghrelin, insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1, and PYY levels. Groups were compared using 1-way analysis of covariance adjusted for sex. Univariate associations among measured responses were assessed using Spearman correlations. Multiple linear regression models, adjusting for weight and sex, assessed the independent ability of gastric functions and hormones to predict satiation volume. Results: Obese and overweight subjects had significantly lower postprandial gastric volumes, higher fasting and postprandial insulin and leptin levels, and lower fasting ghrelin and lower postprandial reduction in ghrelin levels. PYY levels were not different in obese or overweight subjects compared with controls. The GE t1/2 was correlated inversely with postprandial PYY; increased body weight was associated with faster GE t1/2 of solids (rs = 0.33, P = .005) and liquids (rs = 0.24, P = .04). Postprandial changes in gastric volume and PYY were independent predictors of satiation (both P = .01). Conclusions: Overweight or obesity are associated with lower postprandial gastric volumes and normal PYY levels. Gastric emptying influences postprandial PYY levels. Postprandial PYY and gastric volume independently predict satiation volume in nonbulimic people across a wide body mass index range.
Disparities in Preventive Health Behaviors Among Non-Hispanic White Men: Heterogeneity Among Foreign-Born Arab and European Americans

The objectives of this study were to estimate and compare the age-adjusted prevalence of not receiving a flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, or prostate cancer screening among U.S.- and foreign-born White men by region of birth (Europe/Russia and the Arab Nations) and examine these associations while controlling for potential confounders. Twelve years of restricted data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) including 91,636 U.S.- and foreign-born men were used. Chi-squares were used to compare descriptive statistics, and odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were used for inferential statistics. In crude and adjusted analyses, foreign-born Arab American men were less likely to report receiving a flu (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.21, 0.67) and pneumonia (OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.16, 0.70) vaccine compared with U.S.-born White men. There were no statistically significant differences for PSA testing between Arab American and White men. This national study examining uptake of flu and pneumonia vaccines suggests estimates are lower for foreign-born Arab American men compared with U.S.-born White men. Future studies should collect qualitative data that assesses the cultural context surrounding prevention and screening behaviors among Arab Americans.
Extended infrared studies of high pressure hydrogen.

We have studied solid molecular hydrogen down to liquid helium temperatures and to a pressure of 191 GPa in a new spectroscopic system, extending the low frequency limit by more than a factor of 3, from 3000 to 1000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. No evidence for the earlier reported Drude behavior is found within our range of study; a possible explanation of this earlier report is presented. We find a new lattice mode which may be important for determining the structure of the high pressure A phase. Observation of an IR active vibron in the A phase of parahydrogen sets restrictions on the phase diagram.
Impotence in progressive systemic sclerosis.

Excerpt To the editor: Lally and Jimenez (1) suggest that impotence may be an early presenting symptom in progressive systemic sclerosis. Unfortunately their evidence for this conclusion is weak. T...
Fragrance material review on 4-methyl-3-decen-5-ol

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 4-methyl-3-decen-5-ol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter in US dairy cattle

Aims: To obtain an overview of the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter in faeces of US dairy cows in 2002. Methods and Results: Faeces from 1435 cows, representing 96 dairy operations in 21 US states, were collected for the culture of Campylobacter. A total of 735 Campylobacter strains were isolated (51·2% positive samples) with 94 operations positive (97·9%) for Campylobacter. From this collection, 532 isolates (473 Campylobacter jejuni and 59 Campylobacter coli) were randomly selected for susceptibility testing to eight antimicrobials: azithromycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, nalidixic acid and tetracycline. The C. jejuni isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline (47·4%), nalidixic acid (4·0%) and ciprofloxacin (2·5%), while the C. coli strains exhibited some resistance to all antimicrobials except chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin. Only 3·6% of the C. jejuni isolates were resistant to two or more antimicrobials but 20·3% of the C. coli strains were multiresistant. Conclusions: On most operations, at least one cow was positive for Campylobacter and more than half of the cows sampled were shedding Campylobacter. The C. coli isolates had significantly higher levels of resistance to macrolides and to tetracycline compared with the C. jejuni strains, but were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of Campylobacter on US dairy operations; however, US dairy cattle have not been recognized as a major source of human infection compared with poultry. Campylobacter coli appears to develop antimicrobial resistance more readily than C. jejuni from the same environment.
Verification of linear Na32+ clusters in zeolite X

A fully dehydrated single crystal of zeolite Na–X at 250°C was exposed to 1.8 × 10−3 Torr of sodium vapor for three days. Its crystal structure shows that pairs of Na+ ions have each captured a Na0 atom to form a linear Na32+ cluster. These clusters span about 70% of the 12-oxygen rings. The remaining 12-rings each contain only one Na+ ion and have not participated in sodium atom sorption. The formation of elemental silicon on the crystal surface is proposed.
Adenoviral oncoprotein E1B55K mediates colocalization of SSBP2 and PML in response to stress

Transient expression of adenoviral oncoprotein E1B55K in normal cells induces aggresome formation and sequestration of critical host proteins in aggresomes. Our previous studies reported that Sequence Specific Binding Protein 2 (SSBP2), a candidate tumor suppressor is recruited to aggresomes in adenovirally transformed human embryonal kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. To understand the extent and significance of the E1B55K-SSBP2 interactions in these cells, we have examined SSBP2 localization under conditions of stress in HEK293 cells. SSBP2 localizes to PML- Nuclear Bodies (PML-NBs) in response to inhibition of nuclear export, treatment with etoposide, hydroxyurea or gamma irradiation only in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, the PML-NBs grow in size and number in response to radiation over a 24 hour period in HEK293 cells analogous to previous findings for other cell types. Nonetheless, we conclude that E1B55K subverts SSBP2 function in HEK293 cells. These findings demonstrate the limitations in using HEK293 cells to study DNA damage response and other cellular processes since SSBP2 and similar regulatory proteins are aberrantly localized due to constitutive E1B55K expression.
Adaptation of the Chromotropic Acid Method to the Assay of Spans

The chromotropic acid method for the determination of formaldehyde has been adapted to the direct and quantitative determination of the Span surfactants. The proposed method involves saponification of the particular Span to yield sorbitol and the particular fatty acid. The sorbitol portion is then oxidized by periodate to yield formaldehyde which is coupled with chromotropic acid to yield a wine color with an absorption maximum at 570 m μ . This procedure has been found to be rapid and simple with a high degree of sensitivity.
A Comparison of Birth Outcomes Among Black, Hispanic, and Black Hispanic Women

Background While non-Hispanic Black populations tend to be disproportionately affected by adverse reproductive outcomes, Hispanic populations tend to demonstrate healthier birth outcomes, regardless of socioeconomic background. Little is known about birth outcomes for women who are both Black and Hispanic. We examined whether birth outcomes and risk factors for women who are both Black and Hispanic most closely resemble those of women who are only Black or Hispanic and also compared these outcomes to those for Whites.
Mutant SOD1G93A in bone marrow-derived cells exacerbates 3-nitropropionic acid induced striatal damage in mice.

Abstract 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP), an irreversible inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase, produces selective lesions in striatal neurons that resemble those observed in Huntington's disease neuropathology. In this study, we evaluated the role of peripheral bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) in the 3-NP-induced striatal damage by transplanting bone marrow cells with human SOD1 G93A mutation (mSOD1 G93A ) which induces amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through an unknown gain of toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. We assessed striatal damage after 3-NP treatment in the recipient C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice that received bone marrow cells from WT or mSOD1 G93A transgenic donor mice (WT → WT or mSOD G93A → WT). After intraperitoneal injection of 3-NP, six of the eight mSOD1 G93A → WT mice had bilateral striatal lesions while only one out of eight WT → WT mice had a striatal lesion. The lesion volume was significantly higher in the mSOD1 G93A → WT mice than in the WT → WT mice. However, following an intrastriatal injection of 3-NP, there was no significant difference in the lesion volumes between the WT → WT mice and mSOD1 G93A → WT mice. Thus, the exacerbation of 3-NP-induced striatal damage in mSOD G93A → WT mice was only seen after systemic administration of 3-NP, but not after intrastriatal injection. These results demonstrate that altered SOD1 activity (mSOD G93A ) in BMDCs affects striatal damage probably through a mechanism involving a systemic factor.
Influence of age and gender on secretion of anti-Müllerian hormone in Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephants.

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) secretion was studied in Asian and African elephants varying in age and reproductive status. Overall mean concentrations did not differ (P > 0.05) between species, but were markedly higher in male than female Asian elephants (31.01 ± 4.22 ng/mL and 0.19 ± 0.02 ng/mL, mean ± SEM) and African elephants (40.27 ± 3.18 ng/mL, 0.17 ± 0.04 ng/mL), respectively. Anti-Mullerian hormone secretion was not significantly affected by ovarian cyclicity status (cycling vs noncycling), but was higher (P 0.05) in prepubertal (49.08 ± 6.11 ng/mL) as compared to aged (≥36 y; 22.27 ± 5.82 ng/mL) bulls; concentrations in mature bulls (8-35 y; 37.01 ± 3.17 ng/mL) were similar to prepubertal and older bulls. We concluded that circulating AMH concentrations in elephants were similar between species and not affected by reproductive status; however, concentrations were significantly higher in males than females, and in younger animals. The diagnostic value of AMH to assess fertility status of individual elephants remains to be determined.
Electrospun strontium titanata nanofibers incorporated with nickel oxide nanoparticles for improved photocatalytic activities

© (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pornography, erotica, and attitudes toward women: The effects of repeated exposure

It is a widespread belief that pornography causes negative attitudes toward women, but tests of this belief are contradictory. A large body of research has studied the effect of violent pornography on behavior, but the effects of erotica and violence have often been confounded. Thus, the relationship between pornography and attitudes toward women was assessed in two correlational studies, and the effect of (nonviolent) erotica on attitudes towards women was tested experimentally. The dependent measure was the score on a questionnaire measuring attitudes toward women and women's issues. The questionnaire possessed high reliability; factor analysis indicated a single general factor. Participants included 184 psychology students and 20 patrons at an “adult” theater. Multiple linear regressions indicated that hours of viewing pornography was not a reliable predictor of attitudes toward women in either sample. Patrons of the adult theater, who viewed more pornography, had more favorable attitudes toward women ...
Experimental investigation of vortex rings impinging on inclined surfaces

Vortex–ring interactions with oblique boundaries were studied experimentally to determine the effects of plate angle on the generation of secondary vorticity, the evolution of the primary vorticity and secondary vorticity as they interact near the boundary, and the associated energy dissipation. Vortex rings were generated using a mechanical piston-cylinder vortex ring generator at jet Reynolds numbers 2,000–4,000 and stroke length to piston diameter ratios (L/D) in the range 0.75–2.0. The plate angle relative to the initial axis of the vortex ring ranged from 3 to 60°. Flow analysis was performed using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV), and defocusing digital particle tracking velocimetry (DDPTV). Results showed the generation of secondary vorticity at the plate and its subsequent ejection into the fluid. The trajectories of the centers of circulation showed a maximum ejection angle of the secondary vorticity occurring for an angle of incidence of 10°. At lower incidence angles (<20°), the lower portion of the ring, which interacted with the plate first, played an important role in generation of the secondary vorticity and is a key reason for the maximum ejection angle for the secondary vorticity occurring at an incidence angle of 10°. Higher Reynolds number vortex rings resulted in more rapid destabilization of the flow. The three-dimensional DDPTV results showed an arc of secondary vorticity and secondary flow along the sides of the primary vortex ring as it collided with the boundary. Computation of the moments and products of kinetic energy and vorticity magnitude about the centroid of each vortex ring showed increasing asymmetry in the flow as the vortex interaction with the boundary evolved and more rapid dissipation of kinetic energy for higher incidence angles.
A comparison of techniques for improving linewidth control over steps

Abstract Microlithography of integrated circuits is complicated by topography on the surface of the substrates. Resist films spun over such topography exhibit substantial changes in thickness, particularly at the edges of steps. This work presents a study of how the variation of resist thickness affects the linewidth of printed resist features. Highly reflecting surfaces create the most severe problems. The situation can be improved by adding dyes to the resists, by postexposure baking, or by adding antireflection layers or contrast enhancement layers to the resist systems. These various techniques are modeled and compared.
Repression of Farnesoid X Receptor during the Acute Phase Response

The acute phase response is associated with changes in the hepatic expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism. Nuclear hormone receptors that heterodimerize with retinoid X receptor (RXR), such as thyroid receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and liver X receptors, modulate lipid metabolism. We recently demonstrated that these nuclear hormone receptors are repressed during the acute phase response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), consistent with the known decreases in genes that they regulate. In the present study, we show that LPS significantly decreases farnesoid X receptor (FXR) mRNA in mouse liver as early as 8 h after LPS administration, and this decrease was dose-dependent with the half-maximal effect observed at 0.5 μg/100 g of body weight. Gel-shift experiments demonstrated that DNA binding activity to an FXR response element (IR1) is significantly reduced by LPS treatment. Supershift experiments demonstrated that the shifted protein-DNA complex contains FXR and RXR. Furthermore, the expression of FXR target genes, SHP and apoCII, were significantly reduced by LPS (70 and 60%, respectively). Also, LPS decreases hepatic LRH expression in mouse, which may explain the reduced expression of CYP7A1 in the face of SHP repression. In Hep3B human hepatoma cells, both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) significantly decreased FXR mRNA, whereas IL-6 did not have any effect. TNF and IL-1 also decreased the DNA binding activity to an IR1 response element and the expression of SHP and apoCII. Importantly, TNF and IL-1 almost completely blocked the expression of luciferase activity linked to a FXR response element promoter construct transfected into Hep3B cells. Together with our earlier studies on the repression of RXRs, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, LXRs, thyroid receptors, constitutive androstane receptor, and pregnane X receptor, these results suggest that decreases in nuclear hormone receptors are major contributors to the decreased gene expression that occurs in the negative acute phase response.
Three-dimensional culture of human disc cells within agarose or a collagen sponge: assessment of proteoglycan production.

The objective of the present study was to assess proteoglycan production by human intervertebral disc cells cultured in vitro in selected cell carriers. Based on previous studies which evaluated disc cells seeded into collagen sponge, collagen gel, agarose, alginate or fibrin gel three-dimensional (3D) cell carriers, collagen sponge and agarose were found to provide superior microenvironments for formation of extracellular matrix (ECM). A standardized test design was used to evaluate ECM formed after 14 days of culture using the 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMB) assay to assess sulfated glycosaminoglycan (S-GAG) production. Although agarose culture showed higher S-GAG levels compared to collagen sponge (2.94±2.20 (19) μg/ml S-GAG (mean±S.D. (n )) vs. 0.94±0.77 (22), respectively, p=0.0003p=0.0003), this is off-set by the significantly lower proliferation rate associated with culture of disc cells in agarose.
RSTM : A Relaxed Consistency Software Transactional Memory for Multicores

Software transactional memory (STM) systems have been proposed in order to make parallel programs easier to develop and verify compared to conventional lock-based programming techniques. However, conventional STMs do not scale in performance to a large number of concurrent threads for several classes of applications. While the atomicity semantics of traditional STMs greatly simplify the correct sharing of data between threads, these same atomicity semantics incur a large penalty in program execution time.we propose a relaxed software transactional memory (RSTM) model that allows the programmer to specify atomicity constraints for transactions with greater flexibility and precision. In a RSTM system, shared data accessed by a transaction is classified into several "consistency groups". A single consistency policy is enforced on each consistency group. Both membership of a group and the policy to be applied are declaratively specified by the programmer.
Fatal immunopathogenesis by SIV/HIV-1 (SHIV) containing a variant form of the HIV-1SF33 env gene in juvenile and newborn rhesus macaques.

Abstract SIV/HIV-1 (SHIV) chimeric clones, constructed by substituting portions of the pathogenic molecular clone SIVmac239 with counterpart portions from HIV-1 clones, provide a means to analyze functions of selected HIV-1 genes in vivo in nonhuman primates. Our studies focused on SHIV sf 33, which contains the vpu, tat, rev, and env genes of the cytopathic, T-cell line tropic clone HIV-1 sf 33 (subtype-B); this clone has a premature stop codon in the vpu gene. In three juvenile macaques inoculated intravenously with SHIV sf 33, low-level persistent infection was established; no disease was observed for a period of >2 years. However, at ∼16 months p.i., one of four SHIV sf 33-infected juvenile macaques exhibited an increase in virus load, depletion of CD4 + T cells in peripheral blood and lymph nodes, and other symptoms of simian AIDS (SAIDS). Virus recovered from this animal in the symptomatic stage was designated SHIV sf 33 a (A, adapted); this virus displayed multiple amino acid sequence changes throughout the HIV-1 env gene compared with the input SHIV sf 33 clone. Additionally, a mutation in all clones from SHIV sf 33 a restored the open reading frame for the vpu gene. In vitro evaluations in tissue-culture systems revealed that SHIV sf 33 a replicated to higher levels and exhibited greater cytopathicity than SHIV sf 33. Furthermore cloned env genes for SHIV sf 33 a were more fusogenic in a cell-fusion assay compared with the env gene of the SHIV sf 33. Intravenous inoculation of SHIV sf 33 a into juvenile and newborn macaques resulted in a rapid decline in CD4 + T cells to very low levels and development of a fatal AIDS-like disease. A cell-free preparation of this pathogenic chimeric virus also established persistent infection when applied to oral mucosal membranes of juvenile macaques and produced a fatal AIDS-like disease. These studies on pathogenic SHIV sf 33 a establish the basis for further investigations on the role of the HIV-1 env gene in virus adaptation and in mechanism(s) of immunodeficiency in primates; moreover, the chimeric virus SHIV sf 33 a can play a role in elucidating mucosal membrane transmission and development of antiviral vaccines in newborns as well as juvenile and adult macaques.
Incorporation of chlorothalonil persistence on processing tomato into TOM-CAST

Abstract Measurements of chlorothalonil residue on tomato foliage are expensive and time consuming, yet knowledge of chlorothalonil persistence would assist in fungicide application scheduling. The objective of this study was to calibrate an existing chlorothalonil persistence model for processing tomatoes, and to incorporate the predictions of chlorothalonil residue into TOM-CAST. The Bruhn and Fry (1982b. A mathematical model of the spatial and temporal dynamics of chlorothalonil residues in a potato canopy. Phytopathology 72, 1306–1312) model for chlorothalonil persistence on potato foliage was calibrated for tomatoes using data from controlled rainfall experiments with a rainfall simulator. Field data consisting of chlorothalonil residue data and weather data from 1993 and 1995 field trials in Columbus, OH, was also used. Model evaluation was conducted using two data sets of chlorothalonil residue data and weather data from 1998 field trials in Columbus, OH. The chlorothalonil persistence predictions were within the 90% confidence interval of the observed chlorothalonil residues on upper canopy foliage for 11 of the 13 data points and nine of the 13 data points for the lower canopy foliage. The chlorothalonil persistence model and the TOM-CAST disease-forecasting algorithm were combined into an integrated fungicide application decision aid. The linked model predicted three spray applications were necessary compared to five predicted with the TOM-CAST-only program for the 1998 season in Columbus, OH.
Distributed molecular polarisabilities and asymptotic intermolecular interaction energies

Strategies for obtaining distributed molecular polarisabilities and using them in calculations of interaction energies have been examined. A mathematically rigorous strategy applying constrained density fitting that practically removes the so-called charge-flow terms has been proposed. The resulting polarisabilities give asymptotic dispersion energies without the artefacts plaguing the previously used methods. In particular, since the charge-flow polarisabilities are extremely small in our approach, the terms in the distributed expansion of the dispersion energy which decay slower than the sixth inverse power of the intermonomer separation are negligible. Furthermore, we show that the usual practice of approximately locating or neglecting two-centre (nonlocal) distributed polarisabilities in calculations of these energies can now be abandoned since in the algorithm developed by us the inclusion of the nonlocal polarisabilities increases the computational requirements only by one power of the number of ato...
Beattie Limestone Facies and Their Bearing on Cyclic Sedimentation Theory: ABSTRACT

Cyclic upper Paleozoic deposits in the northern Mid-Continent region have long challenged the ingenuity of geologists seeking a rational interpretation of their origin. Most theories have been based principally on the vertical succession of lithologic features in stratigraphic sequences hundreds of feet thick. The present study of the Beattie limestone (Wolfcampian) is based on the conviction that additional clues to an understanding of depositional environments can be gained by studying in detail thin stratigraphic units as they change facies across a depositional basin. The three 'members of the Beattie (in ascending order. Cottonwood limestone, Florena shale, Morrill limestone) have been examined in outcrop from Nemaha County, Nebraska to Osage County, Oklahoma and fol owed in the subsurface End_Page 128------------------------------ westward nearly to Colorado. Regional paleotectonic studies indicate that the line of outcrop runs almost from shore to shore diagonally across an elongate seaway extending from northeastern Wyoming southeastward to northeastern Oklahoma. Thirteen distinct facies of the Beattie are recognized, based on mineralogic, paleontologic, petrographic, and field data. Two facies provinces with a boundary in central Greenwood County, Kansas, are clearly indicated. Basin topography is demonstrated to be the prime controlling influence on the distribution and nature of the facies. Simple transgression-regression explanations are not adequate to explain observed facies patterns in the Beattie limestone. End_of_Article - Last_Page 129------------
Sport fans' responses to the end of the season.

While the benefits of identification with a sport team have been described (Wann, 2006a), the conditions under which fans will change or switch identification have not been investigated. The present study was designed to address this gap. Participants (154 college students) indicated how likely they were to engage in various acts following a basketball loss in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship tournament by the University of Kentucky (UK) men's basketball team. Half of the vignettes described a loss early in the tournament, while half of the vignettes described a loss in the Final Four. Results indicated that the timing of the loss, level of team identification, level of basketball fandom and level of maladaptive fan beliefs all influenced the likelihood that participants partook in certain activities. The results are discussed in terms of the influences that affect such decisions.
The elastic constants of solid Ar

Abstract An interatomic potential for Ar 2 derived from high resolution elastic differential scattering cross sections, second virial coefficients and vibrational level spacings, by Parson et al. is used to calculate, by Monte Carlo methods, the elastic constants of solid Ar at 80°K and near zero pressure. The calculated solid state properties are compared with those of two other recently proposed Ar 2 potentials. Comparison with experiments confirm the presence of many body forces in the solid. Moreover, these appear to be almost quantitatively accounted for by the three body triple-dipole force.
Analogues of Symbolic Operators

Here presented are -extensions of several linear operators including a novel -analogue of the derivative operator . Some -analogues of the symbolic substitution rules given by He et al., 2007, are obtained. As sample applications, we show how these -substitution rules may be used to construct symbolic summation and series transformation formulas, including -analogues of the classical Euler transformations for accelerating the convergence of alternating series.
Finite-deformation analysis of the elastostatic field near the tip of a crack: Reconsideration and higher-order results

In this paper we return to the asymptotic analysis, within the nonlinear equilibrium theory of compressible elastic solids, of the deformations and stresses near the tip of a traction-free crack in a slab of all-around infinite extent under conditions of plane strain. As before, the loading at infinity is taken to be one of uniform uni-axial tension at right angles to the faces of the crack. We show that once a restrictive assumption introduced at the start of our earlier asymptotic treatment of the problem is relinquished, certain perplexing anomalies encountered in the previous analysis no longer arise. The present reconsideration of the problem leads to modifications in the dominant-order results for the “secondary” deformations and stresses, while those pertaining to the physical quantities of primary interest remain unaffected. Furthermore, this investigation encompasses some higher-order considerations, which supply an essential clarification and improvement of the lowest-order asymptotic solution.