cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accessibility theory in a variable syntax of Spanish

Abstract One prediction and one extension derived from Accessibility Theory are explored in response to questions concerning the variable alternation of personal pronominal and null subjects in dialects of Spanish. First, are split antecedents to personal plural subjects informationally inferior to antecedents which are not split? Second, why do the categories of specific and nonspecific second person singular subjects show differing frequencies of null subject expression? With respect to the first question, the answer is no. This contradicts a prediction of Accessibility Theory and calls for a reappraisal of the issue of inferior antecedents. With respect to the second question, the criterion of informativity is extended from its initial scope of specific reference to that of nonspecific reference in order to account for the statistical favoring of pronominal subject expression by nonspecific tu, usted, and uno. However, where Accessibility Theory is unable to account for a favoring of null subjects by nonspecific second person singular tu in Iberian dialects, research from generative treatments of proarb, provides a basis for, if not explaining, then strongly expecting this particular pattern. Also included, is an analysis of nonspecific second person reference in Latin American dialects which reveals paradigm leveling of the nonspecific tu constraint on subject pronoun expression in the Latin American dialects by analogy to that of nonspecific uno or usted, a direction of change which Accessibility Theory would predict.
Shallow breathing: Bacterial life at low O 2

Competition for molecular oxygen (O2) among respiratory microorganisms is intense because O2 is a potent electron acceptor. This competition leads to the formation of microoxic environments wherever microorganisms congregate in aquatic, terrestrial and host-associated communities. Bacteria can harvest O2 present at low, even nanomolar, concentrations using high-affinity terminal oxidases. Here, we report the results of surveys searching for high-affinity terminal oxidase genes in sequenced bacterial genomes and shotgun metagenomes. The results indicate that bacteria with the potential to respire under microoxic conditions are phylogenetically diverse and intriguingly widespread in nature. We explore the implications of these findings by highlighting the importance of microaerobic metabolism in host-associated bacteria related to health and disease.
A note on eventually time-invariant systems

Abstract In a recent paper of Feintuch, the notion of an eventually time-invariant system was defined. The properties of stabilization and optimal sensitivity of such systems were investigated. It was claimed that the minimal sensitivity for an eventually time-invariant system is no greater than that of its time-invariant part. We present a counterexample to this claim and prove the reverse inequality.
Chemistry of phosphorus fluorides

Abstract Phosphorus tri- and pentafluorides were prepared in high yield and conversion by reaction of the respective chlorides and CaF 2 at 300–400°. The pentafluoride is a very strong acceptor molecule and forms complexes with amines, ethers, nitriles, sulphoxides and other organic bases. The 19 F spectra of the complexes are fully consistent with an octahedral model, and the PF coupling constants, similar to that in PF 6 − , suggest a relative insensitivity of hybridization to the type of donor molecule. In accord with the strong acceptor properties, the pentafluoride is an excellent catalyst for ionic polymerizations. Especially noteworthy is the PF 5 -catalysed polymerization of tetrahydrofuran to a very high ( M n − = 280,000) molecular weight elastomer. Phosphorus trifluoride, unlike the pentafluoride, exhibits no significant acceptor properties. However, the trifluoride does undergo a curious disproportionation, 3MF + 5PF 3 → 3MPF 6 + 2P, that may involve an MPF 4 intermediate.
The selective dopamine uptake inhibitor, D-84, suppresses cocaine self-administration, but does not occasion cocaine-like levels of generalization

Abstract A successful replacement pharmacotherapy for treating cocaine dependency would likely reduce cocaine's abuse, support a low abuse liability, overlap cocaine's subjective effects, and have a long duration of action. Inhibitors with varying selectivity at the dopamine transporter (DAT) have approximated these properties. The objective of the present study was to characterize the behavioural effects of an extremely selective DAT inhibitor, (+) trans-4-(2-Benzhydryloxyethyl)-1-(4-fluorobenzyl) piperadin-3-ol (D-84), a 3-hydroxy substituted piperidine derivative of GBR-12935, for its cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects, its effects on cocaine self-administration, and for its own self-administration. During cocaine discrimination tests, cocaine occasioned the 10 mg/kg cocaine training stimulus with an ED 50 value of 3.13 (1.54–6.34) mg/kg, and reduced response rates with an ED 50 value of 20.39 (7.24–57.44) mg/kg. D-84 incompletely generalized to the cocaine stimulus occasioning a maximal 76% cocaine-lever responding, while reducing response rates with lower potency than cocaine (ED 50 = 30.94 (12.34–77.60) mg/kg). Pretreatment with D-84 (9.6–30.4 mg/kg) significantly ( P 0.05) reduced cocaine intake at 17.1 mg/kg D-84 when cocaine was self-administered at 0.5 mg/kg/infusion, and at 30.4 mg/kg D-84 when cocaine was self-administered at 0.1, 0.5 .and 1.0 mg/kg/infusion. During self-administration tests with D-84 (0.1–1 mg/kg/infusion), numbers of infusions significantly exceeded vehicle levels at 0.3 mg/kg/infusion. These results show that D-84 pretreatment can decrease cocaine intake especially when high doses of cocaine are being self-administered. This observation, combined with its incomplete generalization to the cocaine discriminative stimulus and its reported long duration of action, provides a profile consistent with a potential replacement therapy for treating cocaine-abusing patients.
Calorimetric behavior of methacrylic polymers

Specific heats for poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate), poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate), poly(allyl methacrylate), and poly(ethyl acrylate) were measured from 120 to 300°C. with a drop calorimeter. It was found that existing solid-state theories and equations were unable to correlate the data. The reason advanced was that such theories were developed for crystalline materials, which differed greatly from the amorphous polymers of the present work. A more successful approach was to use a correlation technique originally developed for organic liquids.
Long-term effects of mineral fertilizers on soil microorganisms – A review

Abstract Increasing nutrient inputs into terrestrial ecosystems affect not only plant communities but also associated soil microbial communities. Studies carried out in predominantly unmanaged ecosystems have found that increasing nitrogen (N) inputs generally decrease soil microbial biomass; less is known about long-term impacts in managed systems such as agroecosystems. The objective of this paper was to analyze the responses of soil microorganisms to mineral fertilizer using data from long-term fertilization trials in cropping systems. A meta-analysis based on 107 datasets from 64 long-term trials from around the world revealed that mineral fertilizer application led to a 15.1% increase in the microbial biomass (Cmic) above levels in unfertilized control treatments. Mineral fertilization also increased soil organic carbon (Corg) content and our results suggest that Corg is a major factor contributing to the overall increase in Cmic with mineral fertilization. The magnitude of the effect of fertilization on Cmic was pH dependent. While fertilization tended to reduce Cmic in soils with a pH below 5 in the fertilized treatment, it had a significantly positive effect at higher soil pH values. Duration of the trial also affected the response of Cmic to fertilization, with increases in Cmic most pronounced in studies with a duration of at least 20 years. The input of N per se does not seem to negatively affect Cmic in cropping systems. The application of urea and ammonia fertilizers, however, can temporarily increase pH, osmotic potential and ammonia concentrations to levels inhibitory to microbial communities. Even though impacts of fertilizers are spatially limited, they may strongly affect soil microbial biomass and community composition in the short term. Long-term repeated mineral N applications may alter microbial community composition even when pH changes are small. How specific microbial groups respond to repeated applications of mineral fertilizers, however, varies considerably and seems to depend on environmental and crop management related factors.
Response to Can the Study of Female Rats Help Our Understanding of Women

In Campbell’s1 letter to the editor, he asks whether it would be “more appropriate” to study men and women rather than experimental animals to understand the effect of one’s sex on blood pressure (BP). But why is this an either-or question? Major advances in medicine are based on the continuous exchange of basic and clinical science. Animal studies enable investigation into the pathophysiological mechanisms of hypertension, which contribute to the design of clinical studies, and results from clinical studies shape the direction of basic research by identifying clinically significant findings. The history of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors illustrates this constant interplay between basic and clinical science, which begins with the …
Recurrent expenditure requirements of capital projects - estimation for budget purposes

This paper examines the issue of estimating recurrent costs associated with capital projects in the investment budget. It is intended to help overcome budget planning problems which give rise to the chronic under-funding of maintenance and operating costs typical in some developing economies. The objective is to provide guidance in the preparation of budget submissions so that information on the future recurrent cost implications of today's capital spending is quantified in a way that supports the authorities in making project selection and budget decisions. The paper is in three parts. The first part outlines some concepts and definitions involved in measuring recurrent costs. The second part provides stylized examples of individual projects. And the third part presents some rough empirical guidance drawn from a sample of actual investment projects.
Urinary Metabolic Evaluations in Normal and Stone Forming Children

Purpose: Urinary stone disease is relatively rare in children and urinary metabolic evaluations have been the standard in our practice. We have previously reported a high rate of urinary metabolic abnormalities in stone forming children. We compared urinary chemistry values in normal and stone forming children.Material and Methods: A prospective study was performed to assess urinary metabolic profiles in children with no history or a family history of urinary calculi. The 24-hour urine collections were performed and evaluated at an outside central laboratory. Urine chemistry studies were adjusted for creatinine. The data were compared to those on a historical cohort of calcium stone forming children.Results: A total of 58 samples from normal children and 142 from stone forming children were evaluated. Mean age was 10 years in normal children and 12 years in stone forming children. of the normal and stone forming children 45% and 51%, respectively, were female. Supersaturation levels of calcium oxalate as ...
Excited-state dynamics and dye–dye interactions in dye-coated gold nanoparticles with varying alkyl spacer lengths

Gold nanoparticles (ca. 3 nm in diameter) coated with bis(diarylamino)biphenyl-based thiols with two different alkyl spacers (propyl and dodecyl) between the chromophore and the surface-anchoring thiol group have been prepared and characterized with a variety of techniques. The excited-state dynamics of the dyes in close proximity to the nanoparticle surface were studied using the time-correlated single-photon counting technique and near-IR fs transient absorption spectroscopy. The excited states of the dyes in the hybrid metal/organic systems exhibit an ultrafast (<5 ps) deactivation as evidenced by the fs transient absorption measurements. The length of the alkyl spacer between the dye and the thiol group has a profound effect on the ultrafast dynamics of the photoexcited systems. An ultrafast formation (ca. 0.5 ps) of a cation-like species has been recorded for the system incorporating the propyl spacer but not for the dodecyl-linker system. The formation of the cation-like species has been shown to be less efficient in a mixed-ligand system in which the bis(diarylamino)biphenyl-based thiol was diluted on the surface with dodecanethiol. Additionally, the ultrafast formation (ca. 1 ps) of a cation-like species with a similar spectroscopic signature has been observed in the solid state of the dye. A combination of the ultrafast dynamics and 1H NMR spectroscopic data has been used to discuss the observed behavior in terms of dye–dye interactions in the nanoparticle systems. Due to the surface curvature of the nanoparticle, the propyl spacer imposes a closer dye–dye distance than the dodecyl spacer, thus facilitating dye–dye interactions that lead to the formation of a charge-transfer species involving two or more dye molecules.
Low incidence of left atrial or left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and normal EF who present for pulmonary vein antrum isolation procedure

Introduction: The incidence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) who present for pulmonary vein antrum isolation procedure (PVAI) is unknown. Methods and Results: All consecutive patients from January 2000 to June 2004 who underwent a PVAI received a computed tomography (CT) to evaluate LAA thrombus before the procedure and 3 months post-PVAI. All patients were followed prospectively. One thousand two hundred twenty-one patients received a PVAI during the study dates. All patients received a CT pre-PVAI at 3 months, and 601 (49%) received a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) pre-PVAI. Per protocol, all patients who had CT scans that were positive for LAA thrombus received a TEE. There were 9 patients who had LAA thrombus on CT scan, but only 3 had LAA thrombus on TEE. Using TEE as the gold standard, only 3 patients had an LAA thrombus before PVAI; of these patients, 2 had chronic AF with average ejection fraction (EF) of 48% and 1 patient had PAF with EF 25%. No patients with PAF and normal EF had LAA thrombus. Patients with LAA thrombus pre-PVAI had lower EF than patients without LAA thrombus (40% vs. 53%, P = 0.007) but had similar LA size (5.0 vs. 4.5 cm, P = 0.77). No other differences in baseline characteristics were noted. Conclusions: In this registry of 1,221 patients, we did not observe LA thrombus in PAF patients with normal EF who present for PVAI. Prescreening CT alone is likely to be sufficient in paroxysmal AF patients with normal EF, and the use of TEE may not be needed.
A Simple, Reliable Method for the Determination of Chlorinated Volatile Organics in Human Breath and Air Using Glass Sampling Tubes

[Abstract A method for determining chloroform, 1,1,1 -trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethene in breath samples was developed. It consisted of collecting samples in 40-mL glasssilanized tubes that were 16-in. long and had a 0.64-in. diameter. The ends tapered, resulting in a tube with a 1/4-in. diameter that was 13/4-in. long; each end had a shutoff valve attached. One end had a strip of rubber tube attached to the shutoff valve for collecting the breath sample, and the other end contained a 1/4-in. Swagelok nut with a rubber septum for withdrawing the sample. Samples were withdrawn using a pressure-lock, gaslight syringe, and they were injected onto a gas chromatograph fitted with an electron-capture detector. The analyles were stable for at least 22 days in these tubes. The method detection limit was determined to be 0.03, 0.08, 0.04, and 0.04 pg/mt for chloroform, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethene, respectively. Precision, based on 13 injections, was determined to be 13% for 0.09 pg chloroform, 13% for 0.21 pg 1,1,1trichloroethane, 8% for 0.16 pg carbon tetrachloride, and 14% for 0.1 pg trichloroethene. In all, the proposed method is a sensitive and reliable one for determining volatile organic compounds in breath and a method that can also be applied to air sampling.
Cross-talk attack monitoring and localization in all-optical networks

The effects of an attack connection can propagate quickly to different parts of an all-optical transparent network. Such attacks affect the normal traffic and can either cause service degradation or outright service denial. Quick detection and localization of an attack source can avoid losing large amounts of data in an all-optical network. Attack monitors can collect the information from connections and nodes for diagnostic purpose. However, to detect attack sources, it is not necessary to put monitors at all nodes. Since those connections affected by the attack connection would provide valuable information for diagnosis, we show that by placing a relatively small number of monitors on a selected set of nodes in a network is sufficient to achieve the required level of performance. However, the actual monitor placement, routing, and attack diagnosis are challenging problems that need research attention. In this paper, we first develop our models of crosstalk attack and monitor node. With these models, we prove the necessary and sufficient condition for one-crosstalk-attack diagnosable networks. Next, we develop a scalable diagnosis method which can localize the attack connection efficiently with sparse monitor nodes in the network.
Streptococcus zooepidemicus Myocardial Abscessation in a 1-Month-Old Thoroughbred Foal

Abstract A 1-month-old male Thoroughbred foal was presented at necropsy. A focal purulent lesion was observed in the right ventricular free wall of the myocardium. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Streptococcus zooepidemicus myocardial abscessation in an equine.
Kalman Filter for Linear Fractional Order Systems

Inthispaper,thediscretetimeKalman filterforlinearfractionalordersystemsdefinedbyCaputofractionalorder derivatives is derived. In contradistinction to the existing fractional Kalman filter developed by using the Grundwald–Letnikov definition, the new fractional Kalman filter established by using the Caputo definition provides a new estimation tool for solving practical state estimation problems for fractional order systems given by the Caputo definition. By using this fractional Kalman filter, the numerical example about a simple springmass-damper system is shown and some important properties of this filter are investigated. All these properties are also examined numerically by Monte Carlo simulations.
Comparative acute sensitivity of larval topsmelt, Atherinops affinis, and inland silverside, Menidia beryllina, to 11 chemicals

Larval topsmelt (Atherinops affinis) and inland silversides (Menidia beryllina) were exposed in 96-h static acute toxicity tests to 11 chemicals to determine the relative sensitivity of the two atherinid species. High to low LC50 ratios for endosulfan, methoxychlor, carbophenothion, chlorpyrifos, terbufos, fenvalerate, permethrin, 4-nitrophenol, and sodium lauryl sulfate were within a factor of <2 for the two species. Atherinops affinis was more sensitive to both azinphos-methyl and 2,4-dinitrophenol by factors of 6.7 and 4.4, respectively. Comparisons of the relative sensitivity of Atherinops affinis with three freshwater fish species (Lepomis macrochirus, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Pimephales promelas) and one estuarine fish species (Cyprinodon variegatus) are presented. Sensitivities were similar between Atherinops affinis and the two most sensitive freshwater species, Lepomis macrochirus and Oncorhynchus mykiss. Atherinops affinis is easily transported, cultured, and maintained in the laboratory and readily adaptable for use in toxicological studies.
Use of Positive Behavior Support to Address the Challenging Behavior of Young Children Within a Community Early Childhood Program

This study examined the effects yielded from the implementation of assessment-based behavior support plans on the engagement and problem behavior of three young children with behavioral challenges ...
Design challenges in high performance three-dimensional circuits

The initial focus of the presentation will be on reviewing the fundamental trends specific to 3-D circuits and systems, including the many opportunities and challenges of this exciting new technology. A short review of the MIT Lincoln Laboratories 3-D manufacturing technology will follow. A summary of some primary issues in the physical design of 3-D systems will be reviewed. This discussion will be followed by a review of current research in the area of on-chip 3-D computer network topologies; specifically, 3-D networks-on-chip. A discussion of the so-called Rochester Cube will then be presented in the context of its relative impact and importance. Circuit design issues will be discussed and experimental results will be reviewed. The presentation will conclude with a review of some near-term and long term research problems in 3-D systems. Categories & Subject Descriptors: B.7 INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, B.7.1 Types and Design Styles, Advanced technologies, Algorithms implemented in hardware, Microprocessors and microcomputers, VLSI (very large scale integration) General Terms: Performance, Design, Reliability Bio Eby G. Friedman received the B.S. degree from Lafayette College in 1979, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Irvine, in 1981 and 1989, respectively, all in electrical engineering. From 1979 to 1991, he was with Hughes Aircraft Company. He has been with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Rochester since 1991, where he is a Distinguished Professor, and the Director of the High Performance VLSI/IC Design and Analysis Laboratory. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. His current research and teaching interests are in high performance synchronous digital and mixed-signal microelectronic circuit design. He is the author of more than 325 papers and book chapters, several patents, and the author or editor of ten books in the fields of high speed and low power CMOS design techniques, high speed interconnect, and the theory and application of synchronous clock and power distribution networks. He previously was the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Systems, and a recipient of the University of Rochester Graduate Teaching Award, and a College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Friedman is a Senior Fulbright Fellow and an IEEE Fellow. Copyright is held by the author/owner(s). GLSVLSI’09, May 10–12, 2009, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. ACM 978-1-60558-522-2/09/05.
The Gut Microbiome in Intestinal Fibrosis: Environmental Protector or Provocateur?

In individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases, intestinal fibrosis is a serious clinical complication with no specific therapies. Patients develop bowel fistulae and strictures that usually require surgery and often reoccur. The main driver of gut fibrogenesis is believed to be chronic inflammation, which leads to mesenchymal cell recruitment and activation. Recent findings suggest that the environment--in particular, the microbiome--plays a critical role in this process.
A double-spacer technology for the formation of very narrow emitter (0.3 /spl mu/m) double-polysilicon bipolar transistors using 0.8-/spl mu/m photolithography

Emitter widths of 0.3 /spl mu/m on double-polysilicon bipolar transistors are achieved using 0.8-/spl mu/m photolithography and a double-spacer process. The emitter width reduction is confirmed with structural and electrical measurements. The double-spacer device exhibits superior low current f/sub T/ and f/sub max/.
A 77 GHz SiGe power amplifier for potential applications in automotive radar systems

We present the performance of a 77 GHz power amplifier for potential applications directed towards automotive radar systems. The circuit was fabricated in a SiGe bipolar preproduction technology. A balanced two-stage common emitter circuit topology was used to achieve 6.1 dB of power gain at 77 GHz and 11.6 dBm output power at 1dB compression. The power amplifier uses a single 2.5 V supply and was fully integrated (including matching elements) to demonstrate its low-cost potential. First experimental results show its broadband characteristic from 40 GHz to 80 GHz and its temperature dependence up to 130/spl deg/C.
Factor Invariance and the Life Satisfaction Index

This investigation of the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI) supports findings by Hoyt and Creech (1983) that indicate Adams' (1969) proposed factor structure is not invariant across groups. Two reduced factor models, proposed by Hoyt and Creech and based on a subset of LSI items, were studied with our sample (two levels each of income and age, N = 791). Our work confirms that the Hoyt and Creech 8-item LSI reveals the more stable factor structure of those examined. In addition, we found that the 8-item index has adequate statistical power to be of benefit to those investigators looking at quantitative differences in life satisfaction, with reasonable assurance that older and/or higher-income individuals are interpreting the items in similar ways.
Alcohol Abuse Enhances Neuroinflammation and Impairs Immune Responses in an Animal Model of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Encephalitis

Neuroinflammatory disorders (including human immunodeficiency virus-1 encephalitis, HIVE) are associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory brain injury, and excessive alcohol use can exacerbate tissue damage. Using a murine model of HIVE, we investigated the effects of alcohol abuse on the clearance of virus-infected macrophages and neuroinflammation. Severe combined immunodeficient mice were reconstituted with human lymphocytes, and encephalitis was induced by intracranial injection of HIV-1-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (HIV-1 + MDM). Animals were fed an ethanol-containing diet beginning 2 weeks before lymphocyte engraftment and for the entire duration of the experiment. Lymphocyte engraftment was not altered by ethanol exposure. Alcohol-mediated immunosuppression in ethanol-fed mice was manifested by a significant decrease in CD8 + /interferon-γ + T lymphocytes, a fivefold increase in viremia, and diminished expression of immunoproteasomes in the spleen. Although both groups showed similar amounts of CD8 + T-lymphocyte infiltration in brain areas containing HIV-1 + MDMs, ethanol-fed mice featured double the amounts of HIV-1 + MDMs in the brain compared to controls. Ethanol-exposed mice demonstrated higher microglial reaction and enhanced oxidative stress. Alcohol exposure impaired immune responses (increased viremia, decreased immunoproteasome levels, and prevented efficient elimination of HIV-1 + MDMs) and enhanced neuroinflammation in HIVE mice. Thus, alcohol abuse could be a co-factor in progression of HIV-1 infection of the brain.
Simultaneous clustering and attribute discrimination

We propose a new algorithm that performs clustering and feature weighting simultaneously and in an unsupervised manner. The proposed algorithm is computationally and implementationally simple, and learns a different set of feature weights for each cluster. The cluster dependent feature weights have two advantages. First, they help in partitioning the data set into more meaningful clusters. Second, they can be used as part of a more complex learning system to enhance its learning behavior. The performance of the proposed algorithm is illustrated by using it to segment real color images.
Nonpregnant Sheep Uterine Type I and Type III Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression Is Differentially Regulated by Estrogen

The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of estrogen on the expression of neuronal and endothelial isoforms of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) in myometrium, endometrium, and caruncle (nonglandular endometrium) in nonpregnant sheep. Twenty sheep were castrated during synchronized estrus (Days 14-16) and 4 days after surgery treated i.v. through the jugular with 100 microg/day of estradiol-17beta for 5 (n = 6) or 8 (n = 6) days or with vehicle (n = 8). Nitric oxide synthase mRNA was measured by ribonuclease protection assay, and NOS protein mass was measured by Western immunoblotting. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test. The three distinct uterine compartments studied contained the mRNA and protein for the neuronal (type I NOS) and the endothelial (type III NOS) isoforms of NOS. However, no inducible NOS was detected. Estrogen exhibited a differential effect on NOS expression in a tissue compartment- and NOS isoform-specific manner. In myometrium and caruncles, but not in endometrium, type I NOS mRNA and protein mass increased significantly (p < 0.05) after 5 or 8 days of estrogen. In contrast, type III NOS increased significantly in myometrium only after 8 days, whereas in endometrium and caruncles the increase was significant in the 5-day treatment group (p < 0.05). We conclude that the expression of type I NOS and type III NOS in the uterus are differentially regulated by estrogen. This differential regulation suggests that the NO produced within the uterus serves more than one physiological role. In myometrium it may be a uterorelaxant and regulate glucose utilization, and in endometrium and myometrium it may regulate blood flow.
Circulation and melting under the Ross Ice Shelf: estimates from evolving CFC, salinity and temperature fields in the Ross Sea

Temperature, salinity and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 11, 12 and 113 were measured on a line ofstations along the front of the Ross Ice Shelf in the austral summers of 1984, 1994 and 2000. Water mass distributions were similar each year but with high variability in the cross-sectional areas. CFC concentrations increased and salinity decreased with time throughout the water column. CFC saturation levels in the shelfand surf ace waters also increased with time and ranged from 43% to 90%. The undersaturation was due to inflow of low-CFC modified Circumpolar Deep Water, gas exchange limited by sea ice cover and isolation of water from the atmosphere beneath the ice shelf. The residence time of dense shelf waters resulting from sea ice formation is less well constrained by the chemical data than is the strong flow into the Ross Ice Shelfcavity. Shelfwaters are transf ormed over about 3.5 years, by net basal melting ofthe ice shelf , into fresher Ice Shelf Water (ISW), which emerges as a large plume near the central ice front at temperatures below the sea surface freezing point. We estimate an average ISW production rate of 0.86 Sv and an average net basal melt rate of 60 km 3 /year for the Ross Ice Shelf exceeding a 300 m draft (75% of the ice cavity) during recent decades from box and stream tube models fit to all ofthe CFC and salinity data. Model fits to the individual data sets suggest ISW production and net basal melt rate variability due to interannual changes on a shorter time scale than our observations. ISW production based on the CFC budget is better constrained than net basal melting based on thermohaline data, with a heat budget yielding a rate ofonly 20 km 3 /yr. Reconciling differences between apparent freshwater and temperature changes under the ice shelfinvolves considerations ofmixing, f and the flow ofmeltwater across the ice shelf grounding line. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Occurrence of Azoxystrobin, Propiconazole, and Selected Other Fungicides in US Streams, 2005–2006

Fungicides are used to prevent foliar diseases on a wide range of vegetable, field, fruit, and ornamental crops. They are generally more effective as protective rather than curative treatments, and hence tend to be applied before infections take place. Less than 1% of US soybeans were treated with a fungicide in 2002 but by 2006, 4% were treated. Like other pesticides, fungicides can move-off of fields after application and subsequently contaminate surface water, groundwater, and associated sediments. Due to the constant pressure from fungal diseases such as the recent Asian soybean rust outbreak, and the always-present desire to increase crop yields, there is the potential for a significant increase in the amount of fungicides used on US farms. Increased fungicide use could lead to increased environmental concentrations of these compounds. This study documents the occurrence of fungicides in select US streams soon after the first documentation of soybean rust in the US and prior to the corresponding increase in fungicide use to treat this problem. Water samples were collected from 29 streams in 13 states in 2005 and/or 2006, and analyzed for 12 target fungicides. Nine of the 12 fungicides were detected in at least one stream sample and at least one fungicide was detected in 20 of 29 streams. At least one fungicide was detected in 56% of the 103 samples, as many as five fungicides were detected in an individual sample, and mixtures of fungicides were common. Azoxystrobin was detected most frequently (45% of 103 samples) followed by metalaxyl (27%), propiconazole (17%), myclobutanil (9%), and tebuconazole (6%). Fungicide detections ranged from 0.002 to 1.15 μg/L. There was indication of a seasonal pattern to fungicide occurrence, with detections more common and concentrations higher in late summer and early fall than in spring. At a few sites, fungicides were detected in all samples collected suggesting the potential for season-long occurrence in some streams. Fungicide occurrence appears to be related to fungicide use in the associated drainage basins; however, current use information is generally lacking and more detailed occurrence data are needed to accurately quantify such a relation. Maximum concentrations of fungicides were typically one or more orders of magnitude less than current toxicity estimates for freshwater aquatic organisms or humans; however, gaps in current toxicological understandings of the effects of fungicides in the environment limit these interpretations.
Epitope-specific antibody response to the surface antigen of duck hepatitis B virus in infected ducks.

Abstract In order to investigate the immune response to duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection, newly hatched DHBV DNA negative ducklings were injected with infectious serum of sufficiently low DHBV DNA titer to allow clearance of viremia. Of 20 injected ducklings, 13 (65%) became viremic. Of these, 6 (46%) cleared virus from the serum 3 to 22 weeks postinjection. The convalescent sera of these 6 animals were tested for an epitope-specific antibody response in a highly specific competitive inhibition assay using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against duck hepatitis B surface antigen (DHBsAg) that had been well-characterized. All 6 animals recovering from DHBV infection developed antibodies to epitopes on the preS and S proteins of DHBV. Antibody responses were highly variable with marked differences between animals in the extent and specificity of the antibody response. The humoral response to DHBsAg was prolonged in some animals but transient in others. No antibody to preS or S was detected in either preimmune sera or sera of control animals from an uninfected flock. Infected animals that did not clear viremia also remained antibody negative. The humoral responses to neutralizing preS epitopes III and V were weak but antibodies to two immunodominant epitopes on the preS region (II and B) were present in all 6 animals. The humoral response to the two epitopes in the S region was transient and of lower titer when compared to the two immunodominant preS epitopes. The two immunodominant preS epitopes may play an important role in clearance of DHBV infection in ducks.
Predictors of bone mineral density in african-american and caucasian college-aged women.

Background: Research regarding risk factors and prevalence of low bone min-eral density (BMD) among African-American and Caucasian college-aged wom-en are limited. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine if selected predictors of BMD in African-American and Caucasian college-aged women differ by race.Methods: A total of 101 local African-American (n=50) and Caucasian (n=51) females, ages 18 to 30 years, were in this study. All data were collected in the Bone Density and Body Composition Laboratory. BMD was measured using DXA technology. Race, family history of osteoporosis, BMI, current physical activity, osteoporosis knowledge, length of time on oral contraceptives, age at menarche and calcium intake were included in the multiple regression analyses with spinal and femoral BMD as dependent variables.Results: Overall, 38.6% had low spinal BMD and 7.9% had low femoral BMD. BMI (β=0.073, R2 = .148, P = .001, 95% CI [0.030, 0.116]) and current physical activity (β=0.071, R2 = .148, P = .017, 95% CI [0.013, 0.129]) were the only variables that were statistically significant in predicting spinal BMD. BMI (β=0.056, R2 = .13, P = .010, 95% CI [0.014, 0.098]) and current physical activ-ity (β=0.078, R2 = .13, P = .007, 95% CI [0.022, 0.134]) were also the only varia-bles that were statistically significant in predicting femoral BMD. Race was not a significant predictor of spinal or femoral BMD.Conclusion: It is imperative for both African-American and Caucasian women to engage in osteoporosis-preventive behaviors.
Molecular Rearrangements on Chromosome 11q23 Predominate in Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Are Associated With Specific Biologic Variables and Poor Outcome

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants generally shows distinctive biologic features and has a poor prognosis. Cytogenetic studies indicate that many infant leukemias have chromosome 11q23 translocations. Because of these findings and the distinct clinical features of infant leukemia, we investigated 30 cases of infant ALL for molecular defects of 11q23. Fourteen cases had cytogenetic abnormalities of 11q23, and all of them showed 11q23 rearrangements at the molecular level. An additional seven cases also had 11q23 molecular rearrangements, including one with normal cytogenetic analysis. Molecular abnormalities of 11q23 were significantly correlated with adverse prognostic factors, including age under 6 months, hyperleukocytosis, CD10- phenotype, and early treatment failure. Molecular analysis identified a group of infants with germline 11q23 that had a very good treatment outcome with a projected event-free survival of 80% at median follow-up of 46 months compared to 15% in infants with rearranged 11q23 (P < .001). These findings suggest that a high proportion (70%) of infants with ALL have 11q23 rearrangements and that these rearrangements are not always detectable by cytogenetic analysis. The presence of germline 11q23 DNA may identify a subgroup of infant ALL patients with a good outcome using current therapy and a different etiology for their ALL.
Psychological Factors in the ACL Reconstruction Population: Are They Predictive of Patient Outcomes?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction research has focused on technical aspects of surgery and rehabilitation. These factors however may only partially contribute to patient outcome [50]. Less attention has been paid to psychological factors that may influence an athlete’s return to sport [8, 50, 73, 106, 107]. Despite successful ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation as determined by pre- and postoperative comparisons of patient-perceived function and symptoms [92] and performance-based tests such as the single and triple hop for distance [38, 44, 75, 87], the percentage of patients that successfully return to preinjury sports participation levels is less impressive. Improving our understanding of a patient’s psychological profile prior to ACL reconstruction, rehabilitation, and return to sport may assist the surgical and rehabilitative decision-making process.
Relationship of verbal ability and working memory to spelling achievement and learning to spell

Abstract Several research studies (Frith, 1978, 1980; Ormrod, 1985, 1986a) point to the notion that good spellers attend closely to the letters of the words they read, but that poor spellers with good reading skills (dysgraphic spellers) do not. Two possible explanations for this difference in reading style are that (a) good spellers are slower readers than dysgraphic spellers, and (b) good spellers have greater working memory capacity than dysgraphic spellers. Forty‐eight undergraduates were administered a spelling achievement test, a learning‐to‐spell task, the Iowa Silent Reading Tests (ISRT), and a modification of Daneman and Carpenter's (1980) measure of working memory. Positive correlations between spelling tasks and ISRT reading speed were contrary to the hypothesis that good spellers were slower readers. In stepwise multiple regressions, working memory accounted for a significant portion of the variance of the spelling measures beyond that accounted for by the ISRT scores. It is concluded that an ...
Cost-sensitive Performance Metric for Comparing Multiple Ordinal Classifiers.

The surge of interest in personalized and precision medicine during recent years has increased the application of ordinal classification problems in biomedical science. Currently, accuracy, Kendall’s , and average mean absolute error are three commonly used metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of an ordinal classifier. Although there are benefits to each, no single metric considers the benefits of predictive accuracy with the tradeoffs of misclassification cost. In addition, decision analysis that considers pairwise analysis of the metrics is not trivial due to inconsistent findings. A new cost-sensitive metric is proposed to find the optimal tradeoff between the two most critical performance measures of a classification task – accuracy and cost. The proposed method accounts for an inherent ordinal data structure, total misclassification cost of a classifier, and imbalanced class distribution. The strengths of the new methodology are demonstrated through analyses of three real cancer datasets and four simulation studies. The new cost-sensitive metric proved better performance in its ability to identify the best ordinal classifier for a given analysis. The performance metric devised in this study provides a comprehensive tool for comparative analysis of multiple (and competing) ordinal classifiers. Consideration of the tradeoff between accuracy and misclassification cost in decisions regarding ordinal classification problems is imperative in real-world application. The work presented here is a precursor to the possibility of incorporating the proposed metric into a prediction modeling algorithm for ordinal data as a means of integrating misclassification cost in final model selection.
Out of the Study and Into the Field: Ethnographic Theory and Practice in French Anthropology

This book considers the role of fieldwork in the history of French anthropology. It is the latest addition, volume 22, to the ‘Methodology and History in Anthropology’ series by Berghahn Books, edi...
EFFECTS OF HORMONES AND DRUGS ON ACTIVITY OF L-GULONO-GAMMA-LACTONE HYDROLASE.

SummaryThe temporal sequence of changes in activity of L-gulono-γ-lactone hydrolase, in concentration of ascorbic acid in serum and in urine during replacement therapy of hypophysectomized rats with somato-tropin was examined. Results agree with the view that variations in activity of the hydro-lase are responsible for diminished synthesis of ascorbic acid after hypophysectomy and increased synthetic activity when somato-tropin is administered. The prompt decrease in activity of the hydrolase found after removal of the hypophysis did not occur in severe alloxan diabetes, indicating that permissive action of insulin may not be required for effects of somatotropin on hepatic protein anabolism. However, DL-ethionine rapidly depressed the activity of the hydrolase and of L-gulonate NADP oxidoreductase in a way analogous to long-term consequences of hypophysectomy. It appears that an alternative to the step involving lactonization of L-gulon-ic acid cannot be quantitatively important for synthesis of ascorbic ...
Hartree-Fock Multiplet Strengths for K I, Ca II, and Sc III.

Analytical approximations to Hartree-Fock wavefunctions have been computed for the 4s, 4p, and 3d states of K I, Ca II, and Sc III. Multiplet strengths for the 4s-4p and 4p-3d transitions in these ions are also computed. Examination of the results indicate that relaxation of the core in the field of the series electron accounts for a large portion of the core polarization effect, at least for the 3d level. Serious cancellation is found to invalidate the dipole velocity results of the 4p-3d transition in Ca II.
Collections of industrial and product design: a pathway for improved economic development connections among cultural institutions

This research investigates US cultural institutions housing collections of industrial and product design (IPD) and explores how IPD are collected, curated, and exhibited to uncover the barriers and opportunities that exist in connecting these collections to economic development. Based on key person interviews with nine institutions, this inquiry finds the collections generally are not externally integrated as a local or regional economic development asset. The full depths of these collections are somewhat concealed within the institutions because of their curation across departments or through a broader Decorative Arts lens. Using a framework of arts and culture research and development, this article argues that IPD collections represent an opportunity for greater engagement of cultural institutions in culturally oriented economic development strategies that pair their expertise and assets with those of the private sector.
Numerical and experimental exploration of thermal isolation in 3D systems using air gap and mechanically flexible interconnects

This paper proposes a thermal isolation technology using air gap and mechanically flexible interconnects (MFIs) for heterogeneous 3-D integration. Thermal modeling shows that the proposed architecture achieves a temperature reduction of approximately 40.0% in the low-power tier compared to conventional approaches using microbumps and underfill. To demonstrate the technology, a two-tier testbed is fabricated, assembled and tested. The experimental results of test cases show an average temperature reduction of approximately 30.0% in the low-power tier.
Strategies for Improving Instructor-Student Communication in Online Education

This chapter identifies potential communication barriers between instructor and students in an online educational environment, and suggests ways to reduce or eliminate them. There are at least five such barriers – social distance; conceptual confusion; fear and mistrust; isolation and disconnectedness; and lost efficacy – which, when present, are likely to diminish the effectiveness of an online course. Several approaches to structuring online lecture notes and composing individual student messages are proposed that are hypothesized to increase the likelihood that student satisfaction and learning goals will be achieved. It is assumed that the application of these communication tactics will enhance the attractiveness of online courses, particularly among students who would not otherwise have access to higher education. Suggestions for future research are proposed.