cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why aren't identical twins linguistically identical? Genetic, prenatal and postnatal factors.

Results of twin studies clearly demonstrate that genetic factors play an important role in the rate of language acquisition and linguistic proficiency attained by normal and impaired children and adults [see Stromswold, K. (2001). The heritability of language: A review and meta-analysis of twin, adoption and linkage studies. Language, 77, 647–723.]. That said, twin-based heritability estimates for language rarely exceed .6 and monozygotic (MZ) twins (who are usually assumed to have identical genetic and environmental endowments) sometimes have very different linguistic profiles. In addition, twins are more likely to suffer linguistic delays and impairments than singletons. Postnatal factors, such as differences in linguistic input twins receive, are usually assumed to be the major reason for these findings. This paper discusses how genetic, epigenetic, and perinatal environmental factors can lower heritability estimates for language, cause MZ twins to be linguistically discordant, and increase the risk of language impairments in twins. We present results from our ongoing Perinatal Environment and Genetic Interaction (PEGI) study that suggest that perinatal environmental factors affect linguistic development more than postnatal factors, and that postnatal factors affect cognitive development more than perinatal factors. Because perinatal factors are overwhelming biological, whereas postnatal factors tend to be psychosocial (e.g., how and how much parents speak to their children), these results support nativist/biological theories of language and language development and call into question empiricist/emergentist theories. These results are also consistent with modularist theories of language. We end by suggesting new methods that can be used to tease apart the effects of prenatal and postnatal environment and to investigate how these factors interact with genetic factors.
Development and characterization of fluorescently-labeled myosin light chain kinase calmodulin-binding domain peptides.

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinases such as myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), calmodulin kinase II, and phosphorylase kinase contain specific sequences responsible for binding calmodulin. These regions are known as calmodulin-binding domains and in many cases are contained within sequences that are short enough to be synthesized by solidphase techniques. The ability to chemically-synthesize target enzyme calmodulin-binding domains has permitted the use of a variety of biophysical techniques to study the interactions between calmodulin and calmodulin-binding domain peptides. The work reviewed here describes the development and characterization of peptides based on the sequence, of the calmodulin-binding domain of skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase which were labeled with the fluorescent reagent, acrylodan. Data are presented demonstrating the use of fluorescently-labeled peptides to study various aspects of calmodulin-peptide interactions including binding affinity, stoichiometry, specificity, changes in peptide conformation, and thermal stability of the peptide-calmodulin complex. These data indicate the peptides exhibit many of the salient features seen with calmodulin-target enzyme interactions. The fluorescently-labeled peptides should thus serve as useful models for studying calmodulin-target enzyme interactions at the molecular level.
Fluorescence energy transfer between coumarin laser dyes co-bound to poly(methacrylic acid) in water

Abstract Coumarin laser dyes have been shown to undergo efficient energy transfer when solubilized and co-bound to poly(methacrylic acid (PMAA) in water at pH 3.0. Under these conditions dyes are bound in relative proximity (about 5.0 nm) within microdomains of the polymer in its compact or hypercoloid form. Energy transfer efficiencies as high as 78% (assumed Forster dipole mechanism) have been measured from the fluorescence data for coumarin pairs displaying a good overlap of absorption and emission spectra.
A tool for combination-based prioritization and reduction of user-session-based test suites

Test suite prioritization and reduction are two approaches to managing large test suites. They play an important role in regression testing, where a large number of tests accumulate over time from previous versions of the system. Accumulation of tests is exacerbated in user-session-based testing of web applications, where field usage data is continually logged and converted into test cases. This paper presents a tool that allows testers to easily collect, prioritize, and reduce user-session-based test cases. Our tool provides four contributions: (1) guidance to users on how to configure their web server to log important usage information, (2) automated parsing of web logs into XML formatted test cases that can be used by test replay tools, (3) automated prioritization of test cases by length-based and combinatorial-based criteria, and (4) automated reduction of test cases by combinatorial coverage.
On the influence of boundary layer friction on mixed Rossby-gravity waves

A model based on vertically integrated boundary layer equations is used to study the influence of friction on equatorial mixed Rossby-gravity waves of various scales. It is assumed that the boundary layer pressure is completely determined by an interior solution for mixed Rossby-gravity waves of vertical wavelengths in the range 9–12 km. Except for the longest zonal scales the low level convergence pattern is controlled primarily by friction and the convergence is a maximum near critical latitudes where the wave frequency equals plus or minus the Coriolis frequency. Nonlinear advection in the boundary layer weakens the positive divergence maxima for long waves, but leaves the convergence maxima concentrated near the critical latitudes. A simple interactive model is formulated in which the CISK process for mixed Rossby-gravity waves is parameterized by letting boundary layer convergence be a mass sink to the interior flow which is governed by the shallow water equations with an empirically derived 25 m equivalent depth. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1975.tb01664.x
On sharp frame diagonalization

Abstract It was recently shown that if M = Γ 1 ⊕ ⋯ ⊕ Γ k ∈ C n × n is a Jordan matrix with k nontrivial Jordan blocks Γ i , then M can be frame diagonalized by embedding M into a diagonalizable matrix in C ( n + l ) × ( n + l ) with l = k . This naturally motivates a pursuit of the best possible value of l for which this is possible. Here, we use Lidskii’s Theorem on eigenvalue perturbations to construct diagonalizing frames for l = k ☆ : max { gm M ( λ ) | λ ∈ σ ( M ) } . Moreover, we verify that k ☆ is sharp.
Proactive Productivity Management at Job Sites: Understanding Characteristics of Assumptions Made for Construction Processes during Planning Based on Case Studies and Interviews

AbstractDuring planning and execution of construction projects, project planners and managers make various assumptions with respect to execution of construction activities, availability of resources, suitability of construction methods, and status of preceding activities. However, not all of these assumptions are explicitly documented and verified before the construction activities start. Decisions made based on invalid assumptions can negatively impact the outcomes of construction projects, such as rework, activity delays, and extra material cost. To address the problems caused by invalid assumptions, this paper proposed to develop a formal approach to capture and represent assumptions and proactively verify assumptions to reduce the uncertainties associated with construction projects. To develop such a formal approach, an initial step is to identify characteristics of assumptions. The research team conducted two detailed case studies (i.e., a bridge rehabilitation project and a research lab renovation p...
Workshop addresses crustal carbon and its effect on electrical conductivity

As part of the long-term carbon cycle, carbonaceous vapor is generated by metamorphism of carbonate rocks and organic-rich sediments during burial in the crust, and by partial melting associated with subduction in the mantle. This vapor percolates through fracture systems in the crust, leaves traces in microfractures, and sometimes concentrates as graphite in fault zones. To explore the many-faceted problem of carbon distribution and detection in rocks and its influence on electrical conductivity, 40 petrologists and geophysicists from Europe and North America recently convened for an interdisciplinary workshop. The program featured prepared lectures and informal presentations, but was kept fluid and emphasized extended discussion.
Velocity measurements on a retreating blade in dynamic stall

The velocity field over a moderately low aspect ratio retreating rotor blade is investigated using particle image velocimetry as the two-bladed teetering rotor with cyclic pitch operates in a low-speed wind tunnel. The phase-averaged velocity field shows that the stall vortex circulation is comparable to the section dynamic lift, confirming it as a dynamic stall vortex (DSV). Strong tip vortex effects suppress stall at outboard locations. The DSV on the rotating blade after liftoff is elongated and remains in close proximity to the blade surface in contrast to classical two-dimensional DSV on non-rotating blades. The phase-averaged DSV is roughly 40 % weaker and spatially diffused than those observed in individual instantaneous velocity fields. Spanwise variations of the vortex are also discussed. Cycle-to-cycle variations of the instantaneous velocity fields suggest a radial-flow-induced stabilization in the strength, but not in the spatial location of the DSV.
Chemical recognition software

We have developed a capability to make real time concentration measurements of individual chemicals in a complex mixture using a multispectral laser remote sensing system. Our chemical recognition and analysis software consists of three parts: (1) a rigorous multivariate analysis package for quantitative concentration and uncertainty estimates, (2) a genetic optimizer which customizes and tailors the multivariate algorithm for a particular application, and (3) an intelligent neural net chemical filter which pre-selects from the chemical database to find the appropriate candidate chemicals for quantitative analyses by the multivariate algorithms, as well as providing a quick-look concentration estimate and consistency check. Detailed simulations using both laboratory fluorescence data and computer synthesized spectra indicate that our software can make accurate concentration estimates from complex multicomponent mixtures, even when the mixture is noisy and contaminated with unknowns.
Failure of a “misattribution therapy” manipulation with a clinically relevant target behavior

To test the effects of attribution manipulations on a naturally occurring and clinically relevant problem behavior, 60 speech anxious subjects presented two speeches. Meaningless noise was presented during the first speech and absent from the second. Subjects were randomly assigned to three attribution conditions. Prior to the first speech, subjects in the Arousal condition were told that the effect of the noise was to increase physiological arousal. Control subjects were given no instructional set regarding the physiological effects of the noise. Sedation subjects were informed that the noise would have a decremental effect on physiological arousal. The results, which fail to replicate a reverse placebo effect previously reported in the attribution literature and support a placebo interpretation, especially among highly fearful subjects, suggest that successful misattribution is unlikely when subjects have had an adequate history of experience with the feared situation.
A polarographic study of the complexes of pontachrome violet sw

Abstract In a polarographic study of the aluminum, iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel, zinc, cadmium, manganese(II), and magnesium complexes with Pontachrome Violet SW, a 2.2'-dihydroxyazo dye, it was found that each complex produced a wave at more negative potentials than the dyo alone. Values for the diffusion current constant, I d , for each complex were calculated from data obtained for alkaline solutions. Calculations of the ratio of dye molecules to each cation gave maximum values corresponding to expected values based on the usual coordination number of the cation and a bidentate ligand.
6,7-Dihydroxy-1-oxoisoindoline-4-sulfonamide-containing HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors

Abstract Although an extensive body of scientific and patent literature exists describing the development of HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors, Merck’s raltegravir and Gilead’s elvitegravir remain the only IN inhibitors FDA-approved for the treatment of AIDS. The emergence of raltegravir-resistant strains of HIV-1 containing mutated forms of IN underlies the need for continued efforts to enhance the efficacy of IN inhibitors against resistant mutants. We have previously described bicyclic 6,7-dihydroxyoxoisoindolin-1-ones that show good IN inhibitory potency. This report describes the effects of introducing substituents into the 4- and 5-positions of the parent 6,7-dihydroxyoxoisoindolin-1-one platform. We have developed several sulfonamide-containing analogs that enhance potency in cell-based HIV assays by more than two orders-of-magnitude and we describe several compounds that are more potent than raltegravir against the clinically relevant Y143R IN mutant.
A Model of International Trade in Banking Services

This paper combines essential elements of the theory of intra-industry international trade with an imperfect-competition banking framework to develop a model of intra-industry international trade in banking services. The model yields the prediction that if, for instance, the production of lending services is labor intensive while the provision of deposit services is physical-capital-intensive, banks located in a foreign nation with a relatively larger labor endowment will export lending services while banks based in a domestic country with a relatively larger endowment of physical capital will export deposit services. These efficiency-based trade flows indicate that domestic borrowers and savers will be net recipients of credit and deposits, respectively, with foreign banks obtaining funds that permit them to act as net lenders to the domestic nation by borrowing from domestic banks in a global wholesale interbank funds market. A key implication of the model, therefore, is that attainment of profit-maximizing intra-industry flows of banking-service trade requires the smooth functioning of this interbank market.
Neuronal dye-sorption as a histochemical indicator of nervous activity.

PROTEIN extracts from electrically stimulated nervous tissue have been reported to undergo changes resembling those of reversible denaturation1. Denaturation of protein, however, enhances dye-protein interaction2. It was postulated, therefore, that excitation of nervous tissue could be demonstrated histochemically3.
The effect of hypophysectomy on the electrolyte content of Fundulus kansae held in fresh water and in sea water.

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of hypophysectomy on serum and whole-body concentrations of sodium, potassium and calcium was measured on Fundulus kansae adapted to fresh water (13 mOsm/kg) and to sea water (1000 mOsm/kg). 2. 2. The following results were obtained following hypophysectomy of freshwater-adapted killifish: (a) Serum and total-body sodium levels fell while urine sodium levels rose, (b) serum and urine calcium levels rose, total-body calcium was not affected, (c) serum and total-body potassium levels, hematocrits and total-body water did not change. 3. 3. The following changes were noted after adaptation to sea water (controls): (a) Serum sodium levels rose slightly, total-body sodium rose 22 per cent, (b) water content and whole-body calcium also rose, serum calcium levels were similar to fresh-water values, (c) serum and total-body potassium levels dropped. 4. 4. The following changes were noted following hypophysectomy of sea-water-adapted animals: (a) Serum and whole-body sodium levels rose, (b) hematocrits dropped, (c) potassium and calcium levels were not affected, nor was percentage of water.
Racial Differences in Behavior Disorders of Children.

Abstract This study compared black and white children on the Behavior Problem Checklist. Data on 1,162 white and 614 black children were obtained from school records and from teachers and were analyzed using multiple regression analysis of variance. Blacks were judged to have a greater frequency of behavior disorders than whites. A number of interactions of race with other variables were found, and their meanings were discussed.
Transient stability augmentation with a braking resistor using optimal aiming strategies

A braking resistor is used to improve the transient stability of a one-machine, infinite-busbar system. The minimum-angle and minimum-norm aiming strategies are used to provide explicit feedback solutions to the control problem. Several choices of the aim state are proposed. Simulation results show that both these methods result in an improvement of the critical clearing time, and that they result in a more desirable state trajectory than simple on/off control based on angular-velocity measurements. The sensitivity of the control strategies to inaccurate angle information is discussed.
Arsenic incorporation in a-Si:H

Abstract A chemical equilibrium model for PECVD of a-Si:H is used to interpret the irregular incorporation of As and P. The model shows that the irregularity occurs only for non-doping impurities; their distribution coefficient is inversely proportional to the rf plasma power, which leads to the large As concentration enhancement observed under low power growth conditions. A configuration energy diagram is proposed to account for this enhancement based on the preferential formation of stable, inactive As in a configuration other than the usual interconverting 3- and 4-fold coordinated sites.
Omalizumab therapy for asthma patients with poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy.

Abstract Background Omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, is administered by injection once or twice monthly in offices and clinics. It offers a potential alternative intervention for patients with allergic asthma that is not well controlled because of recalcitrant poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy. Objective To assess the effect of omalizumab therapy by measuring airway responsiveness to adenosine, a marker of allergic airway inflammation, and resource use. Methods Patients (N = 17) aged 6 to 26 years (mean age, 16.4 years) with poorly controlled persistent allergic asthma, less than 50% adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy, a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) of 60% predicted or higher, and adenosine provocation concentration that caused a decrease in FEV 1 of 20% (PC 20 ) of 60 mg/mL or less were randomized to receive 4 months of omalizumab or placebo in a double-blind, crossover trial with a 3- to 4-month washout between treatments. Patients were instructed to continue taking inhaled corticosteroids throughout the study. The PC 20 was measured before and after each period. Results Fifteen patients completed the study. The mean baseline PC 20 was 14.1 mg/mL (95% CI, 10.8–18.4 mg/mL). The fold change PC 20 was 0.9 (95% CI, 0.5–1.7) during placebo and 3.1 (95% CI, 1.6–6.2) during omalizumab treatment; the estimated ratio was 3.4 (95% CI, 1.2–9.3; P = .02). Six patients required one or more short courses of oral corticosteroids for asthma exacerbations during placebo, but none required this intervention during omalizumab. During the study, the median prescription refills for inhaled corticosteroids was 0.15 (95% CI, 0.00–0.33) canisters per month. Conclusion Omalizumab therapy is an alternative for patients with more severe poorly controlled asthma in whom adherence does not improve with conventional interventions. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00133042.
The Layered Structure of the Winter Atmospheric Boundary Layer in the Interior of Alaska

AbstractThe high-latitude winter atmospheric boundary layer of interior Alaska continually exhibits a complex layered structure as a result of extreme meteorological conditions. In this paper the occurrence of elevated inversions (EI), surface-based inversions (SBI), and stratified layers in the sub-Arctic from January 2000 to December 2009 is reported. This statistical analysis is based on radiosonde observation data from the Fairbanks National Weather Service station complemented by Winter Boundary Layer Experiment observations in the period 2010–11. This study found that SBIs occurred 64% of the time. An SBI occurred in combination with one, two, three, or four simultaneous EIs 84.86%, 48.49%, 21.23%, and 7.99% of the time, respectively, in 2326 total cases. The calculated mean SBI height was 377 m; EIs occurred at 1231, 2125, 2720, and 3125 m, respectively. This analysis was able to discriminate between locally controlled inversion layers and synoptic-dependent inversions and to identify their formati...
A Note on SERVQUAL Reliability and Validity in Information System Service Quality Measurement

Today's information system function includes a large service component. Recent research has examined the SERVQUAL instrument as a possible measure to assist managers and researchers in evaluating service quality. To further examine the appropriateness of the SERVQUAL measure, a large industry sample serves to verify the anticipated structure of the instrument. In addition, a high correlation with a common measure of user satisfaction indicates that the SERVQUAL metric may indeed represent accurate views of user perception. As such, the SERVQUAL instrument can serve as a useful indicator for information system managers attempting to identify areas of needed service improvement and to researchers seeking a success measure of information system services.
The Effectiveness of Usability Evaluation Methods: Determining the Appropriate Criteria

Because there are various measures for comparing methods, researchers in human-computer interaction generally find it difficult to make solid conclusions about a particular method. We consider some candidate measures (e.g., thoroughness, validity, reliability) of effectiveness and then provide a summary of studies that have compared usability evaluation methods (UEMs) using one or more of these measures. We find that studies do not always provide the appropriate descriptive statistics to make solid conclusions, especially in terms of validity. In addition, studies do not always compare UEMs to a standard yardstick such as end-user testing to establish an appropriate validity score. Finally, we provide some possible ways to address criterion deficiency and criterion contamination; two important considerations for researchers attempting to optimize the balance between ultimate and actual criteria.
Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle: multimodality assessment

A 24-year-old patient suffered blunt chest and abdominal trauma during a motor vehicle collision. The patient required multiple surgeries for hepatic injury. Conventional, contrast-enhanced CT of the chest had been performed, which, in retrospect, showed hypo-attenuation and subtle discontinuity within the endocardial region of the lateral left ventricular wall (Panel A), …
PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF PROGRESSIVE MATRICES AND TWO OTHER NONLANGUAGE TESTS OF MENTAL ABILITY1

Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (PM) consists of 60 "items" grouped in five sets. Each item presents a pattern from which one component has been excluded. The examinee is required to select the one of six or eight pieces that will complete the design. PM purports to measure an individual's capacity "to apprehend meaningless figures presented for his observation, see the relation between them, conceive the nature of the figure completing each system of relations presented, and, by so doing, develop a systematic method of reasoning." (Raven, 1956, p. 1)
Family functioning and maternal depression following premature birth

The families of 45 premature infants, 23 of whom weighed less than 1500 g at birth, were followed during their infants' hospitalization and early weeks at home. Mothers' perceptions of family adjustment and partner support, their descriptions of the impact of the infant on their families, and their levels of depression were measured at three time points: during hospitalization, immediately after discharge, and 6 weeks after homecoming. Neither infant birthweight nor demographic factors were significantly associated with any aspect of family functioning. Almost half the mothers reported symptoms associated with depression at all three time points. These mothers perceived family functioning to be further from the ideal, reported lower levels of partner support, and considered their infants to have had a more major impact on their lives than did mothers without depressive symptoms.
An Anticounterfeiting Strategy Using Numeric Tokens

The counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals continues to be a major worldwide problem with serious public health and economic consequences. In theory, anticounterfeiting tags could help to solve this problem. Unfortunately, there are currently no practical, effective tags that significantly resist counterfeiting. One possible solution is a relatively low-tech and low-cost approach called the ‘Call-in the Numeric Token’ (CNT) technique. It relies on participation by pharmaceutical customers (possibly including consumers). They check, via phone or the Internet, on the validity of the unique, random, unpredictable identity (ID) number assigned to each pharmaceutical container they possess. The numerical container ID is a virtual tag or token, rather than a physical one that is susceptible to counterfeiting. Counterfeiters are hampered by being unable to reliably guess valid IDs, by being unable to easily acquire large numbers of existing valid IDs, and by being detected when multiple customers report the same IDs. At least some counterfeit products can be detected even if only a small percentage of customers participate. The technique is particularly well suited for single-dose (‘unit of use’) packaging, but can otherwise be adapted and automated for resellers, wholesalers, repackagers, and other high-volume customers. While this technique will not completely eliminate counterfeiting, using the CNT technique can make pharmaceutical counterfeiting easier to detect and study.
The role of p70S6K in hepatic stellate cell collagen gene expression and cell proliferation

During fibrosis the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) undergoes a complex activation process characterized by increased proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. The 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) is activated by mitogens, growth factors, and hormones in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent manner. p70S6K regulates protein synthesis, proliferation, and cell cycle control. Because these processes are involved in HSC activation, we investigated the role of p70S6K in HSC proliferation, cell cycle control, and type I collagen expression. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulated p70S6K phosphorylation, which was blocked by LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Rapamycin blocked phosphorylation of p70S6K but had no affect on PDGF-induced Akt phosphorylation, positioning p70S6K downstream of Akt. Transforming growth factor-β, which inhibits HSC proliferation, did not affect PDGF-induced p70S6K phosphorylation. Rapamycin treatment did not affect α1(I) collagen mRNA but reduced type I collagen protein secretion. Expression of smooth muscle α-actin was not affected by rapamycin treatment, indicating that HSC activation was not altered. Rapamycin inhibited serum-induced DNA synthesis ∼2-fold. Moreover, rapamycin decreased expression of cyclins D1, D3, and E but not cyclin D2, Rb-Ser780, and Rb-Ser795. Together, p70S6K plays a crucial role in HSC proliferation, collagen expression, and cell cycle control, thus representing a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.
Cardiopulmonary Support for Complex Angioplasty

The role of cardiopulmonary support (CPS) in interventional procedures is currently in evolution. The authors review the clinical applications and technical considerations involved in CPS including discussion of indications, hemodynamic effects, complications, and prophylactic versus stand-by techniques. Use of the technique in high risk percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty patients is discussed. (J Interven Cardiol 1995;8:249–255)
When is technology worth the trouble

Human beings are unique in the degree to which they rely on technology to interface with their environment. Applications of biologically derived foraging models have typically taken this technology as a given when analyzing ethnographic and prehistoric subsistence practices. This paper departs from the standard approach by treating investment in technology as a decision variable and looking at how investment decisions might be expected to vary with changes in both the time available to forage and the nature of the local resource base. The study draws attention to the importance of understanding both the costs and the benefits of technological investment and how they relate to one another. We use ethnographic and hypothetical data to demonstrate how one might represent these relationships mathematically, discuss the importance for understanding investment decisions, and explore their implications in circumstances where resources are randomly and non-randomly encountered.
EFFECT OF WEIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND SKINNING OF BROILER DRUMSTICKS ON BATTER AND BREADING ADHESION1

The relationship of the original weight of a broiler drumstick to % coating pickup, % cooking loss, % crumb loss, and % overall yield was studied. No significant correlation was found between size and % coating pickup, but there were significant correlations between the other variables. Correlation between original weight of a broiler drumstick and cooking loss was highly significant (P = .0001), and the regression equation y = 32.58 – 0.1081x was calculated. Similiarly, the relation between % crumb loss and original weight of a drumstick was highly significant (P = .0001) and the regression equation y =−0.2196 + 0.0207x was calculated. The % overall yield also was dependent upon original weight (P = .0003). The regression equation y = 72.97 – .1010x describes that relationship. The effect of temperature of broiler drumsticks prior to batter and breading, on % coating pickup, % cooking loss, % crumb loss, and % overall yield was studied. The % coating pickup of drumsticks coated at room temperature (23C) was not significantly different (P<0.05) from those coated at refrigerator temperatures (4C), with means of 5.34%, and 5.05%, respectively. Those drumsticks coated at 110C had a lower % coating pickup, possibly due to a drier skin surface and those coated at −15.5C had the least coating pickup. Poultry parts frozen before being coated had the highest cooking loss and those coated at 23C and 4C had significantly lower % cooking losses of 24.52% and 24.55%, respectively. The % crumb loss of broiler parts coated at 4C, 23C, and −15.5C of 1.72%, 1.52%, and 1.50% was significantly higher than drumsticks coated at 110C with 1.13% crumb loss, but the drumsticks coated frozen had very little coating pickup in the first place. The % overall yield of drumsticks coated at 23C (79.30%), and 4C (78.78%) was significantly higher than those coated at 110C (76.40%), and those had a significantly higher yield than drumsticks coated at −15.5C. The same variables used to study size and temperature effects were used to study differences in broiler drumsticks with and without skin, at 4C. Broiler drumsticks coated without skin had significantly increased coating pickup and decreased crumb loss over drumsticks with the skin intact. Cooking losses were significantly lower for drumsticks coated with the skin on, but the % overall yields of 7Z97% for those without skin, and 78.78% for those with skin were not significantly different.
The axial distribution of plasma membrane molecules in pseudoplasmodia of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum.

Abstract Five plasma membrane molecules were found to be non-uniformly distributed along the axis of the pseudoplasmodium of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum and were biochemically characterized. All five of the molecules were distinguished by their ability to bind the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and three were recognized by an antibody raised against pseudoplasmodial plasma membranes and exhaustively adsorbed against vegetative cells. The distribution of these molecules corresponded with the pattern of precursors of the terminally differentiated stalk cells and spores before these cells became irreversibly committed to their respective fates. At least four of the molecules appeared in hemispherical aggregates prior to the detection of prestalk or prespore cells, but were not present in undifferentiated vegetative cells.
Analysis of thermal performance of penetrated multi-layer insulation

Results of research performed for the purpose of studying the sensitivity of multi-layer insulation blanket performance caused by penetrations through the blanket are presented. The work described in this paper presents the experimental data obtained from thermal vacuum tests of various penetration geometries similar to those present on the Hubble Space Telescope. The data obtained from these tests is presented in terms of electrical power required sensitivity factors referenced to a multi-layer blanket without a penetration. The results of these experiments indicate that a significant increase in electrical power is required to overcome the radiation heat losses in the vicinity of the penetrations.
Nanoscale characterization of engineered cementitious composites (ECC)

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) are ultra-ductile fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. The nanoscale chemical and mechanical properties of three ECC formulae (one standard formula, and two containing nanomaterial additives) were studied using nanoindentation, electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Nanoindentation results highlight the difference in modulus between bulk matrix (~30 GPa) and matrix/fiber interfacial transition zones as well as between matrix and unreacted fly ash (~20 GPa). The addition of carbon black or carbon nanotubes produced little variation in moduli when compared to standard M45-ECC. The indents were observed by electron microscopy; no trace of the carbon black particles could be found, but nanotubes, including nanotubes bridging cracks, were easily located in ultrafine cracks near PVA fibers. Elemental analysis failed to show a correlation between modulus and chemical composition, implying that factors such as porosity have more of an effect on mechanical properties than elemental composition.
The role of anthropometric and nutritional factors on breast cancer risk in African-American women.

ObjectiveWhile the role of nutrition, physical activity and body size on breast cancer risk has been extensively investigated, most of these studies were conducted in Caucasian populations. However, there are well-known differences in tumour biology and the prevalence of these factors between African-American and Caucasian women. The objective of the present paper was to conduct a review of the role of dietary factors, anthropometry and physical activity on breast cancer risk in African-American women.DesignTwenty-six research articles that presented risk estimates on these factors in African-American women and five articles involving non-US black women were included in the current review.SettingRacial disparities in the impact of anthropometric and nutritional factors on breast cancer risk.SubjectsAfrican-American and non-US black women.ResultsBased on the few studies that presented findings in African-American women, an inverse association with physical activity was found for pre- and postmenopausal African-American women, while the association for anthropometric and other dietary factors, such as alcohol, was unclear. Studies assessing the effect by molecular subtypes in African-American women were too few and based on sample sizes too small to provide definitive conclusions.ConclusionsThe effect of certain nutrition and lifestyle factors on breast cancer in African-American women is not starkly distinct from those observed in white women. However, there is an enormous need for further research on this minority group to obtain more confirmatory findings.
Protacs for Treatment of Cancer

Protein degradation is the cell's mechanism of eliminating misfolded or unwanted proteins. The pathway by which proteins are degraded occurs through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Ubiquitin is a small 9-kD (kDa) protein that is attached to proteins. A minimum of four ubiquitins are required for proteins to be recognized by the degradation machinery, known as the 26S proteasome. Defects in ubiquitination have been identified in a number of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. We sought to exploit the delicate balance between protein synthesis and degradation to treat cancer by designing a chimeric molecule, known as Protac (Proteolysis Targeting Chimeric molecule). Protacs are heterobifunctional nanomolecules that are approximately 10 nm in size and can recruit proteins that cause cancer to the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery for degradation. In this review, we discuss the development of this novel technology for the treatment of cancer.
A picture is worth a thousandp values: On the irrelevance of hypothesis testing in the microcomputer age

Hypothesis testing, while by far the most common statistical technique for generating conclusions from data, is nonetheless not very informative. It emphasizes a banal and confusing question (“Is it true that some set of population means are not all identical to one another?”) whose answer is, in a mathematical sense, almost inevitably known (“No”). Hypothesis testing, as it is customarily implemented, ignores two issues that are generally much more interesting, important, and relevant: What is thepattern of population means over conditions, and what are the magnitudes of various variability measures (e.g., standard errors of the mean, estimates of population standard deviations)? The simple expedient of plotting relevant sample statistics with associated variability bars is a substantially better way of conveying the results of an experiment. In today’s microcomputer environment, there are many relatively cheap and easily available applications that allow one to do this. I make some brief, informal comments about some of these applications.
Of global space or perceived place? Comment on Kelly et al

Recently, Kelly et al . presented results of an orientation experiment with chicks and pigeons that involved training in a rectangular-shaped environment followed by testing in an L-shaped environment [[1][1]]. They interpreted the distribution of searches in the L-shaped environment as supporting a
Optimization of Apple Juice Production by Single Pass Metallic Membrane Ultrafiltration

Apple puree was treated with various amounts of commercial liquefaction enzyme (0%– 0.066%) for 2 hr at 50°C. To produce clarified juice purees were pumped through a metallic oxide membrane ultrafiltration system, consisting of 3.27 ft2 (0.304 m2) of membrane coated internally onto a l–1/4 inch (i.d.) × 10 ft (3.12 cm × 3.04 m) sintered stainless steel tubing. All enzyme treatments reduced viscosity 70–80% within 1 hr but steady state flux increased with higher concentrations of enzyme. Alcohol insoluble solids (AIS) and total pectins of the apple puree after enzyme treatment decreased as enzyme concentration increased to 0.044%. A large scale system, l–1/4 inch (i.d.) × 120 ft (3.12 cm × 36.48 m), was operated at 86% juice yield with minimal pressure drops as predicted by a mathematical model.
From user access patterns to dynamic hypertext linking

This paper describes an approach for automatically classifying visitors of a web site according to their access patterns. User access logs are examined to discover clusters of users that exhibit similar information needs; e.g., users that access similar pages. This may result in a better understanding of how users visit the site, and lead to an improved organization of the hypertext documents for navigational convenience. More interestingly, based on what categories an individual user falls into, we can dynamically suggest links for him to navigate. In this paper, we describe the overall design of a system that implements these ideas, and elaborate on the preprocessing, clustering, and dynamic link suggestion tasks. We present some experimental results generated by analyzing the access log of a web site.
The Hermeneutics of Touch: Uncovering Abhinavagupta's Tactile Terrain

This article introduces a “hermeneutics of touch” in order to uncover the place of tactile experience in the work of Abhinavagupta, the Kashmiri Hindu Tantric sage (c. 975-1025 C.E.). I focus on his understanding of the liberation of touch, especially as articulated in his Trankāloka (TĀ), his encyclopedic synthesis of Trika Śiva discourse and ritual. Inspired by the scholarship of the new emerging fields of anthropology of the senses as well as religion and the senses, I purposely break with the primary emphasis on vision and cognition seen in Abhinavagupta Studies, to reconsider the significance of the tactile sense.
Transverse-mode structure of a phase-conjugate oscillator based on Brillouin-enhanced four-wave mixing

A phase-conjugate oscillator consisting of a phase-conjugate mirror and a conventional mirror is discussed. The phase-conjugate mirror is based on a Brillouin-enhanced four-wave mixing process and produces a conjugate wave with no frequency shift and with a reflectivity greater than 100%. The beam divergence and near-field spot size of this oscillator have been measured for various cavity lengths and conventional mirror radii of curvature. A theoretical analysis of the mode structure of this oscillator has been performed assuming a Gaussian reflectivity profile for the phase-conjugate mirror. The measurements are in good agreement with the predictions of this model. >
Cell Number Regulator1 Affects Plant and Organ Size in Maize: Implications for Crop Yield Enhancement and Heterosis

Genes involved in cell number regulation may affect plant growth and organ size and, ultimately, crop yield. The tomato (genus Solanum) fruit weight gene fw2.2, for instance, governs a quantitative trait locus that accounts for 30% of fruit size variation, with increased fruit size chiefly due to increased carpel ovary cell number. To expand investigation of how related genes may impact other crop plant or organ sizes, we identified the maize (Zea mays) gene family of putative fw2.2 orthologs, naming them Cell Number Regulator (CNR) genes. This family represents an ancient eukaryotic family of Cys-rich proteins containing the PLAC8 or DUF614 conserved motif. We focused on native expression and transgene analysis of the two maize members closest to Le-fw2.2, namely, CNR1 and CNR2. We show that CNR1 reduced overall plant size when ectopically overexpressed and that plant and organ size increased when its expression was cosuppressed or silenced. Leaf epidermal cell counts showed that the increased or decreased transgenic plant and organ size was due to changes in cell number, not cell size. CNR2 expression was found to be negatively correlated with tissue growth activity and hybrid seedling vigor. The effects of CNR1 on plant size and cell number are reminiscent of heterosis, which also increases plant size primarily through increased cell number. Regardless of whether CNRs and other cell number-influencing genes directly contribute to, or merely mimic, heterosis, they may aid generation of more vigorous and productive crop plants.
Reliability and efficiency of electrical ground support equipment through automation, modularization, and standardization

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has been successfully designing and building spacecraft for decades. APL's success is due in part to a desire to seek further efficiencies and reliability in all aspects of development without compromising the quality of the end product. One area where efficiency and reliability are paramount is the integration and test (l&T) phase of spacecraft development. During this stage, any problem or issue can severely impact the program schedule and cost. A necessary component of the l&T campaign is the electrical ground support equipment (EGSE). Composed of both hardware and software, the EGSE allows the l&T team to test and verify the spacecraft on the ground. As part of the continuing effort to enhance reliability and efficiency, some level of automation has been incorporated into testing involving EGSE. In this paper we will present the current testing and automation methods and associated enabling technologies and provide insight into future EGSE enhancements, including modularization and standardization, that can further increase system reliability and efficiency.
Association between frontal cortex oxidative damage and beta-amyloid as a function of age in Down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability in children, and the number of adults with DS reaching old age is increasing. By the age of 40 years, virtually all people with DS have sufficient neuropathology for a postmortem diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Trisomy 21 in DS leads to an overexpression of many proteins, of which at least two are involved in oxidative stress and AD: superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and amyloid precursor protein (APP). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that DS brains with neuropathological hallmarks of AD have more oxidative and nitrosative stress than those with DS but without significant AD pathology, as compared with similarly aged-matched non-DS controls. The frontal cortex was examined in 70 autopsy cases (n=29 control and n=41 DS). By ELISA, we quantified soluble and insoluble Aβ40 and Aβ42, as well as oligomers. Oxidative and nitrosative stress levels (protein carbonyls, 4-hydroxy-2-trans-nonenal (HNE)-bound proteins, and 3-nitrotyrosine) were measured by slot-blot. We found that soluble and insoluble amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) and oligomers increase as a function of age in DS frontal cortex. Of the oxidative stress markers, HNE-bound proteins were increased overall in DS. Protein carbonyls were correlated with Aβ40 levels. These results suggest that oxidative damage, but not nitrosative stress, may contribute to the onset and progression of AD pathogenesis in DS. Conceivably, treatment with antioxidants may provide a point of intervention to slow pathological alterations in DS.