cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Merging Maddenia with the morphologically diverse Prunus (Rosaceae)

Maddenia (Rosaceae) has been distinguished from Prunus on the basis of its tepaloid perianth and one- to two-carpellate gynoecium. These distinctive morphological traits nonetheless overlap with several Prunus spp. Maddenia has previously been shown to be nested within Prunus, more specifically within a clade containing members of subgenera Laurocerasus and Padus, but its phylogenetic position within that clade has not been defined precisely. This study clarifies the position of Maddenia within Prunus through phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid ndhF sequences, with an expanded sampling of tropical species of subgenus Laurocerasus and the inclusion of three Maddenia spp. The monophyly of Maddenia is supported by both the ITS and ndhF analyses, but both datasets support the inclusion of Maddenia in Prunus. All trees from the ITS analysis and some trees from the ndhF analysis also support a close alliance of Maddenia with a clade comprising temperate species of subgenera Laurocerasus and Padus. On the basis of these results, all recognized species of Maddenia are herein formally transferred to Prunus, which requires four new combinations and one new name: Prunus fujianensis (Y.T.Chang) J.Wen, comb. nov.; Prunus himalayana J.Wen, nom. nov.; Prunus hypoleuca (Koehne) J.Wen, comb. nov.; Prunus hypoxantha (Koehne) J.Wen, comb. nov.; and Prunus incisoserrata (T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku) J.Wen, comb. nov. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 164, 236–245.
Colorwave: an anticollision algorithm for the reader collision problem

We present the Colorwave algorithm, a simple, distributed, on-line algorithm for the reader collision problem in radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. RFID systems are increasingly being used in applications, such as those experienced in supply chain management, which require RFID readers to operate in close proximity to one another. Readers physically located near one another may interfere with one another's operation. Such reader collisions must be minimized to ensure the correct operation of the RFID system. The Colorwave algorithm yields on-line solutions that are near the optimal static solutions. The dynamic nature of the algorithm enables the RFID system to automatically adapt to changes in the system and in the operating environment of the system.
Probiotic Immunomodulation in Health and Disease

Probiotics, microorganisms that have a favorable influence on physiologic and pathological processes of the host by their effect on the intestinal flora, may play a role in improving human health. One of the putative effects is the modulation of immune function. Thus, the mucosal immune system and methods to assess its function are reviewed briefly. Probiotic modulation of humoral, cellular and nonspecific immunity is reviewed, with emphasis placed on immune response in disease models. There are very few reports of human intervention studies with probiotics. However, some of the possible future directions for research with respect to probiotics, immunity, and human health are discussed. Although the application of probiotics has demonstrated trends with respect to altered aspects of immune response, the underlying mechanisms by which that occurs are unclear.
Effects of low temperature irradiation on the mechanical properties of V-4Cr-4Ti

Neutron irradiation at low temperatures (100 to 275 C) to 0.5 displacements per atom causes significant embrittlement and changes in the subsequent room temperature tensile properties of V-4CR-4Ti. The yield strength and microhardness at room temperature increase with increasing irradiation temperature. The tensile properties at room temperature show large increases in strength and a complete loss of work hardening capacity with no uniform elongation. Embrittlement, as measured by an increase in the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature, increases with increasing irradiation temperature, at least up to 275 C. It is shown that this embrittlement is not due to pickup of O or other interstitial solutes during the irradiation.
RNA secondary structural determinants of miRNA precursor processing in Arabidopsis.

Summary MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are excised from hairpin structures within primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs). Most animal pri-miRNAs are processed by two cleavages, the first at a loop-distal site ∼11 nucleotides (nt) from the end of the hairpin and the second ∼22 nt beyond the first [1–3]. To identify RNA structural determinants of miRNA processing in plants, we analyzed the functional consequences of changing the secondary structure of the lower (loop-distal), middle (miRNA:miRNA ∗ ), and upper (loop-proximal) stems of the hairpin in two different pri-miRNAs. Closing bulges immediately below the loop-distal cleavage sites increased the accumulation of accurately cleaved precursor miRNAs but decreased the abundance of the mature miRNAs. A pri-miRNA variant with an unpaired lower stem was not processed, and variants with a perfectly paired middle or upper stem were processed normally. Bioinformatic analysis of pri-miRNA structures, together with physical mapping of initial cleavage sites and in vitro processing of pri-miRNA, reveals that the first, loop-distal cleavage is often at a distance of ∼15 nt from an unpaired region. Hence, a common determinant of the rate and location of the initial pri-miRNA cleavage is an imperfectly base-paired duplex of ∼15 nt between the miRNA:miRNA ∗ duplex and either a less structured region of the lower stem or its end.
Target ablation characteristics during pulsed laser deposition of thin films

Abstract A theoretical study into the target ablation characteristics during pulsed laser deposition of thin films was performed. The optical properties (absorption coefficient, reflectivity), power density of the laser pulse and thermophysical properties of the material including thermal conductivity, heat capacity, etc., control the nature of the evaporation process. Based on the laser target interactions, two separate heating regimes, depending on the thermal diffusion distance and the absorption coefficient of the target, have been identified: (i) the surface heating regime in which the laser energy is deposited near the target surface, and (ii) the volume heating regime in which a volume of the solid material is heated by the laser pulse. In both these regimes, vaporization of the target can proceed either by planar surface etching or by volume etching in which solid material may be ejected from the target surface. The thermophysical and the optical properties of the target, and the laser parameters determine the specific nature of the ablation regime. Volume ablation is more likely to occur in the volume heating regime where target absorption coefficients for the incident laser beam are relatively small. The theoretical aspects of both these heating regimes are investigated in detail. The effect of plasma absorption in controlling the ablation characteristics is also theoretically investigated.
Matrix metalloproteinase inhibition limits arterial enlargement in a rodent arteriovenous fistula model

Background: We administered a specific, nonselective matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor (RS-113,456) to examine the effect of MMP inhibition on flow-mediated arterial enlargement in a rodent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) model. Methods: Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were created: sham (sham operated; n = 10), control (2.0 mm left common femoral AVF alone; n = 16), vehicle (AVF plus 0.5 mL vehicle orally twice a day; n = 20), and treatment (AVF plus 25 mg/kg RS-113,456 in 0.5 mL vehicle orally twice a day; n = 16). Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and body weight were recorded on postoperative days 0, 7, 14, and 21. On day 21, AVF patency was confirmed, the infrarenal aorta and common iliac arteries were exposed, blood flow velocity and external diameter were measured, and wall shear stress (WSS) was calculated. Analysis was performed by paired, two-tailed Student t test, one-way analysis of variance, and the Bonferroni/Dunn procedure for post hoc testing. Results: Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and weight did not vary at any time between groups. Aortic and left iliac diameter was larger in the AVF groups than in sham groups (P < .001), and control and vehicle groups were larger than treatment groups (P < .0001). Changes in aortic and left iliac flow were also significant (AVF was more than sham and control, and vehicle was more than treatment). No difference in aortic and left iliac artery velocity and WSS or right iliac diameter, velocity, flow, or WSS was observed between groups. Conclusions: MMP inhibition diminishes flow-mediated arterial enlargement in the rat AVF model. (Surgery 1998;124:328-35.)
Dynamics of Family Economic Hardship and the Progression of Health Problems of Husbands and Wives during the Middle Years: A Perspective from Rural Mid-West

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of theoretically important dimensions of stability and change in economic hardship during early middle years on decade-long ...
Diurnal rhythms of behavior and brain mRNA expression for arginine vasotocin, isotocin, and their receptors in wild Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae)

Amargosa pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae) occupy remote desert habitats that vary widely in environmental conditions from day to night. In this study, diel patterns of behavior were documented for pupfish in their natural habitat, and examined relative to changes in the abundance of mRNAs encoding prepro-arginine vasotocin (pro-VT), prepro-isotocin (pro-IT), three distinct vasotocin receptors (V1a1, V1a2, and V2), and an isotocin receptor (ITR) in the brain. The behavior of wild pupfish varied diurnally, with frequent aggression from 12:00 to 15:00 h and courtship and spawning most common between 15:00 and 19:00 h. Transcript abundance for pro-VT in the brain also changed diurnally with mRNA levels highest at night when the pupfish were least active. Transcripts encoding VT and IT receptors, however, exhibited distinct diel patterns, with V1a2 receptor transcripts showing sex-specific diurnal changes, but V2 receptor and ITR receptor mRNAs varying similarly for males and females. V1a1 and pro-IT transcript abundance were constant over day–night in both sexes. These results document diurnal variation in mRNAs encoding pro-VT and the V1a2, V2, and ITR receptors in the pupfish brain, and provide evidence that diel regulation of V1a2 receptor transcript abundance differs between males and females.
Ethical issues in clinical trials in developing countries

The vertical transmission trials conducted in a variety of developing countries by researchers from more developed countries illustrate a variety of crucial ethical issues. Three crucial issues are the injustice of the use of placebo control groups, the coerciveness of the offer to participate, and the exploitation of Third World countries. This paper examines each of these issues separately. It develops a new standard for when such control groups are acceptable. It concludes that the issue of coercive offers is not well founded. It also concludes that concerns about exploitation are better addressed by assurances about the future care of the subjects in the trial than by assurances of availability of the drugs in the country in general.
Mapping the radon potential of the united states: Examples from the Appalachians

The geologic radon potential of the United States was recently assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Results indicate that approximately 33% of the U.S. population lives within geologic provinces where the average indoor radon levels have the potential to be greater than 4 pCi/L (147 Bq/m3). Rock types most commonly associated with high indoor radon include: 1) Uraniferous metamorphosed sediments, volcanics, and granite intrusives, especially those that are highly deformed or sheared. 2) Glacial deposits derived from uranium-bearing rocks and sediments. 3) Carboniferous, black shales. 4) Soils derived from carbonate rock, especially in karstic terrain. 5) Uraniferous fluvial, deltaic, marine, and lacustrine deposits. Different geologic terrains of the eastern United States illustrate some of the problems inherent in correlating indoor radon with geology. The Central and Southern Appalachian Highlands of the eastern United States have not been glaciated and most soils there are saprolitic, derived directly from the underlying bedrock. Regression analyses of bedrock geologic and radon parameters yeild positive correlations (R > 0.5 to 0.9) and indicate that bedrock geology can account for a significant portion of the indoor radon variation. In glaciated areas of the United States such as the northern Appalachian Highlands and Appalachian Plateau, the correlation of bedrock geology to indoor radon is obscured or is positive only in certain cases. In these glaciated areas of the country, it is the type, composition, thickness, and permeability of glacial deposits, rather than the bedrock geology, that controls the radon source.
Low bone mineral density in highly trained male master cyclists.

The purpose of this study was to determine total and regional bone mineral density (BMD) in highly competitive young adult and master male cyclists. Three groups of men were studied: older cyclists (51.2±5.3 years, n=27); young adult cyclists (31.7±3.5 years, n=16); and 24 non-athletes matched by age (±2 years) and body weight (±2 kg) to the master cyclists. All of the master cyclists had been training and racing for a minimum of 10 years (mean 20.2±8.4 years) and engaging in little to no weight-bearing exercise. The younger cyclists also engaged in little weight-bearing exercise and had been training and racing for 10.9±3.2 years. Age-matched controls were normally active. The History of Leisure Activity Questionnaire was used to determine the influence on BMD of self-reported total and weight-bearing exercise during three periods of life: 12–18 years, 19–34 years, and 35–49 years. BMD (measured by DXA) of the spine (L2–L4) and total hip was significantly (P<0.033) lower in the master cyclists compared to both age-matched controls and young adult cyclists. Total body BMD was lower in the master cyclists compared to the young-adults (P<0.033). Furthermore, four (15%) of the master cyclists, but none of the men in the other groups, had T-scores (spine and/or hip) lower than –2.5. Weight-bearing exercise performed during teen and young adult years did not appear to influence BMD, as there were no differences at any site between those within the upper and lower 50th percentiles for weight-bearing exercise during the 12–18, 19–34, or 35–49 year time periods. These data indicate that master cyclists with a long history of training exclusively in cycling have low BMD compared to their age-matched peers. Although highly trained and physically fit, these athletes may be at high risk for developing osteoporosis with advancing age.
Autoradiography Using Melted Nuclear Emulsion

During an investigation of rabbit uterus (labeled with C14) by the method of staining first, coating with nitrocellulose and emulsion, and then processing, it was found that sections became de-stained in spite of considerable overstaining, and black deposits, ranging from a few silver grains to large aggregates, appeared on slides. Discrete grains, indistinguishable from those caused by ionizing events, occurred in greater density near the aggregates. Observations are reported which indicate that stains may' be involved in the formation of artefacts when a thin nitrocellulose film is used and that artefacts as well as bleaching of stains may be prevented by embedding sections in a hydrophobic layer. Discussion is given on both strain and chemically induced artefacts, and also on protective coatings.
Effects of microstructures on the viscoelastic and rheological properties of metallocene-catalyzed cyclo-olefin copolymers: A preliminary study

We characterized metallocene-catalyzed cyclo-olefin copolymers (mCOCs) with similar heat distortion temperatures but dramatic differences in melt-flow indices to understand how the molecular conformation affected their rheological and viscoelastic properties. The mCOC conformations were identified with 13C-NMR, whereas the viscoelastic and rheological properties were measured with cone-and-plate and high-pressure capillary rheometers. Our preliminary results showed that the mCOC rheological and viscoelastic properties might depend strongly on the conformation rather than the norbornene content, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution. mCOCs containing -NNN- locks (where N represents norbornene) exhibited stronger molecular entanglements than those having no -NNN- blocks, as reflected in lower crossover frequencies and higher crossover torque. Furthermore, the existence of larger rigid -NNN- blocks resulted in higher molten viscosities and flow activation energies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3695–3701, 2002
Synthesis of [3,4-13C2]-Enriched Bile Salts as NMR Probes of Protein−Ligand Interactions

Synthetic methodology that allows for incorporation of isotopic carbon at the C-3 and C-4 positions of bile salts is reported. Three [3,4-(13)C(2)]-enriched bile salts were synthesized from either deoxycholic or lithocholic acid. The steroid 3alpha-OH group was oxidized and the A-ring was converted into the Delta(4)-3-ketone. The C-24 carboxylic acid was next converted into the carbonate group and selectively reduced to the alcohol in the presence of the A-ring enone. Following protection of the 24-OH group, the Delta(4)-3-ketone was converted into the A-ring enol lactone. Condensation of the enol lactone with [1,2-(13)C(2)]-enriched acetyl chloride and subsequent Robinson annulation afforded a [3,4-(13)C(2)]-enriched Delta(4)-3-ketone that was subsequently converted back into a 3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-reduced bile steroid. C-7 hydroxylation, when necessary, was achieved via conversion of the Delta(4)-3-ketone into the corresponding Delta(4,6)-dien-3-one, epoxidation of the Delta(6)-double bond, and hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation of the 5,6-epoxy enone system. The [3,4-(13)C(2)]-enriched bile salts were subsequently complexed to human ileal bile acid binding protein (I-BABP), and (1)H-(13)C HSQC spectra were recorded to show the utility of the compounds for investigating the interactions of bile acids with I-BABP.
Capillary-based instrument for the simultaneous measurement of solution viscosity and solute diffusion coefficient at pressures up to 2000 bar and implications for ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography.

An instrument based on the Poiseuille flow principle capable of measuring solution viscosities at high pressures has been modified to observe UV-absorbent analytes in order to allow for the simultaneous measurement of analyte diffusivity. A capillary time-of-flight (CTOF) instrument was used to measure the viscosity of acetonitrile−water mixtures in all decade volume percent increments and the corresponding diffusion coefficients of small aromatic molecules in these solvent mixtures from atmospheric pressure to 2000 bar (∼30 000 psi) at 25 °C. The instrument works by utilizing a relatively small pressure drop (<100 bar) across a fused-silica capillary which has both the inlet and outlet pressurized so that the average column pressure can be significantly elevated (up to 2000 bar). Measurements with this instrument agree with high-pressure viscosity data collected previously using a CTOF viscometer, as well as with literature values obtained with falling-body viscometers of the Bridgman design. It has been...
The use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome.

Over the last 50 years, botulinum toxin has been transformed from a cause of life-threatening disease to an effective medical therapy. It has been used in a variety of specialties for different indications, significantly improving patient quality of life. A recent growing body of evidence suggests that intra-detrusor injection of botulinum toxin may have beneficial effects in patients with medication refractory detrusor overactivity and may offer a new minimally invasive alternative to patients with severe overactive bladder symptoms. To review current data regarding the effects of botulinum toxin in patients with overactive bladder, a MEDLINE ® /PubMed ® literature search was carried out. The mechanism of action, clinical usage, adverse effects, and treatment efficacy were reviewed and the results are presented in this paper.
Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions from enstatite chondrites: indigenous or foreign?

The primary mineral assemblages and initial ^(26)Al/^(27)Al ratios of rare calcium-aluminum–rich inclusions (CAIs) from enstatite (E) chondrites are similar to those of CAIs from other chondrite classes. CAIs from all chondrite classes formed under oxidizing conditions that are much different from the reducing conditions under which the E chondrites formed. Either CAIs formed at an earlier, more oxidizing epoch in the region where E chondrites ultimately formed, or they formed at a different place in the solar nebula and were transported into the E chondrite formation region.
Object pose estimation for robotic control with 3D range data

Object pose estimation is an important application in three-dimensional (3-D) object recognition. A 3-D geometrical feature descriptor, Angle Distance Map (ADM), is proposed to describe the surface feature around a local point in range images. A triangular mesh model of the 3-D object is used for reducing the computational complexity. The principal component analysis (PCA) method is applied on the ADM descriptions of surface mesh vertices. The projected vectors of an ADM description in subeigenspace are then used to match the feature points and determine the object pose. The matched feature points are refined by a proposed outlier elimination approach. The pose information is computed according to the final 3-D feature points. The proposed approach is tested in an application for flexible robot assembly. The experimental results show that accurate pose estimation can be obtained using the ADM descriptions on 3-D object surfaces.
Layer-by-layer deposition and ordering of low-molecular-weight dye molecules for second-order nonlinear optics.

A combination of electrostatic interactions and covalent bonding is used to form films with low-molecular-weight chromophores by a layer-by-layer deposition process. Using a common, commercially available red dye, this deposition process results in noncentrosymmetric films (see scheme) that exhibit secondharmonic generation (red green), with (2) values as large as 11.3 10 9 esu, that is, six times that of quartz. K. E. Van Cott,* M. Guzy, P. Neyman, C. Brands, J. R. Heflin, H. W. Gibson, R. M. Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3236 ± 3238
The PDC framework applied to prosody and disfluency.

The Production-Distribution-Compre-hension (PDC) approach to language processing has the potential to be enormously productive because of its breadth and its elegant simplicity. As the name suggests, this framework relates phenomena from language production, typology, and comprehension in a specific direction: speakers' preferences determine the frequency with which linguistic forms occur; those frequencies determine form distributions; and frequent forms are predicted to be easier to comprehend, an idea that is based on classic and well-established principles of learning. Because the production system essentially leads this parade, the MacDonald article (MacDonald, 2013) focuses more on production than the other systems of language, which in many ways is a welcome change from the standard bias in psycholinguistics. Thus, in production, the approach neatly captures the sometimes competing forces that influence lexical and grammatical choices, which MacDonald (2013) refers to as Easy First, Reuse, and Reduce Interference. My goal in this commentary is to extend the PDC approach to two domains that are not discussed in the article: prosody and disfluency. These domains of language processing are obviously critically important for dialog and conversation, and they appear also to follow the basic principles of PDC, and in fact nicely illustrate its strengths.
A Role for Polysialic Acid in Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Heterophilic Binding to Proteoglycans

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is known to participate in both homophilic and heterophilic binding, the latter including mechanisms that involve interaction with proteoglycans. The polysialic acid (PSA) moiety of NCAM can serve as a negative regulator of homophilic binding, but indirect evidence has suggested that PSA can also be involved in heterophilic binding. We have examined this potential positive role for PSA in terms of the adhesion of PSA-expressing mouse F11 cells and chick embryonic brain cells to substrates composed of the purified heparan sulfate proteoglycans agrin and 6C4. This adhesion was specifically inhibited by polyclonal anti-NCAM Fab antibodies, monoclonal anti-PSA antibodies, PSA itself, and enzymatic removal of either PSA or heparan sulfate side chains. By contrast, the adhesion was not affected by chondroitinase, and cell binding to laminin was not inhibited by any of these treatments. A specific NCAM-heparan sulfate interaction in this adhesion was further indicated by its inhibition with monoclonal anti-NCAM Fab antibodies that recognize the known heparin-binding domain of NCAM and with the HBD-2 peptide derived from this region, but not with antibodies directed against other regions of the protein including the homophilic binding region. Together, the results suggest that PSA can act in vitro either as a receptor in NCAM heterophilic adhesion or as a promoter of binding between heparan sulfate proteoglycans and the NCAM heparin-binding domain.
A new derivation of the general equations of elastic shells

Abstract This paper is concerned with a new derivation of the general equations of the linear theory of elastic shells under the Kirchhoff-Love hypothesis. The entire boundary-value problem of shell theory is recast in terms of new variables for the strain measures as well as the stress and couple resultants. Particular attention is paid to an exact derivation of the constitutive equations and their first approximations which meet all invariance requirements. The natural boundary conditions for stress and couple resultants and all field equations consisting of compatibility, equilibrium and the constitutive equations (or their first approximations) involve only symmetric tensors and are, moreover, remarkably free of the anti-symmetric parts of both the middle surface strains and the couple resultants.
Grand Prix Wagon Racing: Speaking the Language--Having Fun.

This article presents guidelines directed at the organization of a Grand Prix wagon race. Such an event provides more visibility to the foreign language program. Parents and school administrators are able to observe the students speaking the foreign language. Interactions between parents, teachers, school administrators, and students improve. Students experience a new feeling about the language which they have studied in the classroom. The ultimate results of the race can be translated into increased enjoyment and appreciation of foreign languages.
Adaptive internal model control

From the Publisher: Written in a self-contained tutorial fashion, this research monograph successfully brings the latest theoretical advances in the design of robust adaptive systems to the realm of industrial applications. It provides a theoretical basis for analytically justifying some of the reported industrial successes of existing adaptive internal model control schemes, and enables the reader to synthesise adaptive versions of their own favourite robust internal model control scheme by combining it with a robust adaptive law. The net result is that earlier empirical IMC designs can now be systematically robustified or replaced altogether by new designs with assured guarantees of stability and robustness. Practising engineers, researchers and graduate students will find this book to be a valuable source of information on the subject.
Ab Initio Nonadiabatic Molecular Dynamics of Wet-Electrons on the TiO2 Surface

The electron transfer (ET) dynamics of wet-electrons on a TiO2 surface is investigated using state-of-the-art ab initio nonadiabatic (NA) molecular dynamics (MD). The simulations directly mimic the time-resolved experiments [Science 2005, 308, 1154] and reveal the nature of ET in the wet-electron system. Focusing on the partially hydroxylated TiO2 surface with 1-monolayer water coverage, and including electronic evolution, phonon motions, and electron−phonon coupling, the simulations indicate that the ET is sub-10 fs, in agreement with the experiment. Despite the large role played by low frequency vibrational modes, the ET is fast due to the strong coupling between the TiO2 surface and water. The average ET for the system has equal contributions from the adiabatic and NA mechanisms, even though a very broad range of individual ET events is seen in the simulated ensemble. Thermal phonon motions induce a large fluctuation of the wet-electron state energy, generate frequent crossings of the donor and accepto...
Dynamic adaptation of a vehicle's cruising speed with recurrent neural networks for enhancing fuel economy

This paper presents an architecture for optimally modulating the cruise speed around its set point. Our objective is to minimize the overall fuel consumption over a trip without impacting the overall trip time, by exploiting the vehicle dynamics and the terrain, specifically in this paper, the road grades. The overall trip time is defined as the time to complete the trip while driving at the constant cruise speed, which was set by the driver at the beginning of the trip. We test this architecture with data acquired by an instrumented vehicle driven on city and highway roads in Southeast Michigan. Our testing was very promising and showed that we can achieve up to 11% of overall fuel economy of which 10.8% are from exploiting the road grades.
Rat spatial memory: Resistance to retroactive interference at long retention intervals.

An attempt was made to disrupt memory for spatial information by interpolating a task of high similarity to the to-be-remembered task during a long retention interval. Rats were trained in an 8-arm maze in which choosing each arm without repetition was the optional strategy. A 4-h delay was imposed between the 4th and 5th choices. At various times during the retention interval, the rats ran a second identical maze located in another room. No evidence of retroactive interference was observed. In the second experiment, the rat was required to remember the interpolated spatial task during the retention test. This was accomplished by allowing the rat to make four choices in the first maze and then, after a variable period of time, four choices in the second maze. Four hours after exposure to each maze, retention was tested. Choice accuracy on the retention tests was high and equivalent on both mazes. Requiring the rat to remember which arms it had visited in a second maze did not impair memory for the first maze. These results demonstrate that rats can segregate spatial memories established in different contexts with considerable proficiency.
Activation of liver and kidney glucocorticoid-receptor complexes occurs in vivo.

Abstract Unactivated and activated forms of glucocorticoid-receptor complexes in cytosols from rat liver and kidney are completely resolved by a rapid ion-exchange technique using DEAE-Sephadex A-50. [3H]Triamcinolone acetonide was injected intraperitoneally and cytosols from these tissues were prepared at different times. In either tissue cytosol, unactivated complexes accounted for 40–50% of radioactivity and activated complexes 30–40% at 5 min, the earliest measurement. Thereafter, until 60 min, a gradual decline in amounts of unactivated complexes occurred to about 10% of radioactivity in either tissue cytosol, while amounts of liver-activated receptor complexes increased to about 50%. The level of corticosteroid binder IB in liver cytosol increased during the experimental period from about 10% of radioactivity to about 40% of cytosol radioactivity. In kidney, binder IB, the major activated form in the cortex, increased from about 15% of cytosol radioactivity to a maximum of 40% and declined at 60 min to 30%. Binder II, derived from the medulla, increased from about 35 to 60% of radioactivity at 60 min. Adding unlabeled triamcinolone acetonide at 100-fold the in vivo dose of labeled hormone to the homogenization buffer did not affect these results and indicated that the unactivated steroid-receptor complexes were not formed adventitiously by manipulations in vitro. These observations, for the first time using the whole animal, indicate that the activation of glucocorticoid receptors enabling them to become DNA or nuclei binding proteins is a physiologically significant process.
Representations of Integers as Sums of Squares

The general problem of determining exact formulas for r(s;n) is classical in number theory. One may consult the popular book by E. Grosswald [G] for a thorough account (as of the early 1980’s) of the subject complete with references. The series Θ(z) is a modular form, and so there are abstract formulas for r(s;n) as the Fourier coefficients of modular forms. Specifically, it is well known that Θ(z) = E∗ s (z)+cs(z), where E ∗ s (z) is an Eisenstein series with explicit coefficients and cs(z) is a cusp form. Using this fact, one may deduce asymptotic information for r(s;n). Rankin proved [R] that cs(z) is non-trivial for every s > 8. Therefore, the problem of computing non-trivial formulas for r(s;n) remains since the coefficients of cusp forms, although small, rarely have simple descriptions. In a startling turnabout, Milne [M1] announced formulas for r(4s;n) and r(4s+4s;n) for every s. His formulas were obtained by combining a variety of methods and observations
The second virial coefficient for steam

Abstract Adsorption of water on the walls of the container is invoked to explain the non-linear course of the isothermal experimental values of v( pv RT −1) and v ln ( pv RT ) as small steam densities are encountered. It is noted that the known magnitude of the adsorption of water vapor on glass is in accord with the low density behavior of the quantities v( pv RT −1) and v ln ( pv RT ) and indeed the quantitative relationships for the 440°C steam isotherm are satisfactory. For the determination of the second virial coefficient the superiority of the extrapolation function v ln ( pv RT ) is exhibited. The advantages of (t6h/∂p) measurements as a means of deducing virial coefficients free from adsorption disturbances are illustrated and comparisons are made with virial coefficients deduced from p , v , t , data.
Characterizing In Vivo Pharmacodynamics of Carbapenems against Acinetobacter baumannii in a Murine Thigh Infection Model To Support Breakpoint Determinations

Pharmacodynamic profiling data of carbapenems for Acinetobacter spp. are sparse. This study aimed to determine the pharmacodynamic targets of carbapenems for Acinetobacter baumannii based on a range of percentages of the dosing interval in which free drug concentrations remained above the MIC (fT>MIC) in the neutropenic murine thigh infection model. fT>MIC values of 23.7%, 32.8%, and 47.5% resulted in stasis, 1-log reductions, and 2-log reductions in bacterial density after 24 h, respectively. The pharmacodynamic targets of carbapenems for A. baumannii demonstrated in vivo are similar to those of other Gram-negative bacteria.
Basic Vocabulary Instruction: Teaching Strategies or Teaching Words?

Absteact.In this study, one group of first-semester Spanish students were encouraged to acquire vocabulary through small- and large-group oral activities plus semantic mapping. Another group participated in similar oral activities, but did not perform semantic mapping. A comparision of the two groups suggests a trend toward the effectiveness of semantic mapping as a strategy that helps novice learners recall and organize second language (L2) vocabulary. Learners in this study who were exposed to semantic mapping in addition to systematically engaging in communicative activities did not appear to have an immediate advantage in terms of amount of L2 vocabulary learned, as compared with students who did not use semantic mapping. However, learners in the semantic mapping group ranked their familiarity with L2 vocabulary more highly and were able to group more L2 vacabulary by thematic heading than learners in the vocabulary activities group.
Ritual and self-regulation of the Tsembaga Maring ecosystem in the New Guinea highlands

Rappaport's (1968) study of self-regulation in the Tsembaga Maring ecosystem is an important substantive contribution to human ecology. Rappaport hypothesized that the Maring pig festival cycle is the dominant mechanism by which the quality of the Tsembaga ecosystem is maintained. In this paper, we demonstrate that the pig festival cannot serve this function. Simulation models of the Tsembaga ecosystem show that a stable, self-regulating equilibrium of the kind proposed by Rappaport is highly dependent upon a carefully chosen set of parameters which do not represent the most accurate choice from the available data. In the simulation model of Rappaport's hypothesis constructed by Shantzis and Behrens, equilibrium depends upon fixed population growth rates that lead to regularly scheduled pig festivals, whose timing insures that a fixed rate of removal of Tsembaga individuals in warfare prevents net population growth. More realistic models uniformly suggest that the pig festival plays no essential role in ecosystem regulation. We conclude that the evidence provided does not support the hypothesis.
Folate Fortification of Breads and Cereals and Supplement Use During Pregnancy Increases Likelihood of Meeting Dietary Reference Intakes

Abstract Women of child-bearing age are advised to consume 400 meg of folic acid daily and 600 meg during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. The purpose of this study was to determine folic acid intake of pregnant women, before and after bread/cereal fortification became mandatory in January of 1999, and with and without supplement use. Subjects were recruited from health departments and obstetrician's offices. Three food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) were completed by telephone 3 months before pregnancy (FFQ1), and after the first (FFQ2) and second (FFQ3) trimesters. A brief FFQ was pilot tested and validated, specifically targeting folate-rich foods. Before bread/cereal fortification, 20% met the RDA on FFQ1, 34% on FFQ2, and 17% on FFQ3, which rose to 34%, 39%, and 28%, respectively after fortification. Mean folate intake before fortification for all FFQs was 450 meg, after fortification it was 536 meg, and with supplements it was 1093 meg. A statistically significant increase (p=.000) in mean folic acid intake on all three FFQs was found after fortification. With supplement use, those meeting the RDA increased to 54%, 93%, and 97%, respectively. There was a highly significant correlation between total folic acid intake and bread/cereal intake (p=.0005, r=.925). Fortified grain intake and supplement use are keys to helping females receive adequate folic acid during pregnancy.
Mechanisms of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction of isolated rat intrapulmonary bronchi

Previous studies in our laboratory and others suggested that activation of 5-HT2 receptors mediates 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced contraction of airway smooth muscle and that this response is dependent in part on endogenous acetylcholine (ACh). The purpose of the present study was to confirm a role for 5-HT2 receptors and endogenous ACh in 5-HT-induced contraction of rat bronchi. In this study, we examined the effects of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists (ketanserin and LY53857), acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (physostigmine and neostigmine), and a muscarinic receptor alkylating agent [propylbenzilylcholine mustard (PBCM)] on contractile responses evoked by 5-HT and the 5-HT2 receptor agonist, alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (alpha-Me-5-HT). Concentration-response curves generated in isolated rat intrapulmonary bronchi in response to 5-HT and alpha-Me-5-HT were superimposable. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by physostigmine or neostigmine potentiated contractile responses elicited by 5-HT and alpha-Me-5-HT. Alkylation of muscarinic receptors with PBCM decreased maximal responses elicited by 5-HT or alpha-Me-5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner. Maximum contraction attained with exogenous ACh was decreased by PBCM in a concentration-dependent manner and, at the highest concentration evaluated, ACh-induced contractions were abolished. 5-Hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction was inhibited competitively by low concentrations of the 5-HT2-receptor selective antagonist, ketanserin; higher concentrations abolished contractile responses to the amine. The inhibition of 5-HT-induced contractile responses by another 5-HT2-receptor selective antagonist, LY53857, was non-competitive in nature. Together, the results suggest that 5-HT contracts rat airways directly by activating 5-HT2 receptors located on airway smooth muscle and indirectly by activation of 5-HT2 receptors on parasympathetic nerve endings to cause release of ACh. The potential physiological implication of these findings is that 5-HT released in inflammatory conditions such as asthma may play a role in causing bronchoconstriction by releasing ACh or by augmenting release of ACh from activated cholinergic nerves.
Development of a synthetic peptide-based tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase radioimmunoassay for the measurement of bone resorption in rat serum.

Selective markers of bone turnover provide a convenient and reproducible alternative to the complex and expensive histochemical techniques used commonly to study the effect of pharmacological agents and the pathogenesis of bone disease in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. One marker, which has been specifically linked to terminally differentiated osteoclasts and, thus, provides useful insight at cellular levels, is type-5 tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP). We describe the development of a TRACP radioimmunoassay (RIA), which requires synthetic peptide for antibody development. To develop the RIA, polyclonal antibodies were generated in goats against a synthetic peptide, DPSVRHQRKCY, corresponding to amino acid residues 267–275 of the rat type-5 TRACP sequence. In the RIA, 50 μl of rat serum, 100 μl of goat anti-TRACP antibodies, and 100 μl of tracer were incubated overnight. The antibody-bound fraction was separated, counted, and unknown values were calculated by comparison with the peptide calibrator. Rat serum shows parallelism with the synthetic peptide calibrator used in the RIA. The sensitivity of the RIA was 24.7 μg/l, and the measuring range was 19–2476 μg/l. The average intra-assay coefficients of variation for (CV) two controls were less than 7%. The average dilution and spike recoveries were 107% and 87%, respectively. We applied our peptide-based RIA to study bone resorption in an OVX rat model. TRACP concentrations in serum in 12-week-old OVX Sprague Dawley rats were 14%–22% (P < 0.05) higher than those in the sham-operated rats, and TRACP concentrations in OVX rats treated with estradiol were 24%–32% lower (P < 0.01) than those in the vehicle-treated OVX group. Similarly, as compared with those in OVX rats, TRACP concentrations decreased to those of sham levels in OVX rats receiving 10 μg/kg per day of alendronate for 10 days. In addition, the TRACP levels determined by RIA showed a significant correlation with serum C-telopeptide (type-I collagen) concentrations (r = 0.56; P < 0.001) measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed earlier for the rat model. In conclusion, we have developed a TRACP RIA that could be used to monitor the rate of bone resorption in the rat model.
Optically controlled phased-array beam forming using time delay

An optical time delay network (OTDN) for time delay steering of phased arrays of various sizes is projected. The approach involves integrated optic switches and sections of optical waveguide for time delays. An example phased array radar is defined. The impact of time delay network performance parameters such as insertion loss, network switch isolation and triple transit effects on radar system performance such as noise figure, dynamic range, phase and amplitude linearity and sidelobe levels is analyzed. Performance levels needed within the optical time delay network to meet projected radar system requirements are identified.
A symptom-based approach to palliative care in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has been transformed in the twentieth century from a fatal disease of infants to a chronic, life-limiting illness of children, adolescents, and adults. The increase in life expectancy has been accompanied by an increase in both chronic and acute physical and psychological symptoms. Careful attention to symptom assessment and treatment should now be a routine aspect of care for children and adults with CF. Although life expectancy has increased dramatically, children and adults with CF will still die before their unaffected peers, and careful attention to issues in end-of-life care is still a part of CF care, with the often complicating factor of lung transplantation as a relatively recent arrival. This review will focus on a symptom-based approach to CF care for children and adults throughout the lifespan.
Hydrogen component fugacities in binary mixtures with carbon dioxide: pressure dependence

The fugacity coefficients of hydrogen in binary mixtures with carbon dioxide were measured isothermally using a physical equilibrium technique. This technique involves the use of an experimental chamber which is divided into two regions by a semipermeable membrane. Hydrogen can penetrate and pass through the membrane, while carbon dioxide cannot. During the approach to equilibrium, the pressure of pure hydrogen on one side of the membrane approaches the partial pressure of hydrogen in the mixture on the other side of the membrane. This allows a direct measurement of the hydrogen component fugacity at a given mixture mole fraction. In this study, results are reported for measurements made on the hydrogen + carbon dioxide binary at 130°C (403 K), with total mixture pressure of 3.45, 5.17, 8.62, 10.34, and 13.79 MPa. General trends in the experimental results are discussed, and comparisons are made with predictions from the Redlich-Kwong, Peng-Robinson, and extended corresponding-states models.
Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in humans: effects on fatty acid and glycerol kinetics.

Recent studies with mouse adipocytes have shown that dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may reduce body fat by increasing lipolysis. The present study examined the effect of CLA supplementation on fatty acid and glycerol kinetics in six healthy, adult women who were participating in a controlled metabolic ward study. These women were fed six CLA capsules per day (3.9 g/d) for 64 d following a baseline period of 30 d. The subjects were confined to a metabolic suite for the entire 94-d study, where diet and activity were controlled and held constant. The rate of appearance (Ra) of glycerol, which indicates lipolytic rates, was similar at baseline and after 4 wk of CLA supplementation at rest (1.87±0.21 and 2.00±0.39 μmol/kg/min, respectively) and during exercise (7.12±0.74 and 6.40±0.99 μmol/kg/min, respectively). Likewise, the Ra of free fatty acids (FFA) was not significantly different after 4 wk of dietary CLA at rest (2.72±0.06 and 2.74±0.12 μmol/kg/min, respectively) or during exercise (6.99±0.40 and 5.88±0.29 μmol/kg/min, respectively). CLA supplementation also had no effect on the percentage of FFA released from lipolysis that were re-esterified. The apparent rate of FFA re-esterification was 65.2±4.2% at rest and 32.1±3.44% during exercise. Four weeks of CLA supplementation had no significant effect on fatty acid or glycerol metabolism in healthy, weight-stable, adult women.