cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vibrational analysis of tertiary alkyl bromides

Abstract Infrared spectra have been obtained for 2-bromo-2-methylpentane and 3-bromo-3-methylpentane. Both compounds exist in T HHH and T CHH conformations. Normal coordinate calculations were made for these two compounds and for 2-bromo-2-methylbutane, using the 44-parameter modified valence force field that was used for tertiary chlorides. Fifteen force constants were adjusted to fit 169 frequencies below 1500 cm −1 of six molecules (two each for the three named compounds) with an average error of 5.6 cm −1 . Vibrational assignments are presented.
Functional Biomarkers of Depression: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Pathophysiology

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous illness for which there are currently no effective methods to objectively assess severity, endophenotypes, or response to treatment. Increasing evidence suggests that circulating levels of peripheral/serum growth factors and cytokines are altered in patients with MDD, and that antidepressant treatments reverse or normalize these effects. Furthermore, there is a large body of literature demonstrating that MDD is associated with changes in endocrine and metabolic factors. Here we provide a brief overview of the evidence that peripheral growth factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines, endocrine factors, and metabolic markers contribute to the pathophysiology of MDD and antidepressant response. Recent preclinical studies demonstrating that peripheral growth factors and cytokines influence brain function and behavior are also discussed along with their implications for diagnosing and treating patients with MDD. Together, these studies highlight the need to develop a biomarker panel for depression that aims to profile diverse peripheral factors that together provide a biological signature of MDD subtypes as well as treatment response.
97 SUPPLEMENTATION WITH FOLATE IN VITRO INCREASES TROPHECTODERM AND TOTAL CELL NUMBER IN IN VITRO-DERIVED PORCINE BLASTOCYSTS

It is vital that improvements are made to current culture environments because in vitro culture systems are suboptimal compared with in vivo. A previous transcriptional profiling endeavour conducted by Bauer et al. (2010 Biol. Reprod. 83, 791–798) identified hundreds of mRNA transcripts that were mis-expressed in porcine embryos fertilized in vivo and then cultured in vitro to Day 6 compared with in vivo Day-6 embryos. Enriched in the downregulated transcripts were 4 genes involved with the one carbon pool by folate KEGG pathway. This downregulation of genes involved with folate metabolism may illustrate an impaired folate homeostasis in embryos cultured in the current culture environment. The objective of this study was to determine the effects folate had on embryo development of in vitro fertilized embryos. Porcine cumulus–oocyte complexes were matured for 44 h in M199 supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF), FSH and LH. Oocytes with a visible polar body were selected and fertilized in modified tris buffered medium for 5 h and then placed into porcine zygote medium 3 with 0 mM, 0.2 mM, 0.4 mM and 0.8 mM folate to find the optimal concentration of folate. Twenty-eight hours post-fertilization, cleaved embryos were selected and moved into 25-μL drops of respective culture medium and cultured to Day 6 in a water-saturated atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, 90% N2, at 38.5°C. To determine the effect folate had on development, the blastocyst rate for each treatment group was measured. Results were log-transformed and analysed by using PROC GLM in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). A least-significant difference post-test comparison was completed to determine if significant differences existed between treatment groups. The percentage of cleaved embryos on Day 6 that developed to blastocyst was 56.2%, 55.9%, 66.9% and 61.8% (n = 133, 149, 135 and 135) in 0 mM, 0.2 mM folate, 0.4 mM folate and 0.8 mM, respectively. The 0.4 mM folate group tended (P = 0.07) to have a higher number of cleaved embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage. Consequently, this concentration was used for all further embryo culture experiments. Differential staining was completed to compare the number of trophectoderm and inner cell mass nuclei for embryos cultured in 0 mM or 0.4 mM folate concentrations. Staining revealed that embryos cultured with folate had an increase in number of trophectoderm (29.7 ± 1.5 vs 24.4 ± 1.4 cells; P = 0.0058) and total cell (36.9 ± 1.0 vs 31.7 ± 1.0; P = 0.0007) numbers compared with embryos cultured without folate. These results illustrate that the addition of folate to current culture medium doesn't hinder development to blastocyst and by increasing trophectoderm and total cell number may give rise to better-quality in vitro-derived embryos. It is evident that using transcriptional profiling can be a great method of identifying ways to improve embryo culture systems and, in this case, supplementing with folate. Funded by Food for the 21st Century.
The role of the condensate in the existence of phonons and rotons

Interpretations of the characteristic phonon-roton excitations in superfluid4He are discussed to assess the role of the condensate. In the celebrated Landau, Feynman, Feenberg and subsequent Correlated Basic Function methods, the phonon-roton excitations are interpreted as collective density excitations. This picture, suitably modified at higher Q to take account of the correlated motion of neighbors (backflow), provides our best description of neutron scattering data at low temperature. The condensate does not play an explicit role. In the Field Theory, second quantized formulation of Bogoliubov, Hugenholtz and Pines, Gavoret and Nozieres and the subsequent Dielectric Function formulation, the condensate plays an explicit role. Because of the condensate, both regular density (particle-hole) and single particle excitations contribute to the density response. The regular density (two-particle) and single particle excitations mix as particles scatter into and out of the condensate. This Density-Quasiparticle picture provides a good description of the temperature dependence of neutron scattering data. From this description, the phonon at low Q is interpreted as a joint density/quasiparticle mode strongly coupled via the condensate. At higher Q, the sharp maxon-roton is interpreted as a quasiparticle excitation less strongly coupled into the density. The sharp maxon-roton peak is a unique feature of the condensate and could not be observed in S(Q, ω) without a condensate.
Solution structure and orientation of the transmembrane anchor domain of the HIV-1-encoded virus protein U by high-resolution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

The structure of the membrane anchor domain (VpuMA) of the HIV-1-specific accessory protein Vpu has been investigated in solution and in lipid bilayers by homonuclear two-dimensional and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Simulated annealing calculations, using the nuclear Overhauser enhancement data for the soluble synthetic peptide Vpu1-39 (positions Met-1−Asp-39) in an aqueous 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) solution, afford a compact well-defined U-shaped structure comprised of an initial turn (residues 1−6) followed by a linker (7−9) and a short helix on the N-terminal side (10−16) and a further longer helix on the C-terminal side (22−36). The side chains of the two aromatic residues (Trp-22 and Tyr-29) in the longer helix are directed toward the center of the molecule around which the hydrophobic core of the folded VpuMA is positioned. As the observed solution structure is inconsistent with the formation of ion-conductive membrane pores defined previously for VpuMA in pl...
The clinician vs. the investigator: or, town and gown in cardiology.

Cardiology, more than any other branch of internal medicine, has become two-headed, with the two heads like those of Janus, looking in opposite directions, One head belongs to the practicing cardiologist, the other to the investigator interested in clinical and fundamental aspects of cardiology. Rarely does one find the two heads combined into one head with features of harmonious beauty. The cardiologist in practice may have a private office with privileges in a hospital, or he may be a fulltime practicing physician within a hospital, diligently using the tools of modern diagnostic cardiology, such as coronary arteriography, left and right heart catheterization and lipid profile of his patients. He is also frequently connected with the treatment; he is responsible for training of both nurses and house staff. The other head belongs to the cardiologist who, also familiar with these tools of modern diagnosis, uses them for investigational purposes. He directs his emphasis toward a study of the relation of a disease to a group of diseases, with special interest in the natural development of the disease, either as a clinical entity or at the fundamental level. In the latter case, he becomes more and more removed from considerations of the individual patient. The fact is that a schism is developing between the two branches of cardiology; the language of one has become unintelligible to the other. The investigator might speak of the relaxing factor in heart muscle, the clinician of Mobitz block; there is little common origin between the two languages and, therefore, little understanding. There is yet another difference between these two branches of cardiology, one not peculiar to our field but common to all branches of medicine. It is the ciif-
Dale's principle and glutamate corelease from ventral midbrain dopamine neurons.

While direct application of dopamine modulates postsynaptic activity, electrical stimulation of dopamine neurons typically evokes excitation. Most of this excitation appears to be due to activation of collateral pathways; however, several lines of evidence have suggested that there is a monosynaptic component due to glutamate corelease by dopamine neurons. Recently, more direct evidence obtained in culture has shown that ventral midbrain dopamine neurons release both dopamine and glutamate. Moreover, they appear to do so from separate release sites, calling into question recent modifications of Dale's Principle. The neurochemical phenotype of a given synapse may be determined by subcellular neurotransmitter levels, uptake, or storage. However, the relationship between dopamine and glutamate release from dopamine neuron synapses in the intact brain – and the mechanisms involved – has yet to be resolved.
EFFECT OF PRESSURE ON THE STRUCTURE OF MOLECULES

The effect of pressure on the internal rotation angles of gauche-1,2-dichloroethane and s-trithiane has been determined by infrared spectroscopy. The internal rotation angle of gauche-1,2-dichloroethane changes at the rate of -2.7° kbar-1 up to 5 kbar, and s-trithiane becomes a flat molecule at ~50 kbar.
Stable Isotope Ratios and Forensic Analysis of Microorganisms

In the aftermath of the anthrax letters of 2001, researchers have been exploring various analytical signatures for the purpose of characterizing the production environment of microorganisms. One such signature is stable isotope ratios, which in heterotrophs, are a function of nutrient and water sources. Here we discuss the use of stable isotope ratios in microbial forensics, using as a database the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen stable isotope ratios of 247 separate cultures of Bacillus subtilis 6051 spores produced on a total of 32 different culture media. In the context of using stable isotope ratios as a signature for sample matching, we present an analysis of variations between individual samples, between cultures produced in tandem, and between cultures produced in the same medium but at different times. Additionally, we correlate the stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen for growth medium nutrients or water with those of spores and show examples of how these relationships can be used to exclude nutrient or water samples as possible growth substrates for specific cultures.
Why is the orbital angular momentum conserved in spontaneous parametric down-conversion?

Experimental observation of the conservation of orbital angular momentum in spontaneous parametric down-conversion has been theoretically attributed to phase-matching, transfer of plane-wave spectrum from pump beam to down-converted beams. However, according to quantum mechanics, the conservation of angular momentum arises from rotational symmetry of the Hamiltonian describing the studied physical process. Recently, experimental evidence has been found which shows that non-conservation of orbital angular momentum can occur in spontaneous parametric down-conversion due to rotational asymmetry of the Hamiltonian. In this paper, we theoretically show that all reported experimental results of conservation of orbital angular momentum in spontaneous parametric down-conversion are determined only by the Hamiltonian symmetry, and not by phase matching, transfer of plane-wave spectrum.
Postterm pregnancy: how can we improve outcomes?

Postterm pregnancy is defined as one which has progressed to 42 0/7 weeks or beyond. The most common reason to be diagnosed with a postterm pregnancy is inaccurate pregnancy dating, but it is also associated with obesity, nulliparity, and a prior history of postterm pregnancy. The rate of postterm p
Using remote sensing data to develop seasonal outlooks for Arctic regional sea-ice minimum extent

Abstract This paper discusses the development of simple multiple linear regression (MLR) models for developing seasonal forecasts of the annual minimum sea-ice extent in the Beaufort/Chukchi Seas, the Laptev/East Siberian Seas, the Kara/Barents Seas, and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago regions. The potential predictor data are based on mean monthly weighted indices of sea-ice concentration, multiyear sea-ice concentration, surface skin temperature, surface albedo, and downwelling longwave radiation flux at the surface. Predictions are developed based on data available in March (spring forecast), to coincide with the National American Ice Service's annual outlooks, and based on data available in June (summer forecast), which would provide a seasonal revision. The final regression equations retain one to three predictors, and each of the MLR models is superior to climatology. The r 2 for the MLR models range from a low of 0.44 (for the spring forecast in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago) to a high of 0.80 (for the summer forecast in the Beaufort/Chukchi Seas).
M-protein from chicken pectoralis muscle: isolation and characterization.

Abstract Proteins of chain molecular weights 170,000, 90,000 and 43,000 have been ascribed to the M-line in the literature; whether all the components are indeed from this region remains to be determined. We present here studies on the 170,000 and 90,000 molecular weight components isolated from high-salt extracts of washed chicken pectoralis muscle. Three components have been purified and characterized, two of chain molecular weight 170,000 and one of 90,000. The 90,000 chain molecular weight protein is identified as the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase b; it has physical characteristics and values of specific activity and pyridoxal-5′-phosphate content similar to those reported for this enzyme. Antibodies to the purified protein do not bind to the M-line region. The two 170,000 chain molecular weight proteins comigrate on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels in a band between myosin and C-protein designated “b” by Starr & Offer (1971) in their classification of myosin contaminants. Both proteins are single chain molecules with a low α-helix content. They are distinguished by sedimentation coefficients of 5.1 S and 7.1 S. Antibodies to the 5 S protein bind strongly to the M-line, whereas those to the 7 S protein weakly stain the Z-line. The 7 S protein is identified as glycogen debranching enzyme. We conclude from these studies that of the three components isolated, only the 5 S protein is a likely constituent of the M-line.
Does training location influence the clinical skills of medical students

PURPOSE To examine the benefits of the shift of medical education into ambulatory primary care settings by investigating whether medical students exposed to a common primary care problem (low back pain) in ambulatory care settings develop better clinical skills. METHOD In 1995, the authors categorized 420 students from all four North-Carolina medical schools into groups that had previously encountered patients with low back pain in ambulatory primary care settings, tertiary care settings, both, or neither. The clinical skills of the groups were determined using data collected during standardized-patient examination in which students took the history of, physically examined, and chose a diagnostic strategy for patients with acute, uncomplicated low back pain. RESULTS In general, there was no difference between the performances of the student groups associated with the settings of their previous encounters with low back pain. On average, the students failed to ask 35% of the history items and failed to perform 35% of the physical examination items. Many students chose inappropriate diagnostic strategies. CONCLUSION The lack of difference between the groups' clinical performances indicates a need to more rigorously define and evaluate outcomes of education in ambulatory care settings. The generally poor clinical performance of all groups suggests that the current curriculum inadequately teaches clinical skills needed to assess and manage common problems. Clearer expectations of competencies and assurances that preceptors in ambulatory care settings will help students meet those learning objectives might lead to better outcomes.
Joanna Wysocka wins ISSCR Outstanding Young Investigator Award.

The 2010 ISSCR Outstanding Young Investigator Award, which recognizes the exceptional achievements of an early-stage investigator, was granted to Joanna Wysocka.
An efficient gradient-based algorithm for on-line training of recurrent network trajectories

A novel variant of the familiar backpropagation-through-time approach to training recurrent networks is described. This algorithm is intended to be used on arbitrary recurrent networks that run continually without ever being reset to an initial state, and it is specifically designed for computationally efficient computer implementation. This algorithm can be viewed as a cross between epochwise backpropagation through time, which is not appropriate for continually running networks, and the widely used on-line gradient approximation technique of truncated backpropagation through time.
Diagnosis and management of overlap syndromes

Overlapping features between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and cholestatic disorders (primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), or indeterminate cholestasis), so-called overlap syndromes, usually have a progressive course toward cirrhosis and liver failure without adequate treatment. The diagnosis of overlap syndrome requires the prominent features of classic AIH and secondary objective findings of PBC or PSC. Empiric treatment for patients with AIH-PBC overlap is immunosuppressive therapy plus ursodeoxycholic acid. Empiric treatment for patients with AIH-PSC and AIH-cholestatic overlap is immunosuppressive therapy with or without ursodeoxycholic acid. Liver transplantation is indicated for patients who have end-stage liver disease.
Low-Dose Dexamethasone Therapy from Infancy of Virilizing Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Objective. To assess the growth and control of adrenal androgen secretion in children with virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) treated with dexamethasone. Method. We examined doses used, control of adrenal androgen secretion, and growth and skeletal maturation of 8 children with CAH treated with dexamethasone beginning in infancy. Results. 3 boys and 5 girls with classical CAH (17-hydroxyprogesterone at diagnosis >20,000 ng/dL) were treated with dexamethasone beginning at diagnosis (<10 days of age). Patients were also treated with fludrocortisone and sodium chloride. The average initial medication dose was 0.1 mg ( ); all doses were given in the morning using a dosing syringe to administer a 0.1 mg/mL elixir. The children were treated for years over which time the change in bone age to chronological age ratio ( BA/ CA) was . Most recent height Z' scores were , and body mass index (BMI) scores were . Late afternoon levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone were ng/dL ( nmol/L), ng/dL ( nmol/L), and ng/dL; ( nmol/L), respectively. Conclusions. These observations show that low doses of dexamethasone can be used to effectively treat CAH beginning in infancy.
Systemic treatment of white-tailed deer with ivermectin-medicated bait to control free-living populations of lone star ticks (Acari:Ixodidae).

Whole-kernel corn was treated with 10 mg ivermectin per 0.45 kg corn and fed at rate of approximately .45 kg/deer per day to white-tailed deer confined in the treatment pasture, whereas deer in an adjacent control pasture received a similar ration of untreated corn. Treatments were dispensed from February through September of 1992 and 1993, and free-living populations of lone star ticks. Amblyomma americanum (L.), were monitored in both pastures using dry-ice traps to quantify nymphs and adults and flip-cloths to assay the relative abundance of larval masses. Control values that were calculated for all ticks collected in both pastures during 1993 showed 83.4% fewer adults, 92.4% fewer nymphs and 100.0% fewer larval masses in the treatment versus control pasture. Serum ivermectin concentrations in treated deer averaged 21.7 and 28.3 ppb during 1992 and 1993, respectively. These values compared favorably with the goal concentration of 30.0 ppb which was anticipated under ideal conditions. This study demonstrates that a freely consumed, systemically active acaricidal bait ingested by white-tailed deer under nearly wild conditions can significantly reduce the abundance of all stages of free-living long star ticks.
Glutathione S-transferase in the house fly: Biochemical and genetic changes associated with induction and insecticide resistance

Abstract Kinetic parameters were measured for glutathione S -transferase, an enzyme important in metabolic resistance to insecticides, in one susceptible and two insecticide-resistant strains of the house fly ( Musca domestica L.), and in untreated and chemically induced flies. Both resistant strains differed from the susceptible strain in apparent K m values for the enzyme, while only one differed in apparent V max . Two of the strains were inducible with phenobarbital; the third with 3-methylcholanthrene. Kinetic analysis indicated enzyme induction was associated with changes in K m rather than V max , and genetic experiments showed that most variation relating to K m and V max was controlled by chromosome II. Based on these results, both metabolic resistance and induction of enzyme activity were associated primarily with the production of different forms of glutathione S -transferase rather than more of the enzyme present in susceptible flies.
Evaluation of glycine site antagonists of the NMDA receptor in global cerebral ischaemia

In the present studies we have investigated the effects of a range of glycine site antagonists of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the gerbil model of global cerebral ischaemia. The compounds tested were (+)-3-amino-1-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidone (HA 966, 15 mg/kg), 7-chloro-4-hydroxy-3-(3-phenoxy)phenyl-2(H)-quinolinone) (L-701,324, 40 mg/kg), 7-chloro-3-(cyclopropylcarbonyl)-4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinone) (L-701, 252, 50 mg/kg), (3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-ynyl 7-chloro-4 hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolone-3-carboxylate) (L-701,273, 50 mg/kg), 5-nitro-6,7-dichloro-2,3-quinoxalinedione (ACEA 1021, 25 mg/kg) and [(E)-3[(phenylcarbamoyl) ethenyl]-4,6-dichloroindole-2-carboxylic acid sodium salt (GV 150526A, 40 mg/kg). All compounds were administered via the i.p. route 30 min before and again at 2 h 30 min after 5 min bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO) in the gerbil. For comparison we also evaluated a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, (5R,10S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a, d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801, 2 mg/kg) and an alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) antagonist, (3S,4aR, 6R, 8aR)-6-[2-(1(2)H-tetrazole-5-yl)]decahydroisoquinoline-3-car boxylic acid (LY293558, 20 mg/kg). In the present studies L-701,252, L-701, 324 and L-701,273 provided a small degree of neuroprotection. ACEA 1021, GV 150526A and HA 966 failed to provide any neuroprotection, while MK-801 provided significant (20%) protection. In contrast LY293558 provided good (55%) neuroprotection. These results indicate that glycine site antagonists and competitive NMDA antagonists provide a small degree of neuroprotection in global cerebral ischaemia. In contrast, AMPA receptor antagonists provide more robust neuroprotection in global cerebral ischaemia.
Fractography of highly crosslinked polymers: the influence of filler particles

The fracture of phenol formaldehyde polymers may result in a surface morphology in which tracks are aligned in the direction of crack propagation. Fibrous features may be formed which in some cases lie on the tracks, but which in other cases may be displaced [1]. A similar fracture surface morphology was observed in several other highly crosslinked glass polymers [2]. It has been suggested that this morphology is due to the intersection of microcracks generated by a fortuitous change in the direction of the principal tensile stress just ahead of the propagating crack tip [3]. This suggests the possibility of forming isolated tracks and features by inclusion of filler particles which may serve to change the direction of the local principal tensile stress by acting as stress concentrators. In a first at tempt to find such an effect it would seem advantageous to work with low volume fractions of anisometric particles covering a wide range of sizes visible by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A mixture of dimethacrylate monomers, convenient for present purposes, is used currently as a base for tooth restorative composites. A highly viscous monomer, the adduct of bisphenol A and glycidyl methacrylate ( B I S G M A , 7 5 w t % ) was thinned with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (25%) and photosensitizers were added [4]. A silanated lithium aluminium silicate [5] was admixed with negligible sedimentation. The mixture was polymerized by exposure (60sec) to an intense ( ~ 1200Win 2) source of visible light (400 to 600 nm). Cylindrical glassy
Methane detection from space: use of sunglint

Methane seepage is indicative of petroleum or natural gas reserves. Techniques aimed at detecting methane seepage with surface-based instrumentation have progressed significantly in recent years. These techniques rely on measurement of light attenuation due to methane absorption of short wave infrared (SWIR) radiation. Detection of methane seepage over water bodies with electro-optical remote sensing has been limited by the low surface reflectance of water. Also, due to sensor saturation, imagery over sunglint is commonly discarded in satellite remote sensing, because the glint conditions produce high surface reflectance. However, recent measurements in the SWIR of sunglint regions have revealed that the surface reflectance is spectrally flat and enhanced without causing saturation. This higher surface reflectance in sunglint regions allow for retrieval of the total column methane amount using ratios of measured radiances at wavelengths inside and outside the methane SWIR-absorbing channels. The methane retrieval method presented here, based on shortwave infrared band ratios in sunglint regions, allows for detection of methane seepage over the Earth's oceans and lakes, and the detection of possible petroleum or natural gas reserves. Radiative transfer simulations are used to demonstrate the capabilities offered by this technique.
Radical education and the common school: a democratic alternative

Radical education and the common school: a democratic alternative, by Michael Fielding and Peter Moss, London, Routledge, 2011, 190 pp., $120.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-415-49828-9; $39.95 (paperbac...
Why they stay: women persisting in US engineering careers

Purpose – Women remain dramatically underrepresented in the engineering profession and far fewer women than men persist in the field. This study aims to identify individual and contextual factors that distinguish women who persist in engineering careers in the US.Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative research was conducted based on semi‐structured interviews with 31 women engineers, ten of whom had left an engineering career and 21 persisting for on average 21 years. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded and analyzed.Findings – Women who persisted in engineering careers articulated high levels of self efficacy, described themselves in terms of their identity as an engineer, and were motivated by the challenges and novelty of the profession. Women engineers' ability to adapt enabled them to persist and thrive despite working in a male‐dominated culture characterized by difficulties associated with the workplace, including discrimination. Women who opted out of engineering were less likely to...
Characterization and fine-mapping of a resistance locus for northern leaf blight in maize bin 8.06

As part of a larger effort to capture diverse alleles at a set of loci associated with disease resistance in maize, DK888, a hybrid known to possess resistance to multiple diseases, was used as a donor in constructing near-isogenic lines (NILs). A NIL pair contrasting for resistance to northern leaf blight (NLB), caused by Setosphaeria turcica, was identified and associated with bin 8.06. This region of the maize genome had been associated in previous studies with both qualitative and quantitative resistance to NLB. In addition, bins 8.05–8.06 had been associated with quantitative resistance to several other diseases, as well as resistance gene analogs and defense response gene homologs. To test the hypothesis that the DK888 allele at bin 8.06 (designated qNLB8.06 DK888 ) conditions the broad-spectrum quantitative resistance characteristic of the donor, the NILs were evaluated with a range of maize pathogens and different races of S. turcica. The results revealed that qNLB8.06 DK888 confers race-specific resistance exclusively to NLB. Allelism analysis suggested that qNLB8.06 DK888 is identical, allelic, or closely linked and functionally related to Ht2. The resistance conditioned by qNLB8.06 was incompletely dominant and varied in effectiveness depending upon allele and/or genetic background. High-resolution breakpoint analysis, using ~2,800 individuals in F9/F10 heterogeneous inbred families and 98 F10/F11 fixed lines carrying various recombinant events, delimited qNLB8.06 DK888 to a region of ~0.46 Mb, spanning 143.92–144.38 Mb on the B73 physical map. Three compelling candidate genes were identified in this region. Isolation of the gene(s) will contribute to better understanding of this complex locus.
Oscillator strengths of astrophysical interest from lifetime data

Abstract Determination of absolute oscillator strengths from lifetime data would be of value in the quantitative interpretation of astrophysical spectra. A survey of ƒ- values needed for solar abundance calculations will be presented. If the lifetime of a level is known, absolute ƒ- values can be determined by measurement of the relative intensities of the lines from that level. The details of such relative intensity measurements will be discussed with emphasis on the requirements for the source and on the calibration of the relative detection efficiency of the spectrometer.
Bifunctional ligands for the preparation of heterobinuclear complexes. Synthesis and characterization of Tl(5H4)P(CH3)2, [(η5-C5H4)P(CH3)2]2ZrCl2 and the heterobinuclear complex {μ-(η5-C5H4)P(CH3)2]ZrCl2}Mo(CO)4

Abstract The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the bifunctional ligand Tl(C 5 H 4 )P(CH 3 ) 2 , the ring functional^metalloligand, [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 )P(CH 3 ) 2 ] 2 ZrCl 2 , prepared from it and the heterobinocular complex, {μ-(η 5 -C 5 H 4 )P(CH 3 ) 2 ] 2 ZrCl 2 }Mo(CO) 4 , are reported. This heterobifunctional ligand will complement work with metallocene complexes of C 5 H 4 )PPh 2 because of the smaller steric demands and anticipated higher basicity of the dimethylphosphine unit compared to the diphenylphosphine group.
Lung Development in the Chick Embryo II. Choline and Ethanolamine Kinase Activity in the Developing Lungs of Normal and Hypophysectomized Chick Embryos

Lung Development in the Chick Embryo II. Choline and Ethanolamine Kinase Activity in the Developing Lungs of Normal and Hypophysectomized Chick Embryos
Conductimetric determination of the critical micelle concentration of surfactants in salt solutions

Abstract The conductimetric method of determining the critical micelle concentration of ionic surfactants has been used at very high ionic strengths. Data on sodium decyl and dodecyl sulfates in the presence of up to 1.0 and 0.3 N NaCl, respectively, were obtained. The problems involved in these determinations are discussed. The principal one is the unexpected equality of the equivalent conductances of micelles and monomers in the presence of about 0.35 N NaCl.
Towards a point-of-care diagnostic system: automated analysis of immunoassay test data on a cell phone

Many of the diagnostic tests administered in well-funded clinical laboratories are inappropriate for point-of-care testing in low-resource environments. As a result, inexpensive, portable immunoassay tests have been developed to facilitate the rapid diagnosis of many diseases common to developing countries. However, manually analyzing the test results at the point of care may be complex and error-prone for untrained users reading test results by eye, and providing methods for automatically processing these tests could significantly increase their utility. In this paper, we present a mobile application that automatically quantifies immunoassay test data on a smart phone. The speed and accuracy demonstrated by the application suggest that cell-phone based analysis could aid disease diagnosis at the point of care.
Self-absorption corrections for C14-labeled protein

Abstract The present study was undertaken to define the limits of accuracy of methods employed in this laboratory for plating and counting protein samples. The absorption coefficient (μ) for proteins was found to be 0.278 cm 2 /mg with the aid of the least square method. Two tests made with this self-absorption coefficient indicated that a specific activity with an error of less than 5% could be obtained when the sample weight was 2.4 mg/cm 2 , or greater. When lesser amounts were plated there was increasing error in the calculated value for the specific activity. Both hyperbolic and exponential treatment of the data were satisfactory for defining the relationship between the weight of the sample and the radioactivity when the weight was in excess of 2.4 mg/cm 2 , but neither was completely satisfactory when smaller amounts were plated.
Breast feeding in an urban district in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. A descriptive study of feeding patterns and hospital practices as they relate to breastfeeding.

There has been a steady decline in % of women that exclusively breastfeed in Shanghai Peoples Republic of China since 1950. The attitude toward breastfeeding is now positive due to the emphasis on breastfeeding in the prenatal advise given expectant mothers. This study examines hospital policies for newborns that obstruct a good breastfeeding regimen and surveys the mothers postpartum and 4 months later to determine the following: specific hospital practices to identify sources of breastfeeding education to identify mothers intentions concerning breastfeeding and to identify the initial problems experienced with breastfeeding in the hospital. These questionnaire surveys were combined with periodic visits to the nursery to document the actual practices for newborn care. The total sample size was 123 primipara women with 25% having cesarian births. 98% of the women planned to breastfeed for more than 6 months yet only 13.3% exclusively breastfed after 4 months. 93% of the women stopped or subsidized their breastfeeding due to sore nipples insufficient mild infant not sucking or engorgement. Only education and age had any correlation (17%) with variance of breastfeeding duration. Most importantly hospital practices in the nursery involved constant feeding of the newborns with cows milk supplements. Most mothers did not know this and worried as to why their children did not breastfeed well. Little to not breastfeeding education was provided to mothers after birth. There is little understanding by the staff and mothers as to what factors influence milk supply. It is strongly recommended that accurate information be provided especially on anatomy and psychophysiology and lactation management. Education of the staff and the mothers after delivery combined with elimination of bottle supplementation in the hospitals unless medically indicated will improve the % of mothers that breastfeed for longer durations.
A C 1 Multivariate Clough–Tocher Interpolant

We show that in dimensions four and higher, to insure a smooth interpolant, additional geometric constraints must be imposed on the generalized Clough-Tocher split introduced in Worsey and Farin (Constr. Approx. 3:99-110, 1987).
Boundary representation with lines and circular arcs using boundary split-and-merge method

A method of finding critical (or corner) points and describing a two-dimensional closed boundary is presented. The method uses a split-and-merge technique. It first splits a closed boundary in half until the boundary is approximated by a line within a given error bound to find critical points and all the control points are linked by lines, that is, linearly approximated. Next, by finding some breaking points which have sharp angles between three critical points, a closed boundary is divided by some intervals. Within each interval, a merging technique based on an LMS (least-mean-square) error is used to reduce the number of critical points and segments. Then, each shape is represented by an ordered sequence of line segments and circular arc segments with control points as vertex points. The resulting description is a good approximation of the original in the sense that it makes interesting points explicit and achieves significant data compression. >
Controlling the local arrangements of π-stacked polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through substituent effects

PAHs such as coronene and hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC, a nanographene) are commonly used in discotic liquid crystals, for which achieving long-range columnular order is vital for the development of materials with maximized charge-transfer rates. We demonstrate that simple substituents can have a dramatic impact on the local orientation of π-stacked polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), even in the absence of steric or other non-covalent interactions (e.g.: hydrogen bonds). The strong dependence of these π-stacking interactions on the relative position of substituents is a result of the direct, through-space interactions of aryl substituents. B97-D/TZV(2d,2p) interaction energies are presented for stacked dimers of substituted benzenes, coronenes, and HBC, which display diverse orientation potentials depending on the nature of the substituents. The results show that the position of the global energy minimum for stacked PAHs depends on the nature of the aryl substituents. The preferred arrangement of stacked coronenes, for example, can be shifted from a fully staggered arrangement to a fully eclipsed arrangement through the introduction of complementary pairs of substituents.
A pyrosequencing-tailored nucleotide barcode design unveils opportunities for large-scale sample multiplexing

Multiplexed high-throughput pyrosequencing is currently limited in complexity (number of samples sequenced in parallel), and in capacity (number of sequences obtained per sample). Physical-space segregation of the sequencing platform into a fixed number of channels allows limited multiplexing, but obscures available sequencing space. To overcome these limitations, we have devised a novel barcoding approach to allow for pooling and sequencing of DNA from independent samples, and to facilitate subsequent segregation of sequencing capacity. Forty-eight forward–reverse barcode pairs are described: each forward and each reverse barcode unique with respect to at least 4 nt positions. With improved read lengths of pyrosequencers, combinations of forward and reverse barcodes may be used to sequence from as many as n2 independent libraries for each set of ‘n’ forward and ‘n’ reverse barcodes, for each defined set of cloning-linkers. In two pilot series of barcoded sequencing using the GS20 Sequencer (454/Roche), we found that over 99.8% of obtained sequences could be assigned to 25 independent, uniquely barcoded libraries based on the presence of either a perfect forward or a perfect reverse barcode. The false-discovery rate, as measured by the percentage of sequences with unexpected perfect pairings of unmatched forward and reverse barcodes, was estimated to be <0.005%.
Identification and cloning of a novel plasmid-encoded enterotoxin of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli and Shigella strains.

We have employed a molecular genetic approach to characterize the nature of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) enterotoxic activity, as previously observed in Ussing chambers (A. Fasano, B.A. Kay, R.G. Russell, D.R. Maneval, Jr., and M.M. Levine, Infect. Immun. 58:3717-3723, 1990). The screening of TnphoA mutants of EIEC yielded a single insertion mutant which had significantly reduced levels of enterotoxic activity in the Ussing chamber assay. DNA flanking the insertion was used as a probe to screen for EIEC cosmid clones which conferred secretogenic activity. Such screening resulted in the identification of two overlapping cosmid clones which elicited significant changes in mucosal short-circuit current (Isc). Subcloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of a DNA fragment from one of the cosmid clones led to the identification of a single open reading frame which conferred this enterotoxic activity. By DNA hybridization, this gene (designated sen for shigella enterotoxin) was found in 75% of EIEC strains and 83% of Shigella strains and was localized to the inv plasmid of Shigella flexneri 2457T. By PCR, a sen gene with 99.7% nucleotide identity was cloned and sequenced from 2457T. A deletion in the EIEC sen gene was constructed by allelic exchange, resulting in significantly lower rises in Isc than were elicited by the wild-type parent; however, significant enterotoxic activity remained in the sen deletion mutant. To purify the Sen protein, the gene was cloned into the multiple cloning site of the expression vector pKK223-3. Purification of the sen gene product yielded a protein with a molecular mass of 63 kDa which elicited rises in Isc in the Ussing chamber. We believe that the sen gene product may constitute all or part of a novel enterotoxin in EIEC and Shigella spp.
The Alteration of Hamster Serum Elastase Inhibitory Capacities by Chloramine T, in Vitro and in Vivo

The major elastase inhibitor of human serum, alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (A1PI), is susceptible to oxidative inactivation by a variety of agents, including cbloramine T, We have examined the effects of chloramine T on the catalytic activity of porcine pancreatic (PPE) and human leukocyte elastase (HLE) and on the elastase inhibitory capacity of hamster, rat, and human serum as well as pure human A1PI. Both PPE and HLE, but not trypsin, were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by concentrations of chloramine T greater than 0.1 mM. The abilities of rat and human serum and pure human A1PI to inhibit both PPE and HLE were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by chloramine T. In contrast only the ability of hamster serum to inhibit HLE was altered by exposure to chloramine T: inhibition of PPE was not effected. Gel exclusion chromatography disclosed the existence of two major peaks of elastase inhibitory activity in hamster plasma: one, with an approximate molecular weight of 55 K, eluting ...
Telomeres and meiosis in health and disease.

Meiotic dysfunction increasingly afflicts women as they age, resulting in infertility, miscarriage and handicapped offspring. How aging disrupts meiotic function in women remains unclear, but as women increasingly delay childbearing, this issue becomes urgent. Telomeres, which mediate aging in mitotic cells, may also mediate aging during meiosis. Telomeres shorten during DNA replication. In mammals, oocytes remain quiescent, but their precursors replicated during fetal oogenesis. Moreover, eggs ovulated from older women entered meiosis later during fetal oogenesis than eggs ovulated when younger, and therefore underwent more replications. Telomeres also shorten from reactive oxygen, which triggers a DNA repair response, so the prolonged interval between fetal oogenesis and ovulation in some women would further shorten telomeres. Mice normally do not exhibit age-related meiotic dysfunction (interestingly, their telomeres are manyfold longer than telomeres in women), but genetic or pharmacologic shortening of mouse telomeres recapitulates the reproductive aging phenotype of women. This has led to a telomere theory of age-related meiotic dysfunction in women, and underlined the importance to human health of a mechanistic understanding of telomeres and meiosis.
Effect of Adrenocorticotropin on Binding of Endogeneous Corticosteroid by Chicken Bursal Cells

Abstract An intravenous injection of ACTH stimulated a maximal increase in the serum concentration of corticosterone within 60 to 65 min. This increase was closely paralleled by the amount of corticosterone which was bound to cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of chicken bursal cells.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus nsp9 Dimerization Is Essential for Efficient Viral Growth

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) devotes a significant portion of its genome to producing nonstructural proteins required for viral replication. SARS-CoV nonstructural protein 9 (nsp9) was identified as an essential protein with RNA/DNA-binding activity, and yet its biological function within the replication complex remains unknown. Nsp9 forms a dimer through the interaction of parallel α-helices containing the protein-protein interaction motif GXXXG. In order to study the role of the nsp9 dimer in viral reproduction, residues G100 and G104 at the helix interface were targeted for mutation. Multi-angle light scattering measurements indicated that G100E, G104E, and G104V mutants are monomeric in solution, thereby disrupting the dimer. However, electrophoretic mobility assays revealed that the mutants bound RNA with similar affinity. Further experiments using fluorescence anisotropy showed a 10-fold reduction in RNA binding in the G100E and G104E mutants, whereas the G104V mutant had only a 4-fold reduction. The structure of G104E nsp9 was determined to 2.6-A resolution, revealing significant changes at the dimer interface. The nsp9 mutations were introduced into SARS-CoV using a reverse genetics approach, and the G100E and G104E mutations were found to be lethal to the virus. The G104V mutant produced highly debilitated virus and eventually reverted back to the wild-type protein sequence through a codon transversion. Together, these data indicate that dimerization of SARS-CoV nsp9 at the GXXXG motif is not critical for RNA binding but is necessary for viral replication.