cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
β3-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Fringe)

Fringe provides a clear example of the role that carbohydrate modifications can play in regulating signal transduction events. Fringe was originally identified for its role in dorsal/ventral boundary formation during Drosophila wing development (Irvine and Wieschaus 1994). It functions by altering the response of the Notch receptor to its ligands, potentiating signaling from Delta and inhibiting that from Serrate (Fleming et al. 1997; Panin et al. 1997). Recent results have shown that fringe modulates Notch activity by altering the structure of the O-fucose glycans on the EGF repeats in the extracellular domain of Notch (Bruckner et al. 2000; Moloney et al. 2000a). O-fucose modifications occur between the second and third conserved cysteines of an EGF repeat at the consensus site C2-X-X-G-G-S/T-C3, where X can be any amino acid and S/T is the modification site (Harris and Spellman 1993). Numerous cell surface and secreted proteins have EGF repeats containing these sites. Fringe catalyzes the addition of a β-linked GlcNAc to the 3′-hydroxyl of O-fucose, which can be further elongated to a tetrasaccharide with the structure NeuAcα2-3/ 6Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Fuc (Harris and Spellman 1993; Moloney et al. 2000a; Moloney et al. 2000b). The glycosyltransferase activity of fringe is essential for its ability to modulate Notch signaling (Bruckner et al. 2000; Moloney et al. 2000a; Munro and Freeman 2000), demonstrating that signal transduction events can be regulated by alterations in the glycosylation state of receptors.
Role of Doping Dependent Radiative and Non-radiative Recombination in Determining the Limiting Efficiencies of Silicon Solar Cells

We show that increasing the bulk doping in a silicon based solar cell can increase the fraction of photo generated carriers that recombine radiatively at open circuit condition. This increases the maximum achievable open circuit voltage (Voc) in a solar cell At higher doping levels auger recombination and band gap narrowing effects dominate leading to a reduction in Voc. Therefore radiative and non-radiative recombinations at Voc determines the optimum doping of the bulk to maximize the performance especially in thin solar cells with increased surface area due to surface texturing.
Influence of benzyladenine and gibberellic acid on organogenesis in lsquo;Crimson Giantrsquo; Easter cactus

Experiments were performed to determine the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3) and benzyladenine (BA) on organogenesis of lsquo;Crimson Giantrsquo; Easter cactus [Hatiora gaertneri (Regel) Barthlott] phylloclades cultured in vitro. The numbers of flower buds and new phylloclades increased linearly as BA concentration increased from 0 to 444.1 micro;M. GA3 increased the number of new phylloclades when present in moderate concentrations (2.9 or 28.9 micro;M), but inhibited flower bud formation when present in concentrations as low as 0.3 micro;M. The inhibitory effect of GA3 on flower bud formation was diminished when the medium was amended with BA at 44.4 or 444.1 micro;M. Explants cultured in media that contained 288.7 micro;M GA3 produced fewer organs (new phylloclades plus flower buds) compared to those cultured in media with 0, 0.3, 2.9, or 28.9 micro;M GA3. BA and GA3 concentrations also affected the percentage of explants with flower buds and the percentage of explants with new phylloclades. This study shows that organogenesis in H. gaertneri can be controlled by varying the concentrations of BA and GA3 in the culture medium.
Development of 3D-Printed Polymer-MOF Monoliths for CO2 Adsorption

Previously, we 3D-printed polymer-zeolite monoliths by layer-wise phase separation. Importantly, this technique used liquid printing dopes, which exhibit a better rheology than traditional bentonit...
Magnetic handshake materials as a scale-invariant platform for programmed self-assembly

Programmable self-assembly of smart, digital, and structurally complex materials from simple components at size scales from the macro to the nano remains a long-standing goal of material science. Here, we introduce a platform based on magnetic encoding of information to drive programmable self-assembly that works across length scales. Our building blocks consist of panels with different patterns of magnetic dipoles that are capable of specific binding. Because the ratios of the different panel-binding energies are scale-invariant, this approach can, in principle, be applied down to the nanometer scale. Using a centimeter-sized version of these panels, we demonstrate 3 canonical hallmarks of assembly: controlled polymerization of individual building blocks; assembly of 1-dimensional strands made of panels connected by elastic backbones into secondary structures; and hierarchical assembly of 2-dimensional nets into 3-dimensional objects. We envision that magnetic encoding of assembly instructions into primary structures of panels, strands, and nets will lead to the formation of secondary and even tertiary structures that transmit information, act as mechanical elements, or function as machines on scales ranging from the nano to the macro.
RNA-directed DNA Methylation and sexual reproduction: expanding beyond the seed

Two trends are changing our understanding of RNA-directed DNA methylation. In model systems like Arabidopsis, tissue-specific analysis of DNA methylation is uncovering dynamic changes in methylation during sexual reproduction and unraveling the contribution of maternal and paternal epigenomes to the developing embryo. These studies indicate that RNA-directed DNA Methylation might be important for mediating balance between maternal and paternal contributions to the endosperm. At the same time, researchers are moving beyond Arabidopsis to illuminate the ancestral role of RdDM in non-flowering plants that lack an endosperm, suggesting that RdDM might play a broader role in sexual reproduction.
Quantifying residue-specific conformational dynamics of a highly reactive 29-mer peptide.

Understanding structural transitions within macromolecules remains an important challenge in biochemistry, with important implications for drug development and medicine. Insight into molecular behavior often requires residue-specific dynamics measurement at micromolar concentrations. We studied MP01-Gen4, a library peptide selected to rapidly undergo bioconjugation, by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to measure conformational dynamics. We mapped the dynamics of MP01-Gen4 with residue-specificity and identified the regions involved in a structural transformation related to the conjugation reaction. Upon reaction, the conformational dynamics of residues near the termini slow significantly more than central residues, indicating that the reaction induces a structural transition far from the reaction site. Arrhenius analysis demonstrates a nearly threefold decrease in the activation energy of conformational diffusion upon reaction (8.0 kBT to 3.4 kBT), which occurs across the entire peptide, independently of residue position. This novel approach to EPR spectral analysis provides insight into the positional extent of disorder and the nature of the energy landscape of a highly reactive, intrinsically disordered library peptide before and after conjugation.
Delamination in rotary ultrasonic machining of CFRP composites: finite element analysis and experimental implementation

Delamination, an inter-ply debonding failure phenomenon, is considered as the most undesirable and challenging failure mode in hole making of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite laminates. The existence of delamination, even small ones, noticeably damages the strength and stability of the assembled products. It is reported that delamination is responsible for up to 60% of composite components’ rejection during assembling. In order to reduce delamination, rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) has been studied and utilized in hole making of CFRP composites. Existing investigations on delamination of CFRP composites in RUM hole making are experimental studies, in which several methods (such as adjusting input variables and the use of supportive plate) to reduce delamination are reported. To understand delamination generation mechanisms and predict delamination initiation, theoretical investigations are needed. Cutting force models in RUM of CFRP composites have been developed, and it is well accepted that delamination is correlated to thrust force. However, there are no reported investigations to predict delamination initiation and study the impact of thrust force on the delamination of CFRP composites in the RUM hole-making process. Finite element analysis (FEA) could be an effective way to study the delamination in the RUM process. In this paper, FEA was conducted to predict delamination initiation and establish the relationship between the thrust force and delamination thickness in RUM, for the first time. In addition, experiments were conducted to validate the FEA model. The proposed model was proved to be effective in predicting delamination initiation, and the trends of the FEA results agreed well with those of the experimental results.
GPR183-Oxysterol Axis in Spinal Cord Contributes to Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating public health concern for which novel non-narcotic therapeutic targets are desperately needed. Using unbiased transcriptomic screening of the dorsal horn spinal cord after nerve injury we have identified that Gpr183 (Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 2) is upregulated after chronic constriction injury (CCI) in rats. GPR183 is a chemotactic receptor known for its role in the maturation of B cells, and the endogenous ligand is the oxysterol 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol (7α,25-OHC). The role of GPR183 in the central nervous system is not well characterized, and its role in pain is unknown. The profile of commercially available probes for GPR183 limits their use as pharmacological tools to dissect the roles of this receptor in pathophysiological settings. Using in silico modeling, we have screened a library of 5 million compounds to identify several novel small-molecule antagonists of GPR183 with nanomolar potency. These compounds are able to antagonize 7α,25-OHC-induced calcium mobilization in vitro with IC50 values below 50 nM. In vivo intrathecal injections of these antagonists during peak pain after CCI surgery reversed allodynia in male and female mice. Acute intrathecal injection of the GPR183 ligand 7α,25-OHC in naive mice induced dose-dependent allodynia. Importantly, this effect was blocked using our novel GPR183 antagonists, suggesting spinal GPR183 activation as pronociceptive. These studies are the first to reveal a role for GPR183 in neuropathic pain and identify this receptor as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We have identified several novel GPR183 antagonists with nanomolar potency. Using these antagonists, we have demonstrated that GPR183 signaling in the spinal cord is pronociceptive. These studies are the first to reveal a role for GPR183 in neuropathic pain and identify it as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of at least fifteen secreted and membrane-bound zinc-endopeptidases. Collectively, these enzymes can degrade all of the components of the extracellular matrix, including fibrallar and non-fibrallar collagens, fibronectin, laminin and basement membrane glycoproteins. MMPs are thought to be essential for the diverse invasive processes of angiogenesis and tumor metastasis. Numerous studies have shown that there is a close association between expression of various members of the MMP family by tumors and their proliferative and invasive behavior and metastatic potential. In some of human cancers a positive correlation has also been demonstrated between the intensity of new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) and the likelihood of developing metastases. Thus, control of MMP activity in these two different contexts has generated considerable interest as a possible therapeutic target. The tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are naturally occurring proteins that specifically inhibit matrix metalloproteinases, thus maintaining balance between matrix destruction and formation. An imbalance between MMPs and the associated TIMPs may play a significant role in the invasive phenotype of malignant tumors. TIMP-1 has been shown to inhibit tumor-induced angiogenesis in experimental systems. These findings raised the possibility of using an agent that affects expression or activity of MMPs as an anti-cancer therapy. TIMPs are probably not suitable for pharmacologic applications due to their short half-life in vivo. Batimastat (BB-94) and marimastat (BB-2516) are synthetic, low-molecular weight MMP inhibitors. They have a collagen-mimicking hydroxamate structure, which facilitates chelation of the zinc ion in the active site of the MMPs. These compounds inhibit MMPs potently and specifically. Batimastat was the first synthetic MMP inhibitor studied in humans with advanced malignancies, but its usefulness has been limited by extremely poor water solubility, which required intraperitoneal administration of the drug as a detergent emulsion. Marimastat belongs to a second generation of MMP inhibitors. In contrast to batimastat, marimastat is orally available. Both of these agents are currently in Phase I/II trials in US, Europe and Canada. Some other new agents, currently in clinical trials, have been shown to inhibit MMP production. Bryostatins, naturally occurring macrocyclic lactones, have both in vitro and in vivo activity in numerous murine and human tumors. In culture, bryostatin-1 has been shown to induce differentiation and halt the growth of several malignant cell lines. While the exact mechanism responsible for anti-tumor activity is unclear, an initial event in the action of bryostatin-1 is activation of protein kinase C (PKC), followed by its down regulation. Bryostatin-1 does not directly affect the activity of MMPs, but it can inhibit the production of MMP-1, 3, 9, 10 and 11 by inhibiting PKC. TIMP-1 levels could also be modulated by bryostatin-1, as it is encoded by a PKC responsive gene.
μ-Opioid Receptor (Oprm1) Copy Number Influences Nucleus Accumbens Microcircuitry and Reciprocal Social Behaviors.

The mu opioid receptor regulates reward derived from both drug use and natural experiences, including social interaction, through actions in the nucleus accumbens. Here, we studied nucleus accumbens microcircuitry and social behavior in male and female mice with heterozygous genetic knockout of the mu opioid receptor (Oprm1+/-). This genetic condition models the partial reduction of mu opioid receptor signaling reported in several neuropsychiatric disorders. We first analyzed inhibitory synapses in the nucleus accumbens, using methods that differentiate between medium spiny neurons (MSNs) expressing the D1 or D2 dopamine receptor. Inhibitory synaptic transmission was increased in D2-MSNs of male mutants, but not female mutants, while the expression of gephyrin mRNA and density of inhibitory synaptic puncta at the cell body of D2-MSNs was increased in mutants of both sexes. Some of these changes were more robust in Oprm1+/- mutants than Oprm1-/- mutants, demonstrating that partial reductions of mu opioid signaling can have large effects. At the behavioral level, social conditioned place preference and reciprocal social interaction were diminished in Oprm1+/- and Oprm1-/- mutants of both sexes. Interaction with Oprm1 mutants also altered the social behavior of wild-type test partners. We corroborated this latter result using a social preference task, in which wild-type mice preferred interactions with another typical mouse over Oprm1 mutants. Surprisingly, Oprm1-/- mice preferred interactions with other Oprm1-/- mutants, even though these interactions did not produce a conditioned place preference. Our results support a role for partial dysregulation of mu opioid signaling in social deficits associated with neuropsychiatric conditions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Activation of the mu opioid receptor plays a key role in the expression of normal social behaviors. In this study, we examined brain function and social behavior of female and male mice, with either partial or complete genetic deletion of mu opioid receptor expression. We observed abnormal social behavior following both genetic manipulations, as well as changes in the structure and function of synaptic input to a specific population of neurons in the nucleus accumbens, which is an important brain region for social behavior. Synaptic changes were most robust when mu opioid receptor expression was only partially lost, indicating that small reductions in mu opioid receptor signaling can have a large impact on brain function and behavior.
Radiation Hardness of Si Compared to 4H-SiC for Betavoltaics Assessed by Accelerated Aging Using an Electron Beam System

With the advancement of three-dimensional electronic technologies, 3D betavoltaics consisting of a mixture of a semiconductor converter and a beta emitter have been investigated to increase output power by maximizing the beta absorption in the semiconductor. Semiconductor radiation robustness has typically been evaluated by monitoring electrical properties during the beta irradiation process over a long dwell time. To quickly and safely assess semiconductor candidates for betavoltaics without incorporating high-activity beta emitters, a custom-designed electron beam system as a beta source surrogate has been used. In this work, we report the change of electrical performance of planar 4H-SiC, planar Si, and 3D Si ridge p-i-n diodes irradiated by high-flux and high-fluence electrons. The 4H-SiC diodes were found to suffer 45% degradation to output power with 100 keV electron irradiation at a fluence of 1.3 × 1018 cm−2; however, the Si diodes showed no decrease in performance at the highest fluence of 100 keV electron irradiation of 7 × 1018 cm−2. This demonstrates that Si is more radiation hard than 4H-SiC for 147Pm-based betavoltaics, with an average beta energy of 62 keV.
Preliminary Analysis of Brain Footprints in Multiple Sclerosis Females with Detrusor Sphincter Dyssynergia: A Concurrent Urodynamic and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Purpose This study evaluates the grey and white brain matter characteristics in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD). Grey matter is assessed via the functional connectivity (FC) of brain regions activated during voiding, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Two white matter tracts involved in bladder function, the anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), were evaluated using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods Twenty-seven women with MS (two groups: no-DSD (n=23) or DSD (n=4)), and eight healthy controls (HC) underwent concurrent urodynamic-fMRI evaluation with four cycles of bladder filling and emptying. A FC similarity measure (FC_sim) was calculated for each subject to express the similarity of individual FC at voiding initiation compared to all FC patterns. ATR and SLF tracts were traced and their fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were recorded. Results Mean FC_sim values were significantly different among the three groups indicating distinct FC patterns; however, no significant difference was found between DSD and no-DSD groups. DSD group showed trends of lower FA and higher MD - indicating loss of coherence - in all tracts compared to HCs, and in the left and right ATR when compared to MS women with neither DSD nor voiding dysfunction (VD), suggesting more damage in these tracts for MS women with DSD. Conclusions Women with MS show distinctly different FC patterns compared to HCs. There are trends showing more damage in the ATR in women with MS and DSD compared to those with neither DSD nor VD.
Behavioral Economics and Evidence Law

Behavioral economics has been applied to evidence law in at least four different ways: (1) to explain or justify current law; (2) to argue that current law counteracts or fails to counteract the findings; (3) to advocate changes in practice under existing law; and (4) to argue for law reform. On the surface, the first two applications appear descriptive and the second two normative. Below the surface all four missions share common assumptions about the power and generalizability of the psychological findings. Even superficially explanatory assertions are premised on the normative view that psychology should inform our understanding of evidence law. Whether it should, and how law and practice should be changed, are incredibly complex questions. Illustrating the complexity and suggesting ways forward are the goals of this Chapter.
Menstrual disorders in college students

During the period January, 1978 to June, 1979, a total of 900 college students was seen in a university student health center. Among these, 14.6% (131/900) had menstrual disorders. Oligomenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea, the chief complaint in 72.5% (95/131) students, accounted for 10.6% (95/900) of the total population. When a selected group of students with oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea was investigated, most had elevated levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and normal/low levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) suggestive of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO). The significance of these findings in the development of oligomenorrhea/amenorrhea and PCO under stress is discussed.
The Supreme Court and the Attitudinal Model Revisited

This book, authored by two leading scholars of the Supreme Court and its policy making, systematically presents and validates the use of the attitudinal model to explain and predict Supreme Court decision making. In the process, it critiques the two major alternative models of Supreme Court decision making and their major variants: the legal and rational choice. Using the US Supreme Court Data Base, the justices' private papers, and other sources of information, the book analyzes the appointment process, certiorari, the decision on the merits, opinion assignments, and the formation of opinion coalitions. The book will be the definitive presentation of the attitudinal model as well as an authoritative critique of the legal and rational choice models. The book thoroughly reflects research done since the 1993 publication of its predecessor, as well as decisions and developments in the Supreme Court, including the momentous decision of Bush v. Gore.
Hypercars: the next Industrial Revolution

Hypercars represent an artful fusion of the best existing technologies. They are ultralight, efficient, hybrid-electric and feature high-level system integration and meticulous attention to detail. The principle of designing the hypercars are outlined.
Cross-polarization magic-angle spinning 13C NMR spectra of coals of varying rank

Cross-polarization, magic-angle spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been obtained on a series of coals that span the ASTM rank classification. Aromaticities thus obtained follow the classification reasonably well, increasing as rank increases NMR parameters were extensively varied to determine optimum conditions for the cross polarization contact time and pulse repetition rate. Good correlations were obtained between both the fixed carbon and the volatile matter obtained from the proximate analysis, and the aromatic carbon obtained from NMR. Generally the NMR spectra of lignites and low rank coals exhibit varying degrees of fine structure.
Neighborhood factors associated with physical activity and adequacy of weight gain during pregnancy.

Healthy diet, physical activity, smoking, and adequate weight gain are all associated with maternal health and fetal growth during pregnancy. Neighborhood characteristics have been associated with poor maternal and child health outcomes, yet conceptualization of potential mechanisms are still needed. Unique information captured by neighborhood inventories, mostly conducted in northern US and Canadian urban areas, has been shown to reveal important aspects of the community environment that are not captured by the demographic quantities in census data. This study used data from the Pregnancy, Nutrition, and Infection (PIN) prospective cohort study to estimate the influences of individual-level and neighborhood-level characteristics on health behaviors and adequacy of weight gain during pregnancy. Women who participated in the PIN study and who resided in Raleigh, North Carolina and its surrounding suburbs were included (n=703). Results from a neighborhood data collection inventory identified three social constructs, physical incivilities, territoriality, and social spaces, which were hypothesized to influence maternal health behaviors. The physical incivility scale was associated with decreased odds (adjusted OR=0.74, 95%CI=0.57, 0.98) in participating in vigorous leisure activity before pregnancy after controlling for several individual confounders, and a crude association for decreased odds of excessive weight gain (OR=0.79, 95%CI=0.64, 0.98). The social spaces scale was associated with decreased odds for inadequate (adjusted OR=0.74, 95%CI=0.56, 0.98) and excessive (adjusted OR=0.69, 95%CI=0.54, 0.98) gestational weight gain. The social spaces scale was also associated with decreased odds of living greater than 3 miles from a supermarket (adjusted OR=0.03, 95%CI=0.00, 0.27). Territoriality was not associated with any pregnancy-related health behavior. None of the neighborhood constructs were associated with smoking or diet quality. Physical incivilities and social spaces neighborhood characteristics may be important to measure to improve our understanding of the potential mechanisms through which neighborhood environments influence health.
Is Laparoscopic Liver Resection Safe and Comparable to Open Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The field of surgery has evolved to increasingly incorporate minimally invasive approaches. Although the use of laparoscopy gained rapid and widespread acceptance for the treatment of benign diseases such as biliary and gastroesophageal reflux diseases, its utility in the treatment of cancer has been more cautious due to initial concerns of compromising oncologic principles and fears of port-site recurrence. For colon cancer, a 10-year randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare laparoscopically assisted versus open colectomy, showing that the rates of recurrence were similar between the two groups and suggesting that the laparoscopic approach was an acceptable alternative to open resection for colon cancer. 1 Liver surgery itself has evolved significantly with a better understanding of liver anatomical segments, enhanced imaging, improvements in anesthesia techniques including maintenance of low central pressures during liver mobilization and resection to prevent bleeding, and improved postoperative care and nursing. Minimally invasive liver resection is the next challenge; however, it has been slower to gain widespread acceptance, especially for cancer, due to concerns of compromising oncologic principles, uncontrollable hemorrhage, bile leakage, and air embolism. 2 In addition, there has been lack of adequate training of liver surgeons in both open liver surgery and minimally invasive techniques. No randomized controlled trial has compared laparoscopic liver resection with the traditional open liver resection; however, numerous case series have shown that it is safe and feasible in experienced hands. 3‐13 Initially
On nonadiabatic transition state theory

Abstract A nonseparable semiclassical transition state approximation for reactions involving more than one electronic surface is suggested. The single surface formulation in terms of quasiprobability distributions used by Miller is discussed along with a separable semiclassical approximation for the nonadiabatic rate suggested in the Soviet literature. A thermally averaged nonadiabatic rate is defined, and a semiclassical approximation is presented, wherein the surface through which flux is calculated in the transition state approach is determined by the intersection of adiabatic electronic surfaces viewed as functions of imaginary (or complex) time.
Interactions between nitric oxide and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a heme-containing enzyme, which catalyzes the initial and rate-determining step of l-tryptophan (l-Trp) metabolism via the kynurenine pathway in nonhepatic tissues. Similar to inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IDO is induced by interferon-γ and lipopolysaccharide in the inflammatory response. In vivo studies indicate that the nitric oxide (NO) produced by iNOS inhibits IDO activity by directly interacting with it and by promoting its degradation through the proteasome pathway. In this work, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between NO and human recombinant IDO (hIDO) were systematically studied with optical absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopies. Resonance Raman data show that the heme prosthetic group in the NO-bound hIDO is situated in a unique protein environment and adopts an out-of-plane deformed geometry that is sensitive to l-Trp binding. Under mildly acidic conditions, the proximal heme iron−His bond is prone to rupture, resultin...
Paleoecology of epizoans and borings on some Upper Cretaceous chalk oysters from the Gulf Coast

Analysis was made of a hard substrate fauna found on right valve interiors and exteriors of the epifaunal reclining oyster Pycnodonte mutabilis from the Maastrichtian (Navarroan) Saratoga Formation (southwestern Arkansas). Comparison of boring and encrustation patterns on both sides of valves indicates that a major portion of colonization on valve exteriors occurred while host oysters were alive. Paleoautecologic information derived from such valve exterior patterns includes evidence of rheotropic orientation by encrusting juvenile P. mutabilis and preferential location of Trypanites sp. borings in surficial shell grooves. Valve exteriors supported a hard substrate paleocommunity which had the following non-interactive progressive colonization sequence: (1) Trypanites sp. and P. mutabilis juveniles; (2) Entobia sp., serpulid worm tubes, and Bullopora sp.; and (3) cheilostome bryozoans. This sequence could have been caused by low seasonality and ranked success of colonizing encrusters and borers. Colonization of valve interiors generally differed from exteriors only in that many interiors were first colonized by the clionid sponge that created Entobia sp., which had already occupied the exterior, and which quickly bored through the valve to occupy the interior upon the host's death. □Trace fossils, epizoans, borings, Gryphaeidae, palaeoecology, communities, colonization sequence, Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian, Navarroan, Arkansas.
Coupled air-sea response to solar forcing in the Pacific region during northern winter

[1] Observations since the middle of the 19th century show that the decadal solar oscillation at its peaks strengthens the major convergence zones in the tropical Pacific (Intertropical Convergence Zone, ITCZ, and South Pacific Convergence Zone, SPCZ) during northern winter. Through an amplifying set of coupled feedbacks, a set of processes is described that link solar forcing and its response in the tropical Pacific with reductions in precipitation in the northwest United States. The process begins with an increase in solar forcing which results in a strengthening of the major convergence zones in the tropical Pacific. This then increases the precipitation in those regions and increases the southeast trade winds. Stronger trades increase the upwelling of colder water in the eastern equatorial Pacific and extend the cold tongue westward, thus reducing precipitation in the western Pacific. This redistribution of diabatic heating and associated convective heating anomalies thus produces anomalies in the tropical Hadley (north-south) and Walker (east-west) circulations. The former weakens as subsidence in equatorial latitudes is enhanced; the latter strengthens and extends westward. Additionally, the resulting anomalous Rossby wave response in the atmosphere, and consequent positive sea level pressure anomalies in the eastern region of the Aleutian low in the North Pacific that extends to western North America, is associated with reductions of precipitation in the northwest United States. The response of the climate system to solar forcing is manifested as a strengthening of the climatological precipitation maxima in the tropics.
Definition and measurement of pavement surface roughness

Abstract Pavement roughness is divided into three scales; roughness, macrotexture and microtexture. All three are surface irregularities of random nature. The dividing lines between them are based on functional considerations such as traffic safety and ride quality. Roughness is the largest scale with characteristic wavelengths of 0.1–100 m and amplitudes of 1.0–100 mm. The two texture scales have wavelengths and amplitudes of the same order of magnitude covering a range of 0.01–10 mm with a dividing line at about 0.25 mm; their function is generally related to pavement-tire traction characteristics. The two texture scales, their functional significance and methods of measurement and analysis are discussed. It is shown that current technology does not meet the needs of the highway engineer. Some details are given about measurement methods under development which have the potential to be operated from a vehicle moving at normal travel speeds.
Magnetic neutrality of the neutron

Present interest in the possible existence of isolated magnetic charges has raised questions about the degree of magnetic neutrality in magnetic dipole systems. For the free neutron case, past experiments dealing with the spatial deflection of neutron beams in extended magnetic fields have been analyzed by Ramsey to set an upper limit of 10 −12 for the fractional unbalance of poles separated by the neutron radius. This limit has been lowered by about six orders of magnitude in present experiments of deflection effects in crystals of silicon wherein the anomalously small effective mass of neutrons provides greatly enhanced sensitivity.
Development of efficient photoreactors for solar hydrogen production

The rate of hydrogen evolution from a photocatalytic process depends not only on the activity of a photocatalyst, but also on photoreactor design. Ideally, a photoreactor should be able to absorb the incident light, promoting photocatalytic reactions in an effective manner with minimal photonic losses. There are numerous technical challenges and cost related issues when designing a large-scale photoreactor for hydrogen production. Active stirring of the photocatalyst slurry within a photoreactor is not practical in large-scale applications due to cost related issues. Rather, the design should allow facile self-mixing of the flow field within the photoreactor. In this paper two types of photocatalytic reactor configurations are studied: a batch type design and another involving passive self-mixing of the photolyte. Results show that energy loss from a properly designed photoreactor is mainly due to reflection losses from the photoreactor window. We describe the interplay between the reaction and the photoreactor design parameters as well as effects on the rate of hydrogen evolution. We found that a passive self-mixing of the photolyte is possible. Furthermore, the use of certain engineering polymer films as photoreactor window materials has the potential for substantial cost savings in large-scale applications, with minimal reduction of photon energy utilization efficiency. Eight window materials were tested and the results indicate that Aclar™ polymer film used as the photoreactor window provides a substantial cost saving over other engineering polymers, especially with respect to fused silica glass at modest hydrogen evolution rates.
Quantifying the correlation effects of fused classifiers

Typically, when considering multiple classifiers, researchers assume that they are independent. Under this assumption estimates for the performance of the fused classifiers are easier to obtain and quantify mathematically. But, in fact, classifiers may be correlated, thus, the performance of the fused classifiers will be over-estimated. This paper will address the issue of the dependence between the classifiers to be fused. Specifically, we will assume a level of dependence between two classifiers for a given fusion rule and produce a formula to quantify the performance of this newly fused classifier. The performance of the fused classifiers will then be evaluated via the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. A classifier typically relies on parameters that may vary over a given range. Thus, the probability of true and false positives can be computed over this range of values. The graph of these probabilities over this range then produces the ROC curve. The probability of true positive and false positive from the fused classifiers are developed according to various decision rules. Examples of dependent fused classifiers will be given for various levels of dependency and multiple decision rules.
The persuasive power of PowerPoint® presentations

This study investigated the persuasive impact of information using varying degrees of technological sophistication. Participants were individuals who were novices and experts in the domain of the information. Participants reviewed a presentation of a football scout's favorable report on a potential recruit. They then evaluated the recruit's projected success. The experimental design was a 2 (participant football expertise: expert vs. novice) X 3 (technological sophistication of presentation: low [typed summary of statistics] vs. moderate [printed PowerPoint ® charts] vs. high [computer-based animated PowerPoint ® charts]) between subjects factorial. We expected and found that the recruit would be rated higher in the PowerPoint ® presentation condition but that experts would be less affected by the difference in communication modality than would novices. Both novice and expert participants were more swayed by the greater the technological sophistication of the presentation. This effect was more marked for football novices than football experts.
On a joint strong approximation theorem for record and inter-record times

We present a simple joint strong approximation for the logarithms of record and inter-record times from an exchangeable sequence, including an exact estimation for the rate of convergence in terms of upper and lower class functions of a Wiener process. The approach chosen here allows for simple proofs of exact and asymptotic (joint) results for record and inter-record times, such as the Law of Large Numbers (LLN), Central Limit Theorem (CLT) and Law of the Iterated Logarithm (LIL), and others.
Graceful interaction with graphical constraints

The graphical constraint editor (GRACE), a graphical editor that lets users define graphical, or geometric, constraints, is reviewed. Graphical constraints specify relationships among graphical objects that the system must maintain. Constraints are useful in graphical drawing editors, design activities supported by CAD systems, and graphical user interface construction. GRACE provides mechanisms for explicit and implicit constraint specification using simple and natural means. These include simple direct manipulation methods and a constraints-by-demonstration facility that incorporates both novel heuristics for inferring user-demonstrated relations in an economical fashion and a natural-language explanation tool that helps the user understand the system's inferencing behavior. An overview of GRACE's user interface is presented and details about how users specify graphical relations and query the system to obtain information about them are provided. >
Lithium-7 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of methyllithium/dimethylmagnesium (zinc, cadmium) in tetrahydrofuran and methyllithium/dimethylcadmium in ether

Lithium-7 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of ether solutions of methyllithium with dimethylcadmium have been examined over a range of temperatures. The spectra show that, like the magnesium and zinc systems, complexes of the form Li2Cd(CH3)4 and Li3Cd(CH3)5 are formed. No evidence was obtained for or against the formation of 1/1 complex. In contrast to the magnesium and zinc systems, methyl group exchange between methyllithium and complex appears to be faster than lithium exchange; both are more rapid than in the zinc system. Lithium exchange is apparently rate-determined by the dissociation of methyllithium tetramer to dimers. The mechanism of methyl exchange is uncertain. Evidence for rapid exchange of methyl groups between molecules of Li2Cd(CH3)4 is discussed. Proton and lithium-7 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of tetrahydrofuran (THF) solutions of methyllithium with dimethylmagnesium, dimethylzinc, and dimethylcadmium have been obtained over a wide temperature range. In contrast to ether solutions, no 3/1 complex is observed. The 2/1 complex predominates in the magnesium system, whereas spectra of the zinc system are consistent with an approximately equal molar mixture of 2/1 and 1/1 complexes. Finally, 1/1 complex predominates in the cadmium system. Lithium and methyl group exchange between methyllithium and complex in each system occur at comparable rates and activation energies; the rates increase in the order Mg < Zn < Cd. For magnesium and zinc, the exchange rates in THF and ether are similar, but for cadmium they are slower in THF. Exchange of methyl groups between (CH3)2M (M = Mg, Zn, Cd) and complex is very rapid. Evidence is presented for facile methyl group exchange between molecules of 1/1 complex in the cadmium system and between 2/1 and 1/1 complexes in the zinc system.
Design and optimization of the store vectors memory dependence predictor

Allowing loads that do not violate memory ordering to issue out of order with respect to earlier unresolved store addresses is very important for extracting parallelism in large-window superscalar processors. Previous research has proposed memory dependence prediction algorithms to prevent only loads with true memory dependencies from issuing in the presence of unresolved stores. Techniques such as load-store pair identification and store sets have been very successful in achieving performance levels close to that attained by an oracle-dependence predictor, but have relatively complex or power-hungry designs. In this article, we use the idea of dependency vectors from matrix schedulers for nonmemory instructions and adapt them to implement a new dependence prediction algorithm. We show that for conservatively sized processors, a simple PC-indexed table that tracks misordered loads is sufficient to provide most of the performance benefits achieved by more sophisticated predictors. On more aggressive processor configurations, however, our “Store Vector” algorithm provides better performance than the state-of-the-art store sets predictor while maintaining a simpler and more scalable design.
Added value of dialogic book reading for young children's vocabulary development

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Mol, S. E., Bus, A. G., de Jong, M. T., & Smeets, D. J. H. (2008). Added value of dialogic parent–child book readings: A meta-analysis. Early Education & Development, 19, 7–26. Source of funding and disclosure of interest: This study was supported by Grant (#411–02–506) from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) to Adriana G. Bus; the original authors of this research report no conflicts of interest.
Emerging images of severely battered women and the criminal justice system

The research literature of the 1970s and 1980s created a rather singular image of the battered woman. This image functioned as a standard to be met by battered women who attributed their own acts of violence or their failures to protect their children to the violence they endured. Three severely battered women, Hedda Nussbaum, Frances McMillian and Damian Pizarro illustrate the real diversity that exists. Each woman coped differently with her fear of her abuser's violence and domination. Nonetheless, the experiences of all three were unified by the intensity of their fear and by the fact that their acts (or failures to act) were so serious that they led to these women's involvement with the criminal justice system. The psychological consequences of extraordinary violence and the criminal justice system responses are discussed specifically, in relation to each case. The woman's social class and race are emphasized as important mediators of the criminal justice system response. In the final, general section, questions are addressed about society's role in idealizing the f d y and in silencing, ignoring, acknowledging, and/or solving the problems of severely battered women in desperately violent families. Language: en
Feline Vaccination Guidelines

The 1998 Report of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines was developed to help veterinary practitioners formulate vaccination protocols for cats. The current panel report updates information, addresses questions, and speaks to concerns raised by the 1998 report. In addition it reviews vaccine licensing, labeling, and liability issues and suggests ways to successfully incorporate vaccination protocol changes into a private practice setting.
The Immune Regulatory Effect of Apoptotic Cells and Exosomes on Dendritic Cells: Its Impact on Transplantation

Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen (Ag) presenting cells (APC) that trigger the anti-donor T-cell response that causes allograft rejection. During the past decade several laboratories have employed in vitro generated DC with tolerogenic potential for prolongation of allograft survival. This minireview describes the development of a second-generation of DC-based strategies for transplantation tolerance based on the delivery in situ of donor allogeneic (allo)-Ag to quiescent DC of graft recipients by means of donor-derived apoptotic cells or exosomes. Donor leukocytes in early apoptosis are rich in allo-Ag, are internalized efficiently by recipient DC in vivo and deliver immunosuppressive signals to DC. Administration (i.v.) of donor apoptotic leukocytes prolongs bone marrow engraftment and cardiac allografts survival in mice by exerting a profound down-regulatory effect on the anti-donor T-cell response. Exosomes are nanovesicles (<100 nm) produced by different cell types, including APC. DC-derived exosomes are rich in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules that can be employed to target DC in situ. Once i.v. injected, exosomes carrying donor MHC molecules are captured by recipient's DC and prolong allograft survival in rodents. The use of the regulatory functions of apoptotic cells and exosomes may be useful tools to develop new strategies for transplantation tolerance.