cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parasitylenchus myiophagus n. sp. (Nematoda: Parasitylenchidae), a tylenchid nematode parasite of long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)

A tylenchid nematode parasite of a male long-legged fly, Tachytrechus sanus Osten Sacken (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Montana, USA is described as Parasitylenchus myiophagus n. sp. (Nematoda: Parasitylenchidae). The new species is characterized by the presence of an extremely long first generation female and numerous short and wide second generation males and females produced in “enclosed” clusters in the host’s body cavity. Both generation female nematodes are ovoviviparous, with short stylets lacking knobs and simple tails lacking spikes, palps or mucrons. The second generation males have paired, separate spicules, short stylets, and a bursa but no visible gubernaculum. The fly host shows evidence of demasculinization, which is attributed to nematode parasitism. The gonads of the second generation adults are infected with a microsporidium (Microsporidia), which is a new host record for tylenchid nematodes. A tylenchid-infected Baltic amber dolichopodid shows that associations between these two organisms extend back at least to the Eocene.
Erotic Education: Elaborating a Feminist and Faith-Based Pedagogy for Experiential Learning in Religious Studies.

This essay explores intersections among Jesuit, Quaker, and feminist theologies and pedagogies of social justice education in order to propose and elaborate an innovative theoretical and theological framework for experiential learning in religious studies that prioritizes relationality, called erotic education. This essay then applies the relational rationale of erotic education to interpret the author's design of a service or community-based learning component in a course about contemporary U.S. Christian social justice movements, offered in both religiously-affiliated and religiously-inspired liberal arts colleges. The course case study not only chronicles the author's evolving pedagogical praxis as a feminist theologian teaching in Jesuit and Quaker institutions, but also is grounded in how the author's course embodies erotic education, that is, how specific objectives, learning practices, and assignments build and bolster relationships among students (in peer-to-peer small groups inside and outside the classroom) as well as among students and their community sites. In developing this framework and implementing it within this particular course, the author argues that erotic education emphasizes the naming and training of our existential desires for interpersonal relations in order to upbuild not only the individual but also the common good.
Other RDF-Related Technologies: Microformats, RDFa and GRDDL

So far at this point, we have learned the concept of the Semantic Web, and we have learned RDF. Let us think about these two for a moment.
RNA Metabolism in Trypanosomes: Approaches to Unravel pre-mRNA Signals Required for Intron Removal

The study of RNA metabolism in trypanosomes has provided the scientific community with a number of unexpected and enticing discoveries, including polycistronic transcription (Ullu et al., 1996), trans-splicing (Ullu et al., 1996), cap 4 modification (Bangs et al., 1992), mitochondrial RNA editing (Hajduk et al., 1997; Simpson and Emeson, 1996; Stuart et al., 1997), coupling of trans-splicing and polyadenylation (Matthews et al., 1994), and more recently RNA interference or RNAi (Ngo et al., 1998). Furthermore, over the past few years we have learned that there is very little, if any, regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional level and that most likely modulation of gene expression is achieved primarily at the post-transcriptional level. In this scenario, the pre-mRNA cis-acting signals for RNA processing, by virtue of their interactions with processing machineries, would be major determinants for regulating gene expression.
Identification and genetic mapping of the structural gene for an essential Escherichia coli membrane protein.

Abstract Attempts to isolate conditionally lethal recB and recC mutations of Escherichia coli K-12 by P1 localized mutagenesis led to the identification of the structural gene for an essential membrane protein. Located on a 1.5-kilobase-pair DNA fragment which physically mapped immediately 5' to the thyA gene, the product of the umpA (unidentified membrane protein) gene is a 25,000 Mr membrane-associated polypeptide. These results provide an explanation for why several research groups have been unable to obtain chromosomal deletions of the entire thyA gene. A possible interaction between the umpA and thyA genes is also discussed.
Immunology. Telling the brain about pain.

Injury to one part of the body often results in hypersensitivity to pain somewhere else. Unusually, this process seems to be coordinated by the brain in a way that does not involve the transmission of nerve impulses.
Low phase noise and high output power VCO design for a fully integrated GSM RF transceiver

Demonstrates the 900 MHz transmit VCO (TX VCO) design for fully integrated GSM transceiver to meet volume production requirements. On-chip varactors and package inductors were used in the VCO design. The phase noise of the VCO is -163 dBc/Hz at 20 MHz frequency offset and output power is 10 dBm.
An engineered lantipeptide synthetase serves as a general leader peptide-dependent kinase

Phosphorylation is an abundant post-translational modification involved in a myriad of cell signaling pathways. Herein, we have engineered the class II lantipeptide synthetase ProcM to generate a variety of peptides containing O-phosphoserine (pSer) and O-phosphothreonine (pThr) residues, either in vitro or in vivo.
An unusual phase transformation during mechanical alloying of an Fe-based bulk metallic glass composition

Abstract Mechanical alloying of an Fe-based bulk metallic glass composition (Fe 60 Co 8 Zr 10 Mo 5 W 2 B 15 ) was conducted starting from blended elemental powders. A supersaturated solid solution of all the alloying elements in Fe has formed in the initial stages of milling. This α-Fe phase became amorphous on subsequent milling up to 20–30 h. Further milling, unexpectedly, led to primary crystallization of the amorphous phase resulting in the formation of an (α-Fe)′ phase with a slightly smaller lattice parameter (and lower solute content) than that in the early stages of milling. External annealing of the amorphous phase powder at 700 °C for 1 h led to complete crystallization of the amorphous phase into a mixture of phases including α-Fe, ZrFe 2 , Fe 2 B, Fe 3 B, MoB 2 , FeMo 2 B 2 , and at least another unidentified phase. Possible reasons for such an unusual amorphous → crystalline transformation on milling in the bulk metallic glass composition are discussed and it was shown that this transformation is due to the combination of defect-assisted diffusion and a slight rise in the powder temperature.
Parental recollections of school experiences and current kindergarten transition practices

Abstract This study adopts an intergenerational approach to explore parental activities to facilitate children's transition to kindergarten. Structured interviews were conducted with 76 mothers from a diverse community sample whose children were about to start kindergarten. The emotional “valence,” or general positivity or negativity, of the mothers' recounted recollections of their own school experiences regarding teachers, peers, and the school involvement of their own parents was coded from the interviews. Findings support an intergenerational trend for the use of academic transition activities. Positive recollections of the school involvement of their own parents were associated with reporting greater engagement in current academic transition activities, even when accounting for present income, self-esteem and self-efficacy. The valence of school recollections did not predict engagement in discussions about the social aspects of the transition to school.
The transverse proximity effect in the z∼ 2 Lyman α forest suggests quasi-stellar object episodic lifetimes of ∼1 Myr

We look for signs of the H i transverse proximity effect in the spectra of 130 quasi-stellar object (QSO) pairs, most with transverse separations in the plane of the sky of 0.1–3 Mpc at z∼ 2.2. We expected to see a decrease in Lyα forest H i absorption in the spectrum of background QSOs near the position of foreground QSOs. Instead, we see no change in the absorption in front of the foreground QSOs, and we see evidence for a 50 per cent increase in the absorption out to 6 Mpc behind the foreground QSOs. Further, we see no change in the H i absorption along the line-of-sight to the foreground QSOs, the normal line-of-sight proximity effect. We may account for the lack of change in the H i absorption if the effect of extra ultraviolet photons is cancelled by higher gas density around QSOs. If so, the increase in absorption behind the QSOs then suggests that the higher gas density there is not cancelled by the UV radiation from the QSOs. We can explain our observations if QSOs have had their current UV luminosities for less than approximately a million years, a time-scale that has been suggested for accretion disc instabilities and gas depletion.
Measuring aerosol size distributions with the fast integrated mobility spectrometer

A fast integrated mobility spectrometer (FIMS) has been developed for rapid aerosol size distribution measurements including those aerosols with low particle number concentrations. In this work, an inversion routine has been developed for the FIMS and it is demonstrated that the FIMS can accurately measure aerosol size distributions. The inversion routine includes corrections for the particle residence time in the FIMS and other factors related to the width of the response (or transfer) function and multiple charging of particles. Steady-state size distributions measured with the FIMS compared well with those measured by a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Experiments also show that the FIMS is able to capture the size distribution of rapidly changing aerosol populations. The total particle concentration integrated from distributions measured by the FIMS agrees well with simultaneous measurements by a condensation particle counter (CPC).
The bioadhesive of Phragmatopoma californica tubes: a silk-like cement containing L -DOPA

The marine polychaetePhragmatopoma californica (Fewkes) (Sabellariidae) lives within a tube that it constructs by cementing together material such as sand and shells. All of the carbon and nitrogen in the cement (determined by CHN combustion elemental analysis) can be accounted for as protein, although other organic constituents were not specifically looked for. Although the cement may be comprised of more than one protein, amino acid analysis reveals a similarity to the silk protein, sericin, which is the sticky outer covering on silk fibers. The short-chain amino acids comprise 60% of the total residues (glycine: 24%, alanine: 7%, and serine: 29%). Lysine is the next most abundant residue (12%), with basic amino acids totalling 19% of the total residues. Amino acids with hydroxyl side-chains account for 35% of the total. The amino acid DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), which is present as 2.6% of the total residues, probably acts to stabilize the material through quinone tanning and/or by forming adbesive-type complexes with substrata. The cement thus displays structural and functional similarities with the cement ofMytilus spp. (Waite 1987) and with silk.
Associative competition in operant conditioning: blocking the response-reinforcer association

Naive rats were trained to leverpress with a 30-sec delay-of-reinforcement contingency from the start of training. In Experiment 1, the delay interval for different groups of subjects included a signal in the first 5 sec, a signal in the last 5 sec, or no signal at any time. Rats with the signal at the start of the delay interval learned most rapidly. Rats with the signal at the end of the delay failed to learn. In Experiment 2, a choice procedure was used, in which each of two levers was associated with its own 30-sec delay of reinforcement. The delay for one lever included a 5-sec signal at the end of the delay. The delay for the second lever had no signal in its 30-sec delay. Preference was in favor of the lever without the signal in the delay interval. The results demonstrate that the acquisition of new response can be blocked in a manner analogous to the blocking of Pavlovian conditioning.
Voltage Irregularities in D-C. Generators

This paper enumerates the voltage irregularities which may occur in d-c. generators. It gives a description of these irregularities, the cause of their occurrence, the magnitude of their values, their effect on radio circuits, and states the problem encountered in their measurement. A method is described for the measurement of these voltage irregularities, by the use of an oscillograph, a blocking condenser, and a current transformer. A number of oscillograph records, illustrative of the voltage irregularities existent in various d-c. generators, is shown, and an analysis of the wave form made for each component of slow and fast ripple. These records were taken under various electrical and mechanical conditions of the generators. Comparisons between these records are made. Conclusions are drawn as to features desirable in d-c. generators.
Keynote address: hypoxic cell radiosensitizers: where next?

Abstract The second generation hypoxic cell radiosensitizers SR 2508 (etanidazole) and Ro 03-8799 (pimonidazole) are now undergoing Phase III clinical trials and are predicted from in vitro , animal, and clinical studies to be equivalent to an increase in the tolerable dose of Miso of 5–6 fold. Nonetheless, this will only produce an SER of the hypoxic cells of approximately 1.5 when given with each dose of a 24 fraction course of radiotherapy. There is ample opportunity, therefore, for a sufficiently improved third generation radiosensitizer to warrant the considerable time, effort, and money that would be involved for its clinical testing. Many groups are now involved in the synthesis and testing of drugs with the goal of producing this third generation sensitizer. The purpose of the present review is to summarize what we have learned from the many studies of new radiosensitizers and attempt to draw conclusions about the most fruitful directions for further work. One of the conclusions is that in vitro testing of radiosensitizers, essential though it is as a first screen, can lead to many false predictions. Fortunately, these in vitro systems tend to “overpredict” (i.e., produce false positives rather than false negatives) for in vivo activity. There is only one class of drugs, so far, (those that increase tumor oxygenation) which radiosensitize tumors in vivo , but not hypoxic cells in vitro . Another major conclusion is that the physico-chemical characteristics of drugs that have been shown to be important in enhancing radiosensitization or reducing toxicity (electron affinity, pKa, partition coefficient, DNA binding), have not been systematically optimized in any one compound. Systematic rational drug design is needed to achieve this. The search for new hypoxic cell radiosensitizers must not detract from the fact that a sensitizer of aerobic cells to low radiation doses is needed. A major challenge in achieving a useful drug for radiotherapy is the desirability for such a drug to be tumor specific. We present data which show that tumor hypoxia might be exploited to achieve this goal.
A note on the robustness of Box-Behnken designs to the unavailability of data

Box-Behnken designs and central composite designs are efficient designs for fitting second order polynomials to response surfaces, because they use relatively small numbers of observations to estimate the parameters. In this paper we investigate the robustness of Box-Behnken designs to the unavailability of observations, in the sense of finding t max , the maximum number of arbitrary rows in the design matrix that can be removed and still leave all of the parameters of interest estimable. The results are compared to the known results for the central composite designs found in MacEachern, Notz, Whittinghill & Zhu (1995). The blocked Box-Behnken designs are equally as robust as those that are not blocked.
Wittgenstein's Tractatus and the Law

Ludwig Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) is the continuation of Russell and Frege's project of identifying the logical axioms and symbols that form an elementary set, from which all mathematical operations can be derived. The text itself contains seven numbered sections, with numbered sub-sections, and each asserts a thesis about logic. As a whole, it provides a portrait, and a phenomenology, of logic. It is also refreshingly short (about 75 pages). The Tractatus represents what one does when one performs the activity of logic. The goal of logic is to create sub-categories from large categories (or vice versa) and use these to organise the real world. Logic according to the Tractatus supervenes on the real. For instance, there is the real group of people (in front of you) waiting to be served dinner, and then by calculation you can split them into different groups to provide cohesion: first to arrive to last, oldest to youngest, most hungry to least hungry, fattest to skinniest. The point is that the people are hungry (the real); you bring in logic (the true) afterwards to organise the group. Logic is formal, computational, and provides a scaffolding to the content that breathes from the world. A sophisticated logic cannot be made to cohere, in the sense that complex mathematical systems cannot, all at once, be complete, consistent, decidable, and computable. As Wittgenstein would put it, you can't have logic or mathematics without some stipulated elementary axioms, that themselves are not deduced via logical operation.
Prediction of Absorption Loss in Multilayer Interference Filters

The absorption loss in a multilayer interference filter or antireflection coating can be calculated from the optical properties of its constituent materials. In the design of such a filter, the absorption and scattering losses are usually neglected. Even if these losses were taken into consideration at the design stage, the resulting performance would probably not be greatly improved; however, it is of interest to predict the change in filter performance when absorbing materials are substituted in an ideal nonabsorbing filter.The multilayers treated include transmission-type interference filters, both with and without semi-transparent metal films, reflection-type interference filters, and antireflection coatings.The analysis is made by transmission-line methods. The connection between optical and electrical filters with absorption losses is further treated in an appendix.
Measurement of group-velocity walk-off of short pulses in nonlinear crystals: a novel method.

A new technique based on frequency-domain interferometry has been used to measure the group-velocity walk-off between ordinary and extraordinary waves with picosecond duration in birefringent crystals. The dependence of walk-off on incident angle with respect to the birefringent crystal has also been measured.
Absorption and fluorescence spectral studies of some binuclear copper complexes

Abstract Several dicopper complexes which were previously prepared with the binucleating ligand 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol were found to possess extensive fluorescence spectra despite their paramagnetism. The absorption and fluorescence of the dicopper complexes are compared in water and dimethylsulfoxide. The effect of CN − ion on the fluorescence spectra is discussed.
Anterior segment optical coherence tomography for imaging the anterior chamber after laser peripheral iridotomy.

Primary angle closure glaucoma is common in certain regions of the world and is an important cause of blindness worldwide. Currently accepted treatment for patients with anatomically narrow angles is laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Gonioscopy is currently the standard clinical tool for detecting occludable angles. However, this subjective technique is limited by interobserver bias and is difficult to perform in a reproducible fashion. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is a more objective and reproducible method of angle assessment,1, 2 but the contact or immersion requirement is inconvenient and may cause artifactual widening of the angle. Optical coherence tomography (OCT)3 is a new imaging modality that allows high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging of the eye.4-5 OCT requires no contact or immersion and has higher spatial resolution than ultrasound. In this study, we used OCT to quantify changes in anterior segment morphology after LPI.
Ligandenaustauschreaktionen bei Phosphorverbindungen der Koordinationszahl 3. Die Systeme PCl8 ? P(OC2H5)3 und P(OC6H5)3 ? P[N(C2H5)2]3

Es wurden Mischungen von Phosphortrichlorid und Triathylphosphit einerseits und Triphenylphosphit und tris-Diathylaminophosphin andererseits hergestellt und die sich in diesen beiden Systemen durch Ligandenaustausch einstellenden Gleichgewichte untersucht. Die Gleichgewichtskonstanten der Systeme werden mit denen verglichen, die sich bei rein statistisch-zufalliger Verteilung der Liganden ergeben wurden. Es wurde gezeigt, das die Verbindungen mit verschiedenen Liganden in beiden untersuchten Systemen eine grosere Stabilitat aufweisen, als man nach der Statistik erwarten wurde. Various mixtures of phosphorus trichloride and triethyl phosphite on one side and triphenyl phosphite and tris-diethylamino phosphine on the other side were prepared to study the equilibria resulting from reorganization in both systems. The equilibrium constants are compared with values calculated on the basis of completely random reorganization. It is shown that the mixed compounds of both systems are more stable than would be expected from statistical calculations.
Groundwater Cleanup by in-situ Sparging. IV. Removal of Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid by Sparging Pipes

Abstract Mathematical models for describing the removal of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) droplets dispersed in a contaminated aquifer by air sparging are described. The sparging configurations considered are 1) a single air pipe discharging at the bottom of the aquifer and 2) a single horizontal slotted pipe discharging at the bottom of the aquifer. Diffusion transport of VOC is assumed to take place from spherical DNAPL droplets through a thick stagnant water layer in a porous medium to the moving aqueous phase. The dependence of removal rates on model parameters is explored.
Studies in Global and Local Histogram-Guided Relaxation Algorithms

An image segmentation algorithm based on histogram clustering and probabilistic relaxation labeling is explored. The algorithm is evaluated by means of a set of artificially generated test images with known parameters. Two sources of pixel labeling errors are revealed. The first derives from distribution overlap in the histogram and leads to fragmented or missing regions in a segmentation. The second derives from the gloal nature of the compatibility coefficients used in the relaxation process. The coefficients are shown to be insufficient to correct certain labeling errors and can even cause the destruction of fine image details during the course of the relaxation updating process. A potential solution to these problems is shown to be obtainable by using orientation dependent compatibility coefficients and localizing the scope of the algorithm to small subimages followed by a merging of the segmented subimages.
New thin-film transistor structure and its processing method for liquid-crystal displays

Processing steps are discussed in detail. This new thin film transistor (TFT) is similar to the traditional tri-layer, inverted, staggered TFT in the cross-section view, but different in the top view. It has a self-aligned semiconductor island and source/drain contact vias. The process is composed of one mask alignment step (with two masks), one backlight exposure step, and four etching steps. Compared with the conventional, complicated process, its process time is shorter, its process window is wider, and there is less consumption of chemicals. Important factors of the backlight exposure lithography, such as the light source, intensity profile along the path, exposure energy, and photoresist profile, are examined. Other alternative processing methods for preparing the same kind of TFT are also presented. Issues regarding the application of this TFT to liquid crystal displays are discussed.
Factors and outcomes in primary care physician retention in rural areas

Background: This paper examines factors influencing physicians’ decisions to practise in rural communities as well as the results of a programme focused on rural recruitment and retention. Methods: Data from two sources were analysed and discussed: 1) telephone interviews with 20 of 33 (61%) recently located rural physicians regarding practice and community factors influencing their practice decisions and 2) a database of 107 graduates of a rural medical education programme who have been in practice for at least three years to examine specialty choice and practice location(s), including moves from their original practice sites.Results: Most rural physicians in this study decided to practise in rural areas because of family ties. Eighty per cent of the physicians participating in the interviews mentioned no negative personal or family factors related to their community of practice. Outcome data on graduates from the rural medical education programme are encouraging. Over 70% opt for primary care and rural practice. Over 80% have remained in their original rural practice location. Conclusion: Keys to success in rural physician retention seem to include identifying and recruiting medical students of rural origin and focusing on a healthy practice environment. Policy makers need to work with local government, schools and employers to offer programmes that provide information on health careers in rural areas and begin to identify local youth for induction in rural health care. Keywords: retention; rural; primary care; physicians; workforce
Reversible “Closing” of an Electrode Interface Functionalized with a Polymer Brush by an Electrochemical Signal

The poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VP)-brush-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode was used to switch reversibly the interfacial activity by the electrochemical signal. The application of an external potential (−0.85 V vs Ag|AgCl|KCl, 3M) that electrochemically reduced O2 resulted in the concomitant consumption of hydrogen ions at the electrode interface, thus yielding a higher pH value and triggering the restructuring of the P4VP brush on the electrode surface. The initial swollen state of the protonated P4VP brush (pH 4.4) was permeable to the anionic [Fe(CN)6]4− redox species, but the electrochemically produced local pH of 9.1 resulted in the deprotonation of the polymer brush. The produced hydrophobic shrunken state of the polymer brush was impermeable to the anionic redox species, thus fully inhibiting its redox process at the electrode surface. The interface’s return to the electrochemically active state was achieved by disconnecting the applied potential, followed by stirring the electrolyte solutio...
Educational achievement and early school behavior as predictors of alcohol-use disorders: 35-year follow-up of the Woodlawn Study.

Objective: Using prospectively gathered data across a 35-year follow-up interval, we assessed the association of educational achievement and school behaviors with risk for the development of an alcohol-use disorder in adulthood. Method: The baseline population consisted of 1242 first-grade students in 1966-1967 residing in the Woodlawn community of Chicago, Illinois. Follow-up interviews were completed for adolescents and their mothers (1975-1976), during young adulthood (1992-1993), and midlife (2002-2003). A total of 1052 individuals completed the young adult and/or midlife interviews and provided information to assess the presence of a lifetime alcohol-use disorder. Logistic regression with multiple imputation to account for missing information was used to assess the relationships between early-educational and school-behavior characteristics with onset of a DSM-III-R/DSM-IV alcohol-use disorder (defined using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview). Results: Relatively few of the hypothesized...
Developmental quantitative genetics of growth in Populus

Nursery growth and dry weight were analyzed for F2 genotypes derived from Populus trichocarpa×P. deltoides that have been field tested with clonal replicates in three different environments. The correlations between nursery and plantation performance differed among the environments, with higher values at Boardman and Clatskanie (both planted with rooted cuttings) than Puyallup (planted with unrooted cuttings). At Puyallup, nursery height was more strongly associated with plantation growth than were nursery diameter and dry weight. Yet, this finding was not supported by QTL mapping. A single overdominant QTL on linkage group G affected the stem height of both seedlings and resprouts in the nursery but showed nonsignificant LOD scores for plantation height from ages 1 to 5 at Puyallup. A total of four QTLs were identified for nursery diameter, one of which on linkage group O also controlled plantation basal area at all ages. Two important nursery QTLs on linkage groups B and G were used to estimate the relative efficiency of marker-assisted selection for plantation productivity. Despite the fact that they were not detected in the plantation stage, these two QTLs could significantly increase the proportion of the phenotypic variance explained by plantation QTLs.
Semantic memory deficit with a left thalamic infarct

Previous studies of patients with thalamic lesions have reported consistent word finding difficulties without a proposed etiology. The authors describe a patient with a focal left thalamic infarct, pronounced word finding problems, and a relatively selective impairment in semantic memory for object recall from features. The thalamus is proposed to facilitate electrical activity between brain regions that encode object features, resulting in object recall. Thalamic dysfunction disrupting object recall is a plausible etiology for impaired word finding in some patients.
Effect of pregnancy on pressure gradient in mitral stenosis.

Abstract Mitral stenosis is one of the leading cardiovascular diseases in young women. While pulmonary artery pressures during pregnancy have been shown to increase, 1 the serial changes in transmitral pressure gradients with pregnancy have not been previously reported. With the recent advent of Doppler echocardiography, 2,3 it has become possible to noninvasively assess mitral valve flow during pregnancy. We report the progressive increase in transmitral gradient from early pregnancy in 2 women.
The myogenic response in isolated rat cerebrovascular arteries: vessel model

Abstract We develop an integrated model of isolated rat arterial resistance vessel (RV), which can simulate its major property of myogenic response. The vascular smooth muscle cell is an important component of the wall of this vessel, and serves as a vasomotor organ providing the active tension generation that underlies the myogenic response of the wall to stretch. In the previous study, we focused on the development of a smooth muscle cell model that can mimic the strain-sensing and force-generating features of the myogenic mechanism. In the current model, we embed this cell model in a larger vessel wall configuration, and couple the time course of cellular contractile activation to macroscopic changes in vessel diameter. The integrated model is used to mimic published pressure-vessel diameter data obtained from isolated RVs that are mounted in a hydraulic test apparatus. The model provides biophysically based insights into the myogenic mechanism as it responds to changes in transmural pressure, in the presence and absence of Ca 2+ blockers applied to the bathing fluid. It mimics measured data very well and provides a model that is able to link events at subcellular level to macroscopic changes in vessel diameter. The model initiates a mechanistic approach to investigate myogenic response, which has not been taken previously by any other models.
7.5: Presentation session: Poster session and reception: “Systems genetics analysis of molecular pathways underlying ethanol-induced behavioral phenotypes”

Acute behavioral responses to alcohol have been shown to be contributing factors to alcoholism, a disease that may be associated with high stress levels and brain injury. In this study, the LXS line of recombinant inbred mouse strains is used to develop understanding of the genetic basis of ethanol response, by finding links between genotype, gene expression data, and phenotypes associated with increased locomotor activity in mice treated with ethanol. The results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for phenotypes and gene expression data for LXS mice treated with alcohol are compared with a control group. A method in which Bayesian network modeling is used to discover casual pathways from genotype to gene expression to phenotype is also presented.
Insulin resistance in uremia: an in vivo and in vitro study.

Insulin-mediated glucose metabolism was examined in vivo and in vitro in a chronically uremic (4-week) rat model established by a 90% nephrectomy. Using the euglycemic insulin clamp technique, uremic rats demonstrated a 28% reduction (P < .01) in total body glucose disposal compared with pair-fed controls. Suppression of hepatic glucose production by insulin was not impaired. The ability of insulin to promote glycogen synthesis by the soleus muscle in vitro was normal in uremic rats. In contrast, the ability of insulin to enhance both glycolysis and glucose oxidation by the soleus muscle was significantly reduced (P < .01) in uremic rats. These results provide evidence that at least two intracellular metabolic defects, ie, in the glycolytic and glucose oxidative pathways, contribute to the insulin resistance of chronic uremia.
Half-flux-quantum magnetoresistance oscillations in disordered metal rings.

The behavior of the magnetoresistance of single and arrays of disordered metal rings is investigated. The average localization length, ${L}_{c}$, which is related to the conductance, is found to oscillate with a strong half-flux-quantum harmonic at low magnetic field. The ratio of the amplitude of the full-flux oscillations versus the half-flux oscillations is shown to decrease with the number of rings. All numerical results follow a universal law where the amplitude of oscillations of ${L}_{c}$ is found to be proportional to the square of the ratio of ${L}_{c}$ to the perimeter of the ring. At high magnetic fields, full-flux oscillations are observed.
Constitutively activated NLRP3 inflammasome causes inflammation and abnormal skeletal development in mice.

The NLRP3 inflammasome complex is responsible for maturation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β. Mutations in NLRP3 are responsible for the cryopyrinopathies, a spectrum of conditions including neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). While excessive production of IL-1β and systemic inflammation are common to all cryopyrinopathy disorders, skeletal abnormalities, prominently in the knees, and low bone mass are unique features of patients with NOMID. To gain insights into the mechanisms underlying skeletal abnormalities in NOMID, we generated knock-in mice globally expressing the D301N NLRP3 mutation (ortholog of D303N in human NLRP3). NOMID mice exhibit neutrophilia in blood and many tissues, including knee joints, and high levels of serum inflammatory mediators. They also exhibit growth retardation and severe postnatal osteopenia stemming at least in part from abnormally accelerated bone resorption, attended by increased osteoclastogenesis. Histologic analysis of knee joints revealed abnormal growth plates, with loss of chondrocytes and growth arrest in the central region of the epiphyses. Most strikingly, a tissue “spike" was observed in the mid-region of the growth plate in the long bones of all NOMID mice that may be the precursor to more severe deformations analogous to those observed in NOMID patients. These findings provide direct evidence linking a NOMID-associated NLRP3-activating mutation to abnormalities of postnatal skeletal growth and bone remodeling.
Inhibition of epithelial cell invasion in vitro by Yersinia enterocolitica with anticellular antibody

An antiserum prepared in rabbits against Henle 407 intestinal epithelial cells inhibited invasion of Henle and HeLa cells by three serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica but was inactive with Vero cells which are of monkey rather than human origin. Purified immunoglobulins and IgG antibody were also inhibitory but univalent Fab fragments were inactive. A single precipitin line of identity was observed with Henle and HeLa cell extracts in an Ouchterlony immunodiffusion assay. The results provide additional evidence that bacterial invasion is dependent upon phagocytic activity of the epithelial cells.
ELECTROCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND MECHANISMS OF SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS BY ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY UNDER DIFFERENT APPLIED VOLTAGES

In this paper, the behavior of an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell is studied by using voltage-current density measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The cell total polarization obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results is shown to be consistent with the area-specific resistance calculated from the voltage-current density curve. An electrolyte-supported solid oxide fuel cell is then used to build an equivalent electrical circuit model using reference electrodes and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A four-constant phase element model is proposed to analyze the anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell. The model is used to evaluate an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell under different cell voltages. The individual resistances are also studied as a function of applied voltage, and their physical meaning is explained in terms of reaction mechanisms occurring at the cathode and anode. It is shown that some of the obtained resistances are independent of diffusion while others have both a charge transfer and diffusion component.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Tailoring light and heavy holes of GaAsP-AlGaAs quantum wells by using interdiffusion for polarization-independent amplifier applications

A theoretical study of the polarization-independent (PI) optical gain using group III and group V interdiffusion for under- and over-strained GaAsP-AlGaAs quantum wells (QW's), respectively, is presented here. The group III interdiffusion generates a large enough Al concentration into the well of the under-strained QW for providing PI optical gain while this can be achieved in the over-strained QW through the reduction of the P concentration in the well by group V interdiffusion. When the well width increases, the required extent of interdiffusion to obtain PI optical gain increases for the case of group V diffused QW's, but, for the case of group III diffused QW's, the required extent of interdiffusion is not sensitive to the well width. In addition, the introduction of Al in the well layer of QW's can shorten and lengthen the group III and group V interdiffusion, respectively, for providing the PI optical gain. Similar results can also be obtained by increasing the P concentration in the well layer. Consequently, group III and group V interdiffusion can be used to achieve PI optical gain in the under- and over-strained QW's, respectively, for use in PI optical amplifiers. A range of the extent of interdiffusion can be used to obtain the PI gain although the value of the PI gain may reduce. Besides, the operating wavelength can be blue-shifted in group III interdiffusion and red-shifted in group V interdiffusion. Moreover, TE and TM optical gain peaks can be adjusted using interdiffusion for laser applications.
Estimation of Female Home-range Size During the Nestling Period of Dark-eyed Juncos

Abstract Studies of spatial activity of songbirds during the nesting cycle have largely focused on male activity and neglected female space use, particularly outside the fertile period. We estimated the home-range size of seven female Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) 3 days after their nestlings had hatched. We used radiotelemetry to track female movements for 2 hrs on the afternoon of day 3 of nestling life, and 2 hrs on both the morning and afternoon of days 4 and 5. Female location and behavior were recorded every 10 min for the duration of tracking. Females exhibited a mean home-range size of 0.833 ha (range = 0.156–2.450 ha). Our estimate of home-range size during the nestling period was significantly smaller than a previous estimate of female home-range size during the fertile period in the same junco population. Home-range size varied greatly between individuals, and the observed differences may be attributable to variation in resource availability.
Advances in spina bifida care: from the womb to adulthood

The care of the individual with spina bifida has changed substantially in recent years. Major advances and shifts in the prenatal and neonatal management of patients with myelomeningocele has led to improved survivability and outcomes. Most notable of these is the option for fetal repair of the spina bifida lesion. As more and more children with spina bifida are aging into adulthood, there is a growing recognition of the issues faced by adults with spina bifida, including the difficult transition to adult-based health care. Physiatrists should be aware of recent trends and advancements to help optimize outcomes for individuals across the lifespan. This article will review prenatal and neonatal advances and controversies, and will then shift gears to address issues facing adults with spina bifida.
Functional Specificities of Methylglyoxal Synthase and Triosephosphate Isomerase: A Combined QM/MM Analysis

Combined SCC-DFTB/CHARMM calculations were carried out to analyze the origin for the functional specificities of triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) and methylglyoxal synthase (MGS). The two enzymes bi...
Does the Riemann zeta function satisfy a differential equation

Abstract In Hilbert's 1900 address at the International Congress of Mathematicians, it was stated that the Riemann zeta function is the solution of no algebraic ordinary differential equation on its region of analyticity. It is natural, then, to inquire as to whether ζ ( z ) satisfies any non-algebraic differential equation. In the present paper, an elementary proof that ζ ( z ) formally satisfies an infinite order linear differential equation with analytic coefficients, T [ ζ − 1 ] = 1 / ( z − 1 ) , is given. We also show that this infinite order differential operator T may be inverted, and through inversion of T we obtain a series representation for ζ ( z ) which coincides exactly with the Euler–MacLauren summation formula for ζ ( z ) . Relations to certain known results and specific values of ζ ( z ) are discussed.
An interpretation of 14C-urea and 14C-primidone extraction in isolated rabbit lungs.

We measured the venous concentration versus time curves of14C-urea and14C-primidone after rapid bolus injections of a vascular reference indicator, fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran, and one of the two14C-labeled indicators in isolated rabbit lungs perfused with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution containing 4.5% bovine serum albumin at flow rates (F) of 6.67, 3.33, 1.67, and 0.83 ml/sec and with nearly constant microvascular pressure and total lung vascular volume. When we calculated the permeability-surface area product,PS, from the14C-urea and14C-primidone outflow curves using the Crone model, the estimates of thePS product were directly proportional toF. However, the fractional change in thePS with flow was different for the two indicators. We also estimated thePS from the same14C-urea and14C-primidone data using an alternative model that includes perfusion heterogeneity, estimated in a previous study, and flow-limited and barrier-limited extravascular volumes accessible to both urea and primidone. This model was able to fit the outflow curves of either14C-urea or14C-primidone at all four flows studied with one flow-independentPS for each indicator. The ability of the new model to explain the14C-urea and14C-primidone data with no flow-dependent change inPS suggests that a change inPS withF estimated using other models such as the Crone model is not sufficient evidence for capillary surface area recruitment.
Spatial analysis of small hotel activity in Tanzania

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether there were significant differences in the factors affecting economic contribution and performance of small hotel clusters in the three regions of Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and Mwanza in Tanzania. This paper also assesses whether there were significant differences in developmental policies, and industry and competitive environments of small hotel activity in these three regions.Design/methodology/approach – In the paper data were collected using a novel method of educational workshops held in the three regions. Three short questionnaires were used in the paper to gather data on demographic information of participants and businesses, business environment, and economic transactions of these businesses.Findings – The paper finds that statistical analyses indicate that factors including development policies, competitive and business environment are significantly different among the three regions.Research limitations/implications – This paper presented a f...
Canine Dal blood type: A red cell antigen lacking in some Dalmatians.

Background:Based upon alloantibodies produced after sensitizing dogs with transfused blood, more than a dozen blood group systems have been recognized thus far, and some have been classified as dog erythrocyte antigens (DEA). Hypothesis:A new canine red cell antigen was suspected, based on the development of specific alloantibodies in a Dalmatian previously sensitized by blood transfusions. Animals:Twenty-six Dalmatians (including 1 Dalmatian in need of blood compatibility studies); 55 canine blood donors. Methods:Serologic tests, including blood typing, crossmatching, and direct Coombs' test were performed by standard tube techniques and a novel gel column technology adapted from human blood banking. Results:By day 40 after transfusion of an anemic Dalmatian, all major crossmatch tests to 55 non-Dalmatian dogs were incompatible. The 2 initial donors, who were compatible before transfusion, were also now incompatible, suggesting the development of an alloantibody to a common red cell antigen. No siblings were available, but 4 of 25 unrelated Dalmatians were crossmatch compatible, suggesting that they were missing the same red cell antigen. The patient was blood typed DEA 1.1, 3, 4, and 5 positive, but DEA 7 negative. Further blood typing and crossmatching results did not support an association to any of these known blood types. The alloantibodies produced were determined to be of the immunoglobulin G class. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Based upon the identification of an acquired alloantibody in a Dalmatian, a presumably new common blood type named Dal was identified. Dalmatians lacking the Dal antigen are likely at risk of delayed and acute hemolytic transfusion reactions.