cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bulk and local elastic relaxation around optically excited centers.

Observation et mesure de l'effet refractif macroscopique provenant d'un centre Cr 3+ excite optiquement dans un grenat, en utilisant la spectroscopie de deflection de faisceau. Le mecanisme predominant est l'effet refractif resultant de la dilatation elastique de l'agregat CrO 6 dans l'etat excite 4 T 2 de Cr 3+ . On en deduit la dilatation de la sphere de coordination de l'oxygene dans l'approximation d'un continuum elastique isotrope et d'une dilatation completement symetrique
Amino acid content of rabbit urine and plasma.

Abstract The content of amino acids in plasma and urine from male albino rabbits was determined by ion-exchange chromatography and compared to values for other species. In general, the amino acids present in the plasma and urine of rabbits are those commonly found in other species. In contrast to human urine in which the content of histidine is usually greater than the two methylated derivatives, the content of histidine in rabbit urine is lower than either 1-methylhistidine or 3-methylhistidine. The plasma amino acid pattern is unusual in that glycine content is higher than alanine content; this is the reverse of the pattern in man and the cat. Fasting the rabbits for 88 hr. caused approximately a 66% decrease in the total amount of urinary amino acids. A 12- or 88-hr, fast caused the plasma total amino acid content to decrease approximately 30%. Valine, isoleucine, and leucine contents of the plasma, however, were increased.
A modeling of the structure and compressibility of quartz with a molecular potential and its transferability to cristobalite and coesite

Several computer models of quartz were devel- oped and tested. A simple model based on a potential energy function, derived in large part from quantum me- chanical calculations on the molecule H6Si2Ov, was found to reproduce the compressibility curve for quartz up to pressures of 8 GPa. The potential includes quadra- tic expressions for the SiO bond lengths, the OSiO angles and a parameter spanning the SiOSi angle together with an exponential OO repulsion term for non co-dimer O atoms. The variations in the cell edges and in the SiOSi angle, as a function of pressure, parallel observed trends when the bond lengths and angles calculated for the mol- ecule are used as regressor values. Poisson ratios calcu- lated using the model match those observed. Two config- urations for quartz related by the Dauphin6 twin law are generated as minimum energy structures of the model with about equal frequencies as observed in nature. It is shown that the model, devised for quartz, can also be applied to the silica polymorph cristobalite, giving reasonable estimates of its compressibility curve, struc- tural parameters and its negative Poisson ratio. When the observed bond lengths and angles are used as regres- sor values, the model generates the absolute coordinates of the atoms and the cell dimensions for quartz to within 0.005 It and those of cristobalite to within 0.001 ~, on average, both at zero pressure. When applied to coesite, the model yields a zero pressure structure that is close to that observed but which is significantly softer than observed. The resulting SiO bond lengths are linearly correlated withfs(O), as observed for coesite, despite the use of a single bond length and a single SiOSi angle as regressor values in the calculation. When the struc- tures are optimized assuming P1 space group symmetry and triclinic cell dimensions, the resulting frameworks of silicate tetrahedra exhibit the translational, rotational and reflection symmetries observed for quartz, cristoba- lite and coesite. The fact that the resulting frameworks exhibit observed space group symmetries is evidence that the symmetry adopted by the silica polymorphs can be explained by short ranged forces.
Amplification of surface ground motion by an inclusion of arbitrary shape for harmonic surface line loading

The plane strain model for the Lamb's problem with an elastic inclusion of arbitrary shape embedded completely within an elastic half space is investigated by using an indirect boundary integral equation method for steady-state elastodynamics. The surface of the half space is subjected to vertical or horizontal harmonic line loads. The displacement field is evaluated throughout the elastic medium so that the continuity of the displacement and traction fields along the interface between the half space and the inclusion is satisfied in a least-square sense. The numerical results demonstrate that the presence of the inclusion may cause locally very large amplification of the surface ground motion and that the amplification pattern depends upon the frequency and the type of the input load, the impedance contrast between the half space and the inclusion, the type of the inclusion, and the location of the observation point at the surface of the half space.
Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Receptor 1 Activates Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase and Synergizes with Gs-Coupled Pathways

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that plays a key role in energy homeostasis. Like many neuropeptides, it signals through two G protein-coupled receptors. MCH receptor 1 (MCHR1) is the sole receptor expressed in rodents and couples to G(i) and G(q) proteins. Little is known about the intracellular pathways engaged by MCH and its receptor. Using HEK293 cells stably expressing MCHR1, we demonstrate that MCH, acting through MCHR1, antagonizes the action of forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator that increases intracellular levels of cAMP. MCH also inhibits cAMP induction by the G(s)-coupled beta-adrenergic receptor. Activation of either the G(i)- or G(s)-dependent pathway typically results in ERK phosphorylation in HEK293 cells. In contrast to opposing actions on cAMP synthesis, simultaneous MCH and forskolin treatment results in synergistic activation of ERK. This synergy proceeds through pertussis toxin-independent pathways and requires several enzymatic activities such as protein kinase A, protein kinase C, phospholipase C, and Src kinase. Finally, we provide evidence that such positive interactions are not limited to cell lines but can also be observed in the brain.
Obstacles which split computer science and numerical analysis

This article reports on a panel discussion with the same title at the "Workshop on Problems Relating Computer Science to Numerical Analysis" held at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute at Berkeley, California on January 17, 1986. Speeches by the four panelists (Chorin, Collela, Kahan and Karp) are summarized, as well as discussions initiated by other participants. Additional comments by four leading scientists in this interdisciplinary area (Denning, Gear, Perlis and Rice) are included in an appendix.
Plasmodium gallinaceum: ookinete formation and proteolytic enzyme dynamics in highly refractory Aedes aegypti populations.

Despite significant progress in the identification of the genetic basis of the refractory phenotype, little is known about the physiological mechanism of refractoriness. This study therefore examined the physiological basis of mosquito refractoriness in the Aedes aegypti/P. gallinaceum system, in which a selected refractory strain does not permit Plasmodium oocyst formation. We examined the kinetics of two major proteolytic enzymes involved in blood meal digestion and the dynamics of ookinete formation for two refractory populations (strains Moyo-R and Formosus) and one susceptible population (strain Red). Healthy ookinetes were observed in both the susceptible and the refractory populations, although the susceptible population generally exhibited higher enzymatic activity for trypsin and aminopeptidase than the refractory populations. Parasite numbers in the susceptible Red population showed a 4- to 7-fold decrease in abundance during the transition from the ookinete stage to the oocyst stage, far less than the refractory populations (30- to 92-fold reduction). Due to its smaller body size, Moyo-R individuals generally ingest a smaller blood meal and thus intake fewer gametocytes than Red individuals. Thus, the possibility that refractoriness in the Moyo-R population results from fewer gametocytes being ingested is examined. We found that the Red population remained highly susceptible and the Moyo-R population stayed refractory when those individuals with similar blood meal size were compared. We conclude that failure of oocyst development in the refractory mosquitoes is not due to ookinete damage by proteolytic enzymes or to fewer gametocytes being ingested, but rather is due to a midgut barrier or to some other mechanism.
A self-consistent calculation of the small signal parameters for AlGaAs/GaAs and AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs HEMTs

Abstract A detail modeling of the d.c. small-signal parameters for AlGaAs/GaAs HEMTs and AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs Pseudomorphic HEMTs (PHEMTs) is presented. The theoretical calculations are based on self-consistent solution of Schrodinger and Poisson's equations. Study shows that pseudomorphic HEMTs have a higher transconductance and unity current gain cut-off frequency than those of normal AlGaAs/GaAs HEMTs. In this paper, the calculated transconductances are compared with experimental data and the results show excellent agreement for both devices.
Low Lunar Orbit Design via Graphical Manipulation of Eccentricity Vector Evolution

Low lunar orbits, such as those used by GRAIL and LRO, experience predictable variations in the evolution of their eccentricity vectors. These variations are nearly invariant with respect to the initial eccentricity and argument of periapse and change only in the details with respect to the initial semi-major axis. These properties suggest that manipulating the eccentricity vector evolution directly can give insight into orbit maintenance designs and can reduce the number of propagations required. A trio of techniques for determining the desired maneuvers is presented in the context of the GRAIL extended mission.
A brief survey of theoretical explanations of anomalous positron peaks

Abstract Recent measurements of coincident electrons and positrons yielding a multiple peak structure, coupled with the observation of similar peaks in positron-heavy-ion collisions suggest a different explanation than the spontaneous decay of vacuum in the strong electric field. In this article, first the experimental situation is reviewed, then a brief survey of theoretical explanations is presented.
Detection of Antibodies against Free-Living Amoebae Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba Species in a Population of Patients with Encephalitis

Background. Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba species are 2 free-living amoebae responsible for granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in humans and animals. We have screened serum samples from hospitalized patients with encephalitis for antibodies against these 2 amoebae as a means of detecting a disease with few defining symptoms and a poor prognosis. Methods. Indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) staining of serum samples from patients with encephalitis was conducted over a period of 6 years to detect amoeba antibodies. More than 250 serum samples from patients hospitalized with encephalitis were screened. Most of the samples were from patients in California and were screened as part of the California Encephalitis Project, with a small number of specimens from other states. Results. During the course of the study, 7 cases of Balamuthia encephalitis were detected; all cases were detected in Hispanic individuals, and all cases were fatal. Examination of hematoxylin-eosin-stained and immunostained sections of brain tissue obtained at biopsy or autopsy for amoebae confirmed balamuthiasis in all serum samples with positive IFA results. One case of Acanthamoeba encephalitis was detected in an immunocompromised individual with a normal antibody titer by identification of amoebae in immunostained brain tissue obtained at autopsy. Conclusions. IFA can be successfully used in screening for balamuthiasis and acanthamoebiasis in patients whose clinical presentation, laboratory results, and neuroimaging findings are suggestive of amoebic encephalitis. Ideally, this can lead to an earlier definitive diagnosis and earlier start of antimicrobial therapy. Without IFA staining, the balamuthiasis cases in our study would have been diagnosed as neurocysticercosis, tumor, tuberculosis, or viral encephalitis or would have been undiagnosed.
Induction of early B cell factor (EBF) and multiple B lineage genes by the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor E12.

The transcription factors encoded by the E2A and early B cell factor ( EBF ) genes are required for the proper development of B lymphocytes. However, the absence of B lineage cells in E2A - and EBF -deficient mice has made it difficult to determine the function or relationship between these proteins. We report the identification of a novel model system in which the role of E2A and EBF in the regulation of multiple B lineage traits can be studied. We found that the conversion of 70Z/3 pre-B lymphocytes to cells with a macrophage-like phenotype is associated with the loss of E2A and EBF. Moreover, we show that ectopic expression of the E2A protein E12 in this macrophage line results in the induction of many B lineage genes, including EBF, IL7Rα, λ5, and Rag-1, and the ability to induce κ light chain in response to mitogen. Activation of EBF may be one of the critical functions of E12 in regulating the B lineage phenotype since expression of EBF alone leads to the activation of a subset of E12-inducible traits. Our data demonstrate that, in the context of this macrophage line, E12 induces expression of EBF and together these transcription factors coordinately regulate numerous B lineage–associated genes.
Relative immunosuppressive potency of therapeutic corticosteroids measured by whole blood lymphocyte proliferation.

The in vitro immunosuppressive potency of several therapeutic corticosteroids was investigated using a whole-blood lymphocyte proliferation assay. The selected steroids included beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), betamethasone (BET), budesonide (BUD), dexamethasone (DEX), flunisolide (FLU), fluticasone propionate (FTP), hydrocortisone (HC), methylprednisolone (MPL), prednisolone (PNL), and triamcinolone acetonide (TAA). The ability of phytohemagglutinin to stimulate lymphocytes in whole blood samples obtained from six drug-free male volunteers was tested against drug concentrations ranging from approximately 0.2 to 2000 nM. Data analysis was conducted employing an inhibitory Hill function and nonlinear regression analysis in ADAPT II. The order of drug concentrations producing 50% inhibition (IC(50)) from highest to lowest was HC > PNL > MPL > BDP > BET > DEX > TAA > FLU > BUD > FTP. These IC(50) values are an inverse measure of drug potency, with FTP representing the most potent corticosteroid examined. A linear correlation was found between the log-transformed 1/IC(50) values and the log of the relative receptor affinity (RRA) values obtained from the literature (r(2) = 0.95). These results extend previous studies to include relatively new corticosteroids and further support the use of RRA values as an indirect measure of relative in vitro immunosuppressive potency.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Electroconvulsive Treatments: A Case Study and Review

A 90-year-old woman who had received more than 100 electroconvulsive treatments (ECT) over many years requested another course for depression. After the third ECT, an electrocardiogram showed new T-wave inversion (V2-V6) and ST elevation (V2). Catheterization revealed severe left ventricular dysfunction but no coronary obstruction, leading to a diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (stress-related). The patient's recovery was uneventful. Recent literature cites three other cases post-ECT. It appears that elderly women are at greatest risk, repeated stress is generally required, and recovery is achieved quickly. Elevated levels of catecholamines and of vasopressin may be implicated.
Abdominal phlegmons in Crohn's disease: outcomes following antitumor necrosis factor therapy.

Background: An abdominal phlegmon is an inflammatory mass that can develop in the setting of penetrating Crohn's disease (CD). Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibody therapy is typically avoided in CD complicated by phlegmon because of concern for peritoneal infection but may offer an effective alternative to surgical resection after infection has been controlled with antibiotics. The aim of this study was to examine outcomes for patients with CD who developed an abdominal phlegmon that was subsequently treated with an anti-TNF antibody. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all CD patients attending Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center between 2004 and 2010 with an abdominal phlegmon who were treated with an anti-TNF antibody in order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this treatment regimen. Results: There were 13 patients with CD complicated by a phlegmon treated with antibiotics and an anti-TNF antibody at our center between 2004 and 2010. Ten were male. Median time (interquartile range) from diagnosis to development of the phlegmon was 5.9 (1.9–22.7) years. The phlegmon was associated with an abscess in 12 patients. In addition to anti-TNF therapy, all patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Anti-TNF therapy was effective without complications in all subjects. Two patients eventually had surgery more than a year after initiating anti-TNF treatment. Conclusions: Penetrating CD complicated by phlegmon formation may be safely and effectively managed with a combination of antibiotics and anti-TNF therapy. Larger, prospective trials are required to confirm these initial findings. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
High-Altitude Retinopathy and Optical Coherence Tomography Findings

Purpose: To report the case and OCT findings of a case of high altitude retinopathy (HAR).Methods: Case report and review of literature.Results: HAR is part of the clinical syndrome of high altitude illness, which includes acute mountain sickness and high altitude cerebral edema. A patient presented with decreased vision and HAR after ascending to an elevation of 24,757 feet. Associated optical coherence tomography findings and review of the literature are presented.Conclusions: HAR is an important entity to recognize, as it is associated with life-threatening high-altitude cerebral edema.
A neurobehavioral apparatus to study the perturbation effects in reach to grasp tasks

A new neurobehavioral experiment was developed to investigate cortical control of reach to grasp tasks for application towards neural prosthetics. An apparatus was designed for the reach to grasp movement, with perturbations to both target location and orientation. In addition, an algorithm was developed to track the subject's gaze location while leaving the head unrestrained. The integration and synchronization of the system for kinematics, gaze, behavior control, and cortical recording were evaluated.
Draft Genome Sequences for 10 Isolates of the Swine Pathogen Haemophilus parasuis.

ABSTRACT Haemophilus parasuis colonizes the upper respiratory tract of swine and can cause a severe systemic disease known as Glasser9s disease. We report here the draft genome sequences of 10 isolates from geographically diverse locations representing the full virulence spectrum of the microorganism, which will aid in understanding the pathobiology of H. parasuis.
Transport and fate of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the vadose zone — a literature review with discussions on regulatory implications

Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) are one of the pollutant groups most commonly found in hazardous waste sites. Understanding the transport and fate of these compounds in the vadose zone is crucial t...
Message in a Bottle: Basic Business Lessons for Entrepreneurs Using Only a Soft Drink.

Coca-Cola is available in more than 200 countries and territories. As such, it stands as a readily available resource for teaching business lessons in developing countries. This article presents the use of a bottle of Coke to teach 12 basic business lessons. Designed for minimally educated entrepreneurs starting or running microenterprises, each lesson contains a microlecture and several discussion activities to improve the interaction of the group and reinforce the microlectures. The article concludes with advice for users and planned future activities.
Accurate Indoor Ranging by Broadband Harmonic Generation in Passive NLTL Backscatter Tags

Millimeter-precision meter-distance real-time indoor ranging capability is challenging due to multipath reflections in a rich scattering environment. Traditional continuous wave (CW) phase-based ranging methods, although simple and flexible, are vulnerable to phase offsets and interferences. We improve the previous CW approach by passive broadband harmonic nonlinear-transmission-line (NLTL) tags. Since phase information is now contained within the second harmonic rather than the fundamental frequency, interferences and phase errors caused by direct reflections of the interrogating signal are greatly reduced. By the broadband property of NLTL, a heuristic multi-frequency CW method is formulated to resolve the phase integer ambiguity and to further improve ranging accuracy and robustness even under large phase errors. We present theoretical and simulation analyses, followed by experimental verification.
Relay selection scheme using directional antennas for cellular networks

Cellular base stations are expensive to install as they require the operator to lease real estate and establish back-haul connectivity to the public network. With increasing demand for bandwidth, service providers are installing more and more relay base stations to supplement the main base station. Although relays help increase the coverage and capacity of the network, they also end up raising the net interference in the system. Decentralized relay selection algorithms that do not take interference into account, could end up under-using the capacity of the network. In this paper we propose a two-hop decentralized relay selection scheme using directional antennas that mitigates the effects of interference and performs better than the “nearest relay selection”[1] algorithm in networks with less number of relay stations. Furthermore we propose a relaying scheme where the network adaptively chooses a relay selection algorithm to use, based on the current number of relay stations in the network.
Quality Outcomes Management: Veterans Affairs Case Study

During the last decade, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made major strides in enhancing quality of medical, surgical, and mental health care for veterans. These improvements have been achieved through the will and commitment of VA leadership and by changes in the administrative structure, such as through the creation of Veteran Integrated Service Networks and patient care service lines, the use of state-of-the-art technology for electronic health records, implementation of high-value preventative and chronic disease management performance measures, and the ability to track their effectiveness. Parallel with these changes, the quality of mental heath care in the VA has also improved, as have mental health education and research.
Automation of Electronics Testing and Data Analysis for Process Control

The increased costs involved in testing new complex devices and the need for rapid processing of information are driving the automation of the electronics test area. This paper presents a plan for the automatic collection and analysis of test information. Case studies are presented of system development and of its applications.
Ligand influence on the electronic spectra of monocationic copper-bipyridine complexes.

We present photodissociation spectroscopy and computational analysis of three monocationic Cu–bipyridine complexes with one additional ligand of different interaction strength (N2, H2O and Cl) in the visible and UV. All three complexes show similar ππ* bands with origins slightly above 4 eV and vibrational band contours that are due to bipyridine ring deformation modes. Experiments at low temperature show that excited-state lifetime is the limiting factor for the width of the vibrational features. In the case of Cl as a ligand, there is a lower lying bright ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer state around 2.75 eV. The assignment of the transitions was made based on equation-of-motion coupled-cluster calculations. While the nature of the ligand does not significantly change the position of the bright ππ* state, it drastically changes the excited-state dynamics.
HPA hyperactivity with increased plasma cortisol affects dexamethasone metabolism and DST outcome

Abstract Data suggests that dexamethasone bioavailability or pharmacokinetic factors contribute importantly to the outcome of the dexamethasone suppression test, and a relationship between plasma cortisol and plasma dexamethasone levels has been shown. To evaluate these data further, we studied plasma dexamethasone pharmacokinetics in 24 patients with major depression (15 suppressors and nine nonsuppressors) who received a 1 mg IV dexamethasone bolus at 09:00 h with blood samples collected at intervals over the next 14 h. We found that nonsuppressors had significantly shorter plasma dexamethasone half-life ( P =0.003) as well as significantly lower dexamethasone levels 10 h ( P =0.02) following IV dexamethasone administration. Moreover, upon clinical improvement of patients, the shortened dexamethasone half-life and lower dexamethasone levels disappeared in the five patients who switched from nonsuppression to suppression and were restudied by IV bolus. These 10-h post IV plasma dexamethasone level findings paralleled the results of the 1 mg overnight oral DST performed in these depressed patients ( N =22) where we found significantly lower 10 h plasma dexamethasone levels in nonsuppressors on admission compared to suppressors ( P =0.002) and again at discharge ( P =0.007). Interestingly, in the few patients who switched from suppression to nonsuppression over the course of hospitalization, 10-h post dose plasma dexamethasone levels simultaneously dropped. No difference in dexamethasone half-life was observed in the patients studied by oral and IV dexamethasone administration. These findings support the concept that metabolism of dexamethasone is significantly related to the activity of the HPA axis (particularly by plasma cortisol levels), and that dexamethasone pharmacokinetics can be modified by state-dependent phenomena.
Spectra of earthquake time series

An earthquake time series consists of the (possibly weighted) number of events of a given class of earthquakes per unit time as a function of time. The spectrum of a single earthquake time series and the cross spectrum between different series determine the usefulness of past events in predicting future ones. The spectra of earthquakes might also shed light on the possible triggering of earthquakes by such things as tidal potential changes and other earthquakes. Much of the past work on earthquake time series has dealt with seeking significant periodicities in the data. In most cases [Davidson, 1938] significance tests have failed to take into account the correlation between events that result from the aftershock phenomena. In the spectral domain, nonrandom bunching of events due to aftershocks results in a nonwhite spectrum.
Design and analysis of transmission enhanced multi-segment grating in MZI configuration for slow light applications

This paper proposes to use slow light effects near the Brillouin zone band edge of one-dimensional gratings for reducing the size of integrated electro-optic (EO) modulators. The gratings are built within the arms of a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) for intensity modulation. To overcome the inherent high reflection and low extinction ratio, we introduce various multi-segment grating designs. We use coupled-mode theory and derive transfer matrices to analyze the spectral transmittance and phase delay of each arm of the interferometer. Calculations show that a size-reduction of a factor of 2 or more can be achieved at λ=1.574 µm with an insertion loss of 0.17 dB and an amplitude modulation extinction ratio of 18.84dB. The simulated structure is based on a Si slab-waveguide 0.2 μm thick with 30 nm deep grating groves on SiO(2)> substrate.
Blind equalization of phase aberrations in coherent imaging: medical ultrasound and SAR

This work introduces a novel auto-focusing phase aberration correction algorithm for coherent imaging systems such as medical ultrasound and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The algorithm follows directly from the analytical expressions obtained from a detailed theoretical analysis of the scattering of wave packets in a random scattering medium consisting of many scatterers in each resolution cell. The algorithm selects the resolution cell in a range-azimuth region with the smallest ratio of the variance of the focused channel/element amplitudes to the mean square of the focused channel amplitudes. The aberrant phase can be estimated directly from this selected cell using well known phase gradient techniques. Monte Carlo simulations are shown to exhibit excellent algorithmic performance.
Black Women in the "Black Metropolis" of the Early Twentieth Century: The Case of Professional Occupations

Little research has examined the employment of Black women as teachers, nurses, and librarians in the urban Black communities of the early twentieth century. The present study fills this void, analyzing Census data on the largest urban Black communities at the start of the Great Migration to cities. The results show that, in spite of the supposed advantages of the northern “Black Metropolis,” Black communities in the urban North were relatively limited in their potential to offer opportunities for Black women to enter pursuits that were, at the time, mainstays of a nascent class of Black professional women.
Pathways to Plant Genetic Manipulation Employing Agrobacterium

The adaption of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid as a vector for plant transformation is an enabling technology permitting plant molecular biologists to rapidly expand the frontiers of knowledge about the fundamental biological processes of gene function, expression and regulation (See Fraley et al., 1986 for a recent review). The ability to introduce native or modified genes into plants has moved plant molecular biology from a descriptive mode to a manipulative mode where the effects of specific alterations in gene sequences can be assayed. In the four short years since the first reports of the successful use of the system for the introduction and expression of a foreign gene in plant tissues, researchers have identified specific nucleotide sequences responsible for light regulated expression of certain genes (Broglie et al., 1984; Herrera-Estrella et al., 1984; Morelli et al., 1985). Other groups (Nagy et al., 1985; Beachy et al., 1985; Sengupta-Gopalan et al., 1985) have shown that newly introduced genes exhibit the characteristic tissue specific and/or developmental stage specific expression that they displayed in the plants from which they were isolated. Still others (Schreier et al., 1985) have begun to identify the portions of transit peptides responsible for proper compartmentalization of proteins within a plant cell. The Ti transformation system has become a tool for the study of virus host range, symptom production and replication (Grimsley et al., 1986, Rogers et al., 1986 b; Grimsley and Bisaro, this volume) as well as cellular recombination processes.
On the mechanism of lactational anovulation in the rhesus monkey

The relative roles of infant suckling and of maternal prolactin (PRL) secretion in lactational anovulation were studied in ovary-intact and ovariectomized rhesus monkeys nursing young that had been removed from their natural mothers. Hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator activity was monitored electrophysiologically in freely behaving animals by radiotelemetry. Serum luteinizing hormone, PRL, estradiol, and progesterone were also measured. Suckling inhibited GnRH pulse generator activity and ovarian cyclicity in all ovary-intact females but had no such effect on the pulse generator in long-term ovariectomized animals. When PRL secretion was suppressed by daily bromocriptine administration, GnRH pulse generator activity remained significantly inhibited and ovulation was prevented in four monkeys (6 trials), whereas in two females (6 trials) a rapid increase in pulse generator frequency and the resumption of ovarian cyclicity were observed although suckling activity was maintained. One monkey displayed both response types. Although these results indicate that suckling per se is able to restrain GnRH pulse generator activity in the absence of PRL, they also suggest that the relative importance of these determinants is variable depending on factors that remain to be determined. The present study also confirms the permissive role of the ovary in the lactational suppression of GnRH pulse generator activity.
Triggered "on/off" micropumps and colloidal photodiode.

We discuss a set of smart micropumps that sense their surrounding environment and respond accordingly. First we show that crystallites of a photoacid generator function as micropumps in the presenc...
Parametric Lower Confidence Limits of Quantile-Based Process Capability Indices

AbstractWe consider a construction the parametric asymptotic and bootstrap lower confidence limits for the basic quantile-based process capability indices (PCIs) based on the unified superstructure CNp (u, v). The process quantiles are estimated using maximum likelihood estimation and the maximum likelihood estimator of CNp (u, v) is proposed. We also proved that the MLE of CNp (u, v) is asymptotically normally distributed. A general guideline of selecting the appropriate type of confidence limits is provided. Numerical examples based on real-life data are presented to illustrate the steps of implementing the proposed procedures.
Sensitivity tests to insulin in patients with local skin lesions from insulin.

Summary1. Sixteen diabetic patients exhibiting local skin reactions to insulin as nodules with or without erythema or stinging were tested intradermally with various insulin products, beef and pork protein. 2. Sixteen nondiabetics not using insulin were similarly tested with the same substances. 3. Passive transfer tests with the sera of 5 patients manifesting local reactions to insulin were performed. 4. Skin reactions noted in patients exhibiting local reactions to insulin were no different from those obtained in the control group of nondiabetics, non-users of insulin. 5. The Prausnitz-Kustner passive transfer phenomenon was absent in all 5 instances. 6. It is concluded that local nodules with or without stinging or erythema observed in patients receiving insulin therapy are not due to any antigen-antibody mechanism.
Monitoring and Analysis of Contamination Status of Food-borne Pathogens in Dongyang City in 2006

Objective To monitor distribution status of 6 kinds of pathogenic bacteria in order to determine high-risk foods,and to provide scientific basis for monitoring of food poisoning.Method According to the method of national standard and the handbook of investigation of food contamination bacteria of Chinese CDC in 2006,Salmonella,Listeria monocytogenes,EHEC O157∶H7,C.jejuni,Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in foods were separated and identified by biochemistry experiment with culture medium and BIO-MEREX identify system.Results Raw meats(bovine、sheep、chicken、pork)、cooked meats、aquatic products、raw aquatic products、raw vegetables、vegetable salads and fresh fruit juice from 143 food samples of 7 categories were determined,and 38 strains of pathogenic bacteria in them were detected(the Salmonella were detected in 2 raw pork).The total detection rate was 25.2%.6 strains Vibrio parahaemolyticus,12 strains Staphylococcus aureus,17 strains Salmonella and 3 strains Listeria monocytogenes were separated in samples.The positive rate of aquatic products in 7 categories was the highest(70.0%),and vegetable salad 、raw meat and cooked meat were 50.0%、39.5% and 15.2%,respectively.No pathogenic bacterium was detected in raw vegetables and raw aquatic products.Conclusion It was indicated that the contamination of food-borne pathogens existed in main consumption foods,and the main contamination foods were aquatic products and raw meats,and the main contamination of pathogenic bacteria were Vibrio parahaemolyticus、Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella.
Resistance of Musca domestica to common used insecticides in Yancheng city

Objective To understand the resistance of Musca domestica to common used insecticides in Yancheng city,and provide evidence for rational use of drugs. Methods Determining the resistance by topical application method. Results The LD50of Musca domestica to deltamethrin,beta-cypermethrin,DDVP were 0. 007 35,0. 207 6,0.099 89. Conclusion The collected Musca domesticas has developed high resistance to common insecticides in Yancheng city. It is necessary to strengthen monitoring of resistance and use insecticides scientifically. Integrated management should be taken to overcome or delay the resistance development of housefly.
Progress on the Fabrication of High Resolution and Lightweight Monocrystalline Silicon X-ray Mirrors

Monocrystalline silicon is an excellent X-ray mirror substrate material due to its high stiffness, low density, high thermal conductivity, zero internal stress, and commercial availability. Our work at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center focuses on identifying and developing a manufacturing process to produce high resolution and lightweight X-ray mirror segments in a cost and time effective manner. Previous efforts focused on demonstrating the feasibility of cylindrical silicon mirror polishing and lightweighting. Present efforts are aimed towards producing true paraboloidal and hyperboloidal mirror surfaces on the lightweight silicon segments. This paper presents results from these recent investigations, including a mirror which features a surface quality sufficient for a 3 arcsecond telescope.
Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, and Myelokathexis Syndrome

WHIM syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant, combined immunodeficiency with a complex and variable phenotype. WHIM is an acronym for the four major clinical manifestations of the syndrome: warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis. Myelokathexis is the bone marrow sequestration of mature neutrophils which occurs because of mutations that increase the function of the chemokine receptor CXCR4. However, most other leukocytes also express CXCR4, and there is panleukopenia with low numbers of circulating monocytes, T cells, and B cells. Bacterial soft tissue and sinopulmonary infections predominate because of neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia, and both anogenital and cutaneous warts can be quite severe, disfiguring, and lead to cancer. Current treatments consist of immunoglobulin replacement, prophylactic antibiotics, and G-CSF; however, new treatments that target the mutant receptor are being developed.
Race, Representation, and the Voting Rights Act

Despite wide scholarly interest in the Voting Rights Act, surprisingly little is known about how its speciVc provisions aUected Black political representation. In this paper, we draw on theories of electoral accountability to evaluate the eUect of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the preclearance provision, on the representation of Black interests in the 86th to 105th Congresses. We Vnd that members of Congress who represented jurisdictions subject to the preclearance requirement were substantially more supportive of civil rights-related legislation than legislators who did not represent covered jurisdictions. This result is robust to a wide range of model speciVcations, empirical strategies, and characterizations of key variables, and persists over the entire time period under study. We report further evidence that the eUects of the VRA were stronger in more competitive districts, and when Black voters comprised larger portions of the electorate. Our Vndings have especially important implications given the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Shelby v. Holder. Word Count: 8,420
Ein Rekursives Datenmodell

Die Modellierung erweiterter, ‘nichtkonventioneller’ Datenbankanwendungen (zum Beispiel in CAD/CAM-Systemen, Text- und Burosystemen, in der Computer-Graphik etc.) ist in zunehmendem Mase durch Datenobjekte gekennzeichnet, die nicht fest formatiert und auf komplizierte Weise aus unterschiedlichen Komponenten zusammengesetzt sind. Damit mus auch die Verwaltung der Daten immer mehr den speziellen Erfordernissen solcher ‘komplexer’ Datenobjekte angepast werden. Das bedeutet, das insbesondere die Reprasentation, Selektion, und Manipulation derartig variabler Datenobjekte und Objektkomponenten durch spezielle Konzepte einer abstrakten Beschreibungssprache angemessen unterstutzt werden mussen.
Control of blood flow to the gravid uterus of domestic livestock species

Uterine blood flow during pregnancy is controlled by two distinct phenomena: phasic contractility and tone. Phasic contractility, which mediates short-term contractions, functions through catecholamine activation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (AR), leading to hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). The phasic contractions proceed as IP3 stimulates the release of intracellular calcium stores that activate the calmodulin pathway, causing myosin filaments to slide past actin filaments; however, the contraction is quickly terminated via a reduction in free cytosolic calcium. A tonic contraction is initiated when the DAG generated during PIP2 hydrolysis binds to and activates protein kinase C (PKC) in the presence of increased cytosolic calcium, leading to shortening of the actin filaments. Concomitantly, stimulation of alpha 2-AR increases extracellular calcium uptake via the potential-sensitive channels (PSC), which potentiates activity of the membrane-bound PKC-DAG complexes, thus maintaining the degree of tonic contractility. Progesterone maintains the phasic contractility of uterine arterial smooth muscle throughout pregnancy by increasing alpha 1-AR numbers. Estrogens decrease uterine arterial tone (i.e., increase arterial diameter and flow) via their conversion to catechol estrogens by peroxidase in uterine lymphatic fluid. Catechol estrogens directly inhibit calcium uptake through PSC, resulting in a reduced activity of membrane-bound PKC-DAG complexes.
Uterine rupture in a primigravid patient with an unscarred bicornuate uterus at term.

Abstract Background Uterine rupture of an unscarred primigravid uterus is an exceedingly rare event. Cases of spontaneous rupture of an unscarred bicornuate uterus have been reported, but typically occur in the first or second trimester. Case A 28-year-old primigravida at 37 weeks gestation with a known bicornuate uterus and no prior surgery underwent an emergent cesarean section after presenting with severe abdominal pain and signs of fetal compromise. She was found to have a uterine rupture with the fetus free in the abdomen accompanied by a large hemoperitoneum. Both mother and baby did well postoperatively. Conclusion Bicornuate uterus may be an independent risk factor for uterine rupture, which can occur in primigravid patients and at any gestation.
Demystifying the Discourse of Science for Elementary Grade English Learners

In science, language is used in specialized ways to communicate about the natural world. For English learners (ELs), not knowing the discourse of science can have critical consequences, as lack of proficiency of this discourse can limit their participation in science activities and consequently their appropriation of science concepts. This paper identifies some science discourse practices and utilizes the theory of Systemic Functional Linguistics and Sociocultural theory to make sense of how preservice teachers involved in a research study, made this elusive language variety more available and accessible to ELs.
Loners, Colleagues, or Peers? Assessing the Social Organization of Radicalization

This study explores the utility of a sociological model of social organization developed by Best and Luckenbill (1994) to classify the radicalization processes of terrorists (i.e., extremist perpetrators who engaged in ideologically motivated acts of violence) who are usually categorized as loner or lone wolf attackers. There are several organizational frameworks used to define or classify violent acts performed by individuals who may or may not have ties to extremist groups, but these studies largely ignore the role of social relationships in radicalization and the extent to which they inform our knowledge of terror. To address this gap, we apply the Best and Luckenbill model of social organization using a qualitative analysis of three case studies of four lone actor or small cell terrorists. The findings demonstrate lone actors are not always true loners in the context of radicalization, and highlights the ways that the Internet and social ties foster the radicalization processes of terror.
The Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Label: Benefit or Burden?

Inquiry into the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) phenomenon raises a cluster of questions involving conceptual, scientific, moral, social, and legal concerns. The moral concerns might at first seem to be the only ones that directly raise ethical questions, but a closer look reveals that the conceptual, social, scientific, and legal issues also have ethical dimensions. It is by now a well accepted fact that science is not a value-free enterprise. Research into PMS and the proposed medical and social treatment of sufferers provides an illustrative case study of the ways in which value considerations pervade the domain of biomedical science, in both research and treatment.
Demonstration of tyrosinase in the adult bovine uveal tract and retinal pigment epithelium

Modern techniques offer an opportunity for a more complete evaluation of melanin production in the uvea and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). By measuring the release of tritium from tritiated tyrosine in homogenized samples of adult bovine RPE as well as iris and choroid, tyrosinase activity could be demonstrated in both the uveal tract and the RPE. Phenylthiourea, a specific tyrosinase inhibitor, markedly decreased tyrosinase activity, whereas 3-iodo-tyrosine, a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor, had no effect. These techniques indicate tyrosinase activity in the uveal tract and the RPE of adult cattle. This is the first biochemical demonstration of tyrosinase in adult RPE.
Maintaining spatial relations in an incremental diagrammatic reasoner

This paper describes an architecture for dynamically handling spatial relations in an incremental, nonmonotonic diagrammatic reasoning system. The architecture represents jointly exhaustive and pairwise disjoint (JEPD) spatial relation sets as nodes in a dependency network. These spatial relation sets include interval relations, relative orientation relations, and connectivity relations, but in theory could include any JEPD spatial relation sets. This network then caches dependencies between low-level spatial relations, allowing those relations to be easily assumed or retracted as visual elements are added or removed from a diagram. For example, in the architecture’s Undo mechanism, the dependency network can quickly reactivate cached spatial relations when a previously-deleted element is restored. As part of this work, we describe how the system supports higher-level reasoning, including support for creating default assumptions. We also describe how this system was integrated with an existing drawing program and discuss its possible use in diagrammatic and geographic reasoning.
CHARACTERIZATION: THE KEY TO MATERIALS

His seventieth birthday offers this special occasion to recall the many seminal contributions made by Professor Gareth Thomas to the field of materials science and engineering. A brief reckoning of his career, his dedication to the development of electron microscopy techniques, his applications of high precision characterization methods to numerous engineering materials systems, and his successes as both researcher and educator are recounted here.