cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progesterone facilitation of lordosis in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats following priming with estradiol pulses.

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats rarely exhibit progesterone-facilitated lordosis following steroid treatments which are effective in females. In contrast, progesterone-facilitated lordosis has been observed following priming with estradiol pulses in another strain. The aim of this study was to compare progesterone-facilitated feminine sexual behavior in adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats following priming with estradiol benzoate (EB) or estradiol pulses. Female sexual behavior was measured in adult, gonadectomized males and females treated as follows: Two pulses of estradiol followed by progesterone or oil the next day; EB (two doses) for 3 days, and progesterone or oil the next day. These protocols were repeated at 4- or 6-day intervals, respectively. Progesterone-facilitated lordosis was observed consistently in both sexes treated with estradiol pulses. By the fifth test, lordosis quotients did not differ between the sexes, but the lordosis ratings in progesterone-treated males remained lower than those observed in females. Proceptivity (hop-darting) was facilitated by progesterone in females, but was never observed in males. Lordosis was induced in both sexes by 15 micrograms EB, but was not reliably facilitated by progesterone. Treatment with the lower dose of EB (1.5 micrograms) induced high levels of receptivity in females (occasionally facilitated by progesterone), but not in males regardless of subsequent treatment (i.e, progesterone or oil). These data suggest that progesterone-facilitated lordosis can be induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats, if a regimen of estradiol pulses is used. Thus, the brain of the adult male is not inflexibly differentiated with regard to progesterone facilitation of feminine receptive behavior.
Experimental cavitation studies in a model head-neck system

Abstract The response of two different fluid-filled head-neck models to impact was studied experimentally to provide information concerning the validity of the widely prevalent cavitation hypothesis of brain damage. The structures consisted of an acrylic spherical shell with an outside diameter of about 188 mm and a human calvarium with a clear polyester resin occiput, representing the head, each coupled to an articulated artificial viscoelastic neck. Transient phenomena were initiated by the impact of either cylindrical projectiles fired from a pneumatic gun or by the pendulum drop of an aluminum spherical shell onto a small truncated aluminum cone attached to the head models. A short strain-gaged aluminum cylinder served to measure the input force history, while the pressure in the brain-simulating fluid was ascertained by means of Z-cut tourmaline crystals located along the impact axis at the coup, center and contrecoup positions. The occipital regions of the models were photographed at framing rates of 4000–8000 s−1 to visually examine the cavitation phenomena. Coup, contrecoup and resonating cavitation were detected and found to coincide temporally with negative pressure transients in both head-neck models. These results lend some support to the cavitation theory as a possible mechanism for brain damage.
Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2006

Abstract The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season is summarized and the year’s tropical cyclones are described. A verification of National Hurricane Center official forecasts during 2006 is also presented. Ten cyclones attained tropical storm intensity in 2006. Of these, five became hurricanes and two became “major” hurricanes. Overall activity was near the long-term mean, but below the active levels of recent seasons. For the first time since 2001, no hurricanes made landfall in the United States. Elsewhere in the basin, hurricane-force winds were experienced in Bermuda (from Florence) and in the Azores (from Gordon). Official track forecast errors were smaller in 2006 than during the previous 5-yr period (by roughly 15%–20% out to 72 h), establishing new all-time lows at forecast projections through 72 h. Since 1990, 24–72-h official track forecast errors have been reduced by roughly 50%.
A novel palladium-catalyzed homocoupling reaction initiated by transmetallation of palladium enolates

Palladium-catalyzed homocoupling reaction of aryl boronic acids has been developed using a protocol similar to the well-documented crosscoupling reaction. α-Halocarbonyl compounds are applied to initiate the reaction via oxidative addition to a palladium(0) species. The resulting palladium enolate halide can promote the double transmetallation. Reductive elimination generates the desire homocoupling product.
Sperm chromatin proteomics identifies evolutionarily conserved fertility factors

Male infertility is a long-standing enigma of significant medical concern. The integrity of sperm chromatin is a clinical indicator of male fertility and in vitro fertilization potential: chromosome aneuploidy and DNA decondensation or damage are correlated with reproductive failure. Identifying conserved proteins important for sperm chromatin structure and packaging can reveal universal causes of infertility. Here we combine proteomics, cytology and functional analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans to identify spermatogenic chromatin-associated proteins that are important for fertility. Our strategy employed multiple steps: purification of chromatin from comparable meiotic cell types, namely those undergoing spermatogenesis or oogenesis; proteomic analysis by multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT) of factors that co-purify with chromatin; prioritization of sperm proteins based on abundance; and subtraction of common proteins to eliminate general chromatin and meiotic factors. Our approach reduced 1,099 proteins co-purified with spermatogenic chromatin, currently the most extensive catalogue, to 132 proteins for functional analysis. Reduction of gene function through RNA interference coupled with protein localization studies revealed conserved spermatogenesis-specific proteins vital for DNA compaction, chromosome segregation, and fertility. Unexpected roles in spermatogenesis were also detected for factors involved in other processes. Our strategy to find fertility factors conserved from C. elegans to mammals achieved its goal: of mouse gene knockouts corresponding to nematode proteins, 37% (7/19) cause male sterility. Our list therefore provides significant opportunity to identify causes of male infertility and targets for male contraceptives.
Evidence for Two CRIB Domains in Phospholipase D2 (PLD2) That the Enzyme Uses to Specifically Bind to the Small GTPase Rac2

Abstract Phospholipase D (PLD) and small GTPases are vital to cell signaling. We report that the Rac2 and the PLD2 isoforms exist in the cell as a lipase-GTPase complex that enables the two proteins to elicit their respective functionalities. A strong association between the two molecules was demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation and was confirmed in living cells by FRET with CFP-Rac2 and YFP-PLD2 fluorescent chimeras. We have identified the amino acids in PLD2 that define a specific binding site to Rac2. This site is composed of two CRIB (Cdc42-and Rac-interactive binding) motifs that we have named “CRIB-1” and “CRIB-2” in and around the PH domain in PLD2. Deletion mutants PLD2-ΔCRIB-1/2 negate co-immunoprecipitation with Rac2 and diminish the FRET signal in living cells. The PLD2-Rac2 association was further confirmed in vitro using affinity-purified recombinant proteins. Binding was saturable with an apparent Kd of 3 nm and was diminished with PLD2-ΔCRIB mutants. Furthermore, PLD2 bound more efficiently to Rac2-GTP than to Rac2-GDP or to a GDP-constitutive Rac2-N17 mutant. Increasing concentrations of recombinant Rac2 in vitro and in vivo during cell adhesion inhibit PLD2. Conversely, Rac2 activity is increased in the presence of PLD2-WT but not in PLD2-ΔCRIB. We propose that in activated cells PLD2 affects Rac2 in an initial positive feedback, but as Rac2-GTP accumulates in the cell, this constitutes a “termination signal” leading to PLD2 inactivation.
An Excel sheet for inferring children’s number-knower levels from give- N data

Number-knower levels are a series of stages of number concept development in early childhood. A child's number-knower level is typically assessed using the give-N task. Although the task procedure has been highly refined, the standard ways of analyzing give-N data remain somewhat crude. Lee and Sarnecka (Cogn Sci 34:51-67, 2010, in press) have developed a Bayesian model of children's performance on the give-N task that allows knower level to be inferred in a more principled way. However, this model requires considerable expertise and computational effort to implement and apply to data. Here, we present an approximation to the model's inference that can be computed with Microsoft Excel. We demonstrate the accuracy of the approximation and provide instructions for its use. This makes the powerful inferential capabilities of the Bayesian model accessible to developmental researchers interested in estimating knower levels from give-N data.
Citizenship Projects for Marriage Migrants in South Korea: Intersecting Motherhood with Ethnicity and Class

The growing scale of international marriage migration, especially intra-regional marriage migration in Asia, has transformed the ethnoscape in destination countries. Some states, such as South Korea, have taken relatively inclusive actions regarding women marriage migrants. By closely examining the legal structure and public policies and programs, this article examines the formation of both legal and substantive citizenship for Filipina marriage migrants in South Korea. The article demonstrates that the state projects emphasize marriage migrants’ role as biological and cultural reproducers of “Koreans,” thus constructing “ethnicized maternal citizenship.” This state project, the article argues, paradoxically promotes cultural assimilation while relegating marriage migrants as gendered dependents and ethnic others. The article examines the women’s diverse responses to the citizenship projects, including appropriation, ambivalence, and resistance, finding that an important factor driving the responses is the women’s socioeconomic status after migrating. The emphasis on family roles in the state-based migration programs also means that marriage migrants must negotiate the boundaries of citizenship practices not only institutionally but also within the families.
Using Spreadsheet Modules to Augment the Design of Worm Gear Geometry

This paper presents an easy-to-use spreadsheet module in Microsoft Excel to solve the transcendental equation associated with the design of worm geometry for a worm-gear speed reducer. The module makes use of an embedded Visual Basic numerical optimization algorithm to determine the number of solutions possible and then finds all solutions that satisfy the fundamental laws of worm gearing. This module allows the quick implementation of designs that are more accurate than was previously possible by traditional trial and error methods. The method will be particularly helpful to students and inexperienced designers who first encounter the need to design a worm gear combination. The paper will present an example application to illustrate the use of the module.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
EOS/ACRIM III instrumentation

A new modular Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM) has been developed for the Earth Observation System (EOS) ACRIM III experiment. ACRIM III will be launched on a dedicated small satellite (ACRIMSAT) in late 1999 for a five year EOS Phase I total solar irradiance (TSI) monitoring mission. The new ACRIm instrument is compact, reduced in mass and size to less than 1/2 that of previous ACRIM's. The enhanced structure, electronics and shutter system, designed collaboratively by the Columbia-based Principal Investigator and Jet Propulsion Laboratory instrumentation teams, provide a versatile, precise and accurate, state-of-the-art TSI observational capability for the EOS and other potential applications.
Post-transcriptional regulation of MHC class II expression in human T cells.

Abstract Human T lymphocytes are among those cells which are cell surface class II − in the resting state, but can be induced to express class II following treatment with appropriate stimulators. Although resting T cells do not express detectable surface class II, cell surface class II can be detected on purified T cells as early as 30 min following stimulation with PHA and PMA, well before the initiation of DNA synthesis, and the percentage of positive cells gradually increases with time. One hypothesis explaining this very rapid surface expression of class II is that the genes can be regulated post-transcriptionally in T cells. To test this, we used nuclear run-on assays to measure the transcriptional rate of diverse class II genes in resting and activated T cells. Our results demonstrated that transcripts for DR, DP, and DQ could be detected in cells which were neither dividing nor transcribing mRNA for another marker of T cell activation, the IL-2 gene. Northern blot analysis demonstrated low to moderate steady-state levels of DRβ mRNA in these cells. Moreover, treatment of activated T cells with cycloheximide resulted in superinduction of class II for DR, DQ, and DP. These results suggest that resting T cells can transcribe mRNA for class II genes, but that they do not express the protein product on the cell surface in a detectable way until following activation. In addition, they suggest that there may be a protein factor which negatively influences class II levels in T cells. Thus, the regulation of class II in T cells is complex and involves post-transcriptional regulation, at least in part.
Regulation of human ovarian insulin receptors in vivo

Insulin participates in regulating ovarian function in normal and in pathological states. This effect of insulin may be mediated by ovarian insulin receptors. We have previously characterized human ovarian insulin receptors and began to examine their regulation in vitro. The present study examines regulation of human ovarian insulin receptors in vivo. Stromal ovarian tissue was obtained from 21 women during an indicated surgical procedure. Ten women were premenopausal and 11 were postmenopausal. Specific 125I-insulin binding to stromal ovarian fragments ranged from 2.5% to 7.3%/mg protein. 125I-insulin binding to stromal fragments correlated positively with 125I-insulin binding to circulating leucocytes (r = .57; P less than .01). When postmenopausal and premenopausal women were analyzed separately, this relationship persisted in postmenopausal women (r = .70; P less than .05), but not premenopausal women. 125I-insulin binding to stromal ovarian fragments correlated negatively with age (r = -.63; P = .005). 125I-insulin binding to stromal ovarian fragments tended to correlate negatively with plasma insulin levels in postmenopausal women (r = -.67; P = .06), but not in premenopausal women. Plasma insulin levels correlated negatively with serum SHBG (r = -.62; P = .003). The percent free testosterone levels correlated positively with plasma insulin levels in premenopausal women (r = .95; P = .0001), but not in postmenopausal women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Molecular Mechanism Underlying Persistent Induction of LCN2 by Lipopolysaccharide in Kidney Fibroblasts

The neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a critical inflammatory mediator persistently induced during endotoxemia, contributing to tubular damage and kidney failure. The intracellular process responsible for persistent induction of LCN2 by bacterial endotoxin Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is not well understood. Using primary kidney fibroblasts, we observed that LPS-induced LCN2 expression requires a coupled circuit involving an early transient phase of AP-1 path and a late persistent phase of C/EBPδ path, both of which are dependent upon the interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1). Using immunoprecipitation analysis we observed transient binding of AP-1 to the promoters of both TNFα and C/ebpδ. On the other hand, we only observed persistent binding of C/EBPδ to its own promoter but not on TNFα. Blockage of new protein synthesis using cyclohexamide significantly reduced the expression of C/EBPδ as well as LCN2. By chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses, we demonstrated that LPS recruited C/EBPδ to the Lcn2 promoter in WT, but not IRAK-1 deficient fibroblasts. A differential equation-based computational model captured the dynamic circuit leading to the persistent induction of LCN2. In vivo, we observed elevated levels of LCN2 in kidneys harvested from LPS-injected WT mice as compared to IRAK-1 deficient mice. Taken together, this study has identified an integrated intracellular network involved in the persistent induction of LCN2 by LPS.
Symptomatic mass effect of a hypertrophied pericranial flap after repair of a dural defect: case report

OBJECTIVE: To detail a potential complication of the use of vascularized pericranial flaps in the repair of dural defects, namely, flap hypertrophy secondary to venous engorgement. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 23-year-old man with a left parietal lobe hemangiopericytoma underwent a craniotomy for tumor resection. The resultant dural defect was repaired with a vascularized pericranial flap. On postoperative Day 3, the patient developed headache, confusion, aphasia, and right upper extremity apraxia. Imaging revealed an extra-axial collection at the craniotomy site; on reexploration, a swollen, engorged pericranial flap causing mass effect was found. INTERVENTION: The pericranial flap was excised. CONCLUSION: In this case, hypertrophy of the vascularized pericranial flap is hypothesized to have occurred because of venous congestion, possibly secondary to restriction of venous outflow by the overlying bone flap.
Polyhomologation. A Living C1 Polymerization

The physical properties of synthetic macromolecules are strongly coupled to their molecular weight (MW), topology, and polydispersity index (PDI). Factors that contribute to their utility include the control of functionality at the macromolecule termini and copolymer composition. Conventional polymerization reactions that produce carbon backbone polymers (ionic, free radical, and coordination) provide little opportunity for controlling these variables. Living polymerizations, sometimes referred to as controlled polymerizations, have provided the means for achieving these goals. Not surprisingly, these reactions have had a profound impact on polymer and materials science. Three basic reaction types are used for the synthesis of most carbon backbone polymers. The first examples of "living" polymerizations were developed for ionic polymerizations (cationic and anionic). These reactions, which can be technically challenging to perform, can yield excellent control of molecular weight with very low polydispersity. The second reaction type, free radical polymerization, is one of the most widely used polymerizations for the commercial production of high molecular weight carbon backbone polymers. Nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) have emerged as three of the more successful approaches for controlling these reactions. The third type, transition metal mediated coordination polymerization, is the most important method for large-scale commercial polyolefin production. Simple nonfunctional hydrocarbon polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene, poly-α-olefins, and their copolymers are synthesized by high pressure-high temperature free radical polymerization, Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts. Although these catalysts of exceptional efficiency that produce polymers on a huge scale are in common use, control that approaches a "living polymerization" is rare. Although the controlled synthesis of linear "polyethylene" described in this Account is not competitive with existing commercial processes for bulk polymer production, they can provide quantities of specialized materials for the study of structure-property relationships. This information can guide the production of polymers for new commercial applications. We initiated a search for novel polymerization reactions that would produce simple hydrocarbon polymers with the potential for molecular weight and topological control. Our research focused on polymerization reactions that employ nonolefin monomers, more specifically the polymerization of ylides and diazoalkanes. In this reaction, the carbon backbone is built one carbon at a time (C1 polymerization). These studies draw upon earlier investigations of the Lewis acid catalyzed polymerization of diazoalkanes and build upon our discovery of the trialkylborane initiated living polymerization of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide 1.
A posteriori Investigation of Spatial Arrangements in Gnathostomulida and Copepoda

Copepods at MHTL and gnathostomulids from MHTL to sublittoral sands were studied in 162 samples from Tucker's Town Cove beach, Bermuda. Species were analyzed for mean density (X), mean crowding ( ), and patchiness ( /X) using Lloyd's a posteriori statistic for mean crowding. Diversity was computed using the Shannon-Wiener Index (H′). Copepoda were found to be nearly three times more abundant than Gnathostomulida at the MHSL site. 74% of the copepods were found in the surface cm of sediment while 87% of the gnathostomulids were located between 1–4 cm deep and within the RPD layer. Similar gnathostomulid distributions were found at MSL and sublittorally. Mean density and mean crowding were highly variable for the numerically dominant species in each group, whereas patchiness was relatively constant with values ranging between /X = 1.50 to 2.73 for P = 0.05. Such consistency in patchiness between two diverse taxa having distinctly different vertical distributions may suggest that there exists an optimum degree of patchiness for interstitial fauna and that the optimum values may lie within a range similar to that of the numerically dominant Copepoda and Gnathostomulida. Overall patchiness was slightly higher in the gnathostomulids and in the rarer species as predicted by Lloyd's statistic. Diversity was higher in the Copepoda, attributable primarily to species richness.
Parallel Frames and Policy Narratives in Music Education and Physical Education

The relationship between music education and physical education has often been portrayed as a competition for financial resources, student enrollment, instructional time, and community support. This article instead explores commonalities between the two disciplines, including their histories, curricular debates, shared concerns, mutual challenges, and potential futures. These issues are examined through examples of political narratives, or frames, that have been used to advance advocacy efforts and policy positions.
Models of consultation: Preferences of educational professionals at five stages of service

Abstract Three professional education groups (elementary school principals, special education teachers, and second-grade teachers from two school systems) were asked to rate their preference for four models of consultation as offered by school psychologists at each of five stages of the consultation process. Results indicate that there were no differences among the three professional education groups in their ratings of the models. However, there was a significant difference in the ratings given to each model, with the collaboration model receiving the highest rating. A model by stage interaction also was noted, a finding which suggests that consultation preference should not be considered a unidimensional concept. The implications of these results for the training and practice of school psychologists in the consultation role are discussed.
Suboptimal 5' and 3' splice sites regulate alternative splicing of Drosophila melanogaster myosin heavy chain transcripts in vitro

Using a Drosophila cell-free system, we have analyzed the regulation of alternative splicing of Drosophila muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) transcripts. Splicing of MHC 3' end transcripts results in exclusion of adult-specific alternative exon 18, as is observed in embryonic and larval muscle in vivo. Mutations that strengthen either the 5' or the 3' splice sites of exon 18 do not promote inclusion of this exon. However, strengthening both splice junctions results in efficient removal of both introns and completely inhibits skip splicing. Our data suggest that the affinity of exons 17 and 19, as well as failure of constitutive splicing factors to recognize exon 18 splice sites, causes the exclusion of exon 18 in wild-type transcripts processed in vitro.
History of reference materials for food and nutrition metrology: as represented in the series of BERM symposia.

FigureUncertainty interval percentages (UIP) in certified reference materials as a function of nutrient concentration. P proximates, C carbohydrates, M minerals, T trace elements, VS water soluble vitamins, VF fat-soluble vitamins, A amino acids, F fatty acids, O other[IMAGE]
The mission operators planning assistant

The Mission Operations Planning Assistant (MOPA) is a knowledge-based system developed to support the planning and scheduling of instrument activities on the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS). The MOPA system represents and maintains instrument plans at two levels of abstraction in order to keep plans comprehensible to both UARS Principal Investigators and Command Management personnel. The hierarchical representation of plans also allows MOPA to automatically create detailed instrument activity plans from which spacecraft command loads may be generated. The MOPA system was developed on a Symbolics 3640 computer using the ZetaLisp and ART languages. MOPA's features include a textual and graphical interface for plan inspection and modification, recognition of instrument operational constraint violations during the planning process, and consistency maintenance between the different planning levels. This paper describes the current MOPA system.
Investigating Climate Change Understandings of Urban Middle-Level Students

ABSTRACT We investigated urban eighth grade students' knowledge about climate change science and their understanding of global climate change at personal and societal levels. A comprehensive climate change assessment measure aligned to recent U.S. climate change knowledge goals was completed by 868 eighth grade students in an urban school district. Results revealed knowledge deficiencies in student's understanding of the differences between weather and climate, the composition of Earth's atmosphere and greenhouse gases, how greenhouse gases impact climate change, features of the climate system, paleoclimatology, anthropogenic source contributions to climate change, and environmental impacts. Recommendations for curriculum learning activities that address climate change deficiencies are discussed.
SOME EPIDERMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PALEAS OF DICHANTHELIUM, PANICUM, AND ECHINOCHLOA

A B S T R A C T The apical portion of paleas of the perfect (upper) floret of 11 species of Dichantlieliurn, 10 species of Panicum, and one species of Echinochloa were examined with a scanning electron microscope. The surfaces of the Dichanthelium palea tips uniformly had simple, rounded papillae, widely spaced in regular rows, whereas the palea tips of most Panicum species had irregularly arranged, compound or aggregated papillae. Unusual epidermal features were observed in P. obtusum, P. Itians, and P. hemitomon. The Ecliinochloa crusgalli palea surface exhibited a pattern of papillae or spicule development similar to that of P. hians. Transverse sections of Dichanthelium palea showed the papillae to be little if at all thickened. An electron beam x-ray microanalysis indicated a high concentration of silicon in the papillae. PANICUM L. IS ONE of the largest of the grass genera, with over 500 species commonly recognized in the floras of the world. Hitchcock and Chase (1910) listed 197 species for North America, but with the transfer of the subgenus Paurochaetium species to Setaria (Rominger, 1962) the grouping of the Panicum geminatum and P. paludivagum taxa in the genus Paspalidium of Stapf, and the recent elevation of the Dichanthelium subgenus to generic status (Gould, 1974), the number is reduced to less than 75. Preliminary investigations indicate that two other species, Panicum hians Ell. and P. hemitomon Schult., also will be eventually removed from the genus.
Overshoot saturation in ultra-submicron FETs due to minimum acceleration lengths

Abstract Ultra-submicron GaAs MESFETs have been fabricated with gate lengths ranging from 25 nm to 80 nm, using an electron-beam lithography process, in order to examine the operating characteristics as a function of gate length. The MESFETs were fabricated on wafers doped at 2×1017 cm−3 and 1.5×1018 cm−3 with active layer thicknesses of 250 nm and 60 nm, respectively. Measurements of the transconductance, and the inferred transit velocity, as a function of the effective gate length show a minimum in these quantities near 55 nm. The rise in transconductance below this gate length is attributed to the onset of velocity overshoot in the channel region, and both the inferred transit velocity and the variations between the lightly doped samples and the heavily doped samples support this interpretation. For gate lengths below about 40 nm, however, the transconductance again drops. We attribute this drop to the existence of a minimum acceleration length needed for the carriers to reach the high values of the overshoot velocity. We have investigated this behavior with a transient transport model based upon a parameterized velocity autocorrelation function incorporating both energy and momentum relaxation rates. The results of this model yield qualitative agreement with both the measurements and the interpretation given above.
Porous Hollow Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery and Controlled Release of Cisplatin

We report a new approach to cisplatin storage and release using porous hollow nanoparticles (PHNPs) of Fe3O4. We prepared the PHNPs by controlled oxidation of Fe NPs at 250 °C followed by acid etch...
An experimental study of the function of the red epaulettes and the black body colour of male red-winged blackbirds

To study experimentally the function of the red epaulettes and the black body colour of adult male red-winged blackbirds, Agelaius phoeniceus, territory owners were removed and replaced with dummies. Intruding males avoided the two mounts with colourful epaulettes compared to the mount with blackened epaulettes and the mount-stand control; intruders also avoided mounts with enlarged epaulettes compared to mounts with normal-sized epaulettes. These results provide the first direct evidence that exposed epaulettes are perceived by intruders as a threat and that larger epaulettes would be more effective signals of threat than are normal epaulettes. Comparisons between the mount with blackened epaulettes and the mount-stand control showed that intruders land closer to the blackened mount than to the control. This result suggests that the conspicuous black body colour of male redwings is not threatening; it is argued that it is a distance signal of attraction that facilitates flock formation.
Inhibiting Steel Brace Buckling Using Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers: Large-Scale Tests

A new method is proposed for inhibiting the buckling response of steel braces. The strengthening technique involves attaching a core comprised of mortar blocks to the braces and then wrapping the entire system with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. An advantage of this method is that the technology can be applied in situ by a single individual with minimal training. Test results of seven specimens subjected to reversed axial loading show that it is feasible to achieve buckling restrained response up to 2% interstory drift. Other than the number of longitudinal fiber layers, it is observed that performance of the strengthening scheme depends upon the size of the core material, the presence of bond between the steel plate and core material, the existence of extra stitch plates for double angle members, and the presence of transverse CFRP layers at the member ends. It is also observed that double angle braces benefit more from the strengthening scheme than single angle braces, which are prone to premature out-of-plane buckling.
EVIDENCE THAT A MITOGEN-INDUCIBLE PROLACTIN-IMMUNOREACTIVE PROTEIN IN RAT SPLEEN LYMPHOCYTES IS ALDOLASE A

This study characterizes several proteins in rat spleen lymphocyte lysates and conditioned medium that are recognized by antiserum to purified rat pituitary prolactin (PRL). One of these proteins, rat prolactin-immunoreactive protein (rPIP-43), has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 43,000 and is strongly induced by mitogenic stimulation in spleen lymphocytes. A constitutively expressed protein of this size also was detected in the IM-9 human B lymphoblastoid cell line and the Nb2 rat T lymphoma cell line. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of rPIP-43 in spleen lymphocyte lysate was analysed and found to be identical with 25 residues at the N-terminus of the glycolytic enzyme aldolase A. In further experiments, the rPRL antiserum was evaluated for cross-reactivity with an aldolase A preparation and recognized a Mr 43,000 protein in rabbit muscle. Preabsorption of rPRL antiserum with rPRL was found to greatly decrease the intensity of staining of rPRL, aldolase A and rPIP-43. Preabsorption of antiserum with aldolase A had a similar, but less pronounced effect, with the aldolase A band and rPIP-43 being stained less intensely, while there was no effect on the intensity of staining of purified rPRL. Thus, data indicate that rPIP-43 is not a structural variant of PRL, but appears to be a different protein. These results have implications for the use of PRL antiserum to detect PRL in biological samples insofar as aldolase A is a ubiquitously expressed protein.
Pars plana anterior vitrectomy, hyaloido-zonulectomy, and iridectomy for aqueous humor misdirection.

Purpose To report a surgical technique for aqueous misdirection refractory to medical treatment consisting of combined pars plana vitrectomy, hyaloido-zonulectomy, and peripheral iridectomy. Design Noncomparative case series. Methods The charts of 5 pseudophakic patients who sought treatment for aqueous humor misdirection refractory to medical treatment from May 2008 trough February 2009 were reviewed. All 5 patients underwent anterior vitrectomy, hyaloido-zonulectomy, and peripheral iridectomy with an anterior vitrector through a pars plana incision. Main outcome measures were preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure, medications, slit-lamp examination results, and fundus findings. Results Five female patients (age range, 23 to 89 years) had increased intraocular pressure and shallowing of the anterior chamber after cataract extraction or trabeculectomy, and none responded to conventional medical therapy. After surgery, prompt resolution of the aqueous misdirection was achieved in all cases. The follow-up was 7.6 months (range, 1 to 13 months). Conclusions Aqueous misdirection refractory to medical treatment can be treated successfully with surgery consisting of partial pars plana vitrectomy, hyaloido-zonulectomy, and peripheral iridectomy.
Sub-Speciating Campylobacter jejuni by Proteomic Analysis of Its Protein Biomarkers and Their Post-Translational Modifications

We have identified several protein biomarkers of three Campylobacter jejuni strains (RM1221, RM1859, and RM3782) by proteomic techniques. The protein biomarkers identified are prominently observed in the time-of-flight mass spectra (TOF MS) of bacterial cell lysate supernatants ionized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). The protein biomarkers identified were: DNA-binding protein HU, translation initiation factor IF-1, cytochrome c553, a transthyretin-like periplasmic protein, chaperonin GroES, thioredoxin Trx, and ribosomal proteins: L7/L12 (50S), L24 (50S), S16 (30S), L29 (50S), and S15 (30S), and conserved proteins similar to strain NCTC 11168 proteins Cj1164 and Cj1225. The protein biomarkers identified appear to represent high copy, intact proteins. The significant findings are as follows: (1) Biomarker mass shifts between these strains were due to amino acid substitutions of the primary polypeptide sequence and not due to changes in post-translational modifications (PTMs). (2)...
Acute Airway Obstruction

A 2-year-old boy presented to the hospital with a history of increased work of breathing over the 1 month following an upper respiratory infection. His medical history was significant for palmoplantar callouses and painful subungual hypertrophy of the fingers andtoes, forwhichhehadundergonematricectomy.Hismotherand 3 older siblings also had subungual hypertrophy and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis andblisters.Hewasdiagnosedashavingcroupat the emergencydepartment.Hehadnodysphagia or odynophagia, but therewasminimal improvement in stridor after a trial of vaporized epinephrine and albuterol. Subsequently, he was seen at the outpatientpulmonologyclinicandreceivedaflexiblebronchoscopy.The pulmonologist noted obstructive glottic edema at the vocal cords with a pinpoint airway, prompting urgent consultation to the pediatric otolaryngology service. Our initial evaluation showed him to have audible biphasic stridor, suprasternal retractions, decreased appetite, subjective fever, and overall lethargy. An emergent direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy was performed, which revealed an exophytic posterior glottic mass as well as edematous, polypoid lesions involving bilateral true vocal cords with grossly ke ra t i n i zed appea r i ng oppos i ng edge s r e semb l i ng granulation tissue (Figure, A). Biopsies were performed, followed by debulking (Figure, B). Postoperatively, the patient had resolution of his stridor. Microscopic pathologic review of the glottic lesion revealed minute fragments of nonkeratinizing stratified epithelium with vague papillary appearance and occasional perinuclear cytologic changes including nuclear enlargement and darker than normal nuclear staining pattern (Figure, C and D). Polymerase chain reaction evaluation was negative for human papilloma virus (HPV). What is your diagnosis? A B
Calculation of mean cell residence time for unsteady‐state activated sludge systems

A formulation to calculate the mean cell residence time (MCRT or sludge age) of unsteady-state activated sludge systems is presented. The formulation was studied by applying it to data generated by computer simulation and to data obtained from an actual wastewater treatment plant. The computer simulation study allowed the effects of step and pulse changes in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) loading, and step changes in a control variable, waste sludge flow rate, to be studied independently of each other and of other disturbances. The unsteady-state MCRT formulation (herein called the dynamic sludge age, or DSA) was found to be an improvement over the traditional steady-state calculation, both for process control, and for research into activated sludge dynamics.
Closed-Form MSE Performance of the Distributed LMS Algorithm

Mean-square error (MSE) performance analysis is conducted for a novel distributed least-mean square (D-LMS) algorithm, which is based on consensus, in-network, adaptive estimation using wireless sensor networks (WSNs). For sensor observations that are linearly related to the time-invariant parameter of interest and independent Gaussian data, exact closed-form expressions are derived for the global and sensor-level MSE evolution and steady-state limiting values. Tracking performance is also investigated when the true parameter adheres to a random-walk model. Remarkably for small step-sizes the results accurately extend to the pragmatic setup whereby sensors acquire temporally-correlated (non-)Gaussian data.
The complete nucleotide sequence of the cassava (Manihot esculenta) chloroplast genome and the evolution of atpF in Malpighiales: RNA editing and multiple losses of a group II intron

The complete sequence of the chloroplast genome of cassava (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae) has been determined. The genome is 161,453 bp in length and includes a pair of inverted repeats (IR) of 26,954 bp. The genome includes 128 genes; 96 are single copy and 16 are duplicated in the IR. There are four rRNA genes and 30 distinct tRNAs, seven of which are duplicated in the IR. The infA gene is absent; expansion of IRb has duplicated 62 amino acids at the 3' end of rps19 and a number of coding regions have large insertions or deletions, including insertions within the 23S rRNA gene. There are 17 intron-containing genes in cassava, 15 of which have a single intron while two (clpP, ycf3) have two introns. The usually conserved atpF group II intron is absent and this is the first report of its loss from land plant chloroplast genomes. The phylogenetic distribution of the atpF intron loss was determined by a PCR survey of 251 taxa representing 34 families of Malpighiales and 16 taxa from closely related rosids. The atpF intron is not only missing in cassava but also from closely related Euphorbiaceae and other Malpighiales, suggesting that there have been at least seven independent losses. In cassava and all other sequenced Malphigiales, atpF gene sequences showed a strong association between C-to-T substitutions at nucleotide position 92 and the loss of the intron, suggesting that recombination between an edited mRNA and the atpF gene may be a possible mechanism for the intron loss.
Quantum groups and subfactors of type $B$, $C$, and $D$

The main object of this paper is the study of a sequence of finite dimensional algebras, depending on 2 parameters, which appear in connection with the Kauffman link invariant and with Drinfeld's and Jimbo'sq deformation of Lie algebras of typesB, C andD. We determine for which parameters these algebras are semisimple. Moreover, we classify all unitary representations of the infinite braid groupB∞ factoring through the inductive limit of these algebras. This yields new examples of irreducible subfactors of finite depth, whose indices are squares ofq dimensions of irreducible representations of sympletic and orthogonal groups. In the combinatorial description of these subfactors one naturally obtains truncated Weyl chambers (as for loop groups for a given level) and multiplicity coefficients of fusion rules for Wess-Zumino-Witten models.
Critical tissue residue approach linking accumulated metals in aquatic insects to population and community-level effects.

Whole body Zn concentrations in individuals (n = 825) from three aquatic insect taxa (mayflies Rhithrogena spp. and Drunella spp. and the caddisfly Arctopsyche grandis) were used to predict effects on populations and communities (n = 149 samples). Both mayflies accumulated significantly more Zn than the caddisfly. The presence/absence of Drunella spp. most reliably distinguished sites with low and high Zn concentrations; however, population densitiesofmayfliesweremoresensitivetoincreasesinaccumulatedZn.Critical tissue residues (634 μg/g Zn for Drunellaspp. and 267 μg/g Zn for Rhithrogena spp.) caused a 20% reduction in maximum (90th quantile) mayfly densities. These critical tissue residues were associated with exposure to 7.0 and 3.9 μg/L dissolved Zn forDrunella spp. and Rhithrogena spp., respectively. A threshold in ameasureoftaxonomiccompleteness(observed/expected)wasobservedat5.4 μg/L dissolved Zn. Dissolved Zn concentrations associated with critical tissue residues in mayflies were also associated with adverse effects in the aquatic community as a whole. These effects on populations and communities occurred at Zn concentrations below the U.S. EPA hardness-adjusted continuous chronic criterion.
Application of a theoretic T-wave model to experimentally induced T-wave abnormalities.

A series of experiments was performed to test the validity of a theoretic T-wave model. This model was based on the sequence of depolarization and on multiple action potentials taken in appropriate time phase. The previously introduced concept of the component gradient vector was extended so that this quantity included base-line and local gradient vectors. Component gradient vectors were defined as those vectors produced by a disparity in the configuration of coexisting action potentials. They were directed along the same axis as the depolarization vectors in the area where the component gradient existed. The magnitude of the component gradient vectors was determined by the degree to which the plateau durations and downstrokes of coexisting action potentials differed. Those component gradient vectors that arose from the normal disparity in configuration of ventricular action potentials were defined as base-line gradient vectors, while vectors that arose from a deviation from that state were defined as loc...
Effects of new 17α-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase inhibitors on LNCaP prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Our laboratory has been developing new inhibitors of a key regulatory enzyme of testicular and adrenal androgen synthesis 17α-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (P450c17), with the aim of improving prostate cancer treatment. We designed and evaluated two groups of azolyl steroids: Δ5-non-competitive inhibitors (Δ5NCIs), VN/63-1, VN/85-1, VN/87-1 and their corresponding Δ4 derivatives (Δ4NCIs), VN/107-1, VN/108-1 and VN/109-1. The human P450c17 gene was transfected into LNCaP human prostate cancer cells, and the resultant LNCaP-CYP17 cells were utilized to evaluate the inhibitory potency of the new azolyl steroids. VN/85-1 and VN/108-1 had the lowest IC50 values of 1.25 ± 0.44 nM and 2.96 ± 0.78 nM respectively, which are much lower than that of the known P450 inhibitor ketoconazole (80.7 ± 1.8 nM). To determine whether the compounds had direct actions on proliferation of wild-type LNCaP cells, cell growth studies were performed. All of the Δ5NCIs and VN/108-1 blocked the growth-stimulating effects of androgens. In steroid-free media, the Δ5NCIs decreased the proliferation of LNCaP cells by 35–40%, while all of the Δ4NCIs stimulated LNCaP cells growth 1.5- to 2-fold. In androgen receptor (AR) binding studies, carried out to determine the mechanism of this effect, all of the Δ4NCIs (5 μM) displaced 77–82% of synthetic androgen R1881 (5 nM) from the LNCaP AR. The anti-androgen flutamide and the Δ5NCIs displaced 53% and 32–51% of R1881 bound to AR respectively. These results suggested that the Δ5NCIs may also be acting as anti-androgens. We further evaluated our inhibitors in male severe combined immuno- deficient mice bearing LNCaP tumour xenografts. In this model VN/85-1 was as effective as finasteride at inhibiting tumor growth (26% and 28% inhibition, respectively) and the inhibitory effect of VN/87-1 was similar to that of castration (33% and 36% inhibition respectively). These results suggest that VN/85-1 and VN/87-1 may be potential candidates for treatment of prostate cancer. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign
Role of behavior modification in community mental health.

This paper briefly reviews the original concept of the community mental health movement; points to ways in which current service delivery systems deviate from this; offers an alternative framework for service delivery, that is, a behavioral model; and argues that its implementation would move community services closer to this conception. The implications of this model for intervention in the natural environment as well as for transitional and prosthetic facilities are described and examples given of its use. Emphasis is placed on working in the natural environment whenever possible via the use and cultivation of significant others as well as via provision of training in self-directed behavior change in addition to the blending of case management with careful evaluation of service.