cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Research on Chimpanzee Behavioral Ecology in Kibale National Park, Uganda

Long-term data are crucial for addressing questions about the behavior and ecology of chimpanzees because of their slow life histories. Despite the long history of field research on chimpanzees, the number of sites that have provided long-term data on multiple communities in the same population is still small. Long-term data on two habituated chimpanzee communities in Kibale National Park, Uganda, have provided important insights into variation in chimpanzee behavioral ecology and life-history strategies. Long-term data on diet, phenology, and forest composition indicate that Ngogo is better habitat for chimpanzees; this helps explain why chimpanzee population density is three times higher there than at Kanyawara, why the Ngogo community is three times as large as that at Kanyawara, and why female gregariousness is higher at Ngogo. Both sites have provided important data on sex differences in gregariousness and in space use, on long-term social bonds, on hunting, on intergroup aggression, and on other important topics in behavioral ecology. The large size of the Ngogo community offers valuable insights into demographic influences on behavior and on male reproductive success and into chimpanzee-red colobus predator–prey dynamics. In this chapter, I summarize some of the major findings of this research and compare Kibale data to those from other long-term chimpanzee research sites.
A model-based approach to enhance performance in high-end laser-positioning systems

In this paper the challenge of improving throughput in additive manufacturing and other laser-based manufacturing processes is addressed. It is the main obstacle, for industries using these processes, to market position themselves with regards to conventional material processing technologies. A key component affecting throughput, besides the material alteration process itself, is the laser scanner controlling the laser spot position.In this paper, a new model-based methodology to improve the performance of such laser scanners is proposed. This methodology consists of two main steps: (1) identification of a high-fidelity model of the laser scanner quantifying its dynamics (2) design of a model-based feedforward controller improving performance beyond conventional control. This methodology is implemented and validated using an industrial setup equipped with an open controller for additive manufacturing machines, an industrial laser scanner and a camera based monitoring system that allows an accurate evaluation of the scanner positioning. The validation on the setup showed improvement in performance up to 49% compared to conventional control of the laser scanner.
Historical Wig Styling: Victorian to the Present

Historical Wig Styling: Victorian to the Present, 2nd edition, is a guide to creating beautiful, historically accurate hairstyles for theatrical productions and events. This volume covers hairstyles from the Victorian era through the contemporary styles of today. Chapters begin with an overview of historic figures and styles that influenced the look of each period, followed by step-by-step instructions and photographs showing the finished look from every angle. The book also explores the necessary supplies and styling products needed to create the perfect coif, tips for proper wig handling, a brief history of the makeup for each historical period, and basic styling techniques useful when working with wigs or real hair. New hairstyles featured in this edition include: - Civil War era women - Late Victorian African-American men - 1910s' Full width style women - 1920s' glossy waves - 1940s' Victory rolls - 1950s' Poodle updos - 1960s' flips With over 1,000 full-color images and detailed instructions on how to create iconic hairstyles and makeup, Historical Wig Styling: Victorian to the Present, 2nd edition, is an excellent resource for professional costume designers and wig makers, as well as for students of Costume Design and Wig Making and Styling courses.
Lipoprotein lipase in human adipose tissue.

SummaryLipoprotein lipase activity was found in adipose tissue of all of 18 samples from 9 human subjects. Activity in omental tissue was 2 to 3 times greater than in subcutaneous tissue. It was similar in men and women. No increase in activity was produced by intravenous infusion of 200 to 300 g glucose during the 12 hours before the tissue was obtained.
Straying from the Flock? A Look at How Americans’ Gender and Religious Identities Cross-Pressure Partisanship:

White evangelicals–both men and women–are a mainstay of the Republican Party. What accounts for their ongoing loyalty, particularly when Republican candidates and leaders fail to embody closely hel...
Mechanical Testing of 3D Printed Materials

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) has been a rapidly growing 3D printing technology for polymer-based products. Additive manufacturing technologies have seen an expansion into printing various polymers, including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) on various printers and print conditions. In this study, we evaluate the tensile strength characteristics of FDM printed ABS and PLA parts. Specimens with a dog bone geometry were printed on a FlashForge Creator Pro 3D printer, using the ASTM D638 standard test method. Along with the two types of material, build orientation, wall thickness, infill percentage, and infill geometry were varied in this study. An Instron tensile testing machine was used to evaluate the stress–strain characteristics of each specimen and determine the tensile strength of the parts. It was found that the material type and wall thickness had the greatest effects on the tensile strength of 3D printed parts. In addition, the authors identified an optimal printing parameter to maximize the strength, but also to minimize the printing time and amount of material used to make each part.
Collective mode Brownian dynamics: A method for fast relaxation of statistical ensembles.

Sampling equilibrium configurations of correlated systems of particles with long relaxation times (e.g., polymeric solutions) using conventional molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods can be challenging. This is especially true for systems with complicated, extended bond network topologies and other interactions that make the use and design of specialized relaxation protocols infeasible. We introduce a method based on Brownian dynamics simulations that can reduce the computational time it takes to reach equilibrium and draw decorrelated samples. Importantly, the method is completely agnostic to the particle configuration and the specifics of interparticle forces. In particular, we develop a mobility matrix that excites non-local, collective motion of N particles and can be computed efficiently in O(N) time. Particle motion in this scheme is computed by integrating the overdamped Langevin equation with an Euler–Maruyama scheme, in which Brownian displacements are drawn efficiently using a low-rank representation of the mobility matrix in position and wave space. We demonstrate the efficacy of the method with various examples from the realm of soft condensed matter and release a massively parallel implementation of the code as a plugin for the open-source package HOOMD-blue [J. A. Anderson et al., J. Comput. Phys. 227, 5342 (2008) and J. Glaser et al., Comput. Phys. Commun. 192, 97 (2015)] which runs on graphics processing units
Cultural Stereotypes and Sense of Belonging Contribute to Gender Gaps in STEM.

There is a need to help more students succeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, with a particular interest in reducing current gender gaps in STEM motivation and participation. This integrative review synthesizes a body of work suggesting that social factors, such as stereotypes and self-representations about “belonging,” provide explanatory mechanisms for the observed gender differences in STEM interest and academic outcomes. First, we examine how cultural stereotypes specific to STEM contribute to gender gaps by negatively impacting interest and academic outcomes. Second, we review the central role of the self-representations affected by those stereotypes, including the particular importance of a sense of belonging in STEM. Third, we discuss various interventions that buffer against stereotypes and enhance a sense of belonging to improve interest and academic outcomes. We find that STEM gender gaps in interest and academic outcomes are malleable and can be changed through interventions. Finally, we suggest directions for future research. By organizing the research in this way, our review and theoretical analysis clarifies key factors contributing to the current gender gaps in STEM and mechanisms by which psychological interventions can help address and reduce STEM gender gaps.
Nondestructive evaluation of nuclear spent fuel dry cask structures using non-contact ACT-SLDV Lamb wave method

Since 1986, the above-ground dry cask for spent fuel rods was employed to the Surry Nuclear plant as a temporary solution for high-level waste storage until a more permanent solution could be found. During the service of the dry cask storage, when the crack occurs, it will grow progressively as time goes on. This greatly threatens the safety of the multilayer dry cask structures. Ultrasonic Lamb waves have been shown as an effective nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method due to their ability to propagate a long distance with less energy loss as well as their sensitivity to various defects on the surface or inside the structure. In this study, the research was focused on the laboratory investigation of the nondestructive inspection of the multilayer structures using a fully non-contact Lamb wave method. The non-contact system was constructed using an air-coupled transducer (ACT) for actuation and scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) for sensing. The ACT provided a narrowband wave actuation, while SLDV provided high-quality wavefield signals for damage detection and evaluation. To systematically develop the method for dry cask structure inspection, crack inspection in a simple 1-mm aluminum plate was first conducted; then crack inspections in more complicated multilayer structures were further carried out. Besides, to evaluate the crack inspection, two imaging techniques were further developed using a full-wave energy method and a scattered wave energy method for crack detection. The cracks in both simple aluminum plate and multilayer structures were successfully inspected.
Assessment of Intellectual Disabilities: Considerations for Dual Diagnosis

Variations in cognitive functioning have been recorded throughout history, and attempts to measure these fluctuations have occurred for a least half of a millennium. Today, we conceptualize intellectual disability as deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning occurring during the developmental period. Prevalence rates for this condition vary depending on economic status, living density, age at evaluation, and ethnicity, although one study in the United States estimated the rate was 13.0/1000 population (Van Naarden Braun et al., PLoS ONE 10:e0124120, 2015). Accurate measurement of intellectual disability criteria is important, and popular assessments that evaluate intelligence and adaptive behavior are presented. Given that intellectual disability is a vital component for discussions on dual disorders, considerations for how intellectual disability could impact the symptom presentation or evaluation of other psychological disorders are discussed.
Neuroimaging of Cerebral Vessels: Evidence-based Medicine in the Evaluation of Acute Stroke and Aneurysm Detection

As neuroimaging becomes more complex and widely available, the cost of health care is rising rapidly for both the individual and society as a whole. A continuous flow of medical literature makes it difficult to elucidate the true science from the merely descriptive. The current trend towards evidence-based medicine is an attempt to find those diagnostic and therapeutic imaging studies that provide the best information at the most reasonable cost. The best information comes from randomized controlled trials that are prospectively designed to determine performance and efficacy (Level 1 evidence) [1]. It is more likely, however, that Level 2 (clinical non-randomized studies, cohort and case-controlled studies, uncontrolled prospective studies) or Level 3 (descriptive studies, case series, expert committee reports) evidence will be more readily available. Readers are referred to the recent Neuroimaging Clinics of North America monograph [2] for more in-depth information. A synopsis of the evidence-based medicine as it pertains to the neuroimaging of common clinical conditions follows here.
Who Improves Most? The Differences in First-Year Students' Learning Attitudes and Behaviors Measured by College Success Factor Index.

Utilizing a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental research design, this study investigated the impacts of participation in a First-Year Seminar (FYS) course on student learning attitudes and behaviors. Using the sample of 1,231 freshmen students in a large, public, research university in the Southeast, the study examined if FYS participation promoted students learning attitudes and behaviors in the following ten areas: responsibility, competition, task-planning, expectation, wellness, time-management, college involvement, family involvement, precision, and persistence. Additionally, the study tested for the differences in changes of students learning attitudes and behaviors among five student populations enrolled in the seminar: first-time in college, summer bridge, international, out-of-state, and teacher pre-professionals. Hotelling's T2 test revealed statistically significant differences in learning attitudes and behaviors between pre and posttests for each of the 10 measured factors, while a two-way mixed design MANOVA indicated that changes in students’ learning attitudes and behaviors were not significantly different for any of the factors depending on the subgroup. The lack of between-group differences demonstrated that the FYS course participation was equally beneficial for students from all populations examined in the study.
Best practice recommendations for protecting child occupants

Pediatric occupants of motor vehicles need the specialized protection provided by child restraint systems because of their immature and developing body structures. The best child restraint system for a child depends on the size, age, and development level. As children proceed through the four phases of restraints systems (rear-facing harnessed restraints, forward-facing harnessed restraints, belt-positioning booster seats, and seat belts), their level of protection decreases, so graduation to the next type of product should be delayed as long as possible given the specifications for each product. The protection afforded children in crashes also depends on their seating position and safety features in the vehicles. Even when the most appropriate child restraint is selected, its ability to provide protection in a crash depends on how it is installed and used. This review describes how the basic principles of occupant protection are applied to the design of child restraint systems. Best practice recommendations for child occupant protection (primarily from the US perspective) are outlined, together with the research basis that supports them.
Highly sensitive vibrational imaging by fluorescence detection of mid-infrared photothermal effect

Mid-infrared photothermal (MIP) imaging is an emerging technique where a visible beam is deployed to sense the photothermal lensing effect induced by infrared absorption of molecules. This technology provides sub-micron spatial resolution defined by the visible probe beam. Yet, the photothermal lensing effect is a weak effect for most materials. For instance, the diffraction coefficient of poly (methyl methacrylate) changes around 0.1% per Kelvin. Thus, highly sensitive probes are desired to improve the detection sensitivity. Here, we report a fluorescence-enhanced mid-infrared photothermal (FE-MIP) microscope with high sensitivity. MIP microscopy uses a pump-probe strategy in which a mid-infrared light vibrationally excites a sample and a visible light probes the thermal effect. Instead of measuring the scattering modulated by mid-infrared absorption, we deploy thermal sensitive fluorescent dyes as the probe, and measure the modulated fluorescence intensity in both confocal mode and wide field mode. We demonstrate high imaging sensitivity and component specificity through fluorescence labeling.
The Masjid in Contemporary Islamic Africa

This volume examines the emergence of alternative spaces and architectural landscapes of Islamic practice in contemporary Africa through the lens of the masjid, whose definition as a “place of prostration” has enabled Muslim populations across the continent to navigate the murky waters of the contemporary condition through a purposeful renovation of spiritual space. Drawing from multiple disciplines and utilizing a series of diverse case studies, Michelle Apotsos reflects on the shifting realities of Islamic communities as they engage in processes of socio-political and cultural transformation. Illustrated through the growth of forward-thinking and in flexible environments that highlight how Muslim communities have developed unique solutions to the problem of performing identity within diverse contexts across the continent, she re-imagines the major themes surrounding definitions of Islamic architectural space in the contemporary period in Africa and the nature of the “modernity” as it has unfolded across diverse contexts on the continent.
Flexo-photovoltaic effect in MoS 2 .

The theoretical Shockley-Queisser limit of photon-electricity conversion in a conventional p-n junction could be potentially overcome by the bulk photovoltaic effect that uniquely occurs in non-centrosymmetric materials. Using strain-gradient engineering, the flexo-photovoltaic effect, that is, the strain-gradient-induced bulk photovoltaic effect, can be activated in centrosymmetric semiconductors, considerably expanding material choices for future sensing and energy applications. Here we report an experimental demonstration of the flexo-photovoltaic effect in an archetypal two-dimensional material, MoS2, by using a strain-gradient engineering approach based on the structural inhomogeneity and phase transition of a hybrid system consisting of MoS2 and VO2. The experimental bulk photovoltaic coefficient in MoS2 is orders of magnitude higher than that in most non-centrosymmetric materials. Our findings unveil the fundamental relation between the flexo-photovoltaic effect and a strain gradient in low-dimensional materials, which could potentially inspire the exploration of new optoelectronic phenomena in strain-gradient-engineered materials.
Encephalius. Ein Gespräch über das Leib-Seele-Problem

Der zumindest auserlich aporetische Dialog zwischen dem Eliminationisten bzw. Identitatstheoretiker Encephalius, dem Vertreter der Autonomie des Mentalen Philonous, dem Typen-Epiphanomenalisten Hylas und dem objektiven Idealisten Theophilus verknupft eine Diskussion der verschiedenen Losungen des Leib-Seele-Problems im engeren Sinne mit einem Durchgang durch zahlreiche weitere Probleme der Geistphilosophie, und zwar sowohl epistemologischer als auch metaphysischer und naturphilosophischer Art, und bietet eine Fulle von Reflexionen zur Geschichte des Problems.
Physical activity and cognitive and imaging biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in down syndrome.

Abstract Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Despite sharing trisomy 21, however, there is variability in the age of disease onset. This variability may mean that other factors, such as lifestyle, influence cognitive aging and disease timing. The present study assessed the association between everyday life physical activity using an actigraph accelerometer and cognitive functioning and early Alzheimer's disease pathology via positron emission tomography amyloid-β and tau and diffusion tension imaging measures of white matter integrity in 61 non-demented adults with DS. Percent time in sedentary behavior and in moderate-to-vigorous activity were associated (negatively and positively, respectively) with cognitive functioning (r = -.472 to .572, p
Server network scalability and TCP offload

Server network performance is increasingly dominated by poorly scaling operations such as I/O bus crossings, cache misses and interrupts. Their overhead prevents performance from scaling even with increased CPU, link or I/O bus bandwidths. These operations can be reduced by redesigning the host/adapter interface to exploit additional processing on the adapter. Offloading processing to the adapter is bene cial not only because it allows more cycles to be applied but also of the changes it enables in the host/adapter interface. As opposed to other approaches such as RDMA, TCP offload provides benets without requiring changes to either the transport protocol or API. We have designed a new host/adapter interface that exploits offloaded processing to reduce poorly scaling operations. We have implemented a prototype of the design including both host and adapter software components. Experimental evaluation with simple network benchmarks indicates our design significantly reduces I/O bus crossings and holds promise to reduce other poorly scaling operations as well.
Oxygen in Crystals--Seeing Is Believing

Atomic-level understanding of the properties of oxide materials has long been hampered by difficulties with imaging oxygen atoms. In his Perspective, [Spence][1] highlights the recent development of the aberration-corrected electron lens, which can increase the resolution of transmission electron microscopy to the level required for oxygen imaging. [ Jia et al ][2]. report the first images of oxygen columns and oxygen vacancies in two oxide materials. Given the ubiquity of oxides in natural and synthetic materials, the technique may find applications in many areas of science. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/299/5608/839 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/299/5608/870
Advancing maternal age and infant birth weight among urban African Americans: the effect of neighborhood poverty.

Objective: This study sought to determine whether neighborhood poverty modifies the relationship between maternal age and infant birth weight among urban African Americans. Design: Stratified analyses were performed on the vital records of African Americans born in Chicago by means of 1992–1995 computerized birth file with appended 1990 US Census income and 1995 Chicago Department of Public Health data. Four neighborhood-level variables (low median family income, high rates of unemployment, homicide, and lead poisoning) were analyzed. Setting: This is a population-based study. Results: Twenty-one percent (n521,811) of women resided in nonimpoverished neighborhoods (zero ecologic risk factors); 23% (n524,914) of women lived in extremely impoverished neighborhoods (four ecologic risk factors). In nonimpoverished neighborhoods, 30–34 year old women had a moderately low birth weight (1500–2499 g) rate of 13.9% compared to 10.3% for women aged 20–24 years; risk difference (95% confidence interval [CI])53.5 (2.2–4.6). In contrast, extremely impoverished women aged 30– 34 years had a moderately low birth weight rate of 19.8% compared to 11.8% for women aged 20–24 years; risk difference (95% CI)57.7 (6.1–9.3). This trend persisted among women who received early prenatal care and were primagravids or of low parity. Neighborhood poverty did not modify the association of advancing maternal age and the risk of very low birth weight (,1500 g). Conclusions: Neighborhood poverty accelerates the rise in moderately low birth weight but not very low birth weight; rates were associated with advancing maternal age among urban African Americans.
Renal denervation prevents dendritic cell activation and renal T cell activation in mice in angiotensin II-induced hypertension (1082.4)

Hypertension is associated with increased sympathetic outflow and subsequent activation of adaptive immunity. We hypothesized that renal sympathetic nerves activate dendritic cells, and that these ...
Exiting an RNA world

The RNA world hypothesis gains support from the in vitro evolution of a bifunctional ribozyme that can recognize an activated glutaminyl ester and subsequently aminoacylate a tRNA molecule.
Dual decompositions of 4-manifolds

This paper concerns decompositions of smooth 4-manifolds as the union of two handlebodies, each with handles of index 5 results of Smale (trivial π 1 ) and Wall (general π 1 ) describe analogous decompositions up to diffeomorphism in terms of homotopy type of skeleta or chain complexes. In dimension 4 we show the same data determines decompositions up to 2-deformation of their spines. In higher dimensions spine 2-deformation implies diffeomorphism, but in dimension 4 the fundamental group of the boundary is not determined. Sample results: (1.5) Two 2-complexes are (up to 2-deformation) spines of a dual decomposition of the 4-sphere if and only if they satisfy the conclusions of Alexander-Lefshetz duality (H 1 K ≃ H 2 L and H 2 K ≃ H 1 L). (3.3) If (N, ∂N) is 1-connected then there is a pseudo handle decomposition without 1-handles, in the sense that there is a pseudo collar (M, ∂N) (a relative 2-handlebody with spine that 2-deforms to ∂N) and N is obtained from this by attaching handles of index > 2.
Strain-Engineering the Anisotropic Electrical Conductance of Few-Layer Black Phosphorus

Newly fabricated few-layer black phosphorus and its monolayer structure, phosphorene, are expected to be promising for electronic and optical applications because of their finite direct band gaps and sizable but anisotropic electronic mobility. By first-principles simulations, we show that this unique anisotropic free-carrier mobility can be controlled by using simple strain conditions. With the appropriate biaxial or uniaxial strain (4–6%), we can rotate the preferred conducting direction by 90°. This will be useful for exploring unusual quantum Hall effects and exotic electronic and mechanical applications based on phosphorene.
Repair of Radiation-Induced Damage in Escherichia coli II. Effect of rec and uvr Mutations on Radiosensitivity, and Repair of X-Ray-Induced Single-Strand Breaks in Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Strains of Escherichia coli K-12 mutant in the genes controlling excision repair (uvr) and genetic recombination (rec) have been studied with reference to their radiosensitivity and their ability to repair X-ray-induced single-strand breaks in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Mutations in the rec genes appreciably increase the radiosensitivity of E. coli K-12, whereas uvr mutations produce little if any increase in radiosensitivity. For a given dose of X-rays, the yield of single-strand breaks has been shown by alkaline sucrose gradient studies to be largely independent of the presence of rec or uvr mutations. The rec+ cells (including those carrying the uvrB5 mutation) could efficiently rejoin X-ray-induced single-strand breaks in DNA, whereas recA56 mutants could not repair these breaks to any great extent. The recB21 and recC22 mutants showed some indication of repair capacity. From these studies, it is concluded that a correlation exists between the inability to repair single-strand breaks and the radiosensitivity of the rec mutants of E. coli K-12. This suggests that unrepaired single-strand breaks may be lethal lesions in E. coli.
Lithographic tuning of 2-D photonic crystal lasers

Photonic crystal lasers are small lasers that can be densely integrated and tuned lithographically. As such, they are potentially an attractive source for future WDM systems. In this study we begin to study the precision and the resolution at which the wavelength can be defined lithographically. We define and characterize an array of photonic crystal lasers in which lattice constant is varied across the array in small increments.
Potential Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Acquired Resistance to BRAF or MEK Inhibitors in BRAF Mutant Cancers

Recent clinical trials with selective inhibitors of the BRAF and MEK kinases have shown promising results in patients with tumors harboring BRAF V600 mutations. However, as has been observed previously with similarly successful targeted therapies, acquired resistance to these agents is an emerging problem that limits their clinical benefit. Several recent studies from our laboratory and others have investigated the causes of acquired resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitors, and multiple resistance mechanisms have been identified. Here, we review these mechanisms and suggest that they can be broadly grouped into two main classes: ERK-dependent and ERK-independent. We also propose distinct therapeutic strategies that might be employed to overcome each class of acquired resistance.
mRNA-directed cell-free myelin basic protein synthesis: No evidence of neuronal control

The specific mRNA of myelin basic protein (MBP) was isolated from active myelinating rat brains. The isolated mRNA was able to direct the synthesis of immunochemically detectable MBP in a wheat-germ cell free protein synthesis system. There was, however, no evidence of neuronal translational control of the in vitro MBP synthesis kinetics found within the experimental parameters. The possibility of neuronal control of MBP gene expression is therefore postulated likely to be at the transcriptional level.
Synthesis and Properties of Metal Clusters in Polymeric Matrices

A one-step plasma deposition process is described which allows the uniform dispersion of small metal clusters throughout a thin film polymer matrix. Plasma parameters and plasma gas phase diagnostics relevant to the control of film composition and structure are discussed. Chemical and structural analytical techniques such as I.R. absorption spectroscopy, E.S.C.A., Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray and electron diffraction and microscopy are used to characterize the cluster containing films. Changes in cluster size and shape as a function of volume fraction and as a result of post deposition annealing are described. Optical and electrical properties are presented below and above the onset of percolation and are evaluated in terms of contemporary effective medium theories.
The role of endogenous human Trp4 in regulating carbachol-induced calcium oscillations in HEK-293 cells.

Abstract We utilized 2-aminoethyoxydiphenyl borane, an agent that blocks store-operated Ca2+ entry, as well as an antisense approach to characterize endogenous Ca2+ entry pathways in HEK-293 cells. The thapsigargin- and carbachol-induced, but not the 1-oleolyl-2-acytyl-sn-glycerol (OAG)-induced, entry was blocked by 2-aminoethyoxydiphenyl borane. Both reverse transcriptase-PCR and Western blot analyses demonstrated endogenous expression for HTRP1, HTRP3, and HTRP4 and specific suppression of mRNA levels and Trp protein levels in cells stably expressing antisense constructs. Expression of HTRP4 antisense inhibited 35% of the carbachol (CCh)-stimulated Ba2+ entry and 46% of the OAG-stimulated Sr2+ entry but in contrast had no effect on the thapsigargin-stimulated Ba2+ or Sr2+ entry. HTRP3 antisense reduced, while HTRP1 antisense had no effect on, OAG-induced Sr2+ entry. Of greater importance, HTRP4 antisense expression, but not HTRP3 antisense expression, blocked the sustained Ca2+ oscillations produced by low doses of CCh (15 μm), arguing that receptor-stimulated rather than store-operated channels are involved in these sustained oscillations. HTRP4 antisense also inhibited 75% of the arachidonic acid-induced Ca2+ entry. In summary, these data suggest that HTRP4 proteins in HEK-293 cells, differing from HTRP3 and HTRP1 proteins, do not serve as functional subunits of store-operated channels but do function as subunits for CCh- and OAG-stimulated channels. Furthermore, evidence is provided for the first time for the involvement of a Trp isoform (HTRP4) in the formation of the channel responsible for both arachidonic acid-induced Ca2+ entry and the Ca2+ entry needed to sustain long term Ca2+ oscillations induced by low doses of carbachol.
Multilevel decoding for very-large-size-dictionary speech recognition

An important concern in the field of speech recognition is the size of the vocabulary that a recognition system is able to support. Large vocabularies introduce difficulties involving the amount of computation the system must perform and the number of ambiguities it must resolve. But, for practical applications in general and for dictation tasks in particular, large vocabularies are required, because of the difficulties and inconveniences involved in restricting the speaker to the use of a limited vocabulary. This paper describes a new organization of the recognition process, Multilevel Decoding (MLD), that allows the system to support a Very-Large-Size Dictionary (VLSD)—one comprising over 100,000 words. This significantly surpasses the capacity of previous speech-recognition systems. With MLD, the effect of dictionary size on the accuracy of recognition can be studied. In this paper, recognition experiments using 10,000- and 200,000-word dictionaries are compared. They indicate that recognition using a 200,000-word dictionary is more accurate than recognition using a 10,000-word dictionary (when unrecognized words are included in the error rate).
Accumulation of DNA, RNA, and protein by cultured rat embryos following maternal administration of a teratogenic dose of trypan blue.

The effect of trypan blue on the rates of DNA, RNA, and protein accumulation in rat embryos was investigated using a system of whole embryo culture. Embryos were isolated on the 10th gestational day (sperm day = Day 0) either 4 or 24 hr after maternal injection. The cultivation period was for 24 or 42 hr. The rate of DNA and RNA accumulation in the embryo following either a 4- or 24-hr previous maternal treatment was significantly decreased at both 24 and 42 hr of cultivation. Protein values were significantly reduced after a 4hr maternal exposure, but only slightly reduced after a 24-hr maternal exposure. No significant differences in DNA, RNA, or protein content were observed at the beginning of cultivation, following either a 4- or 24-hr previous maternal treat- ment. The percentage of embryos establishing a visceral yolk sac circulation was greatly reduced, and this supports the conclusion that trypan blue interferes with yolk sac function. The most obvious teratogenic insults include failure of neu- ropore closure, retention of a dorsiflexed position, and cranial edema. One of the major unsolved problems in de- velopmental biology remains the elucidation of the causes and physiologic mechanisms re- sponsible for the occurrence of spontanious malformations in vertebrate embryos. An ex, tensive number of physical and chemical agents capable of interfering with normal de- velopment have been identified by teratolo- gists, but no single common factor has been found which could give a clue to the basic phys- iologic mechanisms responsible for develop- mental errors. The discovery by Gillman et al. ('48) that the dye, trypan blue, is highly teratogenic in rats has been confirmed by a number of subsequent investigation for a variety of species. Investi- gations have sparked the hope that the effects of this dye would yield useful information about the mechanisms responsible for abnor- mal development. Due to its coloration the as- sumption was that it would then be possible to follow the course of the dye through the em- bryo, histologically, and a8certain its intra- cellular localization. This was not possible, however, since it was also soon discovered that the dye does not enter the embryo proper, but is arrested in the yolk sac epithelium (see review by Lloyd, et al., '68). Beck and Lloyd ('66) found that in vitro in- cubation of yolk sacs in the presence of trypan
Environmentally induced crack nucleation and brittle fracture

Brittle fracture is known to occur in ductile metals in special gaseous environments. Often, these gases form thin solid films on the metal. Computer simulations were used to study the propagation of cracks coated with thin elastically hard films in a ductile two-dimensional material. It was found that under certain conditions secondary crack nucleation occurred in the simulations and brittle fracture was observed. The dynamics of the crack nucleation and the detailed spatial distribution of local forces were examined. A model has been developed for this new mode of crack nucleation and brittle fracture. The role of the elastically hard film in suppressing dislocation generation and in initiating the secondary crack is discussed. This mode of initiating brittle fracture is entirely different from usual models for gaseous embrittlement.
Synthetic phosphopeptide immunogens yield activation-specific antibodies to the c-erbB-2 receptor

Abstract We inoculated rabbits with synthetic phosphopeptides, duplicating a major autophosphorylation site of the c-erbB-2 protooncogene product. The rabbits produced antisera that, after reverse immunoaffinity purification, selectively recognize the erbB-2 protein in its enzymatically active configuration. These anti-phosphopeptide antisera identify a subset of erbB-2-positive human cell lines wherein the protein is constitutively active as a tyrosine kinase. Synthetic phosphopeptides incorporating informative protein phosphorylation sites may prove useful for generating antibodies that indicate the activation state of additional tyrosine kinases and perhaps other proteins phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues.
Embedded assembly mechanism of stable metal nanocrystals on semiconductor surfaces

The growth of ErAs on GaAs(001) surfaces occurs by an embedded growth mode encompassing three steps; (i) island nucleation within the substrate surface, (ii) lateral growth of embedded islands, and (iii) growth of the islands into a continuous film. This growth mode cannot be modeled in terms of epitaxial strain or surface, bulk, and interfacial energy differences, which have been used to explain most conventional growth modes. Instead the surface morphologies resulting from this growth mode are shown to depend on structural differences, thermodynamics, and diffusion.
Importance of individual activated protein C cleavage site regions in coagulation Factor V for Factor Va inactivation and for Factor Xa activation

Activated protein C (APC) cleavage of Factor Va (FVa) at residues R506 and R306 correlates with its inactivation. APC resistance and increased thrombotic risk are due to the mutation R506Q in Factor V (FV). To study the effects of individual cleavages in FVa by APC and the importance of regions near the cleavage sites, the following recombinant (r) human FVs were prepared and purified: wild-type, Q306-rFV, Q506-rFV, and Q306Q506-rFV. All had similar time courses for thrombin activation. Q506-rFVa was cleaved by APC at R306 and was moderately resistant to APC in plasma-clotting assays and in prothrombinase assays measuring FVa residual activity, in agreement with studies of purified plasma-derived Q506-FVa. Q306-rFVa was cleaved by APC at R506 and gave a low APC-resistance ratio similar to Q506-rFVa in clotting assays, whereas unactivated Q306-rFV gave a near-normal APC-resistance ratio. When FVa residual activity was measured after long exposure to APC, Q306-rFVa was inactivated by only 90%, supporting the hypothesis that efficient inactivation of normal FVa by APC requires cleavage at R306. In addition, the heavy chain of Q306-rFVa was cleaved at R506 much more rapidly than activity was lost, suggesting that FVa cleaved at only R506 is partially active. Under the same conditions, Q306Q506-rFVa lost no activity and was not cleaved by APC. Therefore, cleavage at either R506 or R306 appears essential for significant inactivation of FVa by APC. Modest loss of activity, probably due to cleavage at R679, was observed for the single site rFVa mutants, as evidenced by a second phase of inactivation. Q306Q506-rFVa had a low activity-to-antigen ratio of 0.50-0.77, possibly due to abnormal Factor Xa (FXa) binding. Furthermore, Q306Q506-rFV was very resistant to cleavage and activation by FXa. Q306Q506-rFV appeared to bind FXa and inhibit FXa's ability to activate normal FV. Thus, APC may downregulate FV/Va partly by impairing FXa-binding sites upon cleavage at R306 and R506. This study shows that R306 is the most important cleavage site for normal efficient inactivation of FVa by APC and supports other studies suggesting that regions near R306 and R506 provide FXa-binding sites and that FVa cleaved at only R506 retains partial activity.
The treatment of hay fever by injections of suspended pollen tannate

Abstract 1.1. The active material in pollen extract may be precipitated as a tannate by tannic acid in excess. 2.2. Pollen tannate resuspended in buffered saline dissociates partially but not progressively. 3.3. Seventy-seven ragweed-sensitive patients were treated in 1939 and 1940 with injections of ragweed tannate suspensions. Ninety per cent showed satisfactory clinical results with an average total of fifteen injections. Only one patient failed to show evidence of hyposensitization to whole pollen extract. Many patients treated in 1939 showed evidence of hyposensitization six months or more after the last injection. In twelve of fifteen patients treated in 1939 alone, the hyposensitization persisted through the ragweed season. 4.4. The gradual dissociation and absorption of the active material in pollen tannate after injection apparently produces a greater degree of hyposensitization with fewer injections than regular pollen extract. 5.5. The effective hyposensitization of a large series of pollen-sensitive patients by the tannic acid precipitate from pollen extract affords strong evidence that pollen sensitivity is a protein sensitivity.
Thermal Stability Enhancement of Rubbery Ormosils

Thermal stability of a novel rubbery ORMOSIL of condensed tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was investigated along with methods by which to improve this stability. Based upon literature review of siloxane systems, modifications of the base ORMOSIL system was made which included substitution of polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane (PDMDPS) for PDMS, adding antioxidant, and adding iron compounds. Relative enhancement was investigated in terms of resilience measurements, and was also analyzed with thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal anaysis (DTA).
TU-F-12A-06: BEST IN PHYSICS (IMAGING) - A Novel Catheter-Based Radionuclide Imaging System to Characterize Atherosclerotic Plaque

Purpose: Atherosclerosis underlies coronary artery diseases, the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. In this study, we developed a novel catheter-based radionuclide imaging (CRI) system to image 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), a radionuclide, a marker of vascular inflammation, in murine carotid arteries and characterized the system for spatial resolution from multiple scintillating materials. Methods: The catheter system includes 35 mm and 8 mm fixed focal length lenses, which are subsequently connected to a CMOS camera and fiber holder. The distal ferrule of an image bundle is terminated with a wide-angle lens. The novelty of this system is a scintillating balloon with a crystal tip in the front of the wide angle lens to image light from the decay of 18F-FDG emission signal. The scintillating balloon is fabricated from 1mL of silicone RTV catalyst mixed with 1 mL base and 50 mg/mL calcium fluoride doped with Europium (CaF2:Eu). To identify the optimal scintillating materials with respect to resolution, we calculated modulation transfer function (MTF) of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet doped with Cerium (YAG:Ce), anthracene, and CaF2:Eu phosphors using a thin line optical phantom (Fig. 1a-1b). Macrophage-rich FVB murine atherosclerotic carotid plaque model (n = 4) was used in ex vivo experiments. Confirmatory imaging was also performed by an external optical imaging system (IVIS-200). Results: Analysis of the different phosphors (Fig 1b) showed that CaF2:Eu enabled the best resolution of 1.2μm. The CRI system visualized 18F-FDG in atherosclerotic plaques (Fig. 1d). The ligated left carotid (LR) artery exhibited 4× higher 18F-FDG signal intensity compared to the non-ligated right carotid (negative control) artery (1.65×10^2 ±4.07×10^1 vs. 4.44×10^1±2.17×10^0, A.U., p = 0.005) and confirmed with IVIS-200 (Fig. 1d). Conclusion: This CRI system enables high-resolution and sensitive detection of 18F-FDG uptake by murine atherosclerotic plaques.
Bovine interstitial cell-stimulating hormone: Purification and properties☆

Abstract Bovine interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH, LH) has been prepared by a procedure which is applicable to ovine ICSH as well. It is homogeneous by the criteria of ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis. It has a biological potency of 1.5 × NIH-LH-S1 and is essentially free of FSH contamination. The material has been characterized with respect to sedimentation behavior, molecular weight, amino acid and carbohydrate content, and end groups, and found to resemble ovine ICSH very closely. In addition, bovine ICSH can be separated into its component subunits by procedures previously employed with ovine ICSH. The subunits which are individually of low biological activity can be recombined with restoration of 50% of the original hormonal activity.
International aid, tobacco and the tobacco epidemic - are aid agencies culpable for investing in sin sectors like tobacco?

L'aide etrangere par les donateurs a joue un role important en apportant un soulagement et le developpement aux pays dans le besoin. La promotion de la culture et l'industrie du tabac a travers l'aide depuis les annees 1950 a eu des retombees limitees, mais un grand impact deletere sur la sante de millions de personnes. La plupart des donateurs ont un controle solide du tabac en place a domicile, mais continuent a promouvoir l'industrie du tabac et evitent de soutenir la lutte antitabac. Les donateurs sont-ils coupables de leurs investissements dans la promotion du tabac? La ayuda por donaciones extranjeras ha jugado un papel significativo a la hora de aportar alivio y desarrollo a paises necesitados. El promover el cultivo de tabaco y la industria tabacalera ha tenido beneficios limitados desde los anos 1950s, pero ha tenido un gran impacto negativo sobre la salud de millones. La mayoria de los donantes ejercen un fuerte control del tabaco en su pais de origen, y sin embargo continuan promoviendo la industria tabacalera y evitan apoyar el control del tabaco. ?Son culpables los donantes de aquellas inversiones que promueven el tabaco?
Reduced intensity compared with high dose conditioning for allotransplantation in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: A comparative clinical analysis

We evaluated the efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using reduced intensity (RI) vs. myeloablative (MA) conditioning for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome. Thirty two patients (median age 54) who underwent a RI HSCT (2000–2003) were compared with 187 patients (median age 39) who received a MA transplant (1990–2003). Neutrophil engraftment was more rapid in the RI group (median 11.5 vs. 21 days). Platelet recovery was similar and graft failure was infrequent. The incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and treatment-related mortality was similar though relapse was more frequent after RI conditioning (RR 2.2 [95% CI = 1.1–4.6] P = 0.03). At 2 years, disease-free survival (DFS) (31% vs. 30%, P > 0.1) and overall survival (33% vs. 35%, P > 0.1) were comparable between RI and MA groups, respectively. We suggest that RI allografts can yield satisfactory DFS both for older as well as younger patients with pre-existing comorbidities, who are ineligible for MA allografts. Advances in GVHD management and new approaches for relapsed or refractory disease are necessary to improve these outcomes. Am. J. Hematol. 82:867–872, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.