cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 18 – Pesticides as Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicalsa

Publisher Summary More than a few environmental substances are also known to bind unintentionally to hormone receptors and can imitate or block endogenous endocrine signaling. Yet other chemicals are known to modulate hormone synthesis and secretion or to alter metabolism and clearance. Collectively these materials are now known as “endocrine disruptors.” This chapter provides examples of the mechanisms of endocrine function, which can be perturbed by chemical exposure and a few examples of pesticides that act via these mechanisms. However, it does not cover all aspects of their toxicity. Impacts of altered endocrine function on development and reproduction, particularly in experimental animal models, have been emphasized. Given the central role of the endocrine system in regulating homeostasis and controlling developmental processes, it is not surprising that interference with their normal action leads to alterations in either function or morphology. In light of the complexity of the endocrine system and the multiple points at which it can be perturbed by exogenous agents, it is not surprising that endocrine disruption may be caused by a number of different chemical classes and structures, including a number of pesticides. Some of these pesticides are pervasive and widely dispersed in the environment. Some are persistent and can be transported long distances, and others are rapidly degraded in the environment or the human body. However, even a brief exposure to pesticides that alter endocrine function can cause permanent effects if the exposure occurs during critical windows of reproductive development.
Bioconversion of distillers’ grains hydrolysates to advanced biofuels by an Escherichia coli co-culture

First generation bioethanol production utilizes the starch fraction of maize, which accounts for approximately 60% of the ash-free dry weight of the grain. Scale-up of this technology for fuels applications has resulted in a massive supply of distillers’ grains with solubles (DGS) coproduct, which is rich in cellulosic polysaccharides and protein. It was surmised that DGS would be rapidly adopted for animal feed applications, however, this has not been observed based on inconsistency of the product stream and other logistics-related risks, especially toxigenic contaminants. Therefore, efficient valorization of DGS for production of petroleum displacing products will significantly improve the techno-economic feasibility and net energy return of the established starch bioethanol process. In this study, we demonstrate ‘one-pot’ bioconversion of the protein and carbohydrate fractions of a DGS hydrolysate into C4 and C5 fusel alcohols through development of a microbial consortium incorporating two engineered Escherichia coli biocatalyst strains. The carbohydrate conversion strain E. coli BLF2 was constructed from the wild type E. coli strain B and showed improved capability to produce fusel alcohols from hexose and pentose sugars. Up to 12 g/L fusel alcohols was produced from glucose or xylose synthetic medium by E. coli BLF2. The second strain, E. coli AY3, was dedicated for utilization of proteins in the hydrolysates to produce mixed C4 and C5 alcohols. To maximize conversion yield by the co-culture, the inoculation ratio between the two strains was optimized. The co-culture with an inoculation ratio of 1:1.5 of E. coli BLF2 and AY3 achieved the highest total fusel alcohol titer of up to 10.3 g/L from DGS hydrolysates. The engineered E. coli co-culture system was shown to be similarly applicable for biofuel production from other biomass sources, including algae hydrolysates. Furthermore, the co-culture population dynamics revealed by quantitative PCR analysis indicated that despite the growth rate difference between the two strains, co-culturing didn’t compromise the growth of each strain. The q-PCR analysis also demonstrated that fermentation with an appropriate initial inoculation ratio of the two strains was important to achieve a balanced co-culture population which resulted in higher total fuel titer. The efficient conversion of DGS hydrolysates into fusel alcohols will significantly improve the feasibility of the first generation bioethanol process. The integrated carbohydrate and protein conversion platform developed here is applicable for the bioconversion of a variety of biomass feedstocks rich in sugars and proteins.
Two-dimensional vs 3-dimensional comparison of alveolar bone over maxillary incisors with A-point as a reference.

Introduction Our objectives were to compare, relative to A-point, (1) bone thickness over the most forward maxillary incisor (MFMI) in 2 dimensions vs 3 dimensions, and (2) bone thickness and inclination of each maxillary incisor in 3 dimensions. Methods Thirty-four cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were coded, and 2-dimensional (2D) cephalograms were derived from each image using Dolphin software (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions, Chatsworth, Calif). A-point and the MFMI crown were located. After reliability tests, alveolar bone buccal to 3 points on the MFMI root, bone to reference line Frankfort horizontal (FH)–A-point, and incisor inclination were measured. This procedure was repeated on the 3-dimensional (3D) CBCT images comparing MFMI with all maxillary incisors. The 2D and 3D measurements were compared using paired t tests, and 3D measurements were compared with analysis of variance. A 5% significance level was used for all tests. Results The MFMI's buccal bone thickness at the root apices and the distance between buccal bone and FH–A-point line at 2 root points were significantly greater in 2 dimensions than in 3 dimensions. In 3 dimensions, bone thickness at MFMI's root apex and the distance from FH–A-point line at all root points were significantly greater than those of the lateral incisors. Bone buccal to MFMI was significantly smaller than at the lateral incisors 3 mm from the cementoenamel junction. Conclusions Evaluation of 2D CBCT derivations can result in overestimation of alveolar bone buccal to the maxillary incisor root apices compared with 3D evaluations. The anterior nasal spine obscures bone measurements over the maxillary incisors in 2 dimensions.
Adsorption at the Metal / Solution Interface

While we would like to use similar concepts and models for the double layer in the presence and in the absence of specific adsorption, it is obvious that the adsorption of ions on the metal surface introduces complications such as the chemical interaction of the ions with the metal, their interaction with the sol vent, and adsorbate - adsorbate interactions. Much work is still to be done in this area, but some progress has been made in two relatively simple cases: the adsorption of simple ions at low coverage, and the deposition of a monolayer of metal ions on a foreign metal, which is also known as underpotential deposition (upd). We shall first consider simple ions like the alkali and halide ions, and then upd.
Including Internet insurance as part of a hospital computer network security plan

Cyber attacks on a hospital's computer network is a new crime to be reckoned with. Should your hospital consider internet insurance? The author explains this new phenomenon and presents a risk assessment for determining network vulnerabilities.
Electrospun Nanofibers from Biopolymers and Their Biomedical Applications

With the help of the electrostatic spinning technology, biopolymers can be formed into nanofibrous structures which have great potential for medical applications. Due to their small size, the electrospun fibers provide a large surface-to-volume ratio and could be used for drug delivery, scaffolds for tissue engineering, or provide support for bone repair. Due to the relative ease of the electrospinning technique a large number of different polymeric materials including natural fibers have already been explored or will be in the near future. Carefully tailored surface chemistries of these micro- and nanofibers will continue to expand their applications in the medical field.
The Poor Image of Psychotherapy as a Roadblock to Coverage: A Corrected View and Some Thoughts on Validation

Psychotherapy* has a severe image problem. This is still another major factor that militates against full coverage for mental health care under NHI. True enough, laypersons, including health planners and legislators, can see a value in the treatment of serious mental illness such as the psychiatric syndromes. When a person is psychotic, they recognize the necessity for mental health care. However, when symptoms are not that apparent, as in the person who suffers chronic symptomatic maladjustment (see Chapter 3), the public too often does not understand what is to be gained by treatment—or how. The layperson is frequently of the opinion that mental health care, especially psychotherapy, consists of little more than a conversation between a patient and a psychiatrist. He does not conceptualize psychotherapy as any special process. Nor does he believe that any special skills are required to practice it. As a result, the layperson is reluctant to spend his money—or his constituents’ tax dollars if he is a legislator—on what he perceives to be a vague, interminable, and meaningless treatment.
Pityriasis rubra pilaris-like erythroderma in the setting of pembrolizumab therapy responsive to acitretin.

Numerous cutaneous adverse effects have been associated with programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors including maculopapular eruptions, pruritus, eczema, lichenoid reactions, leukoderma, psoriasis, sarcoidosis, immunobullous disorders, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.1, 2 Here we report the first case, to our knowledge, of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP)-like erythroderma in the setting of anti–PD-1 therapy responsive to acitretin and topical steroids.
Abstract TP240: Determinants of Functional Outcomes in Patients Treated With Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Telestroke

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke patients (AIS) via telestroke (TS) is safe and effective, with comparable functional outcomes to patients treated at academic stroke ce...
Acetoacetate enhances oxidative metabolism and response to toxicants of cultured kidney cells

Cultured kidney cells maintained in conventional growth media with high glucose levels exhibit increased glycolytic activity compared to the cells in vivo. In contrast, renal proximal tubules utilize substrates such as ketone bodies and rely on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. LLC-PK1 cells maintain many features of the proximal tubule but are exposed to glucose concentrations ranging from 17 to 25 mM. This may impact their reliability in predicting mitochondrial toxicity. This study is designed to test the impact of the ketone body acetoacetate on metabolic characteristics of LLC-PK1 cells. Basal respiration, maximal respiration, spare respiratory capacity and ATP-linked respiration were significantly increased in cells grown in growth medium supplemented with 5 mM acetoacetate. In contrast, glycolytic capacity, as well as glycolytic reserve were significantly reduced in the acetoacetate group. There was an increased expression in biomarkers of mitochondrial biogenesis, and an increase in mitochondrial protein expression. Cells grown in medium complemented with acetoacetate displayed a significantly lower LC50 when treated with clotrimazole and diclofenac. There was a marked increase in uncoupled respiration in the presence of diclofenac, while clotrimazole and ciprofibrate significantly decreased respiration in the acetoacetate. The results indicate that acetoacetate complemented media can alter cellular metabolism and increase sensitization to toxicants.
Sum Total MFI of Donor-Specific Antibody - A Prognostic Marker in Antibody-Mediated Rejection

Purpose Despite recent advances in the understanding of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), our immunologic and histologic characterization remains imperfect. At present, robust markers of AMR severity are lacking. We examined the association between a readily available index - sum total mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of all de-novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA) - and clinical outcomes. Methods A retrospective chart review of 146 consecutive heart transplant recipients from 2015-2018 was performed. AMR was defined as histologic (activated endothelial cells and intravascular macrophages) or immunopathologic (C4d) evidence on biopsy. DSA and MFI were determined via Luminex. Sum total MFI was calculated as the sum of the MFI of all class I and class II de-novo DSA at the time of initial presentation with AMR. Clinical outcomes through September 15, 2019 were retrieved for the endpoints of death or persistently depressed (>90 days) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) Results Within the population of 146 patients, 46 patients developed de-novo DSAs. Of these, 15 met criteria for AMR and 31 did not. AMR patients had a significantly higher sum total MFI than those without clinical AMR. [38,296 ± 26,667 vs. 7,714 ± 6564; p Of AMR patients, all had at least one Class 2 DSA (13 out of 15 had DQ) while 4 of the patients did not have any Class 1 DSA. All patients were treated according to our institutional protocol with plasmapheresis/IVIG and bortezomib and/or rituximab. Over a mean follow up of 466 days ±356, 5 patients died, while an additional 3 patients had persistently reduced LVEF. Patients were dichotomized according to sum total MFI >30,000; 80% above this value had an adverse event vs. 33% below (p=0.05) Figure 1. The 2011 ISHLT pathologic grading system for AMR had no correlation to outcomes. Conclusion Sum total MFI, a simple and intuitive index, is a prognostic marker of clinical outcomes at the time of AMR. This index may help stratify patients for more aggressive treatment at the time of diagnosis.
Stakeholders' Perceptions of Parcelization in Wisconsin's Northwoods

Parcelization, the process by which relatively large forest ownerships become subdivided into smaller ones, is often related to changes in ownership and can bring changes to the use of the land. Landowners, resource professionals, and others interested in Wisconsin's Northwoods were asked their views on parcelization in a series of stakeholder forums. We analyzed their statements through the lens of forest sustainability with its ecological, economic, and social dimensions. The analysis shows how sustainability might be used to structure future research and discourse within focal communities to foster fuller considerations of landscape and land use change.
Chapter 2 – Vectors and Matrices

The chapter introduces the creation of row vectors, column vectors, and matrices. Methods of indexing into elements and subsets of arrays are demonstrated. Functions and operators that find and modify the dimensions of arrays are shown. The use of vectors and matrices as function arguments, and functions that are written specifically to perform common operations on vectors and matrices, such as sums and products, are covered. Logical vectors and other concepts useful in vectorizing code are emphasized in this chapter. Array operations and matrix operations (such as matrix multiplication) are explained.
Using phenology models to estimate insecticide effects on population dynamics: examples from codling moth and obliquebanded leafroller

BACKGROUND Phenology models based on degree-days were modified to estimate the effects of insecticide applications on the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), and the obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Because the models inherently track stage structure of the population over the course of the season, stage specific mortality can be applied for various durations and intensities allowing the user to simulate different types of pesticides (ovicides, larvicides, organic or conventional materials). The models presented incorporate reproduction, effects of an application on subsequent generations, and the effects of each insecticide by itself as well as the combination of all the treatments. By comparing the treated populations to an untreated control, an estimate of how much the population size is reduced by different treatment programs over the entire season provides a clear assessment of the effectiveness of the treatment program. Simulations for codling moth also allow the insecticide effects to be simulated in conjunction with mating disruption (or not) and simulations for obliquebanded leafroller include the effect of insecticides on both instars 1-3 and 4-6. RESULTS The simulations show there are distinct windows of opportunity for management programs, with rather large windows where an insecticide application has only a minor effect on population growth and also shows that intergenerational effects greatly affect optimal timings in subsequent generations. CONCLUSION The models are especially useful in assessing current management strategies, testing potential improvements in timings, and evaluating cost savings and reducing non-target effects.
Simultaneous CK2/TNIK/DYRK1 inhibition by 108600 suppresses triple negative breast cancer stem cells and chemotherapy-resistant disease

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains challenging because of heterogeneous responses to chemotherapy. Incomplete response is associated with a greater risk of metastatic progression. Therefore, treatments that target chemotherapy-resistant TNBC and enhance chemosensitivity would improve outcomes for these high-risk patients. Breast cancer stem cell-like cells (BCSCs) have been proposed to represent a chemotherapy-resistant subpopulation responsible for tumor initiation, progression and metastases. Targeting this population could lead to improved TNBC disease control. Here, we describe a novel multi-kinase inhibitor, 108600, that targets the TNBC BCSC population. 108600 treatment suppresses growth, colony and mammosphere forming capacity of BCSCs and induces G2M arrest and apoptosis of TNBC cells. In vivo, 108600 treatment of mice bearing triple negative tumors results in the induction of apoptosis and overcomes chemotherapy resistance. Finally, treatment with 108600 and chemotherapy suppresses growth of pre-established TNBC metastases, providing additional support for the clinical translation of this agent to clinical trials.
Winstanley's “Righteous Actors”: Performance, Affect, and Extraordinary Politics in the Seventeenth Century

On the first day of April 1649, on the predominantly rural manor of Walton, Surrey, the sight of people preparing land for the plow was unremarkable. To see men up at dawn, dressed for the field in broad-brimmed hats, homespun waistcoats, and short breeches, loosening or breaking up clods with their spades, stooping to toss aside root and rock, was typical. What did raise eyebrows, however, was the sight of such busyness on a Sunday, the Sabbath, and on no less remarkable ground than George Hill, with its “very barren,” sandy soil. When questioned, Gerrard Winstanley reframed this performative break with religious, social, and agricultural norms as he did in his soon to be published manifesto, The True Levellers’ Standard Advanced. To work this land was to “declare . . . by action,” as well as by word, that Winstanley, the self-described “prophet” William Everard, and a small number of others had been sent by the Creator to begin their mission of transforming “the Earth [into] a common Treasury for all, both Rich and Poor.” Rural, religious, and resource poor, the Digger collective has not received substantial attention from performance studies scholars. Even some historians of the seventeenth century have questioned the significance of this small, nonviolent agrarian group in the intensely “charged political atmosphere of the 1640s,” but as a collective whose theatrical social performances raised them from obscurity to national visibility, Diggers are in some ways the epitome of this era.
Impact of Supplemental Material Use On Student Metacognitive Monitoring and Calibration.

Objective. To determine if student self-reported use of optional supplemental material impacts the ability to accurately calibrate performance on a low-stakes assessment. Methods. An instructor created an optional supplemental material in the form of an online quiz activity. Students were asked to report if they used the supplemental material as well as to predict and postdict their performance on an in-class assessment. The relative accuracy of the predictions and postdictions, as well as the assessment grades and overall course grades, were compared between students who reported using the supplemental material and those who reported not using the supplemental material. Results. More than half of the students (60%) reported using the supplemental material. Most students underpredicted their performance, but there was no difference based on supplemental material use or non-use in the predictions (-1.2 vs. -1.0) or the postdictions (-1.3 vs. -1.0). Students who reported using the supplemental material performed better on both the low-stakes assessment (7.7 vs 7.2 out of 10) and overall in the course (87.02% vs. 84.88%). Conclusion. Student self-reported use of optional supplemental material does not appear to affect calibration accuracy.
Learning from Non-Assessed Resources: Deep Multi-Type Knowledge Tracing

The state of the art knowledge tracing approaches mostly model student knowledge using their performance in assessed learning resource types, such as quizzes, assignments, and exercises, and ignore the non-assessed learning resources. However, many student activities are non-assessed, such as watching video lectures, participating in a discussion forum, and reading a section of a textbook, all of which potentially contributing to the students' knowledge growth. In this paper, we propose the first novel deep learning based knowledge tracing model (DMKT) that explicitly model student's knowledge transitions over both assessed and non-assessed learning activities. With DMKT we can discover the underlying latent concepts of each non-assessed and assessed learning material and better predict the student performance in future assessed learning resources. We compare our proposed method with various state of the art knowledge tracing methods on four real-world datasets and show its effectiveness in predicting student performance, representing student knowledge, and discovering the underlying domain model.
Protein Chemistry Renascent

It is the pleasant duty of the concluding speaker to thank all of the people who make conferences like the Seventh MPSA meeting so scientifically exciting and informative and so humanly pleasurable. Special thanks are due to Dr. Brigitte Wittmann-Liebold and her colleagues in Berlin who have given all the participants superb hospitality in a beautiful, friendly, and interesting setting. We also want to thank the corporations who have been so generous in their sponsorship, and special thanks are due to Knauer for the delightful Wednesday evening outing. Thanks, too, to the speakers who maintained the highest of scientific standards we have come to expect of MPSA meetings. And finally, warmest congratulations to Dr. Richard Laursen, the first recipient of the Edman Award. He is a most worthy honoree indeed. It is gratifying to see the father of our field so remembered in an annual award bearing his name, and the selection of Dr. Laursen as the first recipient sets high standards of excellence on which to base future awards.
In vitro engineering of cartilage: effects of serum substitutes, TGF-beta, and IL-1alpha.

Structured Abstract Authors – Glowacki J, Yates KE, MacLean R, Mizuno S. Objectives – Cartilage is avascular and relatively homogeneous, making it an attractive tissue for in vitro histogenesis and surgical use in patients. We developed novel platform technologies in order to define the requirements for optimal in vitro chondrogenesis by isolated cells. In this series of studies, we tested alternatives to fetal bovine serum (FBS) and the effects of growth factors on formation of cartilage in 3D porous collagen sponges. Design – We used porous collagen sponges to assess the effects of serum substitutes and exogenous TGF-β1 and IL-1α on chondrocytes (bovine articular chondrocytes, bACs) and on chondroinduced human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs). We determined the effects of low concentrations of FBS and two serum substitutes, Nutridoma and ITS+3, on cellularity and matrix production. After culture for intervals, sponges were harvested for histological and biochemical measurement of cartilage-specific chondroitin 4-sulfate proteoglycan (C 4-S PG). Results – Cultured bACs showed equivalent growth in Nutridoma (1%) and 10% FBS. Both TGF-β1 and IL-1α significantly stimulated accumulation of C 4-S PG by bACs in 3D porous collagen sponges. Many endogenous growth factors were upregulated in hDFs cultured with chondroinductive DBP. Addition of TGF-β1 and IL-1α for 11 days significantly stimulated accumulation of C 4-S PG by hDFs cultured in DMEM with 1% Nutridoma. Conclusion – Porous collagen sponges are supportive of chondrogenesis and of chondroinduction by DBP. Optimization of serum-free culture conditions, including growth factors, matrix components, and mechanical stimuli will expedite translation to wider clinical applications. Use of autogenous dermal fibroblasts pre-cultured with DBP and induced to chondrocytes offers an alternative to autogenous chondrocytes.
Characterization of cDNA clones of host RNAs isolated from cauliflower mosaic virus-infected turnip leaves

Abstract We have characterized changes in host RNA populations during infection of turnip plants by cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) using a molecular cloning technique. A lambda gt10 library of complementary DNA (cDNA) clones was generated corresponding to host RNAs isolated from systemically-infected leaves during the vein-clearing stage. Specific clones representing RNAs with altered levels were selected from the library by differential screening with cloned hybridization probes derived from non-infected and infected plants. Three clones were characterized in detail. Using cDNA to probe RNA species by Northern hybridization, clones pM25 and pM4 detected RNA molecules each of 850 bases whose level decreased and increased respectively during infection. Hybrid select translation demonstrated that these RNAs encoded polypeptides of 22 K and 18 K molecular weights. Following DNA sequencing and comparison with a computer database, clone pM25 was identified as the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit polypeptide whilst no match was found for pM4. A further clone (pM53) hybridized with a complex population of RNAs that were identified as chloroplast ribosomal RNA species.
Unmasking a Cheating Gene

There are a few genes that are clever enough to subvert meiosis to ensure their propagation to nearly all of the next generation, instead of half the progeny as decreed by Mendelian inheritance. In his Perspective, Crow discusses the identification of the protein product of one of these genes, Segregation distorter ( Sd ), reported by [ Merrill et al .][1] in this issue. It turns out that Sd encodes a defective RanGAP protein, the normal version of which is involved in nuclear transport. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/283/5408/1742
Switched current sigma-delta modulators

Oversampling sigma-delta (/spl Sigma//spl Delta/) modulators using switched current (SI) techniques are presented. The first modulator is a 1-1 MASH modulator. The second structure is a second-order loop which is formed by a 1-bit quantizer with two feedback loops. The device ratio insensitive SI integrator is designed by using two class AB-regulated cascode dynamic current copiers. The effects of the current copier and SI integrator errors on the performance of the modulators are also discussed.
Mobilization and redistribution of lead over the course of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate chelation therapy.

After its successful application to the treatment of acute Pb poisoning, Ca disodium EDTA came into routine clinical use for diagnosis and treatment of subacute and chronic Pb poisoning. Despite widespread use, few definitive conclusions have emerged about the sources of Pb mobilized by Ca disodium EDTA. Furthermore, the possibility that mobilized Pb may be redistributed has been suggested. The current studies indicate that the standard therapeutic protocol for Ca disodium EDTA has little impact on critical organs such as brain and liver and moreover, that diagnostic Ca disodium EDTA chelation may even increase the concentration of Pb in these tissues. After a 3 to 4 month exposure to Pb acetate in drinking water, different groups of rats received daily i.p. injections of saline (control), 75 or 150 mg/kg of Ca disodium EDTA for either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days and were then sacrificed 24 hr after the final injection. Tissue analyses indicated that Pb was mobilized from bone and kidney and redistributed initially to both brain and liver. Levels in both brain and liver declined with subsequent Ca disodium EDTA injections, but no net loss from either tissue occurred over the 5-day treatment period despite a decline in blood Pb levels and a marked enhancement of urinary Pb excretion. These findings stress the need for further investigation of Ca disodium EDTAs effects and for parallel evaluation of alternate chelating agents, and suggest that a re-evaluation of both the diagnostic and therapeutic roles of Ca disodium EDTA may be advisable.
N-H Group Transfer and Oxidative Addition Chemistry Promoted by Isolable Bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium Sandwich Complexes

Addition of propylenimine (2-methylaziridine) to the bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium sandwich complexes, (η5-C5Me4R)2Ti (R = iPr, SiMe3), resulted in rapid [NH] group transfer followed by C–H activation of a cyclopentadienyl methyl group to yield the corresponding cyclometalated titanocene amido compounds. Exposure of these molecules to 4 atm of H2 at 55 °C resulted in hydrogenolysis of the metal–carbon bond to form the titanium amido hydride compounds, (η5-C5Me4R)2Ti(NH2)H. Deuteriolysis with DCl gas confirmed exclusive cyclometalation from the positions adjacent to the isopropyl and trimethylsilyl substituent. Oxidative addition of the N–H bonds of amines has also been observed. Addition of NH3 to either (η5-C5Me4SiMe3)2Ti or (η5-C5Me4iPr)2Ti yielded the corresponding titanocene amido hydrides along with the titanocene(III) amides, (η5-C5Me4R)2TiNH2, arising from formal deprotonation by unreacted sandwich from the putativetitanocene ammonia complex.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Head scatter off-axis for megavoltage x rays.

Our objective in this study has been to investigate how head scatter varies with the off-axis position in a 6 MV x-ray beam. We define the head-scatter off-axis ratio, HOA, as the ratio of the kerma due to head-scatter photons at the off-axis position x to the kerma from direct primary photons on the central axis. "Direct primary" are those photons that come from the source without interactions in the intervening structures. We determined HOA from measurements with an ionization chamber in a miniphantom. Head-scatter and direct primary photons contribute to a measurement of the ionization per mu Q(x) at the off-axis position x in the open field cx x cy. The ionization per mu QP(x), measured in the same position but with the field collimated to the smallest possible opening (cx x 3 cm), is intended to include only direct primary photons. Head-scatter photons cannot be completely eliminated, and the errors due to remaining head scatter and radiation back-scattered by the movable collimators into the monitor were estimated. For normalization of the final results, ionization due to direct primary photons was also measured on the central axis, QP(0). HOA was derived from these three measurements as HOA(cx,cy,x)=(Q(cx,cy,x) - QP(cx,cy,x))/QP(cx,cy,0). On the central axis (x=y=0), HOA represents the "scatter-to-primary ratio" between head scatter and the direct primary dose. Monte Carlo simulations were made to help with the interpretation and evaluation of the results. HOA could be fitted to a Gaussian model with two components corresponding to sources of widths 1.8 and 14 cm, projected on a plane 5 cm below the x-ray source. The narrow Gaussian component is interpreted as the source of photons scattered in the flattening filter and the primary collimator. The broad component is attributed to photons scattered in the secondary (variable) collimators. Conventional head-scatter models (e.g., a single Gaussian source model) do not fit the measured HOA data for large collimator settings (c>20 cm) or outside beam collimation. The full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of HOA(x) across the field increased with the field width (cx) in the direction of the measurements in a manner consistent with the field of view of the two sources. It was not sensitive to the field measure in the orthogonal direction (cy). Head scatter outside the field also increased with field size, reflecting an increased contribution of photons scattered at large angles. It exceeds the leakage through the collimator 2 cm outside the edge for square fields c>10 cm. Monte Carlo calculations showed considerably less head scatter outside the field than measurements.
Neutron total cross section of sulfur: Single level to multilevel to optical model

This paper is a further analysis of the high resolution total cross section of sulfur for 25--1100 keV neutrons that previously were measured by Halperin, Johnson, Winters, and Macklin and evaluated by single-level analysis. The usual procedure in reporting the results of high resolution neutron cross sections has been to present the data and resonance parameters with corresponding neutron strength functions resulting from some type of R-matrix analysis. Often the important nonresonant phase shifts are not reported. In this paper, making use of both strength functions and phase shifts, we extend the analysis to include an average nuclear potential (a spherical optical model). An optical model analysis not only facilitates comparison with a broad spectrum of other nucleon-nucleus experiments, but also may provide an incentive for microstructure calculations. Six average empirical functions, two each for s/sub 1/2/, p/sub 1/2/, and p/sub 3/2/ partial waves, are derived from the R-matrix analysis. From these we deduce optical model parameters, the real and imaginary well depths for s- and p-wave neutrons, and the spin-orbit well depth for p waves. The resulting real well is deeper for p waves than for s waves and for averages over partial waves at higher energies. The depthmore » of the imaginary wells are about half those deduced at higher energies. An interesting feature of the analysis is that the multilevel curve including interference effects is produced from single-level parameters including the phase shifts.« less
Role-Taking and Interaction:

This research utilizes longitudinal data from newly married couples to investigate change in perceptions of role-taking accuracy over time. It is suggested that when individuals feel they can understand their spouse's perspective, they will be more likely to be aware of how their behavior will affect the spouse; as a result, they will be more likely to behave supportively with the spouse and less likely to behave disruptively. Individuals' sense that they can understand their spouse's perspective is likely to change over time, however, in response to interaction with the spouse. Supportive behaviors encourage disclosure; disruptive behaviors disrupt communication. Therefore individuals with a spouse who behaves more positively and less negatively over time should be better able to role-take with the spouse. Results support these ideas, but suggest the existence of an important temporal dimension to the relationship between role-taking and interaction.
The feeding ecology of Morone americana larvae in the Chesapeake Bay estuarine turbidity maximum: the influence of physical conditions and prey concentrations

Feeding ecology of white perch Morone americana larvae, a major component of the ichthyo-plankton community in the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) region of upper Chesapeake Bay, was evaluated in years of contrasting physical conditions. In 1998, high river flow led to an ETM with high turbidity and pronounced salinity stratification. In 1999, under low river flow conditions, turbidities in the ETM region were lower and the salt front was located 15km up-stream of its location in 1998. Copepodites and adults of Eurytemora affinis were the predominant prey in guts of all length classes of larvae (3.2-9.8 mm standard length. L S ) that were examined. Repeated-measures, multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the influence of several factors on feeding success by determining if physical conditions (temperature, current velocity, salinity, turbidity and light) and prey concentrations explained variability in mean gut fullness (gut contents mass per body mass) of small ( 5 mm L S ) white perch larvae. Eurytemora affinis concentrations were significant in the statistical models for both small and large larvae. High concentrations of E. affinis, which enhanced encounter rates of white perch larvae with prey, may have been the most important factor determining feeding success in the ETM region. Larval feeding incidence (percentage of guts with food) was higher in 1998, suggesting that annual variability in river flow influenced larval feeding success by controlling physical and biological conditions in the ETM region.
Effect of Yohimbine on Nociceptive threshold in normoglycemic and streptozotocin-treated hyperglycemic mice☆

The effects of yohimbine (0.1, 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg SC) on nociceptive threshold were tested in mice using the tail-immersion and hot-plate tests. The tail-flick (withdrawal) latency, a monosynaptic spinal nociceptive response, was significantly lowered by yohimbine. This hyperalgesic response was at its peak 0.5 hr after yohimbine injection. The tail-flick latencies expressed as % of basal latencies were, 95 +/- 8, 100 +/- 10, 62 +/- 10, 33 +/- 7 and 28 +/- 4 in vehicle and 0.1, 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg in yohimbine-treated groups respectively. Yohimbine-induced hyperalgesia was observed when stimulus temperature was either 50 degrees C or 45 degrees C; however, the opiate antagonist naloxone (3 mg/kg SC) induced a hyperalgesic response at 50 degrees C and an analgesic response at 45 degrees C stimulus temperature. Streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia did not influence the hyperalgesic response of yohimbine. In the hot-plate (60 degrees C) test, which involves higher centers and a polysynaptic nociceptive reflex, yohimbine did not modify the jump latency. The data provide evidence for the presence of a tonic spinal noradrenergic inhibitory control of nociceptive mechanism(s) which does not appear to be readily altered by hyperglycemia.
DISCHARGE COEFFICIENTS FOR COMPRESSIBLE FLOW THROUGH SMALL-DIAMETER ORIFICES AND CONVERGENT NOZZLES

Abstract This paper presents a study of the compressible-flow behavior of light gases through small orifices and convergent nozzles with diameters ranging from 0.9 to 1.9 mm. The subsonic and critical-flow regions for 16 orifice and nozzle flow elements with the following geometries have been tested experimentally: sharp or knife-edge orifices, straight-bore orifices, rounded-entry nozzles, and elliptical-entry nozzles. Air flow was primarily studied, but data for carbon dioxide, argon, helium, and two distinct argon-helium mixtures were also collected. In addition, the upstream temperature was varied from 295 to 700 K. The data have been reduced for correlation purposes to a discharge coefficient defined as the fraction of the isentropic, adiabatic mass flow rate attained by real fluids in an actual orifice or nozzle. An error analysis shows that the reported discharge coefficients are accurate to ± 1.2% for air flow and ± 1.6% for the other gases studied. The discharge coefficient for knife-edge orifices correlates very well with a dimensionless pressure drop for the entire range of diameters, gases, pressures and temperatures studied. The discharge coefficient does not correlate with the throat Reynolds number for compressible flow through knife-edge orifices. Moreover, an analogous behavior of the discharge coefficient for larger diameters than those tested is expected for knife-edge and thin-plate orifices. Straight-bore orifices, with length-to-diameter ratios close to or slightly greater than unity, yield discharge coefficients which are approximately independent of flow rate, upstream temperature, and gas properties. These discharge coefficients are, however, highly sensitive to the length-to-diameter ratio of the straight bore. Finally, the discharge coefficients for both rounded- and elliptical-entry nozzles correlate well with a throat Reynolds number. The correlation shows that as the Reynolds number is decreased the discharge coefficient drops precipitously for Re Re > 20,000 the discharge coefficient increases slowly with increasing Reynolds number. This behavior is consistent with both previous data and fluid dynamics theory for rounded- and elliptical-entry nozzles.
Progress on the California Extremely Large Telescope (CELT)

The California Extremely Large Telescope (CELT) is a joint project of the University of California and the California Institute of Technology to build and operate a 30-meter diameter telescope for research in astronomy at visible and infrared wavelengths. The current optical design calls for a primary, secondary, and tertiary mirror with Ritchey-Chretien foci at two Nasmyth platforms. The primary mirror is a mosaic of 1080 actively stabilized hexagonal segments. This paper summarizes the recent progress on the conceptual design of this telescope.
Cleavage furrow formation in a telolecithal egg (Loligo pealii). II. Direct evidence for a contraction of the cleavage furrow base

Cleavage of the highly telolecithal egg of a squid is meroblastic and stops when the base of each furrow cuts through the cytoplasm of the blastodisc and contacts the yolk. The base of each furrow is composed of a band of 50 A filaments which apparently are linked to the surface membrane. By cutting the base of the furrow or by flattening the blastodisc of the egg, it has been possible to demonstrate that this band contracts and remains in a state of tension. Analysis of the shape change of the cells in normal cleavage also supports this contraction-tension hypothesis. Furrows which cross another furrow are linked to it at specific sites (anchor points). As the furrows extend, new linkages between the filamentous band and the surface membrane are formed. The amount of tension produced by contraction of a furrow is proportional to its length. It appears that the entire blastoderm is in a state of dynamic tension caused by balanced contraction of the filamentous band. These results and conclusions are in agreement with postulated mechanisms of cleavage furrow formation in many other types of animal cells.
HGT turbulence: Confounding phylogenetic influence of duplicative horizontal transfer and differential gene conversion

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) often leads to phylogenetic incongruence. When “duplicative HGT” introduces a second copy of a pre-existing gene, the two copies may then engage in gene conversion, leading to phylogenetically mosiac genes. When duplicative HGT is followed by differential gene conversion among descendant lineages, as under the DH-DC model, phylogenetic analysis is further complicated. To explore the effects of DH-DC on phylogeny reconstruction, we analyzed two sets of sequences: (1) an augmented set of plant mitochondrial atp1 sequences for which we recently published evidence of DH-DC; and (2) a set of simulated sequences for which we varied the extent of chimerism, the number of chimeric genes and nucleotide substitution rates. We show that the phylogenetic behavior of evolutionarily chimeric genes is highly volatile and depends on both the degree of chimerism and the number of differentially chimeric genes present in the analysis. Furthermore, we show that the presence of chimeric genes in gene trees can spuriously affect the phylogenetic position of purely native sequences, especially by attracting these sequences toward basal positions in trees. We propose the term “HGT turbulence” to describe these complex effects of evolutionarily chimeric genes on phylogenetic results.
Controlling Neuronal Growth on Au Surfaces by Directed Assembly of Proteins

Studying how individual neuronal cells grow and interact with each other is of fundamental importance for understanding the functions of the nervous system. However, the mechanism of axonal navigation to their target region and their specific interactions with guidance factors such as membrane-bound proteins, chemical and temperature gradients, mechanical guidance cues, etc. are not well understood. Here we describe a new approach for controlling the adhesion, growth and interconnectivity of cortical neurons on Au surfaces. Specifically, we use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanolithography to immobilize growth-factor proteins at well-defined locations on Au surfaces. These surface-immobilized proteins act as a) adhesion proteins for neuronal cells (i.e. well-defined locations where the cells “stick” to the surface), and b) promoters/inhibitors for the growth of neurites. Our results show that protein patterns can be used to confine neuronal cells and to control their growth and interconnectivity on Au surfaces. We also show that AFM nanolithography presents unique advantages for this type of work, such as high degree of control over location and shape of the protein patterns, and application of proteins in aqueous solutions (protein buffers), such that the proteins are very likely to retain their folding conformation/bioactivity.
A risk-benefit analysis of factor V Leiden testing to improve pregnancy outcomes: a case study of the capabilities of decision modeling in genomics.

A risk–benefit analysis of factor V Leiden testing to improve pregnancy outcomes: a case study of the capabilities of decision modeling in genomics
The Basin Waters of the Bransfield Strait

Abstract Hydrographic data were obtained within the Bransfield Strait and adjacent waters during February and March 1975 by R/V Conrad and R/V Melville as part of FDRAKE 75. Within the Strait the circumpolar Deep Water is either missing or its influence is weak. The salinity maximum, oxygen minimum and silicate maximum present in the upper layers of the Strait attenuate toward the east, demonstrating the eastward decrease of Bellingshausen Sea influence. The Strait contains three basins separated from one another by sills less than 1500 m deep and from adjacent ocean areas by depth near or less than 500 m, except for a channel to the northeast of slightly over 1100 m depth. The deep and bottom waters of these basins, with depths to nearly 2600 m, are significantly colder, less saline, higher in oxygen and lower in nutrient concentrations than the deep exterior water adjacent to the Strait. These characteristics confirm Clowes' (1934) contention that the waters of these basins are renewed by local convecti...
Comment: Some Alternative Ways to Formulate Regression‐Type Models for Three‐Way Contingency Table Analysis to Enhance the Interpretability of Results

Goodman and Hout have introduced an important group of models and related graphical methods for the analysis of three-way contingency tables. Their method is innovative and the group of models proposed is widely applicable. Nevertheless, the results from the proposed models seem to me to be difficult to interpret. This occurs because the models they applied to empirical data retain the most general form in parameterizing the interactions between the row and the column variables. I believe that it is equally important to consider the application of simpler "regression-type" models whose parameters seem to me to be easier to interpret. Goodman and Hout consider the following model: