cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antiatherogenic properties of zinc: Implications in endothelial cell metabolism

Zinc is an essential component of biomembranes and is necessary for maintenance of membrane structure and function. There is evidence that zinc can provide antiatherogenic properties by preventing metabolic physiologic derangements of the vascular endothelium. Because of its antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing properties, zinc appears to be crucial for the protection against cell-destabilizing agents such as polyunsaturated lipids and inflammatory cytokines. Zinc also may be antiatherogenic by interfering with signaling pathways involved in apoptosis. Most importantly, we have evidence that zinc can protect against inflammatory cytokine-mediated activation of oxidative stress-responsive transcription factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B and AP-1. It is very likely that certain lipids and zinc deficiency may potentiate the cytokine-mediated inflammatory response and endothelial cell dysfunction in atherosclerosis. Thus, the antiatherogenic role of zinc appears to be in its ability to inhibit oxidative stress-responsive factors involved in disruption of endothelial integrity and atherosclerosis. We discuss antiatherogenic properties of zinc with a focus on endothelial cell metabolism.
Langerhans cells in dermoid cysts: transmission electron microscopic, cytochemical and immunofluorescent observations.

Langerhans cells were detected in squamous, stratified epithelia lining human dermoid cysts. Their presence was assayed by ATPase staining and reactivity with heteroantisera against "Ia-like" antigens. Transmission electron microscopic studies demonstrated variations in the numbers of cells showing Birbeck granules in epithelia with different degrees of keratinization. Indeterminate cells (i.e. lacking granules), were more frequent in epithelia showing combined mucous and keratinizing differentiation. Membrane-coating-granules and keratohyalin granules were present in epithelia containing Langerhans cells with clearly identifiable Birbeck granules. Interepithelial mast cells were observed in epithelia with mucous differentiation. A relationship between Langerhans cells and keratinization was suggested. Such non-immune functions are compatible with the known macrophage characteristics of the cell.
Estimating the demand for irrigation water in a humid climate: A case study from the southeastern United States

Abstract The southeastern United States typically receives more than 130 cm of precipitation per year. In this region, as in others around the world, irrigation is used as a supplement to rainfall. Over the past thirty years the number of hectares under irrigation in the region has grown considerably, as has population. Policy makers are currently searching for effective tools to address water demand. This study tests the effect of water costs, crop prices and technology on the multiple crop production decision using supplemental irrigation. Results for Georgia row crop producers indicate water demand is modestly affected by water price (with elasticities between −0.01 and −0.17), but more so by crop price (with elasticities between 0.5 and 0.82). Results also suggest adoption of lower pressure irrigation systems does not necessarily lead to lower water application rates on corn, cotton, peanuts, and soybeans.
Range universal spaces

Abstract We characterize those topological spaces Y for which the Isbell and finest splitting topologies on the set C ( X , Y ) of all continuous functions from X into Y coincide for all topological spaces X. We also consider the same question for the coincidence of the restriction of the finest splitting topology on the upper semicontinuous set-valued functions to C ( X , Y ) and the finest splitting topology on C ( X , Y ) . In the first case, the spaces in question are, after identifying points that are in each others closures, subsets of the two point Sierpinski space, which gives a converse and generalization of a result of S. Dolecki, G.H. Greco, and A. Lechicki. In the second case, the spaces in question are, after identifying points that are in each others closures, order bases for bounded complete continuous DCPOs with the Scott topology.
Some examples of precipitous ideals

Soit K un cardinal mesurable. Alors il existe une extension generique dans laquelle K=K 1 et il existe des ideaux K-complets I 1 , I 2 et I 3 tels que: 1) I 1 est uniformement norme; 2) I 2 est norme, mais pas uniformement norme; 3) I 3 est precipite, mais pas norme
Dose preference and dose escalation in extended-access cocaine self-administration in Fischer and Lewis rats

Rationale Drug addiction is a disease with a genetic component that may be involved in different stages of its progression. Cocaine users escalate unit doses and frequency of self-administration events in naturalistic settings. Rats that self-administer drugs of abuse over extended sessions increase the number of infusions over days.
Telling likely stories: The rhetoric of the New Psychology, 1880-1920

This is a story about the New Psychologists who strove at the turn of the century to institutionalize a new science and to create a new set of professional roles. More particularly, it is about the rhetorical fabric they wove around the nascent science of psychology. The article focuses, one by one, on different strands of this fabric – on (1) what persuaded the first generation of American psychologists to take an interest in the New Psychology; (2) the arguments these aspiring psychologists presented to presidents and trustees to insure that they could pursue their interest within particular institutional settings; (3) the arguments they put forth against the rights of other persons to engage in similar, competing pursuits; (4) the arguments they laid before various administrators, officials, interest groups, and the general public to guarantee continued and even increased support; and (5) the arguments they presented in the form of theories and practices developed between approximately 1880 and 1920. In this way, it attempts to construct a likely story about the establishment of the New Psychology in America.1
Subchondral Bone Apparent Density and Locomotor Behavior in Extant Primates and Subfossil Lemurs Hadropithecus and Pachylemur

We analyze patterns of subchondral bone apparent density in the distal femur of extant primates to reconstruct differences in knee posture, discriminate among extant species with different locomotor preferences, and investigate the knee postures used by subfossil lemur species Hadropithecus stenognathus and Pachylemur insignis. We obtained computed tomographic scans for 164 femora belonging to 39 primate species. We grouped species by locomotor preference into knuckle-walking, arboreal quadruped, terrestrial quadruped, quadrupedal leaper, suspensory and vertical clinging, and leaping categories. We reconstructed knee posture using an experimentally validated procedure of determining the anterior extent of the region of maximal subchondral bone apparent density on a median slice through the medial femoral condyle. We compared subchondral apparent density magnitudes between subfossil and extant specimens to ensure that fossils did not display substantial mineralization or degradation. Subfossil and extant specimens were found to have similar magnitudes of subchondral apparent density, thereby permitting comparisons of the density patterns. We observed significant differences in the position of maximum subchondral apparent density between leaping and nonleaping extant primates, with leaping primates appearing to use much more flexed knee postures than nonleaping species. The anterior placement of the regions of maximum subchondral bone apparent density in the subfossil specimens of Hadropithecus and Pachylemur suggests that both species differed from leaping primates and included in their broad range of knee postures rather extended postures. For Hadropithecus, this result is consistent with other evidence for terrestrial locomotion. Pachylemur, reconstructed on the basis of other evidence as a committed arboreal quadruped, likely employed extended knee postures in other activities such as hindlimb suspension, in addition to occasional terrestrial locomotion.
A model for the noise radiated by turbulent boundary layers and its interaction with laminar layers in supersonic flow

Motivated by the noise-boundary layer transition problem in supersonic flow, the interaction between incoming aerodynamic noise and the laminar boundary layer was studied. The noise field was modeled as a Mach wave radiation field consisting of discrete waves emanating from coherent turbulent entities moving downstream within the supersonic turbulent boundary layer. The individual disturbances are likened to miniature sonic booms and the laminar boundary layer is strafed by the waves as the sources move downstream. The mean, autocorrelation, and power spectral density of the field are expressed in terms of the wave shapes and their average arrival rates. The emphasis in the interaction analysis is on the behavior of the shocklets in the noise field. The shocklets are shown to be focused by the laminar boundary layer in its outer region. Borrowing wave-propagation terminology, this region is termed the caustic region. Using scaling laws from sonic boom work, focus factors at the caustic are estimated to vary from 2 to 6 for incoming shocklet strengths of 1 to .01 percent of the free stream pressure level. The situation regarding experimental evidence of the caustic region is reviewed. It is not clear whether the focusing effectively promotes early transition. Additional observations concerning the interaction problem are presented.
Biliary Nonmucin Glycoproteins in Patients with and without Gallstones

Total protein, mucin, and specific nonmucin glycoproteins are proposed pronucleating agents in cholesterol gallstone pathogenesis. However, characterization of specific nonmucin glycoproteins in patients with and without gallstones is unknown. Furthermore, nonmucin glycoproteins may be qualitatively different in patients with and without gallstones. Total protein and total and specific nonmucin glycoproteins were studied in gallbladder bile of 43 patients with cholesterol gallstones and 13 patients without gallstones. Patients with cholesterol gallstones had higher concentrations of both total protein and nonmucin glycoproteins than that observed in control patients (P 100% faster than that of patients without this protein (P < 0.05). The currently described gallbladder pronucleating and anti-nucleating proteins are found with equal frequency in cholesterol gallstone and control patients. However, an 84-kDa protein is found more commonly in gallstone patients and was associated with a shortened crystal observation time. Thus, this glycoprotein may be important in cholesterol gallstone pathogenesis.
A method for analyzing strain differences in acquisition of IV cocaine self-administration in mice

The techniques currently available for studying drug self-administration in animals offer the unique opportunity to carry out micro-analysis of initial episodes of drug use which are extremely difficult to obtain for human subjects. Nonetheless, traditional self-administration techniques do not allow a cost-effective output of large sample sizes needed for genetic analysis. Additionally, the statistical techniques that allow the integration of within-subject temporal data with genetic information are scant. We therefore propose a two-stage method for analyzing strain differences in dynamic phenotypes for a high-throughput version of the self-administration procedure. On a first phenotype-refinement stage, a change-point algorithm (Gallistel et al. (2004) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 101:13124-13131) was used to separate individual drug self-administration response curves into three distinct components. In a second stage, strains differences in these indexes were assessed. This two-stage approach is illustrated with drug self-administration data and through a computer simulation.
SYNERGY, DIVERSIFICATION, AND INCENTIVE EFFECTS OF CORPORATE MERGER ON BONDHOLDER WEALTH: SOME EVIDENCE

The theory relating to the effects of a merger on the wealth of bondholders implies countervailing results. On the one hand, bondholders might share the benefits of operating synergies and diversification with shareholders. On the other hand, they might suffer from an incentive effect—the expropriation by the shareholders. Studies by Kim and McConnell (1977) and Asquith and Kim (1982) find that the wealth of bondholders is not significantly affected by conglomerate mergers. Using a more inclusive sample and a different methodology, this study finds that the wealth of bondholders is affected positively by merger, which implies synergies to bondholders and/or a diversification effect. Furthermore, an incentive effect would be inferred if leverage were increased substantially after merger and if the size of the increase were inversely related to bondholder gains. Since neither of these events is observed, this study finds no evidence for an incentive effect.
On the prevalence of transcriptional regions in human genomic DNA

The dinucleotide sequences TpA and CpG are differentially expressed in transcribed vs. non-transcribed portions of the human genome (Beutler et al. , 1989, Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86 , 192–196). This fact is exploited here to estimate the total number of transcriptional regions in human genomic DNA.
Composition of Wheys from Retentate-Supplemented Cheese Milk and of Cream and Skim Milk from Separated Whole Milk Retentates

Abstract Composition of acid and sweet wheys obtained from cottage and Cheddar cheese with milks supplemented with retentate differed from control wheys. Total protein concentration was higher, and lactose was lower. Ash was similar in retentate-derived sweet wheys and lower in retentate-derived acid wheys. The computed acid whey powder contained 18.9% total protein and 55.4% lactose and the computed sweet whey powder contained 19.9% total protein and 67.1% lactose. Mechanical separation of whole milk retentates (2:1) gave cream and skim milk of unique composition. Computed skim milk powders derived from fluid dairy products of separated retentates contained 54.1% total protein and 33% lactose; computed cream powders from retentates contained 4.7% total protein and 1.6% lactose. All powders were computed to 96% total solids.
Colorimetric screening assay for cystine plus cysteine in legume seed meals

Abstract A colorimetric assay for cystine plus cysteine in pure proteins has been adapted to legume seed meals. The procedure involves incubation of legume seed meals for 1 hr at 38°C with sodium borohydride in 8 m urea, destruction of the sodium borohydride, and colorimetric determination of thiols produced with Ellman's reagent. A comparison of values from this procedure and from performic acid oxidation of 33 legume seed meals is presented and shows good correlation for peas ( Pisum sativum ) and lentils ( Lens culinaris ), with somewhat equivocal results for beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) and fava beans ( Vicia faba ).
Embryo transfer practices and multiple births resulting from assisted reproductive technology: an opportunity for prevention

Objective To evaluate assisted reproductive technology (ART) ET practices in the United States and assess the impact of these practices on multiple births, which pose health risks for both mothers and infants. Design Retrospective cohort analysis using the National ART Surveillance System data. Setting US fertility centers reporting to the National ART Surveillance System. Patient(s) Noncanceled ART cycles conducted in the United States in 2012. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Multiple birth (birth of two or more infants, at least one of whom was live-born). Result(s) Of 134,381 ART transfer cycles performed in 2012, 51,262 resulted in live births, of which 13,563 (26.5%) were multiple births: 13,123 twin and 440 triplet and higher order births. Almost half (46.1%) of these multiple births resulted from the following four cycle types: two fresh blastocyst transfers among favorable or average prognosis patients less than 35 years (1,931 and 1,341 multiple births, respectively), two fresh blastocyst transfers among donor-oocyte recipients (1,532 multiple births), and two frozen/thawed ETs among patients less than 35 years (1,452 multiple births). More than half of triplet or higher order births resulted from the transfer of two embryos (52.5% of births among fresh autologous transfers, 67.2% of births among donor-oocyte recipient transfers, and 42.9% among frozen/thawed autologous transfers). Conclusion(s) A substantial reduction of ART-related multiple (both twin and triplet or higher order) births in the United States could be achieved by single blastocyst transfers among favorable and average prognosis patients less than 35 years of age and donor-oocyte recipients.
Holistic Health Through Holistic Counseling: Toward a Unified Theory

This article reviews the trend in health care toward increasing levels of specialization and draws a distinction between specialization and reductionism. A theory of holistic counseling is derived from social learning and transpersonal psychology.
Microcomputer Use in the Schools: Teacher Roles and Instructional Options:

Effective implementation of microcomputer instruction in the schools poses a challenge for teachers. The purpose of this study was to identify some of the practical problems related to microcomputer use in the schools. Instruction, monitoring, and integration of computer use with other instructional activities were assessed. Based on our analysis, four alternative teacher roles for use of the technology were defined. These roles vary in terms of their expectations for teacher involvement in microcomputer instruction as well as the degree to which the instruction is integrated within the broader curriculum. By clarifying teacher roles in relation to this instruction, current frustrations with the technology may be diminished.
Regenerative Healing in Fetal Skin: A Review of the Literature

In mature skin, wound repair typically begins with hemostasis and inflammation. This is followed by a proliferative phase with reepithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagen production, and ends with the generation of a permanent scar. However, animal studies and clinical observations have shown that a different type of healing occurs in fetal skin in the first two trimesters of development. In early fetal skin, wounds exhibit a unique pattern of wound healing leading to regeneration. Notably, repair in the fetus takes place with little or no inflammation, faster reepithelialization, and no scarring. Although research in scarless fetal healing began several decades ago, the exact mechanisms of how this regenerative process takes place remain unknown. Knowing how the fetus will respond to potential injury from invasive diagnostic procedures or surgery is essential, especially given the development of less invasive fetal surgical techniques which could increase the number of fetal surgeries. In addition, insights into regenerative healing may provide information about how to accelerate postnatal wound healing as well as how to improve healing from a cosmetic standpoint. Future research directions include identification of the molecular controls responsible for scarless healing, with the intention that this new information will lead to improved therapeutic strategies for wound healing.
An initial Glasgow score of 4 and Apgar scores of 9 and 9: A case report of a pregnant comatose woman

Abstract A 28-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department with a Glascow Coma Scale score of 4 after a closed head injury resulting from a motor vehicle crash was found to have a positive serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin level of 27 mIU/mL. After stabilization and treatment for her closed head injury, she remained in a comatose state for more than 240 days. At 36 to 37 weeks' gestation, she had contractions and elevations in her blood pressure. A healthy female infant was born by an operative vaginal delivery with Apgar scores of 9 and 9.
The Music of the Spheres

The article critiques Jeffery Alexander’s book The Civil Sphere. It argues that Alexander’s approach should be augmented by incorporating insights from journalism studies, particularly indexing and Bourdieu’s analysis of the journalistic field, and by paying closer attention to the play of hegemony in the case studies Alexander provides to exemplify the proper working of the civil sphere. It closes by suggesting that Habermasian approaches may provide more useful norms for media professionals and activists.
Assessment of magnesium status for diagnosis and therapy

Magnesium is an essential element needed for health. Even though only 1% of the total body magnesium is present in blood, the serum magnesium concentration (SMC) is the predominant test used by medicine to assess magnesium status in patients. The traditional method to establish a reference interval for the SMC is flawed by the large number of "normal" individuals who have a subtle chronic negative magnesium balance due to a significant decrease in magnesium intake over the past century. Evidence-based medicine should be used to establish the appropriate lower limit of the reference interval for health and I recommend 0.85 mmol/L based on current literature. The decrease in magnesium in the diet has led to chronic latent magnesium deficiency in a large number of people since their SMC is still within the reference interval due to primarily the bone magnesium supplementing the SMC. These individuals need adjustment of their diet or magnesium supplementation to achieve a normal magnesium status for health.
A Parametric Study of Heat Pipe Turbine Vane Cooling

This work investigates the effects of various parameters (geometric dimensions, working fluid, external heating and cooling conditions) on heat transfer performance of the heat pipe turbine vane. This parametric study is based on a numerical model which includes an one-dimensional vapor flow and a three-dimensional wall heat conduction. Heat transfer performance of the heat pipe turbine vane is represented by several parameters including the overall heat transfer coefficient, the temperature ratio, the cooling ratio and the ratios of performance limitations. It is shown that these performance parameters are sensitive to geometric dimensions, working fluid, and external heat transfer coefficients of the heat pipe turbine vane. Information resulting from this study can be used as guidance for design, test and operation of the heat pipe turbine vane.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
Constrained conditional resource sharing in pipeline synthesis

A conditional resource-sharing algorithm for pipeline synthesis is presented. It allows sharing of hardware components among the mutually exclusive parts of any conditional branches appearing in a behavioral description. If done improperly, resource sharing in a conditional branch can increase its critical path delay excessively, causing performance degradation. Given area/time constraints for a pipelined design, finding an optimal conditional sharing solution is a combinatorial optimization problem. The algorithm uses heuristics with a user-defined weight that trades off area versus time; the algorithm is either manually or automatically iterated by changing the weight until a solution close to the target is obtained or is determined to be impossible to obtain. The algorithm is interactive, so designers can manually determine partial or whole sharing. >
Low‐angle normal faults in the basin‐and‐range province

Published data imply that normal faults in general are steeply inclined, and it is commonly assumed that faults of this class have developed habitually with dips of 45° or more. The writer has not seen in the literature many descriptions of large normal faults that have conspicuously low dips. Those that dip 25° or less usually are assumed to have been rotated from initially steep inclinations. Moreover, few published descriptions of large normal faults known to the writer cite evidence of decreasing dip with increasing depth, to indicate concavity of fault-surfaces toward the hanging wall. Indeed, some structural geologists have argued that evidence favors steepening of ordinary normal faults downward, with resulting concavity toward the footwall-block [see 12 of “References” at end of paper]. Pronounced concavity of a fault-surface toward the hanging wall has been interpreted as a characteristic of superficial “landslide-faulting”
The Impacts of State Health Reform Initiatives on Adults in New York and Massachusetts

The 2010 national health reform legislation—The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)—builds on state coverage initiatives, most notably on Massachusetts' 2006 landmark reform effort. PPACA includes expansions of existing public programs, efforts to make private insurance more affordable, and individual and employer mandates. This study looks at the impacts of state health reform initiatives in New York and Massachusetts on insurance coverage and health care access and use to expand our understanding of the likely impacts of national reform. Understanding the impacts of coverage expansions on both insurance coverage and access to health care is critical to designing initiatives that lead to improvements in the health care available to the population and, thereby, population health—which is the ultimate goal of coverage expansion efforts (Hadley 2003; Institute of Medicine 2009; McWilliams 2009;). Prior studies of individual state health reform initiatives have seldom considered impacts on access to and use of health care, largely because of a lack of data. This study takes advantage of the availability of state-level data in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine the impacts of the health reform initiatives in New York and Massachusetts on coverage and access to and use of health care. To our knowledge, this represents the first use of the NHIS, which is the nation's most comprehensive health survey, to study the effects of an individual state's health reform initiative on health care access and use.
Surface Cyclolysis in the North Pacific Ocean. Part III: Composite Local Energetics of Tropospheric-Deep Cyclone Decay Associated with Rapid Surface Cyclolysis

Two regional local energetics composites of tropospheric-deep cyclone decay were constructed based upon 49 cyclones in the Gulf of Alaska region and 18 cyclones in the Bering Sea region whose decay was marked by rapid surface cyclolysis. Both composites indicate that surface drag is only a secondary sink of eddy kinetic energy (EKE) during the decay. This result holds even when a generous accounting is made for uncertainty in the surface drag calculation. The subordinate role of surface drag in the Gulf of Alaska region composite is particularly interesting, given that the cyclones in this composite decay in close proximity to rugged and extensive high-elevation terrain. Both composites also display two of the fundamental characteristics of the downstream development model of cyclone decay: the role of radiative dispersion as the chief sink of EKE during decay, and the occurrence of prominent downstream EKE dispersion. Furthermore, the two composites illustrate that an unusually pronounced decline in baroclinic conversion occurs simultaneously with the intense radiative dispersion. Taken together, these results suggest that the energetic decay of cyclones marked by rapid surface cyclolysis is driven from the upper troposphere, not from the surface. Some notable differences also emerge from the two composites. Considerable downstream development occurs in the immediate vicinity of the decaying cyclone in the Bering Sea region composite, but not in the Gulf of Alaska region composite. Meanwhile, the areal extent of the downstream dispersion is greater in the Gulf of Alaska region composite. The latter circumstance suggests that decay events in the Gulf of Alaska region, while not producing significant downstream development in their near vicinity, may have important energetic implications for subsequent development farther downstream over North America. The composites also indicate that the decline of EKE in the vicinity of the decaying cyclone is more pronounced in the Gulf of Alaska region. In the Bering Sea region composite, this EKE is maintained via a persistent convergence of ageostrophic geopotential flux (AGF) that emanates from regions well south of the primary cyclone. Similar evidence for the influence of upstream disturbances on the cyclone decay does not appear in the Gulf of Alaska region composite.
Packing of Amantadine-Like Compounds in the Central Cavity of Influenza a M2

Over 291 variants of amantadine, mw 113.2 to 437.5, have been historically used as therapeutic agents for influenza A. These amantadine-like molecules have been thought to function as intrachannel blockers in the M2 channel of the influenza A virus. We explored whether these drugs fit in the central cavity of the channel using simple simulation methods with the CHARMM force field, the atomic coordinates of the solid state NMR structure for the M2 channel (PDB ID 2L0J, model 1), and a full set of amantadine-like molecules, with variations and titration states, gleaned from the literature. First, we examined the optimal water packing in the central cavity of the rigid channel using randomized, annealed water insertion, which indicates that optimally it holds 882 to 1116 Daltons of water. Drugs were inserted into water-filled channels with waters deleted based on various oxygen radius parameters. A radius of 2.2 A was found to give optimal water packing. Sterically, the amantadine-like molecules from the literature all fit readily within the central cavity, judging from drug energies inside the channel compared to those of the drugs relaxed in vacuo. Future work will focus on the relative energetics of drug binding and configuration and the solvation of amantadine-like molecules in explicit water within the central cavity. Support is from NIH AI23007 and a Mentoring Grant from BYU.
Experimental Study of Inequality and Unpredictability in an Artificial Cultural Market

Hit songs, books, and movies are many times more successful than average, suggesting that "the best" alternatives are qualitatively different from "the rest"; yet experts routinely fail to predict which products will succeed. We investigated this paradox experimentally, by creating an artificial "music market" in which 14,341 participants downloaded previously unknown songs either with or without knowledge of previous participants' choices. Increasing the strength of social influence increased both inequality and unpredictability of success. Success was also only partly determined by quality: The best songs rarely did poorly, and the worst rarely did well, but any other result was possible.
Color in the hands of the artist and eyes of the beholder

The perceptual effects that inform a series of paintings are analyzed and described using the tools of the visual psychologist and psychophysiologist.
Modeling the effect of piezoceramic hysteresis in structural vibration control

Dielectric hysteresis in piezoceramic transducers can degrade their performance in structural vibration control applications. Different hysteresis models have been applied to piezoelectric transducers, including those based on Preisach, Jiles-Atherton and Ishlinskii concepts. Relationships between these and other models, new experimental identification schemes and multi-term describing function representations of some of them are reviewed. Then, system equations that incorporate the hysteretic behavior are formulated for two pedagogical smart structural systems: a passively shunted / actively driven PZT wafer on (1) a simply supported thin plate and (2) a simply supported thin beam. The effect of PZT hysteresis on optimized passive and hybrid vibration control strategies is evaluated.
Millimeter-wave GaAs power FET with a pulse-doped InGaAs channel

Performance of a GaAs power MESFET has been improved significantly by incorporating a pulse-doped InGaAs layer in the GaAs n-channel. InGaAs provides electron transport properties superior to those of GaAs. The doping level of the GaAs layer can be very high, making it a very-high-transconductance device. Moreover, the conduction-band discontinuity at the heterointerface acts as a potential barrier for electron confinement; therefore, the power gain of the FET is significantly improved. The resulting device delivered a power density of 0.6 W/mm with 14% power-added efficiency and 3.5-dB gain at 60 GHz. At a gain of 5.1 dB, power density was 0.4 W/mm. >
Reaction kinetics in biofilms

A novel in situ microtechnique allows evaluating parameters of diffusion-controlled reactions in biofilms. A microprobe, 15 mum in diameter, was used to simultaneously measure the dissolved oxygen concentration and the optical density at different depths in a submerged biofilm. Based on the results, the biofilm diffusion coefficient for dissolved oxygen, D(f) the dissolved oxygen flux through the biofilm surface, J(02), and the half velocity coefficient, K(s), have been calculated.
Changes in Extractability of Lipids During Bread‐Making

SUMMARY Free lipids were extracted with petroleum-ether, and total lipids with a chloroform-methanol mixture from flour, dry milk solids, yeast, dough, fermented dough, bread crumb, and bread crust. Dough formulations used in bread-making included—in addition to a basic formula of flour, water, yeast, and sodium chloride—either sugar, commercial vegetable shortening, and dry milk solids, or their combinations. The extracted lipids were fractionated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Petroleum-ether-soluble flour lipids were reduced to one-third during dough mixing or fermentation; subsequent baking lowered the residual free lipids to half. Petroleum-ether-soluble free lipids were affected little by dough composition. Only small amounts of hydrogenated vegetable shortening were bound during dough-mixing, but about 1/3–1/2 of the added shortening lipids became bound during baking. Processing flour into bread had no effect on the amounts of total lipids extractable by the chloroform-methanol mixture. Fractionation of extracted lipids by TLC showed that much more polar wheat flour lipids than nonpolar components were bound during dough mixing.
Probing protein dynamics using temperature jump relaxation spectroscopy

There have been recent advances in initiating and perturbing chemical reactions on very fast timescales, as short as picoseconds, thus making it feasible to study a vast range of chemical kinetics problems that heretofore could not be studied. One such approach is the rapid heating of water solutions using laser excitation. Laser-induced temperature jump relaxation spectroscopy can be used to determine the dynamics of protein motion, an area largely unstudied for want of suitable experimental and theoretical probes, despite the obvious importance of dynamics to protein function. Coupled with suitable spectroscopic probes of structure, relaxation spectroscopy can follow the motion of protein atoms over an enormous time range, from picoseconds to minutes (or longer), and with substantial structural specificity.
Chronic stress influences ambulatory blood pressure in adolescents

Background: High ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) predicts cardiovascular events, even after controlling for clinic BP and other established risk factors.Purpose: This study examined whether chronic or discrete stress in the past year was associated with greater ABP in adolescents.Method: Participants were 217 male and female Black and White adolescents who wore ABP monitors on 2 consecutive school days and completed a survey of life events.Results: Report of discrete, negative events was not associated with ABP. Adolescents experiencing greater numbers of chronic, negative life events exhibited greater systolic blood pressure (SBP), independent of ethnicity; sex; body mass index; and location, position, physical activity, and consumption of food/caffeine/nicotine at time of measurement. Greater numbers of chronic, negative events were associated with greater diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among boys. When resting clinic BP was introduced into the model, the main effect of chronic, negative life events on ambulatory SBP became nonsignificant, whereas the effect of chronic, negative life events on male adolescents’ DBP persisted.Conclusions: Chronic stress is associated with greater ambulatory SBP among male and female adolescents and with greater ambulatory DBP among male adolescents. The latter association persisted after controlling for clinic BP, suggesting that males may be more vulnerable to chronic stress as a determinant of BP regulation than females early in life.
Eye-hand coordination: saccades are faster when accompanied by a coordinated arm movement.

When primates reach for an object, they very often direct an eye movement toward the object as well. This pattern of directing both eye and limb movements to the same object appears to be fundament...
Efficacy and implementation of an Internet psychoeducational program for teens with type 1 diabetes.

Objective The purpose of the study was to evaluate the participation and preliminary efficacy of an Internet psychoeducational program (Teens.Connect) shown to be efficacious under controlled conditions compared with an open-access diabetes website for youth (Planet D) on the primary outcomes of A1C and quality of life (QoL), and secondary outcomes of psychosocial and behavioral factors. Research Design and Methods Teens with type 1 diabetes (n = 124, 11–14 yr) from two clinical sites were randomly prescribed one of the programs and completed baseline, 3-month and 6-month data. A1C was obtained from clinic records. Participation data included number of log ins, posts to the discussion board, and lessons completed (Teens.Connect only). Descriptive and mixed model analyses were used. Results Eighty-five percent (85%) of consented teens registered for their prescribed program. Satisfaction and log ins were similar between groups (satisfaction ranged 3.3–3.5/5; mean log ins = 14/teen). Posts to the discussion forum were higher in Planet D (mean = 28 vs. 19). Participation in the Teens.Connect lessons was low, with only 69% of teens completing any lesson. After 6 months there were no significant differences in A1C, QoL or secondary outcomes between groups. Teens in the Teens.Connect group reported lower perceived stress over time (p < 0.01). Conclusions Teens do not actively participate in an Internet psychoeducational program when they do not have frequent reminders, which may have contributed to a lack of treatment effect. Teens have many competing demands. Strategic implementation that includes targeted reminders and family support may be necessary to assure participation and improvement in health outcomes.
A discrete spectral analysis for determining quasi-linear viscoelastic properties of biological materials

The viscoelastic behaviour of a biological material is central to its functioning and is an indicator of its health. The Fung quasi-linear viscoelastic (QLV) model, a standard tool for characterizing biological materials, provides excellent fits to most stress-relaxation data by imposing a simple form upon a material's temporal relaxation spectrum. However, model identification is challenging because the Fung QLV model's 'box'-shaped relaxation spectrum, predominant in biomechanics applications, can provide an excellent fit even when it is not a reasonable representation of a material's relaxation spectrum. Here, we present a robust and simple discrete approach for identifying a material's temporal relaxation spectrum from stress-relaxation data in an unbiased way. Our 'discrete QLV' (DQLV) approach identifies ranges of time constants over which the Fung QLV model's typical box spectrum provides an accurate representation of a particular material's temporal relaxation spectrum, and is effective at providing a fit to this model. The DQLV spectrum also reveals when other forms or discrete time constants are more suitable than a box spectrum. After validating the approach against idealized and noisy data, we applied the methods to analyse medial collateral ligament stress-relaxation data and identify the strengths and weaknesses of an optimal Fung QLV fit.
Toward a better understanding of mechanisms of probiotics and prebiotics action in poultry species

SUMMARY For many decades, the poultry industry has benefitted from improved health and performance of birds due to inclusion of sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics in feeds. However, several countries have prohibited, or are in the process of prohibiting, non-therapeutic uses of antibiotics in poultry. This is necessitated by the need to prevent development of antibiotic resistant strains (superbugs) of bacteria that may pose a threat to human health. The industry has responded with development of probiotic (direct-fed microbials)/prebiotic products that are claimed to have similar benefits as antibiotics. However, although many of these products have reasonable levels of field efficacy, significant variability still exists in their effectiveness in comparison with antibiotics. To complicate the issue further, many commercial vendors “oversell” their products with unsubstantiated claims of efficacy. A “systems” approach involving a better understanding of the microbiome, microbe-microbe and microbe-host interaction is being proposed for a better understanding of physiological mechanisms of probiotic/prebiotic action. This may require the use of advanced molecular, analytical and computational techniques. Although these techniques are expansive, the pay-off for the poultry industry in terms of better predictability of prebiotics/probiotic effects is enormous.
Renin Secretion during Mannitol Diuresis and Ureteral Occlusion

SummaryRenin secretion was decreased during mannitol diuresis, alone, but was increased by the superimposition of ureteral occlusion. The data are consistent with the “sodium load” hypothesis for control of renin secretion but not with the “sodium concentration” hypothesis.
Forest ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) effect on gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) larval numbers in a mature forest

In a previous study, ants had a significant effect on gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), numbers in a forest where the trees were only about 3 m high. The present study was carried out similarly, but trees were about 20 m high. In some plots, ant numbers were suppressed by a combination of barriers and poison baits. In other plots, 24% sucrose sprays were applied with a back-pack mist blower in an attempt to increase ant abundance, but no increases occurred. There was a nonsignificant trend for caterpillar numbers to be higher in the plots where ants were suppressed, and gypsy moth larval counts on leaves of trees were negatively correlated with ant counts on leaves. Thus, there is evidence that ants have an effect on gypsy moth caterpillars in mature forests as well as in young ones.
Learning a New Language is Like Swiss Cheese: Learning to Learn English

The purpose of the study was to understand instructors’ viewpoints on the relevance of learning to learn (L2L) in the settings where they teach. Twenty-four instructors answered an online qualitative survey about their experiences teaching English to adults. Data analysis was informed by narrative analysis procedures. Study findings include teachers’ perspectives about how students learn, teachers’ conception about L2L, and benefits for adult learners.
ABSORPTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF Na+ AND K+ IN RICE SEEDLING UNDER SALT STRESS

Aims Salinity is a serious abiotic stress that adversely affects rice productivity and quality.Proper regulation of ion flux is necessary for cells to keep concentrations of toxic ions low and to accumulate essential ions.The purpose of our experiment is to detect differences in the physiological response and absorption and distribution of Na+ and K+ among rice seedlings tolerant or sensitive to salt stress.Methods Seedlings of three salt-tolerant varieties('AB52','02402' and '02435') and a sensitive variety('Nipponbare') were grown under different salt stresses(fresh water,5 000 and 8 000 mg·L-1 NaCl).We recorded agricultural traits and measured Na+ and K+ contents with ICP.Important findings Seedling length,green leaf area,dry weight and moisture content of green leaves declined under salt stress,while moisture content of stems and sheaths increased.Plant growth and leaf damage of salt-tolerant varieties were less than that of the salt-sensitive variety when they were grown under 5 000 mg·L-1 NaCl for 10 d.However,differences among varieties grown under 8 000 mg·L-1 NaCl were small.Under salt stress,rice seedling absorbed Na+ from roots and discharged K+.There was a regular range of Na+ and K+ in seedlings.The Na+ concentration in different organs ranged from low to high.Generally,younger green leaves contained less Na+ than dried leaves under normal condition,and still had low Na+ and high K+ concentrations under salt stress.The Na+ concentration in green leaves of the salt-sensitive variety was the highest under 5 000 mg·L-1 NaCl;however,the salt-tolerant varieties reached the highest Na+ level under 8 000 mg·L-1 NaCl.It seems a major character of salt tolerance mechanism in rice seedling that the confine distribution area of Na+ in shoots maintaining green leaves a homeostasis of Na+,K+ with higher K+/Na+ ratio by selective transportation K+ from stems and sheathes to green leaves and roots,and interception Na+ in stems and sheathes.The result that K+ concentration in stems and sheathes of the salt-tolerant varieties were higher than that of the sensitive variety suggests that it could cause less Na+ concentration and maintain higher K+/Na+ ratio in green leaves.Therefore,K+/Na+ ratio in green leaves could be an index for evaluating salt tolerance.
LSP1 modulates the locomotion of monocyte-differentiated U937 cells.

To examine the effect of lymphocyte specific protein 1 (LSP1) on phagocytic cell motility, stable transfection of LSP1-null U937 cell line with an episomal expression vector carrying the LSP1 complementary DNA created lines expressing varied LSP1 levels. Mock transfectants without LSP1 (U937−) and cell lines with LSP1 levels similar to those of monocytes (U937+) or 4-fold those of monocytes (U937++++) express LSP1 as indicated and express other actin-binding proteins at normal levels before or after monocytic induction (MI) with dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate. The cell lines were compared for rate of growth and cell division and, after monocytic differentiation, were video-tracked to measure locomotion as distance moved in 2 hours and examined for morphologic changes. Rates of cell division and growth were similar for different U937 cell lines at all LSP1 levels. In contrast, mean rate of locomotion (micrometers moved in 2 hours) was slower in MI–U937++++ (7.78 + 1.11μm, n = 3) and MI-U937− (23.89 + 2.78μm, n = 3) than in MI-U937+ cells (50.77 + 4.11μm, n = 3). Compared with MI-U937−, the locomotive histogram (n = 150 cells) of MI-U937+ or MI-U937++++ cells shows all cells move respectively faster or slower as an entire cell population. In LSP1+ U937 phagocytes, high LSP1 levels inhibit some (locomotion) but not all (cytokinesis) cell motile behaviors and cause the formation of surface projections. In contrast, normal LSP1 levels in U937 phagocytes enhance some (locomotion) but not all (cytokinesis) cellular motile behaviors and have no effect on cell morphology. Therefore, LSP1 level has a unique biphasic effect on cellular locomotion. The data suggest LSP1 is an important regulator of phagocyte locomotion.