cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deficient classical complement pathway activity in newborn sera.

Summary: The bactericidal activity of 20 maternal-neonatal paired sera was assessed employing a clinical type la, group B streptococcal isolate, strain 515, known to be opsonized by the classical complement pathway in a non-antibody dependent fashion. Twelve neonatal sera had efficient bactericidal activity for this isolate (mean 96%, range 91-99%) whereas eight had significantly lower bactericidal indices (mean 29%, range 0-54%) (p < 0.001). The mean bactericidal index for 20 maternal sera (88%) did not differ from that of 20 adult control sera (91%). Bactericidal activity was not influenced by the concentration of antibody to the capsular polysaccharide antigen of type Ia, group B Streptococcus present in these sera. When the classical pathway of selected neonatal sera with high or low bactericidal activity was inactivated by MgEGTA chelation of C1, bacterial growth was observed uniformly when concentrations of specific antibody were low. The bactericidal index of neonatal sera correlated significantly with the total hemolytic complement titer (r = 0.611, P < 0.01). The mean levels of each complement component or control protein assessed by radial immunodiffusion (C1q, C4, C3, B, H, and I) were lower in neonatal sera with low than in those with efficient bactericidal activity, and levels of C1q and H were depressed significantly (P < 0.025 and <0.001, respectively). Hemolytic titers of C4 but not C1 or C2 were also significantly lower for low than for selected high-killing neonatal sera (P < 0.05). Bactericidal activity in neonatal serum with a bactericidal index of zero was restored in a dose-dependent fashion by the addition of fresh frozen plasma.
On the transformation of symmetric sparse matrices to the triple diagonal form

The problem of minimizing the number of zero elements that become non-zero during the computation when a sparse symmetric matrix is reduced to a triple diagonal form, either by Givens' or Householder's method, is discussed. Algorithms for minimizing the growth of such non-zero elements are given.
The influences on bridge employment decisions

Purpose – Population aging, and changes in labor force participation among older adults, will have tremendous impacts on the aging workforce. Thus it is imperative that the factors that influence whether older workers will continue in their career employment, engage in bridge employment, or fully retire, should be understood better. This paper aims to focus on these issues.Design/methodology/approach – In the present study longitudinal data for 2,869 older workers from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data set in the USA were used to examine the influence of demographic (e.g. income), nonwork related factors (e.g. marital satisfaction), and work related factors (e.g. job involvement) on late‐life employment decisions over a ten year period from 1992 to 2002.Findings – The results indicate a wide variety of factors impact employment decisions later in life. Specifically, it was found that work related factors of job involvement and schedule flexibility, as well as the nonwork related factors of certai...
An economic analysis of hand transplantation in the United States.

Background:Hand transplantation has received international attention in recent years; however, the economic impact of this innovative treatment is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the utility and estimate the costs of hand transplantation and the use of hand prostheses for forearm ampu
A multiple-choice airstream design for olfactory discrimination training of small animals

A multiple wind-tunnel olfactory discrimination apparatus is described and evaluated. The apparatus allows for the simultaneous presentation of odor or visual cues and permits direct comparisons to be made on visual and olfactory discrimination performance.
Epistemology and People Who Are Deaf: Deaf Worldviews, Views of the Deaf World, or My Parents Are Hearing.

Epistemology is examined from two different perspectives within the framework of a broader evolutionary epistemology. Within this framework, reality is not absolute, and truth is a relative concept. People construct individual or personal epistemologies through their experiences, and develop or receive group or socially constructed epistemologies through their interactions with others with shared or similar experiences. There is a common perception that Deaf culture and Deaf epistemologies have been transmitted primarily by Deaf children and Deaf adults who have Deaf parents and who have grown up in a linguistically rich signing environment. The author posits that the far more numerous deaf children of hearing parents may be an even greater force in transmitting some of the strongest views of Deaf epistemology.
Unambiguous field-strength formulation and dual potentials for gauge theories

Abstract Using completely fixed axial-like gauges, I construct the unique inversion A ( F ) for the potential A in terms of the field strength F . A change of variable to F results in an unambiguous field-strength formulation for any gauge theory; F is constrained to satisfy the Bianchi identities ϖ F ∼ − eA(F) F ∼ = 0 . Dual potentials A ∼ may also be introduced as functional Fourier conjugate to the Bianchi forms. For quantum electrodynamics in four dimensions, duality [F ↔ F ∼ , A ↔ F ∼ is a perfect symmetry. Residuals of this symmetry persist in all theories however; e.g., F ∼ is always canonically conjugate to the magnetic fields.
Race and shared decision-making: Perspectives of African-Americans with diabetes

Shared decision-making (SDM) is an important component of patient-centered healthcare and is positively associated with improved health outcomes (e.g. diabetes and hypertension control). In shared decision-making, patients and physicians engage in bidirectional dialogue about patients' symptoms and treatment options, and select treatment plans that address patient preferences. Existing research shows that African-Americans experience SDM less often than whites, a fact which may contribute to racial disparities in diabetes outcomes. Yet little is known about the reasons for racial disparities in shared decision-making. We explored patient perceptions of how race may influence SDM between African-American patients and their physicians. We conducted in-depth interviews (n=24) and five focus groups (n=27) among a purposeful sample of African-American diabetes patients aged over 21 years, at an urban academic medical center in Chicago. Each interview/focus group was audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and imported into Atlas.ti software. Coding was conducted iteratively; each transcription was independently coded by two research team members. Although there was heterogeneity in patients' perceptions about the influence of race on SDM, in each of the SDM domains (information-sharing, deliberation/physician recommendations, and decision-making), participants identified a range of race-related issues that may influence SDM. Participants identified physician bias/discrimination and/or cultural discordance as issues that may influence physician-related SDM behaviors (e.g. less likely to share information such as test results and more likely to be domineering with African-American patients). They identified mistrust of white physicians, negative attitudes and internalized racism as patient-related issues that may influence African-American patients' SDM behaviors (e.g. less forthcoming with physicians about health information, more deference to physicians, less likely to adhere to treatment regimens). This study suggests that race-related patient and physician-related barriers may serve as significant barriers to shared decision-making between African-American patients and their physicians. Finding innovative ways to address such communication barriers is an important area of future research.
The use of blue-excitable nucleic-acid dyes for the detection of bacteria in well water using a simple field fluorometer and a flow cytometer

Abstract The blue-excitable nucleic acid dyes Coriphosphine O (CPO), YOYO-1, and YOPRO-1 were evaluated to rapidly detect the presence of bacteria in well water samples using a simple field fluorometer (Turner Designs, Sunnyvale, CA, Model 10-AU-005) and a tabletop flow cytometer (Coulter Epics XL). The dyes were first titrated on the Turner Designs Model 10-AU field fluorometer with log-fold dilutions of Esherichia coli, since this organism is the indicator organism for water contamination. A detection limit of 104 Colony Forming Units per ml (CFU/ml) was established for YOPRO-1 and 105 CFU/ml for YOYO-1. The detection limit with CPO was determined to be 107 CFU/ml due to the high background fluorescence of the dye. The dyes were also evaluated with ragweed pollen to gauge the effect of a biological interferent. Ten well-water samples were subsequently analyzed using the technique. The results showed that only YOYO-1 correctly detected all the samples that were positive according to the reference laboratory. YOPRO-1 correctly detected only one of four positive samples. Analysis with the CPO dye was inconclusive due to high background fluorescence. The samples were then subjected to analysis on the flow cytometer. Results obtained with YOYO-1 compared well to those obtained on the fluorometer and by the reference techniques. YOPRO-1 performed better on the flow cytometer than with the simple fluorometer, correctly detecting three of four positive samples. Although the CPO results showed a very slight increase of green fluorescence with positive samples, they were largely indistinguishable from negative samples. This study suggests YOYO-1 could be useful with either a simple fluorometer or with a tabletop flow cytometer in screening water samples for the presence of bacterial contamination.
Progress in Research, Development, and Pre-Commercial Deployment of Second Generation HTS Wires in the USA

Abstract US efforts to develop and deploy “second generation” (2G) high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wires that use the compound Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O x (YBCO) or other rare-earth (RE) superconducting materials are described. Wires have been demonstrated in 20 to >200-m lengths with the YBCO deposited using vapor deposition or wet chemical processes in ultra-thin layers onto textured, buffered metallic templates, which forces the grains of the RE-BCO into near perfect alignment. Critical currents for these pre-commercial wires are now within striking distance of those achieved for commercial BSSCO wires. One expected advantage of 2G wire is a 5-fold decrease in the price of wire compared with first generation wires. Another advantage of 2G wire is the intrinsic behavior of YBCO in the presence of a strong magnetic field. Enhancements in flux pinning of at least a factor of two have been demonstrated for MOCVD and MOD deposited YBCO films. US progress towards meeting the challenging goals for the year 2006, including current exceeding 300 A/cm width (77 K, self-field) in 100-m lengths and engineering current density exceeding 10,000 A/cm 2 (65 K, 3-T) is reported. In addition, initial efforts toward engineering the conductor for the mechanical and electrical properties needed for strong magnetic field applications are described.
Allelic polymorphism of emm loci provides evidence for horizontal gene spread in group A streptococci.

Abstract Group A streptococci have a virulence regulon containing a single emm locus or two or three distinct and adjacent loci of structurally related emm family genes. The products of the emm gene cluster consist of fibrillar surface proteins, at least some of which are known to contain determinants of type specificity located in their NH2-terminal regions, lying distal to the cell surface. The emm genes can be categorized into four major subfamilies (SFs), based on structural differences within their 3' regions encoding the peptidoglycan-spanning domain. In this study, we investigate the polymorphism within the 5' region of SF-4 and SF-3 emm genes (which occupy the first and last emm positions of the gene cluster, respectively) in 22 strains representing different serotypes. Our findings indicate that unlike the centrally positioned SF-1 or SF-2 genes, SF-3 and SF-4 genes each display only limited polymorphism in their 5' regions, suggesting that their gene products may not be major contributors to type specificity. Two forms of the SF-3 gene (SF3a, SF3b) and two forms of the SF-4 gene (SF4a, SF4b) are found to exist in all four possible combinations (SF3aSF4a, SF3aSF4b, SF3bSF4a, SF3bSF4b), strongly suggesting that horizontal gene spread has contributed to the evolution of emm genes and to the generation of emm gene diversity in group A streptococci.
In vivo characterization of a porous hydrogel material for use as a tissue bulking agent.

Tissue engineered biomaterial constructs are needed for plastic and reconstructive applications. To successfully form a space-filling tissue, the construct should induce a minimal inflammatory response, create minimal or no fibrotic capsule, and establish a vascular bed within the first few days after implantation to ensure survival of the implanted cells. In addition, the biomaterial should support cellular adhesion and induce tissue ingrowth. A macroporous hydrogel bead using sodium alginate covalently coupled with an arginine, glycine, and aspartic acid-containing peptide was created. A 6-month subcutaneous rat model study was performed to determine if the implanted material induced tissue ingrowth throughout the implantation area and maintained a three-dimensional vascular bed. The implanted materials produced a vascular bed, minimal inflammation and capsule formation, and good tissue ingrowth throughout the experiment. The material retained its bulking capacity by demonstration of no significant change of the cross-sectional area as measured from the center of the implants after the 2-week time point. In addition, the granulation tissue formed around the implant was loosely organized, and the surrounding tissue had integrated well with the implant. These results indicate that this material has the desired properties for the development of soft-tissue-engineering constructs.
A self-watching model of analogy-making and perception

This paper describes Metacat, an extension of the Copycat model of analogy-making. The development of Copycat focused on modelling context-sensitive concepts and the ways in which they interact with perception within an abstract microworld of analogy problems. This approach differs from most other models of analogy in its insistence that concepts acquire their semantics from within the system itself, through perception, rather than being imposed from the outside. The present work extends these ideas by incorporating self-perception, episodic memory, and reminding into the model. These mechanisms enable Metacat to explain the similarities and differences that it perceives between analogies, and to monitor and respond to patterns that occur in its own behaviour as it works on analogy problems. This introspective capacity overcomes several limitations inherent in the earlier model, and affords the program a powerful degree of self-control. Metacat's architecture includes aspects of both symbolic and connecti...
Attitudes of Selected Secondary Students toward Family Planning Education.

The purpose of this research was to examine possible relationships of attitudes of secondary students toward family planning education and selected variables of sex, age, religion, occu pation of mother, and occupation of father. Subjects included 735 secondary students, 490 female and 245 male, from Family Living classes in nine Midwestern rural and urban high schools. The instrument used in this study, Attitudes Toward Family Planning Education Scale, had reliabilities of .56 to .87 on the dimensions within the total scale. Data were analyzed using t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Scheffe range test. Findings indi cated that students were supportive of family planning education although females generally favored such education more than the males. As students matured and made normal progress through school, they had more favorable attitudes toward the concepts of family planning education. The students perceived their religion as providing a base of support for family planning education, and the higher the parents' occupational level, the more favorable were the students toward these concepts. Findings concerning relationships of variables to the dimensions will enable educators to develop more effective curricula for family planning education.
Long-term enhancement of synaptic responses in the songbird hippocampus

Electrophysiological recordings from the hippocampus were taken using brain slices from 1-year-old, female, song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). The evoked responses were smaller and less stable as compared with those obtained from the mammalian hippocampus. They consisted of two spikes. The first spike had low calcium dependency and represented mainly fiber potential. The second spike demonstrated a clear calcium dependency proving its synaptic origin. Paired-pulse facilitation showed inhibition of the second response at latencies below 20 ms, facilitation at 30 ms and no changes above 30 ms. Train stimulation with 20 Hz (each train consisted of 1 s stimulation with 10-s intervals repeated 3 times) evoked a stable increase in the size of the evoked response lasting approximately 2 h. These data indicate that the avian hippocampus possesses several neurophysiological properties that typify the mammalian hippocampus including the long-term enhancement of the synaptic response following certain patterns of stimulation.
Early versus delayed autologous transplantation after immunomodulatory agents‐based induction therapy in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Background Early versus delayed autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) results in comparable overall survival in multiple myeloma (MM) with alkylator-based therapies. It is not clear if this paradigm holds true in the context of new therapies such as immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs).
Self-pumped ring phase conjugation using reflection gratings in Kerr media

The self-pumped ring phase conjugation using reflection gratings in Kerr media is investigated. The results show that with a ring cavity, self-oscillation occurs at a certain threshold intensity which is lower than that for the conventional stimulated Brillouin scattering process. The effect of cavity detuning on phase conjugation reflectivity and frequency shift is also discussed.
Düppel: retrofitting commodity operating systems to mitigate cache side channels in the cloud

This paper presents the design, implementation and evaluation of a system called Duppel that enables a tenant virtual machine to defend itself from cache-based side-channel attacks in public clouds. Duppel includes defenses for time-shared caches such as per-core L1 and L2 caches. Experiments in the lab and on public clouds show that Duppel effectively obfuscates timing signals available to an attacker VM via these caches and incurs modest performance overheads (at most 7% and usually much less) in the common case of no side-channel attacks. Moreover, Duppel requires no changes to hypervisors or support from cloud operators.
Developing a Cloud Energy-Saving and Case-Based Reasoning Information Agent with Web Service Techniques

Web service techniques are presented herein for supporting a cloud energy-saving and case-based reasoning information agent. Not only can it explore related technologies to establish a Web service platform, but it can also study how to construct cloud interactive diagrams to employ Web service techniques for extensively and seamlessly integrating energy-saving and a case-based reasoning information agent on the Internet. The preliminary system development, display and corresponding comparisons show that the research results can not only sketch the feasibility of the proposed architecture but also are highly successful. Furthermore, the system evaluation shows around 40% of the data queries can be answered by the proposed system, which can effectively alleviate the overloading problem usually associated with a backend server, and its correct rate of data solutions is around 85.1%, which is a very efficient improvement in data query response.
Pulsed laser deposition of strontium titanate thin films for dynamic random access memory applications

Polycrystalline strontium titanate (SrTiO3) films were prepared by a pulsed laser deposition technique on p-type silicon and platinum-coated silicon substrates. The films exhibited good structural and dielectric properties which were sensitive to the processing conditions. The small signal dielectric constant and dissipation factor at a frequency of 100 kHz were about 225 and 0.03 respectively. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics in metal-insulator-semiconductor structures exhibited anomalous frequency dispersion behavior and a hysteresis effect. The hysteresis in the C-V curve was found to be about 1 V and of a charge injection type. The density of interface states was about 1.79 x 10(12) cm(-2). The charge storage density was found to be 40 fC mu m(-2) at an applied electric field of 200 kV cm(-1). Studies on current-voltage characteristics indicated an ohmic nature at lower voltages and space charge conduction at higher voltages. The films also exhibited excellent time-dependent dielectric breakdown behavior.
Structure and Expression of the Mouse β-Hexosaminidase Genes, Hexa and Hexb

Two genes, HEXA and HEXB, encode the alpha- and beta-subunits, respectively, of human beta-hexosaminidase. In the mouse, the corresponding genes are termed Hexa and Hexb. The subunits dimerize to yield three isozymes, beta-hexosaminidase A (alpha beta), B (beta beta), and S (alpha alpha), that have the capacity to degrade a variety of substrates containing beta-linked N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine residues. Mutations in the HEXA or HEXB gene resulting in a beta-hexosaminidase deficiency cause Tay-Sachs or Sandhoff disease, respectively. As a prelude to the creation of mouse models of these lysosomal storage diseases, we have characterized the molecular biology of the mouse beta-hexosaminidase system. Protein sequences derived from the cloned Hexa and Hexb cDNAs were 55% identical to each other and were also very similar to the cognate human sequences: 84% sequence identity with human HEXA and 75% with HEXB. The mouse hexosaminidase subunits, when expressed in HeLa cells from the cDNAs, displayed specificity toward synthetic substrates similar to the human subunits. The Hexa and Hexb genes were 25 and 22 kb in length, respectively. Each gene was divided into 14 exons, with the positions of introns precisely matching those of the corresponding human genes. The 5' flanking regions of the mouse genes demonstrated promoter activity as ascertained by their ability to drive chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene expression in transfected NIH 3T3 cells. The sequences of these regulatory regions were G+C-rich in the 200 bp upstream of the respective initiator ATGs. Several putative promoter elements were present, including Sp1, AP2, CAAT, and TATA motifs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Fantasy: The Experiencer and the Interpreter

PSYCHOLOGY of religion still has an "alien" status for many within the disciplines loosely organized as "Religious Studies." The associations which accompany the very phrase "psychology of religion" probably include "reductionism," the whole question of "scientific" vs. "humanistic" approaches to the study of man, and a genuine suspicion of the role psychologists have played in "adapting" man to technological society. Obviously, there are psychological thinkers who have themselves raised these same criticisms, or attempted to overcome what they believed to be limitations and biases in current psychological theory. There have also been students of religion who have been open to psychological approaches and theoretical categories, incorporating these into their understanding of religiousness. In this essay, we choose one such psychological category, the notion of fantasy, in order to highlight a key problem in the psychology of religion, and explore possible solutions. Why fantasy? And what is fantasy? As psychologists understand this concept, fantasy is a type of mental activity, a thought-process which is defined over against "goal-directed" practical thinking. The usual qualities assigned to fantastical thinking are: fanciful, dramatic, fulfilling, pictorial, effortless, and egocentric.' In some psychological writings these characteristics are disputed, but on the whole psychologists agree in describing fantasy as a special type of thinking, dominant in such activities as dreams, day-dreams, and some forms of play. Fantasy-processes also appear in Thematic Apperception Test stories and Rorshach responses, two sources of data much used by clinicians and researchers. Both Freud and Jung depended on fantasy to provide the "royal road" to the Unconscious, and to an understanding of the true nature and meaning of religion and mythology. The origins of these as products of human culture and human creative imagination lie in fantastical thought. Myths and religious beliefg are, from the psychological viewpoint, fantasies writ large. However, fantasy is exactly the sort of category which made a generation of religionists squeamish about the psychological approach to religion. Even when writers on religion do wish to employ "fantasy" as a category themselves, they are likely to redefine it away from psychological usage, as we shall see. On the surface,
Marital Stability in Sub-Saharan Africa: Do Women’s Autonomy and Socioeconomic Situation Matter?

One key hypothesis that has received considerable attention in recent family discourse is the notion that improvements in women’s socioeconomic circumstances (also called female autonomy) has a positive effect on familial processes and outcomes such as marital instability. Absent from this debate are cross-cultural research that test the applicability of these findings with non-U.S. data. We use representative data from Ghana to explore whether dimensions of women’s autonomy have the hypothesized positive effect on divorce processes in Africa. Consistent with findings from the United States, results from our African data demonstrate that women’s autonomy has a positive effect on divorce. This observation is true not only with the use of conventional autonomy measures such as work and education, but also with regard to institutional measures of autonomy such as matrilineal kinship ties.
Cold dark matter in the doublet-triplet model

Abstract We analyze in detail a particle physics model which gives rise to light neutrinos as the cold dark matter of the universe. Contrary to the Gelmini-Roncadelli model, our model requires an explicit breaking of the B − L quantum number in the lagrangian.
Radiation chemistry of anionic disazo dyes in Cellophane films applications for high-dose dosimetry

Abstract Thin transparent Cellophane films containing anionic disazo “Direct” dyes, e.g. blue Cellophanes, have long been used as monitors of large absorbed doses of ionizing radiation (10–300 kGy) and especially for mapping electron-beam dose profiles. Examples of dyes for such purposes are variations on forms of the disazo dyes, Direct Orange, Direct Violet or Direct Blue. The films have a thickness of 25.6 μm (+0.1 μm) and are available in rolls of either 30 m×0.51 m or 60 m×0.76 m. Such dyed Cellophanes are typically lightfast but can readily be bleached irreversibly by ionizing radiation, as a means of dosimetry using spectrophotometry as the analytical tool. The radiation response is markedly dependent on temperature and relative humidity during irradiation. The reaction is initiated mainly by dehydrogenation and nitrosation upon electrophilic reductive attack on the dye molecule by the thermal electrons, at initial reaction rate constants in the range 10 5 –10 6 s −1 .
Femtosecond infrared studies of chemical bond activation

The identification of the intermediates observed in bond activation reactions involving organometallic complexes on time scales from femtoseconds to milliseconds has been accomplished through the use of ultrafast infrared spectroscopy. C—H bond activation by the molecule Tp*Rh(CO)2 showed a final activation time of 200 ns in cyclic solvents, indicating a reaction barrier of 8.3 kcal/mol. An important intermediate is the partially dechelated η2-Tp*Rh(CO)(S) solvent complex, which was formed 200 ps after the initial photoexcitation. Si—H bond activation by CpM(CO)3 (M=Mn, Re) showed some product formation in less than 5 ps, indicating that the Si—H activation reaction is barrierless. The activated product was formed on several timescales, from picoseconds to nanoseconds, suggesting that there are different pathways for forming final product which are partitioned by the initial photoexcitation.
A Proof Environment for Teaching Mathematics

The EPGY Theorem Proving Environment is a computer program used by students to write mathematical proofs in a selection of computer-based, proof-intensive mathematics courses at the high-school and university level. The system allows easy input of mathematical expressions, application of standard proof strategies and logical inference rules, application of mathematical rules, and verification of logical inference. Each course has its own language, database of theorems, and mathematical rules. The system uses a combination of automated reasoning and symbolic computation to verify individual proof steps. The proof environment has been used by over 170 students who have taken the EPGY high-school geometry course. In addition to providing a general overview of the system, we describe what we have learned from student use of the Theorem Proving Environment in the EPGY geometry course.
Resolution of α-methyl amino esters by chymotrypsin

Abstract The resolution of DL-α-MeTrp-OMe HCl, Dl-α-MePhe-OMe HCl and DL-α-Me-pF-Phe-OMe HCl have been achieved using α-chymotrypsin at pH 5.0.
Studies on submaxillary gland immunoreactive glucagon.

Abstract Biologically active immunoreactive glucagon is present in submaxillary gland of rat, mouse, guinea pig and human and can be extracted by saline adjusted to pH 2.8 with HCl. Chromatography on Sephadex G-150 indicates its molecular weight to be 29,000. It has similar immunologic characteristics as pancreatic glucagon. It is biologically active and elevates plasma glucose and insulin when injected intraperitoneally into rats. Compared to pancreatic glucagon, the hyperglycemic effect persists much longer. It competes with pancreatic glucagon for binding to specific glucagon receptors of rat liver plasma membranes. It is stable to pH changes, however, urea dissociates it into several smaller molecular weight fragments including that of 3500. It appears to be an aggregate of smaller glucagon molecules and is not responsible for immunoreactive glucagon in totally eviscerated rats. In vitro , the submaxillary gland does not release immunoreactive glucagon in response to arginine or glucose.
Input Referred Offset Reduction in Very High Speed Differential Receivers

This paper explains a circuit architecture to minimize the impact of IRO (Input Referred Offset) in Differential amplifier based Receivers. Such receivers are used on high speed interfaces, like DDRs and LVDS, as they provide better timing and ensure proper detection of small swing signals. However the mismatch between the differential input arms causes IRO which in turn causes duty cycle distortion and degrades the receiver timing. At very high speeds it becomes necessary to minimize the impact of IRO. The proposed IRO reduction circuit uses a Digital controller which measures and reduces the IRO using a binary code. The timing improvement provided by this circuit scheme is validated on Silicon in 28nm CMOS process.
Geochemical Influences on Life's Origins and Evolution

The early Earth was hot and chaotic, bombarded intensely from 4.5 to 3.8 billion years ago. In ponds near the flanks of volcanoes, feldspars and zeolites from volcanic flows and ash were alternately washed by fluids and dried, fostering adsorption and catalytic processes. Some silica-rich surfaces favored adsorption of organic molecules, including amino acids, which were produced by lightning in volcanic clouds. Catalysis then promoted polymerization to generate more complex molecules. Dissolution of alkali feldspars created a honeycomb of cavities, which may have acted as temporary cell walls, while phosphorus released from the weathering feldspar framework was available for energy molecules. Following the emergence of the first cells, geochemical processes continued to influence biological evolution. Alkali-rich volcanoes introduced metallic elements, which served as nutrients in the food supply and may also have accelerated the rate of primate evolution prior to the appearance of hominids.
Electron energy losses from thin silver films

Abstract A simple dielectric theory of electron energy losses in a thin metal overlayer is extended to include multiple losses. This theory is then compared with recent experimental data by Backes and Ibach. These comparisons reveal several inadequacies in the basic model, especially with regard to the shape and parameter dependence of the quasi-elastic peak.
Effect ofβ-lonone onaspergillus flavus andaspergillus parasiticus growth, sporulation, morphology and aflatoxin production

The ketoneβ-ionone is reported to be one of the naturally occurring volatile metabolites of developing corn ears. In testing the effects of volatile compounds onAspergillus flavus andA. parasiticus, we found thatβ-ionone applied to the surface of PDA plates had a striking inhibition of growth and sporulation of these fungi. The colonies were restricted, remained buff-colored and had little or no sporulation. There were major effects on the morphology of the asexual reproductive structures. The conidiophore development was arrested and normal sporulation did not occur. Mycelial transfers from these atypical cultures to potato dextrose agar had normal growth and conidia. Incorporation ofβ-ionone at levels of 10-1000μL/L, in liquid media seeded with spore suspensions ofA. parasiticus (NRRL 2999) severely depressed aflatoxin accumulation in shake culture.
The role of tyrosine 343 in substrate binding and catalysis by human sulfite oxidase.

In the crystal structure of chicken sulfite oxidase, the residue Tyr322 (Tyr343 in human sulfite oxidase) was found to directly interact with a bound sulfate molecule and was proposed to have an important role in mediating the substrate specificity and catalytic activity of this molybdoprotein. In order to understand the role of this residue in the catalytic mechanism of sulfite oxidase, steady-state and stopped-flow analyses were performed on wild-type and Y343F human sulfite oxidase over the pH range 6–10. In steady-state assays of Y343F sulfite oxidase using cytochrome c as the electron acceptor, kcat was somewhat impaired (∼34% wild-type activity at pH 8.5), whereas the Kmsulfite showed a 5-fold increase over wild type. In rapid kinetic assays of the reductive half-reaction of wild-type human sulfite oxidase, kredheme changed very little over the entire pH range, with a significant increase in Kdsulfite at high pH. The kredheme of the Y343F variant was significantly impaired across the entire pH range, and unlike the wild-type protein, both kredheme and Kdsulfite were dependent on pH, with a significant increase in both kinetic parameters at high pH. Additionally, reduction of the molybdenum center by sulfite was directly measured for the first time in rapid reaction assays using sulfite oxidase lacking the N-terminal heme-containing domain. Reduction of the molybdenum center was quite fast (kredMo = 972 s-1 at pH 8.65 for wild-type protein), indicating that this is not the rate-limiting step in the catalytic cycle. Reduction of the molybdenum center of the Y343F variant by sulfite was more significantly impaired at high pH than at low pH. These results demonstrate that the Tyr343 residue is important for both substrate binding and oxidation of sulfite by sulfite oxidase.
FoxO1 Protein Cooperates with ATF4 Protein in Osteoblasts to Control Glucose Homeostasis

The Forkhead transcription factor FoxO1 inhibits through its expression in osteoblasts β-cell proliferation, insulin secretion, and sensitivity. At least part of the FoxO1 metabolic functions result from its ability to suppress the activity of osteocalcin, an osteoblast-derived hormone favoring glucose metabolism and energy expenditure. In searching for mechanisms mediating the metabolic actions of FoxO1, we focused on ATF4, because this transcription factor also affects glucose metabolism through its expression in osteoblasts. We show here that FoxO1 co-localizes with ATF4 in the osteoblast nucleus, and physically interacts with and promotes the transcriptional activity of ATF4. Genetic experiments demonstrate that FoxO1 and ATF4 cooperate to increase glucose levels and decrease glucose tolerance. These effects result from a synergistic effect of the two transcription factors to suppress the activity of osteocalcin through up-regulating expression of the phosphatase catalyzing osteocalcin inactivation. As a result, insulin production by β-cells and insulin signaling in the muscle, liver and white adipose tissue are compromised and fat weight increases by the FoxO1/ATF4 interaction. Taken together these observations demonstrate that FoxO1 and ATF4 cooperate in osteoblasts to regulate glucose homeostasis.
Deploying malware detection software for smart phones

As mobile computing devices become more widely used and integrated with more crucial systems like infrastructure and military or law enforcement, it becomes more apparent that these mobile systems should be the target of malware and other forms of cyber-attack. Limited system resources make classic signature detection difficult. As new methods for detection develop, it is important that we maintain the ability to confidently block harmful applications from running. We look at using default system resources to maintain control of application installation and execution. The confirmation and proper detection of malicious activity still requires offrite connectivity; however, without this connectivity, the default mobile resources can still be used to maintain control of a clean system environment until verification is made. Though the entire malware detection system is not demonstrated here, the proof of a gateway protocol for system modification and the layout of a supposed system are presented.
RANK, RANKL, OPG, and M-CSF Expression in Stromal Cells during Corneal Wound Healing

Purpose To examine the influx of monocytes into the cornea after epithelial scrape injury and the expression of chemokines that potentially regulate monocyte phenotype in cultured corneal fibroblasts and keratocytes in situ. Methods Monocytes were detected by immunocytochemistry for the monocyte-specific antigen CD11b, in unwounded and epithelial scrape-wounded mouse corneas. The receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and monocyte chemotactic and stimulating factor (M-CSF) mRNAs were detected in cultured mouse stromal fibroblasts by RT-PCR and RNase protection assay. RANKL, OPG, and M-CSF proteins were detected in cultured mouse stromal fibroblasts by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. RANKL, RANK, M-CSF, and OPG proteins were detected in unwounded and wounded mouse corneas by immunocytochemistry. Chimeric mice with green fluorescent protein-labeled bone marrow-derived cells underwent corneal scrape injury and were monitored by fluorescence microscopy and immunocytochemistry. Results A small number of cells expressing the monocyte-specific CD11b antigen were detected in the stromas of unwounded mouse corneas. A larger number of CD11b-positive cells was detected in the stroma at 24 or 48 hours after epithelial scraping injury. Experiments with chimeric mice with fluorescent green protein-labeled, bone marrow-derived cells demonstrated conclusively the origin of these CD11b(+) cells. RANKL, OPG, and M-CSF mRNAs and proteins were detected in cultured mouse stromal fibroblasts. RANKL, M-CSF, and OPG proteins were detected in unwounded corneas, but were expressed at higher levels in stromal cells during the 24- to 48-hour interval after epithelial scrape injury. RANK was detected in stromal cells presumed to be monocytes at 24 and 48 hours after epithelial injury. Conclusions Cells expressing the CD11b monocyte-specific antigen appear in the corneal stroma in high numbers by 24 hours after epithelial injury and persist beyond 10 days after wounding. Cultured corneal fibroblasts and keratocytes in situ express RANKL, OPG, and M-CSF cytokines involved in regulating osteoclast differentiation from monocytes in bone. Cells expressing RANK were detected in the stroma at 24 and 48 hours after epithelial injury. The cytokine systems that regulate monocyte transition to osteoclast in bone are upregulated in the cornea in response to epithelial injury and may participate in regulating monocyte phenotype during corneal stromal wound healing.
Semi-simplicial Weil algebras and characteristic classes

The purpose of this paper is the construction and coho- mological study of semi-simplici al models for the Weil algebra of a Lie algebra. The geometric context where the authors introduced these alge- bras is the construction of generalized characteristic classes for foliated bundles. There are two main aspects to the results of this paper. The first is the homological equivalence of all semi-simplicial Weil algebras even after passing to basic elements with respect to a subalgebra and to quotients by certain characteristic filtration ideals. The geometric con- sequence is that the generalized characteristic homomorphisms defined on these various complexes all have the same domain of universal generalized characteristic invariants. The second aspect is a comparison map from the ordinary Weil algebra to the semi-simplicial Weil algebra realizing a homology isomorphism after passing to basic elements with respect to a subalgebra and to quotients by characteristi c filtration ideals. The geo- metric consequence is a comparison of the characteristic class constructions on the various complexes considered, which is also of significance for ex- plicit computations.
Phospholipid transport: sighting a new face of an old friend.

Summary A recent study now shows that opsin catalyzes rapid movement of phospholipids from one leaflet of a membrane bilayer to the other. This capability illuminates a mechanism for this physiologically important process.
A Cross-Cultural Study of Anxiety among Chinese and Caucasian American University Students.

This study investigated the cross-cultural differences on state, trait, and social anxiety between Chinese and Caucasian American university students. Chinese students reported higher levels of social anxiety than did Caucasian american students. Correlations between trait and state anxiety were compared in light of the trait model of cross-cultural psychology. Implications for multicultural counseling are discussed. Este estudio investigo las diferencias interculturales en cuanto a estado, rasgo y ansiedad social entre alumnos universitarios Chinos y Americanos caucasicos. Los alumnos Chinos comunicaron niveles mas altos de ansiedad social que los alumnos Americanos Caucasicos. Se compararon las correlaciones entre rasgo y estado de ansiedad a la luz del modelo de rasgo de la psicologia intercultural. Se discuten las implicaciones para la consejeria multicultural.
Phosphorylation of H1 and H5 histones by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase reduces DNA binding

Phosphorylation of H1 histones by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase may be an important transcriptional control mechanism. We have used affinity chromatography to examine the effect of phosphorylation by this enzyme on the DNA-binding properties of calf thymus H1 histones and two highly basic H1 homologues from condensed and transcriptionally silent nuclei: duck erythrocyte H5 and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus sperm H1. Without in vitro phosphorylation, all three histones were eluted from native DNA-Sephadex G-25 columns at salt concentrations which closely resembled those required to extract these histones from nuclei or chromatin. When a small portion of radioactively phosphorylated histone was chromatographed with untreated carrier histone, the phosphorylated species was consistently eluted from the DNA column at slightly lower salt concentrations than the main histone peak. Rechromatography experiments showed that in vitro phosphorylation of H1 can shift its elution position to lower salt concentrations.
Retarded Green's Functions In Perturbed Spacetimes For Cosmology and Gravitational Physics

Electromagnetic and gravitational radiation do not propagate solely on the null cone in a generic curved spacetime. They develop ``tails,'' traveling at all speeds equal to and less than unity. If sizeable, this off-the-null-cone effect could mean objects at cosmological distances, such as supernovae, appear dimmer than they really are. Their light curves may be distorted relative to their flat spacetime counterparts. These in turn could affect how we infer the properties and evolution of the Universe or the objects it contains. Within the gravitational context, the tail effect induces a self-force that causes a compact object orbiting a massive black hole to deviate from an otherwise geodesic path. This needs to be taken into account when modeling the gravitational waves expected from such sources. Motivated by these considerations, we develop perturbation theory for solving the massless scalar, photon, and graviton retarded Green's functions in perturbed spacetimes ${g}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}={\overline{g}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}+{h}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}$, assuming these Green's functions are known in the background spacetime ${\overline{g}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}$. In particular, we elaborate on the theory in perturbed Minkowski spacetime in significant detail; and we apply our techniques to compute the retarded Green's functions in the weak field limit of the Kerr spacetime to first order in the black hole's mass $M$ and angular momentum $S$. Our methods build on and generalize work appearing in the literature on this topic to date, and lay the foundation for a thorough, first-principles-based, investigation of how light propagates over cosmological distances, within a spatially flat inhomogeneous Friedmann-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker universe. This perturbative scheme applied to the graviton Green's function, when pushed to higher orders, may provide approximate analytic (or semianalytic) results for the self-force problem in the weak field limits of the Schwarzschild and Kerr black hole geometries.
Regulatory fit effects in a choice task.

This article examines the interface between motivation and choice. In category learning, a regulatory fit has been shown to increase exploration of alternative response strategies even when exploration is suboptimal. In the present study, promotion- and prevention-focused subjects performed a choice task that required them to choose from one of two decks of cards on each trial. They either gained or lost points with each draw. In Experiment 1, optimal performance required an exploratory response pattern that entailed sampling from a deck that initially appeared disadvantageous but ultimately became advantageous. In Experiment 2, optimal performance required an exploitative response pattern. A softmax action selection model that includes an exploitation parameter was applied to each subject’s data from both experiments and revealed greater exploration of alternative strategies for people with a regulatory fit. This response strategy was optimal in Experiment 1 and led to superior performance, but was suboptimal in Experiment 2 and led to inferior performance.