cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opposing LSD1 complexes function in developmental gene activation and repression programmes

Precise control of transcriptional programmes underlying metazoan development is modulated by enzymatically active co-regulatory complexes, coupled with epigenetic strategies. One thing that remains unclear is how specific members of histone modification enzyme families, such as histone methyltransferases and demethylases, are used in vivo to simultaneously orchestrate distinct developmental gene activation and repression programmes. Here, we report that the histone lysine demethylase, LSD1—a component of the CoREST-CtBP co-repressor complex—is required for late cell-lineage determination and differentiation during pituitary organogenesis. LSD1 seems to act primarily on target gene activation programmes, as well as in gene repression programmes, on the basis of recruitment of distinct LSD1-containing co-activator or co-repressor complexes. LSD1-dependent gene repression programmes can be extended late in development with the induced expression of ZEB1, a Kruppel-like repressor that can act as a molecular beacon for recruitment of the LSD1-containing CoREST-CtBP co-repressor complex, causing repression of an additional cohort of genes, such as Gh, which previously required LSD1 for activation. These findings suggest that temporal patterns of expression of specific components of LSD1 complexes modulate gene regulatory programmes in many mammalian organs.
Quantum-Mechanical QSPR Models for Polymerization Volume Change of Epoxides and Methacrylates Based on Mercury Dilatometry Results

Polymerization volume change (PVC) was measured systematically using mercury dilatometry for 41 epoxide and methacrylate monomers with quartz filler. Quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) models were developed based on this previously unreported data to gain insight in the data collection method for future models. Successful models included only data from those samples which polymerized to hardness. The most significant descriptors in these models related to monomer reactivity. In contrast, PVC data collected under experimental conditions which maximized monomer conversion resulted in descriptors describing size and branching, indicating conversion must be considered for future PVC measurements. A Rule of Mixtures (ROM) correction term improved correlations of the dilatometer data with varying quartz content, and an adjustment for conversion may similarly enable inclusion of data which had not polymerize to hardness.
Pharmaceutical Strategies for Activating Sirtuins

The sirtuins are protein modifying enzymes widely distributed in all forms of life. The sirtuins are principally NAD(+)-dependent protein acetyl-lysine deacetylases that reverse acetyl-modifications of proteins. The sirtuins are implicated in a variety of adaptations to reduced nutritional intake, and increase lifespan in several model organisms, such as yeast, flies and worms. The human sirtuins (SIRT1-7) have been identified to regulate a variety of biological processes, such as glucose homeostasis, gluconeogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, insulin secretion, adipogenesis and adipolysis, apoptosis, senescence and metabolism. The potency of sirtuins in regulating mammalian biological processes invites consideration of them as potential drug targets. This review considers small molecule approaches to activate sirtuins in a biochemical and biological context. These approaches include allosteric activation, which has been demonstrated for the SIRT1 enzyme. Another approach discussed is enhancement of NAD+ levels in cells, since sirtuins appear to be responsive to increased cellular NAD+. Finally, a sirtuin-specific approach is considered that is called nicotinamide derepression. This approach is designed to antagonize physiologic nicotinamide inhibition of sirtuins as a means to upregulate sirtuin function. Biological data that provides evidence of effectiveness of these approaches in in vitro and in vivo contexts is presented along with a discussion of the theoretical considerations that underpin these strategies. Efficacies and shortcomings of the various approaches are also discussed.
The trend odds model for ordinal data.

Ordinal data appear in a wide variety of scientific fields. These data are often analyzed using ordinal logistic regression models that assume proportional odds. When this assumption is not met, it may be possible to capture the lack of proportionality using a constrained structural relationship between the odds and the cut-points of the ordinal values (Peterson and Harrell, 1990). We consider a trend odds version of this constrained model, where the odds parameter increases or decreases in a monotonic manner across the cut-points. We demonstrate algebraically and graphically how this model is related to latent logistic, normal, and exponential distributions. In particular, we find that scale changes in these potential latent distributions are consistent with the trend odds assumption, with the logistic and exponential distributions having odds that increase in a linear or nearly linear fashion. We show how to fit this model using SAS Proc Nlmixed, and perform simulations under proportional odds and trend odds processes. We find that the added complexity of the trend odds model gives improved power over the proportional odds model when there are moderate to severe departures from proportionality. A hypothetical dataset is used to illustrate the interpretation of the trend odds model, and we apply this model to a Swine Influenza example where the proportional odds assumption appears to be violated.
The Implications of Parenting Standards in Child Protection: A Paradox in Disability Policy

Contemporary parenting standards in the field of child protection produce a paradox in disability policy. Focusing on the protections necessary for child safety, child protection workers are apt stereotypically to discount the abilities of parents with disabilities to raise their children. This situation runs a wide spectrum. It includes parents fully capable of parenting with no outside assistance who are nevertheless denied their children on the basis of completely baseless stereotypical assumptions. It includes parents who are mentally fully capable of parenting, but who are denied the necessary personal assistance services to perform the physical tasks of child care. This article, however, focuses on yet another situation: parents with mental, emotional, or cognitive disabilities who, without assistance to perform the cognitive tasks necessary for safely raising children, could neglect their children. It discusses this situation in light of the Americans with Disabilities Act and various state laws that protect the civil rights of persons with disabilities.
Differential dynamical effects of macromolecular crowding on an intrinsically disordered protein and a globular protein: implications for in-cell NMR spectroscopy

In-cell NMR provides a valuable means to assess how macromolecules, with concentrations up to 300 g/L in the cytoplasm, affect the structure and dynamics of proteins at atomic resolution. Here an intrinsically disordered protein, alpha-synuclein (alphaSN), and a globular protein, chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2) were examined by using in-cell NMR. High-resolution in-cell spectra of alphaSN can be obtained, but CI2 leaks from the cell and the remaining intracellular CI2 is not detectable. Even after stabilizing the cells from leakage by using alginate encapsulation, no CI2 signal is detected. From in vitro studies we conclude that this difference in detectability is the result of the differential dynamical response of disordered and ordered proteins to the changes of motion caused by the increased viscosity in cells.
Femtosecond-laser-induced-crystallization and simultaneous formation of light trapping microstructures in thin a-Si:H films

We report the observation of crystallization and simultaneous formation of surface microstructures in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films as one step laser processing. Light trapping microstructures of around 300 nm in height were formed on a-Si:H films of thickness in the range of 1.5 μm to 2 μm deposited on soda lime glass after exposure to femtosecond laser pulses. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show the formation of spikes that are around 1 μm part and their heights could be controlled by the laser fluences. Atomic force microscope (AFM) images were taken to study the roughness created on the surface. The mean roughness of the textured surface increases with laser fluence at smaller power densities, and for power densities beyond 0.5 J/cm2 the film removal deteriorates the texturing. X-ray diffraction results indicate the formation of a nano-crystalline structure with (111) and (311) crystal orientation after the laser treatment. The observed black color and enhanced optical absorption in the near infrared region in laser treated films may be due to a combined effect of light trapping in the micro-structured silicon surface because of multiple total internal reflections, phase change in the film, possible defect sites induced after laser treatment and formation of SiOx. Demonstration of light trapping microstructures in thin a-Si:H films and simultaneous crystallization could provide new opportunities for optoelectronic devices.
Rapid exchange of actin-bound nucleotide in perfused rat heart.

In the rat heart the actin-bound nucleotide contained both ATP and ADP. The ratio of bound ATP to bound ADP depended on the functional state of the heart; it was higher in hearts stopped reversibly in diastole (low Ca2+, high Mg2+, or high K+), than in stimulated (inotropic agents or pacing) hearts. Immunoblotting and gel electrophoresis showed the existence of G-actin (30% of total actin) in the cytoplasm of the heart. Pure actin was isolated from rat hearts: in G-actin the bound nucleotide readily exchanged with ATP or ADP, and in F-actin the bound nucleotide did not exchange with ATP or ADP. The free and bound nucleotides were separated in the intact heart by extraction with 75% methanol at –15°C. In rat hearts perfused with 32P-labeled orthophosphate the actin-bound nucleotide rapidly exchanged with the cytoplasmic ATP. The full exchange of the bound ATP was immediate, whereas the full exchange of the bound ADP was slower. The full exchange of the bound ATP was independent of the heartbeat frequency, ...
On the asymptotic behavior of a tubular reactor in the limit of small axial diffusivity

Abstract An efficient procedure is presented for obtaining the asymptotic form of the longitudinal concentration profile existing in a tubular reactor with small axial diffusivity. The reaction rate expression can be arbitrary. It is shown that longitudinal diffusion causes the concentration at the inlet end to fall below the far-upstream value, causes a modest flattening of the concentration profile along the reactor, and causes the concentration profile at the outlet end to curve upward sufficiently to satisfy the zero-gradient boundary condition.
Critical congenital heart disease screening practices among licensed midwives in washington state.

Introduction Since 2011, pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) has been recommended for newborns. Initial implementation guidelines focused on in-hospital births. Recent publications affirm the importance of universal screening, including for out-of-hospital births. No published data describe CCHD screening rates for out-of-hospital births. Methods Licensed midwives in Washington state were surveyed regarding their current CCHD screening practices, volume of births attended annually, and typical newborn follow-up practices. For those who indicated they were screening, additional information was obtained about equipment used, timing of screening, and rationale for voluntarily initiating screening. For those who indicated that they were not screening, information regarding barriers to implementation was solicited. Results Of the 61 midwives in our sample, 98% indicated they were aware of published guidelines recommending universal newborn screening for CCHD utilizing pulse oximetry. Furthermore, 52% indicated that they were screening for CCHD currently. Ten percent stated they do not intend to screen, whereas the remaining respondents indicated that they plan to screen in the future. The primary barriers to screening were the cost of pulse oximetry equipment and inadequate training in screening technique and interpretation. Conclusion Although voluntary implementation of CCHD screening by licensed midwives in Washington is increasing, it lags behind the implementation rates reported for in-hospital births.
Determination of ozone decomposition rate by flow injection technique.

The flow injection analysis (FIA) of dissolved ozone was investigated by employing 2% potassium iodide-0.1% starch aqueous solution as a reagent. The sampling rate and the detection limit were improved compared with values obtained with potassium iodide aqueous solution as the reagent. The sampling frequency and the reproducibility of FIA signal were 105 samples h-1 and RSD=0.28% (2.12mg dm-3 O3; n=5), respectively. The S/Nof FIA signal was good (0.24mg dm-3 O3; S/N, 7.0), and the sub mg dm-3 levels of ozone were easily detected. The kinetic order of ozone decomposition in water was examined by using this FIA. Application to the determination of ozone decomposition rate was achieved.
Normalizing Landsat and ASTER data using MODIS data products for forest change detection

Monitoring forest cover and its changes are a major application for optical remote sensing. In this paper, we present an approach to integrate Landsat, ASTER and MODIS data for forest change detection. Moderate resolution (10–100m) images (e.g. Landsat and ASTER) acquired from different seasons and times are normalized to one “standard” date using MODIS data products as reference. The normalized data are then used to compute forest disturbance index for forest change detection. Comparing to the results from original data, forest disturbance index from the normalized images is more consistent spatially and temporally. This work demonstrates an effective approach for mapping forest change over a large area from multiple moderate resolution sensors on various acquisition dates.
Effects of feeding different levels of dietary fiber through the addition of corn stover on nutrient utilization of dairy heifers precision-fed high and low concentrate diets

The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects of manipulating dietary fiber by replacing corn silage (CS) with lower quality forage as corn stover (CST) when used in high concentrate (HC) and low concentrate (LC) diets for precision-fed dairy heifers. Eight Holstein heifers (335.6 ± 7.41 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to 2 levels of concentrate: HC (20% forage) and LC (80% forage), and to a forage type sequence [0% of forage as corn stover (CST), 100% corn silage (CS); 20% CST, 80% CS; 40% CST, 60% CS; and 60% CST, 40% CS] within concentrate level administered according to a split-plot, 4 × 4 Latin square design (21-d periods). Heifers fed HC had higher apparent total-tract dry matter digestibility (DMD). Increasing the fiber level by increasing the amount of CST in the diet resulted in a linear decrease of DMD and organic matter digestibility. Heifers fed LC diets had higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility and tended to have lower acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility than those fed HC diets. Substituting CS with 20% CST resulted in the highest NDF and ADF digestibilities. Digestibility of N was not different, but N retention increased for HC and decreased quadratically for LC diets. Heifers fed HC diets decreased fecal output, and CST linearly increased these parameters. Urine volume tended to be higher for HC-fed heifers, and increasing dietary fiber through CST inclusion tended to decrease urine output. This shift in water excretion resulted in similar total manure output. Total purine derivative excretion did not differ between treatments, but interacted with CST addition, resulting in a linear increase in microbial protein flow to the duodenum in HC-fed heifers and in a linear decrease in LC diets as CST increased. In conclusion, increasing dietary fiber through CST decreased DMD and organic matter digestibility linearly, whereas NDF and ADF digestibility were maximized when 20% CST was added to HC and LC diets. Microbial protein synthesis increased and decreased linearly with CST addition in HC and LC diets, respectively. Retention of N increased and decreased quadratically with CST addition in HC and LC diets, respectively. Total manure excretion was not different between HC or LC diets.
Properties of an h-Bernstein-like basis and curves

Blossoming is a useful technique to study bases and curve representations in computer-aided geometric design. Recently Simeonov et al. (Comput Aided Geom Des 28:549---565, 2011) have used a blossom generalization, namely the h-blossom, to derive new results about the h-Bernstein basis and h-Bezier curves that have previously been studied in approximation theory and computer-aided geometric design. This paper introduces a basis related to the h-Bernstein basis. There is a close relationship between this new basis and the h-Bernstein basis, between the new basis and the h-blossom, and between the new basis and "progressive" curves. This paper explores these relationships and uses them to derive properties both of the new basis itself, and of curves represented in terms of the new basis.
Magnetic resonance lineshapes in exchange coupled paramagnets

Abstract Systematic discrepancies between predicted and observed exchange narrowed EPR and NMR resonance linewidths in MnF 2 , KMnF 3 , RbMnF 3 are examined. A model lineshape based upon the 2nd, 4th and 6th moments is proposed which improves agreement with experiment.
Racial Differences in Risk of Prostate Cancer Associated with Metabolic Syndrome

Objectives To perform a case-control study to test the association between metabolic syndrome features and prostate cancer. The metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of conditions serving as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The metabolic syndrome is prevalent in the United States, and the spectrum of specific features has been shown to differ by race and ethnicity. A number of recent reports have linked metabolic syndrome to prostate cancer; however, most studies have not had racially diverse populations to explore differences in risk. Methods A case-control study was conducted to test the association between metabolic syndrome features and prostate cancer among 637 patients and 244 controls, with African-American men constituting 43% of the study population. Results Metabolic syndrome, defined using a modified version of the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, was marginally associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in African-American men (odds ratio [OR] 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97-3.01), but not in white men (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.64-1.62). After stratifying the patients by stage at diagnosis, African-American men with organ-confined disease were more likely to have a history of metabolic syndrome than were the controls (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.02-3.23), but no association was observed among those with advanced-stage disease (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.31-2.77). When evaluating the specific features of the metabolic syndrome, obesity was inversely related to prostate cancer among white men (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33-0.80) but unrelated to risk among African-American men (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.70-1.89). Conclusions In the present investigation, the metabolic syndrome was associated with prostate cancer risk in African-American men, but not in white men. The prevalence of this syndrome, coupled with the racial disparity in prostate cancer incidence and outcomes after diagnosis, warrant additional investigation.
Intermolecular reactions in dilute polymer solutions : nonexistence of diffusion-controlled limit

Using scaling and renormalization group methods, we show that intermolecular-irreversible-reaction kinetics in polymeric liquids belong to either of two universality classes depending on concentration and solvent quality. Dilute-solution kinetics obey mean-field theory for good solvents, even for highly reactive groups: there is no "diffusion-controlled" (DC) limit. Reaction rates k thus scale as equilibrium contact probabilities; for interior groups k is related to the statistics of 3-arm and 4-arm star molecules. Unentangled melts, by contrast, exhibit intrinsically DC kinetics, whilst theta-solvents are marginal. For reacting polymers of unequal lengths, k is dominated by the smallest chain in all cases.
Aggregation and Sedimentation of Aqueous Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron Dispersions

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) rapidly transforms many environmental contaminants to benign products and is a promising in-situ remediation agent. To be effective, NZVI should form stable dispersions in water such that it can be delivered in water-saturated porous media to the contaminated area. Limited mobility of NZVI has been reported, however, attributed to its rapid aggregation. This study uses dynamic light scattering to investigate the rapid aggregation of NZVI from single nanoparticles to micrometer size aggregates, and optical microscopy and sedimentation measurements to estimate the size of interconnected fractal aggregates formed. The rate of aggregation increased with increasing particle concentration and increasing saturation magnetization (i.e., the maximum intrinsic magnet moment) of the particles. During diffusion limited aggregation the primary particles (average radius = 20 nm) aggregate to micrometer-size aggregates in only 10 min, with average hydrodynamic radii ranging from 125 nm to 1.2 microm at a particle concentration of 2 mg/L (volume fraction(phi= 3.2 x 10(-7)) and 60 mg/L (phi = 9.5 x 10(-6)), respectively. Subsequently, these aggregates assemble themselves into fractal, chain-like clusters. At an initial concentration of just 60 mg/L, cluster sizes reach 20-70 microm in 30 min and rapidly sedimented from solution. Parallel experiments conducted with magnetite and hematite, coupled with extended DLVO theory and multiple regression analysis confirm that magnetic attractive forces between particles increase the rate of NZVI aggregation as compared to nonmagnetic particles.
The use of virtual ground to control transmembrane voltages and measure bilayer currents in serial arrays of droplet interface bilayers

The droplet interface bilayer (DIB) is a simple technique for constructing a stable lipid bilayer at the interface of two lipid-encased water droplets submerged in oil. Networks of DIBs formed by connecting more than two droplets constitute a new form of modular biomolecular smart material, where the transduction properties of a single lipid bilayer can affect the actions performed at other interface bilayers in the network via diffusion through the aqueous environments of shared droplet connections. The passive electrical properties of a lipid bilayer and the arrangement of droplets that determine the paths for transport in the network require specific electrical control to stimulate and interrogate each bilayer. Here, we explore the use of virtual ground for electrodes inserted into specific droplets in the network and employ a multichannel patch clamp amplifier to characterize bilayer formation and ion-channel activity in a serial DIB array. Analysis of serial connections of DIBs is discussed to understand how assigning electrode connections to the measurement device can be used to measure activity across all lipid membranes within a network. Serial arrays of DIBs are assembled using the regulated attachment method within a multi-compartment flexible substrate, and wire-type electrodes inserted into each droplet compartment of the substrate enable the application of voltage and measurement of current in each droplet in the array.
Homogeneity of Infinite Products of Manifolds with Boundary

It is shown that the countable product of connected, metrizable manifolds with boundary is homogeneous, strongly n-homogeneous, strongly locally homogeneous in some enhanced sense, and n-countable dense homogeneous for any positive number e. Since a compact manifold is paracompact, it is metrizable. These results generalize those of M. K. Fort's results about products of compact manifolds with boundary.
Deconstruction of gauge symmetry breaking by discrete symmetry and G unification

We deconstruct the non-supersymmetric SU(5) breaking by discrete symmetry on the space-time $M^4\times S^1$ and $M^4\times S^1/(Z_2\times Z_2')$ in the Higgs mechanism deconstruction scenario. Also we explain the subtle point of how to exactly match the continuum results with the latticized results on the quotient space S 1 /Z 2 and $S^1/(Z_2\times Z_2')$ . We also propose an effective deconstruction scenario and discuss the gauge symmetry breaking by the discrete symmetry on the theory space in this approach. As an application, we suggest the GN unification where GN is broken down to $SU(3)\times SU(2)\times U(1)^{n-3}$ by the bifundamental link fields and the doublet-triplet splitting can be achieved.
Shedding the burden of depression & anxiety.

Learn how to help your patient overcome the debilitating effects of these common mental disorders.
Effect of in Vitro Action of Serum Proteases or Exposure to Acid on Measurable Immunoreactive Somatomedin-C in Serum*

The proportion of immunoreactive somatomedin-C (IR-Sm-C) in blood that is available for measurement in the RIA is influenced by whether the sample is processed as serum or plasma, by how promptly the sample is chilled and frozen, by whether the reaction is carried out in glass or polystyrene tubes and by whether the incubation mixture contains protamine or heparin. Although protamine buffers and polystyrene tubes increase the availability of purified somatomedin-C (Sm-C), they decrease the detectability of Sm-C in serum. By incubating serum at neutral or acid pH, this IR-Sm-C can be made available for measurement, suggesting that incubation alters the nature of the linkage between Sm-C and its binding proteins or causes a conformational change in the binding protein, resulting in greater exposure of IR-Sm-C. The increment in measurable IR-Sm-C that occurs at neutral pH appears to be due to the action of proteolytic enzymes since it is time, temperature, and pH dependent and is inhibited by a variety of pr...
Work Personality, Work Engagement, and Academic Effort in a Group of College Students

The authors investigated the relationship between the variables of work engagement, developmental work personality, and academic effort in a sample of college students. This study provides evidence for the hypothesized positive relationship between academic effort, engagement, and work personality. When gender was controlled, the Work Tasks subscale of the Developmental Work Personality Scale (Strauser & Keim, 2002) made the largest contribution to predicting academic effort. Engagement also made a significant contribution to the model. For men, work personality seems to be more relevant concerning academic effort, whereas for women, engagement may be more important. A discussion of the constructs of work engagement and developmental work personality is included.
Deposition of atmospheric particles within the Buddhist cave temples at Yungang, China

The Buddhist cave temples at Yungang, China, are soiled at a rapid rate by the deposition of airborne particles. Average mass deposition rates to horizontal surfaces of 13.42 μg m^(−2) s^(−1) outdoors and 5.23 μg m^(−2) s^(−1) inside Cave 6 were measured over a 1 yr period in 1991–1992. These rates are comparable to the rates inferred by examination of historically accumulated deposits within the caves. The surface area coverage by coarse particles is dominated by particles larger than about 10–20 μm in diameter, while the mass flux is dominated by even larger particles greater than 20–30 pm in diameter. Comparison of the deposition rate in Cave 6, which retains its wooden temple front structure, to that in Cave 9 which is open to the outdoors shows that the temple front does provide some protection. During spring 1991, the deposition rate to horizontal surfaces in Cave 6 was 4.5 μg m^(−2)s^(−1) compared to 13.4 μg m^(−2)s^(−1) in Cave 9 and 21.5 μg m^(−)2s^(−1) outdoors.
Verification of stuttering in a suspected malingerer

Abstract A suspect in a robbery was reffered by a Brooklyn assistant district attorney for verification of the suspect's claim to be a stutterer. Together, the adaptation, consistency, adjacency, white noise, and contingent-stimulus effects, the loci of the stutterings, and the case history all appeared to show that the suspect was being truthful. In typical cases of stuttering it appears possible to rule out malingering with considerable confidence. To demonstrate malingering when it occurs, however, would seem to be more difficult in view of the existence of atypical cases of stuttering.
GaAs/GaInP double heterostructure characterization for laser cooling of semiconductors

External quantum efficiency of semiconductor photonic devices is directly measured by wavelength-dependent laser-induced temperature change (scanning laser calorimetry) with very high accuracy. Maximum efficiency is attained at an optimum photo-excitation level that can be determined with an independent measurement of power-dependent photoluminescence. Differential power-dependent photoluminescence measurement is used to quickly screen the sample quality before processing.
A timing comparison of the conjugate gradient and Gauss-Seidel parallel algorithms in a one-dimensional flow equation using PVM

The development of parallel processing came about due to the ineffectiveness of a single processor to accommodate the solutions of large scale problems in a reasonable amount of time. In this paper, we shall introduce one such problem, and discuss the implementation of two parallel algorithms applied to the linear approximations. This study will illustrate how an approximation method which has a faster rate of convergence may not necessarily produce the best solution time.
Bifurcations and interacting modes in coupled lasers : a strong coupling theory.

The paper presents a theoretical study of synchronization between two coupled lasers. A theory valid for arbitrary coupling between lasers is used. Its key feature is that the laser field is decomposed in terms of the composite-cavity modes reflecting the spatial field dependence over the entire coupled-laser system. The ensuing multimode equations are reduced to class-B, and further to class-A equations which resemble competing species equations. Bifurcation analysis, supported by insight provided by analytical solutions, is used to investigate influences of pump, carrier decay rate, polarization decay rate, and coupling mirror losses on synchronization between lasers. Population pulsation is found to be an essential mode competition mechanism responsible for bistability in the synchronized solutions. Finally, we discovered that the mechanism leading to laser synchronization changes from strong composite-cavity mode competition in class-A regime to frequency locking of composite-cavity modes in class-B regime.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGFs) and Stroke

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) have been shown to participate in atherosclerosis, arteriogenesis, cerebral edema, neuroprotection, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, postischemic brain and vessel repair, and the effects of transplanted stem cells in experimental stroke. Most of these actions involve VEGF-A and the VEGFR-2 receptor, but VEGF-B, placental growth factor, and VEGFR-1 have been implicated in some cases as well. VEGF signaling pathways represent important potential targets for the acute and chronic treatment of stroke.
Two-Isometries on Pontryagin Spaces

A model for a class of cyclic analytic 2-isometries acting on Pontryagin spaces is given, generalizing a Hilbert space version given by S. Richter. Furthermore, an example is constructed showing that, unlike in the Hilbert space case, a cyclic analytic 2-isometry need not have a cyclic vector in the orthogonal complement of its range.
A straight-line order-preserving binary tree drawing algorithm with linear area and arbitrary aspect ratio

Abstract Graph layouts and visualizations have been at the forefront of graph drawing research for decades, consequently leading to aesthetic heuristics that not only generate better visualizations and aesthetically appealing graphs but also improve readability and understanding of the graphs. A variety of approaches examines aesthetics of nodes, edges, or graph layout, and related readability metrics. Improving the known bounds on two aesthetic requirements (area and aspect ratio) for planar straight-line order-preserving grid drawings of binary trees is presented in an algorithm that uses a separation approach. The new bounds are optimal in area and aspect ratio, where the optimum values are linear and 1:1 respectively.
Perfusion changes with photic stimulation during two phases of the menstrual cycle: a pilot study comparing controls and true menstrual migraine patients.

This pilot study investigated the effect of menstrual cycle phase (late luteal and mid-follicular) on cerebral perfusion changes during photic stimulation in both controls (n = 5) and true menstrual migraine patients (n = 5). No significant differences in resting baseline perfusion were observed between the two groups during either phase of the menstrual cycle. During the late luteal phase, changes in perfusion within the occipital lobe due to photic stimulation were similar for both groups. However, during the mid-follicular phase, occipital perfusion during visual stimulation decreased for controls but significantly increased for true menstrual migraine patients (P < 0.05). A two way repeated measures ANOVA also demonstrated a significant difference between menstrual migraine patients and controls for photic activation (P < 0.05).
A phosphatidic acid-activated protein kinase and conventional protein kinase C isoforms phosphorylate p22(phox), an NADPH oxidase component.

Using a phosphorylation-dependent cell-free system to study NADPH oxidase activation (McPhail, L. C., Qualliotine-Mann, D., and Waite, K. A. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 7931–7935), we previously showed that p47 phox, a cytosolic NADPH oxidase component, is phosphorylated. Now, we show that p22 phox , a subunit of the NADPH oxidase component flavocytochrome b 558, also is phosphorylated. Phosphorylation is selectively activated by phosphatidic acid (PA) versus other lipids and occurs on a threonine residue in p22 phox . We identified two protein kinase families capable of phosphorylating p22 phox : 1) a potentially novel, partially purified PA-activated protein kinase(s) known to phosphorylate p47 phox and postulated to mediate the phosphorylation-dependent activation of NADPH oxidase by PA and 2) conventional, but not novel or atypical, isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC). In contrast, all classes of PKC isoforms could phosphorylate p47 phox . In a gel retardation assay both the phosphatidic acid-dependent kinase and conventional PKC isoforms phosphorylated all molecules of p22 phox . These findings suggest that phosphorylation of p22 phox by conventional PKC and/or a novel PA-activated protein kinase regulates the activation/assembly of NADPH oxidase.
In Search of the State: A Review Article

In the nineteenth century, Prussian bureaucrats and military officers imposed a unified state organization on the fragmented territories that once had composed the Holy Roman Empire. For German intellectuals like Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Otto Hintze the state was the protagonist of modern history.' While European social scientists theorized about class conflict, bureaucracy, and the state, American sociologists studied folkways, primary groups, and urban succession. Only recently has American scholarship recognized the problematic character of the state. This is not surprising. The consensus view of American history assumed that a great liberal tradition invalidated the antagonistic implications inherent in a distinction between the state and society. Parsonian sociology argued that the American social system tended to remain in equilibrium; there was scant room in such a scheme for explaining the Civil War, populism, or the Wobblies, except as momentary imbalances in a system that soon reached another, more general consensus. During the 1960s and '70s the state's organization became a significant political issue. Whose interests did the state serve? What powers had it acquired? How could the rights of citizens be guaranteed? As strong protest
Gauge models with right-handed currents, neutrino interactions, and K L -K S mass difference

Weak interaction models with new right-handed charm changing currents and $delta$I = 1/2 rule are discussed within the SU(2) x U(1) x G and SU(2)/ subA/ x SU(2)/subB/ x SU(4) ' gauge theory framework and it is pointed out that $delta$S = 2 transitions do not provide at present too much of a constraint on these models. It is suggested that neutral-current interactions and high-energy neutrino cross sections will test the validity of these theories. (AIP)
Variables related to outcome following child psychiatric hospitalization

Children (N = 110) hospitalized on a child psychiatric unit improved significantly in psychological functioning at discharge and 1- and 6-months follow-up relative to their functioning at admission. Children who were more impaired at admission made more progress during admission but were more impaired at follow-up than children who had milder symptoms at admission. Children without a behavior disorder had a better outcome than children with a behavior disorder. None of the other variables, alone or in combination, was significantly related to admission progress or follow-up outcome, including specific diagnoses, gender, race, age, IQ, family functioning, negative life events, parent education and employment, biological family history, length of hospitalization, parent involvement during admission and follow-up services.
Rehabilitation needs and breast cancer: The first month after primary therapy

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in occidental women, yet very little information is available about the rehabilitation needs of these patients. This report reviews in detail the physical, psychological, social, and financial problems identified by fifty women during the first month after primary surgical treatment. The most frequently reported problems were physical and psychological. Patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM) are compared with patients receiving segmental mastectomy and primary radiotherapy (SM). There were few differences between the two surgical treatment groups; however, patients in the MRM group reported more difficulty with clothing and body image, while the SM group had more disruption of recreation and social activities. Information about the rehabilitation problems of patients with this common neoplasm should be helpful to patients and to the members of the health care team who are helping them recover.
Concentric Eye Walls, Secondary Wind Maxima, and The Evolution of the Hurricane vortex

Abstract Research aircraft observations in recent hurricanes support the model of Shapiro and Willoughby (1982) for the tropical cyclone's response to circularly symmetric, convective heat sources (convective rings). In both nature and the numerical model the tangential wind commonly increases rapidly just inside the radius of maximum wind and decreases inside the eye near the central axis of the vortex. Thus both secondary outer wind maxima and eyewall wind maxima often contract as they intensify. This response is independent of the horizontal spatial scale of the maximum. An outer maximum is frequently observed to constrict about a pre-existing eye and replace it. This chain of events often coincides with a weakening, or at least a pause in intensification, of the vortex as a whole. The concentric eye phenomenon is a common, but by no means universal, feature of tropical cyclones. It is most frequently observed in intense, highly symmetric systems.
INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ROOT NODULES OF CASUARINA (CASUARINACEAE)

A B S T R A C T Roots of seedlings of the "beefwood" tree, Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. grown in nitrogenfree nutrient solution were inoculated with a suspension prepared from crushed root nodules taken from mature plants. Marked deformation of root hairs was evident but no infection threads were observed in root hairs. The mode of infection remains undetermined. Root nodules were initiated within three weeks and thereafter numerous upward-growing nodule roots developed from each nodule. Nodules in this symbiotic nitrogen-fixing plant resulted from an infection caused by an unidentified actinomycete-like soil microorganism. Anatomical analysis of nodule formation showed that nodules are the result of repeated endogenous lateral root initiations, one placed upon another in a complexly branched and truncated root system. The endophyte-infected cortical tissues derived from successive root primordia form the swollen nodular mass. Nodule roots develop from nodule lobes after escaping from the initial inhibitory effects of the endophyte. Included is a discussion of the anatomical similarities between nodules of Casuarina which produce nodule roots and those of Alnus which form coralloid nodules usually lacking nodule roots. CASUARINA (Casuarinaceae) is one of the genera of non-leguminous angiosperms whose species are capable of forming root nodules in response to invasion from the soil by an actinomycete-like organism. The genus comprises some 45 species, most of them trees inhabiting the Old World tropics and Australia, but present as introductions in many other areas, including Florida and California. Evidence that the nodules are nitrogenfixing has been provided by Aldrich-Blake (1932), Mowry (1933) and Bond (1957a, b). The root nodules of Casuarina are of complex morphology, comparable to those of Alnus, Myrica and several other genera. From a single infection point in a root there can be formed eventually a spherical mass several cm in diameter composed of close-packed, radiating nodule lobes. In Casuarina, as well as in Myrica and Comptonia, fairly normal, uninfected roots ("noduleroots") emerge from the tips of the swollen noidule lobes. The initiation, development and structure of nodules on roots of nitrogen-fixing non-leguminous angiosperms have been reviewed by Bond
Residential irrigation as a driver of urban bird communities

The demand for fresh water has largely outpaced supply both globally and locally with current water management policies unable to meet the needs of urban, agricultural, and industrial activities. Irrigation is one of the many anthropogenic uses of water and is arguably the most important maintenance factor in a landscape. This is particularly true in an arid climate, such as the Central Valley of California. Urban residents' decisions about the design and maintenance of their landscapes affect bird species richness. Published research indicates that these decisions are also affected by the residents' socioeconomic status. However, the driver of this relationship remains unknown. This paper uses data from the Fresno Bird Count, a citizen science organization, to test the hypothesis that neighborhood socioeconomic status influences residential irrigation regimes, which influences plant cover, in turn influencing bird diversity and abundance. A random sampling grid containing 460 points are used as locations for five minute point counts for the Fresno Bird Count ("fresnobirds.org":http://fresnobirds.org/). Socioeconomic data has been obtained from the U.S. Census and irrigation regimes from the city of Fresno. Aerial imagery and ground sampling on point count locations are used for characterizing habitat. Preliminary analysis of the first year of data (2008) supports this hypothesis and reveals a north/south gradient of bird diversity paralleling the socioeconomic gradient of Fresno. This paper will present results from a more comprehensive analysis of data including the spring 2009 bird census. Policies in the U.S. regarding the distribution and cost of water are changing in response to increased water demands, and the city of Fresno is about to undergo such a change. In 2013 a policy of metered water is scheduled to begin, which is predicted to increase water conservation by residents due to an increase in it overall cost. In addition to examining coupled socio-ecological drivers of urban diversity, this study will be the first part of a Before After Control Impact experiment taking advantage of the planned implementation of metering the cost of water use. The results can help guide the city in improving its management of urban habitat and biodiversity.
Infrared polarization in the natural Earth environment

This paper provides a summary of research undertaken to quantify the degree of polarization that occurs in thermal infrared radiance in the natural Earth environment. Water surfaces provide one of the only significantly polarized natural sources of thermal infrared radiation, while emission from the atmosphere and ground is almost always unpolarized to any practical degree. However, the actual degree of polarization from water depends upon a balance of orthogonally polarized emission and background reflection terms, weighted by atmospheric transmittance. This summary describes computer simulations of polarized radiance from water viewed in a realistic atmosphere and a comparison of the model with measurements of the spectral degree of thermal infrared polarization for water.
Relation of anomalous Raman spectra of GaAs to metastable transitions of EL2 defects.

In the course of 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser studies of Raman spectra of GaAs, we observed, at low temperature, the onset of anomalies in the spectra consisting of order-of-magnitude enhancement of the forbidden TO and LO lines and weaker increases in the allowed Raman structure. Our investigation of the temperature dependence of this phenomenon showed that the anomalies appeared only in conjunction with the metastable transition of the EL2 defects in the material. The correlation of the two phenomena could be traced to the laser-induced quenching of the sub-band-gap absorption associated with the defects in their normal state. This was confirmed in a variety of samples chosen for their different thermal-recovery temperatures. The quenching of the absorption effectively increases the laser intensity in the samples, thus directly increasing the allowed Raman scattering intensity. The source of the huge enhancement of the forbidden Raman lines is more subtle. It could be traced to double-scattering processes consisting of any sequence of elastic Rayleigh scattering and inelastic, allowed Raman scattering. The double-scattering process is greatly facilitated by the buildup of trapped primary scattered light within the sample by the combination of the quenching of the absorption and the high index of refraction of GaAs which results in substantial total internal reflection of the primary scattered light.
A study of portable water mist fire extinguishers used for extinguishment of multiple fire types

This paper describes both theoretical and experimental studies on the application of a portable water mist extinguisher in suppressing multiple fire types. Two prototype portable water mist fire extinguishers were developed and their feasibility in extinguishing flammable liquid, cooking oil and wood crib fires, and for use in fires associated with an energized target was investigated. The interaction between water mist and the fire plume was studied by analyzing the instantaneous process of fire extinction, and fire and fuel temperature profiles. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results showed that the extinguishing mechanisms and process as well as water mist characteristics required (such as water flux density, droplet size and spray coverage) change with the types of fires encountered. The portable water mist extinguisher with appropriate mist characteristics was able to extinguish multiple fire types.