cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sarcomere Length Dependent Contractile Activation is Reduced in Rat Trabeculae Exchanged with cTn Containing the L48Q cTnC Variant Independently of Strong Binding Cross-Bridges

Calcium sensitivity of the force-pCa relationship depends strongly on sarcomere length (SL) in cardiac muscle. It can also be influenced by maneuvers that alter the distribution of cross-bridges within the cross-bridge cycle. We have demonstrated that cardiac trabeculae have left-shifted and virtually eliminated SL dependence of force-pCa relationship following passive exchange with cTn containing a mutant (L48Q) cTnC (with enhanced TnC-TnI interaction). Here we designed experiments to investigate the importance of strongly bound crossbridges and lattice spacing in modulating the force-pCa relationship of WT and L48Q cTnC-cTn exchanged trabeculae. Using 3% dextran at SL = 2.0 µm to osmotically compress preparations to widths ∼SL = 2.3 µm, we observed increased maximal force but not increased pCa50 in L48Q cTnC-cTn exchanged trabeculae. Conversely, crossbridge inhibition with of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM, 7 mM) at SL 2.3 µm decreased maximal force and Ca2+ sensitivity in native and WT-cTn exchanged trabeculae to levels measured at ∼SL = 2.0 µm. L48QcTnC-cTn exchanged preparations treated with BDM also decreased maximal force to that seen at SL = 2.0 µm, but demonstrated no shift in Ca2+ sensitivity. This result is similar to decrease in maximal force but no shift in Ca2+ sensitivity for L48Q cTnC-cTn exchanged preparations at SL 2.0 vs. 2.3 µm. The combined results further support the idea that L48Q cTnC confers crossbridge independence on thin filament activation. It may also imply that native thin filaments are dependent on strong crossbridge binding for full activation because of relatively weak cTnC-cTnI interaction. Finally, the relative strength of cTnC-cTnI interaction may be an important determinant in length dependent activation of cardiac muscle. Support provided by NIH HL65497 (MR) and T32 HL07828 (FSK).
Organizing action of corticosterone on the development of behavioral inhibition in the preweanling rat

Abstract Altricial rat pups develop the ability to freeze and to terminate their emission of ultrasonic vocalizations when exposed to an unfamiliar adult male rat. This developmental competence in expressing behavioral inhibition is impaired when rat pups are adrenalectomized (ADX) on postnatal day 10, a period prior to the emergence of behavioral inhibition. Adrenalectomy, however, fails to induce similar behavioral deficits when performed after behavioral inhibition has developed. Results suggest that adrenal steroids are involved in promoting the development but not the activation of behavioral inhibition. To critically test this hypothesis, four groups of rats were adrenalectomized on day 10 and tested for behavioral inhibition on day 18. Prior to testing, one group of rats received daily s.c. injections of vehicle whereas another group was treated with daily injections of 3.0 mg/kg of corticosterone (B). The other two groups of rats received daily B injections on only days 10–13 or days 14–17. Results indicated that ADX rats treated with B only on days 10–13 as well as throughout exhibited significantly higher levels of freezing than the other two treatment groups. In order to evaluate whether the behavioral inhibitory deficits produced by ADX at 10 days of age are due to a delayed insensitivity to the 3.0 mg/kg dose of B, day 10 pups were ADX and injected on days 14–17 with doses of B as high as 12 mg/kg. When tested for behavioral inhibition on day 18, these high doses of B were found to be ineffective in potentiating freezing above the level of vehicle-treated rats. Together, results suggest that prior to the end of the second postnatal week endogenous adrenal steroids and in particular B, are critically involved in developmental changes necessary for the eventual species typical expression of behavioral inhibition.
Denting Points and Drop Properties in Orlicz Spaces

Abstract On the unit ball of an Orlicz function space the denting points, weak * denting points, and quasi-denting points coincide. But on the unit ball of an Orlicz sequence space the quasi-denting points are different from the denting points and weak * denting points. We also show that the weak * drop property and the Kadec–Klee property are equivalent in Orlicz spaces. Hence the weak drop property and the weak * drop property are independent properties in Banach spaces.
Stability, Crisis, and Other Reasons for Optimism: University Foreign Language Education in the United States.

This article presents a brief overview of the state of university language education in the United States. Despite the impact of the world economic crisis on university language education in the United States, the profession has not yet been impacted to the extent many believe it has. Current scholarly debates allow for both a sober assessment of and an optimistic perspective on the field’s trajectory in recent years. A brief summary is offered of recent enrollments in university courses in languages other than English, which shows that enrollments have indeed remained stable, though even these stable numbers point toward shortcomings in the place of language education in academia overall. The key points of the 2007 Modern Language Association Ad Hoc Committee Report, ‘Foreign languages and higher education: New structures for a changed world’, are then presented, along with some scholarly responses to it. The report, and especially the academic debate it sparked, point toward a period of transformation i...
A Near-infrared Emitting Self-assembled Pbs-dendrimer Nanocomposite

Optical spectroscopy of a nanocomposite of PbS quantum dots and poly(amido amine) dendrimer exhibits a 750-nm band-edge absorption peak, partially-polarized 820-1150 nm fluorescence with peak at 940 nm, and a fluorescence lifetime of 785 ns.
DUCK PLAGUE EPIZOOTICS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1967–1995

In 1967, the first confirmed diagnosis of duck plague (DP) in the USA was made from pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) on commercial duck farms on Long Island, New York. Within 10 mo, DP was confirmed as the cause of death in migratory waterfowl on a Long Island bay. This paper reviews 120 DP epizootics reported from 1967 to 1995 that involved waterfowl species native to North America or were reported in areas with free-flying waterfowl at risk. Duck plague epizootics occurred in 21 states with the greatest number reported in Maryland (29), New York (18), California (16), and Pennsylvania (13). The greatest frequency of epizootics (86%) was detected during the months of March to June. At least 40 waterfowl species were affected with the highest frequency of epizootics reported in captive or captive-reared ducks including muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) (68%), mallard ducks (A. platyrhynchos) (18%) and black ducks (A. rubripes) (14%). The greatest number of waterfowl died in three epizootics that...
A comparison of two silicoating techniques.

PURPOSE A major challenge of composite-coated metal restorations is creating a strong bond between the two materials. This study was conducted to compare the bond strengths between composite and metal alloys using two silicoating treatments; the Silicoater Classic and the Silicoater MD (Kulzer Inc, Irvine, CA). MATERIALS AND METHODS The Classic uses a pyrolytically applied silica glass and the MD process is an oven sintering of a metal oxide silicate layer. Two types of specimens of three different alloys were cast (Deva4: 51Au38Pd, G-Cast: 50Au32Ag12Cu [Degussa Corp. South Plainfield, NJ]; Ticonium: 70Ni15Cr [CMP Industries, Inc, Albany NY]). The specimens were silicoated with either the Classic or the MD process and opaque resin and composite (Dentacolor, Kulzer Inc) were bonded to each surface. A total of five control and 10 thermocycled (5,040 cycles 0 degree C to 67 degrees C; dwell time, 1 minute) specimens were fabricated for each alloy and specimen type. Two bond strength tests were used; a three-point flexure test and a shear bond strength test. Data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and a Tukey's multiple comparison test. RESULTS The standard deviations of the shear bond strength values ranged from +/- 2.30 to +/- 17.82.kg; thus, there was no significant difference in these results. Bond strength ratios were calculated from the flexure strength data. After thermocycling, the Silicoater MD produced significantly higher (P < 0.05) bond strength ratio values compared with the Silicoater Classic for Deva-4 (MD, 9.6 +/- 1.5 v Classic, 4.7 +/- 0.9) and G-Cast (MD, 11.6 +/- 1.2 v Classic, 3.9 +/- 0.5) but lower values for Ticonium (MD, 4.5 +/- 0.4 v Classic, 6.9 +/- 0.9). CONCLUSION The Silicoater MD produced higher bond strength ratio values with noble alloys, and the Silicoater Classic produced higher bond strength ratio results when base metal alloys were used, suggesting a possible correlation between the effectiveness of the coating processes and the compositions of the alloys. These findings suggest that, for optimum results, selection of the type of silicoating process should be based on the components of the alloy.
Cell Biology Symposium: feed efficiency: mitochondrial function to global gene expression.

Understanding the cellular basis of feed effi ciency (FE) is instrumental to helping poultry and livestock industries continue to provide high-quality protein for an increasingly crowded world. To under- stand relationships of FE and gene expression, global RNA transcription was investigated in breast muscle obtained from a male broiler line fed the same diet and individually phenotyped for FE. In these studies, RNA samples obtained from broilers that exhibited either high FE (0.65 ± 0.01) or low FE (0.46 ± 0.01) were analyzed with an Agilent 44K chicken oligoarray. A 1.3-fold cutoff in expression (30% difference between groups) resulted in 782 genes that were differentially expressed (P < 0.05) in muscle between the high- and low-FE phenotypes. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, an online software program, was used to identify genes, gene networks, and pathways associated with the phe- notypic expression of FE. The results indicate that the high-FE phenotype exhibited increased expression of genes associated with 1) signal transduction pathways, 2) anabolic activities, and 3) energy-sensing and energy coordination activities, all of which would likely be favorable to cell growth and development. In contrast, the low-FE broiler phenotype exhibited upregulation of genes 1) associated with actin-myosin fi laments, cytoskeletal architecture, and muscle fi bers and 2) stress-related or stress-responsive genes. Because the low-FE broiler phenotype exhibits greater oxidative stress, it would appear that the low-FE phenotype is the product of inherent gene expression that is modulated by oxidative stress. The results of these studies begin to provide a comprehensive picture of gene expression in muscle, a major organ of energy demand in an animal, associated with phenotypic expression of FE.
Effect of CP-96,345, a non-peptide NK1 receptor antagonist, against substance P-, bradykinin- and allergen-induced airway microvascular leakage and bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig.

Abstract We have investigated the effect of a new non-peptide NK 1 receptor antagonist, CP-96,345, against substance P (SP)-, bradykinin (BK)- and allergen-induced airway microvascular leakage, brochoconstriction and hypotension in anesthetized guinea pigs. Lung resistance (R L ) and mean systemstic blood pressure (BP) were measured for 6 min after challenge, followed by measurement of extravasation of Evans blue dye into airway tissues, used as an index of airway microvascular leakage. I.v. (2 nmol/kg) and inhaled (1 mM, 45 breaths) SP, i.v. (15 nmol/kg) and inhaled (1 mM, 45 breaths) BK and aerosolized allergen (5 mg/ml of ovalbumin, 30 breaths) induced a significant increase in R L and leakage of dye at all airway levels, and decreased BP significantly except for inhaled BK. CP-96,345 (2 mg/kg i.v.) abolished the dye extravasation induced by both SP. CP-96,345 partly inhibited the responses induced by both BK but not by allergen. CP-96,345 markedly inhibited the increase in R L and fall in BP induced by SP but not by BK or allergen. NK 1 receptor-mediated mechanisms may contribute to SP- and BK-induced airway microvascular leakage and SP-induced bronchoconstriction and hypotension. These mechanisms are not important in the acute airway responses induced by inhaled allergen.
Gender and Ethnicity among Community College Students: The Relationship between Adlerian Themes.

This study explored the relationship between Adlerian themes, gender, and ethnicity. Results indicate significant differences between Hispanic and Caucasian (non-Hispanic) community college students in Belonging and Social Interest as measured by the BASIS-A. Differences between males and females in Going Along and Wanting Recognition are also explored. The findings are discussed in relation to college students, teaching, and classroom climates.
Porous silicon 2D photonic crystals

Porous silicon (PSi) is an attractive material for fabrication of multilayer optical devices such as Bragg reflectors, Fabry-Perot resonators and other novel (optical) components. Such devices are characterized by a periodic modulation of the refractive indices in alternating layers and can be classified as 1D photonic crystals. 2D photonic bandgap structures can be also obtained using a variation of applied potential on the back side of the sample during electrochemical formation of the multilayers. This technique allows a fabrication of spatially distributed filters on the millimeter size scale. In this paper, a new method is presented which uses a front side protective mask for the creation of 2D photonic bandgap structures on the micron scale. The devices obtained by this technique can be used for the creation of spatially distributed filters. The front side protective mask controls lateral undercut in multiple ways depending on the mask material. By varying the design and material of the protective mask, PSi interference filters with desired optical parameters across a field of view can be realized. In this paper, a novel, simple method to produce 2D periodic multilayer structures is described. In particular, the focus is on the changes in the photonic crystal cavities when various mask materials are used. In addition, a new type of active optical components for a chip-to chip interconnection based on the combination of our method and MEMS technology is presented.
Clinical acumen but psychometric naivete in neuropsychological assessment of educational disorders

Abstract Many advances in clinical neuropsychology have resulted from the excellent clinical, observational skills developed in the field. In the development of assessment tools for clinical practice, advances in the field have not paralleled advances in applied psychometrics, especially in the assessment of educationally handicapped children. The Boder Test of Reading Spelling Patterns is examined as a detailed example of outstanding clinical acumen leading to a valuable heuristic that failed when translated into a practical assessment toot, primarily due to a lack of attention to the psychometric aspects of the scale. Implications of the failure to apply modern psychometric standards to test development in clinical neuropsychology are discussed.
Serum-migration inhibitory activity in patients with sarcoidosis.

Abstract We have found that 60% of patients with sarcoidosis studied have circulating serum MIF according to conventional criteria (migration indices of 80, but significantly different from controls by statistical analysis). No significant patterns emerged with respect to the extent of disease or steroid therapy. Statistically, patients with disease for more than 2 years were more likely to have detectable MIF than those of shorter duration. Patients with serum MIF showed a diminution in reactivity to skin test with a battery of common antigens, as compared to patients without serum MIF. This diminution was significant at P
Semiparametric estimation of treatment effect in a pretest-posttest study.

En medecine, en sante publique et dans d'autres domaines, les etudes avant-apres sont classiques. Pour realiser des inferences sur l'effet d'un traitement en ajustant sur la valeur de la variable reponse avant traitement, nous adoptons une approche semiparametrique qui n'exige aucune hypothese sur les distributions des reponses aux deux temps de mesure. Nous utilisons des developpements recents concernant l'analyse des observations incompletes et l'inference causale, et nous utilisons la notion de variable aleatoire contrefactuelle pour deriver la classe de tous les estimateurs convergents de l'effet traitement, identifier le plus efficace et mettre en evidence les strategies de mise en aeuvre de ces estimateurs susceptibles de conduire a des performances meilleures que les methodes courantes. Nous evaluons les proprietes de ces methodes ces methodes a l'aide de simulations, et nous les illustrons a partir des donnees d'un essai therapeutique comparant des traitements du VIH.
Chemical stratification at the top of Earth's core: Constraints from observations of nutations

Abstract Dissipation due to tidally driven flow in the Earth's liquid core is detected in observations of nutations. One source of dissipation is due to electromagnetic core–mantle coupling, but this mechanism requires a high electrical conductivity on the mantle side of the boundary and a strong radial magnetic field. An alternative mechanism is viable in the presence of fluid stratification at the top of the core. Stratification causes the fluid close to the core–mantle boundary to be trapped by the effects of topography. Further from the boundary the stratified fluid is swept past the mantle with the underlying tidal flow. Shear in the flow induces electric currents where the fluid is permeated with a radial magnetic field. The resulting dissipation is only weakly dependent on the electrical conductivity of the mantle and the required strength of the radial magnetic field can be lowered. For a representative calculation we explain the observed dissipation with a radial field of 0.5 mT and a mantle conductivity of 1000 S/m, provided the buoyancy frequency in the stratified layer is 0.09 s−1. Such a strong stratification has recently been proposed on the basis of chemical interactions between the core and the mantle. Nutation observations support the presence of stratification to the extent that the resulting dissipation mechanism is more compatible with conventional estimates for the radial magnetic field and the mantle conductivity.
Evaluating Negative Information in Online Consumer Discussions: From Qualitative Analysis to Signal Detection

SUMMARY Usenet groups, lifestyle portals, professional forums, and other online discussions allow consumers to communicate with each other in unprecedented ways. Negative online word of mouth may pose particular worries for marketing practitioners; but how can marketers tell whether there is a real problem? This paper discusses methods for evaluating negative information in online discussions. Concepts from content analysis and signal detection theory are described and illustrated using two online discussions concerning Nike.
Spatial and seasonal trends in biogenic secondary organic aerosol tracers and water-soluble organic carbon in the southeastern United States.

Twenty-four hour integrated filter samples of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were collected from May 2004 to April 2005 at one rural site and three urban sites located in the southeastern United States. Filters were extracted and analyzed for both biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) tracers via gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC−MS), and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) concentrations. The tracers reported in this study include isoprene-derived 2-methylthreitol and 2-methylerythritol, as well as pinene-derived cis-pinonic acid. The mean ambient concentrations ranged from 21.7 to 94.3 ng/m3, 5.31 to 17.9 ng/m3, and 1.87 to 3.18 µgC/m3 for 2-methyltetrols (sum of 2-methylerythritol and 2-methylthreitol), cis-pinonic acid and WSOC, respectively. Distinct spatial distributions were observed for all tracers with the highest concentration at the rural site and the lowest level at a coastal site. Although 2-methyltetrols were small fractions of WSOC, varying from 0.35% at an urban site to highest ...
Simple fast median filtering algorithm, with application to corner detection

The Letter studies the speed of operaton of median filtering algorithms. An iterative approach is investigated, and then simplified to take the local neighbourhood centre pixel as a starting approximation. Overall speedup factors of 2–4 are obtained. The method is useful when the ‘running median’ technique cannot be used, as for ‘skimmed’ median-based corner detectors.
Methode zum Messen der Maldistribution in Füllkörperkolonnen

Die Trennstufenzahl von Fullkorperkolonnen hangt im allgemeinen auch ab von der Maldistribution, dem Kolonnendurchmesser und der seitlichen Vermischung. Es wird eine Methode zur Untersuchung der Maldistribution beschrieben. An einer Kolonne von 500 mm Dmr. wird Maldistribution des Rucklaufes kunstlich hervorgerufen und die Auswirkung auf Dampf- und Flussigkeitszusammensetzung gemessen. Die Ubereinstimmung mit der Theorie ist zufriedenstellend.
Defining ‘gratuitous evil’: a response to Alan R. Rhoda

In his article, ‘Gratuitous evil and divine providence’, Alan Rhoda claims to have produced an uncontroversial theological premise for the evidential argument from evil. I argue that his premise is by no means uncontroversial among theists, and I doubt that any premise can be found that is both uncontroversial and useful for the argument from evil.
Nasal spray nicotine replacement suppresses cigarette smoking desire and behavior.

The effects of short-term nasal spray nicotine replacement in suppressing desire to smoke and ad libitum cigarette smoking behavior were evaluated in male and female smokers. In study I, 10 male and 10 female smokers received intermittent doses of 0, 7.5, 15, and 30 µg/kg nicotine by way of measured-dose nasal spray, with each dose on a separate day. Self-reported desire to smoke was significantly suppressed by each nicotine dose compared with placebo, but there were no significant differences among nicotine doses or between men and women. In study II, eight male and eight female smokers received 0, 15, and 30 µg/kg nicotine intermittently and were allowed to smoke their preferred brands of cigarettes ad libitum. Similar to study I, nicotine replacement significantly suppressed number of cigarettes smoked, number of puffs, and carbon monoxide boost and increased latency to smoking, but there were almost no significant differences between the two nicotine doses. Magnitude of smoking suppression attributable to 15 µg/kg tended to be greater in men than in women. However, plasma nicotine concentrations were significantly higher after 15 and 30 µg/kg versus placebo, suggesting only partial compensation in smoking behavior with short-term nasal nicotine replacement. These findings support the idea that short-term nicotine replacement decreases smoking desire and behavior, but the findings indicate that smoking behavior is partly influenced by factors other than nicotine regulation. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1992) 52, 627–634; doi:10.1038/clpt.1992.201
Fracture modes in tungsten wire

Abstract Room-temperature fracture of extremely fibrous, heavily-worked tungsten wire involves combinations of three fracture modes: cleavage, grain boundary delamination, and necking of individual grains. Cleavage occurs on {110} planes with, or without, concomitant necking. Ductile fracture is preceded by micro-grain boundary delamination resulting from hydrostatic tensile stresses generated by necking. Microcracks also form above the fracture-mode transition temperature, allowing individual grains to neck to 100% reduction in area, with resultant fibrous-appearing fractures. The superposition of tensile and grain boundary delamination stresses during coil formation cause alternating, transverse, tensile-type fractures and major delaminations, creating a tapered, stair-step fracture path. The angle between the fracture surface and the wire axis increases with increasing tensile component.
Mbosi: An anomalous iron with unique silicate inclusions

— The Mbosi iron meteorite contains millimeter size silicate inclusions. Mbosi is an ungrouped iron meteorite with a Ge/Ga ratio >10, which is an anomalous property shared with the five-member IIF iron group, the Eagle Station pallasites and four other ungrouped irons. Neither the IIF group nor the four other ungrouped irons are known to have silicate inclusions. Chips from three Mbosi inclusions were studied, but most of the work concentrated on a whole 3.1 mm circular inclusion. This inclusion consists of a mantle and a central core of different mineralogies. The mantle is partially devitrified quartz-normative glass, consisting of microscopic crystallites of two pyroxenes and plagioclase, which are crystalline enough to give an x-ray powder diffraction pattern but not coarse enough to permit analyses of individual minerals. The core consists of silica. The bulk composition does not match any known meteorite type, although there is a similarity in mode of occurrence to quartz-normative silicate inclusions in some HE irons. Mbosi silicate appears to be unique. The bulk rare earth element (REE) pattern of the mantle is flat at ≅ 7×C1; the core is depleted in REE but shows a small positive Eu anomaly. The O-isotope composition of bulk silicate lies on a unit slope mixing line (parallel and close to the C3 mixing line) that includes the Eagle Station pallasites and the iron Bocaiuva (related to the IIF irons); all of these share the property of having Ge/Ga ratios >10. It is concluded that Mbosi silicate represents a silica-bearing source rock that was melted and injected into metal. Melting occurred early in the history of the parent body because the metal now shows a normal Widmanstatten structure with only minor distortion that was caused when the parent body broke up and released meteorites into interplanetary space. The cause of Ge/Ga ratios being >10 in these irons is unknown. The fact that silicates in Mbosi, Bocaiuva (related to IIF irons) and the Eagle Station trio of pallasites, all characterized by a Ge/Ga ratio >10, lie on a unit slope mixing line in the O-isotope diagram suggests that their origins are closely related. The C3 chondrites appear to be likely precursors for silicates in Mbosi, Bocaiuva and the Eagle Station pallasites.
012 Development of an Analytic Framework for Making Evidence-Based Coverage Policy Decisions

Background Comprehensive health reform legislation in 2009 directed a US state to develop processes by which evidence can be translated into coverage guidance, and be applied rapidly and uniformly across public and private settings. Context Topics for development of coverage guidance were chosen if they represented a significant burden of disease, had important uncertainty with regard to efficacy or harms, had important variation or controversy in clinical care, significant economic impact and/or were of high public interest. Description of Best Practice A list of evidence sources was developed and vetted through the Governor-appointed committee that manages the state Medicaid benefit package. An analytic framework algorithm was developed to guide coverage decisions that consider six stepwise decision points: sufficiency of evidence; effectiveness of the treatment and availability of alternatives; treatment risk; cost; prevalence of treatment and feasibility of clinical research studies. The GRADE process was also used to specify the addition of patient values and preferences as a factor. The algorithm allows the committee to determine whether a service is recommended or not, with two levels of strength of recommendation (strong and weak). Using a public process, the committee has reviewed the evidence and has made coverage policy recommendations for 15 topics, to date. Decisions have been applied to Medicaid, and are also made available to other public and private payers. Lessons for Guideline Developers, Adaptors, Implementers, and/or Users Use of a discreet analytic framework can aid in the development of coverage decisions, and may accelerate the dissemination of research evidence into clinical practice.
Conservation of genome form but not sequence in the transcription antitermination determinants of bacteriophages λ, φ21 and P22☆

Comparisons are made among DNA sequences upstream from terminators in both leftwards and rightwards early operons of related coliphages λ, φ21 and P22. These sequences include both left and right determinants of response to phage-coded antitermination proteins, “N”, as well as the N structural genes themselves. Despite almost total disparity of DNA sequence, the three genomes can be discerned to include the same elements in the same order and spacing: downstream from the early left promoter are sequentially a site of recognition for host nusA protein, a dyad symmetry “nut” essential for N function in λ, overlapping sites for processing of the transcript by RNAase III and then the N structural genes; downstream from the cro gene on the right are sites of nusA recognition and nut dyad symmetries homologous to those on the left. Because the N proteins of λ, φ21 and P22 do not for the most part complement each other, a specific site of N recognition has been postulated for each N-responding operon. The nut dyad symmetry qualifies as such a site, since the loop of the left dyad in λ is marked by mutations that block N function leftwards, and since DNA sequences here show close homology between the loops of left and right dyads for each phage, but less if not little homology for different phages.
Evaluation of the TheraDrive system for robot/computer assisted motivating rehabilitation after stroke

This paper presents experimental data evaluating the merits of using a fun and engaging therapy protocol over a less engaging one in the context of a low-cost robot/computer motivating rehabilitation system for stroke rehabilitation called TheraDrive. The preliminary results suggest that there is a small advantage of the engaging therapy over the rote therapy in reducing motor impairment, improving ADL function, and improving stability. The more engaging protocol has an advantage in maintaining engagement and interest in therapy.
Structural Modifications of Gangliosides in Synaptic Membranes

It has been hypothesized that neuronal gangliosides are involved in receptors for biogenic amines (1–3) and certain neuro-toxins (4,5), and it is generally, although not universally (6), believed that, in the central nervous system, gangliosides are to be found concentrated in synaptic membranes. For further information, we have prepared purified intact and hypoosmotically ruptured synaptosomes from beef brain in order to probe the structural disposition of gangliosides in these preparations by surface labelling techniques for sialosyl and galactosyl components, and we have made preliminary observations on the modifying influence of calcium ions.
The molecular biology and nomenclature of the activating transcription factor/cAMP responsive element binding family of transcription factors: activating transcription factor proteins and homeostasis

The mammalian ATF/CREB family of transcription factors represents a large group of basic region-leucine zipper (bZip) proteins which was originally defined in the late 1980s by their ability to bind to the consensus ATF/CRE site 'TGACGTCA'. Over the past decade, cDNA clones encoding identical or homologous proteins have been isolated by different laboratories and given different names. These proteins can be grouped into subgroups according to their amino acid similarity. In this review, we will briefly describe the classification of these proteins with a historical perspective of their nomenclature. We will then review three members of the ATF/CREB family of proteins: ATF3, ATF4 and ATF6. We will address four issues for each protein: (a) homologous proteins and alternative names, (b) dimer formation with other bZip proteins, (c) transcriptional activity, and (d) potential physiological functions. Although the name Activating Transcription Factor (ATF) implies that they are transcriptional activators, some of these proteins are transcriptional repressors. ATF3 homodimer is a transcriptional repressor and ATF4 has been reported to be either an activator or a repressor. We will review the reports on the transcriptional activities of ATF4, and propose potential explanations for the discrepancy. Although the physiological functions of these proteins are not well understood, some clues can be gained from studies with different approaches. When the data are available, we will address the following questions. (a) How is the expression (at the mRNA level or protein level) regulated? (b) How are the transcriptional activities regulated? (c) What are the interacting proteins (other than bZip partners)? (d) What are the consequences of ectopically expressing the gene (gain-of-function) or deleting the gene (loss-of-function)? Although answers to these questions are far from being complete, together they provide clues to the functions of these ATF proteins. Despite the diversity in the potential functions of these proteins, one common theme is their involvement in cellular responses to extracellular signals, indicating a role for these ATF proteins in homeostasis.
Tobacco dependence, restraint and time to the first cigarette of the day

Abstract The number of minutes it takes for a smoker to have the first cigarette of the day is discussed as a useful, subject-classifying variable. Other researchers have proposed that almost all smokers are dependent (on nicotine) and that those who behave as if they are not (e.g., by not smoking immediately in the morning) are actively restraining their cigarette intake. Study 1 shows that many smokers who delay their smoking are not so much restraining themselves from a desired cigarette as they are avoiding an especially noxious one; individual differences in urinary pH do not account for the sensitivity of some smokers to tobacco in the morning. Study 2 indicates that early smokers are more dependent on tobacco than are the later smokers, in that early smokers in a smoking-treatment program are less likely to be able to quit smoking.
Effects of desogestrel on carbohydrate metabolism

Associated with progesterone and the synthetic progestins used in oral contraceptives is a dose-dependent impairment of carbohydrate metabolism. It is well known that in the general population hyperinsulinemia and alterations in glucose metabolism are significant risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Studies that use curve analysis of glucose tolerance tests have demonstrated insulin resistance, rises in plasma insulin, and relative glucose intolerance in women using oral contraceptives. Desogestrel, a new progestin, has been demonstrated to have generally less pronounced effects on these parameters of carbohydrate metabolism.
Sex Parties among Young Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City: Attendance and Behavior

Very little information exists with regard to sex party behaviors in young men who have sex with men (YMSM), often defined as men ranging in age from 13 to 29 years. The current analysis examines sex party attendance and behavior in a sample of 540 emergent adult gay, bisexual, and other YMSM in New York City, ages 18–29 years. Findings indicate that 8.7% (n = 47) of the sample had attended a sex party 3 months prior to assessment. Sex party attendees reported that parties included both HIV-positive and HIV-negative men; attendees also reported unprotected sex and limited access to condoms and lubricant. As compared with those who did not attend sex parties, those who did indicated significantly more lifetime and recent (last 3 months) casual sex partners, drug use (both number of different drugs used and total lifetime use), psychosocial burden (history of partner violence and number of arrests), and total syndemic burden (a composite of unprotected anal sex, drug use and psychosocial burden). These results indicate that while only a small percentage of the overall sample attended sex parties, the intersection of both individual risk factors coupled with risk factors engendered within the sex party environment itself has the potential to be a catalyst in the proliferation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in urban settings. Lastly, given that sex parties are different than other sex environments, commercial and public, with regard to how they are accessed, public health strategies may need to become more tailored in order to reach this potentially highly risky group.
Using flow interruption to identify factors causing nonideal contaminant transport

The transport and fate of many contaminants in subsurface systems can be influenced by several rate-limited processes, such as rate-limited sorption, diffusional mass transfer, and transformation reactions. Identification of the controlling process in such systems is often difficult, and is confounded by the possible influence of additional factors such as nonlinear or hysteretic sorption. We present a relatively simple method, flow interruption, that can be used to discriminate between various sets of processes. The application of the method is illustrated with results obtained from experiments performed for selected systems. Specific process-pairs investigated include physical nonequilibrium vs. physical heterogeneity, rate-limited sorption vs. nonlinear sorption, and sorption vs. transformation reactions. The results show that, while both physical nonequilibrium and physical heterogeneity can cause enhanced spreading or dispersion, only the former causes a noticeable concentration perturbation upon imposition of flow interruption under typical conditions. In addition, while both rate-limited sorption and nonlinear sorption can cause breakthrough curves to exhibit tailing, only rate-limited sorption induces a concentration perturbation upon imposition of flow interruption. The information obtained from applying flow interruption can be used to assist in the planning of additional, process-specific experiments and to help identify appropriate mathematical models to be used for transport simulation.
Early Ordovician tidal flat sedimentation, western margin of proto-Atlantic Ocean

ABSTRACT During the Early Ordovician, detritus eroded from the anscestral Adirondack Mountains was deposited in eastern New York on a shallow shelf as a broad complex of strandline sand bars, shoal-flat channels, and sand-mud flats. Sedimentological studies of this sequence (Winchell Creek Member of Great Meadows Fm.--Lower Ordovician) suggest sediment accumulation in the intertidal zone, and thus offers evidence of tidal sedimentation along the eastern margin of the epicontinental sea, adjacent to the shelf edge in New York. Analysis of paleocurrent data from these rocks indicates that the dominant flood and ebb tidal currents active in this area were from the east and west, respectively, and support the interpretation of a major shelf-to-basin transition (paleoslope) to the east into a proto Atlantic ocean. This shelf region appears to have been part of the postulated contiguous shelf, peripheral to the proto-Atlantic, that existed from the Late Precambrian to Early Paleozoic. Similarity of sedimentary sequences and depositional events is recognized along the length of this shelf in diverse localities in the North Atlantic.
Cortical Reorganization Following Bimanual Training and Somatosensory Stimulation in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report

Background and Purpose Deficits in upper-extremity function in individuals with tetraplegia are primarily due to the loss of motor pathways. Detrimental cortical reorganization, however, may create further loss of function. The purpose of this case report is to describe the cortical changes associated with a combination intervention using bimanual massed practice training with somatosensory stimulation. Case Description “BR” was a 22-year-old man with C6 tetraplegia and hand impairment who participated in this training intervention for 3 weeks. Outcomes BR demonstrated improvements in sensory function, strength (the force-generating capacity of muscle), and performance of functional hand skills. Following the training, the cortical motor map of the biceps brachii muscle shifted anteriorly and increased in area and volume. Discussion This is the first documented case in which changes in the size and location of the cortical map were associated with an intervention and improvement in function in an individual with tetraplegia. This case suggests that an intensive training intervention may induce both functional and neurophysiological changes.
Food avoidance by adult house finches,Carpodacus mexicanus, affects seed preferences of offspring

Abstract In altricial birds, the food habits of young birds may be affected by extended parental contact. To examine this, five nesting pairs of captive adult house finches were exposed to hulled oats treated with an aversive agent, methiocarb. During the nestling and early fledgling stages, juvenile finches raised by adults that avoided oats received 30–40 times less exposure to hulled oats than did juveniles raised by adults that ate oats. After they were separated from the adults, the juveniles had no further access to oats or to canary seed, the alternative untreated food, until tested individually at 10–12, 20–22, and 35–38 weeks of age. There was no relationship between the juvenile birds’ exposure to oats in the early nestling stage and their subsequent oat preference scores. Birds raised by adults that avoided oats during the late nestling and fledgling stages, however, displayed lower oat preference scores than did birds raised by adults that ate oats. Thus, dietary aversion to oats established in adult birds was expressed in the seed preferences of their offspring.
Three essays on food quality and transaction costs

Product quality and product differentiation have become increasingly important to producers and policymakers for explaining consumer choice over food products. Consumers are often willing to pay large price premiums for products with preferred attributes. Heterogeneity in quality increases the diversity of goods for consumers and can improve welfare. However, variation in quality also leads to higher transaction costs for consumers, producers and policymakers because quality attributes are hard to identify precisely and vary when the state of the world changes. The first essay addresses the issue of food-quality attributes driven by protectionist policy that inhibits exchange between two countries. Technical barriers to trade based on phyto-sanitary standards and their impact on food trade are investigated by accounting for quality heterogeneity based on the origin of the good (imported versus domestic) and for consumers’ home-good preference. The second essay is concerned with the complex interaction between quality promotion, through brand advertising and geographical indication, and quality improving effort in the context of asymmetric information. The results show that if a producer makes the effort to improve quality level, the producer will prefer to rely on brand advertising for promoting its products and setting up its own reputation. Despite allowing the cost of promotion to be shared, a geographical indication does not sufficiently reward the effort to improve quality. The third essay addresses the effect of interaction between organic attributes, an intrinsic attribute of food and appearance, an extrinsic attribute of food. Evidence from an experimental auction shows that a majority of consumers are willing to pay more for organic than for conventional apples. However, at the first sight
The UCLA bi-polar planar-near-field antenna-measurement and diagnostics range

The Electrical Engineering Department at UCLA has enjoyed the use of a new six-story building, Engineering IV, since 1989. Many exciting electromagnetic-research activities are being conducted within this building. The authors concentrate on the antenna-measurement research activities, and provide information on the design and development of a unique planar-near-field range. They have received a considerable amount of interest in the bipolar near-field method since the publication of a two-part paper (Williams et al. 1994, and Yaccarino et al. 1994). They decided to prepare the present paper in order to provide a more-tutorial description, and to present detailed measured data, images, and implementation particularities. The reader will find numerous sidebars distributed throughout the article that highlight some selected topics in planar-near-field measurements, which may be of particular interest to those readers who have not been directly involved in using or developing near-field-measurement ranges.
Transgenic Animal Models for Measuring Mutations In Vivo

AbstractTransgenic animal models for measuring mutations provide a powerful tool for rapidly assessing tissue-specific mutations followingin vivo treatment. These models are based on the insertion into the rodent genome of theEscherichia coli lacI (lac repressor) orlacZ (β-galactosidase) genes that serve as targets for mutations. Followingin vivo treatment of animals, genomic DNA is isolated from various tissues and the target gene is packaged into λ-phage heads; the λ-phage are used to infectE. coli in order to produce plaques. Mutations in the target gene are then detected using colorimetric or selective procedures. In this review methods are discussed for producing these transgenic models, the target genes used, gene rescue techniques, sequencing of isolated mutants, and parameters that affect dosing regimens and design of studies. We also present a summary of data published to date with these systems and present our conclusions and proposed directions for future research.
Shooting for the Moon: How Academicians Could Make Management Research Even Less Irrelevant

By publishing a special issue on “The State of Practice,” JBP takes an important step to bridge the science/practice gap, but it is only a step and will not alone span this gap. On the academic side, currently dominant cultures and incentive systems all but guarantee the irrelevance of most scholarly work to anyone except other scholars. On the practice side, managers rarely frame their dilemmas and decisions in ways that lend themselves to scholarly inquiry, find little reason to subject their own research to the peer review process, and rarely look to academia for practical insights. The present article focuses on why this gap persists, and the kinds of fundamental shifts that would be required to address it. It begins by framing the structural nature of the current science/practice gap in business psychology, and then promoting the study of this gap as critical in its own right. From there a framework of research questions is provided that can inform efforts to bridge the science-practice gap.
Locality-Driven Parallel Power Grid Optimization

Large very large-scale-integration power/ground distribution networks are challenging to analyze and design due to the sheer network complexity. In this paper, a parallel sizing optimization approach is presented to minimize the wiring area of a power grid while meeting IR drop and electromigration constraints. Motivated by a proposed two-level hierarchical optimization, we present a novel locality-driven partitioning scheme to allow for divide-and-conquer-based scalable optimization of large power grids, which is infeasible via flat optimization. Unlike existing partitioning-based strategies, the proposed method is very flexible in terms of choice of partitioning boundaries and sizes. Equally importantly, it allows for simultaneous sizing of multiple partitions, leading itself naturally to parallelization.
The use and misuse of physician extenders. Aiding and abetting the unauthorized practice of medicine.

(2003). The Use and Misuse of Physician Extenders. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 249-280.