cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shal/Kv4 Channels Are Required for Maintaining Excitability during Repetitive Firing and Normal Locomotion in Drosophila

BACKGROUND Rhythmic behaviors, such as walking and breathing, involve the coordinated activity of central pattern generators in the CNS, sensory feedback from the PNS, to motoneuron output to muscles. Unraveling the intrinsic electrical properties of these cellular components is essential to understanding this coordinated activity. Here, we examine the significance of the transient A-type K(+) current (I(A)), encoded by the highly conserved Shal/K(v)4 gene, in neuronal firing patterns and repetitive behaviors. While I(A) is present in nearly all neurons across species, elimination of I(A) has been complicated in mammals because of multiple genes underlying I(A), and/or electrical remodeling that occurs in response to affecting one gene. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In Drosophila, the single Shal/K(v)4 gene encodes the predominant I(A) current in many neuronal cell bodies. Using a transgenically expressed dominant-negative subunit (DNK(v)4), we show that I(A) is completely eliminated from cell bodies, with no effect on other currents. Most notably, DNK(v)4 neurons display multiple defects during prolonged stimuli. DNK(v)4 neurons display shortened latency to firing, a lower threshold for repetitive firing, and a progressive decrement in AP amplitude to an adapted state. We record from identified motoneurons and show that Shal/K(v)4 channels are similarly required for maintaining excitability during repetitive firing. We then examine larval crawling, and adult climbing and grooming, all behaviors that rely on repetitive firing. We show that all are defective in the absence of Shal/K(v)4 function. Further, knock-out of Shal/K(v)4 function specifically in motoneurons significantly affects the locomotion behaviors tested. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Based on our results, Shal/K(v)4 channels regulate the initiation of firing, enable neurons to continuously fire throughout a prolonged stimulus, and also influence firing frequency. This study shows that Shal/K(v)4 channels play a key role in repetitively firing neurons during prolonged input/output, and suggests that their function and regulation are important for rhythmic behaviors.
Rapid Synthesis of Polyanhydrides by Microwave Polymerization

Polyanhydrides were synthesized from aliphatic and aromatic diacids using microwave radiation without vacuum at significantly reduced reaction times when compared to conventional melt polycondensation. Reaction conditions, such as duration of polymerization, equivalents of acetic anhydride, and choice of starting species, were studied. In addition. wcopolymers were synthesized and monomer sequence lengths were calculated using dyad conditional probabilities. The results are in good agreement with momomer sequence lence from conventional copolymerization.
Ambient mercury sources in Rochester, NY: results from Principle Components Analysis (PCA) of Mercury Monitoring Network Data.

Continuous atmospheric measurements of speciated mercury (Hg) (elemental mercury (Hg0), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particulate mercury (Hgp)) were made in Rochester, NY from Dec 2007 to May 2009. Continuous measurements of ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM2.5), and meteorological data were also available. A principle components analysis (PCA) of 3886 observations of 13 variables for the period identified six major factors. Melting snow was observed to be a source of Hg0 in winters. Positive correlations between RGM and O3 in the spring and summer may be indicative of Hg0 oxidation. RGM concentrations increased simultaneously with SO2 suggesting the influence of coal fired power plants (CFPP). The fifth factor (F5) containing O3 (high negative loading), CO (positive loading), Hg0 and Hgp (positive), and/or RGM (negative) was identified as a mobile source which was usually observed during morning rush hours (6:00−9:00 a.m.). The concentrations of the thr...
Measurement of the distributions of internuclear separations in 3.0 MeV H2+ and 3.63 MeV HeH+ beams

Abstract Angular distributions of charged dissociation fragments are measured for 3.0 MeV H2+ and 3.63 MeV HeH+ ions incident on ∼ 160 A carbon targets. By using the reflection method for a pure Coulomb potential we unfold from these data the distributions of internuclear separations for each molecular-ion species prior to dissociation. These results are insensitive to ion-source conditions. For H2+ this distribution, while ∼2 times wider than a pure ground vibrational state population, is markedly different from the Franck-Condon distribution that has been previously assumed by other authors with similar rf and duo-plasmatron ion sources. For HeH+ the distribution is slightly broader (∼1.5 times) than that expected for a pure ground state population. From the data, we are able to extract the initial vibrational state population in the incident beam.
Old and new partners: Similarity and competition in the EU foreign agri-food trade1

Abstract This paper analyses the trade relationships among the EU-15 members and some emerging partners: the NMS, Turkey and China. The EU expansion to include 10 new countries has modified quite remarkably the features of agri-food trade in Europe. Some of the NMS, such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, significantly contribute to the international agri-food trade and, since the beginning of the process of EU accession, they have modified dramatically the exchanges with the EU-15. More recently, other countries such as Turkey and China have established new relationships with the EU. Turkey is a large Mediterranean country and, as a candidate to the EU accession, enjoys a differential treatment in the agri-food trade relationships with the EU. China can be considered as a new international competitor, growing at faster pace after having joined the WTO and increasing its agri-food trade exchanges with the EU. The analysis will focus on the measurement of the similarity of the agri-food exports of ...
Experimental Research on Surface Integrity with Less or Non Fluid Grinding Process

The grinding fluid can realize its function of cooling and lubricating only when it breaks through the airflow barrier around the wheel and enter into the high pressure area between wheel and workiece. The grinding fluid with different jet angles and different flow quantity has the different effect of cooling and lubricating in the grinding process. The experimental research of grinding fluid jet flow is carried out in cylindrical grinding process and the affecting mechanism of the grinding fluid injection angles and quantity on the surface integrity are analyzed based on the cylindrical grinding under the less grinding fluid conditions in this paper. It is obtained that the surface integrity of the workpiece processed at 35° fluid jet angle is superior to that of the workpiece processed at 0° fluid injection angle. It is also obtained that the more the fluid quantity is, the better the surface quality is to some extent. It provides research foundation for designing the supplying parameters of the grinding fluid and realizing the grinding process with the less grinding fluid flow.
Characteristic thermal constant and dimensionless heating rate. The links to optimum heating rate in GC

An initial step in the quest of deriving a generalized approach to optimization of a temperature program in gas chromatography is presented. Central to this is the introduction of a dimensionless heating rate, r. As a first step to defining r, a characteristic thermal constant, θchar, defined as θchar = −dT/dk at k = 1, where T and k are, respectively, column temperature and solute retention factor, is introduced and evaluated for our own experimental data and for thermodynamic data from the literature. It was determined that, for silicone stationary phases with a phase ratio of 250, θchar ranged from about 23 °C for low molecular weight hydrocarbons such as dimethylpropane to about 45 °C for high molecular weight pesticides such as mirex. It was also found that, for a particular solute and a stationary phase type, a 2 orders of magnitude increase in the film thickness caused only about a 2-fold increase in the characteristic thermal constant. Using θchar as a fundamental temperature unit in GC and void t...
Messenger RNA Structure: Compatibility of Hairpin Loops with Protein Sequence

Examination of the amino acid sequences of human cytochrome c and the alpha-chain variant of human hemoglobin Constant Spring has revealed the possiblity for base-paired hairpin loops in the messenger RNA's for these proteins. A similar analysis of the bacteriophage R17 coat protein suggests an additional unobserved loop in the R17 RNA. If such loops are present in messenger RNA's generally, it would suggest that DNA has more than one stable base-paired conformation.
Diffusive mobility of fractal aggregates over the entire Knudsen number range.

We determine the effective mobility radius for fractal aggregate particles. Our method is to use static light scattering to measure the radius of gyration ${R}_{g}$ of the aggregates, and dynamic light scattering to measure the diffusion coefficient hence the mobility radius ${R}_{m}.$ The range of our results can be specified by the Knudsen number Kn, which is the mean free path of the medium molecules divided by the radius of the aggregate. Our results apply to the entire range of Kn from the continuum limit (Kn=0) to the free molecular limit $(\mathrm{Kn}\ensuremath{\gg}1).$ In the continuum regime we find ${R}_{m}{/R}_{g}=0.97\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ when the aggregate fractal dimension is ${D}_{f}\ensuremath{\simeq}2.15,$ and $0.70\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ when ${D}_{f}\ensuremath{\simeq}1.75.$ The latter result is independent of Kn for $\mathrm{Kn}\ensuremath{\lesssim}1.3.$ The free molecular mobility goes as ${R}_{m}{=aN}^{0.44\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03},$ where a is the monomer radius and N is the number of monomers per aggregate. Since ${R}_{g}\ensuremath{\sim}{\mathrm{aN}}^{{1/D}_{f}},$ ${R}_{m}{/R}_{g}$ is not a constant when Kn is large. We find for all Kn that the functionality of ${R}_{m}{/R}_{g}$ must always begin with the correct $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{N}1$ limit, and this affects experimental observation.
Quantitative comparison of spontaneous and paced 12-lead electrocardiogram during right ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to objectively quantify the similarity of 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms using two quantitative metrics, the correlation coefficient (CORR) and the mean absolute deviation (MAD). Background Comparison of the 12-lead ECG morphology between ventricular tachycardia (VT) and a pace-map is frequently performed; however, there are no objective criteria for quantifying the similarity between two waveform morphologies. Methods During ablation of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) VT, 12-lead ECG pace-maps were acquired from three superior septal sites, three superior free wall sites, and before each ablation attempt in 15 patients. The 12-lead ECG waveforms of the clinical tachycardia and pace-maps were compared using both MAD and CORR at each site. Results The MAD scores were lower (i.e., more closely matched) for septal compared with free wall sites (15.9 ± 5.3% vs. 25.3 ± 10.2%; p Conclusions A MAD score >12% between RVOT VT and a pace-map at any site suggests sufficient dissimilarity to dissuade ablation at that site. The MAD score can be used to standardize 12-lead ECG waveform morphology comparisons among different laboratories, and may be useful for guiding ablation of VT.
The Devonian/Carboniferous boundary in the Holy Cross Mountains

Five sections from the Kielce Region of the Holy Cross Mountains and one core from a borehole drilled in the nearby western Mesozoic Margin reveal the best recognized beds from the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary interval. In four sections: Ruda Strawczynska, Bolechowice IG 1, Zareby IG 2 and Kowala, the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary is located within a continuous series of deep-water carbonates, whereas in the two remaining: Ostrowka Quarry and the Jablonna IG 1 borehole, the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary interval contains stratigraphic gaps resulting from lack of deposition in submarine conditions. The biostratigraphic position of the analyzed uppermost Devonian and lowermost Carboniferous beds is determined by assemblages of conodonts, microspores and deep-water ostracodes of the Thuringian ecotype. The lithology and biostratigraphic position of particular beds in the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary interval of the Kowala section from the western part of the Holy Cross Mountains resemble those in a succession of equivalent age from the Rhenish Massif. Both areas are characterized by similar lithological horizons and changes of biotic assemblages within the same conodont zones. Strata and fauna from the uppermost Famennian are influenced by the global regressive Hangenberg Event.
Experimental Design Considerations Based on a New Approach to Mean Square Error Estimation of Response Surfaces

Abstract The Kupper-Meydrech approach [6] to mean square error estimation of response surfaces is compared to the methodologies of Box and Draper [1] and Karson, Manson and Hader [5] when a straight line is fit to a possibly quadratic response. Main attention is given to the problems associated with the choice of experimental design. For mild restrictions on the parameter space, it is seen that the Kupper-Meydrech approach leads to the choice of a minimax design providing smaller integrated mean square error than Box and Draper can attain with their corresponding choice of design.
The Interdisciplinary Project of Chicana History: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Chicana history has come a long way since its inception in the 1960s and 1970s. While initially a neglected area of study limited to issues of labor and class, today scholars in history, literature, anthropology, and sociology, among others, study topics of gender, culture, and sexuality, as well as youth culture, reproductive rights, migration, and immigration. In the process, these scholars contribute to the collective project of Mexican and Mexican American women’s history in the United States, making it diverse in its analytical themes, methodologies, and sources. Indeed, Chicana history is not confined by disciplinary boundaries. Rather, its cross-disciplinary nature gives it life. This article charts that interdisciplinarity and demonstrates its significance in expanding and recasting Chicano history more broadly.
Religion, ethnicity and politics: Hindu and Muslim Indian immigrants in the United States

This article focuses on the political struggles between Hindu and Muslim Indian immigrant groups in the United States over the definition of "Indianness". Hindu Indian American organizations define India as a Hindu society and are strong supporters of the Hindu nationalist movement in India. Muslim Indian American organizations, on the other hand, view India as a multi-religious and multicultural society. They are striving to safeguard India's secularism and towards this end, have entered into coalitional relationships with lower caste groups. Both types of organizations are working to influence American and Indian politics in line with their respective interests, leading to an exacerbation of the conflict between the two immigrant groups. This article examines the reasons for this development and its implications, both for the development of an Indian American community in the United States and for religion and politics in India.
Expressing the experience of communicative disability: Metaphors of persons who stutter

Fluent speakers are unaware of the profound impact that stuttering has on the lives of persons who stutter. In an attempt to understand the effect that stuttering has on persons’ lives, stutterers were asked to provide their metaphors describing their experiences with stuttering. Responses (n = 329) are coded into 13 different, but often related, categories of metaphors. In general, all participants’ metaphors for stuttering were negative and reflected stutterers’ ubiquitous, unpredictable and labored difficulty in speech production, as well as the social stigmatization that accompanies this communicative disorder.
Electrochemical etch-stop control for silicon structures containing electronic components

A predictive analysis of the feasibility of electrochemical etch-stop control in the fabrication of some silicon sensors was validated experimentally. The application is for sensors with thin silicon structures containing electronic components, such as cantilever accelerometers and diaphragm pressure gauges with strain gauges in the surface to detect deflection. Such structures are formed by deep anisotropic etching of silicon. Since the depth of the etch determines the thickness of the cantilever or diaphragm, the ability to stop the etching precisely is critical. Accurate etch-stop control can be accomplished by electrochemical passivation of an n-type epitaxial layer on a p-type silicon wafer, where the epi layer thickness becomes that of the diaphragm or cantilever. The analysis shows that passivation of the epi layer can be maintained even underneath the electronic components for conditions which allow etching of the p-type silicon substrate. Therefore, electrochemical etch-stop control appears feasible in most practical sensor designs.
Radon, Thoron, and their decay products in the atmosphere

Abstract The ionization produced by the alpha rays of radon, thoron, and their successive products in the atmosphere was measured in the garden of the Seismic Station of Fordham University from October 1949 to July 1950. The results of the observations in November and December have been published previously by Hess and Vancour . On account of an error which was overlooked at that time the whole series of observations had to be recomputed, including the unpublished results of 1950. Samples of air from outdoors were filled into a large ionization chamber which was evacuated previously and was standing in an iron house with walls thick enough to shield off local gamma rays. The background was so low that it was possible to measure the ionization by alpha rays of the products filled into the chamber and to follow up its diminution for several days. It was found that the average radon content amounted to 54 × 10 −18 curies per cm 3 . The total average ionization produced by the alpha rays from radon and its decay products was about 0.70 I while thoron and its decay products give 0.54 I , or about 44% of the total ionization due to alpha rays.
Volatile Mixture Analysis by Repetitive Injection Fast Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

An apparatus designed for repetitive sampling and characterization of evolved gas mixtures generated during thermal analysis is described. The apparatus combines fast temperature ramp gas chromatography separations with mass spectrometric detection to selectively monitor volatile mixture component concentration changes as a function of sample temperature. The apparatus was tested by using it to repetitively sample and analyze the volatile products generated when poly(styrene) was catalytically cracked by an HY zeolite solid acid catalyst by heating the polymer/catalyst mixture in an inert helium atmosphere. Eleven mixture components contained in the gas stream were separated and detected at 90-s intervals when the polymer/catalyst sample was heated from 200 to 400 °C. Mass spectral extracted ion chromatograms were employed to generate species-specific evolution temperature profiles, which provided insight into thermal reaction mechanisms.
Regulation of hormonal and secretory granule membrane disulfides by adenohypophysial gluthion: disulfide oxidoreductase

Abstract An NADPH-dependent glutathione: disulfide oxidoreductase (thiol-transferase) has been identified in and partially purified (12.3-fold) from adenohypophysial cytosol. The enzyme is specific for NADPH and reduced glutatione, but the disulfide substrates include a wide size range (glutathione, cystine, RNase, oxytocin, vasopressin, monomeric and oligomeric growth hormone and prolactin). It also utilizes secretory granule membrane proteins. Substrate specificity studies (including utilization of cystine and failure to utilize insulin) and physico-chemical properties (M.W. 180,000) distinguish this enzyme from other glutathione: disulfide oxidoreductases. This thioltransferase may play a regulatory role in the hormone secretory process by control of the thiol: disulfide oxidation state of disulfide-bonded oligomers or of granule membrane proteins.
Evidence for Phonological Processing Deficits in Less-Skilled Readers.

Although weaknesses in metaphonological skills are well-documented in poor readers, prior studies have yielded inconsistent findings as to whether less-skilled readers also have deficits in the more primary phonological processes entailed in verbal working memory and speech production tasks. The present study was designed to examine this issue by comparing less-skilled third-graders readers (n=30) with younger children at the same reading level (n=30) and with more-skilled agemates (n=30) on a variety of tasks that require phonological processing (i.e., three "verbal memory" tasks [word span, span with concurrent processing, pseudoword imitation] and three "speech production" tasks [word-pair repetition, tongue twisters, rapid naming]). The results were striking: the less-skilled third-grade readers had significantly lower accuracy scores than both their agemates and the younger normal readers on the word span, pseudoword imitation, word-pair repetition, and tongue twister tasks. Measures of accuracy were more related to reading ability than were measures of speed. Performance on a pseudoword imitation task was the variable most strongly linked to reading achievement.
The metabolism of phosphocreatine during an isometric tetanus in the frog sartorius muscle

Abstract 1. 1. A study was made of the phosphocreatine breakdown in anaerobic iodoacetate-poisoned muscle associated with one or several isometric tetani at o°. 2. 2. The rate of phosphocreatine breakdown in the course of tetanization, apart from the earliest moments, was 0.28 μmole/g/sec. This was constant for up to 60 sec until the near-exhaustion of all phosphocreatine, although the tension decreased by 0.89% per sec, and was not affected by dividing the period of stimulation into several separate tetani. 3. 3. This rate of phosphocreatine breakdown is consistent with known values of the maintenance heat if the apparent enthalpy change for phosphocreatine hydrolysis and associated ionization changes amounts to —10 000 cal/mole. 4. 4. An extra-metabolism was found which was proportional to the number of tetani and not to their durations, and which averaged 0.33 μmole/g/tetanus. 5. 5. A small part of this extra-metabolism is due to elastic work and internal shortening during tension generation, and a larger part may represent the residual activation heat during relaxation. The remainder appears insufficient to account for the “labile part” of the maintenance heat, at the present state of knowledge. However, several aspects of this problem require further examination.
A simple and rapid procedure for preparation of large quantities of pure ovotransferrin

Abstract Large quantities of ovotransferrin from chicken egg-white were purified by a simple and rapid procedure employing carboxymethylcellulose. The advantages of this procedure involve the direct isolation of ovotransferrin from other egg-white proteins without resorting to the preliminary crystallization of other proteins or to the conventional (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 fractionation steps. An entirely new step in the purification involves the crystallization of iron ovotransferrin from (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . The ovotransferrin obtained by the reported procedure was found to be homogeneous and suitable for prospective structural studies in relation to its metal binding activity. The amino acid composition of the homogeneous preparation was determined, and it was comprised of 601 residues per molecule of ovotransferrin.
Improved Nonrelapse Mortality and Infection Rate with Lower Dose of Antithymocyte Globulin in Patients Undergoing Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Allogeneic Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancies

We sought to reduce the risk of infectious complications and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) associated with the use of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) without compromising control of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in patients undergoing reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) transplantation. As part of an ongoing quality improvement effort, we lowered the dose of rabbit ATG from 7.5 mg/kg of ATG (R-ATG) (n = 39) to 6.0 mg/kg of ATG (r-ATG) (n = 33) in association with fludarabine (Flu) and busulfan (BU) RIC transplantation and then monitored patients for adverse events, relapse, and survival. Of the 72 mostly high risk (82%) patients studied, 89% received unrelated donor allografts, 25% of which were HLA-mismatched. No differences in posttransplantation full donor-cell chimerism rates were observed between the 2 ATG-dose groups (P > .05). When R-ATG versus r-ATG patients were compared, we observed no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD (32% versus 27%; P = .73) or grade III-IV aGVHD (23% versus 11%; P = .28). However, the r-ATG group had significantly less cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation (64% versus 30%; P = .005) and bacterial infections (56% versus 18%; P = .001), a better 1-year cumulative incidence of NRM (18% versus 3%; P = .03), and a trend for better 1-year overall survival (OS) (64% versus 84%; P=.07) compared to R-ATG patients. A seemingly modest reduction in the dose of rabbit ATG did not compromise control of aGVHD or achievement of donor chimerism, but led to a significant decrease in the risk of serious infections and NRM in high-risk RIC allograft recipients.
Non-Hyperbolic Force-Velocity Relationship in Single Muscle Fibres1

The force-velocity relation has been studied in sixteen single fibres from frog semitendinosus muscle with particular attention to the high-force portion of the curve. The force-velocity curve was hyperbolic except for a reversal of curvature near 80% measured isometric tension (PO). Rectangular hyperbolas fitted (linear, least-squares method) these data well only when values below 0.78 PO were considered. Extrapolation of these hyperbolas above 0.78 PO gave predicted isometric tensions (P*O) which averaged 32+/-6% above the measured PO values. Hill's constants (1.84 degrees C) for these hyperbolas were: a/P*O=0.177+/-0.021, b=0.329+/- 0.035 M.L./sec, Vmax=1.91+/-0.074 M.L./sec. The reversal of curvature persisted when force-velocity data were obtained using: 1 or 60 min response intervals, afterloaded isotonic responses, grid stimulation, electrically induced contractures and bundles of fibres. The reversal of curvature diminished when force-velocity data were obtained from slightly stretched fibres (about 2.3 mum sarcomere length as compared to 2.1 mum in the control). The results indicate that sarcomere length redistributions probably do not account for the non-hyperbolic force-velocity relation. An explanation for the behavior based on the geometry of the contractile filament lattice is discussed.
Recognition of "real-world" musical excerpts by cochlear implant recipients and normal-hearing adults.

Objective: The purposes of this study were (a) to compare recognition of real-world music excerpts by postlingually deafened adults using cochlear implants and normal-hearing adults; (b) to compare the performance of cochlear implant recipients using different devices and processing strategies; and (c) to examine the variability among implant recipients in recognition of musical selections in relation to performance on speech perception tests, performance on cognitive tests, and demographic variables. Design: Seventy-nine cochlear implant users and 30 normal-hearing adults were tested on open-set recognition of systematically selected excerpts from musical recordings heard in real life. The recognition accuracy of the two groups was compared for three musical genre: classical, country, and pop. Recognition accuracy was correlated with speech recognition scores, cognitive measures, and demographic measures, including musical background. Results: Cochlear implant recipients were significantly less accurate in recognition of previously familiar (known before hearing loss) musical excerpts than normal-hearing adults (p < 0.001) for all three genre. Implant recipients were most accurate in the recognition of country items and least accurate in the recognition of classical items. There were no significant differences among implant recipients due to implant type (Nucleus, Clarion, or Ineraid), or programming strategy (SPEAK, CIS, or ACE). For cochlear implant recipients, correlations between melody recognition and other measures were moderate to weak in strength; those with statistically significant correlations included age at time of testing (negatively correlated), performance on selected speech perception tests, and the amount of focused music listening following implantation. Conclusions: Current-day cochlear implants are not effective in transmitting several key structural features (i.e., pitch, harmony, timbral blends) of music essential to open-set recognition of well-known musical selections. Consequently, implant recipients must rely on extracting those musical features most accessible through the implant, such as song lyrics or a characteristic rhythm pattern, to identify the sorts of musical selections heard in everyday life.
Imprint Lithography with 25-Nanometer Resolution

A high-throughput lithographic method with 25-nanometer resolution and smooth vertical sidewalls is proposed and demonstrated. The technique uses compression molding to create a thickness contrast pattern in a thin resist film carried on a substrate, followed by anisotropic etching to transfer the pattern through the entire resist thickness. Metal patterns with a feature size of 25 nanometers and a period of 70 nanometers were fabricated with the use of resist templates created by imprint lithography in combination with a lift-off process. With further development, imprint lithography should allow fabrication of sub-10-nanometer structures and may become a commercially viable technique for manufacturing integrated circuits and other nanodevices.
Do minimum wage hikes reduce employment? State-level evidence from the low-wage retail sector

Several recent studies have challenged the conventional notion that raising the minimum wage reduces employment. This study considers this issue by examining the minimum wage's influence on retail employment. Standard labor market analysis suggests that low-wage industries should be particularly sensitive to minimum wage hikes. Therefore, by considering retail employment using pooled-cross sectional, state-level data, this study extends recent research that generally emphasized teen employment. The empirical analysis considers state data from the latter 1980's, a unique period where many states raised their minimum wage above the federal level. Our results suggest that an increased minimum wage reduces retail employment, which is consistent with the standard labor market model. Moreover, further analysis indicates that minimum wage hikes also had relatively large adverse effects on total state employment growth, which implies that state minimum-wage policies can affect firm and household location.
Selection of Landmark Points on Nonlinear Manifolds for Spectral Unmixing Using Local Homogeneity

Endmember extraction and unmixing methods that exploit nonlinearity in hyperspectral data are receiving increased attention, but they have significant challenges. Global feature extraction methods such as isometric feature mapping have significant computational overhead, which is often addressed for the classification problem via landmark-based methods. Because landmark approaches are approximation methods, experimental results are often highly variable. We propose a new robust landmark selection method for the purpose of pixel unmixing that exploits spectral and spatial homogeneity in a local window kernel. We compare the performance of the method to several landmark selection methods in terms of reconstruction error and processing time.
Onset and Offset Phonation Threshold Flow in Excised Canine Larynges

Objectives/Hypothesis This study examined the hypothesis that the minimum flow required for phonation onset, the onset phonation threshold flow (PTF), is greater than the minimum flow to sustain phonation, the offset PTF. This study also explored the hypothesis that the ratio of these two (PTF offset divided by PTF onset) falls within [0.707, 1.0].
Chemical and spectral differences in humic matter from swamps, streams and soils in the southeastern United States

Abstract There are differing opinions about the characteristics of humic matter from streams and soils. This study was conducted to determine and compare the chemical properties of humic matter from the Okefenokee swamp, Satilla river, Ohoopee river, and surrounding soils in the Georgia Coastal Plain, USA. Humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) were isolated from water by XAD resin and conventional NaOH methods and from soil samples by the NaOH method. The humic fractions were analyzed for total acidity, COOH, C, H, and N contents. Liquid 13 C NMR and infrared analysis were performed to determine the structural composition. The humic matter isolated from swamp and river water using XAD resin comprised of 72% FA and 28% HA, and that isolated using NaOH comprised of 60–70% FA and 30–40% HA. In contrast, humic matter extracted from soils with NaOH was 80% HA and 15% FA. The C and H contents, and spectral characteristics of HA (or FA) isolated by the XAD resin method from the swamp and river waters were similar. However, integration of NMR spectra yielded data indicating that HA from the Okefenokee swamp was more aromatic than that from river water. The conventional NaOH method yielded HA (or FA) with lower C, H and N contents, and smaller total acidity than the resin method. HA isolated by NaOH extraction from Okefenokee swamp was less aromatic than HA extracted using XAD resin, and structural differences, which may have occurred as a result of NaOH extraction, were detected by infrared spectroscopy. The conclusion was made that the NaOH method was an equally valid method as the resin method. No conclusive evidence was obtained to support the hypothesis that soil HA was more aromatic than aquatic HA. A strong signal at 55.8 ppm in the NMR spectra of black water HA, attributed to -OCH 3 , implied the presence of a common source component incorporated in the humic molecule of black water and soils.
In vivo manifestation of Notch related phenotypes in zebrafish treated with Alzheimer’s amyloid reducing γ‐secretase inhibitors

Gamma-secretase is responsible for the final cleavage of amyloid precursor protein to generate the amyloid-beta protein, the major component of plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. gamma-Secretase inhibitors (GSI) have been explored for therapeutic inhibition of amyloid beta protein generation, but mechanistic toxicity has been documented because of its blockage of gamma-secretase cleavage of several dozens of substrates including Notch. This becomes the primary obstacle for most inhibitors during the pre-clinical development and the main concern for several compounds in the clinical trials. To predict potential side effects related to Notch signaling, we examined global effect of GSIs in vertebrate animal zebrafish. We have used two potent GSIs (GSI A and GSI 18) with a sub-microM effective concentration for 50% amyloid beta protein inhibition (EC(50)). Zebrafish embryos were treated with GSI A, 18 or a well characterized GSI N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl-L-alanyl)]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT), and transparent animals were examined for up to 7 days. GSI A had less abnormal phenotype in zebrafish, compared to GSI 18-treated embryos that displayed curved tails, a loss of pigmentation, and reduced swim bladder and heart rate. To understand mechanistic effect at the molecular level, we examined Notch signaling in these GSI-treated zebrafish. Notch phenotypes were observed in embryos treated with 50 and 10 microM GSI 18, but not with 10 microM GSI A. In accordance, in situ hybridization with a probe against Notch target gene her6 showed a weaker staining in embryos treated with 10 microM GSI 18 than those treated with 10 microM GSI A. In conclusion, phenotypic profile in whole animals offers important information on Notch related pathways and provides prediction of safe compounds during early development stages of therapeutic GSIs.
Examining Circle of Security™: A Review of Research and Theory

The Circle of Security™ interventions are psychosocial treatments intended to increase maternal sensitivity and thus child attachment security in infants and young children. A small number of publications have reported empirical research on outcomes of these treatments. This article reviews the research evidence, plausibility, theoretical background, and generalizability of Circle of Security, and concludes that these interventions are plausible emerging treatments, presently weakly supported by research evidence, but potentially able to receive support from further research. The commercialization of Circle of Security is discussed as a possible obstacle to independent research. The current level of research support is described as similar to support for other interventions for young children.
Management of the Surgical Patient with End-Stage Renal Disease

For health providers guiding the end-stage renal disease patient's care, conventional surgical and anesthetic principles may demand substantial modifications to optimize both the immediate outcome and long-term survival. Elective operation is conducted in the setting of optimized acid/base balance, volume status and potassium management with pre-operative dialysis completed within 24 hours of the procedure (either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis). When peripheral intravenous access is inadequate, central venous access is obtained preferentially through the internal jugular veins because of the catastrophic consequences of catheter-induced subclavian stenosis. Infectious prophylaxis incorporates antibiotic selection considering the lack of native renal drug clearance, the potential for drug loss across dialysis membranes and potential interactions with immunosuppressive medications. Judicious intraoperative blood and fluid replacement should not be so restricted as to permit inadequate end organ perfusion, even if post-operative dialysis is necessitated. Hemostasis may be facilitated by the use of desmopressin to correct uremic platelet dysfunction. Wound closure techniques should accommodate the delayed healing associated with kidney failure and/or iatrogenic immunosuppression.
National Standards or Economic Imperialism

This question emphasizes an underlying theme of the Buckles and Watts article. Neither the economics standards nor the history standards are stand-alone products. Voluntary standards in economics will not be widely adopted unless they can be integrated into the traditional elementary and secondary school curricula, which is already quite crowded. A public, elementary school teacher, attending the session on economic standards at the American Economic Association's 1997 annual meeting in New Orleans, remarked, "Everyone keeps adding to what we're supposed to teach. I spend most of my time just teaching children how to read and add. I don't have time to teach them economics." Similar sentiments are expressed in a Consortium for Policy Research Education (CPRE) brief on content standards:
THE VALUATION OF GOODS: A RESOURCE‐BASED PERSPECTIVE

We use a resource‐based perspective to discuss firm idiosyncrasies in valuing goods. Previous research has suggested that asymmetric valuation processes form an early and often pivotal step in the development of uniqueness (Barney, 1986; Jacobson, 1992; Rumelt, 1987; Winter, 1995). We go beyond this work in clearly differentiating between the aspects of the valuation process that are idiosyncratic and those that are not. Indeed, we attempt to shed light on the following questions: (1) Which factors determine the value a firm places on a good that it is considering for purchase? (2) Can these factors vary across firms? (3) To what degree, and in what ways, can valuation discrepancies lead to competitive advantages? A model of valuation is developed and propositions are discussed based on the logic and model.
DNA Base Flipping: New-Found Insights into the DNA Mismatch Recognition Process in E. Coli Muts

Detection of various base-base mismatches and small insertion/deletion loops in DNA is performed by the MutS mismatch recognition protein. This highly conserved process exists in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and failure to recognize DNA damage can have a detrimental effect on the fidelity of the genome and, in humans, has been linked to numerous forms of cancer. Several crystal structures have emerged over the years capturing MutS bound to various mismatches. However, the events directly following mismatch recognition remain unclear. To shed light on this matter, we present nine sub-μs, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of Escherichia coli MutS bound to a G•T mismatch with different nucleotide configurations. From these simulations, we identified significant instability in the adjacent base 5′ to the thymine mismatch. In one case, the 5′ adjacent base completely loses base stacking and flips out spontaneously via the minor groove. To the best of our knowledge, this rare event is the first ever documented case of DNA base flipping from any unrestrained protein-DNA simulation. In addition, these observations are in excellent agreement with a recent experimental study where it was suggested that the 5′ adjacent base could exist in an extrahelical state. To further understand the energetics of base flipping in MutS, we utilized the Hamiltonian replica-exchange molecular dynamics (HREMD) method simulating 44 independent replicas in an explicit water box. The free energy profile generated from HREMD shows two distinct minima, one for the stacked state and one for flipped out state, separated by a small energy barrier with the flipped out state being the more favorable of the two. Together, our results offer an unprecedented level of new insight into the mismatch recognition process and further our knowledge of this complex system.
I Want to Know and I Want to Be Part of It: The Impact of Instrumental Communication and Integration on Private Prison Staff

ABSTRACT The number of private correctional facilities has increased rapidly during the past twenty years. While there is a growing body of literature on private correctional facilities, most of the focus has compared the efficiency and effectiveness of private versus public correctional institutions. The impact of the work environment on private prisons has been rarely studied. Staff are the most valuable resource for any correctional organization; hence, it is important to study how the work environment shapes the job stress, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment levels of private prison staff. Two important work environment factors are instrumental communication and integration. This study examined the effects of instrumental communication and integration on the job stress, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of staff at a Midwestern private correctional facility. Using the survey response of 160 respondents, it was found that both instrumental communication and integration had si...
50 CORRELATION BETWEEN THE ONTOGENY OF SMALL INTESTINAL MUCOSAL LYMPHOCYTES AND SUCRASE IN THE PREWEANED RAT

Immunoreactive sucrase in villous enterocytes of rat jejunum appears by 21 days of age. We attempted to correlate the ontogeny and type of intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes during the same period. Suckled Sprague-Dawley rat pups (0 · 24 days) were sacrificed at regular intervals. The distal jejunum was removed and 4· to 5·micron frozen sections were cut, fixed in absolute methanol, and stained with mouse monoclonal antibodies BBC 1/35 (sucrase), MRC OX-4 (B-cell), MRC OX-8 (T-suppressor), W3/25 (T-helper), MRC OX-19 (pan T-cell) and W3/13HLK (pan T-cell). The sections were counterstained with goat anti-mouse IgG-FITC conjugated antiserum. The sections were then stained with Evans blue for morphologic definition and evaluated for type, relative numbers and location of lymphocytes. T-suppressor cells were present in the intraepithelial and lamina propria areas up to age 12 days and were absent between 12 and 17 days. From 17 to 24 days, T-suppressor cell levels increased and approached adult levels. B-cells were present at all ages in the lamina propria of villi and crypts. T-helper cells were found irregularly; pan T-cell levels increased from 21 days onward. Our observations confirm and extend those of Lyscom and Brueton (Clin Exp Immunol 54:158-162, 1983) in which the number of T-suppressor intraepithelial cells increased after 21 days of life. We report that this increase coincides with the expression of sucrase by villous enterocytes.
A comparison of turbulence closure models for transonic flows about airfoils

Navier-Stokes transonic airfoil calculations using three different turbulence closure models are presented and compared with available experimental data. Two of the models, Cebeci-Smith and Baldwin-Lomax, are equilibrium models in the sense that the turbulent shear stress is assumed to depend only on the local properties of the mean flow. The third model, Johnson and King, is a nonequilibrium model in which an ordinary differential equation is employed to account for the streamwise development of the maximum Reynolds shear stress. An eddy viscosity distribution across the boundary layer is assumed which is functionally dependent on this stress. For attached flows with little inviscid-viscous interaction, little difference in the results with the different models is noted. With stronger interactions and with separation occurring on the airfoils, the nonequilibrium model is shown to perform better.
Declining Incidence of Candidemia in a Tertiary Inpatient Pediatric Population

ABSTRACT We examined the incidence of candidemia, Candida species distribution, and antifungal susceptibility patterns in a pediatric institution. We identified 301 episodes of candidemia from 2001 to 2010 inclusive. Annual incidence decreased from 0.68 to 0.12 cases/1,000 patient days between 2004 and 2010. Candida albicans was the most common species, followed by C. parapsilosis. All isolates tested were susceptible to amphotericin B and caspofungin, but 11% were resistant or dose-dependently susceptible to fluconazole.
Economic Globalization and the Shifting Boundaries of German Federalism

As in many other nations, economic globalization undermined the economic policymaking autonomy of the German federal government. At the same time, it prompted decentralization of other kinds of economic policymaking authority within the federal system. Thus, the Lander have assumed increased responsibility for regional economic adjustment through the expansion of regional economic policy networks. The economic impacts of globalization and the decentralization of economic policymaking, however combine to promote greater disparities among the Lander. These disparities exacerbate growing competition among the Landerfor investment and public resources. This, in turn, creates deeper conflict among constituent governments that threatens to weaken further the problem-solving capacity of cooperative federalism.