cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Actin force generation in vesicle formation: mechanistic insights from cryo-electron tomography

Actin filament assembly provides force during clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Here, cryo-electron tomography analysis of actin filament number, organization, and orientation during clathrin-mediated endocytosis in intact human cells revealed that force generation is robust despite variance in network organization. Actin dynamics simulations incorporating a measured branch angle of 68 +/- 9° indicate that sufficient force to drive endocytosis can be generated through polymerization, and that assembly is triggered from 4 +/- 2 founding "mother" filaments, consistent with the tomography data. The actin-binding protein Hip1R decorates the entire endocytic invagination, including the neck region. Simulations showed that the unexpected Hip1R neck localization targets filament growth to this region, improving internalization efficiency and robustness. Actin cytoskeleton organization described here allowed direct translation of structural information to mechanism.
Using an educational mobile application to teach students to take vital signs.

Abstract Background The utilization of smartphone applications in educational settings, specifically in the field of nursing, has grown increasingly popular. To date, there have been few, if any, smartphone applications dedicated specifically to the teaching of vital signs. The Clinic Vitals app was designed to be an acceptable substitute for in-person vital signs instruction. Objectives The objective of this study was to show the utility of the Clinic Vitals app as a pedagogical tool in comparison to in-person nursing educational instruction. Design A crossover design was employed within collegiate nursing educational sessions to determine if Clinic Vitals was an equivalent alternative to traditional vital sign teaching methods. Participants Participants were first-year nursing students from six different lab sessions within the same undergraduate university. Methods Students with little to no vital sign experience were given instruction via the Clinic Vitals mobile application or traditional learning. After the learning session, students were given skills assessments. After one week, students were given the opposite method of instruction followed by skills assessments. Results Results showed that no significant difference was found between the two groups based on skills assessments. Mobile application and in-person instruction teaching methods produced a similar level of competency in students learning to take vital signs. Conclusions The utility of being able to access the application's videos and instructional articles at any time and anywhere that there is an internet connection would make the app particularly useful. The present study provides evidence that the Clinic Vitals mobile application can be a reliable substitute for in-person vital signs instruction. Recent educational advances have demonstrated that online videos, simulations, and mobile applications can be effective resources for nursing educators. There is potential for further study of the uses of educational mobile applications, including Clinic Vitals, for nursing education.
Deep learning-based method to accurately estimate breast tissue optical properties in the presence of the chest wall.

Significance In general, image reconstruction methods used in diffuse optical tomography (DOT) are based on diffusion approximation, and they consider the breast tissue as a homogenous, semi-infinite medium. However, the semi-infinite medium assumption used in DOT reconstruction is not valid when the chest wall is underneath the breast tissue. Aim We aim to reduce the chest wall's effect on the estimated average optical properties of breast tissue and obtain accurate forward model for DOT reconstruction. Approach We propose a deep learning-based neural network approach where a convolution neural network (CNN) is trained to simultaneously obtain accurate optical property values for both the breast tissue and the chest wall. Results The CNN model shows great promise in reducing errors in estimating the optical properties of the breast tissue in the presence of a shallow chest wall. For patient data, the CNN model predicted the breast tissue optical absorption coefficient, which was independent of chest wall depth. Conclusions Our proposed method can be readily used in DOT and diffuse spectroscopy measurements to improve the accuracy of estimated tissue optical properties.
Toward a next-generation diagnostic tool for pandemics: A review on emerging isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious viruses

Abstract As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect human health across the globe rapid, simple, point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of infectious viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 remains challenging. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnosis has risen to meet these demands and despite its high-throughput and accuracy, it has failed to gain traction in the rapid, low-cost, point-of-test settings. In contrast, different emerging isothermal amplification-based detection methods show promise in the rapid point-of-test market. In this comprehensive study of the literature, we critically review several promising isothermal amplification methods for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 that can also be applied to other infectious viruses detection. Starting with a brief discussion on the SARS-CoV-2 structure, its genomic features, and the epidemiology of the current pandemic, this review focuses on different emerging isothermal methods and their advancement. The potential of isothermal amplification combined with the revolutionary CRISPR/Cas system for a more powerful detection tool is also critically reviewed. Additionally, the commercial success of several isothermal methods in the pandemic and different variants of SARS-CoV-2 and their implication on disease diagnosis are discussed. We address the three most crucial aspects in achieving a simple, fast, and multiplexable platform.
Critical Separation between Subcritical Clusters of Low Enriched UO2 Rods in Water with Fixed Neutron Poisons

A program to provide experimental data for validating calculational techniques and nuclear data used in criticality assessments of LWR type fuel element shipping packages and similar type systems is described. The experiments were designed to permit easy and accurate definition in Monte Carlo computer codes currently used in these criticality assessments. Basically the experiments were concerned with the critical separation between water flooded subcritical clusters of fuel rods in the presence of various fixed neutron poisons. The experiments were carried out in an 18 m x 3 m x 2.1 m deep tank provided with features specifically designed and built for these experiments. The initial series of experiments are covered in this report and involve aluminum clad 2.35 wt% /sup 235/U enriched UO/sub 2/ rods about 12 mm in diameter by 914 mm in length. The critical separation between three subcritical clusters of these rods aligned in a row was determined with and without the following neutron absorber materials (neutron poisons) located between the clusters: 304L steel with 0, 1.1, and 1.6 wt% boron; boral; copper with 0 and 1 wt% cadmium; cadmium; aluminum; and zircaloy-4. The neutron poisons were in the form of plates slightly larger than the length more » and width of the opposing faces of the fuel clusters. « less
Nuclear Winter: Scientists in the Political Arena

The nuclear winter phenomenon is used to illustrate the many paths by which scientific advice reaches decision makers in the United States government. Because the Reagan administration was hostile to the strategic policy that the scientific discovery seemed to demand, the leading proponent of nuclear winter, Carl Sagan, used his formidable talent for popularization to reach a larger audience.
Enhanced Curie temperature and spin polarization in Mn4FeGe3

Intermetallic ferromagnetic compound Mn5Ge3, with Curie temperature TC=296K, a spin polarization of P=42%, and a good lattice match to semiconductors, is a potential spin injector for spintronics. We report the enhanced magnetic properties and spin polarization of Mn4FeGe3. By replacing one Mn atom in Mn5Ge3 with Fe, the TC of Mn4FeGe3 has been enhanced to 319.50K, while still maintaining the same crystal structure, high electrical conductivity, and a high residual resistivity ratio of 5.33. More importantly, the spin polarization in excess of 60% of Mn4FeGe3, much higher than that of Mn5Ge3, has been realized.
Survey and evaluation of multiple access protocols in multimedia satellite networks

The characteristics of multiple-access protocols suitable for multimedia satellite environments are identified. The four major classes of multiple-access protocols in satellite communications are discussed. A short description of a typical protocol in each class is given. Major characteristics of multimedia traffic are listed, namely data, voice, and image. The criteria used to evaluate protocol performance, such as channel utilization, stability, complexity, fairness, and overhead, are discussed. No existing protocol generally satisfies the delay performance of all traffic types in multimedia environments, although adaptive protocols seem to show the most promise. Adaptive protocols can dynamically adjust according to the load fluctuation as well as to different mixtures of traffic information. A protocol that is suitable for multimedia transmissions and combines some advantages of different protocols is suggested. >
Fuzzy granulation and modular tiling: a useful duality

Fuzzy granulation refers to a family of very powerful techniques that allow computers to represent and manipulate the kind of knowledge that humans tend to actually possess regarding system capabilities, desirable system performance, and control policies to use the former to approach the latter. One of the most well established of this family of techniques may be referred to as Mamdani Granulation. This is usually viewed as a collection of fuzzy linguistic if-then rules, where each rule specifies the pairing of a fuzzy value of the dependent variable (for example, the control signal) with fuzzy value(s) for the independent variable(s) such as system state variables. Imposing the further restriction that the fuzzy values for a given variable all have identically-shaped membership functions that are evenly spaced over that variable's domain and have domain widths equal to twice the step size still captures a very large number of systems in both applied and theoretical settings. The term "Cartesian Mamdani Granulations" (CMG) refers to systems that satisfy this restriction. One additional restriction is convenient for the analysis without seriously misrepresenting the majority of CMG's in the literature. This is the restriction of fuzzy continuity, which says if two granules differ by one step on one independent variable and are identical on the other independent variable(s), then they cannot differ by more than one step on the dependent variable. Thus, the class of systems to be considered in the remainder of the paper consists of Continuous Cartesian Mamdani Granulations, or CCMGs.
Did Sir William Osler Perform an Autopsy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Sir William Osler was the preeminent internist of his time, who also worked as a pathologist for a considerable period during his career. Between 1876 and 1889, he performed nearly 1000 autopsies in Montreal, Quebec, and Philadelphia, Pa. Many authors concluded that Osler stopped performing autopsies once he moved to Baltimore, Md, because the autopsy service was organized under William Welch, the professor of pathology. However, this assertion has been contradicted by a recent biography of Dr Osler. To reexamine this issue, the autopsy records of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and relevant publications were examined. The evidence suggests that Dr Osler was an enthusiastic, and sometimes engaged, observer of Hopkins autopsies but that he did not function as an autopsy prosector.
Memristor Characteristics via an Integration of Drift and Tunnel Barrier Models

ABSTRACTMemristor devices are electrical resistance switches that can retain a state of internal resistance based on the history of applied voltage and current. A memristor model is presented which brings together a current versus voltage tunnel barrier formalism with a physical electronics based predictor for time rate change in the tunnel barrier width. This model makes use of complete domain equations for quantum tunnelling model proposed by Simmons for charge transport for a dielectric placed between two electrodes. Elements of this predictor are based on the physical principles for drift dynamics of the oxygen vacancies in TiO2 unit cells which are created in the electroforming process. Previous memristor models incorporated a tunnel barrier model but they employed a time rate change in tunnel width which was strictly based on empirical fitting with memristor data. Simulations are presented for the fully physical hybrid drift tunnel model demonstrating applicability for the analysis for predicting me...
Effects on breathing of putative neurotransmitters in the rostral hypothalamus of the rat

The putative neurotransmitters norepinephrine (NE) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) are normally present in the rostral hypothalamic region (RHT) of the rat, and our aim was to evaluate possible effects of these agents on ventilatory regulations associated with this region. Using haloperidol-tranquilized Sprague-Dawley rats, microinfusions of both NE and TRH into the RHT resulted in an increase in rate, but not depth, of breathing. Control infusions and control infusion sites, mainly in the posterior hypothalamus, yielded no significant effect on breathing rate. Since NE and TRH can inhibit the discharge of some cells in the RHT, it was possible that the observed effects on breathing were due to depression of an inhibitory neural pathway. This idea was further tested by performing microinfusions using lidocaine. Evidence suggests that lidocaine can inhibit discharge in the central nervous system and that inhibitory pathways may be preferentially affected. Lidocaine produced effects on breathing comparable to NE and TRH, thereby supporting the proposition that inhibition of neural pathways in the RHT can stimulate breathing.
Science to Practice: Can Decreased Lymph Node MR Imaging Signal Intensity Be Used as a Biomarker for the Efficacy of Cancer Vaccination?

In the study of Zhang et al, tumor-bearing mice were vaccinated with magnetically labeled, tumor antigen–primed dendritic cells; after homing of these antigen-presenting cells to the draining lymph node, it was shown that the iron oxide–induced decrease in lymph node MR imaging signal intensity correlated with the observed tumor growth delay, suggesting that the degree of hypointensity can serve as a surrogate marker for the efficacy of tumor vaccination.
Relationship of morphologic damage and amino acid uptake in incubated slices of brain.

Abstract Slices were prepared from rat cortex and cerebellum in two ways, by hand slicing and by mechanical chopping. Morphological examination revealed greater damage in slices prepared by mechanical chopping. The uptake of five amino acids was greater in both brain regions in the chopped slices. When the hand-sliced tissue was further cut by chopping, uptake increased in this preparation. We conclude that in brain tissue latent active transport capacity exists that can be activated by tissue damage. The role of such transport activation in tissue repair remains to be explored.
A THERMODYNAMIC MODEL OF THE HEAT CAPACITY OF COMPOSITIONALLY COMPLEX MULTICOMPONENT POLYMER SOLUTIONS: KRAFT BLACK LIQUOR

A thermodynamic model of the heat capacity of multicomponent polymer solutions is developed and applied to the prediction of the heat capacity of kraft black liquor. The model is developed using a pseudo-binary solution assumption. The form of the excess heat capacity is expressed as CpE = γWnW1Wm2 where γ, m, and n are model parameters. For the particular system studied γ varies linearly with temperature and indicates the magnitude and degree of temperature dependence of the excess heat capacity. Parameters m and n are independent of temperature. The resulting model is capable of predicting the heat capacity of compositionally complex black liquor to within 1-3% of the experimental data. @KEYWORDS: Heat capacity, Thermodynamics, Kraft black liquor, Polymer solutions
Current-Driven Rotating-Kink Mode in a Plasma Column with a Non-Line-Tied Free End

First experimental measurements are presented for the kink instability in a linear plasma column which is insulated from an axial boundary by finite sheath resistivity. Instability threshold below the classical Kruskal-Shafranov threshold, axially asymmetric mode structure and rotation are observed. These are accurately reproduced by a recent kink theory, which includes axial plasma flow and one end of the plasma column that is free to move due to a non-line-tied boundary condition.
In Search Of A National Biomedical Science Policy

It is hardly news that the United States has no national health policy. No one sets goals for the health of the nation’s populace; determines expenditures for health care and resources; or defines the nature of the products and services that should or should not be distributed, by whom, and to whom. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that there is also no national biomedical science policy. Indeed, it would be difficult, if not foolhardy, to establish policy objectives for science in the absence of goals for the health care system it serves. The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) Biomedical Politics demonstrates this policy void. The book recounts six examples of biomedical policy decisions, each followed by brief commentaries: the release of the drug ddI, used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; the potential for distributing RU 486 (the so-called abortion pill) in the United States; the Human Genome Project; Medicare’s End-Stage Renal Disease Program; the Human Fetal Tissue Transplantation Research Panel; and the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA. These case studies are the product of the IOM Committee to Study Biomedical Decision Making, formed to study the process of decision making as part of a larger project on biomedical research.
Usage scenarios for design space exploration with a dynamic multiobjective optimization formulation

In a recent publication, we presented a new strategy for engineering design and optimization, which we termed formulation space exploration. The formulation space for an optimization problem is the union of all variable and design objective spaces identified by the designer as being valid and pragmatic problem formulations. By extending a computational search into this new space, the solution to any optimization problem is no longer predefined by the optimization problem formulation. This method allows a designer to both diverge the design space during conceptual design and converge onto a solution as more information about the design objectives and constraints becomes available. Additionally, we introduced a new way to formulate multiobjective optimization problems, allowing the designer to change and update design objectives, constraints, and variables in a simple, fluid manner that promotes exploration. In this paper, we investigate three usage scenarios where formulation space exploration can be utilized in the early stages of design when it is possible to make the greatest contributions to development projects. Specifically, we look at formulation space boundary exploration, Pareto frontier generation for multiple concepts in the formulation space, and a new way to perform targeted boundary expansion. The benefits of these methods are illustrated with the conceptual design of an impact driver.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pure α-Phase Manganese(II) Sulfide without the Use of Organic Reagents

Recent studies exploring the role of metal sulfides as (photo)catalysts in prebiotic synthesis reactions provide the impetus for finding carbon-free synthesis methods for metal sulfides. The decomposition of organosulfur and organometallic precursor compounds is often the protocol for synthesizing bulk metal chalcogenides, such as manganese sulfide (MnS). Here we report a hydrothermal synthesis method for the formation of MnS in which a MnCl2 solution is injected into a preheated sulfide solution. By varying the temperature of injection and subsequent aging time, we can control the specific crystal phase of the product. Three MnS polymorphs are known, and two of these, α-MnS and γ-MnS, form as pure phases in aqueous systems. The initial precipitate formed upon mixing of aqueous solutions of Mn2+ and S2- at ambient temperature is nanocrystalline and is composed of a mixture of γ-MnS (wurtzite structure) and β-MnS (zinc blende structure). β-MnS has not previously been identified as forming under aqueous con...
Cytoskeleton/endoplasmic reticulum collapse induced by prostaglandin J2 parallels centrosomal deposition of ubiquitinated protein aggregates

Many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson disease, exhibit inclusion bodies containing ubiquitinated proteins. The mechanisms implicated in this aberrant protein deposition remain elusive. In these disorders signs of inflammation are also apparent in the affected central nervous system areas. We show that prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2), an endogenous product of inflammation, disrupts the cytoskeleton in neuronal cells. Furthermore, PGJ2 perturbed microtubule polymerization in vitro and decreased the number of free sulfhydryl groups on tubulin cysteines. A direct effect of PGJ2 on actin was not apparent, although actin filaments were altered in cells treated with PGJ2. This cyclopentenone prostaglandin triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) collapse and the redistribution of ER proteins, such as calnexin and catechol-O-methyltransferase, into a large centrosomal aggregate containing ubiquitinated proteins and α-synuclein. The PGJ2-dependent cytoskeletal rearrangement paralleled the development of the large centrosomal aggregate. Both of these events were replicated by treating cells with colchicine, which disrupts the microtubule/ER network, but not with brefeldin A, which impairs ER/Golgi transport. PGJ2 also perturbed 26 S proteasome assembly and activity, which preceded the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins as detergent/salt-insoluble aggregates. Our data support a mechanism by which, upon PGJ2 treatment, cytoskeleton/ER collapse coincides with the relocation of ER proteins, other potentially neighboring proteins, and ubiquitinated proteins into centrosomal aggregates. Development of these large perinuclear aggregates is associated with disruption of the microtubule/ER network. This aberrant protein deposition, triggered by a product of inflammation, may be common to other compounds that disrupt microtubules and induce protein aggregation, such as MPP+ and rotenone, found to be associated with neurodegeneration.
Exploring student perceptions of group interaction and class satisfaction in the web-enhanced classroom

Abstract This paper presents an exploratory study of a web-enhanced televised class encouraging learner–learner interaction in small online groups. The purpose of the study was to examine whether various interactions among students in small groups could substitute for one-on-one interaction between the instructor and each student and lead to high levels of perceived class interaction and student satisfaction. It was found that perceptions of overall class interaction and student satisfaction seem to be positively affected by small group interaction. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Acute ethanol decreases NMR relaxation times of water hydrogen protons in fish brain

Abstract The traditional belief about ethanol's mechanism of action is based on ethanol's lipophilicity and capability to penetrate and disorder lipid bilayers. This traditional belief is now being supplanted by growing evidence that ethanol has relatively selective actions on certain synaptic receptors, such as those for NMDA, serotonin, and GABA. It was recently argued that these receptor specificities are secondary to a preferential ability of ethanol to displace membrane bound water in the domains of certain receptors. The data obtained in this study are consistent with the original hypothesis: any disorganization of cellular water by ethanol will be detectable by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In particular, the relaxation times of water hydrogen protons reflect how constrained water molecules are by the macromolecules within cells. The relaxation time of “bulk” water is lengthened relative to water molecules that are under the influence of electromagnetic fields of macromolecular surfaces within cells. Here, we tested this hypothesis in living fish, which dosed themselves by swimming in water that had added ethanol. Estimates of brain alcohol at 5 min after initial exposure revealed that the brain concentration was only about 1 3 that of the water in which they were swimming. The average value of the NMR relaxation time T1, but not T2, was decreased at 5 min (when brain concentrations were on the order of 100 mM) and reached statistical significance at 10 and 30 min after initial exposure. We conclude that these NMR results add to the growing evidence that acute ethanol acts by affecting hydrogen-bonded water at membranes and macromolecular surfaces within brain cells. Changes in the organization of cellular water as well as the conformation of macromolecules in the membrane and cytoplasm seem obvious. This mechanism would seem to provide a parsimonious explanation for the high sensitivity that a variety of receptor subtypes seem to have for ethanol.
Sixth-Grade Students' Progress in Understanding the Mechanisms of Global Climate Change.

Developing solutions for complex issues such as global climate change requires an understanding of the mechanisms involved. This study reports on the impact of a technology-enhanced unit designed to improve understanding of global climate change, its mechanisms, and their relationship to everyday energy use. Global Climate Change, implemented in the Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE), engages sixth-grade students in conducting virtual investigations using NetLogo models to foster an understanding of core mechanisms including the greenhouse effect. Students then test how the greenhouse effect is enhanced by everyday energy use. This study draws on three data sources: (1) pre- and post-unit interviews, (2) analysis of embedded assessments following virtual investigations, and (3) contrasting cases of two students (normative vs. non-normative understanding of the greenhouse effect). Results show the value of using virtual investigations for teaching the mechanisms associated with global climate change. Interviews document that students hold a wide range of ideas about the mechanisms driving global climate change. Investigations with models help students use evidence-based reasoning to distinguish their ideas. Results show that understanding the greenhouse effect offers a foundation for building connections between everyday energy use and increases in global temperature. An impediment to establishing coherent understanding was the persistence of an alternative conception about ozone as an explanation for climate change. These findings illustrate the need for regular revision of curriculum based on classroom trials. We discuss key design features of models and instructional revisions that can transform the teaching and learning of global climate change.
The Politics of School District Budgeting: Using Simulations to Enhance Student Learning

Engaging students with material associated with public budgeting processes can be a challenge. Our experience in an interdisciplinary seminar on education politics and policy suggests that a budget simulation exercise is an effective tool to achieve multiple objectives, including increased student engagement and strengthening student-learning outcomes, while offering a vehicle with which to explore significant policy issues. The effort described here draws on literature from both political science and education. It offers an approach that is adaptable and that can be used to encourage significant engagement from students with variable levels of prior experience and preparation.
Transition of the Rabbit Corpus Luteum to Estrogen Dependence during Early Luteal Development

The early development of the rabbit corpus luteum shifts by day 6 postcoitum from a period of estrogen independence to one of estrogen dependence. In this report, the nature of this transition to estrogen dependence has been explored. Ectopic corpora lutea were established in rabbits by autotransplanting preovulatory follicles to the kidney 6.5-8.0 h after mating (day 0). At this time, the rabbits were bilaterally ovariectomized. To determine whether estradiol might be produced transiently by the developing corpora lutea or by an extraovarian source, estradiol concentrations were measured in peripheral blood and in renal blood. The concentration of estradiol in peripheral blood did not vary significantly through day 4 of development, and, on each day, averaged less than 1.2 pg/ml. No significant differences were observed between the concentrations of estradiol in peripheral blood, in blood draining the kidney bearing ectopic corpora lutea, or in blood from the contralateral kidney. Thus, the early develop...
Transmission and secondary electron emission of 20?50?keV electrons through aluminium foils

Experimental data and Monte Carlo results of 20?50?keV electron penetration through thin aluminium foils are presented. Transmission ratios as well as energy characteristics of secondary electrons are measured for 3?20??m thick foils. Implications of these results for the requirements of a radioisotope micro-power sources energy conversion device are analyzed. It is shown that for a given foil thickness, there is a discrete peak in the low energy secondary electron emission. In addition, it is noted that the conversion factor for high energy primaries to low energy secondaries is less than one.
Oocyte nuclear maturation at the time of oocyte aspiration is independent of in vitro fertilization potential in the domestic cat

This study determined (1) the temporal kinetics of nuclear maturation at and after follicular oocyte aspiration and (2) the significance of variations in nuclear maturation and sperm-oocyte co-incubation interval on in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the domestic cat. Female cats were treated with pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin followed 84 h later with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Twenty-five hours after hCG, ovarian follicular oocytes were aspirated laparoscopically and classified according to morphological criteria. Oocytes classified as mature were cultured for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 h in Ham's F10 medium and then stained for nuclear maturation. The proportion of oocytes at metaphase II was similar (P > 0.05) at 0 (38.2%) and 2 (48.5%) h of culture, but was higher (P 0.05) for the 18 h compared to the 2 h gamete co-incubation groups. However, despite differences in nuclear maturation at the time of oocyte recovery, IVF success was unaffected (P > 0.05) by pre-insemination culture interval (0 h, 72.7%; 2 h, 73.3%; 4 h, 70.7%; 6 h, 57.8%; 8 h, 62.5%; 18 h group). Thus, the majority of oocytes recovered from cats treated with this gonadotropin regimen has not achieved metaphase II by follicular aspiration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The median voter model in public choice theory

The changing perception by public choice theorists about the relevance of the median voter model is a result of excessive extrapolation of the conclusions of theoretical models to the real world. Early in the 1970s the median voter model was often accepted as implying that the output produced in the public sector was what was most preferred by the median voter. This claim is excessive because the median voter model is only a model of demand aggregation under majority rule and has little to say about the supply side of the public sector. In the late 1970s many scholars identified several circumstances under which the model would not apply in theory, but these critiques of the model were often viewed as reasons to abandon the median voter model altogether. The model went from having excessive claims that made the model appear to be more powerful than it really is to excessive claims that made the model appear to be less powerful than it really is. These latter claims were often in response to the earlier claims rather than to the model, appropriately applied.
Gesture, verb aspect, and the nature of iconic imagery in natural discourse

Linguistic analyses of Mandarin Chinese and English have detailed the differences between the two languages in terms of the devices each makes available for expressing distinctions in the temporal contouring of events — verb aspect and Aktionsart. In this study, adult native speakers of each language were shown a cartoon, a movie, or a series of short action sequences and then videotaped talking about what they had seen. Comparisons revealed systematic within-language covariation of choice of aspect and/or Aktionsart in speech with features of co-occurring iconic gestures. In both languages, the gestures that speakers produced in imperfective aspect-marked speech contexts were more likely to take longer to produce and were more complex than those in perfective aspect speech contexts. Further, imperfective-progressive aspect-marked spoken utterances regularly accompanied iconic gestures in which the speaker’s hands engaged in some kind of temporally-extended, repeating or‘agitated’ movements. Gestures sometimes incorporated this type of motion even when there was nothing corresponding to it in the visual stimulus; for example, when speakers described events of stasis. These facts suggest that such gestural agitation may derive from an abstract level of representation, perhaps linked to aspectual view itself. No significant between-language differences in aspect- or Aktionsart-related gesturing were observed. We conclude that gestural representations of witnessed events, when performed in conjunction with speech, are not simply derived from visual images, stored as perceived in the stimulus, and transposed as faithfully as possible to the hands and body of the speaker (cf. Hadar & Butterworth, 1997). Rather, such gestures are part of a linguistic-conceptual representation (McNeill & Duncan, 2000) in which verb aspect has a role. We further conclude that the noted differences between the systems for marking aspectual distinctions in spoken Mandarin and English are at a level of patterning that has little or no influence on speech-co-occurring imagistic thinking.
Relation of population density to sodium availability and sodium selection by microtine rodents.

A COLLECTION of 55 published records of population densities of rodents of the genus Microtus reveals a strong correlation between levels reached at population peaks and local soil sodium-levels as reported in soil surveys or deduced from indirect evidence. In areas with low soil sodium the highest density reported was 230 animals per acre and populations exceeded 30 individuals per acre in only 12 (19 per cent) of 63 reports. In regions of intermediate soil sodium, Microtus populations ranged up to 400 with 16 of 22 (72 per cent) reports listing more than 30 per acre. In regions of high soil sodium there were 14 records in excess of 1,000 animals per acre and 30 of 33 (91 per cent) records were more than 30. Cyclic population fluctuations seem to occur in the animals regardless of sodium-levels, but the densities reached at population peaks are characteristically many times higher in regions of high soil sodium than in regions of low soil sodium. The correlation could be due to other ions associated with sodium in the soil. However, the possibility that it reflects a functional relationship between availability of sodium and population regulation suggested a series of laboratory experiments with meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) from a laboratory colony established with wild animals trapped at Madison, Wisconsin.
Phosphorus dynamics within agricultural drainage ditches in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley

Abstract Excessive phosphorus loading from fertilizers in agriculture results in enriched runoff and downstream aquatic system eutrophication. This study evaluated phosphorus dynamics in agricultural drainage ditches across eight sites within the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). The objective of the study was to examine the capacity of drainage ditches across the LMAV to sorb P. Spatially and temporally, all drainage ditch sediments had very low immediately bioavailable phosphorus (Pw), and a very low degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS
Glutamate dehydrogenase covalently binds to a reactive metabolite of acetaminophen.

The mechanism of the hepatotoxicity of the analgesic acetaminophen is believed to be mediated by covalent binding to protein; however, critical targets which effect the toxicity are unknown. It has been shown that mitochondrial respiration in vivo is inhibited in mice as early as 1 h following a hepatotoxic dose of acetaminophen, and it is postulated that covalent binding to critical mitochondrial proteins may be important. A time course of mitochondrial proteins stained with anti-acetaminophen in an immunoblot detected two major adducts of 50 and 67 kDa as early as 30 min after a hepatotoxic dose of acetaminophen in mice. To further understand the role of covalent binding to mitochondrial proteins and acetaminophen hepatotoxicity, we have purified and identified a 50 kDa mitochondrial protein which becomes covalently bound to a reactive metabolite of acetaminophen. An N-terminal sequence of the 50 kDa adduct was 100% homologous with the deduced amino acid sequence of glutamate dehydrogenase. In addition,...
The Inverse Inventory Problem

Abstract The classical stochastic inventory problem yields a solution for the optimum amount to stock for a given demand distribution. In the inverse inventory problem the amount stocked is given and the decision maker must determine the optimum value of the parameter of the demand distribution that is under his/her control. The relationship between the solutions of the two problems is explored.
Magnetospheric electron density long‐term (>1 day) refilling rates inferred from passive radio emissions measured by IMAGE RPI during geomagnetically quiet times

[1] Using measurements of the electron density ne found from passive radio wave observations by the IMAGE spacecraft RPI instrument on consecutive passes through the magnetosphere, we calculate the long-term (>1 day) refilling rate of equatorial electron density dne,eq/dt from L = 2 to 9. Our events did not exhibit saturation, probably because our data set did not include a deep solar minimum and because saturation is an unusual occurrence, especially outside of solar minimum. The median rate in cm−3/day can be modeled with log10(dne,eq/dt) = 2.22 − 0.006L − 0.0347L2, while the third quartile rate can be modeled with log10(dne,eq/dt) = 3.39 − 0.353L, and the mean rate can be modeled as log10(dne,eq/dt) = 2.74 − 0.269L. These statistical values are found from the ensemble of all observed rates at each L value, including negative rates (decreases in density due to azimuthal structure or radial motion or for other reasons), in order to characterize the typical behavior. The first quartile rates are usually negative for L 5.8 such as at geostationary orbit (L ∼ 6.8) (at least to L of about 8). These results agree with previous results for ion refilling at geostationary orbit, may agree with previous results at lower L, and are consistent with some trends for ionospheric density.
Performance Evaluation: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR CREDENTIALING AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT

With time and creativity, a performance evaluation can help nurse managers maintain safe and competent care delivery, meet organizational goals, assist nurses to develop professionally and even encourage ideas for future research. Some of the common problems encountered--time, paperwork and incongruent judgments--may arise between the evaluator and the evaluatee. This article discusses some of these very issues and offers some suggestions for how to handle, if not avoid, these difficulties.
Microbial Flavor Defects in Dairy Products and Methods for Their Simulation. II. Fruity Flavor

Abstract The history, nomenclature, and the mechanism involved in the development of the malty defect caused by the metabolism of Streptococcus lactis var. maltigenes in dairy products are briefly reviewed. Flavor reference standards suitable for training judges of dairy products in recognition of this defect may be prepared either by eulturing an active strain of the organism in or, more conveniently, by adding approximately 0.34ppm of high-purity 3-methylbutanal to good-quality homogenized pasteurized milk. A simple procedure for preparation of an aldehyde solution in 1,2-propanediol carrier suitable for this purpose is described.
Response of a white clover indicator system to tropospheric ozone at eight locations in the United States

A white clover (Trifolium repens L.) system using measured biomass to indicate effective concentrations of tropospheric ozone (O3) has been developed. The system utilizes the relative response of an O3-sensitive clone (NC-S) and an O3-resistant clone (NC-R) grown in 15-liter pots. Forage (leaves, stems and flowers) is cut, dried, and weighed at 28-day intervals. Forage dry weight ratios (NC-S/NC-R) for individual or multiple harvests indicate O3 concentrations during growth. In, 3 years of testing in open-top field chambers at Raleigh, North Carolina, O3 always decreased growth of NC-S more than that of NC-R and the NC-S/NC-R ratio routinely decreased as the O3 concentration increased. A national field test was performed in 1993 and 1994 to determine if the clover system can account for effects of climatic variables on clover growth per-se, and if climatic variables affect the relative response of the two clones to O3. Eight locations (Corvallis, Oregon; Kennedy Space Center, Florida; Delaware, Ohio; Amherst, Massachusetts; Blacksburg, Virginia; Raleigh, North Carolina; Riverside, California; San Bemardino mountains, California) provided large differences in O3 concentrations and climate. The NC-S/NC-R forage ratios for three consecutive 28-day growth periods for each year as related to the mean 12 hour per day O3 concentrations are presented in this manuscript. Ratios were generally highest where mean O3 concentrations were lowest (Oregon and Florida), lowest where mean O3 concentrations were highest (both California locations), and intermediate at other locations.
Wavelengths and transition rates for nl?n'l' transitions in Be-, B-, Mg-, Al-, Ca-, Zn-, Ag- and Yb-like tungsten ions

We present a comprehensive theoretical study of atomic characteristics of eight isoelectronic sequences of tungsten ions in a broad range of wavelengths and transitions. In particular, excitation energies, oscillator strengths and transition probabilities are calculated for nl?n'l' transitions in W70 +, W69 +, W62 +, W61 +, W54 +, W44 +, W27 + and W4 + ions. Atomic structure and radiative characteristics of Be-like ([He]2lnl', n = 2, 3), B-like ([He]2l2l'2l''), Mg-like ([Ne]3l3l'), Al-like ([Ne]3l3l'3l''), Ca-like ([Ar]3d4l), Zn-like ([Ni]4l4l'), Ag-like [Kr]4d10nl) and Yb-like ([Xe]4f145l6l') tungsten ions are computed by the relativistic many-body perturbation theory (RMBPT) method. The calculations start from a 1s2 Dirac?Fock potential for Be- and B-like W, from the 1s22s22p6 Dirac?Fock potential for Mg- and Al-like W; from the 1s22s22p63s23p6 and 1s22s22p63s23p63d10 Dirac?Fock potentials for Ca- and Zn-like W, respectively. Evaluation of properties of Ag-like and Yb-like ions starts from a Dirac?Fock potential with only partially filled n = 4 shell (1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d10) and n = 5 shell (1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d104f145s25p6), respectively. First-order perturbation theory is used to obtain intermediate coupling coefficients, and second-order RMBPT is used to determine the matrix elements. The contributions from negative-energy states are included in the second-order E1 matrix elements to achieve agreement between length-form and velocity-form amplitudes. Our calculations present benchmark data for many yet unmeasured properties of tungsten ions and are in particular important in diagnostics of tungsten plasma of a broad range of temperatures as well as for future ITER plasmas.
Experimental Investigation of the Machinability of Epoxy Reinforced With Graphene Platelets

The objective of this research is to study the effect of graphene platelet (GPL) loading on the machinability of epoxy-based GPL composites. To this end, micro-milling experiments are conducted on composites with varying GPL content and their results are contrasted against that of plain epoxy. The material microstructure is characterized using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. Chip morphology, cutting force, machined surface morphology, and tool wear, are employed as the machinability measures for comparative purposes. At lower loadings of GPL (0.1% and 0.2% by weight) the deformation of the polymer phase plays a major role, whereas at a higher loading of 0.3% by weight, the GPL agglomerates and interface-dominated failure dictates the machining response. The minimum chip thickness value of the composites decreases with an increase in GPL loading. Overall, the 0.2% GPL composite has the highest cutting force and the lowest tool wear.© 2012 ASME
Survival strategies of the salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus: interaction of predator-avoidance and anti-predator mechanisms

Abstract Abstract. The anti-predator responses of the mountain dusky salamander, Desmognathus ochrophaeus , to the larger predatory salamanders, Dunn's spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus , and black-bellied salamander, D. quadramaculatus were examined in two types of experiments. In both experiments the prey species, especially those corresponding to the largest size subject to predation by these predators, fled from G. porphyriticus but not D. quadramaculatus when seasonal predator avoidance was low. Fleeing from G. porphyriticus was low when seasonal predator avoidance was high. The high fleeing response to G. porphyriticus corresponded to low post-attack anti-predator efficacy against G. porphyriticus . The low fleeing response to D. quadramaculatus corresponded to high post-attack anti-predator efficacy against D. quadramaculatus .
The geometry of compact homogeneous spaces with two isotropy summands

We give a complete list of all homogeneous spaces M = G/H where G is a simple compact Lie group, H a connected, closed subgroup, and G/H is simply connected, for which the isotropy representation of H on T p M decomposes into exactly two irreducible summands. For each homogeneous space, we determine whether it admits a G-invariant Einstein metric. When there is an intermediate subgroup H < K < G, we classify all the G-invariant Einstein metrics. This is an extension of the classification of isotropy irreducible spaces, given independently by Manturov (Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 141, (1961), 792–795 1034–1037, Tr. Semin. Vector Tensor Anal. 13, (1966), 68–145) and J Wolf (Acta Math. 120, (1968), 59–148 152, (1984) 141–142).