cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3707: The multitargeted kinase inhibitor dasatinib induces DNA damage, Hippo pathway engagement and senescence in lung cancer cell lines that possess kinase-inactivating BRAF mutations

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Therapies that target specific genetic aberrations are very effective in a subset on NSCLC. An effective approach for discovering novel therapeutic targets is to characterize responsive tumors. In this regard, we discovered a novel, kinase-inactivating BRAF mutation in the tumor of a patient with a marked and durable response to the multi-targeted kinase inhibitor dasatinib. Likewise, dasatinib induces senescence in NSCLC cells with endogenous kinase-inactivating BRAF mutations (KIBRAF). To identify the mechanism underlying this effect, we used reverse phase protein array, Western blotting and gene expression analysis on NSCLC cell lines with KIBRAF or WTBRAF incubated with dasatinib. We found that ATM, ATR, Rad 51, pH2AX, CDC6, CHEK1 (Chk1), pLATS and TAZ, were differentially regulated in mutant vs. WT cell lines. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that CHEK1, TAZ and TAZ9s downstream targets were decreased following incubation with dasatinib in KIBRAF cells. Overexpression of CHEK1 or TAZ in KIBRAF NSCLC cells resulted in dasatinib resistance and decreased dasatinib-induced senescence. Given the differential effect on CHEK1 and pH2AX, we studied the effect of dasatinib on DNA damage using the COMET assay and found that dasatinib induces a significant increase in COMET-positive KIBRAF NSCLC cells. These data suggest that the inhibition of Chk1 along with inhibition of Hippo pathway results in the dasatinib sensitivity in NSCLC with KIBRAF. Citation Format: Banibrata Sen, Shaohua Peng, Tuhina Mazumdar, Lauren A. Byers, Humam Kadara, Faye M. Johnson. The multitargeted kinase inhibitor dasatinib induces DNA damage, Hippo pathway engagement and senescence in lung cancer cell lines that possess kinase-inactivating BRAF mutations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3707. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3707
Abstract P346: Racial and Ethnic Differences in 30-Day Readmission and 1-Year Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure

Background: Prior outcomes research among heart failure (HF) patients has documented higher readmission rates among blacks vs. whites. However, data are limited among Hispanics and few studies have evaluated long-term outcomes by race/ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality rates among a diverse group of hospitalized HF patients by race/ethnicity. Methods: This was a 1-year prospective study of consecutively hospitalized patients with an admission diagnosis of HF who participated in a NHLBI clinical outcomes study (N=407; 52% white, 25% Hispanic, 20% black, 3% Asian; 38% female). Demographics (self-reported race/ethnicity, age, sex, health insurance), comorbidities (ischemic vs. non ischemic HF, hypertension, diabetes, renal failure/dialysis, peripheral vascular disease), discharge medications (inotrope, statin, ACE-I/ARB, beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, diuretic), readmission to the medical center, readmission diagnosis, and death were systemati...
Viewpoints from generation X: a survey of candidate and associate viewpoints on resident duty-hour regulations.

Abstract Background The American Medical Student Association, the Committee of Interns and Residents, and Public Citizen petitioned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for national resident duty-hour limitations. Subsequently, federal legislation was introduced to limit resident duty hours. To preempt the federal government, the Accreditation of Graduate Medical Education implemented resident duty-hour guidelines. Study design To evaluate the viewpoints and attitudes of surgical resident and staff physicians as they pertain to the national resident duty-hour guidelines, we asked attendees of the American College of Surgeons’ Candidate Associate Society Forum during the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress meeting in 2001 to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Analyses were performed to determine the frequency of response for each survey item. Results Eighty-six of the 102 (84%) surgeons who attended the American College of Surgeons Forum completed the survey. Most disagreed with the federal government involvement in regulating duty hours. Although most agreed that residents should not be on call more than every third night, viewpoints varied on the other duty-hour guidelines. Most (63.4%) reported that residents should work 81 to 100 hours per week, but 11% reported that residents should work > 101 hours per week and 25.6% reported that ≤ 80 hours per week was optimal. Conclusions As future guidelines are considered, further studies must be done to determine the viewpoints and attitudes of surgical resident and staff physicians with regard to resident duty-hour reform. These “front line” individuals may have unique insights into the benefits and barriers of duty-hour regulations.
Adjusting chair timeout enforcement procedures for oppositional children.

Mothers of noncompliant, clinic-referred preschool children were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 chair timeout (TO) enforcement procedures: Spank, Hold, Barrier, or Child Release. Standardized Forehand compliance training was implemented. Hold procedures were associated with less compliance criterion performance and excessive TO escape efforts. Child Release procedures were associated with excessive TOs. Neither Hold nor Child Release procedures are recommended. Barrier and Spank procedures appeared equally effective, replicating prior studies. The importance of monitoring and adjusting initial clinic TO enforcement procedures was documented. Noncompliant children who resisted TO displayed significantly less improvement in compliance than noncompliant children who accepted TO. Group data were obtained in the home setting across a four-week period. Most children displayed near-zero levels of TO resistance within 3 weeks in the home.
Determination of Minimum Vessel Wall Thickness Under Design Condition Loadings

During the concept design phase of a series of pressure vessels for nuclear application, an approach was developed to provide minimum vessel sizing under dynamic loading conditions. Calculations had been undertaken to determine an initial tentative vessel wall thickness using ASME III Subsection NB, however only a limited assessment of mechanical loading was undertaken.This paper outlines a static analysis approach for extending the structural analysis of a pressure vessel shell to include design condition loadings. These include dynamic loading, support reactions and external piping reactions which can have a significant influence on the required minimum wall thickness.This paper is limited to outlining generic rules and assumptions that can be applied to the preliminary concept design of pressure vessels. The method was originally captured to aid knowledge sharing within the design team. It does not prescribe an exact methodology but rather an interpretation and application of the design code. The aim is to provide a better defined vessel geometry upon which to base the detailed finite element stress analyses for both design and service conditions. The perceived benefit of this approach is that there will be a lower likelihood of major design changes being during the detail phase.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Aging Processes and Enzymatic Proteins

A hypothesis is presented that some proteins, because of the mechanism of protein biosynthesis, are in nonequilibrium meta-stable states at the moment biosynthesis is completed, and that “growing old” (“ageing”) of such macromolecules is a process of internal equilibration. The hypothesis explains some problems concerning protein turnover, tertiary protein structure, denaturation and renaturation, and suggests possible importance of tunneling effects in enzymatic catalysis. X-ray diffraction on metmyoglobin shows a structure that seems to be a meta-stable non-equilibrium one, and some recent experiments concerning half-life for protein turnover give results that are in accordance with predictions based on the present hypothesis and that are inexplicable on the basis of other existing theories.
Physiological, psychological, social, and cultural influences on the use of menthol cigarettes among Blacks and Hispanics

Patterns of menthol cigarette consumption among Blacks and Hispanics are likely a product of the interactive effects of several factors: the physiological and pharmacological sensory effects of menthol, the "cool" psychological identity of being menthol smokers, the promotional marketing of menthol cigarettes, and the cultural effects of health-related beliefs and subjective culture norms. This article presents two conceptual frameworks--a moderation logic model and a mediation logic model--for organizing the disparate literature on factors affecting the consumption of menthol cigarettes among Blacks and Hispanics. Three factor domains are examined as direct effect predictors of menthol cigarette smoking: (a) physiological and pharmacological, (b) psychological, and (c) social and environmental. In addition, a fourth domain of cultural variables is presented as a class of moderator or mediator variables that can interact with these physiological, psychological, and social factors as determinants of menthol cigarette use. These cultural variables are examined as mediating or moderating factors that influence the use of menthol cigarettes by Black and Hispanic consumers. Recommendations are offered for future research to further understand the influence of cultural and other factors as determinants of menthol cigarette smoking among Blacks and Hispanics.
Civil commitment laws in nineteenth-century New York

The roots of nineteenth-century American civil commitment law lay in English common law, in particular poor law, with its mixed motives of helping lunatics and of protecting the community from them. As state institutions assumed an increasingly large share of the burden of restraint in the 1840s and 1850s, such confinement decisions became subject to greater public scrutiny. This can be seen particularly clearly in New York State, which in 1842 passed a law requiring that two physicians examine each alleged lunatic and report their findings to a judge who then made the final commitment decision. After the Civil War, a number of legal decisions limited the state's power to initiate civil commitments to cases of clear social danger, though families were not so confined. An 1874 statute further tightened procedural guidelines for civil commitments. A State Commissioner in Lunacy was appointed to oversee the internal workings of lunatic asylums. Yet such legal "reforms" failed to slow the increasing tendency of both families and communities to use such institutions as long-term holding places for the socially marginal or threatening. Language: en
The first examples of the 11H-[2]benzazepino[1,2-a]dibenz[b,f]azocine ring system

The ring closure of 2-[(11,12-dihydro-6-oxodibenz[b,f]azocin-5-yl)methyl]benzoic acid in polyphosphoric acid to 16,17-dihydro-11H-[2]benzazepino[1,2-a] dibenz[b,f]azocine-4-(9H)-11-dione is reported. Degradation studies supporting this structural assignment for the annelation product are described.
Molecular and cytogenetic analysis of tumors in von recklinghausen neurofibromatosis

Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant disorder mapped to 17q11.2 and typically characterized by the occurrence of neural crest-derived tumors. The gene has recently been cloned using reverse genetics or "positional cloning" approaches. Its function, however, remains unknown. We have performed cytogenetic and molecular analyses on 9 malignant tumors from NF1 patients to look for loss of alleles or chromosome rearrangements involving chromosome 17 to test the hypothesis that the NF1 gene acts as a recessive "tumor suppressor" gene. Loss of alleles on this chromosome was detected for 3 of 9 malignant tumors. Two peripheral nerve sheath tumors showed allele loss at informative loci on both the long and short arms of chromosome 17. In contrast, a glioblastoma with focal gliosarcoma showed loss of heterozygosity on the short arm of chromosome 17 only, and not at loci on the long arm. One nerve sheath tumor was previously shown by direct sequence analysis to have a point mutation at the TP53 locus at 17p13. These data support a role for the TP53 gene or other genes on the short arm of chromosome 17 in at least some malignancies in NF1. Six other neurofibrosarcomas showed no allele loss at informative loci on chromosome 17. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on 7 tumors, including 2 with allele loss. The two tumors with allele loss showed abnormal karyotypes while all others were normal. Southern blot and pulsed-field gel analysis using probes within or closely linked to the NF1 locus detected no gross deletions or rearrangements in the tumors studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Behavior instance extraction for risk aware control in mission centric systems

In the pursuit of behavior modeling for dynamic policy management and usage control, mission centric systems are the most important to examine, not only because situation dynamics can dramatically alter the collaboration environment, but also since behavior in these systems is constrained by mission objectives or workflows. Traditional mission decomposition into tasks and objectives has led to static policy deployment and role based views of access control and, but we propose Risk-Adaptive Mission Policy (RAMP) to enable commanders to automate decisions to constrain or proliferate access depending on behavioral context and risk assessment for successful mission outcomes. As the critical source of knowledge to enable this new methodology, we formulate the behavior instance extraction problem (BIEP) to pre-process unstructured activity data and mine interesting behaviors for modeling applications. Finally, we develop the workflow behavior instance extraction algorithm to tailor a solution to BIEP specifically for RAMP. Our evaluation weighs performance against new functionality to show that our work supports risk aware security decisions for dynamic situation management in mission centric environments.
A Colorimetric Assay for Cytokinin Oxidase

A simple and rapid colorimetric assay for cytokinin oxidase is described. The assay is based on the formation of a Schiff base between the enzymatic reaction product 3-methyl-2-butenal and p-aminophenol. The assay is effective in the submicromolar concentration range and can be used in crude plant extracts as well as in more highly purified preparations.
Radiative Transfer in the Earth's Atmosphere-ocean System: II. Radiance in the Atmosphere and Ocean

Abstract The upward and downward radiance is calculated for a realistic model of the atmosphere-ocean system by a Monte Carlo method. All known processes are taken into account which affect the solar photons, including scattering and absorption by atmospheric and oceanic molecules, and by aerosols and hydrosols, as well as reflection and refraction at the ocean surface. The scattering angles are chosen from distributions calculated from Mie theory for the aerosols and hydrosols and thus take account of the strong forward-scattering peak. Typical radiance values are presented at six wavelengths from 0.40 to 0.65 μ, for three different solar angles, and for three different models of the ocean with various amounts of turbidity. The minimum value of the upward radiance just above the ocean surface as a function of the nadir angle of observation increases 640% from the turbid to the clear ocean model. Even at the top of the atmosphere the increase is 40%. Thus, detectors in either airplanes or satellites shoul...
A test of the negative discriminative stimulus as a reinforcer of observing

Five pigeons were used to test the hypothesis that the source of reinforcement for observing behavior is the information that it provides concerning the schedule of primary reinforcement. On a variable-interval schedule, pecking the left-hand key produced a 30-sec display of such information. During this 30-sec period, when pecking the right-hand key was reinforced on a random-interval schedule, both keys were green; when no reinforcement was scheduled (extinction) both keys were red. Later, this baseline procedure, in which both red and green were available, was replaced for blocks of sessions by procedures in which either (a) the red was eliminated and only the green could be produced; or (b) the green was eliminated and only the red could be produced. The results were that green maintained rates of pecking on the left key that were as high or higher than when both colors were available and that red maintained no responding. It was concluded that the reinforcing value of a stimulus depends on the positive or negative direction of its correlation with primary reinforcement, rather than upon the amount of information that it conveys.
Update on antifungal resistance

Overuse of antifungal agents has resulted in the selection of naturally resistant Candida species, as well as expression of resistance from previously susceptible species resulting from genetic mutations and/or selection of resistant subpopulations. Strategies for the appropriate use of antifungal agents need to be developed to prevent further development of resistance.
Simulation of cell rolling and adhesion on surfaces in shear flow: general results and analysis of selectin-mediated neutrophil adhesion.

The receptor-mediated adhesion of cells to ligand-coated surfaces in viscous shear flow is an important step in many physiological processes, such as the neutrophil-mediated inflammatory response, lymphocyte homing, and tumor cell metastasis. This paper describes a calculational method which simulates the interaction of a single cell with a ligand-coated surface under flow. The cell is idealized as a microvilli-coated hard sphere covered with adhesive springs. The distribution of microvilli on the cell surface, the distribution of receptors on microvilli tips, and the forward and reverse reaction between receptor and ligand are all simulated using random number sampling of appropriate probability functions. The velocity of the cell at each time step in the simulation results from a balance of hydrodynamic, colloidal and bonding forces; the bonding force is derived by summing the individual contributions of each receptor-ligand tether. The model can simulate the effect of many parameters on adhesion, such as the number of receptors on microvilli tips, the density of ligand, the rates of reaction between receptor and ligand, the stiffness of the resulting receptor-ligand springs, the response of springs to strain, and the magnitude of the bulk hydrodynamic stresses. The model can successfully recreate the entire range of expected and observed adhesive phenomena, from completely unencumbered motion, to rolling, to transient attachment, to firm adhesion. Also, the method can generate meaningful statistical measures of adhesion, including the mean and variance in velocity, rate constants for cell attachment and detachment, and the frequency of adhesion. We find a critical modulating parameter of adhesion is the fractional spring slippage, which relates the strain of a bond to its rate of breakage; the higher the slippage, the faster the breakage for the same strain. Our analysis of neutrophil adhesive behavior on selectin-coated (CD62-coated) surfaces in viscous shear flow reported by Lawrence and Springer (Lawrence, M.B., and T.A. Springer 1991. Cell. 65:859–874) shows the fractional spring slippage of the CD62-LECAM-1 bond is likely below 0.01. We conclude the unique ability of this selectin bond to cause neutrophil rolling under flow is a result of its unique response to strain. Furthermore, our model can successfully recreate data on neutrophil rolling as function of CD62 surface density.
Using principal components to produce an economic and social development index: An application to Latin America and the U.S.

This paper presents a principal components methodology for determining the weights for a set of indicators in a composite index of development. The procedure is applied to a 36-variable data set consisting of 1990 data for 19 Latin American countries and corresponding 1960 and 1990 data for the individual U.S. states. This paper compares the results with other well-known indices and uses the combined data set to better understand the level and scope of development in each region and over time. The general results are that the level of development of Latin American countries in 1990 are roughly distributed over the U.S. states in 1960 (though with a larger range), and the structure of development in Latin America is similar to the U.S.
Nasal Blastoma: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study

The first light and electron microscopic study of a nasal blastoma is reported. Analogous to a pulmonary blastoma, the tumor is composed of well-differentiated squamous and glandular epithelial elements surrounded by a spindle cell stroma. The spindle stromal cell is a myofibroblast. Eighteen months after complete surgical removal of the tumor and radiation therapy, the patient is clinically free of disease.
Films of Mn12-acetate deposited by low-energy laser ablation

Abstract Thin films of the molecular magnet Mn 12 -acetate, [Mn 12 O 12 (CH 3 COO) 16 (H 2 O) 4 ]·2CH 3 COOH·4H 2 O, have been prepared using a laser ablation technique with a nitrogen laser at low laser energies of 0.8 and 2 mJ. Chemical and magnetic characterizations show that the Mn 12 -acetate cores remain intact and the films show similar magnetic properties to those of the parent molecular starting material. In addition, the magnetic data exhibit a peak in the magnetization at 27 K indicating the creation of an additional magnetic phase not noted in previous studies of crystalline phases.
Backward conditioning to a CS following an expected vs. a surprising UCS

Rabbits were trained in eyelid conditioning with a “backward” arrangement of unconditioned stimulus (UCS) followed by conditioned stimulus (CS). When such a CS was tested alone it was observed to produce substantial conditioned responding if the UCS had been arranged to be “surprising” during the backward pairings, but not if it had been arranged to be “expected.” The comparisons were made in a within-subjects design where the surprisingness of the UCS on the different pairing occasions was manipulated by preceding the UCS by discriminative CSs which were otherwise either never followed by the UCS (CS−) or consistently followed by the UCS (CS+). The results may have implications for the nonmonotonic course of responding seen during backward conditioning, as a UCS is at first surprising, but then expected on the basis of contextual cues.
Aquatic Animals in Toxicity Testing

Aquatic animals provide useful models for toxicological evaluations that bridge the gap between real world and laboratory problems. Select aquatic organisms are adaptable to laboratory experimentat...
Measuring Academic Growth in Students With Disabilities in Charter Schools

In the current climate of high-stakes accountability created under the No Child Left Behind legislation, public schools, including charter schools, are under tremendous pressure to show consistent improvement in student achievement for all students. Students with disabilities present unique challenges to schools attempting to meet Adequate Yearly Progress. An accountability system that relies exclusively on students’ ability to meet a fixed proficiency level is now under great scrutiny. Indeed, efforts to pilot an assessment system that measures individual students’ growth are underway in a number of states.What can be learned from analyzing the achievement of students with disabilities using a growth model? This question became the focus of a study conducted in 4 urban charter schools where growth in reading and math achievement were examined for students with and without disabilities. The challenges with measuring growth in charter environments and implications for policies around accountability are exa...
Effect of ring annelation on Li+–benzene interaction: A computational study

Abstract Calculations at the B3LYP functional and MP2 method using 6-31G(d,p) basis set reveal that binding affinity of Li + ion with benzene is enhanced by tri-annelation of benzene or highly strained bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene ring. The substantial increase of interaction energy of benzene–Li + complex by ring annelation of bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene may be attributed to the weak C–H ⋯ Li + interactions in addition to Li + –π interaction. Annelation of three bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene rings to benzene yields a good receptor for cation binding. The binding of Li + with ring annelated benzenes has significant impact on the characteristic vibrational frequencies and NMR chemical shifts.
Axonally Translated SMADs Link Up BDNF and Retrograde BMP Signaling

Axonal target-derived BMP and neurotrophin signaling are both known to regulate neuronal gene expression, differentiation, and axon growth. In this issue of Neuron, Ji and Jaffrey (2012) discovered that BMP-signaling endosomes depend on BDNF-induced axonal synthesis of SMADs to retrogradely regulate transcription in developing trigeminal neurons, providing a mechanism of integrating the two target-derived signals.
Introducing SPRINT: A Single Photon Ring System for Emission Tomography

SPRINT (Single Photon RINg Tomograph) is a multiple detector single photon ring imaging device for radionuclides developed at The University of Michigan. The device employs a circular ring coded aperture to minimize mechanical motion while maximizing photon efficiency. A one dimensional pseudorandom coded aperture is used that provides transverse section tomography of the human head. 78 detector locations are equally spaced around the ring. Gamma rays incident upon the NaI(Tl) detectors are energy selected and counted by a microprocessor controlled data acquisition chain. initial calibration has begun with the use of a partially filled ring of 48 detectors.
Pathophysiology of Peripheral Nerve Injury During Regional Anesthesia

Background and Objectives: Despite attention to technical details in performance of regional anesthetics, damage to nerves continues to be a concern. Understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms may aid in decreasing the incidence and severity of such injuries. Methods: Studies from both clinical and basic science perspective are reviewed. Results: Exposure of peripheral nerves to local anesthetics may result in axonal damage, particularly if the solution is injected intrafascicularly, if the concentration is high, and if duration of exposure is prolonged. Disruption of numerous cellular functions may contribute to neuronal damage by local anesthetics, but elevated intracellular calcium levels may play a central role. Needle penetration of a nerve results in minimal lasting damage unless this is combined with local anesthetic administration within the nerve fascicle. Direct compression by a pronged tourniquet application may damage axons particularly of large myelinated fibers. Ischemia may also contribute to neuronal injury in proportion to the duration of blood flow interruption. Conclusions: The relative importance of these pathogenic factors in cases of nerve injury after regional anesthesia is not resolved.
Colossal magnetocapacitance and scale-invariant dielectric response in phase-separated manganites

Afull characterization of phase separation and the competition between phases is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of strongly correlated electron materials, such as under-doped high-temperature superconductors1,2, complex oxide heterojunctions3, spinels4,5, multiferroics6,7, rare-earth ferroelectric manganites8 and mixed-valence manganites in which phase competition is the dominant mechanism governing the insulator–metal (IM) transition and the associated colossal magnetoresistance effect9,10,11. Thin films of strongly correlated electron materials are often grown epitaxially on planar substrates and typically have anisotropic properties that are usually not captured by edge-mounted four-terminal electrical measurements, which are primarily sensitive to in-plane conduction paths. We present an experimental study of anisotropic transport in phase-separated manganite thin films by using an unconventional arrangement of contact electrodes that enables the simultaneous determination of colossal magnetoresistance associated with d.c. transport parallel to the film substrate and colossal magnetocapacitance associated with a.c. transport in the perpendicular direction. We distinguish two distinct direction-dependent IM transitions and find a dielectric response that collapses onto a scale-invariant dependence over a large range of frequency, temperature and magnetic field.
Productive efficiency of rural health clinics: the Midwest experience.

: This article identifies the characteristics of efficient and inefficient rural clinics in the Midwest, using 1994 Medicare cost reports. Rural health clinics are compared on the basis of productive efficiency by estimating a nonparametric frontier. Six inputs and five output categories were employed to estimate an efficient frontier. The results show that an efficient clinic, on average, employs approximately 1.5 more physicians than an inefficient clinic and incurs capital expenses more than twice those of the inefficient clinic. Future rural clinics are expected to be larger, employing more capital and labor to take advantage of scale economies. However, given the steady (or decreasing) population of rural communities, the expansion of relatively small rural clinics could involve forming rural health care systems and/or networks in close proximity to create synergies from scale economies, staff recruitment, easier access to capital, shared information systems, improved mobility of physicians among several clinics and savings from management costs.
Culture, Handling, and Feeding Techniques for Black Crappie Fingerlings

Abstract During the summers of 1980 and 1981, we analyzed techniques to produce, handle, and feed fingerling black crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus. Production of black crappies was extremely variable, ranging from 0 to a maximum of 164,700 fingerlings/hectare. Brood-fish sex ratios near 1.0 and densities of 100–125/hectare resulted in the highest production of fingerlings per hectare and per female. Brush additions to ponds were unnecessary for successful black crappie spawning. Handling mortality of fingerlings in 1980 ranged from 80 to 100% within the first 3 h following harvest. Use of quinaldine (22 mg/L), a mixture of quinaldine (22 mg/L) and salt (0.5%), or sodium bicarbonate (100 mg/L) as handling treatments did not reduce handling mortality in 1981. However, harvesting at night (at approximately 2300 hours) reduced 3-d mortality of fingerlings to 8%. Fingerling black crappies (25–35 mm) were trained to accept a pelleted ration (Biodiet) with 85–95% success. A 7-d training sequence beginning with c...
An Interactive Power System Analyzer with Graphics for Educational Use

The paper presents a student-oriented power system analyzer with an interactive graphics display. Its capabilities include studies of (1) load flow, (2) load and generation , (3) voltage level control, (4) economic dispatch, and (5) contingency and planning analysis. Power network configurations of up to 30 buses can be presented clearly on one screen. The interactive nature of this program makes such studies effective and easy to use. With the support of a computer with graphics software and many graphics terminals, this program can be a useful teaching tool for power system studies.
AIDS in India: incidence, prevalence, and prevention,.

With 3.7 million human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive in India, many predict that this nation of 1 billion people will soon see infection rates soar if successful prevention programs are not implemented. The majority of infections occur through sexual contact, with blood banks, intravenous drug use, and mother-to-child transmission also spreading the virus. Those in India who are HIV-positive are highly stigmatized and often have difficulty finding physicians who are willing to treat them. Nongovernment organizations provide various services, including physician referrals and legal help for those who are HIV-positive and programs to raise awareness and education. Although the Government of India has designed various programs to help prevent the further spread of HIV, lack of funding and poor regulatory systems are further barriers to their implementation. India is also at war with poverty, illiteracy, and gender inequality, all of which make the fight against acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AI...
Total Lifetime Distribution Analysis for Fluorescence Fingerprinting and Characterization

A new technique, total lifetime distribution analysis (TLDA), is described for rapid, sensitive, and accurate lifetime characterization of complex samples. Multiharmonic Fourier transform technology in a commercial, frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime instrument allows rapid acquisition of TLDA data. High sensitivity derives from the use of the entire fluorescence emission from the sample in the lifetime measurement. The maximum entropy method (MEM) provides a consistent basis for modeling of the lifetime data for accurate recovery of the total lifetime distribution of the sample. Because MEM is self-modeling, it is not subject to the same sources of bias that influence nonlinear least-squares fits of lifetime data to a priori models. These features make TLDA an effective tool for sample characterization and fingerprinting that is based on the responsiveness of fluorescence lifetime to the chemical composition and dynamic processes that contribute to the uniqueness of the sample. TLDA results are presented for coal liquids and a humic substance. The effect of signal intensity on lifetime recovery is investigated, and comparison is made between MEM and conventional nonlinear least-squares for data analysis.
Control of particle morphology during multicomponent metal oxide powder generation by spray pyrolysis

Abstract Spray Pyrolysis allows generation of small, unagglomerated, high-purity ceramic particles including multicomponent oxide and non-oxide powders. The primary disadvantage of this technique is that the particles are often hollow and porous. These morphologies occur using certain precursors and reactor conditions, while under other conditions, the particles are dense. We have examined approaches for generation of solid particles. The effects of controlled drying, addition of colloidal seed particles, and high reactor temperatures on particle morphology were studied. Controlled drying and additions of colloidal seed particles to Mg(NO 3 ) 2 ·6H 2 O and Zn(NO 3 ) 2 ·6H 2 O solutions produced hollow ZnO and MgO particles. Titania (TiO 2 ) particles were added to BaTiO 3 and SrTiO 3 precursor solutions. The BaTiO 3 and SrTiO 3 particles changed from hollow shells to agglomerates of crystallites on the order of 10 nm as the percentage of titanium from TiO 2 increased. Particles of BaTiO 3 and SrTiO 3 underwent aerosol-phase densification at higher reactor temperatures.
The impact of vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy and in vitro upon fetal membrane strength and remodeling

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested as a mechanism of fetal membrane (FM) weakening leading to rupture, particularly with preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes (PROM). In vitro, FM incubation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mimics physiological FM weakening, concomitant with generation of ROS and collagen remodeling. Proinflammatory cytokines are also postulated to have a role in the development of the FM physiological weak zone where rupture normally initiates in-term gestations. We hypothesized that antioxidant treatment may block ROS development and resultant FM weakening. Two studies examining antioxidant effects upon FM strength were conducted, one in vivo and the other in vitro. Fetal membrane of patients enrolled in a multicenter placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of vitamin C (1 g/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) upon complications of pre-eclampsia were examined for FM biomechanical properties and biochemical remodeling at birth. Separately, biomechanics and biochemical markers of remodeling were determined in FM fragments incubated with TNF with or without vitamin C preincubation. Supplemental dietary vitamin C in combination with vitamin E did not modify rupture strength, work to rupture, or matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9; protein or activity) either within or outside the term FM physiological weak zone. In vitro, TNF decreased FM rupture strength by 50% while increasing MMP9 protein. Vitamin C did not inhibit these TNF-induced effects. Vitamin C alone had a weakening effect on FM in vitro. We speculate that vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy will not be useful in the prevention of preterm PROM.
Radioactive species produced by cosmic rays in the Aroos iron meteorite

Abstract The iron meteorite Aroos fell on 24 November 1959. Using a sample received in February 1960, we have measured the content of eighteen cosmic-ray produced radioactive nuclides in this meteorite. All were separated by wet chemical methods. A low-level X-ray proportional counter was used for a group of electron-capture species; β- and γ-counting were used for the others. The activities of the long-lived species Be 10 , Al 26 and Mn 53 were close to those found previously in the meteorites Williamstown and Grant. The value for Cl 36 was also consistent with earlier work. Much less K 40 was found, indicating a shorter cosmic-ray age for Aroos. Comparison of the activities of the groups Mn 53 -Mn 54 , Ti 44 -Sc 46 -Ca 45 , Na 22 -Al 26 , and C1 36 -Ar 37 -Ar 39 (data of Fireman and De Felice , 1960) indicates constancy of the cosmic-ray flux over millions of years within a factor of 2 or 3. Comparison of the groups Mn 54 -V 49 -Na 22 and Ti 44 -Si 32 , among others shows the great importance of low-energy particles in synthesizing products close to the target mass. Quantitative discussions will be given in a later paper.
Guiding neuronal growth cones using Ca2+ signals

Pathfinding by growing axons in the developing or regenerating nervous system is guided by gradients of molecular guidance cues. The neuronal growth cone, located at the ends of axons, uses surface receptors to sense these cues and to transduce guidance information to cellular machinery that mediates growth and turning responses. Cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals have key roles in regulating this motility. Global growth cone Ca2+ signals can regulate cytoskeletal elements and membrane dynamics to control elongation, whereas Ca2+ signals localized to one side of the growth cone can cause asymmetric activation of effector enzymes to steer the growth cone. Modulating Ca2+ levels in the growth cone might overcome inhibitory signals that normally prevent regeneration in the central nervous system.
Numerical Simulation on Gas Turbine Film Cooling of Curved Surface With Backward Injection

Due to the unique role of gas turbine engines in power generation and aircraft propulsion, significant effort has been made to improve the gas turbine performance. As a result, the turbine inlet temperature is usually elevated to be higher than the metal melting point. Therefore, effective cooling of gas turbines is a critical task for engines’ efficiency as well as safety and lifetime. Film cooling has been used to cool the turbine blades for many years. The main issues related to film cooling are its poor coverage, aerodynamic loss, and increase of heat transfer coefficient due to strong mixing. To overcome these problems, film cooling with backward injection has been found to produce a more uniform cooling coverage under low pressure and temperature conditions and with simple cylindrical holes. Therefore, the focus of this paper is on the performance of film cooling with backward injection at gas turbine operating conditions. By applying numerical simulation, it is observed that along the centerline on both concave and convex surfaces, the film cooling effectiveness decreases with backward injection. However, cooling along the span is improved, resulting in more uniform cooling.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Estimation of particle size distributions from forward scattering data.

A novel approach to the estimation of particle size distributions is proposed and investigated. The proposed technique uses only forward scattering data as opposed to known methods using angle scattering. Our approach relies on the fact that, as coherent light travels through the random scattering medium, its coherence deteriorates. The degree of coherence degradation may be described in terms of the mutual intensity function (MIF). The shape of the MIF depends on the distribution of the particle size in the scattering medium. If a coherent receiver is used to detect forward scattered radiation, its output signal depends on the receiver diameter and on the MIF. Dependence of the receiver output signal on the receiver diameter carries information about the MIF and therefore about the particle size distribution. This information may be extracted by means of the techniques suggested in this paper. The suggested techniques are the outgrowth of our previously proposed method of estimating the particle size for the case of a monodispersive medium. As an example, we consider here the estimation of the Junge distribution. However, the method is applicable to other distributions as well. Since the proposed technique is based on an assumption of the form of the distribution, it will yield inaccurate estimates if the actual shape of the distribution function is different from the assumed. The distribution sensitivity of the technique is assessed by considering an extreme case of a flagrant assumption mistake when a monodispersive medium has been assumed while actually the device deals with a Junge-distributed polydispersive medium. This example yields ~50% relative errors in the produced estimates. Since practical distribution deviations should be less serious, the cited number can be considered as an upper bound for the device errors stemming from the distribution sensitivity. The byproducts of our analysis are the development of the MIF for Junge-distributed scattering media and the analysis of the coherent receiver performance for the case when the received light is scattered by Junge-distributed particles.
Schistosoma japonicum: biochemistry and cytochemistry of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-II-like activity in adults

The biochemical characterization of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase II activity was investigated in the supernatant of centrifuged homogenates of adult Schistosoma japonicum using a lysine-alanine oligopeptide derivative of 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide as a substrate. It was observed that the pH optimum of the enzyme is in the acid range, with an optimum at pH 6.3. Time and enzyme concentration studies, along with temperature studies, support the premise that the reaction is enzymatic. The Km was 3.3 X 10(-3) M, at pH 5.5 and 37 C. Tris and diisopropyl phosphofluoridate, when incorporated into the assay system at final concentrations of 500 and 2 mM, respectively, significantly inhibited the reaction by 70.9 and 75%, respectively. Leupeptin (5 X 10(-4) mM) had no effect. The results indicate that the enzyme under study in the present investigation strongly resembles mammalian dipeptidyl aminopeptidase II due to its affinity for substrate, sensitivity to Tris and diisopropyl phosphofluoridate inhibition, and pH optimum. Its inhibition by diisopropyl phosphofluoridate indicates that it may belong to the serine class of proteases. Cytochemical studies revealed reaction product in the lipid-like globules in the gastrodermis, adding further credence that these globules are lysosomal.
Empirical correlations of turbulent friction factors and heat transfer coefficients for viscoelastic fluids

Abstract Empirical correlations for the friction factor and the dimensionless heat transfer coefficients are proposed as functions of the Reynolds and Weissenberg numbers. If the rheological properties of the polymer solution including the characteristic time are known, the friction factor and dimensionless heat transfer coefficient of a polymer solution in a circular pipe can be estimated. Additionally, these empirical correlations can be used to determine the characteristic time of a dilute or highly degraded polymer solution with a simple pressure drop measurement.
Illusory contours as the solution to a problem.

The perception of certain figures with illusory contours entails a reversal of figure and ground. It is hypothesized that this process occurs in two stages. First, some factor must suggest or cue the reversal. Experiments are described that isolate three such factors, namely, alignment of physically present contours, recognized incompletion of parts of the stimulus array, and set. Once cued, however, other experiments indicate that in a further stage of processing the solution is examined with respect to its compatibility with the stimulus display or with other perceptual properties to which the display gives rise. Only if such compatibility is present will the perception of a figure with illusory contours be maintained.
Rapid isolation of total acidic proteins from chromatin of various chick tissues.

Abstract A method is described for the rapid isolation of the nuclear acidic proteins of chromatin. Bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I is used to hydrolyze DNA of dehistonized chromatin into acid-soluble fragments. The acidic proteins are recovered with more than 95% yield. Characterization of the isolated acidic proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals reproducible heterogeneous banding patterns which are specific for the following chick tissues: liver, spleen, erythrocyte and heart, as well as oviduct at various stages of development. [3H]Ovalbumin added to dehistonized chromatin is not degraded throughout the procedure demonstrating that the multiple bands are not due to proteolytic activity.
Play it again, Sam: On Liking Music

Abstract Emotional responses to music are discussed in the context of a constructivist theory of emotion, which postulates evaluative cognitions that generate the quality of the experience, and autonomic (sympathetic) arousal that influences its intensity. Arousal is frequently generated by cognitive, pcrceptual, and behavioural discrepancies. Schema theory is used to describe the listener's knowledge of the complex structure of music. Schemas serve to interpret music as well as to produce expectations about its likely form and progression. When music is discrepant from the listener's expectations (as it often is), the concatenation of arousal and evaluation produces emotional experiences. This theoretical framework guides an interpretation of emotional responses to familiar and (physically) complex music, and suggests ways of understanding structural evaluations as well as effects of music that have their source outside of musical structure.
The role of the thyroid gland in osmotic and ionic regulation in Fundulus heteroclitus acclimated to freshwater and seawater

Abstract 1. 1. Histological examination showed that treatment with thiourea deactivated the thyroid gland in both freshwater (FW) and seawater (SW)-acclimated fish. 2. 2. FW acclimated fish treated with thiourea survived and showed no significant changes in serum osmolality or [Na + ]. 3. 3. SW-acclimated fish treated with thiourea survived less than 3 weeks and showed significant increases in serum osmolality and [Na + ]. 4. 4. SW-acclimated fish treated with thiourea and throxine survived until sacrificed and showed no significant changes in serum osmolality or [Na + ] compared to controls. 5. 5. It appears that a functional thyroid is essential for maintenance of [Na + ] and osmotic balance and for survival of Fundulus in SW.