cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heavy-quark cross sections at hadron collider energies

Calculations of inclusive cross sections for the production of bottom quarks in proton-proton and proton-antiproton collisions are presented as a function of energy, transverse momentum, rapidity, and pseudorapidity for values of {radical}{ital s} ranging from 100 GeV to 40 TeV. The computations are based on next-to-leading-order matrix elements from perturbative quantum chromodynamics and on the most recently published sets of parton densities. Variations of the behavior of the gluon density in the region of very small {ital x} provide an estimate of the range of theoretical uncertainty. At Superconducting Super Collider energies, results are presented for both the collider configuration {radical}{ital s} =40 TeV and the fixed-target option {radical}{ital s} =200 GeV. Included are calculations of charm-quark inclusive cross sections at {radical}{ital s} =200 GeV and 1.8 TeV.
A system model of the primate neocortex

Abstract Experimental evidence has shown that the primate neocortex consists in the main of a set of cortical regions which form a perception hierarchy, an action hierarchy and connections between them. We develop a computational architecture for the brain in which each cortical region is represented by a computational module with processing and storage abilities. Modules are interconnected according to the connectivity of the corresponding cortical regions. We explain our computational principles for designing such a hierarchical and parallel computing system, and report on results obtained with an implementation of this causal functioning model of the brain.
Gene expression for peptides in neurons of the petrosal and nodose ganglia in rat.

In situ hybridization was used to determine whether genes for neuropeptides [substance P/neurokinin A (SP/NKA), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) and cholecystokinin (CCK)] are expressed in inferior ganglia of the vagus (nodose) and glossopharyngeal (petrosal) nerves. Synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides, complementary to the cognate, mRNAs were labeled with [32P] or [35S], and hybridized to 10 μm thick sections of unperfused tissue which were then processed for film and emulsion autoradiography. We found numerous, clustered neuronal perikarya throughout the nodose and petrosal ganglia that expressed preprotachykinin A (SP/NKA) and CGRP mRNAs to varying degrees. Neurons expressing preproSOM mRNA were less abundant and more scattered throughout both ganglia. Notably, we found mRNA for NPY in cells (usually 5–10 per section) in both ganglia. To our knowledge, this is first evidence for NPY in these sensory ganglia. In contrast to previous immunohistochemical findings, we found no evidence for expression of preproCCK in either the nodose or petrosal ganglia. The present findings demonstrate that cells of the nodose and petrosal ganglia express the genes for a number of neuropeptides that are presumably involved with transmission of visceral sensory afferent information to higher order neurons of the central nervous system.
Heavy metal-antibiotic resistant bacteria in a lake recreational area

We undertook this study to determine the impact of urbanization on the microbial content of waters of a major recreational area of Lake Champlain. We followed changes in the numbers of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, and ascertained resistance of coliforms to heavy metals and antibiotics. We determined the distribution of these bacterial indicators of pollution by examining water and sediment samples. We also surveyed changes in physical parameters such as pH, temperature, turbidity, and wind direction to evaluate their effect on the examined aquatic microbial population. The level of all standard microbial indices of pollution frequently exceeded acceptable levels for recreational waters. Sediment samples indicated prolonged deposition of microbial pollutants, but efforts to demonstrate their release from sediment by dislocation and resuspension were inconclusive. We confirmed the presence of a population of heavy-metal and antibiotic-resistant coliforms isolated from harbor waters. Eighty-four percent of the total coliforms isolated from harbor water samples were resistant to one or more antibiotics and 96% were resistant to two or more heavy metals. The presence of these antibiotic resistant properties in coliforms, as well as elevated fecal coliform and fecal streptococci counts in both water and sediment samples, suggests to us that the bay is polluted by human fecal matter. This pollution probably emanates from south harbor sources and affects the shores of the major northern bathing area. It constitutes a potential hazard to public health because of the geophysical nature of the harbor and the location of the pollution source.
Regulation of Yeast NRD1 Expression by Premature Transcription Termination

Summary The yeast RNA binding proteins Nrd1 and Nab3 are required for termination of nonpolyadenylated transcripts from RNA polymerase (Pol) II-transcribed snRNA and snoRNA genes. In this paper, we show that NRD1 expression is regulated by Nrd1- and Nab3-directed premature termination. Sequences recognized by these proteins are present in NRD1 mRNA and are required for regulated expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and transcription run-on experiments show that, in wild-type cells, Pol II occupancy is high at the 5′ end of the NRD1 gene and decreases at the 3′ end. Mutation of Nrd1 and Nab3 binding sites within the NRD1 mRNA leads to a relative increase in Pol II occupancy of downstream sequences. We further show that NRD1 autoregulation involves components of the exosome and a newly discovered exosome-activating complex. Together, these results show that NRD1 is a eukaryotic cellular gene regulated through premature transcription termination.
Restricted Risk Bayes Linear State Estimation

The problem of state estimation with stochastic uncertainties in the initial state, model noise, and measurement noise is considered using the restricted risk Bayes approach. It is assumed that the a priori distributions of these quantities are not perfectly known, but that some information about them may be available. While offering robustness, the restricted risk Bayes approach incorporates the available a priori information to give less conservative state estimators than the Gamma-minimax approach popular in the literature. When attention is restricted to linear estimators based on a quadratic loss function, a systematic method to derive restricted risk Bayes estimators is proposed. Applying to the filtering problem, the restricted risk Bayes approach provides us with a robust method to calibrate the Kalman filter (KF), considering the presence of stochastic uncertainties. This method is illustrated with a target tracking example and a wireless channel tracking example for which the Bayes, minimax, and restricted risk Bayes estimators are derived and their performance is compared.
Working, Shirking, and Sabotage

Books reviewed: John Brehm and Scott Gates, Working, Shirking, and Sabotage: Bureaucratic Response to a Democratic Public.
The Effects of Sociocultural Factors and Perceptions of Mental Illness on Indirect Disclosure Preferences

This study examined the effects of sociocultural factors and perceptions of mental illness on preferences for indirect disclosure. We surveyed 354 college students from China and the U.S. The results indicated that (a) males and members of the collectivistic culture reported more stigmatized attitudes; (b) stigma endorsement was positively associated with preferences for indirectness; and (c) males, members of the collectivistic culture, and individuals without previous interpersonal contact with someone with a mental illness were more likely to recommend an indirect disclosure strategy. The findings demonstrate the importance of considering how sociocultural factors can affect individuals’ preferences for disclosing stigmatized identities.
Characterization of spontaneous, transient adenosine release in the caudate-putamen and prefrontal cortex.

Adenosine is a neuroprotective agent that inhibits neuronal activity and modulates neurotransmission. Previous research has shown adenosine gradually accumulates during pathologies such as stroke and regulates neurotransmission on the minute-to-hour time scale. Our lab developed a method using carbon-fiber microelectrodes to directly measure adenosine changes on a sub-second time scale with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). Recently, adenosine release lasting a couple of seconds has been found in murine spinal cord slices. In this study, we characterized spontaneous, transient adenosine release in vivo, in the caudate-putamen and prefrontal cortex of anesthetized rats. The average concentration of adenosine release was 0.17±0.01 µM in the caudate and 0.19±0.01 µM in the prefrontal cortex, although the range was large, from 0.04 to 3.2 µM. The average duration of spontaneous adenosine release was 2.9±0.1 seconds and 2.8±0.1 seconds in the caudate and prefrontal cortex, respectively. The concentration and number of transients detected do not change over a four hour period, suggesting spontaneous events are not caused by electrode implantation. The frequency of adenosine transients was higher in the prefrontal cortex than the caudate-putamen and was modulated by A1 receptors. The A1 antagonist DPCPX (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, 6 mg/kg i.p.) increased the frequency of spontaneous adenosine release, while the A1 agonist CPA (N6-cyclopentyladenosine, 1 mg/kg i.p.) decreased the frequency. These findings are a paradigm shift for understanding the time course of adenosine signaling, demonstrating that there is a rapid mode of adenosine signaling that could cause transient, local neuromodulation.
Mead’s Analysis of Social Conflict: A Radical Interactionist’s Critique

Because Mead entered the pantheon of classic sociological thinkers much later than Durkheim, Marx, and Weber, sociologists have unsurprisingly devoted much more critical attention to their ideas than his. Perhaps, nowhere is the lack of this attention on their part more glaring than in his explanation of social conflict. Mead views the emergence and resolution of conflict as taking place within the social act, in which either individuals or groups may be the acting units, and attitudes, roles, significant symbols, and attitudinal assumption operate as the common, key components. As far as the emergence of conflict is concerned, he accounts for it on the basis of insufficient differentiation of roles, non-meritorious allocation of roles, and adoption of self-centered attitudes on the part of the participants during their construction of a social act. As far as the resolution of conflict is concerned, he predictably explains it on the basis of their expansion of role differentiation, distribution of roles on basis of merit, and the adoption of other-centered attitudes. Despite that Mead’s explanation of the resolution and emergence of conflict is relatively consistent and offers many profound insights, it suffers from several irresolvable problems. All these various problems can be traced back to his decision to rest his explanation on his much cherished principle of “sociality,” rather than domination, and thereby, ultimately, his rejection of a radical interactionist’s perspective. Thus, it is now long overdue for sociologists to consider the merits of a new, more radical interactionism as a replacement for his much older and more conventional counterpart, symbolic interactionism.
Child poverty can be reduced.

Child poverty can be reduced by policies that help families earn more and supplement earned income with other sources of cash. A comprehensive antipoverty strategy could use a combination of these approaches. This article reviews recent U.S. experience with these broad approaches to reducing child poverty and discusses lessons from abroad for U.S. policymakers. The evidence reviewed suggests that, although policies to increase earned incomes among low-wage workers can help, these earnings gains will not be sufficient to reduce child poverty substantially. Government income support programs, tax policy, and child support payments from absent parents can be used to supplement earned incomes of poor families with children. Until recently, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was the main government assistance program for low-income families with children. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) has recently replaced AFDC. This article explains why TANF benefits are likely to be less than AFDC benefits. The article also examines the effects of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income on child poverty. The most encouraging recent development in antipoverty policy has been the decline in the federal tax burden on poor families, primarily as a result of the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), now the largest cash assistance program for families with children. In 1995, government transfer programs (including the value of cash, food, housing, medical care, and taxes) decreased child poverty by 38% (from 24.2% to 14.2% of children under 18). Child poverty may also be reduced by policies that increase contributions from absent single parents to support their children. Overall, evidence from the United States and other developed countries suggests that a variety of approaches to reducing child poverty are feasible. Implementation of effective programs will depend, however, on the nation's political willingness to devote more resources to this end.
New light on an important microbe in the ocean

Why is there such a fuss over the genome sequence of a marine bacterium, discussed by Gonzalez et al. (1) in this issue of PNAS, when they are now a dime a dozen and number in the hundreds? It is well known that marine bacteria (and archaea) are extremely diverse and numerous and run the planet's biogeochemical cycles, including that of carbon. These microbes include CO2-fixing (photoautotrophic) cyanobacteria, the most numerous being Prochlorococcus, and CO2-evolving (heterotrophic) bacteria, a prominent example being Pelagibacter, the cultured representative of the SAR11 clade. We know the genomes of these microbes and many others, so what's so special about Polaribacter MED152? The answer is connected to one of MED152's two lifestyles described by Gonzalez et al.
SU-GG-T-124: Probability Density Distribution of Proton Range as a Function of Noise in CT Images

Purpose:Proton range computed in geometry defined by the CTimages is a random parameter because of the stochastic component in the CT numbers. We evaluate numerically the probability density functions (PDF) of the computed proton range for different PDFs of the noise in CTimages.Method and Materials: We have used the random number generators to simulate white noise in the CT numbers along the proton pathlength in the model geometry. The noise was simulated using both Gaussian and uniform PDFs.Proton range was computed using continuous slowing down approximation which is valid for most of the proton range. To simulate the statistical straggling of the computed proton range, we have simulated 100000 random combinations of noise.Results: We show that the PDF of the computed proton range approaches Gaussian distribution for both Gaussian and uniform white noise in CT numbers. The parameters of the range PDF have been determined by least squares fitting of an analytical Gaussian distribution to the numerically obtained PDF using a quasi‐Newton optimization algorithm. We have investigated the range PDF as a function of the standard deviation of noise and the computational grid size. We show that 1) the standard deviation of the proton range increases linearly with the standard deviation of noise and 2) standard deviation of proton range linearly increases with the grid size. For homogeneous media, 200 MeV proton beam and the 3mm grid, the standard deviation of the proton range changed between 1–5mm when the standard deviation of noise changed between 2.5%–15%. Conclusion: Standard deviation of computed proton range increases linearly with the standard deviation of noise in CTimages.Noise reduction algorithms for the CTimages as smoothing or denoising can minimize the standard deviation of the computed proton range.
Minimum logic of guaranteed single soft error resilience based on group distance-two code

Nanoscale VLSI design faces unprecedented reliability challenges in the presence of prevalent catastrophic defects, soft errors and parametric variations. We construct minimum logic networks of guaranteed single soft error resilience by combining error detection and clock gating, and leveraging an existing fault-secure logic design technique, which is to construct group-sliced logic networks with outputs in group distance-two code. We propose two construction methods for minimum group distance-two code and minimum logic networks with outputs in a group distance-two code, respectively. Our experimental results show that we achieve guaranteed single soft error resilient logic networks of an average of 1.63× area, 1.63× critical path delay, and 2.17× power consumption, while DMR achieves an average of 2.12× area, 1.26× critical path delay, and 2.79× power consumption compared with the minimum area design.
Ontogeny of Skeletal Maturation in the Juvenile Rat

Systemic regulation of the cellular processes that produce endochondral elongation and endochondral mineralization during postnatal skeletal maturation are not completely understood. In particular, a mechanism coupling the decline of cellular activity in the bone microenvironment to the onset of sexual maturity remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to empirically integrate the dynamic progression of bone mineral accrual and endochondral elongation as a function of animal age in growing male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. We used serial dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and radiography to study the temporal progression of bone growth and mineral accrual from weaning to adulthood. We observed that skeletal maturation proceeds in a pattern adequately described by the Gompertz function. During this period of growth, we found that serum markers of osteoblastic bone formation declined with age, while osteoclastic bone resorption activity remained unchanged. We also report a slight lag in the age at inflection in the rate of bone mineral accrual relative to the rate of tibial elongation and that both endochondral processes eventually come to asymptotic equilibrium by approximately 20 weeks of age. In addition, we studied tibial growth plate histomorphometry at select time points through 1 year of age. We report that, despite the histologic persistence of physeal cartilage, very little proliferative or elongative activity was measured in this tissue beyond 20 weeks of age. Taken together, these data provide insight to the temporal coordination of postnatal endochondral growth processes.
Protein synthesis and secretion in a myogenic cell line.

Abstract Myogenesis in a clonal myoblast cell line is accompanied by an increase in the specific activities of creatine phosphokinase and myokinase and in the rates of synthesis and accumulation of myosin heavy chain. Exponentially dividing myoblasts synthesize myosin heavy chain at a rate of about 1% of their rate of total protein synthesis; this rate increases 7-fold during the differentiation process. Both myoblasts and myotubes secrete a minimum of 12-soluble proteins. Although there is a quantitative change in the rates of appearance of five of these proteins during myogenesis, no qualitative changes in the profile of the secreted proteins are detected. Three of the secreted proteins share several properties of soluble collagen molecules. Basal laminae and polymerized collagen fibrils are associated with myotubes, but not with exponentially dividing myoblasts.
Adsorption and Decomposition of Dimethyl Methylphosphonate on Metal Oxides

The adsorption and decomposition of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) have been examined on four different metal oxide surfaces: aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, lanthanum oxide, and iron oxide. Aluminum, magnesium, and lanthanum oxides are observed to behave in much the same way, with initial binding of the PO species to the surface at an acid site, followed by stepwise elimination of the methoxy groups, beginning at temperatures as low as 50 °C, which combine with surface hydrogens to yield methanol that evolves from the surface. The final product observed for these oxides is a surface-bound methylphosphonate, with the P−CH3 bond intact, which is resistant to further oxidation even in the presence of 70 Torr of oxygen at 300−400 °C. Adsorption on iron oxide yields a different sequence of events, with the initial adsorption occurring again with the PO moiety binding to an acid site, although there is some indication of the formation of a second type of surface complex. The primary interaction on iron ox...
Processing narratives of self-destructive behavior in routine medical encounters: Health promotion, disease prevention, and the discourse of health care

This study asked how patients and doctors process self-destructive behaviors that warrant preventive action, such as smoking, substance use, and sexual practices. Although many suggestions have appeared about how physicians should encourage health promotion and disease prevention by counseling patients about self-destructive personal habits, few studies have examined actual encounters to assess how patients and doctors communicate about these matters, and prior research rarely has considered the social context of self-destructive habits. The present research has been influenced by a growing recognition of narratives, embedded in the sociocultural context of medical encounters, as an important analytic focus in the study of patient-doctor communication. Our conceptual work extended perspectives from literary criticism, critical theory, and narrative analysis in the humanities and social sciences to focus on elements of sociocultural context, ideology, social control, underlying structure, and superficially marginal features of discourse in medical encounters. Based on a critical review of both quantitative and qualitative techniques in research on patient-doctor communication, we developed an interpretive method with systematic criteria to guide the sampling of encounters, transcription of recordings, interpretation of transcripts, and presentation of findings. We applied the interpretive method to 50 encounters selected randomly from a stratified random sample of 336 audiotaped encounters involving patients and primary care internists. As shown by two illustrative encounters, the discourse of health care reinforces ideologic principles of professional surveillance and individual control in dealing with patients' self-destructive tendencies. Contextual issues remain largely marginal features of the discourse, despite their pertinence to the goal of prevention. Narrative analysis provides a useful method to study the processing of self-destructive behavior in medical encounters. Future studies should continue to assess the variability of discourse in dealing with self-destructive behavior and should begin interventions to test the efficacy of differing discourse styles. Meaningful improvements in health-care discourse depend partly on difficult changes in the social context of medicine, including policies that address social conditions contributing to substance abuse and other forms of self-destructive behavior.
Using Optical Ray Tracing to Explain the Reduced Dye Yield of Microdenier Yarns

An optical ray trace luster prediction computer model is used to explain the reduced dye yield of microdenier yarns. Results from the model demonstrate that the reduced dye yield is a necessary consequence of the reduced path length of light inside the filaments. Data are shown for the predicted brightness of a set of standard denier per filament and microdenier PET ( Micromattique ) yarns.
A study on the fine structure of developing spermatozoa from the oligochaete,Enchytraeus albidus

Studies on the fine structure of spermatids and spermatozoa of the oligochaete,Enchytraeus albidus, demonstrate the differentiation of acrosome, flagella, nucleus and associated structures. Developing spermatids are found syncytially arranged and interconnected to a central nutrient mass. Acrosomal and flagellar development is typical of other spermatozoa. Electron densities associated with developing acrosomal vesicles form sub-acrosomal structures whose origin and possible function is compared to similar sub-acrosomal structures in other spermatozoa. The disposition of microtubules subjacent to the elongating acrosome and flagellar basal body and circumferentially arranged around the nucleus is described. Comparisons are made of their arrangement during differentiation with microtubular arrangements in other cells undergoing similar form differentiation. It is suggested that the microtubules play a role in the elongation of these spermatids. Blebs of the inner nuclear membrane are present in developing spermatids and are compared to intranuclear membranes found elsewhere.
Comparing Four Estimation Methods for Uninsurance in Florida

Although the high percentage of the uninsured is an important public policy issue, discrepancies in both state and national estimates of the numbers of uninsured are reported. There is a critical need to address the methodological problem of the estimation. This study compares four advanced estimation methods for uninsurance by using Florida Health Insurance Survey data as an example. The four predictive models are decision tree, neural network, general logistic regression and two-stage logistic regression. The two-stage logistic regression model is found to be the best model for imputing missing data on health insurance. Risk factors to uninsurance are identified. Corresponding policy implications are discussed.
Health care utilization and poor reassurance: potential predictors of somatoform disorders.

Objective Somatoform disorders are common conditions, but the current diagnostic criteria are considered to be unreliable, based largely on medically unexplained symptoms. DSM-5 is considering other possible characteristics of somatizers including high utilization, dissatisfaction with care, and poor response to reassurance. This paper reviews the available literature for evidence to support these criteria, and evaluates if distinctive aspects of these characteristics exist in somatizers.
What time-series designs may have to offer educational researchers☆

Abstract The promise of time-series designs for educational research and evaluation is reviewed. Ten time-series designs are presented and discussed in the context of threats to internal and external validity. The advantages and disadvantages of various visual and statistical data-analysis techniques are presented. It is argued that time-series research paradigms are useful when researchers (a) wish to involve a single subject in experimental research (individuals as units of analysis) or conduct program-evaluation studies (aggregates as units of analysis), (b) are interested in nearly continuous measurement, (c) cannot meet conventional design and statistical assumptions, or (d) wish to specify individual differences through N = 1 research strategies. It is also suggested that more research endeavors be devoted to combining unique characteristics of time-series research with conventional multi-unit paradigms.
Multi-scale characterization of inhomogeneous morphologically textured microstructures

A computationally efficient microstructure characterization technique is presented that separately identifies morphological texture and any orientation dependence of second-phase clustering via a concise visual representation. This technique, the Vector Multi-Scale Analysis of Area Fractions (VMSAAF), is then applied to computer-generated microstructures to understand the effects of second-phase area fraction, aspect ratio, alignment propensity, variant orientation, and degree of microstructure banding on the homogenous length scale—a metric used to quantify clustering—as well as the extent of representative volume elements for a microstructure.
Patterns of Informal Job Matching across the Life Course: Entry‐Level, Reentry‐Level, and Elite Non‐Searching*

The character and outcomes of informal job matching vary at different stages during people's lives. This is illustrated through an examination of non-searchers—people who get their jobs without searching thanks to receiving unsolicited information about job openings. Examining data from the 1979 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, I identify three distinct patterns of non-searching. Early in the work career, “entry-level” non-searchers acquire their first few jobs often while still in school. During the mid-career, “reentry-level” non-searchers tend to be women with little work experience who have been out of the labor market taking care of family responsibilities. Finally, “elite” non-searchers tend to be male, highly experienced in their field, with very short gaps between employment. All three lack an economic urgency to get a job, but only the elite non-searchers match prevailing assumptions of non-searchers as the best connected and most advantaged workers. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating a life course perspective into the study of informal job matching.
Some previously unexpected phenomena of volume recovery

Abstract We have extensively studied the nonequilibrium behavior of atactic polystyrenes in a broad range of temperatures. Depending on the conditions of the initial temperature (To) and the aging temperature (T), the shapes of isotherms plotted in the form of total fractional free volume (viz., δ) versus logarithmic aging time can be linear or nonlinear. At a T in the vicinity of Tg , the isotherms converge together. When the Tis lowered, the isotherms become increasingly nonlinear; eventually, these isotherms intersect one another at various points, forming a newly discovered crossing phenomenon. Differences in volume contraction persist throughout further aging, regardless of the equality in δ right at the moment of crossing. In a further case, the nonlinear isotherms between the two polystyrenes may be superposable by a simple δ shift, despite their substantial differences in δ. As none of these phenomena can be justified by kinetic arguments, this study seriously questions the validity of the existin...
Reactions at the CO, CO2/Ni electrode in molten sodium carbonate☆

Abstract Reactions at the nickel electrode in molten sodium carbonate at 1000°C under CO/CO 2 atmospheres were studied by electrode polarization. The polarization curves were analysed by means of a previously described computer model, which in turn was interpreted in terms of the absolute rate expressions for postulated reactions. In agreement with previous workers' observations for inert electrodes, the dominant anodic reactions were found to be oxidation of CO at low and intermediate anodic overpotentials, and oxidation of CO 3 2− at high anodic overpotentials. The cathodic reaction was found to be reduction of CO 3 2− . The form of the polarization curves was described by activation, concentration, and resistance polarization of these reactions; however, anomalous anodic behaviour was observed which was attributed to corrosion reactions at the electrode and accurately described through the use of additional anodic reactions displaying passivity.
Transport of DDT, DDE, and dieldrin in human blood

1. Less than 18% of the pp'DDT and pp'DDE found in human blood is carried in the erythrocytes, while dieldrin is distributed between RBC and plasma roughly in proportion to volume. 2. In non-lactescent sera, chylomicra carry less than 1% of the total pesticide. Protein-free serum is virtually devoid of pesticide. 3. pp'DDT and pp'DDE are found in relation to lipoproteins of various densities, but principally in the triglyceride-rich low-density and very-low-density lipoproteins. 4. The plasma albumin, and secondarily the smaller globulins are the principal plasma protein constituents associated with blood-borne pp'DDT and pp'DDE.
Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (SCA6) associated with small polyglutamine expansions in the α(1A)-voltage-dependent calcium channel

A polymorphic CAG repeat was identified in the human α1A voltage-dependent calcium channel subunit. To test the hypothesis that expansion of this CAG repeat could be the cause of an inherited progressive ataxia, we genotyped a large number of unrelated controls and ataxia patients. Eight unrelated patients with late onset ataxia had alleles with larger repeat numbers (21‐27) compared to the number of repeats (4‐16) in 475 non‐ataxia individuals. Analysis of the repeat length in families of the affected individuals revealed that the expansion segregated with the phenotype in every patient. We identified six isoforms of the human α1A calcium channel subunit. The CAG repeat is within the open reading frame and is predicted to encode glutamine in three of the isoforms. We conclude that a small polyglutamine expansion in the human α1A calcium channel is most likely the cause of a newly classified autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia, SCA6.
Quantum well intermixing and MOCVD regrowth for monolithic integration of 40 Gbit/s UTC type photodiodes with QW based components

A novel fabrication method for uni-travelling carrier (UTC) type photodiodes using quantum well (QW) intermixing and MOCVD regrowth is presented. This scheme will enable the monolithic integration of the photodiodes with high gain laser diodes, high efficiency electroabsorption modulators, and high saturation power semiconductor optical amplifiers. The photodiodes fabricated on intermixed quantum wells presented exhibit excellent photocurrent handling capabilities, minimal response roll-off over the 20 GHz of the testing capability, and open 40 Gbit/s eye diagrams.
An 11-amino acid β-hairpin loop in the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 is responsible for ankyrin binding in mouse erythrocytes

The best-studied cytoskeletal system is the inner surface of the erythrocyte membrane, which provides an erythrocyte with the structural support needed to be stable yet flexible as it passes through the circulation. Current structural models predict that the spectrin–actin-based cytoskeletal network is attached to the plasma membrane through interactions of the protein ankyrin, which binds to both spectrin and the cytoplasmic domain of the transmembrane protein band 3. The crystal structure of the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 predicted that the ankyrin binding site was located on a β-hairpin loop in the cytoplasmic domain. In vitro, deletion of this loop eliminated ankyrin affinity for band 3 without affecting any other protein–band 3 interaction. To evaluate the importance of the ankyrin–band 3 linkage to membrane properties in vivo, we generated mice with the nucleotides encoding the 11-aa β-hairpin loop in the mouse Slc4a1 gene replaced with sequence encoding a diglycine bridge. Mice homozygous for the loop deletion were viable with mildly spherocytic and osmotically fragile erythrocytes. In vitro, homozygous ld/ld erythrocytes were incapable of binding ankyrin, but contrary to all previous predictions, abolishing the ankyrin–band 3 linkage destabilized the erythrocyte membrane to a lesser degree than complete deficiencies of either band 3 or ankyrin. Our data indicate that as yet uncharacterized interactions between other membrane proteins must significantly contribute to linkage of the spectrin–actin-based membrane cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane.
α-Tocopherol modulates Cyp3a expression, increases γ-CEHC production, and limits tissue γ-tocopherol accumulation in mice fed high γ-tocopherol diets

Abstract Although all forms of vitamin E are absorbed, the liver preferentially secretes α-, but not γ-tocopherol, into plasma. Liver α-tocopherol secretion is under the control of the α-tocopherol transfer protein (TTP). Therefore, to assess γ-tocopherol bioactivities Ttpa−/−, +/− and +/+ mice were fed for 5 weeks diets containing γ-tocopherol 550 (γ-T550), γ-tocopherol 60 (γ-T60) mg/kg that also contained trace amounts of α-tocopherol, a vitamin E-deficient diet, or a control diet. Plasma and tissues from mice fed γ-T550 diets were found to contain similar γ- and α-tocopherol concentrations despite the high dietary γ-tocopherol content; nervous tissues contained almost no γ-tocopherol. Liver vitamin E metabolites (carboxyethyl hydroxychromans, CEHCs) were also measured. In mice with widely ranging liver α- (from 0.7 to 16 nmol/g) and γ-tocopherol concentrations (0 to 13 nmol/g), hepatic α-CEHC was undetectable, but γ-CEHC concentrations (0.1 to 0.8 nmol/g) were correlated with both α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations (P
Interactions between brainstem and trigeminal neurons detected by cross-spectral analysis

Abstract Cells in the nucleus raphe magnus that are inhibited by noxious skin stimuli (off-cells) have been postulated to suppress pain by continuously inhibiting spinal and trigeminal nociceptive neurons. To test this hypothesis, spontaneous activity was simultaneously recorded from off-cells ( n =15) and wide-dynamic range cells ( n =27) of the trigeminal complex (subnucleus interpolaris), in rats anesthetized with pentobarbital. Most off-cells ( n =14) had rhythmic interspike intervals, their modes averaging 106 ms. No trigeminal cell fired rhythmically. Rhythmic firing was defined quantitatively: the autospectrum's peak power had to exceed 1.75 times its asymptote. This formula was obtained by generalizing from a natural cut-off in the theoretical autospectrum for serially uncorrelated, gamma-distributed intervals, whose firing can be varied from Poissonian to highly regular by adjusting one parameter. It encompasses the qualitative judgement of autocorrelograms commonly made in neurophysiology. Cross-correlograms ( n =29) appeared noisy and otherwise featureless. However, their power spectra (cross-periodograms) sometimes showed significant peaks, compared with simulated non-interactive distributions. The latter were generated by interchanging the raphe interval sequences at one random point (as in cutting a deck of cards), thus retaining most of their serial correlation. Of 29 cross-periodograms, 21 were significant at 1 to 13 frequencies (100 points, 0.4 to 39 Hz). These frequencies were often near the peak raphe power, and sometimes near its harmonics too. Furthermore, cross-spectral phase angles at peak power were non-uniform, most falling between 0 and 180 degrees (unit vector sum 60°, n =20). To understand why the frequency domain gave better detection, cross-spectra and cross-correlations were modeled theoretically by convolving idealized input autocorrelations and synaptic response functions. This demonstrated that rhythmic firing is insufficient for better frequency-domain detection, and that serially correlated input intervals or non-additive synaptic responses are necessary. The conclusion was confirmed by stochastic simulation of a simple non-additive synapse, that required successful input spikes to fall within a specified interval of the preceding spike. Experimentally, serial correlation was found in 12 of the 15 raphe cells, and in 20 of the 27 trigeminal cells. It is proposed that the weak experimental cross-correlograms arise because many asynchronous raphe inputs converge on each trigeminal cell, possibly to optimize the resting suppression of pain. The distribution of cross-spectral phase angles at peak raphe power suggested that raphe spikes arriving at the synapses' preferred interval cause a fall in trigeminal activity. In general, cross-spectral analysis can sometimes uncover influences hidden in cross-correlograms, but the firing of one neuron must be rhythmic and non-renewal, or else certain input intervals must be favored in synaptic transmission.
mRNA for the EAAC1 Subtype of Glutamate Transporter is Present in Neuronal Dendrites In Vitro and Dramatically Increases In Vivo After a Seizure

The neuronal Na+-dependent glutamate transporter, excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1, also called EAAT3), has been implicated in the control of synaptic spillover of glutamate, synaptic plasticity, and the import of cysteine for neuronal synthesis of glutathione. EAAC1 protein is observed in both perisynaptic regions of the synapse and in neuronal cell bodies. Although amino acid residues in the carboxyl terminal tail have been implicated in the dendritic targeting of EAAC1 protein, it is not known if mRNA for EAAC1 may also be targeted to dendrites. Sorting of mRNA to specific cellular domains provides a mechanism by which signals can rapidly increase translation in a local environment; this form of regulated translation has been linked to diverse biological phenomena ranging from establishment of polarity during embryogenesis to synapse development and synaptic plasticity. In the present study, EAAC1 mRNA sequences were amplified from dendritic samples that were mechanically harvested from low-density hippocampal neuronal cultures. In parallel analyses, mRNA for histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC-2) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was not detected, suggesting that these samples are not contaminated with cell body or glial mRNAs. EAAC1 mRNA also co-localized with Map2a (a marker of dendrites) but not Tau1 (a marker of axons) in hippocampal neuronal cultures by in situ hybridization. In control rats, EAAC1 mRNA was observed in soma and proximal dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Following pilocarpine- or kainate-induced seizures, EAAC1 mRNA was present in CA1 pyramidal cell dendrites up to 200 μm from the soma. These studies provide the first evidence that EAAC1 mRNA localizes to dendrites and suggest that dendritic targeting of EAAC1 mRNA is increased by seizure activity and may be regulated by neuronal activity/depolarization.
Characterization of the electrophoretic components of the sera of dog, rat and man in terms of six amino acids.

Abstract The aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, serine, thrconine, and alanine contents of the electrophoretic components of the serum of the dog, rat, and man were compared. While glutamic acid and alanine were found to be characteristic of the faster components, glycine and serine were most abundant in the slower components when each amino acid was expressed in terms of gram moles of amino acid per 100 moles aspartic acid. The γ-globulins of all three species were distinguished by their high hydroxy amino acid values. Criteria are proposed for the determination of the presence of a protein abnormal to the serum. These are based on the relationship between the molar ratios of certain amino acids and the mobility of the normal serum proteins described here.
Cognitive Neuroscience and Acting: Imagination, Conceptual Blending, and Empathy

Cognitive science is increasingly recognized as important to performance theory and practice. Blair explains how conceptual blending and compression relate to embodiment, the imagination, and new ways that directors are working with actors.
Radiation heat transfer in the wake of a hypersonic vehicle

Radiation heat transfer (RHT) from the wake of a hypersonic vehicle to its afterbody is evaluated from Gnoffo and Greene's (1987) calculated wake flowfield and the radiative properties of ionized high-temperature air with the calculated nonequilibrium composition. The 4.2-m aeroassisted flight experiment at an altitude of 75 km and velocity of 8900 m/s causes a 0.1-m-thick layer initially at T = 10,000 K and P = 1 kN/sq m to separate from the shoulder of the forebody heat shield and spread aft to form a wake at approximately T = 5000 K and P = 20 N/sq m. Gas in the separated flow region at approximately T = 3000 K and P = 10 N/sq m, recirculates about the afterbody. It is shown that the radiating layer, recirculating gases, and wake are optically thin for purposes of making engineering RHT calculations. Directional, spectral, and spatial variations of the radiation incident upon the afterbody are presented.
Enantioselective syntheses of cryptocarya triacetate, cryptocaryolone, and cryptocaryolone diacetate.

The enantioselective syntheses of three natural products from Cryptocarya latifolia have been achieved in 13−15 steps from ethyl sorbate. The route relies upon an enantio- and regioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation and a palladium-catalyzed reduction to establish the absolute stereochemistry. The route also relies upon a highly (E)-selective olefin cross-metathesis reaction to form trans-δ-hydroxy-1-enoates. The resulting δ-hydroxy-1-enoates were subsequently converted into cryptocarya triacetate, cryptocaryolone, and cryptocaryolone diacetate.
Correlation and comparison of body mass index on hemodynamics in hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing intravenous sedation.

Purpose The purpose of this project was to retrospectively compare and correlate body mass index (BMI) and hemodynamics in hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing intravenous sedation for dentoalveolar surgery. Patients and Methods A retrospective chart analysis of 263 consecutive male patients undergoing intravenous (IV) sedation for dentoalveolar surgery was divided into 5 BMI groups: underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, extremely obese. Data recorded were noninvasive baseline and intraoperative hemodynamic measurements at 5-minute intervals for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), and pulse (P). Statistical analysis of mean values between groups was carried out using multivariate linear regression analysis, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Student’s t test and found significant for P Results Average hemodynamic values for normotensive patients were significantly lower for all groups except for pulse in the normal group, pulse in the obese group, and DBP in the extremely obese group. For normotensive patients, there were statistically significant strong positive correlation for elevated BMI and increased baseline changes in SBP and PP. For the hypertensive group, there was a statistically significant moderate positive correlation for elevated BMI and increased baseline changes in PP and statistically significant strong positive correlation for baseline changes in MAP. Baseline changes were significant for greater increases in SBP and decreases in DBP and MAP in the underweight hypertensive group. Significant increases from baseline in the normotensive group were for PP in the normal BMI group and for pulse in the obese group. All baseline changes, with the exception of normotensive underweight SBP (+26.7%) and hypertensive PP (+23.9%), were within ±20% of baseline (range, −12.2% to +17.4%). Conclusion In general, normotensive patients in this study had lower average hemodynamic values than hypertensive patients in all BMI groups. Great variability was seen in baseline changes for all BMI groups, but a substantial majority of changes were within ±20% of baseline. There were statistically significant moderate and positive correlations in BMI for changes from baseline for several hemodynamic measurements. Intravenous sedation for oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures maintains a stable hemodynamic state in hypertensive and normotensive patients regardless of BMI.