cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving n-butanol production in batch and semi-continuous processes through integrated product recovery

Abstract Although it represents a promising biofuel, n-butanol production by conventional batch fermentation is limited as a result of its cytotoxic effects. To address this limitation and facilitate semi-continuous fermentation, in situ n-butanol removal has proven to be an effective approach. Exploiting the phenomena of solvent extraction, adsorption, or vaporization, numerous integrated bioprocess configurations have been developed to facilitate selective n-butanol recovery. The objective of this review is to provide a broad overview of different technology options and process configurations to this end, highlighting notable achievements and recent developments. In each case, relevant design considerations critical for improving key production metrics will be discussed, with particular emphasis given to studies that, as a result of relieved product toxicity, have successfully demonstrated further enhanced n-butanol production through semi-continuous operation.
Pathological changes in the lungs of Cux1 transgenic mice (834.1)

Cux1 is a transcriptional repressor gene and part of the network controlling G1-S phase transition. It represses the expression of the cyclin kinase inhibitors (CKI) p21 and p27. To determine the f...
Chapter 21 Stimulation of phospholipase A2 expression in rat cultured astrocytes by LPS, TNFα and IL-1β

Publisher Summary Astrocytes comprise the most abundant cells in brain. There is ample evidence showing that astrocytes respond to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharides, LPS), viruses, and other toxic agents by the synthesis and release of cytotoxic factors, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1α (IL-lα). This chapter discusses the stimulation of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) expression in rat cultured astrocytes by LPS, TNFα, and IL-lβ. Oka and Arita demonstrated the induction of PLA 2 mRNA expression in primary astrocytes in response to LPS, TNFα, and IL-1β. In general, the increase in PLA 2 mRNA correlated well with the extent of PLA 2 secretion into the culture medium. Using the immortalized astrocyte cell line (DITNC), similar induction of PLA 2 mRNA expression and the secretion of the enzyme into the culture medium could be observed. The lack of hydrolysis of labeled phosphatidylinositol (PI) to diacylglycerols (DG) further confirmed the specificity of cytokine induction of PLA 2 release into the culture medium. By comparing the time course for PLA 2 release with that for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, it can be concluded that cytokine induction of PLA 2 release is not related to events accompanying cell death due to serum deprivation. Although it has been well demonstrated that an exposure of astrocytes to LPS can induce the synthesis and release of TNFα and IL-lβ, the mechanism underlying this event has not been elucidated.
The Impact of the Infinite Primes on the Riemann Hypothesis for Characteristic p Valued L-series

In [12] we proposed an analog of the classical Riemann hypothesis for characteristic p valued L-series based on known results for \( \zeta _{\mathbb{F}_r [\theta ]} (s) \) and two assumptions that have subsequently proved to be incorrect. The first assumption is that we can ignore the trivial zeroes of characteristic p L-series in formulating our conjectures. Instead, we show here how the trivial zeroes influence nearby zeroes and so lead to counter-examples of the original Riemann hypothesis analog. We then sketch an approach to handling such “near-trivial” zeroes via Hensel’s and Krasner’s Lemmas. Moreover, we show that \( \zeta _{\mathbb{F}_r [\theta ]} (s) \) is not representative of general L-series as, surprisingly, all its zeroes are near-trivial, much as the Artin-Weil zeta-function of \( \mathbb{P}^1 /\mathbb{F}_r \) is not representative of general complex L-functions of curves. The second assumption in [12] is that certain Taylor expansions associated to L-series of number fields would exhibit complicated behavior with respect to their zeroes. We present a simple argument that this is not so, and, at the same time, characterize functional equations.
Aging Together: Sibling Carers of Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Family care provision is the norm for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), even as they and their support networks grow older. As families age together, the role of primary carer frequently transitions from the parent to a sibling, as aging parents die or become too frail to provide continued support. The purpose of this paper is to explore the transition in care from the perspective of a sibling who has replaced parents as the primary carer for an individual aging with I/DD. Data are drawn from semi-structured, in-depth interviews with a sample of adults over age 40, living in the United States, and caring for a sibling with I/DD (n = 15). Data were analyzed using a constant comparative qualitative approach. Results reveal themes impacting the adjustment to the role of primary carer, the extent to which aging transformed the content of care needs, the importance of planning, and the availability of supplementary support. Findings from this study underscore the need to develop long-term services and supports as well as educa- tional resources that accommodate this population of carers as they age together with their sibling with I/DD.
A Review of Peter Spiro's Beyond Citizenship: American Citizenship after Globalization

In Beyond Citizenship, Peter Spiro offers a bracing account of how citizenship has lost its meaning in a globalized world, as the result of forces from within (the tolerance of dual citizenship and the ease of naturalization) and forces from without (the proliferation of transnational identities and the adoption of American culture abroad). Spiro beautifully and clearly analyzes how globalization has shaped our citizenship practices in a way that diminishes the institution's ability to define a coherent political community, but he has not made the case that U.S. citizenship no longer has great significance as a legal status that also shapes a distinctive cultural ideal. The forces of erosion Spiro describes have not displaced national citizenship as a valuable and necessary institution, even in an environment in which national identity has become fluid. But by demonstrating that people's political and social affiliations do not always map onto the formal boundaries marked by citizenship, Spiro makes clear that we must devise new ways of giving the proper weight and structure to the affiliations that matter most to people.
Exponential Integration for Hamiltonian Monte Carlo

We investigate numerical integration of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC). High-quality integration is crucial for designing efficient and effective proposals for HMC. While the standard method is leapfrog (Stormer-Verlet) integration, we propose the use of an exponential integrator, which is robust to stiff ODEs with highly-oscillatory components. This oscillation is difficult to reproduce using leapfrog integration, even with carefully selected integration parameters and preconditioning. Concretely, we use a Gaussian distribution approximation to segregate stiff components of the ODE. We integrate this term analytically for stability and account for deviation from the approximation using variation of constants. We consider various ways to derive Gaussian approximations and conduct extensive empirical studies applying the proposed "exponential HMC" to several benchmarked learning problems. We compare to state-of-the-art methods for improving leapfrog HMC and demonstrate the advantages of our method in generating many effective samples with high acceptance rates in short running times.
An Empirical Investigation Of The Concept Of Consumer Service Satisfaction: A Tricomponent Model

The concept of consumer satisfaction has been heavily researched with little agreement on its proper measurement. A tricomponent model is offered which is simple, robust, easily administered, and understandable to marketing managers.
CAMP Factor of Group B Streptococci: Production, Assay, and Neutralization by Sera from Immunized Rabbits and Experimentally Infected Cows

Quantitative assay methods for CAMP factor activity of group B streptococci and for neutralization of this activity by animal sera are described. The course of the CAMP reaction is influenced by preincubation of red cells with staphylococcal beta-hemolysin and the rate of the reaction by the concentration of CAMP factor. The production of CAMP factor is enhanced by substitution of maltose for glucose in culture broth. Rising inhibitory titers to CAMP activity in sera of rabbits injected with sterile culture supernates of group B streptococci suggest that CAMP factor is an antigen in the rabbit. Cows with experimentally induced group B streptococcal mastitis also demonstrated significant rises in neutralizing titers for CAMP activity.
Teacher education programs as complex organizations

In “Reimagining Teacher Education” (RTE) Deborah Seltzer-Kelly and her co-authors bring a “complexity perspective” to teacher education, embracing a “complexity-based model” to “re-imagine the preparation of teachers” and to forestall deficit models of academic problems and oppositional attitudes of students. They also adopt a complexity-based method of inquiry, as Seltzer-Kelly, the lead author, preserves the “richness and variety of the multiple voices” of her co-authors while seeking to “draw them together” to “highlight some connections”. This method (quoting A. P. Bochner) “gives up the illusions of transcendental observation in favor of the possibilities of dialogue and collaboration.” In what follows I comment briefly upon this unconventional method, consider the “rhetoric of equity and meritocracy” its authors locate as a primary source of deficit models, and provide an additional perspective on complexity-based teacher education.
Reduction of acoustic model training time and required data passes via stochastic approaches to maximum likelihood and discriminative training

The recent boom in use of speech recognition technology has made the access to potentially large amounts of training data easier. This, however, also constitutes a challenge in processing such large, continuously growing amount of information. Here we present a stochastic modification of traditional iterative training approach which leads to the same or even better accuracy of acoustic models and reduces the cost of processing large data sets. The algorithm relies on model updates from statistics collected on randomly selected subsets of training data. The approach is demonstrated on maximum likelihood (ML) training and on discriminative training (DT) with minimum phone error (MPE) objective function both in the feature and the model space. Based on our experiments on 30 thousand hours of mobile data, the number of data passes can be reduced to 1/5 of the original for ML training and to 1/10 for model space DT training.
Embedding Witt rings of Dedekind domains

Abstract Let W ( R ) denote Harrison's Witt ring of the commutative ring R . In case R is a field of characteristic ≠ 2, this is the classical Witt ring based on anisotropic quadratic forms. In this note we determine under what conditions W ( R ) is embedded in W ( S ) for certain Dedekind domains R ⊂ S . In particular, an answer is given in case R and S are the integers in algebraic number fields K and L , respectively, with ( L : K ) odd.
Economical and Efficient Detector for Fluorescent X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

The available synchrotron radiation sources and those proposed for construction in the near future in the US and abroad can produce fluxes of x-radiation high enough that the fluorescent and scattered flux even from biological samples approach and will exceed acceptable levels of counting losses even in fast photon counting detector system. Ionization chambers in current integration mode can afford very high flux and large apertures. But they suffer time limitations in the fraction of the millisecond region, microphonics, and the necessity of a gas supply of very constant pressure. We have developed an alternative detector system consisting of a photomultiplier tube equipped with a highly efficient ZnS (Ag) scintillator in current integration mode. It can have apertures up to 5 inches in diameter and a time resolution adequate for rapid reaction studies using synchrontron radiation (70 ns decay time to 10%). In initial tests, we did not detect any saturation effects with the fluxes available. The advantages of these detectors seem to be simplicity and reliability in addition to freedom from environmental effects and the relatively low cost compared to other devices. These detectors have been used successfully at the Photon Factory, Japan and at CHESS.
A molecular basis for gating mode transitions in human skeletal muscle Na+ channels

Recombinant sodium channel α subunits expressed in Xenopus oocytes display an anomalously slow rate of inactivation that arises from channels that predominantly exist in a slow gating mode [1,2]. Co-expression of Na− channel β1 subunit with the human skeletal muscle Na+ channel α subunit increases the Na+ current and induces normal gating behavior in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The effects of the β1 subunit can be explained by an allosterically induced conformational switch of the α subunit protein that occurs upon binding the β1 subunit. This binding alters the free energy barriers separating distinct conformational states of the channel. The results illustrate a fundamental modulation of ion channel gating at the molecular level, and specifically demonstrate the importance of the β1 subunit for gating mode changes of Na+ channels.
Antibody response in endemic pemphigus foliaceus.

1Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA Antibodies against desmoglein proteins account for intraepidermal immunobullous disorders in the pemphigus family of diseases. Antibodies against desmoglein 3 are responsible for the blisters seen in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, whereas antibodies against desmoglein 1 lead to the more superficial separation seen in pemphigus foliaceus. Similar in both clinical and histologic features to pemphigus foliaceus (PF), an endemic form of the disease, fogo selvagem (FS) is found in high prevalence in certain regions of Brazil (Diaz et al., 1989). The endemic nature of the condition is thought to be precipitated by an immune response to an environmental antigen(s), currently not yet identified. This unique epidemiologic phenomenon provides researchers with an opportunity to study the differences between endemic and sporadic forms of this disease. In this issue of the Journal, Diaz et al. (2008) studied early immunologic responses among patients with FS to determine whether the IgM response differs from that seen in patients with the sporadic disease. In a comprehensive assessment of immune responses, they evaluated sera from patients with FS in rural endemic and urban areas of Brazil, patients with PF in the United States and Japan, and control subjects in these locations. Detection of desmoglein 1 IgM varied, with the highest levels (58%) in FS patients in endemic regions and control subjects (>50%) from the same areas. The desmoglein 1 IgM response was considerably lower (12–18%) in FS patients from urban areas of Brazil and still lower in patients from the United States (10%) and Japan (0%). Less variability was found in IgG responses in patients, with markedly lower responses in control subjects, apart from control subjects from rural areas of Brazil. The investigators hypothesize that an environmental agent responsible for the development of FS may cause an early IgM response that predates clinical disease. Through the following questions we will examine this paper in greater detail. For brief answers please refer to http:// network.nature.com/group/jidclub.
Assessing the stability of classification trees using Florida birth data

Using 1998 and 1999 singleton birth data of the State of Florida, we study the stability of classification trees. Tree stability depends on both the learning algorithm and the specific data set. In this study, test samples are used in statistical learning to evaluate both stability and predictive performance. We also use the resampling technique bootstrap, which can be regarded as data self-perturbation, to evaluate the sensitivity of the modeling algorithm with respect to the specific data set. We demonstrate that the selection of the cost function plays an important role in stability. In particular, classifiers with equal misclassification costs and equal priors are less stable compared to those with unequal misclassification costs and equal priors.
Interactive Hierarchical Task Learning from a Single Demonstration

We have developed learning and interaction algorithms to support a human teaching hierarchical task models to a robot using a single demonstration in the context of a mixedinitiative interaction with bi-directional communication. In particular, we have identified and implemented two important heuristics for suggesting task groupings based on the physical structure of the manipulated artifact and on the data flow between tasks. We have evaluated our algorithms with users in a simulated environment and shown both that the overall approach is usable and that the grouping suggestions significantly improve the learning and interaction. Categories and Subject Descriptors I.2.9 [Artificial Intelligence]: Robotics
Renormalized non-linear flux-flow and phase-slip resistivity in polycrystalline BiSrCaCuO

Abstract Flux-flow in polycrystalline BiSrCaCuO, identified by rotation of an applied field relative to the rf current in the sa plane, is observed superimposed on an isotropic background phase-slip resistivity. Flux-flow resistivity varies as sin2 (ψ), where ψ is the angle between the applied magnetic field and the rf current, vanishes as T→Tc, and is a non-linear function of the applied field. The phase-slip resistivity is seen to vary approximately with field and temperature as ϱ n I 2 0 ( γ 2 ) with γ 3 =A T × (1− T T c ) 3 2 (H+H 0 ) .
The Relationship of Cannibalism and Methionine

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Neal (1956) reported that dl -methionine was effective in controlling cannibalism in laying hens. At the time of this report considerable difficulty with cannibalism was being encountered with the strain of Single Comb White Leghorns used at this station. It was decided to see if methionine would control the malady. Three hundred and twenty cockerels approximately 5 weeks of age were randomized into finishing batteries at the rate of ten per pen. All were in good health and free from any signs of cannibalism or feather picking. Four treatments were administered with a total of 80 birds or 8 pens per treatment. All received the same basal ration (Table 1) with the methionine additions being 0, 1, 3, and 5 lbs. per ton respectively. Lights were used 24 hours per day, and the birds maintained on experiment for 3 weeks. The birds were examined daily, and recorded as cannibalism cases . . .
Some Effects of Ionized Air on Penicillium notatum

Exposure of Penicillium notatum to ionized air reduces the production of penicillin, negative ions exerting a greater effect than positive ions. Growth of the mycelium and germination of spores also are depressed, but positive ions exert a greater effect than negative ions on spore germination. Production of carbon dioxide is depressed to about the same extent as mycelial growth.
Dioxane-Water Transport through Nylon 6 Membranes

Abstract An experimental study was made of the permeation of water, paradioxane, and water-paradioxane mixtures through nylon 6 membranes. Laminated films were utilized to determine actual liquid permeate concentration profiles within the membrane structure. Knowledge of these profiles permitted the investigators to measure the concentration-dependent diffusivities and to characterize the mechanism of mass transfer. Since water plasticizes nylon, the behavior of the water-dioxane mixture could not be accurately predicted from pure component performance. Thus the transfer of water was enhanced and the dioxane depressed for equimolar feed mixtures. Moreover, it was demonstrated that a simple, acid surface-treatment of the separative membrane can greatly enhance the transfer of both components. Concentration profiles measured during the unsteady state leading to equilibrium suggested that the nylon polymer matrix was in the process of undergoing structural changes.
Informative Sensor and Feature Selection via Hierarchical Nonnegative Garrote

Placing sensors in every station of a process or every element of a system to monistor its state or performance is usually too expensive or physically impossible. Therefore, a systematic method is needed to select important sensing variables. The method should not only be capable of identifying important sensors/signals among multistream signals from a distributed sensing system, but should also be able to extract a small set of interpretable features from the high-dimensional vector of a selected signal. For this purpose, we develop a new hierarchical regularization approach called hierarchical nonnegative garrote (NNG). At the first level of hierarchy, a group NNG is used to select important signals, and at the second level, the individual features within each signal are selected using a modified version of NNG that possesses good properties for the estimated coefficients. Performance of the proposed method is evaluated and compared with other existing methods through Monte Carlo simulation. A case stud...
Probability Sampling with Marginal Constraints

Abstract The general problem of sampling from multi-dimensional universes is considered where the object is to select samples that are representative of the universe in those characteristics held relevant and presumed known to some acceptable degree of accuracy as, for example, in the case of stratification. The object is to restrict the selection of samples to only those which are representative of the universe not only in each sample's dimensions but jointly as well, and to achieve this by meeting the usual requirements for probability sampling. Some schemes are presented, with algorithms for sample selection, which are possible alternatives to such schemes as quota sampling, deep stratification, controlled selection, lattice sampling and two-way stratification. The schemes can deal effectively with multi-dimensional universes with any degree of disproportionality in cell sizes including those with empty cells. Their adaptability to multi-stage sampling is indicated.
Design strategies for achieving high triplet energy electron transporting host materials for blue electrophosphorescence

High efficiency small molecule organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) based on light emission from an electrophosphorescent dopant dispersed in an organic host matrix are well known. Achieving blue phosphorescent OLEDs is particularly challenging because the host triplet energy should ideally be > 2.8 eV to prevent back-transfer of energy from the dopant to the host matrix resulting in loss of efficiency. A design strategy for developing new host materials with high triplet energies by using phosphine oxide (P=O) moieties as points of saturation in order to build sublimable, electron transporting host materials starting from small, wide bandgap molecular building blocks (i.e., biphenyl, phenyl, naphthalene, octafluorobiphenyl, and N-ethylcarbazole) is described. Electrophosphorescent OLEDs using the organic phosphine oxide compounds as host materials for the sky blue organometallic phosphor, iridium(III)bis(4,6-(di-fluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2,) picolinate (FIrpic) give maximum external quantum efficiencies of ~ 8% and maximum luminance power efficiencies up to 25 lm/W.
Cognitive conflict and goal conflict effects on task performance

Abstract Decision-making (prediction) behavior under two types of conflict was experimentally examined within the Social Judgment Theory research paradigm. Interpersonal cognitive conflict (the degree of disagreement over the interpretation of a common stimulus), goal conflict (the degree of competition for payoffs), and trial blocks were independent variables. Prediction error was the dependent measure. Individuals made better predictions about task-criterion values under no-goal conflict than under goal conflict conditions. During the initial stage of a series of prediction trials, subjects made better predictions of task-criterion values under high cognitive conflict than under low cognitive conflict conditions. All groups of subjects were able to improve prediction performance significantly over time. These results are generally consistent with arguments stressing the potential benefits of minimal goal conflict over payoffs and high cognitive conflict on decision quality.
Performance of priority rules in a due date flow shop

Abstract The scheduling of a flow shop with multiple processors at one or more stages is a generalized case of the basic flow shop problem. It involves the sequencing of n jobs in a flow shop where more than one identical machine at a machine stage is allowable. The constrained flow shop with multiple processors problem (CFSMP) is a special case of the flow shop with multiple processors problem, in which the total number of jobs that can concurrently exist in the system is limited to a pre-specified number. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of six priority rules under different congestion levels in the system for two measures of performance, namely, mean tardiness and number of tardy jobs. A dynamic simulation model of the constrained flow shop with multiple processors has been developed. The priority rules considered in the study are localized procedures. However, the queuing priorities for sequencing the jobs in the simulation model are established dynamically at each processing stage. The results of the study provide conclusive evidence of the superiority of the first-in-first-out priority rule for the mean tardiness criterion. However, for the number of tardy jobs criterion, clear superiority of a particular priority rule is not established. It is found that different priority rules yield good performances for different congestion levels in the system. Thus, the study provides general guidelines for using a particular priority rule for the number of tardy jobs criterion depending upon the system parameters.
Visualization of neurons filled with biotinylated-lucifer yellow following identification of efferent connectivity with retrograde transport.

Abstract A new method is described that allows identification of neurons by retrograde transport, intracellular injection of biotin-labeled Lucifer Yellow, and a histochemical reaction of the biotin. Cells in the inferior colliculus that project to the ipsilateral thalamus are identified by injection of rhodamine-labeled latex beads into the medial geniculate body and retrograde transport in vivo. Several days later, the brains are fixed with aldehydes, and the inferior colliculus is cut on a vibratome. The rhodamine-labeled cells are observed with epi-fluorescent optics, impaled with intracellular pipettes under visual control, and injected with 9% Lucifer Yellow dilithium salt and 1% Lucifer Yellow cadaverine biotin-X. The biotinylated Lucifer Yellow is visualized by incubation of the slice overnight in avidin-biotin-HRP complex in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 at 4°C. A diaminobenzidine reaction with simultaneous cobalt and nickel intensification follows. This method produces well-filled neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and spines for light microscopic analysis. The non-fluorescent reaction product in these intracellularly filled cells may permit transmitter immunohistochemistry and synaptic fine structure to be studied in combination with neural connections and dendritec morphology.
Capturing Intraindividual Variation and Covariation Constructs: Using Multiple Time-Scales to Assess Construct Reliability and Construct Stability

The growing empirical base of studies on intraindividual variability speaks to its increasing importance in understanding human development. Studying intraindividual variability by definition requires multiple measurement occasions (e.g., microlongitudinal assessment). Tracking how intraindividual variability changes over time requires that the microlongitudinal assessment protocol be conducted again at a later time. Extended microlongitudinal studies (e.g., 100+ occasions) provide unique opportunities to study how intraindividual variability changes over time (e.g., across months). In this study the authors parse data from the 100-day Personal Understanding of Life and Social Experiences (PULSE) Project into a multiple time-scale design (four 25-day time segments) to examine the measurement reliability and stability of a variety of intraindividual variation/covariation-based constructs. Results showed that (1) reliability and stability differ across intraindividual variability constructs; (2) lability wa...
The X-ray light curve of AM Herculis

Observations by SAS 3 during 1976 show that the soft X-ray flux of 3U 1809+50 is modulated with the same period as the optical phenomena of AM Her. The identification of the X-ray source with AM Her is thus confirmed. It is found that the X-ray source undergoes a total eclipse with a duration of approximately 0.15 period. The heliocentric epoch of the eclipse center is JD 2,442,919.636, which is at phase 0.5 relative to the primary optical minimum and coincides with a secondary optical minimum.
Antitumor Agents. 250.† Design and Synthesis of New Curcumin Analogues as Potential Anti-Prostate Cancer Agents

In a continuing study of curcumin analogues as potential drug candidates to treat prostate cancer at both androgen-dependent and androgen-refractory stages, we designed and synthesized over 40 new analogues classified into four series: monophenyl analogues (series A), heterocycle-containing analogues (series B), analogues bearing various substituents on the phenyl rings (series C), and analogues with various linkers (series D). These new compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against two human prostate cancer cell lines, androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent PC-3. Antiandrogenic activity was also evaluated in LNCaP cells and PC-3 cells transfected with wild-type androgen receptor. Ten compounds possessed potent cytotoxicity against both LNCaP and PC-3 cells, seven only against LNCaP, and one solely against PC-3. This study established an advanced structure-activity relationship (SAR), and these correlations will guide the further design of new curcumin analogues with better anti-prostate cancer activity.
The anatomy of a memory: convergence of results across a diversity of tests

Abstract The notion of an anatomical basis for learning has its roots in ancient Greece and has been restated and refined in modern terminology by numerous contributors 1–4 . A fundamental tenet of these early structural theories was that the basic wiring diagram of the brain could be modified throughout life and that learning was capable of producing continuous structural changes, typically including the growth of novel connections. Prior to the last two decades, evidence for this type of neuronal growth was restricted to embryonic development and regeneration of peripheral tissues. Later studies demonstrated that injury, environmental pressures, and internal body state could also produce structural changes in the adult CNS 5 . More recently it has become clear that the arrangement of synaptic connections in the mature nervous system can undergo striking changes even during normal functioning 6 . As the diversity of species and plastic processes subjected to morphological scrutiny has increased, convergence upon a set of structurally detectable phenomena has begun to emerge. Although several aspects of synaptic structure appear to change with experience, the most consistent potential substrate for memory storage during behavioral modification is an alteration in the number and/or pattern of synaptic connections.
Factors affecting couples' adjustment to recurrent breast cancer

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that affect the adjustment of women and their husbands to recurrent breast cancer and to examine the mutual effect that partners have on one another. An exploratory study was designed to determine the relationship between four predictor variables (support, uncertainty, symptom distress, hopelessness) and women's and husbands' adjustments. The sample consisted of 155 subjects; 81 women, who had a first recurrence of breast cancer, and 74 husbands. Multiple standardized instruments with established reliability and validity were used to measure the study variables. The independent variables were measured with the Social Support Questionnaire, the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, McCorkle Symptom Distress Scale and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The dependent variable, psychosocial adjustment, was measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale. The results indicated that the independent variables accounted for 43% of the variance in women's distress and 32% of the variance in husbands' distress; they also explained 66% of the variance in women's role adjustment problems and 57% of the variance in husbands' role problems. Symptom distress and hopelessness accounted for the most variance in women's and husbands' levels of adjustment. A significant and positive relationship was found between women's and husbands' adjustment scores, indicating that partners have a mutual influence on one another. The findings suggest that there are multiple factors that influence couples' adjustment to recurrent breast cancer, and that these factors need to be taken into consideration when planning care for women and their partners.
Matrix pencils and a generalized Clifford algebra

Let F be an algebraically closed field, and x1,…,xm be commuting indeterminates over F. For a given monic polynomial φ(z)∈F[x1,…,xm][z] which is homogeneous (viewed as an element of F[x1,…,xm,z]), we construct an associative algebra Cφ which we call the generalized Clifford algebra of the polynomial φ. This construction generalizes that of Roby's Clifford algebra, and is a universal algebra for the problem of finding matrices A1,…,Am∈Mn(F) for some n such that φ(z) is the minimal polynomial of the matrix pencil x1A1+⋯+xmAm. Our main result is that, if φ(z) is quadratic, then Cφ is either a matrix algebra of dimension a power of 2 or a direct sum of two such matrix algebras, and we conclude that the problem of finding m matrices in Mn(F) whose pencil has a prescribed quadratic minimal polynomial can be solved, if and only if n is an appropriate power of 2. We apply this result to the problem of bounding the lengths of generating sets for matrix algebras and discuss some of the difficulties encountered when the degree of φ(z) is ⩾3.
Swimming Photochromic Azobenzene Single Crystals in Triacrylate Solution

Self-motion of a growing single crystal of azobenzene chromophore in triacrylate solution (TA) is investigated in relation to the solid-liquid phase diagram bound by the solidus and liquidus lines. Upon thermal quenching from the isotropic melt to the crystal + liquid gap, various single crystals develop in a manner dependent on concentration and supercooling depth. During the crystal growth, TA solvent is rejected from the growing faceted fronts, enriching with TA in close proximity to the crystal-solution interface. The concentration gradient that formed as the result of TA expulsion induces convective flows in the solution and generates spatial variability of surface tension usually responsible for Marangoni effect. Either or both of these phenomena may have contributed to the observed self-motion including swimming, sinking, and floating of the azobenzene rhomboidal crystal in TA solution. A stationary rhomboidal crystal is also shown to swim upon irradiation with the UV light because of a mechanical torque generated by the trans-cis isomerization. Judging from the sinking or floating behavior of the azobenzene crystal, it may be inferred that the nucleation occurs at the solution-air interface.
Inversion of cycle index sum relations for 2- and 3-connected graphs

Abstract Algebraic inversion of cycle index sum relations is employed to derive new algorithms for counting unlabeled 2-connected graphs, homeomorphically irreducible 2-connected graphs, and 3-connected graphs. The new algorithms are significantly more efficient than earlier ones, both asymptotically and for modest values of the order. Tables of computed results are included.
Thermal Taylor dispersion phenomena in nonadiabatic systems

Abstract This paper outlines or general 'one-dimensional’ theory of convective-conductive internal energy transport phenomena in complex, multidimensional, nonadiabatic systems whose rate of heat loss to their surroundings is characterized by a 'Newton's law of cooling’ heat transfer coefficient h. Taylor dispersion theory is used to effect the coarse-graining ofthe microscale thermal problem, therby producing an effective-medium theory of the mean thermal transport process. Both ducts ('continuous’ systems) and model packed beds (spatially periodic systems) are analyzed. Expressions are derived for the macroscale thermal propagation velocity vector U¯∗ and effective thermal dispersivity dyadic α¯∗ in terms of the prescribed microscale data. Additionally, an expression is obtained for a third macrotransport coefficient, H¯∗, representing the effective or overall macroscale heat transfer coefficient, and distinct from the microscale heat transfer coefficient h. (This is the same type of quantity as arises ...
Patient self-attenuation and technologist dose in positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET), with 511-keV radiation and long patient-uptake times, presents unique radiation safety concerns. This two-part study considers aspects of PET radiation safety as they relate to PET suite design, dose to the public, and technologist occupational dose. In the first part of the study, the self-attenuation of radiation by patients' bodies was quantified. The radiation exposure was measured at three positions from 64 patients injected with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) during the uptake period. Compared with an in vitro control used as a point source, a significant decrease in exposure (>40% at 1 m) was observed due to nonuniform distribution of FDG and attenuation within the patients. The attenuation data are consistent with results from simulations [M. E. Phelps, "Comments and Perspectives," J. Nucl. Med. 45, 1601 (2004)] that treat the body as a uniform, water-filled cylinder. As distance is often the principal source of protection for 511-keV radiation, the considerable self-attenuation may allow for more compact PET suites. However, despite high patient self-attenuation, shielding, and standard precautionary measures, PET technologist occupational doses can remain quite high (approximately 12 mSv/year). The second part of this study tracked the daily dose received by PET technologists. Close technologist-patient interaction both during and following FDG administration, as much as 20 min/study, contribute to the high doses and point to the need for a more innovative approach to radiation protection for PET technologists.
Encystment discovered in a marine copepod.

It has been believed that marine crustacea do not encyst as adults. The benthic copepod Heteropsyllus nunni has been found to encyst in intertidal sands in the summer; free-living forms are abundant in the winter. A unique platelike structure on the cephalothorax is thought to be the site of cyst formation .
Predicting Undergraduate Condom Use with the Fishbein and Ajzen and the Triandis Attitude‐Behavior Models: Implications for Public Health Interventions1

The present study used two social-psychological theories of attitude-behavior relationships to investigate condom use by college undergraduates. One purpose of the present research is to provide information for public health practitioners to better design theory-based interventions to reduce the incidence of STD's by increasing the use of condoms. Another purpose is to compare the relative usefulness of two attitude-behavior models in predicting condom use. The Fishbein and Ajzen theory of reasoned action (Ajzen, 1988; Fishbein & Ajzen. 1980) was compared with a version of Triandis' theory of attitude-behavior relations (Triandis, 1977). Of major interest was whether variables in this version of the Triandis model increased the explanatory power of the Fishbein and Ajzen model in the prediction of condom use intention and behavior. In addition, specific outcome beliefs and normative beliefs held by subjects were used to predict condom use. One hundred and ninety college undergraduates were given a questionnaire designed to measure the components of the two models. Three months after completing the questionnaire, subjects were contacted by phone to record the subject's frequency of condom use (if the subject reported having had intercourse) during the 3-month period between initial assessment and follow-up. In the prediction of intention to use a condom, results indicate that one variable from the Triandis model, personal normative beliefs, increases the explanatory power offered by the expectancy value and normative belief components of the Fishbein and Ajzen model. In the prediction of reported condom use during the 3-month follow-up period, two variables from the Triandis model—perceived susceptibility and AIDS fear—significantly increased the predictive power of the Fishbein and Ajzen model. Based on these results, the authors propose an alternative model to explain undergraduate condom use. The implications of these findings for public health interventions to encourage the use of condoms is discussed.
Glia modulation of the extracellular milieu as a factor in central CO2 chemosensitivity and respiratory control.

We discuss the influence of astrocytes on respiratory function, particularly central CO2 chemosensitivity. Fluorocitrate (FC) poisons astrocytes, and studies in intact animals using FC provide stro...
Specific heat of para-hydrogen monolayers on graphite

The specific heat of para-hydrogen films has been measured from 1 to 20 K for areal densities between 0.01 and 0.055 atoms/A 2 of the partial monolayer adsorbed on grafoil. The results are compared with the specific heat of 4He films at equivalent densities. It is argued that a nonideal gas regime and liquefaction are present in both systems and that solidification of the p-H 2 films has been suppressed to below the temperature range of the experiment. Implications regarding 2D superfluidity in hydrogen monolayers are discussed briefly. Recent studies exploring the character of partial monolayer helium films adsorbed on a graphite substrate have discovered and examined in detail a rich variety of existing monolayer phases. 1 The results have attracted keen theoretical interest in the role of dimensionality in quantum phase transitions 2'3 and have renewed speculation on the possibility of 2D remnant Bose condensation in helium films. 4 Molecular hydrogen was chosen for the present investigation because its light mass and strong polarizability should provide important and intriguing variations in the behavior of quantum monolayer films. Interpretations are straightforward since the molecule of hydrogen is approximately.spherical (atomic centers are 0.74A apart), physis0rbs via van der Waals forces onto graphite, and quickly converts to the spin-0 (para) state once on the substrate. This paper reports specific heat data taken for para-hydrogen films physisorbed on graphite at low monolayer coverages. We used a standard grafoil.filled calorimeter of 108 cm 3 STP 4He monolayer capacity which was charged with a ~ 90 % para-hydrogen mixture. The gas was admitted with the
Grain-boundary flux pinning by the electron-scattering mechanism

The pinning force exerted by an isolated grain boundary upon the flux line lattice (FLL) of a type-II superconductor has been computed, based upon the assumption that electron scattering at the bou...
Stereoselective polymerization of rac- and meso-lactide catalyzed by sterically encumbered N-heterocyclic carbenes

New sterically encumbered N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts were synthesized and used to polymerize rac-lactide to give highly isotactic polylactide or meso-lactide to give heterotactic polylactide.
Exploiting classical decoherence in dissipative quantum dynamics: Memory, phonon emission, and the blip sum

Abstract The mechanisms that lead to the quenching of the coherence of a quantum system interacting with a dissipative environment are analyzed within the path integral/influence functional framework. Classical and quantum contributions are identified and linked to stimulated and spontaneous phonon emission processes. Three ways of exploiting decoherence in numerical calculations are discussed. The first is based on the decay of memory effects with time separation and leads to well-known iterative quasi-adiabatic propagator path integral (i-QuAPI) schemes. The other two mechanisms exploit the prominent role of classical decoherence. Removal of classical memory is possible through the introduction of auxiliary variables, leading to efficient and accurate quantum–classical path integral (QCPI) methods. A third way is proposed, which involves systematic corrections to the fully incoherent limit. An efficient procedure for summing all paths associated with ‘blips’ (short off-diagonal path pair segments) is described. The ideas are illustrated with numerical calculations of tunneling dynamics.
Supramolecular immobilization of fullerenes on gold surfaces: receptors based on calix[n]arenes, cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) and porphyrins

Abstract To explore their ability to immobilize C60 non-covalently on gold surfaces, a series of thioctic esters derived from calix[n]arene, porphyrin and cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) have been prepared. Well-characterized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these compounds were used to incorporate [60]fullerene onto gold surfaces. SAMs of CTV derivatives 7 and 8, calix[8]arene derivative 6 and porphyrin derivatives 9 and 10 are reasonably effective at immobilizing C60 on the surfaces, while calix[4]arene derivatives 1–4 and calix[6]crown-4 derivative 5 are not. However, the latter exhibit interesting metal cation and aromatic amine recognition properties, respectively. To cite this article: S. Zhang and L. Echegoyen, C. R. Chimie (9) 2006.
Partial purification and characterization of rhinoceros gonadotropins, growth hormone, and prolactin: comparison with the horse and sheep.

The rhinoceros is an endangered species related to the horse family, Little is known of its reproductive endocrinology, The objectives of this study were to partially purify rhinoceros pituitary hormones, determine which assays could be used for their assessment, and to ascertain whether rhinoceros LB possesses the intrinsic FSH activity of equine LH, A single pituitary each from a White (1.3 g) and a Black (1.2 g) Rhinoceros was homogenized and extracted (pH 9.5), then subjected to pH and salt fractionation, and ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE and Sephadex SP-C50) to yield partially purified fractions of LH, FSH, growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL). LB was readily measured by a rat Leydig cell assay (0.1-1% X equine UI) and an RIA using a monoclonal antibody to bovine LB (6-11% X equine LB). FSH activity detected in the LB by either an FSH RIA or a calf testis radioreceptor assay (RRA) was extremely low. No FSH activity could be detected in the White Rhinoceros pituitary ‘FSH” fraction, but was readily detected in the Black Rhinoceros fraction (RIA: 0,2% )C equine FSH; RRA; 0,8% X equine FSH), The presence of GH and PRL was determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blots. Results showed a single immunoreactive GB band and multiple immunoreactive PRL bands. Adsorption with Concanavalin A-Sepharose indicated that some of the PR!. bands are glycosylated.