cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of detraining on an elite power lifter: A case study

Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle of an elite power lifter during training and following a 7-month detraining period. The effects of detraining were investigated by combining ultrastructure, histochemistry, and pertinent metabolic data. Muscle fibers were classified ultrastructurally as fast-twitch and slow-twitch. Fast-twitch fibers were histochemically subdivided into a fast-twitch glycolytic (FG) and a fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG) in order to compare oxidative capacities between biopsy 1 and biopsy 2. The high intensity level of strength training prior to biopsy 1 caused an apparent hypertrophy of all fiber types. Detraining and weight loss resulted in a reversal of the training effect toward "control" values and adjustments in the oxygen delivery system. Atrophy occurred in all of the fiber types and altered the fiber composition of the muscle. A shifting of fibers classified as FG to the more oxidative FOG fibers caused a significant increase in the percent distribution of oxidative fibers (slow-twitch + FOG). The hypothesis is presented that the mitochondrial content (both number and form) of the detrained fiber remains constant (for a strength trained muscle), but as the volume of the fiber decreases the mitochondrial volume percent increases.
WEIGHTING AND PREDICTION IN SAMPLE SURVEYS

A fundamental technique in survey sampling is to weight included units by the inverse of their probability of inclusion, which may be known (as in the case sampling weights) or estimated (as in the...
Long-term potentiation disrupts auditory gating in the rat hippocampus

The consequence of long-term potentiation (LTP) of hippocampal commissural inputs was investigated in an auditory gating paradigm. Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were recorded in the CA3b region of the hippocampus of rats anesthesitized with chloral hydrate. Two tones were delivered 0.5 sec apart; in this paradigm, the second AEP is diminished compared to the first. Electrical stimulation was applied to hippocampal commissural fibers to generate field potentials and population spikes which were recorded at the same site as the AEPs. LTP of the commissural input (initiated by three trains of 250 Hz/1 sec stimulation) was associated with changes in the AEPs: on average, the response to the first tone decreased and the response to the second tone increased, resulting in the disruption of auditory gating. When high-frequency stimulation of the commissural input failed to result in LTP, no effect on the AEPs was seen. If 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)- propyl-L-phosphonic acid (CPP; 6 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist to the NMDA subclass of glutamate receptors, was administered prior to high- frequency stimulation, LTP induction was blocked and AEPs were not affected. Finally, reversal of LTP, achieved by high-frequency stimulation of CA3 input that was heterosynaptic to the particular commissural fibers at which the LTP was originally generated, caused disrupted auditory gating to return to normal. A model of reciprocal LTP and heterosynaptic depression of commissural and auditory input pathways is proposed to explain these findings.
How biases affect investor behaviour

Investor behaviour often deviates from logic and reason, and investors display many behaviour biases that influence their investment decision-making processes. The authors describe some common behavioural biases and suggest how to mitigate them.
Handbook on the Geopolitics of Business by Joseph Mark S. Munoz

Geopolitics, a term introduced by Swedish political scientist Rudolf Kjellen in 1901 (Sloan 2005), “is shaped by geographic location, resources, demographics and people factors, and relationships w...
The Drosophila shell game: patterning genes and morphological change

What are the mechanisms that convert cell-fate information into shape changes and movements, thus creating the biological forms that comprise tissues and organs? Tubulogenesis of the Drosophila dorsal eggshell structures provides an excellent system for studying the link between patterning and morphogenesis. Elegant genetic and molecular analyses from over a decade provide a strong foundation for understanding the combinatorial signaling events that specify dorsal anterior cell fates within the follicular epithelium overlying the oocyte. Recent studies reveal the morphogenetic events that alter that flat epithelial sheet into two tubes; these tubes form the mold for synthesizing the dorsal appendages – eggshell structures that facilitate respiration in the developing embryo. This review summarizes the mutant analyses that give insight into these patterning and morphogenetic processes.
The often uncounted payoffs from space

Abstract The many economic and social benefits of space activities are well known. But two further benefits are often ignored. The ability to view the Earth from space via military reconnaissance satellities contributed strongly to the maintenance of peace — especially nuclear peace — during the Cold War and has the potential to continue doing so in today's more uncertain climate. Images of the Earth obtained from space have also fostered an environmental consciousness and demonstrated the need for global stewardship.
Calcium and zinc balances during consumption of high and low oxalate-containing vegetables

Abstract Three, 4-wk controlled feeding periods were used to assess calcium and zinc balance, and urinary hydroxyproline during consumption of a baseline diet, and the baseline diet with the addition of either a high-oxalate (spinach) or a low-oxalate vegetable (broccoli) in 8 premenopausal women. Calcium intake increased approximately linearly from baseline (795 mg) to the broccoli diet (905 mg) to the spinach diet (997 mg) and the corresponding mean calcium balances were 18, 19, and −65 mg/day, respectively. Mean apparent calcium absorption was significantly lower (p
Cinemusical meanings in motion pictures: commerce, art, and Brando loyalty … or … De Niro, My God, To Thee

The theme of art-versus-commerce has surfaced in many motion pictures but serves here to juxtapose three otherwise disparate films that draw upon the power of jazz as a force toward the dramatic development of character, plot, central themes, and other cinemusical meanings. Specifically, via the significance of its ambi-diegetic music, New York, New York (1977) shows the elevation of artistic integrity (Robert De Niro as Jimmy Doyle) over commercialism (Liza Minnelli as Francine Evans). In Heart Beat (1980), the raw honesty of a committed-but-doomed creative genius (Art Pepper) provides nondiegetic music that signifies the self-destructive degradation of a key protagonist (Nick Nolte as Neal Cassady). Finally, in The Score (2001), the appealing nature of diegetic jazz in a cinemusically-enriched nightclub environment helps to explain why a soon-to-be- reformed criminal (Robert De Niro, again, as Nick Wells) would risk everything in collaboration with two bizarre partners (Marlon Brando as Max Baron and Ed Norton as Jack Teller) in hopes of a payoff big enough to allow him to retire from a lucrative career in crime in order to run his legitimate jazz venue and to settle down with his true love (Angela Bassett as Diane Boesman). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevalence of endoscopic findings in 510 consecutive individuals with cirrhosis evaluated prospectively.

Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is one of the more important complications of cirrhosis and a major cause of death in such patients. The main sites of bleeding are esophageal varices, gastritis, and peptic ulcers. In order to determine the prevalence of either potential bleeding lesions or of other endoscopic findings in hemodynamically stable individuals with various etiologies of cirrhosis, 510 consecutive cirrhotic patients, evaluated for possible orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for combined diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The patients were divided into two main groups: 319 patients with parenchymal liver disease and 191 patients with cholestatic liver disease. Gastritis was found significantly more often in patients with parenchymal liver disease than in those with cholestatic liver disease (49.8% vs 30.9%; P <0.001). In contrast, the prevalence of esophagitis, esophageal and gastric varices, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and duodenitis was similar in both groups. Normal endoscopic findings were present in 5.0% of the parenchymal group and 11.5% of the cholestatic group (P <0.02). Ascites and encephalopathy were found significantly more often in subjects with parenchymal liver disease as compared to those with cholestatic liver disease. Portal hypertension and its degree, as assessed by the presence and size of esophageal varices, was similar in both groups, and in both groups there was a statistically significant qualitative trend of increasing prevalence of esophageal varices with increasing severity of disease as estimated using Pugh-Child's criteria.
The weighted varimax rotation and the promax rotation

Kaiser's iterative algorithm for the varimax rotation fails when (a) there is a substantial cluster of test vectors near the middle of each bounding hyperplane, leading to non-bounding hyperplanes more heavily overdetermined than those at the boundaries of the configuration of test vectors, and/or (b) there are appreciably more thanm (m factors) tests whose loadings on one of the factors of the initialF-matrix, usually the first, are near-zero, leading to overdetermination of the hyperplane orthogonal to this initialF-axis before rotation. These difficulties are overcome by weighting the test vectors, giving maximum weights to those likely to be near the primary axes, intermediate weights to those likely to be near hyperplanes but not near primary axes, and near-zero weights to those almost collinear with or almost orthogonal to the first initialF-axis. Applications to the Promax rotation are discussed, and it is shown that these procedures solve Thurstone's hitherto intractable “invariant” box problem as well as other more common problems based on real data.
Development of a switched capacitor based multi-channel transient waveform recording integrated circuit

A full-custom integrated circuit addressing the problem of transient analog signal recording is presented. The chip includes 2048 sample-and-hold cells, fast-clock-generation logic, and readout amplifiers. The sample-and-hold circuits are divided into 16 channels of 128 samples per channel. One read amplifier is used per channel. Clock signals are generated by on-chip redundant interleaved shift registers. The circuit is designed in an inexpensive and widely available 3- mu m, single-metal, double-polysilicon CMOS process that allows easy integration of high-density digital and analog circuitry with the possibility of very-low-power operation. Prototypes have been fabricated and proved to be operational. >
Some comparative studies on testing parallelism of several straight lines under heteroscedastic variances

This paper examines the robustness of the Welch test , the James test as well as Tan's Anova test (to be referred as Fβ test) for testing parallelism in k straight lines under heteroscedasticity and nonnormality. Results of Monte Carlo studies demonstrate the robustness of all tests with respect to departure from normality. Further, there is hardly any difference between these methods with respect to both power and size of the test.
The CT appearance of intraoral chewing gum

When imaged, intraoral chewing gum has the potential to be misdiagnosed. Chewing gum has a characteristic appearance on CT: it is ovoid in shape, hyperdense, and has small internal locules of air. Reports have described the appearance of gum on radiographs and abdominal CT images; however, no reports could be found detailing its appearance within the mouth. This report describes the appearance of intraoral chewing gum as well as the properties of the gum that lead to this appearance. Because of the potential for misdiagnosis, screening for intraoral foreign bodies should be considered prior to imaging.
The ethics of designing artificial agents

In their important paper "Autonomous Agents", Floridi and Sanders use "levels of abstraction" to argue that computers are or may soon be moral agents. In this paper we use the same levels of abstraction to illuminate differences between human moral agents and computers. In their paper, Floridi and Sanders contributed definitions of autonomy, moral accountability and responsibility, but they have not explored deeply some essential questions that need to be answered by computer scientists who design artificial agents. One such question is, "Can an artificial agent that changes its own programming become so autonomous that the original designer is no longer responsible for the behavior of the artificial agent?" To explore this question, we distinguish between LoA1 (the user view) and LoA2 (the designer view) by exploring the concepts of unmodifiable, modifiable and fully modifiable tables that control artificial agents. We demonstrate that an agent with an unmodifiable table, when viewed at LoA2, distinguishes an artificial agent from a human one. This distinction supports our first counter-claim to Floridi and Sanders, namely, that such an agent is not a moral agent, and the designer bears full responsibility for its behavior. We also demonstrate that even if there is an artificial agent with a fully modifiable table capable of learning* and intentionality* that meets the conditions set by Floridi and Sanders for ascribing moral agency to an artificial agent, the designer retains strong moral responsibility.
The organization of the second somatosensory area (SmII) of the grey squirrel

Microelectrode mapping methods were used to determine the organization of the second somatosensory representation, SmII, in grey squirrels. A systematic representation of the contralateral body surface was found in lateral parietal cortex adjoining the first somatosensory representation, SmI (Sur et al., '78a). The representation of the body in SmII was found to be much less distorted than in SmI. Under our recording conditions, almost all recording sites were activated from strictly contralateral body locations. The most important finding was that the basic orientation of the body representation in SmII is "erect" rather than "inverted." This orientation allows SmII and SmI to be adjoined along a common border representing the top of the head and face. This type of border has been called congruent (Allman and Kaas, '75; Kaas, '77), and it may have significance in the development of sensory representations.
STABILITY OF VISOELASTIC FLOW BETWEEN ECCENTRIC ROTATING CYLINDERS

Abstract The viscoelastic flow of an Upper Convected Maxwell fluid, confined between two infinitely long eccentric rotating cylinders, is investigated. The two-dimensional steady-state flow as well as the stability of the flow against true three-dimensional (azimuthally and axially periodic and radially non-periodic) disturbances is analyzed numerically using pseudospectral methods. In this numerical scheme, variables are expressed as Fourier series in the periodic direction and as Chebyshev polynomials in the radial direction. The linear stability analysis shows that the critical Reynolds number, corresponding to the onset of flow instability, increases with eccentricity for a Newtonian flow. The critical wavenumber in the axial direction is found to remain nearly constant in the eccentricity range between 0 and 0.5. Addition of small flow elasticity in high Re flows is found to destabilize the system, causing the critical wavenumbers to slightly increase. For a purely elastic flow, it is found that the critical Deborah number decreases with an increase in eccentricity and the critical wavenumber also decreases for the parameters examined in our study.
Increased dopamine release from striata of rats after unilateral nigrostriatal bundle damage

Abstract Dopaminergic control of striatal neurons is retained in rats sustaining lesions of the nigrostriatal bundle (NSB) as long as 10% of the projection remains, suggesting that enhanced efficiency of dopamine (DA) transmission may compensate for the denervation of the striatum. To examine this hypothesis we have studied the extracellular concentration of striatal DA using brain dialysis. In control rats, haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or depolarization of striatal tissue with 25 mM KCl increased, and γ-butyrolactone (500 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased DA and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels in striatal dialysates. Three weeks after unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to substantia nigra, DA content in the ipsilateral was decreased by 60–98%. Nevertheless, extracellular DA concentration in the lesioned striata remained unchanged in rats with 60–90% DA depletions. More extensive lesions (96% DA depletion) were accompanied by 60% reduction in DA release. In contrast, extracellular HVA levels in the lesioned striata decreased proportionally to the depletion of tissue DA, indicating decreased inactivation of extracellular DA. We propose that the capacity of the residual DA terminals to maintain normal levels of extracellular DA after 60–90% NSB lesions may serve to compensate for the partial denervation of the striatal tissue. Disruption of striatal DA functions and postsynaptic supersensitivity after more extensive lesions may be associated with the failure of the NSB to fully compensate for loss of DA terminals. In striata contralateral to the 6-OHDA lesion, increased DA release was also observed. In addition, 60–90% ipsilateral DA depletions were accompanied by 32% and 42% increases in DA and HVA content in contralateral tissue, respectively. The possibility of the contralateral sprouting of DA terminals is discussed.
Phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitors: evaluation of substituted alcohols as replacements for the piperazine sulfonamide portion of AMG 511.

Abstract Replacement of the piperazine sulfonamide portion of the PI3Kα inhibitor AMG 511 (1) with a range of aliphatic alcohols led to the identification of a truncated gem-dimethylbenzylic alcohol analog, 2-(5-(4-amino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-6-((5-fluoro-6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)amino)pyridin-3-yl)propan-2-ol (7). This compound possessed good in vitro efficacy and pharmacokinetic parameters and demonstrated an EC50 of 239 ng/mL in a mouse liver pharmacodynamic model measuring the inhibition of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced Akt Ser473 phosphorylation in CD1 nude mice 6 h post-oral dosing.
Prediction in the Earth sciences and environmental policy making

The Earth sciences, backed by formidable arrays of data gathering and processing technologies, today offer the apparently credible promise of predicting the future of nature. Policy makers, under pressure as always to deliver public benefit at low cost, have strong incentives to accept this promise as a central response to environmental issues. As environmental problems become more pressing and budgets for research become tighter, the importance of effective prioritization and allocation of research funds and activities will increase, as will the need for timely and effective political decision making. Thus, there is increasing need to enhance the linkages between research in the predictive Earth sciences and the needs of environmental policy makers.
Assessing Recidivism Risk Across Female Pathways to Crime

Actuarial tools, such as the Level of Supervision Inventory—Revised (LSI‐R), are regularly used to classify offenders as “high,” “medium,” and “low” recidivism risks. Its supporters argue the theor...
Broadband Optical Delay and Filtering in Spectrally Structured Materials

Spectrally structured optical materials have the ability to process broadband signals, including performing true-time-delay and spectral filtering. This paper reviews the theory and experimental results of spatial spectral holographic true time delay and filtering.
Microsomal arachidonate bioconversion in rat small intestine during maturation

Abstract This study was designed to compare prostaglandin (PG)-synthesizing activity in rat small intestinal microsomes in the lst, 3rd, and 6th weeks of life and at maturity (>100 days). When an incubation system was used containing 2 mg microsomal protein, 0.5 mM (−)-epinephrine and 1 mM reduced glutathione, the highest PG-synthesizing activity was achieved by incubating 0.157 mM 1-14C-arachidonate (specific activity 2.6 × 106 dpm/μmol) at 37°C for 5 min. The labeled metabolites were extracted and then separated with high performance liquid chromatography. The four PGs analyzed were 6 keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α), thromboxane B2, prostaglandin F2α and prostaglandin E2. Enzymatic activity for the synthesis of 6-keto-PGF1α was much higher than that for the other PGs. A significant difference was observed for the bioconversion from arachidonate to 6-keto-PGF1α and total PGs among the four age groups of rats. The postweanling groups (week 6 and adult) showed significantly higher enzymatic activities for the syntheses of 6-keto-PGF1α and total PGs than did the preweanling groups (weeks 1 and 3).
Proper functional representation of symmetric double minimum potentials

Abstract The suitability of using either a parabola and gaussian or two-Morse potentials as the analytic function for a symmetric double-minimum potential is examined. It is determined that the choice must be made by evaluating a simple expression. An expression for the matrix elements of the secular equation using the two-Morse potential is given.
An endogenous circadian rhythm in sleep inertia results in greatest cognitive impairment upon awakening during the biological night

Sleep inertia is the impaired cognitive performance immediately upon awakening, which decays over tens of minutes. This phenomenon has relevance to people who need to make important decisions soon after awakening, such as on-call emergency workers. Such awakenings can occur at varied times of day or night, so the objective of the study was to determine whether or not the magnitude of sleep inertia varies according to the phase of the endogenous circadian cycle. Twelve adults (mean, 24 years; 7 men) with no medical disorders other than mild asthma were studied. Following 2 baseline days and nights, subjects underwent a forced desynchrony protocol composed of seven 28-h sleep/wake cycles, while maintaining a sleep/wakefulness ratio of 1:2 throughout. Subjects were awakened by a standardized auditory stimulus 3 times each sleep period for sleep inertia assessments. The magnitude of sleep inertia was quantified as the change in cognitive performance (number of correct additions in a 2-min serial addition test) across the first 20 min of wakefulness. Circadian phase was estimated from core body temperature (fitted temperature minimum assigned 0°). Data were segregated according to: (1) circadian phase (60° bins); (2) sleep stage; and (3) 3rd of the night after which awakenings occurred (i.e., tertiary 1, 2, or 3). To control for any effect of sleep stage, the circadian rhythm of sleep inertia was initially assessed following awakenings from Stage 2 (62% of awakening occurred from this stage; n = 110). This revealed a significant circadian rhythm in the sleep inertia of cognitive performance (p = 0.007), which was 3.6 times larger during the biological night (circadian bin 300°, ~2300–0300 h in these subjects) than during the biological day (bin 180°, ~1500–1900 h). The circadian rhythm in sleep inertia was still present when awakenings from all sleep stages were included (p = 0.004), and this rhythm could not be explained by changes in underlying sleep drive prior to awakening (changes in sleep efficiency across circadian phase or across the tertiaries), or by the proportion of the varied sleep stages prior to awakenings. This robust endogenous circadian rhythm in sleep inertia may have important implications for people who need to be alert soon after awakening.
Active Control of Interfacial Properties: A Comparison of Dimeric and Monomeric Ferrocenyl Surfactants at the Surface of Aqueous Solutions

The surface activity and micellization of the dimeric, ferrocenyl surfactant Fc(CH2)8N+(CH3)2(CH2)3(CH3)2N+(CH2)8Fc 2Br- (DI2+), where Fc = ferrocene = [η5-C5H5]Fe[η5-C5H5], are compared and contrasted to those of the monomeric, ferrocenyl surfactant Fc(CH2)8N+(CH3)3Br- (I+) in aqueous solution. Dimeric DI2+, when compared to I+, was measured to be surface active in aqueous solutions of 0.1 M Li2SO4 at lower concentrations (0.001 mM of DI2+ versus 0.03 mM of I+) and found to possess a lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) (0.02 mM for DI2+ as compared to 2.0 mM for I+). Linear sweep cyclic voltammograms show that the (two) ferrocenes of DI2+ oxidize independently to form ferrocenium cations. Light-scattering measurements confirm that DI2+ forms micelles in solution and that oxidation of DI2+ to DI4+ is accompanied by the disassembly of micelles. Reduction of DI4+ back to DI2+ reforms the micelles. Measurements of surface tension demonstrate that oxidation of DI2+ to DI4+ leads to desorption of surfac...
A rectangular tem waveguide with photonic crystal walls for excitation of quasi-optical amplifiers

Thin photonic crystal substrates are used to produce a TEM mode in a rectangular waveguide. Hexagonal pads arranged in honeycomb lattice and connected to the ground plane by substrate vias form the photonic crystal waveguide walls. Measurements on a Ku-band waveguide with two photonic crystal sidewalls showed a Field Flatness Efficiency (FFE) of better than 80% between 14.9 and 15.4 GHz, a substantial increase compared to the 50% of conventional rectangular waveguide. Simulations of a striped photonic crystal show similar behavior with additional property that it is also possible to use the crystal on top and bottom walls. Such a waveguide could support dual cross-polarized TEM modes by preventing only the longitudinal magnetic fields at the crystal surface.
Fascism under Pressure Influence of Marxist Discourse on the Ideological Redefinition of the Croatian Fascist Movement 1941—1944

This article analyzes how the ideological discourse of the Croatian fascist movement (the Ustasa) evolved in the course of World War II under pressures of the increasingly popular and powerful communist armed resistance. It explores and interprets the way the regime formulated its ideological responses to the political/ideological challenge of the leftist guerrilla and its propaganda in the period after the proclamation of the Ustasa Independent State of Croatia in 1941 until the end of the war. The author demonstrates that the regime, faced with its own political weakness and inability to maintain authority, shaped its rhetoric and ideological self-definition in a direct dialogue with the Marxist discourse of the communist propaganda, incorporating important Marxist concepts in its theory of state and society and redefining its concepts of national boundaries and racial identity to match the communists’ propaganda of inclusive, civic national Yugoslavism. This massive ideological renegotiation of the mov...
Isolation of Oxygenated Derivatives of Solanesol from Burley Tobacco

Some monohydroxylated derivatives of solanesol were isolated from cured Burley tobacco and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectrometric studies. One of them was shown to be 3,7,11,15,19,23,27,31,35-nonamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22,26,30,33-hexatriacontanonaen-1,35-diol and another to be 3,7,11,15,19,23,27,31-octamethyl-35-methylen-2,6,10,14,18,22,26,30-hexatriacontaoctaen-1,34-diol. Evidence has also been presented to show the presence of other solanesol derivatives which have a hydroxylated internal isoprene residue.
Species Composition of Bacterial Communities Influences Attraction of Mosquitoes to Experimental Plant Infusions

In the container habitats of immature mosquitoes, catabolism of plant matter and other organic detritus by microbial organisms produces metabolites that mediate the oviposition behavior of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Public health agencies commonly use oviposition traps containing plant infusions for monitoring populations of these mosquito species, which are global vectors of dengue viruses. In laboratory experiments, gravid females exhibited significantly diminished responses to experimental infusions made with sterilized white oak leaves, showing that attractive odorants were produced through microbial metabolic activity. We evaluated effects of infusion concentration and fermentation time on attraction of gravid females to infusions made from senescent bamboo or white oak leaves. We used plate counts of heterotrophic bacteria, total counts of 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained bacterial cells, and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to show that changes in the relative abundance of bacteria and the species composition of bacterial communities influenced attraction of gravid A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes to infusions. DGGE profiles showed that bacterial species composition in infusions changed over time. Principal components analysis indicated that oviposition responses to plant infusions were in general most affected by bacterial diversity and abundance. Analysis of bacterial 16S rDNA sequences derived from DGGE bands revealed that Proteobacteria (Alpha-, Beta-, Delta-, and Gamma-) were the predominant bacteria detected in both types of plant infusions. Gravid A. aegypti were significantly attracted to a mix of 14 bacterial species cultured from bamboo leaf infusion. The oviposition response of gravid mosquitoes to plant infusions is strongly influenced by abundance and diversity of bacterial species, which in turn is affected by plant species, leaf biomass, and fermentation time.
Divergent allosteric patterns verify the regulatory paradigm for aspartate transcarbamylase.

Abstract The native Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase, E.C. 2.1.3.2) provides a classic allosteric model for the feedback inhibition of a biosynthetic pathway by its end products. Both E. coli and Erwinia herbicola possess ATCase holoenzymes which are dodecameric (2(c3):3(r2)) with 311 amino acid residues per catalytic monomer and 153 and 154 amino acid residues per regulatory (r) monomer, respectively. While the quaternary structures of the two enzymes are identical, the primary amino acid sequences have diverged by 14% in the catalytic polypeptide and 20% in the regulatory polypeptide. The amino acids proposed to be directly involved in the active site and nucleotide binding site are strictly conserved between the two enzymes; nonetheless, the two enzymes differ in their catalytic and regulatory characteristics. The E. coli enzyme has sigmoidal substrate binding with activation by ATP, and inhibition by CTP, while the E. herbicola enzyme has apparent first order kinetics at low substrate concentrations in the absence of allosteric ligands, no ATP activation and only slight CTP inhibition. In an apparently important and highly conserved characteristic, CTP and UTP impose strong synergistic inhibition on both enzymes. The co-operative binding of aspartate in the E. coli enzyme is correlated with a T-to-R conformational transition which appears to be greatly reduced in the E. herbicola enzyme, although the addition of inhibitory heterotropic ligands (CTP or CTP+UTP) re-establishes co-operative saturation kinetics. Hybrid holoenzymes assembled in vivo with catalytic subunits from E. herbicola and regulatory subunits from E. coli mimick the allosteric response of the native E. coli holoenzyme and exhibit ATP activation. The reverse hybrid, regulatory subunits from E. herbicola and catalytic subunits from E. coli, exhibited no response to ATP. The conserved structure and diverged functional characteristics of the E. herbicola enzyme provides an opportunity for a new evaluation of the common paradigm involving allosteric control of ATCase.
New propagating mode near the superfluid transition in 4He

Abstract We have observed a new temperature-entropy wave that propagates opposite to the direction of a steady heat flux Q when the helium column is heated from above. Counter-intuitively this new mode, which resembles second sound, propagates on the normal fluid side of the transition, but it exists only when the column of helium is heated from above. Such a new mode had been predicted to exist on the self-organized heat transport state for Q less than about 100 nW / cm 2 . We confirm that this mode exists in this regime, however we also observe that it propagates even when the helium is held away from the self-organized heat transport state.
Toward Establishing Procedural, Criterion, and Discriminant Validity for PTSD in Early Childhood

ABSTRACT Objective To explore several key aspects of the diagnosis and assessment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in infants and young children. Method Fifteen traumatized, clinic-referred children, and a comparison sample of 12 at-risk children, all younger than 48 months of age, were assessed with a standardized procedure and a semistructured diagnostic interview. The assessments were videotaped and reviewed by two blind raters for scoring DSM-IV PTSD criteria and an alternative set of PTSD criteria for young children. Raters were debriefed and consensus ratings were used to make best-estimate diagnoses. Results The investigation of procedural validity showed that 12% of the diagnostic criteria present in these children could be detected by a clinician through direct observation or interaction with the children. The remainder of criteria were apparent only through caregiver report. Problematic aspects of parental reporting were most evident for the avoidance/numbing of responsiveness criteria. The traumatized subjects showed significantly more alternative criteria of PTSD than DSM-IV criteria of PTSD. The main sources of rater disagreement are described. Conclusions Additional sources of information would complement the multidimensional assessment of PTSD in young children. The set of alternative criteria appears to show greater criterion validity than the DSM-IV criteria.
Density fluctuations at critical points

Abstract The theory of Yang and Lee is examined with reference to the critical point phenomenon. Density fluctuations of the grand canonical ensemble partition function in the limit of infinitive volume are found to be zero at any point having the thermodynamic properties of a critical point.
Failure analysis of aluminum structural members on the space shuttle Columbia

Various aluminum parts, both castings and rolled sheet, were found among the Columbia debris. At first glance, these parts seemed to have failed in a brittlelike manner, contrary to normal aluminum fracture behavior. Light optical microscopy on the etched aluminum samples examined in this study revealed second-phase particles along the grain boundaries. It was also observed that at the elevated temperatures encountered during re-entry, some of the particles melted and wetted the grain boundaries. Large voids could be found between the grains near the crack tips. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy showed particles that were rich in iron. During re-entry of the shuttle, elevated temperatures caused melting of the second-phase particles, allowing them to wet the grain boundaries, a process called liquation. Cracks initiated and propagated through the grain boundaries, thus resulting in intergranular rupture that had the macroscopic characteristics of brittle failure of the aluminum.
Performing marginality: Comedy, identity, and cultural critique

Stand‐up comedy is a powerful form of autobiographical performance unique in its simultaneous construction of personal identity and cultural critique. This essay looks at the humor of comics Phyllis Diller and Roseanne Barr in order to explore the potentially subversive use of self‐deprecation and to analyze the way these comics construct themselves and others as butts of jokes.
Using Activity Theory to Conceptualize Online Community and Using Online Community to Conceptualize Activity Theory

In this article we describe the evolving structure of the Inquiry Learning Forum (ILF), a sociotechnical interaction network (STIN) designed to support a Web-based community of in-service and preservice mathematics and science teachers sharing, improving, and creating inquiry-based pedagogical practices. Specifically, we apply activity theory as an analytical lens for characterizing the process of designing and supporting the implementation of this online community. Our findings lend support for three implications. First, activity theory can provide a useful analytical tool for characterizing design activity, especially in terms of illuminating the challenges of designing something like community. Second, as one moves toward trying to design a community, particularly one in which the members will be expected to engage in new practices that challenge their current culture, many tensions emerge. Third, consideration of the ILF as a STIN was a necessary conceptual step in our understanding of the ILF and the...
Patient-Centered Medicine The Next Phase in Health Care

What matters most to patients are outcomes: Did I recover? Is my quality of life better? Patients want to know what has been accomplished by the tests and treatments they have undergone and what has been achieved by the time and resources that have been expended. It is time for us to fully embrace patient-centered medicine, which is ultimately outcomes oriented, with a focus on what patients experience and, among the range of medically reasonable options, gives precedence to what patients prefer. The practice of medicine has evolved from supposition-based to science- and evidence-based, often extrapolating laboratory science to the bedside. However, studies that include patient outcomes are showing, with discomforting frequency, that strategies once considered optimal often fall short of their promise when success is defined as an improvement in what the patient experiences.1–4 Intermediate end points are not a primary concern for patients. Surrogate end points matter only to the extent that they convey information to the patient about the effects of an intervention.5 Unfortunately, surrogate end points have limitations in their ability to convey this information.6 There are gaps between expectations fostered by basic science and what happens to patients. Knowledge of human physiology and pathophysiology does not always reveal which strategies will improve the likelihood that a particular patient will achieve better outcomes. Changes in risk factors do not always change patient risk in predictable ways. For example, rosiglitazone, which effectively reduced blood sugar levels in patients with …
Phase-shift mask issues for 193-nm lithography

As feature sizes below 0.25 micron are pursued deep-UV lithography at 193 nm is being investigated. This paper presents results from investigations into phase-shift mask issues for 193 nm excimer laser lithography. A small field refractive projection system for operation at the 193.3 nm wavelength of a spectrally narrowed ArF excimer laser has been constructed for lithographic research. The small field, 20X system operates with a variable objective lens numerical aperture from 0.30 to 0.60, variable partial coherence, and control over illumination fill. Through the use of attenuated and alternating phase-shifting techniques resolution can be pushed to the 0.2 micron range with depth of focus as large as 2 microns. Sensitivities to shifter deviations and resist interaction increase. Shifter etch influences on fused silica surface characteristics need to be addressed. Transmission affects of attenuating materials becomes increasingly important. Resist imaging and simulation results presented shed some light on the potential of phase-shift masking for 193 nm lithography, along with inherent difficulties.
Rural financial markets in low-income countries: Recent controversies and lessons

Abstract Recently some researchers have criticized traditional agricultural credit policies in low-income countries. This article identifies the major points of controversy between traditional views and these new views and also summarizes the primary lessons learned from these controversies. Savings mobilization, more flexible interest rate policies, less loan targeting, and greater emphasis on improving the quality of financial services in rural areas are new views that are emphasized.
Biochemical Characteristics of Microsomal and Cytosolic Glutathione S-Transferases in Larvae of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)

Abstract Glutathione S -transferase (GST) from midgut microsomes of fall armyworm larvae metabolized a variety of model substrates such as 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, p -nitrophenyl acetate, and p -nitrobenzyl chloride but had no activity toward 1,2-epoxy-3-( p -nitrophenoxy) propane, 4-nitropyridine- N -oxide, bromosulfophthalein, and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (e.g., trans -4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one, trans -2-octenal, and trans,trans -2,4-decadienal). Microsomal GST activity (toward CDNB) was generally less sensitive to inhibition by different inhibitors than the cytosolic GSTs. Unlike cytosolic GSTs, microsomal GST was not induced by xanthotoxin and indole 3-acetonitrile. The enzyme was not activated by the treatment of microsomes with N -ethylmaleimide. A single GST isozyme was affinity-purified 22-fold from midgut microsomes, which had a subunit molecular weight of 27,000 Da. The transferase had an apparent K m value of 0.91 mM and a V max of 6.67 μmol/min/mg protein (toward CDNB). In comparison with microsomal GST, midgut cytosolic GSTs showed a broader substrate specificity and were active toward various α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Two affinity-purified GST isozymes, GST-1 and GST-2, from the midgut cytosol exhibited the same substrate specificity as the cytosol except that DCNB did not serve as substrate for the enzymes. The purifications were 5- to 133-fold, depending on the substrates used. Both isozymes were heterodimers with subunit molecular weights of 26,700 and 28,000 Da. GST-1 had an apparent K m value of 0.91 mM and a V max of 2.35 μmol/min/mg protein, whereas GST-2 showed an apparent K m of 2.26 mM and a V max of 3.00 μmol/min/mg protein (toward CDNB). GST-2 was not immunologically related to microsomal GST. Both microsomal and cytosolic GST isozymes possessed cumene hydroperoxide peroxidase activity, indicating the antioxidant nature of the enzymes.
Horizon scanning for new genomic tests

Purpose: The development of health-related genomic tests is decentralized and dynamic, involving government, academic, and commercial entities. Consequently, it is not easy to determine which tests are in development, currently available, or discontinued. We developed and assessed the usefulness of a systematic approach to identifying new genomic tests on the Internet. Methods: We devised targeted queries of Web pages, newspaper articles, and blogs (Google Alerts) to identify new genomic tests. We finalized search and review procedures during a pilot phase that ended in March 2010. Queries continue to run daily and are compiled weekly; selected data are indexed in an online database, the Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention Finder. Results: After the pilot phase, our scan detected approximately two to three new genomic tests per week. Nearly two thirds of all tests (122/188, 65%) were related to cancer; only 6% were related to hereditary disorders. Although 88 (47%) of the tests, including 2 marketed directly to consumers, were commercially available, only 12 (6%) claimed United States Food and Drug Administration licensure. Conclusion: Systematic surveillance of the Internet provides information about genomic tests that can be used in combination with other resources to evaluate genomic tests. The Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention Finder makes this information accessible to a wide group of stakeholders.
Steroid-induced transmitter plasticity in insect peptidergic neurons

1. Transmitter plasticity, the ability to alter transmitter expression, has been demonstrated in a wide range of neurons in the vertebrates and invertebrates. 2. One preparation where this issue has been investigated in detail is a set of four neurosecretory neurons in the tobacco hawkmoth Manduca sexta. 3. These neurons undergo a transmitter switch during the transition from caterpillar to moth. 4. In larvae these neurons, known as the lateral neurosecretory cells (LNCs), express CAP2, a myomodulatory neuropeptide involved in the neuroregulation of the activity of visceral muscles. 5. By the adult moth stage, however, the LNCs are no longer producing CAP2 and instead are expressing a different peptide, bursicon, which is involved in tanning of the cuticle at adult emergence. 6. Here I review the evidence for this transmitter switch and discuss its regulation by steroids.
ALUMINUM PRODUCTION USING HIGH-TEMPERATURE SOLAR PROCESS HEAT

Abstract The primary metals industry is one of the most energy intensive in the manufacturing sector, and is consequently also a major source of climate-altering gases. The replacement of electrolysis or electrothermal processes with direct reduction processes using high-temperature solar process heat may well be economical, especially when the costs of CO2 emission are included in the analysis. In particular, aluminum production by carbothermal reduction is a very high-temperature, energy-intensive process. The temperature required, in the range 2300–2500 K, is too high for practical process heat addition from combustion sources alone. Only electric-arc furnaces or highly concentrated solar are capable of supplying process heat at these high temperatures. The aluminum industry presents unique opportunities for industrial implementation of solar process heat. Use of high-temperature solar process heat can drastically reduce the emission of climate-altering gases, reduce the reliance on electricity, and make possible a direct thermal route from the ore to metal. Two industrially-researched direct aluminum or aluminum–silicon alloy producing processes, and one process that forms an intermediate AlN compound are proposed for study and demonstration projects for alternative solar-thermal processes to replace the Hall–Heroult process.
The use of grayscale for improved raster display of vectors and characters

Decreasing memory costs will soon allow grayscale displays in low-cost raster graphic terminals. Subtle shadings can be used to provide improvements in line quality and character flexibility which could allow raster displays to compete on better terms with the more expensive calligraphic displays. Algorithms for achieving smooth vectors and rotatable dot matrix characters are outlined and scan conversion is discussed. A discussion of the relation between image quality and number and distribution of gray levels follows, with concluding remarks on costs and other practical matters.
The use of ultrasonography in evaluating adults with febrile urinary tract infection.

Background. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease. Controversy exists about the role of radiological evaluation in the patient with urinary tract infection. Materials and Methods. From 04 2001 to 12 2001, patients with febrile UTI admitted to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi were prospectively evaluated by ultrasonography. The inclusion criteria of febrile UTI was a body temperature of more than 38°C with a bacterial count of 103 or more per mL in a freshly voided midstream or catheterized urine. Results. A total of 94 patients were evaluated and all patients recovered. Major abnormal sonograms were present in 17 (18%) of the patients. A history of urolithiasis and a duration of fever ≥ 3 days after admission were statistically significant clinical parameters in predicting major abnormal sonogram. Although diabetes mellitus was not statistically significant in predicting major abnormal sonogram, diabetic patients had 2.5 times the likelihood of major structural abnormalities than nondiabet...
Teachers as Advocates: If Not You—Who?

Teachers, including teachers of children and young people who are gifted and talented, care about educational issues; and, consequently, they need to advocate for issues impacting their students. S...