cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA-Modified Electrodes Fabricated Using Copper-Free Click Chemistry for Enhanced Protein Detection

A method of DNA monolayer formation has been developed using copper-free click chemistry that yields enhanced surface homogeneity and enables variation in the amount of DNA assembled; extremely low-density DNA monolayers, with as little as 5% of the monolayer being DNA, have been formed. These DNA-modified electrodes (DMEs) were characterized visually, with AFM, and electrochemically, and were found to facilitate DNA-mediated reduction of a distally bound redox probe. These low-density monolayers were found to be more homogeneous than traditional thiol-modified DNA monolayers, with greater helix accessibility through an increased surface area-to-volume ratio. Protein binding efficiency of the transcriptional activator TATA-binding protein (TBP) was also investigated on these surfaces and compared to that on DNA monolayers formed with standard thiol-modified DNA. Our low-density monolayers were found to be extremely sensitive to TBP binding, with a signal decrease in excess of 75% for 150 nM protein. This protein was detectable at 4 nM, on the order of its dissociation constant, with our low-density monolayers. The improved DNA helix accessibility and sensitivity of our low-density DNA monolayers to TBP binding reflects the general utility of this method of DNA monolayer formation for DNA-based electrochemical sensor development.
Evidence of similar probablility of intense hurricane strikes for the Gulf of Mexico over the late Holocene

Hurricane magnitude and frequency have been linked to numerous mechanisms, including the steady rise in annual sea-surface temperatures, El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variations, and atmospheric changes. In order to better understand those factors that control hurricane magnitude and frequency, a long-term record spanning the entire Gulf of Mexico coast is needed. Here we present a detailed record from ca. 5300–900 yr B.P. of past intense hurricane impacts for cores collected from Laguna Madre, Texas, United States. Relative storm intensities were calculated for each event, and the average intense storm impact probability for south Texas was determined to be ∼0.46% (annual landfall probability). Previous field studies in Western Lake, Florida, and Lake Shelby, Alabama, reveal similar probability intense hurricane strikes of ∼0.39%. Although high-frequency oscillations between warm and dry and cool and wet climate conditions have occurred in Texas through the late Holocene, there has been no notable variation in intense storm impacts across the northwestern Gulf of Mexico coast during this time interval, implying no direct link between these changing climate conditions and annual hurricane impact probability. In addition, there have been no significant differences in the landfall probabilities of storms between the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico during the late Holocene, suggesting that storm steering mechanisms have not varied during this time.
Coincident Pre- and Postsynaptic Activity Modifies GABAergic Synapses by Postsynaptic Changes in Cl− Transporter Activity

Coincident pre- and postsynaptic activation is known to induce long-term modification of glutamatergic synapses. We report here that, in both hippocampal cultures and acute hippocampal slices, repetitive postsynaptic spiking within 20 ms before and after the activation of GABAergic synapses also led to a persistent change in synaptic strength. This synaptic modification required Ca2+ influx through postsynaptic L-type Ca2+ channels and was due to a local decrease in K+-Cl- cotransport activity, effectively reducing the strength of inhibition. Thus, GABAergic synapses can detect and be modified by coincident pre- and postsynaptic spiking, allowing the level of inhibition to be modulated in accordance to the temporal pattern of postsynaptic excitation.
A Framework to Determine the Value of Consumer Consideration Set Information for Firm Pricing Strategies

Managers allocating budgets using scarce economic resources increasingly invest in consumer information to set prices. This highlights the importance of developing methods to efficiently use consumer information in firm pricing strategies so as to increase profits. In this article we utilize such a method which includes information about consumer consideration sets. Extant pricing strategies assume that all brands in the market are included in this competitive set while setting prices. Through an empirical illustration in the ketchup market we demonstrate that firms can improve profits substantially by including consumer consideration sets in arriving at their optimal pricing strategies. We find that the ability of a brand to increase prices seems to depend on both the number of competitors it faces as well as the proportion of households for whom there are competitors in their consideration sets. Failure to incorporate consideration sets leads to biased equilibrium margin inferences and a substantial reduction in net profits.
An electrochemical method for monitoring the oxygen content of aqueous streams at the part-per-billion level

Abstract A device for monitoring the dissolved oxygen content of aqueous streams at the part-per-billion level is described. This device makes use of an exchanger in which the dissolved oxygen in the test stream penetrates an oxygen-permeable membrane and equilibrates with the dissolved oxygen in an internal sensor stream. The oxygen content of the internal sensor stream is then monitored by quantitative reduction in a porous silver electrode maintained at an appropriate potential. Accuracy of the device is one or two parts per billion in the 0–100 ppb range.
Concomitant boron-neutron capture therapy during fast-neutron irradiation of a rat glioma.

PURPOSE: Fast-neutron irradiation and boron-neutron capture therapy (BNCT) have been independently investigated as treatments for malignant disease. This study tested the feasibility of enhancing fast-neutron irradiation with concomitant BNCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen male Fisher rats, each weighing 180-200 g and bearing 36B10 gliomas, were irradiated with graded doses of fast-neutron radiation. Half of the animals received an L-para-boronophenylalanine (BPA) fructose complex prior to treatment. An in vitro colony-forming assay was used to measure surviving fraction. RESULTS: A significantly lower surviving fraction was noted in the tumors from the BPA group compared with those receiving neutrons alone at the three lower neutron doses (P < .005). With use of a linear quadratic curve fit of cell survival, the dose modifying factor was 1.32 at the 0.10 surviving fraction. Mean tumor boron concentration was 68.4 micrograms/g. CONCLUSIONS: BNCT enhancement of fast-neutron irradiation is feasible in an...
Effect of intertstrand distance upon chiral recognition by a chiral stationary phase

Abstract For a silica-bonded α-arylalkylamine-derived chiral stationary phase, interstrand distance has a notable effect upon the relative contributions of two competing chiral recognition processes. As the strands become more densely packed, intercalative process become more difficult. By default, the contribution from non-intercalative processes is increased. For analytes which show preference for the intercalative process, a chiral stationary phase having widely spaced strands affords the greates enantioselectivity. Closely spaced strands are best for those analytes which preferentially utilize the non-intercalative process.
Computerized Course Planning for ISE Undergraduates

We describe the development and successful implementation of a spreadsheet used to help undergraduates in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida plan their courses until graduation. The sheet is similar to a table with rows for courses, and columns for terms. For each course, the user enters a one in the cell for the term to take the course. The sheet computes various things, checks that all corequisites and prerequisites are satisfied, and that each course is chosen. In addition, various documentation is provided.
CD4+ effector cells default to the Th2 pathway in interferon gamma-deficient mice infected with Leishmania major

Mice with homologous disruption of the interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) gene on the C57BL/6 background were infected with Leishmania major and the immune response assessed. In contrast to wild-type or heterozygous knockout mice, deficient animals were unable to restrict growth of the parasite and suffered lethal infection over 6-8 wk. Although wild-type and heterozygous littermates developed CD4+ cells that contained transcripts for IFN-gamma and lymphotoxin, typical of T helper type 1 (Th1) cells, the knockout mice developed CD4+ cells that contained transcripts for interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13, typical of Th2 cells. ELISPOT assays confirmed the reciprocal patterns of IFN-gamma or IL-4 production by T cells in similar frequencies in the respective groups of mice, and antibody analysis confirmed the presence of Th2-mediated isotype switching in the knockout mice. These data suggest that CD4+ T cells that normally respond to antigens by differentiation to Th1 cells default to the Th2 pathway in the absence of endogenous IFN-gamma.
A Collective Description of-Electron Interactions: III. Coulomb Interactions in a Degenerate Electron Gas

The behavior of the electrons in a dense electron gas is analyzed quantum-mechanically by a series of canonical transformations. The usual Hamiltonian corresponding to a system of individual electrons with Coulomb interactions is first re-expressed in such a way that the long-range part of the Coulomb interactions between the electrons is described in terms of collective fields, representing organized "plasma" oscillation of the system as a whole. The Hamiltonian then describes these collective fields plus a set of individual electrons which interact with the collective fields and with one another via short-range screened Coulomb interactions. There is, in addition, a set of subsidiary conditions on the system wave function which relate the field and particle variables. The field-particle interaction is eliminated to a high degree of approximation by a further canonical transformation to a new representation in which the Hamiltonian describes independent collective fields, with ${n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ degrees of freedom, plus the system of electrons interacting via screened Coulomb forces with a range of the order of the inter electronic distance. The new subsidiary conditions act only on the electronic wave functions; they strongly inhibit long wavelength electronic density fluctuations and act to reduce the number of individual electronic degrees of freedom by ${n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$. The general properties of this system are discussed, and the methods and results obtained are related to the classical density fluctuation approach and Tomonaga's one-dimensional treatment of the degenerate Fermi gas.
Bayesian Model Selection in Finite Mixtures by Marginal Density Decompositions

We consider the problem of estimating the number of components d and the unknown mixing distribution in a finite mixture model, in which d is bounded by some fixed finite number N. Our approach relies on the use of a prior over the space of mixing distributions with at most N components. By decomposing the resulting marginal density under this prior, we discover a weighted Bayes factor method for consistently estimating d that can be implemented by an iid generalized weighted Chinese restaurant (GWCR) Monte Carlo algorithm. We also discuss a Gibbs sampling method (the blocked Gibbs sampler) for estimating d and also the mixing distribution. We show that our resulting posterior is consistent and achieves the frequentist optimal Op (n−1/4) rate of estimation. We compare the performance of the new GWCR model selection procedure with that of the Akaike information criterion and the Bayes information criterion implemented through an EM algorithm. Applications of our methods to five real datasets and simulation...
Silane Activation by Ti(NMe2)4 and NH3 during Chemical Vapor Deposition of Ti−Si−N Films

Molecular beam mass spectrometry has been used to observe the activation of silane, predominantly in the gas phase, during the chemical vapor deposition of Ti−Si−N thin films using Ti(NMe2)4, tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium, silane, and ammonia at 450 °C. The extent of silane reactivity was dependent upon the relative amounts of Ti(NMe2)4 and NH3. Ti−Si−N thin films were deposited using similar process conditions as the molecular beam experiments. RBS and XPS were used to determine the atomic composition of these films. The variations of the Ti:Si ratio as a function of Ti(NMe2)4 and NH3 flows were consistent with the changes in silane reactivity under similar conditions.
The dual nature of complement enhancement by venom from the Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus)

Abstract Venom from the Mojave rattlesnake enhanced the antibody mediated hemolytic activity of guinea pig complement when either human or sheep ery throcytes were used as the target cells. Amplification of lytic activity was shown to act in a preferential manner with respect to species of erythrocyte origin. Two steps appear to be necessary for demonstration of enhancement of complement hemolytic activity: (1) interaction of the venom with the complement components; and (2) membrane directed interaction of complement components in association with the active venom factor. These studies extend the findings reported earlier on venom induced complement enhancement.
Attitudes toward early detection of infection by the AIDS retrovirus among persons at high and low risk

Several months prior to the availability of a now-common blood test, homosexual volunteers, in a longitudinal study of their health, and typical college students were questioned about their attitudes toward early detection of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and toward receiving information about desirable or fear-worthy hypothetical events. Generally, the homosexual volunteers were more interested in receiving information than were the students. Most homosexual volunteers desired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody test results, which could indicate infection, and indicated that receiving them would affect their behavior. However, all the subjects showed a preference for information on most questions, especially when the information could be used in guiding behavior change and was not virtually certain to be unfavorable. We are unaware of controlled evidence assessing whether or how knowledge of infection influences the imminent health risk of people who are asymptomatic, but prior to learning their HIV status, the homosexual volunteers who at the time had antibody in their sera were less concerned in knowing the test results of hypothetical future sexual partners than those without antibody.
Quantitative analysis of a molecular model of mitotic control in fission yeast

Abstract A wealth of information has accumulated about the physiology, genetics and molecular biology of the cell cycle in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. From this information we have constructed a detailed molecular mechanism of M-phase control based on the modification of M-phase promoting factor (MPF) by a suite of protein kinases (e.g. Weel and Mikl which inhibit MPF) and phosphatases (e.g. Cdc25 which activates MPF). In particular, we analyze the interphase checkpoint in S. pombe, where the wild-type cell confirms that S phase is complete and that the cell is large enough to finish the division cycle. In our model, incomplete DNA replication restrains the onset of M phase by inhibiting Cdc25 and activating Mikl, whereas increasing size biases the cell towards mitosis by down-regulating Weel. By standard mathematical methods of chemical kinetics, we show that our model gives a quantitatively accurate account of the effects of hydroxyurea treatments, nutritional shifts and other perturbations of the division cycle of wild-type and mutant cells.
Lichen planus and cicatrizing conjunctivitis: characterization of five cases

Abstract Purpose To report the clinical and immunopathologic features and the response to therapy in a series of six patients with cicatrizing conjunctivitis due to lichen planus. Design Retrospective case series. Methods All six patients were seen in an ocular pemphigoid clinic. Clinical, immunopathologic, and serologic features were evaluated and therapeutic response in each patient was monitored. Results All six patients had evidence of conjunctival scarring. Five patients had lichen planus of the oral mucosa and gingiva; one patient had involvement of the skin. Histologic findings consisted of thickened epithelium and an interface lymphocytic infiltrate along the lamina propria. In three patients, electron microscopy of the conjunctiva revealed thickening, fragmentation, and duplication of the basement membrane zone. Direct immunofluorescence examination of the conjunctiva and oral mucosa demonstrated linear and shaggy fibrinogen deposition along the basement membrane zone, confirming the diagnosis of lichen planus. All six patients were placed on immunosuppressive therapy with control of the disease. However, only one patient was able to discontinue the anti-inflammatory medication and have the lichen planus remain in remission. Conclusions Lichen planus should be included in the differential diagnosis of cicatrizing conjunctivitis. Performing appropriate investigations to distinguish conjunctival lichen planus from other autoimmune diseases such as mucous membrane pemphigoid is critical to managing the patient with cicatrizing conjunctivitis appropriately. Oral cyclosporine effectively controlled the conjunctival lichen planus in four of the six cases.
Effects of proton-induced radiation damage on cadmium zinc telluride pixel detectors

Cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) is a room temperature solid state material with many properties attractive to space- borne astrophysical instrumentation. Irradiation of monolithic CdZnTe detectors with 199 MeV protons shows that proton-induced radiation damage causes an increase in electron trapping in the material. Small-pixel and strip CdZnTe detectors which rely on efficient electron collection are particularly sensitive to changes in the electron mean free path, which can result in significant changes in the spectral response. Using a charge transport model, we calculate the effects of the observed radiation damage on spectral response for pixel detectors of several geometries. A degradation in spectral response is observed which is most pronounced for small-pixel detectors. The magnitude of the effects indicate that depending on pixel size and the desire for good spectral performance annealing may be necessary to maintain good detector performance after approximately 1 - 2 years in low-earth orbit.
Examining Game World Topology Personalization

We present an exploratory analysis of the effects of game world topologies on self-reported player experience in Computer Role Playing Games (CRPGs). We find that (a) players are more engaged in game worlds that better match their self-reported preferences; and (b) player preferences for game topology can be predicted based on their in-game behavior. We further describe how in-game behavioral features that correlate to preferences can be used to control procedural content generation algorithms.
Mutations that affect the length, fasciculation, or ventral orientation of specific sensory axons in the Drosophila embryo

Abstract In wild-type Drosophila embryos, five lateral chordotonal (Ich) axons in each abdominal hemisegment originate from a midlaterally positioned cluster of neurons and grow, fasciculate, and orient ventrally as they connect with targets in the CNS. We have identified 22 recessive lethal mutations in 12 complementation groups, 8 of which are novel, that differentially affect Ich axon growth, fasciculation, or ventral orientation. Mutations in 3 loci result in shorter, but fasciculated and ventrally directed axon bundles. Mutations in 4 complementation groups cause Ich axon defasciculation. Mutations in 7 complementation groups cause some Ich axon bundles to grow dorsally along a trajectory 180° from normal.
White suburban schools' responses to low-income black children: Sources of successes and problems

This paper reports the results of a study of low-income black children who moved with their families into middle-income, white suburbs. Three hypotheses are tested: (1) Educational standards will be higher in the suburban schools than in the children's city schools. (2) Suburban schools and teachers will respond to these students with increased educational assistance mixed with some racial discrimination. (3) Students' grades and school satisfaction will not decline with the move to the suburban schools. Two kinds of research design are used: children's postmove suburban experiences are compared with retrospective reports of their premove experiences and also compared with experiences of a control group. Interviews with mothers and children permit quantitative and qualitative analyses. The findings support all three hypotheses and suggest new perspectives on the kinds of advantages and problems arising from residential integration.
Increasing the athletic group play of children with autism.

A multiple baseline design across three children with autism and within child across activity was used to assess the effects of interventions designed to teach children with autism to play two common athletic group games, handball and 4-square. Treatment consisted of two phases. In Phase I, athletic skills training, the children participated in sessions designed facilitate their acquisition of the athletic skills required by the targeted games. During Phase II, rules training, the children were instructed on the rules of the targeted games. Mastering the athletic skills and participating in rules training resulted in increased athletic group play and concomitant increases in speech. These gains were maintained at 8–16 weeks follow-up. However, generalization to participation in school recess activities did not occur.
A fluorescent histochemical study of changes in noradrenergic neurons following experimental cerebral infarction in the rat.

Abstract Following surgical ligation of the middle cerebral artery in the rat, central catecholamine containing neurons were studied using the glyoxylic acid histochemical technique. By 5 days after the ischemic lesion, the density of fluorescent varicosities decreased in both the uninjured cerebral cortex and the cerebellar cortex and the intensity of fluorescence of somata in the ipsilateral and contralateral locus coeruleus decreased as compared with controls. At 20 days after lesioning, catecholamine containing neurons looked normal under fluorescence microscopic examination, except fine varicose fluorescent axons were present for the first time among the cellular debris of the lesion and appeared to have sprouted into the lesion site. However, by 40 days after surgery, there was a marked increase in the density of fluorescent varicosities in the uninjured ipsilateral cerebral cortex, in the contralateral cerebral cortex, and in the cerebellum. These observations confirm the view that an ischemic cortical lesion can lead to profound changes in catecholamine containing neurons in distant areas of the brain which are uninjured by the local infarction.
Simultaneous processing of typal and dimensional variation among multidimensional events

If class structure exists within a multidimensional configuration, two sources of variation among elements are potentially present: typed variation due to class membership and dimensional variation due to inter-element differences unrelated to this structure. The simultaneous processing of both sources of variation among a set of multidimensional visual pattern was examined. Similarity judgments to pairs of 14 polygons arising from two physical classes were scaled with the TORSCA nometric MDS procedure. No evidence was found for processing of dimensional variation in the vari-max-rotated TORSCA solutions. However, Degerman rotation of TORSCA solutions led to recovery of both sources of variation. Confirmatory regression andysis based on physical measures of typal and dimensional variation among patterns indicated the appropriateness of the Degerman rotation.
Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (PECAM-1) Homophilic Adhesion Is Mediated by Immunoglobulin-like Domains 1 and 2 and Depends on the Cytoplasmic Domain and the Level of Surface Expression

PECAM-1/CD31 is vascular cell adhesion and signaling molecule of the Ig superfamily that plays a role in neutrophil recruitment at inflammatory sites and may be involved the release of leukocytes from the bone marrow and in cardiovascular development. The interactions of PECAM-1 with its ligands are complex in that it is able to bind both with itself (homophilic adhesion) or with non-PECAM-1 ligands (heterophilic adhesion). Although the factors that regulate ligand binding are not fully understood, these interactions are regulated in part by its large cytoplasmic domain, a region of 118 amino acids encoded by 8 exons of its gene (exons 9-16). The purpose of this work was to better define the mechanisms of PECAM-1-dependent homophilic adhesion by analyzing the binding interactions of L-cells expressing full-length and selectively mutated forms of human, murine, and human/murine chimeric PECAM-1 molecules in an established aggregation assay. These studies demonstrate that 1) the minimal length of the cytoplasmic domain required for cellular aggregation is represented within the sequences encoded by exons 9 and 10, 2) removal or addition of the sequences encoded by exon 14 from the cytoplasmic domain can determine whether the mechanism of aggregation is a heterophilic calcium-dependent process or a homophilic calcium-independent process, 3) high levels of surface expression of PECAM-1 on the cell surface change the mechanism of aggregation from heterophilic to homophilic, and 4) PECAM-1-dependent homophilic binding appears to involve the direct interaction of only the first two extracellular Ig-like domains. These data suggest that PECAM-1-ligand interactions can be regulated through multiple pathways including alterations of the cytoplasmic domain and the level of surface expression.
Effect of lean/rich high temperature aging on NO oxidation and NOx storage/release of a fully formulated lean NOx trap

Abstract Commercial-intent lean NO x traps (LNTs) containing Pt, Pd, Rh, Ba, Ce, Zr, and other proprietary additives were thermally aged at 750, 880, 930, and 1070 °C using lean/rich cycling and then investigated for effects of aging on NO x storage capacity, NO oxidation, NO x reduction, and materials properties. Additionally, DRIFTS analysis was used to determine the effects of high temperature aging on surface chemistry and NO x storage. As platinum group metal (PGM) dispersion decreases with aging, the NO turnover frequency (TOF) for NO oxidation at 200, 300, and 400 °C is shown to increase. The fraction of stored NO x that is successfully reduced also increases with aging, and it is suggested that this is accounted for by a slower release of more stable NO x species resulting from thermal aging. NO x storage and NO x release experiments performed with DRIFTS at 200, 300, and 400 °C indicate that a substantial amount of NO x is stored on Al 2 O 3 as nitrates at 200 and 300 °C before aging. However, almost no nitrates are seen on alumina after aging at 900 and 1000 °C, resulting in a significant reduction in NO x storage capacity. This is most likely due to a 45% reduction in total surface area and a high temperature redispersion of Ba over remaining alumina sites. No evidence of BaAl 2 O 4 was observed with XRD.
FINE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN NEURONS AND NERVE FIBERS ASSOCIATED WITH COLCHICINE INHIBITION OF NERVE FIBER FORMATION IN VITRO

Neurotubules appear to be homologous to the cytoplasmic microtubules of other cell types in both their morphological (Gonatas and Robbins, 1964) and chemical (Weisenberg et al., 1968) characteristics. There is a large body of evidence indicating that microtubules have an important role in the development and maintenance of asymmetric form in cells and cell processes (reviewed by Tilney, 1968) . For this reason it has been proposed that microtubules take part in the development and maintenance of the elongate form of neurites (Porter, 1966) . There is some experimental evidence for this proposition, based on the effects of colchicine, which disrupts microtubules in vivo and in vitro (Weisenberg, 1972) through its specific binding to the protein subunit of that organelle (Taylor, 1965 ; Borisy and Taylor, 1967 a, b ; Shelanski and Taylor, 1967, 1968) . It has been demonstrated that colchicine disrupts the microtubules of spinal neurons (Wisniewski et al., 1968), inhibits the sprouting of severed axons of the sciatic nerve (Hoffman, 1952), and both inhibits neurite outgrowth and causes retraction of neurites in monolayer cultures of chick dorsal-root ganglia (Daniels, 1968 ; Yamada et al., 1970) . Daniels (1972) demonstrated that these effects of colchicine take place within 3-6 h of treatment with a low concentration of the alkaloid, 0 .05 μg/ml, and are reversible under these same conditions . The present report is concerned with changes in density of microtubules and neurofilaments in the neurons and neurites of these monolayer cultures during colchicine inhibition of neurite elongation and after reversal of this inhibition .
Coupled physical and biological modeling of the spring bloom in the North Atlantic (I): model formulation and one dimensional bloom processes

This is the first of two papers that introduce a mesoscale eddy resolving coupled physical and biological model system. The physical model consists of a quasigeostrophic interior with a fully coupled surface boundary layer. The nitrogen based biological model includes nitrate, phytoplankton, heterotroph and ammonium fields. This interdisciplinary model system is used to examine aspects of the 1989 JGOFS North Atlantic Bloom Experiment data set. This paper deals mainly with one dimensional processes and a companion paper addresses three dimensional phenomena. The data set consists of two time series of observations taken from different water masses in the mesoscale environment. The general features of the two time series are well represented by a one dimensional model when the mesoscale spatial variability in the initial condition is treated explicitly within the one dimensional framework. However, a significant bias is evident in the first time series as the sampling pattern began in a warm feature and moved toward colder ones. Mistaking spatial for temporal variability in this case results in an apparent sink of heat and source of nitrate in the data. Removing this bias with the one dimensional model results in an f-ratio that is almost a factor of two higher (0.64) than computed by other authors based on nutrient inventories and primary productivity measurements (0.37). The second time series was conducted in the interior of a mesoscale feature and spatial biasing is minimal. The model forms a seasonal thermocline and nitracline that compare quite well with the data in both magnitude and vertical extent. A subsurface ammonium maximum is generated by the model from an initially homogeneous profile that also agrees well with the data. Simulated primary productivity profiles match 14C incubations except on the final day of the simulation when surface nutrients appear in to have been exhausted slightly prematurely. Computed f-ratios are consistent with independent estimates based on uptake measurements. A systematic parameter dependence and sensitivity analysis is carried out on these results. The most sensitive parameters are the phytoplankton and heterotroph maximum growth rates. Detailed analysis of the behavior of the system indicates tight coupling between phytoplankton production and heterotrophic consumption even in the early stages of the bloom.
Effect of formic acid or formaldehyde treatment of alfalfa silage on nutrient utilization by dairy cows.

Third-cutting alfalfa with 37% DM was ensiled untreated or treated with either 2.8 g of formic acid/100 g of DM or .31 g of formaldehyde/100 g of DM and fed to lactating dairy cows in two experiments. Silage treated with formic acid had the lowest pH and concentrations of NPN, NH3, and total free AA. Both treatments decreased rumen in vitro protein degradability but did not affect in vitro rumen plus pepsin digestibility. In trial 1, part 1, 22 Holstein cows received a standard diet for 18 d postpartum and then were fed for 6 wk one of three diets containing 98% alfalfa silage DM. Although DMI was comparable, yields of milk, SCM, fat, protein, lactose, and SNF were higher when treated silages were fed. Plasma concentrations of branched-chain, essential, and total AA increased when formic acid-treated silage was fed. Rumen pH and concentrations of NH3 and VFA were similar for all diets. Rumen escape protein, estimated using 15N as a microbial protein marker, was increased more by formic acid than by formaldehyde treatment. In trial 1, part 2, supplementation with 4.8% fish meal increased concentration of milk protein and yields of milk, protein, lactose, and SNF. Milk urea concentration was higher on the untreated silage diet. Total tract apparent DM and N digestibilities were not affected by silage treatment, although fish meal decreased apparent DM digestibility. In trial 2, 80:20 alfalfa silage:ground corn diets were fed to 12 midlactation cows in a 3 x 3 Latin square study. Milk production was unaffected, but milk protein concentration and DMI were higher when treated silages were fed. Feeding treated silages increased plasma concentrations of branched-chain AA, essential AA, and total AA. Formaldehyde and especially formic acid treatment effectively improved utilization of nutrients in alfalfa silage by lactating dairy cows.
In vivo measurement of house fly temperature, flight muscle potentials, heartbeat and locomotion during insecticide poisoning

Abstract The average heartbeat rate of female adult Musca domestica was near 250 beats/min in vivo at 23°C. However, standard deviation values ranged from ±35 to ±60 depending on the individual house fly. Heartbeat rates in tethered house flies fluctuated between cessation to over 300 beats/min. The heartbeat rate was temperature dependent with a Q10 of 2.3. Either a bite by the Lynx spider, Peucetia vividans (Hentz), or severing the abdomen from the thorax caused the heartbeat to become extremely steady at near 300 beats/min which gradually decreased over several minutes. Application of lethal doses of Monitor or Lindane to the house fly caused thoracic temperature to increase by at most 3°C in conjunction with increased convulsive activity and increased average heartbeat rate. In late stages of poisoning, the heartbeat was relatively uniform indicating a disruption in cardioregulatory nervous activity. Response of the house fly to carbofuran or its N-thiomethyl analog was similar to that of Monitor and Lindane except in late stages of poisoning where the heartbeat continued to exhibit large variations in average rate.
Current Concepts of the Anatomy of the Thumb Trapeziometacarpal Joint

This review article describes the anatomy of the thumb trapeziometacarpal joint. In the final phase of opposition screw home torque rotation of the volar beak of the thumb metacarpal in the pivot area of the trapezium recess and tension on the dorsal ligament complex create stability for power pinch and power grip. The resulting compressive shear forces can lead over time to trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.
Pain experienced during vaginal and anal intercourse with other-sex partners: findings from a nationally representative probability study in the United States.

Abstract Introduction Recent U.S. nationally representative data indicate that about 30% of women and 5% of men reported pain occurring during their most recent sexual event; however, little is known about the severity, duration, or context of such pain, or its prevalence during vaginal vs. anal intercourse. Aims To document the prevalence and characteristics of pain during vaginal and anal intercourse among U.S. women and men (ages 18+) at their most recent other‐sex sexual event, including the self‐reported severity, duration, and location of their pain; how participants addressed their pain; and partner communication related to the pain. Methods Data from a subsample of 1,738 women and men in the 2012 National Survey of Sexual Health Behavior, a nationally representative probability survey of Americans ages 18+ collected via the Internet, were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures Participants responded to items about their background characteristics; whether they had vaginal or anal intercourse during their most recent sexual experience; the severity, duration, and location of any pain experienced during said sexual event; and whether they responded to or communicated about the pain. Results About 30% of women and 7% of men reported pain during vaginal intercourse events, and most of the reports of pain were mild and of short duration. About 72% of women and 15% of men reported pain during anal intercourse events, with more of these events including moderate or severe pain (for the women) and of mixed duration. Large proportions of Americans do not tell their partner when sex hurts. Conclusion Pain is a relatively common, and often not discussed, aspect of both vaginal and anal intercourse events occurring between women and men. Individual and clinical implications are discussed. Herbenick D, Schick V, Sanders SA, Reece M, and Fortenberry JD. Pain experienced during vaginal and anal intercourse with other‐sex partners: Findings from a nationally representative probability study in the United States. J Sex Med 2015;12:1040–1051.
Towards Model-Based Policy Design Methods for More Effective Spectrum Allocation

Modern embedded systems are increasingly likely to be distributed across multiple devices and platforms that must interact with high precision across wireless networks. Traditional ways of managing the wireless radio spectrum suffer from two fundamental limitations, which our research addresses: (1) spectrum is divided a priori into static coarse-grained partitions, and (2) partitions are non-overlapping. To overcome these limitations, we propose an approach to spectrum allocation based on dynamic allocation of diverse portions of the overall spectrum and overlapping allocations to increase utilization. Our previous work has established the potential of a new generation of allocation strategies based on both memory-like and spectrum-specific features. Here, we describe new directions for that work based on Markov decision theory.
The Federal budget and the impact on nursing education, research, and innovative practice******

Abstract The American health care system is facing a critical nursing shortage unprecedented in its complexity and future implications. The current and projected nursing shortage has presented an opportunity for the nursing profession to educate consumers to the vital role nurses play in the delivery of health care services while advocating and lobbying for federal legislation. The urgent need to fund nursing education programs and nursing research programs, and the immediate need to develop innovative practice models, has been heard in our nation's capitol. This article will present the legislative activity and status of the appropriations and bills of the 107th Congress. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Associations Between Three Characteristics of Parent–Youth Relationships, Youth Substance Use, and Dating Attitudes:

Various dimensions of parenting have been associated with youth risk behaviors, such as substance use and dating violence. These associations have spawned many prevention strategies that focus on parenting. However, it is unclear which characteristics of parent-youth relationships, and thus, which parent-focused prevention strategies, may be most influential in youth risk behaviors and, thus, which should be targeted in prevention. Using responses from the YouthStyles 2007 survey (N = 1,357), this study identified three youth-reported parent-youth relationship characteristics: communication about risk behaviors, closeness/respect, and rules/monitoring. The authors examined the associations among these characteristics and youths' demographics, attitudes supporting controlling dating relationships, and use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. Results suggested risk behavior communication was more frequently reported by girls and was more frequent among older youth. Closeness/respect and rules/monitoring were more frequent among younger youth. Regressions suggested communication about risk behaviors was not a predictor of attitudes supporting controlling dating relationships but was a significant predictor of substance use, closeness/respect and rules/monitoring predicted substance nonuse and attitudes unsupportive of controlling dating relationships. The findings suggest that parental communication alone may not be sufficient to influence youth risk taking, but that parental monitoring and the establishment of respectful, close relationships with children may be important elements of parent-focused health promotion efforts.
The need for speed: a critical discourse analysis of the reclassification of English language learners in Arizona

Several states, including Arizona, have enacted English-only legislation, within the past decade, impacting the schooling of students who are identified as English language learner (ELLS). As a result, ELLS in Arizona are assigned to a prescriptive program—apart from their fluent English-speaking peers—for 4 h a day, during a time “not normally to exceed 1 year.” The ultimate goal is to reclassify ELLs to fluent English proficient (FEP) status, exit them from the program and integrate students into “mainstream” classrooms, where no additional support services are offered. Since language policies are dictating the instructional policy decisions regarding assessment and reclassification of ELLS, the authors argue that it is necessary to critically examine how English-only policies—especially the discourse of policy making—contribute to the shift in the definition of reclassification, its process and ultimately, the consequences for students. Thus, the paper unpacks the shifts in reclassification policy and process; our critical discourse analysis of the legislators’ meetings, based on the work of van Leeuwen (Discourse Commun 1(1):91–112, 2007), show that although Arizona’s ELL Task Force set out to develop an educational policy to prepare ELLS linguistically and academically within one school year, the timeframe (or time limit) took precedence to the academic preparedness of newly reclassified students—a population that is academically vulnerable.
Vision–IMU Integration Using a Slow-Frame-Rate Monocular Vision System in an Actual Roadway Setting

We present results of an effort where position and orientation data from vision and inertial sensors are integrated and validated using data from an actual roadway. Information from a sequence of images, which were captured by a monocular camera attached to a survey vehicle at a maximum frequency of 3 frames/s, is fused with position and orientation estimates from the inertial system to correct for inherent error accumulation in such integral-based systems. The rotations and translations are estimated from point correspondences tracked through a sequence of images. To reduce unsuitable correspondences, we used constraints such as epipolar lines and correspondence flow directions. The vision algorithm automatically operates and involves the identification of point correspondences, the pruning of correspondences, and the estimation of motion parameters. To simply obtain the geodetic coordinates, i.e., latitude, longitude, and altitude, from the translation-direction estimates from the vision sensor, we expand the Kalman filter space to incorporate distance. Hence, it was possible to extract the translational vector from the available translational direction estimate of the vision system. Finally, a decentralized Kalman filter is used to integrate the position estimates based on the vision sensor with those of the inertial system. The fusion of the two sensors was carried out at the system level in the model. The comparison of integrated vision-inertial-measuring-unit (IMU) position estimates with those from inertial-GPS system output and actual survey demonstrates that vision sensing can be used to reduce errors in inertial measurements during potential GPS outages.
A new proof and a generalization of Ramadanov's theorem

We study the Bergman kernels on an increasing sequence of domains in complex space and show that the Bergman kernels converge uniformly on compact sets. This gives a new proof of a result of Ramadanov. We then generalize the result to the case when the domains are not necessarily increasing.
Physicians’ views of performance reports: grading the graders

Quality measurement and feedback programs have become widespread and are looked upon as a cornerstone of quality improvement efforts. Often, such programs are used to motivate consumer choice through public report cards or to reward high quality care through pay for performance programs. Physicians’ views on performance measurement and feedback programs, however, are rarely sought, despite the potential usefulness for improving the impact of such programs. The new IJHPR paper by Nissanholtz-Gannot and colleagues provides important data on physicians’ views of the Israeli quality measurement program that demonstrates strong support for the program among Israeli physicians while also identifying potential areas for improvement.
Safety Evaluation of Centerline Rumble Strips: Crash and Driver Behavior Analysis

The effectiveness of centerline rumble strips in reducing cross-over-the-centerline crashes and improving the safety of undivided roadways was evaluated. Twenty U.S. states, along with several Canadian provinces, are currently using centerline rumble strips. A detailed analysis of crashes on State Routes 2, 20, and 88 in Massachusetts before and after installation of centerline rumble strips showed no significant change in crash frequencies; however, no fatal crashes have occurred on State Routes 2 and 88 since the installation of centerline rumble strips. Three cross-over-the-centerline fatal crashes did occur on State Route 20 after the centerline rumble strips were installed; centerline rumble strips were not a countermeasure to these specific crash types. Driver behavior at shoulder and centerline rumble strips was evaluated with a full-scale driving simulator. Drivers were found to react and correct the vehicle trajectory more quickly with centerline rumble strip encounters than with shoulder rumble strip encounters. About 27% of drivers made an initial leftward correction of their vehicles when encountering centerline rumble strips. Although this percentage may be inflated because of laboratory conditions, there is some probability of a driver confusing centerline rumble strips with shoulder rumble strips and reacting improperly. No improper (rightward) corrections were experienced with shoulder rumble strip scenarios. Centerline rumble strips were found to be effective at gaining drivers' attention and therefore to be an effective traffic control device and safety countermeasure in areas where a history of cross-over-the-centerline fatal and injury crashes occur.
Fibrin Fibers Have Extraordinary Extensibility and Elasticity

Blood clots perform an essential mechanical task, yet the mechanical behavior of fibrin fibers, which form the structural framework of a clot, is largely unknown. By using combined atomic force-fluorescence microscopy, we determined the elastic limit and extensibility of individual fibers. Fibrin fibers can be strained 180% (2.8-fold extension) without sustaining permanent lengthening, and they can be strained up to 525% (average 330%) before rupturing. This is the largest extensibility observed for protein fibers. The data imply that fibrin monomers must be able to undergo sizeable, reversible structural changes and that deformations in clots can be accommodated by individual fiber stretching.