cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Divergent Nodes of Non-Autonomous UPR ER Signaling Through Serotonergic and Dopaminergic Neurons

In multicellular organisms, neurons integrate a diverse array of external cues to affect downstream changes in organismal health. Specifically, activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPRER) in neurons increases lifespan by preventing age-onset loss of ER proteostasis and driving lipid depletion in a cell non-autonomous manner. The mechanism of this communication is dependent on release of small clear vesicles from neurons. We find dopaminergic neurons are necessary and sufficient for activation of cell non-autonomous UPRER to drive lipid depletion in peripheral tissues, while serotonergic neurons are necessary and sufficient to drive protein homeostasis in peripheral tissues. These signaling modalities are unique and independent, and together coordinate the benefits of neuronal cell non-autonomous ER stress signaling upon health and longevity.
Apology for Literature in Engineering Curriculum

The need for English literature teaching in technical institutions becomes imperative in the changing global scenario that is increasingly becoming multilingual and multicultural. Technocrats who command machines and systems created by the human brain need to be distinguished from these gadgets. They are thinking and feeling beings capable of making decisions in unpredictably critical moments because they are not programmed the way machines are. English language teachers with a very strong base in English literature can play an exceptionally vital role in acquisition of creative/critical thinking skills and human values. English language teachers in technical institutions need to re-invent their role from being a mere ‘facilitator’ of language skills or being ‘high priests’ of ethics through explication of literary texts to becoming a ‘catalyst’ in the formative process of the young technocrats’ affective and cognitive domains through exposure to appropriate literary texts. This article examines the role of English literature teaching and the complementary role of humanities and sciences in the formation of young technocrats, who should be academically bright, intellectually upright, ethically honest, and spiritually inspiring.
Examination of Gamulation to Measure Leadership Characteristics in Bachelor of Science Respiratory Care Students

Background: COVID-19 impacted respiratory care education and faculty were scrambling looking for new, innovative, and engaging teaching and learning strategies. Gamulation has been used in corporate America, business schools, and healthcare administration education, yet has not been studied in respiratory care leadership education. Gamulation is a type of avatar experience that places students in real life situations that must be dealt with in a timely manner using a logic model. This type of learning has been reported to be effective. This Methods: IRB was submitted and determined exempt. Gamulation was developed to measure leadership characteristics using a logic model. After completing course content focused on leadership and management, this activity was last in the course schedule. Students were assigned the gamulation as a course activity and had 2 hours to complete the gamulation. Student perception questions were presented first to learn students experience with other avatar type gamulation. The gamulation placed students in three scenarios: Chief Operations Officer, Chief Financial Office,r and Director of Respiratory Care. After the gamulation, perception questions of the experience as an earning tool were asked. All data were deidentified and analyzed for descriptive analysis. Results: All students (n = 44) completed the gamulation. Of the 44 students, 13.6% n = 6) scored highest in caregiver category, while 6.8% (n = 3) scored highest in the patient focused category and 2.2% (n = 1) scored highest in strategic thinking category. More than half of the students (n = 30) felt that the gamulation was too long, while 75% of the students (n = 33) felt the gamulation was easy to use and understand. Conclusions: Gamulation is an engaging tool capable of identifying leadership characteristics in BSRC students. The use of gamulation may be further researched across all BSRC programs.
Analyzing Nonparametric Part-to-Part Variation in Surface Point Cloud Data

Surface point cloud data from three-dimensional optical scanners provide rich information about the surface geometry of scanned parts and potential variation in the surfaces from part-to-part. It i...
Potent odorants of the wheat bread crumb Differences to the crust and effect of a longer dough fermentation

Characterization of the crumb flavour of wheat bread by means of an aroma extract dilution analysis indicated diacetyl, methional, 1-octen-3-one, (Z)-and (E)-2-nonenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal andtrans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal as the most potent odorants. The epoxydecenal had the lowest odour threshold (1.5 pg/L, air) among the homologous series oftrans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-alkenals C7-C11. Prolongation of the dough fermentation resulted in a change of the crumb flavour which was mainly due to an increase in the concentrations of 3-methylbutanol and 2-phenylethanol. Stable isotope dilution assays indicated that the concentrations of the “roasty” smelling flavour compounds 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline and 2-acetyltetrahydropyridine were 30-fold lower in the crumb than in the crust. (E)-2-Nonenal, which is present in the flour, increased strongly during the baking process.
Impact of thyroid nodule size on prevalence and post-test probability of malignancy: a systematic review.

Objectives/Hypothesis Large thyroid nodules may be associated with higher risk of malignancy and less-accurate fine-needle aspiration (FNA) results, but there is currently no overarching consensus. We therefore tested two null hypotheses: 1) thyroid nodule size >3 to 4 cm is not associated with a higher baseline prevalence of malignancy (i.e., the associated pretest probability is the same, regardless of size), and 2) thyroid nodule size >3 to 4 cm is not associated with worse diagnostic accuracy (i.e., the associated sensitivity, false-negative rate, and post-test probability of malignancy is not affected by nodule diameter). Study Design Computerized searches of PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library through July 2013 were performed, supplemented with manual searches. Methods A priori criteria were defined to determine inclusion and exclusion of studies. Searches and data extraction were performed by independent reviewers and focused on FNA histopathologic findings and their relationship to nodule size, study design, and potential confounders. Results Criterion-meeting studies (n = 15) included a total of 13,180 participants. The preponderance of prospective comparative studies showed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of malignancy in large nodules. Although data are mixed, evidence from the best-reported studies suggests sensitivity, false-negative rates, and frequency of true negatives among benign FNA results are worse in large nodules. Conclusions Large nodules have a higher pretest probability of malignancy. Data from larger studies suggest reduced FNA diagnostic accuracy in nodules >3 to 4 cm in diameter. Surgery represents a reasonable clinical option for nodules >3 cm. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 125:263–272, 2015
Neurotrophin-3 Administration Attenuates Deficits of Pyridoxine-Induced Large-Fiber Sensory Neuropathy

Chronic treatment of adult rats for 2-3 weeks with high doses of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) produced a profound proprioceptive loss, similar to that found in humans overdosed with this vitamin or treated with the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Pyridoxine toxicity was manifest as deficits in simple and precise locomotion and sensory nerve function and as degeneration of large-diameter/large-fiber spinal sensory neurons. As assessed quantitatively in a beam-walking task and by EMG recording of H waves evoked by peripheral nerve stimulation, coadministration of the neurotrophic factor neurotrophin-3 (NT-3; 5-20 mg . kg-1 . d-1, s.c.) during chronic pyridoxine treatment largely attenuated the behavioral and electrophysiological sequelae associated with pyridoxine toxicity. Furthermore, NT-3 administration prevented degeneration of sensory fibers in the dorsal column of the spinal cord. These data are consistent with the evidence that NT-3 is a target-derived neurotrophic factor for muscle sensory afferents and suggest that pharmacological doses of NT-3 may be beneficial in the treatment of large-fiber sensory neuropathies.
A Longitudinal Analysis of the Effects of Socioeconomic Factors, Foreign Media, and Attitude toward Appearance on General and Central Adiposity in Chinese Adolescents.

This paper explores the longitudinal effects of socioeconomic factors (i.e., parent education and family income level), foreign media, and attitude toward appearance on general and central adiposity among Chinese adolescents. A longitudinal analysis was performed using data from the China Seven Cities Study, a health promotion and smoking prevention study conducted in seven cities across Mainland China between 2002 and 2005. Participants included 5,020 middle and high school students and their parents. Explanatory variables included foreign media exposure, attitude toward appearance, parent education, and family income. Three-level, random-effect models were used to predict general adiposity (i.e., body mass index) and central adiposity (i.e., waist circumference). The Generalized Estimating Equation approach was utilized to determine the effect of explanatory variables on overweight status. Among girls, foreign media exposure was significantly negatively associated with general adiposity over time (β = − 0.06, p = 0.01 for middle school girls; β = − 0.06, p = 0.03 for high school girls). Attitude toward appearance was associated with lesser odds of being overweight, particularly among high school girls (OR = 0.86, p < 0.01). Among boys, parental education was significantly positively associated with general adiposity (β = 0.62, p < 0.01 for middle school boys; β = 0.37, p = 0.02 for high school boys) and associated with greater odds of being overweight (OR = 1.55, p < 0.01 for middle school boys; OR = 1.26, p = 0.04 for high school boys). Across all gender and grade levels, family income was significantly negatively associated with central adiposity over time. Interventions addressing Chinese adolescent overweight/obesity should consider these factors as potential focus areas.
NCCN increases the emphasis on genetic/familial high-risk assessment in colorectal cancer.

Abstract NCCN has developed new guidelines for the assessment of high-risk familial/genetic colorectal cancer, and has positioned these recommendations within the guidelines for detection, prevention, and risk reduction. The Panel recommends that all patients with colorectal cancer be screened for Lynch syndrome, which occurs in 1 of every 35 patients and is the most common form of hereditary colorectal cancer. Such screening could be universal so that all tumors are genetically tested, or screening could be restricted to patients under the age of 70 and those aged 70 and older who meet clinical criteria.
ACD toxin–produced actin oligomers poison formin-controlled actin polymerization

The actin cross-linking domain (ACD) is an actin-specific toxin produced by several pathogens, including life-threatening spp. of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus, and Aeromonas hydrophila. Actin cross-linking by ACD is thought to lead to slow cytoskeleton failure owing to a gradual sequestration of actin in the form of nonfunctional oligomers. Here, we found that ACD converted cytoplasmic actin into highly toxic oligomers that potently “poisoned” the ability of major actin assembly proteins, formins, to sustain actin polymerization. Thus, ACD can target the most abundant cellular protein by using actin oligomers as secondary toxins to efficiently subvert cellular functions of actin while functioning at very low doses.
Kidney Injury Molecule-1 Enhances Endocytosis of Albumin in Renal Proximal Tubular Cells

Receptor-mediated endocytosis plays an important role in albumin reabsorption by renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is a scavenger receptor that is upregulated on the apical membrane of proximal tubules in proteinuric kidney disease. In this study, we examined the cellular localization and functional role of KIM-1 in cultured renal tubule epithelial cells (TECs). Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy reveals intracellular and cell surface localization of KIM-1 in primary renal TECs. Albumin stimulation resulted in a redistribution of KIM-1 and tight junction protein zonula occludens-1 in primary TEC monolayer. An increase in albumin internalization was observed in both primary TECs expressing endogenous KIM-1 and rat kidney cell line (NRK-52E) overexpressing exogenous KIM-1. KIM-1-induced albumin accumulation was abolished by its specific antibody. Moreover, endocytosed KIM-1 and its cargo proteins were delivered from endosomes to lysosomes for degradation in a clathrin-dependent pathway. Supportive evidence includes (1) detection of KIM-1 in Rab5-positive early endosomes, Rab7-positive late endosomes/multivesicular bodies, and LAMP1-positive lysosomes, (2) colocalization of KIM-1 and clathrin in the intracellular vesicles, and (3) blockade of KIM-1-mediated albumin internalization by chlorpromazine, an inhibitor of clathrin-dependent endocytosis. KIM-1 expression was upregulated by albumin but downregulated by transforming growth factor-β1. Taken together, our data indicate that KIM-1 increases albumin endocytosis in renal tubule epithelial cells, at least partially via a clathrin-dependent mechanism. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 896-907, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Durkheim's Epistemology: The Initial Critique, 1915–1924

Although it is evident in his work from the beginning, Durkheim's epistemological argument did not appear in its completed form until the 1912 publication of The Elementary Forms of the Religious L...
Security management of Web services

The Internet, while being increasingly used to provide services efficiently, poses a unique set of security issues due to its openness and ubiquity. We highlight the importance of security in Web services and describe how data mining techniques can offer help. The anatomy of two specific security attacks which could cripple Web services or compromise confidential information are described. We survey some security intrusion detection techniques based on data mining and point out their shortcomings. Then we provide some novel data mining techniques to detect such attacks, and describe some safeguard against these attacks.
Graphical Model-Based ICA Applied to the Analysis of fMRI and MRI Time Series

Graphical model-based independent component analysis (ICA) represents a novel and powerful paradigm in exploratory data analysis for biomedical imaging applications. Two very important techniques, tree-dependent and topographic ICA, implement a clustering of dependent components by demixing and classifying time series of pixels exhibiting similar properties of local signal dynamics. The theoretical background is presented in the beginning, followed by several medical applications demonstrating the flexibility and conceptual power of these techniques. These applications range from functional MRI data analysis to breast MRI. For fMRI, these methods can be employed to identify and separate time courses of interest, along with their associated spatial patterns. In breast MRI, a detection of the lesion is achieved and in addition a subclassiflcation is obtained within the lesion with regard to regions characterized by different MRI signal time-courses. In the present paper, we conclude that graphical model-based ICA techniques provide a robust method for blind analysis of time series image data in the important and current field of functional and dynamic MRI.
Yields and genetic histories of 128Sb, 129Sb and 130Sb from thermal-neutron induced fission of 235U

Abstract The following fractional independent yields have been determined: 10-min 128 Sb, ≤0·037; 9·1-hr 128 Sb, 0·031 ± 0·005; 129 Sb, 0·114 ± 0·046; 6·3-min 130 Sb, 0·202 ± 0·030; 40-min 130 Sb, 0·138 ± 0·034. The cumulative yield of 130 Sn has been determined to be 0·89 ± 0·10%, and the following chain yields have been derived from this, the fractional independent yields and literature values: A = 128, 0·344 ± 0·018%; A = 129, 0·61 ± 0·03%; A = 130, 1·43 ± 0·18%. It has also been determined that 3·1 ± 0·2% of 128 Sn decays to the 9·1-hr 128 Sb isomer and that 52·9 ± 3·4% of 129 Sb is formed by decay of 2·5-min 129 Sn and 35·7 ± 3·0% is formed by decay of 7·4-min 129 Sn. Rapid chemical separation procedures are described, and a method is discussed of correcting gamma-ray peak areas determined with a Ge(Li) detector for decay of activities and for changing analyzer dead-time during each counting period. The yields of the antimony isotopes are all somewhat smaller than estimated “normal” yields, as has usually been observed for odd Z nuclides. The data help to show that most of the large initial increase in yield with mass number above A = 125 is due to the increasing cumulative yields of tin isotopes, an indication that closure of the 50-proton shell is an important cause for the high probability of asymmetric mass division in low energy fission.
Knowledge workers' perceptions of performance ratings

One major purpose of performance appraisals is to determine individual merit, especially where pay for performance systems are employed. Based upon expectancy theory, high performance ratings should entail high merit increases while low performance ratings result in low merit increases. However, it appears that decoupling performance ratings and merit increases is a common practice, as evident from a survey that was administered to knowledge workers at multiple sites in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Human capital themes that appeared to be fair and/or equitable among the sampled knowledge workers, using a grounded theory approach, included the following collective concepts: marginal, actual performance, good reviews associated with good raises, nice raises, management's reviews are partly or mostly objective, employee intrinsic motivation, attitude, years of service, and appropriate education level. Negative aspects of the performance/reward systems were also explored. Associated training suggestions included constant attention by management that keeps the coupling of performance evaluations and motivational/incentive pay systems alive and well, as well as a system to track corporate goals that allow management to compare training, performance metrics, employee retention, and other data with company‐wide goals and employees’ expectations.
Rapid isocratic HPLC quantification of metallothionein-like proteins as biomarkers for cadmium exposure in the earthworm Eisenia andrei

Abstract Metallothioneins (MTs) are regarded as sensitive biomarkers of cadmium (Cd) exposure in a number of organisms. An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using the fluorophore ammonium-7-fluorobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-sulfonate (SBD-F) and UV detection was developed for the quantification of MT-like proteins (MTLPs) in earthworm. This method was developed using a rabbit MT (MT-1) standard, and optimized concentrations of reagents including EDTA, SBD-F, and tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP). The fluoro-tagged MT-1 (SBD-MT) and MTLP (SBD-MTLP) co-eluted at 7.2–7.3 min retention time on HPLC chromatograms. The optimized method was applied to quantify MTLPs in earthworms exposed to increasing concentrations of Cd (0, 2.7, 26.7, and 267.5 μg g−1 of wet artificial soil) for 1–4 weeks. The amounts of MTLPs increased significantly in a dose- and time-dependent manner except in controls and in earthworms exposed to the lowest concentration of Cd. Since earthworm MTLPs are temporal- and dose-responsive to Cd exposure, they can be used as biomarkers to assess the impact of Cd contamination in soils. The method appeared to be rapid, sensitive, and suitable for direct quantification of total earthworm MTs.
Middle School Students' Perceptions of Peer Groups Relative Judgments about Group Characteristics

From the social cognitive perspective, two studies were designed to investigate adolescent peer groups. In Study 1, middle school students named their peer groups and provided characteristics they perceived to be associated with each group. Content analysis indicated that characteristics were related to adolescent social concerns. In Study 2, another group of adolescents rated how true they perceived the characteristics were of a peer group. Results indicated the early adolescents used the full rating scale, which indicated they make relative, not either/or, judgments. The ratings study provided information about the constellation of characteristics that identify peer groups as overlapping. Nerds were perceived to be similar to goody-goodies but not the same. The study also provided information about individual groups. Populars were perceived to be highly social and moderately likely to participate in antisocial behaviors. These studies indicate that further investigations of peer groups as social categor...
Analysis of a Soft Catch for Conventional Warheads

A “soft catch” is a device with which an explosively formed projectile can be decelerated to zero velocity without sustaining significant damage. The recovered projectile provides data, via metallurgical analysis, on the deformation conditions found within the explosively formed projectile. At Eglin AFB, FL, the soft catch consists of a sequence of sections (Figures 1–3), each roughly one meter long, filled with various soft media. Velocity screens are placed at the entrance and exit of each section. This enables investigators to experimentally determine the time at which the projectile passes each station in the catch. Based on these experimental measurements, average velocity estimates for each section of the soft catch can be made. The purpose of this paper is to support the soft catch design process with a one-dimensional analysis. The mathematical modeling is based on observations presented in studies by Allen, Mayfield, and Morrison [1,2]. Their work addresses the penetration of sand, but their modeling is appropriate for materials in the soft catch. The current paper describes application of their model to interpreting three soft catch experiments where Tantalum projectiles with initial velocities of approximately 1400 m/s were successfully recovered.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Confidant Relations Among Taiwanese: Implications for Ethnic Chinese Health Care Treatment

The select individual(s) whom one trusts in sharing important personal matters is sometimes referred to as a confidant. The confidant relationship has received increasing attention in recent years as a major social factor contributing to individual health and wellness. Yet, little empirical data has been available to guide health researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners. In this study, 142 adult Taiwanese responded to a structured questionnaire. Participants comprised 105 females, 32 males, and five with sex unspecified (overall mean age = 33.8, age range = 18 to 74 years). They were asked whether they had a confidant, and if so, to describe various features of this relationship. Contrary to previous studies conducted in Europe and the Americas, our investigation found that Taiwanese men were equally likely as Taiwanese women to have a confidant (87.5 % of males and 89.5 % for females). Taiwanese women were significantly more likely to have a female rather than a male confidant, whereas males showed no such sex difference. A significantly higher percentage of confidants were non-family members rather than spouses or other immediate/extended family members. This finding is consistent with research on the relatively minor salience of emotional intimacy in Taiwanese marriages and the hierarchical structures of many Taiwanese families. The implications of our findings for enhancing Taiwanese and broader ethnic Chinese health treatment are discussed.
Recent Progress in the Individualization of Blood and the Adaptation of the Hyland Cross-over Electrophoresis System in the Indentification of Bloodstains

The newest methods and equipment for the specific and sensitive identification of materials of biological origin, fresh or aged, is described. Because of the high degree of differentiation possible between species and within the species, due to genetic polymorphism of enzymes and other protein factors as well as the transient factors, it should now be possible to discriminate and identify stains and fluids of questioned biologic origin. These methods as described are primarily important to the forensic scientist. They can be extremely useful also in blood banking, in genetics and to some degree in every field of biology.
NOR associations with heterochromatin

Associations between nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) and non-acrocentric chromosomes were scored in 2,800 metaphase spreads from PHA-stimulated lymphocyte cultures (48 h) from 14 individuals. The preparations were both silver stained and C-banded. In order to calculate the expected values for associations, the ratio of heterochromatin length to euchromatin length was established for each subject. Individual C-band lengths and centromeric lengths were also determined. When silver connective (SC) associations with heterochromatin were compared to SC associations with euchromatin, the number of associations with heterochromatin was significantly greater than expected (P 0.000001) for each subject. The SC associations were not distributed randomly over the heterochromatin of the non-acrocentrics. Chromosomes 1 and 2 had significantly more than expected. Chromosomes 17, 18, 19, 20, and the Y had fewer than expected. NOR associations with euchromatic segments also showed a nonrandom pattern of distribution.
Methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway metabolic regulation

Covering: up to February 2014 The methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway is the recently discovered source of isoprenoid precursors isopentenyl diphosphate (IDP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP) in most bacteria, some eukaryotic parasites, and the plastids of plant cells. The precursors lead to the formation of various isoprenoids having diverse roles in different biological processes. Some isoprenoids have important commercial uses. Isoprene, which is made in surprising abundance by some trees, plays a significant role in atmospheric chemistry. The genetic regulation of this pathway has been discussed but information about metabolic regulation is just now becoming available. This review covers metabolic regulation of the MEP pathway starting from the inputs of carbon, ATP, and reducing power. A number of different regulatory mechanisms involving intermediate metabolites and/or enzymes are discussed. Some recent data indicate that methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcDP), the fifth intermediate of this pathway, is a key metabolite. It has been found to play diverse roles in regulation within the pathway as well as coordinating other biological processes by acting as a stress regulator in bacteria and possibly a retrograde signal from plastids to the nucleus in plants. In this review we focus on the role of the MEP pathway in photosynthetic leaves during isoprene emission and more generally the metabolic regulation of the MEP pathway in both plants and bacteria.
Shape Optimization of High-Speed Axial Compressor Blades Using 3D Navier-Stokes Flow Physics

A CFD-based design method for transonic axial compressor blades was developed based on three-dimensional Navier-Stokes flow physics. The method starts with a three-dimensional flow analysis of an initial blade, followed by the sectional design optimization performed on a grid plane at a span station with spanwise flux components held fixed. This approach allows the sectional design to include the three-dimensional effects in compressor flows and thus overcome the difficulties associated with the use of quasi-three-dimensional flow physics in sectional designs. The “sectional three-dimensional” analysis at a span station, regardless of the initial flow condition, produced a flow solution nearly identical to the three-dimensional flow solution at the span station. After the validation of the sectional three-dimensional analysis, the developed design method was successfully applied to multiple span stations of NASA Rotor 37 blade in the inverse mode of finding a target geometry corresponding to a specified target pressure distribution. The method was also applied to optimize the adiabatic efficiencies of the blade section of Rotor 37 at 70 percent span station. The design results from two design attempts with different initial geometry indicate that there is not a lot of room for improvement for the blade section of Rotor 37 at 70 percent span station, but the present design method is capable of producing a large performance gain for a blade with lower efficiency.Copyright © 2001 by ASME
Scattering and coherence in EUVL

We illustrate the importance of considering scattering from the illuminator in extreme UV lithography systems. Our results indicate that a significant amount of amplitude modulation noise is present in the aerial image if scatter is present in a Koehler illuminator. The effect depends on the spatial frequency of the pattern on the mask, the numerical aperture of the projection camera, the coherence factor, and placement of the plane in the illuminator where the scattering occurs.
Sensitivity of EEG in young rats to toluene exposure

Effects of toluene on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and its power spectra were measured during a 2-hr exposure in a dynamic inhalational chamber in young rats (30-53 days old) and compared to those in adult rats (63-77 days old). Rats were exposed to one of the three concentrations [low (108-111 ppm), medium (160-163 ppm), and high (407-432 ppm)] of toluene on different days. In tests on sleep-wake cycle, in the young animals the duration of the wake stage (W) was increased with decreases of rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep during hr 1 and hr 2 of exposure to the low concentration. These effects were marked at the medium and the high concentrations. In adult rats, at the low concentration the increase of W and the decrease of REM were observed only at hr 1; however, at medium and high concentrations these changes of W and REM sleep were marked along with a decrease of NREM. Comparison of the changes of duration of different states in rats of two age groups showed that there was a significant difference in the increase of W and the decrease of NREM sleep in young rats at hr 2 of exposure to low concentrations only compared to those in adult rats. Tested on power spectrum in young rats during REM sleep recorded from the visual cortex, the power of delta waves increased at the medium and high concentrations and that of theta wave decreased at the high concentration during hr 2 of exposure compared to the controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Polynomial and spline approximation by quadratic programming

The problem of approximation to a given function, or of fitting a given set of data, where the approximating function is required to have certain of its derivatives of specified sign over the whole range of approximation, is studied. Two approaches are presented, in each of which quadratic programming is used to provide both the constraints on the derivatives and the selection of the function which yields the best fit. The first is a modified Berstein polynomial scheme, and the second is a spline fit.
Constructing a Roadmap for Future Universal Screening Research Beyond Academics

The majority of the literature on universal screening in education is devoted to academic screeners. However, research clearly indicates that other aspects of student functioning are closely associated with outcomes inside and outside of school. As a result, there are gaps in the current literature that call for additional research extending beyond academics to explore the development and use of other screening tools to better detect students who are at risk for difficulties. Consistent with the purpose of this special series, the aim of this article is to establish a roadmap for future research on universal screening efforts beyond academic domains. The following six themes were integrated into a roadmap that will serve as a guide for future research directed at improving the accuracy, feasibility, effectiveness, and breadth of screening practices in education: (a) universal screening research across multiple domains; (b) determination of the optimal informant; (c) linking screening results to problem-so...
Boundary conditions and interface states in heterostructures.

The interface between two one-dimensional crystals is studied with the use of the transfer matrix. This microscopic approach allows a study of the accuracy of the effective-mass approximation (EMA) and derivation of the boundary conditions (BC) for the envelope functions. These BC turn out to be very different from those adopted so far: they contain an additional microscopic parameter (independent of the effective masses) which characterizes the interface and may be as important as the band offset. It is shown that it is not possible to generalize the EMA to abrupt heterojunctions. When the band edges on two sides of the interface are of different types (as in GaAs/AlAs), the BC are unusual and can lead to the existence of interface states and also to a strong modification of the bound states in a single quantum well.
Temporal alterations in polyamine content and ornithine decarboxylase activity during the larval-pupal development of Manduca sexta

Abstract Extracts of brain-ventral nerve cord and fat body from Manduca sexta larvae throughout the fifth (last) instar were assayed for polyamine content and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. At the beginning of the instar, ODC, the rate limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, exhibited elevated activity in both tissues, although the specific activity of the enzyme was far greater in the fat body than in the nervous system. ODC activity in these tissues gradually declined to low levels by day 5, and remained low until day 9, just prior to pupation, when activity rose. No ODC activity was detected in low speed, cell free supernatants of hemolymph. HPLC-dansyl analysis of the fat body revealed that levels of the three polyamines, i.e. putrescine, spermidine and spermine, were elevated during the first half of the instar, a period characterized by rapid growth. On day 4 of the instar, polyamine levels in the fat body fell. The concentrations of spermine and spermidine remained low in the fat body for the remainder of larval life, while the putrescine level increased again to peak levels during the prepupal stage. In a similar fashion, neural spermidine and spermine were at their highest concentration early in the instar during the period of neuronal proliferation and were reduced as the growth phase ended. The quantities of both spermidine and putrescine increased in the brain-nerve cord as the animals approached pupation, a time when differentiative neurogenesis begins. The relative levels of the three polyamines in insect tissues appear to be: spermidine > putrescine > spermine. This clearly differs from the situation in vertebrates where spermine ⩾ spermidine > putrescine. Further, Manduca hemolymph yielded extremely high concentrations of putrescine, and to a lesser extent, spermidine, features apparently unique to insect hemolymph. The data support the concept that polyamines act as intracellular regulators in modulating the program of insect growth and metamorphosis.
Ultrasound guided ureteroscopy for the definitive management of ureteral stones: a randomized, controlled trial.

Purpose: Ureteroscopy is central to the surgical management of ureteral stones. Fluoroscopy is conventionally used for intraoperative guidance, although there is growing effort to decrease the exposure of patients and staff to ionizing radiation. We developed a radiation-free approach to ureteroscopy using ultrasound guidance to manage ureteral stones. To our knowledge we present the first randomized trial to study its safety and efficacy.Materials and Methods: This single center, randomized clinical trial from 2011 to 2013 enlisted patients who presented with symptomatic ureteral stones 8 mm or less without a significant ipsilateral stone burden. Patients were randomly assigned to ultrasound or fluoroscopic guided ureteroscopy after temporizing ureteral stent placement. Intraoperative ultrasound guidance was performed using real-time imaging with the transducer placed at the patient flank to visualize the collecting system of the ipsilateral kidney. We compared operative time, stone size, stone-free stat...
Long-Term Middle Ear Ventilation with T Tubes: The Perforation Problem

6, 12.0% to 16.7% in 3, and 47.5% in 1 study), with a mean of 11.5%. If we eliminate the lowest (3%) and the highest (47.5%) studies, the mean is 8.8%. This is significantly higher than the 0,5% to 2.0% perforation incidence reported for short-term tubes (although in some series the incidence is much higher). Although the reasons for the differences between series are not clear, some principles are evident that can be applied to achieve a low incidence of perforation.
Spatial vector electrocardiography; method and average normal vector of P, QRS, and T in space.

Abstract A method for spatial vector electrocardiography from 12 routine leads by means of a model is described. It is found to be useful as a practical method for quick and approximate determination and in clinical teaching. Presented are the average normal spatial vectors of P, QRS, and T obtained in this model from 1,000 electrocardiograms classified as normal under the criteria of F. N. Wilson. The average normal vectors of P, QRS, and T in space are directed to the left and downward, P and T being directed anteriorly, and QRS, posteriorly. The angle between QRS and T was 60 degrees; the angle between P and the plane defined by QRS and T was 15 degrees. The problems of the spatial counterpart of the Einthoven assumption is discussed on the basis of previous experimental work. It is anticipated that spatial vector electrocardiography may be studied on a physically founded basis by means of the Burger lead-vector concept while the electrodes on the patient remain at the routine 12-lead positions. On the average this will give more nearly accurate results than those based on the spatial counterpart of the Einthoven assumption. The present model may be adapted easily in such study for convenient visual correlation as described above.
The influence of irrigation water on the hydrology and lake water budgets of two small arid-climate lakes in Khorezm, Uzbekistan

Summary Little is known regarding the origins and hydrology of hundreds of small lakes located in the western Uzbekistan province of Khorezm, Central Asia. Situated in the Aral Sea Basin, Khorezm is a productive agricultural region, growing mainly cotton, wheat, and rice. Irrigation is provided by an extensive canal network that conveys water from the Amu Darya River (AD) throughout the province. The region receives on average 10 cm/year of precipitation, yet potential evapotranspiration exceeds this amount by about 15 times. It was hypothesized that the perennial existence of the lakes of interest depends on periodic input of excess irrigation water. This hypothesis was investigated by studying two small lakes in the region, Tuyrek and Khodjababa. In June and July 2008, surface water and shallow groundwater samples were collected at these lake systems and surrounding communities and analyzed for δ 2 H, δ 18 O, and major ion hydrochemistry to determine water sources. Water table and lake surface elevations were monitored, and the local aquifer characteristics were determined through aquifer tests. These data and climate data from a Class A evaporation pan and meteorological stations were used to estimate water budgets for both lakes. Lake evaporation was found to be about 0.7 cm/day during the study period. Results confirm that the waters sampled at both lake systems and throughout central Khorezm were evaporated from AD water to varying degrees. Together, the water budgets and stable isotope and major ion hydrochemistry data suggest that without surface water input from some source (i.e. excess irrigation water), these and other Khorezm lakes with similar hydrology may decrease in volume dramatically, potentially to the point of complete desiccation.
Vagueness, phenomenal concepts and mind-brain identity

Edgington, D. 2000. Indeterminacy de re. Philosophical Topics 28: 27-43. Evans, G. 1978. Can there be vague objects? Analysis 38: 208. Hawley, K. 2002. Vagueness and existence. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 102: 125-40. Lewis, D. 1986. On the Plurality of Worlds. Oxford: Blackwell. Lewis, D. 1993. Many but almost one. In Ontology, Causality and Mind, ed. J. Bacon et al., 23-42. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Visually directing user's attention in interactive 3D environments

Lighting is a very important component of 3D environment design. Research efforts in perception, neuroscience, animation, and film have shown the importance of visual design (a term used to denote lighting, camera motion, and staging design) in guiding participant’s attention to important elements in a scene [Block 2001, Bollmann et al. 1997, Calahan 1996, Navalpakkam and Itti 2002, and Treisman et al. 1980]. Neuroscience and psychophysics literature identified several visual attention features: contrast, eccentricity, symmetry, and motion [Treisman et al. 1980, Navalpakkam and Itti 2002].
reconstruction of the holocene coastline of mesopotamia

At the end of the last glacial period, a major marine transgression inundated the head of the Persian Gulf to a position as much as 400 km inland from the present shoreline. After 6000 B.P., the Shatt al-Arab delta prograded southward to its current position. These events had a profound impact on our knowledge of early human occupation and the development of civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates valley. The former settlements of people living on the pre-6000 B.P. coastal plains are today either under the waters of the Gulf or under sediments of the lower alluvial plain.
A computer-aided approach to the evaluation of wheat grain and flour quality

Abstract Evaluation of analytical data on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain and flour is crucial for the interpretation of end-use quality of experimental breeding lines, and therefore, the successful selection and release of improved wheat cultivars. We have developed a user-friendly, menu-driven computerized grading system which facilitates the rapid and unbiased evaluation of numerous discrete wheat grain and flour quality analytical values, so that consistent evaluation criteria are applied. The system is based on the use of check cultivars of known quality and historically derived limits of statistically meaningful differences. Individual experimental breeding lines are graded using these limits on a nursery-by-nursery basis. Consequently, the major sources of environmental variation (locations and years) are accounted for, while other sources of error variance are incorporated into the pre-defined limits. This approach provides a reasonable and sound evaluation strategy for unreplicated trials. The grading system is part of a larger personal computer-based software system for the management of wheat quality data. Resulting grades and nursery statistics are optionally printed in the form of a quality report.
Processing Dependence of Texture, and Critical Properties of YBa2Cu3O7−δ Films on RABiTS Substrates by a Non‐Fluorine MOD Method

YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO or Y123) films on rolling-assisted biaxially textured substrates (RABiTS) were prepared via a fluorine-free metallorganic deposition (MOD) through spin coating, burnout, and high temperature anneal. The effects of substrate texture and surface energy of the CeO2 cap layer were investigated. Except for the commonly accepted key factors, such as the textures of substrate and buffer layers, we found some other factors, for example, the deposition temperature of the cap layer, are also critical to the epitaxial growth of Y123 phase. With the CeO2 cap layer deposited at relative high temperature of 700°C, a critical current density, Jc, over 1 MA/cm2 has been demonstrated for the first time on Ni-RABiTS by a fluorine-free MOD method. Whereas for samples with CeO2 cap layers deposited at a lower temperature of 600°C, even though XRD data showed a better texture on these buffer layers, texture degradations of YBCO grains under the optimized processing conditions were observed and a lower oxygen partial pressure around 40 ppm was necessary for the epitaxial growth of Y123 phase. As a result, Jc fell to 0.45 MA/cm2 at 77 K. The observed phenomena points to the change of surface energy and reactivity of the CeO2 cap layer with respect to the CeO2 deposition temperature. In this paper, the YBCO phase diagram was also summarized.
Disassembly of interchromatin granule clusters alters the coordination of transcription and pre-mRNA splicing.

To examine the involvement of interchromatin granule clusters (IGCs) in transcription and pre-mRNA splicing in mammalian cell nuclei, the serine-arginine (SR) protein kinase cdc2-like kinase (Clk)/STY was used as a tool to manipulate IGC integrity in vivo. Both immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy analyses of cells overexpressing Clk/STY indicate that IGC components are completely redistributed to a diffuse nuclear localization, leaving no residual structure. Conversely, overexpression of a catalytically inactive mutant, Clk/STY(K190R), causes retention of hypophosphorylated SR proteins in nuclear speckles. Our data suggest that the protein–protein interactions responsible for the clustering of interchromatin granules are disrupted when SR proteins are hyperphosphorylated and stabilized when SR proteins are hypophosphorylated. Interestingly, cells without intact IGCs continue to synthesize nascent transcripts. However, both the accumulation of splicing factors at sites of pre-mRNA synthesis as well as pre-mRNA splicing are dramatically reduced, demonstrating that IGC disassembly perturbs coordination between transcription and pre-mRNA splicing in mammalian cell nuclei.
Ionomers and the Structure of Coal

The decrease in pyridine-soluble material observed after soaking coals in solvents is examined. It is demonstrated that this is due to an increase in cross-linking associated with the formation of ionic domains or clusters, similar to those observed in a class of synthetic polymers known as ionomers.
Accuracy of RGD approximation for computing light scattering properties of diffusing and motile bacteria

The study tests the accuracy of the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye (RGD) approximation against a rigorous scattering theory calculation for a simplified model of E. coli (about 1 micron in size) - a solid spheroid. A general procedure is formulated whereby the scattered field amplitude correlation function, for both polarized and depolarized contributions, can be computed for a collection of particles. An explicit formula is presented for the scattered intensity, both polarized and depolarized, for a collection of randomly diffusing or moving particles. Two specific cases for the intermediate scattering functions are considered: diffusing particles and freely moving particles with a Maxwellian speed distribution. The formalism is applied to microorganisms suspended in a liquid medium. Sensitivity studies revealed that for values of the relative index of refraction greater than 1.03, RGD could be in serious error in computing the intensity as well as correlation functions.