cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Porosity and permeability of the early precambrian onverwacht chert: Origin of the hydrocarbon content

Abstract A representative sample of the early Precambrian Onverwacht carbonaceous chert has a porosity of 0.5 per cent and permeability of 5.7 × 10−7 millidarcy. It is calculated that during a period of 3 × 109 yr a quantity of at least 0.35 g dissolved C9-C30n-alkanes in water can flow through 1 m3 volume of this rock. “Biological markers”, such as the few mg quantity of isoprenoid hydrocarbons in 1 m3 of this chert, could have been brought into the rock at a later age and, therefore, they may not be indigenous to the early Precambrian environment.
Pool boiling heat transfer enhancement over cylindrical tubes with water at atmospheric pressure, Part II: Experimental results and bubble dynamics for circumferential V-groove and axial rectangular open microchannels

Abstract A two-part experimental study is conducted on pool boiling heat transfer over enhanced cylindrical microchannel test surfaces with water at atmospheric pressure. In this Part II of the study, the effects of circumferential V-groove microchannels and axial rectangular microchannels are reported. These experiments were performed in the horizontal as well as vertical orientations. The heat transfer performances of the modified surfaces are compared with that of a plain surface. At a heat flux of 1070 kW/m2 a maximum heat transfer coefficient of 96 kW/m2 K was achieved with an axial rectangular microchannel test section in the vertical orientation. Videos captured using a high speed camera were analyzed and the boiling heat transfer mechanisms seen at low and medium heat flux conditions were discussed. The enhancement in the heat transfer performance, and the improvement of the critical heat flux observed with these modified test sections have been attributed to the liquid rewetting phenomenon of the heated surfaces through the microchannels.
Limited numbers of recycling vesicles in small CNS nerve terminals: implications for neural signaling and vesicular cycling

The tiny nerve terminals of central synapses contain far fewer vesicles than preparations commonly used for analysis of neurosecretion. Photoconversion of vesicles rendered fluorescent with the dye FM1-43 directly identified vesicles capable of engaging in exo-endocytotic recycling following stimulated Ca(2+) entry. This recycling pool typically contained 30-45 vesicles, only a minority fraction (15-20% on average) of the total vesicle population. The smallness of the recycling pool would severely constrain rates of quantal neurotransmission if classical pathways were solely responsible for vesicle recycling. Fortunately, vesicles can undergo rapid retrieval and reuse in addition to conventional slow recycling, to the benefit of synaptic information flow and neuronal signaling.
Criminal risk assessment: A new dimension of Competitive Intelligence

With the growth of transnational criminal organizations in almost every part of the world, the risks facing companies operating abroad are significantly incrasing. Competitive intelligence analysts should broaden their perspective, focusing not only on their competitors and the general business environment, but also the criminal environment in which companies are increasingly compelled to operate. In this connection, there are several dimensions of risk that need to be identified and assessed—risks to personnel, products, physical resources, communication and information systems, and overall profit levels. The author delineates these risks and threats, and elucidates a framework for developing a systematic program of risk management. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Engineered Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles with Enhanced Functionality

Abstract We have engineered bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) with dramatically enhanced functionality by fusing several heterologous proteins to the vesicle-associated toxin ClyA of Escherichia coli. Similar to native unfused ClyA, chimeric ClyA fusion proteins were found localized in bacterial OMVs and retained activity of the fusion partners, demonstrating for the first time that ClyA can be used to co-localize fully functional heterologous proteins directly in bacterial OMVs. For instance, fusions of ClyA to the enzymes β-lactamase and organophosphorus hydrolase resulted in synthetic OMVs that were capable of hydrolyzing β-lactam antibiotics and paraoxon, respectively. Similarly, expression of an anti-digoxin single-chain Fv antibody fragment fused to the C terminus of ClyA resulted in designer “immuno-MVs” that could bind tightly and specifically to the antibody's cognate antigen. Finally, OMVs displaying green fluorescent protein fused to the C terminus of ClyA were highly fluorescent and, as a result of this new functionality, could be easily tracked during vesicle interaction with human epithelial cells. We expect that the relative plasticity exhibited by ClyA as a fusion partner should prove useful for: (i) further mechanistic studies to identify the vesiculation machinery that regulates OMV secretion and to map the intracellular routing of ClyA-containing OMVs during invasion of host cells; and (ii) biotechnology applications such as surface display of proteins and delivery of biologics.
Delphi technological forecast results of hypersonic window materials

A Delphi technological forecast has been conducted for optical window materials in the 2 - 25 micron range for hypersonic interceptor application in the endoatmospheric regime. Materials technology results include near-term, mid-term, and far-term forecasts. Results also include cooling, manufacturing, bonding, and coating technologies. Scientific breakthroughs and technology advancements in the commercial and military communities are discussed in the context of electro-optical systems.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Efficiency in an Economy with Fixed Costs

It is by now well known that in an economy with increasing returns, first-best efficiency may be impossible to attain through an equilibrium concept based on market prices, even if firms are regulated to follow marginal cost pricing. We examine the efficiency issue in a special but important class of economies in which the only source of nonconvexities is the presence of fixed costs. Even in this context, it is possible that none of the equilibria based on marginal cost pricing are efficient (unless additional, strong assumptions are made). We argue that available results on the existence of an efficient two-part tariff equilibrium rely on very strong assumptions, and we provide a positive result using a weak surplus condition. Our approach can also be used to establish the existence of an efficient marginal cost pricing equilibrium with endogenously chosen lump-sum taxes if the initial endowment is efficient in the economy without the production technology.
Isotopic ratio measurements with an inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometer

An inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometer has been used to measure the isotopic composition of U, Pb, Os and B standards. Factors which control accuracy and precision of isotopic ratios are discussed. Uranium and lead sensitivities were ≈ 1 × 106 counts s−1 per μg ml−1 when the resolution was set to < 10−4 overlap between adjacent peaks. After correction for dead time, background, and mass bias, the 238U/235U ratios for < 1 μg ml−1 solutions agreed with the standard values within 0.5 % for ratios ranging from unity to 200. For the minor isotopes 234U and 236U agreement was within ≈ 10% for abundances as low as 2 × 10−5. For SRM 981 the 207Pb/206Pb and 204Pb/206Pb agreed with the standard values within 0.3 % with precisions of ≈ ± 0.3 %. Mass dependent variations, 1–2% amu−1, of the observed ratios from the standard ratios were observed in all analyses. These deviations increased linearly with increasing mass difference and always favored the loss of the lighter isotopes from the measured beam. No variation in boron (1 μg ml−1) isotopic ratios was observed between a solution containing 40 μg ml−1 lead and a lead free solution. Osmium was introduced directly into the ICP which resulted in a factor of ≈ 80 enhancement in signal over that obtained by nebulization. Osmium isotope ratios were measured with < 1% precision for < 5 ng of osmium.
Judgments of temporal duration while processing verbal and physiognomic stimuli.

Abstract Left- and right-handed male college students made verbal estimations of temporal durations during performance of recognition memory for words and faces, and with no concurrent task. Time judgments were shorter with both concurrent memory tasks than in the control condition, but did not differ between the two memory tasks. Also, these results were additive across groups. Considering the differential involvement of the two cerebral hemispheres in processing verbal and physiognomic stimuli, and the lack of an interaction between group (left- vs right- handers) and memory task, it was concluded that the results do not support a lateralization of function hypothesis with respect to judgments of temporal duration.
Fate of Iodide Derived from Intrathyroidal Hydrolysis of Thyroglobulin1

We have studied the effect of certain pharmacologic agents (all at a concentration of 103M) on the secretion of labeled iodide from the prelabeled rat thyroid perfused in situ with single-pass, nonradioactive blood. Each preparation served as its own control during the pre-drug period. Under control conditions 10- 20% of the secreted radioactivity was I–, the remainder T3 +T4. Perchlorate or ouabain induced a prompt 4-fold increase in secretion of labeled I– to 50-60% of the total secreted radioactivity. In contrast, PTU or methimazole induced only a slight ( 90% of the secreted radioactivity. We interpret the data as follows: ...
Is energy expenditure in emotion regulation dependent on individual differences and the specific emotion in question

This study tested the hypothesis that the degree of self-control exerted in suppressing emotions would depend on the combination of personality (independence and dutifulness/self-discipline) and the specific type of emotion being suppressed (anger vs. appreciation). In a between-subjects design, 245 college students were induced to experience either anger or appreciation and were then instructed to suppress their emotional expression. Self-control strength was measured using a handgrip task. Exertion of self-control strength over two time points was differentially associated with levels of independence and dutifulness/self-discipline (conscientiousness) and emotion suppression condition. Specifically, individuals higher in dutifulness/self-discipline had a harder time if they were suppressing appreciation than if they were suppressing anger at others, whereas individuals higher in independence had a harder time if they were suppressing anger at others than if they were suppressing appreciation. Implications for understanding personality, self-control, and emotion regulation are discussed.
A multilevel analysis of private-vehicle evacuation clearance times along the US Gulf Coast

This study uses multilevel regression analysis to examine the effect of social characteristics and the built environment on clearance time under an evacuation scenario. The primary unit of analysis is the US Census tract (N = 1660), nested within 31 incorporated places spanning five US states. The dependent variable is an estimate of clearance time in hours derived using network analysis techniques within a geographic information system. We find that tracts with a more peripheral location, more female residents, a higher proportion of Hispanic residents, and higher median household incomes are associated with higher clearance times, on average. Our research suggests the relationship between suburbanization and clearance time is complex and evolving, mediated by past investments in the built environment and shifting social conditions. In addition to facilitating the evacuation of areas with low access to personal vehicles, urban planners and emergency management officials should also consider how the degre...
Fos expression in arousal and reward areas of the brain in grass rats following induced wakefulness.

In the diurnal grass rat nocturnal voluntary wakefulness induces Fos expression in specific cellular populations of arousal and reward areas of the brain. Here, we evaluated whether involuntary wakefulness would result in similar patterns of Fos expression. We assessed this question using male grass rats that were sleep deprived for 6 h by gentle stimulation (SD group), starting 2 h before lights off (12:12 LD cycle). Then, we examined expression of Fos in cholinergic cells of the basal forebrain (BF), as well as in dopaminergic cells of the reward system, and compared these results to those obtained from an undisturbed control group. Different from previous results with grass rats that were voluntary awake, the BF of SD animals only showed a significant increase in Fos expression in non-cholinergic neurons of the medial septum (MS). These observations differ from reports for nocturnal rodents that are sleep deprived. Thus, our results show that voluntary and induced wakefulness have different effects on neural systems involved in wakefulness and reward, and that the effects of sleep deprivation are different across species. We also investigated whether other arousal promoting regions and circadian and stress related areas responded to sleep deprivation by changing the level of Fos expression. Among these areas, only the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and the ventro lateral preoptic area showed significant effects of sleep deprivation that dissipated after a 2 h period of sleep recovery, as it was also the case for the non-cholinergic MS. In addition, we found that Fos expression in the LH was robustly associated with Fos expression in other arousal and reward areas of the brain. This is consistent with the view that the arousal system of the LH modulates neural activity of other arousal regions of the brain, as described for nocturnal rodents.
Microviscosity and enzyme-ligand dissociation

Abstract The effect of viscosity on the rate constant for the dissociation of an enzyme-ligand complex has been calculated from a microscopic theory. Using the Kubo representation for the rate constant and the second quantization formalism a Stokes-Einstein-Debye expression is obtained. A microscopic expression for the viscosity is derived. The equation for the microviscosity shows how important information on the enzyme-ligand complex can be obtained from studies on the viscosity dependence of the dissociation rate constant.
A Mediational Model Relating Sociotropy, Ambivalence Over Emotional Expression, and Disordered Eating:

Two factors that have been found to predict eating disorders are sociotropy or dependent personality style and ambivalence over emotional expression, but there has been little consideration of the relationship between them and how this relationship may contribute to an understanding of eating disorders. A mediational model is proposed in which high sociotropy leads to greater ambivalence over expressing emotions, which in turn increases vulnerability to eating disorders. Consistent with predictions, among 115 college women, a high level of sociotropy was associated with a high level of ambivalence over emotional expression, which in turn was associated with increased disordered eating. Furthermore, ambivalence over emotional expression significantly mediated the effect of sociotropy on disordered eating, even when controlling for depression level. Findings are considered within a developmental framework, and treatment implications are discussed.
Locality-Aware Distributed Loop Scheduling for Chip Multiprocessors

Chip multiprocessors are becoming increasingly popular in embedded domain since they have important advantages over their single core counterparts from the parallelism, power efficiency, validation, and verification perspectives. However, extracting maximum performance from these multiprocessors requires compiler support in form of effective code parallelization. The goal of this paper is to present and experimentally evaluate a locality aware dynamic loop scheduling strategy that implements both locality aware loop iteration distribution across parallel processors and dynamic load balancing at runtime. This hybrid scheme has been implemented and tested along with four other previously-proposed loop scheduling schemes, including a locality aware one. Our experimental analysis reveals that the proposed approach generates better results than all other scheduling schemes (static or dynamic) tested. Our results also show that the improvements brought by the proposed scheduling scheme are consistent across experiments with different values of our major simulation parameters such as the number of processors and cache size per processor
ETAQA-MG1: an efficient technique for the analysis of a class of M/G/1-type processes by aggregation

We extend the ETAQA approach, initially proposed for the efficient numerical solution of a class of quasi-birth-death processes, to a more complex class of M/G/1-type Markov processes where arbitrary forward transitions are allowed but backward transitions must be to a single state to the previous level. The new technique reduces the exact solution of this class of M/G/1-type models to that of a finite linear system. We demonstrate the utility of our method by describing the exact computation of an extensive class of Markov reward functions that include the expected queue length or its higher moments. We also provide an algorithm that finds an appropriate state reordering satisfying our applicability conditions, if one such order exists. We illustrate the method, discuss its complexity and numerical stability, and present comparisons with other traditional techniques.
Renal Apoptosis and Clusterin Following Ureteral Obstruction: The Role of Maturation

AbstractPurpose: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) increases renal apoptosis as well as clusterin, which in turn is modulated by angiotensin II. The present study was designed to investigate the role of maturation in these responses.Materials and Methods: Neonatal and adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent UUO or sham operation. Fourteen days later, renal apoptosis was quantitated by flow cytometry, and renal messenger RNA (mRNA) was quantitated for renin and clusterin. Apoptotic cells, macrophages, clusterin and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin were localized by immunohistochemistry.Results: Following ipsilateral UUO, renal DNA content increased in the adult but decreased in the neonate. Renal macrophage infiltration induced by UUO was 2-fold greater in adults than in neonates, while distal tubular apoptosis was 2-fold greater in neonatal than in adult kidneys. Unilateral ureteral obstruction markedly increased renal renin mRNA expression in the neonate, but not in the adult, while clusterin expression was ...
Campaign Spending and Voter Participation in State Legislative Elections

Objective Previous studies demonstrate that campaigns play an important role in mobilizing citizen participation in elections. The present analysis examines the effects of campaign spending on voter turnout in the state legislative setting where our knowledge of campaign effects is quite limited. Method In an examination of state legislative elections across 20 states over two election cycles, the analysis considers the influence of candidate spending on voter turnout. Results The findings demonstrate that campaign spending has a strong influence on voter participation; however, this effect is mitigated by contextual features. Legislative professionalism reduces the influence of spending, while the presence of a high-stimulus statewide election enhances it. In addition, challenger spending is more effective at stimulating participation than incumbent spending. Conclusions Higher levels of campaign spending increase voter participation in state legislative elections; however, these effects vary according to context. These findings have important implications for theories of participation in American democracy as well for normative issues concerning the role of money in elections.
Mitogenic effect of double-stranded RNA in human fibroblasts: role of autogenous interferon.

The synthetic double-stranded RNA polyinosinate-polycytidylate (poly(l).poly(C)) was mitogenic in cultures of human foreskin fibroblasts, as demonstrated by a stimulation of /sup 3/H-thymidine incorporation and an increase in cell density. Poly(l).poly(C) is a potent inducer of interferon (IFN)-beta in human fibroblasts. Single-stranded poly(l) or poly(C) were not mitogenic in human fibroblasts and did not stimulate IFN production. Antiserum to interferon (IFN)-beta, added to poly(l).poly(C)-stimulated cultures in order to neutralize endogenously generated IFN, markedly amplified the mitogenic action. Under similar experimental conditions, antiserum to IFN-beta did not enhance the mitogenic action of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Dexamethasone enhanced the mitogenic action of poly(l).poly(C) in a manner similar to antiserum against IFN-beta. This effect of dexamethasone correlated with its marked inhibitory action on poly(l).poly(C)-stimulated IFN production. Together with the results of other related studies, these findings support the notion of an evolutionary link between the generation of a mitogenic signal and IFN induction. In addition, these results support the concept that autocrine secretion of IFN-beta can exert negative feedback control of cell proliferation.
Developing a national framework for internal/external review of undergraduate environmental studies/environmental science programmes

Since the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) struggled with academic certification – and with the development of academic programmes of excellence – there has been recent activity by the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (CEDD) on curriculum design and by the IEA sponsored ‘Daytona Roundtable’ on transdisciplinary programme recognition. It is the author’s position that we need a model process for self-study and external review that can be utilised by environmental studies programmes across the country and possibly internationally. This same process could be ‘blessed’ by academic and/or professional organisations, specifically in terms of outcomes and professional skill development objectives. Thus, instead of a rigid certification process, we could have a framework, which meets the needs of professional as well as academic programme external review. Recent experiences with a review of a number of environmental studies/environmental science programmes will be discussed as examples for this process.
Glutathione Deficiency in Gclm Null Mice Results in Complex I Inhibition and Dopamine Depletion following Paraquat Administration

Depletion of glutathione has been shown to occur in autopsied brains of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in animal models of PD. The goal of this study was to determine whether chronic glutathione (GSH) deficiency per se resulted in complex I inhibition and/or dopamine depletion and whether these indices were further potentiated by aging or administration of paraquat, a redox-cycling herbicide that produces a PD-like neurodegeneration model in rodents (Brooks, A. I., Chadwick, C. A., Gelbard, H. A., Cory-Slechta, D. A., and Federoff, H. J. [1999]. Paraquat elicited neurobehavioral syndrome caused by dopaminergic neuron loss. Brain Res. 823, 1-10; McCormack, A. L., Thiruchelvam, M., Manning-Bog, A. B., Thiffault, C., Langston, J. W., Cory-Slechta, D. A., and Di Monte, D. A. [2002]. Environmental risk factors and Parkinson's disease: Selective degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons caused by the herbicide paraquat. Neurobiol. Dis. 10, 119-127.) Deletion of the rate-limiting GSH synthesis gene, glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (Gclm), leads to significantly lower GSH concentrations in all tissues including brain. Gclm null (Gclm (-/-)) mice provide a model of prolonged GSH depletion to explore the relationship between GSH, complex I inhibition, and dopamine loss in vivo. Despite ~60% depletion of brain GSH in Gclm (-/-) mice of ages 3-5 or 14-16 months, striatal complex I activity, dopamine levels, 3-nitrotyroine/tyrosine ratios, aconitase activity, and CoASH remained unchanged. Administration of paraquat (10mg/kg, twice/week, 3 weeks) to 3- to 5-month-old Gclm (-/-) mice resulted in significantly decreased aconitase activity, complex I activity, and dopamine levels but not in 3- to 5-month-old Gclm (+/+) mice. Furthermore, paraquat-induced inhibition of complex I and aconitase activities in Gclm (-/-) mice was observed in the striatum but not in the cortex. The results suggest that chronic deficiency of GSH in Gclm (-/-) mice was not sufficient to result in complex I inhibition or dopamine depletion perhaps due to homeostatic mechanisms but required an additional oxidative stress insult as shown with paraquat exposure.
Enterprise Content Management solutions-Roadmap strategy and implementation challenges

Enterprise Content Management architecture - user interface, components, solutions and repository.Records and information management, information governance.Implementation road map strategy.Impact of ECM on business process efficiency. Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions provide robust functionality to control and analyze information. ECM solutions help reduce search times, manage data, and enable institutions with regulatory compliance. The correlation between impact on a business process through ECM implementation stage is demonstrated and been shown to follow reported hypothesis by Reimer (2002). The objective of this article is to provide (1) a typical architecture of an ECM, (2) identify key challenges in implementation and (3) implementation road map strategy.
Anemia management in chronic kidney disease

Anemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to a state of erythropoietin deficiency. Erythropoietin therapy has been used for approximately 20 years to correct anemia in CKD and to improve both subjective and objective outcomes. Guidelines that establish a hemoglobin (Hb) goal for anemia correction in CKD patients are largely based on observational data. Controversy still exists, however, because outcomes have not been consistent with various degrees of anemia correction. The number of prospective randomized trials investigating the effects of anemia correction on cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in CKD patients, an already high-risk group, is limited. With respect to improving CV outcomes in the CKD population, the currently available trial data caution against raising Hb levels in CKD patients to approach more "normal" physiologic ranges. The disappointing experience with the trial data must be weighed against the beneficial associations of erythropoietin therapy that have been generated from observational data. Establishing the ideal target Hb ranges for anemia correction in CKD patients remains a dynamic process and leaves many gray areas to be further elucidated. Here, we present a case that underscores the need to consider the study design when reviewing the data at a population level in order to determine what is most appropriate for our patient.
The Cardiac Copper Chaperone Proteins Sco1 and CCS are Up-Regulated, but Cox 1 and Cox4 are Down-Regulated, by Copper Deficiency

Copper is ferried in a cell complexed to chaperone proteins, and in the heart much copper is required for cytochrome c oxidase (Cox). It is not completely understood how copper status affects the levels of these proteins. Here we determined if dietary copper deficiency could up- or down-regulate select copper chaperone proteins and Cox subunits 1 and 4 in cardiac tissue of rats. Sixteen weanling male Long-Evans rats were randomized into treatment groups, one group receiving a copper-deficient diet (<1 mg Cu/kg diet) and one group receiving a diet containing adequate copper (6 mg Cu/kg diet) for 5 weeks. Hearts were removed, weighed, and non-myofibrillar proteins separated to analyze for levels of CCS, Sco1, Ctr1, Cox17, Cox1, and Cox4 by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. No changes were observed in the concentrations of CTR1 and Cox17 between copper-adequate and copper-deficient rats. CCS and Sco1 were up-regulated and Cox1 and Cox4 were both down-regulated as a result of copper deficiency. These data suggest that select chaperone proteins and may be up-regulated, and Cox1 and 4 down-regulated, by a dietary copper deficiency, whereas others appear not to be affected by copper status.
Overdominant Alleles in a Population of Variable Size

An approximate method is developed to predict the number of strongly overdominant alleles in a population of which the size varies with time. The approximation relies on the strong-selection weak-mutation (SSWM) method introduced by J. H. Gillespie and leads to a Markov chain model that describes the number of common alleles in the population. The parameters of the transition matrix of the Markov chain depend in a simple way on the population size. For a population of constant size, the Markov chain leads to results that are nearly the same as those of N. Takahata. The Markov chain allows the prediction of the numbers of common alleles during and after a population bottleneck and the numbers of alleles surviving from before a bottleneck. This method is also adapted to modeling the case in which there are two classes of alleles, with one class causing a reduction in fitness relative to the other class. Very slight selection against one class can strongly affect the relative frequencies of the two classes and the relative ages of alleles in each class.
MICA: a mapped interconnection-cached architecture

MICA (Mapped Interconnection-Cached Architecture) is a novel architecture combining large reconfigurable networks and small, fast on-line routing, crossbar switches. It offers a good match for parallel applications exhibiting switching locality. Switching locality means that the need to "switch" or route the information to or from each PE is limited to a small set of sources or destinations. A parallel programming paradigm to attempt and minimize the movement of information by reconfiguring the relative proximity of the PEs is introduced. We aim to complete most communication requests with only two levels of routing decisions among a small set of channels. Multi-hop routing is not used as often, resulting in better performance. >
Effects of L‐proline and some of its analogs on retinal spreading depression

L-Proline inhibits glutamate-based spreading depressions (SDs) at low concentrations (2--2.5 mM) and promotes K+-based SDs at higher concentrations (5 mM). The inhibition of glutamate-based SDs was postulated to be due to competition of L-glutamate and L-proline for glutamate receptors on somatic and dendritic plasma membranes. The binding of proline to glutamate receptors was furthermore postulated to result in a release of K+ from the intracellular compartment, enhancing the extracellular K+ concentration sufficiently to promote K+-based SDs. A proline analog, L-baikiain, containing a double bond and one more C atom in the ring structure than proline had similar effects as the latter amino acid, but an analog, L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, with one less C atom in the ring had little effect on SD in the retina.
General Education Under the Regular Education Initiative How Must It Change

This article discusses changes in classroom instruction that would be needed to make the Regular Education Initiative a reality. The article proposes a focus on prevention programs, such as preschool, extended-day kindergarten, and first-grade tutoring; classroom programs that accommodate the needs of diverse classes, such as continuous programs and cooperative learning models; and supplementary models such as peer tutoring and computer-assisted instruction. The article also describes Success for All, a comprehensive approach to school organization and instruction designed to bring all students to grade level in basic skills by the third grade without use of special or compensatory pull-outs.
Alteration of the fast excitatory postsynaptic current by barium in voltage‐clamped amphibian sympathetic ganglion cells

Abstract Barium-induced alterations in fast excitatory postsynaptic currents (e.p.s.cs) have been studied in voltage-clamped bullfrog sympathetic ganglion B cells. In the presence of 2-8 mM barium, e.p.s.c. decay was prolonged and in many cells the e.p.s.c. decay phase deviated from a single exponential function. The decay phase in these cases was more accurately described as the sum of two exponential functions. The frequency of occurrence of a complex decay increased both with increasing barium concentration and with hyperpolarization. Miniature e.p.s.c. decay also was prolonged in barium-treated cells. E.p.s.c. amplitude was not markedly affected by barium (2-8 mM) in cells voltage-clamped to -50 mV whereas at -90 mV there was a progressive increase in peak size with increasing barium concentration. In control cells the e.p.s.c.-voltage relationship was linear between -20 and -100 mV; however, this relationship became progressively non-linear with membrane hyperpolarization in barium-treated cells. The e.p.s.c. reversal potential was shifted to a more negative value in the presence of barium. There was a voltage-dependent increase in charge movement during the e.p.s.c. in barium-treated cells which was not present in control cells. We conclude that the voltage-dependent alteration in e.p.s.c. decay time course, peak amplitude and charge movement in barium-treated cells is due to a direct postsynaptic action of barium on the kinetics of receptor-channel gating in postganglionic sympathetic neurones.
Solar photovoltaic water pumping—opportunities and challenges

Solar photovoltaic water pumping (SPVWP) is a cost-effective application in remote locations in developed countries. The economy and reliability of solar electric power made it an excellent choice for remote water pumping. Ranchers in the western US, Canada, Mexico, and Australia are the biggest portion of the SPVWP system users. Water sources are spread out in the ranchland and power lines are not readily available and refueling and maintenance of stand alone generators is not cost effective. But in the developing countries, where drinking water is number one priority for most of the population the SPVWP has not achieved a great success yet. Even though, the SPVWP has significant advantages a lot of challenges are associated with the SPVWP, especially in operation and maintenance. This paper discusses some policies to make the SPVWP system an appropriate technology for the respective application region.
Hohlraum designs for high velocity implosions on NIF

In this paper, we compare experimental shock and capsule trajectories to design calculations using the radiation-hydrodynamics code hydra. The measured trajectories from surrogate ignition targets are consistent with reducing the x-ray flux on the capsule by about 85%. A new method of extracting the radiation temperature from x-ray data shows that about half of the apparent 15% flux deficit in the data with respect to the simulations can be explained by hydra overestimating the x-ray flux on the capsule.
Artificial insect wings of diverse morphology for flapping-wing micro air vehicles

The development of flapping-wing micro air vehicles (MAVs) demands a systematic exploration of the available design space to identify ways in which the unsteady mechanisms governing flapping-wing flight can best be utilized for producing optimal thrust or maneuverability. Mimicking the wing kinematics of biological flight requires examining the potential effects of wing morphology on flight performance, as wings may be specially adapted for flapping flight. For example, insect wings passively deform during flight, leading to instantaneous and potentially unpredictable changes in aerodynamic behavior. Previous studies have postulated various explanations for insect wing complexity, but there lacks a systematic approach for experimentally examining the functional significance of components of wing morphology, and for determining whether or not natural design principles can or should be used for MAVs. In this work, a novel fabrication process to create centimeter-scale wings of great complexity is introduced; via this process, a wing can be fabricated with a large range of desired mechanical and geometric characteristics. We demonstrate the versatility of the process through the creation of planar, insect-like wings with biomimetic venation patterns that approximate the mechanical properties of their natural counterparts under static loads. This process will provide a platform for studies investigating the effects of wing morphology on flight dynamics, which may lead to the design of highly maneuverable and efficient MAVs and insight into the functional morphology of natural wings.
A Problem in Optimal Machine Loading

An important managerial problem in manufacturing is to determine the optimum amount and mix of products that can be manufactured from a given set of facilities, such as machine tools. A method is discussed here for handling this problem more effectively in one instance than has been possible. It makes use of several standard procedures, but adapts them and adds others to accommodate the unavoidable difficulty of discreteness in real production situations. The traditional formulation of the economic lot size is shown to be incorrect in the general case and a preferred formulation is presented for the situation studied here. A method of optimizing the amount of in-process inventory to carry in the circumstances of this study also is given.
Social and Environmental Factors Associated With Preschoolers’ Nonsedentary Physical Activity

The twofold purposes of the investigation were (a) to describe with direct observation data the physical activity behaviors and the accompanying social and environmental events of those behaviors for children in preschools and (b) to determine which contextual conditions were predictors of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and nonsedentary physical activity (i.e., light activity + MVPA) for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children during their outdoor play. The results indicate that preschoolers' physical activity is characterized as sedentary in nature throughout their preschool day (i.e., 89% sedentary, 8% light activity, and 3% MVPA). During outdoor play periods, when children are most likely to be physically active, some contextual and social circumstances better predict their physical activity. Implications for policy makers, practitioners, and researchers are discussed.
Identification and characterization of the Egr-1 gene product, a DNA-binding zinc finger protein induced by differentiation and growth signals.

Abstract Egr-1 is an immediate-early response gene induced by diverse signals that initiate growth and differentiation. Its cDNA sequence predicts a protein with zinc fingers. We have generated an antiserum to the Egr-1 gene product and identified it as an 80-kilodalton short-lived protein in serum-stimulated mouse fibroblasts. The rat Egr-1 product has also been identified in nerve growth factor-induced PC12 cells. In addition, we show by cell fractionation and immunocytochemistry that the Egr-1 protein is located in the nucleus. We also demonstrate that it is phosphorylated. In vitro-generated Egr-1 protein binds with high affinity to the sequence CGCCCCCGC in a zinc-dependent manner.
DNA affinity cleaving : Sequence specific cleavage of DNA by Distamycin-EDTA - Fe(II) and EDTA-distamycin Fe(II)

The attachment of EDTA· Fe(II) to distamycin changes the sequence specific DNA binding antibiotic into a sequence specific DNA cleaving molecule. We report the synthesis of EDTA-distamycin (ED) which has the metal chelator, EDTA, tethered to the carboxy terminus of the N-methylpyrrole tripeptide moiety of the antiobiotic, distamycin. EDTA-distamycin • Fe(II) (ED · Fe II) at 10^(-6) M concentration efficiently cleaves pBR322 DNA (10^(-5) M in base pairs) in the presence of oxygen and dithiothreitol (DTT). Using Maxam-Gilbert sequencing gel analyses, we find that ED · Fe (II) affords DNA cleavage patterns of unequal intensity covering two to four contiguous base pairs adjacent to a five base pair site consisting of adenines (A) and thymines (T). The multiple cleavages at each site might be evidence for a diffusible oxidizing species, perhaps hydroxyl radical. The unequal intensity of cleavage on each side of the A + T site permit assignment of major and minor orientations of the tripeptide binding unit. A comparison of the cleavage specificity of ED · Fe (II) with distamycin-EDTA · Fe (II), (DE · Fe (II)) which has EDTA · Fe (II) attached to the amino terminus of the N-methylpyrrole tripeptide, shows DNA cleavage patterns at the same sites but with intensities of opposite polarity. Maxam-Gilbert sequencing gel analysis of the DNA cleavage patterns by ED • Fe (II) and DE • Fe (II) on both DNA strands of a 381 base pair restriction fragment reveals asymmetric DNA cleavage patterns. Cleavage is shifted to the 3' side of each DNA strand. A model consistent with this cleavage pattern indicates one preferred binding te for ED • Fe (II) and DE • Fe (II) is 3'-TTTAA-5' with the “amino end” of the tripeptide oriented to the 3' end of the thymine rich strand. This “DNA affinity cleavage” method which consists of attaching cleaving functions to DNA binding molecules followed by DNA cleavage pattern analyses using Maxam-Gilbert sequencing gels may be a useful direct method for determining the binding site and orientation of small molecules on native DNA.
MULTIPLE-DAY CONSTANCY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO POOLING FOR ESTIMATING MARK-RECAPTURE STOPOVER LENGTH IN NEARCTIC-NEOTROPICAL MIGRANT LANDBIRDS

Abstract Capture-mark-recapture models require estimation of parameters that may be either constant or time-dependent. Open-population models have been adapted for use in estimating stopover duration of migratory songbirds. However, with data collected over an extended period or with relatively few recaptures, small sample sizes may preclude use of fully time-dependent models. Pooling is commonly used to reduce the number of parameters estimated in time-dependent models. In pooling, all captures and recaptures during a specified interval are treated as a single capture event, which results in a loss of information about recaptures within the interval. Additionally, pooling of banding data of migratory songbirds appears to bias stopover-length estimates upwards. An alternative to pooling is use of multiple-day-constancy models. Advantages of this approach include maintenance of all recapture data, simultaneous Akaike’s Information Criterion-based comparison of models using different constancy intervals, an...
A molecular/genetic approach to cerebral small-vessel disease: Beyond aging and hypertension

Lacunar infarction, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), deep cerebral microbleeds (dCMB), and deep intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are increasingly recognized as manifestations of a common underlying vasculopathy, encompassed by the term cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD). Epidemiologic studies have found robust associations of the individual aspects of CSVD with aging and hypertension; however, heritability estimates and the disproportionate burden of CSVD in underrepresented minorities suggest that genetic factors contribute substantially to CSVD risk. Here we present the rationale for studying these phenotypes as part of a spectrum of CSVD, review aspects of genetic study design, summarize current knowledge of genetic contribution to CSVD, and discuss the next steps required to translate these genetic discoveries into therapies for this devastating disease. Genetic studies were identified using PubMed. Regions achieving genome-wide significance in association studies, meta-analyses of candidate gene studies, and studies of genes associated with Mendelian conditions exhibiting CSVD phenotypes have been summarized.
Sexual and drug use risk behaviors of long-haul truck drivers and their commercial sex contacts in New Mexico.

Objectives.Long-haul truck drivers and their commercial sex contacts (CCs) have been associated with the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the developing world. However, there is ...
Fixing English: Finding shared ground: public conversations about prescriptivism

In May 2012, Joan Acocella published a review in the New Yorker of Henry Hitchings’ new book The Language Wars: A History of Proper English that frustrated many a linguist and lexicographer due to its oversimplification of the prescriptive–descriptive “war” and some of its misinformation about descriptive approaches to language. Mark Liberman (2012) responded on the blog Language Log: “either the topic was not felt to be important enough to merit elementary editorial supervision, or there is no one at the magazine with any competence in the area involved.” His frustration with the lack of linguistic knowledge among even the highly educated is palpable. And then came the end of the review, where Acocella tries to undercut Hitchings’ critique of prescriptive approaches to language by pointing out that Hitchings went to Oxford, wrote a dissertation about Samuel Johnson, and follows the formal conventions of edited standard English in his academic English. He talks the talk, she argues, but does not walk the walk. This attack, which reproduces many similar ones on “descriptive linguists” over the years, fundamentally misunderstands the argument that the vast majority of linguists – who by training take a descriptive approach to language – are making about prescriptive rules of all sorts, be they about standard English, formal style, restoration of older forms, or politically responsive language reform. The misunderstanding is captured starkly by Ryan Bloom (2012) in his New Yorker Page-Turner blog post written a little over two weeks after Acocella’s review, in which he sets up “straw descriptivists,” asserting the following: People who say otherwise, who say that in all situations we should speak and write however we’d like, are ignoring the current reality. This group, known as descriptivists, may be fighting for noble ideas , for things like the levelling of elitism and the smoothing of social class, but they are neglecting the real-world costs of those ideas, neglecting the flesh-and-blood humans who are denied a job or education because, as wrong as it is, they are being harshly judged for how they speak and write today .