cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Cyclin D1-dependent Kinase Associates with the Pre-replication Complex and Modulates RB·MCM7 Binding

The capacity of the cyclin D-dependent kinase to promote G(1) progression through modulation of RB.E2F is well documented. We now demonstrate that the cyclin D1/CDK4 kinase binds to components of the MCM complex. MCM7 and MCM3 were identified as cyclin D1-binding proteins. Catalytically active cyclin D1/CDK4 complexes were incorporated into chromatin-bound protein complexes with the same kinetics as MCM7 and MCM3, where they associated specifically with MCM7. Although the cyclin D1-dependent kinase did not phosphorylate MCM7, active cyclin D1/CDK4, but not cyclin E/CDK2, did catalyze the dissociation of an RB.MCM7 complex. Finally, expression of an active D1/CDK4 kinase but not cyclin E/CDK2 promoted the removal of RB from chromatin-bound protein complexes. Our data suggest that D1/CDK4 complexes play a direct role in altering an inhibitory RB.MCM7 complex possibly allowing for setting of the origin in preparation for DNA replication.
Freezing of the hard-sphere liquid.

The crystal structure of a hard-sphere system at freezing is determined in the context of the Ramakrishnan-Yussouff theory by allowing for an arbitrary Bravais lattice and no more than two spheres per primitive unit cell. In addition, a class of icosahedral quasiperiodic structures, corresponding to an infinite number of spheres per unit cell, is investigated. It is found that by using the two-point correlations only fcc and hcp structures can be stabilized. By summing an infinite subset of higher-order correlations, which are neglected in the usual applications of the theory, it is shown that hcp structure is eliminated, in agreement with computer simulations.
Early changes in the chemical composition of the rat lung after silica administration.

Abstract A group of 200 g male Sprague-Dawley rats was injected with 75 mg of quartz (< 5 μ particle size) and changes in lung DNA, noncollagenous protein, total lipids, and collagen were studied after 6 , 24, 72, 96, and 144 hr. Another group of rats received 10, 30, 59, and 75 mg quartz and the above lung analysis was performed 6 days later. Control rats received saline only. Both sets of experiments indicate that striking changes in the above parameters occur very early. The sequence of statistically significant changes was: lung weight (24 hr), DNA (24 hr), noncollagenous proteins (72 hr), total lipids (72 hr), collagen (144 hr). At the dose of 30 mg quartz/lung all the above parameters were significantly increased within 6 days after the lung injury. It is proposed that in early stages of experimental silicosis an excessive amount of collagen accumulates in the lung. Later, some of the deposited collagen is resorbed. This indicates that in the course of the silicotic fibroproliferative inflammation, ...
Vitamin D and skin physiology: a D-lightful story.

Throughout evolution, exposure to sunlight and the photosynthesis of vitamin D 3 in the skin has been critically important for the evolution of land vertebrates. During exposure to sunlight, the solar UVB photons with energies 290-315 nm are absorbed by 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin and converted to previtamin D 3 . Previtamin D 3 undergoes a rapid transformation within the plasma membrane to vitamin D 3 . Excessive exposure to sunlight will not result in vitamin D intoxication because both previtamin D 3 and vitamin D 3 are photolyzed to several noncalcemic photoproducts. During the winter at latitudes above ∼35°, there is minimal, if any, previtamin D 3 production in the skin. Altitude also has a significant effect on vitamin D 3 production. At 27° N in November, very little (-0.5%) previtamin D 3 synthesis was detected in Agra (169 m) and Katmandu (1400 m). There was an -2- and 4-fold increase in previtamin D 3 production at -3400 m and at Everest base camp (5300 m), respectively. Increased skin pigmentation, application of a sunscreen, aging, and clothing have a dramatic effect on previtamin D 3 production in the skin. It is estimated that exposure in a bathing suit to 1 minimal erythemal dose (MED) is equivalent to ingesting between 10,000 and 25,000 IU of vitamin D 2 . The importance of sunlight for providing most humans with their vitamin D requirement is well documented by the seasonal variation in circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Vitamin D deficiency [i.e., 25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml] is common in both children and adults worldwide. Exposure to lamps that produce UVB radiation is an excellent source for producing vitamin D 3 in the skin and is especially efficacious in patients with fat malabsorption syndromes. The major cause of vitamin D deficiency globally is an underappreciation of sunlight's role in providing humans with their vitamin D 3 requirement. Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and those that do have a very variable vitamin D content. Recently it was observed that wild caught salmon had between 75% and 90% more vitamin D 3 compared with farmed salmon. The associations regarding increased risk of common deadly cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular disease with living at higher latitudes and being prone to vitamin D deficiency should alert all health care professionals about the importance of vitamin D for overall health and well being.
Validity of first-order f.m. distortion theory as applied to trunk radio systems

Much of the published work relating to distortion in frequency-modulation trunk radio systems has been, and continues to be, based on a so-called `first-order theory?. In the course of some correspondence published a few years ago, the validity of this first-order theory was questioned in a general way, although no evidenec was given to show whether or not serious errors arise when the theory is used to evaluate the performance of trunk radio systems. It thus becomes important to check, in a representative range of situations, the accuracy of the distortion levels predicted in such systems by the first-order theory, since these results have been widely used in system design. This is done in the present paper, using a recently developed Monte Carlo method involving direct computer simulation of the distortion process. The agreement between the first-order theory and the computer simulation method is found to be satisfactory. For one special form of transfer characteristic, a nonlinear f.m. distortion term fails to appear in the first-order theory. The distortion level in this case will normally be very low; for its evaluation it is necessary to consider the dominant term from higher-order theory.
Characterization of the Small Untranslated RNA RyhB and Its Regulon in Vibrio cholerae

Numerous small untranslated RNAs (sRNAs) have been identified in Escherichia coli in recent years, and their roles are gradually being defined. However, few of these sRNAs appear to be conserved in Vibrio cholerae, and both identification and characterization of sRNAs in V. cholerae remain at a preliminary stage. We have characterized one of the few sRNAs conserved between E. coli and V. cholerae: RyhB. Sequence conservation is limited to the central region of the gene, and RyhB in V. cholerae is significantly larger than in E. coli. As in E. coli, V. cholerae RyhB is regulated by the iron-dependent repressor Fur, and it interacts with the RNA-binding protein Hfq. The regulons controlled by RyhB in V. cholerae and E. coli appear to differ, although some overlap is evident. Analysis of gene expression in V. cholerae in the absence of RyhB suggests that the role of this sRNA is not limited to control of iron utilization. Quantitation of RyhB expression in the suckling mouse intestine suggests that iron availability is not limiting in this environment, and RyhB is not required for colonization of this mammalian host by V. cholerae.
Radiographic evaluation of two early classic elites from Copan, Honduras

The paper describes the results of a radiographic evaluation of two elite individuals from the Early Classic period of Copan, Honduras; K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', founder of the Early Classic Dynasty at Copan; and the principal individual recovered from the Motmot tomb. There were two primary goals: (1) the description of previously undocumented pathological processes; and (2) the evaluation of individual-specific forms of pathology and activity-related changes such as disuse atrophy. Despite suffering from a number of blunt force insults, K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo's cortical and trabecular bone thickness appears normal, indicating that the skeletal elements did not suffer from disuse atrophy concomitant following injury. Additionally, we examined the Motmot individual for: (1) evidence of bone thinning, either associated with reduced activity levels or pathology; (2) evidence of a parry fracture to her right forearm; and (3) the evaluation of a possible fracture to the right humerus near the surgical neck. In sum, despite her gracile appearance, we concluded that Motmot did not suffer from cortical bone thinning due to disease process or reduced activity levels, and that the right forearm parry fracture was the only sign of blunt force trauma. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Oblique Effects of Pattern and Flicker Sensitivity: Implications for Mixed Physiological Input

The inferior contrast sensitivity for oblique gratings has been previously demonstrated at high spatial frequencies with an absolute criterion. In this study contrast sensitivity at oblique and main axis orientations was obtained under separate pattern and flicker threshold criteria across a range of both spatial and temporal frequencies. The anisotropy of contrast sensitivity was not observed at low spatial frequencies under any stimulus or criterion conditions. At high spatial frequencies the anisotropy was observed for both pattern and flicker thresholds, although the flicker anisotropy was less pronounced. If, as previously suggested, this anisotropy is mediated by X cells, then these psychophysical findings suggest a mixed model in which both pattern and flicker systems receive input from both X and Y-cell pathways.
Evaluation and treatment of the elbow and forearm injuries in the emergency department

Elbow and forearm injuries result most commonly from direct blows to the area, or from fall on outstretched hand. The elbow may be injured if it is locked at the time of impact. Elbow or forearm bone dislocations may occur alone or in conjunction with fractures and generally require reduction to minimize future morbidity. The primary goal of management is to achieve anatomic reduction of any fracture or dislocation, while allowing for early range of motion to minimize future morbidity, including in particular elbow stiffness and consequently limited mobility of the joint.
Recombination during gene transfer into mouse cells can restore the function of deleted genes

Two plasmids containing nonoverlapping deletions of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene were introduced into thymidine kinase-deficient mouse L cells by DNA-mediated gene transfer. Thymidine kinase-producing transformants were generated by a mixture of the two plasmids at a frequency significantly greater than that generated by either plasmid alone. Southern blot analyses demonstrated that functional thymidine kinase genes were generated by homologous recombination between the two deletion mutants.
Performance measures, consistency, and power for artificial neural network models

Model building in artificial neural networks (ANN) refers to selecting the ''optimal'' network architecture, network topology, data representation, training algorithm, training parameters, and terminating criteria, such that some desired level of performance is achieved. Validation, a critical aspect of any model construction, is based upon some specified ANN performance measure of data that was not used in model construction. In addition to trained ANN validation, this performance measure is often used to evaluate the superiority of network architecture, learning algorithm, or application of a neural network. This paper investigates the three most frequently reported performance measures for pattern classification networks: Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and percent good classification. First the inconsistency of the three metrics for selecting the ''better'' network is examined empirically. An analysis of error histograms is shown to be an effective means for investigating and resolving inconsistent network performance measures. Second, the focus of this paper is on percent good classification, the most often used measure of performance for classification networks. This measure is satisfactory if no particular importance is given to any single class, however, if one class is deemed more serious than others, percent good classification will mask the individual class components. This deficiency is resolved through a neural network analogy to the statistical concept of power. It is shown that power as a neural network performance metric is tuneable, and is a more descriptive measure than percent correct for evaluating and predicting the ''goodness'' of a network.
Isolated liver transplantation in infants with end-stage liver disease associated with short bowel syndrome.

The ability of patients with intestinal failure resulting from short bowel syndrome (SBS) to achieve nutritional autonomy depends on the capacity of the gut remnant to compensate or adapt. Intestinal adaptation requires increasing the functional absorptive surface by growth in length and diameter as well as in villous height and crypt depth. 1 If fibrotic liver disease develops before enteral autonomy is achieved, a downward spiral occurs, with decreased enteral tolerance, nutritional impairment, and progression to liver failure. The deterioration of bowel function is related to several factors, including anorexia, intestinal malabsorption secondary to luminal bile acid deficiency, ascites, bowel wall edema and portal hypertensive exudative enteropathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding. 2 Typically patients are then considered for intestinal or combined liver and small bowel transplantation. In selected patients, if it were not for the appearance of severe liver disease, there might still be considerable optimism that adaptation of the bowel to full enteral tolerance could be achieved in time. In these circumstances, is there a role for isolated liver transplantation? Anecdotal accounts have circulated that liver transplantation alone should not be attempted because in these patients cholestasis will inevitably develop in the allograft after transplantation and that the prospect of intestinal adaptation is negligible. Despite these dire warnings, several groups have successfully carried out isolated liver transplantation in children with end-stage liver disease related to SBS, although reports in the literature are few. 2–4 We now report the largest experience with isolated liver transplantation in children with liver failure associated with SBS.
How Are Medical Librarians Addressing Health Literacy Barriers

The purpose of this literature review was exploring how medical librarians are addressing health literacy barriers, with an emphasis on enhancing the patient care experience. This literature review contributes up-to-date information related to health literacy barriers, with a specific focus on medical librarianship and enhancing the patient care experience. Medical librarians can positively impact health literacy barriers. By partnering with other healthcare professionals, medical librarians are in a position to ensure health information can be understood, which will ultimately improve health literacy and enhance the patient care experience. Improving health literacy rates may improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs.
A representation theorem applied to weakly exchangeable non-negative definite arrays

Abstract A weakly exchangeable array is a symmetric infinite array with random entries which have a joint probability distribution that remains invariant when a permutation is applied to its rows and columns. David Aldous and Douglas Hoover have proved a theorem that characterizes all such arrays. We apply this theorem to find a characterization of weakly exchangeable arrays that are also non-negative definite. This characterization says that any weakly exchangeable non-negative definite array is a mixture of sums of two kinds of random non-negative definite arrays. The first type is simply a diagonal array with i.i.d. positive random diagonal entries. The second type is an array whose entries are inner products of i.i.d. random elements from a Hilbert space. This characterization has been proved recently by L. N. Dovbysh and V. N. Sudakov [J. Soviet Math. 24 (1982) , 3047–3054]. Our work shows how the characterization ties in with the general structure results of D. J. Aldous and D. N. Hoover as discussed in [ D. J. Aldous, Ecole d'ete de probabilites de Saint-Fleur XIII-1983 , in “Lecture Notes in Math.” Vol. 1117, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1985].
Ultrastructure of pigment cells in wild type and color mutants of the Mexican axolotl.

The ultrastructure of wild type axolotl xanthophores and iridophores was compared with that of cells at the same location in mutant axolotls lacking these chromatophores. The xanthophores of wild type axolotls contain ovoid pterinosomes that are empty or contain a few small vesicles of fibers. In skin from axanthic animals cells that may be xanthoblasts are present at the location in which xanthophores occur in wild type skin; pterinosome-like granules are absent. In wild type peritoneum, long, narrow organelles that appear to be developing reflecting platelets were seen within iridophores. Neither of the axolotl mutants that lack iridophores, axanthic and melanoid, contain these “prereflecting” platelets. In contrast with the absence of prepigment organelles in these two mutants, albino integument contains cells filled with granules identified as premelanosomes. The defects in chromatophore development of the axanthic and melanoid mutants seem to occur prior to formation of prepigment organelles.
Effects of whole cottonseed, niacin, and niacinamide on in vitro rumen fermentation and on lactating Holstein cows.

In Experiment 1, effects of whole cottonseed (0, 5, 15, or 30% of the total ration DM) on in vitro ruminal fermentation showed increased ruminal pH and ammonia concentration but lowered microbial protein. Acetic acid concentration was greatest with diets of 15 and 30% whole cottonseed, but propionate and total VFA concentrations were reduced by increasing whole cottonseed from 0 to 30%. In Experiment 2, neither niacin nor niacinamide (0, 100, 200, or 400 ppm) altered substantially fermenter pH or ammonia concentration. Both niacin and niacinamide increased synthesis of microbial protein. Acetate and propionate concentrations were not altered by treatment. Total VFA concentration tended to be lower as concentration of niacin and niacinamide increased. In Experiment 3, 28 Holstein cows were used to determine the effects of supplemental niacin on feed intake, milk yield, and composition. Cows were fed individually complete mixed diets ad libitum containing either: 1) 0; 2) .015; 3) .03; or 4) .06% niacin. There was a trend for lower milk fat test with niacin supplementation. Milk protein percentage was higher without niacin than with niacin at .015 or .03% in the diet, but daily milk and protein yields were higher with .06% versus .015% of niacin. Supplemental niacin did not affect casein nitrogen, lactose or minerals percentage, or concentrations of plasma glucose and insulin.
Thin film metallic catalyst coatings for the growth of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by pyrolysis of xylene

Thin film metallic coatings applied to alumina and silicon substrates are investigated for their use as a catalyst to help grow high-quality multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Substrate coatings examined include Fe, Tb:Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ni:Fe, with xylene used as the hydrocarbon source. Coating the substrate with Tb90Fe10 and Ni80Fe20 facilitated dense and uniform growth of MWNTs without graphitic particles; Ni and Fe substrate coatings produced graphitic particles in addition to the MWNTs, while Tb and Cu were found to be completely inactive with no MWNT growth. Many of the MWNTs grown over Ni:Fe have a helical appearance, while the MWNTs grown over Tb90Fe10 did not contain catalyst particles
Structure-Reactivity Relationships in Barbiturates

Utilisation des relations d'energie libre lineaires (LFER) pour etudier les effets des substituants sur des proprietes chimiques et physicochimiques de barbiturates substitues-5, disubstitues-5,5 et trisubstitues methyl-1 et -5,5
Response of a global climate model to a thirty percent reduction of the solar constant

Abstract An investigation is made of the “white earth” scenario, wherein the positive feedback mechanism, involving temperature, snow/ice cover,and albedo, renders the earth's surface covered with permanent snow freezes the oceans when the solar input is sufficiently low. A three-dimensional energy budget climate model is used to stimulate the earth's response to a 30% decrease in the solar constant. The decrease occurs over a period of 90 years. The model simulates an additional 100 years to allow conditions to stabilize. At the end of the model run, the planetary mean surface temperature is 204.8°K, the oceans are completely frozen over, and the maximum seasonal mean temperature any grid point of the planet is 251.6°K in the western Gobi Desert in JJA. The highest average annual temperature is 238.7°K in western Zaire. A significant portion of the planet's land surface is free of permanent snow cover. The result of this model run suggest that the hydrologic balance may provide a significant negative feedback mechanism to counter the snow/ice-albedo positive feedback mechanism and that the earth's climate may be less sensitive to variations in the solar constant than previously believed.
Social networks, interactivity and satisfaction: assessing socio-technical behavioral factors as an extension to technology acceptance

As the use and value of social networks continues to expand and creatively grow, the question of how to attract people to the various sites becomes an important question. This research focuses on interactivity and its role in user satisfaction with a social network site. A model is put forth that focuses on factors that help answer these questions. A survey was conducted with 164 users of social networking websites (i.e. Facebook, Linkedin & Twitter) regarding technology acceptance, marketing related factors and user satisfaction. We find that perceived interactivity (in terms of control) and level of focus/concentration do affect an end user's satisfaction with a social network along with antecedents from the technology acceptance model (TAM). These findings suggest both TAM related factors and marketing related factors both impact the user experience on a social networking site.
Normative perspectives on engineering systems design

This paper proposes a normative decision analytic framework for the design of engineering systems. The approach distinguishes two main types of design enterprises: profit maximizing firms and federal government organizations. For a profit maximizing firm, the approach proposes that the firm should maximize the expected utility of total shareholder return. Within this framework, a fundamental axiom is proposed: that there be no division within an organization that will accept a project that another division within the same organization, and with the same information and resources, would reject. This axiom translates into the necessity of a corporate utility function: divisions within the same organization will operate with the same risk attitude. For a federal government organization (such as NASA), the approach proposes an axiom that relates requirements-based design to value-based design: that there be no design outside the requirements region that is preferred to a design within the requirements region. This axiom leads to the necessity of assigning trade-offs to design requirements and the necessity of a corporate value function. Consequences of these two axioms exhibit the arbitrariness that exists in a variety of widely used systems engineering and requirements-based design approaches.
A descriptive survey of Swedish child health nurses’ awareness of abuse and neglect. I. Characteristics of the nurses

Objective: The objectives were to assess: (1) child health nurses’ identification of abuse/neglect of children of preschool age in their districts; (2) overall prevalence of abuse/neglect according ...
Becoming a blogger

Naturalistic case study of peripheral and inbound members in a blog community.Bloggers begin for different reasons, but persist due to the sense of community.Inbound members need not be active bloggers, may be commenters or characters.Ability to observe and follow norms plays a big role in newcomer acceptance.The blogging community serves as a virtual third place. This naturalistic study of a blogging community examines the norms and activities that govern the establishment of a community of practice. Activity theory and communities of practice are used as frameworks to guide the analysis of this study. Six brief cases are used to illustrate the paths of blogging newcomers, as they shift from peripheral to inbound paths, and in some cases to insider positions within the community. Findings show that the community values newcomer practices such as engaging in legitimate peripheral participation via observation of norms. Further, although the community is welcoming of newcomers, the burden is on the newcomer to learn about and interact appropriately within the community.
Errors of judgment and reporting in a law merchant system

In a system developed by Milgrom et al. (1990; Econ. Politics 2: 1) to model the Champagne fairs of Medieval Europe, private judges both adjudicate disputes and report on whether players have unpaid debts, but lack enforcement capability. An iterated prisoner's dilemma models a trading encounter where there is a short-term incentive to cheat but a longterm incentive to cooperate. Players have the option to learn about each other's past behavior at some cost. This system is meant to help the cooperators find each other as well as encourage cooperation. Under specified conditions, the system forms a sequential equilibrium strategy and the players should cooperate and pay its costs. This paper generalizes the model so as to allow for errors. Errors place further restraints on the conditions under which the system remains in equilibrium and the players should follow it. Different conditions are found under which the system is more sensitive to false positives or false negatives; a greater sensitivity to false positives corresponds to a stronger presumption of innocence. When the players pay the costs of the information, the system to provide it can serve as a correlating mechanism to pair cooperators in the prisoner's dilemma.
Deposits formed beneath bubbles during nucleate boiling of radioactive calcium sulfate solutions

Moore and Mesler postulated microlayer evaporation beneath a bubble to explain the sudden temperature drops observed by them during nucleate boiling of water. A method was devised to estimate the microlayer thickness from the deposit formed by a series of bubbles during nucleate boiling of saturated calcium sulfate solution containing radioactive sulfur-35. The results support the microlayer evaporation hypothesis.
Operations Timeline for Tsat Planning

The purpose of the OPS Timeline is to establish the war-fighter's process to plan a TSAT mission and identify TMOS capabilities to support the warfighter's mission plan. The timeline to plan TSAT missions will be significantly reduced from legacy communication systems and more importantly, the warfighter's role in planning will be reduced allowing them more time for mission preparation and execution. The OPS Timeline is also intended to help guide the efforts to further develop TSAT mission planning Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). This paper will define the differences in the mission planning time-frame and discuss how TSAT will support the need for high priority missions (real time planning) that must be planned and implemented very quickly. The three major planning phases, Long Term, Short Term, and Real Time will be described in context with the several milestones. The functional decomposition of those major milestones across the three phases of planning will help to define the processes that take place when planning a TSAT mission in the net-centric environment.
Information gain for genetic parameter estimation with incorporation of marker data.

L'information sur des marqueurs genetiques est de plus en plus souvent incorporee dans les analyses de segregation, et les analyses de liaison genetique sont de plus en plus nombreuses. Ici, nous evaluons l'importance du gain d'information lorsque l'on introduit des marqueurs genetiques dans l'analyse de segregation, un theme qui n'a pas ete rigoureusement investigue jusqu'a present. Plus specifiquement, il s'agit d'evaluer l'influence de la prise en compte de tels marqueurs sur l'estimation des parametres du modele genetique. Un critere reposant sur la matrice des variances (comme l'inverse de la matrice d'information de Fisher) et un critere d'entropie relative (une mesure de la platitude de la surface de logvraisemblance attendue) sont utilises pour quantifier le gain d'information. Nos resultats indiquent qu'un gain substantiel d'information peut etre observe lorsque l'on prend en compte les donnees relatives aux marqueurs. La reduction de la variance des estimateurs augmente avec l'heterozygocite du (des) marqueur(s) lie(s) et avec l'intensite de la liaison entre ce(s) marqueur(s) et le trait etudie. L'incorporation de l'information sur les marqueurs est egalement benefique lorsque l'on etudie des genealogies etendues, et ce quelque soit le critere retenu pour estimer le gain d'information. Enfin, l'effet de la structure des familles est egalement evalue.
Schema induction for logic program synthesis

Abstract Prolog program synthesis can be made more efficient by using schemata which capture similarities in previously-seen programs. Such schemata narrow the search involved in the synthesis of a new program. We define a generalization operator for forming schemata from programs and a downward refinement operator for constructing programs from schemata. These operators define schema-hierarchy graphs which can be used to aid in the synthesis of new programs. Algorithms are presented for efficiently obtaining least generalizations of schemata, for adding new schemata to a schema-hierarchy graph, and for using schemata to construct new programs.
Single crystal growth of Nd2−xCexCuO4−y

Abstract Crystals of the N-type superconducting Nd 2− x Ce x CuO 4− y system have been grown by a self-flux technique. In this method, excess Ce is required to obtain single crystals with optimal superconducting properties. Crystals grown by this technique show superconducting transition temperatures with onsets of 27 K and transition widths of 3 K. The maximum size of these superconducting crystals is 7 mm x 7 mm x 0.05 mm.
Evaluation of Foliar Sprays of Bacteriophages for the Management of Bacterial Canker in Greenhouse Tomatoes

AgriPhage applied as a preventative foliar spray significantly reduced severity of bacterial canker of greenhouse tomato in two of three years. Area under the disease progress curves (AUDPC) indicated that AgriPhage slowed the progression of bacterial canker symptom development by 50% and 59% in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Plant mortality was significantly reduced by 76% in 2006 as compared to the inoculated control. AgriPhage-treated plants produced significantly greater total yield in 2006 only. Copper and Kasumin sprays also significantly reduced severity (AUDPC) of bacterial canker in 2007 as compared to the inoculated control. However, none of these treatments reduced symptom development or increased yield in 2008.
The Cultural Debate over Female Circumcision: The Sudanese Are Arguing This One Out for Themselves

This article critiques medical ecological analysis of female circumcision as a "maladaptive cultural pattern" and argues that this highly controversial procedure must be analyzed within the larger contexts of women's lives in underdeveloped countries. International efforts to eradicate female circumcision, while often couched in seemingly progressive feminist rhetoric, inadvertently serve to mask the negative health effects of the economic exploitation of poor countries such as Sudan. Reproductive histories and ethnographic data are used to argue that though female circumcision is not maladaptive, cultural discourse about it is resulting in changes in the meaning, techniques, and frequency of this practice.
Mass spectrometry based translational neuroinjury proteomics

Abstract Neuroinjury, including traumatic brain injury, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke (intracerebral hemorrhage), subarachnoid hemorrhage and spinal cord injury, collectively is a significant biomedical problem worldwide. Yet there are few therapeutic options available. We submit that mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach can have a potentially high impact in biomarkers discovery and drug target identification for various forms of CNS injury. This review provides an outline of the most important mass spectrometry-based proteomic application tools (differential, quantitative, and imaging mass spectrometry analysis) being used for translational neuroinjury research from animal studies to clinical studies and validations.
SKEWNESS FOR THE WEIBULL FAMILY

. The skewness of the Weibull family of distributions is discussed for all values of the shape parameter. This class includes unimodal probability densities for which the coefficient of skewness μ3/o3 is positive, but the order of the mean, median and mode is μ < m < M. For values of the shape parameter used in practice the distributions are skewed to the right by a well accepted definition of skewness.
DNA methylation differentially enhances the expression of one of the two E. coli dnaA promoters in vivo and in vitro

The promoter/regulatory region of the dnaA gene, whose gene product is required for the initiation of DNA replication in Escherichia coli K-12, contains an unusually large number of Dam methylation sites. In this paper we report that the expression of the dnaA gene is decreased in Dam- strains of E. coli. The decrease in the expression of dnaA was measured in vivo using a dnaA-lacZ gene fusion. In vivo S1 nuclease mapping demonstrated that the decrease was due to a differential decrease in expression from the more proximal of the two dnaA promoters, dnaA2P. Comparison of the strengths of the two dnaA promoters in an in vitro transcription system using methylated and unmethylated DNA templates suggests that the effect of methylation on dnaA2P is probably at the level of RNA polymerase/DNA interaction. We suggest that this effect of methylation may be important in controlling the expression of dnaA during the E. coli cell cycle.
Generalized Minimum Norm And Constrained Total Least Squares With Applications To Array Signal Processing

The minimum norm Total Least Squares (TLS) solution to the linear system of equations AX = B for the case where the rank of the composite matrix [A I B] under no-noise/error-free conditions is strictly less than the number of columns in A is derived. The resulting method of solution is applied to the covariance level ESPRIT problem encountered in the field of sensor array signal processing. The TLS concept is targeted in light of the fact that the linear system of equations derived from ESPRIT at the covariance level is of the form AX = B where A and B are both in error. In contrast, conventional Least Squares only accounts for errors in B. The derivation is based on a projection operator interpretation of TLS1 analogous to the situation with conventional Least Squares in which the solution to AX = B is obtained by first projecting the columns of B onto range CA). The projection operator approach is further utilized to derive the constrained TLS solution when certain columns of A are known to be exact, i. e., free of error. The applicability of the constrained TLS solution for this case to the problem of estimating the source covariance matrix in a uniformly-spaced linear array scenario is discussed.
Uranium and thorium isotope concentrations in foraminiferal calcite

Abstract Uranium and thorium isotope activities were measured by isotope dilution alpha spectrometry in four late Pleistocene and Holocene foraminiferal calcite samples. Sample cleaning methods were utilized to separate calcite tests from contaminating clay and surface oxide coatings. The maximum concentration of lattice bound uranium is 0.023 ppm (10 × 10−9 moles U/mole Ca), consistent with the lowest reported value, 0.025 ppm [1].230Th/234U activity ratios in samples cleaned as described above are much greater than one, indicating that the cleaning methods used do not effectively remove230Th from the surfaces of the calcite. The upper limit for lattice bound232Th is 0.039 ppm (17 × 10−9 moles Th/mole Ca).
Lentivirus-mediated chronic expression of dominant-negative CREB in the dorsal hippocampus impairs memory for place learning and contextual fear conditioning

Abstract Extensive research has shown that the transcription factor CREB has an important role during memory formation. In the present study, we tested a new method for chronic, stable expression of a dominant-negative form of CREB (mCREB) in the dorsal hippocampus using lentiviral vectors. In specific, we tested whether lentivirus-mediated chronic expression of mutant CREB impairs memory for two hippocampus-dependent tasks – place training in the water maze and contextual fear conditioning. Two weeks following intra-hippocampal infusion, experimental (mCREB) and control (LacZ and saline) rats were trained for 30 trials in one session on a place task in a water plus-maze and tested for an additional 30 trials on day 2 and on day 7. On day 8, all rats were trained on a contextual fear conditioning task and tested 24 h later. For place learning, there was no difference between treatment groups on day 1, indicating that treatment with the lentiviral vectors did not alter performance or acquisition of the task. In comparisons with controls, mCREB-treated rats were not significantly impaired on day 2, overall, but they showed significant impairment on day 7. Contextual fear memory was impaired in mCREB-infused rats in comparison with controls. At the end of the experiment, total CREB and phosphorylated CREB protein were measured by western blot. Levels of total CREB were increased by approximately 40% among mCREB-treated rats in comparisons with controls, whereas levels of pCREB did not differ between groups, suggesting that the treatment caused significant expression of mCREB. In addition, mCREB infused rats showed a significant reduction in the pCREB to CREB ratio in comparison with controls, suggesting that the memory deficit seen in mCREB rats is most likely due to disruption of gene regulation caused by expression of mutant CREB. Taken together, the present results show that lentivirus expressing mCREB can be used to effectively alter CREB function within the hippocampus and that the treatment impairs memory for hippocampus-dependent tasks.
Concanavalin a stimulation modifies the lipid and protein structure of rabbit thymocyte plasma membranes. A laser raman study

(1) We have compared the laser Raman spectra of isolated plasma membranes from resting rabbit thymocytes and cells mitogenically stimulated with concanavalin A. (2) Major alterations in the CH stretching, CH deformation and CC stretching regions indicate a different lipid architecture in the membranes from activated cells. (3) Spectral changes in the Amide I and II regions, by reference to the spectra of model compounds indicate greater protein amidation in the membranes from stimulated cells.
Lattice location and clustering of helium in ceramic oxides

The lattice location and clustering of 3 He, implanted at 200 keV, in sapphire and magnesia have been investigated with ion channeling, nuclear reaction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. A typical helium atom implanted in sapphire at 300 K prefers to locate near an octahedral interstice that was intrinsically unfilled by a cation, known as a constitutional vacancy. The occupation of this lattice site dominates over either substitutional placement in irradiation-produced vacancies or aggregation in bubbles. The fraction of implanted helium occupying a unique lattice site decreases for irradiation temperatures greater than about 800 K and becomes negligible above 1073 K. In sapphire, cavities decorating dislocation loops were observed to form for implantation at 1073 K. The inability to assign a definite lattice site for helium in magnesia can be attributed the absence of constitutional vacancies within the crystal structure.
Low‐temperature atmospheric pressure plasma enhanced tooth whitening: the next‐generation technology

Objectives To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the plasma pencil (PP) device in conjunction with H2O2 gel. The purpose of this study was to determine whether LTAPP delivered using the PP would enhance the tooth-whitening process while causing no thermal threat. Methods The study consisted of thirty extracted human teeth that were randomized into two groups: Group I received LTAPP plus 36% H2O2 gel at 10, 15 and 20 min and Group II received 36% H2O2 gel only at the same time intervals. Tooth surface temperature was measured periodically throughout the experiment using a non-contact thermometer. Digital photographs were taken pre- and post-treatment and transferred to Adobe Photoshop for comparison, using the CIELAB Color Value System. Only L* (lightness) values were evaluated in this study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and t-test at the 0.05 level. Results The results revealed a statistically significant difference in mean CIE L* values after exposure to LTAPP plus 36% H2O2 gel, compared with 36% H2O2 only, in the 10- and 20-min groups (P = 0.0003 and 0.0103, respectively). The temperature in both treatment groups remained under 80°F throughout the study, which is below the thermal threat for vital tooth bleaching. Conclusion Utilizing PP device in conjunction with 36% H2O2 safely accelerates and enhances the tooth-whitening process.
An inexpensive infusion pump suitable for chronic administration of liquids to restrained or unrestrained animals

A self-contained, inexpensive, disposable infusion pump is described for chronic or acute administration of solutions. The pump consists of a modified disposable syringe that is capable of delivering liquids at rates which may be varied. Pressure resulting from a chemical reaction within a chamber propels a rubber piston, which in turn expels liquids at a uniform rate.
Biochemical consequences of protein depletion in the rabbit heart

Abstract We showed previously that cardiac function was depressed in rabbits subjected to 6 weeks of protein depletion and was restored after 4 weeks of protein refeeding. To identify nutritional or metabolic factors that underlie cardiac dysfunction, we assessed the nutritional status and myocardial content of energy-providing substrates in three groups of rabbits: group I served as control; group II was fed a protein-free diet; and group III was fed a protein-free diet and then repleted. Animal weights were 2.73 ± 0.22 kg in group I, 1.92 ± 0.28 kg in group II, and 2.78 ± 0.12 kg in group III. Serum albumin concentrations decreased from 3.70 ± 0.12 g/dl in group I to 2.81 ± 0.10 g/dl in group II, and returned to normal (3.71 ± 0.11 g/dl) in group III. The heart weights; myocardial contents of water, nitrogen (N), total fat, and glycogen; skeletal muscle N concentrations; and liver N contents were measured. Protein depletion produced a reduction in total cardiac mass due to decreased nitrogen and glycogen contents, but there was an increased fat content. Comparison with other organs suggests that cardiac muscle plays a role in energy homeostasis, undergoing glycogenolysis and proteolysis similar to those of liver and skeletal muscle. Protein repletion restored normal mass of the heart, but not of the liver. We conclude that adequate nutrition may be important in maintaining cardiac function.
A contribution by ice nuclei to global warming

Ice nuclei (IN) significantly affect clouds via supercooled droplets, that in turn modulate atmospheric radiation and thus climate change. Since the IN effect is relatively strong in stratiform clouds but weak in convective ones, the overall effect depends on the ratio of stratiform to convective cloud amount. In this paper, 10 years of TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) satellite data are analyzed to confirm that stratiform precipitation fraction increases with increasing latitude, which implies that the IN effect is stronger at higher latitudes. To quantitatively evaluate the IN effect versus latitude, large-scale forcing data from ten field campaigns are used to drive a CRM (cloud-resolving model) to generate longterm cloud simulations. As revealed in the simulations, the increase in the net downward radiative flux at the TOA (top of the atmosphere) from doubling the current IN concentrations is larger at higher latitude, which is attributed to the meridional tendency in the stratiform precipitation fraction. Surface warming from doubling the IN concentrations, based on the radiative balance of the globe, is compared with that from anthropogenic COZ . It is found that the former effect is stronger than the latter in middle and high latitudes but not in the Tropics. With regard to the impact of IN on global warming, there are two factors to consider: the radiative effect from increasing the IN concentration and the increase in IN concentration itself. The former relies on cloud ensembles and thus varies mainly with latitude. In contrast, the latter relies on IN sources (e.g., the land surface distribution) and thus varies not only with latitude but also longitude. Global desertification and industrialization provide clues on the geographic variation of the increase in IN concentration since pre-industrial times. Thus, their effect on global warming can be inferred and then be compared with observations. A general match in geographic and seasonal variations between the inferred and observed warming suggests that IN may have contributed positively to global warming over the past decades, especially in middle and high latitudes.
Radiation trapping under conditions of low to moderate line-center optical depth.

We have studied trapping of resonance radiation under conditions of moderate to low line-center optical depths in sodium-argon mixtures. We report measured effective radiative decay rates, which are compared with predictions of the Post [Phys. Rev. A 33, 2003 (1986)] and the Milne [J. Lond. Math. Soc. 1, 40 (1926)] theories of radiation trapping. These theories are expected to be valid for spectral lines with low to moderate line-center optical depths, where the commonly used Holstein [Phys. Rev. 72, 1212 (1947); 83, 1159 (1951)] theory of radiation trapping is expected to break down. The experiment was performed under conditions in which the trapping was dominated by either the Doppler-broadened Gaussian or by the impact-broadened Lorentzian line-shape function. The measured effective radiative decay rates agree well with those predicted by the Milne and Post theories over the range of low to moderate optical depth.