cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Annexin V Antibody to Identify Apoptotic Cells during Pregnancy

In a previous study, we demonstrated that apoptosis increased according to gestational age, accounting partly for the presence of free fetal DNA in maternal plasma and serum. Using simultaneous TUNEL assay and FISH analysis, we identified the fetal origin of part of the apoptotic cell population, but very few TUNEL-positive cells showed hybridization signals since they were in a late apoptosis stage and nuclei were destroyed. In the present study, the apoptotic cell population was identified immunocytochemically using Annexin V, a marker of cells in an early stage of apoptosis. The mean apoptosis rate in mononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood of 20 pregnant women in the 16th to 19th week of pregnancy with Annexin V was 6.8 +/- 0.5% (range: 4.2-8.1%) compared to 6.14 +/- 0.5% (range: 3.7-6.9%) obtained with ethidium bromide staining. FISH using X and Y chromosome-specific probes was applied in 11 cases known to be carrying male fetuses. Eighty percent of Annexin V+ cells showed hybridization signals, while the proportion of apoptotic cells showing X/Y signals was 7.8% (range: 5-12%). Although our results are still preliminary, it seems that use of Annexin V antibody to detect the apoptotic cell population improves FISH analysis and allows a more accurate estimate of the proportion of fetal cells among the apoptotic cell population.
Are Religiousness and Forgiveness Protective Factors for Adolescents Experiencing Peer Victimization

Research has shown peer victimization to have strong lasting effects on adolescents’ mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among religiousness, forgiveness, and mental health in the context of peer victimization. We hypothesized that religiousness and forgiveness could be protective factors against negative effects of peer victimization on internalizing symptomatology and emotion regulation. Participants were 127 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old and their primary caregivers. Results of structural equation modeling analyses show that religiousness might not be a strong protective factor in the context of peer victimization and that certain dimensions of forgiveness (specifically benevolence motivations) might actually exacerbate the effects of peer victimization on internalizing symptomatology rather than acting as a protective factor.
Psychological Adjustment of Lesbians and Gay Men

Previous research has documented that lesbians and gay men proceed through a series of stages in developing a positive lesbian and gay identity. The relationship between lesbian and gay identity and subsequent psychological adjustment has not been evaluated. These empirical studies found that positive lesbian and gay identity is related to psychological adjustment as measured by lower neurotic anxiety and greater ego strength in both an older and a younger sample of lesbians and gay men. Two coping strategies—self-labeling as a homosexual and self-disclosure of sexual orientation to others—were related to development of a positive lesbian or gay identity. These findings suggest that development of a positive lesbian or gay identity is an important task in promoting the psychological adjustment of lesbians and gay men.
Automated Mission Planning via Evolutionary Algorithms

Many space mission planning problems may be formulated as hybrid optimal control problems, that is, problems that include both real-valued variables and categorical variables. In orbital mechanics problems, the categorical variables will typically specify the sequence of events that qualitatively describe the trajectory or mission, and the real-valued variableswill represent the launchdate,flight times betweenplanets,magnitudes anddirections of rocket burns, flyby altitudes, etc. A current practice is to preprune the categorical state space to limit the number of possible missions to a number whose cost may reasonably be evaluated. Of course, this risks pruning away the optimal solution. Themethod to be developed here avoids the need for prepruning by incorporating a new solution approach. The new approach uses nested loops: an outer-loop problem solver that handles the finite dynamics and finds a solution sequence in terms of the categorical variables, and an inner-loop problem solver that finds the optimal trajectory for a given sequence A binary genetic algorithm is used to solve the outer-loop problem, and a cooperative algorithm based on particle swarm optimization and differential evolution is used to solve the inner-loop problem. Thehybrid optimal control solver is successfully demonstrated here by reproducing theGalileo andCassinimissions.
Spread of transcallosally evoked responses in immature association cortex.

Abstract Stimulation of the anterior middle suprasylvian gyrus (AMSG) in kittens (newborn to 6 weeks of age) elicits maximal transcallosally evoked responses (TCR) from homotopic sites in contralateral AMSG and smaller responses at variable distances from the site of homotopic registration. Distant (nonhomotopic) TCRs survive incisions of cortex around the site of stimulation which preserve callosal projections but interrupt lateral connections of the site of stimulation with other regions of AMSG. Nonhomotopic responses may be differentially enhanced or suppressed by changes in stimulus parameters or when conditioned by direct cortical responses. These observations indicate that nonhomotopic TCRs are generated by spread of synaptic activity linearly along the AMSG from homotopic projection sites. In kittens less than 3 weeks old spread of TCRs along the AMSG occurs with greater facility when stimulation is applied to contralateral rostral portions of AMSG than when caudal regions are stimulated. Thus in very young kittens activity generated by TCRs spreads preferentially in a rostral-to-caudal direction. This situation is reversed in kittens older than 3–4 weeks. This reversal of the polarity of preferred spread of TCRs occurs in the late postanatal period and constitutes a maturational event that may be related to the functional development of interhemispheric transactions in association cortex.
Exposure to a Short Photoperiod Increases Sensitivity to Dopamine Inhibition of Prolactin Release from Siberian Hamster Pituitary

Prolactin (PRL) secretion from the anterior pituitary is tonically controlled by the activity of the hypothalamic tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) system. Changes in TIDA activity have been asso
Secure bootstrap is not enough: shoring up the trusted computing base

We propose augmenting secure boot with a mechanism to protect against compromises to field-upgradeable devices. In particular, secure boot standards should verify the firmware of all devices in the computer, not just devices that are accessible by the host CPU. Modern computers contain many autonomous processing elements, such as disk controllers, disks, network adapters, and coprocessors, that all have field-upgradeable firmware and are an essential component of the computer system's trust model. Ignoring these devices opens the system to attacks similar to those secure boot was engineered to defeat.
Another Kind of Science: Christopher Alexander on Democratic Theory and the Built Environment

This article concerns the political ramifications of character-giving, the work we do intensifying our ideals in the environments and populations around us. The premise here is that strategies of character-giving are just as crucial to the construction of a well-ordered society as the promotion of justice or stability. This theme is explored through an examination of the works of Christopher Alexander, a modern urban planner who shares many of the concerns of contemporary political science. Alexander's central project is to learn how to bring a more humane and democratic character to the modern cityscape. This kind of "reconstructive" humanism might be seen as a fitting model for renewal in political science.
Complement Deficiencies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The complement system is a major, multifunctional part of innate immunity and serves as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems. It consists of more than 30 distinct proteins that interact with one another in a specific sequence. There are three pathways of complement activation: the classical, the lectin, and the alternative pathways. The three pathways are initiated by distinct mechanisms, but they all generate the same core set of effector molecules. Inherited complete deficiencies in complement components are generally very rare and predispose to infections and autoimmune disease. One of the better described associations is between deficiencies in early classical pathway components and the development of systemic lupus erythematosus. The goal of this review will be to discuss the associations between and the causal mechanisms of complement deficiencies and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Implementation of the Orbital Maneuvering Systems Engine and Thrust Vector Control for the European Service Module

The European Space Agency (ESA) has entered into a partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop and provide the Service Module (SM) for the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Program. The European Service Module (ESM) will provide main engine thrust by utilizing the Space Shuttle Program Orbital Maneuvering System Engine (OMS-E). Thrust Vector Control (TVC) of the OMS-E will be provided by the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) TVC, also used during the Space Shuttle Program. NASA will be providing the OMS-E and OMS TVC to ESA as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) to integrate into the ESM. This presentation will describe the OMS-E and OMS TVC and discuss the implementation of the hardware for the ESM.
Driver Classification for Optimization of Energy Usage in a Vehicle

Real time monitoring of some key dynamical parameters of a vehicle provide critical information about the driving styles and expectations of vehicle drivers. Some of these key dynamical parameters include vehicle acceleration, braking, speeding index and throttle activity index. This paper presents a simple classifier that uses the estimated values of the above parameters to classify a driver into one of three categories, aggressive, moderate and conservative. The proposed classifier is computationally more efficient compared to other conventional classifiers, such as K-nearest neighbor algorithm, and hidden Markov model. Also, it filters the reference data set in an intelligent fashion. In a dual-power vehicle, such as a hybrid electric vehicle, this kind of classifier can be used to develop an optimum shift schedule, or an optimum engine on-off strategy, and estimate the available amount of regenerative energy.
Adventures in associative-commutative unification

We have discovered an efficient algorithm for matching and unification in associative-commutative (AC) equational theories. In most cases of AC unification our method obviates the need for solving diophantine equations, and thus avoids one of the bottlenecks of other associative-commutative unification techniques. The algorithm efficiently utilizes powerful constraints to eliminate much of the search involved in generating valid substitutions. Moreover, it is able to generate solutions lazily, enabling its use in an SLD-resolution-based environment like Prolog. We have found the method to run much faster and use less space than other associative-commutative unification procedures on many commonly encountered AC problems.
Expression of Bcl-2 extends the survival of olfactory receptor neurons in the absence of an olfactory bulb

In the olfactory neuroepithelium, the number of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) is maintained at a relatively constant level by a precise balance between the elimination of mature receptors and proliferation of their precursors. However, little is known of the mechanisms that couple alterations in receptor death rates to changes in precursor proliferation. To investigate this relationship, we generated a line of mice expressing Bcl-2, a protein with anti-apoptotic properties, in mature olfactory receptor neurons using the Olfactory Marker Protein (OMP) promoter. OMP-bcl-2 transgenic mice showed selective expression of Bcl-2 in mature sensory neurons of the olfactory neuroepithelium (ONE) and vomeronasal organ. Olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) resulted in the death of mature receptor neurons followed by the sustained proliferation of their precursors in wild-type and OMP-bcl-2 transgenic mice. The persistently enhanced proliferation of olfactory neuroblasts that followed bulbectomy was indistinguishable between transgenic and non-transgenic mice. However, receptor neurons that were subsequently born in the absence of the bulb had longer life spans in OMP-bcl-2 mice. The increased proliferation of neuroblasts and extended life spans combined to restore near normal numbers of olfactory receptors in bulbectomized OMP-bcl-2 mice. A model is proposed to explain the dissociation of death and proliferation in OMP-bcl-2 transgenic mice.
Effects of anharmonic strain on the phase stability of epitaxial films and superlattices: Applications to noble metals

Epitaxial strain energies of epitaxial films and bulk superlattices are studied via first-principles total-energy calculations using the local-density approximation. Anharmonic effects due to large lattice mismatch, beyond the reach of the harmonic elasticity theory, are found to be very important in Cu/Au (lattice mismatch 12%), Cu/Ag (12%), and Ni/Au (15%). We find that $〈001〉$ is the elastically soft direction for biaxial expansion of Cu and Ni, but it is $〈201〉$ for large biaxial compression of Cu, Ag, and Au. The stability of superlattices is discussed in terms of the coherency strain and interfacial energies. We find that in phase separating systems such as Cu-Ag the superlattice formation energies decrease with superlattice period, and the interfacial energy is positive. Superlattices are formed easiest on (001) and hardest on (111) substrates. For ordering systems, such as Cu-Au and Ag-Au, the formation energy of superlattices increases with period, and interfacial energies are negative. These superlattices are formed easiest on (001) or (110) and hardest on (111) substrates. For Ni-Au we find a hybrid behavior: superlattices along $〈111〉$ and $〈001〉$ behave like phase separating systems, while for $〈110〉$ they behave like ordering systems. Finally, recent experimental results on epitaxial stabilization of disordered Ni-Au and Cu-Ag alloys, immiscible in the bulk form, are explained in terms of destabilization of the phase separated state due to lattice mismatch between the substrate and constituents.
Synthesis of an Aminooxy Derivative of the Trisaccharide Globotriose Gb3.

The synthesis of α-aminooxy trisaccharide moiety [α-d-Gal-(1,4)-β-d-Gal-(1,4)-β-d-Glc-α-aminooxy], related to the cell surface globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) receptor of the B subunit of the AB5 Shiga toxin of Shigella dysenteriae, has been carried out for the first time in 11 steps with a 15% overall isolated yield. A highlight of this work entails utilizing chemically compatible synthetic transformations, including those related to glycosylation, incorporative of the succinimidyl moiety as a precursor to the aminooxy Gb3 derivative. The fully deprotected trisaccharide aminooxy compound was reacted with a carbonyl compound, leading to oxime formation in quantitative yield, which underscores the importance for future glyco-conjugations.
The use of formamide gradients to distinguish between alkali labile regions and single strand breaks in DNA.

Abstract Velocity sedimentation studies were performed with nitrogen mustard alkylated DNA using both alkaline sucrose and formamide based gradients. The results indicate that the formamide gradients can be used to distinguish between alkali labile regions and single strand breaks in the DNA.
The Dami cell possesses the platelet collagen receptor VLA-2, but does not mobilize calcium

Flow cytometric and Western blot analysis showed that Dami cells possess the major platelet collagen adhesion receptor, the integrin VLA-2, and that VLA-2 was expressed in higher levels in a time-dependent manner in DMSO-induced Dami cells. Both control and DMSO-induced Dami cells were able to adhere to collagen as measured in a microtiter-based adhesion assay. It appeared that collagen adhesion was solely mediated by VLA-2, since inclusion of a monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha-2 subunit of VLA-2 in the adhesion assay was able to totally inhibit adhesion. Although Dami cells possess a variety of platelet markers, and are able to mobilize intracellular calcium in response to ADP, U-46619, and thrombin, they were unable to respond to collagen challenge. We concluded that Dami cells may lack some key transducing element present in platelets that prevents them from being activated by collagen.
The Public School: A Source of Stress and Alienation Among Female Teachers.

Female teachers report greater stress than male teachers, young teachers greater stress than old. A relationship to alienation is not demonstrated.
Use of neural network to predict flash flood and attendant water qualities of a mountainous stream on Oahu, Hawaii

Summary Frequent flash floods of Hawaii streams pose continuous threats to the coastal environment because the streams respond rapidly to high runoff and huge transport quantities of sediments, to which are sorbed nutrients, heavy metals, and persistent hydrophobic organic compounds. High-frequency stream flow and water quality estimation are essential to correctly assess water quality variations and pollutant loads during flash floods, because stream flow and turbidity in Hawaii can change by a factor of 60 and 30, respectively, in 15 min. This study shows the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to assess flash floods and their attendant water quality parameters using measured data of a Hawaii stream. The paper illustrates that ANNs predict stream flow with a correlation coefficient (R) greater than 0.99 and turbidity and specific conductance with R-values greater than 0.80. Although the R-values for the estimation of dissolved oxygen, pH, and water temperature were somewhat low, most of the estimated stream water quality values (turbidity, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, and water temperature) were within the limits of ±30% deviations of the 1:1 line. The R-value for the estimation of stream water qualities could have been significantly improved if high resolution (at 15 min or lower measurement frequency), noise-free, and continuous data were available for a longer period of time. The paper demonstrates that the upstream water quality parameters depend on weather forces and land use of the watershed and the downstream water quality parameters additionally influenced by oceanic tides. Stream stage is found to be an important input parameter for stream flow prediction using ANN; however, the predictive performance of ANN for the estimation of stream flow is improved if weather data, rainfall, and evapotranspiration are included in the input data set.
Cyber Research Ethics Decision Support (CREDS) Tool

This work introduces an applied research and development project, the Cyber Research Ethics Decision Support (CREDS) tool. This effort is motivated to operationalize a decision support methodology, conceptual framework, and an interactive online tool to identify, reason, and manage ethical and legal issues related to cyber-based research (e.g., network and system security). The objectives of the tool are to facilitate research that minimizes potential harm while enabling innovation, and to advance the collective dialogue between and among researchers, oversight entities and policymakers about research ethics principles and practices. The functional goals include: estimating and communicating ethical risk; identifying potential impacts of technology; and measuring and improving judgment and reasoning. The methodology involves deriving principles and practices from established law, ethics and best practices, and then using that output to drive the underlying logic of the tool. The CREDS tool is intended to be a resource for the entire community to engage repeatable and transparent decision making in an effort to prevent unattended harm, diminished public trust, and reputational blowback by association arising from undifferentiated comparisons to public or private surveillance and cyber opportunism.
FAILURE OF ACTINOMYCIN D TO INHIBIT ANTITOXIN PRODUCTION TO A CHALLENGING INJECTION OF ANTIGEN.

SummaryDaily injections of Actinomycin D, which were sufficiently high to produce marked weight losses and other toxic manifestations, failed to eliminate antitoxin production to a challenging injection of tetanus toxoid. Since DNA-dependent RNA synthesis was presumably inhibited, the data support the existence of a persisting inactivated mRNA, in a form which is activated by the reinjection of antigen.
Investigation of flow separation on a supercritical airfoil

Transonic shock/boundary-layer interaction on the upper surface of a supercritical airfoil was investigated in the National Aeronautical Establishment High Reynolds Number Two-Dimensional Test Facility. Skin-friction coefficient measurements on the airfoil surface were carried out using a Preston tube. At the lower Mach number range of the experiments, shock-induced and trailing-edge separation regions were found to exist simultaneously. Detailed experimental measurements were carried out at M = 0.688 and various values of a to investigate the merging of the two separated-flow regions. Steady and unsteady pressure measurements were made for various types of shock/boundary-layer interaction. Pressure power spectra were computed to study the characteristics of pressure fluctuations in the separated-flow regions. Fluctuating normal forces were measured for different types of flow separation, and the behavior of the unsteady load experienced by the airfoil was presented. Broadband cross-correlations of the pressure field were carried out to determine the convection velocities for attached and separated flows.
Decay estimates for wave equations with variable coefficients

We establish weighted L 2 -estimates for dissipative wave equations with variable coefficients that exhibit a dissipative term with a space dependent potential. These results yield decay estimates for the energy and the L 2 —norm of solutions. The proof is based on the multiplier method where multipliers are specially engineered from asymptotic profiles of related parabolic equations.
Relocation models for public housing redevelopment programs

Dans le cadre de la rehabilitation des grands projets de logements publics. Formulation de modeles de plan d'execution pour ces problemes de deplacement. Etude detaillee d'un modele de base pour des populations homogenes de locataire et discussion d'une approximation. Le modele est generalise a des populations heterogenes de locataire et applique avec succes a un programme actuel de redeveloppement des logements publics. La duree du projet est fonction du nombre de logement vacant
Electron Microscopic Features in Generalized Pustular Psoriasis

Basal keratinocyte herniations (BKH) have been used as markers of psoriatic activity. Abnormal multipolypoid forms herniating through large gaps in the basal Iamina have been found to characterize biopsies from psoriatic patients with concomitant alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, and appear to be a marker of excessive proteolytic activity. The finding of similar multipolypoid BKH in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis of the von Zumbusch variety (but not in patients with psoriasis vulgaris), in the absence of concomitant alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, would support the concept of the presence of large amounts of proteolytic enzymes in the dermis of patients with this syndrome. The large proportion of BKH directly associated with dermal neutrophils, and the presence of clusters of high-density BKH overlying collections of dermal neutrophils, suggests that neutrophilic proteases are largely responsible for BKH formation in patients with this syndrome.
Growth, Carcass Traits, and Oxygen Tolerance of Diploid and Triploid Catfish Hybrids

Abstract Allotriploidy was successfully induced in two hybrid catfishes: Female channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male blue catfish I. furcatus (3n = 87) and channel catfish × white catfish I. catus (3n = 82). No significant differences were detected in growth, feed conversion, gonadosomatic index, or dress-out characteristics between diploid and triploid channel catfish × blue catfish raised in 1.3-m-diameter tanks, with the exception of a higher (P = 0.03) condition factor (K) for triploid hybrids. All diploid hybrids had normal gonadal development and histology; however, triploid hybrids were probably not fertile and had abnormal gonadal development, with a single ovary present in 36% of the triploid females. Both testes were present in all males; however, triploid hybrid males had abnormal histology, with no sperm present in seminiferous tubules. Sex ratios did not differ from 1:1 at 14-18 months of age. Growth rate, dress-out percentage, and visceral fat percentage of diploids and triploids did n...
Correlation of optical coherence tomography findings with visual acuity and macular lesions in patients with X-linked retinoschisis.

Purpose To evaluate and correlate findings obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging with visual acuity (VA) and macular lesions in patients with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS). Design Prospective comparative case series. Participants Thirty-one patients with confirmed XLRS. Methods Best-corrected VA was determined using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts, and a dilated funduscopic examination was performed on all patients. For all patients, the macula in each eye was OCT imaged. A correlation between VA, macular presentation, and OCT images was determined. Main outcome measures Analysis of findings on OCT images, including foveal thickness and the area of macular cystic-appearing lesions, and their correlation with VA. Results Twenty-five patients with funduscopically evident cystic-appearing macular lesions demonstrated cysticlike spaces on OCT images. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the macular area of the cysticlike spaces, foveal thickness, and VA. Three patients with no funduscopic or OCT evidence of foveal cysts demonstrated thinning of the fovea on OCT images and more extensive reduction of their VA. Retinal papillomacular bundle nerve fiber layer thickness on OCT images showed no significant difference between control and patient groups. Conclusions In XLRS patients with cystic-appearing macular lesions, there was a lack of correlation between VA, foveal thickness, and cystic area. The anatomical appearance of smaller perifoveal cysts on OCT imaging was most consistent with their location being primarily within the inner nuclear layer of the retina. In older patients, macular cysts were no longer apparent clinically or by OCT imaging, and foveal thickness was reduced. The findings on OCT images are consistent with the hypothesis of a primary Muller cell defect in patients with XLRS.
SATELLITE DNA'S IN THE CRABS Gecarcinus lateralis AND Cancer pagurus

cent of the total DNA, some of which have been localized in organelles other than the nucleus, have been described for many species.' The functions of the satellite DNA's are not known, although the biological role of those DNA's localized in organelles other than the nucleus may be linked to the physiology and duplication of the organelles that contain. them.8 This paper describes our findings with the DNA of another crustacean, the land crab Gecarcinus lateralis. The centrifuge pattern of this DNA is composed of a main band and two satellites. One satellite is similar to, if not identical with, the adenylate- and thymidyla-te-rich satellite9 which has been reported for Cancer species. In addition, present in both G. lateralis and Cancer pagurus is another satellite which is apparently rich in guanylate and cytidylate residues. No studies have been reported on the biological role of satellite DNA in Cancer, in part because of the technical difficulties inherent in maintaining marine Crustacea in the laboratory throughout their molt cycle coupled with the problems of performing long-term labeling experiments under such conditions. The present finding of satellites in the land crab opens the possibility of such studies, since this animal is easily maintained in the laboratory and detailed knowledge of its molt cycle is available.'0 11 Materials and Methods.-Animals: Specimens of Gecarcinus lateralis were obtained and maintained in the laboratory as previously described;'0 specimens of Maia squinado were supplied by the staff of the Biology Station at Roscoff, France; and specimenls of Cancer paqurus were bought at Les Viviers, Roscoff. DNA isolation: Basically the methods of Smith5' 6 were followed with isoamyl alcohol: chloroform (1:24, v/v) as the protein denaturant.12 The concentration of ethylenediaminetetraacetate was increased to 0.2 M in the homogenizing medium because of the high concentrations of Mg++ and Ca++ in this animal.'3 Prior to the final ethanol precipitation the DNA preparations were treated with pancreatic RNase (Worthington; 50 ,ug/ml) for 30 mim at 37?C, followed by Pronase
Computational study of matrix-peptide interactions in MALDI mass spectrometry: Interactions of 2,5-and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid with the tripeptide valine-proline-leucine

The mechanism of matrix-to-analyte proton transfer in matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been investigated computationally by modeling the matrix-analyte interaction of potential MALDI matrixes such as 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB) and 3,5-DHB with the tripeptide valine-proline-leucine (VPL). A combination of molecular dynamics/simulated annealing calculations followed by density functional theory geometry optimization using a reasonably large basis set has been done on a large number of clusters in an attempt to study the ionization energy of each matrix in the cluster environment and the intracluster proton transfer from the matrix to the tripeptide. The calculations show a substantial reduction in the IP for both matrixes in their cluster environments. In the 2,5-system, proton transfer can sometimes occur in the neutral clusters (preformed ions), whereas proton transfer in the cationic clusters, which is actually a double proton transfer, is spontaneous and exoergic. Even though it is more acidic from a thermodynamic perspective, the radical cation of 3,5-DHB is a less efficient proton donor to VPL. The thermodynamics of proton transfer in the cationic clusters is discussed in detail.
A rapid and ultrasensitive method for measurement of DNA, calcium and protein content, and alkaline phosphatase activity of chondrocyte cultures.

Most investigators are cognizant of the problems inherent in counting cells embedded in a complex and abundant extracellular matrix. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a new method of isolating nucleic acids from chondrocytes which facilitates measurement of cell number by DNA analysis. Chondrocytes were isolated from chick embryo sterna and grown continuously without subculturing for 2–3 weeks in monolayer. The cells were treated with triton X-100 and the nucleic acid content of the extract was determined by measuring DNA fluorescence in the presence of Hoechst dye 33258. To minimize background fluorescence due to the triton, we precipitated the DNA with alcohol and then solubilized the nucleic acids in EDTA. This simple procedure removed the detergent and substantially increased the sensitivity of the method. Thus, we could measure with high precision and high recovery, the DNA content of cultures of 10,000–50,000 cells. In a single well containing 0.5–1.0 million cells, sufficient material remained for subsequent measurements of alkaline phosphatase activity and protein and calcium content. As the mineral present in the triton-treated samples was soluble in EDTA, we experienced no problems in measuring the calcium content of the culture. In addition, as triton X-100 is a nonionic detergent, we were able to measure cell and matrix proteins; moreover, the presence of the triton maintained the catalytic state of alkaline phosphatase. We conclude that this procedure provides a simple and rapid approach to measuring major indicators of chondrocyte maturation and function.
Relationship between channel interaction and spectral-ripple discrimination in cochlear implant users.

Cochlear implant (CI) users can achieve remarkable speech understanding, but there is great variability in outcomes that is only partially accounted for by age, residual hearing, and duration of deafness. Results might be improved with the use of psychophysical tests to predict which sound processing strategies offer the best potential outcomes. In particular, the spectral-ripple discrimination test offers a time-efficient, nonlinguistic measure that is correlated with perception of both speech and music by CI users. Features that make this “one-point” test time-efficient, and thus potentially clinically useful, are also connected to controversy within the CI field about what the test measures. The current work examined the relationship between thresholds in the one-point spectral-ripple test, in which stimuli are presented acoustically, and interaction indices measured under the controlled conditions afforded by direct stimulation with a research processor. Results of these studies include the following: (1) within individual subjects there were large variations in the interaction index along the electrode array, (2) interaction indices generally decreased with increasing electrode separation, and (3) spectral-ripple discrimination improved with decreasing mean interaction index at electrode separations of one, three, and five electrodes. These results indicate that spectral-ripple discrimination thresholds can provide a useful metric of the spectral resolution of CI users.
Reductive isopropylation of amino groups in lysine containing peptides

Abstract Model peptides, Gly-Gly-Lys-Arg, Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr, and Pro-Gly-Lys-Ala-Arg were reductively alkylated with [2H6]acetone and sodium borohydride to assess the effects on peptide behavior. Lysine residues were converted to ∊-N-isopropyllysine which eluted between phenylalanine and histidine on amino acid analysis. Amino terminal groups were also modified to an extent which depended on the particular peptide (glycine 100%, arginine 30%, and proline 10%-20%). High voltage paper electrophoresis of native and isopropylated peptides showed similar properties except for minor decreases in the mobility of the modified peptides due mainly to increased molecular weight. Isopropyllysine was not an effective substrate for trypsin, and α-N-isopropyl-amino acids did not form dansyl chloride derivatives. These findings should aid in the location, by peptide mapping techniques, of specific modified residues in reductively isopropylated proteins.
Quinoa flour in baked products.

The performance of quinoa-wheat flour blends (5/95, 10/90, 20/80, 30/70) were evaluated in breads, cakes and cookies. Breads baked with 5% and 10% quinoa flour were of good quality. Loaf volume decreased, crumb grain became more open and the texture slightly harsh at higher usage levels of quinoa flour. A bitter aftertaste was noted at the 30% level. Cake quality was acceptable with 5% and 10% of quinoa flour. Cake grain became more open and the texture less silky as the level of quinoa substitution increased. Cake taste improved with either 5% or 10% quinoa flour in the blend. Cookie spread and top grain scores decreased with increasing levels of quinoa flour blended with high-spread cookie flour. Flavor improved up to 20% quinoa flour in the blend. Cookie spread and cookie appearance was improved with a quinoa/low-spread flour blend by using 2% lecithin.
Copycatting as a Threat to Public Identity

In 4 studies we examined individuals' reactions when another person intentionally copies their distinctive public identity characteristics. In Study 1, participants reacted with anger and a desire to confront the copycat when many (vs. few) public identity characteristics were copied. Study 2 showed that participants did not react negatively to unintended similarity, or when a third party verified participants' ownership of intentionally copied characteristics. In Study 3, negative reactions to copycatting were elevated when a third party erroneously attributed the copied characteristics to the copycat but were not when imagining another person's characteristics being copied. In Study 4, negative reactions to copycatting were attenuated among participants led to focus on intrinsic, versus publicly observable, characteristics of their identity. The results of the present studies provide initial evidence of the threat to one's public identity posed by copycatting.
Cytoarchitecture of the fetal murine soleus muscle

The organogenesis of the soleus muscle of the 129 ReJ mouse (a mixed muscle, which in the adult contains approximately equal numbers of slow-twitch oxidative and fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic myofibers) was studied in spaced, serial transverse, and longitudinal sections of muscles of 14-, 16-, and 18-day in utero and 1- and 5-day postnatal mice. A discrete soleus muscle was distinguished by 14 days in utero. It consisted of groups of closely apposed primary myotubes displaying junctional complexes and a pleomorphic population of mononucleated cells. Between 14 and 16 days in utero there was little de novo myotube formation. At 16 days in utero, basal lamina surrounded groups of primary myotubes; and primitive motor endplates were found on these myotubes. At 18 days in utero, the basal-lamina-enclosed groups of primary myotubes were no longer present. At this stage, basal lamina surrounded clusters (consisting of one primary myotube and one or more secondary myotubes) or independent myotubes (single myotubes surrounded by their own basal lamina). Cluster formation and cluster dispersal occurred concurrently, beginning at 18 days in utero and extending until birth. At birth, there was still a substantial population of immature, secondary myotubes that interdigitated with larger, more mature primary myofibers. At this stage, intermuscular axons had begun to myelinate, and postsynaptic specialization of the motor endplates had begun. Cluster dispersal and myonuclear migration was completed during the first 5 days postnatally with the muscle taking on adult characteristics. Beginning at 16 days in utero and extending into the neonatal period, there was evidence of myotube death in the soleus muscle.
Solid-state lidar measurements at 1 and 2 μm

Solid state lasers are being actively investigated for use as efficient and long-lived optical sources in a wide variety of lidar/laser remote sensing systems. We have recently developed a short-pulse 1 micron Nd:YAG coherent Doppler lidar and a direct-detection 2.1 micron Ho lidar/DIAL in order to study the potential usage of such laser sources for atmospheric and hard target lidar measurements. In this paper, we review some of our recent work regarding these two lidar systems.
Analysis of Discontinuities in Time-Dependent Adhesive Fracture

Abstract The adhesive fracture energy of a bond system consisting of a soft adhesive bonded to several elastomers has been evaluated over a wide range of temperature and rate. It was found that the shift factors used to superpose bond data at different temperatures displayed time-dependent features of both the adhesive interlayer and the elastomeric backing/substrate, indicating thermorheologically complex behavior. Individual contributions of the various bond components to the overall response of the joint have been quantitatively described in terms of their weight fractions and plateau moduli. Adhesive fracture energy mastercurves obtained by superposition of data exhibited two pronounced discontinuities. Both of these discontinuities corresponded to changes in adhesive failure mode and one was related to the rubber-to-glass transition of the adhesive. Previous researchers have described the magnitude of this later discontinuity in terms of the simple extension properties of the adhesive. In this work, ...
Multimodality Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring during Onyx Embolization of Cerebrovascular Malformations

General anesthesia prohibits neurological examination during embolization of cerebrovascular malformations when provocative testing prior to pedicle occlusion is needed. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has the potential to fill this gap but remains relatively unexplored. We conduct a retrospective review of consecutive patients with cerebrovascular malformations treated with Onyx (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide) embolization under general anesthesia with IONM from 2009 to 2012. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs), visual evoked potential (VEPs), auditory brainstem response (ABR), and electroencephalography (EEG) were used selectively in all patients depending on the location of the malformation. Provocative testing combined with IONM was performed in 28 patients over 75 sessions. Three patients demonstrated changes in TcMEPs or ABR during provocative testing, which halted the planned embolization. Two patients demonstrated changes in baseline SSEPs after embolization, despite normal IONM during provocative testing, correlating with postprocedural contralateral weakness. Six patients developed visual deficits after arterial occlusion despite unchanged VEPs and occipital EEG during provocative testing and embolization. We therefore conclude that the sensitivity of TcMEPs and SSEPs is preferable to EEG, and we strongly caution against relying on occipital recorded VEPs to predict visual deficits.
C 3 gets a vote of confidence

Just about a year and a half ago, with the change of administration, my term as assistant secretary of defense for command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) ended. My interest in and concern for the readiness of C3 systems has remained high, as has the attention of the media. While in Washington, I often had to respond to questions concerning the effectiveness and survivability of our strategic C3 systems. My answer to these challenges was an affirmation of confidence in these systems and in their ability to fulfill their essential role as part of our strategic deterrent to nuclear war. In view of the continued concern expressed in the media, an update of arguments to support that confidence is in order.
Anomalous metamagnetic behavior in molecular decamethylmanganocenium 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinoneide [MnCp∗2][DDQ]

Abstract The molecular electron transfer salt [MnCp ∗ 2 ][DDQ] is shown to have a metamagnetic behavior below the Neel temperature 8.5 K. Anomalous behavior occurs below 4 K in the form of a large hysteresis and remnant magnetization. We derive an equilibrium phase diagram and a unique set of two non-equilibrium phase diagrams from our experimental results.
Phantom-based Comparison of the Accuracy of Point Clouds Extracted from Stereo Cameras and Laser Range Scanner

Using computational models, images acquired pre-operatively can be updated to account for intraoperative brain shift in image-guided surgical (IGS) systems. An optically tracked textured laser range scanner (tLRS) furnishes the 3D coordinates of cortical surface points (3D point clouds) over the surgical field of view and provides a correspondence between these and the pre-operative MR image. However, integration of the acquired tLRS data into a clinically acceptable system compatible throughout the clinical workflow of tumor resection has been challenging. This is because acquiring the tLRS data requires moving the scanner in and out of the surgical field, thus limiting the number of acquisitions. Large differences between acquisitions caused by tumor resection and tissue manipulation make it difficult to establish correspondence and estimate brain motion. An alternative to the tLRS is to use temporally dense feature-rich stereo surgical video data provided by the operating microscope. This allows for quick digitization of the cortical surface in 3D and can help continuously update the IGS system. In order to understand the tradeoffs between these approaches as input to an IGS system, we compare the accuracy of the 3D point clouds extracted from the stereo video system of the surgical microscope and the tLRS for phantom objects in this paper. We show that the stereovision system of the surgical microscope achieves accuracy in the 0.46-1.5mm range on our phantom objects and is a viable alternative to the tLRS for neurosurgical applications.
A study of mental retardation in children in the Island of Hawaii

Eighty-one probands from an initial population of 223 school-aged retarded individuals were assessed by history, clinical examination and, where appropriate, cytogenetic analysis. In 51 individuals, the retardation occurred as an isolated event within the family, whereas 30 patients had a family history of retardation. In 39 of the isolated individuals, the retardation was either related to environmental factors or associated with a major neurological abnormality. The remaining 12 patients were phenotypically normal with no cytogenetic abnormality. Of the 30 probands from 15 families with a history of retardation, 3 families had X-linked syndromes. One, with 4 proband daughters, had the mar(X) syndrome and two families were considered to have the phenotypically similar syndrome but without demonstrating the mar(X). In an additional 5 families, the distribution and clinical features of the affected individuals were compatible with nonspecific X-linked mental retardation.
The Absorption Spectrum of the Free NCO Radical

Two systems of absorption bands have been observed in the visible and ultra-violet regions of the spectrum during the flash photolysis of several organic cyanates, and have been photographed under high resolution with long absorbing paths. Extensive vibrational and rotational analyses have been carried out for the bands of one system and show that the spectrum is due to an electronic transition $\Lambda $($^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$) $\leftarrow $ X($^{2}\Pi \_{i}$) of the free NCO radical, which is linear in both states. All three vibrational frequencies and the first-order anharmonic constants have been obtained for the upper state, $\Lambda $($^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$), and give a close fit to the term values of 21 observed vibrational levels. A Fermi resonance has been observed between $\nu \_{1}^{\prime}$ and 2$\nu \_{2}^{\prime}$. In addition, the rotational constants B$^{\prime}$ and D$^{\prime}$ and their variations with all three fundamental vibrations have been obtained for this state. Transitions have been observed from four excited levels of the bending vibration in the lower state, X($^{2}\Pi \_{i}$), and the rotational constants have been determined for some of these levels. Interaction between the electronic and vibrational motions (Renner effect) complicates the vibrational structure of this state. The state belongs to Hund's coupling case (a), and the spin-orbit coupling gives a splitting A$^{\prime \prime}$ = -95.6 cm$^{-1}$. In a $^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$ vibronic level of this state (arising from l = 1 and A = 1) the spin splitting is proportional to N + $\frac{1}{2}$, but the spin-splitting constant $\gamma $ is unusually large, and amounts to 30% of the B value. The electronic states of NCO are correlated with those of its dissociation products. This shows that the bond dissociation energy of the CO bond is slightly greater than that of the CN bond in the three known states.