cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biologically Closed Electrical Circuits and Voltage Gated Ion Channels in Plants

The Venus flytrap is a marvel of plant electrical, mechanical and biochemical engineering. The rapid closure of the Venus flytrap upper leaf in about 0.1 s is one of the fastest movements in the plant kingdom. We found earlier that the electrical stimulus between a midrib and a lobe closes the Venus flytrap upper leaf without mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs. The Venus flytrap can accumulate small subthreshold charges, and when the threshold value is reached, the trap closes. Thigmonastic movements in the sensitive plant Mimosa pudica L., associated with fast responses to environmental stimuli, appear to be regulated through electrical and chemical signal transductions. The thigmonastic responses of Mimosa pudica can be considered in three stages: stimulus perception, electrical signal transmission, and induction of mechanical, hydrodynamical and biochemical responses. We investigated the mechanical movements of the pinnae and petioles in Mimosa pudica induced by the electrical stimulation of a pulvinus, petiole, secondary pulvinus, or pinna by low electrical voltage and charge. Both voltage and electrical charge are responsible for the electro stimulated closing of a leaf. The mechanism behind closing the leaf in Mimosa pudica is discussed. The hydroelastic curvature mechanism closely describes the kinetics of Mimosa pudica leaf movements.
The quorum-quenching metallo-γ-lactonase from Bacillus thuringiensis exhibits a leaving group thio effect

Lactone-hydrolyzing enzymes derived from some Bacillus species are capable of disrupting quorum sensing in bacteria that use N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as intercellular signaling molecules. Despite the promise of these quorum-quenching enzymes as therapeutic and anti-biofouling agents, the ring opening mechanism and the role of metal ions in catalysis have not been elucidated. Labeling studies using (18)O, (2)H, and the AHL lactonase from Bacillus thuringiensis implicate an addition-elimination pathway for ring opening in which a solvent-derived oxygen is incorporated into the product carboxylate, identifying the alcohol as the leaving group. (1)H NMR is used to show that metal binding is required to maintain proper folding. A thio effect is measured for hydrolysis of N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone and the corresponding thiolactone by AHL lactonase disubstituted with alternative metal ions, including Mn(2+), Co(2+), Zn(2+), and Cd(2+). The magnitude of the thio effect on k(cat) values and the thiophilicity of the metal ion substitutions vary in parallel and are consistent with a kinetically significant interaction between the leaving group and the active site metal center during turnover. X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms that dicobalt substitution does not result in large structural perturbations at the active site. Finally, substitution of the dinuclear metal site with Cd(2+) results in a greatly enhanced catalyst that can hydrolyze AHLs 1600-24000-fold faster than other reported quorum-quenching enzymes.
Considerations in the choice of an Internet search tool

In an effort to better speculate whether a certain set of factors plays a role in information professionals’ choice of Internet search tools, this article describes a survey conducted by the author of MSLS/MSIS graduate students and professional librarians at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Background discussion on Internet search tool design, usability, field testing, and future development is provided. Two sets of factors were defined for this study, one describing utility functions of search tools, the other describing the convenience or ease of use of search tools. The survey reveals a trend in choosing a preferred Internet search tool based on utility factors as opposed to convenience factors. It also suggests a preference for search engines as opposed to subject catalogs. Comprehensive, encompassing results are found to be more important than ease of use of a particular search tool.
FC01-03 - High-K reproductive strategy as a negative predictor of PTSD

This study examined the associations between a high-K fitness strategy (i.e., a Darwinian reproductive strategy where the individual invests significantly in a small number of offspring) and PTSD on a sample of 1400 disaster workers who had exposure to a singular traumatic event (the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City). The participants underwent psychological evaluations consisting of 1) Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and 2) PTSD Checklist (PCL). The participants were also administered the 3) High-K Strategy Scale (HKSS) (Giosan, 2006). Other factors, such as demographics, prior trauma, prior psychiatric history, and the severity of exposure to 9/11 were also captured. The results showed that HKSS score was an important negative predictor of PTSD, accounting for 10% of the variance in the PCL and 5% of the variance in the CAPS, after controlling for demographics, prior trauma, prior psychiatric history and the severity of exposure to 9/11. The findings speak against the evolutionary view that PTSD symptoms are adaptive while strengthening the evolutionary view that PTSD is the expression of an overlearned survival response in vulnerable individuals (Silove, 1998), which, when activated, can have significant negative effects on fitness.
Evaluation of polymerization rate by chain length dependence on polymer–polymer termination and primary radical termination in radical polymerization

In order to analyze the polymerization rate at high initiation rate and/or low monomer concentration, the rate equations are derived by a rate formulated previously for polymer–polymer termination and another rate for primary radical termination, which is formulated here (both rates depend on chain length of polymer radical). Such equations would be applicable to the kinetic data in the polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate. This shows that the assumption that both rates are independent of chain length overestimates the rate of primary radical termination.
The Theory of Contractual Incentives for Cost Reduction

I. The basic contract types, 258. — II. The contractor's profit maximization problem, 261. — III. Outlay minimization by the government as buyer, 271. — IV. Consistency with empirical evidence, 273. — V. Toward a theory of risk aversion, 276. — VI. Some broader implications, 278.
Vocational Maturity: Its Past, Present, and Future Development.

Abstract A review and critical analysis of various approaches used in studying vocational maturity revealed that its viability was generally supported, yet remained questionable because of the conflicting results of previous research and the lack of applying these results to counseling. This analysis provided the basis for conceptualizing vocational maturity development as being analogous to and not separate from personality development. Proposed research studies were mentioned which would test basic relationships between vocational maturity development and various aspects of personality development.
A new heuristic for project scheduling with a single resource constraint

Abstract A new priority based heuristic procedure is proposed for scheduling project activities. This procedure attempts to minimize the project duration while satisfying the resource constraint. Numerical comparison shows that the proposed procedure compares favorably with a recent technique (TIMGEN) introduced by Elsayed and Nasr (1986).
Study of the mobility, surface area, and sintering behavior of agglomerates in the transition regime by tandem differential mobility analysis

The surface area of nanosized agglomerates is of great importance as the reactivity and health effects of such particles are highly dependent on surface area. Changes in surface area through sintering during nanoparticle synthesis processes are also of interest for precision control of synthesised particles. Unfortunately, information on particle surface area and surface area dynamics is not readily obtainable through traditional particle mobility sizing techniques. In this study, we have experimentally determined the mobility diameter of transition regime agglomerates with 3, 4, and 5 primary particles. Agglomerates were produced by spray drying well-characterised polystyrene latex particles with diameters of 55, 67, 76, and 99 nm. Tandem differential mobility analysis was used to determine agglomerate mobility diameter by selecting monodisperse agglomerates with the same number of primary particles in the first DMA, and subsequently completely sintering the agglomerates in a furnace aerosol reactor. The size distribution of the completely sintered particles was measured by an SMPS system, which allowed for the determination of the number of primary particles in the agglomerates. A simple power law regression was used to express mobility diameter as a function of primary particle size and the number of primary particles, and had an excellent correlation (R2 = 0.9971) with the experimental data. A scaling exponent was determined from the experimental data to relate measured mobility diameter to surface area for agglomerates. Using this relationship, the sintering characteristics of agglomerates were also examined for varying furnace temperatures and residence times. The sintering data agreed well with the geometric sintering model (GSM) model proposed by Cho & Biswas (2006a) as well as with the model proposed Koch & Friedlander (1990) for sintering by viscous flow.
A new method for sequence analysis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides

The structure of an oligodeoxyribonucleotide may be determined by a simple two-dimensional separation on a polyethyleneimine-cellulose thin layer sheet. Chromatography in the first dimension fractionates by chain length a nested set of fragments that are generated by subjecting the oligomer to partial spleen phosphodiesterase degradation and then labelling their non-common ends with 32P using polynucleotide kinase. A subsequent in situ treatment with nuclease Bal 31 produces labelled mononucleotides, and these are identified by chromatography in the second dimension. Since the method does not identify the 3' terminal nucleotide, a convenient procedure involving 3' end labelling followed by enzymatic digestion to monomers has been developed for this purpose. This approach to sequence analysis also has the advantage of permitting assignment of the identity and location of any modified or unusual bases within the oligonucleotide.
Women's experiences of victimizing sexualization, Part I: Responses related to abuse and home and family environment.

Qualitative, interpretive research was conducted with ten adult women who felt that their experiences of learning about themselves as female and sexual had been harmful. The term “victimizing sexualization” was developed to identify this experience, and a thematic description of these women's experiences was derived. Components of their experiences were described within four major categories, including perceptions and descriptions directly related to abuse experiences, home and family environments, community and cultural characteristics, and longer term personal impacts. This article reports on two of the major thematic categories: perceptions and descriptions related to abuse experiences and home and family environment. Findings of this study establish “victimizing sexualization” as a meaningful women's health construct with important connections to feminist perspectives on women's lives.
Air monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in the Great Lakes: IADN vs. AEOLOS

When designing a monitoring campaign, one has to consider many factors in the decision to perform a long-term synoptic monitoring program or a short-term intensive study. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. This paper compares and contrasts the information obtained from two studies conducted on the Laurentian Great Lakes. One, the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN), is a long-term synoptic monitoring study and the other, the Atmospheric Exchange Over Lakes and Oceans (AEOLOS), was a short-term intensive study. The advantages of long-term synoptic monitoring programs are providing greater spatial information, the relative influence of long and short-range transport on the regional background, gross loadings representative of the majority of each lake and long-term temporal trends. Short-term intensive studies provide more information on the processes governing sources, transport and deposition, such as the urban/industrial influence on adjacent large water bodies, specific sources to an urban/industrial area and short-term fluctuations in concentrations due to meteorology, source strength and photochemical reactions. Using information provided by both the IADN and AEOLOS studies, areas of urban influence are predicted for each of the five Great Lakes.
Differential Expression of Interleukin-17A and -17F Is Coupled to T Cell Receptor Signaling via Inducible T Cell Kinase

T helper 17 (Th17) cells play major roles in autoimmunity and bacterial infections, yet how T cell receptor (TCR) signaling affects Th17 cell differentiation is relatively unknown. We demonstrate that CD4(+) T cells lacking Itk, a tyrosine kinase required for full TCR-induced phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma1) activation, exhibit decreased interleukin-17A (IL-17A) expression in vitro and in vivo, despite relatively normal expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-gammaT (ROR-gammaT) and IL-17F. IL-17A expression was rescued by pharmacologically induced Ca(2+) influx or constitutively activated nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). Conversely, decreased TCR stimulation or calcineurin inhibition preferentially reduced IL-17A expression. We further found that the promoter of Il17a but not Il17f has a conserved NFAT binding site that bound NFATc1 in wild-type but not Itk-deficient cells, even though both exhibited open chromatin conformations. Finally, Itk(-/-) mice also showed differential regulation of IL-17A and IL-17F in vivo. Our results suggest that Itk specifically couples TCR signaling to Il17a expression and the differential regulation of Th17 cell cytokines through NFATc1.
The physiological effect of acute vagal section on canine biliary dynamics.

Abstract The effects of acute vagal section upon canine biliary dynamics are reported. The most important dynamic change is the decrease in passage pressure at both the cystic duct sphincter zone and the choledochal duodenal junction sphincter.
A primogenitary linked quad tree data structure and its application to discrete multiple criteria optimization

A data structure called the primogenitary linked quad tree is developed. Each node in the data structure has a pointer to its parent, a pointer to its immediate existing younger sibling, a pointer to its eldest existing son, and an integer as its successorship to its parent. To access any other son of a node, the first-born existing son must be accessed first. The siblings of the same parent are managed as a linked list. This data structure is an extension or enhancement of the traditional quad tree data structure. The primogenitary linked quad tree is applied to discrete multiple criteria optimization for the identification, storage, and retrieval of nondominated criterion vectors. Algorithms managing this data structure are developed and implemented. Major advantages of using the primogenitary linked quad tree instead of the traditional quad tree are savings in memory or storage space and savings in execution time. Examples are provided to demonstrate the application. A computational experiment is conducted to test the performances of the data structure and the algorithms. Computational results show that this data structure uses only a small fraction of the CPU time used by the traditional quad tree to perform the same task. Using this data structure, the identification, storage and retrieval of nondominated criterion vectors become an easy task for discrete multiple criteria optimization problems with many criteria and hundreds of thousands criterion vectors. This data structure can also be used for storage and retrieval of data with composite keys in other applications.
Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Caruncle

Purpose To report a case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, a highly aggressive variant of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. Methods We examined and treated a 57-year-old man with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the caruncle, a highly unusual site for this tumor. Results In the past, simple excision of this tumor has been followed by rapid recurrence. Our patient underwent wide surgical excision of the tumor and has shown no evidence of recurrence after 16 months of follow-up. Conclusion Mucoepidermoid carcinoma may first manifest in the caruncle. Histologically verified, tumor-free surgical margins are necessary for complete excision.
Physical activity and maternal-fetal circulation measured by Doppler ultrasound.

To examine the association of physical activity on maternal–fetal circulation measured by uterine and umbilical artery Doppler flow velocimetry waveforms. Participants included 781 pregnant women with Doppler ultrasounds of the uterine and umbilical artery and who self-reported past week physical activity. Linear and generalized estimating equation regression models were used to examine these associations. Moderate-to-vigorous total and recreational activity were associated with higher uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and an increased risk of uterine artery notching as compared with reporting no total or recreational physical activity, respectively. Moderate-to-vigorous work activity was associated with lower uterine artery PI and a reduced risk of uterine artery notching as compared with no work activity. No associations were identified with the umbilical circulation measured by the resistance index. In this epidemiologic study, recreational and work activity were associated with opposite effects on uterine artery PI and uterine artery notching, although associations were modest in magnitude.
Anti-MRSA activity of alkyl gallates.

Abstract A series of alkyl gallates (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoates) was found to show antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. For example, dodecyl (C12) gallate (1) exhibited bactericidal activity against MRSA ATCC 33591 strain with the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 25 μg/mL (74 μM). The time–kill curve study showed that dodecyl gallate is bactericidal against this MRSA strain. This bactericidal activity comes in part from its ability to inhibit respiratory electron transport systems. The length of the alkyl chain is not a major contributor but plays an important role in eliciting the activity.
Review: Channel allocation in multi-channel wireless mesh networks

In this article, we survey the latest progress in multi-channel wireless mesh networks, focusing on wireless interference models and channel allocation algorithms with the goal of maximizing the network performance. We present the studies of different interference models and illustrate how they could affect the design of channel assignment. We also summarize channel allocation algorithms with different strategies in both omni-directional and directional antenna networks. We conclude that both static and dynamic channel allocation strategies have advantages and disadvantages, and the design of channel allocation algorithms strongly depends on the interference model and the assumption of network traffic.
On the motion following isochoric heating of concentric liquid annuli

Abstract When adjacent liquid slabs are separated by void gaps and suddenly heated throughout, each slab will split into two parts, which then move away from each other. If there are n initial gaps, there will eventually be at least n(n + 1) 2 collisions. If the initial heating is non-uniform, the collisions will act to smear or average out the momentum generated within the fluid. Moreover, if the flow field is divergent, cavities will form in the liquid, the collisions will be inelastic, and energy will be dissipated. These phenomena were studied in connection with the design of an inertial confinement fusion reactor in which an array of concentric liquid lithium annuli, or close-packed jets, is suddenly penetrated by high-energy neutrons and simultaneously exposed to surface deposition of X-rays and ionic debris. It is shown that such a design can be very effective in reducing the outward-directed momentum and thus the impulse imparted to the reactor walls.
Fluordeoxyuridine and Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma

Excerpt To the editor: From their study of the use of intrahepatic or systemic infusion of fluorodeoxyuridine in patients with liver metastases from colorectal Carcinoma, Kemeny and colleagues (1) ...
Mixing of submillimeter wave radiation in metal-metal and metal-semiconductor point contact diodes∗☆

Abstract Point contact diodes of tungsten on metal and tungsten on semiconductors were used as direct mixers of two submillimeter lasers. Their performance as both mixers and video detectors was studied and compared to their low-frequency I - V characteristics. The observed behavior was in some respects inconsistent with the mechanisms usually advanced to explain the operation of such diodes.
Persistent Unstable Periodic Motions, I

We study the initial value problems of the two dimensional system:[formula]whereI(t)=Ii+ϵtis a slowly varying parameter,f(u, t, I) is analytic on all variables and periodic ontwith period 2π/ω, andu0(t, I) are periodic solutions of the system[formula]whereIis a constant parameter. We assume that the variational equations of (0.2),wt=fv(u0(t, I), t, I)w, have the corresponding characteristic exponents λ1(I), λ2(I)=λ1(I) which move across the imaginary axis from the left half complex plane to the right half complex plane asIincreases pastI−. We show that under the nonresonant conditions H4 and H5 that ω≠(2/n)|Im λ1(I−)| forn∈N (in Section 4), along with other generic conditions such as H1–H3 below, the separations ofu(I(t)) fromu0(t1+t, I(t)) do not occur at the critical point whereI(t)=I−, rather, the bifurcations are substantially delayed untilI(t)=Ii+ϵtreachesIq>I−which is independent of ϵ, as ϵ→0+. In other words, |u(t)−u0(t1+t, I(t))|=0(ϵ) fort∈{t: Ii≤I(t)≤Iq} for someIq=Iq(Ii)>I−independent of ϵ, when ϵ→0+. An exact formula forIqis given for general situations. In near resonance cases, a sharp estimate ofIqis also derived.
The effects of ventilation on residential air pollution due to emissions from a gas-fired range

Abstract The use of indoor combustion appliances can cause an increase in the levels of many different pollutants. The work presented here shows the usefulness of a model for extrapolating environmental chamber results on pollutant emissions from combustion appliances to determine indoor pollutant concentrations in actual residences. In addition, the effects of infiltration, whole-house ventilation, and spot ventilation on pollutant levels are investigated. The results show that a range hood is the most effective means of removing pollutants emitted from a gas-fired range; removal rates varied from 60% to 87%.
Kilohertz Quasi-periodic Oscillations in Neutron Star Binaries Modeled as Keplerian Oscillations in a Rotating Frame of Reference

Since the discovery of kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in neutron star binaries, the difference between peak frequencies of two modes in the upper part of the spectrum, i.e., Δω = ωh - ωK has been studied extensively. The idea that Δω is constant and (as a beat frequency) is related to the rotational frequency of the neutron star has been tested previously. The observed decrease of Δω when ωh and ωK increase has weakened the beat frequency interpretation. We put forward a different paradigm: a Keplerian oscillator under the influence of the Coriolis force. For such an oscillator, ωh and the assumed Keplerian frequency ωK hold an upper hybrid frequency relation: ωh2 - ωK2 = 4Ω2, where Ω is the rotational frequency of the star's magnetosphere near the equatorial plane. For three sources (Sco X-1, 4U 1608-52, and 4U 1702-429), we demonstrate that the solid-body rotation Ω = Ω0 = const. is a good first order approximation. Within the second-order approximation, the slow variation of Ω as a function of ωK reveals the structure of the magnetospheric differential rotation. For Sco X-1, the QPOs have frequencies ~45 and 90 Hz which we interpret as the first and second harmonics of the lower branch of the Keplerian oscillations for the rotator with Ω not aligned with the normal of the disk: ωL/2π = (Ω/π)(ωK/ωh) sin δ, where δ is the angle between Ω and the vector normal to the disk.
The Coe Ridge Colony: A Racial Island Disappears

The ninety year history of a racial isolate in the Kentucky-Tennessee border is examined. Peopled by a mixed population of Whites, Blacks, and, occasionally, Indians, the community received notoriety as an enclave for fugitives from the law of neighboring jurisdictions. Its demise came in 1958 as a result of changing land use and increasing tensions between the residents and those of the environing White society.
Social Disinterest Attitudes and Group Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training for Functional Disability in Schizophrenia

The majority of clinical trials of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for schizophrenia have used individual therapy to target positive symptoms. Promising results have been found, however, for group CBT interventions and other treatment targets like psychosocial functioning. CBT for functioning in schizophrenia is based on a cognitive model of functional outcome in schizophrenia that incorporates dysfunctional attitudes (eg, social disinterest, defeatist performance beliefs) as mediators between neurocognitive impairment and functional outcome. In this report, 18 clinical trials of CBT for schizophrenia that included measures of psychosocial functioning were reviewed, and two-thirds showed improvements in functioning in CBT. The cognitive model of functional outcome was also tested by examining the relationship between social disinterest attitudes and functional outcome in 79 people with schizophrenia randomized to either group cognitive-behavioral social skills training or a goal-focused supportive contact intervention. Consistent with the cognitive model, lower social disinterest attitudes at baseline and greater reduction in social disinterest during group therapy predicted better functional outcome at end of treatment for both groups. However, the groups did not differ significantly with regard to overall change in social disinterest attitudes during treatment, suggesting that nonspecific social interactions during group therapy can lead to changes in social disinterest, regardless of whether these attitudes are directly targeted by cognitive therapy interventions.
Gender and Use of Substance Abuse Treatment Services

Women are more likely than men to face multiple barriers to accessing substance abuse treatment and are less likely to seek treatment. Women also tend to seek care in mental health or primary care settings rather than in specialized treatment programs, which may contribute to poorer treatment outcomes. When gender differences in treatment outcomes are reported, however, women tend to fare better than men. Limited research suggests that gender-specific treatment is no more effective than mixed-gender treatment, though certain women may only seek treatment in women-only programs. Future health services research should consider or develop methods for (1) improving care for women who seek help in primary care or mental health settings, (2) increasing the referral of women to specialized addiction treatment, (3) identifying subgroups of women and men who would benefit from gender-specific interventions, and (4) addressing gender-specific risk factors for reduced treatment initiation, continuation, and treatment outcomes.
Synthesis, Characterization, Two‐Photon Absorption, and Optical Limiting Properties of Ladder‐Type Oligo‐p‐phenylene‐Cored Chromophores

This paper reports on the two-photon absorption (TPA) and related up-converted emission properties of a novel series of chromophores containing ladder-type oligo-p-phenylenes with various π-conjugation lengths. The design and synthesis of these ladder-type two-photon chromophores are first discussed. An increase in the π-conjugated length of the ladder-type oligo-p-phenylene for these chromophores leads to an increase in TPA cross-section together with an increased fluorescence quantum yield. These chromophores exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields because of the rigid planar structure of the ladder-type oligomers. The chromophore with an enhanced TPA cross-section together with an increased fluorescence quantum yield would provide significant benefits for two-photon excited fluorescence based applications. An improved optical limiting behavior was also demonstrated using the ladder-type pentaphenylene cored chromophore.
Measurement of extreme-ultraviolet attenuation edges of magnesium, tin, and indium filters

We determined the energies of the Mg L2,3, Sn N4,5, and In N4,5 attenuation edges by measuring the transmission of high-resolution synchrotron radiation through thin filters. The Al L2,3 and Si L3 edges observed in the first and higher diffraction orders from the monochromator were used as energy fiducials. For each attenuation edge, the onset of attenuation with increasing energy and the inflection point of the attenuation curve were measured. The measured energy values were compared with previously determined attenuation edge energies and with electron binding energies. The measured energies of the inflection points are Mg L2 (49.89 ± 0.02 eV), Mg L3 (49.58 ± 0.02 eV), Sn N4 (25.00 ± 0.02 eV), Sn N5 (23.97 ± 0.02 eV), In N4 (17.66 ± 0.02 eV), and In N5 (16.70 ± 0.02 eV).
A mechanism for the size-related differences in mechanical properties of mitral valve chordae

Understanding the structure/function relationship of mitral valve chordae is important to mitral valve repair, chodral transposition and engineering of artificial chordae-like materials. The objectives of this study were to investigate the size-related variations in the mechanical properties of porcine mitral valve chordae, and explain these variations from their intrinsic microstructure. Based on quantification of collagen, water content, fibril crimp, and fibril ultrastructure, we conclude that collagen fiber crimp and collagen fibril packing are responsible for differences in chordal extensibility and modulus, respectively.
Preputial Gland Growth and Protein Synthesis in the Androgen-Insensitive Male Pseudohermaphroditic Rat

The androgen-dependent growth of the preputial gland was studied in normal (Nl) male and female rats as well as in the androgen-insensitive Stanley-Gumbreck male pseudohermaphroditic (Ps) rat. Preputial gland weight was 3 times higher in the Nl males than Nl females or Ps rats. Castration of Nl males reduced preputial gland weight to that of females. Administration of testosterone enanthate, 6 mg daily for 10 days, to intact Nl female and castrated Nl males produced 4-fold increases in preputial gland weight, total soluble protein and total RNA; a doubling of total DNA; and a 9-fold increase in β-glucuronidase activity. By contrast, this dose of testosterone enanthate had little effect on the preputial gland of Ps rats, but when treatment was increased 100-fold (60 mg daily) several indexes of preputial gland growth were stimulated, indicating that the genetically determined androgen insensitivity is relative rather than absolute. Since the androgen-dependent control of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis were...
Interneuron Diversity series: Containing the detonation – feedforward inhibition in the CA3 hippocampus

Feedforward inhibitory circuits are involved both in the suppression of excitability and timing of action potential generation in principal cells. In the CA3 hippocampus, a single mossy fiber from a dentate gyrus granule cell forms giant boutons with multiple release sites, which are capable of detonating CA3 principal cells. By contrast, mossy fiber terminals form a larger number of Lilliputian-sized synapses with few release sites onto local circuit interneurons, with distinct presynaptic and postsynaptic properties. This dichotomy between the two synapse types endows the circuit with exquisite control over pyramidal cell discharge. Under pathological conditions where feedforward inhibition is compromised, focal excitation is no longer contained, rendering the circuit susceptible to hyperexcitability.
Preparation for the C-17 GATM/NAV safety functions to meet civil requirements

For the next 10 years new world-wide communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) requirements are being incrementally imposed upon commercial aircraft avionics, and upon the Air Traffic Control community, by the Aviation Administrations of most nations, including the FAA and the JAA. These requirements are the result of a decade of study by the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to improve aviation safety and efficiency. In 2001 the USAF mandated compliance to the CNS requirements for its military aircraft, which is called Navigation Safety/Global Air Traffic Management (NS/GATM) by the USAF. By complying with these requirements, the C-17 will maintain its ability to fly internationally without CNS restrictions, such as requiring special handling. The Phase I study, reported here, is the first phase of a three phase study effort that will result in the C-17 achieving NS/GATM compliance for a specific set of NS/CNS requirements. The purpose of the Phase I study is to: (1) determine what gaps exist between these new requirements and the latest C-17 configurations; (2) what changes to the hardware and software design and development processes must be made at Boeing to assure that the new specifications will be met in the future; and (3) recommend a task plan and a cost estimate for Phase II.
Enumeration encoding and decoding algorithms for pyramid cubic lattice and trellis codes

A pyramid source code is a code that assigns equal-length binary strings to all reproduction codevectors of equal (weighted) /spl epsiv//sub 1/ norm. A pyramid source encoding is partitioned into two concatenated mappings; the first from source word to reproduction codeword within a codebook; the second from the reproduction codevector to a binary string. The first mapping allows distortion and is accomplished using lattice quantization or trellis-coded quantization. The second mapping is noiseless and is denoted as enumeration. Efficient pyramid enumeration encoding and decoding algorithms are presented, for use with fixed-rate or variable-rate pyramid lattice and trellis codes.
Controlling the non-resonant chemical mechanism of SERS using a molecular photoswitch

In this work we present a detailed investigation of the Raman properties of a dithienylethene photoswitch interacting with a small gold cluster (Au19+) using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The enhancement mechanism (CHEM) due to the molecule–surface chemical coupling in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been characterized for this system. We demonstrate that it is possible to control the CHEM enhancement by switching the photoswitch from its closed form to its open form. The open form of the photoswitch is found to be the strongest Raman scatterer when adsorbed on the surface whereas the opposite is found for the free molecule. This trend is explained using a simple two-state approximation. In this model the CHEM enhancement scales roughly as (ωX/e)4, where ωX is the HOMO–LUMO gap of the free molecule and e is an average excitation between the HOMO of the photoswitch and the LUMO of the metal. We propose that the ability of this photoswitch to switch reversibly from open to closed will make it an excellent probe to control the CHEM enhancement of SERS.
Reply to Griffin, Raz, and Wolf

I am honored that Jim Griffin, Joseph Raz, and Susan Wolf, all of whose work I greatly admire, have thought my ideas on welfare and care worth engaging, and I am very grateful to them for doing so. Each has raised searching and difficult questions. Rather than attempting to respond to them seriatim , I propose to discuss the issues under three broad headings: questions about the concept of welfare, questions about care or sympathetic concern, and the question of whether welfare claims have agent-relative or agent-neutral normative force. These issues are, of course, interconnected, but it may nonetheless be helpful to divide them up in these ways.
Mechanisms of transcriptional activation by steroid hormone receptors

Steroid hormones are involved in cell growth, development, and differentiation. The hormonal signal is mediated by nuclear receptors which represent a specific class of transcription factors. During the last few years, the cloning of all the major steroid hormone receptors increased our insight into how the hormonal signal converts the receptor into a transcriptional activator. Good progress has been made towards understanding the mechanism of steroid hormone action. In this review we will discuss the role of heat shock proteins in the process of transcriptional activation, the mechanistic differences between the hormone (agonist) and the antihormone (antagonist), the resulting functional consequences, and a possible mode by which transcriptional activation is mediated. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Parental understanding and attitudes of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and adenotonsillectomy

Summary Objective To explore parental perceptions and knowledge of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and adenotonsillectomy. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting National polling organization. Participants Population-based sample of 584 parents. Intervention Online surveys. Main outcome measures Responses to questions regarding knowledge of pediatric OSA and treatment with adenotonsillectomy. Results Ninety-five percent of parents acknowledged that pediatric OSA is a “serious condition”. Fifteen percent considered themselves to be “knowledgeable” about it. One fifth understood that untreated OSA could lead to cardiopulmonary disease, failure to thrive, or behavioral problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Less than 20% knew that pediatric OSA could be treated with adenotonsillectomy. Thirty-seven percent believed adenotonsillectomy to be an “outdated” procedure. Upon learning that adenotonsillectomy can treat OSA, 82% reported they would be eager to have a child with OSA undergo adenotonsillectomy. Conclusions The majority of parents do not understand symptoms, consequences and treatment of pediatric OSA secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Otolaryngologists should be diligent in communicating issues of this disorder with parents and pediatricians.
IgG4-related dacryoadenitis

Abstract A 44-year-old female presented with bilateral eyelid swelling and painless, palpable mass over the lacrimal gland area for more than 1 year. A bilateral enlarged lacrimal gland with mild contrast enhancement was noted on computed tomography. Biopsy of the lacrimal gland showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with focal hyaline and sclerotic change, and immunohistochemical staining revealed numerous IgG4-positive plasma cells, which was characteristic of IgG4 dacryoadentitis. Serum IgG and IgG4 levels were within normal range. The patient was treated with surgical excision instead of systemic steroid owing to poor tolerance. No tumor recurrence or systemic involvement was noted during the follow-up period. Our case highlights the importance of IgG4 dacryoadenitis in differentiating bilateral lacrimal gland inflammatory conditions. A normal serum IgG4 level does not rule out the diagnosis and surgical excision may be an alternative for those who are considered ineligible for corticosteroid treatment.
Model-lite planning for the web age masses: the challenges of planning with incomplete and evolving domain models

The automated planning community has traditionally focused on the efficient synthesis of plans given a complete domain theory. In the past several years, this line of work met with significant successes, and the future course of the community seems to be set on efficient planning with even richer models. While this line of research has its applications, there are also many domains and scenarios where the first bottleneck is getting the domain model at any level of completeness. In these scenarios, the modeling burden automatically renders the planning technology unusable. To counter this, I will motivate model-lite planning technology aimed at reducing the domain-modeling burden (possibly at the expense of reduced functionality), and outline the research challenges that need to be addressed to realize it.
Reviewing the evidence base for nurse staffing and quality of care in nursing homes

Commentary on: K Spilsbury, C Hewitt, L Stirk, et al.. The relationship between nurse staffing and quality of care in nursing homes: a systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud2011;48:732–50.
Landmine detection and discrimination using high-pressure waterjets

Methods of locating and identifying buried landmines using high-pressure waterjets were investigated. Methods were based on the sound produced when the waterjet strikes a buried object. Three classification techniques were studied, based on temporal, spectral, and a combination of temporal and spectral approaches using weighted density distribution functions, a maximum likelihood approach, and hidden Markov models, respectively. Methods were tested with laboratory data from low-metal content simulants and with field data from inert real landmines. Results show that the sound made when the waterjet hit a buried object could be classified with a 90% detection rate and an 18% false alarm rate. In a blind field test using 3 types of harmless objects and 7 types of landmines, buried objects could be accurately classified as harmful or harmless 60%-90% of the time. High-pressure waterjets may serve as a useful companion to conventional detection and classification methods.
La conciliación antimonopólica

En este trabajo se advierte que no todos los principios y preceptos de la conciliacion civil son susceptibles de aplicacion a la conciliacion establecida en el Decreto Ley 211. Lo expuesto conduce a una doble conclusion: i) la existencia de diferencias especificas que perfilan la conciliacion antimonopolica como una institucion diversa de la conciliacion civil y ii) una supletoriedad limitada o parcial de la normativa que rige la conciliacion civil respecto de la conciliacion antimonopolica.
Caprine arthritis encephalitis lentivirus transmission and disease.

Lentiviruses occur in several species of animals and those that share DNA sequence homology with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) include equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) of horses, maedi/visna virus of sheep, and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) of goats (Chiu et al. 1985; Sonigo et al. 1985; Pyper et al. 1986). Visna virus and related lentiviruses of sheep are distinguished from goat CAEV isolates by nucleic acid hybridization, DNA sequence, and immunologic reactivity (reviewed in Cheevers and McGuire 1988); however, the viruses can reciprocally infect sheep or goats (Banks et al. 1983).
Simulation of Ni-MH Batteries via an Equivalent Circuit Model for Energy Storage Applications

Impedance measurement was conducted at the entire cell level for studying of the Ni-MH rechargeable batteries. An improved equivalent circuit model considering diffusion process is proposed for simulation of battery impedance data at different charge input levels. The cell capacity decay was diagnosed by analyzing the ohmic resistance, activation resistance, and mass transfer resistance of the Ni-MH cells with degraded capacity. The capacity deterioration of this type, Ni-MH cell, is considered in relation to the change of activation resistance of the nickel positive electrodes. Based on the report and surface analysis obtained from the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, the composition formula of metal-hydride electrodes can be closely documented as the AB5 type alloy and the “A” elements are recognized as lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce). The capacity decay of the Ni-MH cell is potentially initiated due to starved electrolyte for the electrochemical reaction of active materials inside the Ni-MH battery, and the discharge product of Ni(OH)2 at low state-of-charge level is anticipated to have more impeding effects on electrode kinetic process for higher power output and efficient energy delivery.
Blockade of the Postorchidectomy Increase in Gonadotropins by Implants of Atropine into the Hypothalamus

SummaryBilateral implants of atropine sulphate were placed in various loci in the brain or into the anterior pituitary in male rats and the effects of the implants on the postcastration rise in plasma FSH and LH was determined. The increase in both gonadotropins at 16 hr after castration still occurred in animals with implants in the cerebral cortex. The postcastration rise of both FSH and LH was blocked by atropine implants in the anterior, middle, or posterior hypothalamus but was not interfered with by control implants of cholesterol. Bilateral implants of either cholesterol or atropine into the anterior pituitary failed to alter the increase in plasma LH following castration but both types of implants interfered with the postcastration rise in FSH, possibly because of trauma to the pituitary from the cannulae. It is suggested that hypothalamic cholinergic synapses may play a role in stimulating the increased LHRH release which induces the postcastration rise in gonadotropins.
Correcting the beam centroid motion in an induction accelerator and reducing the beam breakup instability

Axial beam centroid and beam breakup (BBU) measurements were conducted on an 80 ns FWHM, intense relativistic electron bunch with an injected energy of 3.8 MV and current of 2.9 kA. The intense relativistic electron bunch is accelerated and transported through a nested solenoid and ferrite induction core lattice consisting of 64 elements, exiting the accelerator with a nominal energy of 19.8 MeV. The principal objective of these experiments is to quantify the coupling of the beam centroid motion to the BBU instability and validate the theory of this coupling for the first time. Time resolved centroid measurements indicate a reduction in the BBU amplitude, $⟨\ensuremath{\xi}⟩$, of 19% and a reduction in the BBU growth rate ($\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$) of 4% by reducing beam centroid misalignments $\ensuremath{\sim}50%$ throughout the accelerator. An investigation into the contribution of the misaligned elements is made. An alignment algorithm is presented in addition to a qualitative comparison of experimental and calculated results which include axial beam centroid oscillations, BBU amplitude, and growth with different dipole steering.
Anthocyanin analyses of Vaccinium fruit dietary supplements.

Vaccinium fruit ingredients within dietary supplements were identified by comparisons with anthocyanin analyses of known Vaccinium profiles (demonstration of anthocyanin fingerprinting). Available Vaccinium supplements were purchased and analyzed, their anthocyanin profiles (based on high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] separation) indicated if products' fruit origin listings were authentic. Over 30% of the Vaccinium fruit (cranberry, lingonberry, bilberry, and blueberry; 14 of 45) products available as dietary supplements did not contain the fruit listed as ingredients. Six supplements contained no anthocyanins. Five others had contents differing from labeled fruit (e.g., bilberry capsules containing Andean blueberry fruit). Of the samples that did contain the specified fruit (n = 27), anthocyanin content ranged from 0.04 to 14.37 mg per capsule, tablet, or teaspoon (5 g). Approaches to utilizing anthocyanins in assessment of sample authenticity, and a discussion of the challenges with anthocyanin profiles in quality control are both presented.