cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beta-endorphin infusion alters pancreatic hormone and glucose levels during exercise in rats

β-Endorphin (BE) infusion at rest can influence insulin and glucagon levels and thus may affect glucose availability during exercise. To clarify the effect of BE on levels of insulin, glucagon and glucose during exercise, 72 untrained male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused i.v. with either: (1) BE (bolus 0.05 mg · kg−1 +0.05 mg · kg−1 · h−1, n = 24); (2) naloxone (N, bolus 0.8 mg · kg−1 + 0.4 mg · kg−1, n = 24); or (3) volume-matched saline (S, n = 24). Six rats from each group were killed after 0, 60, 90 or 120 min of running at 22 m · min−1, at 0% gradient. BE infusion resulted in higher plasma glucose levels at 60 min [5.93 (0.32) mM] and 90 min [4.16 (0.29) mM] of exercise compared to S [4.62 (0.27) and 3.41 (0.26 mM] and N [4.97 (0.38) and 3.44 (0.25) mM]. Insulin levels decreased to a greater extent with BE [21.5 (0.9) and 18.3 (0.6) uIU · ml−1] at 60 and 90 min compared to S [24.5 (0.5) and 20.6 (0.6) uIU · ml−1] and N [24.5 (0.4) and 21.6 (0.7) uIU · ml−1] groups. Plasma C-peptide declined to a greater extent at 60 and 90 min of exercise with BE infusion compared to both S and N. BE infusion increased glucagon at all times during exercise compared to S and N. These data suggest that BE infusion during exercise influences plasma glucose by augmenting glucagon levels and attenuating insulin release.
Lochner Revisionism Revisited

No period in American history is more beloved to contemporary constitutional lawyers than the one surrounding the formation and ratification of the Constitution-the brief span of years reverentially denoted as "the Founding." An outpouring of recent research has enabled us to glimpse more and more of what various framers thought about particular constitutional provisions. Argument over the Framers' meaning, meanwhile, has managed to generate vast amounts of sound and fury. Yet such argument has, in the last analysis, only marginal potential to reshape our constitutional jurisprudence. For the Founding, though glamorous, ultimately holds less sway over American constitutionalism today than the more obscure and less celebrated period of the Lochner Court (Lochner v. New York, 198 U.S. 45 [1905]). Moreover, the Founding has not in more than a quarter century
Short-term influences of dichloroacetate on genetically hyperlipemic rats

Abstract The effects of short-term (7 days) administration of dichloroacetate (DCA) on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the Zucker obese and lean rat were investigated. Metabolic effects of the drug were more pronounced in the obese than in the lean rat. DCA decreased fasting blood glucose concentrations in both lean and obese rats, but more so in the fat animals, probably because of higher initial levels. The hypoglycemic action of DCA is likely attributable to a direct effect on liver and peripheral tissues and not to an indirect action caused by a decrease in the glucagon-to-insulin ratio because the drug induced just the opposite effect. DCA decreased plasma triglycerides (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA) in the hyperlipemic rats but not in lean rats. Intrahepatic triglyceride content diminished after drug treatment in fat rats, suggesting decreased hepatic TG synthesis. Hyperketonemia, induced in both lean and fat rats by DCA treatment, was also greater in the obese animal. This response was probably caused by accelerated hepatic ketone body production due to increased β-oxidation, and not to enhance FFA substrate supply. These data demonstrate that DCA is capable of correcting many of the underlying abnormalities in carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the obese Zucker rat.
Neurobiological Dissociation of Retrieval and Reconsolidation of Cocaine-Associated Memory

Drug use is provoked by the presentation of drug-associated cues, even following long periods of abstinence. Disruption of these learned associations would therefore limit relapse susceptibility. Drug-associated memories are susceptible to long-term disruption during retrieval and shortly after, during memory reconsolidation. Recent evidence reveals that retrieval and reconsolidation are dependent on β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) activation. Despite this, whether retrieval and reconsolidation are dependent on identical or distinct neural mechanisms is unknown. The prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (PL-mPFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) have been implicated in the expression and reconsolidation of associative memories. Therefore, we investigated the necessity of β-AR activation within the PL-mPFC and BLA for cocaine-associated memory retrieval and reconsolidation in rats. Before or immediately after a cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) retrieval trial, β-AR antagonists were infused into the PL-mPFC or BLA, followed by daily testing. PL-mPFC infusions before, but not after, a CPP trial disrupted CPP memory retrieval and induced a persistent deficit in retrieval during subsequent trials. In contrast, BLA β-AR blockade had no effect on initial CPP memory retrieval, but prevented CPP expression during subsequent trials indicative of reconsolidation disruption. Our results reveal a distinct dissociation between the neural mechanisms required for cocaine-associated memory retrieval and reconsolidation. Using patch-clamp electrophysiology, we also show that application of a β-AR antagonist prevents norepinephrine-induced potentiation of PL-mPFC pyramidal cell and γ-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) interneuron excitability. Thus, targeted β-AR blockade could induce long-term deficits in drug-associated memory retrieval by reducing neuronal excitability, providing a novel method of preventing cue-elicited drug seeking and relapse.
Soil sterilization alters interactions between the native grass Bouteloua gracilis and invasive Bromus tectorum

The invasive grass Bromus tectorum negatively impacts grass and shrublands throughout the western U.S., particularly in arid and semiarid regions. We asked whether soil microbes associated with a native grass (Bouteloua gracilis) affect growth of Bromus and competition between Bromus and Bouteloua. We also examined whether plant responses varied between soils from 15 sites in the Northern Great Plains. Bromus and Bouteloua were grown in media with sterilized or unsterilized soil, alone and together. Soil sterilization reduced biomass of Bouteloua and Bromus grown alone by an estimated 50% and 48%, respectively. Additionally, results provided evidence that sterilization increased the effect of competition on Bromus, and may have reduced the effect of competition on Bouteloua. Bouteloua likely had a stronger negative effect on Bromus in sterilized soils because sterilization reduced Bromus biomass by a greater absolute amount. Response to sterilization varied appreciably by site for Bromus, but not Bouteloua. Our results support the hypothesis that invasive species such as Bromus often have positive responses to soil biota in the invaded range. Soil microbes are one factor that may be important in determining dynamics of plant invasions, and plant responses to new sites and competition with natives.
Synergistic Effects of Cadmium and Salinity Combined with Constant and Cycling Temperatures on the Larval Development of Two Estuarine Crab Species

The developmental stages from megalopa to third crab of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun were tested in 12 combinations of cadmium (0, 50, and 150 ppb) and salinity (10, 20, 30, and 40‰) at 25°C. A reduction in survival and a significant delay in development from megalopa to third crab occurred within each salinity regime in 50 ppb compared with the control. Comparison of the delay in development within each salinity regime revealed that the sublethal effect of cadmium was most pronounced in the salinities normally preferred by C. sapidus. A similar comparison within each cadmium concentration, however, showed that the developmental time from megalopa to third crab was approximately the same irrespective of salinity. The developmental stages from hatch to first crab of the mud-crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould) were examined in 63 combinations of cadmium (0, 50, and 150 ppb), salinity (10, 20, and 30‰), constant temperature (20°, 25°, 30°, and 35°C) and cycling temperature (20° to 25°C, 25° to 30°C, and 30° to 35°C). The results indicated that cycling temperatures may have a stimulating effect on survival of the larvae compared to constant temperatures, both in the presence and in the absence of cadmium. Effects of cadmium and salinity and their interaction on the survival of the larvae from zoeae to megalopa were documented at most of the temperatures by analyses of variance. The zoeal larvae were more susceptible to cadmium than the megalopa. Effects of different combinations of cadmium and salinity on the duration of larval development were assessed by a t-test.
Chemical vapor deposition of yttria stabilized zirconia on porous supports

Abstract Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of stabilized zirconia is the critical initial step of electrochemical vapor deposition of thin, uniform solid electrolyte films on porous substrates. In this process, zirconium chloride and dopant chlorides, which are supplied to one face of the substrate, react with water vapor, which is supplied to the opposite face of the substrate. Surprisingly, films grown in this manner penetrate the substrate no more than 2–3 pore-diameters from the chloride face of the substrate. The penetration depth is independent of the water concentration. A phenomenological model of the CVD reaction is developed to explain these results and aid in optimization of film growth conditions. In this model, the metal chloride and water interdiffuse in a straight pore of spatially and temporally varying radius. Zirconia deposition in the pore is best described by a reaction which is first-order in zirconium chloride and zero-order in water. The film penetration depth, final pore profile, and time to pore closure are predicted to depend on a single, dimensionless Thiele modulus. The homogeneity of doped zirconia CVD films is also briefly considered.
Estimating the frequency distribution of the numbers bet on the California lottery

Abstract Several schemes are proposed to estimate the relative frequencies of the individual numbers bet on the (California) lottery. The hypothesis that the small numbers are bet more frequently than the large ones is tested and evidence supporting the hypothesis is presented. A computation is proposed which would take 6.6 months; instead an approximation to the function involved is used, reducing the computation to 0.2 seconds. A favorable (but impractical) strategy for betting on the lottery is proposed.
Characterization of HF-catalyzed silica gels doped with Degussa P25 titanium dioxide

Abstract SiO2/TiO2 composites were synthesized by adding Degussa P25 TiO2 to a liquid sol that was catalyzed by HNO3 and HF acids. Various composites were synthesized by altering the mass loading of TiO2 and concentration of HF added to the liquid sol before gelation. The resulting materials were characterized by SEM, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, streaming potential, XRD, diffuse reflectance and TiO2 surface area analyses. Approximate characteristics include an isoelectric point of 3, TiO2 particle size of 30 nm, and a band gap energy of 3.2 eV. Small variations in these properties were noted for the different composites. Physical characteristics were largely affected by HF concentration and TiO2 loading. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms were type IV for all materials and exhibited trends of decreased pore volume with an increase in TiO2 loading and an increase in pore diameter with increased HF concentration. Surface areas of the composites ranged from 167 to 630 m2/g. Available TiO2 surface area of the composite was also dependent upon TiO2 loading and increased as the mass composition of TiO2 increased but was not largely affected by HF concentration.
The Initial Step of the Glycerolipid Pathway IDENTIFICATION OF GLYCEROL 3-PHOSPHATE/DIHYDROXYACETONE PHOSPHATE DUAL SUBSTRATE ACYLTRANSFERASES IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

The initial step of phospholipid biosynthesis in yeast is carried out through the acylation of glycerol 3-phosphate (G-3-P) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate by stereospecific sn-1 acyltransferases. Here we report the identification of two key fatty acyltransferases of the glycerolipid biosynthesis pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Disruption of the open reading frame YBL011w, corresponding to a gene previously identified as a choline transporter suppressor (SCT1), resulted in a substantial decrease of total cellular G-3-P acyltransferase activity. A yeast strain disrupted at the open reading frame YKR067w, which encodes a protein closely related to Sct1p, also exhibited a dramatic reduction in G-3-P acyltransferase activity. Molecular characterizations of the genes revealed that a missense mutation in YKR067w accounted for a defect in the activities of the G-3-P acyltransferase in the yeast mutant strain TTA1. Heterologous expression of YKR067w in Escherichia coli further confirmed its enzyme activity. These results indicate that YKR067w and YBL011w, designated herein as GAT1 and GAT2(SCT1), respectively, are yeast G-3-P acyltransferase genes. Furthermore, biochemical results are presented to show that both Gat1p and Gat2p(Sct1p) are G-3-P/dihydroxyacetone phosphate dual substrate-specific sn-1 acyltransferases. The fatty acyl specificity of Gat1p is similar to that of the mammalian microsomal G-3-P acyltransferase, as it can effectively utilize a broad range of fatty acids as acyl donors. In contrast, Gat2p(Sct1p) displayed preference toward 16-carbon fatty acids. The most notable of the altered phospholipid compositions of the gat1Δ and g at2(sct1)Δ strains are a decreased phosphatidic acid pool and an increased phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylinositol ratio. This did not appear to affect the mutants as no growth defect was found. However, null mutations of both GAT1 and GAT2(SCT1) are synthetically lethal to yeast.
Automated application programming environment

With the availability of high-performance, low-cost hardware, APL provides a cost-effective means of developing custom software for the small business environment, and perhaps the best alternative to trying to adapt to an off-the-shelf package. Since APL does not inherently deal with system specific screen manipulation and file management techniques, programming these interface requirements from APL is typically tedious, potentially reducing the attractiveness of APL as the development language. Strategies for dealing with the realities of screen and file management in the context of small business systems are discussed in this paper. Low level functions with universal application are described along with code generation utilities to automatically produce the user and file interfaces for application packages. The programmer makes use of the screen and file management utilities to specify screen I/O and file management requirements resulting in a set of automatically generated screen and file functions for use with the application program. Thus, the programmer is relieved of the tedious task of dealing with the programming of the user and file interfaces and can concentrate on the “core” of the application program. Furthermore, system specific code in the application program (for displays and files) minimally affects portability since the utilities confine such code to a handful of low level functions. A working example of a small business system constructed with the assistance of screen and file management utilities is discussed.
Periodic Hartree−Fock Study of TiS2

The structural and electronic properties of titanium disulfide were investigated at the ab initio, all-electron, periodic Hartree−Fock level, using an extended basis set and a posteriori density functional correlation corrections to the total energy. Calculated lattice parameters, bulk modulus, linear moduli, cohesive energy, elastic constants, Mulliken populations, band structure, and density of states are reported. The pressure-induced semiconductor-to-semimetal phase transition in titanium disulfide is found to result from an indirect band overlap between a sulfur 3pz-based valence band at Γ and a titanium 3d-based conduction band at L. The pressure shift of this overlap in the metallic phase is predicted to be 30 meV/GPa. The phase transition is predicted to occur at a pressure of 84 GPa, which is far greater than the experimental value of 4.0 ± 0.5 GPa. This large error is due to the large overestimation of the zero-pressure optical band gap in the Hartree−Fock approximation. Correcting this energy g...
Loss of the SV2-like Protein SVOP Produces No Apparent Deficits in Laboratory Mice

Neurons express two families of transporter-like proteins − Synaptic Vesicle protein 2 (SV2A, B, and C) and SV2-related proteins (SVOP and SVOPL). Both families share structural similarity with the Major Facilitator (MF) family of transporters. SV2 is present in all neurons and endocrine cells, consistent with it playing a key role in regulated exocytosis. Like SV2, SVOP is expressed in all brain regions, with highest levels in cerebellum, hindbrain and pineal gland. Furthermore, SVOP is expressed earlier in development than SV2 and is one of the neuronal proteins whose expression declines most during aging. Although SV2 is essential for survival, it is not required for development. Because significant levels of neurotransmission remain in the absence of SV2 it has been proposed that SVOP performs a function similar to that of SV2 that mitigates the phenotype of SV2 knockout mice. To test this, we generated SVOP knockout mice and SVOP/SV2A/SV2B triple knockout mice. Mice lacking SVOP are viable, fertile and phenotypically normal. Measures of neurotransmission and behaviors dependent on the cerebellum and pineal gland revealed no measurable phenotype. SVOP/SV2A/SV2B triple knockout mice did not display a phenotype more severe than mice harboring the SV2A/SV2B gene deletions. These findings support the interpretation that SVOP performs a unique, though subtle, function that is not necessary for survival under normal conditions.
Short communication: Hepatic progesterone-metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P450 2C and 3A in lactating cows during thermoneutral and heat stress conditions1

Abstract Two experiments were performed to determine the effects of heat stress (HS) and insulin on hepatic mRNA abundance of enzymes responsible for metabolizing progesterone [cytochrome P450 2C and 3A (CYP2C and CYP3A)]. To distinguish the direct effects of HS from decreased dry matter intake, cohorts were pair fed (PF) in thermoneutral conditions to match the intake of the HS cows during both experiments. In the first experiment, multiparous late-lactation Holstein cows (n=12, 305±33 d in milk) housed in climate-controlled chambers were subjected to 2 experimental periods: (1) thermoneutral (TN) conditions (18°C, 20% humidity) with ad libitum intake (TN and well fed) for 9 d; and (2) either HS conditions (cyclical temperature 31–40°C, 20% humidity) fed for ad libitum intake (n=6), or TN conditions and PF to match the HS animal (n=6) for 9 d. To evaluate hepatic gene expression during experiment 1, biopsies were obtained at the end of each period. In the second experiment, multiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows (n=12, 136±8 DIM) were housed and fed in conditions similar to those described for the first experiment. Liver biopsies were obtained immediately before and after an insulin tolerance test administered on d 6 of each period. No effects of exogenous insulin were observed on any of the tested variables, nor were there interactions between environment (TN/HS or well fed/PF) and insulin administration. Heat stress decreased hepatic CYP2C expression during both experiments. The relative abundance of CYP3A was not affected by environmental conditions in the late-lactation cows (first experiment), but was reduced by HS in the mid-lactation cows (second experiment). Interestingly, during experiment 2, hepatic CYP3A expression also decreased during PF. These results suggest that HS reduces the capacity of the liver to metabolize progesterone through distinct effects on CYP2C and CYP3A, and that the effects appear to vary based upon stage of lactation. Ultimately, HS may affect reproductive outcomes by reducing the abundance of the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of progesterone. This reduction could serve as a beneficial adaptation for rescuing early embryos or may be detrimental, as it affects feedback mechanisms necessary for proper cyclicity.
A simple method for the approximate determination of soluble protein in potato tubers

Juice samples were obtained from 3 to 4 g potato tuber tissue by means of a hand-operated press and collected and filtered by means of cotton-tipped disposable Pasteur pipettes. After obtaining the refractive index (expressed as percentage sucrose equivalents) the remaining juice was heated in a boiling water bath for 2 min, filtered as before and a second reading, of the refractive index obtained. The difference in refractive index readings was considered an expression of soluble protein. The method was compared with the Lowry method and discussed with reference to its use in potato breeding programs.
West Africa’s Evolving Competitive Exposure in U.S. Import Markets

This study utilizes a recently developed measure of one nation’s competitive exposure to other nations on its export sales to analyze the competitive exposure facing West Africa nations on sales to the United States from 1996 to 2006. The methodology extends previous research by accounting both for similarity in export profiles across nations and for the absolute size of export sales by each nation. We identify changes over time in the importance of different world regions as competitors to West Africa nations, and we highlight the product groups most responsible for West Africa’s competitive exposure to other world regions on sales in the United States.
Decreasing intracellular superoxide corrects defective ischemia-induced new vessel formation in diabetic mice.

Tissue ischemia promotes vasculogenesis through chemokine-induced recruitment of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Diabetes significantly impairs this process. Because hyperglycemia increases reactive oxygen species in a number of cell types, and because many of the defects responsible for impaired vasculogenesis involve HIF1-regulated genes, we hypothesized that HIF1 function is impaired in diabetes because of reactive oxygen species-induced modification of HIF1α by the glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) substrate methylglyoxal. Decreasing superoxide in diabetic mice by either transgenic expression of manganese superoxide dismutase or by administration of an superoxide dismutase mimetic corrected post-ischemic defects in neovascularization, oxygen delivery, and chemokine expression, and normalized tissue survival. In hypoxic fibroblasts cultured in high glucose, overexpression of GLO1 prevented reduced expression of both the EPC mobilizing chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and of vascular epidermal growth factor, which modulates growth and differentiation of recruited EPCs. In hypoxic EPCs cultured in high glucose, overexpression of GLO1 prevented reduced expression of both the SDF-1 receptor CXCR4, and endothelial nitric-oxide synthase, an enzyme essential for EPC mobilization. HIF1α modification by methylglyoxal reduced heterodimer formation and HIF1α binding to all relevant promoters. These results provide a basis for the rational design of new therapeutics to normalize impaired ischemia-induced vasculogenesis in patients with diabetes.
Using multistate mark-recapture methods to model adult salmonid migration in an industrialized river

Abstract A multistate mark-recapture (MSMR) model of the adult salmonid migration through the lower Columbia River and into the Snake River was developed, designed for radiotelemetry detections at dams and tributary mouths. The model focuses on upstream-directed travel, with states determined from observed fish movement patterns indicating directed upstream travel, downstream travel ( fallback ), and use of non-natal tributaries. The model was used to analyze telemetry data from 846 migrating adult spring-summer Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) tagged in 1996 at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River. We used the model to test competing hypotheses regarding delayed effects of fallback at dams and visits to tributaries, and to define and estimate migration summary measures. Tagged fish had an average probability of 0.755 ( S E ˆ = 0.018 ) of ending migration at a tributary or upstream of Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, and a probability of 0.245 ( S E ˆ = 0.018 ) of unaccountable loss (i.e., mortality or mainstem spawning) between the release site downstream of Bonneville Dam and Lower Granite Dam. The highest probability of unaccountable loss (0.092; S E ˆ = 0.012 ) was in the reach between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam. Study fish used the tributaries primarily as exits from the hydrosystem, and visits to non-natal tributaries had no significant effect on subsequent movement upriver ( P = 0.4245). However, fallback behavior had a small effect on subsequent tributary entry and exit ( P = 0.0530), with fish using tributaries as resting areas after reascending Bonneville Dam after fallback. The spatial MSMR model developed here can be adapted to address additional questions about the interaction of migrating organisms with their environment, or for the study of migrations in other river systems.
Development of inner ear afferent connections: forming primary neurons and connecting them to the developing sensory epithelia

The molecular and cellular origin of the primary neurons of the inner ear, the vestibular and spiral neurons, is reviewed including how they connect to the specific sensory epithelia and what the molecular nature of their survival is. Primary neurons of the ear depend on a single basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) protein for their formation, neurogenin 1 (ngn1). An immediate downstream gene is the bHLH gene neuronal differentiation (NeuroD). Targeted null mutations of ngn1 results in absence of primary neuron formation; targeted null mutation of NeuroD results in loss of almost all spiral and many vestibular neurons. NeuroD and a later expressed gene, Brn3a, play a role in pathfinding to and within sensory epithelia. The molecular nature of this pathfinding property is unknown. Reduction of hair cells in ngn1 null mutations suggests a clonal relationship with primary neurons. This relationship may play some role in specifying the identity of hair cells and the primary neurons that connect with them. Primary neuron neurites growth to sensory epithelia is initially independent of trophic factors released from developing sensory epithelia, but becomes rapidly dependent on those factors. Null mutations of specific neurotrophic factors lose distinct primary neuron populations which undergo rapid embryonic cell death.
Intracellular targets of moxifloxacin: a comparison with other fluoroquinolones

The in vitro activity of the novel 8-methoxyquinolone, moxifloxacin, against Streptococcus pneumoniae was evaluated, and the intracellular targets of this agent were studied. Analysis of mutant strains selected with moxifloxacin demonstrated that first-step mutants bore amino acid substitutions at position 81 in the GyrA subunit of DNA gyrase. This suggests that, unlike older fluoroquinolone agents such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, but similar to other C-8 substituted quinolones like sparfloxacin and gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin targets the GyrA subunit of DNA gyrase as an initial lethal event. Such a mechanism results in high activity against increasingly common S. pneumoniae strains bearing substitutions in DNA topoisomerase IV. Moxifloxacin was active with an MIC of ≤0.25 mglL against S. pneumoniae clinical isolates, and against mutants, selected in the laboratory with ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, that bore a Ser-79→Phe/Tyr substitution in ParC. The moxifloxacin MIC for strains with mutations in the structural genes for both DNA gyrase subunit GyrA and DNA topoisomerase IV subunit ParC did not exceed 2 mglL, a level within clinically achievable serum concentrations for this agent. We also found that moxifloxacin is a poor substrate for active efflux in S. pneumoniae. Therefore, the high activity of moxifloxacin against S. pneumoniae appears to be a result of both enhanced activity against DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, and reduced efflux from the bacterial cell.
Rhythmicity, Ritual, and Motor Performance: A Study of Free Throw Shooting in Basketball

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of timing during an auto-communicative ritual to successful performance. Eight members of a university varsity basketball team served as subjects for this study. Each subject performed 15 free throws in each of four different conditions. Condition 1 required subjects to use their standard free throw ritual prior to shooting. Condition 2 required subjects to maintain the relative timing of ritual behaviors but reduce the absolute time of the ritual by one-half. Condition 3 required that relative timing be maintained but that the absolute time of the ritual be doubled. Condition 4 required the same behaviors and the same absolute time as the standard ritual but that the relative time of the ritual be altered. Data were collected with a 16-mm high-speed camera. Types of behaviors, timing aspects of the ritual, successful attempts, and shot mechanics were dependent measures. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of dependent measures and Fisher's z sco...
Comparative genomic analysis of the R2R3 MYB secondary cell wall regulators of Arabidopsis, poplar, rice, maize, and switchgrass

R2R3 MYB proteins constitute one of the largest plant transcription factor clades and regulate diverse plant-specific processes. Several R2R3 MYB proteins act as regulators of secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (At), a dicotyledenous plant. Relatively few studies have examined SCW R2R3 MYB function in grasses, which may have diverged from dicots in terms of SCW regulatory mechanisms, as they have in cell wall composition and patterning. Understanding cell wall regulation is especially important for improving lignocellulosic bioenergy crops, such as switchgrass. Here, we describe the results of applying phylogenic, OrthoMCL, and sequence identity analyses to classify the R2R3 MYB family proteins from the annotated proteomes of Arabidposis, poplar, rice, maize and the initial genome (v0.0) and translated transcriptome of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). We find that the R2R3 MYB proteins of the five species fall into 48 subgroups, including three dicot-specific, six grass-specific, and two panicoid grass-expanded subgroups. We observe four classes of phylogenetic relationships within the subgroups of known SCW-regulating MYB proteins between Arabidopsis and rice, ranging from likely one-to-one orthology (for AtMYB26, AtMYB103, AtMYB69) to no homologs identifiable (for AtMYB75). Microarray data for putative switchgrass SCW MYBs indicate that many maintain similar expression patterns with the Arabidopsis SCW regulators. However, some of the switchgrass-expanded candidate SCW MYBs exhibit differences in gene expression patterns among paralogs, consistent with subfunctionalization. Furthermore, some switchgrass representatives of grass-expanded clades have gene expression patterns consistent with regulating SCW development. Our analysis suggests that no single comparative genomics tool is able to provide a complete picture of the R2R3 MYB protein family without leaving ambiguities, and establishing likely false-negative and -positive relationships, but that used together a relatively clear view emerges. Generally, we find that most R2R3 MYBs that regulate SCW in Arabidopsis are likely conserved in the grasses. This comparative analysis of the R2R3 MYB family will facilitate transfer of understanding of regulatory mechanisms among species and enable control of SCW biosynthesis in switchgrass toward improving its biomass quality.
Model checking invariant security properties in OpenFlow

The OpenFlow (OF) switching specification represents an innovative and open standard for enabling the dynamic programming of flow control policies in production networks. Unfortunately, thus far researchers have paid little attention to the development of methods for verifying that dynamic flow policies inserted within an OpenFlow network do not violate the network's underlying security policy. We introduce Flover, a model checking system which verifies that the aggregate of flow policies instantiated within an OpenFlow network does not violate the network's security policy. We have implemented Flover using the Yices SMT solver, which we then integrated into NOX, a popular OpenFlow network controller. Flover provides NOX a formal validation of the OpenFlow network's security posture.
The Influence of Packing Densities and Surface Order on the Frictional Properties of Alkanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) on Gold: A Comparison of SAMs Derived from Normal and Spiroalkanedithiols

We report a comparative study of the structure and frictional properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) generated by the adsorption of three homologous 17-carbon alkanethiolsheptadecanethiol, 2,2-dipentadecyl-1,3-propanedithiol, and 2-pentadecyl-1,3-propanedithiolonto the surface of Au(111). The structural properties of these SAMs were characterized by atomic force microscopy, surface infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, spectral ellipsometry, and wettability by water and hexadecane. The frictional properties of the SAMs were examined by friction force microscopy. The results demonstrate that the packing density and the related crystalline order of the hydrocarbon chains influence the frictional properties of organic thin films. The origins of the frictional differences measured from these films are discussed in terms of the structure of the films.
HMGB1 promotes a p38MAPK associated non-infectious inflammatory response pathway in human fetal membranes.

Objective Spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM) are major pregnancy complications often associated with a fetal inflammatory response. Biomolecular markers of this fetal inflammatory response to both infectious and non-infectious risk factors and their contribution to PTB and pPROM mechanism are still unclear. This study examined fetal membrane production, activation and mechanistic properties of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as a contributor of the non-infectious fetal inflammatory response. Materials and Methods HMGB1 transcripts and active HMGB1 were profiled in fetal membranes and amniotic fluids collected from PTB and normal term birth. In vitro, normal term not in labor fetal membranes were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and water soluble cigarette smoke extract (CSE). HMGB1-transcripts and its protein concentrations were documented by RT-PCR and ELISA. Recombinant HMGB1 treated membranes and media were subjected to RT-PCR for HMGB1 receptors, mitogen activated protein kinase pathway analysis, cytokine levels, and Western blot for p38MAPK. Results HMGB1 expression and its active forms were higher in PTB and pPROM than normal term membranes and amniotic fluid samples. Both LPS and CSE enhanced HMGB1 expression and release in vitro. Fetal membrane exposure to HMGB1 resulted in increased expression of TLR2 and 4 and dose-dependent activation of p38MAPK-mediated inflammation. Conclusions HMGB1 increase by fetal membrane cells in response to either oxidative stress or infection can provide a positive feedback loop generating non-infectious inflammatory activation. Activation of p38MAPK by HMGB1 promotes development of the senescence phenotype and senescence associated sterile inflammation. HMGB1 activity is an important regulator of the fetal inflammatory response regardless of infection.
Cell wall‐degrading enzymes and pectin solubility and depolymerization in immature and ripe watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit in response to exogenous ethylene

Watermelon fruit have been shown to be extremely sensitive to exogenous ethylene, exhibiting acute symptoms of whole-fruit softening and placental-tissue water-soaking following short periods of exposure to the gas. This study addressed the firmness, specific activities of cell wall hydrolases, and solubility and molecular mass properties of polyuronides in placental tissue in response to treatment of intact fruit with ethylene. Watermelon fruit were harvested at the immature and full-ripe stages and exposed to 50 μl l -1 ethylene for 6 days at 20°C. The firmness of placental tissue from ethylene-treated ripe and immature fruit decreased nearly 80% during 6 days of ethylene exposure, whereas the firmness of placental tissue from fruit maintained in air remained relatively constant up to day 3 and then decreased slightly (12%) during the following 3 days of storage. Although ethylene treatment in some cases influenced the levels of extractable placental-tissue polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15), pectinmethylesterase (EC 3.2.1.11), and α-(EC 3.2.1.22) and β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) specific activities, these effects were not observed for fruit of both developmental stages and appeared not to be directly involved in the water-soaking syndrome. Symptoms of water-soaking were accompanied by increases in the levels of water- and CDTA (trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid)-soluble polyuronides and significant molecular mass downshifts in polyuronides in both immature and ripe watermelon fruit. Polyuronide depolymerization in ethylene-treated ripe fruit was extensive. The parallel trends of enzyme changes in ethylene- compared with air-treated fruit indicate that extractable enzyme levels are not associated with development of the water-soaking disorder. The potential involvement of membrane dysfunction in the water-soaking phenomenon is discussed.
Risk analysis of unilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss in children

Abstract Objective To explore the etiology of pediatric unilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss (USPSNHL) and the risk of hearing loss in the contralateral ear. Methods Pediatric patients with USPSNHL referred to a tertiary children's hospital for unilateral bone-anchored hearing aid implantation were identified for study. Clinical charts, audiograms, and radiographic imaging of the temporal bones were reviewed. Results Eighty-four children with USPSNHL were reviewed (40 male, 44 female). The etiology of USPSNHL could be identified in 35 patients (41.7%), with perinatal events (16.2%) and family history of hearing loss (10.0%) being the most common identifiable risk factors. Forty percent of children with available newborn hearing screens passed in both ears but later developed USPSNHL. Progressive unilateral hearing loss leading to USPSNHL was found in 21% percent of patients. No patient experienced worsening hearing in the contralateral ear (mean follow-up = 31.9 months). Of the 49 temporal bone scans available for review, 40.8% demonstrated aberrant inner ear anatomy, including semicircular canal dysplasia (10.2%), cochlear aperture stenosis (10.2%), hypoplastic cochlea (8.1%), enlarged vestibular aqueduct (14.3%), incomplete partition I/II (6.1%), and anomalous internal auditory canal (2.0%). Conclusion Pediatric USPSNHL can be attributed to a variety of sources with a cause identifiable in approximately 40% of patients. Temporal bone CT scan acquisition appears to be relatively high yield in this patient population, but only rarely do results have clinical implications. Early follow-up suggests that this population of children with USPSNHL does not appear to have a significantly increased risk for hearing loss in the contralateral ear.
Getting Our History Right: How Were the Equal Rights of Women and Men Included in the Charter of the United Nations?

The article analyses the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945 to find out how a nearly completely male-dominated assembly could proclaim the equal rights of men and wo...
Bulk aluminum at high pressure: A first-principles study

The behavior of metals at high pressure is of great importance to the fields of shock physics, geophysics, astrophysics, and nuclear materials. We study here bulk crystalline aluminum from first principles at pressures up to 2500 GPa - soon within reach of laser-based experimental facilities. Our simulations use density-functional theory and density-functional perturbation theory in the local-density and generalized-gradient approximations. Notably, the two different exchange-correlation functionals predict very similar results for the fcc -> hcp, fcc -> bcc, and hcp -> bcc transition pressures, around 175, 275, and 380GPa, respectively. In addition, our results indicate that core overlaps become noticeable only beyond pressures of 1200 GPa. From the phonon dispersions of the fee phase at increasing pressure, we predict a softening of the lowest transverse acoustic vibrational mode along the [110] direction, which corresponds to a Born instability of the fee phase around 725 GPa.
Gas-phase SN2 reactivity of dicoordinated borinium cations using pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry

We report gas phase ion/molecule reactions between dialkoxyborinium cations (RO-B+-OR) and small organic amides, such as N,N-dimethylformamide and N,N-diethylpropionamide. Besides direct addition at boron, the results show efficient SN2 methyl transfer from the borinium ion to the amide. Isotopic labeling and collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the methyl transfer products demonstrate O-methylation of the amide. Methyl substitution at the alpha-carbon of the amide affects the degree of alkylation and adduct formation. Direct proton abstraction via beta-elimination is a major competitive reaction for substituents other than methyl. Ab initio calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level indicate that SN2 transmethylation is highly exothermic with O-methylation favored over N-methylation by 14.8 kcal/mol.
DETECTION AND EVALUATION OF DYSLIPOPROTEINEMIA

Current guidelines for the detection and evaluation of dyslipoproteinemia are contained in the Second Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel II [ATP II]). 8,9 The guidelines identify low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as the major atherogenic lipoprotein. Clinical trials have provided conclusive proof that lowering the level of LDL-C reduces the incidence of, and mortality from, coronary heart disease (CHD), 12 as well as total mortality. 16 Although high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely correlated with CHD risk, 30 and although some forms of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins appear to be atherogenic, 13 similarly strong clinical trial evidence for the benefits of modifying HDL-C or triglyceride levels is lacking. Consequently, LDL-C is the primary target of cholesterol-lowering efforts and the main index of the need for specific therapy. Measurement of total cholesterol at initial testing provides a useful way to detect an elevated LDL-C, because most of the blood cholesterol is contained in LDL and the concentration of total cholesterol is highly correlated with that of LDL-C. 8 Measurement of total cholesterol can be performed in the nonfasting state and is usually less expensive and less inconvenient for the patient. Measurement of HDL-C at initial testing is also warranted. Levels of HDL-C are inversely correlated with CHD risk over a wide range of values. For every 1 mg/dL fall in HDL-C, CHD risk rises by 2% to 3%. 30 A low HDL-C level ( negative risk factor 39
Comparison of single and multicell heat transfer analyses near nuclear reactor assembly walls

Abstract A “multicell” approach to the problem of heat transfer near the wall of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly is compared to the “single cell” approach. Steady state, fully developed heat transfer is considered in assemblies without grid or wire spacers. Results of the multicell approach indicate significant discrepancies in temperature predictions occur when calculations are based on eight fuel elements as compared to the results based on a single fuel element (cell). The multicell analysis includes the effect of mass flux distribution across the subassembly, and the resulting heat transfer trends are not consistent with the single cell approach. These trends are discussed and the utility of the multicell approach is demonstrated.
Packet error probabilities in frequency hopped spread spectrum packet radio networks-Memoryless frequency hopping patterns considered

In this paper we compute the packet error probability induced in a frequency hopped spread spectrum packet radio network. The frequency spectrum is divided into q frequency bins and the packets are divided into M bytes each. Every user in the network sends each of the M bytes of his packet at a frequency chosen among the q frequencies with equal probability, and independently of the frequencies chosen for other bytes (i.e. memoryless frequency-hopping patterns). Furthermore, statistically independent frequency hopping patterns correspond to different users in the network. We show that, although memoryless frequency hopping patterns are utilized, the byte errors at the receiver are not statistically independent" instead they exhibit a Markovian structure. We also compute the packet error probability induced when Reed-Solomon codes are used for the encoding of the packets.
Solid-State Fermentation of Mortierella isabellina for Lipid Production from Soybean Hull

Soybean hull, generated from soybean processing, is a lignocellulosic material with limited industrial applications and little market value. This research is exploring a new application of soybean hull to be converted to fungal lipids for biodiesel production through solid-state fermentation. Mortierella isabellina was selected as the oil producer because of its high lipid content at low C/N ratio. Several cultivation factors were investigated, including moisture content, inoculums size, fungal spore age, and nutrient supplements, in an attempt to enhance the lipid production of the solid-state fermentation process. The results showed that lipid production with the increase of the moisture content and the spore age, while decreased as the size of inoculums increased. Nutrients addition (KH2PO4 1.2 mg and MgSO4 0.6 mg/g soybean hull) improved the lipid production. The total final lipid reached 47.9 mg lipid from 1 g soybean hull after the conversion, 3.3-fold higher than initial lipid reserve in the soybean hull. The fatty acid profile analysis indicated that fatty acid content consisted of 30.0% of total lipid, and 80.4% of total fatty acid was C16 and C18. Therefore, lipid production from soybean hull is a possible option to enable soybean hull as a new resource for biodiesel production and to enhance the overall oil production from soybeans.
FlashTrack: A Fast, In-network Tracking System for Sensor Networks

We revisit the classic object tracking problem with a novel and effective, yet straightforward distributed solution for resource-lean devices. The difficulty of object tracking lies in the mismatch between the limited computational capacity of typical sensor nodes and the processing requirements of typical tracking algorithms. In this paper, we introduce an in-network system for tracking mobile objects using resource-lean sensors. The system is based on a distributed, dynamically-scoped tracking algorithm which alters the event detection region and reporting rate based on object speed. A leader node records the detected samples across the event region and estimates the object's location in situ. We study the performance of our tracking implementation on an 80-node test bed. The results show that it achieves high performance, even for very fast objects, and is readily implemented on resource-lean sensors. While the area is well-studied, the unique combination of algorithmic features represents a significant addition to the literature.