cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Destaining of Diff-Quik stained cytologic smears is not necessary for the detection of anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangement in lung adenocarcinoma by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is one of the standard molecular tests for targeted therapy of lung adenocarcinoma. However, insufficient cell block cellularity may impede molecular testing. A recent study showed that Diff-Quik (DQ) stained cytology smear is suitable for ALK by FISH. Aims: The aim of our study was to observe the impact of destaining intervals on the quality of FISH signals and determine if DQ smears without destaining would allow FISH analysis. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five DQ smears from 27 cases of lung adenocarcinoma were analyzed for ALK gene rearrangement by FISH. Twenty three DQ smears were destained for different intervals, including 30 s (13 cases), 1 min (6 cases), or 2 min (4 cases). Twelve DQ smears were not subjected to destaining. For further validation, FISH signals in 8 smears and 6 cell blocks were compared with the paired destained DQ smears. The signal quality was semi-quantified and analyzed with Chi-squared test. Results: Of the total 27 selected cases, three (11%) were positive for ALK gene rearrangement, whereas 24 (89%) were negative. FISH signal was satisfactory in all DQ smears. There was no significant difference in the quality of signal among smears with different destaining intervals (P = 0.55) or between smears with and without destaining (P = 0.41). DQ smears without destaining showed identical FISH results and similar or better signals as compared with paired destained smears and cell blocks in all cases. Conclusions: Duration of destaining intervals does not impact the quality of FISH signal on DQ smears. Destaining of DQ smears is not necessary for ALK by FISH.
Quantity and electricity consumption of plug load equipment on a university campus

The percent of energy consumed by plug load equipment in commercial buildings is on the rise. Research conducted in the past has included surveying plug load equipment, measuring plug load electricity consumption and equipment operating patterns, and studying plug load reduction solutions in office buildings, but plug load energy use across other building types is poorly understood. A university campus, which houses many building types, presents a unique opportunity to understand plug load profiles across building types. In this study, an equipment inventory was performed in 220 buildings on Stanford University’s campus, totaling 8,901,911 ft2 of building space and encompassing lab buildings, office buildings, recreation facilities, public space, and service buildings. Within these buildings, 110,529 pieces of plug load equipment were recorded. Energy consumption estimates were developed from published values and used to evaluate the aggregate plug load energy consumption of this equipment by equipment type and by building type. In total, it is estimated that the plug loads from these buildings consume nearly 50 million kWh per year and comprise 32% of the electricity consumption of the buildings surveyed. This data can be used to better target energy conservation efforts throughout multiple sectors.
The Effects of Messages about the Causes of Obesity on Disciplinary Action Decisions for Overweight Employees

We investigated the impact of messages about the causes of obesity (controllable or uncontrollable) on the disciplinary action consequences selected for obese employees in response to a work-related mistake. Participants read about either the controllable or uncontrollable causes of obesity before reviewing an ostensible employee file that included a description of an employee mistake. Depending on condition, the file contained a photo of the employee that either depicted them as obese or average weight. Participants were more willing to withhold a raise or promotion from an obese employee than from an average-weight employee. Further, there was little evidence that the messages about the causes of obesity affected participants' perceived control and self-efficacy for healthy behaviors.
Getting real about NCI-designated Cancer Center advertising.

The 69 National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers are premier academic institutions that place significant value on research integrity and an ethic that rigorous evidence should guide patient care and define expectations. Recent patient-focused advertising has strayed from these values, obscuring valid reasons for seeking care at these centres.
Automatic vertebra segmentation on dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

The automatic extraction of the vertebra’s shape from dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could improve understanding of clinical conditions and their diagnosis. It is hypothesized that the shape of the sacral curve is related to the development of some gynecological conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse (POP). POP is a critical health condition for women and consists of pelvic organs dropping from their normal position. Dynamic MRI is used for assessing POP and to complement clinical examination. Studies have shown some evidence on the association between the shape of the sacral curve and the development of POP. However, the sacral curve is currently extracted manually limiting studies to small datasets and inconclusive evidence. A method composed of an adaptive shortest path algorithm that enhances edge detection and linking, and an improved curve fitting procedure is proposed to automate the identification and segmentation of the sacral curve on MRI. The proposed method uses predetermined pixels surrounding the sacral curve that are found through edge detection to decrease computation time compared to other model-based segmentation algorithms. Moreover, the proposed method is fully automatic and does not require user input or training. Experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately identify sacral curves for nearly 91% of dynamic MRI cases tested in this study. The proposed model is robust and can be used to effectively identify bone structures on MRI.
Maternal high-fat diet consumption enhances offspring susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis in mice.

Objective Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) may alter the offspring intestinal immune system, thereby enhancing susceptibility toward inflammatory bowel disease. The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of maternal HFD on offspring intestinal health using a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Methods Dams were provided with either HFD (60%) or control diet. After weaning, female offspring from both groups were kept on 45% HFD. At 14 weeks of age, offspring were subjected to 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 5 days, followed by 5 days of recovery. Results Offspring from maternal HFD had higher body weight gain before DSS induction and had higher liver and fat weights with increased adipocyte size at necropsy. When subjected to DSS treatment, HFD offspring had accelerated body weight loss and exaggerated disease activity index. HFD offspring had an elevated histopathological score and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 expression with upregulated NF-κB signaling. Maternal HFD resulted in enhanced neutrophil infiltration associated with elevated expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Furthermore, maternal HFD suppressed AMP-activated protein kinase activity and decreased sirtuin 1 and p53 protein contents in offspring gut. Conclusions Maternal HFD consumption predisposes offspring to a higher susceptibility to develop inflammatory bowel disease.
Assessing muscle compliance in stroke with the Myotonometer.

Abstract Background This study explores changes of the intrinsic biomechanical property in the biceps brachii muscle after a hemispheric stroke using the Myotonometry technique. Methods Nineteen subjects with chronic hemiplegia participated in the study. Myotonometer was used to measure tissue displacement when compression force was applied at 8 levels from 2.45 N to 19.6 N. Muscle displacement and compliance were determined and averaged over multiple trials. Findings Statistical analysis indicated a significant decrease in muscle displacement and compliance in the spastic muscles compared with the contralateral side (muscle displacements: spastic: 4.51 (0.31) mm, contralateral: 5.74 (0.37) mm, p 0.1). Interpretation Alterations of muscle compliance in the spastic side reflect changes in the contractile or intrinsic mechanical properties after a stroke. Findings of the study have demonstrated high sensitivity and effectiveness of the Myotonometer in assessing muscle compliance changes.
Electrostatic Separation of Fine Particles at High Temperature

The experiments of electrostatic precipitation at high temperature above 500°C were demonstrated for the separation of the ultra-fine particles synthesized by the thermally activated CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method directly from the reaction gas stream. Silicon-nitride particles were prepared from a (SiC14+ NH3)/N2 gas system at 1200°C. This process produces NH4C1 as by—product which is solid particles at normal temperature. Using the high temperature electrostatic precipitation technique, it si expected to collect only the Si3N4 particles directly from the reaction gas stream because the sublimation temperature of NH4C1 is about 340°C. The new electrode system for corona discharge was developed, which can generate a stable corona discharge even in the reaction gas atmosphere at high temperature. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the particles collected at 500°C contain no NH4C1 particles.
Definition, Antecedents, and Outcomes of Successful Virtual Communities

was the first to bring virtual communities to the attention of researchers and practitioners. Although virtual groups have been examined previously, Rheingold’s descrip-tions of participating in the WELL, an Internet-based bulletin board, vividly portrayed the potential of online social groupings. Rheingold told stories of people who had never met face-to-face providing socio-emotional and even financial support to each other through times of crisis and celebration. Since then, the popularity of virtual communities (also known as online communities) has increased. Interacting with others online became more common as organizations and society began to perceive it as a normal behavior and not one engaged in primarily by the socially inept. Indeed, virtual communities became a typical mode of interaction for both work and social purposes. At work, employees have organizationally sanctioned virtual communities such as the company listserv as well as virtual communities for professionals to interact with each other outside their organizations (e.g., Charity-HR, a listserv for HR professionals in non-profit organizations). Some organizations have even developed virtual communities for their custom-ers. Some of these virtual communities are for users of particular products, like the wristwatch enthusiasts (Rothaermel & Sugiyama, 2001). Others, however, are designed to allow customers to provide input for the company’s new products and services (Catterall & Maclaran, 2002). Virtual communities have also become quite com-mon in social interactions. Many neighborhoods have developed listservs as well as electronic bulletin boards to allow neighbors to interact and share information. Social groups who interact face-to-face (FtF) may also use virtual communities to keep members informed and connected between their meetings. The most com-mon social virtual community, however, may consist of people who are physically dispersed and never interact FtF. These virtual communities are formed around a shared interest in a particular topic. These topics range from movies, to food and wine, to pets, to political topics, and even to aspects of parenthood as evidenced by the hundreds of interactive sites on Babycenter.com.
On Addressing Hysteresis in Magnetic Position Estimation

Estimating the position of a moving magnet becomes challenging when the application involves a ferromagnetic environment. The movement of the magnet magnetizes and demagnetizes the ferromagnetic surroundings and creates significant hysteresis in the magnetic field versus position relationship. This relationship can no longer be represented by an algebraic mathematical function. This paper presents a position estimation system that utilizes various models to represent the hysteresis behavior, including an interacting multiple model approach and a Preisach model. The developed position estimation system is evaluated on a large hydraulic actuator used in mobile construction vehicle applications. Experimental results show that an unscented Kalman filter using the Preisach hysteresis model can provide a more accurate position estimate by accounting for the significant hysteresis.
A Review on low-grade thermal energy harvesting: Materials, methods and devices

Combined rejected and naturally available heat constitute an enormous energy resource that remains mostly untapped. Thermal energy harvesting can provide a cost-effective and reliable way to convert available heat into mechanical motion or electricity. This extensive review analyzes the literature covering broad topical areas under solid-state low temperature thermal energy harvesting. These topics include thermoelectricity, pyroelectricity, thermomagneticity, and thermoelasticity. For each topical area, a detailed discussion is provided comprising of basic physics, working principle, performance characteristics, state-of-the-art materials, and current generation devices. Technical advancements reported in the literature are utilized to analyze the performance, identify the challenges, and provide guidance for material and mechanism selection. The review provides a detailed analysis of advantages and disadvantages of each energy harvesting mechanism, which will provide guidance towards designing a hybrid thermal energy harvester that can overcome various limitations of the individual mechanism.
Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) simulation in maize using artificial neural networks

Abstract The rate of the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) between the atmosphere and vegetated surface plays important role to achieve a better understanding regarding the global carbon budget. The eddy covariance method is known as an accurate and direct approach to measure the CO2 flux in small scale from a hundred meter to several kilometers. Some of resources and practical limitations prevent the utilization of this technique. Thus, simulation methods can be applied to estimate the NEE in the scale of larger than eddy covariance measurement capability. One class of simulation models, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), are powerful tools to identify the complicated non-linear relations among the input and output vectors. They used a set of input variables to simulate the measured NEE values by investigation of the relations (hidden rules) among them. In this study, multi-layer perceptron neural network trained by steepest descent Back-Propagation (BP) algorithm was tested to simulate the NEE above two maize sites (rain-fed i the impact intensity of each input on NEE was recognized by deactivation of each input vector in network training.
Tuning of the Thermochemical and Kinetic Properties of Ascorbate by Its Local Environment: Solution Chemistry and Biochemical Implications

Ascorbate (vitamin C) is a ubiquitous biological cofactor. While its aqueous solution chemistry has long been studied, many in vivo reactions of ascorbate occur in enzyme active sites or at membrane interfaces, which have varying local environments. This report shows that the rate and driving force of oxidations of two ascorbate derivatives by the TEMPO radical (2,2',6,6'-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl) in acetonitrile are very sensitive to the presence of various additives. These reactions proceed by the transfer of a proton and an electron (a hydrogen atom), as is typical of biological ascorbate reactions. The measured rate and equilibrium constants vary substantially with added water or other polar solutes in acetonitrile solutions, indicating large shifts in the reducing power of ascorbate. The correlation of rate and equilibrium constants indicates that this effect has a thermochemical origin rather than being a purely kinetic effect. This contrasts with previous examples of solvent effects on hydrogen atom transfer reactions. Potential biological implications of this apparently unique effect are discussed.
Local Government Fragmentation: What Do We Know?:

The United States is a nation of local governments. The growth in the number of local governments over the last sixty years has led many to ask whether the current fragmented arrangement is ideal o...
A comparison of hedonic and emotional responses to common odors delivered by qPODs (Portable Olfactive Devices) and traditional sniff jars

Abstract qPODs (Portable Olfactive Devices, Curion) are novel olfactory delivery systems which allow for sampling of a wide variety of stimulus types. Participants evaluate odors by opening a port at the top of the qPOD and sampling a controlled air stream. Though they are often used in marketing studies, their potential use in empirical research has yet to be investigated. We asked participants to smell citral, citronellol, geraniol, PEA, nonalactone, and vanillin delivered via qPODs and by traditional sniff jars, and compared both hedonic and emotional responses. Across four sessions, 31 participants evaluated the pleasantness and intensity of each odor in qPODs and sniff jars. Their emotional reactions to the odors were captured with the PANAS (Positive And Negative Affect Schedule) at the beginning of each testing session, and then again after exposure to each odor. They also completed the newly developed Mood Signature Questionnaire, which asks participants to assign a mood to each odor, rather than reporting how it makes them feel. Though odors presented in the sniff jars were rated significantly more intense (p
A Small-Molecule Modulator of Metal Homeostasis in Gram-Positive Pathogens.

ABSTRACT Metals are essential nutrients that all living organisms acquire from their environment. While metals are necessary for life, excess metal uptake can be toxic; therefore, intracellular metal levels are tightly regulated in bacterial cells. Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium, relies on metal uptake and metabolism to colonize vertebrates. Thus, we hypothesized that an expanded understanding of metal homeostasis in S. aureus will lead to the discovery of pathways that can be targeted with future antimicrobials. We sought to identify small molecules that inhibit S. aureus growth in a metal-dependent manner as a strategy to uncover pathways that maintain metal homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that VU0026921 kills S. aureus through disruption of metal homeostasis. VU0026921 activity was characterized through cell culture assays, transcriptional sequencing, compound structure-activity relationship, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation assays, metal binding assays, and metal level analyses. VU0026921 disrupts metal homeostasis in S. aureus, increasing intracellular accumulation of metals and leading to toxicity through mismetalation of enzymes, generation of reactive oxygen species, or disruption of other cellular processes. Antioxidants partially protect S. aureus from VU0026921 killing, emphasizing the role of reactive oxygen species in the mechanism of killing, but VU0026921 also kills S. aureus anaerobically, indicating that the observed toxicity is not solely oxygen dependent. VU0026921 disrupts metal homeostasis in multiple Gram-positive bacteria, leading to increased reactive oxygen species and cell death, demonstrating the broad applicability of these findings. Further, this study validates VU0026921 as a probe to further decipher mechanisms required to maintain metal homeostasis in Gram-positive bacteria. IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is a leading agent of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in the world. S. aureus tightly controls metal homeostasis during infection, and disruption of metal uptake systems impairs staphylococcal virulence. We identified small molecules that interfere with metal handling in S. aureus to develop chemical probes to investigate metallobiology in this organism. Compound VU0026921 was identified as a small molecule that kills S. aureus both aerobically and anaerobically. The activity of VU0026921 is modulated by metal supplementation, is enhanced by genetic inactivation of Mn homeostasis genes, and correlates with increased cellular reactive oxygen species. Treatment with VU0026921 causes accumulation of multiple metals within S. aureus cells and concomitant upregulation of genes involved in metal detoxification. This work defines a small-molecule probe for further defining the role of metal toxicity in S. aureus and validates future antibiotic development targeting metal toxicity pathways.
Influence of Magnetic Iron Teeth in Motors Employing Superconductors for Field Excitation and AC Stator Windings

Synchronous machines are under consideration for applications on electrically propelled planes. Attractive features of such machines include high efficiency, low mass, and volume. To achieve these features, both rotor excitation field and ac stator winding coils employ superconductors. The dc field winding on the rotor experiences little harmonic fields. However, the stator winding, subjected to a full excitation field at rated frequency, experiences significant ac losses. The incorporation of laminated magnetic iron teeth is being considered for diverting the flux away from the superconducting coils to reduce the ac losses in air-core machines. Machines rated 3 MW at 4500 RPM were studied in this article. Two machines, with and without iron teeth within the stator winding, are compared for assessing the impact on the machine's efficiency, mass, and volume. This comparison shows that the inclusion of iron teeth increases total ac losses within the stator winding. This is so because the iron teeth direct the radial field away from the slot but increase the tangential field. Compared to the machine with no iron teeth (air-core), the machine with iron teeth has 10% higher losses, 4% higher volume, and 15% higher mass. The baseline iron teeth machine also creates high-frequency fields (61st harmonic field of 8.9% in the present case), which might present challenges for some electric power drives. The iron teeth in the stator winding also introduce a ground plane requiring thicker coil insulation that reduces available space for the stator winding. The absence of ground plane within the stator winding usually enables higher voltage designs. A machine having iron teeth and iron yoke (back iron) was observed to be high in losses, size, and mass. Based on these findings, it is recommended to forgo the iron teeth.
Understanding shifts in estuarine fish communities following disturbances using an ensemble modeling framework

Abstract Ecological disturbances may result in mortality events that alter biotic communities and ecosystems. In many coastal zones disturbances are increasing, including algal blooms and fish kills. These two disturbances are often related, with blooms releasing toxins or depleting oxygen, ultimately killing fish. Depending on the intensity, duration, and geographic extent of an algal bloom, the fish community can take days to years to recover from disturbances. To explore the relationship among environmental disturbances, sport fish, and forage fish communities, this study examines a non-toxic brown algal bloom (Aureoumbra lagunensis) occurring from December 2015 through March 2016. Using an ensemble modelling framework combining generalized linear models (GLM), Bayesian modelling, and Bayesian structural equation modeling (SEM), this complementary framework helped elucidate complex relationships among environmental variables and the fish community following a disturbance. The algal bloom crashed over a three-day period in March 2016 and resulted in a fish kill when dissolved oxygen concentrations dropped below hypoxic levels (DO
Tuning Electrical Properties of Amorphous Ga₂O₃ Thin Films for Deep UV Phototransistors

In recent years $\beta $ -Ga2O3 thin films and crystals have gained attention as excellent candidates for transparent and high-power applications due to its wide band gap (4.6 – 4.9 eV) and large breakdown field (~8 mV/cm). However, $\beta $ -Ga2O3 single crystals and highly crystalline $\beta $ -Ga2O3 thin films require high temperature, long processing times and, often, expensive tools that limit integration with other technologies. Amorphous Ga2O3 has not been studied as intensely as $\beta $ -Ga2O3 and mostly metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) structures and diodes using this material have been reported. In this paper, we discuss a simple and economical method to fabricate thin film transistors (TFTs) based on un-doped amorphous Ga2O3 thin films deposited at room temperature by magnetron sputtering. Control of the Ga2O3 thin films resistivity over a wide range is demonstrated by controlling the deposition power and pressure. The TFTs show a threshold voltage ( $\text{V}_{{\mathrm {T}}}$ ) of 0.92 V, saturation mobility ( $\mu _{{\mathrm {sat}}}$ ) of 0.511 cm2/ $\text{V}\cdot \text{s}$ and subthreshold slope (SS) of 83.62 mV/dec. More importantly, these devices have been evaluated as phototransistors, which has not been intensely studied yet. The phototransistors tested under DUV radiation exhibited a rejection ratio UV-Visible of 103 and responsivity of $10^{2}\text{A}$ /W ( $\text{V}_{{\mathrm {G}}} =0$ V) and 104 A/W ( $\text{V}_{{\mathrm {G}}} =6$ V), gain of 103, specific detectivity of 1015 Jones and a photosensitivity of 107.
Defining and Monitoring Patient Clusters Based on Therapy Adherence in Sleep Apnea Management

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts due to recurrent episodes of partial and complete airway obstruction during sleep. One of the common treatments for moderate and severe OSA cases is the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices that keep the airways open. Unfortunately, about 40% of the patients using CPAP devices abandon their therapy within six months. In this work, we propose a method to cluster and monitor patients according to their therapy usage behavior aiming for a timely and appropriate intervention. Our data corresponds to 1815 CPAP users in their first six months of therapy. In contrast to the simple rule-based methods currently employed by sleep clinics to identify non-adherent behavior, our approach uses clustering techniques to group patients based on their CPAP usage patterns. After identifying four main clusters, we investigate how patients can change between clusters over the months using Markov Chain analysis. We observed that patients who change to a healthy cluster have a higher probability of staying there in the future, reinforcing the need for early intervention. Finally, we use machine learning-based models to predict the next month's probability of adherence and nonadherence according to our pre-defined cluster definitions.
Component Evaluation and PSpice Modeling for Charge Pump Based Cell Voltage Balancer Development

Batteries are becoming increasingly important in a variety of applications, including electric vehicles and ships as well as load matching in electric grids. Cell voltage balancers are critical to extracting maximal performance out of batteries and also to extending their lifespan. Charge pump balancers can quickly and efficiently shuttle charge across battery cells to equalize voltages. Component selection of MOSFETs, capacitors, and gate drivers is vital in optimizing for efficiency, performance, cost, and volume. This paper presents experimental and PSpice simulation data from several capacitor-based charge pump configurations designed for cell voltage balancing. During testing, our optimized prototype 2S and 4S capacitive-based balancers demonstrated a max pumped current of 6.2 A at 0.4 V cell differential and of 10.4 A at 0.8 V cell differential. Ultimately, these charge pumps can be combined to construct a high-current and multi-level cell voltage balancer efficient across a wide range of voltages.
Morphological changes accompanying physiological changes in atrial stretch receptors

A shunt connecting the descending aorta and posterior vena cava was established surgically in six mongrel dogs. All animals subsequently developed hemodynamic and clinical signs of congestive heart failure at which time the shunt was closed. Six to seven weeks after ligation of the shunt, activity of the left atrial stretch receptors was recorded and found to be similar to that of sham-operated dogs. Methylene blue-stained sections of left atrial endocardium indicated that approximately one-third of the receptors were normal in histological appearance. The remaining two-thirds were fragmented and degenerate. Evidence is presented which indicates that structural changes in these receptors parallel their changes in physiological activity.
Exploring the role of visual selective attention in synesthesia

Individuals with grapheme-color synesthesia perceive colors, called concurrents, when processing alphanumeric stimuli. Concurrents may arise from cross activation between cortical language and color processing areas. Two experiments used an attentional blink (AB) paradigm to test whether production of concurrents is an automatic or attentiondemanding process. Two experiments used a visual-short-term-memory paradigm to test whether working memory (WM) representations of concurrents are capacity demanding. When target color was incongruent with concurrent color but color did not define targets, a synesthete (SI) showed delayed AB recovery compared to controls. When color defined targets and target color was congruent with concurrent color, the ABs of S1 and controls were similar. It appears that concurrent production is involuntary (automatic), but requires resources (attention demanding). WM capacity of SI and controls was similar. WM representations including concurrents required no more capacity than representations without concurrents. Thus, although production of concurrents requires resources, maintenance does
The Formation of Mussel Byssus: Anatomy of a Natural Manufacturing Process

The byssus is an extraorganismic polymeric structure in marine mussels and generally employed as a holdfast or tethering device. Like man-made plastics, the byssus is robust, tough, devoid of living cells, and disposable. Unlike plastics, however, it is ultimately biodegradable. Structural and mechanical analysis of the byssus reveals an exquisitely complex design at every level from the microcellular solid in the plaques to the fiber gradients in the thread core to the interpenetrating polymer networks of the byssal varnish. Such fine tuning of materials properties deserves closer scrutiny and, perhaps, imitation. In this vein, the formation of byssus can be caricatured as a series of manufacturing processes including injection and extrusion molding, calendering, and sizing. The biological relevance of each of these caricatures is explored in this chapter.
National Markets and the Impacts of State Land Use and Environmental Programs

Environmental and resource quality recently have become special public concerns. A few states have already enacted legislation posing land use-environmental restrictions. Vermont, Hawaii, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts and New York, passed land use laws. Illinois formed a Pollution Control Board to quantify nutrients and sediment polluting streams and suggest action. In 1971, the Iowa Legislature passed the “Conservancy District Act,” creating soil conservancy districts “to preserve and protect public interest in soil and water resources for future generations.” Legislation centers on soil erosion and sedimentation. Erosion is declared a nuisance if it results in siltation damage. The law sets allowable soil loss limits on land at one to five tons per acre per year, depending on soil type.
Courage in Multicultural Initiatives.

This chapter briefly overviews the Principles and Practices of the Circle of Trust® approach and shares an example of how those ideals informed how an instructor team facilitated a multiculturalism in higher education and student affairs course.
Piercing the Veil of Statewide Data: The Case of Vanishing Trials in North Carolina

Marc Galanter's 2003 report to the ABA on the declining rate of trials in federal and state courts has generated a good deal of discussion. This article adds to that literature by narrowing the focus to the fate of trials in one state (North Carolina) between 1987 and 2005, and then moving to the next level to determine if statewide trends are replicated in the six largest counties in the state. Regarding jury trials, the downward trends are quite consistent at both the state and county levels, but bench trials present a far more complex picture. Although the status of bench trials in North Carolina remains unclear, the research emphasizes the importance of the data-collection process, and the necessity of looking to the local level to understand the complexities underlying what can appear as statewide trends.
Involvement of multiple subcellular compartments in intracellular processing of epidermal growth factor

The intracellular translocation and processing of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in 3T3 cells has been studied utilizing Percoll density gradients. EGF is internalized and rapidly becomes associated with two types of intracellular compartments. The extent to which EGF is delivered to these two compartments is apparently regulated depending upon the cell's physiological condition. In growth medium, an increased proportion of EGF is taken up into a Golgi-like element. Uptake through this pathway correlates with a decrease in degradation of the ligand. In the absence of serum and amino acids, an increased proportion of EGF is taken up into a component which has a density of 1.05. Uptake through this pathway correlates with increased degradation of the ligand. The ligand taken up through both pathways is transferred to dense vesicles which comigrate with lysosomes. In the presence of growth medium, however, dense vesicles containing EGF can be shown to be lysosomal enzyme-deficient upon further fractionation. In addition, in the presence of serum, a portion of the internalized EGF is apparently released from the cells, intact, and then re-bound. The processes described may be important in the production of a mitogenic response and the ability of cells to self-regulate their responsiveness to the growth factor.
Research note: effects of age and immunization interval on the anamnestic response to T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent antigens in chickens.

Abstract Measurement of a humoral anamnestic response is a common procedure used to evaluate immunological competence. The purposes of the present study were to determine the optimum time period between primary and secondary immunizations needed to obtain the maximum antibody titer and to determine whether this interval differs with the age of the chicken or with the type of inducing antigen. The anamnestic responses of birds of two ages to a T-cell–dependent antigen (SRBC) and to a T-cell–independent antigen (Brucella abortus, BA) were evaluated. Birds of 4 wk or 6 mo of age were injected i.v. with either BA or SRBC, and a secondary injection was given 2, 4, 6, or 8 wk later. Agglutination titers for total and mercaptoethanol (ME)-resistant antibodies were determined from serum samples collected at 3, 6, and 9 days postsecondary immunization. Generally, titers were highest at 6 days postsecondary immunization. For both antigens, the chick total antibody levels at Day 6 postsecondary immunization were higher at 4-, 6-, and 8-wk immunization intervals than at 2-wk intervals; adult titers were independent of immunization interval. There was an interaction between age of birds and type of antigen.
RraA: a Protein Inhibitor of RNase E Activity that Globally Modulates RNA Abundance in E. coli

Ribonuclease E (RNase E) has a key role in mRNA degradation and the processing of catalytic and structural RNAs in E. coli. We report the discovery of an evolutionarily conserved 17.4 kDa protein, here named RraA (regulator of ribonuclease activity A) that binds to RNase E and inhibits RNase E endonucleolytic cleavages without altering cleavage site specificity or interacting detectably with substrate RNAs. Overexpression of RraA circumvents the effects of an autoregulatory mechanism that normally maintains the RNase E cellular level within a narrow range, resulting in the genome-wide accumulation of RNase E-targeted transcripts. While not required for RraA action, the C-terminal RNase E region that serves as a scaffold for formation of a multiprotein degradosome complex modulates the inhibition of RNase E catalytic activity by RraA. Our results reveal a possible mechanism for the dynamic regulation of RNA decay and processing by inhibitory RNase binding proteins.
Who uses child care subsidies? Comparing recipients to eligible non-recipients on family background characteristics and child care preferences

Abstract The federally funded, state-administered child care subsidy program provides subsidies to low-income families. Despite being among the government's most significant investments in early care and education, recent national estimates suggest that fewer than 30% of eligible families receive subsidies and the predictors of subsidy receipt remain poorly understood. This study investigates the predictors of subsidy receipt among eligible families, with data drawn from the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study — Birth Cohort (ECLS-B). Using logit regression models, we compare subsidy recipients to the eligible non-recipients of subsidies as a group, and then classified by the type of care the non-recipients do use: Head Start, public pre-kindergarten, or unsubsidized care. Results indicate that subsidy recipients are generally more advantaged than the eligible non-recipients of subsidies. In particular, subsidy recipients have more resources and fewer hassles than eligible non-recipients. These findings can aid state subsidy administrators in more effectively targeting their outreach and enrollment efforts and ultimately in increasing the use of this important program.
Multicomponent polymer coating to block photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles.

Chemical grafting of anti-oxidant molecules with an additional hydrophobic polymer coating directly onto TiO2 particle surfaces, using sonochemistry, is found to eliminate photocatalytic degradation enabling highly effective screening against UV radiation.
Treatment of dyslipidemia to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with multiple risk factors.

Individuals with metabolic syndrome typically have atherogenic dyslipidemia, characterized by increased concentrations of triglycerides, reduced concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased concentrations of small dense low-density lipoprotein particles. Statins have been shown to improve atherogenic dyslipidemia in patients with metabolic syndrome in a number of studies. Fibrates and niacin have also been shown to be effective therapy in these patients. Post hoc analyses suggest that lipid-regulating therapy reduces cardiovascular risk in patients with metabolic syndrome. Other approaches to the treatment of atherogenic dyslipidemia in these patients include targeting insulin resistance and adipose tissue. Agents such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist pioglitazone and the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant improve insulin resistance as well as atherogenic dyslipidemia. Weight loss has also been shown to improve risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. (Clinical Cornerstone. 2007;8[Suppl 6]:S6-S13) Copyright © 2007 Excerpta Medica, Inc.
The Kanpur Mosque Incident of 1913: The North Indian Muslim Press and Its Reaction to Community Crisis

Much regret to report occurrence of serious riot at Cawnpore this forenoon. Information just reached me in the following telegram from the Commissioner. Begins. Mass meeting of Muhammadans held at Eedgah this morning. On conclusion marched with black flags flying to mosque and commenced rebuilding demolished portion and throwing stones at kotwal and other police present. Magistrate and Superintendent of Police arrived about half past ten with police force and were met by volleys of stones and brickbats. Magistrate ordered police to fire. Failing to prevent mob advancing, Superintendent, Police and kotwal led charge of mounted police and forced rioters back. Armed police then cleared surroundings of mosque. All quiet before noon. Probably between twenty and thirty rioters killed and wounded. Police casualities one killed, several wounded. Ends. I had arranged with representative Muhammadans to receive deputation which would represent their grievances in the matter of the mosque. Date fixed was 9th August at Cawnpore, and I had undertaken to meet the deputation at the mosque and examine it personally. The lamentable occurrence by which ignorant mob appear to have taken law into their own hands with result of serious loss of life was apparently quite unforeseen by local officers as I had had no intimation of serious excitement. It is impossible to absolve outside agitators of responsibility for this needless bloodshed. I am starting for Cawnpore as soon as I can get a train and will report to His Excellency from there.'
Observation of formate species on a copper (100) surface by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy

Abstract The chemisorption and decomposition of formic acid on a copper (100) surface has been studied with high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. The physically adsorbed acid converted to a stable layer of formate species (HCOO) after annealing to 400 K. These species are bound to the surface in a bidentate structure with copper-oxygen bonds. We have resolved at least two molecular orientations of formate on the Cu(100) surface at different temperatures. At 400 K, the oxygen atoms are symmetrically positioned above the copper surface, and the molecular plane may be either normal to the surface, or tilted. Upon cooling to 100 K a new state formed, in which the molecular c2 axis is tilted toward the surface in the molecular plane. One of the formate oxygen atoms in the low temperature case is preferentially localized in a surface site. Conversion between the low and high temperature spectra was found to be reversible. At 425–500 K, surface formate decomposed to CO2 and H2.
Photoluminescence excitation of the AsiVGa 0.8 eV emission in GaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperatures

Abstract We report the above-bandgap photoluminescence excitation spectra obtained at 4.2K for the AsiVGa 0.8eV photoluminescence emission present in GaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperatures 325–400°C. We observed oscillating structures due to the excitations from both the heavy- and light-hole valence bands. The oscillating structures are attributed to the energy relaxation of the conduction-band electrons by the successive emission of the zone-center longitudinal optical phonons, along with energy-dependent capture of the conduction-band electrons by AsiVGa centers via a shallow effective-mass donor, or direct capture by the shallow donor. The oscillating structure due to the light-hole excitation is attributed to the splitting of the heavy- and light-hole valence bands.
Rapid recovery of function after partial denervation of the rat pineal gland suggests a novel mechanism for neural plasticity.

Abstract The activity of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NATase) in the rat pineal gland exhibits a large (approximately 100-fold) circadian variation, with peak activity occurring in the dark part of the light/dark cycle. Surgical removal of both superior cervical ganglia abolishes this rhythm in enzyme activity. Unilateral ganglionectomy caused a 75% decrease in NATase activity during the dark period immediately following the operation; however, by the subsequent dark period (32 hr after operation) the rhythm in NATase activity had returned to normal. Similar results were found after the internal carotid nerve was cut, and data are presented indicating that this is the postganglionic trunk by which sympathetic neurons reach the pineal gland. Denervation of one superior cervical ganglion (unilateral "decentralization") also produced a 75% decrease in NATase activity during the dark period immediately following the operation; however, after decentralization, enzyme activity did not return to normal in subsequent cycles. It is hypothesized that this recovery is due to loss of norepinephrine uptake sites in the degenerating sympathetic nerve terminals. As a result of decreased norepinephrine uptake, the effectiveness of the norepinephrine released by surviving neurons may be enhanced. This hypothesis is supported by experiments in which pharmacological blockade of norepinephrine uptake in unilaterally decentralized animals increased NATase activity to control levels. We propose that neural systems which use transmitter uptake as the mechanism of transmitter inactivation have a built-in "reserve stimulatory capacity."
The Convulsive and Electroencephalographic Changes Produced by Nonpeptidic δ-Opioid Agonists in Rats: Comparison with Pentylenetetrazol

δ-Opioid agonists produce convulsions and antidepressant-like effects in rats. It has been suggested that the antidepressant-like effects are produced through a convulsant mechanism of action either through overt convulsions or nonconvulsive seizures. This study evaluated the convulsive and seizurogenic effects of nonpeptidic δ-opioid agonists at doses that previously were reported to produce antidepressant-like effects. In addition, δ-opioid agonist-induced electroencephalographic (EEG) and behavioral changes were compared with those produced by the chemical convulsant pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). For these studies, EEG changes were recorded using a telemetry system before and after injections of the δ-opioid agonists [(+)-4-[(α R )-α-[(2 S ,5 R )-2,5-dimethyl-4-(2-propenyl)-1-piperazinyl]-(3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]- N , N -diethylbenz (SNC80) and [(+)-4-[α( R )-α-[(2 S ,5 R )-2,5-dimethyl-4-(2-propenyl)-1-piperazinyl]-(3-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]- N , N -diethylbenzamide [(+)-BW373U86]. Acute administration of nonpeptidic δ-opioid agonists produced bilateral ictal and paroxysmal spike and/or sharp wave discharges. δ-Opioid agonists produced brief changes in EEG recordings, and tolerance rapidly developed to these effects; however, PTZ produced longer-lasting EEG changes that were exacerbated after repeated administration. Studies with antiepileptic drugs demonstrated that compounds used to treat absence epilepsy blocked the convulsive effects of nonpeptidic δ-opioid agonists. Overall, these data suggest that δ-opioid agonist-induced EEG changes are not required for the antidepressant-like effects of these compounds and that neural circuitry involved in absence epilepsy may be related to δ-opioid agonist-induced convulsions. In terms of therapeutic development, these data suggest that it may be possible to develop δ-opioid agonists devoid of convulsive properties.