cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The homeobox gene Hhex regulates the earliest stages of definitive hematopoiesis

The development and emergence of the hematopoietic stem cell involves a series of tightly regulated molecular events that are not well characterized. The hematopoietically expressed homeobox (Hhex) gene, a member of the homeobox gene family, is an essential regulator of embryogenesis and hematopoietic progenitor development. To investigate the role of Hhex in hematopoiesis we adapted a murine embryonic stem (ES) cell coculture system, in which ES cells can differentiate into CD41(+) and CD45(+) hematopoietic progenitors in vitro. Our results show that in addition to delayed hemangioblast development, Hhex(-/-) ES-derived progeny accumulate as CD41(+) and CD41(+)c-kit(+) cells, or the earliest definitive hematopoietic progenitors. In addition, Hhex(-/-) ES-derived progeny display a significantly reduced ability to develop into mature CD45(+) hematopoietic cells. The observed reduction in hematopoietic maturation was accompanied by reduced proliferation, because Hhex(-/-) CD41(+)CD45(-)c-kit(+) hematopoietic progenitors accumulated in the G(2) phase of the cell cycle. Thus, Hhex is a critical regulator of hematopoietic development and is necessary for the maturation and proliferation of the earliest definitive hematopoietic progenitors.
Stability of Regular Human Insulin Extemporaneously Prepared in 0.9% Sodium Chloride in a Polyvinyl Chloride Bag:

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the extended stability of extemporaneously prepared regular human insulin 100 units in 0.9% sodium chloride at a total volume of 100 mL under refrig...
Glutamate immunoreactivity in rat dorsal root axons

Approximately 8.5% of the unmyelinated and 2.5% of the myelinated primary afferent axons in lumbar dorsal roots of normal rats are immunostained for glutamate. Thus unmyelinated fibers are the predominantly immunostained population under the conditions of our experiments. The mean size of the unmyelinated fibers is greater at L6 than at L4 and L2. The meaning of this is not clear, but it may imply that pelvic visceral afferents are slightly larger than afferents from other areas. We emphasize that the immunostained axons can be demonstrated in otherwise normal animals, so changes in the percentages of labeled axons in response to various stimuli will be of interest.
S-shaped double-spring structures for high stiffness and spring height

Stress-engineered spring structures have been demonstrated for a variety of innovative applications in nanoelectronics and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). They are fabricated by lifting a patterned metal film with internal stress gradient out of the substrate plane using sputtering. As their circular side profile puts a limit on the attainable spring height, non-circular spring shapes are highly desired. Therefore, we have developed a double-spring approach with an S-shape side profile which allows for extreme spring heights while still relying on the same stress-engineered base process without additional lithography steps. In our concept, the lower beam is pushing upwards and the upper beam is pushing downwards which leads to the S-shape. Optional interlocking features allow both springs to lock into a certain position. This paper presents the double-spring approach and demonstrates fabricated structures. Nearly vertical springs illustrate the potential of the technology for applications which require non-circular shapes and extreme heights.
Utilities of the P-value Distribution Associated with Effect Size in Clinical Trials

The P-value, which is widely used for assessing statistical evidence in randomized comparative clinical trials, is a function of the observed effect size of the experimental treatment relative to the control treatment. The relationship of the P-value with the observed effect size at study completion and the effect size anticipated at the design stage has potential usefulness in providing guidance for planning and interpretation of a clinical trial. The post-trial power associated with a statistically significant P-value from a completed study is also a random variable and its use may assist in planning a follow-up trial to confirm the statistically significant findings in an initial study. A measure of robustness is explored to quantify the degree of sensitivity of the observed P-value to potential bias that may be contained in the observed effect size.
In Vivo CD8+ T-Cell Suppression of SIV Viremia Is Not Mediated by CTL Clearance of Productively Infected Cells

The CD8+ T-cell is a key mediator of antiviral immunity, potentially contributing to control of pathogenic lentiviral infection through both innate and adaptive mechanisms. We studied viral dynamics during antiretroviral treatment of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infected rhesus macaques following CD8+ T-cell depletion to test the importance of adaptive cytotoxic effects in clearance of cells productively infected with SIV. As previously described, plasma viral load (VL) increased following CD8+ T-cell depletion and was proportional to the magnitude of CD8+ T-cell depletion in the GALT, confirming a direct relationship between CD8+ T-cell loss and viral replication. Surprisingly, first phase plasma virus decay following administration of antiretroviral drugs was not slower in CD8+ T-cell depleted animals compared with controls indicating that the short lifespan of the average productively infected cell is not a reflection of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) killing. Our findings support a dominant role for non-cytotoxic effects of CD8+ T-cells on control of pathogenic lentiviral infection and suggest that cytotoxic effects, if present, are limited to early, pre-productive stages of the viral life cycle. These observations have important implications for future strategies to augment immune control of HIV.
Effect of Sub-Boundary Layer Vortex Generations on Incident Turbulence

Sub-boundary layer vortex generators were tested in a wind tunnel to assess their effect on the velocity field within the wake region of a turbulent boundary layer. Both mean flow quantities and turbulence statistics were measured. Although very small relative to the boundary layer thickness, these so-called micro vortex generators were found to have a measurable effect on the power spectra and integral length scales of the turbulence at a distance many times the height of the devices themselves. In addition, the potential acoustic impact of these devices is also discussed. Measured turbulence spectra are used as input to an acoustic formulation in a manner that compares predicted sound pressure levels that result from the incident boundary-layer turbulence, with and without the vortex generators in the flow.
THE COLONEL'S STRATEGY: KFC, PETA, AND SUPERFICIAL APPEASEMENT

Researchers analyzed YUM(!) Brand/Kentucky Fried Chicken's (KFC's) response to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA's) KFC cruelty campaign in order to add a new component to the current organizational deviance literature related to how corporations defend themselves against attacks. KFC's reaction to PETA's attempts to label it deviant is a unique pattern of response we dub strategic interaction, in which each tactic used by PETA is met with a new and adaptive response by KFC. After an extensive campaign, PETA was still unable to succeed at changing KFC's policies. We attempt to explain PETA's lack of success in terms of superficial appeasement and appropriation. Superficial appeasement is a newly identified stalling tactic, which may provide organizations with the time they need to create a history of corporate responsibility in response to accusations of deviance. Appropriation involved KFC's co-optation of a joint panel that was intended to facilitate dialogue between the two organiz...
Channeling the homocysteine chapel.

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), a potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In this issue of Blood, Cheng et al report that severe HHcy causes oxidation and tyrosine nitration of small and intermediate conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels, resulting in impaired endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)–mediated relaxation of resistance arterioles.1
Ice fabrics from a borehole at the top of the South Dome, Barnes ice cap, Baffin Island.

Crystallographic fabrics from a borehole at the top of the south dome of Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada, were studied. Fabric intensity in coarse-grained ice increases with increasing depth, and the pattern changes from an initial weakly oriented one to one involving two c-axis maxima within a small circle centered on the vertical. The two maxima are aligned in a plane in the direction of maximum horizontal extension; they become distinct by about 180 m and then dominate the fabric until about 215 m; below this depth, the small-circle pattern dominates. Fine-grained ice displays similar but more variable fabric patterns, complicated by the inheritance of a vertical single maximum from the initial state. Measured surface strain rates suggest a coaxial deformation history intermediate between pure shear and uniaxial compression. Such stress configurations are known to lead to two-maximum and small-circle fabric patterns, respectively, on the basis of experiments and models involving plastic basal glide alone. With increasing strain, the angle between the two maxima, or the opening angle of the small circle, decreases in a similar manner both in the fabric diagrams for natural ice and in the fabric patterns predicted by models of plastic glide. Both the two-maximum and the small-circle patterns are considered to be equivalent to the single maximum pattern found in natural ice subjected to simple shear. In all cases, the fabric becomes well-defined at natural octahedral unit shears of about 1.0, and in all cases the fabric development is inferred to be largely controlled by basal glide.
The Americans with Disabilities Act: disabled by court decisions.

Work gives focus and purpose to human lives. Whether a person should be hired or fired should be based on the merits, on whether you can do the job. If you are discriminated against because you have a medical condition, and you are able to do the job despite the disability, your civil rights to employment should be protected. Every American should share in the prosperity and justice on which our nation has been built. The asylums that isolated some people from a normal life gave way to a promise of equal participation with passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. But court decisions in disability cases negating the intent of the law and recent conservative appointments to the US Supreme Court have become a serious threat to the achievement of equal rights for the people this legislation was intended to protect. Efforts to achieve equal rights for people with disabilities began in the 1940s with the establishment of advocacy groups for persons who were blind, had physical disabilities, or were paralyzed war veterans. The deinstitutionalization movement, sparked by journalistic reports of appalling conditions in psychiatric facilities, was propelled by advances in medicine. The Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1963 provided funds for community-based services and fostered the independence of persons with disabilities. Legislation for neurologic conditions followed but mainly focused on education and did not emphasize the integration of people with disabilities into the workforce. In 1970, the federal Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Act provided states with funds to serve those with “neurologic handicaps originating in childhood,” including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and mental retardation. Congress later passed the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, guaranteeing children with disabilities the right to a free, inclusive public education in the least restrictive …
Crosstalk of Escherichia coli FadR with Global Regulators in Expression of Fatty Acid Transport Genes

Escherichia coli FadR plays two regulatory roles in fatty acid metabolism. FadR represses the fatty acid degradation (fad) system and activates the unsaturated fatty acid synthetic pathway. Cross-talk between E. coli FadR and the ArcA-ArcB oxygen-responsive two-component system was observed that resulted in diverse regulation of certain fad regulon β-oxidation genes. We have extended such analyses to the fadL and fadD genes, the protein products of which are required for long chain fatty acid transport and have also studied the role of a third global regulator, the CRP-cAMP complex. The promoters of both the fadL and fadD genes contain two experimentally validated FadR-binding sites plus binding sites for ArcA and CRP-cAMP. Despite the presence of dual binding sites FadR only modestly regulates expression of these genes, indicating that the number of binding sites does not determine regulatory strength. We report complementary in vitro and in vivo studies indicating that the CRP-cAMP complex directly activates expression of fadL and fadD as well as the β-oxidation gene, fadH. The physiological relevance of the fadL and fadD transcription data was validated by direct assays of long chain fatty acid transport.
Generic modeling and analysis framework for shipboard system design

This paper proposes a novel modeling and simulation environment for ship design based on the principles of Model Integrated Computing (MIC). The proposed approach facilitates the design and analysis of shipboard power systems and similar systems that integrate components from different fields of expertise. The conventional simulation platforms such as Matlab®, Simulink®, PSCAD® and VTB® require the designers to have explicit knowledge of the syntactic and semantic information of the desired domain within the tools. This constraint, however, severely slows down the design and analysis process, and causes cross-domain or cross-platform operations remain error prone and expensive. Our approach focuses on the development of a modeling environment that provides generic support for a variety of application across different domains by capturing modeling concepts, composition principles and operation constraints. For the preliminary demonstration of the modeling concept, in this paper we limit the scope of design to cross-platform implementations of the proposed environment by developing an application model of a simplified shipboard power system and using Matlab engine and VTB solver separately to evaluate the performance with different respects. In the case studies a fault scenario is pre-specified and tested on the system model. The corresponding time domain bus voltage magnitude and angle profiles are generated via invoking external solver, displayed to users and then saved for future analysis.
The Bayesian Treatment of Auxiliary Hypotheses: Reply to Fitelson and Waterman

Fitelson and Waterman's ([2005]) principal objection to Strevens's ([2001]) Bayesian treatment of auxiliary hypotheses rests on a misinterpretation of Strevens's central claim about the negligibility of certain small probabilities. The present paper clarifies and proves a very general version of the claim.
Hierarchical single- and dual-process models of recognition memory

Abstract Recognition memory is commonly modeled as either a single, continuous process within the theory of signal detection, or with two-process models such as Yonelinas’ dual-process model. Previous attempts to determine which model provides a better account of the data have relied on fitting the models to data that are averaged over items. Because such averaging distorts conclusions, we develop and compare hierarchical versions of competing single and dual-process models that account for item variability. The dual-process model provides a superior account of a typical data set when models are compared with the deviance information criterion. Parameters of the dual-process model are highly correlated, however, suggesting that a single-process model may exist that can provide a better account of the data.
Internalization of iron-transferrin complex by murine L1210 leukemia cells and rat reticulocytes demonstrated by a minibead probe.

To determine if the cellular uptake of iron is associated with internalization of iron-transferrin (TF) complex by the cell, we synthesized a visual probe in which TF is covalently bound to amide-modified latex minibead, submicrometer in size (0.345 μm). Incubation of the probe with L1210 leukemia cells and rat reticulocytes led to the binding of the probe to the cell surface visualized and semiquantified by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The binding was inhibited by preincubation with nonderivatized iron-TF complex. Internalization of the probe occurred through clathrin-coated pits and vesicles. Minibeads derivatized by nontransport proteins or glycine as well as nonderivatized minibeads did not appreciably bind to the cells and were not internalized. Ethylamine, an inhibitor of receptor-mediated endocytosis abolished the internalization but not the binding of the probe which, then, accumulated on the cell surface. These findings provide direct evidence for internalization of TF during the iron uptake.
Post-mortem Interval Effects on the Phosphorylation of Signaling Proteins

Post-mortem brain tissue provides a unique opportunity to uncover the genes or proteins involved in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. Protein phosphorylation is a common protein modification within intracellular signaling pathways that affects the distribution and function of protein, and has been hypothesized to be of major importance in both the pathophysiology and treatment of major neuropsychiatric disorders. Thus, we were interested in ascertaining the stability of the phosphorylated forms of proteins that are involved in cellular signaling. Antibodies against phospho-tyrosine, phospho-threonine, and phospho-PKA substrates were used to examine the PMI effects on the general amounts of proteins in their phosphorylated form. Phospho-specific antibodies for ERK, JNK, RSK, CREB, and ATF-2 were used to test the effects of PMI on specific proteins whose functioning are known to be regulated markedly by phosphorylation. We found that PMI rapidly decreased the levels of proteins in their phosphorylated states and also decreased the total levels of certain proteins. The PMI effects were observed in the samples stored at both 4°C and room temperature, in both frontal cortex and hippocampus. Thus, it appears that measurements (such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and functional assays) that rely on the phosphorylation state of proteins would be extremely sensitive to PMI.
Ventricular Fibrillation During Transesophageal Atrial Pacing in an Infant with Wolff-Parkinson- White Syndrome

A complication of transesophageal atrial pacing in an infant with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) is reported. A newborn infant born with fetal hydrops had recurrent supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) that required repeated successful conversion by transesophageal atrial pacing. Because of secondary left ventricular dysfunction, digoxin was administered. During repeat transesophageal atrial pacing for recurrent SVT, ventricular fibrillation occurred. Although it is unclear which of several possible contributing factors was responsible for the ventricular fibrillation, recommendations are appropriate to minimize the risk in infants with WPW.
Pleistocene Mammals from Aguascalientes, Central Mexico

Hundreds of fossils of middle Pleistocene age mammals have been obtained from the tufa, sands, and gravels of the Tacubaya Formation just east of the City of Aguascalientes, in central Mexico. The fossils are probably of Illinoian age. This is the only large, systematically-collected, local fauna known from the Pleistocene of Mexico. Few remains of small mammals were found, but the Cedazo local fauna includes at least 39 species, three here described as new. The Cedazo local fauna is a unit fauna, representing the kinds of mammals that lived together in one small area during one period of time. The Cedazo local fauna lived on plains or grasslands with brush and trees along watercourses but with no tropical forest element in the environment.
Vertical mass and moisture structure from TIROS-N

Abstract During the First Global GARP Experiment (FGGE), global determinations of mass and moisture were made from TIROS-N (and NOAA-6) infrared and microwave sounding radiance measurements. At NESS in Washington, the meteorological data were produced operationally with a horizontal resolution of 250 km for inclusion in the FGGE level II-b data sets intended for application to large scale numerical analysis and prediction models. High horizontal resolution (50 km) sounding data sets are being produced by NESS and the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin and at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center for special case studies of the “Special Observing Periods” of FGGE. Results are presented to display the characteristics of the sounding data at different resolutions. For the low horizontal resolution data, an evaluation is shown by comparisons of global analyses made only from satellite soundings over land and sea, and those made operationally by the National Meteorological Center, which excluded satellite sounding data over continental areas, but included all conventional data sources. For the high horizontal resolution sounding data, results are presented to demonstrate the delineation of small scale temperature and moisture features which are consistent with the meteorological processes involved.
New methods for measuring macromolecular interactions in solution via static light scattering: basic methodology and application to nonassociating and self-associating proteins.

Abstract A method for rapid detection and characterization of reversible associations of macromolecules in solution is presented. A programmable dual-syringe infusion pump is used to introduce a solution of time-varying composition into parallel flow cells for concurrent measurement of laser light scattering at multiple angles and ultraviolet–visible absorbance. An experiment lasting less than 15 min produces a large and information-rich set of data, consisting of several thousand values of the Rayleigh ratio as a function of solute concentration(s) and scattering angle. Using a novel treatment of the data, the entire data set may be equally rapidly analyzed in the context of models for self-association. Validation experiments conducted on previously characterized nonassociating and self-associating proteins yielded robust values for molecular weights in the range 10–330 kDa and equilibrium association constants for dimer formation in the range 2 × 103–6 × 105 M−1.
Comparison of laparoscopic, open, and converted appendectomy for perforated appendicitis.

Background: Perforated appendicitis is associated with a significant risk of postoperative abdominal and wound infection. Only a few controversial studies evaluate the role of laparoscopy in perforated appendicitis. The significance of conversion from laparoscopy to open appendectomy for perforated appendicitis is not well defined. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test. Methods: Data on 52 patients with perforated appendicitis were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. Among these patients, 18 had laparoscopic appendectomies (LA); 24 had open appendectomies (OA); and 10 had converted appendectomies (CA). The indications for either method were based on the attending surgeons's philosophy. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed using a retrograde stapler technique. Operative time, hospital stay, ability to tolerate a liquid diet, and postoperative infectious complications were documented. Results: No statistically significant difference in the operative time in minutes was found between the LA (114 ± 29.3), CA (120.0 ± 32.2), and OA (105.8 ± 64.1) groups (p = NS). There was no statistically significance difference in length of stay (days) between the LA (9.2 ± 4.1), OA (10.5 ± 3.3), and CA (10.0 ± 1.8) groups. The wound infection rate was less frequent in the LA group (0%) than in 0A (14%) and CA (10%) groups. The rate of intra-abdominal abscess infections (IAAs) and ileus were 22% and 28%, respectively, in LA group, 38% and 29%, respectively, in OA group, and 60% and 50%, respectively, in CA group. Conclusions: No difference in the rate of postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses exists between laparoscopic and open appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. Wound infections and ileus complicate the postoperative course of patients after laparoscopic appendectomy less frequently than after open appendectomy. The conversion of laparoscopic to open appendectomy for perforated appendicitis is associated with increased postoperative morbidity.
State of emergency medicine in Azerbaijan

There has been no previous study into the state of emergency medicine in Azerbaijan. As a legacy of the Soviet Semashko system, the “specialty” model of emergency medicine and integrated emergency departments do not exist here. Instead, pre-hospital emergency care is delivered by ambulance physicians and in-hospital care by individual departments, often in specialty hospitals. Emergency care is therefore fragmented, highly specialized and inefficient. The Emergency Medicine Development Initiative (EMDI) of the International Medical Corps (IMC) was designed to improve the quality of emergency care in four pilot regional centers in Azerbaijan. The objective of this study was to assess the baseline emergency medical capacity of these four centers. EMDI staff conducted a four-part baseline survey in April 2006 to assess emergency care in Ganja (the second largest city in Azerbaijan), Kurdamir, Shamkir and Yevlakh. Data collection involved interviews with relevant personnel and a retrospective records review in each city. Pre-hospital: The number of ambulance teams per 10,000 inhabitants is below the number required by local regulations. On average, 45% of 27 medications and 37% of 17 pieces of critical equipment were available. Of the emergency procedures, 21% could be performed in the pre-hospital setting. In-hospital: Admission rates were near 100% for the admissions department–an area that is supposed to function as an emergency department would. On average 57% of 40 medications and 42% of 22 pieces of critical equipment were available. Of the emergency procedures, 62% could be performed in the in-hospital setting. The emergency medical system surveyed in Azerbaijan is inefficiently organized, under-financed, poorly equipped and lacks adequately trained staff. Reforms need to be directed towards achieving international standards, while adapting new models for service delivery into the existing framework and improving system capacity as highlighted by this baseline assessment.
Effects of reward schedules on the acquisition of conditioned reward value

Forty college Ss learned to discriminate among four nonsense syllables, each associated with a different reward contingency: 100% reward, 50% reward, no reward, and loss of reward. Subsequently, measures were made of the “pleasantness” and reward expectancy that these syllables had acquired. The results offer considerable support for three major conclusions: as compared with a neutral object associated with reward 100% of the time, an object associated with reward 50% of the time (a) is seen as somewhat less pleasant, but still pleasant in an absolute sense, (b) has a lower expectancy as a cue to future reward, but elicits a positive expectancy in an absolute sense, and (c) is seen as relatively mysterious or difficult to understand. These results are discussed as being more readily explained in terms of classical conditioning rather than in terms of frustration or cognitive dissonance theories.
Determination of sulfide in spent caustic solutions from the chemical cleaning of coal

Abstract Chemical cleaning of coal by the molten caustic leaching process results in the recovery of a spent caustic stream which contains a complex mixture of inorganic and organic salts. Determination of sulfur forms in this matrix is required to elucidate the mechanisms of sulfur removal and carbonate formation during molten caustic leaching. Since the sulfide present in spent caustic is quickly oxidized to sulfate, the method for sulfide must be rapid in order to yield meaningful results about the mechanisms of caustic desulfurization of coal. Thus, a rapid method has been developed for the determination of sulfide in such a caustic matrix. In this method, samples are acidified and purged with nitrogen gas to isolate hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide is then either trapped in a solution of lead acetate and total sulfur determined in the resulting precipitate, or the hydrogen sulfide is trapped by a resin impregnated with lead acetate and packed in a calibrated tube. In the latter variant, sulfur concentration determination is based upon the length of the resin bed in the tube that is blackened by the formation of lead sulfide.
Consumer Activism, EU Institutions and Global Markets: The Struggle over Biotech Foods

This paper takes a critical look at the struggle between the European Commission and European consumer markets over the future of agricultural biotechnology. While the Commission is keen to normalize the commercialization of biotech foods and crops, European consumers refuse to eat/buy products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) and have effectively closed the market to GMO. Is this a rare example of European citizens prevailing over the elitist technical decision making procedures in Brussels and the pro-GMO coalition of agrochemical companies, biotech research institutes, big farming, and selected member states? We show that peculiar circumstances enabled consumer-protection and environmental NGOs to mobilize consumers and to deflect the Commission's goal of introducing biotech foods for a time, a rare achievement in the annals of EU policymaking. However, shifts in global agricultural markets will render this more difficult in the future, in part by awakening dormant tensions within the European anti-biotech movement. Scholars, politicians and interested citizens have long debated, and often bemoaned, the 'democratic deficit5 in the European Union. The blame for stunted turnout in European elections and popular participation in general at the EU level is laid at the door of both institutional and socio-cultural developments. At the level of identity and culture, Europeans lack common bonds, traditions, and references, especially in the enlarged Europe. This contributes to the democratic deficit by inhibiting collective action at the European level, as a shared social identity is ordinarily a prerequisite for the rise of collective beliefs and action. By all accounts the EU has fostered only weak civic and cultural identities, and citizens relate to the EU and to ' European' issues through
Coupling of electrons to interface phonons in semiconductor quantum wells.

In a recent paper [B. K. Ridley and M. Babiker, Phys. Rev. B 43, 9096 (1991)] the authors have arguned that when retardation is taken into account the interface phonons of semiconductor superlattices obtained from the usual dielectric continuum approach are transverse polariton modes and that they therefore do not couple to electrons via the strong Fr\"olich interaction. Here we show that the interface polaritons obtained from this dielectric continuum approach, in general, have both transverse and longitudinal components and that the dispersion and character of the modes are affected by retardation only for small wave vectors (k\ensuremath{\lesssim}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{\mathrm{phonon}}$/c). For wave vectors of interest in electron-phonon scattering, the interaction is given to a good approximation by the usual Fr\"olich interaction neglecting retardation.
Effect of an irregular ventricular rhythm on cardiac output

Impairment of cardiac function in atrial fibrillation has been attributed to loss of atrial contraction and to a rapid ventricular rate. The results of this study suggest that irregularity of the ventricular rhythm, independent of the ventricular rate, may also contribute to impairment of cardiac function during atrial fibrillation.
ROLE OF SOME STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF SUBTRATES ON TRYPSIN ACTIVITY.

Abstract Tryptic hydrolysis of 27 different amides of arginine was studied in an attempt to learn more about the specificity requirements of trypsin. Chain length is important for tryptic action, the optimal length being one which contains four amides (pentalysine) or three amides and one urethane (carbobenzoxy-triarginyl naphthyl amide). The electronic characteristics of the groups blocking the α-amino group of arginine appear to play a role in that the more negatively charged groups are hydrolyzed more readily by trypsin. The properties of the amine attached to the enzyme-sensitive bond also have an influence on tryptic action. Aromatic amides are much more susceptible than simple amides in dipeptide and tripeptide substrates. The three most active substrates, Nα-carbobenzoxydiglycyl-l-arginyl-2-naphthylamine, β-carboxyproprionyl-l-diarginyl-2-naphthylamide, and Nα-carbobenzoxy-l-triarginyl-2-naphthylamide, were found to be split more readily than Nα-benzoyl-l-arginine-2-naphthylamide (BANA) by factors of 220, 147, and 113, respectively. As little as 5 μg of added trypsin per milliliter of serum can be identified in serum. A smaller amount could not be measured in spite of a series of attempts to separate trypsin from the anti-trypsin present in serum.
Frictional heating in plane Couette flow

When a liquid whose viscosity decreases as its temperature increases is made to undergo a simple shearing flow the wall speed, or the centreline temperature, is a double valued function of the wall stress. This is called the base solution curve and the turning point is called the nose of the curve. The question we address is this: is there a point of neutral stability on this curve? The answer turns out to depend on whether the wall speed or the wall stress is the control variable. We introduce an eigenvalue problem which explains the shape of the base curve. It leads to a useful definition of the nose and to a rule which forecasts when a nose ought to arise. It then helps us determine where the neutral points lie. The result is this: if the wall speed is the control variable there are no points of neutral stability; if the wall stress is the control variable the nose of the curve is a point of neutral stability. This supports our conviction that in a physical experiment the wall speed must be the control variable, it cannot be the wall stress. Because the wall stress plays the same role here as does the Frank–Kamenetskii number in thermal ignition we conclude that thermal ignition is not a good model of fluid frictional heating.
Dopamine system genes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis.

The dopamine system may play a major role in the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We applied a random-effects model meta-analysis to family-based studies of association between ADHD and the dopamine system genes DRD4, DRD5 and DAT1. A statistical test of heterogeneity
Resident training survey in infertility.

AbstractPurpose: We characterize infertility training in urology residency programs.Materials and Methods: A pilot survey was sent to randomly selected urological training programs. The modified final survey was sent to 126 approved urological residencies in North America.Results: Of the 126 surveys 110 (87 percent) were returned. Among the programs 38 percent expressed interest in recruiting a faculty member with expertise in infertility, 32 percent indicated an inadequate number of patients available to train residents and 56 percent indicated that their residents were least competent in the treatment of infertile patients compared to the other urological subspecialty disciplines.Conclusions: This survey confirms the underemphasis of infertility in urological training programs and the need to enhance this training.
Dynamic Thin Markets

Large institutional investors dominate many financial markets. This paper develops a consumption-based model of markets in which all institutional traders recognize their impact on prices. Bilateral (buyer and seller) market power changes efficiency and arbitrage properties of equilibrium. Predictions match temporary and permanent price effects of supply shocks, order breakup, limits to arbitrage, nonneutrality of trading frequency, and real effects of shocks and announcements in periods other than event dates. Maximizing welfare and stabilizing liquidity through disclosure of information about fundamentals presents a trade-off. Equilibrium representation as “trading against price impact” provides a link with the industry's practice
Interface Effect on the Transverse Thermal Conductivity of SiO2 Films Deposited on Silicon

Earlier work revealed that the transverse thermal conductivity of thin films of amorphous SiO2 deposited on monocrystalline silicon decreased substantially when the film thickness was less than about 1 µm. When multiple interfaces were created by the intercalation of thin intermediate layers of polycrystalline silicon into the SiO2 film, the thickness effect was enhanced. This observation pointed to an interfacial effect. A model accounting for the interface effect is discussed.
Parke-Taylor amplitudes in multi-Regge kinematics.

The Parke-Taylor multigluon amplitudes are examined in the multi-Regge kinematics, which assumes strong rapidity ordering of the produced gluons, and are used to compute the [ital n]-gluon production cross section and the gluon-gluon total cross section.
Comparative acute and combinative toxicity of aflatoxin B1 and T-2 toxin in animals and immortalized human cell lines.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and T-2 toxin (T-2) are important food-borne mycotoxins that have been implicated in human health and as potential biochemical weapons threats. In this study the acute and combinative toxicity of AFB1 and T-2 were tested in F-344 rats, mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), immortalized human hepatoma cells (HepG2) and human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Preliminary experiments were conducted in order to assess the acute toxicity and to obtain LD50, LC50 and IC50 values for individual toxins in each model, respectively. This was followed by testing combinations of AFB1 and T-2 to obtain LD50, LC50 and IC50 values for the combination in each model. All models demonstrated a significant dose response in the observed parameters to treatment. The potency of the mixture was gauged through the determination of the interaction index metric. The results of this study demonstrate that these two toxins interacted to produce alterations in the toxic responses generally classifiable as additive; however, a synergistic interaction was noted in the case of BEAS-2B. It can be gathered that this combination may pose a significant threat to public health and further research needs to be completed addressing alterations in metabolism and detoxification that may influence the toxic manifestations in combination. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linkages between tidal creek ecosystems and the landscape and demographic attributes of their watersheds

Twenty-three headwater tidal creeks draining watersheds representative of forested, suburban, urban, and industrial land cover were sampled along the South Carolina coast from 1994 to 2002 to: (1) evaluate the degree to which impervious land cover is an integrative watershed-scale indicator of stress; (2) synthesize and integrate the available data on linkages between land cover and tidal creek environmental quality into a conceptual model of the responses of tidal creeks to human development; and (3) use the model to develop recommendations for conserving and restoring tidal creek ecosystems. The following parameters were evaluated: human population density, land use, impervious cover, creek physical characteristics, water quality, sediment chemical contamination and grain size characteristics, benthic chlorophyll a levels, porewater ammonia concentration, fecal coliform concentration, and macrobenthic and nekton population and community characteristics. The conceptual model was developed and used to identify the linkages among watershed-scale stressors, physical and chemical exposures, and biological responses of tidal creeks to human development at the watershed scale. This model provides a visual representation of the manner in which human population growth is linked to changes in the physiochemical environment and ultimately the nursery habitat function of tidal creeks and the safety of seafood harvested from headwater tidal creeks. The ultimate stressor on the tidal creek ecosystem is the human population
Precise in situ tuning of the critical current of a superconducting nanowire using high bias voltage pulses

We present a method for in situ tuning of the critical current (or switching current) and critical temperature of a superconducting MoGe nanowire using high bias voltage pulses. Our main finding is that as the pulse voltage is increased, the nanowire demonstrates a reduction, a minimum and then an enhancement of the switching current and critical temperature. Using controlled pulsing, the switching current of a superconducting nanowire can be set exactly to a desired value. These results correlate with in situ transmission electron microscope imaging where an initially amorphous nanowire transforms into a single crystal nanowire by high bias voltage pulses. We compare our transport measurements to a thermally activated model of Little’s phase slips in nanowires. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
SEASONAL BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF THE DOGWOOD BORER, SYNANTHEDON SCITULA (LEPIDOPTERA: SESIIDAE) ON CLONAL APPLE ROOTSTOCKS IN NEW YORK

The dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris), is a relatively new pest problem on apples. Larvae feed principally in burr knots on the above-ground portion of clonal rootstocks. According to a survey of 33 orchards on dwarf or semidwarf apple root-stocks, about 70% of the trees had burr knots. The tendency to develop burr knots was similar among the rootstocks examined in this survey. The proportion of trees infested with dogwood borer in an orchard ranged from 0 to 100% and averaged 30%. The dogwood borer overwinters in the larval stage (2nd to 6th instar) and pupates in the feeding tunnel. Emergence and pheromone-trap records indicate 1 generation a year. In western New York, adults begin to emerge in mid-June, peak in mid-July, and continue to emerge through September. In several tests conducted over a 3-year period, chlorpyrifos at 180 g/100 L provided the most consistent control. At this rate a single spray timed to first or peak egg hatch was as effective as 2 sprays. Latex paint applied by brush to the trunk at the beginning of the oviposition period also reduced the infestation. In established plantings, dogwood borer can also be controlled by berming with soil up to the graft union to prevent access to burr knots. Destroying burr knots chemically with naphthalene acetic acid will not eliminate an infestation and may invite other borer problems.
Modeling of Piezo-induced Ultrasonic Wave Propagation in Composite Structures Using Layered Solid Spectral Element

This article presents the development of a three-dimensional spectral element-based Piezo-Enabled Spectral Element Analysis code to simulate piezo-induced ultrasonic wave propagation in composite structures. Piezo-Enabled Spectral Element Analysis solves the coupled electromechanical governing equations for a given arbitrary voltage input to a piezoelectric actuator and outputs the voltage response of the piezoelectric sensors. In case of modeling laminated composites, one element per ply is computationally expensive, and smeared material properties may give inaccurate results; hence, a layered solid spectral element is introduced. Layered solid spectral element can model several plies per element and uses combined nodal quadrature and Simpson’s 1/3 integration rule for numerical integration of mechanical stiffness matrix. It is worth noting that Piezo-Enabled Spectral Element Analysis can interface with commercial finite element mesh generators such as Abaqus/CAE to model structures with complex configur...
Statistics for Microsatellite Variation Based on Coalescence

The stepwise mutation model, which was at one time chiefly of interest in studying the evolution of protein charge-states, has recently undergone a resurgence of interest with the new popularity of microsatellites as phylogenetic markers. In this paper we describe a method which makes it possible to transfer many population genetics results from the standard infinite sites model to the stepwise mutation model. We study in detail the properties of pairwise differences in microsatellite repeat number between randomly chosen alleles. We show that the problem of finding the expected squared distance between two individuals and finding the variance of the squared distance can be reduced for a wide range of population models to finding the mean and mean square coalescence times. In many cases the distributions of coalescence times have already been studied for infinite site problems. In this study we show how to calculate these quantities for several population models. We also calculate the variance in mean squared pairwise distance (an estimator of mutation rate x population size) for samples of arbitrary size and show that this variance does not approach zero as the sample size increases. We can also use our method to study alleles at linked microsatellite loci. We suggest a metric which quantifies the level of association between loci-effectively a measure of linkage disequilibrium. It is shown that there can be linkage disequilibrium between partially linked loci at mutation-drift equilibrium.
Lost Atusville: A Black Settlement from the American Revolution

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Marcus LiBrizzi Year: 2009 Pages: 118 Publisher: The Maine Folklife Center ISBN: 978-0-943197-36-4 (soft cover).
Vitamin D receptor, a tumor suppressor in skin.

Vitamin D and calcium are well-established regulators of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, it was not a great surprise that deletion of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) should ...
An Experimental Verification of Limit Analysis of Short Cylindrical Shells

Abstract : The purpose of the note is to present some novel experimental results which essentially verify short shell theory wherein bending predominates.
Rabies-like inclusions in dogs

Inclusion bodies, indistinguishable from rabies inclusion bodies (Negri bodies), were found in the brains of 8 nonrabid dogs. The inclusions were compared to Negri bodies present in neurons of rabies-positive animals and examined for the presence of rabies virus by a combination of immunoperoxidase staining (7 cases), fluorescent antibody (FA) staining (1 case), and transmission electron microscopy (4 cases). Positive immunoperoxidase staining for rabies was obtained in brain tissues from FA rabies-positive animals. All brain tissues from the 7 dogs stained by the immunoperoxidase method and the brain from the 1 dog stained by the FA method were negative for rabies. Rabies virus was not found in inclusion-containing neurons in the cases examined by transmission electron microscopy. These results emphasize the importance of FA testing and mouse inoculation for the diagnosis of rabies.