cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementing Exploratory Mediation to Clarify the Nonsuicidal Self-Injury – Suicidality Connection

NSSI is a robust predictor of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Despite this close link, there is a lack of information regarding specific behavioral and psychological features of NSSI that may influence, or serve as drivers, of these relationships. Consequently, the aim of the current study was to elucidate the specific NSSI-related mechanisms that may confer risk for suicide ideation and suicide attempts. Participants having a lifetime history of NSSI (N = 659) were included in the current study and completed a series of online questionnaires. Exploratory mediation analysis was utilized to simultaneously examine 28 behavioral and psychological NSSI features as potential mechanisms of the NSSI-suicide ideation and NSSI-suicide attempt relationships. Results identified 11 NSSI features as having non-zero specific indirect effects in the NSSI-suicide ideation relationship, with the antisuicide function of NSSI having the strongest influence. In examining the NSSI-suicide attempt relationship 12 NSSI features were identified as having non-zero specific indirect effects, with endorsement of swallowing dangerous substances as an NSSI method having the strongest influence. These findings suggest psychological and behavioral features of NSSI may differentially impact risk for suicide ideation and suicide attempts, respectively.
Water Depths Required for Ship Navigation

One of seven reports on ship channels, the report on water depths required for ship navigation outlines current data availability and design criteria, and stresses the need for future research to aid the navigation planning of safe and economic ship channels in restricted waterways. Methods now used to quantify such factors influencing ship movement in restricted waters, such as vessel sinkage or squat, are presented. There is a general lack of data for the common design condition in which a ship moves in a channel located in an estuary of irregular shape. Similarly, little is known of the effects on ship movement in channels of depths only 10% greater than the ship’s draft.
Potential Effects of Immunization on the Host Defense Systems in Human Milk

Diarrheal disease mortality data from the Pan American Health Organization (1,2) indicate that in 1976 in North America, diarrhea accounted for 1.4% and 0.9% of infant deaths in children less than 1 year of age and children 1 to 4 years of age, respectively. In tropical areas of America, diarrhea accounted for 15 to 23% of all infant deaths and 15 to 26% of deaths in children 1 to 4 years of age (table 1). In many areas of the world diarrhea remains the leading cause of death in infants and young children (2).
The Eect of Investment Credit on Children's Schooling: Evidence from Pakistan*

This paper studies the influence of credit on children's schooling using data from Pakistan. It shows that credit need not increase the likelihood of school attendance for children who work in their household's non-farm enterprise. Moreover, credit obtained for investment purposes may reduce the likelihood of schooling for children who currently work in their family business. On average, results of this research suggest that for a thousand rupees (approximately 17 dollars) increase in credit obtained for non-farm business reasons, the odds of schooling for children employed in the home enterprise decrease by about 7%. This may be because investment loans increase children's labor productivity, which in turn increases the opportunity cost of schooling. The results of this study suggest that improving access to credit may not, by itself, constitute a solution to the problem of child labor.
Laying a controversial smell theory to rest

In the 50 y before the cloning of the odorant receptors (ORs) by Linda Buck and Richard Axel in 1991 (1), two competing mechanisms for odor detection were discussed, one chemical and one spectral. The chemical theory posited that “detectors” respond to physicochemical attributes of the odorant, including molecular size, molecular shape, and functional groups (2, 3). The alternative spectral theory hypothesized that the olfactory system detects molecular vibrations of the odor molecules (4, 5). This vibration theory was revived in 1996, along with a proposed mechanism of inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy activated by ligand–receptor interactions (6). These early theories of how ORs detect odorants were developed using psychophysical experiments, in which human volunteers sniffed odor molecules and described what they perceived. In PNAS, Block et al. (7) shift the “shape vs. vibration” debate from olfactory psychophysics to the biophysics of the ORs themselves. The authors mount a sophisticated multidisciplinary attack on the central tenets of the vibration theory using synthetic organic chemistry, heterologous expression of ORs, and theoretical considerations to find no evidence to support the vibration theory of smell.
Quantum inductive learning and quantum logic synthesis

Since Quantum Computer is almost realizable on large scale and Quantum Technology is one of the main solutions to the Moore Limit, Quantum Logic Synthesis (QLS) has become a required theory and tool for designing Quantum Logic Circuits. However, despite its growth, there is no any unified approach to QLS as Quantum Computing is still being discovered and novel applications are being identified. The intent of this study is to experimentally explore principles of Quantum Logic Synthesis and its applications to Inductive Machine Learning. Based on algorithmic approach, I first design a Genetic Algorithm for Quantum Logic Synthesis that is used to prove and verify the methods proposed in this work. Based on results obtained from the evolutionary experimentation, I propose a fast, structure and cost based exhaustive search that is used for the design of a novel, least expensive universal family of quantum gates. The results from both the evolutionary and heuristic search are used to formulate an Inductive Learning Approach based on Quantum Logic Synthesis with the intended application being the humanoid behavioral robotics. The presented approach illustrates a successful algorithmic approach, where the search algorithm was able to invent/discover novel quantum circuits as well as novel principles in Quantum Logic Synthesis.
Cremer fixed points and small cycles

Let A = e 2πiα , α∈R\Q, and let (p n /q n ) denote the sequence of convergents to the regular continued fraction of a. Let f be a function holomorphic at the origin, with a power series of the form f(z) = λz+∞ n=2 a n z n . We assume that for infinitely many n we simultaneously have (i) log log qn+1 > 3 log q n , (ii) the coefficients a 1+qn stay outside two small disks, and (iii) the series f(z) is lacunary, with a j = 0 for 2 + q n ≤ j < q 1+qn n - 1. We then prove that f(z) has infinitely many periodic orbits in every neighborhood of the origin.
Degenerate band edge in periodically-loaded circular waveguides

We demonstrate the occurrence of degenerate band edge (DBE) condition in a periodically-loaded metallic waveguide at microwave frequencies. The unit cell of the periodic structure is composed of a circular waveguide loaded with two discs having elliptical irises with misaligned angle The demonstration of DBE in those Raregoides is understood relying to the concept of a simple multi- transmission line approach. The proposed structure has great potential for use in traveling wave tubes oscillators, resonators and pulse compression devices.
Pain control methods in use and perceived effectiveness by patients with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome: a descriptive study

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the pain control methods in use by patients who have Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a group of connective tissue disorders, and their perceived effectiveness. Method: This descriptive study involved 1179 adults diagnosed with EDS who completed an anonymous on-line survey. The survey consisted of demographics information, the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain-Behavior, PROMIS Pain-Interference, and Neuro QOL Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities scales, as well as a modified version of the Pain Management Strategies Survey. Results: Respondents reported having to seek out confirmation of their EDS diagnosis with multiple healthcare providers, which implies the difficulty many people with EDS face when trying to gain access to appropriate treatment. Patients with EDS experience higher levels of pain interference and lower satisfaction with social roles and activities compared to national norms. Among the tre...
Metabolic Diversity in Campylobacter jejuni Enhances Specific Tissue Colonization

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of foodborne illness in industrialized countries. This pathogen exhibits significant strain-to-strain variability, which results in differences in virulence potential and clinical presentations. Here, we report that acquisition of the capacity to utilize specific nutrients enhanced the ability of a highly pathogenic strain of C. jejuni to colonize specific tissues. The acquisition of a gene encoding a gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase enabled this strain to utilize glutamine and glutathione and enhanced its ability to colonize the intestine. Furthermore, the acquisition of a DNA segment, which added a sec-dependent secretion signal to an otherwise cytoplasmic asparaginase, allowed this pathogen to utilize asparagine and to more efficiently colonize the liver. Our results reveal that subtle genetic changes in a bacterial pathogen result in significant changes in its ability to colonize specific tissues. In addition, these studies revealed remarkably specific nutritional requirements for a pathogen to effectively colonize different tissues.
On supervised density estimation techniques and their application to spatial data mining

The basic idea of traditional density estimation is to model the overall point density analytically as the sum of influence functions of data points. However, traditional density estimation techniques only consider the location of a point. Supervised density estimation techniques, on the other hand, additionally consider a variable of interest that is associated with a point. Density in supervised density estimation is measured as the product of an influence function with the variable of interest. Based on this novel idea, a supervised density-based clustering named SCDE is introduced and discussed in detail. The SCDE algorithm forms clusters by associating data points with supervised density attractors which represent maxima and minima of a supervised density function.
Screening potatoes for field resistance to early blight

A satisfactory method has been developed for screening potato clones for field resistance to early ligbht. Differences in clonal resistance can be evaluated and have proven to be consistent. Resistance to foliar infection appears to be generally associated with plant maturity. Late maturing selections are generally quite resistant and early maturing selections are usually extremely susceptible. Differences in resistance among named varieties from throughout the world were extremely variable.
Staging the invisible: The crisis of visibility in theatrical representation

Recent influential books by performance theorists Judith Butler and Peggy Phelan treat visibility as a representational problematic. While Butler believes the performative nature of visible behavior provides a potential for refusing the stability and definition of both gender and more radically sex, Phelan believes that visibility itself is always a trap, doomed to promise knowledge it cannot deliver and to guarantee disappointment it cannot abate. This essay offers an appreciation of both positions, but also a critique of their shared “theological” assumptions about possibilities for productive cultural subversion and of their underplaying of the materiality and historicity of cultural production. While the argument is theoretical, the context for the discussion is live stage performance.
Chemokines and Toll-like receptors in Lyme disease pathogenesis

Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted inflammatory disorder, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Recent discoveries cast new light on Bb dissemination and the ensuing pathogenesis of inflammation. Although the strong proinflammatory Bb lipoproteins have been implicated in the induction of inflammation, they do not seem to act exclusively through Toll-like receptor (TLR) engagement. In fact, mice that are deficient for MyD88, a component of the TLR signaling pathway, manifest similar or increased recruitment of cells into Bb-infected tissues. By contrast, the absence of the chemokine receptor CXCR2 results in reduced inflammation. Overall, these findings highlight the complexity of Lyme disease pathogenesis and identify chemokine pathways as novel therapeutic targets for the control of Bb-induced inflammation.
Avulsion fracture of the tibial eminence associated with severe medial ligamentous injury in an adolescent A case report and literature review

In the presence of open physes, tibial eminence frac tures are usually isolated injuries. However, adults sus taining a fracture of the tibial eminence are more likely to have other associated injuries, most commonly a tear of the medial collateral ligament. A case of an adolescent with a tibial eminence fracture and a com plete tear of the medial collateral ligament is reported. Review of the literature revealed two similar cases in adolescents. If medial instability is demonstrated on valgus stress of the knee in an adolescent with tibial eminence fracture, we believe stress roentgenograms of the knee should be obtained to distinguish between physeal injury and collateral ligament tear.
Thermal protection analysis of Mars-earth return vehicles

An analysis is performed to determine the aerothermodynamic heating and thermal protection materials requirements of a typical "fast" manned Mars mission. Entry conditions represent those consistent with an early manned mission having a total trip time of approximately 14-16 months. A coupled flowfield-radiation stagnation region heat transfer viscous shock layer (VSL) calculation was performed to ascertain the various shock layer heating mechanisms and the resultant surface heat fluxes for a generic shaped Mars/Earth return capsule. Computations were performed using the VSL computer code, RASLE. The ablation and thermal response of four different candidate ablating heat shield materials was determined using results from the RASLE code in conjunction with the detailed (one-dimensional) charring ablator-thermal response code CMA. Based on these results, the Earth return capsule thermal protection system (TPS) mass fraction was estimated for each material. A general conclusion is that attractive TPS mass fractions of 10-15% are possible with these candidate systems but that a vehicle and mission dependent choice must be made between heat shield total surface recession and initial TPS mass fraction.
Welfare myths: The transmission of values and work among TANF families

Abstract Both “welfare culture” arguments and structural explanations of poverty suggest that attitudes may have an effect on work and welfare outcomes. However, most scholars only examine objective behaviors and characteristics despite the fact that values are an underlying mechanism in explanations of the transmission of welfare and work behavior. Using data from a survey of recent welfare recipients in Louisiana and structural equation methods, we analyze causal relationships among family background, socioeconomic characteristics, attitudes, and two outcomes—TANF participation and employment. We find some support for the intergenerational transmission of welfare but not through values; we find no evidence that under the TANF system, values inhibit work.
The effect of propranolol on blood pressure and central MOPEG concentration in the conscious spontaneously hypertensive rat

Abstract The total concentration of the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyl glycol (MOPEG) and propranolol concentration was measured in the medulla, pons, hypothalamus and thoracic spinal cord of conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats during the development of the antihypertensive effect of a single dose of d,1-propranolol (10 mg/kg s.c.). Propranolol significantly increased MOPEG concentration by 21% in the thoracic spinal cord (2 h) and 16% in the hypothalamus (4 h), but no consistent pattern of change in regional MOPEG concentration was found in relation to the time course of the antihypertensive effect of propranolol.
Reproductive toxicity of nitroaromatics to the cricket, Acheta domesticus

Abstract The effect of TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) and its metabolites, 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2A-DNT), and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4A-DNT) on cricket (Acheta domesticus) reproduction was evaluated. We previously used crickets to assess the toxicity of a nitramine explosive (RDX) and its metabolites. It is common to find that while much information on the environmental impact of the parent compound is available in the literature, such is often not the case for the degradation metabolites of the parent compound. In some instances, these metabolites are as toxic (or more so) as the parent compound and we hypothesized that this might be the case for TNT. The presence of TNT and its metabolites in sand (10 µg/g) did not adversely affect cricket egg production, but adversely affected hatching of cricket eggs as compared to controls. However, there were no differences in hatching success among TNT and metabolite treatment groups. Hatching success of cricket eggs in soil or following topical exposure decreased as concentrations of TNT and its metabolites increased. The relative toxicity of TNT and its metabolites in soil generally followed the trend of TNT
The growth-regulated gene 1B6 is identified as the heavy chain of calpactin I.

Abstract The expression of 1B6, a growth-regulated sequence isolated from a Syrian hamster fibroblast cDNA library, was studied in BALB/c 3T3 cells. The level of cytoplasmic 1B6 mRNA (1600 bases) was low in quiescent cells and plateaued in mid/late G1 after the cells were stimulated with 15% fetal calf serum (FCS). Protein synthesis was not required for the induction of 1B6 mRNA; therefore, the expression of 1B6 is a primary response to serum stimulation. The induction of 1B6 mRNA was also observed after stimulation with insulin, epidermal growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor but not with platelet-derived growth factor. When quiescent cells were serum-stimulated, the percentage of cells that became committed to enter DNA synthesis was proportional to the length of their incubation with serum. To determine if 1B6 expression was also correlated with the time of exposure to serum, quiescent cells were stimulated with a pulse of 15% FCS and the abundance level of 1B6 induced by that pulse was determined. The amount of 1B6 mRNA increased with increasing time of exposure to serum and paralleled the increase in the percentage of nuclei that were induced into DNA synthesis by the serum pulse. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of the p1B6 cDNA to the GenBank database revealed a striking identity of 1B6 to the 3′ end of p36, the heavy chain of calpactin I. The previous characterization of p36 as a substrate for tyrosine kinases suggests a possible role for 1B6/p36 in Cell proliferation.
A novel approach toward noninvasive monitoring of transcutaneous CO2

The continuous monitoring of transcutaneous gases is an integral part of neonatal intensive care. Present monitors measure the equilibrating values of these gases by raising the skin temperature to 42°C or above. Because neonatal skin is very sensitive and delicate, this often leads to serious skin injuries. In this work, we present a new approach to the noninvasive measurement of transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (tcpCO2) based on the initial pseudo steady state diffusion rates instead of the mass-transfer equilibrium. Because we are following initial diffusion rates, each measurement takes no more than a few minutes. Additionally, raising the surface temperature is not required, thus, skin irritation and burns are highly unlikely. A dual-chamber diffusion vessel with either porcine skin or dialysis membrane placed between the two chambers was used to mimic neonatal skin. LI-820 CO2 Analyzer was used to measure the CO2 diffusing through the membrane or skin. Initial experiments on adult human skin under varying physical activities, food intake and breathing patterns showed a strong influence of the various conditions on the amount of CO2 diffusing through skin. These initial findings suggest that this method can be used not only on neonates but to a wider population of patients.
A gel electrophoretic assay for detecting the insertion defect in Ashkenazi Jewish carriers of Tay-Sachs disease

Abstract A simple, rapid, nonradioactive assay for detecting the 4-bp insertion defect found in the β-hexosaminidase α-chain gene of 70% of the Ashkenazi Jewish carriers of Tay-Sachs disease is described. In this assay, DNA derived from such carriers serves as a template for the polymerase chain reaction. Following amplification of a 159-bp fragment of exon 11 inclusive of the insertion, a portion of the product is subjected to electrophoresis in a 4% NuSieve agarose minigel. Visualization of the DNA with ethidium bromide demonstrates that heterozygote carriers for the defect display two distinct bands. In contrast, DNA from carriers of the splice junction defect, a mutation found in 30% of the Ashkenazi Jewish carriers of Tay-Sachs disease, displays only one band.
Etoposide Induces ATM-Dependent Mitochondrial Biogenesis through AMPK Activation

Background DNA damage such as double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) has been reported to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The major player in response to DSBs is ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated). Upon sensing DSBs, ATM is activated through autophosphorylation and phosphorylates a number of substrates for DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. ATM has been reported to phosphorylate the alpha subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which senses AMP/ATP ratio in cells, and can be activated by upstream kinases. Here we provide evidence for a novel role of ATM in mitochondrial biogenesis through AMPK activation in response to etoposide-induced DNA damage. Methodology/principal findings Three pairs of human ATM+ and ATM- cells were employed. Cells treated with etoposide exhibited an ATM-dependent increase in mitochondrial mass as measured by 10-N-Nonyl-Acridine Orange and MitoTracker Green FM staining, as well as an increase in mitochondrial DNA content. In addition, the expression of several known mitochondrial biogenesis regulators such as the major mitochondrial transcription factor NRF-1, PGC-1alpha and TFAM was also elevated in response to etoposide treatment as monitored by RT-PCR. Three pieces of evidence suggest that etoposide-induced mitochondrial biogenesis is due to ATM-dependent activation of AMPK. First, etoposide induced ATM-dependent phosphorylation of AMPK alpha subunit at Thr172, indicative of AMPK activation. Second, inhibition of AMPK blocked etoposide-induced mitochondrial biogenesis. Third, activation of AMPK by AICAR (an AMP analogue) stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis in an ATM-dependent manner, suggesting that ATM may be an upstream kinase of AMPK in the mitochondrial biogenesis pathway. Conclusions/significance These results suggest that activation of ATM by etoposide can lead to mitochondrial biogenesis through AMPK activation. We propose that ATM-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis may play a role in DNA damage response and ROS regulation, and that defect in ATM-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis could contribute to the manifestations of A-T disease.
Dynamic Behavior Of Heterogeneous Cell Populations Growing Under Mass Transport Limitations

Tissue growth in biomimetic scaffolds is strongly influenced by the dynamics and heterogeneity of cell populations. A significant source of heterogeneity is nutrient (or growth factor) depletion. Cells slow down, stop dividing or die when the concentrations of key nutrients or growth factors drop below critical levels in the scaffold interior. As a result, we still cannot grow in vitro tissue samples thicker than a few millimeters for metabolically active cells.To provide theoretical guidance for the in vitro cultivation of bioartificial tissues, we have developed a multi-scale model that can describe how the complex interplay among key intracellular processes, cell population dynamics and nutrient depletion regulates the growth of tissues in 3D scaffolds. We use a discrete, stochastic algorithm to describe the population dynamics of migrating, interacting and proliferating cells. Diffusion and consumption of a limiting nutrient is modeled by a partial differential equation subject to boundary conditions appropriate for common bioreactors. This PDE is solved numerically and the computed concentration profiles are used to modulate cell proliferation rates and migration speeds. The hybrid discrete-continuous model was parallelized and solved on a distributed-memory multicomputer to study how mass transport limitations affect tissue regeneration rates under conditions encountered in typical bioreactors.Simulation results show that the severity of mass transport limitations can be estimated by the magnitude of two dimensionless groups. Critical system parameters like cell population heterogeneity, the initial spatial distribution of seed cells, the distribution of cell migration speeds, and the hydrodynamic environment are shown to affect not only the overall rate, but also the pattern of tissue growth. More specifically, the interplay of cell population heterogeneity and cell death due to nutrient depletion can lead to dynamic self-assembly of cells and the formation of stratified structures.
Linguistic features of power dynamics in triadic dementia diagnostic conversations.

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine linguistic expressions of power during dementia diagnosis disclosure.
The effect of melatonin on cleavage rate of C57BL/6 and CB A/Ca preimplantation embryos cultured in vitro

There is growing interest in using melatonin as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, glaucoma, stress, jet lag, and sleep disorders. In addition, melatonin is being evaluated in a clinical trial to test its efficacy as an oral contraceptive. In order to test any possible adverse effects of melatonin on preimplantation embryos, we used the mouse as a model system. Two strains of mice, a Ped fast, melatonin-deficient strain, C57BL/6, and a Ped slow strain previously found to have detectable melatonin levels at nighttime, CBA/Ca, were studied. Two cell embryos were incubated with melatonin concentrations from 10(-5) M to 10(-13) M for 48 or 72 hours and the number of cells per embryo assessed quantitatively at the end of the incubation period. We used sufficiently high levels of melatonin to mimic the pharmacological concentration used in the oral contraceptive. It was found that there was no effect of melatonin on embryos from either mouse strain at any of the concentrations tested. Our results suggest that if conception occurs while melatonin is being administered to treat a range of conditions, it would not adversely affect the embryo.
Effects of neonatally administered iprindole on adult behaviors of rats

In past studies, administration of the antidepressant drugs clorimipramine, zimeldine, or desipramine to neonatal rats produced abnormalities in adult rats that modeled some behavioral and/or REM sleep features of human endogenous depression. Although these three drugs affected different neurotransmitter systems, all caused REM sleep deprivation (RSD). This suggested the hypothesis that RSD of neonatal rats caused their adult depression. One prediction of this hypothesis is that neonatally administered iprindole, an antidepressant drug that does not produce RSD, will not produce adult rats that model depression. The present study tested this hypothesis. Iprindole was administered to neonatal experimental rats and saline was administered to neonatal control rats. When the rats matured, compared with control rats, experimental rats were not significantly different in aggressive behavior (shock induced fighting), sexual behaviors, open field locomotion, and REM sleep. In our previous studies on rats, all these adult behaviors were affected in a depressive-like way by neonatally administered clorimipramine. Because iprindole does not decrease REM sleep, the present results support the hypothesis that in rats neonatal RSD causes adult depression.
Radiation Stability of Counting Gas Mixtures Containing CF4

Several noble gas mixtures containing CF4 were irradiated at high neutron and gamma dose rates to determine their radiation stability for neutron flux monitoring applications where the total radiation dose can be large. Five test detectors (ionization and proportional counters employing either 3He or 235U as the sensitizing material) containing CF4 gas mixtures were irradiated in a neutron flux of ~1011 n·cm-2·s-1 and a gamma field of ~2 × 108 R/h. All detectors exhibited moderate to total degradation of pulse response at fluences from 1015 to 1016 n·cm-2, with more rapid degradation occurring in the fission detectors. The pulse height degradation was probably caused by electron attachment on irradiation products such as C2F6, C3F8, and CF3OF, which were detected at 100-to 6000-ppm levels in subsequent mass spectrometric analyses.
Staining protein in isoelectric focusing gels with fast green

Abstract A rapid, simple technique for staining proteins in isoelectric focusing polyacrylamide gels was demonstrated using fast green in 10% acetic acid. Fast green has the distinct advantage of not binding to ampholytes, thus staining only protein. Maximum staining was achieved within 5 min, and bands were visible after 3 to 6 h of destaining. Background stain removal, however, was not complete until 72 h after placing gels in a diffusion destainer. Gel quantitation was demonstrated with actin using fast green and Coomassie brilliant blue R-250. A standard curve prepared with fast green was linear from 0.5 to 8 μg of actin in contrast to Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 which provided linearity from 0.1 to 2.5 μg actin. Application of fast green staining to quantitation of α-actin from cultured muscle satellite cells has been demonstrated.
A Composition Analysis Tool for the Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) Instrument on New Horizons

We describe the response of the Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument (McComas et al. in Space Sci. Rev. 140:261, 2008) to 1–40 amu ions in order to assess whether it can be used to determine plasma composition. Our goal is to enhance the scientific return on the SWAP plasma measurements obtained during the New Horizons traversal down Jupiter’s magnetotail in 2007. We present calibration data for the SWAP flight instrument and another largely flight-like SWAP sensor, dubbed “SWAP-II”. SWAP’s mass-dependent response was characterized by analyzing the count ratios from its two channel electron multipliers (CEMs). We observe significant differences in the instrument response between light (mass ≤ He) and heavy (mass > He) ions, especially for energies below ∼4 keV. We attribute these differences to the mass-dependent electron emission yield from SWAP’s ultra-thin (∼1 μg/cm2) carbon foil. Using these results, we develop a plasma composition analysis technique to statistically distinguish between light and heavy plasma ions measured by the instrument.
Phase-contrast wavefront sensing for adaptive optics

Most ground-based adaptive optics systems use one of a small number of wavefront sensor technologies, notably (for relatively high-order systems) the Shack-Hartmann sensor, which provides local measurements of the phase slope (first derivative) at a number of regularly-spaced points across the telescope pupil. The curvature sensor, with response proportional to the second derivative of the phase, is also sometimes used, but has undesirable noise propagation properties during wavefront reconstruction as the number of actuators becomes large. It is interesting to consider the use for astronomical adaptive optics of the "phase contrast" technique, originally developed for microscopy by Zernike to allow convenient viewing of phase objects. In this technique, the wavefront sensor provides a direct measurement of the local value of phase in each subaperture of the pupil. This approach has some obvious disadvantages compared to Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing, but has some less obvious but substantial advantages as well. Here we evaluate the relative merits in a practical ground-based adaptive optics system.
Isolation and characterization of biologically active murine interleukin-1α derived from expression of a synthetic gene in Escherichia coli

A murine interleukin-1α (mIL-1α) gene coding for amino acids 115 to 270 of the precursor protein (Lomedico, P.T., Gubler, U., Hellmann, C.P., Dukovich, M., Giri, J.G., Pan, Y.E., Collier, K., Semionow, R., Chua, A.O. and Mizel, S.B. (1984) Nature 312, 458–462) was chemically synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli. mIL-1α, in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies, accounted for approx. 30% of total cellular protein produced by the recombinant strain. A simple isolation protocol was developed in which inclusion body material was first solubilized in 3 M guanidine hydrochloride, and the mIL-1α was then simultaneously purified and allowed to fold to its active conformation by dialysis against distilled water. This procedure yielded pure, biologically active mIL-1α with 41% recovery of the mIL-1α present in the guanidine hydrochloride extract. The purified preparation had the expected amino acid composition, a molar absorptivity of 28 200 M−1 · cm−1 and a pI of 5.2. No methionyl-mIL-1α. The specific biological activity was 3·107 units/mg in a co-mitogenic thymocyte proliferation assay. In addition to full-length mIL-1α, the preparation contained N-terminally truncated mIL-1α species (mainly des-4 and des-6 amino acid forms). The truncated species were isolated and found to have the same biological activity as the complete polypeptide. Thus, the active fragment of mIL-1α appears to consist of a proteinase-sensitive N-terminal region which is not essential for activity, and a proteinase-resistant core which harbors the essential determinants of its cytokine function.
Tongue manipulation of the palate assists estrous detection in the bovine.

Abstract To understand the mechanisms for introducing urine or vaginal secretions into the vomeronasal organ, we used 16 mm cinematography and a freeze frame/slow motion technique to analyze the mouth and tongue movements of Brahman bulls while they examined the vulvas of restrained, estrogen-primed cows. Prior to flehmen, the mouth slowly opened, the curled tip of the tongue compressed the hard palate and the body of the tongue protruded from the mouth. The tongue maintained this form and moved forward. Once the tip of the tongue reached the incisive papilla, the body of the tongue retracted and the tip of the tongue relaxed. This tongue compression stroke (TCS) of the hard palate occurred 2 to 6 times, lasting 1 4 to 1 2 sec/stroke. Pressure changes in the vomeronasal organ are assumed to occur during and following TCSs, resulting in aspiration of any liquid in the incisive pit into the incisive and vomeronasal ducts. Such aspiration probably does not occur during flehmen because the tongue is relaxed and on the floor of the mouth.
Binocular stimulation and response variability of striate cortex units in the cat.

Abstract Unit impulses were counted from 23 single cortical cells in response to repeated monocular and binocular stimulations, with stimulus parameters held constant. Unit responses to each stimulation were counted for statistical treatment while also being collected as poststimulus histograms. Response variability, as indicated by the coefficient of variation, was significantly decreased as a function of increased eye dominance and was lowest when binocular stimulation was applied. This relationship held for all the types of binocular interaction tested.
A wide area measurement based neurocontrol for generation excitation systems

Power system is a highly interconnected nonlinear system that needs optimal and accurate control for continuous operation. Large power transfer through long transmission line between different electrical areas, stressed system and adverse interaction between local controllers, may give rise to slow frequency inter-area oscillations. The inter-area modes may not be visible from local measurements and hence it is useful to use remote measurement based centralized supplementary control. Wide area control systems (WACSs) using wide-area or global signals can provide remote auxiliary control to local controllers such as automatic voltage regulators, power system stabilizers, etc. to damp out inter-area oscillations. This paper presents a design and real time implementation of a nonlinear neural network based optimal wide area controller using adaptive critic design (ACD). The real time implementation of a power system model is carried out on a real time digital simulator (RTDS). The performance of the WACS as a power system stability agent is studied using a two-area power system under different operating conditions and contingencies. The WACS shows improvement in the damping of inter-area mode with the use of supplementary excitation control. In addition, results show that the designed controller can provide robust performance under small communication delay in remote signal transmission.
Social heterosis and the maintenance of genetic diversity at the genome level

Social heterosis is when individuals in groups or neighbourhoods receive a mutualistic benefit from across-individual genetic diversity. Although it can be a viable evolutionary mechanism to maintain allelic diversity at a given locus, its efficacy at maintaining genome-wide diversity is in question when multiple loci are being simultaneously selected. Therefore, we modelled social heterosis in a population of haploid genomes of two- or three-linked loci. With such linkages, social heterosis decreases gametic diversity, but maintains allelic diversity. Genomes tend to survive as complimentary pairs, with alternate alleles at each locus (e.g. the pair AbC and aBc). The outcomes of selection appear similar to fitness epistasis but are novel in the sense that phenotypic interactions occur across rather than within individuals. The model’s results strongly suggest that strong linkage across gene loci actually increases the probability that social heterosis maintains significant genetic diversity at the level of the genome.
Predictors of Effective Teaching in Junior High Mathematics Classrooms

Empirical studies linking instructional processes and teacher characteristics to pupil achievement have been accumulating, and they offer a potential basis for deriving generalizations about effective teaching practices (Dunkin & Biddle, 1974; Rosenshine, 1976). Unfortunately, however, there have been only a few field-based process-product studies of mathematics teaching. Reviews of research on mathematics teaching (Dessart & Frandsen, 1973; Fey, 1969; Riedesel & Bums, 1973) indicate major concern with curriculum design, organizational variables such as grouping, and particular methods of teaching, such as discovery techniques, rather than with process-product research results. When process-product research on mathematics teaching has been conducted, it has uncovered some significant predictors of pupil achievement. For example, Good and Grouws (1977) found that more effective fourthgrade mathematics teachers, compared to less effective ones, taught the whole class more, spent less time going over homework, asked fewer process (explanation) questions, had a more relaxed class climate, and had greater clarity in their presentations. In a study of achievement in an algebra lesson, Smith (1977) found that more effective teachers used more relevant examples, gave greater attention to lesson objectives, and used fewer vague terms. Robitaille (1975) found differences between more and less effective secondary mathematics teachers on several background characteristics and classroom behaviors, including the extent of student participation. Unfortunately, this study used supervisor ratings rather than pupil achievement to assess effectiveness. The current study compares the teaching behavior and characteristics of groups of more effective and less effective teachers of seventhand eighth-
Regional Therapies for In-transit Disease

In-transit melanoma is an uncommon pattern of recurrence, but presents unique management challenges and opportunities for treatment. The clinical presentation usually involves from 1 to more than 100 small subcutaneous or cutaneous nodules, ranging from submillimeter to multiple centimeters in diameter. Regional chemotherapy techniques are a mainstay of treatment of patients without systemic disease spread. Future applications of regional therapy are likely to involve combination therapy with cytotoxic agents and novel immune modulators. Regional therapy provides distinct opportunities for the treatment of unresectable disease, and offers a unique platform for investigation of novel therapeutics in early-stage clinical trials.
Blockade of nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization by a novel neurotensin analog in rats.

Abstract Neurotensin is a tridecapeptide with anatomic and functional relationships to dopaminergic neurons. Previously we showed that one of our brain-penetrating neurotensin analogs, NT69L (N-met- l -Arg, l -Lys, l -Pro, l -neo-Trp, l -tert-Leu, l -Leu), blocks cocaine- and d -amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in rats. We have now performed a similar study in rats sensitized to nicotine over 15 days of administration. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive daily injections for 15 days with one of the following combinations: saline/nicotine (0.35 mg/kg), NT69L (1 mg/kg)/nicotine, saline/saline, or NT69L/saline with a 30-min period between injections. On day 15 each group was given saline/nicotine or NT69L/nicotine and tested in an activity chamber. One-time administration of NT69L attenuated nicotine-induced activity with an ED50 of 1.6 μg/kg. Rats injected with nicotine over the 15 days had a significant increase in locomotor activity, consistent with nicotine-induced locomotor sensitization. A single injection of NT69L on day 15 prior to nicotine markedly decreased nicotine-induced hyperactivity. Although daily injections of NT69L lessened its effect, statistically significant reductions in hyperactivity to nicotine persisted throughout the study. There was no significant difference in activity between rats injected with NT69L/saline and saline/saline. Thus, the activity reduction was not due to sedation. Acute and chronic nicotine injection caused an increase in cytisine binding in prefrontal cortex. NT69L significantly reduced the increase caused by acute but not chronic injection of nicotine. Nicotine injection resulted in an increase in dopamine levels in the striatum and dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the prefrontal cortex. NT69L lowered the norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex but did not affect striatal dopamine. The present study is the first report, to our knowledge, of a possible role for neurotensin in the development of nicotine dependence, and suggests that neurotensin analogs such as NT69L may be explored as treatment for nicotine and other psychostimulant abuse.
Death and the human environment: the United States in the 20th century

Abstract Causes of death varied systematically in the United States during the 20th century as the human environment came under control. Infections became less deadly, while heart disease grew dominant, followed by cancer. Logistic models of growth and multi-species competition in which the causes of death are the competitors describe precisely the evolutionary success of the killers. We show the dossiers of typhoid, diphtheria, cholera, tuberculosis, pneumonia/influenza, heart disease, cancer, and AIDS. Improvements in water and air supply and other aspects of the environment provided cardinal defenses against infection. We project cancer will overtake heart disease as the leading cause of death about 2015, and infections may gradually regain their deadly edge.
Ribosomal S6 kinase regulates ischemia-induced progenitor cell proliferation in the adult mouse hippocampus

Ischemia-induced progenitor cell proliferation is a prominent example of the adult mammalian brain's ability to regenerate injured tissue resulting from pathophysiological processes. In order to better understand and exploit the cell signaling mechanisms that regulate ischemia-induced proliferation, we examined the role of the p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade effector ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) in this process. Here, using the endothelin-1 ischemia model in wild type mice, we show that the activated form of RSK is expressed in the progenitor cells of the subgranular zone (SGZ) after intrahippocampal cerebral ischemia. Further, RSK inhibition significantly reduces ischemia-induced SGZ progenitor cell proliferation. Using the neurosphere assay, we also show that both SGZ- and subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived adult neural stem cells (NSC) exhibit a significant reduction in proliferation in the presence of RSK and MAPK inhibitors. Taken together, these data reveal RSK as a regulator of ischemia-induced progenitor cell proliferation, and as such, suggest potential therapeutic value may be gained by specifically targeting the regulation of RSK in the progenitor cell population of the SGZ.
Conditional alleles in mice: practical considerations for tissue-specific knockouts.

Recent advances using site-specific recombinase systems to manipulate the mouse genome have opened new doors, revealing the complexity of gene function in mammals and for designing better models of human diseases (Torres and Kuhn, 1997; Dymecki, 2000). The application of these site-specific recombinase systems along with gene targeting techniques in embryonic stem (ES) cells have now made it possible to modify the mouse genome in almost any desired manner, from creating specific point mutations to achieving large sitespecific chromosomal rearrangements (Nagy and Mar, 2001; Yu and Bradley, 2001). Furthermore, these techniques have proven to be very useful tools for activating and inactivating specific genes in a “conditional” manner in spatially and temporally restricted patterns (Lobe and Nagy, 1998; Nagy, 2000). This helps to circumvent the limitations of conventional gene inactivation, in particular, that a given gene has multiple roles at different times and in different tissues. These methodologies are particularly useful for elucidating a complete picture of gene function in which: 1) the conventional knockout leads to an early lethal phenotype preventing the study of its later roles, and/or 2) the phenotype affects multiple tissues, preventing the detailed study of its function in a particular cell lineage.
Distribution functions in stochastic programs with recourse: A parametric analysis

This paper studies the behavior of the optimum value of a two-stage stochastic program with recourse (random right-hand sides) as the mean and covariance matrices defining the random variables in the program are perturbed. Several results for convex programs are developed and are used to study the effect such perturbations have on the regularity properties of the stochastic programs. Cost associated with incorrectly specifying the mean and covariance matrices are discussed and estimated. A stochastic programming model in which the random variable is dependent on the first-stage decision is presented.