cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Paf1 complex physically and functionally associates with transcription elongation factors in vivo

We are using biochemical and genetic approaches to study Rtf1 and the Spt4–Spt5 complex, which independently have been implicated in transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II. Here, we report a remarkable convergence of these studies. First, we purified Rtf1 and its associated yeast proteins. Combining this approach with genetic analysis, we show that Rtf1 and Leo1, a protein of unknown function, are members of the RNA polymerase II‐associated Paf1 complex. Further analysis revealed allele‐specific genetic interactions between Paf1 complex members, Spt4–Spt5, and Spt16–Pob3, the yeast counterpart of the human elongation factor FACT. In addition, we independently isolated paf1 and leo1 mutations in an unbiased genetic screen for suppressors of a cold‐sensitive spt5 mutation. These genetic interactions are supported by physical interactions between the Paf1 complex, Spt4–Spt5 and Spt16–Pob3. Finally, we found that defects in the Paf1 complex cause sensitivity to 6‐azauracil and diminished PUR5 induction, properties frequently associated with impaired transcription elongation. Taken together, these data suggest that the Paf1 complex functions during the elongation phase of transcription in conjunction with Spt4–Spt5 and Spt16–Pob3.
Pipecolic Acid-Catalyzed Direct Asymmetric Mannich Reactions

Mannich reactions between aldehydes and N-p-methoxyphenyl-protected α-imino ethyl glyoxylate have been performed using (S)-pipecolic acid as catalyst. The reactions give both syn- and anti-products (dr = 1.4−2:1) with high enantioselectivities (>98% ee). In contrast, (S)-proline-catalyzed reactions give mainly syn-products with high enantioselectivities. Computational studies reveal that the energetic preference between the transition structures involving the s-cis-enamine and the s-trans-enamine is smaller for the pipecolic acid as compared to proline, yielding the (2S,3R)-anti and the (2S,3S)-syn Mannich product in nearly equal amounts.
Leaching of uranium ores with the H2O2Na2SO4H2SO4 system

Abstract The kinetics and practical aspects of the applicability of a new uranium leaching method — the HSS (H2O2Na2SO4H2SO4) system — in the extraction of uranium from a typical New Mexico ore was investigated in the temperature range 30–80°C and at constant pH of 4.0–6.0 ± 0.1. The effect of Na2SO4 and H2O2 concentrations, pH, temperature and Fe2+ addition on the rate and degree of uranium extraction was quantitatively established. Based on the nature of rate dependence on the H2O2 and Na2SO4 concentrations, an oxidation reaction mechanism involving sulfated Fe3+ species and H2O2, including its decomposition products (O2 and HO0 radicals) has been suggested to account for the dissolution of tetravalent uranium compounds. In order to ascertain the applicability of the HSS process to other uranium ores, a comparative study was made on two other US sandstone ores. The results of this study indicated that the ores responded to the leaching tests differently. On the basis of this experimental study, a generalized flow-sheet of the HSS process has been proposed.
Molecular mediators of metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background. The presence of regional metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common and adverse event associated with poor prognosis and high mortality. Although significant improvements in standard therapies have increased the efficacy of local tumor management, the high incidence of tumor recurrence has resulted in limited improvements in overall survival rates. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that mediate HNSCC invasion and metastasis may enable identification of novel therapeutic targets for the prevention and management of tumor dissemination. Methods. A literature review was performed. Results. Several biologic mediators and mechanisms that have been implicated in HNSCC metastasis, such as cell adhesion molecules, proteolytic enzymes, growth factor signaling, metastasis suppressor genes, and chemokine receptors were reviewed. Conclusions. Prevention of HNSCC metastasis is an important clinical objective that requires an increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms of tumor invasion and dissemination. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: XXX–XXX, 2005
CYCLIC OZONE IDENTIFIED IN MAGNESIUM OXIDE (111) SURFACE RECONSTRUCTIONS

We report the first experimental evidence of the cyclic form of ozone, found in three air stable surface reconstructions of MgO (111) annealed above 1450 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The $\mathrm{MgO}(111)\ensuremath{-}(\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ surface consists of equilateral oxygen trimers while the $\mathrm{MgO}(111)\ensuremath{-}(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ and $\mathrm{MgO}(111)\ensuremath{-}(2\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ surfaces are periodic arrangements of trimers and single oxygen atoms. The oxygen trimers appear to be centered over underlying Mg atoms. The structures fit transmission electron diffraction data better than neutral plane faceting based models proposed for the polar MgO (111) surface.
Effect of principal consolidation stress difference on undrained shear strength

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of consolidation under a principal stress difference on the strength response of a cohesive soil possessing two different types of initial structure. A laboratory sample of an illite clay was consolidated one-dimensionally from a slurry, and cylindrical specimens were cut with their axes parallel and perpendicular to the direction of the one-dimensional consolidation stress. Constant deformation rate undrained triaxial compression tests were conducted to determine the stress-strain-strength characteristics. Experimental results indicated that (1) the relative magnitudes of the axial and radial strains during consolidation depend on the initial soil structure, as well as the respective consolidation stresses; (2) the moisture content after consolidation decreased with an increase in the principal consolidation stress ratio for a constant value of the mean consolidation stress; and (3) the stress-strain-strength response was dependent on both the principal consolidation stress ratio and the initial structure. Greater strength's decreased pore pressures, and increased values of the pore pressure coefficient A at failure occurred for larger values of the principal consolidation stress ratio. In addition to its dependence on the initial soil structure, the ratio of the undrained shear strength to the major principal consolidation stress was greatest for isotropic consolidation conditions and decreased considerably for anisotropic consolidation; however, for both the maximum principal stress difference and the maximum principal effective stress ratio failure criteria, values computed by using both Af for the isotropic case and Af for the anisotropic case generally agree within about 10 per cent with the comparable experimental values.
Does loading velocity affect failure strength after tendon repair

Tensile testing of repaired tendons has been used to assess the efficacy of repair techniques. However, individuals flex and extend fingers at rates higher than those typically used for testing. This study characterized the effect of loading rate on the failure strength of repaired canine flexor tendons. Thirty-six canine flexor digitorum profundus tendons were lacerated, repaired, and tested at three displacement rates: 0.33 mm/s; 84 mm/s; and 590 mm/s. Peak force and stiffness of the repairs were evaluated. Peak force was significantly greater (p<0.05) for tendons distracted at 590 mm/s than at 0.33 mm/s. Crosshead stiffness was significantly greater for tendons distracted at 590 mm/s than at either 84 mm/s or 0.33 mm/s. The predominant failure mode was core suture knot untying. Distracting tendons at slow loading rates provides a conservative assessment of tendon repair strength. Additionally, an estimate of the failure load of this repair for different clinical events has been identified.
The Relationship between “Protection of” and “Violence Against” Infants and Young Children: The U.S. Experience, 1940–2005

Between 1940 and 2005, in the United States, the rate of unnatural death declined about 75 percent in infant and young child boys and girls; a remarkable indicator of successful child protection. During this same period, the rate of reported homicide in infant boys increased 64.0 percent, in infant girls increased 43.5 percent, in young child boys increased 333.3 percent, and in young child girls increased 300.0 percent, a dismal and disturbing indicator of failed child protection. Can these simultaneously encouraging and discouraging observations be reconciled? The four categories of unnatural death, homicide, suicide, motor vehicle accident (MVA), and non-MVA, are mutually exclusive classifications. Correlations between the four categories of unnatural death among U.S. men and woman in all age groups for the years 1940 through 2005 were calculated. A negative correlation between homicide and non-MVA death rates was shown for all age groups, encompassing the entire human lifespan, in both genders. This consistently observed negative correlation was only observed between homicide and non-MVA death rates, and was not demonstrated between other causes of unnatural deaths. Moreover, this negative correlation was strongest (less than −0.7) in infants and young children. These observations are consistent with the suggestion that as the rate of unnatural death in infants and young children dramatically declined, society gave greater scrutiny to those fewer occurring unnatural deaths and demonstrated an increasing propensity to assign blame for those fewer deaths.
Bacteriophage growth in protoplasts of Bacillus megaterium

Abstract One-step growth experiments show that bacteriophage C can grow in protoplasts of B. megaterium KM if the cells are infected prior to treatment with lysozyme. The phage yield of infected protoplasts is smaller that that of intact cells, and a single burst experiment establishes that the burst size of individual protoplasts is small.
A study of some seismometers

This paper discusses the advantages of seismometers that record displacement over instruments that measure velocity or acceleration. It shows that a portable seismometer using changes in capacitance between condenser-plates to produce proportionate changes of current in an oscillograph has many good characteristics, chief of which are the ease and accuracy with which calibration may be made in the field after sensitivity has been adjusted as desired.
Removal of an unusual pedal ossicle in an elite distance runner: a case report.

A 24-year-old female national champion 5000-meter runner presented with an approximately 1-year duration of left foot pain localized to the medial arch. She had received multiple diagnoses and had undergone many different treatments, all of which had failed to relieve her symptoms. Careful review of her radiographic studies revealed an unusual ossicle in the region of her symptoms. Surgical excision of the not previously described ossicle localized within the posterior tibial tendon distal to the navicular adjacent to the first cuneiform resulted in complete resolution of the patient's longstanding symptoms, and allowed her to return to competition at an elite level. Level of Clinical Evidence: 4
The Murchison Field, Block 211/19a, UK North Sea

Abstract The Murchison oil field forms part of the Brent oil province in the East Shetland Basin, northern North Sea. The field, which straddles the UK-Norway international boundary, was discovered in 1975 and began production with Conoco (UK) Ltd as Operator, in 1980. Like many oil accumulations in the East Shetland Basin the trap consists of a northwesterly dipping rotated fault block of Jurassic-Triassic age sourced and sealed by unconformable Upper Jurassic shales. The productive reservoir consists of Middle Jurassic Brent Group sandstones which represent the south to north progradation of a wave/tide influenced delta system. The Brent Group on Murchison has an average thickness of 425 ft with average porosities of 22% and permeabilities in the 500-1000 md range in producing zones. The maximum hydrocarbon column thickness is approximately 600 ft. The oil is undersaturated and no gas cap is present. Recoverable reserves are 340 MMBBL from a total oil in place figure of 790 MMBBL. Oil production which is via a single steel jacket platform peaked at 127 000 BOPD in 1983 and currently averages 45 000 BOPD. Economic field life is expected to be at least 20 years. The Murchison Field is located in the East Shetland Basin, northern North Sea at approximate latitude 61° 239 N, longitude 1° 43.59 E, 120 miles northeast of the Shetland Islands (Fig. 1). The field straddles the UK-Norway international boundary with the greater portion in the UK Block 21 l/19a and the lesser portion in Norway Block 33/9. Water depth is -512 ft BMSL. In the context of the North Sea the field is of medium size with an areal closure of approximately 7 square miles and contains 790 million barrels of oil in place. The productive reservoir consists of coastal deltaic sandstones of the Middle Jurassic Brent Group which lie between the marine shales of the Lower Jurassic Dunlin Group and the marine, organic-rich shales of the Upper Jurassic Humber Group. The trap is structural comprising a single, northwesterly dipping rotated fault block which has been sourced and sealed by the overlying Upper Jurassic shales. The field is named after the Scottish geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871), who is best known for his contribution to Palaeozoic stratigraphy.
Hemoglobins of Boa constrictor amarali.

Abstract 1. 1. Hemoglobin polymorphism has been demonstrated in populations of Boa constrictor amarali in South America (Schwantes, 1972). The oxygen-binding properties of the two major hemoglobin phenotypes, denoted Boa Hb SS and Boa Hb SF, show only minor functional differences. 2. 2. Relative to human hemoglobin, both phenotypes show high oxygen affinity, small Bohr effects and little cooperativity in oxygen binding. 3. 3. In the presence of ATP, the oxygen affinity is greatly reduced, cooperativity is increased and larger Bohr effects are observed. Inorganic anions are also effective modulators of boa hemoglobin function.
Two models and three uses for mock trials in justice education

This article distinguishes two models that incorporate three uses for mocks trials in criminal justice education. The first model, which I refer to as the Law School Model (LSM), adapts for undergraduate education the method that is commonly used in legal education (Kravetz 2001). It uses a single case and one mock trial during an entire semester, and pursues a deeper understanding of all pretrial and trials stages. However, few mock trial “kits” exist for educators pursuing this model. The second model, which I refer to as the Liberal Education Model (LEM), focuses on the trial itself and pursues understanding of the judicial system and substantial development of communication skills fostered by traditional liberal education. This article suggests that the LEM offers criminal justice educators greater flexibility because (1) it offers many complete mock trial “kits” for instant use, (2) it incorporates all three uses discussed in this article (whereas the LSM is limited to the first use), and (3) many di...
SIMULATING SOLID PROPELLANT ROCKETS AT CSAR

This paper presents an overview of research activities at the Center for Simulation of Advanced Rockets (CSAR). It is intended to provide context for thirteen additional papers presented by CSAR researchers in two technical sessions at the 36* AIAA/ASME/SAE/ ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and to summarize additional current research at CSAR.
Paradoxical arrest in lupus activity in BXSB mice with highly autoreactive T cells.

T cells with high avidity for antigens are thought to mediate more effective immunity against foreign antigens and cause more severe autoimmunity. The impact of T cell receptor (TCR) avidity on the development of lupus has not been investigated. We took advantage of a transgenic mouse strain (designated MTB) that has a diverse T cell population and a globally stronger reactivity to self. [MTBxBXSB]F1 mice displayed accelerated lupus relative to the [WTxBXSB]F1 controls. The severity of lupus and the activation of T cells subsided with aging, when elevated IL-10 production by Tr1 cells was observed. Thus, chronic high avidity interactions of T cells with self-antigens can lead to an age associated increase in IL-10 production. This could explain the age-associated reduction of the incidence of lupus, as well as other autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the principle of Tr1 differentiation based on diverse T cells with high avidity for self may potentially be used as a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of lupus. Lupus (2010) 19, 182–191.
Size, efficiency, and profitability: Empirical evidence from Mexican Assembly Plants

This study is an empirical investigation of the relationship between the size of a plant and its efficiency and profitability. The question of optimum size of plant has important implications for both governmental development planning policy and managerial planning. In many developing countries policies toward business with respect to credit, subsidies and tax treatment often are differentiated by size of firm based on the conventional wisdom that larger firms are more efficient and more profitable. If the advantage of large firms is due to economies of scale, then the relationship between the size of plant and efficiency should be positive. There is, however, mounting empirical evidence that for many industries the importance of economies of scale has been overestimated.
Feasibility and Short-Term Outcomes of Percutaneous Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Small (<30 kg) Children With Dysfunctional Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Conduits

Background—In 2010, the Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) received Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract conduits in patients ≥30 kg. Limited data are available regarding use of this device in smaller patients. Methods and Results—We evaluated technical and short-term clinical outcomes of 25 patients <30 kg (10 patients <20 kg) who underwent TPV replacement for treatment of conduit dysfunction at 3 centers. Median age and weight were 8.0 years (3.4–14.4) and 21.4 kg (13.8–29.0). The median conduit diameter at the time of surgical implant was 17 mm (12–23). Two patients did not undergo TPV implant (risk of coronary compression in 1; inability to advance the delivery sheath beyond the common femoral vein in 1). After successful TPV implant, the peak conduit gradient fell from 29±16 to 9±6 mm Hg (P<0.001), and all but 2 patients had no/trivial regurgitation (down from moderate or severe preimplant in 20). TPV implant was via the femoral ...
Metastatic cancer cells with macrophage properties: Evidence from a new murine tumor model

Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells disseminate from the primary neoplasm and invade surrounding tissue and distant organs, and is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality for cancer patients. Most conventional cancer therapies are ineffective in managing tumor metastasis. This has been due in large part to the absence of in vivo metastatic models that represent the full spectrum of metastatic disease. Here we identify 3 new spontaneously arising tumors in the inbred VM mouse strain, which has a relatively high incidence of CNS tumors. Two of the tumors (VM-M2 and VM-M3) reliably expressed all of the major biological processes of metastasis to include local invasion, intravasation, immune system survival, extravasation and secondary tumor formation involving liver, kidney, spleen, lung and brain. Metastasis was assessed through visual organ inspection, histology, immunohistochemistry and bioluminescence imaging. The metastatic VM tumor cells also expressed multiple properties of macrophages including morphological appearance, surface adhesion, phagocytosis, total lipid composition (glycosphingolipids and phospholipids) and gene expression (CD11b, Iba1, F4/80, CD68, CD45 and CXCR4). The third tumor (VM-NM1) grew rapidly and expressed properties of neural stem/progenitor cells, but was neither invasive nor metastatic. Our data indicate that spontaneous brain tumors can arise from different cell types in VM mice and that metastatic cancer can represent a disease of macrophage-like cells similar to those described in several human metastatic cancers. The new VM tumor model will be useful for defining the biological processes of cancer metastasis and for evaluating potential therapies for tumor management.
The Relationship between Army Families' Financial Well-Being and Depression, General Well-Being, and Marital Satisfaction

(1987). The Relationship between Army Families' Financial Well-Being and Depression, General Well-Being, and Marital Satisfaction. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 127, No. 5, pp. 545-547.
Effect of Nuclear Motion of the Hyperfine Structure of the Ground Term of Hydrogen

The correction factor for the effect of nuclear motion on the hyperfine structure of hydrogen is discussed. It is found that this factor can be represented by ${(1+\frac{m}{M})}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ to within terms of order $(\frac{m}{M}){\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2}log\ensuremath{\alpha}$, where $m$, $M$ are, respectively, the masses of the electron and nucleus while $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is the fine structure constant. It is assumed that the Coulomb potential is that of a point charge for distances greater than ${r}_{0}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{m{c}^{2}}$ and that for distances smaller than ${r}_{0}$ it is of the order $m{c}^{2}$. This assumption makes it possible to treat the problem by means of existing theories. First-order perturbation theory for the effect of the nuclear magnetic field is employed. The reasons for doing the work are explained in the introduction. The calculations for the part of the proton's magnetic moment following from Dirac's equation are described in Section II. Section III is concerned with the effect of the part of the magnetic moment of the proton which is not accounted for by Dirac's equation and is referred to as the Pauli part. The deuteron is also discussed in Section III.
Purinergic P2X receptors facilitate inhibitory GABAergic and glycinergic neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons in the nucleus ambiguus.

This study examined whether adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP) modulated inhibitory glycinergic and GABAergic neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons. Inhibitory activity to cardiac vagal neurons was isolated and examined using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in an in vitro brain slice preparation in rats. ATP (100 µM) evoked increases in the frequency of glycinergic and GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in cardiac vagal neurons which were blocked by the broad P2 receptor antagonist pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2’,4’-disulphonic acid (100 µM). Application of the P2Y agonists uridine triphosphate (15 µM) and adenosine 5'-0-(Z-thiodiphosphate) (60 µM) did not enhance inhibitory neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons however, application of the selective P2X receptor agonist, α, β –methylene ATP (100 µM), increased glycinergic and GABAergic mIPSC neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons. The increase in inhibitory neurotransmission evoked by α, β–methylene ATP was abolished by the selective P2X receptor antagonist 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-Trinitrophenyl) adenosine 5'-triphosphate (100 µM) indicating P2X receptors enhance the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters to cardiac neurons. The voltage gated calcium channel blocker cadmium chloride did not alter the evoked increase in inhibitory mIPSCs. This work demonstrates that P2X receptor activation enhances inhibitory neurotransmission to parasympathetic cardiac vagal neurons and demonstrates an important functional role for ATP mediated purinergic signaling to cardiac vagal neurons.
Breast reconstruction by tissue expander after radiotherapy: When the skin does not expand, the rib cage is at risk

Expander-based breast reconstructions in irradiated chest walls have been documented to result in an increased risk of complications including skin necrosis, extrusion, displacement, and capsule contracture. In this article, thoracic cage deformity and rib fractures were investigated following breast reconstruction by tissue expansion. A prospective series of 89 immediate postmastectomy tissue expander breast mound reconstructions in 81 patients, the patients were divided into two groups, reconstruction with radiotherapy (n = 37) and without radiotherapy (n = 52). The patients were observed for any sudden severe pain and development of capsule contracture; intraoperative assessment was done first during expander insertion then after exchange of expander with implant to detect any deformity of the chest wall. CT scans were done as an objective way to support the clinical findings in patients who developed flat or concave chest wall deformities. Patients who had reconstructions with radiotherapy developed severe capsular contractures causing severe pain and limitation in breast expansion in 35 % of reconstructions compared with 5.7 % in the control group. Twenty-six reconstructions (70.2 %) in the study group developed chest wall deformities; in four of them, the deformity was concave, and two patients (5.4 %) developed multiple rib fractures at the expander site. The overall rate of ribcage deformities in the control group was 32.6 %; all of them were simple flattening with no concave deformities. No fractures were noted in the control group. Expander-based breast reconstruction in combination with radiotherapy and tight unyielding overlying skin and capsule can redirect the expansion force toward the thoracic ribcage rather than the skin causing rib deformities and possible fractures. Level of Evidence: Level IV, risk/prognostic study
Analytical Studies of Flow Battery Redox Reaction Electrokinetics on a Thin Fiber Film Rotating Disk Electrode

Redox flow battery technology has seen an upsurge of interest in recent years due to the rising need of grid scale energy storage [1, 2]. In many ways, flow cell design is analogous to that of fuel cell design, though porous graphite is used as the reaction site instead of a gas diffusion electrode [3]. Thin film rotating disk electrodes (TFRDEs) have been long used as an analytical technique for evaluating fuel cell catalysts [4, 5]. Just as adaptation of fuel cell stacks has been useful in flow cell design, adapting this technique for evaluation of felt or other types of porous electrodes has merit, though it is not without challenges. The literature has reported several studies on improving the lifetime and kinetic properties of the graphite felts, though as yet the improvements have been reported on a geometric (membrane) surface area, not an active interfacial area making comparisons between treatments difficult. A thin fiber film rotating disk electrode (TFFRDE) will prove a useful tool in the understanding and analysis of flow battery reactions at the graphite-electrolyte interface.
Electrochemical behavior and localized corrosion associated with Al7Cu2Fe particles in aluminum alloy 7075-T651

Abstract Initiation of localized corrosion upon high strength aluminum alloys is often associated with cathodic intermetallic particles within the alloy. Electrochemical measurements and metallurgical characterization have been made to clarify and quantify the physical properties of Al7Cu2Fe particles in AA7075-T651. Prior studies regarding either the stereology or electrochemical properties of Al7Cu2Fe are scarce. Quantitative microscopy revealed a significant population of Al7Cu2Fe in the alloy; comprising up to 65% of the constituent particle population and typically at a size of 1.7 ± 1.0 μm. It was determined that Al7Cu2Fe may serve as a local cathode in the evolution of localized corrosion of AA7075-T651 and is capable of sustaining oxygen reduction reactions at rates of several hundreds of μA/cm2 over a range of potentials typical of the open circuit potential (OCP) of AA7075-T651 in NaCl solution of various concentrations and pH. The presence of Al7Cu2Fe leads to the development of pitting at the particle–matrix interface.
Infant Rule Learning: Advantage Language, or Advantage Speech?

Infants appear to learn abstract rule-like regularities (e.g., la la da follows an AAB pattern) more easily from speech than from a variety of other auditory and visual stimuli (Marcus et al., 2007). We test if that facilitation reflects a specialization to learn from speech alone, or from modality-independent communicative stimuli more generally, by measuring 7.5-month-old infants’ ability to learn abstract rules from sign language-like gestures. Whereas infants appear to easily learn many different rules from speech, we found that with sign-like stimuli, and under circumstances comparable to those of Marcus et al. (1999), hearing infants were able to learn an ABB rule, but not an AAB rule. This is consistent with results of studies that demonstrate lower levels of infant rule learning from a variety of other non-speech stimuli, and we discuss implications for accounts of speech-facilitation.
Promoting Adoptions by Foster Parents Through an Inner-City Organization

This study evaluated changes in the number of foster parent adoptions during a multilevel behavioral intervention. Staff and management of an inner-city community organization providing foster care services to African American children and families were taught how to (a) make permanency planning decisions, (b) train foster parents, (c) prepare biological and adoptive foster families for foster parent adoptions, and (d) implement foster care services. Foster parent adoptions increased as the number of consultation and training hours increased incrementally each year during the life of the study. The consultant's recommendations were followed by qualitative changes in the organization. There was a reduction in administrative staff turnover, an increase in administrative support, an increase in the number of new foster homes, and an increase in foster parent attendance at training meetings. Future research is needed to explore the effectiveness of this approach on direct care staff retention and performance ...
Density and Diversity of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in an Outbreak on Arizona Rangeland

Sampling of grasshoppers and plants on shortgrass prairie of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation during an outbreak indicated significant relationships between acridid populations and vegetation characteristics. In slightly disturbed sites of shortgrass prairie dominated by perennial grasses, grasshopper species richness ranged from 10 to 17, density averaged 39/0.82m2, and diversity (H') averaged 1.21; in heavily disturbed sites dominated by annual grasses and forbs, species richness ranged from to 5 to 6, density averaged 30/0.82 m2, and diversity averaged 0.61. Because of the nearly pure stand of annual plants which became mature and dry in mid-May, only the early-hatching species of grasshoppers were able to live in the heavily disturbed sites. Perennial grasses in the slightly disturbed sites were important for supporting high densities of early-hatching species and were required for survival and reproduction of later hatching species. Evidently a disclimax community of annuals cannot support the density, diversity, and richness of grasshopper species that a shortgrass prairie can.
Electroluminescence from polycrystalline selenium rectifiers

Abstract Electroluminescence has been observed from Ni/Se/Al rectifiers under both forward and reverse bias at 113° and 296°K. Measurements of the spectral dependence at 113°K show the emission to occur both by band-to-band recombination and through intermediate centers. In the reverse sense radiation has been observed up to a photon energy of 6eV consistent with an avalanche mechanism of breakdown. In the forward sense the presence of 4eV photons demonstrates double injection currents with warm carriers produced by the applied field. The emissive bandgap is estimated as 2.3 eV. The luminescent efficiency is approximately 1 photon/10 7 carrier transits at room temperature, increasing as the sample is cooled.
Aspects of the kinetic properties of lysyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli, strain B.

Abstract 1. 1. The amount of lysl-tRNA formed is dependent on the quantity of lysyl-tRNA synthetase used. This is not compatible with the generally accepted mechanism whereby lysyl-tRNA is produced enzymatically. 2. 2. The reactions for pyrophosphate exchange and for the overall formation of lysyl-tRNA have energies of activation of 16.6 and 29.0 kcal/mole, respectively over the temperature range 2–28°. The corresponding values for the entropies of activation are −1.4 and +38.4 entropy units, respectively. The second of these values is large and may indicate a marked conformational change in either tRNA or in the enzyme or in both when they interact. 3. 3. Two values of the Michaelis constant, K m , for lysine at 25° were found: 2.4 μM over the range of lysine concentrations 1.5–15 μM and 27 μM over the range 25–200 μM. Possible reasons for this are discussed. 4. 4. At 25° the turnover numbers for the enzyme are 102 and 50 moles/mole of enzyme per min for the pyrophosphate exchange and formation of lysyl-tRNA, respectively, under our standard conditions. 5. 5. It is postulated that the formation of lysyl-tRNA does not require lysyl-AMP-enzyme complex as an obligatory intermediate. A mechanism in which a dual pathway occurs is suggested for the production of the former.
Data-driven modeling of sleep states from EEG

Sleep analysis is critical for the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of sleep disorders. However, the current standards for sleep analysis are widely considered oversimplified and problematic. The ability to automatically annotate different states during a night of sleep in a manner that is more descriptive than current standards, as well as the ability to train these models on a patient-by-patient basis, would provide a complementary approach for sleep analysis. We present a method that discovers latent structure in sleep EEG recordings, by extracting symbols from the continuous EEG signal and learning “topics” for a recording. These sleep topics are derived in a fully automatic and data-driven manner, and can represent the data with mixtures of states. The proposed method allows for identification of states in a patient-specific way, as opposed to the one-size-fits-all approach of the current standard. We demonstrate on a publicly available dataset of 15 sleep recordings that not only do the states discovered by this approach encompass the standard sleep stage structure, they provide additional information about sleep architecture with the potential to provide new insights into sleep disorders.
“I Took Up the Hymn-Book”: Rhetoric of Hymnody in Jarena Lee’s Call to Preach

Through examining Jarena Lee’s employment of hymns in her spiritual autobiography, The Life and Religious Experience of Jarena Lee, a Coloured Lady, Giving an Account of Her Call to Preach the Gospel, I demonstrate how hymnody, a largely understudied literary genre in rhetorical studies, proved a critical instrument in authenticating her spiritual conversion and validating her qualifications to serve as a ministerial leader. Using Chaim Perelman’s concept of “presence” and recent research in neuroscience (on the brain and music) I show how Lee’s excerpts of the nineteenth century’s most popular hymns create an aural ambience reminiscent of a worship service that engages her Christian readers’ pathos and sense of piety in order to disengage their prejudice against her race and gender.
The social validity of script training related to the treatment of apraxia of speech

Background: Social validity is an important yet under-examined aspect of treatment efficacy that determines how the effects of treatment are perceived by people other than the clinician/researcher. This is particularly true of treatments to improve the speech of adults with acquired neurogenic disorders. Aims: The purposes of this investigation were to evaluate the social validity of a modified script training treatment protocol, to explore how aspects of a client's speech correspond to varying rater judgements, and to determine which of the listener ratings were most predictive of ratings of overall quality. Methods & Procedures: A total of 124 young, naive listeners were asked to rate the quality of speech of an 81-year-old woman with moderate–severe apraxia of speech during utterances with varying levels of script correctness (low, medium, high), number of errors (low, high), and rate (slow, faster). Judgements were made on the understandability, ease of production, naturalness, and overall quality of ...
Antireflection Pyrex Envelopes for Parabolic Solar Collectors

Parabolic trough solar collectors utilize glass envelopes around the receiver tube in order to reduce thermal losses. Antireflective (AR) coatings applied to the envelope can potentially increase the solar transmittance by 0.07. An excellent AR surface can be formed on Pyrex (Corning Code 7740 glass) by first heat treating the glass to cause a compositional phase separation. After heat treating, a surface layer is removed using a pre-etch solution of aqueous ammonium bifluoride. Finally the AR layer is formed by etching in a solution containing hydrofluorosilic and ammonium bifluoride acid. Processing parameters studied included the phase separation temperature and heat treatment time, the pre-etch time, and the etching bath temperature and time. AR-coated samples with solar transmittance values >0.97, as compared to a value of 0.91 in untreated samples, were obtained for a range of heat treatment temperatures from 560 to 630/sup 0/C. The phase separation time and temperature interact so that at 630/sup 0/C short times are required (3 hours) while at 560/sup 0/C longer times are necessary (24 hours). Optimum values for the other processing parameters are 12 to 18 minutes in the pre-etching bath, and 5 to 10 minutes in the film forming bath when maintained betweenmore » 35 and 45/sup 0/C. Application of this process to full scale 3 m long x 6 cm diameter Pyrex envelopes was successful in producing solar transmittance values greater than or equal to 0.97.« less
Psychological-State Theories about Significant Others: Implications for the Content and Structure of Significant-Other Representations

Three studies tested a theory-based approach to significant-other representations. The central hypothesis was that perceivers are especially likely to possess lay theories to explain the responses of their significant others, and this is reflected in the content and structure of significant-other representations. Theories were defined in IF-THEN terms as beliefs about the psychological states (e.g., “IF Bill wants to make a good impression...”) that explain others' responses (e.g., “... THEN he acts friendly”). All three studies yielded evidence indicating that the content of significant-other representations is especially likely to include such psychological-state theories (PSTs). Study 3 assessed the internal structure of PSTs—specifically, the strength of the linkages between psychological-state IFs and the THENs they are believed to elicit—and showed that such linkages are particularly strong for PSTs about significant others. Overall, the findings add to the growing literature on the role of explanat...
Ultra Low Power Circuit Design Using Tunnel FETs

The proliferation of ubiquitous and mobile computing systems has created a new segment in the design space where energy efficiency is the most critical design parameter. With the end user expecting more functionality from these types of systems, there is a pressing need to evaluate emerging technologies that can overcome the limitations of CMOS. This work evaluates the potential of one such prospective MOSFET replacement device - the Tunnel FET (TFET). Novel circuit designs are presented to overcome unique design challenges posed by TFETs. The impacts of the proposed design techniques are characterized and a sparse prefix tree adder employing the proposed designs is presented. A considerable improvement in delay and significant reduction in energy is observed due to the combined impact of circuit and technology co-exploration.
Recent Advances of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Integrated Modules at SHARP

An equivalent circuit for DSCs was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement, and the improvements of conversion efficiency of DSCs for not only single cells but also integrated modules were investigated. Further improvement of cell characteristics of DSCs was also investigated from the view point of modified TiO2 films and series-internal resistance design. The series-internal resistance elements were found to correlate positively with the sheet resistance of the transparent conducting oxide and the thickness of the electrolyte layer and negatively with the roughness factor of the platinum counter-electrode. The short circuit current density (Jsc) of the DSCs was effectively improved by use of a high-haze TiO2 film. In addition, the analysis of TiO2/dye interface by scanning probe microscopy and transient absorption spectroscopy were also useful for the study. As a result, the maximum single cell conversion efficiency of over 11% was obtained. Furthermore, an integrated DSC module composed of many rectangular cells connected in series was fabricated and the efficiency was increased to 8.4% (confirmed by AIST) by realizing high active area and high uniformity.
2012 Special Issue: Simulating the effects of dopamine imbalance on cognition: From positive affect to Parkinson's disease

Cools (2006) suggested that prefrontal dopamine levels are related to cognitive stability whereas striatal dopamine levels are related to cognitive plasticity. With such a wide ranging role, almost all cognitive activities should be affected by dopamine levels in the brain. Not surprisingly, factors influencing brain dopamine levels have been shown to improve/worsen performance in many behavioral experiments. On the one hand, Nadler, Rabi, and Minda (2010) showed that positive affect (which is thought to increase cortical dopamine levels) improves a type of categorization that depends on explicit reasoning (rule-based) but not another type that depends on procedural learning (information-integration). On the other hand, Parkinson's disease (which is known to decrease dopamine levels in both the striatum and cortex) produces proactive interference in the odd-man-out task (Flowers & Robertson, 1985) and renders subjects insensitive to negative feedback during reversal learning (Cools, Altamirano, & D'Esposito, 2006). This article uses the COVIS model of categorization to simulate the effects of different dopamine levels in categorization, reversal learning, and the odd-man-out task. The results show a good match between the simulated and human data, which suggests that the role of dopamine in COVIS can account for several cognitive enhancements and deficits related to dopamine levels in healthy and patient populations.
ESR of Adsorbed Oxygen Species

Abstract Although the catalytic oxidation of inorganic molecules, as well as the oxidation and oxidative dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, has been the subject of extensive research, the role of oxygen in surface reactions remains uncertain. Various forms of adsorbed oxygen have been proposed on the basis of kinetic and adsorption data or electrical conductivity measurements; yet, very little direct spectroscopic evidence is available apart from that provided by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.
Learnings from arc flash hazard assessments

The authors have used the calculation methods in IEEE1584 to do hazard assessments for more than 80 industrial sites, from small warehouse facilities to large plants. This paper gives a statistical analysis of the data from those assessments, along with a discussion on modifying equipment design to minimize arc flash hazard exposures.
Efficiency and linearity of power amplifiers with external harmonic injection

This paper discusses a method for improving the efficiency of linear power amplifiers by externally injecting power into the output at the second harmonic frequency. An experimental proof-of-concept PA based on class-A/AB mode with a 10-W GaN pHEMT at 2.45GHz is presented, and its efficiency improved from 58% to 75% with −6.5 dBc injected 2nd harmonic power. Two-tone measurements confirm improved linearity with simultaneous increase in efficiency, accompanied by gain compression at higher input power.
MORE ANENT THE PHONETIC LABORATORY METHOD

Author's Summary.— This paper contains an analysis of the phonetic laboratory method of teaching pronunciation on the basis of the author's experience with the system.
Identification of the genomic insertion site of the thyroid peroxidase promoter-cre recombinase transgene using a novel, efficient, next-generation DNA sequencing method

Background: It can be useful to know the transgene insertion site in transgenic mice for a variety of reasons, but determining the insertion site generally is a time consuming, expensive, and laborious task. Methods: A simple method is presented to determine transgene insertion sites that combines the enrichment of a sequencing library by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for sequences containing the transgene, followed by next-generation sequencing of the enriched library. This method was applied to determine the site of integration of the thyroid peroxidase promoter–Cre recombinase mouse transgene that is commonly used to create thyroid-specific gene deletions. Results: The insertion site was found to be between bp 12,372,316 and 12,372,324 on mouse chromosome 9, with the nearest characterized genes being Cntn5 and Jrkl, ∼1.5 and 0.9 Mbp from the transgene, respectively. One advantage of knowing a transgene insertion site is that it facilitates distinguishing hemizygous from homozygous transgenic mice. Al...
Zooplankton survival and reproduction responses to damaging UV radiation: A test of reciprocity and photoenzymatic repair

As stratospheric ozone concentrations are reduced, exposure of organisms to damaging ultraviolet radiation (UVR) reaching the earth increases. Many organisms can repair DNA damaged by UVR through photoenzymatic repair (PER) using the enzyme photolyase, in the presence of photorepair radiation (UV-A and visible light [PRR]). Biological weighting functions have been used to model UVR damage in organisms in an attempt to predict the short-term effects of ozone depletion. One assumption of these studies is that reciprocity—satisfied when the effect of a dose is independent of the dose rate—must hold. Here we exposed organisms to damaging UV-B radiation in both the presence and absence of PRR. This study explicitly tests whether reciprocity holds in two zooplankters with differing PER abilities: Daphnia pulicaria, and Asplanchna girodi. We found significant PER and a failure of reciprocity when comparing Daphnia and Asplanchna survival at different dose rates. However, in a higher dose experiment with Asplanchna, we found no significant PER, and reciprocity held. These experiments show a link between PER and reciprocity. The ability of Daphnia and Asplanchna to produce viable offspring after UVR exposure did not vary with dose rate but did vary with PRR. Reciprocity held in all cases where PRR was provided, but in the absence of PRR all offspring died. This study shows that overall dose, dose rate, the ability to undergo PER, and the presence of PRR are important factors to consider when studying the effects of UVR on organisms.