cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of alfalfa evapotranspiration measured by a weighing lysimeter and a portable chamber

Improving water use efficiency requires the development of satisfactory means to evaluate plant water use in the field. One such method is a portable chamber for measuring crop water use on field plots. The objective of our work was to compare short term alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) evapotranspiration (ET) measured with a portable chamber (CET) with that measured by a weighing lysimeter (LET). Intensive portable chamber measurements were made and microclimate data collected between 0500–2100 h on 2 July 1980 at the meteorological station on the University of Minnesota Campus at St. Paul. The soil was a Waukegan silt loam (fine-silty over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed mesic Typic Hapludoll). Potential evapotranspiration (PET) was calculated using a modified combination equation of van Bavel. Expressed on an hourly basis, there was reasonable agreement between diurnal patterns of CET, LET and PET, although CET was as much as 0.16 mm h−1 lower than LET at 1100 h and as much as 0.09 mm h−1 higher than LET at 1800 h. Daytime ET values between 0500 and 2100 h were 7.97, 7.71 and 7.58 mm for LET, CET and PET, respectively. The reasonable agreement between the CET and LET throughout the day and the daytime ET suggests that the chamber is satisfactory for measurements of crop water use on field plots.
The role of exogenous histamine in scombroid poisoning

Abstract In order to investigate the role of histamine as a causative factor in scombroid poisoning, four subjects received grapefruit juice with or without graded doses of histamine in a randomized double-blind fashion for 10 days. Eight subjects received tuna sandwiches with or without histamine in the same manner. Clinical symptoms and vital signs were recorded daily. Histaminase activity was measured in plasma eosinophils and serum. Results demonstrated that although vital signs and histaminase activity showed no consistent pattern of change at any histamine dose, characteristic symptoms of scombroid poisoning (severe headaches and facial flushing) were noted at the 100-, 150-, and 180-mg doses of histamine. These findings suggest that histamine is responsible for the symptoms seen in scombroid poisoning.
Jet-plume condensation of steam–air mixtures in subcooled water, Part 1: Experiments

Abstract A scaled-down, reduced pressure suppression pool was designed to study condensation and mixing phenomena for a LOCA (loss of coolant accident) event in a SBWR (simplified boiling water reactor) design. The scaled-down test facility represented an idealized trapezoidal cross-section, 1/10 sector of the SP (suppression pool) with scaled height ratio of 1/4.5 and volume ratio of 1/400. The facility was instrumented with thermocouples for pool temperature measurements and a high-speed camera for flow visualization. Thermal stratification data were obtained for different pool initial subcooling and steam–air mixture flow rates. A dimensionless boundary map was derived from several experimental runs of pure steam injection to determine conditions when the pool transitions from being a homogeneously mixed volume to being a thermally stratified one. Steam air mixture injection cases for single horizontal venting indicated that above a pool temperature of 40 °C with air mass fraction below 0.5% the pool can attain thermal stratification.
Complementary Role of 18F-FDG PET and 123I-Ioflupane SPECT in the Diagnosis of Lewy Body Disease

We present a case demonstrating how correlative imaging with (123)I-ioflupane SPECT and (18)F-FDG PET can be used to help make the diagnosis of Lewy body disease more specific.
Study of wireless communication between MEMS sensing nodes

Wireless sensors networks are currently being used in different engineering fields such as civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering for damage detection. Each network contains approximately hundreds to thousands of MEMS sensors that communicate to its base station. These sensors are placed in different environments and locations that create changes in their output due to obstacles or interference between them and their base station. A research study was conducted on wireless MEMS sensor nodes to evaluate the noise level and the effect of environmental interferences as well as their maximum distance communication. In this paper, the effect of interference environments and obstacles such as magnetic field created by electricity and cell phone communications, concrete and metal enclosures, and outside/inside environments were evaluated. In addition, a neural network computer simulation was developed to learn and teach the users what it takes to classify signals such as time, amount of samples and overtraining in order to obtain the correct output instead of an unknown. By gathering all this information it helps to save money and time in any application wireless MEMS sensors are used and idealized models and pictures of communication paths have been created for easier evaluation of the MEMS sensor networks.
Associations between cytokine/cytokine receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms and humoral immunity to measles, mumps and rubella in a Somali population.

We genotyped a Somali population (n=85; age ≤ 30 years) for 617 cytokine and cytokine receptor SNPs using Illumina GoldenGate genotyping to determine associations with measles, mumps and rubella immunity. Overall, sixty-one significant associations (p≤0.01) were found between SNPs belonging to cytokine receptor genes regulating Th1 (IL12RB2, IL2RA and B) and Th2 (IL4R, IL10RB) immunity, and cytokine (IL1B, TNFA, IL6 and IFNB1) and cytokine receptor (IL1RA, IFNAR2, IL18R1, TNFRSF1A and B) genes regulating innate immunity, and variations in antibody levels to measles, mumps or rubella. SNPs within two major inflammatory cytokine genes, TNFA and IL6, demonstrated associations with measles-specific antibodies. Specifically, the minor allele variant of rs1799964 (TNFA -1211 C>T) was associated with primarily seronegative values (median EIA index values ≤0.87; p=0.002; q=0.23) in response to measles disease and/or vaccination. A heterozygous variant CT for rs2069849 (IL6 +4272C>T; Phe201Phe) was also associated with seronegative values and a lower median level of antibody response to measles disease and/or vaccination (p=0.004; q=0.36) or measles vaccination alone (p=0.008). Several SNPs within the coding and regulatory regions of cytokine and cytokine receptor genes demonstrated associations with mumps and rubella antibody levels, but were less informative as strong LD patterns and lower frequencies for minor alleles were observed among these SNPs. Our study identifies specific SNPs in innate immune response genes that may play a role in modulating antibody responses to measles vaccination and/or infection in Somali subjects.
Rapidly occurring short duration discharges in thunderstorms, as indicators of a lightning‐triggering mechanism

Unusual rapidly occurring and small-scale discharges in a narrow (1-2 km) region inside the most electrically active part of a thunderstorm, observed with a VHF-band (2 m wavelength) radar in East Georgia, USSR, were relatively stationary on the radar display, and had a maximum rate of about 200 per minute, an average duration of 12.5 ms, an estimated radar cross section a fraction of a meter to a few meters square, and an estimated length of a few meters to tens of meters. Occurrence of quasi-stable discharges coincided with period of the highest altitude of the 50 dBZ-reflectivity core. It is proposed that the quasi-stable discharges are long sparks produced by the natural lightning-triggering mechanism inside the storm. This hypothesis appears to support observations on triggered lightning in the United States obtained with an instrumented aircraft and wire-trailing rockets.
CHANGES IN TUMOUR OXYGENATION DURING FRACTIONATED HYPERTHERMIA AND RADIATION THERAPY IN SPONTANEOUS CANINE SARCOMAS

Tumour oxygenation was measured in seven canine soft tissue sarcomas being treated with a fractionated course of radiation and hyperthermia. Measurements obtained during treatment were compared to pre-treatment measurements. The most important finding was an increase in oxygenation in tumours with low pre-treatment oxygenation that persisted throughout treatment. This is an advantageous hyperthermia effect as it may lead to increased radiation cell killing at each fraction. In other tumours, potentially less advantageous changes in oxygenation may be hyperthermia fractionation related and this deserves further investigation.
Asymmetric cortical degeneration syndromes

Asymmetric cortical degeneration syndromes (aphasic, perceptual-motor, frontal lobe and bitemporal categories) encompass the majority of atypical cortical dementia patterns. New insights suggest the group is genetically heterogeneous. Debate continues over whether individual syndromes are points along a continuum or distinct nosologic entities.
Elimination of GRK2 from Cholinergic Neurons Reduces Behavioral Sensitivity to Muscarinic Receptor Activation

Although G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is the most widely studied member of a family of kinases that has been shown to exert powerful influences on a variety of G-protein-coupled receptors, its role in the brain remains largely unknown. Here we report the localization of GRK2 in the mouse brain and generate novel conditional knock-out (KO) mice to assess the physiological importance of this kinase in cholinergic neurons. Mice with the selective deletion of GRK2 in this cell population ( ChAT IRES-cre Grk2 f/f KO mice) exhibit reduced behavioral responsiveness to challenge with oxotremorine-M (Oxo-M), a nonselective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. Specifically, Oxo-M-induced hypothermia, hypolocomotion, and salivation were markedly reduced in these animals, while analgesic responses were unaltered. In contrast, we found that GRK2 deficiency in cholinergic neurons does not alter cocaine-induced psychomotor activation, behavioral sensitization, or conditioned place preference. These results demonstrate that the elimination of GRK2 in cholinergic neurons reduces sensitivity to select muscarinic-mediated behaviors, while dopaminergic effects remain intact and further suggests that GRK2 may selectively impair muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated function in vivo .
FUTURE ORIENTATION AND SOCIAL STATUS

Summary.-Interviews were conducted with 172 adults to determine their social class level based on occupational presrlge, income and education. They were also administered the circle test for future orlentation. It was hypothesized that future dominance would be found more frequently for people in the upper class levels. The hypotheses were borne out at an acceptable level of significance, as measured by the chi squared test, for occupational prestige, and income, but not for education. This report is based on a survey of the relationship between future orientation and three factors involved in social status-occupation, income, and education. Among the objective indicators of status, occupation, income and education often predominate and are considered interrelated. A fairly persistent hypothesis is that a relation exists between orientation and social status and that it' is one in which people in the lower end of the social status scale tend to be present-oriented and that they do not have longrange perceptions of time. Conversely, people approaching rhe upper end of the scale tend to be concerned about the future and to feel that past events affect the present and that both influence the future. This idea is supported by related concepts such as "short-run hedonism" and "delayed gratification." It makes sense to assume that people who lack power and control over their destinies and who lead rather bleak lives would not dwell on the future but would take each day as it comes. People who have more influences over their lives learn that it is advantageous to look to the future and to plan ahead. As reasonable as all this may seem, up until recently actual empirical findings have been scarce. Most research has been done on non-adults (Brim 81 Forer, 1956; Heckhausen, 1967; LeShan, 1952). All investigators state that, in one way or another, lower-class children are less-future-oriented than are upper-class children. Two studies have been done with adults on social class and future orientation (Koenig, 1980; Schmidt, Lamrn, & Tromrnsdorff, 1978). In both studies there is a positive relation between social class and future orientation. The purpose of the present study was to go a step farther in the analysis by examining three objective components of status, occupational prestige, income, and education to see how each relates to time perception. The following hypotheses were made: Hypothe~is I. Future time orientation will be more prevalent for persons from higher levels of occupational
Sensor fault detection in etch based on broadband rf signal observation

To minimize machine downtime in semiconductor plasma etching processes, a sensor fault detection system was developed, employing a broadband rf sensor. The work presented here focuses on detecting errors in the transformer coupled power (TCP) measurement and pressure sensor, though the method has potential for several other sensors. To improve the detection sensitivity, we used real-time machine input estimation, and compared it against actual recipe settings instead of employing the raw rf signals directly. For a main etch process on a Lam TCP 9400SE, ±10% relative deviations in TCP measurement, or ±25% in pressure, can be detected with high accuracy: Detection probability PD≈1 and false alarm rate PF≈0 for both.
Therapy Evaluation: Using an Absurd Pseudotreatment to Demonstrate Research Issues

The research presented in abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, and psychotherapy classes must compete for student attention with misinformation presented by the popular press and commercial interests. Abstract principles of research design rarely prevail in this competition. This article describes a classroom demonstration in which students apply abstract research concepts to a concrete analogue of therapy evaluation. Students rate their food consumption and mood before and after an absurd pseudotreatment. The data are used to demonstrate that absolutely useless treatments may initially appear to be highly effective and that careful attention to research design is necessary for appropriate therapy evaluation. Student evaluations indicate that this experience helps them understand and remember important issues in therapy outcome research.
A UNIFIED MODEL AND METHODOLOGY FOR TEMPORAL OBJECT DATABASES

This paper identifies, explores and provides an approach to handling temporal information in object databases. It specifically involves the design and development of the Temporal Three Dimensional Information Space model that integrates time with objects. The model is based on a small number of simple temporal object constructs and provides a user with the basic primitives for temporal object definition, manipulation and retrieval. This research presents a step towards defining the concepts and techniques for incorporating time in object databases, and provides concrete experimental framework for demonstration thereof. Target Application environments include management and geographic information systems, database visualization and robotics.
“In-in” formalism and cosmological perturbations

We describe an efficient scheme for evaluating higher order contributions to primordial cosmological perturbations using the ``in-in'' formalism, which is the basis of modern calculations of non-Gaussian and higher order contributions to the primordial spectrum. We show that diagrams with two or more vertices require careful handling. We present an implementation of the operator formalism in which these diagrams can be evaluated in a simple and transparent fashion. We illustrate our methodology by evaluating the correction to the primordial gravitational wave spectrum generated by scalar loops, a 2-vertex, 1-loop interaction. We then look at a generalized $N$-point, 2-vertex diagram.
Endogenous production of fibronectin is required for self-renewal of cultured mouse embryonic stem cells

Pluripotent cells are attached to the extracellular matrix (ECM) as they make cell fate decisions within the stem cell niche. Here we show that the ubiquitous ECM protein fibronectin is required for self-renewal decisions by cultured mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. Undifferentiated mES cells produce fibronectin and assemble a fibrillar matrix. Increasing the level of substrate fibronectin increased cell spreading and integrin receptor signaling through focal adhesion kinase, while concomitantly inducing the loss of Nanog and Oct4 self-renewal markers. Conversely, reducing fibronectin production by mES cells growing on a feeder-free gelatin substrate caused loss of cell adhesion, decreased integrin signaling, and decreased expression of self-renewal markers. These effects were reversed by providing the cells with exogenous fibronectin, thereby restoring adhesion to the gelatin substrate. Interestingly, mES cells do not adhere directly to the gelatin substrate, but rather adhere indirectly through gelatin-bound fibronectin, which facilitates self-renewal via its effects on cell adhesion. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of regulation of self-renewal by growth on a gelatin-coated surface. The effects of increasing or decreasing fibronectin levels show that self-renewal depends on an intermediate level of cell-fibronectin interactions. By providing cell adhesive signals that can act with other self-renewal factors to maintain mES cell pluripotency, fibronectin is therefore a necessary component of the self-renewal signaling pathway in culture.
The Effects of Rapid Recrystallization and Ion Implanted Carbon on The Solid Phase Epitaxial Regrowth of Si1−xGex Alloy Layers On Silicon

Transmission electron microscopy has been combined with time-resolved reflectivity and ion channeling to study the effects of regrowth temperature and carbon introduction by ion implantation on the solid phase epitaxial regrowth (SPER) of strained 2000{Angstrom}, Si{sub 0.88}Ge{sub 0.12}/Si alloy films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE). Relative to the undoped layers, carbon incorporation in the MBE grown SiGe layers prior to regrowth at moderate temperatures (500--700C) has three main effects on SPER: these include a reduction in SPER rate, a delay in the onset of strain-relieving defect formation, and a sharpening of the amorphouse-crystalline (a/c) interface, i.e., promotion of a two-dimensional (planar) growth front. Recrystallization of amorphized SiGe layers at higher temperatures (1100C) substantially modifies the defect structure in samples both with and without carbon. At these elevated temperatures treading dislocations extend completely to the Si/SiGe interface. Stacking faults are eliminated in the high temperature regrowth, and the treading dislocation density is slightly higher with carbon implantation.
Enhancing brief cognitive-behavioral therapy with motivational enhancement techniques in cocaine users☆

Abstract Background We investigated the impact of enhancing brief cognitive-behavioral therapy with motivational interviewing techniques for cocaine abuse or dependence, using a focused intervention paradigm. Methods Participants (n = 74) who met current criteria for cocaine abuse or dependence were randomized to three-session cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or three-session enhanced CBT (MET + CBT), which included an initial session of motivational enhancement therapy (MET). Outcome measures included treatment retention, process measures (e.g., commitment to abstinence, satisfaction with treatment), and cocaine use. Results Participants who received the MET + CBT intervention attended more drug treatment sessions following the study interventions, reported significantly greater desire for abstinence and expectation of success, and they expected greater difficulty in maintaining abstinence compared to the CBT condition. There were no differences across treatment conditions on cocaine use. Conclusions These findings offer mixed support for the addition of MET as an adjunctive approach to CBT for cocaine users. In addition, the study provides evidence for the feasibility of using short-term studies to test the effects of specific treatment components or refinements on measures of therapy process and outcome.
Spin reversal transitions in impurity hop conduction

Abstract The magnetoresistance ϱ/ϱ o of phonon-assisted hop conduction in n-type Ge is found to have an appreciable temperature dependence at high magnetic fields. Reversal of spins of electrons while they make interdonor transitions is shown to be responsible.
Cells Arrested in G1 by the v-Abl Tyrosine Kinase Do Not Express Cyclin A Despite the Hyperphosphorylation of RB

The v-Abl tyrosine kinase encoded by the Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) can either stimulate or inhibit cell proliferation, depending on the cell context. In a NIH-3T3-derived cell line, N3T3, v-Abl blocks the serum-induced entry into S phase. In these G1-arrested cells v-Abl does not interfere with the activation of cyclin D1 or cyclin E-dependent kinases. As a result, v-Abl does not block the hyperphosphorylation and inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein RB. However, activation of cyclin A-dependent kinase is inhibited due to a v-Abl-induced block in the accumulation of cyclin A mRNA and protein. Ectopic expression of cyclin A enabled the v-Abl-arrested cells to enter S phase, whereas cyclins E and D1, or E2Fs 1 and 4 could not overcome the v-Abl arrest. Taken together, these results suggest that v-Abl tyrosine kinase arrests cell cycle progression in G1 by inhibiting the expression of cyclin A.
An Experimental Analysis of Misarticulating Children’s Generalization

Five children who produced /θ/ for /s/ substitutions as a Disarticulation were trained to produce /s/ correctly in three syllables. Untrained exemplars of syllables and words were tested throughout baseline and training. The 60 probe items contained both spontaneous and imitated words and syllables combined with high, low, front, back vowels, and consonants. A functional analysis reversal design was used, and the generalization patterns were analyzed. The effect of context was found to be less influential than expected while other factors such as stimulability, amount of training, and subject characteristics appeared as important variables in generalization.
DIFFERENCES IN SAXITOXIN AND TETRODOTOXIN BINDING REVEALED BY MUTAGENESIS OF THE NA+ CHANNEL OUTER VESTIBULE

The marine guanidinium toxins, saxitoxin (STX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX), have played crucial roles in the study of voltage-gated Na+ channels. Because they have similar actions, sizes, and functional groups, they have been thought to associate with the channel in the same manner, and early mutational studies supported this idea. Recent experiments by. Biophys. J. 67:2305-2315) have suggested that the toxins bind differently to the isoform-specific domain I Phe/Tyr/Cys location. In the adult skeletal muscle Na+ channel isoform (microliter), we compared the effects on both TTX and STX affinities of mutations in eight positions known to influence toxin binding. The results permitted the assignment of energies contributed by each amino acid to the binding reaction. For neutralizing mutations of Asp400, Glu755, and Lys1237, all thought to be part of the selectivity filter of the channel, the loss of binding energy was identical for the two toxins. However, the loss of binding energy was quite different for vestibule residues considered to be more superficial. Specifically, STX affinity was reduced much more by neutralizations of Glu758 and Asp1532. On the other hand, mutation of Tyr401 to Cys reduced TTX binding energy twice as much as it reduced STX binding energy. Kinetic analysis suggested that all outer vestibule residues tested interacted with both toxins early in the binding reaction (consistent with larger changes in the binding than unbinding rates) before the transition state and formation of the final bound complex. We propose a revised model of TTX and STX binding in the Na+ channel outer vestibule in which the toxins have similar interactions at the selectivity filter, TTX has a stronger interaction with Tyr401, and STX interacts more strongly with the more extracellular residues.
Thermal states of the Kitaev honeycomb model: Bures metric analysis

We analyze the Bures metric over the canonical thermal states for the Kitaev honeycomb mode. In this way the effects of finite temperature on topological phase transitions can be studied. Different regions in the parameter space of the model can be clearly identified in terms of different temperature scaling behavior of the Bures metric tensor. Furthermore, we show a simple relation between the metric elements and the crossover temperature between the quasicritical and the quasiclassical regions. These results extend the analysis of Zhao and Zhou [e-print arXiv:/0803.0814v1] and Yang et al. [Phys. Rev. A 78, 012304 (2008)] to finite temperatures.
RISK AND THE SECURITISATION OF STUDENT MIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES

This paper examines the construction of international students as objects of security in the United States during the period surrounding 11 September, 2001. Competing perceptions of international student migration as threatening or beneficial contributed to policy discourses that sought to mitigate the risk inherent in migration. The events of 9/11 prompted new evaluations of migration risk, and in particular, foreign students were securitised – that is, incorporated into policy dialogues as national security threats requiring immediate and strict controls. We examine the securitisation of international students through the evolutionary processes of risk perception and risk management, which are articulated in the construction and contesting of geopolitical storylines.
Is it safe to perform cardiac catheterizations on adults with congenital heart disease in a pediatric catheterization laboratory

Objective: To determine the complication rate during the catheterization in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) in a pediatric catheterization laboratory (PCL). Background: An increasing number of patients with CHD are surviving into adulthood, with diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization being essential for the management of their disease. The complication rate during the catheterization of adults with CHD has not been reported. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all adult patients (>18 years) with CHD who underwent diagnostic or interventional catheterization in our PCL within the past 8.5 years. Results: A total of 576 procedures were performed on 436 adult patients (median age 26 years). Complex heart disease was present in 387/576 (67%) procedures. An isolated atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale was present in 115/576 (20%) procedures, and 51/576 (9%) procedures were performed on patients with structurally normal hearts with arrhythmias. Interventional catheterization was performed in 378/576 (66%) procedures. There were complications during 61/576 (10.6%) procedures; 19 were considered major and 42 minor. Major complications were death (1), ventricular fibrillation (1), hypotension requiring inotropes (7), atrial flutter (3), retroperitoneal hematoma, pneumothorax, hemothorax, aortic dissection, renal failure, myocardial ischemia and stent malposition (1 each). The most common minor complications were vascular entry site hematomas and hypotension not requiring inotropes. Procedures performed on patients ≥ 45 years of age had a 19% occurrence of complications overall compared with 9% occurrence rate in patients of age < 45 years (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The complication rate during the catheterization of adults with CHD in a PCL is similar to the complication rate of children with CHD undergoing cardiac catheterization. The older subset of patients are more likely to encounter complications overall. The encountered complications could be handled effectively in the PCL. With screening in place, it is safe to perform cardiac catheter
Structures and reaction pathways of the molybdenum centres of sulfite-oxidizing enzymes by pulsed EPR spectroscopy.

SOEs (sulfite-oxidizing enzymes) are physiologically vital and occur in all forms of life. During the catalytic cycle, the five-co-ordinate square pyramidal oxo-molybdenum active site passes through the Mo(V) state, and intimate details of the structure can be obtained from variable frequency pulsed EPR spectroscopy through the hyperfine and nuclear quadrupole interactions of nearby magnetic nuclei. By employing variable spectrometer operational frequencies, it is possible to optimize the measurement conditions for difficult quadrupolar nuclei of interest (e.g. 17 O, 33 S, 35 Cl and 37 Cl) and to simplify the interpretation of the spectra. Isotopically labelled model Mo(V) compounds provide further insight into the electronic and geometric structures and chemical reactions of the enzymes. Recently, blocked forms of SOEs having co-ordinated sulfate, the reaction product, were detected using 33 S ( I =3/2) labelling. This blocking of product release is a possible contributor to fatal human sulfite oxidase deficiency in young children.
Computer-based simulation games: a viable educational technique for entrepreneurship classes?

Starting an actual business is difficult to do in most entrepreneurship classes. Thus educators must find ways to model the entrepreneurial process. Total enterprise simulations can play a role in the entrepreneurship classroom by adding value to conventional methods of instruction. For example, students can practice more complex skills and higher levels of abstract analysis and decision making under uncertainty. Simulations can introduce and reinforce the kinds of general management competencies needed by entrepreneurs as their ventures evolve from start-up to growth and consolidation. The most significant advantage of simulations vis-a-vis entrepreneurship is their ability to subject students to the same types of attitudes and behaviors evidenced by entrepreneurs in their day-to-day business careers.
Statins Alter Lipid Bilayer Properties

Statins are widely prescribed to manage hypercholesterolemia. Statins exert their primary mechanism of action by inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase, thereby preventing cholesterol synthesis. In addition to this canonical action they also alter the function of diverse membrane proteins. Because statins are amphiphiles that modulate the function of different, structurally unrelated membrane proteins, we investigated whether statins could alter lipid bilayer properties at concentrations where they alter membrane protein function. To this end, we used the gramicidin-based fluorescence assay (GBFA) as well as single-channel electrophysiology. We found that atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, mevastatin, pravastatin, pitavastatin, and simvastatin all increased the rate of fluorescence quenching, meaning that they shifted the gramicidin (gA) monomer dimer equilibrium toward the formation of conducting dimers. Statins thus alter lipid bilayer properties, with fluvastatin being the most active and rosuvastatin the least active. When examined using single-channel electrophysiology, simvastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin increased the lifetime and appearance rate of gA channels with fluvastatin being the most active and pravastain being the least active. We observe larger effects on the shorter channels; the hydrophobic mismatch dependant effects indicate a change in bilayer elasticity. We conclude that statins alter lipid bilayer properties by a common mechanism, an increase in bilayer elasticity (independent of any changes in membrane cholesterol concentration) and that specific channel-statin interactions need not be the sole mechanism underlying the statins’ actions on membrane protein function.
Real-Time Functional Brain Imaging of Attention Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

In this study, we demonstrate the application of a real-time neural-network model to monitor attention in a reading task using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Reflections in Silicon on Insulator (SOI) Waveguides and Ring Resonators

Unwanted reflections in SOI waveguides are investigated. In a typical waveguide, 2.5 % of the propagation loss is actually being reflected backwards. Unless corrected, this leads to artifacts in the performance of ring resonator devices.
Architecture indigenous to extreme climates

Abstract The term ‘extreme’ climates suggests that some climates have exaggerated characteristics in comparison with others that are more neutral and less extreme. By reducing the number of global climate zones to less than ten, a discipline of climatic description is forced that emphasizes their distinctive differences. Reviewed are the Arctic and Subarctic, and the maritime climatic zones. Simultaneously, indigenous architecture is examined as an indicator or telltale of climatic uniqueness, parallel to the use of vegetation types to define and distinguish biological climates. The snow igloo of the Inuit is examined in detail as both a constructive and operational environmental system. In comparison the Lapp winter hut or kata is also described. Although nominally examples of the temperate or maritime climate, the New England Cape Cod cottage is contrasted with the Hungarian village and house. A series of conclusions identify lessons from indigenous architecture appropriate to sustainability in industrial and post-industrial cultures.
Biomechanics of ultrasound emissions in the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus.

Mechanisms of ultrasonic emissions were studied in adult male pairs of Meriones unguiculatus. Preventing the mouth from opening did not change the frequency of emissions, suggesting that the sounds are conveyed through the nasal passages. Laryngeal nerve sectioning diminished or eliminated ultrasonic emission, depending on which nerves were cut. The return of functioning appeared to be related to nerve regeneration. Animals did not orient their heads or bodies in any particular direction relative to each other when producing ultrasounds. Nevertheless there was a strong correlation between locomotion, body movements, lung compression, and the generation of ultrasounds.
Widely tunable optical parametric oscillator using urea

A singly resonant urea optical parametric oscillator is discussed. With a pump source at 355-nm wavelength, the oscillator has been shown to generate radiation easily for the entire range of wavelengths between 498 nm and 1.23 μm, almost continuously tunably. Further, through second-harmonic generation of the signal wave, the tuning curve has been extended from 498 nm to wavelengths as short as 249 nm. The oscillator linewidth, conversion efficiency, temporal profile, and spatial-mode profile have been characterized, and are all found to be favorably comparable with other sources of tunable radiation, such as pulsed dye lasers. Spontaneous parametric fluorescence in urea is reported for the first time.
O6-3-[125I]iodobenzyl-2′-deoxyguanosine ([125I]IBdG): synthesis and evaluation of its usefulness as an agent for quantification of alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT)

The development of O(6)-(3-[(125)I]iodobenzyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine ([(125)I]IBdG), the glycosylated analogue of the O(6)-3-iodobenzylguanine (IBG), as an agent for the in vivo mapping of the DNA repair protein alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) is described. Synthesis of its tin precursor, O(6)-3-trimethylstannylbenzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (TBdG) was achieved in four steps from deoxyguanosine. Radioiodination of TBdG in a single step gave [(125)I]IBdG in 70-85% isolated radiochemical yield. [(125)I]IBdG bound specifically to pure AGT with an IC(50) of 7.1 microM. From paired-label assays, [(125)I]IBdG showed a 2- to 3-fold higher cellular uptake than [(131)I]IBG in DAOY medulloblastoma, TE-671 rhabdomyosarcoma, SK-Mel-28 melanoma, and HT-29 colon carcinoma human cell lines. Uptake of both labeled compounds in these cell lines decreased with increasing concentrations of unlabeled O(6)-benzylguanine (BG) when BG was present in the medium during incubation with the labeled compounds. Compared to BG, unlabeled IBdG diminished the uptake of [(125)I]IBdG and [(131)I]IBG in DAOY cells more efficiently (IC(50) 10 microM for BG). There was no significant change in cell-bound activity of [(125)I]IBdG and [(131)I]IBG when BG was removed from the incubation medium before incubating cells with the tracers, suggesting that only a very small portion of radioactivity taken up by the cells is AGT bound. This was corroborated by gel-electrophoresis performed on extracts from cells treated with varying amounts of BG and then incubated with [(125)I]IBdG in the presence of BG. No radiolabeled AGT band was discernable by phosphor-imaging, signifying low cellular AGT binding of the radiotracer. In contrast, when cell extracts were prepared from BG pre-treated cells and aliquots were incubated with [(125)I]IBdG subsequently, the intensity of radiolabeled AGT band decreased linearly as a function of BG concentration. This suggests that the low level of [(125)I]IBdG that binds to AGT does so in a concentration dependent manner. These data suggest that IBdG is transported across the cell membrane to a higher degree than IBG. However, to be a practical tracer for quantifying cellular AGT, considerable localization of such derivatives need to occur within the cell nucleus where AGT is present predominantly.
An Ab Initio Theoretical Study of the CH + H2 ≓ Ch3 * ≓ Ch2 + H Reactions

Ab initio calculations of the electronic wave function and associated potential energy of CH 3 at geometries appro priate for the title reaction described here allow charac terization of the reactants and the energetically most fa vorable routes that are followed during the reaction. The quantum mechanical description of the electronic mo tion at each molecular geometry involves the response of each electron to the average field of all other elec trons and the approximate correlated response of each electron to the instantaneous position of the other elec trons. The basic methodology for the computation of this wave function, using extensive orbital basis sets and large-scale configuration expansions, is described. This calculation is one of the largest ever attempted for the characterization of a polyatomic reaction path. However, the path description involves a fine balance of energy contributions that requires this level of sophistication. The calculated properties of the reactants, the interme diate CH3, and the reaction paths to form CH3 are pre sented. The computed energetics compare favorably to experimental results.
Testing a symptom-based surveillance system at high-profile gatherings as a preparatory measure for bioterrorism.

We tested symptom-based surveillance during the G8 conference in 2000 as a means of detecting outbreaks, including bio-terrorism attacks, promptly. Five categories of symptoms (skin and haemorrhagic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological and unexplained) were adopted for the case definition of the surveillance. The surveillance began 1 week before the conference, and continued until 1 week after the conference ended. We could not detect any outbreaks during this surveillance. Compared to the existing diagnosis-based surveillance system, symptom-based surveillance has the advantages of timeliness and simplicity. However, poor specificity and difficulties in determining epidemic threshold were important limitations of this system. To increase the specificity of surveillance, it is essential to incorporate rapid laboratory diagnoses into the system.
Differential activation of ERK, p38, and JNK MAPK by nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the potentiation of prostaglandin cerebrovasoconstriction after brain injury

Fluid percussion brain injury elevates the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of the opioid nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), which potentiates vasoconstriction to the prostaglandins U 46619, a thromboxane A(2) mimic, and prostaglandin (PG)F(2a). This study investigated the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) isoforms of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in potentiated prostaglandin vasoconstriction after brain injury and the relationship of brain injury induced release of N/OFQ to MAPK. Pial artery diameter was measured with a video microscaler by observation through a glass coverslip cranial window placed in the parietal cortex of newborn pigs. Brain injury potentiated U 46619 induced pial artery vasoconstriction but U 0126 and SB 203580 (10(-6) and 10(-5) M, respectively) (ERK and p38 MAPK inhibitors) blocked the potentiation. In contrast, administration of SP 600125 (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) (JNK MAPK inhibitor) only attenuated brain injury induced U 46619 potentiation and such responses were significantly different than that in the presence of either U 0126 or SB 203580 after FPI. Co-administration of N/OFQ (10(-10) M), the CSF concentration observed after brain injury, with U 46619 or PGF(2a) under non brain injury conditions potentiated prostaglandin vasoconstriction but U 0126 and SB 203580 blocked such potentiation. Administration of SP 600125 modestly attenuated prostaglandin potentiation by N/OFQ. These data show that activation of ERK and p38 primarily contribute to potentiation of prostaglandin constriction after brain injury. These data suggest that N/OFQ differentially activates ERK, p38, and JNK MAPK to contribute to potentiated prostaglandin vasoconstriction after fluid percussion brain injury.
Differential Diagnosis in a 3-Station Acute Abdominal Pain Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): A Needs Assessment in Third-Year Medical Student Performance and Summative Evaluation in the Surgical Clerkship

Background There is poor interrater reliability in the assessment of a medical student's ability to generate a differential diagnosis list using Likert-based scales in the surgical clerkship. This important clinical skill is tested on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Skills Examination. Objective We hypothesize that third-year medical students in the surgical clerkship will be able to accurately diagnose adult patients with acute abdominal pain after performing a focused history and physical examination in a 3-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Second, we want to test our hypothesis that service assessments of a student's ability to analyze data will not correspond with OSCE performance. Methods In this retrospective study, third-year medical student differential diagnosis lists from a 3-station OSCE and medical student clerkship assessments were collected from the 2009-2010 academic year. Differential diagnosis lists were scored for accuracy. Differences between groups were compared with nonparametric statistics, using an α = 0.05. Results Seventy-eight third-year medical students (56.4% female) were evaluated. For 2 stations, more than half of the medical students had the correct diagnosis on the differential diagnosis list (p Conclusions Third-year medical students are generally accurate with the ability to diagnosis adult patients with acute abdominal pain after performing a history and physical examination. Additionally, surgical service faculty and resident assessments of a student's ability to analyze data do not correspond with OSCE performance. We recommend some changes that might lead to improved grading for third-year medical students in the surgical clerkship.
A Thermal Viscoelastic Analysis for Thick-Walled Composite Cylinders

Abstract : The linear quasi-static thermal viscoelastic behavior of a three-dimensional thick laminated composite cylinder is investigated. The cylinder is loaded with a temperature change; however, thermomechanical coupling effects are neglected. The Correspondence Principle is employed to convert the thermoviscoelastic problem to its corresponding thermoelasticity problem in Laplace Transform space. A closed-form formulation is then developed for each layer, assuming a state of generalized plane strain, to solve for a general solution of the corresponding thermoelastic problem. The Laplace Transformed solution is completed by satisfying boundary conditions at the inner and outer surfaces of the cylinder and continuity conditions between adjacent layers. The solution process is expedited by replacing two undetermined coefficients in the assumed form of the thermoelastic solution with the normal stresses at the inner and outer of the cylinder and satisfying the continuity conditions between adjacent layers. Finally, direct Laplace Transform Inversion is used to yield the quasi-static thermoviscoelastic solution. Viscoelasticity, Thick composite cylinders, Laplace transformation
Input-output techniques and energy cost of commodities

Abstract This article quantifies the desirability of several methods of calculating energy cost of commodities from input-output data, using an a priori technique based on exact treatment of an artificially ‘homogenized’ A -matrix. The use of an average energy price (the same to all consuming sectors) is much inferior to the use of different prices, even if full attention is paid to indirect economic effects through use of the inverted matrix ( I - A ) −1 . However, there is relatively little advantage in inserting actual energy use data into the A -matrix instead of merely premultiplying ( I - A ) −1 by an energy use vector. The latter conclusion has one important exception, pertaining to comparison of primary and secondary energy types, which is not predicted by the analysis here.
Identifying regulatory elements and gene boundaries with comparative genomic sequence analysis

For several groups of organisms multiple genomes have been sequenced either completely or to the unfinished shotgun sequencing stage. Comparative sequence analysis can identify functional sequence elements for pairs of organisms that diverged far enough in the past to allow mutational drift of non-conserved sequences. While analysis of a pair of genomes identifies many of these functional elements adding additional genomes allows additional information to be elicited. Additional conserved sequence elements are identified as additional genomes are analyzed. These conserved sequence elements are often regulatory elements although they are difficult to classify with in silico analysis. For an individual gene, the set of associated conserved sequence elements and the organisms they are found in provides insight into the evolutionary history of the regulation of the gene. The eight complete and unfinished shotgun sequenced nematode genomes and the dozen informative insect genome sequences were used to analyze conserved non-coding sequences in these groups of organisms. I have developed web-based software to allow researchers to explore and visualize sequence conservation that differs from previous work in analyzing conserved sequences in each pair of organisms rather than with respect to a single reference genome. We have used this analysis to identify gene regulatory boundaries in the nematode C. elegans. The genomes of C. elegans and other nematodes have diverged enough that synteny regions are typically one or two genes long. I was able to associate conserved sequence elements to particular genes identifying the natural boundaries between genes and the extent of worm promoters.