cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amniotic fluid: Source of trophic factors for the developing intestine

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a complex system, which changes in response to requirements of the body. GIT represents a barrier to the external environment. To achieve this, epithelial cells must renew rapidly. This renewal of epithelial cells starts in the fetal life under the influence of many GIT peptides by swallowing amniotic fluid (AF). Development and maturation of GIT is a very complex cascade that begins long before birth and continues during infancy and childhood by breast-feeding. Many factors like genetic preprogramming, local and systemic endocrine secretions and many trophic factors (TF) from swallowed AF contribute and modulate the development and growth of the GIT. GIT morphogenesis, differentiation and functional development depend on the activity of various TF in the AF. This manuscript will review the role of AF borne TF in the development of GIT.
The Essential Role of Sense of Community in a Youth Sport Program

ABSTRACTThis multiphased study identifies the salient benefits that parents seek for their families from a youth sport program. Phase 1, a preseason focus group study of parents of swimmers in three clubs (N = 15), indicated parents seek a sense of community for their children and themselves, and sense of community is linked to their desire for children to learn sport and life skills. Phase 2, a postseason survey of parents in the same three clubs (N = 129), tested the relationships among coaching quality, friendships, organizational communication, sport and life skills, sense of community, parents' satisfaction, and their repeat purchase intention. Using path analysis, sense of community was identified as the key driver of satisfaction and repeat purchase intention, with swimming improvement also having a significant effect on satisfaction. These findings highlight the central role sense of community plays for participants and their families in youth sport contexts.
Effect of Holes on the Biaxial Strength of Woven Composites

Bi-axial strength of woven composites is particularly important due to the use of such materials in pressure vessels. Pressure vessels typically have interconnecting fixtures, which often are secured by bolted connections. In this research, two cruciform bi-axial test specimens were developed with the aide of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and tested in the tri-axial test facility located at the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM. Tests results were then compared to specimens with a central hole to study the decrease in strength due to stress concentration at bolted connections. Two hole diameters were drilled into each of the two cruciform types; 6.33mm (0.25”) and 3.175mm (0.125”). All specimens are thick cross-ply and quasi-isotropic, [(0/90)4]s and [(0/90)4(45/-45)4]s, IM7/UF3352 woven carbon fiber specimens. Analysis of stress concentration and test results will be provided, that are not currently available in the literature.
Pediatric Hearing Aid Use: How Can Audiologists Support Parents to Increase Consistency?

Background: Children need consistent access to the full range of speech sounds for spoken language development, making daily hearing aid management a fundamental component of effective intervention. In addition to receiving services from professionals with expertise in childhood hearing loss, parents play a central role in the intervention process. However, parents can experience an array of barriers and challenges in learning to cope with the demands of daily management. Feedback about hearing aid use time might offer parents insight into challenges and lead to the identification of strategies to increase use, optimizing child outcomes. Purpose: This exploratory study had 2 primary purposes: (1) to examine hearing aid use time for a cohort of children 7 mo to 6 yr of age and (2) to examine whether hearing aid use time increased when parents were given periodic objective feedback (i.e., data-logging results) about average daily use time. Research Design: A retrospective chart review was used to collect data on eligible participants. Results: Findings for 29 children (7 mo to 6 yr of age) revealed variability in hours of hearing aid use and an increase in hours of use with age and severity of hearing loss. Reports of typical hearing aid use from seven parents revealed that parents overestimated use by an average of 3.36 hr. Review of challenges reported revealed issues with retention, awareness of the effect of nonuse on average daily access to sound, and lack of perceived benefit of hearing aid use. Hearing aid use increased with communication about data logging for some, but not all, parents. Conclusions: For effective integration of essential hearing aid management skills into the daily lives of primary caregivers, audiologists must consider caregiver needs in the overall child management and monitoring plan. The ability to optimize child outcomes might depend in part on the extent audiologists embrace family-centered services, engage in collaborative problem solving, and support parents in applying individualized strategies.
The Comparative Analysis of the Gymnastic Men's Routine of Action in Single in the Eighth World Games

By analyzing the performance of the Men' Aerobics Competition in the Eighth World Games with new rules taking effect,with expert interviews and video analysis as the methods,this paper made comparative analysis of the operation of Chinese men's singles and those top three team,discussing the reason causing the failure of men's singles,finding out the inadequacies,combining with the actual conditions of China,and proposed the countermeasures to improve the level of China's competitive men's single,providing a theoretical basis for reference and information.
Metabolic Inhibition and Selective Axonal Injury

The selective injury of CNS axons produced by exposure to Cd2+, an environmental contaminant, is a result of disruption of mitochondrial respiration (oxidative phosphorylation). An examination of the literature reveals some other poisons that have a similar effect upon oxidative phosphorylation and that also produce CNS lesions typified by damage of axons with selective sparing of neurons. These include cyanide, CO, CS2, arsenic, and azide. The neurological injuries produced by these toxins appear to constitute a distinct class of pathology in which axonal injury is dominant. Such an observation is paradoxical, considering that ischemia tends to produce selective injury of neurons with relative sparing of axons, the mirror image of the injury associated with disruption of oxidative phosphorylation by these toxins. This paradox may be resolved by considering the extent to which energy utilization is disrupted during these two classes of metabolic insult. It appears likely that low levels of cytochrome oxid...
Effect of mode of activation of human eosinophils on tracheal smooth muscle contraction in guinea pigs

We studied the relationship between mode of activation of isolated human eosinophils and in situ responsiveness in isolated tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) of guinea pigs. Human peripheral blood eosin...
Pre-Roosting Assemblages in Birds: An Observation of American Crows in the Portland Park Blocks

The first objective of this study is to describe the seasonal patterns of variation in crow numbers and to assess the extent to which crow numbers vary with weather over the course of the winter in the Portland State University Park Blocks. The second objective of this study is to draw on current literature to help determine a possible explanation for the crow gatherings that occur at the Portland State University Park Blocks. I observed the population of crows from October 23 2016 to March 31 2016 with a restricted survey area around Millar Library on the Portland State University Campus and Market St (a five block area). I made observations two days a week for periods lasting between 1.25 and 3 hours, while making both qualitative and quantitative observations of crow numbers and activity. Seasonal variation of crows in the Park Blocks on PSU campus increased from mid-fall into the winter season in a non-linear fashion. Weather influenced flocking behavior as crow numbers exhibited a weak tendency to peak at intermediate values of precipitation and to increase with wind speed. This study can serve as a base for the future work to help explain why American Crows use communal roosts during the winter months. Pre-Roosting Assemblages in Birds 3
The Impact of Online Training on Facebook Privacy

Facebook is a major part of the lives of many consumers who share a considerable amount of information with friends, acquaintances, and commercial interests via the platform, leading to greater exp...
Taxonomy for Humans or Computers? Cognitive Pragmatics for Big Data

Criticism of big data has focused on showing that more is not necessarily better, in the sense that data may lose their value when taken out of context and aggregated together. The next step is to incorporate an awareness of pitfalls for aggregation into the design of data infrastructure and institutions. A common strategy minimizes aggregation errors by increasing the precision of our conventions for identifying and classifying data. As a counterpoint, we argue that there are pragmatic trade-offs between precision and ambiguity that are key to designing effective solutions for generating big data about biodiversity. We focus on the importance of theory-dependence as a source of ambiguity in taxonomic nomenclature and hence a persistent challenge for implementing a single, long-term solution to storing and accessing meaningful sets of biological specimens. We argue that ambiguity does have a positive role to play in scientific progress as a tool for efficiently symbolizing multiple aspects of taxa and mediating between conflicting hypotheses about their nature. Pursuing a deeper understanding of the trade-offs and synthesis of precision and ambiguity as virtues of scientific language and communication systems then offers a productive next step for realizing sound, big biodiversity data services.
Nonlinear SWIR imaging

Short wavelength infrared (SWIR) part of the spectrum offers several distinct advantages for biomedical imaging. In this report we focus on improving research capabilities for generating broadband continuum in spectral region from 1000 to 1900 nm and utilizing it for nonlinear Raman spectroscopy
Meningiomas in childhood.

Meningiomas are rare intracranial neoplasms in the pediatric population. Most of the reports concerning these tumors have stressed some distinguishing features comparable with the adult counterpart. Besides the lower incidence, the nearly equal sex distribution, the relatively common infratentorial location and the frequent development within the ventricular system have been emphasized. A poor prognosis of pediatric meningiomas has also been claimed by authors who have suggested that this could be owing to a possibly more aggressive behavior, accounting for the huge size that these tumors have usually reached at diagnosis, the difficult surgical excision, and the higher recurrence rate. The analysis of recent series challenges the concept that pediatric meningiomas do actually bear a worse prognosis than similar tumors occurring in older patients. Improved surgical techniques have in fact resulted in higher percentages of complete tumor removal. Better histological delineation has allowed the identification of highly aggressive meningeal neoplasms, which in the past were not differentiated properly, thus contributing to the apparent higher incidence of recurrent tumors in the pediatric population. When the studies are limited to the “classical” form of meningioma, it becomes apparent that pediatric meningiomas do not behave more aggressively than meningiomas in adult patients.
Phase I study of vandetinib in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced solid malignancies.

3037 Background: Vandentinib (VAN) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and 3 (VEGFR-3) as well as epidermal growth factor re...
Atypical Fibroxanthoma of the Bulbar Conjunctiva: A Unique Case Describing the Pathology, Clinical Presentation, and Management.

Background/aims Atypical fibroxanthoma is an uncommon tumor that usually occurs in the skin of the head and neck of the elderly with significant sun exposure. We describe a unique case featuring a rare ocular surface conjunctival tumor (atypical fibroxanthoma) and provide insight on its characteristic clinical features, surgical management, and histology. Methods A 71-year-old male fisherman with no pertinent ocular history presented to an academic center with a rapidly enlarging bulbar conjunctival mass in the right perilimbal region for the past several months. The patient underwent surgical excisional biopsy with cryotherapy, adjuvant alcohol, and amniotic membrane transplantation. Results Pathology specimen illustrated an atypical spindle cell tumor with inflammatory cells, increased mitotic activity, cytologic atypia, and positive diffuse staining with CD163 and CD10 consistent with an atypical fibroxanthoma. Conclusion Atypical fibroxanthoma is an extremely rare ocular surface tumor that may simulate conjunctival or ocular surface squamous neoplasia. While this lesion typically pursues a benign clinical course, it may recur or rarely metastasize. Thus it should be treated aggressively with excisional biopsy, cryotherapy, absolute alcohol, and/or amniotic membrane transplantation.
Multiracial in Middle School: The Influence of Classmates and Friends on Changes in Racial Self-Identification.

In the present research, the influence of racial diversity among classmates and friends on changes in racial self-identification among multiracial youth was examined (n = 5,209; Mage = 10.56 years at the beginning of sixth grade). A novel individual-level measure of diversity among classmates based on participants' course schedules was utilized. The findings revealed that although there was some fluidity in multiracial identification at the beginning of middle school, changes in multiracial identification were more evident later in middle school. In addition, although diversity among classmates and friends both increased the likelihood of multiracial identification in the beginning of middle school, only diversity among friends mattered later in middle school, when fluidity in multiracial identification was at its peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Stable Metal–Organic Frameworks with Group 4 Metals: Current Status and Trends

Group 4 metal-based metal–organic frameworks (MIV-MOFs), including Ti-, Zr-, and Hf-based MOFs, are one of the most attractive classes of MOF materials owing to their superior chemical stability and structural tunability. Despite being a relatively new field, MIV-MOFs have attracted significant research attention in the past few years, leading to exciting advances in syntheses and applications. In this outlook, we start with a brief overview of the history and current status of MIV-MOFs, emphasizing the challenges encountered in their syntheses. The unique properties of MIV-MOFs are discussed, including their high chemical stability and strong tolerance toward defects. Particular emphasis is placed on defect engineering in Zr-MOFs which offers additional routes to tailor their functions. Photocatalysis of MIV-MOF is introduced as a representative example of their emerging applications. Finally, we conclude with the perspective of new opportunities in synthesis and defect engineering.
Coproducing healthcare: individual-level impacts of engaging citizens to develop recommendations for reducing diagnostic error

Coproduction has received considerable attention from scholars and practitioners in recent years. While theory and some research suggest that coproduction can have individual-level effects on parti...
Term Structure and Volatility: Lessons from the Eurodollar Markets

We evaluate the ability of several affine models to explain the term structure of the interest rates and option prices. Since the key distinguishing characteristic of the affine models is the specification of conditional volatility of the factors, we explore models which have critical differences in this respect: Gaussian (constant volatility), stochastic volatility, and unspanned stochastic volatility models. We estimate the models based on the Eurodollar futures and options data. We find that both Gaussian and stochastic volatility models, despite the differences in the specifications, do a great job matching the conditional mean and volatility of the term structure. When these models are estimated using options data, their properties change, and they are more successful in pricing options and matching higher moments of the term structure distribution. The unspanned stochastic volatility (USV) model fails to resolve the tension between the futures and options fits. Unresolved tension in the fits points to additional factors or, even more likely, jumps, as ways to improve the performance of the models. Our results indicate that Gaussian and stochastic volatility models cannot be distinguished based on the yield curve dynamics alone. Options data are helpful in identifying the differences. In particular, Gaussian models cannot explain the relationship between implied volatilities and the term structure observed in the data.
Corrosion behavior and prevention strategies for magnesium (Mg) alloys

Abstract: Magnesium (Mg) alloys have low corrosion resistance and exhibit unusual corrosion behavior in aqueous environments. Because of this unique corrosion performance, some special corrosion prevention techniques have to be employed for Mg alloys in their applications. This chapter briefly summarizes the corrosion characteristics of Mg alloys, and also presents a strategy and methodologies to mitigate the corrosion damage of Mg alloys in applications.
The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation Case January 1, 1985-December 31, 1997 (A) January 1, 1998-December 31, 2002 (B) and Teaching Note

This two-part case engages students in thinking about one of the country's largest operating foundations, its relationship with the community in which it operates, the interaction between the found...
Differential Regulation of Gonadotropins in Response to Continuous Infusion of Native Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in the Winter Anovulatory Mare and Effects of Treatment With Estradiol-17β.

Abstract We tested the hypotheses that in winter anovulatory mares (1) both chronic daily injections of estradiol-17β (E2) and subcutaneous E2 implants could enhance pituitary secretion of gonadotropins in response to continuous subcutaneous infusion of native gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH); and (2) the secretory pattern of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in response to continuous subcutaneous infusion of native GnRH is similar to that of luteinizing hormone (LH) but differs between mares that develop or fail to develop an estrogen-active, preovulatory follicle. In Experiment 1, 20 winter anovulatory mares (n = 5 per group) in early February received twice-daily injections of corn oil (control) or 5 mg of E2 with or without continuous subcutaneous treatment with native GnRH (100 μg/hr) or received GnRH only for up to 14 days. In Experiment 2, 24 winter anovulatory mares (n = 6 per group) were treated with a full-length (high dose) or quarter-length (low dose) E2 implant (Compudose) in combination with continuous GnRH infusion (100 μg/hr) for up to 28 days or served as sham controls. Mares developing 35-mm follicles were induced to ovulate with human chorionic gonadotropin. Mares not developing a 35-mm follicle within 14 days received a replacement 14-day GnRH pump. In Experiment 1, E2 enhanced the response to GnRH beginning on Day 3, with mean LH greater (P
High-resolution velocimetry from tracer particle fields using a wavelet-based optical flow method

A wavelet-based optical flow method for high-resolution velocimetry based on tracer particle images is presented. The current optical flow estimation method (WOF-X) is designed for improvements in processing experimental images by implementing wavelet transforms with the lifting method and symmetric boundary conditions. This approach leads to speed and accuracy improvements over the existing wavelet-based methods. The current method also exploits the properties of fluid flows and uses the known behavior of turbulent energy spectra to semi-automatically tune a regularization parameter that has been primarily determined empirically in the previous optical flow algorithms. As an initial step in evaluating the WOF-X method, synthetic particle images from a 2D DNS of isotropic turbulence are processed and the results are compared to a typical correlation-based PIV algorithm and previous optical flow methods. The WOF-X method produces a dense velocity estimation, resulting in an order-of-magnitude increase in velocity vector resolution compared to the traditional correlation-based PIV processing. Results also show an improvement in velocity estimation by more than a factor of two. The increases in resolution and accuracy of the velocity field lead to significant improvements in the calculation of velocity gradient-dependent properties such as vorticity. In addition to the DNS results, the WOF-X method is evaluated in a series of two-dimensional vortex flow simulations to determine optimal experimental design parameters. Recommendations for optimal conditions for tracer particle seed density and inter-frame particle displacement are presented. The WOF-X method produces minimal error at larger particle displacements and lower relative error over a larger velocity dynamic range as compared to correlation-based processing.
Bio-Rhetoric, Background Beliefs and the Biology of Homosexuality

In this essay Lyne's theory of “bio-rhetoric” and Longino's theory of “background beliefs” are combined to provide an argumentative analysis of the biological research on male homosexuality. Becaus...
What About a Redemptive God

In this chapter, I consider whether a justification for God’s involvement with the evil in the world can be found in the long biblical history of God’s seeking to bring redemption to a wayward humanity.
STEM doctoral student agency regarding funding

ABSTRACTThis study explores STEM doctoral student agency with respect to funding as it relates to degree completion and career preparation. We interviewed 39 graduate students in chemistry, physics...
Alternative Agencies: Materialist Navigations Below the Radar of Disability Studies

One of the primary problems facing disability studies is the equation of disability = oppression. This foundational formulation suggests that disabled people experience discrimination on a daily basis, or at least as an incredibly common experience; thus, encounters with social barriers are defining experiences in social model research and there has been some significant explication of the equation as part of the history of the field.
Microwave-specific acceleration of a retro-Diels–Alder reaction

A high-temperature retro-Diels-Alder reaction is accelerated by microwave (MW) heating to rates higher than expected based on Arrhenius kinetics and the measured temperature of the reaction mixture. Observations are consistent with selective MW heating of the polar reactant relative to other, less polar components of the reaction mixture.
Modeling of the Exoskeletal Human-Machine System Movement Lifting a Load

The mechanization and automation are introduced in various industries for loading and unloading operations. However, the manual labor continues to be widespread in a number of industries. One of the ways to improve the quality of working conditions due to the transition from extreme to comfortable conditions is using of exoskeletons. The technological operations of lifting and transfer of goods implementation by a person can be considered in two aspects: from the point of view of the workload performed by a person with this type of work, and on the other hand, the functional stress of the body as an integral response to the load. The study of the human-machine system (HMS) elements interaction allows us to identify new opportunities for providing a cooperative solution to technological problems by obtaining the exoskeleton’s links movement given accuracy. The article is devoted to the HMS motion kinematic model development, as well as the determination of the dependence of the linear gravity compensator (LGC) length change on the magnitude of the exoskeleton’s back rotation angle for various geometric dimensions that determine the position of the LGC. The determination of this dependence allows us to construct an algorithm for the HMI, including the LGC functioning. For this, the vector method of mathematical modeling is used.
Network design for local agriculture using robust optimization

Abstract For small farmers wishing to sell their products under the “local agriculture” marketing concept, connecting with consumers can be challenging. One approach to mitigating this disconnect between where production occurs and where consumers reside is through a network of regional consolidation points. In this study, we utilize optimization models to assist the Missouri Coalition of Environment (MCE) in helping farmers from Missouri and Illinois route products from their farms to a central hub in St. Louis. The aim of this study was to minimize the ton-miles traveled by farmers and MCE vehicles in delivering agricultural products from farms to regional hubs to the central hub. Given historical data about variability of plant and animal production in the Greater Plains region, a robust optimization approach was incorporated to increase the likelihood that the network can accommodate uncertainty in agricultural production. GAMS/CPLEX was used to solve the model under different configurations and identify potential locations for regional hubs. Computational testing determined that the capacity of hubs plays a key role in the optimal assignments: given the assumed model constraint that farmers can travel only to their nearest regional hub, solutions may sacrifice a better objective function value in order to accommodate farmers’ travel requirements.
Association of Lameness in Dairy Cattle with Other Diseases

Lameness has been recognized as a frequently occurring disease syndrome in dairy cattle. The dimensions of the problem are immense. Consider that, according to Greenough and Vermunt,4 a herd should be considered a "problem herd" when the yearly incidence has surpassed 10%-while multiple studies show yearly incidences between 14% and 25% not to be uncommon.1,2,3,5 Not only is lameness a major animal welfare concern; its likely impact on productivity and development of concurrent diseases makes it an important economic factor. The results presented here propose to illuminate the correlation between lameness and other diseases in two large herds in New York state.
Morphologically Adapatative Quad-Rotor Towards Acquiring High-Performance Flight: A Comparative Study and Validation

This paper presents our comparative study on how the flight performances of an in-flight morphing quad-rotor are affected by the morph induced inertia variation. A custom-built in-flight morphing quad-rotor was employed in numerical and experimental tests for the study and analysis. In these tests, the quad-rotor is controlled to follow a predefined path and/or to hover in an environment with the constant wind disturbance. Our numerical results indicate that the morphing-size-down quad-rotor exhibits more agile in flight attributed to the compact volume/size, while the big-size one shows more flight stability in a disturbed and windy environment. Compared to regular scaled aerial vehicles whose volume/size changes follow a weight change proportionally, the numerical results reveal that our morphing quad-rotor that changes its volume with identical mass can acquire more merits towards high flight performances. Experimental validations further prove that through adaptatively transform its size in a complex and constrained environment, the in-flight morphing quad-rotor is not only capable of well performing path following tasks when encountering obstacles on the path or nearby the path, but also enhances the flight performance of withstanding external torques by extending its size so as to increase its moment-of-inertia. In summary, our in-flight morphing quad-rotor can acquire higher flight performances by adaptatively morphing when flying in complex environments.
Intragenic recombination and a chimeric outer membrane protein in the relapsing fever agent Borrelia hermsii.

Abstract The spirochete Borrelia hermsii, a relapsing fever agent, evades the host's immune response through multiphasic antigenic variation. Antigen switching results from sequential expression of genes for serotype-specific outer membrane proteins known as variable major proteins (Vmp's); of the 25 serotypes that have been identified for the HS1 strain, serotypes 7 and 21 have been studied in greatest detail. In the present study, an atypical variant was predominant in the relapse from a serotype 21 infection in mice; relapse cells were bound by monoclonal antibodies specific for Vmp21 as well as antibodies specific for Vmp7. In Western blots (immunoblots), the variant had a single Vmp that was reactive with monoclonal antibodies representing both serotypes. The gene encoding this Vmp, vmp7/21, was cloned and characterized by restriction mapping and sequence analysis to determine the likely recombination event. Whereas the 5' end of vmp7/21 was identical to that of vmp21, its 3' end and flanking sequences were identical to the 3' end of vmp7. Unlike other vmp genes examined thus far, the vmp7/21 gene existed only in an expressed form; a silent, storage form of the gene was not detected. We conclude that the vmp7/21 gene was created by an intragenic recombination between the formerly expressed vmp21 gene and a silent vmp7 gene. This finding suggests that the lack of cross-reactivity between variants, which is usually observed, results from immunoselection against variants possessing chimeric Vmp's rather than from a switching mechanism that excludes partial gene replacements.
Representable Hierarchical Clustering Methods for Asymmetric Networks

This paper introduces the generative model of representability for hierarchical clustering methods in asymmetric networks, i.e., the possibility to describe a method through its action on a collection of networks called representers. We characterize the necessary and sufficient structural conditions needed on these representers in order to generate a method which is scale preserving and admissible with respect to two known axioms and, based on this result, we construct the family of cyclic clustering methods.
Progress of thin film transistor technology - Large-area mass production and beyond

The thin film transistor liquid crystal is one of the most successful electronic products in the last two decades. It affects almost everyone's daily life throughout the world. The first report of the amorphous silicon thin film transistor triggered the revolution of the field. In the past 30 years, the thin film transistor technology has progressed dramatically, especially in the large-area, low-temperature, high-throughput fabrication process. Recently, new types of TFTs with the improved mobility, flexible material properties, or novel structures have been reported for applications in displays, sensors, imagers, etc. The uniqueness of the thin film transistor technology lies in the versatile structure and composing materials with few limits on the substrate material and size. Although applications of thin film transistors are broader than those of ICs, these two technologies can complement each other.
Ring cleavage of 2-iminothiazolidine-4-carboxylates by catalytic reduction. A potential method for unblocking peptides formed by specific chemical cleavage at half-cystine residues☆

Abstract Specific chemical cleavage of proteins at S-cyanocysteine residues leads to formation of iminothiazolidinecarboxylyl peptides which, because their amino termini are blocked, are not susceptible to Edman degradation. A catalyst prepared from NiCl2 and NaBH4 converts 2-iminothiazolidine-4-carboxylate to alanine and iminothiazolidine carboxylylglycine to Ala-Gly in good yield. Unmodified proteins treated with this catalyst in 8M guanidinium chloride are recovered in good yield, with quantitative conversion of methionine to amino-butyrate and half-cystine to alanine by desulfuration. The catalyst also induces cleavage of a small subclass of peptide bonds, probably Phe-Thr and Phe-Ser sequences, producing discrete fragments.
Effects of nonuniform acceptance in anisotropic flow measurements

The applicability of anisotropic flow measurement techniques and their extension for detectors with nonuniform azimuthal acceptance are discussed. Considering anisotropic flow measurements with two and three (mixed harmonic) azimuthal correlations we introduce a set of observables based on the x and y components of the event flow vector. These observables provide independent measures of anisotropic flow and can be used to test the self-consistency of the analysis. Based on these observables we propose a technique that explicitly takes into account the effects of nonuniform detector acceptance. Within this approach the acceptance corrections, as well as parameters that define the method applicability, can be determined directly from experimental data. For practical purposes a brief summary of the method is provided at the end.
The Spectral Ice Habit Prediction System (SHIPS). Part II: Simulation of Nucleation and Depositional Growth of Polycrystals

Abstract This paper proposes a framework to predict polycrystals along with hexagonal monocrystals in a cloud-resolving model and discusses validity of the scheme and physical processes important for habit distribution by implementing 2D cloud-resolving simulations of an orographic winter storm. The vapor depositional growth is simulated based on a habit frequency map constructed in the laboratory and based on a predicted growth history under evolving atmospheric conditions. Differences brought by predicting polycrystals in spatial distribution were apparent, and sedimentation of polycrystals from middle and upper levels was significant. The immersion freezing process appeared to be a key process resulting in the creation of planar polycrystals, while the homogeneous freezing process was found important for columnar and irregular polycrystals. The ice nuclei (IN) concentration was shown to affect habit distribution by changing the supersaturation, tendency of the freezing nucleation processes, and sedimen...
The Path Not Taken: Dewey's Model of Inquiry

Somewhere, a teaching method lies waiting-waiting to be used to teach critical thinking. You will not find it in a costly kit containing cassettes, workbooks, activity cards, and a teacher's guide, nor is it a software detective game. It can be found in an old book: Dewey's Democracy and Education (1916a)-pages 170-192, to be exact. If we follow Dewey, critical thinking is motivated by a problem. It must be a genuine problem-the pupil's own problem. Neither a simulated problem nor a practice problem intended to help pupils perform well on reasoning items on tests would qualify, for as Dewey says, "they are his only as a pupil, not as a human being" (p. 183). This fundamental part of Dewey's philosophy is ignored in thinking skills development programs today. This is a necessary time to write about Dewey's work on inquiry (reflective or critical thinking). In the last four or five years we have seen a renewed interest in critical thinking, triggered mainly by the national reports on education of the 1980s. Judging from the literature, there has been more attention to critical thinking in curriculum goals and evaluation. Statements such as: "Perhaps never before in the history of educational practice has there been a greater push to teach children to think critically" (Sternberg 1985, p. 194), and, "The field of critical thinking is more vibrant than ever" (Norris 1985, p. 40) might cause us to come to this conclusion. But they do not indicate what is being taught under the label of "critical thinking." There is a striking difference between Dewey's view of critical thinking and the views of those who are responding to the call to put more critical thinking in the curriculum. For Dewey inquiry is an active process that includes all that is needed to actually solve a problem; things happen as a result of inquiry. The course of events has been modified and influenced. Thinking is the natural activity of the human (as contrasted with other
Accounting for Stream–Aquifer Interactions in the State-Space Discretization of the Kalinin–Milyukov–Nash Cascade for Streamflow Forecasting

A sample-data system discretization of the continuous Kalinin–Milyukov–Nash cascade is performed in a state-space analysis framework allowing for stream–aquifer interactions that include bank storage during flood events and groundwater discharge to the stream under low-flow conditions. These interactions generally result in faster attenuation of propagating flood waves and in elevated streamflow levels during drought conditions. An example is given that demonstrates how accounting for these processes ensures more reliable streamflow forecasts. The model is based on a simplified physical description of the processes both in the stream and across the stream.aquifer boundary.
Interactions of nanomaterials and biological systems: implications to personalized nanomedicine

The application of nanotechnology to personalized medicine provides an unprecedented opportunity to improve the treatment of many diseases. Nanomaterials offer several advantages as therapeutic and diagnostic tools due to design flexibility, small sizes, large surface-to-volume ratio, and ease of surface modification with multivalent ligands to increase avidity for target molecules. Nanomaterials can be engineered to interact with specific biological components, allowing them to benefit from the insights provided by personalized medicine techniques. To tailor these interactions, a comprehensive knowledge of how nanomaterials interact with biological systems is critical. Herein, we discuss how the interactions of nanomaterials with biological systems can guide their design for diagnostic, imaging and drug delivery purposes. A general overview of nanomaterials under investigation is provided with an emphasis on systems that have reached clinical trials. Finally, considerations for the development of personalized nanomedicines are summarized such as the potential toxicity, scientific and technical challenges in fabricating them, and regulatory and ethical issues raised by the utilization of nanomaterials.
Energy release rates in fire retardant evaluation

Rate of spread and other indirect measurements of fire intensity are often used as measures of flammability when fire-retardant chemicals are evaluated under laboratory conditions. The authors describe a system for obtaining the energy release rate directly and show its importance and relation to retardant effectiveness.
Varicella-zoster virus infection after marrow transplantation for aplastic anemia or leukemia

Nearly one-half of marrow transplant recipients who survive at least 6 months develop varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection. Of 92 cases studied, 82 occurred within the first 12 months after transplant. Only one patient had recurrent infection. Seventy-seven patients had herpes zoster, 22 with subsequent cutaneous dissemination, and 15 had varicella. The overall mortality rate was 8%, and all deaths occurred within 9 months of transplant. Twenty-six of 32 patients studied had significant rises in VZV antibody during recovery. Among patients with acute leukemia, those with syngeneic transplants had a significantly lower incidence of VZV infection than those with allogeneic transplants. Incidence was slightly, but not significantly, decreased among patients with aplastic anemia. In contrast to other infections, the incidence of VZV infection was not influenced by graft-versus-host disease or predicted by the results of dinitrochlorobenzene skin testing.
CASA Central and South America GPS Geodesy

In January 1988, scientists from over 25 organizations in 13 countries and territories cooperated in the largest Global Positioning System (GPS) campaign in the world to date (Table 1) [Neilan et al., 1988]. From January 18 to February 5, 1988, 43 GPS receivers collected about 590 station-days of data in American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Sweden, United States, West Germany, and Venezuela. The experiment was entitled CASA UNO, an acronym for Central and South America—and “uno” is Spanish for “one,” designating first-epoch measurements. The CASA UNO experiment was the first civilian effort at implementing an extended GPS satellite-tracking network and established the first major GPS network in the northern Andean margin and the western Caribbean.
Evaluation of the electrocutor grid trap baited with carbon dioxide against the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae).

Combinations of carbon dioxide, ultraviolet light, and plexiglass were tested as attractants with an electrocutor grid to determine the most effective of these methods of killing stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), in the field. The combination of the electrocutor grid and carbon dioxide was highly selective and usually attracted and killed only stable flies during the winter in north central Florida. It thus provides a speciesoriented killing method at this time of year.
Levels of cerebrosides, sulfatides, and galactosyl diglycerides in different regions of rat brain. Change during maturation and distribution in subcellular fractions of gray and white matter of sheep brain.

Abstract The concentrations of galactosyl non-hydroxyceramide, galactosyl hydroxyceramide, non-hydroxysulfatide, hydroxysulfatide, monogalactosyl diglyceride, and glucosyl ceramide were determined in brain stem, cerebellum, cerebral hemisphere, and diencephalone of brains from 5-, 10-, 14-, 19-, 26- and 37-dayold rats by high performance liquid chromatography. The concentrations of cerebrosides and sulfatides increased rapidly in all areas of the brain during the maturational period. The most rapid increase was in the brain stem, and the least rapid increase was in the cerebral hemisphere. Galactosyl diglyceride increased somewhat more slowly than that of sphingolipids and leveled off in all parts of the brain after 26 days. Glucosyl ceramide was detected in all areas of 5- and 10-day-old brain and in the cerebral hemisphere and diencephalone of 14-day-old brain. All subcellular fractions of sheep brain white matter contained similar sphingolipid compositions. However, 94% hydroxy- and non-hydroxycerebrosides and 95% hydroxy- and non-hydroxysulfatides were found in two fractions rich in myelin. The gray matter subcellular fractions containined approx. 6% of the sphingolipids found in white matter. The fractions from gray matter containing myelin and nuclei had a similar sphingolipid composition as white matter. In the other fractions from gray matter the lipid concentrations were much lower and the composition was entirely different. In general, these fractions had relatively higher hydroxycerebroside and sulfatide concentrations.
Sirtuin 1 Is Required for Antagonist-Induced Transcriptional Repression of Androgen-Responsive Genes by the Androgen Receptor

Androgen antagonists or androgen deprivation is a primary therapeutic modality for the treatment of prostate cancer. Invariably, however, the disease becomes progressive and unresponsive to androgen ablation therapy (hormone refractory). The molecular mechanisms by which the androgen antagonists inhibit prostate cancer proliferation are not fully defined. In this report, we demonstrate that sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide-dependent histone deacetylase (HDAC) linked to the regulation of longevity, is required for androgen antagonist-mediated transcriptional repression and growth suppression. Androgen antagonist-bound androgen receptor (AR) recruits SIRT1 and nuclear receptor corepressor to AR-responsive promoters and deacetylates histone H3 locally at the prostate-specific antigen promoter. Furthermore, SIRT1 down-regulation by small interfering RNA or by pharmacological means increased the sensitivity of androgen-responsive genes to androgen stimulation, enhanced the sensitivity of prostate cancer cell proliferative responses to androgens, and decreased the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to androgen antagonists. In this study, we demonstrate the ligand-dependent recruitment of a class III HDAC into a corepressor transcriptional complex and a necessary functional role for a class III HDAC as a transcriptional corepressor in AR antagonist-induced transcriptional repression. Collectively, these findings identify SIRT1 as a corepressor of AR and elucidate a new molecular pathway relevant to prostate cancer growth and approaches to therapy.
The murine Eα immune response gene

We have isolated and sequenced cDNA and genomic clones of the murine E alpha gene, one of the immune response genes of the major histocompatibility complex. Comparison of our data with those recently reported for the human homolog DR alpha shows an identical intron-exon structure, and a good conservation of the protein-coding sequences, including the amino acids potentially involved in organizing the second external protein domain into an immunoglobulin-like fold. Noncoding sequences are less conserved, with the exception of the promoter region. Finally, we show that differential expression of the gene in various cell types appears to be transcriptionally regulated, and that genomic rearrangements do not seem necessary for expression.
C.T.R. Wilson versus G.C. Simpson: Fifty years of controversy in atmospheric electricity☆

Abstract Two British scientists, G.C. Simpson and C.T.R. Wilson, held contrasting views on the electrical polarity of thunderclouds for nearly half of the 20th century. Simpson's perspective was dominated by the measured charge on rain, by the breaking drop theory for the charging of raindrops, and later, by the branching behavior of lightning flashes. Wilson's view was dominated by his work on the field changes accompanying lightning, by his knowledge of the corona current from the ground beneath electrified clouds, and ultimately by his unifying global circuit hypothesis, requiring a source current to maintain a negatively charged Earth against dissipation. Simpson's observed tripole structure of thunderclouds provided partial resolution to the controversy, but the main positive dipole supported Wilson's view, which survives today.
Finite sample performance of the model selection approach in co-integration analysis

We investigate the finite sample performances of three consistent information criteria, Hannan and Quinn (HQ), Schwarz information criterion (SIC), and Posterior information criterion (PIC), in the selection of co-integrating rank, or in joint determination of the lag order and co-integrating rank of vector error correction models. No single approach dominates the others across all specifications. When compared with SIC and PIC, HQ is less sensitive to parameter distributions and the variance structure of innovations. The performance of SIC is close to that of the maximum eigenvalue test in models with both small and large sample sizes. PIC performs better than SIC in small sample sizes when the model does not contain a trend, the trend signal is weak, or when the stationary component is not close to a non-stationary one. PIC also performs better than SIC and to a lesser extent than HQ in a real world data-based simulation, where the data generating processes (DGP) has high dimension and includes several ...