cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sparcle: assigning transcripts to cells in multiplexed images

Background: Imaging-based spatial transcriptomics has the power to reveal patterns of single-cell gene expression by detecting mRNA transcripts as individually resolved spots in multiplexed images. However, molecular quantification has been severely limited by the computational challenges of segmenting poorly outlined, overlapping cells, and of overcoming technical noise; the majority of transcripts are routinely discarded because they fall outside the segmentation boundaries. This lost information leads to less accurate gene count matrices and weakens downstream analyses, such as cell type or gene program identification. Results: Here, we present Sparcle, a probabilistic model that reassigns transcripts to cells based on gene covariation patterns and incorporates spatial features such as distance to nucleus. We demonstrate its utility on both multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) and single-molecule FISH (smFISH) data. Conclusions: Sparcle improves transcript assignment, providing more realistic per-cell quantification of each gene, better delineation of cell boundaries, and improved cluster assignments. Critically, our approach does not require an accurate segmentation and is agnostic to technological platform.
The role of CT in planning percutaneous structural heart interventions: Where to measure and why.

Abstract As research continues to demonstrate successes in the use of percutaneous trans-vascular techniques in structural heart intervention, both the subspecialty trained and non-subspecialty trained cardiac imager find themselves performing and reporting larger amounts of information regarding cardiovascular findings. It is therefore imperative that the imager gains understanding and appreciation for how these various measurements are obtained, as well as their implication in a patient's care. Cardiac gated computed tomography (CT) has solidified its role and ability at providing high resolution images that can be used to obtain the key measurements used in structural heart intervention planning. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of what measurements are necessary to report when interpreting CT examinations purposed for structural heart intervention. This includes a review on indications and brief discussion on complications related to these procedures.
Kinetic modeling of substrate-water exchange in Photosystem II

Abstract We derive a model that provides an exact solution to the substrate-water exchange kinetics in a double-conformation system and use this model to interpret recently published data for Ca2+- and Sr2+-containing PSII in the S2 state, in which the g = 2.0 and g = 4.1 conformations coexist. The component concentrations derived from the kinetic model provide an analytic description of the substrate-water exchange kinetics, allowing us to more accurately interpret the results. Based on this model and the previously reported data on the S2 state g = 2.0 conformation, we obtain the substrate-water exchange rates of the g = 4.1 conformation and the conformational change rates. Two conclusions are made from the analyses. First, contrary to previous reports, there is no significant effect of substituting Sr2+ for Ca2+ on any of the exchange rate constants. Second, the exchange rate of the slowly-exchanging water (Ws) in the S2 state g = 4.1 conformation is much faster than that in the S2 state g = 2.0 conformation. The second conclusion is consistent with the assignment of Ws to W1 or W2 bound as terminal ligands to Mn4; Mn4 has been proposed to undergo an oxidation state change from Mn(IV) in the g = 2.0 conformation to Mn(III) in the g = 4.1 conformation.
Effect of an immunostimulant administered at or near weaning on weight gain and health of beef calves

Weaning is generally regarded as a very stressful event in the life of calves, and is often associated with an increase in morbidity and reduced weight gain. Various management strategies are employed in an effort to reduce the impact of weaning on calf health and productivity. This study examined the effects of a nonspecific immune stimulant, mycobacterial cell wall (MCW), administered at or near weaning on the subsequent morbidity and growth of beef calves and assess the effects of a single dose of MCW on white blood cell parameters when given on the day of weaning. Heifer calves (n=137) were treated with either MCW or saline two weeks prior to weaning, while steer calves (n=60) were given either MCW or saline on the day of weaning and were monitored for 120 days. Results revealed that there were no observed differences between treatment groups in either weight gain or number of disease events. Under the conditions of this trial, administration of MCW at or near weaning did not have a significant effect on calf health or weight gain.
Tenascin-C induction exacerbates post-stroke brain damage:

The role of tenascin-C (TNC) in ischemic stroke pathology is not known despite its prognostic association with cerebrovascular diseases. Here, we investigated the effect of TNC knockdown on post-stroke brain damage and its putative mechanism of action in adult mice of both sexes. Male and female C57BL/6 mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and injected (i.v.) with either TNC siRNA or a negative (non-targeting) siRNA at 5 min after reperfusion. Motor function (beam walk and rotarod tests) was assessed between days 1 and 14 of reperfusion. Infarct volume (T2-MRI), BBB damage (T1-MRI with contrast), and inflammatory markers were measured at 3 days of reperfusion. The TNC siRNA treated cohort showed significantly curtailed post-stroke TNC protein expression, motor dysfunction, infarction, BBB damage, and inflammation compared to the sex-matched negative siRNA treated cohort. These results demonstrate that the induction of TNC during the acute period after stroke might be a mediator of post-ischemic inflammation and secondary brain damage independent of sex.
The Development, Implementation, and Preliminary Outcomes of a 5-Minute Mindfulness Program to Improve Well-Being and Increase Connection Across a University Campus.

Background In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, people worldwide have experienced increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness and decreased well-being. Mindfulness has been shown to enhance well-being across a variety of settings and for a variety of populations. Purpose We developed and implemented a digital mindfulness program called Mindful Moment across a US university system as an innovative wellness resource to facilitate well-being and sense of connection among faculty, staff, and students. Attendees engaged in 5-minute live guided mindfulness sessions twice per week. This paper outlines our program evaluation over the course of four months. Methods A total of 236 individuals attended between one to 30 mindful moment sessions. Data were collected on attendance, perception of the program's impact on attendee well-being and connectedness to the community, and feedback for future program development. Data collection included standardized stress and belongingness measures in addition to qualitative data related to perceived impact and reasons for attending. Results Students, faculty, and staff who attended Mindful Moment and completed surveys reported that the program was easy to access, noted immediate benefits including decreased stress and improved well-being, and some attendees reported increased feelings of connection with the community. Conclusions The present paper is exploratory in nature, a first step to assessing feasibility and overall impact. Future research assessing the impact of digital mindfulness programs can be improved by including a comparison group, additional standardized assessment, and a pre-post design, allowing for stronger conclusions to be drawn regarding efficacy and generalizability.
Eavesdropping in the Novel from Austen to Proust

Eavesdropping in the Novel from Austen to Proust investigates human curiosity and its representation in eavesdropping scenes in nineteenth-century English and French novels. Ann Gaylin argues that eavesdropping dramatizes a primal human urge to know and offers a paradigm of narrative transmission and reception of information among characters, narrators and readers. Gaylin sheds light on the social and psychological effects of the nineteenth-century rise of information technology and accelerated flow of information, as manifested in the anxieties about - and delight in - displays of private life and its secrets. Analysing eavesdropping in Austen, Balzac, Collins, Dickens and Proust, Gaylin demonstrates the flexibility of the scene to produce narrative complication or resolution; to foreground questions of gender and narrative agency; to place the debates of privacy and publicity within the literal and metaphoric spaces of the nineteenth-century novel. This 2003 study will be of interest to scholars of nineteenth-century English and European literature.
Electrochemical characterization of self-assembled monolayers on gold substrates derived from thermal decomposition of monolayer-protected cluster films

Networked films of monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs), alkanethiolate-stabilized gold nanoparticles, can be thermally decomposed to form stable gold on glass substrates that are subsequently modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for use as modified electrodes. Electrochemical assessment of these SAM-modified gold substrates, including double-layer capacitance measurements, linear sweep desorption of the alkanethiolates, and diffusional redox probing, all show that SAMs formed on gold supports formed from thermolysis of MPC films possess substantially higher defect density compared to SAMs formed on traditional evaporated gold. The density of defects in the SAMs on thermolyzed gold is directly related to the strategies used to assemble the MPC film prior to thermolysis. Specifically, gold substrates formed from thermally decomposing MPC films formed with electrostatic bridges between carboxylic acid-modified MPCs and metal ion linkers are particularly sensitive to the degree of metal exposure during the assembly process. While specific metal dependence was observed, metal concentration within the MPC precursor film was determined to be a more significant factor. Specific MPC film linking strategies and pretreatment methods that emphasized lower metal exposure resulted in gold films that supported SAMs of lower defect density. The defect density of a SAM-modified electrode is shown to be critical in certain electrochemical experiments such as protein monolayer electrochemistry of adsorbed cytochrome c. While the thermal decomposition of nanoparticle film assemblies remains a viable and interesting technique for coating both flat and irregular shaped substrates, this study provides electrochemical assessment tools and tactics for determining and controlling SAM defect density on this type of gold structure, a property critical to their effective use in subsequent electrochemical applications.
Social Architecture, Judicial Peer Effects and the 'Evolution' of the Law: Toward a Positive Theory of Judicial Social Structure

Building upon the themes of this symposium, as well as a growing extant literature demonstrating the common law displays properties of a complex system, we believe existing theories of judicial decision-making and legal change would benefit from the concepts and techniques typically reserved for the study of complexity. Among possible approaches, network analysis offers one manner of representing the interactions between various entities across a complex system. Specifically, as applied to the path of the common law as well as theories of judicial decision-making, the networks paradigm helps evaluate the manner in which individual level judge choice maps to the judiciary's aggregate doctrinal outputs. Of course, to the extent individual decision-making is driven by factors entirely intrinsic to a given case and a given jurist, the study of interactions is arguably trivial as the description of aggregate would reflect little more than the summation of individual preferences in a manner consistent with the institution's aggregation rule. It is far more likely, however, that judicial choice is, at least in part, impacted by a combination of jurists who are socially prominent and socially proximate. While in some forms of network structure such "peer effects" are limited, in many states of the social world, they are supremely consequential. The precursor to evaluating potential doctrinal consequences is a classificatory effort designed to determine the micro implications of a given observed macro landscape. Section I provides a brief overview of complexity theory while simultaneously reviewing existing theories of judicial decision-making and legal change. Section II considers a series of classic network structures. Among the possibilities considered herein are random graphs, clustered graphs, as well models built upon processes of preferential attachment. Drawing from the larger complexity literature, Section II also describes the processes of self-organization likely responsible for generating each of these network structures. With an understanding of these possible "states of the world" in mind, Section III concludes with a consideration of judicial decision making, arguing "the path of the law" - from emergence to convergence - is conditioned, in part, upon the nature of self-organized social architecture that relevant decisional actors confront. In all, we believe "architecture matters." Thus, our broad sweep of the possibility frontier should help identify the conditions under which network effects are present in the development of the common law.
Daisy Petals and Mushroom Clouds: LBJ, Barry Goldwater, and the Ad That Changed American Politics, by Robert Mann: Baton Rouge, LA: LSU Press, 2011. 179 pp. $22.50 cloth.

The prospect of dying in a nuclear war was all too real for Americans in the early 1960s. After all, the United States had been on the brink of war with the Soviet Union over the placement of missi...
The State of Chronic Pain Education in Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Training Programs: Results of a National Survey

A survey of U.S. geriatric medicine fellowship training programs was performed to assess the status of teaching about chronic pain evaluation and management and identify opportunities for improvement. After an initial e-mail query, 43 of 96 programs agreed to participate. A self-administered questionnaire, with items adapted from a 2002 consensus panel statement, was mailed to their 171 fellows-in-training and 43 fellowship directors. Thirty-two programs (33% of nationwide sample) including 79 fellows (30% of nationwide sample) and 25 directors (26% of nationwide sample) returned surveys; 21 institutions returned both faculty and fellow surveys. Overall, directors endorsed the 19 items identified by the consensus panel as essential components of fellowship training, but fellows identified deficiencies, both before and during fellowship training. Specific areas of undereducation included comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment, neuropathic pain evaluation, indications for low back pain imaging, the role of multidisciplinary pain clinics and nonpharmacological modalities, the effect of physical and psychosocial comorbidities in formulating treatment goals, and the effect of aging on analgesic metabolism and prescription. Both groups were generally positive about fellows' abilities to implement pain-related clinical skills. Discrepancies existed between fellowship directors' ratings of importance of teaching individual items and the degree to which teaching was actually done, as well as faculty versus fellow assessments of whether some of the 19 items were taught. Primary care training programs (e.g., internal medicine, family medicine, geriatric medicine) should pay more systematic attention to educating trainees about chronic pain to optimize patient care, decrease suffering, and diminish healthcare expenditures.
MicroRNA signature predicts survival and relapse in lung cancer

4432 Abstract MicroRNAs are a new class of small non-protein-coding RNAs that function in endogenous negative gene-regulation and tumorigenesis. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Current clinical-pathological staging methods are inadequate to predict treatment outcome for lung cancer. Using real-time RT-PCR, we obtained microRNA expressions in 112 NSCLC patients, which were divided into the training and testing sets. Using Cox regression and risk-score analysis, we identified a 5-microRNA signature for the prediction of treatment outcome of NSCLC in the training set. This microRNA signature was validated by the testing set and an independent cohort (62 patients from different medical center). Patients with high-risk score of the microRNA signature had poor overall and disease-free survivals compared to the low-risk score patients the results were consistent across the training, testing, and independent dataset. This microRNA signature is an independent predictor of cancer relapse (hazard ratio=3.29, p value=0.016) and overall survival (hazard ratio=10.31, p value=0.002) of NSCLC patients, as well as in the testing dataset and an independent cohort. In conclusion, we identified a 5-microRNA signature that can predict survival in lung cancer patients and it had been validated twice times. This may have clinical implication in the molecular-pathogenesis of cancer, development of new targeted-therapy or selection of high-risk cancer patients for adjuvant chemotherapy.
The role of blood pigments in the delivery of oxygen to tissues

1. The detailed manner in which the blood respiratory pigments of many invertebrates function is not well understood. 2. The hemocyanins of the cephalopods studied appear to function in gas transport much like the hemoglobins of the vertebrates although these hemocyanins possess a much larger Bohr effect. 3. The properties of the hemocyanins of the crustacea are fairly uniform but those of the mollusca vary considerably. 4. The hemocyanins of the chitons have relatively high half-saturation oxygen pressures. They may show a normal or reverse Bohr effect, or none at all. Regardless of the direction of the effect, however, these hemocyanins are relatively insensitive to small changes of pH. 5. The hemocyanins of marine snails studied have lower half-saturation pressures and all exhibited a reverse Bohr effect. 6. It is suggested that:(a) the properties of the hemocyanins are related to metabolic rate, accessibility and effectiveness of the gills, and the nature of the circulatory system;(b) an important function of many invertebrate blood pigments is to maintain a large oxygen diffusion gradient across the respiratory surface;(c) the reverse Bohr effect may aid in the internal distribution of oxygen to more rapidly metabolizing snail tissues when circulation is slowed or stopped. 7. A possible functional evolution of blood respiratory pigments is described.
Developing Moral Maturity An Evaluation of the Media Ethics Course Using the DIT-2

The purpose of this study was to add to the limited body of knowledge on the effect of the media ethics course, specifically to investigate the effect of the course on the growth in moral judgment ...
Radar target identification using an eigen-image approach

In order to maintain a high probability of correct classification the classifier must provide good separation between target classes and must be robust with respect to target variability. The authors have implemented a new target classifier based upon the eigen-image concept developed by Turk and Pentland (see Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, vol.3, no.1, 1991) for automatic recognition of human faces. This paper describes their new eigen-image classifier and presents preliminary performance results for a three-class (tank, APC, gun) classifier. Performance results are compared with those of a shift-invariant pattern matching classifier and a quadratic distance correlation classifier. The algorithms are compared by presenting classifier-performance confusion matrices, which indicate the probability of correct and incorrect target classification. The ability of each classifier to reject cultural false alarms (buildings, bridges, etc.) is also quantified. >
Interaction of colocalized neuropeptides: functional significance in the circadian timing system.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which appears to act as a circadian clock, contains a subpopulation of local circuit neurons in which vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), and gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) are colocalized. To determine whether VIP, PHI, and GRP interact within the SCN to produce a signal important for circadian control, the behavioral and cellular effects of coadministration of these neuropeptides were investigated. Coadministration of VIP, PHI, and GRP within the SCN mimicked the phase- delaying effects of light on circadian control following in vivo microinjection and activated SCN single units recorded in vitro. These behavioral and cellular effects of coadministration of VIP, PHI, and GRP were significantly greater than administration of VIP, PHI, or GRP alone or coadministration of any 2 of these peptides. These data illustrate a new mechanism whereby multiple, colocalized neuropeptides interact in a functionally significant manner, and indicate that the interaction of VIP, PHI, and GRP may be involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms by the SCN.
The Magnetic Heat Capacity of the Configurationally Disordered Ni–25 at% Fe Alloy

Measurements of the constant pressure heat capacity CP of the disordered Ni–25 at% Fe alloy (Ni3Fe) obtained using pulse calorimetry are analyzed into dilatational, vibrational, electronic, and magnetic contributions. Literature data on coefficients of expansion and elastic constants are used to convert CP to CV. Using low temperature heat capacity data for disordered Ni3Fe and other literature information, harmonic vibrational and electronic contributions to CV are calculated. These contributions are subtracted from CV to obtain the magnetic heat capacity CVM from 0 to 1670 K. From the CVM-vs.-T curve, the energy and entropy changes upon magnetic disordering are calculated, as well as the discontinuity in the heat capacity at the Curie temperature, 872.6 K. These quantities are compared to values calculated using several localized-electron models of magnetic behavior. A Heisenberg model is most consistent with the results. Die Messungen der durch Puls-Kalorimeterie erhaltenen Warmekapazitat bei konstantem Druck der fehlgeordneten Ni–25 At% Fe Legierung (Ni3Fe) werden nach Dilations-, Vibrations-, Elektron- und magnetischen Beitragen analysiert. Die aus der Literatur gewonnenen Daten fur die Koeffizienten der Ausdehnungs- und Elastizitatskonstanten werden benutzt, um CP in CV umzuwandeln. Durch Daten fur die Warmekapazitaten bei niedriger Temperatur fur fehlgeordnetes Ni3Fe und durch weitere Informationen werden die harmonischen Vibrations- und Elektronbeitrage fur CV berechnet. Diese Beitrage werden von CV subtrahiert, um die magnetische Warmekapazitat CVM von 0 bis 1670 K zu erhalten. Aus der CVM-T-Kurve werden die Energieund Entropieanderungen fur magnetische Fehlordnung sowie die Diskontinuitat der Warmekapazitat bei der Curie-Temperatur 872,6 K berechnet. Diese Quantitaten werden mit Werten, die durch einige Lokalelektronmodelle des magnetischen Verhaltens berechnet werden, verglichen. Ein Heisenberg-Modell ist fur die Ergebnisse am naheliegendsten.
A bulk similarity approach in the atmospheric boundary layer using radiometric skin temperature to determine regional surface fluxes

Profiles of wind velocity and temperature in the outer region of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) were used together with surface temperature measurements, to determine regional shear stress and sensible heat flux by means of transfer parameterizations on the basis of bulk similarity. The profiles were measured by means of radiosondes and the surface temperatures by infrared radiation thermometry over hilly prairie terrain in northeastern Kansas during the First ISLSCP Field Experiment (FIFE). In the analysis, the needed similarity functions were determined and tested; the main scaling variables used for the ABL were hi, the height of the convectively mixed layer, and Va and θa, the wind speed and potential temperature averaged over the mixed layer. Good agreement (r = 0.80) was obtained between values of friction velocity u* determined by this ABL bulk similarity approach and those obtained by Monin-Obukhov similarity in the surface sublayer. Similarly, values of surface flux of sensible heat H determined by this method compared well (r = 0.90) with the regional means measured at six ground stations. The corresponding regional evaporation values, determined with the energy budget equation, also compared favorably (r = 0.94).
Branding Potentials of Keyword Search Ads: The Effects of Ad Rankings on Brand Recognition and Evaluations

From the long-term branding perspective, this study examined the effects of ad rankings in search engine result pages on memory and evaluations, particularly for unknown brands. Subjects’ topic knowledge (TK) and persuasion knowledge (PK) about keyword search ads were examined as moderators. Holding click-through rates constant, the results of an experiment, in general, suggest that top-ranked keyword search ads for the unknown brand may generate greater recognition and more favorable brand evaluations along the primed attribute than ones ranked lower than well-known brands. Online users’ TK and PK about keyword search ads are working together to enhance or attenuate such ranking effects on brand recognition and evaluations. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Linear Parameter-varying Control for Active Vibration Isolation Systems with Stiffness Hysteresis

We consider the use of linear parameter-varying methods for the control of stiffness hysteresis in vibration isolation systems. We assume that the hysteresis model is known, and we describe it using a stiffness parameter that takes values in a compact convex set. The proposed parameter-dependent controller is continuously scheduled based on real-time measurements or estimates of the stiffness, and provides guaranteed stability and performance for the full range of stiffness variability. The method is applied to a simplified model of a microgravity vibration isolation system with an umbilical stiffness hysteresis non-linearity. Simulations show that the parameter-varying design is stable in the presence of hysteresis and that the desired isolation performance is achieved over the full range of displacements considered. The results are compared with those obtained with a fixed robust H∞ controller that considers the stiffness variability as uncertainty. We discuss robustness issues and demonstrate the effec...
The Incidence of Taxes on Casino Gambling: Exploiting the Tired and Poor

. The equity of taxes on casino gambling in Las Vegas and Atlantic City using recent survey data is examined. Daniel B. Suits (1977) study of the tax on casino gambling concluded that the tax was progressive when he used a national sample to estimate tax incidence. This result is challenged. Tax incidence is estimated using survey data obtained from people who either live in or have traveled to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. On the basis of the sample of people who have given themselves access to casino gambling, the tax is regressive; in fact, it is extremely regressive in Las Vegas. Therefore, in this time of easier access to casino gambling, policy-makers should be aware that the taxes on casino gambling place a proportionately heavier burden on low income groups.
Multiple-dose doxepin kinetics in depressed patients.

Doxepin (DOX) and desmethyldoxepin (DMD) kinetics were examined in seven depressed patients receiving single daily doses of 150 mg DOX for 1 to 3 wk. Blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 12, 15, 18, and 24 hr after the first dose, at bedtime before doses 7, 14, and 21, and at 4, 12, 15, 18, and 24 hr after the last dose. Plasma concentrations of DOX and DMD were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Clinical response to DOX treatment was evaluated by the Zung self-rating depression scale and the Hamilton rating scale for depression. Mean DOX t½ after the first dose was 17.7 hr, and it rose to 21.8 hr after the last dose. Mean DMD t½ was not significantly affected by multiple dosing (34.2 hr after first dose and 37.1 hr after last dose). Mean values for plasma clearance, volume of distribution, and first-pass metabolism were 0.87 l/hr/kg, 23.8 l/kg, and 69.5%. In depressed patients kinetics were in the normal range. Steady-state concentrations of DOX and DMD were reached within 2 wk of beginning DOX dosing. The concentration-response curve indicated strong correlation between total DOX concentration (DOX + DMD) and antidepressant effect (r2 = 0.76). Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1983) 34, 509–515; doi:10.1038/clpt.1983.206
Diphenylhydantoin Inhibition of Calcitonin Secretion in the Pig

The effect of diphenylhydantoin (DPH) on calcitonin (CT) secretion in the pig was examined. Basal levels of CT were not altered, but the release of CT stimulated by glucagon and by calcium was significantly reduced by prior DPH administration. In spite of suppression of plasma calcitonin, no effect was noted on plasma calcium levels. Further, DPH potentiated the glucagonstimulated elevation of plasma glucose. (Endocrinology 92: 330, 1973)
Do NSAIDs prevent colorectal cancer

Summary NSAIDs appear to offer much promise against colorectal cancer, yet this potential remains unproven. At present, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend aspirin for the prevention or treatment of cancer 8 . However, there is reason to believe that NSAIDs may have an important role in cancer prevention or treatment if we have the patience to define it.
Intrinsic kinetics fluctuations as cause of growth inhomogeneity in protein crystals

Intrinsic kinetics instabilities in the form of growth step bunching during the crystallization of the protein lysozyme from solution were characterized by in situ high-resolution optical interferometry. Compositional variations (striations) in the crystal, which potentially decrease its utility, e.g., for molecular structure studies by diffraction methods, were visualized by polarized light reflection microscopy. A spatiotemporal correlation was established between the sequence of moving step bunches and the striations.
Using A nimal Burrows to Integrate Math and Biology

In this activity students examine burrow casts to learn about burrowing animals and practice their math skills. Students compute the volume and average circumference of a burrow. They also determine whether a relationship exists between burrow volume and the size of the organism that created it. Students use science as inquiry as they analyze and interpret data generated by themselves and their classmates.
The monocular trial controversy: a critical review.

Purpose of review The utility of the monocular trial to determine the response to topical ocular hypotensive medications has been recently debated. This review provides a critical evaluation of recent studies and discusses factors that affect the accurate determination of medication response. Recent findings Recent concerns about the validity of the monocular trial arise from studies reporting a low-to-moderate correlation of intraocular pressure (IOP) response between the first and second eyes to the same topical ocular hypotensive medication. Few studies, however, have addressed the classic monocular trial that adjusts IOP in the trial eye based on IOP change in the fellow eye. Conflicting results from prior studies are due to differences in study question, study design, and method of analysis. Factors such as variability of IOP, diurnal variation, and regression to the mean further complicate the understanding of whether monocular trials or binocular simultaneous trials (i.e. testing each eye separately) are better for determining medication effect. Summary The issue of whether or not to use the monocular trial remains controversial. A more clear understanding of factors such as nontherapeutic variability of IOP within the same eye and between eyes may elucidate the answer to this question. Further studies of monocular and binocular trials are needed to clarify which method better estimates medication response.
Role of aversively motivated behavior in the olfactory bulbectomy syndrome.

Abstract The aim of the present studies was to determine the extent to which changes in defensive behaviors could account for some of the behavioral effects of bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) in rats. Four tests of aversively-motivated behavior were conducted in bulbectomized and sham-operated rats: activity in a dimly lit or brightly lit open field, passive avoidance, foot shock-induced freezing, and defensive withdrawal. OBX reduced the duration of immobility in the open field. Bulbectomized rats exhibited less freezing in response to foot shock than sham-operated rats. In the defensive-withdrawal test, bulbectomized rats made more transitions into and spent less time inside the covered enclosure than sham-operated rats. The experiments thus reveal two novel paradigms for assessing the behavioral effects of OBX. The results also suggest that deficits in aversively-motivated behavior, specifically defensive freezing, may comprehensively explain the putative “hyperactivity” and “passive-avoidance learning deficits” widely associated with the OBX behavioral syndrome.
Local N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonism in the prefrontal cortex attenuates spatial cognitive deficits induced by gonadectomy in adult male rats.

Abstract Gonadectomy in adult male rats significantly impairs spatial working memory, behavioral flexibility and other functions associated with the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the mechanisms through which this occurs are largely unknown. In this study, intracortical drug challenge with the selective N-methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist D(−)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV) was combined with Barnes maze testing, gonadectomy (GDX) and hormone replacement (17β-estradiol, testosterone propionate) to explore the contributions of NMDAR-mediated activity within the PFC to hormone effects on spatial cognition in adult male rats. Previous studies have shown that Barnes maze testing reveals significant estrogen-dependent, GDX-induced deficits in spatial working memory and androgen-sensitive, GDX-induced deficits in spatial search strategy. Here we found that bilateral infusion of APV into the medial PFC prior to testing significantly improved both sets of behaviors in gonadectomized rats and significantly worsened performance measures in gonadally intact controls. In hormone-replaced cohorts, we further found that behaviors that are normally similar to controls were significantly disrupted by APV, and those that are normally similar to gonadectomized rats were rescued by intracortical APV infusion. There were, however, no residual effects of APV on retention testing conducted 24 h later. Together these findings suggest that hormone regulation of NMDAR-mediated activity specifically within the PFC may be fundamental to the effects of gonadal steroids on spatial cognition in males. Our findings further identify NMDAR antagonists as potentially novel, non-steroidal means of attenuating the cognitive deficits that can accompany gonadal hormone decline in human males in aging, clinical cases of hypogonadalism and in certain neurologic and psychiatric illnesses. Accordingly, it may be important to obtain in males the kind of detailed knowledge concerning hormone effects on, for example, the channel and electrophysiological properties of NMDAR that currently exists for the female brain.
PATTERNS IN LEAF MORPHOLOGY AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN SHOOTS OF SASSAFRAS ALBIDUM (LAURACEAE)

Trees of Sassafras albidum display leaves that fall into discrete categories of form. Unlobed leaves, with undissected margins, predominate at proximal and distal nodes of shoots, while lobed leaves are most common at intermediate nodes. In this study we investigated the hypothesis that shoots of sassafras respond to environmental changes over the growing season by generating predictable nodal patterns for leaf morphology and physiology. We recorded leaf shape category and measured leaf surface area, node number, chlorophyll content, nitrogen content, and photosynthesis in four trees
Variation in rates of activity and inhibition of serum cholinesterase among anthropoid primates

Cholinesterase activity in the plasma of five hominoid and five cercopithecoid species was measured and characterized by profiles of inhibition by dibucaine and sodium fluoride. Chimpanzees and gorillas strongly resemble humans, and differ from other hominoids and cercopithecoids, in patterns of dibucaine and fluoride resistance and relative activity toward various thio esters. “Silent” cholinesterase phenotypes of probable veterinary significance, and analogous to a rare human variant, are apparently normal in some catarrhine species and are present as a polymorphism among orangutans and lion-tailed macaques.
mRNA expression profile of a human cancer cell line in response to a phytochemical extract with antioxidant properties

Herbal extracts with antioxidant properties are enjoying increasing popularity as remedies for acute and chronic illnesses such as depression, memory loss, cardiovascular disorders and immunological deficiencies. The molecular targets of these complex mixtures of botanical extracts are poorly understood. We have evaluated a well-characterised herbal extract for its ability to affect the mRNA expression profile of a human cancer cell line. We used the Affymetrix hu6800 set of DNA microarrays chip to define changes in the mRNA expression profile of cells exposed to the herbal extract for 6 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. The target RNA extracts hybridised to 32.3% of the probes on the chip. Of the 2,200 transcripts, 400 transcripts were altered by the extract over time. Two transcripts for antioxidant enzymes were up-regulated (>threefold at 6 hours). Eighteen transcripts with a high basal expression were down-regulated and this group is associated with invasive growth. Sixteen transcripts expressed at low levels behaved as in the previous group and included transcripts for members of the MAP kinase family and signal transducing proteins. Eighteen transcripts were up-regulated and peaked at 48 hours followed by return to basal levels; this group consisted of transcription factors. The largest group of 274 transcripts was up-regulated approximately twofold through the course of the exposure to the extract and included a broad group of transcripts. Our data demonstrate that the Affymetrix hu6800 microarrays can be used to define the molecular targets of a complex mixture of a botanical extract on human cells in culture. This strategy can also be used for a more rational evaluation of the biological activities of sub-fractions and the individual components of such a complex herbal extract.
Heavy metal toxicity to microbe-mediated ecologic processes: A review and potential application to regulatory policies

Microorganisms are sensitive to heavy metal pollution as are other components of the biota. However, most studies on the interactions between microbes and heavy metals have been conducted in synthetic media or in altered (e.g., sterilized) environmental samples and usually have used only single species. Few studies have evaluated the effects of heavy metals on the activities of natural heterogeneous microbial populations, both autotrophic and heterotrophic, in terrestrial and aquatic environments. These latter studies have shown that heavy metals inhibit primary productivity, nitrogen fixation, the mineralization of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, litter decomposition, and enzyme synthesis and activity in soils, sediments, and surface waters. The potential adverse effects of heavy metals on such microbe-mediated ecologic processes need to be incorporated into the methodologies used by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to prepare environmental risk assessments which, in turn, are used to formulate environmental criteria, such as the Water Quality Criteria, and to evaluate the safety to the environment of exposure to "new chemical substances," as mandated by the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. To provide appropriate data that can be assimilated into regulatory policy, it is essential that microbial ecotoxicity tests be standardized, are neither costly nor difficult to train personnel to conduct, and produce data that can be quantitated.
The use of remote sensing techniques to identify potential natural areas in oregon

Abstract Approaches in identifying terrestrial natural areas in Oregon are reviewed. Remote sensing techniques using high altitude colour infrared photography were applied to locate and describe candidate natural area reserves on state-owned land in seven Oregon countries. Land units totalling 25, 700 ha were catalogued as potential natural areas, based on the natural quality and character of the vegetation cover. The characteristics and uses of high altitude colour infrared photography are discussed with reference to natural area inventory.
New determination of the asymptotic D-state-to-S-state ratio of the deuteron

The asymptotic D/S ratio of the deuteron, eta, is deduced from new measurements of tensor analyzing powers for sub-Coulomb (d,p) reactions. Values of eta obtained under various experimental conditions (i.e., corresponding to different analyzing powers, bombarding energies, target nuclei, and final states) are consistent within their statistical uncertainties. A weighted average of the individual measurements gives eta = 0.0256 +- 0.0004. This result is compared with predictions obtained from a variety of theoretical models.
PREPARATION OF YBaCuO THIN FILMS BY MULTILAYER DEPOSITION

We report the fabrication of YBa2Cu3O7−x thin films by a combination of dc triode sputtering from Y and Cu targets, and simultaneous thermal evaporation from a BaF2 source. A composition near the ideal 1:2:3 stoichiometry, with a resistive transition onset at 92 K and zero resistance at 80 K have been obtained by deposition on SrTiO3 substrates, followed by furnace annealing.
Models of 'the body' in the ethnographic field: Garífuna and candomblé case studies

"The body" and "embodiment" are now firmly entrenched in the working vocabulary of the study of religion, yet there is little consensus on what such terms mean. This essay reviews the widely varying uses, focusing on main trajectories of the "lived body", the "semiotic body", and the "productive and produced body". Since "the body" must always be set in a particular narrative strategy in any given ethnography, complications arise when the various, sometimes contradictory, uses of "the body" are not kept distinct or are presumed to be one. This essay presents case studies on how varying uses are actually implemented in writing ethnography, and calls for a return to clear specification of how and why "the body" is invoked.
Yield, Vegetative Growth, and Fiber Length of Kenaf Grown on Saline Soil

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an excellent supplement to wood as a source of fiber for paper pulp. With the introduction of kenaf into the western USA, plantings may be on soils where salinity problems already exist or may develop from the use of saline irrigation water. Because of the lack of salt-tolerance information on mature vegetative growth and yield, a 2-yr field-plot study was conducted at Brawley, CA. Two cultivars (Everglades-41 and 7818-RS-10) were grown with six salinity treatments imposed on a Holtville silty clay [clayey over loamy, montmorillonitic (calcareous), hyperthermic Typic Torrifluvent]. Electrical conductivities of the irrigation waters, containing NaCl and CaCl 2 (1:1 by weight), were 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 dS m −1 (...)
Inhibition of superficial scald in apples by wounding: changes in lipids and phenolics

Abstract `Granny Smith' apples (Malus domestica Borkh) were wounded with a hypodermic needle or not prior to cold storage for 7 months at 0°C. Wounded apples did not develop superficial scald adjacent to the wounded areas while non-wounded tissue developed scald on greater than 60% of the apple surface. Changes in conjugated trienes (CT) and membrane lipids that occurred as a result of scald formation were measured by examination of non-scalded tissue (achieved via wounding), scalded tissue on the same apple, and/or scalded tissue on the control fruit. Scald development was associated with an increase in CT and total glycolipid (GL) content, and a decrease in the proportion of linolenic acid (18:3) of the GL fraction and the GL unsaturation index (UI). These changes indicate that the chloroplast membrane is most affected by scald formation, possibly by the oxidative effect of CT. The reason for scald inhibition in the wound vicinity remains unknown. The increase in cinnamic acid derivatives in the wound area suggests an antioxidant activity.
High-speed InGaAsSb/InP double heterojunction bipolar transistor with composition graded base and InAs emitter contact layers

Abstract InAs–InGaAs graded emitter contact layer was incorporated into the InGaAsSb–GaAsSb/InP graded base double heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs). Compared to a uniform In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As emitter contact layer, the graded InAs–InGaAs emitter contact layer effectively reduced specific contact resistance from 0.378 to 0.091 Ω-μm 2 . Measured sheet resistance also decreased from 58.3 to 47.4 Ω/□. A graded base DHBT with a 0.5×8 μm 2 emitter showed a unity current gain cutoff frequency ( f T ) and maximum oscillation frequency ( f MAX ) of 500 GHz and 260 GHz, respectively. The f MAX improves to 350 GHz when a smaller (0.4×3 μm 2 ) emitter is utilized.
Morphology and Behavior: Phrenology Revisited

Research conducted by evolutionary psychologists and biologists shows that subtle individual differences in body morphology can be related to surprising and important differences in human behavior ...
Obtaining and using second order derivative information in the solution of large scale inverse problems

Inverse problems are of utmost importance in many fields of science and engineering. In the variational approach inverse problems are formulated as constrained optimization problems, where the optimal estimate of the uncertain parameters is the minimizer of a certain cost function subject to the model constraints. The numerical solution of such optimization problems requires the derivatives of a chosen cost function I dependent on the model parameters. Given that the parameter space is large in real-life problems, the derivatives of I can be calculated efficiently through first order adjoint sensitivity analysis. Second order adjoint models give second derivative information in the form of products between the Hessian of the cost functional and a user defined vector. In this paper we review the mathematical foundations of the second order adjoint sensitivity method. We then evaluate their performance in several data assimilation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty quantification scenarios, for a two dimensional shallow water flow simulation. In the data assimilation problem, we compare the performance of several well-known optimization methods that make use of first and second order information.