cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of 4F2 heavy-chain gene expression during normal human T-cell activation can be mediated by multiple distinct molecular mechanisms.

Abstract The 4F2 molecule belongs to the set of cell surface antigens which is induced following lectin- or antigen-mediated T-cell activation. The increase in 4F2 cell surface expression following lectin-mediated stimulation has been shown to be accompanied by a parallel increase in the steady-state levels of 4F2 heavy-chain (4F2HC) mRNA. The studies described in this report were designed to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for induction of 4F2HC gene expression following activation of normal resting human peripheral blood T cells. The low levels of mature 4F2HC mRNA in resting T cells were shown to be the result of a block to transcription elongation within the exon 1-intron 1 region of the 4F2HC gene rather than promoter inactivity. Phorbol myristate acetate stimulation of resting T cells resulted in a 20-fold increase in steady-state 4F2HC mRNA levels which was mediated by removal of this block to transcription elongation. The phorbol myristate acetate-induced increase in 4F2HC gene expression is distinct from previously described AP-1-mediated, phorbol ester-induced gene expression in that it requires new protein synthesis. Treatment of resting T cells with ionomycin plus PMA resulted in a 60-fold increase in 4F2HC mRNA levels. This induction was mediated by both an increase in promoter utilization and removal of the block to transcription elongation. Finally, by increasing the half-life of 4F2HC mRNA, cycloheximide treatment of resting T cells induced an approximately five fold increase in the levels of 4F2HC gene expression, although the physiologic significance of this mechanism remains unclear. These results demonstrate that the level of 4F2HC gene expression in normal peripheral blood T cells can be regulated by at least three distinct molecular pathways: (i) changes in promoter utilization, (ii) modulation of a block to transcription elongation, and (iii) alteration in mRNA stability.
Grief, loss, and the quest for meaning

(2005). Grief, loss, and the quest for meaning. Bereavement Care: Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 27-30.
A 25-Year-Old Man with Exudative Retinal Detachments and Infiltrates without Hematological or Neurological Findings Found to Have Relapsed Precursor T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background: Precursor T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-T-ALL) may cause ocular pathologies such as cotton-wool spots, retinal hemorrhage, and less commonly, retinal detachment or leukemic infiltration of the retina itself. However, these findings are typically accompanied by the pathognomonic hematological signs of acute leukemia. Case Presentation: In this case report and review of the literature, we describe a particularly unusual case of a 25-year-old man who presented to our hospital with bilateral exudative retinal detachments associated with posterior pole thickening without any hematological or neurological findings. The patient, who had a history of previously treated pre-T-ALL in complete remission, was found to have leukemia cell infiltration on retinal biopsy. Conclusion: Our case underscores the fact that the ophthalmologist may be the first provider to detect the relapse of previously treated leukemia, and that ophthalmic evaluation is critical for detecting malignant ocular infiltrates.
Impact of confinement on zeolite cracking selectivity via Monte Carlo integration

Monte Carlo integration methods employing a classic molecular mechanics force field were used to probe the impact of confinement on the selectivity of the n-hexane/3-methylpentane test reaction in 12 different zeolites. The simulations estimated relative cracking rates and predicted the constraint index (CI) selectivity for both monomolecular and bimolecular cracking mechanisms. By comparing with experimentally measured values of the CI, information on the dominant mechanism responsible for the observed selectivity was obtained. For small-pore zeolites, the monomolecular mechanism dominated, with the measured CI attributed to reactant selectivity based on preferential adsorption. For large-pore zeolites, the CI selectivity was attributed to confinement effects imposed on the bimolecular transition states. For zeolite structures with intermediate-sized pores, such as MTW (ZSM-12) and TON (ZSM-22), the simulations indicated that both reaction mechanisms may be operative. The experimentally observed reduction in the CI with temperature in MFI (ZSM-5) can be explained in terms of the relative importance of steric and entropic factors in the stabilization of the bimolecular transition state. A change in mechanism from bimolecular to monomolecular, as postulated in the literature, is not necessary to explain the experimentally observed temperature dependence of the CI.
Dust around AFGL 2688, molecular shielding, and the production of carbon chain molecules

The molecular, IR, and optical maps of the evolved carbon star AFGL 2688 (the 'Egg' Nebula) are all consistent with a model of a bipolar outflow of approximately 0.0001 solar masses/yr that stopped as this object evolved beyond the asymptotic giant branch about 200 years ago. In order to explain the extended HC7N emission around this star, it is proposed that carbon grains are collisionally fragmented as they supersonically steam through the circumstellar envelope.
Symmetric and asymmetric manual materials handling Part 1: physiology and psychophysics

To study the physiological and psychophysical costs of symmetric and asymmetric manual materials handling, two tasks were performed by 30 industrial subjects. In both tasks, box weight and handle position were varied. The symmetric task, lifting and lowering between floor and conveyor, showed handles to be beneficial. The asymmetric task was palletizing and depalletizing 36 boxes between a pallet and a conveyor. Both palletizing and depalletizing proved strenuous for females with heart rates exceeding 140b/min. All handle positions were better than No Handles, but the best handle position changed from asymmetric for 9 kg boxes to symmetric for 13 kg boxes. The effect of handles was equivalent to a weight change of 1-2 kg for Heart Rate and Rated Perceived Exertion, but much higher (2-14 kg) for Body Part Discomfort measures.
Heterotopic cervical pregnancy successfully treated with transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration and cervical-stay sutures.

Abstract Objective: To present a case of a heterotopic cervical pregnancy successfully treated with transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration and cervical-stay sutures. Design: Case report. Setting: Tertiary academic IVF program. Patient(s): A 35-year-old woman who conceived from IVF-ET treatment at 5.5 weeks of gestation. Intervention(s): Transvaginal ultrasound–guided aspiration of the cervical pregnancy followed by cervical-stay sutures to control hemorrhage after aspiration. Main Outcome Measure(s): Recovery of the patient, preservation of the intrauterine pregnancy, and sequelae. Result(s): The cervical pregnancy was successfully aborted, and the intrauterine pregnancy progressed to term. Conclusion(s): Transvaginal ultrasound–guided aspiration in combination with hemostatic cervical-stay sutures can be safely used to manage heterotopic cervical pregnancies.
A Characterization of the Reflected Quasipotential

Recent interest in the reflected quasipotential comes from the queueing theory literature, specifically the analysis of so-called $$(b,A,D)$$(b,A,D) reflected Brownian motion where it is the large deviation rate function for the stationary distribution. Our purpose here is to characterize the reflected quasipotential in terms of a first-order Hamilton---Jacobi equation. Using conventional dynamic programming ideas, along with a complementarity problem formulation of the effect of the Skorokhod map on absolutely continuous paths, we will derive necessary conditions in the form of viscosity-sense boundary conditions. It turns out that even with these boundary conditions solutions are not unique. Thus a unique characterization needs to refer to some additional property of $$V(\cdot )$$V(·). We establish such a characterization in two dimensions.
Accelerator R/D in the U.s. High Energy Physics Program-Past, Present and Future

The importance of accelerator R/D for particle physics research is emphasized and the dire necessity for finding new, economically efficient accelerating methods and technologies is pointed out.
Contraceptive effects of intravaginal application of acrosin and hyaluronidase inhibitors in rabbit

Eight single-drug and combinations of two-drug treatments were used to study the contraceptive efficacy of the intravaginal application of acrosin inhibitors (TLCK; NPGB) and hyaluronidase inhibitors (Compound 53D/k; Phosphorylated hesperidin) in the rabbit. Drug concentrations were selected so that they did not inhibit rabbit sperm motility upon incubation at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes. In the first series, the drugs were added to semen before artificial insemination; in the second series, the drugs were administered intravaginally before artificial insemination with untreated rabbit semen. The data show that these drugs are highly effective intravaginal contraceptives in the rabbit. The data suggest that this is a specific inhibitory effect on fertilization since the drug concentrations used did not affect sperm motility.
Driving Blind: Why We Need Standardized Performance Assessment In Teacher Education

In this article we argue that standardized teaching performance assessments (TPAs) offer a uniquely valuable resource for learning and improvement of practice in teacher education. The affordances of TPAs as opportunities for learning are identified at four levels, including those for teacher candidates, individual faculty, organizational learning at the program level, and organizational networks that span program boundaries. We conclude that TPAs can provide motivation and direction for continuous program improvement efforts, contribute to the development of a common and concrete language of practice, and accelerate the professionalization of teaching.
Impact of Ca2+ on structure of soybean CDPKβ and accessibility of the Tyr-24 autophosphorylation site

Several plant CDPKs were recently shown to be dual specificity kinases rather than Ser/Thr kinases as traditionally classified by sequence analysis. In the present study we confirm the autophosphorylation of recombinant soybean His6-GmCDPKβ at the Tyr-24 site using sequence- and modification- specific antibodies. Homology modeling of soybean CDPKβ based on recent structures determined for several apicomplexan CDPKs suggested that phosphotyrosine-24 may be inaccessible to phosphatases. However, we report that dephosphorylation of CDPKβ by the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, PTP1B, was not restricted in the presence of calcium. Thus, despite conformational changes likely associated with calcium binding to the CDPKs, phosphotyrosine sites remain fully accessible to dephosphorylation suggesting the possibility of conformational breathing and flexing.
Intracranial Sites Regulating the Biphasic Action of Progesterone in Estrogen-Primed Golden Hamsters

Diencephalic and mesencephalic neural sites regulating the biphasic effect of progesterone (P) were investigated using the hormone implantation technique in ovariectomized female golden hamsters primed with estrogen. Double barreled cannulae were implanted unilaterally and bilaterally in the medial preoptic area, anterior hypothalamus, ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), central gray, or interpeduncular nucleus. Testing was conducted using a sequential paradigm; facilitation tests commenced after 44 h of estrogen priming. P-filled cannulae placed in the VMH region facilitated lordosis behavior in 42% and 60% of unilaterally and bilaterally implanted females, respectively. In the anterior hypothalamus, only P implants adjacent to the VMH area effectively promoted receptivity. Lordosis behavior was also observed in 20-36% of females with P implants in the medial preoptic area. P implants in central gray and interpeduncular nucleus regions had no significant facilitating effect on sexual behavior. Tests for inhibition occurred 24 h after facilitation testing and consisted of a pretest, followed by systemic P administration and a behavioral test 4-5 h later. During the pretest for inhibition, females that were receptive in the facilitation test attacked males more rapidly than previously nonreceptive animals and showed decrements in lordosis scores after systemic P delivery. This biphasic effect of P completely inhibited receptivity among several animals in the VMH group. Additional experiments, however, investigating the biphasic effect of P implants in the VMH suggested that the occurrence of copulation in the facilitation test may have been involved in mediating the subsequent increase in aggressive behavior and the suppression of sexual responsiveness in the inhibition test. Nevertheless, a final experiment showed that when P was implanted sequentially in the VMH, facilitation and, more importantly, a later reduction in lordosis behavioral scores occurred even when copulation was eliminated in the facilitation test. P implants in mesencephalic regions exerted no significant inhibitory effect on receptivity. These findings demonstrate that the biphasic action of P in the female hamster is regulated by nerve cells located in the diencephalon, especially in the VMH region.
Selection of patients for breast conserving surgery

The majority of patients with breast cancer can be treated by partial mastectomy and radiation therapy. Ineligibility for breast conservation usually is related to previous radiation or the inability to receive radiation for other reasons. For patients who can receive radiation, selection for breast conservation involves the estimation of the risk for in-breast recurrence and the ability to achieve a satisfactory cosmetic result. Multiple sites of cancer within the breast and the inability to attain negative pathologic margins on the excised breast specimen are predictive for an increased risk of recurrence. The cosmetic result is compromised by excision of large volumes of breast tissue. Although the size of the tumor is not an important consideration for in-breast recurrence, the relation of the size of the tumor, and hence the volume of tissue excised, to the size of the breast is an important cosmetic consideration. Compared to invasive ductal carcinoma, an extensive intraductal component or invasive lobular carcinoma tends to be more difficult to define within the breast and may require excision of a large volume of tissue to obtain negative pathologic margins.
Organ fusion and defective cuticle function in a lacs1 lacs2 double mutant of Arabidopsis

As the outermost layer on aerial tissues of the primary plant body, the cuticle plays important roles in plant development and physiology. The major components of the cuticle are cutin and cuticular wax, both of which are composed primarily of fatty acid derivatives synthesized in the epidermal cells. Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (LACS) catalyze the formation of long-chain acyl-CoAs and the Arabidopsis genome contains a family of nine genes shown to encode LACS enzymes. LACS2 is required for cutin biosynthesis, as revealed by previous investigations on lacs2 mutants. Here, we characterize lacs1 mutants of Arabidopsis that reveals a role for LACS1 in biosynthesis of cuticular wax components. lacs1 lacs2 double-mutant plants displayed pleiotropic phenotypes including organ fusion, abnormal flower development and reduced seed set; phenotypes not found in either of the parental mutants. The leaf cuticular permeability of lacs1 lacs2 was higher than that of either lacs1 or lacs2 single mutants, as determined by measurements of chlorophyll leaching from leaves immersed in 80% ethanol, staining with toluidine blue dye and direct measurements of water loss. Furthermore, lacs1 lacs2 mutant plants are highly susceptible to drought stress. Our results indicate that a deficiency in cuticular wax synthesis and a deficiency in cutin synthesis together have compounding effects on the functional integrity of the cuticular barrier, compromising the ability of the cuticle to restrict water movement, protect against drought stress and prevent organ fusion.
SELF-APPRAISAL AS A FUNCTION OF RECOLLECTED PARENTAL APPRAISAL

Reflective appraisal theory is based on the assumption that a person's view of self is largely determined by what that person thinks significant others think about him. Since parents have been identified as important significant others, the relationship between self-appraisal and recollections of parental appraisals was examined. Self-appraisals appeared to be at least partially a function of recollected parental appraisals.
Covariant Polarization Bases For Spin 1/2, Spin 1, Spin 3/2 Particles And Their Use

Abstract A simple method is presented for evaluating transition amplitudes between massive states with spin = 1 2 , 1 and definite polarization. The spin - 3 2 case is also briefly discussed. Applications to testing the decay and production of vector bosons are considered.
On the norm groups of Galois 2n-extensions of algebraic number fields

Abstract Let K be a finite extension of a p -adic number field k . By local class field theory there is only a finite number of norm subgroups of the multiplicative group k ∗ of k that contain the norm group N K / k K ∗ . If X is a subgroup of a group Y , then the interval ( X , Y ) is the set of subgroups of Y that contain X including X and Y . In the present work we investigate the number of norm groups in the interval ( N K / k K ∗ , k ∗ ) for a given finite Galois extension K / k of algebraic number fields. There are finite Galois 2-extensions and Galois extensions of odd degrees such that the corresponding intervals contain only a finite number of norm groups. The main theorem, however, states that for any finite Galois extension K / k of even degree that is not a 2-extension, called 2 n - extension , the interval ( N K / k K ∗ , k ∗ ) contains infinitely many norm groups.
Microstructure of Hydrated Portland Cement Pastes

THE microstructure of calcium silicate hydrate pastes and normal portland cement, with a water to cement ratio of 0.5, has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy using Pt/C replicas. One of our chief aims was to gain a better understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of portland cement, properties thought to be affected decisively by microstructure.
Transient impedance changes in venous endothelial monolayers as a biological radiation dosimetry response

In March of 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent 14 m-high tsunami caused major damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. While cancer incidence in the radiation-exposed population is a logical concern, the complex effects of radiation on the heart and cardiovascular system are also of interest. Immediate and early vascular radiation effects could be exploited as a dosimetry modality. To test whether non-coronary vasculature exhibited transient perturbation in barrier function, video microscopy studies and Electric Cell Substrate Impedance Sensing technology were used to probe very subtle changes in primary human vascular endothelium. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers exhibit a transient, statistically significant decrease (P = 0.017) in monolayer resistance 3 h after irradiation with 5.0 Gy of g rays. Radiation induced perturbations in HUVEC monolayer permeability are similar in magnitude and kinetics to those observed in coronary arterial endothelium. Therefore, at least two types of vasculature respond to radiation on ECIS arrays with an early transient disruption in permeability. The finding supports the use of early passage HUVECs for use in bioelectric dosimetry studies of vasculature and suggests that permeability of vessels could potentially serve as a biological dosimetry tool.
Efficient Q-matrix Computation for the Visualization of Complex Networks

The Q-matrix representation of a large network graph is a transformation yielding meaningful visualizations which can reveal internal structure, help classify networks according to their application area, and in some cases distinguish and identify real networks from synthetically generated data. However, the issue remains whether computing the Q-matrix is prohibitively expensive for problem sizes encountered in practice. Given an undirected network graph, we describe an efficient near-linear time algorithm for computing its Q-matrix. Besides providing theoretical bounds, we present experimental results showing that application networks with millions of edges and vertices can be processed in seconds on desktop computers.
Saddle points and instability of nonlinear hyperbolic equations

A number of authors have investigated conditions under which weak solutions of the initial-boundary value problem for the nonlinear wave equation will blow up in a finite time. For certain classes of nonlinearities sharp results are derived in this paper. Extensions to parabolic and to abstract operator equations are also given.
Studies on Toxinogenesis in Vibrio cholerae. I. Isolation of Mutants with Altered Toxinogenicity

Methods have been developed for the recognition of toxin production by individual colonies of Vibrio cholerae strain 569B Inaba and certain other (but not all) strains of V. cholerae. Following mutagenesis of strain 569B with nitrosoguanidine, mutants that produced less or no detectable enterotoxin were isolated. One mutant, which did not elaborate any toxin detectable in Oakley-Fulthorpe tests or in the rabbit skin test, was completely avirulent for infant rabbits, although it was prototrophic and colonized their intestines. A strain of V. cholerae biotype El Tor produced a toxin that lacked an antigenic determinant found in toxin elaborated by strain 569B Inaba.
Section for Low Ear Moisture in Corn, Using a Hand-Held Meter

A rapid, effective method for identifying inbred lines of corn (Zea mays L.) that produce hybrids with a low grain-moisture content at harvest would be helpful to corn breeders. We evaluated use of a hand-held moisture meter to select for low ear-moisture content in a set of St plants that had similar pollination dates. A set of 30 lines, derived from plants classified as low-, medium-, and high-moisture 30 d after pollination, was identified. The lines were evaluated for moisture content in a randomized complete-block experiment. Testcrosses of the lines to two testers were evaluated for yield and harvest moisture at five locations in 1 yr. The moisture meter produced estimates of moisture content that correlated well in 2 yr (r² = 0.85 and 0.82) with estimates obtained by the oven method. Lines derived from ears selected for low moisture with the meter had lower moisture at harvest than lines from high-moisture ears. Hybrids of low-moisture lines were lower in harvest moisture than hybrids of high-moisture lines but were similar in grain yield. The moisture meter should enable corn breeders to select for low harvest moisture in segregating populations. Salaries and research support provided by state and federal funds appropriated to the Ohio Agric. Res. and Development Ctr., The Ohio State Univ. Journal Article no. 79-91.
Assessment of ALS mortality in a cohort of formaldehyde-exposed garment workers.

The etiology of ALS is unknown. Although some investigators have evaluated the role of occupational exposures (1), their role is poorly understood. Among subjects with known exposure duration in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study II cohort (~1 million subjects), the ALS mortality rate was more than two times higher for subjects with self-reported formaldehyde exposure, compared to unexposed subjects (rate ratio 2.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.58-3.86, 1120 unexposed and 22 exposed cases), and strongly associated with exposure duration (2). Compared to unexposed subjects, the rate ratios were 1.5, 2.1, and 4.1 for subjects with 10 years of self-reported formaldehyde exposure, respectively. In contrast, formaldehyde exposure (inferred from occupation) was not associated with ALS in a small case-control study (109 cases, 253 controls) by Fang and colleagues (1). In this study, no association was observed with weighted exposure duration although an imprecise 3-fold increase of ALS, based on four cases, was observed among a sub-group of the highest exposure tertile. We evaluated ALS mortality among a cohort of formaldehyde-exposed garment workers (3–5).
Effect of ligands on alkaline denaturation of fetal hemoglobin and isolated gamma subunits

Abstract The rates of alkaline denaturation of hemoglobin A, hemoglobin F, and isolated alpha, beta, and gamma subunits have been measured as a function of the ligand state of the heme iron. Under all conditions hemoglobin A and its isolated subunits were completely denatured before the initial measurement was made. A similar result was obtained with the high spin ferric (met) forms of hemoglobin F and isolated gamma subunits. However, in the low spin ferric (cyanmet) and liganded ferrous (oxy, carbonmonoxy) forms, hemoglobin F was partially resistant to alkaline denaturation and this resistance could be attributed to the presence of gamma subunits. In addition, the alpha subunits of hemoglobin F are more stable than those of hemoglobin A due to their association with gamma subunits. These results suggest that the above liganded forms of hemoglobin F have similar structures and this structure is different from that of the same derivatives of hemoglobin A.
A testbed for experimental validation of a low-voltage DC nanogrid for buildings

The architecture of an electric power system is a major determinant for the system structural practicabil-ity, safety, size, weight, energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately the cost of energy utilization. Although most of these are actually quantifiable physical variables, the final choice of the electrical architecture when building or design-ing new electric power systems is, quite logically, very often made as a result of either different engineering traditions and experiences, or higher confidence in using proven and established practices. This paper examines a dc nanogrid - hypothetical future sustainable home electronic power distribution system with dc-based distribution and the presence of renewable energy sources. Description of the nanogrid and the testbed for its system-level operation analysis is presented in this paper together with initial experimental results and conclusions.
Alterations in messenger RNA encoding atrial natriuretic hormone receptor A and C subtypes during hepatic regeneration

Abstract Previously, we demonstrated that, 48 hours after partial hepatectomy, in the regenerating liver the number of both atrial natriuretic hormone (ANF) receptor subtypes, the guanylyl cyclase—linked and ANF-C receptors, is increased twofold. Subsequently, we demonstrated that activation of ANF-C receptors inhibits growth of hepatocytes. Therefore, studies were performed to determine whether, during hepatic regeneration, the increase in ANF receptor subtypes is accompanied by an increase in their respective transcripts. Our data demonstrate that in the normal and regenerating rat liver, the predominant guanylyl cyclase-linked ANF receptor is of the ANF-A subtype. Moreover, messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding the ANF-A and ANF-C receptors are transiently increased after surgery; the levels of mRNA encoding both receptor subtypes remain unchanged in livers of sham-operated animals. ANF-A receptor mRNA is maximally increased 12 hours after partial hepatectomy, whereas the maximal increase in ANF-C receptor mRNA is observed between 0.5 hour and 4 hours after hepatectomy. The increase in ANF-C receptor transcript is accompanied by increased expression of protein, 4 hours after hepatectomy. However, the ANF-C receptor protein is also elevated 48 hours after partial hepatectomy when ANF-C receptor mRNA levels are not different from controls. Likewise, although ANF-A receptors are increased when hepatic levels of mRNA encoding the protein are maximally elevated, the maximal increase in ANF-A receptor protein occurs at times when transcript levels are low and similar to those in sham-operated controls. These findings demonstrate differential regulation in the expression of ANF-A and ANF-C receptors and are illustrative of regulation of expression of both receptors at the translational or posttranslational levels.
Diabetes medications and body weight

Tight diabetes control sometimes comes with a price: weight gain and hypoglycemia. Two of the three major recent trials that looked at the relationship between intensive diabetes control and cardiovascular events reported significant weight gain among the intensively treated groups. There is a growing concern that the weight gain induced by most diabetes medications diminishes their clinical benefits. On the other hand, there is a claim that treating diabetes with medications that are weight neutral or induces weight loss or less weight gain while minimizing those that increase body weight may emerge as the future direction for treating overweight and obese patients with diabetes. This review clarifies the weight effect of each of the currently available diabetes medications, and explains the mechanism of action behind this effect. Despite the great variability among reviewed clinical trials, the currently available evidence is quite sufficient to demonstrate the change in body weight in association with most of the currently available medications. This review also provides some guidelines on using diabetes medications during weight management programs.
Happily ever after? Cohabitation, marriage, divorce, and happiness in Germany

In Germany the life satisfaction of those in first marriages traces the following average course. Starting from a baseline of life satisfaction in noncohabiting years one or more years prior to marriage, those who cohabit prior to marriage have an increase in life satisfaction significantly above the baseline. In the year of marriage and that immediately following, the life satisfaction of those in first marriages, prior cohabitors and noncohabitors combined, increases to a value even further above the baseline, significantly higher than for premarital cohabitors. Thereafter, life satisfaction of those in first marriages drops, but remains significantly above the baseline, at the same level as for premarital cohabitors. Compared with the population generally, those in first marriages are selective with regard to a number of socioeconomic characteristics, but not in regard to personality traits. Those whose first marriage ends in separation or divorce have a life satisfaction trajectory in the years before and during marriage not significantly different from that described above, but separation or divorce reduces this group’s life satisfaction to the original baseline value. This group differs significantly from the first marriage population as a whole in its selectivity – lower socioeconomic status and personality traits less conducive to marriage. The roots of prospective dissolution thus apparently lie in this group’s distinctive socioeconomic and personality traits, and not in a disparate course of life satisfaction in the first years of marriage.
Accuracy of combined two-dimensional echocardiography and continuous wave Doppler recordings in the estimation of pressure gradient in right ventricular outlet obstruction

Fifteen patients (median age 8.5 years) with fixed right ventricular outflow tract obstruction were evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiographically directed continuous wave Doppler ultrasound within 24 hours of cardiac catheterization. Pulmonary artery blood velocity measurements were determined from a real time spectral display of pulmonary artery flow profile and converted to pressure drop utilizing a modified Bernoulli equation. Use of both parasternal and subcostal imaging permitted more accurate detection of maximal flow velocity than did use of either approach alone. Gradients estimated from Doppler recordings correlated well with those measured at cardiac catheterization (correlation coefficient= 0.95, standard error of the estimate = 7.9 mm Hg) with a trend to slight underestimation of gradient in more severe obstruction. In three patients with combined valvular and subvalvular stenosis and one patient with right ventricular outlet obstruction due totally to a ventricular septal aneurysm, Doppler estimation of gradient provided an accurate assessment of total right ventricular-pulmonary artery gradient. Thus, continuous wave Doppler ultrasound combined with two-dimensional echocardiography provides a reliable noninvasive method of estimating pressure gradient in patients with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
Plasma nitrite response and arterial reactivity differentiate vascular health and performance

NO is crucial for endothelial function and vascular health. Plasma nitrite (NO2−) is the main oxidation product of NO and has been shown to reflect changes in eNOS activity. We hypothesized that plasma NO2− response to physical exercise stress along with physiological endothelial function would be reduced with increasing severity of vascular disease. Subject groups were: (a) risk factors but no vascular disease (RF); (b) Type 2 diabetes with no vascular disease (DM); (c) diagnosed peripheral arterial disease (PAD); and (d) DM + PAD. Venous blood was drawn at rest and 10 min following maximal exercise. Plasma samples were analyzed by reductive chemiluminescence. Brachial diameters were imaged prior to, during and following 5 min of forearm occlusion (BAFMD). There were no differences in resting plasma NO2− or BA diameters between groups. The PAD groups had lower age adjusted BAFMD responses (p ⩽ 0.05). Within group analysis revealed an increase in NO2− in the RF group (+39.3%), no change in the DM (−15.51%), and a decrease in the PAD (−44.20%) and PAD + DM (−39.95%). This was maintained after adjusting for age and VO2peak (p ⩽ 0.05). ΔNO2− and BAFMD were the strongest independent predictors of VO2peak in multivariate linear regression. These findings suggest ΔNO2− discriminates severity of cardiovascular disease risk, is related to endothelial function and predicts exercise capacity.
Responding to the challenge of clinically relevant osteopathic research: efficacy and beyond

The osteopathic profession has been challenged over the past decade to provide clinically relevant research. The conduct of evidence-based osteopathic research is imperative not only for scientific, economic, and professional reasons, but also to drive health care policy and clinical practice guidelines. This paper summarizes recent studies in response to the osteopathic research challenge, including clinical trials registered with ClinicalTrials.gov and a systematic review and meta-analysis of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for low back pain. The concept of the OMT responder is introduced and supported with preliminary data. Within the context of a pain processing model, consideration is given to genomic (e.g., the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene) and psychological (e.g., depression and somatization) factors that are associated with pain sensitivity and pain progression, and to the role that such factors may play in screening for OMT responders. While substantial progress has been made in osteopathic research, much more needs to be done.
Control of an indoor autonomous mobile communications relay via antenna diversity

Presented here is a motion planning scheme for enabling a quadrotor to serve as an autonomous communications relay in indoor/GPS-denied environments. Using antenna selection diversity, the quadrotor is able to optimize its location in the communication chain so as to maximize the link throughput. Measurements of the communications field drive a gradient descent algorithm that moves the quadrotor to an optimal location while avoiding obstacles, all without the use of positioning data.
Adaptive modulation approach for robust MPEG-4 AAC encoded audio transmission

In this paper, we present a robust transmission scheme for MPEG-4 AAC encoded audio data over fading wireless channels using Unequal Error Protection based on adaptive modulation and forward error correcting (FEC) codes. The encoded audio data is divided into three error sensitivity categories and a suitable combination of FEC and modulation order is determined for each category. The results are compared with non-adaptive (single order) modulation with FEC for the same channel conditions. Perceptual Evaluation of Audio Quality (PEAQ)-Objective Difference Grade (ODG) score has been chosen to measure decoded audio quality. Simulation results are presented as PEAQ-ODG score vs. channel signal to noise ratio at a fixed channel bandwidth. The proposed scheme achieves significant performance gain over the non-adaptive error protection scheme.
Heterogeneity of epidermal growth factor binding kinetics on individual cells

Binding of fluorescein-conjugated epidermal growth factor (EGF) to individual A431 cells at 4 degrees C is measured by a quantitative fluorescence imaging technique. After background fluorescence and cell autofluorescence photobleaching corrections, the kinetic data are fit to simple models of one monovalent site and two independent monovalent sites, both of which include a first-order dye photobleaching process. Model simulations and the results from data analysis indicate that the one-monovalent-site model does not describe EGF binding kinetics at the single-cell level, whereas the two-site model is consistent with, but not proved by, the single-cell binding data. In addition, the kinetics of binding of fluorescein-EGF to different cells from the same coverslip often differ significantly from each other, indicating cell-to-cell variations in the binding properties of the EGF receptor.
The American Omnivore's Dilemma: Who Constructs “Organic” Food?

In the process of starting a farmers market I have been confronted with many differing ideas about organic and sustainable food, from sources as varied as farmers and regulatory agencies to consumers and market volunteers. Each person seems to have a completely different working concept of organic food, how it is grown and what it means for personal and public health. Furthermore, the word “organic,” as popularly constituted, has absorbed many meanings which aren't strictly related to the process of creating organic goods or even the regulatory characterizations of the word-as-label. This is a first attempt to grapple with my experiences arising from the establishment of the farmers market working with farmers, farm advocacy groups, local regulators, and consumers and my observations of the often-contradictory perspectives of the various groups interested in the production and consumption of organic foods. Additionally, I provide a brief summary of some of the areas of food practice and belief surrounding...
The Social Behavior of two Species of Closely Related Leopard Lizards, Gambelia silus and Gambelia wislizenii

and Summary The displays and social behavior of two closely related species of leopard lizards, Gambelia silus and Gambelia wislizenii, are described. 1 The main difference between the social behavior of the two species is the presence of home range defense in G. silus and the lack of it in G. wislizenii. G. silus is typical of iguanids in its use of displays and defense of a home range by males. However, G. wislizenii is unusual because both sexes display infrequently, the displays do not appear to be associated with interactions between conspecifics, and neither sex defends a home range. 2 Male G. silus are most likely defending an area where they can find a female on a day to day basis. The larger male home ranges included more females than the smallest home ranges. Food, burrows, basking, and shelter sites did not appear to be the primary defended resource. 3 The absence of home range defense in G. wislizenii is related to its diet of vertebrate prey, mode of foraging and poor visibility in the habitat. The costs of destroying its camouflage in terms of capture of prey and predator avoidance appear to be greater than the benefits of defending a territory.
Modulation of Cocaine-Induced Antinociception by Opioid-Receptor Agonists

Abstract Cocaine can produce antinociception in a number of animal models. The present experiments were designed to determine if opioid receptor agonists modulate cocaine-induced antinociception in rats. Cocaine produced a dose-dependent increase in antinociception in the hot-plate, but not paw-pressure, test. The combination of cocaine and morphine or [D-Pen 2 , D-Pen 5 ]enkephalin (DPDPE) produced results no greater than simple additivity in the hot-plate test. However, the combination of cocaine and morphine produced greater antinociception than morphine alone in the paw-pressure test. A low dose of U69,593 potentiated the effects of cocaine in the hot-plate test. In contrast, cocaine attenuated the effect of U69,593 in the paw-pressure test. Both naltrexone and the selective κ-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphamine (nor-BNI) blocked the potentiation of cocaine-induced antinociception by U69,593. The combination of U69,593 and cocaine can produce superadditive or subadditive effects, depending upon the doses and antinciceptive assay used.
CORTICAL ONTOGENY IN ROOTS. I. ZEA MAYS

meristem ontogeny. The number of cell layers in the cortex decreases from approximately 15 to 11 during early root growth. The cortex arises mostly by periclinal divisions in the outer portions of the ground meristem at levels 50-150 um from the meristem tip, although some layers of outer cortex arise beyond 150 um. The proendodermis contributes 3-5 cell layers to the cortex, but this contribution diminishes during early seedling growth as anticlinal divisions occur in the proendodermis. The relationship between the ground meristem and protoderm changes at the tip of the meristem during root elongation. GENERAL ASPECTS of root cortical ontogeny have long been known for many species of vascular plants (Hanstein, 1868; Janczewski, 1874; Kroemer, 1903; Schiiepp, 1926; Williams, 1947; Guttenberg, 1968). The observations of cortical origin from a single apical tier, or histogen, by Hanstein (1868) and of the 'cambium-like' nature of the proendodermal layer of the ground meristem by Engard (1944) and Williams (1947) have contributed to notions (Williams, 1947) that sequentially related periclinal divisions in the proendodermis give rise to all layers of the root cortex. Williams also implied that these patterns typify all flowering plants. Further, Heimsch (1960) showed an association between protophloem position and proendodermal activity in enlarging tomato roots.
Self-healing components in robust software architecture for concurrent and distributed systems

This paper describes an approach to designing self-healing components for robust, concurrent and distributed software architecture. A self-healing component is able to detect object anomalies inside of the component, reconfigure inter-component and intra-components before and after repairing the sick object, repair it, and then test the healed object. For this, each self-healing component is structured to the layered architecture with two layers, the service layer and the healing layer, which are designed separately from each other. The service layer of a self-healing component provides functional services to other components, whereas the healing layer encapsulates the self-healing mechanism for monitoring objects in the service layer and repairing the sick objects detected. The process of component self-healing includes detection, reconfiguration before and after repairing, repair, and testing. To illustrate this approach, the elevator system is considered.
Neural systems analysis of decision making during goal-directed navigation

The ability to make adaptive decisions during goal-directed navigation is a fundamental and highly evolved behavior that requires continual coordination of perceptions, learning and memory processes, and the planning of behaviors. Here, a neurobiological account for such coordination is provided by integrating current literatures on spatial context analysis and decision-making. This integration includes discussions of our current understanding of the role of the hippocampal system in experience-dependent navigation, how hippocampal information comes to impact midbrain and striatal decision making systems, and finally the role of the striatum in the implementation of behaviors based on recent decisions. These discussions extend across cellular to neural systems levels of analysis. Not only are key findings described, but also fundamental organizing principles within and across neural systems, as well as between neural systems functions and behavior, are emphasized. It is suggested that studying decision making during goal-directed navigation is a powerful model for studying interactive brain systems and their mediation of complex behaviors.
Designing phonons for active use in terahertz devices

Semiconductor nanostructures, such as quantum wells and quantum dots, are well known, and some have been incorporated in applications. Here we propose a new general approach to make use of polar optical phonons in quantum wells for terahertz (THz) devices. As the first example, we show the coupling of phonon and intersubband transition leading to Fano resonance in photocurrent spectra. We investigate the phenomenon experimentally in specially designed GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well infrared photodetectors. Finally, we discuss the future research and potentials.
Highly linear four quadrant analogue BiCMOS multiplier for ±1.5 V supply operation

A highly linear four-quadrant analogue BiCMOS multiplier is presented. It operates with ±1.5V supplies and with 2V peak to peak input and output signal wings. It is based on the use of crosscoupled, voltage biased differential pairs. Experimental results of a CMOS test chip are presented that confirm the proposed structure.
The Struggle for Student Rights: Tinker v. Des Moines and the 1960s

Tension between free speech and social stability has been a central concern throughout American history. In the 1960s that concern reached a fever pitch with the anti-Vietnam War movement. When antiwar sentiment "invaded" American schools, official resolve to retain order in the classroom vied with the rights of students to speak freely. A key event in that face-off was the Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines. As the most important student rights case ever to reach the Supreme Court, Tinker raises important issues regarding First Amendment freedoms and provides a fascinating legal window on a turbulent era.
Gene therapy for red–green colour blindness in adult primates

Red-green colour blindness, which results from the absence of either the long- (L) or middle- (M) wavelength-sensitive visual photopigments, is the most common single locus genetic disorder. Here, the possibility of curing colour blindness using gene therapy was explored in experiments on adult monkeys that had been colour blind since birth. A third type of cone pigment was added to dichromatic retinas, providing the receptoral basis for trichromatic colour vision. This opened a new avenue to explore the requirements for establishing the neural circuits for a new dimension of colour sensation. Classic visual deprivation experiments1 have led to the expectation that neural connections established during development would not appropriately process an input that was not present from birth. Therefore, it was believed that treatment of congenital vision disorders would be ineffective unless administered to the very young. Here, however, addition of a third opsin in adult red-green colour-deficient primates was sufficient to produce trichromatic colour vision behaviour. Thus, trichromacy can arise from a single addition of a third cone class and it does not require an early developmental process. This provides a positive outlook for the potential of gene therapy to cure adult vision disorders.