cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Timing of Pubertal Maturation in Girls: An Integrated Life History Approach.

Life history theory provides a metatheoretical framework for the study of pubertal timing from an evolutionary-developmental perspective. The current article reviews 5 middle-level theories--energetics theory stress-suppression theory psychosocial acceleration theory paternal investment theory and child development theory--each of which applies the basic assumptions of life history theory to the question of environmental influences on timing of puberty in girls. These theories converge in their conceptualization of pubertal timing as responsive to ecological conditions but diverge in their conceptualization of: a. the nature extent and direction of environmental influences and; b. the effects of pubertal timing on other reproductive variables. Comparing hypotheses derived from the 5 perspectives are evaluated. An extension of W.T. Boyce and B.J. Elliss (in press) theory of stress reactivity is proposed to account for both inhibiting and accelerating effects of psychosocial stress on timing of pubertal development. This review highlights the multiplicity of (often unrecognized) perspectives guiding research raises challenges to virtually all of these and presents an alternative framework in an effort to move research forward in this arena of multidisciplinary inquiry. (authors)
Interactions of mitochondrial inhibitors with methylmercury on spontaneous quantal release of acetylcholine

Abstract The interaction of methylmercury (MeHg) with various inhibitors of mitochondrial function (dinitrophenol, 50 μ m ; dicoumarol, 100 μ m ; valinomycin, 20 μ m ; and ruthenium red, 20 μ m ) on spontaneous quantal release of acetylcholine was tested at the neuromuscular junction of the rat. The objective was to determine whether these mitochondrial inhibitors blocked the MeHg-induced increase of spontaneous release of acetylcholine, an effect measured electrophysiologically as increased miniature endplate potential (MEPP) frequency. MEPPs were recorded from myofibers of the rat hemidiaphragm using conventional, intracellular microelectrode recording techniques. When given alone, all four inhibitors increased MEPP frequency from resting levels of 1–2/sec (Hz) to approximately 10–60 Hz after a latency which ranged from 5 to 30 min. MEPP frequency subsequently returned to control levels. Subsequent concomitant application of MeHg (100 μ m ) with dinitrophenol, dicoumarol, or valinomycin increased MEPP frequency sharply to peak values of 40–60 Hz after 15–20 min. MEPP frequency subsided to pre-MeHg levels 10 min later. The time course and peak MEPP frequency elicited by MeHg after pretreatment with these uncouplers were similar to results obtained in preparations treated with MeHg alone. Ruthenium red, a putative specific inhibitor of the Ca2+ uptake uniporter in mitochondria, increased MEPP frequency to 12 Hz after 8.5 min when given alone. MEPP frequency returned to control levels approximately 10 min later. Subsequent application of MeHg and ruthenium red for up to 80 min failed to increase MEPP frequency. The inability of MeHg to increase MEPP frequency in ruthenium red-treated preparations was not due to depletion of acetylcholine nor to block of postjunctional receptors by ruthenium red since subsequent treatment with La3+ (2m m ) increased MEPP frequency to 12.5 Hz within 10 min. Thus, ruthenium red blocked the stimulatory effect of MeHg on MEPP frequency while uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation and a K+ ionophore did not. The results with ruthenium red are consistent with the proposal that MeHg may block mitochondrial uptake of Ca2+ or promote its release, leading to an increased free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration which in turn stimulates spontaneous release of acetylcholine.
Voices inside a poet's garden: John Masefield's theatricals at Boar's Hill

Press reports of John Masefield's theatrical activities at Boar's Hill paradoxically detail his energetic idealism and ability to speak across social boundaries, efforts at once both democratic and elitist. A cultural reading of these reports, besides documenting one neglected facet of Masefield's theatrical career, exposes contrasting values embedded and unrecognized by those within the Boar's Hill Circle and connects “the poet's elocution” and Masefield's theatricals with larger cultural and social debates over appropriate speech, leisure time activities as cultural enrichment, and social mobility.
Chromatography of human leukocyte interferon on controlled pore glass

Human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha ) was adsorbed on controlled pore glass (CPG) beads in 0.01 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.2. Partial recovery fo HuIFN-alpha from CPG, ranging from 50% to 75%, was obtained with ethylene glycol (6.8 M), ammonium chloride (1.0 M) and Tris.HCl (1.0 M). A near complete recovery (90%) was obtained with potassium phosphate (1 M), but there was no selectivity in the elution vis a vis other proteins. An efficient elution of HuIFN-alpha was accomplished with tetramethyl-, and tetraethylammonium chlorides: the recovery of HuIFN-alpha was complete at low concentrations (0.25 M to 0.50 M) of these salts at pH 8.0 and the elution of interferon was more selective than with other eluants.
Utilizing in-situ resources and 3D printing structures for a manned Mars mission

Abstract This paper presents a manned Mars mission, which is based on the use of in-situ resources for the fabrication of structures. First, it provides an overview of the two-phase mission. In phase one, robotic construction units prepare a functional base for phase-two human habitation. Then, it describes a set of prospective structures that can be created utilizing additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing) techniques and in situ materials. Next, the technological advancements required to allow this type of mission are considered and their feasibility is discussed. Specific focus is given to the topics of basalt 3D printing and the maintenance of the pressure environment. The process of the construction of the base is also discussed. Finally the proposed approach is analyzed through comparison to prior missions, before concluding.
EVALUATING THE FEASIBILITY OF DETERMINING TOTAL PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE AS HOMOCYSTEIC ACID USING ION-EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY

Total homocysteine content in plasma has been linked to the risk of occlusive vascular disease. Plasma homocysteine is present in multiple forms. Current methods for total plasma homocysteine analysis use reducing agents to convert other homocysteine-related compounds to homocysteine before analysis. Due to the incompleteness of reduction and the possibility of re-oxidation for homocysteine, accurate determination of total plasma homocysteine is not always achievable. In this research, performic acid is used to oxidize homocysteine-related compounds to homocysteic acid. The oxidized samples are separated and analyzed for homocysteic acid by ion-exchange chromatography with post-column ninhydrin derivatization and "spectrometric detection. The evaluation of performic acid oxidation on several homocysteine-related compounds and the feasibility of determining plasma homocysteine as homocysteic acid are studied.
A 7-Point Program for Successful Academic Research in Marketing:

The farther you are from North America, the more challenging it is to pursue a successful academic career in Marketing. Provided are seven concrete recommendations that should help make that task a...
MORPHOLOGY OF SOME MAIZE-TRIPSACUM HYBRIDS

A B S T R A C T Diploid (2n = 20) and tetraploid (2n = 40) Zea mays L. were crossed with diploid (2n = 36) and tetraploid (2n = 72) Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L. to produce a series of hybrids combining different numbers of haploid genomes from each parent. Eight hybrid groups and three parental groups were studied morphologically. Twenty-nine quantitative characters were recorded for each sample. Data were analyzed by univariate analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, and discriminant function analysis, in an attempt to evaluate hybrid differences objectively and determine which morphological characters contribute statistically to group separation. The overall MANOVA F test was significant, establishing the presence of real differences between the hybrids; discriminant function analysis indicated that the percent of paired pistillate spikelets/cupule in the lateral inflorescence was the main variable which differentiated hybrids. Duncan's Multiple Range Tests for significant differences between means were applied to five variables contributing maximally to group discrimination, using the appropriate univariate ANOVAs. Pronounced maize-like attributes of backcross hybrids, as compared with corresponding F1's possessing similar genome constitutions, gave possible evidence of gene transfer between Zea mays and Tripsaculm during backcrossing to maize.
Rapid and Efficient Radiosyntheses of meta-Substituted [18F]Fluoroarenes from [18F]Fluoride Ion and Diaryliodonium ­Tosylates within a Microreactor

Effective methods for the introduction of the short-lived positron-emitter fluorine-18 (t(1/2) = 109.7 min) at high specific radioactivity into fluoroarenes are valuable for the development of radiotracers for molecular imaging with positron emission tomography. Here we have explored the scope of the radiofluorination of diaryliodonium salts with no-carrier-added [(18)F]fluoride ion for the preparation of otherwise difficult to access meta-substituted [(18)F]fluoroarenes. A microfluidic reaction platform was used to establish optimal radiochemical yields. Rapid, high yielding and selective radiofluorinations were achieved in unsymmetrical diaryliodonium tosylates (ArI(+)Ar'TsO(-)) in which Ar carried either a meta electron-withdrawing (CN, NO(2), CF(3)) or a meta electron-donating (Me or MeO) group, and in which the partner aryl group (Ar') was relatively electron-rich, such as Ph, 3-Me-C(6)H(4), 4-MeO-C(6)H(4), 2-thienyl or 5-Me-2-thienyl. The radiofluorination of appropriate diaryliodonium tosylates is therefore a generally useful method for the preparation of simple [(18)F]m-fluoroarenes ([(18)F]ArF).
Gamma Radiation Measurements of Bulk Density Changes in a Soil Pedon Following Irrigation

Bulk density in a soil pedon was measured with a gamma transmission technique utilizing /sup 137/Cs and /sup 241/Am. Both gamma-ray sources could not be used simultaneously for bulk density determinations in a system where the sources were uncollimated and the detector was not shielded. By alternating sources for each scan down the soil profile, it was shown that bulk density decreased in the top 6 cm of soil about 30 minutes after water was ponded on the soil surface. As soon as the water drained from the surface, bulk density values approached preirrigation levels. Changes in height of the soil surface upon irrigation corresponded with changes in bulk density. (auth)
Natal philopatry and breeding area fidelity of long-billed curlews (Numenius americanus): Patterns and evolutionary consequences

Long-billed curlews (Numenius americanus) appear unique among scolopacid shorebirds so far studied in possessing a significant sex bias in natal philopatry. We resighted 9 curlews at least attempting to breed that were color-banded as chicks; 8 of these were males. Male curlews also cooperate extensively with neighbors in mobbing potential chick predators. This mutualistic behavior may have evolved through kin selection among philopatric males. If so, we would expect such an evolutionary consequence to lead to a similar sex bias in breeding area fidelity. Yet our resightings of colorbanded adults over 4 consecutive years indicate that males and females were equally likely to return to previous nesting territories. Excessive disturbance such as capture and nest loss within a single breeding season was correlated with the likelihood of breeding dispersal by females but not males. This suggests potentially stronger breeding area fidelity of males.
Rapid detection and identification of liquid crystal states by light scattering

Thermotropic mesophases can be detected by the light scattering properties of these phases. This article deals with a rapid scan technique for the detection and characterization of these mesophases by measuring light scattering as a function of temperature. From the number of compounds studied it is apparent that the method allows for a rapid and reasonably precise determination of transition temperatures. In addition, the method is found to be useful in the characterization of mesophases, in particular the nematic phase.
Analog Computer Model for the ACTH-Glucocorticoid System

A closed-loop analog computer model for corticosterone dynamics in the male rat is presented in an attempt to examine some existing experimental evidence which suggests contradictory characteristics of the ACTH-glucocorticoid system. First-order compartmental kinetics model the removal of ACTH and corticosterone from the blood. Nonlinear models are used to describe the release of corticosterone by the rat adrenal cortex in response to ACTH in blood, and for the release of ACTH by the anterior pituitary in response to corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypophyseal portal system. Curve-fitting techniques are used for each system function to adjust the analog to obtain good agreement with laboratory data. The gross characteristics of the neurosecretion of CRF and the resulting ACTH secretion are identified by using portions of the model to simulate various physical experiments.
On the development of hierarchial solution strategies for nonlinear finite element formulations

This paper develops a hierarchical type solution scheme which can handle the field equations associated with nonlinear finite element simulations. The overall procedure possesses various levels of application namely degree of freedom, nodal, elemental, substructural as well as global. In particular iteration, updating, assembly and solution control occurs at the various hierarchical levels. Due to the manner of formulation, the degree of matrix inversion depends on the size of the various hierarchical partitioned groups. In this context, degree of freedom partitioning requires no inversion. To benchmark the overall scheme, the results of several numerical examples are presented.
Neural and Hormonal Control of Pupation in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Galleriidae)

Neural and hormonal regulation of development from the last larval ecdysis to pupation was studied in the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.). An obligatory prepupation feeding period of about 24 hr followed the larval ecdysis. Endocrine competence of the brain fell to a low level at this time, and its subsequent increase depended on the functioning of the suboesophageal ganglion during the 2 or 3 days immediately following ecdysis. The maintenance of brain endocrine activity–presumably prothoracotropic hormone (PTH) production–was required during most of the stadium. During this period, the endocrine activity of the brain could be suppressed by: (1) brief exposure of the larvae to low temperatures; (2) severance of the ventral nerve cord in the 1st abdominal segment; (3) extirpation of the terminal terminal ventral ganglion; and (4) ligation of the abdomen at segment 6. Using H. Piepho's system of developmental staging based on degree of eye pigment retraction, it was found that dependency on terminal ganglion function ended early in eye pigment stage 3 (31); proctodone dependency ended late in that stage (32); dependence on PTH ceased at a point intermediate between stages 3 and 4; and dependency on ecdysone continued until early in stage 4. Pupation could also be inhibited by enforced distortion of body form, up to eye pigment stage 4. Distortion inhibited pupation by the suppression of ecdysone production; the administration of crystalline ecdysone promoted continued development among distorted larvae.
Optical Absorption in Cerium Dioxide Thin Films

Les proprietes optiques de CeO 2 dependent beaucoup des techniques de preparation des echantillons. Dans le present travail, les films fins de CeO 2 sont prepares par evaporation du cerium metallique suivie par l'oxydation. Mise en evidence de la dependance des limites d'absorption vis-a-vis des epaisseurs du film
Rachels, abortion, and the seventeenth century.

L'A. etudie la complexite du probleme de l'avortement a la lumiere de la pensee de J. Rachels qui denonce la simplicite de l'argumentation des penseurs catholiques en faveur de la vie du foetus. L'A. montre que la position de l'Eglise se fonde sur des erreurs scientifiques datant du XVII e siecle
On the β-Induced Coastal Trapping of a Baroclinic Eddy

Abstract A recurring mesoscale (diameter 100–150 km) baroclinic anticyclonic eddy lies proximate to the shelf break of the southeastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand new Cook Strait. Its appearance and persistence is interpreted in terms of a trapping mechanism suggested by Nof, which consists of an eddy-integrated dynamical balance formed between the β-induced equatorward force and a poleward directed pressure gradient attributed to an opposing southward flowing barotropic coastal current. For parameter values typical of the eddy, calculations show that alongshore coastal flows within the East Cape Current in the range of 2–10 cm s−1 would be sufficient to arrest and trap the eddy.
Ion-excited nickel KLN satellite X-ray spectra

Abstract Ni Kα spectra from 61 MeV Ni → Ni collisions were measured with a transmission crystal (Cauchois) X-ray spectrometer. Kα satellite peak spacings computed from Hartree-Fock-Slater theory depart significantly from experiment with increasing atomic number.
The pacifier debate.

To the Editor In their recent Pediatrics article, Hauck et al1 reported on the association between pacifier use at last sleep and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and recommended universal pacifier use to reduce the risk of SIDS. It is far from clear, however, that pacifiers play a causal role in SIDS. Each of the 9 studies in the meta-analysis conducted by Hauck et al used a case-control design to assess whether a pacifier was used during the last sleep before SIDS death, or the sleep among control infants. In such a study design, there is potential for differential recall bias between parents of infants with SIDS and those of control infants on the basis of both the timing of the questioning and the parents' perceptions of whether pacifier use is “right.” If an infant usually used a pacifier, it seems unlikely that control parents could recall whether the infant did or did not …
Pathways for Introgression of Pest Resistance into Arachis hypogaea L.1

Abstract Four pathways for gene introgression into Arachis hypogaea L. were studied. Two “hexaploid routes” involved direct crosses of diploid Arachis species and diploid species hybrids with A. hy...
Fibular Position in Individuals with Self-Reported Chronic Ankle Instability

Study Design Case control study. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the position of the distal fibula in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Background Recent literature has suggested that a positional fault of the fibula on the tibia may contribute to CAI; however, there is a lack of objective scientific evidence to support this claim. Methods and Measures Thirty subjects with unilateral CAI (mean ± SD age, 20.3 ± 1.3 years) and 30 subjects with no previous history of ankle injury (mean ± SD age, 21.3 ± 3.8 years) participated in this study. Subjects completed a pair of subjective functional scales and fluoroscopic lateral images of both the right and left ankles were recorded. The distance from the anterior margin of the distal tibia to the anterior margin of the distal fibula was measured in millimeters. Nonparametric statistics were used to assess the relationship between fibular position and CAI status. Results There were significant differences between the CAI and contr...
Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of the enantiomers of metoprolol in serum using a chiral stationary phase

Metoprolol, a beta-adrenergic blocker, is only available as a racemic mixture for clinical use. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of the optical isomers (enantiomers) in human serum is described utilizing a commercially available column with a cellulose tris (3,5-dimethylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase. Separation of the enantiomers is accomplished without precolumn derivatization using a mobile phase of hexane-2-propanol-diethylamine (91:8:1, v/v). The method can be successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies in man.
Polarization and scattering of a long-duration meteor trail

[1] High-power, large-aperture (HPLA) radars have been used over the past two decades to characterize the plasmas formed both around and behind meteoroids as they enter Earth's atmosphere. These plasmas, referred to as heads and trails, respectively, occur with relative frequency (peak head echo detection rate of ∼1/s) but are extremely diverse and have been difficult to define in a general sense. One particular type of plasma, referred to as the nonspecular trail, occurs when the meteoroid travels quasi-parallel to the radar beam with the radar beam lying quasi-perpendicular to the background magnetic field. Reflection is believed to occur from field-aligned irregularities (FAIs) that form after the trail becomes unstable. While FAI scattering pertains to the majority of nonspecular trails that are short in duration, a subset of these trails, referred to as long-duration trails, still remains open to interpretation. In this paper we present a case study analysis of a long-duration, nonspecular trail and its associated head echo detected with the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) Long-Range Tracking and Identification Radar (ALTAIR), which is an HPLA radar. These data are unique in that they are high resolution (with monopulse angles), dual frequency, and, most importantly, dual polarized, which allows for unprecedented insight into the scattering process from both heads and trails. First, we determine the velocity and mass of the parent meteoroid, which is a particle weighing more than a milligram and is one of the largest meteoroids ever detected by ALTAIR. Second, we determine the peak plasma density and polarization of the head echo and characterize the unique, yet strong returns in the opposite polarization, which may be due to multiple scattering centers within the range gate. Finally, we examine the polarization properties of the trail and discuss the first conclusive evidence of polarization flipping along the trail striations, which we believe corresponds to sharp gradients at the edges of the trail related to turbulent mixing of a dusty plasma that is elongating along the magnetic field. We look into a new idea, namely, the notion that some nonspecular echoes might correspond to a high Schmidt number, dusty plasma, as is found in and above noctilucent clouds. Our results show how polarized return can aid in scattering diagnostics and that single polarization radars must be used with caution for determining head and trail plasma densities given that some of the return can occur in the “unexpected” channel.
von Willebrand Factor Genetic Variant Associated With Hematoma Expansion After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background Hematoma expansion, the leading cause of neurologic deterioration after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), remains one of the few modifiable risk factors for poor outcome. In the present study, we explored whether common genetic variants within the hemostasis pathway were related to hematoma expansion during the acute period after ICH. Methods Patients with spontaneous ICH who were admitted to the institutional Neuro-ICU between 2009 and 2011 were enrolled in the study, and clinical data were collected prospectively. Hematoma size was measured in patients admitted on or before postbleed day 2. Baseline models for hematoma growth were constructed using backwards stepwise logistic regression. Genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms for 13 genes involved in hemostasis was performed, and the results were individually included in the above baseline models to test for independent association of hematoma expansion. Results During the study period, 82 patients were enrolled in the study and had complete data. The mean age was 65.9 ± 14.9 years, and 38% were female. Only von Willebrand factor was associated with absolute and relative hematoma growth in univariate analysis ( P P = .007, respectively); von Willebrand factor genotype was independently predictive of relative hematoma growth but only approached significance for absolute hematoma growth ( P = .002 and P = .097, respectively). Conclusions Our genomic analysis of various hemostatic factors identified von Willebrand factor as a potential predictor of hematoma expansion in patients with ICH. The identification of von Willebrand factor single-nucleotide polymorphisms may allow us to better identify patients who are at risk for hematoma enlargement and will benefit the most from treatment. The relationship of von Willebrand factor with regard to hematoma enlargement in a larger population warrants further study.
Proxemics: The application of theory to conflict arising from antiabortion demonstrations

Theories concerning the cultural use of space have found an unexpected application. Antiabortion demonstrators at Boulder Abortion Clinic in Boulder, Colorado became increasingly aggressive and provoked widespread community opposition to their activities. As the result of harassment of the clinic's patients, a prochoice group asked the Boulder City Council to enact a "buffer zone" ordinance to protect women entering the clinic from antiabortion harassment. The ordinance, containing specific approach distance limitations, was adopted and was immediately challenged in court. Clinic officials then called Dr. Edward Hall and a social psychologist, Dr. Marianne LaFrance, to testify concerning proxemic theory. The ordinance was upheld.
Model-based WYSIWYG: dimensional metrology infrastructure for design and integration

The purpose of this paper is to name and discuss some of the most basic issues in today's optical microlithography and to promote consensuses building, helping with the emergence of a superior model-based WYSIWYG patterning paradigm.
Verbal predictive ability and performance on selected science process tasks

This study investigated the relationships between verbal predictive ability, as measured by a word deletion technique called the “cloze procedure,” and performance on selected science process tasks. The results of the study confirmed a highly significant relationship between the two variables, but failed to show that verbal predictive ability is a significantly better predictor of process task achievement than is a standardized test of verbal ability. It is suggested that the results could be utilized in the design of teacher education programs in science if these programs focus primarily on the processes of science.
Influence of stocking, site quality, stand age, low-severity canopy disturbance, and forest composition on sub-boreal aspen mixedwood carbon stocks

Low-severity canopy disturbance presumably influences forest carbon dynamics during the course of stand development, yet the topic has received relatively little attention. This is surprising becau...
Sensory rhodopsins I and II modulate a methylation/demethylation system in Halobacterium halobium phototaxis.

This work demonstrates that phototaxis stimuli in the archaebacterium Halobacterium halobium control a methylation/demethylation system in vivo through photoactivation of sensory rhodopsin I (SR-I) in either its attractant or repellent signaling form as well as through the repellent receptor sensory rhodopsin II (SR-II, also called phoborhodopsin). The effects of positive stimuli that suppress swimming reversals (i.e., an increase in attractant or decrease in repellent light) and negative stimuli that induce swimming reversals (i.e., a decrease in attractant or increase in repellent light) through each photoreceptor were monitored by assaying release of volatile [3H]methyl groups. This assay has been used to measure [3H]methanol produced during the process of adaptation to chemotactic stimuli in eubacteria. In H. halobium positive photostimuli produce a transient increase in the rate of demethylation followed by a decrease below the unstimulated value, whereas negative photostimuli cause an increase followed by a rate similar to that of the unstimulated value. Photoactivation of the SR-I attractant and simultaneous photoactivation of the SR-II repellent receptors cancel in their effects on demethylation, demonstrating the methylation system is regulated by an integrated signal. Analysis of mutants indicates that the source for the volatile methyl groups is intrinsic membrane proteins distinct from the chromoproteins that share the membrane. A methyl-accepting protein (94 kDa) previously correlated in amount with the SR-I chromoprotein (25 kDa) is shown here to be missing in a recently isolated SR-I-SR-II+ mutant (Flx3b), thus confirming the association of this protein with SR-I. Photoactivated SR-II in mutant Flx3b controls demethylation, predicting the existence of a photomodulated methyl-accepting component distinct from the 94-kDa protein of SR-I. We present a model in which the three known phototaxis signaling receptor states (the attractant receptor SR-I587, its repellent form S373, and the repellent receptor SR-II490) are coupled to two distinct transducers the demethylation of which is controlled by one integrated signal.
Adult-specific functions of animal microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~22 nt RNAs that coordinate vast regulatory networks in animals and thereby influence myriad processes. This Review examines evidence that miRNAs have continuous roles in adults in ways that are separable from developmental control. Adult-specific activities for miRNAs have been described in various stem cell populations, in the context of neural function and cardiovascular biology, in metabolism and ageing, and during cancer. In addition to reviewing recent results, we also discuss methods for studying miRNA activities specifically in adults and evaluate their relative strengths and weaknesses. A fuller understanding of continuous functions of miRNAs in adults has bearing on efforts and opportunities to manipulate miRNAs for therapeutic purposes.
Diagnosis and treatment planning of skeletal asymmetry with the submental-vertical radiograph

The purpose of this study was to assess the reproducibility of landmarks visible in the submental-vertical radiographic projection. Ten subjects with at least a 2 mm apical base discrepancy as diagnosed by means of a posteroanterior headfilm were selected. Mean tracing and measurement error was found to be less than 1 mm for all landmarks. A system of patient orientation and radiographic technique is presented. The radiographs were made at 90 kVp, 15 mA, 1 second exposure, using Kodak Lanex X-D film with a speed of 600. A system of cephalometric analysis is presented for the assessment of skeletal asymmetry in the horizontal plane. This system of analysis uses landmarks within the cranial base, maxilla, and mandible to construct reference lines with which to assess asymmetry. These reference systems allow the assessment of asymmetry within each component part of the craniofacial complex as well as the relative relationship of these parts to one another. Examples are presented to demonstrate the use of this system in assessing skeletal asymmetry. These examples show how this system of analysis can be incorporated into the data base for a particular patient and how it can be useful in making treatment decisions for patients with skeletal asymmetries. This method lends itself to future incorporation into a three-dimensional computerized cephalometric analysis.
NMR imaging of immiscible displacements in porous media

We introduce a rapid, quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) technique to resolve and measure multiple fluid phases in porous media. Liquids are resolved on the basis of their NMR spin-spin (T{sub 2}) relaxation times, and their intensities are corrected via attenuation analysis. The spatially resolved and corrected NMRI intensities are normalized to yield fluid saturations. In-situ saturation measurements are presented for three immiscible (oil and water) displacements in the same Berea sandstone core. NMRI and effluent recovery methods were compared. T{sub 2} of the displacement fluids were observed to be sensitive to displacement conditions.
Effects of treatments with apomorphine, haloperidol and ethanol on apomorphine-induced changes in body temperature in the rat

Abstract In previous research, we discovered two DA-related thermoregulatory mechanisms in the rat: a haloperidol-sensitive, hypothermia-inducing mechanism and a haloperidol-nonsensitive, hyperthermia-inducing mechanism. The latter mechanism must also involve serotonin, since its activity can be blocked by serotonin antagonists. We have now found that the responsiveness of these mechanisms to apomorphine could be selectively affected by acute pretreatments with apomorphine, haloperidol and ethanol. The hypothermia-inducing mechanism was supersensitized by pretreatment with either haloperidol (0.25 mg kg , administered 5 days earlier) or ethanol (3 g kg , 15 h), but was not affected by pretreatment with apomorphine (1 mg kg , 15h). In contrast, the hyperthermia-inducing mechanism was supersensitized and desensitized by similar pretreatments with apomorphine and ethanol, respectively, but was not affected by pretreatment with haloperidol.
Theory and simulation of nonrelativistic elliptic-beam formation with one-dimensional Child-Langmuir flow characteristics

A theory of nonrelativistic, laminar, elliptic-beam formation is presented. The beam is shown to have the one-dimensional Child-Langmuir flow form. An analytic expression for the electrostatic potential outside the beam is derived. Equipotentials corresponding to electrode surfaces are computed numerically. The effectiveness of the electric field formed by the electrodes in focusing and preserving the elliptic, 1D Child-Langmuir flow beam is verified via 3D ray-tracing simulations.
Charge-transfer excitations in partly-inoic complexes

Abstract The Mulliken dimer of admixed DA and D+ A− Configurations requires extensive generatlization to solid complexes of π-donors (D) and π-acceptors (A) with many more configurations. Diagrammatic valence-bond techniques yield correlated crystal states that rationalize the cohesive energy of party-ionic (q ∼0.05) orgainic complexes, lead naturally to a q-dependent kinetic energy contribution, and produce charge-transfer (CT) excitations and intensities that differ signigicantly from dimer results for intermediate ionicity. CT. spectra in solids are sentitive to interstrand Coulomb interactions that stabilize intermediate q relative to both natural and ionic ground states.
Work in progress — Interpreting elementary students' advanced conceptions of engineering from the Draw-an-Engineer Test

The Draw-an-Engineer Test (DAET) is an age-appropriate instrument for collecting elementary students' conceptions of engineers and engineering. However, analysis of drawings can be challenging. To make using the instrument more manageable for measuring the impact of engineering integration into classrooms, it is desirable to code each drawing with one of a limited set of defined conceptions. Four conceptions were identified in prior work with students with little to no engineering instruction: laborer, mechanic, technician, and designer. In this prior work, few students demonstrated the conception of designer. As engineering has been integrated into classrooms, more drawings could be coded designer but the drawings also represent a wider variety of ideas about engineering. This Work in Progress (WIP) will look at representative samples of student drawings coded with the designer conception to highlight the emergent engineering ideas.
X10 on the single-chip cloud computer: porting and preliminary performance

The Single-Chip Cloud Computer (SCC) is an experimental processor created by Intel Labs. SCC is essentially a 'cluster-on-a-chip', so X10 with its support for places and remote asynchronous invocations is a natural fit for programming this platform. We report here on our experience porting X10 to the SCC, and show performance and scaling results for representative X10 benchmark applications. We compare results for our extensions to the SCC native messaging primitives in support of the X10 run-time, versus X10 on top of a prototype MPI API for SCC. The native SCC run-time exhibits better performance and scaling than the MPI binding. Scaling depends on the relative cost of computation versus communication in the workload used, since SCC is relatively underpowered for computation but has hardware support for message passing.
A Familiar-Size Stroop Effect: Real-World Size Is an Automatic Property of Object Representation.

When we recognize an object, do we automatically know how big it is in the world? We employed a Stroop-like paradigm, in which two familiar objects were presented at different visual sizes on the screen. Observers were faster to indicate which was bigger or smaller on the screen when the real-world size of the objects was congruent with the visual size than when it was incongruent--demonstrating a familiar-size Stroop effect. Critically, the real-world size of the objects was irrelevant for the task. This Stroop effect was also present when only one item was present at a congruent or incongruent visual size on the display. In contrast, no Stroop effect was observed for participants who simply learned a rule to categorize novel objects as big or small. These results show that people access the familiar size of objects without the intention of doing so, demonstrating that real-world size is an automatic property of object representation.
Symbolically modeling concurrent MCAPI executions

Improper use of Inter-Process Communication (IPC) within concurrent systems often creates data races which can lead to bugs that are challenging to discover. Techniques that use Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) problems to symbolically model possible executions of concurrent software have recently been proposed for use in the formal verification of software. In this work we describe a new technique for modeling executions of concurrent software that use a message passing API called MCAPI. Our technique uses an execution trace to create an SMT problem that symbolically models all possible concurrent executions and follows the same sequence of conditional branch outcomes as the provided execution trace. We check if there exists a satisfying assignment to the SMT problem with respect to specific safety properties. If such an assignment exists, it provides the conditions that lead to the violation of the property. We show how our method models behaviors of MCAPI applications that are ignored in previously published techniques.
Organizational Culture Mediates the Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Work Outcomes

The objectives of this study were to examine the mediating effect of group and developmental organizational culture types on the relationship between transformational leadership and three outcome variables—affective organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and job search behaviors. Senior administrators (n = 188) working in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic departments completed a survey assessing perceptions of leadership behavior of their athletic directors, the culture of their athletic departments, and their affective organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and job search behaviors. Results indicate that group culture partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and affective organizational commitment, and fully mediates turnover intentions and job search behaviors. Developmental culture partially mediates affective organizational commitment but has no influence on turnover intentions and job search behaviors. Findings contribute to the understanding of...
Database of non-canonical base pairs found in known RNA structures

Atomic resolution RNA structures are being published at an increasing rate. It is common to find a modest number of non-canonical base pairs in these structures in addition to the usual Watson-Crick pairs. This database summarizes the occurrence of these rare base pairs in accordance with standard nomenclature. The database, http://prion.bchs.uh.edu/, contains information such as sequence context, sugar pucker conformation, anti / syn base conformations, chemical shift, p K (a)values, melting temperature and free energy. Of the 29 anticipated pairs with two or more hydrogen bonds, 20 have been encountered to date. In addition, four unexpected pairs with two hydrogen bonds have been reported bringing the total to 24. Single hydrogen bond versions of five of the expected geometries have been encountered among the single hydrogen bond interactions. In addition, 18 different types of base triplets have been encountered, each of which involves three to six hydrogen bonds. The vast majority of the rare base pairs are antiparallel with the bases in the anti configuration relative to the ribose. The most common are the GU wobble, the Sheared GA pair, the Reverse Hoogsteen pair and the GA imino pair.
First Trimester Fetal Diagnosis: Principles and Potential Pitfalls in Enzymatic and Molecular Diagnoses

The ability to obtain and analyze chorionic villi (CV) in the first trimester of pregnancy represents a major advance in the prenatal diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases. CV, which are derived from the trophoblastic layer of the developing blastocyst, are presumed to accurately reflect the genetic status of the embryo and can be sampled as early as 8–9 menstrual weeks. Adequate fetal tissue (~10–100 mg) can be obtained by ultrasonically guided transcervical aspiration or direct biopsy for cytogenetic, biochemical, and DNA alanyses, thus avoiding time-consuming specimen cultures. In contrast to second trimester amniocentesis, a major advantage of chorionic villi sampling (CVS) is that diagnoses can be made in the first trimester of pregnancy. Thus, the psychologically stressful period of waiting for results is shortened, and if the fetus is affected, the parents can choose first trimester termination, which has significantly lower maternal morbidity and mortality rates than second trimester techniques.
TASSER‐based refinement of NMR structures

The TASSER structure prediction algorithm is employed to investigate whether NMR structures can be moved closer to their correspond- ing X-ray counterparts by automatic refinement procedures. The benchmark protein dataset in- cludes 61 nonhomologous proteins whose struc- tures have been determined by both NMR and X-ray experiments. Interestingly, by starting from NMR structures, the majority (79%) of TASSER refined models show a structural shift toward their X-ray structures. On average, the TASSER refined models have a root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) from the X-ray structure of 1.785 A (1.556 A) over the entire chain (aligned region), while the aver- age RMSD between NMR and X-ray structures (RMSDNMR_X-ray) is 2.080 A (1.731 A). For all proteins having a RMSDNMR_X-ray >2 A, the TASSER refined structures show consistent improvement. However, for the 34 proteins with a RMSDNMR_X-ray <2 A, there are only 21 cases (60%) where the TASSER model is closer to the X-ray structure than NMR, which may be due to the inherent resolution of TASSER. We also compare the TASSER models with 12 NMR models in the RECOORD database that have been recalculated recently by Nederveen et al. from origi- nal NMR restraints using the newest molecular dynamics tools. In 8 of 12 cases, TASSER models show a smaller RMSD to X-ray structures; in 3 of 12 cases, where RMSDNMR_X-ray <1 A, RECOORD does better than TASSER. These results suggest that TASSER can be a useful tool to improve the quality of NMR structures. Proteins 2006;63:451- 456.
Linear systems with state and control constraints: the theory and application of maximal output admissible sets

The initial state of an unforced linear system is output admissible with respect to a constraint set Y if the resulting output function satisfies the pointwise-in-time condition y(t) in Y, t>or=0. The set of all possible such initial conditions is the maximal output admissible set O/sub infinity /. The properties of O/sub infinity / and its characterization are investigated. In the discrete-time case, it is generally possible to represent O/sub infinity / or a close approximation of it, by a finite number of functional inequalities. Practical algorithms for generating the functions are described. In the continuous-time case simple representations of the maximal output admissible set are not available, however, it is shown that the discrete-time results may be used to obtain approximate representations. >
Hepatic Aspiration and Biopsy Techniques

Liver aspiration and biopsy are a critical part of the diagnostic plan in the dog and cat with liver disease. This article details methods frequently used in clinical practice, including fine-needle aspiration, blind percutaneous biopsy, ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, and open surgical biopsy techniques. The advantages, disadvantages, relative costs, and complications associated with each technique are reviewed.
The solid waste crisis and support for recycling: A research note

The American waste stream is quickly reaching crisis proportions. According to Environmental Protection Agency estimates, municipal solid waste has increased 80% since 1960 and will increase another 20% in the next 10 years. Despite the sociopolitical and ecological importance of the solid waste crisis, little research exists examining public opinion and behavior toward this issue. Using survey data from a study of 290 residents in St. Tammany parish, Louisiana, this article examines attitudes regarding the parish's own impending solid waste crisis and its level of support for various recycling and source reduction programs. As suggested by recent national polls, residents show an increasing concern about waste‐disposal issues and a willingness to support initiatives that reduce the waste stream. Some political and ecological implications of these data for future research are suggested.
Nonprofit Organizations, Bureaucratic Agencies, and Policy: Exploring the Determinants of Administrative Advocacy

Scholarly interest in the ways in which nonprofit organizations (NPOs) engage in the policy process has increased markedly in recent years, but one arena of participation about which we still know very little is administrative lobbying. To date, no study has investigated the factors that influence the strategic decision by an NPO to focus their advocacy resources on the bureaucracy. This essay models the decision to engage in administrative advocacy by 501(c)(3) organizations as a function of the state-level political environment in which they deliver services and the organizational resources that they possess. Data on advocacy activities and organizational characteristics of family planning NPOs are drawn from tax records and data compiled by the National Center for Charitable Statistics.
Effectiveness of Sensory Difference Tests: Sequential Sensitivity Analysis for Liquid Food Stimuli

Versions of the triangle test in which either one or the other stimulus was maintained as the odd one, were found to differ in their effectiveness for a flavored sparkling water system but not for a wine system. The same was found for different orders of presentation of the R-index sensory difference test. These differences were predicted successfully from the signal detectabilities of the various stimuli using a predictive system called Sequential Sensitivity Analysis (SSA). This extended SSA beyond model systems to food systems. Use was made of a technique of rapid alternate tasting of different stimuli, called ‘warm-up', to improve judges’ performance.