cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational estimates of daily aggregate exposure to PFOA/PFOS from 2011 to 2017 using a basic intake model.

Background Human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances has been modeled to estimate serum concentrations. Given that the production and use of these compounds have decreased in recent years, especially PFOA and PFOS, and that additional concentration data have become available from the US and other industrialized countries over the past decade, aggregate median intakes of these two compounds were estimated using more recent data. Methods Summary statistics from secondary sources were collected, averaged, and mapped for indoor and outdoor air, water, dust, and soil for PFOA and PFOS to estimate exposures for adults and children. European dietary intake estimates were used to estimate daily intake from food. Results In accordance with decreased concentrations in media, daily intake estimates among adults, i.e., 40 ng/day PFOA and 40 ng/day PFOS, are substantially lower than those reported previously, as are children's estimates of 14 ng/day PFOA and 17 ng/day PFOS. Using a first-order pharmacokinetic model, these results compare favorably to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey serum concentration measurements. Conclusion Concomitant blood concentrations support this enhanced estimation approach that captures the decline of PFOA/PFOS serum concentration over a decade.
Investigation of the futalosine pathway for menaquinone biosynthesis as a novel target in the inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular bacterium with limited metabolic capabilities, possesses the futalosine pathway for menaquinone biosynthesis. Futalosine pathway enzymes have promise as narrow spectrum targets, but the activity and essentiality of chlamydial menaquinone biosynthesis have yet to be established. In this work, menaquinone-7 (MK-7) was identified as a C. trachomatis-produced quinone through LC-MS/MS. An immunofluorescence-based assay revealed that treatment of C. trachomatis-infected HeLa cells with futalosine pathway inhibitor docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduced inclusion number, inclusion size, and infectious progeny. Supplementation with MK-7 nanoparticles rescued the effect of DHA on inclusion number, indicating that the futalosine pathway is a target of DHA in this system. These results open the door for menaquinone biosynthesis inhibitors to be pursued in antichlamydial development.
ApoA-I Mimetic Peptides: A Review of the Present Status

ApoA-I mimetic peptides were designed to function similar to apoA-I, the main protein in HDL. These peptides were found to be efficacious in a large number of animal models of disease. Because it was thought that HDL and apoA-I act primarily in the circulation, it was thought that these peptides also acted primarily in the circulation. Consequently, it was thought that the plasma concentration of peptide must be the major determinant of efficacy. Disparate results in human clinical trials of one apoA-I mimetic peptide, 4F, led to additional studies in mice where it was found that plasma peptide levels do not predict efficacy. Regardless of the route of administration, the small intestine was found to be the critical compartment for determining efficacy. Levels of unsaturated lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in the small intestine were found to significantly correlate with systemic inflammation and the extent of aortic atherosclerosis in mouse models. The levels of unsaturated LPA in the tissue of the small intestine were reduced by the administration of the 4F peptide leading to reduced systemic inflammation and aortic atherosclerosis in mice. The dose required for efficacy was found to be on the order of 40–100 mg/kg/day, making the cost of such peptides prohibitively high because they can only be produced by chemical synthesis. However, a related peptide, 6F, did not require end-blocking groups for efficacy as is the case for the 4F peptides. Consequently, the 6F peptide could be produced in transgenic tomatoes. Feeding these tomatoes at only 2.2 % by weight in a Western diet to LDLR-null mice reduced aortic atherosclerosis similar to the 4F and 5F peptides opening the possibility of treating a variety of diseases with oral apoA-I mimetic peptides expressed in transgenic edible plants.
Chapter 9 Amplicon-Based Herpes Simplex Virus Vectors

Publisher Summary The wide host range of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-I), both in vivo and in vitro , and the relative ease of its genetic manipulation have made it an attractive candidate as a tool for gene transfer. Two different types of HSV vectors have been developed. For the first type, the recombinant virus vector, the gene of interest is inserted into the backbone. The second type of HSV vector is amplicon-based and has been termed the defective virus vector. This chapter focuses on the components and construction of amplicon-based vectors. The development of amplicon-based vectors has capitalized on the natural occurrence of defective interfering viruses (DI particles) that arise during high-multiplicity propagation of viruses. DI particles are subgenomic viral particles that lack an essential portion of the genome, require the complementation of homologous “helper” virus for replication, and thus “interfere” with the replication of the helpers by replicating at their expense when infecting the same cell.
Testing of the A6 magnetron with radial extraction on the pulserad electron beam accelerator

The Pulserad electron beam accelerator at the University of New Mexico (UNM) was refurbished and reconfigured to provide a voltage pulse with a very fast risetime, inspired by simulation results that indicated that the magnetron output characteristic was very sensitive to the voltage risetime. The modified Pulserad has a 2 ns risetime after which it maintains a flat-top for 30 ns and is capable of providing 350 kV into a matched load of 20 Ω. The main contributing factor for such a fast risetime is the low inductance oil breakdown switch located between the pulse forming line and the transmission line. Additionally, a low inductance transition region between oil and vacuum was designed to keep the degradation to the risetime minimal.
Bayesian analysis of transverse signal decay with application to human brain.

Purpose Transverse relaxation analysis with several signal models has been used extensively to determine tissue and material properties. However, the derivation of corresponding parameter values is notoriously unreliable. We evaluate improvements in the quality of parameter estimation using Bayesian analysis and incorporating the Rician noise model, as appropriate for magnitude MR images. Theory and Methods Monoexponential, stretched exponential, and biexponential signal models were analyzed using nonlinear least squares (NLLS) and Bayesian approaches. Simulations and phantom and human brain data were analyzed using three different approaches to account for noise. Parameter estimation bias (reflecting accuracy) and dispersion (reflecting precision) were derived for a range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and relaxation parameters. Results All methods performed well at high SNR. At lower SNR, the Bayesian approach yielded parameter estimates of considerably greater precision, as well as greater accuracy, than did NLLS. Incorporation of the Rician noise model greatly improved accuracy and, to a somewhat lesser extent, precision, in derived transverse relaxation parameters. Analyses of data obtained from solution phantoms and from brain were consistent with simulations. Conclusion Overall, estimation of parameters characterizing several different transverse relaxation models was markedly improved through use of Bayesian analysis and through incorporation of the Rician noise model. Magn Reson Med 74:785–802, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
English White Paper Law Reforms: An Outline for Equal Access to Justice?

It is highly likely that by the end of 1989, legislation proposing the most dramatic changes in the English legal profession in this century will be introduced by the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain in the House of Lords. If Lords approve the legislation, it will be sent to the House of Commons early in 1990 and will become effective by Royal Assent shortly thereafter. The Lord Chancellor's reforms will abolish the barristers' monopoly of audience in higher courts, partially limit the statutory bar on multidisciplinary and multinational partnerships, introduce a modified contingency fee, permit building societies and banks to do conveyancing work, and allow solicitors to be appointed to the high courts. Several of these sweeping changes, particularly those relating to multinational law practiees and contingency fees, will affect the American bar and therefore should be of interest to many New York attorneys.
The linguistic and economic adjustment of soviet jewish immigrants in the united states, 1980–2000

This paper is an analysis of the English-language proficiency and labor market earnings of adult male Soviet Jewish immigrants to the United States from 1965 to 2000, using the 2000 Census of Population. Comparisons are made to similar analyses using the 1980 and 1990 Censuses. A consistent finding is that recently arrived Soviet Jewish immigrants have lower levels of English proficiency and earnings than other immigrants, other variables being the same. However, they have a steeper improvement in both proficiency and earnings with duration in the United States and the differences from the other European immigrants disappear after a few years. The Soviet Jewish immigrants have both a higher level of schooling and a larger effect of schooling on earnings than other immigrants, even other European immigrants. The lower initial English proficiency and earnings, the steeper improvement with duration, and the rapid attainment of parity is consistent with the “refugee” nature of their migration, as distinct from being purely economic migrants. That the same pattern exists across three censuses suggests that the low English proficiency and earnings of those recently arrived in the 2000 Census data reflects a refugee assimilation process, and not a decline in the unmeasured dimensions of the earnings potential of recent cohorts of Soviet Jewish immigrants. The very high level of schooling and the larger effect of schooling on earnings among Soviet Jewish immigrants are similar to the patterns found among Jews born in the United States. Soviet Jewish immigrants appear to have made a very successful linguistic and labor market adjustment, regardless of their period of entry into the United States.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylase Induction in Mammalian Liver Cell Culture III. EFFECTS OF VARIOUS SERA, HORMONES, BIOGENIC AMINES, AND OTHER ENDOGENOUS COMPOUNDS ON THE ENZYME ACTIVITY

Abstract Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase induction in fetal rat liver cells in culture by phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene proceeds just as well in 10% heat-inactivated, boiled, or dialyzed calf serum as in regular 10% calf serum in the growth medium. After the hepatocytes are attached, the serum-containing medium can be replaced with serum-free, completely defined medium for several days, so that the influence of various hormones or other endogenous compounds on the basal and inducible hydroxylase activities can be evaluated. Significant stimulatory effects are produced by testosterone, glucagon, and prostaglandins; significant decreases are seen with 17-β-estradiol, insulin, and dexamethasone. No significant effects are found with adrenocorticotropic hormone, human growth hormone, thyroxine, prolactin, derivatives of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, and numerous other endogenous compounds such as fatty acids and alkyl polyamines, alone and in combinations. The kinetics of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase induction by 1.0 mm norepinephrine or by other biogenic amines of similar structure is the same as that by phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene. The effects of phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, and biogenic amines with either a phenyl or indolen ucleus on the hydroxylase induction are additive or synergistic when two or three of these types of inducers are combined in the culture medium. From the use of an aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor added prior to the biogenic amines, we conclude that the amine, rather than any metabolite, is directly involved in causing hydroxylase induction. The effect of norepinephrine is greater than that of phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene in retarding the normal rate of degradation of induced hydroxylase activity in the presence or the absence of protein synthesis. Either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene or norepinephrine as a second inducer can direct at some posttranscriptional level a further rise in hydroxylase activity after treatment of the hepatocytes with the first inducer.
Bicultural Parent Engagement: Advocacy and Empowerment. Edward M. Olivos, Oscar Jiménez-Castellanos, and Alberto M. Ochoa

Editors Edward M. Olivos, Oscar Jimenez-Castellanos, and Alberto M. Ochoa compiled chapters in the book Bicultural Parent Engagement: Advocacy and Empowerment that explore the contributions and ach...
Large magnetic penetration depth and thermal fluctuations in a superconducting Ca 10 (Pt 3 As 8 )[(Fe 1 − x Pt x ) 2 As 2 ] 5 ( x = 0.097 ) single crystal

We have measured the temperature dependence of the absolute value of the magnetic penetration depth $\ensuremath{\lambda}(T)$ in a Ca${}_{10}$(Pt${}_{3}$As${}_{8}$)[(Fe${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Pt${}_{x}$)${}_{2}$As${}_{2}$]${}_{5}$ ($x=0.097$) single crystal using a low-temperature magnetic force microscope (MFM). We obtain ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{ab}(0)\ensuremath{\approx}1000$ nm via extrapolating the data to $T=0$. This large $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ and pronounced anisotropy in this system are responsible for large thermal fluctuations and the presence of a liquid vortex phase in this low-temperature superconductor with a critical temperature of 11 K, consistent with the interpretation of the electrical transport data. The superconducting parameters obtained from $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ and coherence length $\ensuremath{\xi}$ place this compound in the extreme type II regime. Meissner responses (via MFM) at different locations across the sample are similar to each other, indicating good homogeneity of the superconducting state on a submicron scale.
Laboratory Information Management Systems

Laboratory information management systems (LIMS) are used to acquire, store, and manage data generated in the laboratory. A modern laboratory might implement a LIMS to automate data collection and dissemination, ensure product quality, or comply with U.S. federal government regulations. In the past, most LIMS were highly customized packages residing in mainframe computers or minicomputers. More recently, the proliferation of personal computers and local area networks has resulted in LIMS products which provide more flexible user interfaces on a familiar computer platform. However, the number of possible choices has reinforced the need to assemble a complete functional specification for the LIMS before vendors are contacted. Keywords: Function; laboratory information; Automation; Quality management; Costs; Benefit; Selection; Databases
Membrane transport of sodium ions in erythrocytes of the american black bear, Ursus americanus

1. Membrane transport of Na ions was investigated in red blood cells of bears by methods of measurement of unidirectional isotopic fluxes. 2. Like red blood cells of dogs, bear red cells contain a high Na concentration and low concentrations of K and ATP. 3. As in dog red cells, Na efflux from bear cells was not inhibited by ouabain but was activated by the presence of Ca in the medium, possibly indicating the presence of a Na-Ca exchange mechanism. 4. ATP depletion of cells was accelerated by Ca in the medium, consistent with the presence of a strong ATP-dependent Ca pump. 5. As in other carnivore red cells, Na influx into bear cells was strongly activated by shrinkage and inhibited by swelling. Shrinkage-activated influx was blocked by amiloride. 6. Amiloride-sensitive influx was activated by cytoplasmic Ca and also correlated with the presence of a Na-dependent, amiloride-sensitive H loss. 7. Amiloride-sensitive Na influx exhibited a strong seasonal cycle with a minimum in the middle of the hibernation period, suggesting a possible avenue of cellular energy conservation.
Gender Differences in Specialization in Intimate Partner Violence: Comparing the Gender Symmetry and Violent Resistance Perspectives

Research on male domestic violence offenders has typically considered them to be highly specialized offenders, and specialized theories and policies have been developed to address this type of offending. Some scholars have suggested that intimate partner violence is not as specialized as has been previously assumed. Especially in terms of gender differences, intimate partner violence research and theory suggest some variability in the level of specialization apparent for offenders. The current study uses the gender symmetry and violent resistance perspectives of women’s use of intimate partner violence to examine gender differences in specialization among a sample of intimate partner violence arrestees. Analyses employed multivariate models estimating the diversity index as a measure of specialization in general and multilevel item response theory to assess specialization in intimate partner violence specifically. Results indicate that female arrestees demonstrate significantly greater levels specializati...
Empirical evidence on strategic entry deterrence

Several findings emerge from this study of strategic entry deterrence. For new products, firms attempt to limit entry through patent preemption and the creation of product loyalty through heavy advertising expenditures. Limit pricing is used much less often. For mature, existing products, firms attempt to limit entry through filling all available product niches, through masking product specific data on profitability, and again through the creation of product loyalty through advertising expenditures. The practice of entry deterrence is surprisingly important to the firms involved. More than half the respondents reported that attempts to deter entry were comparable in importance to other strategic marketing and production decisions.
Distributed runtime load-balancing for software routers on homogeneous many-core processors

With the advent of diversifie network services and programmability deployed in the network infrastructure, the functionality of the data path in network systems has moved from "store-and-forward" toward "store-process-forward." However, the processing performance of many contemporary software routers does not scale with the increasing number of processor cores that are integrated on a chip due to software bottlenecks. To tackle one aspect of this problem, we propose a distributed algorithm that can load-balance packet processing workloads on a modern many-core architecture. The algorithm exploits parallelism and achieves load balancing by distributing processing task across different local regions of the chi. Workload distribution at chip level can be achieved with an O(n log n) time complexity and thus can scale to large configurations
Quantitative tritium exchange of [3H] aflatoxin B1 during penetration through isolated human skin

Tritium labelled aflatoxin B 1 ([G- 3 H]AFB 1 ) underwent an almost total tritium exchange with water during penetration through isolated human skin. The process was not enzymatic and the site of exchange appeared to be within the epidermis. The mechanism which mediated this extensive exchange was not determined. However, the tritium in [G- 3 H]AFB 1 was found to be very susceptible to chemical conditions which favored carbanion formation at the α-carbon of the cyclopentenone ring. The relative effectiveness of the various solvents in mediating the loss of the tritium label was 1 N 3 NaOH ≫ methanol > 1 N HCl > water. This work serves as a warning that [G- 3 H]AFB 1 can easily undergo significant changes in specific activity in biological tissues and under relatively mild experimental conditions. It is possible that conditions within the skin favor carbanion formation.
Analysis of Thunderstorm Effects on Aggregated Aircraft Trajectories

The utility of route guidance and trajectory prediction tools in air traffic management is directly related to how well such tools anticipate pilot and controller reactions to weather. This paper presents a new method for translating weather data into patterns in aggregated aircrafttrajectories.Techniquesaredescribedthatlimitthehumanandcomputationaleffort required to analyze large sets of data and enable formulation and discovery of mathematical relationships among large numbers of weather- and flight plan-related variables. The method is used to examine the effects of thunderstorms on aggregate aircraft operations near Atlanta in the spring and summer of 2007. Measures of precipitation intensity and storm cell height were related to aircraft positions over a period of 40 days.A mathematical model of the relationship between precipitation intensity, storm cell height, flight level, and airspace occupancy was constructed using multivariate adaptive polynomial spline regression. Explanatory power was lost when aircraft altitude and storm cell height readings were combined into a measure of their difference. Precipitation intensity contributed surprisingly little discriminatory power to the built model.Aircraft sought to avoid airspace within 5km of storm activity, rerouting to airspace 10km to 20km and farther from the storm.
The Good and the Bad of Top-Level Domains

ICANN has recently announced an "open season" on top-level domains, to start some time in 2009. This will dramatically expand the namespace for Internet domain names, and will allow cities, industries, and companies to register specific top-level domains for themselves. What effect will that have on the companies involved, and on the Internet users? In this column, the author explores that question and gives his opinion on the answer.
Mechanical Properties of Hardened AISI 52100 Steel in Hard Machining Processes

This paper provides an approach using tensile tests at elevated temperatures to estimate mechanical properties of the work material for both elastic and plastic deformations in a broad range of strain, strain rate, and temperature in machining. The proposed method has been applied to estimate mechanical properties of hardened AISI 52100 steel in hard machining. Tensile testing is shown capable of estimating the mechanical properties of both elastic and plastic regions with large strains at elevated temperatures. Flow stresses at high strain rates in machining can be obtained by extrapolating the data from tensile tests by using the velocity-modified temperature. Flow stress data from tensile and cutting tests is consistent with regard to the velocity-modified temperature. Temperature is the dominant factor of mechanical properties of this material, while the effect of strain rate is secondary. Cutting forces and chip geometry predicted by the 3D FEM simulation of hard turning using the material property data obtained from the developed method agree well with the experimental data. @DOI: 10.1115/1.1413775#
Intersections between mitochondrial sirtuin signaling and tumor cell metabolism.

AbstractCancer cells use glucose and glutamine to facilitate cell growth and proliferation, a process coined “metabolic reprograming” – an emerging hallmark of cancer. Inside the cell, these nutrients synergize to produce metabolic building blocks, such as nucleic acids, lipids and proteins, as well as energy (ATP), glutathione and reducing equivalents (NADPH), required for survival, growth and proliferation. Intense research aimed at understanding the underlying cause of the metabolic rewiring has revealed that established oncogenes and tumor suppressors involved in signaling alter cellular metabolism to contribute to the transition from a normal quiescent cell to a rapidly proliferating cancer cell. Likewise, bona fide metabolic sensors are emerging as regulators of tumorigenesis. This review will focus on one such family of sensors, sirtuins, which utilize NAD+ as a cofactor to catalyze deacetylation, deacylation and ADP-ribosylation of their protein substrates. In this review, we will enumerate how ca...
Regulation by ARIA/neuregullin of acetylcholine receptor gene transcription at the neuromuscular junction

Abstract Transcription of genes encoding nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunits (α, β, γ or e, and δ) is highest in nuclei localized to the synaptic region of the muscle which contributes to maintain a high density of AChRs at the postjunctional membrane. ARIA (ACh R inducing activity ) is believed to be the trophic factor utilized by motor neurons to stimulate AChR synthesis in the subsynaptic area. ARIA stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the erbB proteins and activates the MAP kinase pathway which is required for the ARIA-mediated induction of AChR genes.
A Field-Based Community Assessment of Intoxication Levels Across College Football Weekends: Does It Matter Who’s Playing?

While alcohol consumption has been consistently linked to college football games in the United States, this literature lacks (a) field-based event-level analyses; (b) assessments of the context of drinking, such as days leading to an event, that occurs in conjunction with a contest; (c) investigations of non-student drinking; and (d) objective assessments of opponent rating. Therefore, the present study: (1) examines the extent to which breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC) among restaurant and bar district patrons differ for low- and high-profile games and (2) explores the relationship between an objective rating of a team’s opponent and BrAC levels. Data were collected throughout the fall 2011 football season via six anonymous field studies in a bar district within a southeastern college community. During low-profile game weekends, respondents recorded significantly lower BrAC levels than those during high-profile game weekends. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between opponent rating and BrAC levels, such that mean BrAC readings were highest prior to the game featuring the highest rated opponent. Overall, participants exhibited significantly higher BrACs when a higher-rated opponent was playing that weekend. When resources (money, manpower) are limited, community-based prevention and enforcement efforts should occur during the weekends surrounding higher-profile games.
An analysis of factors influencing sixteenth and seventeenth century Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) settlement locations

The settlement patterns of 16th and 17th century Northern Iroquoian cultures have been studied since the mid-1800s, resulting in an excellent sample of settlements and descriptions of their respective features. Research into the environmental and cultural factors responsible for creating these patterns has been a more recent undertaking. In this research, I examine the landscape and environmental characteristics of 125 Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) settlements and their respective catchments. I compare the pattern of settlement to a random distribution to determine the environmental and sociopolitical features that distinguish the two datasets. The results show that transportation routes, conditions favorable for agricultural production, and dense hardwood growth significantly influenced the placement of settlements. Defensive concerns appear to have been met more through spatially independent methods, such as palisade construction, than by living at elevated locations or those with dominant viewsheds. This information is helpful in not only understanding the Haudenosaunee settlement system, but also for developing effective methods for investigating the environmental and sociopolitical factors influencing the settlement of past societies.
Nonlinear Earthquake Response Modeling of a Large-Scale Two-Span Concrete Bridge

A quarter scale model of a two-span RC bridge was tested using the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) multiple shake table system at the University of Nevada, Reno, Nev. The project was funded through a National Science Foundation-NEES demonstration grant. The bridge system was tested from a preyield state until column failure. In depth analytical modeling was conducted to determine the effectiveness of current structural analysis software and methodology in predicting the bridge model response. Both SAP2000 v.9 and Drain-3DX were used for this purpose. Both models produced reasonable results up to column failure, however, the Drain-3DX model was determined to be most effective to predict the nonlinear bridge model response. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate optimal element discretization and integration parameters. Existing equations for pre and postyield column shear stiffness showed good correlation when compared with the measured data.
Improved Accuracy For An Optical Iterative Processor

A scheme is introduced and experimentally demonstrated for increasing the accuracy of an optical implementation of matrix-vector multiplication. The system is configured in a feedback loop to iteratively solve simultaneous equations. The technique is based upon a binary expansion of the matrix which is convolved with the binary expansion of the vector. This is implemented optically by the outer product synthesis of matrix products using crossed acousto-optic cells and a strobed light source.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The pursuit of intoxication: our 100 century-old romance with psychoactive substances.

(1988). The Pursuit of Intoxication: Our 100 Century-Old Romance with Psychoactive Substances. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 175-187.
The Role of Psychology in a Liberal Arts Education: An Interview with Diane F. Halpern:

Diane F. Halpern is the Past-President of the American Psychological Association (APA) and Director of the Berger Institute for Work, Family, and Children and Professor of Psychology at Claremont McKenna College. Her earlier appointments include professor of psychology, Chair and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at California State University, San Bernardino. Her teaching, service to psychology, and research have been recognized with many awards, including the 2002 Outstanding Teaching Award from the Western Psychological Association, Wang Family Excellence Award, American Psychological Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching, Distinguished Career Contributions to Education and Training, G. Stanley Hall Lecture, and the Outstanding Professor Award from California State University-Statewide. Maureen McCarthy is the Director of Precollege and Undergraduate Programs for the APA. She provides leadership and management oversight of programs and initiatives to enhance the teaching and learning of psychology in...
SPECIES RESPONSES TO NITROGEN FERTILIZATION IN HERBACEOUS PLANT COMMUNITIES, AND ASSOCIATED SPECIES TRAITS Ecological Archives E089-070

This synthetic data set contains plant species relative abundance measures from 35 nitrogen (N) fertilization experiments conducted at 10 sites across North America. The data set encompasses the fertilization responses of 575 taxa from 1159 experimental plots. The methodology varied among experiments, in particular with regard to the type and amount of N added, plot size, species composition measure (biomass harvest, pin count, or percent cover), additional experimental manipulations, and experimental duration. At each site, each species has been classified according to a number of easily identified categorical functional traits, including life history, life form, the number of cotyledons, height relative to the canopy, potential for clonal growth, and nativity to the United States. Additional data are available for many sites, indicated by references to publications and web sites. Analyses of these data have shown that N enrichment significantly alters community composition in ways that are predictable on the basis of plant functional traits as well as environmental context. This data set could be used to answer a variety of questions about how plant community composition and structure respond to environmental changes.
Reflective type objective based spectral-domain phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography for high-sensitive structural and functional imaging of cochlear microstructures through intact bone of an excised guinea pig cochlea

Most of the optical coherence tomographic (OCT) systems for high resolution imaging of biological specimens are based on refractive type microscope objectives, which are optimized for specific wave length of the optical source. In this study, we present the feasibility of using commercially available reflective type objective for high sensitive and high resolution structural and functional imaging of cochlear microstructures of an excised guinea pig through intact temporal bone. Unlike conventional refractive type microscopic objective, reflective objective are free from chromatic aberrations due to their all-reflecting nature and can support a broadband of spectrum with very high light collection efficiency.
Atomic layer epitaxy for the growth of heterostructure devices

Abstract Atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) is a regime of metalorganic vapor phase epitaxial growth in which uniform growth of ultra-thin epitaxial layers by a self-limiting monolayer by monolayer deposition process is achieved. In this paper ALE has been applied to the growth of single crystal GaAs, AlAs and GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures and devices. Data are presented that show one monolayer uniformity in ultra-thin layers grown by ALE. The dependence of growth rate on reactant flows and temperature are described. Cleaved corner TEM analysis of ALE epitaxial layer thicknesses demonstrates the “digital” nature of the deposition process. The low temperature photoluminescence (PL) of ALE grown GaAs quantum wells exhibit narrow line intrinsic luminescence with linewidths comparable to the best reported values by conventional MOCVD. Quantum well lasers with ALE grown active regions have been demonstrated with laser thresholds as low as 400 A/cm2.
Phenanthrene degradation by Beijerinckia sp. B8/36.

The use of fossil fuels has greatly increased the ubiquity of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment, and their potential toxicity has generated considerable interest in the ability of microorganisms to utilize and/or detoxify these pollutants. One PAH of concern is phenanthrene. Numerous microbial species are known to degrade phenanthrene and there appear to be several metabolic routes available, depending upon the species, strain, and even the cultural conditions. Although there is a substantial amount of literature on the metabolic pathways of phenanthrene utilization, the authors have found little information regarding the effects of environmental conditions on phenanthrene degradation rates. Such information would be of importance to understanding the fate of this compound in natural and controlled (i.e., wastewater treatment) biological systems. During preliminary experiments, the authors found Beijerinickia sp. B3/36 to be unable to grow solely on phenanthrene, but capable of growth and phenanthrene utilization when yeast extract was supplied. The authors discuss the effects of pH and temperature on growth and phenanthrene degradation by intact cells of Biejerinickia sp. B8/36.
An improved automatic computer aided tube detection and labeling system on chest radiographs

Tubes like Endotracheal (ET) tube used to maintain patient's airway and the Nasogastric (NG) tube used to feed the patient and drain contents of the stomach are very commonly used in Intensive Care Units (ICU). The placement of these tubes is critical for their proper functioning and improper tube placement can even be fatal. Bedside chest radiographs are considered the quickest and safest method to check the placement of these tubes. Tertiary ICU's typically generate over 250 chest radiographs per day to confirm tube placement. This paper develops a new fully automatic prototype computer-aided detection (CAD) system for tube detection on bedside chest radiographs. The core of the CAD system is the randomized algorithm which selects tubes based on their average repeatability from seed points. The CAD algorithm is designed as a 5 stage process: Preprocessing (removing borders, histogram equalization, anisotropic filtering), Anatomy Segmentation (to identify neck, esophagus, abdomen ROI's), Seed Generation, Region Growing and Tube Selection. The preliminary evaluation was carried out on 64 cases. The prototype CAD system was able to detect ET tubes with a True Positive Rate of 0.93 and False Positive Rate of 0.02/image and NG tubes with a True Positive Rate of 0.84 and False Positive Rate of 0.02/image respectively. The results from the prototype system show that it is feasible to automatically detect both tubes on chest radiographs, with the potential to significantly speed the delivery of imaging services while maintaining high accuracy.
Soybean seed yield and nutrient diagnoses as related to plant nutrient balance

Abstract Both nutrient concentrations and nutrient ratios of plants have been associated with crop seed yields, but research examining their relative correlation to yield is scarce. Furthermore, research comparing nutrient diagnoses by the modified‐diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (M‐DRIS) against diagnoses resulting from use of M‐DRIS concentration means as critical nutrient levels (CNL's) is lacking. Consequently, a soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultivar by phosphorus (P) by potassium (K) by limestone soil fertility field study conducted on a Cresco loam (fine‐loamy mixed, mesic Typic Argiudoll) was used to determine: (i) whether plant nutrient concentrations or ratios better accounted for differences in soybean seed yield; and (ii) whether diagnostic systems that use nutrient concentrations or nutrient balance are more accurate in diagnosing soybean P and K status. Correlation analyses demonstrated that both nutrient concentrations and nutrient ratios were related to yield, but parti...
Methane conversion and Fischer—Tropsch catalysis over MoS2: Predictions and interpretations from molecular orbital theory

An atom superposition and electron delocalization molecular orbital study has been made of a variety of CHn and CO reactions over coordinatively unsaturated MoIV edge cations in MoS2. CH3, formed by oxidative insertion of an edge Mo into a CH4 bond, is found to dehydrogenate easily by means of H transfer to an adjacent Mo. The process is activated by the formation of a strong double bond between CH2 and Mo. Couplings of 2 CH3, CH3 + CH2, and 2 CH2 are found to proceed with high barriers, a consequence of electron promotion to the Fermi level during CC bond formation, yielding unstable C2 species. Coupling to strongly adsorbed ethylene proceeds with the lowest barrier, and if ethylene forms hydrogenation to ethane is possible, although ethane formation from 2 CH4 is thermodynamically forbidden so none of these CHn coupling schemes will be productive in the absence of stabilizing ancillary reactions. CO is found to bind relatively weakly to fivefold coordinated Mo and strongly to fourfold coordinated sites. In the presence of a second adjacent fourfold coordinated Mo, CO easily tilts to the di-σ bridging orientation and dissociates with a low barrier. In the Fischer—Tropsch process hydrogenation to CH3(a) and H2O(g) is expected. CO is found to insert into the MoCH3 bond, as found by Klier and co-workers, with a low barrier, and subsequent hydrogenations to form C2H6 + H2O or CH3CH2OH are found to be favorable. It is proposed that the selectivity toward alcohol formation over alkali-doped MoS2 (the DOW process) may stem from the ability of the alkali cations to bond to O from the CO insertion process, thus blocking hydrogenation to H2O, which would lead to alkane products.
Monolithic integration of passive components with high performance quantum dot lasers

As data rates increase, traditional electrical interconnects for chip-chip or intra-chip communication will be replaced by low-power optical interconnects. The photonic integrated circuit (PIC) forming such an interconnect should exhibit low loss and good signal integrity and be capable of high temperature operation. In this talk, we will present the design, fabrication, and characteristics of a PIC consisting of a high performance InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) ridge waveguide laser monolithically integrated with a single mode tapered silicon nitride waveguide. To provide a true single mode PIC, integration of the tapered waveguide with a QD cross laser is also demonstrated.
Pulmonary carcinoid tumors with Cushing's syndrome: an aggressive variant or not?

Background Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pulmonary carcinoid is considered an aggressive variant of carcinoid tumors. Current knowledge is based upon a limited number of reports with few patients. Methods All patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS) resulting from pulmonary carcinoid (PC) who underwent pulmonary resection at our institution from November 1966 through April 1998 were reviewed. Results The group studied consisted of 10 males and 13 females. The median age was 39 years (range: 14–71). Pulmonary symptoms were present in 4 patients. Chest radiographs identified an abnormality in 13 patients (57%) and chest computerized tomography (CT) identified an abnormality in all 20 patients examined. Before pulmonary resection, hypophysectomy and bilateral adrenalectomy were performed in 7 patients (30%) each. Median time interval from presentation to pulmonary resection was 17 months (range: 1–228). Lobectomy was performed in 16 patients, segmentectomy was performed in 4 patients, and bilobectomy, pneumonectomy, and wedge excision was performed in 1 patient each. There were no operative deaths. Typical carcinoid was identified in 21 patients (91%) and atypical carcinoid was identified in 2 patients (9%). The median tumor diameter was 1.3 cm (range: 0.3–10). Nineteen patients (83%) underwent mediastinal lymphadenectomy and lymph node metastasis was found in 6 patients (32%) (N1 in 4 patients, N2 in 2 patients). The median follow-up was 78 months (range: 1–432). CS resolved in all of the patients. CS with PC recurred in 4 patients and CS alone recurred in 1 patient. Two patients underwent curative re-resection. Two patients, one with disseminated PC, died at last follow-up. Conclusions Despite long delays in surgical therapy, pulmonary resection for ACTH-secreting PCs results in a favorable prognosis. Anatomic resection with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy decreases local recurrence. Although rare these tumors do not seem to be as aggressive a variant of typical carcinoid tumors as previously reported.
Stereoconfiguration of phosphatidylglycerol in the membrane of bacteriophage PM2 and in its host, Pseudomonas BAL-31

Abstract Turnover of the acylated and unacylated glycerol moieties of phosphatidylglycerol was examined during infection of Pseudomonas BAL-31 by bacteriophage PM2. No turnover of either glycerol moiety was observed in infected or uninfected cells. The stereochemical configuration of phosphatidylglycerol from both virus and host was determined and proved to be 3- sn -phosphatidyl-1'- sn -glycerol. These results exclude a mechanism of mobilizing lipids for the virus by acylation and deacylation of 3- sn -phosphatidyl-1′- sn -glycerol in the host membrane to form 1- sn -phosphatidyl-3′- sn -glycerol in the membrane of PM2.
Fibrinogen from Human Plasma: Preparation by Precipitation with Heavy-Metal Coordination Complex

Potassium tetrathiocyanato-(S)mercurate II [K2Hg(SCN)4] is used in a mild and rapid procedure for the isolation of human fibrinogen from fresh plasma. The final product, 94 to 99 percent of which is coagulable by thrombin, represents an average yield of 80 percent and is stable in solution. It is free of plasmin, streptokinase-activatable plasminogen, and coagulation factors II, V, VIII, X and XIII. Sedimentation analysis reveals a single peak with a sedimentation coefficient equal to 7.0S at infinite dilution. Immunodiffusion on cellulose acetate results in two precipitin lines with rabbit antiserum to whole human serum. The fibrinogen precipitates are unusual in that they are flocculent and readily redissolve.
Special purpose hardware for discrete Fourier transform implementation

Abstract Parallel hardware implementation of a ‘pre-addition’ matrix for the first step of a Fourier transform on n points where n is the product of either two or three discrete primes is described. A set of adders with a small amount of temporary memory is required; input and output is by a common bus. The individual microprograms for each processor are described. Detailed pipeline timings are given showing a nearly perfect hardware utilization. The examples of 35 and 105 point transforms are followed in detail.
Endocrine responses during exercise-heat stress: effects of prior isotonic and hypotonic intravenous rehydration.

Exercise following exercise-induced dehydration (EID) has been shown to elevate concentrations of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones. However, it is not known how intravenous (i.v.) rehydration (Rh) with isotonic (ISO) or hypotonic (HYPO) saline affects these hormone concentrations. It was hypothesized that HYPO, versus ISO, would lead to lower plasma NE and cortisol concentrations ([CORT]) during subsequent exercise following EID due to a decrease in plasma sodium concentration [Na+]. Eight non-heat acclimated men completed three experimental treatments (counterbalanced design) immediately following EID (33 degrees C) to -4% body mass loss. The Rh treatments were i.v. 0.9% NaCl (ISO, 25 ml x kg[-1]), i.v. 0.45% NaCl (HYPO, 25 ml x kg[-1]), and no fluid (NF). After Rh and rest (2 h total), the subjects walked at 53-54 percent of maximal O2 uptake for 45 min at 36 degrees C. After Rh, the following observations were made before/during exercise: percentage change in plasma volume (PV) was lower in NF compared to ISO and HYPO but similar between ISO and HYPO; delta[Na+] was similar between ISO and NF and higher in ISO compared to HYPO; delta plasma NE was higher in NF compared to ISO and HYPO, but similar between ISO and HYPO; delta plasma [CORT] was higher in NF compared to ISO and HYPO and higher in ISO compared to HYPO; rectal temperature was higher in NF compared to ISO and HYPO. These data would suggest that sympathetic nervous activity and [CORT] during exercise, subsequent to EID and Rh, was affected by lower PV (probably through cardiopulmonary baroreflexes) as well as core temperature. Furthermore, [CORT] was affected by delta[Na+] after Rh through an unknown mechanism.
Bronchiolitis obliterans induced by intratracheal papaverine: a novel animal model.

Constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans (CBO), a highly fatal syndrome seen following toxicant exposure and lung transplantation, is in need of mechanistic study. This report creates an animal model of toxicant induced CBO, validates its pathology and suggests a physiologic mechanism for its origin. Papaverine, the alkaloid in Sauropus plants and responsible for human toxicant-induced CBO, was used to create the rat model. A mini-osmotic pump delivered papaverine intratracheally for up to 28 days (0.25 µL/hr, totaling 6.4 mg). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was measured. Lung tissue was evaluated for signs of CBO (H&E and Trichrome staining). Cytokines deregulated in human CBO were also measured (TGF-β and eNOS). Peribronchial inflammation, extensive denudation and destruction of bronchial mucosa, as well as increased peribronchial collagen (all classic signs of CBO) were observed as early as 7 days in papaverine treated animals, with more extensive damage after 28 days. Significant elevations of TGF-β and eNOS were seen in lung homogenates. Our toxicant induced model of CBO via a novel delivery method of intratracheal papaverine accurately reproduces pathology and cytokine profiles of human CBO. Papaverine has potential for producing CBO by multiple routes. This model introduces a vehicle for both understanding and development of innovative treatment for CBO.