cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Recognition of the Substrate Diphosphate Group Governs Product Diversity in Trichodiene Synthase Mutants

The X-ray crystal structures of Y305F trichodiene synthase and its complex with coproduct inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) and of Y305F and D100E trichodiene synthases in ternary complexes with PPi and aza analogues of the bisabolyl carbocation intermediate are reported. The Y305F substitution in the basic D302RRYR motif does not cause large changes in the overall structure in comparison with the wild-type enzyme in either the uncomplexed enzyme or its complex with PPi. However, the loss of the Y305F−PPi hydrogen bond appears to be compensated by a very slight shift in the position of the side chain of R304. The putative bisabolyl carbocation mimic, R-azabisabolene, binds in a conformation and orientation that does not appear to mimic that of the actual carbocation intermediate, suggesting that the avid inhibition by R- and S-azabisabolenes arises more from favorable electrostatic interactions with PPi rather than any special resemblance to a reaction intermediate. Greater enclosed active-site volumes result...
Examining Transportation and Employment Outcomes: Evidence for Moving Beyond The Bus Pass

This study of 62 low-income, primarily black, single mothers, in the Pittsburgh labor force, examined the relationship between transportation and employment outcomes through regression analyses. The study's unique Transportation Advantage measure enabled the quantification of mobility disparities between auto owners and those utilizing other travel modes. Results indicated that women with private vehicles reported higher Transportation Advantage and better employment outcomes than those with even the best public transportation services, which questions the efficacy of bus passes as the predominant travel intervention. In addition, there was evidence of transportation's mediating effect on the relationship between participants' human capital and their employment outcomes. The mobility status of the single mothers in this study had a greater impact on their employment outcomes than either education or work experience.
ParaGro: a learning algorithm for growing parallel self-organizing maps with any input/output dimensions

Self-organizing maps (SOM) have become popular for tasks in data visualization, pattern classification or natural language processing and can be seen as one of the major contemporary concepts for artificial neural networks. The general idea is to approximate a high dimensional and previously unknown input distribution by a lower dimensional neural network structure so that the topology of the input space is mapped closely. Not only is the general topology retained but the relative densities of the input space are reflected in the final output. Kohonen maps also have the property of neighbor influence. That is, when a neuron decides to move, it pulls all of its neighbors in the same direction modified by an elasticity factor. We present a SOM that processes the whole input in parallel and organizes itself over time. The main reason for parallel input processing lies in the fact that knowledge can be used to recognize parts of patterns in the input space that have already been learned. Thus, networks can be...
Match/mismatch predictions of spawning duration versus recruitment variability

According to the match/mismatch hypothesis, larval fish survival and eventual recruitment is dependent on the offset time between the peaks of abundance of larvae and their planktonic prey. A rudimentary larval food supply model is developed to determine the dependence of food availability on the mismatch between peaks. The model predicts that recruitment variability should increase as spawning duration decreases, a result which is moderately supported by an analysis of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) data.
Magnetic quantum structures

A class of materials is discussed, where quantum effects have macroscopic consequences. These are magnetic multilayers with spacers down to a few atomic layers. It is shown how quantization perpendicular to the layers is connected with oscillatory magnetic coupling, which in turn is important for obtaining «giant» magnetoresistance. This effect is being applied towards the fabrication of magnetoresistive reading heads for magnetically-stored data. The capabilities of varinus synchrotron radiation techniques for studying such nanometer scale systems are discussed, e.g. angle-resolved, spin- polarized photoemission, magnetic circular dichroism and core level fluorescence
Incidence and Predictive Factors of Pain Flare After Spine Stereotactic Radiosurgery

progression was 12.5 months (range, 2.1-41.9 months), and the median time from this local failure to salvage SBRT was 1.2 months (range, 0.425.6 months). At the time of salvage (2 SBRT course), 41% (24/58) were treated following surgery (post-operative SBRT), 5% (3/58) had high grade epidural disease, 78% (45/58) had paraspinal tumor extension, and 57% (33/58) had a baseline vertebral compression fracture (VCF). Specific to salvage SBRT, the median total dose/fx was 30 Gy/4 fx (range, 20-35 Gy/2-5 fx). The median follow-up following salvage SBRT was 6.2 months (range 0.2-39.1 months). The median OS following salvage SBRT was 10.0 months (range, 0.9-39.1 months). Thirteen of 40 (33%) patients were alive at the time of analysis and the median follow-up for these patients was 7.1 months. Local control was achieved in 78% (45/58) of spinal segments at last follow-up, and the median time to local failure was 3.0 months (range, 2.7-16.7 months). Patterns of failure indicated that the majority (11/13, 85%) had a component of epidural disease progression, and 46% (6/13) had a component of paraspinal tumor progression. No radiation-induced VCF or myelopathy were observed. Conclusions: Salvage SBRT is feasible and preliminary data support efficacy for SBRT failures. The most common treatment regimen was 30 Gy in 4 fractions. No serious adverse events were observed but long-term follow-up is required before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Author Disclosure: I. Thibault: None. M. Campbell: None. C. Tseng: None. A. Al-Omair: None. F. Lochray: None. D. Letourneau: None. E. Yu: None. Y.K. Lee: None. M.G. Fehlings: None. A. Sahgal: None.
Gall: Lakota War Chief – By Robert W. Larson

This author's study is a problematic attempt at retelling the life of a Lakota leader. Although he claims to write a biography of Gall, more text and topical emphasis is devoted to the life of Sitt...
A rapid and specific derivatization procedure to identify acyl-glucuronides by mass spectrometry.

A simple procedure is described to identify acyl-glucuronides by coupled liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry after derivatization to a hydroxamic acid with hydroxylamine. The reaction specificity obviates the need for isolation of the acyl-glucuronide from an extract. Glucuronides derived from carbamic acids, and alkyl- and aromatic amines, are inert to the derivatization reaction conditions, making the hydroxamic acid derivative a fingerprint for acyl-glucuronides. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plenoptic modeling: an image-based rendering system

Image-based rendering is a powerful new approach for generating real-time photorealistic computer graphics. It can provide convincing animations without an explicit geometric representation. We use the “plenoptic function” of Adelson and Bergen to provide a concise problem statement for image-based rendering paradigms, such as morphing and view interpolation. The plenoptic function is a parameterized function for describing everything that is visible from a given point in space. We present an image-based rendering system based on sampling, reconstructing, and resampling the plenoptic function. In addition, we introduce a novel visible surface algorithm and a geometric invariant for cylindrical projections that is equivalent to the epipolar constraint defined for planar projections.
Seventh-Grade Cigarette, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use: Distribution in a North Central U.S. Metropolitan Population

Tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use were examined in a seventh-grade population from a north central U.S. metropolitan community. Participation exceeded 94% and biological testing was used to increase the disclosure of drug use during the survey. Drug use was related to age, gender, race, family structure, and parental occupation in a series of logit analyses to identify high-risk groups. While univariate analyses uniformly supported earlier studies, the logit analyses revealed patterns not previously reported and at times contrary to previous reports. Significant associations were observed between drug use and each of the demographic factors; the likelihood of drug use increased by as much as 80-fold in subgroups defined by interactions among these variables. Native Americans, Hispanics, Black females, and adolescents whose mothers held white-collar jobs were substantially more likely to report drug use compared to other groups; females were generally similar to males in their level of use after adjustme...
Learning methodology for failure detection and accommodation

A major goal of intelligent control systems is to achieve high performance with increased reliability, availability, and automation of maintenance procedures. In order to achieve fault tolerance in dynamical systems many algorithms have been developed during the past two decades. Fault diagnosis and accommodation methods have traditionally been based on linear modeling techniques, which restricts the type of practical failure situations that can be modeled. This article presents a learning methodology for failure detection and accommodation. The main idea behind this approach is to monitor the physical system for any off-nominal behavior in its dynamics using nonlinear modeling techniques. The principal design tool used is a generic function approximator with adjustable parameters, referred to as online approximator. Examples of such structures include traditional approximation models such as polynomials and splines as well as neural networks topologies such as sigmoidal multilayer networks and radial basis function networks. Stable learning methods are developed for monitoring the dynamical system. The nonlinear modeling nature and learning capability of the estimator allow the output of the online approximator to be used not only for detection but also for identification and accommodation of system failures. Simulation studies are used to illustrate the learning methodology and to gain intuition into the effect of modeling uncertainties on the performance of the fault diagnosis scheme. >
Unifying constructal theory for scale effects in running, swimming and flying

SUMMARY Biologists have treated the view that fundamental differences exist between running, flying and swimming as evident, because the forms of locomotion and the animals are so different: limbs and wings vs body undulations, neutrally buoyant vs weighted bodies, etc. Here we show that all forms of locomotion can be described by a single physics theory. The theory is an invocation of the principle that flow systems evolve in such a way that they destroy minimum useful energy (exergy, food). This optimization approach delivers in surprisingly direct fashion the observed relations between speed and body mass ( M b ) raised to 1/6, and between frequency (stride, flapping) and \(M_{\mathrm{b}}^{-1{/}6}\) , and shows why these relations hold for running, flying and swimming. Animal locomotion is an optimized two-step intermittency: an optimal balance is achieved between the vertical loss of useful energy (lifting the body weight, which later drops), and the horizontal loss caused by friction against the surrounding medium. The theory predicts additional features of animal design: the Strouhal number constant, which holds for running as well as flying and swimming, the proportionality between force output and mass in animal motors, and the fact that undulating swimming and flapping flight occur only if the body Reynolds number exceeds approximately 30. This theory, and the general body of work known as constructal theory, together now show that animal movement (running, flying, swimming) and fluid eddy movement (turbulent structure) are both forms of optimized intermittent movement.
PROXIMO-DISTAL INCREASE OF ENZYMIC ACTIVITY IN THE DORSAL SPINAL TRACTS.

IT IS known that enzyme distribution is not the same among various fibre tracts, but except for LUBLINSKA’S (1 962) report of a proximo-distal decrease of cholinesterase along peripheral nerves there is little information about differences of enzyme activity along the course of a given fibre tract. This paper presents biochemical and histochemical data of the distribution of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) along the tractus gracilis (Goll’s tract) and the tractus cuneatus (Burdach’s tract). The enzymes cytochrome oxidase (CYO), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) were also studied histochemically. The data show a gradual proximodistal increase of most of these enzymes in the axons of both fibre tracts; however, the increase is much more pronounced in the tractus gracilis than in the tractus cuneatus. The possible significance of this phenomenon is discussed. Additional studies evidenced an inverse distribution of LDH in glial cells and axons along the course of the tractus gracilis: in the caudal part of the tractus gracilis, the LDH activity was strong in many glial cells and weak in the axons; in the cranial-most part of the tract, there was no LDH activity in glial cells but it was very intense in the axons. MATERIAL AND METHODS Assay methods. Biochemical determinations of the LDH activity at different levels of the tractus gracilis and tractus cuneatus were made in ten cats; two cats were used for preliminary establishment of a standard procedure for sampling. The results of studies on eight cats are included in the biochemical data. The cats were sacrificed with sodium pentobarbitone and the medulla oblongata and 6 cm of the cervical spinal cord were removed. The tissue was transferred to ice-cold saline and used within 10min. Transverse dorso-ventral incisions were made into the cord to divide the dorsal tracts into segments exactly 5 mm in length. By comparing the features of the cross section of the cord with the dorsal fissure, sulci and roots at its dorsal surface, the positions of the tractus gracilis and cuneatus were readily determined, and wedge-shaped samples were cut from each tract from the dorsal surface of the cord. In the beginning, after the assay sample was removed the remainder of the specimen was fixed and embedded in paraffin, and the stained sections were studied to determine if assay samples were free of contamination by adjacent tissue. After a little practice, uncontaminated samples of both tracts were obtained without difficulty. The wet weight of each sample, 23-7 mg, was determined immediately. These samples were transferred to chilled glass tissue-grinder tubes and homogenized with a motor driven pestle in ice-cold tris buffer, pH 7.4. Concentration of homogenates was 10 mg of tissue per ml of buffer. The incubation medium was slightly modified from that of ALLEN and SLATER (1961) for cytochemical determination of LDH: 1 ml sodium lactate, 0.5 M; 1 ml NAD, 0.01 M; 1 ml potassium cyanide,
A Framework for the Analysis of Acoustical Cardiac Signals

Skilled cardiologists perform cardiac auscultation, acquiring and interpreting heart sounds, by implicitly carrying out a sequence of steps. These include discarding clinically irrelevant beats, selectively tuning in to particular frequencies and aggregating information across time to make a diagnosis. In this paper, we formalize a series of analytical stages for processing heart sounds, propose algorithms to enable computers to approximate these steps, and investigate the effectiveness of each step in extracting relevant information from actual patient data. Through such reasoning, we provide insight into the relative difficulty of the various tasks involved in the accurate interpretation of heart sounds. We also evaluate the contribution of each analytical stage in the overall assessment of patients. We expect our framework and associated software to be useful to educators wanting to teach cardiac auscultation, and to primary care physicians, who can benefit from presentation tools for computer-assisted diagnosis of cardiac disorders. Researchers may also employ the comprehensive processing provided by our framework to develop more powerful, fully automated auscultation applications
Regge poles in the collective model of the nuclear giant multipole resonances

Abstract Giant nuclear resonance states, of higher multipolarity than dipole, have recently been observed in hadron and electron scattering. They may possibly be described by the collective Goldhaber-Teller model as extended to the higher multipolarity case, and as generalized to include spin-isospin vibrations and spin waves. Based on such a model, we show that the multipole resonances, together with the conventional dipole resonances, can be generated by the motion of a few basic Regge poles through the complex angular momentum plane. This viewpoint unifies all the resonances with a given spin-isospin character but arbitrary value of the multipolarity, and suggests the existence of the higher-multipole resonances as a consequence of the existence of the dipole resonance. We also analyze these Regge poles in terms of collective surface waves (“creeping waves”) circumnavigating the nucleus, and we determine their phase velocities and attenuations. Finally, the giant resonances them selves are explained as a resonant reinforcement of phase-matched surface waves.
Energy allocation in juveniles of a warm-temperate reef fish

During the first year of life, organisms are faced with competing demands for energy between growth and storage. Most research on energy allocation in young fishes has focused on cold-temperate species which are subjected to strong seasonal fluctuations in productivity, while few studies have considered those at lower latitudes where seasonality is less pronounced. Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico settle in coastal seagrass beds in the spring as juveniles and emigrate to offshore reefs in the fall. Upon settlement, these young fish grow at remarkably fast rates, but their growth slows considerably before emigration. Slowed growth can be explained by one of three hypotheses: (1) size-specific emigration times; (2) reduced feeding efficiency associated with declines in primary and secondary productivity; or (3) energetic shifts in allocation from growth to storage. Gag emigrate essentially as a cohort, so slowed growth does not result from differential emigration patterns based on fish size. They also emigrate before seasonal declines in primary and secondary productivity; thus, food remains abundant and feeding efficiency constant. The more plausible hypothesis is that there is an energetic shift from growth to storage. The liver serves as the primary site of lipid storage and the hepatosomatic index of juvenile gag increases coincident with reduced growth. The overall effect of increased energy stores is presumably for use during offshore migration and/or for overwinter survival.
A comparison of cumulative-germination response of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and five perennial bunchgrass species to simulated field-temperature regimes

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) has come to dominate millions of hectares of rangeland in the Intermountain western United States. Previous studies have hypothesized that one mechanism conferring a competitive advantage to this species is the ability to germinate rapidly at low temperatures in the fall, winter and spring and, therefore, initiate growth and establishment more rapidly than more desirable perennial bunchgrass species. In this experiment, we developed thermal-germination-response models for multiple seedlots of cheatgrass and five perennial grass species. We conducted sensitivity analysis on potential-cumulative-germination response to a 38-year simulation of field-variable conditions of seedbed temperature and moisture. Cheatgrass uniformly germinated at a higher rate, and required significantly less time to complete germination than any of the perennial species for all but the slowest seed subpopulations. A germination-rate-sum index was used to integrate relative response characteristics over time. This index showed that germination rate of the most rapidly germinating subpopulations of cheatgrass was 2–5 times higher than for the other species tested. Model simulations of this type provide a more ecologically relevant basis for seedlot evaluation as they allow comparisons across a wide range of potential conditions that may be experienced in the field. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Ethics of Consultation The Canterville Ghost

This article presents an overview of the ethical issues relevant to the counseling psychologist who includes consultation as one of his or her areas of expertise. The existing Ethical Principles of Psychologists are not readily adapted to the practice of consultation; therefore, the possible ethical pitfalls need to be highlighted. Such pitfalls might be viewed as clustering in two global categories: (1) the competencies that the consultant brings to the consulting relationship and (2) the responsibilities that the consultant assumes as he or she provides services to consultees. Under the domain of consultant competencies, the major issues are education and training in consultation; identifying who or what is the client/consultee system and to whom or what the consultant has major responsibility; and determining client/consultee needs and goals as compared to consultant needs and goals. Under the domain of consultant responsibilities, the major responsibilities/issues are presenting qualifications accurat...
Altered body composition and energy expenditure but normal glucose tolerance among humans with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder

The development of insulin resistance has been associated with impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO), but the exact relationship between FAO capacity and glucose metabolism continues to be debated. To address this controversy, patients with long-chain 3-hydroxy acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and measurement of energy expenditure, body composition, and plasma metabolites. Compared with controls, patients with LCHAD deficiency had a trend toward higher total body fat and extramyocellular lipid deposition but similar levels of intramyocelluar and intrahepatic lipids. Resting energy expenditure was similar between the groups, but respiratory quotient was higher and total energy expenditure was lower in LCHAD-deficient patients compared with controls. High-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin levels were lower and plasma long-chain acylcarnitines were higher among LCHAD-deficient patients. Fasting and post-OGTT levels of glucose, insulin, and ghrelin, along with estimates of insulin sensitivity, were the same between the groups. Despite decreased capacity for FAO, lower total energy expenditure and plasma HMW adiponectin, and increased plasma acylcarnitines, LCHAD-deficient patients exhibited normal glucose tolerance. These data suggest that inhibition of the FAO pathway in humans is not sufficient to induce insulin resistance.
Panel: strategic directions in simulation research

The future directions of simulation research are analysed. The formulation of such a vision could provide valuable guidance and assistance with respect to decisions involving the generation and allocation of future research funding. The article addresses problems involving: (1) the size and complexity of models; (2) verification, validation and accreditation; (3) the modeling methodological and model execution implications of parallel and distributed simulation; (4) the centrality of modeling to the discipline of computer science; and (5) random number generation and execution efficiency improvements through quasi-Monte Carlo, and variance reduction.
The nature of the atherosclerotic plaque of the aorta of turkeys

Summary The abdominal aortas of 9-week-old turkeys contained atherosclerotic plaques. Spindle-shaped cells arranged in multilayered rows immediately above and perpendicular to the internal elastic membrane were believed to be modified smooth muscle cells. Two types of cells having no consistent direction of alignment were located in the remainder of the plaque. One type cell appeared to be a lipid-bearing modified smooth muscle cell, and the other seemed to be a lipid-laden fibroblast. Collagenous and elastic fibers, dense granules believed to be mineral, and fibrillar-flocculent material widely separated these two cell types. Endothelial cells contained lipid-like vacuoles. Vesicles in these cells were apparently involved in the incorporation of material from the blood into the cell. Intercellular boundaries between endothelial cells appeared to be routes by which material from the blood entered subendothelial spaces. It was concluded that modified smooth muscle cells, few fibroblasts, occasional leukocytes, extracellular substances, and lipid constituted the ingredients of the atherosclerotic plaque of turkeys.
Molecular investigations into a globally important carbon pool: permafrost-protected carbon in Alaskan soils

The fate of carbon (C) contained within permafrost in boreal forest environments is an important consideration for the current and future carbon cycle as soils warm in northern latitudes. Currently, little is known about the microbiology or chemistry of permafrost soils that may affect its decomposition once soils thaw. We tested the hypothesis that low microbial abundances and activities in permafrost soils limit decomposition rates compared with active layer soils. We examined active layer and permafrost soils near Fairbanks, AK, the Yukon River, and the Arctic Circle. Soils were incubated in the lab under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Gas fluxes at -5 and 5 degrees C were measured to calculate temperature response quotients (Q(10)). The Q(10) was lower in permafrost soils (average 2.7) compared with active layer soils (average 7.5). Soil nutrients, leachable dissolved organic C (DOC) quality and quantity, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the soils revealed that the organic matter within permafrost soils is as labile, or even more so, than surface soils. Microbial abundances (fungi, bacteria, and subgroups: methanogens and Basidiomycetes) and exoenzyme activities involved in decomposition were lower in permafrost soils compared with active layer soils, which, together with the chemical data, supports the reduced Q(10) values. CH(4) fluxes were correlated with methanogen abundance and the highest CH(4) production came from active layer soils. These results suggest that permafrost soils have high inherent decomposability, but low microbial abundances and activities reduce the temperature sensitivity of C fluxes. Despite these inherent limitations, however, respiration per unit soil C was higher in permafrost soils compared with active layer soils, suggesting that decomposition and heterotrophic respiration may contribute to a positive feedback to warming of this eco region.
Transcriptional Regulation of Tissue Factor Expression in Human Endothelial Cells

Abstract Tissue factor (TF) expression by endothelial cells is implicated in thrombotic episodes in patients with a variety of clinical disorders. In a baboon model of lethal sepsis, TF is expressed by endothelial cells in the splenic microvasculature. In vitro, endothelial cells are induced to express TF in response to tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]). Here, we identified cis-acting regulatory elements that control TF gene transcription in primary human endothelial cells. Functional studies showed that the TF promoter contained a 56-bp enhancer (−227 to −172 bp), which included two activator protein–1 (AP-1) sites and a κB-like site, that mediated induction by TNF-α, IL-1β, and LPS. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that endothelial cells contained constitutive AP-1 binding activity, whereas the κB-like site, 5′-CGGAGTTTCC-3′, bound an inducible nuclear complex composed of c-Rel–p65 heterodimers. Taken together, o...
The Media Were American

Tunstall, J. (2008). The media were American: U.S. mass media in decline. New York: Oxford University Press. 455 pages. Thirty years after his book declared The Media Are American, Tunstall has fou...
Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure is associated with increased risky choice and decreased dopaminergic and cholinergic neuron markers in adult rats.

Background: Binge drinking is prevalent during adolescence and may have effects on the adult brain and behavior. The present study investigated whether adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure alters adult risky choice and prefrontal dopaminergic and forebrain cholinergic neuronal marker levels in male Wistar rats. Methods: Adolescent (postnatal day 28–53) rats were administered 5g/kg of 25% (vol/vol) ethanol 3 times/d in a 2-days–on/2-days–off exposure pattern. In adulthood, risky choice was assessed in the probability discounting task with descending and ascending series of large reward probabilities and after acute ethanol challenge. Immunohistochemical analyses assessed tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker of dopamine and norepinephrine in the prelimbic and infralimbic cortices, and choline acetyltransferase, a marker of cholinergic neurons, in the basal forebrain. Results: All of the rats preferred the large reward when it was delivered with high probability. When the large reward became unlikely, control rats preferred the smaller, safe reward, whereas adolescent intermittent ethanol-exposed rats continued to prefer the risky alternative. Acute ethanol had no effect on risky choice in either group of rats. Tyrosine hydroxylase (prelimbic cortex only) and choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity levels were decreased in adolescent intermittent ethanol-exposed rats compared with controls. Risky choice was negatively correlated with choline acetyltransferase, implicating decreased forebrain cholinergic activity in risky choice. Conclusions: The decreases in tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity suggest that adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure has enduring neural effects that may lead to altered adult behaviors, such as increased risky decision making. In humans, increased risky decision making could lead to maladaptive, potentially harmful consequences.
Nonlinear composite materials: effective constitutive behaviour and microstructure evolution

This article is a review of some recent developments in the field of nonlinear composite materials. More precisely, it is an attempt to summarize and relate certain methods that have been developed over the past 10 years for estimating the effective, homogenized or overall constitutive behavior of composite materials with nonlinear constituents. In addition to their ability to handle constitutive nonlinearity, these homogenization methods have also been extended in a consistent fashion to account for geometric nonlinearity. In other words, they are able to incorporate the effect of changes in the microstructure, due to the presence of finite deformations, on the effective constitutive behavior of the composites. These homogenization procedures — like some of the earlier, now classical procedures — make use of a “linear comparison composite,” for which the effective behavior can be assumed to be readily available from the extensive literature in the field of linear composite materials. In particular, the use of a linear comparison composite provides a way of bringing in higher- order statistics (beyond volume fractions) into the description of the effective behavior of composites with random microstructures, whether they be “particulate” or “granular” in character. However, the choice of the linear comparison composite in these modern homogenization procedures is dictated by appropriate approximations in the context of rigorous variational principles for the effective energy of the composite. This simple fact goes a long way toward explaining the significant improvements achieved by the new methods over the more classical procedures, where the choice of the comparison composite was not derived from a variational principle.
The Functional Properties of the Egg White Proteins

Egg white has been chemically fractionated into its principal protein constituents and the function of each in the preparation of angel cakes has been demonstrated. The important constituents were found to be the globulins, ovomucin, and ovalbumin.
Science & Technology in China

(1984). Science & Technology in China. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 40, Science and Technology in China, pp. 1s-15s.
GENETIC DIVERSITY AND CAPILLARIA HEPATICA (NEMATODA) PREVALENCE IN MICHIGAN DEER MOUSE POPULATIONS.

There have been few field tests of the hypothesis that homozygous populations are prone to high levels of disease. I tested for a negative correlation between genetic diversity and parasitism by estimating the allozyme heterozygosity, population density, and proportion of individuals infected by Capillaria hepatica (Nematoda) in nine Michigan populations of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Parasite prevalence was correlated negatively with heterozygosity when the effects of density were held constant, but was not correlated with population density after controlling for the effects of genetic diversity. These data support the prediction that inbred populations will be more susceptible to parasite infestations.
Further Studies on the Solubilities of Xenon and Cyclopropane in Blood and Protein Solutions

The solubility of xenon and krypton in whole blood and plasma has been measured chromatographically and shown to vary from species to species. Some physical-chemical parameters of another nonhydrogen bonding gas—protein system (cyclopropane—serum albumin) have been studied, and no changes in the degree of protein—gas interaction could be observed with changes in pH, temperature, or ionic strength of the solutions.
Heizhenmi, A Black-kernel Rice Derived from Basmati 370 by Somaclonal Variation

Heizhenmi, a black-kernel and good grain quality rice variety, was developed from Basmati 370 (White—kernel variety) by somaclonal variation. It has higher pigmentation (the pigment content is 2.6%) and vitamins (B_1, E, C), micro-elements in grains compared to those of Basmati 370 and Yangxian Heimi (CK). The protein content is 13.29%. Especially, Se content in Heizhenmi is L5 times higher than that of Basmati 370, which acts as a anti—cancer element. The growth period duration is 125 days, and yield is 4950 kg/ha as second rice.
COMPARISONS OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS 1960–1976

ABSTRACT Construction constitutes one of the critical sectors of the economies of the world nations. It represents about ten percent of the gross product of the typical world country. It takes an even larger share of total employment in these societies. This sector, even though characterized by substantial competition inside each country, having relatively low concentration ratios, is insulated from international competition because these activities tend to be of a non–tradeable nature. As a result, such a model would allow for differences in construction costs among nations. Yet, many of the inputs comprising construction activity, like construction machinery, the essential elements of the raw materials, and to a smaller extent the labor force, flow across borders. It is by testing on the size of the differentials in cost, that it is possible to then determine the net effect of the various opposing forces. For this purpose, the costs of a representative sample of construction output, are compared for a group of countries. The dispersion of these costs is then appraised, to permit conclusions about the direct or indirect tradeability of these activities, and the extent of price–equilization forces operating through international exchange. This note examines the level and structure of construction costs in Latin America in the middle seventies, comparing them with those obtained in the early sixties by the Economic Commission for Latin America.
Effect of salt and sodium nitrite on growth and enterotoxin production of Staphylococcus aureus during the production of air-dried fresh pork sausage.

Staphylococcus aureus contamination and enterotoxin production is a potential food safety hazard during the drying step of production of air-dried fresh country sausage. The growth characteristics and enterotoxin production of S. aureus during the drying step of this product with and without added sodium nitrite were evaluated. Three strains of S. aureus were grown to stationary phase and inoculated (10(4) CFU/g) into sausage ingredients. Fresh pork sausages were stuffed into natural casings and allowed to dry for 10 days at 21 degrees C with 60% relative humidity (RH). In control sausage (1.76% [wt/wt] salt) with no S. aureus, aerobic plate counts increased by 5.5 log/g during the 10-day drying period, and coliforms increased by 4.8 log/g. The addition of sodium nitrite (154 ppm of nitrite, 2.24% [wt/wt] salt) or increased salt (3.64%, wt/wt) to sausage limited the growth of coliform bacteria (P 0.05). Staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) was not detected in air-dried fresh sausages at any time. Our results suggest that drying of fresh pork sausage under similar parameters listed in this study does not support SE production.
Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis: A Continuing Problem in Need of Novel Prevention Strategies.

* Abbreviations: ABC — : Active Bacterial Core surveillance EOS — : early-onset neonatal sepsis GBS — : group B streptococcus IAP — : intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) remains a feared cause of severe illness and death among infants of all birthweights and gestational ages, with particular impact among preterm infants. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigators have studied the changing epidemiology of invasive EOS for several decades. The Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) network, a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health departments, and universities, was established in 1995 to address emerging infectious diseases of public health importance, including infections due to major neonatal pathogens.1,2 ABCs data are remarkable because of the geographic distribution and size of the population-based network, laboratory-based identification of cases, linked epidemiologic and laboratory data, and surveillance over many years. In this issue of Pediatrics , Schrag and colleagues3 present ABCs data on the epidemiology of early-onset neonatal sepsis collected over a recent 10-year period, with special attention to group B streptococcal (GBS) and Escherichia coli infections. Invasive GBS infection among neonates, identified in the 1960s,4 emerged as the most common cause of EOS, with high risk of morbidity and mortality. National guidelines … Address correspondence to Barbara J. Stoll, MD, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB G.150, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: barbara.j.stoll{at}uth.tmc.edu
Cell density, dimethylsulfoxide concentration and needle gauge affect hydrogel-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell viability.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown potential therapeutic benefits for a range of medical disorders and continue to be a focus of intense scientific investigation. Transplantation of MSCs into injured tissue can improve wound healing, tissue regeneration and functional recovery. However, implanted cells rapidly lose their viability or fail to integrate into host tissue. Hydrogel-seeded bone marrow (BM)-MSCs offer improved viability in response to mechanical forces caused by syringe needles, cell density and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) concentration, which in turn, will help to clarify which factors are important for enhancing biomaterial-induced cell transplantation efficiency and provide much needed guidance for clinical trials. In this study, under the control of cell density ( 82% following syringe needle passage by 25- or 27-gauge needles, providing improved cell therapeutic approaches for regenerative medicine.
Hindered Settling and Hydrodynamic Dispersion of Sedimenting Spheres

The motion of an individual sphere settling in the midst of a random suspension of identical spheres has been examined experimentally for suspensions with volume concentrations, ⌽ of 2.5% - 10.0%, under creeping flow conditions and in the absence of Brownian motion. In the experiments, silvered glass spheres were tracked in optically transparent suspensions of glass beads. Arrival times measured at a series of horizontal planes were converted into average settling speeds, . These values of , normalized by the Stokes settling speed, V0, yield the hindered settling function, f(⌽), shown in Figure 1 to have a 1–3.7⌽dependence for the entire range of ⌽ investigated. The experimentally determined O(⌽) coefficient is significantly less than the 6.55 found analytically by Batchelor (1972) for a “well-stirred” suspension of spheres. The discrepancy between the two coefficients can be attributed to the existence of structure even in suspensions sedimenting from a random initial state. The nature of such structure may be accessible through simulations such as those described by Durlofsky et al. (1987).
Shrub-induced snowpack variability alters wintertime soil respiration across a simulated tundra landscape

ABSTRACTAcross the arctic tundra, the expansion of tall shrubs is expected to alter soil microbial activity in winter through shrub effects on snow redistribution. Tall shrubs act as a windbreak, trapping deep snowdrifts that insulate the ground from extreme cold and elevate soil respiration within shrub patches. However, this windbreak effect may reduce both snow cover and soil respiration in open tundra areas outside shrub patches. The net impact of increasing shrub cover on soil respiration across landscapes with heterogeneous vegetation cover and snow depths remains unknown. Here, I use a set of tundra landscape simulations to address this knowledge gap. The simulations vary shrub cover, mean snow depth and the strength of shrub windbreak effect. I show that for mean snowfall depths 40 cm or greater, increasing shrub cover usually reduced landscape-level soil respiration due to greater heterogeneity in snow depth. These simulations suggest that there is no overarching positive relationship between shr...
Sea Level Rise

Sea level rise in the twentieth century was 1.7 mm/year, and there are different accounts as to whether the rise included a very small deceleration or acceleration. From 1993 to 2012, altimeters have measured a greater sea level trend than the twentieth century trend, but it is not known yet whether this is the leading edge of a sustained acceleration or a fluctuation similar to others that occurred in the twentieth century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projected a sea level rise of 0.18 to 0.59 m from 1990 to 2100, but did not include scaled-up ice discharges from ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica in determining its 0.59 m upper limit. There have been a number of projections of sea level rise to 2100 of 1 to 2 m. These are typically maximum possible projections that do not have probabilities associated with them and, thus, are not directly comparable to the 95%-confidence level projection of the IPCC. Assuming highly improbable/impossible events such as the immediate collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet with the simultaneous quadrupling of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, sea level could rise as much as 1.7 m by 2100. However, this maximum possible sea level rise by 2100 is not useful in planning and design of flood projects, since it is not typically used even for siting nuclear power plants. Instead, planning and design of flood projects require statistics of sea level projections that are at commensurate probability levels with design-floods. Although IPCC did not fully consider the contributions from Greenland and Antarctica, a recent study that did uses IPCC methodology and projects 5, 50, and 95%-confidence-level rises by 2100. Assuming a standard normal distribution, these projections can be used to determine sea level rise probabilities that are consistent with design-flood probabilities. Sea level rise by 2100 will have significant effects on permanent coastal inundation, flooding from episodic events, shoreline erosion and salinity intrusion. The most appropriate response to sea level rise is limiting the long-term rise to a manageable level and adaptation to the inevitable rise which will occur. The world must work to reach new agreements limiting carbon emissions and thus limit the long-term rise. But since sea level rise has considerable inertia and will produce an inevitable rise, steps must be taken to adapt to the rise.
Chronic Hepatitis Classification

The first major attempt to differentiate the forms of chronic hepatitis emanated from the relatively recent description of chronic active hepatitis (CAH)1,2 and chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH). A number of discoveries are now helping to resolve the controversy and confusion that have surrounded efforts to classify the chronic sequelae of acute hepatitis.
Local probabilistic approximations for incomplete data

In this paper we introduce a generalization of the local approximation called a local probabilistic approximation. Our novel idea is associated with a parameter (probability) α. If α = 1, the local probabilistic approximation becomes a local lower approximation; for small α, it becomes a local upper approximation. The main objective of this paper is to test whether proper local probabilistic approximations (different from local lower and upper approximations) are better than ordinary local lower and upper approximations. Our experimental results, based on ten-fold cross validation, show that all depends on a data set: for some data sets proper local probabilistic approximations are better than local lower and upper approximations; for some data sets there is no difference, for yet other data sets proper local probabilistic approximations are worse than local lower and upper approximations.
Synaptic effects induced by alcohol

Ethanol (EtOH) has effects on numerous cellular molecular targets, and alterations in synaptic function are prominent among these effects. Acute exposure to EtOH activates or inhibits the function of proteins involved in synaptic transmission, while chronic exposure often produces opposing and/or compensatory/homeostatic effects on the expression, localization, and function of these proteins. Interactions between different neurotransmitters (e.g., neuropeptide effects on release of small molecule transmitters) can also influence both acute and chronic EtOH actions. Studies in intact animals indicate that the proteins affected by EtOH also play roles in the neural actions of the drug, including acute intoxication, tolerance, dependence, and the seeking and drinking of EtOH. This chapter reviews the literature describing these acute and chronic synaptic effects of EtOH and their relevance for synaptic transmission, plasticity, and behavior.