cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maize Protein Expression

A key to success for maize protein expression is the concentration of protein that accumulates in transgenic plants. Optimization of protein expression in maize is dependent on multiple factors that contribute to the strength and stability of expression, while minimizing the impact on plant health. This optimization is never routine, often it is empirical, and requires testing of different construct configurations. Construct design may include choice of the correct regulatory elements, gene optimization, subcellular targeting, and addition of elements that reduce negative position effects as a result of integration site or target-specific integration sites. An optimized construct ensures that these types of elements work effectively together to achieve the overall goal; expression of foreign proteins at levels needed for basic research, or for applied research and development programs directed at crop improvement (insect resistance, herbicide resistance, agronomic traits, nutritional traits) and large-scale production of therapeutic, industrial, and pharmaceutical-based proteins. This chapter reviews current perspectives on important considerations that affect maize protein expression.
Analysis of a Receptor-Like Protein Kinase of Arabidopsis Thaliana

Genomic and cDNA clones encoding a novel receptor-like protein kinase (TMK1) have been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. The predicted protein has an intracellular kinase domain most related to the receptor tyrosine kinases but containing diagnostic serine/threonine sequences, a transmembrane domain, and an extracellular domain containing 11 copies of a leucine rich repeat. Leucine rich repeats have only been found in proteins associated with the plasma membrane and are involved in protein/protein interactions. Domain-specific antibodies against the extracellular and intracellular domains of TMK1 have been made using fusion proteins expressed in E. coli. In extracts of Arabidopsis, the antibodies specifically immunodecorate a polypeptide of about 120 kD. The native TMK1 protein from Arabidopsis is capable of reversible binding to lectin columns, and digestion with endoglycosidase F reduces the apparent molecular mass of the immunodecorated protein by 10 kD, indicating that the native protein is glycosylated. The intracellular domain of TMK1 was expressed as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein in E. coli and was found capable of autophosphorylation on serine and threonine residues, indicating that the intracellular domain of TMK1 is a functional protein kinase.
Localization of the calmodulin- and the actin-binding sites of caldesmon.

Expression of the C-terminal third of chicken gizzard caldesmon in Escherichia coli, using the Nagai vector (Nagai, K., and Thogersen, H.V. (1987) Methods Enzmol. 153, 461-481), produces a cII-caldesmon fusion protein (27 kDa) with caldesmon sequence beginning at Lys579. Degradation during purification yields five peptides with molecular masses of 24, 22, 19 (two peptides), and 15 kDa. The 24-kDa peptide begins at Phe581; the 22-kDa peptide begins at Leu597, the two 19-kDa peptides begin at Phe581 and Val629, respectively; the 15-kDa peptide also begins at Val629. We estimate that the 15-kDa and one of the 19-kDa peptides end near Leu710. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to produce truncated peptides with known C termini; one peptide (17 kDa) terminates at Asn675. Digestion of the fragments with chymotrypsin generates a second 15-kDa fragment that begins at Ser666 (15K'). All of the peptides, with the exception of 15K', bind Ca(2+)-calmodulin-Sepharose and share a common 37-amino acid peptide between Val629 and Ser666, suggesting this contains the calmodulin binding site. Comparison with published sequences (Takagi, T., Yazawa, M., Ueno, T., Suzuki, S., and Yagi, K. (1989) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 106, 778-783 and Bartegi, A., Fattoum, A., Derancourt, J., and Kassab, R. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 15231-15238) for other calmodulin-binding fragments further restricts the binding site to 7 residues, Trp-Glu-Lys-Gly-Asn-Val-Phe, between Trp659 and Ser666. All of the fragments, except the two 15-kDa peptides, co-sediment with F-actin, indicating that there are two segments in the C-terminal third of caldesmon that can interact with F-actin: one between Leu597 and Val629, the other between Arg711 and Pro756. Although separated in the primary sequence, these domains may interact with the calmodulin-binding region in the folded structure.
Ring Species and Speciation

A ring species is a monophyletic group whose range has extended around a geographic barrier to produce a ring-shaped distribution. The populations that make up the ring should be contiguous and without barriers to gene flow anywhere in the ring except where the terminal populations are sympatric but reproductively isolated from one another. Few, if any of the species that have been described as ring species, actually meet all of these requirements. The best documented example of a species that exhibits all of these traits is the greenish warbler complex (Phylloscopus trochiloides). However, even species like the herring gull complex or Ensatina salamanders that fail to exhibit some of the characteristics of a true ring species offer opportunities to study important evolutionary processes. These species are particularly helpful in understanding how microevolutionary changes can create two unique species, how speciation can occur in spite of gene flow, and how geographic speciation with or without adaptive divergence can occur. Key Concepts: Few organisms exhibit all of the requirements to be considered a true ring species. Ring species are helpful tools that can be used to help elucidate evolutionary processes. The preponderance of avian and mammal ring species may be an ascertainment bias. Keywords: speciation; geographic variation; geographic speciation; Ensatina; herring gull; greenish warbler
The Use of Reference Points in a Sorting Task

The research results presented here draw from data previously reported at SIG-CR 95 (Jorgensen1995b). The theoretical perspectives of categorical perception are used to investigate the nature of similarity judgements in a pictorial environment and to develop a conceptual framework for exploration of the use of reference points in a sorting task. Both Boundary Reference Points and Prototype Reference Points are used by participants in the sorting task. The classification process does not appear to move in a linear or orderly way, and several suggestions concerning the nature of the use of reference points in classificatory behavior do not seem to be supported by this data. Theresults carry implications both for understanding the nature of classificatory behavior and for image indexing and retrieval applications.
Origins of sulphate in Antarctic dry-valley soils as deduced from anomalous 17O compositions.

The dry valleys of Antarctica are some of the oldest terrestrial surfaces on the Earth. Despite much study of soil weathering and development, ecosystem dynamics and the occurrence of life in these extreme environments1,2,3, the reasons behind the exceptionally high salt content of the dry-valley soils4,5,6 have remained uncertain. In particular, the origins of sulphate are still controversial; proposed sources include wind-blown sea salt5,7, chemical weathering8, marine incursion9, hydrothermal processes10 and oxidation of biogenic sulphur in the atmosphere1. Here we report measurements of δ18O and δ17O values of sulphates from a range of dry-valley soils. These sulphates all have a large positive anomaly11 of 17O, of up to 3.4‰. This suggests that Antarctic sulphate comes not just from sea salt (which has no anomaly of 17O) but also from the atmospheric oxidation of reduced gaseous sulphur compounds, the only known process that can generate the observed 17O anomaly. This source is more prominent in high inland soils, suggesting that the distributions of sulphate are largely explained by differences in particle size and transport mode which exist between sea-salt aerosols and aerosols formed from biogenic sulphur emission.
Role of Procalcitonin and Interleukin-6 in Predicting Cancer, and Its Progression Independent of Infection

Procalcitonin (PCT) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) have emerged as biomarkers for different inflammatory conditions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of PCT and IL-6 as biomarkers of cancer and its progression in a large cohort of patients. This cross-sectional study included residual plasma samples collected from cancer patients, and control subjects without cancer. Levels of PCT and IL-6 were determined by Kryptor compact bioanalyzer. We identified 575 febrile cancer patients, 410 non-febrile cancer patients, and 79 non-cancer individuals. The median PCT level was lower in control subjects (0.029 ng/ml) compared to cancer patients with stage I-III disease (0.127 ng/ml) (p<0.0001) and stage IV disease (0.190 ng/ml) (p<0.0001). It was also higher in febrile cancer patients (0.310 ng/ml) compared to non-febrile cancer patients (0.1 ng/ml) (p<0.0001). Median IL-6 level was significantly lower in the control group (0 pg/ml) than in non-febrile cancer patients with stages I-III (7.376 pg/ml) or stage IV (9.635 pg/ml) (p<0.0001). Our results suggest a potential role for PCT and IL-6 in predicting cancer in non-febrile patients. In addition, PCT is useful in detecting progression of cancer and predicting bacteremia or sepsis in febrile cancer patients.
EBI3 deficiency leads to diminished T helper type 1 and increased T helper type 2 mediated airway inflammation.

Summary Despite extensive investigation of the signals required for development of T helper type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) immune responses, the mechanisms involved are still not well-defined. A critical role for Epstein‐Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) in these responses has been proposed. EBI3, initially discovered as a transcriptionally activated gene in Epstein‐Barr virus-infected B lymphocytes, codes for a subunit of the cytokine interleukin-27 (IL-27). While initial studies suggested that it had an important role in promoting Th1 responses, subsequent studies have revealed that EBI3 receptor signalling influences a variety of immune cell types and can inhibit both Th1 and Th2 responses. In the present study, we evaluated EBI3 )/) mice for their ability to mount both Th1-mediated and Th2-mediated airway inflammatory responses. The EBI3 )/) mice sensitized by exposure to inhaled ovalbumin plus a high dose of lipopolysaccharide, which normally results in Th1 responses in wild-type (WT) mice, instead developed Th2 type airway inflammation, with increased numbers of eosinophils. The EBI3 )/) mice that were exposed to inhaled ovalbumin with a low dose of lipopolysaccharide, which induces Th2 responses in WT mice, showed a marked enhancement of these responses, with increased airway eosinophils, increased serum IgE levels and increased levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) in culture supernatants of mediastinal lymph node cells. Increased production of Th2 cytokines was also seen when naive CD4 + T cells from EBI3 )/) mice were stimulated in vitro compared with cells from WT mice. These results provide the first evidence that EBI3 may play an inhibitory role in allergic asthma development.
Disposition of Benzyl Alcohol After Topical Application to Human Skin in vitro

Abstract An Erratum has been published for this article in Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 92(12)2003, 2543. Dissipation of a volatile compound or mixture from the skin surface after topical application involves both diffusion and evaporation. This report presents a detailed test of a previously described first‐order kinetic approach to modeling this problem. Modified Franz diffusion cells fitted with a vapor trap were used to obtain absorption and evaporation data for benzyl alcohol (1% solution in ethanol) after application to human skin in vitro . Airflow over the skin surface ( v ) was controlled in the experiment and accounted for in the model by allowing the evaporation rate constant(s) to vary as a function of v . A linear dependence was found over the working range of the system, 10–100 mL/min. Three kinetic models were developed, all of which satisfactorily correlated cumulative absorption and evaporation results over the full range of v ( n = 120, s = 4–5%, r 2 = 0.98–0.99). One of these was the model presented previously, in which all dissipation occurs from a single skin compartment. However, more details of the evaporation and absorption profiles could be accounted for by means of two‐compartment models that explicitly consider the surface film present in the early stages post‐application. The latter models seem to be better candidates for describing the time evolution of the volatile mixture evolving from the skin surface after topical application of, e.g., a complex fragrance or perfume. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 92:2128–2139, 2003
Monooxygenase Induction and Chlorobiphenyls in the Deep-Sea Fish Coryphaenoides armatus

Inhibition of liver microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities by α-naphthoflavone and by polyclonal antibodies to hydrocarbon-inducible cytochrome P-450E from teleost liver indicated a xenobiotic-induced origin of these activities in the deep-sea fish Coryphaenoides armatus. Specific recognition of a protein by antibodies to P-450E in an immunoblot assay further indicated xenobiotic-induced cytochrome P-450 in these animals. Levels of apparently induced cytochrome P-450 and monooxygenase activity correlated positively with the tissue content of chlorobiphenyls of known inducing activity, implicating such compounds in biochemical effects occurring in the deep ocean.
Subjective Workload Assessment and Effect of Delayed Ratings in a Probability Monitoring Task

In this investigation, twenty-four subjects performed a probability monitoring task under two difficulty levels and rated the workload associated with each using the Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT). Measures of response accuracy and response time in the monitoring task were also recorded. The effect of delaying SWAT ratings for both 15 and 30 minute intervals after task completion was also investigated. Study results indicated that SWAT was sensitive to the two levels of probability monitoring task difficulty, but not as sensitive as response accuracy. SWAT was, however, more sensitive to the varying levels than response time. Although there were no statistically significant effects associated with the interval between task completion and assigning ratings, five of the sixteen subjects who gave delayed ratings indicated that workload associated with the more difficult task was lower than the workload associated with the easier task. This finding may be interpreted as evidence that there ma...
Convenient synthesis of GOLD and MOLD and identification of their oxidation products in vitro and in vivo.

Two Lys–Lys crosslinks, 1,3-bis-(5-amino-5-carboxypentyl)-1H-imidazolium (GOLD) and 1,3-bis(5-amino-5-carboxypentyl)-4-methyl-1H-imidazolium (MOLD) salts, have been synthesized by the reaction of imidazole or 4(5)-methyl imidazole with 5-(4-bromobutyl)-hydantoin followed by the hydrolysis of 1,3-substituted imidazolium derivatives by 6.0 N HCL at 110 °C. Treatment of GOLD and MOLD with hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid leads to MOLD oxidation only. The oxidation product of MOLD was detected in cataractous lens proteins.
Interaction between irreversibly adsorbed polymer layers: Is the mean field picture really inadequate?

We found out that the mean-field theory (MFT), if done consistently, is in good agreement with experimental observations for the force between irreversibly adsorbed polymer layers. This result is fairly unexpected in light of the conventional Cahn\char21{}de Gennes mean-field (CdGMF) theory that claims this force is zero. We reexamine the CdGMF equations and show that the consistency of the CdGMF approach is broken. This motivated us to derive an equation for the polymer density on the adsorbing surface that describes a minimum of the surface free energy. This equation replaces the conventional boundary condition used in CdGMF. The disjoining pressure is calculated by making use of the developed theory. An excellent agreement with the experimental results is indicated. We believe that our findings rehabilitate the mean-field theory as one of the most powerful tools for investigating the polymer-mediated interaction between colloids. Our result show that the unphysical predictions of CdGMF are due to its inconsistency rather than because this approach is ``completely inadequate to discuss the plate-plate interactions in good solvent'' [P. G. de Gennes, Macromolecules 15, 492 (1982)].
Dynamics models for vehicle roll motion in prerollover manoeuvres

AbstractSimulation of the sequence of dynamic events causing a vehicle to rollover could provide insight on the vehicle propensity to roll. It can also help in adapting control approaches to avoid vehicle rollover. Two analytical formulations of a similar vehicle modelling approach that reproduces the roll motion of a vehicle, including suspensions and tires, are derived. The effect of tire lift off during heavy cornering manoeuvres is considered. Disturbances such as lateral acceleration and road inputs causing vehicle roll can be applied. Critical vehicle dynamic conditions are simulated using the commercial human vehicle environment (HVE) three-dimensional simulation software and applied as inputs to the derived vehicle roll models. The vehicle dynamic behaviour simulated was validated by comparing with results from HVE. These models can serve as useful tools for testing vehicle roll stability algorithms for active suspension systems and for developing new anti-roll control strategies.
Chemotaxis to Group B Streptococci (GBS) Elicited, Monocyte-Derived Chemoattractants Is Affected by the Source of Both the Monocytes and the Responder Cells

Chemotaxis to Group B Streptococci (GBS) Elicited, Monocyte-Derived Chemoattractants Is Affected by the Source of Both the Monocytes and the Responder Cells
Smart Crows Win Out

There is a story about a smart crow, which has been told and retold to children in Indian households for many generations. A thirsty crow comes across a flask half filled with water. As it tries to drink the water through the narrow opening of the flask, the crow realizes that it cannot do so because the water level is lower than its beak can reach. Because the crow is smart, it comes up with a solution. It collects pebbles, one by one, and drops them into the flask. Gradually, the flask is filled with pebbles and the water level rises enough for the crow to be able to comfortably drink. The crow drinks the water and, satisfied, flies away. The moral of the story: be smart like this crow. I was wondering if the authors of the recent Brevia “Shaping of hooks in New Caledonian crows” (A. A. S. Weir et al. , 9 Aug., p. 981) could try out this experiment with a host of New Caledonian and perhaps some Indian crows. In my view, this experiment represents an even more complex problem- solving task. If successful, not only will it solidify their theory, it could also tell something about the origins of folklore.
Stunted child/overweight mother pairs represent a statistical artifact, not a distinct entity

Stunted child/overweight mother (SCOWT) pairs have been viewed as a distinct phenomenon and much effort has been expended to characterize the environments that create these dual burden households. We hypothesized that the prevalence of SCOWT pairs is not independent of the prevalence of overweight mothers and stunted children in the general population. We analyzed data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from 1991 to 2009. Datasets were included if the maternal BMI and the height-for-age Z-scores for children were reported. Mothers were included if they had a living child between 2 and 5 y old and were not currently pregnant. In 121 datasets from 54 countries, 339,202 households met the inclusion criteria. The median prevalences of maternal overweight, childhood stunting, and SCOWT pairs were 19.6% (range 1.6-70.7%), 27.3% (range 6.65-50.8%), and 3.3% (range 0.5-16.0%), respectively. The mean difference between the observed and expected prevalence of SCOWT pairs was -1.18% (95% CI -1.32%, -1.04%). Only two datasets had an observed prevalence of SCOWT pairs that was higher than the expected prevalence, but both were within the 95% CI for the observed prevalence. SCOWT prevalence was more strongly associated with maternal overweight than with child stunting. SCOWT pairs are not independent and their prevalence depends primarily on the prevalence of maternal overweight.
EEG ALPHA AS AN INDEX OF HYSTEROID AND OBSESSOID PERSONALITIES

Summary.-Digitally analyzed EEG record~ngs were obtained from the left occipital to left high central areas of 76 adult sub,ects. EEG frequency, amplitude and an EEG index were compared with scores on the Self-description Questionnaire. Results supported the hypothesis that a difference existed in the EEG alpha of persons scoring below 24 on the questionnaire (0 group) and those who scored 24 and above (H group). Ir was demonstrated that the group means were significant (p.4~) with respect to EEG amplitude and index bur not EEG frequency. Implications of the established EEG-personality relationship were discussed. Recent interest has focused on the alpha 8- to 12-Hertz component of the electroencephalogram (EEG). Barbara Brown (1970) sought to discover the subjecrive states or elements present when alpha frequency is dominant in an individual's EEG. Her subjects associated the alpha frequency dominated EEG with pleasant feelings, well-being, pleasure, tranquility, relaxation, and increased awareness of thoughts. Chase (1973) suggested that EEG and behavior or personality are associated, and Walter (1750) presented accounts of physiological and behavioral changes when the EEG frequency was artificially altered by an external source. A question arises whether when one learns to alter the dominant frequency of his EEG, he also learns to alter his behavior. Speculation must be preceded by an examination of what has been learned thus far about EEG functioning concomitant with various personality and behavioral factors. Soon after Berger reported that electrical activity could be recorded from the scalp of man, he investigated the characteristics of that activity in certain psychological disorders. Saul, Davis, and Davis (1949) found that alpha abundance was associated with aggressive or schizoid personalities, a finding consistent with others such as reported by Kennard, Rabinovich, and Fister (1955). Introversion and extraversion have often been the properties of personality selected for experimental pairing with some aspect of EEG alpha, possibly due to the availability of standardized instruments for the detection of these two characteristics. Gale, Coles, and Blaydon (1969) summarized much of this work and pointed
Survival Following Lobectomy and Limited Resection for the Treatment of Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer ≤ 1 cm in Size: A Review of SEER Data

Background Although lobectomy is the standard treatment for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), recent studies have suggested that limited resection may be a viable alternative for small-sized tumors. The objective of this study was to compare survival after lobectomy and limited resection among patients with stage IA tumors ≤ 1 cm by using a large, US-based cancer registry. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry, we identified 2,090 patients with stage I NSCLC ≤ 1 cm in size who underwent lobectomy or limited resection (segmentectomy or wedge resection). We used propensity score analysis to adjust for potential differences in the baseline characteristics of patients in the two treatment groups. Overall and lung cancer-specific survival rates of patients undergoing lobectomy vs limited resection were compared in stratified and adjusted analyses, controlling for propensity scores. Results Overall, 688 (33%) patients underwent limited resection. For the entire cohort, we were not able to identify a difference in outcomes among patients treated with lobectomy vs limited resection, as demonstrated by an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival (1.12; 95% CI, 0.93-1.35) and lung cancer-specific survival (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.95-1.61). Similarly, when the cohort was divided into propensity score quintiles, we did not find a difference in survival rate between the two groups. Conclusions Limited resection and lobectomy may lead to equivalent survival rates among patients with stage I NSCLC tumors ≤ 1 cm in size. If confirmed in prospective studies, limited resection may be preferable for the treatment of small tumors because it may be associated with fewer complications and better postoperative lung function.
Widespread corticostriate projections from temporal cortex of the rhesus monkey.

The corticostriate projections of temporal areas TA, TE, TF, TG, 35, and 28 were studied in the rhesus monkey with the use of autoradiography. Widespread projections were observed to rostral as well as caudal parts of the striatum for all areas except area 28. For example, areas TA and TG have sizable projections to the medial or periventricular part of the head of the caudate nucleus, as well as to the medial part of the tail of this structure and the dorsally adjacent putamen. Areas TE and TF also were observed to send strong projections to the head of the caudate nucleus. In addition, they project to the rostral putamen. Both have projections to the tail of the caudate nucleus and caudal putamen. The widespread distribution of temporostriate axons to the rostral striatum suggests strongly that previous silver impregnation studies have not only underestimated the strength of the temporal cortical contribution to the corticostriate system, but also failed to identify the major projection zone of temporostriate axon terminals. For example, while all temporal cortical areas contribute projections to an organized topography in the tail of the caudate nucleus and the ventrocaudal putamen, they were observed consistently to have larger projections to the head of the caudate nucleus and rostral putamen. These results add to a growing body of evidence which demonstrates the existence of widespread nonmotor cortical input to the basal ganglia, and an organization of this input far greater in complexity than that demonstrated by earlier suppressive silver impregnation methods.
Disassembling Plato's critique of rhetoric in the Gorgias (447a‐466a)

(1992). Disassembling Plato's critique of rhetoric in the Gorgias (447a‐466a) Rhetoric Review: Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 205-216.
Metastatic ewing sarcoma to the heart simulating adriamycin cardiotoxicity

A 20-year-old man with metastatic Ewing Sarcoma developed severe congestive heart failure. Because he had been treated with a large amount of Adriamycin, the diagnosis was initially thought to be Adriamycin cardiotoxicity. However, ante- and post-mortem studies revealed the presence of massive cardiac metastases. At post-mortem, there was no evidence of Adriamycin cardiotoxicity. This case emphasizes that cardiac metastases must be considered in the differential diagnosis of heart failure in patients treated with Adriamycin.
Evidence for mutually exclusive binding of cocaine, BTCP, GBR 12935, and dopamine to the dopamine transporter.

The present study addressed the possibility that there are distinct but allosterically interacting populations of binding sites for dopamine/cocaine and BTCP/GBR (N-[1-(2-benzo[b]thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine/ 1-(2-diphenylmethoxy)-ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine) (selective dopamine uptake blockers) on the dopamine transporter in the rat striatum. Dopamine uptake sites were labeled in vitro with the cocaine analog [3H]CFT (2β-carbomethoxy-2β-(4-fluorophenyl)-tropane), and the inhibition of binding by CFT or cocaine was measured. A graphic method was adopted for studying shifts in inhibitory potency resulting from the addition of a second compound. Under the conditions used, the co-presence of dopamine, GBR 12935, or BTCP decreased the inhibitory potency of CFT or cocaine to the extent predicted by a model in which all compounds bind to the same site or the binding of all compounds is mutually exclusive. No evidence for negative allosteric interactions between CFT and BTCP was found in experiments comparing inhibition of [3H]CFT binding by BTCP at a low and high concentration of [3H]CFT.
DIGITAL NUCLEAR SPECTROMETER.

Abstract Charge developed at the output of a nuclear event detector, as a result of event occurence and leakage, is digitally extracted from the detector's output to maintain balance and to serve as a means of conversion of event-liberated charge to a digital number. The quantity of charge extracted to maintain balance is metered and converted to a train of pulses, each of which represents the extraction of a discrete amount of charge. By processing these pulses, information can be derived relating to real-event energies, rate of occurence of events, time relationships of event occurences, and background. Early numerical conversion of event-liberated charge, elimination of the need for processing of analog signals, the digital nature of the converted information (which lends itself to more efficient transmission and processing), and the greater spectrometer simplicity achieved are all advantages.
Analysis of spatial distribution in tropospheric temperature trends

[1] Regional patterns in tropospheric and sea surface temperature (SST) trends are examined for the period 1979–2001 using MSU, NCEP-NCAR, ECMWF reanalyses, NOAA OI SST, and the CARDS radiosonde data set. Trends are estimated using a nonparametric approach. Substantial regional variability in temperature trends is seen in all data sets, with the magnitude of the variability (including substantial regions with cooling trends) far exceeding the average warming trend. The global analyses from MSU and reanalyses are used to identify sampling problems in using radiosonde network to infer global trends. Analysis of tropospheric temperature trends concurrent with trends in SST shows regions where the signs disagree for both surface cooling and warming. Interpretation of these differing trends using the reanalyses suggest that the models used for the reanalyses are simulating the necessary dynamics/thermodynamics that could lead to a tropospheric cooling in contrast to a surface warming (and vice versa).
Network-based concurrent computing on the PVM system

Concurrent computing environments based on loosely coupled networks have proven effective as resources for multiprocessing. Experiences with and enhancements to PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine) are described in this paper. PVM is a software package that allows the utilization of a heterogeneous network of parallel and serial computers as a single computational resource. This report also describes an interactive graphical interface to PVM, and porting and performance results from production applications. 23 refs., 5 figs., 5 tabs.
A homotopy algorithm and an index theorem for the general equilibrium model with incomplete asset markets

Abstract We develop a homotopy algorithm for the computation of equilibria in the general equilibrium model with incomplete asset markets (GEI Model). The crucial idea of our approach is to obtain smooth demand functions by introducing penalties on asset sales and gradually lifting this restriction as the algorithm proceeds. The penalties lead to implicit bounds on the optimal asset transactions, eliminating any incentive for agents to inflate their portfolios of assets. Using this algorithm and applying a homotopy invariance theorem, we give what appears to be the first proof of the Index Theorem for the GEI Model for several broad classes of economies generalizing previous results in the literature.
A Qualitative Examination of Barriers for Urban and Rural Custodial Grandparents

Focus groups were conducted with 33 community dwelling, urban and rural, custodial grandparents to explore their willingness to comply with a behavioral intervention targeting improving their well-being and financial management. Most participants were African American (91%), female (79%) and middle-aged. Major themes included: 1) inability to access social services; 2) legal assistance; 3) emotional well-being; 4) problems related to the parents of grandchildren; and 5) identification of structured activities for grandchildren. Findings suggest custodial grandparents underutilize services. Future research should address methods to enhance grandparents' utilization of resources facilitated via a peer navigator system along with policy level changes.
The Effect of the Lapidus Arthrodesis on the Medial Longitudinal Arch: A Radiographic Review

We reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 35 patients (3 males, 32 females; mean age 40.8 years) who underwent isolated, modified Lapidus arthrodesis for forefoot pathology in 39 feet. The purpose of the review was to evaluate the structural radiographic changes of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) following isolated arthrodesis of the first tarsometatarsal joint. Pre- and postoperative standardized measurements of sagittal plane views of the foot were assessed to examine change in the MLA construct. The talo–first metatarsal angle and medial cuneiform height both had statistically significant changes, 2.97 degrees (range, 0–11.5 degrees) and 3.44 mm (range, 0–13 mm) ( P
Gay characters in conventional spaces: Will and Grace and the situation comedy genre

This paper explores how Will & Grace, which has been heralded in the popular press for its positive representations of gay men, situates the potentially controversial issue of homosexuality within safe and familiar popular culture conventions, particularly those of the situation comedy genre. This paper draws on feminist and queer theory to examine the liabilities of relying on these familiar situation comedy conventions, demonstrating how the program equates gayness with a lack of masculinity, relies on sexual tension and delayed consummation, infantilizes the program's most potentially subversive characters, and emphasisizes characters' interpersonal relationships rather than the characters' connection to the larger social world. Additionally it argues that by inviting mainstream audiences to read the program within familiar televisual frames, Will & Grace can be read as reinforcing heterosexism and, thus, can be seen as heteronormative.
Proteins and Metabolites Regulated by Trinexapac-ethyl in Relation to Drought Tolerance in Kentucky Bluegrass

Plants have developed various mechanisms in adaptation to water deficit stress, including growth retardant to reduce water loss. Previous studies reported that plants treated with a growth inhibitor, trinexapac-ethyl (TE), had improved drought tolerance. The objective of this study was to determine alterations in proteins and metabolite accumulation associated with drought tolerance improvement in a perennial grass species, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), induced by TE application. Plants were treated with TE [1.95 ml l−1 (v:v); a.i. TE = 0.113%] through foliar spray for 14 days, and then subjected to drought stress by withholding irrigation for 15 days in growth chambers. TE-treated plants exhibited significantly higher relative water content and photosynthetic capacity and lower membrane leakage than nontreated plants under drought stress, suggesting TE-enhanced drought tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass. Physiological improvement in drought tolerance through TE application was associated with the increased accumulation of various proteins and metabolites, including ferritin, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, Rubisco, heat shock protein 70, and chaperonin 81, as well as fatty acids (palmitic acid, α-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and octadecanoic acid). Our results suggest that TE may regulate metabolic processes for antioxidant defense, protective protein synthesis, photorespiration, and fatty acid synthesis, and thereby contribute to better drought tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass.
Dopaminergic synapses in the matrix of the ventrolateral striatum after chronic haloperidol treatment

Antipsychotic drugs (APD) are used in the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and exert their effects, in part, through dopamine receptor blockade. APD treatment causes many changes in the brains of humans and experimental animals including therapeutic, pathologic, or changes associated with motor side effects. Typical APD given chronically to animals induce behavioral sequelae that mimic tardive dyskinesia in several ways. Our previous work has shown that chronic treatment with haloperidol decreases striatal synaptic density but that symmetric synapses are lost only in rats that develop oral dyskinesias. The goals of this study were to determine if the density of dopaminergic terminals was affected by chronic haloperidol treatment and/or correlated with dyskinesias. Rats were given haloperidol (1.5 mg/kg/rat) or water, as a control. After 6 months of treatment, rats were divided into nondyskinetic or dyskinetic groups according to the behavior scores determined in the last month. Striatal volume was similar between controls and drug-treated rats. Synaptic density, calculated using stereological methods, was obtained from the matrix of the ventrolateral striatum. The density of symmetric synapses (mean ± SD, per 100/μm3) formed by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) containing terminals in haloperidol treated rats (3.58 ± 1.64) was not significantly different from that of controls (3.06 ± 1.00). The density of TH-labeled terminals forming symmetric synapses in the nondyskinetic group (3.65 ± 1.67) vs. the dyskinetic group (3.54 ± 1.73) was similar and neither was different from that of the controls. These data indicate that terminals other than dopaminergic ones form fewer symmetric synapses in dyskinetic rats. Moreover, these data have implications for interpreting results obtained in humans treated with typical antipsychotic drugs. Synapse 45:78–85, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Dendritic spine "dysgenesis" and mental retardation

Golgi studies reveal abnormally long, thin spines and the absence of short, thick spines on dendrites of cortical neurons in retarded children with normal karyotypes. The degree of dendritic spine loss and abnormality appears to be related to age and the severity of developmental retardation. Dendritic spine "dysgenesis" is a common feature of the microstructural pathology that occurs in profound mental retardation of unknown etiology.
Human Resource Strategies in Local Government: A Survey of Progress and Future Directions:

This article examines career development in American local governments. It considers the factors affecting municipal adoption of career-development programs and compares past accomplishments with f...
Hyperamarts: Conditions for regularity of continuous parameter processes☆

Abstract The regularity of trajectories of continuous parameter process ( X t ) t ∈ R + in terms of the convergence of sequence E ( X T n ) for monotone sequences ( T n ) of stopping times is investigated. The following result for the discrete parameter case generalizes the convergence theorems for closed martingales: For an adapted sequence ( X n ) 1≤ n ≤∞ of integrable random variables, lim X n exists and is equal to X ∞ and ( X T ) is uniformly integrable over the set of all extended stopping times T , if and only if lim E ( X T n ) = E ( X ∞ ) for every increasing sequence ( T n ) of extended simple stopping times converging to ∞. By applying these discrete parameter theorems, convergence theorems about continuous parameter processes are obtained. For example, it is shown that a progressive, optionally separable process ( X t ) t ∈ R + with E { X T } T is right continuous if lim E ( X T n ) = E ( X T ) for every bounded stopping time T and every descending sequence ( T n ) of bounded stopping times converging to T . Also, Riesz decomposition of a hyperamart is obtained.
Online Learning: Advantages and Challenges in Implementing an Effective Practicum Experience

Executing an effective clinical practicum experience for distance learners requires systems to be in place to ensure that all students receive a quality clinical experience and meet course and program objectives. Key to achieving these successful outcomes is recognizing and overcoming the challenges involved in designing graduate practica for Master of Science in nursing candidates. A systematic approach is presented for consideration.
Creating a Community Food System: The Intervale Center

In the early 1900s, over 40% of Americans worked in agriculture (Dimitri, Effland, & Conklin, 2005, Figure 1) and local and regional food production was common (Pirog, 2009). During the last half o...
Air-coil design using numerical optimization methods

The Gauss-Levenberg optimization method is applied to the problem of finding the positions of the wires of a coil that produces a flat-topped Butterworth-like axial magnetic field distribution. Examples are shown for coils formed from infinite straight wires and circular loops.
TISSUE CULTURE OF ORCHIDS I. METHODS FOR LEAF TIPS

Summary Leaf-tips of Epidendrum and Laeliocattleya (Orchidaceae) have been cultured in vitro. Epidendrum seedling leaf-tips form calli on Murashige-Skoog medium (MS) or after being transferred to Knudson C agar following prior growth on MS. Plantlets also develop from tips of young leaves of mature Laeliocattleya plants cultured in Heller's medium or in a solution specifically devised for orchid shoot-tip cultures. In Heller's medium plantlet development is preceded by callus formation whereas in the shoot-tip medium protocorm-like bodies are formed first. These tissues when subcultured from Heller's medium or the shoot-tip solution to Knudson C agar also produce plantlets which resemble orchid seedlings. The results are discussed in relation to the components of each medium, the requirements of germinating orchid seeds and protocorms, and the difficulties encountered in attempts to culture tissues of mono-cotyledonous plants.
Isolation Design for Fully Flexible Systems

It is commonly suggested that vibration isolators should be designed with a low-frequency mount, that is, the isolator frequency is much less than the first mode of the system being isolated. This is a direct result of the single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) isolator model which states that the best performing isolator is the one that has the lowest natural frequency. When flexibility is included in the isolator design, the low-frequency mount design still performs best in an overall sense. However, with system flexibility being modeled, the isolator can now be designed between the modes of the flexible system. These types of isolator mounts tend to have a coupling effect, that is, the frequencies around the isolator mount have such a strong interaction between each other that when isolator damping is present, multiple system modes are attenuated. Therefore, this paper fully explores the choice of isolator mount frequency and isolator placement for fully flexible systems. Results show that a low-frequency mount design considering base and equipment flexibility, will have the first natural frequency shift by as much as 15.6%. For a mid-frequency mount design, the shift of the first three modes can be as high as 34.9%, 26.6% and 11.3%, respectively. Also, when base and system flexibility is considered, isolator placement becomes a critical issue. There can be as much as 16% difference in the first mode for a low-frequency mount design and as high as 25% difference for a mid-frequency mount design.
Preparation of oriented lithium tantalate thin films using molecularly modified tantalum(V) ethoxide and lithium acetate

Sol-gel processing of ferroelectric thin films is an emergent area of research that has received considerable attention in academia and the semiconductor industry [1-4]. The preparation of ceramic thin films using the polymeric sol-gel route has several potential advantages over the more common methods that typically involve a vacuum-based physical deposition process. Sol-gel techniques permit the preparation of multicomponent, homogeneous and stoichiometric ceramic thin films and powders at reduced processing temperatures. Sol-gel processing also allows the controlled introduction of trace elements [5] and creates the opportunity to tailor the dielectric and optical properties through control of the chemical composition [6]. The lower processing temperatures, in the case of thin films, are necessary for successful integration of such films on to semiconductor substrates. Being a more mature technology for the processing of semiconductors, physical deposition methods are currently more popular [7]. However, recent results related to sol-gel processing indicate that high-quality films can be prepared [8-10], and from the increase in the volume of the technical literature it is evident that the development of this technology is accelerating.
On the outage and diversity-multiplexing tradeoff of broadcast channels with 1-bit feedback

In this paper, a single antenna downlink channel with K users is analyzed in the presence of Rayleigh flat fading. A limited channel state information (CSI) feedback scheme is considered, where only 1-bit feedback per user is available at the base station for each fading block. We study the outage performance of such channels. The two cases of short-term and long-term average power constraints are analyzed. Closed-form expressions for the outage probability of the 1-bit feedback scheme are presented. At high SNR, the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) is explicitly derived. We show that for the short-term average power constraint case, with only 1-bit feedback, the scheme achieves not only a DMT that increases linearly with the number of users in the system, but also the same tradeoff as if perfect CSI feedback were available at the base station. For longterm average power constraint, it is concluded that power allocation based on the feedback bit is crucial in further improving the DMT. An additional factor of two in the DMT is achieved compared with the short-term average power constraint case.
A lower bound method for quantum circuits

Quantum circuits, which are shallow, limited in the number of gates and additional workspace qubits, are popular for quantum computation because they form the simplest possible model similar to the classical model of a network of Boolean gates and capable of performing non-trivial computation. We give a new lower bound technique for such circuits and use it to give another proof that deterministic computation of the parity function cannot be performed by such circuits.
An Alternative Approach to Isolated Circumflex Coronary Bypass Reoperations

Abstract A method for secondary and tertiary revascularization of circumflex marginal coronary arteries with descending aorta–coronary saphenous vein bypass grafts using an arterial occluder is described.
Approximate versus Exact Equilibria in Dynamic Economies

This paper develops theoretical foundations for an error analysis of approximate equilibria in dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents and incomplete financial markets. While there are several algorithms that compute prices and allocations for which agents— first-order conditions are approximately satisfied (“approximate equilibria”), there are few results on h interpret the errors in these candidate solutions and how to relate the computed allocations and prices to exact equilibrium allocations and prices. We give a simple example to illustrate that approximate equilibria might be very far from exact equilibria. We then interpret approximate equilibria as equilibria for close-by economies; that is, for economies with close-by individual endowments and preferences.